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Volume 11 – Issue 04 • 16 Pages

N O V E MBE R 3 - 9 , 2 0 1 7

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Duterte to deal with Trump in ‘most righteous way’

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

New York City bike path terror attack: What we know

8 killed after driver plows through cyclists and pedestrians near World Trade Center

A MAN driving a rental truck rammed through a bike path on Tuesday, October 31, killing eight people and injuring more than a dozen in the deadliest attack in the city since 9/11.

At about 3:05 p.m., the suspect sped in a Home Depot flatbed pickup truck for nearly a mile down a popular bike path on West Houston Street in lower Manhattan just blocks away from the World Trade Center.

“The Home Depot truck starting running people over,” said witness Nelson Arroyo, 58, according to various reports. “I heard a boom boom, a crushing noise from the bikes. People were sitting down crying. I saw two areas of blood.”

The truck then rammed into a school bus

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Federal court blocks Trump’s ban on transgender troops

Two leaders reportedly have ‘warm rapport’

by RAE

ANN VARONA AJPress

U.S. President Donald Trump looks forward to meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in a controversial move he sees as a success over the last administration. The two leaders are said to have a ‘warm rapport.’

“You remember the Philippines — the last trip made by a presi-

dent that turned out to be not so good,” said Trump on Wednesday, November 1. “Never quite got to land.”

A day before, the president said, “We’re going to the Philippines which is a strategically important location where the previous administration was not exactly welcome, as you probably remember.”

Trump’s remarks come as state-

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PH Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and U.S. Pres. Donald Trump Malacañang, White House photos

PH calls for stronger int’l cooperation against terrorism

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

A FEDERAL judge on Monday, October 30 blocked President Donald Trump’s policy that banned transgender individuals from serving in the military, citing a lack of fact-based reasoning behind the presidential memo.

The order by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly is preliminary injunction to halt the ban that Trump first announced in a tweet in July, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. The Pentagon will temporarily be prohibited from enforcing the ban.

In late August, transgender groups sued the Trump White house on behalf of trans-

THE Philippine government on Thursday, November 2, called on the international community to intensify its cooperation against terrorism, particularly against the militant Islamic State PH Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter (IS) group and Cayetano Inquirer.net photo its affiliate organizations.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano made the call days after the recent attack in New York that left 8 people dead and at least 11 others injured.

“The terrorist attacks in New York and

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Judge finds president’s ban not ‘supported by any facts’

ments by a White House senior administration official, who also on Tuesday, October 31, signaled that Trump and Duterte have a good relationship.

“President Duterte, he’s spoken with, they’ve had exchanges of letters,” said a senior administration official to reporters on Tuesday. “I think there’s a warm rapport there, and he’s very much looking for-

BACK WITH INVESTMENTS. President Rodrigo Duterte is accorded with military honors upon his arrival at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City following a successful two-day visit to Japan on Tuesday, October 31. The president noted Japan’s pledge of assistance amounting to almost $9 billion, as well as the economic, defense and security cooperation between Philippines and Japan. Accompanying the president is Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of Staff Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

Malacañang photo by Albert Alcain

US running out of nurses, Philippines a historical source

by RAE

ANN VARONA AJPress

AN editorial by The New York Times once expressed in 1956 that, “The nationwide shortage of nurses is likely to reach crisis proportions.” Now over six decades later, the shortage again seems far from being resolved Newly-appointed Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque tells members of the media during due to a rising elderly populaa press briefing in Malacañan on Thursday, Nov. 2, that he is bound to fulfill President tion, a large amount of retiring Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s order which are to do what is best for the country and to tell the truth.

nurses, and the challenge to recruit new nurses.

With over three million registered nurses (RNs), and over 800,000 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in the United States, nursing is said to be among the nation’s fastest-growing occupations.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses is

expected to see a growth of 15 percent from 2016 to 2026 — a growth the bureau says is “much faster than the average for all occupations.”

The current outlook, though, has many worried that the supply of registered nurses won’t even be able to keep up with the demand.

At the forefront of issues driving the shortage are Baby

Boomers. Once spiking in births between 1946 and 1964, the baby boomer generation is again showing a significant rise in numbers of those entering retirement.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people ages 65 and older in the U.S. is projected to increase to 55 million in 2020, around 70 million

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Palace upholds right to life, New York City becomes first in ‘continuing investigation’ nation to enforce salary history ban on drug war killings Malacañang photo by Valerie Escalera

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

by DANA

SIOSON

AJPress

MALACAÑANG on Thursday, November 2, affirmed its “continuing obligation” to investigate killings in its crackdown on narcotics, following a recent survey indicating nearly half of Filipinos believe it was inevitable for innocent people to get killed in the

so-called drug war.

While admitting that there are collateral damages in the anti-illegal drugs campaign, incoming Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque maintained that drug-related killings were not state sanctioned.

“Well, in any war, unfortu-

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IN major step toward achieving pay equity for women and people of color, NYC employers will no longer be allowed to inquire about an applicant’s salary history before extending an offer of employment NEW YORK– New York City became the first municipality in the nation on Tuesday, Oct. 31 to enforce a law prohibiting all employers in New York City from inquiring about job seekers’ salary history during the hiring process, including on job applications

and in interviews.

By removing questions about an applicant’s previous earnings, the law allows applicants who have been systemically underpaid, particularly women and people of color, to negotiate a salary based on their qualifications and earning potential rather than being measured by their previous salary.

Mayor Bill de Blasio signed the bill into law in May. First Lady Chirlane McCray, Public Advocate Letitia James, Human Rights Com- “Women and people of color deserve to be paid what missioner Carmelyn P. Malalis and other key they’re worth, not held back by their current or previous

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salary,” said.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

A november 3-9, 2017 • neW YorK AnD neW JerSeY ASIAn JoUrnAL

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

From the Front Page

Duterte to deal with Trump...

PAGE A1 t ward to his first in-person meeting with President Duterte.”

Around two weeks ago, the White House announced that Trump would meet with Duterte during his upcoming tour of Asia slotted to take place Nov. 3-14.

Countries included in the Asian tour are Vietnam, China, South Korea and Japan. The U.S. leader is expected to participate in the special gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the ASEAN-U.S. meeting in Manila but will skip the East Asia Summit (EAS) on November 14 in Pampanga.

In a media briefing on Sunday, October 29, Duterte said that during the forthcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, he intends to discuss with Trump issues of terrorism, relations between the two countries, and the ongoing fight against drugs.

He also expressed camaraderie with the U.S. president and said, “I would deal with President Trump in the most righteous way, welcome him as an important leader.”

“I would have to also listen to him, what he has to say,” Duterte added.

Duterte has openly expressed criticism towards the United

States before, once accusing Washington of treating the Philippines “like a dog with a leash.”

Upon being criticized for his extrajudicial killings by the former Obama administration last year, Duterte called former U.S. President Barack Obama a “son of a whore,” which led Obama to cancel his meeting with Duterte.

Just a year ago in October 2016, Duterte voiced his intention to end cooperation with the U.S. while also expressing intent to side with Beijing.

“In this venue, your honors, in this venue, I announce my separation from the United States,” said Duterte to Chinese and Philippine business people, as reported

by Reuters. “Both in military, not maybe social, but economics also. America has lost,” he added.

The controversial Philippine president, who was sworn into office in June of last year, has long been condemned by international leaders and human rights groups for his war on drugs which has claimed thousands of lives.

Trump, on the other hand, has been noted to have taken a different approach when engaging with Duterte which many have criticized.

“Trump’s explicit eagerness to meet with the architect of a kill-

US running out of nurses...

PAGE A1 t by 2030, and to 88.5 million (or 20 percent of the population) in 2050. As put by American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the U.S. population of adults aged 65 plus will have almost doubled from 37 million to 71.5 million between 2006 and 2030.

The bureau also found in 2010 that the 65 and older population in the U.S., who had a growth increase of 15.1 percent, grew at a faster rate than the whole U.S. population which grew at 9.7 percent. From 2000 to 2010, the 65 and older population saw an increase of 5.3 million people.

These numbers are especially alarming to the healthcare industry as it prepares to provide care to the growing demographic.

Eighty percent of adults 65 or older have at least one chronic condition, while 6.8 percent have at least two, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Top chronic conditions are hypertension, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease (ischemic heart disease), and diabetes.

Patients aren’t the only ones aging. Many current U.S. registered nurses are reaching retirement age as well, and are in turn leaving behind many job vacancies.

Statistics by the American Nurses Association (ANA) project that an estimated 690,000 nurses will leave the workforce through 2024, resulting in a net nurse vacancy of around 1.2 million.

In a survey of over 130 healthcare facilities from 29 states,

ing campaign that has resulted in the deaths of more than 12,000 men, women and children over the past 16 months is more than grievous insult to injury for family members of victims,” said deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, Phelim Kine, as quoted by The Guardian.

In May, leaked phone conversations between the two leaders revealed Trump congratulating Duterte on his controversial war on drugs.

“I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem,” said Trump in a leaked April 29 phone call transcript obtained by The Washington Post and The New York Times, and published by The Intercept.

“Many countries have the problem, we have a problem, but what a great job you are doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that,” he added.

Duterte’s biggest and most persistent adversary, Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes, recently visited the United States where he met with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio. Upon returning to the Philippines, Trillanes denied reports that he tried to persuade U.S. government officials into convincing Trump to cancel his Manila visit. n nurse recruitment and retention firm NSI Nursing Solutions Inc., found that facilities have been experiencing increasing vacancy rates since 2013.

While close to 50 percent of facilities had a vacancy rate of five percent or less in 2013, 18.2 percent did in 2017. In other words, close to 80 percent of facilities were finding vacancy rates over five percent.

It doesn’t help that the recruitment of new RNs has been challenging. The average time to recruit an RN ranges from 55 to 119 days, depending on specialty. The longer a vacancy remains open, the more quality of care becomes an issue — fewer nurses usually means higher patient loads.

A report by Reuters that interviewed more than 20 hospitals including some of the largest chains, said that many hospitals have resorted to spending billions of dollars collectively in

BACK HOME. Some 105 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City on Wednesday, November 1. The government targets another batch of repatriation by December 2017.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

PH calls for stronger int’l...

PAGE A1 t other places abroad during the past several weeks tell us the threat remains real,” Cayetano said in a statement.

On Tuesday, October 31, a man rammed a pickup truck through several blocks of Lower Manhattan before crashing into a school bus—which U.S. authorities called an “act of terror.”

The suspect, identified as 29year-old Uzbekistan native Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov who was living in New Jersey, reportedly told investigators that he executed the attack in the name of the IS terrorist group.

The Philippines recently suffered from the presence of the Islamic State when its followers, the Maute terrorist group, laid siege to Marawi City, located at the southern part of the country, for five months.

Cayetano thanked United States, Australia, China, Russia and other countries for extend-

ing their assistance to the Philippines in its operations to liberate Marawi from terrorists.

He said the government is looking forward to cooperating with other countries in countering terrorism, saying it is a key priority of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The Philippines is more than ready to do its share in helping make the world a safer place,” Cayetano said.

He added that the fight against terrorism will also be among the issues to be discussed at the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings in Manila this November.

The attack in Marawi City, which began on May 23, has been considered as the worst urban conflict the country has seen since the second World War. The death toll breached more than 1,000, of which more than 800 were terrorists.

recruiting and retaining nurses to avoid risking patient safety or closing down departments.

It wasn’t uncommon for hospitals to offer higher salaries, make retention and signing bonuses, offer incentives like student loan repayments, or provide free housing in order to stay afloat.

Many hospitals, especially those in regions where the de-

mand for nurses can be exceptionally dire, further shelled out money for temporary nurses and travel nurses whose assignments typically range from 13 to 26 weeks.

Global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions Staffing Industry Analysts, found that the cost for travel nurses in 2017 almost doubled over three years to $4.8 billion.

On October 23, the government announced the Marawi conflict over and has begun laying down plans to rebuild the country’s only Islamic city.

With Maute group defeated in Mindanao, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is verifying reports that members of terrorist group were in Manila.

In a statement, PNP Deputy Spokesperson Supt. Vimelle Madrid assured the public that police force is implementing stricter security measures by increasing police visibility and checkpoints.

“Pinapaigting natin lagi ang checkpoints natin. ‘Yan naman ang mandate natin, to provide security and protection to the public. (We are intensifying our checkpoints.

To provide security and protection to the public has been always our mandate),” Madrid said.

“Pero wala pa namang (But there are no) clear or confirmed reports regarding presence of the Maute in the area. Continuous naman ang monitoring natin,” he added. n Philippines’ long history of supplying a needed demand Foreign nurses often provide relief. A June 2016 report by the Institute for Immigration Research at George Mason University and the Immigrant Learning Center, found that foreign-born nurses made up 15 percent of registered nurses in the U.S. The Philippines has long been

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Dateline USa

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmbER 3-9, 2017

A

USAID programs in PH ‘not conditional’

by AJPress

U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim Philstar.com photo

THERE are no conditions attached to the programs of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Philippines, Washington’s top diplomat said last week.

In a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim affirmed that the USAID programs are also unaffected by the U.S.’ concerns over the alleged human rights is-

sues in the Philippines.

“Our USAID program is not conditional,” Kim said on Thursday, October 26. “In fact, we have a long history of providing very significant foreign assistance to the Philippines.”

While maintaining that Washington’s stances on human rights, rule of law, and due process remain unchanged, Kim reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to helping the Philippines, especially the war-stricken city of Marawi.

Earlier in September, Kim announced that the U.S. government has donated P730 million ($14.3 million) for the rehabilitation of Marawi City in the southern Philippines—which was besieged by Islamic State (IS)inspired militants for five months since May—under its USAID programs.

“The work of rehabilitation is critically important,” the ambassador added, saying that the U.S. wanted to “support the Philippine government as much as we can.”

He also affirmed that the U.S. will continue to provide assistance to the Philippine army in addressing security threats.

New York City bike path...

PAGE A1 t

on Chambers Street, injuring two adults and two children inside.

He then exited the truck, wielding pellet and paintball guns as panicked bystanders began fleeing the scene.

The suspect began shouting, “Allahu Akhbar (God is great)” as a uniformed police officer chased him down and fired at least five shots at the suspect. The suspect fell to the ground, but did not die.

The attack resulted in six people dying immediately on the scene and two dying later in hospitals.

Victims that have been identified include six Argentinian high school students, two young American men and a Belgian mother, according to the NYPD. Several knives were found in and around the truck used in the attack.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio immediately classified the attack as an “act of terror” in a press conference held later that day.

“This was a cowardly act of terror. It was intended to break our spirit. But New Yorkers are resilient. We will be undeterred,” de Blasio tweeted on Tuesday.

Ties to the Islamic State The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, a native of Uzbekistan who came to the U.S. in 2010 through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, a program that distributes nearly 50,000 visas to countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Wednesday.

On Wednesday afternoon, the federal government has filed terrorism charges against Saipov.

Specifically, he is being charged for providing material support to the Islamic State (IS), violence and destruction of motor vehicles.

Investigators spoke with Saipov from his hospital bed, where he was getting treated for a gunshot wound, and confirmed that he was inspired by truck attacks from IS videos. He said he rented a truck on October 22 to “practice making turns” and specifically chose Halloween for the attack “because he believed there would be more civilians on the street for the holiday.”

He told investigators that “he felt good about what he had done” and even asked permission to hang the IS flag in his hospital room, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court on Wednesday.

John Miller, NYPD deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism, said that Saipov, a resident of New Jersey, had been planning the attack for weeks and “did this in the name of ISIS,” as evident from a note written in Arabic found near the scene.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday morning that Saipov had been “radicalized domestically,” and that “the evidence shows — and again, it’s only several hours, and the investigation is ongoing — but that after he came to the United States is when he started to become informed about ISIS and radical Islamic tactics.”

Immediate response and aftermath As Americans attempt to grapple with yet another terrorist attack, the White House has announced several initiatives to prevent another attack.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States must “come up with punishment that is far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting right now.”

He added: “We need quick justice and we need strong justice much quicker and much stronger than we have right now. Because what we have right now is a joke and it’s a laughing stock.”

During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the president announced plans to bring a proposal to Congress asking to eliminate the Diversity Visa Lottery, which

was signed into law in 1990 to promote immigration from countries which have little representation in the U.S. “I am going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program, diversity lottery, diversity lottery,” Trump said at the meeting. “Sounds nice, it is not nice, it is not good. It hasn’t been good and we have been against it.”

Trump has also announced that he’s considering sending Saipov to the U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba, a move that many critics disagree with.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was quick to condemn the president’s “rushed” response to send the suspect to the controversial Guantanamo Bay as well as his “reactionary” proposal to impose major changes to the country’s immigration standards.

“Sending Saipov to Guantanamo or treating him as an ‘enemy combatant’ would violate due process and the rule of law,” Anthony D Romero, executor director of the ACLU, said in a statement on Wednesday. “It’s a shame that Trump is using this attack as a platform for pushing his anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim agenda.”

Wade McMullen, an attorney at the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Center, said that “it’s not even worth reacting to whether the president’s suggestion of sending this suspect to [Guantanamo] is legal or even effective - it’s clearly neither.”

McMullen cited the president’s universally panned response to the attack at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in August which resulted in the death of counter-protester Heather Heyer.

He criticized the president’s hurried response to the New York attack in comparison to his lukewarm response to the Charlottesville attack.

“What we should be asking is why is this president is quick to use such radical, extreme language in the wake of the tragedy in New York, but after the terror attack in Charlottesville, could only muster something about how ‘there were very fine people on both sides’,” McMullen said. “Racism and Islamophobia will never result in sound, legal or effective counterterrorism policy.”

On Thursday, the president acknowledged that sending Saipov to Guantanamo Bay would be a process that “takes much longer than going through the Federal system,” he said on Twitter.

He offered an alternative option in sending the suspect to death row, tweeting, “There is also something appropriate about keeping him in the home of the horrible crime he committed. Should move fast. DEATH PENALTY!” While many are criticizing the president’s quick response to propose the death penalty, U.S. Attorney for the southern district of New York Joon Kim said that the government has full authority to carry out the death penalty if it chooses to seek it, given the charges Saipov faces.

However, the president’s tweet calling for the death penalty before Saipov even had the chance to enter a plea for the charges he faces could be an advantage for the defense lawyers, who may see the president’s proposal as “unfair” and could affect potential jurors in the case.

When asked by reporters whether he thought the suspect deserved a death sentence, Mayor de Blasio said, no matter what, he opposes the death penalty.

“I’m not someone who believes in the death penalty in general, I just don’t,” the NY mayor said in a news conference on Thursday near the site of the attack. “I believe this is an individual who should rot in prison for the rest of his life.”

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

“We continue to provide very important assistance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines in terms of training, equipment and sharing intelligence,” he said.

While USAID programs in the Philippines are not conditional, the U.S. envoy noted that the reported human rights issues affect Washington’s provision of firearms to Manila.

“What has been affected by our concerns over human rights issues is that we have been much more cautious about providing lethal weapons to the Philippine National Police (PNP), elements that are directly involved in the anti-drugs campaign,” Kim said.

A few weeks ago, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to be the “sole agency” to conduct all the government’s campaigns and operations against illegal drugs.

Under the new order, Duterte once again removed the PNP from the forefront of the so-called drug war amid public outrage over alleged police abuses and deaths of thousands of suspects.

More recently, the Philippine government announced that it would no longer accept grants with conditions perceived to affect the country’s sovereignty from the European Union (EU) and other nations.

Duterte has slammed the EU over criticism from a seven-member delegation of international parliamentarians on the administration’s war on drugs. The bloc later clarified that the delegation does not represent the EU. n

DADDY’S HOME. DADDY’S HOME A Marine soldier kisses his baby upon his arrival at Manila’s South Harbor on Monday, Oct. 30. Five hundred soldiers returned to Manila after fighting the Maute Group in Marawi city for five months.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Federal court blocks Trump’s...

PAGE A1 t gender military personnel, arguing that the president’s proposal wrongly discriminated against the trans community and violated their constitutional right to due process equal protection under the law.

The case, Doe v. Trump, challenges the transgender troops ban and was brought forward by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD).

Kollar-Kotelly said the changes to the transgender policy within

the Defense Department were “not genuinely based on legitimate concerns regarding military effectiveness or budget constraints, but are instead driven by a desire to express disapproval of transgender people generally,” she wrote in her ruling.

The judge added that the president’s reason for implementing the ban “do[es] not appear to be supported by any facts.” As of now, the status quo is intact and transgender troops are still allowed to serve and re-enlist, pending the outcome of the case.

However, the ruling upheld a White House provision that elimi-

nated federal spending on sex reassignment surgery for transgender troops.

In his initial announcement of the ban, Trump sent a series of tweets in July that the military “cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail,” claiming he was consulted by “my Generals and military experts.”

Following the unexpected announcement, the RAND Corporation released a study that, based on a 2011 survey of 6,546 trans military personnel, the estimated medical costs for transgender troops would only amount to

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Dateline USa

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US proud of helping PH retake Marawi New York City becomes first... ippines (AFP) as they defeated the terrorist insurrection in Marawi AJPress City,” Kim said.

THE United States is proud to “As [U.S. Defense] Secretary have supported the Philippine Mattis made clear earlier this government in liberating Marawi week, we commend the outstandCity from Islamic State (IS)-ining work of the Philippine military spired Maute terrorists. in retaking Marawi. They deserve Philippine President Rodrigo great respect and appreciation,” Duterte declared the city liberathe added. ed on October 17 after insurgent Mattis earlier lauded the AFP leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar for its effort in reclaiming Marawi, Maute were killed by the governsaying its triumph has sent a “very ment troops. Following October strong message” to terrorists.

23, the country’s Department of The U.S. government likewise National Defense (DND) declared expressed anew its condolences Marawi siege over. to the victims of the conflict as they reiterated their support for the rehabilitation of the city.

“I also would like to again offer our deepest condolences to the people of the Philippines for the suffering and the loss of life during the five months’ ordeal,” Kim said.

“We will continue to support the Philippines’ government as it begins to rehabilitate Marawi and the surrounding area,” he added.

The U.S. government has donated P730 million ($14.3 million) for the rehabilitation of Marawi City.

According to Kim, these include 153 million pesos in humanitarian assistance and more than 577 million pesos “to support the early recovery, stabilization, and rehabilitation of Marawi and the surrounding area.”

The U.S. government further expressed support to “educational programs that bring together students and women leaders to explore innovative ways to adPhilippine Navy armored personnel carriers join the convoy upon arrival in Manila from Marawi dress the challenges facing the City. The Fleet-Marine contingent that saw battle in Marawi was given a heroes’ welcome at people of Marawi and the Mindits headquarters along Roxas Boulevard on Monday, October 30. anao region.” n PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

by Dana

SioSon

Since the terrorist group’ attack on May 23, the U.S. has provided intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance support to the Philippine army. They also donated at least P2.84 billion worth of equipments, which include drones, guns, and ammunitions.

Speaking before the before the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim hailed the Philippine military’s victory in its battle against Maute terrorists.

“We are proud to have supported the Armed Forces of the Phil-

PAGE A1 t

NYC leaders held a rally Tuesday at City Hall to celebrate the law going into effect.

“New York City is taking a decisive step forward in the fight for equal pay. This new law will help to end the cycles of structural racism and sexism that have held women and people of color back for too long, and create a fairer City for all New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Today, we say goodbye to the much-dreaded question that forces too many women and people of color to continue working at an unfairly low wage, job after job. Beginning today, employers in New York City who ask job applicants to share their salary history are breaking the law. And NYC will hold them accountable; because people should be paid based on the skills and qualifications they bring to a job, not the size of their last paycheck,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray, Co-Chair of the Commission on Gender Equity.

“Equal pay for equal work is a basic human right and today, New York City takes a critical step towards achieving it,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “By banning questions about salary history, we are putting a stop to an employment practice that perpetuates gender wage discrimination and hurts all New Yorkers. I’m proud that New

York is the first city in the country to officially ban this practice and ensure we are doing all we can to support women as we work to build a society where every individual has the opportunity to realize their full potential.”

“The salary history ban will help finally close the wage gap, especially for women and people of color, and I am proud that New York City is the first municipality to take this big step forward,” said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “I thank the Mayor, the First Lady, Public Advocate James, and Council Member Elizabeth Crowley for their hard work in making sure that no New Yorker is disadvantaged by their salary history.”

“Women and people of color deserve to be paid what they’re worth, not held back by their current or previous salary,” said Chair and Commissioner of the NYC Commission on Human Rights Carmelyn P. Malalis. “Today’s law will enable job seekers to negotiate a fair salary based on their skills and will help break the cycle of income inequality that has been so prevalent in the workforce for so long. We are proud to enforce this law and are actively engaging business communities and advocates to make sure everyone understands their rights and obligations under the Law.” Nationally, women earn 80 cents for every dollar that men earn, according to U.S. Census

Palace upholds right to life...

PAGE A1 t

ment is to minimize the collateral nately, there will be collateral damage,” Roque said in his first damage. The goal of the govern- Palace briefing.

He also assured the public that the administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte remains committed in upholding the right to life.

“The goal of the government is to uphold the right to life, which is to protect and promote the right to life,” Roque maintained.

“As far as this obligation is concerned, there is a continuing obligation of the state to investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of these killings,” he added.

According to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, nearly half of Filipinos believe that the deaths of the innocent are unavoidable in the course of Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Out of the 1,500 respondents, 46 percent agreed with the statement that: “It cannot be avoided that there are innocent citizens who will die in order to completely eradicate the illegal drug problem in the country.”

Of the 46 percent who said deaths of the innocent were inevitable, 21 percent said they “strongly agree” while 24 percent said they “somewhat agree.”

On the other hand, 35 percent disagreed with the statement, of which 15 percent said they “somewhat disagree” and 20 percent said they “strongly disagree.”

The remaining 19 percent were undecided, giving a net agreement score of +10 or “moderately strong” as classified by SWS. The survey was conducted from September 23 to 27 using face-to-face interviews and has a sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages.

‘Stop the killings’ Also on Thursday, families

Bureau. In New York City, women earn $5.8 billion less than men in wages each year, according to a report by New York City’s Public Advocate Tish James’ office, a disparity that’s even greater for people of color. Black women in New York City make just 55 cents for every dollar a white man makes while Hispanic women make just 45 cents. Nationally, Black men earned 73 percent of white men’s hourly earnings in 2015, according to the Pew Research Institute, while Hispanic men earned 69 percent. This translates to average hourly wages for Black and Hispanic men of $15 and $14, respectively, compared with $21 for white men.

The law, which will be enforced by the NYC Commission on Human Rights, makes it illegal for both public and private employers in New York City to inquire about a job applicant’s salary history during the hiring process, including: • Asking applicants questions about or soliciting information in any way about applicants’ current or prior earnings or benefits, including on job applications.

• Asking applicants’ current or former employers or their employees about applicants’ current or prior earnings or benefits.

• Searching public records to learn about applicants’ current or prior earnings or benefits.

• Relying on information about applicants’ current or prior earnings or benefits to set their compensation. n of enforced disappearances and victims of extrajudicial killings (EJK) victims gathered at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Memorial Center in Quezon City.

Members of the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearances (FIND) lit thousands of candles and offered prayers for victims of drug war violence in the event dubbed as “Libong Kandila at Panalangin para sa Libu-libong Biktima ng Karahasan” (A thousand candles and prayers for thousands of victims of violence).

The event, according to the group, aims to remember victims, expose the real state of human rights situation in the country, and put a stop to violence and killings.

“The families of victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings are one in holding the state accountable for these heinous and violent transgressions of human rights,” said Nilda Sevilla, FIND co-chairperson said.

“Together, they must break their silence—demand truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-repetition—in order to break impunity,” she added.

Duterte’s drug war has been heavily criticized by local human rights group and other international communities over the deaths of thousands of suspected drug pushers and users either in police operations or by vigilantes.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), there were 6,225 drug-related killings recorded from July 2016—when Duterte assumed presidency and launched the campaign—to September 2017.

The PNP insisted that there has not been a single case of extrajudicial killing, and that the estimated 9,000 to 10,000 death toll by human rights organizations were bloated. n

US running out of nurses...

PAGE A2 t a source of nurses, and has been since the country’s colonization by the U.S., as explored by Catherine Ceniza Choy, professor of Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies at the University of California Berkeley, in her book “Empire of Care: Nursing and Migration in Filipino American History”.

Filipino nurses first arrived in large numbers through The Pensionado Act of 1903 which allowed pensionados (government sponsored scholars) to study in the U.S. through a government subsidized scholarship. Nursing students either stayed in the U.S to work, or returned to the Philippines where they helped establish nursing schools. Many graduates who would again immigrate to the U.S. to work.

In 1928, the Philippine Nurses Association of New York was founded — Its first president, Marta Ubana, completed her B.S. in Nursing at Teachers College, Columbia University.

More nurses came in 1948 through the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, also known as the Smith-Mundt Act, which allowed interchanges of students, trainees, teachers, guest instructors, professors, and leaders “in fields of specialized knowledge or skill” between the U.S. and other countries.

By 1961, the Philippine Nurses Association of Northern California was created just a few

years before many nurses again came to the U.S. in numbers as a result of laxed immigration laws.

Since then, many Filipinos have continued to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), or complete Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) qualifications in hopes of working in the U.S. By 2007, the number of Philippine-educated nurses in the U.S. reached its peak and accounted for more than 30 percent of the U.S. foreign-educated nurses, according to a study by Health Services Research.

Yet as soon as the wave went up, it was followed by a drastic decrease in the following years.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found in 2016 that while approximately 10,000 nurses came to the U.S. in 2007, less than 2,000 have been recorded each year from 2011 to 2013.

The decrease may have been attributed to the U.S.’ own attempt at churning out nurses. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), close to a million nurses graduated from U.S. nursing schools from 2006 and 2011.

But in light of the current shortage situation, foreignsourced nurses may once again be needed to provide relief. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

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A

Marcos family marks All Souls’ Day at Heroes’ Cemetery

In this Nov. 18, 2016 file photo, former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos’ children Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Irene Marcos-Araneta, and Imee Marcos and his wife Imelda Marcos, pay tribute to the flag-draped casket of the late Philippine president during a ceremony of his burial at the Heroes’ Cemetery in Taguig City.

Philstar.com photo

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

THE family of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos marked this year’s All Souls’ Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) for the first time, nearly 30 years after the late strongman’s death.

A mass was held near the tomb of the former president on Wednesday, November 1. The entire Marcos family were reportedly present, except for the late dictator’s daughter, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos.

Despite the public outcry of martial law victims and their families, the late strongman was buried “unannounced” at the Heroes’ Cemetery in Taguig City on November 18 last year.

This was months after President Rodrigo Duterte gave the go-signal in August to bury the late dictator at the Heroes’ Cemetery.

In a statement, Bongbong Marcos, the late dictator’s son, signified the importance of the event for his family. He also expressed gratitude towards the supporters of his father.

“Mabuti naman at hanggang ngayon ay naalala pa ang kaniyang mga naitulong at nagawa para sa bansa sa panahon na siya’y buhay pa at nagseserbisyo (It’s good that until now people still remember his service to the country when he was still alive),” Bongbong said.

“I remember the moments of greatness during his presidency but also the moments of intimacy.

I’m lucky to have known him in that regard, perhaps not the same as other people, but I had the benefit of knowing him as a father, as a person, as a man,” he added.

Late President Marcos, who was ousted during the 1986 EDSA Revolution, died of kidney, heart and lung ailments in 1989 while he was in exile in Hawaii.

His body was allowed to return to the Philippines in 1992 with several conditions, among of which include that he will be buried in his family mausoleum in Batac upon arrival.

Marcos stamp another ‘revision of history’ A group of martial law victims

and peace advocates criticized the recent issuance of a commemorative stamp for late President Marcos.

Earlier in September, the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) released a commemorative stamp for the 100th birth anniversary of the late strongman.

The stamp, which shows a smiling Marcos with his signature and the words “Birth Centenary,” will be on sale until the September 10 next year.

In a statement released Friday, October 27, the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacanang (CARMMA) said the centenary stamp is another “stolen credit, another stamping of Marcos rehabilitation and revision of history.”

“The Duterte regime’s political rehabilitation of the Marcos goes on and on. One day, shall we see images of Marcos all over the country? Posters, action figures?

We can only express extreme disgust,” it said.

CARMMA also tagged Duterte, who’s been accused of whitewashing the late dictator’s career, as a “copycat” of “his idol Marcos.”

“Before he thinks of being put in a stamp, or becoming an action figure, he should worry of the people’s verdict to him as one president who won through popular support, but gave failed change and resulted [in] anti-people policies, and creeping towards a tyrannical rule,” CARMMA added.

In defense, PHLPost assistant post master Luis Carlos clarified that the Marcos stamp has no political overtones and was only released as part of a series of stamps marking Philippine presidents’ 100th birthdays.

“We are just following the guidelines. The presidents who have birth centenaries have stamps issued,” Carlos said. n

De Lima receives int’l ‘Prize for Freedom’ award

by Dana

SioSon

AJPress

its alleged human rights abuses and state-sanctioned killings.

She has been detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial center in Quezon City since February over drug-related charges but her camp and supporters claimed the accusations against her were “politically-motivated and trumped-up.”

LI also noted that it was one of the first international organizations to campaign for the senator’s release.

In a statement, De Lima said she is “humbled and honored to be chosen as the recipient of this prestigious Human Rights Prize, which was also bestowed to former President and democracy icon Corazon Aquino.”

In 1987, LI has conferred Aquino the same recognition “for her world-renowned advocacy of democracy, peace, and

IN recognition for her human rights advocacy, Liberal International (LI) has awarded Philippine Senator Leila De Lima its “highest human rights honor.”

In a statement released Tuesday, October 31, LI said the senator was chosen to become this year’s recipient of the Prize for Freedom award during its 199th Executive Committee meeting earlier this week in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This made De Lima—whom the organization described as a “political prisoner” and a critic of “authoritarian” Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte—the second Filipino to receive the same award after the late Philippine President Corazon Aquino in 1987.

According to LI, the Prize for Freedom is awarded to “a wellknown personality of liberal conviction who has made outstanding efforts for the defence of freedom and human rights.”

LI’s Human Rights Committee Chair Markus Löning, who met with the senator in detention in July this year, tagged her as a “flag-bearer” for human rights in the country and beyond “Leila De Lima has been a flag-bearer for human rights in the Philippines and beyond, setting a shining example for other human rights defenders,” Löning said.

He added, “Even from inside the prison she keeps fighting for the rule of law and the dignity of individuals. She should immediately be released from pre-trial detention.”

De Lima, a member of the Liberal Party (LP), has been highly critical of the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs” over Senator Leila De Lima

Federal court blocks Trump’s...

PAGE A3 t 0.004-0.017 percent of the Defense Department total health care spending.

After the president first tweeted in July, the Pentagon, saying they didn’t receive any notice beforehand, rejected the notice and allowed transgender military personnel to continue serving.

Pentagon officials were blindsided by the announcement and announced days after the president’s memo that the military will not modify its policies.

Currently, there is no official registry that keeps count of how many transgender people serve

in uniform; up until former President Barack Obama’s 2016 policy change that allowed transgender troops to serve openly, they faced discharge for disclosing their sexual identities.

A 2014 report from UCLA Law School said there are an estimated 15,500 transgender individuals on active duty or in the Guard or Reserve forces.

Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling was seen as a significant win for transgenders’ rights activists and the LGBTQ community at large.

GLAAD, the largest LGBT advocacy organization, applauded the federal court’s ruling, calling

the empowerment of women.”

De Lima then vowed to “continue opposing this murderous regime,” citing the recognition as her inspiration.

“More than a recognition, I regard this award as an inspiration that strengthens my resolve to continue opposing this murderous regime, its outright disregard for human rights and trampling of human dignity to my last breath, especially because I am not alone in my fight,” the senator added.

Her political party, likewise, hailed the international organization’s recognition of her advocacy.

“The prize is a testament that no walls or prison bars can weaken the spirit of any freedom fighter. Democratic change is a legitimate and rightful dream,” the LP said in a statement. n

FIGHT EJK ALLIANCE. A group of lawyer-academicians who built their career on providing legal assistance to the poor have banded together to form an alliance amid the rising deaths under the government’s bloody drug war. Mga Manananggol Laban sa Extrajudicial Killings or Manlaban sa EJKs was launched on Thursday, November 2. The group wants to join what they call as “the ever-growing voices of protest against rampant killings” in the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. The alliance said that it will be conducting forums, releasing statements and legal opinions on human rights issues, and provide concrete legal assistance to kin of EJK victims.

Philstar.com photo by Romina Cabrera

Baguio is first Philippine city in UNESCO Creative Cities Network by artemio

Dumlao Philstar.com

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio City, known as the country’s summer capital, is the first city in the Philippines chosen as one of 64 cities that UNESCO has included in the Creative Cities Network.

The Creative Cities Network was created in 2004 and is “a global initiative to improve urban living standards by developing industries based on innovation and creativity” and “to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development,” the UN agency said on its website.

It uses the framework of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which sets international priorities for economic, social and environmental development.

“These new designations showcase an enhanced diversity in city profiles and geographical balance,” said UNESCO Direc-

A flower-clad street dancer in Baguio City’s Panagbenga Festival.

Philstar.com file photo by Artemio A. Dumlao

tor General Irina Bokova.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network, formed by 116 members from 54 countries, aims to: • strengthen international cooperation between cities • strengthen the creation, production, distribution and dissemination of cultural activities, goods and services • develop hubs of creativity and innovation • fully integrate culture and creativity into local development strategies and plans

The network covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.

Baguio City made it under the Crafts and Folk Arts category and was short-listed in September.

Being a popular holiday destination for its chilly mountain climate and still abundant pine trees, Baguio City is also recognized for its artistry, with the likes of Ben Cabrera and Kidlat

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Inquirer.net photo

it a “step forward” in combating the perceived “full-scale attack on LGBTQ Americans” from the Trump White House.

“The U.S. District Court’s temporary halt of the trans military ban is a major step forward in exposing President Trump’s policy as a hate-fueled attack on some of the bravest Americans who serve and protect our nation,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD. “Today’s victory reflects what a majority of Americans have been saying: that transgender service members should be thanked and not relegated to second-class citizenship.” (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

A6 NOVEMBER 3-9, 2017 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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

FEATURES

OPINION Asian allies THE Philippine economy is booming. With more foreign players starting to invest in the country, there is no better time to harness the good prospect of doing business in the Philippines than now. Despite some tough times, the country is still able to offer the best investment opportunities.

The country is entering a “golden age of strategic partnership” with Japan, as both sides have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in various areas of mutual concern.

This was how Pres. Rodrigo Duterte described his recent two-day sojourn to the Land of the Rising Sun on Oct. 30-31, where he met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko to reaffirm bilateral partnership between the two Asian nations and deepen their cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

When he returned home on Tuesday, Oct. 31, Duterte brought home with him multi-billion dollars worth of pledges of assistance and investments from Japan.

The Japanese government reiterated its full commitment to assist the Philippines in its economic and infrastructure development in the next five years by pledging close to $9 billion through a special fund.

“This covers huge impact and high-value infrastructure projects that my country needs to sustain and spur our economic growth. There will be some of the most ambitious and groundbreaking projects, including the Metro Manila Subway project, and major developments in the regions and prov-

inces,” Duterte announced.

Prime Minister Abe also vowed “maximum support” for the restoration of Marawi and further strengthen support for Mindanao’s peace and development and its efforts toward the establishment of an autonomous government.

He said it was a great honor to welcome Duterte whom he described as “dear and cherished friend.”

“I conformed with President Duterte that we are both maritime nations sharing basic values and strategic interests. And as such, Japan and the Philippines will cooperate to address common issues such as North Korea nuclear and missile issue and the only resolution of the abduction issue and realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific and also counter measures against terrorism and illegal drugs,” Abe said.

Aside from the whopping amount worth of investments, the two leaders also vowed to further promote bilateral cooperation in energy, employment creation, information and communication technology, environment, agriculture and disaster reduction.

Six decades have passed since the reconciliation of the Philippines and Japan after the dam-

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

age brought upon by the Japanese Military in the country during World War II. Since then, Japan has been one of the Philippines ’ top donors by continuously providing the country with grants and soft loans.

Duterte’s recent trip from Japan brought not

only good news but also generated a certainty about the future path of cooperation between the two countries. Japan—being an adherent of globalization—expressed its confidence in the Philippines and has always provided ways to help the country gain its full economic potential. (AJPress)

Russia collusion case vs Trump campaign moves forward with indictments and a guilty plea THE TRUMP administration has claimed The Fil-Am that the independent probe by Special Perspective Counsel Robert Mueller on the alleged collusion between Russia and the Trump cam- GEL SANTOS-RELOS paign to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election is ending because of lack of evidence.

However, the fact is: the case has moved forward with the indictment of Trump’s former top campaign aides and his one-time foreign policy adviser pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his Kremlin-related contacts.

President Donald Trump downplayed the significance of this development and his administration said this has nothing to

do with the campaign and proves nothing about its alleged conspiracy with Russia to influence the elections by hurting Hillary Clinton’s chances in order for Trump to win.

Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and the latter’s business associate, Rick Gates, pleaded not guilty to charges against them which include money laundering.

Trump used Twitter to call this development “Fake News,” stating that according to Manafort’s lawyer, there is no collusion and that what was being charged against his former campaign chief took place before he joined his campaign.

However, according to BBC News, the

indictment of the Mueller investigation alleges that Manafort and Gates conspired on financial crimes from 2006-2017, which covers the period over the summer when Manafort played the important role as campaign manager of the Trump campaign.

Trump also lambasted the credibility of George Papadopoulos through Twitter, calling him a “liar” and a “low-level volunteer” when in the past he would describe him as an “excellent guy” when he served as his campaign’s foreign policy adviser.

BBC News reported further that Papadopoulos was in a photo that Trump tweeted of himself in March of 2016 hosting a national security meeting with his foreign policy team.

According to NBC News, court documents in the case revealed that based on

evidence gathered by the Mueller investigation, the Trump campaign officials were aware that Papadopoulos was trying to set up a meeting between Trump and the Russians, with one of them being Manafort, who wrote a key email about what Papadopoulos was trying to arrange.

The Manafort email stated in the court documents stated, “We need someone to communicate that DT is not doing these trips. It should be someone low level in the campaign so as not to send any signal”.

As NBC News reported, the court documents revealed how Papadopoulos lied when questioned by the FBI regarding communications with foreign nationals with ties to the Russian government who were seeking to establish a relationship with at least one Trump campaign offi-

cials, offering “dirt” on Hillary Clinton.

THEREFORE, for the Trump and his administration to continue to say the charges against the Trump campaign is a witch hunt and that the Mueller investigation is folding for lack of evidence is FAKE NEWS. Mueller will weigh how this and the other evidence regarding the communications and ties of other Trumpan campaign members with Russia tell the whole and factual story.

We, the American people, deserve to know no less than the truth. *** 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

America faces deadliest drug crisis in its history. Why is the world not butting in?

Opinion

YEN MAKABENTA LAST Thursday, October 27, according to The New York Times and news agencies, U.S. President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency, taking long-anticipated action to address a rapidly escalating epidemic of drug use.

Speaking from the White house, Trump said: “No part of our society—not young or old, rich or poor, urban or rural—has been spared this plague of drug addiction and this horrible, horrible situation that’s taken place with opioids.”

The elaborate and emotional ceremony was attended by families affected by opioid abuse, members of Congress and administration officials.

Facts of US drug crisis It’s useful even for Filipinos to understand the ramifications of the U.S. drug crisis, because it can help us understand our own embattlement.

Trump said in his announcement: “Effective today, my administration is officially declaring the opioid crisis a national public health emergency under federal law. I am directing all executive agencies to use every appropri-

ate emergency authority to fight the opioid crisis.

“We can be the generation that ends the opioid epidemic.”

Opioids are a type of drugs that include illegal substances, such as heroin, and legal painkillers—medications such as oxycodone, codeine and morphine are all types of opioids.

According to the latest figures from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), deaths from opioid overdoses—either prescription or illegal—have quadrupled in the US since 1999. The CDC recorded 33,091 deaths in 2015.Since 2000, more than 200,000 Americans have died from overdoses of prescription opioids.

The opioid epidemic or opioid crisis is the rapid increase in the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in the United States and Canada in the 2010s. Opioids are a diverse class of moderately strong painkillers, including oxycodone (commonly sold under the trade names OxyContin and Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and a very strong painkiller, Fentanyl, which is synthesized to resemble other opiates such as opium-derived morphine and heroin. The potency and availability of these substances, despite their high risk of addiction and overdose, have made them popular both as formal medical treatments and as recreational drugs.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, “overdose deaths, particularly

from prescription drugs and heroin, have reached epidemic levels.” In 2016, 62,000 Americans died from overdoses, 19 percent more than in 2015.

Mention of the drug Fentanyl will ring a bell with Filipinos. The drug is being used by DU30. A newer synthetic opioid painkiller, Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin.

In 2016, the medical publication STAT reported that while Mexican cartels are a main source of heroin smuggled into the US, Chinese suppliers provide both raw fentanyl and the machinery necessary for its production. In British Columbia, police discovered a lab making 100,000 fentanyl pills each month, which they were shipping to Calgary, Alberta.

Silence of the meddlers Now, here’s the remarkable part. As America struggles against its deadly drug crisis, the United Nations has not noticed. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have not said a single word in comment. The European parliament has kept it silence.

Here in the Philippines, after President Rodrigo Duterte declared the existence of an alarming drug crisis here at home, and then decided to use state powers to wage war on illegal drugs, by arresting or even killing people engaged in the drug trade and taking into custody drug users, they took notice.

After he started to show results,

with casualties in the drug war, they got even more interested.

They started taking part in home-based efforts to stop DU 30 and his campaign.

I am mystified why the drug epidemics in America and the Philippines have produced totally contrasting responses from foreign countries and groups.

With one, they are unconcerned and do not care. With our problem, they have no hesitation in meddling and even prescribe what we should be doing instead.

Is this the recrudescence of colonialism?

I think it has more to do with the difference in our political cultures and the current state of national politics in our two countries.

Americans unite against epidemic In the U.S., both Democrats and Republicans support Trump’s declaration of a health emergency because of the opioid crisis.

Democrats were disappointed only by the fact that Trump did not appropriate federal funds to combat the crisis.

“America is hemorrhaging lives by the day because of the opioid epidemic, but President Trump offered the country a Band-Aid when we need a tourniquet,” said Sen. Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts.

Republicans stand squarely behind the emergency declaration. The chairperson of the Republican national committee

issued a strong statement: “Last year more than 64,000 Americans in every corner of our country were lost to drug overdoses.

That’s 142 people each day.

For too long we have not faced this growing crisis head-on. And while we’ve lost so many, we must also remember the innocent children born to addicted parents who are exposed to the dangers of this crisis from their first breath. According to a Center for Disease (CDC) report, the number of babies born addicted to opioids has tripled in the US in 15 years.

It won’t be easy, but we can be —and must be—the generation that puts an end to this crisis, and that starts with our politicians in Washington.

Because addiction is a disease, not a moral failing, we must treat it as such.

Every moment we wait to act, the crisis gets worse.”

Why foreign groups meddle in our affairs Foreign countries and international NGOs meddle in Philippine efforts to combat the drugs epidemic, while shying away from intervening in the US, not because Americans will only laugh at them, but because the Filipino political opposition actively lobby for them to intervene and make life miserable for Duterte and his administration.

Foreign intervention in our affairs may be the only card of the opposition now. They once had hopes in the CIA doing some mischief, but now it’s out of the business of regime change

under Donald Trump. What the opposition relies more on now is the noise that can be readily provided by human rights groups, that seek mainly to raise funds from donors. Some countries, especially in Europe, can be counted on to issue statements.

And then there are the international media organizations, which are always in the hunt for a good story and a cause to champion.

The Philippine drug war has become a convenient target of criticism and propaganda. It’s a sign of the superficiality of the criticism that international critics and agitators do not see the drug problem in the Philippines at all. They are fixated on the so-called extra-judicial killings (EJKs), which have not been documented. It‘s only Duterte’s oftentimes wild statements that give them currency.

The opposition looks overmatched in the battle for hearts and minds. When the Liberal Party shifted colors from yellow to white, it was seen by most Filipinos as the waving of a white flag. Administration communicators have only to remind the public about Noynoy Aquino to rev up government support.

When the AFP and the government ended the IS-inspired siege of Marawi this month after five months of urban warfare, they recorded a victory that will translate to a new reserve of strength for the Duterte presidency. No one will meddle in Philippine affairs for a while.

(ManilaTimes.net)

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

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmbER 3-9, 2017

A

PH, Japan sign $6 billion business deals

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

The Philippines has signed 18 business deals with Japanese firms that will yield at least $6 billion worth of new investments, Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez announced.

Lopez said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was present during the signing of agreements on Monday, October 30, in Tokyo.

According to the trade secretary, firms will invest through joint ventures and the expansion of operations in the Philippines in manufacturing (shipbuilding, iron, steel); agribusiness, power, renewable energy, transportation, infrastructure, mineral processing, retailing, information technology, among others. “[Duterte] met several Japanese companies and witnessed several B-B MOUs (business-tobusiness memoranda of understanding) and letters of intent on Investment plans, joint ventures and expansion of operations in the Philippines,” Lopez said.

“Total new investments (are expected to reach) $6 billion,” he added.

Among the Japanese companies that pledged investments to the Philippines were Marubeni Corporation; Itochu Corporation; Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.; Taiheiyo Cement Corporation; Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.; Japan Tobacco Inc.; Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.; Ministop Co., Ltd.; and Lawson Inc. Also included were Ubicon holdings, Inc.; Advanced World Solutions, Inc.; Densan System Co. Ltd.; hitachi Asia; hitachi Ltd.; Subic Smart Community Corporation; Nomura Real estate Development Co., Ltd.; Isetan Mitsukoshi holdings Ltd.; Federal Land, Inc.; and Yamato Kogyo and Itochu Corporation.

Meanwhile, Philippine firms which expressed intention to engage in joint ventures with Japanese companies were Alsons/ AWS Information Systems, Inc.; CIS Bayad Center, Inc.; Meralco; Newcoast Southbeach Realty, Inc.; Federal Land, Inc.; SteelA-

President Rodrigo Duterte and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands after delivering their joint press statement following the summit meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday, October 30.

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo

sia Manufacturing Corporation; and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.

Lopez added that he also met with his Japanese counterpart hiroshige Seko and discussed ways to improve market access and lowering tariff for Philippine agricultural products like banana, pineapple, and mango.

They also discussed Japan’s support for Industrial Cooperation Dialogue and improving supply chain for the benefit of small and medium enterprises in the Philippines. $1-billion loan The Japanese government likewise pledge $1.143 billion or 129.857 billion yen worth of loans to fund key infrastructure and development projects in the Philippines.

According to a statement released by the Japanese foreign ministry, the loan will partly fund three Philippine projects, which include the Metro Manila Subway Project; the arterial road bypass project; and the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project.

Citing the robust ties between the two countries, Lopez said the terms of loans are friendly.

“It’s really development assistance. It’s like giving a friend a very good deal,” Lopez told reporters. “It’s like a friend helping another friend.”

Japan is providing as much as 104.53 billion yen to support the first phase of the Metro Manila Subway Project, which has an interest rate of 0.1 percent per annum and repayment period of 28 years after a 12-year grace period.

The subway—which seeks to help address the traffic congestion in Metro Manila—is expected to run from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to FTI complex in Taguig City, with an additional line extending towards the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals in Pasay City.

Meanwhile, about 9.399 billion yen will be used to fund the third phase of the arterial road bypass project, which has an interest rate of 1.5 percent per annum and repayment period of 20 years after the grace period of 10 years.

The bypass project aims to relieve traffic congestion in Plaridel City by constructing a highway directly linking Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

Japan will also provide 15.928 billion yen loan to fund the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project, which seeks to reduce flood damage in the province.

It has an interest rate of 0.3 percent per annum and repayment period of 30 years after a 10-year grace period. n

REMEMBERING OUR HEROES. Angel Dimacutac, a member of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, puts miniature flags beside the tombs of fallen heroes at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Tuesday, Oct. 31, as part of the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day .

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Alvarez to Sereno: Show up at impeachment hearing

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

hOUSe Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Philippine Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno should personally appear during Congress hearings so she could be given the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses in the impeachment complaint against her.

In a statement, Alvarez claimed that Sereno’s failure to appear before Congress amount to the waiving of her right to cross-examine witnesses.

Citing the rules of procedure in impeachment proceedings, Alvarez insisted that defense lawyers cannot cross-examine witnesses themselves.

“She should appear because she is the accused. Otherwise, her right to cross-examine the witnesses would be waived. If she does not appear, her lawyers have no right to cross-examine the witnesses,“ the house speaker said over the weekend.

Sereno’s camp recently filed a motion asking the house Committee on Justice to allow her lawyers to question the witnesses in the impeachment proceedings PAGE A5 t Cordilleran woven art through creating handwoven products. against her.

Igorot hand weaving icon Narda Notable handicraft items, Tahimik (eric de Guia), among In the motion filed last week, the distinguished members of Capuyan, who had kept the in- which are often sold as souvenir the chief justice’s counsel asked digenous hand weaving tradition items, include hand weaving, the famed Baguio Arts Guild.

It is also known for promoting alive by training young women in wood carving and metalcraft. n the panel to “recognize her con-

Baguio is first Philippine city...

stitutionally guaranteed rights to be represented by a legal counsel and to confront the witnesses against her through lawyers representing her.”

“The right to be heard and be defended by counsel in all stages of a criminal proceeding is a very basic right of an individual, which not even this honorable Committee, indeed Congress, can take away from a respondent in an impeachment proceeding,” the motion further read. expressing disagreement with the house speaker, Sereno’s camp insisted that her lawyers have the right to cross-examine the resource persons as a matter of due process.

Defense counsel Josa Deinla, one of Sereno’s spokespersons, warned that the impeachment proceedings against the chief justice might turn into “onesided” affair if their camp would be barred from cross-examining witnesses.

“What will happen is that the determination of probable cause will be a one-sided affair and we think that it should not be the picture seen both by the public and the members of the committee,” Deinla said in a radio interview.

Deinla said they would insist on their motion to recognize Sereno’s “constitutionally guar-

anteed rights” when the hearing resumes on November 20.

“Under our Constitution, since she is the accused, Sereno has the right to be defended by her lawyers,” he pointed out.

“Only she has the right to decide whether or not to exercise this right since she is a respondent, who is similar to an accused, and not just a witness or resource person invited by Congress,” he added.

Last month, the house justice committee found the impeachment complaint filed by Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon to be sufficient in form and substance. he accused Sereno of culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, other high crimes and betrayal of public trust.

Among the grounds in Gadon’s impeachment rap include Sereno’s “whimsical” and “excessive” purchase of a Toyota Land Cruiser amounting to P5.1 million, and misuse of judiciary funds when attending local and foreign conferences. he also accused Sereno of failing to be truthful in declaring her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), as well as obstructing justice when she ordered Muntinlupa judges to not to issue arrest warrants against Senator Leila De Lima, among others.

A november 3-9, 2017 • neW YorK AnD neW JerSeY ASIAn JoUrnAL

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NOVEMBER 3-9, 2017

EDWIN JOSUE, DEPARTMENT OF TOURISMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MS. PURA MOLINTAS, CONSUL GENERAL TESS DE VEGA AND VIVIAN CRUZ ON STAGE TO WELCOME THE PARTICIPANTS TO THE 2017 HOMECOMING SA KONSULADO.

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MS. PURA MOLINTAS EXPLAINS THE MECHANICS OF THE BRING HOME A FRIEND PROJECT.

THIS YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ATTENDANCE REACHED MORE THAN 200, THE MOST SINCE THE PROJECT STARTED IN 2012.

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AJPRESS PHOTOS BY MOMAR G. VISAYA

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 3, 20 1 7

6th homecoming sa Konsulado holds its biggest gathering yet

by MoMar

WITH the theme: “Makibahagi: Mentoring for Change,” the 6th edition of the Homecoming sa Konsulado (HSK) gathered its largest participation so far with nearly 200 guests attending the whole-day HSK program on October 21. The HSK is a Flagship Community program of the Philippine Consulate General in New York.

The day’s program featured a parade of schools with participants wearing their school colors and carrying their respective banners and introduction of alumni associations.

Special performances took place throughout the whole day program including by UP alumna and pop rock vocalist Michelle Michelle, Line Dancing led by Noel Gamboa of UP, Kinding Sindaw Cultural Group led by Potri Ranka Manis, and several

G. Visaya/AJPress

UP Alumni win the Best in Attendance award with about 40 members participating in the day’s events.

musical numbers by the 2017 New York Bandastiks winner, Band of Brothers of De La Salle University.

New York DOT Officer-inCharge and concurrent Tourism Representative in San Franciso Ms. Purificacion Molintas also led the pre-launch of the Department of Tourism’s “Bring Home a Friend to the Philippines” project at the event. Ms. Molintas shared the details of the project mechanics and encouraged everyone to be an active Philippine tourism ambassador and join the program.

Game time at the Homecoming sa Konsulado.

Alex Esteban, HSK Over-all Chair and Philippine Women’s was the Project Update on “Gabay University (PWU) Alumni Mag-aaral” a mentoring program Association member shared for Philippine public schools that “the HSK is truly an event being undertaken on a pilot level everyone looks forward too by volunteers from the HSK Core as it provides a friendly, warm Group.. The updates on Visayas atmosphere and an opportunity and Mindanao pilot mentoring for more community members to programs were presented by connect.”

Dr. Joie Calub of Cebu Normal A highlight of the 6th HSK University and Dr. Roxanne Cajigas

Philippine Tourism Department in NY OIC Ms. Pura Molintas introduces “Bring Home a Friend to the Philippines”.

The Bandastiks 2017 Winner De La Salle University’s Band of Brothers perform a wellapplauded number.

volunteers for our Gabay MagAaral project before the end of the year.

“These volunteers will be mobilized to the different public elementary schools in the Philippines to touch base with Grade 6 students through a pep talk/assembly/convocation who will then emphasize on how they attain success in spite of their struggles and challenges,” he shared.

Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega thanked all those who contributed their time and resources to making the 6th HSK possible. She encouraged the participating alumni associations to use the HSK as a venue to strengthen and expand their respective associations and to take part in the HSK collective programs such as the Gabay Mag-aaral.

In July 2012, then Deputy Consul General DeVega invited presidents or their representatives of alumni associations of Philippine colleges and universities to a meeting to The PAL Team gave away a roundtrip ticket to the Philippines to further bolster Philippine discuss a proposed event which tourism.

Photos courtesy of PCGNY would provide alumni associations of the Paaralan sa Konsulado Team, and UP Alumni Association of American President Nelsie Parrado. A 2017-2018 sign-up for the mentoring program was held at the event.

As the project gets bigger every year, Esteban said that they will be busy training the mentor

based in the Tri-State area and the US Northeast a venue to meet and recruit graduates of their respective Philippine colleges and universities to join alumni associations.

The 2017 participating alumni associations were – UP Alumni Association, De La Salle University, St. Scholastica’s College, Assumption, University of Santo Tomas, Philippine Women’s University, Paaralan sa Konsulado, College of the Holy Spirit, St. Paul’s College, Mindanao State University, Maryknoll/Miriam College, University of San Carlos, San Beda College, Letran College, Silliman University, Ateneo Alumni Association, and for the first time, Cebu Normal University. Alumni of other schools such as Mapua Institute of Technology, and Lyceum of the Philippines also attended the event.

Games and raffles also took place during the day-long event adding to the festive atmosphere.

Among the sponsors for the event were the Department of Tourism, Philippine Airlines, GMA Pinoy TV, and RIA Money Transfer.

Nadine Lustre grateful for emotional Robi Domingo: No regrets support from boyfriend James Reid choosing showbiz over med school

SINCE losing her brother Isaiah, Nadine Lustre has kept a strong front, using her voice to raise awareness on mental health.

In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, she revealed that she would be taking a break from work.

On coping with the tragic loss, she said, “Medyo nasa healing stage pa. Siyempre hindi naman po ganun kadaling magmove on (I’m still at the healing stage. Of course, it’s not that easy

to move on).”

“Nung bago pa lang, ang hirap. ‘Yung emotions ko hindi ko ma-control and then siyempre ‘yung pag-iisip ko medyo [magulo na rin]. Sobrang stressful,” she shared.

(It was hard just after it happened. I couldn’t control my emotions and of course my thoughts were jumbled. It was so stressful.)

In her boyfriend of over one year and love team partner James Reid, she found a source of

Nadine Lustre and James Reid

ABS-CBN photo

strength. “Happy ako na nandiyan siya, hindi siya napapagod na magsupport lang sa akin (I’m happy he’s there for me, that he doesn’t get tired of supporting me).”

She shared that her family has grown closer since the tragedy.

“Mas nagkikita po kami ngayon, bonding, nagce-celebrate ng mga birthdays (We see each other more often, bonding, celebrating birthdays together).”

Her 24th birthday today is being spent in Japan with Reid and her family.

Family members like dad, Ulysses, have also used social media to speak up on depression, which Lustre herself has also suffered from.

Isaiah, 16, took his own life in their family home early October.

As a message of hope and support to those suffering from mental health issues, Ulysses tattooed the words “Keep Going” on his hand.

Reid said of his girlfriend, “She’s been doing good. It’s not easy what she’s going through so this kind of thing really just takes time and patience.” (Niña V. Guno/Inquirer. net)

crisis. I would always ask myself: Is this where I’m really going? But you just have to be happy with ROBI Domingo has no regrets the things happening in your giving up his medical school life. Sometimes, you just have to plans for a career in showbiz. accept things. You’re #blessed.

The 27 year old said that if he That is what I always think to weren’t working now as a VJ and myself. This is the path that the host, most likely he’d be following Lord has given me, I just have to in his parents’ footsteps. His embrace it.” mom is a pediatrician, his dad a The desire to be a doctor surgeon, plus his grandfather is may not be as fervent as before, an eye doctor. but it has not gone away either, “Before I was really serious he said. “It’s still there. (If ever, I (about becoming a medical just) have to take the refresher doctor). My pre-med course was course and the NMAT again.”

Health Sciences at the Ateneo Robi recently found himself and I was supposed to take that hanging out with his supposed step (med school),” Robi said. med school batchmates who He added, “I already took were, at that time, just waiting the NMAT (National Medical for the results of the 2017 Admission Test) and passed. My physician licensure exams. score, I think, was 90-plus. I was “They were my really prepared to go into the batchmates. Yung iba pa Ateneo School of Medicine and nga doon nango-ngopya pa Public Health.” sa akin dati,” Robi laughed, Then, a career in the “now they’re doctors. I do feel entertainment business came slightly envious of them. But a-calling. In 2008, he joined I just think to myself, if they’re the ABS-CBN reality TV show wearing a white coat, I also get “Pinoy Big Brother” (PBB) where to wear a black coat during the he landed first runner-up. What Star Magic Ball.” happened next was he was When asked if the advised by ABS-CBN production fact that he’s now division head and TV/film director doing great and Laurenti Dyogi to “just take a year earning well off.” made him forgo But Robi took on one hosting med school, assignment after another, thus Robi said, becoming part of at least 20 TV “Maybe, I just shows since the PBB, from the became more subsequent PBB editions, to “The practical in Voice”, “Dance Kids”, “I Can Do life. That’s That”, “ASAP”, etc. Just recently, he the term my won as Best Reality/Talent Show mom used.

Host at the ALTA Media Icon I became Awards and Best Variety Show practical.

Host at the seventh EdukCircle But at the Awards. end of the And he did some acting on day, it’s all the side. about the “I’m just so blessed. I’m just so passion and the Ronnie Alonte Photos courtesy of Penshoppe lucky,” he said. willingness to help Nevertheless, Robi admitted about 71 percent already, and Robi Domingo on hosting that there was a time when he that’s a remarkable number career: I used to ask myself, felt confused whether he was considering that those that are is this where I’m really going? really cut for showbiz or not.

But you just have to be happy bullied are the youth and in the “I had that episode in my life with the things happening in school setup,” Cheyenne dela your life.

ABS-CBN photo where I underwent a quarter-life Continued on Page 7

int’l, local celebs join call to stop bullying

by ChristiNa alpad ManilaTimes.net

THE Merriam Webster dictionary defines bullying as the abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by one who is stronger and more powerful.

The root cause and repercussion, however, transcend beyond a fewworded definition.

While bullying has first been regarded as a simple banter between children in school environment, confessions from victims of such act and news about young people committing suicide due to bullying have forced not only school officials but also authorities around the globe to look at the issue.

According to a study by The Youth Ambassadors For Kids

Bella Hadid

Club, 77 percent of students are bullied mentally, verbally and physically. The Philippines is not an exemption.

“Over here, with the study in 2016, bullying actually increased

by Nathalie toMada Philstar.com

other people.”

He believes that in entertainment, you get to use your talents to make people happy. “I’ve discovered that a lot of people watch YouTube or shows like ASAP to uplift their spirits. If you’re able to make them laugh on TV or in events, it’s a big thing for me.”

One thing is certain, his family of doctors supports his decision.

“They’re supportive... Kung saka-sakali daw di ako magdoctor, maghanap na lang ako ng doctor. (They said, in case, I don’t become a doctor, I’ll just have to go find myself a doctor),” he mused.

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

Extension requests to be thoroughly reviewed, despite prior petition approval

SINCE about 2004, USCIS had a policy that if an initial H-1B petition was approved, and the alien later applied for an extension, the officer adjudicating the extension was to show deference (respect for another person because of that person’s knowledge, experience, etc.), except in the limited circumstances where the officer processing the extension determined there was a “material error”, substantial change in circumstances, or there is new material information that would adversely impact the petitioner or beneficiary’s eligibility.

In other words, if an H1B petition had already been approved, ordinarily the extension should likewise be approved.

However, on October 23, 2017, USCIS issued a Policy Memorandum rescinding (or canceling) that 2004 policy of requiring officers to defer to prior determinations in petitions for extensions of nonimmigrant status. Instead, for any extension request “adjudicators must, in all cases, thoroughly review the petition and supporting evidence to determine eligibility for the

benefits sought.” Prior approval of a petition should not be taken at face value, but instead the officer adjudicating the extension should thoroughly review the entire case and make his or her own independent determination of eligibility.

Many people obtained approval of their non-immigrant H-1B (or L-1) petitions, and think that they will receive an automatic extension because “nothing has changed”. The officer will just rubber-stamp the extension. However, this new memo makes it clear that the prior approval of the petition does not automatically mean the extension will be approved.

Maybe the first officer overlooked something. Maybe there have been changes in employment, or the person was not being paid the wage listed on the initial petition. Maybe the person worked for a different employer (or moonlighted) without proper work authorization for that second job.

All of these items could affect a person’s eligibility for their working status and affect the approval of an extension.

Therefore, if you have an H-1B

Immigration Corner

Monette AdevA MAGlAyA

*** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar 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. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

(Part 1 of 3)

ON the night of October 1st 2017, Stephen Paddock, 64, a self-made millionaire who made his money largely through video poker gambling, mass murdered 58 country music concert goers and injured over 500 from a crowd of 22,000 from his vantage point of 2 adjoining corner suites on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel along the Las Vegas strip.

His motive is still unknown.

With the official narrative and the timeline changing every which way like the shifting sands of the

“...All the lonely people Where do they all come from?... All the lonely people Where do they all belong?…”

— Eleanor Rigby, Lennon-McCartney Sahara, it looks like the truth will be held hostage in the biggest domestic terrorism on US soil.

Many seem to think that a coverup seems likely.

A lesser known incident in

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N Ov E m b E R 3, 20 1 7

visa that is expiring, you should consult with an attorney who can advise and assist you in filing the extension, to make sure you meet all eligibility requirements, since under the Trump administration, USCIS will thoroughly review and investigate that extension request.

Whatever happened to ‘happily ever after’

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

3

An Asian Journal Magazine

2015 was the mass murder of 9 Christian students in Umpqua Community College in rural Roseburg in Oregon by a demented, twisted young man.

In both instances, left leaning

FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

( Mt Carmel, Mt Beatitude, Mt.Tabor, Cana, Capernum, Nazareth, Mt. of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Bethlehem Qumran, Masada, Jericho )

Dec 3 to 14, 2017

Spiritual Director: Rev. Fr. Alvin Cachola

Fraud Waiver Denial turned around to Approval with No Fraud Waiver Required, on this Sunday’s CITIZEN PINOY! Wilma entered the U.S. on a C-1 “transit” visa, on her way to work in Guantanamo, Cuba. She remained in the U.S., married a U.S. citizen, and filed for adjustment of status. A “consultant” gave her hope and said he would take care of Wilma’s papers. Unfortunately, the consultant altered Wilma’s documents and put down false information (that she entered on a visitor’s visa), to cover up that she actually entered on a C-1 transit visa. Her case ended up being denied because of fraud!

Wilma then consulted with the Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel, who took over the case, and filed an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) in Washington, DC. Atty Gurfinkel convinced them that Wilma committed no fraud, and was eligible for a green card, despite her entry on a transit visa. Watch how Atty. Gurfinkel’s determination won the day for Wilma, when her name was cleared, and she got her green card with no fraud waiver required, on an all-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

politicians with an agenda were quick to make political hay of these tragic events. This is why career politicians may be going the way of the dodo. Empathy and sympathy, the genuine kind, are quickly set aside to push gun control with the thinly disguised end game of subverting second amendment rights mandated by the Constitution.

This makes a good argument to impose term limits and put an expiration date on political careers of the same group of elites and families of both Democrat and Republican parties who have gravitated, banded together and colluded over the last three decades with agendas to destroy middle America while enriching themselves and preserving

their multigenerational political influence.

In Oregon, the college where the perpetrator carried his heinous, dastardly deed was a gun-free zone. Does it occur to most that gun-free zones are the habitat of the deranged, which in effect, make sitting ducks out of intended victims?

Unless and until the world becomes a utopia where everyone is an angel with no evil thought and there is no further need for law enforcement, walls and locked doors, everyone should be given the chance and the wherewithal, both physical and spiritual, to defend themselves from the tyranny of evil.

There is a consistent pattern here for those with a keen

sense of historical perspective, plain common sense, and more importantly perhaps, with no self-serving agenda to push.

These people are sick. At the root of the matter of every atrocity in recent times that deranged gunmen who had no qualms about killing others before they kill themselves is the deplorable state of mental illness so many people are afflicted with for a long time now.

This is, perhaps, the reason there are so few happily-everafter stories these days that can make the collective heart of the human race glad. In just one act, one sick, demented soul can cause so much incalculable grief.

Stories make up the fabric of human life. Each life story is Continued on Page 4

Italia� Pilgrimag� Ho�� �eek� March 23 to April 3,2018 Spiritual Director : TBA

Day 1 - March 23, 2018 (Fri) Los Angeles, California to Venice, Italy Trans-Atlantic flight from LAX to LHR connect to our flight to Venice (Meals served in-flight)

Day 2 - March 24, 2018 (Sat) Venice, Italy 3 DEC-Day 1 - (Sun) LAX/TLV On board meals are served

4 DEC-Day 2 - (Mon) - Arrive at Ben Gurion airport Tel-Aviv/Tiberias

After you have finished Immigration, collect Luggage then Meet our guide and driver. Transfer to Tiberias , Dinner /overnight Gai Beach Hotel

After we clear Immigration & Custom, we will meet our Tour Director and driver for our transfer to our hotel,. Dinner at the hotel.( Dinner) If time permit, discover the most romantic views of Venice on foot and from the comfortable seats of a gondola, spend some time gliding through the cities peaceful canals.

Day 3 – March 25, 2018 (Sun) Venice, Italy

The greatness of Venice has always been reflected in the richness of St. Mark’s Basilica, the perfect synthesis of Venetian art and a unique blend There was a certain man in Caesarea” Drive north to the sparkling port city of Haifa, viewing Caesarea en route, the city built by Herod. In of Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic elements. Five Oriental-looking Haifa, we will ascend Mt. Carmel; home of the two prophets Elijah and Elisha, Visit the Stella Maris Church celebrate Holy Mass in the main domes crown the shadowy, mysterious interior gleaming with golden mosaics, colored marbles, precious stones and pearls, and guarded Altar, after enjoy the panoramic view of the Mediterranean, continue to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. Gai Beach Hotel (BB,D) by the four gilded bronze horses that stand proudly atop the central 6 DEC-Day 4 - (Wed) - Tiberias/ Cana/ Nazareth entrance. The glittering mosaics of the interior tell the story of St. Mark and episodes from the Bible. It’s most famous treasure stands behind Holy Eucharist at the Church of annunciation “And Mary said, Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your the altar in the sanctuary - the Pala D’Oro, a golden altar screen encrusted with jewels We’ll visit theDoge’s Palace, the magnificent Venetianword” We head to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed the first miracle – changing water into wine at the wedding feast. Here, we’ll Gothic building from where the leaders of the former Venetian Republic ruled until the late 18th century. Head inside and explore the grandiose invite couples to renew their marriage vows. Continue to Nazareth, Celebrate Holy Eucharist at the Church of Annunciation, visit St Joseph public chambers that the doges lavished with fine art and ornamentation. Masterpieces by Renaissance champions.(BB,D) Holy Mass at St. workshop. We return to Gai Beach Hotel for our dinner and overnight. (BB/D) Marks Basilica.

5 DEC-Day 3 - (Tues) Cesarea /Haifa

07 Dec-Day 5 - (Thurs) Mt Tabor/Mt Beatitude/Capernum/ Sea of Galilee/Tabgha

We drive to Mount Tabor, celebrate Holy Eucharist at the church of Transfiguration, Visit Mt. of Beatitudes the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people. enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry. After visiting the Synagogue where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Gai Beach Hotel for our dinner and overnight. (BB/D)

08 DEC-Day 6 - (FRI)-Jordan valley/Jericho/Bethany/Jerusalem

Day 4 - March 26, 2018 (Mon) Venice to San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

After breakfast, we will spend the day travelling from Venice to San Giovanni Rotondo, the home of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina from 28 July 1916 until his death on 23 September 1968. Sit back, relax and enjoy the drive and take in the picturesque scenery along the way. We will reach our hotel in San Giovanni Rotondo in the afternoon. Will have panoramic sightseeing on the way to our hotel,(BB,D).

Day 5 - March 27,2018 (Tues) San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

Drive the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world. View the Mount of temptation, where Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. Visit the ancient ruins of the wall. Drive through Wadi Welt to view St George’s Monastery. Continue to Bethany celebrate Holy Eucharist, and then visit the tomb of Lazarus. Arrive in Mount Scopus; enjoy the first view of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at Notre DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB,D)

We begin the day by celebrating Holy Eucharist. Eucharist,. Followed by a short film about St. Padre Pio.Done by our local guide who are very knowledgeable about the life of St. Padre Pio. We’ll start our visit with the Old Church.Here you can see his cell, his confessional box, the crucifix from which he received the stigmata, and nearly everything he owned or touched, carefully preserved and labeled. Then will visit the New Basilica, Santa Maria delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) dedicated to Padre Pio. (BB,D)

09 DEC-Day 7 - (Sat) - Jerusalem (old City) - Via Dolorosa

Day 6 March 28,2018 (Wed)San Giovanni Rotondo

Holy Sepulcher Church “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place of a skull, which was called in Hebrew Golgotha” Enter the old city of Jerusalem, Sing a hymn in the Church of St Anne and view the pool of Bethesda. Visit the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, where the soldiers played the Game of Kings, and Arch of the “Ecce Homo”. Follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, visit Golgotha and the tomb of Our Lord. This afternoon drive to Mount Zion, to visit the upper room, revered as the site of the last supper. Then survey the Dormition Abbey’s, St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Jesus three times. Dinner and overnight at NOTRE DAME Vatican Hotel (BB.D)

Holy Eucharist in the Morning in the New Basilica.followed by Station of the Cross. Rest of day spend Praying and meditating (BB,D)

10 DEC-Day 8 - (SUN) - Mount of Olives/Gethesemane/Bethlehem/New City

Day 8 - March 30 2018 (Fri) Assisi to Florence (Good Friday)

Holy Eucharist celebration at the Church of all nations Main altar Arrive at the Mount of Olives and enjoy the beautiful view of Jerusalem. Visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the Dominus Flevit Church”God wept “& walk the Palm Sunday road to the Garden of Gethesemane and the Church of all Nations. This Afternoon drive to Bethlehem, a city whose name the whole world recognizes ,visit the Church of Nativity, the manger, Church of St Catherine, The Grotto of St Jerome, and the shepherds fields. Dinner and overnight at NOTRE DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB ,D).

11 DEC-Day 9 - ( MON) - Jerusalem/Dead Sea/Qumran/Masada

Visit the Western Wall , the only part of the Herodian temple still standing and the most sacred place in the world for Jews. We drive to Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Visit Qumran; see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada, visit Herod’s fortress and the Jew’s last stronghold against the Roman. Return to Jerusalem Overnight Notre Dame Vatican Hotel (BB,D)

12 DEC-Day10 - (TUE) Jerusalem New City

Return to the new City, Including the Temple Model to see a scale model of Jerusalem as it was during the time of Jesus. Here we will have a better understanding between old and New Jerusalem. Next to Ein Karem, birthplace of St John the Baptist, visit the Visitation church where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat Overnight NOTRE DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB,D)

13 Dec-Day 11 - (WED) Jerusalem/TLV/LAX

Breakfast rest of the morning Free time early PM dinner has to check out from the hotel, around 8:30 PM flight from TLV/ LAX in the 13 Dec flight depart TLV at 1:00 Am Dec 14,2017 ( end of Service )

Day 7 – March 29, 2018 (Thur) San Giovanni Rotondo to Siena, Italy

After breakfast, we will spend the day travelling from San Giovanni Rotondo to Siena. We will 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 Renaissance art and is dedicated to St. Catherine of Siena. You’ll learn about the city’s history while admiring its cathedrals, museums, and libraries. Then admire famous Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s great medieval squares.(BB,D) Continue to Assisi overnight /Dinner Celebrate Holy Eucharist in the Crypt where the tomb of the most beloved saints is located ,after Mass visit the Basilica of St Francis, We’ll also visit the Basilica of St.Claire After Lunch continue to Florence Best know for it leather goods,the best in the world Leather (BB,D) Free time in the afternoon Dinner/ Overnight

Day 9 - March 31, 2018 (Sat) Florence to Rome

2 hrs walking tours of Florence,before we continue to Rome We will have a guided walking tour of this fascinating city with its Piazza, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of St. John the Baptist, Continue to Rome.

Upon our arrival in Rome, Guided tours of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel .See the Largest church in Roman Catholicism ,St Peter Basilica,see the Crypt of St Pope John Paul (BB,D) Transfer to the Hotel /overnight

Day 10 April 1, 2018 (Sun ) Rome

EASTER SUNDAY MASS, VATICAN SQUARE FOLLOWED BY PAPAL BLESSING Visit the Major Basilicas like St Mary Major,St. John Lateran, the Holy Stairs, St. Paul Outside the Wall, St. Peter’s in Chain, Santa Croce of Jerusalem, afternoon see Imperial Rome, and short visit to the Trevi Fountain on the way to the hotel (BB,D) Dinner in the hotel

Day 11 April 2, 2018 (Mon) Rome Free time in Rome ( BB,D)

Day 12 April 3, 2018 (Mon) Rome – USA

Transfer to the airport for our flight back to USA, End of our memorable Pilgrimage

An Asian Journal Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N Ov E m b E R 3, 20 1 7

Travelogue: Western Europe escapade

Whatever happened...

From Page 3

one thread in this vast cosmic tapestry of billions of stories all On the of humanity is weaving from one PEP Front generation to the next.

People, Events, We are born in this world Places with our own unique set of circumstances. We like to believe BoBBy T. yalong that each of us is created for a purpose wired into our DNA, like (Part 3 of 3) a GPS directing us to a destination — a state of being — whatever THE remaining days of our Western Europe tour seemed that may be. numbered after having covered In the age old fairy tale of vast areas in Spain and Portugal but “Sleeping Beauty,” Princess enthusiasm grew even enormously Aurora’s life was protected zestful every passing day after

by Three Good Fairies: Flora, having explored and visited various Fauna and Merriweather. They places with diverse historical and have gifted her and her Prince religious background we’re vaguely Charming with the weapons to knowledgeable. fight off the evil of the villainess, Sunday, October 8: Burgos, The 12th century Romanesque carving of La The cave of the Marian apparition in The Marian Church built atop of the Maleficent.

Spain to Lourdes, France Moreneta.

Lourdes. venerated cave.

Lourdes, France, a town in In real life, from princes to during the French Revolution, then Southwestern France at the foothills city to welcome us.

Bernadette, and her ancestral home paupers, most people like to We checked in at Hotel Alliance of the Pyrenees mountains, was so during the time of the apparition. We a Pyrenean Museum and currently think that they too have been listed as a monument historique by (9 Rue Louis Pomes), about 15far one of the most exciting places attended the exposure of the Holy given gifts that serve as shining the French Ministry of Culture. minute walk to the shrine. in the itinerary since it’s home to Eucharist at the spacious Pope Pius weapons when they do go Lourdes, France prides itself Our guided tour included visits one of the world’s most famous X underground Basilica, heard mass through those dark periods in as the French city with the most places of pilgrimage. After traveling to the Grotto where the Virgin at the St. Joseph Chapel, joined the every season of life. The darkness number of hotels after Paris.

Mary appeared to St. Bernadette along the Spanish and French evening’s memorable rosary and can range from just being lonely Tuesday, October 10: Lourdes, Basque coasts we entered France at Soubirous in 1858, Our Lady of candlelight procession, and finally and isolated for periods of time to France to Barcelona, Spain Lourdes Shrine, the birthplace of St. 11:04 AM with Hendaye as the first had dinner at Angelique’s Hotel, our Back on the road after an early the more extreme and detrimental residence’s corporate affiliate.

The following day, Monday, saw breakfast at Hotel de Solei and negative emotions that drive passed by the Aude River, a 224-km. us attending mass at the Grotto people to insanity or worse, to water passage used by French to and lucky enough to have touched suicide. transport wine to England. Had the sanctified rocks of the cave We want to have those our first stop at Paul Patisseries et before we collected holy water that weapons to deal with those inner flowed from a spring in the Grotto of Viennoiserie, famous for French struggles in order to do battle with bakery products, for snack.

Massabielle in the Sanctuary of Our deep, dark depression and fend We had an exhilarating Lady of Lourdes. exploration of Carcassonne, a hilltop off those eerie voices that urge the Later, my wife and I detached afflicted to inflict self-harm or even town in southern France renowned from the group and went to Le for its medieval citadel with worse, to kill others as well.

Musee de Lourdes and the Chateau numerous watchtowers and doubleFort de Lourdes, a historical castle We would like to become walled fortifications, where we had built atop a solid rock with a 360courageous, even bold, as we lunch in one of its gastronomic degree view of Lourdes. Formerly come out swinging with our tiendas. the residence of the Counts of blessed swords slaying our Driving to Barcelona, Spain’s Bigorre during the 11th and 12th dragons every time they rear centuries and became a state prison second largest city and host to the their ugly heads. Until finally at The City of Barcelona with the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia seen prominently.

1992 Olympic Games, we passed the end of all earthly struggles, along the Mediterranean Sea and we become happy and content around 3:09 we entered Spain via as we stride off into the sunset, La Jonquera, followed by Gerona, Figueres (hometown of surrealist victorious and fulfilled. Well, there artist Salvador Dali), Sta. Colona, and you have it – the final frame of a L’Escala. movie of one’s life story. There’s Barcelona, that week, that happily-ever-after ending to constantly hogged the news due the life stories we seek. to the prevailing Catalan crisis Alas! How we wish most of that escalated with violent clashes life’s stories end happily. Instead emerging from the Catalonians’ of happily ever after endings, we battle cry to be independent from have sad stories, cautionary tales, Spain. even horror stories like these mass Walking our way through a tensed throng of demonstrators murders to drive us out of our The facade of the Fortress of Carcassonne in Southern France.

The Basilica del Nuestra Del Pilar serves as our backdrop.

Continued on Page 7 wits’ end. There’s just no rhyme

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or reason. It’s like being trapped in our seats, strapped tight, in the Theatre of the Macabre and watching grim Tim Burton stories unfolding onscreen on repeat mode.

What causes all this darkness, all this loneliness that seems to affect a number of people in the world today? Who let those rabid monstrous creatures out from the gates of hell? The gates seem to have swung wide open, unleashing all the evils that can be conjured from a witch’s brew simmering in a big black cauldron over the fires of hell. All the evils re unleashed from Pandora’s box with just one thing left at the bottom of the box — HOPE. And yes, HOPE springs eternal.

There are strong indications the tide of unspeakable evil may have turned. Silently, millions of Christians worldwide have been doubling down on their Christian faith in a merciful God. Untold millions are getting down on their knees with unceasing prayers that are being heard and responded to, sometimes slowly but if you observe quietly, oftentimes quickly like lightning bolts. The barbaric persecution of Christians particularly in the Middle East and elsewhere has not been seen since the Middle Ages. Do take heart. Then as now, it is said that the blood of martyrs only spawns, breeds and spurs the resurgence of an even stronger and deeper Christianity that will shape humanity for the better, hopefully, for several thousand more years.

For years, there has been an onslaught of terrifying events from just about everywhere, facilitated by the startling phenomenon of social media and the ease of anything going viral and trending through the internet.

Social media, like any other invention during modern times, has become a double-edged tool. It can be used for good or ill, depending on the user and his motivation.

(Continued next week…) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is

SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

The glow and shine of a beautiful bride

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N OV E M B E R 3, 20 1 7

Health@Heart

BY MONET

LU

“THE radiant glow of my bride is simply breathtaking.” This was what people have told me about beautiful actress Joyce Jimenez, and countless other brides that have trusted me to be part of their very special day. Even after many years of making brides shine on their wedding day, I still have this important task—to master perfection and pursue my passion to continuously update my knowledge in the latest styles in make up and hairstyle, like the new “ 3D illusion technique 2018.” My stylists and I have done weddings so many times that they have become second nature to us.

If you have been doing this as long as we have, I think you reach a certain level of proficiency. It is my passion, and I am still so excited to apply the skills that I gained after all these years of being in the beauty industry. I employ highly proficient hair and makeup artists as my part of my team. We work together in unison to create a perfect makeup look and style for the whole bridal entourage.

Timeless elegance starts with perfection.

Personalized service is a key element in my profession and experience, especially for brides who are still deciding on a look they want to wear on the big day. It’s important that the bride communicates how she wants her overall look to be. It’s her day and she should be the center of attention. As experts, we can make recommendations and perhaps improve on her raw ideas but ultimately it is up to the bride.”

From our variety of personalized

service menu, brides may opt for salon-caliber makeup and hair service from the comforts of their own home or hotels. More than this, brides can also count on me and my crew to dish out useful tips on the essential pre-wedding must-knows, such as choosing the perfect gown, the placement of the tiara, skin care and other details.

One suggestion would be light makeup, which is very soft, glowing and flawless. The aim is to look like you are not made-up. The natural, timeless look never runs out of style, nor do the dramatic smoky eyes — so that when a bride looks back at her wedding pictures, she will be reminded that she wore a style that never ages.

I have been grooming beautiful brides from all over Southern & Northern California, Nevada, the East Coast and even as far as Europe. Budget is never an issue, as I give personalized and reasonable prices depending on the bride’s need and location. We understand that price is always a big consideration when it comes to choosing your hairstylist and makeup artist. There are other salons out there who charge

lower than Monet Salons, but the important question to ask is: “Will I be happy with the outcome?”

Brides should choose talent and expertise over budget. My team of makeup artists and hairdressers boast of extensive training and experience both in the Philippines and in the United States. We have three locations in Panorama City and Winnetka, California. All are full service salons that specialize in hair and makeup for weddings, debutante balls, and other special occasions. For the full service menu and a complimentary consultation, visit www. monetsalon.com or call (213)2164923 and ask for me. I would love to be of service to you. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary allnatural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

Int’l, local celebs join...

From Page 2 Fuente, expert in Child Behavior and Psychology told The Manila Times during the launch of an anti-bullying campaign.

Moreover, dela Fuente noted that bullying is prevalent among teenagers mainly because of peer pressure, “That’s the age when peer pressure comes in; teenagers are trying to belong and if they don’t, they are out, they will be excluded from what others are doing.”

Before anyone can insinuate that bullying is not as big as it is made up to be, dela Fuente warned that bullying is a silent enemy.

“It is quiet—you don’t see it, there’s no face. Anybody can bully someone else and the sad thing is, usually the ones bullied don’t speak up,” the expert noted.

Still according to dela Fuente, bullying can take part in many forms with the most common ones including: cyber bullying, which has become very rampant due to the prevalence of social media and the Internet; social bullying which is excluding people from any event; physical bullying, which involves hitting other people; and verbal abuse.

And with these acts, bullying has been proven to take a toll on its victims.

“You have anywhere from just feeling isolated to the more extreme cases of suicide which at the moment is increasing drastically. So we really need to put a stop to it,” the holder of a master’s degree in Psychology shared.

United for a cause Heeding this distress call is local clothing brand Penshoppe that came up with its anti-bullying campaign, “I am different.”

“When we did our research, we found out that it is when you are perceived different, that’s when people start bullying you,” Penshoppe brand director Jeff Bascon told The Manila Times during the launch of the campaign in Bonifacio Global City.

Asked why the brand has embarked on this advocacy, Bascon noted that it’s one of the most relevant issues for the youth, their primary market.

Adding to their conviction of the importance of the campaign, Bascon and his team found out that there is no specific foundation in the country purely focused on anti-bullying.

As such, the clothing company partners with Teach for the Philippines.

“That’s because we feel that

Antibiotic Stewardship

situation of super bugs resistant to all drugs we currently have. Being at the mercy of these powerful and defiant microorganisms is a most PHILIP S. CHUA, scary situation. And they seem to MD, FACS, FPCS be ahead of us.

AT the 103rd Annual Clinical Pneumonia and wound Congress of the American College infections killed hundred of of Surgeons (ACS) last week in San millions of people globally before Diego, California, I met several penicillin was discovered in 1928 surgeons from the Philippines

by Alexander Fleming, Professor of who flew in to attend congress. As Bacteriology at St. Mary’s Hospital a Fil-Am surgeon, I always enjoy in London. Today, these conditions and savor meeting my colleagues and hundreds of other infections from my native land. One of them respond well to penicillin and the happened to be an old friend, Dr. other more sophisticated antibiotics, Enrique T. Ona, former Secretary of savings hundreds of million of lives Health of the Philippines. This yearly every century...until now, with the continuing surgical education event explosion of super bugs! attracts hundreds of surgeons from Scary statistics all over the world.

At least 2 million Americans One of the hot topics at develop drug resistant infections this international convention a year and more than 23,000 of was Antibiotic Stewardship, them die, 10 million deaths a year a vital global program ACS is worldwide. This translates to $100 spearheading that could save trillion sacrificed gross national humanity as a whole from deadly products. Most of these scary superbugs that could wipe out infections occur in hospital settings, civilization, if not prevented or but they are also noted in the contained, an issue I have discussed general community. These could be in a previous column. the commonly known conditions, According to the World Health like pneumonia or wound infection, Organization (WHO), “antibiotic but this time caused by drugresistance is one of the major resistant bacteria, and hence, threats to human health, especially deadly. It is like retro-transporting because some bacteria have us back to the early 1900, the predeveloped resistance to all known penicillin era. classes of antibiotics.”

Lessons from the past Improper use While two of the most The U.S. Center for Disease devastating outbreaks of the Black Control and Prevention (CDC) Death (plague) that wiped out reported that “30 percent to 50 more than half of the population of percent of prescribed antibiotics Europe in the 14th century killing in hospitals are administered in about 75 million, leading to the settings where an antibiotic is final demise of the Roman Empire, unnecessary or is ineffective against was caused by two different strains the pathogenic organisms…. of infectious agents from the black Increased and inappropriate rats, one drug resistant infection antibiotic use leads to increased today could kill much more around risks of antibiotic resistance, as the globe. well as contributing to clostridium Just like us, humans, bacteria difficile (C. difficile) infections.” are active living microorganisms, Pandemic of superbugs with survival “instinct,” and when While terrorism is holding peace exposed to the drugs that aim hostage around the world today, a to kill them, have the capacity to more rampant but under the radar adapt by mutation and replication killer is on the loose and becoming to become resistant to the drugs, more widespread, wiping out When they become super bugs, lives, as the medical community they are untouchable killers, unless helplessly battles this pandemic we develop new drugs effective

Calendar of Events across

Mario Maurer

5

An Asian Journal Magazine

against them.

Who to blame We cannot blame the bacteria, who simply want to survive just like all living things. We, humans, healthcare providers and lay people, who abuse antibiotics, are to blame. Whether prescribed indiscriminately or purchased over the counter by self-medicating individuals, the widespread abuse of antibiotics make the bacteria mutate and grow resistance to them.

Currently, there are at least six common pathogens that are drugresistant, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. Coli, and MRSA, and 3 global diseases: HIV, TB and malaria. There are many others. Unless science discovers fast ways to fight and kill these resistant superbugs with new drugs or methodology and we, the people, do not abuse their use, any and all of them will continue to kill humans and other animals with impunity around the world.

Bacteria are on ALL surfaces These microorganisms are on our skin, on our entire body. They are also all around us, in all surfaces, in our kitchen (which has more bacteria than our bathroom), all over our home, and in all public areas, like escalator hand rails, door knobs, cabinets, microwave oven door handle, countertops, tables, chairs, etc. Paper money and coins are loaded with bacteria. If bacteria are on our skin and everywhere, why do we not always get infected?

The reasons are factors like our skin integrity. If our skin is intact, the bacteria cannot invade us, except though our mucus linings (in our eyes, nose, mouth, ears, anus). This is where personal hygiene is essential.

Touching our face contaminates it with bacteria. The other factor is the type and dose (number) of bacteria.

Even if we have a skin abrasion or cut, if we thoroughly wash the affected area right away, the dose of bacteria will be so reduced our immune system can handle them to prevent infection. If the dose is not reduced, then we get skin infection.

This is why all wounds must be washed clean immediately after Continued on Page 7

America

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Franchise Expo West in Los Angeles

Kaia Gerber Sandara Park

one of the best ways to reach the youth is through education.

Teach for the Philippines will help us come up with an anti-bullying education program that will be engrained to the programs of teachers here in the Philippines,” Bascon explained.

Funding this campaign are the shirts that bear the messages “I am different” and “Different is Good.” A significant portion of the shirt sales will go to the brand’s project with Teach for the Philippines.

The company has also tapped the biggest names not only in the local but also in the international fashion scene to raise further awareness in this campaign.

Bella Hadid (with 15. 3 million followers on Instagram alone), Cameron Dallas (20.5 million), Lucky Blue Smith (3.3 million), Kaia Gerber (2.2 million) as well as Asian stars Sandara Park (6.2 million) and Mario Maurer (5.8 million) have all agreed to lend their star power and social media influence.

“What’s also nice here is that we are able to easily enjoin our international ambassadors. In a heartbeat, they said yes,” Bascon proudly noted.

Local ambassadors and celebrities like Jimmy Alapag, Ronnie Alonte and Loisa Andalio have also joined the campaign by showing that they too — deemed almost perfect by their adoring followers — are different in their own definition.

“Hopefully, with this campaign and the awareness that this company and these

Franchise Expo West, the premier franchise event in the western U.S. is returning to Los Angeles after a five-year absence, to provide the strongest business opportunities for potential franchisees in this dynamic, growing region. Attendees can engage with over 200 franchise brands in every industry at every investment level, access over 60 free educational sessions where in-depth answers are provided to any franchising questions, and meet with lenders and consultants to learn about financing options. It will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center at 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 from Thursday, Nov. 2 to Saturday, Nov. 4. For more information, please visit: www.franchiseexpowest.com. For free registration, use promo code AJ here: https://r1.events-registration.com/franwest2017/.

N OV E M B E R 4

Free oil filter and motor oil recycling event in Gardena, CA Attention all Gardena and West Carson residents! There will be a free oil filter & motor oil recycling event on Saturday, November 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at AutoZone (1361 W. 190th St., Gardena, CA 90248). Everyone is invited to bring in their used motor oil and used oil filters. All those who recycle their used oil filter will receive one FREE new oil filter. Recycling motor oil and filters helps save our environment and keeps our water clean.

N OV E M B E R 6 Jimmy Alapag Photos courtesy of Penshoppe

AAPA’s achievement awards & graduation gala in San Gabriel, CA

celebrities are putting forward, people will recognize that it is a problem and that bullied people would actually stand up and say that enough is enough,” dela Fuente noted, commending the campaign.

How to say no Dela Fuente shared tips on what to do when one experiences bullying.

“Number one, speak up. It doesn’t matter which adult or which other person you will talk to, but say something about it to someone else. Two, acknowledge that you are different and it’s fine,” he enumerated.

“Three, walk away. Don’t retaliate because if you do, you will aggravate the situation, you will empower the bully. You may send out the wrong signal that, ‘Do it to me again because I am paying notice to your bullying tactics.’ So just don’t acknowledge it,” he continued.

“Finally, celebrate your uniqueness. Celebrate your being different because you are special that way,” the psychologist ended.

Celebrate the 2017 class of Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) Mentorship and Board Leadership Program participants, and this year’s Achievement Awardees on Monday, Nov. 6 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy a banquet dinner, entertainment, and keynote speech from Brigadier General Mark Toy! It will be held at the San Gabriel Hilton (225 W. Valley Blvd. San Gabriel, CA). For more information, please visit https://aapagala2017.org/.

N OV E M B E R 8

Filipino indie film “1st Semester” screening in Los Angeles Catch the Hollywood premiere screening of the award-winning Filipino indie film, “1st Semester” on Wednesday, November 8. “1st Semester” is a Filipino coming-of-age comedy movie about a young boy who is sent to college by his mother with their entire clan but goes home immediately after experiencing separation anxiety. It explores a boy’s rite of passage to manhood and a mother’s strong will and determination to uphold the best for her family.

“1st Semester” stars Allan Paule, Darwin Yu and award-winning actress Lotlot de Leon. It is written and directed by Dexter Paglinawan Hemedez and Allan Michael Ibanez. The Hollywood Premiere will be held on Wednesday, November 8 at the American Film Institute (AFI), 2021 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. Showtimes are at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Come and meet the writers and directors of this internationally-acclaimed film. Parking is free For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please email 1stSemAFI@gmail.com.

PWC 20th Anniversary Celebration in Los Angeles The Pilipino Workers Center will have its 20th anniversary celebration on Wednesday, November 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pico House and Courtyard (424 N Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). Attire is smart casual or Filipino-inspired fashion. Honorees include Sen. Connie M. Leyva, Jose Antonio Vargas, and PWC Council of Leaders. The program will be hosted by Giselle “G” Tongi. There will also be special performances and a feast of Filipino delicacies. Tickets are $100 each. For tickets and sponsorship details, call (213) 2504353 or visit www.pwcsc.org. com

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

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An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N Ov E m b E R 3, 20 1 7

The Metamorphosis

ErniE D. DElfin I am writing this column just after thousands of children and their parents or guardians were trekking in our Orange County neighborhood. as my two granddaughters, Sofie, 5 and Olivia, 7; and their parents in their Halloween costumes were having fun with their precocious children; I could not help but reminisce how my generation celebrated Halloween’s “Pista ng mga Kaluluwa” (Feast of the Souls) during my growing up years in a rural community in my province in Pangasinan. most — if not all families — were drawn to cemeteries where the annual tradition of visiting the tombs of deceased members of families were laid to rest. With thousands of people in the grounds that were especially cleaned, tombs freshly painted white for the occasion, adorned with colorful flowers and lit candles all around, the cemetery was converted into a fiesta overnight.

Entrepreneurial musicians arrived, and for a fee, render popular songs that were more festive than melancholic. Vendors also displayed their various food and drinks for sale while others just brought food, potluck style. These two days, November 1 (alls Saints Day) and November 2 (all Souls Day) became town fiestas, in celebration of the dead staged by the living, with religious-socialbusiness-community significance that was fully supported by the entire community.

These days were normally declared as holidays, when millions of students and employees from urban cities went home to their respective towns, giving the week one of the busiest and heaviest traffic jams in the highways.

Despite that agony of traveling on a much slower pace, however, they were the most happy and memorable days in the provinces, like Easter Sunday or Christmas.

The churches were filled with people praying for their faithful departed, buying and lighting

Philippine All Saints, All Souls Day practices vs US’ trick or treat parties candles, in their belief that doing so could atone and purify the soul of their loved ones in purgatory so that their souls can enter into their final destination in Paradise where Christ awaits them. I also remember vividly that even Catholic priests and other Christian churches’ ministers were invited to the cemeteries to pray beside tombs and sprinkle them with holy water, and in return they were gifted with an envelope with some “tax-free” money as the family’s offering.

Unlike U.S. military cemeteries where simple crosses and tombstones mark the resting place of the soldiers were all the same without any distinction, many Philippine tombs display the remnants of the old caste system where one could easily distinguish the very rich and the very poor, even aFTER death. The ostentatious display of wealth was always evident by the gargantuan size of the tombs or mausoleum of the rich, that were often more expensive than the average Filipino house (It is common knowledge for those living around these “expensive” cemeteries that these elaborate tombs and mausoleums provide shelter to the many squatters and homeless many months during the year. at least it provides some good to the homeless population during the night!). Halloween is one example where religion and free enterprise meet creating an economic activity in a festive environment.

Pondering what has happened the last half a century, I feel somewhat melancholic to realize that some Halloween traditions of my youth, like the so-called “pantawtawag”, a sort of biographical narration of someone’s life especially a young child life from his conception to his premature death, sung by a group of men and women, has disappeared. That practice, somewhat likened to Christmas carols, which is also slowly disappearing, was quite common

Dreams come true for two Global Tawag ng Tanghalan North America champions

Jing Wenghofer from Illinois and Steven Paysu from California will represent North America in the Grand Finals in the Philippines

LaS VEGaS - after a rigorous round of auditions that had judges listen to 147 hopefuls across the U.S. and Canada, narrowing it down to 20 semi-finalists, and when I was a young lad. Then, eventually just 10 finalists, two that group singing “pantawtawag’ winners have been declared. became the centerpiece of the as the house lights dimmed, village gathering where many families join around the singers for the spotlight shone on the stage, and ten finalists waited with bated a couple of hours and thereafter breath, hosts Ginger Conejero partaking in locally prepared food and delicacies. The host family and Eric Nicolas announced the normally gives money to the champions for the night: Jing singers and share food during the Wenghofer from Chicago, Illinois evening for all guests who came. and Steven Paysu from Fontana, They were a part of customs California. and cultural traditions of my youth.

Wenghofer could not believe The simple act of reminiscing them the announcement. She was still make me smile as I also can visualize those carefree years of my emotional when she recounted that “I wasn’t sure if I really heard early life in the rural Philippines, my name, but someone in the when living was so simple but happy even without cars and TV, audience shouted my name. and of course, the nonexistence I immediately looked up and of modern day gadgets like said my thanks to God. my eyes Iphones and Facebook! With the were teary and my heart was encroachment of Western culture overflowing with happiness.” into the Filipino life and culture, When Paysu saw that Global however, those old-fashioned Events marketing and adSales traditions are gradually being Head Ricky Resurreccion was replaced by commercialized “Trick holding a bouquet of flowers or Treat” costumes and Halloween after calling the first winner, the parties everywhere.

In over half a century, life as former already assumed that the well as cultural practices have second champion would also be changed dramatically. Is it for the female. He was surprised when better, or for worse? Depending host Nicolas called his name. “It who is being asked, the answer was a feeling of fulfillment and may be a YES or a NO or NEITHER? To the Fil-am reader, who has seen excitement at the same time. I thanked God right away quietly.” both cultures, what ‘s your take?

Paysu’s winning entry was *** “Everything I Own” by Bread, while Now back to the Southern Wenghofer performed “Hinanakit” California scenery: The “Trick or Treat” masks and images that many (Resentment) by Imelda Papin. people wear on Halloween night Global Tawag ng Tanghalan are very creative, often hilarious judges Pop Rock Superstar Yeng and very scary sometimes. many Constantino, King of Teleserye people spend considerable time and movie Theme Songs Erik and money just deciding who Santos, and OPm Icon Rey Valera they want to portray. I used to all said that it was a challenge think that these parties were only judging the 10 finalists. There was for young children, but over the a certain pressure being in Las years, I have accepted that even Vegas, as expressed by Valera. He grownups enjoy them too: to become somebody else they said, “mahirap i-entertain mga dream to be for this one night. tao dito dahil nakita niyo na lahat although I don’t have any ng entertainer. Iba talaga ang scientific survey, I am inclined Vegas.” (It is very difficult to entertain to believe that pretending to be the people here in Vegas because somebody, through costumes and they have already seen all sorts Continued on Page 7 of entertainment. Vegas is truly special.)

Both North america champions just wanted to sing and share their talents as singers, but life got in the way. Now, they have this opportunity to shine and share their gifts with the rest of the world. Paysu shares that he put a hold on his dreams because he prioritized his family first. He then confides, “Now, I feel that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. at my age, right now, I would have not imagined that this time would still come but thanks be to God and Tawag ng Tanghalan for the blessing and opportunity I have been given. I will be forever thankful for allowing me to shine again on stage and believing in the talent that God has given me.”

Wenghofer is a music teacher so she can impart wise words to her students. She tells them to “Never stop pursuing your dreams.

Keep practicing, follow your heart and keep trying. and most importantly, pray. His answer might not be the one you are asking for, but believe that everything will come at the right time.”

This seems like the right time for Wenghofer as she gets to represent North america, together with Paysu, in the Tawag ng

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event.

To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.

Steven Paysu and Jing Wenghofer will represent North America in the Tawag ng Tanghalan Global Cluster Finals in Manila, December 11-16.

Photo courtesy of Haphi Llaneza

The remarkable evening ended with all 10 finalists sharing the stage with judges Constantino, Santos, and Valera in performing “The Winner Takes It All.” Photo courtesy of Ricky Resurreccion

Global Tawag ng Tanghalan “Hurados” (Judges) (L-R) Erik Santos, Yeng Constantino, and Mr. Rey Valera, with comedian/host Eric Nicolas, entertain the crowd during the Meet and Greet at Seafood City.

Photo courtesy of Haphi Llaneza

Tanghalan Global Cluster Finals that will be held in the Philippines from December 11-16 this year.

They will be competing with other regional champions from Region 2–Europe, Region 3–middle East, Region 4–Hong Kong/Singapore/ malaysia, Region 5–Japan/ Taiwan/South Korea, and Region 6-australia/New Zealand/Papua New Guinea/Guam/Saipan.

The finalists take over Vegas Prior to competing at the Global Tawag ng Tanghalan North america Region Finals at the Ed W. Clark High School, the 10 finalists had a day to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Entertainment Capital of the World. It was a good chance for the 10 contestants to get to know one another while playing tourist, since it was the first time for some of them to see Las Vegas.

The finalists also had a closed-door performance for the judges the day before the Region Finals, and a meet and greet at the Vegas branch of Seafood City. all the finalists enjoyed their time out on the town, and the overall experience.

Elizabeth Sooy from New Jersey expressed how she “love these people and the experience.”

Danielle Jade Laganson from Edmonton, alberta shared that she was “glad to call the other nine incredibly talented singers my new friends.” Laganson also

added that even if they came from different parts of the U.S. and Canada, they still connected as one through their “love and passion for singing and for music.” marie Joy amaro of Texas said that it “did not feel like a competition. We helped each other and we encouraged each other like we were a team, a family.” aBS-CBN Global Head of Events Ricky Resurreccion also soaked in the overall atmosphere of family. Resurreccion admitted that this region finals was “the most intimate event TFC Live has ever mounted.” He added that it was “a welcome respite from doing huge venues. The talent was raw and pure, and the energy was palpable. One could also sense the genuine affection that immediately clicked among the finalists. It was a blast!”

Next stop: Manila, Philippines Wenghofer and Paysu will be going to manila, Philippines for the Global Cluster Finals that will take place from December 11-16.During that whole week, all global finalists from the six different regions will compete against each other. Of these, only two winners will be chosen, and these two will then move on to join the Tawag ng Tanghalan “Huling Tapatan” (Grand Finals) in march 2018.

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Isabel Granada’s husband, ex-husband watching over her in Qatar JERICHO Genaskey aguas, former husband of Isabel Granada, has joined arnel Cowley, the actress’ husband, in Qatar to watch over the actress, who is still in coma and is said to be in life support.

In a series of statements on Facebook, aguas clarified that he has no other intention but to make sure Isabel recover for the sake of their son, who is only 14.

“I am in constant communication with Isabels current partner, arnel, and told him for the record that I have no intention on stepping on his shoes (ifever he feels uncomfortable with me being there).

I am there for my magLola (Hubert is only 14).. and of course to contribute whatever I can for the revival and recovery of Isabel,” aguas said. aguas, who landed in Qatar on October 31, even took pictures with arnel and thanked him for understanding.

In another post on November 1, Jericho gave an update on the actress’ condition.

Left photo shows Isabel Granada and husband Arnel Cowley before the actress went on coma.

Right photo shows Isabel’s ex, Jericho Genaskey Aguas, with Cowley in Qatar.

Photos courtesy of Arnel Cowley and Chuckie Dreyfus

“Bringing a Dr. From Spain is not an option anymore. mama and her sister in spain now is requesting for another Drs opinion coping from the cuban hospital here in Qatar instead,” he said.

Chuckie Dreyfus, Isabel’s good friend and former love team partner, explained in a Facebook post that Isabel’s family decided to seek second opinion from doctors from

Spain through the help of Philippine and Spanish embassies.

In another post, aguas showed that it is not only him, Isabel’s husband, and the actress’ family who are looking after her now.

The actress’ family and friends thank everyone for the support but also ask to continue their prayers.

(Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo/ Philstar.com)

An Asian Journal Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N Ov E m b E R 3, 2 0 1 7

Scarlet Snow Belo shops in Audrey Hepburn costume

The City of Lourdes as viewed from the Chateau Fort de Lourdes.

The Marian Shrine in Lourdes, France.

Travelogue: Western Europe...

From Page 4 and press people at the Plaza de l’Angel to Hotel Gotico (at Carrer de Jaume 1, 14) was a bit scary knowing that a pandemonium could erupt any moment. But the peace and order situation was appropriately controlled by three security forces: the Mosses d’Esquadra (police force of Catalonia), Policia local (Barcelona Police), and Cuerpo Nacional de Policia (CNP or National Police) that made us feel safe to roam around and shop.

Christian, an eloquent and knowledgeable tour guide, patiently oriented us about Barcelona’s history.

The cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region and believed to have more tourists than residents, Barcelona is well-known for its distinct art and architecture most divergent of which is the Sagrada Familia, intricately designed and painstakingly executed in miniature replica by Antoni Gaudi, an architect native of Catalonia, Spain and a known practitioner of Catalan Modernism.

It took Gaudi over 40 years designing the Temple of the Sagrada Famila until he died tragically in 1926. Several local and foreign architects volunteered and contributed their expertise to finish the 135-year-old church. Currently the Basilica is 75% done and when completely finished by 2026, the Sagrada Familia is touted to be the biggest and tallest religious edifice not only in Spain but in the whole world.

Our sightseeing tour included the Columbus Monument, Plaza de Catalonia, Paseo de Gracia, the panoramic view of the city, and the harbor from Montjuic Hill aboard a cable car.

Thursday & Friday, October 12 & 13: Barcelona to Montserrat and Zaragoza We departed Barcelona and drove 45 km. northwest to Montserrat to visit the remarkably amazing Benedictine Monastery, one of Spain’s most significant pilgrimage sites.

Amid trepidation and excitement, we dared to take the cable car that transported us from the ground level to the summit. It was a blessing that all the deadly cliffs and rock faces were covered by morning fog otherwise majority of us could have either fainted or puked from acrophobia.

Our amiable tour guide, Veronica, keenly briefed us regarding

The Arab castle of Aljaferia built during the 11th century in Zaragoza, Spain.

the monastery’s notable history that it houses roughly 80 monks and boasts of one of the oldest working printing presses in the world.

How we admired and revered the 12th century Romanesque carving of the La Moreneta (Black Madonna) breathtakingly nestled on the altar of the shrine seated atop the multi-peaked Montserrat Mountain which has 4,055 ft. elevation.

There was great bewilderment when we came out upon the sight of the marvelous multi-dimensional layers of rocks completely exposed overhead after the fog was forced out by the sun. It uncovered an archetypal hushed city on a mountain top made bustling by the never-ending influx of tourists that enjoyed the panorama and the full access to restaurants, coffee shops, museum, and souvenir shops.

Experiencing Montserrat is tantamount to grasping a riveting obsession while seemingly holding eternity on the palm of your hand.

We left Montserrat at 2:45 p.m. via the same cable car ride but this time it was more of appreciating the view that we failed to marvel going up.

On the way to Zaragoza, we crossed the Ebro River, second longest river in the Iberian Peninsula (after Tagus River), and stopped at a coffee shop in the Aragon Region to rest before covering the remaining 65 km.

We were booked at the Hotel Diagonal Plaza (Avenida Diagonal Plaza, 30), a lodging place built amid an industrial area with a façade parallel to its neighboring structures…but with a surprising interior and huge rooms, not to mention the excellent food and service.

The following morning we met our tour guide Jorge, a jocular guy from Navarra, a Basque city in

Antibiotic Stewardship From Page 5 sustaining them.

Simple handwashing On the prophylactic side, the simple habit of washing our hands religiously, at least 8 times a day (after going to the bathroom, before and after eating or working around the house or outside) can prevent contamination and infections, eliminating the need for antibiotics. This practice can also prevent viral infections, like common cold, for which some misinformed or uninformed individuals might opt to take antibiotics. Viral infections do NOT respond to antibiotics.

This is just a waste of money, and worse, it will “encourage” bacteria in our body to develop antibiotic resistance. When treated longer than necessary, even bacterial infections commonly sensitive to specific antibiotics will increase the

risk of the bacteria developing resistance. Skin sanitizers, preferably with skin moisturizer, in liquid, gel or foam, are helpful in minimizing infection. Those with sixty to 95 percent alcohol are most effective Antibiotic Stewardship is also our individual responsibility as a member of society. Let’s all help prevent a super bug pandemic that could wipe us out of this wonderful world. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana 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; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Philippine All Saints...

From Page 6 or masks other than his true self, is generally healthy as it gives an outlet for one’s suppressed dreams and desires even for a day. The problem, however, appears when that somebody builds an indelible mask very much different than his reality, not just for this Halloween night, but for many days, weeks or months. This addictive predicament is unmasked, for example, when that person’s expensive car is repossessed because his “wealthy” image in the community is based on his fantasy that his financial reality cannot support. Whenever that happens, it becomes a tragedy not only for that person but also for the community where he belongs.

The Trick or Treat practices for the young, nevertheless, are great for children who can imagine and dream to be somebody else while their creative talents are developed. Though it happens only

once a year, it is said that about 50 percent of all the candies sold are realized a week or two before Halloween. The sale of customes and Halloween paraphernalia also generate millions of dollars sales during this short season. A popular national holiday like Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas is always good for all as it creates a massive economic activity for the nation while giving a lot of enjoyment to millions of families.

From this grandpa, who did not buy nor use any mask or costume for most Halloween nights the last 30 plus years, but who did his family duty in handing out thousands of varied candies to thousands of kids and adults pretending to be “kids”, to everyone reading this: A BELATED HAPPY HALLOWEEN, AND A HAPPY THANKSGIVING IN ADVANCE! *** Email writer : ernie.delfin@gmail.com or drbannatiran@yahoo.com

northern Spain. He first brought us to the Aljaferia Palace, an 11th century Arab castle built as a pleasure palace and simultaneously a defensive fortress. Currently, the preserved bastion serves as headquarters of the Aragonese Parliament.

Zaragoza, the capital of northeastern Spain’s Aragon region, is well-known for the ethereal image of the multi-domed Basilica de Nuestra del Pilar, a baroque cavern of Catholicism with the finest 16th century alabaster altar piece by

SCARLET Snow Belo, daughter of celebrity doctors Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho, delights netizens anew with her latest Instagram photos showing her shopping and on her way to a dinner dressed like Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

In two Instagram posts, Scarlet Snow showcased her cuteness and fashion savvy as she posed in character as fashion icon Holly Golightly, the role Hepburn played in the film.

The first post was captioned: “Hi, people! Would you like to join me for dinner here at the @ smaurapremier SkyPark? I’ll just finish shopping for Christmas gifts.

My parents gave me a P20 budget.

(Does anyone know how much a smile is?).”

At the second post, Scarlet expressed her frustration for being unable to buy anything with the P20 shopping money she was given.

“It’s been an hour and look my bag is still empty. I can’t buy anything for 20 pesos! I guess I’ll just sit here and enjoy the free aircon,” the post’s caption said.

Scarlet Snow is reportedly one of the most popular celebrity kids in the Philippines with over 1.6 million Instagram followers. (Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo/Philstar. com)

Damien Forment.

We were lucky to have witnessed and participated in the city’s annual Spanish Day celebration where streets were festooned with colorful buntings and natives were dressed in authentic Spanish costumes complete with mantilla, abanico, and floral headpieces. There were dancing on the streets with vivacious music from vibrantly uniformed bands and an endless pageantry of ostentatiously garbed men and women in multi-hued costumes. The whole scenario explosively emanated a festively infectious atmosphere.

We’ve already crossed Puente de Santiago but still the pulsating

beats of the festival music resonated near. It took us another 4 hours (316.7 km) to reach Hotel NH Madrid Zurbano (in Madrid) our final residence in Spain. And to make the most of the time left, we explored the vicinity and its neighborhood before dinner time.

In a capsule, Spain, the only European country to have a border with an African country (Morocco), has 17 autonomous (independent) regions with their own executive, legislative, and judicial powers. It’s confirmed! Spanish is the world’s second most spoken first language after Mandarin Chinese and that paella, Spain’s national rice dish, originated from Valencia, the third largest city located at the east coast.

Scarlet Snow Belo dressed as Holly Golightly.

Instagram/Scarlet Snow Belo

Saturday, October 14: Madrid to Heathrow, London to Newark, USA We greeted the morning with a heavy heart knowing that our gallivanting days were over and reality’s on hand. Left the hotel on a foggy morning for London Heathrow’s British Airways Flight 457 where we had a four-and-a-half hour layover. Our 4:55 PM flight was slightly delayed due to engine concern. Landing at the Newark Liberty Airport after a 7-hour travel gave us a sense of gratification for having experienced Europe, once more, and safely came home to the comforts of our cribs.

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

An Asian Journal Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY NOVEMBER 3, 2017

TRAVEL TRADE & CONSUMER MULTI-CITY ROADSHOWS PROMOTING TOURISM, TRADE, AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE USA AND PHILIPPINES.

AUGUST 2018

The Asian Journal Media Group, now on its 27th year in business, is a leading ethnic multimedia agency serving the global Filipino industry. Asian Journal publishes over 7 million weekly community newspapers annually in the USA from California, Nevada, New York, to New Jersey. In addition to this, the Asian Journal also publishes a quarterly magazine that is distributed in 60 countries and 101 cities throughout the World.

Complementing these frequent print publications are a variety of digital channels such as AsianJournal.com, BalikbayanMag.com, and LoveOfCounry.ph.

As an extension of that core mission, the Asian Journal, in cooperation with the Philippine Departments of Tourism (DOT), and Trade and Industry (DTI), is organizing multi-city “Travel, Trade, and Consumer Roadshows” to connect the US and Philippine markets together.

These events are in line with the “Balikbayan Program” of the Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and the “One Town, One Product” of the DTI. The organizers collectively aim to ignite, drive, and fuel business-to-business, government-to-business, and business-to-consumer networking while showcasing and promoting tourism, investment, studying abroad, philanthropy, and retirement in the Philippines.

GLOBAL BUSINESS NETWORKING & MARKETING BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS

GOVERNMENT-TO-BUSINESS

BUSINESS-TO-CONSUMER SALES

MEET, CONNECT, AND COLLABORATE WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND STREAMLINE YOUR BUSINESS RESULTS.

CONNECT WITH LEADERS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR FROM ACROSS THE USA REGION AND PHILIPPINES.

WHETHER YOU’RE SHOPPING FOR NEW AND AMAZING PRODUCTS OR A VENDOR LOOKING TO PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCT,

FOR MORE INFORMATION TRAVELTRADECONSUMER.COM I INFO@ASIANJOURNALINC.COM