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NOVEMBER 9-15, 2018 Volume 12 - No. 3 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

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Locsin attunes PH foreign policy to ‘changing times’

by DONA

PAZZIBUGAN Inquirer.net

FOREIGN Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has tweaked the Duterte administration’s foreign policy to a more belligerent tone due to “changing realities.”

Hosting his first vin d’honneur at the Department of Foreign Affairs on November 7, Locsin told the diplomatic corps that he had refined his department’s previous policy of “Friends to all, enemies to none.”

“We are moving on to a refinement, which addresses changing realities. It is now ‘Friends to friends, enemies to enemies, and worse enemies to false friends,’” Locsin said.

He also gave his interpretation of the administration’s “independent” foreign policy.

True independence “It is not independent foreign policy if you simply DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin

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Inquirer.net photo

USA

DATELINE Trial begins over citizenship question on 2020 Census FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

THE trial over the issue of whether people will be asked about their citizenship in the upcoming 2020 census began Monday, November 5, at a federal court in New York City. Advocates pushing for an accurate count maintained that the question will turn out a “systematic undercount” of immigrants who may refrain from responding out of fear data would be used against them.

The addition of the citizenship question was announced last March by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who in an eight-page memo said that the question on citizenship would help administer the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 which is supposed to prevent voter discrimination against of minorities.

The question though, has not been included in the decennial census since the VRA was passed into law, or in the past 70 years in total.

The Trump administration has added that the Constitution allows the government to decide how the census should be conducted, thus making the question addition lawful.

HONORED GUESTS. President Rodrigo Duterte gives a warm greeting to actor Steven Seagal upon his arrival at the Metro Tent Convention Center in Metrowalk Complex, Pasig City for the Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC) Motor Philippines Brand Launch on Wednesday, November 7.

Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

Duterte: Drug money could still affect 2019 elections

by AJPRESS DRUG money could be in play in next year’s mid-term elections, according to President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, November 6.

“Drug menace is the number one threat to national security linking drugs not only to its significant influence in the rise of heinous crimes but also it negatively affects the economy and the role it plays in the corruption of our collections even in our law enforcement agencies,” Duterte said during his lecture on militarization and drug problem in Malacañang.

“Kita ninyo yung eleksyon, makita ninyo iyan. Drug money will play. (You will see during the elections. Drug money will play),” he added.

Duterte also mentioned Parojinogs of Ozamiz City, who are allegedly involved in the drug trade.

“Hanggang ngayon, itong naiwang na mga kapatid, mga relatives ni Parojinog, pinapatay pa pati judge. Talagang tarantado ang p*******a. (Even now, these remaining siblings MAGICAL. Ayala Avenue, Makati City’s main thoroughfare, comes alive as dazzling lights were and relatives of Parojinog, they kill, even the switched on Monday night, a signal that Christmas is near. The switching of street lights and judge. Sons of bitches),” he said. the Festival of Lights at the Ayala Triangle Gardens are two pre-Christmas events awaited

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ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Sotto: There are extra- Makati is PH’s richest city judicial killings, just not state-sponsored

by REINA LEANNE

TOLENTINO

ManilaTimes.net

by AJPRESS

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SENATE President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Wednesday, November 7, admitted that there are extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the country but denied that these are state-sponsored.

“We have to admit na mayroong mga EJKs, pero hindi in-order ng gobyerno (We have to admit that there are EJKs, but they were not ordered by the government),” Sotto said in a news forum as reported by The Philip-

MAKATI City has edged out Quezon City as the Philippine’s richest city. With assets of P196.57 billion, it was the richest city in 2017, based on the Commission on Audit’s 2017 Annual Financial Report on Local Government.

Makati City saw more than a three-fold increase in its assets —from P49.494 billion in 2015 to P54.85 billion in 2016.

Quezon City dropped to second place with P68.33 billion in

total assets. In 2016, its asssets was valued at P59.556 billion.

Manila remained on third place with P38.677 billion in total assets.

Of the provinces, Cebu was the wealthiest in 2017 with assets totaling P34.139 billion, up from P32.429 billion in 2016 and P30.331 billion in 2015.

Compostela Valley, a newbie on the list, placed second with P18.95 billion, while Batangas climbed to third spot with P15.568 billion in total assets from its previous fourth ranking in 2016 with P8.694 billion as-

Fil-Am pipe bomb suspect held A rundown on how Fil-Am candidates fared in the US midterm elections Fil-Am candidates eye local offices throughout Southern and Northern California without bail in NY Suspect Cesar Sayoc made first Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III Inquirer.net photo

appearance in Manhattan federal court after court hearing in Florida

A FEDERAL judge on Tuesday, Nov. 6 has ordered the man suspected of sending more than a dozen explosives to high-profile Democrats to be held without bail in his first appearance in New York federal court.

Cesar Sayoc, Jr., who is half-Filipino and halfItalian, was transported from Florida to New York on Monday and made a brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Lehrburger.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Kim referred to Sayoc as “a serious risk of danger to the public and a flight risk.”

Sayoc wore a navy blue prison uniform over a beige T-shirt and conferred with his assigned counsel, public defender Sarah Jane Baumgartel. He did not wear handcuffs or shackles and

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by RAE

AND

ANN VARONA JOSEPH L. PERALTA AJPress

As the 2018 midterm elections took place on Tuesday, November 6, a number of things quickly became apparent as the counts came in. For one, voter turnout soared above previous years, especially among young voters and women. When it came to the candidates, a record-breaking number of 116 women won in their respective races which included 42 being women of color. Looking at the battle for Congress, Republicans retained the Senate, while Democrats won control of the House.

While a number of races have yet to be determined, results have come in for the nation’s Fil-Am candi-

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dates which included six who ran for Congress. Here’s a rundown on how the candidates did.

Fil-Ams take losses in Congress, as Ortiz-Jones fights on in very close race Of the 435 seats that were up for grabs in the House of Representatives, six were being eyed by Fil-Am candidates TJ Cox (CA-21), Christina Osmeña (CA-14), Kenneth Mejia (CA-34), Gina Ortiz-Jones (TX-23), Jennifer Mijares-Zimmerman (FL-01), and Bobby Scott (VA-03).

Cox, who received an endorsement by former U.S. President Barack Obama, ran to represent California’s 21st Congressional District, which covers much of Central California’s San Joaquin Valley, but was narrowly defeated by Republican incumbent David

Filipina-American Jennifer Zimmerman is the Democratic candidate for Florida’s 1st congressional district and faced incumbent Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Valadao (54 percent to 46 percent).

Vying for a congressional seat in California’s 14th Congressional District which covers most of San Mateo

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Gina Ortiz Jones aimed to become the first Iraq War veteran (who served under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell) and Filipina American to represent the 23rd Congressional District of Texas.

County, was Republican Cristina Osmeña whose great-grandfather, Sergio Osmeña, was the second president of

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november 9-15, 2018 • neW YorK AnD neW JerSeY ASIAn JoUrnAL

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

From the Front Page

Locsin attunes PH foreign policy to...

PAGE A1 switch the master before whom you are kneeling; you are still on your knees. Independent foreign policy means getting off your knees and on your feet and standing up for our country. That is true independence,” he said.

He cited among the country’s diplomatic successes the handling of the West Philippine Sea dispute, mainly with China; the country’s reelection to the United Nations Human Rights Council despite some nations’ outcry against Mr.

Duterte’s war on drugs; and the international cooperation to rehabilitate Marawi City.

Without surrendering “The country was able to advance its interests, derive economic benefits, and contribute to peace and stability in the South China Sea, without surrendering an iota of Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights, not retreating one inch from its rightful and inalienable ownership of everything within the lawful

territorial reach of our sovereignty,” Locsin said.

He said he had told his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, that “these differences need not stand in the way of mutually beneficial cooperation in other areas of common endeavor.”

Locsin served as the country’s representative to the United Nations from September 2016 until his appointment three weeks ago as the country’s No. 1 diplomat, replacing Alan Peter Cayetano, who resigned to run for Congress. n

Fil-Am pipe bomb suspect held without...

PAGE A1

answered, “yes, sir” to Lehrburger’s routine questions.

The defense did not challenge the federal government’s denial of bail. Prior to his transport to New York, he appeared before a federal judge in Florida on Monday, Oct. 29.

The 56-year-old faces five criminal counts: interstate transport of explosives, mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents, making threatening interstate communications and assault of current or former government officials.

He allegedly mailed at least 15 pipe bombs to known critics of President Donald Trump, including high profile Democrats like Barack Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton as well as news orga-

nizations like CNN and prominent Democrat donor George Soros.

After he was identified, it was revealed that Sayoc was a regular attendee of Trump rallies. A Twitter account believed to be run by Sayoc expressed allegiance to Trump as well as harassment towards other accounts who criticized the president.

On the day he was arrested, federal officials uncovered a van allegedly belonging to Sayoc that was adorned with pro-Trump stickers and posters as well as incendiary messages towards Clinton, Obama, CNN and other parties Trump has repeatedly attacked.

If convicted, he’ll serve up to 48 years in prison.

As previously reported by the Asian Journal, Sayoc had compiled a list of about 100 targets and had

Duterte: Drug money...

PAGE A1 Reynaldo Parojinog, Sr. was mayor of Ozamiz City when he was killed in July 2017. He was linked to the illegal drug trade, and was caught in an exchange of gunfire between the mayor’s security team and police serving search warrants in the clan’s properties.

His children, Ozamiz Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog and her brother, Reynaldo Parojinog Jr., were then arrested. They are currently detained for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of explosives and dangerous drugs.

The judge who was handling their case, Judge Edmundo Pintac, was gunned down in October though the family denied any link to the murder.

Duterte once again took a jab at the human rights groups saying, “The human rights groups, they [fight me.] But they do not know how deep the [drug] problem [in the country] is. It’s human rights against my country.”

Earlier, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) asked the Commission on Elections to disqualify politicians who are allegedly involved in corruption and illegal drugs in the 2019 midterm polls.

The idea was, however, slammed by Malacañang who said those included in the socalled narco list should be accorded due process.

Last month, Duterte said said he does not want to expose the narco-politicians.

prepared the list before he was first arrested on Friday, Oct. 26.

Federal officials have not publicly released the names on the list but have been privately contacting those listed.

In addition to Obama, Clinton and Soros, Sayoc had allegedly mailed pipe bombs to former Vice President Joe Biden; former Attorney General Eric Holder; Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California; Rep. Maxine Waters of California and actor Robert DeNiro.

None of the explosives that were mailed detonated and did not injure anybody, according to officials.

Sayoc has been ordered to return to court next Monday, Nov. 12.. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) “Drug menace is the number one threat to national security,” Duterte said.

He also admitted that shabu enters the country “almost everyday.”

According to the president, a memorandum circular that will direct the entire government machinery to mobilize its assets and to take an active role in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign nationwide will be issued by him.

The machinery will be composed composed of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Customs and Philippine Coast Guard, among others, providing “a necessary personal complement to carry out the directive of the president to the Bureau of Customs to block the flow of illegal drugs in this country.” n

AYALA CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. City promenaders pose with the beautiful Christmas lights along Ayala Avenue in Makati City on Tuesday, November 6.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Makati is PH’s richest...

PAGE A1 sets.

Meanwhile, Cainta in Rizal province was the richest town in 2017 with assets totaling P3.988

billion. It was also the wealthiest in 2016 and 2015 with P3.511 billion and 3.176 billion, respectively.

It was followed by Sual town in

Pangasinan with P2.528 billion.

Limay town in Bataan came in third with P2.42 billion in total assets, down from its P2.54 billion in 2016. n

A rundown on how Fil-Am candidates fared...

PAGE A1

the Philippines. Running against Democrat Jackie Speier, Osmeña ended up with the lesser votes with 23.6 percent compared to Speier’s 76.4 percent.

Also running in California was 27-year-old Los Angeles resident Kenneth Mejia who ran under the Green Party in hopes of representing California’s 34th Congressional District which includes Chinatown and Downtown Los Angeles. Tuesday’s vote revealed Rep. Jimmy Gomez of the Democratic Party to have won his reelection by taking 74.2 percent of the votes compared to Mejia’s 25.8 percent.

Outside of California, Florida pediatrician and Democratic candidate Jennifer Zimmerman ran for Florida’s 1st Congressional District against Republican Matt Gaetz who ended up taking the win with 67.1 percent of the votes compared to Zimmerman’s 32.9 percent on Tuesday.

But perhaps one of the most closely watched congressional race in this year’s midterm election was in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District between Republican Will Hurd and Democrat Fil-Am Gina Ortiz-Jones. While two-term holding Hurd claimed a victory from Tuesday’s count, others claimed the results were still too soon to be final given the closeness of Hurd’s and Ortiz-Jones’ numbers.

As of early Wednesday afternoon, Hurd was up less than one percent over U.S. Air Force veteran Ortiz-Jones (49.2 percent to 48.7 percent). Her campaign said that not all ballots, such as provisional ballots, absentee ballots, have been counted.

“This election is not over—every vote matters and must be counted. Gina’s campaign has been powered by grassroots energy from day one, and we won’t stop working until every provisional ballot, absentee ballot, and military or overseas ballot has been counted,” said a statement released by Ortiz-Jones’ camp.

If Ortiz-Jones wins, she would become the first female Fil-Am member of Congress, the first Iraq War veteran, and the first openly lesbian to hold a U.S. House seat in Texas.

Currently, only one serving member of Congress has Filipino ancestry and as of Tuesday, retained his seat. Scott, whose maternal grandfather is of Filipino ancestry, ran unopposed in Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District and easily won re-election.

In Mahwah, New Jersey, reelectionist candidate Jonathan Wong topped the town council race by getting 4,402 votes. A Mahwah resident for 24 years, Wong is a recent law school graduate. He is also a licensed real estate broker and a small business owner.

Wong was first elected to the council in 2015 when he was only 23 years old.

Fil-Ams in local races in Northern California In key local races, some FilAmericans are seen as winners due to very healthy leads in their races, while others are still in the mix with mail-in ballots still to be counted. (Note: The Asian Journal got information from the counties’ different election sites, with the results of the counting of votes from precincts. These numbers, and some of the results, may change in the days and weeks ahead.)

As of press time, State Assembly member Rob Bonta of the 18th District, the first Filipino American to ever get elected to California’s State Assembly, looks like a lock for reelection. He has garnered 59,953 votes, or nearly 87 percent of votes cast, over his challenger, Republican Stephen Slauson, who has 9,004 votes.

State Assembly candidate and Republican Christina Laskowski

lost her bid to the 22nd Assembly District seat held by incumbent Democrat Kevin Mullin. Laskowski was able to get 17,100 votes or 27.2 percent of total votes cast, to Mullin’s 47,755 votes (72.8 percent).

In Daly City, which is home to a healthy Filipino American population, current Councilmember Ray Buenaventura leads in the polls, having garnered 6,051 of votes cast (31.4 percent). The other three candidates are separated by hundreds of votes, namely Pamela DiGiovanni (4,814 votes), Gabriella Makstman (4,238 votes) and Rod Daus-Magbual (4,156 votes).

There are only three slots open in the city council.

In the town of Colma, Joanne del Rosario, currently the Vice Mayor, was re-elected to the city council, along with another Helen Fisicaro, herself running for reelection. Del Rosario garnered 119 votes, or 50.6 percent of total votes cast.

Fil-Ams Flor Nicolas and Mark Nagales are currently in the top three in the race for South San Francisco’s three city council slots, along with councilmember Mark Addiego who is running for reelection. Nicolas, who has been a resident of South San Francisco for over 30 years and has a chemical engineering degree from Mapua Institute of Technology and a Master of Public health from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has garnered 3,067 votes (18.4%). Nagales, also a resident of the city for more than 30 years and a congressional aide to Congresswoman Jackie Speier for 10 years, currently has 3,026 votes (18.2%). Nipping at their heels is Pradeep Gupta who has 2,855 votes, or 17.1% of total votes cast. There are only three vacant slots for the city council in South San Francisco.

In the Jefferson Elementary School District, Maybelle Manio, a graduate of San Francisco State University, looks like a lock to be reelected as a member of the Governing Board, along with Marie Brizuela and Clayton Koo. Manio has garnered 4,106 votes, or 26.5 percent of total votes cast.

Dianne Martinez, the first FilAm elected to the city council of Emeryville and who is running for re-election, leads vote-getters for the city’s two open city council slots. She currently has 1,471 votes, or 49 percent of votes cast.

Emeryville’s neighboring city, Oakland, will most likely welcome a Fil-Am for City Councilmember for District 2 in Nikki Fortunato Bas, whose parents are both immigrants from the Philippines and who is slated to become Oakland’s first Filipina American councilmember. Fortunato Bas has garnered 4,049 votes (or 51.04% of votes cast) to lead incumbent Abel Guillén, who has 3,365 votes (or 42.42% of votes cast). [According to San Jose Mercury News, Fortunato Bas has been declared the winner as she received a majority in the first round in the city’s ranked choice system.]

In Union City, Pat Gacoscos, who is bidding to get re-elected as a councilmember, is currently among the top three vote-getters in the race for the city’s three city council slots. She has garnered 2,777 votes so far, or 13.65 percent of the votes cast.

Marlo Rodriguez, a city council candidate for District 6 in Oakland, was unsuccessful in her bid, garnering 490 votes, or 8.5 percent of votes cast. Rodriguez finished last among the five candidates vying for the seat.

In Yolo County, it looks like Christopher Cabaldon gets another term as Mayor of West Sacramento. Cabaldon currently has 5,187 votes (52.8 percent), with challengers Joe Deanda and Esther Moskalets getting 3,969 votes (40.4 percent) and 666 votes (6.8

percent), respectively.

Marico Sayoc is among the three top vote-getters for the Town of Los Gatos’ three city council seats. The former mayor of Los Gatos has garnered 4,314 votes so far, or about 27.4 percent of votes cast and currently sits in second place.

Jose Esteves’ bid for another turn as Mayor of Milpitas will not be successful this time around.

Esteves currently trails current Mayor Rich Tran, garnering 2,210 votes to Tran’s 3,834 votes. The race for city council is very close to call at this point, with Fil-Am Gary Barbadillo (2,285 votes) trailing Carmen Montano (2,630 votes) and Karina Dominguez (2,436 votes) for the two open city council slots.

Thelma Boac currently sits in the top three for the race for the Berryessa Union School District’s Governing Board Members. Boac sits in the second spot, with 4,675 votes or nearly 23 percent of votes cast. There are three spots in the governing board up for grabs in the BUSD. In El Cerrito, councilmember Gabriel Quinto was successful in his reelection bid, garnering 4,729 votes, or about 51 percent of the votes cast.

About 17 miles north of El Cerrito, Jesus Malgapo trails Hakeem Brown, Katy Miessner and Pippin Dew for the three city council slots for the City of Vallejo. Malgapo currently has 13,305 votes (19.86 percent), and trails third-placer Dew by about 407 votes.

Tony Ubalde is currently in the top three for the Vallejo City Unified School District race, with three slots being contested by eight candidates. Ubalde sits on the third spot with 11,616 votes (15.94 percent), some 654 votes ahead of fourth-placer Christy Gardner. Another Fil-Am, Ruscal Cayangyang, is in fifth with 10,407 votes (14.2 percent).

Fil-Ams eye offices throughout Southern California In Southern California where the Filipino population has been on the rise, at least 14 Fil-Ams sought local office positions.

In Artesia, Fil-Am Melissa Ramoso—who was the only female on the ballot list—took the third seat up for grabs in the Artesia City Council with 20.04 percent of the total votes. Leaving the council was four-year term Fil-Am Councilmember Victor Manalo who came in fourth with 18.01 percent of the votes.

In Fil-Am hub Carson, former Mayor Pro Tem Elito Santarina and new candidate Oz Buendia were among the city council candidates but were unable to get a seat. With only two open seats, Santarina—who has 15-years in the city council—came in third with 16.02 percent of the votes.

Jed Leano held on to a seat on the Claremont City Council, as did half-Mexican, Fil-Am Letty Lopez in nearby West Covina for the city’s council, and Tzeitel ParasCaracci for city council in Duarte.

None of the Filipino candidates running for city council in Southern California’s Orange County won their elections. Mark Anthony Paredes ran in Garden Grove, Phil Bacerra in Santa Ana, and Christina Mackey in Laguna Hills.

Former councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Lorri Galloway came in third in her run for Anaheim’s Mayor.

Down south in San Diego, Mark Bartlett hoped to be the first Filipino councilman in Chula Vista but missed narrowly behind incumbent John McCann. Dita Delossantos Yamane came in third in her race for National City Mayor.

But Fil-Am Republican Chris Cate won re-election to represent San Diego City Council’s District 6, garnering 57 percent of the votes. n

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Dateline USa

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL •

NOvEmbER 9-15, 2018

A

Prison destroys future of children — UNICEF exec

blame on children, given that many of them are forced to commit criminal acts by the adults around them.

LOWERING the minimum “Giving the child the blame age of criminal responsibility and responsibility for actions is would have dire consequences very unfair because they do not on the future of children placed understand, they do not have in prisons, the Philippine repthat cognizant capacity,” she resentative of the United Nasaid. tions Children’s Fund (UNICEF) “We as adults should put the warned. effort into actually helping these Speaking at the weekly Kachildren into a normal, stable pihan sa Manila Bay forum on life. Taking them out of a bad Wednesday, October 31, UNIfamily situation, take them out CEF Philippine representative of gangs and restore their right Lotta Sylwander said putting to a proper and fair life,” added children in prison enhances Sylwander. their criminal behavior.

Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, “We have global evidence who was also at the forum, about this. It doesn’t keep the agreed with the UNICEF official child out of criminality. In fact, that criminalizing acts of young it enhances the child’s crimichildren is not the solution to nal behavior. They are sort of the problem. groomed into being criminals However, she stressed the need to understand officials, including President Duterte, who saw that the higher minimum age of criminal responsibility has resulted in more minors committing crimes.

“There is a belief that because we increased it to 15, that created boldness in the criminal minds to use the children,” she said. “We have to understand the causes to understand the frame of mind of people.”

Cayetano stressed the need to address the root causes of the problem, including poverty and teenage pregnancy.

“One, we need to get the children out of the streets and number two, make them accountable Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, October 31, UNICEF or make them understand that Philippine representative Lotta Sylwander said putting children in prison enhances their what they are doing is not accriminal behavior.

Philstar file photo by Boy Santos ceptable,” she said. n

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

President Donald Trump delivers remarks on immigration on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

Trump imposes quota on asylum claims at the border

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

ON Thursday, November 1, President Donald Trump doubled down on his iron fist immigration proposals by announcing plans to call for new limits on asylum requests at the U.S.-Mexico border.

In the same week that he announced his plans to eviscerate birthright citizenship, the president gave a speech from the White House announcing that he would sign an executive order “next week” designed to restrict asylum rules amid the yearly trek of Central American migrants heading to the border to flee violence and abuse in their native countries.

In Thursday’s address from the White House, the president meandered on about the perceived national security risks that come with welcoming the thousands of asylum-seekers at the border, mirroring much of the immigration rhetoric he’s touted since his presidential campaign.

Generally, the U.S. recognizes the right of asylum pursuant to international and federal law which grants asylum to people who justifiably fears persecution in their home country on the grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion (i.e. opposition to a political party) or particular social group. Applicants for asylum must also reason that the government is either involved in said persecution or unable to control the persecution of a private entity.

Every year a caravan of Central American migrants — most of whom are women and children are from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador — travel through Mexico en route to the U.S. border, traveling in thousands for protection; migrants are often kidnapped by drug and human traffickers on their journeys to the U.S. As of press time, the migrant caravan continues to press on toward the border and have crossed through the southern Mexican state of Chiapas.

It’s unclear how the administration plans to carry out the forthcoming executive order on, but it has already dispatched U.S. troops to the border to buttress border patrol.

On Friday, Nov. 2, the president backtracked from a suggestion that the more than 5,000 troops would be allowed to fire freely on migrants who throw rocks at them but said that rock-throwers would be arrested.

“They won’t have to fire. What I don’t want is I don’t want these people throwing rocks,” the presi-

dent told reporters outside the White House. “If they do that with us, they’re going to be arrested for a long time.”

On Thursday, Trump suggested that he would authorize the use of military force on caravaners if they throw rocks at them as some did at the Mexican military and police force when they reached Mexico.

Trump said that he hopes that the administration won’t resort to military action, but said if migrants attack that “we’re not going to put up with that. If they want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back.”

His reasoning behind the possible use of firearms on caravaners by the military is “because there’s not much difference when you get hit in the face with a rock,” later adding, “When they throw rocks like they did at the Mexico military and police, I say [to the military], consider it a rifle.”

Per the regulations of the Defense Department, “deadly force is justified only when there is a reasonable belief that the subject of such force poses an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to a person.”

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Jamie Davis said after Trump’s remarks that the military “will not discuss hypothetical situations or specific measures” and emphasized that the military forces “are in support of” the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.

Thursday’s address comes at the heels of his controversial announcement of ending birthright citizenship by way of, once again, executive order, a proposal panned by Democrats and Republicans alike.

As previously reported by the Asian Journal, House Speaker Paul Ryan refuted the president’s claim that he can end birthright citizenship (wherein a U.S.-born child of undocumented parents is automatically a U.S. citizen) by saying Trump “obviously” doesn’t have the power to end a law supported by the Constitution.

Both announcements — which, unlike most of the president’s statements, sparked outrage — occurred days before the historic midterm election where the Republican-majority Congress could flip blue, which has been a thesis for Democrats since the 2016 election.

Many interpreted these announcements as a last-ditch effort to pander to GOP voters who respond well to fearmongering and consider immigration to be an important issue. (Polling data from RealClearPolitics, which aggregat-

Gymnast Carlos Yulo makes history for PH by roMy

Mariñas ManilaTimes.net

FILIPINO gymnast Carlos Yulo made history on Friday at the World Gymnastics Championships in Doha, Qatar, when he won the bronze medal in the men’s floor exercises, becoming the first Filipino and the first Southeast Asian athlete to make it to the podium in any individual apparatus in the 48 editions of the biennial tournament, which was livestreamed on the channel of the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) or the International Gymnastics Federation.

Yulo tallied 14.600 points to rank third behind Artur Dalaloyan

Carlos Edriel Yulo Philstar.com photo by Joey Mendoza

of Russia (14.900 points) and Kenzo Shirai of Japan (14.866 points) in the nine-man field.

The 18-year-old Filipino gymnast, who trains in Japan under a Japanese coach, seemed a little nervous as he was about to end his routine at the Aspire Dome in Qatari capital, glancing at the scoreboard and apparently calculating the score he had to make to seal his date with history.

But his performance seemed already a winner for Shirai, who applauded at the sidelines as his bedimpled Filipino rival — the shortest among the nine competitors — nailed his landing.

Yulo’s finish visibly broke the heart of the American Yul Moldauer, who was running third and up for the bronze medal before the Filipino tumbled and bounced on the floor in his first stint as a senior gymnast.

The medalists and Moldauer (14.566 points) were followed

by Artem Dolgopyat (Israel, also 14.566 points), Nikita Nagornyy (Russia, 14.500 points), Samuel Mikulak (United States, 14.233 points), Kazuma Kaya (Japan, 14.100 points) and Ahmet Onder (Turkey, 13.833 points).

Yulo’s showing in Doha must have made up for his forgettable appearance at the Jakarta and Palembang Asian Games in Indonesia last August and September.

He reportedly is eyeing the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo where he could possibly rewrite local and Southeast Asian gymnastics history. n

ed multiple results from prominent pollsters, said that Democrat candidates running for all offices are averaging a 7.5-point lead against Republican candidates.)

This week, the president tweeted a campaign ad that featured an undocumented Mexican immigrant who murdered two California sheriff’s deputies in 2014 and laughed about it in court, to which the ad states, “Democrats let him into our country.”

Democrats and Republicans alike lambasted the ad for demonizing immigrants by exploiting the stereotype that all undocumented immigrants of color are violent.

“It’s all about revving up the base, using fear to stimulate people to come out at the polls,” Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tennessee), who has voted with Trump on a number of issues, told The Tennessean on Thursday after Trump’s White House address. n

when they are put into prison,” she said.

“There are hardly any examples showing children returning to a normal life after they are thrown into prison as children,” she added.

Instead of putting children in prisons, Sylwander said children in conflict with the law should be put through a restorative justice procedure that it already provided under the existing Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. Sylwander called for additional resources to enable the full implementation of the law, which sets the minimum age of criminal responsibility at 15.

A proposal is pending in Congress to lower it to at least 13 years old.

But according to the UNICEF official, it is unfair to put the

A

november 9-15, 2018 • neW YorK AnD neW JerSeY ASIAn JoUrnAL

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Feds cracking down on DMV employees giving out fake licenses and permits torney McGregor W. Scott during the trial. “It is alarming to think that unqualified persons were licensed to operate big rigs and buses on our public roadways.

We will continue to do everything we can to root out public corruption at any level, and hold those in positions of trust accountable for their greed.”

A month later, Sarah laray Sandoval, a former West Sacramento DMV employee, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison after she plead guilty to three counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Along with her co-defendant Anthony Zamarron, authorities said their schemes resulted in a loss over $77,000, and involved over 100 victims.

The Sacramento Bee reported of one of defendant from a case last year being the daughter of a DMV deputy chief of investigations and enforcement.

Kari Scattaglia and lisa Terraciano—both former DMV employees in the los Angeles area—pleaded guilty last November to charges regarding their role in allowing numerous California driver’s li-

cense applicants to pay their way out of taking written and behindthe-wheel exams, according to federal court documents.

Scattaglia was a licensing registration examiner and manager in Arleta and Granada Hills, while Terraciano worked as a motor vehicle representative in Winnetka.

Court documents showed Scattaglia as being responsible for issuing at least 68 fake licenses and permits.

“The DMV Investigations Division conducts a thorough investigation of every complaint filed and takes action when an employee is found to be committing workplace fraud,” reads a statement obtained

by Redding’s local ABC 7 station KRCR. Armando Botello of the DMV’s Office of Public Affairs continued, “These employees are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and works closely with U.S. Attorney offices statewide. The DMV is responsible for initiating the cases involving all 40 DMV employees, brokers, driver school owners/operators that have been referred to the federal Eastern District since 2011.” n

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia on Monday, November 5, also expressed gratitude to Fox, DAYS after the departure of who left last weekend following Australian missionary Patricia Fox, the expiration of her temporary the Commission on Human Rights visitor visa.

“As a fellow human rights de(CHR) is reiterating its call on the government to respect the rights of fender, we recognize with gratitude the dedication of Sister Patricia all people, including foreigners.

Fox to the human rights cause in the Philippines, especially for our farmers, laborers and the urban poor,” said De Guia.

“Founded on the universality of human rights, being a foreign national did not prevent her from dedicating almost three decades of her life addressing, within her means, an array of injustices and violations against the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our country,” she added.

The Duterte administration had moved for the nun’s deportation, claiming she has violated restrictions on foreign nationals from participating in political events. Fox was accused of taking part in a rally

supporting laborers in Davao City.

The CHR said the move to deport Fox violated her right to due process, noting that the Bureau of Immigration arbitrarily forfeited Fox’s missionary visa last April after she was invited and taken into custody without proper charges.

“The commission continues to remind the government of its human rights obligations to all persons in the country, Filipino or otherwise, in line with the human rights conventions it has accepted in the interest of upholding the dignity of all,” De Guia said in her statement on Monday.

She previously said that there should be a “balance between protecting the human rights of all and the interest of the nation.”

CHR chairman Chito Gascon earlier said they would review the immigration guidelines banning foreigners from taking part in protests to determine if such restriction violates their freedom to peacefully assemble. n

by Rae

Photo from Instagram/@donairenonito

Donaire rules WBA bantamweight

by Josef

Ramos ManilaTimes.net

NONITO “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. forced Ryan Burnett to retire in the fifth round after suffering a back injury on Saturday, November 3, and snatched the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title via technical knockout (TKO).

The victory of Donaire Jr. in the quarterfinals of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland also brought him to the semifinals where he will face reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight titleholder Zolani Tete of South Africa in a unification fight in 2019.

Burnett, 26, connected with a lot of combinations in the first two rounds, but Donaire Jr. re-

gained his rhythm, as he hit his opponent with accurate punches until the early part of the fourth round, before the 26-year-old Irish fighter threw a right hand punch that hurt his back with less than a minute left.

Despite being hurt, Burnett survived the fourth round.

Referee Howard Foster stopped the fight before the start of the fifth round and declared Donaire Jr. as the winner by TKO. “A win is a win and it wasn’t the way I would like to win, but I give it to (Ryan) Burnett. He was an amazing fighter,” said Donaire Jr. during a post fight interview, which WBSS posted on social media.

“He (Burnett) was fast, strong and caught me with some good punches,” he added. “I came into this fight as the bigger guy and my coaches snapped me out of it and

told me to box.”

At 35-year-old, Donaire (39-5 win-loss record with 25 knockouts) said that age was “nothing but a number” and boasted, “I still have that speed.”

Paramedics attended to Burnett’s injuries as he was carried out of the ring.

Donaire, a former four-division world champion, also expressed concern for the fallen boxer as he went to his corner after the bout.

Burnett suffered his first defeat and now carried a 19-1 win-loss record with nine knockouts.

Donaire joins the Elite circle of Filipino world boxing champions headed by WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, International Boxing Federation super flyweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas and WBO minimum weight champion Vic Saludar. n

ann VaRona AJPress

WHIlE the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has had criminal cases filed against it before, federal authorities have most recently been putting a heavier focus cracking down on its workers caught issuing fraudulent driver’s licenses and permits.

Federal officials say that investigators from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have also been joining in on the work of undercover agents.

Cases on the department notoriously known for long lines have shown up in the last number of years, but the numbers saw a stark uptick last year with at least 20 more cases having been filed by prosecutors since.

In June of this year, a federal jury found a former Salinas DMV employee, Robert Turchin, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and identity fraud, and three counts of identity fraud.

“This prosecution of a California state employee for bribery resulting in grave danger to public safety is very troubling,” said U.S. At-

Respect rights of foreigners, PH gov’t told

by JanVic

mateo Philstar.com

Sotto: There are extrajudicial...

PAGE A1 pine Daily Inquirer.

The Senate president said this in response to the statement by Senator Manny Pacquiao before Oxford University students in the United Kingdom, stating that there are no EJKs in the Philippine government’s war against illegal drugs.

In an open forum after the speech, the boxer-turned-politician said that many drug suspects ended up dead because they chose to fight back with arresting officers. Pacquiao, a known ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, knew that the president urged cops to use violence upon those who do not willingly accept arrest.

The Senate president was quick to defend Pacquiao as he explained what the senator might have meant when he spoke before the students in the UK. “Pero (But) was it sanctioned by the government? No. Perhaps, that’s what Manny Pacquiao means,” Sotto added.

Sotto is convinced that the alleged killings might have been committed by illegal drug traffickers who fear that their identities will be revealed to police authorities once their underlings have been placed under scrutiny.

The Senate president noted that the reputation of the government is being deliberately damaged in order to change the image of the country’s war against illegal drugs. Sotto said that the campaign has been slanted before the international community to show that EJKs were being done by government authorities.

Human rights groups and government critics said that such figure is understated. They said that some killings carried out by so-called “vigilante groups” were also allegedly state-sponsored, citing cases where some from the police force were caught in illegitimate operations.

Sotto was then asked to comment on the death of the 17-yearold Kian Delos Santos, a boy who was killed in the anti-drug operation of the Caloocan City police in August last year. Delos Santos was accused of being a drug runner who allegedly resisted arrest.

The Senate president declined to comment saying that other people might use the issue for their advantage.

Sotto also stated the error in that of the term EJK. Sotto said that such in itself is “non-existent,” since there are no judicial killings or even a death penalty in the country. n

Trial begins over citizenship...

PAGE A1 Advocates against the question—including the states of New York, Illinois, Iowa, and Virginia; and cities like New York and Philadelphia—maintained that the question would discourage a significant amount of people from participating in the census, thus making it possible for certain communities to be misrepresented.

“These well-documented risks of adding a person-by-person citizenship demand to the decennial census are heightened in the current political climate because of President Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and this Administration’s pattern of policies and actions that target immigrant communities,” wrote the lawsuit plaintiffs.

Duke University political scientist Dr. Sunshine Hillygus on Monday, testified for the advocates by saying that the citizenship question “will lead to systematic undercount of Hispanic and non-citizen households” which is an issue advocates for an accurate count have already been addressing.

“A citizenship question is going to make conducting the census a heck of a lot more difficult,” said Dr. Hillygus.

The decennial count not only looks for population changes and other information about who

makes up the United States—citizens and non-citizens alike—but more importantly, uses the derived data to address the nation’s needs like determining how seats in Congress are set, and how funding allocations for certain programs are made.

Over $600 billion is allocated through federal programs based on census data. Among the many programs dependent on the census are those regarding education, assistance for veterans, hospitals, and transportation.

Dr. Hillygus referred to recent reports showing how the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics have led some eligible immigrants from participating in social programs. She also pointed to a recent Pew Research Center report that showed a majority of latinos reporting fear that they, or a family member of close friend could be deported.

The trial commenced Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court last Friday, declined the Trump administration’s requests to postpone it.

The case which is led by New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood and is to be decided by federal Judge Jesse Furman, will most likely be appealed to the Supreme Court. (Rae Ann Varona /AJPress)

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NOvEmbER 9-15, 2018

A

China Telecom named 3rd telco Parents will welcome mandatory Security concerns raised over participation of foreign firm

by Lisbet

esmaeL

by Ryan

macaseRo Philstar.com

ManilaTimes.net

A CONSORTIUM between China Telecommunications Corp., or China Telecom, and Filipino partner Udenna Corp. and its unit Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. has been declared the provisional third telco player that will attempt to break the duopoly of Globe Telecom and PLDT. The Mislatel Consortium emerged with the highest committed level of services or “HCLoS,” scoring 456.80 points out of the maximum 500 points, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said.

The HCLoS system was used by telco regulators to determine the winning bidder, and was based on population coverage, broadband speed and spending pledges over five years. “[T]he final bid rating of participant Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co. Inc. (Mislatel) with Udenna Corp., Chelsea, and [China Telecom]… is 456.80 points, duly signed by their authorized representative. For having the highest committed level of service … the selection committee hereby declares [the consortium] as the provisional NMP (new major player), subject to document verification phase,” said Ella Lopez, NMP selection committee chairman.

Adel Tamano, vice president for corporate affairs at Udenna Corp., the holding firm led by the family of businessman Dennis Uy of Phoenix Petroleum, lauded the government’s third telco selection process, describing it as “fair and transparent.”

Among the three bidders, only the consortium of Udenna and China Telecom passed the detailed evaluation after it completed all the requirements.

Chavit, PT&T lose Chavit Singson-backed Sear Telecom Consortium, led by TierOne Communications and LCS Group of Companies, and Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T) failed to move to the next level of the bidding process.

The Sear Consortium did not qualify due to the absence of a P700-million participation security requirement, while PT&T was unsuccessful in securing a certification proving 10 years of technical experience on a national level.

PT&T President and Chief Executive Officer James Velasquez told reporters at the sidelines of the bidding process that the NTC did not issue a certification to prove its operations in the country for the past 10 years, despite its existence in the market for 56 years.

“We complied on the P10 billion paid-up capital, P700-million participation security, all the audited financial statements are in place … All the requirements are there except the certification from the NTC, imagine that. Why is that the case? If they had given us the certification, we would have been able to comply 100 percent,” he said.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said the losing bidders had three days to file their motions for reconsideration. The selection committee has another three days to resolve the motions.

PT&T and Sear Consortium may also opt to file a protest, but they have to cough up P10 million.

“Once everything is resolved,

The Selection Committee of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) evaluates the first selection package submitted by the Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co. during the bidding for a new major player in the telecommunications industry. The bidding was held at the NTC Building in Quezon City.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada

then the [China Telecom and Udenna] group would be declared as the NMP. They have 90 days to submit their detailed rollout,” Cabarios said.

More hurdles However, China Telecom, Udenna and Chelsea face legal challenges after the Sear Consortium claimed it had an existing exclusive P10-million contract with Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company (Mislatel), the franchise holder of Udenna-China Telecom group.

Under the agreement, Mislatel is not allowed to have its franchise permits and franchises used by somebody else without a prior official consent of DigiPhil Technology], a subsidiary of TierOne and a member of Sear Consortium.

Sear Consortium lawyer Raoul Creencia said that while the contract did not prohibit Mislatel from joining other groups, DigiPhil had “the right of first refusal.”

The Chavit Singson-backed consortium plans to file a complaint before the Makati or Pasig Regional Trial Courts (RTC), “to stop Mislatel from allowing its franchise to be used by somebody else in the absence of a prior consent by its counterparty which is DigiPhil.”

“If Mislatel will be adjudged to have breached the contract, it is therefore not eligible to partner with, so there’s no CF (congressional franchise) [for the Udenna-China Telecom consortium].

That’s a fatal flaw,” Creencia said.

Udenna’s Tamano declined to comment.

Now Telecom sues NTC Instead of participating in the selection process, Now Telecom on Wednesday filed a case against the NTC before the Court of Appeals (CA).

“Now Telecom has decided to pursue its [legal] remedies by filing a petition with the CA and challenge the declaration made by the [Manila RTC], instead of participating in the bidding this morning,” said Mel Velasco Velarde, president and chief executive officer of publicly listed Now Corp.

Miguel Lopez, Now Corp. investor relations officer, told reporters that their legal counsels had advised them not to submit their bid documents at the last minute so as not to adversely affect the case.

“We were advised not to file [a submission in connection with the bidding process]. If given the chance that the legal remedies would allow us to file, of course we would file. We are ready,” Lopez told reporters.

The move came a day after the Manila RTC Branch 42 denied

Now Telecom’s plea to stop the enforcement of certain provisions of the NTC on the selection of the third player.

Now Telecom, an affiliate of Now Corp., filed a complaint against the NTC on October 9, claiming that the selection process had turned into a “moneymaking scheme” for requiring bidders P700 million worth in participation security, P14 billion to P24 billion in performance security and a P10-million non-refundable appeal fee.

The firm said the financial provisions stated in the NTC memorandum circular were “onerous, confiscatory and potentially extortionary.”

Converge ICT and Korea’s KT Corp. withdrew earlier. Converge claimed the third telco search was “not on a level playing field.”

Security concerns raised Sen. Grace Poe also on Wednesday said security concerns earlier raised over the participation of a foreign firm in the bidding should not be “sidestepped.” She did not identify the foreign firm.

The senator said the Department of Information and Communications Technology should be transparent and disclose considerations for deeming a bidder qualified.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines and other intelligence agencies should weigh in on the qualifications [of the winning bidder],” according to Poe, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services.

A paper published recently by the US Naval War College and Tel Aviv University in Israel accused China Telecom of “infiltrating western internet networks” since 2015.

The study, titled “China’s Maxim — Leave No Access Point Unexploited: The Hidden Story of China Telecom’s BGP Hijacking,” authored by Chris Demchak and Yuval Shavitt, accused the Chinese telco player of using border gateway protocols (BGPs) to carry out “data intrusions.”

It also said the telco player was hijacking internet traffic in the United States.| “China Telecom has already relatively and seamlessly hijacked the domestic U.S. and crossU.S. traffic and redirected it to China [for] over days, weeks, and months,” the study claimed. “The prevalence of and demonstrated ease with which one can simply redirect and copy data by controlling key transit nodes buried in a nation’s infrastructure requires an urgent policy response.”

Demchak and Shavitt’s study also suggested that China Telecom’s “unusual” patterns showed malicious intent. n

DILG, PNP supports extension of martial law in Mindanao by aJPress DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday, November 6, expressed his approval of the extension of martial law in Mindanao as he noted that the residents under it were in favor.

“Based on the feedback of the people of Mindanao, I would rather opt for another extension,” he told reporters in a chance interview as reported by The Manila Times.

Año justified his approval on the third extension of the military rule by claiming that no abuse by the police nor the military transpired or was ever recorded during the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.

“For all law-abiding citizens, they don’t really feel the martial law but for the lawless elements, for the private armed groups, for the terrorists, they are all scared of the martial law,” Año said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde also supported the extension of military rule in the entire area, claiming that it would be better especially with the midterm elections coming up.

“If ever that they will ask for the agency’s position, we will support

drug tests for school kids, Palace says

the extension especially with the incoming elections. It’s better,” Albayalde said.

The police chief stated that the peace and order in Mindanao had improved. Figures showed that the average monthly crime incident in Mindanao decreased from 8.79 in 2017 to 5.92 from January to September 2018. He also noted that no human rights violations nor abuses happened during the imposition of martial law.

“There’s no oppression there.

There is no curtailing of freedom, nothing,” Albayalde said.

A week ago, the Executive Committee of the National Security Council was taking into account whether to extend or lift the implemented martial law in Mindanao.

“Taking into account the lingering terrorist and communist threats, the [Executive Committee of the National Security Council] committed to put into study the possible lifting or further extension of martial law,” Palace spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

After the siege of Marawi City brought by the Maute terrorist group, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte decided to place the entire Mindanao island group under martial law. Initially, it was a 60-day period of military rule that was further extended until Dec.

PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año Inquirer.net photos

31, 2017. It was then extended to another year to police the threats of extremist terrorist groups in Mindanao.

Duterte earlier claimed that the implementation of the military rule in the island lessened criminality” in the region. However, there were accounts that prove otherwise, such as the deadly bomb attacks that occurred in Isulan in Sultan Kudarat and Lamitan City, Basilan. n

school it was struck down as being unconstitutional because it is mandatory and not random,” MANILA — “I think it’s a good also said. idea.”

Roque said at the time that the This was presidential spokes- Palace would defer to Education person Salvador Panelo’s reac- Secretary Leonor Briones on the tion on Thursday, November 8, when asked whether the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte supports random drug testing for students in Grade 4 and above.

Panelo said he believes drug testing, even of young kids, is a good idea “because at least parents will know if their children are addicted — or being used in the drug industry.”

On Wednesday, November 7, Social Weather Stations released a survey that found that 51 percent of Filipinos support drug testing for young students.

The survey was conducted between September 15 and 23.

The survey also found that 76 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.

The move was originally proposed by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino earlier this year, to “save the children.”

The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act allows requiring drug tests at the secondary and tertiary levels but Aquino said in June that the agency has encountered children as young as 10 already involved in drugs.

Palace thumbed down mandatory drug tests in June When PDEA chief Aquino first floated the idea, Harry Roque— presidential spokesperson at the time—said the administration was against the proposal because of the unconstitutionality of the proposal.

“We can only have drug testing in high school. Although the Philippine Supreme Court does not have a decision on the constitutionality of drug testing, there are two decisions on that in America,” Roque, a lawyer said in Filipino.

“In America, random drug testing in high school has been upheld as consitutional but as for mandatory drug testing in high

matter. The DepEd said then that tje Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act needs to be amended to include drug testing in lower school levels.

The DepEd also stressed that it PAGE A7

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NOVEMBER 9-15, 2018 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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FEATURES

OPINION

Unsustainable

DESPITE appeals from environment groups, truckloads of trash were collected from the different cemeteries in Metro Manila as the holidays for remembering the dead ended on Friday, November 2. Garbage, however, litters the National Capital Region even on ordinary days, clogging drainage, aggravating flooding, and providing breeding grounds for disease-causing mosquitoes and vermin.

The piles of garbage are just among the indicators of the unsustainable state of Metro Manila. In the 2018 Sustainable Cities Index, which is drawn up by Arcadis NV, an Amsterdam-based global design and consultancy firm for natural and built assets, Manila ranked 95th out of 100 mega cities worldwide, and 21st out of 23 Asian cities included in the list.

The latest index, released this week, ranked cities based on three factors: people, which includes quality of life and social sustainability; planet, which covers pollution and sanitation; and profit, which is measured in terms of productivity based on economic growth, innovation and infrastructure. The Philippines ranked 93rd in the people sub-index, 91st in the planet and 98th in the profit pillar.

London was ranked as the world’s most sustainable city. Swedish capital Stockholm followed; Scotland’s capital Edinburgh came in third. In

Asia, city-state Singapore was rated the most sustainable. It also placed fourth globally, ahead of Austrian capital Vienna. Hong Kong and Seoul also ranked high among Asian cities.

The Arcadis report, however, categorized Manila as one of the “evolutionary cities” where there are “opportunities” for improving sustainability.

These are cities that change rapidly as new circumstances arise, according to the report.

Although Metro Manila remains mired in urban blight, there have been positive developments recently, such as the rehabilitation of the Pasig River — a successful program that has received international recognition. Energy and water efficiency together with other sustainable elements are being designed into new property developments. Manila may rank low in the sustainability index, but there is hope for dramatic improvements. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Voter sentiment poll: A majority of Americans say America is headed in the wrong direction

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS NOVEMBER 6, 2018 will be recorded in political history as the day of the most consequential midterm elections of our time.

As of press time, we now know that a record number of Americans voted in the polls, sent in, and dropped off their ballots ahead of time, to make their voices heard two years since President Donald Trump took office.

As The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” reported, the stakes couldn’t be higher, with 35 Senate seats, 435 House seats, and 36 gubernatorial seats up for grabs.

This election will also determine if the Republican Party will keep the majority in the Senate and the House of the Legislative branch of the U.S. government, especially after the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh as Justice of the Supreme Court, tilting the

balance of power leaning conservative.

The winner of the gubernatorial races will have consequences in future elections, especially the redistricting of states.

All these have a lot to do with the concern about the balance of power and the need for the checks and balance to function as it should as mandated by the Constitution to protect the integrity of our democracy.

Democrats need to win 23 seats to win back the majority in the House. The US Senate has 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats. To win back the Senate majority, all incumbent Senate Democrats need to win and flip two more. Republicans also have control of most governorships all over the nation, holding 33 to the Democrats’ 16 seats.

Ahead of the midterm elections, Real Clear Politics released findings that may in-

dicate how the election may change the political landscape in America.

RealClearPolitics is a political news and polling aggregator that looks into the results from major polls of all political colors — conservative, liberal, centrist, etc.

For the period October 14 to November 3, 2018, just within a little more than two weeks before the November 6 Midterm Elections, RealClearPolitics reported that a majority of Americans — 54.3 percent — feel the country is headed in the wrong direction. Only 39.5 percent believe the United States is going in the right direction.

President Donald Trump’s closing message in his campaign trail: a vote a Republican is a vote for Trump. Contrary to requests of the Republican Party leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, for Trump to focus on the economic gains

in the past two years under Republican control, Trump chose immigration as his closing argument because he said “it works” to push Republicans to vote.

Trump has been criticized for fabricating a border crisis, painting a picture of “invasion” of America by more than 3,500 asylum seekers from Central America— men. women, children — walking through Mexico to try the legal recourse of applying for asylum in the United States to flee from violence and hunger in their countries.

Trump sent 15,000 active duty troops to the border, a move responded to by military officials with obedience to the commander-in-chief even though they expressed there is no imminent border crisis and that the U.S. military would not have anything to do anything with asylum seekers at the border.

The president also doubled down in the use of scare tactics

and vilification of asylum seekers saying they are criminals, drug peddlers, gang members, and are infiltrated with terrorist Middle Eastern without offering solid proof. He is using the same scare and hate tactics that catapulted him to the presidency in 2016, blaming the Democrats and the free press alongside the asylum seekers and immigrants.

On the other hand, the Democrats’ closing argument focused on delivering health care coverage, protecting those with a pre-existing condition — issue #1 for voters which has been the subject of the GOP’s obsession to repeal in almost 10 years.

The Democrats also campaigned on repealing the permanent tax breaks Trump and his Republican cohorts have given to the richest of the rich Americans and Corporations, give more tax breaks to the middle class, and protect social

services including education, Social Security and Medicare.

They also vowed to fight for higher wages, and better benefits for all workers; protections for consumers and the environment; equality for all, ending discrimination against people regardless of their race, gender, who they choose to love, and continued to campaign on passing a comprehensive immigration reform to strengthen America.

DID YOU VOTE? Did you vote for a red wave or a blue wave?

We would know today and in the next few days how Americans voted to help steer the country in the right direction. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https:// www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

The role of the Cabinet and who matters there

Opinion

YEN MAKABENTA IT startled me to read in the papers some weeks back that the chairman of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC) had called for resignation of the Secretary of Finance, Carlos Dominguez, because of his alleged silence on the scandal and controversy wracking the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

It was an astonishing display of effrontery by an office that we normally do not hear about very much, and was created by executive order only a year ago. And the missile was directed against a Cabinet official who is nominally the second most important member of the president’s Cabinet.

For perfectly good reason, the Palace simply brushed aside the resignation call. And no further mention of the matter would probably have been made — but for my present curiosity about the matter.

I want to use this incident to write a few words about the President’s Cabinet, its role, and the relative ranking of its members.

This matters now because the President is currently on a hiring spree, and he means to hire re-

tired military officers to positions in the Cabinet, all if he can.

There is word that another general will soon become the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). And there is also talk that Sen. Gregorio Honasan will be named secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), because he will soon be termed out of the Senate.

The President also has a penchant of giving freely cabinet rank to some of his new appointees.

Role of the Cabinet The fact of the matter is that Cabinet members are not all alike. Some are more equal than the others.

The Constitution places executive authority in the President alone.

The Cabinet is not formally recognized by the Charter.

There is only passing mention that the vice president may be appointed as a member of the Cabinet. Then follows a section on presidential appointments to the executive branch of the government.

The Cabinet has no constitutional identity as a collective decision-making body.

The notion of collective leadership — which is typically

found among Cabinet members in parliamentary systems — is incompatible with constitutional reality in a presidential system.

The president is not first among equals; he is the person in charge.

Cabinet members are presidential appointees, serving at the president’s pleasure.

The president is not obliged to consult them as a group or act according to their preferences.

Cabinet’s political significance This is not to say that the Cabinet has no political significance.

Cabinet members are the principal spokespersons for administration policy. They are also the top political executives expected to provide direction for the fulfillment of the government’s commitments.

There is a hierarchy of importance in the Cabinet. The secretary of foreign affairs is the highest-ranking member of the presidential Cabinet. He is also fourth in the line of succession to the presidency behind the vice president, the speaker of the House and Senate president.

After the foreign affairs secretary, the secretary of finance comes next in the line. Then comes the secretary of defense.

Irony of resignation call The resignation call of the

PACC, because of its extravagance and lack of substance, had the effect of focusing public attention on the importance of Dominguez’s work in the Duterte administration.

The so-called watchdog group that made the call did not present a persuasive case for Secretary Dominguez’s departure, be it in terms of 1) his direct or 2) command responsibility for the mess at Customs and the inexcusable entry through the bureau of billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs.

The watchdog’s main criticism of Dominguez is that he chose to be silent about the troubling developments at Customs, and has offered no ideas on how the problematic situation can be resolved.

Wait a minute. There seems to be a sensible reason for the secretary’s reticence, because the President has already taken a direct hand in addressing the Customs mess, and he has even gone as far as ordering the military to take over the bureau and effect a system-wide cleanup.

There is room for argument on whether a military takeover is the correct solution to the problem. Indeed, I foresee litigation at the Supreme Court on whether the President’s move is constitutional or within his au-

thority as head of the Executive branch.

National attention is better focused now on solutions that will truly avail and lead directly to the process of building a better and more responsible customs bureaucracy.

It makes no sense for the nation to be distracted now by a debate over the merits or demerits of Secretary Dominguez’s stewardship of the Finance department.

The public and the media should rather take guidance from certain supervening realities about our economic and fiscal situation today, such as: 1. The country is enjoying today a hard-earned record for exemplary economic performance, including the highest or second-highest GDP growth in Asia. And this is due in no small part to steady and effective performance by our Finance department.

2. The Bureau of Customs is the second biggest and most important revenue–generating arm of the government, second only to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). It has recently been recording higher revenue collections that are vital for the government’s fiscal position.

3. The Finance department under Dominguez is spearhead-

ing the passage of a highly important and consequential tax reform package through the Congress. The nation needs him to be in place as one of the principal architects of this reform measure.

4. Finally, the administration of President Duterte has launched the most ambitious infrastructure modernization program ever attempted in the country, which will literally require billions, if not trillions, of dollars to finance. The program is so far-reaching the Philippines will be a new and supermodern country by the time it is completed. This will surely not happen without a competent and effective finance secretary, who enjoys the confidence and trust of international financial institutions and lenders.

Marcos and his Finance secretary It is striking that during the time of President Marcos, he accorded the highest importance to his Finance secretary, Cesar Virata. Indeed, when we switched to parliamentary government under the 1973 Constitution, he chose Virata as his prime minister and virtual successor.

That may have set off the epic conspiracies and dissensions that eventually toppled his presidency. (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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Dateline PhiliPPines

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL •

NOvEmbER 9-15, 2018

A

Manny Pacquiao scores a knockout at Oxford Duterte denies military takeover of BOC

by Joaquin

Henson Philstar.com

the past visitors were George Foreman, David Haye, Vitali Klitschko, Chris Eubank, Boris Becker, Diego Maradona and Roger Bannister.

It appeared that Pacquiao scored a knockout in his visit to the English university, coming across as a sincere and humble person with no pretenses and a genuine desire to uplift humanity. Curiously, the only qualified comments on Pacquiao’s visit came from the university’s Philippine society. The English newspaper Daily Mail said in an on-line report, that the Philippine society issued a statement that Pacquiao’s appearance on campus was no validation of some of his political views.

English sports media picked up quotes from Pacquiao who was asked about his boxing career after delivering his speech.

Pacquiao said he’s booked to face Adrien Broner in January and the rematch with Floyd Mayweather,

Jr. is a possibility for the future.

“There is a big possibility because Floyd is coming back to WORLD BOXING ASSOCIboxing,” said Pacquiao, quoted ATION (WBO) welterweight

by Sky Sports. “He’s fighting champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao in December and I’m fighting delivered an inspiring speech in January. So a big possibility before the Oxford Union, the that next year, we will discuss a university’s prestigious debatrematch. My thinking is to have ing society, then spoke from the a rematch and make (it) clear … heart in a one-on-one interview who will win because in the last on stage at a packed auditorium fight we had, it wasn’t clear who on the school campus late Monwon because he didn’t throw a day afternoon. lot of punches and he won (the Pacquiao was invited to join decision). I had a shoulder injury the ranks of several distinguished but this time, if this rematch hapspeakers in the past by Oxford pens, there will be no excuses, Union president Stephen Horno alibis.” vath and society secretary Tom In his speech, Pacquiao admitBrown. The Union was estabted being intimidated in following lished in 1823 and has welcomed in the footsteps of previous Union a wide range of guest speakers speakers. But he dared to stand including Sir Winston Churchill, before his audience “armed with Robert Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, just the equivalent of a sixth Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Mothform education, an undisguised er Teresa, Benazir Bhutto, Albert respect for what your group and Einstein and Margaret Thatcher. your university represent and a From the sporting world, among pretty fair left hook … if this giveand-take were a tale of the tape, I would be a respectful underdog but be careful, I’m not that easy to floor.”

Pacquiao related how he emerged from a life of poverty to become a world boxing champion and legislator. He called it a lesson in what can be achieved if you ignore the odds against you, if you are determined and never quit. “In crafting effective laws, there is no better guide than the pulse of the masses,” he said. “I may not have financial acuity. I may not be historically fluent. I may not even be socially adept.

But I am philosophically rooted in my personal adversities which morally bind me to the general struggle of our people. I am a fighter not just because it is my profession. I was a fighter long before I first set foot in a boxing ring. All my life, I have fought to live. Every single day in my youth, I fought for survival.”

Pacquiao said his life story is the best illustration that miracles happen and dreams come true.

“Being poor does not mean one must die poor,” he said. “Hard work and persistence will set you free from the shackles of poverty. But it is faith that will take you to the very top. Never lose faith in what you can do as a human being. Believe in the loyalty of family and believe in the Almighty.” He ended his speech with a challenge to the Union, Sen. Manny Pacquiao delivered an inspiring speech before the Oxford Union, the university’s saying “you, with your education, prestigious debating society, then spoke in a one-on-one interview on stage at a packed determination and faith, you can auditorium on the school campus on Monday, November 5.

Photo from Instagram/@jinkeepacquiao change the world.” n

by AJPress PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, November 6, personally denied that he ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to take over the functions of Bureau of Customs (BOC) during his lecture to the Cabinet Members at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room.

“When I called in the Army, the Bureau of Customs, there was no designation, there was no appointment, and there was never an instruction for them to take over the functions of the employees,” Duterte said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Duterte explained that his intention was for the AFP to merely to assist BOC personnel as he had placed heads of offices and sections within the bureau on floating status.

“Ang ginawa ko (what I did) is just really to order them on floating status. But that was a particular order directed for chiefs of offices and section chiefs. Iyong mga assistant nila ang magtatrabaho (Their assistants will work on it),” Duterte stressed.

Earlier, in his speech during the thanksgiving party of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in Davao City, Duterte announced that the military would monitor the bureau while all of its employees were on floating status.

“It will be a takeover of the Armed Forces in the matter of operating, in the meantime, while we are sorting out how to effectively

Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero officially assumes as Customs commissioner.

Photo courtesy of BOC

meet the challenges of corruption in this country,” he said.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo clarified that the members of the military will be deployed in the BOC only to “make their presence felt.”

Panelo likened the situation to the act of putting a security guard on duty to ensure that the rules would be followed.

“Initially they would be there making their presence felt and they will assist. The mere presence of these people there would do something right, hopefully, will intimidate those corrupt people there. [Also, it will be] to assist them,” Panelo said as reported by The Manila Times.

The presidential spokesperson further noted that the BOC is exhibiting a state of lawlessness that deems a military intervention necessary in accordance with the Constitution.

“Now the lawless violence would certainly refer to what is happening in BOC. There is a state of lawlessness there. If you can bring in hundreds of kilos of drugs, there must be some grave wrong in that area.

And there is state of lawlessness there, it violates the law, it violates the Constitution,” Panelo said.

Duterte’s directive was heavily criticized by lawmakers who claimed that it was unconstitutional and contrary to the state policy of civilian supremacy. n

Parents will welcome mandatory drug tests...

PAGE A5 already has an active drug testing program for students and school personnel.

“The program covers all 1,300 officers and personnel at the central office, 3,800 in the regional offices, and 26,000 in schools division offices. It also covers a sample population of all teachers, numbering 10,000, and a sample population of all secondary students, numbering 21,000,” DepEd said in a statement .

Even Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, principal author of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 said Wednesday that drug testing should be left to schools.

“The mandate that we have in the law in Republic Act 9165 is for the [school] authorities to

do it, not the PNP,” Sotto told reporters in a news conference Wednesday.

Palace: Parents will welcome that But Panelo said that he doesn’t believe amending the drug law would be necessary to implement the drug testing policy. “I don’t think there’s a need for that (amending the law) because that’s for the benefit of the families, I think all parents would welcome that,” Panelo said. “As a parent, I would welcome that,” he added.

The basis for allowing drug testing, Panelo said, is the “drug menace in the country.”

Panelo has previously used the “drug menace” to justify—incorrectly—a proposal to declare martial law in the Phillippines.

He also said drug smuggling through the Bureau of Customs constitutes “lawless violence.”

Although the president’s spokesman was eager to back drug testing for kids, he was cool in October to a proposal to require candidates in the 2019 elections to take drug tests.

Panelo said the suggestion to make drug testing for Senate and House of Representatives candidates mandatory violates the 1987 Constitution as it adds another qualification outside of that enumerated by the Constitution.

“The same principle applies to local candidates as it also adds to the qualifications imposed by law. Voluntary drug testing is a favorable process,” Panelo said. n

A

november 9-15, 2018 • neW YorK AnD neW JerSeY ASIAn JoUrnAL

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

NOVEMBER 9-15, 2018

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2nd Annual Cinematografo Film Festival 2018 Breaking barriers through film and story telling

Fil-Am actor Dante Basco in a scene from “The Debut.” The film, which is celebrating its 18th year, is the centerpiece feature of this year’s Cinematogrofo Film Festival.

feature drama produced in the United States.

For closing night, Cinematografo is breaking down its programming walls and staying true to its theme by expanding its reach beyond the borders of the Philippines and the U.S. As such, the festival will close with the film “A Land Imagined,” winner of the top prize at the 2018 Locarno International Film Festival. The Singaporean drama, examines the plight of migrant workers in a foreign land.

Apart from the opening and closing night, and centerpiece feature films, the festival has a diverse lineup of films, as well as a tribute to Los Angelesbased media arts organization Visual Communications (for its significant, lasting contribution to Fil-Am and Filipino culture and communities), plus panels and conversations, and forum discussions.

The festival will also have the Completed Films Special Programming, presenting three feature films that were developed and co-produced through the inaugural initiative of Cinematografo Originals.

These films are “Bitter Melon” by HP Mendoza, “Mirador” (sneak preview) by Loy Arcenas and “The Trade” (sneak preview) by Francis dela Torre.

About Cinematografo The festival is named after ‘Cinematografo’ — the first movie theater in the Philippines that opened in August of 1897. From this grand establishment was born a rich heritage of celebrating films and the venue introduced Filipinos to the custom of going to the movies. The new film festival in San Francisco aims to continue this tradition wherever Filipinos may be, and intends to draw in a wider audience of Asian American and independent cinephiles and movie lovers across the San Francisco Bay Area and internationally.

For a complete list of films and screening schedules, and/ or tickets, please visit https:// cinematografofilmfestival.com.

Yeo Siew Hua, director of “A Land Imagined.” The Singaporean film examines the plight of migrant workers in a foreign land.

A scene from “Mirador” by director Loy Arcenas.

by AJPress with interviews by

FILIPINOS love chocolate.

And AFTER a successful first year, ABS-CBN’s Cinematografo Film Festival is back to continue to showcase emerging film talents from around the world from November 8-11 at the AMC Kabuki 8 in San Francisco’s Japantown.

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

“We’re sophomores this year and we’re kind of like in a transition,” said Executive Director John D Lazatin during the festival’s press conference. “Cinematografo is a vision of our company to put people on the world stage, originally, it was to put FilipinoAmericans on the world stage. “ Cinematografo Festival and Exhibitions Director Miguel Sevilla also shared that through film they have made the connection with issues between the Philippines and other countries, such as the LGBT community, the plight of migrant workers and historical perspectives.

“We have paired these films together in a sort of dialogue or

MoMAr G. visAyA

conversation. What we want to do is to be the bridge that connects different cultures that share the same issues and concerns and that is the idea behind the programming this year,” Sevilla explained.

“We will also introduce a new batch of Cinematografo originals, we have brand new talent discoveries who are really skilled and talented and this is part of the reason why we do the originals initiative because we want to discover filmmaking talent and support them all the way.”

Sevilla talked about the highlights if the upcoming festival, including its much-anticipated opening night film, “Signal Rock,” the official entry of the Philippines for the Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.

“It is a beautiful film, it is smaller in scale than our opening night film last year (“Ang Larawan”) but this has the grand emotional sweep of any epic that you would likely see this year,” Sevilla said.

For the centerpiece presentation this year, all eyes will be on “The Debut,” which will mark its 18th anniversary screening. Released in 2000, is the first known Filipino-American

Cinematografo’s executive director John-D Lazatin explains the transition that the film festival is undertaking this year. Looking on is his colleague Miguel Sevilla, exhibitions and programming director.

AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

Opening night film, “Signal Rock,” also the official entry of the Philippines for the Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.

A scene from “Bitter Melon” by director HP Mendoza.

Photos from Larsen Associates

“Call Her Ganda,” one of the documentaries included in the festival, is a film about Filipina trans-woman Jennifer Laude who was brutally murdered by a U.S. Marine.

John Lloyd’s viral photo with Jolina Magdangal, Marvin Agustin Maja Salvador, handler sparks in talks about reunion movie showbiz comeback rumors

By Alfred

bAyle Inquirer.net

By JAn

Milo severo Philstar.com

IS John Lloyd Cruz making a showbiz comeback?

This has been the speculation of netizens after a Star Magic handler posted a picture of her with the actor and actress Maja Salvador.

On her Instagram account, the handler, Nenette Rustia, thanked John Lloyd for keeping in touch with her despite that the award-winning actor has been on indefinitely leave and has been choosing a more private life together with partner Ellen Adarna.

“Thank you for keeping in touch! Sana mas madalas dalas tayo magkita ngayon hindi lang sa txt Hahaha! alam mong mahal kita my panganay and im happy for what you have and for what you are now, andito lang ako hindi nagbabago kung anu ang pinagsamahan natin mula nuon hanggang ngayon! Love you anak! (panganay at bunso)” In a recent interview with the media during the promotion of her movie “To Love Some

Nenette Rustia, John Lloyd Cruz and Maja Salvador

Buddy” with Zanjoe Marudo, Maja confirmed that she, John Lloyd and Nenette saw each other.

“Na-miss niya ako!” Maja said of what JLC told her.

Nonetheless, Maja refused to reveal more details on why they met. She also declined to give an update about the actor.

“Sa akin na lang ‘yun.

Nakita niyo naman kung gaano

Photo from Instagram/@netdrustia

kaganda ‘yung aura niya ngayon. So he’s very, very, very happy. Period,” she said.

“Hindi naman lahat ng ganap ko sa mga kaibigan ko, kailangan ko i-post. As much as possible, ayaw kong magbigay ng detalye. I want to respect him. Gusto ko respetuhin ‘yung friendship na meron kami. ‘Yung trust na naibibigay sa akin,” she added.

JOLINA Magdangal and Marvin Agustin may once again team up for the big screen.

Magdangal celebrated her 40th birthday on Tuesday, November 6, and even got a big surprise from her former loveteam partner Agustin during the event. But the biggest surprise may come from the duo themselves, who are eager to once again work together in a project, according to a report by Push.

“Actually matagal na kaming nag-ko-contact-an ni Marvin pero hindi lang talaga kami nabibigyan ng chance maupo tapos pagusapan (Actually we’ve been in contact for a long time but we never got the chance to sit down and really talk about it),” said the “Magandang Buhay” host.

“Pero parang two months ago, galing siya sa ibang bansa, sabi niya yun daw yung aasikasuhin niya hanggang 2019 dahil gusto talaga namin gumawa ng project na involved talaga kami (Around two months ago, after he got back from overseas, he said it will be his goal until 2019 to

Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal Photo from Instagram/@marvinagustin

really do a project that we both will be involved in).”

The two celebrities insisted on making the new project a follow-up to their 1998 film “Labs Kita, Okay Ka Lang?” which would involve reprising their roles as Ned and Bujoy.

“Either co-prod or talagang hands on kami dun sa project, dun sa istorya, sa lahat. Basta gusto namin something na konektado sa ‘Labs Kita, Okay Ka Lang?’ (Either co-produced

or we get really hands-on with the project, with the story, with everything. As long as it’s connected with ‘Labs Kita, Okay Ka Lang?’),” said Magdangal.

Magdangal started her TV career in 1992 when she became a cast member of the youthoriented variety show “Ang TV.” More than 20 years later, Jolens continue to be a constant presence in the Philippine showbiz industry. She is currently married to Rivermaya drummer Mark Escueta.

The singer-actress with seemingly boundless youthful energy said her secret is keeping a positive outlook in life no matter what it throws at you. “Siguro ano lang, masayahin lang na hindi ko sinasabi na perfect ako na sobrang masaya ako araw-araw.

Meron din akong dinadamdam.

Meron din minsan mga iniisip na nararamdaman pero dahil siguro lagi akong pina-pinositive ng asawa ko (I guess it’s just because I’m a naturally happy person. I’m not saying I’m perfect, but I am fully happy every day. There are also times when I am down and think of things that make me feel down, but it helps that my husband does his best to keep me positive).”

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Calendar of Events across

AFTER 13 YEARS OF WAITING FOR THE FAMILY TO BE REUNITED, THE U.S. EMBASSY STILL DENIED THE RELEASE OF THEIR VISAS. MISERY AND REDEMPTION ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Tatay Lando (2nd from right) went to the U.S. to provide a better life for his family.

After 13 years, the petition became current in 2016. However, when his son, Allan (left), and his grandson, Chean (2nd from right) went to the U.S. Embassy for their interview, some doubtful details came up in Allan’s paperwork that caused the Embassy to deny their visas.

Father and son left the Embassy heartbroken and traumatized over the incident. Immediately, Tatay Lando sought the help of leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael Gurfinkel. Watch how hope was renewed, and a family was happily reunited after many, many years on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

California Service Center approves less than 7% of Humanitarian Revalidation requests

The CSC concedes there are no regulations setting forth factors for eligibility, and they therefore robotically rely on seven factors listed in the Department of State’s (DOS) Foreign Affairs ATTY. MICHAEL manual (FAM): GURFINKEL, ESQ (1) Disruption of an established family unit; (2) Beneficiary is elderly or in I have long suspected that poor health; with the way the California (3) Beneficiary has had Service Center (CSC) adjudicates lengthy residence in the United humanitarian revalidation States; requests, it is virtually impossible (4) Beneficiary has no home for any beneficiary in the to go to; Philippines to qualify. Little or (5) Undue delay by DHS or no discretion is being exercised, consular officer in processing the and it seems the Humanitarian petition or visa; Revalidation adjudicators have (6) Hardship to U.S. citizens or forgotten the “humanitarian” lawful permanent residents; and portion of humanitarian (7) Beneficiary has strong revalidation. They simply find family ties in the United States. ways to deny humanitarian In applying these supposed revalidation requests. “eligibility” factors, virtually no In fact, I served a Freedom of Filipino in the Philippines could Information Act (FOIA) request, ever qualify for humanitarian to find out what CSC’s denial rate revalidation, as at least 5 of these was. I requested: 7 factors would not even apply! the total number of For example, if the applicant is humanitarian revalidation’s relatively young and healthy requests submitted to the CSC and living in the Philippines, since 2010 they would not be elderly or the total number of sickly, there is technically no humanitarian revalidation “disruption” of the family unit requests that were approved in the U.S., and they would since 2010 the total number obviously not have “lengthy of humanitarian revalidation residence” in the U.S., but instead requests that were denied since have a “home” to go to. Since it 2010. typically takes many years for the I just recently received the CSC’s response, and the results are priority date on most petitions to shocking, but really not surprising: become current, obviously there A total of 10,755 humanitarian would be no “undue delay” by the USCIS. revalidation requests were It appears that the CSC has set submitted to CSC since 2010. up and relied on Humanitarian A total of 720 humanitarian Revalidation factors that are revalidation requests were granted! That means less than 7% virtually impossible to meet or satisfy. If so, why even bother of the humanitarian revalidation requests submitted were granted. having these factors? Why not just simply flip a coin?

A total of 7309 humanitarian What makes this situation revalidation requests were denied.

There are some discrepancies more frustrating is that if the beneficiary happened to be in because not all I-130 petitions the U.S. when the petitioner were properly updated in died, (even if TNT) then, under their system, and there may the “Survivor Law,” the petition be duplicate receipts because is automatically revalidated, some cases were converted from without anyone having to prove humanitarian revalidation to any of these unachievable the survivor law, section 204 (l), factors. Thus, if a person came where humanitarian revalidation to the U.S. years ago as a visitor, is not required if the beneficiary overstayed his or her visa, was in the U.S. at the time of the worked without authorization, petitioner’s death and remained or resided continuously in the U.S. and otherwise violated the

Immigration Corner

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA IT is November. And we are coming full circle. Again.

A circle is perhaps the perfect geometric structure there is.

Although some would claim the triangle or a square to be better structures because of their stable nature, the circle and all its derivatives — the orb, the sphere, the globe and every structure on earth and in the universe with a core, circumference and radii emanating from the core — can teach and even help us to understand much about nature, human life, its cycles and seasons, and ultimately, ourselves and perhaps, our place in all these.

From the micro to the macro levels, every creative urge in every level —in both the intellectual and the physical realms— begins as a thought

immigration laws, that person would be quickly and easily entitled to pursue his or her green card, despite the death of the petitioner. But, if they obeyed the laws, and patiently waited in the Philippines for their petitions, then they have to satisfy these seven factors, which are virtually impossible to satisfy.

In conclusion, the relief is called Humanitarian Revalidation and the goal is family reunification. The CSC needs to inject a little more humanity in adjudicating these requests. The goal should be to exercise discretion, and not to see how many form denials can be generated. A miserable 7% approval rate shows the CSC is really not exercising any discretion, but instead is looking for ways to always deny humanitarian revalidation requests. They need to be reminded of their mission statement and that they are the agency within Homeland Security in charge of providing/approving immigration “benefits,” not looking for ways to always deny them. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York.

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

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

Circles, Cycles and the Seasons of our Lives “To everything – turn, turn, turn.

There is a season – turn, turn, turn And a time to every purpose under heaven.”

- A song by The Byrds (based on the Book of Ecclesiastes)

and if tenaciously pursued and fleshed out by one’s strength of will and purpose, proceeds from concept to completion as a circle.

Even in the mundane reality of living an ordinary life from day to day, circles and cycles mark the patterns of our lives.

Note nature’s seasons and cycles of birth and death, of sleep and wakefulness, of sunrise and sunset, of the waxing and waning of the moon and of the quarter million year rotation of the solar system around the core of our home galaxy, the Milky Way and in the grandest of

levels, the movement of a nearly infinite number of galaxies in the universe, the edge of which only the Creator knows.

On the minutest level, the astounding movement of electrons around a nucleus and the wondrous flow of the human bloodstream from and to the heart are cyclical.

As science has found out, blockages, either man-made or natural to the flow or movement in the processes existing in nature at all levels, can create anomalies, abnormalities and mutations, resulting in pain and Continued on Page 6

America

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

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

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

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

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

N OV E M B E R 9 - 1 1

2nd annual Cinematografo International Film Festival in San Francisco The second annual Cinematografo International Film Festival will be held from November 8 to 11 in San Francisco. The Cinematografo International Film Festival is the premier event for Filipinos abroad to tell their stories and the platform to bring these films to the world stage. The festival is an annual celebration of film and culture, highlighted by Cinematografo Originals – a co-production initiative to help filmmakers realize their stories on the big screen.

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

N OV E M B E R 1 0

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

Cecile Licad performs at Basilica benefit in San Francisco In San Francisco, Cecile will be performing live at the Centennial Piano Fundraising Concert for the Mission Dolores Basilica on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7p.m. Mission Dolores Basilica Church will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary of completion in December 2018. As part of the celebration it is the Basilica’s goal to purchase a Steinway concert piano worthy of the its reputation and to support our ongoing concert series, as well as the worship life of the Parish.

The Basilica Church, built between 1913 and 1918, features outstanding acoustics that have made it a premier performing arts destination for numerous Bay Area and international concerts artists and ensembles. Its existing piano needs replacement due to years of heavy use for worship services and concerts. For Tickets, visit: https://www.cityboxoffice.com/ordertickets.asp?p=10336&src=eventperformances. Cecile Licad is one of the youngest musicians to receive the prestigious Leventritt Gold Medal. Cecile displays her daring musical instinct and superb training with every performance. As an orchestral soloist, this legendary master pianist boasts a repertoire spanning centuries of classical music. She has performed with the world’s most prestigious orchestras throughout four decades. More recently, Cecile received critical acclaim for her volume Anthology of American Piano Music album. She continues touring North America, Europe and Asia. Released this month of November, “American Landscapes” is Volume 3 of the highly acclaimed three-volumne Anthology of American Piano Music recorded by Cecile. Works by Aaron Copland, Anthony Philip Heirich, Percy Grainger, William Mason, Edward MacDowell, Arthur Farwell, Leo Ornstein, William Grant and Arthur Farwell are featured in Cecile’s latest CD. To purchase Cecile’s CD, contact St. Paul Alumnae USA at spmausa@gmail.com.

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

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 9, 20 1 8

Jessica wants to speak and sing in Filipino better

By AllAn

PolicArPio Inquirer.net

a Mexican-American father and a Filipino mother who hails from Bataan.

HOPING to tap into and She likewise feels that explore her Filipino heritage, speaking the language better can “American Idol” Season 11 runner- double as her way of thanking all up Jessica Sanchez, who’s poised the Filipino fans who have been to do a number of projects in the supporting her career over the country in the coming months, years. said she would love to learn the “I just love the people and how language, so she could sing more they backed me up throughout OPM songs in the future. my ‘Idol’ journey, and I’m excited “While I don’t understand to show everyone how I have Filipino well, it’s a beautiful grown up,” said Jessica, who language to sing in. I want to learn, recently held an online chat dive in and be part of the culture. I and a minijam session with the want to be able to talk and sing in entertainment press.

Tagalog to show that side of me,” Jessica will hold a one-night said the 23-year-old singer, who concert on Nov. 10 at The Theatre Jessica Sanchez was raised in the United States by Continued on Page 6

Photo from Instagram/@jessicaesanchez

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Vanny Tousignant and her passion for excellence On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places BoBBy T. yalong TO dream lofty dreams… condescendingly envision a bright future…and reach out for that elusive star… these and much more are what young ambitious souls profess to better their lives and enhance their standard of living. The eagerness to acquire personal benefits, the thirst for even a moment of power, the aspiration for wealth and fame, and the keen scheme for selfimprovement are unmistakably motivating factors that entice young fantasists to farther aim high while ably armed with unflinching determination to attain their goals.

From Indonesia, the picturesque land of thousands of volcanic islands in Southeast Asia, was born a promising fashion entrepreneur whose vision was prognosticated to put Jakarta (the country’s emerging fashion city) in the world map via the utilization of its native batik, tenun ikat, and songket, not to mention their natural fibers, cotton, and silk.

Vanny Pattiasina-Tousignant is unambiguously a born fashionista (she dons atypical mix-match wardrobe with flamboyant accents and ornate jewelry pieces) and a latent model (her statuesque deportment is convincingly one for the ramp). One won’t have second thought or skeptical that she is from the fashion world with the way she projects herself and how she interacts with people. Her charismatic moves and compelling nuances could effortlessly persuade people to her side. She’s that magnetic!

Raised singlehandedly by her mom, after her father passed away due to a lingering illness, strappingly developed Vanny’s reticent and coy personality into somewhat garrulous (but eloquent) and brazen (but cultured) young woman who

The beauty and the stylist rolled into one

The profile of a fashion show visionary

Vanny acknowldges cheers during an in-house show

knows what she wanted in life.

Being the third among the four siblings made her even clever and smart when it comes to argument for she could effectually fight for her right, know what she’s worth, and command what she merits.

Vanny at an early age was already leaning towards fashion arts and its creative aspect since her mom and one of her sisters were both seamstresses… indeed, the fruit truly never fell far from its tree! She slowly learned the trade through observation, assistance, until such time when creativity became second nature to her In May of 1987, Vanny’s mom (who was already a US citizen) petitioned her and that totally changed her lifestyle and all the more gave her access to limitless possibilities in fulfilling her dream.

It didn’t matter if she had to start from an abysmal bottom and sacrificed her free time working, she was prepared to forgo a little

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luxury and all set to save in the pursuit of a life-changing career - education!

But fate had it that her focused track had to take a crossroad.

While employed in a Bulgarian bakery her exquisite appeal didn’t escape a customer’s vigilant eyes.

Edward’s infrequent visit turned to regular stopover…even without the intention of buying baked products but just to see and talk to her. Their constant meeting paved every rough path for Edward and slowly but surely expunged every doubt in Vanny’s… until they decided to tie the knot on November 1988.

Their blissful union was blessed with two boys: Teo Vanyo and Yosef Evert. Incidentally, Teo is married to a Filipina, Karmila, with a daughter, Aurelia, an inter-Asian matrimonial bond that offered a great deal of inspiration for Vanny, hence her fashion trademark, Continued on Page 6

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 9, 20 1 8

Day 2 - Paris, France at the Eiffel Tower grounds with the group

Day 4 - Nevers, France At St. Gildard convent with Perla Sagge, Jocelyn Ahmed, Lulu Tolentino, Rose Day 5 - Avila, Spain. The group with St. John of the Cross statue.

Gardoce, Viv Noche, Zeny Gardoce, Tess Perez, Al Noche, Roger Oriel

Day 5 - In Avila, Spain. photo taken in front of St Teresa of Avila church with the ladiies. The church was built on the house in which Day 5 - Waiting to board our bus in Nevers, France with Roger Oriel, Coree Bersamina, Day 5 - Avila, Spain In front of St. Teresa of Avila church with the St. Teresa of Avila was born.

Perla Sagge,Jocelyn Ahmed, Lulu Tolentino, Kathy, Rose Gardoce,Zeny Gardoce, Viv gentlemen Noche, Noelia Wass, Al Noche, Tess Perez, Emmie, Louie Nafarete Palacpac

Day 5 - at St. Teresa of Avila church and convent with the group and Rev. John

Day 5 - St. Teresa of Avila church and convent with the pilgrims, our guide Cristina and with our Spiritual Director, Rev. John Duy Nguyen

Day 6- Party-Le-Monia, France.l The group in front of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Day 8- Lourdes, France . In front of the Basilica of Notre Dame.

Toured the Romanesque basilica and saw the Chapel of Apparition. Father John officiated our daily Mass at the Chapel of Visitation.

Day 8 - Lourdes, France . The group in front of the Basilica of Notre Dame

Day 9 - Zaragoza, Spain At the Plaza with our Tour director Lourdes Alo, Al and Viv Day 10 - Avila, Spain with Louie Nafarete, Rose Gardoce, Viv Noche, Zeny Gardoce, Lulu Day 11 - Salamanca, Spain- the altar of the Salamanca Cathedral.

Tolentino, Rev. John and Al Noche Noche

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 9, 20 1 8

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS A scary polio-like disease, which peaked every other year since 2014 and has stumped health officials all over the United States, is causing widespread concerns, especially among parents, in this country.

Here’s a report from the CDC: “U.S. health officials are investigating an outbreak of a mysterious, polio-like disease that causes weakness in one or more limbs. The rare disease — acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM — has sickened 62 people, mostly children, in 22 states so far this year and is suspected in 65 more cases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced October 16, 2018.”

“Starting with an outbreak of 120 cases that brought the disease to national attention in 2014, close to 400 cases have been confirmed in the United States. So far, the CDC has been unable to figure out what’s causing the outbreaks. “This is a mystery,” Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases in Atlanta,

Polio-like mystery

said during a news briefing. ‘We haven’t solved it yet’. Although the disease is frightening, fewer than one in a million people in the United States get AFM every year, based on CDC data collected since 2014.”

What is AFM? Acute flaccid myelitis is a disease that afflicts the spinal cord, causing weakness of the arm or leg and loss of muscle tone. There could also be headache, neck pain, difficulty in speaking, swallowing or breathing. Respiratory failure is also part of the symptom complex in some cases. Affected children often start having a fever and respiratory problem and suddenly have weakness or paralysis of their limbs. Ninety percent of the cases this year were 18 and younger. This can worsen so fast that it is prudent to seek medical care immediately.

What is the cause AFM? The U.S. CDC presently has no answer as to what is causing this rare mysterious polio-like entity. Between 2014 and 2016, the study on the 149 confirmed cases did not yield any causal agent. “Infections with viruses such as West Nile Virus, adenovirus, poliovirus and non-polio enteroviruses have led to symptoms that match those

of AFM. However, testing has shown that the U.S. cases since 2014 have not been caused by poliovirus,” reported the CDC. How was poliomyelitis eradicated?

The first clinical description of Polio was made by British physician Michael Underwood in 1789. In 1840, Jacob Heine reported his studies that showed the involvement of the spinal cord. The first outbreak of polio in the United States was in Vermont, in 1894, with 132 cases.

On March 26, 1953, Jonas Salk, an American researcher, announced his discovery of a vaccine against the crippling disease polio. The Salk vaccine was first used in 1955. Then came the oral polio vaccine developed by Albert Sabin in 1961. By 1979, thanks to the vaccines, poliomyelitis has been completely eliminated in the United States. Polio is also on the verge of being eradicated worldwide, except in Northern Nigeria and the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

What is the treatment for AFM? Since the etiology (cause) has not yet been determined, there is no cure for AFM at this time.

Management basically consists of treating the symptoms and physical or occupational therapy

Circles, Cycles and the Seasons...

From Page 3 illnesses in the human body and if uncorrected, result in diseases, debilitation and ultimately, DEATH. This presents a strong argument for regular exercise and physical movement, which pumps the smooth circulation of blood flow down to the tiniest capillaries in our eyes and strengthens the muscles of the heart.

Nature moves in cycles.

While the earth’s atmospheric

cloak adheres to the surface because of the gravitational pull of the earth’s mass, the hydrologic or water cycle will continue to maintain our seas and give us rain to sustain all planetary life — that is, for the time being —unless something unforeseen and catastrophic upsets and upends this delicate homeostatic-like balance.

In a way, the life of our living, breathing planet is reflective of human life itself.

“Life,” according to Einstein, “is like riding a bicycle. To keep

your balance, you must keep moving.”

And on that point, we are finding out Einstein is absolutely right. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc. com. To read past articles, click on the link Online: http://issuu.com/ asianjournaldigitaledition or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before google.

for limb weakness. A few patients who had AFM recovered for no clear reason, but most did not.

This illness, believed to be viral in nature, commonly occurs in the late summer and autumn.

Investigations are ongoing to discover the cause of this dreaded illness, reminiscent of the polio epidemic of 1916, when it occurred each summer in various cities of the USA. The worst was in 1949, where 2,720 died, and 42,173 cases were also noted in UK and Canada. US-CDC recommends seeking medical consultation at the very first suspicious symptom/sign of AFM. *** Anti-Cancer: Exercise and Veggies Women who don’t smoke, and who eat vegetable-rich diet and exercise daily cut their cancer risk by 30 percent, reported the World Cancer research Fund International and the American Institute for Cancer Research.

The studies also recommend the following habits to prevent chronic diseases: abstinence from tobacco; moderation in alcohol intake, better yet abstinence; limiting red meat, fat and salt; not gaining more than 11 pounds after age 18; exercising daily; eating omega-3 rich fishes three times a week, and five or more portions of vegetables, nuts, and fruits daily. Eating salads loaded with meat or eggs or dressings with a lot of fats defeats the purpose. Salad with olive oil and vinegar is preferred.

Veggies combined And talking about vegetables, a combination of broccoli and mushrooms have been found to

have a more powerful cancerfighting properties than when eaten alone. Studies suggest that certain nutrients, when combined, become more effective anti-cancer agents.

Selenium (found in mushrooms, nuts, sunflower seeds) and Sulforaphane (broccoli, watercress and cabbage) are two such nutrients. Ginger has two anti-cancer compounds in it: 6-gingerol and 6-paradol.

These substances help inhibit cell transformations that could lead to the formation of cancer. The higher concentration of these ingredients are found in fresh ginger. The fresher, the better.

Fasting is out, #NoRice is in Fasting is the wrong way to start, or even “punctuate,” your dieting schedule. Fasting has no place at all in controlling weight or quality of nutrition for our body. The temporary weight loss resulting from fasting is thru water loss (dehydration).

The best way to maintain your weight is to burn the calories your take in daily (Example: If you take in 2000 calories, you should exercise off 2000 calories that day). It is a matter of intake and output, an obvious common sense approach. If one is overweight and wants to lose weight, then the calories burned should be higher than the calories ingested, until the goal is reached…and at that point, the maintenance intake and output formula should prevail. Those who want to gain weight to reach the ideal weight, obviously, should have more intake than output of calories.

Minimizing rice, white or

brown, or better yet eliminating rice from our diet, greatly helps, not only in weight control and reducing or preventing belly bulge, but in our general health, metabolic and cardiovascular.

Today, #NoRice is in.

Helping, religion, improve longevity A recent report of a 5-year study among older people revealed that those in the habit of praying and helping others, providing support, love and care to friends or family were 60 percent less likely to die, compared to “unhelpful” people. This includes running errands, assisting in house chores, childcare, etc. It suggests that having a purpose in life, having religion, and serving our fellowmen are healthy for the body, not only for the soul. This, of course, is not limited to the older people only.

Visit philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indianwa and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society.

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

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Jessica wants to speak...

From Page 4 at Solaire (call 891-9999) in which she plans to perform more local songs, aside from the ballad “Ikaw,” which she has done a couple of times in previous visits to the country.

“I don’t want to spoil anything right now, but I have been studying the songs recommended to me by the fans,” related Jessica, who’s also slated for shows in Cebu and Davao in December.

The upcoming show will be “a mix of fun stuff”—a throwback to her ‘Idol’ days, a smattering of her original material, and songs that have become part of her musical journey so far.

“I’m excited to sing different types of songs that will cater to everyone in the crowd. It won’t be limited to ballads and pop songs.

I want to touch everyone with my

music,” she said. “This is a major concert for me, and my only wish is for the audience to have fun and be in the moment.”

Her special guest will be seasoned balladeer Martin Nievera, whom Jessica had performed with at an “ASAP” outing in Los Angeles, California, a few years back.

“He’s funny, kindhearted and humble. He’s like a big brother to me,” recalled Jessica. “He’s very talented and I feel like our voices will go well together.”

Jessica recently signed with Stages Talents, which will be managing her career in the Philippines. With the new setup, the young singer hopes to do more projects in the country and collaborate with local talents, like Christian Bautista with whom she recorded the new holiday ballad,

“Another Silent Christmas Song.”

“Filipinos can really sing— they’re like vocal monsters, belting and doing all these crazy stuff! I’d love to work with talented artists, not only onstage, but also on record,” she said.

Jessica is recording a new album, which she hopes to finish and release next year. The sound will be R&B-leaning, which is more in line with who she is as an artist.

“I just feel that my voice sits in a beautiful pocket when I sing R&B music. I think my tone suits that genre, and I’m super excited to continue in that direction,” said Jessica, who looks up to the likes of Mariah Carey, Etta James and Aretha Franklin. “Over the years, I have let people dictate who I am as an artist. But now, I just want to do music that feels right to me.”

Vanny Tousignant and...

From Page 4 “Vanny Fashion” was coined after Teo. While Vanny was competently armed with the usual cultural norms she grew up with, she’s ready to accept and embrace the enriching western trends that could augment her skills and just might influence her standards as well. She was inevitably challenged by everything new around her but her enthusiasm to attain what she was here in the US for only strengthen her will to create a higher impact on her drive and focus.

“I maybe Asian by orientation by my ideas are culturally universal,” Vanny said with a hint of smugness. “From Empire Beauty School in Manhattan where I learned the rudiments of fashion artistry and the Learning Institute for Beauty Sciences where I mastered the art of cosmetology, I was very confident that I was ably equipped with everything this creative field needed.”

People relentlessly aim for perfection but while it is oftentimes unfeasible to realize, aiming for self-gratifying excellence is probably easier and more achievable. Admittedly, all human efforts have flaws and the huge diversity of influences could either develop or ruin one’s ideas but Vanny was tough and unyielding. She was here to succeed… she was here for the win!

Her passion for excellence competently kept Vanny passionately driven and zealously focused to her main target while indefatigably trying to be the best that she could be without the slightest intention of hurting others along the way. Her innate aspiration is tempered by selfless consideration, genuineness, and a personal awareness that concern the interest of her family and friends.

From the start, Vanny was conscious about her attitude and personality knowing that

A sovenir shot from IFAW-Season 3 show during the NY Fashion Week

these reflect her style. “My main objective isn’t merely to survive this monotonous daily grind but to prosper and succeed in the fashion business… and carry on my vision with indisputable enthusiasm while infusing my own personal style that caters to the general consumers,” the quick-witted lady designer straightforwardly stated while unmindfully finger-combing her hair that had seemingly gone astray from a wisp of thin air.

Aside from operating her Vanyo Fashion business, Vanny’s hands are kept full with her commitment as Director of Miss Woman Kebaya Indonesia-USA, as the USA Director of Beauty of Arts International Magazine, and as the Founder / CEO of International Fashion and Arts Week (IFAW) which has been included in the event calendar of NY Fashion Week in just three seasons of operations.

Last September 16, 2018 at 4W43 in Manhattan, Vanny Tousignant’s IFAW held its 3rd season with thirteen international designers and more than sixty models to a full-house capacity crowd that fittingly affirmed her unswerving success in her chosen career.

When queried about her future plans and projects she’s wordlessly cooking: “I have a lot of plans crowding my head,” Vanny instantly replied rolling her dark

brown eyes trying to decipher and grasp her thoughts. “After having joined more than fifty shows here in NY and Canada, I’m concentrating on IFAW… I really want this to grow big and conquer the mainstream audience. With the way things are turning out, I could see a potential venture in it and hopefully my enthusiasm maintains its obsessive loftiness” Around this hardworking and passionately fashionable woman is her entourage of equally committed and zealous friends and staff who work hand-in-hand with her through thick and thin.

“I just simply like to acknowledge the help of those people and close associates who, without their encouragement and support, my ideas and vision won’t go this far…and also to the photographers, make-up artists, models, and volunteers who made all these projects successfully possible,” she said.

With her statement I remember a quote from fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger: “The road to success is not easy to navigate… but with hard work, drive, and passion, it’s possible to achieve the American dream.”

For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@yahoo.com Photo credit: Richard Simpson Make-up by Intan Sahrini / Nefertiti Paris

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 9, 20 1 8

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N OV E M B E R 9, 20 1