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w w w. a s i a n Volume 24 - No. 44 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages

.com T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r

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NoVember 10-16, 2017

Palace reiterates adherence to rule of DATELINE USA House Republicans law amid US House panel call on EJKs from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

release long-awaited tax reform plan

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Bill delivers major tax cuts to corporations and benefits top earners After months of outlining and delay, republicans in the United states house of representatives have finally released their first draft of their highly anticipated tax reform bill on thursday, november 2.

Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque Introduced by the house Ways and means committee, the heavily detailed tax cuts and Jobs Act is a sweeping reform that seeks to simplify the current U.s. tax code. the $1.5-trillion plan promises the kind of tax system favored by businesses, as it delivers a significant tax cut for corporations and more conservative savings for the middle-class.

According to calculations by the Joint committee on taxation, the bill would garner about $1 trillion in net cuts. At its core, the bill is a win for corporations, which will see its corporate

Inquirer.net photo

mAlAcAñAng on thursday, november 9, reiterated its “firm” adherence to the rule of law after a United states house of representatives caucus urged U.s. President Donald trump to raise human rights concerns with Philippine President rodrigo Duterte during their upcoming meeting.

In a statement, Palace spokesperson harry roque affirmed that the Philippine government remains committed to protecting human rights.

“We reiterate that our adherence to the rule of law remains as firm as ever, as is our commitment to the protection of human rights,” he

said. roque, also a human rights lawyer, said that the Philippine government was investigating allegations of extrajudicial killings (eJKs), as well as homicide cases with drug-related motives. “ongoing investigations include the conduct of public congressional hearings. All these are undertaken precisely to ensure that due process and the rule of law prevails despite the Philippines’ significant drug problem,” the Palace official added. malacañang said it would not issue a further comment on Washington’s internal affairs, as it noted that Duterte and trump share a good relationship. roque added that the two leaders could also PAGE A2

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Russell Salic

White House, Republicans delay decision on DACA

Lawmakers postpone finding a solution for the program until after the holidays

sInce the trump administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for childhood Arrivals (DAcA) in september, congress has engaged in talks on how to protect the nearly 800,000 undocumented youth currently enrolled in the program.

While minimal progress has been yielded from these talks, the White house and congressional republicans on thursday, november 2 have decided not to include a solution for DAcA in the end-of-the-year spending bill, and instead will table the issue until after the holidays. “there was also a consensus that anyone on the other side of the aisle who thinks that they’re just going to codify DAcA in the year-end appropriations bill, it may not be very well received,” sen. thom tillis (r-n.c.) told reporters on capitol hill on thursday.

Back in January, the president assured DreAmers that he’ll continue to protect them. “[DreAmers] shouldn’t be very worried,” PAGE A2

ManilaTimes.net photo

Filipino doctor denies financing foiled NY terror plot

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

A fIlIPIno doctor has denied accusations that he financed a thwarted jihadist plot targeting new York’s subway ON HIS WAY TO THE APEC MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte does his signature pose with members of his delegation to attend the 25th Asia-Pacific and times square in may 2016.

Appearing in a manila court on tuesEconomic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting while on board the Philippine Airlines chartered flight bound for Vietnam on Wednesday, November day, november 7, orthopedic surgeon 8. Aside from meeting his fellow leaders, Duterte is also expected to speak before the APEC Business Advisory Council and CEOs. Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez russell salic explained that authorities from the United states may have mistaken the money he sent to a charity as funding for attacks. “that’s not true,” salic told reporters when asked about the allegations. “I just donated money without any malicious intent.” salic’s lawyer manuel Dalucapas also WAshIngton, Dc — Data re- cleaning and maintenance emclaimed that there is “no proof” showing leased by the American Immigra- ployees. the doctor wanted to bomb new York. the california state fact tion council show that immigrants he added that their camp is ready account for over a quarter of cal- sheet includes data on population fight the case in the Philippines and not ifornia’s population and comprise size, educational and citizenship in the United states. a staggering nearly 34 percent of attainment, english proficiency But the U.s. Department of Justice levels and data on undocumented the entire labor force. maintained that it would do everything A little over 77 percent of all immigrants and Deferred Action to have salic extradited and stand trial workers in farming, fishing and for- for childhood Arrivals recipients, estry are immigrants, as are 61.7 as well as the contributions of im- Hundreds of immigrants registering at a California in U.s. percent of building and grounds PAGE A3 PAGE A4 Department of Motor Vehicles office. Inquirer.net photo

Immigrants now 25% of California’s population Immigrants also 34% of Calif.’s labor force

Aquino charged with graft, usurpation Two Filipinos in Time’s 30 of authority over Mamasapano incident Most Influential Teens of 2017

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

the office of the ombudsman has filed graft and usurpation of authority charges against former Philippine President Benigno “noynoy” Aquino III in connection with the botched 2015 mamasapano operation that killed 44 police commandos. the anti-graft body filed the raps on Wednesday, november 8, at the sandiganbayan and

has recommended a P30,000 bail for graft and a P10,000 bail for usurpation charges.

In the information sheet of the usurpation of authority charge, ombudsman Assistant special Prosecutor reza casilaDerayunan claimed that Aquino “willfully, unlawfully and feloniously” allowed then-dismissed Philippine national Police (PnP) chief Alan Purisima to participate at the planning of PAGE A2 Former Pres. Benigno Aquino III

by Rae

Inquirer.net photo

ann VaRona AJPress

fIlIPIno teens shibby de guzman and Bretman rock sacayanan made the cut for time’s 30 most Influential teens of 2017 where they join influential teens like millie Bobby Brown of hit tV series stranger things, emoji proposer and designer rayouf Alhumedhi, and r&B singer Khalid among many others. the annual list was published on thursday, november 2, and featured head-turning individuals chosen from across different fields, who have had

global impact through social media and through making headlines. fourteen-year-old De guzman got her spot on the list for her activism against Philippine President rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs — a “risky move” as noted by Time’s Joseph hincks.

WIth megaphone in hand and a cardboard sign hung around her neck that read, “lahat tayo posibleng drug pusher” (We are all possible drug pushers), De guzman lead her fellow st. scholastica’s college manila high school classmates in a protest rally against former PAGE A2

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november 10-16, 2017 • oC/Ie ASIAn JoUrnAL

From the Front Page

Aquino charged with graft, usurpation...

PAGE A1 the operation, dubbed “Oplan Exodus.”

In the separate information sheet for the graft charge, the prosecutor said Aquino “allowed himself to be persuaded, induced, or influence” to violate the PNP chain of command, and preventive suspension order against Purisima.

The prosecutor further claimed that Aquino knew “fully well” that it was officerin-charge PNP chief Leonardo Espina who had the authority “to oversee the preparation and conduct of Oplan Exodus, to the damage and prejudice of the State.”

The former president was charged with violation of Section 3(a) of Republic Act 3109

or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and of usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code.

Similar cases have also been filed against Purisima and former PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) head Getulio Napeñas.

Section 3(a) of RA 3019 states that it is unlawful for any public officer to persuade, induce or influence another public officer to perform an act constituting a violation of rules and regulations duly promulgated by competent authority.

Usurpation of authority, on the other hand, is committed when a person falsely represents himself as a government official or performs any act pertaining to any person in authority without being lawfully entitled to do so.

Last September, the Ombudsman denied Aquino’s appeal to drop the charges. The complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide against Aquino, which were filed by SAF 44 families’ lawyers from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), were also junked due to “lack of probable cause.”

Duterte to Trillanes: ‘Good point’ In a rare instance, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte supported his staunch critic Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for saying that charging Aquino over the botched police operation would set a bad precedent.

“You cannot usurp what is inherently your duty,” he said in a press briefing before leaving for Vietnam to attend the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Trillanes earlier said that holding Aquino liable over a failed mission means that all failed military and police operations may now be blamed on the country’s chief executive.

“It will set a bad precedent kasi otherwise lahat ng palpak na mission sa AFP and PNP ay puwede mong file-an ng kaso yung commander-in-chief (because all failed AFP and PNP mission may now be used to file a case against the commanderin-chief). Hindi puwede yun (It’s not okay),” Trillanes said.

Agreeing with the senator, Duterte said Trillanes “has a good point there.” n

ASEAN SUMMIT READY. The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex in Pasay City is all set for the 31st ASEAN Summit. Lockdown of the complex including several roads in the area will be implemented from Nov. 12 to 15, 2017.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Palace reiterates adherance to...

PAGE A1

have “candid and productive discussions on matters of shared interest.”

Duterte and Trump are expected to have a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of sidelines of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Manila next week. They are also expected to have an encounter at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Vietnam this week.

U.S. Reps. Randy Hultgren (R-Illinois) and James McGovern (D-Massachusetts), co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, recently urged Trump to “impress upon President Duterte the United States’ profound concern over reported extra-judicial killings associated with the Philippine government’s war on drugs.”

In a letter dated November 2, the congressmen cited the results of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing early this year, which showed that police have killed 7,000 suspected drug dealers “without charges or trial” in the Philippines.

Figures from the government’s #RealNumbersPH campaign, however, showed that only 3,967 drug suspects were killed in legitimate police operations since July 2016.

While Hultgren and McGovern acknowledged that the Philippines serves as a key player in resolving conflicts in the region, they insisted that the U.S. must remain a “champion of human rights.”

They stressed that it is the “obligation” of the U.S. “to advocate for and defend those human rights as set forth in the United

Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

“Human rights are fundamental. Every government should afford their citizens the protection and due process of the law,” the congressmen said.

“The Philippines is a valuable ally of the United States and major recipient of U.S. aid. For these reasons, it is paramount that human rights violations not be the consequences of the Philippines’ ‘war on drugs,’” they added.

In a media briefing on Wednesday, November 8, Duterte said he wanted Trump to “lay off” topic of human rights during their first bilateral meeting.

“Human rights? Lay off, that is none of your business,” Duterte said before his flight to Da Nang, Vietnam, for the APEC Summit. n

White House, Republicans delay...

PAGE A1

said Trump in an interview with ABC News shortly after his inauguration. “I do have a big heart.

We’re going to take care of everybody.”

In July, when probed about his plans for DREAMers, he softened his stance and said that a decision on DACA is “very, very hard to make” but that he understood the situation “very well.”

Trump then broke his promise in a surprising decision to would phase out DACA, which was established in 2012 by former President Barack Obama to provide work authorization, protection from deportation and a host of other benefits to undocumented youth.

In a statement, he said that his decision was driven by a concern for all Americans, saying that “millions of Americans [have been] victimized by this unfair system.”

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that the program has said that DACA, through its work authorization measure, “denied jobs to hundreds of thousands of Americans.”

Since 2012, more than 800,000 undocumented youth — called DREAMers — have received benefits. More than 22,000 young Filipinos are eligible for the program, and between 6,000 to 10,000 are currently enrolled, according to several reports from the United States Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) and the Philippine Department of For-

eign Affairs (DFA).

The White House announcement to end DACA sent a shock signal to DREAMers and their families who worry about their educational and career goals set forth because of the program.

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a statement condemning the decision by the president and congressional Republicans to not include DACA in the end-of-theyear spending bill.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-California) said that the “cruel decision” to end DACA left the lives of many Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth in limbo.

“It is reprehensible that the president is now attempting to use these young people as bargaining chips to advance his antiimmigrant agenda,” Chu, who represents Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley area in Congress, said in the statement.

“The White House should not play politics with the lives of our nation’s Dreamers. If the bipartisan, bicameral DREAM Act were brought to the floor today, it would have the votes to pass,” Chu asserted. “I urge my Republican colleagues to do the right thing and allow us to vote on a clean DREAM Act before Congress adjourns in December.”

DACA advocates in Congress also aren’t going down without a fight.

The progressive liberal wing of the Senate has decided to take a stand against Trump and the Re-

publicans and warn they will oppose a government funding bill in December if a deal is not made on DACA. Senator Kamala Harris (D-California) was one of the first senators to speak out against the delay in a decision for DREAMers, whose lives she said should not be used as political pawns.

“I will not vote for an end-ofyear spending bill until we are clear about what we are going to do to protect and take care of our DACA young people in this country,” Harris, a long-time advocate for immigrants’ rights, said at a press conference two weeks ago. “Each day in the life of these young people is a very long time, and we’ve got to stop playing politics with their lives.”

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) are among the senators to hold the president accountable for his promise to protect DREAMers he made early in his presidency.

“Trump must make good on his promise to sign a bill protecting DREAMers. I won’t vote for any spending bill without a permanent DACA fix,” Sanders tweeted on Friday.

Booker cited the “chaos and uncertainty” DREAMers are currently facing as they await government action on their futures, saying, “I want solutions to protect these kids, and won’t vote for a spending bill that doesn’t include one. It’s an issue of basic decency and morality.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Two Filipinos in Time’s 30 Most Influential...

PAGE A1 Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos’ burial and Duterte’s ongoing drug campaign.

The sign on her neck was akin to the signs often found on slain victims of the drug crackdown which has left thousands dead.

A photograph of the moment went viral on social media where supporters praised De Guzman for speaking out against Duterte, calling her the “hope of our country”.

To critics who called her and the other young protesters “brainwashed”, De Guzman replied, “We completely know and understand the injustice we are protesting against.”

De Guzman, though only a ninth grader, continues to encourage young people to speak out against injustices.

“It’s so important that [they] know their own rights and when authorities abuse them,” said De Guzman as quoted by Time. “These values aren’t up for debate.”

Also on the list of influential teens is Hawaiian-based Fil-Am Bretman Rock Sacayanan, a beauty vlogger known simply as Bretman Rock to his nearly nine million Instagram followers.

“There is nobody on the Internet more fabulous than

Shibby de Guzman is seen in this photo joining a protest in her school last year.

Philstar.com photo by Ina Jacobe

Beauty blogger Bretman Rock Photo from Instagram/@bretmanrock

Rock. Just ask him,” wrote Time’s Cady Lang.

In the social media world of beauty vloggers and influencers, the 19-year-old Filipino American is easily one of the most recognizable. His Instagram feed features photos and videos of him lip syncing, dancing, and going on comedic rants, all while in flawless makeup and an assortment of colorful wigs.

While his makeup skills are indeed captivating, or as Lang put “could give the Kardashians a run for their money”, even more so is Rock’s personality which can be described as glamourous,

fierce, funny, and above all confident and unfiltered.

“I love myself too much to care honestly,” reads his Instagram bio. Among his favorite topics, as mentioned by Time are his haters, appearance, and his friends and family.

Earlier this year, Rock hosted the Miss Universe red-carpet pre-show. In August, he hosted the Video Music Awards for MTV’s Instagram story before embarking on a national meetand-greet tour.

“I think the universe is taking quite good care of [me],” said Rock in the Time list. n

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Dateline USa

House Republicans release long-awaited tax...

PAGE A1

tax rate cut from 35 percent to 20 percent, a shift that is measured to decrease federal revenues by $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years.

In general, the legislation promises major tax cuts for wealthy Americans who tend to benefit from corporate tax cuts than most Americans. Americans that earn between $400,000 to $1 million a year would face drastically lower top income tax rates.

Americans who tend to earn a profound share of their income from capital (i.e. stock sales, dividends, etc.) also benefit from the corporate tax cut.

In a statement delivered on Thursday, Trump applauded the House for sticking to tax reform priorities long desired by conservatives.

“My tax reform priorities have been the same since day one: bringing tax cuts for hardworking, middle-income Americans; eliminating unfair loopholes and deductions; and slashing business taxes so employers can create jobs, raise wages, and dominate their competition around the world,” Trump said in a statement.

Although the bill does cut taxes, it doesn’t do much for middle-income Americans whose incomes don’t qualify them to receive the significant tax cuts.

The bill simplifies the sevenbracket tax system to just three tax brackets: 12, 25 and 35 percent, which means that Americans are now subjected to different income tax rates.

The threshold for the top 39.6 percent of individual income raises to $1 million for couples, an increase from $470,700. In other words, this bill shifts the definition of “wealthy American” because of its change in the consolidation of its tax brackets.

For example, Americans who make $600,000 to $700,000 will get a sizeable cut in their income taxes because they are subjected to the 12 percent tax rate; before they would have been taxed at 15 or 25 percent.

Due to the elimination of the state and local income/sales tax deduction, people residing in blue states would also pay higher taxes. Wealthier residents who benefit from these deductions would also see increases in income tax, but it could be counteracted by other tax cuts detailed in the bill.

California, which has the high-

est state income tax rate, would see disproportionate damage. “[The bill is] really so punitive to certain states and, to California, it is devastating,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (DCalif.) said at a press conference on Thursday. “It removes over $100 billion of possible tax deductions against – over $100 billion for our state. Did they ever check with our economic or our finance department in our state to see what the impact would be on that state? No.” Additionally, the change in mortgage interest deductions in the housing sector would reduce the incentive to buy and build homes, which would deliver a significant blow to homeowners.

The deduction would apply to home purchases and mortgages made after Nov. 2, which experts say would put homeowners and the housing industry at risk.

“Contrary to their assertions, the Republicans are picking winners and losers,” Chief Executive of the National Association of Homebuilders Jerry Howard told the New York Times. “They are picking rich Americans and corporations over small businesses and the middle class.”

Another significant measure listed in the bill that would affect families details the elimination of tax-free savings accounts for child and dependent care.

An unlikely passage As is the case with many major bills, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is likely not to stay in its current form and would need changes to satisfy lawmakers in high-tax states.

The increase in budget deficient promised from its corporate tax slash would certainly raise the deficit over the next decade, an outcome which would guarantee strong challenge in the Senate.

Per Senate rules, some legislation can pass with only 51 votes, so long as the bill doesn’t result in long-run deficit increases.

Since this current draft violates that stipulation, it would need 60 votes, meaning unlikely profound support from the Democrats.

But the bill was also met by reservations from Senate Republicans, who are looking to push for changes to the bill, specifically reducing the overall cost that the bill entails.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) hasn’t been shy about his criticisms of Trump and the Republican Party and on Thursday blast-

ed the current version of the bill for increasing the overall deficit — a goal shared by all Republicans.

“As I have made clear from the beginning of this debate, it is my hope that the final legislation — while allowing for current policy assumptions and reasonable dynamic scoring — will not add to the deficit, sets rates that are permanent in nature and closes a minimum of $4 trillion in loopholes and special interest deductions,” Corker said.

Amid the controversy and backlash surrounding the GOP House tax bill, Republicans have emphasized that the initial draft would be far from the final product.

A day after the bill was introduced, Ways and Means Committee Chair Kevin Brady (R-Texas) offered an amendment that would delay the repeal of taxfree savings accounts for child care. He also plans to amend the tax on private university endowments, which would affect schools that receive endowments that measure to $250,000 per student, rather than $100,000 per student.

However, the amendments proposed don’t do much to the estimated increase in the federal budget deficit.

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) — the nonpartisan wing of Congress that estimates the financial outcomes of proposed legislation — it found that the bill would raise the federal budget deficits by $1.7 trillion in the next decade.

Additionally, U.S. debt would increase to 97.1 percent of GDP in 2027, up from 91.2 percent under current CBO estimates.

The election on Tuesday, Nov. 7, also presented as potential roadblocks as the GOP attempts to establish their landmark tax reform.

Democrats handily won gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia; particularly, Democrats also have the power to take control of the Virginia House of Delegates, which could provide a sizable challenge to the GOP. “I mean, it could, because the elections went against the Republicans,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) said of how the recent elections could shape the bill going forward.

When probed about whether pressure to shape the tax plan’s PAGE A4

FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

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

Dec 3 to 14, 2017

Spiritual Director: Rev. Fr. Alvin Cachola

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmbER 10-16, 2017

A

Calif. governor, congressional delegation request $7.4-billion in federal disaster relief funds to aid wildfire recovery

SACRAMENTO – On Friday, November 3, Governor Edmund “Jerry” G. Brown Jr. joined California’s two U.S. Senators and 39 members of the California congressional delegation to request $7.4 billion in federal funding for wildfire relief and recovery efforts in the state. Brown also expedited more than $40 million in state aid for immediate recovery efforts.

The letter from the governor and members of the state’s congressional delegation, sent to the White House today, urges the president and Congress to work quickly to adopt a third supple- Gov. Jerry Brown mental disaster-related appropriations bill to support the state as it recovers from October’s devastating wildfires that killed 43 people and destroyed approximately 8,900 residential and commercial structures.

This $7.4 billion in federal funding would flow to a variety of federal cleanup, recovery and assistance programs and support housing, transportation, agriculture, environmental protection, local health services, long-term recovery planning, reconstruction and small businesses.

Separately today, Brown directed the California Department of Finance to expedite the allocation of $41.5 million in funding to help support immediate needs in impacted areas, including cleanup, hazardous waste removal and assistance for Californians impacted by the fires who are not eligible for federal aid.

Under the state appropriation, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) will dedicate $35 million to debris removal and cleanup efforts, while the California Department of Toxic Substances Control will direct $1.5 million to support hazardous waste

cleanup operations. This funding will support debris removal and household hazardous waste cleanup at lots impacted by the fires. Household hazardous waste has already been removed from more than 3,000 lots and debris removal is starting across the impacted counties.

The appropriation also includes $5 million – managed by the California Department of Social Services – to aid wildfire victims who are not eligible to receive federal disaster assistance because of their immigration status. The funds will help these individuals and families affected by the fires with food, housing, utility and other expenses.

During the wildfire disaster last month, Brown declared a state of emergency for the counties of Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Yuba, Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Nevada and Orange and secured a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to support the state and local response to the fires, within 24 hours of making the request. Federal direct aid was also secured for residents of Napa, Sonoma, Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Yuba, Orange and Nevada counties who suffered losses due to the fires as well as Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits for workers in these counties who lost jobs or had work hours substantially reduced as a result of the fires. Governor Brown also issued an executive order to help cut red tape and streamline recovery efforts in impacted communities and last Saturday declared a “Day of Remembrance of the Northern California Fires” in recognition of victims and first responders.

Additional information on California’s wildfire emergency response and recovery efforts is available at: http://wildfirerecovery.org. n

Filipino doctor denies financing foiled...

PAGE A1 U.S. Department of Justice representative Christopher Cardani, who attended the Tuesday’s hearing, stressed that the case is “an extremely serious matter in the United States.”

“It’s been alleged these three individuals conspired to build a bomb and explode it at Times Square in New York in the summer of 2016 and it doesn’t get any more serious than that,” Cardani added.

According to U.S. court documents released October 6, the Filipino doctor sent $423 to the other suspects for the operation.

U.S. authorities said the FBI agent posed as an IS supporter and communicated with Salic and two other alleged plotters: Canadian Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, and American citizen living in Pakistan Talha Haroon.

The U.S. Department of Justice said it has requested Salic’s extradition following his arrest

in the Philippines in April of this year.

In the Philippines, Salic is also under investigation in connection with the abduction of six and the murder of two sawmill workers in April in the province of Lanao del Sur, located at the Southern part of the country.

Salic is likewise accused of being connected with the Maute terrorists, the IS-pro group behind the attack in Marawi City, also in the Lanao del Sur. n

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Holy Eucharist at the Church of annunciation “And Mary said, Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” We head to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed the first miracle – changing water into wine at the wedding feast. Here, we’ll invite couples to renew their marriage vows. Continue to Nazareth, Celebrate Holy Eucharist at the Church of Annunciation, visit St Joseph workshop. We return to Gai Beach Hotel for our dinner and overnight. (BB/D)

The greatness of Venice has always been reflected in the richness of St. Mark’s Basilica, the perfect synthesis of Venetian art and a unique blend of Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic elements. Five Oriental-looking domes crown the shadowy, mysterious interior gleaming with golden mosaics, colored marbles, precious stones and pearls, and guarded by the four gilded bronze horses that stand proudly atop the central entrance. The glittering mosaics of the interior tell the story of St. Mark and episodes from the Bible. It’s most famous treasure stands behind the altar in the sanctuary - the Pala D’Oro, a golden altar screen encrusted with jewels We’ll visit theDoge’s Palace, the magnificent VenetianGothic building from where the leaders of the former Venetian Republic ruled until the late 18th century. Head inside and explore the grandiose public chambers that the doges lavished with fine art and ornamentation. Masterpieces by Renaissance champions.(BB,D) Holy Mass at St. Marks Basilica.

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

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

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

There was a certain man in Caesarea” Drive north to the sparkling port city of Haifa, viewing Caesarea en route, the city built by Herod. In Haifa, we will ascend Mt. Carmel; home of the two prophets Elijah and Elisha, Visit the Stella Maris Church celebrate Holy Mass in the main Altar, after enjoy the panoramic view of the Mediterranean, continue to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. Gai Beach Hotel (BB,D)

6 DEC-Day 4 - (Wed) - Tiberias/ Cana/ Nazareth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 DEC-Day10 - (TUE) Jerusalem New City

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

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

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

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

After breakfast, we will spend the day travelling from San Giovanni Rotondo to Siena. We will begin in the old town center with a visit to the Basilica of San Domenico. Built in the 13th century, it is a treasure chest of Renaissance art and is dedicated to St. Catherine of Siena. You’ll learn about the city’s history while admiring its cathedrals, museums, and libraries. Then admire famous Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s great medieval squares.(BB,D) Continue to Assisi overnight /Dinner Celebrate Holy Eucharist in the Crypt where the tomb of the most beloved saints is located ,after Mass visit the Basilica of St Francis, We’ll also visit the Basilica of St.Claire After Lunch continue to Florence Best know for it leather goods,the best in the world Leather (BB,D) Free time in the afternoon Dinner/ Overnight

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

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

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

Day 10 April 1, 2018 (Sun ) Rome

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

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

Day 12 April 3, 2018 (Mon) Rome – USA

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

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Dateline USa

november 10-16, 2017 • oC/Ie ASIAn JoUrnAL

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Pew: 69% of Filipinos trust Trump, but more oppose his trade policy

by Mikas

Matsuzawa Philstar.com

A Pew survey showed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s greatest support comes from the Philippines but many in the country also disagree with the policy directions he embraced.

Pew Research Center echoed on Saturday key findings from its Global Attitudes Survey last June but this time focusing on the countries on Trump’s first Asia tour.

Trump kicked off on Sunday , Nov.5, his five-country tour, which includes visits to South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The poll center found that four countries on Trump’s Asia trip were divided on whether he would do the right thing when it comes to world affairs. China was not among the 37 countries Pew surveyed last June.

Trump saw the greatest support from Filipinos at 69 percent.

A majority of Vietnamese also expressed confidence at 58 percent.

Japan (24 percent) and South Korea (17 percent), meanwhile, showed dramatically lower confidence in Trump compared to former US President Barack Obama during the end of his term. Japan saw a 54-percentage-point drop in confidence in the U.S. president while South Korea fell by 71 percentage points.

Many in Asia still see the U.S. as the world’s leading economic power as opposed to a majority polled in the european Union where China is seen as the top economy, Pew said.

Infofraphics by Philstar.com photo

But confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping was over twice greater than Trump in South Korea at 38 percent. In the Philipines, 53 percent trust Xi on world affairs.

Trust that Xi would do the right thing regarding international affairs were lower in Vietnam (18 percent) and Japan (11 percent).

Jitters on Trump policies, North Korea Majority of South Koreans (80 percent), Filipinos (72 percent), Japanese (66 percent) and Vietnamese (61 percent) disapprove with Trump’s policies that withdraw the U.S. from major trade deals. At the time the survey was conducted, the U.S. leader signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.

The four countries also opposed the policy to withdraw U.S. support from international climate change agreements.

Despite disagreements with the current U.S. policy direction,

the Philippines is the most optimistic of the four countries with 55 percent saying Manila’s ties with washington would remain the same and 26 percent thinking it would get better.

Vietnam followed with 41 percent saying relations with the U.S. would be unchanged and 35 percent saying things would improve.

Japan, which is a signatory to the TPP trade deal along with Vietnam, expressed less optimism with 41 percent expecting relations to get worse under Trump and 34 percent thinking it would stay the same.

Forty-three South Koreans also expect things to get worse under Trump while 45 percent see things remaining the same.

Meanwhile, Concern on the North Korea nuclear threat, a major issue Trump wants to address during his tour, is highest among Pyongyang’s closest neighbors of South Korea (85 percent), Japan (90 percent) and the Philippines (87 percent). n

AFRICAN DRUG SYNDICATE . Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron N. Aquino (seated, right) talks to Solomon Anochiwa y. Lewi, (in green shirt), alias “Brother,” and Desmond Ozoma y Cima (covering his face), alleged members of African Drug Syndicate who were arrested for selling 1,011.1 grams of shabu worth P6 million, during media presentation held at PDEA office in Quezon City. With them are Atty. Ruel Lasala (seated left) PDEA Deputy Director General for Operations.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

‘This is Our Watch’: FDA supports retailers in keeping tobacco out of youth’s hands

by Mitch

zeller, J.D.

eACH day in the United States, nearly 2,500 youth under age 18 smoke their first cigarette and more than 400 become daily cigarette smokers. In fact, more teenage boys light up a cigar each day (about 1,300) for the first time than light up a cigarette (about 1,100). Tobacco retailers – including store owners, managers, and clerks—have an im-

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

AUGUST 2018

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

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

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

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

GLOBAL BUSINESS NETWORKING & MARKETING BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS

GOVERNMENT-TO-BUSINESS

BUSINESS-TO-CONSUMER SALES

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

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

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

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

portant responsibility to protect teenagers from tobacco-related disease and death by not selling tobacco products to minors.

FDA has created a new retailer education program called “This is Our watch” to help retailers comply with FDA regulations prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors. These regulations require, for example, that retailers check photo ID to verify that a person wanting to purchase a tobacco product is at least 18 years old.

FDA’s “This is Our watch” program provides free resources to help retail store owners and their employees understand how to comply with these federal requirements. Specifically, packages are being mailed to retailers that contain a store poster, stickers and signs for the register, flyers explaining federal requirements, and a calendar to help verify a person’s age.

Retailers should expect to receive these educational materials in the mail within the coming weeks. And additional copies of the materials can be downloaded or ordered at no cost.

This information is meant to be shared with store employees – including managers and clerks – and can be placed behind the counter where they are easy to see. The materials can also help retailers maintain positive relationships with their customers by informing patrons of the law and emphasizing the role that retailers play in protecting kids from the harm of tobacco products.

“This is Our watch,” which updates FDA’s “Break the Chain of Tobacco Addiction” retailer education program launched in 2010, was designed based on input from retailers across the country. we created these resources bearing in mind that tobacco product retailers vary— from convenience stores to grocery stores to specialty shops.

These new resources are de-

signed to be clear and direct in helping owners and employees adhere to federal requirements.

The resources cover major federal requirements meant to prevent the sale of tobacco products to minors and save lives.

Among these requirements, retailers must: • Check photo ID of everyone under age 27 who attempts to purchase any tobacco product.

• Only sell tobacco products to customers age 18 or older.

• Retailers must also follow state/territory tobacco laws, even if they are more restrictive.

For example, the minimum age is 19 in some states.

• Never sell tobacco products in a vending machine unless it is an adult-only facility.

• An adult-only facility is one in which minors are neither present nor permitted to enter at any time.

• NOT give away free samples of tobacco products, including any of their components or parts, to consumers.

In addition to offering compliance training and education programs such as “This is Our watch,” FDA also conducts inspections of retail establishments to monitor for compliance and, when violations are observed, takes action in the form of warning letters, civil money penalties, and no-tobacco-sale orders. when it comes to preventing youth tobacco use, FDA relies on the retail community to protect their young customers by keeping those under 18 from purchasing tobacco products. More information is available on FDA’s website about federal rules and regulations relevant to the tobacco retailer community. People may also contact the Center for Tobacco Products’ Office of Compliance and enforcement at 1-877-1373 or CTPCompliance@ fda.hhs.gov.

(Mitch Zeller, J.D., is Director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products)

FDA has created a new retailer education program called “This is Our Watch” to help retailers comply with FDA regulations prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors. These regulations require, for example, that retailers check photo ID to verify that a person wanting to purchase a tobacco product is at least 18 years old.

Immigrants now 25% of California’s...

PAGE A1

migrants in the state.

The fact sheet reveals that immigrant entrepreneurs in California generate $21.8 billion in business revenue. In 2014, immigrants in the state paid $56.5 billion in federal taxes and $26.4 billion in state and local taxes.

As consumers, immigrants spent $238.7 billion on California’s economy. Undocumented immigrants comprised 9 per-

cent of the state’s workforce in 2014 and paid an estimated $3.2 billion in state and local taxes in 2014.

Drawing from U.S. Census data and other sources, the Council developed 50-state fact sheets that provide the latest demographic and economic contributions of immigrants in each U.S. state and can be accessed at americanimmigrationcouncil. org. n

House Republicans release...

PAGE A3

benefits in favor of the middle class, Hatch assured, “I think we’ve been moving that way anyway.”

House Speaker Paul Ryan, however, remained hopeful that the elections won’t affect the bill’s success and intends to go forth with the House plan, which would raise the deficit and deliver radical cuts to corporations and the affluent.

“It doesn’t change my reading of the current moment,” Ryan

said on wednesday, Nov. 8. “It just emphasizes my reading of the current moment, which is we have a promise to keep and we have to get on with keeping our promise.”

Maintaining the bill benefits all Americans, Ryan added: “I fundamentally believe, when we deliver on comprehensive tax reform and tax relief...I think that’s going to bear fruit politically, but most importantly, it’s going to help people.” (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

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Palace on Sereno impeachment: Let constitutional process continue

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Malacañang indicated that it would now distance itself from the impeachment case against chief Justice Maria lourdes Sereno and would just let the process take its course.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, november 7, Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said it would now be up to congress to deal with the impeachment complaint against Sereno after she refused to voluntarily step down from her post.

“That’s fine. That’s her answer and we let it be from now on. The suggestion was made to resign so that the constitutional process of impeachment will not have to continue,” the Palace official said.

“But since she refused, we will now let the constitutional process of continue to proceed. Henceforth, that’s the call of the House and that’s the call of the Senate,” he added.

Earlier this week, Malacañang urged Sereno to resign in order to save the Supreme court (Sc) from “further damage” in case another chief justice would get ousted for the second time.

Former chief Justice Renato corona, Sereno’s successor, was impeached and subsequently ousted in 2012 for failing to disclose his peso and dollar accounts in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (Saln).

“It will be very difficult for the

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno

judiciary to recover from a second Senate decision to remove a sitting chief Justice because of a finding that that chief Justice is guilty of an impeachable offense,” the Palace official said.

“I don’t think the court can afford that so soon after the removal of former chief justice corona,” he added.

In response, Sereno’s camp maintained that she will stay put as resignation has never been an option.

The chief justice’s camp also claimed Malacañang’s call for her resignation only means that the impeachment complaint against her is “weak.”

“We view this resignation call — instead of allowing the process to proceed — as a strong indication that the impeachment case filed against the chief Justice is weak,” she said in a statement,”

Philsrar.com photo

said lawyer Josa Deinla, one of Sereno’s spokesperson.

“The public knows that the allegations against cJ Sereno are malicious and baseless. These are not even grounds for impeachment under our constitution,” she added.

In the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer lorenzo gadon, Sereno was accused of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the constitution.

Sereno was accused of failing to be truthful in declaring (Saln), as well as obstructing justice when she ordered Muntinlupa judges to not to issue arrest warrants against Senator leila De lima. also cited as grounds for her impeachment were her supposed “whimsical” and “excessive” purchase of a Toyota land cruiser amounting to P5.1 million; misuse PAGE A7

PilaPil ManilaTimes.net

BuHay party-list Rep. Joselito atienza on Wednesday, nov. 8, challenged his fellow lawmakers to produce proof that marijuana can cure diseases.

“So far, the only benefit from marijuana is that it could alleviate pain. However, there is no medical or scientific evidence that it could cure any disease,” the lawmaker said in a news forum in Manila. atienza said if the proponent of the bill that seeks to legalize the use of marijuana for medical pur-

poses fails to present a scientific study that it is being used to cure any ailment, then “the proposed bill should be withdrawn.”

The former Manila mayor was referring to Isabela First District Rep. Rodolfo albano, the main author of the proposed “Philippine compassionate Medical cannabis act.” atienza said lawmakers endorsed albano’s bill without really understanding the content of the proposed law.

“Marijuana at this time could only bring you to another level or some kind of hallucinating effect wherein the person could

Red Cross: Trillanes’ allegations vs Gordon based on ‘false, old facts’

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

ManIla — Sen. antonio Trillanes’ accusation that Sen. Richard gordon misused funds of the Philippine Red cross was based on “misleading and outdated facts,” the humanitarian organization said on Thursday, nov. 9.

In a statement, Red cross Secretary general Oscar Palabyab said the issues that Trillanes is hurling at the organization are now being “sensationalized to the prejudice of the PRc.” He added that these have already been investigated and settled befeel good if he was undergoing fore. physical pain,” he said.

“We can show without fear of Passing the bill that seeks to contradiction that the PRc relegalize the use of medical mari- mains a trustworthy and dependjuana could have a big effect on able humanitarian organization the government’s anti-drug cam- that is committed to save lives paign. and help the most vulnerable and “We’d rather junk the anti- come out clean in the end,” Paldrug campaign because we are abyab said. legalizing something that will Responding to Trillanes’ alleworsen drug addiction in the gation that gordon misused his country,” he said.

Priority Development assistance “Even the american Medical So- Fund, Palabyab said that the Red ciety has no proof that marijuana cross chairman had no participacould cure a disease,” he added. tion in the implementation of the atienza warned that Filipinos projects and the disbursement of will turn into “zombies” if mari- the funds. juana is legalized.

“On the alleged misuse of

Prove benefits of marijuana, Atienza dares colleagues

by Jaime

‘PISTANG DALUYONG ‘ 17. Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmencita Abalos (black polo) waves to people as she leads the fluvial parade along Pasig River during the 86th anniversary of the law changing the name of the Municipality of San Felipe Neri in the Province of Rizal to Mandaluyong City.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

PDaF funds, these refer to projects that the PRc undertook as an implementing agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the past,” Palabyab noted.

He added that liquidation reports had been submitted to the DSWD and provided answers and explanations in the course of the liquidation process.

In his complaint, Trillanes alleged that P200 million worth of Red cross funds were misused since gordon assumed chairmanship of the organization in 2004.

Of this amount, P193 million came from gordon’s pork barrel, which he allocated to the organization from 2004 to 2011 during his term as senator, Trillanes said.

He added that gordon’s PDaF allocations were coursed through DSWD. The department and gordon’s office then entered into a memorandum of agreement with Red cross.

Trillanes sued gordon, as well as former Red cross Secretary general gwendolyn Pang, before the Office of the Ombudsman for committing plunder, graft, malversation of public funds and violating the code code of con-

duct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, the government Procurement Reform act and article VI, Section 14 of the constitution.

He said the anti-graft body must also investigate gordon for the administrative offenses of grave misconduct and culpable violation of the constitution.

Red Cross backs Gordon While serving as a senator, gordon concurrently heads the Philippine Red cross as its chairman.

Palabyab said that the organization is confident that gordon could defend himself and clear his name. “as the chairman of the of the PRc, Sen. gordon has transformed the organization into a robust, modernized, well-equipped and foremost humanitarian organization in the country proud of the accomplishments of its volunteers and staff,” he said.

Palabyab added: “now that a case has been filed, we will let the wheels of justice take its own course while the PRc will continue undeterred with our mission as a humanitarian organization committed to save lives, help the most vulnerable and restore their dignity.”

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november 10-16, 2017 • oC/Ie ASIAn JoUrnAL

OpiniOn

Safety first

Features

“Generally, it is safe to work, study, do business, and travel in the Philippines.”

This was what newly appointed Presidential spokesperson Harry roque assured foreign embassies following the fresh travel advisory issued by the australian government against the Philippines.

In its advisory, the Australian government cautioned its citizens on the Philippines’ safety or security risks.

“We verified with Australian officials and that the advisory is not a response to any specific threat. Their general threat assessment has remained the same as it was the height of the Marawi rebellion, which we all know has already been resolved by our government forces,” Roque said in his official statement.

The United Kingdom (UK) likewise said its existing travel advisory regarding terror threats in the Philippines remains in effect. The alert on its official website, updated Nov. 3, was identified as “still current” on November 4.

“Militant groups in rural areas throughout the Philippines. Armed clashes between security forces and militant groups can occur at any time without warning. Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in the Philippines, including in Manila,” the advisory stated.

For its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has coordinated with other embassies and confirmed that there are no changes on the travel advisories to the Philippines issued by other countries.

“The Philippine government has no information about any increased terror threat in the county and we assure our foreign friends that local authorities have been enforcing tight security measures, especially in populated areas while we urge everyone to continue being aware of one’s surroundings,” Roque added.

Fighting in Marawi City was declared over after military forces killed Abu sayyaf leader Isnilon

Hapilon and Omar Maute, one of the founders of the Maute Group, last October 23.

Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 8, the entire force of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be on full alert to address any security concerns for the southeast Asian Nations (AseAN) summit 2017 which is scheduled next week. Under this status, PNP units are available 100 percent for immediate deployment should they be required immediately.

Military personnel are also tasked to remain vigilant and secure the safety of leaders and delegations attending next week’s summit. National Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana said no security threat has been detected so far.

An estimated 60,000 personnel from 21 agencies and their equipment will be deployed to various AseAN meeting venues in Metro Manila, Bulacan and Pampanga to secure the week-long event.

“We cannot be very complacent. We should be aware, we should be on guard. We need to be strict in implementing tight security measures to prevent any untoward incident,” Lorenzana said.

National security is of paramount importance to any country and to everyone. Confronting any looming threat goes beyond the power of governments. Travel advisory or not, every citizen is advised to remain vigilant and to take extra precautions wherever they go.

The war against terrorism requires a resolute individual to take a stand and confront it. This also means understanding terrorism: why it exists and why it has had adverse consequences on humanity. (AJPress)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective

The Filipino Channel’s ‘Balitang America’ turns 15 Documentary airs on November 12

pines and around the world that affect our lives here in Gel SantoS-ReloS North America and the lives of our families in this global “BALITANG AMeRICA” community — all told from our (BA), the daily newscast of unique Filipino-American perABs-CBN International’s The spective.

Filipino Channel, is celebrating BA was created as a result of its 15th year and has become ABs-CBN’s mission to expand the leading source for Filipinos news bureaus in different parts in North America. of the world where The FilipiBA is a 30-minute newscast no Channel (TFC) was shown. aired daily from Mondays to The mission was the driving Fridays that presents news sto- force — to serve the overseas ries about Filipinos in North Filipino community.

America, as well as news reWith meager resources and ports about currents events in limited manpower, BA preAmerica, Canada, the Philip- miered on september 28, 2002

Babe’s Eye View BaBe Romualdez Less than six months after joining the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte, former senator and now Foreign Affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano literally hit the ground running. And I can comfortably say – after watching him up close – that he is the perfect man for the job. I traveled with secretary Alan to Davao last Friday for the briefing of the president on the upcoming AseAN summit.

With 21 heads of state plus the UN secretary-General set to attend, the preparations for this historic event are simply overwhelming. This column may sound “sipsip” to some people but I can bluntly say I’ve been around long enough to know who’s who in government and what’s what. Observing secretary Alan in the past couple of weeks, I can see he can aptly articulate what is in President Duterte’s mind.

“The Philippines integrates the human rights agenda in its

Philstar.com photo

as a weekly newscast, with headlines and stories focused on the aftermath of the biggest terrorist attack on U.s. soil on september 11, 2001, specifically on the heightened security and growing anti-immigrant sentiments.

I was already anchoring the daily newscast in the Philippines for 12 years when my family immigrated to the United states in 2001 for my husband’s advanced training as a surgeon. It was in 2003 when I started to re-connect with my ABs-CBN family when BA tried to cover as many U.s. states as

possible. I was based in Minnesota at that time doing real estate on the side when I was invited by BA to contribute stories about Filipinos in this part of the Midwest.

In 2005, my family moved to California. This paved the way for me to be in front of the cameras for ABs-CBN again, initially as a co-host of Atty.

Michael Gurfinkel for “Citizen Pinoy,” and as a pinch-hitter for Cara subijano for BA. In 2007, BA became a daily newscast, and it paved the way for me to go back to anchoring the news on a daily basis.

BUT there is a bigger story on how BA came to be the most far-reaching source of news and information for Filipinos in America.

WATCH the BA documentary and find out how the newscast began, the grit and tenacity of the BA team, and the inside stories of our coverage.

“For every breaking news, for every compelling story, BA has been with you for 15 years. With our team of reporters across the United states and Canada, BA has become a voice for the most underrepresented in the community, a

unifying force for important undertakings, and a rallying point during times of crisis and tragedy.”

Watch “Beyond News: 15 years of Balitang America,” airing November 12 at 7:45 p.m. across time zones - ONLY ON TFC! *** 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

Philippine foreign affairs in good hands development initiatives for the purpose of protecting everyone, especially the most vulnerable, from lawlessness, violence and anarchy… That is why we have a massive campaign to restore the rule of law by fighting corruption, crime and illegal drugs,” he said in his eloquent speech at the UN general assembly in New York, emphasizing that “security and human rights are not incompatible.”

However, he also stated that Filipinos expect the sovereignty of this nation to be respected, and that “its democratically elected government’s assessment of threats and how to go about addressing them shall be accorded pre-eminence among nations.”

He also had very good meetings in Washington, D.C. with Us state secretary Rex Tillerson as well as senators John McCain III and Cory Gardner. McCain is a strong advocate of the continuing engagement of the U.s. in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region. McCain’s grandfather served in the Philippines during the second World War while his father, U.s. Navy

Admiral John s. McCain Jr., was awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor. senator McCain himself spent time in subic and it was in Clark where he was processed after his release from Vietnam as a prisoner of war. senator Gardner — who chairs the U.s. senate’s Foreign Relations subcommittee on east Asia — visited the Philippines last June to have a “face-to-face” discussion with President Duterte about threats to Us national security and the importance of adhering to the rule of law. Gardner is also one of those who urged Us President Donald Trump to attend the AseAN summit, noting the importance of showing Us leadership “not just in rhetoric but in action, in visible ways.”

In the meeting with Tillerson, both officials reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the partnership and alliance between the U.s. and the Philippines which, in the words of secretary Tillerson, is “on an upward vector.”

During that meeting, secretary Alan also said the Philippines is ready to work with

independent observers and experts on the serious problem of illegal drugs – but he also made it clear in no uncertain terms that these experts or investigators must be fair and impartial, and make sure investigations are not politicized so that outcomes are credible.

People who know secretary Cayetano well say his sharp wit, unflappable character and eloquence are among the reasons why he is perfect as our top diplomat – able to articulate what the president really wants to communicate.

Many Filipino-Americans who met Alan Peter during his month-long trip to the U.s. were clearly impressed, saying he “exemplifies a young diplomat with charisma and sense of humor…” positive characteristics that could be utilized to “balance and calm down political tensions that the Duterte administration is facing with other countries.”

During a speaking engagement dubbed as “A Conversation with Alan Peter Cayetano” organized by the Council on Foreign Relations, former U.s.

Ambassador to the Philippines Frank Wisner introduced him as “a man who has worked [his] way up from the grassroots of Philippine politics through the House of Representatives, to [his] election to the senate…”

– representing “the very best in Philippine politics,” and adding “particular tone and luster” to the Cabinet of President Duterte.

The said speaking engagement highlighted the eloquence and intelligence of secretary Cayetano – framing the president’s new independent foreign policy through the balanced use of metaphors and “plainspeak” as he discussed the challenges that global change poses on bilateral relations.

President Duterte pursues “a truly independent foreign policy for Filipinos by Filipinos, where we pursue bridges to places where once there was none… a bridge to the other side of the river,” secretary Alan said.

When the president announced our “separation” from the U.s. during his state visit to China, what he meant was this: When Philippine interests in-

tersect with the interest of the U.s. or any other country, we go together. When the interests do not meet, then we make our own path. “sometimes we sacrifice, because that is what foreign relations is all about… It’s about we. It’s about us,” Alan Peter told his audience, elaborating that the Philippines also wants to stand on its own two feet.

“What good is the Philippines as an ally to the U.s. if we are always dependent upon you?

But as a strong ally, standing on our own, we are more use to you and the American people,” he said.

This is actually aligned with President Donald Trump’s speech to the UN: “Our success depends on a coalition of strong and independent nations that embrace their sovereignty, to promote security, prosperity, and peace, for themselves and for the world,” Trump said.

With secretary Alan as Foreign secretary, I completely subscribe to what he described as our foreign policy: “The Filipino people’s interest comes before all others.” (Philstar.com)

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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OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmbER 10-16, 2017

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De Venecia pushes peace mission to North Korea

by JEffErson

antiporda ManilaTimes

FORMER House Speaker Jose de Venecia believes that two major international summits can be good opportunities for world leaders to come up with a new approach to address the Korean peninsula crisis.

De Venecia, a special envoy for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Inter-Cultural Dialogue, said leaders of the 10member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the 21-member APEC could explore the possibility of forming a small team to lead negotiations with AERO WORKOUT. Thousands of fitness fans clad in blue join the Aero Taebo workout along San Francisco Street, Barangay Plainview in North Korea.

Mandaluyong City on Sunday, November 5. The Aero Taebo workout in a single location is a sample entry to the Guinness World of Records.

He noted that the APEC meeting PNA photo by Joey O. Razon in Vietnam to be held on November 8 to 11 and the Asean summit in the Philippines on November 10 to 14 are opportunities for the leaders to explore the idea of sending a joint peace mission to Pyongyang.

President Rodrigo Duterte in

by ElizabEth MarcElo complaint of 44 counts of reckless The ombudsman said Aquino Philstar.com imprudence resulting in homicide still allowed Purisima to partici- a recent speech said someone against Aquino, former Philippine pate in the planning and execu- should talk to North Korean leader MANILA — Families of the Spe- National Police chief Alan Puri- tion of Oplan Exodus despite his Kim Jong Un to convince him cial Action Force policemen killed sima and former Special Action full knowledge that the latter was in the 2015 Mamasapano incident Force chief Getulio Napeñas Jr. under preventive suspension by on Thursday, Nov. 9 said they will in connection with the Mamasa- the ombudsman in connection with an alleged anomalous counot participate in the cases initi- pano incident.

“The filing of such charges rier service deal that the PNP en- PAGE A5 ated by the Office of the Ombudsman against former President Be- only now...after the SAF 44 kin’s tered into with a private firm for of judiciary funds when attending filing of a Petition before the Su- the delivery of firearms licenses local and foreign conferences; nigno Aquino III. inaction the petitions for the retire“As a sign of disgust and pro- preme Court seeking the reversal in 2011.

Aquino had earlier repeatedly ment benefits of justices, judges, test, the SAF 44 parents and the and upgrading of the said shalVACC (Volunteers Against Crime low charges, is an insidious dis- denied the allegations, maintain- or their surviving spouses; among and Corruption) will not partici- respectful attempt to preempt the ing that Purisima only acted as other allegations.

Deinla also refuted claim that pate in the sham proceedings ini- High Tribunal and to moot the his “resource person” regarding Oplan Exodus and did not, in any Sereno’s resignation would “spare tiated by Ombudsman before the pending Petition,” Topacio said.

Topacio said that the ombuds- way, participate in its planning the institution from any further Sandiganbayan. Instead, we shall damage.” continue to pursue the attainment man’s filing of graft and usurpa- and implementation. of justice for the 44 heroes,” Fer- tion cases against Aquino is a dinand Topacio, legal counsel of “hollow victory” for the grieving families of the slain police troopSAF 44 kin said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the ers.

Topacio maintained that AquiOmbudsman filed before the Sandiganbayan one count each no should be held liable for 44 of graft and usurpation of official counts of reckless imprudence functions against Aquino in con- resulting in homicide for the lost nection with the Jan. 25, 2015 lives of 44 SAF members.

Each count of reckless impruMamasapano incident.

The ombudsman recommend- dence resulting in homicide cared to the Sandiganbayan to set ries a penalty of imprisonment of Aquino’s bail bond at P30,000 for four years.

Graft carries a maximum penthe graft case and P10,000 for the alty of 15 years of imprisonment usurpation case.

The cases are set to be raf- while penalty for usurpation of fled off to determine the which authority is up to six months of among the seven divisions of the imprisonment which is convertSandiganbayan that will handle ible to just a fine.

“We say again that the said them.

It is only after the raffling of (graft and usurpation) charges cases that Aquino may post his are designed to fail – in order to bail bond before the concerned inoculate Pres. Aquino against court division. An accused may the graver charge of mass hopost bail even before the court micide which could possibly put determines if there is probable him behind bars for the rest of his life,” Topacio said. cause to order his or her arrest.

“To Ombudsman (Conchita) In a text message to reporters, Sandiganbayan Presiding Jus- Morales, we say, may God have tice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang said mercy on your soul,” he added.

The cases against Aquino Aquino’s cases “will be treated stemmed from his alleged act of the same as all other cases.”

“No spokesperson will be des- allowing then suspended PNP ignated for the purpose,” Tang chief Purisima to participate in the planning and implementation said.

Topacio questioned the timing of Oplan Exodus, a botched poof the ombudsman’s filing of the lice operation aimed to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir cases against Aquino.

Topacio pointed out that the alias Marwan and Filipino bomb VACC, representing two moth- maker Abdul Basit Usman.

The operation went awry when ers of the slain SAF troopers just filed before the Supreme Court a the retreating SAF troopers were petition for certiorari seeking the overpowered by the combined reversal of the ombudsman June forces of the Moro Islamic Lib13, 2017 resolution ordering the eration Front its splinter group filing of graft and usurpation cas- Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and some private armed es against Aquino.

It can be remembered that the groups. The encounter left 44 VACC, representing the families SAF troopers, 18 MILF members of the SAF 44, originally filed a and three civilians dead.

SAF 44 kin won’t testify for ombudsman on cases vs Aquino

nobody is out to remove him or destroy his country.

De Venecia said a joint peace mission could help ease tensions in the Korean peninsula and pave the way for an enduring peace in the area.

He said the inter-Korean talks could be at senior or mid-levels, representing not more than seven parties including key APEC members like the United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, a representative of Asean, and North Korea.

“Progress could be publicized or unpublicized with a recess on the eve of the Christmas holidays, and the talks could target preliminary understanding by early next year,” de Venecia said in a statement.

The former speaker noted that a meeting of the two Koreas, with the participation of APEC and Asean representatives, could even lead to the inclusion of North Korea in the Asean Plus 3 nations.

“This would add North Korea to the current Asean Plus 3, which includes the 10 Asean nations plus China, Japan, and South Korea. In the

future, perhaps the two Koreas could consider a “unification” or “confederation,” he added.

De Venecia, the founding chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), counts Pyongyang’s Korean Workers Party as one of ICAPP’s more than 300 ruling, opposition and independent parties as members.

Also, as co-chairman of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), he plans to invite the North Korean Parliament to nominate delegates to the IAPP. The unification of Korea, de Venecia said, is not impossible, citing the cases of Germany and Vietnam.

“Unforeseen, unnegotiated geopolitical circumstances eventually proved everyone wrong, resulting finally in a strong, prosperous united Germany and a flourishing united Vietnam,” he pointed out.

De Venecia is on a visit to Iran to promote Inter-Cultural Dialogue and to pursue a project for a petrochemicals complex in Pangasinan and Northern Luzon.

Palace on Sereno impeachment...

Contrary to accusations that Sereno is “destroying” the judiciary, Deinla insisted that the chief justice is actually “leading reforms in the judicial system so the people will see that justice is running well in this country.”

“It is clear that there are forces out to destroy the entire Supreme Court and not just the Chief Justice,” Deinla claimed.

“At any rate, Attorney Roque’s statements are premature and misdirected as it is the Chief Justice’s accusers who are inflicting damage to the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice remains unfazed by the false accusations against her and is as resolved as ever to keep serving the people at the helm of the judiciary,” she added.

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In this Jan. 30, 2015 photo, President Benigno S. Aquino III offers a moment of prayer before the remains of the fallen Philippine National Police-Special Action Force troopers during the Necrological Service at the NCRPO Multi-Purpose Center of Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Malacañang photo by Gil Nartea, Benhur Arcayan

Palace backs conversion of mega drug rehab center to academy MALACAÑANG supports a proposal to convert the 10,000-bed mega drug rehabilitation center in Nueva Ecija into a Drug Enforcement Academy, President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman said on Thursday.

“We welcome the suggestion of Senator Vicente Sotto III on the mega drug rehabilitation and treatment center in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. If you would recall, the 10,000-bed mega-facility was built for the recovery and treatment of drug addicts in the country. However, from the beginning, we, particularly our health officials, do not envision this to be a permanent structure,” Secretary Harry Roque said.

Sotto made the proposal after then Dangerous Drugs Board

Chief Dionisio Santiago described 75,000-hectare facility “a mistake” and an “impractical solution” to the drug menace.

Santiago said the funds for the facility should have been spent for small-scale rehabilitation centers at the barangay (village) level where there was family support for drug dependents wishing to change their ways.

President Rodrigo Duterte eventually fired Santiago for “blabbering” about the drug facility.

“Our long-term vision is once the drug problem has been resolved, this can be turned over to the military who owns the land or other agencies of government that can utilize, manage and optimize the facility,” Roque said. (Llanesa Panti/ManilaTimes.net)

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Gini Cruz SantoS:

First female supervising animator at Disney-Pixar

I

by Jan Milo Severo / PhilStar.coM

N the upcoming Disney-Pixar movie “Coco,” there might be no Filipino touches like the “bahay kubo” inside Nemo’s aquarium, but Filipina Pixar supervising animator Gini Cruz Santos assured Filipinos will love the movie about the celebration for poeple’s dearly departed.

“The Mexican culture, they kind of share our dynamic a little bit as family. For me, I was excited because I felt like all our research in the dynamic of our acting and just kind of a how the Mexican family relates to each other feels Filipino,” Santos told a group of journalists during a roundtable

interview.

“Coco” introduces Miguel, an aspiring singer who dreams of following in the footsteps of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, the most famous musician in the history of Mexico. Nonetheless, his family forbids music until he discovers why and until he unlocked the

secret in the land of the dead during the Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead).

Santos, who counts Disney’s “Brave” and Dory in “Finding Nemo” as among her notable works, admitted that the biggest challenge for her in making the film is to animate the skeletons because kids might get intimidated.

“Kids might be afraid to see them (skeletons) at first but we’re hoping that they would relate to see Miguel, being another kid, interacting with skeletons and hopefully be like ‘Hey it’s okay with Miguel, it should be okay (for us),’” the Pasay City native and the University of Santo Tomas graduate said.

In the film, the Mexican holiday, just like Undas in the Philippines, was richly shown.

“We did a lot of research

Gini Cruz-Santos

Photos courtesy of Disney-Pixar

before the film started to get inspired. Anything you see in the film is inspired by our trips down there,” said Santos.

For the creation of the Land

of the Dead, Santos explained, “The beauty of things that no one has ever seen is that you can kind of make it up but you need to be responsible for things about it so that it becomes believable.”

For now, Santos does not see herself directing a full-length animation movie.

“Some of us strive to be a director, some of us don’t. I don’t know if that is something I ever thought I wanted to do. I can do a short (film) possibly but I love animation. If I think of an idea and I want it to be a short, I guess, that’s kind of a different path.”

Directed by Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3”) and co-directed

by Adrian Molina (story artist for “Monsters University”), “Coco” is a family-oriented movie and opens in cinemas on November 22.

From the Land of the Dead, Gael García Bernal (Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle”) helps bring to life charming trickster Hector, while Benjamin Bratt (“Doctor Strange”) is the voice

of Miguel’s idol Ernesto de la Cruz, and Edward James Olmos (“Blade Runner”) lends his voice to Chicharrón. Alanna Ubach (Bravo’s “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”) provides the voice of Miguel’s great-great-grandmother Mamá Imelda, Selene Luna (“My Bloody Valentine”) voices Tía Rosita, Alfonso Arau (director/producer for “Like Water for Chocolate”) is the voice of Miguel’s late greatgrandfather Papá Julio, and Herbert Siguenza (“Ben 10: Alien Swarm”) lends his voice to both Tío Oscar and Tío Felipe, Miguel’s late identical twin uncles.

Piolo Pascual says he can’t Barbie Forteza, Ken Chan spread love and tears in new movie replace John Lloyd Cruz in ‘Home Sweetie Home’ by iza igleSiaS ManilaTimes.net

AFTER John Lloyd Cruz went on an indefinite leave of absence from showbiz, his sitcom “Home Sweetie Home” had to find a workaround.

Enter Piolo Pascual, who had previously appeared on the show as a guest star.

Actress Toni Gonzaga, who plays Cruz’s wife on the show, was eager to have her “Last Night” co-star on board. “We are very thankful na he’s available and he said yes,” she told ABS-CBN News.

She stated that two episodes have been shot with the buff actor, who is more accustomed to

Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga

dramatic roles.

“Exciting siya… I’ve worked with Tin so many times, with Tita Sands [Andolong],” Pascual related.

When asked if he would play a love interest to Gonzaga, he clarified, “You cannot replace Lloydie. I don’t know how they’re gonna twist the story but I came as a cousin of him (sic).”

“I’m just doing this because we are one family in this network, so whatever help you can give.”

On leave with Cruz is “Sweetie” actress Ellen Adarna. (Niña V. Guno/Inquirer.net)

ABS-CBN photo

KAPUSO stars Barbie Forteza and Ken Chan’s first big screen outing as a team, the love storyromance-comedy-drama “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter,” is poised to be one of this year’s muchanticipated theater releases. In fact, the Joel Lamangan flick instantly became a trending topic when its full trailer was released across social media platforms.

Forteza and Chan initially caught the television viewers’ fancy when they were paired in the hit GMA Network series, “Meant To Be.” Thus, the “Ken-Bie” loveteam was born. The union also gave birth to loyal followers who rejoiced when Forteza ended in Chan’s arms in the series finale.

Now, the pair’s avid followers and fans need not wait any longer because the chemistry of the two will have their debut on the big screen.

The pair swore that “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” is different from their recently concluded soap as the film requires Forteza and Chan to showcase deeper emotional range without sacrificing moments of kilig, joy and laughter.

“The biggest adjustment that Barbie and I had to do here is that we came from a romantic-comedy teleserye that was very light, every

scene very easy to do. Then we have to transition to “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter”—a romantic love story. So the adjustment was really from light to heavy. We have so many heavy drama scenes here and we also had to adjust our ages and the way we had to deliver our lines,” Chan told members of the entertainment press during the film’s press conference. “‘In Meant To Be’, it was more on tweens, so Direk Joel really helped us flesh out our characters, starting from the time they were young up to being mature adults,” he added.

Comparing their roles before to this film, Forteza explained, “Here, everything that could happen in a teleserye running for three months has to be fit in a film of two hours, max. That’s why we’re always ready, because we cannot run out of things on the set. Or we will be left blank, so in fairness, every one of us prepared for it.”

The 20-year-old actress was then asked if they shared kissing scenes since the film has a more mature treatment.

“There’s no kissing scene on the lips, pero bawing-bawi naman.

Direk Joel did something for that special scene,” Forteza answered.

“Because personally, not that I don’t want it, but I just don’t think I should do that right away.

For me it’s still too early. Para lang

Ken Chan and Barbie Forteza

hindi maging basta-basta ‘yung kissing scene. With the right age, right material, right script,” she added.

In the movie, Erika (played by Forteza) and Tristan (Chan) are classmates in college. Tristan is considered a campus crush due to his swimming skills. He and Erika grew close to each other but were left heartbroken when they had to part ways.

Erika then graduates as cum laude and succeeds as a field reporter. Tristan, on the other hand, ends up working for the family-owned airline company.

Their paths crossed once more when an incident involving

GMA photo

Tristan’s family and Erika’s career come to play. The call of duty prompts Erika to communicate with Tristan for a follow-up on a story she did.

The incident brings them closer again with Erika throwing in help so that Tristan may recover from a misfortune.

In this event, is Erika prepared to be hurt again or can love be sweeter the second time around?

The movie also stars Thea Tolentino, Ara Mina, Rey Abellana, Neil Ryan Sese, Yayo Aguila, Kim Rodriguez, Hiro Peralta, Akihiro Blanco, Jai Agpangan, Kaki Ramirez, Fiona Yang and Jon Leo among others.

november 10-16, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

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Winners of 2nd annual LAPIFF awards Judy Ann Santos goes nostalgic about

simple, unspoiled life of actors

by Clarizel

abanilla Inquirer.net

The 2017 LA Philippine International Film Festival (LAPIFF) was held on October 26-29 at the Southbay Pavilion Mall in Carson, California.

The four-day event featured screenings of over a dozen Filipino films and an awards ceremony, which recognized categories like “Best Picture,” “Best Actor,” and “Best Actress.” LAPIFF is an organization devoted to the advancement, development and showcase of Filipino filmmakers & artists around the world through film, providing the global community of entertainment professionals and film goers with consistent annual screening events and workshops. LAPIFF provides charitable scholarships and a forum where Filipino filmmakers & artists can be recognized for their gifts, have open discussions about their movies and connect with industry professionals for understanding on production, distribution, representation and acquirement.

WIth over three decades of experience as a powerhouse drama actress, Judy Ann Santos surely has gone through the evolution of a thespian’s life through the years.

Starting off as a child star in the late 1980s, eventually becoming one of the most sought-after teen stars of the 1990s, then rising as a top-ranked dramatic actress, Santos truly has a lot of stories to tell about the life of an actor, then and now.

She reminisced about these experiences in a recent Instagram post.

“Ganito kami noon.. nung mga panahong walang aircon tent na standby area ang mga artista, at kanya kanyang diskarte ng tutulugan, tatambayan at kakainan.. maglalatag kami kahit saan basta hindi hagip ng camera. Walang issue, walang diva, kakwentuhan ko lahat ng crew. Masaya lang kahit inuumaga kami ng tapos,” she wrote.

(We were like this before. Back when there were no air-conditioned tents as standby areas for actors, and everyone just has to improvise about where to rest, wait and eat. We would just lay down mats to sleep on, anywhere, as long as it’s not seen in the camera. No issue, no fuzz. I talk to everyone in the crew. It was a joy even if we would finish late.)

As to why she shared it, “Wala lang… masarap balikan ang simpleng buhay ng pag aartista kung minsan…”

(Nothing much, it just feels good to reminisce about the simple life of being an actor, sometimes.) her post featured a photo of her lying on a

Christian Bautista to invite ex-girlfriend Rachelle Ann Go to his wedding thE newly-engaged Christian Bautista admitted that he cannot find a connection with his new hit, “huling harana,” a breakup song. “‘Yung lalaki ang nakipagbreak kasi nakita n’ya na pawala na. Pero kahit ‘di na sila, kakantahan pa rin kita kahit palayo na,” Christian explained the message behind “huling harana.” the singer and actor confided, though, that he can relate to the song “maybe from a past experience.” that past, of course, could point to Bautista’s ex girlfriend, West End singer and actress

Rachelle Ann Go, who also got engaged to New York-based businessman Martin Spies just last September.

In an interview with Philstar. com on November 6 during the launch of Gabbi Garcia’s new music video and song, Christian clarified that he wished to correct his previous statement that he does not mind singing in Rachelle Ann’s wedding if he ever gets invited because it first should also get approval from Rachelle Ann’s fiancé. how about Christian, is he going to invite his ex to his wedding?

According to him, his fiancée Kat Ramnani has met his “barkada,” including Rachelle Ann, so he said: “I think we can invite her (Rachelle Ann).”

Since he already co-wrote a song for Anne Curtis and Gabbi, will Christian also write a song for his wife-to-be? “that song is yet to be made!” he said, unable to pull out a title from his portfolio that he felt could suit his fiancée.

Will he sing at their wedding?

“Oh, I don’t think I want to work on my wedding! I’ll get someone to sing for me siguro,” he said.

Christian Bautista and Rachelle Ann Go in London in 2015.

Philstar.com photo

Will that other singer turn out to be Rachelle Ann? that is what Christian’s fans are going to watch out for. (Deni Rose M. AfinidadBernardo/Philstar.com)

Judy Ann Santos

comforter outside of what appears to be a location set. tagged as the teleserye Queen, she has topbilled some of the most successful drama programs ever produced by her home network ABS-CBN. Considered as the longest-running local daily soap opera of all time, Santos top-billed “Mara Clara” which spanned airtime for five years from 1992-1997.

It was where Santos officially became a full-fledged drama actress.

It was succeeded by a few more top-rating teleseryes such as “Esperanza”, and “Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka” which debuted her television team-up with Piolo Pascual.

november 10-16, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

4

Gabbi Garcia now a certified recording artist by iza iglesias

because I did gigs before but when I entered the industry, I had GABBI Garcia has finally opportunities to do teleseryes so I fulfilled one of her dreams—that promised that eventually I would of becoming a recording artist. try to venture out into music Before entering show business, because it’s really my first love,” the 18-year-old relentlessly joined Garcia shared. numerous singing contests and “I’m happy to be able to talent searches on top of her accomplish this type of area in my regular gigs as a band vocalist. job, because singing is really my The former Sanggre Alena in passion. Kahit before pa, you can the hit TV series “Encantadia” on always see me with a guitar na GMA has just released her selfready sa jamming. I’m very excited produced debut single entitled, about this and I hope people “All I Need.” would appreciate it,” she said.

The song, which is about With the successful launching overcoming personal struggles of her debut single, she also and believing in one’s capabilities, credits her older sister Alex is a passion project that Garcia is who taught her how to play very proud of. instruments.

“The song is very special for “Aside from guitar, I can play me because I’ve become very basic drums and ukelele. My hands on with its production. sister taught me how to play from the music to the visual instruments. Everything came element of the track, my friends from my sister,” Garcia said. and I collaborated on it para mas When asked on what she buo yung identity nung kanta,” wanted to focus more, she replied, Garcia explained to selected “I could do both acting and music. members of the media during its I don’t want this to be only a launch. sideline because my heart is really “This is very fulfilling because into it. I’m really passionate about my first single is self-produced. it, this one is also in my list of I wrote the lyrics and created priorities aside from school.” some of its melody. This song is “I also hope I can play in only the beginning. I’m enjoying music festivals. I am a fan of those every minute of it, every stressful events as well as concert. I wish I situation in the process of making could perform in one of the major a single,” she added. events,” she added.

According the Kapuso star, Future beauty queen ever since she started showbiz, With all the blessings she wanted singing to be part of Garcia has been receiving—a her identity as an artist. Now that music single, television shows, she has finally released her own endorsements and upcoming track, she feels a step closer in Metro Manila film festival (MMff) reaching that goal. movie with Dawn Zulueta and “Honestly the music side came Vic Sotto, Garcia could not ask first before me entering showbiz for anything more. But she does ManilaTimes.net

Illac Diaz, founder of the organization Liter of Light, which gives light access to millions of Filipinos.

The Journey of Light takes off in America

By Mika

Fabella

If you recognize this shiny little message in a bottle, it’s because Illac Diaz has brought Liter of Light all over the world.

These solar powered lights, housed in recyclable bottles, have made their way to various countries, including the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Honduras, South Africa, and Guatemala, to name a few.

Liter of Light is a global movement that fights energy poverty by offering affordable, renewable, and sustainable solar lighting technologies to people living in darkness in over 30 countries.

This November, Liter of Light takes their vision across the United States, in a month-long crosscountry roadtrip, as ambassadors of the International Day of Light in 2018. Starting on November 10 in Los Angeles, Liter of Light will be bringing their knowledge on sustainable solutions to students and future leaders in a grand university tour. The caravan will be conducting solar energy workshops along their journey, making stops in Nevada, Arizona, Las Vegas, Colorado, Kansas, Chicago, Boston, and New York.

EMPLOYMENT

Participants will get to assemble their very own solar lamp kits during the workshop as well as take part in a discussion and lecture about sustainable energy. The solar lights assembled in the workshops will be sent out to various places in need, including the recently war-torn Marawi province in Mindanao, Philippines.

The roadtrip will be featured in a full-length documentary movie by Lost & found: Journeyman, an upcoming socio-cultural adventure webseries from the Philippines that combines science, digital filmmaking, social entrepreneurship and outdoor

adventure to ultimately uplift marginalized communities in their country. The film, entitled Journey of Light, will premiere on May 16, 2018, at the International Day of Light in Paris, france. for more information and live updates on the USA Roadtrip, or if you’d like us to stop by your area and conduct a workshop for your community, you can contact us via our website http://www. literoflightusa.org/journeyoflight/ or follow Liter of Light on facebook at https://www. facebook.com/aliteroflight/.

(Mika Fabella was a company scholar at Ballet Philippines and a graduate of the University of the Philippines, Major in Dance.)

EMPLOYMENT

The 18-year-old self produced her debut single, ‘All I Need’. ManilaTimes.net photo

hope to cross out another item in her bucket list—to join a major beauty pageant and represent the Philippines.

Garcia, who has been very vocal about the idea since she started her career mentioned, “I think ang kulang na lang for me is to join a pageant. But right now I’m really concentrating here. So we’ll see pa. I’m turning [only]19 in December, so I think maybe I can join when I’m 22.”

As a matter of fact, Garcia won Ms. Skin White in 2011 and Ms. Solane 2013 (Teenies Category).

“My curiosity in beauty pageants started when I was young since I am fond of watching it. People would always tell me that I am very bibo. I’m an extrovert person so it’s easy for me to talk and engage with people. I even answer the questions myself during the Q&A portion,” she said.

“When I entered showbiz, my connections widened as well as the world I see. That’s why I told myself that maybe I can really do it,” Garcia shared.

Pauleen Luna shares first picture of baby Talitha

by Niña

V. guNo

Inquirer.net

DAYS after giving birth, Pauleen Luna is ready to show the world her firstborn.

Her daughter with husband, Vic Sotto, is named Talitha Maria.

Celebrity friends and fans couldn’t help gushing over Talitha’s chubby cheeks; the picture has already over 1,000 comments on Instagram.

In her Instagram account, Pauleen Luna Sotto and Luna had hinted introduced her daughter with husband Vic that their baby’s name would Sotto.

Photo from Instagram/@pauleenlunasotto begin with a “t” during a baby

SERVICES

shower.

Dad Vic joked that they would name her Prima, short for “premature.”

Talitha came three weeks ahead of schedule, according to a report from the Philippine Entertainment Portal.

Luna had to undergo an emergency caesarean section on Nov. 6. Sotto, who is also called Bossing, said it was a happy surprise to welcome their “bouncing baby girl” earlier than expected.

november 10-16, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

Meeting with Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi: Journey to the Himalayas; Next Visit: Iran

by Jose

C. de VeneCia, Jr.

e were travelling most W of last month to Myanmar (which we, the older ones, still remember as Burma), to the Kingdom of Bhutan, high on the Himalayas; Dubai, the small bustling air travel and trading center of the United Arab emirates, home to hundreds of thousands of Filipino overseas workers; and on to Iran, which everyone knows as the seat of the old Persian empire, and which today is one of the leading petroleum powers, with Saudi Arabia, Russia and the U.S. From Yangon, the old capital, my wife, Gina and I travelled to the geographic center of the nation, Naypyidaw, the newly proclaimed capital. We were fortunate that inspite of the raging Rohingya crisis, where today some 500,000 Muslims, who had been living in Myanmar for decades, were fleeing the endangered region to their ancestral Bangladesh, to escape persecution from the Myanmar military, Aung San Suu Kyi found time to receive us.

We conferred with Myanmar’s constitutional senior government leader, an intelligent no nonsense lady, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and much admired all over the world.

In the last national elections, Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, National League for Democracy (NLD), won overwhelming majority of the seats in parliament, inspite of many years under house arrest, but she could not be president under the terms of a military-influenced technicality in the Constitution because her late husband was British.

Today the senior leader in the Cabinet and largely running the country, she nominated the incumbent President and most cabinet posts, but the powerful ministries, defense and security are still held by the generals.

Accompanied by our old friends, Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar eduardo Kapunan, Jr. and wife elsa, we asked Aung San Suu Kyi, (who received us three years ago at her residence in Yangon, in the course of an Asian parties conference), to nominate her party’s senior representatives to join the Boards of our International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), based in Seoul, now composed of more than 340 ruling, opposition and independent political parties in Asia, and the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), based in New York, to which she enthusiastically agreed. This week we are sending her ICAPP’s and IAPP’s written invitations so she and her party would pres-

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi receives and holds talk with Hon. Jose de Venecia, Former Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives and Special Envoy to President Rodrigo Duterte to the APEC and Intercultural Dialogue, accompanied by wife, Former Congresswoman Gina de Venecia and Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar Ed Kapunan.

ent their nominees.

With Ambassador Kapunan, we also raised the possibility of the Philippines acquiring perhaps 25,000 to 50,000 hectares of potential rice fields in Myanmar for a possible government-to-government joint venture or an agreement among the Philippine private sector in partnership with Myanmar, hopefully with the bulk of rice production, following anticipated successful rice growing and shipment to the Philippines. The Philippines has been importing rice from Thailand and Vietnam in large volumes, as far we could remember, even when we were first assigned to Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) as Minister – economic Counselor there in 1966-1969 when we were 30, at the height of the Vietnam War. Today Vietnam is one of the world’s major rice exporters, is industrializing and doing well.

Our friend Aung San Suu Kyi expressed much interest in the potential of Myanmar – Philippine economic collaboration and she asked our Ambassador to immediately confer with her Minister of Agriculture. Upon return to Manila, we suggested to San Miguel Corporation Chairman eduardo Cojuangco, a confirmed, successful, largescale agriculturist, and San Miguel’s dynamic President Ramon Ang and other leading agricultural-industrial groups to perhaps co-lead a Philippine private sector effort in a consortium that could present a helpful solution to the Philippines’ perpetual rice crisis, with the current massive rice imports every year, largely from Vietnam and Thailand.

The Philippines is fragmented with 7,100 islands while Myanmar’s land is massive, contiguous, perhaps larger

than France and Ireland combined, and connected to Asia’s two largest countries, China and India, the latter via Bangladesh. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma used to be ruled by the english Viceroy in British India. President Rodrigo Duterte might consider asking our capable Agriculture Secretary Piñol to look into this potential initiative in Myanmar.

We also asked the popular Ambassador and former Armed Forces reformist to raise the possibility of joint Philippine-Myanmar exploration in Myanmar’s rich oil-producing petroleum exploration concessions and explore establishment of an ASeAN-supported or Filipino-led export Processing Zone with a petrochemical complex, as part of a combined Agricultural – Industrial initiative. We should be awaiting some feedback.

On the Rohingya crisis, we suggested the U.N. and ASeAN might propose an appreciable International Red Cross deployment in the Rakhine region, which will help, not inflame the refugees, and not alarm the Myanmar military.

From Myanmar, we flew back to Bangkok as there is no direct flight in the journey to the Kingdom of Bhutan, high on the mountain ranges, next door to Nepal. In the Himalayas, the Nepalese King sometime back was forced to abdicate the throne and gave way to an elected democratic civilian government, while the other Himalayan state Sikkim chose to give up its sovereignty and joined the State of India.

We have been to the Himalayas a few times. In Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, the ruling Hindu Party and the Marxist Communist Party have their representatives on our Board

in ICAPP. In Bhutan’s Himalayan mountains we were hoping to check into the Chinese-Indian military stand-off but by the time we reached the capital, the crisis had calmed down, the forces in the highest hills had disengaged.

The well-loved Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Prime Minister were out of town but we had a delicious luncheon and good conversation with Bhutan’s Chief Justice, Dasho Tshering Wangchuck, Foreign Minister Damcho Dorji, Acting Speaker of Parliament Zigme Zangpo, and others, hosted by Bhutan’s former Ambassador to Thailand and Bangladesh, Tsherung Dorji and his lady, who were introduced to us by former Thai Minister Nalinee Taveesin, Gina’s friend, and our current ICAPP representative at the first Asia-europe Political Forum, which met recently in Seoul, and which will now meet yearly among Asian and european political party leaders.

(We collectively set the trend a few years earlier with our bringing together Latin America’s and the Caribbean’s political parties under their regional organization, COPPPAL, with our ICAPP, followed by our successful encouragement of the founding of the Council of African Political Parties (CAPP), based in Khartoum, which is now a reality).

The Bhutanese leaders indicated their people are not living in paradise but are happy with God and with the world; their land has never been conquered; they live in a happy Kingdom, and national success is not measured in Gross National Product (GNP) but in Gross National Happiness (GNH). Our tourists should consider a visit there.

Victories, Colossal Defeats, and Victories in the Middle East

by Jose

C. de VeneCia, Jr.

FROM MYANMAR, Thailand and the Kingdom of Bhutan in the Himalayas, we returned to Manila, rested for a few days, and then we journeyed on to Dubai, commercial and aviation center of the United Arab emirates (UAe), whose capital is the oil-rich and largest emirate, Abu Dhabi.

With much nostalgia, our son, Jose de Venecia III, today Honorary Consul of Azerbaijan, was with us together with our parliamentary assistant of many years, Aldwin Requejo. Joey III had his first exposure to the Arab world in the mid 1970s at age 16 as an apprentice in our company in Kuwait and Iraq.

Shortly before our next flight to Tehran, seat of the ancient Persian empire, we briefly motored to Ajman, the smallest emirate in the UAe. The other emirates are of course oilrich Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujerah on the coast of the Persian Gulf (Arab Gulf to the Arabs), between Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The desert sands had long enveloped the exploratory oil well we drilled in the mid1970s in Ajman, on the coast, whose population today is listed at 372, 923, living in some 250 square kilometres of largely flat land. Our two Philippine oil exploration companies then, Basic Petroleum and Landoil, were the first pioneering Filipino companies to venture in the Arab world. At that time, we won in tough international bidding as prime contractor in operating the Port of Jeddah, with our joint-venture, Philippine-Singapore Ports Corporation (Philsinports) at the helm

with multi-national executives and 3,500 Filipino port workers on the Red Sea, and opened and operated as well the Port of Jubail, also on the Gulf facing Iran not too far from Ras Tanura, seat of Saudi Arabia’s richest oil fields in Arabia’s eastern region, peopled largely by Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims. We operated Jubail with another set of executives and some 800 port workers, closer to Kuwait and the Shatt Al Arab en route to the Iraqi frontier, where as in Jeddah, we built our executive offices and mass housing.

We were perhaps the largest pioneering Southeast Asian companies in the Middle east at the time, as prime contractors, with our own equipment, management team and work force, not labor recruiters. On the Ajman project, we brought from Manila by sea-freight a heavy U.S.-built oil-drilling rig, and our capable drilling superintendent was the respected white-haired Mario Nieto, who was then Vice-President and General Manager of PODCO. Our brother Oscar de Venecia, president of Basic Petroleum, literally borrowed Mario from old man Andres Soriano’s oil company PODCO on “lendlease.” We also engaged the American Dr. Francis Gibson, who was a celebrated geologist of the then U.S.-owned Iraqi Oil Company, which was responsible at the time for some of the big oilfield discoveries in Iraq. Thus us Filipinos, we were ready, drilled and co-financed with Arab entrepreneurs the first-ever Filipino and Asian-Arab oil wells in Ajman as prime contractor and risk-taker (not sub-contractor), in this poorest emirate of the UAe. Our other key executives

in the field were the late Luis Catubig, the late Mario Uson, Ambrosio “Boy” Collado and Gus Macam of Pangasinan and of Basic/Landoil, and Jess Galang, of Pampanga, who later moved to Dubai and is today a successful entrepreneur there.

After a few weeks, at perhaps 3,000 to 4,000 feet depth, our memory does not remember the exact depth, we hit good guzzling crude, and soon the entire Filipino-Arab-American drilling crew were screaming with joy and drenched in oil as in the old Texas movie, the “Giant”.

But as fate would have it, when we hit black gold, the price of crude worldwide was at $38 per barrel, the highest at the time, and we were jumping with joy and imbibing prohibited Champagne. Soon after a few weeks, however, the price began to slide to $30 per barrel, and before we knew it, plunged to $20, then $15, and then settled at the bottom, at $8 per barrel. All of us were sobbing as if our desert had become one large funeral parlor.

We closed down the rig and we shipped it home together with our much disappointed drilling crew. everywhere in the Arab world, in Iran, North Africa, the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Russia, Central Asia, Australia, the Philippines, even with its tiny petroleum production, which our companies, Basic and Landoil, and partners Oriental, Philodrill, and the U.S. Cities Service, co-produced, the price of petroleum had crashed. There was a time, it had soared to some $120 per barrel and the Arabs were kings but slowly, inexorably

the price declined to below $50 per barrel and today it is in that neighbourhood. We are almost 81 now, and have not been following, like a dedicated stock broker, the rise and fall of crude.

Our tragedy in Ajman was only the beginning. In a couple of weeks, our declining 3,500 Filipino workforce, under our Group companies, building houses, roads and hundreds of kilometers of electricity grid in Iraq and adjoining Kuwait were hit hard. The worst was those in Iraq, on the frontlines of Basrah on the Saudi-Iraqi border, which by then was being hit by Iranian artillery, with the unexpected outbreak of the Iran-Iraq war. We thought the war would end a few months, but actually lasted almost 10 years up to the late 1980’s.

Iraq’s dictator Saddam Hussein was telling all foreign companies and ourselves that Iraq was already running out of foreign exchange. Most foreign and Arab companies in Iraq and nearby Arab states, with the severe oil price crisis and the Middle east wars, were then being driven close to bankruptcy and began evacuating hundreds/thousands of their workforces to their respective countries. Our great triumphs in the Gulf region had turned to great defeats and we began “folding up our tents,” packing up and sent thousands of our people home and many of us entrepreneurs were in tears and driven to near bankruptcy.

In our case, the price of oil had not only fallen in the entire Arab world and our construction and operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts have been greatly slashed or came to a halt. Worse, we

5

On Eve of APEC/ ASEAN Talks, A Proposal for a Joint Mission to North Korea TEHRAN, Nov. 4 - - Former Philippine Speaker Jose de Venecia, the Philippines’ Special envoy for APeC and Inter-Cultural Dialogue, proposed today a “small composite team of APeC and ASeAN” to journey to Pyongyang to begin to negotiate “a peace that will hopefully endure in the Korean Peninsula.”

He said the 21-member Asia Pacific economic Cooperation (APeC) and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASeAN) are meeting one after the other, back-to-back, in Vietnam (November 8-11) and in the Philippines (November 10-14) for their annual Leaders Meetings. He added their leaders could quietly explore in the next two weeks the idea of sending a joint peace mission to the North Korean capital.

He pointed out Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte hopes a new tack could ease the continuous exchange of accusations in the Peninsula and lead to opportunities for the difficult peace.

De Venecia said he envisioned inter-Korean talks could be at senior or mid-levels, representing perhaps not more than seven parties including key APeC members, U.S., China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, a representative of ASeAN, and North Korea; progress could be “publicized or unpublicized” with a recess on the eve of the Christmas holidays, and the talks could target preliminary understanding by early next year.

He pointed out there should be a timetable otherwise the talks could be endless as in the old Panmunjom talks. However, while the 1950-1953 South-North Korean conflict ended, “a technical state of war persists until now, with both sides not signing a formal peace treaty,” he said.

Today there is continuous, recurrent threat of hostilities, even nuclear war, since North Korea has already developed nuclear weapons with a missile delivery system.

De Venecia said he hoped a meeting of the two Koreas, with nominees from APeC and ASeAN in attendance, could lead to an “eventual peaceful ASeAN Plus 4 configuration.” This would add North Korea (the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) to the current ASeAN Plus 3, which includes the 10 ASeAN nations plus China, Japan, and South Korea until at some point, in the future, perhaps the two Koreas could consider a “unification” or “confederation.”

De Venecia pointed out as a first stage ‘Confederation” is easier to promote, ahead of eventual unification.

De Venecia, who is founding Chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), counts North Korea’s Korean Workers Party as one of ICAPP’s more than 300 ruling, opposition and independent parties as members. Also, as Co-Chairman of the International Association of Parliamentarians

for Peace (IAPP), he also plans to invite the North Korean Parliament to nominate delegates to the IAPP. Looking back at recent history, de Venecia said for decades since the 1950s observers said the two Germanies and the two Vietnams could never unite but unforeseen, unnegotiated geo-political circumstances eventually proved everyone wrong, resulting finally today in a strong, prosperous united Germany and a flourishing united Vietnam.

As then head of the Philippine Congress’ foreign relations committee, he journeyed to Pyongyang in 1990 and with North Korea’s founder then President Kim Il-Sung, grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-Un, finalized North Korean-Philippine diplomatic relations and dispelled as well North Korea’s rumored assistance to the Philippine New People’s Army.

At the time, in Kim Il Sung’s mountain retreat, de Venecia pointedly asked the North Korean leader if there was truth to speculations that he planned to attack South Korea, he replied: “If we attack the South, the South will be destroyed. But we in the North will also be destroyed.”

After a few weeks, on de Venecia’s invitation, North Korean Deputy Premier Kim Dahl-Hyun flew to Manila to finalize agreement on formal diplomatic relations with then Philippine President Corazon Aquino’s Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus. After about a year, Japan’s LDP leader Kanemaru journeyed to Pyongyang, followed later by then former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

De Venecia said he hopes ICAPP and IAPP could contribute even modest efforts to a North-South inter-Korean peace process.He disclosed one of the founders of IAPP and the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), Madame Hak Ja Han Moon and her late husband Dr. Sun Myung Moon, donated a much-appreciated hotel and automobile factory in Pyongyang to the North Korean government. He added a small team of IAPP headed by former Nepal Premier Madhav Nepal and former Minister of Peace and Reconstruction ek Nath Dakhal recently visited Pyongyang and had constructive talks with the North Korean Workers Party.

De Venecia has asked UPF President Thomas Walsh, IAPP Co-Chairman Dan Burton, Washington Times Publisher Thomas McDevitt, and Ambassador Joseph de Trani, former U.S. envoy to the Six-Nation Party Talks on North Korea, to organize a peace mission to Pyongyang, which he earlier discovered with UPF President Walsh.

NOTE: (Tehran, Nov. 4 - Former Speaker Jose de Venecia is on a visit to Iran to promote InterCultural Dialogue and to pursue a project for a Petrochemicals Complex in his home province of Pangasinan and Northern Luzon.)

were also caught and trapped by the Iraq-Iran war, and we then phased out our offices in Basrah, Baghdad, Kuwait, Bahrain, Ajman, Riyadh and Jeddah, and head office in London, and also closed our smaller construction, agriculture and health-based operations in Libya, also hit hard by the oil crisis.

Our triumphs in the Arab world were now turning to tragedy. Our then Vice-President for Finance Rudy de Lara, a graduate of the SGV executive group, reports that up till today, we have not been paid by Iraq since 1981, 37 years ago, since Iraq, formerly known as Babylon or Mesopotamia, had faced war, after war, after war up to today. Saddam Hussein tried invade Iran and was driven back by the Iranians, also invaded Kuwait, and was ousted by the Americans in the second Gulf War. Our most expensive war-risk $50-million insurance policy which we acquired from Lloyds of London and the U.S. insurance companies, turned out to be only “contracts that enabled us to sue and which did not insure immediate payment.”

Thank God, after almost two years, with legal battles in London and New York, and with the help of the great U.S. law firm White and Case, which took our case on a rare “contingency basis,” (which illustrated the high merits of our case, and with the help of european investment bank, Lazard Frere) we won our case, and we thus were able to pay back all of the thousands of our employees back home. In London, New York, and Manila after the legal judgments, we were shouting like Arabs “Allahu Akbar,

Allahu Akbar!”, indeed “God is great, God is great!” with bottles of champagne.

Yes, we were the pioneers in the Middle east and our own companies employed some 51,000 Filipino executives, technicians and healthcare specialists over the yeas at the time as prime contractors or consortium partners and we were proud to say that we set the stage for the later millions of Filipinos who followed and streamed into the Gulf region, and then later many sailed into the Suez Canal and into Greece, Spain, Italy and thence to england and Northern europe. Today the OCWs, reminiscent of the first Filipino workers in Hawaii and Alaska in the 1900s, and Filipino expatriate community total more than 10 million, almost 10% of the Philippine population.

When we began in the Middle east and earlier in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, the total Philippine dollar reserves were somewhere at $200-million to $300-million. When we later designed and started the historic Philippine dollar remittance program, which totally wiped out the Philippine black-market and became a model for many “Third World” nations, and which netted us many government decorations, the national reserves went up pile after pile, through the dark years of martial law, through the various coup attempts, and through various administrations, the reserves today stand at some $80-billion, propped up by more than $25-billion every year from our foreign offshore, largely labor remittances to the Central Bank.

november 10-16, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

6

Whatever happened to ‘happily ever after’

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

“Suicide, contrary to the lyrics of a popular song, is never painless.”

Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Part 2 of 3)

FOR years, there has been an onslaught of terrifying events from just about everywhere, facilitated by the startling phenomenon of social media and the ease of anything going viral and trending through the internet. Social media, like any other invention during modern times, has become a double-edged tool. It can be used

for good or ill, depending on the user and his motivation.

Against this gloomy global backdrop, what is good and true appear to be defenseless against unseen forces that doom personal struggles: relationship problems, self-esteem issues, financial problems, addictions, physical and mental illnesses and other ills

Calendar of Events across

too many to mention.

The result — there seems to be far too many lonely, alienated people these days. The suicidal stage is the most dreaded period of such a state of mind, when intense loneliness descends to a deep vortex of hopelessness and darkness. Suicide signals the end of a futile human struggle.

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS N OV E M B E R 1 1

Diva 2 Diva concert in Pasadena, CA The Philippines’ Pop Diva, Kuh Ledesma, and the Divine Diva, Zsa Zsa Padilla, are back in Southern California with DIVA 2 DIVA on Saturday, November 11! They will be joined with comediennes Nanette Inventor and Mitch Valdez. The show will begin at 7 p.m. at the “PazNaz” First Church of the Nazarene (3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena, California).

For tickets, you may purchase them online at diva2diva2.eventbrite.com or you may call Henry at (818) 612 4500 for more details.

Veterans Day Celebration in San Pedro, CA On Saturday, November 11 (Veterans Day), Philippine Expressions Bookshop is hosting “An Evening of Remembrance” to honor both fallen and surviving U.S. and Filipino war veterans. The event — which is 5 to 7:30 p.m. — is free and open to the public. Seats are limited so RSVP is necessary by emailing to linda@philbooks.us or calling (310) 548-8148. At 5 p.m. there will be a book talk and signing, launching of a two-volume comix on World War II written by military historian Jay Wertz and illustrated by Ed Jimenez. At 6 p.m., there will be a documentary screening of “Manila 1945: The Forgotten Atrocities.” Philippine Expressions Bookshop is located at 479 W. 6th St., San Pedro, CA 90731.

N OV E M B E R 1 7

Search to Involve Pilipino Americans’ 45th anniversary awards & benefit dinner in Los Angeles Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) will have its 45th annual anniversary awards and benefit dinner entitled “Embrace. Empower. Evolve.” The dinner will take place on Friday, November 17 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel at 6 p.m. All proceeds will go towards the organization’s health & human services, community economic development and education programs. Tickets may be purchased online at sipa.ticketsocket.com.

N OV E M B E R 29

13th annual mayor’s luncheon in Woodland Hills, CA The United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley presents the 13th annual mayor’s luncheon with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday, November 29 at the Warner Center Marriott - Grand Ballroom (21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367).

Registration opens at 11 a.m. and the program is from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will be complimentary self-parking, while valet is $16. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, please call (818) 981-4491 or email marian@unitedchambers.org.

N OV E M B E R 3 0

Immigration forum in Anaheim, CA Global Law Centers in association with Civicminds Recruitment presents an immigration forum on Thursday, November 30 at the Brookhurst Community Center (2271 Crescent Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801). Candidates and employers with H-1B, TN, F-1, OPT & other visa issues are encouraged to attend this FREE Q&A session from 6 to 8 p.m. Civicminds Recruitment will offer tips on how to find employers for green card and work visas after graduation, job placement assistance for qualified applicants and free resume evaluation. To register, please email admin@globallawcenters.com or call (714) 657-7460. For more information, please visit www.globallawcenters.com.

D EC E M B E R 1

Historic Filipinotown parol parade and festival in Los Angeles The Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council (HFNC) announced that the annual parade and festival will be on Friday, December 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will start with the assembly of parols and vehicles at 250 N. Union St. at the Our Lady of Lorreto Catholic Church courtyard. The parade will start at 5 p.m. and will go westward from Union to Beverly, and will eventually end up at the FCC/FACLA compound at 1740 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90026. The HFNC is calling for volunteers who will serve as security, ushers, for registration and monitors for the parade. To volunteer, please call Art at (213)318-9065.

For more information, please contact Cecile at (213) 503-8176.

D EC E M B E R 2

Pasko Na Naman in Glendale, CA The Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups will sponsor a fundraiser entitled “Pasko Na Naman 2” on Saturday, December 2 at the Glendale Civic Auditorium (1401 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA 91208) starting at 4 p.m. The presentation’s theme is Salo-salo at Pagdiriwang” which means “getting together joyfully.” The show will provide a glimpse on how Filipinos celebrate Christmas in the Philippines, which will be depicted through choral singing and folk dancing. The performers are Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, St. Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Choir, Monique Magpayo and Kurt Winterhalter. Benefactors of proceeds include but are not limited to: Channel of Charity, Filipino Priests Association of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, feeding programs and FFRG faith formation events. Come one! Come All! Feel the scents and sights of Filipino Christmas. The audience will also enjoy “merienda cena” during the intermission. Ticket donation is $45.00 per person. For souvenir ad and ticket information, please contact Tess Domingo at (909) 855-2208 or Carol Evangelista at (909) 969-3316.

D EC E M B E R 3

Arnel Pineda in Los Angeles Arnel Pineda, the lead singer of the internationally acclaimed rock band JOURNEY, will be in Los Angeles on Sunday, December 3 at the famed Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. The show begins at 6 p.m. VIP ticket ($200) includes CD, concert tour shirt, meet & greet. Other ticket prices are $150, $100, $75 or $50. For sponsorship and tickets, please call or text: Trini Foliente at (626) 818-7147; Cora Soriano at (213) 999-1993 or Andy Tecson at (323) 467-5096.

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

There is available help — a sliver of hope. Psychotherapy and the safe and judicious use of antidepressants can help keep deep depression at bay. But that is all it does — keep it at bay. One cannot help but think that there has to be a better way when an alarming percentage of those who take antidepressants still throw in the towel and end it all.

In simpler times, if you can call and label adversity by name, you can figure out simple ways of defeating it. Yet now because of the complexity of the world we live in, we don’t call people lonely. We call them depressed.

They are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, paranoia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a whole dizzying lexicon of mental diseases.

Two thousand years ago, our ancestors called the whole gamut of mental diseases and bizarre behavior, possession by the devil.

One is no longer in charge of one’s soul but has been overpowered by a sinister, evil force. The soul is its habitat.

Pope Francis, fully aware and deeply concerned about what is going on in the spiritual realm in today’s world, has ordained exorcism official Catholic practice. There are only a few of these exorcists among the dwindling number of clergy. Pray unceasingly that God sends to everywhere around the world more of this class of holy spiritual soldiers in the tradition of Michael the Archangel who defeated Satan.

The greatest lie perpetrated

Health@Heart

by the devil during modern times is to make people believe that evil does not exist. It does. People lulled by a false sense of security in believing they are not in the sights of that sinister, unseen force, have become like the dodo—fat sitting ducks for evil—unwary and often caught off guard when tested.

The dodo is gone because it did not recognize the predators that wanted to kill it. In the spiritual realm, it has always been the battle for the human soul — good versus evil. The battle is raging. Sadly, many are none the wiser. Remember though that hope springs eternal and the tide always turns in God’s perfect timing.

The beheadings, stonings and widespread Christian persecution in the Middle East and Africa by radical elements of Islam in recent years, and in the home front of western civilization, the pervasive liberalism that mocks Christian morality and values by touting political correctness, the world is yanked back to 1 AD all over again.

This is history repeating itself — a throwback to two thousand years ago when the blood of martyrs flowed, and Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

This is the present social and cultural canvass that engenders hopelessness and darkness in the souls of many individuals today.

There are far too many news of suicide these days and its horrible spawn, murder-suicide.

Consider the case of that deranged, suicidal Germanwings pilot who planned and deliberately slammed a planeload

of passengers against an Alpine mountain, causing the death of 149 people.

Who can forget about that despondent Malaysian Airlines pilot who may have caused the death of others by murdersuicide? After 17 months of fruitless searches, debris of the ill-fated MH 370 have been recovered on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean close to Mauritius and Madagascar, perhaps dragged by ocean currents from where it crashed on March 08, 2014 killing 239 people onboard. To this day, this tragic incident continues to be shrouded in mystery.

And then there are the twisted beliefs of suicide bombers seeking martyrdom. They think they will go to paradise and be rewarded with seventy-two virgins for their atrocity. There are religious leaders intolerant of other beliefs, who incite their followers to eradicate Christians and Christian nations.

Who can explain evil incarnate?

There is news of suicide that hits you harder because you personally know the person who took his own life. By all accounts, he has led a good life but unknown to all, was going through overwhelming personal struggles, quietly wallowing in darkness and despair never wanting to cause a ripple and simply gave up.

(Conclusion in next week’s issue…) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Medical journal updates

physician if this is right for you. *** The American Journal of PhiliP S. ChuA, Clinical Nutrition reported that, Md, FACS, FPCS “probiotic yogurt —Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium containing TODAY, about 1.25 billion yogurt (AB-yogurt) — enhances people smoke cigarettes, and the effectiveness of quadruple one billion deaths from tobaccotherapy for eradicating residual related illness are expected, ten Helicobacter pylori (stomach) times more compared to the toll infection.” This bug is the cause in the 20th century. The deadly of gastric ulcers, which used to habit accounts for one in five (or be treated with surgery, but since 1.4 million) cancer deaths all over the discovery that it is caused by the world annually. Each year Helicobacter pylori, it is now a around the world, 10.9 million disease, treated with pills. A big tobacco-related cancer of the boon to better quality evidencelungs are diagnosed. This does not even include other pulmonary, based patient care. *** gynecological and cardiovascular Exercise-induced muscle disabilities and death tolls as a damage, which happens to most consequence of smoking. athletes, can be minimized to a “We know with cancer, if we great extent by drinking tart cherry take action now, we can save juice, reports the British Journal of 2 million lives a year by 2020 Sports Medicine. For those who and 6.5 million by 2040,” said Dr. exercise at home, drinking tart Judith Mackay, a World Health cherry juice will certainly not hurt.

Organization (WHO) senior policy This is, indeed, a welcome new to adviser. those who exercise. *** *** New studies have shown Soft drinks, which I call liquid that even light activities in and candies, are toxic to the body, around the house, like mundane endeavors of daily living (climbing especially to children. All of them stairs, cleaning the house, cooking, — cola or uncola, regular or diet, caffeinated of decaffeinated running after the kids, garden — increase the risk for metabolic work, etc.) help prolong life. diseases. The harm to our body Especially the ones that make does not manifest immediately— you perspire. Of course, daily it takes years to develop. By then, regimented exercises will do a the damages would have been lot more. But simple household done. Prevention is obviously the chores have a positive health key. effect on longevity as well. *** “Elderly couch potatoes were To prevent cardiovascular much more likely to die within illnesses, metabolic diseases and about six years than those whose cancer, diet alone is not enough. lives included regular activity no Daily exercise, abstinence from more strenuous than washing tobacco and moderation in dishes, vacuuming, gardening alcohol intake are a must. The and climbing stairs,” according to American Heart Association has the study of adults aged 72 to 80 revised its former decades-old published in the Journal of the recommendation that stressed American Medical Association. mainly healthy diet as the regimen *** to prevent these illnesses.

Macular degeneration, the “The previous leading cause of blindness in old recommendations mainly stressed age can be prevented by eating a the importance of a healthy diet; diet rich in fish, according to two new studies in the U.S. Archives of the new (revised) ones broaden that concept to include the Ophthalmology. Omega-3 fatty importance of a healthy lifestyle acids (fish oil) abundant in fish pattern,” lead author and chair of are already proven to protect the heart and the brain, to reduce the the AHA’s Nutrition Committee Alice Lichtenstein, DSc, from Tufts risk of developing heart attack, University in Boston, said in a news stroke and Alzheimer’s. release. “The two go together “A study of 681 elderly American men showed that those — they should be inseparable.”

A simple walk around the who ate fish twice a week had a block (or brisk-walking if tolerated) 36 percent lower risk of macular degeneration…In the other study, for about 30 minutes does wonders to our cardiovascular, which followed 2,335 Australian pulmonary, and immune systems, men and women over five years, warding off not only metabolic people who ate fish just once diseases but also deadly cancers. a week reduced their risk by 40 Warning: Processed foods percent,” according to the report. increase the risk for cancer and The American study also revealed cardiovascular diseases. Sample that smokers double their risk of developing macular degeneration of these are hot dogs, sausages and other deli meats, and other and blindness. Those who do not food items that have gone though like fish may take good quality processing. Fresh is better and fish oil capsules. Check with your

healthier than processed food items.

The AHA 2006 detailed recommendations are as follows: Consume an overall healthy diet.

To maintain a healthy body weight, balance calories consumed with calories burned.

Increase awareness of calorie content of foods for portions typically consumed and of daily caloric requirements.

Set a goal of at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily.

Consume a diet rich in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables (not fruit juices), especially those that are deeply colored (spinach, carrots, peaches, and berries).

Prepare fruits and vegetables, minimizing saturated fats from red meats and transfats.

Choose nuts and high-fiber foods.

Consume 2 servings of fish, especially those relatively high in omega-3 fatty-acids (salmon, trout, and herring) at least twice weekly.

Children and pregnant women should follow Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for avoiding mercurycontaminated fish (shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish).

Limit intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol by choosing lean meats, vegetable alternatives, and fat-free (skim) and low-fat (1 percent fat) dairy products and minimize intake of partially hydrogenated fats.

Minimize intake of beverages and foods with added sugars.

To consume NO more than 2300 mg of sodium daily, choose and prepare foods with little or no salt. Middle-aged and older adults, African Americans, and those with hypertension should consume no more than 1500 mg of sodium daily.

Limit alcohol intake to not more than 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men (1 drink = 12 oz of beer, 4 oz of wine, 1.5 oz of 80-proof distilled spirits, or 1 oz of 100-proof spirits).

When eating out, be aware of portion size; select vegetables and fruits; and avoid foods prepared with added saturated or trans fat, salt, and sugar. Eating fruits first before the meal is better than eating them after the meal for physiologic reason. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States.

Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

november 10-16, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

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november 10-16, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

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