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N O VEM BER 22-28, 2019 Volume 13 - No. 3 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

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Duterte: No rice imports during harvest time

by BEN DE VERA, DELFIN MALLARI JR., JULIE AURELIO Inquirer.net

PRESIDENT Duterte has ordered Agriculture Secretary William Dar to suspend the importation of rice until the end of the Filipino farmers’ harvest season and to buy palay from them.

He did not say, however, when the suspension would take effect, or how long it would last.

The president issued the directive as local farmers bewailed the sharp drop in palay prices, which they blamed on the rice tariffication law that lifted quantitative import restrictions.

They have been complaining of low farmgate Agriculture Secretary William Dar

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PNA photo by Ben Briones

USA

DATELINE China still least trusted country among Filipinos FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

US keeps excellent rating CHINA remains to be the least trusted country among Filipinos, plunging lower with a net trust rating of -33, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results released on Wednesday, November 20.

According to the polling firm, China’s -33 rating obtained this September 2019, which translates to “bad,” is nine points lower than the -24 score last June. This is the second lowest score since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in June 2016.

This was despite warmer relations between the two countries under Duterte’s independent foreign policy.

Meanwhile, the United States remains to be the most trusted country, obtaining a +72 score or “excellent.” The U.S. is followed by Australia (+37), Japan (+35), Singapore (+26), and Vietnam (0).

SWS said the survey was conducted from September 27 to 30, using face-to-face interviews with 1,800 adults, segregated into 600

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NEW EQUIPMENT. President Rodrigo Duterte inspects some of the equipment exhibited during the 80th anniversary of the Department of National Defense at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday, November 20.

Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

What’s the problem with Robredo Palace blasts Sanders getting HVT list? She’s the VP, Lacson says on human rights issue

by KRISSY

AGUILAR Inquirer.net

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo is entitled to get the data on high-value targets (HVT) in the administration’s war against illegal drugs even if she was not appointed as co-chair of Inter-agency Committee on AntiIllegal Drugs (ICAD), as she is the secondhighest official of the country, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Thursday, November 21.

Lacson stressed Robredo should have the

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Sen. Panfilo Lacson

Inquirer.net photo

MALACAÑANG on Sunday, November 17, lambasted U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders for accusing the Duterte administration of committing “abhorrent” human rights abuses against workers.

In a tweet posted on Friday, November 15, Sanders, a self-described socialist who is seeking nomination as presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, criti-

cized the Philippines’ alleged crackdown on workers, calling it “a shameful attempt to silence people’s rights and freedoms.”

Sanders shared a statement by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) condemning what it described as “a new wave of police repression of Philippine trade unionists” and

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Robredo says her work continues even without Cabinet rank

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

VICE President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, November 19, said her work continues as the administration’s anti-drug czar despite not being a Cabinet member.

Her statement came following President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement he was not allowing Robredo to join his Cabinet, expressing concern over Robredo possibly disclosing sensitive information discussed during Cabinet meetings to

various groups.

Robredo, for her part, said she would continue to do her job as drug czar despite not getting the president’s trust, stressing that her focus is on getting the job done and not on squabbling with administration officials who have questioned her inclusion in the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).

“When I accepted the job, it did not matter to me whether it was of In this photo release, Vice President Leni Robredo met with members of the Naga City Cabinet rank or not. It’s full steam Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) at City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) to ask for updates

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in their initiatives in their anti-narcotics campaign.

Photo from the Office of the Vice President

November 22-28, 2019 • NeW YorK AND NeW JerSeY ASIAN JoUrNAL

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From the Front Page

Robredo says her work continues even...

PAGE 1 ahead. I began working on the first day,” said the vice president in Filipino.

Some officials are also against sharing information with Robredo since she is the leader of the opposition.

Among them include Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Ricojudge Echiverri who said Robredo might sell them out in the future, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino

who claimed it is beyond Robredo’s mandate as cochair to get hold of the list of their high-value targets.

Robredo merely shrugged off their allegations.

“It’s their problem… whatever I can do now, I will do it,” she said.

She also countered Duterte’s claim about her sharing confidential information with foreign institutions that have “prejudged” the drug war, saying the Philippine government had worked with agencies like

the United Nations and the U.S. government before.

“If they do not trust me, why designate me in the first place?” Robredo asked.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, backed up Robredo, pointing out that she has been “saying and doing the right things” as ICAD cochair.

He also urged the ICAD members to give Robredo their support “for the sake of the overall objective” of fighting drug traffickers and addiction. n

What’s the problem with Robredo getting...

PAGE 1

Lacson, who was a former basic information on the gov- chief of the Philippine Naernment’s war against illegal tional Police (PNP), added drugs and pointed out that she Robredo would be more efis entitled to receive the HVT fective in formulating polilist being the vice president of cies if she is provided more the country. information.

Robredo, as ICAD co-chair, Philippine Drug Enforceis involved in policy formula- ment Agency (PDEA) chief tion, after all, hence the need D i re c t o r G e n e ra l A a ro n to give her even the basic in- Aquino had earlier quesformation about illegal drugs, tioned the need to provide Lacson pointed out.

Robredo with such informa-

tion, saying it is well outside of their mandate as co-chairs of ICAD. But Robredo reasoned she needed the list to ensure the effective implementation of the anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Aquino, later on, backtracked on his statement and said he could provide the Vice President the list but only in a closed-door meeting.

MRT-3 REHAB. A worker checks the new rail that will be used as a replacement as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3. The MRT-3 rehabilitation is one of the 100 key projects under Build, Build, Build program of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Duterte: No rice imports during..

PAGE 1

prices for their palay since the rice tariffication law allowed the entry of cheap, imported rice.

In a hastily called press conference on Tuesday night, November 19, Duterte was asked if he would order Dar to suspend rice importation amid falling prices of palay. “Yes, because it is harvest time,” he replied.

Palay fund He said he would ask Congress to allocate funds to buy palay from farmers, even if it meant billions of pesos in losses for the government.

A national farmers’ group said Duterte’s suspension of rice imports would not enable farmers to recoup their losses.

The Kilusan Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo at Katarungang Panlipunan (Katarungan) estimated the farmer’s total losses at P140 billion this year, equivalent to P30,000 per hectare.

“The implementation of RA (Republic Act) No. 11203 has dealt a severe blow to poor Filipino farmers,” Katarungan spokesperson Jansept Geronimo said in a phone interview.

Some farmers have reportedly stopped sending their children to school due to low income, while others have been forced to borrow from loan sharks to be able to provide for their basic needs.

On Wednesday, November 20, a farmers’ alliance held a “national day of protest” against the rice tariffication law in different parts of the

country.

Geronimo and more than 70 farmers from Sariaya town in Quezon province blocked the section of Maharlika Highway in Barangay Concepcion Uno around 9 a.m.

“As expected, some affected motorists got angry, but most of them were sympathetic to us,” he said. “Some of them even encouraged us to go on with our protest.”

Duterte said the government was ready to incur P3 billion in losses from buying palay so the farmers would live.

“At whose expense? All of us. The producers and the eaters,” he said.

He said rice importation must continue soon after the harvest season ended because the produce of farmers was not enough to sustain the needs of 110 million Filipinos eating rice.

Safeguard vs corruption But he said he could not stop the implementation of the rice tariffication law, which he considered a safeguard against corruption. He was apparently referring to corruption that attended the issuance of import permits by the National Food Authority to certain groups.

Signed in February, the law allows individuals and businesses to import additional volumes of rice but requires them to pay tariffs to fund mass irrigation, warehousing and rice research to help farmers.

It sought to boost the rice supply in the country following soaring prices of the staple in 2018.

But the implementation of the law had the opposite effect as it led to plunging palay prices.

Hungry or angry Duterte reiterated his warning that Filipinos might go hungry and resort to riots if there was not enough rice in the country. “So you choose if you are in my position: the people will go hungry or the farmers will get angry?”

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia was optimistic that the President would seek the advice of his economic team on the plan to suspend rice imports.

On Tuesday, Pernia said the liberalized rice trade that resulted in lower prices had benefited the poor.

Bangko Sentral Governor Benjamin Diokno expressed confidence that a suspension of rice imports would not raise inflation.

Limit import volume Advocacy groups are calling for the imposition of special safeguard (SSG) duties to limit the volume of imported rice.

The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI), Federation of Free Farmers and Alyansa Agrikultura said imposing the duties to curb the entry of imported rice was the “legal” way to deal with the glut.

To date, about 2.9 million metric tons of rice had been imported, which, according to Sen. Cynthia Villar, “has gone beyond what is needed by the country.”

The groups recommended

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmbER 22-28, 2019

November 22-28, 2019 • NeW YorK AND NeW JerSeY ASIAN JoUrNAL

Manuel Baldemor’s Luzviminda: An Art Exhibit at the Philippine Center NEW YORK CITY – An art exhibit organized by the Philippine Center entitled “Luzviminda” featuring the works of world-renowned artist Manuel Baldemor will have its opening at the Lobby Gallery of the Philippine Center New York on November 15. Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez and Consul General Claro S. Cristobal will lead the cutting of the ribbon.

“Luzviminda” is a spectacular display of over twenty of Baldemor’s acrylic and watercolor paintings. The exhibit showcases the people, their everyday activities and celebrations from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in bright colors. Luzviminda is a portmanteau of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the names of the three major Philippine island groups.

Manuel Baldemor is a Filipino painter, sculptor, printmaker, writer and book illustrator who hails from Paete, Laguna. He studied at the University of Santo Tomas where he further honed his skills and worked for Mabini Luzviminda by Manuel Baldemor

Renowned Filipino artist Manuel Baldemor at work.

a safeguard duty of 70 percent on top of the 35 percent tariff from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to make imports more expensive.

“The benefit of SSG … is it automatically puts a cap on imports as the price of

imported rice becomes at parity with local prices, making the Filipino farmers’ rice competitive,” PCAFI said in a statement.

Bayan Muna lawmakers, meanwhile, are seeking an inquiry into the purchase and distribution by the Department of Agriculture (DA) of

for Balance Luzon and Mindanao, and 300 each for Metro Manila and Visayas.

Respondents were asked whether their trust towards a specific country was high,

slightly high, not sure, low, or very low, or whether they have no information about the said countries.

The survey was conducted months after an incident in the West Philippine Sea where

Photos by PCGNY

Philippine Consulate General in New York conducts final Consulate Saturday for 2019

Photos by PCGNY

Artist to support his financial needs as a student. Manny is best known for his paintings on various media that depict scenes in simplified geometric forms.

Baldemor is a recipient of many national and international awards. His works is known not only in the Philippines but also in other countries because UNICEF has chosen to feature his artworks design in their greeting cards.

The exhibit runs until 29 November 2019. n

P88 million worth of “defective” and “inappropriate” farm equipment.

The grain dryers with biomass furnaces and power generators were supposedly bought by the DA in order to help Filipino farmers cushion the impact of the rice tariffication law. n

China still least trusted country among...

PAGE 1

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Oath Taking of dual citizenship applicants during the 4th Consulate Saturday

Duterte: No rice imports during...

PAGE 2

Dateline USa

a local fishing boat sank after a collision with a Chinese vessel. The 22 male crew of the fishing boat were left at sea and were eventually rescued by a Vietnamese ship. (Gabriel Pabico Lalu/Inquirer.net)

NEW YORK CITY – The Philippine Consulate General in New York conducted its last Consulate Saturday of 2019 November 9. 75 Filipinos from all over the Consulate’s jurisdiction availed themselves of the services offered by the Consulate, ranging from passports to notarial and legalization services to dual citizenship and civil registration.

Many of the clients expressed their appreciation to the Consulate for being open on a weekend, as they would otherwise take a weekday off to do their transactions. Some had travelled from outside of the tri-state area, taking advantage of the weekend schedule to apply for the Consulate’s services.

The Philippine Consulate General in New York began its Consulate Saturday in 2017, in recognition of the fact that many Filipinos had been requesting for weekend

Passport Applicants waiting for their applications to be processed.

service, as they could not take time out from critical weekday responsibilities.

Since the introduction of the Consulate Saturdays, Filipino community members have integrated them into their

schedules, and have planned their visits to New York City accordingly.

The Consulate Saturdays are held quarterly, with earlier episodes held in February, May and August. n

Palace blasts Sanders on human rights...

PAGE 1 called for global support on human rights.

The ITUC statement decried the Philippine authorities’ operations against suspected communists in Bacolod City on October 31.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Sanders is just “grandstanding on an issue he obviously does not know the details of.”

He also accused the senator of “meddling” in Philippine affairs.

“What we find abhorrent is that Senator Bernie Sanders and the ITUC refuse to closely look at the facts at hand, and instead choose to make blanket statements that the Philippine government supposedly

violates human rights,” Andanar said in a statement.

“We urge all observers and critics to check their facts as some may fall victim to the lies peddled by communist terrorists — terrorists that have humanitarian organization fronts seeking funding from other legitimate international institutions, only to be used for violence,” he added.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Sanders’ remark was a baseless allegation.

“I think it’s a shameful attempt also on his (Sanders) part to provide information that he did not validate. He was just repeating the things that critics are saying and are being peddled by foreign news agencies,” Panelo said

in a radio interview.

Andanar said no one was hurt during the operations against the suspected rebels in Bacolod.

“Authorities did not act rashly in any way and actually gathered actionable intel before conducting the raids on the offices of the organizations,” he said.

“While there were several civilians captured, they were immediately released days after the operations. Hence, the supposed ‘government abuse’ that Sanders and the ITUC claim is already false,” he added.

Andanar said stringent measures were undertaken during operations to prevent armed clashes with the communists. (Alexis Romero/Phil-

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 22-28, 2019

OPINION

FEATURES

Clarify her role PROBABLY because no one expected her to accept the offer, the powers and functions of the new anti-drug czar remain unclear. And because the powers and functions have not been clearly delineated, the co-chairs of the Inter-Agency Committee Against Illegal Drugs are groping their way along, with tension appearing to develop between ICAD members and their new boss, Vice President Leni Robredo.

While the executive order released by Malacañang designated Robredo as co-chairperson of Director General Aaron Aquino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the country’s second highest official clearly outranks the PDEA chief and all the other ICAD members of Cabinet rank.

Aquino has said he had sought clarification from Malacañang about the functions of the co-chairs shortly after Robredo announced her acceptance of the challenge. As of the weekend, it looks like the clarification has not yet been made. Critics can’t seem to make up their mind on whether Robredo has done nothing so far,

5

or that she has been moving too fast — and consequently endangering the war on drugs.

Despite the lack of clarity, Robredo has set out to establish the baselines for redirecting the anti-drug campaign. She has consulted with offices of the United Nations and the United States involved in the global war on narcotics, discussing best practices and existing programs of cooperation with the Philippines. This week she is expected to seek cooperation from the Catholic Church.

Aquino and other ICAD members, meanwhile, have not minced words in expressing concern that information they share with Robredo, particularly on the law enforcement of the campaign, might compromise ongoing operations or even be used against some of them. Before the distrust intensifies, it would be best if Malacañang clarifies what exactly is expected of the co-chair of the ICAD. Unless this happens, it could reinforce fears that Robredo’s designation was nothing but a kneejerk reaction to her criticism of the antidrug campaign, and that she is being set up

Editorial

Gratitude: The key that unlocks the door to true happiness

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS “THANK you” may be the BEST prayer, the most powerful force that may change the way we look at the world, and consequently, our life. And yet for many, these two words may be among the hardest things to say after “I’m sorry,” and the most difficult credo to live by.

As we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, allow me to share some of the quotes on gratitude that may help unlock the key to true and lasting happiness.

These 40 quotes were compiled by Jeff Haden, contribut-

ing editor to Inc., and the author of “The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win.” “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

– William Arthur Ward “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – G.K. Chesterton “’Enough’ is a feast.” – Buddhist proverb “If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.”

– Robert Quillen “Enjoy the little things, for

one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle “If a fellow isn’t thankful for PAGE 7

Philstar.com photo

for failure. There’s still time for the administration — and several of its political allies who seem to have been made insecure by the vice president’s newfound high profile — to show

Street Talk

that the presidential spokesman was sincere in his initial reaction to Robredo’s acceptance of the role: “Her success is our success.” (Philstar. com)

A spectacle of obfuscation

“He said, ‘The woman piaba and the man piaba and the ton ton call back a lemon grass; The lily root, gully root, belly GREG B. MACABENTA root uhmm — and the famous I HAVE been closely follow- granny’s scratch scratch!’ ”It was clear as mud and it ing the TV news coverage of the U.S. congressional hearings covered the ground and the on the possible impeachment confusion made me head go of President Donald Trump and ‘round; So I went to ask an old friend I am reminded of Harry Belafonte’s song, Man Piaba, which of mine, known to the world as Albert Einstein..” goes this way: Einstein’s explanation was “When I was a lad of threefoot-three, certain questions also “as clear as mud and it covered the ground,” and so was occurred to me; So I asked my father quite se- that of Sigmund Freud, whom riously to tell me the story ‘bout the curious lad also asked. In frustration, he concludes: the bird and bee.

“All good men upon this He stammered and he stuttered pathetically and this is earth have confused me since my birth. what he said to me:

I’ve been over land and been over sea trying to find the story ‘bout the bird and bee; Now that I am ninety-three I don’t give a damn, you see…”

Isn’t it amusing that something as basic as the sexual relations between man and woman (the bird and the bee) should be obfuscated and muddled by “all the good men upon this earth.”

It is a fact. Try discussing sex with your curious 5-year-old.

But the citizens of the United States — and inevitably the whole world — have no choice but to give a damn about the results of the impeachment hearing on the president of the most powerful country on the planet.

America’s economic, military PAGE 10

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

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmbER 22-28, 2019

D ateline PhiliPPines Duterte to push through with South Korea trip

by Ritchel

Mendiola

AJPress

President rodrigo duterte said he is pushing through with his trip to south Korea despite his aversion to traveling, saying that there are many things “at stake.” “i hate traveling. i don’t want to travel. it gives me [a] headache and everything, but this is important. You know, so many things at stake. One is that we are buying arms. second is that there are many assistance on the way, coming. third is seoul is our vital partner,” he said at a press conference in Malacañang on tuesday, november 19. “i’ll talk to Korea. But on the sides. that’s how it is. they call it pull-aside,” he added. duterte will be meeting south Korean President Moon

Jae-in on the sidelines of the Association of southeast Asian nations-republic of Korea (AseAn-rOK) Commemorative summit to discuss several matters including military upgrades, north Korea, and the south China sea dispute. the trip, according to duterte, would also allow him to assess the equipment to be acquired from south Korea as the Philippines is acquiring two brand new corvettes and firearms from them. recently, the country bought 12 FA-50 jets from south Korea to strengthen its territorial defense capabilities.

“You know, firearms are costly nowadays but we can always buy,” he said. the chief executive also confirmed that he would be holding bilateral meetings

with other leaders on the sidelines of the summit but did not elaborate further. “security matters. One, it’s really about security. And it’s obvious. it is now… the equilibrium of geopolitics.

You know north Korea then the spratly islands. the south Koreans are also against the occupation of the south China sea and the claim of China,” duterte said.

China’s creeping expansion in the south China sea is drawing concerns from other regions who are worried about its impact on freedom of navigation in the busy sea lane. the AseAn-rOK Commemorative summit will celebrate three decades of dialogue partnership between the regional bloc and south Korea from november 25 to 26. n

Nearly half of Filipinos expect better life in 2020 by helen

FloRes, RoMina cabReRa Philstar.com

MAniLA — nearly half of adult Filipinos expect to have better lives in the next 12 months, the social Weather stations (sWs) said in its recent survey. the poll, taken from sept.

27 to 30, also found 46 percent of adults who expect their personal quality of life to improve in the next 12 months (personal optimists), and five percent expecting it to get worse (personal pessimists), for a net personal optimists score of +41, classified as “excellent.” this used to be +42 in June

and +47 in March, all classified as excellent (+40 and above). the net personal optimists score dropped from +42 (excellent) in June to +40 (excellent) in september in balance Luzon. in the Visayas, it went down from +37 (excellent) to +32 (excellent). in Metro Manila, it went up from +44 (excellent) in June to +48 (excellent) in september. it remained at +46 (excellent) from June to september in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, the survey showed 36 percent of adult Filipinos saying their lives improved, termed by sWs

as gainers, and 25 percent saying their lives worsened (losers) in the last 12 months. this gives a net gainers score of +11, from +13 in June and +17 in March, all classified as very high (+10 to +19). the september 2019 survey also found 41 percent of Filipino adults who foresee an improved Philippine economy in the next 12 months (economic optimists) against 12 percent saying it will worsen (economic pessimists), for a net economic optimists score of +28. this used to be +33 in June and +35 in March, all classified as excellent (+20 and above). n

Gratitude: The key that unlock the door...

PAGE 5 what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.” – Frank A. Clark “if you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. it will change your life mightily.”

– Gerald Good “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. it turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie “the world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. it has enough lush forests, flowered fields, and sandy beaches. it has plenty of

stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day.

What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it.” – Michael Josephson “Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.” – Fred de Witt Van Amburgh “the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.”

– Charles schwab “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” – epictetus “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. each

of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert schweitzer “the deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.” – William James “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. if you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

– Oprah Winfrey “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.”

– Buddha PAGE 10

Confirmed polio cases in Philippines rises to 7 by shiela

cRisostoMo Philstar.com

MAniLA — three more children aged one, two and four years in Mindanao have tested positive for poliovirus, the department of Health (dOH) said on Wednesday, november 20. this brings to seven the number of polio cases in the country since a new case was recorded last september, the first in 19 years, according to dOH Undersecretary eric domingo. domingo said they are looking at water supply as the possible source of infection, since polio is spread through the orofecal route. in a statement, Health secretary Francisco duque iii said the samples taken from the children were sent to the research institute for tropical Medicine and then to Japan’s national institute of infectious diseases and they all came out positive for poliovirus.

All three cases were admitted at the Cotabato regional Medical Center.

A father watches as a health worker administers polio vaccine on his child during a vaccination drive at an informal settlers area in Manila last October 14.

Philstar.com file photo

Prior to this, the dOH had documented four other polio cases that included a threeyear-old girl in Lanao del sur, a five-year-old boy in Laguna, a four-year-old girl in Maguindanao and another three-yearold girl in sultan Kudarat. the victim from Laguna is considered as an “inactive polio case” because he is immuno-compromised due to multiple pediatric illnesses. the statement shows the fifth case is a two-year-old girl from Maguindanao who

had fever and weakness in both legs, while the sixth case is a one-year-old boy from Cotabato City who manifested fever, cough and weakness in both legs. “it is unacceptable that more children are falling victim to this vaccine-preventable disease. We are more determined than ever to make sure that no child shall be missed during the next round of the sabayang Patak Kontra Polio in Metro Manila and Mindanao,” duque noted. n

November 22-28, 2019 • NeW YorK AND NeW JerSeY ASIAN JoUrNAL

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November 22-28, 2019 • NeW YorK AND NeW JerSeY ASIAN JoUrNAL

Cyberlibel trial vs Ressa to proceed as court rejects dismissal plea

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — The cyber libel trial against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and its former researcher will proceed as the Manila court handling the case junked their motion challenging the sufficiency of the prosecution’s evidence.

Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 in a ruling dated November 15, but made public on Wednesday, November 20, junked Ressa’s demurrer to evidence for lack of merit.

A demurrer to evidence is a legal challenge to the prosecution’s sufficiency evidence that, if granted, paves the way for the dismissal of the case halfway through the trial, without the presentation of the defense’s evidence.

The court said the prosecution’s evidence is competent and sufficient to sustain Ressa and the news site’s former researcher Reynaldo Santos’ indictment for cyberlibel.

The case emanated from a

Dateline PhiliPPines

no substantial change made in the article when it was updated in 2014, but the court said that their argument is “evidentiary in nature which the defense should prove during trial.”

“It now behooves upon all the accused to adduce evidence to controvert those presented by the prosecution in a full-blown trial,” Manila RTC Branch 46 PreRappler CEO and Executive Editor Maria Ressa Philstar.com photo siding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Mendoza wrote.

The court set the presencomplaint filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng assailing tation of the Rappler’s evian article, first published in dence on December 6.

Ressa and Rappler are also May 2012.

The Department of Jus- embroiled in a string of legal tice indicted Rappler, Ressa suits. They are facing chargand Santos on cyber libel es of tax evasion, tax evasion charges, despite the cyber- charges, anti-dummy and vicrime law being signed four olations of the Securities and months after the publication Regulations code.

A Quezon City prosecutor of the story.

State prosecutors pointed had recently junked Departout that the story was updat- ment of Agrarian Reform Castricioed on Feb. 19, 2014, which Secretary John puts it under the “multiple nes’ libel complaint against Ressa and reporter Rambo publication rule.”

Ressa and Santos, how- Talabong for lack of probever, raised that there was able cause. n

Gratitude: The key that unlock the door...

PAGE 7 “Silent gratitude isn’t very much to anyone.” – Gertrude Stein “Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” – Henri Frederic Amiel “You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson “It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment.” – Naomi Williams “One can never pay in gratitude; one can only pay ‘in kind’ somewhere else in life.” -Anne Morrow Lindbergh “Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

– John Wooden “No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” – Alfred North Whitehead “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”

– .A. Milne

“Forget yesterday – it has already forgotten you. Don’t sweat tomorrow – you haven’t even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift – today.” – Steve Maraboli “We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count.” – Neal A. Maxwell “In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer “The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.”

– John E. Southard “I truly believe we can either see the connections, celebrate them, and express gratitude for our blessings, or we can see life as a string of coincidences that have no meaning or connection. For me, I’m going to believe in miracles, celebrate life, rejoice in the views of eternity, and hope my choices will create a positive ripple effect in the lives of others. This is my choice.” – Mike Ericksen “Gratitude also opens your eyes to the limitless potential of the universe, while dissatisfaction closes your eyes to it.”

– Stephen Richards “Gratitude and attitude are

not challenges; they are choices.” – Robert Braathe “They both seemed to understand that describing it was beyond their powers, the gratitude that spreads through your body when a burden gets lifted, and the sense of homecoming that follows, when you suddenly remember what it feels like to be yourself.” – Tom Perrotta “Gratitude is more of a compliment to yourself than someone else.” – Raheel Farooq “Keep your eyes open and try to catch people in your company doing something right, then praise them for it.”

– Tom Hopkins “In life, one has a choice to take one of two paths: to wait for some special day or to celebrate each special day.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru “This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.”

– Maya Angelou *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@ icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.

Relos.

A spectacle of...

PAGE 5 and social influence is so pervasive that it is said that when the U.S. catches a cold, the world comes down with pneumonia.

In other words, the impeachment of a U.S. president will have a resounding impact on the world. Of course, Trump’s enemies will welcome his ejection from office. But Trump’s voter base won’t give a damn.

The “never-Trumpers (Trump’s description of those who would like to see him kicked out of office), are painfully aware that although he may be impeached in the Democratcontrolled House of Representatives, the Republican-dominated Senate, which is mandated to conduct the actual impeachment trial, is not likely to render a verdict that will force him out of the White House. It will take a two-thirds vote of the Senate rolls to impeach, an unlikely occurrence, according to political observers.

During the incumbency of President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, the figurative shoe was on the other foot. Clinton was impeached by a Republican-controlled Lower House but was acquitted by the Democrats who were the majority in the Senate.

What is interesting is that when Republican President Richard Nixon faced the possibility of impeachment in an inquiry initiated by House Democrats, it was a delegation of fellow Republicans that delivered the harsh message to Nixon. That persuaded Nixon to resign.

Even more remarkable was the fact that it was a bi-partisan Senate Committee that approved the initial investigation into the Watergate break-in that started the scandal.

That bi-partisanship is nonexistent in the current impeachment hearings. President Manuel Quezon’s immortal quote, “My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins.” is meaningless to the partisans on Capitol Hill and the White House.

In fact, it was in anticipation of an acquittal of Trump by the Republican-controlled Senate that kept Speaker Nancy Pelosi and many Democrats from pushing sooner for a formal impeachment inquiry. They were also worried that impeaching Trump could result in a voter backlash that could hand Trump a second term in next year’s presidential election, the way Clinton won a second term after being impeached.

The political gamble seemed too risky. Public opinion polls indicate that Trump’s voter base has not been affected by

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the negative reports about his chaotic governance and only a slight majority of the American public are in favor of impeaching and removing Trump.

Trump’s boast that he could shoot a man in the middle of Manhattan and not lose a single vote among his mesmerized supporters still rings eerily in the ears of the Democrats and enlightened Americans.

It took the quid pro quo arm-twisting that Trump allegedly tried to apply on the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, that forced Pelosi to finally accede to the mounting demand by her party caucus for impeachment proceedings to be initiated no matter what the political cost. Trump had made a Mafia-like “offer that couldn’t be refused” to Zelensky, pressuring the Ukranian government to dig up dirt on Trump’s potential rival for the presidency in the 2020 elections.

The impeachment process is being aggressively pursued by the Democrats, in spite of the political risk, because IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. The current impeachment hearings are a spectacle of partisanship and obfuscation.

The Republicans have gradually altered their defensive posture from denying that there was ever a quid pro quo (in terms of withholding from Ukraine over $400 million in U.S. aid in exchange for dirt on former Vice-President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden) to, “so what if there was a quid pro quo, what’s wrong with that?”, to “okay, assuming there was wrongdoing, it isn’t enough ground for impeaching a duly-elected president.”

The Democrats, on the other hand, have been methodically demolishing the Republican rationalization by presenting witnesses who have attested to Trump’s pressure tactics on the Ukranians. They have also cited the constitutional basis for impeaching Trump, leaving the Republicans and Trump to resort to obfuscation or, in Belafonte’s words, “making the situation clear as mud” and the American public with a “confusion that makes their head go ‘round.”

What is interesting is that the battleground in this high stakes spectacle is in the minds of the American public.

The objective of the Republicans is to confuse the U.S. electorate and leave enough doubts in their minds about the justification for impeaching the president. The Trump

apologists are hoping that the doubts will translate into a tolerance for his misdemeanors enough to win him a second term.

Indeed, for the average Americans, impeachment is a step into the unknown. And Trump has been painting all kinds of doomsday scenarios should he be removed from office – even the possibility of a violent upheaval among his supporters.

On the other hand, the objective of the Democrats is to make a compelling case for impeachment based on blatant abuse of power and obstruction of justice, all adding up to high crimes and misdemeanors.

They have toyed with the idea of throwing in treason among the articles of impeachment but are not sure that there will be enough grounds for this based on the report of Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Trump’s alleged collusion with Russia and Vladimir Putin.

The U.S. media and political pundits refer to these tactical and strategic moves by both parties as a “messaging war.”

It is ironic that an icon of the rule of law like America finds itself caught in a situation where the fate of the president — and, perhaps, of the country itself — depends on the ability of contending parties to obfuscate, to muddle the public perception of events and circumstances, and to leave that perception “clear as mud,” thus making the public’s head “go ‘round.”

Frankly this has boiled down into a communications contest — almost a marketing contest of competing brands — demanding the manipulative skills of wordsmiths and legal shysters, the rule of law and the Constitution be damned.

Donald Trump himself is such a skilled manipulator for whom lying comes naturally.

Like a cornered beast, he is expected to lie and cheat, unleash foul blows, and throw his most loyal associates under the bus to survive. Indeed, Trump could be a poster boy for Sun Tsu’s Art of War, where the master of warfare advises that an enemy should be allowed an avenue of escape because, if cornered, he will fight to death.

It is a sad testament that even his worst detractors grudgingly concede that, when the smoke of battle has cleared, Trump could still survive like the indestructible cockroach while they themselves will be smarting in defeat.

However, in spite of that dire possibility the impeachment process should still be pursued and consummated. BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. *** (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

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COMMUNITY JOURNAL

11

The entrepreneur mindset: Seeing your clearest what Seeing my vision

One Global Academy WHAT’S THE BEST WAY FOR A TNT TO LEGALIZE HIS STAY IN THE U.S.? This Sunday, November 24 viewers will get to hear the immigration questions of the third batch of Kapamilya who attended the Citizen Pinoy taping in Virginia. Tune in to get the most relevant information and answers to immigration concerns on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY, this Sunday at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ

December 2019 priority dates The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY: First Preference

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories.

A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Beginning in October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month).

This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance or Final Action Date column) in order to both file for adjust-

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

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

May 01, 2009

November 01, 2008

(2A) Spouse and Second Preference minor children (below October 01, 21 years old) of green 2019 card holders

Current

(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 June 01, 2009 years old or older) of green card holders

December 01, 2008

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens

March 01, 1999

September 01, 1998

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens

June 15, 1999

December 15, 1998

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Second Preference

Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

Current

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

Current

March 01, 2018

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

Current

March 01, 2018

ment and be eligible for a green card. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular

case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

JONATHAN OBOZA PETALVER ENTREPRENEURIAL Vision is more of a Business Plan written and seen. As the saying goes “You cannot see what you do not write”. A lot of entrepreneurs can say it but cannot write it. It is for your best intention that you can clearly explain and let others see what you see.

For instance, a carpenter knows his mission, and that is to provide a strong, beautiful shelter using his

carpentry tools. He has to draw and write the design the shape as to how he sees it. As soon as he is done, he presents a great masterpiece through his God-given skills that even he sometimes cannot believe. This is a classic case of knowing your deepest WHY and your clearest WHAT that ends in a skillful HOW. This article will guide you in crafting your Creed Statement which is different how others craft a Vision/Mission Statement. Primarily, Vision Statement clearly answers so many “WHATs”. This is in full support of your WHY until it becomes the HOW. A lot of times, we always seek for the HOWs without under-

standing that when the WHY meets the WHAT, the HOW is just an end RESULT. What do you see?

What do you see? A Frog or a Horse.

Well, actually, both. But it is not whether you say it is a frog or a horse. What’s important is you see something. If you see a frog, all your decisions will be frogrelated decisions. If you see a horse, all your strategies will be horse-related strategies.

So what is the point? The point is where you see things clearly, it will give you more or less a clear direction as to where you want to bring your enterprise. That is why PAGE 12

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NOVEMBER 22-28, 2019 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette aDeva Maglaya LONG ago, on a visit to my father’s grave site on Father’s day, my husband, daughter and I trudged along several tombstones of husbands and wives who lived in the 1850s and died just before the mid-1900s buried side by side on a quiet, lush, manicured patch of Forest Lawn Glendale.

My daughter noted the pattern in the headstones of a generation ago. I commented that it is getting harder to find such longevity of devotion these days among younger married couples of the current generation.

Call this the Age of Distraction. Perhaps it is because the young ones are engaged in far too many distractions and mired in too much self-absorption living in a popular culture that fosters self-love and to a point, extreme narcissism.

It has become a struggle for many couples just to stay together.

One might argue that the generations before us didn’t have the same challenges that we are having. It may have been a far simpler time compared to the complexities we are all faced with. And yet they leave behind lessons of love that result in devotion and fidelity. Surely, we can learn a lot about nurturing human relations from those who have gone before us.

This I have learned from an older generation at an early age. Of all the powerful words in the English language, the words “Thank you” are like magic wands in helping transform human relationships, marriage in particular, happier.

Not perfect … just happier.

You don’t even have to say the words. You can acknowledge anything good done for you by your partner by a sweet gesture, a nod, a smile, a touch or anything else that works for you that says “thank you.”

In short, don’t take your partner for granted. Whether you’ve been together 50 days or 50 years, those words never get old.

If you want that most powerful emotion called love to live on, treat your partner like a gardener takes care of a plant. Most plants cannot survive without water, light,

Two magical words (First of 2 parts)

“…And I think about those people who mean so much to me And for so many years have made me so very happy And I count the times I have forgotten to say “THANK YOU” And just how much I love them.”

— “Sometimes”, Richard & Karen Carpenter soil and other optimum conditions kept at a consistent basis. The human heart is like that. It grows strong and beautiful with constant, devoted care.

Saying “thank you” to your partner in life as often as you can, simply means you appreciate him or her.

You are validating his worth as a person. Perhaps, being appreciated and shown respect is next on the list of the most basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.

The words may not come naturally to you and your partner may be stunned at first but go ahead. Give it a try and say “thank you.”

Say it like you mean it.

Look for the small gestures such as being given a cup of coffee, opening your car door, doing housework, cleaning your car or filling up your gas tank. Just don’t take what he does for you as a given. Or how about taking the initiative yourself? If you do it long enough and often enough, he might mirror your behavior. What goes around comes around.

If he brings home the paycheck that pays for your family life, then treat him like a king. Often, the goodhearted partner will treat you like his queen. There are exceptions, of course.

It is only the jerks and the jackasses who abuse their positions of strength. That holds true for both sexes.

If there is constant, sincere appreciation shifting back and forth between partners, you are, in effect, cementing a foundation for a relationship that would be tough to crack even if a threat to your marriage, like a pretty, young vixen with mile-long legs comes along making a play for your partner. Likewise, a smooth talking, slick Pepe Le Pew character with washboard abs would smell more like Brad’s sweaty armpit and would have no chance with a woman who already has a man at home she can canoodle with.

What is good for the gander is good for the goose.

There may be scores of

women out there right now who feel neglected by their spouses. Maybe there’s another woman or man waiting in the wings. But more often than not during this Age of Distraction, the disaffection is rooted in selfabsorption. And there lies the problem. Women need, want and crave appreciation just as much as men, if not more.

Self-love takes many forms — whether it is playing video games or social networking on FB or some such platform on the internet for hours on end; binge drinking; gambling; watching or playing golf or any other sport; vain, selfobsession as a health nut or on becoming an Adonis body-building hunk or going to the deep end of things, deviant sex and pornography.

Excessive time spent on these obsessions is time stolen from nurturing the love relationship. Watch out for these modern-day distractions and addictions that are just too many to list.

Okay, let’s call a spade a spade. These are sins. Admit them if you have them and break the bonds with firm resolve. If you want true love and happiness, strive for balance and moderation.

In all cases of neglect, love is left to wither and die.

Women who feel neglected, if driven to their limits, may throw all caution to the wind and look for love from the first opportunistic guy that comes along ready to engage in mild flirtation, an occasional dalliance or a full blown affair and gives them the attention and validation they crave.

Such women can make disastrous, life-changing decisions that cause not only personal damage but also leave behind in the wake of a messy split, massive psychological, irreversible damage to children and other people involved in the couple’s orbit.

Say “thank you” and mean it. Don’t just do it out of habit. Cut off the cell-

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Is it true that after a year of no communication regarding one’s visa application, the petition will be canceled or dismissed?

Get the answer this Sunday on ‘Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot’

THE third batch of Kapamilya who attended the tapings in Virginia will get their questions answered on the most popular immigration program on television – “Citizen Pinoy”.

What is the fastest way to petition a legally-adopted son from the Philippines, after all necessary paperwork

Health@Heart

and required residency have been fulfilled? What’s the best way for a TNT to legalize his stay in the U.S.?

He currently works “underthe-table” and his employer promised to petition him after two to three years. Will this be approved?

Leading U.S. immigration attorney MICHAEL J. GUR-

FINKEL replies to these and more questions will be answered on an all-new edition of the information-packed, public service program on television, “Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot,” this Sunday, at 6:15 pm PST/ EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Our amazing body

THERE is nothing on earth more amazing, more wonderful, than the human body.

Even the most powerful computers and artificial intelligent robots we have today still pale in comparison. The most sophisticated artificial heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys (dialysis machines) are so large, bulky, much less efficient, cumbersome, inconvenient, fully dependent on limited power source, and fraught with complications when implanted, not to mention most expensive and still impractical.

All our organs are self-contained within our body, came free with our body when we were born, with its own autopower-generator for energy (fuel), very efficient, functioning automatically, chemically and intricately in-sync with our entire system, and responding to our thinking, feelings, and activities. It also has a built-in chemical laboratory, which processes the food and drink we ingest into energy, maintaining a healthy level of glucose (blood sugar) and all hormones, enzymes, minerals, electrolytes, with the help of our GI system, liv-

er, pancreas, and endocrine glands. Medications we take are converted to molecular substances that help heal our ailments. Our body maintains normal homeostasis, automatically keeping our entire internal environment on an even keel, and in maximal electrolyte and acid-base balance at all times. Its inherent immune system protects it from infections and diseases.

Hormones are produced by our body when our glucose level is low which tells our stomach to feel hungry, and another hormone tells us when we are full and to stop eating. When we ingest anything alkaline, the buffer system automatically adjusts to neutralize the alkali, to preserve our homeostatic balance. When we sense danger, or are angry or upset, our glands automatically produce adrenalin to prepare us in protecting our body.

When we laugh, sing, eat chocolate, or are in a happy countenance, our system excretes happy hormones that soothe us and prevent depression. When exposed to hot or cold weather, our system has an auto-adjust thermoregulator to keep us comfortable.

“Octane” in food And like a vehicle or any

engine, what fuel we put into them (like what food or drink we put into our mouth) will greatly determine how well the engine (or our body) functions and lasts. Healthy lifestyle must start from the womb and dieting initiated in the crib to protect the DNA from damage, as advocated in the pro-active and preemptive book on disease prevention, Let’s Stop “Killing” Our Children, which is listed in the U.S. Library of Congress (featured in amazon.com) The common impression and conventional belief that major diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancers, are the “natural” and expected illnesses of old age is scientifically inaccurate and flawed.

These diseases could be prevented, avoided or minimized by protecting the DNA from damages from the time we are born. The human body, if properly cared for from day one by shielding the DNA from any destruction while in the womb and in the crib, could be “exempt” from developing the wrongly-termed “natural and normal diseases of middle to old age.”

Today, living a healthy lifestyle starts when we reach PAGE 13

phone “umbilical cord” and make eye contact. Open your eyes and see the good in your partner.

Wisdom, as they say, is knowing what to overlook.

Rein in that critical sharp tongue. The tongue is a small yet powerful muscle

that can lash out, slash and burn a relationship forever.

The effect is amplified a million times when you write it down or use the web to vent your fury. When you document your anger on paper and more frequently these days online, you have

entered “scorched earth” territory. There is little chance of ever going back. *** N o t a B e n e : M o n e t te A d eva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal P u b l i c a t i o n s , I n c . To s e n d co m m e n ts, e - m a i l m o n ette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com.

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 22-28, 2019

13

Marcelito set to compete in Vanessa coming to Philippines ‘soon’ ‘America’s Got Talent: The Champions’ By nathalIe tomada Philstar.com

By Ian BIong Inquirer.net

MARCELITO Pomoy is once again about to give America his masterful “doble kara” singing style, and the United States better be ready.

The “Pilipinas Got Talent” Season 2 grand winner asked for his fans’ support and prayers as he revealed that he would be competing with fellow champions from around the world on “America’s Got Talent: The Champions” season 2, as posted on his Instagram on Wednesday, November 20.

“Guys… this is it… eto na ‘yong pagkakataong hinihintay ko.. so please abangan nyo po ako.. America’s Got Talent—THE CHAMPIONS Edition,” he said. “Sobrang hirap na laban dahil puro champions ng iba’t

Marcelito Pomoy

ibang bansa ang makakalaban ko.. hindi eto ‘yong ordinary season lang ng Got Talent.. these are got talent champions of the world competing with each others (sic). (Guys, this is it. This is what I have been waiting for, so please watch out for me. America’s Got Talent — THE CHAMPIONS Edition. This would be very hard as I will be competing with champions from

Our amazing body...

PAGE 12 our teenage years, marking 13 or more years of unprotected or un-maximized DNA protection. A healthy lifestyle must start from the womb and dieting begun in the crib purposely to protect the DNA and stave off having those major illnesses which we now attribute to aging. Yes, future children do not have to acquire those diseases when they grow up to maturity or seniority. The human species can pro-actively preempt these common major illnesses that afflict almost all of us today!

Diet and exercise Exercise is great and most valuable, but diet appears to be of greater significance to many persons when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle.

Of course, not taking in toxic substances such as tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs and other harmful substances, behavioral modification, and stress management, are vital to health. For those with arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, a variety of vegetables called nightshades cause exacerbation and pain.

They include tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, paprika, and peppers.

Evidence-based clinical data show that together with daily physical exercise, a low-carb diet, consuming a lot of multi-colored vegetables, with some nuts and

fruits (calories adjusted for diabetics and weight-watchers), eating minimal or no red meat at all, and staying away from processed meats, is the healthy prescription for optimum health and maximal longevity.

It is obvious that a healthy lifestyle could outweigh genetics in most cases, and that our health is not only within our reach, but is actually in our hands.

Medical self-care Talking about a healthy lifestyle reminds me of my mother, who passed away in Raleigh, North Carolina on November 8, 2019, at age 102, and was interned last November 15. The way she managed her own health was evidently a great factor in her longevity, a strategy worthy of medical mention.

My mom had diabetes and high blood pressure, but no arthritis until the end. She was a health freak, doing her own finger-stick herself to monitor her blood sugar level three times a day to guide her on how she should adjust her caloric intake and medications. She did all this herself for more than 4 decades, following her physician’s instructions. She also took her blood pressure and adjusted her pills, with the help of my three sisters, one of them an RN. My mother was doing daily exercise, watching and following Leslie Sansone

Photo from Instagram/@marcelitopomoy8

different countries. This is not an ordinary Got Talent season anymore. These are Got Talent champions of the world competing with one another).”

“Piling pili po ang nakakalaban dito.. kung kaya sa tulong at suporta ninyo lalo’t higit sa inyong dasal nawa’y tayo ay makapagperform hanggang sa huli (My competitors were mePAGE 15 video exercises, a routine she did up to her mid-90s.

While she loved pork, she concentrated more on oatmeal for breakfast and mostly ate fish and vegetables for lunch and dinner. She was very compliant with her medications and vigilant in her food intake. She was able to ambulate with a walker and do all this, with her brilliant mind and a memory better than mine, till she developed pneumonia and renal failure about three weeks ago.

Pneumonia is usually deadly for seniors.

I alluded to my mom’s diligence in her own healthcare to highlight the importance of a disciplined self-restricting (no tobacco, alcohol or illicit drugs) behavior, diet, exercise, compliance in medications, and a positive attitude in life. She listened to her body seriously. Whatever imperfections her genes may have had, it seemed obvious that her system was able to neutralize and compensate for them through a healthy lifestyle. Indeed, living a healthy lifestyle could far outweigh genetics and maximize health and longevity. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

VANESSA Hudgens took to Instagram on Tuesday, November 19, to greet her No. 1 fan her Filipina mom Gina Guangco a happy birthday.

“Happy birthday to @ mamagh. My favorite fiery, passionate, joyous woman.

She’s my No. 1 fan and I’m hers. Love you for everything you do and are mommy,” the 30-year-old Hollywood star wrote.

On Sunday, November 17, during a phone interview

with some Filipino press to promote her Christmas film on Netflix, titled “The Knight Before Christmas,” the Fil-Am singer/actress talked a bit more about her Filipino connection through her mom.

When a reporter recommended to Vanessa and her leading man, the British actor Josh Whitehouse, to try out someday the Pinoy Christmas food staples such as puto bumbong and bibingka, Vanessa was quick to react that she already sampled the latter.

PAGE 15

Vanessa Hudgens Photo from Instagram/@vanessahudgens

The entrepreneur mindset...

PAGE 11 is it very, very important for entrepreneurs nowadays to pinpoint the right direction by knowing a lot of WHATs before putting up something and offering to the public.

This will give impact and greater chance of success because as we said when the WHY meets its WHAT, the HOW will be very surprising!

So the question now is,

how do we craft our Vision Statement?

There are 5 things that you need to consider in crafting a clearer VISION before starting up anything.

A lot of times, the pitfalls of some entrepreneurs is that they forgot to write their own version of their “business plan”. Your Vision Statement primarily serves as your Business Plan and you have to be crystal clear

about it.

In the next article I will share with you what are those questions that need to be answered for you to have a concrete and solid vision plan. *** Jonathan Oboza Petalver is the Founder and CEO of Petalver Management Consultancy Services. He is also the President and Dean of One Global Academy U.S.A. (Advertising Supplement)

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NOVEMBER 22-28, 2019 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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people events arts culture entertainment

Fil-Am chefs on dishes to bring to the Thanksgiving table

by AJPRESS

I

T’S Thanksgiving next week and for many Filipino American families, it means preparing a table spread of both traditional holiday and Filipino dishes. It’s not uncommon to see a turkey coexisting alongside a lechon or mashed sweet potatoes with pancit. For this issue, we asked several Fil-Am chefs around the country what they’d bring to a Thanksgiving boodle fight — a “kamayan” dining experience that forgoes utensils and dishes in favor of our hands and banana leaves.

The ulam and rice are evenly placed on leaves on a long table so diners can grab and partake in a ritual rooted in camaraderie and unity, which aligns with what we think of in a Thanksgiving meal as well.

Jappy Diago Afzelius, Tsismis (New York) “I would contribute Inihaw ribs, Laing, beef tapa, pork tocino, Pritong Bangus, Kinilaw na tuna.

These are dishes that I hold close to my heart because I grew up eating them either at home with my family or out at restaurants with my friends.”

Ria Dolly Barbosa, Executive Chef of Paramount Coffee Project (Los Angeles) I would contribute my pan de sal! It came to be an unintentional labor of love. I was testing it for

AJPress illustration by Godwin Gasacao and Jillian Peñalosa

about a year when I got it to where I wanted it to be. My Lola was not well while I was testing and I’d give her each updated version to try. By the time I got it where I wanted it to be, she already left this plane, but I like to think that she’d be proud of it. I used it as the base for my fried chicken sandwich during my year long popup WILD at Canelé back in 2014-2015. I haven’t made it much these days but whenever I do, I always think of her.”

Carlo Lamagna, Magna (Portland, OR) “I would definitely do inihaw na pusit and liempo. With a boodle fight, it should be about the ease o f eat i ng

as well as f lavor. Anything saucy doesn’t make sense.

Plus the grilled f lavor of the squid adds an outdoor, f lame quality and the crispy liempo for texture.”

Romy Dorotan, Purple Yam (Brooklyn, NYC) “Sorry, I really don’t like kamayan / boodle fight. And sorry again, I really don’t like turkey. I would recommend lechon pork belly (bone in, skin on) crispy skin (malutong) and very moist, Mang Tomas-style gravy, atsara, pancit, laing, rice... maybe apple cider salabat.

Champorado for dessert.”

Cheryl Baun & Paulo Mendoza, Karenderya (Nyack, NY) “Definitely daing na bang us because we always eat it with hands anyway, and it’s one of our go-to comfort foods. Also we thought ribs and chick-

en wings would be fun, too, because they are the quintessential pulutan, adding to the communal feel of a kamayan feast.”

King Phojanakong, Kuma Inn (NYC) “Pinoy Thanksgiving yesssss!!! Bourbon honeyglazed ham, turkey and/or chicken inasal, prime rib roast, whole grilled branzino, pancit bihon, garlic rice, sautéed baby bok choy, roasted Brussels sprouts with apple and bacon, chorizo wild mushroom stuffing and a couple of pumpkin buko pies.

It’s our Thanksgiving Day menu here at home in NYC. If it was a little warmer out or we were back home in the Philippines I’d set up the long table and ba-

nana leaves. These dishes are all so special and celebratory. A true melting pot of f lavors from the Philippines to here. And everyone from bunso to lola are happy.”

Nicole Ponseca, author of “I Am a Filipino: And This Is How We Cook” and founder of Jeepney & Maharlika (NYC)

“ I think minibi bi ngka or karekare. What better way to enjoy the oxtails!”

Queenie Peña Bañez, Asin (Caldwell, NJ) “Def i n itely crispy pata and Aristocrat-st yle barbecue chicken.

Those are two classic dishes that many Filipinos just

love.”

Yana Gilbuena, Salo Series (Nationwide) “I’ve made a turkey embutido before with a cranberry sweet and sour sauce. I think it’s a very FILIPINIZED dish. As for Thanksgiving memories, I never celebrated Thanksgiving growing up but in my early twenties after I moved to the U.S., I started attending some and eventually hosting a lot. My favorite dish was the actual roast turkey because I had one Thanksgiving where my friend donated one but didn’t tell m e it was frozen and we had five hours before the dinner. We massaged the whole frozen turkey under a warm water bath until it thawed and I was about to cook it. That was definitely very memorable.”

Ralph Degala, MasterChef contestant Season 9 and YouTube personality (Los Angeles) “I would contribute some lechon manok /chicken Inasal to the noodle fight! Whenever we go back to the Philippines, one thing I must absolutely get there is the local Inasal or lechon manok from Sr. Andoks. The combination of the slow-cooked chicken, homemade Mang Tomas sauce and rice always brings back memories of me eating with family after a long day of basketball or playing in the province.”

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 22-28, 2019

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Inigo performs at NBA game Filipino boy group SB19 earns spot

FILIPINO singer Inigo Pascual recently launched the music video for his hit single “Catching Feelings” in the United States, where he performed during the Los Angeles Clippers’ Filipino Heritage Night.

The pop star premiered the music video at the LA Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunders game held at the legendary Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, where he sang the summery island pop track that has become of his fastest rising songs to date.

The new “Catching Feelings” music video was entirely shot in the Philippines and highlights the 21-year-old singer-songwriter’s interpretation of the uncertain journey of going to and fro between the frustrations of falling in love, before finally giving in to the feeling.

Jabbawockeez member and Bruno Mars’ choreographer and dancer Phil Tayag arranged and completed the dance routine for the song, complementing the already-established moves of Inigo that can be seen on the “Catching Feelings” dance challenge.

The track, which features music producer Moophs, has been heard in radio

on Billboard’s Next Big Sound chart

By Ryan aRcadio Inquirer.net

Inigo Pascual performing at the Los Angeles Clippers’ Filipino Heritage Night.

Photo from Instagram/@inigopascual

stations from Manila all the way to California and has also accumulated almost 1.5 million streams on Spotify. Meanwhile, the “Catching Feelings” dance challenge, which Inigo himself started, has now amassed a total combined entries of 35,000 on video-sharing app Tiktok and other social networking sites.

The hit single is produced under Tarsier Records, an underground music label which has been driving for the breakthrough of Filipino talents like Inigo to the international music stage, in line with ABS-CBN’s commitment to introduce the exceptional artistry of Filipinos to global audiences. (Philstar.com)

Sunshine reveals why daughters aren’t using Cesar’s surname as screen name

By Jan Milo SeveRo Philstar.com

ACTRESS Sunshine Cruz revealed the reason why her daughters Angelina, Samantha and Chesca are using Cruz as a screen name and not their father Cesar Montano’s surname.

In an interview with the media, Sunshine said it is her manager Arnold Vegafria that suggested to use Cruz because her daughters are into music.

“Pinaalam kasi niya kasi ‘yong careers nila they are more into singing, so we all know that the Cruzes are known musicians talaga. So I think it’s the fault of Arnold. Like si Donna, Donna Yrastorza ‘yan before pero she also uses Cruz so musician kasi. I think Arnold ‘no? This is an advantage for them,” Sunshine explained.

Arnold said he asked Cesar’s permission first and he agreed to that.

Sunshine Cruz with daughters Angelina, Samantha and Chesca.

Photo from Instagram/@sunshinecruz718

“Nagkita kami sa Las Vegas... Sabi niya, ‘It’s OK anak ko pa rin ‘yan, dugo ko pa rin ‘yan.’ Screen name lang naman ‘yon eh,” Arnold said.

Angelina, who turned 18 years old recently, said that the screen name Cruz will help her in the industry.

“I feel that the screen name could actually help

cause I feel that everyone in the industry has one so since our name is Cruz.

Like Tita Donna Cruz, it’s really Cruzes who are musically inclined, so I feel that it could help us. But it’s not our real name, it’s not legally changed or anything, it’s just a screen name,” Angelina clarified.

FILIPINO boy group SB19 has reached a new milestone as they entered Billboard’s Next Big Sound chart, where they were able to claim the sixth spot.

According to Billboard’s website, the said chart tracks the “fastest accelerating artists during the past week and predicted to achieve future success.”

The group, which comprises Sejun, Stell, Josh, Ken and Justin, debuted on the charts on Wdnesday, November 20, as seen on Billboard’s website.

Ahead of them by one spot is the K-pop boy group A.C.E. Upon catching wind of their achievement, SB19 took to Twitter to express their gratitude toward their fans.

Addressing their fanbase, called “A’TINs,” they said: “No words can describe how thankful we are for this great news. Thank you so much for supporting our dreams

SB19

and believing in us.”

“Everything seems possible with you,” the group added. “We promise to work harder!”

They also took the time to thank their fans for sharing their stories with the group.

“It warms our hearts to know that you find comfort, happiness and motivation through our music,” they stated.

Photo from Instagram/@officialsb19

The boy group trained in South Korea under the Korean entertainment company ShowBT, which has a Philippine branch.

The group debuted in October 2018 with the song “Tilaluha,” but gained widespread online attention earlier this September after they released a video of their dance practice to their song “Go Up.”

Vanessa coming to Philippines ‘soon’...

PAGE 13 “I got it at Goldilocks, a little restaurant here in California. My mom got it for me and she was like, ‘You need to try this honey,’” she recalled.

Vanessa also said that she loves halo-halo. “Halo-halo is my favorite. And because it’s white and refreshing and delicious.”

According to her, the very Pinoy Christmas traditions that her mom passed on to her are the big family Christmas dinners, a.k.a. noche buena.

“Definitely, I had the Christmas dinners. Like, we have lumpia, pancit, adobo and pandesal. I love pande-

sal so much, especially when it’s warm. Ah, so good!”

Asked if there would be a chance for her to visit the Philippines in the future, she answered in the affirmative. “I am. I’m going to go.

Yeah, I really, really, really want to go. It’s on my to-do list. I’m coming. I’m coming soon!”

Meantime, Vanessa is expanding her creative pursuits by becoming a firsttime producer on her latest Christmas-themed film on Netflix.

She said of her experience: “It was wonderful, really lovely. I felt like my opinion was really encouraged and I got to kind of

shape the project into what it became.

“You know, (becoming a producer) seems like a smart thing to do. I think that, as a producer, like I said, you kind of have more of a say in the film. So, I thought, that sounds like a wonderful thing to be a part of.”

It does seem that Vanessa is becoming the holiday movie queen on the streaming giant.

Last Christmas, she starred in the hit Netflix film “Princess Switch.” A sequel is already in the works for release next year, with Vanessa reportedly back as lead star and this time, as a producer as well.

Marcelito set to compete in...

PAGE 13 ticulously picked to join here. Through your help and support, especially your prayers, I hope we will be able to perform until the end),” he added.

Pomoy is famously known for being able to smoothly switch between tenor and soprano voices, allowing him to solely perform female and male “duets.”

“Actually kahit sa audition round lang masaya na akong maibahagi ang aking talento sa buong mundo.. pero kung papalarin na makaabot sa grand finals mas masaya syempre… please pray for me (Actually, I would already be happy to perform even only in the audition round and share my talent with the whole world. But if I would be fortunate enough

to reach the grand finals, I would be much happier, of course. Please pray for me),” he requested.

Pomoy had his big break from winning “Pilipinas Got Talent” in 2011. But before that, he said he had been living in the streets since he was 7 years old, earning P50 a day from being a pin boy at a bowling alley to get through the day.

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NOVEMBER 22-28, 2019 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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