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DECEMBER 13-19, 2018

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

Volume 29 - No. 47 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

PH Congress approves martial law extension in Mindanao till 2019

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

CONGRESS on Wednesday, December 12, gave its approval to extend martial law in Mindanao for another year once again. The extension, according to President Rodrigo Duterte, would “put an end to the on-going rebellion in Mindanao.”

A total of 12 senators voted to

extend the martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2019; meanwhile, five voted not to extend. Only one abstained.

The House for its part, had 223 votes to extend the law. Only 23 were against, and there were no abstentions.

After about three hours of debates in a joint session at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in

Quezon City, the Congress ultimately approved the martial rule extension in the South with a final total vote of 235 for an extension, 28 against, and one abstention.

Duterte, in his letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria Arroyo dated December 6, said “rebellion still persists in Mindanao”

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BALANGIGA BELLS BACK HOME. Filipino and American government officials witness the handover of the historical Balangiga Bells at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday, December 11. The three bells were taken as war booty by U.S. troops during the Philippine-American War in 1901. The historic return of the famed Balangiga Bells to the country marks an “important milestone” in relations between the Philippines and the United States, Malacañang said.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Filipina reporter Maria Ressa lands TIME’s ‘Person of the Year’ cover

USA

DATELINE ‘Return of Balangiga bells time for healing, closure’ FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

THE return of three church bells taken as war booty from Balangiga, Eastern Samar more than a century ago symbolize “something precious” to both the Philippines and the United States, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday, December 11.

The historic bells landed at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City aboard a U.S. Air Force C130. U.S. Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim officially turned the bells over to the Philippines during a handover ceremony.

“They are going back to where they belong.

It is time for healing, it is time for closure, it is time to look ahead as two nations should with shared history and as allies,” Lorenzana said in a speech.

In his speech, Lorenzana also acknowledged American businessman Henry Howard for playing a major role in the efforts to return the Balangiga bells.

Howard, who is Philippine Honorary Con-

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Fil-Am individuals and organizations among awardees honored by Duterte OVERSEAS Filipinos and organizations were recognized by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in a ceremony on Wednesday, December 5 at Malacañang Palace.

Called the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO), 25 outstanding Filipino individuals and organizations from abroad were honored.

Six families were also given the Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA).

The recipients of the 2018 PAFIOO have been selected from a total of 96 nominations received by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas from 28 countries through 37 Philippine embassies and consulates.

In conferring the Awards, the president was assisted by DOLE Secretary Silvestro Bello III, DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, CFO Secretary and Chairperson Justice Francisco “Nick” Acosta, and OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac.

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by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

This screenshot from TIME Magazine shows Rappler CEO Maria Ressa (right), who is one of the journalists it has picked as Person of the Year. On left are photos representing imprisoned Reuters reporters Kyaw She Oo and Wa Lone of Myanmar.

Photo courtesy of TIME

ON Tuesday, Dec. 11, TIME Magazine released its yearly “Person of the Year” issue, and the magazine has chosen “The Guardians” — journalists who have been persecuted for their work.

Among the journalists given a black-andwhite cover included Maria Ressa, chief executive of Philippine news site Rappler; whose consistent, formidable reporting on the extrajudicial killings in the country, to put it lightly, caused a kerfuffle in the Duterte administration.

TIME writes, “In the Philippines, a 55-yearold woman named Maria Ressa steers Rappler, an online news site she helped found, through a superstorm of the two most formidable forces in the information universe: social media and a populist President with authoritarian inclinations. Rappler has chronicled the violent drug war and extrajudicial killings of President Rodrigo Duterte that have left some 12,000 people dead, according to a January estimate from Human Rights Watch.”

Last month, the Duterte administration indicted Rappler with charges on tax fraud, which could send Ressa to prison for up to 10 years.

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Dengvaxia ban likely to stay — DOH SWS: 3 in 5 Filipinos believe US will defend PH

by AJPRESS

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, December 11, said that the agency does not see Dengvaxia being used anytime soon despite its one-year ban coming to an end.

DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo, in an interview, noted that the one-year suspension of the marketing license of Dengvaxia will likely get an extension after December 29.

“The one-year suspension of the Certificate Product Registration (CPR) of Dengvaxia is not yet lifted and I don’t see it being lifted anytime soon,” Domingo said.

The administering of Dengvaxia was suspended on December 29, 2017 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after its manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur had failed to comply with post-marketing requirements.

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somewhat believe. Meanwhile, 9 percent said they do not believe U.S.’ commitment, and 30 percent ACCORDING to a Social Weather were undecided.

It also showed that 53 percent Stations survey released Wednesday, three in five Filipinos believe only learned about the 1951 Mututhat the United States’ defense al Defense Treaty (MDT) between commitment to the Philippines the two countries when the survey was conducted. The remaining is strong.

The survey showed 61 percent 47 percent were aware of such The dengue vaccination program was believe the U.S. will defend the agreement, and among them, 80 suspended by Health Secretary Francisco country, with 31 percent answering percent said they believe the US Duque III after Sanofi admitted in November strongly believe, and 30 percent u PAGE A2

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

2017 that it could cause severe dengue if given to those who have not had dengue.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel de Guzman

Former PNP chief promotes anti-illegal drug drive and senatorial bid in Las Vegas

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

AJPress

FORMER Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and senatorial candidate Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Monday, December 10, visited Filipino-Americans in Las Vegas, Nevada to promote his personal advocacy to campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs as well as talk about his senatorial bid.

“I am roaming around, propagating my personal advocacy which is the campaign against illegal drugs.

We are facing a very big problem. We need the help of everyone. The government cannot defeat this problem without the help of the Filipino people,” dela Rosa said in his speech.

The former police chief emphasized the importance of informing the Filipino community in the United Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief

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and senatorial candidate Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal

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december 13-19, 2018 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

SWS: 3 in 5 Filipino believe...

PAGE A1

will defend the Philippines if there was an invasion.

Awareness of Mutual Defense Treaty The highest number of those aware of the MDT was recorded in Metro Manila with 58 percent.

It was followed by balance Luzon with 53 percent. Visayas had 41 percent, while Mindanao had 31 percent.

55 percent were aware of the treaty in urban areas, while 38 percent were aware in rural areas.

When it came to socioeconomic classes, 51 percent of class ABC were aware of the treaty while class D had 49 percent and class E had 34 percent.

Among elementary graduates, awareness of the treaty was recorded at 67 percent; while 53 percent was recorded among

From The FronT Page non-elementary graduates who were aware.

The survey also registered a higher awareness of the MDT among people who were aware of the West Philippine Sea dispute, with 54 percent.

“The survey also found that previous awareness about the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty was highest among those with extensive knowledge about the PH-China dispute in the West Philippine Sea (73 percent),” SWS said.

Among those aware of the maritime dispute, 67 percent believe that the U.S. will defend the Philippines should an invasion happen.

The survey was conducted from June 27 to 30. It employed face-toface interviews among 1,200 adults nationwide, and had a sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“The Social Weather Survey items on people’s opinion about the PH-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty were non-commissioned. They were included on SWS’s own initiative and released as a public service,” SWS said. n

President Rodrigo Duterte takes a bow before scout ranger troopers, as he takes center stage during the awarding ceremony of 500 housing units to the personnel of the First Scout Ranger Regiment (1st SRR) at the Scout Ranger Ville in San Miguel, Bulacan on Monday, December 10.

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo

PH Congress approves martial law...

PAGE A1

and “public safety requires the continuation of martial law.”

He also argued that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies would be able “to finally put an end to the on-going rebellion in Mindanao and continue to prevent the same from escalating in other parts of the country” with PAGE A1 the help of the extension.

Ressa wasn’t the only Asian The martial law in Mindanao honoree of the esteemed cover.

Young Reuters reporters Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone are currently in prison in Myanmar for their consistent reporting on the deaths PAGE A1 of 10 Rohingya Muslims amid the According to Domingo, the ongoing ostracization and discrim- DOH does not see the product ination against the minority group being registered and sold again in Myanmar. in the country right after the oneAlso featured in the issue year suspension of its CPR. — called “The Guardians and the Health Secretary Francisco War on Truth — was investigative Duque III suspended the dengue Washington Post journalist Jamal vaccination program after Sanofi Khashoggi, whose mysterious kill- admitted in November 2017 that ing continues to breed speculation it could cause severe dengue if into abuse of power among those given to those who have not had who may be involved. dengue.

The staff at historical Maryland Pending regulatory and legal newspaper The Capital Gazette issues and the lack of testing kits also landed a cover for continu- to detect previous dengue infecing to “press on” after a gunman tion were cited by Duque as some entered their newsroom on June of the reasons that would stop the 28 and gunned down five of their return of Dengvaxia. colleagues.

“Even if the suspension is “For taking great risks in pursuit lifted, who will let themselves be of greater truths, for the imperfect vaccinated with Dengvaxia?” he but essential quest for facts that added. are central to civil discourse, for DOJ ends probe speaking up and for speaking out, Meanwhile, preliminary in‘The Guardians’ are the Person of vestigation on criminal charges the Year,” TIME editor Ed Felsen- against former health secretary thal wrote. n Paulyn Jean Ubial over the deaths of school children inoculated with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine has been concluded by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Investigating Assistant State

Filipina reporter Maria Ressa...

was first declared by Duterte on May 23, 2017, after the Islamic State-inspired Maute terrorist group attacked Marawi City.

He asked for an extension until December of the same year from the Congress, and then requested to extend it until the end of 2018 despite the government’s declaration of an end to fierce urban fighting in the war-torn area.

According to Article VII Section 18 of the Constitution, the presi-

dent may suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part of it under martial law for not more than 60 days if there is “invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it.”

The Congress, however, may extend it by a vote of at least a majority of all its members and upon the initiative of the president. The legislative branch may also choose to revoke such in the same manner. n

Dengvaxia ban likely to stay...

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Prosecutor Claire Eufracia Pagayanan has submitted the case for resolution. This is after the last hearing on Monday where Ubial submitted her rejoinder and sought dismissal of the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide for lack of basis.

Former Health Secretary Janette Garin, who is facing a string of criminal charges over the alleged Dengvaxia deaths filed by families of victims, filed the complaint against Ubial.

According to Ubial, the accusation of Garin that she should be held criminally liable because it was she who decided to shift the dengue immunization program from being school-based to community-based, contributing to the alleged deaths among immunized children, was “false and unfounded.”

Garin “merely surmises that the implementation of the Community-Based Dengue Immunization Program ‘may have’ contributed to ‘alleged reported deaths,’” she stressed.

Garin’s claim that the community-based implementation of the dengue immunization program was contrary to World Health Or-

ganization (WHO) recommendations that immunization programs should be school-based was also refuted by Ubial.

Ubial was “not negligent or imprudent in implementing the Community-Based Dengue Immunization Program,” she explained, and further said the decision to implement it was “a result of discussions by the (DOH) executive committee, consultations with medical experts and was supported by scientifically and medically backed-up research culled from several years of clinical trials.”

Garin served as health chief from December 2014 to June 2016, followed by Ubial, who was in the post from July 2016 to October 2017.

Garin and 37 other health officials, executives of Sanofi and its distributor Zuellig Pharma are currently facing a total of 29 cases for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and violations of the Anti-Torture and Consumer laws.

Ubial has not been charged in the cases because she would be used as a prosecution witness, the Public Attorney’s Office earlier explained. n

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Dela Rosa on Monday, December 10, visited Filipino-Americans in Las Vegas, Nevada to promote his personal advocacy to campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs as well as talk about his senatorial bid.

AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal

Former PNP chief Bato dela Rosa promotes...

PAGE A1 States regarding the current issues the country faces. He said that the community helped the country, citing that Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFWs’) remittances have greatly aided our economy.

“Dapat aware sila dahil they’re still Filipinos. Kung ‘di nila alam ang totoong nangyayari sa ating bansa, kawawa sila at kawawa ang pilipinas. Malaki ang naitulong nitong ating mga kababayan — Fil-Ams natin at saka OFWs. Malaking tulong ‘yan sa ating bansa. Take note that ang number one dollar-earner sa ating bansa ay remittance ng mga OFWs natin (They must be aware because they are still Filipinos. If they do not know what is happening in the country, it is bad for them and bad for the Philippines. They have been a great help, our countrymen — The FilAms and OFWs. They were a big help to the country.

Take note that the number one dollar-earner in the country are the remittances from the OFWs),” he added.

The former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director-general also amplified his stand against illegal drugs when he was asked on how he would use his experiences in the cabinet posts should he win for senator.

“Doon ko na-realize kung gaano

kalalim, gaano kalawak, gaano kabigat, gaano katindi ang problema ng droga sa Pilipinas. You can just imagine nakapag-surrender tayo ng 1.3 million drug users at drug pushers at may mga nahuli tayong more than 130,000 drug offenders. So ganoon talaga kalala ang problema ng droga sa ating bansa (I realized how rooted, broad, heavy and intense the drug problem is in the Philippines. You can just imagine that we made 1.3 million drug users and pushers voluntarily surrender. We also caught more than 130,000 drug offender. That is how we badly have the problem of drugs in our country),” he explained.

“At sa corrections naman doon ko narealize na kailangan pagtuunan ng pansin ang Bureau of Corrections dahil matagal na talaga ‘yang napabayaang ahensya kaya malaking problema.

Pagpasok ng inmate doon imbes na ma-correct lalong lumala ang kanyang pagiging sindikato dahil napabayaan talaga (I realized that we need to focus on the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) because it has been a disregarded agency for so long it became a big problem.

When an inmate enters, instead of being correct he becomes more involved in the syndicate because they don’t focus on it much),” the former police chief added.

Dela Rosa also expressed his

desire to restore the use of capital punishment as the most extreme sentence for drug traffickers in the country. He promised to author a bill that would reinstate the death penalty.

“On top of my agenda, if ever I win as a senator, is the restoration of the death penalty for drug traffickers, not drug users, not drug pushers, or small-time drug fiddlers. The ones who are funding our land with shabu,” the senatorial candidate vowed.

“In Bilibid, I have talked to these convicted drug lords coming from China. I asked ‘why did you insist on trafficking drugs to the Philippines. Why not to Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei’. (They said) ‘If we traffic drugs in these countries we will immediately be killed. Your laws are too easy’.

That is why wait until I become a senator and I will author a bill,” he added.

As the 2019 midterm elections draw near, the aspiring senator stated that his anti-drug advocacy was solely to maintain the peace and order in the Philippines. He promised to do his best for the country.

“We are doing our best to make you proud of our country. We are doing our best to make everyone safe. We are doing our best for you to become proud of your own people,” dela Rosa said. n

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 13-19, 2018

AD-10’s History Making Moment: Rochelle Nguyen and Nadia Hojjat LAS VEGAS, NV – The following is a joint statement from One APIA Nevada Vice Chair Sanje Sedera and South Asia Young Professionals Alliance Founder Reuben D’Silva regarding the vacancies and candidates in Nevada’s 10th Assembly District: In Nevada, Asian Pacific Islander Americans played a decisive and vital role in the sweeping victories Democrats saw up and down the ballot both in November 2016 and 2018. We self-organized, fundraised, registered voters, phonebanked in various languages, and knocked on countless doors. What we want and need now is a voice in the government, especially in our state government. Presently, there are zero APIA representatives

serving in the state legislature.

That can all change next Tuesday, November 18.

In Assembly District 10, we have two incredibly qualified APIA Candidates: Rochelle Nguyen and Nadia Hojjat. We have the opportunity to make history and to improve our state with either of their appointments.

Ms. Nguyen has demonstrated both a vested personal and professional commitment to bettering our immigration, legal, and health care systems and proven that, out of personal hardship, can come power. As the daughter of a refugee, she learned responsibility, dedication, and an infallible work ethic. A work ethic she has employed as a defense attorney, serving our community.

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Ms. Hojjat dedicated her life to the service and betterment of Nevadan, Democrats, and the APIA community. As a Chief Deputy Public Defender, she is well-versed in the Silver State’s laws and our strengths and weaknesses. She knows that a strong state serves all constituents - and is willing to fight for that vision: a Nevada with an economy, education system, and criminal justice system that works for all.

We have two qualified, remarkable candidates. Both of whom would make history and propel our state forward. We urge the State Assembly Caucus to endorse either Ms. Rochelle Nguyen or Ms. Nadia Hojjat to Assembly District 10. ■

Filipino skateboard champ makes TIME’s 25 influential teens

by FAYE

ORELLANA Inquirer.net

ASIAN Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal is among TIME Magazine’s “25 Most Influential Teens of 2018,” making the sole Filipino included on the list.

“This summer, the 19 year old from Cebu City, Philippines, won the gold medal in women’s street skateboarding competition at the Asian Games —and became a national hero in the process,” TIME said.

Those included on the list were determined by “accolades

across numerous fields, global impact through social media and overall ability to drive news.”

Didal rose to prominence after bagging the gold medal in the women’s street skateboard competition during 2018 Asian Games held JSC SkateBoard Stadium in Palembang last April.

Didal finished with an average mark 30.4 points, 5.4 more than silver medalist Isa Kaya of Japan who had 25.

TIME said that Didal’s win paved a way for the public to consider skateboarding as a se-

rious sport in the Philippines.

“I want to build a new generation of skaters for the future,” she told Time.

Apart from Didal, actresses Millie Bobby Brown, Storm Reid, Kiernan Shipka, Joey King and Korean boy group NCT Dream were also included on the list.

Also part of the annual list of the magazine were French footballer Kylian Mpabbe and American snowboarder Chloe Kim. In 2017, two Filipino teens were included in the annual listing of influential teens around the globe. ■

‘Return of Balangiga bells time for...

PAGE A1 sul in Miami, Florida, shouldered the cost of bells’ refurbishing the bells and transporting them from Wyoming to Philadelphia.

Two of the bells were initially displayed as a memorial at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming while the third one was at a U.S. Army regiment in South Korea.

Other than being spoils of war, the Balangiga bells symbolize unity and national identity, according to Lorenzana.

“How could mere three church bells evoke so much intense emotion among Filipinos and Americans? Maybe because we human beings live by symbols such as our national flag and, in this instance, these bells,” Lorenzana said.

Replicas of the historic bells

will replace the original ones that were repatriated to the Philippines.

Closure to ‘painful episode of history’ The Defense secretary expressed hopes that the return of the bells would serve as closure and would no longer remind both countries of “that painful episode of our joint history.”

Lorenzana also quoted U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis who previously said, “To those who think that we are losing something by returning the bells, please hear me out when I say that the bells mark time but courage is timeless. It does not fade in history in dimly-lit corridors nor is it forgotten in this history of conflict.

For Washington, the return of

the Balangiga bells reflect the Philippines-U.S. relationship, which Ambassador Kim described as “enduring and deeply personal.”

“The bells’ return reflects the strong bonds and mutual respect between our nations and our peoples. It demonstrates our determination to honor the past and the sacrifices made together

by Filipinos and Americans. And it heralds our bright future as friends, partners, and allies,” Kim said during the handover ceremony.

Following the ceremony at Villamor Air Base, the bells are expected to be returned to their original home, the Church of San Lorenzo de Martir in Balangiga, Eastern Samar. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com)

The public paid its respects on Monday, Dec. 3 at the casket for former President George H. W. Bush lying in state at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Official White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

The late George H.W. Bush remembered for sponsoring a Filipino child nearly 20 years ago Funeral held for 41st US President at Washington National Cathedral

by RAE

ANN VARONA AJPress

THE late former President George H.W.Bush who passed away on Friday, November 30 is said to have begun sponsoring a young Filipino boy under a pseudonym some 20 years ago.

Through Compassion International, a Colorado Springs-based nonprofit, the 41st President of the United States sponsored the boy named Timothy and used the pseudonym “George Walker,” according to the nonprofit.

To the Colorado Springs Gazette, Wess Stafford, president emeritus at Compassion, said the pseudonym was also for the young boy’s safety as he could have been in danger had others known he was communicating with a former president.

Yet that didn’t stop Bush from occasionally slipping in some clues to his true identity, added Stafford.

“The first time he started breaking our little security rules was when he sent a picture of his dog, Millie, and he added, ‘This Is Millie. She’s met lots

of famous people,” The Gazette quoted Stafford saying while laughing. “And I thought, ‘OK, that’s cute, but boy, that’s starting to slip some littler secrets in there.’

The sponsorship started around 2000 in Washington, D.C., after Bush attended a Christmas concert, according to the report. When performers asked during intermission if anyone wanted information about sponsoring a child, George Sr. was among those that quickly rose his hand.

Two weeks later, Timothy got his first letter from the former president — the first of many handwritten notes and hand drawn pictures.

Stafford recalled Bush sending Timothy a package full of colored pencils after learning that the young boy liked art.

“He really threw himself into it,” Stafford told The Gazette. “He would write to little Timothy and Timothy would write to him, and anything that Timothy said that was interesting, President Bush would write right back with a comment on

it. You know, ‘Thank you for the picture of that beautiful rainbow. You know, we had a rainbow like that right outside my house just last week.’ He was everything that we wish all of our sponsors would be. He was engaged in this little child’s life.”

Though Timothy got a new sponsor years later due to Bush’s busier schedule, Stafford described Timothy as being dumbfounded and speechless when his new sponsor Angie Lathrop told him about Bush.

“It’s amazing enough that anyone would care about them but it was beyond his wildest imagination and even his ability to comprehend that the president of the United States knew his name,” said Stafford.

Funeral for late president held at Washington National Cathedral A service was held on Wednesday, December 5 at the Washington National Cathedral for Bush, who passed away on Friday, November 30 at the age of 94, after battling Vascular PAGE A4

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Part of Los Angelesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Temple Street proposed to be renamed after Larry Itliong

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

LOS Angeles Filipino-American organizations and community leaders are seeking to rename a portion of a main Historic Filipinotown street to honor the Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong who led the famous Delano Grape Strike in 1965.

A proposal to rename part of Temple Street that traverses Historic Filipinotown to Larry Itliong Avenue has already been submitted to the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

It was also sent to Councilmembers Mitch Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Farrell of the 13th District covering Historic Filipinotown, Gil Cedillo of the First District covering Echo Park, and Jose Huizar of the 14th District covering downtown Los Angeles where the east end of the proposed Larry Itliong Avenue would start.

Leading the proposal are the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) and the Media and Business Club of Los Angeles County (MBC).

The neighborhood of Historic Filipinotown was designated in 2002 when Garcetti was still the councilmember of the area.

Larry Itliong Avenue would start on Figueroa St. in downtown Los Angeles and would go up westward to Silver Lake Boulevard and Virgil Avenue, according to the proposal.

Known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;one of the fathers of the West Coast labor movement,â&#x20AC;? the Pangasinan-born Itliong headed the Great Delano Grape Strike in 1965 along with Filipinos Philip Vera Cruz, Benjamin Gines, and Pete Velasco.

Itliong and his group were later joined by Mexican workers under the National Farm Workers Association which was led by the Mexican labor leader Cesar Chavez. Together, they led the grape strike that eventually led to the formation of the United Farm Workers which consisted of Filipino and Mexican farm workers.

A portion of Los Angelesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sunset Boulevard had been renamed in 1993 after Chavez despite the fact that Itliong, having fought for workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rights since as early as the 1930s, preceded both Chavez and the great Martin Luther King Jr. in the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fight for civil rights.

A meeting is slated for December 20 with Mayor Garcetti who authored the bill that renamed the portion of Temple-

Beverly Corridor as Historic Filipinotown back in 2002.

Among the organizations endorsing the proposal are the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), and elected Fil-Am officials including Cerritos Mayor Mark Pulido and Carson Councilmember Elito Santarina.

Supporters also include the Fil-Am Chambers of Commerce, and organizations across Southern California and Historic Filipinotown including the Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Association, Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), Filipino American Service Groups Inc. (FASGI), the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), Philippine Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club and the Knights of Rizal.

Presidents of the various FIlipino organizations are currently in the works of signing a joint petition.

They say that it would be a â&#x20AC;&#x153;source of prideâ&#x20AC;? and bring recognition to the Filipinos who live in LA County, especially the nearly 10,000 Filipinos who live and have businesses in Historic Filipinotown. n

The Late George H.W. Bush remembered for...

PAGE A3 Parkinsonism for years.

Among those present were his son George W. Bush, current President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, former President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter, and former President Bill Clinton and 2016 Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton among others.

In a 12-minute tribute, George W. Bush â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the 43rd president of the United States â&#x20AC;&#x201D; described his father as being the â&#x20AC;&#x153;brightest of 1,000 points of light.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;He looked for the good in each person, and he usually found it,â&#x20AC;? said the younger Bush during the serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main eulogy.

He went on to talk of how his father showed him what it meant to a president â&#x20AC;&#x153;who serves with integrity, leads with

courage and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country.â&#x20AC;?

He continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Through our tears, let us see the blessings of knowing and loving you â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a great and noble man, and the best father a son or daughter could have.â&#x20AC;?

Referring to his late mother Barbara Bush and his sister Pauline â&#x20AC;&#x153;Robinâ&#x20AC;? Bush who died at three years old, he added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;And in our grief, let us smile knowing Dad is hugging Robin and holding Momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand again.â&#x20AC;?

Former Canada Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, former Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming, and the late Bushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biographer Jon Meacham also gave their tributes. His granddaughter Lauren Bush Lauren, Jenna Bush Hager, and Ashley Walker Bush delivered readings.

On Thursday, December 6, Bushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s casket took a final journey aboard a Union Pacific Lo-

comotive 4141 train â&#x20AC;&#x201D; named the Bush 4141 in his honor â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to College Station, Texas.

Bush was known to have been fond of trains, once saying he preferred it over the Air Force One. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I had one of these when I was president, I might have left Air Force One behind,â&#x20AC;? said Bush at the trainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unveiling in 2005.

The locomotive was specially made with clear side panels and allowed people to pay their respects. Thousands of people lined up with flags and signs in honor of the late commander in chief.

The 4,300-horsepower train traveled from Houston where a second memorial service took place at St. Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Episcopal Church, to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Memorial where Barbara Bush and Robin Bush were also interred in a family plot. n

Twenty-five Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas Awardees were recognized by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in a ceremony on Wednesday, December 5 at Malacaùang Palace.  Photo courtesy of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas

Fil-Am individuals and organizations among...

PAGE A1 â&#x20AC;&#x153;OFWs are the lifeblood of the nation. As appreciation for all your hardships, you have my assurance that the protection and promotion of your welfare and well-being will remain as one this administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top priorities,â&#x20AC;? Duterte said in his speech during the awarding ceremony. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This nation will always recognize your invaluable contribution to nation-building, and this administration will continue to craft policies and implement programs that will respond to your needs and protect your rights,â&#x20AC;? he added. He also urged the OFWs to remain committed to their families â&#x20AC;&#x153;as we work towards a more equitable progressive future for our country.â&#x20AC;?

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas is led by Acosta who said in his welcome message, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Filipino nation honors you not only for your wide-ranging achievements but more for your advocacy in behalf of the marginalized, distressed, and underprivileged.â&#x20AC;?

He also encouraged the awardees to â&#x20AC;&#x153;become our emissaries abroad.â&#x20AC;?

PAFIOO is a biennial search for individuals and organizations based abroad who have dedicated their work in the service of Filipinos. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidential awardees come from 12 countries and territories and had gone through a four-stage selection process involving multi-sectoral representation.

The Awards have four categories: Banaag, Pamana ng Pilipino, Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL), and Kaanib ng

Bayan.

The Banaag Award is conferred on Filipino individuals or organizations for their contributions that have significantly benefited or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.

The Banaag awardees are Corazon A. Francisco (Australia), Agnes Katbeth O. Kreimer (Peru), Dindo B. Malanyaon (Italy), Juliet Montano (Taiwan), Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California (United States), Maria Cristina F. Sulaik (Sudan), and Wimler Foundation Hong Kong, Ltd. (Hong Kong).

The Pamana ng Pilipino Award is conferred on Filipino overseas, who, in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought the country honor and recognition through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession. The Pamana ng Pilipino awardees are Paul C. Balan (United States), Edward M. Brotonel (United States), Nicolas M. Caraquel (United States), Elizabeth L. Engle (United States), Maria Theresa A. Eviota (Switzerland), Pedro A. Jose (United States), Teresita A. Marques (Portugal), C. Joe Sayas, Jr. (United States), Jose Dennis C. Teodosio (Myanmar), Saturnino H. Tiamson, Jr. (Hong Kong), Jhett D. Tolentino (United States).

The LINKAPIL Award is conferred on Filipino individuals or organizations for exceptional or significant contributions to the reconstruction, progress and development of the Philippines.

The LINKAPIL awardees are Association of Fil-Am Teachers of America, Inc. (United States),

Salvacion G. Cimanez (Netherlands), Filipino-American Law Enforcement Officers Association (United States), Friends Indeed U.S.A., Inc. (United States), and Hilda L. Gigioli (United States).

The Kaanib ng Bayan Award is conferred to foreign individuals or organizations for their exceptional or significant contribution to Philippine reconstruction, progress and development, or have significantly benefited a sector or community in the Philippines, or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.

The Kaanib ng Bayan awardees are Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (Singapore), and Stichting LOOP (Netherlands).

After the conferment of PAFIOO, the president also awarded the OFWs with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 2018 MOFYA. MOFYA is given to promote success stories of OFWs amid the challenges of overseas employment and to highlight the role of OFW families as units in achieving socio-civic, education and professional success.

The 2018 MOFYA awardees are engineer Mohammad Ali Sulay Urao and family (outstanding achievement in community projects); engineer Arnulfo Navarro Geganto and family (in entrepreneurship); Josefina dela Chica Villamor and family (Model OFW Family of the Year: land-based); and Domingo Cuanang Jr. and family, Reynaldo Granada Gaitan and family, and Gemelito Geloca and family (sea-based OFW family). (AJPress)

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 13-19, 2018

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Dateline PDuterte hiliPPines warns 2019 poll bets: ‘Do not

A

intimidate, let them choose who they want’

by AJPress

PLANNED MAKATI SUBWAY- Makati Mayor Abby Binay (3rd right), Makati Vice-Mayor Monique Lagdameo ( 2nd from right), and former Vice President Jejomar Binay (left) view the scale model of the planned Makati Public Rail Transport or Subway project that will benefit thousands of commuters and create new jobs for at least 6,000 people, during the unveiling ceremony at the Makati City Hall on Wednesday, December 12. The multi-million-dollar project is a joint venture between local and foreign investors. Mayor Binay said it will be her legacy to the residents of Makati.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Sandiganbayan sets 2019 trial for Enrile plunder case

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

The plunder trial of former Senator Juan Ponce enrile for allegedly receiving P172.8 million in kickbacks from projects funded by his office’s pork barrel will finally start in 2019 by the Sandiganbayan Third Division. it is set to begin on February 19, 2019 by the anti-graft court’s third division.

Due to the Supreme Court granting the former senator’s request for a Bill of Particulars, which required the prosecution to specify to the tiniest details its evidence against enrile, his plunder case has been stuck at the pre-trial level for years. it has caused years-long worth of pre-trial conferences at the third division.

The Supreme Court also granted him bail, which gave enrile his freedom for more than three years. enrile is also charged for 15 counts of graft over the scam.

Two women are crucial links to enrile — his former chief of staff Gigi Reyes, and socialite Ruby Tuason who said she got kickbacks for enrile from Janet limnapoles, and she coursed them through Reyes.

Reyes, who allegedly signed endorsement letters to napoles nGO, has has been detained for four years; meanwhile, Tuason

Former senator Juan Ponce Enrile

has been turned into a state witness.

Estrada trial For former senator Jinggoy estrada’s plunder case, the defense is set to start its presentation of evidence after the prosecution rested its case. estrada is charged for 11 counts of graft for allegedly receiving P183.793 in kickbacks from his pork barrel, as reported

by Rappler. Supposedly, some of it were personally delivered

by Tuason to his San Juan City home. it was recently ruled by the Supreme Court that the Sandiganbayan can use explosive Anti-Money laundering Council (AMlC) report as evidence,

Inquirer.net photo

which shows estrada under declared his cash assets from 2006 to 2012. estrada was also shown in the report withdrawing a total of P76.446 million from four bank accounts in September 2013, at the height of the exposé on the pork barrel scandal.

The report also shows that estrada transferred millions of pesos to accounts under the names Gregorio (P42.849 million), Rolando Francisco (P20.7 million), Juan ng (P29.904 million), and Reynaldo Pazcoguin (P11.9 million).

After the special 5th division granted him bail, estrada has been free since September 2017. n

the Manila Cathedral, which was celebrating its 60th anniversary since its postwar restoration.

Also present were Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, former CBCP president lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas and CBCP vice president Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.

The other bishops in attendance came from the dioceses of Baguio, Pampanga, lucena, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato and

Zamboanga, thereby showing that the Manila Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Philippines.

MAnilA — During mass at Just before the mass ended, the Manila Cathedral on Monday, Manila Cathedral rector Fr. RegiDecember 10, the public gave nald Malicdem said that he was bishops a 30-second applause inspired by the second reading to express support to the church during the mass. leaders who are being criticized by “Many might be saddened by President Rodrigo Duterte. the events that are taking place Manila Archbishop luis Anin our society. We want to tell our tonio Cardinal Tagle was joined bishops the words from the second by some 20 other bishops during letter of Paul to the Corinthians 4: the concelebrated mass for the 8-9,” Malicdem said. rite of dedication of the altar of The two Bible verses read: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” he expressed his gratitude to the prelates who officiated the mass and asked those present, numbering around 2,000, to show their love to the bishops by applauding for them.

The bishops have recently been at the receiving end of the President’s tirades with accusations that 90 percent of them are gay and that Bishop David stole from Church coffers to give to his family and that he might be involved in illegal drugs.

Duterte also said, for dramatic Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle was joined by some 20 other bishops during the concelebrated mass for the rite of dedication of the altar of the Manila Cathedral, which was effect and only as a hyperbole, that celebrating its 60th anniversary since its postwar restoration. bishops should be killed because Philstar.com photo by Miguel de guzman they only criticize him. n

MacaiRan Philstar.com

House OKs draft federal charter on 3rd reading

The hOUSe of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the draft charter seeking a shift to the federal system of government.

Voting 224-22-3, lawmakers passed on Tuesday, December 11 the amended Resolution of Both houses (RBh) 15, which proposes revisions to the 1987 Constitution.

On October 2, the house constitutional amendments panel approved without amendments RBh 15 as introduced by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and 21 other lawmakers.

The resolution, filed on September 19, is different from the draft federal charter of the 22-member Consultative Committee (ConCom) originally tasked to propose amendments to the Constitution.

“Many provisions of the 1987 Constitution have already served, if not outlived their purpose, hence the sustained clamor over the years for amendments to or revision of the constitution finds

democracy which is surrendering the selection of leaders to the will of the people. he said that the choice of the majority should dictate who will be the rightful person in public office.

“That’s the will of the people. it’s the will of God. iyon ang pinili ng tao. eh, di pasensiya (That’s who the people chose. That’s just too bad for us). You might not like him, but if it’s their free will, it’s the choice of the people. Do not mess it up,” he said.

The commander-in-chief also issued an order to government officials and members of the military — soldiers and police alike, not to express favor towards any politician, even if they are allied with the administration.

“One thing also is we are observing the election period. i would like to remind everybody in government, everybody especially the Armed Forces and police. Do not take sides either for or against any party. Don’t interfere,” he said. “huwag kayong magkampanya (Don’t campaign for) and do not favor any candidate whatsoever,” he added. “That is the mandate of the Constitution. And we will stick by it,” Duterte added. n

Antonio Trillanes IV leaves for US, Europe

Churchgoers applaud Catholic bishops amid attacks by evelyn

PhiliPPine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 10, warned all candidates for the 2019 midterm elections not to intimidate Filipino voters into voting for them or their allies regardless of their political affiliations to the president.

“Ke kasama kita sa gobyerno, kasama kita sa partido o kalaban kita sa politika (Whether you’re a colleague in government, a political ally, or a political opponent). Do not terrorize, do not intimidate, do not create fear in the voters,” Duterte warned.

Duterte made it clear during the military housing project in San Miguel, Bulacan that he will not tolerate nor permit any candidate to bully their voters into choosing them for a certain government position. “i would just like to inform, i want to tell the candidates and that goes for the entire Philippines, during my watch, in my time, i will not allow you,” the president added as reported by Rappler.

Aside from offering to arrest politicians himself, the strong-

mouthed leader delivered some threatening remarks to those who dare not to follow his orders. he presented his punishment in mind in a graphic and detailed manner. “‘Pag ginawa ‘nyo ‘yan, ako mismo pupunta doon at ako mismo mag-aresto sa ‘yo at ako mismo maghila sa inyo. Talian kita sa leeg, doon sa gilid ng eroplano (If you do that, I myself will go to you and arrest you and drag you.

I will tie you around the neck. I will tie it to a wheel of a plane and take off),” he warned. he urged the candidates to leave the decision to the voters. he noted that even if they would not like the attitude of those who will win they must deal with it because those are the government officials the people have chosen. “hayaan mo ang tao kung sino ang piliin nila — maski piliin nila yung parang aso ‘yung ugali. e pasensiya tayo (Let the people choose who they want – even if they choose someone who behaves like a dog. That’s just too bad for us),” Duterte said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer. he emphasized the importance of giving in to the call of

justification in the need to provide, among other much needed socio-economic and political reforms, a long-term solution to the decades-old conflict in Mindanao and regional economic development in the countryside,” the resolution read.

Arroyo’s proposal, while aiming to retain a presidential form of government, gives Congress the power to create federal states.

Among the controversial provisions of the measure is the lifting of term limits for each member of the Senate and the house of Representatives, with each term lasting for four years.

The chairman of the house Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Rep. Vicente Veloso, had insisted that removing term limits was a unanimous decision among lawmakers.

The 1987 Constitution imposes a two-term limit for senators and a three-term limit for house members.

The draft charter also requires

lawmakers to have at least a college degree.

The president and vice president will serve for four years, with one reelection.

Their powers and functions are the same as that in the 1987 Constitution. however, both officials must come from the same political party and must be elected as a team.

RBh 15 initially provided that the Senate president is in the first line of succession during the transition period, instead of the vice president. But on november 12, the panel brought back Vice President Maria leonor “leni” Robredo to the first place in the line of succession following public backlash.

Deliberations on the measure were conducted for three session days. RBh 15 will be transmitted to the Senate for its approval.

Senate leaders had said the move to amend the Constitution would be “dead on arrival” in the chamber. (ManilaTimes.net)

MAnilA — Sen. Antonio Trillanes iV took the 3 a.m. eva Air flight at the ninoy Aquino international Airport (nAiA) Terminal 1 on Tuesday, December 11 for trips to the United States and europe.

Wearing a black coat, Trillanes presented to airport immigration officers his passport and travel clearance issued by a Makati judge handling his rebellion case.

Judge elmo Alameda of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 had granted Trillanes’ request to travel to some parts of europe and the U.S. “Taking therefore into account the previous conduct demonstrated by Senator Trillanes and the purpose of his travel, coupled with the fact that he is not considered a flight risk, the court is persuaded to grant his request to travel abroad,” Alameda said

recently.

Alameda also said the permission to allow Trillanes to travel abroad came after he posted P200,000 bail for his rebellion case, which was revived after he upheld President Duterte’s Proclamation no. 572.?Duterte’s proclamation has nullified the amnesty granted to Trillanes.

Alameda said in a previous report that the hold departure order issued against him is temporarily lifted.

Trillanes’ lawyer Reynaldo Robles recently asked Alameda to allow the senator to attend several events in Amsterdam, the netherlands; Barcelona in Spain and london in the United Kingdom from Dec. 11, 2018 to Jan. 12, 2019.

Trillanes is also set to attend events in California, Washington and Maryland in the US. The Department of Justice filed

Wearing a black coat, Trillanes presented to airport immigration officers his passport and travel clearance issued by a Makati judge handling his rebellion case.

Philstar.com photo by Rudy Santos

a motion asking the court to stop Trillanes from leaving the country, claiming he is considered a flight risk pending his cases in the court and in several local courts in Metro Manila. (Philstar.com)

A6

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DECEMBER 13-19, 2018 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Not so guilty

FEATURES

THE prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. But the Sandiganbayan found sufficient basis to order former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to return, together with his co-defendants, P124.5 million in connection with the pork barrel scam.

The anti-graft court found accused scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and Richard Cambe, a member of Revilla’s staff in his Senate office, guilty of plunder and sentenced them to life in prison. But the court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that Revilla actually received over P224.5 million for endorsing funds from his pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund to nine bogus non-government organizations set up by Napoles.

Also given weight by the court was the testimony of a handwriting analyst presented by the defense, who declared that Revilla’s signatures on the letters of funding endorsements were forged.

Set aside by the court were the documented money trail provided by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the unwavering testimony of scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy, as well as

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s response to reporters last November when asked about who should be Person of the Year: “Trump…I can’t imagine anybody else other than Trump, can you imagine anybody else other than Trump?”

His bubble of self-aggrandizing must have painfully burst when the very people he has been denigrating, demonizing and undermining have been the ones who got the distinction he has been obsessing about for a long time.

TIME Magazine’s 2018 Person of the Year went to “The Guardians,” the honor awarded to journalists who, in their pursuit of the truth, had paid the sacrifice of being harassed, imprisoned, and even killed.

According to the reporting of NBC News, the age we we live in now is a dangerous time to be

SUNG KIM

THIS morning (Tuesday, December 11), a U.S. Air Force plane bearing three historic bells from San Lorenzo de Martir Church in Balangiga landed at Villamor Air Force Base.

These bells were taken 117 years ago; it was my honor to return them. Their safe return is thanks to the efforts of U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, supported by President Trump, and is driven by respect for the Philippines, our friend, partner, and ally.

It has been a long road home for these bells, which were caught up in the aftermath of the tragic conflict that raged across this archipelago at the turn of the last century. The U.S. Army’s 9th Infantry Regiment, whose C Company was garrisoned at Balangiga, returned with one of the bells to its home garrison in Sackets Harbor, New York. This bell followed the Regiment to subsequent assignments, most recently residing at a U.S. Army base in South Korea.

The two other bells were sent to Fort D.A. Russell in Cheyenne, Wyoming with the 11th Infantry Regiment, where the bells were displayed as part of a memorial to fallen U.S. service members.

Good hearted individuals and groups labored for decades to bring the bells home. Former presidents, Cabinet secretaries, Philippine and U.S. ambassadors, historians, philanthropists

committed.

An acquittal can no longer be appealed, so Revilla is home free. His lawyer stressed that the burden of proof rests on the accuser. But he may appeal his conviction on the civil aspect all the way to the Supreme Court, so he may even be spared from returning the P124.5 million.

While Cambe must prepare to spend the rest of his life in prison, Revilla was released from detention yesterday, and can now freely move around in preparation for the official start of his bid to return to the Senate. The court of public opinion can deliver its own verdict on his case in May. (Philstar. com)

Philstar.com photo

Sorry President Trump: Journalists you call “Enemy of the People” and Special Counsel Robert Mueller beat you in TIME’s ‘Person of the Year’ journalists with what has been happening to the world. “With a record number of reporters behind bars around the planet — the Committee to Protect Journalists documented 262 cases in 2017 — an avalanche of misinformation on social media and government officials from the United States to the Philippines dismissing critical, real reporting as “fake news.”

In the TIME Magazine cover are four pictures of these courageous journalists who have all been targeted for doing their job. Among them is the Philippines’ very own, Maria Ressa of Rappler.

According to NBC News, “The former CNN bureau chief started the online news site ‘Rappler’ in 2012 and has reported critically on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.” According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, that coverage earned the site a “campaign of legal harassment” from Duterte’s Department of

Justice.”

Another journalist honored, albeit posthumously, was Jamal Khashoggi, whose brutal killing had been widely talked about internationally.

As NBC News reported, “The Washington Post columnist and United States resident penned columns critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — and was brutally killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, in October.” The CIA has concluded with “high confidence” that bin Salman ordered his murder, although Trump has seemingly dismissed that assessment, saying, “It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!”

Also honored are four journalists and sales associate who were gunned down in a mass shooting at Maryland’s state capital newspaper, The Capital Gazette, in June. According

to NBC News, authorities said the assailant — who had sued the newspaper and lost after it reported on his guilty plea in a criminal harassment case — targeted the paper in a “coordinated attack.”

“The Guardians” also included Myanmar journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. As NBC News reported, “A judge in Myanmar sentenced the pair of Reuters journalists to seven years in prison in September.

Their crime? Breaking a colonial-era state secrets law while reporting on the military’s mass killing of Rohingya Muslims.”

RUNNER -UP: Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the man tasked to head the independent probe investigating the alleged conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia in damaging Clinton’s campaign to help Trump win the presidency.

Trump has been characterizing Mueller as “conflicted,” “not the man you think he is” and the

Returning the Balangiga bells

Commentary U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES

the fact that the charged offense involved a conspiracy, in which there may be no direct line leading to the head of the office where the plunder of public funds was

and many others worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the history of the bells and to advocate for their dignified return.

Others viewed the bells in a very different light. In the state of Wyoming, some U.S. military veterans expressed their belief that the two bells housed there were an integral part of a war memorial that should not be deconstructed or disturbed. In the fall of 1999, Congress passed legislation that made it unlawful to remove the two bells from the memorial on the base, challenging efforts to lobby for their return.

The turning point in this century-long saga came in October of this past year during the 2017 ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting in Clark. Secretary Mattis met with Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana to discuss security cooperation and opportunities to further strengthen the U.S.-Philippine defense relationship. At this meeting, SND Lorenzana raised the issue of the “Balangiga Bells.” Later that day, in a meeting with President Duterte, Secretary Mattis stated definitively that it would be his personal initiative to find a way to return these religious artifacts. In the Secretary’s words, “all wars end,” and it was time to heal a wound that had strained the U.S.-Philippines relationship for too long. Following this important meeting, I maintained direct communication with the Secretary and my colleagues and I worked with his outstanding staff to ensure the bells’ swift return.

In Washington, Secretary

Mattis sought legislation that would make it legally permissible to return the bells. Members of Congress and senior officials in the Department of State and National Security Council endorsed returning the bells. The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars both passed national resolutions supporting the bells’ return. These unambiguous expressions of support clearly demonstrate the special bond veterans and the U.S. public share with the Philippine people.

On August 9, Secretary Mattis announced his intent to return the bells, which began a legallyrequired 90-day waiting period.

On Nov. 14, the Secretary traveled to F.E. Warren Air Force Base and, in a solemn ceremony, officially informed Philippine Ambassador to the United States Babe Romualdez that the bells would at last be returned to the Philippines. At the culmination of his moving speech, he turned to Ambassador Romualdez and asked him to “bear these bells home, back to the

Russia probe a “witch hunt.”

According to TIME, “Mueller has spoken only through his work: in the hundreds of pages of known court filings, some of which laid out Moscow’s alleged plots to help Donald Trump win the presidency; in the 34 people and entities he charged with crimes this year; in the plea deals he made with Trump’s former lawyer, former campaign chairman and another top campaign aide. Beyond that: Nothing. No interviews. No press conferences. No tweets.

No leaks.”

“Mueller’s silence has invited noisy speculation from partisans. To critics on the right, he is an overzealous prosecutor drunk on power and roaming beyond his mandate in a bid to drum Trump out of office. To liberals, he is a crusading hero who won’t quit until he brings the president to justice. The public narrative of Mueller’s investigation this year has often

described its central character more as myth than man.”

TIME’S commentary comparing Trump and Mueller is spot on: “Trump and Mueller could hardly be more different.

One created a public persona as the embodiment of gaudy capitalism; the other is a reticent patrician, driven and serious, who’s devoted his life to institutions. One embodies disruption, the other consistency.

One flouts the rules, the other enforces them. One is the avatar of disorder, the other the personification of order. Nothing less than core principles of American justice and self-government are at stake in their struggle.” ***

Catholic Church, confident that America’s ironclad alliance with the Philippines is stronger than ever.” And so the bells began their journey home.

This decision to return the bells is consistent with our values and overwhelmingly viewed as the right thing to do. From World War II to today’s struggle to defeat ISIS and the scourge of terrorism, our militaries have fought together, bled together, at times died together. As your ally and friend, we will forever honor and respect this shared history.

Today we do not focus on looking back or relitigating a

painful chapter in our past but investing in our shared future.

In Secretary Mattis’ words, “In returning the Bells of Balangiga to our ally and our friend – the Philippines – we pick up our generation’s responsibility to deepen the respect between our peoples.” Ours is a close friendship, and we do not take it for granted. Strengthening and maintaining it requires sustained commitment and investment. To these bells — the Bells of San Lorenzo De Martir — welcome home. We wish you safe onward travel to Samar and your church in Balangiga. (Philstar.com)

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

After 117 years, the three Balangiga Bells, taken as war booties by U.S. troops during the height of the Philippine-American War, have returned on Tuesday, December 11. The Balangiga Bells were brought by U.S. Air Force C-130 Spirit MC Arthur at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

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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Journal

Another Fil-Am puts his mark Filipina-American newcomer H.E.R. nabs 5 on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Grammy noms, including Album of the Year

by Scott

Garceau Philstar.com

INCLUSIVENESS is something the Marvel Cinematic Universe has strived towards since the “Avengers” rollout began, culminating in the universal mash-up that was “Infinity War”.

Now, that inclusiveness is set to cross over to the multiverse, and “Spider-Man,” a sometime player in the MCU, is bringing it all back home. Coming out Dec. 12, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is an animated entry introducing Brooklyn African-American/Puerto Rican teen Miles Morales, coming face to face with the unlimited possibilities of the Spider-Verse, originally birthed in the 2011 Marvel comic by Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli.

Miles, bitten by a radioactive

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

Expect a multitude of mask-wearing webslingers in the new animated entry, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”

Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios

spider, finds he has special talents, just like Peter Parker did. Parker shows up as an older, half-baked mentor (“like Mr. Miyagi, if Mr. Miyagi doesn’t know anything,” says screenwriter Phil Lord) and Miles quickly learns there are an PAGE B4

Sony Pictures Animation storyboard artist Louie Del Carmen: “Telling and sharing stories was very much a part of us growing up in Cavite City.”

Philstar.com photo

Miss Universe bet Catriona Gray shows original lighting up parol costume

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray

AFTER a sudden malfunction in her national costume that was supposed to light up during the National Costume competition on December 10, Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray posted on social media the original look of her Christmas lantern costume, with its lights now working.

On her Instagram account, Catriona posted a video dressed in the elegant national costume, which is now blinking because of the lights.

Gray said she was saddened that the lights on her costume did not work. “On the day itself and on the time that I walked out of stage, yung ilaw ko, or the lights, they weren’t working and I am really really sad about it,” Gray was quoted by Pep.ph as saying.

On her Instagram post, she also expounded on the inspiration behind her costume’s design, with Luzon representing “Magdiwang,” Visayas as “Lumaban” and Mindanao as “Pagyamanin.”

“The island group of LUZON is represented by the world-renowned ‘PAROL/CHRISTMAS LANTERN’ from the province of Pampanga with a BRASS BORDER designed and made in Apalit, Pampanga,” she wrote.

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THE Recording Academy announced the nominations for the 61st Grammy Awards and 21-year-old R&B singer Gabi Wilson — known by her stage name H.E.R. — received five nominations, including Album of the Year.

Wilson — who is half-Filipina, half-African American — was also nominated for Best New Artist, Best R&B Performance (for the song “Best Part” feat. Daniel Caesar), Best R&B Song (“Focus”) and Best R&B Album for her selftitled compilation album.

In response to her Grammy nominations, Wilson posted on Instagram last week with an all-caps caption, “I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREATEST TEAM Photos courtesy of Instagram/@hermusicofficial IN THE WORLD. IT’S BEEN A LOOONNNG [sic] TIME COMING! work also has to do with who she ing on NPR, “This project came GOD IS GOOD.” is as an artist seeking to separate from an emotion, and that’s what Wilson emerged in 2016 when, her art from celebrity, explainPAGE B6 through her record label Sony’s RCA Records, she released her first extended play (EP) “H.E.R. Volume 1” as H.E.R. (which stands for Having Everything Revealed).

Wilson — whose identity was revealed in late 2017 — was 19 years old when her that first EP was released, and she said she wanted to remain anonymous because “I feel like maybe some people wouldn’t have accepted the music if they knew I was 19.

Some people, they make these assumptions before they even listen to the music,” she told NW Asian Weekly.

And there may be some truth to that reasoning. Her body of work mainly consists of dreamy, yet low-tempo R&B ballads, and the soft maturity in her voice and lyrics make for what Apple Music described as “downcast postbreakup material that sounded vulnerable and assured at once.”

The enigmatic nature of her

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Feed2Succeed: How three high school students found a way to feed young students in the Philippines

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

“I THINK that LA can kind of be like a bubble sometimes. We don’t really realize how the world is,” said Caroline Raquel, a FilipinaAmerican junior at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Luckily, LA is really diverse and I’m very lucky to have grown up in LA, but I think keeping an awareness is something that my parents have always tried to impress on me and my sisters,” she continued.

Caroline is one of the people behind Feed2Succeed, a nonprofit she co-founded in high school with her sister Carmina Raquel, and their friend Tiffany Sato.

Carmina is currently a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, and Sato, a junior at Vanderbilt University.

While making a positive and lasting impact on a stranger’s life is something all should strive to do, the three girls found a way to impact the lives and trajectory of many young Filipino students by starting the nonprofit with a mission to give young children in the Philippines a chance to be educated by implementing and funding feeding programs.

Feed2Succeed sprouted from a trip to the Philippines in the spring of 2014 when the sisters went on a family trip to the country as a reward by their parents for their good scholastic achievements. The trip was designed to not only be a

fun vacation exploring the white beaches of Palawan, but a way to bring civic awareness, which in this trip happened in Vigan, Philippines.

The girls had an aunt who was very involved with community service there and allowed them to shadow her. One of the events that ended up inspiring Feed2Succeed was a feeding program at an elementary school where the girls met kids that were around their age, living lives very different to theirs.

“You always hear about it, but seeing it up close is definitely a very eye-opening experience,” said Caroline.

What really struck them was the fact that you only need $4 to feed a child for an entire month.

“I was a high schooler at the time and I felt very inspired because four dollars is something I could contribute to someone else’s life,” Caroline added.

Upon coming back to Los Angeles, the Raquel sisters who were then students at the Marlborough School, shared their experiences with Sato. From there, the girls began the brainstorming process of not only figuring out a name for their project, but a solid mission to stand by.

That mission was to give the children “a chance to be educated by implementing and funding feeding programs in elementary schools,” said Sato.

From small scale high school

fundraisers, Feed2Succeed has grown into a full-fledged nonprofit organization with club chapters run in different U.S. schools helping eleven sponsored elementary schools in the Philippines.

They’ve also taken on the sponsorship of a number of high schoolers that were once a part of Feed2Succeed’s original elementary school feeding programs.

“It’s been really great to go back to the schools and see familiar faces and see the kids progress,” said Carmina, adding that they try to go back as often as they can which is typically once a year.

“Being able to watch them go through elementary school, middle school, and high school is a great experience and it’s made the experience so much more enjoyable — to be able to know and have an actual connection to the kids,” added Carmina.

Being that Vigan is where the girls’ parents grew up, the whole experience also gave the girls a deeper sense of connection to the country. One of the schools Feed2Succeed adopted was one that their mother and all her siblings attended, and where their grandmother was a principal at.

“To be able to really help people so close to home is something that really allowed us to have that connection back to the Philippines,” said Caroline.

On challenges and new opportunities Starting Feed2Succeed as

Carmina Raquel, Corrie Phillips, and Jordan Trester meet Feed2Succeed fund students at Silang Elementary School in Ilocos Sur during their July 2017 trip to the Philippines.

Photos from Feed2Succeed

Caroline Raquel, Tiffany Sato and Carmina Raquel

young high schoolers naturally came with challenges, but nothing the three girls couldn’t turn into positive experiences such as growing the high school club to official nonprofit status.

“It was a lot of paperwork and we had to hire a lawyer, and as high schoolers, we were very unclear on the process. Luckily we got a great lawyer, Atty. Nabeel Zuberi, who instead of just doing the work for us and handing it off to us, walked us through a lot of the paperwork and actually walked through the process so we were actually to learn about how it really happened,” said Caroline.

“Growing it from a club all the way to an actual business was definitely something that we weren’t thinking about initially, but of course as we spoke to more donors and volunteers, everyone was suggesting to us we get tax exempt status and we realized we could a lot more support if were an official nonprofit,” she added.

Another challenge, Carmina added, was dealing with the transition to running Feed2Succeed separately as the three girls went on to pursue university life. It’s different, Carmina said, “not being together in LA, always being ten minutes away from each other, and being able to plan and really engage our community.”

Both Raquel sisters play on the University of Pennsylvania varsity volleyball team in addition to pursuing their degrees, and Sato is

Caroline Raquel and Tiffany Sato at one of Feed2Succeed’s yard sales in Los Angeles.

pursuing majors in Human and Organizational Development and Medicine, Health, and Society in addition to her minors.

But the challenges of branching out have of course opened doors to newer opportunities.

Sato, for example, has been able to merge her new community with Feed2Succeed by bringing its presence across the country to Vanderbilt this year.

“I think the mission and values of our organization is something that is easy to become passionate about once hearing about the children we help and how healthy they have become over the years,” shared Sato.

At Vanderbilt, Feed2Succeed has leadership positions specifically for its university students such as Head or Risk Management, Head of Marketing, and Head of Public Relations among others. Its current Vice President is Sarah Gordon

whom Sato said has gone above and beyond in putting in work for the organization.

Sato said there are now about 23 students passionate about Feed2Succeed and are excited to grow its presence in the Nashville, Tennessee area.

Most recently, the club raised close to $1,500 from a CycleBar fundraiser. They’ve also raised about $1,000 for typhoon relief.

For the next school year, the group is planning a Fall Festival Concert with various talents around Nashville and on campus.

“I am so grateful to have found a group of people who are passionate about these children and our cause,” said Sato.

Kids helping other kids On what their favorite experiences have been throughout their Feed2Succeed journey to date, the girls said it has all have been about PAGE B4

Warner Bros and ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ director team up to bring Arnel Pineda’s journey to the big screen

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

FILIPINO singer Arnel Pineda’s path from humble beginnings in the Philippines to fronting American rock band Journey is set for the big screen in a biopic that will be headed by “Crazy Rich Asians” director Jon M. Chu and Warner Bros.

In an article from Deadline, Chu expressed his desire to portray the “fairy tale and triumph of the human spirit” as he envisioned the upcoming film based on Pineda’s ‘journey.’ Chu, who has directed music documentaries in the past, also noted that he is a fan of the band’s music.

“The success of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ has blown my mind and set me on a path to champion more unique inspirational stories that represent new perspectives from all around the world,” Chu told Deadline in a statement.

The film will narrate the rise of Pineda, a formerly homeless Filipino singer who began performing at 15 years old while hanging out at a Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in Manila. He would post videos covering bands like Led Zeppelin and Journey on YouTube, which is where Journey co-founder Neal Schon discovered Pineda after the original lead singer Steve Perry left the band.

“I am excited to be bringing

Arnel Pineda

the audience along on this incredible story with my partners at Warner Bros who have been a leading champion of diverse voices in front and behind the camera,” Chu added.

Warner Bros. has obtained the rights to the 2012 documentary, “Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey,” which followed the band’s process of finding Pineda.

The studio is also planning to license the original Journey tunes, most written by Perry and Schon.

“An unlikely hero, an undeniable talent, the power of music

AJPress photo by Noel Ty

and a worldwide stage (literally) have all the ingredients I love about movies,” the “Crazy Rich Asians” director said.

Perry returned and took the stage with Pineda, Schon and the rest of the band when Journey was inducted in the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame.

The project will be overseen for the studio by Kevin McCormick, according to Deadline.

Temple Hill’s Marty Bowen will be the producer for the said film and the project is currently in search for a writer who would best portray the story of Pineda.

Fil-Am actor Darren Criss nominated for Golden Globe

by AJPress FILIPINO-AMERICAN actor Darren Criss on Thursday, December 6 received his first Golden Globe nomination for his role as Andrew Cunanan in the limited series, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.”

Criss played Cunanan in the show, a half-Filipino murderer notorious for killing five men, including famous Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace in 1997.

In September, the 31-year-old became the second youngest Emmy winner for the Best Limited Series/TV Movie Actor category for his role in the TV drama.

Should he bag the Golden Globe next January, he would be the third youngest winner in the best performance by an actor in a limited series or motion picture

Darren Criss portrayed Filipino murderer Andrew Cunanan in the limited series “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.”

(Photo courtesy of FX)

made for TV category.

In an Instagram post, Criss

— who is Filipino on his mother’s side — wrote about his nomination.

“Growing up I always loved watching the Golden Globes with family and friends, so just to be in the room is a thrill — but to be nominated is just insane. What an honor to be included with such wonderful actors. Wow. Thank you, Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” his post read.

Also nominated in the category are Antonio Banderas (“Genius: Picasso”), Daniel Brühl (“The Alienist”), Hugh Grant (“A Very English Scandal”), and Benedict Cumberbatch (“Patrick Melrose”).

The 76th Golden Globe Awards will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 6, 2019. Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg will host.

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Lea Salonga gets first Grammy nomination Fil-Am wins as Miss Supranational 2018 first runner-up

by Jan

Milo Severo

Philstar.com

I N T E R N A T I O N A L LY - a c claimed Filipino singer-actress Lea Salonga got her first Grammy nomination.

On her social media accounts, Lea announced the nomination of the “Once On This Island” cast album in the prestigious awardgiving body for music.

“Pardon me for screaming but... THE ONCE ON THIS ISLAND CAST ALBUM JUST GOT NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY!!!

OHHHH MYYYYY GODDDDDD!!!!

We did it, Island Family!!!” she wrote.

In another post, Lea said she could not believe that she has been nominated, so she shared that she went to the Grammy website to confirm the news.

“Has to actually go to Grammy. com to see if it was true. And it’s true! I am officially a Grammy nominee!!! It may be a while before I get any sleep tonight!

So thrilled to share this with my Island family. And that at 47 years old, one can still have a first!” she

Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga.

Philstar.com photo

wrote.

The theater actress was a principal soloist in the album and she shares the nomination with other principal soloists Phillip Boykin, Merle Dandridge, Quentin Earl Darrington, Hailey Kilgore, Kenita R. Miller, Alex Newell and Isaac Powell, and

producers Lynn Ahrens, Hunter Arnold, Ken Davenport, Stephen Flaherty and Elliot Scheiner.

On her Facebook account, Lea shared the music video of “We Dance,” the musical’s opening number.

“Celebrating our #GrammyNomination by playing this, the opening number of the show!!!” she wrote.

Lea played the goddess of love Erzulie in the Broadway musical “Once On This Island.” She received a standing ovation from the audience on her last performance last June.

The musical was awarded as Best Musical Revival at the 2018 Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall, while Lea received an award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical from a website’s annual Theater Fans’ Choice Awards.

At the 2019 Grammy’s Best Musical Theater Album category, “Once On This Island” will compete against the albums of “The Band’s Visit,” “Carousel,” “Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert,” and “My Fair Lady.”

Arci Muñoz on speculation that her butt is fake: ‘Ya gotta see my mama’s’ by niña

Puno Inquirer.net

LIKE many celebrities, Arci Muñoz has had to field speculations of plastic surgery. And though she has not admitted to undergoing such procedures, she has previously said that she is not against them.

But one thing she will admit that is all-natural is her own body, after a netizen asserted that her butt had undergone plastic

Arci Muñoz

you pero bakit parang pati pwet mo pinagawa mo? Tsk tsk. Halata kasi. (I really like you but why did you have your butt done? Tsk tsk.

It’s obvious).”

Muñoz clapped back: “Dude! I don’t work out every day just for you to judge my fine ass! Ya gotta see my mama’s!”

The netizen backtracked and apologized for what she said: “Hey joke lang! Haha gusto ko lang ma notice mo ko (Hey it’s just a joke! I just wanted you to notice me).”

Whether the apology was sincere or not, it left a bad taste in Muñoz’s mouth. She said about the exchange: “Whut should we do to pips like diz?”

“Dunno if this iz a compliment or whut?” she wondered. She also revealed her bust/waist/hip measurements as a retort. “Yow! Diz 35-25-37 iz all mine! Suck on that m*therf*cker!”

The actress is known to be confident in her toned figure, regularly sharing swimsuit pictures. With a daily gym session, no wonder she flaunts it as she pleases.

Last August 2017, she addressed speculations that she had cosmetic surgery done on her face in a Star Cinema interview, as reported by ABS-CBN. “It’s open naman, ‘di ba (It’s open anyway, right)? Ako (Me) personally, I’m not against it. It’s my body, and whatever is going to make me feel more comfortable and more confident sa aking sarili (with Photo from Instagram/@ramonathornes myself)…I’ll do it.”

surgery.

The “Since I Found You” actress recently shared pictures of her in a maroon bikini on the beach, including one on Dec. 6 which bared her butt in a small bikini bottom.

She revealed an exchange between her and a follower in a direct message on her Instagram Stories yesterday, Dec. 8 possibly pertaining to her picture.

One Sheng Delarosa (@iamshanedelarosa) said, “I really like

Miss Universe bet Catriona Gray shows...

PAGE B1

She also added that at the back of the lantern, there is a painting with the lyrics of the Philippines’ national anthem, “Lupang Hinirang,” written in Baybayin.

“The PAINTING also highlighted victories, festivals, events, heroes and national icons with a style inspired by the works of Philippine National Artist Carlos ‘Botong’ Francisco, a native of the Art Capital of the Philippines, Angono, Rizal in Luzon,” she added.

Meanwhile, Catriona said that the island group of Visayas is “represented by a body suit with authentic ‘tattoo designs’ embellished with crystals derived from patterns used by the ‘PINTADOS’ who are indigenous peoples found in various islands in this part of the Philippines.”

“The tattoos represent an individual’s journey and a public testimony recounting acts of combat, bravery, and strength, that perfectly represents the courageous and resilient Filipino spirit amidst trials we face in this day and age,” she added.

On the last part of her post, she described that Mindanao is represented by an authentic headpiece and brass accessories from South Cotabato, and knee-high boots with designs inspired by different indigenous textile patterns.

“The woven textiles express a strong belief in ‘ancestral and natural spirits’ and ‘cultural roots’ of indigenous communities that remain well-preserved up to this day,” she added.

She ended her post by declaring that she did all these for her country: “Pilipinas, para sa iyo ang lahat ng ito.”

Looking ahead As competition day draws near, super fans of Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray are worrying about the beauty queen after a barrage of online bashers started to surface on December 5. It almost seemed like black propaganda what with negative posts popping up out of nowhere one after another. There were those that said Catriona seems so rehearsed as the pre-pageant ac-

Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray

tivities in Bangkok continue, while there were more cruel ones that read they were counting the days until she misses the Miss U crown and cry just as she did when she vied for Miss World in 2016.

Thankfully, Cat is cuddled in so much love from her pageant team, so much so that her shoe designer Jojo Bragais went as far as posting a cryptic message about helping people he loves even when surrounded by angry forces.

These are proving to be the toughest days indeed for our representative to Miss Universe because besides the onslaught of criticisms online, her strongest competitors are also starting to emerge, specifically Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Mexico who are fast becoming heavy favorites like Cat. All the same, you’ve got to give it to our beauty who is set with her game plan to win, confident her preparations for the pageant are more than enough. Moreover, she simply shot down her critics, saying, “They’re part of the whole thing. If many people love you,

there will always be others who don’t.”

Meanwhile, past Miss Universe judge Lea Salonga has great things to say about Catriona even though they’ve never met.

“She has a chance [to win] kasi nga matalino at magaling sumagot, so it’s not just her physical beauty going for her. I spoke with people who also worked with her and they are very amazed over how she prepared for the pageant and even say she’s a sweet girl.”

Last year’s Philippine bet Rachel Peters also spent time with Cat before she left for Thailand and swears she’s the most prepared Miss Universe candidate she’s ever met.

“Catriona knows everything, even if you jumble the format. She’s very confident about the pageant and she seems to be enjoying herself, which is the most important part of competing. I don’t know how Pia [Wurtzbach] prepared for Miss Universe during her time but all I know is that Catriona already did everything.”

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

APART from Philippine representative Jehza Huelar, another Filipina beauty queen stole the spotlight at the recently concluded Miss Supranational 2018 held in Poland.

Katrina Jayne Dimaranan, a Filipino-American beauty from San Juan City in the Philippines who grew up in Bay Area, California, finished as first runner-up at the prestigious beauty contest.

Although she represented USA in the pageant, Katrina expressed how proud she is of her Filipino roots and wrote on her Facebook account that she hoped she made her countries proud.

“Yes I’m FULL Filipina. Yes I was born in San Juan, Manila, Philippines. Yes I grew up all over the Bay Area, California.

Yes I speak FLUENT Tagalog.

And YES, I am very very proud of myself and I really hope I made my country USA proud, as well as all my Filipinos all over the world!” she wrote.

Apart from her supporters, the beauty queen also thanked

Miss Supranational 2018 first runner-up Katrina Jayne Dimaranan Photos from Facebook/Miss Suprational

her bashers for pushing her to do her best.

“Maraming salamat po talaga sa mga nag supporta at pati narin sa mga bashers kasi you both did the same thing for me, PUSH ME TO DO MY ABSOLUTE BEST! Love you, Love God,” she said.

The Filipino-American beauty

was crowned as Binibining Pilipinas Tourism 2012, where she also received the Best in Talent award.

She was crowned alongside Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2012 Janine Tugonon and Binibining Pilipinas International 2012 Nicole Schmitz.

Features

B december 13-19, 2018 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

Another Fil-Am puts his mark...

PAGE B1 infinite number of mask-wearing webslingers out there, in the multiverse.

As it happens, yet another talented Fil-Am is part of this multiverse: he’s Louie Del Carmen, sibling to Rick Del Carmen (storyboard artist for “Family Guy,” “Dilbert” and others) and Ronnie Del Carmen (storyboard artist at Pixar, Oscar nominee for “Inside/Out”). Together, these three Fil-Ams have been living the comic artists’ wet dream for decades. Louie worked on the most recent entry to the “SpiderMan” cinematic saga — the most ambitious yet, with 140 animators onboard, screenwriting/ production team Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (“The Lego Movie,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”) handling the snarky, fun dialogue (expect plenty of Easter eggs and hidden gags), plus a multiverse of production credits under its belt (basically, Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation did it in association with Marvel Entertainment).

With cutting-edge animation and a youthful vibe, it all looks to be a huge smash, and we shot a few questions to Louie, born in Cavite City and now situated at Sony Pictures Animation, on how this all came together.

The Star: Two of your brothers — Rick and Ronnie — are also story artists. Did you see all this coming, growing up together?

Did you bond over artwork and comics? Is there any rivalry?

Louie del Carmen: As far as working together in animation?

No, we didn’t see that coming.

Nor did we even dream of actually making a living as artists. What we did have was a love for art, comics, movies, television and cartoons.

Telling and sharing stories was very much a part of us growing up in Cavite City. I always said that it really felt like we had our own club with a membership of three.

I think to anyone looking from the outside in, we probably sounded like aliens (or nerds, really). And no, there is no rivalry. We looked out of each other and inspired each other. That bond continues today The last “Spider-Man” entry, “Homecoming,” was live action.

Is this a total pivot from that storyline?

It’s a brand new stand-alone, and a mash-up of Marvel multiverses in which the Miles Morales origin story is front and center.

As a story artist, how much voice do you have in the look and

EMPLOYMENT

A state-of-the-art look, and the trademark Phil Lord-Chris Miller tandem, make this a mustsee for Spider-Man fans.

aesthetic tone of the movie?

If it’s early in the process, you sometimes work with early concepts from the art department.

But generally, aesthetics and tone evolve during the entire process with the director, art department and story; there’s constant dialogue.

Why did they decide to spin off into animation for “SpiderMan” at this point? (Of course, it’s good for you!)

I can’t speak for the studios as for the decision to go animated, but I know it was strongly championed by producers Avi Arad and Amy Pascal and, of course, Chris Miller and Phil Lord had such a great take on it. Consequently, their take could only be done as a fully animated feature.

How is this different from the TV and film work you’ve done before?

I’ve done superhero fare before in television and each one is a lot of fun to do, but certainly when a project has the potential to be a game changer as “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” can be, you really look forward to it. I have to say that working on Spider-Verse has been one of the highlights of my career.

Stan Lee just passed away. Did you get a chance to meet him?

Unfortunately, I did not meet him personally, but having attended a multitude of comic book conventions over the years, Stan was always very visible.

The impact he had was not only in comics, but culturally, where his creations have really become household names and icons. I didn’t get to hear him speak until

I watched “How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way” but his affable and approachable personality really came through even in those early comics.

One of the things Stan Lee said was that to help viewers identify with the characters, you have to make them personal.

How were you able to inject a little of your personality into the characters here?

What really made “SpiderMan” unique when he was first introduced was the fact that underneath he was just a teenager coping with all the pressures and insecurities of growing up. Characters become more real to audiences the more they are flawed and unsure of themselves. Peter Parker was that kind of a character and the same goes for Miles Morales. With anything I work on I always put myself in the characters’ shoes, so to speak. What are they thinking and feeling?

What are they trying to suppress emotionally? It’s that inner conflict that really gives scenes a very appealing complexity.

You were a DJ for a while.

Does that help you in imagining the voices of your characters while writing/designing a story?

Part of working in story is being able to act out your characters.

It’s one of the really fun aspects of the craft. I’ve always had an overactive imagination and that short stint as an on-air personality was just an extension of that. The idea that you can transform into someone else and get to step in their shoes is such a huge part of storytelling.

EMPLOYMENT

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Feed2Succeed: How three high school...

PAGE B2 the close connections built with the kids being helped.

“Meeting the kids is [the] best part of it all. At the end of the day, they’re the reason we’re all doing this,” said Caroline.

Through the program, the girls have developed a personal relationship with not only the kids, but the kids’ immediate community.

During her last trip to the Philippines during which she brought some of her high school friends, Carmina was not only able to meet the Feed2Succeed high school scholars, but their parents and siblings as well — all of them wrote to them thank you notes and read them out loud.

“It was very touching for me,” said Carmina. “Being able to hang out with them, and not even through computer or letters, but just being able to talk to them face to face and thank them was just a humbling and powerful experience for me.”

Caroline shared of a special moment during her senior year in high school when all of the students in the Philippines sent handmade Christmas cards to their Marlborough School club — a moment Feed2Succeed turned into a pen pal opportunity.

“Carmina and I have the privilege of going back to the Philippines, but for our club members and LA supporters, they don’t necessarily get to have that connection like we do, so it was really cool to see the Marlborough club members read these letters and see what the kids are actually saying and then writing back a response,” said Caroline. “I like seeing that connection.”

Small acts, big impacts Having started Feed2Succeed in their teenage years, the girls cited much of their success to the fact that people saw the passion they had at such a young age. The girls said that in addition to ex-

Vanderbilt University’s Feed2Succeed chapter held a fundraiser at Cycle Bar and raised around $1,000 for students.

Photos from Feed2Succeed

panding their network and service, they’ve been looking for younger girls who share their mission and want to get involved.

“I didn’t even realize what a difference we could make and how such a small act of giving kindness could turn into this,” said Caroline.

She added, “I think inspiring kids to involve themselves early on in community service is a value I hold very close to my heart and I think that’s something I always try to help other people my age realize.”

Going back to the initial realization of what four dollars could do for a kid in the Philippines, she said, “that amount is just something that every person my age has.”

She equated the amount to giving up one Starbucks drink in order to help one kid’s life.

On Saturday, December 15, Feed2Succeed will be having their Holiday Donor Appreciation Concert as a way to give thanks to all who have been donating and supporting the cause.

Stephanie Reese, a FilipinaAmerican singer who will be featured at the concert, has been very passionate about the cause and was even able to visit the kids in Vigan during a recent trip last year.

The Feed2Succeed co-founders — who will all be together at the concert — are hoping

that the event will be a way to celebrate the helping community and show their gratitude for all the donations and work that have put in.

Looking back at the first trip to Vigan and the beginnings of Feed2Succeed as a small club headed by young high schoolers, the girls said they hope that their organization can further encourage people to open up their awareness about their communities and feel compelled to give back.

“My parents always taught me the importance of giving back and this club turned nonprofit is something that I am incredibly passionate about even today,” said Sato.

“One of the really impressive things that realized was that, had something even just changed slightly, I could have been one of these kids in the elementary schools back in Vigan,” said Caroline.

“I hope that people can understand that passion behind our mission and how I think we just want to help as many kids as possible, and I think kids helping kids is a very powerful effect that we can have,” she added. “There are so many ways to help, and creating a community and surrounding yourself with people that also just want to help I think is something that we are trying to push forward with Feed2Succeed.”

The Archer School for Girls’ raised money to fund a feeding program at Nagsangalan Elementary School.

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Your Immigration Solution

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Potential immigration consequences of holiday travel

one. Or perhaps you and your fiancée are hoping to have a winter wedding. There are several good THE holiday season is upon us reasons to want to travel this and it is a time of great comfort time of year, but it is important for many. Family and friends that you understand immigration gather to share their joy with one rules and procedures to avoid another by exchanging gifts, eat- creating problems in your case. ing delicious food or simply being There are many things to conin the presence of one another. sider if you are thinking about Some are lucky enough to live traveling to/from the United close to family and can celebrate States over the holidays, and an the holidays together. However, immigration lawyer can evaluate there are many of us who live far whether it is safe to travel based away from our loved ones and on your circumstances and cormust make travel arrangements rectly advise you of potential to spend the holidays with our consequences. parents, children or significant Once you start the immigration others. But what happens if you process, you establish your “inhave a visa application that is tent” to live in the United States still in process and you want to permanently. In other words, as visit your loved one in the United soon as you submit an application States? Or maybe you are living for legal permanent residency in in the United States and need to the U.S., immigration agencies leave the country. Is this even will be aware that you plan to possible? establish a life in the U.S. If you You may be asking yourself, plan to travel to the U.S. as a visi“Can I travel while my applica- tor or leave the U.S. and return tion is pending?” “Will traveling while your application is pending, to the U.S. on a tourist visa affect the officers at the port of entry my immigration visa (green card) may give you a hard time even if application?” Will the officers you have visited the U.S. before. at the airport put me in custody This is because you have an apand ask me to go back to my plication pending, which shows home country?” These are all that your main goal is to live in questions you should be asking the U.S. permanently. The officer if you are considering travel might be skeptical that you only before your immigration case plan to visit the U.S. temporarily, is decided. Because it is correct even if the reason for your travels that a pending case could affect is to spend the holidays with your your travel plans, and also be- family. The officer might refuse cause your pending case could your entry, which may create be negatively affected by your complications in your case movpotential travel. ing forward.

Think about the reason you Sometimes, there are situawant to travel this time of year. tions that are so dire that you Perhaps you have a parent who have to travel even if your imis deathly ill, and this is the likely migration application is not yet the last holiday season you will approved. If you absolutely must be able to spend with your loved travel while your case is pending,

ATTY. MARIDEX E. ABRAHAM

a qualified immigration attorney can guide you on the steps you can take to lessen the potential risks. A lawyer will know the types of applications you must file if you need to obtain permission to travel outside the U.S., as well as the documents you can carry with you to show that you don’t intend to stay longer that permitted. More importantly, a lawyer can advise you of your rights in case you run into problems with the officer at the port of entry.

There are times when the best plan for intending immigrants is to delay traveling until your case is complete. It is difficult for families to be separated during the immigration process, especially around the holidays, but failing to comply with immigration law could potentially result in an even longer wait time. However, not everybody will be forced to wait.

Travel may be acceptable in your case! Consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney today for help navigating the complicated rules and procedures so that you never have to spend another holiday apart from your loved ones. *** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case.

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Taking the time to just be this Christmas Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA IT’S that time of year again.

And every year, whether we like it or not, we all go through the same rituals.

This is a time of winnowing and thinning, just like the fall season when we prepare for hibernation and rest and when balance must to be restored by slowing down the pace to bring back equilibrium.

For now, Christmas gives us a major reprieve. We have a solid excuse to find joy, peace and contentment and even rediscover what Christmas really means.

Perhaps, stripped of the material layers, the Christ-centered core values of a truly meaningful Christmas will come to the fore.

Going through the motions, we assume that the emotion of joy should follow. We do the lists, mass email the e-cards, shopping for presents, the decor, the cooking, the parties — hoping that by doing all these we would have an infusion, a dose of the Christmas

Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS LAST February 28, 2018, my wife, Farida, and I arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport from Manila, following our two medical missions in the Philippines. While waiting at the lounge for our flight back to Las Vegas, we received a call from our friend, Lynn Santos, a nurse, who relayed to us the sad news that a close mutual friend, a medical colleague who was 84 and recovering well from a stroke, had collapsed in a grocery store. About half an hour or so later, while we were on board the plane, Lynn called again, this time to inform us that he had passed away.

A testament Our friend’s departure was a devastating loss to his family, friends, and the community. The health issues this physician and his wife of 53 years experienced as they grew older were a testament to the realities of aging.

This natural part of life, aging, is inescapable and an equalizer, as much as death is a part of life, without exception or exemption.

In certain ways and instances, we could perhaps alter the progress and reduce the odds to some degree, but the inevitable end is obviously beyond us.

As the clock ticks, we are older by the second. As we grow older, the expected normal wear and tear in our body progress faster and faster, including the reduction in the secretion of our various essential glands and the weakening of our immune system.

“...Lose the remote control.

Break free of your electronic leashes for a little while.

Take the time to just be yourself...” spirit within us.

Some people have it down to an art and science. They know the secret of being joyful in all kinds of weather and you can see it in the glimmer in their eyes, the extra bounce in their gait and the aura that they exude about them.

A great many, however, still feel empty even if they fill their time with activities and max out their cards at the shopping malls or on online purchases. Deep down, they know that things are just stuff, no matter how beautiful or how pricey.

The spirit of Christmas is a mystery. It cannot be pinned down. It cannot be put on. It is only when we dwell within the deep recesses of our souls that the true spirit of Christmas comes slowly, quietly, enfolding us in its warm embrace.

That somewhat elusive spirit will come and alight upon us like a butterfly during quiet moments when our senses are sharpest.

Take a deep breath and experi-

ence Christmas with your senses.

Lose the remote control. Break free of the electronic leashes for a little while. Take the time to just be yourself.

We can use our sense of sight and see, as though for the first time, the splendor of nature all around us — of trees garbed in vermilion red, yellow and gold putting on their finest raiment in quiet anticipation of some glorious event about to happen. A canopy of blue skies with light wisps of fluffy clouds provide a backdrop for the verdant hills and mountains bathed in shafts of golden light. At night, houses and apartments on the street where you live are ablaze in twinkling icicle lights simulating the glow of millions of fireflies.

Though a sight to behold, our puny human efforts pale in comparison with a glimpse of the universe just above our heads — stars that seem to shine brightest on PAGE B6

Aging: An equalizer Our telomeres – caps at the ends of each strand of DNA that protect the chromosomes, similar to plastic tips at the end of shoelaces, which prevents them from fraying – get damage and the telomeres become shorter as our body is subjected to all assaults internally and externally. The shorter the telomeres, the shorter the lifespan.

The speed of the degenerative changes in us depends on our genes and to a great significant degree, on our lifestyle. That’s why the aging process varies in different individuals. While we cannot (yet) do anything about our genes at this stage in science and technology to extend longevity for everyone, we have enough evidence-based medical data today on how to achieve maximal health benefits through healthy lifestyle and extend our life, our telomeres, to the fullest possible.

Physiology of deterioration The degeneration starts in the basic cellular foundation of our body as we grow older, varying in different individuals since people age at different speed, but in general the physiological changes start to manifest when we reach about 40 years of age, more obvious when we reach about 65.

As we age, all the systems and essential functions of our body work less efficiently, at suboptimal level. Inflammation, the precursor of almost all diseases, invades the entire body. All the glands in the body secrete significantly less, if not meager, hormones and other essential substances that regulate the various vital organs in the body. Arteries lose their elasticity and hardened, causing high blood pressure and arterial

blockages. The blood gets thicker, increasing the risk for blood clots, coronary heart disease and stroke.

Joint lubricants decrease causing aggravating arthritic pains.

Male and female hormones drop and lessen sex drive. The dermal collagen and oil production slow down and the skin loses turgor and moisture, becoming thinner and thinner, and wrinkles form.

Most of our biologic functions peak at age 30, declining in a linear fashion thereafter. This, however, does not materially affect our daily activities at this stage.

Only stresses and diseases, and not aging, impact the physiology negatively during this period.

Theory of aging There are a few, but the prominent one is the Free Radical Theory where oxygen-containing molecules called free radicals, with a life span of one-millionth of a second, and are toxic, are damaging our body. Free radicals attack the cell’s DNA, causing the cells to prematurely die.

Our body’s natural antioxidant (defense) system mops up free radicals before they could cause damage, but as we grow older, and continue to abuse our body through unhealthy lifestyle and behavior, our body’s immune system becomes less efficient, allowing the free radical level to increase. This negatively impacts the normal cellular regulation and function, which leads to aging and its physical and physiologic consequences, as well as weaker defense system to diseases. On top of the damages from free radicals, external assaults are caused by sunlight, environmental pollution, stress, and unhealthy PAGE B6

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 13-19, 2018

Calendar of Events across

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

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

D EC E M B E R 1 5

4th annual TIKIM Filipino Food Fun Run in Los Angeles During this holiday season, the TIKIM Filipino Food Fun Run in Los Angeles on Saturday, December 15 highlights the fuzzy feels and the festive flavors of Christmas. Open to all ages, gender and races, ABS-CBN TFC presents another platform for Filipino cuisine to shine in. With Filipino taste stations at every kilometer of this 5K fun run, and a picnic and entertainment past the finish line, there is a lot to savor for every member of the family. A great selection of food trucks and restaurants like Silog, Nova’s Grill, Thai-Mex Cocina, Paella Paella, Ateh’s Pinoy Pusion, Heavenly Ice Cream, White Rabbit, and Goldilocks will be participating. Fun and nostalgic games will bring back childhood memories, and five choral groups battle it out on the TIKIM stage for A Merry Christmas Choir Competition. Winning group gets $1,000. One of the best things is that by registering and joining the TIKIM fun run, each adult participant would have provided meals for 10 malnourished children in the Philippines. Run starts at 10:00 a.m.; Food Festival starts at 12:00 p.m. It will be held at Los Angeles State Historic Park (1245 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012). For more information, visit TIKIM at https://mytfc.com/tikim.

Long Beach Parol Lantern Festival The inaugural Long Beach Parol Lantern Festival will be held on Saturday, December 15 from 5 to 10 p.m. along Pine Ave. and 4th Street in Long Beach, CA. Celebrate and learn about the Filipino holiday tradition in Downtown Long Beach. There will be parol making lessons, food, entertainment, and more!

Inspired by the SF Parol Lantern Fest, Chef Romeo Garcia of Rome Chocolates forged a team of people in the Long Beach community to assist in getting his vision for this event off the ground and onto Pine Ave. The Long Beach Bacolod Association is the non-profit partner for this inaugural event which is sponsored by Romeo Chocolates and First District Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez. For more information, please visit http://www.lbparollanternfest.com.

PAFCOM’s 3rd Annual ‘Pasko sa Hudson Mall’ in Jersey City PAFCOM is inviting the community to join ‘Pasko sa Hudson Mall’, on Saturday, December 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be health screenings (blood pressure, blood glucose, BMI/weight screening and general health counsellors will be present. There will be Zumba from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon and line dancing from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. There will also be live music and caroling, face painting and tattooing for the entire family.

“Simbang Gabi” at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in LA The Filipino Ministry leaders of San Gabriel Pastoral Region, this year’s sponsoring region and the Archdiocesan Filipino Ministry Council would like to invite our whole Filipino community to our traditional Archdiocesan “Simbang Gabi” at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels with our beloved Archbishop Jose Gomez as the main celebrant, the Regional Bishops and the Clergy of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on Saturday, December 15. The procession of the parols begins at 6:30 p.m. with the liturgy at 7 p.m. It will take place at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels (555 West Temple St., LA, CA 90012). Filipiniana/Barong attire is encouraged but not mandatory.

Simbang Gabi mass at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Pasadena, CA The Filipino-American Ministry of St. Andrew Church in Pasadena, CA invites the public to its annual Simbang Gabi on Saturday, December 15 at 5 p.m. with Rev. Pastor Paul Sustayta as the main celebrant. St. Andrew Catholic Church is located at 311 N. Raymond Avenue Pasadena, California 91103. Banquet to follow after mass in school auditorium.

D EC E M B E R 1 5 -23

Simbang Gabi at Saint Anne Roman Catholic Church in Las Vegas Come and join Simbang Gabi at 8:30 p.m. from December 15-23 (except on Sundays at 5 p.m.) at Saint Anne Roman Catholic Church located at 1901 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89104. Complete nine days novena Mass with Christmas carols and a community feast!

For more information, please contact the parish at (702) 735-0510 or Cris Pelayo at (702) 2456235.

D EC E M B E R 1 8

Simbang Gabi at Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, CA Come and celebrate Simbang Gabi 2018 at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Tuesday, December 18 at 7 p.m. Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis, bishop of Salt Lake City will be the main celebrant of the mass. A reception will follow after the mass at the Church Hall. This celebration is sponsored by the Fil-Am and multi-ethnic parish community of the Church of the Good Shepherd under the auspices of the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The Church of the Good Shepherd is located at 505 N. Bedford Dr. (at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd.) Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

D EC E M B E R 22

UPAAGLA annual holiday party in LA The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles invites you to the 2018 UPAAGLA Annual Holiday Party on Saturday, December 22, 2018 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Silver Lake Medical Center (1711 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA). The cost is $25 and attire is festive. Please register at: https://upaagla2018xmasparty.eventbrite.com. *Net proceeds from the event will benefit the UPAAGLA Scholarship Fund. For inquiries, please contact Ethel Rubio, President-Elect at upaagla.rsvp@gmail.com or at (818) 640-2946.

Simbang Gabi at St. Bridget Church in Las Vegas Bishop George Leo Thomas will celebrate Simbang Gabi at St. Bridget Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, December 22. Mass will begin at 5 p.m. followed by a potluck at the courtyard of the church. The church is located at 220 N. 14th St. Las Vegas, NV 89101. For more information, please call Andre at (702) 498-2934.

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UP Alumni Association Berkeley Chapter Celebrates 50th Anniversary The University of the Philippines (UP) Alumni Association (Berkeley Chapter) is celebrating its Golden Jubilee with a luncheon party from 11am to 4pm on December 29, 2018 at the Oakhurst Country Club in Clayton, California. All present and former members are invited, including alumni or graduates of the university’s high schools in Manila and Diliman, and the different institutes, colleges and campuses of the University. Interested parties are requested to get in touch with the following: Daisy Rodriguez (916) 768-9955, Henrietta Fajardo-Boyd (925) 433-3359, Diosy Rey (707) 315-2351 or Jay Castro (925) 899-8881.

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

B december 13-19, 2018 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

By Monet

Lu

IF I could name a few people who I look up to in terms of how they live their lives, I’d probably include this couple I have known for 10 years.

They have been very supportive of my marketing campaigns and I always have the pleasure of recognizing them as one of the most notable Filipino-Americans here in the U.S. It is an honor to feature them in my column this weekend and I hope you’d be inspired by their story the same way they have inspired me for years.

In this column, we meet another “power couple,” who have been together for more than four decades. They treat each other as partner ‘for better or for worse,’ in business and in pleasure.

Meet Pete and Baby Cruz.

“We have known Monet Lu for over 10 years. We are grateful for the friendship and support that Monet and his staff at Reflections Salon have given us through the years,” Baby Cruz said when I asked them if they still remember how we met.

Pete and Baby Cruz have been active supporters of Filipino-American organizations, advocacies and businesses here in Southern California. They have been great examples of a blissful marriage and fruitful business. The couple has known each other since they were in 2nd grade. What started out as a childhood friendship, blossomed with them falling in love. They were married on May 5th, 1974.

“We’ve committed our eternal love for each other through marriage,” Baby continued. “Between the two of us, Pete is more extrovert adventurous while I am more conservative. Both of us are generous and romantic. Throughout our 44 years of marriage, we have experienced many joys, successes, and challenges. In 1987, we immigrated to the United States with our five children, Peter Jr., Pia, Peter III, Peter IV, and Peter V. We wanted to ensure that our children had an opportunity to live a good life and fulfill the American dream.”

In their 44 years of marriage,

Features

Pete and Baby Cruz: Together in ‘business and pleasure’

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Kris Aquino defends Vice Ganda’s sincerity as her friend

by Katrina

Hallare Inquirer.net

KRIS Aquino still has got Vice Ganda’s back despite their friendship having had a falling out in the past.

The Queen of All Media defended the comedian after a netizen questioned his sincerity as a friend. This she did in one of her Instagram posts on Sunday, December 9.

Aquino shared that she and her sons, Josh and Bimby, had a visitor that day at their home—Darla Sauler, who was not only the media personality’s sidekick in the now-defunct morning show “Kris TV” but who also served as one of its writers.

“After taping, @darla visited us,” Aquino wrote in her post, in which she is seen cozy in bed with her sons and Sauler. She even mused, “It’ just so cute to see how ‘small’ Darla now seems

next to Josh & Bimb. We missed Darla.”

While her followers showed how happy they were of their reunion, one netizen going by @ jinna37415 said that Sauler was “more sincere than the baklang kabayo (gay horse),” referring to Vice.

In reply to the netizen, Aquino said, “I’ll address this once then we can all move on — it isn’t an issue w/ me anymore… I have never pretended w/ all of you that we are still close.”

She also described her former network, ABS-CBN, as a “very insular world.” “And once you’re no longer part of that family, you create your own new world to shine in,” Aquino added. “In a kinder world, I wouldn’t be spoofed, much like in a barkada (group of friends) you have inside jokes & you’re all in on it so you all get what’s funny… but I’m no longer part of the ‘in’ group.”

Kris Aquino with her son Bimby and Vice Ganda Photo from Instagram/@krisaquino

Aquino then told the netizen, “So let’s leave things as they are & just gratefully recall the happy memories.”

Aquino and Vice, who were the subjects of rift rumors since 2015, reconciled back in July for the sake of Bimby. The comedian never spoke about their reunion that day, as of this writing.

Kylie Padilla, Ruru Madrid to team up again in new series

by Krissy

aguilar Inquirer.net

Baby and Pete Cruz

I asked them what has been their most challenging moment, to which they replied: “The greatest challenge in our marriage is to always remember to say “I love you” to each other, particularly during moments when we get busy or when we have disagreements. With God, we are continuously striving to keep our marriage strong and be a couple that our grandchildren and children can be proud of.”

Pete and Baby Cruz own a financial service company, Cruz Financial Services, Inc. The company started in 1993. With Pete as the president, the couple seems to be inseparable both as partners in the home and in business.

“We do income tax, bookkeeping, setting up corporations, payrolls, and quarterly taxes for small businesses. We are so blessed that the business continues to be successful. We are grateful for our all of our clients who come back to us year after year,” Baby said.

They are very proud grandparents to their three grandchil-

dren: Sean (14), Sophia (11) and Michael (8).

With a strong partnership, both in business and at home, there is nothing that could tear down the bond that they have. “Our principles as a couple are sanctification in our daily work, fulfillment of Christian’s ordinary duties, and to turn all the circumstances and events of our life into occasions of loving God.” To my dear friends Pete and Baby, I am amazed by your teamwork and your partnership.

I wish you all the best in your marriage and your business. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

KYLIE Padilla and Ruru Madrid will be paired up once again, this time in GMA’s new series offering “TODA One I Love.”

The news was announced last Friday, December 7, via GMA Public Affairs’s Instagram account captioned: “#KyRuIsBack!”

Padilla and Madrid will be joined by Filipino-Chinese actor and model David Licauco in a love triangle.

To join the cast of the upcoming series are Gladys Reyes, Raymond Bagatsing, Kimpoy Feliciano, Jackie Rice Archie Alemana, among others.

Padilla and Madrid were first paired in television drama fantasy series “Encantadia” in 2016 as Sang’gre Amihan and Ybrahim, respectively.

The love team then reunited in

Kylie Padilla and Ruru Madrid

GMA photos

GMA’s Primetime drama thriller “TODA One I Love” will be “The Cure” in July 2018 with produced by GMA News and Jennylyn Mercado and Tom Ro- Public Affairs’s and serves as its driguez. first offering for 2019.

Filipina-American newcomer H.E.R. nabs...

PAGE B1 I want it to be about — not what I look like or who I’m with, but the raw emotion and support for women.”

“I feel like this is the era of the anti-star,” she added. “I really just wanted it to be about the music, and get away from, ‘Who

is she with?’ and ‘What is she wearing?’”

For the slew of extended plays (EPs) the young Bay Area native received praise from industry juggernauts Usher, Pusha T, Wyclef Jean as well as RCA Records labelmates Alicia Keys and Bryson Tiller.

In October 2017, she released the Grammy-nominated self-titled compilation album which peaked at No. 47 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and No. 24 on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It also won Album/Mixtape of the Year at the 2018 Soul Train Music Awards.

Aging: An equalizer

PAGE B5 lifestyle (high carbohydrate-low vegetable-low fruit and low-nut diet, smoking, alcohol, soft drinks, lack of exercise, and substance abuse). Just to illustrate the damage: From using a single stick of cigarette alone, trillions of free radicals are generated. And if we added all the assaults listed above, many of which are self-inflicted, it would be clear why the body deteriorates as we grow older.

The human body is fundamentally a unique, amazing, efficient, and tough machine, that can withstand a lot of abuses, but it also has its limit.

Discipline and resolve The harder part of the equation in slowing down aging and avoiding preventable diseases to solve is our lack of personal discipline and resolve. Today, most, if not all of us, know which items are good and which ones are unhealthy to eat or drink, and also know that regular physical exercise and

de-stressing are fundamental to our health and longevity. Yet, somehow, we seem to always find enough reasons or excuse to justify our non-compliance with these known and proven scientific principles of healthy living.

As alluded to in the book “Let’s Stop “Killing” Our Children,” inflicting harm to our body with self-abusive behavior and by living an unhealthy lifestyle is masochistic. Some of us appear to have programmed our mind to an auto self-destruct or suicidal mode and continue to do things, or perpetuate bad habits, that we know could maim or kill us.

The book also proposes healthy lifestyle and disease prevention should begin at the cellular (DNA) level starting in the womb and in the crib, to protect the integrity of the DNA as early as possible.

Damaging the DNA-telomeres with our unhealthy habits and insults from our environment lead to major metabolic (diabetes, thyroid

illness), pulmonary, cardiovascular (heart attack and stroke), and, especially cancer.

With volumes of evidencebased medical data on healthy lifestyle and with our more informed selves today, disease prevention is much easier to achieve compared to five or more decades ago. We no longer have any excuse not to maximize our health and longevity. To do otherwise is simply asinine. *** 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

Taking the time to just be...

PAGE B5

the clearest skies about this time of the year. Step out during a clear night, turn off the boob tube, get out of the rut of the insipid details and mundane activities that seem to pass for real life and look heavenward. If you are patient, the sight of shooting stars and meteor showers might reward you.

Better yet, make a beeline for that awesome telescope at Griffith Observatory and prepare to be amazed. Stargazing can leave you breathless in the same way it has moved generations of men before us. The best part about it is that like the air we breathe, the sight of the heavens is absolutely free.

The most awe-inspiring nightly galactic shows are at about this time of the year. Some nights, you might want to search the heavens for that one shining star that the Magi used as a guide to steer them by through the desert looking for the Christ Child more than two thousand years ago. It might just happen that during one of these nights while stargazing, you might rise above our puny mortal concerns and stand in awe of the majesty of creation.

That we are a part of it all puts everything in perspective. We may be tiny and insignificant but we are part of creation. We come to realize that human life is a gift and that what we do with that life is our gift in return.

As best as scientists can figure out, the universe is some thirteen and a half billion years old. Being aware of this mind-boggling

space-time continuum can take a huge bite out of our ego and our sometimes obsessive-compulsive self-absorption. The sight of the heavens can cut down our bloated egos down to size. Even if we live to be a hundred, human life is just a blink of an eye in eternity.

The nose knows. That proboscis jutting out of our faces does a truly important function. Do handle it with real care particularly during this season of colds and flu. Well I did catch it and tried to stay away from people. It could have been worse if I didn’t get my flu shot. Catching a cold or worse, the flu, deprives us of the enthralling, beguiling smells of cooking and baking and sabotages our sense of taste as well. I have been taking gobs of Vitamin C, bundling up, wearing a hat, gloves and scarves, sipping my chicken soup and catching up on my ZZZZZZZsss. We need all the help we can get particularly when depression strikes our weary souls, battered minds and tired bodies. We need to listen to what our bodies tell us. It can’t be all about work or play. Sometimes, we simply need to just be.

If you have time, that glorious, welcome gift of all for most of us with far too many hats to wear OR if you can beg, borrow or steal just a few hours to allow you to meander about your days and nights and deliberately trudge paths off the beaten track of shopping and carousing during this season, take in more of the smells that lift you.

They call it aromatherapy. But in the unpretentious days of old, it was merely the simple act of smelling what smells good to make you feel good. Lavender is great. So is rosemary. Try crushing some of their leaves from the garden between your fingers and sniffing it. Lemon verbena’s dainty smell is sheer delight though passing and transient. Like glorious moments, the lemon verbena’s scent is so ephemeral but the delight to the senses while the scent lingers makes it all worthwhile.

Find out what beguiles your senses and let these bring you the delights of this blessed season.

Don’t strain yourself or try too hard. Picture the Christmas spirit as an elusive little butterfly that alights on you only when you are very still. Let your senses soak it all in. The Christmas spirit, once it dwells in you and suffuses your being stays on autopilot. It stays on to warm your heart all year round like embers that just need a little stoking from time to time to keep it burning.

ALL YOU ARE, with all your senses, is all you need to JUST BE. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com. To read past articles, click on the link Online: http://issuu.com/ asianjournaldigitaledition” http://issuu. com/asianjournaldigitaledition or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before agenda-driven google.

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 13-19, 2018

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B8 DECEMBER 13-19, 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com â&#x20AC;˘ (702) 792-6678

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