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Volume 17 - No. 50 • 3 Sections – 16 Pages

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DATELINE SWS: 3 in 5 Filipinos believe US will defend PH FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

ACCORDING to a Social Weather Stations survey released Wednesday, December 12, three in five Filipinos believe that the United States’ defense commitment to the Philippines is strong.

The survey showed 61 percent believe the U.S. will defend the country, with 31 percent answering strongly believe, and 30 percent somewhat believe. Meanwhile, 9 percent said they do not believe U.S.’ commitment, and 30 percent were undecided.

It also showed that 53 percent only learned about the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the two countries when the survey was conducted. The remaining 47 percent were aware of such agreement, and among them, 80 percent said they believe the U.S. will defend the Philippines if there was an invasion.

Awareness of Mutual Defense Treaty The highest number of those aware of the PAGE A2

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).

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Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

Congress OKs 3rd martial law extension in Mindanao

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” 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 the help of the extension.

The martial law in Mindanao 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 PAGE A2

‘Return of Balangiga bells time for healing, closure’ 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 C-130. 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.

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HOMECOMING. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and U.S. Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim inspect the Balangiga Bells at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday, December 11. 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.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

The late George H.W. Bush remembered for Dengvaxia ban likely to stay — DOH sponsoring a Filipino child nearly 20 years ago

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Funeral held for 41st US President at Washington National Cathedral

by RAE

AN 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 Staf-

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 liftThe public paid its respects on Monday, Dec. 3 at the casket for former ed anytime soon,” Domingo said.

President George H. W. Bush lying in state at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol The administering of Dengvaxia in Washington, D.C. (Official White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) was suspended on December u PAGE A2 29, 2017 by the Food and Drug

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

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

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

Among the journalists given a black-and-white 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-year-old woman named Maria Ressa steers Rappler, an online news site she helped found, through a superstorm of the two most formidable forces in the in-

formation 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.

Ressa wasn’t the only Asian 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 of 10 Rohingya Muslims amid the ongoing ostracization

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Administration (FDA) after its manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur had failed to comply with post-marketing requirements.

According to Domingo, the DOH does not see the product being registered and sold again in the country right after the oneyear suspension of its CPR. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III suspended the dengue vaccination program after Sanofi admitted in November 2017 that it could cause severe dengue if given to those who have not had dengue. Pending regulatory and legal issues and the lack of testing kits to detect previous dengue infection were cited by Duque as some of the reasons that would stop the return of Dengvaxia.

“Even if the suspension is lifted, who will let themselves be

vaccinated with Dengvaxia?” he added.

DOJ ends probe Meanwhile, preliminary investigation on criminal charges against former health secretary 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 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 Ja-

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DECEMBER 14-20, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Congress OKs 3rd martial law extension...

PAGE A1 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

president 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

Filipina reporter Maria Ressa lands TIME’s...

PAGE A1 and discrimination against the minority group in Myanmar.

Also featured in the issue — called “The Guardians and the War on Truth — was investigative Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose mysterious killing continues to BACK IN TOWN. Former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., gets a warm welcome from his supporters during his first public appearance at the Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor, Cavite on Monday, December 10, after he was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder. Also in the photo is his wife, Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

SWS: 3 in 5 Filipinos believe US will defend...

PAGE A1 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.

Fifty-five 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 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 PHU.S. 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 Philip-

PAGE A1 nette 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 Organization (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

pines should an invasion happen.

The survey was conducted from June 27 to 30. It employed faceto-face 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. (Ritchel Mendiola / AJPress) n

Dengvaxia ban likely to stay — DOH

//",

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. (AJPress) n

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breed speculation into abuse of power among those who may be involved.

The staff at historical Maryland newspaper The Capital Gazette also landed a cover for continuing to “press on” after a gunman entered their newsroom on June 28 and gunned down five of their

colleagues.

“For taking great risks in pursuit of greater truths, for the imperfect but essential quest for facts that are central to civil discourse, for speaking up and for speaking out, ‘The Guardians’ are the Person of the Year,” TIME editor Ed Felsenthal wrote. n

Fil-Am individuals and organizations...

PAGE A1 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.

“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 administration’s top priorities,” Duterte said in his speech during the awarding ceremony. “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,” he added. He also urged the OFWs to remain committed to their families “as we work towards a more equitable progressive future for our country.”

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas is led by Acosta who said in his welcome message, “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.”

He also encouraged the awardees to “become our emissaries abroad.”

PAFIOO is a biennial search for individuals and organizations based abroad who have dedicated their work in the service of Filipinos. This year’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), Sal-

vacion 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) n

PAGE A1 t ford.

“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 PAGE A3

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 Malacañang Palace.

Photo courtesy of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas

The late George H.W. Bush remembered...

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 14-20 , 2018

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Filipino skateboard champ How to succeed in politics: 4 takaways from makes TIME’s 25 influential teens the 2018 NaFFAA Civic Leadership Forum

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 Sta-

who had 25.

TIME said that Didal’s win paved a way for the public to consider skateboarding as a serious 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 Margielyn Didal ManilaTimes.net file photo snowboarder Chloe Kim. In 2017, two Filipino dium in Palembang last April.

Didal finished with an average teens were included in the anmark 30.4 points, 5.4 more than nual listing of influential teens silver medalist Isa Kaya of Japan around the globe. n

PH ranks 73rd in worldwide freedom index

by Darryl JOhn

esguerra

Inquirer.net

THE Philippines ranked 73rd out of 162 countries in the Human Freedom Index (HFI), a study by Canada’s Fraser Institute, Germany’s Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and the Cato Institute in the United States showed.

The country slid two spots from its previous ranking in the fourth edition of the annual index, which uses a 10-point scoring system.

The index “captures the degree to which people are free to enjoy important rights such as freedom of speech, religion, association, and assembly, and also measures freedom of movement, women’s freedoms, crime and violence, and legal discrimination against same-sex relationships.”

HFI ranks the countries based on 79 distinct indicators of personal, civil, and economic free-

dom, using data from 2008 to 2016, the most recent year for which sufficient data are available.

In the 2018 Index, the Philippines registered a score of 6.92, at par with the global average Human Freedom rating of 6.89.

The country scored 6.50 in the “Personal Freedom” category, 7.34 in the “Economic Freedom” and 6.92 in the “Human Freedom” category.

Its aggregate score of 6.92 was 0.13 points below its previous ranking in 2015-16, the study noted.

New Zealand topped the rankings followed by Switzerland, Hong Kong, Australia, and Canada.

Among the South Asian countries, the Philippines ranked third, just behind Singapore (8.16) and Cambodia (7.20).

The Philippines was also named 100th in Personal Freedom, 49th in Economic Freedom,

The late George H.W. Bush...

PAGE A2 t 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 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 — the 43rd president of the United States — described his father as being the “brightest of 1,000 points of light.”

“He looked for the good in each person, and he usually found it,” said the younger Bush during the service’s main eulogy.

He went on to talk of how his father showed him what it meant to a president “who serves with integrity, leads with courage and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country.”

He continued, “Through our tears, let us see the blessings of knowing and loving you — a great and noble man, and the best father a son or daughter could have.”

Referring to his late mother Barbara Bush and his sister Pauline “Robin” Bush who died at

three years old, he added, “And in our grief, let us smile knowing Dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom’s hand again.”

Former Canada Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, former Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming, and the late Bush’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, Bush’s casket took a final journey aboard a Union Pacific Locomotive 4141 train — named the Bush 4141 in his honor — to College Station, Texas.

Bush was known to have been fond of trains, once saying he preferred it over the Air Force One. “If I had one of these when I was president, I might have left Air Force One behind,” said Bush at the train’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. Martin’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

PAGE A1 Howard, who is Philippine Honorary Consul 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) n

‘Return of Balangiga bells...’

and 73rd in Human Freedom, In the foreword of the report, authors claimed that “aspiring authoritarian rulers in nations such as Poland, Hungary, and the Philippines may have little interest in imposing their despotic vision of ‘good governance’ outside their borders—but the real evangelists of authoritarianism are emerging elsewhere. It’s a bit like cancer—all cancer is bad, but metastasizing cancer can be lethal.” n

Jessica Caloza (center) leads the panel of local Fil-Am elected officials who shared their experiences in campaigning, losing elections and how to rebuild after electoral losses. (From L-R): Frank Yokoyama, Tzeitel Paras-Caracci, Victor Manalo, Caloza, Rachelle Arizmendi, Mark Pulido and Melissa AJPress photos by Noel Ty Ramoso.

IN the 1972 political dramedy “The Candidate,” blue-collar worker Bill McKay (charmingly played by Robert Redford) is recruited by a political election specialist to be the Democratic candidate against a popular Republican in a race for the U.S. Senate.

From the get-go, the Democratic campaign knows that McKay — who possesses no electoral experience — is in an unwinnable race against the experienced Republican; and, because of this foresight, McKay is given the liberty to say exactly what he wants with no rhetoric barriers.

As the idealistic, JFK-esque candidate in the race, McKay’s irreverence to political rhetoric and statesmanlike conduct wins the hearts of a disillusioned constituency, and the election. The

film ends with McKay — who had no plans in actually winning — turns to his campaign manager and asks, “What do we do now?” to no answer.

Lack of an action plan coupled with fervent campaign rhetoric to gain votes have become a linchpin of contemporary horse race politics. “The Candidate” showcased the ramifications of running a fiery campaign that is anchored by grandiose optics but lacks a substantial action plan post-election.

Elections are essentially advertisements aiming to sell you on a candidate or issue. But sole reliance on headline-grabbing rhetoric does not a successful political tenure make; if you want to win, you need foresight.

Diversity became a cultural maxim after the 2016 elections

with a clear push to elect officials who are not white and/or not male. And as evident in the buzzy 2018 midterm elections, that dream is becoming a reality.

At least 125 women and 115 people of color have been elected to federal office, according to the latest election counts. Notably, 115 Asian Americans made history by winning local, state and federal races, signaling demographic change in government that is more representative of a steadily diversifying American public.

But the story doesn’t end there, especially for the FilipinoAmerican community which has seen huge strides, in local elections for example.

The National Federation of Filipino American Associations

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How to succeed in politics: 4 takeaways...

REGIONAL FESTIVALS. The Sinulog and Dinamulag or Zambales Mango festivals are featured along with local products, costumes and symbols that highlight regional traditions and cultures, during Marikina’s ‘Rehiyon-Rehiyon’ Festival on Saturday, December 8. The festive and colorful march aims to celebrate the contributions of migrants to Marikina’s progress.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger RaĂąada

PAGE A3 t (NaFFAA) hosted the Southern California Civic Leadership Forum on Saturday, Dec. 1. Held at the Carson Community Center, it was a gathering of some of the Southland’s accomplished former and current elected officials as well as political experts, all of whom shared their journeys and shed light on the realities of campaigning and holding office as a way to encourage future generations of Filipino-American civic leaders.

A panel discussion moderated by Jessica Caloza, director of scheduling for the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, included rookie and veteran local elected Fil-Am leaders: Cerritos Mayor Mark Pulido, Sierra Madre City Councilmember Rachelle Arizmendi, Cerritos City Councilmember Frank Yokoyama, Duarte City Councilmember Tzeitel Paras-Caracci, outgoing Artesia City Councilmember Victor Manalo and Artesia City Councilmember-elect Melissa Ramoso.

Here are five takeaways from the NaFFAA forum that can, hopefully, make for a more informed constituency and a wellprepared class of electoral candidates.

1. Lead with a balanced DNA: data, narrative and action As exemplified in “The Candidate� — and in many real life situations of political unpreparedness — successful elections lead to successful political tenures by utilizing the following: knowledge of data anchored by relatable narrative and a tangible post-election action plan.

As extensively covered by the Asian Journal, election data is extremely important to candidates because it gives insight into the voting behaviors and attitudes of any given constituency. Exit polls that survey quantitative and qualitative variables may give insight into the current state of the Asian American electorate.

Knowing data means keeping up to date with the voting trends of the Asian American electorate. Having a powerful narrative means putting faces and names to the issues for which you’re campaigning. An action plan details a step-by-step guideline to what happens after the election.

At the forum, Karthick Ramakrishnan — director of AAPI Data, a non-partisan non-profit organization dedicated to disaggregating data on the AAPI electorate — emphasized this three-

pronged strategy that could help launch the AAPI community (the fastest growing demographic) from being an oversight to a major swing vote. “Data by itself is not important.

We also need powerful narrative and we need a plan for action, and in order to be successful in campaigns — or even as voters — these three boxes should be checked,� Ramakrishnan said.

2. Be hyper-aware of the issues affecting community members of all ethnicities, socio-economic statuses and citizenship statuses During his presentation, Ramakrishnan asked the audience to “raise your hand if you have heard of the RAISE Act.�

Less than five hands in a room of nearly a hundred FilipinoAmericans had even a minimal understanding of the Republicanled proposal to cut family-petitioned visas by half; according to AAPI Data, about 80 percent of Filipinos come to the United States through family reunification programs. “This election showed how willing people are to show up to defend these programs, but we all have to get involved and stand for the issues that affect all Asians and Asian Americans in this country,� Ramakrishnan said.

He added, “We are not engaged in the most important issues of the day, but we have to get involved. We have strength in numbers, but we’re not really flexing that political muscle in the way we need to, and I hope that the communities here [in California] could start.�

3. Campaign and canvass with gumption Timidity hardly ever gets you far in any professional sector, and that’s doubly true for those who wish to serve the public as an elected official.

Arizmendi, who was elected in 2014 to the Sierra Madre City Council and in 2017 as Mayor, shared that community connectedness was one of the most important pillars of her campaign strategy. “I didn’t really have a mentor, and I literally just walked door to door, talked with folks and really established that connection with them,� Arizmendi said. “Knowing and hearing what people wanted and understanding how we’re similar really forged that connection and launched that next step that led me to the city council.�

Victor Manalo, who cites his

religious upbringing as a catalyst for his devotion for social justice, mirrored Arizmendi and said that a successful ground game — direct interaction between candidate and constituent — goes a long way in a political campaign and a successful tenure in office. “You have to get to know what’s going on in your communities.

That should be the beginning, middle and end of any strategy.

You have to walk, talk and mail,�

Manalo advised, emphasizing the importance of campaign funding. “When you’re campaigning, you have to be comfortable asking people for money,� Manalo said.

As an addendum, Arizmendi said that AAPI voters need to understand the importance of campaign donations and that donating to a Fil-Am candidate will go a long way. “The AAPI community are the least likely to donate to campaigns, but we need to donate because that’s a surefire way to see more Fil-Am representation,�

Arizmendi asserted.

4. Representation, solidarity and collaboration will get you far Before she even thought to run for office, Councilmember-elect for the Artesia City Council Melissa Ramoso boasted a robust political and legislative career within the Democratic Party. At the forum, she said that once she saw Filipinos in elected office who would become “mentors� for her, she knew it wasn’t a dream as farfetched as it seemed. “If you ask me what my biggest inspiration for running was it was honestly Mark [Pulido] because I saw someone [Filipino] in office, and that went a long way for me,� Ramoso shared. “There’s not many of us, and that’s why I did it.�

Another overarching theme of the forum was that there are strength in numbers, and it’s important for the Filipino-American community — and the Asian American community at large — to rally together to make sure that Asian Americans have a seat(s) at the table. “If you wanna go fast, fly alone.

If you wanna go far, fly together.

Participate and stand up and voice out so that your voice will be heard collectively so let’s work together to make the AAPI vote the swing vote so it will never be ignored,� said Anthony Ng, executive director of Civic Leadership USA. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n

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DATELINE PHILIPPINES

A5

Palace to continue anti-crime drive amid flak from critics

by AJPRESS PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 9, promised to continue his campaign against illegal drugs, crime, corruption, terrorism and insurgency campaign despite being labeled as the “biggest threat to human rights” by activists and human rights group.

Presidential Human Rights Committee and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a statement on the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stating that the government’s goal is to safeguard its citizens.

“To protect the lives of the innocent, law-abiding citizens of the country, this administration remains unrelenting in its crusade against criminality, corruption, terrorism, insurgency, and the proliferation of illegal drugs that destroy families and the future of the young,” he said as reported

by The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Human rights defenders took their sentiments to the streets as they gathered in different parts of Metro Manila, Central Luzon and major cities in the Visayas and Mindanao. They condemned the president’s bloody war on drugs, deadly attacks on militants, the imposition of martial law in Mindanao and the plan to establish

Duterte Death Squad to counter rebels.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, along with the other members of the opposition, also voiced out their criticisms towards the administration in commemoration of the Human Rights Day of the United Nations.

“We cannot continue treading this path. I call on the people to push back and stand up against the threat to our human rights.

When the institutions we build to protect us are used against us, we prove aspiring tyrants wrong and take them back,” Hontiveros said.

“By unleashing a bloody and abusive war on drugs, he has set into motion the killing of thousands, most of whom are poor people, while big-time drug lords like Peter Lim continue to be free and billions of pesos worth of shabu are smuggled into our country aided by corrupt government officials,” she added The senator also emphasized the importance of human rights in today’s setting. According to her, human rights should be applicable to all and should not be used by selective few to fuel their agenda.

“Human rights are not suggestions or ornaments. They are fundamental anchors to a society of fairness for the many, and not tools to be used by the privileged few,” Hontiveros said as reported

by The Philippine Star.

“The president has singlehandedly rolled back human rights safeguards and made the country a haven for human rights violators,” she added.

Senator Leila de Lima, a known critic of the Duterte administration, who is also detained for charges related to drugs, noted that there is an apparent “growing absence of human rights leadership in the world today.”

“Some governments themselves, led mostly by populist demagogues and autocrats, have actually attacked their own people. And far too many politicians and so-called leaders, including those in my country, the Philippines, seem to have forgotten the [Universal Declaration of Human Rights],” De Lima said.

However, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo was quick to defend the chief executive insisting that the leader respects human rights. Panelo, also the president’s legal counsel, considered the critics’ insights noting that they are “entitled to (their) opinion.”

“We have been saying so and we have shown it. We prosecute people who violate human rights,” Panelo said.

Medialdea supported Panelo as he explained that every presidential rule varies in their approach PAGE A7

Comelec sets longer voting hours for 2019 elections

by AJPRESS THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended the period of casting votes for the May 13, 2019 elections by an hour, making it end at 6 p.m. instead of the usual 5 p.m.

As reported by the PNA, the decision is contained in the 49-page Comelec Resolution No. 10460 or the General Instructions for the Electoral Boards issued on Dec. 6, 2018, regarding the process of voting, counting, and transmission of election results in the upcoming national and local elections.

“The casting of votes shall be from 6 o’clock in the morning up to 6 o’clock in the evening of Election Day,” the poll body said.

The resolution also noted that voters, who are within 30 meters from the polling place by 6 p.m. on election day, would still be allowed to cast their votes, provided that they are listed on the list prepared by a poll employee.

“The poll clerk shall promptly prepare a complete list in duplicate, containing the names of said voters, numbered consecutively.

The voters so listed shall be called to vote by the poll clerk by announcing near the door of polling place, in a tone loud enough to be heard throughout the polling place, each name three times in the order in which they are listed,” it said.

“Any voter in the list who is not present or does not respond when called shall no longer be allowed to vote. The said list shall be at-

tached to the Minutes,” it added.

According to Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, the Commission decided to extend for another hour the casting of votes to accommodate voters.

“To accommodate voters. 1,000 maximum voters/one vote counting machine (VCM), so we’re anticipating that there might be some queuing,” he said in a text message.

Polling precincts, during the 2016 national elections, were open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Comelec has noted that more than 2.5 million Filipinos registered as new voters during the last registration period from July 2 to September 29.

Meanwhile, the projected number of overseas voters for the 2019 elections is 1.9 million. ■

PROPOSED BUDGET DELIBERATION. Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon (left) discusses with Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar (right) the merging of the two government printing offices under PCOO during the Senate deliberations of the proposed 2019 budget on Monday, December 10. Also in the photo is PCOO Undersecretary George Apacible.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

House OKs expanded VAWC bill

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE House of Representatives on Monday, December 10, approved on third and final reading the Expanded Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (E-VAWC), a measure that criminalizes electronic violence and involves the use of information and communication technology.

With 207 affirmative votes, lawmakers unanimously approved House Bill 8655, which seeks to amend Republic Act 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. The bill provides definitions of electronic VAWC, protective measures and penalties for violations of the law.

Under House Bill 8655, committing psychological violence through the use of electronic devices or information communication technology-related means are punishable by imprisonment for minimum of six years and a day and maximum of 12 years. In addition, the perpetrator will also be penalized by a fine of not less than P300,000 but not more than P500,000.

Spreading of explicit videos to harass women and their children,

harassing via text messages, stalking, and creating fake social media accounts with ill intent and malice that will cause distress on the part of women all fall under electronic violence.

House Bill 8655 also widens the composition of the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children to include the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Commission on Overseas Filipinos, and 2 representatives from civil society organizations, as reported by ABS-CBN news.

The Gabriela Women’s Party welcomed the bill’s approval, describing it as “ray of good news” amid looming approval of repressive measures and a “historic advance of the #LabananAngAbuso campaign.”

“This is a much-awaited development by women abused by their partners, as the measure expands the definition of VAWC to include forms of electronic violence, with corresponding penalties,” Gabriela party-list Rep.

Emmi de Jesus, one of the principal authors of the Expanded VAWC bill, said.

“We are pushing the E-VAWC to address the loopholes in Republic Act 9262 of 2004, which failed to mention electronic violence that could cause more damage but are not as visible as the manifestations of physical violence,” she added.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas in a statement on Facebook said, “With the approval of the measure, we hope to give women an increased chance to fight forms of violence and abuse as we educate them on their rights.”

“We urge the Senate to do its part and fast-track the counterpart measure amending the AntiVAWC Act. If signed into law, this will be a very valuable legacy of the 17th Congress to women long suffering from all kinds of abuse and harassment,” Brosas added.

Brosas urged the Senate to pass its version of the bill, saying the enactment of the proposed policy “will be a very valuable legacy of the 17th Congress to women long suffering from all kinds of abuse and harassment.”

The measure was first filed by Gabriela Women’s Party during the 15th Congress.■

A6

DECEMBER 14-20, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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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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Business news

Peso may remain weak as current account gap seen further widening

by LoueLLa

DesiDerio Philstar.com

THE Philippine logistics sector may help create 7.5 million jobs and achieve five percent employment by 2022.

Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association Inc. president Marilyn Alberto said the target employment was set by the government as logistics is seen as a key employment generating sector.

“There is no data at present.

That is why we are pushing them to come up with more monitoring of the data, so that we know where we are and where we are going,” she said.

To achieve the target and allow the logistics sector to serve as an enabler of manufacturing, agriculture and service industries, logistics players and the government have made 10 commitments.

Among the commitments is to prioritize initiatives for a globally competitive logistics sector providing service to customers with the right product at the right time, price and quality, and in a reliable manner.

The industry and government will also work together to cut red tape and eliminate corruption through automation, streamlining and decentralization of permit issuances, and reportorial requirements across government agencies.

There will likewise be a platform for dialogue between government and industry players to discuss policies and regulations to promote a globally competitive logistics sector.

Both parties have committed to abide by the Ease of Doing Business Act which provides required processing time for issuance of permits and other government

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Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association Inc. president Marilyn Alberto said the target employment was set by the government as logistics is seen as a key employment generating sector.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel de Guzman

transactions.

The parties will also encourage and develop government investment commitments particularly in the supply chain and logistics services sectors.

They likewise commit to find long term solutions to issues affecting the logistics sector.

The parties have also committed to adopt high standards on regulatory practices, promote knowledge sharing and benchmarking, encourage investments in the sector, and develop a future-ready workforce.

A study of the Department of Trade and Industry and World Bank has shown the Philippines

has the highest logistics cost compared to other Southeast Asian countries.

In particular, the Philippines has the highest level of logistics cost with 27.16 percent of sales of firms going to logistics services.

Other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia had a logistics cost over sales of 21.4 percent, while Vietnam had 16.3 percent, and Thailand had 11.11 percent.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez has said the government would want to reduce logistics cost over sales in the country and bring it to 21 percent. n

Palace to continue anti-crime drive...

PAGE A5 towards addressing the issues under their control.

“Every administration has its own emphasis and approach in its efforts to make human rights real for our people. Today, we further human rights in the era of Mr. Duterte along relevant paths reflected in our theme for this year’s observance: ‘Protecting Human Lives, Uplifting Human Dignity, and Advancing People’s Progress,’” Medialdea added.

Along with the relatives of al-

A

leged extrajudicial killing victims, the groups who were in protest reverberated the call to “further human rights” under Duterte’s administration.

The data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed that the killings in police operations reached 4,999 drug suspects from July 1, 2016, to Oct. 31, 2018. However, but rights groups claimed that it was over 20,000.

According to the group Movement Against Tyranny, there were

four killings, seven frustrated killings, four disappearances, 47 trumped-up charges, 43 illegal arrests and detentions, 32 arbitrary arrests, 567 victims of threat, harassment and intimidation, and 927 victims of fake surrenders in 2018 alone.

The president said last week that he was taking full responsibility for the killings, and vowed to press his war on drugs, which he swore would be no less harsh than when it started after he took office in 2016.n

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DECEMBER 14-20, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

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cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 14, 2018

What’s next for Kelsey Merritt after making history as the first Filipina model in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show the big news that she has been working on since she moved to New York.

Kelsey was the fourth KELSEY Merritt made “WE DID IT PHILIPPINES,” model to walk during the history on November 8 when she wrote, followed by exactly PINK segment of the show as she became the first Filipina six exclamation points and singer Bebe Rexha performed woman to walk in the Victothree Philippine flags. “What “I’m A Mess.” ria’s Secret Fashion Show, an an honor it is to be the first The historic casting is not annual spectacular event that Filipino to walk in the Victoria’s highlights some of the best and lost on the 22–year–old model Secret Fashion Show 2018!!! who grew up in Pampanga well-known fashion models in Ahhhhhh I can’t believe this!!” the industry including stalwarts watching the fashion show as “When I booked it, I was an impressionable teen. such as Adriana Lima, Gigi so happy and more than that, “Siyempre lumaki ako sa Hadid, and Kendall Jenner everyone else was happy.

Pilipinas, lahat ng mga Pinoy among others.

Parang there was nothing superfan ng Victoria’s Secret And finally, last Sunday, more accurate than me saying tapos wala pang Pinay na December 2, the rest of the that my success felt like the naging Victoria’s Secret so world saw the fashion show nung lumipat ako sa New York, success of the whole country,” (from pink-carpet interviews, she added. gusto ko maging unang Pinoy model profiles and a behindBehind the hard work na makapasok, naging goal the-scenes look at the making First, it was not a walk in of the event included) shot and ko talaga na maging part nito produced live at Pier 94 in New kasi wala pang nakagawa nun (I the park.

To say that she had to go grew up in the Philippines and York City, as it was screened through the wringer would be every Filipino is a super fan of online and on ABC network.

Victoria’s Secret and no Filipina an understatement.

“I am not exaggerating has walked the fashion show so when I moved to New York, when I say that this is literally the hardest job you can get in I wanted to be the first one to get in, it became my goal to be the world. It was so hard that a part of it because no one has there has never been a Filipino in it. I can’t explain how much done it yet), ” she remarked hard work I put in on this,” she in a recent interview with the said.

Asian Journal.

Since she was already Back in July 2017, Kelsey represented by an agency, she tweeted, “Mark this tweet. was told a couple of months Makakapag VS din ako balang before the casting process araw (I’ll be a VS model too began that she was “pre-apsomeday) #lawofattraction ” proved”, meaning she did not One can call it deshave to go through the casting tiny, claiming it, or in her own cattle calls with hundreds of words, law of attraction. She other models. achieved her dream a little They choose a select more than a year later.

Model Kelsey Merritt announced on Instagram On September 7, she post- number of girls to do the first that she will be the first Filipina to walk in casting and when they told her ed on her Instagram account the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. that she was going through, she told herself ‘This is it. This is my chance.’

Her agent then told her three things: she had to prepare herself, she had to work out and she had to, well, look her best.

So she did. She worked out regularly and changed her diet, removing pizza and burger out of the equation.

The thing with the fashion show is that there was actually no guarantee as to who gets to go through, even for girls who are already working for the brand.

But she was hopeful.

Kelsey went on the second day of casting and that’s when the models learn if they get a callback for the next round of screenings.

She hurdled that step. Next was the runway walk.

“The callback happened a week after the first casting. It was the real deal, the big girls fighting for spots. I go in this room and I see all these girls that I follow and admire,” Kelsey recalled. “We all want the same job. It was freaking me out, I never imagined I’d be in that situation.”

Faced with her competition, Kelsey realized she was already telling herself that if ever she didn’t get in, it was already a great experience to be in that room with all of the Kelsey shared on her Instagram account a few photos taken during the fashion show, reminding her follow- girls.

She found out the good ers to watch the show when it airs on ABC. Kelsey also posted her photo with boyfriend Conor Dwyer, a two-time Olympic gold medallist in swimming.

Photos from Instagram/@KelseyMerritt news a few days later when she

by MoMar

G. Visaya / AJPress

went to her agency for another casting job.

“I saw the flowers and they told me I got the show. It was the most nerve-wracking thing.

The anticipation was killing me,” she shared.

Journey to modeling Kelsey was born in Pampanga. She grew up there and that’s where she went for her high school studies. She didn’t know about modeling and how there was an industry behind it.

“I was so detached from Manila that I was living in my own world in Pampanga,” she admitted.

A friend of hers did modeling and she would go to Manila for modeling jobs.

“I found it interesting so I started going with them and my career started there,” she recalled.

Kelsey began doing fashion shows, photo shoots, editorials and ad campaigns. Then she moved to Manila when she enrolled for college at the Ateneo, where she took up communication. She graduated in 2017.

The Fashion Show For two months, Kelsey prepared and worked hard to prepare for her Victoria’s Secret runway debut.

On the night of the show, she was worried that her nerves might take over, although she knew that with the preparation she had to do for the show, she felt ready. Then she relaxed.

“All I could feel was that I was excited to be there. I was expecting to be nervous but I wasn’t,” she shared. “The energy backstage was so good and everyone was lifting each other up. It was a good atmosphere and I was so excited and thankful to be there.”

The moment she was on the runway, she relished it although she couldn’t really see the crowd and all she could see was the lights and the cameras.

She also shared a story that happened during rehearsal.

Kelsey looks up to Adriana Lima and back when she was still based in the Philippines watching the VS fashion show, she would copy the poses Adriana would do.

On the sidelines, she watched Adriana, the quintessential Victoria’s Secret girl, as she did her thing.

“She is beautiful and so amazing on the runway. It was an emotional time because it was her last show and VS gave her a tribute. Every model at the rehearsal was crying,” Kelsey said. “To be able to walk with her on her last show…I felt honored. This was someone I looked up to growing up and I couldn’t believe I was a part of it. It meant a lot to me.”

Inspire young girls “Never did I imagine that I’d be on that runway,” Kelsey said, after achieving her dream of working with Victoria’s

Kelsey Merritt

Photo by Troi Santos

Secret and walking the runway for the VS fashion show. “Coming from my experience, this is something that I never thought would be possible.”

“If I could go back and tell myself, I would tell her ‘Dream hard, dream big!’ Don’t limit yourself to what you think you can only do,” she added.

Kelsey had brunch recently with her parents who are both still based in Pampanga and they told her that they’re so proud of her.

“My mom is my number one stalker. For her to see me grow from a small town girl to now a Victoria’s Secret model.

She’s my number one fan,” she said.

Pinay New Yorker Kelsey’s life has changed throughout this whole process.

A day in the life of this VS model: “When I wake up, I have my coffee, then go to the gym. If I have casting, then I do that. I usually do my workouts before work so I don’t have to think about it anymore.”

She lives a healthy lifestyle and works out every day to accommodate the occasional cheat meals, which is usually just desserts and sweets.

“That’s the hardest thing I had to give up in preparation for the show. I could give up pasta, burgers no problem. I have to have it every day,” she said.

When she’s not working out, she’s at home, which is her place to go unwind.

“I am a homebody, I love staying at home reading books.

New York is great but it also crazy,” she explained.

For her comfort food?

“Pinoy food talaga, Pinoy siyempre (Pinoy food really, Pinoy always),” she said

laughing. “I love bistek, super.

Adobo, sinigang, lahat (all of it).”

In her apartment, she only cooks Filipino dishes.

“Pag pumupunta ako sa Filipino restaurant dito, parang hindi siya parehas, parang gusto ko ako yung nagluluto.

Alam ko yung gusto ko, yung lasa at timpla (When I go to a Filipino restaurant here it’s not the same, I like it when I cook.

I know what I want, the taste and the exact blend),” she quipped.

Next goal So, what’s up next for her?

Her initial next goal after VS was to work with Vogue, which also happened as well with a recent feature on Teen Vogue.

So she recalibrated to focus on her next goal now.

“Maybe do a designer show, like walk for Dior or Dolce & Gabbana. Something big, something I never thought I’d ever do” she said, putting it out there like she did when she tweeted in July 2017 her Victoria’s Secret aspirations.

For now, it’s sky is the limit for this young model, keeping a positive outlook despite comments from netizens and bashers that her Victoria’s Secret casting was not revolutionary because she looks more white than Filipina.

Kelsey chooses to engage with fans and supporters instead, particularly those who have been with her since day one.

“You guys have always been there for me. I hope I can meet all of you when I go home to the Philippines. Sobrang thank you sa lahat ng support ninyo (Thank you to all of your support),” she said.

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/HipHop Albums chart. It also won Album/Mixtape of the Year at the 2018 Soul Train Music Awards.

Filipina-American newcomer H.E.R. nabs 5 Grammy noms, including Album of the Year

by Copy Cepeda Inquirer.net

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-black 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 self-titled 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 IN

THE WORLD. IT’S BEEN A LOOONNNG [sic] TIME COMING! GOD IS GOOD.” Wilson emerged in 2016 when, 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. 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 post-breakup material that sounded vulnerable and assured at once.”

The enigmatic nature of her work also has to do with who she is as an artist seeking to separate her art from celebrity, explaining on NPR, “This project came from an emotion, and that’s what 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

Photos courtesy of Instagram/@hermusicofficial

Lea Salonga gets Grammy nod for ‘Once On This Island’

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

INTERNATIONALLY-acclaimed 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 award-giving 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

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.”

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 radioac-

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 14, 2018

Potential immigration consequences of holiday travel Your Immigration Solution Maridex e. abrahaM

THE holiday season is upon us and it is a time of Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga. great comfort for many. FamPhilstar.com photo ily and friends gather to share with my Island family. And that their joy with one another by at 47 years old, one can still exchanging gifts, eating delihave a first!” she wrote. cious food or simply being in The theater actress was a the presence of one another. principal soloist in the album Some are lucky enough to live and she shares the nomination close to family and can celwith other principal soloists ebrate the holidays together.

Phillip Boykin, Merle DanHowever, there are many of dridge, Quentin Earl Darrington, us who live far away from our Hailey Kilgore, Kenita R. Miller, loved ones and must make Alex Newell and Isaac Powell, travel arrangements to spend and producers Lynn Ahrens, the holidays with our parents, Hunter Arnold, Ken Davenport, children or significant others. But what happens if you have a visa application that is still in process and you want to visit your loved one in the United States? Or maybe you are living in the United States and need to leave the country. Is this even possible?

You may be asking yourself, “Can I travel while my application is pending?” “Will traveling to the U.S. on a tourist visa affect my immigration visa (green card) application?” Will the officers at the airport put me in custody and ask me to go back to my home country?” These are all questions you should be asking if you are considering travel before your immigration case is decided. Because Sony Pictures Animation storyboard artist Louie Del Carmen: “Telling and sharing stories was it is correct that a pendvery much a part of us growing up in Cavite City.”

Philstar.com photo ing case could affect your travel plans, and also because there are an infinite number of tive spider, finds he has special your pending case could be talents, just like Peter Parker did. mask-wearing webslingers out negatively affected by your there, in the multiverse.

Parker shows up as an older, potential travel.

As it happens, yet another half-baked mentor (“like Mr. MiThink about the reason talented Fil-Am is part of this yagi, if Mr. Miyagi doesn’t know you want to travel this time multiverse: he’s Louie Del Caranything,” says screenwriter Phil of year. Perhaps you have Lord) and Miles quickly learns Continued on Page SF6 a parent who is deathly ill,

Louie Del Carmen: The man behind ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’

by Scott Garceau

entertainment and this is the likely the last holiday season you will be able to spend with your loved one. Or perhaps you and your fiancée are hoping to have a winter wedding. There are several good reasons to want to travel this time of year, but it is important that you understand immigration rules and procedures to avoid creating problems in your case. There are many things to consider if you are thinking about traveling to/from the United States over the holidays, and an immigration lawyer can evaluate whether it is safe to travel based on your circumstances and correctly advise you of potential consequences.

Once you start the immigration process, you establish your “intent” to live in the United States permanently.

In other words, as soon as you submit an application for legal permanent residency in the U.S., immigration agencies will be aware that you plan to establish a life in the U.S. If you plan to travel to the U.S. as a visitor or leave the U.S. and return while your application is pending, the officers at the port of entry may give you a hard time even if you have visited the U.S. before. This is because you have an application pending, which shows that your main goal is to live in the U.S. permanently. The officer might be skeptical that you only plan to visit the U.S. temporarily, even if the reason for your travels is to spend the holidays with your family. The officer might refuse your entry, which may create complications in your case moving forward.

Sometimes, there are situations that are so dire that you have to travel even if your immigration application is not yet approved. If you absolutely must travel while

your case is pending, 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) 795- 8009 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.

(Advertising Supplement)

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celebrityworld

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 14, 2018

celebrity world

Aljur Abrenica and Kylie Padilla tie the knot, Lotlot de Leon to marry fiancé

By Ferdie Villar KAPAMILYA actor Aljur Abrenica and Kapuso actress Kylie Padilla have tied the knot at Villa Milagros in Rizal on Tuesday, December 11.

The celebrity couple — who have been together for a long time — initially had a rough relationship with the actress’ father, action star Robin Padilla. But after Aljur talked and patched things with Robin, they all realized it was all a simple misunderstanding.

Kylie looked stunning as she walked down the aisle, with hundreds of lit candles shining on her beauty. The wedding was attended by their family and close friends,; with their son, Alas Joaquin, having a special participation in the wedding.

Our best wishes to the newlyweds! *** Speaking of weddings, actress Lotlot de Leon is also getting hitched very soon to her Lebanese businessman-fi-

ance, Fadi El Soury in San Juan, Batangas.

This is the actress’ second marriage, as she was only 17 years old when she and actor Ramon Christopher got hitched.

Long story short, their marriage ended and was officially annulled in 2008.

Lotlot admitted in an interview with The Manila Times’ Ronnie Carrasco that she is more hands-on with the preparations for her wedding with Fadi, from the invitation and giveaways to the venue.

Of course, she is hoping that her mother, Superstar Nora Aunor, would show up at her wedding.

“Hopefully she could make it but I’m not really sure,” she said but added, “Honestly, marami na akong hindi alam but my dad [Christopher de Leon] will definitely be around.”

Among those included in the wedding entourage are Lotlot’s children with Ramon Christo-

pher. Her son Diego will walk her to the altar, while daughters Janine, Maxine and Jessica; and sister Matet are maids of honor.

Rayver Cruz, Lotlot’s co-star in GMA’s “Asawa Ko Karibal Ko” and Fadi’s brother are best men.

Flying from the United States to attend the wedding are her biological sisters. Her brothers Kenneth and Ian are going as well. Her biological dad (Donald Olson, who is American) will be physically unable to make the trip because Celebrity couple Aljur Abrenica and Kylie Padilla tied the knot last Tuesday, December 11. of a recent surgery.

(Instagram photo @gideonhermosa)

Actress Alma Moreno has returned to TV via the top-rated teleserye “Asawa Ko Karibal Ko” on GMA 7/Pinoy TV.

Actress Lotlot de Leon is also getting hitched very soon to her Lebanese businessman-fiance, Fadi El Soury in San Juan, Batangas.

(Facebook photo)

Former Mrs. RP-USA Las Vegas Nina Alberto will celebrate her birthday on Friday, December 28.

Beautiful actress Solenn Heussaff is the leading lady of Primetime King Dingdong Dantes in the newest teleserye “Si Cain at Abel.”

The Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trade Alumni had their Christmas party last Sunday, December 2, at the Grosvenor Hotel in South San Francisco. Shown in photo are (L-R) Dante Esta, Tom Castillo, Chairman of the Board Vic Barba, Nelson Belza, Cesar Arcnigez and Pureza Belza.

Antioch Filipino community leader Vangie Perez hosted a birthday party for her younger sister, Margie, last November 18 at their residence. Shown in photo are (L-R) Edward Cabrera, the celebrant Margie, Manny Cabrera and Vangie Perez, the host of the party.

Taking the Time to JUST BE This Christmas “ …Lose the remote control.

Break free of your electronic leashes for a little while.

Take the time to just be yourself …”

Immigrant Living: 101 andBeyond 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 Christcentered 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 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 experience 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 Continued on Page SF7

community

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 14, 2018

USCIS could waive marital interviews on petitions to remove conditions (Form I-751)

or not this was a bona fide marriage. However, under a new Immigration Policy Memorandum, the USCIS Corner could waive (or not require) a marital interview under certain circumstances: The petition to remove conatty. MiChael ditions contains sufficient eviGurFinkel, eSQ dence about the bona fides of DREAMS OF A FAIRYTALE WEDDING ENDED UP IN A NIGHTMARE OF BATTERY AND ABUSE. Anne entered the U.S. on a fiancé (K-1) visa, hoping to build a the marriage, and demonstrates STARTING on December beautiful, love-filled life with her U.S. citizen petitioner. But the marriage turned into a nightmare, when the husband became verbally and physically abusive.

10, 2018, the USCIS could waive the marriage was not fixed. This Battered and abused, Anne reached out to leading immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel. Watch as Anne was able to escape the chains of abuse, through might include extensive joint (or not require) an interview for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petition that the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel filed and was “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) documents, pictures together, a married couple seeking to on TFC. (Advertising Supplement) possibly a baby born during remove conditions on a condithe past two years, and other tional green card. evidence showing this truly was Generally, when a U.S. a love marriage, and not one of citizen petitions a spouse for convenience. a green card, and the spouse evidence-based medical data exemption. In certain ways and The petitioner had already receives their green card within today on how to achieve instances, we could perhaps been interviewed in connection two years of the date of marmaximal health benefits through riage, they are given a twoalter the progress and reduce with the case, either in connecPhiliP S. Chua, healthy lifestyle and extend our year “conditional” green card. the odds to some degree, but tion with the original spousal MD, FaCS, FPCS life, our telomeres, to the fullest Before the expiration of that the inevitable end is obviously petition (Form I-130) or the adpossible. beyond us. two-year green card, the couple justment of status (Form I-485).

Physiology of deterioraLAST February 28, 2018, As the clock ticks, we are There is no indication of must then file a joint petition to tion my wife, Farida, and I arrived at older by the second. As we remove conditions (Form I-751), fraud or misrepresentation in The degeneration starts in the Los Angeles International grow older, the expected the Form I-751 or supporting and submit evidence to demthe basic cellular foundation of Airport from Manila, following normal wear and tear in our documentation; and onstrate the bona fides of the our body as we grow older, var- marriage, and that the marriage our two medical missions in the body progress faster and faster, There are no complex ying in different individuals since was not entered into to evade Philippines. While waiting at including the reduction in the facts or issues that require an people age at different speed, the lounge for our flight back secretion of our various esseninterview to resolve questions U.S. immigration laws. In other but in general the physiological words, demonstrate that it was to Las Vegas, we received a call tial glands and the weakening or concerns. Some complex changes start to manifest when from our friend, Lynn Santos, a of our immune system. issues might include the couple not a fixed marriage. we reach about 40 years of age, nurse, who relayed to us the sad Our telomeres – caps at the is not living together, perhaps If the couple cannot file a news that a close mutual friend, ends of each strand of DNA that more obvious when we reach because of job location; the joint petition to remove condiabout 65. As we age, all the a medical colleague who was protect the chromosomes, simicouple is now separated, maybe tions, because the marriage systems and essential functions 84 and recovering well from a lar to plastic tips at the end of broke down, they divorced, etc., one spouse had a child outside of our body work less efficiently, the conditional resident would stroke, had collapsed in a groshoelaces, which prevents them of marriage during those two at suboptimal level. Inflammacery store. About half an hour or from fraying – get damage and years, etc. file a “waiver” of the requiretion, the precursor of almost so later, while we were on board the telomeres become shorter Of course, there is no ment to file a joint petition and all diseases, invades the entire the plane, Lynn called again, this as our body is subjected to all guarantee or assurance that any seek to remove the conditions body. All the glands in the time to inform us that he had assaults internally and exterinterview on removing the conon their green card alone. passed away. nally. The shorter the telomeres, body secrete significantly less, ditional status will be waived.

In adjudicating these petiif not meager, hormones and A testament the shorter the lifespan.

However, if you have filed a tions to remove conditions, the other essential substances that Our friend’s departure was The speed of the degenjoint petition to remove condicouple (or the person seeking regulate the various vital organs a waiver of the joint petition) a devastating loss to his family, erative changes in us depends tions (or a waiver of the joint pein the body. Arteries lose their friends, and the community. on our genes and to a great tition and are filing on your own) could be required to attend an elasticity and hardened, causing interview to enable the officer The health issues this physician significant degree, on our and are being called in for an high blood pressure and arteand his wife of 53 years experilifestyle. That’s why the aging interview, that could be a sign to more fully evaluate whether rial blockages. The blood gets enced as they grew older were process varies in different indithicker, increasing the risk for a testament to the realities of viduals. While we cannot (yet) thinner, and wrinkles form. hormones drop and lessen sex blood clots, coronary heart disaging. This natural part of life, do anything about our genes Most of our biologic funcdrive. The dermal collagen ease and stroke. Joint lubricants and oil production slow down aging, is inescapable and an at this stage in science and tions peak at age 30, declining decrease causing aggravating equalizer, as much as death is a technology to extend longevity in a linear fashion thereafter. and the skin loses turgor and arthritic pains. Male and female moisture, becoming thinner and This, however, does not materipart of life, without exception or for everyone, we have enough

Health@Heart

ASTROLOGER

EMPLOYMENT

Aging: An equalizer

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

REAL ESTATE

your case has certain problems, whether it is the bona fides of the marriage, possible fraud issues etc. In such a situation, I would strongly recommend to seek the advice of an attorney, who can evaluate your situation, and possibly represent you at that interview and make sure your case is properly documented and demonstrates the bona fides of your marriage. This is especially important because if the petition to remove conditions is denied, USCIS could place the person in deportation/ removal proceedings. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and reenactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

ally affect our daily activities at this stage. Only stresses and diseases, and not aging, impact the physiology negatively durContinued on Page SF6

SF6

people & events The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 14, 2018

Calendar of Events across

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 4 - 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 athttps://mytfc.com/tikim.

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

Taking the time to...

From Page SF4 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 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 aweinspiring 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 mindboggling 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 or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before google.

Aging: An equalizer...

From Page SF5 ing this period.

Theory of aging There are a few, but the prominent one is the Free Radical Theory where oxygencontaining 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 lifestyle (high carbohydrate-low vegetable-low fruit and low-nut diet, smoking, alcohol, soft drinks, lack of exer-

cise, 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

California divorce, domestic violence, and US immigration laws The CTV Files

ATTY. LILLI BERBANO BACULI, ESQ

CALIFORNIA Divorce – “No Fault.” California is a no-fault divorce state. A party filing for divorce does not need the consent of the other in order to file a Petition for Dissolution (Divorce) or, in some instances, to get a judgment of divorce.

What needs to happen is that the other party (your soon-to-be ex-spouse) needs to be served with process. In proceeding in an action for divorce, there are procedural requirements dictated by law that must be followed to ensure that the other party has notice of the action (that is, that s/he is being brought to court for an action of divorce) and that s/he is given time to respond.

However, there is no requirement for the other party to respond.

There is no requirement that s/he sign any document at all. All that needs to happen is that s/he is properly served with process according to the rules.

What if I do not have legal papers, and my spouse is abusive? If safety is a concern, we urge people to seek help first, particularly if there are minor children who may also be at risk of abuse. For non-emergency calls, individuals may dial 2-1-1 to seek help finding resources for health, mental health, or temporary shelter.

Options available for victims of abuse: VAWA Self-Petition.

The spouse or child of a U.S.

citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident, or the parent of a U.S. citizen, who is battered or subject to extreme cruelty may file a self-petition independently of the abusive U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident.

The spouse or child must demonstrate that he or she resided with the U.S. citizen or Lawful permanent spouse or parent; was battered or subject to extreme cruelty during the marriage (or, in the case of a spouse self-petitioner, the child was battered or subjected to extreme cruelty); the marriage was entered into in good faith; s/he is otherwise eligible for immediate relative or preference status; and has good moral character.

In certain cases, though an individual has not suffered any physical harm, abuse can still be argued depending on the circumstances, since “abuse” is not limited to physical harm.

Each application will be reviewed and examined on a case-bycase basis, and given the whole picture, an individual might just be able to show that he or she is a battered spouse or has suffered extreme cruelty from their U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident husband. If so, a VAWA Self-Petition will enable her to adjust her status without having to rely on their spouse.

Deportability issues for green card holders with domestic violence conviction(s).

A non-citizen, even if a Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder) for ten years, is liable to be deportable if s/he commits or is convicted of certain crimes, even if it’s “just a misdemeanor.”

A conviction for domestic violence can make a non-citizen

deportable.

A criminal conviction’s negative impact on immigration status. The Record of Conviction (ROC) details an individual’s criminal history – his/her arrest, what s/he plead to, and the final judgment/sentence. The relief(s) available to an individual facing removal/deportation proceedings will depend largely on that individual’s record of conviction.

If you are a non-citizen, it is best to consult both with a criminal attorney and with an experienced criminal immigration attorney who handles deportation defense before pleading to anything in criminal court.

No two cases are exactly the same. Consult with an experienced and competent family law and immigration attorney immediately, and more importantly prior to filing any applications with the USCIS, or prior to pleading to anything in any court, in order to explore their options and possible legal ramifications that they might be facing. As always, be wary of online tools that offer immigration help or notarios who are not licensed to practice law. *** Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ ctvattys.com; www.chuatinsayvega.com.

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Louie Del Carmen: The man behind...

From Page SF3 men, 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 standalone, 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 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 “Spider-Man” 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 hav-

ing 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.

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 evidence-

based 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, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is a medical lecturer/author, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com (Advertising Supplement)

Operation Santa Claus

“MY family and I volunteer for Operation Santa Claus every year because, at one time, we were the ones receiving toys and holiday meals.

This was during a very difficult time in our lives when I was between jobs. That is why it is so important to be able to give back, now, to the community.

We understand what it means for those who are struggling to make ends meet.” — Andrea Guzman It is with great pride that Operation Santa Claus is kicking off its 69th Annual Holiday Program in the Daly City/Colma/Broadmoor area.

As you hear from Andrea’s own words, the donations received by the program have allowed us to assist in bringing holiday cheer to families who are less fortunate, like the Guzman family. These families have all been screened by the City’s Community Service Center and determined to be truly in need. In today’s unpredictable economic times, the definition of families needing holiday assistance must now include a new category of the “working poor” — people who are a part of the labor force but earn less than a subsistence level of income.

Each year it becomes

increasingly difficult to meet the ever-changing demands placed on our organization by the local community. In fact, last year, financial contributions were down by 40 percent. Yet in the last three years we have received a 20-40 percent increase from families in need. It is the goal of Operation Santa Claus to assist these families, as well as our struggling senior citizens, with a warm meal and Christmas cheer. Unfortunately, given the delta of contributions we have been experiencing, Operation Santa Claus will need to forgo one of our foundation goals and no longer provide a holiday meal.

In 2017, Operation Santa Claus supported the community by: • Providing all new toys to close to 700 children during the 2017 Christmas holidays — nearly double than the previous year.

• Distributing food certificates to over 300 families, including our senior citizens, over 40 percent more in value than financial contributions received.

The need of our organization to exist and carry on became more apparent this past year. We certainly could not have done what we have without the dedicated support

and kind assistance of individuals, businesses, and serviceoriented organizations such as yourselves.

Any donation, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated and put to good use.

As always: • 100 percent of all monies donated are used entirely for the program.

• All volunteers and committee members serve and help without any compensation.

• Your generous contribution is tax-deductible. Checks can be made out to “Operation Santa Claus.”

• Operation Santa Claus is not affiliated with any other Christmas gift-giving organization.

Please feel free to contact the Daly City Community Service Center at OPERSantaClaus@dcpartnership.org or (650) 991-8007 or North County Fire Authority at (650) 991-8138. They will be more than happy to have an Operation Santa Claus representative contact you to answer any questions you may have.

We thank you for your faithful support and wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday season and all the best for 2019!

Winter closure of City of Milpitas offices

MOST City of Milpitas offices will be closed for winter closure Monday, December 24, 2018 through Tuesday, January 1, 2019. The City will be open with normal operating hours on Friday, December 21, 2018 and Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

Although administrative offices will be closed, emergency services will continue to operate 24/7. In the event of an emergency, dial 9-1-1. To report service needed for trees, storm, water and sewer, or lighting, the Public Works Call Center can be reached by calling (408) 586-2600 or during after-hours, residents may call the Police Department non-emergency line at (408) 586-2400.

Recreation Service’s Winter Camp will continue to operate

as scheduled and the Senior Center will be open for lunch 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

In order to ensure that your service needs are met in advance of the winter closure, please call City Hall for any inspection, permit, plan check, passport or any other City service to schedule an appointment accordingly.

To view a full listing of City offices holiday closures, please visit Human Resources at http:// www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/milpitas/ departments/about-human-resources-2/city-milpitas-holidayclosures/.

Thank you for being apart of this amazing city and we wish you a happy and healthy New Year!

people & events

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 14, 2018

Celebrate the Holidays at Graton this December

WANT to have an exciting and fun holiday season?

This December, spend a great time with your relatives and friends at Graton Resort & Casino! Graton has prepared lots of activities allowing you to experience exciting casino games, gourmet food and entertainment shows, and ensuring that you are all satisfied at the same time!

In December, Graton invites you to participate in the Hooray For The Holidays Slot Tournaments which will be held every Thursday, from 5pm to 10pm. Up to $30,000 in prizes can be won at each tournament, with the top prize up to $10,000 cash. The total prizes available reach up to $120,000!

All reward members get one free entry into each tournament. Premier, Platinum and Elite members win double the prize amount!

Come to Graton Resort & Casino, where it brings you a variety of holiday fun! Get a chance to win the prizes in the slot tournaments and experience the feeling of a winner!

Don’t miss the chances! For

more information related to the promotion, please visit GratonResortCasino.com or call 707-588-7100.

In addition to the exciting entertainment gaming, no matter if you want to have gourmet food with your family, or gather with friends to watch a show, or enjoy a luxury spa treatment alone, Graton is always your best choice! It includes 200 elegant comfortable rooms and luxurious suites; a glamorous lobby and luxurious spa; as well as more than 130 table games, including Blackjack, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker and more. It also offers 3,000 slot machines, live poker, video poker and a large function space for different music concerts and special events.

Graton Resort & Casino’s new non-smoking gaming area is now open! The 9,000 square feet non-smoking gaming area is located next to the casino valet. It offers 300 slot machines and video poker.

Now, you can choose to enjoy gaming in a non-smoking environment at Graton Resort & Casino.

And, there are delectable restaurants and bars that offer different cuisines in the casino, such as 12-time World Pizza Champion Chef Tony Gemignani’s Tony’s of North Beach, Pan-Asian eatery Boathouse, a top-quality steakhouse in 630 Park Steakhouse, classic American dishes at Daily Grill, and 500 seats at the Marketplace which offers casual and convenient eateries for your selection. You will have a happy and unforgettable experience!

Graton Resort & Casino is located in Rohnert Park, California, next to the Golf Course Drive exit of 101 freeway, with access to easy transportation.

It has gourmet food, entertainment & accommodation all in one, and is the largest integrated resort in the Bay area. The casino is owned and operated by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, managed by Station Casinos LLC. For more information, please visit www.GratonResortCasino.com, www.facebook.com/GratonCasino or www.twitter.com/PlayGraton.

(Advertising Supplement)

SF8

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 14, 2018