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DECEMBER 20-26, 2018 Volume 29 - No. 48 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

T H E F I L I P I N O –A M E R I C A N C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R

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Miss Universe Catriona Gray receives messages of praise

by CET

DEMATERA Philstar.com

Beneficiaries of Young Focus, a charity group in Tondo, Manila that provides free education for outof-school youth where newly crowned Miss Universe Catriona Gray is a volunteer, flash Gray’s photos on Tuesday, December 18 to congratulate her on her victory.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

USA

DATELINE Duterte thanks US for returning Balangiga bells FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

AFTER 117 years in the United States’ possession, the Balangiga bells made their way home to Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, December 15, witnessed the turnover of the Transfer Certificate of the Balangiga Bells from U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission John Law to Philippine Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The president, then, personally led the handover ceremony of the historic bells to the people of Balangiga.

He also handed the certificate of transfer to Balangiga Mayor Randy Graza.

Duterte, in his speech, thanked the U.S. government for the return of the century-old war artifacts.

He also said that the return of the bells was possible due to “several efforts made by both Americans and the Philippines” and that no one should take credit for the return of the

MANILA — Like lava that inspired her dress, messages of congratulations and praises for Catriona Gray flowed from all over the country.

In her mother’s home province of Albay, a hero’s welcome awaits the beauty queen.

“Truly an Albayana, she was the most prepared candidate ever – if you prepare to fight calamities, the more you are prepared for victory,” Albay Rep. Joey Salceda posted in his Facebook account.

Gray’s mother Normita Ragas

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Duterte to Tagle: When did I threaten you?

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

MANILA — Malacañang claimed he did not feel alluded to by the prelate’s remarks but President Rodrigo Duterte has reacted harshly to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle’s reminder that power should not be used to bully people.

Without naming names, Tagle said in a homily last Sunday, December 16, that power should not be used to disrespect or “Do not bully anyone. Do not use your power to disrespect others. Do not coerce other people. The preluse your power to coerce others,” Tagle said in his homily at the Manila ate also claimed that the “most Cathedral on Sunday, December 16.

Philstar.com photo afraid and insecure” are the

by DARRYL JOHN

Panelo said Duterte did not feel alluded to by Tagle’s comments because the president “does not bully people.”

Duterte, however, appeared to have contradicted his spokesman as he reacted to Tagle’s homily even if he was not mentioned in it.

“They say I shouldn’t threaten Bishop Tagle. When have I ever done that?” the president said during a gathering of barangay officials in Davao City onTuesday.

Duterte went on to claim that a priest had wished him dead

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ESGUERRA

Inquirer.net

MANILA — Reenacting the national budget for next year will slow down economic growth and will adversely affect public infrastructure and poverty-alleviation programs.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said on Wednesday, December 19 as the government, for the first time in nine years, will operate on a reenacted budget next year, which economic managers said could threaten the implementation of the administration’s infrastructure plan that aims to spur economic growth.

“Under a reenacted budget, no new infrastruc-

Study: Asian American students have highest amount of unmet financial aid need

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ones using their power to belittle others.

Tagle made the remark after Duterte attacked the Catholic Church for lecturing about morality despite its supposed failure to address the sexual abuses involving the clergy.

The Catholic Church, the religious group of more than 80 percent of Filipinos, has been critical of Duterte’s war on illegal drugs, which has left more than 5,000 people dead.

Palace: Duterte did not feel alluded to Last Tuesday, December 18, presidential spokesman Salvador

Diokno: Reenacted budget detrimental to Philippines’ economic growth

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ASIAN Americans remain the fastest growing population in the U.S., but recently released data by the U.S. Department of Education shows that Asian American students have the largest gap between the cost of college and what they must pay—a gap advocates are labeling as unmet need.

“This further illuminates how the Asian ‘model minority’ myth is damaging to the success of Asian American communities and has wide-ranging implications postsecondary financial aid policies,” said the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).

In a recent report titled “When Financial Aid Falls Short,” the center found that nearly three in four students experience the unmet need, with the level of unmet need being higher among students of color compared to their white counterparts. Compared to 66 percent of white students, 72 percent of Asian American students at public two-year institutions experience this unmet need.

The unmet need was particularly higher for Asian American students when looking at the dollar amounts. The report said that dependent Asian American earning less than $27,900 and independent Asian American

MISS UNIVERSE 2018 ARRIVAL IN MANILA. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray arrives at the hangar area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 4 in Pasay City on Wednesday, December 19. To her right is former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno

Inquirer.net photo

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Source: World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2018 Infographic by Inquirer.net photo

Car, trucks raffled off in Pacquiao’s lavish birthday bash STILL THE MOST GENDER-EQUAL COUNTRY IN ASIA PH improves global gender gap ranking GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao said he was “stronger and faster” than ever ahead of his world title defense as he threw a lavish party with thousands of guests and a mass giveaway to mark his 40th birthday on Monday, December 17.

A car, pickup trucks and appliances were raffled off, and President Rodrigo Duterte and celebrities were among the well-wishers at the all-night event held at a sprawling shopping mall in his home city of General Santos.

“I feel stronger and faster, President Rodrigo Duterte poses with Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao and his family and by God’s grace I am wiser during the Senator’s birthday celebration at the KCC Convention and Events Center

by CHRISTIA

MARIE Inquirer.net

RAMOS

THE Philippines climbed two notches higher in the latest Global Gender Gap ranking released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Tuesday, December 18.

The Philippines now ranks eight in the GLOBAL ranking from 10th in 2017.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2018 also showed that the Philippines remained the most genderequal country in Asia, closing just under 80 percent of its overall gender gap, which WEF said is “the highest value for the country ever recorded by the Index.”

The WEF assessed 149 counu PAGE A2 in General Santos City on Monday, December 17. Malacañang photo by Toto Lozano

tries on their progress towards gender equality across four key areas—economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.

“The rankings are designed to create global awareness of the challenges posed by gender gaps and the opportunities created by reducing them,” the WEF said.

The WEF noted that the Philippines managed to narrow its economic participation and opportunity gender gap “due to increases in wage equality for similar work and women’s estimated earned income.”

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Reenacted budget detrimental to...

PAGE A1

ture projects can start because the Capital Outlays component of the previous year’s budget cannot be deemed reenacted,” Diokno said in a Palace briefing.

However, Diokno noted that “large projects covered by Multi-Year Obligational Authority (MYOA) will not be adversely affected.”

The Internal Revenue Allot-

ment (IRA) for Local Government Units (LGUs) and debt service will also not be affected as they are automatically appropriated and will receive allocations based on the 2019 National Expenditure Program, Diokno said.

Meanwhile, personnel services and the maintenance and other operating expenses will be reenacted based on the 2018 level, which means salary adjustments

From The FronT Page

for civilian and military personnel programmed for 2019 will have to wait.

In total, according to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) estimates, a reenacted budget for the first quarter of 2019 will reduce total disbursements by P43.7 billion.

On a full-year basis, it will reach P219.8 billion, Diokno added.

“This will be detrimental to the economic growth and development objectives of the Duterte Administration. The government intends to ramp up investments on public infrastructure, povertyalleviation, and social services,” Diokno said.

“We are hopeful that legislators will see the urgency and GOODIES FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. Miss Philippines 2018 candidates assisted by QCPD personnel distribute bags of goodies to over 200 indigenous wisdom in passing at the soonest people during the “QCPD District Director’s Gift Giving and Feeding Program for the Indigenous People/ Mendicants” on the corners and streets possible time the National Bud- at Camp Tomas Karingal covered court in Quezon City on Monday, December 17.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon get for 2019,” he added. n

Duterte to Tagle: When did I...

PAGE A1 during a mass in support for Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, an outspoken critic. A priest identified as Fr. Noel Gatchalian jokingly wished Duterte sick during a mass last September but did not wish the president dead.

“To get back at them I’ll say, ‘Okay, kill all the bishops who are inutile,’” Duterte said.

The president, who claims to believe in God but not in organized religion, went on to claim that Catholic priests portrayed him as a devil. The Catholic Church did not issue such statement.

“Using your religion as a platform to attack a person is wrong because of the separation of church and state,” Duterte said, referring to a constitutional provision primarily against the establishment of a state religion and against curtailing freedom of religion.

“We will never reach an understanding. We will never come to terms. The government is difficult to navigate. It too has no God,” he added.

Duterte has been making unsubstantiated claims against the Church like 80 percent of priests are gay and that bishops are stealing Church funds to support their mistresses. n

Miss Universe Catriona Gray receives...

PAGE A1

Magnayon is from Oas town.

Salceda said Catriona is “regal as Mayon is majestic. She is beautiful, truly Daragang Magayon.”

“The entire Albay is happy and proud of her achievement as proud she is of her roots. I worked with Catriona in her previous quests and she was excited about her role as tourism champion for Albay,” the former Albay governor recalled.

Gray’s aunt Salve Ragas said local officials of Oas and Albay are already making arrangements with them for a grand welcome for Catriona.

She said Catriona last visited Oas in November when some of the Miss Earth beauty pageant events were held in Albay.

“My niece Catriona is a very kind person. She is always humble and funny,” Ragas recalled.

Newly formed Bicol regional political party Kusog Bicolandia announced it would organize a grand welcome party for Gray in January.

“Catriona deserves such recognition as she gives us Bicolanos as well as Filipinos pride and prestige when she bagged the crown as Ms. Universe 2018,” Noel De Luna, Kusol Bicolandia chairman, told The Star.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri filed a resolution congratulating and commending Gray not only for her victory but also for her various advocacies.

Zubiri cited Gray’s work on promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and education, as well as her efforts to put up a three-story shelter for impoverished children in Manila slums.

Sen. Grace Poe called Gray “a woman of style, substance and brave heart deserves the crown.”

“Thank you for flying the Philippine flag high. The Filipinos will be by your side in your Miss Universe journey,” Poe said.

Sen. Cynthia Villar said she joined the nation and Filipino communities around the world in celebrating Gray’s victory.

She also thanked her for “successfully raising the Philippine flag and championing Filipino pride in the global stage.”

“I commend her for sending out a very powerful message of looking for opportunities to help even in the most desperate situations,” Villar said.

“I look forward to Catriona’s meaningful and uplifting reign as Miss Universe,” she said.

Sen. Nancy Binay said Gray made the country proud as she displayed grace and beauty amid the pressure of competing in the pageant.

“She is proof that one can rise through adversity if one believes in herself, as well as displays her abilities and dedication,” Binay said.

FOURTH FILIPINA MISS UNIVERSE. Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters crowns Miss Philippines Catriona Gray as her successor at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday, December 17.

Photo courtesy of Miss Universe Organization

“I had a rare opportunity to have met and talked to Ms. Gray. From that moment, I already sensed her heart and passion to serve. Being Miss Universe will amplify her true value to want to help the marginalized children and far-flung IP communities not only in the Philippines, but in other countries as well,” she said.

Sweetest Christmas gift She said being Miss Universe is Gray’s sweetest Christmas gift to the Filipino people.

“As our exchange gift to one another, I hope we will help Ms. Gray to realize her dream ‘for a world with less negativity where everyone is grateful’,” Binay said.

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito described Gray as “the epitome of the intelligence, talent and beauty of a Filipina.”

Sen. Sonny Angara said her well-deserved win “is surely a source of great inspiration and happiness for the millions of Filipinos all over the world, the universe rather.”

Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said Gray showed the world that Filipino beauty is intelligent, creative and full of heart.

“May your reign be a compelling platform for positive change and women empowerment, and also an opportunity to promote our

country’s tourism and everything our beloved country has to offer,” Sen. Joel Villanueva said.

Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez, a Binibining Pilipinas International contestant in 1996, also praised Gray.

“Your victory is a testament to the faith and resiliency of the Filipino spirit. The resounding triumph of Gray demonstrates to the world the hard work, courage and strength of Filipinos as trademarks in winning any battle,” she said.

“Miss U Gray’s heart for the poor and marginalized, especially the children, shone through. Her win serves as inspiration to Filipinos and the rest of the world to care more for the less fortunate, especially this Christmas season,” said Rep. Mikee Romero.

Rep. Ace Barbers said Gray’s “sacrifices and triumph inspire Filipinos to continue fighting on amidst the challenges and difficulties.”

“Her victory is our victory. This is such an amazing Christmas gift to the country,” he said.

“My fellow Bicolano Catriona showed how the Filipino is the best asset of the Philippines.

Catriona, true to her words, represented each Filipino with great honor, grace, brains, and beauty,” PAGE A4

PH improves global gender gap...

PAGE A1 Meanwhile, the country’s educational attainment gender gap “remains fully closed” but the country’s health and survival gender gap “remains open for a

second year.”

The WEF also noted that the Philippines has maintained its ranking in the Top 10 since the organization started reporting on gender gaps in 2006.

The country’s ranking in the report can be attributed to its “strong scores on closing the political empowerment gender gap, in particular,” the organization added. n

Car, trucks raffled off in Pacquiao’s lavish...

PAGE A1

at 40, feeling 25,” Pacquiao said, making clear he’s looking forward to facing American Adrien Broner next month.

Title match “I believe the best is yet to come.

You have not yet seen the best of Manny Pacquiao,” he added.

The Filipino southpaw, 60-7 with two draws and 39 knockouts in a career that began in 1995, is to stake his World Boxing Association’s regular welterweight crown against Broner on Jan. 19 in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, winner of an unprecedented eight world titles in as many weight classes, has continued fighting after reversing a decision to retire in 2016.

The rags-to-riches Pacquiao,

who quit school and hawked food in the streets and later took up boxing in his teens to support his mother and his younger siblings, is also a Philippine senator.

“Boxing is my passion and public service is my mission,” he said, wearing a dark suit and a fedora.

The Filipino won his last title by stopping Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse in July at Kuala Lumpur.

Speculation remains high that the Broner bout could be a warmup for a sequel to 2015’s “Fight of the Century” that Pacquiao lost to undefeated Floyd Mayweather on points.

Raffle prizes A sedan and two pickup trucks as well as dozens of smaller prizes, like refrigerators, were raffled

off at the party, which included a section that was open to the general public.

Entertainers put on a shadow play recounting the rise of the “people’s champ” from abject poverty to becoming a multimillionaire who doled out free housing to the poor and visited sick people in hospital.

Rock bands and gospel singers provided the music, children danced, and Pacquiao’s wife, Jinky, serenaded him with a ballad.

“We are so thankful. He never forgets to help us, his poor constituents,” said Sarah Bagas, a middle-aged street sweeper who lined up for her raffle ticket and food stub in midmorning. (Inquirer.net with reports from AFP)

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Jollibee takes full control of Smashburger

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

U.S.-based burger chain Smashburger has been fully acquired by Jollibee Foods Corp. following the purchase of its remaining stake in the Filipinoowned fast-food chain for $10 million (P526 million).

Jollibee first acquired Smashburger with an initial stake of 40 percent, which was later raised to 85 percent back in February.

Jollibee, in a regulatory filing on Friday, December 14, said the remaining 15-percent stake in SJBF LLC, owner of Smashburger, was acquired in cash through its subsidiary Bee Good!

Inc. (BGI).

“Jollibee is now the sole owner

of the Smashburger business,” the fast-food giant said.

According to Jollibee, it would pour in more capital into Smashburger following its purchase. It plans to convert an $80 million loan held by BGI into equity to support Smashburger’s growth in 2019.

“We look forward to the development of Smashburger into a very strong brand and business in the United States,” Jollibee Chairman Tony Tan Caktiong said.

Jollibee Chief Executive Officer Ernesto Tanmantiong, meanwhile, said, “We look forward to replicating in Smashburger the significant brand and business development that [the group] achieved in practically all its

new and acquired businesses in the Philippines, China, Vietnam, and other countries through the introduction of [Jollibee’s] business methods.”

Smashburger has 351 stores worldwide, among them in the U.S., Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, Kuwait, Panama, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

In North America, JFC has 435 stores, which comprise 12 percent of its worldwide sales.

“We are preparing for even stronger growth in the United States with [a] higher rate of store expansion led first by Jollibee starting in 2019 and by other brands in the suc- CHRISTMAS RUSH. Shoppers pack C.M Recto St. in Divisoria, Manila as the mad rush to buy Christmas gifts continues. Since the start of ceeding years,” Tanmantiong December, throngs of shoppers have flocked to Divisoria, dubbed the country’s shopping mecca. ManilaTimes.net photo by Gerard Seguia added. ■

Duterte thanks US for returning...

PAGE A1 bells, not even him, because it was the voice of the Filipino people especially the people of Balangiga, that convinced the U.S. to return them.

“Let me be very clear on this: There are some who are front loaders and pedantic in the government. The bells are returned and it was really because of the fervent prayers of the entire Filipino nation,” Duterte said.

“But nobody can claim a singular credit for the generous act of the Americans. The bells are returned. The credit goes to the American people and to the Filipino people. Period,” he added.

‘Vibrant’ U.S.-Philippines relations According to Duterte, the homecoming of the artifacts was “truly a milestone and part of a meaningful history of the United States and the Philippines,” a vibrant chapter in the PhilippineU.S. bilateral relations.

Used to signal a historic siege during the Philippine-American War in 1901, where Filipinos killed 48 out of 74 U.S. troops, the Balangiga bells were taken as war trophies when the American forces led the Balangiga Massacre, where about 2,500 Filipinos were killed.

Duterte said the bells’ return is a “restoration of Filipinos’ dignity.”

“I am sure that our ancestors are celebrating with us here on this remarkable victory. And that it does not only bring back the glory of the town, but also contributes to the full restoration

Improving PH-China ties not a concern for US Duterte has pursued policies based on the Philippines’ own interests and independent foreign policy.

The envoy said he was more focused on maintaining the strong alliance between the Philippines and the U.S. while the former seeks stronger ties with other nations.

“I am quite confident that our relaationship in all aspects including, of course, our very strong alliance remains very much intact,” Kim said.

Asked if the proposed joint exploration between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea would affect U.S. freedom of navigation operations in the area, Kim said it should not.

“Freedom of navigation and

overflight are international rights for everybody and does not belong to any set of countries,” Kim said, adding that the U.S. continues its operations in the region to protect these rights.

A recent survey from Social Weather Stations found that majority of Filipinos believe the U.S. defense commitment to the country is strong.

Sixty-one percent of the respondents said they believe the country’s long-time ally would defend the country in case of invasion by another country. In 1951, the two countries signed a Mutual Defense Treaty declaring their “sense of unity and their common determination to defend themselves against external armed attack.” ■

public stigmatization of human rights defenders, which can incite perpetrators to act against them, A UNITED Nations (UN) special and instead to publicly recognize rapporteur has asked the Duterte the legitimacy and importance of administration to immediately their work,” he noted. stop “public stigmatization” of “The State should develop human rights advocates and protection mechanisms that proinstead “publicly recognize” the tect and support human rights importance of their work. defenders,” he added.

Michel Forst, UN special rapIn his report, Forst stated the porteur on the situation of hu- Duterte administration’s bloody man rights defenders, said in drug war created “a climate of his recent World Report that the insecurity and impunity” that State must create “protection affected human rights advomechanisms” to ensure the safety cates. of human rights defenders.

He also cited Duterte’s attack “The rapporteur urges the gov- against human rights defenders, ernment to cease immediately the labelling them as “anti-nation,

protectors of drug lords, communists and terrorists.”

Forst further called on the Duterte administration to review or amend laws that restrict “the right to freedom of opinion, expression, assembly, and association” as well as carry out investigation on human rights violations in the Philippines.

“The government must reaffirm its commitment to the rule of law and ensure that human rights violations are properly investigated, including those allegedly committed by state actors, to make the perpetrators accountable and mitigate the culture of impunity,” he said. ■

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

WASHINGTON does not consider the improving relations between Manila and Beijing as a concern, United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said.

The American envoy said he thinks that all countries in the region want to have a productive and constructive relationship with China.

“And the fact that the Philippines is interested in improving relations with China also is not surprising and it is not by itself a cause of concern,” Kim told CNN Philippines’ “The Source” on Wednesday, December 19.

Kim added that he was not surprised that President Rodrigo

DUTERTE LEADS HANDOVER OF BALANGIGA BELLS. President Rodrigo Duterte kisses one of the Balangiga Bells after witnessing the official handover of its Transfer Certificate at the Balangiga Auditorium in Eastern Samar on Saturday, December 15. Malacañang photo by Simeon Celiacs

of our dignity as a Filipino,” he said.

Long wait is over Duterte was not the first president to ask Washington to return the Balangiga bells, as reported

by Rappler. Then-president Fidel Ramos in 1994 requested the same from his U.S. counterpart, Bill Clinton, but to no avail.

In 2014, an online petition signed by more than 3,000 people also urged the U.S. to return the Balangiga Bells. However, then-U.S. president Barack Obama made no mention of the matter when he visited the Philippines that year.

Duterte first demanded the bells’ return during his second

A3

State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2017 in the presence of U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim. “We know fully well that several efforts have been made by both Americans and the Philippines. It is really indeed a long and tedious process to the point that the outcome was disappointing sometimes, but the long wait is over,” Duterte on Saturday said.

The Balangiga bells finally arrived home in December 11, after making a stopover in Okinawa, Japan, where the two bells in Wyoming, and the bell in South Korea were reunited. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

UN expert asks Duterte admin: Stop maligning human rights advocates

by CONSUELO

MARQUEZ Inquirer.net

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California’s Fil-Am top judge slams Trump’s attacks on the judiciary SAN FRANCISCO — In her annual meeting with journalists, California’s Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said President Donald Trump’s attacks on federal judges who rule against him are damaging the rule of law.

Trump has called a Republican judge who ruled against his travel ban as a “so-called judge,” denounced the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as “hostile” and “in chaos” for rulings on immigration and other issues, and labeled a U.S.-born Hispanic judge as a “Mexican” who was biased against him.

A report by the San Francisco Chronicle said CantilSakauye called such attacks

as “doing damage, short-term and long-term, to courts, to the rule of law.” The chief justice is a Filipino American appointee of Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

She also reportedly agreed with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ statement, in response to Trump’s attacks on judges, that ‘We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges,’ but simply “an extraordinary group of dedicated judges.

“We as a branch (of government) need to defend our own,” Cantil-Sakauye said. The best way to do that, she said, is to promote civics education and “invite the public into our

courtrooms.”

The chief justice also praised California Governor Jerry Brown’s more than 600 judicial appointments since 2011 as “fantastic.” More than half have been women, about 40 percent are non-white, and most come from “a whole new generation” in attitude as well as age, she said.

Instead of the “tough-oncrime” stance stressed by previous governors, Cantil-Sakauye said, Brown’s appointees seem more concerned about such issues as climate change and gun violence, seeming to fit the “philosophy of California,” which she described as “people-centric” and “underdogcentric.” (Inquirer.net)

Miss Universe Catriona Gray receives...

PAGE A2 said 1-Ang edukasyon party-list Rep. Salvador Belaro.

Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, chair of the House committee on women and gender equality, said she was elated to hear Gray pushing children’s rights and welfarte advocacy.

Rep. Geraldine Roman, a transgender, said Gray “brought immense pride and honor to the Filipinos all over the world not only with her beauty but also with her intelligence, integrity and her heart for the poor.”

“She would make a great ambassador for peace, love and compassion in the international community,” the Bataan lawmaker said.

Work for the poor Vice President Leni Robredo, who is from Bicol like Gray’s mother, also joined in congratulating Gray.

“Your victory has brought happiness to millions of households throughout our nation. Regardless of different backgrounds and allegiances, in this, you have brought us together,” Robredo said in a statement.

The Vice President also praised Gray for highlighting her work for the poor in the pageant’s Q&A portion.

“With the eyes of the world and the entire Filipino nation on you, you chose to highlight your work with the poor and to send a muchneeded message of hope to all.

With those inspiring words, you already became a winner in my heart and, I am certain, in those of many others,” she said.

“I wish you the best, and may you make full use of your new role as an ambassador to continue bringing the message of hope to the world. Mabuhay ang mga Bicolana,” Robredo said.

Former solicitor general Florin Hilbay also thanked Gray for being an inspiration to millions of Filipinos.

Veteran eletion lawyer Romulo Macalintal extended his congratulatory message to Gray on behalf of the senior citizens.

“We are one with the Filipino people in congratulating Catriona Gray as Miss Universe 2018,” he said.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) also praised Gray for being a “true ally of Philippine tourism and a partner of the DOT in and out of the Miss Universe stage.”

“Throughout the Miss Universe competition, Miss Gray evoked the Filipino people’s essential attributes of friendliness, cheerfulness, hospitality and kindness, especially when she was around the representatives of different nations,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a text message.

“She has single-handedly led more people all over the world to discover that, indeed, it is more fun in the Philippines,” Puyat

Official headshot of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray Photo courtesy of Miss Universe Organization

said.

The tourism secretary also cited Gray’s commitment to showcase what the country has to offer through a series of video clips featuring some of the country’s destinations.

“Amidst Ms. Gray’s busy preparations prior to heading for Thailand, she took precious time to do a series of video clips promoting some of the country’s best destinations and diverse cultures: Luzon’s Rizal Park and worldrenown el Nido, Palawan; the resilience of the Visayan people particularly in Tacloban City and Mindanao’s multi-faceted South Cotabato,” Puyat said. n

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HEARING ON THE PROPOSED CREATION OF BLISTTDA. Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, presides over the public hearing on Senate Bill 1692 and House Bill (HB) 6974 that seek to create the Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon Sablan, Tuba and Tublay Development Authority (BLISTTDA). Present during the hearing are Rep. Mark Go, principal author of HB 6974, Baguio District Engineer Rene Zarate, former Benguet Vice Governor Edna Tabanda and Tuba Mayor Ignacio Rivera listen.

Senate photo by Albert Calvelo

Potential armed conflict in South China Sea among top US concerns in 2019

by Frances

G. ManGosinG Inquirer.net

A POSSIBLe armed confrontation over the disputed maritime areas in the South China Sea is on the top list of security threats concerning the United States in the coming year, according to an annual survey of U.S. foreign policy experts.

An assessment conducted by the Center for Preventive Action of the Council on Foreign Relations, a U.S.-based independent think tank, said a potential conflict between China and one or more Southeast Asian claimants (Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam) was the only “top tier” priority involving China despite the growing geopolitical rivalry between U.S. and China.

The survey released on Tuesday said the likelihood of the conflict would be “moderate,” which means it has an even chance of occurring in 2019.

But the impact of this would be “high” on U.S. interests, however. This means “the contingency directly threatens the U.S. homeland, a defense treaty ally, or a vital strategic interest, and, thus,

is likely to trigger a major U.S. military response.”

While a non-claimant in the South China Sea, the U.S. has expressed concern over China’s militarization of the disputed features. It also regularly sends its warships for freedom of navigation operations to challenge China’s massive maritime claims.

The U.S. is the Philippines’ oldest treaty ally but has remained vague if it would defend the latter when push comes to shove in the disputed features.

The Philippines and the U.S. are bound by the Mutual Defense Treaty, signed on Aug. 30, 1951, which calls for both states to come to each other’s defense against an armed attack. But the U.S. commitment to defend the Philippines if the attack involves disputed territories has persistently raised doubts in recent years.

“We’d like to avoid hypotheticals — what if this happens, what if that happens. In general, our alliance is ironclad and we are committed to the Mutual Defense Treaty and in protecting our treaty ally the Philippines in ensuring its sovereignty isn’t threatened,” Dr.

Joseph Felter, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, told journalists last week when asked if the U.S. would come to the aid of the Philippines in case of conflict in areas involving the disputed features in the West Philippine Sea. The rest of the Tier 1 security concerns in the survey include: a highly disruptive cyberattack on U.S. critical infrastructure and networks; renewed tensions on the Korean Peninsula following a collapse of the denuclearization negotiations; and an armed confrontation between Iran and the U.S. or one of its allies over Iran’s involvement in regional conflicts and support of militant proxy groups.

The annual Preventive Priorities Survey produced a list of top 30 contingencies and assessed each in terms of its likelihood and potential impact on U.S. interests. The results were sorted into three tiers of relative priority for preventive action.

About 500 U.S. government officials, foreign policy experts, and academics were respondents to the survey conducted in early November 2018. n

Ex-NBA star Lamar Odom to play for Philippines’ Mighty Sports in Dubai tiff FORMeR NBA star Lamar Odom announced his return to professional basketball, saying he will suit up for a Philippine teem seeing action in the Dubai International Basketball Championship in February next year.

The 39-year-old Odom, who last played for the New York Knicks in 2014, took to Instagram to make the announcement, confirming his stint with Mighty Sports in the Dubai tournament.

Odom said he originally intended to lend his services to the Chinese Basketball League, but was still physically not ready. He added that he will be using the Dubai tournament as a preparation ground for BIG3, a major 3x3

league in the U.S. Drafted fourth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1999, Odom went on to play for the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat and the Knicks, winning championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010 as a vital cog for the squad playing alongside Kobe Bryant. Other highlights of his career include being named the Sixth Man of the Year in 2011 and being part of the U.S. national team that won the gold medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey.

He has been involved in a variety of off-court controversies Lamar Odom is coming out of retirement to play for a Philippine-based squad in a Dubai but has since been on recovery. tournament.

(Philstar.com) Photo from Instagram/@lamarodom

Aussie newspaper’s reminder: Catriona Gray was born in Queensland IT looks like the Philippines is not the only one celebrating Catriona Gray’s Miss Universe victory as Australian media outlets have also accepted the honor for the achievement.

Australia’s “The Courier Mail” published a photo of Catriona winning the prestigious pageant but the paper crossed out the word “Philippines” and replaced it with “Queensland,” Catriona’s birthplace.

Catriona was born and grew

up in Cairns, Queensland to a Scottish-born father Ian Gray and Normita Magnayon, a Filipino from Albay.

The 4th Miss Universe of the country has lived in the Philippines since graduating from Trinity Anglican School in Cairns on 2011.

Another media outlet, radio station Hit, published the story “An Australian Girl Just Won Miss Universe But She Wasn’t Miss Australia” on its website.

The story congratulated Catriona on winning the title and traced her roots as an “Australian.”

“An Aussie girl has taken out the title of Miss Universe for 2018, but it wasn’t our chosen Miss Australia,” part of the story reads.

Francesca Hung, Australia’s representative in the Miss Universe 2018, cut her journey in the pageant short but made it to the Top 20. She has Chinese roots.

(Philstar.com)

Study: Asian American students have highest...

PAGE A1 students earning less than $7,200 (which puts them in the bottom income quartile) have an average unmet need of $8,507.

“This is significantly higher than the average unmet need of $6,903 among all students in the bottom income quartile,” reads the report.

It added that the disparity remained true for Asian American students across all types of institution and income quartiles.

‘Model minority myth’ and disaggregated data When taking a closer look at the data, disparities between Asian Americans were further found. For example, rates among Southeast Asian-Americans— particularly Hmong, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Laotian—were higher than the national average.

Given that roughly half of all Asian Americans have at least a bachelor’s degree, the numbers revealed to be lower for certain Asian American groups. Only 27 percent of Vietnamese American, 17 percent of Hmong and Cambodian Americans, 14 percent of Laotian Americans, and 11

percent of Bhutanese Americans were found to have the same educational attainment level.

One third of white in comparison, have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

“The model minority myth portrays Asian-Americans as a monolithic group that are both academically and professionally successful when compared to other communities of color,” reads the CLASP report.

It cited the recent lawsuit between a group of Asian Americans and Harvard University regarding the issue of affirmative.

Asian American students claim to be systematically discriminated against in the admissions process which caps the number of qualified Asian Americans from attending the school in order to level opportunities for other less qualified students of other ethnicities.

While average and median incomes among Asian Americans is comparable to their white counterparts, looking at income inequality puts them at a greater difference among any other racial or ethnic group.

“In other words, the highestearning Asian American have higher incomes on average than the highest-earning white; however, low-income Asian American are poorer on average than lowincome whites. The poverty rate among Asian Americans is also greater than white,” the report reads.

Despite reports highlighting the fact that Asian Americans are the fastest-growing population in the U.S. with a record 20 million tracing their roots back to the greater Asia continent, CLASP emphasized the importance of disaggregated data to fuel conversation on what factors would be driving the great levels of unmet need among Asian American students.

“Any number of these factors could be driving the high amount of unmet need among Asian American students,” said CLASP. “That’s why we must use disaggregated data to inform the nuanced conversations that’ll help us understand the needs of Asian American students and how financial aid policies are failing them.”

(Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018

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

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DATELINE PDOTHILIPPINES gives up 7.4-M tourist target for 2018

by NEIL JAYSON

SERVALLOS ManilaTimes.net

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) said it was not confident in reaching its 7.4 million tourist arrival target for the year, as the industry faced heavy losses over the Boracay Island shutdown in April.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the agency has instead settled for at least 7.2 million tourist arrivals before the year ends, after almost 500,000 tourists either canceled their trips or were diverted to neighboring countries over the Boracay closure.

“I’m not confident. Though it has been increasing, we have to admit that the closure of Boracay, of course it’s the top tourist destination,” Puyat told reporters.

Puyat, however, said that this DAWN MASS. The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, also known as the Baclaran Church, is all lit up for the first dawn mass held on Sunday, December 16. To Filipinos, the dawn mass is the signal that Christmas is near.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada year’s foreign visitor arrival target had already surpassed last year’s by 7.43 percent.

Data from the DOT showed that from January to October 2018, foreign tourist arrivals reached 5,880,895, higher than

Sotto: No need to legalize medical marijuana because it’s already legal

by DAPHNE

GALVEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA—There is no need to legalize medical marijuana because it is already legal, Senate President Vicente Sotto said on Tuesday, December 18.

“Hindi kailangan [i-legalize] eh kasi allowed already,” Sotto told reporters in a press conference.

Sotto argued that there is a provision under the Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, of which he was the principal author, that allows the use of medical marijuana for “compassionate use.”

He also cited a Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) compassionate special permit circular that allows access to drugs and medicines that are not registered in the Philippines for compassionate use, noting that it is the physician’s responsibility to apply for the substance permit from FDA. “In other words, in the Dangerous Drugs Act, combined with the FDA circular, we have a compassionate use provision.

It’s allowed already,” Sotto said.

Under the RA 9165 Sec. 2, the government must aim to achieve a “balance in the national control program so that people with legitimate medical needs are not prevented from being treated adequate amounts of appropriate medications, which include the use of dangerous drugs.”

Sotto also cited an FDA report last Oct. 2017, which reported that the agency received a total of 585 applications for the special permit as of September 2017, 583 of which were granted. In 2016, 558 of 565 applications were approved.

The Senate President’s reaction came amid Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s answer when she entered the Top 10, saying that she supports the use of medical marijuana when she was asked on her stance on the legalization of the drug.

The Senate President said that it is just a “matter of information campaign” because many people who are calling for the legalization of medical marijuana do not know this provision.

However, he insisted that there is no need for an intensi-

by DAPHNE

GALVEZ Inquirer.net

Senate President Vicente Sotto Inquirer.net photo

fied information campaign for this provision because those who need the drug for medical purposes are already in the know.

“Nakita mo naman maraming may alam eh lalo na yung may sakit. Alam nila. Kasi ang daming nag-aapply so ‘yung may mga medical problem, alam nila at binibigyan sila ng mga permit ng mga doktor nila,” Sotto said. “‘Yung mga hindi alam kasi o yung ibang nagsasabi na dapat i-legalize yan, hithit ang gusto eh. Hindi naman cannabis oil ang gusto eh,” he added. ■

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HOW TO OBTAIN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS AND RESPOND TO THIS IFB: Note: Copies of bid documents received from sources other than the SNRHA will cause your bid to be deemed invalid.

PRE-BID MEETING AND SITE VISIT:

QUESTION & ANSWER SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

BID SUBMITTALS RETURN & DEADLINE:

DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat ManilaTimes.net photo

The DOT, together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are also eyeing the rehabilitation of El Nido, Bohol and Siargao.

Puyat, however, assured that the islands would not be totally closed, saying only those that violated environmental laws and ordinances would be shut-down. ■

Bureau of Immigration saves 28,000 Filipinos from human trafficking in 2018

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Procurement Dept.

340 N. 11TH Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101

SNRHA CONTACT PERSON(S) ONLY: Note: Contact with any other SNRHA Staff, Consultant, Resident, Board of Commissioners other than the named within this document is prohibited and will result in your Proposal being rejected.

last year’s 5,474,310.

Tourism spokesman Benito Bengzon said the diversion of some tourists to alternative destinations such as Bohol, Cebu and Palawan helped the gradual increase of visits, but these were not enough to hit the 2018 target as some of the foreign visitors canceled altogether.

Bengzon said it should be understandable for the DOT to miss its target as Boracay generates the lion’s share of the country’s tourism revenue.

“I think people have to understand that Boracay is such an important and popular destination, which generates 80,000 [tourists] per month. If you multiply it by 6 which is the number of months it was rehabilitated, then you’re talking of approximately 500,000 that we lost. People have to understand the situation when we start talking whether or not we do not reach 7.4 [million],” he explained.

Boracay was closed last April for rehabilitation due to high counts of coliform and numerous other environmental issues.

MANILA — Over 28,000 Filipinos were prevented from leaving the country during the first 10 months of 2018 as the government intensified its campaign against human trafficking, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday, December 19.

According to the BI, of the 28,467 total passengers that were not allowed to board their flights after being found not complying with requirements, 151 passengers were minor and under-aged women bound for Saudi Arabia.

A total of 23,239 passengers were also intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) while the rest were stopped in the airports of Mactan, Clark, Iloilo, Kalibo, and Davao, the BI said.

“What we are trying to prevent here is allowing the departure of victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment,” BI Port

Operations Division Chief Grifton Medina said in a statement.

“We are considered the last line of defense inside our country to protect our people,” he added.

The BI also noted that last August, four Filipinos were rescued from an alleged illegal recruiter in Clark after a German national attempted to assist their travel by allegedly instructing them to present themselves as volunteers, when their true intention was to work as caregivers in Germany.

Last November, six women were prevented from leaving after they were discovered to have presented fraudulently-acquired documents to immigration officers. They were allegedly recruited to work as nightclub entertainers in Korea.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said there will be “no letup” in the government’s campaign against human trafficking, especially during the holiday season where illegal recruiters and human traffickers “might take ad-

1404 S. Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, NV 89104

vantage of the influx of people” in airports. “here will be no letup in our campaign so long as there are syndicates who continue to unlawfully send abroad our countrymen who are prone to abuse and exploitation in foreign lands,” Morente said.

“Modern-day slavery has no place in this world, and we will make sure that our kababayans are protected from this threat,” he added.

Morente noted how many Filipinos are hoodwinked by illegal recruiters by “sweet-talking” them to pretend as tourists so that they could circumvent the law.

“Many fall prey to illegal recruiters who sweet-talk their victims to pretending that they are tourists to circumvent the law. Sasabihin nila, it’s a risk, lakasan lang ng loob,’” Morente said.

“I appeal to our kababayans not to be fooled by these unscrupulous individuals,” he added. ■

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1. To Download this Bid: Go to www.snvrha.org click on Procurement tab, click on “Current Bid Invitations” and scroll down to the appropriate solicitation number. Any Problems downloading the Bid document, notify our IT Department at (702) 477-3160.

2. This solicitation document, and all attachment is also available on CD at no charge and may be obtained ONLY from the SNRHA Procurement Department (702) 477-3145. Bidders must and schedule a pick up date and time. Contractor are responsible for the cost of reproduction of the bid package, specifications and any applicable drawings .

December 19, 2018, 10:00 AM (PST) Lubertha Johnson Estates – Community Center 3900 Perry Street, LV NV 89022 This is a gated community to enter the gate just follow the instructions on the “call box” to call the Management Office.

Push the call button and wait for the dial tone, then enter 500 this will call the office and SNRHA staff can buzz bidders in.

January 7, 2019, 9:00 AM (PST) All questions and answers shall be submitted in writing to the SNRHA contact listed above. Questions and/or requests for clarification shall not be responded to after the Q & A deadline date and time to the SNRHA contact listed above.

Bid Submission Deadline: January 17, 2019, 10:00AM All sealed bids must be submitted to: SNRHA Procurement Department 340 N. 11th Street, Suite 180. Las Vegas, NV 89101 Public Bid Opening: January 17, 2019, 10:00AM 10:15 AM Sealed Bids must be received by SNRHA by the deadline date and time noted above. Mailed bids must be post-marked prior to the submission due date to be considered for award.

Emerging Small Business (ESB): Women-Owned and/or Minority-Owned Businesses are encouraged to participate in our Solicitation Processes. For full details of the ESB Program and for possible increased business opportunities, contact Nathan Jackson (702)486-4674, njackson@diversifynevada.com.

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DECEMBER 20-26, 2018 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Spectacular

FEATURES

IN a word, Miss Philippines Catriona Gray was “spectacular” at the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand this year. It was no surprise to anyone that she ran off with the much-coveted crown. She was amazing throughout the week of competition in “Amazing Thailand.”

First, Catriona is truly a sight to behold in her statuesque 5’10” frame. And in her good looks, she appears to have distilled the best qualities from her mixed parentage (a Filipino mother and an Australian father).

Second, she showed great flair in walking the ramp. She executes a slow-motion twirl at the apex of her walk, which leaves audiences gasping.

Early in the pageant, when she did the twirl, she established herself as a crowd favorite. Supermodel Tyra Banks expressed her awe of her.

During coronation night, Catriona once again did her signature twirl. This prompted pageant commentator Carson Kressley to exclaim in admiration: “Oh wow, a slow-mo turn! And then she goes on into giving us great face that great attitude. She’s killing the game here.”

Third, Catriona is highly quotable, probably more so than most Filipino politicians. At the Miss Universe pageant she answered many questions with intelligence, poise and a little wit.

In the finals, she was asked what is the most important lesson she’s learned in her life. She replied: “I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is very…poor and it’s very sad. And I’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty in it… As a spokesperson, if I could teach

people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster and children could have a smile on their faces.”

During the Top 5 Q&A, she was asked her thoughts about the legalization of medical marijuana. She said: “I am for it being used in a medical use, but not so for recreational use because I think if people were to argue, what about alcohol and cigarettes?

Everything is good but in moderation.”

The totality of her feat at the Miss Universe pageant reflects her varied background, education and training. She was born in Queensland, Australia. She studied at the Trinity Anglican School in Queensland. She earned a certificate in music theory from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In addition, she obtained a Certificate in Outdoor Recreation and a black belt in the martial art of choi kwang do.

Finally, this young lady can sing. She was the lead singer of her school’s jazz band, and starred in a local production of “Miss Saigon.”

What kind of ambassador will Catriona be for the Philippines and the Miss Universe beauty pageant? She will be remarkable. She will turn heads and win admirers even without executing her signature slo-mo twirl. (ManilaTimes.net)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s quotable soundbites during the 2016 U.S. presidential elections campaign trail as compiled by TIME: “She’s likely to be under investigation for criminality for a very, very long time to come,” Trump said during an Oct. 31, 2016 speech in Warren, Michigan.

“We’re going to be tied up in court for the rest of our lives with this deal,” he added, referring to if Clinton were elected.

“She’s not going to win the election, but I’m just saying. If Hillary is elected, she will be under protracted criminal investigation likely followed by the trial of a sitting president. This is just what we need.”

Two days ahead of the election on Nov. 5, 2016, Trump said Clinton’s “current scandals and controversies will continue

At Ground Level SATUR C. OCAMPO UPON President Rodrigo Duterte’s behest, the Senate and the House in joint session voted to again extend martial law and suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao. This third extension will remain until December 31, 2019. The vote was 235 yes, 28 no, 1 abstention.

No doubting the overwhelming “yes” vote. What lingers disquietingly, however, is the question whether the extension complies with the provision of the 1987 Constitution, specifically Section 18 of Article VII (Executive Department).

Essentially Section 18 says the President may, “in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it,” suspend the privilege of the writ or place the Philippines “or any part thereof under martial law.” It requires the President to submit a report in person or in writing to Congress within 48 hours. Voting jointly by at least a majority of all its members, Congress may approve or revoke his proclamation. Upon the president’s initiative, Congress may, in the same manner, extend such a proclamation for a

ManilaTimes.net photo

Trump embroiled in a growing web of investigations and legal cases: What’s next for the president and the US?

throughout her presidency” and it would be “impossible for her to govern.”

FAST FORWARD to the present time. These are the FACTS: President Donald Trump is now embroiled in several investigations and lawsuits and all of these stem from his lies and cover-ups to the American people and institutions, his attack on the rule of law, and his sleeping with the enemies of the United States, as he projects all of these transgressions to his political opponents and democratic institutions, including the news media, the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, CIA, and other members of the U.S. intelligence community.

Last week, the results of independent investigations have proven that from his denials and lack of knowledge about his affairs, testimonies under oath and corroborating evidence point out Trump actually had

knowledge of and directed the payment of hush money to cover up his affairs just before the 2016 election.

Furthermore, from the denials of his campaign’s communication and business ties with Russia, the Mueller probe has now proven that at least 16 of his team had in fact been in correspondence, meetings and even, deals with Russia.

After Mueller’s 18-month-old airtight and methodical investigation — which has led to charges against 32 people including 26 Russians, with four aides to Trump have pleaded guilty to various charges — the Special Counsel this week has released three important filings, sentencing three of these people in the Trump orbit — Trump’s ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn, Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort, and Trump’s former attorney and fixer Michale Cohen.

The Mueller probe that investigates on the alleged conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign to help Trump win is far from over, contrary to Trump’s incessant chanting of “No collusion.”

THIS WEEK, just on Tuesday, December 18, CNN and all other news media reported that the Donald J. Trump Foundation has agreed to dissolve under judicial supervision amid an ongoing lawsuit concerning its finances, according to a document filed Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court by the New York state Attorney General’s office.”

The dissolution of Trump’s charitable foundation resolves one element of the attorney general’s civil lawsuit against the foundation, and as CNN reported, this includes claims that the president and his three eldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric — all violated campaign-finance laws and abused its tax-

exempt status.

Rather than operating it as a genuine charity as it pretends to be, the lawsuit alleges that Trump and his family allowed it to be used “as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests.”

This agreement to dissolve also allows the attorney general’s office to review the recipients of the charity’s assets. The foundation’s most recent tax return listed its net assets at slightly more than $1.7 million.

The closure of Trump’s “charitable foundation” is but part of the growing web of criminal and other investigations touching almost every nooks and crannies of Trump’s business and political operations, including but not limited to his presidential campaign, his inauguration committee and his family real estate business.

As this reality show drama

unfolds starring the President of the United States, will you continue to wear your MAGA spectacles that allows you to view the universe only according to Trump’s narrative?

Are you just going to beca spectator, grab a bag of popcorn and view this as an entertainment show?

OR, will you now be part of the enlightened citizenry that should now be demanding accountability from our elected officials, especially from the 45th President of the United States and his cohorts?

We deserve the government that we elect, tolerate, and condone. *** 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

Is martial law extension constitutionally justified? period it shall determine – “if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”

Section 18 also says the Supreme Court may review, in an appropriate proceeding filed by a citizen, “the sufficiency of the factual basis of the proclamation… and must promulgate its decision thereon within thirty days from its filing.”

Through Proclamation 216, Duterte originally declared martial law and suspended the writ privilege for 60 days on May 23, 2017, in the wake of the “siege of Marawi” by the combined forces of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf extremist groups. The proclamation denoted the siege as a “rebellion” to comply with the constitutional requirement, and Congress and the Supreme Court both approved it.

With Congressional approval, the period was first extended for six months until end-December 2017. Although the Marawi siege had been quelled by October, the security forces recommended a second extension, for one year, citing various justifications that didn’t seem to accord with Section 18. However, the extension easily sailed through Congress and was again upheld by the Supreme Court.

In his letter-request to Congress, dated last December 6, Duterte wrote:

“A further extension of the implementation of martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao will enable the AFP, the PNP, and all the other lawenforcement agencies to fully put an end to the ongoing rebellion in Mindanao and continue to prevent the same from escalating in other parts of the country.”

He said that during the extended martial law period in Mindanao, “we have achieved significant progress in putting the rebellion under control, ushering in substantial economic gains.” Despite these gains, he noted, the security assessment submitted by the AFP and the PNP highlights “certain essential facts which indicate that rebellion still persists in Mindanao and that public safety requires the continuation of martial law in the whole of Mindanao.”

For instance, he said the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the Daulah Islamiyah (former Maute group) and other groups which “seek to promote global rebellion” continue to defy the government by perpetrating hostile activities. He mentioned four bombing incidents during the extended period of martial law. Duterte also cited “342 violent incidents” alleged by the AFP to have been carried out by

the CPP-NPA and the continuing kidnap-for-ransom activities of the ASG. All of these, he said, “merely illustrate in general terms the continuing rebellion in Mindanao.” He promised to submit “a more detailed report on the subsisting rebellion in the next few days.”

Doesn’t this statement suggest that the indicators Duterte cited are insufficient to establish an actual rebellion threatening public safety? Yet, without waiting for the “detailed report,” Congress approved the requested extension.

Based on their statements to the press, the chiefs of the AFP and the PNP however seem to have different takes on the martial-law extension: Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., the new AFP chief, vows stricter implementation of the extended martial law “to prevent another Marawi.” For his part, PNP director-general Oscar Albayalde says the extension will assure the people of Mindanao another full year of peace and security against the “imminent threat of violence from extremist and communist terrorist forces.”

Note that both officials point, not to actual or ongoing rebellion, but to potential or imminent threats of violence, which no longer justify martial law decla-

ration.

Come now Sen. Franklin Drilon and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who voted “No” to the extension, citing its lack of factual and constitutional basis. Their insights as seasoned lawyerlegislators should be given due consideration, along with Sen. Chiz Escudero’s credible assertion that Mindanao achieved economic growth “not because of martial law but because of (the Duterte administration’s) allocation of resources where Mindanao got bigger attention.”

Martial law, Escudero stressed, “cannot be the new normal for Mindanao.”

Drilon insisted that “there is no actual rebellion or armed uprising in Mindanao which can justify the declaration of martial law” in that part of the country.

He revealed that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, during the closed-door security briefing for senators last Monday, had described the martial-law extension as “a psychological war, to quell an armed uprising.”

He also recalled that the AFP had classified the local terrorist groups as merely “a peace and order problem today.”

Likening martial law to antibiotics, Drilon said these are “resorted to only when ordinary over-the-counter drugs have ceased to work.” Unlimited re-

sort to such powerful medicine, he added, “desensitizes the body and eventually no longer becomes effective in providing the protection that it was designed to give.”

Presumably recalling what he heard at the closed-door security briefing for House members Tuesday, Lagman also averred there are no constitutional and factual bases for the extension.

He concluded rebellion does not persist in Mindanao and public safety is not imperilled.

“An extension of martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus,” he warned, “will prolong inordinately the regime of martial law to a total of 951 days [2 years and 4 months].”

This, he added, “contravenes the prescription of the 1987 Constitution delimiting the period of martial law to a short duration, since the original proclamation should not exceed 60 days.”

When Lagman and other oppositors bring the issue again to the Supreme Court, the latter should thoroughly review if this third extension is really sufficiently based on facts, beyond the security forces’ self-serving inputs. Can the people hope that the Tribunal will reconsider its ruling last year, that it has no power to review the decision of Congress granting President Duterte’s request? (Philstar.com)

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

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Journal “I won’t be home for Christmas”: How Celebrating Christmas in America as OFW families mark the holiday season new immigrants: Filipinos share their stories of beating the holiday blues by

Nathalie Robles aNd Ritchel MeNdiola AJPress

IT is not easy to work far from the place you call home. But this ‘fear of missing out’ lingers especially on a special day like Christmas — when streets are decorated and jolly and everyone seems to spend this season with their families and loved ones.

According to Philippine Statistics Authority, over 2.3 million Filipinos will be celebrating Christmas apart from their families this year.

The unsung heroes, the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), all over the world brave the loneliness and the distance to sustain the needs of the families they left behind in the Philippines. Some might get to come home during the holidays, but most of them might not, given their circumstances.

Their families do their best to celebrate Christmas in a way that feels like they’re still together — by conquering the winter chill with good old-fashioned Filipino spirit.

No matter how bad Rachel Rivera wants to go home, she cannot. As an OFW, her vacation days are very limited so it doesn’t seem practical to spend the holiday season with her family if the trip would be expensive and time consuming. Of course, she misses her family in the Philippines. But she cannot afford to throw her job away because it pays more than what she can earn back home.

That is a sacrifice she continually makes to ensure a better future for her family.

Her family isn’t happy with the setup, either. They miss their bubbly and fun Rachel who would always jumpstart the holidays by gathering them all in one place and be the life of the party. She would urge the young ones to stop playing for a while so they could start with their festivities. She would

By KlaRize

MedeNilla AJPress

WE associate the holidays with many things. Presents under the Christmas tree. Yuletide songs playing everywhere we go. But most importantly, the holidays are about family, and as Filipinos, family time during the holidays is a must.

However, geographic distance and financial roadblocks make that impossible for some FilipinoAmericans who may not get to travel back to the motherland

ask the elders to prepare their gifts to the younger members of the family. Now that she is distant, there is a feeling that something is missing.

But thanks to technology and its innovative nature, she can spend time with her family even if distance does not seem to be in their favor. Through video-messaging applications, she can easily participate in the Christmas festivities by being on the other side of the screen. It is a little inconvenient, the family admits. But for Rachel and her family, it is better than nothing.

They have created a new tradi-

AJPress illustration by Jillian Penalosa

tion so that Rachel can be a part of the celebration -- she prepares her own Christmas meal and ‘joins’ the family dinner via technology. They would laugh, joke and talk about almost everything.

As a family, they too worry about Rachel. They often think about whether she eats on time or sleeps enough. They never fail to remind her to take care of herself.

They would pray for her daily.

They know that if things would go beyond their control, they only have to trust the God above.

Even if she herself cannot grace the halls of the place she called PAGE B2

to spend the holiday with their families. More so, spending the holidays in a brand new, unfamiliar country can feel lonely and foreign.

But there are ways to make the most of the holidays despite the change in residency. Here are how some Filipino immigrants cope with spending Christmas in their new homes.

Filipino-American Los Angeles couple Nina and Michael recently moved to the United States and are making a conscious effort to join

nearby family members and bring in the flavors of home to their first American Christmas.

“As new immigrants, we’ve sought out family close by—for us, they’re like home in a new land.

More so during the holidays,” the couple told the Asian Journal. “We are cooking homegrown favorites together—latik, Pinoy tamalos, longganisa, puto and the kids will be making [a] gingerbread house from scratch, while we enjoy American favorites like ham and PAGE B3

B december 20-26, 2018 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

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“I won’t be home for Christmas”: How OFW...

PAGE B1 home, the gifts she sends become her substitute. Canned food, clothes, chocolates, toys and gadgets for all her relatives would make their way to the family’s doorstep by Christmas through a balikbayan box. Her cousins would send her pictures of the nieces and nephews enjoying the toys she sent, while her aunts and uncles pose for the camera, showing off the clothes she gave them.

All the smiles on their faces and wholesome expressions of gratitude are enough to keep Rachel going.

“All my sacrifices will soon be worth it,” she said.

Even if she can’t be home for Christmas this year, she is saving up to return to the Philippines for good.

For Diana Mendiola, whose husband is a Filipino seaman currently situated in Malta, Europe, celebrating Christmas apart is a normal occurrence, having already experienced this for over 10 years.

“It still gets a little lonely,” she said. “But it’s nothing we can’t handle.”

As soon as December rolls around, she and their two daughters, Dennise and Hannah, start decorating their three-story house.

It’s nothing too grand, just the usual holiday fixtures like bright lights, a Christmas tree in the corner of their living room, and a parol lantern outside their home.

Christmas Eve is a busy time for

AJPress illustration by Jillian Peñalosa

Diana Mendiola with her family.

her. She prepares for the night’s festivities with a holiday menu that can feed her immediate and extended family — the ever-present hamonado and keso de bola; spaghetti; fried chicken; lumpiang shanghai; and her specialty, buko salad.

“I like making buko salad because it gives variety to the menu,” she said.

After attending Misa de Gallo at their nearby parish church, she and her family start eating as soon as the clock strikes 12. That’s when she contacts her husband, Edward, as well.

“We use Skype to communicate so he can see everyone else,” she said, explaining how their tablet gets passed around among family members so everyone can

offer their greetings and holiday wishes.

“That’s how he catches up with the rest of the family,” she added.

To compensate for his absence, Edward usually sends Christmas gifts that everyone opens during the call so he can see their reactions. Diana and her daughters also show off the Christmas decors around the house and provide a play-by-play account of the ongoing festivities to ease the homesickness.

In Diana’s household, Christmas is a family affair. Despite the holiday made even colder by the empty head-of-the-family seat, the love and happiness shared by Diana’s other family members are enough to keep them warm and cozy this season.

AJPress illustration by Godwin Gasacao

Feasting on noche buena miles away

by Ritchel

Mendiola and nathalie Robles AJPress

FILIPINOS are known for their love for food and fellowship, and noche buena — which is Spanish for “night of goodness” — is the epitome of both of those combined.

Typically after the last Mass of Simbang Gabi, families go back home to a large spread adorning the dining table.

Though families may have created their own traditions, among the noche buena staples include favorite Filipino dishes such as lechon (roasted whole pig), pancit, barbecue, rice, adobo and native rice cakes (kakanin — biko, sapin-sapin, bibingka, puto bumbong, or cassava cake).

However, Western influence has brought in spaghetti or fruitcake, and a fusion of Filipino with international dishes.

Here are some of the noche buena spread favorites: • Hamon/hamonado - Ham, (from the Spanish jamon). Pork marinated in pineapple juice, sugar, salt and spices; then baked.

• Keso de bola - Literally, a ball of Edam cheese (a semihard cheese from Netherlands), usually with a red paraffin wax covering.

• Bibingka - Flat cake cooked in banana leaves with salted egg, kesong puti, served with butter and grated coconut.

• Lechon - Roasted pig, pork belly, chicken, fish — it means anything that’s roasted over coals.

But in Filipino households, it is always the lechong baboy (pig) that rules over the table.

• Leche flan - The Filipino version of a creme brulee — but

Regine Santelices and her fellow OFWs in Dubai during their noche buena celebration last year.

Facebook photo

better. A mixture of egg yolks, condensed milk, fresh milk and sugar; this sweet concoction is steamed and topped with caramelized sugar.

• Macaroni salad - Although every Filipino has their own version, this dish starts with the same ingredients — pasta, mayonnaise and chicken. Others add carrots, celery, cheese and sometimes pineapple.

• Spaghetti - Filipino-style, that is. Made with tomato sauce and paste, ground beef or pork, cheese and a little sugar to sweeten the taste, the spaghetti is a Filipino staple in parties and for noche buena.

In some households, Christmas is a time for the families to reunite all relatives with their kin and clan depending on the number of family members. For a more close-knit type of family, they usually organize a reunion since this is the time of the year where most members are avail-

able. Some sort of production number whether a dance or song performance is assigned to the younger members of the family as a form of entertainment.

However, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) often feel farthest away from home during the Yuletide season. The Philippines is famous for making a big deal about Christmas — celebrating it as soon as the “-ber” months start, so it can be a little, if not a lot, jarring to spend it in another country, away from home and your loved ones.

OFWs usually make do with their resources and imagination so their holidays can have that distinct Pinoy feel. For Regine Santelices, who’s celebrating her second Christmas in Dubai this year, one way to do this is by having a Filipino noche buena feast.

“Ours is the typical Filipino noche buena feast,” she said.

PAGE B3

The ‘best Christmas gift ever’ for the Revillas by dolly

anne caRvajal

Inquirer.net

RAMON “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s plunder acquittal has elicited ambivalent reactions. But setting politics aside, I am featuring Bong’s ageless wife, Lani Mercado. She really stood by her man, no matter what. Bong’s fans have missed watching him on TV and the silver screen.

Hopefully, the actor in him will opt to resume his show biz career instead of running for senator again. Après tout, it was show biz that paved the way for Bong’s political career. So, why not go back to where he started?

Here’s my chat with Lani: What was the first thing that Bong did when he got home?

There were a lot of people waiting for Bong to come home, so it was a time for receiving all their heartwarming greetings. The household staff was quite emotional, and it was a marathon of hugs and kisses—and selfies!

Then, we took time to pray. The family was complete, except for Ram who’s in San Francisco for his studies. So, it was a great time to say a prayer of thanks to God, for granting us this best Christmas gift ever— Bong’s acquittal.

What are his immediate show biz plans? No concrete plans yet, especially because of the elections next year. Bong has decided to return to the Senate, so there are

The Revilla family

a lot of invitations for him to travel all over the country to unveil the legislative plans that he had a lot of time to think about when he was in detention.

How was your first night together after a long time? It was a happy but very long, exhausting day. Bong and I got to finally sleep together in our bed at home after four years, five months and 19 days. We slept way past midnight.

We were both very tired, and it was a restful sleep, although quite short, because we had to wake up very early.

How has his incarceration changed Bong? He has become more concerned about the plight of our countrymen … and more deeply committed to his responsibilities to alleviate their plight.

It has also made his relationship with God more clingy.

He has learned total surrender, and he now clings to God more tightly. The way he sees it, God allowed this greatest trial in his life to happen for reasons that continue to unfold as the future reveals them.

I believe Bong has now become more sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in his life, especially on how he may serve as an instrument to make the lives of our people better.

What’s your message to Bong’s detractors? May God bless them all.

What has that family trial

Bong and Lani Revilla

taught you? Deeper faith. It has also allowed me to develop certain virtues I would not have had the chance to learn more deeply if this trial did not happen to our family—like patience, fortitude, forbearance, letting go… I also learned to have hope and joy.

I learned that hope and joy are special graces from God, and we should never allow anything to steal them.

What’s your message to wives who want to give up on their husbands? Always be reminded of your wedding vows: In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse … Never let go of your husband. You can do that by never letting go of God in your life. Surrender your life to God, and He will do the rest.

Photo from Instagram/@joloo_revilla

EntErtainmEnt

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Jake Zyrus’ dream wedding happening soon Anne Curtis brings ‘elevated horror’ to MMFF

by Ronnie

CaRRasCo ManilaTimes.net

iii

JAKE Zyrus (formerly Charice Pempengco) is ready to share a good number of details about his forthcoming wedding with girlfriend Shyre Aquino.

At a recent event, Jake, despite prodding by the entertainment media though a good number of details about his forthcoming wedding to girlfriend Shyre Aquino, wouldn’t disclose when and where the occasion will take place. “But it’s a dream come true,” he said.

“For now, just leave it to us.

We’ll announce the details later anyway,” Jake said of his longcherished dream of seeing himself raise a family with the person he intends to spend the rest of his life with.

“Like anyone else, I want to be with the person who loves, understands and supports me every step of the way. And I think I found the right person in Shyre.”

Cliché as it sounds, Jake be-

lieves that love is a two-way street, “And that’s exactly what’s happening in our relationship.

I’m not exaggerating but ours is perfectly perfect!”

As far as he and Shyre are concerned, everything seems “perfectly perfect,” but how about her relationship with his mom Raquel and grandmother Tess? It’s a known fact that Raquel and Tess weren’t accepting and approving even of his past relationship (with Alyssa Quijano who they claimed was practically running his life).

Are Raquel and Tess showing up on his altar date?

Wryly, Jake could only pin hopes that his mom and grannie will surprise him with their presence, “As much as possible, I don’t wanna expect. Whatever stands between us until now, sa tingin ko naman, nagawa ko na ang dapat kong gawin.”

In fairness to Jake, not once does Vignettes remember an instance when he retaliated (at least in social media) against either of them. While Raquel and Tess were separately badmouth-

‘Aurora’ movie is actress’ return to horror genre

by ChRistina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

Jake Zyrus Photo from Instagram/@jakezyrusmusic

ing him, Jake, if only for his respect for his elders, had chosen silence over backlash.

Where a child’s personal happiness is involved, why can’t these two women simply let Jake be?

James Reid stands up for Nadine Lustre by niña

Guno Inquirer.net

JAMES Reid made a statement on social media showing support for his girlfriend, Nadine Lustre.

“I love and support Nadine.

Careless too. Don’t question that,” he said on Dec. 14 via Twitter, referring to his label Careless Music Manila (CMM).

“I love and support nadine.

Nadine Lustre and James Reid

Careless too. Don’t question that. Ofcourse we don’t condone any hateful comments towards anyone. Honestly I don’t think it’s worth anyone’s time addressing them. Let’s focus on positivity Careless won’t be working with anyone that insults my artists” - — James Reid (@tellemjaye) December 14, 2018 “Ofcourse (sic) we don’t condone any hateful comments to-

Inquirer.net photo

wards anyone. Honestly I don’t think it’s worth anyone’s time addressing them,” he said. “Let’s focus on positivity. Careless won’t be working with anyone that insults my artists.”

Reid did not mention what controversy involved his reel and real-life girlfriend and his independent record label.

Recently, some of Lustre’s fans expressed disappointment via social media over Lustre’s involvement with CMM. They alleged that the label had failed to defend her from negative comments including criticisms that she had less talent than others in CMM. Reid founded Careless with Bret Jackson (aka KingwAw), which has signed artists including rapper AstroKidd, GhanaianFilipino Massiah, Sofia Romualdez, rapper Curtismith and, of course, Lustre.

“Palm Dreams,” the label’s first album, was a runaway success.

Lustre had some involvement in it, particularly in co-directing the music video for “The Life.”

The crew dropped a collaboration last October through “Careless Mixtape,” which showcased original pop, hip-hop and R&B creations.

Celebrating Christmas in America as new...

PAGE B1 steak. Feeling very grateful to have family with us, and reveling in the love of family this Christmas season, wherever we may be.”

Baguio-native Rodolfo Salazar moved to LA in 2017 and will be spending his second Christmas outside of the Philippines and away from most of his family.

Having no relatives who live in California, he said that his first Christmas was “lonely” compared to his celebrations back home, which included nearly a hundred friends and family.

“My first Christmas was very lonely and very depressing,” Salazar, who lives in Northridge, said with a sigh. “I didn’t really do anything but I called my brothers over FaceTime and spent a little time with them. But it really just made me sadder that I wasn’t with them. When you spend a lot of time with family, and then suddenly [find yourself] alone, it’s really shocking.”

Although he said he’d “like to forget” about his first Christmas, this year, he made a conscious effort to make Christmas 2018 even better.

“I feel better about it this year because I made friends with some of my neighbors and they invited me to spend [Christmas] with them!” he said. “It’s funny be-

cause when I told them about how awful and lonely my last Christmas was, they said, ‘Why didn’t you tell us? You could have come over!’

So, I decided that to help them out with Christmas dinner and spend time with their family.”

Although his neighbors may not be his blood relatives, he said that they feel like family and that even though you may not spend Christmas with your own relatives, you can “find family” anywhere.

“It’s starting to feel like more of a home now,” Salazar said of living in California. “The more people I meet and the closer I get to some of the friends I made, the less lonely I feel. Even though I miss my family back home, I’m not so worried [about feeling lonely] anymore.”

Administrative assistant Aida Apelacio moved from the Philippines to California in 1993 and has spent nearly every Christmas in the U.S. without her immediate family. Although she now has extended family in the United States, she, like Salazar, described that first Christmas without her family in 1993 as “really, really lonely” and “extremely sad.”

“It was unexplainable, especially for me because I am really close to my brothers and sisters and my mom. When I had that first Christmas without them, it

was really so hard and I really missed them a lot,” Apelacio told the Asian Journal in a phone interview.

In addition to missing her family and loved ones back home, Apelacio noted that she also misses the massive months-long event that is Christmas in the Philippines which, as most Filipinos know, begins in September.

“There’s nothing else like it.

It really is a special time of the year,” Apelacio said. “The small children singing Christmas carols around the neighborhoods, the different foods that they have over there and the Christmas parties we used to have over there. It was really, really fun and [a] very unique experience, and it is really beyond words.”

Apelacio, who is now married and living in Artesia, California, now takes advantage of the telecommunication advancements that have been introduced in the last 25 years to communicate with her family back home, especially during the holidays.

“It’s a lot easier now since we have all these social media like Viber, Messenger or Skype so our family feels less far away and we can feel less lonely. It would have been nice to have that before, but I’m glad we have it now,” Apelacio adds with a laugh.

Feasting on noche buena miles away PAGE B2 “People here usually prepare menudo, fried chicken, Pinoy spaghetti, smoked ham,crispy pata, lumpia, and fruit salad.”

To battle homesickness last year, she called her family residing in Pasig City through Skype.

“There wasn’t any specific time for Skype since it was hard to get signal here. I tried different apps to call them but none of those worked except Skype,” she said.

However, since Dubai banned the instant messaging app this year, she had to look for other alternatives so she can continue being in touch with her family.

“I applied for a plan — international voice call for 300 minutes per month,” she said, adding that “I’m saving up minutes to call them this Christmas.”

Aside from having Filipino cuisine and contacting her family to fill her stomach and her heart respectively, she also mentioned the Christmas party that the Filipino community in Dubai throws

annually as a noche buena tradition, as well.

“The good thing about Dubai is that there are a lot of Filipinos,” she said.

She added, “Even if you’re far away from your family, the fellow OFWs you’re with will somehow make you feel like you’re part of their family.

Their Christmas party usually consists of gift exchanges, grocery raffle, and karaoke.

“The one we anticipate for is the raffle for groceries. They give away rice, personal effects such as bath soap and the like, and other essential things. The cost of living here in Dubai is very high so this is important to us,” she said, sharing that she got a free rice supply for a month last year.

According to Regine, the feeling of sadness is still there — “it’ll take some time to get used to,” she admitted — but she remains positive, and promises to make the most out of the Christmas celebration this year.

Whether you celebrate noche

The noche buena spread for Regine and her friends in Dubai typically consists of lumpia, rice, Pinoy spaghetti and fruit salad.

Facebook photo

buena among family and friends or in your new home away from home, the Filipino camaraderie and love for food are amplified during this evening.

Though the meal’s central focus may seem to be on the feast being served, the real reasons for getting together are the everpresent laughter, storytelling and love.

ACTRESS Anne Curtis is no stranger to bringing the scares to the big screen.

She was just in her early teens and a newcomer in showbiz when she did “Ika-13 Kapitulo” (2000) under the helm of Michael de Mesa. Six years later, sh e transformed into a sought-after young star when she did the Jerry Lopez Sineneng-Quark Henares-helmed movie “Huwag Kang Lilingon” (2006).

This year, the 33-year-old actress returns to the genre via Yam Laranas’ “Aurora” as a more mature artist who has just done challenging roles for her latest project.

Aurora tells the story of Leana (Curtis), owner of a rundown inn in an island and guardian to Rita (Phoebe Villamor), her eight-yearold sister. One day, a ship named “Aurora” collided into a rocky shore near the island where they live. This results in to the demise of over a thousand passengers.

Many of the dead bodies turn up along the shore of the tiny island near the shipwreck, but many are still missing, and their distressed families are in need of a place to stay in as the search continues.

The same families eventually ask Leana to look for the cadavers in exchange for a large amount of money. And so, together with her ex-boyfriend Ricky (Marco Gumabao) and boatman Eddie (Alan Paule) they brave the strong waves and murky waters without knowing what awaits them.

A different kind of horror In the same manner that MMFF has been part of the Filipino Christmas tradition, watching horror films during the most cheerful time of the year has been part of viewers’ itineraries too.

And so for “Aurora,” a horror film, to be included in this year’s lineup is a welcoming option for MMFF patrons.

But unlike the films under this genre that have competed in former MMFF editions, Curtis proudly noted that they are bringing a new sub genre of horror with Aurora.

“Iba ang makikita n’yo dito sa ‘Aurora’ — from the cinematography to the music, na talagang world-class, to the location, the acting and the color grading

—lahat iba dito. Kaya sobra akong excited to be back in the genre with this film,” Curtis noted during the movie’s grand media conference.

“And one thing I learned while doing this movie, ito pala ‘yung sinasabi ni direk Yam na genre, ang ‘Elevated Horror,’” the actress proudly shared.

Asked what exactly elevated horror is, Laranas — the highly acclaimed director of “Sigaw” (2004), which was turned into a Hollywood film titled “The Echo” (2008), “The Road,” and “Abomination” — came to the rescue.

“Marami kasing permutations, branches of horror. When you say elevated horror there is a clear story. It is story-and character-driven. Susundan mo ‘yung kwento at tinatakot ka pero excited kang malaman ‘yung turnout ng story. Hindi ito ‘yung tatakutin ka lang for the sake of it,” the director explained adding that they hope the story will resonate with the MMFF audience.

With this abandonment from the typical horror formula, Curtis herself was surprised to have a different experience in making Aurora.

“When we were shooting the film, tinatanong ko kay direk, sabi ko, ‘yung character ko, hindi ba talaga siya sumisigaw nang todo,

which is usual sa horrors? Then sabi niya, hindi tayo ganun, kakaibang experience ang ibibigay natin sa lahat ng manononood ng Aurora,” Curtis recalled.

“This is really something different from all the other horror films I’ve done,” she added before citing that Aurora has the feel of her favorite Hollywood movies “The Sixth Sense” and “The Others.”

The departure from formulaic horror elements also afforded the movie of an MTRCB PG (Parental Guidance) rating, allowing younger children to experience a horror flick.

“Having a PG rating, ang aking metaphor diyan ay, tipong parang hihilain ni tatay at nanay yung anak nila, excited lahat. Aurora is something like that, sabay-sabay silang natatakot,” Laranas additionally explained.

In ending, Curtis calls out to the moviegoing public to catch their quality horror film beginning December 25.

“I have so much faith about this film because at the end of the day, it’s not about me, it’s about the film. I hope people decide to watch this film not because it’s me but because they really want to watch a quality and amazing film during the MMFF by direk Yam Laranaz,” Curtis finally shared.

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Carmina Villaroel, as a parent, gives Dennis Trillo: ‘Jennylyn is my one great love’ her twins the freedom to decide by lhAr

SAntiAgo ManilaTimes.net

by AllAn

PolicArPio Inquirer.net

AS a parent, Carmina Villaroel believes it’s important that she gives her twins, Mavy and Cassy, the freedom to decide for themselves, especially on matters that could shape their future—entering show biz, for instance.

“It was clear to me and my husband (Zoren Legaspi) that studies should be our children’s priority. And so, when they got an offer from GMA Artist Center to work, we talked about it carefully. We asked them if they really wanted to do this,” she said at a recent press conference for the talk show “Sarap, ’Di Ba?,” which she cohosts with the kids.

“We gave them the freedom to decide. And then they said ‘yes,’ they wanted to give it a try,” related Carmina, adding that the family makes it a point to have “meetings” to discuss whatever issue they have, big or small.

Mavy and Cassy’s prior experience in the industry were mostly limited to television guest appearances or advertisements. That’s why she feels that “Sarap” will be a “testing ground” of sorts for the twins.

“They don’t know yet what the job is really about, all the work it entails. That’s what they’re about to find out … if they’re truly meant for this world,” she said. “We told them about the advantages and disadvantages, that we will always be here for them regardless.”

As her children—who are about to turn 18 in January—embark

Mavy Legaspi, Carmina Villaroel and Cassy Legaspi

on this journey, Carmina always reminds them that, in this industry, pleasing everyone is impossible.

“And that goes for life in general as well,” the actress-television host stressed. “No matter how good or how kind you are, some people will have something to say. So I just tell them to be themselves, be respectful and work hard.”

“Sarap,” which airs every Saturday morning on the Kapuso network, hopes to bridge the generation gap between parents and their kids through a range of discussions and activities. “We try our best to understand their world and I hope they do get where we’re coming from, too,” she said.

“I’m also curious about what their views and opinions are on different topics, which I also think will help me know them more,” Carmina added.

In hosting the show, Carmina said she and the twins try to make everything as intimate as possible; as if their guests are also part of

GMA photo

their family.

“I would like to think of the show as an extension of our home.

So, the way I talk to them in front of the cameras is how I talk to them when we’re at our house. We want to be authentic and show the viewers that this is us—there are no roles to portray,” she said. “What you see is what you get. It doesn’t even feel like a job, because I get to spend time with them.”

While she was admittedly nervous about how Mavy and Cassy would do during their first taping, Carmina was pleasantly surprised and relieved to see that the kids are comfortable on set.

“I was nervous for them! Of course, I will always try to guide them, but I realized that I don’t have to watch over them so closely. Perhaps growing up being with me and seeing me host ‘Sis’ when they were young have made them at ease being in front of cameras and having an audience,” she said.

‘Tyra Banks-approved’: Catriona gets fresh praise from top model AFTER praising Catriona Gray for her iconic slow-motion spin, American supermodel and host Tyra Banks once again commended the new Miss Universe’s performance.

In a tweet reply to Gray, who last Sunday, December 16, gushed over Banks’ compliment, the supermodel said Gray’s walk and confidence is “next level fierce.”

“And OMG back at YOU! You did it! And that walk and confidence? I mean...NEXT LEVEL FIERCE!!!” Banks wrote.

Tyra Banks “TyTy approves,” she added.

Photo from Instagram/@tyrabanks Banks’ tweet came a day after

Gray was crowned the 67th Miss Universe.

Last Saturday, Banks also lauded Gray’s catwalk skills, saying she exudes “Pinoy power to the max.”

This new tweet exchange between Banks and Gray also made it to Vogue on Tuesday.

Gray said she was flattered that she was featured by Vogue and gushed over it on her Instagram account.

The 24-year-old Filipina is the fourth Miss Universe title-holder from the Philippines. (Philstar. com)

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

NO matter how many relationship a person has in a lifetime, there will always be “the one.”

It’s that person who captures your heart completely, the one you want to spend the rest of your life with and completes you—the one you know without doubt is your “One Great Love.”

Lucky for multi-awarded actor Dennis Trillo, he doesn’t only star in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry “One Great Love,” but he can also say he has found his very one.

After a string of girlfriends, it was in 2010 he met and fell in love with the beautiful and talented Jennylyn Mercado. Perhaps still immature in matters of the heart at that time, they only lasted for a year to his regret.

Fast forward to 2015, they meet again, and with their love still true and their lessons learned, Dennis and Jen decided to give it another try. Happily, their relationship is going strong three years and counting.

Ever so open about his feelings nowadays, Dennis shared, “Of course, I’d like to believe na siya na yun — na si Jennylyn is my one great love. What I feel for her, isa na yun sa pinakamatinding naramdaman at na-experience ko sa buong buhay ko.”

He further said he wants to be idealistic about their relationship and is keeping a positive attitude.

“If you give a hundred percent to your relationship, the more you’ll be inspired, the more happy you’ll become,” Dennis added.

Those close to the couple know that they’ve weathered endless challenges through their relationship.

“Siguro sa tagal na rin ng pinagsamahan namin mula noon, we’ve come to know each other so well so mas kabisado na namin ang bawat isa.

We already know each other’s strength and weaknesses and I believe it’s very important to get through problems that come our way.”

Dennis describes Jen as “a great woman with a good soul.”

“She loves me unconditionally — she takes care of me and understands me. Actually hindi lang ako, pati mga mahal ko sa buhay.”

Given how solid they are, everyone’s just waiting for Dennis

and Jen to announce when they’re getting married. But just like Jen told Showbuzz in last week’s column, it won’t be any time soon.

“Wala pa definitely. Itong stage na ito, we’re still preparing for that because we want to make sure we’ll have a good future.

“Kailangan when you step up to the next level mayos na lahat.

Wala nang magiging problema.”

Indeed, Dennis is working very hard these days. He’s in the thick of promoting “One Great Love” with Kim Chiu and JC de Vera — Regal Entertainment’s official MMFF 2018 entry — where he plays the role of the ideal man, who’s heart is broken all the same.

“I love my character Ian. He’s very quiet. All he knows is that he loves tjis one woman whom he’s willing to sacrifice even his life for.“ The other major project Dennis is busy with of course is “Cain At Abel” with Dingdong Dantes on GMA Prime Time. The series about two brothers separated

Dennis Trillo with Jennylyn Mercado Photo from Instagram/@dennistrillo

by fate and their eventual rivalry had been getting good reviews since it premiered in November.

“I am so happy for the positive feedback to ‘Cain At Abel’.

Kahit nga ako when I watch it, sobrang nadadala rin ako ng mga eksena! Kami naman ni Dingdong, ‘yun talaga ang gusto namin — yung macapture ang audience dahil exciting ang nakikita nila.”

GMA photo

EMPLOYMENT

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Your Immigration Solution ATTY. MICHAEL BHOTIWIHOK THE B Visa is a nonimmigrant visa to temporarily enter the United States for business (B-1), as a visitor (B-2), or as a combination of both (B-1/2). An applicant must apply for the B Visa and appear for an interview at a United States Embassy where the examining official will determine if the applicant qualifies.

The B-1 Visa is commonly issued for individuals to consult with business associates, attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference, settle an estate, or negotiate a contract.

It is important to note that the B Visa holder cannot engage in gainful employment in the United States. Also, upon entry to the country, B Visa holders commonly receive authorized stays of six months.

The B-2 Visa is typically used for tourism, vacations, visits with friends or relatives, medical treatment, participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations, participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating, and enrollment in a short recreational course of study,

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

The emergency B-2 Tourist Visa not for credit toward a degree.

When an urgent need to travel to the United States arises, the B-2 Visa provides a vehicle for a person to enter the United States for expedited medical care, to accompany a relative receiving medical care, or to visit a relative suffering from an immediate life threatening medical condition.

For example, a person donating an organ and bone marrow for transplant to a family member in the United States is a medical or emergency situation where the B-2 Visa is appropriate.

Other situations where the need for an Emergency B-2 Visa arises include when the purpose of travel to the United States is for a funeral or to make arraignments for repatriating a body of an immediate family member. Further, the B Visa may be used for urgent business travel when the need for travel was not anticipated, and for students or exchange visitors to return to the United States to attend classes or resume working in a timely fashion.

An emergency reason to travel to the United States does not result in a waiver of any of the standard visa processing requirements through the United States Embassy. Despite the expedited or emergent need for a B-2 Visa, the burden is on the applicant to prove that he or she qualifies for the visa.

Section 214(b) of the Immigra-

tion and Nationality Act provides that “every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the officer, at the time of the application for a visa… that he is entitled to nonimmigrant status.”

To overcome the intending immigrant presumption, applicants must demonstrate 1) the purpose of the trip is to enter for business or pleasure; 2) temporarily entering for a specific, limited period of time; 3) evidence of financial funds to cover expense; and 4) a residence outside the United States along with binding ties to his or her home country. An applicant must provide enough evidence for the United States Embassy to conclude that one’s ties to his or her home country (family relationships, employment, possession, etc.) will bring them back at the end of a temporary stay in the United States.

Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant’s residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. Since each person’s situation is different, evidence of adequate ties to one’s home country comes in many forms. In the same vein, an applicant for an Emergency B-2 Visa must provide specific documentary evidence to prove the urgent, bona fide need to travel to and enter the United States.

A different yet similar option

Christ is the reason for every season Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA ONE of the things that make living in this land exciting is coming to an appreciation of the culture, the language and the origins of certain phrases that are repeated like a refrain year after year when Christmas comes. I have often wondered who Virginia was and what was the reason Francis Church made famous the line, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

But lest we forget. The generosity of Santa Claus and everyone all around us comes from the love of God who sent His only begotten Son as a gift to the world. CHRIST IS the reason for the season and every season.

Forget the Grinch who would like to steal the joy of Christmas and the Scrooges who would rather shrivel up and die than give love on Christmas Day. There are unseen and unseeable wonders of Christmas that live in the hearts of many Filipino-Americans year round who squirrel and stash away gifts and send them in balikbayan boxes.

There are millions worldwide who work and save and remit to make Christmas for their families abundantly blessed. Yes, indeed, there is a Santa Claus that lives in the hearts of each and every one of us who makes the spirit of Christmas alive and well.

The weather is highly unusual

Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS HOLIDAYS are upon us once again and food abound everywhere we go. This is also the season where gastroenteritis from food contamination is more common, especially from unprotected, unrefrigerated food and leftovers.

What is food poisoning?

Food poisoning is a variety of illnesses caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, toxins or chemicals. This is more common during holidays and summertime. The symptoms usually include diarrhea, abdominal pains and vomiting. The diarrhea and vomiting could be so severe as to cause extreme dehydration, which, if untreated and unabated, could be fatal.

How does bacterial contamination occur?

Raw food may have bacteria in it or may be contaminated by unsanitary handling. These bacteria then grow and multiply, and when the “infected” food is eaten, the growth and multiplication of the bacteria continue in the stomach or bowel, producing symptoms of food poisoning. This leads to abdominal pains, diarrhea and vomiting, which are part of the body’s defensive ways of getting rid of the offending bacteria. The most common bacteria causing food poisoning is listeria salmonella, usually from poultry or infected eggs, specifically duck eggs), clostridia (contamination by dirt or flies), and shigella and escherichia coli (fecal contamina-

“No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives and lives forever.A thousand years from now, Virginia, may 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.”

—Francis P. Church in most parts of the world this year but if you tune in to sky watchers’ websites and internet segments devoted to science, the heavens are putting out spectacular light shows seen during midnight and the early morning hours. The auroras about 50 miles above the poles are probably breathtaking. At no other time during the year is the line, “Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.” more appropriate to ponder than at Christmas time when all the splendors of the world around us, if we look carefully and listen well, take on special meaning.

Enjoy the Christmasseason.

By now, friends and loved ones back in Philippines would have received the balikbayan boxes filled with goodies that we have been dutifully squirreling away and generously sending since September this year. Remittance companies have never been busier as we send the much appreciated dollars that go a long way in making Christmas merry across the miles.

The spirit of giving seems to burn brighter in women during the season. As a rule, women do

Christmas. If you are the woman of the house, my best guess, is that you make Christmas happen in your family by doing practically everything from shopping to wrapping to cooking to decorating. If your mate pitches in and helps you, you are one of the lucky ones.

Women have complicated their lives far more than they care to admit to themselves. We need to simplify. We need to take stock of all the good that has come and quietly nurture a grateful heart.

More than likely, all we have is all we need. We need to forget all the what-might-have-beens because these are like excess baggage that makes the journey on life’s road even more cumbersome, even torturous.

I personally like to imagine my troubles, real or imagined particularly come Christmas time, tied in neat little bundles on the computer screen of my mind that I can drag and drop to the little trash bin icon and simply empty them all out into cyberspace never to be seen again— or at least, for the time being.

Christmas is a time for remembrance of things past, mostly the good ones. It is a time for editPAGE B6

Food contamination tion of food and/or water).

What about toxins?

Food that is kept in a warm place, or improperly preserved, can produce chemicals called toxins. One of the commonest is the staphylococci toxin from staphylococci bacteria that can be transmitted by a food careless handler with a boil or infected wound full of the staph bacteria.

Botulism (due to clostridium botulinum), from badly tinned or bottled food, is not very common but can be fatal. When the contaminated food is ingested, severe gastrointestinal symptoms may occur.

What chemical poisons are found in food?

There are some common food items that contain natural chemical poisons. Some fungi are very poisonous even when eaten in tiny quantities, causing irregular heartbeat, coma or even death.

The green areas on potatoes which have been exposed to the light, uncooked kidney beans, some nuts, etc. contain poisonous chemicals, which can cause symptoms of food poisoning if inadequately cooked. Not properly washing fruits and vegetables that are contaminated with pesticides can also cause food poisoning.

Some mushrooms are poisonous and not edible.

What bacteria grow on cooked rice?

Bacillus cereus thrives and multiples in cooked rice and can cause food poisoning. The bacteria produces chemical toxin which is very resistant and not destroyed even by high temperatures. The best way to prevent this is by refrigerating left over rice, which should be consumed

within 48 hours. The symptoms of food poisoning usually start fairly suddenly with abdominal pains, frequently cramping in nature and soon followed by diarrhea. The pains can be persistent for a few days and become worst before an episode of diarrhea or vomiting.

Throwing up may cease after a few hours but the diarrhea may continue for days. If the illness is due to bacterial contamination, the symptoms appear about 1224 hours after ingestion, but if it is due to toxins, the onset of symptoms comes rapidly, usually within minutes after eating the contaminated food. Severe botulism begins after about 12 hours with vomiting, abdominal cramps, and may culminate in paralysis and coma.

Is food poisoning dangerous?

Obviously yes, as discussed above. In young children and among the elderly, dehydration is the main danger. Vomiting and diarrhea can result in a rapid loss of body fluids and electrolytes.

This can disrupt the very delicate chemical balance in the body and, if not treated early, can lead to coma and even death. Botulinum and staph toxins are in themselves dangerous, and the poisoning can be fatal, if not managed in a timely and proper fashion.

How do we prevent food poisoning?

Good environmental and personal hygiene, proper food preparation, handling and storage, avoidance of questionable food (fruit or potato salad and dishes sautéed with tomato that have been exposed for more than an hour at a party or picnic under PAGE B6

to the Emergency B-2 Visa is the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States without obtaining a visa, for stays of 90 days or less for tourism or business. However, even with eligibility to travel on the VWP, one may prefer having a visa in the passport and may still apply for a B-2 Visa.

To understand the B-2 Visa process from start to finish, an applicant with an emergency need to

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018

travel to the United States should consult with an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney. Without the proper preparation and specific documentary evidence to establish an urgent need to enter the United States, an applicant runs the risk of being unable to enter the country for the emergency reason. *** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with

Calendar of Events across

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offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

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

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

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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 2 0 -23

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

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

D EC E M B E R 22

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

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

D EC E M B E R 29

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

------------------------ 2019 -----------------------JANUARY JA N UA RY 5

Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce of Greater LA hosts Gala in Burbank, CA Enjoy the glitz, glamour and allure of Hollywood at the Gala Night of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACC-GLA) on Saturday, January 5. Come dressed to the nines inspired by your favorite Cinema icons for a fun evening in an evening of dancing, good food and camaraderie for only $65 at the renovated Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport (2500 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505). FACCGLA members bring your friends and family, non-members welcome! Doors open at 6 p.m. Prefer to be a VIP donor?

Sponsorship packages available at faccgla.org.

JA N UA RY 1 8

Santo Nino Celebration at St. Catherine Laboure Church in Torrance, CA Most Rev. Bishop Oscar A. Solis will celebrate the holy sacrifice of the Mass on Friday, January 18 at St. Catherine Laboure Church (3846 Redondo Beach Blvd. Torrance, CA 90504) at 7 p.m. The Novena prayers and Chaplet will follow after the Mass. The parish has an exact replica of the Infant of Prague (Santo Nino) clothed in a relic of the Holy Robe that adorns the original statue in the shrine at Prague. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own statues; the devotion of touching them to the Holy Robe will conclude the celebration. For more information, please contact Lorna Arceo at (310) 345-4637, Maria Quan (310) 714-6537 or Vicki & Romy Balliyut at (310) 406-6575.

JA N UA RY 1 9

Sto. Niño celebration at St. Finbar Church in Burbank, CA Please join us for Sinulog on January 19, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Finbar Church (2010 W Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91506). Bring your statues of the Infant Jesus. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m.

FEBRUARY F E B R UA RY 9

St. Finbar Church in Burbank, CA celebrates its 9th Annual Valentine Dinner Dance Come and celebrate Hollywood glamour on February 9, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. For information contact Marian at (818) 562-6819 or send an email to minobleza@yahoo. com.

F E B R UA RY 1 5

Franchising Retail & Trade Conference in Cerritos, CA The Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC) hosts this highly anticipated business event at the Cerritos Sheraton located at 12725 Center Court Drive South, Cerritos, CA 90703. Attendees will have access to opportunities in business match making & referrals, roundtable discussions, entrepreneurship training programs, and networking & business connections with participants representing both the United States and the Philippines. Business owners, entrepreneurs, corporations, and the general public are all invited to attend. The Philippine Retailer Association (PRA) and the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) will be present to network with the US business community. Also present will be local franchisor and franchisee business owners, the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA), the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), the National Diversity Coalition (NDC), the Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program, the Philippine Consulate Los Angeles Office, Philippine Dept. of Trade & Industry (PTIC) Los Angeles, and the Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA).Basic entry is only $10 but can and will vary depending on the participation experience desired. Registration for the Conference is simple and is processed online at by going to https://cofacc.org.

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

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Arriola-Nazareth wedding

Dress from @BowtiesBridalLasVegas, veil by @DavidTupazCouture, and barong by PineappleInd.

MARIA Kristina Arriola and Jude Nazareth, Esq., married each other last November 24, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Las Vegas and followed up with an encore on December 8, 2018, at St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church in Oakland, CA. The bride’s parents are Drs. Pedro and Ermelinda Arriola.

They gave birth to Maria Kristina in Boston, MA, and raised her and her brother, Peter, in Paintsville, KY. The groom’s parents are Jesus and Evely Nazareth. They gave birth to Jude in San Francisco, CA, where they raised him and his sisters, Joy and Kristine.

Maria Kristina went to the University of Kentucky (Go ‘Cats!) and works in the promotions and marketing industry in Las Vegas.

Jude went to U.C. Irvine and Western State University College of Law and practices law in Las Vegas.

Fr. Brandon Macadaeg, Jude’s cousin, joined the newlyweds in Holy Matrimony in Las Vegas and thereafter blessed their marriage in the Bay Area.

Why you haven’t heard much from Sharon Cuneta lately Further aggravating the SHARON Cuneta said situation, she revealed that her body had given in to she would ask for breakoverfatigue, the reason why fast and would later eat her she hadn’t been active on next meal around nighttime. social media for days be“My team had to cancel cause she had to rest. lots of my previous comThe Megastar apolomitments kasi bumagsak na gized to her fans and foltalaga ako (because I really lowers for not giving them collapsed),” Cuneta added. an update for days via a “Milagro nga kailan lang Facebook post. bumigay my body sa pagod She had her husband, at stress (It’s a miracle that Sen. Francis “Kiko” Panbody couldn’t take pain and gilinan, call her boss Cory stress).”

Vidanest to tell her she had Now that she is resting, come down with the flu and Cuneta still feels groggy was continually vomiting. from the medicine she is This was also the reason taking and is still not feelwhy she could not sing at ing well. She added that if the taping of the ABS-CBN she had her way, she would Christmas special. rather sleep for one week Cuneta said that because straight. of her hectic schedule— “Pasko pa naman (It’s from starting to shoot a new Christmas),” she stressed. movie in Baguio to attending “I don’t want to be sick durher album launch—she lost seven pounds in two weeks Sharon Cuneta Photo from Instagram/@reallysharoncuneta ing the holidays naman.”

While she is resting, it “without even trying.”

“Sa shooting madalas pag kainan na tinutulog appears that Cuneta’s hard work has paid off as her ko na lang (When doing shootings I would sleep latest movie, “Three Words to Forever”—her reunion through my break),” she recalled. “Worse, I would project with Richard Gomez—is now on its third week in cinemas. (Katrina Hallare/Inquirer.net) actually forget to eat all day.”

Global Winter Wonderland celebrates its grand opening this weekend GLOBAL Winter Wonderland, a spectacular lantern festival and multicultural theme park, celebrated its grand opening this weekend with Clark County Commissioner Susan Brager presenting a proclamation declaring Dec. 15 “Global Winter Wonderland Day” and Planet Hollywood headliner, magician Xavier Mortimer, wowing the crowd with some sleight of hand including magically lighting the 80 ft. Christmas tree!

Spanning more than 15 acres, Global Winter Wonderland features giant illuminated lanterns depicting scenes that include a Christmas holiday village and landscapes from around the world.

Highlights include recreations of some of the world’s greatest architectural achievements, including the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, Chichen Itza, and much more.

The eco-friendly lanterns, some of which tower more than 50 feet high and span nearly 100 feet long, are illuminated with low voltage LEDs and fluorescent lights. The new family event of the holiday season also features numerous carnival rides and games, international cuisine, arts and crafts, photos with Santa, live entertainment, and celebrations of holiday traditions and various cultures from around the world.

Global Winter Wonderland is open now through Jan. 20 in the north lot of the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino with free parking available. For tickets and information, visit www.globalwonderland. com.

(L to R): Anthony Horn, Global Winter Wonderland Director of Marketing, Clark County Commissioner Susan Brager, Lulu Huang, Producer/Creator of Global Winter Wonderland, Penny the Penguin, Planet Hollywood headliner magician Xavier Mortimer and his assistant Alexandra Madison.

Photos by Manuel Cabral and Bryan Steffy

Christ is the reason for...

PAGE B5 ing out and leaving the unwanted footage on the cutting room floor those memories that are best left forgotten. It is a time to say “thank you”, a time to draw lessons from the year about to draw to a close and to use a new and fresh supply of God’s gift called

TIME, given in equal measure to all men, rich or poor, from one glorious day to the next.

May we all be centered in Christ this season and beyond.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications,

Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc. com. To read past articles, click on the link Online: http://issuu.com/ asianjournaldigitaledition” http://issuu. com/asianjournaldigitaledition or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before agenda-driven google.

Food contamination

PAGE B5 hot weather, mussels and other shelled foods that remain closed after cooking, poultry or meats (hamburgers, etc) that are not thoroughly cooked, and can goods that are of questionable freshness, that are “expired,” or with bulging top, are some basic preventive measures that can be taken to prevent food poisoning. The prudent practice and common sense dictum is “if in doubt, discard.”

What is the mainstay of therapy?

This depends on the cause of the food poisoning: bacteria, toxin or chemical. But basically, oral and/or intravenous fluid replacement is the key to prevent further dehydration from fluid and electrolyte loss from diarrhea and vomiting, which could be life threatening. Young children and

the elderly can become very ill fast, since they succumb rapidly to dehydration, so medical consultation, or even hospitalization, may be needed early. Antibiotics may be given where indicated to clear up the infection, but as a rule they are usually not used because they may sometimes worsen the condition. Fortunately, most of the food poisoning cases respond well to fluid replacement. Possible botulism patients should be hospitalized without delay. The stomach may be pumped out and botulism anti-toxin given to counteract paralysis. Those who are very ill may need ventilator support in the ICU. An antidote may be needed for fungal food poisoning.

All the evaluation and decision on the management are best handled by the attending physician.

After surviving the acute stage,

the patient is expected to recover fully with excellent prognosis.

However, just like most other illnesses, food poisoning is best prevented. In majority of situations, this is within our power.

Here’s wishing you, your loved ones, and the whole of humankind, a wonderful Christmas and a new year filled with love, good health, joy, prosperity and peace *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@

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

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • dEcEmbER 20-26, 2018

B

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