LA Midweek Edition -- August 10 -- 12, 2016

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

Volume 26 - No. 64 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

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Marcos to receive hero’s burial SioSon AJPress

PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte on sunday, August 7, approved the plan to bury former president and dictator ferdinand marcos at the heroes’ Cemetery (Libingan ng mga Bayani) next month -- a move that has angered several local politicians and human rights groups.

Built in 1947, the heroes’ Cemetery was established to pay tribute to filipino soldiers and fallen heroes, former Philippine presidents, war veterans, notable government statesmen, dignitaries and national artists.

Duterte argued that as former president and a soldier, marcos is qualified to be buried at the heroes’ Cemetery. since his death in 1989, marcos’s remains have been frozen in a glass coffin in his hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte. “marcos was a president and, as a matter of fact, I voted for him,” Duterte said at a news con-

DATELINE

“he is qualified to be buried there. Kung ayaw ng ibang Pilipino (If other filipinos are against it), fine,” he said. “magdemonstrate kayo (You can demonstrate), go ahead. You can use the streets.”

Stiff opposition former President Benigno Aquino III, Vice President Leni robredo, several members of the senate, left-wing activists, and claimed victims of human rights abuses during the marcos regime were in unison as they expressed their opposition to the recent executive order.

Former President Ferdinand Marcos “We strongly oppose the deference in Davao on sunday. cision to bury former President the president said that those ferdinand marcos in the Libinburied at the cemetery were gan ng mga Bayani,” robredo not all heroes. he added that he said in a released statement. would leave it up to the military the vice president pointed whether to bestow the former out that marcos “plundered our president full funeral honors or country and was responsible for not. the death and disappearance of According to Duterte, he would many filipinos,” she said. allow street protests as long as furthermore, she argued that traffic and motorists are not in- the decision will not bring unity convenienced. u PAGE A2

USA

A WeeK after President rodrigo Duterte confirmed plans to receive $32 million in U.s. aid, American officials on monday, August 8, urged his administration to end human rights abuses in its violent war on drugs. the aid committed by the U.s. is meant to fund “training and services” for Philippine security forces. It was announced while the Philippine National Police (PNP) are engaged in a bloody crackdown on the illegal drug trade.

As of August 1, 465 people have died in connection with drug enforcement operations or instances of vigilante justice, CNN reported. more than 110,000 alleged drug dealers and users have turned themselves into police, flooding jails.

Duterte told members of the Presidential

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WARNING. Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has remained defiant amid the pronouncement of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno regarding the inclusion of several judges in his list of persons of interest allegedly involved in illegal drug trade in the Philippines, during his visit to the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division headquarters at Camp Evangelista, Barangay Patag, this city, Tuesday afternoon. The President’s statement came a day after Sereno questioned allegations that seven judges had been involved in illegal drugs. Sereno said only the high court was authorized to discipline members of the judiciary.

Inquirer.net photo by Jigger J. Jerusalem

Duterte to Chief Justice Sereno: ‘Would you rather I declare martial law?’

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

US concerned about killings in PH, clarifies use of $32 million aid

by Dana SioSon anD joSeph b. almer b. peDrajaS AJPress

President Duterte warned that if Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno precipitated a constitutional crisis, he would defy her, and would order all members of the executive branch to do the same.

Philstar.com photo

PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte warned Chief Justice maria Lourdes sereno of a possible declaration of martial law if the supreme Court (sC) decides to hinder his ongoing campaign against illegal drugs.

“Ikaw ang kingpin sa judiciary. Ako, presidente. Ako may trabaho, ikaw wala. Walang mga judges na nagpa-patrol ng daan. Walang mga sheriff ninyo

na naghuhuli (You are the judiciary’s ‘kingpin’. i’m the president. i’ve got work, you don’t. No judges patrol the streets. None of your sheriffs arrest),” Duterte said in his speech on tuesday, August 9.

Duterte was in Cagayan De oro City on tuesday to visit the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division, especially the troops who were injured and killed during the recent clash with the New People’s Army (NPA).

“Please wag mo ako..hindi ako…di ako gago. If this continues, pigilin mo

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ako, sige pag nagwala, would you rather that I declare martial law? (Please, don’t order me. I’m not a fool. If this continues, (that) you’re trying to stop me, I might lose my cool. or would you rather I declare martial law?)” he added, addressing sereno.

Duterte also warned sereno not to make a ‘constitutional crisis.’

“Pag dumating panahon (When time comes), we go to crossroads. You decide. Ako (me), di ako sunod diyan (I will not follow that) and please, please,

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Filipinos respond to Trump’s statements suggesting immigration ban for PH by momar

G. ViSaya, chriStina m. oriel Klarize meDenilla

anD

AJPress

fILIPINos everywhere are reacting to Donald trump’s comments that suggested a ban on immigration from areas with high rates of terrorism, including the Philippines.

At a rally on thursday, August 4 in Portland, maine, the republican presidential nominee once again criticized the United states immigration system for what he believes is its leniency, allowing terrorists to enter the country. he proposed that immigrants from

several many countries should be heavily scrutinized, even those who obtained citizenship legally. he named a number of alleged cases of naturalized immigrants who he said had committed or were plotting acts of terrorism. he described the system as a “trojan horse” that allows terrorists to easily come to the country, without being thoroughly vetted.

In one instance, he alluded to the case of sohiel omar Kabir and ralph Deleon, two immigrants living in ontario, California who were both sentenced to 25 years in prison for a terrorist plot to join Al Qaeda.

US think tank: Satellite images show China’s reinforced jet hangars in the South China Sea PH envoys asked to explain Duterte’s WhILe a recent United Nations arbitral ruled in favor the Philippines’ claims in the south China sea, recent satellite images showed by a Washington-based research organization revealed that China appears to be building at least two dozen hardened concrete hangars suitable for housing Chinese air force planes on its reclaimed islands. the photos — taken in June and July, were collected by Washington-based research organization the Center for strategic and International studies (CsIs) — illustrate the construction at fiery Cross, subic and mischief reefs. there were no military aircraft seen at the time the photos were taken, however, the

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‘gay’ remarks about US ambassador

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Photo by Ted S. Melendres/Inquirer.net

Diaz’s silver medal shines over Team Philippines’ rocky start Filipina weightlifter bags 1st medal for PH in 20 years

the United states state Department said on monday, August 8, that it asked the Philippine diplomats in Washington, D.C. to “clarify” President rodrigo Duterte’s “inappropriate” comments about outgoing Us Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.

In his speech on monday, August 8 in Cagayan de oro, Duterte said he’s “oK” with Us secretary John Kerry but

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Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz shows off her silver medal at the Rio Olympics, the Philippines first in the 2016 Olympics and also the country’s first in 20 years.

by eric

US Ambassador Philip Goldberg

Philstar.com photo

anthony licaS AJPress

fILIPINA hidilyn Diaz overcame her doubts to claim silver in the women’s 53kg division weightlifting contest on sunday, August 7 at the 2016 olympic games in rio, earning the

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Philippines’ first medal since 1996. the 25-year-old weightlifter had earned some buzz coming into her third olympic appearance thanks to notable performances on the professional lifting circuit. however, Chi-

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A AUGUST 10-12, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Marcos to receive hero’s…

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but “will only deepen the unhealed wounds of the survivors and family members of victims of the terrible years under [the] Marcos presidency,” citing the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and their cronies.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano also didn’t agree with the president regarding the issue.

“Well, you know, I see the point of the President that if it’s completely legal issue, he’s entitled to it. But the name of the cemetery is Cemetery for Heroes, and we do not consider him [a hero.]

He had heroic moments during his life. But we do not consider it totality heroic because of the things that happened in martial law,” Cayetano told Rappler.

“Unless we change the name to Cemetery of Heroes and Dictators, then we would not have problems,” he added.

Meanwhile, Pimentel said that

he does not consider Marcos a hero, but will respect the decision of the president.

Senators Franklin Drilon and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on the other hand, urged the president to reconsider.

“At this point in the history of our country where Filipinos are starting to hope again, what our nation need is unity in order for our country to succeed socially, economically and politically,” said Drilon in a statement.

“Hence, such a sensitive issue would not help but only divide our people and reopen the wounds of the past that up to now, were not completely healed.”

DND issues memo The Department of National Defense (DND) issued a formal memorandum, dated August 7, instructing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Ricardo Visaya to “undertake the necessary planning and preparations to facilitate” the interment of the late

dictator at the heroes’ cemetery.

The AFP was ordered to plan and prepare the transfer of Marcos’s remains.

The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) was designated as the overseer and focal agency interment of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes’ Cemetery.

“We don’t have yet the finality of the details but everybody is getting ready. A great deal of it is really coming into terms with the idea that he will be brought to the Libingan which is a very well appreciated gesture, a privilege and some would call, a right, which will finally be given to him and we are happy about it,” Ianree Raquel, head of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office.

BREASTMILK IS STILL BEST FOR BABIES. Mothers with their babies join breastfeeding activity called “Hakab Na! 2016” in celebration of “We can feel the sadness and the Breastfeeding Awareness Month in August, The event is held at Metrotent Convention Center, Ortigas, Pasig City.

Inquirer.net photo by Nino Jesus Orbeta hesitation from our elders but at the same time, they are happy that the present administration is [keen] towards giving him the burial honors that the family has were issued, the chief justice ad- hat kayo sa SC (We are both lawPAGE A1 t longed for.” n yers, all of you in SC) know how please, please do not create a vised.

“To safeguard the role of the long it will take [the] government confrontation, a constitutional war. Talo tayo lahat (We’re all judges as the protectors of con- to secure [a] warrant of arrest,” stitutional rights, I would caution he said. going to lose),” he said.

Duterte also clarified that he “Do not create a crisis because them very strongly against ‘surI will order everyone in the Ex- rendering’ or making themselves did not order the police to arecutive Department not to honor physically accountable to any rest those judges on the list but police officer in the absence of ordered them to show up at the you.”

Sereno questioned Duterte’s any duly-issued warrant of arrest Supreme Court.

“What did I say? Judges (who recent announcement, which that is pending,” Sereno wrote to are on the list) should report the accused seven judges allegedly Duterte.

Supreme Court. I did not order ‘You must be joking’ involved in illegal drugs. In a letDuterte said that Sereno, “must them to be arrested,” he said, ter, she stated that only the high court was authorized to discipline be joking” for asking for a war- adding “I never accused anybody except to read their names.” rant of arrest. members of the judiciary.

Officials alleged involvement “Magbigay ka warrant (Giving The judges allegedly involved in drug trafficking should not warrant)? Madam Chief Justice, in drug trade Over 150 Philippine governsurrender to law enforcement you must be joking. You must be unless the warrants of arrest joking. Dalawa tayo abogado, lau PAGE A3

Duterte to Chief Justice Sereno: ‘Would…

Diaz’s silver medal shines over Team Philippines’…

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nese Taipei’s Hsu Shu-Ching and China’s Li Yajun were strongly favored to win Sunday’s competition. They recorded the heaviest lifts for the competition’s first event, the snatch, according to CNN. “Discouraged ako (I was discouraged),” admitted Diaz, who had been tied with Korea’s Yoon Jin-hee for fourth-place behind Latvia’s Rebeka Kohn after the first portion of Sunday’s contest. “Pero sabi ng coach ko na wala na kaming magagawa; Sa

clean and jerk ako bumawi (but my coach told me there’s nothing left to do; just recover for the clean and jerk).”

Hsu would go on to win gold, but Li wound up hyperextending her left elbow in the second half of the contest while attempting to lift 123kg (271.17lb). Li’s injury prevented her from finishing the tournament. That opened up the path to the podium for Diaz and Yoon. The Filipina went on to clean and jerk 112kg (246.92lb) in the second half of the competition, besting Yoon by a single

kilogram and Kohn by 5.

Diaz’s accomplishment garnered her a P5 million reward from the Philippine government in addition to a spot in history.

A private property developing firm is also furnishing the athlete with a house and lot according to Philstar and lucrative sponsorships are likely in the Olympic medalist’s future.

A steady path of progress Don’t ask Diaz for any shortcuts to strength or success — she took the long route. The competi-

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Dateline USa

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 10-12, 2016

A

PH envoys… US think tank: Satellite images…

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WINNING PHOTO. Froi Rivera’s work “Love for Football” won the gold prize at the European Union Delegation to the Philippines’ “IS EUropa in U” photography competition. The awarding ceremony was held at the De La Salle University, where the photo exhibit was also launched, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2016.

Photo by Froi Rivera, courtesy of European Union

Filipinos respond to Trump’s statements…

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“An immigrant from Afghanistan, who later applied for and received U.S. citizenship, and a legal permanent resident from the Philippines were convicted for planning to join Al Qaeda and the Taliban in order to kill as many Americans as possible,” Trump said during the rally.

Deleon, a Philippine citizen, was found guilty of conspiring to provide materials and support to Al Qaeda, to travel to Afghanistan to receive training from the terrorist organization and to commit murder, kidnapping, or maiming overseas. The FBI had called the case an example of “homegrown” terrorism in which the suspects were influenced by ISIS. Immigrants from other “terrorist nations” Trump mentioned include Morocco, Uzbekistan, Syria, Somalia, Iraq, Pakistan and Yemen.

Initial reports following the real estate billionaire’s speech said that he called immigrants “animals.” However, he was referring to the terrorists he was naming.

“An immigrant from Syria, who later applied and received United States citizenship, was accused by federal prosecutors for planning to go to American military base in Texas and kill three or four American soldiers, but ‘preferably execution style’ — we’re dealing with animals — ‘preferably execution style,’” he said.

The Republican nominee went on to say that there are allegedly more immigrants “that we don’t know about” who are potentially dangerous.

Philippine lawmaker calls for Trump ban Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella responded to Trump’s comments on behalf of the country, saying that Trump should “really understand his constituents” if he wants to become president.

“Baka he’s just speaking in broad strokes na hindi nuya alam talaga ‘yung napag-usapan niya (Maybe he’s just speaking in broad strokes, and he doesn’t really know what he’s talking about),” Abella said on state-run broadcaster dzRB.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar noted Trump’s post in Philippine real estate and the construction of the Trump Tower in Metro Manila in his response to the presidential nominee’s remarks.

“Mr. Trump even professed his love for the Philippines during the launch of his 57-story luxury apartment in Makati,” Andanar said. “He did say, ‘I’ve always loved the Philippines. I think it is just a special place, and Manila is one of Asia’s most spectacular cities. I know that [the Trump Tower Manila] will be second to none.’”

A congressman from the Philippine House of Representatives has called to ban Trump from the country.

Rep. Jose “Joey” Salceda introduced a bill, House Resolution No. 43, in which he called Trump’s presence in the country harmful to “national interest.”

“Whereas, there is no feasible basis or reasonable justification to the wholesale labeling of Filipinos as coming from a ‘terrorist state’ or that they will be Trojan Horse,” Salceda said in the legislation, according to Philstar.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte — whom many international media outlets have likened to Trump for his unfiltered rhetoric — has not reacted to the remarks, as of press time.

Uproar in Fil-Am community Filipino-American community leaders and elected officials across the U.S. have condemned Trump, asserting that his remarks disregard the contributions Filipinos have made to the country.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau states that there are approximately 3.4 million Filipino immigrants and their children living in the U.S., making Filipinos the fourth largest immigrant community in the U.S. behind Mexicans, Chinese and Indians.

California Assemblymember Rob Bonta — the first and only Fil-Am elected to the state Legislature — echoed President Barack Obama’s sentiment that Trump is “unfit to serve as president.” (Obama had urged other Republicans to drop support for Trump earlier last week.)

“Trump’s call to restrict immigration and tourism from the Philippines doesn’t represent the America my mother believed in when she made the journey to this country decades ago. It doesn’t represent the America that my 1.5 million FilipinoAmerican brothers and sisters in California know. And it’s definitely not the America I want my children to grow up in,” Bonta said in a statement emailed to the Asian Journal.

Bonta has also put out a call to action on social media to ban Trump, urging Fil-Ams to share videos and pictures with a sign that says “#BawalSiTrump.”

Along with other migrant communities and the colonial history of the U.S. and the Philippines, countless contributions have been made by Filipino workers and their families to the growth of the U.S. in various fields: agriculture and industry, health and wellness, performance arts and humanities, science and technology, public service and social movements, mass media and even security and defense.

“Donald Trump disrespects Filipinos and exposes his own ignorance and racism by calling for a ban on immigration from the Philippines. His lack of appreciation of the contributions Filipino laborers have made to this country is shocking,” SEIU Executive Vice President Luisa Blue, a Filipina whose parents emigrated from the Philippines, told the Asian Journal.

Since the 1920s, Filipinos have immigrated to the United States to work on farms and in the fishing canneries of the Pacific Northwest, helping to build the nation’s agriculture and fishing industries.

“While Donald Trump and the GOP attack Filipinos with divisive and harmful rhetoric, the Democratic Party has enshrined and honored us in their party’s platform with the inclusion of Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong among the warriors for social and economic justice. Our choice in November could not be more clear: We need to elect Hillary Clinton to be our president and commander-in-chief,” said

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Duterte to Chief Justice Sereno: ‘Would…

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ment officials — judges, politicians, police officers and military personnel — allegedly linked to illegal drugs were named on national television on Sunday, August 7, as part of Duterte’s “shaming campaign” and his war on drugs.

The president ensured that the names have been validated.

“I ordered the validation. I am the one reading it and I am the sole person responsible for this one,” he said.

He went on to say that the individuals were “destroying the country,” and compared their involvement in the drug trade to treason. The judges and politicians involved were also ordered to report to Supreme Court with-

in 24 hours and have their gun licenses revoked.

He also commanded that the police and military personnel would face administrative charges if proven guilty after the investigation.

Since assuming office last July, Duterte began publicly naming local officials tied to the illegal drug trade. n

Diaz’s silver medal shines over Team Philippines’…

PAGE A2 t

tive weightlifter persevered for years before claiming her spot in history during this year’s games.

She had been training since the age of 11 before placing second to last in her Olympic debut at the 2008 games in Beijing. She aimed for a personal best during London’s 2012 games and managed to hoist 97kg (213.85lb) over her head in a single motion. However, after three attempts, she failed to pull off a 118kg (260.15lb) clean and jerk and left the games with an official score of DNF (did not finish).

Rather than succumb to defeat, Diaz grew from her setbacks. Long sessions at her gym in Zamboanga and the decision to drop down from the 58kg division to 53kg paid off.

“Ginawa ko yung best para sa country (I did the best I could for my country),” Diaz told CNN. “Yun lang talaga yung goal …

Bronze lang talaga yung aim namin ng coach ko (That was really my only goal … my coach and I were actually aiming for bronze).”

Diaz’s 14-year long journey to the 2016 games features milestones and breakthroughs in

addition to its hurdles. She is only the second person to ever compete as a weightlifter for the Philippines, and the first woman to do so. In 2012, she became the first Filipina to bear her country’s flag during the opening ceremonies. Following mixed results in London, Diaz bounced back to claim first place in the 2015 Asian Weightlifting Championships and Bronze in that year’s world competition. She then placed third in the 2016 Asian Championships.

“I have tried so hard. I have stumbled many times,” Diaz told Philstar. “I wanted to quit, but now all of my sacrifices have paid off.”

Team Philippines determined The Filipina competitor’s success outshone woes over what had been a rocky start to the games for her team. The Philippines had sent 12 other athletes to this year’s games in addition to Diaz.

Swimmer Jessie Lacuna, weightlifter Nestor Colonia, table tennis player Ian Lariba and boxer Charly Suarez were knocked out of the competition before Diaz’s event began. The Philippine delegation’s only other boxer, Rogen Ladon, was eliminated by

Carlos Quipo Pilataxi of Ecuador on Monday, August 8. Then, on Tuesday, August 9, Italy’s Matteo Marconcini defeated underdog Kodo Nakano in the men’s 81kg judo competition, leaving just six Filipinos to compete in this year’s events.

On Wednesday, August 10, Jasmine Alkhaldi made her second Olympic appearance in the 100m freestyle race. Golfer Miguel Tabuena will also return to the course for the second day of the men’s individual tournament on Friday, August 12.

Next week, track and field athletes Mary Joy Tabal, Eric Cray and Marestella Sunang will compete in their respective events, the marathon, 400M hurdles and long jump.

On Saturday, August 20, Filipina Taekwondo practitioner Kristie Alora will face off against 2008 gold medalist Maria Espinoza of Mexico in the 67kg division. Alora and her coach, Roberto Cruz, acknowledged the challenge before her, but she remains undaunted.

“Basta laban lang (It’s enough just [to have a chance to] fight),” Alora told Rappler. “Get through her early on; that’s the mission anyway.” n

added that he “quarreled with his gay ambassador,” referring to Goldberg.

“I am pissed with him. He meddled during the election, giving statements here and there.

He was not supposed to do that,” Duterte pointed out.

The “statements” he was referring to were those Goldberg made after Duterte attempted to make a joke about the 1989 case of an Australian missionary who was raped and murdered.

“We confirm that the Chargé d’Affaires of our Embassy in Washington DC was invited to the State Department to discuss the entire breadth of PH-US relations,” said Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Charles Jose.

He added that the details of the conversation could not be disclosed, however.

“I would say two things on that. The first, specifically on the remarks, we’ve seen those inappropriate comments made about Ambassador Goldberg. He’s a multi-time ambassador, one of our most senior US diplomats,” said Elizabeth Trudeau, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State in a press briefing on Monday, August 8.

“We have asked the Philippines Chargé to come into the State Department to clarify those remarks,” she said.

Trudeau declined further discuss the meeting on Monday but pointed out that it “but it was specifically on those remarks... specific remarks that were made about our ambassador to the Philippines.”

She said the U.S. would continue to call on Philippine officials “to emphasize the importance of this fundamental democratic principle” and “ensure its law enforcement efforts comply with its human rights obligations.”

“We believe in due process.

We believe in respect for universal human rights. We believe fundamentally that those aspects ensure and promote long-term security,” she added.

Jose, however, expressed confidence that “Philippine-US relations remain strong.”

“During the call of Secretary Kerry, the president said that he places much importance on PHUS relations and used effusive language to describe the very productive bilateral partnership.

He was unequivocal with the value placed by the Philippines on the relationship,” he said. n

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Center’s analysis suggests that the hangars on all three islets have room for “any fighter-jet in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.”

“They are far thicker than you would build for any civilian purpose,” Gregory B. Poling, director of the center’s Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, told the New York Times on Monday, Aug. 8 in a telephone interview.

“They’re reinforced to take a strike.”

The largest hangars, 200 feet

wide, are more than enough for strategic bombers and refuelers, according to Poling.

On the other hand, the smallest hangars are 60 to 70 feet wide, enough to accommodate China’s largest fighter jets.

China has said the new islands are primarily built to assist fishermen and to reinforce its sovereignty claims.

It also claimed that they are entitled to build whatever structures it wishes on them, noting that the islands should be able to

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A AUGUST 10-12, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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Report rates cheapest flights in Southern California

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

AIRFARE prices often shift unpredictably, but it’s always worth it to search for the best deals.

Cheapflights.com recently published the Annual Affordability Index (AAI) which ranks the 101 most-searched airports in the United States in the month of June. Airports in Southern California fell on all sides of the spectrum.

Long Beach Airport topped the list as the most affordable of the major American airports, with an average airfare of $202.

“It’s great to hear that Long Beach Airport has regained the No. 1 spot for affordability,”

Juan Lopez-Rios, interim director of Long Beach Airport, said in a statement. “Long Beach is a gateway to Southern California, and having the most affordable airport in the country is an incredible economic asset for our city.

“Travelers are currently enjoying some of the best prices in recent history for airfare, which is why it is such a bonus for Long Beach Airport to be at the top of the list for affordability.”

John Wayne Airport in Orange County and Los Angeles International (LAX) earned the 31st and 32nd spots, respectively, with John Wayne Airport averaging a $291 plane ticket and LAX with a $293 average airfare.

Bob Hope Airport in Burbank landed in the middle of the list at No. 41 at an average of $311 per flight.

Ontario International -- which was ranked No. 71, dropping 16 spots from last year -- offers among the most expensive airfares of Southern California’s airports with an average plane ticket costing $369.

The report said that there was an overall drop in airfare prices from 2015 with most of the priciest airports touting an average airfare that is $150 cheaper than last year.

Read the report here: http://www.cheapflights.com/ news/2016-airport-affordabilityreport/ n

5,000 water systems violate federal law

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

MORE than 5,000 water systems in the United States violate federal law, affecting approximately 18 million Americans, according to a report released Tuesday, June 28.

The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that these systems violated lead and copper laws, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the body that is responsible for regulating the water systems, knew about them but did little to nothing about it.

A CNN report indicated that in approximately nine out of 10 cases of contaminated water, the EPA took no enforcement action.

NRDC said that the water systems required to complete thorough water testing, regular reporting of contamination and meticulous water treatment, but these water systems have failed to do so; in other words, these systems have committed health, monitoring and reporting violations.

“These violations were recorded because the systems were not doing everything that they are required to do to protect the public from lead issues, which could include failure to treat to reduce lead levels in the water (health violations), failure to monitor the water for lead as required (monitoring violations), or failure to report lead results to the public or government,”

the report said.

But the 5,000 systems that have committed violations only made up the reported violations and failed to account for unreported instances.

Erik Olson, health program director at NRDC, told CNN that some water utility companies manipulate the systems’ machinery and purposefully use imprecise testing methods so that they don’t detect higher levels of lead. In other words, there are water systems who are breaching the law but don’t get reported.any level over 15 parts per billion (ppb) The NRDC mapped out leadrelated issues reported throughout the U.S. and found that lead contamination is rampant across the country and the contaminated systems cover an expansive geographic scope.

According to NRDC’s findings, there were 13 reported violations in Los Angeles County water systems that served over 5,000 Angelenos. Kern County’s water systems were especially affected with 74 reported violations that affected 102,691 residents.

There are many reasons why a water system can fail, but one of the most common reasons is through repairs gone wrong.

Unsafe levels of lead were discovered in Sebring, Ohio earlier this year after workers altered the water’s chemistry to prevent pipe corrosion. It took five months before the city issued a warning of the water’s detri-

mental effects to children and pregnant women, according to reports from The Columbus Dispatch.

In 2001, the Washington Post reported that lead levels in Washington, D.C.’s tap water escalated to 20 times the federally-approved level, and it took three years before residents found out.

Yet the problem may be a product of the country’s infrastructure. Thirty years ago, Congress passed a law that banned lead water pipes, yet between 3.3 million and 10 million of them remain in today’s water systems, allowing lead to infiltrate many of the country’s water systems. n

US think tank…

PAGE A3 t defend themselves.

Evidence of the military hangars emerged a month after an international tribunal in The Hague ruled that China’s claims over the disputed South China Sea — based on nine-dash-line — were invalid, including its assertion of expansive sovereignty and construction of artificial islands.

Despite continuous diplomatic pressure and international clamor to halt its militarization of the disputed sea, China said it wouldn’t recognize the Hague ruling. (Dana M. Sioson / AJPress)

IRONMAN CHAMPIONSHIP. The 2016 Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines marks its biggest year with the Asia Pacific Championship.

This year’s race brought in the strongest line up of professional triathletes across the globe coming together on August 7 in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

Inquirer.net photo by Tristan Tamayo

US Navy ‘impressed’ by Albay disaster preparedness

by Kristine

angeli Inquirer.net

sabillo

US Navy officers on Tuesday, August 9 expressed their admiration for the disaster preparedness system of Albay, where they docked in June for the Pacific Partnership 2016.

Pacific Partnership is a multination mission that started in response to the 2004 tsunami, which devastated parts of Southeast Asia. After leaving San Diego in May, its hospital ship USNS Mercy visited Timor Leste before docking in the Philippines in June for a two-week humanitarian and disaster relief preparedness mission.

Holding a teleconference from Malaysia — their fourth stop, Mission Commander Commodore Tom Williams told reporters that the Pacific Partnership has over the years transitioned from direct medical care to information exchange.

“Knowledge exchange is very important to us this year,” he said when asked about the focus of this year’s Pacific Partnership.

He said that during their stay in Albay, which is known for its zero casualty goal during natural disasters, they learned “great ideas” that should be spread throughout the region.

Model system “I learned how robust and how capable the disaster response system that Team Albay has. It is a model for the way that I think that many countries in the Pacific should operate,” he said.

Captain Peter Roberts, commanding officer of the medical treatment facility onboard USNS Mercy, said that the community of Albay, which is prone to different kinds of disasters such as typhoons and volcanic eruptions, has been able to incorporate disaster preparedness lessons in the people’s day-to-day activities.

“I was really impressed in Albay on their posture relative to disaster response,” he said.

“Everybody seems to know what

Captain Peter Roberts.

Photo from http://www.med.navy.mil/

their role should be in the event of a disaster.”

Roberts recalled seeing a school that had one of its walls painted with the names of officials responsible in times of disaster.

“That’s just something you would not see in the United States,” he said.

The US Navy official lauded the local government’s efforts to keep the community involved.

“I was really impressed also by their intent of zero casualty,” he added. “Whether or not they can achieve that, (it is) difficult to set your target that high. That stated goal of zero casualty was very impressive.”

Albay has received awards for its disaster preparedness program, which is being adapted by other provinces and groups.

Disaster response The Pacific Partnership 2016, which will visit Indonesia last, was hosted by the Albay provincial government in the Philippines this year.

The mission involves 900 military and civilian personnel from Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Palau, the Philippines, Repub-

lic of South Korea, Singapore, Timor Leste, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam and various non-governmental organizations.

It provided medical and dental services during its visit to Albay.

Its participants also constructed and repaired schools and other public facilities. Of the thousands who were treated onboard USNS Mercy, more than 250 underwent surgical services, according to an earlier Inquirer report.

Williams said the group, which included experts in different fields, stayed around two weeks in each port to impart what they know about preparing for a crisis like a typhoon.

Deputy Mission Commander Captain Mike Spruce of the Royal Australian Navy pointed out that during the 2004 tsunami, many countries offered aid “but it was uncoordinated, not as efficient as it should have been.”

“These days we work better together. So when disaster strikes we are ready to work together,” he said.

South China Sea Asked what the Pacific Partnership can offer for the security of South China Sea, Williams emphasized that it is a humanitarian and civic assistance mission.

“It’s not about military security. It’s not a military mission,” Spruce said.

Responding to another question about China’s participation, Williams said he did not know “of any details.” “I think that invitation is open,” he said, explaining that he was not aware of the status of countries invited to participate.

Tensions remain high in South China Sea despite the award of an arbitral tribunal ruling to the Philippines, which questioned China’s “nine-dash line” claim.

The US, a close Philippine ally, has maintained its presence in the area and has called for the importance of freedom of navigation in South China Sea, which is an important global trade route. n

US concerned about killings in PH…

PAGE A1 t

Security Group at Malacanang Park on Sunday, July 31, that the U.S. aid was partly a show of support for his hardline stance against crime, according to a previous report by the Asian Journal.

However, U.S. State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau bristled at the notion of American money funding the killings of untried criminal suspects during a press briefing on Monday, August 8. She said all security assistance coming from the U.S. is intended to “promote human rights ... professionalism, due process and the rule of law.”

Trudeau went on to “strongly urge the Philippines to ensure its law enforcement efforts comply with its human rights obligations.”

Duterte has been openly calling for the deaths of those associated with drug trafficking. On Friday, August 5, the president expressed commitment to his zero-tolerance mindset.

“My order is shoot to kill. I don’t care about human rights,” said Duterte, who invoked the severity of the Philippines’ drug problem and dismissed the concerns of his critics. “We have a crisis.”

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) published a statement on Wednesday, August 3, condemning the Duterte administration’s public support of extrajudicial killings.

UNDOC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said the Duterte administration’s methods for dealing with drug traffickers “do not serve the cause of justice and will not help to ensure that all

people can live in health, dignity, and peace.”

Duterte responded to the UNDOC’s statement on Wednesday, August 3 by challenging them to come up with a better solution, according to Philstar.

However, Fedotov’s statement echoes comments made by billionaire philanthropist Richard Branson. Branson, founder of the Virgin Group and a member of the Global Drug Commission, told Cathy Yang in an episode of “The Boss” on ANC that the war on drugs was bound to fail.

“Getting tough on drug addicts does not work,” he said.

He suggested focusing resources on recovery and rehabilitation programs for former dealers and users, rather than purging them from society. (Eric Anthony Licas/AJPress)

Filipinos respond to Trump’s statements…

PAGE A3 t

Aries Dela Cruz, president of the Filipino American Democratic Club of New York and a member of Filipino Americans for Hillary National Leadership Council.

Members of Congress, including Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, Rep. Mike Honda and Rep. Ted Lieu, have issued statements as well.

Asians, Latinos, immigrants and other minority groups will make up almost one-third of the electorate for the November polls. For the first time in history, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Latino voters are key to winning several battleground states including Nevada, Colorado and Virginia.

Fil-Am Republicans defend statements Meanwhile, Fil-Am Republi-

cans argue that Trump’s comments were taken out of context.

“Donald Trump did not say that Filipinos are animals,” Dolly De Leon, a Filipina in Las Vegas who founded Baby Boomers 4 Trump, told the Asian Journal.

“The mainstream media is to be blamed for taking out of context what Donald Trump said as much as when he made comments about the criminals who come from Mexico.”

The Filipino-American Republicans USA Facebook page denounced the media reports that suggested Trump had referred to all Filipinos as “animals,” and encouraged Filipinos to be more mindful of the news.

“We urge our fellow Filipinos to continue to have an open mind and to seek the truth in every is-

sue. We are proud of our readership’s vigilance and not giving into the biased media’s pandering,” the post said.

The news comes during a period when Trump is faring poorly among Americans, Democrats and Republicans alike. Following his criticism over Khizr and Ghazala Khan, Muslim American parents whose son lost his life fighting in the U.S. Army, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressed outrage.

Fifty of the nation’s leading Republican lawmakers — including many former aides or cabinet members from George W. Bush’s administration — signed a letter released on Monday, August 8 warning that Trump “would be the most reckless president in American history.” n

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 10-12, 2016

A

Dateline PhiliPPines

Pacquiao pushes return of death penalty in first Senate speech by dana

sioson AJPress

RECKONING. A total of 32 police officers and 27 local executives from different parts of the country surface on Monday, Aug. 8, at Camp Crame to clear their names after President Rodrigo Duterte gave out the list of officials who are allegedly engaged in the drug trade.

PNP photo

Kuwait arrests Pinay linked to Islamic State

year-old Filipina after her email was monitored and found out that Pescaeda, who used a STATE-run Kuwait News different name, had been conAgency (Kuna) announced last tacting the militant’s local affiliweek that authorities have ar- ate in Libya. rested a Filipino woman for al“The ministry said she conlegedly pledging allegiance to fessed she was ready to carry out the Islamic State militant move- any terrorist attack once circumment and attempting to launch stances and means were ripe, an attack. in order to undermine security According to Kuna, the Min- and stability in Kuwait, as well istry of Interior stated that the as ignoring [sic] sedition,” Kuna suspect, Livani Azvilo Pescaeda, reported. had been communicating with Meanwhile, sources told Kuthe international terrorist net- waiti daily newspaper Al Rai work Daesh (Arabic acronym that Pescaeda joined the militant for Islamic State of Iraq and the group after her Somali husband, Levant). a member of the terror group, Reports said that local secu- promised her to conduct a “sucrity forces discovered the 32- cessful suicide attack in order to

enter Paradise.”

In June, Pescaeda entered Kuwait to plot the suicide attack and applied as a domestic helper to avoid raising any suspicions.

During her questioning, the Filipina said she worked in Saudi Arabia for two years and converted from Christianity to Islam upon marrying her husband.

Subsequently, she pledged allegiance to Daesh and decided to join her husband and the terror group in Libya. However, she failed to reach the country. Instead, Pescaeda decided to go to Kuwait where she was eventually caught.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has yet to release a statement. n

ference of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations in Pennsylvania, United States.

The Vice President cited the Naga Migrant Resource Center in Camarines Sur, a one-stop shop for OFWs that was launched last year.

“We can replicate this all over the country because we think that we should take care of the welfare of our OFWs,” Robredo, who served as representative of the province’s third congressional district prior to her election as vice president, said.

“If we really recognize them as our modern heroes who contribute to our country’s growth, we should provide them the services they need,” she added.

The Naga Migrant Resource Center, the first of its kind in the country, offers pre-deployment, post-deployment and reintegration services.

Its pre-deployment service includes training, skills matching and assessment of agencies to avoid victimization of Filipinos through illegal recruitment. n

by Joseph

almeR B. pedRaJas AJPress

Robredo seeks offices for OFWs nationwide by helen

FloRes Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo pushed on Wednesday, Aug. 10, for the establishment of offices in different parts of the country that would provide various services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) including sparing them from illegal recruiters.

Robredo made the proposal in her keynote speech at the 12th National Empowerment Con-

IN his first privilege speech, Senator Manny Pacquiao pushed the reimposition of the death penalty in the Philippines on Monday, August 8.

“Everyone has a right to life.

But as a lawmaker, we also have the obligation to our citizens to provide them the right to live their lives peacefully and orderly,” he said.

He assured that Filipinos don’t have to fear the death penalty, as it’s only for those who commit heinous crimes.

Last week, the senator filed Senate Bill No. 185 or “An act to impose the Death Penalty and increased penalties on certain heinous crimes involving dangerous drugs, amending for that purpose other special penal laws, and for other purposes.” It insists that the death penalty is lawful, moral and a sanctioned government action.

“Dapat natin linawin na mula noon hanggang ngayon, hindi pinagbabawal sa Saligang Batas ang parusang kamatayan… lalung-lalo na sa mata ng ating

Senator Manny Pacquiao

Philstar.com photo

Panginoon (We need to clarify that from then until now, the Constitution never barred the imposition of the death penalty, especially in the eyes of God),” said Pacquiao.

In his 14-minute speech, he cited Bible quotes to support his appeal to reimpose death penalty.

“The death penalty is lawful, moral and sanctioned governmental action. Having read the

Bible on a regular basis, I am convinced that God is not just a God of mercy, but also a God of justice,” he added.

Pacquiao, however, stressed that the suspects have the right to a fair trial.

Joke ‘not funny’ Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III asked Pacquiao which of the three modes he preferred the most — lethal injection, hanging, or firing squad.

“Sisipain lang po ‘yung upuan (We just have to kick the chair),” Pacquiao answered, drawing laughter from people inside the session hall.

However, Pacquiao’s joke did not sit well with Senator Francis Pangilinan, appealing that humorous remarks should not be made regarding serious issues.

“E sa akin po ‘di ho biro ang buhay ng ating kababayan. Sana po maging mas sensitibo tayo sa usapin po ng pagkitil ng buhay ng kapwa (For me, our citizens’ life is not a joke. I hope that we will be more sensitive in taking the lives of others),” Pangilinan said.

Pacquiao later apologized after Pangilinan raised his point. n

Binay graft trial starts in October

nets in 2001.

The prosecution intends to present at least 50 witnesses, THE Sandiganbayan will begin including State Auditor Heidi hearing the graft and malversa- Mendoza, representatives from tion charges filed against former the Commission on Audit’s SpeMakati Mayor Elenita Binay and cial Task Force on Local Governseveral other former Makati of- ment Units Makati Team, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Merficials in October.

The court’s Third Division cado and former Makati General scheduled the trial after the par- Services Department chief Erties have finished marking the nesto Aspillaga.

Representatives from the Ofdocumentary evidence that they intend to present.

On Tuesday, Aug. 9, the pretrial of the case was terminated and the court set trial dates on October 17 and 20, November 22 and 23, January 24 and 25, February 21 and 22, March 22 and 23, April 19 and 20, and May 16 and 17.

The cases, filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2011, stemmed from the alleged anomalous purchase of sterilizers in 2000 and hospital beds and cabiby Reina

TolenTino ManilaTimes.net

fice of the Treasurer and Supply and Property Division of Makati City, and past and present Makati councilors were also included.

Likewise listed as witnesses were representatives from the Ospital ng Makati, Senate, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, Business Permit and Licensing Office of the City of Manila, and Bureau of Food and Drugs. n

A AUGUST 10-12, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

OpiniOn

Features

Motivation

ONE can win races and break world records, but an Olympic medal is still the highest feat an athlete can accomplish. To conquer the Olympics is every athlete’s dream.

On Sunday night, Aug. 7, Hidilyn Diaz feasted on cheesy pizza and adobo as her celebratory dinner.

Earlier in the day, the 25-year-old was atop a podium as she waves to the crowd, after winning the silver medal in the women’s 53-kg weightlifting event at the ongoing Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Back in her home country, her silver shines like gold as cheers linger on and praises pour in for the Zamboanga City native who made history as the first Filipina to bring home an Olympic medal.

She will be heralded a hero’s welcome upon her return.

“Salamat. Saludo po ako sa inyo (Thank You. I salute you),” Pres. Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday, Aug. 8 as he congratulated Diaz for bringing the honor to the country.

“I am impressed, and I would like to wait for you, to receive you in the People’s Palace of Malacanang. As a president of this country, I am overjoyed,” Duterte said of her fellow Mindanaoan.

In the Senate, Sen. Sonny Angara filed Senate Resolution No. 88, where he described Diaz as “rare shining star.”

“Diaz’s silver-medal victory is momentous, being a veritable first in various respects in Philip-

pine sports history. Hers is the first Philippine Olympic medal since Mansueto ‘Onyok’ Velasco won silver in the light flyweight boxing competition during the 1996 Summer Olympics in the United States,” the resolution read.

“The inspiring story of Diaz is the story of Filipinos,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement. “Hers is about overcoming shyness but for an inspired nation, her road to Rio is a journey of grit, patience and determination which ended a 20-year long medal drought for the Philippines.”

In these days marred by political disarray, natural calamity and other depressing news, people look for an inspiration to live through difficult days. A hero is an inspiration—an entity that invokes the beleaguered spirit. A hero is a source of strength that keeps his or her peers going. More than a cause for celebration, Diaz’s recent triumph has become a source of inspiration and hope.

Not all heroes die on the battlefield or are killed in the line of duty. Heroes come from all walks of life and in any profession. They are just ordinary men and women who inhabit extraordinary lives that make a change and inspire other people.

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Diaz and the 12 other Filipino athletes in Rio are modern warriors who do more than represent the flag where they came from. Their presence in the elite sporting event gives their countrymen hope, self-respect, and to many people—pride in who they are.

In her own way, Diaz encourages those who

want to follow her footsteps that if you persevere, you can claim victory and be a hero yourself.

Every journey will be brutal, hard-nosed and beautiful. This Olympic victory is a reminder that even though times are cloaked with uncertainty, life has some moments of great pride and joy.

(AJPress)

Do you support Donald Trump’s plan to ban immigration from the Philippines?

DONALD Trump has declared before that should he be elected President of the United States, he would ban immigration from countries identified to be a hub of terrorists so he could protect America from ISIS. The Philippines has been named by the State Department as one of those countries.

However, it was when Donald Trump mentioned the Philippines in his campaign speech in Portland, Maine that this hit many kababayans to their core.

Trump proposed a temporary ban on ALL Muslims from what he called as “terrorist nations”.

“We are letting people come in from terrorist nations that shouldn’t be allowed because you can’t vet them…You have no idea who they are.

This could be the great Trojan horse of all time,” he said. Trump warned that terrorists, including members of the Islamic State extremist group, will sneak into the United States as refugees.

Trump then went on to mention immigrants from countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Uzbekistan and Yemen - who were arrested for conducting or threatening to carry out violent attacks, teaching bomb-making to recruits, and otherwise supporting terror

groups. [NOTE: permanent residents are NOT illegals] And then he went on to say in The Fil-Am no uncertain terms, that indeed, Perspective the Philippines is part of this list of terrorist nations, and I quote: “An immigrant from Afghanistan, who later applied for and received U.S. citizenship, and a legal Gel SantoS-ReloS permanent resident from the Philippines were convicted for plotting to join Al Qaeda and the Taliban in order to kill as many Americans as possible,” Trump said during the rally. ”We’re dealing with animals,” Trump also said earlier in his speech.

But the uproar did not only come from kababayans. Here in the United States, even U.S. politicians came to Filipinos’ defense against Trump’s statement.

As Balitang America Senior Correspondent Henni Espinosa reported on The Filipino Channel, Democratic Senator from Hawaii Brian Schatz was among those who were quick to denounce Trump’s statements saying these do not have a place in American

politics.

“His call to ban Filipinos from coming to the US demonstrates an absolute ignorance of the contributions that Filipino-Americans have made to American society but it also fails to recognize the strong relationship that the US and the Philippines have and have had for decades,” Sen. Schatz said. A quarter of Hawaii’s population is Filipinos.

“He doesn’t understand that Asian Americans generally, Filipino-Americans, in particular, are a growing voting bloc, to the extent that they can have an influence on the elections. I have no doubt that they will,” Sen. Schatz added.

Balitang America also reported on the statements two American politicians who are sons of Filipino immigrants.

California Assemblymember Rob Bonta, the first and only Filipino elected to the State Legislature, said in a statement, “ Trump’s sweeping, irresponsible and vitriolic pronouncements on race have no place in our America.” There are more than 1.5

million Filipinos in America, the state with the biggest Filipino population.

In New Jersey, Jersey City Council President Rolando Lavarro Jr. also made strong statements against Trump.

In a report by Balitang America New York Correspondent Don Tagala, Lavarro said, Trump disregards “over a century of relations between the U.S. and the Philippines” and insults over 127,000 Fil-Ams residing in New Jersey.

But there are kababayans who support Trump’s plan. Balitang America Los Angeles Correspondent Steve Angeles interviewed a Filipina who said she agrees with Trump, so long as the temporary ban is for MUSLIMS only.

Do you support Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s plan to ban immigration from the Philippines? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are 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

Are we seeing a New Revolution led by Supremo Duterte?

TO understand the question and its rel- Commentary evance, we have to understand first the different definitions of what a revolution is.

The strict Marxist notion of revolution RiGobeRto tiGlao is the overthrow of one ruling class by the exploited class, i.e., the overthrow of the landlords by the peasants, and in the communist dogma, the bourgeoisie by the proletariat at some future time.

A more common and broad understanding of revolution is one in which a state or a political regime is overthrown by a popular movement in an irregular, extra-constitutional fashion, whether violent or not.

A rather deeper and broader idea of revolution is that it is a social movement led by a leader with substantial popular support, which changes an existing order radically and rapidly — how political power is redistributed, how people view the world and the nation, how they see in a very new light their nations’ problems and how these are to be resolved.

The “classic” French Revolution encompassed both definitions: It overthrew both the monarchy as well as the medieval culture of obeisance to the Church and its dogmas.

The revolutionaries who founded our nation, especially Rizal, rapidly removed the ideological chains used by the Catholic Church to bind the Filipinos to a life of servitude for four centuries so that they couldn’t see the exploitation of their nation by their Spanish colonizers, and couldn’t conceive of a future beyond being just a Crown colony and the faithful servant of the Church.

EDSA II, by that common definition, qualified as a revolution as it overthrew Marcos’ 13-year dictatorship in a popular, extra-constitutional fashion. It wasn’t a social revolution at all since the

Cory Aquino regime retained the ruling elites, (that, in fact, grew during Martial Law) less those close to Marcos (i.e., the cronies) and restored the old political-economic magnates that were the dictator’s enemies.

What isn’t accepted too widely — because the victors normally write history — is that Marcos’ Martial Law was also a revolution: the old order, the system of elections, which was a game of thrones by which factions of the elite fought to determine whose turn it was to rule, was overthrown.

Replacing it was a weird one because the legal system that was built up since the Commonwealth period was retained even as the country was placed under the rule of one man, supported by the military and police establishment and by most of the middle and ruling classes, especially by what would be called “oligarchs” today. (The demonized “Rolex 12” — actually they were given fake Omegas, according to then Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Romeo Espino — who signed off on Marcos’ martial declaration on the evening of September 21, 1972 actually consisted of Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, and the chiefs of all the uniformed services, including Philippine Constabulary Chief Fidel Ramos.) Indeed, Marcos called his dictatorship, validly I think, a “Revolution from the Center.”

Marcos’ purge Until Martial Law turned sour, roughly during the global 1980s recession, Filipinos’ prime values weren’t at all the right to vote or to choose their leaders, but economic growth, for themselves and for the nation.

What has been forgotten, and which I was reminded of only by President Duterte’s public naming yesterday morning of over a hundred judges, police and military officers, as well as

incumbent and former public officials allegedly involved in the illegal-drug industry, was Marcos’ order a few weeks after he declared Martial Law removing about 4,000 officials, both elected and in the government bureaucracy and state firms, for corruption. Marcos hailed it as a revolutionary move toward curbing corruption that had been a burning issue in that era, as it is now.

I remember that Marcos’ move distinctly since an uncle in a government bank was included among those purged.

Whether he was corrupt or not, or only included in that list by enemies, I never found out. The poor man, a good man … though he never recovered from his shock, and had since been unemployed until he died.

I am starting to suspect that what we are seeing now is a Duterte revolution.

His naming of more than a hundred judges, military and police officials, as well as politicians, as being involved in the illegal drug trade, has upended the old order, in which it would have required massive resources and even decades for “due process” to be undertaken to dismantle the illegal-drug industry’s infrastructure. Call it trial by publicity, but Duterte’s announcement in one fell swoop has neutralized this corps of supporters of the illegal-drug industry.

When Marcos purged 4,000 allegedly corrupt government bureaucrats, and when Cory Aquino in 1986 removed more than 1,500 mayors and governors in March 1986, they were exercising revolutionary power, upending the old order by suspending due process.

Perhaps, it is in this bigger picture where we are in the midst of a revolution, that we should judge the widespread extrajudicial killings of drug dealers and addicts. A revolution, as Mao Ze Dong had poetically pointed out, is not a picnic. There will be many innocents killed as revolutionaries storm their Bastilles.

I think Duterte, without declaring it as such and with us not realizing it, had

launched — from the time he delivered his speeches that shocked the bourgeoisie during the 2016 election campaign period to his initiatives in the past 36 days — a revolution.

His campaign — and victory — had overthrown the old order of well-financed political parties, of political machines, and patronage networks. His curses and off-color jokes had broken the old order of respectable campaign speeches. He has challenged the Press, the first time a President has ever done so. (Estrada challenged only the Philippine Daily Inquirer, not the entire media.)

Locus of power Duterte has moved the locus of political and bureaucratic power from metropolitan Manila, where it had been located since Independence, to Davao City, which would have positive economic consequences for our “frontier” region.

Cut — so far — under Duterte has been the magnates’ and oligarchs’ influence and even control of the presidency that had been a mark of our Republic since our independence. Duterte’s disregard of protocol — his wearing of jeans even in official functions, his irreverence toward ambassadors, his past-midnight press conferences — are in reality his gestures that reveal his intent to upend the old order.

However, not all revolutions have been laudable or successful. The EDSA I Revolution merely restored the old ruling classes’ almost absolute powers. In other countries, Indonesia’s Sukarno’s revolution was defeated by a counterrevolution that led to the massacre of 500,000 ethnic Chinese suspected of being communists and its leader Suharto’s 31-year dictatorship. The attempt at revolution by China’s Democracy movement and its 1989 Tiananmen protests were brutally crushed by the Chinese Communist Party, which, later on led the country to become what is now the world’s second biggest economy, next only to the US. The Philippine elite have learned, es-

pecially after the overthrow of former President Joseph Estrada, how to get rid of a President who is not one of them.

Duterte has to move fast to defang the elite to neutralize its prime weapons.

Duterte, at 72, is a very old man compared with Rizal, Bonifacio and General Luna, who were all in their 30s when they were engaged in revolutionary struggle.

Mao Ze Dong was 54 when his revolution won. Revolutionary fervor, some say, wanes at almost the same pace as libido does. I’m worried that Duterte has said not just once that if he senses the “people” don’t want him anymore, he’ll just go back to Davao. He hasn’t totally disproved claims during the campaign that he has some serious illness.

I certainly hope Duterte’s siege of the illegal-drug industry is just the start of this modern Supremo’s revolution, that it is just the low-hanging fruit he has to capture first.

For me, what could bring hope are his statements critical of the mining industry and his reference to “oligarchs” that have influenced all past administrations. These point to his understanding that one of the reasons behind our nation’s poverty is a greedy ruling class, many of whom see themselves as Spanish, or the new cosmopolitan Chinese, concerned only over profits and never over the fate of this community we call the Philippine nation.

In the quagmire where we find ourselves, dug even deeper by the past incompetent hacendero administration, we need nothing less than a revolution, especially given the much faster pace of our world today. Even a war-devastated country like Vietnam is starting to overtake us, thanks to its leaders’ nationalism and the absence of greedy oligarchs. We’ve gone from bad to worse: one of the newest, and biggest, oligarchs we have in this country is not even a Filipino. How bad can it get?

I’m afraid Supremo Duterte is our last chance. (tiglao.manilatimes@ gmail.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.

ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 10-12, 2016

A

Rich tax cheats next name-and-shame targets

by LeiLa

B. SaLaverria Inquirer.net

CAMP LUKBAN, Samar First it was the drug lords. Next were the oligarchs. Now, rich tax evaders will be the target of President Duterte’s latest name-and-shame campaign.

“You rich people, pay your taxes. I will be announcing formally because I would like to have the list completed all you rich millionaires in the Philippines. Pay your taxes or I’ll invite you for questioning,” Mr. Duterte said as he visited troops here.

If the tax evaders don’t comply, he warned that he would send the police to them and ask them why they were not paying their due.

The future of the Filipinos is at stake, he said.

“You’re cheating government.

You are destroying the Filipino people. It won’t happen during my watch,” he added.

Mr. Duterte lamented that the rich were just making themselves richer and richer, alluding to online gaming operations that continue to grow in number.

“How am I supposed to protect the younger… how do I collect the right taxes?” he asked.

He warned the rich not to deprive the government of its due.

The government’s interest is paramount, he said.

“It must be the interest, first and last. The first and only interest is government interest, noth-

President Rodrigo Duterte.

ing else matters,” he said.

As long as everybody follows the law, follows the rules and do not cause agony to their fellowmen, “we would have no problem,” the President also said.

Just recently, Mr. Duterte vented his ire on oligarchs, a small group of people who wield economic and political power.

He said last week that he wanted to destroy them and their hold on the country, as they were out to maintain their power and their clutches on the country’s riches.

The Duterte administration also has an ongoing, bloody war on drugs that has the President linking over a hundred local officials, judges and members of the police and military to the illegal trade.

Many of them have denied the allegation and have come out to clear their names.

By contrast, hundreds of other

Simeon Celi/PPD

drug suspects, who have no positions of power, have been killed by vigilantes or in supposed shoot-outs with police officers.

Mr. Duterte was in Catbalogan to visit yet another military camp to assure troops of his support for them.

During his visit, Mr. Duterte promised the troops medical equipment and told them that he had ordered the defense secretary to convert the President’s aircraft into an air ambulance.

He would leave it up to his successor to look for his or her own plane, he said.

The President said he was comfortable with Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, noting that it has been a long while since any of their aircraft crashed.

He also said he had been riding a small jet and paying for its gasoline and operational costs. n

CHARTER DAY PARADE. Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri looks on at the Charter Day Parade in Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental.

The event is part of a week-long celebration showcasing indigenous agro-industrial products of farmers and cooperatives in Negros Occidental province.

Ramos in Hong Kong to open talks with China

by BenJie and

L. vergara

MichaeL Joe T. deLizon ManilaTime.net

FORMER President Fidel V. Ramos flew to Hong Kong Monday, August 8 to “warm up” the country’s relations with China before the start of official talks over the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

“I am just the icebreaker, to rekindle, to warm up again our good friendly neighborly relations with China and that’s all I have to do.

And maybe that’s all I can do.

But that is a big enough job as I see it and I’ll do my best,” Ramos told reporters before boarding a Philippine Airlines plane former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan, Chito Sta. Romana and his wife Ming and a grandson.

Ramos, 88, accepted his appointment by President Rodrigo Duterte as special envoy to China.

“We are happy to undertake this job in addition to our other concerns and I may say that it is also true for former Secretary Alunan and also Sta. Romana, Citing data from the HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines (HARP), the both of whom are not spring Department of Health yesterday reported a total of 841 new cases of chicken anymore,” Ramos said. the potentially deadly infection in June.

Boy Santos/File photo “We are going to Hong Kong Meanwhile, homosexual contact accounted for because that is where our con403 cases; bisexual contact, 287 cases and hetero- tacts are based and that is the most feasible and quickest venue sexual contact, 87.

Transmission through injecting drug use (IDU) that would be reached by the friends and assets we are hoprecorded 60 new cases, the DOH said.

The remaining four cases were through mother- ing to dialogue with. But since this assignment came at a rather to-child transmission. n

PH posts record 841 HIV cases in 30 days

by Mayen JayMaLin Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines – The country has recorded the highest number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases – over 800 in just 30 days.

Citing data from the HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines (HARP), the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday reported a total of 841 new cases of the potentially deadly infection in June.

“This is the highest number of cases ever reported since 1984,” the DOH said in a report.

The previous highest number of 804 new HIV cases was recorded last January.

According to the DOH, the figure in June was nine percent higher compared to the figure during the same period last year.

Of the total 841 new HIV cases in June, 104 have developed into full-blown AIDS. Sixty-three of the HIV victims have died, the DOH said.

A majority or 777 of the total new cases acquired the infection through sexual transmission, particularly from men-having sex-with-men (MSM) population.

The DOH said MSM accounted for 690 or 89 percent of the total number of cases.

ICE BREAKER Former President Fidel Ramos briefs reporters about his trip.

short time, it will also take time to contact these people that we want to talk to about peace, harmony and goodwill between China and the Philippines,” the former leader said.

Ramos however declined to identify the people they will be talking to.

He said Hong Kong will be the launching pad of the formal talks.

“I don’t know at this point but from Hong Kong, that is a very convenient launching pad to reach other places in China,” he told reporters.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed hopes that Ramos will give priority to the plight of Filipino fishermen in his upcoming dialogue with China.

The Chinese Coast Guard had prevented Filipinos from fishing in the resource-rich Panatag (Scarborough) shoal despite the ruling of an international arbitration court that the area is a traditional fishing ground.

“We really need to discuss this issue with China,” Charles Jose, spokesperson of the DFA, said.

“This is one of the priority issues that he has to take.” n

A AUGUST 10-12, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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BUSINESS& COMMUNITY Journal

by Richmond

B

7!2.).' TO

(OMEOWNERS

S. meRcuRio

Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should open up ownership of its land and educational institutions to foreigners to unleash the country’s full investment potential, a top diplomat said.

British Ambassador Asif Ahmad said the Duterte administration’s plan to amend the Constitution is a positive step that would open the floodgates for more foreign direct investments.

“We’re wholly supportive that finally the government of the Philippines is committed to changing the Constitution in such way that foreign direct investments will be made easier. It is already con- British Ambassador Asif Ahmad (left) said the Duterte administration’s plan to amend sidered as one of the laggards in the Constitution is a positive step that would open the floodgates for more foreign direct

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investments.

Philstar.com file photo

Transfer of flights to Clark to boost Central Luzon tourism by maRy

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 10-12, 2016

GRace Philstar.com

Padin

MANILA – The plan to transfer flights to the Clark International Airport to help decongest the country’s main gateway is expected to cause a ripple effect on Central Luzon’s tourism industry, an official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Friday, Aug. 5.

On the sidelines of the “NLEX Tara na Sa Norte Tourism and Travel Fair, Region 3 director Ronaldo P. Tiotuico said directing flights to Clark, instead of the Ninoy Aquino International Air-

port (NAIA), would boost tourist arrivals in the region.

“When they move the domestic and international flights from NAIA to Clark, well, it’s going to be a big help for tourism. I’m sure this will increase our visitor arrivals exponentially,” Tiotuico said.

The regional director said he estimates tourist traffic in Central Luzon to increase at a rate of more than 20 percent should the plan be implemented.

It would also mean more players will be attracted to invest in hotels and accommodations, Tiotuico said.

“Altogether, we have 15,000

rooms in Region 3. Manila is about 30,000 rooms. So we have half of that in Metro Manila. And it will increase more because of the presence of Clark International Airport,” he added.

Central Luzon is located in Northern Philippines and is comprised of seven provinces, namely, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

According to Tiotuico, tourist arrivals in the region reached 3.4 million in 2015. About 80 percent of these travelers are locals, while the rest are foreign tourists. n

3TOP STRESSING EVERY MONTH WITH PAYMENTS YOU CANNOT AFFORD ,OWER MONTHLY PAYMENTS BY OR MORE TYPICAL 2EDUCE INTEREST RATE WITHOUT REFINANCING 2EDUCE PRINCIPAL BALANCE IF QUALIFIED !PPLY EVEN IF YOU VE BEEN DENIED BEFORE OR APPROVED AND THEN DEFAULTED AGAIN

818-408-6717

B AUGUST 10-12, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA THE IRS announced a major expansion of its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers by providing: • Payment plans - more taxpayers can apply without financial statements.

• Offer in Compromise OIC - IRS added flexible terms and guidelines for higher collection potential.

We will explore OIC in our next article. When you owe taxes and cannot pay all now, more payments plan options.

Short-Term Payment Plan or Full Payment Agreement Up To 120-Days • Consider short-term payment plan if you cannot pay immediately but you can pay in full up to 120days.

• There is no user fee, but penalties and interest continues until owed liabilities are paid in full.

In-Business Trust Fund Express Installment Agreement or IBTFExpress IA • For small businesses with employees may qualify for IBTF-Express IA. • Application do not require financial statement and verification.

Installment Agreement Payments Plan • An installment agreement is an alternative if you cannot pay all of your tax debts when due.

• Fresh Start provisions allow you to use streamlined install-

Business news

Do you owe taxes and cannot pay now? ment agreements to catch up on back taxes.

• The threshold for using an installment agreement without having to supply the IRS with a financial statements has been increased to$50,000 from $25,000.

The preparation of financial statements requires time and could be costly if you hire a professional.

• Taxpayers who owe up to $50,000 in back taxes will now be able to enter into a streamlined agreement with the IRS that stretches the payment out over a series of years.

• The streamlined installment agreement terms has been increased to 72 months from 60 months.

• Taxpayers looking for installment agreements exceeding $50,000 will still need to supply Collection Information Statement Form 433-A and Form 433-B for businesses.

• TIP: If you owe more than $50,000, pay it down to $50,000 to take advantage of this payment option.

• You must agree to monthly direct debit payments.

• You can go to the On-line Payment Agreement OPA page on IRS.gov to set up a payment plan.

• Penalties are reduced but interest continues to accrue on the outstanding balance.

These initiatives are intended to aid businesses and individuals pay back taxes with less burdens. These changes supplement a number of efforts to aid taxpayers who are struggling. Former IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman stated that the main goal is to help people meet their obligations and

get back on their feet financially.

TIPS - Here are some observations from experience of processing OICs and Payment Plans: • If you are young, healthy, and have good earning potential, your offer will possibly get rejected by the IRS. • You have a better chance at an OIC if you are retired, do not have sufficient assets, have existing serious medical condition, or are simply surviving now and in the future,.

• If in doubt, give it a try even if the chance that your offer may be rejected is high.

• Dual approach could workapply for both Offer in Compromise and Installment Agreement.

If your OIC fails, then proceed with an Installment agreement.

• The advantage when you do dual approach: You prepare documents and forms only once for both OIC and payments plan. It will save you time, money, and stress as well as tax representation fees.

• Finally, convince the IRS that they are better off getting something from you now, rather than for nothing when you are permanently gone... something beyond your control.

In accordance with IRS Circular 230, this communication is not to be considered a “covered opinion” or other written tax advice and should not be relied upon for IRS audit, tax dispute, or any other purpose. ***

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA

(JULIAN Assange is at it again.

The latest Wikileaks hack on the DNC shows that there are forces at play that can influence how things work out on a national and international scale. Over 5 years ago, I wrote this article below and it bears reprinting.

Julian Assange is still holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in Knightsbridge in London, where he sought asylum in 2012 over a charge of rape in Sweden.

Though a virtual captive of his own choice, he still has massive influence on reshaping the affairs of men.

In current events, Assange has warned that there is still a massive cache of emails about one of the presidential nominees. The emails will be released in stages within the next few months leading to the national elections on November 08.

BUCKLE UP. This is going to be one historical rough ride.)

In the fall season of 2010, the international community suffered “a great disturbance in the force” caused by the publication of a massive cache of hijacked classified information on the internet from Wikileaks.

Wikileaks is considered as a Sy Al-os Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, rogue, loose group of cyber comcorporations, LLCs and business entities. The mandos worldwide founded by Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited Australian Julian Assange and by the IRS and other governmental agencies. began operation in 2006. Over (Advertising Supplement) the years, Assange has cement-

Of weak links and Wikileaks “…For truth to prevail, Political correctness must die.”

— Mam

ed his reputation as WHISTLEBLOWER EXTRAORDINAIRE. The massive leaks have unhinged the precarious peace of the world order at the time. The damage to international diplomatic relations between nations was assessed and there were serious efforts at damage control.

There were tomato red faces in the American diplomatic community embarrassed by disclosures of the stark difference between what are carefully crafted public pronouncements and posturings and what is the truth of the matter.

Frankly, it matters little to the average Joe what is going on in that sphere as long as the world remains a relatively safe place for most of its 6 billion inhabitants. I really don’t care for too much information that has little to do with the small orbit I move around in.

While the leaks pose a disaster of hurricane proportions in international diplomacy, it is tough to see how it profoundly affects the ordinary mortal whose daily rounds include work and the home and the occasional run to the grocery.

There is an itch that needs to be scratched based on a natural curiosity among ordinary people of how international relations work. The leaks simply unmask and show how governments work on the gut level, with few of the screens, filters and curtains that make diplomacy and its protocols seem like rocket science.

Because it does not affect me and billions of others directly, it may seem petty, even ludicrous to me, to read how one diplomat really assesses a head of state or how Prince Andrew of England is rude, or how Saudi Arabia regards Iran.

On the one hand, unredacted documents with names and faces in covert operations made public can also put the lives of people in real danger. These leaks have the potential to alter the course of human lives, the course of international relations and ultimately the course and fabric of modern history. Then it becomes a very big deal when such information compromises real lives and the precious gains made in the interest of peace.

Wikileaks is essentially a plumbing problem. There are leaks because there are weak links in the chain of information. If the sources dried up, then Wikileaks is out of business.

Since it cannot function properly without a server or the pipes that carry its content, then it can be deprived of its existence by refusing service to it.

It can be shut down, but only temporarily. It can find other servers but a website under attack and constantly on the run is not as effective in getting a massive audience on which it thrives.

However, it can still exist as a

guerilla website even if servers refuse service buckling under pressure from governments or corporations.

By cutting off the money flow of donations that fund its operations, the whistleblowing website is virtually doomed. Paypal, owned by Ebay has cut off its relationship to it. And a Swiss bank account set up to accept donations has closed its account on charges Assange lied on his application regarding his residency. It has no other option but to operate as a guerilla front for now until it reinvents itself.

The way international diplomacy is being conducted will be rewritten and security will be enforced from the ground up, including vetting the people even on the lowest rungs of the totem pole, using more filters and screens and imposing frequent movements and rotations.

Countries and corporations are on notice that nothing digital can be held in secret for long.

The international community is still trying to configure a way to communicate its missives, for now bypassing or limiting internet use, which as they have found to their utter dismay, is actually a double-edged sword that have cut them at the knees.

Unless some genius can invent a dedicated, virtually impenetrable tunnel going under or over the information superhighway as currently structured, brilliant people like Assange, driven by some kind of Messianic Complex, and perhaps, a monstrous ego to boot, gifted with a more than average intelligence for math and physics and a keen understanding of how the cyber world works, Wikileaks and other clone organizations which will ride on the wave of its success as commercial, for-profit ventures trading in sensitive information, much like blackmail, will continue to exist.

In a perverse way, it might be a good thing if people in power knew that they can be taken to task by a band of cyber bandits.

Where was Assange when he could have blown the whistle on Big Bad Bernie Madoff who scammed thousands of people for decades in a Ponzi scheme in the billions of dollars?

Old technologies like good old paper and pen, might be tweaked and reissued in the aftermath of wikileaks. It is interesting to note that in the movie, “Independence Day,” as the aliens who were conquering earth were found to be using earth’s own satellites against humans, the various military forces of the world reverted back to the use of the old Morse Code to launch a coordinated massive offensive against the invaders.

While those who look at Assange regard him as some kind of modern day hero wielding

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Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng WhEN I say young senior, I mean 60. She’s a single mom with two adult daughters who are over the age of 21. One daughter is still in college but has a part time job. The other works full time. Both daughters live with client in her house, but she does not claim them as dependents in her income tax returns. When we filed her Chapter 13 three years ago, she had disposable income of $900. however, at that time, her job security was already in question as another company had just purchased employer and heads were rolling. Client was able to keep her head for three years but lost her employment recently. Without work, she no longer has disposable income.

Our first attempt to end her case was filing a motion to pay off the 33% plan by liquidating $10K from her retirement account. The Chapter 13 trustee objected to our motion to pay off the plan unless the pay off was 100%. Well, that wasn’t a good deal because her unsecured debt was about $100K which meant that client had to come up with $90K more to get a Chapter 13 discharge, that’s a 100% plan pay off.

Client had two other options dismiss the Chapter 13 case, or convert it to Chapter 7 and get a discharge of $90K of unsecured debt. The problem is that for the last three years, the value of her house, just like most houses in Los Angeles and Orange County, have been appreciating significantly. We checked Zillow, which estimated the value at $400K, and REDFIN estimated it at $440K. Whereas her house only had $30K of equity when she filed for Chapter 13 in 2013, now she has equity of $160K. The other problem was that she had testified at the Chapter 13 hearing last week that her daughter was independent, although she lived with her.

And she did not mention that she had a second daughter who also lived with her, a full time college student. So, the trustee concluded that her claim of homestead

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes ThE USCIS announced the final rule expanding the existing provisional waiver to allow certain family members of US Citizens and lawful permanent residents to apply for the provisional waiver of unlawful presence. 8 CFR Parts 103 and 212. The final rule goes on effect on August 29, 2016.

Prior to this expanded rule, only immediate relatives of US Citizens were eligible to request provisional waiver of unlawful presence before departing the United States for the processing of their immigrant visas. This was a limited to only a subset of all individuals statutorily qualified to request a waiver of unlawful presence.

The final rule expanding the provisional waiver of unlawful presence makes eligibility for the provisional waiver available to all individuals who are statutorily eligible for a waiver of the unlawful presence grounds of inadmissibility. 8 CFR Parts 103 and 212. These individuals are the parents, spouse, and son or daughter of US Citizens and spouse, sons or daughters of lawful permanent residents. The provisional waiver will also extend to the spouses and children who accompany or follow to join principal immigrants. To qualify for a provisional waiver, applicants must establish that their US citizen or lawful permanent resident spouses or parents would experience “extreme hardship” if the applicants are not allowed to return to the United States due to the unlawful presence bar. Applicants must also establish that his or her case warrants a favorable exercise of discretion and meet all other regulatory re-

Community Journal

that area but that said, it does not stop British investments here but it’s just the potential I think will be a lot stronger,” Ahmad said.

Ahmad pointed out restrictions in foreign ownership for sectors like property and education are factors limiting the country’s growth.

“Land ownership and management have always been a tricky issue and there we are promised some change. I hope that the government will focus not on who owns the land but what use is being made of the land,” he said.

“In education, this is where we want to push the Philip-

B

Senior loses job and converts Calendar of Events across America chapter 13 to chapter 7 Fights to keep house

exemption should only be $75K, not $100K. We refused to reduce the exemption claim to $75K because the trustee was not on solid ground with her argument that debtor had testified that daughter was independent, therefore, she is not considered to be part of the family unit. We argued that the other daughter was a full time college student, therefore, unable to take care of herself. So by definition, she is part of debtor’s family unit. As a result, the homestead exemption of $100K is correct. Settlement offers and counter offers were made. The negotiations were fruitful and trustee settled for a reasonable amount to allow the debtor to keep her house. Even though debtor was not employed, she was willing to liquidate a part of her retirement account to pay for the settlement to keep her house.

Daughters were willing to buy the house from her anyway later on, so she gets her settlement payment back.

Nowadays, the correct value of the residence is critical to keeping the house safe from the clutches of the Chapter 7 trustee, because house values are at their peaks again. Mortgage rates have been kept very low by the Feds for a long time. The last time house values peaked was 2007, just before the mortgage crisis, which bankrupted a lot of big banks. When the crisis hit, house values dropped by more than half. Now, all of that has been recovered, and new highs are being achieved. Therefore, a lot of factual and legal analysis must be done before deciding which path to take, Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.

The second client is 72. her husband passed away some time ago. She has a daughter who has just started college. I guess she must have married late. She now receives only social security and has no other income. however, she owes $70K of credit cards, which requires $2100 of monthly minimum payments. her social

security is $1,600. Let’s not even go further. Client doesn’t own a house. She rents for $1,000.

Well, with $600 left after rent is paid, and a daughter in college, let’s just say that there’s tremendous pressure on her to budget her expenses. Obviously, there is no money to pay $2100 for credit cards every month, is there? So, she chooses to make the $70K credit cards DISSAPPEAR with a Chapter 7 petition. Just imagine the number of calls she gets everyday from these cards trying to get their pound of flesh from her.

That’s no way to live no matter how old or young you are. $2100 a month for credit cards is equal to a mortgage of $400K. I mean you can literally buy a house, condo or townhouse for $400K with nothing down, instead of carrying $70K of credit card debt.

Think about where you want your hard earned money to go. Would you rather be the proud owner of a house, or the proud owner of $70K of credit cards?

At 72, client finally realized that she should have gotten rid of her credit card debt a long time ago. If she got rid of them ten years ago, she would have saved up $252K now. Instead she gave $252K to her credit cards of $70K, and she still owes the same $70K after ten years!

Think hard what you should do now because the earlier you get rid of credit cards, the faster you can save money and be productive again. Even at 72, it’s not too late to get rid of them, better late than never.

“The Lord Himself Goes Before You And Will Be With You; He Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You. Do Not Be Afraid; Do Not Be Discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California.

Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 2841142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

Provisional waiver of unlawful presence bar expanded to cover more immigrants quirement.

Obtaining a conditional approval of a provisional unlawful presence waiver of inadmissibility is particularly helpful for individuals present in the United States without having been inspected and admitted or having been inspected or paroled since they are ineligible to adjust status inside the United States. The provisional waiver would also be helpful to individuals who entered the US under certain non-immigrant visa that has restrictions to adjusting to lawful permanent resident inside the US such as crew men who entered on a C-1/D visa. In addition, this is also helpful to spouse, sons or daughters of lawful permanent residents who overstayed their status while waiting for their visa priority dates to become current.

An individual who entered the US on a fiancé k-1 visa based on a different US citizen fiancé/ spouse will also benefit from the provisional waiver. These individuals would have to obtain their visa through the US consulate overseas but without an approved provisional waiver, would run the risk of not being able to return to the United States due to the unlawful presence bar. INA section 212(a)(9)(B)(i); 8 USC 1182(a)(9)(B)(i); In addition, the expanded final rules provided for the following: 1) All individuals seeking provisional waivers, including those in removal proceedings before the EOIR must file applications for provisional waivers with USCIS. 2) Individuals are allowed to apply for provisional waivers even if USCIS has reason to believe that the individual may be subject to other grounds of inadmissibility.

3) Eliminated the proposal for temporal limitations that would have restricted eligibility for provisional waivers based on DOS visa interview scheduling. 4) Allows individuals with final orders of removal, exclusion, or deportation to be eligible for provisional waivers provided that the individual have already applied for, and USCIS has approved, an Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States after Deportation or Removal, Form I-212. however, an individual will be ineligible for a provisional waiver if ICE or CBP, after service of notice under 8 CFR 241.8, has reinstated the removal, deportation, or exclusion order prior to the individual filing the provisional waiver or while the provisional waiver application is pending. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

(Advertising Supplement)

PH urged to open land, education…

PAGE B1 t

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 10-12, 2016

pines further. Going forward, it is absolutely imperative that restrictions on foreign educators and institutions be lifted. It’s absurd that Vietnam and China which are not English speaking countries have allowed this. The Constitution of the Philippines bans foreigners from teaching here – unless there are special exemptions – which in this day and age is a huge impediment for this country to be carrying,” Ahmad added.

The British diplomat, however, said relaxing restrictions to entice more foreign investors would not be complete without addressing the country’s infrastructure problems.

“Unless infrastructure investments become real and effective, this will remain huge constraint of the country,” he said.

Ahmad said the British and Philippine governments have agreed to focus UK expertise on improving the country’s airports at present.

“That does not mean we will not look at other things as there’s a lot more we can do on the ports side and on railways. But there’s clear opportunity for UK to do in helping the way the runway in NAIA is being used,” he said.

UK is the largest European investor in the Philippines with a net foreign direct investment stock of over $5 billion. n

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 AU G U ST 1 3

Disco Manila at LA’s Grand Performances Put on your boogie shoes and embrace the resurgence of disco from the Manila Sound era, the next wave of global groove music. Manila Sound was a catch all moniker during the ‘70s describing Philippine popular music that embraced its American soul/folk/pop/jazz influences, combined it with Filipino modern aesthetics and polished it off with the musical proficiency of the vibrant Manila scene that somehow flourished during the Marcos-era Martial Law. Live Performances of classic Disco dance floor fillers by the original purveyors of the sound and those who lived it. The event will begin at 8 p.m. at Grand Performances, located at 350 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071. For more information, please visit http://grandperformances.org/disco-manila.

St. Philomena Parish celebrates 60th anniversary fiesta The St. Philomena Parish will celebrate its 60th anniversary fiesta on Saturday, Aug. 13.

This grand parish celebration will be highlighted by a Eucharistic celebration, which will include the con-validation of marriages of our brothers and sister in conjunction with the Year of Mercy. Immediately after the Mass, a complimentary international potluck feast will be served, while enjoying the performances of talented entertainers from our parish and beyond. there will be an exciting drawing for a chance to win a brand new 2016 Mercedes Benz CLA 250! Consolation prizes include a round trip airline ticket from LAX to any destination; a 65” flat screen HDTV, a 15.6” laptop, 3 Blu Dual SIM Smartphone, and a colored HP printer. Visit the parish office today to pick up your tickets for a chance to win any of these prizes! Proceeds from the celebration will go toward much-needed upkeep and repairs for the church. The celebration will be held at St. Philomena Church at 21900 S. Main St., Carson, CA 90745 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more details, please contact the Parish Office at (310) 835-7161.

2016 Fiesta in America’s Expo and Cultural Show This annual event will be held on Saturday, Aug. 13, starting at noon and Sunday, Aug. 14, starting at 10 a.m. It will feature exhibitors and performers from the Philippines and other countries, a cooking show, free workshops, a food festival, and fun activities for all ages. This two-day event will be held at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Seacucus, New Jersey. For more information, please call 212-682-6610 or visit www.fiestainamerica.com.

AU G U ST 2 0

ANCOP Walk New Jersey The ANCOP Walk brings together hundreds of participants across the U.S. and North America, walking together to help the poor in the Philippines and third world countries.

ANCOP Foundation USA is a Christian based organization founded by the Couples for Christ which helps the very poor in the Philippines and other countries by providing support to select organizations that work for the poor. Current projects focus on child education sponsorship programs and values formation. Walkers’ participation and generosity in the ANCOP Walk will help provide quality education to children in poor communities. The organization serves the poor from all walks of life regardless of faith and denomination. The walk will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. To register, please visit www.ancopusawalk.org; the registration fee is $15. For more information, please contact Jon Teves at jteves92@yahoo.com or Fernando Silva at frsilva99@gmail.com.

AU G U ST 27

St. Margaret Mary Parish Luau The St. Margaret Mary Parish will celebrate their Annual Luau on August 27 at the SMM Parish Hall on 12686 Central Ave., Chino, California. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Duo. For more information, please call SMM Filipino Ministry President - (909) 315-9812, Adel Rellora.

SEpTEMbER 1

Startup Business Expo Tour (with Tagalog translation) Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration invites you to the 2016 Startup Business Expo Tour. The series of events is intended to help startups, small businesses, entertainment and production companies, food services, event planners, home-based businesses, entrepreneurs, fashion & beauty businesses, e-commerce, accounting services, cleaning services, consultants, childcare and more! Topics include: starting a business in LA, predicting your financial future, choosing a legal entity & access to capital. This event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 6313 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Ste. 2140, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. The event is FREE & open to the public. There will also be free food & refreshments for participants. To RSVP, please visit www.startuptourla.com.

SEpTEMbER 3

Filipino Association of Leisure World Annual “Luau” The Filipino Association of Leisure World will hold its Annual Hawaiian Luau at the LW Hall (1232 Golden Rain Rd. Seal Beach, California) on Saturday, Sept. 3. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. Please call the president of the association, Ren Villanueva at (323) 854-6209 for other related questions.

S E p T E M b E R 23

AAPA’s leadership symposium Join the Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) for an all-day event from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. with exceptional and diverse keynote speakers and panelists, as well as multiple workshops on diversity and leadership topics. The symposium is open to everyone, and will be held at the Pacific Palms Hotel, 1 Industry Hills Parkway, City of Industry, CA 91744. For more information, please visit http://aapamentoring.com/.

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

PAGE B2 t

Of weak links and…

sensitive information that he and his group can access and distribute with impunity over the internet purportedly with only the interest of the public and transparency as his avowed mission, Assange is still just plain human.

I see a bloated ego. he could be playing into his own growing ego fed by his success at embarrassing a superpower, and having the temerity to demand hillary Clinton to step down as US Secretary of State at the time.

That kind of power is intoxicating and corrodes the soul.

Originally intended to be faceless, he has decided to put his face on Wikileaks so that no one else can claim credit or discredit.

Acting no different from a glory hound, he wants recognition for his work.

What he has done is to stir a massive hornet’s nest creating enemies whose collective fury his nimble mind, deft fingers and fleet-footed movements may be unable to stave off.

The Wikileaks website was rendered temporarily unavailable for a few hours but is currently back online with a sympathetic Swiss host. Amazon online kicked it off its servers and there are pressures worldwide to disable its website, which has been

attacked by massive amounts of data from unknown sources that tend to overwhelm and render it useless. But as in anything viral on the internet, it is only a matter of time before it can morph into another website.

We live in uncharted territory.

There is no primer on how to deal with this. Assange and his band of cyber brothers claim they have over 300,000 support members from around the world and that if anything should happen to him and his colleagues, his fight to disclose information in the interest of investigative journalism, transparency and purportedly to keep the world on the straight and narrow will continue.

On the one hand, with American media so totally lacking in credibility and basic integrity, Wikileaks may yet prove to be a saving grace. Our story is till being written.

Julian Assange claims that his treasure trove of information is encrypted and will be released by his followers if something should happen to him and his immediate cohorts. his story bears watching if only to see where this brand of activism in the information war tilts the balance of power, how the international diplomatic community regains its poise and

equilibrium after such sticky disclosures and essentially how this unusual story of our time plays out in the end.

The lesson for ordinary cyber denizens: Nothing in the digital world is safe from scrutiny. So BEhAVE. MIND YOUR MANNERS. PLAY NICE. BUT this does NOT mean you have to be politically correct or be intimidated by the poisoned slings and arrows of political correctness.

For TRUTh TO PREVAIL, POLITICAL CORRECTNESS MUST DIE. IF, as a TRUTh WARRIOR, you feel you have to TAKE A STAND ON ThINGS ThAT MATTER DURING ThESE SURREAL, TWISTED TIMES WE LIVE IN AND WILL hAVE TO OFFEND ThE PC POLICE, BY ALL MEANS, DO SO! BUT be sure you can back it up with TRUTh, WELL-DOCUMENTED FACTS AND OVERWhELMING EVIDENTIARY PROOF when you do engage an enemy in the digital world.

(Pardon the all caps “shouting.” Sometimes, you just gotta.)

Or better yet: LOG OFF OR OPT OUT. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

B AUGUST 10-12, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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Knights of Columbus installation of officers 2016-2017 OUR Mother of Good Counsel Council # 15515 installation of Officers for fraternal year 2016-2017 was held on July 31, 2016. The incoming Grand Knight is SK Teofilo Harry Sison. Guest speaker was the Southern California Chapter past President SK Vince Malto.

The Officers for 2016-2017 are: SK Fr. William Thomas Davis (Chaplain), SK Teofilo Harry Sison (Grand Knight), SK Jay Patrick O’Connor (Deputy Grand Knight), SK

EMPLOYMENT

Christian Pineda (Chancellor), SK Edgardo Masilang (Recorder), SK Gilbert Goyena (Treasurer), SK Rosauro Ancheta (Financial Secretary), SK Gabriel Lopez (Advocate), SK Conrado Salonga (Lecturer), SK Eduardo Sison (Warden), SK Joey Morales (Inside Guard), SK Lemuel Amit (Outside Guard), SK Eduardo Francisco (Trustee 1 Year), SK Rolando Castillo (Trustee 2 Years), SK Rosauro Ancheta (Trustee 3 Years). Congratulations to all. n

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B AUGUST 10-12, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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The Asian Journal

MDWK

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

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cover story

Filipino American Demographics

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 10, 2016

The culture of health in Filipinos

14% 51%

27% of ever being told to have hypertension

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe / aJPress When it comes to health, Filipinos in the United States tend to have a different view of sickness, health and wellness than that of Americans. According to “Culture and health of Among Filipinos (2007),” it all depends on which generation one belongs to, and how much of the traditions and culture are retained about health and health care.

One example is that FilipinoAmericans who have assimilated into U. S. culture see health through the lens of an American.

Therefore, most of their health problems are clinically diagnosed and knowledge is obtained through medical sciences.

On the other hand, Filipinos (majority are first generation immigrants) still embrace traditional cultural views of health and medicine. They are also considered the least acculturated and of low socioeconomic status, and thus rely on a traditional healer (referred to as a “hilot”) for selected illnesses or injuries; and would rely on natural remedies — such as herbs and oils — before going to a licensed doctor.

Current health problems:

High blood pressure and obesity One major health problem prevalent among Fil-Ams is high blood pressure. In 2012, 60 percent of Fil-Am men and approximately 65 percent of women over the age of 50 had high blood pressure. even with these high numbers, controlling the disease is particularly poor and increases the risk for heart disease and death.

Many factors have been associated with the cause of hypertension among Fil-Ams, which include immigration-related stress, diet, and cultural beliefs. Of course, the lack of exercise, smoking and lifestyle — elements that are common with other Americans — are also contributing factors.

Obesity/being overweight is another health problem affecting the Filipinos, and it persists because of overeating, unbalanced meals, irregular meals, unhealthy food choices and lack of exercise. This is where culture comes in, as Filipinos love food and celebration. Also, many traditional Filipino dishes are high in fat and sodium. Along with food from other cultures, such as

Obesity/being overweight is another health problem affecting the Filipinos, and it persists because of overeating, unbalanced meals, irregular meals, unhealthy food choices and lack of exercise.

Population in California

All about the heart According to “Filipino heart Disease” which was published in 2012, cardiovascular disease is the first leading cause of death for Fil-Ams. “Among Asian Americans, Filipinos have the second highest risk of CVD (cardiovascular disease) after Asian Indians,” the study said.

Several classic risk factors for CVD include blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and diabetes. As mentioned above, hypertension rates are higher in Filipinos compared to other Asian American groups and smoking is high in the Filipino male population.

Another risk factor for CVD that is prevalent in Filipinos is Type 2 diabetes.

The second leading cause of death in Filipinos is cancer and the mortality rate of breast cancer is higher in Fil-Am women (including the elderly) compared to other Asian American groups.

Also, according to “Patterns of health Risk (2013),” Fil-am men have the highest incidence and death rate from prostate cancer and lung cancer among Asian American groups.

The third major cause of death in Filipinos is stroke and is

$ 26,971

1,474,707

6% 17%

34%

87%

11%

According to “Filipino Heart Disease” which was published in 2012, cardiovascular disease is the first leading cause of death for Fil-Ams. Philstar.com photos

American fast food, Filipinos are at risk for heart disease. however, just like many Americans, financial and time constraints prevent Filipinos from changing their diets and having some form of exercise or physical activity.

“For me, it’s not being able to eat my meals on time,” said Marian (not her real name), a 43-year-old Filipina registered nurse in Vallejo, who was diagnosed with high blood pressure two years ago. She is also a diabetic and about 30 pounds overweight. “My job schedule is erratic, so I tend to eat whenever I can.”

With her work schedule, Marian added that she’s either too tired or too lazy to exercise.

“Sometimes I try to exercise at times and eat healthy, but I know that both should be a regular thing.”

Also, smoking is a big problem for the younger Filipino population, as it is seen as a socially acceptable behavior.

This increases the risk for chronic respiratory conditions, as well as risk for heart disease, stroke and cancer — which are the leading causes of death for Asian Americans according to the Centers for Disease Control (2013).

1,098,321

26%

27%

26%

9%

Infographics by American Heart Association and American Stroke Association

associated with same factors of obesity, smoking and hypertension.

Prevention and lifestyle change Regardless of which generation they belong, all Fil-Ams — whether acculturated or not — struggle with the health problems mentioned above.

With the advances in medicine and technology, better access to health care and information; these issues can be avoided and improve Filipinos’ health condition.

Today, Filipino chefs and foodies have continued to develop healthier versions of traditional dishes to give them

alternative food choices. Adapting to these dishes include less salt and fatty ingredients.

Dietary monitoring and portion intake are also important factors to consider.

A change in lifestyle is also essential aside from dietary factors. Staying active and having a regular exercise routine/program is highly recommended.

Taking a 30-minute to an hour brisk walk at least 3-4 times a week not only builds stamina, but also helps better one’s circulation.

Lastly, it is important know the dangers of smoking and know that it will beneficial if one quits the habit.

A beginner’s guide On living well: Fit Chef for Life Katrina Palana-Soledad to working out

by Christina

GeTTInG started on a workout routine may seem intimidating to beginners, but it’s certainly attainable. Longtime personal trainer and proud FilAm Joshua hayes lends his tips to kick starting a fun, effective workout regime.

Workout tips • Be sure to warm-up and cool down before and after each exercise.

• Warming up before a workout is beneficial to your workout because it improves blood flow and increases muscle elasticity.

Cooling down after a workout helps your body return to its original state in a safe manner that will prevent light headedness or dizziness.

• Get adequate rest between workouts.

• Rest allows your body to recover from the grind and tear your muscles endure during a workout. This will allow you to approach your next workout more effectively and efficiently!

• Always exercise with proper form and excellent posture.

• Do not underestimate the importance of proper stance with good spinal alignment as poor posture can result in injuries and limitations in the long run.

Side BendS

• Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals.

• “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail!” and this rings true for your workout goals as well.

Make sure that your goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. “Losing weight in 6 months” is not a good example of S.M.A.R.T. goals! “Losing 15 lbs. in 6 months by working out 3-5 days a week doing weight training and cardio.” is a great example of S.M.A.R.T. goals!

• have fun!

• It may seem miniscule, however this one is perhaps most important! If you are not having fun or enjoying your workout, you are less likely to continue to adhere to your program. A good workout program should be fun, do-able, and yet challenging. When you have fun with your workout, you are more likely to stick to the program and not skip any days. *** Joshua Hayes is a Certified Personal Trainer under the National Academy of Sport Medicine (NASM) residing in Southern California with 8 years of personal training experience, specializing in one-on-one training, group training, as well as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) training. He is currently a Lead Trainer at The Camp Transformation Center in El Monte, California where he helps clients achieve their weight loss goals.

Bodyweight SquatS

triceP StretcheS

An example of a workout program: Warm Up: Toe Touches Dynamic Quad Stretch hamstring Sweeps Arm Circles Torso Twists Side Bends Workout (3 sets of 10-15 reps): Chest Press Standing Rows Dumbbell Frontal Raise eZ Bar Bicep Curl

PlankS

Tricep Pushdowns Bodyweight Squats Lunges Standing Calf Raises Crunches Leg Lifts Planks Cool Down: Quad Stretches hamstring Stretches Calf Stretches Lateral Stretches Tricep Stretches

FOR Katrina Palana-Soledad, living well has been a journey — one 12 years in the making.

“Growing up in the Philippines, there’s no such thing as dieting,” she shared.

When she came to the United States, that’s when she began to explore ways to change up her routine by eating more balanced meals and making exercise a daily habit.

In 2011, she launched her website, Fit Chef for Life, and released an eCookbook under the same name. On both, she shares how her food choices have helped her reach her fitness goals and maintain her current lifestyle.

“This lifestyle is basically: when you reach your goal, it’s not over. When I started the website, I wanted to look good and feel good. But after, I just worked on myself and thinking on a long-term basis because I want to be fit for life — not just with the way I look, but with my health and overall wellness. I want to age gracefully — not live forever but to make sure I don’t have diseases,” she said. now, she’s a certified fitness nutrition coach, bodybuilder, triathlete and advocate for health, wellness & body positivity. She also has plans to release a cookbook next year tailored for a Filipino audience.

“To me, wellness doesn’t just mean being physically fit. It has to be something that is physical and spiritual — mind, body and spirit. You cannot excel just in one.”

M. oriel /AJPress

She shared with the Asian Journal some of her tips: Small changes Implementing small changes like talking a daily walk or swapping soda with water will go a long way, said Palana-Soledad.

When taking on a new workout schedule or trying to eat healthier by eliminating refined carbs or sugar, it’s important not too shock the body too quickly or else it will seem too difficult to keep up with this new routine.

She added that a simple swap for Filipinos especially would be to opt for brown rice instead of white.

“Little changes have added up and slowly, but surely, became my lifestyle. It took a while because from eating whatever you want to suddenly changing it step-by-step…is the way to go. When people usually try to be healthy it’s abrupt, so they give up easily because their bodies get shocked and their routines are messed up,” she said.

Set goals Whether it’s to build muscle or run a 5K, Trina says it’s important to set your intentions and goals. “I try everything in a matter of six months to a year and I try to figure out if that works with my lifestyle and how my body responds to it. I tweak it according to my needs.”

Stay hydrated Though there are different opinions on what one’s daily water intake should be, the common notion is at least eight 8-ounce glasses a day. It’s im-

Photos courtesy of Katrina Palana-Soledad / Fit Chef for Life

portant to drink water throughout the day to avoid getting dehydrated. One indicator is the color of your urine — the more yellow it is, it’s a tell-tale sign that you should be drinking more water. For those who think water is too boring, Palana-Soledad recommends adding lemon, mint or berries.

Keep moving even if you don’t want to join a gym or think you don’t have time to do a workout, Palana-Soledad says to start by walking during breaks or after work. If you want to kick it up a notch, she recommends using free resources like workout tutorials on YouTube.

GrOund turKey with POtAtO-beLL PePPer OmeLette tOPPed with GriLLed OrGAniC eGGPLAnt (Pork giniling & tortang talong inspired) Ingredients: GROUnD TURKeY BASe 1/2 cup Onions, diced 1 Tbsp, Garlic, minced 1 Tbsp Grapeseed Oil 16oz extra Lean Ground Turkey 16oz Lean Ground Turkey 1/4 cup Bragg’s Liquid Aminos 1/2 tsp Fresh Ground Pepper 1/2 tsp Pink himalayan Salt 1.5 cups water 2 cups Organic Potatoes, peeled and diced 1 cup Organic Yellow Bell

Peppers, diced GRILLeD eGGPLAnT 1 large organic eggplant (slice lengthwise, 1/3 inch thick) OMeLeTTe 1 cup of Ground Turkey Base 1 large organic brown egg + 1 large egg whites only, well beaten Directions: • Pre-heat non stick pan to medium heat.

• Add grapeseed oil when pan is hot. Add diced potatoes immediately. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Remove from pan

then set aside.

• Spray Canola spray on the pan, add onions then sauté a bit. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute…do not brown!

Continued on Page 3

healthy alternatives to your favorite Filipino dishes

by Christina

M. Oriel

AjPress

MEET Michelle Ibarrientos, a Fil-Am based in Southern California, who whips up healthy versions inspired by Filipino favorites.

Before she was a self-proclaimed “health enthusiast,” Ibarrientos would feel bloated and get sick often — that’s when she knew it was time for a change.

When starting a health journey, she said it’s important to identify your “why.”

“It’s all about prevention now. My kids are growing fast and I want to be there for them,” she said, noting how conditions like diabetes and hypertension run in her family, similar to many Filipino families.

Making minor adjustments, such as lessening the intake of white rice and noodles gradually

goes a long way too. But that doesn’t mean cutting them out altogether; if you are used to having a cup of rice a day, you can cut it down to a quarter a day.

“Life is short but I don’t want it shorter,” she said, adding that it’s okay to have small indulgences every so often, but to keep in mind your goals and to not quit if you have one meal that strays away.

Ibarrientos also shares her Filipino recipes on Community Cooking, a cooking show aired on CitiCable 3 in Torrance.

“I try to give people a sense that if they’re afraid of trying Filipino food because of certain restrictions, here are some alternatives. They are recipes my mom has made but with certain twists and changes,” she said. “It inspires people to eat healthier,

panCit zihOn Ingredients • 4 zucchinis, spiraled or sliced into thin, long strips • 1 carrot, spiraled or thin, long strips • 1/2 medium onion, julienned (thin) • 1/2 red bell pepper, julienned (thin) • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 3 cloves of garlic, minced • 1/4 tsp annatto seed powder • ¾ tsp fish sauce • 2 tsp coconut aminos • Freshly ground black pepper to taste • 2 sprigs of green onion, chopped (optional topping) • 2 boiled eggs (optional topping) • 1 lemon, cut into wedges (optional topping) Directions 1. Preheat the pan to medium low.

2. Add the oil, annatto seed powder, garlic, and onions. When the garlic and onions have softened, add the carrots and sauté until slightly tender.

3. Add the bell pepper and zucchini and mix it around.

4. Add the fish sauce and

Base: • 3T chia seeds, organic (Trader Joe’s) • 1 can organic light coconut milk (Whole Foods) • 4 packets of Stevia in the Raw* Added: Half of a cooked organic purple sweet potato, cut into small cubes (could be subbed with cooked ube, sweet potato, or taro) 1/4 cup cooked organic Photo courtesy of Michelle Ibarrientos / @goleanandgreen sweet corn kernels, non-gmo (Whole Foods) Health tip #1: Zucchini coconut aminos (to create a Feel free to add other topnoodles (aka “zoodles”) is a steam and help cook the vegpings, such as jackfruit, banana, great, low carb option instead etables faster). NOTE: To make and/or small red beans. of using rice/starch noodles. it low-sodium, start by using ¼ *or use any sweetener of Health tip #2: For those tsp of fish sauce, and adjust if wanting a low sodium, soy-free your choice but adjust the necessary. amount based on how sweet option, use coconut aminos 5. Once the zucchini has you want it to be instead. It’s a healthier option broken down and softened to Mix the base ingredients with flavor that is light and your liking, add freshly ground very thoroughly with a whisk, slightly sweet. It is made from black pepper all around. making sure that the seeds the coconut sap and an abunOptional: Garnish with dant source of 17 amino acids, won’t clump together. Soak for green onion, eggs, and lemon at least 2hrs or overnight in the minerals, and other nutrients. wedges.

GrOund turKey with pOtatO-beLL pepper OmeLette tOpped with GriLLed OrGaniC eGGpLant are soft. Set aside.

GRILLED EGGPLANT • Pre-heat stove top grill to medium-high heat. Spray canola spray on the grill.

• Lay eggplant on the grill and cook each side for 3-5 minutes until you see the grill marks. Set aside.

OMELETTE

• Heat a non-stick pan to medium.

• Add canola spray when pan is hot. Add 1 cup of the ground turkey base, sauteé a bit then add beaten eggs.

Cook each side for 3-5 minutes.

• Remove from pan and top with grilled eggplant.

Crazy FOr COCOnut prOtein panCaKes (Bibingka inspired) *Canola Cooking Spray for pan grease {Optional: Organic Shredded Coconut, Reduced-Fat for Topping} Directions 1. Heat a non-stick pan to medium-low.

2. In a mixing bowl, beat egg well.

3. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well.

4. Batter will be a bit thick but soft.

5. Add a little coconut oil and canola spray on the pan, then add 1/3 of the batter and spread well using a silicone spatula.

6. Cook 2-3 minutes for each side.{Optional: Add Organic Shredded Coconut, Reduced-Fat for Topping}

Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 4 Amount Per Serving Calories: 167.5 Total Fat: 8.6 g Cholesterol: 17.5 mg Sodium: 118.0 mg Total Carbs: 15.0 g Dietary Fiber: 1.5 g Sugars: 3.0g Protein: 8.8 g

GLuten-Free ChOCOLate prOtein pOrridGe (Champurrado inspired) Ingredients 1 cup boiling water 1/3 cup steel cut oats*complex carbs 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tsp coconut sugar*low glycemic 1/2 scoop vanilla/chocolate For more health recipes and ideas, please visit www. whey-soy-vegan protein (15g fitchefforlife.com, on Facebook at Fit Chef for Life or protein)*lean protein source Instagram @glamfitcheftrina.

1 tsp evaporated milk*Pinoy Photos courtesy of Katrina Palana-Soledad style or unsweetened vanilla / Fit Chef for Life

Fil-am to compete for the miss teen title

importantly, Guia Hannah will display her personality and interviewing skills while interviewing with this year’s judging panel. Personality is the number one aspect that each contestant is judged on during all phases of competition.

If Guia Hannah were to win the title of Miss Teen, she would represent Pasadena and the surrounding communities

at the National Competition that will take place in Orlando, Florida. Over $30,000.00 in prizes and awards will be presented at the National Competition while each winner enjoys this expense paid trip of five nights and six days in Orlando, Florida.

Community businesses, organizations, and private individuals will assist Guia Hannah in participating in this year’s competition by becoming an official sponsor to her. Through sponsorship, each contestant receives all the necessary training, rehearsals, and financial support which will allow Guia Hannah to become a very confident and well-prepared contestant in this year’s Pageant.

Any business, organization, or private individual who may be interested in becoming a sponsor to Guia Hannah may contact the Miss Teen pageant coordinator, at 1-877-9104190.

haLO-haLO Chia puddinG

From Page 2

Minutes to Prepare: 10 Minutes to Cook: 5 Number of Servings: 4 Ingredients *Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour, .5 cup *Organic Brown Egg, 1 Large *Baking Powder – Aluminum Free, 1 tsp *Light Coconut Milk (canned) .75 cup or Light Coconut Milk Unsweetened (carton) *Coconut Palm Sugar, Sweet Tree, 3 tsp *No Salt Sodium-Free Salt Alternative, 0.25 tsp *whey-soy-vegan protein powder (unflavored or vanilla), 1 scoop (30g) *Trader Joe’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, 1 tbsp

3

The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 10, 2016

GUIA Hannah Cartena of Sherman Oaks, California was recently selected to participate in the 2016 Miss Teen pageant competition that will take place on Sunday, August 21, 2016. Guia Hannah learned of her acceptance into this year’s competition when the pageant announced their selections following interviewing in the local Pasadena area. Guia Hannah submitted an application and took part in an interview session that was conducted by Michelle Ibarrientos this year’s Pasadena Pageant but nothing drastic. Trying to Coordinator. make a difference means a lot.”

Guia Hannah will be For more recipes or to get in competing for her share of contact with Michelle, please visit thousands of dollars in prizes her Instagram page @goleananand specialty gifts that will be dgreen. distributed to contestants. Guia Hannah will be competing in the Miss Teen division, one of two divisions that will have young ladies ages of 7 through 20 competing in modeling routines, which include Casual Wear and Formal Wear. Most

On living well: Fit Chef for Life Katrina...

• Add the lean ground turkey, Bragg’s Liquid Aminos and water. Cover pan with lid and cook for 8-10 minutes until meat is not longer pink.

• Add bell peppers, black pepper and potatoes. Cover pan with lid and cook for another 5 minutes until bell peppers

features

almond milk for topping Directions 1. Boil water.

2. Then add oats. Wait til cooked.

3. Turn off heat and transfer to a bowl.

4. Add the rest of the ingredients except milk/almond milk.

Mix well then top with milk.

5. ENJOY while hot or refrigerate then eat when cold

Photo courtesy of Michelle Ibarrientos / @goleanandgreen

fridge (which is what I usually do).

Mix in the sweet potato and corn. To make it purplish, let the sweet potato sit in the base for a few minutes and then stir.

Enjoy!

Health tip: Instead of using

glutinous rice balls and tapioca balls, opt for chia seeds.

These tiny seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and has numerous health benefits. When soaked in liquid, the outer layer of the seeds start to soften and become gelatinous.

features

4

Louis Yan ‘The Moment’ Magic World Tour at Pechanga Resort & Casino this August The power of tourism for Bicolandia

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 10, 2016

Moonlighting

by Mylah de

leon

In Bicolandia, the renowned Mayon Volcano towers majestically at 8,000 feet from the base to its pointed tip, with its crater a mere 1,640 feet across.

At dawn, mists bank its foliage. During midday, it heaves in the heat like a ferocious lover. then as evening descends, it bathes itself in the whiteness of the moon illuminating all of Albay, glowing like star dust and exerting what seems to be a pervasive influence during the much heralded “hot nights of Bicol.” one also should not forget the nagaso lake that gets so hot that could boil eggs. reviled by myth and malice, the overrated sensuality of Bicolanos as volcanic creatures (years back, they had the highest birth rate in the county) is summed up in the sardonic clincher “Bicolanong…sexy,” which never fails to offend. But it does not seem to diminish the fact that they do indeed thrive on hot dishes, for everything swims in coconut milk, and a fistful of siling labuyo.

However, Bicolanos are deeply religious. For years, the region contributed the most to priesthood, and each city had its own religious festival. they trace their origins to a deeply rooted devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. the magnificent churches of Bicol Saint Joseph Church was built in 1874 and is the oldest church in Bicol. Camalig Catholic Church, is built out of volcanic rocks, while the our lady of the

With the mighty pens and lens of the FilipinoAmerican community: Rick Gavino, Steve Angeles of Balitang America, Mark Pijuan of San Gabriel News, and Mr. Andy Tecson of Asian Journal.

Atty. Romy Mosqueda, president of the Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown, with Jun Karingal, Mark Caratao. Free legal advice were offered at their booth.

Gate church in Daraga is majestically high up on a hill. It is said that worshippers could almost hear the seraphim singing. the San Juan Bautista Church in tobacco City has the unique feature that sets it apart.

By looking closer, the building structure comes the mark of the free masons who built it in 1879.

Also considered as the oldest is St. Peter Church built in 1611 and the 400-year-old church, the nuestra Senora de Candelario. there are lot more churches, just as grand as the other. the Basilica Minor del Penafrancia is where our lady of Penafrancia, patroness of the whole Bicol region is enshrined.

Her feast is the grandest and most highly celebrated festival in the Philippines. During the celebration, more than 3,000,000 gather to pay homage in our country that unleashed a kind of controlled religious anarchy. the Bicol party led by Bernie targa Ganon was an express voyage to Bicol to experience

Bernie Targa Ganon and Rocio Nuyda led recognized luminaries from Bicolandia.

nature’s marvelous bounty and to enjoy what the region offers.

Swim, surf, dive into its water of fun and adventures; or trek, climb and savor the exhilarating scent of mountains of green splendor, and the captivating warmth and smiles that awaits us.

Bicol that is not just about the Mayon Volcano. the region is a nostalgic a tapestry of Bicolandia’s history, dense forests and its abundant variety of wild life, warm people, green meadows and rolling hills, the pineapple lush plantations, and rivers and rich aquatic reserve. “tourism is people,” said the gentle but willful Bernie targa Ganon then added, “And what comes to ones minds are little hints of Spanish admirable traits through the number of cultural and social practices their penchant for music, the arts, and their folkloric tales, which are clearly tourist come ons.”

For the Bicolanos, nothing much has changed in their present drive and values. Yet, just about everything has changed.

It is a stunning piece, eminently knowledgeable, what makes them tick — and there is more fun in Bicol.

Here are some snapshots from the Bicol party, last Saturday. ***

The women in the White Fashion Show of Lou Razon.

com

E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol.

InternAtIonAl Champion Magician, louis Yan, will be at the Pechanga theater at 8pm on August 27, 2016 (Saturday) and at 4pm on August 28th (Sunday).

He will be sharing his joy with the audience by means of his amazing magic performance. louis Yan is a new generation famous magician. His magic shows are not only limited to the commonly seen sawed apart beauty on stage, he also flexibly uses objects encountered in day-to-day life as magic tools, combined with his endless creativity, to come up with all kinds of wonderful magic. In his own magic tV show, as the host and lead, he performs a variety of amazing street magic, such as, turning something in a picture into tangible objects after one shake, bringing back dead fish to life, turning old cars into new ones. His tricks go against rules of nature and leave people in awe. What’s more, he is an award winner in parts of europe and America, having been the winner of multiple international magic open competitions, and proudly received the Best Stage Showmanship award from “Merlin Award,” the equivalent of an oscar in the magician world. He even broke the Guinness World record, setting the Guinness World record for “the largest Magic School” and “Underwater Speed escape from Chain”, which gave him the title of “Hong Kong David Copperfield”. this year he also appeared on Year of the Monkey Spring Festival Gala on CCtV China, using a series of creative technology products as the theme for his magic show.

Don’t miss out on louis Yan’s amazing and creative magic show at Pechanga. He will use all his tricks to let you enjoy a fantastically electrifying performance. ticket prices are $98, $68 and $48, available while supplies last. to purchase tickets, call (626) 284-4861. For more information, please call (877) 711-2946 or go to www.Pechanga.com.

Shows in the Pechanga theater offer a comfortable and intimate concert experience.

With 1,200 seats in its theater, each show features state-of-theart and acoustically perfected sound. enjoying favorite artists at Pechanga versus other venues proves effortless with free valet and self-parking for guests, complimentary casino/resort shuttles, gourmet and casual dining options on site, plus comfortable chairs and an up-close view from every theater seat.

Pechanga Resort & Casino Pechanga resort & Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in America by readers of USA toDAY and rated a Four Diamond property

by AAA since 2002, Pechanga resort & Casino provides an

unparalleled getaway. offering more than 3,400 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 517 hotel rooms, dining, spa and championship golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga resort & Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community.

Pechanga resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free 1-888-PeCHAnGA or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga resort & Casino on Facebook and on twitter @ PechangaCasino. Pechanga resort & Casino is open 24-hours.

Guests must be 21 and older to enter the casino.

(Advertising Supplement)

Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo enjoy Barcelona trip siastically agrees with her perennial onscreen partner about the trip being magical.

DAnIel Padilla and Kathryn “Marami nang nagtatanong Bernardo have spent much of niyan sa akin tapos hirap akong 2016 lying low. But even though pumili kasi bawat lugar na it’s been nearly a year and a half napuntahan namin may special since their last movie hit the something doon kaya ang theaters, and their most recent hirap pumili ng isa lang,” she teleserye aired its finale in Feb- explains. “But then, the whole ruary, their star power hasn’t of Spain was really magical for diminished in the slightest. us. Hindi naman intention or Kathniel is still very much whatever nung place na maging in demand, and Daniel and romantic pero naging romanKathryn are working hard, quitic yung feel niya, tapos yung etly, on something very special. mga tao ang babait din nila, they spent time in Barcelona, so excited ako for the movie Spain earlier this year to shoot to come out. Gusto ko na kasi a few scenes for their upcommaibahagi sa mga kababayan ing movie under Star Cinema. natin na hindi pa nakakapunta It’s reportedly titled “I’ll never sa Spain yung mga na-experilove this Way Again,” and ence at nakita namin doon.”

Kathryn already confirmed that Aside from the sights and it will be a tender romance sounds of Barcelona, another about two millennials who meet exciting thing about the movie and fall in love in Spain. is the fact that its director is Daniel says he really enolivia lamasan. Inang, as she joyed their time in Barcelona. is known in showbiz circles, has “our trip was very magical,” helmed some of local cinema’s he says. “Yung Spain talaga was best and most memorable movvery magical dahil ang ganda ies, such as Madrasta, Milan doon. Sobrang ibang-iba siya (some scenes of which, like the sa lahat ng lugar na napunKathniel movie, were filmed tahan ko na dati. Yung culture abroad) and Starting over nila hindi nawawala. Grabe, Again. masarap doon dahil ang laki ng “Iba talaga pag na-handle influence nila sa atin.” ka ni Inang,” Kathryn says. “She For her part, Kathryn enthu- is so dedicated to her work, she by

Boy aBunda Philstar.com

Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo spent time in Barcelona, Spain earlier this year to shoot a few scenes for their upcoming movie under Star Cinema.

gives her 100 percent. We’re learning a lot from her.”

Daniel adds, “We’re excited of course because the director is olivia lamasan. Pinagbutihan namin yung trabaho namin kaya dapat abangan ng mga tao itong bagong movie namin.”

Celebrities join Pokemon Go bandwagon AFter a month’s worth of anticipation, Pokemon Go, the augmented reality game that took the world by storm, finally arrived in the Philippines.

Come Saturday morning, Aug. 6, when the game was officially made available in the country, tech-savvy Filipinos became all hyped to roam around the real-life world and collect virtual monsters and medals. local celebrities were no exception. Avid celebrity social media users expressed their excitement over the arrival of the game while others immediately started collecting their own monsters.

“Pokemon Go finally in the Philippines! Yes!” beauty queen and actress Megan Young posted in twitter. “totally gonna ‘go jogging’ later,” the Miss World 2013 title holder added.

“Pokemon Go is finally out here! Channeling the inner kid in me, gotta catch them all!” model-athlete Jeron teng

Some famous personalities tweeting about Pokemon Go.

shared in twitter.

“We have been waiting for this game for so long. It’s finally here in the Philippines!! #PokemonGo,” musician Saab Magalona exclaimed in her twitter account, which she immediately followed with a photo of her first catch. “that feeling when you just started the game but you

have already caught so much #pokemongom,” GMA actress ryza Cenon boasted in her Instagram account. “the map shows there are Pokemon monsters near me, but I’m too lazy to catch them,” actress liza Diño Seguerra jested in her Instagram account. (ManilaTimes. net)

5

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 10, 2016

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 10, 2016

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