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.com 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 28 - No. 31 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

AUGUST 10-16, 2017

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

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Tillerson: No confl ict between US gov’t DATELINE USA anti-terrorism aid, rights concerns in PH Pres. Trump backs FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

proposal to cut legal immigration programs Trump, GOP senators rally behind bill that would eliminate family-based petitioning

ACTING on a crucial campaign goal, President Donald Trump on Wednesday, August 2 backed proposed legislation that would eliminate the current family-based immigration system into a more “merit-based” one that favors applicants’ skills and employability.

Trump stood with the bill’s co-authors, Republican Sens. Tom Cotton (Ark.) and David Perdue (Ga.), at the White House to announce a bill that would judge applicants for legal residency based on what they can offer to the U.S. as workers.

This bill is a modified version of a bill first introduced in April that proposed to slash immigration by half from more than 1 million green cards issued per year and judge applicants

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE United States does not see any contradiction between its anti-terrorism assistance to the Philippine government and its human rights concerns in connection with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pointed out that helping the Philippines to combat terrorism, particularly against the Islamic State (IS)affiliate that attacked Marawi City in Mindanao, is part of Washington’s “national security interest.”

FRIEND AND ALLY. President Rodrigo Duterte welcomes United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at This, he said, is not at odds with Malacañang on Monday, Aug. 7. The president assured Tillerson that the Philippines will remain a friend and ally of the U.S. ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma Washington’s concern about the al-

leged human rights abuses and summary deaths linked to Duterte’s drug war.

“I see no conflict, no conflict at all in our helping them with that situation and our views of other human rights concerns we have with respect to how they carry out their counternarcotics activities,” Tillerson told reporters on Monday, August 7.

In a press briefing, the American diplomat called the attack in Marawi as a “tragic situation” but added that the Philippine forces are “beginning to get that situation under control.”

The fight has been ongoing since the IS-linked Maute rebel group attacked Marawi City on May 23, result-

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Washington warns N. Korea: US could unleash ‘fire and fury’ Secretaries Mattis, Tillerson clarify comments, emphasize importance of diplomacy

AS a way to make a point to the Democratic People’s Republic Of Korea (DPRK), President Donald Trump on Tuesday, August 8 warned North Korea that if the country continues provoking the United States, it will not get away with it.

During a photo op at his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, the president escalated the long-standing hostility between the two nations when he declared, “North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States.”

He added: “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen... he has been very threatening beyond a normal state. They will be met with fire, fury and frankly power the likes of which this world has never seen before.”

Trump’s jarring statements are likely a response to recent findings from U.S. intelligence that concluded that North Korea has produced a nuclear warhead that can fit on long-range

UNITY. Ministers attending the 7th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting show their unity in the group photo at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Monday, Aug. 7. The ministers reviewed the progress and future direction of the ASEAN community-building efforts and exchanged views on pressing regional and international developments.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Duterte vows to resign if son is involved in corruption

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, August 9, reiterated his vow to step down from his seat if his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte is proven guilty of committing corrupt practices.

In his speech at a business forum held in Mandaluyong City, Duterte stressed that he does not condone corruption, adding that he would not hesitate to fire anyone involved in the act.

“Corruption was really one I do not like. Now, even my son is being dragged in the Customs controversy,” Duterte said.

He then stressed, “I told you before and I’m telling you now again, if any of my children is involved in corruption, I will immediately resign. You have my word.”

The president’s statement came days after Customs broker Mark Taguba mentioned his son’s name in a House of Representatives inquiry on Monday, August 7, into the alleged bribery activities within the Bureau of

Customs (BOC).

Congress is currently investigating the alleged involvement of BOC officials in the 600-kilogram shipment of shabu worth P6.4 billion (US$126 million) that slipped through the agency’s express lane last May. During the inquiry, Taguba said he was giving P10,000 as bribe per container to certain a “Tita Nanie,” who told him that the money would go to a “Davao group” backed by the city’s vice mayor.

Comelec chair Andres Bautista shows the first ballot printed for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls at the National Printing Office on Wednesday, Aug. 9.

Philstar.com photo by Shiela Crisostomo

Comelec chief’s wife only SC affirms Marcos burial with finality ASEAN, China adopt wants half of ‘clean’ money u PAGE A4

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed with finality its November 2016 decision allowing former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB).

On Tuesday, August 8, the high court dismissed the motions for reconsideration filed by former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman.

In an en banc (full court) session, 10 magistrates voted in favor with the late strong man’s Voting 10-5 in session on Tuesday, Aug. 8, the Supreme Court affirmed its ruling last November burial, while five voted against upholding President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to allow former Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos’ it. interment at the cemetery for former presidents and fallen soldiers in August 2016.

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Philstar.com photo

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framework for South China Sea code Beijing sets precondition before talks

by AJPRESS

MANILA - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have agreed to adopt a “framework” for further negotiations on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the disputed South China Sea. In a news conference on Sunday, August 6, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that he and his 10 ASEAN counterparts have

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THE estranged wife of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista said she only wants half of his husband’s ‘clean’ money for settlement.

“Let me make it clear: by law, I’m entitled to half of what Andy owns but I want only of what is clean. This is why I’m bringing this to the government to tell me which part is clean,” Bautista’s wife, Patricia, told ANC on Tuesday, August 8.

Last week, Patricia submitted an affidavit before the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI), alleging that her husband has nearly one billion pesos of ‘unexplained’ wealth that were not included in his 2016 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

“I will get one half of what is clean. I would not do all of these and then get into the muck as well with all of these. I want a clean break,” she added.

According to an Inquirer report, Patricia, in her affidavit, said her husband “might have had, or currently has, misdealing and corrupt practices while in government service.”

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ASEAN, China adopt framework for...

PAGE A1 “agreed upon and adopted the COC framework draft,” which aims to prevent an escalation of maritime conflicts in the area.

“Today, the 11 ministers agreed upon and adopted the COC framework draft, and we announce that sometime within the year we will start consultation on the text of the COC,” Wang said.

He, however, failed to affirm if

the COC would be legally binding.

“Regarding what kind of COC will be produced, that is up to the discussion by the 11 partiesChina and ASEAN countries. We don’t want to prejudge the result of those negotiations,” the Chinese minister explained.

He also cited a condition that must be met before Beijing accepts the announcement in No-

From The FronT Page

vember as the formal start of negotiations between the heads of China and ASEAN nations.

“If there is no major disruption from outside parties, with that as the precondition, then we will consider during the November leaders’ meeting, we will jointly announce the official start of the code of conduct consultation,” Wang said.

According to him, they would discuss the modalities for the actual COC by the end of the month with the approved framework as the basis for their talks.

Wang said the start of talks for a COC in the sea may be announced by leaders of ASEAN and China at their annual summit in the Philippines in November.

“If there is no major disruption from outside parties, with that as the precondition, then we will consider during the November leaders’ meeting, we will jointly announce the official start of the code of conduct consultation,” he stressed.

In a separate press briefing, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said that a meeting between ASEAN leaders and China is slated by the end of the month to discuss the modalities for the actual COC with the approved framework as the basis.

“Parallel to this, Asean and China will continue to cooperate on such practical maritime cooperation efforts including management and prevention of conflicts among parties through confidence building measures as well to prevent miscalculations on the ground,” Bolivar added.

China, under its so-called nine dash line, has claimed almost the entire South China Sea. Beijing’s massive claim has been partly disputed by its neighboring countries. The COC aims to prevent clashes between rival claimants.

On Monday, August 7, the foreign ministers of the United States, Australia, and Japan “voiced their strong opposition to coercive unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tensions.”

In a joint statement, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Japan’s new top diplomat, Taro Kono, called on rivaling claimants in the disputed sea PAGE A4

EXCHANGING VIEWS. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano exchanges views with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during the 7th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Monday, Aug. 7.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Tillerson: No conflict between US...

PAGE A1 ing in the deaths of nearly 700 militants, soldiers, and civilians.

“With respect to the assistance we’re providing the Philippines Government to respond to ISIS, there is – there really is no, I think, contradiction at all in the support we’re giving them in the fight down in Marawi and Mindanao,” Tillerson said.

He said that the U.S. has been providing Manila with information and surveillance equipment, which includes a few Cessna aircraft and a few drones.

“We’re providing them some

training and some guidance in terms of how to deal with an enemy that fights in ways that is not like most people have ever had to deal with,” he added.

With regard to human rights, the U.S. has repeatedly criticized the Philippine drug war because of the thousands of reported state-sanctioned killings and abuses, which have been vehemently and repeatedly denied by the Duterte administration.

Tillerson met with Duterte when he visited Manila for the Association of Southeast Asian

Nations (ASEAN)-related meetings.

Contrary to earlier reports, Tillerson did not raise Washington’s human rights concerns in his talks with the Philippine president.

While refusing to provide specific details of their discussion, Duterte said their conversation mostly revolved around terrorism.

“No, no. There were no talks on human rights concerns,” the chief executive said in a press briefing after his meeting with Tillerson. n

Comelec chief’s wife only wants half...

PAGE A1 Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II had already ordered the NBI to conduct a probe on Bautista’s alleged unexplained wealth.

For his part, Bautista denied the allegations. In turn, he accused his wife of stealing financial documents, “many of which her lawyers embellished, doctored or fabricated” and used it to “extort and blackmail” him.

“It has been 10 months since she stole cash, GCs (gift certificates), ATM cards, and other financial documents belonging to myself and my family, many of which her lawyers embellished,

doctored or fabricated,” Bautista said in a statement.

He claimed that she tried to “extort” from him some P620 million as settlement for their divorce. He also alleged that his wife is having an extramarital affair.

Patricia, however, clarified that she only asked P260 million, not P620 million, as a “trust fund” for their four children.

She also denied having an affair with former commercial model Alvin Lim, insisting that the two of them are only “very good friends” who work together.

She then cautioned Bautista for talking about infidelity.

“If he wants to talk about infidelity I would be very careful if I were him. Again, I can defend whatever he throws at me. I don’t know if he can do the same,” Patricia warned.

On Wednesday, August 9, Bautista confirmed that he had filed criminal complaints against Patricia over her corruption allegations.

“We filed a case for grave coercion, for qualified theft and robbery, and also for extortion which is in the form of grave threats and life threats,” the Comelec chief told ANC in a separate interview.

(Dana Sioson/AJPress)

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SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) NO. B17031 Purchase and Installation of Mobile Manufactured Homes Dorothy Kidd Mobile Home Park SNRHA CONTACT PERSON(S) ONLY: Important: Contact with any other SNRHA staff other than the named within this document is prohibited and will result in your Proposal being rejected. This also includes contact with SNRHA’s Residents and Board of Commissioners.

Wanda Beckett, Contract Administrator Telephone: (702) 477-3145 Email: wbeckett@snvrha.org -orLinda Price Simpson, Contract Administrator Telephone: (702) 477-3144 Email: lpsimpson@snvrha.org TDD: (702) 387-1898

HOW TO OBTAIN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS ON THE APPLICABLE INTERNET SITES:

1. To Only Download the Proposal: www.snvrha.org click on Procurement then “Current Bid Invitations” and proceed to the appropriate solicitation number. Problems downloading the document, notify our IT Department at (702) 477-3160.

NOTE: Copies of bid documents received from sources other than the SNRHA will cause your bid to be deemed invalid.

2. Pick Up: Solicitation documents are available on “CD” at no charge and may be obtained ONLY from: SNRHA Procurement Development, 340 N. 11th Street Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101 Bidders must call (702) 477-3140 to schedule a time to pick up a CD, The bidder is responsible for the reproduction of bid package and any applicable information, as well as the costs associated with reproduction.

PRE-BID CONFERENCE: Attendance is not mandatory but recommended.

Date/Time: Location:

August 18, 2017 @ 9:00 am Dorothy Kidd Mobile Home Park Community Room 5380 E. Flamingo Road Las Vegas, NV 89122

QUESTION & ANSWER SUBMISSION DEADLINE All communications regarding this solicitation shall be directed to only to the contact persons listed above.

Date & Time: August 28, 2017 @ 9:00am (PST) All questions and answers shall be submitted in writing to the SNRHA contact listed above. Questions and/or request IRU FODUL¿FDWLRQ VKDOO QRW EH UHVSRQGHG WR DIWHU WKH 4 $ deadline date and time.

SEALED BID SUBMISSIONS

All bids must be submitted to: Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Procurement Department 340 N. 11th Street, Suite 180 Las Vegas, NV 89101 Bid Submission Deadline: September 11, 2017 @ 10:30 am Sealed Bids must be received by SNRHA by the date DQG WLPH VSHFL¿HG Mailed bids must be post marked prior to the submission due date to be considered. Late submissions will not be accepted.

ANTICIPATED APPROVAL BY SNRHA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, if necessary

September 21, 2017

Bidding Documents may be examined at the following local plan rooms: Construction Notebook, FW Dodge, Sierra Plan Room, Reed Construction Data.

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Pres. Trump backs proposal to cut legal...

PAGE A2 based on their skills. Called the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act, the bill promises economic growth and a raise in American workers’ wages.

Trump’s support for the bill comes from concern over lowincome and minority American workers, who he believes have suffered from the hiring of lowwage migrant workers.

“This competitive application will favor applicants who can speak English, financially support themselves and their families and demonstrate skills that will contribute to our economy,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday. “It has not been fair to our people, to our citizens, to our workers.”

If passed into law, the RAISE Act would drop the amount of new immigrants to about half a million.

What is the RAISE Act? The bill would get rid of the diversity visa lottery which issues 55,000 Permanent Resident cards (aka green cards) annually to people from countries historically underrepresented in employment and family-based categories.

It would also look to strictly enforce existing law that would require green card holders to reimburse the federal government for any public benefits received to encourage them to stay off welfare.

Under the RAISE Act, applicants earn points based on education, ability to speak English, high-paying job offers, age, achievement record and “entrepreneurial initiatives.” Since a merit-based program would generally allow immigrants to pursue higher levels of education to earn higher-paying jobs, they would be less likely to seek welfare programs.

However, the bill does not bar children, pregnant mothers and refugees access to federal assistance who legally immigrate via a program other than a merit-based system.

The bill would also retain immigration preferences for the spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents (LPRs), but it would eliminate the existing preferences for particular categories of extended and adult family members.

It would also put a limit on the number of refugees welcomed in the country, dropping it from the Obama administration’s cap of 85,000 to 50,000 per year.

Calling it a “historic and very vital proposal”, Trump acknowl-

edged that this bill would mark a significant reform to the immigration system and could be the start of reforms to come.

“This legislation will not only restore our competitive edge in the 21st century, but it will restore the sacred bonds of trust between America and its citizens,” Trump asserted. “This legislation demonstrates our compassion for struggling American families who deserve an immigration that puts their needs first and puts America first.”

Although the bill is framed as a solution to many of the country’s economic pitfalls, experts say that the decrease in immigration would actually do more harm than good.

Theresa Cardinal Brown, director of Immigration and Cross-border Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, noted that shrinking the labor force — which immigrants occupy roughly 17 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — would hinder economic growth.

“A growing labor force — aided by immigration — not only helps to shore up Social Security’s finances, but it also results in greater demand for goods and services, contributes to economic growth through innovation and entrepreneurship, creates jobs and improves the long-term U.S. economic outlook,” Brown said in a statement.

Todd Schulte, president of STEM-based immigration lobbying group FWD.us, noted immigrant workers’ role in increasing wages for American workers in all industries and proposed a modernization of the current system rather than eliminating programs altogether.

“Not only do immigrants help grow the economy overall, but immigrants drive up wages for the overwhelming majority of Americans, and significantly so in areas and industries with more immigrants, where wage growth has outpaced the country overall,” Schulte said. “We call on Congress to fix those parts of our broken immigration system that clearly need reform – but we should create a modern legal visa system for the 21st century, not enact the largest cuts to legal immigration in modern history.”

How does this affect Asian communities?

Despite the president’s support, experts say the bill is unlikely to pass given that many centrist Republicans in Congress represent some of the country’s richest im-

DATELINE USA

migrant and ethnic communities.

However, the announcement has outraged organizations that believe that the legislation would hurt many ethnic communities that boast rich undocumented communities.

“This is a radical and alarming departure from America’s longstanding history of welcoming and embracing the diversity and family reunification values that give us our moral and economic advantage in the world,” Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, said in a statement.

“An emphasis on so-called ‘merit-based’ immigration is a manipulative and misleading ploy that inaccurately suggests less legal immigration means more jobs for American workers. Economists from both sides of the political spectrum clearly and consistently reject this. The economic consequences and impact on American families would be devastating,” Hincapié continued, adding that the bill is “another move made to dismantle our national identity.”

The RAISE Act has the potential to affect the way in which most Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) migrate to the U.S. Two-thirds of AAPIs are immigrants, and a vast majority of Asian immigrants migrate to the U.S. through family-based petitioning, according to national legal and civil rights organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

Moreover, many of those who enter the U.S. with employmentbased visas typically utilize family-based programs to petition family members to the U.S. Anthony Ng, policy advocate for immigrant rights at Advancing Justice - Los Angeles Advancing Justice - LA, described the RAISE Act as “an attack on families” and a “step back for the country.”

“This is really devastating to a lot of Asian families as well as Latino families,” Ng told the Asian Journal on Friday, August 4. “[Advancing Justice - LA] definitely feels the RAISE Act is a wrong step for the [AAPI] community. It’s not strengthening our community, and it really presents this dichotomy where immigration is almost seen as a zero-sum game.”

Ng also mentioned that volumes of research have been conducted that debunked the myth that immigration negatively affects the “wage depression” argued by the bill’s sponsors. He added that the

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 10-16, 2017

A3

Fil-Am LAPD Officer Matthew Medina still in need of bone marrow match

by RAE

ANN VARONA AJPress

IT’S been almost five months since Matthew Medina first learned about his rare blood disease and how his Filipino heritage is affecting his chances of being cured.

Just earlier this year, the 40year-old police officer was going about his normal duties as part of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Harbor Division gang unit. By his side was his close friend, Dante Pagulayan, also an officer with the department.

The two knew each other since they were about 14 years old in high school and ended up going to Cal State Long Beach together, before eventually joining the LAPD. It was at the college, Pagulaya shared, where Medina met his wife Angelee with whom the latter now has two beautiful daughters.

“Matt is one of the funniest guys I know,” Pagulayan shared about his friend during a recent interview with the Asian Journal. “If you want to have a good time, he’s going to be your guy.”

Currently, Medina remains in quarantine after having been diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare disease that claims 600-900 people in the United States each year, according to the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AA/MDS). The fact that he’s Filipino presents a larger challenge.

Finding a donor Aplastic anemia, or bone marrow failure, is a blood disease in which bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells for the body.

According to AA/MDS, it can affect anyone regardless of race or gender but is diagnosed more often in children, young adults,

and older adults. It also appears more often in Asian Americans.

For Medina, the disease seemed to come out of nowhere. “Matt was a very precautious guy,” shared Pagulayan about Medina’s health habits. “He always took care of himself, took vitamins, went to the doctor… He was that kind of guy.”

During a previous interview in May, Medina told the Asian Journal, “I’ve never had any type of serious illness, so a lot of things were going through my head, like wondering if it’s cancer or something fatal or incurable. A bunch of scenarios were just running through my head.”

Radiation and chemotherapy, toxic chemical exposure, use of certain drugs, and autoimmune disorders are some factors known to injure bone marrow, thus affecting blood cell reproduction. But for the most part, there’s no telling for sure what causes aplastic anemia.

Getting a bone marrow transplant is the only cure for aplastic anemia. However, finding a match is a major obstacle that those diagnosed are forced to face.

In order for a transplant to be successful, both the donor and beneficiary need to share eight human leukocyte antigens (HLA), or cell markers. This explains why more chances of success happen between a donor and receiver of the same ethnic background.

For Medina and many others, chances of recovery are greatly reduced simply due to the number of minority-group members registered to be potential bone marrow matches.

“Out of the 12 million people registered, only 0.5 percent were Filipino,” said Pagulayan. “It was quite a surprise.”

As of 2016, the number of

Matthew Medina with wife Angelee and their daughters.

Matthew Medina

Asians recorded in Be The Match’s registry made up only six percent of the total registered, shared Ayumi Nagata, Recruitment Manager of Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M).

The lowest percentage came from those who identified as Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander — their percentage hovered at 0.1 percent. The largest group at 57 percent — with 7.8 million — comprise of those who are White.

While transplants between family members have worked, it’s rarely the case, according to Mixed Marrow, a foundation dedicated to increasing bone marrow and blood cell donors for patients of multi-ethnic descent. Finding a match within the family is only successful 30 percent of the time, leaving 70 percent searching elsewhere.

Nagata has encountered a number of cultural and religious reasons that explain the low number of Asian registrants, but the lack of familiarity and awareness remain the biggest culprits. Organizations like Mixed Marrow and A3M are working together to disprove these misconceptions by focusing on increasing awareness through outreach within cultural contexts.

One common misconception is that donating marrow is painful. Nagata informed that most procedures are done through nonsurgical Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donations where cells are collected through the blood rather than the bone itself.

Umbilical cord blood is another source, and Be The Match lists a number of hospitals that collect the blood for a public cord blood

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Fil-Am LAPD Officer Matthew Medina still in... Duterte vows to resign if son is involved...

PAGE A3 bank.

Hope for Medina There are now currently 1,270 ethnically diverse, and 101 Caucasian registrants through Medina’s campaign, reported Nagata. With the help of Medina’s support group and community, there’s hope that the numbers can increase.

“He’s had friends from Crossfit gyms, from restaurants, to churches, all come together and show their support,” said Pagulayan. Just last June, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Stars played against the LAPD in Carson, California where a blood drive for Medina was hosted.

Since the start of Medina’s match campaign, two others in need of bone marrow transplants were able to find a match.

On June 25, Medina personally posted on his Match4Matt

Facebook campaign page, “Even if they never find a match for me, I can say that this campaign has been a success since it has already helped save the lives of at least two people (so far).”

For Medina, the search continues but he remains optimistic. On his Facebook post, he shared that his blood cell counts have increased and he hopes that the upward trend continues toward remission. “I am not out of the woods yet,” he added. “There is still a long road to recovery ahead, but the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is definitely getting brighter.”

But as Pagulayan shared, the only way to really revert it is through a bone marrow transplant. Medina’s condition can change just as quick as how he found out he had the disease.

To those thinking about registering to be a match, Pagulayan said to think of a loved one and

what would happen if you woke up and found out they had the disease.

“Even when I say it, it gives me a bit of a chill,” said Pagulayan. “It’s just not something you anticipate. Today everything is fine and the next day, your whole world is upside down.”

To join a registry, anyone up to 60 years old can sign up, but donors between ages 18-44 are preferred. There are also medical conditions that may make someone ineligible. The process itself takes less than five minutes, according to Nagata. As Pagulayan put it, “It takes less time to swab your cheeks than it takes to fill out the paperwork.”

More information on registering can be found on Be the Match’s website. To join Medina’s registry, visit www.join.bethematch.org/match4matt. (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)

Pres. Trump backs proposal to cut legal...

PAGE A3 RAISE Act is a drastic step back from the 1965 Immigration Act, which lifted immigration quotas, allowing families to reunite and strengthen various ethnic communities.

“The RAISE Act is a reminder of the exclusion that Asian Americans felt in the past,” Ng said.

“Moving forward, we have to think, what would this look like for the nation? If we’re really changing the way our immigration system works, it really goes against

the values we have in this country for family and strengthening the communities we’ve built here in the U.S.” In its current form, the RAISE Act only proposes changes to family-based petitioning, the diversity visa lottery, and the refugee program.

It does not indicate changes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which provides a number of benefits for undocumented youth. It also doesn’t refer to the historic Filipino WWII

Veterans Parole program, a family-based program that reunites the families of Filipino WWII veterans.

To families who fear that the RAISE Act will affect their prospects of citizenship, Ng encourages all undocumented individuals and families to seek legal counsel to determine what steps to take.

To call Advancing Justice - LA for assistance, call (888) 349-9695 for English or (855) 300-2552 for Tagalog. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

SC affirms Marcos burial with...

PAGE A1 “Wherefore, the motions for reconsideration as well as the motion/petition to exhume Marcos’ remains at the LNMB are Denied with Finality. The petition for indirect contempt in G.R. No. 228186 and G.R. No. 228245 are dismissed for lack of merit,” the high court said.

In its ruling, the SC maintained that there was no grave abuse of discretion on the part of President Rodrigo Duterte in ordering the burial of Marcos at the Heroes’ Cemetery.

It also maintained that Marcos qualifies to be interred at the LNMB as a “former president and commander-in-chief, a legislator, secretary of national defense, a military personnel, a veteran, and a Medal of Valor awardee.”

The 10 justices who voted to junk the petition were Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Teresita de Castro, Jose Mendoza, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam and Andres Reyes Jr. The five justices who voted in favor of the petition, meanwhile, were Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justices Marvic Leonen, Francis Jardaleza, and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

In a statement, Malacañang acknowledged the SC’s decision as the “final arbiter of all legal questions.”

“We hope the matter on the FM (Ferdinand Marcos) Libingan ng mga Bayani will be finally laid

to rest and that the country will move forward as one united nation,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella added.

The late strongman’s remains were buried at the LNMB on November 18 of last year, 27 years after his death.

For its part, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), the group which represented the petitioners led by Ocampo, described the high court’s ruling as “unfortunate and utterly disappointing.”

“What do we tell our children and generations to come who to emulate? It does not inspire & even virtually canonizes a fascist dictator thief. But the evil that men do is remembered after their deaths. They must be exorcised in time,” NUPL President Atty. Edre Olalia said.

PAGE A1 The broker, however, admitted that he could not prove the allegation as his remarks against the vice mayor were merely based on hearsay.

“That’s why I said, any official, who entertains the intervention of any of my sons and daughter that is enough for me. I will fire you, and I will press charges against you and my relative wherever he is and you will have the luxury of seeing me go down,” Duterte added.

For his part, the president’s son denied the allegations, pointing out that Taguba himself admitted that it was all based on hearsays.

“Taguba admitted that his testimony against me was based entirely on rumors. Why would we entertain or believe a hearsay?

File photo shows then-President-elect Rodrigo Roa Duterte taking his Oath of Office as the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines with his children standing at his back as witnesses.

Supreme Court Justice Bienvenido L. Reyes administered his oath.

Malacañang photo

One does not dignify lies with a mayor said in a statement released response,” the Davao City vice Tuesday, August 8.

Washington warns N. Korea: US could...

PAGE A1 missiles. Not long after Trump’s comments, Pyongyang warned the international community that it will strike “an enveloping fire” around Guam, where the U.S. holds a crucial Air Force base.

Previously, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum in Manila that North Korea has no intention to attack other countries “except the U.S.”, as the Asian Journal previously reported.

Earlier this week, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution that imposed strict new sanctions, which will cut North Korea’s annual export revenue of $3 billion by more than a third.

Just a day after Trump’s comments, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson clarified the president’s statements, arguing that North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un’s hostile language prompted Trump’s words.

“North Korea’s rhetoric has just ratcheted up louder and louder and more threatening. So I think the President - what the President is doing is sending a strong message to North Korea in language that Kim Jong-un can understand

because he doesn’t seem to understand diplomatic language,” Tillerson told reporters.

Tillerson, who has emphasized the importance of diplomacy when dealing with North Korea, added, “I think the President just wanted to be clear to the North Korean regime on the U.S.’s unquestionable ability to defend itself, will defend itself and its allies, and I think it was important that he deliver the message to avoid miscalculation on their part.”

Mirroring Tillerson’s sentiments, Defense Secretary Gen. James Mattis also issued an ultimatum to North Korea to “cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and destruction of its people.”

In the past, Mattis has routinely said that he prefers to resolve tensions with North Korea through diplomacy, emphasizing that military action could lead to disastrous consequences.

“Kim Jong Un should take heed of the United Nations Security Council’s unified voice, and statements from governments the world over, who agree the DPRK poses a threat to global security and stability,” Mattis said in a statement.

Washington lawmakers outside

of Trump’s cabinet blasted the president for his comments which may incite further nuclear action from North Korea.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), a top ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, denounced the president’s aggressive comments, saying that, more than ever, the Trump administration must demonstrate “steady leadership” in crisis situations.

“The president’s ‘fire and fury’ ad-lib was not helpful. Defusing the North Korean threat will take smart, steady leadership and stronger diplomatic ties with our key allies,” Reed said in a statement, adding that the U.S. can utilize diplomatic, financial or other means of negotiating rather than just resorting to military options.

For years, North Korea has been constructing and testing missiles, putting the international community on edge. Last month, it tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that is reportedly capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, U.S., experts said.

Officials also said that it is believed that North Korea also already possesses medium-range missiles that could deliver a nuclear warhead to South Korea and Japan. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

ASEAN, China adopt framework for...

PAGE A2

“to refrain from land reclamation, construction of outposts, militarization of disputed features, and undertaking unilateral actions that cause permanent physical

change to the marine environment in areas pending delimitation.”

They also urged their ASEAN counterparts to swiftly negotiate a legally binding maritime code

with China.

In addition to the Philippines, ASEAN-member states include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 10-16, 2017

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

A

Dateline PLawyerhiliPPines denies Marcoses’ hand in Duterte-Bautista meeting

STOPPING THE GARLIC CARTEL. Sen. Cynthia Villar, chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food during the continuation of the inquiry on the spike in garlic prices, pointed out that the persistent problem of cartel could only be addressed with the prosecution of identified cartel players and the improvement of local garlic production. Villar said she will see to it that the Department of Agriculture (DA) would implement a long-term program to make the garlic industry more competitive. Photo also shows DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Senate photo

Russia offers assistance to PH drug war, anti-terrorism efforts

terrorism and other security concerns.”

Cayetano added that his counRUSSIA has offered its assis- terpart requested him to convey tance to the Philippine govern- to Philippine President Rodrigo ment in the latter’s campaign Duterte that Moscow stands in against terrorism, drug traffick- “solidarity with his efforts to eliminate any extremist threat to your ing, and criminality.

Earlier this week, Philippine country and our appreciation for Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cay- your solidarity with Russia’s fight etano met with his counterpart, against terrorism.”

Quoting Lavrov, the Philippine Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of the diplomat said that Russia believes East Asia Summit Foreign Minis- that the fight against “terrorism ters Meeting held at the Philippine is something that must unite all International Convention Center of us.”

In turn, Cayetano thanked Mos(PICC).

In a statement, Cayetano said cow for offering its help to improve both countries “agreed to fast the capabilities of the Philippines’ track negotiations for pending security forces in dealing with bilateral agreements, particularly threats posed by Islamic State teron military-technical cooperation, rorist-linked groups operating in illegal narcotics, and law enforce- Mindanao.

He further expressed apprement.”

According to him, Moscow’s ciation the Russian Ministry for offer to assist Manila is of “vital Civil Defense, Emergencies and importance” to the Philippines, Elimination of Consequences of emphasizing Russia’s “great ex- Natural Disasters’ offer to send a pertise, vast experience and mod- cargo aircraft carrying relief asern equipment in dealing with sistance for displaced families in

by DAnA

sioson AJPress

Marawi City.

The two diplomats also discussed trade and investment, education and research and other areas of cooperation that the Philippines and Russia could explore.

On Monday, August 7, Duterte met with top diplomats from the United States and Australia, the two countries that have been critical of his drug war because of the alleged human rights violations.

The chief executive, however, said that the diplomats have “considerably toned down” their criticism on the human rights situation in the Philippines.

According to Duterte, his discussions with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson revolved “mostly” around terrorism.

“They have considerably toned down on human rights,” Duterte said. “Nobody… mostly it was terrorism. But no one is asking me about human rights. There’s no more.” n

Duterte puts up P2-M bounty for cops who killed for Parojinogs

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, Aug. 9 announced a P2-million bounty on each policeman involved in the killings allegedly ordered by the influential Parojinog clan in Ozamiz City.

Duterte said the Parojinog family, whom he accused of having ties with drug syndicates, used law enforcers to silence those who defied them and to perpetuate themselves in power.

“Like the policemen who are now shortlisted in the killing of so many civilians buried in a cemetery there at the back of a barangay hall. Each of you, those policemen, carry on their head now, I am announcing two million per head,” the president said during the 116th anniversary of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame.

“I’ll cut short my speech here so that you will have a chance for a crack at the two million for those idiots of your men there f***** the Filipino. Yun lang ang iwan ko (That’s what I will leave behind), P2 million per head. Dead or alive,” he added.

“Better dead because I have to pay for the funeral parlor. That is an added expense. I’d rather buy rice for the people.”

Some members of the Parojinog clan, including Ozamiz City Mayor

Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., were killed in an anti-drug raid by the local police in the family’s compound last July 31.

The mayor was included in the list of politicians believed to have links with drug syndicates that was turned over to President Duterte last year. Also killed in the raid were the mayor’s wife Susan, his brother Board Member Octavio Parojinog Jr., his sister Mona and 12 other individuals.

Police officials claimed that a shootout ensued after supporters of the Parojinog fired at the raiding team. The Parojinog camp has denied this and even called the law enforcement operation a “massacre.”

Last Monday, Duterte said the Parojinogs created an anti-communist vigilante group called Kuratong Baleleng that degenerated into a criminal gang. He said the clan used the group to impose a “reign of terror” and to silence critics and police officers who defied them.

Ozamiz ‘mass grave’ On the same day, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa said local authorities have found human and animal bones in a mass grave created by a gang associated with the Parojinogs. The local police started digging the alleged mass grave in Barangay Cogon last Friday but only found sacks of garbage.

Duterte vowed to protect the

police officers involved in the Ozamiz City raid and the operation that left another suspected narco politician, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, dead.

“The police chief who supervised the killing of Parojinog and (Police Supt. Marvin) Marcos, who are being prosecuted now, they will have my protection. Not to disrupt justice. I will allow justice to run,” the President said.

“But there is a time where a president will have a part of it.

And that is where I can assure you: You will have the justice that we all want. Remember that,” he added.

Duterte was referring to Ozamiz City Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, who oversaw the antidrug operation in the Parojinog compound.

Marcos, whose unit was tagged in the killing of Espinosa, has returned to active duty after being suspended for six months and has been promoted to regional director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group SOCCKSCARGEN. Duterte reiterated that he is ready to kill drug lords who will “destroy the youth of the land.”

The president, who has been accused of encouraging summary executions, also reminded policemen not to commit abuses.

“I tell you now: Do your duty and I will protect you. Do not PAGE A7

Decision on 26-year-old graft cases vs Imelda delayed anew by elizAbeth

mARcelo Philstar.com

MANILA — The trial of the 26year-old graft cases against Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, former first lady, ended in January but the Sandiganbayan cannot rule on the cases yet.

In a motion filed before the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division early last month, the Office of the Ombudsman’s prosecution panel asked for 30 more days to submit its memorandum, which must contain its allegations against Marcos, the description of each of the documentary evidence it presented, as well as the summary of the testimonies of its witnesses.

The prosecution team cited “the sheer volume of the documentary evidence and the lengthy transcripts of stenographic notes” of the hearings that they need to review and summarize.

The prosecution further said two of their lawyers handling the cases also attended a five-day workshop as well as hearings in the provinces.

The Fifth Division granted the

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, first lady to ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, at the House of Representatives session hall in July.

Philstar.com photo by Rosette Adel

request and gave the prosecution until August 4 to submit its memorandum, but a day before the deadline lapsed, the prosecution filed a second motion for extension.

In its new motion, the prosecution asked the court to give them until August 26 to file the

memorandum, the same deadline that the court has given Marcos’ camp, after it also asked for a 30day extension on July 25.

Under the Rules of Court, a case can only be deemed submitted for resolution after the parties have submitted their respective memoranda.

The courtgranted the prosecution’s second motion, but warned that should it fail to comply with the new deadline, it will rule on cases with or without its memorandum.

It was only in 2015 when the prosecution finished its presentation of evidence against Marcos, 24 years after the cases were filed in 1991.

The presentation of evidence of the defense, meanwhile, was prematurely terminated last February after Marcos lawyer Robert Sison failed to attend two consecutive hearings, where he was supposed to present his client’s last documentary evidence.

The evidence was supposed to include testimony from the late Manila Regional Trial Court PAGE A7

MANILA — A person who has a close relationship with President Rodrigo Duterte arranged for him to meet the wife of Commission on Elections chief Andres Bautista.

The lawyer of Bautista’s estranged wife, Patricia Cruz-Bautista, confirmed this on Tuesday, Aug. 8 to deny reports that it was former Sen. Bongbong Marcos’ wife, Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, who reached out to Duterte.

“It wasn’t Tita Liza who set the meeting. If it were her, I would’ve told you so, but it wasn’t her. I just want to protect the identity of our friend who helped us set the meeting with the president,” Martin Loon, Patricia’s legal counsel, said on ANC’s “Headstart.”

The Marcoses were tagged in the scandal after Patricia made public her accusations of unexplained wealth against Bautista.

Bongbong’s electoral protest case claiming that he lost his vice presidential bid to Leni Robredo through fraud is pending before the Supreme Court, which sits as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

Loon said on Tuesday morning that while he could not yet divulge who arranged the meeting between Duterte and Patricia, he was someone “very close to the president.”

Patricia, meanwhile, said she is not at all acquainted with AranetaMarcos.

Patricia sought to face the president in late July to inform him of her discovery of passbooks and records of transactions purportedly by her husband, who led the agency going after ill-gotten wealth of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos before he was appointed to Comelec.

For Patricia, going to the president was a last resort.

Choice was money or Malacañang, says poll chief Bautista, meanwhile, said Patricia’s actions smack of blackmail and extortion as she demands a staggering P620 million for her and her children. He also denied that his wealth is much bigger than his publicly declared P176 million in his government record.

Patricia claimed that Bautista invented the P620-million figure, as she was asking for only P260 million. But the elections official stood by it.

“Itong P620 (million) came from her lawyer, Attorney Martin Loon, and very specifically the way it was presented to us, she wanted P200 (million) for her, P75 (million) each for the children, plus the two condominum units, which is P120 (million),” Bautista said in a radio interview on Tuesday.

Bautista said that not long after, Loon jacked up the amount being demanded as settlement.

“Loon corrected, hindi pala P200 (million) for her, P300 (million), so (the total) became P720 (million),” he said.

Bautista claimed that he and his sister received a text message PAGE A7

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OpiniOn

General meeting

Features

CONTRARY to popular opinion, none of the world’s top diplomats, who gathered in Manila on August 2-8 to attend the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings, brought up the alleged spate of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

Not a single member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has indicated an interest to be briefed on the extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by the current administration, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

It maintained that the Philippine government remains committed to combating the drug problem jointly with the ASEAN and the international community as Manila underscored the 10-nation bloc’s position on sovereign rights and responsibility of each country to decide on the best approach to address the drug menace.

Led by DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, ASEAN foreign ministers discussed the region’s progress on ASEAN-community-building efforts and its stance on critical political and security issues, with their 17 other dialogue partners from major powers, such as the U.S., Russia, Japan, and China.

“We were able to passionately argue our national interests but, at the same time, we put first regional interest to come out as friends with solutions to our problems,” Cayetano said in his opening speech.

Among the issues discussed were the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, resolution of disputes in the South China Sea, violent extremism and terrorism, and transnational crimes.

“If there is a single characteristic that makes our community truly unique and admirable, it is the existence of the peaceful settlement of regional disputes and on regional cooperation as the best, if not the surest means of achieving peace,” Cayetano added.

It was U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s first time in the Philippines as he represented Washington during the ASEAN meetings. During his courtesy call at Malacañang Palace, Tillerson met with Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to discuss the PHU.S. alliance and their shared goals in addressing global terrorism threats and economic cooperation.

In return, Duterte thanked the United States for its assistance as he called himself its “humble friend” in Southeast Asia. The president also emphasized that there were no talks on human rights tions, ASEAN and its dialogue partners are moving forward to pursue higher goals. concerns during his meeting with Tillerson.

Now in its 50th year, the ASEAN community is Despite obstacles set by conflicts among na-

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

sure to meet its vision of becoming an alliance that has withstood the test of time, assuring regional peace and stability for its people. (AJPress)

Sanctuary cities that protect undocumented immigrants: Good or bad for Filipinos in America?

PRESIDENT Donald Trump ran on the cam- The Fil-Am paign promise that he would intensify the Perspective crackdown on illegal immigrants — and he is doing just that.

There are places in the country, though, Gel SantoS-ReloS that have declared themselves as “sanctuary cities” to provide a safe haven for undocumented immigrants in their jurisdiction by limiting limit how local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration agents. Barely five days after taking office, Trump signed an executive order aimed at blocking federal funding to “sanctuary cities.”

This issue is very close to the heart of the Filipino-American community, as we have a lot of kababayans who are living and working in the United States without all the required immigration papers. Many of the sanctuary cities are densely populated areas across the United States with numerous Filipinos living within and their jurisdiction.

SAN FRANCISCO is among the about 300 “sanctuary cities” which have barred local police from helping federal authorities kick out any immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally.

To understand their policy and how they operate to provide a safe haven for undocumented immigrants, let me share with you the information provided by the city: In 1989, San Francisco passed the “City and County of Refuge” Ordi-

nance (also known as the Sanctuary Ordinance).

The Sanctuary Ordinance generally prohibits City employees from using City funds or resources to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the enforcement of Federal immigration law unless such assistance is required by federal or state law.

In 2013, San Francisco passed the “Due Process for All” Ordinance. This ordinance limits when City law enforcement officers may give ICE advance notice of a person’s release from local jail. It also prohibits cooperation with ICE detainer requests, sometimes referred to as “ICE holds.”

These ordinances were last amended in July 2016. Under current law, City employees may not use City resources to: a) Assist or cooperate with any ICE investigation, detention, or arrest relating to alleged violations of the civil provisions of federal immigration law. b) Ask about immigration status on any application for City benefits, services, or opportunities, except as required by federal or state statute, regulation, or court decision. c) Limit City services or benefits based on immigration status, unless required by federal or state statute or regulation, public assistance criteria, or court decision.

HOUSE Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other supporters of the easy marriage dissolution bill just got another reason to facilitate matters for couples in discord: the claim of Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista’s wife Patricia that he had nearly a billion pesos in hidden wealth.

The election czar’s conjugal wealth and woes were brought to no less than President Rodrigo Duterte, himself no stranger to annulled unions. The Chief Executive turned marriage counselor to the Bautistas, reportedly eliciting tears from the husband.

But that didn’t stop the wife from paying a visit to the National Bureau of Investigation and swearing an affidavit detailing the alleged assets of her husband. The latter denied such wealth, though he didn’t declare, as others accused of ill-gotten gains did, that those who find the

if they: 1) Prohibit their local officials from communicating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement; 2) Block ICE from interviewing jail inmates; or 3) Fail to notify ICE of the pending release of criminal aliens in 48 hours ICE is seeking to deport.

THIS is now being challenged in court for the first time by the City of Chicago, another city with a big Filipino population. On Monday, August 7, Chicago filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice for what many sanctuary cities contend as “illegal bids to withhold public safety grants from so-called sanctuary cities.”

Chicago has received the grant funds since 2005, and as TIME has reported, the city has spent $33 million in grants to buy nearly 1,000 police cars in that 12-year period; it got $2.3 million last year. In addition to cars, funds were also used for radios and SWAT equipment.

CHICAGO’s ARGUMENT: “The government can’t “unilaterally” set new conditions that weren’t approved by Congress “and that would federalize local jails and police stations, mandate warrantless detentions in order to investigate for federal civil infractions, sow fear in local immigrant communities, and ultimately make the people of Chicago less safe.”

TIME reported that Chicago has been adopting sanctuary city policies since the mid-80s, and like San Francisco, “the city prohibits police from providing federal Immigration and Customs officials access to people in

police custody, unless they are wanted on a criminal warrant or have serious criminal convictions. Local police are also barred from allowing ICE agents to use their facilities for interviews or investigations and from responding to ICE inquiries or talking to ICE officials about a person’s custody status or release date.”

Chicago’s city authorities point out in the lawsuit that these policies help encourage the residents of the immigrant community to inform police when they are victims of crimes. “If Chicago submits to the Department’s demands, it will forfeit decades’ worth of trust and goodwill that its police force has built in the communities it serves…And as those decades of experience show, that kind of trust, once lost, is lost forever.”

Sessions responded: The Trump administration “will not simply give away grant dollars to city governments that proudly violate the rule of law and protect criminal aliens at the expense of public safety.”

“So it’s this simple: Comply with the law or forego taxpayer dollars.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Are “sanctuary cities” good or bad for the Filipino-American community in America, and to the United States in general? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Telling numbers at Comelec and Customs

Opinion

RicaRdo Saludo

d) Provide information about the release status or personal information of any individual, except in limited circumstances when law enforcement may respond to ICE requests for notification about when an individual will be released from custody. e) Detain an individual on the basis of a civil immigration detainer after that individual becomes eligible for release from custody.

WHAT is the rationale behind San Francisco’s adoption of the “sanctuary ordinance”?

“The Sanctuary Ordinance promotes public trust and cooperation. It helps keep our communities safe by making sure that all residents, regardless of immigration status, feel comfortable calling the Police and Fire Departments during emergencies and cooperating with City agencies during public safety situations. It helps keep our communities healthy by making sure that all residents, regardless of immigration status, feel comfortable accessing City public health services and benefit programs.”

MORE cities in the United States have been urged by their residents to declare their cities as “sanctuary cities.” Since Trump became president, the apprehension, detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants — with or without criminal records — have spiked under his Administration.

Just last week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that sanctuary jurisdictions will lose access to certain federal law enforcement grants in 2017

purported money and property could have it all.

No matter. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd instructed the NBI to “conduct investigation and case build-up over the alleged failure to disclose pertinent information required in the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of Chairperson Andres D. Bautista contained in the affidavit of Mrs. Patricia Paz Bautista, including possible determination of violation of Anti-Money Laundering Law and other related laws.”

Last time a wife detailed conjugal property, a former comptroller of the Armed Forces, Gen. Carlos Garcia, was hauled before the Sandiganbayan. His missus and his son were caught

by San Francisco customs with far more cash in their luggage than the $10,000 amount requiring explanation where the money came from.

Mrs. Garcia then listed the family treasures in a signed declaration, which the U.S. government promptly shared with our Ombudsman. While she could

not be made to testify against her husband, her enumeration of bank deposits, real estate, and other assets accumulated on a general’s pay gave investigators a roadmap to find what the Garcias had stashed away.

If his wife’s testimony also leads to far more wealth than he had listed in his SALN, Chairman Bautista could perhaps explain his understated assets by saying they were tabulated by vote counting machines used in the provinces where candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lost to Vice President Leni Robredo.

Here comes the bribe Also feeling hugely uncomfortable this week are officials of the Bureau of Customs named by broker Mark Ruben Taguba as having received bribes from him, as he continued his testimony to the House committee on dangerous drugs.

Among the alleged BoC bribe takers were: Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Teddy Raval, district collector Vincent Philip Maronilla of the Manila International Container Port, di-

rector Niel Estrella of the Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme, director Milo Maestrecampo of the Import and Assessment Service and the Assessment and Operational Coordinating Group.

Somewhat luckier were nine others whose full names Taguba missed. What he gave them, however, he remembered clearly. For every cargo container released, he gave the following amounts: P3,000 for the port collector; P2,000 for the intelligence group, P500 eachfor the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service director, the Enforcement and Security Service Director, and the ESS Command; P1,000 for the container x-ray person, P10,000 each for cargo tracking Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista holds a press conference at the poll body’s Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban and the Import Assessment Ser- main office in Intramuros, Manila on Monday, Aug. 7. vices; and P7,500 for the sector million daily. for BoC’s bosses. One wonders if staffer.

And since President Duterte those named are now quaking in Assuming that only 100 con- aims to base his decision on their shoes—or making a mountainers go through this payola Customs Commissioner Nica- tain of hay before quitting time. system every day, just a frac- nor Faeldon on congressional And to think it all began when tion of the thousands released reports about the bureau, the a lady lawyer called the fourthby Customs, the grease would Taguba testimony sounds like an highest official in the land an range between P50,000 to P1 exit call, if not a trial summons “imbecile.” (ManilaTimes.net)

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Lawyer denies Marcoses’ hand in Duterte...

PAGE A5 from Loon warning him that his wife would go to Duterte if the amount was not settled.

“I didn’t think that she would do it. but it happened. It could be a form of extortion,” he said.

After a few months, Bautista found himself also talking to Duterte, whom he likened to a mediator and marriage counselor during their meeting at Malacañang last week.

Bautista, an impeachable official, is now facing an investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation and possible congressional inquiries into his supposed false declaration in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. (Camille Diola/Philstar.com) Patricia Paz “Tish” Bautista

Duterte puts up P2-M bounty for cops...

PAGE A5 abuse, do not commit crime, not the extra-judicial killing pictured by the human rights (advocates), just leave them alone. You know, people judge best when they condemn,” he said.

Duterte hits De Lima anew Duterte also described as “naïve,” the Liberal International members who visited Sen. Leila de Lima in her jail cell in Camp Crame. A critic of Duterte’s antinarcotics campaign, de Lima is now facing charges for allegedly receiving bribes from detained drug lords during her stint as justice secretary.

“But you know, the one thing that I really hated and that’s why I’d give them a bad mouth is because they are so naïve and stupid that they come here and visited the Secretary of Justice who was all along running the show of shabu and illegal drugs inside the prison,” Duterte said.

Duterte also ordered the military and the police to train elite troopers to strengthen their capabilities against threats like illegal drugs and terrorism.

No ‘pork’ in proposed 2018 budget

by Paolo and

Inquirer.net photo

A

RomeRo maRy GRace Padin Philstar.com

MANILA - Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno yesterday maintained there are no pork barrel allocations in the proposed P3.767trillion national budget for 2018.

“Look at the budget. Let’s not talk about ‘pork,’” Diokno told reporters at the Senate when asked about Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s call for lawmakers to give up their pork barrel in the proposed budget so that the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or the free college education law can be funded.

The budget chief noted that Lacson himself was not sure whether there were indeed pork barrel allocations in the proposed fiscal spending program for next year.

The senator earlier said the Senate last year excised some

P8.3 billion in pork barrel allocations tucked in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways to fund the free tuition in state universities and colleges (SUCs) this year.

Lacson also said he heard that one congressman got P5 billion in pork barrel in the 2017 national budget and another got P6 billion.

He also said some senators apparently got some, too, at around P300 million, adding he and Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III waived theirs.

He vowed to ferret out pork barrel allocations during the budget deliberations in the Senate in the coming months.

Other senators were mum on Lacson’s claims except Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who said he “already gave up (my pork barrel) last year.”

Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, one of the authors of the free

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno yesterday maintained there are no pork barrel allocations in the proposed P3.767-trillion national budget for 2018.

Philstar.com photo by Krizjohn Rosales

college education law, did not respond directly to the issue but said, “We can use non-performing budgets and fund this measure, which is a worthy investment in our youth, and not just an expense.”

SC grants release of documents for impeachment complaint vs Sereno

by Rosette

adel

Philstar.com

MANILA — The Supreme Court en banc on Tuesday, Aug. 8 approved the request to release Ozamiz Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez and her brother Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. certified documents meant to support the impeachment comarrive at the NAIA-3 with police escorts on their way to Camp Crame.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban plaint against Chief Justice Maria “I do not have the money yet soldiers. I want a strong mili- Lourdes Sereno.

The SC magistrates granted the but I am ordering the AFP (Armed tary, a strong Armed Forces Forces of the Philippines) to start and a strong police. And when request of the Volunteers Against the training of about 5,000. And in we are there, we’ll be able to Crime and Corruption (VACC) and the police, 2,000, I want you SAF fight the enemies of the state the Vanguard of the Philippine Con(Special Action Forces)-trained,” better and more equipped. I stitution Inc (VPCI), who last week said you will have a priority in filed an impeachment complaint he said. against Sereno before the House “I want tough and learned governance.” of Representatives.

SC Public Information Office chief and spokesperson Theodore Te said the justices approved the from her alleged creation of sev- on Good Government (PCGG) released of the certified copies of eral private foundations in Swit- had earlier identified a total of six documents: zerland and holding of financial $658 million deposits in the 1. En Banc Resolution in A.M. interests in various private enter- conjugal Swiss dollar accounts 12-11-9-SC supposedly adopted on prises from 1978 and 1984 while of Mrs. Marcos and her husband, Nov. 27, 2012 creating the Judiciary she was a member of the Interim the late strongman Ferdinand Decentralized Office and re-openMarcos Sr. Batasang Pambansa. ing the Regional Court AdministraThe graft cases, are apart tion Office in Central Visayas The ombudsman said Marcos violated Section 3 (h) of Republic from the civil forfeiture cases 2. Subsequent En Banc ResoluAct 3019, or the Anti-Graft and that the PCGG filed before the tion recalling the aforementioned Corrupt Practices Act, which pro- Sandiganbayan in 1987 which A.M.12-11-9-SC hibits public officials having finan- seek to recover an estimated 3. Sereno’s memorandum on the cial or pecuniary interests in any $10 billion in alleged ill-gotten of appointment of lawyer Solomon business, contract or transaction the Marcoses and their cronies, Lumba as Chief Justice Staff Head in which he or she has the official including paintings and jewelry 4. Senior Associate Justice Antocollections and shares in various nio Carpio’s letter on the withdrawal capacity to intervene.

The Presidential Commission corporations. of his signature in the appointment

Decision on 26-year-old graft cases vs...

PAGE A5 judge Cesario del Rosario, who originally handled the cases.

Sison complied with the court’s ruling, waiving Marcos’ right to submit additional evidence.

Sison made a formal offer of evidence for his client on March 7, which the court admitted in full amid opposition from the prosecution. The evidence that the defense offered included the transcript of the trial of the Manila RTC. Filed by the ombudsman in December 1991, the ten counts of graft against Marcos stemmed

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 10-16, 2017

of Solomon Lumba as Chief Justice Staff Head II 5. Memorandum to the Court en banc dated December 2012 of Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro seeking the recall of Sereno’s administrative order creating the new Judiciary Decentralized Office and re-opening the Regional Court Administration Office in Region 7 or Central Visayas 6. En Banc Resolution creating the Needs Assessment Committee to determine the need to decentralize the functions of the Supreme Court in support of its power of administrative supervision over lower courts Te said VACC and VPCI requested for seven documents but the court will not release the seventh document, which contains De Castro’s memorandum to the court en banc dated July 10, 2017.

In her memorandum, De Castro called for the review of Sereno’s administrative orders regarding the following matters: • The appointment of lawyer Brenda Jay Mendoza in June 2016 as chief of the Philippine Mediation Center Office under Philippine Judicial Academy by mere memorandum, which was not referred to the Court en banc for its consideration.

• Frequent foreign travels and grant of allowance to lawyer Maria

Lourdes Oliveros and other Office of the Chief Justice staff purportedly with funding support from host organizers of the travel as approved by the Sereno and two division chair persons • Delays in filling up the post of SC’s deputy clerk of court, chief attorney, and two positions for assistant court administrator, which were supposedly issued without approval of the court en banc The complainants requested certified copies of the documents after House Majority Floor Leader Rudy Fariñas advised VACC lawyer Lorenzo Gadon to verify attachments in his impeachment complaintagainst Sereno before it can be endorsed by the members of the House of Representatives.

“I advised him to get true copies of the SC orders or circulars that he is alleging to be parts of his causes of action,” Fariñas last week said in a statement.

Fariñas earlier said “newspaper reports are not authentic records.”

The VACC and VPCI’s complaint was filed last August 2 without indicating any endorsement from a member of the House of Representatives.

VACC founder and president Dante Jimenez said he is hopeful that one of the 294 members of the House of Representatives would endorse their complaint.

A

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Journal

Jake Cuenca not after Making it to the top through skills, hard work and dedication profit as indie producer Chess gRandmasteR Wesley so

By Nathalie

Robles

AJPress

It all turns deadly after the first handshake.

Silence all throughout, bowed heads and downcast eyes, not out of dismay, but out of concentration. Every piece is essential, every move, crucial. Under scrutiny, each motion is analyzed, and what comes next is highly anticipated. there is no room for even the slightest error in this game, as miscalculation screams defeat.

And defeat is one’s end game. this is Wesley So’s environment. At 23, he is now the second best chess player in the world.

Considered one of the youngest grandmasters on the planet, his position in the chess world proves that mastery and skillfulness lie not on age, but on dedication and ability.

In the Philippines, So started playing chess when he was 6 years old. With an incredible skill at such a young age, he was normally seen roaming around the community daring people to play with him.

“I started as a kid then kept working at it,” So told the Asian Journal.

He did work — real hard.

At age 9, he acquired his very

first major tournament victory in the 2003 Philippine National Chess Championships.

A win year after year During the 2004 6th Asian Age-Group Chess Championship, So received gold medals for both standard and rapid chess under the individual category, and silver on the team category. He was also 13th place in the World Youth Chess Championship in Greece that same year.

In 2005, So won gold awards in standard, rapid, and blitz chess under the individual category at the 7th ASEAN Age-Group Chess Championship in thailand. Aside from that, he also tied in first place at the World Youth Chess Championship in Greece. He also won ninth place in the 12th Nice Open International in France and was declared best among under – 12 players in Masters/ Challengers International Open tournament in Singapore.

In 2006, he was awarded his first Grand Master (GM) norm, a title signifying a high level of performance in a chess tournament at the Offene Internationale Bayerische Schach Meisterschaft in Bad Wiessee, Germany. the following year, So gained his second GM norm during the

by bot

GloRioso Philstar.com

JAkE Cuenca has made a career out of portraying different roles on the big and small screens and he never stops improving his craft through attending acting classes here and abroad.

Now, he is set to try his hand at another endeavor by taking part in this year’s Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival not just as an actor but also as a producer of “Requited,” which was written and directed by Nerissa Picadizo.

Requited is one of the 10 finalists in the Full-Length Features category of the 13th edition of the indie filmfest. It is Jake’s second Cinemalaya outing — after his lead starrer “Nuwebe” in 2013 — and his first venture as a producer.

According to the kapamilya actor, he fell in love with the story right after reading the script that Wesley So Photos courtesy of Antonio Milesi for Wesleyso.com was personally presented to him by World Junior Chess Champion- online. “I do not use social media Nerissa. In fact, he didn’t just agree ship, later that year, he achieved and I stay off the internet,” he said. to star in it but he also waived his his third in the 3rd Pichay Cup “I work every day on the board talent fee and shelled out an undisInternational Open in the Philip- and have some form of physical exercise every day. I do not use pines.

So went on to became the social media and I stay off the youngest National Junior Open internet. time is very precious Chess Champion in 2007, wherein and I have a lot to learn. the wise he was awarded with a gold medal use of time is critical to being the on board one, at the World Un- best you can be.” the grandmaster also utilizes der16 team Championships.

Sacrifice, discipline and dedi- his schedule in the best way possible. “time is very precious and cation At 14, Federation Internatio- I have a lot to learn. the wise use nale des Echecs (FIDE) or World of time is critical to being the best Chess Federation, the governing you can be.”

In 2008, during the ASEAN body for international chess competitions, labeled him Grandmas- Masters Chess Circuit Grandter, making him ninth youngest master tournament in Indonesia, grandmaster in history and was So won fourth place. this was then the strongest player in the followed by a Battle of Grandmasters in his home country, the world under 16. “to be on this level is a full time Philippines of the same year. He commitment not an easy ride,” also went to UAE for the 10th So told the Asian Journal in an Dubai Open Chess Championship interview. Adding that sacrifice and 2008 JAPFA Chess Festival and discipline are two key factors wherein he both got first place.

Out of 73 players in the 2nd The Kapuso actress pronounces the doubting in his conditioning, he explained that unlike majority of people his Philippine Open International Rhian Ramos dead and welcomes a confident age, he rarely engages himself PAGE B2 woman who fights her fears.

Jake Cuenca

Philstar.com photo

closed amount — aside from the P750,000 grant from Cinemalaya — for the film.

“Making this film was very fulfilling for me that I didn’t think about the returns but in what way I could help for it to come out more appealing than what it was,” PAGE B2

Rhian Ramos finally lets go of herself

by MaRidol

Rañoa-bisMaRk Philstar.com

FOR years, no one suspected Rhian Ramos’ easy smile and sunny outlook hid a not-so-pleasant secret. She was such a people pleaser she forgot to take care of herself. She wanted to make everybody happy but ended up down and out.

“I used to be the type of person who had dreams but put them off,” she admitted a day before she went on stage for the concert “Rhian of Steel,” which her fans, the Cyberhians, mounted for her at teatrino for her 11th year in showbiz.

PAGE B2

EntErtainmEnt

B august 10-16, 2017 • Las VEgas asIaN JOuRNaL

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Making it to the top through skills...

Jake Cuenca not after profit as indie...

PAGE B1

said Jake during the presscon for Requited held last week.

He added, “At the same time, sobra ‘yung attachment ko dito kasi on- and off-screen, nakasama ako sa proseso kaya nakakatuwa.”

The dramatic biking love story with splashes of adventure took three years to complete. Direk Nerissa shared that writing the story lasted a year with only Jake in mind as the most fitting to play the character. She knew then that the actor was busy with his ABS-CBN soap “Pasion de Amor,” “but I was willing to wait for him.”

Until the two met during awarding ceremonies for Ani ng Dangal and Indie Bravo where they both won awards for their respective works. The director took the opportunity to pitch a proposal to Jake that led to their partnership for “Requited.” But prior to becoming a Cinemalaya official entry, Requited has already been selected as a finalist at the 2015 Manila Film Financing Forum and the 2016 Cinemalaya DGPI Film Pitching. “And I presented the story to Jake even before it was accepted for the filmfest,” direk Nerissa said.

The film centers on the journey of former lovers Matt (Jake) and Sandy (Anna Luna) who travel from Manila to Mt. Pinatubo on a bike in order to fulfill the former’s wish who is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.

Chess Championship, Wesley So was ranked 10. Also, he won second place in the 1st Subic Bay International Open Chess Championship.

Despite his titles and achievements, humility still stems out of the chess grandmaster as he described the love he has for the sport.

“They say this sort of work is not something you choose, it chooses you. I am grateful to be chosen,” he said. “It (chess) is my job and I am good at it and the people I work with treat me with respect. It is an arena I am comfortable in.”

During the 37th Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy, So became the youngest Filipino International Master and the youngest member of the national men’s team.

So acquired a gold medal during the World Youth U-16 Chess Olympiad in the individual category, followed by a tie for second best in Vietnam’s 1st Dragon Capital Chess Open or also known as 1st ASEAN Grand Prix all in 2008.

Willpower and dedication strongly emanates from the Chinese-Filipino chess player. He frequently exercises calm and tranquility that even stress cannot tear down.

“I am not a person who gets stressed easily. It rarely happens to me. I think prepare well and get your work done and no reason for stress,” he shared In 2009, he won first place for the 71st Corus Chess in Netherlands wherein he was given the Beste Jone Talente award. He also won the Battle of Grandmasters in the Philippines and became the top junior winner for Aeroflot Open in Russia both in 2009 and 2010.

The following year, he won in NH Chess Tournament Rising Stars vs Experience and he acquired silver medal for the Team Philippines on the 16th Asian Games in China.

It was in 2011 when he was awarded with a gold medal during the 26th Southeast Asian Games by finishing undefeated with 9 points in the Blitz chess competition.

He was first place in Blitz chess and was undefeated in all 18 games during the 11th Asian Individual Open/ Blitz Chess Championships. He also became the 2012 champion in French League Top 12 also undefeated

Wesley So

Photos courtesy of Antonio Milesi for Wesleyso.com

in 10 games.

He won first place in Canada for two separate meets: Quebec Open Chess Championship and Toronto International Chess Championship. He also ranked first place in SPICE Blitz 2012.

So had nine victories in 2013 alone. He was first place in the Reykjavik Open wherein he was the first player from the Philippines to ever participate and he was also the first player in the 67-year history of American Collegiate Chess to break the 2700 rating mark. From then on he was known as the no. 2 ranked junior chess player in the world.

Asked on how important the sport is to him, So described chess as something he holds dear. “It is my job. It has given me a present and a future. I feel God have given me a gift that I love and respect,” he said.

More wins His other wins for the year include Final Four of College Chess and The Bill Wright Saint Louis Open both won also in 2014, Calgary International Chess Classic and Blitz Championship, Las Vegas International Chess Festival, 27th Summer Universiade, 2nd Noel Skelton Open, 17th Unive Chess Tournament Hoogeven and Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Championship.

In 2014, So won first place in the following tournaments: Capablanca Memorial, National Open Blitz Sectionals Las Vegas International Chess Festival, ACP Golden Classic, 3rd Noel Skelton Open, Millionaire Chess and North American Open.

22nd Bunratty Chess Festival,

Cez Chess Trophy 4 Game Match, Bilbao Chess Masters were among the tournaments he won first place in during 2015.

Last year, he won The Sinquefield Cup, 42nd Chess Olympiad, London Chess Classic and Grand Chess Tour.

“I am close to challenging for the world championship. It brings me more support and I get better invitations to the biggest events.

Plus you learn more when working with the top players and my ambition is always to expand my understanding,” he shared.

He also urges those who aspire to excel in the field of chess to dedicate themselves to the sport and commit wholeheartedly.

“If you love to work and study, this is the job for you. If you need more socialization, more hanging out, more party time, it is definitely not for you. Most importantly pray and ask God to guide your way.”

At present, So now plays for the United States. He migrated for a better opportunity abroad but was absorbed by the chess team.

“If you are willing to work hard every door opens. They respect talent and hard work here. I have never felt discriminated against or disrespected,” he said.

He also mentioned that he had to make an effort in order to be a Filipino athlete in the U.S. “I made an effort to learn what they want here and have already received so much in the way of encouragement and practical support and I am not even a U.S. citizen. I love to work hard here because there are rewards for your efforts,” he said.

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PAGE B1

Jake is certain that the film’s narrative can be easily understood by everyone. He was impressed at how the director clearly put the message of the story without requiring an extended viewing time. “And one more thing, unlike other indies na pag-iisipin kang masyado instead of you enjoying the film, ito madaling sakyan; it is easy to understand.”

Despite several challenges during the shoot, “Requited” was completed without flaws. One challenge was the need to finish shooting the scenes before dusk rapidly falls. Scenes were mostly shot at Mt. Pinatubo “kaya may oras (na sinusunod) kasi pag-kagat ng dilim, kailangan na namin umalis,” recounted Jake.

The filmmaker also expressed admiration for the kind of attitude Jake displayed towards his work.

He’s already in character even before the cameras started to grind.

But his character didn’t require him to show an intense level of acting.

Direk Nerissa had instructed him to portray the character as natural as natural can be. “Ako kasi ‘yung hiniwalayan at iniwan dito at ako yung kawawa,” said Jake. “Requited” revolves around three themes: Unrequited love, health struggles and the process of moving on.

Jake also admitted that his attachment to the film is on a more personal level. Is it because he

invested so much particularly in the financial aspect?

“I am not looking at the numbers; ‘di ko tinitignan ‘yung returns pero sasabihin ko rin naman na may potential ‘yung movie na maging commercially-released kasi ang ganda nung story. When direk and I were talking, we’re really wishing for a commercial release after Cinemalaya. From there, maybe we’ll think about the numbers and returns. But when it comes to doing the film, gusto ko lang makabuo ng magandang pelikula,” answered Jake.

Are they, at this point, wishing to bag an award?

Direk Nerissa replied, “In the beginning, of course, those thoughts came into my mind but the process of making the film and how hard it was, just finishing it was the biggest achievement.

There were financial problems that came along so nung natapos nakakatuwa talaga. Everything is just icing on the cake. Indie film is such a hard thing to put together sobrang saludo ako sa gumagawa ng indie. With an award, we can only hope but I feel good about the project and I’m really proud of it.”

Asked if Jake has plans to produce more films in the future, the actor said he sees himself leading towards film directing. “One day, I want to study (film directing) and then be a director also, parang mas doon ako papunta.”

Rhian Ramos finally lets go...

PAGE B1 Insecurity tore her self-esteem into bits and pieces.

“I didn’t like myself when I was younger. I’d look at the mirror and was not pleased. I watched myself on TV and got annoyed with my acting. I watched my interviews and hated my personality.”

Today, at 26, the Kapuso actress pronounced the doubting Rhian dead and welcomed a confident woman who fights her fears.

She goes fast and furious on the race track, with or without her Fil-Chinese boyfriend Jason Choachuy by her side.

“I used to be scared of getting into an accident if I’d go fast (on the racetrack),” she pointed out.

But thanks to Jason, an experienced racer she first met on the racetrack, Rhian conquered her fears, zoomed across the tracks at full throttle and enjoyed it.

Now, she blocks her schedule

once a month to join the Mini Cooper Race that sends her adrenaline rushing, her heart thumping.

Away from the klieg lights, Rhian is in another world, testing her limits and discovering what joy there is in a non-showbiz sport that “keeps me grounded and offers me a slice of real life.”

She found a mentor in Jason, who taught her extra racing skills like drifting. After all, they started out as friends.

“He offered to teach me how to drift, or how to take control of an out-of-control car,” smiled Rhian.

Her first concert was also a proof of Rhian’s brimming selfconfidence. Years after dismissing this kind of show “as a joke,” Rhian finally agreed what to her was unthinkable at first.

“I sing every day — when I go to the supermarket, shop, take a shower, or even make a sandwich.

But I was always afraid and em-

barrassed to sing in public. I didn’t want to be laughed at by singers,” she recalled.

One day, she “decided to let it go.”

Not only that. She chose her own backup dancers (Adlib) and band (Skylight) for the concert.

The day after the show, she flew to Negros to face the press and discuss another first in her career: The martial arts film Tapado.

Thanks to her health and fitness regimen, Rhian feels confident about the fight scenes and stunts that await her in the action film set entirely in Negros Occidental.

Rhian is looking forward to doing three more films after Tapado.

After all, when you’ve conquered your fears, you’re up to any challenge that comes your way.

That’s how Rhian feels, not just as an actress, but as a person comfortable in her own skin.

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ASIAN AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL & SINEHAN SA SUMMER 2017

Focusing on Filipino short films in NYC fests

By MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

A number of Filipino short films have made it to the lineup of the 40th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF40), presented by Asian CineVision in association with Asia Society. The annual fest, held from July 26 to August 5 at Asia Society and Village east Cinema in manhattan, is the nation’s first and longest running Asian interest film festival. This year, AAIFF40 is proud to present 20 feature films and 63 short films representing 18 countries.

A couple of these short films also made their way to the Sinehan sa Summer 2017, an annual month-long event sponsored by the Philippine Consulate General new York.

We chatted with the two directors whose films are being shown in both festivals. At AAIFF, both shorts were under the “made in nYC: Love Letters to new York” program, which explains that with almost 8.5 million people spread across five boroughs, compelling new York City stories are being told every day. This program highlighted the diverse aspirations, failures, and energy of Asians in the big Apple.

“Distance” (directed by Craig Nisperos) Craig nisperos is a Seattleborn and raised storyteller based in nYC. As a first generation FilipinoAmerican, he said he wanted to give a fresh perspective on mod-

ern day immigration. “Distance” is the story of Craig, a modern day immigrant who struggles with being away from his home and his family. “even in a city of millions, loneliness is inescapable,” the film’s short description explains.

“There are similarities with my parents’ immigration story and my story from leaving Seattle to move to nYC. The intent was to focus on the mental health aspect of moving away from home and the importance of family in many decisions,” Craig shared. “The term Distance refers to the physical and emotional separation from family.”

Craig was inspired to do the film “Distance” based on his own experience as a Seattle transplant in nYC for about a decade, including the people he has met along the way, some of whom also moved away from what they consider “home.”

There, Craig realized that despite the “great and exciting” feeling to start fresh outside of one’s comfort zones, there was an underlying emotion that everyone has experienced - whether it’s for a fleeting moment or for a month.

“The problem I noticed was that many weren’t willing to openly talk about it. Some friends kept it internal, some when to therapy. After creating Distance, it was interesting to see how many people did open up about the dark side of their experiences,” he shared.

Have you always been inter-

Graham Powell, Michael Manese, Maan Cruz, Mara Lee Gilbert, PJ Valentini

“The Pleasure of Being Served” (directed by Michael Manese)

ested in film-making?

As a filmmaker, Craig got his start with cameras like most people, which he used to document life as he saw it, especially during his travels. After moving to nYC, he developed more interest in photography. When he started to dwell and focus on the story-telling part, he realized he wanted to learn more about the craft of filmmaking.

He gained more experience as he did commercials, music videos, and wedding films where he had to tell stories from 30 seconds, three minutes or 5 minutes.

“Distance” is Craig’s first short film.

“The goal of the film was to tell my story of moving away from home. I wanted to say the words I have always wanted to tell my family every time I wanted to move home and also write the words I’ve heard to keep me moving on in nYC. As mentioned

in the Q&A, the hardest part of the film was getting the story right for my parents,” he shared.

“Without them immigrating from the Philippines, raising me in an atypical Filipino household, and always encouraging me to pursue my passions, I wouldn’t have been able to do what I have done, including Distance. Although not every word is autobiographical, I wanted to create something that any viewer who has ever felt the pains of loneliness could relate to.”

“The Pleasure of Being Served” (directed by Michael Manese) born in the Philippines and raised in Passaic, new Jersey, michael manese studied filmmaking at rutgers university. He is a Web Project manager by trade and an Advanced brown belt Karate student.

“The Pleasure of being Served” tells the story of rosa, an undocumented immigrant from the Philippines (played by maan Cruz) who works for a wealthy family in manhattan and struggles to make ends up as she desperately works to bring her son to America. Her job as a domestic worker proves more difficult as she is tasked with juggling the logistics of her boss’s girlfriends. After befriending both of them, she’s cornered into making a decision — either be quiet and accept his money or tell the women she cares about of his manipulative lies.

“I’m hoping this project will not only highlight Filipinos and their culture to a wider, mainstream audience but also provide a glimpse of what it’s like to be an undocumented worker working in America,” michael said. “It’s just something you don’t see on

“Flip the Record”

Photos courtest of Asian American International Film Festival (AIFF)

“Distance” (directed by Craig Nisperson)

“Buang-Bulawan (Fool’s Gold)”

a regular basis on TV or the movies. my long term is to eventually produce a feature length version of this short film that’s set against the background of the 2016 uS Presidential election.” michael’s inspiration to do the film comes from two of his favorite movies ever - “Hud” (the name of the male lead character) and “The remains of the Day,” which coincidentally, feature a cleaning woman, and a butler.

“I like the themes of how some characters, some people deal with getting or not getting emotionally attached to their work. I’ve been

an aspiring filmmaker for years.

I’m still making films but I need to have a day job and I try to keep my focus on the two separate.

Also, I’ve always wanted to do a movie with subtitles. Here was my chance,” he shared.

His interest in filmmaking was piqued way back in the 80s after watching the Woody Allen film “Annie Hall” when he was in high school. He was amazed that Allen wrote, directed, and starred in it, a true auteur.

He couldn’t make films back then so for a while he got into PAGE B7

PeoPle and events

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Groundbreaking ceremony welcomes Shanghai Plaza in Las Vegas A groundbreAking ceremony took place on Friday, August 4 to welcome a new retail plaza in Las Vegas’ Chinatown area. in attendance was Mr. Wu, president of the new north American Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, Clark County Commissioner Larry brown, and Congresswoman dina Titus. kicking off the ceremony was a spirited lion dance by the Lohan School of Shaolin. “i’m excited to welcome Shanghai Plaza to district 1,” said rep. dina Titus of nevada during the project’s revealing. The 4.3-acre, 80,000-square-feet Shanghai Plaza is being built on Spring Mountain road at Arville Street, just eight minutes away from the Las Vegas strip, and 12 minutes away from McCarran international Airport.

Shanghai Plaza is planned to consist of four two-story buildings inspired by Shikumen, a traditional Shanghai architectural style, and

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will be designed by Yihong Liu & Associates, an architectural firm based in the united States.

The project’s development will be lead by Wai Tak ng, Ceo of Shanghai Huide real estate.

According to the project’s website, the center will introduce well-known retail shops, business offices, and gourmet Asian food.

“Las Vegas Chinatown is one of the top 10 Chinatowns in the country,” said Titus. “This newest addition will no doubt continue bringing tourists from around the world and locals to visit.”

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) recorded a visitor volume of 42.9 million in 2016. This follows a continuously upward trend from previous years.

Tourist numbers from Asia have also been seeing an increase, with Japan, China, and South korea being the top countries of origin. The rise of Asian tourists is being en-

Rep. Dina Titus

couraged by recent and upcoming Las Vegas developments meant to appeal to the demographic.

Last december 2, China’s Hainan Airlines launched the first ever-direct flight from beijing to Las Vegas. on december 3, the nine-story Lucky dragon Hotel and Casino opened, further encouraging the Asian cultural and

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gaming experience. Also set to open within the next few years is the Asian-themed resorts World Las Vegas.

According to kTnV, Shanghai Plaza is scheduled to open August of next year. it will be situated across another well-known retail center, Chinatown Plaza. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

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AJPress photos by Robert Macabagdal

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Your Immigration Solution ATTY. BRITTANY MILLIASSEAU & NANCY MILLER If you’ve watched the news, browsed a media website, perused a newspaper, or scrolled through social media newsfeeds in the last few days, chances are that you’ve heard about a new immigration bill recently introduced to Congress. If so far you haven’t paid too much attention to the proposals and nuances of the bill, it is now the time to listen and take appropriate action as the potential legislation could seriously impact you and your noncitizen friends and family members.

On Wednesday, August 2, President Trump appeared at the White House along with two U.S. senators to reveal the “Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy Act,” or the “RAISE” Act. The Act, which is aimed at reducing legal immigra-

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

tion by 50 percent within the next ten years, proposes significant cuts to family-based immigration and the refugee program. In addition, the Act seeks to implement a skills/merit-based point system for employment-based immigration.

In regards to family-based immigration, the proposed legislation eliminates all family-based immigration categories except for spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Currently, as the law stands, U.S. citizens may petition their noncitizen spouses, parents (if the U.S. citizen is over 21 years old), and children under the age of 21 as immediate relatives, providing the noncitizen with immediate visa availability.

U.S. citizens may also petition their siblings as “non-immediate” relatives who are subject to limited visa availability. The law also currently allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to petition their adult children. However, under the

proposed regulation, adult U.S. citizens would no longer be able to petition their noncitizen parents or siblings for a green card.

Further, U.S. citizens would no longer be permitted to petition their adult children and lawful permanent residents would no longer be permitted to sponsor their unmarried adult children.

It should be noted that while the bill restricts adult U.S. citizens from petitioning their parents, it does create a nonimmigrant classification for parents of U.S. citizens which is rather restrictive. Parents of U.S. citizens would not be eligible for work authorization or public benefits and their adult child would be responsible for arranging for health insurance coverage prior to visa issuance.

While it is uncertain whether this proposed legislation will actually become law, the clock on various avenues for immigrating family is ticking. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who want to bring their adult

Rewriting your own story “A useless life is an early death.”

– Goethe volvement in order to grasp the concept of our own mortality and to know that we are here for a purpose.

We’re not here to merely consume resources or take up space.

We were not meant to spend the greater part of our lives posting or browsing through our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts.

Consider the fearsome dinosaurs. Grazing the earth for millions of years, that is essentially what they did — consumed resources and took up space. Not by intelligence but by sheer size and numbers, they had dominion over all other species for millions of years, until one day, as scientists try to explain their extinction, a rogue asteroid about 7 miles long, possibly got unhinged off its orbit in the asteroid belt, hit the earth with such impact, setting off a series of volcanic eruptions that covered the atmosphere with ash far above the stratosphere, so that sunlight could not penetrate through the haze for years, killing off the plant life, upsetting and destroying the food chain balance and effectively starving and wiping the dinosaurs off the face of the earth 65 million years ago.

Health@Heart

Aspirin: Anti-cancer?

DOES aspirin protect us against cancer?

Yes, according to clinical studies conducted on patients taking daily aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) for conditions like arthritis, etc., or among heart patients taking aspirin to thin their blood to prevent blood clots and blockages in the coronary (heart) arteries.

The findings show that those taking daily dose of aspirin (as low as 81 mg a day) have almost 43 percent lesser risk in developing pancreatic cancer, compared to those who do not take aspirin daily. More investigation is underway to find out the explanation for this apparent link, and also if aspirin similarly protects us against colon cancer, other malignancies and against other conditions. Indeed, our longtime household friend, aspirin, so commonly simple and inexpensive medication for the usual headaches and pains, is truly an

amazing wonder drug.

How does wine protect our heart?

Wine, more especially the red variety, contains a chemical called Resveratrol, which has been found to be cardio-protective, among other benefits of moderate and disciplined drinking. The recommended “dose” is one to two glasses of red wine with dinner. Exactly what mechanism is at play to protect the heart when Resveratrol enters our circulation is not totally clear, but clinical investigations have shown that red wine is good for our health. The one particular red wine that is supposed to contain the highest level of Resveratrol is Pinot Noir, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon. The caveat is, of course, moderation and discipline.

What is the cause of stomach ulcers?

In the past, the medical community thought that stomach ulcers were caused by hyperacidity (high acid content in the stomach), by eating spicy food, alcohol ingestion, or even by prolonged hunger. This was what

Here is earth’s tabula rasa story — starting on a clean slate, a new lease on life. When the reptiles died, mammals, of which we are classified under, began their ascent. Human beings with purpose came to be.

Yet each man’s purpose is nebulous and not always obvious. Purpose does not come as clear as the light of day. We have to seek it out. Either by choice or circumstance, some exceptional ones find their purpose early enough and proceed to fulfill it.

But the great majority of people on the bell curve don’t have the nose to sense their true north.

Most of us of the garden variety meander about our lives trying different things until we finally stumble upon it by trial and error. The annals of history are rife with such stories.

St. Paul, almost single handedly nourished the beginnings of the early Christian church through his numerous travels.

But he didn’t start out that way.

He was just as passionate about persecuting Christians before he was tapped from above to do a complete conversion.

Edwin Hubble, the great astronomer who lived in the ninePAGE B7

physicians and other healthcare personnel were taught, and the prevailing scientific opinion at the time. Today, we know better. The cause of majority of stomach ulcers is an infection, caused by H. pylori bug. When the researcher who discovered this initially presented his theory and findings to the world medical community, he was scorned and literally laughed at…until various independent and extensive laboratory and clinical studies proved him right. He became a hero who had revolutionized the treatment of gastric ulcers, transforming this disease entity from a surgical illness to a medical condition manageable by pills, instead of by a knife in the operating room.

Why is the combination of viagra and nitrates fatal?

Viagra (Sildenafil citrate) is the very effective “anti-impotent” pill prescribed for male erectile dysfunction, whose chemical action allows the veins in the penis to dilate and fill with more blood to cause engorgement and erection, enabling the individual to successful penetration and PAGE B7

Las Vegas Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show 2017 THE Las Vegas Harvest Festival® Original Art and Craft Show is returning to Cashman Center, September 8-10, 2017, ready to again impress all attendees with new vendors, exciting entertainment and important community service efforts!

With over 250 exhibitors, the Las Vegas Harvest Festival boasts over 24,000 American handmade arts and crafts, including jewelry, woodturnings, art and photography, specialty foods, clothing, décor and more. Attendees come to shop the handcrafted wares but stay for the unique entertainment acts, live music, prize drawings, artist demonstrations, and delicious foods!

The event will be on September 8 – 10, 2017 at Cashman Center with the following schedule: Friday: 10 AM – 5 PM, Saturday: 10 AM – 6 PM, and Sunday: 10

B5

Major changes in immigration law proposed by the Senate

IF you’ve been given the chance to restart a new life after you’ve gone through some life-changing, miraculous experience, such as surviving a horrific accident when everyone else perished, or finding yourself inexplicably healed from a deadly disease, then you’ll know what it feels to be given a reprieve.

It is a fresh slate, a clean paper, what the Greeks call a tabula rasa, on which you can begin writing your new story. Or if you use a computer, click on a new blank document and chase the cursor.

How does one use this new lease on life?

Most people lucky enough to be given a second chance, will quickly realize that this new lease can just be an extra few months or years, and in the most blessed scenarios, a decade or two. Each day beyond that critical turning point is a bonus, every single moment, a gift.

Sometimes, God mercifully knocks some sense into us through drastic means by throwing us a curve ball to bring us down on our knees so that we have no choice but to look above and beyond our own petty, selfish concerns and total self-in-

PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 10-16, 2017

AM – 5 PM. Tickets are at: adults: $9.00, Seniors (62+): $ 7.00, Youth (1317): $ 4.00, Kids 12 and under are Free. Military discount for all Active Military, Retired Military, and Veterans arriving in uniform or have Military ID. Ticket price is $ 7.00, and can also use a $ 2.00 OFF coupon. Tickets valid for re-entry all weekend. $ 2.00 OFF General or Senior admission price when attendees donate a can of food, or formula, or paper products for Safe Nest, a non-profit agency that provides shelter, counseling and advocacy for victims of domestic abuse and their children.

It’s all great fun for the entire family!

And just for the children; there are a lot of special things to do in the Kids Zone including the “Make it and Take it Area”, where Macaroni Kid, Operation

Christmas Child, and DISCOVERY Children’s Museum will be featuring hands-on activities and crafts. Come play with us!

Safe Nest will also be offering a very convenient PARCEL CHECK to assist everyone with easy handling and selling Harvest Festival bags to make your experience at the show more convenient while contributing to a new “Play Ground” for Safe Nest at-risk families.

Sit down and relax for a bit and enjoy fabulous stage entertainment at the “Food Court Stage”!

As you shop and explore all the things to see at Harvest Festival you’ll also be entertained and amused by Harvest Festival’s® always fun “Strolling Entertainment!”

For more information, call (925) 392-7300 or visit www. harvestfestival.com.

children, siblings, or parents to the U.S. should act now. Those who are eligible to naturalize should do so in order to be able to bring family members here while they still can. Don’t delay — consult with an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney as soon as possible to discuss family-based immigration options which may no longer be available in the near future.

The allocation of the 140,000 employment-based green cards issued annually was also addressed in the recent immigration bill. If the RAISE Act passes, the current employment-based immigration categories will be replaced with a skills/merit-based system whereby applications will be evaluated and ranked pursuant to a number of factors including English language proficiency, age, educational level, investment in a commercial U.S. enterprise, and achievements such as an Olympic medal or Nobel Prize. If you believe you may be qualified for an employment-

based petition such as a petition for an individual of extraordinary ability, multinational manager/ executive, or an outstanding professor/researcher, you or your employer should consult with competent immigration counsel to discuss your options before a highly competitive merit-based system is implemented.

Some additional changes outlined in the RAISE Act include the total elimination of the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, or the “green card lottery” which currently awards 50,000 green cards to noncitizens from countries with low rates of immigration, as well as the reduction of the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. to 50,000 per year.

If the RAISE Act is passed

by Congress, the president has indicated he will sign it. It will become law. If it does not, the bill gives a clear indication of what Congress intends for the future of immigration in the United States. In the past, when immigration laws changed, the

Calendar of Events across

old law was “grandfathered” to allow those who had filed before the change to still take advantage of the old law. There is no reason to believe that will not still be the case. But to be grandfathered, you have to have an existing petition. Anyone who has any interest in reuniting their family in the U.S. or who is thinking of immigrating through employment should contact a knowledgeable and experienced immigration lawyer now. The clock is ticking. *** Reeves, Miller, Zhang & Diza Law Corporation’s offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City.

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

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Silliman University Alumni Association of Southern California’s annual picnic in El Monte, CA The Silliman University Alumni Association of Southern California invites alumni, their family and friends, to its annual picnic and membership meeting on Saturday, August 12, at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, Picnic Area D #9 ((near Legg Lake area with free parking for the early birds). The address: 750 S. Santa Anita Ave, South El Monte, CA 91733, 10 a.m. to sundown. For more information call: Jessie Mario Duran 626.715.2525, Joji Amparo 909.991.8919, and Zeny Duran Bennett 626.824.3595.

AU G U ST 1 3

University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) Induction Ball in Whittier, CA The Univeristy of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) will hold its Induction Ball on August 13, 2017 Sunday at the Double Tree by Hilton - Whittier on 7320 Greenleaf Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602. Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz will swear in Mutch Carino as President of UPAAGLA for 2017-2019, together with the newly elected officers composed of Ethel Rubio (President-Elect), Nati Matitu Mercado (1st VP), Evelyn Andamo (2nd VP), Joy Angeles (Recording Secretary), Yvee Tadeo-Guevara (Corresponding Secretary), Gil Guinto (Treasurer), Melette Lampino (Assistant Treasurer), Dick Cu (Auditor), Benny Uy (PRO) and Bobby Canseco (IT Officer). The 2017-2019 UPAAGLA Board of Directors are Ivy Manalang, Atty. Mary Lyn Sanga, Ellery Atienza, Mary Trinidad, Sonny Gancayco, Annie Nepomuceno, Mary Drees, Jess Espanola, Bob Shroder, Carina Slepian, Ivy Cosio-Bautista, Ellen Gomez, Relson Banas, and Angie Alvarez. The advisers of UPAAGLA are Dr. Arnel Joaquin, Vicky Gancayco, Jazmin Gaite, Alma Onrubia, Frank Mamaril, Doris Maligalig, and Sonja Menor. Red carpet arrivals and No Host Cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m.

Program and dinner start at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, sponsorships and souvenir program advertisements, please call Dick Cu (562) 547-0560.

AU G U ST 1 2-1 3

24th annual Pistahan Parade and Festival in San Francisco, CA The Pistahan Parade and Festival is an international celebration of Filipino community, culture and cuisine. Experience the best of Filipino art, dance, music and cuisine at the Yerba Buena Gardens. On Saturday, August 12, the Pistahan Parade will feature elaborate floats, marching bands and colorful contingents as it marches down Market from Civic Center to 4th St. The festival will include live entertainment, popular balut eating contest, delectable Filipino cuisine, cultural exhibits, hands-on workshops for kids and adults. It will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco. Admission is free. For more information, please call 415. 625. 3976 or visit http://www.pistahan.net.

AU G U ST 1 9

Philippine Madrigal Singers to perform in Northridge, CA Philippine Madrigal Singers in Concert on Saturday, August 19 is the long-awaited return to Los Angeles of the world-renowned prize-winning choir. The performance begins at 7 p.m. at the Plaza Del Sol Performance Hall at the Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC) located at 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330. The theatre is part of CSUN, and tickets are $70, $55, and $40 online anytime at www.ticketmaster.com. Special student pricing is available only in-person at the VPAC box office, call or visit (818) 677-3000 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Tour information at www.musicartsevents.com.

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Philippine Madrigal Singers in Loma Linda, CA An Evening with the MADZ on Sunday, August 20 is an opportunity to hear the awardwinning first-ever two-time European Grand Prix winning choir, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, at Campus Hill Church, 11057 Hill Dr Loma Linda CA 92354. The performance is at 7 p.m. $40 General Admission, $20 Child/Student. For tickets, call Ephraim Dela Cruz at (909) 831-4225, Marjorie Ann Reyno-Huynh at (909) 965-6936 or Nemuel Enriquez at (323) 2290506.

SEPTEMBER 1-4

Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School international reunion in Las Vegas Come and celebrate with RMCHS alumni and guests for the third biannual international homecoming. Sing, dance, party, share precious memories and join the fun from Friday, September 1 to Monday, September 4 at The Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89103. Join the golf tournament in the morning of Saturday, Sept.

2 and then wear your best (black and white) for a dinner dance later that evening. Make this event an opportunity to reunite with your own batchmates, watch a show, visit tourist spots, and stroll along the Las Vegas Strip. For more information, visit the RMCHS 2017 INTL REUNION Facebook page.

O C TO B E R 2 1

NaFFAA to celebrate 20th anniversary in Washington, DC The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) turns 20 years old this year. This October, several events are being planned to celebrate this milestone, which coincides with the national observance of Filipino American History Month. They will culminate with NaFFAA’s 20th Anniversary Gala, to be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 21. With its theme “NaFFAA 2.0: One Voice, Four Million Strong,” NaFFAA will recognize the legacy and accomplishments of the organization over the past 20 years, and highlight its comprehensive vision to unite and amplify the voices of the four million Filipinos living in the United States. “NaFFAA 2.0” represents how NaFFAA is honoring its past while forging a new forward-thinking and balanced approach in uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse Filipino American individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and advocacy. To learn more about NaFFAA or to purchase tickets for the 20th Anniversary Gala, please visit www. naffaa.org.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

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The Metamorphosis

ErniE D. DElfin (Part 2 of 2)

Alfie’s Midas touch in turning newbies into superstars has made him a legend in Philippine showbiz, such as Sunshine Cruz, Gretchen Barretto, Richard Gomez, Ruffa Gutierrez and many more. Alfie knows showbiz-career management like the back of his hand.

In memory of my good friend, Alfie Lorenzo

By Monet

Lu

ThIRTY years ago, I would never have imagined such a beautiful soul fleeting out of existence; let alone write a tribute for him in my column. he is one of those friends who you’ll either hate or love but could never live without. he gives the best advice and the most helpful criticism.

You feel all sorts of emotions when you are with him. But throughout those thirty years of being his friend, today was the saddest that Alfie has ever made me feel.

This day could’ve been one of those days when I’d get a call from him saying he’s flying to LA and would love to stay at my apartment. Or one of those times when I’d visit Manila and my itinerary would always include coming by to his humble abode.

But instead, today, I learned that none of those things will ever happen again.

I remember writing about him back in 2013. I talked about how he and I met in the 80s through a common friend and went to the halloween Parade in West hollywood. It is through him that I became fascinated with the world that he lives in — and has

become his fortress. he is one of the reasons why Judy Ann Santos is one of the most celebrated box-office stars of all time. Alfie’s Midas touch in turning newbies into superstars has made him a legend in Philippine showbiz, such as Sunshine Cruz, Gretchen Barretto, Richard Gomez, Ruffa Gutierrez and many more. Alfie knows showbizcareer management like the back of his hand. he was also a well-known columnist and TV host. he has worked on almost all networks, either as a host or a guest or judge in various TV star search competitions in different networks. As a manager, Alfie is known to be a fighter, never surrendering unless he really has his back against the wall. When he believes in a talent and really sees potential in him or her, he would go above and beyond to make it happen for that person. he’s stubbornly persistent, that man. he will be remembered as a very colorful personality, sporting a long beard and wearing hats.

I admit it’s still hard to imagine him gone.

Back in 2010, it was reported that he suffered a heart seizure, or a mild heart attack. he was then treated through an emergency angioplasty and was under medication. Judy Ann was the one who assisted him to St. Luke’s Medical Center, after he was emergency treated at Capitol Medical Center. he may have taken it slow since then, but death caught up with

him still. At 78, he left this world accomplished and fulfilled.

I remember the last time Alfie and I saw each other was last year at the ABS-CBN building in Quezon City when I was on vacation.

If I knew that was the last time, I would’ve spent more time with him like we used to. But that’s just how life is. Regrets come in the end and all you could do is be grateful that you met someone who has made a colorful impact in your life.

Alfie has survived the pains and gains of the business for 60 long years. And now the world has lost a really hardworking, generous and sensitive person.

To the friends, family and acquaintances of Alfie Lorenzo, I send my condolences. We all grieve the loss of a wonderful man, at the same time, we celebrate the life that he lived and the joy that he has brought all of us. To my good friend Alfie, you will be missed but never forgotten. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event.

To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.

The environment in jails especially crowded ones, is NOT conducively healthy for everyone, as one can witness the very militaristic or sometimes inhumane treatment of people. The 1994 movie “The Shawshank Redemption,” starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, is an excellent portrayal of what can happen in prison. After years of going to jail weekly, I am no longer surprised why some inmates devise ways to escape (a year or so ago three jail mates escaped). The sad environment also contributes to the deputies’ attitude becoming callous and less compassionate as many inmates are also foul-mouthed, and ill mannered who can hurt or kill others given the opportunity.

Many deputies and employees request transfers and do not wish to work there for until they retire. Although the deputies may be bored to death and may become mean individuals, their salaries may reach six figures

Prison ministry work makes a person more grateful and fulfilled in a year with almost unlimited overtime. Not bad for many non-college graduates who work in jails and in prisons.

There is a set schedule and specific classrooms for us ministers to go. The deputy-in-charge sends any group of inmates from specific mods or clusters to attend, randomly may be. We never know who are attending our classes until they sign up in our attendance sheet. We seldom have inmates who attend our classes for many months, unlike in a state prison where their incarcerations are more definite and much longer. In state or federal institutions, a prisoner is often given an opportunity to study, or learn a skill in preparation for his life after serving his sentence.

Where I am assigned — Intake and Release Center (IRC) — the inmates are in transition awaiting or undergoing trials until they are released or transferred to another institution. It’s a very busy place, where families can

only visit/talk to the inmates but separated by a thick glass that even mothers and their children cannot even touch each other!

Most of the time, my “class” is composed of women who are not in solitary confinement, about five to 15. (Occasionally, only one comes as she is in a solitary or protective custody).

From time to time, some inmates become excited to be out and are very talkative and want to do what they want to do. I have also learned to “play the game” in order to exact discipline by simply telling them that I can get the deputy to get them out in a minute with just one push on the buzzer in the room, and that warning works everytime!

My assignment is called “Communion and Bible Reading Services,” where I bring the holy eucharist (without the wine) and provide discussions of three Bible readings including the Gospel of the last preceding Sunday’s mass. Many of these PAGE B7

Gearing up for the upcoming Sapphire (45th) Jubilee and Scientific Convention of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America (SPSA) at South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on August 22-25, 2017, three past presidents of the SPSA are pictured above in Long Beach, Caifornia: Daniel C. Fabito, MD, FACS, FPCS, Hernan M. Reyes, MD, FACS, FPCS (Founding President), and Philip S. Chua, MD, FSC, FPCS. The incumbent president is Corazon P. Quiros, MD, FACOG. Physicians, nurses, other allied healthcare personnel and community leaders are welcome to join this convention.

Email inquiries to scalpelpen@gmail.com or at danielfab@cox.net. The society’s website address is www.SPSAtoday.com.

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Rewriting your own...

PAGE B5 teen twenties and for whom the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is named for his outstanding achievements in expanding our view of the universe, tried different things before finding out what he was meant to do. In college, he played championship basketball and even tried boxing.

After fighting in World War I, he studied law, tried lawyering for a year and obviously didn’t like it. Something must have happened because he went back to college to study astronomy and finally found his footing and his purpose in life. That’s what most of us do. We try different lives, different hats, until we find the one that matches heaven’s purpose. Just don’t run out of time.

No one wants to leave with unfinished business.

If our stations in life allow us the luxury of choice, then more than likely, we will be meandering too and trying different things before coming on board to the ship that will likely bring us to the port of our purpose.

Try reading all or portions of Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life” written a few years back. Warren is the pastor of Saddleback Church in Orange County, California. His book

continues to be received widely for its clear, well-structured and succinct explanation of what living with purpose means. True, its skewed towards his ministry but there are valuable truths about purpose and meaning to be gleaned by both the secular and spiritual, particularly in the early parts of the book.

We don’t really have to wait for something dramatic, traumatic or tragic to happen to get us on track to finding that purpose. But do go to the right source. Nix the harebrained ideas coming from most of the media about what that purpose might be.

When it comes to things that matter, most of the mainstream media has proven itself to be unworthy of trust. It pushes its own agenda of power that comes from profit.

Tune out of the external world and go deep within. If you pray hard enough and long enough and live in the silence for a little while, chances are, you’ll find it. You can then begin rewriting your own story on a new document page. * * * Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

Prison ministry work makes...

PAGE B6 inmates did not have the opportunity to know their Cathechism.

I am no longer surprised, for instance, that many of them do not even know the popular Bible stories, like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), the Parable of the Good Seed and Bad Seed (Matthew 13:24), or even the Story of the Passion of Christ, which the practicing Catholic or Christian often takes for granted.

Oftentimes, sharing stories in the Bible and applying those principles or lessons to our lives makes the women quite moved and sometimes emotional. They cry when a story or lesson hit them very hard and deep.

Women inmates are generally emotional and can go through transformation faster and easier.

Men try hard to maintain their “macho” image yet when they are touched deeply they can also get emotional but not as often as women.

What I find most interesting and fulfilling is hearing the inmates’ own stories or feedbacks to the readings or any comment to my “homilies” and sharing on the Bible readings. Prison ministers teach but we also learn a lot. It is also very revealing to listen intently to their verbalized prayers. I always encourage them to say their prayers aloud, which I started for them to follow. The acronym, A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving & Supplication) has been a big help to most of them. It seems therapeutic to expatiate their feelings and to be outside their

“cell” and given the freedom to talk without deputies around them. One must be an effective facilitator to be among these diverse inmates to accomplish our objectives as it could be exploited or monopolized by one or two people.

We, the prison ministers try to prepare as much as we can, but inasmuch as we do not know our “students” every week, we pray and rely upon the Holy Spirit to guide us what to do.

We were told that it is not really what we tell them that is the most important or appreciated, but our PRESENCE at that moment of their lives, when even their own family members do not visit them, especially on or around holidays that we are among them. That genuine appreciation the inmates express energizes and motivates many of us keep going to this ministry.

I feel truly fulfilled and grateful for this opportunity to put my faith in action as described in the Gospel of Matthew 25:3540: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me...‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” *** Email: ernie.delfin@gmail.com Website: www.gkerc.org www.gk1world.com

Aspirin: Anti-cancer?

PAGE B5 intercourse. Nitrates are heart medications that also dilate blood vessels (arteries and veins in the heart and all over the body).

When the blood vessels in the body are dilated “too much” (as the combination of Viagra and nitrates will do), the blood pressure of the person falls very low, and uncontrollably leads to shock, and death in some patients. Viagra is a very safe drug to take, as the millions and millions of men taking it could attest, as long as it is taken under the supervision of a physician and not taken by heart patients who are on medications that contain nitrates.

Are there medications without side effects?

No, there is no medication, not even vitamins or aspirin,that are totally devoid of potential side-effects, good or bad. This is the reason why we do not recommend (and are very much against) self-medication, even with over-the-counter drugs.

Do we really need sleep?

Many times, we hear people (young and old) claiming that they do not need sleep, or that an hour or two was enough sleep for them. It is unhealthy not to have adequate sleep. While there is no magic number, having at least 8 hours of a restful sleep is considered good for the body.

This brief “hibernation” gives our body time to recharge and repair itself, and boost our immune system. With inadequate sleep, our body functions less than optimal, our brain and other organs less efficient, and our disposition a bit cloudy and irritable. Those who have enough restful sleep also feel and look better, and are more pleasant, positive and productive.

On the other hand, sleeping more than 10 hours daily (except for babies and young children) does not confer extra benefits, and

might even make one lazier and more sluggish.

Why does blood not clot inside our body?

This is one of the wonders of our body, which is replete with various multi-layer defensive mechanisms (and offensive ones against bacteria, viruses and other intruders or potential diseases or injuries), mediated by chemical reactions within us, all aimed at protecting us and keeping us healthier by constantly maintaining homeostasis (physiologic balance within our body).

Blood circulating in our arteries and veins does not clot because we have natural built-in anticoagulant (anti-clot) substances produced by our body. Also, the smoothness of the endothelium (lining of the inner wall of the blood vessels), which contains negatively charged protein, repels the clotting factors and platelets to maintain the fluidity of blood.

These chemicals keep our blood “just right,” not too thin for us to have spontaneous bleeding and not too thick to produce clotting and blockages in our blood vessels. Our lifestyle (including smoking or medications we take) could adversely affect this homeostasis and throw it helterskelter. When this homeostasis is off-balance, an unphysiologic condition ensues and an ailment (DIS-ease) develops. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States.

Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Features

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 10-16, 2017

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Focusing on Filipino Short Films in...

PAGE B3 cartooning. At Rutgers, Michael studied film production. He remembers that back then, they were shooting in 16mm and it just became too expensive.

Years later, starting in 2012, he returned to filmmaking, or what he calls “videomaking” thanks to digital technology. His short film “When bart6874 met lulu5547,” a silent film about senior citizens doing online dating made it to 13 film festivals. “Maxine” (2014) an experimental short about a couple breaking up went to six festivals.

“The Pleasure of Being Served” (2016), so far this year, has made it to six film festivals as well.

Michael found the screening at the 40th Asian American International Film Festival at the Asia Society Museum great.

“It was a packed house and the reactions, from laughter to gasps, were lively,” he shared.

Buang-Bulawan & Flip the Record Two other Filipino shorts made it to the lineup at AAIFF40.

“Buang-Bulawan (Fool’s Gold)” was screened under “Mad Mad World” while Flip the Record was under “Nevertheless, She Persisted: Stories of Women”.

“Flip the Record” is a1980s coming-of-age story set to pulsing hip-hop music where Ness, a Filipino-American teen discovers her identity through a budding talent for turntablism and her place in the local music scene of the era.

The film showcases a littleknown but lasting explosion of hip-hop culture that grew out of

the Filipino-American community of 1980s San Francisco. This film takes the viewers into the beat of an aspiring mobile DJ crew in ’84, as 14-year-old Vanessa, sick of the constraints and boring piano lessons in her conservative Filipino-American household, starts teaching herself on the sly how to scratch on her older brother’s turntables. We follow Ness as she discovers her talents and Marie Jamora, an award-winning filmmaker from Manila wore different hats for this film, acting as its Writer/Director/Producer/ Editor/Music Supervisor.

Her feature debut, “Ang Nawalala” (What Isn’t There), premiered internationally at the Slamdance Film Festival and was nominated for five Gawad Urian Philippine Critics Awards. Marie began her career as music video and commercial director, directing over 45 music videos and many commercials for some of the world’s biggest brands including Coca-Cola, Colgate, and Gillette.

She received an MFA in Film from Columbia University. She is currently working on her first documentary, Legions of Boom, which is fiscally sponsored by the San Francisco Film Society.

“Having grown up in the Philippines during the golden age of Manila’s indie rock scene, I was fascinated by the revelation that second-generation FilipinoAmericans in the San Francisco Bay Area helped shape American hip-hop through Turntablism, and yet hardly anyone knows about it,” Marie said.

With “Flip the Record,” she

wanted to change that narrative.

“I wanted to recreate this undiscovered music scene through a young Filipino girl’s experience: how dance music’s high energy connects with her more than her piano lessons, and how — bullied by an older brother who heads his own mobile DJ unit — she finds the courage to stand out and stand up to him through music,” she shared.

“The title has three meanings.

First, it’s about a teenage girl who “ flips” her older brother’s runty view of her, using his own turntable and mashing up original Filipino music as her means of

expression. Second, it tries to reclaim the derogatory term “Flip” (an acronym for “F*cking Little Island People” used by American troops stationed in the Philippines) and give it a more positive, empowering spin. Lastly, we want to highlight and immortalize the contribution of Fil-Ams to American music history,” Marie said.

Buang-Bulawan is a 15-minute short film directed by Terimar Malones. It tells the story of Romel, a seafarer from Iloilo, who faces a dilemma after discovering what’s inside the bag left by Makay, a street vendor he accidentally bumped into.

B8 AUGUST 10-16, 2017 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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