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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. 33 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

AUGUST 24-30, 2017

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

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Palace: Duterte still ‘in full control’ of drug war the controversial killing spree— particularly of the recent killing of a Grade 11 student during an antiMALACAÑANG on Tuesday, drug operation last week.

August 22 assured that President “Malinaw naman na (It’s very Rodrigo Duterte remains “in full clear that) the president is in full control” of the Philippine Nation- control,” Abella told reporters. al Police (PNP)’s enforcement of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos the administration’s crackdown Santos was killed during an antion illegal drugs. drug operation in Caloocan City In a press briefing, Presiden- on Wednesday, August 16 after tial Spokesperson Ernesto Abella allegedly pulling a gun on police refuted accusations that Duterte officers. has lost control of the police amid A CCTV footage, however,

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

showed Delos Santos being dragged by the police to the spot where he was killed. Witnesses also gave statements supporting the footage, adding that the police gave Delos Santos a gun and told him to run.

The teenager’s death has sparked public outrage, and various groups joined in a “Justice for Kian” rally the following Monday, August 21. Several rallyists expressed sentiments that Duterte

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US aid conditions should be aligned with Duterte DATELINE USA admin’s agenda -- Palace Supreme Court forms team to examine ballots Filipina pleads guilty to stealing $100,000 in Marcos vs Robredo vice pres. election protest RECOGNITION. President Rodrigo Duterte salutes to Ozamiz City Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido during an awarding ceremony held at the Ozamiz City Police Station in Misamis Occidental. The president has awarded a number of operatives with the Medalya ng Kadakilaan (Heroism Medal) for the successful operations against the proliferation of illegal drugs in the province.

Malacañang photo by Karl Norman Alonzo

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

from US Navy base

KANSAS CITY - A Filipino woman has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $100,000 (P5 million) from a United States Naval base in Japan, according to Federal prosecutors on Monday, August 22.

Cynthia Lopez Creseni on Friday, August 18, pleaded guilty to theft, of public money amounting to $99,068 from the Morale Welfare and Recreation Center (MWR) at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan.

The Filipina, who had worked at the base since 2000, was the lead cashier of the game/ slot room when the incident occurred. She officially reported the missing funds after returning from her vacation in U.S. in February 2015 and initially denied taking the money.

She was then placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

Interviews of Creseni’s co-workers suggested that the Filipina is suffering from financial difficulties.

Creseni, after some time, vacated her home in Japan and moved to the Philippines. Efforts

MANILA - Any conditions on assistance the Philippines may receive from a foreign aid agency must be aligned with the policies of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, a Palace official said.

Malacañang issued the statement on Sunday, August 20 after Washington-based Millennium Challenge Corp.

(MCC) announced that the Philippines is among the can- Malacañang spokesperson Ernesto Abella Inquirer.net photo didate countries to receive assistance for 2018.

“We acknowledge and welcome the decision of the United States Millennium Challenge Corp to extend assistance to the Philippines after the first grant

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THE Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has formed a retrieval team to secure ballot boxes

being questioned in connection President Maria Leonor “Leni” with former Senator Ferdinand Robredo.

“Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s electoral According to the court’s resoprotest against Philippine Vice lution dated August 8, the retrieval team is tasked to locate and examine all ballot boxes in the provinces and cities subject to the poll protest in order to facilitate its retrieval and transport to the SC compound in Manila for revision.

The revision stage is the third part of an electoral protest, in which the questioned ballot boxes will be opened and votes will be recounted and tallied through the use of vote-counting machines or manually and visually.

The SC Gymnasium will be used for the revision proceedings. The court also approved the use of two more areas, including the a portion of the fourth floor parking In this April 17 photo, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived at the Supreme level of the SC-Court of Appeals Court to pay the bond for his poll protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman

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US think tank photos PH arena possible venue for Pacquiao-Horn rematch confirm Chinese vessels presence near PH island u PAGE A3

by AJPRESS

SATELLITE images released by a Washingtonbased think tank confirm the reported presence of Chinese vessels near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Images taken on Sunday, August 13 by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) show that nine Chinese fishing vessels and two Chinese Navy ships had been operating near Pag-asa island.

Also referred to as Tithu Island, Pag-asa Island is located 480 kilometers off the coast of Palawan. It is the largest Philippine-controlled island among the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the disputed Spratlys region.

AMTI said on Thursday, August 18 that it is impossible of any of the ships are affiliated with the Chinese maritime militia but two “appear to be actively fishing, with their nets visibly in the water.”

The fishing vessels are reportedly “all located between one and five nautical miles” from Pagasa Island, while the nearest military or law enforcement ship is located 3.6 nautical miles

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THE anticipated rematch between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Australian boxer Jeff Horn is likely to happen in the Philippines, according to Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT).

While negotiations have yet to be

finalized, DOT Secretary Wanda Teo on Tuesday, August 22 announced that the rematch will possibly take place at the 55,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

As for the date, the tourism chief said they are eyeing December 15.

“Just this morning we have talked to Congressman Eric Pineda. He was

asking us if we could sponsor the Pacquiao fight this coming December. So we’re working on that,” the tourism chief told reporters.

Pineda is Pacquiao’s business manager, as well as the 1-PACMAN party-list Representative.

Teo’s announcement came in

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United States Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton Photo from Olongapo City Jail

It’s final: CA affirms Pemberton’s conviction on killing of Laude

A tug-of-war for the right to stage Manny Pacquiao’s rematch with Jeff Horn looms between Manila and Brisbane, Australia, as the two cities have expressed keenness in hosting the bout. Days after Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk confirmed that the city will again be the venue for the fight, Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo made a contrasting announcement.

Philstar.com photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea

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THE Philippine Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld with finality its earlier decision convicting United States Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton for killing Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in October 2014.

In a resolution issued on Tuesday, August 15, the appellate court’s former Special 16th Division dismissed the appeal filed by Pemberton seeking to reverse the CA’s decision last April, which affirmed the earlier ruling of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) against him.

“With respect to Pemberton’s motion,

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From The FronT Page

US aid conditions should be aligned with... the country’s opportunity to rePAGE A1 ended in May 2016,” Duterte’s duce poverty and generate ecospokesperson Ernesto Abella nomic growth in the country, as said. well as the availability of funds.

MCC said it will assess a The Philippines’ inclusion, country’s eligibility for the grant Abella said, serves as a “recogbased on criteria such as the nition of the efforts” of the adcountry’s demonstrated com- ministration to “continue and mitment to just and democratic maintain macroeconomic poligovernance, economic freedom, cies while investing in human and investments in its people. capital development in health Additional indicators include and educational systems and

improving social protection programs to protect the poor.”

He credited the administration’s socioeconomic agenda for the Philippines’ inclusion in MCC’s list of candidate countries.

While the Philippine government welcomed the recent developments, Malacañang stressed that it will study the conditions set by the U.S. poverty reduction agency.

“While we are happy with this new development, our economic managers would study the conditions set by the MCC if these are aligned with the President’s priority agenda,” Abella added.

In December 2016, MCC deferred a vote on the re-selection of the Philippines, saying it withheld its second aid due to “significant concerns around rule of law and civil liberties.”

Its first grant, worth $434 million, expired in May last year. n

SETTING SAIL ACROSS ASIA. After a successful trip to Brunei, traditional Balangay boats from the Philippines docked in Manila to mark the recently concluded Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. The Balangay, also the logo and symbol of Cinemalaya, is the huge boat with sail and outriggers that early Filipinos used to cross unchartered and untempered waters in search of a land where they could live in freedom. Early Filipinos were a people of the sea, living in coastal villages or near rivers. Boats were linked to many aspects of Filipino life: fishing, trade, warfare, piracy (traderaiding for goods and slaves), travel, communication, and dwelling.

Philstar.com photo by Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo

Palace: Duterte still ‘in full control’ of...

PAGE A1 seemed to have lost control of the police.

“I think they misread the situation. The President is very concerned that these things will be properly handled and properly managed,” Abella further said.

In a statement, United States Ambassador the Philippines Sung Kim extended his condolences to the family and friends of Delos Santos. He also joined the call for “full accountability” in the killing of the teenager.

“My condolences go out to the family and friends of Kian,” the U.S. Ambassador said in a tweet.

Malacañang earlier assured that “mistakes and illegal acts (by the police) would not be tolerated.”

“This deeply regrettable incident has triggered deep public sentiment, and challenges those in law enforcement to be wary of the reckless exercise of power and authority,” Abella said.

He added, “The President, who continues to vigorously pursue the dismantling of drug apparatus, ensures that erring enforcers will be properly investigated.”

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has begun its formal investigation into the death of Delos Santos.

The three cops involved in the operation were relieved of their post amid the investigation. They were Police Chief Insp. Amor Cerillo, commander of Police Community Precinct 7, PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremiah Pereda and PO1 Jerwin Cruz.

In a separate statement, the PNP asked the public to not generalize the drug war based on the death of Delos Santos.

“This is a separate incident.

Huwag natin i-generalize na (Let us not generalize that) because of one incident, lahat ng (all) police operation[s] will result as same as to Kian,” PNP Spokesperson Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said.

The Philippine government’s so-called drug war has been highly criticized by the international community and various human rights groups over its alleged thousands of state-sanctioned killings and rights abuses, which in turn, had been repeatedly refuted by the Duterte administration.

Carlos noted that there has been about 1.039 million drug personalities who surrendered to the authorities since Duterte launched the campaign in July last year.

He also cited the arrest of about 90,000 drug suspects “who vio-

FUNERAL PROTEST. The children of Leover Miranda stand behind the hearse that carried their father’s remains to the Manila North Cemetery where he was buried on Sunday, Aug. 20.

Miranda was one of dozens of drug suspects killed in several massive anti-drug operations in Metro Manila and Bulacan province last week.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr.

lated the law” but were still alive and detained.

“Let us not generalize the incident involving the minor. Iba po ‘yan sa pang araw-araw na nagaganap (This is different from what is happening everyday),” the PNP official added.

On Sunday, August 20, all members of the Senate majority, except Senator Manny Pacquiao, reportedly signed a resolution seeking an investigation into the apparent

abuses of the PNP in the war on drugs.

According to an Inquirer report, the senators have agreed to tap Senator Panfilo Lacson’s committee on public order to investigate Delos Santos’ death and further “determine the accountability of the PNP in the conduct of the anti-illegal drug campaign that may have resulted in unnecessary and unjustified deaths and/ or killings.” n

PH arena possible venue for Pacquiao-Horn...

PAGE A1 contrast to Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk who previously said that Australia will again host the fight.

“This (rematch) is now confirmed it will happen. I have had a meeting earlier today which has confirmed that Manny Pacquiao will definitely be in Brisbane this year for a rematch with Jeff Horn,” Quirk told Sydney Morn-

ing Herald.

Pacquiao lost his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight title to Horn through a unanimous decision on July 2 in a match held at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Judges gave scores of 117-111, 115-113, 115113, all in favor of Horn.

“The details around a renewed contract will have to be worked through but given what I have not been advised today through Duco

and Top Rank, we are in a position now where Brisbane Marketing will be re-engaged to get involved in the negotiation plan,” Quirk said on Monday, August 21.

He then added, “The good news is Manny Pacquiao will definitely be here to fight Jeff Horn this year.”

Top Rank Promotion’s Bob Arum previously said that the rematch would be held in Brisbane on November 12. n

It’s final: CA affirms Pemberton’s conviction on...

PAGE A1 we maintain our ruling that his invocation of self-defense is an admission of the killing and of its authorship,” the CA decision read, penned by Associate Justice Marlene Gonzales-Sison.

The CA said that Pemberton’s arguments are a mere “rehash of issues” already discussed in its decision in April 3 of this year.

In its recent resolution, the court again dismissed Pemberton’s argument that he killed Laude in self-defense after the latter allegedly attacked him when he discovered Laude’s real gender.

“The allegation of Pemberton that he was slapped by Laude could not even be corroborated by any medical findings. Worthy

to note that according to Pemberton, the slap he allegedly received made his ear ring which if true should have promoted Pemberton to immediately seek medical attention,” the CA said.

The court reiterated that selfdefense implied Pemberton’s admission that he committed the criminal act.

It further said that the U.S. marine’s immediate escape from the Celzone Lodge in Olongapo City is a sign of guilt.

“The bits of evidence, pieced together, point to Pemberton as the killer of Laude. Ostensibly, our rules make no distinction between direct evidence of a fact and evidence of circumstances from which the existence of a fact may be inferred. Pember-

ton’s criminal liability for homicide stands,” the CA added.

The court, likewise, upheld its order to Pemberton to pay Laude’s family P4.32 million for loss of earning capacity, P30,000 for exemplary damages, P75,000 for civil indemnity, P75,000 for moral damages, and P155,250 for the wake, burial, and related expenses.

The CA also maintained it its affirmation on the RTC’s ruling which sentenced Pemberton to a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment.

Pemberton is currently detained at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

US think tank photos confirm Chinese vessels...

PAGE A1 from the island.

The think tank said Chinese authorities are likely aware of the operation, citing the presence of naval vessels.

“The number and rapid coordination of naval and coast guard ships suggests that this was purposely organized in advance and was not just an ad hoc response by government vessels that happened to be in the area,” it added.

AMTI noted that “one possible explanation for the flotilla’s sudden and provocative appearance is that Beijing wanted to dissuade Manila from planned construction” on Pag-asa Island.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana previously announced that the government has allocated at least P1.6 billion ($31.08 million) for the repair and construction of facilities in the area.

“Those upgrades have been delayed, reportedly due to inclement

A Chinese ship is seen near Pag-asa island.

Photo courtesy of Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative

weather, but Lorenzana has made clear that they remain in the pipeline. In light of this week’s events, Manila might feel that those upgrades are even more urgent,” AMTI added.

Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Beijing halted its land reclamation in the waters. China’s massive territorial claim in the South China

Sea has been partly disputed by its neighboring countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is currently working with China on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, aiming to prevent the escalation of maritime conflicts in the contested waters. (AJPress)

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Filipino boy among dead in Barcelona attack

by JEFFERSON

ANTIPORDA ManilaTimes.net

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday, Aug. 21 confirmed that the seven-year-old Filipino boy earlier reported missing in the bloody Barcelona terror attack Thursday was among the 14 fatalities in incident.

According to Chargé d’Affaires Emmanuel Fernandez, it was the family of the victim who informed the Philippine Embassy in Madrid about the death.

Fernandez also said the boy’s 43-year-old mother is still in the intensive care unit of a local hospital after undergoing surgery for fractures in both of her legs and one arm.

A British-Australian boy, Julian Cadman, 7, also died in the vehicle rampage in Barcelona. His family said he was on holiday for a family wedding and had been separated

from his mother who is in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

“He was so energetic, funny and cheeky, always bringing a smile to our faces. We are so blessed to have had him in our lives and will remember his smiles and hold his memory dear to our hearts,” his family said.

The attack in Barcelona was carried out using a vehicle that plowed through pedestrians in Las Ramblas tourist district killing 14 individuals and injuring more than 100 others.

“It pains us to break the sad news to our kababayans that we lost one of our own in the recent violence unleashed by extremists against the innocent in Barcelona,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

Cayetano has directed Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou

A3

Arriola to make sure that all possible assistance is extended to the family of the deceased and other Filipino victims of the incident.

“We join the loved ones of our little brother in mourning his passing and in praying for the eternal repose of his soul,” Cayetano added.

Two other Filipinos based in Italy were among those injured in the attack and will be provided assistance by the Philippine Consulate General in Milan.

Also injured in the attack were four Irish citizens of Filipino descent identified as Norman Potot, 45, wife Pederlita, 39, daughter Nailah Pearl, 9, and son Nathaniel Paul, 5, have also been assisted by the Embassy and the Honorary Consulate in Barcelona.

Norman and Nathaniel remain confined at the Hospital Del Mar in Barcelona.

Supreme Court forms team to examine ballots...

PAGE A1 Multi-Purpose Building, as well as a room at the back of the Division Hearing room.

Additionally, the resolution states that the Revision Committees will be composed of a coordinator who shall be a lawyer not affiliated with the court, and a recorder and a representative from both each the protestant and protestee.

Each Revision Committee will receive P1,500 per clustered precinct for compensation and supplies. The coordinator will receive P780, while the recorder will receive P480 for the recorder.

P184 will be allotted for supplies and materials.

On the other hand, compensation of the members of the panel

Vice Pres. Leni Robredo

only way we’ll be able to ferret the truth. We have always maintained that the ballots themselves are the best evidence in any election protest. This is the reason why we have always pushed for the early revision of ballots,” lawyer Victor Rodriguez, Marcos’s spokesperson, said.

“We hope that this will expedite the process so this issue can be settled once and for all. The Filipino people deserve to know their real vice president is,” he added.

Robredo, on the other hand, is contesting 8,042 clustered precincts, consisting of 31,278 established precincts in her counter-protest. The PET has extended the vice president’s deadline to pay the remaining P7.43 million required to process her counterprotest.

On Wednesday, August 23, Piso Para Kay Leni group led by Museo Pambata chair Cristina Lim-Yuson asked the PET to reconsider its earlier decision dismissing their motion to pay the vice president’s remaining balance.

The petitioners, through their counsel, Purification BartolomeBernabe, the PET needs to reverse its earlier ruling as the issue is a matter of “transcendental importance.

“This is a necessary exercise of the right of suffrage considering that VP Leni will be deprived of her victory, we will be deprived of her victory because she is financially disadvantaged,” Bartolome-BernPhilstar.com photo abe said. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

of commissioners were fixed. Justice Jose Vitug as chairperson who will receive P50,000, while his members, lawyers Angelito Imperio and Irene Ragodon-Guevarra, will each receive P45,000 monthly.

Robredo won the May 2016 vice presidential elections with only just 263,473 votes more than Marcos.

In his electoral protest, the former senator questioned over 39,221 clustered precincts, composing of 132,446 established precincts. He has already completed the payment of his P66.2-million protest fee.

In a statement, Marcos’ camp welcomed the PET’s resolution.

“We cannot wait for the actual process to start because it is the

HISTORIC ECLIPSE. The moon is seen as it starts passing in front of the sun during a solar eclipse from Ross Lake, Northern Cascades National Park, in Washington on Monday, Aug. 21. NASA reported 4.4 million people were watching its TV coverage midway through the eclipse, the biggest livestream event in the space agency’s history.

Photo from NASA by Bill Ingalls

Cortez Masto hosts DACA roundtable Reno, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a roundtable with beneficiaries of former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Cortez Masto discussed the role that DACA has played in the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people who were brought to the United States as children. She also advocated for the passage of the DREAM Act, a law that would codify many of the

provisions of the DACA program into federal law.

“The DACA program has given hundreds of thousands of young people, including 12,000 Nevadans, who have never known any home other than the United States the peace of mind that they will not suddenly be rounded up and deported,” said Cortez Masto.

“DACA has allowed DREAMers to come out of the shadows and serve in our military, pursue higher education, and enrich our com-

munities. I will continue working to protect DACA and establish a permanent path to citizenship for DREAMers.”

Cortez Masto also answered questions about the DACA program and its future under the Trump administration. She highlighted measures that families can take to stay safe and informed during this time of uncertainty. Last week, Cortez Masto participated in a town hall for DACA recipients in Las Vegas.

Filipina pleads guilty to stealing $100,000...

PAGE A1 to locate had failed, until investigators learned that she flew to U.S. in July 2015.

She was located in Overland Park, Kansas and arrested by federal agents on January 24

earlier this year over immigration violations for overstaying her visa.

Sentencing is scheduled for the fourth of January next year.

The case is being prosecuted

by Special Assistant U.S. At-

torney Kim Moore; and was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

(AJPress)

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The 28M Class Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) at the Naval Education and Training Command in Zambales. The rapidly-deployable 28M Class TARS can rise to an altitude of 5,000 feet while tethered by a single cable. It is a self-sustained, unmanned lighter-than-air platform, according to the U.S. Embassy.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Manila

Philippine Navy receives radar blimp from US

THE United States has turned over a new Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) to the Philippine Navy which will enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities.

The rapidly-deployable 28M Class TARS can rise to an altitude of 5,000 feet while tethered by a single cable. It is a self-sustained, unmanned lighter-thanair platform, according to the U.S. Embassy.

This donation would enhance the Navy’s capability in maritime intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance by detecting maritime and air traffic within the

country’s coastal waters.

The TARS will also be used for humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

The donation of the radar system is part of the U.S. Maritime Security Initiative, a program for Southeast Asian countries that seek to improve their abilities to address maritime challenges.

About 16 personnel of the Philippine Naval Information and Communication Technology Center went through a six-week training program to learn assembly, handling, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of the radar blimp. They will instruct the

next batch of operators.

“The TARS includes a weather station that provides telemetry data for the monitoring of ambient temperature, pressure, wind speed and other pertinent parameters to successfully operate the system,” the U.S. Embassy said.

The TARS will be stationed at the Naval Education and Training Command in Zambales, the largest Navy base with flat terrain. It also fits the minimum requirement of 300 square feet for the launching of the radar system. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/ Philstar.com)

San Antonio, Texas’ last WWII veteran, dies at 101

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SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Dominador Soriano, 101, the last World War II Filipino veteran of San Antonio, was buried on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. He died July 31 of a hemorrhagic stroke.

Soriano fought against the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. He was with both the Philippine Army and the U.S. Army during World War II and was one of fewer than 7,000 such veterans living in the U.S. Filipino army troops were integrated into the US Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) just before Japan invaded in 1941 and were among the first US soldiers to see combat in WWII. Soriano commanded Echo Company of the 83rd Infantry Regiment, which served under Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He and his men became coast watchers from an outpost on the eastern shore of Cebu Island, reporting on Japanese ships passing through the Tañon Strait in the early days of the war, according a report by Expressnews.com.

He was wounded in the leg by a Japanese machinegun, and when Japan won in April 1942,

Dominador Soriano, San Antonio’s last WWII veteran, during his 101st birthday celebration last May.

he told his men not to surrender but go home. Soriano organized a guerrilla force, but in July 1944, he was betrayed by collaborators, captured and tortured. After his release he kept working for the resistance until Japan surrendered Aug. 15, 1945.

After the war, Soriano became a lawyer for local farmers. When he was 52 his family arrived in the U.S. in 1971, and he settled in San Antonio, where two of his children live. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his wounds.

But in 1946, President Harry S. Truman signed the Rescission

Act, which retroactively stripped Filipinos of service benefits that were promised them during World War II. His family says that the decision always bothered him.

Last year, Congress awarded all Filipinos who fought under the US flag of a single Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The city of San Antonio honored Soriano last fall with its own citation.

Soriano spent his last days as a volunteer for the Catholic church next to his house, preparing food for poor families in his neighborhood. (Inquirer.net)

Trump draws flak for echoing fake story on Pershing’s 20th century exploits in PH U.S. President Donald Trump was much quicker on Thursday, Aug. 17 to condemn the violence in Barcelona, where more than a dozen people were killed when a van veered onto a sidewalk and sped down a busy pedestrian zone in what authorities called a terror attack.

He then added to his expression of support a tweet reviving a debunked legend about a U.S. general subduing Muslim rebels a century ago in the Philippines by shooting them with bullets dipped in pig blood, the Associated Press reported.

“Study what General Pershing of the United States did to terrorists when caught. There was

no more Radical Islamic Terror for 35 years!” Trump wrote.

Hours after Trump’s tweet, newspapers quickly pointed out the U.S. president’s incautiousness.

The independent said: “He appeared to be referring to a widely debunked story that Pershing overcame militant Muslims in the Philippines by killing them and burying their bodies with pigs.”

“Another part of the legend is that he killed them with bullets dipped in pigs’ blood.”

According to The Independent, historians who have studied Pershing’s activities in the Moro province from 1909

to 1913 had discredited these claims.

The Washington Post also has a take on Trump’s outrageous claims.

It said Brian M. Linn, a history professor at Texas A&M University, studied Pershing and published “Guardians of Empire,” a book on the U.S. military presence in Asia from 1902 to 1940.

Linn told the paper that he found “no evidence this occurred.”

“It’s a made-up story. It doesn’t seem to matter how many times people say this isn’t true. No one can say where or when this occurred,” he said.

(Inquirer.net)

Fil-Am gymnast bags gold, repeats mom’s feat

by OLMIN LEYBA Philstar.com

IT’S virtually liquid gold that runs through the veins of young gymnastics sensation Kaitlin de Guzman.

Gifted with the genes of a former Southeast Asian Games champion and a firm resolve to excel in the same battlefront, 17year-old De Guzman carved her name in the company of greats by winning the Malaysia SEAG’s uneven bars event.

This she achieved 22 years after her mother, Cintamoni “Tammy” de la Cruz, crowned herself the golden girl of the exact event when the biennial SEA Games was held in the hilly Thai city of Chiang Mai. Tammy excitedly watched from the sidelines and recorded a video of Kaitlin’s moves and couldn’t be prouder to see her bask in glory and enjoy the very experience she had way back in 1995.

“Super proud! So excited!!!!

Dream come true,” an ecstatic Tammy, who also owns a bronze in the uneven bars from the 1997 SEAG, told The STAR.

Kaitlin de Guzman of the Philippines competes in the uneven bars of the women’s artistic gymnastics competition, where she won gold in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Tuesday, Aug. 22. Inset photo from the PSC shows Kaitlin with her mother Cintamoni, who won gold in the same event during the 1995 Chiang Mai SEA Games.

Philstar.com photo by Jun Mendoza

From club competitions in the U.S., Kaitlin shifted to international play and stuck gold on her SEA Games debut.

“I’m so very happy with my very first gold medal representing the Philippines,” Kaitlin said.

Proud mom said Kaitlin’s triumph was actually a pleasant surprise.

“We were not expecting her to win since this is just her first SEA Games,” said Tammy, who posted a winning 9.10 when she achieved her feat in 1995.

“All we were hoping for her is to qualify for the finals. This victory is a major surprise; that’s why we’re so happy with this achievement.” ■

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Dateline PDFAhiliPPines chief: PH will continue to assert claims amid ‘change of strategy’ in disputed sea

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

THE Philippine government maintained that it will not hand over any part of the country’s territory and will continue to assert its maritime claims in the disputed South China Sea. Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano made the assurance on Tuesday, August 22, amid reports that Chinese vessels have been recently spotted near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine (South China) Sea. Critics have accused PhilipINSPIRATION FOR MARAWI TROOPS. Western Mindanao Command handout shows members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Zamboanga Council pine President Rodrigo Duterte and Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. flash heart signs to show support for soldiers and police fighting terrorists in Marawi City. The scouts, led by BSP of having “soft” stance in the Zamboanga Council chairman Jose Rizalino Ortega, turned over the letters and chocolates collected from among the scouts during a courtesy call maritime issue when the presiat the command’s headquarters in Camp Navarro in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, Aug. 22.

Photo courtesy of Western Mindanao Command dent appeared to have kept the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on the back burner in pursuit of warmer economic ties with China.

Viacom said the decision was heeding the call of more than MANILA—American children’s In July 2016, the arbitration television network Nickelodeon “mutually agreed” with its Philip- 200,000 online petitioners and tribunal at The Hague ruled the offline community campaign,” in favor of the Philippines and said on Wednesday, Aug. 23 that pine partner, Coral World Park.

The statement did not say why Vince Cinches of Greenpeace concluded that China’s massive it had abandoned plans for a themed resort on an island known Viacom had pulled out and its Southeast Asia told Agence claim South China had no legal as the Philippines’ last ecological regional spokeswoman would France-Presse. basis and violates United Nations “They were able to dodge the Convention on the Law of the Sea frontier following a backlash from not elaborate when contacted by bullet that has a huge reputational (UNCLOS).

Agence France-Presse. environmentalists.

Conservation groups call Pala- backlash for Nickelodeon which Nickelodeon said in January The top diplomat noted that that it would build an “undersea wan “the last frontier” because has been claiming it is children the Philippine government, unattraction and resort” on Palawan of its pristine coastlines and for- oriented.” der the Duterte administration, The Nickelodeon resort was has changed its strategy in dealisland that would let fans “inter- ests, which are among the oldest act with the brand and the iconic and most diverse in Southeast meant to be part of Coral World ing with territorial disputes.

Park’s 400-hectare (1,000-acre) characters they love”, including Asia.

Despite this, he assured that the It is home to two UNESCO development.

SpongeBob SquarePants and current administration remains Coral World Park did not im- firm and will not give up give up World Heritage-listed sites, a subDora the Explorer.

The announcement triggered terranean river and the Tubbataha mediately to respond to Agence the country’s maritime claims.

France-Presse emails on whether fierce criticism from environmen- coral reefs.

Viacom’s initial statement in it would pursue the project followtal campaigners who said it would destroy the area’s world-famous January promoted the project as ing Viacom’s withdrawal.

The executive director of envimarine ecosystem, and an online its first resort in Southeast Asia petition calling for the project to that “would give a significant ronmental group Save Philippine be scrapped attracted more than business opportunity for our part- Seas, Anna Oposa, told Agence ners across multiple platforms.” France-Presse the campaign 260,000 signatures.

However Viacom and Coral against the development would Viacom International Media Networks, which owns Nickel- World Park also highlighted the not let up.

“Our position and strategy will odeon, said Wednesday it had project’s “ocean conservation focus” and plans for a giant marine not change: we’ll continue to call abandoned the project. on the local government of Coron “[Viacom] and Nickelodeon sanctuary.

Environmental group Green- and provincial government of will no longer be involved with this proposed development,” the peace on Wednesday hailed Palawan to reject the project,” she said. (ManilaTimes.net with company said in a statement sent Viacom’s decision as a victory.

“We commend Viacom for reports from AFP) to Agence France-Presse.

Nickolodeon axes PH resort plan after outcry

PH, Chinese coast guards hold maritime exercises

by EvElyn

Macairan Philstar.com

MANILA - Despite China’s creeping occupation of land features within Philippine waters, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has embarked on a joint maritime law enforcement operation with its Chinese counterpart in accordance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s instructions.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said that since President Duterte’s visit to China last year, the PCG has established better rapport with the Chinese Coast Guard, while maintaining good relations with the United States Coast Guard (USCG).

“The Philippine Coast Guard has received guidance from the President to cooperate and forge an agreement with the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), so we have clear cut guidelines from the President,” Balilo said. “Our actions are aligned with the guidance of President Duterte.”

Aside from a series of meetings with the CCG, the PCG sent 20 of its officers to China last May for a two-week law enforcement training. Also in the works is a visit of a CCG ship to the Philippines possibly next month.

Balilo said improving relationship with China is in the best interest of the PCG as it would enhance the skills of its personnel in combatting sea piracy, terrorism and illegal drugs — the problems Duterte wants immediately addressed.

The PCG is also currently collaborating with the USCG and with the coast guards of six other member-countries of the

Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise.

SEACAT, an annual multilateral maritime security information sharing exercise, began on Monday, Aug. 21 and would run for two weeks.

This is the first time the PCG is hosting SEACAT. The other SEACAT member-countries are Brunei, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

He said that since the PCG is a civilian agency, it could hold maritime exercises with other countries even if there is a raging dispute over territories in the region.

“This is the beauty of the PCG, we would make exercises or training with all countries that concern law enforcement, which is the function of the PCG. As for the territorial dispute, we leave it to the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Balilo said.

“As far as the PCG is concerned, we would foster one law enforcement interoperability doctrine wherein everyone may participate, including the U.S. and China. We would have one framework because what we are talking about here is drugs and terrorism,” he added.

One of the highlights of the exercise is the conduct of maritime interdiction operation or visit, board and search and seizure workshop to be conducted by the USCG Law Enforcement Detachment.

To join the workshop are representatives from the PCG, Philippine Navy, Indonesian Coast Guard, Indonesian Navy, Sri Lanka Navy, Royal Thai Navy

and Thai Maritime Law Enforcement Coordinating Center.

The PCG would be utilizing three of its ships — the BRP Corregidor, BRP Davao del Norte and BRP Capones — for the boarding exercise.

Balilo said the PCG hopes to get new insights from the USCGinitiated exercises, especially on dealing with rules of engagement issue.

He cited the May 9, 2013 Balintang Channel incident wherein a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources boat, manned by PCG personnel, chased a Taiwanese fishing boat found poaching in Philippine waters.

The PCG fired warning shots but accidentally hit and killed a Taiwanese national on the boat.

Balilo said the USCG may also introduce force protocol, or the allowable force in an engagement, to avoid violation of human rights.

“There would also be a lecture on vessel on maritime law enforcement. So our men, when they conduct vessel boarding procedure, would be aware of the laws that they need to implement not only within our territorial waters, but even when they are in the continuous zone and the exclusive economic zone. So we would learn from them about what is acceptable in the international community.”

Earlier, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said China — contrary to its commitment — was slowly occupying Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea. The new geological feature is some 2.5 nautical miles off Pag-asa Island.

Coast guard men from Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the U.S. and the Philippines gather at the PCG headquarters in Port Area, Manila for the opening of the Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training exercises on Monday, Aug. 21.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano Senate photo

Cayetano also assured that Beijing is not invading a sandbar located some 2.5 nautical miles off Pag-asa Island.

This, following Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio’s report that Chinese

ships are guarding Sandy Cay, which he described as an “invasion of Philippine territory by China.”

“Let me assure you that despite the lack of details that we PAGE A7

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OPINION

Credible probe needed

FEATURES

DAYS after Kian Loyd delos Santos was gunned down near his home in Caloocan, police have trotted out someone who claims to have personal knowledge about the slain teen’s alleged activities as a drug courier.

The story, however, is proving to be a hard sell in this season of “planting” drugs and guns to bolster police claims of resisting arrest. Too many “witnesses” in this country have admitted lying to protect themselves from police brutality, or have recanted their stories or contradicted each other’s testimonies even before a congressional inquiry.

The commander of the Northern Police District, which has jurisdiction over Caloocan, has admitted that neither Delos Santos nor his father was on the drug watch list of the city’s police, although Caloocan cops are now frantically moving to present Kian as a “new” drug suspect. The NPD chief also admitted that the Grade 11 student was not the target of the police sweep on Wednesday night last week.

There’s also that damning surveillance video footage of Delos Santos being dragged away moments before his death. Police are claiming the boy in the

video is not Delos Santos, even if barangay personnel and the boy’s neighbors insist otherwise.

An autopsy showed Delos Santos was shot in the head and back. What happened to shooting merely to disable? This boy was finished off. Even if defenders of the brutal drug war manage to prove that Delos Santos was a drug courier who tried to shoot the police, it does not justify his killing. Cops should also be aware that suspected child offenders younger than 18 enjoy special protection under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.

With the frantic police efforts to present Delos Santos belatedly as a drug fiend, the investigation of this case should be taken out of the hands of the Philippine National Police – if the government wants a credible probe. The Duterte administration has so far enjoyed public support in the war on drugs. Admitting that abuses are possible in the drug war and that ing punishment for the rotten eggs will not weaken there can be bad eggs in the police, and guarantee- the PNP. On the contrary, the PNP will enjoy greater

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

public trust if it helps give justice to Kian delos Santos. (Philstar.com)

Duterte finally admits possible police abuses in his war against illegal drugs

REST in peace, Kian delos Santos, who was The Fil-Am 17 years young when he was killed by police Perspective during an anti-drug operation last Thursday, August 17.

People all over the world, including inter- GEL SANTOS-RELOS national media organizations, government officials and even ordinary citizens, have expressed their outrage and called out Duterte for the gruesome killings in the Philippines.

Amid the mourning and the flak, many among the police and Duterte’s supporters have been spreading stories about Kian that he was a user and a courier who was caught with two sachets of shabu.

Police reports said Kian ran when he saw the police approaching him, then he allegedly pulled out a gun and fired at the policemen who, because “nanlaban ang suspect,” had to fire back. Another version was that his father was the real user/ pusher, while his father said he would submit himself to a drug test to prove otherwise.

But those who witnessed the killing said the 17-year-old boy was not armed at all, and that they believe he had been framed by the three police officers. Witnesses also said Kian was forced to hold a gun, fire and run. The poor boy was crying, pleading with the policemen to stop because he ”had an exam the next day.”

Kian wanted to be a cop someday, and in these cops’ hands were the guns that shot him and his dreams to death.

The aforementioned witness accounts and a CCTV footage disputed the police’ version of the story. The footage showed Kian being carried by two men to the place where his lifeless body was found.

Several lawmakers from the opposition and even Duterte’s own allies condemned the killing and have demanded an investigation, not only into Kian’s case, but also into the spike in killings lately.

The New York Times reported that “58 people suspected of selling or using

Commentary

FRANK CHING A YEAR after China lost an arbitration case brought against it by the Philippines over disputed territories in the South China Sea, Beijing has emerged the victor in real terms as it flouted the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling favoring Manila’s arguments based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). And then the Philippines, under President Rodrigo Duterte, made an about-turn, adopting a policy of cooperation with China.

Meanwhile, Vietnam, another country with territorial claims in the South China Sea, has bowed to China’s superior might after threats from Beijing, and ceased oil exploration activities in an area within its exclusive economic zone.

drugs have been killed in Manila and its northern suburbs in just three days, making this the deadliest week so far in President Rodrigo Duterte’s monthslong drug crackdown,” the police said on August 17.

The victims were mostly the poor and the helpless — not the big fish drug lords and traders.

As Al Jazeera news reported, Duterte’s critics said during the rally on Monday that demanded an end to the killings said “the death toll in Duterte’s war on drugs has now reached 13,000 - surpassing the number of deaths of anti-government activists during Marcos’ two decades in office.”

The report further said Government statistics reveal that since Duterte took office last year, around 3,451 “drug personalities” have been killed in gun battles with police, and this number is only up to July 26, 2017.

Moreover, about 2,000 more reportedly died in drug-related homicides. This would include attacks by motorcycle-riding masked gunmen and other assaults, while 8,200 homicide cases are “under investigation”.

On Monday, August 21, Duterte admitted in a press conference that there may have been abuses in his administration’s war on drugs. The president said he would not interfere in the investigation and if there would be charges filed against the policemen.

Kian delos Santos was but ONE of the many victims of Duterte’s war on drugs that has denied victims of their basic human rights. The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which the Philippines is a signatory, stipulates: “Article 7. All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such

discrimination.

Article 8. Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11. (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed.

Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.”

The rich, the powerful, the well-connected were accorded these rights. The poor, powerless people like Kian were robbed of it.

I would like to share with you excerpts from a powerful essay written by a Filipino Jesuit priest, Fr. Joel E. Tabora, SJ, who, at 17, made the life-changing decision to serve God by being a priest: The war on drugs must be fought. The drug menace is international evil, driven by powerful forces of evil. This is still the case. It has for too long victimized our people with impunity.

But the war on drugs is fought ultimately because those forces of evil disrespect human lives. They are evil because they destroy human lives, human futures and human culture particularly in the Philippines. For cheap money, they bring their victims to chemically-induced highs, but cook and extinguish their brains till little is left of the human being. In this way, they destroy whole families and whole

communities. They attack the entire nation. The President has declared that the Philippines, corrupted by these drugs in all levels of government, local and national, and even in its security and its law enforcement agencies, is a narcotic state.

Push back is needed.

But not in the way it is being done. If the war on drugs is fought out of respect for human life, it must be guided by respect for human life. The President must be the first to cry out for this because that is why he is fighting the war in the first place, out of his love for the country, and especially out of his love for the poor. Where security and police forces are already flawed because of their vulnerability to corruption and disrespect for human life, even more care must be taken to lead them on the straight path, to direct them to destroy the enemy, and not the victims of the enemy. Certainly, the President must rally his forces to win the war and to legitimately defend their lives against the onslaughts of the enemy. At the same time, he must be keen not to encourage the dark culture of death against which he is fighting his war in the first place. High numbers of people killed dahil nanlaban — because they resisted — do not indicate the war on drugs being won.

Where the President himself was shocked at the extent of the use of drugs in this country and its corruptive effects, it may be helpful for him not only to declare that we are now a narcotic state but to make the nation aware of who exactly the big players are and where exactly the big distribution centers are located. He may wish to explain the operations of security forces against a strategy of winning against strategic targets. He may wish to tell us that if the war on drugs was not won within six months, where the nation now is in its strategy of winning this war.

He may wish to help us understand how he measures his successes, or even his failures.

He may acknowledge that since his war on drugs may groups in civil society and in faith-based communities are contribut-

ing to the war on drugs through personal and communal efforts at battling illegal drugs and helping their hapless victims.

He also may wish to state unequivocally that the killing of a Kian at seventeen does not advance the war on drugs.

It debases it.

Not too long ago, human rights lawyers associated with the Center Against Illegal Drugs (CAID) of the Ateneo de Davao University conducted a three-day seminar in Samal for law enforcers from Mindanao on human-rights-based law enforcement.

The intervention was very well received by the law enforcers. For many of them, it was the first time they had [been] given the opportunity to reflect systematically on their responsibilities as law enforcers in the protection of human rights. Perhaps something like this may be done in other parts of the country in order that our security forces gain personal insight into their responsibility to protect and not destroy, nor even to instrumentalize, human life.

The war on drugs is a battle for human life, for human dignity and the integrity of human society in the Philippine context. The enemy of the war on drugs is not human rights. The enemy of the war on drugs is thinking a President will be pleased with large numbers of chalkedup deaths “dahil nanlaban” that have no demonstrated strategic value in winning the war; or it is the Commander in Chief giving the troops the impression that the murder of such as Kian at seventeen is defensible in the context of a narcotic state.

The death of Kian is not defensible. He was only seventeen. Think of all the possibilities killed. Think of his goodness extinguished. Think of his bereaved family, friends and nation. #JusticeForKian! *** 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

A year after losing arbitration, China wins control of South China Sea Little wonder, then, that last month, a year after the arbitration case, a spokesman of China’s foreign ministry, Geng Shuang, declared: “With the concerted efforts of China, the Philippines and other Asean countries, the situation in the South China Sea has stabilized and taken on a good trend.”

In other words, flouting international law works. With little external support, the small countries of Southeast Asia have little choice but to make the best of a bad situation.

China wants to keep it that way.

The week before Asean opened its annual meetings, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Asean members to unite against “nonregional forces”—rather like the fox telling chickens not to let anyone else into the henhouse.

The identity of these outside forces was clear to all. On August 7, the US, Japan and Australia held a ministerial meeting of the

Trilateral Strategic Dialogue and issued a joint statement. There was a paragraph on the South China Sea. “The ministers called on China and the Philippines to abide by the arbitral tribunal’s 2016 Award in the Philippines-China arbitration, as it is final and legally binding on both parties,” the statement said.

Responding to the announcement that China and Asean had reached agreement on a framework Code of Conduct on the South China Sea, the statement “urged Asean member states and China to ensure that the COC be finalized in a timely manner, and that it be legally binding, meaningful, effective and consistent with international law.”

China did not appreciate such unsolicited advice. Wang Yi said some countries “outside the South China Sea are still dwelling on the past and turning a blind eye to positive changes of

the situation.”

Officially, Beijing espouses a policy of resolving problems through dialogue and negotiations. But the reality of its military power is ever present. China claims almost the entire South China Sea. Thus, Duterte disclosed in May that President Xi Jinping had told him that if the Philippines tried to drill for oil in an area within Manila’s exclusive economic zone, China would declare war.

In June, after Vietnam granted the Spanish energy firm Repsol permission to drill for gas within its exclusive economic zone, China issued repeated warnings. Finally, Vietnam’s ambassador to China was told that, unless the drilling stopped, China would take military action. Hanoi backed down.

This month, Asean marked its 50th anniversary during its annual series of meetings, hosted this year by Manila. A statement

was issued after a meeting of its 10 foreign ministers. As in previous years, the South China Sea was discussed but, this time, the statement was cautiously worded and did not mention China by name.

But it did take note of “the concerns expressed by some Ministers on the land reclamations and activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang found comfort in the fact that the section on the South China Sea this year was “much shorter than that of the past” and did not mention China. He also declared that China had ceased its reclamation activities in 2015.

This was rebutted by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. “China’s

own reclamation work did not end in mid-2015 with the completion of its artificial islands in the Spratlys,” it said while releasing recent photographs. “Beijing continues to reclaim land farther north, in the Paracel islands.”

One person who believes that China had stopped reclamation is the Philippine foreign secretary, Alan Peter Cayetano. He had lobbied against referring to land reclamation in the Asean foreign ministers’ statement because the Chinese “are not claiming land anymore.” Evidently, however, his Asean associates weren’t as trusting and thus land reclamation was again cited.

So, ironically, despite losing in the arbitral tribunal, China has won effective control of the South China Sea. Unless the US, Japan, Australia and others are willing to go beyond issuing pious statements, China has shown that it pays to defy international law. (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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A

DSWD says goodbye to ‘Manay’ Judy Taguiwalo

by Rosette

AJPress

GOLD FINISH. Kim Mangrobang celebrates after winning the women’s triathlon competition of the 29th Southeast Asian Games on Monday, Aug. 21 at the Water Sports Complex in Putrajaya City. Mangrobang clocked two hours, 11 minutes and 14 seconds to claim the gold medal.

SEA Games pool photo

DFA to get bigger fund for assistance to OFWs

by JeffeRson

AntipoRdA ManilaTimes.net

PHILIPPINE embassies and consulates in the Middle East are expected to be able to respond to the needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in distress with President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of P1 billion in additional funding for their respective Assistance to Nationals (ATN) programs, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Tuesday, Aug. 22.

The additional funding, according to Cayetano, will allow Filipino diplomats particularly in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to better serve distressed Filipinos working in these countries.

Distressed nationals are defined under Republic Act 8042 as those who have valid medical, psychological or legal assistance

problems requiring treatment, hospitalization, counseling, legal representation or any other kind of intervention with authorities in the country where they are found.

Together with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Office of the Labor Attache, the ATN Section of the Philippine Embassy assists Filipinos in resolution of their cases and, if applicable, in their repatriation to the Philippines.

“Our diplomats cannot be expected to quickly respond to any request for assistance from our kababayan [countrymen]in the Middle East and in other parts of the world if they cannot be provided with the resources they need to be able to do so,” Cayetano said in a statement.

Sarah Lou Arriola, Foreign Affairs undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, has informed

Cayetano that the DFA has already spent almost 60 percent of the P400 million allocated by Congress to support ATN operations abroad for this year.

In her consultation with some foreign service posts in the Middle East, she was told that they could not effectively respond to ATN cases because of budget constraints.

Cayetano said the additional funding could address limitations being faced by ambassadors and consul generals as they would be provided more resources to serve Filipinos in their respective areas.

Arriola said the increase in ATN funding would enable the DFA to fund not just the usual rescues and repatriations but also to open new shelters, hire more translators, interpreters and other personnel and purchase equipment needed by various Philippine posts.

a politically motivated group and that we should be wary of their statements,” Abella said.

A statement from Padem called for the ouster of Duterte “for betraying public trust” as well as violating the “national sovereignty and democratic rights of the people.”

Padem is accusing Duterte of treating the AFP and Philippine National Police as his private armies and for playing favorites, bungling anti-terrorist operations in Marawi City, allowing Chinese vessels to occupy some parts of West Philippine Sea, condoning top illegal drug lords supposedly

including his son Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, and inciting police officers to engage in extrajudicial killings of poor illegal drug users.

Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., spokesman for the AFP, said the military was supportive of Duterte, its commander in chief, but reiterated its “apolitical stance.”

Padilla said the AFP would not hesitate in “acting against forces who shall undermine the stability and security of our country and those who wish to destabilize our nation through unconstitutional means.”

Adel

cal leanings are. Pagmamahal at pasasalamat ang handog natin kay Manay Judy. She will never be forgotten,” Assistant Secretary Lorraine Badoy was quoted as saying during the send-off activity.

DSWD Undersecretary Malou Turalde-Jarabe and Regional Director Alice Bonoan said they were disheartened that Taguiwalo was rejected by the CA but said they see this as an inspiration to serve.

Undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco, designated officer-in-charge, said the former Social Welfare chief left lessons that will guide them in their public service.

“Sikapin nating maipagpatuloy ang serbisyong bayan na iniwan ni Secretary Judy,” Leyco was quoted as saying.

Taguiwalo thankful for DSWD stint For her part, Taguiwalo said she is grateful that she was able to serve DSWD. She said she protected it from corruption and abuse

and asked the employees to “go beyond the symptoms and check the root causes of deep poverty.”

Taguiwalo, a nominee of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, said: “Alam kong malabong tatagal ako. Pero aalis ako with a heart so full from your love and affection.”

“I keep my faith with President Duterte. The president knew from the beginning where I stand, but he still appointed me,” she was quoted as saying.

“Mr. President I kept faith with you. Nalulungkot lang ako kasi I don’t think you kept faith with me at the end,” she also said. “But, still, thank you for allowing me to serve the Filipino people as a member of your Cabinet.”

Aside from the DSWD employees, Taguiwalo’s supporters, including the Solo Parents Federation, participated in the send-off activity at the DSWD Central Office.

MANILA — Employees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday, Aug. 22 organized a send-off activity for Judy Taguiwalo, whose appointment a bicameral congressional panel rejected on undisclosed grounds.

Emotional employees offered messages, a performance of “Do You Hear the People Sing,” and framed caricatures for Taguiwalo, whom they fondly call “Manay.”

Some messages for her were posted on a freedom wall.

Last Wednesday, Aug. 16, the congressional Commission on Appointments rejected the ad interim appoinment of Taguiwalo. The same panel had already bypassed her appointment twice.

Duterte regrets CA decision on Taguiwalo Duterte on Monday, Aug. 21, said he regrets the commission’s decision but he said it is the CA’s duty for the country.

“Sayang…That is the job of Congress as part of the check and balances of the government.

Check and balance iyan, so wala tayong magawa kung i-reject,” Duterte said at a press briefing on Monday night.

“It’s (their) discretion and they voted secretly,” he added.

The administration PDP Laban party leads the majority blocs of the House of Representatives and of the Senate.

Meanwhile, DSWD officials recognized Taguiwalo’s hard work and service in her short stay in the agency.

“Secretary Judy taught me to Employees of the Social Welfare and Development department on Tuesday, Aug. 22 organized serve anyone whatever your politi- a send-off activity for outgoing DSWD chief Judy Taguiwalo.

DSWD photo

Palace, AFP downplay call for Duterte’s ouster DFA chief: PH will continue to assert...

by CAtheRin

s. VAlente

ManilaTimes.net

MALACAñANG and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday, Aug. 22 downplayed supposed efforts to oust President Rodrigo Duterte, saying such move by a group claiming to represent the military and the police was “politically motivated.”

Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella dismissed the allegations against the President made by the group calling itself the “Patriotic and Democratic Movement” (Padem).

“We based our statement on the AFP’s assessment and it says it is

PAGE A5 give you, we will tell you if there is an alarming station or if the public is in danger or if we are going to take or step up certain actions that needs the public’s support,” Cayetano said.

He assured that reported presence of Chinese vessels near Pag-asa Island has already been “resolved diplomatically.”

“We will tell you that we are taking the diplomatic actions but if we tell you every step of the way and all the facts etcetera, it will not help unless there is something that happened that the public has to know,” he added.

In an earlier statement, Duterte

also refuted Carpio’s claim.

“We were not invaded,” the president stressed. “I called the ambassador nung nabasa ko (when I read [the report]). He said: ‘We will assure you that we are not building anything there’.”

A separate claim by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano alleged that China has planted its country flag on a sand cay seven nautical miles off Kota Island located at the West Philippine Sea. “According to the information that I received, a Chinese flag mounted on a steel pipe was discovered planted on a sand cay located seven nautical miles

northeast off Kota Island. It was discovered around third week of July 2017. A Chinese vessel allegedly erected the said 3-meter high Chinese flag on a sand cay which is known to be within a Philippine-controlled area,” Alejano said.

The lawmaker also criticized the Foreign secretary’s socalled “strategy of silence”, urging the department to be more transparent on issues concerning the disputed territories.

He remarked that the DFA doesn’t necessarily have to release all the details, but it still “must release something for the consumption of the public.”

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Journal Get hired: How to move Signs that you’re ready for a job change your job application ahead

by JennIfer

sorIano

AJPress

by IrIs

VIcente

AJPress

Whether you’re a fresh graduate who has the faintest idea what it’s like to apply for a job, or someone who’s looking for a major career move, the whole process of seeking a post can be quite a challenge. tired of the frustrating course of applying and someone else taking it because they crop up as “more qualified” than you?

Chill out! Most of the time it’s not about incompetence, sometimes, you just haven’t found the slick hacks to entice employers in saying, “hey! I’m calling dibs on this one.” here are some pointers to get you through applying and getting ahead on other applicants: Polish your resume Knockout credentials have no merit when laid out as crude.

It’s important that you organize the things that you want to put in your resume. remember: your resume is your ticket to the next phase which is the interview so if you don’t put more work and tweaks on it, you’ll lose your chance at selling yourself. these days a resume may be scanned in a matter of

In a very competitive market where everybody highlights their winning features, the challenge lies on how to brand yourself as a cut above the rest.

Inquirer.net photos

seconds — if at all. highlight what you think are your selling points and outline it to the job posting. And please, put your latest email address, not from when you were a kid with lots of characters and numbers e.g aibisyosa16@gmail.com.

Prepare for the interview research on the company and job you’re applying to beforehand. Don’t just barge in without knowing what you’re

You need to make the hiring managers feel comfortable about you on an emotional level to sell yourself and stand out.

putting yourself into. Companies don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t know why or even if they want to work there. Look into the job position responsibilities, accountabilities and growth opportunities. Being knowledgeable about these things creates an impression to the hiring managers that you mean business, and not someone who just wants to take any job you can get.

Network It’s time to make use of your connections specially in social media. Sometimes, job opportunities can arise in the unlikeliest places. Be open to communicating and networking with others in your field.

Whether at industry events, over email, make the effort to connect with others.

Make sure to stand out In a very competitive market where everybody highlights their winning features, the challenge lies on how to brand yourself as a cut above the rest. It’s not enough to fire companies PAGE B4

Our jobs occupy a big chunk of our lives. that’s why it’s no surprise it is called occupation. to quote Apple founder Steve Jobs, “the only way to do a great work is to love what you do.” Sure, it is easier said than done, because at some point, loving what we are doing can be a difficult task. What you thought would be a pleasant mutually beneficial relationship with paper work, co-employees and your boss, can become a dreaded cloud in the horizon along your supposedly pleasant walk in your career path. Most of the time we get confused, scared even.

But how far do we see ourselves traveling down this road that leads us to the infinite black hole? here are a few signs that you need a detour and are all set in hop-in for a new job: PAGE B3

While some people can be content on staying in the same position for a long period of time, others want to grow in order to progress in their careers.

Philstar.com photo

Do it right: Writing the perfect resume by elIJah

roderos AJPress

A WeLL-WrItten resume is your best tool to make a good first impression to your potential employer. A study by an online job-matching service theLadders says that It only takes an average of 6 seconds for recruiters to scan your resume and decide right away whether you’re up to the job or not. taking time to write your resume is really important, so make sure it follows a clear visual hierarchy to make it stand out above the rest. here are some essential tips from theLadders and Business time, on how to make a perfect resume that can likely increase your chance to get a call on your job interview: 1. Start your resume with a branding statement Begin your resume with your

Tailor your resume to every job application that responds to the specific requirements your prospect organizations are looking for. It is important to be unique, rather than merely using generic terms you originally apply for or held.

branding statement that stands out rather than relying on the traditional objective statement.

An objective statement only focuses on the job seeker’s talents in relation to a particular job position, whereas a branding statement doesn’t only focus on a specific position or industry. Instead, it allows the job hunter to sum up his/her

talents and translatable skills in a one definitive sentence.

Here’s an example: Objective statement: “talented social media marketing professional seeks position as an associate at a small to medium size clothing retailer.”

Branding statement: “Fashion PAGE B4

Jo Koy

September 1

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Bill Gates’ tweets on life, career Gentle reminders for career success & the book you need to read by eRnie

o. CeCilia Inquirer.net

by Wilson lee

FloRes

Philstar.com

Are mentors essential in business and where do we seek them? President rody Duterte’s presidential adviser on entrepreneurship, Joey Concepcion, Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) Secretary mon Lopez, and business leaders like BDO boss Tessie Sy-Coson now support a mentorship program for mSmes and aspiring entrepreneurs.

I believe that non-businesspeople also need mentors. Not all people are cut out to be entrepreneurs and there are many other fulfilling career paths towards success. Look at self-made billionaire manny V. Pangilinan, the professional and strategic whiz who is boss of PLDT, Smart, TV5, and the Hong Kong-based First Pacific Group.

He is richer and also wields more clout than most entrepreneurs in our society.

Whether businesspeople or professionals, many people have no direct access to mentors in a father or uncle or boss, but we can always learn vicariously via readings, research and continuous lifelong study.

On m a y 1 5, t h e world ’s wealthiest billionaire, legendary philanthropist and microsoft founder Bill Gates shared five interesting pieces of life and career advice via his Twitter account @BillGates. Here they are, plus my own thoughts: Go into AI, biosciences, and energy. Bill Gates tweeted these as areas where new graduates and others can “make a huge impact.” He added, “It’s what I would do if starting out today.”

Let us invest more or get involved in technological fields such as artificial intelligence, biosciences and green or renewable energy.

Intelligence is overrated.

Gates tweeted that he wished he’d learned as a youth that “intelligence” comes in many different forms and that it is “not as important as I used to think.” more than just traditional ideas on intelligence as IQ, high academic grades and honors, let us also encourage the development of people’s emotional quotient, or eQ. I believe that character is a

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, the world’s wealthiest billionaire and philanthropist

The book Gates would give to every graduate if he could.

Philstar.com photos

key factor behind the success or failure of a person, in almost the same way I believe the culture of a people is the real X factor behind success or mediocrity. early on when I was starting out with no capital, I led a ragtag realty sales team towards record sales. I told my salespeople that natural intelligence alone is no guarantee for success because many people are born daily with a high IQ. What will make the big difference is our guts, grit, hard work, perseverance, passion, and creativity!

Help repair our unjust world now. Gates tweeted he regrets that it took him decades before he started fighting the inequities and injustices in our world.

He urges new graduates and the rest of us to do positive things right now to correct many of the wrongs and injustices in our own backyard, down the street, on social media like Twitter or Facebook, in our communities, and society. Fight oppression, unfairness, strike down racism, stand up against lies, and correct wrongs.

Choose kin and good friends who make you better. Gates tweeted: “Surround yourself with people who challenge you, teach you, and push you to be your best self.” He also cited his good wife, melinda Gates, and his close friend, fellow billionaire-philanthropist Warren Buffett, as examples.

In this piece of advice alone lie essential factors to success

and happiness. Choose an honest, reliable and positive spouse and friends! I’ve seen countless examples of talented and privileged people who’ve been irreparably ruined by fatally wrong choices in their friends or spouse. The quality of the people surrounding us affects so profoundly.

Be optimistic. We live in a world that’s getting better. Live life and help out, the world is becoming a better place. Gates tweeted: “Sounds crazy, but it’s true. This is the most peaceful time in human history.”

Bad news often sells better, more so controversies and tales of conflict anywhere in the world. Therefore, let us not be gloomy in outlook if the news is all about the dreadful things in the internecine politics of the Philippines or the US, like the mounting Trump controversies, sporadic reports on ISIS terrorists or violence in some parts of the globe. That is not the complete reality of our vast and progressing world, Bill Gates tweeted, and I agree!

Gates recommended that we read the book The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker, adding that he’d like to give every new college graduate this book if he could (of course he could if really wants to, being the richest person on earth now).

Last but definitely not least, Gates tweeted: “This is an amazing time to be alive. I hope you make the most of it.”

YOU can’t control the economy, but you can control yourself. Try these tips and get better.

Dream big You can’t have a dream come true unless you first have a dream.

Only those who have dreams will have dreams come true. Often, a person is measured by the size of his dream. The bigger the dream, the bigger gain. many dreams seem impossible at first.

In may 1961, U.S. President John Kennedy dreamed of putting the first man on the moon before the decade is over. It’s more fun to dream the impossible. Luke 18:27 said, “The things impossible with men are possible with God.” Destiny is not a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice.

When working people fail, they blame destiny. many believe that how you turn out in life is predetermined on the day you’re born. In reality, destiny is not fixed – there are alternative destinies, depending on your choices. It’s not a matter of chance — destiny is a matter of choice. Like somebody said, it’s not a thing to be waited for — it’s a thing to be achieved.

Look to the future; it’s where you’ll spend the rest of your life. many people live in the past.

Others just wait when the future comes. Somebody said that yesterday is a cancelled check – it’s worthless and no longer negotiable. Tomorrow is a promissory note – it’s not good now. Today is the only cash you have – so spend it wisely. Someone said, “Today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

Don’t just sit there millions saw the apple fall; only Newton asked why. Try to be different. People see things and take them for granted. Worse, they see problems – not opportunities.

To succeed, keep your eyes and mind on opportunities. Don’t just ask why – ask why not, too. many successful people were different, bold, and creative.

Be a person of value, not a person of success. People wish for success in their life. There are varying roads to success — some straight, some crooked.

Some people go after success no matter what. Sometimes, like Darth Vader they find success on the dark side. The good book reminds us to choose to be a person of value, rather than a person of success. According to Proverbs 16:16, “It’s much better to be wise and sensible than to be rich.”

Often, a person is measured by the size of his dream. The bigger the dream, the bigger gain.

Inquirer.net photo

No fear enter the tiger’s den if you want to take the cubs. Life is a survival of the fittest – not necessarily the strongest, but those who have the courage to change and adapt. In life and career, if you want something that bad, you’ve got to go after it. Contrary to belief, the best things in life are not free. They have a tag price.

To succeed, be courageous and determined to go after what you want in life.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. In life, detractors will insult, belittle or discourage you. If you allow them to make you a lesser person, you’ll lose. Instead, prove them wrong by honing your skills and doing your best all the time. Never give up.

Fight as if there’s no tomorrow. mark 12:10-11 says, “Haven’t you heard this scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’”

Don’t care who gets the credit.

In Philippine churches, you’ll see pews and walls inscribed with names of their donors.People want others to know their charity and good deeds. It seems very difficult to be humble when you’re great. It cheapens your achievement when you blow your horn. matthew 6:3 reminds us, “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.”

Grace Learn to laugh – at your troubles, at yourself. Life is full of tense

and difficult situations. Life is so serious that we need to learn to smile and laugh. It takes 64 facial muscles to scowl or frown. It takes only 13 to smile. Helen Keller, with her handicap, has learned to be happy. She admonished others, “resolve to keep happy, and your joy shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”

Never try to please everybody.

There are several secrets to success, and a few secrets to failure.

One secret for failure I know is to try to please everybody. Leaders who set out to please all their constituencies never succeed. There will always be those who will not be happy with what you do, even when you do good. People will always envy you and attribute ill intent to every beneficial thing you do. matthew 6:24 warns us, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other.”

Life is not a bed of roses. But it can be fun, if you master secrets of success. *** (ernie is the 2013 executive Director and 1999 President of the People management Association of the Philippines (PmAP); Chair of the AmCHAm Human Capital Committee; and Co-Chair of eCOP’s TWG on Labor and Social Policy Issues. He also chairs the Accreditation Council for the PmAP Society of Fellows in People management. He is President and CeO of eC Business Solutions and Career Center. Contact him at ernie_cecilia@yahoo.com)

Is ‘follow your passion’ good career advice?

by Rose

FRes Fausto Philstar.com

FrOm “study hard, get good grades, find a good job,” we moved to “follow your passion” when it comes to career advice to the youth. Because the world is always changing, and because we tend to swing from one extreme to another, we may end up getting lost in the interpretation of these well-meaning pieces of advice.

We all went gaga over that awe inspiring commencement speech delivered by Steve Jobs at the Stanford University, “You’ve got to find what you love. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

Jobs narrated his life-long and inspiring career in his usual high impact fashion in 15 minutes. I am a big fan of Steve Jobs’ presentation style, but to apply the above lesson without considering his entire journey can prove to be dangerous to most kids starting their career.

So let’s revisit this career advice usually phrased as “Follow your passion.”

Let’s define passion The dictionary defines passion as a very powerful feeling; a strong and barely controllable emotion. In other words, it is something that can come in spurts of moments, but not necessarily sustainable.

From the above definition, it doesn’t seem rational to make something this flighty and volatile to be our guide in mapping one’s career.

Feelings and emotions change.

So passions change. What we’re passionate about now may not be the same five years from now. So to follow the advice of look for/follow your passion and get a job that fulfills it may be a pretty unstable thing to do. Could this be the reason why the average stay of millennials in a job is a short 1.6 years?

Job matching problems What more, in a survey among 500 Canadian students, they found out that there was a huge disparity between what they are passionate about and the number of jobs available. An overwhelming 90 percent of the students were passionate in sports, arts and music, but only 3 percent of available jobs were in these fields. So encouraging our kids to only get into a job that matches their passion is a sure way

Because the world is always changing, and because we tend to swing from one extreme to another, we may end up getting lost in the interpretation of these well-meaning pieces of advice.

Philstar.com photos

to high unemployment!

Some say that “follow your passion” is such an elitist career advice because it is okay for children of wealthy families who will not starve even if they don’t get a job, but not for those who have to earn a living right away. As I always advise to parents (both rich and poor), “Cut your children’s financial umbilical cord once they graduate from college.”

Passionate about vs. good at Just because you’re passionate about something does not mean that you won’t suck at it. And sometimes, even if you try to improve on it, you don’t. Here is where knowing your strengths becomes important. I am a certified gallup strengths coach and one of the things that we do to help people find engagement in their jobs is to first help them know their inherent strengths. Focusing on and further honing their strengths, instead of spending too much time fretting

on their weaknesses, is what leads to mastery.

So what do we do?

Given what we know about the perils of misinterpreting the career advice “follow your passion,” here are some pieces of advice from Benjamin Todd, executive director of 80000Hours.Org: 1. Explore. Go out because you can’t figure things out just by thinking of what you’re good at. If I may add, still try to get good grades while in school, but also explore extra-curricular activities. Continue exploring after graduation by being open to available jobs that may not seem like a perfect fit for what you initially wanted but appear promising in terms of learning.

2. Hone your skills. An awareness of your inherent skills will help you choose what you should be working on to develop. So what you’re passionate about right now may give you valuable clues.

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Fil-Am artist designs crown, judges America’s Miss World 2017 FILIPINO-AMERICAN artist JEFRË was commissioned to design the crown for America’s Miss World 2017.

The artist also judged the preliminary and final rounds of the pageant, which saw Florida’s very own Clarissa Bowers take home the newly designed crown and the distinction as America’s Miss World 2017.

“Even though there was a lot of pressure, it was an honor to make one girl’s dream come true,” shared JEFRË. “I was surprised it was Clarissa’s first pageant, but she was very poised, humorous, natural, and authentic. She will represent America proud!”

The 66th Annual America’s Miss World was held at the Linda Chaplin Theatre in Orlando, Florida and showcased 28 hopefuls. Taking inspiration from the pageant’s motto, “Beauty with a Purpose,” JEFRË conceptualized the crown to mimic Gore Strips, which are triangular paper segments used to create world globes.

“I’ve always had an interest in maps and globes, how they are deconstructed and created. The Gore Strips have a point at the top and bottom that when placed on a sphere, forms the north and south poles,” JEFRË elaborated. “When completed and assembled, the Gore Strips have true perspective

Filipino-American artist JEFRË and the crown he conceptualized for America’s Miss World 2017.

and creates the image of the world as one.”

Along with Prerna Nanda of Elementz by Prerna, JEFRË’s design was brought to life using • 2,367 diamonds and white sapphires • 97 pieces of hyro blue sapphires • 382 grams of silver and white gold.

“Seeing the concept come to fruition by a renowned jewelery designer and then placed on the American winner to represent Miss World was both inspiring and an

Jefre Manuel (center) conceptualized the crown of new America’s Miss World 2017 Clarissa Bowers.

Photos courtesy of Jefre Manuel

honor!,” JEFRË said.

“The shape that JEFRË created is powerful because it represents so many different parts of the world: unique yet united. This crown is a reminder to our titleholder, organization, and anyone who looks at the design that she is a representation of the world as a whole and all who inhabit it,” says Elizabeth Safrit, conational director of Miss World in the United States.

Jefre Manuel-Figueras, a Filipino-American artist established globally has a strong interest in connecting with his roots and making a difference in the skyline and landscape of his native community.

JEFRË studied at the Art Institute of Chicago prior to receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from Ohio State University. JEFRË was named one of seven “Faces of Design for 2007”

by Florida Inside Out architecture magazine for his environmental art and couture landscapes.

As a designer and public art initiator, his design solutions originate from a deep understanding of the historical, environmental, social and contextual relationships influencing the site and the architecture.

In 2008, JEFRË launched his own couture landscape and public art studio with a focus on environmental art, green roofs, boutique plazas and parks and public art master plans.

He was selected by the prestigious Marlborough Gallery in New York City as an “Up and Coming International Public Artist” and chosen by the Lexus Corporation to be the sixth member of their ECO Hybrid Living National Design Team to design environmental conscious carbon neutral environments.

JEFRË is passionate about sharing his public art initiative through his line of new interactive designs and upcoming public art projects.

(Philstar.com)

Sarah Lahbati, Annabelle Rama clash over wedding plans

by IrIs VIcente AJPress

KAPAMILYA actress Sarah Lahbati recently revealed details about her upcoming wedding with long-time boyfriend Richard Gutierrez.

In her guesting on ABS-CBN’s morning show “Magandang Buhay,” Sarah shared that she wants an intimate gathering rather than a huge wedding celebration.

However, she also revealed that she might get into an argument with future mother-in-law Annabelle Rama if she insists on her preference because the latter prefers a flashy and grand wedding for her and Richard. ”Mag-aaway kami doon ni Tita kasi gusto ni Tita bongga, ‘yung marami. Marami siyang kaibigan.

Kaya feeling ko mag-a-argue kami doon. So naiisip namin what if isa dito, isa abroad, pero parang magastos din ‘yon. So ‘yung mga kino-consider namin ano ba dito or abroad, kapag abroad ba lahat ay makakapunta. So ang dami naming kino-consider kasi nga gusto namin lahat ng loved ones namin ay nandoon.” she said.

(Tita and I will disagree on it because she wants it to be glamorous and huge. She has

You’re not passionate about work any longer If you can flip a tennis ball, an egg and an apple up in the air while delivering comical one-liners, but your job only allows you to sell tickets, it’s highly possible that you will get bored. Eventually it will lead to apathy that shows up in your work. People around you can tell and they don’t want a job done by this kind of employee.

There can also be situations that you do great in a job that you do not truly enjoy, so you end dreading it.

“Doing the same job for 50 years, unless you love it, is going to prove to be challenging,” says Career Doctor, Dr John Taccori.

“Changing careers is healthy and keeps you engaged in the workforce longer. However a career change should be made with a well-informed mind.” Satisfaction and fulfillment ensue if what we do has a purpose at least, if not passion.

You don’t feel your worth is valued A pat on the back of the boss works wonders. It feeds the basic human necessity of sense of worth and belongingness. A simple, “good job” means you are part of the overall success of the company. However, when you did a job well and have spent blood, sweat and tears just to ensure the quality of your work but never getting any credit or

Photos from Toni Gonzaga’s Instagram account

Toni Gonzaga slams cheating rumors about Paul Soriano, Erich Gonzales

by IrIs VIcente AJPress

SHE knew it was coming.

Toni Gonzaga is dismissing rumors surrounding her husband, commercial and film director Paul Soriano and actress Erich Gonzales.

In an interview with Pep. ph during the opening of Alex and Toni Gonzaga’s Happy Cup milk tea business, Toni revealed that she was aware of the blind items involving her husband and Erich, when the two filmed the movie “Siargao” in May. Paul directed the film while Erich, who was recently involved in a controversial break-up with Daniel Matsunaga, played the main character opposite Jericho Rosales.

“Really? You know what, Paul already told me last May. He said, ‘I think people are gonna make an issue about me and Erich just like how they did to me with Maja [Salvador] before.

So I guess it’s inevitable because Erich already talked to me and she said that some people are bashing her, messaging her, ‘‘how can you do that to Toni?

Stuff like that.” she said.

With Toni’s huge following, it’s no surprise that people began bashing Paul and Erich regarding the issue.

“Paul said, ‘It’s not true, and I don’t wanna react about it,” Toni shared.

Toni also believes that a woman’s intuition is accurate most of the time and that she trusts her husband fully.

“Ewan ko, ayaw nating magsalita nang tapos, but we always lift it up to God na sana wag kaming dumaan sa ganung klase ng pagsubok, trial o ano pa man na challenge sa married life. Naniniwala kasi ako sa intuition, kasi sabi ng mommy ko kahit walang issue, kahit walang tsismis, kahit walang ano, may woman’s intuition most likely 80% of the time, it’s true. Pinakiramdaman ko, so far wala pa naman,” Gonzaga said.

(I don’t know, i don’t want to put an end to it but we always lift it up to God hoping that we won’t go through that kind of challenges in our married life.

I believe in intuition, my Mom said that even though there’s no issue, nothing at all, there’s a woman’s intuition, most likely, 80% of the time, it’s true. I’m

trying to observe, so far there’s none.)

According to Toni, there are also rumors circulating about Erich and Jericho even though the latter is already married to blogger/model Kim Jones. Toni even joked about which one between Paul and Jericho is really involved with Erich, “So ano talaga ang totoo? Multiple choice? Kaya pala pina-visit niya ako. Sabi niya [Paul], ‘Why don’t you visit here?’ E, nagsyu-shooting kami ni Piolo, next month na yung shooting namin. Last four days.” she added.

(So what’s the truth? Multiple choice? Maybe that’s the reason why he wanted me to visit on set, he said ‘why don’t you visit here?’ but I’m filming with Piolo, Our shooting is next month. Last four days.)

Toni was referring to the romantic-comedy movie that will be out next month in which she and Piolo are currently filming.

The movie, which is directed

by Joyce Bernal, is a dark romcom according to Toni. She described it as different from all the other rom-com movies she has ever done.

Sarah Lahbati and Richard Gutierrez announced their engagement last month.

Photo from Sarah Lahbati’s Instagram account

a lot of friends so I think we’ll argue about that. We are considering if we’re gonna do two weddings, here and abroad but that would be costly. If we do it abroad, we are considering if all of our friends could attend. So we have a lot to consider because we want all of our loved ones to be there.)

Sarah and Richard, who have been together for five years, got engaged in Switzerland last July.

Signs that you’re ready...

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Paul Soriano and Toni Gonzaga recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary.

recognition can be a dangerous thing to both parties. It can sap out your interest to your and decreases your chances of survival in your job.

You want to reach a higher level While some people can be content on staying in the same position for a long period of time, others want to grow in order to progress in their careers. For some workplace, they provide little or no room for growth, thus leaving employees stunted. If this is the case, it’s time to pack your bags and breath fresh air that nourishes career growth.

But be wary. People can make bold career decisions, even unexpected ones. But we have to make sure that every move is a calculated one to minimize risk and avoid the notorious move: One step forward, two steps backward.

You’re always too stressed, even after work As the popular saying goes, “All work, no play makes John a dull boy.” If your work seems to be occupying your waking hours, following you or let’s say, haunting you at home until the wee hours of the night, then you are sacrificing that much-needed “me” time. This leaves you stressed, thus, making you counterproductive at work. This might happen for occasional urgent reasons, but if it happens almost everyday, just stop and breathe and draft that resignation letter.

It was the same place where Sarah grew up and took refuge when she was hiding her pregnancy in 2012, eventually giving birth to their first born, Zion.

“Ako lang ang dream ko ay makumpleto ang family ko at family niya, kaibigan ko at mga kaibigan niya para maging soulful,” she added.

(My only dream is for our family and friends to be complete for it [wedding] to be soulful.)

You’re depressed Do you find yourself perennially tired? Do you always drag yourself out of the bed and sometimes think of excuses for skipping work for a day, if not forever? Well, normally that happens especially after long weekends and during cold weather.

But if it happens on a regular basis, it is because you don’t like your work. Chances are, your work does not love you back either. This can be manifested in a decreased emotional well being that can further affect our overall well being.

Our jobs offer us a mix of interesting factors such as joy, pain, sadness, sacrifice, kindness, and support. If we, with the participation of our bosses, co-employees and clients manage to strike a good balance of these; then we can yield a satisfying job.

If not, then go ahead and leave. The imbalance of these factors sums up that you are ready for a job change. Do it as a favor to yourself to experience life and a job that you deserve.

It wouldn’t be easy but most of the time, the strength to do it is all we need. Make that decision where you won’t end up sully later on. After you’ve found that new job, start with yourself first.

Start by being a better version of yourself. Put the distressing situations you have had on your previous job into good use by learning from them. If all else fails, repeat, not the mistakes, but the process. This will eventually lead you to find the one that you deserve.

Town mates and Friends:

Please join us in celebration of our

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Nazario Perlas: Precy Castaneto- Ruedas:

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Lito Tambo: Ludy Lagmay-Ganzon: Mila Tadina: Josie Dolor Etrata: Mary Ann Arichea–Caunan:

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Ogie Alcasid now a Golden Boy by ricky Lo Philstar.com

In barely a week, Ogie Alcasid is turning 50 and he’s celebrating his Golden Year in Paris with his wife Regine Velasquez and son nate, along with his ex-wife Michelle van Eimeren and husband Mark Murrow, and Michelle’s daughters (with Ogie) Leila and Sarah.

Why in Paris?

“Because nate (nathaniel James Alcasid) is serving as Ring Bearer at the wedding of) Dr. Vicki (Belo) and (Dr.) Hayden (Kho),” explained Ogie whose daughter’s birthday falls on Sept. 1, just about the time of the wedding. “So we might as well celebrate na lang together in Paris since andoon na

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rin naman kami.”

Ogie’s birthday is on Saturday, Aug. 27, two days after his special concert “nakakalokal “at the Kia Theater, which is so titled because Ogie will be doing an all-OPM repertoire with his guests Angeline Quinto, Erik Santos, Jaya, Teng Constantino, Solenn Heussaff, Lovi Poe and his daughter Leila.

Ogie is doing the concert gratis et amore for the World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. whose advocacy includes children who are victims of sex abuse.

“It’s my way of saying ‘Thank you’ for all the blessings in my life,” said Ogie who, thanks to his “cuteness,” doesn’t look 50 at all (in jest, the press release says it’s his “21st birthday” concert, PAGE B6 Ogie Alcasid is celebrating his 50th birthday in Paris.

Do it right: Writing the perfect...

Taking time to write your resume is really important, so make sure it follows a clear visual hierarchy to make it stand out above the rest.

Photos from the U.S. Department of Labor

savvy social marketing wiz with experience running successful marketing campaigns incorporating Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.”

There are still posted jobs with the sole intent of filling a single position. Whilst this is still a frequent goal today, employers now seek out talents and create space for well-qualified individuals whom can fit within their organizations.

Start your resume with a branding statement that can show how you can be a valuable asset to your target companies.

2. Prioritize your expertise and skills on top List all these things near the top where the recruiter can easily see them. Use action verbs when presenting your accomplishments and support it with quantitative data if you can. For example, say

EMPLOYMENT

that you increased sales by 50 percent, or the decisions you made led to a 120 percent decrease in operational costs. This is the area where you can freely go in depth and be specific. Don’t focus on your personal achievement; instead be detailed on your qualifications that can contribute to the company.

3. Tailor your resume for the potential position Tailor your resume to every job application that responds to the specific requirements your prospect organizations are looking for.

It is important to be unique, rather than merely using generic terms you originally apply for or held.

Use keywords that match the job description. These may catch the employers’ attention and probably place your resume at the top of the list. Don’t make a mistake of just portraying a bio of a candidate but

market your skills and strengths for the particular position.

Some companies nowadays use preliminary software that targets specific words or phrases in order to determine which resume should be further assessed or flagged down. If you strategically place keywords on your resume, there’s a greater chance it will be forwarded on to a breathing HR professional.

4. Avoid using creative fonts and formatting Choose a classic font such as Arial, Times new Roman, Calibri or Verdana. Avoid using excessive amounts of bold, italics, and other features as this may confuse resume scanning software. If you do choose to use bold or italics in titles and headings, make sure to use it consistently.

Forgo distractive fonts and visuals which may hamper employer’s decision-making and reduce their analytical capabilities. Create a clear visual hierarchy that is smooth-flowing for the employer’s to read through.

5. Don’t make it too long There’s no specific length for a resume because it depends on your work experience and education. Yet, there’s a greater chance that your employer will give lesser attention to the next page than the first. Hence, include as much on the first page without making your resume appear cluttered.

6. Follow employer’s instruction on making a resume There’s nothing that will get a resume sent to the recycling

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

Daniel Matsunaga: Open to fall in love again

by MJ

Marfori Philstar.com

The Times also caught up with Daniel Matsunaga after the story conference. The charmer that he is, he was all smiles and open to answer the issues swirling around him, so we wasted no time to get an update about his love life.

“I’m not seeing anyone right now but I’m open to fall in love again,” was the man’s reply.

As for his ex-girlfriend Erich Gonzales, he wishes her well as he clarified that the viral photo of him and her admirer—yes, the billboard guy—was a hoax.

“I do not even remember that Philstar.com photos by Ricky Lo picture. I was in Brazil when the fans tagged me. Fan photo siguro bin faster than failing to follow iyon from years ago. Ang bata pa the basic submission instruc- ng itsura ko doon.” tions. Common directives may Daniel also clarified that afinclude: submitting your resume ter his successful gig in Paris as a specific file type, using a spe- with Arci Muñoz, he hopes that cific format on file name, including people will accept that they are specific information on the subject just friends. of the email, using specific font “Close kami ni Arci, TV5 days type and size, and/or submitting pa lang. Friends talaga kami and your resume through the company website instead of email. More often, these instructions are given because of the employer’s special software requirements; however, in other cases, it is used to test the PAGE B1 applicant’s ability to follow simple up with your resume and hopinstructions. ing you’ll get a call afterwards, 7. Be honest you need to be a step ahead While it is important to maxi- all the time, be creative and mize certain work history and mini- unique. Ask the right questions mize the others, it is never okay to to find out what the company’s lie. In some companies, employers problems are and prove that require to have a reference person, you can solve those problems. whether a colleague, or a previous Another hack is to research on employer because they will check the interviewer as he or she is your claims. And when they do, the key to your potential break, make sure there aren’t any unpleas- see if there’s something you can ant surprises. talk about while being polite 8. Review your resume and professional. You need to At the end of every resume, you make the hiring managers feel need to evaluate and check for comfortable about you on an grammatical errors and spellings. emotional level to sell yourself Make sure that you updated your and stand out. e-mail, phone number, and address Be honest as much as needed.

Questions like defining your never misspell on your resume. strengths and weaknesses are A trivial oversight can make your some of the trickiest as they recruiters take you less seriously. could be fallbacks if you don’t You can ask a co-worker, former answer them smartly. Be authenemployers, teachers, parents or tic about your weaknesses — not guardians, or other trusted people necessarily overcoming them, to check your resume and tell you but state what steps you’re doing if something is not right. to manage them. A weakness can You can also have it profes- become a strength if you spin it sionally done. You may want to do right. But remember: employthe first draft, but leave the final ers do not want fake smiles or touches to a professional. rehearsed answers during the

Daniel Matsunaga said the he and Arci Muñoz are just friends.

we talk.”

Daniel feels bad over about the flak Arci is getting over her ever changing looks from surgery.

“We shouldn’t judge. That’s her choice. Only God can judge.”

Get hired: How to move...

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interview. They want to know whether you really align with their culture and the position.

Being honest is the best way to show off your skills to nail the job of your dreams.

Look the part First impressions might not always be accurate in real life but when it comes to seeking for a job, it is everything. Dress for the part of an upper or senior management (even if you are fresh out of college). Hiring managers would only talk to you for a few minutes so make sure to leave a lasting impression.

Most of the time, people get eliminated because they have bad postures, thus be confident and carry yourself well like a professional would.

While all of these are just things that could increase your chances at landing success, the power of whether or not you’re gonna get hired lies solely on your own ability and remember, getting rejections is not the end of the world. Don’t stop looking until you find the job that matches your values and meets your needs.

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

Your Immigration Solution ATTY. ERIC R. WELSH & ATTY. NANCY MILLER IMMIGRATING to the United States is difficult under the best of circumstances. American immigration laws are notoriously thorny and byzantine; many judges have said that only the Internal Revenue Code rivals the Immigration and Nationality Act in complexity.

These complications are magnified when an immigrant has a criminal record. Crimes can trigger severe immigration consequences, including removal (deportation) from the U.S. or bars to admission or relief. Pleading guilty and accepting what appears to be a lenient sentence like probation without jail time can have dire consequences for a noncitizen.

Of course, not every criminal conviction is so calamitous.

Practitioners call the interplay of immigration and criminal law by its own name, “crimmigration,” and the practice of crimmigration law requires an exhaustive knowledge of criminal and immigration statutes, and a familiarity with a constantly changing body of case law that continues to add nuance and wrinkles to the rules.

Immigration laws set forth specific offenses that trigger immigration consequences. When a person is convicted of a crime in state court, practitioners and judges must make an exhaustive analysis to determine whether that state crime fits within the “generic” federal definition of a crime with immigration consequences. The courts use terms like “categorical approach” and “modified categorical approach” to determine whether there are alternative means or alternative elements such that a person convicted of a state crime that sounds like a deportable offense is actually not deportable.

If your head is spinning at this point, don’t worry: you’re in good company! The rules for determin-

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA A CIRCLE is perhaps the perfect geometric structure there is.

Although some would claim the triangle or a square to be better structures because of their stable nature, the circle and all its derivatives — the orb, the sphere, the globe and every structure on earth and in the universe with a core, circumference and radii emanating from the core — can teach and even help us to understand much about nature, human life and its cycles and seasons.

From the micro to the macro levels, every creative urge in every level, in the intellectual and the physical realms, begins as a thought and if tenaciously pursued and fleshed out by one’s strength of will, proceeds from concept to completion as a circle.

Even in the mundane reality of living an ordinary life from day to day, circles and cycles mark the patterns of our lives. Note nature’s seasons and cycles of birth and death, of sleep and wakefulness, of sunrise and sunset, of the waxing and waning of the moon and of the quarter million year rota-

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Navigating the minefield of ‘crimmigation’ law ing when a crime has immigration consequences are continuously evolving and morphing through decisions issued from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeals, the immigration courts, and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). To be polite, crimmigration has a tendency to frustrate and confuse. But, with the right counsel and zealous advocacy, there may be hope, even for difficult cases involving serious criminal records.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit published two decisions last week that prove this point.

In Sandoval v. Sessions, the court found that the Immigration Judge (IJ) and the BIA had both erred when they denied relief to a permanent resident who was ordered deported because of his conviction for “delivery of a controlled substance.” The IJ and the BIA refused to allow Mr. Sandoval to apply for relief, despite the facts that he had a green card, had lived in the U.S. for more than 30 years and had not been arrested since his conviction in 1998, and his two children and his wife of 26 years were all U.S. citizens. Mr. Sandoval’s lawyer argued that the statute of conviction was overbroad, and did not match the generic federal offense of “drug trafficking.” The IJ and the BIA rejected that argument, but the Ninth Circuit agreed with Mr. Sandoval’s attorney. After a detailed analysis of the complicated interplay between the criminal statutes and the immigration laws, the Ninth Circuit found that Mr. Sandoval was eligible for relief, reversed the order of removal, and sent the case back to the Immigration Court.

The second case, Lozano-Arredondo v. Sessions, also illustrates the value of zealous advocacy. Like Mr. Sandoval, the immigrant in Lozano-Arredondo was found ineligible for relief and ordered removed by an IJ because of a criminal conviction. Mr. Lozano-Arredondo’s attorneys appealed that decision,

first to the BIA and then to the Ninth Circuit, arguing that the IJ and the BIA had misapplied the rules for criminal bars to relief. The court analyzed the criminal code and the immigration laws, comparing the statute of conviction to the generic federal definition of a “crime involving moral turpitude.” The court addressed when it is appropriate or not appropriate to look beyond the statute to decide if a person is barred from relief. As in Sandoval, the court concluded that the IJ and the BIA had wrongly ordered removal, and sent the case back to consider Mr. Lozano-Arredondo’s eligibility for relief.

These two cases demonstrate the value of a good crimmigration lawyer. Mr. Sandoval and Mr. Lozano-Arredondo were both ordered removed because of criminal convictions, but their lawyers appealed those removal orders up to the Circuit Court and won. Now, they both have the chance for relief so that they can stay with their families in the United States as permanent residents.

A noncitizen with a criminal record is not without hope but the battle for immigration relief may not be easy. The interplay of criminal and immigration laws is a minefield of statutory interpretation that requires careful navigation.

Any person facing such difficulties should have a knowledgeable lawyer willing to fight for them and make the hard arguments to let them stay in the U.S. *** 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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Circles, cycles and movement “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

– Albert Einstein tion of the solar system around the core of our home galaxy, the Milky Way and in the grandest of levels, the movement of a nearly infinite number of galaxies in the universe, the edge of which only the Creator knows.

On the minutest level, the astounding movement of electrons around a nucleus and the wondrous flow of the human bloodstream from and to the heart are cyclical. As science has found out, blockages, either man-made or natural to the flow or movement in the processes existing in nature at all levels, can create anomalies, abnormalities and mutations, resulting in pain and illnesses in the human body and if uncorrected, result in diseases, debilitation and ultimately, death. This presents a strong argument for regular exercise and movement, which pumps the movement of blood flow down to the capillaries and strengthens

the muscles of the heart.

Nature moves in cycles. While the earth’s atmospheric cloak adheres to the surface because of the gravitational pull of the earth’s mass, the hydrologic cycle will continue to maintain our seas and give us rain to sustain all planetary life — that is, for the time being —unless something unforeseen and catastrophic upsets and upends this delicate homeostatic-like balance.

In a way, the life of our living, breathing planet is reflective of human life itself.

“Life,” according to Einstein, “is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

And on that point, we are finding out he is absolutely right. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Parenthood: A sacred covenant Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS “…Anything less makes the man nothing but a selfish egocentric sperm donor and the woman only a cold and cruel human incubator.”

EVERY child is a blessing from God, and having children, natural or adopted, is one of the greatest privileges a couple or a person can have. But just like any privilege in life, parenthood comes with serious obligations and responsibilities for both the mother and the father, or the adopted parent(s).

It does not require a man to be a genius or a superman to impregnate a woman. Neither does it need more than consent for a healthy woman to get pregnant. What makes a woman a mother is not the few minutes of romance or the short nine months of carrying the child, or even the actual delivery. They are the everlasting love, enduring sacrifices and endless patience that follow in caring for the child that define motherhood. Child bearing is easy. Child rearing is something else. Any woman can get pregnant and deliver a child, but not all can be a mother.

Similarly, it takes more than just virility and prowess in bed for a man to be a father. Fatherhood is the indomitable strength, invincible courage, and the joyful eagerness in a man to commit, to love with

selfless devotion and tenderness the new life he helps bring into this world.

Anything less in either parent makes the man nothing but an egocentric sperm donor and the woman only a cold and cruel human incubator.

While most couples are blessed with children of their own, some have to endeavor harder to receive these gifts. The admirable ones who have decided to adopt children are those with fortitude, self-confidence, a mind that is secure, and a heart full of love and compassion. And in today’s world where unfortunate orphans and unwanted, or neglected, children abound, these wonderful couples, who are eager to adopt them, love them, and care for them, are truly admirable saviors and heroes in the strict sense of the word. After all, procreation, conception, and delivery are only a miniscule part of true motherhood, and providing the sperm, only an iota of what fatherhood is all about.

Parenthood is really the natural instinct of giving oneself totally in the subconscious fulfillment of an unwritten, self-imposed, contract the parents made with their yet unborn child, entered into the very moment the man and the woman engaged themselves in an act that could bring forth a new life into this world. Conceivably, that same sacred bond, and all the instincts of parenthood, have been faithfully kept and handed down from the very first family of humans on earth to our generation today. The reciprocal obligation is, of course, for the children to take care of their

parents when the time comes.

That this covenant is a part of the laws of nature is evident even among animals, especially among mammals. It is a tragedy and a shame, though to realize that it is more pervasive among humans to neglect, hurt and/or abandon their young than among almost all animals. Similarly, it is a sad commentary, on the other end of the spectrum, that ingratitude and cruelty are all too common among some people of today, who wantonly desert their old and helpless parents in the sunset years of their lives when they need their children’s love and care the greatest.

While parenthood is a grave responsibility filled with many a sleepless night, sweat and sacrifices, and sometimes disappointments and tears, it is nonetheless a joyous privilege and a magnificent gift from the Almighty. And as long as we, supposedly the smartest and most superior creatures on the Planet Earth, continue to honor that divine covenant, the world will remain a wonderful place to live in.

Visit philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

*** 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

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 24-30, 2017

Calendar of Events across

B5

America

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FACC-SLAA’s “luau” quarterly business & professionals networking mixer in Wilmington, CA The Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce – SouthBay Los Angeles Area (FACC-SLAA) presents a “luau” quarterly business & professionals networking mixer on Thursday, August 24. Come meet other driven Filipino/Fil-Am businesspersons and professionals in a relaxed and casual atmosphere! It will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Camino de Guanajuto Restaurant, 208 W. Anaheim St., Unit C, Wilmington, CA 90744. Tickets are free for FACCSLAA members. For non-members, it’s $15 for pre-registration or $20 at the door. For more information on FACC-SLAA, please visit https://www.facebook.com/pg/FilAmChamberOfCommerceSouthBayLAArea/.

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.

S E P T E M B E R 1 5 -1 7

Liliwenos reunion in Las Vegas, NV Calling all Liliwenos living all around the world! There will be a three-day reunion in Las Vegas, NV starting with a picnic on Friday, Sept. 15 at Silverado Ranch Park. On Saturday, Sept. 16, it is a dinner/dance party at the Palace Station (2411 W. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89102) at 5 p.m. The attire is semi-formal and costs $50 / person. Souvenir t-shirts cost $10 regardless of size. Deadline of payment for both the reunion and t-shirt cost is August 31 to be sent to Ms. Nerri Monteagudo at 9252 Bronze River, Las Vegas, Nevada 89149. On Sept.

17, participants are free to explore the Strip and other Vegas activities. For more information, please contact Bob and Nerri Monteagudo at (702) 339-3838; Carmen P. Manguin (702) 526-8005; Loida Borgonos at (201) 654-5482; or Fred Polistico at (818) 527-3476.

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26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Echo Park Save the date! The 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) hosted by Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is back at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, October 14. Expect a whole day filled with art exhibits, entertainment, and Fil-Am vendors. More details and special guests to be announced. For more information, please visit: http://www.filamarts.org/.

18th annual Asian Small Business Expo in Alhambra, CA On Saturday, Oct. 14, the 18th annual Asian Small Business Expo will be held at the Almansor Court Conference Center (700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801), featuring free workshops, exhibitors, networking opportunities, and more! Jonny Hwang, founder of 626 Night Market, is the featured guest speaker with special guest, Jerome Horton, chairman of the California Board of Equalization. It is FREE to attend! The Asian Small Business Expo is the only business-to-business expo that engages the Asian business community and brings this growing economic force into the mainstream to connect and utilize your company and its services. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with small businesses, market your organization and tap into a network of entrepreneurs, service providers, financial organizations, franchises and governmental and legislative representatives. For more information, please visit http://www.apisbp.org/expo.html.

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26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Echo Park Save the date! The 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) hosted by Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is back at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, October 14. Expect a whole day filled with art exhibits, entertainment, and Fil-Am vendors. More details and special guests to be announced. For more information, please visit: http://www.filamarts.org/.

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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.

D EC E M B E R 27-29

Ateneo de Naga High School Class ’67 celebrates 50th anniversary in Naga City The Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU) High School Class 1967 is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2017 from December 27 to 29 with various activities lined up for its 153 alumni members. (ADNU is a leading Jesuit university in the Bicol region located in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines). The activities include the publication of its 50th Anniversary Yearbook, a coffee table book which features the individual life stories of the class members after high school, tributes to their mentors, and various articles about school life in the 1960s. Also scheduled for the middle of the year is a golf tournament which — aside from fostering camaraderie — will essentially be a fund-raising activity for planned alumni projects such as a medical mission to a remote provincial town, scholarships, and donations for other worthy causes. This year’s reunion will be at the ADNU main campus in Naga City with various fun and commemorative activities lined up for the occasion. All batch members, wherever they are domiciled, including those residing in foreign countries, especially those in the USA and Canada, are enjoined to contribute their life story articles for the anniversary book as soon as possible, to participate in the various identified activities and outreach projects, and attend the grand homecoming in December. For coordination and for details about the events and activities, please email or call up any of the following batch members: Jojo de Jesus (email: jvdejesus6@yahoo.com; cell: 09772114750); Nilo Ezequiel (email: nilo. ezequiel0977@gma

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

PeoPle and events

B august 24-30, 2017 • Las VEgas asIaN JOuRNaL Immigration Corner Atty. MAriA ritA reyes-stuby And bernAdette bretAnA There comes a time in the life of every lawful permanent resident (LPr) in this country to make the decision to be an American. When the country’s immigration “situation” is fraught with uncertainty and fear (imagined or not), such personal decision becomes a “no brainer.”

U.S. immigration statistics data show a significant increase in citizenship applications very recently. The first quarter from 2014-2017 showed the following number of applications for naturalization (for comparison purposes): 2014 (202,043); 2015 (197,590); 2016 (252, 254); and 2017 (289,988). News reports indicate a 27.2 % increase. LPrs choose to be citizens because they want to be able to vote or avail of more public benefits or simply, to live to the fullest their ‘American dream’. For residents with ‘clean slate’ lives , becoming a U.S. citizen will not be difficult. Those with a criminal past, secret or otherwise, may be consumed with doubts. It could range from a DUI (driving under the influence) to murder. Do they have a reason to be afraid to file for citizenship?

Lately, there are pronouncements that meritocracy will be the policy . Maybe not the poor huddled masses, but we will welcome those who can afford to contribute to the good of society and those who can adhere to the rules of law and order. Grandiose statements but requirements that are not new. Quick ualities that they look for among applicants

Criminal bars to US citizenship have been the same standards in place since the first “rule of Naturalization” in March of 1790. One of the more sensitive and strictly followed standards in adjudicating an application for naturalization (N-400) is the applicant’s ‘good moral character’ (GMC).

When one is arrested, charged or/and convicted of an offense, it becomes very significant in deciding whether applying for a benefit, as important as obtaining U.S. citizenship, is an option to take. There are “conditional” and “permanent” bars to ‘good moral character’. Conditional bars pertain to acts and/or omissions that were done within the last 5 years since filing the N400 application (statutory period).

An application can be denied if an act/omission occurred within the statutory period. Needless to say, one can re-apply beyond the lapse of 5 years from the occurrence thereof.

Conditional bars to GMC may include non-criminal acts such as failure to file income tax returns or register in the Selective Service System (for males 18-26) or pay child support to dependent children. Criminal arrests, charges and convictions, per se, can render one lacking in GMC, if occurring within the statutory period. Immigration officers maintain the discretion to decide lack of GMC and deny an application, even if the act was committed beyond the statutory period. The list of acts and convictions that could be ‘conditional bars to GMC’ is long and ranges from commission of crimes involving ‘moral turpitude’, being sentenced to a crime with an imprisonment of 180 days or more, prostitution, bigamy, habitual drunkenness, adultery, having

Is ‘follow your passion’...

PAGE B2 3. Solve problems. Is there anything that you can do to solve any of our various problems using your skills? That’s what you do.

Instead of following your passion, the more useful career advice is “Do what is valuable.” It is when you are able to help others solve their problems, when you add value, that people will appreciate you and would be willing to help you and even pay for your services.

Moreover, it is when you are able to help others that you experience fulfillment in our work. And for you

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to be able to sustain the work, you must love what you’re doing. So this is what Steve Jobs was saying after all. Because love is more than just passion but an act of the will.

It is not that unstable emotion but a decision to persevere even when things get difficult.

It is essentially finding your purpose life. It is the intersection of what you do best, what you love to do, and a need in the world that you are able to meet.

The real value of passion in one’s career I am not totally abandoning the importance of passion in our career.

been sentenced to a total of 5 years or more, controlled substance violations, etc. Applicants convicted of these crimes must present proof of having been rehabilitated or reintegrated to societal norms of good conduct, in order for their re-application (N400) to be considered.

Permanent bars to GMC prevent a LPr from ever obtaining U.S. citizenship. examples of permanent bars to GMC are convictions and acts such as: murder, aggravated felony committed after 11/29/1990, genocide, or religious persecution of others.

Between 1988 till 1996, several amendments were introduced into the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to broaden the definition of “aggravated felony” and the list has gone up to 36 offenses. Local standards of whether crimes should be classified as misdemeanor or grave offenses will not be relevant as immigration law has specific definitions of an “aggravated felony” that will make a person deportable and/or be permanently barred from applying for U.S. citizenship. Prior legal consultation for those with these types of predicament can clear the way for an otherwise rocky or lost path to citizenship. *** Maria Rita Reyes-Stuby is a licensed attorney in Michigan. She is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Law. She specializes in immigration and practices in Las Vegas, Michigan, California and other states.

Bernadette Bretana, a graduate of the Ateneo Law School and Ms. Stuby are licensed attorneys in the Philippines.

Please call @702-403-4704 or email her at stubylaw@aol.com or go to www. mrstubylaw.com for any questions on this article.

Philippine Madrigal Singers Las Vegas concert on Aug. 27

FreSh from their most recent Grand Prize victory at the 64th Concorso Polifonico Guido d’Arezzo held last August 2016, the Philippine Madrigal Singers will once again represent the Philippines in the european Grand Prix (eGP) for Choral Singing 2017.

The Arezzo competitions is a pre-requisite to the eGP and having won it, the Madz will compete against the five other champions of europe’s most prestigious choral competitions: Debrecen (hungary), Maribor (Slovenia), Tolosa (Spain), Tours (France) and Varna (Bulgaria). The Madz is the world’s first two time champions, having won the eGP in 1997 and 2017. Their participation in this year’s competitions,

makes it truly monumental and defining event in terms of scope, impact and influence in the world arena of choral and vocal music, a critical opportunity to maintain the Philippines’ reputation as one of the foremost choral nations of the world.

The group is now touring the United States of America, as part of the concert tour, before heading to europe. They had a successful opening run in Walnut Creek, San Francisco and Sunnyvale last weekend and they will be having concerts in Los Angeles, McAllen, Brownsville, Austin, Tyler, Dallas and houston in Texas, Illinois, Grand rapids in Michigan, Washington D.C., Vermont, edison and New Jersey in New Jersey before performing

for different audiences in Scarsdale, Queens, West Babylon and New York in New York City, from August 16 to October 2017.

The concert in Las Vegas will be held on August 27, 2017 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Guardian Angel Cathedral,302 Cathedral Way, Las Vegas, NV 89109. Presented by the Asian Community resource Center in collaboration with Our Lady of Las Vegas Filipino Choir ,Philippine American Charity Foundation and ATLAS Shippers. Sponsored by Asian Journal, Seafood City, Chells Wellness International Corporation, Max”s restaurant.

Dr.Michael StaJuana, executive producer supported by his associate producer Luz Micabalo, Mark esguerra, Luz Prill, and randolph Umali. (O.Galura)

It may be too unstable to use as our guide in pursuing a successful career, BUT it is way too important not to have if we want to excel and succeed in what we do.

So it seems like we just have it a bit backwards. It is in active doing, in honing and using our gifts and skills (probably, after engaging in various jobs which didn’t perfectly fit our original notion of dream Tina Paner, Sheryl Cruz and Manilyn Reynes were early ‘90s most in demand teen singing sensations ManilaTImes.net photos jobs), and in helping solve problems and being of service to others that we now become passionate.

Becausepassion is that focused attention, energy, and powerful emotion that we give in doing that their time, the three women who fans!” the 45-year-old comedimeaningful job that is now right in

by Christina alpad have gone on to be formidable ac- enne exclaimed. front of us.

ManilaTimes.net tresses as well as happy mothers Cruz, meanwhile, teased that eVeN before singing girl are making their concert come- there will be exciting parts in groups became a fad in local back after their acting reunion in the concert, which will make variety shows, former teen stars GMA Network’s hit youth series them relatable to the younger Tina Paner, Manilyn reynes, and “Meant to Be” audience.

Sheryl Cruz had already etched Titled “Triplet”—their homage “It will be very much like their names in the entertainment to the original title of their first ‘That’s entertainment’ where we industry with their super group album—Paner, reynes and Cruz will be singing and dancing all “Triplet.” will reunite for a one-night only night. But, we took the challenge Then young talents under the concert on September 9 at The of adding new songs to our set late German Moreno’s hit teen Music Museum. list as well as medleys that are variety program “That’s enterCruz noted that the idea of or- very danceable and in the now,” tainment,” the singing sensations ganizing a reunion concert came the 43-year-old said. conquered both film and music to them in one of their shooting “We’ll also be doing three-way together from the tail end of the days for the comedy-drama show songs that our audience would 80s up to the early 90s. that starred Barbie Forteza and never expect us to do. There will Throughout their heyday, the the “Jeya Boys” comprised of also be lots of interaction with trio ably released a strings of hits. Ivan Dorschner, Jak roberto, them,” Cruz added.

Paner is best remembered for the Addy raj and Ken Chan.

Besides the performances to songs “Tamis Ng Unang halik,” “This will be the very first prove they still have it as concert “Sana,” “Maayong Pasko,” and concert that we will have in artists, one of the highlights of “Umiibig Ka Pala Sa Akin.” decades,” the 46-year-old Paner the show is the possibility of reynes, on the other hand, excitedly shared during their me- their reunion with their former became a household name for dia launch at GMA Network. As love teams. reynes used to star “Sayang Na Sayang,” “Ikaw it turned out, they had previously opposite Janno Gibbs, Kempee Pa rin,” “Feel Na Feel,” “Mr. tried organizing reunion perfor- De Leon, Cruz with romnick Disco,” “Ingat Ka,” “Mahal Kita,” mances but their schedules never Sarmienta, and Paner with ra“Nandito Pa rin,” and “Kulang allowed them to do so as one will mon Christopher.

Pa Ba.” always be unavailable.

“A reunion with their love Finally, Cruz struck hits with Now that Triplet the concert is teams is a huge possibility,” the songs “Sabi Ko Na Nga Ba,” set, reynes assures their fans that concert director Frank Mamaril “Mr. Dreamboy,” “Ikaw Ang they will be transported back to hinted. The young director added True Love Ko,” “Sagot Ng Puso, their glory days with their reper- that the show would not be comWalang Ganyanan,” and “Ako’y toire of hits. plete without a special tribute to Iyong-Iyo.” “Of course our hit songs will the Master Showman, considered Today, 30 years since becom- be played, it will be a crime if we to be their father in show busiing the hottest teen sensations of don’t sing them for our long time ness.

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.

Triple treat: Tina Paner, Manilyn Reynes, and Sheryl Cruz hold reunion concert

Ogie Alcasid now a Golden...

PAGE B4 hehehe!!!).

Asked to give 50 reasons why turning “golden” is extra-special, Ogie could mention only two: happy home and well-raised children.

“It’s nice to go home to a happy family,” said Ogie. “I do Facetime with my kids, with regine, with Michelle and Mark. Ang saya ngfeeling na sa bahay mo walang conflict kasi pag toxic sa bahay mo, ang hirap, eh. Toxicityang talagang papatay sa pamilya mo.”

And there are his children, with Leila (the eldest) now living with Ogie and regine.

“I’m happy that Leila is back home,” continued Ogie. “She has started a career here and she’s not in a hurry. She’s grateful for the blessings. She has been here for only six months at nag-Bench na siya, naggi-guest on TV at kinukuhang cover girl ng magazines. When she posts something on her blog, may bayad na s’ya at maraming nagpa-follow sa kanya. I was teasing her, ‘Anak, 30 years na ako sa showbiz, I keep on posting and posting and I’m not getting anything.’

Philstar.com photos by Ricky Lo

Like her dad, Leila is also a songwriter and an ardent fan of OPM. A few days ago, Leila started recording her own composition under Marion Aunor, with Lara Maigue as voice coach.

While pursuing her own career, Leila will resume her studies (started in Australian where she used to stay with her mom) either at UP or Ateneo.

It was Ogie himself who prepared the family itinerary in

Paris.

“Nothing grand,” he assured. “Maybe we will just eat out.”

Asked what the best thing is about turning 50, Ogie smiled.

“My children have grown up and they are nice to talk to. In business, I have become choosy with what I do. Slow down na and enjoy life more, unlike in my 30s and 40s when I was always on the go.”

EntErtainmEnt

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 24-30, 2017

B

Roxanne Barcelo and Will Heart Evangelista, Alexander Lee make Devaughn: From real to reel Filipino K-drama dreams come true Celebrity couple talk about working together in first movie as actors and producers

by ChrIstIna

alpad

ManilaTimes.net

CElEbriTiEs who play lovers onscreen only to fall in love in real life has been written about numerous times. remember Angelina Jolie and brad pitt in “Mr. & Mrs. smith;” Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan who are still married 11 years after playing lovers in “step Up;” and, on the small screen, “Game of Thrones” stars Kit Harrington and rose leslie who are rumored to be engaged.

The opposite—that is, reallife couples playing lovers in a movie—is seemingly less exciting for media, but as roxanne barcelo and Will Devaughn prove, can be just as interesting a story. now on their fourth year as an official couple, the two first met at an awards ceremony where barcelo had won. it wasn’t a love-atfirst-sight kind of story, however, because the pair became longtime friends before committing to a relationship. barcelo and Devaughn are set to appear on the big screen via their first movie together, “i Found My Heart in santa Fe,” which follows the blossoming romance between Jennifer (barcelo), a smart, hardworking and pretty islander whose recent heartache made her tougher around men, and Viktor (Devaughn), an adventurous rich businessman who will stop at nothing to win the fair maiden’s heart.

Director bona Fajardo admitted that barcelo and Devaughn as leads made all working on his third movie much easier.

“For me, the chemistry is already there—it’s natural for this real-life couple. We really didn’t need to work hard for them to have that magic onscreen,” Fajardo shared.

As for barcelo and Devaughn, acting as lovers has its pros and cons.

“True, we don’t really need to undergo intimacy workshops to let go off the awkwardness that most reel pairs go through, but there are also challenges on set,” Devaughn divulged. barcelo elaborated and said, “like any couple, we have our simple tampuhan like when Will didn’t wait for me on the set. but we’re both very professional and we carry on with our scenes even during those silly moments.”

The 32-year-old actress further noted how in some instances, their scenes allow them to work on their small disagreements.

“Another challenge i can think of is when we have to act like

Roxanne Barcelo and WilL Devaughn are bringing their real life chemistry to the big screen.

Photo from Will Devaughn’s Instagram account

we’re mad toward each other. sometimes we get carried away then we’d have to assure one another that was just a scene,” barcelo added chuckling. besides working together for the first time, the couple takes pride in “i Found My Heart in sante Fe” for not only are they the lead stars but they also serve as co-producers of the film.

“What that means is that our work does not end on the set, we talk to sponsors, we promote the film and go about other tasks that actors normally don’t worry about,” Devaughn said.

As such, when the press commented on how promising the rushes are, especially its innocent story and glossy and picturesque feel, the couple could hardly contain their happiness.

“We too fell in love with santa Fe. Ang ganda talaga. it’s like paradise where you’ll really get to relax and not stress about the volume of tourists. As most of us know, that’s what’s happening in prime tourist spots nowadays,” barcelo shared. sante Fe is a real municipality within the famed bantayan island in Cebu. it boasts of a non-crowded beach and pure white sand that sparkles in the sunlight.

The idea to shoot the movie in postcard worthy sante Fe came from director Fajardo who also featured the picturesque Vigan, ilocos sur in his previous Kaye Abad-starrer “iliw.”

“As directors or writers, we have certain stories that we keep inside our hearts and minds. it is just a matter of finding the right inspiration to fuel that story. When i saw sante Fe last year, i knew i found the place where i’ll shoot the story i had in mind,” Fajardo noted.

Lovi Poe takes a break from drama

Sultry actress shows off comedic chops in ‘Woke Up Like This’

by ChrIstIna

alpad ManilaTimes.net

THE name lovi poe has almost always been associated with the words sexy, sultry and dramatic.

Whenever she appears both on the small and big screens, one can expect her to either cry on cue or shed some clothes.

For these, the 28-year-old has not gone unnoticed. she has to credit numerous acting nominations and awards for TV shows like “bakekang”—considered her biggest break in 2006—“legacy” and “Ang Dalawang Misis real.” she also earned several nods for movie roles in “Mayohan,” “sagrada Familia,” “Yesterday Today and Tomorrow,” “Thy Womb” and “sana Dati.” poe was neither shy to take on daring roles in “My neighbor’s Wife,” “Temptations island” and “The Escort,” nor pose for sexy magazines to showcase her toned physique. As such, she has been hailed as one of the sexiest dramatic actresses of her generation.

The actress’ trademarks, however, will take a back seat as poe stars opposite funnyman Vhong navarro in regal Entertainment’s new comedy movie “Woke Up like This.”

The movie—which is also a pun on the trending social media hashtag #wokeuplikethis that connotes natural and effortless beauty—revolves around sabrina (poe), a supermodel, and nando (navarro), a hard court hero whose selfishness and apathy cause them to magically wake up one day in switched bodies. “no love scenes for the mean time!” the actress teased during her movie’s grand media launch when asked for the big difference in her new movie.

True, she may have had cameos in comedy movies before but never has poe taken on a lead role in this genre.

“To be honest, i’ve become comfortable doing drama and cry-

Love Poe

ManilaTimes.net photo

ing on cue. but this time, it’s a lot harder. Thankfully, i had everyone here helping me to become familiar in this new world,” poe said as she shared a panel interview with navarro and the rest of the Woke Up like This cast.

The actress mentioned that navarro’s help particularly came in handy when she had to learn how to sit and eat like a man when their characters switch. poe was also thankful for getting along with the rest of the cast including Joey Marquez, Yana Asistio, bayani Agbayani, raikko Mateo and newcomer Cora Waddell, resulting in “great teamwork.”

With this new experience, the actress said she is grateful for all the lessons she can bring with her in case she does another comedy. “i learned to exaggerate to emphasize the comedic nature of a scene but more importantly, i learned to have fun while acting and that naturally shows in the movie.”

At the end of the day, however, poe realized that the lessons she amassed during the filming of “Woke Up like This” would never suffice to help her understand the opposite sex.

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

Filipinos are known to be one of the top nationalities who are still taken over by the Korean drama (K-drama) craze. proof of this are the localized K-drama programs produced in recent years, which have Filipino actors reprising the lead roles.

And whereas one would think Filipino versions of K-dramas take the cake in demonstrating such fanaticism for the neighboring culture, GMA network has gone a bigger step further in producing local TV’s first-ever original Filipino-Korean romantic comedy series titled, “My Korean Jagiya.”

Headlining this newest primetime spectacle is the philippine TV’s sweetheart Heart Evangelista-Escudero as Guadalupe immaculada Asuncion or Gia. Evangeslita is paired up with professional Korean actor, host, and former member of wellknown K-pop group U-Kiss, Alexander lee, as Kim Jun Ho. “This show is very exciting, and i’ve been having a great time doing it,” lee enthused. “i was actually shocked in the beginning [of taping] how Filipinos are just so welcoming and very friendly. in Korea, it takes us weeks to break the ice! And Heart always takes care of me so i feel at home here.”

According to Evangelista, this project is “huge” for her especially now that she is

celebrating her 19th year in showbiz. “it’s not every day that i get to have these kinds of projects so i am very thankful. it was also overwhelming to be working with Korean actors. Especially today when we saw the trailer and the music video, our hard work really paid off. The Koreans are so talented. i am praying for this project’s success, not just for me but for them as well,” the actress shared.

Asked to compare the two cultures on set, she replied, “Koreans and Filipinos are almost the same. Everyone works fast and we all just get along so it’s only the language that is different.

When we left Korea, we were all sad. in turn, Alexander even said when he leaves the philippines, he will cry.”

Meanwhile, the half-Korean, quarter-portuguese and quarterChinese singer-actor shared that The Filipina actress and the Korean star’s series ‘My Korean Jagiya’ is TV’s first-ever original GMA photo he had known Evengelista since Filipino-Korean romantic comedy show. he was a student from his foreign- magical; she’s like a real-life prin- love padlocks at n seoul Tower exchange classmates. cess and a major reason why my (“My love from the star”), and “before i even heard about this philippine showbiz experience Daejanggeum park, the actual set project i already knew Heart–she’s is perfect. i am really loving it,” built and used for the internationfamous. Even in my school if there lee added. ally-acclaimed series “Jewel in is an international student, they’d With a light and romantic The palace.” talk about Heart. so, when i heard theme, “My Korean Jagiya” is set The seoul Film Commission she’s going to be in the show, i to make viewers fall in love with and seoul Metropolitan Govsaid yes immediately and i want the kilig-filled story between Gia ernment generously provided to do it,” lee exclaimed. and Jun Ho. The series was partly support and assistance to the “ T h e f i r s t f e w d a y s [ o f shot in south Korea’s most scenic production team of “My Korean working]was a little awkward for spots, which also figure in famous Jagiya” during their entire stay in me but you know, her 19 years in K-dramas including nami island south Korea, making everything the industry makes her so relaxed (“Winter sonata”), namsan park run smoothly on set and beautiand she helped me. it’s all been (“My name is Kim sam soon”), fully on screen.

B august 24-30, 2017 • Las VEgas asIaN JOuRNaL

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