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Volume 27 - No. 31 • 2 sections – 16 Pages 3700 W. Desert Inn Road Las Vegas, NV 89102 • Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

Duterte vows to destroy Philippine drug trade

by LeiLa

B. SaLaverria Inquirer.net

mANiLA – As more prominent names were roped into the antidrug war, president Duterte continued to justify his intensified focus on the issue. speaking at the malacañang palace, Duterte said that aside from the Chinese drug traffickers, the notorious mexican sinaloa cartel has infiltrated the illegal drug business in the philippines.

“We are the transshipment point,” Duterte said before a crowd of volunteers from the parish pastoral Council for responsible Voting, who paid him a courtesy call.

DATELINE

he said the cartel has turned to the philippines because the United states has gone tough on drug smuggling. he said the government must deny the drug operators the market to stop the traffic of drugs. to do this, he has to exterminate the apparatus on the ground. “if nobody would buy from them and nobody would receive [the drugs], if i kill the lieutenants, the business of shabu would no longer be viable,” he said. the president also stressed he has been focusing intently on the illegal drugs because he has seen what it had done to users and to the people they had victimized,

and he was really angry at them, he said.

Duterte, in his remarks, also went soft on his critic, sen. Leila de Lima, who has vowed to investigate the rising body count in the war against illegal drugs through a senate inquiry on the summary executions and other abuses committed in its name. “i do not blame De Lima. that’s her job,” he said.

Also on Wednesday, the president’s spokesperson ernesto Abella said malacañang would not block the senate probe on the issue. “they are welcome to make the necessary investigation as they see fit,” Abella said.

USA

Filipina in Harbor Gateway killed after car crashes into prayer meeting

Jason Day finishes 2nd in PGA Championship, remains #1 in the world Despite a stellar week and a nowiconic 2-iron shot on the closing hole, No. 1 in the world Jason Day narrowly missed repeating a win at the 98th pGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey on sunday, July Jason Day 31. the Filipino-Australian defending pGA champion lost to American Jimmy Walker, who had topped the leaderboard throughPAGE A2

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

Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines mob President Rodrigo Duterte after delivering his speech at the AFP Medical Center (AFPMC) in V. Luna Street, Barangay Piñahan, Quezon City on Tuesday, Aug. 2. As part of his intensified campaign against drugs, Duterte has asked the military to allot one hectare of land for the rehabilitation facility of drug dependents to prevent them from returning to their old ways.

Photo by King Rodriguez/Presidential Photographers Division

Supreme Court orders Robredo to respond to Marcos’s election protests

From the AJpress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

A FiLipiNo family mourns the loss of 72-year-old elsa De Belen who died after a car careened into a prayer meeting held inside a harbor Gateway, California home on Wednesday, July 27.

A red Buick sedan hopped the curb and crashed into a living room on the 14800 block of s. orchard Ave. just after 8 p.m., while a religious gathering was taking place, according to police reports.

De Belen was left trapped beneath the vehicle, while the driver fled the scene on foot.

Witness Charry maduma told KtLA News the driver of the Buick was speeding before the accident. she said the driver was moving too quickly to make a turn and went airborne before smashing into the house. “i ducked and saw...so much debris and someone afterward was screaming,” Angie Villanueva, a prayer group attendee told a PAGE A2

august 4-10, 2016

by Dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

ROBREDO IN THAILAND. Vice President Leni Robredo was in Thailand on Monday, August 1 to receive the “Honorary Outstanding Women of 2016” award by the Thai government.

Photo from the Office of the Vice President

mANiLA – the philippine supreme Court (sC) has ordered Vice president Leni robredo to respond to the electoral protest filed by defeated candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. within 10 days of receipt of summons.

Acting as the presidential electoral tribunal (pet), the court on tuesday, August 2 also required robredo to file her response by presenting her defense against marcos’s allegations that the vice presidential race was rigged

in her favor last may. the court has “issued a precautionary protection order for the Commission on elections to preserve the integrity of all election materials effective immediately,” according to the philippine star.

Last June 29, marcos filed an election protest against robredo a day before she took her oath as the second highest government official of the country. marcos pointed out that there should be an investigation regarding the accuracy of the election results and the reported irregularities in the election to

unveil the electoral fraud that involved the Liberal party, smartmatic Corporation and the Commission on elections (Comelec). the petition — which questions 39,221 clustered precincts in 25 provinces and five cities — includes 20,000 pages of annexes that consist of affidavits and other files. he is calling for “manual recount, technical examination and judicial revisions,” the philippine star reported. the senator also claimed that there were instances of vote buying and intimidation and that a fourth server was used, but was PAGE A2

Obama urges Republicans Ombudsman asks SC to reconsider Arroyo’s acquittal to drop support for Trump

by Dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

mANiLA – ombudsman Conchita Carpiomorales formally asked the supreme Court (sC) on Wednesday, August 3, to reconsider its decision after acquitting former president and now pampanga representative Gloria macapagal-Arroyo from her p366-million plunder case in connection with the disbursement of confidential funds from the philippine Charity sweepstakes office (pCso). the sC granted Arroyo’s petition for demurrer to evidence on July 19, 2016. it was filed after the prosecution has finished its presentation of evidence, which was earlier junked by the sandiganbayan. the sC ruled that the sandiganbayan’s con-

“this isn’t a situation where presiDeNt Barack obama clusion was “plainly conjectural and outrightly has called on the Gop to dis- you have an episodic gaffe. this unfounded” and that “the [ombudsman] had continue endorsing Donald is daily,” obama said on tuesno case for plunder against petitioners.” trump for president, calling the day, August 2 at a joint press “the corpus delicti of plunder is the amassrepublican nominee “unfit to conference with prime minister ment, accumulation or acquisition of ill-gotten serve” as Commander-in-Chief.

PAGE A2 wealth valued at not less than p50,000,000. the failure to establish the corpus delicti should lead to the dismissal of the criminal prosecution,” the sC decision read, according to ABs-CBN. “there was no evidence, testimonial or otherwise, presented by the [ombudsman] showing even the remotest possibility that the [Confidential intelligence Funds or CiF] of the pCso had been diverted to either GmA or [former pCso Budget and Accounts manPAGE A2 In this Monday, Aug. 1, 2016 photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a missile is launched from a guided-missile destroyer during a live ammunition drill in the East China Sea. China’s navy has fired dozens of missiles and torpedoes during exercises in the East China Sea that come amid heightened maritime tensions in the region, underscoring Beijing’s determination to back up its sovereignty claims with force if needed. The live-fire drills that began Monday follow China’s strident rejection of an international arbitration panel’s ruling last month that invalidated Beijing’s claims to a vast swath of the South China Sea. Photo courtesy of Wu Dengfeng/Xinhua

Fo r m e r Pres i de nt G lor i a Macapagal Arroyo physically reported for work on Monday, July 25 as Pampanga representative for the opening of the 17th Congress after being in detention for four years.

Inset photo shows Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

Philstar.com photos

China warns trespassers on ‘claimed’ sea territories

by Dana

M. SioSon

Court declared that trespassers caught despite past warnings or mANiLA – China warned for- conviction could be jailed up to a eigners who operate vessels not to year. this rule was released on trespass into its ‘claimed’ waters or monday, August 1, and took effect else face prosecution. on tuesday, August 2. the Chinese supreme people’s PAGE A2 AJPress

A

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

AUGUST 4-10, 2016 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

From The FronT Page

Supreme Court orders Robredo...

PAGE A1 not disclosed to the public and not subjected to source code review.

However, Robredo’s lawyer Romulo Macalintal said on Tuesday, July 26, that the existence of an additional server won’t nullify her victory in the vice presidential race.

Macalintal said that servers have nothing to do with the election results for any position since they cannot even alter the results.

Marcos initially requested the court to declare him as the rightfully elected vice president of the Philippines and to nullify the proclamation of Robredo.

During the May elections, it was a tight race between Marcos and Robredo for the vice presidential positions, with the latter winning by just 263,473 votes, according to the final official tally of the National Board of Canvassers.

Robredo won with 14,418,817 votes while Marcos placed second with 14,155,344 votes.

Ombudsman asks SC...

PAGE A1 ager Benigno] Aguas, or [former PCSO general manager Rosario] Uriarte.�

The Ombudsman’s 32-page motion for reconsideration said that the high court has committed “grave errors which amount to a violation or deprivation of the state’s fundamental right to due process of law.� “The evidence presented by the [Ombudsman] was not fully taken into account, including but not limited to the irregularities in the [CIF] disbursement process, questionable practice of comingling of funds and [Aguas’]

reports to the Commission on Audit (COA) that bulk of the P365,997,915.00 withdrawn from the [PCSO’s] CIF were diverted to the Arroyo-headed Office of the President.�

The Ombudsman argued that Arroyo’s demurrer to evidence plea is not reviewable by appeal before the judgment of the case, stating that the court “committed grave errors which amount to a violation or deprivation of the state’s fundamental right to due process of law.� “The concept of actual personal gain, benefit or enrichment to the offender is immaterial as

the important consideration in offenses involving the unlawful taking of property, as in plunder, is the intent to gain,� the motion read. “Unlawful taking or apoderamiento is deemed complete from the moment the offender gains possession of the thing, even if he or she has no opportunity to dispose of the same.�

The Ombudsman also argued that Arroyo and co-accused Aguas conspired with their other co-accused “via a complex, il- DARK SIDE OF DRUG WAR. Stuck in a swamp of trash in the middle of an estero is the shanty of Michael Siaron and his wife, Jennilyn Olayres, legal scheme which defrauded at Barangay 145 in Santo Nino, Pasay City. Siaron, a suspected drug pusher who was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen, was the subject PCSO in hundreds of millions of of a stirring Inquirer photograph that has sparked calls for a stop to summary executions amid a government campaign against illegal drugs.

Inquirer.net photo by Raffy Lerma pesos.�

China warns trespassers on ‘claimed’...

PAGE A1 The rule also applies to Chinese citizens and foreigners declared guilty of “serious� illegal activities such as unlicensed fishing or wildlife poaching.

A statement released by the court on Tuesday, August 2, said it issued two judicial interpretations to clarify China’s jurisdiction and enforcement in their “controlled� waters which include the 200nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), internal seas, continental shelves, territorial seas, and contiguous zones. “Judicial power is an important component of national sovereignty,� Reuters quoted the court. “People’s courts will actively exercise jurisdiction over China’s territorial waters, support administrative departments to legally perform maritime management duties ... and safeguard Chinese territorial sovereignty and maritime interests.�

H o w e v e r, P r o f e s s o r F u Kuncheng, director of Xiamen University’s South China Sea Institute, told The Straits Times that it has “nothing to do with the tribunal ruling.�

The Hague ruled on July 12 that China’s historic claims over a large part of the South China Sea have no legal basis, favoring the Philippines.

China, however, refused to accept the ruling, saying the court had no jurisdiction over the issue.

Kuncheng said that the rule will serve largely to remove confusion among local governments by setting a national policy and standard.

China also has maritime disputes with other countries including Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam and

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.

Indonesia.

PH hopes COC will be implemented The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday, August 3 that the Philippines hopes a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea would soon be adopted by concerned parties. “The Philippines wants to see the early adoption of the COC,�

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said, according to Inquirer. “All parties need to work expeditiously towards the establishment of an effective code of conduct (COC), and undertake activities that are in good faith and consistent with international law with the aim of advancing, and not delaying, the process.�

Yasay’s speech was read by Undersecretary Enrique Manalo at the 2nd Manila Conference on the South China Sea. A Declaration of Conduct (DOC) signed by Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) members and China in 2002 was supposed to result in a COC that “would further promote peace and stability in

the region and agree to work, on the basis of consensus, towards the eventual attainment of this objective.�

COC has long been stalled, however, as reports state it is difficult to get consensus among the diverse ASEAN nations.

US and Singapore joint statement United States President Barack Obama and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong released a joint statement on Tuesday, August 2, urging all concerned parties in the disputed South China Sea to avoid actions, like the militarization of outposts in the area, that would elevate tensions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. “Beyond bilateral cooperation, the two countries have worked as close partners to build a rulesbased economic and security order for the Asia-Pacific and to address challenges on the global stage, including economic prosperity, climate change, terrorism, transnational crime, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,� the joint statement read.

With regard to the South China Sea, the two leaders “reaffirmed the importance of maintaining regional peace and stability and upholding freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea.� “They emphasized the importance of resolving disputes peacefully, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with international law, including as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.�

They also expressed their support for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the expeditious conclusion of a COC in the area.

Lee made an official visit to the U.S. in celebration of the 50-year diplomatic relationship and at the same time, to enhance the bilateral strategic partnership between the two countries.

Obama urges Republicans to drop...

PAGE A1 Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore at the White House. “There has to be a point at which you say, this is not somebody I can support for president of the United States, even if he purports to be a member of my party. The fact that that has not yet happened makes some of these denunciations ring hollow.�

The president’s comments come after Trump received backlash for his criticism on Khizr and Ghazala Khan, two Muslim Americans whose son died in Iraq in 2004 while fighting for the U.S. Army.

The Khan family were at last week’s Democratic National Convention, where only the father Khizr Khan spoke, taking issue with several of Trump’s proposed policies, including a temporary ban on Muslim immigration. Trump criticized Ghazala Khan for her silence, asking whether or not she was even allowed to speak. “The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that had made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country... means that he’s woefully unprepared to do this job,� Obama said.

Obama added his thoughts on Trump run no different than those of mainstream Republicans, like Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), who Trump had previously criticized for not being a war hero.

Throughout the election cycle, Republican legislators have expressed concern over Trump’s controversial comments, but none have withdrawn support.

Obama said that he doesn’t “doubt that they were outraged�

by Trump’s statements on the Khan family. “The question I think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say, in very strong terms, that what has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him?�

Obama said.

Obama added that although he has disagreed with Republican presidents in the past, he said that he “didn’t have a doubt that they could function as president.� He added that had he lost to Mitt Romney in 2012 or McCain in 2008, he “would have been disappointed,� but would have had no doubt that they would “abide by certain norms and rules and common sense.�

The president said he does not see Trump as an accurate representation of a majority of the Republican Party, and that the party needs to discontinue validating his positions.

On the same day Obama made his comments, a Republican congressperson from New York declared support for Hillary Clinton over Trump, calling the latter “deeply flawed in endless ways.�

Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) justified his choice in an op-ed

released on Tuesday, August 2, saying that Trump will further “alienate� the Republican Party from historically ostracized groups and will push the party to its extremes. “I have long held the belief that the Republican Party is becoming less capable of nominating a person who is electable as president,� Hanna wrote. “The primary process is geared toward the party’s political base, which ignores the fact that we have largely alienated women, Hispanics, the LGBT community, young voters and many others in general.�

In response to Trump’s harsh criticism toward the Khan family, 17 Gold Star families—families of servicemembers who died fighting for the country—have demanded an apology from the business mogul.

They said that Trump’s comments attacking Ghazala Khan were “repugnant, and personally offensive.� “When you question a mother’s pain, by implying that her religion, not her grief, kept her from addressing an arena of people, you are attacking us,� the letter read. “When you say your job building buildings is akin to our sacrifice, you are attacking our sacrifice.� “You are minimizing the risk our service members make for all of us. This goes beyond politics. It is about a sense of decency,� it added. (Klarize Medenilla/AJ Press)

Filipina in Harbor Gateway killed...

PAGE A1 local ABC station. “They were screaming for help.�

Eleven other people were hurt.

People nearby rushed to help victims pinned against the car before fire crews arrived.

Neighbors and friends of De Belen described her as a devout Catholic who had hosted prayer groups at her home for years.

She worked as a teacher in the Philippines before managing a doctor’s office in Gardena for more than three decades. De Belen had moved into her most recent community about six or seven years ago and lived alone.

One of her nephews said, “her

laugh was adored by all.â€? “She had the most hysterical and contagious laugh you’ll ever hear ‌ it was incredible,â€? Al De Belen told the Asian Journal, adding that “The whole family was devastated upon hearing the news, hoping that it was just a bad dream.â€?

Private memorial services for De Belen will take place at Holy Cross Mortuary and Cemetery in Culver City. Her relatives have set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds to cover funeral services.

The alleged driver, 34-yearold Rashanda Monique Norman, identified herself as a transient and told reporters for a local CBS

station she had blacked out at the time of the accident. She turned herself in at the 77th street police station on Thursday, July 28.

Norman is presently being held at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California on a $110,000 bail.

She faces one count of felony vehicular manslaughter and a misdemeanor charge for driving with a revoked or suspended driver’s license. Norman has pled not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, August 10. If convicted, she could serve as many as six years in a state prison. (Eric Anthony Licas/AJPress)

Jason Day finishes 2nd in PGA...

PAGE A1 out the four-day affair.

Walker, 37, started off the final round with a one stroke lead ahead of Day. The No. 15 in the world played with ease and composure, making par throughout the front nine before making birdie on the

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10th, 11th and 17th greens.

But come the tournament’s final hours, the 28-year-old Aussie did not go down without a fight.

During the par-5 final hole, Walker and Day were at 14 under par and 11 under par, respectively. Day used a 2-iron to tee off the 554-yard hole which brought him within 258 yards to the green.

For his second shot, he returned to the 2-iron for a near perfect second shot to the green.

The ball landed squarely on the green and rolled to perch 14 feet from the cup.

The shot — which Day has called “probably one of the best 2-irons I’ve ever hit� — has been looped on highlight reels and celebrated on the Internet. “As soon as I hit it, it felt perfect,� Day said. “It was cutting up against the wind. It was going to land soft. It was going to be really nice.�

After Day’s expected eagle, he had a chance to send the Championship to a playoff. Walker needed to make par to win the championship. He had missed right on his second shot, but managed to escape the rough on his third shot and make two putts to clutch the championship.

Day told reporters after the tournament that he was unaware that he was a three shots behind Walker; he thought he was two shots behind.

Walker had led throughout the entire tournament, but he was not surprised by Day’s dramatic efforts to snatch the title. “I was hoping to relax — I could have used it — but I wouldn’t have expected any less from Jason,� Walker said.

This season, Day went into all four majors — the Masters, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship and the PGA Champion — as the world No. 1 and the favorite to win.

Despite finishing as runner-up in each major this season, Day remains the top-ranked golfer in the world.

Day won the PGA Championship last year when he finished with a record 20 strokes under par. The Aussie first achieved the No. 1 ranking in September 2015.

Following the 98th PGA Championship, Day had finished with the lowest cumulative score of all competitors who made the cut in all four majors, according to Golf Digest. (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 4-10, 2016

Suspect charged for fatally shooting Fil-Am officer in San Diego

by Eric

Anthony LicAs AJPress

Prosecutors charged a man with murder and attempted murder after allegedly killing one veteran police officer and wounding another during a gun battle in a san Diego neighborhood on thursday, July 28.

Jesse Gomez, 53, pleaded not guilty to charges filed against him by the san Diego District Attorney’s office on tuesday, August 2 at uc san Diego Medical center. officers took the suspect to the hospital after he was found bleeding in the chollas creek ravine near the scene of a gunfight in southcrest that left FilipinoAmerican police officer Jonathan “JD” De Guzman dead, and his partner, Wade Irwin, wounded.

Gomez allegedly “answered with gunfire” moments after Irwin stepped out of a police cruiser at about 11 p.m. and asked the suspect if he lived in the area, according to Deputy District Attorney Michael runyon. He said Gomez then proceeded to shoot at De Guzman, striking the veteran police officer with five bullets as he sat in the squad car.

Neither prosecutors nor police have discussed a motive for the shooting.

Gomez’s family members maintain his innocence and told the San Diego Tribune they have received little information from law enforcement.

“No one in my family believes he did this,” said the suspect’s son, Daniel Gomez, 26. “I know

Jonathan “JD” De Guzman Photo courtesy of the San Diego Police Department

he’s been in trouble, like when I was a baby, but after that nothing.” the elder Gomez possesses a criminal record that goes as far back as 1983, which included several gun-related convictions.

A trail of blood originating near the site of the shooting led police to the ravine where he was discovered.

Police also searched for a man who had been walking with Gomez just before Wednesday evening’s violent incident. A second person of interest was detained on unrelated warrants after evading police in two separate standoffs, but was eventually released.

De Guzman and Irwin had been equipped with body cameras, but they were not recording as they approached the suspect, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Irwin, a nine-year veteran of the

police force, did manage to turn on his camera at some point after he was shot in the throat. He and his partner had been rushed to the hospital by other nearby officers.

Irwin, 32, is expected to survive his injuries. He has regained consciousness but “is looking at a long recovery,” according to a GoFundMe page raising money to help cover Irwin’s medical expenses.

De Guzman, 43, died on Friday, July 29 at scripps Mercy Hospital as a result of wounds sustained while on duty. He fought to improve the lives of people around him throughout 16 years of service, according to san Diego Police chief shelley Zimmerman, who used to work with De Guzman before she was promoted.

“He came to work every single day wanting to just make a positive difference,” said Zimmerman during a press conference on Friday, and described De Guzman as a “loving, caring husband and father.” the san Diego Police officers Association is collecting donations on its website to help the fallen officer’s family pay for the funeral and other expenses. on Friday, Aug. 5, shadow Mountain community church in el cajon will host an open memorial service for De Guzman at 11 a.m., which california Governor Jerry Brown is scheduled to attend. other public gatherings honoring De Guzman’s memory had been scheduled earlier in the week.

AAPI communities urged to apply to DACA

by KLArizE

MEdEniLLA AJPress

Los ANGeLes – there are more than 152,000 Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) who qualify for the Deferred Action for childhood Arrivals (DAcA) program.

However, less than 15 percent of eligible AAPIs actually apply for the program. Moreover, nine out of every 10 AAPI who are currently eligible to request DAcA have not done so. the statistics — which come from the Migration Policy Institute and the united states citizenship and Immigration servic-

es (uscIs) — were the topics of interest at a roundtable discussion about DAcA on thursday, July 28 at the Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice - LA) headquarters.

DAcA is an immigration program introduced by the Department of Homeland security in 2012 under the obama administration. DAcA grants young undocumented immigrants two years of work authorization and exemption from deportation. recipients may renew for the program once their two years are up. experts from Advancing Jus-

tice - LA, the National Immigration Law center (NILc), the White House Initiative for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) and the uscIs spoke about the impact of DAcA and why more qualified AAPI immigrants should seek resources to see if the program is right for them.

While there is no structured research explaining why people opt not to apply for immigration programs, there are common concerns among those individuals including fear that the family would be split and costs for application and legal counPAGE A4

A

GUARDING TEDDY. A member of the PNP-Special Action Force guards confiscated items found inside the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City, including a pink stuffed bear that may have been used to carry drugs during Oplan Galugad. The operation is a bid to sweep clean the prison of drugs and other luxury items.

Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez

Poll: voters more likely to support Democratic Party following conventions

by KLArizE

MEdEniLLA AJPress

FoLLoWING the republican and Democratic national conventions, more Americans have a more positive view of the Democratic Party, according to a Gallup poll on Monday, August 1.

Following the republican National convention (rNc) — which was held from July 18-21 — 35 percent of Americans viewed the party more favorably. However, after the Democratic convention, held a week after the former, 44 percent of Americans viewed the party more favorably.

“Americans’ assessments of the effect of the conventions on their image of each party largely mirror their assessments of how the convention will affect their vote in the 2016 election,” the statement, written by researcher Jeffrey M. Jones, said. the DNc generally left a more positive impression on Americans than the rNc, the results showed, which can predict heftier Democratic support as election Day approaches.

However, Gallup pointed out that these results are no different from previous years’ findings. the DNc’s “histori-

cally average ratings” this year were an advantage to the party in comparison to the rNc’s “historically negative ratings,” Jones said.

Gallup posed a question regarding the “likelihood to vote for the party’s presidential candidate based on what you saw/read about party’s convention.” Gallup has asked this question about every national convention since 1984, but this year’s conventions were the first to yield larger percentages of Americans who said they are “less likely” to vote for each candidate.

For example, 41 percent of Americans are less likely to vote for clinton after the DNc, which is the highest percentage who have said they are “less likely” to vote for that candidate since Gallup started fielding that question. the republican side experienced the same phenomenon: 51 percent said they are “less likely” to vote for trump.

Gallup also acknowledged that the next three months may dramatically shift candidates’ favorability ratings, but these findings are still strong factors and may provide a foundation for future surveys. “these key election indicators suggest the Democrats

are in a stronger electoral position than the republicans, and trump and the GoP have a little more than three months left to try to change that,” Jones said.

Gallup also measured how voters rated each candidate’s acceptance speech, and, again, clinton comes out on top. trump’s speech, which, many critics have panned as factually incorrect and appealed to fear, was perceived as “excellent/ Good” by 35 percent of participants; and, 36 percent saw his speech as “Poor/terrible.” clinton’s speech in which she attacked her opponent, delivered a week later was rated as “excellent/Good” by 44 percent of participants.

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters follow the national trend of supporting the political left over the right. A recent study from Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (Advancing Justice – LA), APIA Vote and AAPI Data found that only 19 percent of AAPI voters held a positive view of trump, who pales in comparison to clinton who received 62 percent favorability among AAPI voters.

Filipinos’ voter behavior coPAGE A4

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AUGUST 4-10, 2016 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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Amid a festive atmosphere, the Philippine flag was formally raised on Tuesday, Aug. 2 inside the Athletes Village as more delegates from the participating countries poured in only three days before the opening ceremony.

Inquirer.net contributed photos

Clad in barongs, PH athletes formalize Olympic entry

by AbAc

cordero Philstar.com

hands on their chest as the flag was raised.

The mayor of the Athletes Village, two-time Olympic medalist Janeth Arcain, welcomed the delegated to Brazil as dancers dressed in leafy costumes provided the entertainment.

Arcain, who won bronze and silver medals for the Brazilian women’s basketball team in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, welcomed the foreign delegates and told them to consider the Athletes Village and Rio de Janeiro their home for the next few weeks.

She spoke about the importance of sports and “how it can bring people together.” She also reminded everybody that “fair play is the most important thing in the field of play.”

As the delegates were marched away, Brazilians dancers provided RIO DE JANEIRO – Amid a fesa festive mood. tive atmosphere, the Philippine flag Filipino chef-de-mission Jose Rowas formally raised Tuesday, Aug. 3 masanta was joined by Philippine inside the Athletes Village as more Olympic Committee officials Col. delegates from the participating Jeff Tamayo and Julian Camacho countries poured in only three days in the flag raising. They presented before the opening ceremony.

Arcain a replica of the famous PhilThe Filipino delegation, made ippine jeepney. up of athletes and officials number “To begin with it started officially around 20, arrived at the Olympic the entry and participation of the Park in their native “barong” to join Philippine delegation in this Rio three other countries, including Oympics,” said Romasanta.

Japan and Panama, in the affair that It was his idea to have the athletes lasted over an hour. and officials wear their “barong” for The Philippine national anthe flag-raising ceremony. He said them was played as the flag was he noticed in the past that Filipinos raised. came as they were, and that some Filipino athletes, led by threewere in track suits while the others time Olympians Hidilyn Diaz and came in suits.

Marestella Tores, held their right “It’s like we were not treating the event formally. It’s the raising of the Philippine flag and we should represent our flag the way we should,” he said.

“Now everybody knows that they’re a part of it – from the athletes to the officials. They are part of this Olympics. The next thing now is for them to compete,” he said.

Even foreign delegates were impressed with the Filipinos in their “barong.”

“Definitely we made an impression in treating this as something very important. We showed everybody our national costume,” said Romasanta.

“We stole the show. We were very formal and at the same time Filipino Olympians share a light moment inside the Athletes Village in Rio de Jainero, Brazil. we were festive,” he said.

NEOPHYTE LISTENS TO VETERAN. Neophyte Senator Manny Pacquiao listens intently to words of advice from Senator Kiko Pangilinan before the start of the plenary session on Monday, Aug. 1.

Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo

US man acquitted of rape after 5 years in PH prison by dAnA

M. SioSon

AJPress

AFTER spending five years of imprisonment in the Philippines, a man from Seattle was acquitted of rape charges on Tuesday, August 2.

Scott McMahon has been detained since April 7, 2011, after being accused of rape by his friend’s wife whom he previously filed a case against after causing an incident that purportedly traumatized his young son.

McMahon filed a complaint after the woman allegedly broke into his house with the police, yelling as she looked for her estranged husband.

He also claimed that his ac-

cuser and her cohorts tried to extort money from him in exchange for dropping the charges but ultimately refused.

Judge Amelia A. Sabros-Corpuz acquitted McMahon, stating that she found the accuser’s rape allegations to be “merely a leverage or afterthought” to the charge previously filed by McMahon.

Records showed that no physical evidence was found to support the claim of sexual assault at the woman’s home early morning in February 2010. Records also showed that the complainant did not report the purported crime for six months.

Sabros-Corpuz said that the prosecution’s case “is not suffi-

AAPI communities urged...

PAGE A3 sel among others, according to Odette Keeley, national media network director for New America Media.

Moreover, Keeley said that the stigma associated with being an undocumented immigrant, which still runs strong in the U.S., may discourage those to come forward and seek consideration for DACA. Keeley, who moderated the roundtable, said that creating awareness and reducing the concerns regarding DACA is “critical in the midst of anti-immigration rhetoric and the uncertain aftermath of the ‘non-decision decision’ of the Supreme Court immigration case [U.S. v. Texas].”

Martha Flores, chief of staff for the LA District Office of USCIS, said that the ruling does not affect the existing 2012 policy.

Individuals that meet the criteria may continue to file requests and renewals for the program.

DACA is temporary and does not provide a pathway to citizenship, according to Flores. Plans to implement a more permanent program that guarantees a pathway to citizenship are up to the U.S. Congress.

But the speakers emphasized that eligible individuals should come forward because of the impact DACA has a lasting impact on the recipients and their families.

According to data from the USCIS, those who receive DACA have better job opportunities. Of DACA recipients, 69 percent reportedly found jobs with better pay, 57 percent found jobs that fit their education and training

and 54 percent found jobs with better working conditions.

“It’s clear that DACA provides real advantages to hard working individuals and families,” said Reva Gupta, senior policy advisor for WHIAAPI. “The opportunities that are available for DACA recipients allows them to come out of the shadows and become more part of the mainstream society and mainstream economy.

“The impact of DACA can be life changing on these individuals, these families and these communities and our country.

These youth are our leaders of tomorrow and it’s really important to remember that, and it’s critical we invest in them and their families.”

Shiu-Ming Cheer, senior staff attorney at NILC, said that even though DACA may not be the right program, legal counsels can point them in the direction of other immigration programs, like the U visa for victims of crime or the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status program.

The roundtable also featured DACA recipients who both agreed that the benefits associated with DACA have impacted their lives for the better.

Filipino DACA recipient Anthony Ng came to the U.S. when he was 12 years old. While he was hesitant about applying for DACA, he sought out help from Advancing Justice-LA, which led him to pursuing his dreams.

“If you asked me eight years ago if I thought undocumented people could become lawyers and doctors, I would have told you no because of the clear bar-

Poll: voters more likely...

PAGE A3 incides with the national and AAPI trends, with more Filipinos favoring Clinton at 59 percent over Trump’s 23 percent favorability, according to the Advancing Justice et al. study.

The Gallup poll results were conducted in the days immediately following each convention. The poll gathered random samples of 1,000 adults across the country via telephone interviews conducted on July 23-24

cient enough to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”

“When they finally read the verdict, of course, Scott’s eyes became so wide and there were tears,” Shelley Campanella, McMahon’s mother, told the Seattle Times.

“You could see his shoulders just loosen up, his whole body loosened. I know it sounds cliché, but it was like the weight of the world was lifted off of him, and I felt the same way.”

McMahon plans to return to the United States as soon as possible, she added.

However, he was asked to pay fines for overstaying in the Philippines before leaving the country. riers we face,” Ng, 27, said at the roundtable. “DACA has allowed me to have some peace of mind that I can have a bright future and not be separated from my family. If it were not for DACA, I would not have been able to pursue a meaningful career in the nonprofit sector.”

The USCIS’ criteria for DACA eligibility requires applicants to: • Be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012 • Have come to the U.S. before turning 16, • Have continuously lived in the U.S. since June 27, 2007 until present time • Have had no lawful status on June 15, 2012 • Be currently in enrolled school, have graduated, received certification from high school obtained through General Education Development (GED) certificate or have been honorably discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the U.S. • Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor or three or more misdemeanors and do not pose a threat to national security or public safety All the speakers encouraged those interested in applying to DACA to contact accredited legal services.

To contact Advancing Justice – LA, call their English line (888) 349-9695 or their Tagalog line (855) 300-2552. To contact NILC, call (213) 639-3900. To learn more about DACA, visit www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/ consideration-deferred-actionchildhood-arrivals-daca.

To avoid immigration scam and fraudulent attorneys, USCIS offers tips on how to avoid scams at www.uscis.gov/avoidscams. following the RNC and July 2930 following the DNC. The margin of error was +4 percentage points and the each sample included a minimum quota of 60 percent cellphone respondents and 40 percent landline respondents.

Researches utilized random digit dialing methods.

SEA OF TRASH. A man tries to look for recyclable materials on Manila Bay which seems to be covered in garbage following heavy rains brought on by Tropical Storm “Carina,” on Monday, August 1.

Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez

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D ateline PhiliPPines Palace adopts Obama’s ‘Twitter Town Hall’ for Duterte

by ChriStina

Indonesia, Malaysia and PH to start joint maritime patrols

MenDez

Philstar.com

MANILA — In a bid to reach out to millennials and the youth, the communications team of President Rodrigo Duterte is working on a town hall activity using microblogging platform Twitter.

“We’re planning a ‘barangay hall’ activity. Just like ‘Twitter Town Hall’ of (US President) Barack Obama but this time a video live stream,” said Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

Andanar met on Tuesday with Twitter representatives led by Rishi Jaitly, vice president of media for Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa. Jaitly shared his views on the social networking site’s collaboration with the Philippine government to reach online followers during a meeting at the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) at Malacañang.

When the president assumed office, the PCO team engaged in an ambitious social media project to propagate the administration’s campaign. They launched hashtag #PartnersForChange. “(The) meeting is about how Twitter can help us the president

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Presidential Communication Secretary Martin Andanar met with Rishi Jaitly, Twitter vice president of media for Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, on Aug. 2, 2016. They discussed an upcoming event in collaboration with Twitter to reach out to online viewers on the Duterte administration.

Photo by Cado Niñal/Presidential Photographers Division

communicate the government’s message,” Andanar added.

Andanar said the project is similar to the Obama “Twitter Town Hall” where the US president reaches out to communities.

“It’s similar. Twitter, this time will hold the first video town hall.

This the first time Twitter is doing

it,” he added.

Andanar said they are hoping to launch the project by the fourth week of August.

In 2011, Twitter said that Obama made history as the first president to live tweet. The hour-long event was hosted by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

Bangladesh urges PH to return remaining $63-M

by Dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

MANILA – Officials from the Bangladesh central bank are slated to visit Manila this week to discuss ways to return the remaining $63 million stolen earlier this year by unknown hackers from an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The Bangladeshi delegation consists of Debaprosad Debnath and Abdul Rab from Bangladesh Bank’s financial intelligence unit, Bangladesh Bank lawyer Ajmalul Hossain and Bangladesh Ambassador John Gomes.

They plan to meet the officials of Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in Manila, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the central bank and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC).

The Bangladesh government requested the Philippines on Monday, August 1, to reopen the Senate investigation regarding the $81-million money laundering case that involved funds sto-

A

len by hackers from its account in New York last February.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said Bangladesh Ambassador John Gomes asked for the reopening during their 20minute meeting at the Senate.

The investigation was previously conducted from March to May, during the 16th Congress, lead by Sen. Teofisto Guingona.

Pimentel said Gomes’s “one and only request’ was for the Senate to help Bangladesh recover the money stolen.

The hacking of the Bangladesh Bank happened sometime between Feb. 4 and 5 early this year when the bank’s offices were closed for the holiday.

Unknown hackers used the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) credentials of Bangladesh Central Bank employees to send a request asking the bank to transfer millions of the Bangladesh Bank’s funds to bank accounts in the Philip-

pines, Sri Lanka and other parts of Asia.

They tried to steal nearly $1 billion from the Bangladesh Bank account and managed to transfer $81 million to four accounts at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) in Manila, which were credited to several accounts reportedly owned by casinos in the Philippines.

The complaint from the AMLC said that “among four fictitious bank accounts with RCBC on Jupiter Street, Makati City where the $81 million in stolen money was remitted, $30.5 million was transferred to the account of Philrem (Philippine Remittance Ltd.),” according to a report from Inquirer.

Sums of $18 million and $12.87 million (P600 M) were allegedly delivered to Chinese national Weikang Xu over a period of several days.

Previous reports said casino junket operator Kim Wong got P1 billion through his firm East-

and our strategic plans. We are now waiting for the command from [InINDONESIA, Malaysia and the donesian Military] headquarters,” Philippines signed a document Indonesian Navy spokesman First on standard operating procedures Admiral Edi Sucipto said on Tues(SOP) for trilateral maritime coop- day, quoted by the Jakarta Post. eration to secure regional water areas.

The signing on Monday, August 1 marked the official start of coordinated joint sea patrols of the three countries.

The third trilateral defense meeting between the countries’ defense ministers and officials was held in Bali, Indonesia from August 1 to 2.

The implementation of the joint patrols was further pushed after the abduction of seven Indonesian crew members by Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines last June and the kidnapping of three Indonesian sailors in Sabah waters off Malaysia in early July, marking the fourth maritime abduction this year.

Officials discussed follow-up measures related to the joint declaration on maritime security earlier signed by the three countries in Yogyakarta, Indonesia last May. The two-day meeting was attended by Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, Malaysian Defense Minister Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, and Philippine National Defense Minister Delfin N. Lorenzana.

They also discussed a system to allow naval vessels to enter another nation’s territory and deploying security personnel to guard commercial ships passing through Sulu waters in the Philippines.

They also deliberated in securing the release of Indonesian and Malaysian sailors held hostage by Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines.

“Our main duty and function is to prepare our personnel, Alutsista, ern Hawaii Leisure Company and a personal Philippine National Bank (PNB) bank account.

Last March 31, Wong turned $4.6 million over to the AntiMoney Laundering Case (AMLC) and an additional P38 million on April 4. $18 million of the total $81 million stolen has been recovered so far.

Ryamizard also suggested to conduct joint navy and army exercises, and to establish a military post that would intensify coordination and intelligence sharing among the countries.

A

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OpiniOn

Features

Turnaround

AMID President Rodrigo Duterte’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, the Philippine National Police (PNP) proudly reported that the country has also seen a downward trend in crime in the first half of 2016.

“We are seeing the reduction of street crimes, particularly crimes against property metro-wide,” Chief Supt. oscar albayalde said. albayalde said that the significant decline in Metro Manila’s crime was due to the implementation of “oplan Tokhang” and “Double Barrel,” the government’s drive against illegal drugs. according to Inquirer.net, “oplan Double Barrel” is the government’s blueprint for its drug war, which supposedly involves exposing the “upper barrel” to capture “high-value” and supply-side targets; and the “lower barrel” to eliminate “lowvalue” and demand-side targets.

“Tokhang,” which was first launched in Davao City in 2012, is a combination of “toktok” or knock and “hangyo” or to plead or request.

In the last month, authorities have reported a total of 402 drugs suspects killed, 5,418 suspects arrested and 565,806 others who have surrendered. albayalde said that the weekly crime trend data from July 1- 19, 2016 reflected the significant decrease of street crimes compared with the data recorded on the first semester of 2016. other forms of index crimes against persons and properties

correlated to illegal drugs have also been reduced.

Meanwhile, beginning this week, an emergency 911 hotline has been formally activated to immediately provide police assistance to the people. The 24 hour-hotline is also available for fire and medical emergencies.

Since its activation, various calls for emergencies were received by the emergency hotline, such as ambulance assistance, vehicular accidents, petty harassment and civil disturbances, drag racing, drinking in public places, and drug pushing, among others.

It seems that the PnP will help the president fulfill his promise of suppressing illegal drugs and criminality in the country within three to six months.

The agency also vowed to clean up its ranks. of the 16,000 police officers drug tested, 11 were found positive. They were relieved from their posts and now under investigation.

While these recent reports have been fairly positive, it would also be good for both the PnP and the government to look into the recent spike in killings of suspected drug dealers and users unidenti-

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

fied gunmen. This alleged vigilante killings incited fear among the citizenry.

Currently, the country has 160,000 policemen manning the streets for a population of 102.3 million or a ratio of one cop for every 640 people. For

the PnP to further ensure the public’s safety and purging misfits from the streets, policemen must be reminded to perform their duties based on respect for the sanctity of life and human rights. (AJPress)

Could this be the beginning of the end of Trump’s sprint to the White House?

DonalD Trump’s millions of loyal ardent followers, many of whom are Filipinos in america, would even question the title of this piece as they believe in their hearts that he can indeed “make america great again.” There are kababayans who find it unfathomable how there are people who could not see beyond what they call lies the liberals are spewing against Trump. They say the real estate billionaire is the best candidate and best leader america could ever have, compared to obama, Clinton, Sanders, and any other Democrat.

But the liberals and those who affiliate themselves with the Democratic Party are not the only ones speaking out against Trump these days, especially in light of his comments criticizing the parents of army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed in the line of duty in Baghdad in 2004.

Many people from within the party he is supposed to represent have distanced themselves from his comments, while members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and a group of Goldstar families (an organization founded by individuals who lost family members in the Iraq war) have demanded an apology.

The father Khizr Khan gave a speech at last week’s Democratic national Convention against Trump’s plan to ban Muslims in america. The

elder Khan said the plan denigrates the ultimate sacrifice their son and many other men in uni- The Fil-Am form made for the United States Perspective when they offered their own lives for this country they love.

Khan claimed Trump “sacrificed nothing and no one,” and this prompted the Republican Gel SantoS-ReloS presidential nominee to retaliate and even speculate why Khan’s wife Ghazala did not even speak up during the convention to deliver her own remarks.

In an opinion article published by the Washington Post, Ms. Khan wrote, “all the world, all america, felt my pain. I am a Gold Star mother.

Whoever saw me felt me in their heart.”

“Donald Trump has children whom he loves.

Does he really need to wonder why I did not speak?” she added.

Ms. Khan further said Mr. Trump was “ignorant” of Islam and criticized him for offering his business career as evidence that he had sacrificed for his country. “Donald Trump said he has made a lot of sacrifices,” Ms. Khan said. “He doesn’t know what the word sacrifice means.”

The New York Times reported how Mr. and Ms. Khan stiffened their denunciation of Trump,

To win, Hillary should speak a little Tagalog Commentary

andRew lam new ameRica media IF all politics is local, then candidate Hillary Clinton may very well need to speak a little Korean and Tagalog in order to win the 2016 presidential election.

Why? In 2014 Slate.com published a fascinating article with this headline, “Tagalog in California, Cherokee in arkansas.” It is a survey of the languages spoken in each state. of great political interest is the most common language spoken other than English or Spanish. In alaska it is Yupik, In nevada it is Tagalog (spoken by Filipinos), while Vietnamese is the third most popular language in oklahoma, nebraska and Texas. Korean fills that slot in Virginia and Georgia.

Spanish, of course, is the second most common language spoken other than English in most states.

It makes sense then that Clinton’s VP pick, Tim Kaine, made his acceptance speech for the Democratic Party’s nomination partly in Spanish. His language skill will surely come in very handy when he goes stomping in battleground states like arizona, nevada and new Mexico. after all, getting latinos, (along with african americans) to come out and vote is an urgent and an absolute necessary affair. “The growth among non-Hispanic white

eligible voters has been slower than among racial or ethnic minorities in large part because they are overrepresented in deaths due to an aging population,” according to Pew Research Center. “By comparison, racial/ethnic minorities – who make up 31 percent of the electorate – accounted for 43 percent of new eligible voters born in the U.S. who turned 18.” Hispanic voters surged from 23.3 million since 2012 to 27.3 million in 2016, a 17 percent growth.

Yet in the swing states, where every vote counts, it would be a major mistake to not pay attention to the other minorities whose populations are growing very quickly. Korean voters in Virginia, Filipino voters in nevada and Vietnamese voters in oklahoma, for instance, though still relatively small groups in those states, can form a formidable voting bloc. according to Pew Research Center, asian american eligible voters in the U.S. have increased 16 percent as well, that is, to 9.23 million in 2016. In nevada, Filipinos make up more than half of the asian american population, or 120,000, although many aren’t registered voters. a registration drive right now is not too late, and here’s a hint: Many read the Philippine news and asian Journal, and they watch the Filipino Chanel’s popular bilingual news program “Balitang america,” which airs nationwide.

Tim Kaine might want to get on that show, or better yet, Hillary Clinton might want to remind Filipino americans of her record in keeping the South China Sea from

falling completely into Chinese domination and that, as president, she would continue to keep it a priority.

Should the Democratic campaign bother with an ethnic group, which, although growing fast, has such a low voter registration? Two words: slim margin.

Think about it this way: In 2000, in that unforgettable and most controversial presidential election in modern U.S. history, George W. Bush won against al Gore thanks to his 537-vote lead in Florida.

That razor-thin margin could have been turned around if the U.S. Supreme Court had allowed a recount and the fate of america might well have shifted away from wars, recession, debt, spilled blood and lost national treasure.

So far, the Democrats have concentrated on black and Hispanic voters. although it is true that blacks and latinos make up formidable voting blocs and should be rallied for in every state, it is a strategic mistake for the ClintonKaine ticket to ignore potential sizable voting enclaves waiting in plain sight in each battleground state.

Those swing states are nevada, new Hampshire, new Mexico, arizona, north Carolina, Florida, ohio, Iowa, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

This is a challenge in terms of political organizing. If all politics is local, then all local politics may demand increasing outreach to ethnic media and to community organizations and their leaders.

In orange County, Calif., for PAGE A7

saying on the TV show “Meet the Press” on nBC last Sunday that Trump lacked the moral character and empathy to be president. Mr. Khan said Trump had shown disrespect to his wife, and he accused the Republican nominee of running a campaign “of hatred, of derision, of dividing us.”

Mr. Khan made his appeal on “Meet the Press” to the “patriotic americans that would probably vote for Donald Trump,” saying “I appeal to them not to vote for hatred, not to vote for fear-mongering. Vote for unity. Vote for the goodness of this country.”

Trump tweeted on Monday, aug. 1 that Khan “viciously attacked me from the stage of the DnC and is now all over T.V. doing the same.”

He then continued the barrage of comments against Khan on Twitter and in interviews, arguing that he has done a lot of sacrifices as a businessman. He and his surrogates contended that Khan’s remarks against him are just being exploited for political expediency.

But many leaders of the Republican Party do not agree with Trump and have been very public about their denouncement of Trump’s statements.

Street Talk GReG B. macaBenta I WEnT through the transcript of the State of the nation address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte with a sincere desire to experience the emotional impact that it had on Communications office Secretary Martin andanar. He said a preview of the speech made him cry. at the risk of seeming like a cold-hearted individual, I felt no such emotional high. no such luck. First of all, it was hardly a report on the state of the nation in its various facets – and not just the state of criminality in the country, specifically the drug menace, and the broken justice system.

In his opening words, Duterte said he had no taste for raking up the sins of his predecessors, although he did state that those found guilty of violations of law would be made answerable, albeit with due process, The Sona was in fact a report on the State of the new administration’ plans, programs and policies - whatever one could make of them, from a rambling disjointed speech.

This is not to belittle the honest effort of the new president to express himself in the manner that he thought best. Remember that it was that manner of expressing himself that persuaded over 16 million Filipinos to vote for him.

It may be assumed that many of those millions would not recognize

They condemned Trump’s treatment of the Khans and as the New York Times reported, these leaders have called “his behavior outside the bounds of political discourse.”

In a statement released last Monday, Sen. John McCain accused Donald Trump of defaming Khizr Khan and argued the Republican presidential candidate does not represent the GoP. “While our Party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us,” McCain said.

Military veterans in Congress even urged House Speaker Paul Ryan to drop his endorsement of Trump.

Recent polls reveal that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has widened her lead over Trump after the Democratic national Convention, with an 8, even 9 percent margin. Is this ominous for Trump’s presidential ambitions?

Do you support Donald Trump’s statement? Do you agree that he went too far? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos

Trying to appreciate the SONA a coherent speech if it bit them on the nose.

But as someone interested in the wisdom and profundity of national leaders – never mind eloquence, grassroots sincerity is more inspiring – I had to find a way to piece together the thoughts of our president in his first report to the nation.

Following Duterte’s trend of thought, frankly, took some effort.

The process reminded me of the old copy reading days in the Kislap-Graphic Magazine (circa 1957) where the editor’s mandatory tools, aside from the blue pencil, were a pair of scissors and scotch tape. one had to go through each manuscript to find a paragraph that could logically follow the lead. and one had to search for and piece together sections of the manuscript to come up with a logical and coherent sequence.

That’s what I decided to do with Duterte’s Sona. You see, he kept jumping from topic to topic with no apparent concern for developing each one. What made it worse was his penchant for ad-libbing, depending on which subject took his fancy.

By focusing on a specific topic – say, the drug problem and the broken justice system – I succeeded in finding related paragraphs in various sections of the entire speech, and transposed them to where I thought they logically belonged.

That way, I managed to get a more comprehensive view of Dutete’s thoughts.

For easier identification, I labeled each related topic or para-

graph with a heading; ·Justice system, crime and the drug menace · Back to drugs · Uplift people’s welfare by fixing the justice system · People’s welfare with reference to criminality · Media killings · Back to the broken justice system · Back to drugs · Educational development related to drug education · Back to drug problem out of nearly 9000 words in the entire speech, including ad-libs, this topic accounted for 2.137 words. of that only 24 words were devoted to educational development and that had to do with drug education..

Streamlining the civil service was the next favorite topic of Dutete, accounting for 1,250 words.

DEnR, Gina lopez, global waming, garbage and laguna lake took up 1,116 words, beating Infrastructure development and the traffic problem which took 1,021 words. The paeans Dutete gave to lopez accounted for the margin.

Internal security, the Bangsamoro issue, the CPP-nPa-nDF and lumads accounted for 757 words.

Squatters and poverty alleviation rated 593 words. While Duterte’s other favorite topics, Federalsim, took 615 words and the Freedom of Information executive order had 472 words.

What about topics close to the heart of business and related to the economy? The economy and tax reform rated only 151 words.

PAGE A7

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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PNP chief: ‘We value lives’

by Dana

SiSon

AJPress

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa admitted on Monday, August 1, that it is ‘painful for police to be accused of killing innocent people,’ as they continue their campaign against illegal drugs.

Since the present administration has been cracking down on illegal drugs, Inquirer has reported 467 deaths nationwide.

“Kung inosente yan, masakit rin sa amin kung may madisgrasya na inosente, eh pareho tayong tao.

We value lives, we want to preserve lives… (If they were really innocent, it pains us too if innocent lives were dragged into this, we’re humans too. We value lives, we want to preserve lives),” Rappler quoted Dela Rosa.

He pointed out that the police does not want people to get killed and challenged the accusers to prove that they’re really innocent.

“I-prove nila, kasi masakit naman sa aming mga pulis na lagi nalang ina-accuse ng ganoon. Eh nagtratrabaho na nga yung pulis, inaaccuse pa ng ganoon. Eh yung pulis na yan, may mga anak rin ‘yan eh. May mga pamilya rin ‘yan (They should prove those allegations because it’s also painful for police to be accused of killing innocent people because they’re

anthony licaS AJPress

DESPITE complications around a short-lived ceasefire, leaders on both sides of the decades-long conflict between the Philippine government and Maoist rebels hope peace talks scheduled for August 20-27 in Oslo, Norway can end hostilities.

President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his commitment to ending 47 years of fighting between the government and leftist insurgents on Monday, August 1.

He also announced plans to release two detained leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The decision to free Benito and Wilma Tiamzon from government custody serves as an olive branch to the communists after the president rescinded a unilateral ceasefire on Saturday, July 30.

The president had just declared the truce on Monday, July 25, but later issued an ultimatum threatening its cancellation after the military component of the CPP ambushed Philippine troops on Wednesday, July 27.

Government soldiers triggered a landmine planted by the New People’s Army (NPA), resulting in a skirmish that left one government militiaman dead and four wounded in Davao del Norte, according to Philstar.

NPA spokesperson Aris Francisco said the rebels were acting

MeDenilla

AJPress

Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa introduces“PO1 Bato,” the official mascot of the PNP. The mascot entertained policemen and other PNP personnel when he danced after the flag raising ceremony in Camp Crame Monday, Aug. 1.

ManilaTimes.net photo

working hard. Police have children too. They have families too),” he added.

As of July 25, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has been investigating and reviewing 103 cases of extrajudicial killings related to the anti-illegal drugs campaign. There were 39 cases in NCR; 27 cases in Region I; 15 cases in Region II; 13 cases in the Cordillera Administrative Region; and nine cases in Region XII. It includes cases where suspects were killed in the middle of a police operation, or by an unidentified assailant, according to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

As the number of casualties

continued to increase, Dela Rosa stressed that he does not condone vigilantism.

“Kung kayo tao, nasasaktan… ang pulis tao, nasasaktan. At kami’y nagmamahal sa aming kapwa. Ayaw talaga namin may masaktan unnecessarily (If you get hurt, police get hurt too. We care for our fellowmen. We don’t want them to get hurt unnecessarily),” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa claimed that policemen were professional enough not to mistake innocent people as suspects during operations against illegal drugs.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte denounced extrajudicial killings and said that it would be put “under control.”

in self-defense.

“Had the Red fighters not taken the initiative to actively defend themselves ... Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) troops would have carried out their own combat action and inflicted damage against the NPA unit,” said Francisco.

Following the ambush, Duterte announced that Maoist insurgents had until 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 to implement a corresponding ceasefire before his administration revoked their offer of a truce.

The CPP declined to meet the president’s deadline, prompting the military to resume operations against community rebels, AFP chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya announced on Sunday, July 31.

On Monday, police and AFP soldiers killed one rebel fighter during sporadic fighting with NPA forces allegedly committing extortion in Malimono, Surigao del Norte.

In a statement released on Sunday, the rebels said they would not be “browbeaten” into a ceasefire while AFP soldiers “showed no plans of letting up in their searchand-destroy operations and frenzied offensives that terrorize civilian communities.”

However, CPP representatives also declared their support for the reinitiation of peace negotiations with the Philippine government slated later this month. They said they were open to declaring a ceasefire when talks reopen on

August 20th; Duterte mirrored that proposal for the AFP on Monday.

More than 150,000 people have died since the armed conflict began between the government and the NPA. Numerous attempts at reconciliation going as far back as the presidency of Cory Aquino in 1986 had all broken down for various reasons. Most recently, talks between Maoists and the previous administration of President Benigno Aquino III came apart after he refused CPP demands to free over 500 CPP officials held by the government like the Tiamzons.

In June, during an informal prelude to the coming negotiations, representatives of the president’s cabinet made promises to release some of those prisoners. Other gestures, like the inclusion of CPP allies in Duterte’s cabinet, have left some rebel leaders optimistic about the coming talks.

However, during a town hall meeting hosted by Bayan USA and other leftist organizations in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 23, Jose Maria Sison, the founder of the CPP, noted that Duterte had made “contradictory statements in the past and promised a measured response.”

“The peace talks will test what the Duterte Government is really made of,” said Sison. “So long as there are gains made face to face, then the peace negotiations will move on.”

candidates to reach out beyond Latino and Spanish-speaking voters.

When a state could swing by 500 votes, Koreans in North Carolina might be the very voting bloc that each candidate needs. Elsewhere, surprisingly in Oklahoma, the third most popular language spoken turns out to be Vietnamese. Also, in Arizona and New Mexico, not so surprisingly, the most populous language after English and Spanish is Navajo.

Clinton or Kaine could, for instance, give an exclusive interview to the Korea Daily or Korea Times, both of which are widely read among Koreans in Virginia and Georgia. Koreans have flocked to that state since Kia and Hyundai set up their factories there in recent years. They number over 100,000. And here’s a hint: The Korean church plays a major role in spurring voter registration and turnout.

Trump, of course, wouldn’t bother with this kind of outreach.

The GOP presidential candidate kicked Univision news anchor Jorge Ramos out of a primary-election rally for confronting him on his overt racism, and “The Donald” drives on being divisive, repeatedly playing the xenophobia card.

Demographic shifts are underway. After the 2020 Census, the map of America will turn bluer than ever before, as more minorities register to vote. But for now, in the age of slim margins, when this historic election could result in outrageous fortunes, one wonders if the Democrats are doing all they can to turn beige states to blue. Speaking a little Tagalog and Vietnamese might help. *** Andrew Lam is an editor at New America Media and the author of three books, “Birds of Paradise Lost,” a short story collection, a book of essays, “East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres,” and a memoir: “Perfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora.” He is working on a second book of short stories and a novel.

Trying to appreciate the...

PAGE A6 Jobs and entrepreneurship had 209, health care and reproductive health took all of 111 words, while agriculture and tourism development took 65 and 20 words, respectively.

Also given only passing mention were women’s rights with 85 words and natural calamities with 56.

Foreign relations and the West Philippine Sea issue accounted for 149 words. No ad libs.

That’s one word less than clean governance, which had 150 words – but included a rationale that corruption and inefficiency at the lower local government level could be beyond the national government’s control.

I think this SONA gives the country an idea of where the new president intends to focus his passion. There are issues and concerns that different sectors may think are important and require

Duterte warns mining companies: PH will survive without you

by Klarize

To win, Hillary should speak a...

PAGE A6 over a decade now, no candidate has been able to afford ignoring Vietnamese- and Spanish-language media when running for public office. That is because the Vietnamese population in that county is 300,000--the largest not only in the U.S., but also outside of Vietnam. That’s a formidable force.

In Nevada, Filipinos have been moving steadily to Las Vegas and Reno. Initially, many were drawn there to work in hospitals, but over the last couple of decades others sought jobs in hotels, casinos and related service industries. Now they have become a potentially powerful swing vote. Although they make up less than 5 percent of the state’s population, they are the fastest-growing ethnic group there.

Given that both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are running neck-and-neck in several up-forgrabs states like Nevada and North Carolina, it would make sense for

A

Defends environmental secretary

Peace talks slated for August despite failed ceasefire by eric

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 4-10, 2016

more – or at least as much - attention and diligence as those in Duterte’s comfort zone.

One would have difficulty understanding why education, health care, agricultural development and tourism development merited only passing mention. I think Duterte is intelligent enough to appreciate their importance, But prudent enough not to discuss topics beyond his full comprehension.

That’s the function of the presidential staff – or maybe they’re still warming their seats.

Perhaps he intends to delegate those issues and concerns to the heads of Cabinets or to Comgress.

But while the President can delegate authority, Duterte cannot delegate responsibility and accountability.

Duterte did end on a poignant note: “There are many among us whose emotional wounds are still

fresh and painful to the touch. We cannot erase the images of death and destruction from our minds.

We cannot wash away the stench of rotting flesh from our noses.

And there are many of us who are still waiting for the help that was promised. ”But we should not despair.

Like someone wrote: It is when the night is darkest, that dawn breaks.

We are imbued with resiliency that has been tested and proven. More difficult times As in the past. We have a bond to act together. We have to help each other. For then and only then can we truly prevail.

“And the Filipino, disciplined, informed, involved, shall rise from the rubbles of sorrow and pain. So that all the mirrors in the world will reflect the face of a passion that has changed this land.

“Daghang Salamat.”

Let us all hope fpr the best. (gregmacabenta@hotmail. com).

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has pressured the country’s mining companies to strictly comply with the environmental regulations or risk shutting down.

“We will survive as a nation without you,” Duterte said during a press briefing at Malacanang on Monday, August 1. “Either you follow [strict] government standards or you close down.”

Duterte came to the defense of Regina “Gina” Lopez, secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), an anti-mining “crusader” who has been auditing mining sites that have been disobeying regulations since July 8.

“You try to castigate Gina Lopez for being strict, and yet you destroy the land, destroy the soil, and then you get rich,” Duterte added.

The Philippines has since shut down operations of seven nickel mines for failing to comply with regulations.

Duterte added that he may “forego” the annual PHP 40 billion revenue produced by the mining industry, saying that the country “will survive without” mining companies.

Speaking out against the strict regulations, mining companies have asserted that they are unjust-

ly being singled out.

“The industry is using less than 20,000 hectares out of the 30 million hectares comprising the total land area in the Philippines,” Dante Bravo, president of Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc., told Reuters. “And we are contributing so much to the national economy and local development. So, I think we should be treated fairly.”

Lopez was appointed by Duterte on June 30 and replaced Ramon Paje from the former President Benigno Aquino III’s administration. Upon accepting the appointment, Lopez said she did not just want to push regulations, but she also wants to “address poverty” by way of natural resources and environmental protection.

Lopez has made it a priority to reform the country’s mining industry.

“You can’t build an economy based on suffering and injustice. It isn’t right. The poorest sites in the country are mining areas,” Lopez told Rappler in June.

On July 12, she expressed the need to reform the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 which she called “unfair” and “skewed towards the mining sector and not towards the people.”

“We have to change [the law],” she said in a radio interview. “Mining companies say they’re giving to the economy. What? Out of

PHP 35 billion net, PHP 29 billion goes to the mining company, only PHP 6 billion goes to the country, and out of the PHP 6 billion, a very small amount goes to the community, like almost nothing.”

On Wednesday, July 27, Lopez outwardly denounced the project from mining company Sagittarius Mines, Inc. The P5.9 billion project — called Tampakan Copper-Gold Project — will cause significant environmental damage, according to Lopez.

“It’s a 700-football field openpit mine on top of rice fields and agricultural lands affecting four provinces and six rivers,” Lopez told the media. “Why do we even consider it? I don’t like it at all.”

In another move to regulate the mining industry, Duterte appointed Mario Luis J. Jacinto as the new director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), according to a statement on the bureau’s website.

Jacinto will oversee the implementation of the bureau’s new programs and has authority over the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). He will work closely with Lopez in all projects pertaining to the MGB and EMB. Before taking office, Duterte had warned mining companies to “shape up” and be more vigilant in matters of environmental preservation.

PH launches 911 emergency hotline

by Dana

SiSon

AJPress

MANILA —The Philippine National Police (PNP) officially launched the Philippines’ 911 emergency response hotline on Monday, August 1.

Manned with 45 call center agents, 911 is a 24-hour nationwide hotline that dispatches emergency responses related to police, fire, and medical emergencies.

PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said that as of now, the initial responders would be PNP personnel only.

Callers may expect a response in around 5-10 minutes.

As of 12:01pm on its launching day, the PNP received a total of 2,475 calls -- only 75 were legitimate while a total of 304 were

pranks and the remaining 1,119 were dropped calls.

The following day, the emergency hotline received 70 calls requesting ambulance service, 63 reports on illegal drugs, 63 requests for police assistance and 59 reports of car accidents. Other calls were categorized as nuisances.

Dela Rosa requested the public to refrain from ‘testing’ the hotline and sending prank calls, warning that those guilty will be apprehended.

“We are currently tracking the prank callers and we will make sure that you will be unmasked,” Dela Rosa told GMA News.

“I am also appealing to our people to refrain from making prank calls or test calls to our 911 hotline because this will clog up the lines

and prevent the people with real emergencies to reach us.”

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the issuance of the emergency hotline nationwide after its success in Davao City where he served as mayor for seven terms.

Telecommunications provider PLDT and its subsidiaries Smart and ePLDT have promised to provide free access to the emergency hotline while Globe will charge P5 per call to the hotline.

The government also launched the 8888 All-Citizen Complaint Center hotline, which is directed to Duterte himself.

By using the 8888 number, citizens may report their concerns and complaints regarding corrupt or underperforming officials and unfinished government projects.

A

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August 4-10, 2016 • LAs VEgAs AsIAN JOuRNAL

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VEGAS&STYLE

B

Journal Miss Universe to young girls: ‘Enjoy being a teenager’

By Joseph

Almer B. pedrAJAs

your age.�

Together with Miss Teen USA MISS Universe 2015 Pia Wurtz- 2015 Katherine Haik and Miss bach attended Miss Teen USA USA 2016 Deshauna Barber, 2016 pageant held at the Venetian Wurtzbach crowned Karlie Hay Theater in Las Vegas last Satur- from Texas as Miss Teen USA day, July 30, where she told the 2016. young contestants to “enjoy being Wurtzbach praised Hay for a teenager.� choosing to talk about peer presWearing a floral gown designed sure during the question and

by Sherri Hill, Wurtzbach stunned answer round. the mostly American crowd as the “I loved that you weren’t hesipageant’s host Miss USA 2015 Ol- tant with how the way you anivia Jordan and actor Cody Johns swered. Like some girls would introduced her. be a little bit hesitant to say the Jordan, Wurtzbach’s former words drugs or peer pressure,� roommate, asked the reigning she told Hay. beauty queen her advice for the ‘I am very happy’ next Miss Teen USA. On the other hand, Wurtzbach “My advice for the next Miss noted that she is “very happy�

Teen USA [is] don’t rush into with her reign as the Miss Unigrowing up. Enjoy being a teenag- verse. er!â€? Wurtzbach answered, draw“I am very happy that I go ing cheers from the audience. to all these countries, learning She added, “The judges will about culture, learning about choose a girl tonight based on the people‌ it’s all about a good who they think is the perfect thing,â€? she said. fit to be a role model for girls.

The beauty queen also boasted Well, not just girls, but anybody that she has advocated for HIV AJPress

Ariel Rivera, Aiko Melendez, LJ Reyes, NiĂąa Corpuz

What showbiz people are hoping for from Duterte gov’t

by Boy

ABundA Philstar.com

Miss Universe 2015 during the Miss Teen USA pageant held last Saturday, July 30 in Las Vegas.

Photo from Miss Universe Facebook page

awareness during her reign. “I’m finally able to talk more about my advocacy, which is HIV awareness,â€? she announced, “just recently I had myself tested publicly‌ to lessen the stigma.â€?

James Reid, Nadine Lustre ‘Teen Vogue’ feature finally out

by AlixAndrA

CAole Philstar.com

VilA

US-BASED magazine “Teen Vogue� finally released their article featuring Philippines’s favorite celebrity couple, James Reid and Nadine Lustre.

Titled “James Reid and Nadine Lustre Are the Filipino Love Team You Need to Know,� the write-up tells the story of how the two won over the hearts of the Filipino community and how their on-cam romance transcended to reality. “James and Nadine say they never tried to be anything they weren’t and this transparency is what set them apart from other love teams. A partnership that started out as a mere example of what the ideal love looks like transformed into a real, undeni-

Philstar.com photos

Screenshot of Teen Vogue page

able romance that the country in 2013. fell head over heels for,â€? the “After that music video, notharticle said. ing really happened‌[until] our James and Nadine first ap- first movie,â€? James told the magapeared together in a music video PAGE B5

hope our country will never have amongst all Filipinos!

Leo J. Consul: As a Filipino to experience brain drain and I WANTED to get what friends working outside the country, I Filipino diaspora. I long to hear from the entertainment and hope to see less and less Filipinos our kababayan happy to go back broadcast industry are hoping abroad, which is a clear manifes- home instead of seeing them for from the Duterte presidency. tation that the new administration shedding tears as they leave their is doing its part and making great loved ones back home in search Here’s what they said: Ariel Rivera: To weed out cor- efforts to provide jobs for our of greener pasture, just because kababayan. I long to hear news they couldn’t find a decent job in rupt officials and politicians.

Aiko Melendez: May he really about Filipinos making it big not their own home. And when they apply his campaign slogan that in foreign lands but in our home- come back home, I hope not to says change is coming. Hoping land. I long to watch TV one day see that distinct fear which every that he is really the one who without stumbling upon some Filipino feels the moment he/she would be able to solve the long- news about our kababayan be- steps that eager feet on their time problem of corruption. And ing maltreated or abused by the own soil; fear of those corrupt hoping for Federal form of gov- hands of their churlish bosses. I PAGE B2 ernment under his leadership.

LJ Reyes: I hope that the influence Pres. Duterte has on the Filipinos will spread like virus.

That it will not only stay on this generation’s heart but continue to be part of every Filipino future.

Change has come. I hope that change progressively grows and the change in the hearts of all of us stays.

Benj Bolivar: Zero drugs, corruption and crime!

Lance Raymundo: I hope that the Duterte administration will be the road towards a better Philippines. I hope that all the progress, innovation and changes it will bring upon in the next six years would be a steady uphill momentum for our country and for all the administrations to come. Change and betterment are not only in the hands of the /FFICE % 2USSELL 2D 3UITE ,AS 6EGAS .6 leaders, but in the hands of the 0HONE %MAIL \ *KANG MSN COM citizens as well. I hope and pray that the Duterte administration will inspire unity and cooperation

7EBSITE WWW JHKLAWUSA COM

B august 4-10, 2016 • Las VEgas asIaN JOuRNaL

EntErtainmEnt

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Liza Soberano lands first global endorsement Angeline Quinto impresses Joel Lamangan by

AlixAndrA CAole VilA

by riCky

CAlderon ManilaTimes.net

Philstar.com

As if her career isn’t stellar enough yet, Liza soberano, one of the most sought-after stars in her generation has gotten another career milestone.

On Wednesday, Aug. 3, the actress/model was officially announced as the newest Maybelline Girl. This marks her first global beauty label endorsement.

“It was like a dream come true for me. I remember looking up to the brand as a young girl. I can even remember the first time I brought one of their products,” she said during her press launch at the AXON, Green sun Hotel.

Liza discovered her love for beauty and even fashion at an early age, starting with modeling for print ads and then taking on different roles for television and film. “When I first started in the show business, I was very shy! I couldn’t even smile right in front of the camera,” shares Liza who said makeup played a boost to her confidence level.

Through the years, Liza has

One of the world’s most beautiful faces, Liza Soberano, officially signs with Maybelline New York.

risen to become one of the most iconic teen stars in the Philippine industry today with contracts and starring roles left and right .

Being a dream-chaser herself, Liza hopes she will be able to influence and empower people who look up to her.

“Throughout the years, I’ve grown up in front of the limelight as a model and an actress and I believe makeup plays an

important part in building the confidence to feel beautiful. I believe that women should feel confident innately, and makeup helps women, like me, because it gives them the extra boost that they need,” she explained Half-American, half-Filipina, Liza embodies a unique mix of youthfulness, style, and boldness that makes her the perfect fit for the brand.

AWArD-WINNING filmmaker Joel Lamangan has not done a comedy film for quite some time now. so he was pleased when regal Entertainment offered him to helm “That Thing Called Tanga Na” written by senedy Que. “It was high time I do a comedy film so I accepted. I was doing mostly serious movies for indie producers, and I wanted to have a good laugh on the set for a change,” said the noted director at the press conference regal’s latest production.

Direk Joel said he was allowed to give lots of input in this story of four guys and a lady who all have problems when it comes to love.

“The story is about people in love and who become fools in the process—this is common to everyone, right? When it comes to love, we all become foolish, and the story doesn’t deny that,” he said.

Direk Joel especially liked the unique casting of Eric Quizon, Billy Crawford, Kean Cipriano, Martin Escudero and Angeline Quinto to deliver the story, which

despite being a comedy proves to be a challenge.

“All comedies are challenging to do because if people don’t laugh then it’s a complete failure,” he explained.

He further related that audiences will be able to relate to at least one if not most of the characters in the movie—the gay benefactor in Eric; Kean who dreams of getting married; Billy who is a closet gay; Martin who is eager to start a family; and Angeline who prays to for someone to love her faithfully.

“The problems they have in their relationships are so common, but how they face those problems are told in a very comic manner.”

Direk Joel was particularly pleased with Angeline, with whom he is working with for the first time.

“Besides being a good singer, she is also a good comedian in the mold of Maricel soriano. I had not met her personally but I had heard about her, and I was surprised she knows how to act. she doesn’t seem like a newbie in acting,” he imparted.

“Usually, I have a reputation that scares artists who work with

Angeline Quinto

me for the first time but Angeline was not scared of me at all. I saw her challenged more than anything. she is confident and tells me if she doesn’t know how to handle a particular scene and I like that she is vocal and straightforward.”

Selena Gomez to Pinoys: I am home with you Billy Crawford talks about marrying Coleen Garcia

by AlixAndrA

CAole Philstar.com

VilA

AMErICAN Pop singer selena Gomez might have been miles away from her home last night, but the crowd at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena made her feel as if she has not left home at all.

“I am far away from home, but I feel like I am home with you,” selena told the Filipino fans during her “revival Tour” in Manila on sunday, July 31.

Thousands of fans flocked to MOA Arena as early as 4 p.m. to catch the first-ever concert of the American singer in the Philippines. The stadium was filled to the rafters, with fans wearing selena merchandise and waving glowing sticks. selena opened the show with “revival” and “same Old Love,” the second single from the album released in 2015. The crowd screamed with excitement as selena sang their all-time favorite hits, including songs from her previous albums such as “Who says” and “Come and Get it.”

The enthusiastic crowd did not go unnoticed. The 24-year-old singer lauded the Filipino fans, saying their cheers might have

by izA iglesiAs ManilaTimes.net

TOGETHEr for two years now, Billy Crawford and girlfriend Coleen Garcia have been very open about their relationship, and have talked publicly about plans to tie the knot.

According to Crawford, however, in a small roundtable interview, which included The Manila Times, he and Garcia are simply finding the right timing.

“We both talk about our future.

Of course that’s inevitable because we’ve been together for two years and I’m very close to her family, and she’s close to mine. so it will all lead there [to marriage]. “[But for now] I just want her to continue to grow as an actress.

I want her to fulfill her dreams Selena Gomez waves at Filipino fans during her “Revival Tour” concert at Mall of Asia Arena, first,” Crawford, who is promotPasay City, Philippines on July 31, 2016.

Philstar.com photos by AJ Bolando ing his upcoming film with regal been the loudest she has ever she said.

Entertainment “That Thing Called From the Disney Channel child Tanga Na,” added. heard so far.

Before ending the hour-long actress that she once was, selena “If ever I get married, I want concert, selena also managed to transformed herself to a grown- to give everything I have when it squeeze in some Tagalog words up woman with her bold songs comes to being a husband. I would that reflect her big ambitions. For ra-ther stop [everything I’m doing], to connect to her Filipino fans.

“Please don’t be mad at me if the Manila leg, selena performed and just focus on that. But of course I get this wrong. Mahal Kita… I almost twenty songs, completing Coleen wants to do the same, guarantee you, we will be back,” the hour long show. which is why we have to be sure when we should go for it.”

Crawford clarified all the same that he will not demand his future wife to stop acting, especially since he is aware that Garcia has just started her climb to fame.

“It’s all up to her if she wants to stop showbiz or not. Those are her opportunities, so we shouldn’t close any doors if they open for her.”

Both practically and realistically, Crawford related,” I have been in this industry for 30 years now so I’ve had my time. Coleen’s just starting. But at least for me, when I get married, I want to focus on family.”

Despite a controversial start to his relationship with Garcia— Crawford had just broken up with longtime girlfriend Nikki Gil back then—he is happy to share that all is well in his personal life.

“What we have now, I’m cherishing. Everyday I have new things to learn about Coleen, and vice versa. so we want to take it slow; we’re take our time because she’s still young. I’m 10 years older than Coleen—I’m 34 years old, and she’s

Despite their 10-year age gap, these love birds are doing just fine.

turning 24. so there’s a big age gap, so I’m still making sure she’s comfortable with what we have.”

The “BiCol” couple spent their second year anniversary with a very simple celebration. According to the half-American celebrity who began in the industry as a little boy, there was no expensive gift from Garcia but she gave her the most precious thing he could ask for: An entire day with him, which is a rarity given her very hectic schedule.

“Our anniversary was July 23…

Well it is very hard to surprise Coleen. she wants to know everything about anything first so I fail every year in surprising her,” he laughed.

“I got sick so I didn’t have any idea about her schedule. I just told her ‘Love, if you can, if your don’t have work on the 23rd give spend it with me’,” he shared. “so what I did, I borrowed my friend’s chopper, and we went to tagaytay to eat, and after that we went to the spa so she can relax.

That was my gift, pampering,” Crawford smiled.

“Then we went back again here to Manila so we could watch to-

gether her first major acting debut in MMK (Maalaala Mo Kaya). so yes, she gave me time–that’s what I hoped for and she gave it to me.”

Asked if he gets jealous over Garcia’s sexy and intimate scenes in movies, Crawford replied, “They’re part of her work, so I understand.

It’s part of the movie so it’s her job.

I watch all her love scenes and I still trust her. If ever there will be a time her co-actor acts maliciously, she will tell me about it, so they better be careful,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Crawford expressed his gratitude to regal Entertainment for casting him in a movie after what he says has been decades his last with them.

“The first regal Film I made was Pahiram Ng Isang Umaga back when I think I was seven years old.

It’s an honor to come back here especially since [his mentor, the late] Kuya Germs [Moreno] and I used to come here often,” he recalled.

In the comedy film That Thing Called Tanga Na, Crawford will play a closeted gay security guard who dreams of falling in love. sharing top billing with him are Angeline Quinto, Eric Quizon, and Kean Cipri-ano.

What showbiz people are hoping for...

PAGE B1

officials, fear of being taken advantage of, fear of those heinous crimes that continuously plague our nation and greatly, fear for their own lives. With this new administration, I hope never to hope for these things again when asked, “What are your hopes for your country?”

Douglas Nierras: I’m hoping that the fight against crime, corruption and drugs will have a just consistency, and will not wane with time, money and influence.

It is easy to start but continuing with the same fervor and earnestness is a quality very few can muster in the face of real opposition, apparent or otherwise. I sincerely hope the president will not have to give up his very life in the construction and necessary rebuilding of our institutions.

Sitti: I hope that he would make good on his promise to suppress criminality and stop corruption. To truly have a government, from top to bottom, that truly works for the Filipino.

Bianca Gonzalez: I hope that he is able to deliver on his promise of getting rid of crime and corruption on his six months, or even first year. I hope everyone, even those who did not vote for him, throw their support behind our President. I also wish him good health so that he can fulfill all his plans to “clean up” the country.

Doc Manny Calayan: I am optimistic that the new administration is more determined to wipe out if not totally annihilate the criminal elements in the country. He means business. He has the iron will and is a micromanager which is good because the country can truly progress if peace and order, and security are stable. Further, Duterte will take off from what the previous admin has accomplished, even higher.

Dr. Willie Ong and Dr. Liza Ramoso-Ong: We admire Pres.

Duterte for publicly stating that he wants to help the poor and the sick get their hospital care, operation and medicines. However, we know that this has not happened in the past decades in a meaningful way. Having worked with the poor in medical missions in the past 25 years, we see many obstacles along the way before the poor can get free and adequate care. We believe that health workers in position (both public and private) should go the extra mile in helping the poor. Laboratory tests should be given free. Basic operations from start to finish should be covered

by PhilHealth. There should be no out-of-pocket expense, which means poor patients need not shell out money. Otherwise, there are hundreds of thousands of poor patients slowly dying and being denied health care.

Underneath this all, there should

be love and respect for the poor.

We should treat them like our own family.

Niña Corpuz: As a mother, health advocate and host of Magandang Gabi Dok on DZMM, I hope our President will prioritize our health care system.

Maternal mortality is still high.

Many of our public hospitals are poorly equipped. It’s not uncommon to see two patients sharing a bed in a ward, if you don’t find them in the hallways. Doctors and nurses are paid so little — we are said to be the No. 1 exporter of nurses and No. 2 exporter of doctors. People in far-flung villages have to travel hours or days just to get to a health center or hospital. Aside from building and improving our health facilities and encouraging our health professionals to stay, the DOH should also focus on preventive health care. Philhealth should cover outpatient services, which include lab tests and diagnostics, and not wait for people to be hospitalized. The government saves more money in the long run. Hopefully, Duterte’s passion for his anti-drugs campaign will spill-over to health and nutrition for his people. Increase the sin Tax for cigarettes, include soda and junk food. Mr. President, please use your iron fist in creating a healthy environment. If your people are happy and healthy, everything else will follow.

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

EntErtainmEnt

Lovi Poe has no new love

by lhar

Santiago ManilaTimes.net

a VeRY elegant lovi Poe in an all-black gown and a thigh-high slit entered the board room of the GMa Network Center with a beaming smile. It was the day she would sign a new contract with her home network for the past 10 years, and she feels truly blessed. after all, it was in GMa where she started her career and, as she puts it, wants to “stay home where she is most comfortable.”

Present at the contract signing with lovi was her manager leo Dominguez, while representing the network was no less its Chairman and CeO Felipe Gozon, with the company’s executive Vice President and CFO Felipe Yalung, and senior vice president for entertainment tV lillibeth Rasonable. “this is it. I remain a Kapuso because this is home for me,” lovi enthusiastically. “I did not have a hard time deciding if I would renew my ties with them because I’m happy with how they take care of me. I get very good projects that whenever they present a new show to me, I get so excited,” she continued.

Part of lovi’s new contract is her new soap “Someone to Watch Over Me” where she stars with tom Rodriguez. lovi is looking forward to portraying a very challenging character as the wife of a

young husband who is afflicted with the early onset of alzheimer’s disease.

“It’s the kind of role that challenges and inspires,” lovi related.

“Imagine, you’re a wife and you have a baby, but your husband does not recognize you as his wife? Instead, he believes he is in love with his ex-girlfriend whom he thinks is his wife. What would you do as the real wife? Will you just close your eyes and accept everything to the point of losing your husband to his former girlfriend?”

With a thriving career, lovi also said that she cannot ask for more in her personal life right now. although she has broken up with Rocco Nacino, the actress swears she has moved on and that she is even open to working with Rocco in a project.

Meanwhile, showbiz columnists are all so intrigued by a photo lovi posted on her Instagram account, where a very goodlooking foreigner was beside her in a beach. She even captioned it with the hashtag #chrislovi, making everyone believe she has found a new love.

“No, I don’t have a new boyfriend! the one with me on the beach was Chris Johnson. He’s a european vacationing in the Philippines. We’ve become very good friends after we met, but I’m not ready to fall in love again because

Lovi Poe denies she is in a relationship with a good-looking European.

I’ve just come from another relationship,” lovi explained. according to the daughter of the late great Fernando Poe Jr., her priorities for now are her career and her family.

“I want to travel and to explore the world and I want to do it with my family. I’m no fond of buying expensive things, or those that are branded. I just want to travel and there’s nothing better than doing that with your family.”

Kiray Celis still can’t believe it

by Boy

aBunDa Philstar.com

RIGHt now, comedienne Kiray Celis is on top of the world. Who wouldn’t be, what with a successful launching movie (Regal Films’ “love is Blind,” in which Kiray costarred with Derek Ramsay, Kean Cipriano and Solenn Heussaff) under her belt, another movie (“I love You to Death,” opposite enchong Dee) poised to follow in its footsteps, and many more exciting projects in the works?

But Kiray says she’s hesitant to even acknowledge that she actually headlined a movie, much less that it became a hit, as she doesn’t want people thinking she let that fact go to her head.

“Super ayokong isipin,” Kiray says of “love is Blind’s” performance at the tills, as well as the praise it received from critics and fans alike. “I still can’t believe until now, kaya hindi ko tinatawag na ‘success’ ’yung nangyari, o yung nangyayari. I consider everything as ‘work.’”

Kiray has stayed the same despite her recent spate of good fortune. When she became a child actress at three years old, the idea of providing for her family was foremost on her mind. She had no lofty ambitions of becoming a leading lady someday — but she would grab such an opportunity if it did come. “every actor’s dream is to become a lead star. But giving my all was never my goal. So (executives) would take notice of me and give that chance,” she says.

Kiray would report for work

Kiray Celis has stayed the same despite her recent spate of good fortune.

with only one goal in mind: to deliver whatever her director asked of her, and do it well. as it turns out, that drive of hers was what caught the attention of the Regal Films team —including legendary producer Mother lily Monteverde and her daughter Roselle Monteverde — who signed Kiray to a six-picture deal.

Kiray was on Cloud Nine for days after she signed that contract with Regal Films. But when she finally wrapped up work on “love is Blind,” and after it was received well by moviegoers, Kiray realized that some things had to change

— especially her willingness to accept any project offered to her.

Kiray used to be the kind of actress who would jump at the chance to join the cast of any movie or tV show because there are no small roles in her eyes.

“I was happy then because they promised to give me six movies,” she recalls. “Pero hindi ako nagexpect na sa anim na yun, gusto nila lahat ako ang bida. Kasi may nag-inquire sa akin na gumanap bilang friend ng bida sa isang movie, hindi na nila ako pinayagan. Kasi daw nakapag-bida na nga ako. Nalungkot ako noon kasi ako, ayoko talaga ng namimili ng trabaho. ako kahit sino direktor, sino kasama, anong kwento, ano yung character, go. Minsan nga hindi ko pa nababasa yung script payag na ako agad.”

Kiray brought that go-getter mentality to the set of her second headlining movie, a Regal Films co-production with film outfit the Idea First Company titled “I love You to Death.”

Kiray chooses to focus on her blessings, shrugging off her detractors’ comments. But when pressed for her thoughts on what they used to say about her, she offered the following witty sound bite.

“Sa mga nagsasabi noon na ano ang nangyari kay Kiray, nasaan na si Kiray, eh ano kayo ngayon?” she joked. “Pero sa totoo lang, wala talaga akong masasabi sa kanila. ano na lang, siguro masaya sila para sa akin, at masaya din sila dahil nakain nila yung mga nasabi nila dati. Siguro ngayon busog sila!”

The evolution of ‘Eat Bulaga!’ by teSSa

mauriCio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

BaCK in 1979, the popular trio of what was then Philippine tV’s top sitcom, “Iskul Bukol, “received an offer to take on a daily noontime show, which had yet to be given a title. the trio was comprised of tito Sotto, his brother Vic and Joey de leon, and the show was eventually named “eat Bulaga.”

“We thought we’d just go on for a year,” recalled now Senator tito Sotto of the iconic tito, Vic and Joey. “We each had a contract for a year as well, but close to four decades later, we’re still here, and we’ve never renewed that contract since. We exist and work together because of friendship and trust.” the show is celebrating its 37th anniversary this year. “eat Bulaga” and its pioneers are both amazed and overwhelmed at the show’s success and longevity at every passing year.

More than just a noontime habit for millions of Filipinos from Monday through Saturday each week, “eat Bulaga” is as much a permanent part of their lives as it is for the show’s main hosts and the rest of the “Dabarkads.”

“Vic, Joey and I, even on the 10th year of the show would tease each other how old were getting.

But never in our wildest dreams did we think we’d still be celebrating Bulaga’s 25th anniversary, much less its 37th,” Sotto told the Manila times. “With Bulaga’s evolution over the years though—especially now that a big chunk of the program is geared toward public service—we cannot ask for more.

We simply want to keep giving back to the generations of Filipinos who have supported us through these many, many years.” asked what he believes has kept Bulaga going for decades now, the comedian-turned-politician replied, “It’s this knack we’ve always had

The formidable trio of Vic Sotto, Tito Sotto, and Joey de Leon with their show’s most in-demand gems today, Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards of the ‘Aldub’ phenom.

in getting the pulse of the people and finding fun in the people and situations we see. You know when we were much younger, Vic, Joey and I would often watch movies but we’d never stay in the cinema for the trailers. We’d hang around outside and people watch. We’d say to one another, ‘this guy’s got a big problem,’ or ‘that person just had fight with his wife!’,” Sotto laughed.

“We took that to the show when he started interviewing contestants and it clicked. ever since then, under the tutelage of our producer and good friend tony tuviera, the staff of eat Bulaga will always make sure to take surveys on whether the viewers like the different segments we introduce in the show. If they like it—let’s say ‘Kalyeserye’—the portion stays on, but when they don’t feel a connection with it, we cancel it even two weeks into the program.” according to the veteran host, in every facet of life, continued success requires open-mindedness and the humility to admit mistakes.

Of course, another palpable rea-

son behind “eat Bulaga’s” success is the strong bond created among the show’s circle of hosts that make every day a joy for them to work.

From Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola, to Jimmy Santos, Pia Guanio and Pauleen luna, and of course, Bulaga’s gems alden Richards and Maine Mendoza—not to mention the production team who make it possible for the show to air everyday—the kind of friendship that is often elusive in show business is a huge draw for audiences in the Philippines and beyond. “at this point in the history of ‘eat Bulaga,’ all we can guarantee our loyal viewers is that we will continue to bring them happiness, and strive to help them as best we can,” Sotto pledged.

Whether for entertainment or public service, it is clear that eat Bulaga has perfected the formula for longevity, and has strummed the right strings in the hearts of Filipino viewers for over three and a half decades. to this day, they fulfill their promise of brining “isang libo’t isang tuwa” from “Batanes to tawi-tawi,” and vow to do so for as long as they can.

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 4-10, 2016

B

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde: ‘You can’t cheat in the classics.’

by Carlomar

arCangel Daoana /Philstar.com

Ballet is, of course, the dance of the classics. While it has not been immune to 20th century innovations — the time when the arts and their values were appraised and contested — ballet has largely preserved the purity and clarity of its movements and forms, its deep affinity with tradition and the past. Its beautiful and exact language has continued to communicate to audiences, proof of which is Ballet Manila that has recently launched its 21st season. the new season, called “Revenge of the Classics,” offers a re-staging of Rebel: eDSa 30, dubbed as a “modern classic,” and three classical ballet productions. expected to make the heart of the audience soar are “the Swan, the Fairy and the Princess” that features excerpts from Swan lake, the Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty; Cinderella that takes flight with the music of Rodger and Hammerstein and the Disney animation film; and Don Quixote that puts a spotlight on the whimsical characters of the Miguel De Cervantes novel.

Groomed in the Vaganova academy of Russian Ballet style of dancing, lisa Macuja-elizalde, artistic director and CeO of Ballet Manila, has always made it a point to stage classical ballets in its home at the aliw theater. Her mentor at the academy, tatiana Udalenkova, told her that classics make the dancers and the dance company become strong and stay strong. “this season, we have lifted it up three notches, maybe five notches,” she said during the launch of “Revenge of the Classics.” “We are staging a full ballet season on the classics.”

the prima ballerina stressed that they do not take the word “classics” lightly as Ballet Manila’s performances follow and embody the highest standards of the dance. “You cannot cheat in the classics,” lisa said. “It is very hard to disguise mistakes when you are dancing classical ballet.

I’m very proud of the fact that Ballet Manila doesn’t simplify our classical ballet choreographies.

We stay true to what has been choreographed hundreds of years ago.”

Kicking off the season is Rebel: eDSa 30, which premiered early this year. a graceful interpretation of the People Power Revolution set against the music of Spartacus, the production features classical ballet at its heart, showcasing the capacity of the dance to convey the emotions, tensions and subtleties told by the some of the most important characters of the modern historical narrative. Choreographed by British choreographer Martin lawrance, the production will feature Joanna ampil as the voice of Inang Bayan, and performances by the aBSCBN Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of maestro Gerard Salonga.

In October, the dance company will stage “the Swan, the Fairy and the Princess,” which showcases excerpts from three of the most celebrated works of master composer Peter tchaikovsky.

“You can’t be more classical than that,” lisa said. Musical scores will be performed by the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of maestro alexander Vikulov. Kremlin Ballet theater’s premier danseur, Mikhail Martynyuk, and Miguel Faustmann, who will assume the role of Peter

Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde launches the 21st season of the company, “Revenge of the Classics,” that features well-loved productions as well as the modern classic, Rebel: EDSA 30.

tchaikovsky, are the featured performers. a retelling of a well-loved story that promises to stay true to the animated feature that has touched generations of young girls and boys, Cinderella sets the stage for the first major choreographic collaboration of Osias Barroso and lisa Macuja-elizalde. the 21st season will conclude with Don Quixote, which lisa calls “one of the world’s mostloved and technically challenging ballets.” the audience will be acquainted with chivalry-obsessed Don Quixote, his faithful servant, Sancho Panzo, and young lovers, Kitri and Basilio. “Kitri is a role that is really close to my heart because it is my signature role from way back. I first performed it in Russia in 1986,” lisa said. Mikhail Martynyuk once again joins Ballet Manila in this production. Show dates are Feb. 24 and 25, 2017 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 26 at 3 p.m.

With the formidable lineup of performances in “Revenge of the Classics,” lisa hopes for the audience to become season-pass subscribers and not just last-minute ticket buyers. “It’s not in our culture to buy tickets six months before performance,” she said.

“If we do that now, we get it for half the price. that’s how we can start getting more support for the arts…let us start the support within ourselves by getting our tickets, paying for our tickets and coming to and enjoying the The cast of Rebel: EDSA 30 starring Katherine Barkman, Rudy de Dios, Gerardo Francisco and performance.”

Tiffany Chiang. Lisa Macuja-Elizalde plays Inang Bayan.

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B august 4-10, 2016 • Las VEgas asIaN JOuRNaL

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

Newsflash: Miss Universe 2017 Melai Canteveros on Jason Francisco: Siya ang forever ko to be held in the Philippines

By Monet

MELAI Cantiveros finally spoke up about her rumored separation from husband Jason Francisco.

The couple who is married for three years now is having some marital problems, which according to Jason’s posts on Instagram rooted from jealousy.

He revealed in a series of posts that he got jealous after his wife got paired with Carlo Aquino in the TV series “We Will Survive.”

On an episode of “Magandang Buhay,” Melai was emotional when she gave a statement about their marital problem.

“Ang greatest love ko ay ‘yong destiny ko . ‘Yong destiny ko ‘yon ang asawa ko,” she said.

When she mentioned about having problems in marriage, Melai got emotional and paused for a few seconds before continuing.

Lu

IF you’ve been reading my columns or following my posts on Facebook, you’d probably notice that I have three things that hold a special place in my heart: passion, pleasure and beauty pageants – particularly the Miss Universe pageant.

And what could be more awesome but to have my favorite event of all time hosted in my motherland! Yes, you read that right! After two decades, it’s finally happening!

The Miss Universe pageant will be held in the Philippines. According to Rappler, the announcement was made on Thursday, July 28, at a press conference in Makati City by Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo. It was also stressed that funding will come from the private sector. DOT Secretary Wanda Teo also confirmed that among the sponsors are Henry Sy and Japanese casino mogul Kazuo Okada.

“I would like to inform everybody that the Miss Universe pageant will be on January 30, 2017 in the Philippines. The government is not going to spend any single centavo. It will be the private sector who would shoulder the expenses.” said Teo. It was reported earlier this month that President Rodrigo Duterte said he would not spend government funds on hosting the Miss Universe pageant. Which explains the transparency on where the funds will come from. Teo said she assured the President that the government will not shoulder any of the expenses, which will amount to $11 million.

To u r i s m U n d e r s e c re t a r y Kat de Castro said President Duterte never said he didn’t like the idea; he was just concerned about the expenses. De Castro said her department got in touch with Shawn McClain, the vice president of business development and marketing at the Miss Universe Organization, to clear the issue.

Reports confirmed that President Duterte have met with officials of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Incorpo-

EMPLOYMENT

The Filipina Misses Universe: Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran-Floirendo (1973) and Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (2015)

rated led by Okada, executive assistant to the chairman Sumire Kamura, and chief operating officer Takahiro Usui at the Music Room in Malacañang Palace on July 18.

As I recall, there have been talks about hosting the pageant but nothing was confirmed until now. I agree with de Castro when she said in an interview that hosting the pageant can bring many opportunities to the country such as creating jobs and increasing revenue.

In addition, de Castro said that hosting the pageant will give the country a good image.

“We know that the Miss Universe is one of the prestigious pageants that we have right now in the entire world. Kumbaga kapag kaya natin gawin natin dito sa (In other words, if we can hold it here in the) Philippines, it would show a very good image of the country para sa ibang mga bayan na yung mga ganyang prestihiyosong pageant ay kaya na natin gawin (to the international community that we can hold such a prestigious pageant),” she said.

It would be surreal to watch the reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach to crown her successor in the Philippines. In a previous interview, Wurtzbach said, “I am actively campaigning and we all want the pageant to happen here. We want to happen. It hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

This will be the third time that the Philippines will host the pageant. The country hosted Miss Universe in 1974 where Miss Universe 1973 Margarita Moran passed her crown to S p a i n’s A m p a ro M u ñ o z . I n 1994, the country hosted the pageant for the second time, where India’s Sushmita Sen was crowned by 1993 Miss Universe Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico.

To say that “I wouldn’t miss this for the world” is an understatement. I’d definitely want to see everything unfold. Plus, I’ve pledged my full support to our candidate Maxine Medina.

It is my wish that we (Filipinos) show the world – the universe rather – that the Philippines is truly amazing and the Pinoys are one of the most wonderful people they will ever encounter in their lifetime.

Good luck to my Kababayans and may the entire universe be in your favor. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

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FOR RENT

Melai Cantiveros broke her silence about her rumored separation from husband Jason Francisco, whom she described as her “forever.”

“Kahit anong problema ang du- “Siya ang forever ko kasi forever mating paglalabanan ‘yan kasi siya is a choice. I choose my forever.” ang forever ko, e,” she continued. (Joyce Jimenez/Philstar.com)

Edu Manzano returns to TV

by Lhar

Santiago ManilaTimes.net

IT was a simple scene that Edu Manzano was taping with Jackie Lou Blanco when we visited him on the set of “Someone To Watch Over Me.” They play husband and wife in the show.

After the take, Edu approached me extending his hand. We had not seen each other for a few months already, since his bid for senate in the last elections.

When I told him I was so happy to see him acting again, Edu gave me that familiar smile.

“I’m happy with this project we’re doing because it has an advocacy. I salute GMA for being brave to tackle this theme in Someone To Watch Over Me. The story deals with Alzheimer’s disease and I believe we should really educate our viewers, and give them information about this sickness,” the handsome actor enthused.

Now that Edu is active in showbiz again, he hopes to work with other new stars. He is happy that he is working with Lovi and Tom for the first time.

“I have known both of them for quite some time now but it’s only now that I am working with them,” he related. “Come to think of it, I haven’t accepted any acting assignment for almost 10 years now so I don’t know the new stars anymore! The ones I read about, I hardly know. But now that I’m here again, I hope to get to work with most of them.”

In “Someone To Watch Over

Edu Manzano

Me,” Edu plays the role of Tom’s father who was separated from his son for a very long time after he and his wife parted ways.

“In the story, Tom was not allowed by his mom to see me so it was only after the death of his mom that we got to be together, never thinking that I would have a race against time to show my love for him because of the early onset of Alzheimer’s,” he

SERVICES

continued.

And how was Edu’s first day of taping?

“You know what? It’s true you lose momentum. I was kinda nervous at first—actually I was already nervous the night before the taping. It’s good that we started with the light scenes, I had the time to warm-up. I’m like diese, I need to warm up,” Edu jokingly said.

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Your Immigration Solution atty. Devin Connolly & nanCy Miller In 2013 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) began allowing people to apply for a waiver of their unlawful presence before they departed the United States. This waiver was limited, but it still changed so many lives for the better. The waiver has now been greatly expanded, and this change is sure to benefit even more families who are simply trying to pursue the American dream.

Before discussing the expansion of the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver, we should first discuss how the waiver works. As a general rule, in order to complete processing for a green card while in the United States, the applicant must be in status. That means s/he must have entered the United States with inspection (with papers) and their visa must still be valid. Two exceptions exist. An intending immigrant who is the spouse, parent or child (under 21) of a United States citizen may complete processing in the United States if they entered with papers even if the visa has expired. And one who is grandfathered under Section 245(i) of the InA may complete processing in the United States as long as they pay the $1,000 penalty. All others, including those who entered as a fiancé of a United States citizen and did not marry their petitioner, must return to their home country and complete the processing for their green card at the U.S. Consulate.

While this is obviously inconvenient, it is potentially much more than that. Because the foreign-born individual who has resided in the U.S. without lawful immigration status triggers an automatic un-

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS WHAT we eat and drink affects our health. The relevance of this association is even more significant among those who have prediabetes and those who actually have diabetes.

Soft drinks—diet or regular— are all harmful, toxic to the body of adults and children. Soft drinks increase the risk for metabolic syndrome. Processed fruits juices are likewise unhealthy. Eating the fresh fruits or drinking fruit juice that you extracted yourself without any additives are the healthier options.

How about coffee, a popular day-starter and afternoon break beverage, one of the most popular drinks in the world?

Recent clinical studies have concluded that drinking coffee may actually reduce the risk for the development of diabetes. But how about coffee for those who already have pre-diabetes or diabetes? Does it affect the glucose (blood sugar) and A1c levels?

A cup of 8-ounce coffee contains 140 milligrams of caffeine.

Taking two cups a day, or even consuming up to 400 milligrams of caffeine, appears to be safe for most healthy adults. They do not jack up the blood sugar level significantly when a teaspoon or two of sugar is used. Adding more sugar, creamer, flavoring (which are carbohydrates) to coffee will obviously increase the glucose level to a higher degree among diabetics, unless included in the prescribed daily calorie count.

Coffee consumption Worldwide, about 1.4 billion cups of coffee are consumed each day; 45 percent (400 million cups) of which are in the United States, according to the International Coffee Organization.

But the per capita consumption globally shows that the United States is number 22, drinking four kilograms of coffee per person a year. Scandinavian countries top the list: Finland, 11 kilograms of coffee per person per year; norway, just below 11; and Sweden and Denmark, about 10.

Type 2 Diabetes In 2012, there were 29.1 million Americans (9.3 percent of the US population) who had diabetes, but 8.1 million were undiagnosed.

Worldwide, there are more than 422 million (of the 7.4 billion people on earth today) who have diabetes.

Features

Expansion of the provisional Calendar of Events across unlawful presence waiver lawful presence 3-year or 10-year bar from returning to the U.S. as soon as they depart the country.

A person subject to this bar may only apply for a waiver if they have a U.S. citizen or green card holding parent or spouse who would suffer extreme hardship if the applicant cannot return in less than 10 years. Historically, the non-citizen could only request a waiver of the unlawful presence bar after they left the U.S., thereby guaranteeing that they would be separated from their family, employment, and overall life in the U.S. for potentially a year or more.

However, as stated above, in 2013 the USCIS took steps to alleviate these unnecessary break-up of families for such an extended period of time. The USCIS began to allow individuals to apply for a waiver of their unlawful presence before they ever left this country.

They still ultimately had to leave the U.S. and apply for permanent residence status abroad, but the amount of time they were separated from their families was reduced from months or years into mere weeks, or sometimes even days.

While the enactment of the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver was great progress, it was not perfect. Unfortunately, it was limited to certain people, such as spouses of U.S. citizens or to those who had a parent that was a U.S. citizen.

But now, ALL beneficiaries of an approved Immigrant Visa Petition are eligible to apply for a Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver so long as they can demonstrate hardship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent. It does not matter if the petition was filed by a parent for a married son or daughter, by a

child for their parent, or even by an employer, or any other category. Applicants in these categories were not even eligible to apply before this expansion!

Remember, simply having an acceptable qualifying relative (U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent) is not sufficient. To be granted the waiver, the applicant must establish that their qualifying relative would suffer “extreme hardship” if the applicant was not granted the waiver and permanent resident status. As with all waivers, the burden is on the applicant to prove that he or she is eligible.

And, USCIS assumes that family members love each other and will miss each other so that, in itself, is not enough. A strong argument persuasively documented is essential to a successful resolution of the waiver application process.

But, thankfully, so many more deserving people can now apply.

The changes to the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver are poised to help many people. Any person who thinks they may benefit from this change is encouraged to consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration lawyer about this wonderful path to legal status without significant separation from family. *** 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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Coffee and diabetes The prevalence of diabetes among seniors, aged 65 and older, is 25.9 percent, or about 11.8 million. Every year, about 1.4 million Americans are discovered with diabetes. In 2012, there were 86 million Americans 20 and older found to have pre-diabetes — 8 million more than in 2010. Diabetes remains the 7th leading cause of death in the United States.

By race/ethnic background, the prevalence rate is as follows: non-Hispanic whites, 7.6 percent; Asian-Americans, 9.0; Hispanics, 12.8; non-Hispanic blacks, 13.2; American Indians/Alaskan natives, 15.9 percent. The breakdown among Asian Americans: Chinese, 4.4 percent; Filipinos, 11.3; Asian Indians, 13; other Asian-Americans, 8.8 percent.

Coffee and caffeine Caffeine is the natural chemical ingredient in coffee. It is a central nervous system stimulant that is found in more than 60 plants, like coffee beans and tea leaves. Caffeine affects how a person feels and behaves. It wakes the brain up in the morning, improves focus and concentration, and helps relieve the sense of fatigue. Laboratory-formulated caffeine is used as an additive to food, energy drinks, and prescription medications.

While caffeine is the most wellknown ingredient in coffee, there are others which are beneficial to health. Polyphenols are one of them, an antioxidant that prevents inflammatory illnesses such as type 2 diabetes. The other two are minerals: magnesium, which is associated also with lowering the risk for type 2 diabetes, and chromium.

Research findings A clinical review and analysis of 28 studies (involving 1,109,270 persons, 45,335 were diabetics, all followed-up for 20 years) led by Harvard School of Public Health shows that “those who increase the amount of coffee they drank by more than one cup per day over a four-year period has an 11 percent lower risk for Type 2 Diabetes compared to those who made no changes to their coffee intake.”

The findings were true for both regular and decaffeinated coffee.

Conversely, those who decreased their coffee use by more than one cup a day had a 17 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Exercise and coffee Other studies investigated the effect of exercise on caffeine consumption among those with type 2 diabetes. The findings revealed that “those who had 40 minutes of physical exercise

had significant reduction in their blood sugar levels compared to other groups….Their findings suggest that caffeine coupled with prolonged exercise could reduce blood sugar levels.” Indirectly, this suggests that among non-diabetics, exercise and coffee provide health benefits.

Drinking limit The Mayo Clinic recommends no more than three to five cups of coffee a day for those who enjoy coffee. Drinking more than that can cause serious effects in some people, like a fast heartbeat, heart irregularity, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, stomach distress, muscle tremors and insomnia.

While some people can tolerate more than five cups a day, it is advisable to heed this limit above.

Coffee, just like other chemicals in medications, can affect people differently, even their blood sugar levels. As always, if in doubt, we suggest discussing your health concerns with your physician.

Summary Water is still the best drink for all of us, especially for those with Type 2 diabetes. Drinking coffee, regular or decaffeinated, appears to confer good health benefits to both non-diabetics and diabetics alike. For non-diabetics, the glucose and A1c levels are not dramatically increased with three to five cups of coffee a day with cream and sugar.

For those with diabetes, who are religious with their medications, drinking the same amount a day, especially without cream and sugar, will have a small instant spike of glucose level. The glucose level will taper off and not adversely affect the A1c level either, as long as this beverage is included in the prescribed daily caloric intake of the individual.

The other benefits of coffee drinking under a continuing clinical study include improvement among individuals with an attention deficit disorder, minimizing risk for depression, and lowering the risk for cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, Parkinson, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer.. *** 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

James Reid, Nadine Lustre ‘Teen Vogue’ feature...

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zine, referring to their hit movie “Diary ng Panget.” “That’s when the JaDine love team started, the fans made the name,” the article read.

It took two years before “real feelings” finally kicked in.

Last February 20, James summoned the guts to tell the whole

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 4-10, 2016

world about their real status.

It happened during their concert “JaDine in Love.” While longtime fans rejoiced over it, some others criticized them for being too public about it, saying it might have been just a publicity stunt to boost their careers. Regardless, they admitted they are both happy and it does not matter

what other people think.

The pair was interviewed by the publisher during the D.C. Washington leg of their world tour dubbed as “JaDine High On Love.”

Viva Artist Agency which handles the celebrity couple has previously shared a photo taken during the interview.

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America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS AU G U St 5

Vianney, renewing the heart of the church Leonardo De Filippis of St. Luke Productions will perform the role of Vianney. The message of Vianney is a vital one as it goes along with the charism of Holy Name of Mary Church. Please come and be present at this evangelization event sponsored by the Sacred Hearts Secular Branch, Inc. / Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The performance will be held on Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. at Holy Name of Mary Church at 724 E. Bonita Avenue, San Dimas, California.

For more information, please call Stephany at (909) 260-2033 or Jacki at (760) 221-3255 or email scaredheartssb@ymail.com.

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

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

SEPtEMBER 1

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

SEPtEMBER 3

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

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42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA) invites everyone, Bicolanos, devotees and friends to come and celebrate the 42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Patroness of the Bicol Region. The festivities will start on Sept. 9, with the translacion at 5pm at the Immaculate of Mary Church (4954 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029. A nightly novena Mass follows from Sept. 9 to Sept. 16 at 6 PM except on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 3:30 PM and Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2;30 PM and culminates on Saturday, Sept.

17, with the ninth day novena at 8am, foot & fluvial procession at 9 AM, and a Concelebrated Mass at 10 am at Lincoln Park, 3501 Valley Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90031. Main celebrant will be HE Most Rev Arturo Bastes, Bishop of Sorsogon. For details, please call Lanie Berrei (818) 281-3169 or Gene Leano (818) 439-6896.

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

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8th Regional Celebration of the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz The Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Region invites everyone to the 8th Regional Celebration of the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the First Filipino Saint. Festivities will be on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at this year’s host parish, Holy Family Church - Glendale (209 East Lomita Avenue, Glendale CA 91205). Procession starts at 4:30 PM , then Mass at 5:30 PM with Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, as Principal Celebrant. Reception , fellowship and program will immediately follow at the Holy Family Grade School Auditorium across the church. For more information, please contact Ping Bayani at(913) 558-4332 or bayani0950@yahoo.com.

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FAPCCA Media Awards The Filipino American Press Club of California invites you to The First FAPCCA Media Awards Gala Night 2016 at Glendale Hilton Hotel, 100 W. Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale CA 91202, Sept. 25, 2016 Sunday 5pm (www.facebook.com/fapccamediaawards/) Tickets: $65/person includes dinner and entertainment. Call: ‪626.475.3052‪; ‪310.600.9913‪;‪8 18.357.4566‪ or pay by Paypal at www.paypal.me/fapcca (please indicate the amount, number of tickets, name, mailing address and cell number on the Special Instruction field).

FAPCCA Contact Persons: Chairperson Thelma Calabio - ‪301.600.9913‪; President Andy Z. Edralin - ‪626-475-3052‪; VP Isidric Panganiban - ‪818.357.4566‪; Treasurer Christie Rosacia -‪818.451.6606‪; Auditor Sonia Bermejo - ‪818.653.3177‪; Joe Cobilla - PRO ‪323.804.9959‪; Director Rose Sarreal ‪213.321.1119‪

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25th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) The Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is proud to announce the date & venue for the anticipated Silver Anniversary edition of its annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture. FPAC 25, the 25th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), will take place Saturday, October 8 at the beautiful Echo Park Lake. Admission is FREE. The popular festival, the City of Los Angeles’ Filipino American Event, is the longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern California. Audiences can expect to enjoy traditional and contemporary Filipino food, music, dance, crafts and culture. This year’s theme, “Samu’t Sari: Showcasing the Diverse Creative Tapestry of the FilAm Community,” lends its meaning to the Tagalog phrase which loosely translates to “diversity.” While certainly a hot topic in today’s society, FilAm Arts focuses on the vast contributions of Filipino American artists to the creative tapestry of the City. For more information, please visit www.filamarts.org or call 2133803722. For sponsorship and vendor opportunities, please email info@filamarts.org.

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

Features

B august 4-10, 2016 • Las VEgas asIaN JOuRNaL

McDonald’s USA announces big changes to its food Latest efforts further company’s journey to build a better McDonald’s OAK BROOK, Ill. – On Monday, August 1, McDonald’s USA announced a number of moves across its menu as the company continues to evolve. This includes: • removing artificial preservatives from several items which also don’t have artificial colors or flavors, including its iconic Chicken McNuggets. Across its breakfast menu, the pork sausage patties and omelet-style eggs served on McGriddles, Bagel and Biscuit breakfast sandwiches, along with the scrambled eggs on its breakfast platters, also now have no artificial preservatives.

• rolling out new buns this month that no longer contain high fructose corn syrup, including the buns used on Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, filet-O-fish and McChicken sandwiches. The Artisan roll introduced in 2015 never contained high fructose corn syrup.

• completing a major commitment to only serve chicken not treated with antibiotics important to human medicine* nearly a year ahead of schedule.

In total, these changes touch ingredients in nearly half of the food on McDonald’s menu.

“More than ever, people care about their food – where it comes from, what goes into it and how it’s prepared,” said Mike Andres, president, McDonald’s USA. “We’re making changes to ensure the food we’re proud of is food our customers love and feel good eating, and we remain committed to our continuing food journey at McDonald’s.”

McDonald’s originally set out to achieve its antibiotics chicken commitment by March 2017.Through a collaborative effort with its suppliers and farmers on a large scale, the company was able to make this change a reality and bring it to its customers nearly a year ahead of schedule. Now every chicken item McDonald’s serves is made from chicken not treated with antibiotics important to human medicine, including its new Chicken McNuggets.

“I applaud efforts such as those undertaken by McDonald’s in close collaboration with its suppliers and poultry farmers, to greatly reduce the use of medically important antibiotics in its animal agricultural food supply chain,” said Dr.

H Morgan Scott, professor of epidemiology in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at Texas A&M University. “McDonald’s and its suppliers have worked to identify appropriate alternatives for sustaining broiler flock health while implementing protocols to ensure that animal welfare is not compromised. Sourcing decisions by industry leaders such as McDonald’s have great potential to positively influence appropriate antibiotic stewardship in food animal sectors around the world.”

These changes are the latest in a series of actions McDonald’s has taken across its restaurants and kitchens, such as: • making an industry leading commitment in September 2015 to source 100% cage-free eggs by 2025 in the U.S and Canada.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, more than 100 companies have since announced their commitments to do the same, showing positive impact across the industry.

• refreshing McDonald’s premium salad blend in June 2015 by replacing iceberg lettuce with fresh romaine, baby spinach and baby kale, and making further enhancements in June 2016 with the addition of Tuscan red leaf lettuce and ribbon-cut carrot curls. The freshly prepared Premium Salads offer at least 2.5 cups of vegetables.

• revitalizing its classic Egg McMuffin, moving from margarine to 100% real butter*, and continuing to serve a fresh cracked Grade A egg at the center of it all.

• sourcing milk in its low fat milk jugs and Go-GURT® low fat yogurt from cows not treated with rbST*, an artificial growth hormone.

• introducing Buttermilk Crispy Chicken in August 2015, made with 100% chicken breast filet, real buttermilk and a blend of spices including black pepper, garlic and onion powder. This followed the introduction of Artisan Grilled Chicken in March 2015.

McDonald’s continues to innovate its menu to include new tastes and ingredients that customers are looking for, such as turkey sausage, guacamole made with real Hass avocados, Sriracha and freshly prepared pico de gallo as part of local tests and regional introductions. “from our test kitchens to what we serve in our restaurants, we’re zeroing in on how to bring new

flavors and choices some never seen before on our menu to customers across the country,” said Chef Jessica foust, RDN, director of culinary innovation, McDonald’s Corporation. “Our focus on culinary innovation at McDonald’s is essential as we continue to evolve.”

McDonald’s is appealing to local tastes with innovations and new ingredients relevant in certain regions of the country: • Gilroy Garlic fries in the San francisco Bay area, where McDonald’s world famous fries are hand tossed in stainless steel bowls with a purée mix including garlic from Gilroy, California, olive oil, parmesan cheese, parsley and a pinch of salt • Old Bay filet-O-fish sandwich across the Mid-Atlantic, made with 100% sustainably sourced, Marine Stewardship Council certified wild caught Alaskan Pollock • Lobster Rolls in New England, the birthplace of the dish, made with 100% North Atlantic lobster As a restaurant company, McDonald’s prepares quality food in its kitchens and has served iconic recipes for more than 60 years.

Today, that same focus and care for its food matters more than ever. for more information, visit news. mcdonalds.com/us.

McDonald’s USA McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day.

Nearly 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-fi enabled McDonald’s U.S. restaurants. for more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and facebook www.facebook. com/mcdonalds. *farmers still use ionophores, a class of antibiotics that are not prescribed to people, to help keep chickens healthy. *Applies to all breakfast sandwiches * No significant difference shown between milk from rbSTtreated and non-rbST treated cows.

Trademarks and/or registered trademarks are owned by their respective companies.

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

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

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

— Goethe

Monette AdevA MAglAyA If you’ve been given the chance to restart a new life after you’ve gone through some life-changing, miraculous experience, such as surviving a horrific accident when everyone else perished, or finding yourself inexplicably healed from a deadly disease, then you’ll know what it feels to be given a reprieve, a fresh slate, a clean paper, what the Greeks call a tabula rasa, on which you can begin writing your new story. Or if you use a computer, click on a new blank document and chase the cursor.

How does one use this new lease on life?

Most people lucky enough to be given a second chance, will quickly realize that this new lease can just be an extra few months or years, and in the most blessed scenarios, a decade or two. Each day beyond that critical turning point is a bonus, every single moment, a gift. Sometimes, God mercifully knocks some sense into us through drastic means by throwing us a curve ball to bring us down on our knees so that we have no choice but to look above and beyond our own petty, selfish concerns and total self-involvement in order to grasp the concept of our own mortality and to know that we are here for a purpose.

We’re not here to merely consume resources or take up space. Consider the fearsome dinosaurs. Grazing the earth for millions of years, that is essentially what they did — consumed resources and took up space. Not by intelligence but by sheer size and numbers, they had dominion over all other species for millions of years, until one day, as scientists try to explain their extinction, a rogue asteroid about 7 miles long, possibly

got unhinged off its orbit in the asteroid belt, hit the earth with such impact, setting off a series of volcanic eruptions that covered the atmosphere with ash far above the stratosphere, so that sunlight could not penetrate through the haze for years, killing off the plant life, upsetting and destroying the food chain balance and effectively starving and wiping the dinosaurs off the face of the earth 65 million years ago.

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

Yet each man’s purpose is nebulous and not always obvious. Purpose does not come as clear as the light of day. We have to seek it out. Either by choice or circumstance, some exceptional ones find their purpose early enough and proceed to fulfill it. But the great majority of people on the bell curve don’t have the nose to sense their true north. Most of us of the garden variety meander about our lives trying different things until we finally stumble upon it by trial and error.

The annals of history are rife with such stories. St. Paul, almost single handedly nourished the beginnings of the early Christian church through his numerous travels. But he didn’t start out that way. He was just as passionate about persecuting Christians before he was tapped from above to do a complete conversion.

Edwin Hubble, the great astronomer who lived in the nineteen twenties and for whom the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is named for his outstanding achievements in expanding our view of the universe, tried

different things before finding out what he was meant to do.

In college, he played championship basketball and even tried boxing. After fighting in World War I, he studied law, tried lawyering for a year and obviously didn’t like it. Something must have happened because he went back to college to study astronomy and finally found his footing and his purpose in life.

That’s what most of us do.

We try different lives until we find the one that matches heaven’s purpose. Just don’t run out of time. No one wants to leave with unfinished business.

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

We don’t really have to wait for something dramatic, traumatic or tragic to happen to get us on track to finding that purpose.

But do go to the right source.

Nix the harebrained ideas coming from most of the dishonest, agenda-driven media, both the entrenched tradional media and social media about what that purpose might be.

When it comes to things that matter, most of media these days have proven themselves to be unworthy of trust.

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

FASFoS honors 2016-2017 scholarship recipients & 2015-2016 vita tax preparers/ leaders/volunteers on August 6, 2016 T h e 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7 fA S f O S SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS & VITA VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION is set for August 6, 2016 (Sat) at 5:00 PM-7:00 PM at the Marvin Sedway Conference Room, Teachers Health Trust located at 2950 E Rochelle Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89121.

The second recipients of the fASfOS Scholarship are as follows: Patrick B. Gomez, Sophomore, University of Nevada, Reno (BS Biology); Hannah D. Morata, freshman, University of Las Vegas, NV (BS Nursing); Kimberly f. Mendoza, Sophomore, Asuza Pacific University, CA (BA Christian Ministries); Ivanrey M. Barlongo, freshman, University Of Nevada, Reno (BS Computer Science & Engineering); Abegail C. Vicario, freshman, University of Las Vegas, NV (BSBA Accounting).

The other finalists who made to the last step of the process will be awarded with Certificates of

Recognition as well as incentive cards. The three others are: Abigail Guevarra, Genevie Mercado and Marielle Mercado.

The event also honors the fASfOS VITA TAX PREPARERS who contributed to the success of the 2015-2016 Tax Season.

Overall, fASfOS prepared and electronically transmitted a total of 514 Income Tax Returns during the fREE Income Tax Preparation on January 29-April 17, 2016 at the Seafood City Supermarket VITA SITE. It generated a total of Tax Revenue for the US Treasury amounting to $58,208 and a total of REfUNDS to our taxpayers amounting to $974,868. The VITA TAX PREPARERS who will be recognized are the following: Maria Luisa Ramirez, Maria Lourdes Espino, Rosette Logalog, Bert de Viterbo, Jason Quino, Manuel Cueto, Linda Caampued, Jorge Rodriguez, Andrew Waltrous, Slava Petkova, Sandra Vallejo, Myra

Anne Michelle Picache, German Eusebio, felipe Danglapin and Minerva Honkala. The leader-volunteers who will be recognized are Seafood City Management, Bernie Benito, Art Jerus, Bobby Macabagdal, Leonie frisbee, Emily Higby, Violeta Horn, Margie Gonzales, flor Rodriguez, and Jo Beck, leaders who had been assisting and helping fASfOS with its various outreach programs to the community.

We invite the public to join us in this once a year NO COST event. Just show up and enjoy through our socials/networking, raffle games, speakers, performances and program. See for yourself what fASfOS is all about, its composition and its programs for the community.

To help fASfOS, please bring a snack item, a raffle gift or a cash/money donation for our programs, please email minervahonkala@yahoo.com or text 7028028159.

Nevada Donor Network spreads the word about the importance of donation during National Minority Donor Awareness Week WE all wait. We wait in line for coffee. We wait in line at the grocery store. We wait in traffic.

We probably complain about those waits. But imagine if you were waiting to live. That’s a harsh reality Betty Chan was facing a few years ago. In 2013, she learned her kidneys were failing and she needed a transplant to give her a second chance at life.

Nearly two years later, she got the call. A donor hero’s kidney gave Betty new life.

It is the mission of Nevada Donor Network to give as many people as possible that same gift.

The not-for-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) coordinates, recovers and allocates lifesaving organs and healing tissues and corneas for transplantation, and provides a strong network of support for the courageous donor families who save lives through the gift of donation. The organization faces a big challenge, ranking 45th in the nation in the number of registered donors. During the month of August, in honor of National Minority Donor Awareness Week, Nevada Donor Network will be targeting its

outreach to potential multicultural donors.

How exactly do the numbers stack up? As of June 2016, a total of 557 Nevadans are waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

More than half, 298, belong to a minority group. Yet, research has shown that, nationwide, Caucasians are three times more likely to register than Hispanics, African Americans and Asians – a trend Nevada Donor Network is looking to change.

According to Alma Rodriguez, Multicultural Outreach Coordinator for Nevada Donor Network, there are a number of factors that influence a person’s decision not to register, but for many in the multicultural communities, it often comes down to a general distrust and misunderstanding of the process. “We’ve seen that some people are afraid doctors won’t work as hard to save their life or their loved ones if the hospital personnel know the patient is a registered donor. Some people believe organ donation is against their religious beliefs. Some fear their bodies will be disfigured. These are all myths and concerns that we have to address, and we are

working tirelessly to educate and bring awareness.”

Spreading the word about the importance of donation is important to volunteers like Betty. She joined Nevada Donor Network’s Advocates for Life program more than a year ago, hoping to educate members of our community about the difficulties of life on the waiting list and the need for more lifesaving organ and tissue donors. Nearly two years after receiving her transplant, Betty says she sees life in a whole new way. “I was deeply moved to receive a kidney from a deceased donor who was so generous to take care of others after passing. I got back a lot of energy. I became more caring about the people around me and found time to participate in volunteer work. That is the least I can do to honor my donor.”

During National Minority Donor Awareness Week, Nevada Donor Network is asking for those of multicultural descent to visit www.nvdonor.org to learn the importance of donation in multicultural communities and register as organ, eye and tissue donors.

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 4-10, 2016

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B august 4-10, 2016 • Las VEgas asIaN JOuRNaL

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