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Nevada Reps. Titus, Kihuen denounce Trump’s immigration orders

by ChriStina

M. oriel

AJPress

PresIdent donald trump’s controversial executive order to prohibit entry into the united states for refugees and immigrants from seven muslim-majority countries has prompted mixed reactions, including condemnation from nevada’s democratic reps. dina titus and ruben Kihuen.

A day after the president signed the order, titus and Kihuen held a press conference in Las Vegas Nevada’s Democratic Reps. Dina Titus and Ruben Kihuen AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal

DATELINE

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Fil-Am appointed White House assistant press secretary As the administration of President donald trump begins to take action, the White house has begun filling out its staff to serve the president for the next four years. one of the newest members of the White house office of the Press secretary includes ninio fetalvo, a 23-year-old filipino American, who will serve as an assistant press secretary. fetalvo, who previously worked as the Asian Pacific American press secretary for the republican national Committee (rnC), will work alongside three other assistant press secretaries. these assistants then work under three deputy press secretaries who report to Press secretary sean spicer, fetalvo’s former boss at the rnC.

the previous obama administration’s workplace protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBt) individuals will be kept under new united states President donald trump, the White house announced on tuesday, January 31.

In a statement, the White house said trump is “determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBtQ community.”

“President trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBtQ rights, just as he was throughout the election,” it said. the executive order was signed by former President Barack obama, trump’s predecessor, in 2014. the order bans companies that do federal work from discriminating against LGBt people. “the president is proud to have been the first ever GoP nominee to mention the LGBtQ community in his nomination acPAGE A2

War vs. the poor

PAGE A2

Amnesty International: Police Duterte won’t help undocumented Filipinos gets paid to kill in PH drug war in US facing deportation

by Dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

by Klarize

MeDenilla

AJPress

PhILIPPIne President rodrigo duterte announced that his administration will not help undocumented filipinos “out of respect” for u.s. President donald trump’s policies.

At a news briefing at malacañang on monday, January 30, duterte demonstrated support for trump’s widely criticized executive order which calls for a temporary u.s. travel ban for refugees from seven muslim-majority nations. “to filipinos there (in the u.s.), you better be on the right track. If you are not allowed to stay there where you are staying, get out because if you are caught and deported, I will not lift a finger,” duterte affirmed. “You know it is a violation of the law.”

PAGE A2

humAn rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) has accused the Philippine government of paying police officers “to kill thousands of alleged drug offenders in a wave of extrajudicial executions.”

In its report released on Wednesday, february 1, Amnesty claimed that the police “systematically targeted mostly poor and defenseless people across the country while planting ‘evidence’, recruiting paid killers, stealing from the people they kill and fabricating official incident reports.” “this is not a war on drugs, but a war on the poor. often on the flimsi- Wilnor Papa and Sr. Maria Vida Cordero of Amnesty International condemn the killings est of evidence, people accused of of poor people during a press conference in Quezon City on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos PAGE A2

France wins the Miss Universe crown NaFFAA’s millennial leaders

seek to increase civic, political involvement among Fil-Ams

First runner-up Miss Haiti talks about Filipino heritage

PAGE A3

Trump to maintain Obama’s protections for LGBT workers

BAD COPS. An irate Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Wednesday faced seven Pampanga cops accused in robbery-extortion of three Korean nationals. Dela Rosa could not contain his disappointment while cursing low ranking officials of Angeles City Police Office at Camp Tomas Pepito in Barangay Sto. Domingo.

Philstar.com photo

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

by ChriStina

IrIs mittenaere from france was crowned as the 65th miss universe, succeeding the Philippines’ Pia Wurtzbach. mittenaere, a 23-year-old dental surgery student, bested the other 85 beauty queens from around the world during the coronation night on monday, January 30 at the mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines. this was the second time france won the title since Christiane martel in 1953. during the question and answer portion, top three misses Colombia, haiti, and france were asked: “name something over the course of your life that you failed at, and tell us what you learned from that experience.” mittenaere answered, “I’ve failed several times in my life, so I thought that I failed the first time that I went out on a casting because my name wasn’t on the list. the very next day, I found that I PAGE A2

M. oriel

AJPress

PASSING ON THE CROWN. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach crowns the 2016 Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere from France on Monday, Jan. 30 at the Mall of Asia in Manila. Filipinos from all walks of life, who are huge beauty pageant fans, stayed glued to their TV as 86 candidates competed for the crown.

Inquirer.net photo

GeArInG up for its 20th anniversary this year, the millennial leaders of the national federation of filipino American Associations (naffAA) have shared their vision for the organization and how to encourage political empowerment among the fil-Am community. the organization’s new national chairman, Brendan flores, and executive director, Jason tengco, have been traveling to different areas across the country to meet with and listen to the concerns of fil-Ams. one of the issues that consistently arises is how to increase civic engagement, especially among the second and third generations.

“A lot of our fil-Ams, young people, are not aware. You have to understand that their parents were too busy working two jobs to put food on the table and they were never really educated on civic engagement, how to vote, [and] the importance of that,” flores told the Asian Journal.

Leading up to the november election last year, one of the ways naffAA promoted that was through its filAmVote program, which aimed to register new voters in states like California and nevada where large concentrations of fil-Ams reside. though nonpartisan, the organization has decided that it will “engage with the trump administration” on certain issues, flores said.

“We have been really…thoughtful in ensuring that we have a voice and a seat at the table by making sure we have representations,” flores said. “We have been very vocal, whether it’s denouncing some of the things happening out there, so we’re partnering with national organizations to really support some of our filipino Americans who are very much concerned with what’s happening today.” flores, 31, is the regional banking district manager and vice president of Wells fargo in Jacksonville, florida. he was elected last August, becoming the youngest fil-Am to PAGE A2

A

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february 2-8, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

From The FronT Page

Nevada Reps. Titus, Kihuen denounce...

PAGE A1

on Saturday, January 28, blasting his actions and offering assistance to any constituents who may be affected. “Our country was founded by immigrants fleeing persecution due to their religious beliefs — now, President Trump wants to keep out refugees because of their religion. That’s hypocrisy at its finest and his actions betray our American values. This is not the America we know, we are better than this,� Kihuen, who covers the state’s 4th Congressional District, said.

Both representatives appealed to fellow Democrats and Republicans to come out in opposition of Trump’s order.

Nevada’s Republican Senator Dean Heller also criticized the order as “overly broad� and not the “way to strengthen national security.� He, however, said he is in support of a thorough vetting process and heightened border protection.

On Friday afternoon, January 27, Trump signed an executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days and cutting the number of refugees welcomed into the country by half to 50,000. Additionally, it requires vetting measures to “keep radical Islamic terrorists out� of the country, he said. “We don’t want them here. We want to ensure that we are not admitting into our country the very threats our soldiers are fighting overseas,� the president said during a speech at the Pentagon ahead of the signing. “We only want to admit those into our country who will support our country and love deeply our people.�

Titus called the president’s ban “reprehensible� and dispelled notions that the country’s refugee program was lenient, as it typically takes two years. “The refugee resettlement

program we have in this country is not like walking in the door.

It is a multi-year, multi-agency process,� Titus said. “The people who are coming here are not the terrorists. They are desperate. We must say it loud and say it clear: refugees are welcome here.�

The executive order also suspends visa entry into the U.S. for 90 days from seven countries with predominantly Muslim populations: Syria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Sudan and Yemen. “It’s concerning to have any list.

Obviously, we do have to protect our borders and put our nation’s safety first and foremost,� Kihuen told the Asian Journal. “But also by the same token, we have to make sure we are not discriminating against folks coming here legally and are going through the process of applying for a visa. A lot of these folks right now who are all over the country who may not be allowed back in are folks who applied for a visa, went through a thorough background check and now, all of the sudden, they’re victimized and being categorized as terrorists — that’s not right.�

Hours after the announcement of the executive order, protests were held at airports across the nation, including at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, Los Angeles International Airport, and McCarran Airport here in Las Vegas.

By Saturday night, a federal judge in New York issued a temporary stay to prevent the deportation of refugees and travelers from the seven countries who had already entered the U.S. On Tuesday, January 31, a federal judge in Los Angeles also challenged the order on behalf of 28 individuals from Yemen.

Though Trump targeted only a few Middle Eastern countries on Friday, many immigrant communities across the United States are worried that their countries of

origin could be next. “That’s the problem with Donald Trump, he changes his mind every day. He doesn’t give much specifics. We’re not sure how broad this sweep will be before it’s over. That’s why people are rightly concerned,� Titus told the Asian Journal.

During his presidential campaign last summer, Trump suggested a ban on immigration from areas with high rates of terrorism and cited examples wherein immigrants from certain areas had committed or were plotting acts of terrorism. In one instance, he mentioned, “a legal permanent resident from the Philippines� who was convicted of planning to join Al Qaeda.

Kihuen said he hopes that the Philippines wouldn’t eventually be added to the president’s ban list given the country’s decades-long alliance with the U.S. “I get that President [Rodrigo Duterte] of the Philippines has said some harsh things about the United States, but that’s only one person,� Kihuen said. “That doesn’t reflect the diplomacy and the friendship we’ve always had between the two countries.�

Representing Nevada’s 1st Congressional District, which has a sizable Filipino population, Titus said that any Filipinos facing immigration problems should call her office for help. “We’re there to help,� Titus shared. “If they get stuck somewhere or some member of their family gets stuck, reach out to us because we’re pretty good at this, we do a lot of it.�

In addition to Friday’s orders, Trump signed actions early last week to direct the construction of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico and to withhold funds to “sanctuary jurisdictions� that don’t comply with the federal government’s deportation orders.

Fil-Am appointed White House assistant...

PAGE A1 After Trump’s inauguration on Friday, January 20, Spicer asked Fetalvo to come on board as an assistant, and he got to work the following Monday. “It’s truly a very humbling experience. It’s a real honor to work on behalf of our country and the American people. I’m really excited to see what President Trump and Vice President [Mike] Pence accomplish to truly make the country great again,� Fetalvo told the Asian Journal on Thursday, January 26.

His press portfolio includes a wide range of domestic issues including labor, health care, education, transportation, veterans affairs, among other issues. “It’s great to work with issues that directly affect the American people,� Fetalvo said. “Even if you look at health care, veterans affairs, these are issues that affect the American people, including the Filipino-American community.�

As a young Filipino American, Fetalvo expressed excitement in being an important link between the White House and the American public. “Being at this position in the White House really excites me to just be able to help communicate and emphasize the policies that [are] really going to make our community better and more prosperous,� Fetalvo remarked.

Fetalvo was born on May 1, 1993, in Fort Myers, Florida to Filipino parents who emigrated from Bicol, Philippines. Though never strongly political, they taught their son the importance of having a voice in the political process. “My parents were never active [in politics], but something that they always stressed was the importance of voting,� Fetalvo recalled. “My parents took that Ninio Fetalvo, White House Assistant Press Secretary right very seriously.�

Fetalvo is a steadfast Repub- important factor in his political lican, and he attributes his Fili- leaning. pino-American upbringing as an “When I started looking at issues, my values as an American and my values as a Filipino American really aligned with the Republican Party,� Fetalvo said.

He cited his parents’ coming to the U.S. — where they didn’t know anybody — and building a life for themselves as his inspiration for becoming a Republican. “So when I look at the Republican Party, I really look at the party’s values of self-reliance, individual responsibility and [they] really ensure that more people can achieve the American dream,� he said. “So for me, it’s really personal and I think that being Filipino American has everything to do with why I’m Republican.�

After high school, he went on to the George Washington University in Washington, DC where he majored in political communication with plans to eventually become an attorney. It wasn’t until his senior year when he got an internship with the RNC that PAGE A4

LIFE, NOT DEATH. Members of Bayan Muna hold a rally outside the House of Representatives building in Quezon City to show their opposition to a measure that seeks to reimpose death penalty on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Amnesty International: Police gets...

PAGE A1

using or selling drugs are being killed for cash in an economy of murder,� Tirana Hassan, AI crisis response director, said.

Since President Rodrigo Duterte took office last July, the number of people killed in drug-related cases has reached 7,000, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP), with least 2,250 reportedly killed during legitimate operations.

The majority of these killings, according to AI, “may amount to crimes against humanity.� “Under President Duterte’s rule, the national police are breaking laws they are supposed to uphold while profiting from the murder of impoverished people the government was supposed to uplift. The same streets Duterte vowed to rid of crime are now filled with bodies of people illegally killed by his own police,� Hassan added.

Amnesty’s report, titled “If you are poor you are killed: Extrajudicial Executions in the Philippine’s ‘War on Drugs,’� came a couple of days following Duterte’s order to pull out the PNP from anti-illegal drug operations nationwide to focus on “internal cleansing.�

Duterte made the order amid the controversial death of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo,

who was abducted from his home in Pampanga, along with his house help, reportedly under the guise of an anti-illegal drug operation last October 18, 2016. Earlier this year, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) pronounced Jee dead. The Department of Justice (DOJ) later revealed that he was allegedly killed by policemen inside the PNP’s main headquarters in Quezon City. “The police are behaving like the criminal underworld that they are supposed to be enforcing the law against, by carrying out extrajudicial executions disguised as unknown killers and ‘contracting out’ killings,� AI claimed.

Citing a testimony from a cop with the rank of Senior Police Officer 1, AI said in its report that policemen were paid at least P8,000 for every drug suspect they manage to kill. “We always get paid by the encounter...The amount ranges from 8,000 pesos (US $161) to 15,000 pesos (US $302)... That amount is per head‌ We’re paid in cash, secretly, by headquarters...â€? the police officer was quoted as saying in the report. “There’s no incentive for arresting. We’re not paid anything.â€?

Reacting to AI’s claims, Malacaùang reiterated that the extrajudicial killings in the country are not

sanctioned by the state -- the same conclusion made by the Senate committees on justice, and public order and dangerous drugs. “Their joint investigation of deaths during police anti-drug operations shows there is no statesponsored policy of extrajudicial deaths and that there is relentless effort on the part of the PNP to carry out the campaign properly and within legal processes,� Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella pointed out.

He also said that an estimated 1.1 million drug personalities have already surrendered in relation to the PNP’s anti-drug operation, Oplan Double Barrel. “The same operations have yielded 53,025 arrests and neutralized 2,555 drug personalities,�

Abella added.

PNP chief Director General Roland “Bato� Dela Rosa, for his part, also denied that the PNP is paying cops to kill drug suspects. He said the government does not have the funds to pay killers. “Ang PNP wala pong funding para sa mga ganoon (The PNP has no funding for that),� Dela Rosa said. “[For] all you know paninira na naman ‘yan sa administrasyong Duterte (it just a propaganda destroy the reputation of the Duterte administration).�

NaFFAA’s millennial leaders seek to increase...

PAGE A1 lead the organization.

Under his leadership, the organization is working to ensure that it is a “mirror [of] our community.� To achieve this, Flores said, councils focusing on various areas and issues — including women, LGBTQ, veterans, and young professions — will be rolled out across the country. “We understand the importance of bringing a diversified unit,� he said.

Another issue the organization is tracking is immigration, given the recent executive orders announced

by President Donald Trump last week. “We’ve been hearing a lot of concerns from leaders on both [political] sides. Individuals are worried about the immigration executive orders, in particular. Although the travel ban didn’t directly impact

Filipinos, what if‌the Philippines is targeted next? DACA recipients, in particular, are worried about that being next up on the chopping block,� Tengco said.

He added that NaFFAA is working with legal advocates and experts to connect the Fil-Am community with resources should they need immigration assistance.

In December, Tengco was named the executive director of NaFFAA, in charge of the national programs, partnerships and government affairs, among other areas.

Tengco, who was previously the Asian American and Pacific Islander outreach director for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, said working with NaFFAA is a “dream job.� “Doing Filipino-American advocacy is something I’ve actually wanted to do for a long time,� he said. “There’s really so much po-

tential with NaFFAA. We’ve been in existence for 20 years and there’s so much work ahead and organizing the community and raising our voice in building power for us.�

Tengco and Flores also made a pitch about how important it is for the community to support an organization like NaFFAA, which has been advocating and empowering on behalf of Fil-Ams for the last two decades. “We can’t lead an organization without proper funding‌More than ever, this is the perfect opportunity for Filipino Americans to come together because we’ve never had an organization uniting and being the voice at the national level,â€? Flores said.

NaFFAA is also looking to celebrate its big anniversary this October in Washington, D.C. during Filipino-American History Month, Tengco shared.

France wins the Miss Universe...

PAGE A1

was in a new book.� “So I think that when you fail, you have to be elevated, you have to try again, and keep going. If tonight, I’m not one of the winners, I will still have the great honor of being one of the three finalists,� she added, as translated by an interpreter. “So I think that I have failed before, but for me, this is a great first opportunity.�

Haiti’s Raquel Pelissier, was named first runner-up, while Colombia’s Andrea Tovar was named the second runner-up.

Pelissier, who previously shared that she has Filipino blood from her mother’s side, thanked her Filipino fans for their support during the pageant. “I was not expecting so much

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support and so much love when I came to the Philippines and it was something I have never seen before anywhere in the world so I’m so blessed to be here and to have experienced this amazing journey.

Thank you so much, mahal ko kayo (I love you),� she told CNN Philippines.

Pelissier added that she wants to come back and revisit Cebu, Baguio, and Boracay, and learn more about the Philippines and its culture.

The pageant’s top six, meanwhile, comprised of the Philippines’ Maxine Medina, Kenya’s Mary Esther Were, and Thailand’s Chalita Suansane.

During the question and answer portion, Medina was asked what was the “most significant change� she saw in the world in the last decade.

An interpreter repeated the question in Tagalog but Medina, who was previously criticized for not being fluent in English, insisted in not using an interpreter for her reply. “In the last 10 years of being here in the world, I saw all the people bringing in one event like this, Miss Universe. And it’s something big to us that we are one, as one nation we are all together,�

Medina answered.

The top nine included the United States of America’s Deshauna Barber, Canada’s Siera Bearchell, and Mexico’s Kristal Silva.

Brazil’s Raissa Santana, Indonesia’s Kezia Warouw, Panama’s Keity Drennan, and Peru’s Valeria Piazza also made it to the top 13.

Mittenaere said that as the new Miss Universe, her primary advocacies include dental and oral hygiene. “I’m going to be a dentist. This is a big problem in my country,

and in a lot of countries,� Mittenaere said. “So I really want to help children and adults, ‘cause this is a problem I know very well.�

Following Miss France’s coronation, MalacaĂąang sent its congratulations to her. “Iris brought tremendous joy to her people by representing France well on the international stage with her winning grace, regal bearing and inspiring answer. She has won not only the nod of the judges but the affection of the entire world as well,â€? Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella said in a statement.

MalacaĂąang also congratulated Medina for representing the Philippines and making it to the top six. “We likewise congratulate Maria Mika Maxine Medina for making it to the top six. She represented the Philippines well in the international scene,â€? Abella added.

Pia hands Harvey a pair of glasses During the coronation night, Mittenaere and Pelissier held hands as they waited for host Steve Harvey to announce the pageant’s winner.

But Miss Universe 2015 Wurtzbach broke the tension when she tapped Harvey on his shoulders.

Just as Harvey was about to announce the final winner, Wurtzbach handed him a pair of reading glasses. “Thank you, Pia,� Harvey said, joined by a laughing crowd. “A year late, but thank you.�

During the last Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, Harvey committed a gaffe when he declared Miss Colombia as Miss Universe 2015, and Wurtzbach as first runner-up.

Harvey later apologized for the mistake and announced Wurtzbach as the true winner.

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Dateline USa

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 2-8, 2017

A

US warned: Stop constructing ‘permanent’ arms depot in PH

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

NO MORE EXTENSIONS. A group of human rights violation victims during the martial law imposed by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos has demanded that the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB), created to process reparations for Martial Law victims, keep to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to start releasing partial compensation by April.

Inquirer.net photo by Karen Boncocan

US delivers new counterterrorism weapons to Philippine forces

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

CONTINUING the commitment to fight terrorism, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has received new military equipment from the Joint United States Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG).

The weapons, delivered in Clark Airbase, Pampanga by representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Friday, January 27, included over 400 M203 grenade launchers, and 85 M40A5 sniper rifles.

According to the U.S. Embassy, these weapons will “help enhance the AFP’s counterterrorism capabilities,” and “protect Philippine security forces actively engaged in counterterrorism operations in the southern Philippines.”

It said AFP procured the weapons through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales program.

Apart from the small-arms weapons, the U.S. government also delivered a RQ-11B Raven unmanned aerial vehicle system.

The Raven, which consists of three drones, will “increase the AFP’s capabilities to conduct intelligence collection, mission planning, and reconnaissance operations.”

The Philippine service members also received training on its operations and maintenance.

“The equipment transfer and continued bilateral training efforts demonstrate the commitment between the Philippines and

Philippine service members receive new counterterrorism equipment from the Joint US Military Assistance Group Philippines, as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ defense modernization efforts and a US government grant program aimed at assisting security forces conducting counterterrorism operations.

U.S. to work towards safer communities and the eradication of global terror networks,” the U.S. Embassy in Manila said on its official website.

Earlier this week, President Rodrigo Duterte warned the United States to stop building ‘permanent’ arms depot in the Philippines, threatening that he would respond by repealing the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

The VFA, a treaty ratified by both countries in 1999, states that U.S. forces are not allowed to build permanent structures anywhere in the Philippines.

“They’re unloading arms in the Philippines now... I’m serving notice to the armed forces of the United States. Do not do it, I will

not allow it,” Duterte said.

But the U.S., for its part, denied the Philippine president’s accusations.

“No such arms depots exist and there are no plans to build any,” U.S. Embassy spokesperson Molly Koscina said in a statement on Tuesday, January 31.

Koscina then assured that the U.S. “has no intention to reopen military bases in the Philippines.”

“The United States and the Philippines have been allies for many decades, and the United States respects the sovereignty of the Philippines. Our defense cooperation has always been provided at the request of various Philippine administrations,” she said.

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has accused the United States of building ‘permanent’ arms depot in the country.

In a televised conference on Sunday, January 29, Duterte claimed that the U.S. military is presently unloading arms in the following provinces: Palawan, Cagayan de Oro, and Pampanga.

“They’re unloading arms in the Philippines now... I’m serving notice to the armed forces of the United States. Do not do it, I will not allow it,” Duterte stressed.

The president then threatened that he would respond by repealing the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

“A depot by any other name is a depot. It’s a permanent structure to house arms. And I do not even know if there is a nuclear tip now that they are unloading because we don’t allow that,” Duterte argued.

The VFA, a treaty ratified by both countries in 1999, states that the U.S. forces are not allowed to build permanent structures anywhere in the Philippines.

Duterte took note that the U.S. is violating the VFA by allegedly constructing permanent depots.

“It’s not allowed by the treaty. You do that and I will consider a review and maybe ultimately, abrogation, since it is an executive order. (I will) ab-

rogate the treaty altogether,” he warned.

Duterte made the remarks following the reports that the U.S. is set to start constructing and upgrading facilities on its military bases in the Philippines this year.

The construction, according to the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND), is part of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) both signed by the Philippines and U.S. in 2014.

EDCA allows U.S. forces to be deployed in Philippine territory temporarily for maritime security, and humanitarian and disaster response operations.

At the same time, Duterte claimed that the arms depots will serve as the U.S. troops’ supply line against China’s missiles in a possible shooting war related to the South China Sea dispute.

“Those missiles are very near the Philippines. They will hit Cagayan, Palawan and Basa. So? I am not stupid to allow that to happen. You may be our friend but don’t include us in your fight. You place us all in danger,” Duterte said.

Last week, the U.S., under the new administration of President Donald Trump, has vowed to prevent China from claiming ‘international territories’ along the contested waters in the South China Sea. “Don’t drag the Philippines because I will not allow it. You will kill the Filipinos. How can we fight back? You place us all

in danger,” Duterte added.

But the U.S., for its part, denied the Philippine president’s accusations.

“No such arms depots exist and there are no plans to build any,” U.S. Embassy spokesperson Molly Koscina said in a statement on Tuesday, January 31.

Koscina also took note that EDCA “does not provide for permanent U.S. bases in the Philippines.”

“The United States has no intention to re-open military bases in the Philippines. The United States and the Philippines have been allies for many decades, and the United States respects the sovereignty of the Philippines. Our defense cooperation has always been provided at the request of various Philippine administrations,” she added.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, meanwhile, said that Duterte was told the wrong information about the arms depot.

“I think perhaps some misinformation was given to the president and that’s why he made the statement expressing concerns about possible weapons depot. The fact is we are not building a weapons depot anywhere in the Philippines,” Kim said.

The ambassador added that the U.S. projects being pursued this year “have to do with things like disaster relief and humanitarian assistance” and “not at all related to any weapons.”

Trump to maintain Obama’s protections...

PAGE A1 ceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression,” the statement further read.

The White House issued the statement on the day Trump has said he would announce his candidate to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court.

However, some LGBTQ-rights groups are still weary about Trump’s commitment to their cause.

“Trump talks a big game on his support for LGBTQ people, yet he has filled his cabinet with people who have literally spent

their careers working to demonize us and limit our rights,” Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement a few hours after Trump signed the order.

Griffin pointed out that Trump chose Indiana Governor Mike Pence, who opposes gay marriage, as his vice president.

“Claiming ally status for not overturning the progress of your predecessor is a rather low bar,” Griffin said.

He stressed that Trump “has done nothing but undermine equality since he set foot in the White House.”

The Log Cabin Republicans, on the other hand, praised Trump’s decision.

“Donald Trump campaigned promising to be a ‘real friend’ to the LGBT community, and now President Trump is delivering on that commitment,” Gregory Angelo, president of the Republican LGBT advocacy group, said.

He also claimed that the Log Cabin Republicans “is proud to have directly lobbied for this important preservation of LGBT equality in the federal workforce.” (Dana Sioson / AJPress)

A

february 2-8, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

Pacquiao gets a warning: Jeff Horn eats southpaws for breakfast

by DAnA

sioson AJPress

FILIPINO boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao just got himself a caution from Jeff Horn’s trainer: the unheralded Australian boxer simply eats ‘southpaws’ for breakfast.

Glenn Rushton, Horn’s trainer, said that his fighter is a true nemesis for southpaws, warning lefthanded Pacquiao in case he’s not

aware about it.

“When the bell sounds, you have to be up for it, aware and ready.

And he is ready. He has always delivered. Nothing stops him. You hit him and he gets up. He’s like The Terminator but that’s part of the training. It’s that warrior spirit where you try to become devoid of emotion in the ring. He eats southpaws for breakfast,” Rushton said in recent interview with Fairfax Media.

Dateline USa

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Fil-Ams included in AAPI activism exhibit at Chinese American Museum

by Eric

Sen. Manny Pacquiao AJPress file photo by Robert Macabagdal

Earlier last week, Pacquiao admitted that he’s never heard of Jeff Horn.

“This is my first time to hear his name,” Pacquiao previously said when asked to comment about the potential challenger for his WBO welterweight title.

But despite not having a big name outside his home country yet, Rushton expressed his confidence that Horn will undoubtedly defeat the eight-division world title holder.

Pacquiao, with a record of 59-6-2 win-loss-tie and 38 KO’s, has been a professional boxer for more than two decades.

“Naturally I respect Manny Pacquiao for everything he’s achieved in the sport. But when you start to weigh it up, you will see what we have in Jeff Horn. You can’t see the future, but I believe we’re looking at a future legend. Now, they’re saying, ‘Who the hell is Jeff Horn?’

After, they’ll know all about Jeff Horn,” Rushton said.

Dubbed as “The Hornet,” the 28-year-old Horn has a record of 16-0-1 and 11 KO’s.

“His [Horn’s] doubters will have egg on their face,” Rushton claimed confidently.

Rushton said he’s been studying Pacquiao, and that he’s confident in Horn’s ability to execute game plans.

“I’ve had 10 years of this with Jeff and now, when he gets out in the ring, he’s almost in a trance-like state. Outside the ring, he’s a happy guy. Inside the ring, he’s The Hornet,” Rushton remarked.

Rushton added, “It goes straight to his subconscious. He gets out there and does it, follows plans perfectly. I’ve been studying Manny Pacquiao for a long time ... to beat him, he has to follow the plan.”

The fighting venue has not yet been finalized, but the PacquiaoHorn fight will reportedly take place in Australia. April 23 has also been eyed as the date of their match.

Anthony LicAs AJPress

A LARGER than life, black and white picture of student activists marching through an intersection with raised fists demands the attention of patrons approaching the Chinese American Museum’s (CAM) latest exhibit, “Roots: Asian American movements in Los Angeles.”

The photo is printed across the wall directly opposite the stairwell and elevator doors that lead into the downtown Los Angeles gallery’s second floor. Like the over 250 other artifacts it is showcased alongside, it illustrates how agitating for social change helped define what it means to be an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI).

“It’s an identity rooted in activism,” the exhibit’s curator Ryan Wong, told reporters during a press conference announcing the exhibition’s debut on Thursday, January 19.

The New York-based historian and Los Angeles native traced the roots of AAPI activism to as far back as 1868, when young people started to reject the use of the word “Oriental” to describe their culture and began to adopt the term Asian American. In the following decades, distinct communities associated with people’s country of origin developed nationwide, despite laws passed

by Congress limiting the flow of immigrants from Asia into the country.

Amidst a swelling tide of activism during the 1960s, AAPI communities decided that they needed to band together as a cohesive voice in order to speak out against injustice. They, alongside advocates of the African-American, Chicano-American and Women’s empowerment movements, were part of a collective front pressing for equality.

“The Asian American movement wasn’t just about us being Asians,” Florante Ibanez — a social organizer during the ‘70s, historian and California Library Services Board Member — told the Asian Journal on Thursday. The Pasadena City College adjunct professor, who teaches a class on the Filipino-American experience, added that “the framework that we were in back in the day was a whole social movement, or flow as we called it, of political activity and enthusiasm.”

He described the ‘70s as a time when the spirit of revolution surrounded people and permeated their perception of the world.

“Roots”, which is named after the first textbook published by UCLA’s Asian American studies department, recaptures that encompassing sentiment of rebellion in a compact, densely informative and multi-sensory exhibition. It is organized into six sections which focus on art & media, feminism, anti-imperialism, anti-war activism, student activ-

(Top) Museum curator Ryan Wong shows literature and imagery on display at the Chinese American Museum now until Sunday, June 11 in Los Angeles, California, illustrate the AAPI community’s longstanding tradition of political activism.

California Library Service Board Member and expert on Filipino-American activism, Florante Ibanez, points to a bulletin displayed at the Chinese American Museum on Thursday, January 19 that features directions to a gathering of progressive youth activists.

AJPress photos by Eric Anthony Licas

ism, and community building.

A playlist featuring themes and musical genres prevalent during the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s accompanies the newspapers, photographs, posters, clothing and other items on display. These include editions of periodicals like Amerasia Journal and the leftist publication, Katipunan, as well as bulletins and fliers printed for organizations like Kababayn and Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA).

When one stands at the threshold of the exhibit, the music coming from the left competes with audio from movies playing in an adjacent screening room to the right. Those were produced by Asian American filmmakers during the revolutionary era referenced by the exhibit.

Museumgoers in a hurry could walk past the show’s display cases and gloss over the wide array of artwork and literature in the museum’s small gallery in just a few moments. However, in doing so, they would miss out on the richness of the stories told by the words and imagery which drench the eye-level space of the exhibition’s walls and hang from its rafters.

Wong and the CAM spent three years accumulating the show’s artifacts, the majority of which were lent from the personal collections of former and current social organizers living in Los Angeles who had taken part in efforts to bring about social change.

“Los Angeles, with its large

Asian population, its many universities, which were hotbeds of activism, and with its historic communities, was really a center of what we know of today as the Asian American movement,” said Wong.

The museum’s curator hopes this collection of evidence attesting to a longstanding tradition of social agitation within AAPI communities would help dispel popular notions of Asian-American apoliticism. He, along with Ibanez and CAM Interim Executive Director, Sharon Chen, said they hope the exhibit, which opened the day before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, will help inform and empower concerned members of the community who might not feel like they have a voice.

They also said that the examples and lessons of those who pioneered the struggle for equality in America are now especially relevant, in light uncertainties felt by many communities of color and recent large-scale protests held throughout the country.

“It shows how...people who feel like they’ve been left out of the conversation can reclaim power,” said Chen. “Hopefully, this is [a] starting point for people to think about what we are still going through today.”

The Chinese American Museum is located at 425 N Los Angeles St. and accessible via the Paseo de la Plaza. Roots: Asian American Movements in Los Angeles 1968-1980 will run until Sunday, June 11.

Duterte won’t help undocumented Filipinos...

PAGE A1

There are more than 310,000 undocumented Filipinos in the United States on the Department of Homeland Security’s list of individuals who are up for deportation. It is unclear whether they are criminal offenders.

Various Fil-Am groups criticized Duterte for his decision to stay away from the issue, which they say is liable to displace families across the nation.

“It’s a shame that Duterte would not ‘lift a finger’ to help Filipino migrants who are in need,” Joanna Concepcion, executive director of the Filipino Migrant Center, told Inquirer. “What will Duterte do for the families who are depending on (the undocumented Filipinos’) remittances?”

Some organizations have suspicions about Duterte’s high regard for the Trump administration, like Chair of Bayan USA Bernadette Ellorin, who echoed Concepcion’s argument concerning Filipinos in the U.S. providing for their families in the motherland.

“What is there to respect about abuse of executive power of the

rich over undocumented workers in the US?” Ellorin told Inquirer, adding that so many undocumented Filipinos are “living in the shadows and in fear of a repressive Trump administration that has called Filipinos ‘animals’ and from a ‘terrorist’ nation.”

Pattern of respect Previously, Duterte and Trump expressed respect for one another as world leaders when Trump was elected on November 8.

According to Duterte, the new U.S. president expressed support and respect for Duterte’s violent crackdown on illegal drugs during a phone call on December 3, 2016. Trump even intimated that he thinks that the Duterte administration is handling the situation “the right way.”

“You know, Trump said, ‘I will not interfere in the affairs of other countries.’ Now, if he has policies to protect his country, I’ll understand because when he said we will not interfere in [your] anti-drug war, you’re doing it right. As a matter of fact, my country is also facing the same serious problem,” Duterte

said at a press conference on the evening of Sunday, January 29.

“So out of respect, I can only answer him in the manner that he as told me. I will not interfere.”

As the Asian Journal previously reported, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar affirmed the administration’s decision to respect U.S. policies and promised not to intervene, even if it does mean turning away Filipinos facing deportation.

“I can tell you right now that that our president cares for any Filipino, not only in the Philippines, but around the world -- he cares for them,” Andanar said at a press conference in Los Angeles on Monday, January 23.

Andanar added: “If you’re asking me what our policy is right now, we have to respect the new administration [because] they are still in transition. We have to wait and see which policies they will push forward, which policies they announced during the campaign...we respect the political and democratic process here in the U.S. and as I mentioned, non-interference.”

Fil-Am appointed White House assistant...

PAGE A2 he realized he wanted to pursue a career in politics.

After graduating, he landed a job at the RNC as the APA press secretary, handling media and communications for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. His job took him all around the country, and in early 2016, he temporarily moved to Cleveland as a part of the media affairs team for the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Following the election, he was also a part of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, handling media operations for the historic inauguration of President Trump.

Although most Filipino Americans identify more with the Democratic Party — roughly 54 percent are registered Democrats compared to 16 percent Republican, according to a 2016 study — Fetalvo firmly believes that the values and principles of the Republican Party coincide with the political priorities of Fil-Ams. As a young, bright-eyed Republican, Fetalvo has faith that the Trump administration will serve the American people — including the Fil-Am community — well and with distinction.

“I think it’s important to note that President Trump wants to help all Americans, and that definitely includes the Filipino-

American community,” Fetalvo said. “I think when you look at the issues that matter to Americans all across the country, including Filipino Americans, the issues of national security and the economy have always been a top concern.”

“Under the Obama administration, the last eight years, you see people tired of the way the economy was handled and you see people fed up with how our national security and foreign policy transpired so President Trump really wants to emphasize that we can make the country more prosperous, safer and I think that he’s definitely going to be able to that to benefit all of our community,” Fetalvo affirmed.

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEbRUARy 2-8, 2017

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Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Philippines halts drug war, PNP must be ‘cleansed’ Duterte orders arrest of ‘rogue’ cops

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

fickers to stop their operations— was a result of the mishandling of THE Philippine National Police the “kidnap-for-ransomâ€? opera(PNP) has suspended the war on tion of Jee Ick-joo, a businessman drugs to prioritize the “cleans- from South Korea. ingâ€? of “rogueâ€? PNP officers, DiIck-joo was reportedly kidrector General Ronald dela Rosa napped by police in Angeles, announced on Monday, January Pampanga on October 18, 2016, and was strangled to death at 30. “To all the rogue cops, be- the PNP headquarters at Camp President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) Meeting at the State Dining Room in MalacaĂąan Palace on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

MalacaĂąang photo by rey Baniquet ware! We no longer have a war on Crame.

President Rodrigo Duterte, drugs,� Dela Rosa told reporters. “We will cleanse our ranks...then who denounced the actions of maybe after that, we can resume the police officers involved in the PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa our war on drugs. The president Ick-joo operation, supported the “Na-kidnap na nila, nakuha na pay of the military, terrorism re- told us to clean the organization decision for the PNP overhaul. exchange,� he said. nila (They kidnapped him, they

by Catherine Valente lated issues, tax reforms and fiscal The Vice President engaged “But itong killing ng Koreano took him), they could have killed, first.�

ManilaTimes in the discussion and shared her incentives,� he said.

Dela Rosa told the media that (But this killing of the Korean), strangled him anywhere but PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte inputs.

Georgina Hernandez, Robredo’s the temporary suspension of all the place was just incidental,� [the fact that it happened] inside and Vice President Maria Leonor However, Abella said the Presi- spokesperson, said the vice presi- anti-drug operations—including the president said in a statement Camp Crame is really bad.� “Leni� Robredo met for the first dent again joked about Robredo’s dent lobbied for her pet measures, Oplan Tokhang, a PNP project released from the Presidential The current investigation into time since the latter quit the Cabi- knees. including the Freedom of Informa- launched to warn illegal drug traf- Office of the Press Secretary.

PAGE A7 net last year. “He made a passing reference tion and Anti-Discrimination bills, The two officials were “civil� to that. It was a humorous refer- during the LEDAC meeting. during the Legislative-Executive ence, and I think the Vice President “As a mandated member of Development Advisory Council understood the context this time,� LEDAC, Vice President Leni RoEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (LEDAC) meeting on Monday, he said. bredo attended [the[ meeting to Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Presidential spokesman Ernesto Established during the Ramos perform her legal duty to provide Abella said on Tuesday, Jan. 31. administration, the LEDAC advises policy advice to the President. The The President barred Robredo the President on programs, poli- Vice President assures our people from attending Cabinet meetings cies, and laws necessary to achieve that she remains fully committed Position Title: in December, prompting her to the goals of the administration. to protect their interests and will Announcement No.: resign as head of the Housing and Abella said the LEDAC meet- continue to engage the administra17-004 Urban Development Coordinating ing tackled several priority bills, tion on important policy issues,�

Housing Programs All Candidates Council. including those on tax reform and Hernandez said.

Abella said there was no awk- higher salaries for soldiers. “The meeting focused on deward moment between the two “Basically, it was a review of the termining and recommending soDePArTMeNT: OPeNiNG DATe: leaders, adding that Robredo November meeting. Well, [among cioeconomic development goals, Housing Programs )ULGD\ -DQXDU\ was warmly received during the the bills discussed were]the pos- as well as integrating priority meeting. sible termination of barangay legislative agenda with the national “It was warm. I mean, warm elections, salary increases of the development plan,� Hernandez SALArY rANGe: CLOSiNG DATe: in the sense that there was an military, incentives for retirement said.

Duterte, Robredo civil in Palace Ledac meeting

Associate Deputy Director

US air contingent completes bilateral mission at Clark OVER the last two weeks, U.S. and Philippine service members trained side by side in a series of Subject Matter Expert Exchanges as part of the most recent U.S. Air Contingent, at the invitation of the Government of the Philippines and at the direction of U.S. Pacific Command.

The training provided the Philippine and U.S. service members an opportunity to practice and refine planning Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations. The

purpose of the Air Contingent was to promote increased interoperability between U.S. and Filipino forces and to further enhance security cooperation and disaster response capabilities between the allies.

During this Air Contingent rotation, the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing and soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 5th Engineer Detachment Geospatial Planning Cell and 500th Military trained alongside Philippine airmen to employ the Eagle Vision

satellite system for disaster relief operations. Military planners use the Eagle Vision system to acquire satellite imagery to aid the planning of military operations to include disaster response.

The first rotation of the Air Contingent stood up at Clark Air Base, Philippines, in April 2016, following a joint announcement by thenPhilippine Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. (ManilaTimes.net)

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February 2-8, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

OpiniOn

The purge

Features

IN recent months, when the Philippine government ushered in a new leadership under President Rodrigo Duterte, members of the police seemed to be invincible. Because they’re the government’s first line of defense—and offense—against the war it waged on illegal drugs and criminality, the police managed to remain unscathed, despite mounting poor public perception and criticisms over some officers’ alleged abuse of power and violation of human rights.

The country saw a wave of drugsrelated killings since July last year.

More than 7,669 deaths have been linked to the administration’s war on drugs, but only 2,555 alleged drug personalities were killed during police operations, which the officers involved say were all in self-defense. The other deaths are classified as investigated, or under investigation.

The president defended the spate of drug-related killings and even admitted to personally killing suspects when he was still the mayor of Davao City.

“In Davao, I used to do it personally, just to show to the (police) that if I can do it, why can’t you?” Duterte said in December last year.

However, Duterte maintained that he is not condoning extrajudicial killings, saying that his directive to police authorities was to hunt for drug suspects and “arrest them if it’s possible, but if they offer a violent resistance…then kill them.”

In October last year, a police van rammed into a crowd of anti-U.S. protesters who were calling for an end to American military presence in the Philippines. The van barreled back and forth into the crowd of demonstrators, scattering them like bowling pins and running over on a few of them.

Duterte did not justify the police officer’s actions over the violent dispersal and maintained that he did not want any of the police officers nor

the militants hurt.

“I’m not justifying it. Just maybe he was under stress. They might gang up on him, hurt him. So he acted by instinct, self-preservation,” he said. A total of 50 protesters and 34 police officer were injured during the encounter.

In November, Albuera, Leyte Mayor and alleged drug lord Rolando Espinosa Sr. was killed in an alleged “firefight” with the operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Northern Leyte (CIDG8) while being detained at the Baybay, Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail after being charged with possession of illegal drugs and unlicensed firearms.

CIDG operatives went to the prison to serve him a search warrant when the encounter occurred but Espinosa allegedly resisted the arrest after which the firefight ensured. Espinosa and Raul Yap, another detainee, were killed during the encounter.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) inquiry called the incident a police rubout and recommended the filing of murder and perjury charges against the CIDG officers.

Duterte vowed to protect the CIDG officers, saying he was more inclined to believe the police than the testimony of criminals.

“I will not allow these guys to go to prison, even if the NBI says it was murder. After all, the NBI is under me, the Department of Justice,” he said.

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

On Sunday, Jan. 29, Duterte had a sudden change of heart when he ordered the halt on the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s drug war and demanded a cleansing of the police force instead.

“The culture of corruption in the police is deep.

Even generals are into it,” he said in a meeting with military generals at Malacañang on Tuesday, Jan. 31. He ordered for some members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to go after police scalawags. the order came in the wake of the kidnapping for ransom and murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo inside the police headquarters in Campe Crame, Quezon City.

PNP Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa

confirmed this directive saying that the cleansing of the organization comes after a series of scandals involving police officers.

After what seemed like a string of criminal incidents wherein policemen are involved as perpetrators, the very organization bound by law to uphold the law and protect the citizenry from criminality is hounded by bad cops. It is a betrayal of trust and a degradation of peace and security.

The PNP is now tasked to not just ensure the public’s safety and purge misfits from the streets, it must do so within its ranks. This calls for strong and effective civilian oversight of the police. (AJPress)

Gallup Poll: Trump plummets to historic low eight days into his presidency SUPPORTERS of President Donald Trump chastise his critics and non-supporters for not being on board the “Trump train” even after he won the majority vote of the Electoral College, which catapulted him to the United States’ highest office.

Even as they hail him for churning executive orders one after another to build the border wall, temporarily ban refugee immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries, plans to repeal Obamacare, deregulate financial institutions and give more tax breaks to the wealthy, appoint billionaires in his administration, etc., there has been no honeymoon stage for those who disapprove of him and his vision and plans for America.

Millions protested on the streets across the United States and around the world on the second day of his presidency, in airports after his

vealed Trump garnered only a “Muslim” travel ban, and many dismal 45 percent approval and more are expected as people The Fil-Am 45 percent disapproval. Data exercise their First Amendment show he is the first elected U.S. right to voice out their opposi- Perspective president to start out with a job tion of the direction Trump is approval rating below 50 percent steering America into. in the history of Gallup surveys, His supporters contend that which date back to Dwight D. Trump was just fulfilling his Gel SantoS-ReloS Eisenhower in 1953. campaign promise to the AmerBy comparison, Gallup Poll ican people and that the rule of the voters who elected Trump into the highest has the following approval ratings for his immepost of the land should be respected as a man- diate predecessors: Barack Obama 68% date for Trump to move forward — an argument Bill Clinton 58% that can be debunked by the fact that Trump did George W. Bush 57% NOT win the vote of more Americans, having lost George H.W. Bush 51% the popular vote to Democratic candidate nomiRonald Reagan 51% nee Hillary Clinton by nearly three million votes.

And in just eight days into his term, a majority In the onset of his presidency, Gallup Poll re-

of those surveyed by Gallup Poll said they do not approve of Trump’s performance as president.

Polling data showed it took the following days for his immediate predecessors to reach the below-majority approval rating: Reagan: 727 Bush I: 1,336 Clinton: 573 Bush II: 1,205 Obama: 936 WHAT should Trump do to win the support of most Americans moving forward? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Beware of the Trump card

Street Talk THE US will be undergoing some interesting times with the assumption of the presidency GReG B. MacaBenta

by Donald J. Trump. A legend in his own mind, Trump could well have written the dictionary definition of his surname: “Trump – To outrank or defeat someone or something, often in a highly public way… In the card game bridge, the trump card is the most powerful card in a particular round and defeats all the others — sort of like when your needs or wishes trump someone else’s.”

In Tagalog idiom, the term nakakalamang comes close to the meaning of trump. In street lingo, napatungan ang bato means the same thing from the loser’s perspective – to suffer a disadvantage inflicted by an opponent or rival.

That appears to be what Trump wants to communicate about his becoming president of the US. He not only enjoyed an advantage over all the other Republican presidential aspirants and over Hillary Clinton, he now wants to deliver the message that he should have an advantage over the whole world. Over Mexico and China, to start with, and over seven countries that he has designated as sources of radical Muslims and whose citizens he has barred from the US. The word trump has an even less flattering meaning. It originally meant “a deceptive form of victory involving cheating” or, as applied in the term, “trumped up charges,” it means falsely accusing or framing someone, such as elements of the Philippine National Police planting evidence in the premises of an intended extortion victim.

That negative meaning of the word applies even more aptly to the new US president - which is why America is in for some interesting times, and the Philippines, as well, being a long-time ally of the United States and being dependent on the latter militarily and economically.

Some alarming red flags have been raised about Donald Trump, including the analysis of several psychologists concerning his mental state. Their conclusion: Trump has a case of malignant narcissism.

In an article in The Independent, Rachel Hosie wrote: “Just after the election, a group called Citizen Therapists Against Trumpism was created, which was joined by thousands of psychologists.

They published a manifesto warning of Trump’s psychosis, citing the following as the signs to fear: “Scapegoating and banishing groups of people who are seen as

threats, including immigrants and religious minorities; degrading, ridiculing, and demeaning rivals and critics; fostering a cult of the Strong Man who appeals to fear and anger; promises to solve our problems if we just trust in him; reinvents history and has little concern for truth (and) sees no need for rational persuasion. ”The American Psychiatry Association has a nine-point checklist for narcissism - if someone displays just five of the traits, they have Narcissistic Personality Disorder: 1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).

2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.

3. Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or highstatus people (or institutions).

4. Requires excessive admiration.

5. Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations.

6. Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends.

7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.

8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.

9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.”

According to US media, Trump displays not just five but all nine of these traits. Said one pundit, in dealing with Trump, when you shake his hand on a deal, make sure to count not just the rings on your fingers but your fingers as well.

How will the Trump presidency affect the Philippines? The more immediate possibility that the Philippines should watch out for is his obsession with putting one over on others, from not paying contractors who have worked on his hotels and casinos, to finding ways to get Mexico to pay for the wall and giving China a hard time in the US market.

In other words, beware of the Trump Card. America’s long record of beneficence and generosity may have come to an end with the incumbency of this new president. Which is fine for those countries that would like to demonstrate their self-sufficiency and independence.

For all of his bluster, President Rodrigo Duterte is right when

he redirects the country’s foreign policy to benefit the Philippines first – the way Trump wants to benefit America first. But there are harsh economic realities that must be faced. If Trump makes it more expensive for American companies to outsource services to other countries, one of our most lucrative generators of dollars and employment, the BPO industry will collapse.

But that pales alongside the very real perils that the world faces in confronting a megalomaniac. History has told us about Adolph Hitler. Is Trump capable of becoming like him?

Within the first few days of his incumbency, Trump has already inflicted considerable damage on America’s relations with other countries, particularly one of its closest neighbors, Mexico. Think of the danger the world faces in the hands of a man who has access to the nuclear code.

Mercifully, the laws and the structure of America provide enough safeguards against a psychotic commander-in-chief igniting World War III. But I wouldn’t be surprised if certain quarters on Capitol Hill and the Pentagon are already thinking of contingencies. For this reason, the prospect of Armageddon befalling the world during the incumbency of Donald Trump is remote.

Of course, if Trump and the Hawks in the Pentagon make good their vow to “block China from taking over territory in international waters in the South China Sea,” as reported by international media, and China regards that as an act of war, the way Chinese state media have warned, that should be cause of alarm for the Philippines.

Being an optimist and a firm believer in the beneficence of Divine Providence,, I believe that the worst that will happen will be a game of chicken between China and the US. Both sides will find a way to rationalize the act of “blocking” China without jeopardizing its current interests, go to great lengths to agree that “international waters” are not being taken over by Beijing and that the US is simply ensuring free passage through the sea lanes, according to international law. In other words, both sides will try to save face to avoid a shooting war.

But if someone inadvertently pulls the trigger – or unleashes a nuclear bomb - we can be sure that the Philippines will be caught in the crossfire – well, okay, use a euphemism, “friendly fire,” considering that Duterte believes China is a friend and America considers us a close ally.

Crossfire or friendly fire, the Philippines will – or could – get pulverized. There’s an old African proverb that applies to our circumstance: When elephants fight, the grass gets hurt. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com).

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEbRUARy 2-8, 2017

A

Sandiganbayan denies Enrile motion to junk plunder case

by ElizabEth

MarcElo Philstar.com

MANILA - After more than a year since the suspension of his trial, former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile will have to face the court again soon over his alleged involvement in the multibillionpeso pork barrel scam.

This, after the Third Division of the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court denied Enrile’s motion to quash his plunder case.

In a 38-page resolution promulgated on Tuesday, Jan. 31, a copy of which was released to the media on Wednesday, Feb. CHURCH AT THE CROSSROADS. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas (left), president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines 1, the Third Division affirmed the (CBCP), delivers his message at the opening session of the 114th CBCP Plenary Assembly.

CBCP photo by Roy Lagarde validity of the information of the plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in June 2014.

“In sum, the Court finds that the [case] Information sufficiently alleges the ultimate facts cona.m. to pay and go through court

by ElizabEth MarcElo stituting the crime of plunder. procedure for gaining temporary Philstar.com Thus, accused Enrile’s motion to freedom.

MANILA - Former Philippine dismiss/quash deserves denial,” The Office of the Ombudsman National Police (PNP) chief Alan charged him last week with viothe ruling penned by Presiding Purisima on Tuesday, Jan. 31 lating Republic Act 3019 or the Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, posted P20,000 bail before the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices division chair, read.

Sandiganbayan for violating the Act and usurping official functions Associate Justices Sarah Jane anti-graft law and usurping official under Article 177 of the Revised Fernandez and Zaldy Trespesfunctions—a new set of charges Penal Code. es concurred with the ruling. relating to the 2015 Mamasapano T h e p ro c e e d i n g s o f E n Both cases stemmed from his massacre. rile’s plunder case have been alleged involvement in the Jan. 25, His co-accused, former PNP 2015 Mamasapano incident that left suspended since October 2015 Special Action Force (SAF) director over 60 people, including 44 SAF as the Third Division decided to Former PNP chief Alan Purisima posted await the Supreme Court’s final Getulio Napeñas, is yet to post bail troopers, dead. as of press time.

Purisima, who also faces in P20,000 bail before the Sandiganbayan for ruling on his motion for bill of Purisima posted bail before the another Sandiganbayan division a violating the anti-graft law and usurping court’s Fourth Division decided on graft case relating to the “anoma- official functions—a new set of charges whether there is sufficient ground lous” courier service deal for the relating to the 2015 Mamasapano massacre. to order his and Napeñas’ arrest delivery of firearms licenses, im- sima’s dismissal from the PNP in and hold them on trial. mediately left court premises after June 2015 for grave misconduct, Accompanied by his lawyer, posting bail, refusing to speak to serious dishonesty and grave abuse Purisima appeared before the reporters. of authority because of the courier anti-graft court at around 8:30 The ombudsman ordered Puri- service deal.

Ex-PNP chief Purisima posts bail on Mamasapano case

particulars urging the High Court to compel the prosecution to supply additional information on the case.

In his motion to quash filed before the Third Division in September last year, Enrile said the case must be dismissed as the facts in the charge sheet do not constitute the crime of plunder.

The former senator said that the even with its submission of the bill of particulars, the prosecution still failed to identify his specific overt criminal act that would link him as conspirator in the commission of the crime.

Enrile: Prosecutors failed to make case For one, Enrile said, the prosecution failed to identify the occasions or dates when he personally received kickbacks from the alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles or her representative.

Enrile said the prosecution also failed to identify the main plunderer in the case, as it cannot even provide a detailed breakdown of how much money each of the respondents received in the commission of the alleged crime.

The court said Enrile’s arguments are devoid of merit. It said that the sufficiency of the case information had already been affirmed by the SC when it admitted the bill of particulars submitted by the prosecution.

Philippines halts drug war, PNP must...

PAGE A5 the matter pinned PNP Superintendent Rafael Dumlao as the mastermind, but Duterte gathered that it is actually a conspiracy in which all those involved deserve “equal criminal liability,” according to the statement.

The president – who has built a political career on an anti-corruption agenda – also asserted that more than 6,000 police officers are involved in the illegal drug trade. At the swearing of newly promoted military generals at Malacanang on Monday, January 30, Duterte asked the

military to assist in the overhaul of the PNP. “Kung hindi ko kayo ipasok sa laro, patay ako. Walang magtingin diyan sa abusadong pulis (If I don’t put you in the picture, I am doomed. Nobody will look after the abusive policemen),” he said addressing the military. “The culture of corruption in the police is matindi (serious).”

Previously, Duterte has apologized to South Koreans and even spoke with Jee’s widow, Choi Kyung-jin, and assured her that justice will be “swiftly served.”

Amid all the allegations of cor-

ruption infiltrating throughout police ranks, Duterte took a step forward in arresting cops who don’t follow orders.

“No police in this country anywhere is allowed to enforce laws related to the drug campaign.

Kasi magamit nila ‘yan, palitan nila ‘yang warrant, palitan lang ang pangalan tapos pupunta (Because they can use and change the names in the warrant and then they proceed),” the president said, admitting that the overly violent cops may have taken advantage of the drug war to engage in The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division found Enrile’s motion to quash the case devoid of merit. misconduct.

CAR ACCIDENTS • TRIP AND FALLS

Vegasaccident.law

“Considering that the Supreme Court already noted the said compliance of the prosecution... this issue of alleged insufficiency of the bill of particulars cannot be relitigated through this vehicle conveniently denominated as a ‘motion to dismiss/quash’,” the court said.

The Third Division also maintained that even without the additional information from the prosecution, the key elements of plunder —such as the involvement of a public officer, conspiracy and the illegal amassing of public fund of at least P50 million—are already present in the original case information sheet.

The court said the specific details that Enrile is looking for in the case information sheet are best discussed during the trial proper.

“The additional details which accused Enrile seeks such as how the kickback was received and a detailed description of the project are all evidentiary matters which can be provided during the trial,” the court said.

The court further said there is also no need to state the specific amount that each accused in the case allegedly received in the case information.

“In the crime of plunder, the amount of ill-gotten wealth acquired by each accused in a conspiracy is immaterial for as long as the total amount amassed, acquired or accumulated is at least P50 million,” the ruling read.

Enrile is accused of amassing P172.834 million worth of kickbacks through his former chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes by allegedly allocating his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel to the fake foundations allegedly owned by Napoles.

Reyes is currently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Female Dormitory in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig while Napoles is detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

Enrile, on the other hand, was released from hospital arrest at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in August 2015 after the SC granted his petition for bail.

Just last month, January 3, the Third Division also denied Reyes’ own motion to quash the plunder case.

A8

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 2-8, 2017

VEGAS&STYLE

B

Journal Rachelle Ann Go is London’s Eliza Hamilton Chavit, DOT open to hosting

by BaBy

a. Gil

Philstar.com

“God humbles my spirit,” was Rachelle Ann Go’s reaction to all the congratulatory messages she has been getting since it was revealed that she will be playing the female lead in the London production of the musical, “Hamilton.” Written and composed by Lin Manuel Miranda, this is a piece out of American history but done on a very modern slant.

Simply put, that means that from the bars of “Saigon” which she is set to revisit soon, Rachelle Ann will now be dancing and singing hip-hop in a corset and several petticoats with George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, King George and that no-no in Hamilton’s life, Aaron Burr.

And we all thought that playing Fantine in “Les Miserables” was already the pinnacle of her success as a theater actress. We

thought that then maybe she can do Gigi in “Miss Saigon” for its Broadway run. Then she can come home, revive her career and just do theater when a good offer comes along, once in a while. Why, she might even find a boyfriend, get married and raise a family. But it now turns out that the theater has bigger things in store for Rachelle Ann. The announcement made last Friday, Jan. 27 was greeted with cheers and congratulatory greetings from Pinoys all over the world who were so happy, I must say, even ecstatic about the news. our very own Rachelle Ann has been tapped to play the role of Eliza Hamilton in “Hamilton.” She bagged one of the most coveted roles ever all by sheer tallent and hard work, and this is for the original West End production of a phenomenal Broadway musical.

This is one big WoW! “Hamilton” is a hip-hop take on the life

Rachelle Ann Go with ‘Hamilton’ creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

another Miss Universe pageant

Rachelle Ann Go bagged one of the most coveted roles ever all by sheer talent and hard work, and this is for the original West End production of a phenomenal Broadway musical.

of the American Founding Father who was George Washington’s chief of staff. Though only a few years old, the musical is already legend. It is a rare instance wherein massive critical approval, the show has already won a Pulitzer and a Tony, and phenomenal ticket sales, the biggest in Broadway history, perfectly, came together for a show also strewn with astute social commentary. News have it that tickets to the London show are already selling like mad up to 2018.

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was the daughter of a rich, influential dutch family who proved to be a fitting partner for her politically ascendant husband, Alexander Hamilton. She was a popular hostess in New York and Washington d.C. society and was also very active in charity work. She co-founded New York’s very first orphanage. After Hamilton was killed in a duel with Aaron, Eliza worked to preserve his legacy, organizing his papers and getting his biography written.

Eliza was originated on Broadway by Phillipa Soo who got a Tony nomination for her work. An olivier win or even a nomination would be sweet icing on the cake

for Rachelle Ann. But as it is, the fact that she was cast in such a demanding role is already a huge blessing. Besides, theater grapevine says that although he is busy shooting Mary Poppins with Emily Blunt and might not be available to open in London, “Hamilton” creator and star Lin Manuel Miranda will surely do some performances.

That means Rachelle Ann will get the chance to act with this contemporary genius.

Rachelle Ann currently in New York for rehearsals in “Miss Saigon” where she will reprise her role of the bar girl Gigi. “Miss Saigon” opens on March 1 at the Broadway Theater. Rachelle Ann will probably leave New York to return to London for the “Hamilton” rehearsals a few months before the musical’s November 21 opening at the Victoria Palace Theater.

It will be sad leaving the “Miss Saigon” cast with whom she has forged some friendships. Just as it was sad leaving “Les Miserables.”

And so it will be as she pursues the Actor’s Life of living from one role to another. It will also be sad not seeing her family again for long periods. It will not be easy but I am sure for Rachelle Ann, the actress, it will be very satisfying.

FoRMER Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson, one of the major sponsors of Miss Universe 2016, said he is open to the possibility of staging the international pageant in the country again.

For Singson, chief of the LCS group, Miss Universe hosting is possible as long as he will be supported by In this photo, former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson, sponsor government agenof Miss Universe 2016, poses with newly crowned Miss Universe cies.

Iris Mittenaere.

“Well, basta tutulong lahat kaya natin. Basta katulong ang department of Tourism,” he told reporters during an ambush interview after the Miss Universe coronation.

Asked if he is willing host the pageant next year, Singson replied in jest: “Hihinga muna ako.”

Tourism secretary Corazon Wanda Teo also said she is willing to allow another Miss Universe hosting just as long as Singson helps the tourism agency. She, however, wanted to skip next year’s hosting and be back in hosting after a year.

“If Gov. Singon is willing again then we’ll do it,” she said.

Reports said Singson pulled out $900,000 (roughly P45 million) from his own money just to secure that the pageant will be held in the country. The franchise for the pageant, which costs $6 millon or P300 million, was paid by other private sponsors, okada and Solar, which cashed out $3 million each. only the private sector sponsored the pageant since President Rodrigo duterte said he wishes to allow the pageant if there will be no government funds spent.

Singson, however, clarified that he did not consider the pageant as an investment loss since the hosting earned the country several tourists.

“I don’t consider it nalugi kasi investment iyan, lugi na lang ‘pag walang turista pero I’m sure maraming turista,” he said.

Teo said some Miss Universe candidates already vowed to return and tour the country. She was also very pleased in the outcome of the Philippines’ Miss Universe hosting.

“The hosting was perfect. The effect of this will be lots of tourists would come. That alone is a sign na marami tayong interesadong pupunta sa Pilipinas. Nakakataba ng puso kasi we really worked hard for this,” she said.

Meanwhile, Miss Universe organization President Paula Shugart awarded Singson as “Mr. Universe” sash at the media tent in front of Mall of Asia Arena, where the coronation was held. Shugart thanked him for his dedication in making the Miss Universe pageant happen in the Philippines, which she said, had been the best show she has ever done.

Singson accepted the sash, saying that it is an honor. (Rosette Adel/Philstar.com)

Features

B february 2-8, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

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Coolhaus co-founders Freya Estreller and Natasha Case bring architecturally-inspired, creatively-flavored frozen treats

By Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

In recent years, ice cream has gone beyond your typical vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

Think, fried chicken and waffles, peking duck, foie gras PB&J or whiskey Lucky Charms.

At Coolhaus, a Los Angelesbased artisanal ice cream sandwich company, these are just some of the inventive, indulgent flavors customers can expect.

The concept arose some nine years ago when LA-native natasha Case was working at Walt Disney Imagineering. Employing her architecture background, Case made ice cream sandwiches for an employee holiday bake sale.

Though comprised of an ice cream scoop wedged in between two cookies, they were more than that, as she calls it: “Farchitecture” (food + architecture) creations, playing on famous architects and structures.

Realizing how much of a hit the combinations were, Case, along with Filipino-American Freya Estreller, soon transformed this hobby into a business venture.

The name Coolhaus itself plays on “Bauhaus” (an influential modernist design movement of the 1920s and 30s) and Rem Koolhaas (a famous Dutch architect and theorist).

For architecture aficionados, there are sand-

Freya Estreller and Natasha Case

Photo by Atisha Paulson

Photos courtesy of Coolhaus

wiches with pun-y titles, from Frank Berry (snickerdoodle cookies & strawberry ice cream) to norman Bananas Foster (banana ice cream with butter-y rum reduction swirl).

Their big break came months later in 2009 when Case and Estreller bought a truck off of Craigslist and drove it to Indio, California to sell ice cream sandwiches at the annual

Coachella Valley Music Festival, where over 100,000 people were in attendance.

“After Coachella, we went viral, so you could not ignore that there was an interest and demand for us to do this. That was an extreme example that you might not see all the time but really after that, when you’re just starting and trying to get something out there, you should be overwhelmed by the sales and not being able to keep up,” Case told the Asian Journal in a recent interview.

“That’s when you know you’ve got something…if you’re just sitting around, waiting for sales to come, it’s the exact opposite of what it should be.”

From there, the duo began driving the truck to “hip” neighborhoods in the greater Los Angeles area, such as Venice, Santa Monica and downtown.

“Especially in the early days, our customer base was the young, tech-savvy type who were food adventurers,” Case said. “They had the energy and enthusiasm to seek us out to where we might be.”

In addition to the truck sales, Coolhaus became a go-to catering service for private parties and events throughout Southern California. The brand is also known for

why ORGANIC? Organic products meet stringent standards Healthier for you & kids Organic food tastes better Organic farming respects natural resources Avoids pesticides & are artificial-fertilizer-free Non-GMO, no synthetic pesticides, no growth-promoting antibiotics There are many, many more reasons to go Organic. But in short: You’ll leave the world a better place than when you found it

doing partnerships with fashion labels, movies, and various businesses.

“There’s no partnership or market channel that’s too outside the box for us,” Estreller said.

Like most entrepreneurs will attest to, starting off is no easy feat. Both Case and Estreller reflected that managing others was a challenge because of their young age, being 25 and 26 at the time, respectively.

“We were really young founders and some of our employees were older than us and more experienced at service and food.

Why are they going to listen to you? Why are you giving authority if you don’t really have that much of a track record. I think it’s hard at first, you have to learn yourself as a manager,” Case said, adding that it’s about “social and people skills.”

Estreller added how it was important for entrepreneurs not get stuck on “analysis-paralysis” when thinking about the business idea.

“People tend to get stuck there, thinking ‘I can’t do it,’ ‘I don’t have the experience’ or ‘I don’t have the money.’ There’s a way — if you’re really passionate about it and you can figure out a low-cost way to get to minimum viable product...there’s a way to put it out there and test it out, especially with technology these days,” she added.

Additionally, they remarked how most people thought “Coolhaus was started by guys” even though the branding is pink and silver and that the co-founders’ back stories were widely shared.

Estreller noted that being a leader and running a business as a female is inherent in her culture and upbringing.

“In Filipino culture, we have very strong women,” Estreller said, describing how she’s looked up to her mother’s dynamic, hands-on personality.

Business and life partners In addition to being business partners, Case and Estreller began a romantic relationship early on while developing the company. now married, they both remarked how being together for most of the day helped and how their different fields of expertise complemented one another.

Case — who is now the CEO of Coolhaus — was in charge of the creative, branding and marketing aspects, while Estreller was more on the operations and logistics side.

“At least for us, it was beneficial because 24/7, we were talking about Coolhaus and that really accelerated the growth of the business in the first four years I was [in the business],” Estreller narrated.

However, being in these two types of relationships also presented some bumps in the road.

“At the year four point, I personally started to feel a little burnt out, we were fighting a lot — not only would we talk about Coolhaus, but we would fight about it. not only was it a realization for the both us that maybe that this wasn’t as beneficial as it was before. There was a turning point,” Estreller said.

In 2014, she moved on to launch Ludlows Cocktail Co., which sells prepackaged, all-natural craft cocktails and jello shots.

“I started my own company because I’m a masochist and that’s what entrepreneurs like us do.

That’s been really helpful for our marriage,” she said. “Coolhaus is great but I love natasha more than my business.”

Though some ventures fall after couples/business partners end their romantic relationships, Case and Estreller said Coolhaus has persisted because of how popular the brand is itself. As a couple, they still own a majority stake of the company.

“You have to be bigger than

the brand and the brand has to be bigger than you. Luckily, Coolhaus is a brand that’s not only our faces and identities,” Case shared. “It’s bigger than just the who. Our relationship didn’t exist for the purpose of growing Coolhaus… If anything, having an Asian woman co-founder and being a same-sex couple — all these elements of diversity have only helped us.”

On occasion, however, Estreller will come on board as a consult and help with any strategic moves.

“Freya gives great feedback even if she’s not here,” Case said.

“She’s an influential voice in the business.”

Added Estreller, “They call me the ‘first lady of Coolhaus’ because I have [natasha’s] ear every night.”

Soon, the couple will be welcoming their first child and are excited about entering motherhood.

“Because we own our own businesses, we’re very blessed that we get to take the necessary time off and we’ll see — I don’t know how long we’re going to take off. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. It helped us formulate our policy on maternity leave at our companies. We started to look at it and the best practices of companies that we admire and we increased it,” Estreller said.

(Currently, Coolhaus provides two months paid maternity leave, with partial pay for the third and fourth months).

Going forward nearing eight years in business, Coolhaus is staying relevant in the ice cream scene through consistently pushing boundaries and innovating new flavors and concepts.

“I really like that core principle of expressing yourself,” Estreller said. “no flavor or collaboration is too weird or kooky.”

Added Case, “What’s cool is that we can have an idea of something we want to do and within a few months, we can easily be selling it on the seasonal menu or just in a one-off in the shops or the trucks. Generally, there are a few ways this will come about: one is seeing interesting food trends or ingredients that are being used for cultural dishes.”

Another way is looking at cultural references and creating concoctions based on them. For example, recently an employee crafted a play on ‘netflix & Chill,” using a white cheddar popcorninfused base and Doritos.

As of late 2016, Coolhaus had a national fleet of 10 trucks and carts in LA, new York and Dallas and two brick and mortar shops in Culver City and Pasadena, and was being sold in over 5 , 0 0 0 retailers in all 50 states and some areas in Asia and the Middle East.

(In Manila, the brand can be found at Landers Superstore.)

For new products at retail partners, the company examines which pints, sandwiches, and bars have large social media exposure and are best-sellers at the trucks and two stores.

“We still need a Filipino line,” Estreller remarked. “Where’s my halo-halo ice cream?”

In the past, the brand introduced ube ice cream to its lineup — way before the ingredient became so ubiquitous as it is today.

Despite all of the creative flavors, one continues to be the staple for many customers: the chocolate chip Cookie + Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream sandwich.

“Everyone loves to try — people will stand there and try five things, but they’ll always come back to the classic. You shouldn’t have vanilla shame, people will say they’re boring. But actually, vanilla is the flavor where you have the least flavor fatigue for.

It’s a scientific thing. There’s a reason why vanilla is so popular,” Estreller said.

In the next three to five years, customers can expect more flavors and products and for Coolhaus to be sold at more retail locations.

“There’s so much to do with our brand. I think what’s great about it — it’s almost like a lens of how you see the world, rather than this is [simply] ice cream,” Case said.

“It’s almost like, Coolhaus means to ‘express yourself through ice cream’ because we’re constantly coming out with unique, innovative products and flavors that you wouldn’t necessarily even think could meet a frozen dessert profile and keeping things exciting, playful and whimsical.”

Despite being surrounded by cookies and ice cream all day, Case said it’s taught them about moderation and balance.

“I rarely eat a whole serving, but almost every day, I eat a little ice cream and…cookies,” she said. “This kind of business is not a traditional desk job, you are on your toes all the time, so even though there are thousands of gallons of ice cream and thousands of cookies around, it’s a physical job. You’re running around, you’re meeting and talking to people — even if you’re scooping, it’s very aerobic. I’m so not tired of cookies or ice cream, I still look forward to every time there’s a tasting.” “now that I’m pregnant, I’ve probably eaten more Coolhaus in these last seven months than I have in the last seven years,” Estreller joked.

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Miss Canada and Ashley Graham Pia Wurtzbach signs up with IMG on body diversity at Miss Universe by aRlo

CustoDio ManilaTimes.net

by Deni

Rose BeRnaRDo

Philstar.com

BesiDes Miss Universe iris Mittenaere, France is also proud of Miss Canada siera Bearchell, who landed in the top nine.

French is the mother tongue of more than seven million Canadians, so the French media also covered Bearchell just as they did on Mittenaere. is Miss Universe now more welcoming of body diversity? in separate interviews with Philstar.com during the Miss Universe red carpet last weekend, Bearchell, who received social media bashing for not being as skinny as other contestants, and body activist Ashley Graham, the pageant’s backstage host, talked about how proud they were to represent body diversity in the world’s biggest beauty pageant.

According to Bearchell, though she did not get the top spot, she will continue to speak to women through social media about selfconfidence and self-worth. she also did not crash diet to get to the “ideal” body the bashers were looking for. “i was not pressured by bashers; i’ve been myself the whole time,” attested the law student, who is also a runner and an entrepreneur.

“Running a marathon takes

perseverance, patience, and a lot of stamina, what a Miss Universe should be,” she said in one of the pageant’s videos shown during the coronation night. she lost her family home to a fire in 2009 and since then, has been a volunteer for Red Cross.

“Pageants could be a platform to achieve your greatest dreams,” she added in the Miss Universe video presentation.

Last year, she won first runner-up at the Miss supranational pageant in Poland. “i think Miss Canada is doing great. she’s actually a friend of mine. it’s wonderful that she’s speaking an honest truth to be accepting of all sizes, because women of all sizes are beautiful no matter what they look like.

They could be thinner, they could be bigger,” enthused Graham, the first plus-size model to be on the cover of sports illustrated swimsuit.

“For me, it doesn’t matter what you look like because every woman is beautiful in her own way and it’s great that she’s really embracing her body and being positive about herself. she loves herself of the way she is made. i’m very happy that the Miss Universe organization is being accepting of that and they’re really promoting her and it’s a great thing that women of our sizes come together

Miss Universe backstage host Ashley Graham and 2016 Miss Canada

for a very positive reason,” explained the American model, who first came into prominence as a lingerie model for plus-size clothing shop, Lane Bryant. since then, she has appeared in fashion magazines such as the cover of Elle Quebec, as well as in Vogue, Glamour, and Harper’s Bazaar. she has also appeared on “entertainment Tonight,” “The Tonight show with Jay Leno,” and NPR, where she talked about being a plus-size model.

Last year’s Miss Universe judge, Perez Hilton, called Graham the “heir apparent” of model and “America’s Next Top Model “(ANTM) creator, supermodel Tyra Banks. Graham posed nude and is currently a judge at “ANTM” together with British pop star Rita Ora. “Modeling, in general, has always been fun for me. it brings a good exposure and is a really good way for me to reach people with my voice,” she said of her experience posing naked with ANTM contestants. “i’m so excited to be in the Philipines. i’ve never been here before and i absolutely love it.

The people here are so wonderful.

They’re so kind. They’re the biggest pageant fans i’ve ever seen, so i’m so excited to be here because it’s the best place to house Miss Universe.”

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach announced at the beginning of the 65th Miss Universe pageant on Monday, Jan. 30 that she had just signed with the New York-based talent management group iMG, and as such will continue to work with the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) even after her reign has ended.

Besides owning MUO, iMG also represents some of the world’s biggest sports stars and fashion models, among them Gigi Hadid, Lily Aldridge, Gisele Bündchen, and Ashley Graham. “it was a remarkable year. i’ve really grown as a woman. i learned so many things.

T h i s actually opened a lot of doors for me. Actually, i just signed with iMG so i am very excited about that,” she said during an exchange with host steve Harvey.

MUO President Paula shugart—who was ecstatic in thanking Filipinos for the success of the 65th Miss Universe pageant in Manila, with Monday’s coronation night “the best show she had ever done”—said in a huddle with media that there are many plans for Wurtzbach “in front of the camera, and there’s also an opportunity for her to go back to school.”

Although shugart did not give out any details on Wurtzbach’s future, she said Pia will continue working “and will keep us [MUO] busy.” since her mother’s hometown Cagayan de Oro had been hit by floods recently, Wurtzbach plans to put on sale her Miss Universe wardrobe and raise funds for those affected by the calamity.

Besides pursuing her advocacy on AiDs/HiV prevention and awareness, the beauty queen also vowed to continue supporting and fighting for LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans[gender] and Queer) rights.

On January 26, Wurtzbach wrote in the Motto section of TIME Magazine, “i

myself owe a lot to the LGBTQ community, many of whom are my closest friends.

Without their acc ep t i n g attitudes

toward my own flaws and struggles, i would not be where i am today. But while we are beginning to see the seeds of change in the Catholic church, the LGBTQ community in the Philippines doesn’t yet enjoy equal rights.” she added “when my faith and secular opinions clash, but in those moments, i find comfort in an old saying: Live and let live.”

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Lea Salonga: Back to concert scene with ‘Songs From The Stage’

by Ricky lo Philstar.com

Miss Korea Jenny Kim and Miss Albania Lindita Indrizi won the Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic special awards, respectively.

Miss Korea, Albania bag Miss Universe special awards

The president of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) on Monday evening, Jan. 30 revealed the winners of special awards Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic.

While it was not announced during the coronation of Miss Universe 2016, MUO President Paula Shugart revealed that it was Miss Korea Jenny Kim and Miss Albania Lindita Indrizi who won the Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic special awards, respectively.

Shugart revealed the winners at the sidelines of the 65th Miss Universe after-party in Okada Manila. According to her, the winners were not announced due to lack of time. “honestly, we didn’t have time.

There was so much we wanted to fit in the show,” Shugart was quoted saying.

During the pageant coronation night, only the winner of national costume competition and major awards were announced. It was Miss Myanmar htet hten htun who

was named Best in National Costume with her puppet-inspired costume which was a representation of Burmese puppetry.

Miss France Iris Mittenaere was crowned Miss Universe 2016 while Miss haiti Raquel Pelissier and Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar were proclaimed first and second runners-up, respectively.

Steve harvey served as the main host for the coronation held Monday morning (Philippine time) at the Mall of Asia Arena. (Rosette Adel/Philstar.com)

Solenn: Miss France’s interpreter gave inaccurate translation

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

FIL-FReNCh actress Solenn heussaff on Monday, Jan. 30 cast doubt on Miss France Iris Mittenaere’s interpreter at the Miss Universe 2016, hinting that he provided an inaccurate translation of the candidate’s answer.

In a tweet after right after the second question and answer portion, Solenn said the French interpreter changed the France’s representative answer from “first year of Medicine school” to “first casting.”

The Top three Miss Universe candidates—Mittenaere, Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar and Miss haiti Raquel Pelissier—were asked to mention something that they failed at and what they’ve learned from that experience.

Mittenaere’s translated answer was “I failed several times in my life.

So I thought I failed the first time that I went on a casting because my name was not in the list. And

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Iris Mittenaere, Miss Universe France 2016 is announced by host Steve Harvey as a top 13 finalist during the 65th Miss Universe pageant at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Monday, Jan. 30

the very next day, I found I was in a new book. So I think when you fail, you have to be elevated and you have to try again and keep going. If tonight I’m not one of the winners, I will still have the great honor being one of the three finalists. So I think I have failed before but for me this a great first opportunity.”

Miss France was eventually crowned Miss Universe 2016.

Solenn clarified in a later tweet that the inaccurate translation should not affect Miss France’s chances of winning the pageant.

“Congrats miss France! And all the women. Winner silang lahat,” Solenn added.

EMPLOYMENT

hAvINg started at a very young age in theater, it’s fitting for Lea Salonga to pay tribute to where she came from in a concert titled “Songs From The Stage” set for Feb. 17 and 18 at the PICC Plenary hall.

Lea was about nine years old when she wowed audiences with her delightful performance as the orphan in “Annie,” topping that barely a decade later with a grand-slam portrayal of Kim in “Miss Saigon.”

“This is the first exclusively musical theater concert we’ve done since 2001, which is quite a long time — 15 years!” said Lea of her concert staged four days before her 46th birthday (Feb. 22).

“So many new shows have been produced since then and this will definitely be a great opportunity to pay those new musicals a visit.

At the same time, we’ll do older shows that we’ve not really visited yet.”

Music by Sondheim, LloydWebber, Miranda, Bareilles and King, including songs that the public never thought were in musicals will highlight the concert. “The jukebox medley is one I think we’ll all enjoy,” added Lea. “I’m just excited to be sharing a lot of musical theater with the audience. It’s not always thought of as a hip art form, until a show called hamilton. This unique art form is a great entry into learning one’s history and culture, and to be a practitioner of it, in whatever way, is always enjoyable and exciting!”

How do you keep up with your busy schedule (does anybody arrange your calendar of activities or do you do it yourself)?

“I have an assistant that makes sure all activities and commitments are in my calendar (I can be forgetful), and my mother has a master calendar, too. however, stuff that has to do with my daughter’s school or our home is taken care of by both Rob and me.”

How much time do you devote to your family and how do you spend it?

“As much as I can, given my busy schedule. I try to stay at home when I am able. As I get older, I’m less inclined to going out late at night. That is most definitely for younger constitutions. I’d rather be home with a good book or a crochet project, listening to music, or playing video games. I’m still up

late, just not out late.”

Your daughter Nicole is growing up fast. Is she inclined towards the performing arts?

“She does love to sing. She loves musical theater (she’s currently obsessed with Phantom of the Operaand its sequel Love Never Dies) which means it’s fun to watch shows with her. Perhaps early indoctrination was helpful!”

Do you encourage her and train her?

“Not sure yet if that’s what she wants to do. I’m not actively training her. Right now, I want her to try different things and see what really captures her passion.”

Are you raising Nicole the same way you were raised by your Mom Ligaya?

“Nope! Nicole is a different kid from when I was her age, so how my mom raised me will be different from how I’m raising Nic. She’s far more mature than I was at her age.”

Who is the disciplinarian between you and Rob? “Rob, for sure!”

What kind of diet do you follow and what’s usually for breakfast, lunch and dinner, any snacks between meals?

“I tend to stick to high protein. eggs in the morning with a breakfast meat like uncured bacon or sausage. For lunch and dinner, that’s when we eat meats and vegetables. Fish and chicken are included in the meats department. We also love our rice and pasta.”

How much water do you take per day and what vitamins (or medications) do you take?

“I try to take six to eight glasses of water a day (more if I’m not feeling well). I take a pre-workout supplement before heading to the gym. That’s about it.”

How much sleep do you get per night, how many pillows do you sleep with?

“I get a full night seven to eight hours. I sleep with a pillow or two under my head and one to hug.”

Last thing that you do before you go you to sleep and the first thing that you do as soon as you wake up?

“It depends. If I’m working, then the last thing (besides saying good night to my husband and daughter) I do is study music. First thing I do, once I’m up, is having something to eat.”

How often do you consult your doctor, dentist and der-

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With her tight sked, does she have time to unwind? ‘Thankfully, yes. I go to the gym two to three times a week. As for unwinding, as long as I’m home, that’s enough for me.’

matologist?

“Dentist, once or twice a year; doctor, as needed; dermatologist, whenever I’m free.”

With your tight sked, do you have time to work out or unwind?

“Thankfully, yes. I go to the gym two to three times a week. As for unwinding, as long as I’m home, that’s enough for me.”

Favorite city or hideaway?

“New York! Does that count as a hideaway?”

What is your all-time favorite song and why?

“I don’t have one. I guess whatever I happen to be working on becomes my favorite.”

You are a post-Valentine baby. How do you and Rob spend Valentine’s?

“We’ll probably have dinner, or opt to stay in. Because I’ll be busy prepping for my concert, I really don’t know what we’ll end up doing.”

What are your projects lined up this year?

“Besides the Australia concerts and the concert in Manila, plus The voice Teens which starts airing this summer, that’s about it!”

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Your Immigration Solution atty. EriC WElSh & NaNCy MillEr President trump began his long-promised attack on immigration this week, signing two aggressive and wide-ranging executive orders. in one, trump focused on the southern border, ordering the secretary of Homeland security to use Federal funds to start construction of a wall along the U.s.-Mexico border while waiting for Congress to allocate taxpayer money to cover the rest of the multi-billion dollar price tag. trump also ordered the construction of additional detention facilities along the border, and the assignment of asylum officers and judges to those facilities. He ordered the agencies to arrest, detain, and remove anyone entering illegally at the southern border, to the maximum extent permitted by law. in the other order, trump turned his aim to undocumented aliens in the United states. in a long series of commands, trump drastically recalibrated the im-

Health@Heart

MoNEttE aDEva Maglaya dO you remember the last time you laughed uncontrollably, the peals and spasms of your laughter so unrestrained, they led others to raise their brows and wonder if you’ve gone off your rocker or inhaled some laughing gas?

Or perhaps, you have laughed uproariously with others. there you are — your shoulders shaking, your eyes in tears, holding your sides, grasping your stomach trying hard not to wet your pants, while you convulse with laughter while others around you are doing likewise, rolling around in fits of laughter over some hilarious situation or a well delivered joke. i’m not talking about the manic laughter of depraved, sick minds. Or laughter and derision that makes fun of others. i’m referring to natural laughter set off by the innate humor in situations and jokes that make light of the human condition without costing anyone else shame and humiliation.

Laughter has often been called the best medicine. And for good reason. the scientific explanation is that laughter releases a natural substance called endorphin in the brain that reduces pain and affects emotions positively. the more you laugh, the better you feel. there’s something sexy and seductive about laughter that attracts women to men who can tell a joke with great panache or show a sense of humor. Men don’t know this but women find irresistible the one who can make them laugh so uproariously and so often. Why is it so? My best guess is that women feel connected when they laugh. that feeling of being connected is important to women. Among girlfriends and buddies, shared laughter is the bond that seals friendships and makes them last. if she’s smart, the young, un-

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President Trump takes aim at borders and undocumented immigrants in two executive orders migration agencies to focus their priorities on deportation and removal. trump discarded the “priority enforcement” policies that guided the department of Homeland security (dHs) during the Obama presidency, vastly expanding the class of noncitizens that will be considered “priorities” for removal or deportation.

Before trump’s executive order, dHs policy instructed the agents enforcing the law to exercise discretion prudently, focusing resources on enforcement priorities. Generally speaking, “priority enforcement” was limited to criminal aliens with felony convictions or convictions for other serious crimes, terrorists, gang members, and very recent entries without inspection. now, under the new trump executive order, enforcement priorities will include undocumented aliens with virtually any criminal record (including arrests that don’t result in a charge or conviction), any prior removal or deportation order, any prior im-

migration misrepresentation, and any other person who may have committed acts that constitute a possible crime or “otherwise pose a risk” in the discretion of an immigration officer. these vague, broad standards essentially “prioritize” any alien without status in the U.s. trump also ordered actions that would significantly increase interactions between the federal immigration agencies and state and local law enforcement, laying the groundwork for a vast deportation task force. He authorized local police to act as immigration agents, with authority to arrest and detain a person for lacking status. He reanimated heavily criticized Bush-era policies for detaining deportable aliens arrested by local law enforcement. trump then brazenly set out plans to take on so-called “sanctuary cities” that currently refuse to use their resources and personnel to assist in deporting people for minor crimes (or arrests that don’t result in a charge). trump

Tanning and skin cancer

life and survival on this planet.

Without the sun, we will be frozen to death, and life forms on earth will cease to exist as we know it PhiliP S. Chua, today. About 75% of our body’s MD, FaCS, FPCS supply of Vitamin d is generated the Us-FdA has issued warn- by our skin’s exposure to suning on the use of tanning beds light (UV-B rays in particular). at home and at tanning salons: Abnormally low blood levels of tanning increases the risk for Vitamin d increases the risk of melanoma, a deadly skin cancer, colon and breast cancers and up to 59 percent! More than 2.5 may also speed up the growth of million teens, mostly girls, use an existing or early melanoma. Of tanning booths each year in the course, Vitamin d can be taken United states. Just like with poi- by mouth. the harmful effects of son, the more exposure, the more sunlight comes from its ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which could be sessions, the higher the risk. the data are from the national dangerous to our health in more Health interview survey’s Cancer ways than one, depending on the Control supplement, published in amount of exposure and dose that the CdC’s Morbidity and Mortality a person gets.

What are the sun-related Weekly report. the World Health Organization has also determined diseases of the eye?

Cataracts (cloudiness of the that UV rays from tanning beds lens), which, in severe forms, cause cancer. the second most common can- could cause blindness, especially cer, melanoma has the following with exposure to UV-B radia5-year survival rates: About 95 tion; macular degeneration, the percent for stage iA, when diag- major cause of impaired vision nosed early, and between 5 to 20 in the UsA for people older than percent for stage iV, when it has 55; photokeratitis, a reversible sunburn of the cornea, also from already spread to other organs.

Amazingly UV rays emitted excessive exposure to UV-B; ptefrom tanning beds are up to 15 rygium, growth of pinkish tissues times greater (deadlier) than the on the white of the eye, which may rays from the sun. Melanoma kills spread on the clear cornea and one person every 50 minutes, or block vision. this results when about 28 every day. And these are one has prolonged sun exposure useless and preventable deaths! on the beach or snow without eye Let us review some facts about protection, and can be very painsunlight and its harmful UV rays. ful for 1-2 days, with temporary What in sunlight is beneficial blindness. even with eye cover, the high dose of UV rays from a and harmful to us? the sun and its light are not tanning bed is still most harmful only beautiful but vital to our to vision. A nice tan is too high a

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

Features

price to pay for blindness, much less cancer.

How about adverse affects on the skin? excessive exposure to UV rays predisposes to skin cancer, which includes the face and the eyelids, besides skin in other parts of the body. there are three major types of cancers of the skin: Basal Cell Carcinoma, the most common one; squamous Cell Carcinoma, second most common; and Malignant Melanoma, the most deadly, but fortunately, the rarest. Malignant Melanoma spreads easily and often deadly if not caught early.

How prevalent are skin cancers? this is an epidemic and is a global phenomenon. in 1978, in the United states alone, there were 480,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancers, which rose to over one million in 1994, with a growth rate of 7% per year. in Canada, from 1970-1986, melanoma frequency rose 6% per year for men and 4.6% per year for women. Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world. it is said that by age 75, two out of three Australians will have been treated for some type of skin cancer. in the United states, the estimated 30,000 cancer deaths each year could be prevented if Americans, who love sunbathing, do not over-expose themselves to the sun.

How do we protect ourselves from UV radiation?

First and foremost, let us not intentionally expose ourselves

Laughter and the art of seduction “A man, who makes a woman laugh, is one who instinctively knows the first thing about the lifelong art of seduction through the funny bone.” attached woman of today would do well to choose a mate who has a good sense of humor on top of everything else she thinks makes a good match for her. Life is tough enough. Humor makes it bearable. Humor hints at a man’s intelligence and ability to handle situations. Humor cracks open women’s defense mechanisms.

What accounts for the flourishing phenomenon of humorous chick lit and chick flicks, written by women for women? Could it be that women have had it with men’s interpretations of what women really want? Could it be that women want to clear the air about certain matters like humor, sex, talk and the art of seduction?

With few exceptions, i skip and ignore the reviews of most male critics of the romantic comedy film genre because these are so far off the mark. in most regular, heterosexual men’s view, sex is the one connection they need with women and naturally, logically, they assume that the same is true for women. thus, you see too many tawdry and cheap sex scenes depicted from the male point of view in films of the, “…slam, bam, thank you ma’am” variety that leave women in the audience seething and thinking that men, in general, could be insensitive, neanderthal brutes who still have a long way to go when it comes to sex. Of course, that is not to say that women are not entirely blameless. desperate, needy women emulate slut behavior in the hope of making a connection with a man they fancy themselves in love with — any man— anyone in fact, with a functioning equipment.

But for discriminating, monogamous women with healthy selfesteem however, sex is merely one of the ways they connect with their mates. Women discover that without making that connection, no matter how tenuous, sex is, sadly, no more than a function of rutting animals. Conversation, no matter how lame or inane is important for women. shared laughter and fun, with or without the sex, are the means by which true, lasting connection can happen between men and women.

Making a connection is many a woman’s reason for being. Without that connection, a woman’s relationship can flatline disastrously and quick, emergency resuscitation is needed for that relationship to survive. When relationships die, both men and women try to seek, re-create and find that connection elsewhere — with someone else — a sticky, sorry state of affairs that could have been prevented if laughter ruled the roost in the first place. in highly evolved stages of man-woman relations that grow over time, words are completely unnecessary. Just a knowing look across a crowded room between two connected individuals is enough to make both smile or burst in shared laughter — the highest rung a man and a woman in love can aspire to.

A man, who makes a woman laugh, is one who instinctively knows the first thing about the lifelong art of seduction through the funny bone. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

threatened to withhold unspecified federal funds from sanctuary cities, and gave broad discretion to his agents to decide what constitutes a “sanctuary city.”

Other provisions in the orders set forth an unambiguous hardliner policy on deportation and removal. trump ordered the expansion of the agencies tasked with policing and prosecuting the immigration laws by hiring 10,000 additional immigration & Customs enforcement (iCe) officers and 5,000 additional Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers.

He ordered the expanded use of “expedited removal,” a process whereby dHs agents can order certain aliens to be removed without any hearing. He ordered the agencies, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to apprehend and detain removable aliens.

Much of the executive orders still require additional policy guidance from the secretary of dHs and the Attorney General to implement, and we should expect to see guidance in the form of

agency memoranda and proposed regulations in the coming days and weeks. We should also expect to see a number of legal challenges to the constitutionality of these orders and the policies that implement the orders. it remains to be seen how the agents on the ground will respond to the new orders, and how the states and localities will respond to the commandeering of manpower and resources. Many sanctuary cities have already pledged to oppose the new orders, and are ready to forfeit federal funds in the interest of protecting vulnerable populations. the trump executive orders are harsh and draconian. still, the orders do not (and cannot) strip protections that exist under federal statutes and the U.s. Constitution. the individual rights enshrined in the Constitution apply to every person in the U.s., regardless of immigration status. those include the right of due process under the law, to remain silent, to ask for an attorney, and to

be free from warrantless searches. immigrants who are arrested and detained are still able to seek bond if eligible, and to seek relief from removal with representation by an attorney. immigration practice in the United states is changing rapidly under President trump. Any person who believes they may be affected by these changes or other rumored changes should consult with an experienced immigration attorney to sift through the rumors and find an answer. ***

to UV rays, thru tanning salons (a costly way) or via the sun (for free). Just like anything in life, moderation is the key when it comes to the sun. tanning beds must be avoided at all cost. While Americans laugh at Asian women when the latter stay under the shade or umbrella on the beach, they also recognize that Asian women’s complexions look more youthful, with less wrinkles, and that Asian women look younger in general, compared to Caucasian females. Asian women also have lower incidence of sun-related diseases. since UV radiation comes not only from the sun but is reflected from the ground, snow, sand, water, and other reflective surfaces, the use of a wide-brimmed hat or cap will reduce the UV radiation to the eyes by 50%. Wraparound UV absorbing eyewear provides the greatest protection because it also limits radiation from the peripheral rays. Polarized sunglasses or transition lenses reduce glare but do not, by themselves, provide protection from UV radiation. sunglasses, and or prescription lenses, that absorb 99-100% of the full UV spectrum to 400 nm are the best for babies, children

and adults. Labels on sunglasses should be closely scrutinized to make sure that they say the lenses absorb 99-100% of both the UV-B and UV-A. if they do not have labels, do not buy them.

Consumers must be cautious when the label claims the lenses “block harmful UV” but does not specify how much.

For skin cancer protection, do not rely on sunscreen skin lotion. the best is not to sunbathe for more than 15 to 20 minutes, and apply “physical” sunscreen lotion. Wear protective clothing and wide-brimmed hat when you go outside during sunny days.

Avoid sun exposure between 10 AM and 3 PM if possible. Also, it has been shown that taking vitamin C, d, and e and selenium protects against the damages of UV rays by lessening the adverse effects of the UV rays on the immune system. if one must absolutely be out in the sun, he/she must wear a “physical” sunscreen with a sPF of 15, which contains titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or talc. “Physical” sunscreen works by reflecting the UV radiation rather than absorbing the sunscreen into the skin. doubling the amount of the lotion, or re-applying it later in

the day, does not confer added protection. the best is to minimize sun exposure to a safe degree. tanning beds are dangerous and must be avoided.

Lastly, if you develop any skin spots or notice any mole in your body to be growing larger or darker, or feel any lumps in your body, consult your physician without delay. if treated early and caught in time, most skin cancers are curable. to our legislators and civic leaders: tanning beds and tanning salons must be banned to protect the public from the unconscionable, greedy, and reckless entrepreneurs out to rob the ignorant people of their hardearned money while exposing them to cancer and death..

Calendar of Events across

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.

(Advertising Supplement)

*** 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

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TFC presents Fil-Am game changers panel in Long Beach, CA The Filipino Channel (TFC) presents “Breaking the Mold,” featuring Fil-Am game changers on Saturday, February 4 at Beach Auditorium at California State University, Long Beach. Speakers include Chef Charleen Caabay (winner of the Food Network’s “Chopped), Roslynn Alba Cobrrubias (co-founder of MyDiveo), Singer-Songwriter AJ Rafael and TV host/journalist Ginger Conejero. TFCU seeks to help Fil-Am students and groups energize Filipino pride on their campuses. The event is from 12-5 p.m. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TFCUniversity.

“Quiapo” book launch in Los Angeles Come to Echo Park Library on Saturday, February 4 for a book launch and reading of “Blood, Sweat, Hope, and Quiapo: Rodallie S. Mosende’s Story” by award-winning documentary photographer Rick Rocamora. Echo Park Library is located at 1410 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90026.

f E b R UA Ry 1 1

FALW to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Seal Beach, CA The Filipino Association of Leisure World will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a dinnerdance at the Clubhouse #2 at 1232 Golden Rain Road, Seal Beach, CA on February 11.

Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions, please call the president of the association, Ren Villanueva at (323) 854-6209.

f E b R UA Ry 1 8

Free parenting class in Eagle Rock, CA Come to a free parenting class in Eagle Rock on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. It will be held at the Eagle Rock Lutheran Church at 5032 Maywood Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90041.

To RSVP, please call (323) 304-9898.

MARCH 11

CSFLU to hold dinner-dance in Brea, CA The City of San Fernando La Union Association (CSFLU) will hold its annual dinnerdance at the Embassy Suites in Brea, CA on March 11. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. For more information, please call Vangie So, president of the association at (626) 485-3110.

APRIL 20

CAUSE’s annual gala in Los Angeles Join Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) for its annual gala on Thursday, April 20. It will be held at LA Hotel’s California Ballroom at 333 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a VIP reception.

For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact kim@causeusa.org or visit www.causeusa.org.

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

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Valentine date ideas on a weekday Free income tax form preparation assistance at Las Vegas centers Trained volunteers will assist seniors and lower-income residents

By Monet

Lu

February is approaching once again and you know what they say about it being the love month.

I am aware that not everyone is in a relationship – or that they don’t have a date on Valentine’s.

So, this piece is not just for the hashtag #alreadyhitched but also for the happily single. and since this Valentine’s Day falls on a weekday, I’ve gathered some date ideas that would suit even the most workaholic couples or for those who simply don’t have the time to set up an elaborate date (i.e. romantic dinner, ‘staycation’ weekend getaway, etc.). read on and you might just find the perfect solution to your weekdaydate dilemma.

An intimate video game session ‘Love the game, hate the player.” but there’s no hating anyone on this bad boy. you can both love the game and the player. after a long day, don’t you just love to unwind by sitting on your couch (with or without a date – whatever suits you)? you can up the ante by making this Valentine night your ‘Game Night.’ and by game, I mean pop up those action rPGs, survival horrors, shooter games, fighting or combat games, and get it on!

While others would prefer the more laidback movie night (which is also a nice date idea), you can always switch to that once your ‘kill ratio’ is over the roof.

A Spa Day or an After-Work De-Stressing Night after a long day at work, you and your beau need this. Or if you are happily-single-and-extremely-stressed out, you might as well spend this night to destress. Indulge yourself with a 90-minute Swedish or aromatherapy spa and fall into a deep slumber dreaming of the day you conquered the love month and wake up when February ends.

They say you can’t love someone if you don’t start with yourself – baby steps: start with this and you’ll get the hang of it.

A Night Fit for A Queen or King

It’s Tuesday. and it is the longest day at work you have ever experienced; the grueling presentation you just want to forget ever happened, the two-hour-long meeting you had to survive, the files piled up in your desk like a stack of stale pancakes waiting to be devoured – or thrown away.

It was the worst day of your life and it’s only the second day of the week. Suddenly, you remember, it’s Valentine’s and all you ever wanted is for this day to end.

Well, now you can still spend Valentine’s – just not the traditional way. your slaving (at work) days are over. It’s time to be a Queen (or King, if you are a man) for a night. If you are in a relationship, you can offer your significant other your services and vise versa (if you’re both working – she’s had a rough day too you know).

Order-out dinner like a boss, give each other massages, a nice long bath, rinse and repeat. I bet you, your Tuesday stress would flush down the tube in no time and both of you will live through the weekday-Valentine’s together.

Videoke Night Now this is exactly the kind of date your bff needs after being dumped right before (or on…Ouch!) Valentine’s Day. Take her to a Karaoke bar or KTV restaurant. There are promos on weekdays too, so that’s another reason to be happy about going on a Videoke date-night. Who says, heartbroken lovers can’t spend Valentine’s Day? Let her hog the microphone all to herself

(at least she has something that’s hers - boom!). after crooning and belting out those adelle’s hits, she might forget that she is crying over spilled beer…I mean, milk.

‘Online Dating’ before you ditch the idea thinking that I am talking about your tinder account or some blind date app you’ve just subscribed to (and regret doing so), Let me make myself clear. I am not talking about finding a date online for Valentine’s day. I am saying you can have an ‘online date-night.’ Think: shopping (I’m starting to make sense, am I?) Online retail shopping – ah, the best therapy known to man. Forget everything at work – including that ugly cardigan top your co-worker spilled coffee on. Take yourself on an ‘online date’ by shopping for a new wardrobe. you can also subscribe to sites that let you rent an entire outfit for less, or lease expensive accessories. With a few clicks, technology might your best date ever. *** 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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VOLuNTeerS from aarP and the Internal revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax assistance (VITa) program will offer residents free assistance with personal income tax form preparation and electronic filing at five city of Las Vegas senior or community centers starting this month. Income restrictions will apply to qualify for assistance. Volunteers are trained to assist in filing tax forms and basic schedules including 1040, 1040a, and 1040eZ for those having a taxable income up to $54,000. Tax payers with complex returns are advised to seek paid tax assistance. advance appointments are required at all locations. bring a copy of your 2015 income tax return, Social Security card, photo identification and all of your applicable 2016 paperwork to the appointment. Call a center below weekdays to schedule an appointment. Centers will be closed Feb. 20 for holiday observance. Go to http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/ or http://www. irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-return-Preparation-for-you-by-Volunteers for additional details and locations for free personal income tax form assistance.

VITa Free Tax Form Preparation (ages 18+) Tuesday-Thursday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; through april 13; by appointment only.

Doolittle Senior Center, 1930 N. J St., 702-229-6125.

The VITa program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited-english-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.

IrS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. Call 702229-6125 for appointments.

VITa Free Tax Form Preparation (all ages) Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., through april 14, Stupak Community Center Computer Lab, 251 W. boston ave., 702-229-2488.

The VITa program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited-english-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.

IrS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. Call 702-732-2052 for appointment; bi-lingual assistance available.

AARP free tax form preparation (all ages) Mondays and Wednesdays; 8:30 a.m. to noon; through april 12; by appointment only.

Las Vegas Senior Center, 451 e. bonanza road, 702-229-6454.

Call 702-229-6454 for details and to make an appointment.

AARP free tax form preparation (ages 50+) Mondays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Feb. 6-april 10, by appointment only.

Centennial Hills active adult Center, 6601 N. buffalo Drive, 702-229-1702.

Call 702-229-1702 for information and appointments.

AARP free tax form preparation (all ages) Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Feb. 8-March 28; by appointment only.

Lieburn Senior Center, 6230 Garwood ave., 702-229-1600.

Call 702-229-1600 for information and appointments.

Free vaccines offered in Las Vegas as flu season continues to increase

LaS VeGaS, Nev – as flu activity continues to increase in the state of Nevada, local organizations are offering flu clinics free to the public. This influenza season has already hit Nevada hard resulting in high numbers of illness, hospitalizations and multiple deaths.

The clinics will be hosted at multiple locations in the Las Vegas area and are limited to first arrivals. The vaccines are made available from the rawson-Neal Hospital, no insurance is required, and are open to the public at the following locations: 1. Feb. 2 - Las Vegas Parks and recreation Department: 250 N. eastern ave., Las Vegas, NV 89101 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

2. Feb. 6 – Grace baptist Church: 5780 e. Sahara ave., Suite #150, Las Vegas, NV 89142 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

3. Feb. 13 and 21-23 – rawson-Neal Hospital: 1650 Community College Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89146 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

4. Feb. 24 – Derfelt Senior Center: 3343 W. Washington ave., Las Vegas, NV 89107 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

5. Mar. 25 – Project 150: 3600 N rancho Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89130 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. rawson-Neal Hospital will be hosting an open house from Feb. 21 – 23 where free flu vaccinations will also be offered.

Flu vaccination is the best chance at not getting the flu.

These clinics are an option for no-cost flu vaccinations. The flu season typically peaks in the winter months, so it’s not too late to get vaccinated. The flu can be dangerous to vulnerable community members such as senior citizens and toddlers under the

age of five. receiving the flu vaccine helps protect everyone in the community.

For vaccinations visit your local healthcare provider or pharmacy. Visit influencenevada.org for up to date locations on where you can receive a flu vaccine.

For details about immunization, statistics, logic, flu prevention strategies and vaccination clinics, follow Immunize Nevada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,LinkedIn and Pinterest. Or visit www.influencenevada.org for more information.

Immunize Nevada is widely recognized as Nevada’s trusted resource for immunizations and community health for all ages by fostering education and statewide collaboration. Immunize Nevada’s vision is healthy communities across Nevada protected from vaccine-preventable disease. For more information, visit ImmunizeNevada.org.

Producer clarifies plans on Kris Aquino’s TV comeback

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

IT has been a while since Kris aquino was visible on television, her erstwhile kingdom as “Queen of all Media.” For 22 years, she was abS-CbN’s main staple—hosting daily talk shows and game shows, appearing in Star Cinema movies, and even releasing motivational CDs through Star records.

Naturally, after going on an extended medical break from TV work, when aquino’s photograph with legendary eat bulaga producer aPT entertainment’s Tony Tuviera and his film director son Mike landed on social media in July, both showbiz and the general public was abuzz on what the alliance would generate.

The biggest question: Was Kris aquino transferring to her long-time network’s rival, GMa Network, where the Tuvieras are considered the foremost block-timer and a long loyal partner? all aquino confirmed was she indeed decided to leave abS-CbN and was set to do projects with aPT entertainment, a subsidiary of eat bulaga’s TaPe producers. but until now, there are no signs of the Queen of all Media on GMa, or on television in general.

In a roundtable with the wellrespected TV visionary Tuviera on January 27, The Manila Times was finally able to ask him for aPT’s plans for the controversial personality’s career.

“It’s like this. She texted me, she wanted to sit down, and I didn’t know anything on what we were going to talk about. So, I just brought my son Mike and we sat down with her. She said something like, ‘I want to get into digital. I think the future really is digital. I want to be there first. It’s about time that I start to hone what I’m doing too.’ and it’s true, when it comes to digital, she leads everyone [on the platform]. and then she said she can help us with some of the sponsors.

That’s how it started,” Tuviera recounted. beyond that, he clarified aPT does not have any plans for former President Cory aquino’s

The photo that sent showbiz abuzz on what Tony Tuviera (center), son Mike and Kris Aquino were doing together back in July 2016.

daughter and former President Noynoy aquino’s sister when it comes to television, “because again, our arrangement was basically for digital.”

Going into further detail Tuviera said, “actually we haven’t signed anything formally when it comes to management agreement because we still need to know how to work out [this platform]and there are still many complications.”

Known for being upfront in the business, the producer declared, “I’ll be very honest, it’s scary that we might fail, and if we fail, it will hit us and hit her hard. and right now, we don’t know yet how we can bring back Kris [on TV]. a lot of people are really waiting for her [return]but if we gamble on bringing her back doing the same thing she was before, it won’t be easy. So, we’re still looking for something different for her,” Tuviera explained. basically, a new concept for aquino is the big hurdle for aPT who was rumored to have planned to pit her late last year against abS-CbN’s ongoing morning program Magandang buhay, hosted by Karla estrada, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco and Jolina Magdangal-escueta.

“We are looking for something new that’s why we first gambled on the show Trops,” Tuviera related.

Trops is a teenage rom-com series starring the boys of eat bulaga’s “That’s My bae.” It premiered in October and continues to air daily before the top-rating

noontime show. asked whether he has heard rumors that GMa refuses to have a Kris aquino show on his network, Tuviera simply said, “She’s very successful. She’s great in hosting. but Kris is not a talent of GMa so they cannot plan on a show for her.”

On AlDub Moving on to other pressing matters, Tuviera also confirmed that with alden richards and Maine Mendoza starting a nightly soap for GMa Network, they will be seen less over eat bulaga, whose ingenious “Kalyeserye” segment served as their springboard to stardom.

“It’s really just a matter of scheduling,” Tuviera said of his most recent goldmine. “alDub’s exposure in eat bulaga will have to be less because of their taping for the soap, which is three times a week. and since it’s airing soon, they really need to have more time there. but then eventually, when the teleserye ends, that’s the time they will come back, but maybe just once- or twice-a-week,” he said.

“So far [alDub’s busy schedule] isn’t affecting eat bulaga. even before alDub, we were doing really well. but yes, when alDub came to the picture, it was whole lot different. Still we cannot expect to have those phenomenal ratings all the time; there will be times we won’t hit that. a lot of people had said the alDub phenomenon wouldn’t go as far as three or six months PAGE B7

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Viral: Filipina single mom claims Miss Venus Raj hopes Binibining Pilipinas Bulgaria’s gown for daughter’s prom contract would allow interpreters

by Rosette

by deni

Rose BeRnARdo Philstar.com

Adel

Philstar.com

A lucky Filipina single mother got to claim the evening gown of Miss Bulgaria 2016 Violina Ancheva.

Ancheva earlier offered her blue glittery gown made by famed designer Sherri Hill to Filipinos. For her, it is important to pass on her gown.

She made the announcement on her Facebook account before she leaves the Philippines.

In her announcement, Ancheva said she wants to give her gown to a girl in need of a dress for her prom and asked interested parties to send her a personal message.

Ancheva’s giveaway post earned 172,000 reactions, over 28,000 shares and more than 13,000 comments. Filipinos got delighted of her offer.

Among those who sent Ancheva a message was a Filipina single mother of two, Issa Gallano. She said she wanted to surprise her 15-year-old daughter, Zyra Nicole cifra, who will attend prom this month.

“I was checking my SSS (Social Security System) already so I

Miss Bulgaria 2016 Violina Ancheva offered her blue glittery gown made by famed designer Sherri Hill to Filipinos.

can buy her a dress because she really wanted a memorable prom this year. And then this necklace, I’m ready to pawn this just to add to the budget,” Gallano said in a televised interview with cNN. Gallano then posted photos of her and her daughter extending their gratitude to Ancheva. The Bulgarian beauty queen also asked her to send a video of her daughter’s reaction who was still

in school when she claimed the gown.

In December 2015, Filipino netizens also noticed and praised Miss Bulgaria 2015 Radost Todorova and her gesture. Todorova pushed Pia Wurtzbach to claim the Miss universe crown after Steve Harvey mistakenly mixed up the proclaimed winners.

She was tagged by netizens as a “pambansang bestie.”

WHeN Filipinos heard an interpreter translate Miss universe host Steve Harvey’s question for Miss Philippines Maxine Medina, their hearts skipped a beat, hoping that Maxine will answer the question in her native Filipino and become the first Filipina candidate in the pageant’s history to use an interpreter.

But she did not. She still answered the question in english after it was translated. Why? On the eve of the competition, Miss universe 4th runner-up Venus Raj gave some clues.

“I don’t see anything wrong in using an interpreter. Actually, it will help a lot,” she said.

It is in their contract in Binibining Pilipinas, however, to not use an interpreter, Venus said.

“Actually, during my time, I was asking for an interpreter, but the local franchisee did not allow me. And of course, I want to abide by the rules of the authority,” she explained.

If Venus would have her way, she would like to take it out of the contract.

“I can only speak for myself. I don’t know about their opinion.

But for me, if you can speak your

native tongue in an international audience, if you’re talking to the crowd using your native language, it will be beautiful.”

She, however, respects the fact that “it’s the local franchise’s prerogative to have interpreter.”

“It’s a good thing that they really believe in the Filipinos’ english speaking skills. everybody speaks english in the Philippines.

But if you can express more in Tagalog,” she said.

She thinks that Binibining Pilipinas, the national beauty contest franchise that sends representatives to the likes of Miss universe, has changed a lot in allowing Filipino designers to dress up candidates, so she hopes the organization will also soften when it comes to the interpreterissue.

“During my time, we were not allowed to wear gowns from Filipino designers. But now, they have changed. They have opened to Filipino designers. In fact, they’re inviting Filipino designers to design for the candidates,” Venus said.

She believes that just like the question and answer portion, hair and makeup are very important and can make or break one’s beauty. She also affirmed that wearing a Filipino designer

Miss Universe 2010 4th runner-up Ma. Venus Raj

helped Pia Wurtzbach win last year.

“It’s a big help to the girl if she’s confident with the clothes she’s wearing. If she feels beautiful with what she’s wearing, it also radiates with the person,” she said, explaining the value of having the total package.

Producer clarifies plans on Kris Aquino’s... How Ellen Adarna is moving on from Baste Duterte PAGE B6

TV trailblazer and APT big boss Tony Tuviera

but it did. Well beyond a year now, I think we were successful to keep them up there and we’re both happy and proud of that,” Tuviera added.

TAPe’s big boss also shared that they are cooking a new movie for the two but are still working out the details. “We have lined up a movie for AlDub this year but we’re not sure it would be for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). I’ve made a rule that if APT will make a movie, it will only be fielded to the MMFF if Vic Sotto is not competing.”

On MMFF changes As a veteran in the business whose concepts have proven successful and spot-on for the Filipino taste, Tuviera also accommodated questions regarding the controversial 2016 MMFF. On the selection of mostly independent finalists, Tuviera, who co-produced Vic Sotto’s enteng

kabisote And The Abangers that failed to make the cut, voiced out, “It’s just hard to accept that we are pitting indies against commercial films, which both have the same intentions in coming out with a good movie. But in the end, it’s the audience who will choose what they want to watch. uS, there is a different festival for independent films.

What really hurts is the branding that a commercial film is not a quality movie.”

He hopes, however, that this new year, the issue will be resolved and that Philippine movies will get the support it deserves for all sectors—whether indie or mainstream. For someone who is considered an innovator on television and film, Tuviera believes there is a place for everyone, and when given that proper place, everyone—producers, actors, the public—will emerge as winners in providing and enjoying entertainment.

“IT must have been love, but it’s over now.” One could almost hear the lyrics of Roxette’s hit song as ellen Adarna revealed to Philstar.com that the relationship she had with presidential son Sebastian “Baste” Duterte was “a bit” serious and not just for fun.

The relationship, she said, lasted for roughly six to seven months, but it just did not work out.

The 28-year-old sexy star was rumored to be dating the 29-yearold youngest son of President Rodrigo Duterte last year after the actress posted a photo on social media showing her and Baste kissing. She then posted couple photos while they were in Siargao.

The actress just confirmed the hearsay this month, when they already broke up via text. Baste was seen alone in the Miss universe after-party in Okada Hotel last January 30.

Baste Duterte and Ellen Adarna as seen in an Instagram post by the latter.

“I have work on Valentine’s Day,” said ellen, who is in ABScBN TV shows “langit lupa” and “Home Sweetie Home”. Her new movie, “Moonlight over Baler”, will be showing this February 8

with Gil Portes as director. “everything’s going to be okay.

If it’s not okay, it’s not the end, so be strong!” she urged those who are also nursing a broken heart.(Philstar.com)

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