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Volume 28 - No. 1 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

J A N U A RY 1 2 - 1 8 , 2 0 1 7

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Donald Trump holds first press conference since being elected Discusses Russian hacking, conflicts of interest, Obamacare

by ERIC

ANTHONY LICAS

tures, and other concerns with reporters at Trump Tower in New PRESIDENT-elect Donald York on Wednesday, January 11.

Trump also announced his Trump discussed reports of Russian cyber-espionage, possible choice of David Shulkin to head conflicts of interest stemming the Department of Veteran Affairs from his private business ven- during his first press conference AJPress

DATELINE

since his victory in the 2016 presidential election. He went on to reiterate his campaign promises to promote job growth, build a wall along America’s southern border FAREWELL. Photo shows outgoing President Barack Obama waving to his supporters after he gave his emotional final address to the nation at the Mexican government’s ex- on Tuesday night, Jan. 10 in Chicago, 10 days before he cedes power to president-elect Donald Trump. Joining him onstage are First Lady White House Twitter photo PAGE A2 Michelle Obama, daughter Malia, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden.

VP Robredo denies involvement in leaked emails

USA

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Fil-Am dies after being pinned by train in San Francisco A SAN FRANCISCO resident whose body had gotten trapped between a transit platform and train car clung to life for days after he was freed, but eventually died of his injuries on Friday, January 6.

Investigators say that Filipino-American Jeff De La Fuente accidentally fell off of a platform at the 24th Street Mission Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 4 and became pinned at his waist by a train car.

Firefighters had to use specialized airbags to push the car away from his body and release him. De La Fuente remained conscious during his rescue and was transported to a local hospital where staff attempted to save his life.

He was 31 at the time of his death.

“The doctor said that he fought,” De La Fuente’s longtime girlfriend, Dorothy Mak, told local ABC station KGO-TV on Friday. “He fought to stay alive, he really did.”

She also said that he had been working to become a lawyer and was scheduled to take the LSAT in February.

PAGE A3

Deadline to sign up for health coverage in 2017 approaching AFFORDABLE and invaluable health care is available for uninsured Californians in 2017.

But the deadline to enroll is drawing near: Covered California’s open enrollment ends on Jan. 31. Those who enroll

by Jan. 15 will have their coverage begin on Feb. 1. Those signing up between Jan. 16 and Jan. 31 will have coverage starting March 1.

While rising rates are a real concern, Covered California members who are renewing their coverage now are finding real savings by shopping around within their health plan’s metal tier. (Plans are available in four metal tiers, also known PAGE A3

Vice President Leni Robredo

PHILIPPINE Vice Leni Robredo has dismissed the allegations that she was involved in the alleged leaked emails about a plan to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte.

This comes after reports revealed that a Yahoo! group contained emails of Robredo’s supporters plotting to oust the president.

“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang participation ko. Nami-mention daw ang pangalan ko, pero hindi ako kabahagi nu’ng grupong iyon (I don’t know what is my participation there. I was told that my name was mentioned

but I’m not part of that group),” Robredo said in an interview in Marinduque on Monday, January 9.

Pro-Duterte blogger “The Thinking Pinoy” posted the so-called ‘#LeniLeaks’ on its page, citing emails and information from a Yahoo group named “Global Filipino Diaspora Council.”

One of the emails in the thread suggested that Duterte resign.

“The only way to fight this evil plot to unseat VP Leni is to ask Duterte to resign. After all, he promised to resign in six months if he has not solved the drug epidemic in the Philippines,” the email said.

It further read, “He (Duterte) asked for an extension of another

Defense chief: Agreement for PH-Russia deal almost done

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday, January 9, said that the country is already wrapping up the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for its planned military defense cooperation with Russia.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the memorandum was first drafted in 2014 during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III, but was not completed.

“Hindi umurong (It didn’t move forward) so we are going to finish this. Halos tapos na ‘yung draft (The draft is almost done) and it will be one of the documents that will be signed kung matatapos ‘yung mga nitty-gritty (after fixing the nitty-gritty),” Lorenzana said.

He said that the MOU is STRENGTHENING TIES. Russian marines attached to the visiting anti-submarine ship aimed to be signed during Admiral Tributs show their strength and skills using hollow blocks and a sledgehammer President Rodrigo Duterte’s during a demonstration in Rizal Park in Manila on Thursday, Jan. 5.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman upcoming visit in Russia in April or May this year.

“The Russians said that it will still pass through the According to him, the pro- they would like to have ex- Department of Foreign Afposed agreement will pave ercises with us, especially fairs),” Lorenzana added. way to the exchange of mili- maritime, pero ‘yung ilalagay Lorenzana also took note tary personnels between the natin acceptable kasi dadaan that the MOU with Russia two countries and participa- pa ‘yan sa DFA (we’ll include will be different from the tion in war exercises. what is acceptable because PAGE A2

six months. Extension denied! Join Duterte Resign Movement.”

In response, the vice president said, “Wala, hindi rin ako kabahagi doon (No, I’m also not part of it).”

Robredo went on to remark that she has been on the receiving end of fake news.

The vice president said she’d rather focus on her job instead of the ‘ridiculous’ allegations against her.

“Pero sa akin, as much as possible, gusto ko sanang mag-concentrate sa trabaho, kasi ang tingin ko lang, ang daming viciousness ngayon sa internet (For me, as much as possible, I want to concentrate on my job, bePAGE A2

Negotiation for Pacquiao vs.

Horn bout fight underway

THE negotiation for the fight between World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight cham-pion Manny Pacquiao and hard-hitting WBO intercontinental welterweight champion Jeff Horn in April is moving fast according to the promoters of the two boxers.

Duco Promotion’s Dean Lonergan said that he met with Top Rank Promotion head Bob Arum on Tuesday, Jan. 10 to bring Pacquiao’s title defense fight to Australia.

“We’re all working toward getting Manny Pacquiao to fight Jeff Horn in Australia,” Lonergan told The Manila Times via overseas call

on Wednesday (Tuesday in Las Vegas). “Jeff Horn is firm as the No. 1 contender.”

“We are now sorting out the best venue and the best deal that we could secure for both fighters,” he said. “I’m very much confident of securing the fight. I think we’re very close to making it sure that this fight happens in Australia and I’ve got no doubt that in two to three weeks everything will be okay.”

Lonergan, who will return to New Zealand within the week, said the Pacquiao fight would probably be one of the greatest sporting events to ever happen in Australia.

PAGE A2

Trump invited to attend ASEAN summit in PH

by AJPRESS

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has extended an invitation to United States President-elect Donald Trump to attend the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit later this year.

According to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Trump’s office has acknowledged the letter and said it would notify Malacañang as soon as a decision regarding the invitation has been made.

PAGE A2 Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

A

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From The FronT Page

Donald Trump holds first...

PAGE A1 pense, and eliminate the Affordable Care Act. “We’re going to be submitting -- as soon as our secretary’s approved, almost simultaneously, shortly thereafter, a plan,� Trump said of his alternative to the ACA on Wednesday. “It’ll be repeal and replace. It will be essentially simultaneously.�

The president-elect said dismantling the Obama administration’s signature health insurance law would be the first priority of his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, if the Senate affirms his appointment.

Trump added that he believed public support for Obamacare would have evaporated on its own as weakness in the legislation came to light during its implementation. He called the measure a political liability for democrats and said he was doing them a favor by avoiding public discontent resulting from attempts to overhaul the complicated law.

This year, Trump’s administration also plans on moving quickly to secure the United States’ border with Mexico, which he called an “open sieve.� “I could wait about a year and a half until we finish our negotiations with Mexico, which we’ll start immediately after we get to

office, but I don’t want to wait,�

Trump said.

Trump said that he planned to have the Mexican government reimburse the U.S. for the cost of the wall’s construction.

Trump had publicly cast doubt on allegations of covert foreign meddling in American politics before receiving a private briefing from the CIA on Friday, January 6.

However, on Wednesday, Trump conceded that hackers acting on behalf of the Russian government were likely responsible for the leak of terabytes of private e-mails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) during the 2016 presidential election. “I think it was Russia, but I think we also get hacked by other countries and other people.�

Trump added that he believed the DNC had been lax in its cybersecurity efforts, leaving it vulnerable to data breaches.

During a congressional hearing on Tuesday, January 10, FBI Director James Comey told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that the same operatives who had penetrated DNC servers had also managed to access private information from Republican organizations at the state-level as well as a defunct Republican National Committee email domain.

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“Information was harvested from there, but it was old stuff,�

Comey told Congress on Tuesday, according to various sources. “None of that was released.�

He went on to publicly confirm the intelligence community’s assessment that the Russian government was working to assist Trump’s presidential campaign.

On Wednesday, Trump dismissed related reports stating that officials in Moscow had attempted to obtain his personal and financial information, which they could possibly use as leverage against him in the future. He went on to stress the importance of enhancing the federal government’s “hacking defense� to avoid any attacks.

Addressing conflicts of interest Prior to him taking the stage on Wednesday, his attorney Sheri Dillon announced that the president-elect will hand over management of the Trump Organization to his two sons, Donald Jr. and Eric. His daughter Ivanka will resign from her roles to avoid any conflicts.

Dillion also said that Trump would not divest from his business or set up a blind trust. “President-elect Trump should not be expected to destroy the company he built,� Dillon said. “This plan offers a suitable alternative to address the concerns of the American people.�

She went on to say that the organization will not engage in new deals in foreign countries while in office and that an ethics adviser will review future transactions made domestically. Any profits to the Trump Hotel made from foreign governments will be donated to the U.S. Treasury.

Although the president-elect will be exempt from conflict of interest laws and his advisers argue that the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution are not applicable to Trump’s holdings, Dillion said “he’s voluntarily taken this on.� “So I could actually run my business, I could actually run my business and run government at the same time,� Trump said. “I don’t like the way that looks, but I would be able to do that if I wanted to.�

Trump will formally assume office next week on Friday, January 20. n

TO OLD ALLIANCES, NEW FRIENDSHIPS. President Duterte raises his glass for a toast with the diplomatic corps led by Papal Nuncio Giuseppe Pinto during the vin d’honneur at MalacaĂąangPalace on Wednesday, Jan. 11. The President vowed to pursue ‘constructive alliances and new friendships’ with other countries.

Trump invited to attend ASEAN summit...

PAGE A1 Trump is slated to take his oath as the new president of the U.S. on Friday, January 20, succeeding current President Barack Obama.

Following the real estate billionaire’s win last November, he and Duterte spoke over the phone. During the seven-minute conversation, Trump reportedly praised the Philippine president’s fight against illegal drugs as “the right way.�

The ASEAN Summit 2017, chaired by the Philippines, will be held in November in Clark, Pampanga. “The year brings much excitement and challenge to the Philippines as we are hosting

the ASEAN 2017 on its 50th or golden anniversary, which is an opportune time to show to the ASEAN region as well as to the world our capability to host international and important events, including the upcoming Miss Universe pageant,� Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael ‘Mike’ D. Sueno said.

The Philippines previously held the ASEAN chairmanship in 1987, 1999 and 2006.

Sueno said that the DILG has been coordinating with other government agencies in beefing-up the overall security preparations as the Chair of the Committee for Security, Peace and Order and Emergency Pre-

paredness and Response (CSPOEPR) for the Philippines’ hosting of ASEAN. He added that the purpose of the ASEAN Summit is to show the Philippines “the importance of regional integration...and its benefits to ordinary Filipinos.�

The Philippine government is also set to officially launch ASEAN 2017 on January 15 in Davao City. “Filipinos are no longer just citizens of the Philippines but form part of the citizenry of the ASEAN Community since its formal establishment in 2015. Let us embrace our ASEANship and explore opportunities that are already in front of us,� Sueno remarked.

VP Robredo denies involvement in...

PAGE A1

cause I think there is a lot of viciousness now on the internet),�

Rodredo said.

Robredo also denied being in contact with Filipino-American philanthropist Loida NicolasLewis, a known supporter of the Liberal Party, who was part of the controversial thread. “Ni personal meeting, ni tawag sa telepono, hindi po kami nagtawagan o nag-meet sa Amerika.

Kaya ‘yung kumakalat na balita hindi po iyon totoo (Not a per-

sonal meeting nor a phone call.

We didn’t even met in America.

The circulating news was fake),�

Robredo said.

The vice president traveled to the United States with her children last month to spend the holidays.

In response to the allegations, MalacaĂąang said it is conducting an investigation regarding the matter. “It’s a serious matter sapagkat may nakasulat doon kung paano nila papag-resign-in si President

Duterte (It is a serious matter because it is written there how they will make President Duterte resign)... Siyempre, that does not sit well with us in the government because any move to oust the President is not good and it is definitely illegal,� Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told radio DZMM. He also acknowledged that Robredo may not be part of the rumored ouster plot. “It’s possible she didn’t know,�

Andanar said.

Defense chief: Agreement for PH-Russia...

PAGE A1 Philippines’ Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States. “Hindi naman ‘yung katulad sa US na treaty, Mutual Defense Treaty na pagka-aatakihin tayo tulungan tayo. Wala tayong ganun sa Russia (It’s not the same with our Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. which is a treaty, Mutual Defence Treaty, which mandates them to help us if we’re attacked),� Lorenzana explained.

He also clarified that the Philippines will have a “cooperation,�

not an “alliance,� with Russia and assured that the treaty will not affect the Philippines’ alliance with the U.S. “No. Wala tayong alliance dito.

Military to military cooperation ito (We don’t have an alliance.

This is a military to military cooperation),� Lorenzana stressed.

Last week, Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev said that Moscow is interested in forming a defense cooperation with Manila. He also said that his country is open to supplying the Philip-

Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao

pines with firearms.

According to Lorenzana, Russian officials were expected visit the country this month to discuss possible weapon deals. “We need new partners in Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines. It’s time for the Philippines to discover Russia and time for Russians to discover the Philippines,� Khovaev said.

The Russian ambassador, however, clarified that Moscow is not seeking a military alliance with Manila.

AJPress file photo by Robert Macabagdal

Negotiation for Pacquiao-Horn fight...

PAGE A1

“This will be the biggest fight in Australian boxing history. Pacquiao is loved not only by the boxing fans but all over the world including Australia and that’s one of the greatest sporting nations in the planet. We have a deal at the moment. We already agreed in principle and to some other things,� he added. “The fight could be held in the east coast of Australia and we already talked with various sponsors in Queensland, Victoria and Wales that the fight will be secured in the Australian soil,�

Lonergan said. “We’re expecting 40 to 50 thousand people to fill the venue.�

The possible venue for the fight is the 52,000-capacity Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

He said the bout would feature Australian fighters since Australia is known for a vibrant boxing scene. At the same time, Lonergan also believes the Filipinos in Australia and New Zealand would love to see Pacman fight in the Down Under. “It will be a fantastic for Manny Pacquiao’s career,� he said. “There are 250,000 Filipinos living in Australia and there are 60,000 or 70,000 Filipinos living in New Zealand, but I’m also expecting lot of Filipinos to come to Australia once Pacquiao fights there.�

Lonergan said that the only thing missing now is Pacquiao’s approval. But he is confident that Arum would convince the fighting senator to fight in Australia. “I’m confident that Bob Arum will get the deal done with Manny’s

approval,� he said.

Horn, 28, holds an undefeated 16-0-1 win-loss-draw record with 11 knockouts against the 38-year old Pacquiao’s 59-6-1 with 38 knockouts.

Arum will be flying to Manila anytime soon to present the details of the contract to Pacquiao. “Once I get everything put together I will get Manny’s approval and talk with him sensibly there in Manila. Well why he (Pacquiao) wouldn’t sign the contract if it’s a good deal,� Arum said in a separate interview.

Arum added that a PacquiaoMayweather rematch would not happen this year. “There’s no indication that Floyd Mayweather Jr. will be coming out from retirement this year,� he said. (Josef T. Ramos/ManilaTimes.net)

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DATELINE USA

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 12-18 2017

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Deadline to sign up for health coverage in...

MOCHA IN THE PALACE. President Rodrigo Duterte congratulates newly appointed member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Margaux ‘Mocha’ Uson (third from left) following the mass oath-taking of new appointees in Malacañang on Monday, Jan. 9.

Malacañang photo

McCain: China presents Asian nations with false choice

by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

CHINA is presenting Asian countries with a “false” choice between itself and the United States and is trying to make them believe the balance of power has shifted in its favor with Washington on the decline, according to US Sen. John McCain.

McCain, chairman of the US Senate Committee on Armed Services, voiced his observation at a lecture before the Heritage Foundation, an American think tank based in Washington.

If China is truly committed to a “peaceful rise,” he said it should be a vital partner in upholding the rules-based international order and not use its growing power and position to disrupt it.

China, McCain said, has maneuvered toward a policy of intimidation and coercion in support of its objective, especially under the leadership of President Xi Jinping.

When the Permanent Court of Arbitration took up the case against China’s vast claims in the South China Sea, the senator said China operated as a bully and demanded the silence of other countries.

Beijing threatened with harsh consequences those that supported the international ruling, which invalidated China’s nine-dash line

claim, McCain said.

When China didn’t get its way, it dismissed the ruling – issued in July – as a US-led conspiracy and vowed defiance, he added.

China’s leaders view the last two centuries as aberrations of history, he said, as they seek to reclaim China’s status as the dominant power in the Asia-Pacific.

“In other words, China’s leaders want to dictate the economic and security rules of the road for Asia.

But they view the United States as the primary obstacle to achieving this goal,” McCain said.

The senator said China has used trade as a weapon in disputes with its neighbors as well as cyber technology to steal intellectual property from foreign businesses.

China harassed fisherman from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, stepped up armed incursions around the Senkaku Islands administered by Japan in the East China Sea and conducted dangerous intercepts of military aircraft flying in international airspace, McCain said.

“So, China has presented the nations of Asia with a false choice: are you with us, or are you with the United States? And those that fail to make the right choice in China’s eyes must prepare for the consequences,” he pointed out.

“There is no doubt China’s hys-

terical threats and heavy-handed diplomacy have produced backlash. But that is not to say such pressure cannot be effective,” he added.

“China will likely persist in pressuring the nations of Asia to fall in line with its challenge to the rulesbased order. It appears to believe the balance of power has shifted, that America is in decline, and that now is the right time to right what it views as historic wrongs,” McCain stressed.

“I believe this judgment is wrong. But the true danger is if other nations in Asia reach the same conclusion,” he added.

While the US cannot choose for Asia whether to uphold and defend the rules-based order, McCain said the US can make the choice an easier one as he urged the new administration of president-elect Donald Trump to “demonstrate renewed US leadership in the Asia-Pacific, by choosing to remain actively engaged in the world as an indispensable economic and security partner.”

“We chose to play a leadership role in the world, not to abandon our allies and partners, and to bear the costs of doing so,” McCain said. “That choice has, at times, been unpopular. But it was, and still is, the right choice.

And that is the choice we must be prepared to make today.”

PAGE A1 as coverage levels.) Covered California found that renewing members who have switched their plan, but remain within the same metal tier, have saved an average of $38 per month or $456 per year.

In addition, more than half of all Covered California consumers, 59 percent, are eligible to choose a Bronze plan for less than $10 per month. Bronze plans offer three visits to a primary care physician or specialist that are not subject to a deductible. Also, nearly half of all Covered California consumers, 49 percent, can get a Silver plan for less than $100 per month. None of the outpatient services included in the Silver plan — such as primary, urgent and specialist care — is subject to a deductible.

For someone like Adam Kuns, 27, of Camarillo, the financial impact is secondary to managing his diabetes. Kuns was on his parents’ insurance plan until age 23, but he was depleting their retirement fund paying the $10,000 deductible

for all of his needed care. That was until Covered California began offering coverage in 2014.

“I can get the care I really need without going bankrupt,” Kuns said. “I’ve been on both ends of the stick. I’ve gone from having no health care and draining my parents’ retirement to having health insurance that actually works for me. I’m willing to pay a higher premium to get a lower deductible.”

As a small-business owner, Kuns said it can be tough paying more than $340 a month for coverage, but it certainly is better than the alternative.

Along with diabetes, Kuns also has ulcerative colitis. He now has an insulin pump and sees an endocrinologist regularly to help him manage his conditions.

There are many more stories like his throughout the state, since more than 2.8 million Californians have purchased health insurance through Covered California. According to the Centers for Disease Con-

trol and Prevention, the uninsured rate has fallen from 17 percent in 2013 to 7.4 percent in the first half of 2016.

Covered California has built a competitive market where the consumer is in the driver’s seat and health plans are fighting for their business. More than 90 percent of Californians have a choice between three or more carriers, and all will have at least two to choose from in 2017. Having coverage can also protect individuals and their families from spending tens of thousands of dollars on an unexpected emergency room visit.

Those interested in enrolling online can do so on CoveredCA. com. Free and confidential inperson assistance, available in a variety of languages, can be found by clicking on “Free Local Help to Enroll.” Consumers can find a nearby enroller or have a certified enroller contact them through the “Help on Demand” feature. They can also enroll over the phone by calling Covered California at (800) 300-1506.

Fil-Am dies after being pinned by...

PAGE A1 Fuentes made a living as a mechanic in San Francisco’s Mission district. He also worked as a taxi driver, which allowed him to build friendships in the area, according to KGO-TV. “I just want his family to know that he was loved by many,” said Mak, as reported

by AsAm News.

On Friday night, friends formed a candlelight vigil at the BART station to honor De La Fuente’s memory.

A GoFundMe campaign originally set up to cover his hospital bills on Thursday, January 5 had already exceeded $25,000 in donations to pay for funerary expenses by Sunday, January 8. As requested

by De La Fuente’s mother Alice, Mak is working with GoFundMe to refund any unused money. She has directed those who still wish to make a contribution in his honor to donate to the nonprofit Feeding America, which works to fight hunger throughout the United States.

De La Fuente was raised by a single mother in the Philip-

Fil-Am Jeff De La Fuente, 31, passed away on Friday, January 6, two days after an accident at a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station in San Francisco.

Photo courtesy of Dorothy Mak / Facebook

pines before immigrating to the U.S. His mother plans to bury him in his country of birth after hosting a local funeral.

Comments left in his mem-

ory on an obituary page describe Fuente as humble, hard-working, and devoted to his girlfriend and family. (Eric Anthony Licas / AJPress)

A

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Pope Francis selects Bishop Oscar Solis to head diocese of Salt Lake City Solis makes history as first Filipino to lead large Catholic congregation

by Eric

Anthony LicAs AJPress

POPE Francis chose Oscar Solis to become the next bishop of the diocese of Salt Lake City on Tuesday, January 10, making him the first Filipino-American clergyman to lead such a large congregation of American Catholics.

Solis will serve a community of about 300,000 people in his latest role, according to Angelus News.

The former auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has worked as a priest in both the U.S. and the Philippines for the better part of four decades.

“I come to any place with an open mind” Solis told the Asian Journal during a telephone interview on Wednesday, January 11.

“It is an occasion for me to learn about the people [of Utah], what their needs are, and how I will work with them and carry out my mission as a priest.”

He was surprised to learn of the appointment, according to Deseret News and other sources. He reportedly called himself a “fool” for thinking he would spend the remainder of his career in Los Angeles.

Clergymen who have worked with Solis described him as humble, organized, and approachable.

He is also known for his sharp sense of humor and work as a supporter of minority communities in the Church.

“He is well loved in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,” Father Albert Avenido, who currently serves under Solis in the San Pedro Pastoral District, told the Asian Journal during a phone interview on Tuesday. “We will be missing a great man of God. We will be missing a great pastor, and a great friend…”

In 2004, Solis became the first Filipino American to be ordained a bishop in the United States and moved from Thibodaux, Louisiana to Los Angeles, a city which boasts the country’s largest population of Filipino Catholics. There, he worked as vicar for ethnic ministry and displayed a talent for building relationships between diverse members of the community, according to Avenido.

He was later promoted to aux-

Bishop Oscar Solis

iliary bishop of the San Pedro Pastoral District in 2009. For the past seven years, Solis has been responsible for overseeing 67 parishes and eight Catholic high schools in Los Angeles and Long Beach. He has also been the episcopal advisor for the National Association of Filipino Priests since 2011.

“Our loss will be a gift to the family of God in Salt Lake City,” Archbishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, Jose Gomez told Angelus News on Tuesday. He went on to say that “I fully expect that [Solis] will become the leading voice for the millions of Filipino Catholics in this country.”

Solis began serving as a priest in his hometown of San Jose City in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines after he was ordained

by Bishop Vicente Reyes in 1979, according to Vatican Radio.

After traveling to Rome in 1984 to earn a doctorate in canon law, Solis emigrated to the United States and worked as a parochial vicar for the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey until 1988.

He then relocated to Thibodaux where he worked in four different parishes over the course of 15 years, according to various sources. In 2003, Solis was considering taking a sabbatical and eventually retiring in Louisiana before learning that he was a candidate for the position of auxiliary bishop on the West Coast.

“I will miss friends and priests

AJPress photo by Ding Carreon

and LA, but I know God has something in store for us when he leads us to a new place,” Solis told Angelus News on Tuesday.

He will be officially installed as Salt Lake City’s bishop during a ceremony at the Cathedral of the Madeline on Tuesday, March 7.

Avenido said that Solis’s experience as a community builder made him an excellent choice to lead and represent Utah’s Catholic community.

Solis told the Asian Journal that he didn’t have much first-hand experience with the people and culture of Utah.

“Instead of the feeling of uncertainty, inquisitiveness and curiosity makes me feel like, wow, this must be good. I want to reserve that element of surprise. It’s part of our adventures in life,” he remarked.

During Tuesday’s press event, Solis said he looked forward to working for all of the faithful in his new diocese and continuing interfaith cooperation with the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (LDS). Representatives of the Mormon community, as well as Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski have issued statements welcoming Solis’s appointment.

“We look forward to building a friendship and partnership with Bishop Solis as we work together to serve the people of Utah. Mabuhay, Bishop Solis!” wrote LDS Church officials on Tuesday.

HUMAN BRIDGE. Thousands of devotees cram Jones Bridge as the procession of the Black Nazarene moves toward the Sta. Cruz district in Manila at noontime on Monday, Jan. 9.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Ranada

BI nabs American hired killer in Subic by tEtch

torrEs-tupAs Inquirer.net

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested an American national killer for hire in Subic on Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Yoshikoson Umeko Haddon was arrested by agents of the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU).

He said the BI is already preparing the deportation of Had-

den who is currently detained at the BI facility in Camp Bagong Diwa.

Morente said he issued the mission for Haddon’s arrest after being informed by the US embassy that the fugitive’s passport has been revoked by the State Department, thus making him an undocumented alien.

Hadden is wanted in the US following the arrest warrant issued last year by a US district court in Virgina.

He was reportedly facing a case for capital murder, killing for hire and solicitation of adult to commit felony.

Haddon will be placed in the immigration blacklist after he is deported to prevent him from returning to the Philippines, Morente said.

“US authorities have described him as a dangerous felon, thus his continued presence here poses a serious threat to public safety,” the BI chief added.

One in three women with breast cancer treated unnecessarily, study concludes

by Liz szAbo Kaiser Health News

ONE in three women with breast cancer detected by a mammogram is treated unnecessarily, because screening tests found tumors that are so slowgrowing that they’re essentially harmless, according to a Danish study published Monday in Annals of Internal Medicine, which has renewed debate over the value of early detection.

The study raises the uncomfortable possibility that some women who believe their lives were saved by mammograms were actually harmed by cancer screenings that led to surgery, radiation and even chemotherapy that they didn’t need, said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, who wrote an accompanying editorial but was not involved in the study.

Researchers increasingly recognize that not all breast cancers pose the same risk, even if they look the same under a microscope, Brawley said. While some early tumors turn into deadly monsters, others stop growing or even shrink. But assuming that all small breast lesions have the potential to turn deadly is akin to “racial profiling,” Brawley wrote in his editorial.

“By treating all the cancers that we see, we are clearly saving some lives,” Brawley said in an interview. “But we’re also ‘curing’ some women who don’t need to be cured.”

Although experts such as Brawley have long discussed the risks posed by “overdiagnosis,” relatively few women who undergo cancer screenings are even aware of the debate.

The American College of Radiology, which strongly supports breast cancer screenings, acknowledges that mammograms lead some women to be treated unnecessarily, but said the problem is much less common than the new study suggests. Another study from Denmark – whose national health program keeps detailed records – estimated the overdiagnosis rates at only 2.3 percent.

“The amount of overdiagnosis really is small,” said Dr. Debra Monticciolo, chair of the American College of Radiology’s Commission on Breast Imaging.

“Articles like this aren’t very helpful,” she said, because they leave women confused about how to be screened for breast cancer.

Yet treating women for cancer unnecessarily can endanger their health, said Fran Visco, president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, an advocacy group. Radiation can damage the heart or even cause new cancers. Visco notes that breast cancer activist Carolina Hinestrosa, a vice president at the coalition, died at age 50 from soft-tissue sarcoma, a tumor caused by radiation used to treat an early breast cancer.

Women should understand

these risks, Visco said. Instead, women often hear only about mammograms’ benefits.

“Women have been inundated with the early detection message for decades,” Visco said.

The risks of overdiagnosis and false positives, which can lead women with benign growths to undergo biopsies and other follow-up tests, have caused some experts to reevaluate breast cancer screenings. Although mammograms don’t find all tumors, they reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer by 25 percent to 31 percent for women ages 40 to 69, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Medical groups now offer differing advice on mammograms: The American College of Radiology takes the most aggressive stance, recommending annual mammograms beginning at age 40. Tumors should be found when they’re “smaller and easier to treat,” Monticciolo said.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent expert panel that advises the federal government on health, provoked a firestorm of criticism in 2009 when it bucked that advice, recommending that women get mammograms every other year beginning at age 50. The group noted that breast cancer risk rises with age, so mammograms are more likely to discover cancer – as opposed to benign growths – after age 50.

The American Cancer Society also scaled back its screening advice in 2015, recommending women get annual mammograms from 45 to 54, followed by screenings every other year after that.

In the new study, Danish researchers estimated the rate of overdiagnosis by comparing the number of early-stage and advanced breast tumors before and after the country started offering mammograms. If screenings work as intended, the number of small, curable breast tumors should increase, while reducing the number of large cancers by about the same amount.

Although mammograms in Denmark detected a lot more breast cancers, these were mostly small, early-stage tumors, said study coauthor Dr. Karsten Jorgensen, a researcher at the Nordic Cochrane Center in Copenhagen, Denmark. The number of advanced cancers did not fall.

The debate about overdiagnosis illustrates the limits of medical technology, Brawley said.

Although researchers can estimate the statistical rate of overdiagnosis, doctors treating actual patients can’t definitively tell which breast tumors need treatment and which might be safely ignored, Brawley said. So doctors tend to err on the side of caution and treat all breast cancers with surgery and, in many cases, radiation and chemotherapy.

An estimated 253,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. women this year, with nearly 41,000 deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.

An additional 63,000 women will be diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ, also known as DCIS, which has some, but not all, of the typical traits of cancer. Although DCIS cells have changed to appear malignant under the microscope, they haven’t invaded surrounding tissue.

The American Cancer Society defines DCIS as the earliest stage of breast cancer, and women with the condition typically undergo the same treatment given to women with early invasive cancers. Although DCIS isn’t life-threatening, doctors recommend treating it to prevent it from becoming invasive.

Other experts note that DCIS carries such low risk that it should be considered merely a risk factor for cancer. Researchers are conducting studies to measure whether it’s safe to scale back treatment of DCIS. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, a national health policy news service that is part of the nonpartisan Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 12-18, 2017

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

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

CHINA WELCOMES PH DECISION TO SET ASIDE TrIbuNAL ruLING

Sea code of conduct ready this year

by Michael Joe

T. Delizo

ManilaTimes.net

THE long-delayed framework for the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea may be finally completed by the middle of the year, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

In a news conference, the Cabinet official said that the Philippines, as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, will intensify efforts to fast-track the discussions on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and eventually complete the COC. Discreet discussions are underway and China has been “very cooperative” in the process, he added.

“The formulation of the COC is precisely being discussed right now. I don’t want to preempt anything by revealing further information but I hope that it will be achieved by mid-2017,” Yasay told reporters. “There is now a convergence of national interest to come up with the COC and we are fortunate to have gotten to this level.”

The COC has been in the works since 2002 but “intervening events” led to years of delays,

Yasay said.

The COC might “open the door to speed up bilateral engagement” with China to eventually enforce the ruling of an international arbitral tribunal in the disputed waters.

The framework, Yasay disclosed, will include key elements and principles for the legally binding COC, and should be agreed upon by all parties unanimously.

“I hate to think about a party not to be bound by it or [deviating]from it. I’m sure that they will be bound by it,” he said.

The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration last year nullified China’s excessive claims in the contested waters as it upheld the Philippines’ rights to areas within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. China does not recognize the arbitral award. Apart from the Philippines, other ASEAN countries that have overlapping claims in the South China Sea are Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Decision to set aside ruling welcomed In Beijing, China’s foreign ministry welcomed Manila’s decision not to raise the July 2016 international arbitration ruling in this

year’s ASEAN meetings.

Top officials from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs have said the ruling on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute would not be a topic of ASEAN meetings since it is a bilateral issue between the Philippines and China.

“This issue has never been and will not be an issue between China and ASEAN,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in a news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

“The issue of the South China Sea is only an issue between China and some ASEAN countries, rather than ASEAN as a whole.”

China will support the Philippines in its chairmanship of the regional bloc, Lu said.

Hosted by the Philippines, ASEAN 2017 will be officially launched on January 15 at the Davao SMX Convention Center, with the theme “We Are Partners for Change, Engaging the World.”

ASEAN events that will be held in the Philippines include the 30th ASEAN Summit in April, the 50th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and related meetings coinciding with ASEAN’s 50th anniversary celebration in Metro Manila in August, and the 31st ASEAN Summit in Pampanga in November.

PNP chief dreams of drug-free Philippines before end of 2017 by aJ

BolanDo Philstar.com

MANILA — The new year brings new hope for Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa who looks to end the campaign against illegal drugs in 2017.

Despite exceeding the three to six months vow of Duterte administration, Dela Rosa advised the whole PNP force to just focus on their mandates and not to dwell on criticisms.

“Basta kami no let-up kami sa aming operations. Sabi ko

sa kapulisan ko huwag kayo magpapa-distract diyan sa mga criticisms, ‘yung mga pambabatikos, we have to concentrate on our jobs,” the PNP chief said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday.

“We have to finish this problem sana before 2017 ends… ma-declare natin (ang) buong Pilipinas na drug-free,” he added.

Dela Rosa wished that it could be done this year as he told his wards to avoid being involved in wrongdoing.

“Tuloy lang ang trabaho, huwag kayo gumawa ng illegal

dahil mali ‘yan,” he said.

Drug policy experts, however, have noted that no country has been declared free of illegal narcotics as anti-drug campaigns in previous years around the world focused on police measures that often translated to violent crackdowns. The demand for illegal drugs, however, has remained more or less constant.

Experts instead suggest proper management of the drug problem by governments instead having a zero-drug target.

In the Philippines, the administration of President Duterte has PAGE A7

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GRAND PROCESSION. Hundreds of thousands of devotees surround the Black Nazarene as the Traslacion kicks off at Rizal Park on Monday, Jan. 9. Officials declared the Traslacion or the transfer of the Black Nazarene from Rizal Park to the Quiapo Church “generally peaceful” amid fears of a terror attack.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Randa

DENr won’t allow construction of Nickelodeon underwater park in Palawan

by Dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

THE Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that it will not allow the United States television network Nickelodeon to construct an underwater theme park in Palawan.

“I will never allow the corals to be harmed, that’s what we have, that’s our wealth. You can’t kill the corals for a theme park, no way,” Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said on Wednesday, January 11.

In a press statement early this week, Nickelodeon’s parent company Viacom, in partnership with Coral World Park Undersea Resorts Inc., announced its plan to develop a 100-hectare undersea attraction and resort in Coron, Palawan.

The undersea park, according to Viacom, will feature Nickelodeon’s iconic properties like ‘SpongeBob SquarePants,’ ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,’ and ‘Dora the Explorer.’

While the DENR said it has not received any application from Nickelodeon, Lopez stressed that she will “not allow anything that will damage the environment.”

“No amount of money is worth

the well being of our farmers and fishermen,” Lopez added.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) said that it also hasn’t received any proposals for the underwater project.

“We don’t even know. We are not aware if they are building it. Hindi namin alam sa DOT (We were not aware). Pero I’m sure Secretary [Wanda Teo] would like us to look.

Diving nga ang gusto nating i-promote dito eh (DOT actually wants to promote diving). And Coron is already beautiful as it is,” Tourism Undersecretary Kat De Castro told DZMM on Wednesday.

The Nickelodeon underwater park is expected to open in 2020.

But contrary to Viacom’s statement that the development will “advocate ocean protection,” different environment groups said that the park would destroy Palawan’s marine ecosystem instead.

“It’s sad and alarming because a theme park that big will not promote environmental protection by building those structures,” Greenpeace Southeast Asia told AFP. “Why build a viewing deck when you have the whole paradise to enjoy?”

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Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Attn: Linda P. Simpson Contracts & Purchasing 340 North 11TH Street, Suite 180 Las Vegas, NV 89101 B17015 Window Blinds & Doors Services Monday, February 13, 2017, 10:00 AM (PST) Your proposed fees must be entered at nahro.economicengine.com by the deadline date and time. Additionally, your one (1) sealed, hard-copy Bid must be received in-hand and time-stamped by the 615+$ 3URFXUHPHQW 2I¿FH QR ODWHU WKDQ WKH GHDGOLQH date and time.

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A signature campaign, “No to Nickelodeon’s Underwater Theme Park in Palawan,” was also launched online to urge the network and the government to cancel its construction plan.

“For a channel that targets children, Nickelodeon is setting a terrible example to the younger generation by taking away their right to enjoy our natural resources.

We don’t need an underwater theme park — our underwater like is fascinating, entertaining, and educational on its own,” the petition read.

The campaign, authored by Anna Oposa, was posted on Bataris.org. ph and has reached 150,000 signatures as of Wednesday.

The petition argued the the artificial structures will “undeniably damage and disrupt” the Philippines’ “last ecological frontier.”

“If you are sincere and serious about marine conservation, the money allocated for the underwater theme park should be invested in marine protected areas, sustainable livelihoods for local communities, and environmental education programs,” it further read.

Linda P. Simpson Contracts & Purchasing Ph: (702) 922-6825; TDD (702) 387-1898 lpsimpson@snvrha.org or if not available Wanda Beckett, wbeckett@snvrha.org Ph: (702) 922-6842

1. DOWNLOAD AND RESPOND TO THIS SOLICITATION: Housing Agency Marketplace website: nahro.economicengine.com (no “www”) Registered Users: “Log in and insert Solicitation No. IFB B17016 REV-1 Non Registered Users: <RX PXVW ¿UVW UHJLVWHU \RXU company before downloading the Solicitation. Click on “New Vendor” to register. Problems accessing the system or registering, call 866-526-9266, M-F, 9 AM(EST) – 4 PM (PST) 2. DOWNLOADS ONLY: SNRHA website: www.snvrha.org, click on Procurement and “Current Bid Invitations” and proceed to the appropriate solicitation number. Problems downloading the Solicitation, call (702) 922-6876, M-F, 8AM-4PM (PST)

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january 12-18, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

OpiniOn

Kidnap cops

Features

It was bound to happen, and sooner than later considering the environment of impunity that the police force has been seemingly granted. after all, when no less than the President delivers the blanket assurance that whatever police officers do in the line of duty will not be subjected to sanctions as long as he is the country’s highest official—even if their actions cross the bounds of integrity, professionalism and the very codes of conduct of the police organization—then that promise of carte blanche protection will only serve to embolden the corrupt among the ranks. and it has been happening in the administration’s brutal war on drugs and crime. now entering its seventh month, the campaign has produced not only an ever-escalating body count but also mounting evidence of rogue policemen taking advantage of the extraordinary leeway given them

by President Duterte. That some cops were doing double duty as vigilantes was on full display in the case of two Oriental Mindoro policemen caught and exposed as a riding-tandem execution team.

They shot in cold blood a local crime watch leader, reaffirming the widespread suspicion that many in the police force are themselves part of the criminal enterprises they are sworn to go after.

Mr. Duterte’s flagship campaign was also ostensibly about rooting out the corruption and criminality that have tainted law-enforcement operations.

By smashing the drug syndicates, he was cutting off the supply of money and influence routinely

used to make cops look the other way, or worse, to protect and participate in the drug business. But, as concerned sectors have repeatedly warned, using the same compromised police force without first cleaning up their ranks, urging them to employ the most ruthless methods while assuring them of ready pardon any time they violated their own protocols of conduct or engagement, was an open invitation to abuse.

“Operation Tokhang,” at this point, claims as metrics for its success nearly a million drug “surrenderers” and over 5,000 suspects killed, mostly allegedly because they resisted arrest. The total fatalities, as documented by independent observers, are closer to over 6,000 at this time; a number of those who died at the hands of unknown gunmen had earlier turned themselves in to the police, only to be targeted for extrajudicial killing just the same. activists have also complained of “Operation Tokhang” being used to harass their ranks and flush out suspected new People’s army rebels, with members of progressive organizations in the countryside suddenly finding their names on the local drug watch lists. and suspects already in police custody, whether poor or not, don’t have it easier: The fate of the father and son who were killed by cops inside a Pasay police station was essentially the same as that visited on the imprisoned Rolando Espinosa, the mayor of albuera, Leyte.

Guest Editorial

Inquirer.net photo

and now, cops appear to have upped their game by venturing into kidnapping for ransom in the name of the drug war. In an exclusive story, the Inquirer’s Tarra Quismundo reports that a South Korean businessman, Jee Ick-joo, has been missing since October, after policemen barged into his home in angeles City announcing a drug raid and then taking him away. The cops have been identified as from the Philippine national Police anti-Illegal Drugs Group in Camp Crame. The businessman’s distraught wife, who is appealing to Mr. Duterte’s administration for help in finding

her husband, says their house was also ransacked and some P540,000 worth of jewelry and other personal items stolen.

It was the PnP itself that suggested the kidnapfor-ransom angle; in the case referral letter it sent to the Department of Justice, it recommended that the suspects—one police officer plus four others and “several John Does”—be investigated for kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention.

One shudders at what other atrocities will be committed in the name of this out-of-control war on drugs. (Iquirer.net)

“#LeniLeaks” : Are criticisms of Duterte’s drug policy and the call for his resignation an act of sedition OR free speech?

Many kababayans in the Philippines and here in the United States have been asking me about the truth behind #LeniLeaks — a trending topic on social media that talks about the alleged plot by supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo to oust President Rodrigo Duterte by discrediting both the Philippine president, as well as former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, who lost to Robredo in the VP race.

Front and center of the allegations are Filipino-american community leaders Loida nicolas Lewis, her sister and former Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chair Imelda nicolas, and atty. Ted Laguatan. as Balitang america reported, the #LeniLeaks topic trended on social media platforms all over the world because of the alleged involvement of people from the office of VP Robredo. In a yahoo Groups page called “Global Filipino Diaspora Council,” Lewis, Laguatan, nicolas, and the members of the page were reportedly exchanging messages that talk about mass protests calling for

In the wake of the devastation wreaked by super typhoon nina in the Bicol Region, Vice-President Leni Robredo has been pilloried in social and mainstream media for being “missing in action.”

Camarines Sur has been among the most severely damaged, as well as albay and neighboring provinces. The fact that CamSur is Robredo’s home province has made her fair game for supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte who see Robredo as a lurking threat to his presidency, what with the media playing up rumors of a plot to oust him.

But even those who think well of Robredo may have begun to have second thoughts about her readiness to assume the leadership of the country, in case of an abbreviated Duterte tenure. Proceeding with her Christmas vacation in the United States with her family, in spite of the approaching calamity, and remaining in the US in the face of the devastation have raised questions about her priorities as a national leader.

One pundit put it to me quite candidly: What would Jojo Binay have done under the circumstances? Knowing the former vice-president, I have no doubt that he would have personally been at ground zero as soon as typhoon nina made a landfall,

like the extrajudicial killings, human rights violations, and respect for women. However, she will fully support the president for causes they agree on.

Fil-am community leader Loida nicolas Lewis reiterated her previous statement that she is not plotting any overthrow of Duterte, but has just been calling on the president to resign based on his campaign promise that if he does not solve the drug menace after six months in office, then he would step down.

Lewis contends that she follows the rule of law, and that publicly and openly calling for Duterte to resign is part of the legal process, which also mandates that if and when the president resigns or becomes incapacitated to fulfill his/her job, the elected VP takes over the highest office.

Duterte’s followers allege that talking about the president’s resignation, criticizing him and not giving him the support but instead protesting

The instincts of a leader

Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenta

Duterte’s resignation and how to counteract controversies The Fil-Am against Robredo.

Philippine Communication Perspective Secretary Martin andanar, reveals that Malacañang is taking this matter seriously, and that no less than national Security adviser Hermogenes Gel SantoS-reloS Esperon along with online forensics experts are looking into the matter. They also want to ascertain if Robredo was part of the online exchanges in the aforementioned yahoo group discussion board.

Robredo denies accusations against her and categorically stated that she is not part of any attempt to oust Duterte. She also clarifies that she has not met lately with Loida nicolas Lewis as alleged and that the last time they talked was during the campaign season.

In many interviews, the vice president has said that she will continue to call out Duterte for issues

leading volunteers and distributing relief goods. another question posed to me was: What would the current vice-president’s late husband, Jesse Robredo, have done under the circumstances? I never had the privilege of meeting him, but here is what I dug up in the archives about Jesse Robredo as mayor of naga City (quoted verbatim): ”December 5, 1992, naga City was flooded. It was like Ondoy and Habagat. naga City was full of total darkness due to absence of power supply from CaSURECO II. Large trees blocked the road and contaminated drinking water. Guess what, it was cleaned up in less than a week.

The power supply was restored in two days time. Trees blocking the road were cut immediately and you can see the road free from mud. How did DILG Secretary do this? He mobilized all the contractors of naga City, he used the trucks and heavy equipment in clearing the city free of charge. and, he personally led the clearing operations. Imagine that early morning of December 6, 1992, DILG Secretary Robredo is shoveling the mud in the streets and his city hall employees were helping. Every single resident of naga City was inspired with the action taken by DILG Secretary Robredo…”

VP Binay and Jesse Robredo had the instincts of a leader.

They knew their priorities. On the other hand, Leni Robredo, in

spite of being the second highest official in the land, apparently acted like the average individual who had already made plans for a holiday vacation and, therefore, could not cancel the trip.

In fact, that was how Robredo’s apologists explained it. In social media, a certain Gomez, responding to critics, posted: “Why are you overreacting? If she wants to spend her holidays with her family and sister in the US, there’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone’s entitled to spend the holidays with their family, same as you and everyone else.”

Gomez further “argued that the vice president cannot stop a typhoon, and that local government units are the ones responsible in looking after their constituents. Camarines Sur Gov. Miguel Villafuerte and naga Mayor John Bongat are on top of the situation and have evacuated people to safety.”

The apologist is absolutely right - that is, if Robredo were not the vice-president of the country.

But she is. She is not your average Juana or Maria. She is also being primed by supporters as head of the opposition and is just a heart attack (or a coup) away from being chief executive and commander-in-chief.

For sure, a long-planned overseas Christmas holiday with family members, is not easy to cancel, whatever natural calamity or disaster might be looming. It really depends on how important one considers the threatened vic-

tims of the calamity or how one values one’s image as a leader.

Several years ago, my wife and I were about to board a flight from Phoenix, arizona to Europe, in the course of a long-planned trip to promote the 3rd Global Filipino networking Convention in Cebu. But my mobile phone suddenly rang and we received the news that my mother-in-law had just died. Because the deceased was the mother of my wife and was someone dear to me and my family, rushing to her internment was more important than the trip to Europe, no matter what the additional expenses and other inconveniences were.

We cancelled our trip and immediately booked a flight to the Philippines.

It was simply a matter of priorities.

Were the people of Camarines Sur and the people of the Bicol Region, high on Robredo’s list of priorities? The decision she made to proceed with her trip – although seemingly logical and practical (she could probably not have been as effective as the provincial officials of CamSur and albay in managing relief operations) – may have sent the wrong signals about her leadership instincts.

To put the issue in perspective, here is what was said about US Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush in a newspaper editorial, when Louisiana was struck by massive flooding in august 2016, while Obama

against his policies may be deemed as an act of sedition as it may incite the public to rebel against his lawful authority.

On the other hand, critics of Duterte contend that the yahoo group, which has been formed in 2011 as a discussion board on how to help the Philippines in its fight against China’s bullying and other issues that beset the nation, was merely exercising the constitutional right to free speech. The group’s members argue that criticizing Duterte’s drug policy and calling for his resignation based on what he promised is exercising their free speech.

WHaT DO yOU THInK? Do criticisms of Duterte’s policy and the call for his resignation serve an act of sedition OR an exercise of free speech in a democracy? *** 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

was on vacation.

“Vacation or not, a hurting Louisiana needs you now, President Obama – Last week, as torrential rains brought death, destruction and misery to Louisiana, the president continued his vacation at Martha’s Vineyard, a playground for the posh and well-connected.

We’ve seen this story before in Louisiana, and we don’t deserve a sequel. In 2005, a fly-over by a vacationing President George W. Bush became a symbol of official neglect for the victims of Hurricane Katrina… It’s past time for the president to pay a personal visit, showing his solidarity with suffering americans.”

The editorial added: “Like his predecessors, Obama has no doubt discovered that crises keep their own calendar, even when commanders-in-chief are trying to take some time off the clock.

It’s an inconvenience of the presidency, but it’s what chief executives sign up for when they take the oath of office.”

Indeed, rushing to the side of beleaguered constituents is an inconvenience of high national office, but it’s what Leni Robredo signed up for when she agreed to run for vice-president.

It can be argued that Robredo is “helping coordinate the relief operations for typhoon ‘nina’ in the Bicol Region, while on a break in the US,” to quote her spokeswoman, Georgina Hernandez, and that “a team from the office of the vice president (OVP) has been dispatched to the affected areas to facilitate relief and emergency response operations on the ground.”

But as the Louisiana editorial said about Obama, the president of the United States needed “to pay a personal visit, showing his solidarity with suffering americans.” Likewise, Vice-President Leni Robredo needed to do the same in CamSur and the Bicol Region to show her solidarity with her suffering constituents.

In an august 2015 article in US news & World Report on the 10th anniversary Hurricane Katrina, Democratic pollster Geoff Garin observed that Bush’s tepid response to the disaster “raised fundamental questions in people’s minds about how in touch he was while there was chaos in people’s lives, and how much he cared about it. and it raised questions about the basic competence of his administration.”

The same questions may have been raised about how in touch Robredo is with the chaos in her constituents’ lives and how much she cares about them.

Of course, Robredo can always make good the next time another disaster pummels our hapless nation (God forbid). Hopefully, she will learn a few lessons in crisis management, the burden and inconveniences of a national position, and the need for sharpening her leadership instincts.

Incidentally, President Rodrigo Duterte - whatever may be said about his verbiage and his deadly management style - is familiar with all of these and there is no doubt about his leadership instincts. (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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Duterte most trusted govâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t official

by CatheRine

Valente ManilaTimes

PrESIDENT rodrigo Duterte remains the most trusted and approved top government official, the latest Pulse Asia survey showed.

The pollster said the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trust and approval ratings are at a high 83 percent.

He is followed by Vice President Maria Leonor â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leniâ&#x20AC;? robredo and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III. Only five percent distrust the President while the rest were undecided.

However, Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approval rating is three percent lower than his score in the third quarter of 2016.

The survey, conducted from December 6 to 11, 2016, polled 1,200 respondents.

Meanwhile, robredo received an approval rating of 62 percent while Pimentel got 55 percent.

Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 83 percent trust rating is three points lower than Septemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 86 percent while robredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 58 percent trust rating

is seven points lower than the 65 percent she recorded in the third quarter last year.

Pimentelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ratings also took a hit as his approval and trust scores slipped to 55 percent and 50 percent, respectively, down from his score of 61 percent and 55 percent in September.

On the other hand, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approval score remained at 43 percent while his trust rating went down by three points to 38 percent.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Serenoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trust and approval scores improved in December. She got an approval rating of 47 percent (up by a point from September) and trust rating of 13 percent (up three points from September).

Among key government institutions, the Senate enjoyed the highest approval rating with 58 percent, followed by the Supreme Court with 55 percent, up by four points from September and the House of representatives, 51 percent.

The Senate got a 57 percent

adel

Philstar.com

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; For womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s groups Gabriela Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Party and Gabriela National Alliance of Women, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Miss Universe hosting is just a manipulative and deceptive cover-up of repression against women.

In its joint statement, the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights groups denounced the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hosting of the international pageant. They said the hosting is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;manipulative and deceptive tool that projects an image of peace and stability to cover up the creeping influence of fascist repression of poor womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rising protests.â&#x20AC;?

The womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s group also cited that amid the hosting, the country faces a surge in extrajudicial kill-

ings, imprisonment, legal cases and brutal shootings leveled on farmers and indigenous peoples who are demanding peace, land, jobs and justice.

The organizations lamented that despite the pageant, there are unfair trade relations still existing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gabriela deems the Miss Universe pageant an expensive exercise to lull the people and the international audience into a false sense of wellbeing and celebration while unfair trade relations allow rich countries to rape the natural resources of the countries that pageant contestants represent,â&#x20AC;? the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s groups said.

On Tuesday, Jan. 10, the Philippine National Police said the international pageant which will be

PNP chief dreams of drug-free...

PAGE A5

been criticized for thousands of deaths in police operations and in killings of drug suspects by unknown assailants.

Meanwhile, the PNP chief credited the lower number of drug-related deaths from 30 a

day last year to five to six a day in recent weeks to fewer resistance to arrest in their operations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baka kumokonti na â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung mga pusher na lumalaban kaya kumakaunti na â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung mga namamatay,â&#x20AC;? Dela rosa said.

During the campaign season

A

trust rating, the House of representatives secured 51 percent, while the SC got 53 percent, up by three points in the previous survey.

The Pulse Asia survey, which was released on Monday, has a Âą 3 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level. The margin of error for geographical areas is Âą six percent.

The major issues that hounded the Duterte administration before and during the December survey include robredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resignation from the Cabinet as chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council after the President instructed her to â&#x20AC;&#x153;desist from attending all Cabinet meetings.â&#x20AC;?

DURG-RELATED. Police say a candle left unattended by druggies could have caused the fire that leveled a slum area in Navotas City. Half of Duterte later accused robredo the drug suspects killed in the city reportedly came from this neighborhood near the fish port.

Inquirer.net photo by Joan Bondoc of joining rallies against the administration but robredo denied the allegations.

Protests also erupted across the country against the surprise burial areas in February 2015 with actress reports that he was lukewarm to

by Paolo RomeRo of former President Ferdinand Marion Cotillard. the agreement.

Philstar.com Marcos at the Libingan ng mga He described the Paris Agreeâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been for climate justice Bayani.

MANILA - The Philippines has ment as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;success that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been because the Philippines is a noncommitted to ratify the Paris Agree- working on for a long timeâ&#x20AC;Ś and is emitter (of greenhouse gases) in ment on climate change in July and going to allow us as a nation to face the world. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that seek Senate concurrence before important challenges in climate if you are for climate justice that the end of the year. change and the protection of the you are against an agreement,â&#x20AC;?

This was disclosed by senators environment.â&#x20AC;?

Legarda said. and their visiting French counterThe agreement, signed by some She said the Duterte administraparts after meeting with Foreign 175 countries and entered into tion is for the agreement, with 32 held in the country on January 30, Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. force last Nov. 4, aims to reduce of the 33 agencies having already will boost tourism and will high- in the course of their four-day visit greenhouse gas emissions world- submitted their certificates of conlight peace and security. The PNP, starting Jan. 6. wide by 2030. currence to MalacaĂąang. however, said there is no budget â&#x20AC;&#x153;We met this morning with The Philippines has yet to ratify â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am certain we will be able to allotted for the pageant as directed the Secretary of Foreign Affairs the pact. shepherd the concerns and ratifiby President rodrigo Duterte. who very much assured us of the Legarda said Duterte has always cation within the year,â&#x20AC;? Legarda Duterte earlier said he will allow willingness of the Philippine gov- been for climate justice despite said. the pageant hosting in the country ernment to ratify the agreement Inilathala bilang legal na abiso sa Ika-12 ng Enero, 2017 provided there will be no costs by July,â&#x20AC;? French Senator Gerard shouldered by the government. Miquel told a joint press conferLEGAL NA ABISO SA TINATALAGANG He also said he does not want ence after a closed-door meeting MGA ELEKTIBONG OPISINA SA HALALAN the pageant to inconvenience the with Senate President Aquilino PANG MUNISIPAL SA LUNGSOD NG BOULDER public. The president also ordered Pimentel III at the Sofitel hotel in PARA SA 2017 that there should be no hiding of Pasay City.

Mga Elektibong Opisina street dwellers.

Pimentel was joined by Sens.

Miyembro ng Konseho [dalawa (2) ang bakante] Department of Tourism Wanda Franklin Drilon, Joseph Victor EjerMga Termino ng Opisina Tulfo-Teo previously assured cito, Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar Miyembro ng Konseho - 4 na taon Duterte and the public that all and Juan Miguel Zubiri. $QJ PJD .DQGLGDWR D\ PDDDULQJ PDJ ÂżOH QJ 'HNODUDV\RQ QJ 3DJNDNDQGLGDWXUD VLPXOD 0DUWHV expenses for the pageant will be With Miquel, president of the LND QJ (QHUR KDQJJDQJ DW NDVDPD DQJ +XZHEHV LND QJ 3HEUHUR VD 2SLVLQD QJ shouldered by sponsors.

France-Southeast Asia Inter-Par.OHUN QJ /XQJVRG &LW\ +DOO &DOLIRUQLD $YHQXH %RXOGHU &LW\ 1HYDGD This is the third time the liamentary Friendship Group, were 0JD 3HWVD DW PJD 2UDV QJ 3DJ ÂżOH QJ 3DJNDNDQGLGDWXUD Philippines is staging Miss Uni- Senators Bernard Saugey, Jean0DUWHV ,ND QJ (QHUR Âą Q X KDQJJDQJ Q J verse.

0L\HUNXOHV ,ND QJ (QHUR Âą Q X KDQJJDQJ Q J Claude Lenoir and Simon Sutour. +XZHEHV ,ND QJ (QHUR Âą Q X WR Q J The visit was part of the activities commemorating the 70th /XQHV ,ND QJ (QHUR Âą Q X KDQJJDQJ Q J anniversary of diplomatic rela0DUWHV ,ND QJ (QHUR Âą Q X KDQJJDQJ Q J 0L\HUNXOHV ,ND QJ 3HEUHUR Âą Q X KDQJJDQJ Q J tions between the Philippines and +XZHEHV ,ND QJ 3HEUHUR Âą Q X KDQJJDQJ Q J last year, then Davao City Mayor France.

The French senators also went rodrigo Duterte promised to $QJ VLQXPDQJ WDRQJ QDJKDKDQDS QJ GDJGDJ QD LPSRUPDV\RQ WXQJNRO VD SURVHVR QJ SDJ ÂżOH QJ SDJNDNDQGLGDWXUD D\ PDDDULQJ PDNLSDJ XJQD\ VD 2SLVLQD QJ .OHUN QJ /XQJVRG VD eradicate drugs and crime with to Cebu, and met with Gov. Hilario

three to six months. Months Davide III and Cebu City Mayor after assuming post, the Presi- Tomas OsmeĂąa.

6D 3HWVDQJ LWR ,ND QD DUDZ QJ (QHUR Miquel was part of the delegadent asked for extension after V /RUHQH .UXPPBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB realizing how big the problem tion of French President Francois /25(1( .5800 &0& &,7< &/(5.

Hollande, who visited Yolanda-hit is.

Gabriela: Miss Universe hosting â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;manipulative,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;deceptiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cover up

by Rosette

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JANUARy 12-18, 2017

PH to ratify Paris climate pact in July

A

january 12-18, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JANUARy 12-18, 2017

VEGAS&STYLE

B

Journal

Chef Charleen Caabay on winning â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Choppedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and bringing Filipino food mainstream

The charismatic Oakland-based restaurant owner and recent winner of the Food Networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Choppedâ&#x20AC;? sizzles as one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading Fil-Am chefs and restaurateurs.

By Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

When Charleen Caabay learned she earned a coveted spot on the Food networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chopped,â&#x20AC;? she knew she had a great opportunity to showcase her talents.

The vivacious owner of Kainbigan, one of the Bay Areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most-loved Filipino restaurants, has sprung as an up and coming leaders in Filipino-American cuisine, and her appearance on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;new Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bashâ&#x20AC;? episode of the cooking competition show â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which aired in late December â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is likely to bring in a whole new wave of fans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My goals were to inspire anyone who was going to watch the show,â&#x20AC;? Caabay, 37, told the Asian Journal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not often that women that are in business have the opportunity to really shine. I just wanted to show them how I was.â&#x20AC;?

Caabay knew she was going against formally-trained, renowned chefs, some of which worked in Michelin-star restaurants. But she didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let that break her spirit. Utilizing only techniques she learned growing up, Caabay has never had any formal training in culinary arts, and she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the need. â&#x20AC;&#x153;each round, all I could do was pray,â&#x20AC;? she said.

She started off in the first round creating a crab torta with collard green laing (a Filipino dish of traditionally consisting of taro leaves cooked in coconut milk) with champagne butter sauce, which judge Alex Guarnaschelli praised for its creativity.

Once again, she drew inspiration from her heritage in her martini steamed lobster tail with BBQ

strip loin and curried black-eyed peas, using the Filipino tradition of cooking barbeque on a stick.

To top it all off, in the third and final round, Caabay created a funnel cake with pomegranate grape compote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was a little worried about the fancier folks like when a French culinary chef I competed against,â&#x20AC;?

Caabay remarked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I knew he was going to throw down a lot of, like, fancy French techniques, like with his sauces. But I really just pushed myself to really believe and have the confidence to say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hey, you can do your fancy sauce, and I can do my own Filipino sauce,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; which was probably just, like, suka (vinegar) and soy sauce.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;[On the show] I was basically

like, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This is what I got, this is what I grew up with and this is what I have to show,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Caabay opined. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was just really amazing to see how I really surprised them by going my own way and having them try something different that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not used to,â&#x20AC;? Caabay said, adding she was happy that the judges reacted favorably to the Filipino influences in her dishes.

Moreover, the decision to draw Filipino inspiration in her dishes each round was a no-brainer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is my culture, this is my heritage. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Filipino, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to taste some Filipino,â&#x20AC;? she added with a laugh.

Growing up with the basics Caabay, was born and raised

in new Jersey by first-generation Filipino Americans. When she was in her teens, the family relocated to the Bay Area. her teenage years were when Caabayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love for cooking really flourished. Inspired by her motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cooking, it seemed like she was on the path to delving into a culinary career. however, cooking and owning PAGE B2

Photos courtesy of Chef Charleen

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B january 12-18, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

GETTING READY FOR MISS U

Interesting facts, figures and trivia through history

by Arlo

Custodio ManilaTimes.net

A FIlIpInA first made it to the Miss Universe winning circle when lalaine Bennett was third runner-up to Ieda Maria Vargas of Brazil in 1963.

The previous year, Josephine Estrada was the country’s representative to the pageant, and there were no Filipinas competing in the world’s prestigious beauty pageant in 1960 and 1961, won by linda Bement of USA and Marlence Schmidt of Germany, respectively.

In 1964, Maria Myrna panlilio bannered the philippines in the year Corinna Tsopei of Greece won the crown.

The next two years, however, proved auspicious for Filipinas successively placing in the pageant’s Top 15. They were louise Vail Aurelio in 1965 [Miss Universe was Apasra Hongsakula of Thailand], and Maria Clarinda Mariano in 1966 [Miss Universe Margarita Arvidsson of Sweden]. pilar Delilah pilapil, who would later join show business, was the country’s representative in 1967, where USA’s Sylvia Hitchcock won the crown.

The following year, Rosario Zaragoza competed for the philippines in a pageant won by Martha Vasconcellos of Brazil.

Then came 1969—the biggest year for the philippines in the Miss Universe pageant.

Just as American astronauts landed on the moon for the very first time, 19-year-old Gloria Aspillera Diaz mesmerized the universe with her wit and beauty.

Diaz was a student at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila when she was scouted for the sixth edition of Binibining pilipinas.

Coming from a large family of 12 children, she said later that she was convinced to join the contest to “escape home” amid restrictions imposed on them by their parents.

An early favorite as soon as she arrived in Miami Beach, Florida, USA, Diaz did not disappoint and successfully sailed throughout all the pageant’s events, making it to the Top 5 at the glitzy coronation night at the Miami Beach

Forever a Philippine pride, Gloria Diaz as Miss Universe

Auditorium.

In the final Q&A, host Bob Barker, best known in these islands as the host of iconic game show price is Right, asked Miss philippines, “In the next day or so, a man will land on the moon.

If a man from the moon landed in your hometown, what would you do to entertain him?”

Wittingly, the lovely Filipina answered, “Oh! Uh, just the same things I do. I think if he has been on the moon for so long, I think when he comes over he wants to change, I guess.”

Diaz wrote history for the philippines in the international beauty arena with her win on July 19, 1969.

She pursued an acting career soon after her reign and is remembered most for her breakthrough performance in Ang pinakamagandang Hayop Sa Balat ng lupa (The Most Beautiful Animal On The Face Of The Earth). It was in that movie she popularized the wet-look scene on the big screen

Gloria Diaz wears replica of Miss Universe crown in Santacruzan as Emeperatriz.

in 1974. She was nominated as Famas Best Actress for her role as Isabel the following year.

The beauty queen finally got her first acting award as Best Supporting Actress in the 1998 Metro Manila Film Festival as Teodoro Alonso in Jose Rizal. Her succeeding awards include Famas and Urian Best Supporting Actress for her role in Batang West Side in 2002; pMpC Star Awards for Movies Best Supporting Actress PAGE B3

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Chef Charleen Caabay on winning...

PAGE B1

a restaurant weren’t in Caabay’s initial career sights.

As the tech world was booming, Caabay saw herself working in information technology (IT), attending DeVry University right after high school.

After being laid off from job after job and realizing the 9-5 work day wasn’t for her, she sought a different direction and went back to her real passion: cooking.

She shifted her career into a culinary nomad, creating makeshift kitchens, selling her food on the street and catering in clubs and for private clients. As she began holding steady clients and garnered a following, she opened up a pop-up restaurant in 2012, creating her signature Filipino comfort dishes.

“From there, it became a huge thing and it got more serious,” Caabay said of her rise in the food arena. Fans of her cooking would often ask what her next food venture was or even if she would be opening up a restaurant.

Kainbigan and the rise of the Filipino food movement In 2013, Caabay signed the lease for a restaurant in residential Oakland, and Kainbigan was opened nine months later. She finally had a brick and mortar food joint to call her own, and took it back to her roots when setting up

The chef’s garlic noodle special, which is created with a calamansi aioli and crispy adobo sprinkled on top.

her menu.

“I made it simple. I made it memorable to what was on the stove growing up, so a lot of it had to do with what my grandma and what my mom cooked,” Caabay said of the inspiration for the Kainbigan menu.

Kainbigan’s menu includes unique takes on a variety of Filipino comfort favorites including rice dishes, pork adobo, bistek (beef steak), afritadas (stew) as well as breakfast like tocino (sweet cured pork), longanisa (sausage) and beef tapa.

One of the restaurant’s most

popular dishes is the garlic noodle special, which is created with a calamansi aioli and crispy adobo sprinkled on top.

In the three years since it first opened, Kainbigan has garnered a wide following in the Bay Area — and not just from Filipinos.

It has been cited by Zagat and has been nominated for local awards.

Caabay and her first restaurant (and certainly not her last, she said) have been instrumental in introducing Filipino cuisine onto the mainstream food world in the last few years, which has seen a rise in more Filipino food ventures.

“I think the more we all work together to support each other and really put it out there it will be one of those top food when it comes to ordering food,” Caabay said. “I think my win on ‘Chopped’ definitely came at a right time, and I think it’s important that the generation continues to build on. We really need to step up because food is a huge way in introduc[ing] our culture.

There are so many amazing Filipino restaurants popping up, and whether you’re a restaurant or a pop-up store or food truck, it’s amazing.”

Caabay encourages all aspiring Filipino chefs and restaurateurs to never give up and to be proud of Filipino culture and cuisine.

“Keep pushing, be confident in our cuisine, present it well and present from inside and where you’re from,” she said. “Don’t let anybody else tell you how this adobo should be made, just trust in what you’re making. It’s part of you. Continue to go strong because our cuisine is dope and hella good!”

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EntErtainmEnt

Drew and Iya: Just like home in ‘People vs. The Stars’ They may be hosting a game show but come Sunday, the premiere of GMA Network’s “People vs. The Stars,” well-loved husband and wife Drew Arellano and Iya Villana will give an extended peek into their home life on air. “excited ako kasi iba itong show na ito for us kasi more enjoyable and light ang environment. hindi siya yung acting like sa mga shows namin 10 years ago. Dito mas makikita nila kung sino kami inside our house, na ganun lang talaga kami,” enthused the ever upbeat Arellano at the program’s press launch.

Described by producers as a “comedy gameshow,” they had no other co-hosts in mind who can pull of the original concept among the studio’s roster of talents but the fun-loving Arellanos. Their positive and wholesome vibes are just perfect in enjoining both contestants and audiences into an hour-long quiz show.

“Actually, this is the first time I will be hosting this kind of show na makulit and entertaining.

Natutuwa ako kasi I consider this my rest whenever I am not on

Custodio ManilaTimes.net

my ‘mommy duties’ kay Primo [their months old first born]kasi nakakatawa lang talaga dito. It’s as if I don’t work. Plus kasama ko pa asawa ko, so yung fun talaga nandun,” she said.

The program allows celebrities to play for a chance to win P200,

000 via a variety of eight mindboggling questions with respective cash values. If the stars fail to answer any of the questions correctly, the question’s cash value will be given to the televiewers by answering the “People Question of the Week” through text.

‘Die Beautiful’s’ Christian Bables on his unexpected win and newfound fame by riCky

CAlderon ManilaTimes.net

ALL of a sudden, people are talking about newbie actor Christian Bables, thanks to his awardwinning performance in “Die Beautiful” for which he won the Best Supporting Actor award at the Metro Manila film festival 2016.

In an interview after the awards night, the newly-minted awardee said his passion for acting was rejuvenated with his win and he is very thankful to director Jun Lana who gave him the break to play the role of Barbs, Paolo Ballesteros’ best friend in the film, which won the Most favorite Movie and Best float trophies in the festival. he also thanked those who believed in him as a performer—that he can be a credible actor given the right vehicle.

Christian is a straight guy but was very good in his role as transgender in the film written and directed by Jun Lana. he made it a point to clarify that the charac-

PAGE B2 for Nasaan Ka Man in 2006; and famas Best Supporting Actress for Sagrada familia in 2010.

Diaz is also known as the mother of TV host-actress Isabel Daza and the sister of the late beauty queen-TV host-actress rio Diaz.

The Department of Tourism proudly announced that the 65year-old beauty queen has agreed to be present in all the important events of the Philippines’ hosting of the ___th Miss Universe coronation night in Manila. *** Did you know that the Miss Universe pageant started as a local “bathing beauty” competition spearheaded by Catalina Swimwear in Long Beach, California, USA in 1952? The pageant was first televised in 1955 and since then it has become an international annual tradition with countless young women around the world vying to become part of its history. fast forward to 1996, business mogul Donald Trump—soon to be the 65th President of the United States—bought the operating company Miss Universe Inc. from ITT Corporation, and struck a broadcasting arrangement with CBS. Two years later, the company morphed into the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and moved its headquarters from Los Angeles, California to New york City.

In 2002, the broadcast rights went to NBC until 2014. The following year, there was an issue with Latin American company Univision, and Trump bought out NBC’s 50-percent stake to become the company’s single proprietor only to sell it to WMe/IMG three days later. Broadcasting rights changed to fox and Azteca.

The MUO presidency remains in the hands of Paula Shugart to this day. With renewed vigor, the motto “confidently beautiful” strongly asserts the Miss Universe mission: “To provide the tools which help women to be their personal best. Self-confidence is the key. every woman should have the confidence to stand up in any situation and declare, ‘I am secure and that’s what makes me beautiful’!”

First PH connection The Miss Universe crown may

AfTer word wars, denials, and mistaken accusations, Jake ejercito—son of Manila Mayor and former President Joseph estrada with former actress Laarni enriquez—said over Twitter he is both happy and proud to be the father of Andi eigenmann’s daughter ellie. following DNA tests that yielded a 99.9-percent result he is indeed ellie’s dad, ejercito admitted he had been with on-and-off girlfriend eigenmann throughout her pregnancy.

It will be remembered that ejercito and eigenmann had a bitter squabble on social media shortly before his public admission of his fatherhood, forcing the latter’s mom Jaclyn Jose to the imbroglio.

It was eigenmann’s half-sister Maxene who gave a picture of the relationship the showbiz scions have today. In a podcast interview with Mo Twister, she said, “They did a test, yeah, he’s the dad, they’re co-parenting that’s why he always posts photos of my niece. But no, they’re not gonna get back together, I don’t think so, but he’s really a good guy. I love the guy, he is a friend also as I consider him family because of my niece.” eigenmann is now reportedly dating a non-showbiz guy named emilio Arambulo.

Meanwhile, since November, ejercito has been posting photos of ellie non-stop—from her birthday celebration all the way to Christmas. The pretty little girl

I did immersions and interviews.

I talked to my friends from the LGBT community so I could study their common denominator and their liabilities,” he said.

When asked why he was emotional in his acceptance speech, Christian said that not even in his wildest dreams did he imagine winning Best Supporting Actor. Neither did he imagine that he would ever set foot on the MMff stage during the awards because he is a nameless newcomer.

“It was like everything flashed back as I was delivering my speech. finally, there was someone who believed in my talent. I thought my passion for acting had ended pero hindi pa pala.”

Will this win open opportuniChristian Bables ties?

“I really hope so. With God ters they played (he as Barbs and Paolo as Trisha) are not gay but as my witness, what I feel in my heart right now is that hope to transgender women.

“I think emotionally I was al- get a project that can quench my Jake Ejercito with his daughter Ellie ready prepared for the role since thirst for acting–that will fire my I have been acting since 2011 so passion even more. The fame and the pain that Barbs felt, I was able all this is unexpected,” Christian to parallel easily. Physicality-wise, expressed.

Interesting facts, figures and trivia...

The very first Miss Universe married Filipino businessman Virgilio Hilario. The couple settled in Manila and had five children.

not have been won by a filipina until 17 years after its inception in 1952, but the heart of the first Miss Universe ever crowned, Armi Kuusela of finland, had been won by filipino businessman Virgilio hilario.

Kuusela and hilario first met at the International Trade exposition in Baguio City, and after a whirlwind courtship the finnish beauty decided to give up her crown in favor of marriage, which happened in Tokyo, Japan.

They settled in Manila, built the Gilarmi [a combination of their names]Apartments, which was a landmark along Ayala Avenue until its demolition to give way to commercial establishments.

They had five children—Arne who now lives in Chile with own family; Anna-Lisa who now lives in Spain with own family; Jussi hilario, married, and now living in Canada; eva-Maria, married with two children, living in the US; and Miguel or Mikko, the only one left living in the Philippines. hilario died in 1975, and Kuusela married American diplomat Albert Williams in 1978. After living in Spain and Turkey as part of Williams’ assignment as envoy, they now live in La Jolla, San Diego, California.

In an interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune in 2014, the now-82-year-old first truly universal beauty queen remains modest. She rarely goes home to her native finland without getting much media attention, the price she pays for making history in 1952.

“That happened a lifetime ago, I don’t talk about it much. I want to be remembered for other things,

not just for being Miss Universe,” she said.

Kuusela supports cancer research, numerous cultural and arts organizations, and among others is co-chair of the San Diego youth Symphony’s program for the disadvantaged youth in La Jolla.

Filipinas in ‘50s The year Armi Kuusela was named first Miss Universe, the Philippines was represented by Teresita Sanchez. In 1953, Cristina Pacheco vied for the crown.

It was in 1954 when the Philippines made it to the Top 16 with Blesilda Ocampo. yvonne Delos reyes competed in 1955; Isabel rodriguez in 1956; and Mary Ann Carmen rosales in 1957. In 1958, however, Miss Philippines Carmen Tuazon did not compete in in the pageant, and neither did Christina Matias in 1959.

Meanwhile, another european became the “Most Beautiful Girl in the Universe” when Christiane Martel of france was crowned successor to Kuusela in 1953.

Miriam Stevenson of USA won the title in 1954; hillevi rombin of Sweden in 1955; the crown went back to USA thru Carol Morris in 1956.

The first Latina Miss Universe was Gladys Zender of Peru in 1957; and another Latina in 1958—Luz Marina Zuluaga of Colombia.

Before the close of the decade in 1959, Akiko Kojima of Japan became the first Asian to be crowned Miss Universe.

Sources: www.missuniverse. com, wikipedia, sandiegouniontribune.com

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Jake Ejercito, proud father to Andi Eigenmann’s girl

by Arlo

Drew Arellano and Iya Villania

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 12-18, 2017

clearly spent the holidays with her dad as his posts on December 23 and 24 showed. The proud papa’s latest upload was on January 6 showing a before-and-after photo of his beloved daughter’s new hairdo. It was captioned: “A big step for this little one who was too attached to her golden

locks for a bit too long. Proud of you, lil angelface! I miss you oldredii.”

A photography enthusiast, ejercito was incidentally in Myanmar from December 12 to 21 and posted beautiful shots of his trips on Twitter from the Asian kingdom formerly called Burma.

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B january 12-18, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

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The curious case of matinee idol Ian Veneracion Filipino movie line-up to open 2017

by Edgar

O. Cruz

Philstar.com

Before this decade, matinée idols were the likes of richard Gomez, Aga Muhlach, rico Yan, Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz and Dingdong Dantes, the essence of the tall, sexy and handsome in their early 20s.

The gorgeous male actors who are women magnets, the definition stayed constant but the age factor evolved.

An indication they have matured, Derek ramsay, 40; richard Yap, 49; and Ian Veneracion, 41, are widely considered as 40something matinee idols when they were never considered as such in their younger years.

But now they are lead actors to stunning lead actresses 10 years younger their biological ages. even richard Gomez, the matinee idol of all-time who is now 50, enjoyed a return.

Take Ian as exemplar. He is Anton Noble IV, the high-flying Ceo and president husband of Grace (Iza Calzado) in the fresh ABS-CBN primetime series “A Love to Last.” She decides to seek an annulment and he finds love in newly-single Andrea (Bea Alonzo). Before this, he starred in pivotal projects “All You Need Is Pag-Ibig” (2015), “The Achy Breaky Hearts” (2016) and the

Bea Alonzo and Ian are Germany-bound to shoot scenes for “A Love To Last.”

remake of the classic series, “Pangako Sa Yo” (2015).

A child actor who transitioned into an action star, Ian is now enjoying a reemergence as a matinee idol in a different circumstance in Ilawod, the transrealism thriller about the waterborne demon set to open in cineplexes on Jan. 17.

Ian plays reporter Dennis who is husband to Iza as Kathy, the father of Ben (Harvey Bautista) and Bea (Xyriel Manabat), the friends to Isla (Therese Malvar). Carlos (epi Quizon) is his photographer.

They are a normal family until he accidentally invites the ilawod into their home where it latches

onto him.

What follows is an inevitable battle that risks not only the family’s lives, but also their souls. The demonic attack causes his family’s breakdown. What great risk will a mother take to fight the mystery enveloping her family?

Are you brave enough to witness?

Why Ian’s stellar comeback?

He has proven himself as a competent and convincing viable actor mainly as the favored actor of domestic partner writer/helmer Antonette Jadaone and Ilawod megman Dan Villegas and romcom’s boom as bankable entertainment material.

EVA Economy Class ranks third worldwide for 2017

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service. Airlineratings praised eVA for leadership in Taiwan aviation and innovations such as the industry’s first premium economy cabin in 1992. The website is led by editors recognized worldwide for their expertise in the airline industry.

Coleen Garcia, Arci Muñoz and Jessy Mendiola

at the horror genre via the movie Ilawod due for theatrical release on January 18.

Villegas said he and Palancawinning writer Yvette Uy Tan bring to the screen a story about “possession,” not in the expected concept of demons or curses as horror films go, but about “the force of life and survival.”

In the movie, Dennis (Ian Veneracion), a reporter and Carlo (epi Quizon), a photographer, work for an online news publication covering both supernatural and bizarre stories. Dennis accidentally brings home the “ilawod” (meaning downstream in filipino), which then possesses his wife, Kathy (Iza Calzado), daughter Bea (Xyriel Manabat), and the youngest child, Ben (Harvey Bautista).

The ilawod wrecks havoc on Dennis’ family whom he fights to save.

An initial post of the film’s trailer on social media immediately earned over a million likes, views and shares, sure to make Ilawod the first scream-fest of 2017.

‘Moonlight Over Baler’ This february, T-rex entertainment will bring to the big screen

Vin Abrenica and Sophie Albert

Moonlight over Baler a timeless love story encompassing two important events in the country—World War 2 in the ‘40s and edsa revolution in the ‘80s.

Starring elizabeth oropesa, ellen Adarna and the love team of Vin Abrenica and Sophie Albert, the film is written by eric ramos and directed by Gil Portes.

With the haunting “‘o Maliwanag na Buwan” as theme song, Moonlight over Baler is set in the scenic and historical Aurora Province town opening with a Japanese journalist (Abrenica) visiting Baler after covering the 1986 People Power. By coincidence, he turns out to be the spitting image of the great love of a retired spinster teacher (oropesa) who was killed during the war. Their paths meet, leading to a special Airlineratings.com ranked friendship. eVA Air among the world’s topThe Japanese falls in love with 10 airlines, identifying it as an the town’s beauty (Adarna), which airline of choice for business the retired teacher approves of, and leisure travel for 2014, 2015, but misfortune breaks them apart 2016 and, now, 2017. eVA has high standards for comfort and Ian Veneracion and Iza Calzado (second from left and right respectively) with Xyriel Manabat, when another suitor pounces PAGE B6 Therese Malvar and Harvey Bautista PAGE B5

Elite Class premium economy ranks seventh and airline in top 10 best

TAIPeI, TAIWAN– eVA Air’s economy Class rates as the world’s third best in Airlineratings’ evaluations for 2017 while its elite premium economy ranks seventh and the airline has earned overall recognition among the top-10 best of the best. eVA earned the website’s top sevenstar rating by demonstrating excellence its in-flight product, services and innovation in addition to its safety record and standards.

Airlineratings released its top-10 seats in the sky for first, business, premium economy and economy cabins through a DailyMail.com report on 5 Dec., 2016. Travelers can learn more about eVA seats, flights, services and routes at www.evaair.com . economy Class seat pitch and width were among the ratings website’s evaluation criteria. It also considered seat design and

‘Extra Service’ Star Cinema and Skylight films starts the New Year with a bang as the sexy action-comedy film, extra Service, brings together three of today’s hottest Kapamilya actresses Arci Muñoz, Jessy Mendiola and Coleen Garcia to cinemas.

The movie, helmed by Chris Martinez [director of Kimmy Dora And The Kyemeng Prequel and writer of the two installments of Ang Babae sa Septic Tank]multiplies the excitement as it presents the beauteous trio in a movie showing girl power defying the odds. extra Service, written by the writer of the highest-grossing local film in history The Super Parental Guardians Alpha Habon, is a story about three female exconvicts Aw (Muñoz), em (Garcia) and Gee (Mendiola), who due to their criminal records, have a hard time finding jobs. faced with this dilemma, the girls have no other choice but to work in a spa as masseuses.

However, unknown to their clients, theirs is only a day job because at night, they transform as secret agents: Aw is Kapitana, em is Maldita, and Gie is Henya.

“When you ask for ‘extra service’ you are actually asking for their service as secret agents,” explains Habon about the title of the film. “As secret service agents, they encounter a mission that will cost them their lives and freedom —they must retrieve the three most important pearls of the country that are collectively called Perlas ng Silangan.”

‘Ilawod’ Box-office director Dan Villegas (english only, Please!; #Walangforever; The Break-Up Playlist; Always Be My Maybe and How To Be Yours) tries his hand

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Your Immigration Solution atty. NaNCy Miller As we said when we realized that Donald Trump had been elected president, we know what he said his intentions were during the campaign but what he actually plans to do remains to be seen. so, what has happened since then? And what indications do we have about his plans for the immigrant community? Let’s begin by focusing on the president-elect’s prospective appointments (nominations) to cabinet positions that directly affect immigrants. These nominations must, of course, be confirmed by Congress but with

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS WHAT is a stomach ulcer?

A stomach ulcer, also known as a gastric ulcer or peptic ulcer, as the second part of the name suggests, is a “wound, an open sore,” in the mucosa (inner wall) that penetrates the muscle layer of the stomach or of the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine attached to the stomach). The main symptom is typically burning, gnawing or hunger pains in the epigastric (stomach pit) area, often relieved by food or antacids.

What causes a stomach ulcer?

There was a time when stomach acid hypersecretion (due to stress, spicy food, alcohol, tobacco, etc.) was universally accepted in the medical community as the cause of gastric ulcer disease. A brilliant Australian physician, Dr. Barry James Marshall, who was ridiculed by his colleagues in the scientific world for postulating that peptic ulcer disease was caused by a bacterial infection (Helicobacter pylori organism), ingested the organism himself and developed acute peptic ulcer disease, proving to the medical community in 1984-85 that his postulate was correct. Multicenter studies fol-

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MoNette aDeva Maglaya (Part 2 of 4) ANGELs were strong proactive characters when the story of humanity unfolded during biblical times. And while today, cynics, atheists and those on the dark side might argue that angels are figments of the human imagination, there are countless people who will brave the scorn of scoffers, fight back vehemently and attest to the very real presence of angels in their lives.

Trawl the internet and social media and read about how angels, though unseen in many instances, can be felt by many who believe in them. There are many instances when the presence and oftentimes the direct interventions of one’s personal guardian angel are a part of the twists and turns of the unraveling story of many people’s lives.

Many have written about their encounters with angels, documenting how their guardian angels are a real part of their lives guarding, guiding and protecting them from harm and on many occasions, even from death, because their time had not yet come. I am sure many others have their own personal stories to tell about this unseen entity that can be ascribed to the presence of God himself – an ever-present help to aid us in navigating life on earth.

The common image of an angel is a beautiful heavenly being with piercing eyes, big white pair of wings and long cascad-

on him and banishes him from Baler.

The events lead the teacher to reckon with her tragic past, feeling all over again she was to blame for the death of her life’s only love.

The ending is bittersweet yet proves that love conquers all.

‘Across the Crescent Moon’ With a playdate this early 2017 soon to be announced, director Baby Nebrida has announced the release of Across the Crescent Moon, a “meaningful actiondrama” tackling problems facing the country, including human trafficking and differences in religious

B

President-elect Trump nominations for dhs and attorney general both houses of Congress in the hands of the Republicans, the appointees may not be in for a hard fight.

President-elect Trump has nominated John F. Kelly to be secretary of the Department of Homeland security (DHs). General Kelly is a retired United states Marine Corps General and the former commander of the United states southern Command (UssOUTHCOM), the United Combatant Command responsible for American military operations in Central America, south America and the Caribbean. He previously served as the commanding general of the Multi-National Force – West in Iraq and the commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Ma-

rine forces North. It has been said that the Trump transition team was drawn to Kelly because of his southwest border experience. He lists his political party affiliation as Independent. so, what does that tell us about how Kelly would run DHs and what his policies and primary concerns would be? Essentially nothing. Assuming his nomination is approved, we will have to wait and see what his priorities are.

President-elect Trump’s other immigration-related nomination is more well-known to the immigrant community. Mr. Trump has nominated Republican senator from Alabama Jeff sessions to be the next Attorney General of the United states. senator sessions

has been a proponent of reducing legal immigration. He also led the fight in the senate against Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2006 and in 2007. He also opposed the Border security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013. He has said that a pathway to citizenship for immigrants here unlawfully undermines the rule of law and that guest workers and immigrants depress wages and raise unemployment for United states citizens. He is a supporter of EVerify, the federal database that allows businesses to electronically verify the immigration status of potential newly hired employees.

Of course, the Attorney General deals with many issues besides

Do you have a stomach ulcer? lowing his treatise proved that he was right. Marshall has radically revolutionized the understanding of the disease, its diagnosis, and most importantly, its treatment.

How did this change the treatment?

Before Marshall’s discovery, gastrectomy (cutting part or whole of the stomach out) was very common as a treatment for peptic ulcer disease. Today, with appropriate triple antibiotic therapy, peptic ulcer disease is effectively managed, transforming a former surgical disease to a medical disease. Occasionally, however, surgery may still be needed for severe bleeding peptic ulcer disease but this is not as common today, with proper antibiotic treatment.

How does the H. pylori bacteria cause ulcers?

There are theories as to how this organism causes peptic ulcers. H. pylori produces urease, an enzyme that catalyzes urea to ammonia. The ammonia, which enables the bacteria to survive the acidic environment in the stomach or duodenum, also causes erosions into the mucosal lining and causes epithelial damage. Cytotoxins from the bacteria also damage the epithelium. The organism also produces mucolytic enzymes (protease and lipase) that lead to the degradation of the muco-

sa, making the epithelium more vulnerable to acid damages.

Also, cytokines produced in response to the inflammation may damage the mucosa and lead to ulcer formation.

Do aspirin and arthritis medications cause peptic ulcers?

Yes, aspirin and NsAIDs (nonsteroidal arthritis medications) are known to cause peptic ulcers and severe bleeding. The irritation is both local (on the mucosa of the stomach) and systemic (inhibiting prostaglandin production adversely affecting mucosal defenses, and thinning the blood), leading to ulcerations and hemorrhage.

Is alcohol bad for those with peptic ulcers?

Yes, most definitely. The same thing is true with cigarette smoking, chocolate, tea, coffee, spicy foods, which are also irritants for the stomach. They increase hydrochloric acid production in the stomach, which bathes and damages the stomach mucosal lining, making it more susceptible to the H. pylori bacteria. Milk, which used to be prescribed decades ago as a part of peptic ulcer therapy, is now avoided since it also causes “rebound” acid production and slows ulcer healing.

Do children develop peptic ulcers?

Yes, but it is relatively uncommon among children com-

Angels among us “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” — From Frank Capra’s film “It’s a Wonderful Life” ing golden hair, robed in androgynous white gown and who is neither male nor female but to which we ascribe the word “he” just for convenience.

An angel, who is an eternal celestial being, is not subject to the constraints of gravity, time, space or language problems. Communication between protector and protectee is often wordless and automatic. some are messengers and some bring punishment and death but each has a definite purpose, most of which are beneficial to humans. some claim to have seen their angels appearing differently from the common image we believe of winged beings. some morph into human form to lend a hand, to protect from danger or avert disaster then disappear quickly.

They appear specially when the humans they are protecting find themselves in dire straits and need help. As one might imagine, angels are extremely busy considering the weakness of humans and their predilection to stray from the straight and narrow.

In Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Clarence, a portly, bumbling character aspiring to become an angel must earn his wings by doing something good for a human being in desperate need and contemplating suicide.

“Every time a bell rings, an an-

gel gets his wings,” is a memorable line in this classic film that is intended never to get old and aptly becomes new again for a new generation around the Christmas season.

On the other hand, in the warped imagination of liberal film makers, “Michael” supposedly about Michael, the Archangel, the highest seraphim who fought satan and flung him to the burning sulfurous depths of hell and believed to be the protector of the nation of Israel, is portrayed as somewhat of a sleaze who is more human than angelic.

In this film, Archangel Michael can charm females because he smells of cookies and who is a bit of a Lothario to boot. It may be somewhat funny to color outside the lines in portraying angels but don’t be fooled by the liberal yarn on angels. Hollywood, in my opinion, has no gravitas on angelic matters.

Trust your own instincts.

Your own personal experience will color the lens with which you view and relate with your personal guardian angel. God so loved the world, He sent His only son to redeem us from sin and death so we may gain eternal life — not unlike His angels.

(To be continued …) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Filipino movie line-up to open...

PAGE B4

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 12-18, 2017

beliefs.

Matteo Guidicelli portrays the dedicated and brave Muslim solider who fights criminality.

He is married to an enlightened Christina girl, portrayed by theater actress Alex Godinez in an introductory role. Completing the cast are Christopher de Leon andy Andolong as Guidicelli’s Muslim parents, and Gabby Concepcion and Dina Bonnevie as Godinez’ Catholic father and mother.

Across the Crescent Moon does not pass judgement on either religions but shows unity in diversity.

Bong Tan is executive proMatteo Guidicelli ducer.

pared to among adults. About 15 percent to 20 percent of abdominal pains in children is due to peptic ulcer. Most primary peptic ulcer disease in children are seen in the ages between 8 and 17. The pains usually wake the child from sleep, and are sometimes aggravated by eating. About 25 percent of these pediatric patients have bleeding ulcers. Peptic Ulcer due to H. pylori infection is not very common in children. Any persistent abdominal pains in children warrants prompt medical consultation.

How is the diagnosis made?

After a good history-taking and physical examination, the physician can already make a strong presumptive diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease. Fiberoptic gastroscopy (a lighted magnifying flexible scope passed through the mouth down to the stomach used to view its inside) is today a part of the state-of-theart investigative tool in the diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease or malignant tumor (cancer) of the stomach. Bacterial cultures may likewise be taken to check the presence of Helicobacter pylori organism. Through the scope, cytology (microscopic examination of cancer cells), cultures for bacteria and tiny biopsies may be done to make a diagnosis.

What are the possible complications of peptic ulcer dis-

immigration. How he will balance those issues (assuming he is confirmed) remains to be seen.

In the meantime, what can those who might be most affected by his administration do? Noncitizens should start by knowing their rights. They should also determine whether they can benefit under existing immigration laws. Talking to others in your same situation is not the best way to accomplish those goals.

The best thing to do is to consult knowledgeable and experienced immigration lawyers. Ideally, the lawyer you speak to should be certified by the state Bar as a specialist in immigration & nationality law.

Now is still a time of unknowns

and unknowns are always scary.

But knowledge is power and we at Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza stand ready to help you arm yourselves knowledge – about your rights and possibilities. Let’s talk. ***

ease?

Hemorrhage is the most common complication, leading to vomiting of blood or blood in the stools, coloring them black, anemia, weakness or even dizziness and syncope (passing out spells). Perforation of the wall when the ulcer “eats” the entire thickness of the stomach wall, creating a hole, allowing stomach contents to spill into the abdominal cavity causing peritonitis (severe inflammation and infection). Inflammation from peptic ulcer involving the stomach outlet into the duodenum can cause spasm and scar that blocks this outlet, causing vomiting. stomach cancer has been reported 3 to 6 times more common in peptic ulcer due to H. pylori infection. Gastric lymphomas have also been linked to this bacteria.

Are TUMS and ROLAIDS safe for ulcer pains?

Tums, Rolaids and other overthe-counter self-proclaimed “treatment” for peptic ulcers or hyperacidity are quite popular among lay people. These will not cure hyperacidity or peptic ulcers. If the symptoms persist, it is most prudent to seek medical consultation. Remember, peptic ulcers can have lifethreatening complications if not properly treated, and cancer of the stomach must be ruled out as the cause of the symptoms.

What is the treatment?

For peptic ulcers caused by the H. pylori infection, the com-

bination of bismuth, metronidazole and tetracycline cures about 80 percent of this infection, leading to ulcer healing.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) capsules, H2 Blocker pills, and antacids are other adjunctive modalities of the comprehensive regimen many physicians use in conjunction with the triple antibiotic therapy above.

How about surgery? surgery used to be very common for peptic ulcer disease.

With the discovery of H. pylori infection as the major cause of peptic ulcer disease, surgery has declined precipitously. Today, surgery is relegated to the complications, like uncontrollable bleeding, perforation, gastric outlet obstruction, suspected cancerous peptic ulcer, and symptoms refractory to medical treatment. With this new triple antibiotic therapy, even the complications of peptic ulcer disease have been reduced significantly.

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.

For more data, visit philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

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Feast of Santo Niño in Los Angeles On Sunday, January 15, 2017, at 3:30 pm, a mass sponsored by Santo Niño Cruzada USA, will be held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to celebrate its 30th year anniversary of the solemn Feast of Santo Niño, the Divine Infant Jesus.

The Southern California Sinulog Dance Co. will perform traditional Sinulog dances after the mass.

Although the devotion to the Divine Infant has roots in Europe, Filipinos are known for their fervent devotion to the Infant Jesus, celebrating with religious and civic activities.

As a result, Filipino immigrants brought their Santo Niño to the United States to be their spiritual recourse, assistance, and protector.

We celebrated the first Feast of Santo Niño in 1986 at then Saint Vibiana’s Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles. It was in the summer of 1988 that the original group of Santo Niño devotees formally organized under the name, Cruzada de Santo Niño. The organization’s name was eventually changed to its present name, Santo Niño Cruzada, USA. As in any organization, the organization’s path to success is measured by the dedication and commitment of the officers and members whose primary goals are to promote devotion to Santo Niño, provide individual sanctifications, give aids to needy families and be united with other Santo Niño groups.

For more information in this year’s celebration, please contact any of the following officers and members: Romy & Tess Esturas: (213) 387-6982 Rey & Tess Edpao: (818) 469-7292; Carmen Estrada: (213) 413-2881; Fe Montano: (323) 218-1587; Ester Paredes: (213) 864-1149; Lilia Figuracion: (626) 394-2661; Fe Reyes: (213) 413-5286; Cherry Guerrero: (213) 747-6508; Tessie Cruz: (213) 361-0937; Vicky Samia: (818) 851-2262; Laurie Dolorfino: (213) 407-0097; Maria Oclarino: (213) 427-0353.

JA N UA Ry 28

Historic Filipinotown Scavenger Hunt Explore the cultural gems of HiFi (Historic Filipinotown) by joining the 2nd HiFi Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser on Saturday, January 28 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m! Meet Filipino-specific challenges (from a Balut eating contest to dancing Tinikling to a hip hop beat!). You may find yourself meeting a little-known community hero, tasting a Filipino food challenge or receiving your very own Filipino nickname! You will be having a blast while building your bayanihan spirit by asking your friends and family and even your Facebook fans to donate money to sponsor your Team to take this challenge. You and your team choose your own fundraising goal! Funds raised by this event will go to the programs and services of 2 HiFi community organizations, Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI) to provide vital services to families, workers and seniors in our community. Services include free or low-cost citizenship application assistance, human trafficking survivor support, civic engagement, wage theft claims assistance, cultural programs and more! Have fun, Discover Historic Filipinotown win prizes and support your community while doing it! Go to www.pwcsc.org/HiddenHiFi to sign up now. PWC is located at 153 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026.

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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2017: What’s IN and what’s NOT A tribute to Benjamin G. Maynigo: An

idealist and dreamer till the very end

The Metamorphosis

By Monet

Lu

The year 2016 has been an interesting year in terms of fashion and lifestyle, which also means the fashion icons and newsmakers of 2016 had their moment.

2016 was a like retro year as it reeked of countless throwback trends. Our Instagram feeds were filled with people sporting chokers from the ‘90s, pins and patches, faux fur clothes, sock boots, bomber jackets and an 80s showdown of off-shoulder tops and dresses.

Now that we have said farewell to all of that, let’s talk about who and what are trending in 2017, not to mention who and what are no longer relevant! Well, I read up and gathered some predictions for what’s in and what’s not this year.

So far, it’s looking to be a quite adventurous preview.

Celebrities and public figures Obviously, Barack and Michelle Obama are out of the White house, but at least, they will not be out of Washington. Donald Trump will be our president and as always, a Twitter-favorite. Despite the Obamas’ “irrelevance” this year, it’s still highly likely for the Obamas to offer President Trump sound advice – that hopefully would not fall on deaf ears.

The Kardashian Saga – or their reality show at least – was in last year but it would be out this year and would be overtaken by cooking reality shows. One of which is Vh1’s “Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party.” Sources say it is predicted to be a blockbuster as hGTV’s Fixer Upper, starring the 2016’s “dynamic-and-verymuch-in couple” Chip and Joanna Gaines.

Entertainment The Queen is IN! Beyoncé is definitely in, and thanks to her latest Grammy-nominated smash album “Lemonade,” Lady Gaga is out as an outré disco queen.

The enterprise says, “Streaming, meanwhile, is even more in than cable, because it’s cheaper, it’s wireless and it has ‘Stranger Things.’ (“Stranger Things” is in.)

Netflix is of course the in streaming service, but Amazon Prime

ErniE D. DElfin

is catching up, or at least it was until it put on that awful Woody Allen show. Woody Allen is out.

(Sorry, Woody.)”

Food I hear that the fusion-style restaurants will spread its ‘delicious’ wings and land into the breakfast market. The food creators will be more experimental with their breakfast entree and offer us more than traditional omelets and breakfast burritos. Ingredients will be a mixture of Asian, Middle eastern and African palettes.

Speaking of ingredients, some predicts that the battle over sugary soda is going to be big in 2017, and since food waste had been an issue since forever, advocates in 2017 will continue searching for a way to make reducing food waste as automatic as recycling is in many places now.

According to an article I read, unconventional cuts of meat, such as oyster steaks or Merlot cut steaks, will be a key menu trend in 2017. Another article says that the quest for a meatless burger that actually tastes good will continue. In fact, a “bleeding” veggie burger was the latest effort made by Impossible Foods and is expected to sell out in Whole Foods in minutes this coming fall.

With all these stomach-grumbling predictions, foodies like me expect 2017 to be one heck of a food trip!

Beauty 2016 was a year of “less is more.” I’m predicting that this coming year would be quite the contradiction. It’s the year of color, bold and big hair and party looks from 1999 to 2016!

And speaking of less: We will definitely be seeing less of tattoo eyebrows and faux freckles to give way to…(drum roll) “mircroblading,” a new type of tattooing that gives you the appearance of thick eyebrows!

Fashion If 2016 is year for hashtag #throwbackootd, then this coming year would be like an ‘80s resurgence.

A Washington Post article says, “It’s less about the actual look of the ‘80s, and more about some of the ideas, So, for example, we can expect to see a lot of voluminous clothing with bigger proportions. Instead of skinny jeans, think slouchy trousers. Instead of ultra-tailored outerwear, think cocoon-like, floor-grazing overcoats.”

I also read that Stripes are going to be in this 2017. According to Roopal Patel, fashion director of Saks Fifth Avenue, “Stripes [are] the equivalent to what a white t-shirt used to be back in the day. They have nine lives...”

Sneakers will continue to be hip this upcoming year. I’ve no doubt in my mind that shoe designers will come up with different styles for every occasion. One cannot have too many sneakers, am I right?

There you have it; what’s in and out this year! Yet, just like any prediction, we give room for other possibilities. Who knows, it could be the opposite of everything I just said. either way, it’s fun to watch how everything from lifestyle to politics change – or don’t – every year.

All I can say is I look forward to what 2017 has in store for us.

Join me as I welcome 2017 with a bang! *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning 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

(PART 2 of 2) BeN was one guy who just loved to make up acronyms and/ or repetitive letters to remember things easier, like his four hs = humility, honesty, honor, and hope (and humor, as added by his Tanya, when she read her eulogy).

I still remember also his 5 Ms for a successful business to have: Money (or capital) Management, Manpower, Materials (logistics) and “Mansion” or a great ROI (rate of investment). For many of his friends and readers, Ben was known as a wordsmith who created many things out of the 26 letters of the alphabet. That is one of the things I will miss from his always active and prolific mind amidst his weakened heart.

When he semi-retired from his newfound love affair with AI (Artificial Intelligence) field that allowed him to travel extensively in many countries, I introduced him to my Asian Journal-San Diego publisher friends Genny and Sim Silverio and shortly thereafter he started penning his almost weekly columns “Take it from my Barber” and also on “Tech IT” (on technology) that made his mind always on high gear.

The many times that we were together both in his residence in Virginia or in our house in Southern California, our friendship and respect deepened because of common values and ideals on so many aspects of life in general.

We talked about what kind of legacy we can leave to our world.

Knowing his family and children — Tanya, Traci and Raul — at close range, without doubt, I can say that “ang bunga ay hindi mahuhulog na malayo sa puno” (the fruits will never fall far from the tree).

Unlike many of my friends and business associates, I don’t remember Ben and I ever discussing any business deals to get super rich. That was probably due to our humble beginnings in Pangasinan where our parents and grandparents were not materially driven except to get the best education that we can obtain within our means.

To end this unusual tribute to a dear compadre and soulmate, let me reprint what he wrote about two years ago, when he stayed with us for a few days at our Fountain Valley home. You can see and savor the flavor of his unique descriptive writing that comes from a sharpened provincial pen. That visit was the last time we saw each other, with my wife and my son eJ, his inaanak (godson) : “….I also had a chance to see and meet old friends. My compadre (I am godfather to his only son, eJ) ernie Delfin and his beautiful and forever young wife

Benita, hosted me to a nice dinner. In fact, eJ who is a school teacher actually taught at my Alma Mater, huntington Beach high School, as an American Field Scholar during my high school senior year. My Facebook updated status described my visit with them: Yesterday, a welcome dinner for me was hosted by one of my closest friends, ernie Delfin. The food was great but it was not what amazed me. he brought me to his house for 36 years in Fountain Valley — only about 10-15 minutes from huntington Beach. It was also the house where the late editor-publisher Max Soliven and I used to stay every time we came for a visit. he showed the guest room which was renovated, for me to know that next time, I should stay with them as I used to. But again that was not what amazed me. his front and backyards are only as small as mine in McLean, Va. This was what amazed me: he was able to convert both into a combination of a little FARMYARD and floral garden. he planted and is producing the following: A. VeGeTABLeS: eggplant, Ampalaya, Kalabaza, Pipino, Leek, Kamatis, Kamote, Basil, different Mints and herbs, Alugati, Malunggay, and a few more American salad vegetables that I cannot name.

B. FRUITS: Avocado, Guava, Banana (Saba), Persimmon, PAGE B7

EVA Economy Class ranks third worldwide for 2017 PAGE B4 service. SKYTRAX awarded it 5Stars, recognizing it among only nine carriers worldwide to hold the elite distinction. SKYTRAX and Travel + Leisure also rank it among the world’s Top-10 Best International Airlines. eVA excels at convenience as well. Its routing within Asia is among the industry’s best.

With one stop in Taipei, travelers can connect onward aboard 132 flights throughout Southeast Asia and 155 in Northeast Asia. eVA and affiliate UNI Air operate an additional 113 weekly flights to 27 destinations in Mainland China and fly to Guam, Korea, 8

major cities in Japan and more major gateways throughout the region. eVA operates more flights from North America to Taiwan, connecting to more destinations in Asia, than any other airline.

As a Star Alliance member, eVA extends its network to nearly 1,330 destinations in 192 countries. It code-shares with Air Canada, Air China, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Avianca, Bangkok Airways, hainan Airlines, hongkong Airlines, Air India, Shandong Air, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Air, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.

eVA Air, a Star Alliance member, is widely recognized for exceptionally high service and safety standards. The carrier was established in 1989 as Taiwan’s first privately owned international airline. It is part of the respected evergreen Group and a sister company to global container-shipping leader evergreen Line. It flies a fleet of more than 70 Boeing and Airbus aircraft to more than 60 international destinations throughout Asia, Oceania, europe and North America. Travelers can learn more about eVA’s schedule and book and buy tickets at www. evaair.com.

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

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B

Get the best price for your PhilWomenians of Las Vegas raises funds for PWUAA Scholarship Program valuables at Nevada Coin Mart Las Vegas, NV - The PhilWomenians of Las Vegas, now on its 13th year of providing assistance to support the global Philippine Women’s University alumni association scholarship Program, in coordination with PWUaa-Manila Chapter, continues its tradition of holding fundraisers in Las Vegas to help fund the college education of deserving Filipino students with limited financial resources, as well as help local and Philippines charities. also known as Philippine Women’s University alumni association-Nevada Chapter (PWUaa-NV), the PhilWomenians of Las Vegas was conceived in the spring of 2004 by 18 original group of enthusiastic and energetic women who were formerly faculty members, graduates, and/or students of PWU in Manila─ the first university exclusively for women in the Philippines.

The alumni association was formed for social, cultural, educational and humanitarian purposes as set forth in its Constitution. They also participate in parades, fairs, and festivals to promote Philippine culture. sharing a common goal and aspiration they live up to their motto: Noblesse oblige─ to gather and rally behind their beloved alma mater, provide assistance to its faculty and students, and give back whatever they can to the University.

In the Fall of the same year, the PWUaa-NV held its first election of officers with Lulu Colmenar as its first president, and who served from 2004-2006.

Other officers included Minda gorospe, first vice president; Joy salas, secretary; Juliet Hoson, treasurer; emma Palaganas, assistant treasurer; ann shusterman, PRO; Cecilia enrile, eva Cruz, Myrna Fontillas, erlinda gonzales, and Marieke samonte, board of directors. Various committees namely, scholarship, Membership, Website, Fund Raising and Finance regularly meet to ensure that the objectives of the association are met.

Colmenar was succeeded in the presidency by Cecilia enrile (2007-2009), sylvia arellano (20102012) and Fina Nafarrete-Lopez (2012-2014).

In 2015, Cecilia enrile was unanimously elected president once more and serves up to the present.

Joy salas and erlinda gonzales, who have served since its founding, concurrently serve as secretary and treasurer, respectively.

In 2010, PWUaa-NV partnered with PWUaa-Ma-

nila in an ambitious program to raise funds for 100 scholarship grants in commemoration of the forthcoming PWU’s Centennial anniversary in 2019.

The 100 scholarship grants aim to provide a convergence for all educational donations coming from other alumni or friends of the University from all over the world. The amount of PWUaa-NV contribution towards this program was set at $1,000 yearly.

Likewise in 2010, PWUaa-Nevada partnered with gawad-Kalinga, a non-profit organization in the Philippine, whose main purpose is to build homes and provide livelihood for the poorest of the poor, and raised $1500. at the aftermath of the disastrous Haiyan Typhoon that devastated a large swath of Palo, Leyte, PWUaa-NV also came to the rescue with a $1,000 donation through the archdiocese of Tacloban’s Haiyan Relief Fund.

To date, PWUaa-NV has given a total of $10,445.00 to the PWUaa-Manila scholarship Fund Program, the gawad-Kalinga, the Philippine american association of Nevada (PaaN) medical mission, and local charities such as Povorello and shade Tree.

Following its tradition, the PWUaa-NV holds its annual Halloween Fun Fundraiser at the gold Coast Hotel & Casino. attendees come in exotic attire to vie for Most Original, Most scary, and Most Coordinated costume contest. a sumptuous dinner, prizes galore, and all-night dancing to live band music, and fun are enjoyed by invitees and guests. Proceeds from the ticketed event go to the association’s scholarship Fund program. another popular PWUaa-NV event is the Casino Day fundraiser. about 10-12 mahjong tables . and a poker table are set up for a day-long table games. Tongs are collected in every game and the proceeds go to the scholarship Fund. The event keeps the members in close touch, while friendships and camaraderie bloom and bonding strengthened.

For each one of the original 18 founder-members, the PWUaa-NV shall continue to exist for as long as the PWU Hymn rings in their ears as they sing in joyful chorus: “Loyal may we ever be, may we learn our lessons right, proud may we ever be of the Philippine Women’s University!”

A tribute to Benjamin G. Maynigo...

PAGE B6

Papaya, apple, Tangerines, Oranges, grapes, Mango, and Palm trees.

C. FLORaL: Roses, Orchids, arias, annuals and Perennials, and hundreds of succulents.

Doesn’t that make you jealous?

My friend, who has proven himself as a good CPa, an Innovative entrepreneur, a Pioneer of e-Rotary, and a Patriotic Community Leader, is also an excellent small Urban Farmer.

I ate some of the fruits we picked in the small farmyard for

breakfast.”

What kind of a person can’t be touched by reading and savoring such a beautifully written essay, on a seemingly mundane or ordinary “farmyard” and human activity? as an insanely idealist like him, I am humbly moved and this is one reason that makes me sad that my compadre left this world so sudden. With his family, however, I want to remember and celebrate his life where he did his best to leave this world a better one than he found it.

Compadre BeN, you are one of a kind! I will never forget you! so, until we meet again in heaven and I promise you, together we will replicate our beautiful farmgarden in Paradise!

To you Compadre and those who you have left behind, HaPPY BIRTDaY, and yes, let me shout your signature season’s greetings: “ MaLIgaYaNg PasKO aT MaYNIgONg BagONg TaON!” *** Email: ernie.delfin@gmail.com Website: www.gkerc.org

WITH tons of places to choose from to bring your old jewelry, there’s only one place in Las Vegas that will pay the best amount for these valuables. at Nevada Coin Mart, customers can rest assured that they will be properly compensated for the precious stones and metals they bring in.

Neil sackmary, the owner of the store, is a graduate gemologist from the gemological Institute of america (gIa) with more than 20 years of experience in buying these items.

“When it comes to myself, this is my passion. This is what I went to school for,” sackmary said. gIa is the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, colored stones and pearls. It was established in 1931 and strives to protect the jewelry and gem buying public by setting quality standards worldwide. as a certified gIa specialist, sackmary points out that simply because a business that purchases these stones has been around for decades, that does not make it an expert source.

This is a particularly important fact for members of the asian american community to note.

“In the asian community, people don’t buy cheap stones. They always spend really good money and when they do, they want to sell them for good money and they want someone who’s an expert. You don’t want to take it to someone who says they’re in the business for 35 years. That does not make them an expert,” sackmary said.

Nevada Coin Mart purchases

Neil Sackmary

a wide variety of items, including coins, bullion, diamonds, jewelry, gold, silver and watches, at premium prices. at the shop, sackmary has the latest technology, including a $9,000 diamond microscope and $30,000 X-ray spectrometer, which allows him to thoroughly examine how much the metals and stones customers bring in are worth.

“Most people want to rip off customers because they don’t care. They look at them and say, ‘Well, if I can, I’ll take advantage.

I’m never going to see you again’,” sackmary said.

That’s not what happens at Nevada Coin Mart. In one instance, sackmary paid a customer $1,510 for two rings that were quoted for $150 at a competitor store.

It’s because of its transparency and fairness to those who walk into Nevada Coin Mart that about 70 percent of its clients are repeat customers who come back for the value they receive for their items.

The business takes it a step further by providing security guards who are former police of-

ficers and 47 cameras to monitor the entire building. Visitors can also request to have a guard walk them in and out of the building free of charge. sackmary and his wife have been in the business of buying jewelry and other metals for many years and have been online selling costume jewelry for about 15 years. They are also present every day the shop is open, which is located on the corner of Jones Boulevard and Flamingo Road.

In addition to putting their customers’ interests first, the sackmarys are active community members who have participated in charity event Operation FireHeaT and are founding sponsors for the anthem Women’s Club.

Nevada Coin Mart was established in 1971 and is licensed by Clark County to legally purchase jewelry from the general public.

Nevada Coin Mart 4065 s Jones Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89103 Phone: (702) 776-7061 Hours: Monday through sunday, 9am to 5 pm Advertising Supplement

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