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Supreme Court to review Obama’s immigration program by

Allyson esCoBAr

fear of deportation. obama’s actions, unveiled the supreme Court an- just over a year ago, are aimed nounced on tuesday, Jan. 19, at allowing at least 4 million imthat it will decide whether Pres- migrants to apply for expanded ident Barack obama has the ex- programs that could make them ecutive authority to declare that eligible for work authorization millions of undocumented im- and other associated benefits, migrants can be allowed to live reported CNN. and work in the United states the high court’s decision for a period of time, without provides the last chance that AJPress

the White house would have to implement the program before obama leaves office next January. one of the programs proposed by obama was the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent residents (DAPA), which would allow undocumented immigrants in those categories to remain in

the country and apply for work permits if they have been here for at least five years, and have not committed felonies or repeated misdemeanors. the president’s executive actions would also expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program implemented in 2012, which applies to younger people who

were born outside of the Us, but raised within its borders. the administration says the program is a way for a government with limited resources to prioritize which immigrants it will move first to deport, said the Washington Post. however, obama’s sweeping plan, taken after Congress failed to enact comprehensive

immigration reform, was swiftly blocked by lower courts when texas, led by Us District Judge Andrew s. hanen, and 25 other republican-led states sued the administration in United states v. texas. the 26 states said that the program “would be one of the largest changes in immigration PAGE A2

Pacquiao formally announces retirement: ‘I want to help my countrymen, the Pilipino people’

by Agnes

ConstAnte AJPress

terweight champion timothy Bradley, Jr. in the ring for a third time.

“I’m so happy hanging my gloves after this fight because of what I have done. I’m sure I will feel sad after that but, you know, that’s life,” Pacquiao said during a press conference for the fight tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Beverly hills hotel in Beverly hills, Cali-

As world boxing champion manny Pacquiao prepares for what he has said will the final bout of his boxing career, he looks ahead to a political career where he can serve his countrymen. on April 9, the filipino boxer will face WBo/WBC Jr. Wel-

DATELINE

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Democratic candidates face off on health care, Wall Street and guns hILLArY Clinton, Bernie sanders, and martin o’malley met for their fourth debate, which aired live on sunday, Jan. 17 on NBC. It was the Democratic contenders’ final face-off before the crucial Iowa caucuses and New hampshire primary.

In a strong performance, maryland Gov. martin o’malley came across as experienced and empathetic, but did not get the chance to talk as much, while former secretary of state and frontrunner hillary Clinton argued she was pragmatic, skilled and a “battle-tested politician” who can work effectively on both foreign policy and domestic fronts, reported CBs News. 74year-old Vermont senator Bernie sanders, meanwhile, drove home the message about the influence of funding in politics.

PAGE A3

White House encourages AAPIs to get health insurance before deadline sINCe open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act--also known as obamacare--began in 2013, the number of people in the United states without health insurance has fallen by nearly 18 million, according to the White house. however, over 200,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in the Us still remain uninsured. there was a significant decrease in the percentage of uninsured adults (ages 18-64)--16.1 percent of Asian Americans in 2013, compared with just 8.8 percent in June 2015--according to the National health Interview survey. to help close that gap by the Jan. 31 enrollment deadline, the White house Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WhIAAPI) hosted its third annual AAPI Affordable Care Act Week of Action beginning tuesday, Jan. 19 to address access barriers and close the gap within the Asian-American community when it PAGE A4

fornia. the formal announcement of his decision comes just a few months before the Philippine general election in may. Pacquiao is currently the lone congressman of sarangani province but is now seeking a seat in the senate.

“I remember when I started PAGE A2

‘New SAF Probe can ruin Aquino Legacy’ Osmena claims Enrile holds damaging evidence

by Jefferson

AntipordA And Joel n. sy egCo ManilaTimes.net

eVIDeNCe to be presented by senate minority Leader Juan Ponce enrile when the senate reopens its investigation of the mamasapano massacre may ruin the legacy of President Benigno Aquino III, sen. sergio “serge” osmeña 3rd said on tuesday, Jan. 19. enrile had said he has evidence to prove that Aquino allowed 44 police commandos to die almost a year ago.

“I think that if manong [Big Brother] Johnny [enrile’s nickname] can prove that, it will definitely hurt the President,” osmeña said. “manong Johnny was ominous when he made that statement that he has new evidence. It will hurt PNoy [Aquino],” he added. the senator said enrile’s evidence may even lead to the filing of charges against Aquino when he steps down from office in June this year.

“Johnny cares to hurt PNoy. maybe to put PNoy in the stockade,” osmeña added. enrile, during the monday

session, confirmed that he has evidence to prove that Aquino did nothing to save the lives of the special Action force members who were killed by members of the moro Islamic Liberation front (mILf), Bangsamoro Islamic freedom fighters (BIff) and other private armed groups while carrying out an operation in mamasapano, maguindano. the minority leader took the floor on monday and said Aquino actively involved himself in planning and preparation for oplan exodus, a police operation launched to capture suspected terrorist Zulkifli Bin hir alias marwan. enrile said there are witnesses who want to participate in the hearing but he advised them not to.

But osmena noted that the President need not attend the senate investigation that will start on January 27 although there is no stopping Aquino from participating in the hearing through a video conferPAGE A2

FINAL FIGHT. The People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley hold a press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel for their upcoming April 9 fight in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao announced that this bout -- his third against Bradley -- will be his last before he retires to focus on his career as a politician in the Philippines.

AJPress photos by Ding Carreon

Estrada clan supporting different bets for 2016 Guia picks Roxas

by

JoviC yee, MArlon rAMos

her support for roxas was not binding on her former partner ADmINIstrAtIoN presidential and clan patriarch, ex-President candidate mar roxas on monday, and incumbent manila mayor JoJan. 18 gained the endorsement of seph estrada, and their son, sen. san Juan City mayor Guia Gomez JV ejercito. the mayor announced her enin the may elections, taking him a step closer toward securing the dorsement of the Liberal Party’s support of the influential ejercito- standard-bearer before hundreds of city government employees estrada clan.

Gomez, however, clarified that and residents during the weekly Inquirer.net

flag-raising ceremony at the City hall grounds.

“It was a difficult decision,” Gomez later told reporters, explaining that the family was split on which presidential candidate to support. “But for me, I think deep in my heart, the entire city of san Juan and even mar roxas know where my heart belongs to.”

PAGE A3

Hike in ‘balikbayan’ tax-free cap eyed

by Jerry

e. esplAnAdA, leilA B. sAlAverriA / Inquirer.net

oVerseAs filipinos may soon be sending home more “balikbayan” boxes after the senate passed a measure raising tax limits on the goodies they send to their families here. the senate on monday, Jan. 18 passed on third and final reading the proposed Customs modernization and tariff Act (CmtA) which, among other things, seeks to simplify, modernize and make transparent customs procedures and increase the tax-exempt value of ofW packages to P150,000 from P10,000.

the provision “is one that is most awaited by ofWs,” said senate President Pro tempore ralph recto.

Under section 800 of the CmtA, Philippine residents, ofWs and other filipinos residing abroad or returning to the country would be allowed to bring in or ship to their families balikbayan boxes exempt from duties and taxes as long as the total dutiable value of a box shall not exceed P150,000. they may enjoy the privilege up to three times a year.

PAGE A4

The Senate on Monday, Jan. 18 passed on third and final reading the proposed Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) which, among other things, seeks to simplify, modernize and make transparent customs procedures and increase the tax-exempt value of OFW packages to P150,000 from P10,000.

Inquirer.net photo by Cristina Rodriguez

A

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january 21-27, 2016 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

From The FronT Page

Supreme Court to review Obama’s...

PAGE A1 policy in our nation’s history� and that it raises major issues involving the separation of powers and federalism.

Since the executive order’s blocking, millions of immigrants, including the aging parents of US citizens and lawful permanent residents who would have been eligible, are left waiting for reform.

In a 15-page ruling, Judge Hanen said he “remains convinced� that his original findings in February 2015--halting programs meant to ease deportation threats to millions of eligible undocumented immigrants--were correct. “The Obama Administration’s blatant misrepresentations to the court about its implementation of expanded work permits for illegal immigrants under the President’s lawless amnesty plan reflects a pattern of disrespect for the rule of law in America.� “DAPA is a crucial change in the nation’s immigration law and policy—and that is precisely why it could be created only by Congress, rather than unilaterally imposed by the Executive,� said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in a court filing.

On Tuesday, Paxton welcomed the Supreme Court’s review, saying in a statement: “In deciding to hear this case, the Supreme Court recognizes the importance of the separation of powers. As federal courts have already ruled three times, there are limits to the President’s authority, and those limits enacted by Congress were exceeded when the President unilaterally sought to grant ‘lawful presence’ to more than 4 million unauthorized aliens who are in this country unlawfully.�

He added that the Obama administration has violated the Administrative Procedures Act, which sets forth how federal agencies can establish regulations.

The programs represent one of the “largest changes in immigration policy in our nation’s history,� Paxton said, arguing that the state of Texas has the standing to bring the case, partly because it would also bear the burden and cost of issuing additional driver’s licenses.

White House officials also welcomed the announcement, saying they were confident their side would prevail. White House assistant press secretary Brandi Hoffine said that US v.

Texas affects “immigrants who want to be held accountable, to work on the books, to pay taxes, and to contribute to our society openly and honestly.� “The policies will make our communities safer. They will make our economy stronger.

And they are consistent with the actions taken by presidents of both parties, the laws passed

by Congress, and the decisions of the Supreme Court. We are

confident that the policies will be upheld as lawful,� she said. “Millions of families have waited nearly a year for these programs to take effect,� said the National Immigration Law Center’s Karen Tumlin. “They will now get a full day in court as the nation’s highest court hears this case of tremendous moral and legal importance.�

Comprehensive immigration reform has confounded a politically deadlocked Congress, and has become one of the main disagreements between Democrat and Republican presidential candidates.

The issue of undocumented immigration has taken center stage in the Republican primary battle, said Fox News, with frontrunner candidate Donald Trump calling for a wall to be built along the US and Mexico border, and other candidates calling for tough proposals.

Though the White House has appealed, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the lower courts in November of last year, keeping the programs from being implemented.

The administration contends that the states have “no legal standing to sue,� because it is up to the federal government to set immigration policy. They also defend that the Department of Homeland Security did not violate federal statutes in devising the executive programs. “Setting priorities about whom to deport is a practical response to the fact that Congress has given the administration only enough money to deport no more than about 400,000 of the nation’s estimated 11 million [undocumented] immigrants,� the government said, according to the Washington Post.

In their petition to the court, US Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. said that the lower courts had blocked “a federal immigration enforcement policy of great national importance‌ in violation of established limits on the judicial power. If left undisturbed, that ruling will allow states to frustrate the federal government’s enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws.â€?

Verrilli also added that lowercourt rulings “will force millions of people —who are not removal priorities under criteria the court conceded are valid, and who are parents of US citizens and permanent residents—to continue to work off the books, without the option of lawful employment to provide for their families.�

In challenging the immigration plan, the Supreme Court justices also added a question about the constitutionality of Obama’s actions. Texas argued that the Court precedent requires that “presidential action that lacks congressional support must be scrutinized with caution.�

Supporters of the immigra-

tion order welcomed the justices’ decision to take up the case, saying it is the only way to resolve the status of millions of undocumented immigrants stuck in litigation limbo. “The president’s program has been delayed for far too long by this political lawsuit and the clearly erroneous decisions of the lower courts,â€? said Elizabeth Wydra, chief counsel of the Congressional Accountability Center. “The lives of millions of children and families in America have been disrupted and held in limbo‌and they deserve the Court’s careful and prompt attention.â€? “We are thrilled that the Court decided to hear Texas v.

US, as it preserves the very real possibility that expanded DACA and DAPA will become available to qualified applicants later this year,� said Sally Kinoshita, deputy director of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, which leads the Ready California campaign--a coalition of organizations working together to educate and provide outreach on DACA and DAPA. “These programs would improve the lives of over five million people nationwide–1.5 million in California alone–by allowing them to continue building their lives and contributing to their communities without living in fear and uncertainty. Today’s decision brings us one step closer to providing protections that keep families together and strengthen our communities, and that is truly good news.�

According to data from the Migration Policy Institute, many immigrant Filipinos in the US would qualify for both the original and expanded DACA and DAPA programs. Out of around 197,000 undocumented Filipinos currently in the US, approximately 45,000 are estimated to be eligible for both DACA and DAPA. In California’s Los Angeles County, around 7,000 are estimated to be eligible for the expanded DAPA program, and 4,000 for the original DACA. In San Francisco, those eligible for both DACA and DAPA are estimated to be less than 1,000; while in New York’s Queens County, around 2,000 undocumented Filipinos would be qualified.

In Los Angeles County, Filipinos make up about 2 percent of undocumented immigrants currently under the original DACA program, according to the MPI. 3 percent of those would be immediately eligible.

Directing Attorney Joyce Noche from the Immigration Unit at the Public Law Center in Orange County said, “Filipinos are one of the largest groups in California that could potentially benefit from these programs, and we encourage families to go ahead and prepare, now that the Supreme Court has granted review. We tell immigrants to start gathering documentation, save money for the application fee, and contact other family members who could potentially benefit from the programs.� “We also want to encourage folks to keep informed about the legalization process, and to be wary of false immigration services. Know the resources available, including the media and legal service organizations,� she added. “I think there’s a lot of fear in our community, and people who are generally reluctant to come forward.�

The Public Law Center helps low-income individuals and families in Orange County, provides assistance under the existing DACA program, and helps immigrants with legal services and litigation.

The Supreme Court will likely hear the case in April, with a ruling before it adjourns in June. If it approves the programs, they will go into effect before Obama leaves office.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY. President Barack Obama, with First Lady Michelle Obama, reacts to getting beat at Rock, Paper, Scissors during a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event at Leckie Elementary School in Washington, DC on Monday, Jan. 18.

White House photo by Pete Souza

Pacquiao formally announces retirement...

PAGE A1 boxing, I started because I wanted to help my family, my mother.

And now, I end my boxing career because I want to help my countrymen, the Pilipino people,� he said.

Pacquiao, who holds a record of 57-6-2, 38 KOs, was the first boxer in history to win 10 world titles in eight different weight divisions. In 2000, the Boxing Writers Association of America named him “Fighter of the Decade.�

People’s Champ seeking “clear victory� against Bradley For his last showdown in the ring, Pacquiao said he considered opponents including WBA super lightweight champion Adrien Broner, British boxer and two-time former world champion Amir Khan, Mexican multipletime world champion Juan Marquez, and even a rematch against Floyd Mayweather, Jr., to who he lost in the most lucrative match in boxing history.

Although he has already fought Bradley twice, the Filipino boxer said that this time around he is seeking a clear victory. In his second match against the American fighter, Bradley won in a controversial split decision. “I’m not saying I’m going to knock him out, but I will do my best to prove that Manny Pacquiao is still in the prime, he’s still in the top before I hang up my gloves,� he said.

Different Bradley expected on April 9 A different Bradley is expected to enter the ring on April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Last year after a victory against American boxer Jessie Vargas, he fired long-time trainer Joel Diaz and hired trainer and ESPN analyst Teddy Atlas.

TopRank promoter Bob Arum has previously said the American boxer is “a new Bradley� citing his November 2015 fight against former WBA lightweight world champion Brandon Rios, at which time he was training under Atlas.

Bradley, who currently holds a record of 33-1-1, 13 KOs, agreed that his third match against The People’s Champ would stand apart from their first two. “I think this fight will definitely be different than the first two altercations that we had. And that’s all I can tell you. I think it’s going to be a great fight ‌ it’s Manny Pacquiao’s farewell fight. I know he wants to win the fight really badly and so do I...â€?

During Tuesday’s press conference, Atlas spoke about the upcoming fight using the Super Bowl as an analogy, saying the boxers were Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. “They’ve been to a lot of super bowls and this is what they’re in the business for: getting to the top to show that they are the best.

We have an opportunity to fight ...

Manny Pacquiao, who has been one of the best most dynamic fighters of the last decade. And to me ‌ has been one of the best fighters of the last decade,â€? Atlas said. “Donald Trump undercardâ€?

Arum also said the undercard of Pacquiao vs. Bradley will be called “the Donald Trump undercard,� featuring all Hispanic fighters as a response to the Republican presidential contender who has been vocal about deporting undocumented immigrants. “I want them to know there are a lot of people that have their back and are not going to allow them to be deported,� he said, dedicating the undercard to the approximately 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.

Pacquiao is not planning to run for president, message to Filipino fans After the fight in April, Pacquiao will have one month to campaign before the election on May 9. If he wins, he said he would like to focus on fighting corruption, providing free education from elementary to college, and providing incentives and subsidies for farmers and fishermen.

While there have been talks of Pacquiao aiming to run for president at some point, he said that goal is not in his current plans. “I don’t have that in my mind right now but if that’s my destiny then no one will refuse that,� he told reporters.

Arum, who has served as Pacquiao’s promoter for years, said Tuesday he couldn’t believe it would be the boxer’s last time in the ring. “It could be, it may very well be, but when I stand up here to introduce him in this ballroom at The Beverly Hills Hotel where I’ve done it so many times, and so many memories, I can’t come to grips with the fact that it would be the last time. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t, that’s up to Manny,� Arum said.

For Filipino fans, Pacquiao had the following message: “Maraming salamat sa ating mga kababayan sa support and prayers sa aking career, and sana hindi sila mg sawa na mg suporta sa akin, especially this coming last fight ... and also my other career ... to help the people (Many thanks to my kababayans for the support and prayers for my career, and I hope they don’t tire of supporting me, especially this coming last fight ‌ and also my other career ‌ to help the people),â€? he said.

Press tour continues in New York, tickets on sale Friday Pacquiao will return to the Philippines as soon as he returns from the press tour, said Mike Koncz, his adviser, and plans on completing the first half of his training in General Santos City, according to Manila Bulletin.

Team Pacquiao and Team Bradley are set to fly to New York City on Wednesday, Jan. 20, for a second press conference on Thursday, Jan. 21, at Madison Square Garden.

Tickets for Pacquiao vs. Bradley go on sale Friday, Jan. 22, at 1 pm ET/10am PT, and will range from $154 to $1,204, excluding service fees.

‘New SAF Probe can ruin Aquino...

PAGE A1 ence to answer questions that will be asked during the proceedings. “I think because of the dignity of his [Aquino] office, we don’t want him to be subjected to that,� the senator said.

Enrile refused to disclose the evidence that he is holding, saying the people should wait for the investigation.

The senator was jailed for more than a year for plunder.

He was accused of getting millions of pesos in kickbacks from the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel.

Enrile regained his temporary liberty after the Supreme Court allowed him to post bail for humanitarian reasons.

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In this January 30, 2015 photo, President Benigno S. Aquino III honors the fallen Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) Troopers during the Necrological Service at the NCRPO Multi-Purpose Center of Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

MalacaĂąang file photo by Benhur Arcayan

The police general who headed the Philippine National PoliceBoard of Inquiry (PNP-BOI) that also investigated the Mamasapano massacre is also clueless on the new evidence being claimed by Enrile.

Director Benjamin Magalong, who was director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) when the board was set up, told The Manila Times that he himself is eager to know the nature of Enrile’s revelations. “I really have no idea on the new evidence,� said the police official, who had since been transferred to another post after submitting his report on the carnage that happened on January 25, 2015 in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao province.

Magalong added that if he is invited again to appear before the Senate on January 27, he would have nothing new to say. “I have nothing new to reveal. I stand by our report,� he said.

The Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos were deployed to get terrorists Marwan and Basit Usman.

Marwan died during the dawn raid while Usman was killed in May.

The Board of Inquiry report indicated that Aquino bypassed the chain of command of the Philippine National Police when he allowed his friend, former PNP chief Alan Purisima, to implement Oplan Exodus.

Purisima was under preventive suspension when the mission was carried out.

The board was activated on February 2, 2015, days after the January 25 carnage.

The report contained more than 300 signed affidavits of SAF members, military officials, witnesses and other civilians who provided information on the firefight.

Meanwhile, in MalacaĂąang, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. belied Enrile’s accusation that the President “did nothing to save the lives of the thenembattled policemen.â€?

Coloma said in a news briefing that the President said he did what he had to do as Commander-inChief.

Enrile maintained that he has evidence to prove that Aquino was “actively and directly� involved in the botched operation under Purisima’s brainchild, Oplan Exodus.

Coloma said government officials will respond to all of Enrile’s queries during the hearing.

Dateline USa

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Democratic candidates face off on...

PAGE A1

The candidates talked about a variety of issues, from health care to foreign policy, to the criminal justice system, to President Barack Obama.

When asked what their top three priorities as president would be, Sanders cited universal health care, minimum wage increases (to $15 an hour), and rebuilding infrastructure. Clinton said she would focus on equal pay for women, building on Pres.

Obama’s Affordable Care Act, and working diligently to bring the nation together, reported USA Today. O’Malley spoke about wage increases, empowering labor unions, and reforming the immigration system.

“I understand that this is the hardest job in the world,” Clinton said in her opening remarks, but assuring that she was capable of doing “all aspects of the job.”

She also clung tightly to her loyalty with President Obama, arguing she would build on his legacy and promising continuity, according to CNN. Clinton and Sanders took most of the time on the debate stage, coming face to face over issues with health care, gun control, and financial politics.

Clinton called Sanders out on his support of the National Rifle Association (NRA), for voting “with the gun lobby, numerous times,” and also named several occasions when she said the Vermont senator sided with guns rights supporters to gain votes in Congress. She said she was glad that Sanders had “reversed his position on immunity” after his recent support of a bill to amend gun manufacturers immunity from prosecution, but also accused him of flip-flopping and getting “cozy” with the NRA. However, Sanders retorted that he had a D-minus voting rating from the NRA, and rejected her list of charges. “I think that Secretary Clinton knows that what she says is very disingenuous,” he said.

“Let me talk about polling…In

terms of polling, guess what, we are running ahead of Secretary Clinton in terms of taking on my good friend Donald Trump,” he added. “We have the momentum.

We’re on a path to a victory.”

The biggest argument of the night was on health care. Just two hours before the debate, Sanders rolled out a tax plan that would fund his Medicare-for-all proposal to scrap private health insurance entirely, replacing with a federally-run health program.

“Right now what we have to deal with is the fact that 29 million people still have no health insurance. Tell me why we are spending almost three times more than the British, who guarantee health care for all of their people,” he said.

“What a Medicare-for-all program does is finally provide in this country health care for every man, woman and child as a right,” he added, saying his plan would lead to tax increases for the middle class, and would take aim at insurance companies.

“The truth is that Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman…believed that health care should be available to all of our people. It is time for our country to join every other major industrialized nation on earth and guarantee health care to all citizens as a right, not a privilege.”

Although Clinton leads Sanders 59 percent to 34 percent, according to an NBC/Wall Street Journal national poll, many viewers of the debate believe Sanders, who is very popular with young people, emerged the true winner. Sanders’ poll stats numbers have been rising over the last month.

“I certainly respect Sen. Sanders’ intentions,” Clinton replied, but stayed defending the Affordable Care Act. “When you’re talking about health care, the details really matter. We finally have a path to universal health care, we have accomplished so much already. I do not want to see the Republicans repeal it, and I do not want us to start all over again

with a contentious debate.”

“No one is tearing this up--I helped write [the Affordable Care Act]. We are going to go forward,” Sanders retorted angrily, saying he wanted to focus on the issues, not on her husband.

Accomplishing goals (such as an inclusive health care system, free public colleges, and a higher minimum wage) is dependent on the influence of big corporations and their funding. “Nothing real will get done unless we have a political revolution where millions of people finally stand up,” he stressed, citing problems on Wall Street.

Clinton rebutted that there’s “no bank too big to fail, no individual too powerful to jail.”

When asked about how she wins the votes of younger generations, Clinton cited her goal of debt-free tuition, and is concerned about the “Republican assault” on voting, and on women’s, LGBT, and workers’ rights.

“This is an election where we have to pull young people and older people together. Turning over our White House would be bad for everybody, including our young people.”

O’Malley managed to squeeze in a word regarding guns and criminal justice reform, personalizing the issue with a story about meeting a three-year-old shooting victim in the hospital.

He also showed an endearing side when talking about putting ground troops in the Middle East to fight the terror group ISIS, telling a more personal appeal on the matter. All of the candidates agreed there should be no US troops on the ground to fight the war on terror.

The debate viewed by over 12.5 million viewers, including 10.2 million who watched it live, reported The Associated Press.

The debate was also the thirdmost watched Democratic debate in history, according to NBC, drawing in more young viewers than the two previous broadcasted debates. (Allyson Escobar / AJPress)

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 21-27, 2016

Analyst: Southeast Asian fighters of ISIS may regroup in PH

by Frances

Mangosing Inquirer.net

A SECURITy analyst warned of the serious implications of Southeast Asian fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) located in Iraq and Syria who are poised to return to their home countries in the future.

Jasminder Singh, a senior analyst of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said in the RSIS publication this week that there is a possibility of these combatants to regroup in the Philippines.

To date, there are more than 1,000 Southeast Asian fighters of the ISIS in Iraq and Syria, with 2,000 to 3,000 camp followers. Majority of these Southeast Asian combatants are from Indonesia and Malaysia. Thailand, Philippines and a possibility of Myanmar are also represented, Singh wrote.

However, Philippine authorities have never confirmed if there are Filipino fighters of the ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

There are also videos of armed groups in the Philippines pledging their allegiance to the ISIS, however, the military has dismissed these as propaganda.

One of the dangers that these returnees will do, once they are back home, Singh said, is to regroup in the Philippines.

Singh said these fighters may regroup with old jihadi networks such as the Jemaah Islamiyah in Indonesia and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines.

Furthermore, they could “re-

This undated file image posted on a militant website on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 shows fighters from the al-Qaida linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) marching in Raqqa, Syria.

AP file photo

sume violence and sectarian conflict in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia.”

It is also possible that they will target foreigners in the region, including foreign embassies and busy districts with economic and political interests such as hotels and shopping malls.

Disappointed The ISIS fighters have been returning home “due to disillusionment of with ISIS.” “For them the dream of an Islamic paradise was shattered by the brutalities and atrocities they witnessed, especially the beheadings and wanton killings of civilian Muslims, Shias and Sunnis alike,” Singh said.

“The danger posed by the ‘Daesh Alumni’ (as ISIS-linked militants are also referred to) and returnees is real and this should be addressed head-on to prevent these ideological and battle-harderned individuals from causing damage to their respective societies,” Singh said.

He added that many of these Southeast Asian fighters expected glamorous jobs, however, they were only given menials tasks.

ASEAN-wide effort This danger posed by the returnees is real and should be addressed head-on, Singh said.

Defeating the ISIS in the region must be an Association of Southeast Asian Nations-wide effort.

“It has become clear that no one state can manage the threat posed by IS (or ISIS). It will require regional and international cooperation, including the need to get assistance from Turkey and Iraq to send captured local fighters back for charges,” Singh said.

“To begin with, states would need strong legislations to criminalize citizens fighting for terrorist groups, involvement in war or military operations other than for national purpose, and even pledging of loyalty to another state an act of betrayal and crime,” he added.

Coalition launches API human trafficking task force

IN 2014, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center reported that California, which has the largest number of Asian Pacific Islanders (APIs) in the country, sees the most human trafficking cases among the 50 states in the US. However, resources for API trafficking victims and survito his chest, Estrada earlier declosest friends and political allies.

PAGE A1 Another presidential aspirant, scribed Roxas as the “most quali- vors are limited.

In response, the Asian Pacific “We will try to get together (but) Sen. Grace Poe, is the daughter of fied” for the Malacañang seat.

I cannot promise anything. They the late action star Fernando Poe Detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Policy & Planning Council (A3Phave their own minds,” she said.

Jr., Estrada’s bosom buddy, and the former President’s eldest son CON) launched the Asian PacifLeading opposition presidential a personal friend of Ejercito who who is being held at Camp Crame ic Islander Human Trafficking candidate Vice President Jejomar had openly expressed support for over the P10-billion pork barrel Task Force, which was officially Binay of the United Nationalist Al- her. scam, has said he would support announced on Wednesday, Jan. liance (UNA) is one of Estrada’s While he has kept his cards close PAGE A4 13, at the Thai Community De-

Estrada clan supporting different...

A

velopment Center (TCDC) in Los Angeles.

A3PCON is a coalition of over 40 community-based organization that advocates for the rights and needs of the API community in the greater Los Angeles area. The task force consists of 15 partner organizations with a goal to provide services to API human trafficking clients to bolster services to API trafficking survivors, as well as advocate for the needs of API trafficking victims.

During the announcement of the task force, Chancee Martorell, executive director of the

TCDC, one of the task force’s participating organizations, noted that a disproportionate number of trafficking victims are from API communities.

“There continues to be a disparity in funding and services for Asian Pacific Islander victims and survivors, so this has got to end. We really need to have more adequate resources to serve the large and growing number of victims and help restore their dignity and help them pursue restitution,” she said.

In a statement, Rep. Adam PAGE A4

A

Dateline USa

january 21-27, 2016 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

Coalition launches API human trafficking...

PAGE A3 Schiff (D-Calif.) applauded A3PCON for creating the task force. He also touched on how he worked with the Thai Community Development Center to help the 2003 Global Horizons Thai Farmworkers Case receive restitution from their traffickers.

“This case was over [12] years old and the victims are only now receiving restitution for their exploitation. It is time our justice system moves swiftly to respond to reports of human trafficking and brings perpetrators of human trafficking to justice,” Schiff said in the statement.

In 2014 to 2015, task force agencies collectively provided services to more than 764 human trafficking clients in the greater Los Angeles area. Of those, 57 percent, or 434 clients, were API. Thais (228), Filipinos (114) and Koreans (35) had the top three highest numbers of trafficking cases.

On Wednesday at the TCDC, trafficking survivor Angela Guanzon, a Filipina who formerly worked at a retirement home for the elderly in Long Beach for two years, shared how she came to the United States for better opportunities.

“Once I arrived in the United States, it became clear that what was promised was far from reality,” she said.

Guanzon said worked 18 hours for seven days a week

and slept on the floors in the hallways. Her trafficker told her she owed $12,000 for the cost of transportation and her visa, and she had to work for the person for 10 years before she could go. She was threatened with deportation if she tried to escape.

Her neighbor, who noticed she wasn’t getting any days off, notified the FBI. Guanzon worked with the agency and her trafficker eventually received a five-year prison sentence.

“I know sa mga kababayan natin sa mga ganitong sitwasyon, natatakot sila dahil lagi tayong tinatakot. Pero dapat nilang malaman na dito sa United States, lahat … may karapatan. So wag silang matakot [na] ipaalam kung ano ang sitwasyon nila (I know that our kababayans in these types of situation are scared because they always scare us. But they should know that in the United States, everyone has rights. So they shouldn’t be afraid to let others know about their situation),” she said.

In the Filipino community, Aquilina Versoza Soriano, executive director of Pilipino Workers Center, a non-profit dedicated to meeting the immediate needs of Filipino workers, said that based on the organization’s experience, trafficking victims are most commonly caregivers, hotel workers and teachers.

The task force, Soriano said, is not only about awareness

building but to lift up the API community so it can get the resources it needs for victims and survivors, including legal services, food and housing, so they can make the transition to a stable life.

“So while it’s been great over this past decade, we’ve been able to start to raise awareness, we’re identifying more and more of those who before would’ve gone unhelped and remained in their situations.

Now more people are ... being identified, but we need the resources to help them so that they can truly be free because if you don’t’ get the help that you need, then you’re still so burdened by immigration, by fear, by not being able to work and that’s why this is really important,” she said.

Also announced on Wednesday was a partnership between the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST), also a partner organization of the new task force, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to build and co-lead the new LA County Regional Human Trafficking Task Force.

In addition to PWC and TCDC, other organizations in the task force include: Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council, Crittenton Services for Children and Families, Filipino Migrant Center, Korean American Family Services, Korean Churches for Community Development, League of Women Voters, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Mental Health Commissioner Lawrence Lue, Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, Pacific Asian Counseling Services, Special Service for Groups/APAIT and South Asian Network. (Agnes Constante / AJPress)

Hike in ‘balikbayan...

PAGE A1 “This means an OFW may send two boxes at the same time provided their total worth is not more than P150,000. That will be counted as one shipment,” Recto said in a statement.

But the boxes should contain personal and household effects only, they must not be in commercial quantities, and must not be intended for barter, sale or hire.

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PH presidential bets commit to join debates

by Tina

G. SanToS Inquirer.net

EVERY one of the six presidential candidates on Wednesday, Jan. 20 committed to participate in a series of debates being organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and various media entities.

The first debate, to be organized

by Inquirer and GMA Network, will be held at Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City on Feb. 21.

During a meeting on debate rules and regulations, which was attended by officials of the Comelec, media organizations, and political parties, the camps of Vice President Jejomar Binay, Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas, Senators Miriam Santiago and Grace Poe, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and OFW Family Club party-list representative Roy

Señeres all agreed to participate in the debates.

Part on debates depends on SC Poe’s lawyer, George Garcia, said his client’s participation in the debates will depend on the Supreme Court ruling on Poe’s petition seeking to reverse the Comelec decision disqualifying her from the race.

“Nakadepende po kami sa SC (we are dependent on the Supreme Court),” Garcia said, eliciting laughter from the crowd.

Duterte’s representative, lawyer Antonio Kho, said he would “strongly recommend” to the feisty mayor, who has expressed some reluctance to join the debates, participate.

Comelec Chair Andres Bautista, while stressing that attendance by the candidates is not mandatory,

said it would be to their disadvantage if they don’t join.

“This is a huge opportunity for the candidates to have the chance to talk to the people for free. If they do not attend, I think that the voters might take that against them,” he said.

The debate guidelines have yet to be finalized and are still subject to further amendments.

One of the issues to resolve is whether political advertisements would be aired during the commercial segments of the debates.

Media networks want political ads be allowed to recover the costs of putting up the debates.

The debates will run for two hours each, including breaks.

There will be five to six rounds of questioning, with each round focusing on a main issue or topic.

Marcos ill-gotten properties up for sale MANILA—The Presidential Commission on Good Government on Monday, Jan. 18 announced that the Department of Finance (DOF) has approved the proposed sale of properties worth P65.8 million which are part of the ill-gotten wealth of former President Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies.

The Privatization Council, under the DOF, approved the sale of seven properties through public bidding.

Three properties forfeited from former National Bureau of Investigation Director Jolly Bugarin are among those scheduled to be privatized.

This includes a 2,335-square meter land in Tagaytay City and parcels of land in Puerto Galera and Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. Buga-

rin, who served under the Marcos administration from 1967 to 1986, acquired the properties in excess of his government compensation.

The council also approved the sale properties owned by former Ambassador Roberto Benedicto, who served as the Philippine ambassador to Japan in the early 1970s. The properties include a 5,161-square meter land in Legazpi City and a 5,952-square meter land in Naga City.

The property of spouses Alejo and Teresa Ganut in Caloocan City will also be put on sale. Ganut was the aide and valet of Marcos.

The Wigwam Compound property in Baguio City, which has an area of 1,146 square meters, will also be up for sale. This is owned

Estrada clan supporting...

PAGE A3 whoever his father would endorse.

Gomez, a former actress, described Roxas as a “constant friend of San Juan” who showed his “genuine concern” in times of disasters when he was still the interior secretary. “I will never forget his deep concern for our constituents in the city,” she added.

In a Facebook post, JV Ejercito emphasized that he was “still inclined to support” Poe’s candidacy, whom he considers his sister. But he added that he was also considering the candidacies of Binay and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, “a friend outside politics.”

JV Ejercito, who is Gomez’s son by the former President, said that he “understands” and “respects” his mother’s decision to support

Roxas.

As head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Roxas had prioritized the relocation of residents living along the waterways and other “danger zones” in San Juan.

Roxas expressed his elation over Gomez’s endorsement. “This will have a big impact because Mayor Guia is a symbol of an outstanding mayor in our country, a symbol of a woman leader and a symbol of those who truly care for the masses.”

According to Roxas, Gomez’s declaration of support was not about his political ambition, but a commitment to the continuation of “daang matuwid” (straight path), President Aquino’s centerpiece reform agenda.

Gomez is running for her third

by Jose Campos, a known associate of the former president.

Public bidding for the properties will be held in March. The PCGG is eyeing to generate a total of P383 million for turnover to the Bureau of Treasury.

“We will continue to work even harder in carrying out one of our major tasks, which is to privatize surrendered and recovered ill-gotten assets of the Marcoses and his cronies with proceeds going to its true owners, the Filipino people,” PCGG Chairman Richard Amurao said.

The PCGG is also looking to put the Marcos jewelry up for auction following the recent appraisal of the collection. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com) and final term as mayor. She will be running alongside Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s daughter Janella, who’s running for vice mayor, and Estrada’s niece Jana Ejercito, who’s vying for the city’s lone congressional seat.

In June last year, Gomez expressed her support for Poe. “She’s family. She’s very close to us. We know her, her capabilities, abilities, how sincere she is,” she then said.

Asked Monday why she went for Roxas, Gomez said Poe was too young for the presidency. “I wish she first ran for Vice President,” she said.

But for Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, who is contesting Gomez in the coming elections, the Ejercito-Estrada clan’s seeming decision to support different candidates is some sort of an “insurance” for the next administration’s political favors.

White House encourages AAPIs to get...

PAGE A1 comes to healthcare.

“There are still many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country who remain uninsured for various reasons — lack of language access, confusion over eligibility, and limited knowledge of health insurance,” Dour Thor, executive director of the WHIAAPI, told NBC News.

“We are also seeing high needs in certain subgroups, such as Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Southeast Asian refugee populations. This week of action aims to expand outreach to the farthest corners of the community.”

The Week of Action began on Tuesday, Jan. 19 with a call between U.S. Surgeon General and

Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy, who is Indian, and other influences in the Asian-American community, including Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, to share a special message for AAPI communities regarding healthcare.

The WHIAAPI held a “Twitter Storm” on Wednesday, Jan. 20, with special guests discuss important issues regarding healthcare, using the hashtags #GetCovered and #AAPIHealth.

Actors and actresses including George Takei, Janina Gavankar, Kal Penn, Kelly Hu, and Angry Asian Man blogger Phil Yu took to social media to answer questions and share their experiences with healthcare, and the benefit it has on the community.

On Thursday, Jan. 21, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) held a webinar, giving overview plus Q&A on COFA migrants’ eligibility for Marketplace coverage, and helpful information about financial assistance for those in need.

The White House will be highlighting in-person assisters from Action for Health Justice — multilingual community members who are trained to help those enrolling for health insurance — as well as the White House’s enrollment materials available in multiple translations. Community organizations are also scheduled to hold local enrollment events throughout the week; in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Utah.

Multiple resources, including multilingual YouTube videos featuring prominent Asian American influencers in government, have also been made to further educate the community on the importance of getting covered.

“We all benefit when we all have a shot at health. Reducing #HealthDisparities is one way we can make that happen,” tweeted Surgeon General Murthy. “Being poor is too great a factor in determining who is healthy and who isn’t. This is unacceptable in a nation as great as ours.”

The last day to enroll for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is Jan. 31, 2016. For more information and to enroll, visitwww.healthcare.gov. (Allyson Escobar/AJPress)

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 21-27, 2016

A

Dateline PResolution hiliPPines urging override of SSS veto pushed

Poe to use legal basis, not DNA results to prove she’s natural-born

by Maila

ager Inquirer.net

Senator Grace Poe said she will no longer present the results of her Dna tests with possible relatives in Jaro, Iloilo, saying she and her camp are using legal basis, and not the Dna results, to prove in court that she is a naturalborn Filipino citizen.

“Wala pa, wala pa namang official na natatanggap na resulta.

(None yet, we have yet to receive the official result),” Poe said during a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 20 when asked about the results of the latest Dna tests she undertook with possible relatives from Jaro, Iloilo.

“Pero kung mayroon man o hindi, hindi naman namin ipriprisenta ito. Sapagkat yung aming mga basehan na legal ay hindi naman naka-anchor dito sa Dna test. (Regardless if there is a match, we won’t present it because our legal bases are not anchored on this DNA test),” she further said.

Poe’s citizenship and residency are the subjects of the disqualification cases filed against her at the Commission on elections, which canceled her certificate of candidacy for president in the upcoming elections in May. the senator appealed the Comelec’s decision at the Supreme Court, which started its oral arguments last tuesday. aside from taking Dna tests, Poe’s supposed relatives from Iloilo also allegedly offered to exhume her biological parents to gather specimens for Dna testing.

Senator Grace Poe speaks to students during an open forum at Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Inquirer.net photo by Arnold Almacen

Despite the disqualification cases she is facing, the senator said her husband, teodoro Misael “niel” Llamanzares, will still push through the process of renouncing his US citizenship. “of course. Kung mapapansin niyo kasi yung sa akin ano, matagal na nga naproseso. Ilang buwan ang inabot kaya nga tinanong nila.

Kaya lang I have to immediately do it in front of a public officer dahil nga I was assuming a post not to be able not to comply with that. Kailangan mong ilagay yung mga assets and liabilities.

(Of course. If you will notice, mine has been processed a long time ago. It took months that’s why they are asking. But I have to immediately do it in front of a public officer because I was assuming a post not to be able not to comply with that. You have to include the

assets and liabilities.)

Marami kang mga kailangan suriing mabuti. (You have to scrutinize many things),” said Poe, who also renounced her US citizenship before she was appointed chair of the Movie television review and Classification Board in 2010. “at saka isa pa ang asawa ko ay natural born talaga ‘yon. nagkataon lang yung mga magulang niya nag-aaral du’n. Kaya nga hindi ko alam kung talagang nagiging isyu. Siyempre ‘yan ang hinahanapan nila ng dahilan, pero hindi naman talaga ‘yan isyu.

(And another thing, my husband is a natural-born (Filipino). It just happened that his parents studied in (US). That’s why I don’t know if that will be an issue. Of course, they are finding reasons for such but that’s not really the issue),” she further said.

PH, UK to revise & sign defense agreement before end of 2016 by agnes

Constante AJPress

tHe Philippines and the United Kingdom are looking to sign a revised defense agreement before the end of the year, British ambassador to the Philippines asif ahmad said Monday, Jan. 18. the new agreement would expand both countries’ cooperation on military, security and disaster response, GMa news reported. ahmad did not provide specific details on the new pact, but did say it will “not be as complicated” as the agreement between the Philippines and the United States. He added that he wouldn’t describe the agreement as British troops coming to the Philippines, saying it sounds “a bit emotive.”

“I would say British expertise coming here. two hundred fiftyone years ago, when we sent British troops here, they liked it so much, they stayed,” he said, according to rappler. at the moment, the two countries are exchanging drafts, he said. the ambassador added it is not the Visiting Forces agreement

between the Philippines and the US, which allows american troops to enter the Philippines for joint military training with their Filipino counterparts.

“I think, basically, it codifies what we’re already doing and some of the ambitions that we have. I don’t think it translates into something more than that.

“What happened is, the old one was so lacking in ambition that it really allowed us very little scope to do anything,” he said.

In particular, ahmad said the two countries would like to incorporate lessons they learned during Super typhoon Yolanda, also known as Haiyan, which struck the Philippines in november 2013 and killed more than 6,300 people. after Super typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, the UK was one of the countries that helped out the most. ahmad noted, however, that most of the cooperation between the two nations was completed “very informally.”

“We don’t have too many written protocols as to how this is done. and we want to regularize that,” ahmad said, according to

rappler. the ambassador was asked if the UK and Philippines decided to revise their defense agreement due to the territorial quarrels between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea, as well as the threat of terrorism, among other issues. He said that, in regard to the dispute, diplomacy is needed.

“I always say that if you’re starting to talk in terms of military intervention, then diplomacy has failed. It’s the tool of last resort,” he said, according to rappler. ahmad added that Britain is keen on aiding the Philippines, which has one of the weakest militaries in asia, enhance its defense capability.

“What we do … is we set up a whole range of options and capabilities that we actually have and it is then up to the Philippine government to decide,” he said.

He also said he isn’t ruling out the possibility of evolving the partnership between the two countries to a more strategic one that could involve joint training between Filipino and British troops.

Carpio: US to boost PH chance vs China SC justice says EDCA for credible defense

by tarra

QuisMundo Inquirer.net

In tHe FaCe of China’s “creeping invasion” in the heavily disputed South China Sea, american military presence in the Philippines would give the country “a fighting chance” in defending its territory.

Supreme Court associate Justice antonio Carpio made this case in voting to uphold the constitutionality of the enhanced Defense Cooperation agreement (eDCa) between the Philippines and the United States, calling the accord essential in building a “credible defense” for the Philippines against China’s expansionist moves in the strategic waterway.

In his separate concurring opinion to the high court’s majority ruling last week, Carpio said the eDCa—and its provisions allowing the prepositioning of US war materiel and equipment in

Philippine military bases—would “give teeth” to the longstanding Philippine-US defense alliance at such a critical time.

“With the eDCa, China will think twice before attacking Philippine military resupply ships to Philippine-occupied islands in the Spratlys. With the eDCa, the Philippines will have a fighting chance to hold on to Philippineoccupied islands in the Spratlys,” Carpio said.

He said the executive agreement would deter China from attacking Philippine boats patrolling the West Philippine Sea—waters within the Philippines’ 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (eeZ) in the South China Sea—as had previously happened with the country’s poorly equipped military forces vulnerable to the growing Chinese might.

Fighting chance “With the eDCa, China will think twice before attacking Phil-

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio Inquirer.net photo by Joan Bondoc

ippine navy and Coast Guard vessels patrolling the West Philippine Sea. this will give the Philippines a fighting chance to ward off China’s impending enforcement of its nine-dash-line [claim in the South China Sea],” Carpio said.

China claims nearly all of the 3.5-million-square-kilometer South China Sea, representing its stake with nine dashes on the new Chinese map to show its “national boundaries.”

Voting 10-4, the Supreme Court on tuesday, Jan. 12 upheld the defense pact, ruling that the 2014 executive agreement between Manila and Washington no longer needs Senate concurrence, as it merely implements existing defense treaties, including the 1999 Visiting Forces agreement (VFa) and the 1951 Mutual Defense treaty (MDt). the ruling junked petitioners’ claims that the agreement would pave the way for the de facto permanent basing of US forces in the Philippines 24 years after the Senate voted to get rid of US naval and air bases in Central Luzon. the court said the eDCa, as an implementing pact, may not breach the provisions of the VFa—a treaty that covers the “temporary” stationing of US military and civilian personnel in the Philippines.

Strictly, the eDCa must comply with the Constitution’s “policy of freedom from nuclear weapons within Philippine territory,” the court said.

Still, the 118-page decision PAGE A7

by Maila

ager Inquirer.net

to vote more or less),” he said.

“Sa quorum nila ni hindi yata a reSoLUtIon, expressing sila nakakarating ng 190. Paano the sense of the Senate to over- pa ‘yung botong 190 kung sakaride President Benigno aquino sakali? Pero ika nga kung (ayaw, III’s veto on a bill seeking a P2,000 mayroong dahilan) pero kung across-the-board increase for Social gusto palaging may paraan. Sana Security System (SSS) pensioners, ‘wag ayaw at maghanap na lamang is now being routed among sena- ng dahilan. (In their quorum, they tors, Senator Francis escudero said on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

But escudero, who earlier called his colleagues in Congress to override the President’s veto on the pension hike, said the resolution has not yet obtained the signatures of 16 senators before it is transmitted to the plenary for adoption.

“Hindi ko aangkining resolution ‘yun, pag inangkin ko ‘yun baka maraming hindi pumirma. ‘Yung authors po nu’n ‘yung mga pipirma.

(I won’t claim that resolution, if I claim it, many might not sign. Its authors would be the ones to sign),” he said.

“But we are circulating a resolution that has not garnered sufficient signatures yet. Perhaps when we have exhausted all who can sign, that’s the time when we would release it to be fair to those who had not had the chance yet to affix their signatures.

It would be unfair to release it if it hasn’t been seen by everyone.

Some might say that they were coerced because it has already been filed. I would like to ask equally and concurrently ask all involved if they would really sign the sense of the Senate resolution,” escudero added.

Besides, he said, the override should emanate from the House of the representatives being “the house of origin” of the proposed measure before the Senate could make a similar move. the House and Senate, voting separately, need to get two-thirds of votes to override a measure. escudero assured that in the Senate, it would not be difficult to get a quorum if they have to vote whether or not to override the President’s veto.

“Mas problema ang quorum sa House of representatives kasi kulang kulang 300 sila at ang kinakailangang boto para maoverride ‘yung veto: 190 congressmen more or less. (The quorum would be a bigger problem in the House of Representatives because they number more or less 300 and it would require 190 congressmen

don’t even reach 190. What more 190 votes if ever? But, like they say, if you don’t want to do something, you’ll find excuses not to do it, but if you want to do something, you’ll find ways to do it. Let’s hope they want to and that they can find the right reasons to do so),” the senator added.

A

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january 21-27, 2016 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

OpiniOn

Features

Alerted

TO this day, terrorism poses a serious threat anywhere in the world. Clashes among cultures continue to have a damaging impact on world peace and security. Grim news of insurgency and terror attacks are thrust onto international headlines every day. Because of cross-cultural ignorance, the essence of civilization is compromised.

Even with an intensive and multilateral approach by international governments to combat terrorism, the world remains on its toes. The international community has valiantly dealt with these threats through various military campaigns. But even with successes in containing one group, another one still manages to pop up.

During a gathering in an undisclosed area in Central Mindanao on Tuesday, Jan. 19, over 300 armed Christian civilians gathered to stand up against attacks by a radical Moro group.

The group called themselves “Red God’s soldiers,” as they burned a replica of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag and vowed to defend their lands and families.

In its country report on terrorism, the United States government claim that terrorist groups, including the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Jemaah Islamiya (JI), and the Communist People’s Party/New People’s Army (CPP/NPA), were unable to conduct major attacks compared to previous years due to continuous pressure from Philippine counterterrorism and law enforcement efforts.

“Terrorist groups’ acts included criminal activities designed to generate revenue for self-sustainment, such as kidnapping for ransom, extortion, and bombings for hire,” the report said.

Counterterrorism cooperation between the Philippines and the United States has continued to improve.

“The Government of the Philippines made progress in implementing its 2011–2016 Internal Peace and Security Plan that calls for the transition of internal security functions from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the Philippine

National Police (PNP). The increasing role and capability of the police in maintaining internal security in conflict-affected areas will permit the AFP to shift its focus to enhance the country’s maritime security and territorial defense capabilities.

To date, however, this transition continued to be slow and ineffective. Continued violent extremist activity, as well as counterterrorism capability gaps between the AFP and PNP, slowed this transition and forced the AFP to continue playing the lead counterterrorism role in the Philippines,” the report added.

Furthermore, the AFP downplayed alleged reports that several terrorist groups in the country are establishing a local base for ISIS. Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri said that military operations are underway to neutralize terror leaders and members who are responsible for the insurgence. “Our armed forces are trying their best. Every time we have the information, we validate it and we take action just to make sure we will prevent whatever terror acts they are planning to do,” Iriberri said.

Pres. Benigno Aquino III also belittles the same reports and suspects that those in the country who claim allegiance to ISIS are not in direct contact with the terror group and are just riding on the prominence of its threat.

“The same groups that were claiming linkage to Al-Qaeda according to our intelligence reports are the same people who are claiming that they have pledged allegiance to the caliph of the ISIS. And we presumed not to belittle them but if there is a new group that is ascendant, they will be probably the next franchisee in our country,” Aquino assured.

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

He added that the problem of extremism in Mindanao was not triggered by ideologies or conflicts religious beliefs, but more by the lack of economic opportunities in Mindanao.

As an offshoot to the latest news of terror-related violence, people are alerted to promote individual

responsibility and are encouraged to commit to effective long-term solutions. Confronting this challenge is beyond the power of governments alone.

Today’s terrorism will only be defeated with the engagement of the public and on the basis of common values. (AJPress)

Who is leading before the February 1 primary election season begins?

FEBRUARY 1 is a big day in US politics as it marks the beginning of the primary elections in the United States. This is when both the Democratic and Republican parties choose their nominees for president in all the 50 states of America, the victors of which will be in the race for the General Elections in November.

Only one nominee for each major party will run against each other, although other parties may field their candidates against the major league.

Or, somebody from either the Democrats or the Republicans may run as an Independent if he or she fails to win the party’s nomination.

In the next months, perhaps all the way until the end of summer, the candidates for president will continue their campaigns as primary elections and caucuses move from one state to another, starting off in Iowa, to be followed by New Hampshire. Sometimes, the winner emerges early in the game and the contenders for each

party concede. Other times, the nominee is known not until the The Fil-Am convention of both parties.

Ahead of the Iowa caucuses Perspective which will be in a little over one week, who is leading? What do the latest polls say for each party?

Monmouth Poll Results After Gel SantoS-ReloS Democratic Debate (January 18): Hillary Clinton’s lead over Bernie Sanders in the latest national Monmouth University Poll has narrowed in the past month. However, Clinton retains a massive advantage among black and Latino voters – groups that will play a prominent role in the primaries immediately following Iowa and New Hampshire. She is also seen as the stronger nominee when pitted against the Republican field.

Clinton currently has the support of 52 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters nationwide, which is down from 59 percent in December. Sanders gets 37 percent support, which is up substantially from his 26 percent support level last month. Martin O’Malley has 2 percent support. This marks the first time Clinton’s lead has dropped below 20 points in a national Monmouth poll.

NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll Ahead of the Republican Debate (January 13) : Donald Trump has opened a double-digit lead over his next-closest Republican rival, less than three weeks before the first votes of the 2016 presidential race are cast.

Trump is the first choice of 33 percent of national Republican primary voters - his highest

percentage in the poll. He’s followed by Ted Cruz at 20 percent, Marco Rubio at 13 percent and Ben Carson at 12 percent. Chris Christie and Jeb Bush are tied at five percent. No other Republican presidential candidate gets more than 3 percent.

Trump’s 13-point lead over Cruz is an increase from last month, when he held a five-point advantage over the Texas senator, 27 percent to 22 percent.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN in Iowa in both the Democrats and Republican caucuses?

Who will win in New Hampshire? Will these contests affect the next states’ primary elections?

Abangan! *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Mamasapano: Aquino and Roxas’ political grave, and Llamanzares’ too Commentary

RiGobeRto tiGlao THE massacre of 44 elite police troops in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25 last year is President Aquino and his presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II’s political graveyard.

Aquino, in his hubris that he could catch international terrorists, and then in his paralysis when the operation turned awry dug the grave, enough to fit Roxas since he stood idly by while his police commandos—whom he officially had command over —were massacred by Muslim insurgents.

Presidential candidate Grace Poe Llamanzares exploited the fiasco by projecting herself, as chairman of the committee investigating the massacre, as a competent, fearless senator out to uncover the truth. Yet very cleverly, she left room for Aquino to wiggle out of the quagmire, and didn’t submit her committee report to the Senate, so it was just left in her office

and forgotten.

I suspect that at that time she was hoping that by helping Aquino, he would anoint her as his successor rather than Roxas.

Or did Aquino himself, as I was told, tell Llamanzares at that time (February 2015) to help him survive the hearings, and quid pro quo, he’ll anoint her as his candidate towards the end of the year. That would explain why a Balikbayan, who can’t even boast what her highest working position in the US was, suddenly became so confident she could win the presidency of the Republic.

But Aquino obviously doublecrossed her and instead offered her the vice-presidency. After that she’s been barraged by disqualification cases, which likely would strike her out of the contest.

The new investigation into the Mamasapano massacre called by senator Juan Ponce Enrile will undoubtedly show Aquino and Roxas as at best standing idly by while the Special Action Forces were being massacred.

At worse, as Enrile has hinted, the hearing would establish without doubt that Aquino called reinforcing troops to stand down, in effect leaving the SAF to the

Moro insurgent wolves.

It will also expose why Llamanzares stopped short in exposing Aquino’s criminal negligence and in asking for his impeachment.

If Aquino and Roxas have any decency left, they would resign their posts when the hearings indubitably prove this.

I don’t know how any decent, intellectually honest Filipino would agree to suffer even for just a few more months a lying President with blood on his hands.

I don’t know how any decent, intellectually honest Filipino would vote for Aquino’s clone with the same blood on his hands.

Just the photos alone of Aquino and Roxas gallivanting in Zamboanga City while the SAF troops were embattled and massacred are proof enough of their criminal negligence.

Ironically these photos were by the Malacañang Photo Bureau; since Aquino’s trip to Zamboanga that day was unscheduled, the main broadsheets were unable to send their own photographers there.

Note the shadows the sun cast in the photos, which show that Aquino and Roxas were going

around Zamboanga from noon to late afternoon, when the SAF troopers were being killed.

By Aquino’s and Roxas’ own statements they were aware that “Oplan Exodus”—with international terrorists Zulkifli Abdhir (a.k.a. Marwan) and Abdul Basit Usman as its targets—was well underway in the wee hours of the morning, and that shortly after daybreak the SAF troops had been pinned down in the corn fields with little cover.

They did nothing Yet what did Aquino and Roxas do?

After a closed-door meeting with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and other generals after they arrived at 10 AM at Edwin Andrews Air Base, they went to Guiwan village to see where the car bomb exploded just a few days earlier. Then they went to the Zamboanga Peninsula Medical Center to visit a wounded policeman, and to the Western Mindanao Medical Center on Santa Cruz Street where two blast patients were confined. After a long lunch probably with the local delicacy curacha served, they visited another blast victim at the Ciudad Medical Center and 10 other victims at the Zamboanga City Medical Center in

Santa Catalina village. Of course, in all these affairs, Aquino and Roxas went with the hand-shaking, back-patting routine.

All these activities when the SAF troops’ bloody fate was being sealed as the hours passed by without any reinforcement nor artillery fire to scare off the Moro insurgents.

Visiting the bombing victims was actually scheduled merely as a cover story for Aquino and his several Cabinet members for them to be there, so they could proceed swiftly to Cotabato City to congratulate the SAF troopers after they had taken down the international terrorists.

Any other president, any commanding officer would have dropped everything in the face of a crisis that could mean the death of his men, so he could monitor closely the events as they unfolded, so he could issue orders to save the troops.

Even US President Obama with his closest security advisers had set up a war room to monitor the American commandos in their operation to terminate Osama bin Laden.

President Gloria MacapagalArroyo was given special facilities to similarly do so in the operation that hunted down and

killed Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya in 2002.

In Aquino and Roxas’ case, they pretended nothing was happening during those frenetic hours from mid-morning to late afternoon, when the SAF troops were pinned down and were picked off one by one by longrange MILF Barrett sniper rifles.

Without help coming for the SAF, the insurgents simply waited for their ammo to run out, and then rushed them to shoot those still alive point blank one by one.

By the police commanders’ account these were the hours when they were frantically begging the Army to send reinforcements and to fire non-deadly artillery fire to scare off the Moro insurgents.

It was a criminal failure of leadership. Was Aquino so shocked and then paralyzed that his fantasy as a commander of commandos who killed two international terrorists turned into a bloody nightmare?

It is a very expensive lesson for us a nation, but one we should never forget: Never again elect a president, especially a spoiled scion of hacenderos, who hasn’t been tested in the crucible of experience and leadership. (ManilaTimes.net)

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 21-27, 2016

A

MILF not giving up on BBL

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

and political powers.

The draft law also aims to form a Bangsamoro parliamentary government, a Bangsamoro auditing body, civil service commission, electoral office, police, human rights commission, and regional police board.

The proposed BBL is a priority bill of the Aquino administration but it is in danger of being bypassed because of lack of time.

Congress has until February 5 to pass the measure but it remains uncertain if a quorum can be mustered as politicians are now busy preparing for the campaign period.

“Let us not delay. The decision to pass or not to pass the BBL has to be a positive act,” the MILF said.

“The Senate should not allow time to lapse without acting on the BBL. The Senate owes that favor to Filipino people and the Bangsamoro -- that they will make a decision on the BBL before the end of the current session of Congress on February 5,” it added.

The MILF also urged the House of Representatives to reconsider putting back the provisions that were deleted from the original BBL draft submitted by the Office of the President and the Bangsamoro Transition Commis-

sion (BTC).

The BBL provisions that were deleted by the House include the creation of a separate Bangsamoro military command, making internal security a concurrent power with the Bangsamoro government, and permitting contiguous areas to join the Bangsamoro political entity upon the petition of 10 percent of its residents.

“Those provisions have a purpose and they are needed to bring about peace and development in the Bangsamoro. In any case, many of those deleted provisions were already granted the Bangsamoro in the present ARMM Law. Why deprive the Bangsamoro of those powers and prerogatives which have already been granted to them by law?”

MILF said.

The MILF said questions about the legality of the provisions should be left to the wisdom of the Supreme Court.

“Let us not be faint-hearted. Let us not fail to seize this singular opportunity. There might be no more of something like this in the future as the situation may even get worse as we will all be suck into the quagmire of the global conflict and extremist violence.

This opportunity we must seize,” the group said.

MANILA—As Congress is running out of time to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Wednesday, Jan. 20 vowed not to give up on the measure, which it believes would help bring about peace and prosperity in the country.

In an editorial posted on its website Luwaran, the MILF noted that the fate of the proposed BBL is now in Congress’ hands and it would be up to lawmakers to decide if they would seize the opportunity to achieve peace.

“The BBL will pass if Congress decides to pass it. If they don’t, then it is finished, at least for the present Congress and the Aquino Administration,” the editorial read.

“But for us in the MILF, it is PEACE PACT. Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu led the signing of an interim peace pact between Moro and Visayan peasant groups fighting over parcels of lands in Datu Abdullah Sangki town. Datu Abdullah Sangki, home to mixed Muslim and Christian settlers, is located never finished. We will persevere in the second district of Maguindanao. Mangudadatu said local officials in Datu Abdullah Sangki and the joint ceasefire committee of the until our just agreements are government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have also been helping address the problem. Philstar.com photo by John Unson implemented because that is what honorable and principled people do -- they keep their word,” it added.

The BBL will implement the PAGE A5 Under the MDT, the Philippines nine-dash-line claim.” comprehensive peace agreement He underscored the import of signed by the government and the afforded flexibility in the enforce- and the United States agreed to ment of VFA provisions as far as “separately and jointly by self- prepositioning defense equip- MILF in 2014. The measure will “agreed locations” for troop sta- help and mutual aid maintain ment, “like mobile antiship and create a new Bangsamoro political tioning, prepositioning of defense and develop their individual and antiaircraft missiles” in the age of entity with enhanced economic materiel and equipment and op- collective capacity to resist armed modern warfare for coastal states such as the Philippines. attack.” erational control are concerned.

Emphasizing the importance of The agreement likewise proNo dissolution As to concerns that the EDCA vides that “each party recognizes US presence in the Philippines, might be enforced beyond its in- that an armed attack in the Pacific Carpio traced China’s flourishing ‘My God, I hate drugs. And I have to kill people because I hate drugs’ tent, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes area on either of the parties would presence in the South China Sea to Sereno said: “We cannot invalidate be dangerous to its own peace and the Pacific “power vacuum” that

by NestoR CoRRAles the EDCA on the basis of the po- safety and declares that it would occurred when US military bases Inquirer act to meet the common dangers were booted out of Subic Naval tential abuse of its provisions.”

PDP-LABAN presidential canCarpio was one of the 10 jus- in accordance with its constitu- Base and Clark Air Base in 1992.

“As in any power vacuum, the didate Rodrigo Duterte means tices who affirmed the consti- tional processes.”

Carpio said throwing out the next power would rush in to fill business when it comes to fighting tutionality of the agreement, while Associate Justices Teresita EDCA for not being ratified by the the vacuum. Thus, China, the crime, and there will be blood.

“If I become president, there Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo Brion, Senate would, in effect, invalidate next power after the US, filled the power vacuum in the South China would be no such thing as bloodEstela Perlas-Bernabe and Marvic the MDT. “The prepositioning of war Sea, which includes the West less cleansing,” Duterte said in a Leonen dissented. speech during a forum at the De For Carpio, who has been at the materiel is the very essence of the Philippine Sea,” he said.

He warned that China’s con- La Salle University in Manila on forefront of the campaign against phrase to ‘maintain and develop China’s land reclamation and (the parties’) individual and col- struction of artificial islands in Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Duterte was referring to crimiconstruction activities on Philip- lective capacity to resist armed the South China Sea showed that pine-owned reefs in the Spratly attack.’ Without the preposition- Beijing was turning Panganiban nals in the Philippines who carry archipelago, the EDCA is neces- ing of war materials, a party to the (Mischief), Zamora (Subi) and out robberies and murders with PDP-LABAN presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte “I do not execute people kneelsary to implementing the spirit of MDT cannot maintain and develop Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) reefs seeming impunity that leave people and order within the three to six months of his term as president if ing down with hands tied at their the capacity to resist armed attack. into a triangle of defense, if not feeling helpless. the MDT. Asked to elaborate his statement elected. back. It will be a confrontation,” “The EDCA is absolutely neces- Without the prepositioning of war aggression, with airstrips and “I would return to you the right he said. sary and essential to implement materials, a party is simply and facilities on them configured as during an interview after the forum, he said “there could be no cleansing to walk out at night safe and ride He said “the obedience to law is the purpose of the MDT, which totally unprepared for armed at- air and naval bases. a jeepney without being held up,” almost optional,” citing the rising If Chinese actions are left un- that is bloodless.” on the part of the Philippines, tack,” he said.

He cited the rising criminality in he said. criminality and drug problems in contained, the Philippines stands Defense ally given the existing situation the in With his iron-fist approach to the country.

Carpio cited the importance to lose 381,000 square kilometers the country, some, he said, were West Philippine Sea, is to deter or restore peace and order, the toughHe vowed to deliver his promise repel any armed attack on Philip- of the United States as a defense of its EEZ in the South China Sea, perpetrated by drug addicts.

“My God, I hate drugs. And I talking Duterte explained that his of fighting criminals and bring pine territory or on any Philippine ally, citing the prevailing expert “a maritime space larger than public vessel or aircraft operat- opinion that “there is only one the total Philippine land area of have to kill people because I hate fight against criminality and drug peace and order to the country addiction “would always be in ac- “even if it would cost me my life, my ing in the West Philippine Sea,” power on earth that can deter 300,000 square kilometers,” Car- drugs,” he said.

He said he would return peace cordance with the law.” honor, and even my liberty.” militarily China from enforcing its pio said.

Carpio said.

Carpio: US to boost PH chance...

Duterte: There will be blood in ‘cleansing’ this country

A

january 21-27, 2016 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 21-27, 2016

VEGAS&STYLE Journal

How Kate Gavino’s Tumblr blog became a dream book project

by MoMar

THE COUNTRY LIFESTYLE YOU’VE DREAMT OF

G. Visaya

AJPress

It all started in 2013 with a tumblr post.

Illustrator and writer Kate Gavino was having a grand time attending book readings in Manhattan, Brooklyn and even in New Jersey. An avid lover of books, she made it a point to attend these book readings every night to meet authors and get a chance to ask them questions.

She then began creating portraits or sketches of these authors and afterwards, she chooses a quote from the author that evening and places it with the author’s portrait. She then posted her illustrations on her tumblr blog, which she called Last Night’s Reading.

“I’ve been going to book readings ever since I moved to New York because they’re usually free and I was a broke college students and they were usually at my favorite bookstores. I was spending all my time reading anyway,” Gavino told the Asian Journal in an interview. “I did not start the blog as an idea to come up with a book. Someone from Penguin approached me a year into the blog and told me that we can make these illustrations into a book.”

Fast forward to the last quarter of 2015 and the blog is now a book published by Penguin Random House. the book, called Last Night’s Reading: Illustrated Encounters with Extraordinary Authors, is a collection of Gavino’s illustrations and snippets and hand-lettered quotes.

“Writing is a solitary activity, but at a reading, writers are with their audience, talking about what matters most to them,” Gavino wrote on one of the book’s pages. the book documents the book readings she has attended so far with authors such as Neil Gaiman, Junot Diaz, Elizabeth Gilbert, Khaled Hosseini, George R.R. Martin, Salman Rushdie, Lev Grossman, Zadie Smith, Mindy Kaling and many more. the quotes she picks out of maybe a hundred or so quotable quips from the authors that evening range from the mundane to the serious. One evening it’s about creativity, the next it’s about humor and the following it’s about

Actual Clubhouse

Photos courtesy of Kate Gavino

Aside from Tumblr, Gavino also posts her illustrations and book reading events in her Instagram page, @lastnightsreading.

pain and happiness.

For the quote to make it on paper, it has to be one of three things – interesting, funny or intelligent. the book is a light and easy read, perfect as a gift for word warriors and for people who follow their favorite authors. It celebrates not just the books and the authors reading from their books but also independent bookstores across the city, that they are an essential part of a balanced and healthy community. It’s like getting pieces of advice from your favorite authors as you intently listen to them interact with the people who share the same passion as yours.

“It was exciting to see the blog

turn into a book project, it has become my love letter to New York City’s bookstores,” she quipped. the reception towards her book has been great.

It was featured in O, the Oprah Magazine’s “Gratitude Meter” as one of “5 things we can’t stop smiling about this month!”

Buzzfeed Books says that Gavino’s book of illustrated quotes from authors “will inspire you” while the Boston Globe calls it “A witty love letter to the literary world.”

Golden Opportunity Gavino was invited last month to join a talk sponsored by the PAGE B3

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Literally translated to “beautiful mountain,” Montebello’s breathtaking view of Mt. Batulao is complemented by the serene ambiance of trees, parks, and recreational areas. The hectare Actual Grande Three-Bedroom Unit ranch-themed village situated amidst the sprawling greens in the mountain ridge of Alfonso, Cavite is blessed with a cool climate and crisp air the whole-year round.

“Upon entering Alta Montebello for the first time, the feeling of a joyful heart is evident. It’s like a God-given medicine. It’s a nature therapy. There’s an unexplainable feeling seeing the model house which God gave to us. Our family feels the personal health and well-being benefits upon seeing the environment. We believe that contact with nature and time spent in the natural world can help build our physical, emotional, spiritual and family fitness.”

– Marlene Romero, Homeowner FUNCTIONAL-PREMIUM HOMES Balikbayans, retirees, and expats who dream of owning a stylish home can choose from an array of model houses varying from Mediterranean to modern country. All house and lot packages, whether duplex or single detached units, are fully finished when turned over to homeowners. These ideal homes with the most picturesque and tranquil canvasses comes with the best value for money.

LILAC TWINS Montebello’s main house model, Lilac Twins, is a duplex bungalow which represents the modern countryside living not just with its up-to-date design but also with its blunt interior.

Each half of the Lilac Twins cover a complete floor area of 71.80 square meters comprising of either two bedrooms, one bathroom, a veranda, and a carport. Rest assured, you can get the privacy and space without intruding or disturbing your neighbor on the other side of the duplex with the sound proofed duplex common wall.

“Serene, fresh air, no pollution and most especially, Montebello is good for us who are aging. We also like the house. The rooms are very spacious.”

– Grace Osea, Homeowner

Kate Gavino (fifth from left) at the Filipino American Museum talk on Golden Opportunity held at the Asia Society. AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

‘Nilalang’ director calls for protection of independent filmmakers by aGnes

Constante AJPress

INDEPENDENt producers of an official Metro Manila Film Festival entry are calling for protection of “smaller players” after their film was withdrawn from 34 theaters on the first day of the festival.

“Nilalang,” an action-horror flick starring Cesar Montano and Japanese actress Maria Ozawa, was slated to screen in 40 theaters on the opening day of the festival, which ran from Dec. 25, 2015 to Jan. 2, 2016.

By Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015 the film was being screened at only three cinemas.

“If we really want to do more movies in the future, how can we do it if most of the theater owners won’t support [us]?” said Pedring Lopez, director of “Nilalang.” the film received accolades for its technical aspects, and won five awards for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Design and Best Musical Score After “Nilalang” was pulled from cinemas, a number of users took to twitter calling for the movie to be screened with #DemandforNilalang. Some asked how they could be screened at six theaters after winning five awards.

On Friday, Jan. 1, MMFF added more cinemas to screen

Lilac twins is also a senior citizen and person with disabilities-friendly home as it is not necessary to walk up any steps since it’s a one-story unit.

The veranda is near the carport, making wheelchairs more accessible to enter straight in.

Among the village features and highlights are: water fountain, swimming pool, kiddie pool, children’s playground, gazebos, basketball court, tennis court, and an amphitheater. Montebello is also an active place having a multipurpose Clubhouse equipped with a balcony, The Clubhouse is a perfect venue for view deck, and other facilities. events like company Christmas party

Actual Lilac Twins Unit

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Scenes from the movie “Nilalang.”

Festival Mall, Market Market, Robinsons Metro East, SM Bacoor, Robinsons Pampanga, SM Cebu, SM Iloilo, SM La-

Photos courtesy of Welovepost

Robinsons Galleria, SM South Mall, SM Manilla, SM Fairview, SM Marikina, SM North Edsa, Glorietta and SM Mega Mall,

B

B january 21-27, 2016 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

EntErtainmEnt

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#OscarsSoWhite: Celebrities boycott Academy Pia Wurtzbach, Steve Harvey move Awards for lack of Oscar nominee diversity on after Miss Universe mix-up

By Allyson

EscobAr AJPress

The announcement for Oscar nominations on Thursday, Jan. 14 drew sharp criticism, when all of the nominees in the major acting categories were exclusively white.

The nominees for the 88th annual Academy Awards, known for its prestigious Oscar awards that give actors leverage for more casting roles and better pay, were announced from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly hills, California by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, along with director Guillermo del Toro, Ang Lee, and actor John Krasinski.

“The Revenant,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Spotlight, “Bridge of Spies,” “The Big Short,” “The Martian,” “Brooklyn,” and “Room” were all nominated for Best Picture, hollywood’s top prize. “The Revenant” led all films with 12 nominations.

In the individual categories, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Bryan Cranston, Michael Fassbender and eddie Redmayne were all nominated for Best Actor. Cate Blanchett, Brie Larson, Charlotte Rampling, Saoirse Ronan, and Jennifer Lawrence were among those nominated in the Best Actress category.

Big-name actors like Will Smith (in “Concussion”), Idris elba (“Beasts of No Nation”), Michael B. Jordan, and “Creed” director Ryan Coogler, were snubbed for nominations. “The Revenant” director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who is hispanic, was nominated as Best Director and is the only person of color on the main list.

“Straight Outta Compton,” the only film made up of a majority black cast, was nominated for Best Original Screenplay, but the writers for the film are white.

“What happened, Miss Simone?,” the documentary about the career of singer, songwriter and pianist Nina Simone, and ethiopian R&B artist The Weeknd’s “Fifty Shades of Grey” hit “earned It” were also honored with nominations.

“In the last few years there has been this chatter about the Oscars being less whitewashed because you have had some major and some historical representations of people of color,” said Stephane Dunn, director of the Cinema Television & emerging Media Studies program at Morehouse College.

“It was like hollywood, the Academy, didn’t know what to do with so many noteworthy, critically lauded films directed

by black directors with such fine award-worthy best actor and supporting actress performances,” she added. “hollywood, the Academy, could not imagine these dominating major categories so one film among them was basically chosen to be The One. It was 12 Years a Slave.”

Last year, the Academy also received fierce backlash after Selma director Ava DuVernay and actor David Oyelowo (who played Martin Luther King, Jr.) were both excluded from the nominees’ list.

T h e v i ra l h a s h t a g # O s carsSoWhite, created by social media blogger April Reign, drew attention to the blatant racial disparity in Academy Award nominations, reported Forbes.

“By only awarding Oscars to white actors, the Academy Awards are perpetuating wage disparities that are not only prominent in the entertainment industry, but also span all sectors of our economy,” wrote Forbes contributor Seamus Kirst.

“The tagline for the Oscars is ‘We all dream in gold,’ though apparently the [Academy] doesn’t dream in color #Oscars2016,” tweeted ColorofChange.org.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 18, director Spike Lee and actress Jada Pinkett Smith announced publicly that they would be boycotting the awards ceremony over the lack of diversity.

In a video posted to her Facebook page, Pinkett Smith announced that she will not attend the event, nor would she view it from home.

“At the Oscars...people of color are always welcomed to give out awards...even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments.

Should people of color refrain from participating all together?

People can only treat us in the way in which we allow,” Pinkett Smith wrote on her wall.

“Maybe it’s time we pull back our resources and we put them back into our communities, and we make programs for ourselves that acknowledge us in ways that we see fit, that are just as good as the so-called mainstream,” she said.

“Chi-Raq” director Spike Lee also shared that he and his wife, Tonya, would not be attending hollywood’s biggest night, which will be hosted by black comedian Chris Rock on Feb. 28.

“Dr. King said ‘There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but he must take it because conscience tells

him it’s right,” the filmmaker, who has been nominated for two Oscars, wrote on Instagram. The Oscar nominees “will remain likely white” until minority actors are “in those rooms” with key industry network (white, male) decision-makers who are at the top of the hollywood studio system.

Other actresses including emily Rossum, Rashida Jones, and Martha Plimpton have all voiced their opinions over Twitter, as well as “Compton” producer Will Packer, who wrote in outrage on his Facebook: “To my Academy colleagues, We hAVe TO DO BeTTeR. Period. The reason the rest of the world looks at us like we have no clue is because in 2016 it’s a complete embarrassment to say that the heights of cinematic achievement have only been reached by white people. I repeat—it’s embarrassing.”

Wrote Kirst, “If the Academy is going to exclude people of color from their lists, then outspoken and socially-minded celebrities have announced they will boycott the event.

In spreading their message that this is no longer going to be tolerated, they are gaining widespread support from their fanbase. Inherently, ratings will suffer when many viewers (myself included) follow their lead and choose not to watch the televised event.”

On Monday, Boone Isaacs released a statement in which she said, “While we celebrate [the nominees’] extraordinary achievements, I am both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion. This is a difficult but important conversation, and it’s time for big changes.

The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership. In the coming days and weeks we will conduct a review of our membership recruitment in order to bring about much-needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond.

“As many of you know, we have implemented changes to diversify our membership in the last four years. But the change is not coming as fast as we would like. We need to do more, and better and more quickly.

“This isn’t unprecedented for the Academy. In the ‘60s and ‘70s it was about recruiting younger members to stay vital and relevant. In 2016, the mandate is inclusion in all of its facets: gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. We recognize the very real concerns of our community, and I so appreciate all of you who have reached out to me in our effort to move forward together.”

‘Nilalang’ director calls for protection...

PAGE B1 according to Philstar.

On Monday, Jan. 4, Philstar reported that SM Mall of Asia, Trinoma and Robinsons ermita were added to the list.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 6, Lopez said the demand for the movie on social media helped bring it to a total of 23 theaters.

“I’m happy that we’re getting back the cinemas that we lost....

It’s OK, but I hope the viewers would still go to the movies and watch, [that] the hype is still there,” Lopez said.

“Nilalang” producer Maia Lopez said the reason the film was entered into the festival was because of the expectation that it would be a level playing field for all filmmakers.

“The point is to showcase a variety of Filipino-made movies.

So if you’re just going to show two or three movies, then why call it a festival?” she said.

“We knew we were up against giants that [have been] in the industry for years and years, longer than I’ve been alive. So to join the festival, to have the feeling that we had equal footing

as them because it’s a festival, that’s what we’re after,” Maia added.

Success at the MMFF would also assist the filmmakers in increasing screenings worldwide.

The movie will be screened for the first time outside of the Philippines in Vietnam in Indonesia this year, and the crew is currently in talks with distributors in North America.

“If we’re a bit successful [in Manila], we can definitely export the movie,” Pedring Lopez said.

While “Nilalang” won five technical awards, it has received less favorable reviews for its plot.

“The screenplay … doesn’t allow any of the characters to be anything but pawns in a narrative that exists only to frame the most basic of masculine fantasies,” a Rappler review wrote.

“Nilalang” did not rank in the top four earners in the film festival, which – in no particular order – were: “My Bebe Love,” “Beauty and the Bestie,” “haunted Mansion” and “#WalangForever,” according to a Jan. 5 post

on the MMFF Facebook page. however, Maia said those behind the action-horror film neither expected it to be a top grosser, nor did they think it would suit everybody’s taste, given its violent nature and that many viewers seek dramatic films.

Lopez said the film had to be cut three times before it could be shown in cinemas, adding he hopes to release the director’s cut of the film next year.

“It’s not the best movie out there. We’re not saying that we have the right to occupy the cinemas. We’re not force feeding our movie to everybody,” she said.

“But what we were really thinking was we wanted to do something else to prove that we can come up with a nice film, we can have nice visuals....

We really thought about what we did ... because we believe people deserve to watch this kind [of film], that filmmakers in the Philippines can do this,” she added.

MMFF did not respond to multiple requests for comment as of press time.

by chuck

smith Philstar.com

MANILA—Pia Wurtzbach and Steve harvey finally meet again, and it seems all is well between the two after the TV host’s Miss Universe gaffe.

The reigning Miss Universe appeared on the Monday, January 18 episode of “Steve harvey,” almost a month after the 64th Miss Universe pageant and Steve’s nowinfamous mistake of announcing Ariadna Gutierrez of Colombia as the winner instead of Pia. “I’m so happy to be here now because everybody has been asking me as well. ‘have you spoken to Steve?’ ‘When are you gonna be on the show?’ ‘When are you gonna see him again?’ That’s like the million-dollar question everybody’s been asking me,” Pia told Steve on his show. “And now, I’m finally here with you face to face.”

“What were you thinking when I came back on stage,” Steve asked Pia during the interview portion of the program.

“When I was called first runner-up I was thinking, It’s okay Pia, you made it this far... To be first runner-up is already a big deal,” she said.

Pia added: “Of course, when you announced me as the winner,

In the promotional clip released by Harvey’s YouTube channel, Wurtzbach is seen giving advice to the 58-year-old host, saying that everyone should move forward already.

Screengrab from ‘The Steve Harvey Show’

I was very excited, I was very happy... I guess it was mixed feelings as well because I was concerned for Miss Colombia.”

Asked what Pia was feeling when she stood next to Ariadna, she said: “I tried to keep a safe distance from her as not to disrespect her.”

“I didn’t want her to feel bad.

I was being sensitive to her feelings,” she also said.

To this, Steve said, “I felt horrible for (you and Ariadna). I am truly sorry.”

“Really, I wish we all could have gotten it right that night,”

he added.

Pia hopes she would get the opportunity to tell the people “my life back in the Philippines.”

“I do hope I inspire a lot of people that people could throw stones at you but... I read this quote, ‘A real queen knows how to make an empire with the same stones thrown at her’,” she added.

She then told Steve, “ You too, Steve! Don’t beat yourself up for this anymore. Let’s all move forward. Let’s just be happy.”

“You’re an absolute class act,” Steve told Pia.

Ronnie del Carmen on Oscar nomination for ‘Inside Out’: I’m the luckiest man on Earth by rubEn

V. nEpAlEs Inquirer.net

LOS ANGeLeS—After the Academy announced its nominations to the 88th Oscars on Thursday, Jan. 14, Ronnie del Carmen became the first University of Santo Tomas (UST) alumnus to earn an Oscar nod. The College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) graduate bagged a best original screenplay nomination for Pixar’s “Inside Out,” which he shared with Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve and Josh Cooley.

“Inside Out,” codirected by Ronnie, also got a best animated feature film nomination that went to director Pete and producer Jonas Rivera. The film, acclaimed as one of the year’s best since its Cannes fest debut last May, tackles how the human mind works, specifically that of an 11year-old girl named Riley. It also won the Golden Globe Awards’ best animated feature prize last Jan. 10.

Last August, Ronnie returned to UST’s historic Manila campus and was honored by CFAD as an outstanding alumnus.

Ronnie’s other Pixar credits include “Up,” “Brave,” “Monsters University,” “Finding Nemo,” “Wall-e” and “Ratatouille.”

Actor John Krasinski, directors Ang Lee and Guillermo del Toro and Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced the nominations in the traditionally early morning rites inside the Samuel Goldwyn Theater at the Oscars’ headquarters in Beverly hills.

The Pixar team competes in the original screenplay race against “Bridge of Spies,” “ex Machina,” “Spotlight” and “Straight Outta Compton.”

With his first Oscar nod, Ronnie joins a select group of Fil-Ams who have garnered Academy citations. The list includes Robert Lopez (2014, best original song, “Let It Go”—he went on to be the first Fil-Am to win an Oscar); hailee Steinfeld (2011 – best supporting actress, “True Grit”); Matthew Libatique (2011, best cinematography, “Black Swan”); producer Pia Clemente (2006, best short film-live action, “Our Time Is Up”) and a man whose name escapes my mind—my apologies—but he cinched a nomination in a technical category.

“I was in bed with my iPad watching a live stream,” Ronnie described how he learned about

Ronnie del Carmen.

his nomination. “I even forgot to set the alarm for this (announcement) the night before. Somehow, I woke up in time. Somebody up there likes me.”

“This is such an amazing honor!” exclaimed the Cavite native whose brothers, Louie and Rick, are also UST alumni and accomplished animators in the United States. “‘Inside Out’ is that movie you wait a career lifetime to be part of. Pete invited me to codirect and, that day, I felt like I won the lottery!

“On top of that, the movie is nominated for two Oscars! And I am mentioned by name on the best original screenplay nomination! I can’t believe it! I am the luckiest man on earth!”

On being the first UST alumnus to score an Academy nod, Ronnie said, “I can’t wait to go back to UST someday and bring this full circle. This is your tribe—you want to bring honor to your tribe.

And though there are many ways to do this, walking back in there with an Oscar nomination is way cool. heck—it’s super-cool!”

The UST campus is also significant to Ronnie because that was where he met his wife, Theresa or “Tess,” also a CFAD student at the time.

As for joining an elite group of Fil-Ams who have the distinction of being Oscar nominees, the multi-awarded animator and comics and book illustrator said, “We used to watch the Oscars as a

Inquirer.net photo by Ruben V. Nepales

family when I was a kid. We loved watching it. Movies are a big deal in the family. I’d watch TV all day and night if left on my own.

“It is mind-blowing to even consider that this could happen.

In fact, I was trying not to think about it as the nominations announcement approached. But what an honor to serve on ‘Inside Out’ and be part of Oscar history.

Can you imagine? My people in the Philippines can share in this honor as their own. I get to be that person! how cool is that?”

“I am so lucky to be part of a studio that is certainly the only one that could have green-lit a movie like ‘Inside Out,’” he remarked about Pixar where Filipino employees proudly call themselves “Pixnoys.”

“Such a courageous and groundbreaking movie,” he added. “John Lasseter, as our creative leader, makes sure that these kinds of stories not only get explored but thrive out there in the world. I am in a unique role now where I can be part of all the movies being made in the studio—a role created by John for me to do here at Pixar.”

Pete, for his part, said about his two nominations: “We are beyond grateful to the Academy for honoring us with these nominations, especially in a year with so many fantastic movies. We’re lucky to work in a studio that allows us to make movies that are colorful, fun, personal and emotional.”

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

EntErtainmEnt

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 21-27, 2016

B

Fil-Am writer-artist gets prestigious award in New York Coco Martin speaks up on MMFF box office controversy NEW YORK CITY—Two years after he was violently attacked outside his apartment, Randy Gener — the prominent U.S. editor-writer-artist and a 2010 Pamana ng Pilipino Presidential Awardee — earned New York’s Nubian Union Legend Award at a “Chasing Stars” Holiday Gala in Greenwich Village.

The award was presented to Gener (who has written for NPR, New York Times, Village Voice and American Theatre) and other honorees for “outstanding leadership and meritorious community service.”

Recipients of this unique award “exemplify unconditional sacrifice and service to the communities that they serve, and they stand as icons of stewardship to everyone,” stated Clark Everson, president of Unity Missionary Investors.

The Nubian Union is made up of two urban advocacy non-profit organizations focused on the alarming increase of brain injuries among minority youth: Unity Missionary Investors, which aids economically challenged communities; and Nubian Cultural Center for Research & Development, a multigenerational program that promotes racial and ethnic harmony through cultural exchange and education.

“After reading about his story, Randy was one of our first picks,” Everson added. “He is deserving of our Legend Award.”

The “Chasing Stars” Holiday Gala featured a host of clergy, celebrities and community leaders.

Other honorees were Dr. William Gibbs of Kings County Hospital; China Flowers, fashion specialist; Richard Alston, renowned concert pianist; and Nadege Dady, Dean of Student Affairs at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Harlem.

During the winter gala, Gener recounted his personal experience of being the unsuspecting target of a deadly assault in a bias-related hate crime and knockout game in the Broadway district.

Hate crime victim On January 18, 2014, Gener was targeted and bloodily assaulted because of his identity as an Asian American and an openly gay man.

News of the violent attack landed in all major media in the U.S. and around the world. Media coverage included the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Huffington Post, New York Daily News, CBS, ABC and NBC, especially in France, Sweden, Asia, Czechoslovakia, Eastern Europe, where Gener has worked.

The NY County District Attor-

by ChuCk

Smith Philstar.com

MANILA—Coco Martin is saddened that the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival was marred with scandal.

However, the ABS-CBN actor

Randy Gener with other New York Nubian Union Legend Awardees at a “Chasing Stars” Holiday Gala in Greenwich Village.

ney’s Office named the criminals as Leighton Jennings of 166th Street in Jamaica, Queens, and a female decoy who did in fact first provoke the bloody attack. Police arrested Jennings. New York’s District Attorney Office and Hate Crimes Unit both slapped Jennings with hate crime and felony assault charges.

“What Jennings and his accomplice did was life-destructive and body crippling,” Gener said during the gala. “They were found guilty, but they are now free. On Facebook, Jennings remains unrepentant.”

A former Village Voice critic and until recently the senior editor of American Theatre magazine (published by TCG or Theatre Communications Group), Randy Gener is the most decorated arts and culture editor of his generation. He is now proprietor of In the Culture of One World (cultureofoneworld.org), a live event and media project.

Theater critic Gener is TCG’s only American Theatre magazine staff editor — and the first and only Asian American — to earn the legendary George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism. Judges for the Nathan Award are the English and theater departments of Yale, Princeton and Cornell Universities. Given annually since 1958, the Nathan Award is considered the Academy Award of U.S. theater criticism.

In 2013, the year before he was attacked, Gener played a major instrumental role in a nationwide social-media effort and petition campaign, signed by 2,700 people on change.org. The adventurous Cuban-born playwright and director María Irene Fornés, 82, who has Alzheimer’s disease, had been left abandoned in upstate New York. The campaign successfully transferred Fornés to Amsterdam House nursing home, where she has gained better spirits.

Gener was the recipient of a Philippine Presidential Award in 2010, which officially designated

him as a “Living Legacy of the Filipino Nation (Pamana ng Pilipinas).”

President Benigno Aquino III conferred the award on Gener at the Malacanang Presidential Palace. He was the first to be honored solely for an American theater career.

Thanks compatriots At the Nubian Union gala, Gener spoke about the direct impact of the Filipino American Press Club of New York (led by Monette Rivera and Cristina Pastor), Frank Nadal and RJ Mendoza-Nadal of the Filipino American National Historical Society, and actress Liz Casasola of Broadway Barkada.”

“These good people held vigils and protests,” Gener said. “They rallied for justice in the streets and via Facebook. They worked to fundraise in my behalf, since my former employer TCG had left me with no health insurance. I am lucky to be alive today.”

He added: “I am grateful to Jacqueline Donovan of Fairway Market, Amy Besa and Chef Romy Dorotan of Purple Yam Restaurant, journalist Cat Sandoval, Andrea Louie of the Asian American Arts Alliance, Canadian Critics Association, Consul-General Mario Lopez de Leon and the Philippine Consulate in New York staff.

“The Will Smith film, ‘Concussion,’ ” said Gener, “is a rare Hollywood feature film which deals with the life-threatening dangers of playing football. But it’s not just professional athletes who suffer concussions. They can occur anywhere. Most head injuries happen to regular people in living their lives. Hate crimes and knockout games randomly happen in New York City. Head injuries have destroyed normal lives.”

Gener will advocate for giving urgent support and access-to-resources to urban minority youth who have been violently headinjured and who have survived concussions and traumatic brain injuries. (Inquirer.net)

Coco Martin on the Metro Manila Film Festival: “Hindi po ito para makipag-compete kung sino ang number one o kung sino ang mas malakas, sino ang mas mahina. Sana po ginagawa natin ito para sa mga tao kasi ang pangit po na nasa maliit tayo na industriya tapos nag-aaway-away tayo.”

Philstar.com photo by Chuck Smith

denied the involvement of his movie “Beauty and the Bestie” in any of the film fest’s controversies.

“Nakarating din po sa akin yung issue na yun. Sa akin po, sasabihin ko na definitely hindi po totoo yun,” Coco told members of the press during a media gathering on Thursday, Jan. 14.

He added, “Kung ano man yang sinasabi na anomalyang yan, huwag po kayo mag-alala dahil ipaiimbistiga po natin yan kay Cardo.”

A number of moviegoers alleged that there was “ticket swapping” during the first few days of the 2015 MMFF, an allegation that “My Bebe Love” director Jose Javier Reyes acknowledged.

Ai Ai delas Alas also refuted Star Cinema’s announcement that their entry “Beauty and the Bestie” is number one at the box office in the 2015 MMFF, besting her movie “My Bebe Love.”

In previous years, the MMFF announced the ranking of the top grossers of the film fest. For the 2015 edition of the film fest, however, it only announced the top four movies in the box office

unranked.

“Hindi po ako makapagbigay ng opinyon tungkol dyan kasi honestly, wala po akong gaanong kaalaman kung ano ang patakaran nila,” Coco said on the MMFF. He added, “Kung ano man ang desisyon nila o ginagawa nila, nirerespeto ko na lang po. Basta po ako, bilang artista, alam ko nagawa ko po ang trabaho ko at napasaya ko ang mga tao.”

The actor also hopes that the in-fighting within the MMFF would stop.

“Sana po ang nangyayari na lang po sana ay gumagawa tayo ng pelikula, lalo na kapag Metro Manila Film Festival, para mabigyan na rin ng regalo ang mga tao, upang mapasaya sila,” he said.

“Hindi po ito para makipagcompete kung sino ang number one o kung sino ang mas malakas, sino ang mas mahina. Sana po ginagawa natin ito para sa mga tao kasi ang pangit po na nasa maliit tayo na industriya tapos nag-aaway-away tayo,” Coco added.

Despite the controversy, Coco hopes to be part of the MMFF this year.

How Kate Gavino’s Tumblr blog became...

PAGE B1 Filipino American Museum at the Asia Society about the golden opportunity for Filipino Americans across the spectrum.

They were each given five minutes to talk about the topic.

Gavino delivered her story with so much heart that she was one of the evening’s highlights.

We even suggested that her short speech could be a good book project in itself.

“I owe any success that I have to my family,” she shared. “So when they asked me to talk about my golden opportunity, I thought about my Lola who died a couple of years ago. I definitely wanted to honor her.”

Gavino loves senior citizens and she makes time to volunteer in projects that help the city’s aging population. It was in one of these volunteer works where she met Nenita and they became fast friends.

“This is like a dream event. Like I said in my story, I haven’t had a Filipino friend since eighth grade, so I like what we have here. We’re in different places but we have the same cultural experiences and I really miss that connection.

This event really feels like a family

event,” she shared.

Gavino’s parents met in Texas because they were both in the same nursing program. They also got married in the same state.

“My parents are both nurses but I think they’re secret artists as well because they both love writing and reading and they both encouraged me to read when I was younger.

They never said no to me when I wanted to go to the library,” she shared.

“I haven’t been back [to the Philippines] in 12 years. I really want to go back. I think my family is planning a trip this summer so I hope it happens,” she added.

Her Own Book Reading Gavino has also been touring different bookstores in the east coast since Penguin released the book last November.

“I even had a chance to go back to Texas and it was really fun. There were a lot of Filipino nurses in the audience because my parents invited all their colleagues and co-workers. It has given me a chance to talk to bookstore owners and booksellers and they’re the ones who make book readings possible,” Gavino recalled.

Asked if she had a favorite among the hundreds of quotes she

has gathered so far and the profiles she has sketched.

“The first drawing I ever did, which is of the author Junot Diaz.

It’s about the importance of bearing witness,” she shared. “I’m always an observer and it seems like a passive activity but when he talks about the part of telling your story, it made observation as an active part and it spoke a lot to me and that’s why it’s one of my favorite drawings.”

She hasn’t personally met Diaz (“I’ve only been to many of his readings”) but she knows he loves going to Maharlika in the East Village.

The Junot Diaz quote that connected with her?

“The absolute safety of your soul will depend on whether you can find the community or the courage to bear witness to what has happened to you.”

Sketching the authors with their quotes was Gavino’s way of sharing her experience from that book reading with people who live across the globe.

“The book pretty much explains why I love going to book readings and why I love bookstores and the whole literary culture of New York in general,” she said.

EntErtainmEnt

B january 21-27, 2016 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

By IrIsh

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

Here comes team ‘ElNella’

ChrIstIanne DIzon Philstar.com

MANILA—here at this photo shoot, we are witnessing the birth of a love team. Photographer Mark Nicdao is on a roll, asking elmo Magalona to put his hand on Janella Salvador’s waist, making her lean in closer to his chest. But the awkwardness between the two is palpable; the hugs are a little clumsy and you could tell they are feeling iffy. A wall clearly exists.

It’s completely understandable.

It has only been a month since they were formally introduced.

With a little prodding, we got them to admit that they only began texting each other the day before this shoot.

“Ayaw niya nga mag reply sa akin eh,” elmo jokingly complains, which Janella counters with, “No, the first text kasi, siyempre number lang (lumabas). Sabi niya, ‘Janella pa fansign po.’ Sabi ko, ‘Who’s this?’Tapos di na nag reply.”

It’s interesting to watch elmo and Janella, two self-confessed introverts, work. In a matter of weeks, they’re expected to become a full-fledged love team with a TV show on ABS-CBN and an industry-standard couple nickname to boot. elNella is what they’ll be called. Born For You is the show, and audiences are waiting to see if this new coupling will sprout wings. “how are we going to do this? how are we going to make people feel the kilig they feel with other love teams,” Janella asks out loud.

Showbiz Progeny On paper, elmo Magalona, 21, and Janella Salvador, 17, seem like a promising match. Mo and Jea (as long as we’re getting to know them, we might as well get comfortable) have many things in common. First, they’re both showbiz progenies who never harbored artista ambitions as children. (he’s the son of the late OPM great Francis Magalona; she’s the daughter of actress-singer Jenine Desiderio.)

“I’ve always loved performing, but I can’t say being a celebrity was my dream. I think the stars just aligned for me to do this,” Mo explains. Janella seconds her new screen partner’s sentiments, saying, “everything was being given to me [on a silver platter] — auditions, VTrs — but I was really shy.”

But at 14 (in her case) and 15

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(in his case), that saying “it runs in the blood” proved true. The two regular students were offered opportunities to enter their famous parents’ field and everything just worked itself out. Turns out he has flow like his pops, turns out she can slay a microphone like her mom. Music, their shared passion, would turn out to be the reason their worlds collide a few years down the line.

‘Born for you’ Last December, elmo transferred to ABS-CBN. he wasn’t expecting to be given any show right off the bat. “Akala ko nga it was going to be a slow, long ride, but magically, I got this project,” he says. The powers-that-be, showbiz’s matchmakers, decided to pair him with Janella because of their music roots.

That project is Born For You, a made-for-TV rom-com whose cute trailer has been getting rave reviews online. Janella says the story is anchored on that “red string of fate” lore the Japanese believe in.

“There’s an invisible red string connecting people destined for each other,” she says with conviction only unhardened 17-year-old girls can muster. “So, no matter where you go or what happens, you’re going to meet because of that unseen red string.”

The cameras haven’t started rolling and the production people are keeping details airtight. The only thing they can share about the storyline is that he plays a singer, while she’s a “banda banda girl.” Don’t expect a local Glee rip-

off, though. “It’s not a musical,” elmo emphasizes. “But music is definitely going to be a big part of the show.”

Keep it Real It does seem that the two are getting tuned into each other’s frequencies. Their taste buds, at least, are in sync. As we wrap this shoot, we catch them seated side by side, contentedly munching on their salads. his, quinoa; hers, grapes. They share the same unshakable belief that they are “fat” despite our protestation.

For a moment, we see a flash of the future; a vision, perhaps, that powerful showbiz hands had when they created elNella. here is a tandem that is completely unexpected and experimental and fresh. While elmo admits that they’re still working on kindling the chemistry, he promises this much — and perhaps he has the key: “We won’t fake anything.”

Not faking anything means being honest with the public from the get-go, continues elmo, who has a real-life bae in this reel-life world. Which is why he ‘ships the timeless love team that is John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo. “They don’t have to have a relationship outside of work for them to work in front of the camera. It’s just inspiring. Why can’t new teams do the same thing?”

Putting down her grapes, Janella takes a sip of her lemonade and calls a spade a spade: “No one’s gonna get kilig with fake.” how refreshing. Maybe we’ll end up rooting for this team.

EMPLOYMENT

PNBRCI holds drawings for ‘Magpadala Magpalipad’ promo

Three lucky individuals from the United States are now going on vacation to the Philippines, thanks to PNB remittance Centers Inc. (PNBrCI)’s “Magpadala Magpalipad” promotion in cooperation with Philippine Airlines.

Those who remitted money through any US location of PNBrCI from Oct. 15, 2015 to Jan. 14, 2016 received one raffle entry for a chance to win one of three tickets back to the Philippines.

The prizes included: 1st prize—a business class roundtrip ticket from Los Angeles to Manila; 2nd prize—an economy class roundtrip ticket from Los Angeles to Manila plus a domestic ticket to any Philippine domestic destination; and 3rd prize — an economy class roundtrip ticket from Los Angeles to Manila.

The drawings were witnessed by ricky Villacisneros, president and CeO of PNBrCI, Joanne rivera, business development head

and general manager of PNB’s LA Branch, and Marie Jemma B. Saranillo, area manager of Philippine Airlines in LA on Friday, Jan. 15. randomly selected from over 100,000 valid transactions, resty Pagala of Chicago, Illinois won the first prize; the 2nd prize went to eden Donato of San Jose, California; and lastly, Jun Oliveros of National City, California received the 3rd prize.

PNBrCI in the US makes remitting money more fun and exciting.

This is also the company’s way of thanking its loyal patrons in every part of the globe who have used the services of the company through the years. PNB also reinforces the emotional ties that bind expatriates and their loved ones by making it possible for some very lucky winners to come home for free and enjoy the warmth and comfort of the homeland. even if overseas Filipinos can’t

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be with their loved ones back home, PNBrCI has introduced a simple and fast way for beneficiaries to receive remittances with the Global Filipino Card (GFC).

The GFC is a reloadable prepaid ATM card for beneficiaries who want their funds credited online, which then can be withdrawn from any PNB SuperTellers or any selected ATMs. For an annual $5 fee, the many benefits for remitters include up to $10 off on remittance fees, free ATMSafe Insurance, and a free Globe sim card.

So why remit your valuable dollars using any other company?

PNBrCI offers a relationship that is mutually rewarding.

For more information about PNBrCI and its services, please visit: www.pnbrci.com or to remit money by phone, please call PNB-rCI Phone remit at (855) 889-7788.

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

Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves AngelA K. Ho nAncy e. MilleR THE US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently proposed a new rule that would allow students in F-1 status or Optional Practical Training (OPT) who have studied in science, technology, engineering or mathematics fields (STEM) to extend their OPT work authorization to 24 months. In total, this proposed rule would allow students in these STEM programs to stay and work in the US for up to three years after their program ends.

Students in non-STEM programs are typically granted 12 months of OPT work authorization after graduation. Students in STEM programs were originally granted an additional OPT extension of 17 months, provided they were eligible for the program extension.

The new proposed rule buys

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA IF figures are to be believed, 93 million Americans are not working. Every economic and political pundit is harping on the need to create jobs that will bring the country back on track.

American economy has been on life-support with the debt clock running in the trillions at hyper speed with Congress who holds the purse strings spending and funding tax dollars on frivolities much like a drunken sailor.

Frankly, I think it will take a sea change of heart and spirit not only in the leadership, from top to bottom, but more importantly, among the majority of ordinary Americans to revive this country back to the glory days.

Perhaps, it’s time to bring moxie back.

It is time to think NATIONAL instead of GLOBAL. Charity be-

Features

PHiliP s. cHuA, MD, FAcs, FPcs LOOKING back in review, there was some fascinating news in medicine in 2015 -- a few of them controversial, especially infectious diseases and cancer screening and prevention.

E-cigarettes more dangerous A study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Jan. 22, 2015, revealed that “e-cigarette vapor can contain cancer-causing formaldehyde at levels up to 15 times higher than regular cigarette smoke.” Using a higher voltage on the e-cigarette unit to increase the delivery of vaporized nicotine poses a higher risk, according to study co-author James Pankow, a professor of chemistry and civil and environmental engineering at Portland State University in Oregon. The risk of developing cancer while using ecigarettes is five to 15 times higher compared to the risk of long-term smoking regular cigarettes.

The influenza risk The flu season in 2014-2015 was a severe one, according to US Centers of Diseases and Prevention (CDC). It also conceded that last year’s vaccine “was a very poor match” for the infecting strains. By February 2015, a high number of flu cases was reported, particularly among seniors and young children.

This has led to better flu vaccines for 2015.

Concussions Inspired by true scientific discovery, the movie ‘Concussion,’ starring Will Smith and Alec Baldwin, spotlights the link between head trauma and brain damage in contact sports, most especially in football. In November, it was reported that the autopsy on the late legendary National Football League hero, Frank Gifford, showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Two studies (in May and August 2015) “linked football in youth with brain damage observed decades later in retired NFL players.” CTE could even lead to suicide, like 43year-old retired Linebacker, Junior Seau, who fatally shot himself in the chest on May 2, 2012. Hopefully, there will be multi-pronged changes in contact sports in general, especially among children, that will significantly reduce the incidence of CTE. Measles controversy Measles was eradicated and a piece of history in the United States -- or so thought the authorities.

This goes the same with whooping cough and other infectious

B

Proposed extension of OPT STEM helps would-be LPR’s valuable time to pursue more opportunities that allow a permanent path to legal residence. For students in F-1 status or already in OPT status, it is important to know the available options for your situation and make sure you are maximizing your available time in the US to set up long-term strategies.We discuss some of the greater options individuals can apply for below.

H-1B Nonimmigrant Work Visa The new rule will have the largest direct impact on those individuals who wish to obtain an H-1B work visa and were not selected in the lottery the first or second year that they applied.

The H-1B work visa is a good option for those who have at least the equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree and a petitioner to sponsor them in a specialty occupation.

One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome in applying for an H1B visa is the limited quota available every year. There are 65,000

visas annually mandated by Congress, with an additional 20,000 visas set aside for individuals who have earned a master’s degree or higher at a US university. If over that number apply for the H-1B visa in the first week of the fiscal year (April 1st), US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the branch of Department of Homeland Security in charge of adjudicating these petitions, will conduct a lottery to select who can apply and reject the rest of the applicants.To give an idea of the odds that H-1B hopefuls must contend with, last year over 210,000 individuals filed in the first week—a less than 50 percent chance of being selected. Thus, the proposed lengthier extension would enable individuals to enter the H-1B lottery multiple times, thereby increasing their odds of being selected.

To summarize, an F-1 OPT status holder in a non-STEM field would only have one chance to apply for the H-1B visa before

their authorized stay ends. An eligible F-1 OPT status holder in a STEM field, however, would have the invaluable ability to apply for the H-1B visa up to three times before their authorized stay ends.

It is important to note that this OPT extension is only available to students who have graduated from a STEM program and are working for an employer who is enrolled in the E-Verify program run by DHS. Once an H-1B visa is successfully obtained and maintained, pursuing a green card is the next logical step. Please consult an experienced attorney to evaluate the best strategy for your circumstances.

EB-1 Extraordinary Ability/ National Interest Waiver The proposed extension also gives valuable time to pursue other paths to permanent residence.

Individuals in highly specialized fields should consider petitioning (either with an employer or selfpetitioning) for an extraordinary ability petition or national inter-

est waiver. Individuals with high achievements or notable research publications, specialization in a narrow or pioneering field, serve as multinational managers or executives, or working on projects that further the national interest should seek an experienced attorney to properly craft a successful petition.

An EB-1 petition, when successful, grants permanent residence immediately upon approval.

EB-2 Physicians in Underserved Areas and Other Options If you are a foreign physician working in a state-mandated medically underserved area, you could also qualify for a green card through the physician national interest waiver program. The requirements vary from state to state, so consulting local counsel is recommended. Furthermore, the benefits to an extended duration in the US naturally provides more opportunities for long-term solutions, whether through finding an employer willing to sponsor for permanent residence,

Bringing moxie back Calendar of Events across “A brave person is someone who takes positive action after he has said his prayers.”

— Unknown

gins at home, not elsewhere.

What can you say of a country that has outsourced so much of the production of practically all its needs to China, India and all other countries all in the name of improving profits? What can you say of a country that has forgotten that work itself and the creation of quality products that satisfy the creative impulse of human beings are, by themselves, a blessing to the people who create them? To create something from concept to actualization is ennobling. To be rewarded for creating something that people find useful and that lasts, has been the secret of what was once a strong US economy.

We have taken advantage of the low wages and traded on the appalling work conditions

of other countries and the lower costs of overseas production but in the process, created a serious imbalance and a lingering malaise in the psyche of the American work force. Uncontrolled outsourcing has taken away tens of thousands of jobs, which in turn, decimated what was once a strong American middle class.

Perhaps a group of economists and business people with dark agenda and financial and political clout, goofed big time from the early 1990’s. You want to finger point and put the blame on the myopic architects of this economic disaster. More than likely, they could be regarded as a band of conspirators, so-called economic experts, who sold out the well-being of the country with their economic policies PAGE B6

A review of popular health news Health@Heart

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 21-27, 2016

started at Disneyland in California in the spring of 2015 (five measles outbreaks causing 189 cases) brought back the old anti-vaccination controversy, where parents have decided against vaccination for their children. Experts now feel the resurgence was caused by the clusters of these unvaccinated children. In July, the California legislature “passed tough new laws mandating vaccination for nearly all children in the state’s public schools.” Parents who refuse vaccination for their children, in spite of medical advice, are doing a great disservice to their children and society as a whole.

Mammograms Another hotly contested issue resulted from the revised guidelines on breast cancer screening, which the American Cancer Society released in October. The former start age for mammography of 40 was raised to 45. The ACS also suggested that after age 45, women can also decide to reduce screening to once every two years. In 2009, there was a national debate when the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended “the start age for a average-risk woman’s first mammogram to 50.” The medical community was outraged by this because some women as young as mid20s or mid-30s have fallen victims to breasts cancer.

For those concerned, we suggest a consultation with their OB-Gyne specialist for a more personalized evaluation.

The pink sex pill In 2015, advocacy for gender equality was much stronger than ever, and we saw the advent of the first US FDA-approved “Viagra for female,” a libido pink pill called “Addyi.” This medication is recommended for those women with low sexual desire. Detractors pointed out the potential bad side-effects that could include severe fall in blood pressure and loss of consciousness, albeit not very common. Greater use of this pink pill will eventually show if it is actually a safe sex aid as the “blue pill” (Viagra) is.

Killer narcotics The epidemic of addiction to popular narcotic painkillers (Vicodin and OxyContin) was at alarming level, killing 120 Americans from overdosage each day, more deaths than from car crashes. Tighter controls on these prescription drugs simply pushed many abusers to heroin. Talking about addiction, while the usefulness of medical marijuana is documented and wellaccepted, there is no wisdom at all why recreational marijuana should be legalized. Some bad behavioral side-effects of recreational marijuana are beginning to show.

Rate of autism One in 45 kids is the calculated

vember. Studies by the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., estimated in December 2015 that the ADHD (attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder) rates in the US have risen 43 percent between 2003 and 2011, now “affecting 12 percent of kids aged 5 through 17.”

Skin cancer from tanning The US Food and Drugs Administration advisory panel early in December “proposed new regulations that would ban the use of indoor tanning beds and booths by minors.” This was after studies have shown that exposure to the UV light with these tanning beds or booths is 17 times greater than from the sun, and that those fond of tanning had 59 percent increase in the risk of melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. Dying to look good is not attractive.

New twist on fatty foods For decades, studies after studies have warned the medical community and the public at large that eating animal-based saturated fats (red meats, butter, etc.) was unhealthy, inducing higher risk for heart disease, stroke, and early death.

In 2015, “a meta-analysis of data from twenty different studies found no clear or consistent evidence that diets high in saturated fat were tied to those risks.” As far as cancer is concerned, it is a different story, because the scientific correlation appears to be convincingly valid. What is clear is that fish, vegetables, nuts, and fruits provide great antioxidants that boost our immune system, protect our cardiovascular system, and lower our risk for Alzheimer’s and cancer. Limiting red meat to twice a week is still a wise practice.

Global warming Leaders of 195 countries met in France in late November for the Paris Climate Summit where they signed an agreement for each nation to help in slowing down global warming to protect “the health of the world’s people.” This accord is expected to positively impact public health for generations to come.

Each of us as individuals -- 7.3 billion world citizens -- can play a vital role in helping combat global warming by protecting and being kind to our environment.

We look forward to this new year with an abiding faith, great optimism, and everlasting hope for mankind. *** 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,

or finding a family member to petition you.

A large part of the complexity of immigration law is finding the best available option for your circumstances and preparing for a successful outcome. While the proposed rule certainly allows more opportunities for people, it is just as important to consult with an immigration attorney early on to ensure you are not missing a potential path to a green card. *** Atty. Reeves has represented clients in numerous landmark immigration cases that have set new policies regarding INS action and immigrants’ rights. His 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.

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS JA N UA Ry 1 6 - F E B R UA Ry 6

St. Finbar Catholic Church events - Saturday, January 16 – Feast of Sto. Niño celebration. Sinulog starts at 11:30am.

- Saturday, January 23 – Thanksgiving Mass, in honor of San Ildefonso, patron saint of San Ildefonso, Bulacan, at 5:00pm. Followed by lunch celebration from 12:30 - 3:30pm at New Town Buffet.

- Saturday, February 6 – Valentine Dinner dance from 7:00 - 11:00pm. Cost of ticket is $30.

For more information on all events, please contact Marian Nobleza at 818-219-6463.

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Infant Jesus of Prague 9 hour Novena and Mass The Infant Jesus of Prague Apostolic Group is celebrating 32 years of service and prayer, and will hold its 32nd annual 9-hour Novena and Mass in honor of the Divine Child Jesus on Saturday, January 30, at Saint Joseph the Worker Church (19855 Sherman Way, Winnetka, California). The Novena starts at 7:00am with Mass following at 3:20 pm. Based in San Fernando Valley, the Apostolic Group aims to promote the Gospel message of Jesus and spread devotions to the Infant Jesus. For more information, please contact Leo Nevada at (818) 633 3926 or visit www.IJPAG.com.

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University of the East Tau Alpha Sigma (TAS) fraternity golden anniversary Please join us in congratulating TAS for their Golden (50th) Anniversary to be held at Tower Club, Philamlife Building in Makati, Philippines on February 5, 2016. All brothers from all over the world are encouraged to attend. There will be fun–filled activities including dancing, singing, reminiscing college days, golf, trips to Bicol, Batangas, and Tagaytay and reconnecting with both old and new TAS brothers and their spouses. Those who have not yet confirmed their attendance, please contact: (USA) Bernie Lim (bernielim@sbcglobal. net) & Rene Marcos (rmarcos_cpa@verizon.net); (PHILIPPINES) Rodrigo Mangay-ayam (rodman0983@yahoo.com.ph) & Manny Bautista (Manuel.D.Bautista@ph.ey.com).

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Miss Magsingal Organization of America Coronation & Dinner-Dance The Officers and Members of Miss Magsingal Organization of America (MOA) cordially invites townmates and friends to attend our Miss MOA 2016-17 Coronation and Dinner/Dance on Feb. 6, from 5:00pm -12 midnight at the Hilton of Stockton (2323 Grand Canal Blvd, Stockton, CA). Our Royal Court to be honored and crowned are: Her Majesty Queen, Jillian Foronda; 1st Princess, Jemina Atanaya; and 2nd Princess, Jeramae Luczon. Attire is formal, dinner is $50/person, with live band entertainment. Limited seats are available on a first come first serve basis. For more details, please call Tereso U (209) 603-8440, Lanie (209) 814-8004, and Grace (209) 817-5674. Thank you.

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An Intimate Night with Miguel Vera Beat the Valentine’s Day rush and get your tickets to “An Intimate Night with Miguel Vera,” a special Valentine Show featuring Miguel Vera, performing the greatest OPM hits and romantic Filipino classics by Cayabyab, Canseco, and Cruz. The one-night-only concert will take place at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel (7675 Crescent Ave, Buena Park, CA 90620) on February 12 at 8:00pm. Special guests include Annie Nepomuceno and Kit Navarro. Please call (714) 814-0412 or (818) 913-329 for tickets and information. Tickets are $40 each.

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PCCHS / PUPLHS 1996 Golden Jubilee The Philippine College of Commerce High School Laboratory Batch 1966 (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines) will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee from February 20-21 in Manila, Philippines. According to the President of the PCCHS Batch ‘66 Alumni Association, ROLAND ATIENZA, about 55 batchmates from Australia, Canada and USA have confirmed attendance to the Homecoming and 50 from Manila local chapter. Activities lined up for the Golden Jubilee Celebration are as follows: February 20, 2016 -- 6:00-12:00 pm. Formal Program/Dinner at the Banahaw Ballroom, The Legend Villas, Mandaluyong City, Philippines February 21, 2016 -- 8:00 am - 9:00 pm - Visit the ANAWIM Home for the Abandoned Elderly, Montalban, Rizal Province (Fellowship/Lunch/Donate basic needs of the elderly) - Tour of Manila (Former PCCHS in Lepanto, Intramuros Tour (old churches and Cathedral, Rizal Park, Fort Santiago) - Dinner/Cultural Show, at Barbara’s, Intramuros February 22, 2016 - BREAKUP GROUP (To Palawan, Laguna and respective hometown provinces of the guests) For inquiries, please contact the following members of the CORE group: Agnes T. Sule # 09165567000 suleagnes@yahoo.com, Roland Atienza #09062947156 atienza8@yahoo.com, Rebecca T. Sayed 09064032624 rebecca.sayed@yahoo.com, Lourdes T. Flores lulutflores@ yahoo.com, Rebecca Sayed rebecca.sayed@yahoo.com.

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Pilgrimages to Eastern Europe, Mexico and India Amazing Pilgrimages for the Jubilee Year of Mercy! All are welcome to join Fr. Joe Joseph of Holy Trinity Church for the spiritual and fun-filled experiences of EASTERN EUROPE (April 17- 30): Poland, Czech., Austria, Hungary, Medjugorje; COLONIAL MEXICO/ OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (June 20 - 27): Mexico City, Theotihuacan, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Ocotlan, Xochimilco, Guanajuato, San Miguel De Allende, Guadalajara, San Juan De Los Lagos, Cristo Rey, Zapopan, Tonala; and INDIA (September 15 - 29): Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kerala. For more pilgrimage information and detailed flyers, please contact Bernadette at bcorp1114@hotmail.com OR call 323-344-1548 & 323-547-6618.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the

Features

B january 21-27, 2016 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

Asian K-12 Education Forum on Jan. 23

ThE advisory committee charged with development of a plan to reorganize the Clark County school District is seeking input from the asian community.

We are holding a forum for you to voice your opinion.

You can participate in three ways a) Please come to the forum on saturday, Jan 23rd, 2016; b) Please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/ r/LYB33FL and answer a brief questionnaire which

will take only 5 minutes; c) Do Both.

Your participation and opinion is critical to ensure that we reorganize Clark County school District to meet all of our children needs. Elected Officials and Education Experts will be available to answer questions.

The forum will be held at The Orleans hotel & Casino (located at 4500 W Tropicana ave, Las Vegas, NV 89103) on saturday, 23 from 10am to 11am.

PAGE B5 which resulted in the conditions that we are seeing and suffering from these days.

If these were Medieval Times, and you would think it is with the beheadings of Christians by the terror group IsIs, they would be hanging from their toes or boiled in oil in the public square for treason and economic sabotage of the highest order.

But for the unemployed who has lost his home and has trouble putting food on his table, none of the finger pointing and the brilliant but empty rhetoric matters at all. In a situation such as what we have where a significant percentage of the working class is without a source of income, the times call for a crash course on survival where each man must learn to fend for himself.

We now live in a cynical age when no one, it seems, can be trusted. Even those institutions we used to hold sacred and sacrosanct are suspect. We assume everyone is a con artist until proven otherwise. We have now learned to steer clear of strangers, screen our calls, trash suspicious emails asking us about account information or be wary of just about anything new. We even refuse to answer the door.

In the media and online, we have seen a parade of scandals: from political scumbags, depraved men of the cloth, big-time con artists to scandal-plagued celebrities. We seem to be breathing their toxic fumes when they self-destruct into flames. honor, decency, civility and respect are in short supply these days. and we heave a heavy sigh and shake our heads in disbelief.

Our zeitgeist is characterized by distrust and cynicism.

It’s been building up for a long time. Zeitgeist is that fancy, $20 Germanic word sociologists use to refer to the spirit of the age.

There seems to be a collective

negative energy that hovers about and affects the thoughts and feelings of many who are affected by these seemingly dark times. Perhaps, this is somewhat similar to the dark mood and feelings of helplessness that afflicted many who slogged through the long years of the Great Depression.

But we need to shake it off.

For us to get back on track, we have to refuse to live in fear and zap out of this paranoia and malaise that can paralyze us into immobility. We need to take courage. someone once said, “a brave person is someone who takes positive action after he has said his prayers.” Time and again, it’s been found that tough survivors believe in a God who cares, believe in themselves, believe in the correlation between luck and hard work, believe in the greatness of their country and has decided to muster enough moxie to engage the enemy within.

In some ways, we can influence good fortune with the attitude, motivation and oftentimes, with sheer moxie, with which we face our individual daily lives. If you expect bad things to happen to you or if you yourself confirm that you are unlucky, more than likely, it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. You might as well admit it. You’re a sad sack Eeyore with a permanent, black rain cloud hanging over your head. The negative energy you emit repels people who would otherwise be of help to you. You just might be the person who can brighten up a room simply by leaving it.

Perhaps, it’s your personality and there’s nothing you can do about it, not even if you soaked up the brightness of the sun.

You were wired to be negative and pessimistic and no motivational speaker can undo you.

You’re one tough customer for

Henderson Police hiring police and corrections officers

hENDERsON—The henderson Police Department is a professional organization of committed men and women who share a vision of helping to enhance the quality of life for our community.

In support of that goal, we are hiring police and corrections officers who have demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning and self-development, a commitment to the community, and demonstrated stability in work and/or education.

To apply, visit the henderthe holy spirit to work wonders son Police employment page with. Fine. But for as long as at joinhpd.com. The online apyou think that you have noth- plications will be accepted until ing to do with the ill fortune that seems to bedevil your life, you can just live with the dire conThe Kite sequences of fear, anxiety and unhappiness which result from Runner being toxic and always believing the worst of everything.

Particularly during these uncertain times, no one can af- Prof. ford the luxury of a negative EnriquE M. Soriano thought. But much more so for ThaT’s the title of my second vulnerable immigrants who are on survival mode, an optimistic book! after three years and three can-do attitude is a MUsT. With copy editors, my book is now this current economic morass, a available!

To give you an idea on how big chunk of the immigrant population along with many more this book was conceptualized, let in the middle class, will regress me share with you two distinct back to survival mode, quite by reasons. First, the family busidefault. Many who have moved ness in asia has grown considerto more comfortable levels but ably in the past decades. It has were caught by the real estate made an impact in China, India, slump and lost their homes, may the Philippines, singapore, Mafind themselves sliding back to laysia, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan square one and engaging in the and hong Kong.

In the Philippines, there are daunting prospect of finding a quite a number of family busijob.

Do take heart. Most immi- nesses that are at least 100 years grants who come from poverty- old such as the ayala-Zobel and stricken nations have what it aboitiz clans. I can mention a takes to survive times such as friend and former neighbor, these. They have had plenty of Dr. Vivian sarabia, whose family business, sarabia Optical, is practice.

Jobs to your liking and at the way past its centennial mark. compensation you were accus- (The family has been making tomed to in the past, may be the eyeglasses of all Philippine harder to find these days. You presidents since the time of Commay have to just take what is monwealth President Manuel L. available and expedient, just for Quezon. Dr. sarabia herself made the time being. Though media is a new pair for President aquino touting an economic recovery, to wear during his oath-taking the job numbers are mislead- ceremony last June 30, 2010.) ing because these are mostly Those that have reached the third part time MacJobs which offer generation are generally more no benefits. The slump is longer structured as their organizations and deeper, than anyone can naturally evolved.

The second reason has someimagine. But as in everything else under the sun, ThIs TOO thing to do with my experience as mentor and business consulshaLL Pass. tant. I was deluged with cases *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is and stories from clients and SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To students about their family busisend comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ ness, and most importantly about the issues and problems related asianjournalinc.com to business succession. Majority of these businesses are still in their first or second generation and managed by founder-owners or sibling-partners. In these firms, one witnesses the struggle between maintaining family harmony and gaining respectable profits. The family business ownership group is the real engine for long-term success and yet we invest so little time in keeping it

Bringing moxie back

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5:30pm PsT on March 31, 2016.

Candidates do not have to be residents of henderson to apply. additional requirements are: • at least 21 years of age by the date of the written examination.

• Us Citizen by the date of the written examination.

• high school diploma or equivalent at time of application.

• No convictions of any felony crime or a crime for which you would be required to register per Nevada law.

• No convictions of any crime involving domestic violence.

The City of henderson offers excellent benefits including: • Paid Retirement • Paid academy Training • Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave • Four 10-hour shifts per week • Uniform allowance • Paid Overtime • Paid health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance • shift Differential Pay For full details and requirements regarding this employment opportunity, visit henderson Police Department at joinhpd.com.

‘Ensuring the Family Business Legacy’: My second book

healthy. somehow, we assume it will naturally stay strong with a unified vision for the future.

The need for a book on asian Family Business really struck home. almost every member of a family business is interested in continuing the life of his or her business as an innovative and successful endeavor until the third generation and beyond. It was then that I realized the imperative of writing a book about the asian family businesses.

The stories of successful asian business tycoons and their succession problems can encapsulate everything a client or student engaged in a family business needs to know.

Today, business successors are more inclined to shift from the founder’s patriarchal perspectives to a more corporate style of management. This book fits as a quick but comprehensivereference for understanding what it takes to continue a family business across generations.

Moreover, one of my basic

aims as an author is to provide a book that every reader would be able to take something from, whether he or she is a business founder or successor.

Of course, the main benefit for the reader is the variety of asian family business stories and complexities shared here. Most of the stories contain timeless business insights, inspiration and advice for both the patriarch/business founder and the younger successor.

These business tips and insights are products of my years of consultancy work and experience with various companies, to wit: a. as Chair of the Marketing Cluster and Family Business Professor at the aTENEO Graduate school of Business b. My experience as part of the Executive Committee of theUnilab Group’s property arm, Greenfield Development Corporation; c. Working and reporting directly to andrew Tan as President and Chair of several companies under his group. Noteworthy was my being handpicked to mentor his eldest son Kevin from day one until he became vice president; d. Working as Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Belo Medical and mentoring Dr. Vicki Belo’s daughter, Cristalle henares; e. Family Business Mentoring is a core service of Wong and Bernstein Business advisory Group where I mentored andstill mentoring several family owned businesses —initiating a shift from family owned and managed to family inspired; f. Doing advocacy and turnaround strategies for small andMedium Enterprises (sMEs) and family businesses andmentoring young entrepreneurs and students at the aTENEO Graduate school of Business.; g. Doing Receivership of and initiating rehabilitation of distressed family owned companies; and h. Being a strategic advisor to the JG summit Group and its affiliates To further compliment the chapters of the book, I included apowerful bonus feature about the phenomenal rise of andrew Tan, the challenges and adversities he faced and his climb to being the country’s third wealthiest Filipino.

It is reassuring to know that the vibrancy of the asian family business has been captured in this book. Thus, we can look around and realize that asia is at par with its western counterparts in terms of successful management succession planning as far as family businesses are concerned. *** Prof. Soriano is an ASEAN Family Business Advisor, Book Author, Executive Director of Asean-based Consulting group, Wong + Bernstein Advisory and Program Director for Real Estate and the former Chair of the Marketing Cluster of the ATENEO Graduate School of Business. He is slated to deliver a talk on Philippine Business and Franchising Opportunities. The first talk is in NY on Feb 1 at the Philippine Consulate and Boston on Feb 4 at the Harvard Campus and in LA. The talk is organized by the Philippine Consulate in New York, in coordination with the Bagong Kulturang Pinoy (bkpinc.org), The Harvard Philippine Forum, TFC with Asian Journal as media partner. For those interested to attend, pls email nzuelke@ gmail.com. Prof Soriano’s business articles can also be accessed at www.Faminbusiness.

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PeoPle and events

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 21-27, 2016

B

Oral Health America expands to Las Vegas Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas joins National School-Based Dental Health Program Network to Serve children in critical need of dental care

CHICAGO—Oral Health America (OHA) is pleased to welcome Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas (RMHC), Inc., Nevada Health Centers, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine (UNLV SDM) and Future Smiles to the Smiles Across America (SAA) network. The partnership, which includes nearly $50,000 in grant funding over two years from Ronald McDonald House Charities, will afford the Vegas-based programs expansion of oral health prevention services to underinsured school-aged children and boost dental literacy.

“Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas (RMHC), Inc., Nevada Health Centers, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine (UNLV SDM) and Future Smiles are committed to reaching hundreds of under-served children throughout Las Vegas and rural Nevada, many of whom do not have access to any oral health care. We are honored to welcome these worthy collaborative programs to the SAA network by helping them expand to capacity and positively impact even more children,” said OHA President and CEO Beth Truett.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas with Nevada Health Centers operate the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile

AJPress photos by Robert Macabagdal

that travels throughout Nevada.

Through this partnership, the organizations are able to reach hundreds of under-served. The University of Nevada-Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine improves school-based dental care delivery by expanding oral health preventive services. Future Smiles provides dental hygiene services in Las Vegas, Nevada’s Clark County School District.

Funding from the OHA will increase program capacity for each of the Program Partners. RMHC with Nevada Health Centers will focus on further developing, implementing, and monitoring the success of new strategies to expand their capacity to serve more youth in need of dental services. UNLV

SDM will increase its services to a total of 17 elementary schools while Future Smiles plans to increase dental literacy with their oral health behavior modification reaching 5,100 children.

On Tuesday, Jan. 19, partners came together to celebrate with a short program and an interactive brush-a-thon featuring Las Vegas students learning the importance of brushing their teeth.

On the heels of the 10th anniversary of SAA, Oral Health America supports oral health programs across the country through grant funding, technical assistance in the areas of communications and coalition building, and product donations. Each year, SAA reaches more than 460,000 children and distributes more than 500,000 units of donated dental product.

For more information about Oral Health America and its Smiles Across America program, please visit www.oralhealthamerica. org.

B january 21-27, 2016 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

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