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Pres. Trump’s first order of business: Sweeping changes in immigration policy Construction of wall and enhanced border security among items included in executive orders

by ERIC

ANTHONY LICAS

the campaign of recently sworn-in President Donald Trump.

A PAIR of executive orders issued The documents direct DHS Secon Wednesday, January 25 instruct retary John F. Kelly to immediately the Department of Homeland begin planning the construction of Security (DHS) to enact sweeping a border wall between the U.S. and changes to immigration policy Mexico and authorize the allocation which had been pledged during of whatever federal funds needed AJPress

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

CIA accused of botching Mamasapano operation THE Mamasapano operation that killed 44 troopers from the Philippines’ Special Action Force (SAF) was secretly led by the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte claimed on Tuesday, January 24.

“And why was it under wraps? Bakit niyo tinago na (Why did you hide the fact that) actually it was an operation of the CIA?,” Duterte asked, addressing his predecessor, former President Benigno Aquino III, and former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima.

On Tuesday, a day before the second death anniversary of the police commandos, Duterte met with the families of the slain troopers at Malacañang Palace.

for its design and construction.

Although American tax dollars will fund the initial costs of the border wall, Trump has stood by his assertion that the Mexican government will ultimately foot the bill for the project.

PAGE A2

PH optimistic about Trump admin despite ‘America First’ shift Andanar: Time to move forward with US-PH relations

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

THE administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed its willingness to work with United States President Donald Trump and sees a strengthening in the relationship between the two countries.

Philippine Communications Secretary Martin Andanar — who went to Washington to meet with various U.S. officials and to attend Trump’s inauguration last week — made a stop to Los Angeles on Monday, January 23 to meet with members of the Filipino-American community and to discuss a range of issues from U.S.-PH relations to the administration’s campaign against illicit drugs.

“The relationship of the United States and the Philippines goes beyond personalities. We have been alPAGE A2

Real estate billionaire Donald Trump is officially inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States on Friday, January 20 at the Capitol building in Washington, DC. (Inset) Trump takes the oath of office officiated by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

AJPress photos by Christina M. Oriel

US vows to defend ‘int’l territories’ from China

by DANA

M. SIOSON

AJPress

THE United States, under the new administration of President Donald Trump, has vowed to prevent China from claiming ‘international territories’ along the contested waters in the South China Sea. “The U.S. is going to make sure that we protect our interests there,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in a news briefing on Monday, January 23.

Spicer made the remarks when

asked if Trump agrees with Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson’s earlier statement that China should be denied of access to the disputed islands in the sea.

“If those islands are, in fact, in international waters and not part of China proper, yeah, we’ll make sure we defend international interests from being taken over by one country,” Spicer added.

Last January 11, Tillerson was asked if he supported a more agPAGE A2

PH drug war included in Geneva summit agenda

PAGE A3

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

Fil-Am GOPs celebrate inauguration, share expectations for Trump’s first 100 days WASHINGTON — On the eve of the inauguration, over 800 Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) gathered at the Mayflower Hotel to celebrate their contributions to the election of incoming President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

The gala on Thursday night, January 19, which was organized in part by the campaign’s Asian Pacific American Advisory Committee, featured cuisine and entertainment from various Asian cultures, as well as speeches from various elected officials.

“We may all be different in culture, we may come from different regions of the United States and the territories, but I see a similarity: it’s a belief in strong faith, in family, in strong communities,” Eddie Calvo, the governor of Guam, said. “And then at the same time, honest, hard work without a government on our backs, PAGE A2

Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson

MISS U BEAUTIES AT THE PALACE. President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the contestants of the 65th Miss Universe pageant at Malacanang Palace on Monday, Jan. 23. Following his brief and lighthearted speech, the beauties had their photo opportunity in batches of 20 with the President, as well as Department of Secretary Wanda Teo and Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shughart.

Malacañang photo by Robert Viñas

Duterte meets Miss Universe candidates

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the Miss Universe 2016 candidates at the Malacañang Palace on Monday, January 23.

Eighty-four Miss Universe candidates paid a courtesy call on the president, who complimented them for their beauty.

Miss Finland and Miss Switzerland, however, were unable to

attend the event because they were not feeling well.

“Before I proceed, I’d like to make an admission that never in my life I have been with a room full of beautiful women,” the president said before reading his prepared speech. “This is a privilege and an honor and I hope that this day will never end.”

Duterte, who was known for his tough-talk and profanitylaced speeches, said he was told

to “behave” in front of the pageant contestants.

“I usually do not read my speeches. I’m not up to it really.

But this time they told me that I must behave in my language, in the adjectives that I would be using to characterize or define your beauty, all of you,” the president said.

In his speech, Duterte urged the candidates that besides “beauty and brains,” to use the PAGE A4

THE alleged spate of extrajudicial killings related to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs has been included among the topics to be discussed in the upcoming 9th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy next month.

Commission on Human Rights Chairman T h e a n n u a l Chito Gascon Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande summit, according to its official website, aims to “shine a spotlight on urgent human rights situations that require global attention.”

Philippines’ Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairman Jose Luis Gascon was invited to speak on behalf of Filipino human rights advocates at this year’s summit, slated on February 21 in Switzerland.

Since its founding in 2009, this is the first time that a Filipino human rights advocate has been invited as one of the its speakers.

“Human rights heroes, activists and former political prisoners from China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, PakiPAGE A2

A

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january 26-february 1, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIan jOurnaL

From The FronT Page

PH optimistic about Trump admin despite...

PAGE A1 lies since time immemorial‌,�

Andanar told the audience. “It was unfortunate that President [Barack] Obama and President Duterte had some skirmish, they didn’t see eye to eye but it’s time to move forward.�

Following the inauguration on Friday, Duterte praised Trump for being a wealthy businessman and for having a ‘beautiful’ wife.

Since Duterte won the presidential election last May, many have drawn comparisons between him and Trump, namely for their unfiltered, hardline rhetoric. “He is a billionaire. His wife is very beautiful. I envy him,�

Duterte said during the birthday party of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Sunday night, Jan. 22.

The two leaders previously spoke last December when Duterte congratulated Trump for his win in the November election. Duterte said that Trump reportedly lauded the Philippine government’s handling of illegal drugs as the “right way.�

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella added that the government was looking forward to “working closely with the new administration of President Trump anchored on mutual respect, mutual benefit and shared commitment to democratic ideals and the rule of law.�

This sudden shift comes after months of remarks Duterte had made appearing to distance the Philippines from the U.S. and lashing out at former President Barack Obama’s administration for criticizing the anti-drug campaign and the extrajudicial killings associated with it.

Andanar added that while the Philippine government is still awaiting official policies from the new U.S. administration, the similarities between the two leaders suggested that they “hit it off right away.� “President Trump mentioned in his speech about ‘America First’ policy and the Philippines, President [Duterte] also subscribes to the idea of giving Filipinos first dibs to everything,� the communications secretary said.

In his inaugural speech, the 45th president of the U.S. declared that “it’s going to be America First,� meaning that any decision made by the federal government would be to the benefit of “American workers and American families.� “We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American,� Trump added.

Despite Trump’s vow to keep jobs in the U.S., Andanar said that wouldn’t affect the BPO industry in the Philippines because businesses “need to be in an environment where they can maximize their investments.�

Later in his speech, Trump not-

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ed issues of poverty, crime and drugs that “have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.� “President Trump also mentioned they will not encourage asking other countries to follow their own lifestyle and President Trump also said that he wants to fight illegal drugs in the United States, the same way our president wants to fight illegal drugs.

President Trump believes in non-interference and what’s important here is that we have two presidents who have similar policies,� Andanar said.

Further, during his presidential campaign, Trump gained traction for his promises to curb undocumented immigration. On Monday, the White House said it would prioritize deportations for criminal undocumented immigrants first. It has yet to announce any moves to remove any past policies implemented by Obama.

The Duterte administration will be monitoring these incoming policies, given the sheer size of undocumented Filipinos in the U.S. However, Andanar said the Philippine government would not interfere or try to sway any decisions. “I can tell you right now that our president cares for any Filipino, not only in the Philippines, but around the world -- he cares for them. If you’re asking me what our policy is right now, we have to respect the new administration, they are still in a transition,� Andanar said. “We have to wait and see which policies they will push forward, which policies they announced during the campaign...we respect the political and democratic process here in the U.S. and as I mentioned, noninterference.�

Earlier on Monday, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), one of Obama’s signature efforts to pivot toward the Asia-Pacific region. The Philippines, however, is not one of the 12 nations that signed onto the deal. Duterte had yet to respond to his American counterpart’s actions, as of press time.

Andanar also took the community meeting to clarify the Duterte administration’s relationship with the press and the president’s colorful remarks. He said

Philippine Communications Secretary Martin Andanar fields questions from members of the Fil-Am media and community at the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles on Monday night, Jan. 23. Andanar discussed a host of issues, from the Duterte administration’s willingness to work with new U.S. president Donald Trump to the government’s war on drugs.

AJPress photo by Ding Carreon

Pres. Trump’s first order of...

PAGE A1

“There will be payment,� Trump told ABC News in an interview on Wednesday. “It will be in a form, perhaps a complicated form.�

The DHS is also under orders to construct additional immigration detention facilities and hire 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and 5,000 border patrol agents in order to effect “complete operational control of the southern border.�

The department must also conduct and submit a study regarding the state of border security within the next 180 days.

The president had previously said that he also plans to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program initiated by former President Barack Obama, which confers protection from deportation to certain undocumented students who were brought into the country by their families. Wednesday’s directives issued to the DHS, however, did not address the future of that program.

The administration will prioritize the removal of individuals who have been convicted of any criminal offense, defendants in unresolved criminal cases, people who have “abusedâ€? public benefits, committed fraud, and those who might otherwise pose a threat to public safety or national security. “Today’s action fulfills a key promise he made to American families‌that their government will protect them, not deportable criminal aliens,â€? wrote repPAGE A4 resentatives of the Federation for American Immigration Reform

(FAIR), a border control advocacy group, in a statement released on Wednesday.

FAIR and other supporters of the president’s actions say these are the first steps in regaining control over the country’s borders.

Other portions in the executive order would end the distribution of visas to people from countries that refuse to accept deported residents and place greater government oversight on decisions to admit asylum seekers.

Executive agencies have also been instructed to submit a review of all U.S. aid given to Mexico over the past five years.

Further, the president’s orders call on relevant institutions to “ensure the faithful execution� of immigration laws, and includes provisions to withhold federal funds from local governments that refuse to comply.

Democrats and immigrants right advocates accuse the president of fearmongering by scapegoating people fleeing economic turmoil, political upheaval or violence. “I think this is the first step in what will be a pattern from the Trump administration of putting tough talk ahead of smart, thoughtful immigration policy,� wrote Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.) in a statement responding to the president’s orders on Wednesday.

Trump is expected to issue additional orders later this week that will halt the flow of refugees into the country and place a moratorium on visas issued to people from the predominantly Muslim countries of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan,

Syria and Yemen, according to the Associated Press.

Proponents of tighter border security say such measures are needed in light of past incidents of jihadist-inspired terrorism. However, critics of the president’s policies fear that he is normalizing xenophobia. “It’s apparent that anti-immigrant vitriol from the campaign is now coming to life,� wrote the director of programs for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Melissa Rodgers. “These executive orders go against traditional American values of welcoming new immigrants and do considerable harm to our country and the people who call America home.�

In anticipation of such directives, a number of Democratic lawmakers at all levels of government have publicly vowed to resist the President’s efforts to ramp up deportation efforts.

Some of the most vocal opposition has come from legislators in California, which is home to over 3 million of the nation’s roughly 11 million undocumented residents.

Prior to Trump’s signing of the executive orders, Governor Jerry Brown has insisted that the staunchly Democratic state would continue to shield immigrants from deportation, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. “Let me be clear, we will defend everybody, every man, woman and child who’s come here for a better life and contributed to the well-being of the state,� said Brown during his state of the State address on Tuesday, January 24.

PAGE A1 gressive posture against China.

Tillerson then replied, “We’re going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed.�

Responding to Tillerson’s statement, China warned that the U.S. would need to “wage a large-scale war� if it wants to bar Beijing’s access in the South China Sea. The Senate is expected to vote on Tillerson’s nomination by early next week. This comes after he won approval of the Senate Foreign Re-

lations Committee on Monday.

China to protect its ‘rights’ Following the United States’ recent pronouncement, China insisted that it would be firm in safeguarding its “rights� over the disputed waters. “Regardless changes in relevant countries, what they say or want to do, China will stay as resolute as always in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea,� Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said during a press briefing on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

China stressed that although it “upholds the freedom of navigation enjoyed by countries under international law in the South China Sea,� it opposes the “intruding navigation that undermines sovereignty and security of coastal countries.�

The Chinese government also called on the U.S. to stop meddling in the Asian territorial affairs since the latter is ‘not a party’ to the South China Sea disputes. “We urge the US side to respect the facts and be prudent in words and actions to avoid causing disruptions to peace and stability of the South China Sea,� Hua added.

US vows to defend ‘international...

PH drug war included in Geneva summit...

PAGE A1

stan, Russia, Venezuela and other countries testify about their personal struggles for human rights, democracy and freedom, and join hands to plan action strategies,� the summit’s website read.

Since Duterte took office last July, the number of people killed in drug-related cases has reached 7,000, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP), with least 2,250 reportedly killed during police operations. “Despite all of these positive gains and even greater potential, we have to face the reality of the daily accounts of unsolved killings.

Many of them committed brazenly with public warnings against drug pushing or addiction,� Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno

said during her speech before the Management Association of the Philippines on Wednesday, January 25. “It is not surprising, therefore, that the perception of the rule of law in our country has swung from marked improvement to a downgrade.�

Sereno also took note that the country’s recent rank decline in the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index can be attributed to the unsolved extrajudicial killings.

From 51 in 2015, the country’s ranking dropped to 70 in 2016.

The WJP Rule of Law Index, which covers 113 countries and jurisdictions, measures “how the rule of law is experienced in practical, everyday situations by the general public worldwide� through surveys.

Sereno said that Philippine judiciary must take the index as an “indicator of the serious erosion of trust in the criminal justice system, in the civil justice system and in regulatory agencies.�

She also called on three branches of government and the independent constitutional bodies to reflect on their performance. “The government pillars of criminal justice i.e., the Judiciary, the Department of Justice and its attached agencies including the National Prosecution Service and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) must come together to ponder on what kinds of genuine changes are required to bring about real justice,� Sereno added.

Fil-Am GOPs celebrate inauguration, share...

PAGE A1 rather than a government that will support us. With that, we come to this victory... But the work is not done. Starting tomorrow, this organization and fellow Republicans -- we’re going to move forward, �

The Trump-Pence campaign’s APA advisory committee -- which was formally announced just weeks before the November election and was criticized as a last-minute effort -- also featured five Filipino Americans, including Brunswick, Ohio Mayor Ron Falconi. “The Republican Party has done a tremendous amount of outreach to AAPI communities, particularly to me, and it’s really paid off,� Falconi told the Asian Journal. “I’ve been working with them for the past couple of years and we’ve reached different groups and this

party is the culmination of that.�

For the past three years, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has been working on a grassroots level to engage minority and millennial voters, especially AAPIs, noting the population’s fast-growing numbers and potential to swing races.

Being in D.C. for the inauguration, Falconi said, has been “electrifying� and “exciting.� “This is the dream of every Republican little boy and girl...to attend the inauguration of a Republican president,� Falconi said.

Tina Wenger, a county councilwoman of Elkhart County in Indiana, said a new Republican president is “long overdue.� “We are celebrating because the last eight years have been a load on our shoulders and all of a

sudden it’s been lifted,� Wenger said. “It’s really a relief knowing a new dawn, a new hope and good changes are coming. Trump really loves America and Americans.�

She added that the 45th president’s inaugural address would be “inspiring� and would “really speak to the people, not talk down to them.�

Marlene Cagatao, a realtor from Burbank was among over 20 FilAms from Southern California who traveled in a group to witness Friday’s ceremony. “This is my first inauguration experience and I’m very excited to end eight years of the Obama administration, the corruption and hypocrisy of liberals,� she opined.

Herman Martir — a pastor from Dallas, Texas who was a member PAGE A4

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DATELINE USA

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1, 2017

A3

President Barack Obama leaves lasting legacy on the Fil-Am community

Fil-Ams say farewell, celebrate Obama’s historic policies, programs

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

DURING his historic eight-year leadership, former United States President Barack Obama prioritized a slew of contentious policies, especially those concerning Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).

With the help of the re-established White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) and a newly created President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs, the administration expressed a deep commitment to the community.

Obama was the first president to initiate the annual celebration of Filipino-American History Month, collaborating with Fil-Am leaders across the nation. In 2009, Obama rolled out a $225 million stimulus package for Filipino World War II veterans to compensate for their efforts during the war.

Under his leadership, Filipino WWII veterans were given the opportunity to reunite with the family members from the motherland with the Filipino WWII Veterans Parole (FWVP) program, a family-based immigration parole program.

Most recently, Filipino WWII veterans were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, last month.

Many young Fil-Ams praise the 44th president of the United States for mobilizing the community, like Aries Dela Cruz, president of the Filipino American Democratic Club in New York.

“I think I share a lot of young Filipino Americans’ sentiments when I say that I am incredibly fortunate to have lived under our most ambitious and accomplished Democratic president since [Franklin Delano Roosevelt],” Dela Cruz told the Asian Journal over email.

“No other president has accomplished so much for Filipino Americans, and that is why Obama is leaving office with historic approval ratings,” Dela Cruz added.

Immigration was one of the former president’s most celebrated achievements among Fil-Ams and a cornerstone of his administration. More opportunities became more accessible to hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants through the DeInfographics by AJPress ferred Action for Childhood Arriv-

als (DACA) program.

“I grew up feeling kind of left out and had this overall idea that I could never get what other kids had,” Derek Solis, an undocumented student at California State University, Los Angeles, told the Asian Journal on Wednesday, January 18.

DACA is a program that allowed undocumented youth -- commonly referred to as DREAMers --to gain work authorization and protection from deportation. Depending on the state, they can also apply for a driver’s license.

Tears welling up in his eyes, Solis, 25, recounted his teen years when he quietly sat on the sidelines while witnessing his friends getting jobs and receiving driver’s licenses.

“I never told anyone of my status, so I always had to make excuses for why I couldn’t drive or get a job. I can’t tell you what it felt like when President Obama introduced DACA and gave his speech about how immigrants matter. DACA was kind of this shining beacon of hope that said, ‘hey, just because you’re undocumented doesn’t mean you can’t do all those things, too,’” Solis said.

He considers Obama to be the “most inclusive and most aware” president in the history of the United States and that he is going to miss “having a president that saw the human element” in the contentious issue of immigration.

“President Obama’s commitment to making sure us young immigrants get the opportunities we deserve is definitely my favorite thing about his presidency. I didn’t get to vote, but if I could have, I would have voted for him,” said the aspiring doctor, adding that he plans to fight for DACA and for Congress to establish a pathway to citizenship.

Solis’s girlfriend, Clara Polanco, noted that Obama’s presidency was “crucial” in her choice to major in political science. An aspiring lawyer, she was influenced by all the “landmark decisions he made that transformed American society.”

“I think, apart from the immigration programs, legalizing gay marriage was one of his greatest achievements,” Polanco, 22, said.

“Having a president who supports pro-LGBT policies is so historic and will, hopefully, set a new

standard for future presidencies. I will miss his commitment to making sure all Americans receive the same rights.”

“I’m going to miss both President Obama and First Lady Michelle [Obama],” Polanco added.

“They were the embodiment of class and decency, and were shining examples of success, as black Americans. Even if you don’t support them politically, you can’t deny they were great role models for people of color. They are great role models.”

One of Obama’s most controversial policies includes the landmark universal health care law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Since its induction, Republican lawmakers have remained committed to dismantling Obamacare and replacing it with another law.

Through Obamacare, the country experienced its lowest uninsured rate at 8.6 percent and has given health insurance to more than 20 million Americans, according to White House statistics.

“My family got insurance for the first time through Covered California,” said Maria Lindos, 24, a graduate student at CSULA. “I think of all those stories of Americans who got insurance through Obamacare and realized that they had serious illnesses after seeing a doctor. Even though a lot of people opposed this law, it helped a lot of Americans and it’s, like, so upsetting that there are lawmakers that want to take it away.”

In the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s surprising election on November 8 -- as well as Republicans’ win in Congress -Americans everywhere felt a sense of fear that many of Obama’s landmark policies will be repealed as promised.

Since then, Republicans in Congress have made moves to repeal Obamacare, rescind DACA, defund Planned Parenthood as well as work to overturn Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion.

However many Fil-Ams, like Dela Cruz, vow to fight for these programs and encourage other young Fil-Ams to get involved in the political system.

“Republicans at all levels of government are now determined to dismantle our country’s instiPAGE A4

A

january 26-february 1, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIan jOurnaL

Duterte meets Miss Universe...

PAGE A1 pageant to promote their own advocacies and women empowerment.

He then went on, “More importantly, this is chance for you to make an impact, to inspire change, and even be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Duterte also said that he hoped the contestants had a

good time visiting different destinations in the Philippines during their pre-pageant activities, such as Cebu, Baguio, Batangas, Davao, and Vigan.

“I am confident that the Department of Tourism and our valuable partners in the private sector for government have prepared well enough to make this event to remember. And I am equally confident that our host,

Dateline USa

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communities, and the Filipino people would themselves have given and will give each candidate many precious memories to hold on,” he added.

With a glass of water in his hand, Duterte remarked at the end of his speech: “May I just give you a toast, by myself, to your beauty and to your brains.

Mabuhay kayong lahat (Long live all of you).”

PH optimistic about Trump admin despite...

PAGE A2 that the president employs “language that most Visayans would understand.”

“How does it get misquoted?…

In this day and age of internet and social media, it is a fact, my friends, that the majority of us

no longer read the inner pages of the newspaper...just the headline,” he said. “The majority of people don’t read the inner pages of the newspaper anymore. If we’re talking about journalistic responsibility and nation building, we have to keep in mind that

we no longer live in the 1950s. If we want to be responsible journalists, we should think about how people read these days.”

When asked if Duterte would be visiting the U.S. anytime soon, Andanar simply said “it will hapPresident Barack Obama speaks during the 2016 Democratic National Convention pen.”

PAGE A1 In his speech, Duterte alleged that the botched operation in 2015 was also covered up by the previous administration.

“Let it brought out in the open. It was an American adventure with the cooperation of some and apparently with your blessing,” Duterte remarked, referring to Aquino.

During the raid, the police commandos successfully killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir, also known as Marwan, in the southern Philippines where various separatist rebel groups are based.

Marwan’s allies reportedly started to attack the police commandos after being alerted by the exchange of gunshots that killed him. Unable to carry the body, the SAF troopers cut Marwan’s finger to show proof of his death. It was later sent to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for DNA identification.

Marwan had been included on the U.S. government’s “Most Wanted Terrorists” list.

“Kaya far from the highway, nandoon ang chopper and you had to delude the nation that after the Marwan finger was cut, it was delivered dito sa Crame for the forensics, when as a matter of fact, ang helicopter, ang nagdala doon sa just for validation, to confirm that it was indeed Marwan (That’s why far from the highway, your

chopper was there and you had to delude the nation that after the Marwan finger was cut, it was delivered here in Crame for the forensics, when as a matter of fact, your helicopter was the one that brought it just for validation, to confirm that it was indeed Marwan),” Duterte said.

The elite soldiers, however, were ambushed by rebel groups, including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Duterte argued that if the government wanted to arrest a criminal not connected with the rebellion, they should have informed the MILF. The government had a peace pact with the Muslim insurgent groups based in the southern Philippines during that time.

“At bakit kayo pumasok (Why did you enter [the militant’s territory])? Because under the agreement, if you want to arrest a criminal, not rebellion connected, you have to inform the MILF. Eh kung pumasok kayo doon (but you went there), it was really a violation. That is why na-stymie kayo (That’s why you were stymied),” Duterte said.

Duterte also accused former presidential peace adviser Teresita Quintos-Deles of stopping then-President Aquino from ordering the military to send men to rescue the ambushed troops in order to not risk the peace talks.

Addressing Deles, Duterte said, “I do not want to, you know, belabor. Ikaw ‘yung peace negotiator. And para sa akin, ikaw ‘yung nagpigil kay PNoy na huwag (I do not want to, you know, belabor. You were the peace negotiator. And for me, you were the one who stopped [Aquino] in sending reinforcements because war will break out), because then you have violated the agreement that you should not enter MILF territory?”

Duterte also argued that military support from Davao City was just 40 minutes away from Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

He went on to remark that he would form a commission to investigate the Mamasapano tragedy.

“I will create a commission of seven. I will appoint men of integrity and honor. Kung tanggapin nila (If they would accept), I will choose mostly justices of the Supreme Court and few of the civilian sector, maybe a lawyer,” Duterte said.

According to the president, the commission will be similar to the Agrava commission that investigated the assassination of former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. in 1983.

“They will be independent in all aspects. They are free to summon and as president, the executive department, I will order you to honor the process,” Duterte added. (Dana Sioson / AJPress)

AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel

CIA accused of botching Mamasapano... President Barack Obama leaves lasting...

PAGE A3 tutions from healthcare to social security and to put in place punitive measures against immigrant families who come from the Philippines, which Trump has unjustly characterized as a terrorist state,”

he said.

“We will continue to build and strengthen relationships with our elected officials here to represent the needs of Filipino Americans on the Democratic Party’s core issues. It is a testament to the

historic accomplishments and legacy of President Obama that we as Democrats have so much to defend as Donald Trump’s regime and party takes over the apparatus of power in America,” she added.

Fil-Am GOPs celebrate inauguration, share...

PAGE A2 of the Trump campaign’s APA committee and its national diversity coalition — said the real estate billionaire wasn’t his first candidate choice early in the primary race. However, he threw his support after realizing “Trump would give power back to the people.”

“I have met with him personally and he has become a friend,” Martir said. “Mr. Trump has shared with me his love for Filipino Americans. He has said, ‘we need more hardworking people like you in America.’”

First 100 days The Fil-Ams interviewed by the Asian Journal also expressed their optimism for Trump’s first 100 days, as this period will set the tone for his administration.

“He actually has great compassion for the poor and minorities,” Martir remarked. “People characterize him as racist because they don’t know him. He prioritizes family and safety. He needs to prioritize keeping our nation secure -- that’s something that is important to him.”

These Fil-Ams also agreed that the economy and job creation are imperative to address since Trump

lomband project 1/2h

has vowed on the campaign trail to return more opportunities to Americans.

“We need laws that will make businesses prosper in America.

Number 1 is to bring back jobs and then strengthen our presence abroad because America is not respected right now,” Falconi said.

Martir added, “Fil-Ams have worked so hard and are the fabric of this country. We need those opportunities back.”

Wenger, who has lived in the U.S. for over 30 years, went on to remark that the immigration system needs to be overhauled.

“We have spent so much on [undocumented] immigrants to house, feed and educate them,” Wenger said. “Immigration has to be reformed to not separate families; usually the parents get deported and we end up taking care of the kids. Why should we do that when they belong with the mother and father?”

Message to other Fil-Ams Following the election of Trump, many in the Fil-Am community have vocalized their opposition for him and have joined in on protests against the divisive rhetoric.

However, these Fil-Am Repub-

licans said others should wait and see what the new president does once in office.

“They should educate themselves better and open their eyes to realize that Americans didn’t want a third Obama term,” Fely Quitevis, a realtor from Pahrump, Nevada, said.

It was Quitevis’s second time to witness a presidential inauguration in person on Friday.

“It’s time to unite around the president and give him a chance,” Falconi said. “See what are some of the good things he can do for not only the United States, but also for our Fil-Am community. A lot of people have underestimated him, but he has proven them all wrong.

You’ll see he’s going to make America great again.”

Martir echoed the sentiment that Trump deserves some respect from those who didn’t vote for him.

“It’s unfair to not hear him out. If you are elected president, you are not just president of one group -- you’re president for all,” he said. “That’s part of our democracy and that’s what makes us Americans.” (Christina M. Oriel/AJPress)

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 26-FEbRUARy 1, 2017

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

A

Dateline PPH,hiliPPines China to unveil anti-poverty projects worth $3.7 billion

by Dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

WHAT A PARTY. President Rodrigo Duterte, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa chat during the latter’s birthday bash in Camp Crame on Monday, Jan. 23. Malacañang assured the public there will be no whitewash or cover-up in the investigation into the abduction and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo. ManilaTimes.net photo

De Lima asks court to dismiss House case against her

by PaoLo

RoMeRo Philstar.com

MANILA – Sen. Leila De Lima has asked the Metropolitan Trial Court to dismiss the case filed by the leadership of the House of Representatives against her for alleged disobedience when it was conducting an inquiry into the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

In a 15-page counter-affidavit filed before the MTC Branch 34 in Quezon City last Jan. 13, De Lima laid four arguments to quash the case filed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali against her last December.

In their complaint, the House leaders accused the senator of violation of Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code or “disobedience to summons” of Congress with the Department of Justice, which elevated the matter to the court.

Violation of a provision of the article is punishable either by imprisonment or a fine, or both.

The House leaders alleged that De Lima induced her former driver and bodyguard Ronnie

Dayan—via text message last Oct. 1 through his daughter—to hide and not testify before the hearing of the House justice committee chaired by Umali.

They filed a similar complaint before the Senate ethics committee, which is expected to convene today to tackle the various complaints against De Lima.

“It is respectfully submitted that the filing of the (case) against me is clearly a form of persecution rather than prosecution. I am being forced to answer for an act of commission which is flagrantly negated by the evidence on record,” De Lima said in her affidavit obtained by The Star.

The senator said the charge was assuming that she knew the committee subpoenaed Dayan when resource persons in legislative inquiries are usually just invited not summoned.

She said she was not legally required to be informed of any subpoena to be issued to Dayan nor was she obligated to find out for herself.

De Lima stressed Article 150 only penalizes “inducing disobedience to a summons,” not

Sen. Leila De Lima

inducing refusal to accept an invitation.

De Lima also accused the DOJ of not including portions of Dayan’s testimony or “exculpatory statements” during the House hearing last Nov. 24 that would clear her of the allegation.

She said based on Dayan’s testimony, he asked his daughter to seek her “opinion” on the summons and only decided to hide when he could no longer contact the senator.

During the same hearing, Dayan also testified he went into hiding because he feared that local politicians in Pangasinan would get back at him as they thought he included them in the supposed matrix of drug lords.

Lawmakers give ‘Bato’ another chance

by LLaneSca

Panti

ManilaTimes

THREE days after Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez called on Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to resign, the House leader made a turnaround, saying the police chief deserves a second chance.

Alvarez’s change of heart came a day after he attended dela Rosa’s birthday party on Sunday, Jan. 22 in Camp Crame.

“I have said my piece and I would agree that we should give the PNP chief a chance to fix the problems in the PNP. At doon ay, yun nga, alam mo naman, napag-usap-usapan, biruan nang biruan (During his birthday, there was ribbing). I said, okay, and told him he should do what he is supposed to,” Alvarez said in a radio interview.

Alvarez said Dela Rosa should immediately resign over the killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo to save President Rodrigo Duterte from embarrassment and restore respect to the office of the PNP chief. The Speaker noted that the “commission of a heinous crime right under his very nose is not only an insult but a clear indication that he has lost the respect of his people.”

Alvarez had two birthday wishes for Dela Rosa: good health and to rid the PNP of scalawags.

Party-list Representatives Sherwin Tugna of Citizens Battle Against Corruption and Alfredo Garbin of Ako Bicol shared Alvarez’s sentiments, stressing

PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa

that Dela Rosa should prove that he deserves to lead the 160,000 police force.

“When somebody was murdered beside your office and you went on watching a Bryan Adams concert, then it does not speak well of a PNP chief who is supposed to lead the 160,000-strong police force. Let us give him a chance, but he should shape up and prove, within 60 days, that he deserves the trust of the President by cooperating with authorities,” Tugna said.

“General Bato should assess his leadership, if he still commands respect from his subordinates. At the very least, those involved in the killing of the South Korean should be summarily dismissed,” Garbin pointed out.

“What happened was the height of ineptitude. The PNP chief should be able to investigate his men on their involvement in extra- judicial killings,” Garbin added.

Discipline him But anti-crime advocates on Monday, Jan. 23 called on Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno to discipline dela Rosa for his apparent failure to cleanse the organization of scalawags.

Dante Jimenez, founding chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), said Sueno should control dela Rosa so that the latter can focus on his duties.

“Dela Rosa has practically failed in cleansing the PNP and DILG Secretary Sueno must take action,” Jimenez said in an interview.

The VACC head noted that Sueno should address the issue because the President has so many things to attend to.

“We can see the PNP chief busy attending ribbon cutting ceremonies, singing and watching concerts. I think it’s time for him to shape up,” Jimenez said, adding that he does not support calls for Dela Rosa to resign.

But he insisted that the PNP should not be involved in the investigation of Jee’s case. The PNP, he said, should cooperate with the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation instead of conducting a parallel investigation that may only cast doubt on the impartiality of the probe.

Purisima, Napeñas charged; Aquino spared in Mamasapano operation THE Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday, Jan. 24 filed charges against former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima and former PNP Special Action Force (SAF) director Getulio Napeñas over the botched Mamasapano anti-terrorist operation.

But it spared former president Benigno Aquino III, who allowed Purisima’s involvement in Oplan “Exodus” despite the fact that the latter was suspended over a graft case.

Purisima and Napeñas are facing charges of graft and usurpation of official functions before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.

The Ombudsman said Purisima

caused, with Napeñas’ consent, violations of the PNP chain of command, Purisima’s preventive suspension order dated Dec. 10, 2014, and then PNP officer in charge Leonardo Espina’s order dated Dec. 16, 2014 directing Purisima and other suspended PNP officers to cease and desist from performing their duties.

Purisima, the Ombudsman said, gave instructions to, received reports and recommendations from, and approved the actions of Napeñas in connection with the operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that killed 44 SAF men in January 2015.

As a result, Purisima and Napeñas eased out Espina and then Interior Secretary Manuel

Roxas from Oplan Exodus.

The Ombudsman recommended bail of P20,000 for each of the two accused ex-police officials.

In April 2016, the Ombudsman found basis to charge Purisima and Napeñas, who then filed motions for reconsideration.

But the Ombudsman maintained its ruling and filed the charges on Tuesday, the eve of the second anniversary of Mamasapano carnage on January 25, 2015.

The operation, known as Oplan Exodus, resulted in the killing of international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir. But over 60 people, including 44 members of the SAF, were killed in a gun battle with Muslim rebels. (ManilaTimes.net)

THE Philippines and China have agreed to collaborate on 30 projects worth $3.7 billion that focus on poverty reduction, the two countries announced following a bilateral meeting on Monday, January 23.

According to Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng, the deal is expected to be signed before the Philippine delegates return to Manila.

“The cooperation projects, which are the first batch, on improving people’s living standards now only need a series of bank-related procedures,” Gao said, as quoted by Xinhua News Agency.

On Monday, the two countries had a meeting in Beijing to finalize the economic and investment deals discussed

during Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s trip to China last October. The Philippines’ Department of Finance (DOF) previously said that Beijing pledged $15 billion-worth of investments to Manila.

In a press briefing on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that the ties between the Philippines and China “fully recovered” after Duterte’s visit.

“China supports president Duterte to lead the Philippines people in developing their economy,” she added.

On the other hand, DOF Secretary Carlos Dominguez said he had a “very productive” meeting with the Chinese officials.

Among the Philippine officials who accompanied Dominguez in China were Budget Sec. Benjamin Diokno, Nation-

al Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Ernesto Pernia, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade, and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.

Sought for comments if new U.S. President Donald Trump’s economic policies would affect the relationship between China and the Philippines, Dominguez replied, “It’s better to be with good friends.”

Duterte previously announced that the Philippines would shift away from Washington to build closer ties with China, Russia, and other Asian countries.

“I’m not sure at this moment exactly what the new U.S. policies, but I believe that the reorientation of our president to our neighbors really was very smart,” Dominguez added.

A

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

january 26-February 1, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIan jOurnaL

OpiniOn

Fresh start

Features

A NEW dawn awaits as the United States is perceived to undergo dramatic changes in its political, economic and social arenas under Donald Trump’s presidency. The coming change is also expected to impact not just its people, but America’s relationship with other nations, including with the Philippines.

Under the rapprochement between the U.S. and the Philippines initiated by former Presidents Barack Obama and Benigno Aquino III, economic partnerships and remittances have generated billions of dollars in revenue.

The last few months saw this relationship turn sour when Pres. Rodrigo Duterte berated the U.S. for continuously criticizing his governance over “concerns around rule of law and civil liberties” in his administration.

In December last year, Washington has removed the Philippines from the roster of eligible countries for development assistance under the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) fund. The country received a total of $434 million in MCC funding from 2010 to 2016.

Irked by the criticisms on his brutal war against illegal drugs and criminality in the country, Duterte warned that he would review all military agreements with the Americans and scrap joint drills that, he claimed, were only beneficial to Americans.

Upon the inauguration of Trump as the 45th U.S. president on Friday, Jan. 20, Filipino officials recognized the turnover of power to improve Manila-Washington relations.

“We view transitions as opportunities to further relations. The U.S. and the Philippines are treaty allies and we are ready to work on bolstering this alliance on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect,” declared Patrick Chuasoto, chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Philippine embassy, in a statement.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that the Philippines and the U.S. can have a “placid and mutually beneficial relationship” as longtime allies.

“Our diplomatic ties need to reflect our longstanding relationship but under terms and conditions that protect our people’s interests,” Abella said.

In early December, Duterte made a congratulatory phone call to Trump, where both leaders said that they are looking forward to seeing each oth-

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

er at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit this year.

Duterte assured that after their seven-minute conversation, he felt a rapport with his American counterpart and that bilateral ties were intact.

May this renewed partnership not reverse the

concessions made by their predecessors. May it facilitate more dynamic and stable domestic economies, both addressing the needs of both their people. May it bring more bring political, economic, and strategic benefits to both Filipinos and Americans. (AJPress)

‘ALTERNATIVE FACT’: More Americans voted for Trump than Clinton to be the 45th President of the United States DONALD J. Trump won the presidency because more Americans voted for him is an “alternative fact”. A lie. A misrepresentation of the will of the citizens of America who casted their sacred vote in the November 8 presidential election.

The truth as substantiated by election results data verified and confirmed by both Republicans and Democrats in all states is that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump.

Nearly three million people more people elected her to succeed Pres. Barack Obama. She won the popular vote by this big margin.

But because of the Electoral College, Donald Trump was proclaimed and sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. The electoral college appropriated certain number of “electors” per congressional districts and states instead of just using the popular votes.

It is a FACT that the Democratic Party had been very graceful in acknowledging that this is the law as stipulated in the Constitution and so they paved the way for the peaceful and orderly transfer of power. Donald Trump was sworn in as president on January 20.

However, despite his victory he maintained that he believes he was cheated of the popular vote, al-

leging that about 3 to 5 million “illegals” voted that was why The Fil-Am election results revealed that Clinton won more votes than Perspective him.

This continued allegations of conspiracy from Trump himself has been troubling not only Democrats but even members Gel SantoS-ReloS of the Republican Party. One outspoken Republican Party leader Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina voiced out the concerns of his party in an interview. He told CNN: “It is the most inappropriate thing for the president to say without proof…We’re talking about a man who won the election and seems to be obsessed with the idea that he could not have possibly lost the popular vote without cheating and fraud. So I would urge the president to knock this off….People are going to start doubting you as a person if you keep making accusations against our electoral system without justification. This is going to erode his ability to govern this country if he does not stop it.”

Many kababayans unfamiliar with U.S. history would ask why and how the use of Electoral College came about. This is how TIME explained it:

Standard civics-class accounts of the Electoral College rarely mention the real demon dooming direct national election in 1787 and 1803: slavery.

At the Philadelphia convention, the visionary Pennsylvanian James Wilson proposed direct national election of the president. But the savvy Virginian James Madison responded that such a system would prove unacceptable to the South: “The right of suffrage was much more diffusive [i.e., extensive] in the Northern than the Southern States; and the latter could have no influence in the election on the score of Negroes.”

In other words, in a direct election system, the North would outnumber the South, whose many slaves (more than half a million in all) of course could not vote. But the Electoral College—a prototype of which Madison proposed in this same speech—instead let each southern state count its slaves, albeit with a two-fifths discount, in computing its share of the overall count.

Virginia emerged as the big winner—the California of the Founding era—with 12 out of a total

of 91 electoral votes allocated by the Philadelphia Constitution, more than a quarter of the 46 needed to win an election in the first round.

After the 1800 census, Wilson’s free state of Pennsylvania had 10% more free persons than Virginia, but got 20% fewer electoral votes. Perversely, the more slaves Virginia (or any other slave state) bought or bred, the more electoral votes it would receive. Were a slave state to free any blacks who then moved North, the state could actually lose electoral votes.

If the system’s pro-slavery tilt was not overwhelmingly obvious when the Constitution was ratified, it quickly became so. For 32 of the Constitution’s first 36 years, a white slaveholding Virginian occupied the presidency.

THE QUESTION: Why has the Electoral College not yet been abolished? When will the Constitution be amended so that elections will truly reflect the will of the people? *** 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

Why President Duterte needs the Catholic Church “OF all the dispositions and habits Opinion which lead to political prosperity,religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tributeof patriotism who should labor RicaRdo Saludo to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, thesefirmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” — George Washington “W]hile I am a stickler for the principle of separation between Church and State, I believe quite strongly that there should never be a separation between God and State.” — Rodrigo Duterte THE founding father of the United States of America and the leading political thinker of the Renaissance believed it was indispensable for nationhood. So does the current Chief Executive of the Philippines, as he said in his State of the Nation Address last July.

In the history of nations, religion not only shapes a people’s identity and culture. Its moral discipline, enforced by belief in divine justice in this life or the next, helps immensely in keeping citizens obedient to law and respectful of authority.

So why is President Rodrigo Duterte lambasting Catholic bishops and priests, whose stern admonitions on four-fifths of Filipinos under their sway do much to fight lawlessness and the lure of wanton living, including narcotics, on which he wages war?

Whatever the reason, it’s really not good for law enforcement if people lose respect for the Church and faith in its preachings.

What if Filipinos discard their faith?

As this column argued in our May

30 article last year, speaking of then-President-elect Duterte: “He can’t deliver on his winning pledge to eradicate crime and corruption if the Catholic Church ever lost its moral authority over the great majority

of Filipinos.

“Imagine if most of the 85 million baptized Catholics in the country water down the religion’s key tenets, and pick and choose which of the Ten Commandments to follow.

“Indeed, millions already discard the Sixth and Ninth Commandments, while countless others break the Fifth and the Seventh. (If people don’t know that the first two prohibit illicit sex, while the latter ban killing and stealing, that only underscores the problem.)

“What if Duterte actually succeeds in convincing tens of millions of Filipino Catholics that they don’t have to listen to bishops and priests because of abuses and hypocrisy by some clerics?

Would that lead to more or fewer people killing, stealing, and deviating from traditional family values?

“Would eroding Catholicism’s influence increase or decrease lawlessness, sleaze, drug addiction, violence, family breakups, juvenile delinquency, and all the other social ills Duterte rails against? Or does religiosity advance lawful, virtuous living?

“And which would help win the battle against lawlessness—quarreling with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, or persuading the CBCP to issue pastoral letters and institute sermons, prayers, and parish programs enjoining tens of millions of

believers across the archipelago to abide by the law, support law enforcement, eschew corruption, and strengthen family values as a bulwark against delinquency and drugs?”

Indeed, the Church certainly commands far more credibility and respect than the government. The Philippine Trust Index of 2015, the latest nationwide survey done by public relations company EON, counted nearly three-quarters of Filipinos (73 percent) trusting the Catholic Church, far ahead of the academe (51 percent), media (32 percent), and the government (12 percent).

Sure, President Duterte enjoys an excellent trust rating of more than 80 percent. But that’s an argument not for bashing the Church, but working with it, so that their combined high public credibility would mobilize the people to fight crime and drugs, instead of eroding each other’s lofty trust ratings In short, Mr. President, you need the Filipino people’s centuries-old adherence to Catholic faith, morals and authority to fight the scourge of lawlessness and drugs.

The bishops also need Digong At the same time, the Church needs President Duterte’s rough campaign against drugs and lawlessness.

Crime incidence tripled in the past administration, to more than 1 million a year starting 2013, from 324,083 in

2010. Imagine how many grave sins are committed every day, endangering the souls of millions of people.

Thankfully, after six months under Duterte, crime is down by one-third to one-half, depending on the type of offense. That means at least 3,000 murders prevented, along with 3,000 rapes, 20,000 robberies, and 75,000 physical injuries, based on 2014 data.

As for drug addiction, which enslaves souls to the demands of body and psyche, between 1 million and 3 million users are in narco-chains, their free will and consciences rendered largely incapable of exercising the moral choices which affirms the faithful’s faith, hope and love toward the Lord.

Even worse, millions of families are torn apart, hugely burdened, and even bloodied and beaten, as loved ones are driven to anger, depression, crime, and violence.

Except in a few families graced by God, can virtue flourish amid such entrenched vice?

And while killing outside of self-defense violates God’s law and can never

be justified, the sad reality is that if the government relied solely on strict due process to fight drugs and crime, the syndicates and their protectors in government would just laugh, and more than a million drug users and pushers would still be sniffing and shooting, plus stealing, kidnapping, raping and killing under narco-influence or in hopes of getting cash for their habit.

But thank God, Church and State may be moving toward talking and walking together.

Last Friday, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said of the Church: “Let’s try to reach out to one another and have a real dialogue and real conversation.”

“That is always the better solution to anything,” agreed Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos. “You listen to them, present everything, and let’s observe what are the things that we can work together and things that we are going to avoid.”

May Church and State find common cause for our nation’s sake. So help them God.

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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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 26-FEbRUARy 1, 2017

A

Challenging bishops to resign, Duterte hurls invectives at church

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

BRIBERY INVESTIGATION. Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Joel Villanueva hold a discussion during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing looking into the alleged bribery of two officials of the Bureau of Immigration by casino owner Jack Lam on Monday, January 23. The two officials, former Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles, were allegedly offered P50 million for the release of Chinese nationals illegally working at the Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Pampanga.

Senate photo by Albert Calvelo

PH calls for strong, resilient ASEAN PReSIDeNT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Jan. 24 urged member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) to work together for a stronger and more resilient community.

In his speech during the launching of Asean 2017 Committee in Business and Investment Promotion in Malacañang, Duterte called for unity as he vowed to work with the 10 Asean memberstates and its dialogue partners to ensure a collective success.

“Asean needs to sustain its momentum towards inclusive growth, ensure that businesses and industries continue to thrive and secure a policy environment that supports meaningful economic change and reform,” the President said.

“In upholding our region’s common interest and advancing towards our collective goals, know that the Philippines will work closely with the Asean member states and will engage our partners constructively to fully

realize the positive changes we desire and aspire for our region.

Let us together work for an Asean that is even stronger, more resilient and ready to do business,” he added.

Under the Philippines’ chairmanship, Duterte said Asean will continue on the road towards “greater progress and prosperity” and will work tirelessly “to ensure that Asean’s economic integration as an object and instrument of policy are fully harnessed.”

“We will work together with Asean member states and partners to ensure that the trajectory of inclusive growth remains always on the upswing,” the President said.

To do this, the Philippines will focus on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMes) that form the backbone of the Asean’s collective economy.

“The objective is to build the capacities of MSMes to make them active and competitive players in the national, regional, and

global economies. I encourage business leaders and the enterprises here to tap the MSMes and help them integrate into the national, regional valued chain,” the President said.

“If we’re able to evolve toward becoming smart economies, we have to be intelligent about investments, which includes investment not just in the areas of science and research and development but equally important is our precious human resources,” he said.

The President also mentioned the empowerment of women so that “they can take on the greater economic roles and participate even more broadly in nation and region-building.”

“The objective is to achieve the full economic potentials of women and to bridge the gender gap… In Asean, we will go beyond that and focus on achieving the equity and justice that all our women deserve,” he said. (Catherine S. Valente/ManilaTimes.net)

US missile destroyer docks in Subic Bay MANILA — A guided-missile destroyer from the United States arrived in Subic Bay on Monday, Jan. 23 for a brief port call.

Arleigh Burke–class guidedmissile destroyer USS John S. McCain is deployed to the US 7th Fleet area of operations as support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The vessel’s port call highlights

the community and military connections between the Philippines and the US, which have been allies for more than 70 years.

During its visit to the Philippines, the McCain crew will participate in community service projects and sporting events, according to the US embassy in Manila.

The ship will also conduct minor repairs with the help of Filipino

companies during its stop in the country.

Despite being hostile against the US, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he would not cut military ties with the country’s long-time ally.

The president, however, has been renewing ties with China and Russia. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com)

MANILA — Describing the Catholic Church as “full of shit,” President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Jan. 24 hurled fresh tirades at bishops and priests and even expressed readiness to step down if he is wrong about their misdeeds.

Duterte, who has been at odds with the Catholic Church over his brutal war on illegal drugs, said bishops should also resign if he is proven right about the sex and corruption scandals involving the clergy.

“I challenge you now. I challenge the Catholic Church. You are full of s***. Mabaho kayo lahat (You are all filthy),” the president said during his dialogue yesterday with families of the 44 police commandos who died in the 2015 Mamasapano clash.

“I’ll make you a deal. Read this book and if I feel that almost everyone has read it, then go back to me and tell me binastos ko ang relihiyon at nagsisinungaling ako (I disrespected religion and I lied) and I will resign, I will resign,” he added.

“I will deliver my letter of resignation on bended knees. I will place it on (the monument of Jose) Rizal at Luneta as a Filipino. Pick it up there provided you bishops will resign.”

Duterte was referring to the book “Altar of Secrets,” a book written by the late journalist Aries Rufo, whom the president erroneously described as a “narrator” of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. The 2003 book contained reports about the sex

and corruption scandals involving members of the clergy.

Duterte resorted to personal attacks and name-calling to criticize the Church, which has been expressing concerns over the spate of killings linked to his crackdown on illegal drugs.

He accused retired Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr. of having two wives and even called him a monkey.

“P***** i**** Bacani, dalawa pala asawa pareho ko tapos pag magsalita ang unggoy na ‘to (This son of a b**** Bacani has two wives and yet this monkey talks like he is faultless),” Duterte said.

Bacani, the former bishop of Novaliches, was accused of sexual harassment in April 2003. He resigned from his post in the same year.

Reopening old wounds Duterte then rehashed his rhetoric about the alleged homosexuality in seminaries and the supposed failure of the Church to uplift the lives of its faithful.

Duterte also chided bishops for supposedly asking former president Gloria Arroyo to provide them with Pajero sports utility vehicles despite the constitutional provision on the separation of Church and state.

“That son of a b**** vehicle is so expensive and you asked for it even if many Filipinos have nothing to eat,” he said.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) claimed in 2011 that some Catholic bishops got Pajeros supposedly in exchange for their support for Arroyo.

Then PCSO chair Margarita Juico then apologized to the Senate after it was discovered that the bishops did not get pajeros

but cheaper utility vehicles, which were then used for charitable missions in far-flung areas. The bishops have returned the vehicles to the government.

Duterte also accused priests of having bad breath while administering confessions and of having dirty hands while giving communion.

“Do not go to confession. When you face those crazies, sometimes (they did not brush their teeth).

What did you eat last night?” he said.

Duterte, who claimed to have been molested by a priest when he was young, said he would one day write a book about politicians and clergymen who are portraying themselves to be faultless. He said he would call the book “Hypocrisy.”

“You, bishops have been lording it over for so long. Was Christ crucified in a golden cross?” the president said.

Duterte bragged that he won the 2016 presidential race by a landslide despite efforts by some clergymen to discredit him.

“I won by six million votes even if you attacked me. What happened to tour politicking?” he said.

“Politicians are afraid to curse you. I am the only one who can do it.”

Despite his anti-Catholic tirades, Duterte advised Filipinos to develop a relationship with God. “There is a God. You better cultivate your relationship between you and God,” he said.

More than 80 percent of Filipinos belong to the Catholic Church, which was introduced to the Philippines by Spaniards in 1521.

AFP told: Neutralize Sayyaf in 6 months by michAel

PunongbAyAn Philstar.com

MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. eduardo Año has ordered military troops in Mindanao to follow President Duterte’s desire to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf within the next six months.

“Train all your thoughts, focus your efforts, muster all your courage, summon all your energy and give it all to this fight. So that once and for all, we will neutralize the Abu Sayyaf, the other terrorist groups, and their infrastructures,” Año said.

CAR ACCIDENTS • TRIP AND FALLS

Vegasaccident.law

Año gave the instructions as he presided over the change of command ceremony for the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief in Zamboanga City from Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo de la Cruz to Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. last Jan. 17.

He asked members of the Philippine Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines to always look at the big picture and see where each of them would fit.

AFP Public Affairs Office chief Marine Col. edgard Arevalo, who was with the group, said Año told the troops in the area that he “is satisfied” with their preparations, especially the personnel and

equipment readiness of the combat, intelligence, psychological operations and support units.

“We are advancing in our campaign to finish the Abu Sayyaf group within six months with renewed and modified plans derived from the strength of our past operational plans and the renewed vigor of the defense and AFP leaderships,” Año told the troops. “You are privileged to be part of this fight in pursuit of the mission that our commander-in-chief, President Duterte has given us. I challenge you (field commanders) to exercise the highest degree of commandership. Give your utmost best.”

A8

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 26-fEbRUARy 1, 2017

VEGAS&STYLE

B

Journal

Families gather worldwide to ring in the Year of the Fire Rooster (Western) calendar. The holiday marks a transition from the year of the Ram into the year of the Rooster in the Chinese zodiac.

Fortune People can typically expect bad luck during the years associated with their astrological symbol.

However, the next few months might spell even worse misfortune for those born under the sign of the rabbit, according to an expert in the practice of Feng Shui, Master Sean Shono.

2017 would be characterized by the elements of fire and, to a lesser extent, metal, Shono told the Asian Journal. That combination is normally a “symbol of optimism, innovation and progress,” but clashes with the sign of the rabbit.

Shono added that the Year of the Fire Rooster would be a potentially prosperous one for business and industry, especially those associated with aviation, energy, entertainAJPress photos by Eric Anthony Licas ment and finance.

Islander (AAPI) community during the surrounding days and weeks.

THe beginning of the next ChiThe exact date of the occasion nese New Year falls on Saturday, varies because the Lunar schedule January 28, inspiring celebrations has 13 months that are a few days in the Asian American and Pacific shorter than those of the Gregorian

By Eric

Anthony LicAs AJPress

He also warned that disharmony in international relations might persist. However, the influence of the elements fire and metal could promote open-mindedness and inspire people to find innovative solutions.

He went on to predict that 2017 would be a good year to travel or relocate, but warned people born under the sign of the tiger to avoid heading west, the direction of the Grand Duke.

People whose birthdays are associated with the astrological symbols of the dragon, snake and ox are entering a “year of harmony,” according to Shono.

Festivities No matter what stars people were born under, whatever their ethnicity might be and wherever they are in the world, the Lunar New Year is an occasion to appreciate the past year with the company of loved ones while enjoying a variety of traditional customs and

What the Year of the Fire Rooster means for your sign

By AJPrEss

2017 is the Year of the Fire Rooster, which is 10th out of the 12 animals in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. The Rooster comes after a Monkey year (2016) and before a Dog year (2018).

According to China Highlights, each zodiac year bears an animal sign mixed with one of the five elements (gold/metal, wood, water, fire or earth). The Fire Rooster is known to be trustworthy, responsible, hardworking and time conscious.

RoosteR

1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 Those who fall under the Rooster sign are said to expect a not-so-lucky year in 2017, facing misfortune in various aspects of life, such as career, assets and personal relationships. According to China Highlights, Roosters will have to try harder to be financially stable; it is advised to budget and save money instead of pursuing risky investments.

Additionally, safety and health for Roosters are important to pay close attention to. Those in relationships may experience conflicts with their significant others, which may affect your mutual affection. For those who are single, there is minimal luck with attracting the opposite sex.

Roosters should avoid red, the direction of east, and the numbers 1, 3 and 9. Roosters are compatible with ox and snake, while they should avoid other roosters, as well as rat, rabbit, horse and dog signs.

Dog

1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 Dogs are characterized as loyal, prudent and amiable. However, they can sometimes come across as stubborn and bad communicators. In 2017, dogs may need to put in additional effort in order to gain more wealth and should be wary of treacherous individuals. For their professional lives, they may come up with creative ideas that will help with advancing in their careers. They are also advised to keep learning new skills. Dogs should pay attention to their respiratory and urinary systems, and should seek medical attention if any discomfort arises. In terms of their love lives, there is no significant shift and should remember to pay attention to their relationship if they are in one. Dogs pair well with rabbit signs, while they are worst with the dragon, sheep and rooster.

PAGE B2

festivities.

Families typically kick off more than two weeks of revelry with a reunion dinner on the eve of the holiday.

Traditional dishes include noodles or mustard greens, which are good omens for a long lifespan, and fish, or yu, which is a homophone for prosperity in Mandarin.

It is also customary to thorough-

Illustration

by Kendrick Tan

ly clean one’s home before the New Year in order to clear out bad energy. However, preparations ought to be finished before merrymaking begins in order to allow good fortune to enter a house.

Various cities in Southern California — which boasts one of the PAGE B3

B january 26-february 1, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIan jOurnaL

EntErtainmEnt

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American Miss U bet: Trump deserves support Jonas Gaffud: The Filipino queenmaker by

Nathalie tomada Philstar.com

MANILA - The US candidate for the Miss Universe pageant here believes their new president, billionaire Donald Trump, deserves their support.

“President Trump was not my vote but as someone who serves in the military, I support him. I really hope that the American people give him a chance. I think he deserves a chance. He deserves our respect,” Deshauna Barber, a US Army lieutenant prior to joining Miss USA, told The Star at a media luncheon yesterday hosted by PLDT and Smart Communications.

“I just really hope that he’s able to unify the US. It’s such a divisive time because the elections were so controversial. It really separated a lot of American people in terms of opinions and that’s why I hate politics – the way it affects how people feel about each other.

That’s why I really, really hope that he unifies us because right now we’re very divided. But I do have faith in the American people, in my country and I have faith that we’re going to come back together again,” Barber said.

Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States yesterday and announced an inwardlooking policy that “it’s going to be only America first.”

Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart, for her part, shared what the public could expect from Trump’s kind of leadership.

Trump owned the Miss Uni-

verse franchise from 1996 to 2015.

“I worked for (Trump) for 15 years. I guarantee that the country will be put on a strict budget. One thing I learned from him is how to manage a budget. He didn’t want someone to answer to him why something went over. He’s very good and focused,” Shugart told The Star in a recent exclusive interview.

She revealed that Trump hired her over the phone. “I never met him. I answered him on the phone. He needed someone to step in as president of Miss U. ‘I heard good things and I need for you to step in.’ I originally stood as his acting president. I thank God his voice is so recognizable because I would have thought it was a joke,” Shugart said.

Trump sold the franchise to the WME/IMG talent agency in September 2015 but not after stirring some controversy. It was widely reported that his statements on illegal immigrants in his presidential run kick-off speech prompted NBC to cut business ties with him and cancel the airing of Miss Universe on its networks.

A former Miss Universe winner also aggressively campaigned against Trump.

Asked to comment on Trump’s leadership style, Barber said, “He’s definitely a different type … definitely unique in his style of politics. He’s extremely different and new to the US people in terms of being incredibly opinionated. He doesn’t care about political correctness, and it’s fine. I respect whoever is the

by iRish

Miss USA Deshauna Barber

commander-in-chief.”

Barber said being in the military has made her aware of many issues affecting the relations between the US and other countries, including the Philippines.

President Duterte had ranted against the previous US administration amidst its criticisms on his war on drugs.

The beauty queen said, “I’ve been told that President Trump and the president of the Philippines have been communicating.

I think it’s a great thing.”

She added, “I wonder (if we would meet Duterte). I would assume he’s going to be in the pageant. I would love to meet him.”

Bretman Rock, Venus Raj to host Miss Universe red carpet special by

Rosette adel Philstar.com

Bretman Rock

SOCIAL media personality Bretman Rock and 2010 Miss Universe fourth runner-up Venus Raj will host the Miss Universe red carpet special on January 30.

Rock will serve as the host of the Miss Universe red carpet while Raj will join him as digital correspondent. This was announced by the Miss Universe Organization on its

official website.

The Miss Universe Organization described 18-year-old Rock as not just a social media personality with over 10 million followers across his social media platforms but also a beauty guru teaching make-up skills through his viral tutorials.

He is Ilocano and has been living in Hawaii since he was seven years old.

On the other hand, beauty pageant titleholder turned actress, model and TV host Raj is a Bicolana. She represented

the Philippines in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada where she placed fourth runner-up.

Rock said he cried when he saw his photo posted by Miss Universe and also announced his inclusion in the pool of hosts through Instagram.

The red carpet special will be shown hours before the competition.

Meanwhile, 2015 Miss Universe host Steve Harvey will make a comeback as the host of the coronation night. He will be joined by backstage host Ashley Graham who also joined Miss USA 2016.

ChRistiaNNe dizoN Philstar.com

WHEN you think of tearjerker movies, “The Devil Wears Prada”—a film about an assistant’s traumatic year working for an editor-in-chief from hell—doesn’t usually come up. But 38-year-old Jonas Gaffud, head of Aces and Queens, the country’s top training camp for beauty queens, is not ashamed to admit one particular scene in this blockbuster comedy unexpectedly made him weep.

“You think this is just a magazine, hmm? This is not just a magazine,” said the Nigel character, creative director of the fictitious Runway magazine, as he scolded Andrea, the whining assistant.

“This is a shining beacon of hope for... oh, I don’t know... let’s say a young boy growing up in Rhode Island with six brothers pretending to go to soccer practice when he was really going to sewing class and reading Runway under the covers at night with a flashlight.” “That’s a line that made me cry,” Jonas says with a wistful smile. “I feel for them…” He trails off. “I feel for them.”

That line hit a nerve because once upon a time, Jonas Gaffud was that young boy, except he was living in Isabela, not Rhode Island; except he was reading Mod and Woman Today instead of Runway. “I’d cut out the figures of the girls in print ads or I’d get the glossy pages and make gowns,” he recalls. He hid his creations beneath their book shelf, but his mom always discovered his stash and gave him hell him for it. Jonas is the third son in a brood of five, born to a military man and a school principal. He knew he was different early on, preferring to play with his sister’s Barbie dolls over toy guns. His family knew as well, but they thought it was just a “phase.” “They thought, ‘In the future, mag-a-asawa rin yan,’ but here I am.”

Even as a kid, Jonas had a clear, burning desire in his heart.

“My family is okay. I don’t need to be a breadwinner or something,” he qualifies. “But I wanted to go to Manila. Makipagsapalaran.

I dreamed big. I wanted to do something with my life, but I didn’t know how.” When he was eight years old, around the time People Power won our country its freedom, he stumbled upon a passion that would open up his world and eventually become his ticket out of that little town.

Jonas Gaffud discovered the

What the Year of the Fire Rooster means...

PAGE B1

BoAR (PiG)

1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 Those who are born in the year of the boar (pig) are said to be compassionate, energetic and generous.

For 2017, it is projected that the boar will not experience huge transformations, but it will be a unlucky year in the areas of fortune (little improvement), health and love. However, boars can expect a shift in their career if they work hard and seek help in personal development. In terms of health, China Highlights advises that boars be careful with their bones, spleen, stomach and urinary system. They are reminded to not be excessive in eating, drinking and smoking in order to ensure good health throughout their lives. Boars are best matched with sheep, tiger and rabbit signs, while they are not compatible with monkey or snake signs.

RAT

1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 Rats are intuitive, sharp, resourceful and can adapt to any setting they are placed in. The Year of the Rooster will bring relatively good fortune for those born with the rat sign. They are said to expect some wealth if they exert more effort in their respective jobs and seek mentorship from a superior. As always, they should be cautious when investing as there may be individuals trying to undermine them. Rats should watch out for stomach trouble and indigestion this year, China Highlights wrote. In order to prevent this, maintaining a well-balanced diet and exercise routine, and getting rest are advised. Rats will experience a lucky love life — it’s a good year to have children or get married. However, rats that are single shouldn’t move too fast into a relationship. Rats work well with ox, dragon and rabbit, while they are not so compatible with horse and rooster signs.

ox 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 Those who are born with the ox sign have strong, dependable, patient, and motivated personalities.

This year, oxen may be presented with several opportunities in terms of love and wealth.

Their financial situations will improve as there will be chances to expand their businesses or get promoted at their jobs. Despite generally being healthy, 2017 may bring about some accidents so it is advised not to participate in any dangerous activities. For relationships, they can expect meeting new people or get married if they are in stable relationships. Ox signs match with the rat, monkey or rooster, however, they should avoid the tiger, dragon, horse or sheep.

TiGeR

1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 Stubborn, judgmental, brave and self-confident are some ways to describe someone born in the year of a tiger. They are said to be prosperous if they are in sales or consumer-driven businesses. To acquire more good luck, China Highlights advises donating to charity and minimizing investments. Tigers may be unlucky in health and be prone to accidents. Tigers pair well with a dragon, horse or boar (pig), but should steer clear from an ox, snake or monkey.

RABBiT 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 Characterized as gentle, quiet, patient and responsible, 2017 will be a tough, tumultuous year for rabbits. For fortune, they are advised to plan and budget and to not participate in any joint financial ventures as they may turn out unsuccessful. They will be stressed out at work, however, they may be lucky in finding another job opportunity. Like other animals, this year will bring about accidents if they are not careful in driving or following signs while crossing the street. Additionally, they should follow a healthy routine of rest, diet and exercise. For relationships, rabbits may find luck in getting married or having children. They may encounter problems with their loved ones so they are advised to communicate and talk through their issues. Rabbits are best matched with a rat, goat, monkey or dog, but do not work well with a rooster or snake.

dRAGon 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 Dragons are known for being courageous, intelligent, and risk takers. 2017 will be a relatively lucky year for them. In terms of fortune, they are encouraged to start their own businesses or a new project. According to China Highlights, dragons who are working in sales, insurance or beauty will be fortunate this year.

There will also be opportunities to develop their careers or change jobs. Since dragons are social people, they will attend a lot of social gatherings, but should limit them as to not deteriorate their health.

This year will be good to get married if you are in a stable relationship.

Dragons go well with a rat, tiger or snake, but are not so compatible with ox, sheep or dog.

SnAke 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 Snakes embody wisdom, intelligence and privacy. This year will be especially lucky for them, seeing expansions in business, mak-

Jonas Gaffud with PIa Wurtzbach (Miss Universe 2015), Megan Young (Miss World 2013) and Kylie Verzosa (Miss International 2016).

world of beauty pageants.

From Isabela to Manila He can no longer remember the details of the first beauty pageant he watched on TV, but Jonas clearly recalls feeling thrilled every time the contestants announced their names and countries of origin with enthusiastic energy. In high school, his love for pageants deepened, and he found himself becoming emotionally invested in women he didn’t even know. “I’d get frustrated when my bet didn’t win in Miss USA or Miss Universe. I’d get sad.”

When the time to choose his college course and university came, Jonas’ fascination with beauty and countries came into play: “That’s why I took up geography in college. I never wanted any other course.” At the time, UP Diliman was the only university that offered geography, and luckily, Jonas made the cut, difficult exams notwithstanding. “I was shouting the whole time. ‘I’m going to UP Diliman! I’m going to Manila! I’m going to forget about this province,” he says with a grin, then backpedals. “I’m just kidding. I didn’t say I was going to forget. But I’m going to leave my life [behind].”

UP Diliman became both Jo-

nas’ teacher and playground. Up until sophomore year, the probinsyano was scared of what could happen to him in that big school in the big city. Every day, without fail for two years, he would sing “I Have Confidence” in his head (a song from The Sound of Music, his mother’s favorite film) and attended his classes and tried to survive. Things got better when he made friends with members of the ROTC. “Puro beks din yung mga taga ROTC kasi,” he shrieks.

Jonas was surprised they knew he was one of them. “’Hindi naman ako out eh,’” sabi ko. Sabi nila, ‘Ay! First day pa lang alam na namin, ano ba?’”

Jonas was invited to join Babaylan, an LGBT student organization, as well as Sigma Rho, a fraternity which his brother was a member of. He declined both.

“Ang ginawa ko, nagtayo ako ng sariling org. Binuhay ko yung org namin: Geographical Society of UP. That’s my interest. That’s what I want to do.” Their org’s agenda was to educate people about how to take care of the environment. “Meron kaming mga exhibits about saving the ocean. Geography encompasses everything. It’s very holistic.”

On his third year, they spent PAGE B7

ing large purchases and success at work and investments. However, they are advised to take care of themselves, as they are prone to bouts of different moods, poor sleep, and pressure. Their love lives won’t experience too much transformation; if they are in serious relationships or married, they need to take care of their partners and not let work or other parties interfere. Those who are single may find someone, but it will generally be an uneventful year. Snakes are well-suited with a dragon or rooster, and should avoid a tiger, rabbit or sheep.

hoRSe 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 Horses are energetic, active and love to be the center of attention. The fortune for a horse in 2017 will be mixed, but overall good luck will be experienced. For finances, they can expect getting promoted or a raise or expanding their businesses. At work, horses will thrive by developing strong personal relationships with their peers or clients. However, they should steer clear from any competition from colleagues. Horses should take extra caution when it comes to their respiratory and urinary system, their heart and blood vessels and stomachs, according to China Highlights. In order to do this, they should regularly exercise and go to the doctor. Further, horses will be lucky when it comes to love — they may meet the “right one” and enter a relationship or start a family if they are married. Horses are best with a sheep or tiger, but they don’t work well with a rat, ox or rooster.

SheeP (GoAT) 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 Gentle, shy, kindhearted and creative are some of the attributes of a sheep. Overall, they may have a bad year. For wealth, they should prepare, budget and avoid spending too much money because there may be some financial problems underway. Their careers will be somewhat luckier, however, if they work hard to improve their circumstances. They should be diligent with monitoring their health as there may be some problems caused by negative moods. There will be no significant improvement for their love lives, unless they work hard to attract a partner or maintain their current relationship. Sheep work best with a rabbit, horse or boar, but should stay away from an ox, dragon, snake or dog.

Monkey 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 Monkeys are clever, quick-witted, gentle and honest. 2016 was the Year of the Monkey, which was a relatively unlucky year for monkeys. However, that bad luck is said to transition out this year in favor of more good luck. In 2017, they will reap benefits from their hard work. Those who work in creative fields will be lucky, especially.

At work, they may be promoted, have opportunities to travel, or seek a job change, though it is recommended to seek advice from a mentor.

They should do more exercise, eat more fruits and vegetables and not argue with their family members. For their love lives, single women may have a good shot at entering a relationship this year, but they should get to know their prospect well beforehand. For men, they will also be lucky in finding a relationship, but it may not be stable.

Monkeys are most compatible with ox or rabbit, but don’t work too well with tigers or boars.

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 26-fEbRUARy 1, 2017

B

Miss Universe candidates open What Goo Goo Dolls want to discover in PH up about their insecurities

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

by Deni

Rose BeRnaRDo

Philstar.com

IT was a very emotional morning last Friday as some Miss Universe candidates shed tears together with the patients of child charity group Smile Train.

Moved by stories of men and women with cleft and lip palate abnormalities, the bets also relayed their own tales of struggles and hope during their meet-and-greet with the patients in Manila and at Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Parañaque City.

Miss Mexico Kristal Silva “A lot of people think that we’re perfect, that we have a perfect life, but in my case, when I was a child, I didn’t have confidence in myself, with my appearance, my figure. I tried to be skinny all the time, but it only gave me problems because I wanted to be perfect, but it’s just impossible, especially during this moment. We always have to take care of our outside appearance to be acceptable,” shared a tearyeyed 24-year-old Latin beauty.

“People might think that we’re happy all the time, but they don’t know us. They don’t realize that we’re just like everybody else.”

Joining a beauty pageant, she said, enabled her to build the confidence she longed for. “To become a beauty queen allowed me to have security and confidence.

Whatever you want to be, a doctor, a teacher, you have to focus on that and don’t mind your limitations,” she advised.

“I believe in God and I believe that if He gives you a condition, He has a reason. He gave you that condition because He has a purpose for you. In my case, I am in this position as a platform to inspire. It’s important for us beauty queens to have this figure because people listen to us because of that,” she explained.

“Now that I’m in a beauty contest, I can show them that I now have confidence and they can do the same. They can see the future through their dreams for as long as they don’t allow them to be stopped by their limitations...The thing is we must feel secured first within ourselves, no matter what our physical appearance is or the problems that we have. We need to see the future and what’s waiting for us.”

Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier Upon hearing the beneficiaries’ stories of being bullied for their condition, Raquel cryingly shared her own tale of survival.

“Seven years ago, I survived the earthquake and it’s really hard to overcome,” the 25-year-old disclosed. “So, I’m really proud of you guys because I see you guys smiling despite of what you’ve been through, and that inspires me and I would like to inspire others.”

In an interview with Philstar. com, Pelissier recalled that she and her family were lucky their house did not collapse with them in it during the quake. Her mom’s cousin, however, was not as fortunate as the entire university he was in fell over him.

Though she still has her family and home, she finds it hard to sleep whenever she remembers that many of her countrymen lost their lives in their sleep.

“I thought my life was over…If

THE Goo Goo Dolls created some of most memorable musical moments of the ’90s with such chart-topping hits as “Name,” “Slide” and acoustic ballad “Iris” which spent 18 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Airplay chart and remains one of the biggest crossover hits in the history of popular music.

According to the production notes, having formed the Goo Goo Dolls in Buffalo, NY, in Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier and Miss Mexico Kristal Silva comforting a Smile Train beneficiary, 1986, Rzeznik and Robby Takac who shared her story.

Philstar.com photos by Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo spent their first decade traversing North America in a van and bringing their raucous brand of melodic punk rock to college kids and winning over small but enthusiastic crowds of fans.

They released a series of albums before breaking through commercially with their fifth, 1995’s “A Boy Named Goo” (featuring “Name”), followed by 1998’s 4x-platinum “Dizzy Up The Girl” which produced five Top 10 singles and sold nearly six million copies worldwide.

The four-time Grammy Awardnominated band, which has sold more than 10 million albums, Miss China Li Zhenying believes that despite the West Philippine Sea dispute, China and the here is a sad story behind Miss Myanmar Htet continued touring and released a string of Top 10 albums through Philippines are still good friends.

Htet Htun’s smile. the early 2000s: “Gutterflower” I’m here today, it’s because I’m better!”

(2002), “Let Love In” (2006), living my dreams. I want to fight Miss China Li Zhenying “Something for the Rest of Us” with what I want in my life,” she “Before I joined Miss Uni- (2010) and “Magnetic” (2013). enthused. verse, I was not really confident. Rzeznik has also been honored “The greatest lesson I learned I just have to believe in myself,” with the Songwriters Hall of Fame from that is that I have to cherish remarked the 23-year-old from Hal David Starlight Award. my family because it has put me Shanghai.

Their latest album is called on a state that I valued the simplest According to her, the gap be- “Boxes,” about which Rzeznik things in life, not the superficial PAGE B7 said in an interview, “I want things. I value that I’m alive, I have a family, I have a shelter. I feel protected, I feel loved. So, it made me value the things the eyes can’t see.

And it also made me see that life is really fragile. It can end tomorrow.

It can end now. So, what matters is you live your life the way you want to live it. If you have something you care about, if there is a cause you want to defend, you have to stand for what you want in life.

Probably, if the earthquake didn’t happen, I won’t be here because I didn’t learn that lesson.”

For those facing problems, her advice is “Leave the past behind.

If you have dreams, fight for them!”

Miss Myanmar Htet Htet Htun “Since I was young, I wanted to become a beauty queen, an actress, but everyone in my family doesn’t approve of it,” bared the 24-year-old model.

She said that since her father wanted her to become a doctor, she had to defy him and send herself to school.

To fulfill her dream, she put up a business and entered modeling, so she could buy her own shoes, makeup, and other things she needs for pageants. Sometimes, she had no money to go to casting calls and other modeling events, so she had to go places on foot.

Unlike other models and pageant candidates, she cannot afford formal training and had to learn by herself. “Even if I had no teacher, I can prove that I can be Miss Myanmar. I can represent my country.”

For those facing the same difficulty, she advised: “If you have dreams, don’t let anyone stop you. Keep going. Sometimes, difficulties make you stronger and

AJPress photo by Eric Anthony Licas

Families gather worldwide to...

PAGE B1 largest Chinese populations in the country — will have a host of celebrations.

On Saturday, January 28, the city of Santa Monica will put on a Lunar New Year celebration at the 3rd Street Promenade showcasing dragon and ribbon dancers, stilt walkers, glutinous rice sculptures and more.

The city of Los Angeles will host one of Chinatown’s oldest traditions, the 118th annual Golden Dragon Parade beginning at 12 pm on Saturday, February 4. The iconic festival will feature attractions for all ages including a craft beer garden, street food, as well as storytelling, face-painting and paper-folding activities for children.

A street fair in Alhambra on Saturday, February 11 will have 250 food and craft booths as well as musicians, dancers, and kung fu demonstrations on two stages.

The event takes place on Valley Boulevard, between Almansor and

Vega streets.

In the Philippines, revelers will steam and eat immeasurable amounts of tikoy, the Filipino interpretation of a sticky rice cake called nian gao in Mandarin, or nin gou in Cantonese, that is popular during the Lunar New Year. The Pinoy version of the dish is often infused with regional flavors like ube (purple yam) Filipinos take the event as an opportunity to honor one’s ancestors in celebrations akin to those of All Saint’s Day. Manila’s Binondo enclave is set to lead other locales across the island nation in welcoming the Year of the Fire Rooster Filipino-Chinese and non-Chinese revelers are also expected to flock to the world’s oldest Chinatown on Saturday to join the festive celebration filled with elaborate dragon and lion costumes manned by multiple people that will parade through the streets and the sounds of drums, cymbals and firecrackers that will fill the air.

Goo Goo Dolls

people to listen to it hard. I want them to read the lyrics. I want them to be ecstatic, and then I want them to cry. I want them, at the end of it, to feel satisfied.

I want them to take a little piece of it for themselves and own it.

Make it theirs.”

I’m wondering why you called yourselves Goo Goo Dolls.

“You know, it was one of the things that you do when you are 19 years old, hahahaha!!! Now it doesn’t really mean anything.”

You are celebrating your 30th anniversary this year. What comes to your mind when you look back?

“Yes, 30 years from the time we did our first record. Well, looking back, we’ve had the opportunity to do so many amazing things. We’re living pretty interesting lives, we are traveling the world, we are going everywhere…it has been pretty cool!

I’m so lucky to have been able to do all of that.”

Any regrets?

“I shouldn’t have done those things. But it’s all over now.”

Did “those things” help you write better music?

“I’m gonna tell you this…In the beginning, I must admit that alcohol did help me a lot in overcoming my inhibition and shyness. But as time went on, the alcohol started to consume my creativity instead of making it better.”

Good thing that you have completely overcome your shyness.

“Yeah, hahahaha!!! And I have also overcome my drinking.”

So you are more open now?

“Yes, I am. Everything is past…except the music.”

How do you look at the next 30 years, considering the advances in technology?

“Performing with hologram in a three-dimensional world feels somewhat strange. But you know, the experience of playing live in a room full of people is most exciting, it’s something that the social media has not been able to recreate. There’s some kind of intensity about it, something PAGE B4

B january 26-february 1, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIan jOurnaL

EntErtainmEnt

An open letter of gratefulness to the Obama Family

By Monet

Lu

Nov. 4, 2008 was the day President obama was elected president of the United States.

He entered humbly into the ‘land of milk and honey’ where he would later bring about the change that he envisioned for this promising country.

He took over the presidency after eight years of the Bush administration and managed to save the banking and automobile industry during his time. one article says, “he managed to create 109,000 jobs per month and decrease unemployment to 4.7 percent. The average hourly wage has increased by 2.9 percent, and the stock market has reached record highs under his administration.”

Despite of all of these, many are still not as thrilled as he had hoped. It wasn’t easy being an African-American president, let alone be a leader to people who back then, did not even know his name, nor understand the impact he would have on the world in the years that followed.

And there’s his lovely wife, Michelle obama. This amazing woman, who in her poignant and touching words, ‘left everyone in tears’ when she bid farewell to her staff a few days ago.

The epitome of class and ‘calm under pressure’ – that is Michelle obama for me. She is one of the most genuine persons who ever lived in the White House. And she certainly has a way with words.

A skill she displayed when she campaigned for Hillary Clinton earlier this year (as my readers and my friends know, I wanted Hilary to win the elections).

Mrs. obama served as a fashion icon. She has propelled designers including Peter Pilotto, Jason Wu, Isabel Toledo, Thakoon and St Erasmus into the limelight. Washington Post writes, “obama has celebrated a distinctly contemporary version of American style — a sensibility rooted in comfort and practicality, wholly removed from the old World formality that still percolates within French fashion and apart from the flashy sex appeal and bella figura tailoring that are the twin pillars of Italian aesthetics.”

The First Lady recently ap-

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peared on the cover of the December issue of vogue magazine, and in the accompanying interview, she told the magazine, “You know, there are little ...moments. Even today I was looking out at this view here. Looking out on the South Lawn and the Washington Monument and it had just rained and the grass was really green and everything popped a little bit more. It’s soooo beautiful. And for that moment I thought, I’m going to miss waking up to this, having access to this anytime I want. But on the flip side … it’s time,” Now here we are, looking back at those eight good years, and just like ‘all good things – they (eventually) come to an end’ – whether you are ready for it or not.

I wasn’t. I didn’t want to – at least not yet – not now.

But, if I could say a few words to our former president and his family, this is what I would tell them: To President obama: As you leave the life of presidency to welcome a much less-complicated one, I can imagine how eight years could feel so fleeting.

My heart is filled with gratitude and appreciation; not only for the things you helped bring to light, but also for the many things we still have yet to realize.

You have fought to keep this nation from the very thing we have now become. You gave us the Affordable Care Act, which

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

Coney Reyes returns to prime time with ‘My Dear Heart’ AFTER her remarkable performance in the inspirational prime time hit “Nathaniel” on ABS-CBN in 2015, seasoned actress Coney Reyes returns to the teleserye scene with a touching story that seeks to remind viewers of their capacity to love others.

Set to premiere tonight on the network’s “Prime Time Bida” block, Reyes gives life to another powerful character as Dr. Margaret Divinagracia, considered the best heart surgeon in the country. With her immense success, Margaret holds herself in high regard. That is until she meets a little girl named Heart who is diagnosed with a congenital heart disease.

Portrayed by new child star Heart Ramos, the young patient is the source of strength of her parents Jude (Zanjoe Marudo) and Clara (Bela Padilla). A happy family despite life’s struggles, they turn to Dr. Divinagracia to find a cure for Heart.

Unfortunately, the doctor fails to make Heart better, and as the former goes down hard on herself, her patient helps her see there is more to life than her career.

“I’m so happy to be back in an inspirational series like this, and even more fortunate to be working with such a professional cast, as young as they are,” said

isn’t perfect, but insures millions of American citizens who previously did not have access to health care.

You made sure that that children could remain on their parents’ health care policies until the age of 26 and that people who had preexisting conditions could not be denied health care.

You gave us the Defense of Marriage Act. Now, LGBT citizens finally got what they have been fighting for all these years – the right to marry the person they love. In doing so, you did not only make an impact to a nation, but you PAGE B3 defined a culture and you shook up that the social media doesn’t and woke up a generation. capture.”

You worked tirelessly on climate It’s your first time to perform change laws and put areas of open in the Philippines. What do you space and ocean under federal know about the country? protection from developers. “oh, interesting! What I’ve You wanted to and could have read about the Philippines is created more jobs, but the Re- quite interesting…about the publican-led Congress had other Spaniards coming in, followed plans. by the Americans and then by I thank you, Mr. President, for the Japanese and then by the those eight years of showing us Americans again. How were the that, “Yes, we (certainly) can.” Filipinos able to deal with it?

We want you to know your legacy That’s what I am interested in will live on long after your presi- finding out. Maybe I will get the dency. answers when I go there.”

I want to thank you for everyOn that note, how was your thing that you did and tried to do early years like? What kind of for this country, despite the hatred, family did you grow up in? the opposition, and those road“I was brought up by four blocks that you and Mrs. obama older sisters, so there’s trouble have encountered along the way. right there. We are Catholic, very Your family is one of the most religious, and that sort of colors PAGE B6 my world and my music. I was

Reyes at the show’s press launch Thursday night. “It’s very rare these days to find young actors like Zanjoe and Bela who are so dedicated to their craft and everyone is sure to see this on the show.”

Even before My Dear Heart begins airing on television, its inspirational story has already garnered praises online.

Twitter user @itsangelmaleen said, “The show’s trailer made me cry. What more when it already starts airing?”

Another twitter user @whatthehashtags also shared his praises for the series. “The trailer is wonderful. It is another touching story with an ensemble cast,” he said.

Under the direction of Jerome Pobocan and Jojo Saguin, My Dear Heart also stars Robert Arevalo, Rio Locsin, Joey Marquez, Susan Africa, Eric Quizon, and Loisa Andalio. Also joining the cast are Mark oblea, Izzy Canillo, Jerry o’hara, Jameson Blake, Sandino Martin, Yñigo De Belen, vic Robinson, and Hyubs Azarcon.

My Dear Heart is produced

by Dreamscape Entertainment Television, the production unit behind inspirational series May Bukas Pa, 100 Days To Heaven, Honesto, and Nathaniel. (ManilaTimes.net)

Coney Reyes

What Goo Goo Dolls want. to discover...

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dominated by my four sisters and I kind of feel like an outsider, like I was not like the rest of the people in the house. Yes, I love my family but it’s kind of strange when I look at it, that’s why Rob and I have kept the band for so long because we are like brothers…we are brothers? Neither of us has a real brother. Like me, Rob also grew up with sisters.”

Any other things that you have in common?

“We have brought a lot of influences into our music. We both like different kinds of music. We get along very well from the very start. We still have fun performing together. We look up to the same American bands such as the Rolling Stones.”

Have you tried digital platforms like the YouTube, iTunes, etc., to promote your music?

“Well, we try to go for it. Rob

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and I are lucky because we get the opportunity to play live, we are lucky to continue performing before a big audience. You know, it’s a bit harder to be successful now.”

Really, why?

“Because today, music is given away free.”

By the way, why did you call your latest album Boxes?

“Why? Because people keep themselves in boxes. Everything and everybody is classified, categorized and organized. There’s a box for everything!”

And do you really expect people to cry when they listen to Boxes?

“I didn’t know that, man! It’s a crazy world! It’s more fun to laugh but sometimes the music that I write seems to have that kind of effect on people even I don’t intend it that way.”

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Your Immigration Solution atty. Devin Connolly & nanCy Miller A PERSON born outside of the United States will only be granted permanent resident status (“green card”) if they are able to show that they are admissible to the U.S. If the applicant is found to be inadmissible for any reason, they will only be issued a green card if they are granted a waiver of their inadmissibility. One ground of inadmissibility results from telling a lie in order to obtain an immigration benefit. Using an assumed name or misrepresenting marital status generally results in a finding of inadmissibility.

Committing a material misrepresentation triggers a lifetime bar from the U.S. Fortunately an alien who has previously committed a material misrepresentation

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS AlmOST every home has Vaseline jelly or some other items with petroleum in it, like lip stick, lip moisturizer, other cosmetics, paint, shoe/leather polish, nylons, ink, roof shingles, etc. One of its famous forms is Vaseline jelly: a skin protector (shield), a very effective skin softener for flaky foot callouses and as protection against diaper rash.

Petroleum jelly is a derivative, a “byproduct” of oil refining. The components which are filtered out from oil as a part of the refining process of petroleum jelly is suspected by some to be possibly carcinogenic (cancer-causing).

Not the petroleum jelly itself, but the ingredients being filtered out.

Vaseline, as a brand, is respected as one that is highly-refined and triple-purified, minus all those toxic components, and is considered non-carcinogenic. There are many brands of the jelly in the market.

The biggest contaminant in petroleum jelly (if not fully purified) is called PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). The other is 1,3butadiene and ethylene oxide, which is also suspected to increase the risk for breast cancer.

Petroleum jelly (a mineral oil), like Vaseline, is not really a skin moisturizer. It is more like a protective sealant, a barrier against water and dirt. As such, it also plugs skin pores and reduces the skin’s ability to “breathe” and eliminate toxic body waste through sweat. If applied to an unwashed face, petroleum jelly seals in the dirt and could cause acne. When applied to hair, it induces dandruff formation. When used on the nose often or inhaled frequently, it goes to the lungs and could cause lipid (oil) pneumonia.

For skin moisturizers, the following safe items may be considered: shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter.

ACETA, NSAID and hearing loss long-term use of acetaminophen (paracetamol) and NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) has been found to elevate the risk of hearing loss in women, according to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. The research was done on over 55,000 women aged 44-69 in a Nurses’ Health Study. Those who took them two or more days per week for more than 6 years had moderate hearing loss. Occasional use did not have that side effect.

Taking aspirin did not show any effect on hearing.

Caution on headphones Today, there are headphones that are labeled “noise-limiting,” but many of them are still deliver-

Features

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Permanent resident status despite a prior misrepresentation

may be eligible for a waiver of their prior conduct. And if their requested waiver is granted, their prior actions are forgiven and they are permitted to lawfully reside in the U.S. as a permanent resident.

An applicant will only be issued a waiver of their inadmissibility if they are able to demonstrate they are eligible for the waiver as a matter of fact and law, and that they deserve a waiver as a matter of discretion.

In order to be statutorily eligible for a waiver of a prior misrepresentation, the applicant must have a requisite qualifying relative. The only possible qualifying relatives for this type of waiver are the applicant’s U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parents. An applicant’s U.S. citizen or permanent resident child is not a qualifying relative for purposes of this waiver.

If the applicant does have the required qualifying relative, they

must demonstrate that their qualifying relative will suffer “extreme hardship” if they are not granted a waiver of their inadmissibility.

As stated above, any potential hardship experienced by the applicant’s child is not directly applicable.

In determining whether the alien has met the “extreme hardship” standard, the adjudicator will consider the following factors: (1) the presence of lawful permanent resident or United States citizen family ties to the United States; (2) the qualifying relative’s family ties outside the United States; (3) the country conditions in the country of relocation and the qualifying relative’s ties to that country; (4) the financial impact of departure from the United States; and (5) significant health conditions, particularly when tied to the unavailability of suitable medical care in the country of relocation.

The “extreme hardship” standard

Vaseline: Is it safe? ing dangerous volumes that could damage our hearing, more especially so among children.

A test conducted by The Wirecutter, a firm owned by the New York Times, revealed that “of 30 sets of volume-limiting headphones and earbuds tested for the product recommendations website, 15 had noise greater than 85 decibels, which is the 8-hour limit for adults in the workplace….

The loudest headphones hit 108 decibels, a level described as safe for only 3 minutes…and half of children’s noise-restricting headphones didn’t limit volume as advertised.”

The recommendation of audiologists is to “set the volume of the device at or below 60 percent...and taking a break every hour to prevent damage to the inner ear.” let’s heed this warning. It would be devastating to go deaf.

Vi s u a l s y m p t o m s a f t e r LASIK A study published in the Journal of American medical Association Ophthalmology on 240 active Navy personnel and 300 civilians who had lASIK (laser in Situ Keratomileusis) had improved vision but “among participants with no visual symptoms before surgery, over 40% reported new symptoms 3 months afterward — most commonly, halo and starbursts…

Such symptoms about a third of participants at 6 months… In addition, nearly 30% of participants reported new dry eye symptoms at 3 months.” lASIK is a popular, safe, and beneficial procedure when performed within the standard of care for eye surgery. Those contemplating to have lASIK should have a pre-op conference with their ophthalmologist for the details of the procedure and postop expectations.

HPV throat cancer on the rise There are several risks factors for the development of throat cancer. Among them are: a diet low in vegetables and fruits; tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes); alcohol in excess; Epstein-Barr virus; GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease; and HPV (Human Papilloma Virus).

The concern is that HPV-caused throat cancers in the United States are on the rise between 2000 and 2009, a period when overall cancer death rates in the US were going down, with more people surviving cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, colon and rectum.

The incidences of HPV-related oropharyngeal (mouth-throat), anal, and vaginal cancers are increasing. HPV is the most common sexually-transmitted disease; there are more than 40 types of HPV. Oral-sex obviously is risky and best avoided. The tip on the internet that suggests the use of Saran Wrap film as a protective “condom for the mouth and tongue,” as ridiculous as it might

sound, could be a useful barrier, so long as it is intact, to prevent HPV contamination. But why take the risk?

While many misinformed or uninformed parents refuse HPV vaccine (Gardasil) their sons and daughters for fear of complications, the vaccine has been found to be safe and very effective in preventing HPV and the infections and cancers it causes.

The vaccine is recommended for both girls and boys 9 and 12 years old and also for girls and women who are 13 to 26 who have not had the vaccine or completed series. The boys are considered potential “spreader” of HVP to girls.

Reports from the CDC, American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (co-author) have shown that “HPV infections cause virtually all cervical cancers, 90 percent of anal cancers, more than 60 percent of certain oropharyngeal cancers (including the base of the tongue, tonsils and throat) and 40 percent of vagina, vulvar, and penile cancers.”

Pre-diabetic range lowered Pre-diabetes is the stage immediately before the development of a full-blown type-2 diabetes mellitus and is characterized by “impaired fasting glucose according to World Health Organization criteria (110– 124 mg/dl) or the American Diabetes Association’s lower cutoffs (100–124 mg/dl), and elevated hemoglobin A1c according to U.K. criteria (6.0–6.4%) or lower ADA cutoffs (5.7–6.4%).”

The British medical Journal report on this meta-analysis on 1.6 million adults from 53 cohort studies (median follow-up years of more than 9 years) stated that “adults with fasting glucose concentrations as low as 100 mg/dl or hemoglobin A1c levels of 5.7% could face increased risk for cardiovascular events.” mortality appears not to be impacted.

Compared to those with normal blood sugar and AIC level, prediabetics have been found to (already) have significant increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

In view of this, the cut-off for blood sugar and AIC level should be lower than those stated above as our current guide in defining pre-diabetics.

Consult your attending physician for more details and advice. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Are you eligible for EITC? Get it right with free tax help lAS VEGAS— Workers may get a larger tax refund this year because of the EITC or Earned Income Tax Credit. But to get it, you must file a tax return and claim it.

Today, January 27, 2017, marks the 11th anniversary of Awareness Day, a nationwide effort to increase awareness about EITC and free tax preparation sites. This year, IRS is promoting EITC and providing information on other refundable tax credits that you may be eligible for. This includes the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit.

In 2016, 26 million workers received more than $65.6 billion in EITC refunds. In Nevada 249 thousand taxpayers received 616 million in EITC, with the average refund $2,4576.

If you worked last year and had income of less than $53,505, check out your eligibility for EITC. EITC can mean up to a $6,269 refund when you file a

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 26-fEbRUARy 1, 2017

return if you have qualifying children. Workers without a qualifying child could be eligible for a smaller credit up to 506 dollars.

On average, EITC adds 24 hundred dollars to refunds.

Why is it important to have an EITC Awareness Day each year?

One-third of the EITC population changes each year. The IRS estimates that four out of five workers claim the EITC they earned.

This leaves billions of dollars on the table each year. We want to get the word out to those who are eligible to file a tax return even if they don’t owe any tax to claim the EITC. It’s money workers can use for groceries, rent, utilities and other bills.

EITC is complex. It varies by income, family size and your filing status. To be eligible, you must have earned income or certain disability income. This means you must have income from working for someone or working for yourself.

Volunteers – trained by the Internal Revenue Service – ask

you the needed questions to find out if you qualify for the EITC and other refundable tax credits.

Volunteers at VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites, also prepare and e-file (electronically file) your tax return at no cost to you.

“Our community volunteers help you get EITC and the maximum refund you’re due. Our goal is to help you get it and get it right. This is money you can save or use to pay off bills, buy that car to get to work or make a down payment on a home. let us help make your life a little easier, “ said Dave Rhamy, Chairman of the Board for the Nevada Free Taxes Coalition (NFTC). let us help you get it and get it right.

•Find a volunteer free tax return preparation site at www. nvfreetaxes.org, orhttps://www. irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-byvolunteers •Call 211 to find a volunteer free tax return preparation site

is to be viewed under a totality of the circumstances approach.

This standard is difficult to meet; an applicant’s waiver will not be granted solely because their qualifying relative(s) would miss them.

An applicant’s request for a waiver must include objective evidence that establishes “extreme hardship.” It is crucial that the applicant submits a welldocumented request for a waiver because this evidence must sufficiently convince the adjudicating officer or Immigration Judge that the applicant’s qualifying relative will indeed suffer “extreme hardship” if the waiver is not granted.

The adjudicating officer will not assume anything. Every claim of hardship must be supported.

The submission of thorough and persuasive evidence is vital since the applicant has the burden of proving that that she is eligible for the waiver, that the qualifying

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

relative would suffer extreme hardship and that she is deserving of the requested waiver of inadmissibility in the exercise of discretion. Preparation of the waiver is both an art and a science. For that reason, an experienced immigration attorney is essential because, in addition to knowing the required elements, a knowledgeable attorney will also be able to present the evidence in a manner that emphasizes the hardship on a qualifying relative, highlights the alien’s rehabilitation and good moral character, and couches the negative information (which must be discussed) in a way that will cause the least harm.

Obtaining a waiver of inadmissibility for prior conduct is not easy. But it is still very possible to obtain if the request is properly prepared. It is always advisable for applicants to retain the services of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who

(Last of 4 Installments)

Reeves, Miller, Zhang & Diza Law Corporation’s offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City.

Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case.

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Angels among us “All God’s angels come to us disguised.”

– James Russell Lowell

Monette aDeva Maglaya AN angel is an invisible presence that must be acknowledged to become ever stronger. God sends angels to keep watch over human beings and help them in every human challenge. There is, however, the element of free will in humans.

You can acknowledge the presence of angels or deny it.

It is your choice ultimately. The more angels are acknowledged and become a conduit to heaven, they become a hovering, guiding reality in one’s life growing ever stronger in their influence to shape every thought, word and deed in one’s life.

On the other hand, if the dark side prevails repeatedly in one’s soul that is made progressively weak by severe addictions of any kind, whether chemical, sexual or the human inclination towards pride, disobedience and evil, then the angel’s influence becomes weak. The human protectee is like a a cell phone that is not receiving signals and becomes dead on a skip zone.

Only a direct divine intervention wrought by the most power-

is dedicated solely to the practice of immigration law. Having an experienced immigration attorney on one’s side will maximize the applicant’s chances of being granted a waiver. Hiring the right attorney may be the difference between obtaining a green card and being deported. It is therefore one of the most significant decisions that a person will make. ***

ful force of intercessory, unceasing prayers by one or more prayer warriors can avert the cosmic disaster of a soul lost forever to darkness, death and nothingness.

There is a study of angels called angelology. In it, it is claimed that there is a hierarchy of celestial beings grouped into three spheres. According to Wikipedia, there is a First Sphere, the highest ranking of all because they are closest to God. This includes Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. The Second Sphere includes Dominions, Virtues and Powers. In the Third Sphere can be found Principalities, Archangels and Angels.

Our personal guardian angels fall in the last group. Each human being is believed to be assigned a personal guardian angel, Christian or not. The angels that keep watch over human beings belong to the lowest order of celestial beings and they are the ones concerned with the affairs of human beings. They are holy celestial beings who are agents of God intended as a help to mere mortals. They are powerful but we ourselves need to connect

to that power to take effect.

If you acknowledge that you as a child of God was given a personal guardian angel from the time God conceived you in His thoughts, there should be no fear in our hearts to face even the unknown. An angelic relationship can be nurtured daily and can grow wonderfully through time until the end of human life.

Who knows? In the end, we might be able to see this yet unseen godly presence, link up face to face, do a high-five, even dance a jig and thank our personal guardian angel, whether you gave him a name or not, whether he revealed his name to you or not, when we transition out to a celestial realm ourselves — finally free of All heavy worldly concerns and All constraints of time, space and gravity.

Just perhaps, that light at the end of a long dark tunnel might give us a glimpse of the face of God himself. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Diversity as the Disruptor: How US demographics are changing business dynamics NEW YORK, NY — more than 50 speakers of diverse cultural background, representing four dozen major corporations, prominent business and community organizations and leading universities and over 300 conference participants attended the second annual Asian American Business Roundtable (AABR) “The New majority: Igniting the Future through Inclusion and Partnerships,” held at the Venetian, las Vegas from Jan. 11-13.

The coming together of a multicultural community comprising of African Americans, latinos, Native Americans and Asians to form a “New majority” in America means changes, challenges and new collaboration strategies for businesses and organizations that seek to thrive in the coming decades.

The AABR Summit’s mission is to harness the strengths and encourage the strategic partnership as the ethnic communities in the USA continues to grow into a demographic majority of the United States. many of the keynote speakers delivered profound and authentic messages about their companies and the economy and how the New majority must work to-

Making the Keynote address at the Asian American Business Roundtable Summit was Bernard J. Tyson, Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente. Mr. Tyson delivered a profound and authentic message about his company and the economy and how the New Majority must work together.

Making Opening Remarks at the 2017 Asian American Business Roundtable Summit II were Mehmood Khan, Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, Global R&D, PepsiCo and John Wang, President, Asian American Business Development Center

Lunch Keynote Speaker Solomon D. Trujillo, Chairman of Trujillo Group, LLC and CoFounder and Chairman of the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC) discussed The New Mainstream Economy: Driving our Economy’s Growth Today and Accelerating for Tomorrow.

gether; including Bernard J. Tyson, CEO of Kaiser Permanente; Dr. mehmood Khan, PepsiCo’s Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific and co-sponsor; Solomon D. (“Sol”) Trujillo, Chairman of Trujillo Group, llC and; Pamela G. Carlton, President of Springboard-Partners in Cross Cultural leadership.

In addition, powerhouse companies such as Cisco Systems, JP morgan Chase, morgan Stanley, and Univision, all, made their mark at the Summit.

The Asian American Business

Development Center was established in New York City in 1994

by John Wang, to promote greater recognition of Asian American businesses’ contributions to the general economy. AABDC encourages Asian American businesses to be more actively involved in issues and policies that directly affect them at the federal, state and city levels and provides capacity-building assistance to business entities that enables them to compete in the mainstream marketplace and expand business opportunities.

How Three Ethnic Groups Build Sustainable Parnerships for future collaboration - this panel discussion included Dr. Dario A. Cortes (Pictured Far Right) Senior Vice President , Strategic Alliance of Berkeley College; (L to R)Josè Calderòn, President of the Hispanic Federation, Kamesh Nagarajan, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management; Fred S. Teng, President of the America China Public Affairs Institute and Michael J. Garner, President of One Hundred Black Men, Inc. Photos by Traci Coulter

B january 26-february 1, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIan jOurnaL

Features

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Cox announces scholarship application deadline for numerous diversity scholarships

Travel agents: Your virtual human travel apps

In today’s digital age when computers, tablets, and smartphones are the order of the day, travel isn’t the same as it used to be. Easy accessibility to the Internet and the various mobile application platforms aiding us in our daily needs make it possible for people to automatically turn to their electronic devices when planning a trip. And why not?

It’s so easy. Using any electronic device with Internet access allows you to search and compare airfares, lodging prices, rental-car deals, etc. because there are countless sites like Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, Priceline, TripAdvisor, KAYAK, Hotwire, AirfareWatchdog plus numerous airline and hotel sites that allow the would-be travelers to become their own booking agents.

Therefore, with the number of options available online, many people are beginning to think that travel agents are becoming obsolete and are no longer useful in planning their vacation. Right? Wrong. So very wrong!

True, the onset of advanced technology has tremendously impacted and influenced travel planning, but it has not negated the need for travel professionals. In fact, an in-depth industry market research conducted

by IBISWorld (a leading industry research organization) showed that the travel agencies industry is growing despite the rise of online travel websites. While this growth can be partly attributed to the fact that traditional travel agencies have reinvented themselves and are finding new markets and niches, the study showed that travel agents are certainly not on the way out. On the contrary, travelers are more and more becoming aware that they need the services of travel agents. The following are just some of the many reasons: 1. Travel agents have professional expertise. If you are looking for a hotel booking and flight for a simple weekend vacation, there’s no doubt you can easily arrange that on your own. However, if you are trying to coordinate multiple flights in various locations on different dates, and require specific amenities and more, a travel agent can easily provide you with expert advice customized to your needs because they have the knowledge and the expertise to assess your vacation needs and provide you with the best possible experience.

2. Travel agents can save you money. It may sound idiotic when you think about paying someone for something that you can handle on your own. But booking a trip often proves to be extremely stressful, and time consuming. You can spend hours online searching for deals on flights and hotels, surfing one website after another in search of the best prices while coordinating your vacation schedule. Travel agents, however, who are directly connected with travel suppliers are in the best position to get you better prices, in addition to the fact that they can sometimes provide you with additional perks such as VIP packages, room upgrades or restaurant reservations which you probably won’t get on your own.

3. Travel agents save time. You have to admit it, when trying to make travel arrangements on your own you need to read through reviews of hotels, various accommodations, and sightseeing opportunities especially when you’re heading to a place you’ve never been

before. However, a travel agent can help you navigate through this oftentimes headache-inducing maze, can advise you on options available to you or can connect you with an expert colleague in less time than you would spend searching on your own.

4. Travel agents makes your trip secure. Travelers know that even after a trip is booked, things may not always go as planned. Sometime between the booking and the actual trip, something may come up that may require travel cancellation or rescheduling. In addition, anything from bad weather condition, a lost luggage or a family member getting sick can disrupt one’s vacation plans. If you made your travel arrangements yourself with online travel sites, you are left entirely on your own to deal with this eventuality. But with a travel agent, you are assured that someone is always there to help you resolve any bumps that may occur during your trip and therefore make your travel experience a lot less stressful.

5. Travel agents offer convenience. Faced with countless choices and options for flights, hotels, car rentals, tours and too many travel products available on numerous websites, travelers are finding it more and more difficult to navigate and decipher all the options available. Travel agencies are one-stop shops. Just tell them exactly what you want and they can arrange everything for you the way you want it, less the headache and stress of doing the planning on your own.

6. Travel agents build relationships. There’s a great difference between price and value. While technology had its many advantages, one of its downsides is the noticeable decline in our interpersonal relationships.

This is so true in the travel industry with the rise of online travel sites offering you the “best deals”. Travel sites are not looking to build a personal relationship – they are looking to make a sale. Travel agents, on the other hand, want to build a relationship that makes your experience with them count for more than one trip. They will not only help you book a trip, they will help you make the trip you will enjoy.

Flawless and successful travel plans lie in the details, and travel agents are experts when it comes to handling details. They will not only find you the best fares and options according to your needs, but they are also there to help you travel like a tourist and finding unique life experiences that you will surely remember. needless to say, these people who are your virtual human travel apps are here to stay. *** Manny V. Ilagan is a Tourism Specialist with over 23 years professional experience in the overseas tourism and travel industry.

He is currently the Director for Business Development and Marketing of GTT International/Majestic Vacations, one of the biggest airlines consolidators in the United States, and wholesaler of package tours worldwide. He also provides travel consultancy services to some of the biggest wholesalers and tour operators in the country as well as to some airline companies. He is the former Tourism Director-OIC of the Philippine Department of Tourism-Los Angeles, where he worked for over two decades. As a writer, he has written numerous articles about travel and tourism, which have been published in various Filipino-American newspapers in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas and New York, and other Manila-based newspapers as well. For comments or questions, you may reach him at manilagan@gmail.com.

GRAdUATInG high school students in Southern nevada are encouraged to apply for one of ten Cox diversity Scholarships being awarded in amounts of $3,500 each by Cox Communications of Las Vegas. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. Applications and submission instructions are available on The Public Education Foundation (PEF) website at www.thepef.org/scholarships.

“Cox is a longtime supporter of diversity and education in Southern nevada and we believe strongly that it is our social responsibility to cultivate partnerships with diverse communities and organizations,” said Michael F. Bolognini, vice president and market leader of Cox Las Vegas. “We’re proud to support students of all backgrounds as they begin their higher education journey.”

The competitive scholarships require applicants to be on track to graduate with a minimum 2.5 grade-point average, provide demonstrated leadership and community service, and submit an essay focused on a significant leader from their respective diverse communities. Click-by-click instructions and an application tutorial are available at www.thepef. org/scholarships.

FASFOS offers free tax preparation to the public From January 29, 2017 until April 17, 2017

IT’S Tax Season once again.

FASFOS (Fil-Am Scholarship Foundation and Outreach Services) is opening its door once again for taxpayers whose income is $55,000 and below. The FREE InCOME TAX PREPARATIOn is set on January 29, 2017 – April 17, 2017 at the Seafood City Supermarket located in 3890 S Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, nV 89119. days and time are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM. The documents to bring are the following: Valid driver’s License or photo Id, Social Security Cards, Individual Tax Identification Cards/notices, Copy of Previous Years Income Tax, All Tax Forms needed for Filing: W-2, SSA Form 1099, 1099R, 1099Misc, and other Tax-related documents received from IRS, etc., Birth date Info, Proof of Account for direct deposit of Refund, If Married Filing Jointly, both taxpayer and spouse must be present to sign the Tax return, Health Coverage Insurance(Form 1095) if applicable, daycare

Payment Records Tax Info (if applicable), ITP PIn for Identity Theft Victims. FASFOS VITA will not prepare Married Filing Sepa-

rately and Taxpayers who are in Business. There is no need for appointment, walk in, first come first served basis only.

An open letter of gratefulness to the Obama...

PAGE B4 wonderful families who have ever lived in the White House. I will miss you all beyond words can express.

I have to accept – now, even more than ever – the foreboding reality that you and Mrs. Obama, who are the smartest, kindest, classiest, most dignified and caring couple to live in the White House is ‘handing over the keys’ to a couple who has yet to learn how to carry themselves with the qualities (I mentioned above) you both have effortlessly displayed.

As you transition out of office, and out of The ‘House’ that you made into a home to ‘US,’ we want you to know that we will do our best to carry on the legacy that the Obama family has instilled in our hearts.

We will forever be grateful to you, the graceful intelligent and compassionate first lady, Mrs. Obama, as well as your beautiful daughters Sasha and Malia for their collective sacrifices for this nation.

You will remain in our hearts as you have ‘US’ in yours. Good luck

and may you continue to bring out the best in one another and in everyone. ***

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

Get the best price for your valuables at Nevada Coin Mart

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

And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event.

To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.

WITH tons of places to choose from to bring your old jewelry, there’s only one place in Las Vegas that will pay the best amount for these valuables.

At nevada Coin Mart, customers can rest assured that they will be properly compensated for the precious stones and metals they bring in. neil Sackmary, the owner of the store, is a graduate gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) with more than 20 years of experience in buying these items.

“When it comes to myself, this is my passion. This is what I went to school for,” Sackmary said.

GIA is the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, colored stones and pearls. It was established in 1931 and strives to protect the jewelry and gem buying public by setting quality standards worldwide. As a certified GIA specialist, Sackmary points out that simply because a business that purchases these stones has been around for decades, that does not make it an expert source.

This is a particularly important fact for members of the Asian American community to note.

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

Neil Sackmary

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

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

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

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

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

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

ficers and 47 cameras to monitor the entire building. Visitors can also request to have a guard walk them in and out of the building free of charge.

Sackmary and his wife have been in the business of buying jewelry and other metals for many years and have been online selling costume jewelry for about 15 years. They are also present every day the shop is open, which is located on the corner of Jones Boulevard and Flamingo Road.

In addition to putting their customers’ interests first, the Sackmarys are active community members who have participated in charity event Operation FireHEAT and are founding sponsors for the Anthem Women’s Club. nevada Coin Mart was established in 1971 and is licensed by Clark County to legally purchase jewelry from the general public.

Nevada Coin Mart 4065 S Jones Blvd.

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

EntErtainmEnt

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PAGE B2

Jonas Gaffud: The Filipino...

an entire semester just drawing maps, and he fell in love with the Mercator projection, which, several years down the line, would end up being the name of his own modeling agency. Where the Mercator map was used by European voyagers to discover lands, Mercator modeling agdency became Jonas’ way of discovering potential stars.

Rookie reign In UP, he found his first beauty queen: Zorayda Andam, then a law student. Jonas, whose only training, so to speak, was a lifetime spent watching beauty contests, taught his girl how to walk in the halls of UP. Sometimes in the corridor of the School of Economics, other times in the halls of the Faculty Center where he worked as a student assistant. He enlisted friends to help Zorayda out, too: Jeffrey became the go-to guy for makeup, Nat was tasked to train Zorayda to be sharp for the Q&A. Aces and Queens’ prototype was born.

Zorayda won Miss Philippines-Universe in the Binibining Pilipinas pageant of 2000, but she didn’t place in the Miss Universe competition, signaling a trend for that decade—from 2000 to 2009, the Philippines did not make it to the top 15 of the prestigious pageant. (In this decade, Jonas was also trying to find his place in the sun, trying all kinds of jobs: first as a research assistant at the Department of Geography, then an assistant at a PR firm, eventually as an investment banker, then booker at a modeling agency, before he decided to put up Mercator.)

Enthusiasts began to blame Jonas. In that whole decade, there were five Gaffud-trained girls, and none of them made the cut. “Ako daw yung malas ng pageant industry of the Philippines. Since I came in, wala na raw pumapasok.” The bashing hurt, but it never hurt enough to make Jonas stop scouting for and training girls.

His decade-long wait would soon end. In 2010, the tide would turn in favor of Jonas, in favor of the Philippines.

How to make a Queen Venus Raj’s 4th runner-up finish in Miss Universe 2010 heralded the beginning of a series of almost-wins. Shamcey Supsup was declared 3rd runner-up in 2011, while Janine Tugonon was this close to becoming Miss Universe

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 26-fEbRUARy 1, 2017

Sushmita, 1994 queen, returns as Miss U judge

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

TWENTY-three years after winning the Miss Universe crown in 1994 here in the Philippines, Indian beauty queen and actress Sushmita Sen will return to the country to serve as one of the judges in the upcoming pageant.

“I am so excited, emotional and looking forward to returning home to the Philippines after 23 years,” Sen said in an Instagram post.

“Life comes a full circle, from winning Miss Universe, to having owned its Indian franchise, to Jona Gaffud with other Filipina queens: Venus Raj (Miss Universe 4th runner-up) Queenie Rehman (Miss World 2012 Top 10 finalist) and Shamcey Supsup (Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner-up).

2012, except Miss Universe Olivia Culpo ultimately won. In the years that followed, Jonas continued to scout for and train girls who had potential, and one of them was a certain Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

He had seen her twice prior to an encounter in Greenbelt, but it was that night that he convinced Pia to do it. “I was really drunk at that time, and then I said, ‘Hoy, halika dito!’ Sinisigawan ko lang siya,” Jonas recounts. “‘Wag mo akong isnabin, sumali ka ng Binibini.

Wala kang ibang choice sa buhay kundi gawin ’to.’” Pia, then feeling lost, agreed. “Okay po. May gagawin na ako sa life. Kasi hindi ko na rin alam gagawin ko.” It was the perfect timing.

The fairy godmothers of Aces and Queens worked on Pia. She underwent training for the seven core areas beauty queens must ace: makeup, Q&A, posture, personality, walking, dancing, and fitness. But the most crucial of all, the one that spells the difference between a winner and a runnerup, says Jonas, is the aura. “What we tell our girls is to be classy, commanding, but very serene.

Yung aura very regal but fierce — alam mong lumalaban,” Jonas explains. “Pia is the epitome of that.” He asked one thing of her before they even began training: “Basta ang sabi ko lang, this time sumunod ka sa akin. If you want to win, just follow my advice. Who knows? You might be the next Miss Universe.” Pia agreed. She followed his advice from start to end. And she ended up winning Miss Universe 2015.

Jonas initially said he would retire from training beauty queens the moment one of his girls wins

the Miss Universe crown. But he has changed his mind, and will continue to do the work pro bono.

(FYI, the girls who train for Aces and Queens don’t pay for their pageant education. Jonas and team really do this for the love.)

His purpose is now clear to him: “I want a beauty queen to be recognized as someone who is really aware of things; someone who wants to make a difference in her community or in her sphere of influence. I want to help them become better women of our society,” Jonas stresses. “Ang pinaka nakatatak sa akin na quote when I was in UP studying geography is the first law of nature, that is everything is connected to everything else. What we do can affect other people. I’m just glad I can help girls and in the end, they can help other people. It’s a chain we can make.”

His eyes begin to do a sweep of the C Lounge of the Conrad Hotel where the Governor’s Ball for the Miss Universe candidates was set to happen. The Queenmaker and creative consultant for the Miss U pageant clearly has things he needs to attend to now. The kid in Isabela who dreamt of going to Manila to make something of himself is still within him, he says, before we part ways. “I’m still a fan, but you don’t go out there and just be a fan and not learn things. Learn how it really works.

Observe. Know everything.”

And as this self-taught beauty queen mentor stands up and walks towards the photographer, all I can think of is: If Jonas Gaffud were born female, all these 86 ladies competing would have had a most worthy adversary.

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now… returning back to Manila this time as a judge at the 65th Miss Universe pageant,” she added.

Sen became the first Indian to win the crown, besting 76 other contestants including Philippine bet Charlene Gonzales.

In her emoji-filled post, the beauty queen-turned-Bollywood actress confirmed earlier reports that she would be one of the judges in this year’s edition.

“To all my Filipino friends who have been graciously asking, I can now confirm. Yes! I am coming!” she said. “Mahal kita (I love you) Philippines. See you soon!”

Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen

Miss Universe candidates open up...

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tween men and women in China has become narrower and narrower “because we’re now more developed and there are now more balanced opportunities for men and women.”

“As a woman, you should believe that you can do the same as men can do and that we have the same place in the world. If a woman has more confidence, you can make your heart stronger in facing difficulties,” she espoused.

She assured that despite the Philippines’ and China’s territorial disputes, “Right now in the Philippines, I feel a lot of kindness.”

“I feel that China is your friend in your kindness, smiles, and waves. I’m happy because wherever I go, people call me and cheer a lot for me. And also in the Philippines, there are a lot of Chinese people, and I think that in my country, they also like that feeling of having Filipinos with us. So, I think that China and the Philippines are really friends.”

Miss USA Deshauna Barber “I’ve got plenty of insecurities.

I was bullied up to high school because I’ve always been incredibly thin. I was bullied a lot for being so slim and so small and I had braces and glasses. I was picked on a lot,” the 27-year-old from Georgia told Philstar.com.

Likewise, she experienced a lot of discrimination because she is black.

“A lot of people in the United States did not believe that I should have the representation of the country because I’m black. So, it was quite unfortunate that I received so much backlash. But, there was so much support at the

same time. There were so many people that embraced the fact that I’m not only an African-American but I’m a soldier, I’m in IT (information technology). I’m someone who has a unique background. I think that it’s really important to embrace diversity. There are a lot of people that embrace it, but there’s a small portion of people that feel I was better off representing an African country rather than USA, which is unfortunate because I’m from the US. My family is from the US. It’s unfortunate that people believe that your skin color is the reason why you can’t represent your own country, to think that I even serve my country.

But how I overcame it is to brush it off and accepted the fact that I believe I’m very qualified for this position. “ She, however, receives a lot of love from the United States Army Reserve, where she is a lieutenant.

“I do a pretty good job at balancing being a beauty queen with being a soldier because I’m only required two days a month to be a soldier, and the rest, to be Miss USA, and the Miss Universe Organization has set aside the days when I have to be in my unit drilling. They do a very good job at respecting my duties to the military,” she shared.

Her fellow soldiers are very supportive and every time she returns to her unit, all they want is to take pictures with her.

“I’m glad that they don’t look at me any less of a soldier because some believe that when you’re a model, beauty queen or somebody in the entertainment industry, you’re not considered to be tough

like a soldier should be, but I’m glad to show them that there is another side to show them as a soldier, and mine would have to be as a beauty queen, the feminine, super empowered woman. The female side of me as a woman is the second half of me as a soldier.”

What she wants to tell women out there who are experiencing bullying, insecurities, and any other low self-esteem issues, is “just to focus on being the best person that you can be and that would reflect, and almost expose through your pores, so much confidence.”

“I was so happy that I was able to overcome the way that I was bashed when I was younger because I feel that it made me stronger.”

Miss Nigeria Unoaku Anyadike At the Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Parañaque City last Friday, Miss Nigeria met a girl who had three surgeries and even had a bone extracted in her hip to be used as a bridge for her nose.

Since the girl’s surgery, she no longer experienced bullying.

“I’m happy that she is no longer a victim of bullying and she told me, ‘That’s their problem, not my problem’,” the 22-year-old shared.

“For all children out there, there is so much hope for you. Whatever problem or challenge we’ve been through, we should all rise up from it. Whatever you can think and dream of, you can achieve. Do not let anybody tell you you can’t do it. Stand up, be strong, and go for it. There’s so much out there, so much to be happy for, so always put a smile on your face!”

B january 26-february 1, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIan jOurnaL

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