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Duterte: Martial law will not USA Young Fil-Am leaders end until all terrorists wiped out share experience of DATELINE

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

immersion trip to PH Encourage applicants to apply before July 21

filiPino Americans between the ages of 25 to 40 years old are encouraged to apply for this year’s fil-Am Young leaders Program (fYlPro), a week-long immersion trip to the Philippines. fYlPro — which was started in 2012 by former Philippine Ambassador to the United states Jose l. Cuisia Jr. and his wife, Victoria — chooses 10 “outstanding young professionals” from fil-Am communities across the country to visit the Philippines, where they will meet with key players in government, business, social entrepreneurship, and arts and culture. in addition to meetings, one day is devoted to service, such as farming or rebuilding areas destroyed by disasters.

Applications for the sixth batch are due on July 21 and the week-long trip will be held from october 8 to 14. the all-expense paid program is made possible through partnerships with

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

reAffirming his commitment to end mindanao’s security problems, Philippine President rodrigo Duterte on tuesday, July 4, said martial law will not end until the last terrorist in marawi City is wiped out. “for as long as there is one terrorist there in marawi, it will not end,” Duterte stressed.

Under Proclamation no. 216, Duterte placed the entire mindanao region under martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the wake of islamic state(is)-linked maute group’s attack on may 23 in marawi City.

Justifying his declaration anew, Duterte maintained that he implemented the military rule because of the “critical” terrorism situation in the area. he also noted that he has been consistent in warning the public about using drastic measures to address the growing security issues in the region. “months before, i was telling you, i’m warning the nation: Do not force my hand into it because if i will declare martial law, tatapusin talaga natin ‘to (we will finish it),” Duterte said.

Asked if he would extend martial law after its 60-day constitutional expiration, Duterte reiterated that it will depend on the feedback A convoy from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reinforces troops conducting operations

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in Barangay Banggulo, Marawi City on Wednesday, July 5.

Pacquiao camp mulls rematch or retirement after stunning defeat

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

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US offers help in Marawi rehabilitation the government of the United states has offered its help to rebuild marawi City once the fighting is over, Philippine Defense secretary Delfin lorenzana said on monday, July 3.

According to lorenzana, U.s. Ambassador to the Philippines sung Kim told him about the offer during their meeting last week. “i met with Ambassador Kim last week, and they said: ‘if you need some help, let us discuss…’ so, we’ll still talk about what kind of aid we’ll get,” lorenzana was quoted saying in an inquirer report. “so, we are now preparing the rehabilitation plan and we are now preparing the mechanism to go into the rehabilitation and recovery, as soon as the fighting stops in marawi,” he added.

Asked in a briefing if the U.s. would extend its help in the form of monetary aid, lorenzana told reporters that specifics about the assistance has yet to be discussed.

“We do not know yet but we have already gotten some information that they will help,” he replied. “We do not know if they are going to help in kind or in funds or whatever.” in a social media post, Kim reaffirmed the U.s. government’s support for the Philippines

PNA photos by Oliver Marquez

PACMAN AND THE PRESIDENT. President Rodrigo Duterte is welcomed by Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao upon arriving at the 1002nd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Malungon, Sarangani Province on Wednesday, July 5.

Malacañang photo

in what was considered as one of the greatest upsets in recent world boxing history, manny Pacquiao lost his World Boxing organization (WBo) Welterweight title to Jeff horn in a stunning, unanimous decision on sunday, July 2. needless to say, many were shocked at the results. After all, stats from the CompuBox showed that Pacquiao landed about twice more punches than horn.

At one point during the match, the referee also warned horn: “show me something in the next round or i’m gonna stop the fight.”

But the judges still awarded the crown to the Australian challenger after giving the final scores of 117-111, 115-113, 115-113, all in favor of horn.

While horn’s determination was undoubtedly acknowledged, many viewers couldn’t find them-

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Senators Sotto, Ejercito: Trillanes must apologize for negative Senate remarks

by Jennifer

Soriano

AJPress

tWo senators from the majority bloc said senator Antonio trillanes iV must apologize for saying that the senate acted like lapdogs instead of being the last bastion of democracy.

During the Kapihan press conu PAGE A2 ference, senate majority floor

leader Vicente sotto iii and senator JV ejercito shared the same sentiments urging trillanes to apologize for his negative remarks to the senate on monday, July 3. “medyo mali siguro ‘yung mga terms na ginagamit kaya nagiging offensive kasi pag sinabi mong ‘puppet,’ ang ibig sabihin nun ang malacañang ang nagdidikta

kung ano ‘yung mangyayari (The terms he’s using are wrong, which makes it offensive, because if you say ‘puppet,’ it means the Malacañang dictates what happens). for example the declaration of martial law, and you agree with the declaration of martial law, puppet ka na no’n (that would immediately

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Senators JV Ejercito and Vicente Sotto III

Senate photos

House speaker encourages ASEAN lawmakers to support PH drug war PH, EU reaffirm commitment to

by Jennifer

Soriano

AJPress

Parliamentarians from the Southeast Asian region link arms to symbolize their collective resolve to combat the drug menace. According to Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, House Committee on Dangerous Drugs Chairman, the annual meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Fact-Finding Committee (AIFOCOM) to Combat the Drug Menace “is one opportunity for legislators to learn how the community has met the challenge of eradicating the illicit trade in drugs and their desire to upgrade the level of their cooperation.”

PNA photo

PhiliPPine house speaker Pantaleon Alvarez called on his fellow lawmakers in the Association of southeast Asian nations (AseAn) to support President rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs. speaking at the 13th meeting of the AseAn inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AiPA) fact finding Committee (AifoCom) to Combat the Drug menace on Wednesday, July 5, Alvarez stressed that the region must “not succumb to the debilitating effects of illegal drugs.”

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#ELEBRATING 9EARS

further strengthen cooperation the Philippines and the european Union (eU) on tuesday, July 4, reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen their bilateral cooperation on a broad range of issues. this was after Philippine President rodrigo Duterte repeatedly lambasted the eU following the bloc’s constant criticisms against some of his administration’s policies, particularly his controversial campaign against illegal drugs. manila and the eU made the reaffirmation during the 9th PheU senior officials meeting (som) earlier this week, which was co-

chaired by Philippine foreign Affairs Undersecretary enrique manalo and european external Action service managing director for Asia and the Pacific gunnar Wiegand. in a joint statement, both sides “noted the importance of constructive engagement and meaningful cooperation on issues of mutual interest.” “the meeting, conducted in an open and constructive manner, acknowledged the developments in Ph-eU bilateral relations since the last som in June 2013 and re-

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From The FronT Page

Duterte: Martial law will not...

PAGE A1 of security officials.

“Hindi naman ako surveyor eh (I’m not a surveyor). I do not go around getting the opinion of people if they are already safe or not, it [would be] the military and the police,” he responded.

Duterte also chided the Supreme Court (SC) justices who

voted against his martial law declaration.

“The word critical is my standard. The word critical for you might not be critical (to some) of the justices of the Supreme Court.

They do not know the real situation,” Duterte said.

He noted, however, that he respected each of the magistrate’s

opinions, saying, “Well, I would give due respect to the opinions, the dissenting tulad ng (for example)— questioning the martial law power of the president.”

Earlier on the same day, the SC, in a majority vote, affirmed Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216 as constitutional, dismissing several petitions that questioned the basis of his proclamation.

According to SC Spokesperson Theodore Te, 11 justices voted to uphold the president’s martial law proclamation in the entire Mindanao. Only Justice Marvic Leonen favored the petitions.

On the other hand, three justices—Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa—voted to limit the martial law to only Marawi City and not the entire Mindanao.

For its part, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed the SC’s ruling.

In a statement on Wednesday, July 5, AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año described the SC’s decision as a “vote of confidence” that the military is doing the right thing in addressing the issues the area.

“The AFP is very glad and expresses its appreciation to the Supreme Court for the favorable ruling which is supportive of martial law in Mindanao,” Año said.

“The AFP takes this as a vote of confidence that we are doing what is right and what is necessary for the restoration of the rule of law, peace and order in the whole island.”

He also maintained that the military remains committed to its mandate to protect the people and the integrity and sovereignty of the Philippines.

“The mission is not yet done but we can assure our citizens that we are focused and determined to carry on the fight until peace and order in Mindanao is fully restored and the liberation of Marawi is achieved at the soonest time possible,” he further said.

The Mindanao martial law declaration will mark its 60th day this coming July 22.

Section 18, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution states that the president of the Philippines may place the country under martial law and suspend the privilege of

BATTLE OF BRISBANE. Aussie challenger Jeff Horn (left) and defending champion Manny Pacquiao face off during the “Battle of Brisbane” WBO welterweight title bout in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday. Horn defeated Pacquiao via unanimous decision.

Photo courtesy of Top Rank

Pacquiao camp mulls rematch or retirement...

PAGE A1

selves agreeing with the three judges. Even boxing trainer and ESPN commentator Teddy Atlas expressed his frustration a second after the decision was announced.

“They gave a trophy, a win, a huge win to Horn, the local kid for trying hard. You’re not supposed to get for trying hard, you’re supposed to get it for winning!” Atlas exclaimed.

But Atlas’ rants didn’t stop there, as he told Horn to his face: “Congratulations, great effort, but I thought you lost.”

Lennox Lewis, the undisputed world heavyweight champion, also expressed outrage at the result.

“This is what’s wrong with boxing. Horn was very game but I’m hard pressed to see how he could have won that fight by any stretch!” he tweeted.

In a letter, the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the regulatory body for boxing in the Philippines, has asked WBO President Francisco Valcarce for a “thorough review” for possible miscalls during the match.

“While we respect the decision, PAGE A4 we are constrained to request for a thorough review by the WBO for possible miscalls of the referee where some deductions were not made and of the judges in their judging that have caused varying opinions on their objectivity,” the letter read.

GAB, however, clarified that the letter “was not necessarily intended to seek for the reversal of the decision.”

“WBO should take appropriate action on the letter sent by the [GAB] so as not to erode the people’s interest in boxing,” Pacquiao said.

While saying that he respects the judges’ decisions, the Filipino boxer believed that he “clearly” won the fight.

“We’re ahead. By four to five rounds in my opinion,” Pacquiao told reporters. “It’s too much. I would believe the decision more if it was close, say 115-113.”

He also criticized the referee of their match, saying, “The referee is not knowledgeable. Feeling ko tuloy na-set up ako (I felt like I was set up).”

Asked about the possibility of a rematch, Pacquiao said he is “definitely” open to the idea.

“We have a clause for a rematch. No problem,” Pacquiao said.

For some, however, the results of the match likely showed signs that Pacquiao should hang up his gloves for good, especially that the Filipino boxing icon is not getting any younger at the age of 38.

“The reason why they’re OK with this decision is Manny Pacquiao tonight did show his age, at 38 years of age,” Timothy Bradley told ESPN. He went on to say, “He showed his age tonight. Horn was out.

He was out in, I think, it was the eighth or ninth round. Pacquiao had him hurt, but then, the next round after that, you saw Pacquiao laying off the gas pedal.

You saw Horn come on the next two rounds, might’ve stole the next two rounds in this fight.”

US offers help in Marawi...

PAGE A1 in its counter-terrorism and rehabilitation efforts in Marawi City.

Kim, likewise, said he had “great discussion” with Philippine Rodrigo Duterte during their meeting on Monday.

“Great discussion with pres.

Duterte: shared concerns re terrorist threat; reaffirmed our support for C/T & rehabilitation efforts in Marawi,” Kim said in a tweet.

Also on Monday, Lorenzana announced the creation of an inter-agency task force for the “recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation” of Marawi City and other localities affected by the ongoing confrontation between the Islamic State-linked

Maute group and the government forces.

The inter-agency, also dubbed as the “Task Force Bangon Marawi,” was formed under Duterte’s Administrative Order No. 3.

“So, we are now preparing the rehabilitation plan and we are now preparing the mechanism to go into the rehabilitation and recovery, as soon as the fighting stops in Marawi,” said Lorenzana, who is also the designated chairperson of the group.

According to him, the rehabilitation funds will come from the P20-billion pesos earlier approved by Duterte. The amount, he said, still has the possibility to be augmented.

Being the chairman of the Na-

While nothing is definite, coach Freddie Roach said he’ll discuss with Pacquiao about the possibilities of retiring. “‘I’m going to have to have a long talk with Manny and discuss this, see how he feels and I’m going to give him my feelings on it too because I’m a little bit in the middle right now,” Roach said.

Despite the unfavorable results in his recent match, Malacañang, in a statement, said Pacquiao remains the “People’s Champ” and “Pambansang Kamao (National Fist).”

“Manny Pacquiao’s loss in Brisbane would not diminish the honors he bestowed to the people and to the flag,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella stressed.

“Nothing will change: Sen. Manny Pacquiao will remain our People’s Champ, Pambansang Kamao (National Fist), and national treasure in global sports.”

Horn, who remains undefeated, seemed to not care much about the “naysayers” who kept on lashing criticisms against him.

“There will always be a backlash where people say I got lucky, or whatever. There will always be the naysayers saying I didn’t win the fight, but I felt like I won the fight,” Horn said. “Everyone has a right to their opinion. I’m sure I’ve (gained) a lot more fans over there than I’ve lost.”

For their match, Pacquiao and Horn have been guaranteed to earn a minimum purse of $10 million and $500,000 respectively, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN. n

tional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) at the same time, Lorenzana added that he would likewise tap the NDRRMC “as the vehicle to implement the rehabilitation” of the affected areas.

“I’m going to use the NDRRMC as the vehicle to implement the rehabilitation of Marawi because we consider the events in Marawi as man-made disaster,” he explained.

Lorenzana went on to say, “So the first thing that we would do after the fighting stops is to clear the areas of any left IEDs or any explosives. After which, we are going to allow the return of the civilians, of the residents of Marawi.” (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

Young Fil-Am leaders share experience of...

PAGE A1 the Ayala Foundation and the Philippine foreign service posts throughout the U.S. At an information session in Los Angeles on Friday, June 30, past delegates shared their experiences of how the trip, despite its length, enabled them to connect with their Filipino roots.

“This trip gives you that perspective of the different societal norms, the economic issues, a firsthand look at what the government is doing, access to members of Congress, and understanding the innovation they’re doing as well, ” shared Alex De Ocampo, who was part of the inaugural batch in 2012.

He added, “You’re seeing the differences in the country and how it’s changing. It was very impactful in the sense that you’re seeing growth, you’re seeing some poverty — the extremes.

But it’s really opening up your mind to what’s happening in the Philippines.”

Anna Marie Cruz, a business development officer at CDC Small Business Finance, went on to say that the itinerary gives an opportunity to have a dialogue with various decision makers.

“It also leads to a lot of identity questions because a lot of these

problems we have a rooted in our colonial history [and] the ‘crab mentality’ we experience here is rooted in [that], so whether it’s this epiphany of what you can do for the community as a whole or what you do for yourself in order to rise above that baggage you’ve been carrying but didn’t know about, it’s a pretty amazing program that it can do that for you,” Cruz said. “It’s personal, but it’s also this collective.”

During the program, each delegate has the responsibility to develop his or her own “legacy project,” which is a social impact initiative focused on the Philippines and Filipino communities abroad that are social enterprise, philanthropic or civic engagement focused. Some past examples include empowering Filipina entrepreneurs and HIV research and prevention.

Other alumni of the program over the years include Tony and Grammy Award-winning producer Jhett Tolentino, restaurateur Nicole Ponseca, Ryan Letada of storytelling platform NextDayBetter, and Jason Tengco, executive director of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA).

The criteria is that applicants must be 25-40 years old, demonstrate leadership skills within school, community or workplace, and show involvement or interest in issues that align with the interest of the Fil-Am community or the Philippines.

Requirements include an intent to apply form, an application form, resume, two letters of recommendation, a profile photo and 200-word bio. To apply, visithttp://www.fylpro.org/apply/.

(AJPress)

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 6-12, 2017

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US fleet sails near South China Sea island A “strong provocation,” says China

by Jennifer

Soriano

AJPress

A United States navy destroyer on Sunday, July 2, sailed within 12 nautical miles of a disputed island in the South China Sea that is claimed by China, Vietnam and taiwan. the Pentagon previously confirmed that an Arleigh Burkeclass destroyer of the U.S. navy called USS Stethem, passed by the triton island in the Parcel islands to “test the claims of the three countries.”

A spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Lt. Cmdr. Matt Knight The Philippine Senate delegation meets with Mr. Jean-Jacques Hyest, a former senator and member of the French Constitutional Council. did not confirm the recent exerSenator Loren Legarda, President and Founding Member of the Philippines-France Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Association, said that they cise but said the activity is part had an interesting discussion on the history and duties of the Constitutional Council and how laws are enacted in France.

Senate photo of the routine of the U.S. navy operations.

“We conduct routine and regular FOnOPs, as we have done in the past and will continue to PAGE A1 for strengthened Philippines-eU do in the future. Summaries of expand in the future.” affirmed their continued committhe eU has been considered cooperation in this area,” they these operations are released ment to further strengthen bilateral among Manila’s largest trading said. publicly in the annual dod Freecooperation on a broad range of partners. Since the last SOM, the eU, likewise, donated P49 dom of navigation Report, and issues,” the statement read. both sides have been conducting million (850,000 euros) in humani- not sooner,” Knight said in a the two parties also said they negotiations for a Philippines-eU tarian aid for the victims of the “looked forward to the ratifica- Free trade Agreement. the eU Marawi crisis. tion and entry into force of the also granted the Philippines duty“this grant from the eU will PH-eU Partnership and Coopera- free export under the Generalized support the delivery of immedition Agreement (PCA) which was Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) in ate life-saving assistance to those

by Jenny Gold signed in July 2012.” most in need, and contribute to 2014.

Kaiser Health News the agreement, they noted, “will during this year’s SOM, both increased protection of populaserve as the framework for further parties also discussed terrorism tions affected by the conflict,” iF 22 million Americans lose enhancing bilateral relations.” and violent extremism, and how to said Pedro-Luis Rojo, head of the their health care coverage by 2026 they also recognized that trade address such security issues. east, South east Asia and Pacific under the GOP Senate’s plan to and investment relationships be“the meeting reiterated its Regional Office for the european repeal and replace the Affordable tween the eU and the Philippines strong and unequivocal condem- Civil Protection and Humanitar- Care Act, how many people could have been “flourishing and con- nation of terrorism and all its ian Aid Operations (eCHO). die? the question is at the heart of tinue to have strong potential to forms and emphasized the need (Dana Sioson/AJPress) the debate raging in Washington, d.C., but has been difficult to answer.

“Show me the data on lives saved by Obamacare, please,” PAGE A1 Alvarez, who also sits as As- ASeAn community has already conservative political scientist “We stand firmly with Presi- sociation of Southeast Asian made the initial moves to address Charles Murray requested in a redent Rodrigo Roa duterte in the nations inter-Parliamentary As- the drug problem, citing the last cent tweet. war against illegal drugs. He has sembly (AiPA) president, took year’s adoption of the ASeAn A pilot study published Wednescalled on the leaders of ASeAn note that drug trafficking remains Work Plan on Securing Commu- day in the Journal of the American Member States during the 30th a major security concern in the nities against illicit drugs.

Heart Association may provide an ASeAn Summit to join him in this ASeAn community.

“As legislators, we support this answer: Researchers found that campaign,” Alvarez said.

He pointed out that the South- vision by introducing measures the rate of sudden cardiac arrest duterte’s so-called drug war east Asian region has become that could strengthen mecha- outside of a hospital dropped by has been widely criticized by a major transhipment hub of nisms to stop the production, 17 percent among people ages 45human rights groups over its sup- illegal drugs amid the increas- trafficking, and abuse of illicit 64 in Multnomah County, Oregon, posed violation of human rights ing demand in the international drugs in our countries,” he said. after the Affordable Care Act exand spate of summary killings.

Likewise, he called upon fellow panded insurance coverage. market.

Some, meanwhile, lauded the the study analyzed sudden “We cannot ignore the impact AiPA member states to “enhance policy for its success in putting of drug use on society—especial- cooperation in the field of law cardiac arrest data from the emerdrug dealers behind bars and the ly to the family and the youth. Fi- enforcement and the criminal gency medical system in 2011-12 surrender of drug users. nancial difficulties are just some justice system, to raise awareness before the ACA, and compared the “i take this opportunity to urge of the challenges a family may and educate all sectors of society data from 2014-15, after insurance you to do the same. With politi- face. We simply cannot stand especially the youth, and engage coverage expanded. during that cal will and cooperation, we will idly by as our region succumbs to our local communities, schools time, the percentage of people in dismantle the massive illegal the debilitating effects of illegal and the media to commit their Multnomah County with Medicaid drug trade apparatus,” Alvarez drugs,” he remarked. support to the realization of a coverage nearly doubled, from 7 added. percent to 13.5 percent.

Alvarez also said that the drug-free ASeAn.”

PH, EU reaffirm commitment to further...

statement. the U.S. Pacific Fleet maintains that their recent operations is not politically-motivated as they have done the same kind of operation before.

“We have a comprehensive Freedom of navigation Operations program under which U.S. Forces challenge excessive maritime claims across the globe to demonstrate our commitment to uphold the rights, freedoms, and uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations under international law,” the U.S. Pacific Fleet said.

A statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lu Kang said the U.S. had “trespassed” and that China sent “military vessels and fighter planes in response to warn off the U.S. vessel.”

China expressed its dissatisfaction with the U.S.’ operation and called it “a serious political and military provocation.” the U.S. “stirs up trouble” and runs “in the opposite direction

from countries in the region who aspire for stability, cooperation and development,” the ministry statement said.

Further, Beijing called on Washington to cease from operating within China’s territory, which “violates their sovereignty and threatens their security.” “the Chinese side will continue to take all necessary means to defend national sovereignty and security,” Lu said.

According to Cnn, the operation on Sunday happened days after the trump administration “made a number of moves that appeared to irk Beijing.” these include “sanctions against Chinese entities doing business with north Korea and the approval of a new arms trade to taiwan.”

Sunday’s operation was the second reported under the trump administration. the first one was on May 24, when the guided-missile destroyer USS dewey sailed within 12 miles of Mischief Reef in the Spratly islands.

Drop in sudden cardiac arrests linked to Obamacare

House speaker encourages ASEAN lawmakers...

Early indicator Cardiac arrest can serve as an early indicator to show how an increase in health insurance coverage under the ACA might affect mortality. each year, about 350,000 people in the United States have a sudden cardiac arrest, in which the heart unexpectedly stops beating. it is one of the most deadly types of heart attacks — only 1 in 10 patients survive it. “it speaks to the importance of predicting and preventing [cardiac arrest], because once it happens, it’s much too late,” said dr. Sumeet Chugh, medical director of the Heart Rhythm Center of the Cedars-Sinai Heart institute in California and one of the authors of the study. the good news is that nearly half of patients experience warning symptoms, offering an opportunity for intervention, said Chugh.

Cholesterol and blood pressure medication, diet and exercise, and surgical interventions can all help stave off sudden cardiac arrest.

But patients without health insurance might ignore their symptoms and avoid seeing a doctor. “imagine that you’re someone with a warning symptom. if you had insurance or access to health care that was relatively easy, you might be more inclined to see a

James Frank signed on to Obamacare via Covered California when he started experiencing the symptoms of heart disease.

Contributed photo

provider. if you didn’t, you might let it go for a while,” said Chugh.

Consistent Chugh cautions that the study population was small and did not examine other factors that could have led to a decline in cardiac arrests. Still, it is consistent with other studies that found a link between Medicaid expansion and a decline in mortality. Chugh and fellow author eric Stecker of the Oregon Health & Science University plan follow-up studies to narrow in on the causes in Mult-

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july 6-12, 2017 • lAS VEGAS ASIAN jOuRNAl

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PH retains good grade in US State Fil-Am MMA fighter gets another shot at redemption Department report on human trafficking

FILIPINO-American mixed martial artist AJ “The Mercenary” Matthews seeks to redeem his career in an upcoming fight against Andre Fialho at Bellator 181 on July 14.

Matthews and Fialho will go head-to-head in the Bellator’s welterweight division to be held at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

Bellator 181, is an event of the Bellator MMA, an American mixed martial promotion company, where tournaments for each weight class are held over a three-month period.

Coming off from his three consecutive losses, Matthews is going all-out in his training before facing Fialho, a Portuguese MMA star who is coming to the match with an almost perfect 7/8 record so far in his career.

The 28-year-old Fil-Am fighter moved to the Philippines with his team, MMA Alliance, to prepare for his upcoming fight.

“AJ has been a working progress for us,” Eric Del Fierro,

co-owner of MMA Alliance told Sherdog.com In the Philippines, Matthews sparred against fellow Filipino fighters and several team members who are Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions.

“I see a bright future for AJ as a mixed martial artist” Dominic Cruz, former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion, told sherdog.com.

“He’s got some of the best cage defense I’ve ever seen on anybody,” Eric Uresk, Wrestling Coach on MMA Alliance, added.

Matthews’ career thrived after his four consecutive wins at the onset of his career in 2007, where he mainly fought for California-based promotions such as King of Cage and Gladiator Challenge.

After his triumph in 2015 against Emiliano Sordi at the Bellator 141, his career started to go AJ “The Mercenary” Matthews downhill and lost his next fights.

Matthews is moving forward career. (With reports from Larizza and is now even more determined de Vera/AJPress, Inquirer.net and to win back the momentum of his Sherdog.com)

Senators Sotto, Ejercito: Trillanes must...

PAGE A1

makes you a puppet)? Hindi naman siguro (Not really),” Sotto said.

“Instead of saying it’s the easy way out, it’s the honorable way out,” he added.

For his part, Ejercito reminded Trillanes to address differences in a democratic way.

“I find the recent statements of Senator Trillanes disrespectful and unparliamentary. He should be reminded that as a democratic institution, we in the Senate debate issues instead of hurling insults; we vote instead of calling each other names when we disagree,” Ejercito said.

“We have 23 independent minds duly elected in the Senate.

But even when we disagree on a

number of issues, we maintain our respect for one another. I hope Senator Trillanes would do the same. I hope he will stop destroying this institution simply because he is rabidly against this administration,” he added.

Further, Ejercito recommended that Trillanes issue an apology to the senate.

“An apology would be good for the institution. Not for me, it’s for the institution. We have to maintain decency. We have to maintain parliamentary ethics in the Senate,” Ejercito said in the forum.

“Kaya nga meron mga rules ang Senado (that is why there are rules in the senate), there are rules of the senate to maintain proper decorum, maintain proper behavior,” he added.

In response, Trillanes stands firm to his earlier remark, further challenging Ejercito’s views on the president’s rape jokes.

“If Sen. Ejercito believes that my statement that the senate is becoming a lapdog of the Duterte administration is highly offensive yet sees nothing wrong with Duterte’s rape comments to the soldiers, then we really have a problem,” he said.

Earlier, Trillanes and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano sent a supplemental complaint against Duterte to the International Criminal Court, which says, “State is unwilling to even investigate the extrajudicial killings in the country and, because of the president’s immunity, unable to prosecute President Duterte.” n

Duterte: Martial law will not...

PAGE A2 the writ of habeas corpus in case of invasion or rebellion for not exceeding than 60 days.

The SC may also review the “sufficiency of the factual basis” of the proclamation while the

Congress has the power to revoke or extend such proclamation or suspension for a period.

According to Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Duterte could declare another martial law if the Congress failed to extend of

Proclamation No. 216, should he seek its extension.

“If Congress does not extend on the 60th day upon initiative of the President then there can be no extension. Another proclamation is necessary,” Panelo said.

by Dona

Z. PaZZibugan Inquirer.net

THE Philippines retained its highest grade in the U.S. State Department’s ranking of efforts by governments to fight human trafficking, but still fell short in assisting victims and prosecuting officials involved in the heinous industry.

The latest U.S. State Department annual report released on Wednesday, June 28 said the Philippine government “fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking… therefore the Philippines remained on Tier 1.”

The government “demonstrated serious and sustained efforts by convicting and punishing more traffickers, identifying more victims through proactive screening procedures, and expanding its efforts to prevent trafficking of Filipino migrant workers,” the report said.

At the same time it noted the government’s shortcomings.

“Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not expand the availability and quality of protection and assistance services for trafficking victims, particularly mental health care and services for male victims,” the report said.

“Further, the government did not vigorously investigate and prosecute officials allegedly involved in trafficking crimes nor expand its pilot program to address the backlog of trafficking cases in the courts,” it added.

The U.S. State Department urged the Philippine government to strengthen measures to assist and protect trafficking victims, prosecute officials involved and to stop child sex tourism and online child sex abuse.

Its recommendations include: increase the availability of services for trafficking victims with a particular focus on expanding access to mental health care and services for male victims; increase efforts to expedite victim-centered prosecution of trafficking cases especially in cases involving child victims; increase efforts to investigate and prosecute officials involved in trafficking; increase efforts to identify internal labor trafficking victims especially children, and prosecute labor trafficking cases; expand the victim and witness protection program throughout the criminal proceedings; implement programs to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts including child sex tourism and online child sexual exploitation; expand government support for long-term specialized services for trafficking victims; expand efforts to prevent re-traumatization caused by multiple interviews and facilitate timely reintegration of child victim witnesses with community-based followup services; increase training for community members and military and law enforcement personnel on appropriate methods to protect children officially disengaged from armed groups

and vigorously investigate allegations of abuse by officials; and develop a data collection system across agencies of antitrafficking activities including victim identification, services provided, investigations, prosecutions and convictions.

From April 1 to December 31, 2016, the government charged 441 alleged traffickers (from 569 in 2015) and secured convictions of 55 traffickers (from 42 traffickers in 2015). These cases involved 131 victims, 78 of whom were children.

However of the 20 labor trafficking cases prosecuted, none resulted in a conviction, the U.S. State Department report said.

The government did not file criminal cases to punish the recruitment and use of child soldiers by armed groups, it added.

By the end of last year, more than 1,100 trafficking cases remained pending in court “due to endemic inefficiencies such as non-continuous trials, large caseloads, limited resources and in some cases, corruption,” the U.S. State Department said.

It added that while the government convicted four perpetrators of online sexual exploitation of children, police and prosecutors did not have adequate personnel and resources.

“The government’s investigation and prosecution of these cases relied substantially on the support and cooperation of foreign law enforcement and NGOs,” it said.

Drop in sudden cardiac arrests linked...

PAGE A3 nomah County.

Michael McWilliams of the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, who was not involved in the study, questioned the large reduction in cardiac arrests seen in the study, saying it “seems too good to be true.”

Still, he said assessing the effects of health insurance on clinical outcomes like cardiac arrest is notoriously difficult, and there is good evidence that health insurance improves access to care and diagnosis of important conditions.

“I think when we focus on the lack of consensus evidence on the effects of coverage on hard outcomes like mortality, and use that as an argument against covering

the uninsured, I think we let perfect be the enemy of good,” McWilliams said.

Uninsured Take James Frank, 64, of Lancaster, California, who was uninsured several years ago when he first started experiencing the symptoms of heart disease.

“I couldn’t catch my breath, I was wheezing,” Frank recalled. “I felt like I had like a chest cold. My feet were tingling. I was getting the sweats.” In 2013, Frank had a heart attack and was taken to the emergency room.

He signed up for coverage under Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange, which opened in 2013 for coverage that began in January 2014. His doctor

put him on a statin and blood pressure medication to prevent another heart attack, and he started watching his weight religiously.

Frank was quick to add that the coverage he gained under the ACA has not been perfect — his premium and deductibles are high, and he thinks that Congress should repair it. Still, he believes the health law saved his life. “I had the same heart attack that killed my mother,” he said. “Had it not been for Obamacare, I probably would have had another one. *** This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. n

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Dateline PHousehiliPPines cautioned of risks that can damage judicial institutions amid impeachment warnings

In this file photo, top officials of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) marked the first trading day of 2017 with a special bell ringing ceremony at the Ayala and Tektite trading floors.

Philstar.com photo

PH business sector satisfied with Duterte’s performance

by Dana

SioSon

AJPress

AS Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte marked his first year in office on Friday, June 30, both foreign and local business groups expressed general satisfaction in his administration’s performance.

While admitting that there were indeed lapses on the part of the government, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George Barcelon said that businessmen remains confident in Duterte’s leadership.

“There are detractors, but you can never say everything is perfect. There are shortcomings but overall the confidence of businessmen is there. It’s a good start. It’s a good foundation for the economy,” Barcelon told the Philippine Star.

He lauded some of Duterte’s “game changer” policies, citing in particular his campaign against illegal drugs—which has been criticized by some over due to alleged summary executions—as well as his independent foreign policy, in which the Philippine government starts to warm up with its non-traditional allies, such as Russia and China.

Pointing out that drug issues brings “lawlessness,” Barcelon said Duterte’s so-called war against illegal drugs is “good” in a sense that it helps in dealing with the country’s peace and

order.

“Basically that war on drugs is dealing with peace and order.

We all know that this drugs issue brings a lot of these lawlessness so in a way, that is good. Even though there are a lot of background noises, the important thing is people feel safer now,” Barcelon explained.

On the other hand, Barcelon said Duterte’s foreign policy “puts emphasis on elevating the local economy to new heights.”

He also took note Duterte’s foreign visits that brought in significant number of investment pledges in our country, which he said are beneficial for the growth of the country’s economy.

“In terms of his leadership, across the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries everybody looks up to him now. Although he had said something in the past which was not that good for the international scene, apparently the ASEAN countries still look up to him,” Barcelon further said.

Likewise, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines senior advisor John Forbes commended the positive results brought by Duterte’s drug war and foreign policy.

“There has been change and continuity, change in foreign policy and drug enforcement and continuity in most of the reforms of predecessor administrations,” Forbes said.

He also lauded the Philippine government’s comprehensive tax reform and ambitious Build Build Build infrastructure program.

Forbes, however, noted that the heavy traffics in the National Capital Region, including the growing congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, are among the concerns that must be addressed.

For his part, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines president Guenter Taus said the Duterte administration has done a “commendable job” in its first year.

“We acknowledge the notable achievements of the current administration thus far. With this, it is fair to say that they have done a commendable job. With increased public and private sector cooperation, we believe even more can be achieved during President Duterte’s term,” Taus said.

While admitting that there were indeed “shortcomings” on the part of the government, Taus maintained that the business sector remains bullish.

“We remain positive, and see the weaknesses as things that the private sector can work on with the government. We can spend a lifetime speaking on any government’s shortcomings but we prefer to focus on what has been done successfully and what we can do to support actionable initiatives,” Taus said.

July 4 marked by protest vs US role in Marawi war

by Jaime

PilaPil ManilaTimes.net

MILITANT group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Tuesday, July 4 trooped near the United States Embassy on Roxas Boulevard in Manila to protest the American role in the war against the Islamic State-linked Maute terrorist group in Marawi City.

Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bayan, said the rally was held on the day the U.S. marked its 241st Independence Day to criticize President Rodrigo Duterte for allowing U.S. troops to join the war against the Maute

terrorists.

“History tells us that the presence of American military in all places almost always have bad effects,” said Reyes, citing the unstable situations in Syria, Iraq and Libya.

He, however, clarified that Bayan was for the annihilation of the Maute terror group, which attacked Marawi on May 23 and forced Duterte to declare martial law.

The government and the U.S. embassy have clarified that U.S. troops were merely providing “technical assistance” and won’t join combat operations.

The more than 100 Bayan pro-

testers had no choice but to hold a short program at the corner of United Nations and Marcelo H. del Pilar avenues when some 200 anti-riot police barricaded Roxas Boulevard to prevent them from getting near the embassy.

“We started our walk from Kalaw Street only to find out that the police have occupied this corner,” Reyes said.

Reyes and his group arrived at del Pilar Street at 9:30 a.m. and after an hour moved to nearby Padre Faura Street, where they held another rally to condemn Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

Members of militant groups try to force back a police barricade that prevented them from proceeding to the U.S. Embassy on Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo

Defense chief orders troops to end Marawi conflict before SONA

DEPARTMENT of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ordered government troops to accomplish their mission in Marawi before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the end of the month.

At a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, July 3, Lorenzana expressed his hopes that the Marawi siege would cease just before Duterte delivers his SONA on July 24.

“Sana tapos na (I hope it would end) and that is one of the things that I have asked the commanders on the ground

that if they could terminate the conflict there before the president goes on his SONA,” Lorenzana said.

Expressing empathy, the defense chief shared his thoughts during his trip to Iligan with Duterte to visit Marawi evacuees.

“This is very important. I’ve seen the faces of those evacuees in Iligan…They’re so frustrated and so anxious to go back home. Ito ‘yung nakita din ni president noong nandun kami (this is what the president have also seen when we visited there),” the de-

fense secretary said.

Lorenzana, who chairs the newly-created interagency task force for the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi City called “Bangon Marawi,” is hoping that the rebuilding efforts will start when the president delivers his annual address.

“And we’d like the president, when he goes there and delivers his SONA, is that ongoing na ‘yung ating rehab (that the rehab will be ongoing), at tsaka (and also) maybe most of the people in these outskirts dito PAGE A7

THE oldest voluntary national organization of lawyers in the Philippines warned the House of Representatives over its refusal to heed the lawful orders of the Court of Appeals (CA).

“We must defend as sacrosanct the Constitutional principles of separation of powers and judicial independence. Otherwise, we risk damaging our judicial institutions and substituting tyranny for the rule of law,” the Philippine Bar Association (PBA) said in its twopage statement released to public on Monday, July 3.

The PBA was referring to the CA’s decision to release six Ilocos Norte officials detained by the House of Representatives — Pedro Agcaoili, provincial planning and development office chairman; Josephine Calajate, treasurer; Eden Battulayan, Encarnacion Gaor and Genedine Jambaro of the treasurer’s office and Evangeline Tabulog, budget officer — for contempt after they refused to answer questions about an alleged anomaly involving the purchase of P66.45 million worth of vehicles, using funds from tobacco excise taxes.

According to Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, llocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos misused P66 million in tobacco funds.

The PBA argued that in Section 21 of the 1987 Constitution, the appeals court also has the original jurisdiction to issue the writ of habeas corpus, which is the “most efficacious safeguard of the liberty of individuals in a free society.”

“Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7902 grants the Court of Appeals original jurisdiction to issue writs of habeas corpus and auxiliary writs or processes with the power to try cases and conduct hearings, receive evidence and perform any and all acts necessary to resolve factual issues raised in cases falling within its original and appellate jurisdiction, including the power to grant and conduct new trials or further proceedings,” it explained.

The group added, “To now seek to punish the three justices who were merely performing their sworn duty to inquire into the basis of confinement or detention devalues the writ and imperils the zealous protection of individual

liberty.”

Earlier, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the mandatory organization of lawyers in the country, had asked the House leadership to observe “the separation of powers, judicial independence, and the rule of law.”

The IBP statement was issued after Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno and CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. asked the House leadership to recall the show cause order issued against CA Associate Justices Stephen PAGE A7

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

july 6-12, 2017 • lAS VEGAS ASIAN jOuRNAl

OpiniOn

Champion in our hearts

Features

DESPITE his impressive display of explosive punches and dynamic movements, Manny Pacquiao still bowed down before a formidable opponent during the “Battle of Brisbane” on Sunday, July 2.

In his latest conquest, Pacquiao surrendered his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title to Jeff Horn in front of more than 51,052 people at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

After 12 grueling rounds, Horn won via a unanimous decision against Pacquiao with scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113. The Australian fighter now holds a perfect record of 17 wins with 11 KOs. While many contest the judges’ decision, Pacquiao graciously accepted his defeat.

“That’s the decision of the judges, I respect that,” Pacquiao said as he thanked his fans and countrymen.

There have been rumors that Sunday’s fight was a litmus test for Pacquiao’s possible retirement. The Filipino champion hasn’t knocked out an opponent since 2009. After dropping his fourth loss in his last nine outings, Pacquiao is now at 56-7-2 with 38 KOs. This early, Pacquiao is looking into another showdown—to regain his WBO welterweight title—against Horn in November.

“Rematch, that’s fine. Absolutely, I’d love that,” Pacquiao declared.

Athletes do more than just to represent the

flag where they come from. Their presence in any sporting event gives their countrymen hope, selfrespect, and to many—pride in who they are.

In his entire career, Pacquiao gave his kababayanss something to watch and be passionate about. The whole world stood witness to Pacquiao’s rise to the top: from being the struggling 14-year-old boy who left his home in Mindanao to being the best fighter of his generation. His commitment to the sport and dedication to winning have catapulted him to be one of the most famous personalities in sports. His career so far, embodies the stuff legends are made of.

And why not. After all, his achievements supersedes Pacquiao himself—winning eight championships in different weight divisions by beating boxing champions from around the world. All his hard work has manifested into millions of earnings, a successful showbiz career and a legislative post. His fame has catapulted him to become one of the most revered Filipino icons of all time.

Pacquiao, whose career has been put into showing. That is the kind of champion that he is. question after a series of losses, still managed When his back is against the wall and everyone to give his audience worldwide an impressive is raising questions, he leaves a lasting perfor-

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

mance that puts the record straight. Pacquiao’s reign as the king of the ring is far from over.

(AJPress)

Poll: A vast majority of Americans say political civility has declined since Trump was elected president HAPPY FOURTH of July!

The Fil-Am As we celebrate Independence Day in Perspective America this week, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll study reveals that a majority of Americans — 70 Gel SantoS-ReloS percent — say the level of civility in Washington has declined since Donald Trump was elected president.

Perhaps you felt the same exasperating toxicity in the political discourse not only in Washington, but among citizens engaging in debates on various social media platform from both parties.

As far as I recall, this started even during the primary elections, with Don-

ald Trump normalizing the use of personal attacks, insults, and lies to grab the attention of voters amid the noise of the campaigns.

Now that Trump has been elected president — he is not disappointing his ardent fans. The candidate Donald Trump never changed, and has in fact intensified the toxic rhetoric as president, using the bully pulpit of the most powerful position in the world.

Aside from name-calling and demonizing his political opponents, Trump has declared war against the news media — particularly those who are critical of

Commentary

RicaRdo Saludo SOME of the commentary on President Rodrigo Duterte’s first year in office border on the absurd. One opposition congressman was headlined saying nothing was accomplished since noontime on June 30, 2016.

So, the nearly four out of every five Filipinos expressing trust, approval and satisfaction with Duterte, according to Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations surveys, must be imagining things about the country.

Another opposition stalwart claims Filipinos are in denial about human rights violations.

One wonders if it is she who can’t accept that the President’s bloody campaign against drugs and crime, while disturbing to her countrymen, has in fact safeguarded their lives, wellbeing and rights far better than the past regime, which saw crime triple to more than a million incidents a year in 2013.

And her Senate colleague warns of uncertainty ahead under Duterte. Well, that would be news to the World Bank, which expects economic growth to continue this year at an Asiapacing 6.8 percent, and even more in 2018.

Also expecting more of the same are global credit rating agencies Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch, which maintained investment-grade marks for the Philippines, with stable outlook, meaning no ups and downs expected.

Nor are Filipinos wondering how the Commander in Chief

him and his policies, and his loyal fan base believes him when he brands even responsible media networks as “fake news.”

This is Trump’s way of controlling the message, attitude and behavior of his base who seem to have been living in an alternate universe, with so much different view of reality compared to what most Americans experience to be true.

Last weekend, Trump’s obsession was the use of Twitter to single out the hosts of Morning Joe, two of his most outspoken critics on the liberal cable news channel MSNBC. He not only labeled the news program as “fake news”, but also spewed personal attacks against the looks of Mika Brzezinski, as he did with other strong females he has insulted publicly.

Joe Scarborough and Brzezinski responded in an Op-Ed, alleging that Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, asked them to apologize to Trump for their reporting so the president will call his friend, the owner of the tabloid National Enquirer, to spike the juicy story about their relationship. The Morning Joe couple did not apologize and continued criticizing Trump, and yes, the National Enquirer published their “story.”

In a statement, MSNBC said, “It’s a sad day for America when the president spends his time bullying, lying and spewing petty personal attacks instead of doing his job.”

Then on Sunday, July 2, Trump posted a short video on Twitter of an old video of him wrestling and punching a man, but this new video had the logo of

CNN replacing the man’s head.

Does Trump fantasize about violence against news media people/organization critical of him? This sent a chilling effect on people in the media, with some concerned that such a suggestion from Trump may put the lives of news media people in danger. Is this Trump’s way of silencing dissent?

Surely, political civility has declined in America since Trump became president. Many people are following his example. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

After one year of Duterte, now the hard part

and the security forces will deal with threats against law and order, and peace and harmony.

We’ve seen it in the anti-drug war. It’s not pretty, but it keeps the people safe, as the 30 percent drop in overall crime and the retaking of Marawi vividly demonstrate.

For sure, it’s not a sure thing that five trenches of tax reforms will actually pass Congress, or the P8 trillion in infrastructure can all or even mostly be built.

Peace talks are also iffy, especially with the double-talking communists, and federalism faces years of dizzying gyrations in Charter amendments, plebiscite campaigning and voting, and inevitably disruptive implementation.

But then, that’s change, unsettling but eventually settling on something new and hopefully better.

In sum, while much still needs to be done by the Duterte administration across many fronts, from sweeping tax reform and massive infrastructure projects, to fighting lawlessness and terrorism and forging lasting peace with rebel groups, plus slashing graft and red tape, much has already been done in just 365 days, and there are five more years ahead to advance the change agenda.

From shock and awe …

So, will things keep going awesomely, as former President Gloria Arroyo described Duterte’s first year of megamoves, from his independent foreign policy dancing with all big powers, and his war on drugs and crime recording many times what the past regime has done, and now, taking on global terrorism as no East Asian country has done?

Actually, Filipinos will now have to grapple with the hard part of President Duterte’s governance, security, and development agenda.

In the war on terror, for starters, the inch-by-inch campaign to retake Marawi from Islamic State-driven jihadists, with their bombs, snipers, and arms stockpile, is shifting to the utterly unpredictable, undefinable, and uncontainable campaign of tracking down faceless, nameless bombers, killers, and kidnappers from among the mass of law-abiding citizens.

Just like the perpetrators of the New York, Paris, London, Manchester and other Western terror attacks, the threats are hidden in plain sight until they detonate improvised explosive devices, machine-gun innocents at a school soccer match, drive a van into a crowd, or fly jetliners into skyscrapers.

Turning to drugs, after the shock and awe of drug suspects killed by the thousands, the narco-syndicates may be regrouping and getting back in business, possibly spurred by the still hugely lucrative drug trade, with hardly any drug lords taken down despite the decimation of pushers and users.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has rolled off impressive numbers, especially when compared with the dismal anti-narcotics performance in recent years. The P82 billion in dope seized, 1.3 million surrendered users and pushers, nearly 87,000 arrests, and 152 drug dens closed are just some of the unprecedented statistics on the war on narcotics.

But if rehabilitation facilities and activities cannot wean the millions of users off the habit

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

fast enough, the continued narco-demand will keep fueling the estimated P120-billion illicit trade, and that will lure the global syndicates, and grease the palms of police, prosecutors, judges, local politicians, and other enforcers to look away. … to slog and haul That brings us to corruption.

President Duterte has reversed his predecessor’s unfailing defense of close associates, allies, and appointees, firing even Cabinet members and top agency heads, including longtime allies, for even a whiff of impropriety.

That has done much to avoid the massive anomalies we saw in the Aquino-era commuter

Philstar.com photo

train, motor licenses and plates contracts, plus the tripling of smuggling to over $25 billion a year. And if the head honchos are forced to keep clean, the underlings can’t wallow in mud.

Yet even the biggest Duterte fan knows that the fight against sleaze isn’t even one-tenth the way through. After all, the chief still gets nasty whiffs of alleged sleaze, as he did in Clark. That may yet prove to be a false alarm, but the truth remains that anomalies, kickbacks, bribes, and the like are still going on big.

Red tape, too. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority warns of big investments going sour if dozens of ecozone applications keep gathering dust

in Malacañang. And if that can happen under Duterte’s nose, imagine how much longer the crimson ribbons are elsewhere in the bureaucracy.

As for the much-anticipated “golden age” of infrastructure, the implementing agencies must admit that they have never rolled out roads, rail, airports, and other projects at anywhere near the unprecedented pace envisioned now. The President is right to get Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco cracking the whip on mega-projects. But the agencies must still slog and haul to “Build, Build, Build”.

So, let’s have a big cheer for Duterte’s first year. The work is about to get much tougher.

(ManilaTimes.net)

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 6-12, 2017

A

Aguirre faces complaint over ‘fake news’

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

CABINET MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte presides over the 16th Cabinet meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room in Malacañang Palace on Monday, July 3.

Malacañang photo

Robredo corrects COA report on ‘underspending’ MANILA - Contrary to the report of the Commission on Audit (COA), the Office of the Vice President spent 86 percent of its budget allotted for indigent people in 2016, Vice President Leni Robredo clarified.

Robredo said while the OVP has a total allocation of P219 million for financial assistance in 2016, only P151 million was released to them.

“Of the P151 million, we spent P130 million, so that means we used 86 percent and not 60 percent, notwithstanding the election ban on such expenses from February to May 2016,” the Vice President said in her weekly program BISErbisyong Leni over dzXL. According to the COA report for 2016, the OVP used only P130.693 million or 59.42 percent of the total

fund for medical help, burial aid, relief operations, medical missions and purchase of wheelchairs.

COA said the unused balance represents “undelivered services that could have benefited more indigent Filipinos.”

Robredo, however, noted the agency’s spending “slowed down” beginning February last year because of the election ban on public projects.

“If we recall, 2016 was an election year. The provision of services (to needy people) slowed down even before we took over,” she said.

“But after we assumed (the vice presidency), it normalized again.

The money that were not released to us we can still use that this year,” Robredo explained.

She said P125 million of the P130 million were used for medi-

cal, burial and transportation assistance for the poor, while P3 million were provided to victims of calamities.

“We make sure that we use our budget properly, and we observe prudent spending,” the Vice President said.

Robredo said she chose to hold office at the Quezon City Reception House in New Manila instead of the Coconut Palace in Pasay City, where a month’s rent costs the government P500,000.

“We don’t just save on monthly office lease but on electric bills as well because we have a smaller office,” she said.

In a separate statement released, the OVP said it continues to exert all efforts to cut costs when able and ensure that every centavo of the people’s money is spent responsibly. (Philstar.com)

House cautioned of risks that can damage...

PAGE A5

Cruz, Edwin Sorongon, and Nina Antonio-Valenzuela.

Sereno and Reyes suggested that instead of challenging the orders of the CA, House leaders should rather avail of legal remedies under the rules of the court.

On Sunday, July 2, Sereno ordered the CA to evade the show-cause order. House Speaker Alvarez announced that if it would be proven that Sereno ordered the CA to defy the show-cause order asking three justices to explain why they should not be cited for contempt for granting the petition for habeas corpus of the six Ilocos Norte officials who have have been detained since May 29.

“If we found it to be true then

we will discuss it in Congress for a possible impeachment case,” Alvarez said in a statement while he was in Southern Leyte to administer the oath-taking of new members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Alvarez noted that Sereno’s offense, if proven to be true, falls under culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution and the allencompassing betrayal of public trust.

Accordingly, Alvarez issued the warning after the Philippine STAR recently released reports stating Sereno influenced CA presiding Justice Andres Reyes to “reconsider” its show cause against the magistrates through signing a

prepared judiciary statement.

According to the report, the chief magistrate also advised Reyes – who, coincidentally, is a classmate of Alvarez – and the concerned justices Stephen Cruz, Erwin Sorongon and Nina Antonino-Valenzuela not to comply with the House order. Reyes relayed the message to Cruz and the rest.

On top of this, Sereno told the CA justices to immediately file a petition for prohibition before the Supreme Court should the House leadership push through with its show cause order, which it just did, and that the 15-man bench would just “take care of it. (With reports from Jennifer Soriano/AJPress)

MANILA —A youth group on Wednesday, July 5 filed a collective administrative ethics complaint against Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II before the Office of the Ombudsman.

A youth group called Millennial Against Dictators accused Aguirre of violating Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Official and Employees, when he issued false allegations against Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II Philstar.com photo several politicians and individuals. showing to media, turned out to Last month, Aguirre accused have been taken in the Visayas in Senators Paolo Benigno “Bam” 2015. Video of Aguirre showing Aquino IV (Liberal Party) and the photo on his mobile phone Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV has been shown on TV reports (Nacionalista Party), along with on the issue.

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and Those Aguirre named have all former Aquino political adviser denied being in Marawi on the Ronaldo Llamas, of “sparking day that the Justice secretary said the Marawi siege and meeting the meeting happened. to discuss plans to destabilize the The complainants also cited government,” the group said.

Aguirre wrongly tagging the The complaints cited that as South Korean Embassy in the alter ego of the president, Aguirre Philippines in the killing of Koholds one of the most powerful rean national Jee Ick-Joo and and influential public offices in linking former Sen. Jamby Madthe Philippines yet he “failed to rigal to a supposed attempt to used even reasonable skill and bribe witnesses against detained diligence” when he linked the Sen. Leila De Lima to recant their officials. statements.

They then slammed Aguirre The 12-page complaint also for resorting to an unverified noted how the Justice secretary Facebook photo as part of his has issued contradictory stateevidence to insinuate the officials’ ments that the youth group said connection with terrorists. The “cast doubt to his competence.” photo, which Aguirre denied The youth group said the Agu-

irre violated the 1987 Constitution when “he refused to take responsibility for his actions as Justice secretary despite making false and misleading allegations.”

“As head of the Department of Justice, Respondent falls short of the exacting standards required of a public office and thus must no less be removed from office in order to preserve the image of the justice system and restore the public’s trust in government,” the collective complaint read.

“By the very nature of his duties, respondent must faithfully adhere to and hold sacred the constitutional principle that public office is a public trust and must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with unknown responsibility integrity, loyalty and efficiency,” it said.

The complainants asking for the removal of Aguirre to office are youth leaders namely Shamah Bulangis, Michelle Olmedill Yu, Andrei Kristian Bautista, Ana Marie Mercaldi, Ma. Ana Fatima Tolentino, Nikki Masibay Nicolas, Julie-Ann Kris Corridor, Rae Emmanuel Echaveria, and Jonna Feliz Cajayon Roldan.

They represent Akbayan Youth and other groups.

The ombudsman is mandated to handle complaints against government officials and enforce their administrative, civil and criminal liability in every case where the evidence warrants in order to promote efficient service by the government.

Defense chief orders troops to end...

PAGE A5 ay nakabalik na sa bahay nila (people here in the outskirts would have returned to their homes),” he added.

While putting aside promises, Lorenzana ensured the public that the government will continue to do its best to complete its mission as timely as possible.

“I said a while ago, the people on the ground, they do not want to give a timeline now. But they are trying hard to finish it as soon as possible. Kasi ako nasunog na ako tatlong beses (I got burned three times). I keep putting deadlines three times I was—nakuryente na ako kaya ayaw ko na ring magsabi (I got ‘electrocuted’ so I don’t want to say anything),” he said.

“And since it is urban fighting, for which a lot of our troops are not prepared, medyo

(somewhat)…They are learning as they go along on how to fight in this built-up area,” he said. Kaya ‘yun ang nakatagal talaga diyan sa problema (So that made the problem longer).

So we are not going to put any deadline,” he added.

The defense chief also laid out what the department’s priority concerns will be once the clashes in Marawi stop.

“So the first thing that we would do after the fighting stops is to clear the areas of any left IEDs or any explosives.

After which, we are going to allow the return of the civilians, of the residents of Marawi,” he said.

He added that it will take “some time to clear the area,” as about 1,500 houses and buildings are not vacated.

The latest data estimates that at least 459 people — 336 sus-

pected terrorists, 39 civilians, and 84 government troops — have been killed since the clashes erupted. Around 72,000 families have been displaced.

Lorenzana said that Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon is still inside the battleground in Marawi City hiding inside a mosque.

Further, the U.S. has relayed its intent to help once the government has taken over the war-torn city for the rehabilitation.

“I met with Ambassador Kim last week, and they said: ‘If you need some help, let us discuss…’So, we’ll still talk about what kind of aid we’ll get,’” Lorenzana said.

On May 23, Duterte declared martial law following a clash between government troops and the Maute terror group.

(Jennifer Soriano/AJPress)

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JOURNAL

Anthony Diaz V on making films Vogue: Liza Soberano, a style star to watch that people will remember

By NathaLie

robLes

AJPress

By Larizza de AJPress

Vera

IN today’s era of superhero movies, Filipino-American director Anthony Diaz refuses to follow the trend and offers a compelling movie centered on religion.

Despite his failure to clinch an award at last year’s Sundance Film Festival with his movie “Break,” Diaz sets aside his usual role as director to play the lead character for his upcoming movie, “Way Of The Cross.”

“Way Of The Cross” is a psychological thriller set in a small religious town in the Philippines.

It follows the life of Rogelio ‘Rogue’ Marquez (TBoy), a Las Vegas-based Fil-Am FBI agent, who stumbled upon a string of murderous events in the town of San Antonio during the Holy Week festivities.

The movie, which will hit local and international theaters in August, was directed by Diaz’s father Antonio Diaz and Gorio Vicuna, former animator at Marvel Studios and director of “When Nature Calls.”

“This was actually the first

film in which I was directed by others, however I did assist in the directing of this film when needed,” the multi-faceted Diaz told the Asian Journal.

Aside from bringing life to the main character, Diaz also co-wrote the screenplay and co-produced the film.

“This gave me a unique chance to develop interesting characters that I feel will resonate with the audience,” Diaz stated.

Despite its central theme focused on religion, Diaz claimed that “Way Of The Cross” is unique in many ways because its story crossed all borders and is not bound by a certain culture or country.

Photos from the film’s official Facebook page

Ultimately after the audience watch the film, Diaz wants them to leave puzzled as they ask and debate, “What would they do if they were in those situations themselves?”

“Our goal was to make a timely film that will be remembered,” Diaz said.

The screenplay had been rewritten a couple of times in order to make the characters relatable to a wider scope of audience.

“We wanted the characters to be relatable to many different personality types with all the character flaws that we all share as human beings,” he added.

Despite its central theme focused on religion, Diaz claimed that the movie is unique in many ways because the story crossed all borders and is not bound by a certain culture or country.

“I hope the audience is speechless on the drive home.

There are lots of twists and turns in the movie that gradually build to a crescendo that is quite memorable,” Diaz said.

Although Diaz confirmed that the portrayal of religion will be controversial, he assured that the film did not intend to demote other people’s faiths.

“The controversy of the film is in no way attacking the Catholic religion at all. It lies on how the characters react to strange situations that are occurring in their town that is very religious,” he added.

“Way Of The Cross” also stars Alvin Anson, Rafael Rosell, Daiana Menezes, Roxanne Barcelo, Giovanni Respall, Miguel Vasquez, Oz Rivera, Yussef Esteves, Danielle Chopin and Jordan Castillo.

The audience can expect more from Diaz as he also has five scripts on queue for productions. His next film project is a one hour short film based on the story of a retired gangster in Japan.

ONE of the Philippines’ most sought-after actresses Liza Soberano gained yet another international recognition as she was featured in the American fashion and lifestyle magazine website, Vogue on Friday, June 30.

The Filipino-American actress, who will soon play the role of comic heroine Darna, was deemed as a “style star to watch” in the Vogue article by Janelle Okwodu due to the thousands of likes she gets on every Instagram post.

“Soberano sports a carefully curated wardrobe that is a mix of tomboy and cool girl,” Okwodu wrote.

Okwodu also mentioned that Soberano, along with celebrity stylist Perry Tabora, figured out the concept of switching gears with fashion choices in order to make a vital sense of personal style.

“She’ll move from ripped denim and ribbon chokers worn for a casual outing to princess-worthy couture for major red carpet events,” the article said.

As Soberano’s profile rose, Tabora was there to guide her fashion sensibility, and over the past four years they’ve developed a winning formula.

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SiBling revelry

How Adam and Arielle Jacobs achieved their Broadway dreams

By MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

In 2015, the stars aligned for Adam and Arielle Jacobs — he was playing the lead role in “Aladdin” and she was cast as nessarose on “Wicked” — and for the first time, both siblings were on big Broadway hits at the same time. Arielle made her Broadway debut as nina Rosario in “In The Heights” in 2010, opposite Lin-Manuel Miranda while Adam made his debut four years earlier as Marius in the 2006 revival of “Les Miserables.”

The siblings’ journey to Broadway began when they both got their first taste of professional theatre and performed in one musical called “Honor Song for Crazy Horse” at the Mountain View Center for Performing Arts in California, where they were cast as native Americans – Adam, then 14, was Little Hawk and Arielle was Blue Swan.

It was Arielle who got into performing first, taking violin and dance lessons and studying ballet, tap and jazz, and eventually moving to singing. She

Photos from the Instagram accounts of Adam (@adamjacobsnyc) and Arielle (@ariellejacobs).

influenced Adam and told him to try singing lessons because they were enjoyable.

“Adam started piano when he was four, I wanted to be a pop singer like Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston and so I started taking lessons and fell in love with it. I said to Adam — you should take lessons, too. It’s fun.

So he did,” Arielle shared.

The Jacobs family lived in Half Moon Bay, California until both kids were old enough to spread their wings. Both went to college in nYU, Adam finishing with a BFA in Theater at Tisch School of the Arts while Arielle graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and concentration on musical theater.

After graduating from nYU, Adam worked the regional theaters, performed on cruise ships, and toured the country as Cinderella’s Prince before landing his first Equity (Actor’s Union) production as nanki-poo in Marriott Theater’s Hot Mikado.

His star shone brighter when he was given the opportunity to play Marius in the national tour of “Les Miserables.” This job led to him being cast in the Broadway revival and his subsequent Broadway debut.

Since “Les Miserables,” his journey brought him to the islands of “Mamma Mia!” and to the African pridelands of “The Lion King” where he was cast as Simba. He’s also gone from the tropics of “Once On This Island” to the Arabian city of Agrabah in “Aladdin.”

Adam met his future wife Kelly while doing a Christmas show in Hershey, PA. She was a rag-doll/ ballerina and he was a well-padded, white-bearded Santa Claus (with black eyebrows). Sparks flew, and led to them getting married, their union blessed with the arrival of their twin sons Jack and Alex in 2014.

After college, Arielle on the other hand moved to Los Angeles and lived there for eight years, returning to new York in 2013 and eventually booking “Wicked,” which she did for a year. Last year, she was cast as Jasmine in the Australian production of “Aladdin.“ Asked if performing is in

their genes, Arielle replied, “My mom’s parents have beautiful voices but they don’t sing professionally. My mom sings and plays piano; my dad’s mother was a cabaret singer in the 40s.

She sang with the Tommy Dorsey Band when she was 15. She never had it as a career, really.”

Both siblings were on major Broadway top-earners. Did they ever think it would happen? “no, never. I dreamed of it for myself, he might have. But it never really occurred to me that we would be on Broadway at the same time. I don’t know why, I just didn’t,” she said.

Arielle then lavished her brother with praise.

“I saw him in his high school performances in San Francisco and he was leagues beyond everyone else onstage and it was obvious that he had the potential and the talent to be on Broadway

Adam Jacobs as Aladdin Photo by Deen van Meer

Arielle Jacobs as Nessarose on ‘Wicked’

and I knew at the back of my brain that I was going to be on Broadway. But I never put it together,” she said laughing.

Upside and downside In a previous interview with the Asian Journal, Adam mentioned about not going after shows that have already cast Arielle as the female romantic lead. Arielle chipped in with her thoughts.

“That happened to us! He did Zorro in Atlanta and I would have loved to play the Catherine Zeta Zones part, but he was already cast as Zorro. The casting director called my agent and said they would love to see me and my agent told the casting director, ‘You know that Adam and Arielle are brother and sister, right?’ and they said, ‘Ohhhh, yeah. That won’t work.’ So they just cancelled my audition,” she recalled.

She also had an audition for Jasmine for “Aladdin,” and this was before they made the cast announcement because Arielle thought that at that time, they weren’t sure if he got the part.

Outside the musical realm, Adam and Arielle worked together last year on a cabaret concert at 54 Below, calling the show Sibling Disobedience.

They did a powerful combination of pop and musical theater, both their interests.

“I was the one who wanted to perform. You know how it is. I would put on shows in my living room, Adam wouldn’t do it. When we went to family gatherings, my mom would always want us to sing songs for the family and I would love it. I would sing a lot, and my brother would begrudgingly sing one. He hated it. I was the one PAGE B3

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Aga Muhlach: ‘Lea Salonga is the one that got away’

COFFEE DATE? Erich Gonzales says she finds young businessman Xian Gaza’s billboard message cute.

Photo from Erich Gonzales’ Instagram account

Businessman asks Erich Gonzales on a ‘coffee date’ via billboard

By Nathalie

Robles

AJPress

A RECENT billboard in Morayta drew the attention of many and became this week’s ‘talk of the town’ when businessman Christian “Xian” Gaza, supposedly the CEO and president of a certain Guanxigian group, asked actress Erich Gonzales for a “coffee date.” last Monday, June 3.

“I can’t even espresso how much I like you a latte. Will you... drink coffee with me? Erika Chryselle ‘ERICH GONZALES’ #CoffeeWithErich #PleaseSayYesErich,” the sign said.

Gaza posted a photo on Instagram with him looking at the said billboard wherein the caption said, “They say it’s first time in Philippine history. I say: That’s how special you are to me @erichgg, will you drink coffee with me?”

Since its appearance on Instagram, the post garnered more than 7,000 likes and has been shared multiple times on different social media platforms.

The actress, who is currently out of the country, told ABS-CBN writer and host Darla Sauler her response to Gaza’s proposal via text message.

“Hi Darls!!! How are you?

Hahaha!!! Ang cute ng effort ni Kuya. It’s fine. Let’s see when I get back. There’s nothing wrong naman if we talk over coffee, pero dapat kasama ka. Hahaha!!!

See you soon Darls!”

Gaza draws flak online Although some saw Gaza’s effort as sweet, there also those who criticized him. Many of those criticisms came from people he allegedly scammed with his false promises, celebrity-user-friendly tendencies and pseudo-projects.

Dewanie Catapang, a social media personality from Davao exposed Gaza’s scheme through a series of tweets with relevance to her personal experience with the businessman.

“Marami pa nabubulag sa mga paandar mo ha, (A lot of

people are blinded by your schemes) pero ako I know you and what you’re up to so please lang don’t me. Kakadiri ka! (You disgust me)” Catapang said.

Ryan Salcedo Tanada, a Dohabased realtor, also revealed his transactions with Gaza in a Facebook post showing screenshots of their conversations.

“It’s not wrong to dream big and to want the best things in life as long as you’ll work for it in an honest way and wala kang nilolokong tao (you are not fooling anyone). Man, just stop this shit once and for all as more victims of yours are coming out.”

Tanada said in his post.

In a report by PEP.ph, Jesica Cruz, mother of dance icon and actress Ella Cruz, stepped forward to share their experience when Gaza bought a Fortuner from her husband, who runs a buy-and-sell business for cars.

Gaza had reportedly given them postdated checks, but repeatedly asked to hold the checks because he’d be paying in cash instead.

“After New Year, nag-ask ulit kami kung may fund na yung check. Ginagawan daw niya ng paraan kasi he’s having financial problems, at andoon nga daw siya sa dad niya para umutang (After New Year, we asked if the check had funds. He said he was figuring it out because he was having financial problems and he was at his dad’s to borrow money),” Cruz said.

Gaza returned the Fortuner the next day.

Gaza addresses his critics In a report by Rappler, Gaza defended himself on Catapang’s claim of a false project, he stood by his statement that the project was legitimate.

“It didn’t pushed through because the funding that was promised to me ay hindi po dumating at napako (didn’t come),” Gaza explained.

He said that he funneled P300,000 from his own funds towards the project, losing the amount when the project didn’t

materialize. The 2,000 t-shirts that were produced for the charity were not sold, and instead distributed to different charities.

“Wala akong kinita maski ni isang kusing (I did not earn a single cent) and even lost P300,000 on that project, plus the burden of paying P10,000 every month until now to the company I partnered with, to produced [sic] the 2000 Haiyan Shirts in Davao City,” he wrote.

Regarding Tanada’s allegation, Gaza said that he received a P200,000 down payment from the former in November 2016, an amount which was then diverted to the operating expense backlogs of Gazera Media.

“I was financially bleeding to Gazera Media/Filipino Vines for 8 months with no returns at all…

I stopped shelling funds to the company to stop my bleeding dahil wala na ‘kong nakikitang kalalabasan na maganda (because I no longer saw a good outcome) on the aspect of profit generation,” he said, adding that he declared bankruptcy to De Vera in December 2016.

On the other hand, Gaza confirmed the transaction with Cruz’s husband, saying that they agreed on a price of P650,000, to be paid in two installments.

Gaza claimed that he pressured himself to take the deal to impress the Cruz family, despite not having an immediate need for the vehicle.

Marlo Mortel He said that he decided to back out of the deal when he learned that the unit was valued at a lower price than he agreed to pay.

Amid all the flak he received, he stood by his initial interest of getting that coffee date.

“Ang tanging hangad ko lang po ay kape with Erich with no hidden personal agenda at all (all I want is coffee with Erich)…

I just wanna show her how much I like her and using this billboard effort to possibly create an initial friendship with her over coffee,” he said.

“So It’s You.” “It was a lot of fun, really enjoyed it. Ang weird na nasakto namin si Direk Jun Lana sa Amsterdam, who’s one of our favorite directors who directed our film So It’s You,’ Rodriguez said.

Despite their refusal to put label on their relationship, Rodriguez had admitted to GMA News last year that marriage is not far from table.

“That’s definitely a part of my plan. It’s what I want. If I didn’t have to work for survival, kahit ngayon na. Pero siyempre, the reality is hindi kayang lahat ay instant. Marami pang kailangang asikasuhin bago mo maisip ang sarili mong kapakanan,” the actor said.

He added that both of them are on the same page when it comes

Carla Abellana and Tom rodriguez

to settling down.

“It seems like we’re both ready,” Rodriguez admitted. (With reports from Larizza de Vera/AJPress)

How Adam and Arielle Jacobs achieved...

PAGE B2 who craved for the audience,” Arielle said.

Adam and Arielle’s mom Abby (short for Avelene) was 14 when her entire family moved to the United States, eventually spreading out across the country. She and her husband now live in New Jersey.

Asked about the roles she wanted to do, Arielle rattled off her list.

“I had dream roles. I wanted to be Maria in West Side Story, Kim in “Miss Saigon,” although maybe I am getting too old for both. I was obsessed with Sunset Boulevard, I used to listen to the soundtrack over and over.

Maybe one day, when I’m 60,” she said.

“I have my eye on Hamilton.

I’d love to be in that. Or Aladdin.

When my brother leaves,” she said back then, breaking into laughter. That was months be-

fore it was announced that Adam would be leaving the Broadway production to lead Aladdin’s national tour.

Being bi-racial has been a little tricky for Arielle.

“It’s a double-edged sword.

It has definitely cost me some roles. If I didn’t have dark hair and dark skin, I would have been offered the part. Recently, there was a part I didn’t get because they wanted someone with red hair and blue eyes. I can play Hispanic or Middle Eastern or Native American or Latina, it’s theater,” she said.

Off-Broadway, she has starred in two world-premiere plays by Pulitzer-winning playwright and director Nilo Cruz; entitled Sotto Voce (as Lucila Pulpo, a Colombian) and Farhad or the Secret of Being (as Farhad, a young Afghan girl who was raised as a boy to avoid social exile but then reaches puberty and struggles

Aga Muhlach and Lea Salonga

role with Salonga in “Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal” in 1992 as “the right movie with the right girl at the right time” that saved his career which was at that time on the brink of failure.

“Lea, bakit labis kitang mahal?

It’s because you are, and have always been, so real. Walang kaplastikan, walang arte, walang drama. Pinakita mo sa akin ang totoong pagkatao mo. You are the real thing,” said Muhlach.

He expressively described former Salonga’s voice as “transcendent, resplendent, indisputable, incomparable.”

“Her voice is as clear as a bell, as breathtaking as the sun-

Philstar.com photo

shine,” Muhlach added.

Their love and respect for each other remained even though their onscreen love story did not happen in real life.

“I love her still, but perhaps because she got away, I have her as a friend now, and so I will always have her,” Muhlach said.

Both of them are now happy with their separate lives. Salonga is married to Robert Charles Chien and has a daughter, Nicole Beverly. Muhlach, on the other hand, has been married to Gonzales, and they have their twins — Atasha and Andres.

(With reports from Larizza de Vera/AJPress)

Marlo Mortel shares about mother’s fight against cancer

Tom Rodriguez, Carla Abella spend quality time in Europe CARLA Abellana recently celebrated her 31st birthday in Europe with beau Tom Rodriguez.

The couple arrived in the country in time for the pilot episode of their romantic-comedy drama “I Heart Davao” which premiered last June 26.

“Gusto sana namin [makanood] kaso nasa biyahe pa kami nun, pero we are very happy to see the reaction ng mga tao” Rodriguez told GMA News.

Rodriguez expressed his joy after spending some quality time with his leading lady.

“Enjoy [kami]. Mas mainit pa pala dun kaysa dito [sa Manila] ngayon. Mali ‘yung dala kong damit,” he happily said.

Coincidentally, the couple also saw Director Jun Lana, whom they used to worked with in the film

A LETTER professing Aga Muhlach’s love for former co-star and girlfriend Lea Salonga resurfaced and gained an overwhelming amount of appreciation on the Internet.

Muhlach’s letter to Salonga, which was included in the “Playlist Souvenir Book: A Celebration of Lea Salonga’s 35 years” published in 2013 for her 35th showbiz anniversary concert, received massive attention after @ loudestdork tweeted an excerpt of the letter.

Before Muhlach’s marriage to Charlene Gonzales, the actor was last romantically linked with former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres.

But years after, he revealed his love for Salonga writing that, “Lea is the one that got away.

And she never knew.”

The actor, who said he was once a young man on fire with passion, admitted his never ending love and gratitude to Salonga, his former co-star in “Sana Maulit Muli” as Agnes and “Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal” as Sandy.

“To me, Lea was Sandy—ethereal, aloof, unattainable; my very heart’s desire. Lea was Agnes — vulnerable yet remote, kind yet callous, constantly engaged in a battle of wills. And I loved Agnes and Sandy and Lea in equal measure,” Muhlach said.

The actor also regarded his

with the limitations of becoming a woman in the Middle East.)

Earlier in her career, she was also seen in the original National Touring companies of In The Heights (as Nina) and Disney’s High School Musical (Gabriella), and in Dreamcatcher Theatre’s production of Into The Woods (as the Baker’s Wife), opposite Broadway legend Tituss Burgess as the Witch.

These days, Adam is on the road leading the national touring production of Aladdin while Arielle is working on her debut album called “A Leap in the Dark”.

The Jacobs siblings credit their Filipino mother and Jewish father not just for their mixed ethnicity, which has allowed both of them to play such varied roles so far, but more importantly for their whole-hearted encouragement to pursue a life in the arts.

“BE Careful With My Heart” actor Marlo Mortel recently opened up about his mother’s courageous battle with cancer.

He revealed that his mother, Merlie Pamintuan, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2014. She had undergone an open heart surgery to remove the huge cyst found inside her body.

“We’re thankful that it was successfully removed but tests revealed that her cancer is now at Stage 4,” Mortel said in his moving post on Instagram.

He posted a photo of him and his father at his mother’s bedside and captioned it with, “you are definitely a fighter mommy, and me & Daddy will fight with you all the way.”

His mother is still recovering from her recent surgery but still

needs to face another set of treatments soon.

In his previous interview with Inquirer.net, Mortel said he would work hard to provide for her medical needs.

“I’ll keep working extra hard for us and we will get through this” read in his post.

The 24-year-old actor recently starred in Regal Entertainment’s “Mano Po 7: Tsinoy” and is currently a co-host on the ABS-CBN morning show “Umagang Kay Ganda.”

He is hopeful for his mother’s recovery and has put faith in prayers as their family rally in this journey together.

“Nothing is impossible with Jesus. I love you so much!” Mortel said. (With reports from Klarizza de Vera/AJPress)

EntErtainmEnt

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Isabelle Daza shares regimen Joint custody for Jake and Andi’s daughter for a healthier lifestyle

by RonnIe

CaRRasCo ManilaTimes.net

FInALLy, the case involving the joint custody over five-yearold Ellie had been resolved by her parents Andi Eigenmann and Jake Ejercito on June 22 (filed by the latter much to the former’s disapproval at the onset).

While both showed up in court with their respective lawyers, it was Jake who arrived accompanied by his mother former actress, Laarni Enriquez. Andi’s mom Jaclyn Jose was conspicuously absent.

Weeks prior to the face-off, Jaclyn had taken to social media her brickbats against Jake who (allegedly) couldn’t even afford to buy her granddaughter a bottle of mineral water, among other things. there was also a snide reference to Laarni, but both mother and son refused to answer back.

Instead it was Jake’s lawyer Ferdie topacio who advised Jaclyn to refrain from issuing any further statements that might only jeopardize the case.

How and why Jaclyn is unusu-

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

Workouts may be fun for a lot of people especially fitness buffs, but for those who find exercise an obligation rather than a hobby, they can easily get bored over a single routine. this is the reason why a new gym member may start off coming in regularly, only to disappear in a few weeks’ time and never to return at all.

If only there were a “refresh” button for an exercise regimen. this in mind, actress, model and fitness enthusiast Isabelle Daza was inspired to bring into the Philippines alternative to gym routines via indoor spinning or cycling. With several partners, she runs—and even teaches class—at ride revolution indoor spinning studio.

Welcoming The Manila Times along with a few other publications to her business endeavor, Daza said that the workout is specifically designed to strengthen the body’s core, tone muscles and burn maximum calories.

“I put up ride revolution because I love to advocate wellness, health and fitness. I noticed in the last few years that more and more people are trying to get into this lifestyle but the challenge was how to keep them interested in exercise. I wanted to bring something different to Manila, something people will enjoy and appreciate. ride revolution is a great compliment to other workouts and it’s definitely far from boring,” Daza related as she hosted the G Active studio hybrid workout demonstration in her Makati City location. she further shared how every class is set to a specific and personalized playlist created by the instructor. upbeat music—plus the flattering lights —moves one along the 50-minute journey, helping to push the body and

III

Jake Ejercito and Andi Eigenmann settled on a mututally favorable custody agreement over their daughter Ellie.

ally “prim and proper” on social media these days is—as far as we know—the result of a gag order imposed by the court upon all parties concerned.

Vignettes likewise gathered that no customary beso-beso between Laarni and Andi was a sight to behold in court. Everyone

acted civilly, and the agreement between Ellie’s estranged parents turned out to be mutually favorable. not yet fully capable of understanding what’s happening around her, Ellie must be the happiest child born to parents who just want the best for her.

With indoor cycling, the actress-model says people can have fun while working out.

metabolism to its peak. “the aim is simple—to allow people to lose themselves, let go and have fun while working out,” Daza added. since its opening, the teleserye actress’ new enclave has already garnered a following from celebrities like solenn Heussaff, Anne Curtis, Denise Laurel, Iza Calzado, and raymond Gutierrez.

Gutierrez—who is also one of the endorsers of G Active—has been the talk of the town for his inspiring weight loss journey toward a healthier body. “there are a lot of different exercises that I tried but I think what’s most important is finding something enjoyable. My first ever work is indoor cycling,” he shared.

Explaining why he enjoys it, the popular event host said, “I own night clubs and when you’re in ride revolution you feel you’re in a night club but you’re actually working out. It’s because of the music, the lights, the energy and doing it with friends that is fun for me.”

Proud of her good friend, Daza used Gutierrez as the perfect example of someone who creatively chose his exercise activities in order to stay on the course. Her best advice in keeping fit, healthy—and yes, beautiful—is, “keep routines simple and mix them up.”

When it comes to inspiration, she reminded, “We only have one body and one life. so, if you don’t take care of yourself nobody else will.”

Vogue: Liza Soberano, a style star...

PAGE B1 elegance, to give [her outfits] that unique quality we always try to mix aesthetics.” tabora told Vogue. tabora also revealed some of the 19-year-old celebrity’s style favorites. the fashion pair collaboratively combines Filipino labels and sig-

EMPLOYMENT

nature items from Gucci, tom Ford, Chanel and Dior. Despite the actress’ fascination with the brand Dior, supporting local designers particularly Martin Bautista and Michael Cinco remains her priority.

With the anticipation of “Darna,” directed by Erik Matti, to cross the television screens; fans

could expect more from soberano’s chic style in her promotional tours and fan meets.

As of this posting, soberano has a total of 5.9 million followers on Instagram alone. other celebrities featured by Vogue were “It’s showtime” host and actress Anne Curtis and south korean star sandara Park.

SERVICES

20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION. Fr. Geoffrey Fontelera Baraan, parish priest and pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Pinole, recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his ordination. The celebration was attended by about 900 friends and family from all over the U.S., including from Chicago, Houston, San Diego, Bakersfield and Las Vegas. Reception and entertainment was held the school gym. Shown in photos with with Fr. Baraan is his mother, Imelda.

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Community Journal

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 6-12, 2017

Supreme Court tightens alendar of Events C across requirements to revoke citizenship Your Immigration Solution Atty. NANcy Miller & ANdA c. KwoNg Since independence Day on July 4, 1776, our nation has seen remarkable progress in the arts, science and technology, and society. Much of this progress has been possible thanks to immigrants—including those who have naturalized to become U.S. citizens. The United States has set standards for the naturalization process. Generally, one must be a permanent resident for at least five years, be over the age of 18, be a person of good moral character; have continuous residency for at least half of the previous five years; meet physical presence requirements; be able to read, write, and speak basic english; have a basic understanding of U.S. history and government; and demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S. constitution. For those who meet the requirements and are approved, the Oath ceremony is one of the proudest moments of their lives.

Rarely discussed, however, is just how many people have been stripped of citizenship. The truth is that denaturalization is not common, but may occur in limited circumstances. On June 22, 2017, the Supreme court of the United States issued a decision that made it more difficult to strip someone of citizenship through the criminal proceedings. in Maslenjak v. United States, the Supreme court held that the Government must establish that a defendant’s illegal act played some role in the acquisition of citizenship in order to convict under the federal statute which

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA WE now live in an age of extreme self-absorption. Many already believe they have become legends in their own minds.

They believe the world revolves around them and that their personal happiness is paramount.

Following the lead of celebrities in the sports and entertainment world, we are being led by the media to believe that life is all about I, Me and Myself at center stage. The songs and stories in popular media all amplify and sell the story of self-love as the highest form of love.

We have all the electronic tools for self-absorption at hand: camera phones, computers, tablets, Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media and the unceasing, unrelenting advertising messages that prick our vanity. We have become the stars in our own firmament.

It’s not a new phenomenon though. Advanced, wealthy civilizations in history have fallen for the same trap. Maybe it’s time to dredge out those stories from mythology, told and retold from the distant past so we can better understand how to deal with this disconcerting trend and see how too much self-absorption eventually lead to despondency and

Health@Heart PhiliP S. ChuA, Md, FACS, FPCS MAnY patients with coronary heart disease have no chest pains or other symptoms indicative of ischemia (diminished blood flow and oxygen to the coronary arteries that supply the muscles of the heart). As such, this silent (asymptomatic) type of ischemia is treacherous and increases the risk of sudden and unexpected death and other cardiac events.

Symptoms, in any illness, are the body’s defense alert system, a good warning sign that allows the affected individual time to do something pre-emptive to protect itself and prevent serious complications, like in seeking prompt medical help. Silent ischemia could strike an individual surreptitiously, causing heart attack or even cardiac arrest. These are the sudden deaths we all hear about every now and then, where the victims do not even know or realize the dangerous situation they are in.

The mechanism The muscles of the heart require oxygen and nutrition to function properly. These vital ingredients are in the blood which

makes it a crime to “knowingly procure, contrary to law, the naturalization of any person.” in this case, the criminal defendant told an American immigration official that her family feared persecution in Bosnia from both parties of the civil war. More specifically, she stated that Muslims would mistreat the family because of their ethnicity, and the Serbs would abuse them because her spouse had evaded serving in the Bosnian Serb Army by hiding for five years. in 2000, after being granted refugee status, the family immigrated to the United States. in 2006, the defendant applied for citizenship, swearing under Oath that she had never given false or misleading information while applying for an immigration benefit. The U.S. government subsequently confronted her husband with records showing that he had in fact served as an officer in the Bosnian Serb Army during a brigade that participated in the Srebrenica massacre. When the defendant attempted to prevent her husband’s deportation, she admitted that she knew the truth all along. Because she gave a false statement, the Government attempted to convict and denaturalize her.

Although both the U.S. District court and the U.S. court of Appeals found in favor of the Government, the Supreme court clarified that in order to be convicted under this particular statute, the Government must establish that the illegal act played a role in the acquisition of citizenship. As an example, the court analogized that if a painting was obtained illegally, one might imagine the wrong things done to obtain it illegally, such stealing it or paying for it with a fraudulent check. The court contrasted that “if no illegal act contributed at all to getting the painting, then the painting would not have been gotten illegally.” As it pertains to naturalization, an example would

be how one requirement to be eligible for citizenship is to be physically present in the United States for at least half of five years. if the lie was about the amount of time spent inside and outside the country, and the citizenship was granted based on that lie, then it would be appropriate to convict someone under this statute. To a further extent, a jury would have to decide if a false statement sufficiently influenced how a reasonable government official would grant citizenship.

The impact of this decision is that a misrepresentation must be material to the grant of citizenship. it means that those who misspoke on a naturalization application or at the interview may still be able to keep their citizenship. it also means that those who misspoke during the process of obtaining asylum or permanent residency or other benefits may still be able to become citizens. in many instances, our immigration laws favor giving a second chance to one who has made a mistake.

This decision strengthens those values. Anyone who has been afraid to seek naturalization, or who, having obtained it, lives in fear of losing it, because of a past misrepresentation should consult with a knowledgeable and experienced immigration lawyer to see if this decision frees the way for them to obtain or keep their U.S. citizenship. *** Reeves, Miller, Zhang & Diza Law Corporation’s offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

An old tale on self-absorption “Vanity of vanities; ALL is vanity.”

- From Ecclesiastes unhappiness.

The antidote to self-absorption, like for many ills that plague our world today, is still the same as it was in the past — love and concern for others, interest in the well-being of someone or being involved in something bigger, higher, loftier than one’s self. The idea of sacrifice still remains the most concrete, visible form of love for another.

In the end, happiness finally comes with the humble awareness and quiet appreciation of what was, what is and what is yet to come — right now, right here where we live our days and nights.

Long ago when enchanted creatures peopled the earth, there was a nymph called echo.

She probably rated a nine and a half on a 10 point-attractiveness scale, gorgeous, knowledgeable and perfect in every way except for one thing — she was a chatterbox nonpareil. She liked to hear herself talk far too much and perhaps, with a tinge of hubris, would insist on having the last word in every conversation.

Juno, the queen of the Gods, was so irked by echo’s habit that she meted out a punishment just for her. echo will no longer be

able to talk, except for one tiny concession — she will be able to say only the last word. in the same forest where the nymphs lived, there was a young man named narcissus who was so classically handsome and perfectly proportioned that all the nymphs oohed and ahhed and fell in love with him at first sight.

Picture Michelangelo’s marble sculpture of “David” in flesh and blood or a composite between dicaprio and Brad Pitt. if he were real person today, he would have made the cover of People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man of the Year.”

His fans became legion that all that adulation got into his head.

He became extremely vain. no nymph was good enough for him.

One day, echo espied narcissus while he was hunting with his peers and fell like a ton of bricks in love with him. She longed to tell him of her feelings, but in her afflicted state, she became painfully shy and simply contented herself silently watching him from a distance, shadowing narcissus’ every move. narcissus, however, became aware of her shadowy presence and talkPAGE B7

Silent heart attack

is supplied to these structures by the coronary arteries. if the blood supply is diminished because the coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked by arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries that reduces the luminal diameter of these arteries), the muscles are deprived of vital oxygen and nutrition. As a result, theoretically, angina pectoris (heart pains) ensues.

But a significant number of heart patients, even with their coronary arteries narrowed, some of them blocked severely, somehow do not develop chest pains. These are the asymptomatic or silent ischemia patients who could be a walking time bomb.

Why “silent”?

When there is myocardial ischemia, it is logically expected that the individual will have chest pains, much like lack of blood to the leg will cause “charlie Horse”type pains, medically termed claudication (pain and spasm of leg muscles) and even gangrene. The explanation for silent ischemia of the heart muscles (asymptomatic patients) is not fully understood.

Some of the theories include: the patient may have a high threshold for pains; the size of the affected muscles in the heart may be small; there may be some collateral circulation to the ischemic area; the ischemia may be of short

duration; some persons may have self-denial; the person may have a defective “warning system,” related to some past brain injury, past heart attack (known or unknown), diabetes, past heart bypass or transplantation.

Etiology The etiology or cause of narrowing of the arteries is multifactorial. While heredity plays a role in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis, lifestyle appears to be the major culprit. This includes a high-cholesterol, high-fat, highcarbohydrate, low-fiber diet of red meat, eggs, dairy products, bread, potato, rice, pasta, cakes, and sweets, instead of fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains. The other important factors are smoking, the lack of daily regimented physical exercises, excess body mass index (weight), and poor stress management. Alcohol abuse, inadequate treatment of existing or undiagnosed hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes mellitus are aggravating conditions that hasten the build-up of cholesterol plaques in the inner walls of the arteries that lead to blockages and resultant ischemia.

The minimum test Obviously, the early detection of myocardial ischemia, especially among those asymptomatic (siPAGE B7

B

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS J U Ly 7

Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers in concert in Las Vegas Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) will hold a concert at the Flamingo Theatre of the Clark County Library at 7 p.m., with touring guest Annie Nepomuceno and special guest tenor Edward Granadosin. Front acts are Michael Perez and Esmeralda Padilla. Please call Dr. Mike Santa Juana at (516) 669-5834, Art Jerus (702) 738-8029 or Randolph Umali (702) 985-5724 for inquiries.

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United Batanguenos of Southern California Induction in Los Angeles The United Batanguenos of Southern California will hold its induction of officers on Saturday, July 8 at Casa Italiana in Los Angeles. Millie Moncada will be inducted as new governor. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions please call Millie at (818) 322-9429; Cely Anuran (805) 630-3377 or Willie Manacsa at (818) 400-7391. Casa Italiana is located at 1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

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11th Ambassadors’ Tour to Manila & Davao The 11th Ambassadors’ Tour will take place in the Philippines from July 11 to 16. Led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism’s Tourism Promotions Board and Rajah Tours, the itinerary for the 11th Ambassadors’ Tour combines the best of Metropolitan Manila up North and the sprawling city of Davao in the South into one adventure-packed and enriching vacation experience. The four-day stay in Davao, the King City of the South and current seat of power in the Philippines, is a special highlight of this year’s event. Participants in this year’s tour will be presented with an opportunity to experience Davao up-close. It is a chance for the participants to revel in Davao’s picturesque landscapes through its nature parks, agricultural farms, and resorts, experience the diversity of its people through a series of courtesy calls with Philippine government officials, and feel the harmony of its culture through its heritage and cultural museums. Tailor-fit to tell the narrative of a new, safer, more beautiful Philippines, the tour will provide its participants with enough experience to engage their respective communities and leverage goodwill towards Filipinos and generate interest in the Philippines. Delegates who will be part of the program become “Filipino ambassadors” in their own right, carrying a fresh perspective and the message of a new and improved Philippines when they go back to the United States. As “Filipino Ambassadors,” this year’s delegates will be well-capable of showcasing the strides made in tourism, economic development, and public safety in the Philippines to the larger international community. For more information and to register, please visit http://www. acgtdt.com.

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Money Smart for Small Business in El Monte, CA Come to an introductory two-day business course designed for newer business owners, self-employed individuals, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Course topics include: startup planning, organizational types, risk management, credit reporting, business insurance, time & financial management, selling & succession planning, banking services for small businesses, recordkeeping, and tax & business planning. The curriculum is developed jointly by the FDIC and the SBA. It will be held on Saturday, July 15 and July 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cathay Bank (9650 Flair Dr., El Monte, CA 91731). The fee is $20 payable to Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (API SBP). Breakfast, lunch and course materials will be provided by Cathay Bank. There will be limited seating so advance registration is required. To register, please contact Colleen Seto at (213) 373-1605 or cseto@ltsc.org. Participants will be eligible for free business counseling by API SBP.

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LEAP’s 35th anniversary celebration in Los Angeles Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP) is proud to celebrate 35 years of ”Growing Leaders” on Thursday, July 20 and the leadership of individuals that exemplify LEAP’s mission to achieve full participation and equality for Asian and Pacific Islanders through leadership, empowerment, and policy. Proceeds from the event will be used to develop LEAP’s innovative leadership programs, cutting-edge public policy research, and nationwide community building. This year’s 35th Anniversary Celebration will be like no other gala that LEAP has had in the past. LEAP’s 35th Anniversary Celebration will be an eventful evening that will be both interactive and experiential. With an abundance of food and friends, LEAP will celebrate those who have shaped the organization, those who have been impacted by the organization, and those who continue to grow as Asian and Pacific Islander leaders and dream big. Honores for the individual leadership award include Fatima Bustos-Choy, Phd, founder of Gaia Flow Consulting and CEO And owner of Body & Brain Holistic Wellness Center; Kenneth Kasamatsu, advisor to the CEO, E-Central Credit Union / The Pacific Bridge Companies, and founder of Pacific Commerce Bank ; Geri Mannion, program director, U.S. Democracy and Special Opportunities Fund at Carnegie Corporation of New York; and Paul Ong, director of the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge at UCLA. The David R. Barclay Alumni Leadership Award will be presented to Scott Chan, program director for the Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement and Patricia A. Neilson, director of Asian American Student Success at University of Massachusetts Boston. The VIP & general reception will begin at 5 p.m., while the program is from 7 to 10 p.m. It will be held at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (244 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90012). Attire is business. To RSVP, visit www.leap.org/celebration_tickets. For more information about registration, contact Mayta Lor at (213) 485-1422 x 4105 or mlor@leap.org.

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Filipino Caucus Family Retreat in Lake Hughes, CA The Filipino Caucus of the California Pacific Annual Conference (CALPAC) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) is inviting its members to a family retreat to be held from July 21 to 23. The venue will be the scenic Oak Camps and Conference Center (18651 Pine Canyon Road, Lake Hughes, California). The Rev. Dr. Bener Agtarap, Associate General Secretary of the UMC Board of Discipleship Ministry will be the resource person and guest speaker during the three- day gathering to be marked with group discussions and fellowship. “Rekindling the Flame” will be the theme of this retreat. According to Rev. Nelson Castorillo, the Filipino Caucus president, the goal of the retreat is re-igniting and rekindling the symbolic flame representing the spirit and unity of this growing group of Filipino-American Methodists and hoping this type of gathering will reenergize and revitalize the Church.

The Rosewood UMC, headed by Ding Lapus, is coordinating the event. He is assisted

by Noribel Taguba, Vicky Ignacio, Dennis Mañacop, Auring Garcia, John Umaguing, Revs.

Manny Predas and Lisa Santiago. Food and lodging for three days is $148 and $103 for children 7-12 years old. Check is payable to the Filipino Caucus, PO Box 10435, Glendale, CA 91209. For more information please call Rev. Nelson (909) 538-7606 or email at nelsonpreacher@gmail.com.

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The Filipino-Americans of Contra Costa County, Inc. hosts annual picnic in Hercules, CA The Filipino-Americans of Contra Costa County, Inc. (FACCC, Inc.) invites you to its annual potluck picnic on Saturday, July 29 at Foxboro Park in Hercules, CA. It will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring your favorite dish to share. FACCC, Inc. will provide barbecued beef, chicken, hot dogs and water. For any inquiries, call Chairperson Roy de Leon at (510) 5655465 or Vice Chair Joe Medrano at (510) 417-0585.

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

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B6 JULY 6-12, 2017 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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Keeping ‘the lines’ open Travelers say EVA’s business amenities best, cabins cleanest to Paco Arespacochaga SKYTRAX reveals World Airline Award winners at Paris Air Show

By Monet

Lu

BEFORE the emergence of boy bands and K-pop stars, the groups that were born in the 80s or 90s scream for solo artists and pop-rock band performers. One of them bears the name “INTRoVOYS” and have won numerous Gold and Multi-Platinum awards, gained quadruple platinum status earning the band the label “the No. 1 Band in the Land!” and received the Guillermo Mendoza Award.

Paco Arespacochaga was one of the founding members of Introvoys along with 3rd-G Cristobal and Jonathan Buencamino. In 1994, they released an album, “Line to Heaven,” in which Paco sang the title song which he had composed after losing both his parents.

Thankfully, Paco kept his line open to talk about what’s keeping him busy lately amongst other things.

Paco: First off, I’d like to thank your readers for spending the time to read our interview. And also to you, for featuring me on your column. Currently, the rest of INTRoVOYS and I are multi-tasking, spending the holidays with family.

Buying gifts and attending Christmas parties have been the norm.

Simultaneously, we’ve been in the studio, rehearsing for our shows in 2017, which includes a North America tour with Geneva Cruz, Jo Awayan and Rey Kilay.

M: Are you based here in the U.S. for good? If yes, what made you decide to relocate and settle here?

P: Yes, my family and I are based here in the U.S. We’ve been here since 2001. It wasn’t hard to decide to migrate my family here when the opportunity came my way. At the end of the day, a better opportunity for my kids was the main reason I decided to migrate to the U.S. M: What is a typical day like for a Paco Arespacochaga?

P: A typical day for me starts with waking up early, planning what I would do for the rest of the day. Currently, aside from the band and family, I am involved in marketing for American Professional Ambulance, which provides non-emergency gurney transports for patients from Skilled Nursing

Paco Arespacochaga

Facilities to the Hospitals. That pretty much takes up the “9-5”.

I do take the kids to school in the morning so that starts my day.

In the afternoon, I spend time with my family – whether it be going out, running errands, grocery shopping, etc.

Evenings vary from day to day because two days are spent with INTRoVOYS, three days are spent with the wifey at the gym and two days could be gig nights, family nights or date nights.

I always say, regardless of what I said, everything is subject to change!

M: Please tell us more about your journey to the music industry/show business?

P: My journey to the music industry was not an easy route.

It involved a lot of perseverance, passion, dedication, commitment, rejections and setbacks. It was a long journey but the payoff was well worth it!

I “applied” to be an actor for VIVA Films when I was 12 years old! Haha. What did I know, right? But my mom, who was always very supportive of me, was always there to encourage me.

Obviously, I didn’t get the gig.

Three years later, at 15 years old, together with Jonathan Buencamino and 3rd G Cristobal, we formed INTRoVOYS. German Moreno gave us a break to be part of the now defunct noon time show, “That’s

Photo by Jerome Libradilla

Entertainment”. It was a good gig because it helped us build a fan base, one we still take pride of having by our side to this day — 30 years later!

To make a long story short, forming the band was difficult in itself and is filled with memorable stories among all of us. But collectively, our journey as a band was more difficult that forming it.

M: How are the INTRoVOYS doing now? Do you still perform as a band or you went solo?

P: INTRoVOYS did 14 major concerts in the United States and Canada this 2016. In 2017, we are scheduled to do 22 shows in North America, three of which has been confirmed and is now posted on www.INTRoVOYS.com/Shows.

I believe I am more effective as part of INTRoVOYS than being a solo performer.

We recently released our 9th album, “Where We Left Off” and we’re pretty satisfied with its sales, considering that it was independently produced. Like what I said earlier, INTRoVOYS is scheduled to do 22 shows in 2017.

We’re also in production for a new album. And we’ve been doing music videos for our previous hits.

M: If you hadn’t been a musician, what would you be doing right now? Why? P: I would’ve been a movie/television director or producer. It has PAGE B7

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – EVA Air is continuing its winning ways by taking the top spot in two categories of SKYTRAX’s annual World Airline Awards, Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness and Best Business Class Comfort Amenities.

SKYTRAX also confirmed that EVA is upholding its commitment to quality service as one of only nine 5-Star Airlines worldwide and ranks among the World’s Top 10 Airlines of 2017. SKYTRAX revealed its World Airline Awards 2017 at the Paris Airshow on Tuesday, 20 June, 2017. The awards were determined through analyses of an extensive global passenger satisfaction survey that featured 320 airlines in the final results. Travelers can learn more about EVA’s exceptional services and book tickets at www. evaair.com.

“No airline can overlook the importance of inflight cabin cleanliness and the impact this has on the customer travel experience.

It is great testimony of EVA Air’s inflight cleanliness and cabin maintenance checks that this is second time in 3-years that the airline has been voted by passengers as the World’s Cleanest Airline,” said Edward Plaisted, SKYTRAX CEO. EVA also ranks second for World’s Best Airport Services and third for World’s Best Cabin Staff. SKYTRAX began rating EVA in 2008 and the airline has steadily updated, upgraded and improved service and products from check-in through the onboard experience and baggage claim. For example, EVA installed easy-to-read electronic maps in airport and introduced turn-down service for Royal Laurel Class

passengers on long-haul flights aboard Boeing 777-300ERs. EVA takes care of details and, thanks to extraordinary staff efforts, offers unsurpassed onboard hospitality. The review and ranking organization awarded EVA 5-Star Airline ranking for the first time in 2016.

“When we received the 5Star Award last year, we made a commitment that EVA will not stop improving and innovating and will continue to uphold this honor. This year, SKYTRAX again awarded us 5-stars. This demonstrates the consistency of our top-notch service, “said EVA President Derek Chen. “I’m grateful to our EVA staff. Thank you for always doing your best to serve every customer. It is a great honor to receive support and recognition from passengers around the globe. EVA will never lose sight of our goal to be the very best. We hope every journey with EVA is one of pure relaxation and delight for every passenger.”

EVA’s emphasis on comfort and quality service doesn’t stop at the top cabin door. Passengers in every seat get benefits of the airline’s trademark warm, friendly service. Clean cabins are part of that service. From take-off to landing, flight attendants keep

shared spaces neat and tidy and lavatories restocked.

Reflecting its recognition for Best Business Class Comfort Amenities, EVA has especially high standards for Royal Laurel Class on the Boeing 777-300ERs it flies to and from North America and on other long-haul routes.

Royal Laurel Class passengers travel in luxurious comfort with award-winning wines, cozy pajamas, lie-flat seats, Rimowa amenity kits and more.

SKYTRAX conducted its survey in English, Spanish and Chinese among 19.87 million eligible respondents between August 2016 and May 2017.

The global ratings organization describes the survey as “independent, impartial and global” and its awards program is not-for-profit.

EVA is frequently honored, awarded and recognized by organizations worldwide.

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, honored EVA Air with two distinctions, “Top 10 Major Airline in Asia Pacific” and “Best Airline – Taiwan.” SKYTRAX, Travel + Leisure and AirlineRatings.com have ranked it among the world’s Top-10 Best International Airlines multiple times.

SKYTRAX also scored EVA as the Best Airline Transpacific and, based on traveler feedback, as the world’s third Most Loved Airline.

AirlineRatings counted EVA Air’s Economy Class and Elite premium economy both among the top-10 best-of-the-best worldwide for 2017. EVA’s Elite Class, introduced in 1992 as one of the world’s very first premium economy cabins, was Best or Second-Best Premium Economy Class in SKYTRAX’s annual poll three years in a row. And Business Traveller Magazine awarded EVA two Gold Medals in its annual Cellars in the Sky competition, one for Best Business Class Cellar and the other for Best Business Class Sparkling Wine.

(Advertising Supplement)

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Is Anne Curtis going to be Valentina?

“HuH? Sa’n nanggaling ‘yun?” a shocked Anne Curtis told Philstar.com Tuesday, July 4 when asked if rumors are true that she will play the nemesis Valentina in the 2018 remake of “Darna” with Liza Soberano in the lead role.

The actress was also mum about details of her alleged project with “Goblin” Korean star Gong Yoo. Likewise, she declined to answer questions about her upcoming wedding with restaurateur Erwan Heussaff, which is also slated for 2018.

During the public opening of fast food chain Jollibee’s 1,000th store at the corner of 39th Street and Triangle Drive in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City Tuesday morning, Anne candidly shared breakfast with Jollibee and the company’s officials.

If Anne would really get the part, Liza said in a recent press conference that she would be happy to work with Anne. “I’d love to work with Ate Anne. I love Ate Anne! But of course, it all depends on her,” Liza said.

Besides Anne, the names of Iza

always been my passion to be in the arts. So it’s safe to say that if wasn’t lucky enough to be in front of the camera, I would definitely be behind it.

M: (If you don’t mind us asking) Are with someone right now? Would you mind sharing some details?

P: Yes, I am with someone right now. Her name is Janelle. We have a daughter named Cassidy Jane Louise, who’s turning 2 in January.

Between the two of us, we have five children.

M: How is your relationship with your kids? How do you maintain your presence in their lives?

P: My relationship with my children is as good as any parent.

Compared to their moms, I’m less hands on. I’m more of their “mentor”. We hang out. We talk.

We play. I am always in their lives.

And when they hit 18 years of

PAGE B5

Artist Gpao Villeza’s creative visualization of Anne Curtis as Valentina now trending on social media.

Instagram/gpaovilleza

Calzado, Jessy Mendiola and Venus Raj surfaced on social media as among those being considered

age, I kick them out into the real world! I did that to my first born, Heaven, and have been proud of what he has become, which is a self-reliant, self-sufficient and independent human being with a good head on his shoulders.

I’m pretty sure, his little brothers know I’m not kidding about them being out of the nest by the time they reach 18.

M: Any words of wisdom you care to share? Feel free to address your fans.

P: I just want our True Fans to know how grateful I am to be blessed the way I’ve been. I want my fans to know that they can rest assured that I will always remain humble and will continue to write music for them. Because of their support and generosity, I will always be humble. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons

she wasn’t good enough for him and scorned her for her bold presumptuousness and repudiated her total being. He sent her away devastating Echo in the most cutting words, slashing and burning her very existence, swearing he would rather die than be with Echo. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Silent heart attack

lent) cases, is essential. This can prevent sudden cardiac death.

Since many of these persons have no indication whatsoever about the state of their coronary arteries and they all may be feeling “100 percent healthy,” the only prudent strategy is to do prophylactic (preventive) investigation.

Based on medical statistics, the minimum test recommended is a stress electrocardiogram (Stress EKG) for those with chest pains or other symptoms suspicious of coronary heart disease. Those with a strong family history of coronary heart disease or heart attack and/or hypercholesterolemia and diabetes, regardless of age, should also have Stress EKG every 2 to 5 years, depending on the severity of their hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes or hyperthyroidism. For those with none of these illnesses and with no familial history of coronary heart disease, Stress EKG is nonetheless advisable when they are 45 and older, especially for those who smoke, and a mandatory test for pilots and some giant corporate executives. There are other more sophisticated tests available.

The supreme court of heart tests To arrive at the final confirmatory diagnosis, a cardiac cath is performed. This is the “court of last resort,” the “supreme court” of heart tests, that will tell us, once and for all, with 100% accuracy, if there are stenoses (blockages) in the coronary arteries or not, how powerful or weak the ventricular contraction is, the integrity of the heart muscles, in segments and as a whole, and if there are any other cardiac abnormalities present, like heart valve disease, etc. If there are coronary artery stenoses present, this angiogram, which is recorded in a video film (movie of the heart in action), will also show which arteries are blocked, how many percent obstruction there is (are) and the exact location of the blockage(s). The findings will also help the cardiologist and the cardiac surgeon make a final decision if heart surgery is needed or

Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres celebrate Ormoc’s first Piña Festival Pangilinan Philstar.com

An old tale on self...

PAGE B5 ed her out of her hiding place.

Echo could only repeat the last words of what Narcissus was saying in their conversation so she may have came out sounding like a mindless idiot, vexing Narcissus.

Besotted with love for the hunk however and believing Narcissus’ plea that she come out so they can be joined together, she finally overcame her crippling shyness and revealed herself. However, Narcissus felt

B

by Robbie

to give life to Mars Ravelo’s snake woman. (Deni Rose M. AfinidadBernardo/Philstar.com)

Keeping ‘the lines’ open to Paco...

PAGE B6

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 6-12, 2017

not, and if it is, what procedure to do, which arteries to bypass, blocked arteries) will be, the percentage of risk of the surgery, and the prognosis.

Clinical highlights Various investigative studies have been done to address this particular issue on silent ischemia, its diagnosis and treatment. To of these trials are the ACIP (Asymptomatic Cardiac Ischemia Pilot) and the ASIST (Atenolol Silent Ischemia Study). The findings are as follows: (1) Silent cardiac ischemia could lead to sudden cardiac death; (2) In the ACIP trial, it has been shown that revascularization, using coronary angioplasty or bypass surgery provided more effective relief of the ischemia than medical (pill) therapy alone; (3) In the ASIST study, those treated with Atenolol showed great reduction of ischemia and the risk of future events compared to those who were given placebo (“sugar” pills, in the controlled group); (4) the prevalence and risk of cardiac events have been much less where ischemia has been treated with revascularization; (5) that risk factor modification (lifestyle and behavioral changes: cessation of smoking, abstinence from red meat and eggs, a diet of fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains, daily exercises), together with aggressive treatment as in numbers 2 and 3 above, reduces or eliminates myocardial ischemia, left ventricular dysfunction, and the incidence of sudden cardiac death. It is obvious that a pre-emptive strike, a prophylactic strategy, on everyone’s part is the only way to beat sudden cardiac death. *** 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

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

SAY “Ormoc City” and instantly, the image of pineapples comes to mind.

In this city known as “Beauty by the Bay,” the Queen Pineapple has become the unofficial city icon, known for its sweetness unlike any other.

“Pinya is Ormoc’s pride. We are known for our Queen Table Pineapple and we want to celebrate that,” said Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez.

The city held its first Piña Festival on June 25 with a jovial event that featured a street dancing competition, a ritual/showdown, and the crowning of the festival queen.

“Richard thought that the pineapple is the star product of the city.

It’s good to be known for many things but to have a star product is an identity. For us it’s the pineapple, so we dedicated a fiesta for t. It’s a very Filipino thing to do, to give fruits,” said Ormoc City Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez.

STI College Ormoc was the grand winner, bagging first place in the street dancing competition and the ritual/showdown. It also won Best in Choreography, while its bet, Cherry Mae Duterte, was hailed the Festival Queen.

Western Leyte College was second place in the ritual/showdown and third in the street dance category. Eastern Visayas State university-Ormoc campus was third at the ritual/showdown while

Mayor Richard Gomez, daughter Juliana, and wife Lucy Torres-Gomez celebrate Ormoc City’s first Piña Festival.

Philstar.com photos by Robbi Pangilinan

Ipil National High School was second place in the street-dancing category. It also won Best in Costume.

The festival is Mayor Gomez’s brainchild. He conceptualized it himself and was hands-on in all preparations. Different organizations, including the Rotary Club, worked together to make the festival successful.

“I’m very happy that we were able to execute this. The public’s reception of it is fantastic, the

people enjoyed it. I think this is something to look forward to every year. And we promise that every year will be better and better,” added Mayor Gomez. His wife agreed, saying that it will only get better through time.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Ching, the guest of honor, said he was impressed by the pioneering festival.

Cebu Pacific Air offers direct, four-times-a-week flights from Cebu to Ormoc in Leyte.

B8 JULY 6-12, 2017 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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