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Volume 28 - no. 22 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

June 8-14, 2017

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Aguirre tags Trillanes, Aquino in Marawi crisis

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre ii is seeking an investigation into the possible connection of opposition lawmakers with the terror crisis in marawi city.

Aguirre said senators Bam Aquino and Antonio trillanes iV, together with and magdalo partylist rep. Gary Alejano and former Aquino administration presidential political adviser ronald Llamas, met with local leaders in marawi city weeks before the conflict broke out. he also suggested that the marawi incident could be part of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre (left) has fresh accusations over what he thinks are destabilization plot against Presipossible links of Sens. Bam Aquino, Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV to recent national tragedies in the Philippines. The three legislators are staunch critics of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. dent rodrigo Duterte.

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Philstarcom photos

DATELINE

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

‘PH-US military ties remain strong’

DUTERTE ORDERS TROOPS TO ‘CRUSH’ REbElS

Father of Maute group leaders arrested in Davao

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

the father of brothers Abdullah and omar maute, the suspected leaders of the extremist maute group, has reportedly been arrested on tuesday, June 6 in Davao city.

According to Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, deputy commander of the eastern mindanao command, casamora maute was nabbed by authorities around 10 a.m. in a the military relationship between the Phil- checkpoint manned by both the Davao city Police office ippines and the united states remains strong u PAGE A2 despite Philippine President rodrigo Duterte’s seemingly distant approach to the u.s. government, officials from both countries affirmed. head of u.s. Pacific command Admiral harry harris and Philippine undersecretary for Defense Policy ricardo David both made the assurance during the southeast Asian Young Leaders’ Programme on sunday, June 4 in singapore. “i believe that we are in a very good place with regard to military to military activities in the Philippines,� harris said.

Backing up harris’ statement, David added: “As far as the Philippines is concerned, i think we have good relations with the united states. the Balikatan just concluded. it will continue because this is a part of our Philippine alliance Weapons charges will be brought against Cayamora Maute (left), father with the us. We have a mutual Defense trea- of the leaders of the terror group battling government forces in Marawi ty.�

City.

Inquirer.net photo by Joselle Badilla

AFP receives new counterterrorism weapons

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RESORTS WORLD MANILA INQUIRY. Chief, Safety, Security and Surveillance Office Mr. Armeen Gomez, Chief Legal Officer Atty. Ma. Georgina Alvarez, Resorts World Manila President Kingson Sian, Chief Operating Officer COO Stephen James Reilly, PAGCOR Chairperson and CEO Andrea Domingo, DILG Usec. Catalino Cuy, NCRPO Police Director Oscar Albayalde and representatives from the Philippine National Police, took their oaths during the Congressional hearing on the Resorts World Manila incident following the attack on Friday, June 2. The congressional hearing was held at the Dignitaries Lounge of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, in Pasay City on Tuesday, June 6.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Police: Resorts World gunman a ‘heavily indebted’ gambler

by AJPress the lone gunman behind the resorts World manila attack that killed 37 last friday, June 2 was a “heavily indebted� gambler, according to the Philippine police. in a press briefing on sunday, June 4, National capital region Police office (NcrPo) chief oscar Albayalde identified the gunman as 42-year-old Jessie carlos, who was a dismissed Department of finance (Dof) official.

According to Albayalde, carlos racked up about P4 million-worth of debt at a certain casino he frequented, which police declined to name. the NcrPo chief later noted that the said casino was not resorts World manila. “he is heavily indebted due to being hooked on casino gambling, according to his immediate family,� Albayalde said. “this became the cause of misunderstanding with his wife and parents. he has a bank account with an outstanding debt of P4 million and several other non-bank related debt.� he said carlos was forced to sell a property in Batangas province, including a vehicle, on account of

GUNMAN IDENTIFIED. National Capital Region Police Office Chief Oscar Albayalde shows the picture of Resorts World Manila attacker named Jessie Carlos during the press briefing’ at Remington Hotel in Pasay City on Sunday, June 3.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

his debts. carlos’ gambling problem prompted his family to ask stateowned Philippine Amusement and Gaming corp. (Pagcor) to ban him from its casinos.

As per the request of his family, Pagcor had banned carlos from all of its casinos since April 3. “this could have probably triggered him, kaya galit na galit siya sa (that’s why he’s so angry at the)

casino,� Albayalde added.

At midnight on friday, carlos stormed into resorts World manila in Pasay city with an m4 carbine and two 1.5-liter bottles of gasoline. he fired shots inside the casino, burned down gambling tables, and stole an about 113 million-worth of casino chips.

While reports claimed carlos

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US accuses China of DOT launches new ‘Experience Philippines’ campaign Confident Pacquiao says age difference with Horn ‘buying its way out’ of South China Sea issues ‘nothing but a number’

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

chiNA cannot use its economic powers to evade issues concerning territorial disputes in the south china sea row and the rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula, the united states said on monday, June 5.

While Washington desires to have a “productive� relationship with Beijing, u.s. secretary of state rex tillerson stressed that china should not “buy its way out� of diplomatic issues. “We desire productive relationships, but we cannot allow china to use its economic power to buy its way out of other problems, whether it’s militarizing islands in the south china sea or failing to put appropriate pressure on North Korea,� tillerson said after a meeting with his counterpart in sydney, Australia. he added, “they must recognize that, with a role as a growing economic and trading power comes security responsibilities as well.� china, which has been considered among

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the Philippine Department of tourism (Dot) is set to launch its newest campaign advertisement next week. on Wednesday, June 7, tourism secretary Wanda teo showed reporters a preview of a minutelong promotional video for its newest “experience Philippines� tourism campaign. the video features a blind Japanese retiree, mr. uchimura, being warmly received by filipinos while engaging in different activities at several top tourist destinations in the Philippines.

Among the destinations featured in the ad include the hundred islands in Pangasinan, Banaue rice terraces in ifugao, Paoay sand Dunes in Laoag, and calle crisologo in Vigan. “here, you don’t have to see

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

the video.

According to Dot undersecretary Kat de castro, the new ad is based on a true experience of a foreigner who decided to retire

“AGe? oh, it’s nothing but just a number.� manny “Pacman� Pacquiao may be nine years older than his opponent but the filipino boxing champion is confident that age disparity doesn’t matter in his upcoming fight with Australian Jeff horn. speaking to Aquiles Zonio of Philboxing.com, the 38-year-old Pacquiao doused off thoughts that there’ll be drawbacks in exchanging punches with a younger boxer. “sa edad ko, nagagawa ko ang mga ginagawa nang mas bata sa atin (in my age, i can do what younger people can),� Pacquiao said. he then asked, “Ang tanong, nagagawa ba nang mas bata sa akin ang mga ginagawa ko lalo na sa training at sa loob ng ring (Now the question is, can the younger ones do what i’m doing, especially during training and when i’m inside the ring)?�

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In this photo, tourism officials hold press conference at the DOT Media Center, DOT Bldg., Makati City on Wednesday, June 7.

Philippine News Agency photo by Ben Briones

the sun to discover radiance.

You don’t have to see color to experience vibrance. You don’t have to see smiles to know you’re safe You don’t have to see to feel you’re home,� uchimura said in

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JUNE 8-14, 2017 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

From The FronT Page

Aguirre tags Trillanes, Aquino...

PAGE A1 “I don’t understand why after they went there, there was chaos after about two weeks,” the justice secretary remarked at a press conference on Wednesday, June 7.

The meeting between the opposition senators and local leaders supposedly happened two weeks before the clashes between government forces and the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute terrorist group first erupted on May 23.

“Because Senator Bam Aquino, I’m not — all I’m saying is, he went to Marawi on April 24 and April 28 and they stayed, they had a meeting at Lake View Resort Hotel on May 2. Present were Senator Aquino, Ronald Llamas, Alejano, Trillanes, and some clans there in Marawi, mga Moro family,” Aguirre said.

He hinted that there’s a possibility that the meeting could have “sparked the terroristic acts.”

“I don’t know, but what I was told is that, they met with several families there, including Lucman and Alonto families. But I don’t want to connect it, unless there is evidence in the money taken, seized,” Aguirre added, referring to the P52 million cash found in a previously Maute-occupied house.

In apparent support of his allegations, Aguirre showed reporters

a photo of the supposed meeting. In the photo were Llamas, Aquino, Trillanes, Alejano, former Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid, and Zamboanga Vice Governor Ace Cerilles.

But Cerilles, through social media, clarified that the photo was taken two years ago.

“I have said, this picture was taken Sept. 4, 2015 at Iloilo International Airport when I attended the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines Visayas Conference as the National Treasurer. I don’t know why they are trying to link this to the #MarawiSiege.

Check your facts!” Cerilles wrote in a Facebook post.

In a later statement, however, Aguirre retracted his remarks, claiming that the media “misquoted” him.

“For the record, I did not say there was a meeting between the two families and some lawmakers prior to the Marawi siege. The said meeting never took place and no member of both families ever met with Senator Trillanes, Congressman Alejano and Ronald Llamas,” Aguirre said.

He further insisted, “What I said was that there were reports that some opposition senators and leaders who went to Marawi to recruit local politicians and warlords to destabilize the Duterte adminis-

tration. I never said that they were successful in recruiting any local politicians and warlords.”

The justice secretary went on to express his “sincere apologies” to the Alonto and Lucman families “for any confusion” in connection with the issue.

“There was no intent on my part to implicate the Alonto and Lucman families in the crisis that Marawi City is currently facing,” Aguirre said. “Both families have never been and shall never be a part of any plot to destroy or cause harm to anybody or any property.”

Opposition: Aguirre is a ‘liar’ In separate statements, Aquino, Trillanes, and Alejano, all denied alleged links to the Maute group, slamming Aguirre for his “lies.”

“To be clear, there was never any meeting among the individuals mentioned by Sec. Aguirre,” Aquino said.

While he admitted that he went to Marawi City last month, he clarified that it was for the May 19 launch of the first Negosyo Center in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

He further noted that this can be easily verified with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who he said escorted him in his trip.

PAGE A3

Confident Pacquiao says age difference...

PAGE A1 Pacquiao has been a professional boxer for more than three decades, earning eight world titles in different weight classes. He has a ring record of 59 wins, six losses, two draws.

Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Horn has a record of 16 wins and one draw, making a total number of matches to 17 since his professional debut in 2013.

The Australian fighter also previously competed in the 2012 London Olympics but lost in the quarterfinals.

Their fight will take place on July 2 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, where Pacquiao has to defend his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) welterweight title from Horn.

For Pacquiao, fighting in an opponent’s turf is not a problem either.

“A huge crowd cheering for my opponent will just motivate

Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn pose during a press conference Wednesday promoting their July 2 fight in Brisbane, Australia.

Photo from Manny Pacquiao’s Twitter account

me further. When we climb atop the ring, only the two of us will trade vicious punches. So, I feel it’s never an advantage on the part of my opponent,” Pacquiao said.

But Czar Amonsot, Horn’s Filipino sparring partner, warned that Horn’s lightning speed is not to be

THE END IS NEAR. Army soldiers conduct clearing operations in Marawi City on Wednesday, June 7. Two weeks after gunmen waving black flags of the Islamic State (IS) group rampaged through Marawi, a Muslim-majority city, initial assertions from authorities that the conflict would be over in days have given way to warnings of a protracted battle.

Inquirer.net photo by Jeoffreu Maitem

Father of Maute group leaders arrested...

PAGE A1 and by the Army’s 10th Infantry Division in Sirawan, Toril District.

The elder Maute—who is also believed to be one of the rebel group’s top leaders—was reportedly seeking medical help in Davao City when he was arrested.

Since May 23, the government has been conducting ongoing clearing operations in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur against the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute extremist group.

“This is a big blow to the Maute terrorist group,” Gapay said.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera, military spokesman on the Marawi crisis, the Maute brothers’ father “provides funding and logistical support in terms of the operations” for the group.

“We also received reports that the father is part of the recruiting arm of the Maute [Group],” he told Rappler.

Along with Casamora, four others were also arrested, who were identified as his wife Kongan Balawag, his daughter Norjanah Maute, his son-in-law Benzarali Tingao, and van driver Aljon Salazar Ismael.

“As a patriarch and the father of the Maute brothers...I guess he

can still persuade his sons to stop the fighting in Marawi and once and for all surrender to the government,” Gapay said.

Casamora and his family, including the driver, are currently detained at the Davao City Police Office.

‘Crush them’ President Rodrigo Duterte has recently ordered the military to completely “crush” the terrorists in Marawi City.

Speaking before the military in Cotabato City, Duterte said that they’re fighting a rebellion he intended to win.

“I am ordering you to crush (them)... When I say ‘crush’ them, you have to destroy everything, including lives,” Duterte told soldiers.

Rallying the troopers, Duterte reiterated his full support for the military.

He also said he would assume full responsibility for the consequences of his orders, telling the troopers to not be afraid of doing their jobs.

“Gentlemen, we are fighting a rebellion. Rebellion is a war, it is not anything that you see everyday, not peace and order… If we allow it to overcome them, then

this country will end something like minus the island of Mindanao,” Duterte warned.

The conflict in Marawi City has prompted Duterte to declare martial law in the entire Mindanao region.

As the ongoing confrontation entered its third week, the death toll reportedly reached around 188 as of Saturday, June 3 -- 120 from the terrorist ranks, 38 from the government forces, and 30 civilians.

“The avowed objective of the ISIS is to kill and destroy, period.

Which is why I will destroy also and kill, period. Let us finish what you started you sons of b****. Let’s finish this,” the president said.

Duterte, who also hails from Mindanao, took a swipe at the insurgents who allegedly pledged allegiance to the IS group.

“I am angry because they brought a foreign ideology to Lanao. The Moros are dying for it.

Use your head,” he remarked.

He went on to say, “Why do you allow other people to come to our country and destroy us with their ideology? We have our own. What you’re believing is foreign, that’s not yours, that came from the Middle East.”

‘PH-US military ties remain...

taken lightly.

“Jeff is explosive,’’ Amonsot told Grantlee Kieza of The CouPAGE A1 rier-Mail.

“His right-hand lead is fast and Duterte, who assumed office powerful. That’s a punch that could in June last year, had announced give Pacquiao a lot of trouble,’’ he that the Philippines would shift added. closer toward China and Russia as part of his administration’s independent foreign policy.

David, however, assured that the Duterte administration’s building of closer ties with other countries like China and Russia doesn’t mean that the Philippines would distance itself away from the U.S., its decades-long ally.

“The president, I believe, wants to have an independent foreign policy, meaning we can be open to China, we can be open to Russia. He wants to have cooperation also with those two countries,” he said.

Harris also noted that Philippine and U.S. forces have been working together against terrorist

threats, which exhibits the importance of the two countries’ military relationship.

“We are involved in activities in Mindanao to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) take the fight to IS in the Philippines. I think that is a recognition of how important our relationship with the Philippines is,” Harris said.

The two officials made the statement amid the ongoing clashes between the Philippine government forces and the Islamic Stateinspired Maute Group in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The Maute group laid siege of Marawi City on May 23 in the middle of a government operation to capture Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon. Hours later, the confrontation prompted Duterte to declare martial law and suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus

in the entire Mindanao.

On Sunday, June 5, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella announced on a state-run radio that around 188 people have been killed in connection with the Marawi crisis.

“As of 11 p.m., June 3, 2017 in Marawi, there have been 30 civilians that have been killed by local terrorist groups, and those rescued are 1,271. Government casualties or those killed in action are 38,” Abella said. “Our troops have killed 120 from the terrorist ranks, and that has remained unchanged.”

Counterterror weapons On Monday, June 5, the Philippine Marines received new counterterrorism weapons from the U.S. government under its U.S. Counterterrorism Train and Equip program.

Washington has donated new firearms, among of which include 300 M4 carbines, 200 Glock 21 pistols, four M134D Gatling-style machine guns and 100 M203 grenade launchers.

“This equipment will enhance the [Philippine Marines’] counterterrorism capabilities, and help protect [troops] actively engaged in counterterrorism operations in the southern Philippines,” the U.S. embassy said in a statement.

Since 2007, the embassy said the Joint United States Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) has delivered and programmed P7.3 billion worth of weaponry to the Philippine military as part of enhancing the latter’s counterterrorism capabilities.

It added that the U.S. government has allocated P15 billion of grant funding to provide the AFP with equipment, including corresponding upgrades and training, over the last five years.

Additionally, the Philippine government has procured small arms, watercraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and personal protective equipment under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

According to Marines Chief Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat, some of the donated weapons will be used by the military in its operations in Marawi.

“We will give this to our troops.

Our priority is in Marawi,” Salamat told reporters after the turn-over ceremony at the Marine headquarters in Taguig City.

Last week, Duterte said he will no longer accept second-hand weapons for the Philippine military.

“I do not want those given by the Americans. During my time, I will not have second-hand ships. It has to be brand new,” Duterte told soldiers at a military base in Mindanao last Friday, June 2.

He added that he is willing to “spend double the money” as long as the weapons for Filipino troopers were new. (AJPress)

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 8-14, 2017

Michael ‘Hammer Fist ‘ Farenas wins comeback fight

COsTa Mesa, Ca - Former world title challenger, Michael “Hammer Fist” Farenas (42-5-4, 34 KOs), was victorious in his comeback fight at the “Fight Club OC” card in Costa Mesa, Ca, winning by third round KO over Mexico’s Martin angel Martinez (17-12-1, 11 KOs).

From the opening round Farenas was the aggressor, as he came forward landing his signature over hand left, which dropped Martinez midway through round one. as the fight went on, Farenas continued to land his overhand left, wearing down Martinez. In round three, Farenas landed a barrage of punches that send Martinez to the canvas for good. The knockout happened at the 2:04 mark of round three.

“I felt very good going into this fight and it showed in my performance,” said Michael Farenas. “I felt I gave the fans the fans a great show. My goal now is to get back into world title contention in the lightweight division. I feel much stronger at this weight. I’m hoping to get back in the ring by the Las Vegas, NV – U.s. senaend of the summer.” (Story and tor Catherine Cortez Masto photos by Jhay Oh Otamias) (D-Nev.) today participated in a roundtable discussion with leaders of the asian american Pacific Islander (aaPI) community and attended an Immigration Know the justice secretary, issued a legal Your Rights Forum. senator Coropinion in 2014 that banned the tez Masto discussed challenges Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) immigrants face in light of the from implementing fire safety laws Trump administration’s new and regulations in Resorts World immigration policies, invited attendees to learn about their legal Manila and other casinos. aguirre then said that De Lima instead gave the jurisdiction Philippine economic Zone authority (PeZa) despite its “lack of capability to impose fire PAGE A1 regulations.” in the Philippines.

“Because of the said opinion, she added that the add is also it is PeZa, a government agency meant to promote the country as without competence and experi- PWD and senior citizen-friendly ence in fire protection, who was destination. given the authority to implement The campaign is scheduled the Fire Code and its implement- to be launched locally at on Ining rules and regulations [includ- dependence Day, June 12, and ing] PeZa registered companies later, worldwide. like the casinos. such authority earlier in January, the DOT recould not even be found in the leased its first campaign ad with enabling law, Ra 7916,” aguirre the tagline, “When you’re with told DZMM. Filipinos, you’re with family.”

He, however, clarified that he is Nickelodeon Park not blaming De Lima for the recent also on Wednesday, the Tourincident in Resorts World Manila. ism chief took the opportunity “I did not say that she is liable. to clarified that only the DeWhat I want is to investigate the partment of environment and effect of her legal opinion, aguirre Natural Resources (DeNR) has said. “Is De Lima liable? No, un- the authority to issue permits for less, it will be shown by evidence the construction of the controthat there was illegal consider- versial Nickelodeon theme park ation in the issuance of the legal in Coron, Palawan. opinion.” “syempre at the end of the

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Cortez Masto participates in AAPI roundtable and Immigration Know Your Rights Forum

Aguirre tags Trillanes, Aquino...

PAGE A2 The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also issued a statement backing up aquino’s claims.

“The [DTI] would just like to state the fact that sen. Bam aquino, along with our stakeholders in the military, the business sector and the local government, were in Marawi to attend the launch of aRMM’s first Negosyo Center in Marawi, the 508th Negosyo Center in the country,” it said. aquino then took a swipe at aguirre for making “outrageous allegations.”

“Is fake news enough for the head of our country’s Department of Justice to make these outrageous allegations?” aquino hit back.

Trillanes, on the other hand, advised the justice secretary “to avoid getting his intel from facebook conspiracy theorists.”

“The incompetence of aguirre is only matched by his stupidity,” Trillanes said.

He also denied involvement with the rebel group, adding that he hasn’t been in Marawi for years.

“For the record, I am not involved in any way with the Maute

group or the Marawi incident. sec. Lorenzana said so himself. I also did not have any meeting in Marawi in May 2 since I haven’t visited Marawi for the past 3 years.

But don’t take my word for it, simply check the senate records for May 2,” Trillanes remarked.

For his part, alejano said records can verify that he was in press conference with the House media, and later, in a plenary session, on May 2.

He then slammed aguirre, calling him a “peddler of lies.”

“This is a complete lie fabricated by no less than a secretary of justice who should be the first one to uphold truth in pursuit of justice in this country,” alejano said. “He has become a purveyor of anything that is fake, a peddler of lies and a persecutor of people who does not agree with the policies of the Duterte administration.”

De Lima to be included in probe according to Justice secretary Vitaliano aguirre II, senator Leila De Lima will be included in the separate National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) investigation into the Resorts World attack.

In a radio interview, aguirre took note that De Lima, who was then

rights, and encouraged them to speak up and use their voices.

“Hearing directly from our immigrant communities is necessary to understand the current challenges that immigrant families face under this administration,” Cortez Masto said. “Immigrant families are suffering a great amount of fear and anxiety everyday due to the administration’s harmful immigration policies. Our immigra-

tion system has left thousands of aaPI families waiting for decades to reunite with their loved ones. It is past time we come together to fix our immigration system so that it reflects our american values of fairness and family unity. I will continue to be a voice for our immigrant communities in the senate and bring light to their countless contributions – culturally and economically.”

DOT launches new ‘Experience Philippines’... day, hindi naman kami yung mag-i-issue ng permit, it’s DeNR and the local government unit (Of course at the end of the day, it is not the DOT who will issue the permit but it’s the DENR and the local government unit),” Teo said.

Teo made the statement days after announcing in a television interview that the project will push through despite a heavy opposition from environmental advocates and concerned citizens.

“DOT does not issue permits.

We are only here to sell the destination once it is ready... to promote the destination. If it has complied with everything, I’m sure bibigyan ng permit ‘yan (I’m sure they’ll be given permit) and we will sell the destination definitely,” she added. allaying fears, Teo reaffirmed

that the park developers assured her they would “preserve the environment,” and that the project will not damage the corals.

Last January, Nickelodeon’s parent company Viacom, in partnership with Coral World Park Undersea Resorts Inc., announced its plan to develop a 400-hectare theme park in Coron. a previous company release said it plans to build an “undersea development showcasing the area’s marine life that would give fans a chance to ‘interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love.’”

The developers, however, was quick to clarify that the project is not an underwater theme park but rather, a land-based “resort and attraction” designed as “an undersea attraction with an ocean conservation focus.”

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JUNE 8-14, 2017 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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Daylight on diabetes drugs: Nevada bill would track insulin makers’ profits PATIENTS notched a rare win over the pharmaceutical industry Monday when the Nevada Legislature revived a bill requiring insulin makers to disclose the profits they make on the lifesustaining drug. In a handful of other states, bills addressing drug prices have stalled.

Many of the 1.25 million Americans who live with Type 1 diabetes cheered the legislative ef-

fort in Nevada as an important first step in their fight against skyrocketing costs of a drug on which their lives depend. The cost of insulin medications has steadily risen over the past decade by nearly 300 percent.

Prominent patient advocacy groups, like the American Diabetes Association, have maintained stony silence while diabetes patients championed the bill

and lobbied the legislature during this debate — a silence that patients and experts say stems from financial ties.

“Normally all of the patient advocacy groups rally around causes and piggyback on each other in a productive way — that’s what advocacy groups are good at — but that hasn’t been the case here,” said Thom Scher, chief operating officer of Beyond Type 1, which does not accept donations from the pharmaceutical industry. Beyond Type 1 has not issued a formal opinion on the Nevada bill.

Many of the dozens of U.S. diabetes advocacy organizations, large and small, garner significant portions of their funding from insulin manufacturers. The Nevada bill also requires such organizations operating in-state to disclose all contributions they receive from the pharmaceutical industry to discourage that sort of conflict.

In 2016, two of the “big three” insulin producers — Eli Lilly and Sanofi — contributed at least $4.7 million to such national patient advocacy groups as the American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC), JDRF International and the Diabetes Hands Foundation, according to company disclosures. The third major insulin manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, does not disclose its charitable contributions.

The advocacy groups have taken no position on the Nevada legislation. Generally speaking, their advocacy focuses on pressuring insurers to pay the price of insulin, not protesting price rises.

Local diabetes groups, hardly free from conflicts with the pharmaceutical industry, have also stayed on the sidelines.

The Nevada Diabetes Association for Children and Adults officially issued a neutral opinion.

“The Nevada Diabetes Association supports regulations on medications. The problem with SB 265 is that it is not just regulating medication but the industry,” said Executive Director Sarah Gleich.

The nonprofit does not list its fiscal sponsors on its website or most recent 990 tax form.

“We disclose what we have received, and the IRS does not require that we publicly publish from whom,” Gleich said. “No

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Many of the 1.25 million Americans who live with Type 1 diabetes cheered the legislative effort in Nevada as an important first step in their fight against skyrocketing costs of a drug on which their lives depend. The cost of insulin medications has steadily risen over the past decade by nearly 300 percent.

one is giving out their invitation list to the party.”

Gleich said the Nevada Diabetes Association receives table sponsorships and supplies for camp programs from the pharmaceutical industry but “nothing that would make a dent on the budget.” Auditing non-monetary donations in order to meet the bill’s transparency requirement would be burdensome, Gleich said.

Membership dues accounted for only about $6,000 of the group’s $320,000 in revenue last year, according to its latest tax form.

The American Diabetes Association — which operates a Nevada chapter — accepted at least $3.9 million from Eli Lilly and Sanofi last year.

“The American Diabetes Association believes that no individual in need of lifesaving medications such as insulin should ever go without due to prohibitive costs,” Michelle Kirkwood, its director of strategic communications and media relations, said in a statement. She would not say whether the nonprofit supports the bill.

Former American Diabetes Association president Larry Hausner wrote an op-ed in the Nevada Appeal opposing the legislation.

“Caring for people with diabetes involves more than what they pay for insulin or another medication,” Hausner wrote.

“As a lifelong patient advocate, I know Nevadans expect more out of their elected officials.”

Hausner, now the president of a consulting and public affairs firm, serves on the board of di-

rectors of Research!America, a nonprofit promoting increased federal funding for public health research, alongside Sanofi’s president of global research & development, Elias Zerhouni.

The Diabetes Hands Foundation expressed neutrality on the bill. “This state priority in Nevada is a good step towards a larger conversation about the costs of chronic care conditions like diabetes,” said the foundation’s director of advocacy, Mandy Jones. “But it’s hard to know the particular outcome of this particular bill in the U.S. market.”

JDRF International would not comment. DPAC deferred questions to the National Diabetes Volunteer Leadership Council.

Against the backdrop of silence from these patient advocacy groups, a community of diabetes patients on Twitter elevated the bill’s profile around the hashtag #insulin4all, created by T1International, a group in the United Kingdom that does not accept pharmaceutical donations.

“People feel frustrated. At the federal level, we’re not being seen because there’s so much going on politically,” said Erin Gilmer, a Colorado advocate with Type 1 diabetes. “It might have to be a state-by-state movement.”

Sen. Yvanna Cancela, who sponsored the bill, said she believed requiring diabetes advocacy groups to reveal their sources of funding was key to understanding their positions and bringing prices down. “I believe there should be transparency across the health care system,” Cancela said.

Gov. Brian Sandoval said Monday night that he intends to sign the bill, according to a Nevada Independent reporter. If the governor takes no action, the transparency rules become law.

The bill, SB539, incorporates provisions of an earlier bill approved by the legislature but vetoed by Sandoval. Sponsors stripped a controversial provision that would have required insulin manufacturers to warn patients 90 days before raising prices, which stoked concerns about drug stockpiling, the Associated Press reported Monday.

The Nevada bill “is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Elizabeth Rowley, founder and director of T1International.

“Almost anything requiring more transparency is incredibly important right now, especially at a time when almost all diabetes patient advocacy groups take funding from drug and device companies.”

Laura Marston, an advocate in Washington, D.C., with Type 1 diabetes, said that there is plenty of grass-roots support for legislation on insulin prices but that advocacy organizations are not listening to the right people.

“There should be more focus on the one thing we need to survive. … Without insulin, I die a horrendous death in 12 to 24 hours,” Marston said. “No grass-roots support? There’s desperation.”

KHN’s coverage of prescription drug development, costs and pricing is supported in part by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.

US accuses China of ‘buying its way out’...

PAGE A1 the wealthiest countries around the globe in terms of economy, has been exerting sovereignty throughout almost all of the South China Sea. Despite the counterclaims of its Asian neighboring countries, China has built several artificial islands within the disputed reefs.

At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump, who assumed office in January this year, has started to seek China’s help in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

This has caused concerns among Asian allies that the U.S. might turn soft on China in connection with the sea.

Last month, the United States sent its guided-missile destroyer, U.S.S. Dewey, to patrol within 12 nautical miles of a Chinese artificial island in the South China Sea, marking the first freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) conducted in the dis-

puted waters under the Trump administration.

The U.S. Navy warship specifically sailed in Mischief Reef, a part of the Spratly Islands, where countries like China and the Philippines have competing claims. Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam also have overlapping claims in the Spratlys region.

U.S.-Australia commitment Also on Monday, the governments of the U.S. and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. “The U.S. and Australia reaffirmed our commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas, particularly the South China Sea and elsewhere, to ensure unimpeded flow of lawful commerce in a rules-based order,” Tillerson said.

He added that both countries express opposition against “China’s

artificial island construction and their militarization that features in international waters.”

The two countries also called on North Korea “to abandon its illegal nuclear weapons program.”

In response to U.S. and Australia’s joint statement, China, on the other hand, reiterated that Beijing has been working with its concerned neighbors in promoting peace and stability in the disputed waters.

“We hope relevant parties can fully respect and support regional countries’ efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and play a constructive role in this regard, rather than the opposite,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

Hua also pointed out that China and Southeast Asian countries have reached a framework of a code of conduct in the South China Sea. (AJPress)

Police: Resorts World gunman a ‘heavily...

PAGE A1

didn’t directly shoot any individual, officials said the incident led to the deaths of 13 employees and 24 guests who mostly died from suffocation. Sixty-seven others were reportedly injured.

Authorities said Carlos died after setting himself on fire and shooting himself in the head.

The NCRPO chief maintained that the incident was not an act of terrorism, brushing off speculations that the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group was behind the attack.

Earlier, United States terrorism monitor SITE Intelligence Group said an IS Filipino operative “stated that the group is responsible for the attack” at Resorts World Manila.

“We have and will continue to base our pronouncements on facts and evidence properly gathered,” Albayalde added. “We will not allow people or any threat group to use this situation to advance their propaganda or personal causes whether foreign or local. This is our duty to the Filipino people and to the international community.”

Abayalde declared the attack as ‘case closed’ as far as the suspect is concerned.

He, however, noted that investigations are still ongoing, particularly on the possible liabilities of Resorts World Manila management with regard to security.

Dismissed from service In a separate statement, the

DOF confirmed that Carlos was its former employee.

DOF said Carlos was a tax specialist at the One-Stop Shop Tax and Duty Drawback Center, but was dismissed by the Ombudsman in 2014 in connection with issues concerning his Statement of Assets, Liabilities Net Worth (SALN).

In 2011, the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) filed a complaint against Carlos over his “failure to disclose truthfully all his assets in his SALN.” “In a 17-page decision received on April 25, 2014, the Ombudsman dismissed Carlos for Grave Misconduct and Gross Neglect of Duty for not declaring his house and lot in Manila in his 2003 to 2006 SALNs, his Toyota Innova SUV in his 2007 SALN and his business interest in his 2010 SALN,” a May 2014 statement posted on the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) website read.

It also cited Carlos’ “huge loans” and purchasing of proper properties higher than his total gross income.

“The failure to declare some of his assets at the time these assets were actually acquired and/or registered under his name and his scheme of claiming several indebtedness without giving particulars i.e. from whom he acquired these enormous loans can also reflect his evil desire to conceal his ill-gotten wealth” it further read, quoting the Ombudsman.

According to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Senator Leila De Lima will be included in the separate National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) investigation into the Resorts World attack.

In a radio interview, Aguirre took note that De Lima, who was then the justice secretary, issued a legal opinion in 2014 that banned the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) from implementing fire safety laws and regulations in Resorts World Manila and other casinos.

Aguirre then said that De Lima instead gave the jurisdiction Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) despite its “lack of capability to impose fire regulations.”

He, however, clarified that he is not blaming De Lima for the recent incident in Resorts World Manila.

“I did not say that she is liable.

What I want is to investigate the effect of her legal opinion,” Aguirre said. “Is De Lima liable? No, unless, it will be shown by evidence that there was illegal consideration in the issuance of the legal opinion.”

Pagcor announced that it would also conduct a separate investigation regarding the possible lapses in the casino’s security measures.

“We’re looking into: One, their security systems. If there was leniency, laxity or negligence. And two, of managing the fire situation,” Pagcor chairperson Andrea Domingo said, adding that RWM might lose its franchise if found negligent.”

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 8-14, 2017

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

D ateline PhiliPPines DOJ finds Smartmatic, Comelec personnel criminally

A

liable for script change in May 2016 elections FOR breaching the system, the Department of Justice (DOJ) found several Smartmatic and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) personnel criminally liable for changing the script in the transparency server on the night of the May 9, 2016 elections.

In a 41-page Resolution, Department of Justice Undersecretary Deo L. Marco, signing for Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, found probable cause to charge Smartmatic personnel Marlon Garcia, Head of the Technical Support Team and his subordinates Neil Baniqued and Mauricio Herrera as well as Comelec Information Technology experts Rouie PeĂąalba, Nelson Herrera and Frances Mae Gonzales with violation of Sections 4(a)(1), (3) and (4) of R.A. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Section 4 (a)(1) of R.A. 10175 penalizes the access of a computer system without any authority while Section 3 penalizes the intentional and reckless altering of computer data. Section 4, on the other hand, penalizes the act of hindering or interfering with the functions of a computer and computer network by inputting, deleting and altering computer data and programs, without any right or authority.

The Complaint filed against Smartmatic Project Director Elie

Moreno was dismissed for lack of evidence. “Wherefore, premises considered, the Petition for Review is hereby partially granted and the Resolution dated September 28, 2016 of the City Prosecutor of Manila is Modified. The Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila is directed to file the necessary Information for violations of Sec. 4(a)(1), (3) and (4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act against respondents before the appropriate court/s and to report the action taken within ten (10) days from receipt, hereof‌,â€? the DOJ Resolution stated.

Former Abakada Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz filed the cyber crime Complaint in June last year.

He accused the respondents of “intentionally altering the election data without any right or authority.�

Dela Cruz pointed out that shortly after the unauthorized alteration of the script of the transparency server, the lead of Vice Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong� R. Marcos Jr. over his closest rival started to taper at a uniform rate, which experts said was statistically impossible. This went on until the wee hours of the morning, until Marcos’ huge lead of over 1 million votes was eventually overtaken.

The Manila Prosecutors Office (MPO), however, dismissed

Dela Cruz’s Complaint, prompting him to elevate his case to the DOJ through a Petition for Review.

In reversing the MPO’s findings, the Justice department ruled that the respondents failed to secure the required authorization from the Comelec en banc before changing the script in the transparency server. This was not only against protocol but was patently illegal.

The Resolution further stated there was enough evidence to indict them for the unauthorized change in the system of the transparency server since Marlon Garcia himself admitted that he made the change in the script as advised by Herrera. “Marlon Garcia, himself, admitted that he made the change in the script of the transparency server as advised by Mauricio Herrera. Notably, it was (Comelec Information Technology expert) Rouie PeĂąalba who notified the Smartmatic personnel,â€? it stated.

The DOJ Resolution further said that PeĂąalba could not absolve himself of the crime charged because of his inconsistent statements : at first he admitted that he instructed Garcia to change the system and then he changed his tune and claimed that Smartmatic was authorized to access the system.

PAGE A7

There are more than 200,000 Filipinos in Qatar, which is in a diplomatic row with six countries in the region.

PH gov’t ready to help OFWs in Qatar, nearby states

by Alexis

RomeRo

Philstar.com

MANILA — The government is ready to provide assistance to Filipino migrant workers who might be affected by the rift in the Middle East, which has prompted six countries to cut ties with Qatar.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the decision of some Gulf states to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar “may have some ripple effects on our overseas Filipino workers.� “Concerned government agencies are now looking at the matter and would extend assistance and other support to OFWs who may be affected by such action,�

Abella said.

There are more than 200,000 Filipinos in Qatar, which has been accused of supporting terrorists and groups seeking to destabilize the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Maldives and Yemen cut diplomatic ties with Qatar after its state-run news agency had published a report quoting its emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as saying that Iran is “a regional and Islamic power that cannot be ignored.�

A faction of Libya has also cut ties with Qatar.

A U.S. State Department report on terrorism released in 2015 tagged Iran as a “foremost state sponsor or terrorism,� accusing it of providing “a range of support,

including financial, training, and equipment� to terrorist groups around the world.

Qatar claimed that hackers were behind the false statement but its denial was ignored.

President Rodrigo Duterte visited Qatar from April 14 to 16 and expressed willingness to support the country in the event that violence breaks out in the region. “You can be sure that if you need us, we will come here. Do not worry about discipline,� the president said during an investment forum in Doha last April 15. “Just like any other army in the world, they are very disciplined.

And they can fight. Fight our national interest here and to protect and defend you,� he added.

NEDA-ICC approves Mindanao Railway, 3 infra projects for approval THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board’s Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), in its joint ICC-Technical Board and Cabinet Committee meeting on June 1, 2017, approved the Mindanao Railway Project’s (MRP) TagumDavao-Digos (MRP-TDD) segment and two other rail projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

In approving these projects, the ICC advised DOTr to coordinate with the NEDA Secretariat to complete the ICC approval requisites. The ICC also approved an integrated flood risk management project in Cavite. These will all be elevated to the NEDA Board for

confirmation of the ICC approval.

The MRP-TDD aims to provide a more efficient, reliable, and affordable transportation to boost tourism, industry, and overall economic development in the area by connecting existing and emerging growth centers in the Davao Region.

It will form the first phase of the proposed 830-kilometer MRP loop, involving a 102.28-kilometer commuter railway that will run from Tagum City, Davao del Norte, to Digos City, Davao del Sur, with 7 stations, one terminal in Davao City, and one depot in Tagum City.

The estimated project cost is PhP35.26 billion and will be lo-

cally financed.

If confirmed by the NEDA Board, project construction is targeted to begin in the first quarter of 2018 and is expected to be finished by the third quarter of 2022.

Meanwhile, the ICC also approved the North South Railway Projects (NSRP) - South Line, which will revive the Philippine National Railways (PNR) south railway.

It has an estimated project cost of PhP285 billion and will be financed through Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The NSRP-South Line will consist of three tracks that will run from Tutuban to Los BaĂąos for

the commuter line (72 km), and Los Baùos to Sorsogon for the long haul (581 km), terminating at the Port of Manila—via FTI in Taguig—through the connecting third track.

The Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MCRP) was likewise approved, which will be connecting with the ongoing Tutuban-Malolos portion of the North South Commuter Railway.

The MCRP will run from Malolos, Bulacan, to Clark International Airport (Phase I), and from Clark International Airport to Clark Green City (Phase II).

The project has an estimated cost of PhP211.43 billion. Construction will be financed through

ODA, while the operations and maintenance will be through Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

The construction for Phase I will begin on the 2nd Quarter of 2019 and is expected to be completed by the 2nd Quarter of 2022.

Phase II will be implemented from 2022 to 2024.

Lastly, the ICC approved the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project that will mitigate flooding of 45,000 homes due to the overflowing water from the San Juan River, Ylang-Ylang River, and Rio Grande River, and the poor drainage of Maalimango Creek.

The project has an estimated project cost of PhP9.89 billion.

Construction is targeted to begin in October 2019 and is expected to be completed by April 2024.

In addition to the infrastructure projects approved by the ICC, the ICC also approved a two-year extension of the OPEC Fund for International Development loan for the for the Road Improvement and Institutional Development Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways, as well as noted updates provided on the ongoing review of various roads and bridges, public transport, irrigation, and flood control projects.

The NEDA Board, chaired by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, is expected to convene again within June 2017.

LUNGSOD NG LAS VEGAS ABISO PARA SA MAAGANG PAGBOBOTO 2017-PANGKALAHATANG HALALAN PANG-MUNISIPAL Ang abiso’ng ito ay nag-bibigay kaalaman na ang maagang pagboto para sa Pangkalahatang Halalan Pang-munisipal sa Lungsod ng Las Vegas ay gaganapin sa Ika-13 ng Hunyo 2017.

PAMANTAYAN NANG PANINIRAHAN Ang lahat ng mga rehistrado’ng botante sa Lungsod ng Las Vegas ay maaari’ng bumoto sa halala’ng ito. Hindi ka maaaring bumoto sa munisipal na halalan kung ikaw ay isang rehistrado’ng botante sa lugar na hindi sakop ng korporasyon sa Lalawigan ng Clark.

PAGBOTO SA PAMAMAGITAN NG KOREO Sino ma’ng karapat-dapat na botante sa halala’ng ito ay maaari’ng piliin ang bumoto sa pamamagitan ng koreo. Ang mga nakasulat na kahilingan ay dapat matanggap sa ika-5 ng hapon sa Hunyo 6, 2017. Maaari’ng hilingin ang balota sa koreo mula sa Kagawaran ng Halalan ng Lalawigan ng Clark sa 702-455-8683 o online sa www.clarkcountynv.gov/election. Kung nakatanggap ka ng balota sa pamamagitan ng koreo, maaari mo’ng isauli ang iyong balota sa saan ma’ng lugar nang Maagang Botohan o maaari ka’ng bumoto nang personal.

MADALI ANG BUMOTO! Ang mga botante sa Las Vegas ay maaari’ng bumoto sa isa sa kahit saa’ng maginhawa’ng lugar nang maaga’ng botohan na nakalista sa ibaba o sa Araw ng Halalan sa isa sa mga bago’ng Sentro nang Botohan, na pumalit sa mga kinaugalia’ng lugar nang botohan para sa Munisipal na Halalan.

LUNGSOD NG LAS VEGAS 2017 PANGKALAHATANG HALALAN MAAGA’NG PAGBOTO MGA KAPITBAHAYA’NG LUGAR PARA SA LAHAT NG MGA BOTANTE SA DISTRITO

Las Vegas City Hall, 495 South Main Street

Meadows Mall, 4300 Meadows Lane

Ika-30 ng Mayo – Ika-8 ng Hunyo Lunes – Biyernes 7:30 n.u. - 5:30 n.h.

Biyernes – Linggo SARADO

KINAROROONAN / PINAGSALIKUPAN NA DAAN

ORAS

Ika-27 ng MAYO, SABADO Albertsons Sahara West Library

Craig/Decatur 9600 W. Sahara Avenue

9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

Ika-28 ng MAYO, LINGGO Albertsons Sahara West Library

Craig/Decatur 9600 W. Sahara Avenue

9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

Ika-29 ng MAYO, LUNES Albertsons Cardenas

Craig/Decatur Bonanza/Lamb

9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

Ika-30 ng MAYO, MARTES Albertsons Veterans Memorial

Farm/Durango 101 South Pavilion

9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

Ika-31 ng MAYO, MIYERKULES Albertsons Veterans Memorial

Farm / Durango 101 South Pavilion

9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

Ika-1 ng HUNYO, HUWEBES Mountain Crest Community Center Veterans Memorial

4701 North Durango Drive 101 South Pavilion

9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

Ika-2 ng HUNYO, BIYERNES Mountain Crest Community Center Rainbow Library

4701 North Durango Drive Cheyenne/Buffalo

9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

Ika-3 ng HUNYO, SABADO Mountain Shadows Community Center Skye Center at Skye Canyon

9107 Del Web Boulevard 10111 W. Skye Canyon Park Drive

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

Ika-4 ng HUNYO, LINGGO Mountain Shadows Community Center Skye Center at Skye Canyon

9107 Del Web Boulevard 10111 W. Skye Canyon Park Drive

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

Ika-5 ng HUNYO, LUNES Doolittle Community Center Albertsons

1950 North J Street Buffalo/Vegas

9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h.

10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.

Ika-6 ng HUNYO, MARTES Doolittle Community Center Albertsons

1950 North J Street Buffalo/Vegas

9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h.

10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.

4601 West Lake Mead Boulevard West Tropical Parkway/Centennial Center Boulevard – Near Home Depot

9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.

Ika-7 ng HUNYO, MIYERKULES Westminster Church Centennial Center Treyler Ika-8 ng HUNYO, HUWEBES East Las Vegas Community Center Centennial Center Treyler Ika-9 ng HUNYO, BIYERNES East Las Vegas Community Center Centennial Center Treyler

PRIMARY CONTACT PERSON(S): Note: Contact with any other SNRHA staff other than the named here, including SNRHA’s Residents and Board of Commissioners will result in your Bid being rejected.

Linda P. Simpson, Contracts Administrator Contracts & Purchasing Ph: (702) 477-3144; TDD (702) 387-1898 lpsimpson@snvrha.org, or if not available

HOW TO OBTAIN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS AND RESPOND TO THIS IFB:

1. DOWNLOAD AND RESPOND TO THIS SOLICITATION: Housing Agency Marketplace website: ha.economicengine.com Registered Users: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Log in and insert Solicitation No. IFB B17027 Non Registered Users: <RX PXVW ÂżUVW UHJLVWHU \RXU company before downloading the Solicitation. Click on â&#x20AC;&#x153;New Vendorâ&#x20AC;? to register. Problems accessing the system or registering, call 866-526-9266, M-F, 9 AM (EST) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 PM (PST)

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Ang mga Lugar ay bukas lamang sa mga nakatakdang araw at oras na nakalista sa ibaba PETSA / LUGAR

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR REFINISHING SERVICES: COUNTERTOPS, SINKS AND TUBS (IFB NO. B17027)

250 North Eastern Avenue West Tropical Parkway/Centennial Center Boulevard â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Near Home Depot 250 North Eastern Avenue West Tropical Parkway/Centennial Center Boulevard â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Near Home Depot

10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.

9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.

Wanda Beckett, Contracts Administrator wbeckett@snvrha.org Ph: (702) 477-3145

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JUNE 8-14, 2017 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OpiniOn

Bright spot

Features

“THE Philippines is a beautiful country, and we intend to leverage on this strength to boost economic growth,” the Duterte administration stressed when it said that it intends to develop the tourism sector by drawing more than 12 million tourist arrivals by 2022, which is more than double the number recorded in 2015.

Based on the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2016-2022, an annual 10-percent growth rate in tourist arrivals will have to be met to reach this goal.

For this year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) aims to attract some 6.5 million in foreign visitor arrivals and 73.3 million domestic tourists.

These targets are higher than 10 percent from the projected 5.9 million in foreign tourists, and up 4 percent from the 70.5 million in domestic tourists in 2016.

As if this task is not enough, the tourism sector must now maneuver through a series of challenges brought by tensions inside (the controversial war against illegal drugs) and outside (the continuing issuance of travel advisories by the U.S. and other countries) its coastal areas.

In April, during one of the busiest travel seasons in the country, the U.S. warned its citizens against traveling to the central Philippines after receiving information that a terrorist organization was planning to kidnap tourists there. The American embassy in Manila said that based on

their Worldwide Caution, there was an ongoing threat of terrorist actions and violence against U.S. citizens in countries abroad, including the Philippines.

Earlier in May, the U.S. Embassy issued another travel advisory for their citizens who plan to visit the province of Palawan following information that terrorist groups may be planning to conduct kidnapping operations targeting foreign nationals in the area.

On May 24, it issued another advisory when the Marawi City crisis broke out and the declaration of martial law throughout Mindanao was declared. In an emergency message, the U.S. Embassy warned citizens of the crisis and announced the temporary suspension of its personnel to missions throughout Mindanao.

On Friday, June 2, the embassy yet again posted another travel warning, this time in Manila following a robbery attempt at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. The incident left at least 37 people dead, including the lone suspect.

DOT Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo admitted

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

that travel advisories make it difficult to promote tourism, but she remains optimistic as she stresses that the government will intensify its campaign of “selling” the Philippines as a major tourist destination.

“We will double our efforts,” Teo vowed.

Teeming with natural resources, renowned

cultural heritage, and the warmth and all-encompassing nature of its people, the country is still sure to attract and reward its visitors.

With the ongoing assertive and collaborative efforts of its travel sector and national government, increased patronage for its islands is not far behind. (AJPress)

Trump’s decision on climate change: A matter of fact-based principles or the dictate of politics?

WHAT was President Donald Trump The Fil-Am really thinking when he withdrew the Perspective United States’ commitment to the Paris agreement on climate change?

Gel SantoS-ReloS He said his reasons were economic — to bring jobs back to American workers, whom he said were affected by the regulations that killed the jobs of coal miners in favor clean and renewable energy sources.

“As of today, the United States will cease all implementation of the nonbinding Paris accord and the draconian financial and economic burdens the agreement imposes on our country,” Trump announced on June 1.

But economists, business and community leaders, and CEOs have disputed this argument and have been advising Trump that these regulations that stir the country toward clean and renewable energy has in fact inspired and encouraged innovation and inventions that have added more jobs, and has made America a leader toward pro-

Analysis

antonio P. ContReRaS I SYMPATHIZE with Secretary Martin Andanar.

All the confusion and the conflicting messages from government are assumed to be his fault, as the person in charge of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

After all, PCOO is mandated “to serve as the premier arm of the Executive Branch in engaging and involving the citizenry and the mass media to enrich the quality of the public discourse on all matters of governance and build a national consensus thereon.”

And it is in this very mandate that Andanar’s PCOO, or any PCOO for that matter, is always bound to fail. The mandate sets an impossible target—that of building a national consensus.

Anyone with common sense will know upfront that achieving a national consensus is not only impossible in our culture but is also terribly undemocratic.

But the issue right now is not even achieving that consensus, but simply for government to present a coherent and unified message.

One can indeed fault our government’s communication infrastructure for failing to deliver a

tecting planet earth.

Trump argued that he withdrew the U.S. out of the Paris accord because it was a bad deal for America.

“The Paris climate accord is simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States, to the exclusive benefit of other countries, leaving American workers, who I love, and taxpayers to absorb the cost in terms of lost jobs, lower wages, shuttered factories and vastly diminished economic production,” he said.

This has been debunked by facts.

According to the New York Times, “industrialized countries have voluntarily pledged $10.3 billion since 2013 to help poorer nations reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the effects of climate change. The United States has pledged by far the most — $3 billion, twice that of the second-largest pledger, Japan. But on a per-capita basis, many other countries have offered more than the United States. Swedes, for example,

will contribute nearly $60 each.”

The newspaper further explained that “if the United States contributed its full pledge, the total would be a little less than $10 per American. With Mr. Trump stopping payments, the United States will have contributed $1 billion, or just more than $3 per person.”

This is shameful, and even immoral especially because the United States is among the world’s top polluters. “The United States, with its love of big cars, big houses and blasting air-conditioners, has contributed more than any other country to the atmospheric carbon dioxide that is scorching the planet,” the NYTimes reported.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “in 2014, the top carbon dioxide (CO2) emitters were China, the United States, the European Union, India, the Russian Federation, and Japan. These data include CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion, as well as cement manufacturing and gas flaring. Together, these sources represent a large proportion of total global CO2 emissions.”

During former President Barack Obama’s term, he was able to con-

vince China and India to be part of the Paris accord. No one nation can do it alone. It takes the whole planet, especially the biggest polluters, to work together to solve these problems because we all share the same planet together. With the U.S.’ exit, it now joins the league of Syria and Nicaragua as the only countries not on board in the Paris Accord.

So having said these, does Trump even believe in science and the studies that prove climate change is real? According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), “Ninetyseven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities, and most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position.”

NASA has published compelling evidence for rapid climate change: sea level rise, global temperature rise, warming oceans, shrinking ice sheets, declining Arctic Sea ice, glacial retreat, extreme events — the number of record high temperature events in the United States has been increasing, while the number

of record low temperature events has been decreasing, since 1950. The U.S. has also witnessed the increasing numbers of intense rainfall events, acidification of oceans, decreased snow cover, etc. Trump does not believe in these enough to compel him to act on it?

Or could it be that what matters to Trump and all that he could grasp is the here and now without regard to the future? Is he thinking like a traditional capitalist who will push to make profits even at the expense of our environment and the planet we will leave to the next generation?

Or could the political analysts be right that Trump decided to abandon the U.S.’ commitment to the Paris accord for political reasons? Does he want to score points with his base by proving he can fulfill his campaign promise without regard to facts, reason and moral obligation? *** 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

Communicating confusion in a culture of ‘epal’ and ‘mema’ common message in a clear and precise manner when it counts the most. This was seen in the recent events that attended the attack on Resorts World Manila.

In a situation where there is so much uncertainty, and where the steady hand of the state had to make its presence felt, there was just too much conflicting information. The ensuing confusion was caused less by the usual suspects in the media, but was primarily created by the divergent revelations being made by state agents, and by the management of Resorts World Manila. In a situation where one is seeking for answers amidst the horror and the confusion, one is not comforted by the picture of PNP Chief Director General Bato dela Rosa claiming that it was not a terrorist attack even as Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was saying that he was not yet ready to rule out the terrorist angle, and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was emphatically insisting that it was in fact an act of terrorism perpetrated by a lone wolf.

And this is just one of the several conflicting messages that can only lead to confusion.

Dela Rosa initially claimed that the gunman was killed by friendly troops. Later, NCRPO Director Oscar Albayalde and Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella separately held that the gunman had shot himself in the head after committing an act of self-immolation.

Dela Rosa also claimed that a security guard was wounded by a self-inflicted gunshot, only to be contradicted by Stephen Reilly, the Resorts World Manila chief operating officer.

There is no question that the public’s interpretation of events may by its very nature, more so in the age of social media, add to the confusion. Speculations are bound to happen, considering the ease by which raw information from eyewitnesses and kibitzers can travel like wildfire, and in the process can undergo distortion, additions and subtractions.

This is precisely why there is a need to have a unified source of official information.

Secretary Andanar is theoretically the person on top of the communication infrastructure of the Executive branch. However, it appears that he doesn’t have supervisory control over the communication infrastructure of the other agencies of government, including the DND and the PNP, more so Congress which is not under the Executive branch.

I doubt it if Secretary Andanar can tell PNP Chief De la Rosa, Defense Secretary Lorenzana, and Speaker Alvarez to cease and desist from making public statements. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella is supposed to be his undersecretary, yet one should ask if Andanar has full supervisory powers over him, in the same light that one has to ask how much control he has over

Resorts World Manila on Friday, June 2 said it was working closely with authorities to ensure the safety of its guests and employees after unidentified gunman stormed the resorts complex.

Inquirer.net photo by Rem Zamora

assistant secretary Mocha Uson who also figured in another messaging issue relating to her use of that image of Honduran soldiers.

Secretary Andanar is therefore placed in a very difficult position.

He is expected to deliver a coherent communication template to the public. He gets all the blame, yet he may not be in a position to deploy a single messaging pathway, particularly during crisis situations, not because he doesn’t have the ability to do so, but because the institutional environment within which he operates doesn’t enable and allow him.

The problem is not only structural and organizational, for which a remedy can be deployed by creating a protocol that would automatically be invoked during any crisis situation. For one, it is not totally unwise to have an immediate news black-out pending the emergence of a complete and coherent set of information. It is also important to designate a single point to communicate such information to the public.

Beyond this, however, lies the cultural and behavioral predisposition of Filipinos to talk a lot, and our tendency to kibitz and rumor-

monger, and to comment, no matter how uninformed we are.

We call this cultural inanity the “epal” or “mema” phenomenon.

In this cultural context, there is a low premium placed on “no comment” or “I don’t know.”

These responses lead to the suspicion that one is hiding something, or that one is incompetently ignorant or unfit. For people who bask in the power of their positions, these responses are not politically palatable.

The solution then is for our public officials to learn when to shut up. (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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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 8-14, 2017

Tourism chiefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband appointed DOJ finds Smartmatic, Comelec personnel... to board of Landbank subsidiary MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed the husband of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo as board member of a subsidiary of Land Bank of the Philippines.

Roberto Teo was appointed board member of the Land Bank of the Philippines Leasing and Finance Corp. last June 2, documents released by MalacaĂąang on Tuesday, June 6 showed.

According to LLFC, it was created primarily â&#x20AC;&#x153;to engage in leasing of all kinds of equipment, extend credit to industrial, commercial, agricultural and other enterprise and engage in financing of merchandise in all their various forms.â&#x20AC;?

Teo was chief of the Investments Promotions Center of Davao City, where Duterte served as mayor for more than 23 years.

He was also board member representing the travel and tours enterprises of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Au-

tual Fund - Leticia Damaso, board member of the Philippine Postal Savings Bank - Jaime Paz, board member of the Social Housing Finance Corp.

- Emiliano Reyes, board member of the Social Housing Finance Corp.

- Leonardo Lopez, board member of the Manila International Airport Authority - Ricardo Juliano, board member of the LBP Resources and DeRoberto Teo velopment Corp. thority during the Aquino admin- Jennifer Yasol, prosecutor IV istration. of the National Prosecution SerTourism Secretary Teo is the vice in Panabo City sister of broadcasters Mon, Ben, - Annalyn Cuisia and Teresita Raffy and Erwin.

Brazil, board of trustees members Aside from Roberto Teo, 12 oth- of the Land Bank Countryside Deers were given new posts earlier velopment Foundation Inc. this month: - Conrado MiĂąano, board mem- Alex Roldan, director IV of the ber of the LBP Leasing and FiDepartment of the Interior and Lo- nance Corp. cal Government - Dimapuno Datu board member - Pedrito Angeles, board mem- of the Light Rail Transit Authority ber of the Home Development Mu- (Alexis Romero/Philstar.com)

Duterte on Misuari offer of fighters for Marawi: Not now

by Alexis

RomeRo

Philstar.com

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The 2,000 combatants offered by Moro National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari will not join the campaign against Maute terrorists in Marawi City, President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday, June 7.

Speaking to Army troopers in Tacurong City, Duterte said it would not be good to pit Moros against fellow Moros. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nur and I talked onceâ&#x20AC;Ś He offered to send 2,000 of his men.

I said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wait, not now. Not now Nur,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Duterte said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not good to be fighting if they do not realize what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about. A Moro against the Moro.

Let us make them understand first what this is all about,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Security forces have been fighting the Maute militants in Marawi City since May 23. The terrorists, who are said to have ties with the extremist Islamic State, had launched attacks in the city, prompting Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao.

Duterte previously said he was ready to recruit MNLF members and other former rebels to the military if the clashes in Marawi City drag on. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am announcing to all forces of the MI, MN, if this conflict will take long and if you want to join,

President Rodrigo Duterte said now is not the time to bring Misuariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MNLF faction into the fight against the Maute group.

MalacaĂąang photo by Albert Alcain

cast your lot with the Republicâ&#x20AC;Ś I will take you in as soldiers, same privileges, and I will build houses for you in some areas,â&#x20AC;? Duterte said while visiting soldiers in Jolo on May 27. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will accept Nurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offer,â&#x20AC;? he also said.

The announcement worried the Zamboanga City government, which has charged Misuari and around 300 of his followers over the 2013 siege of the city. The siege is believed to have been a bid to preempt the signing of a peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a breakaway group from the Misuari-founded MNLF.

The military has said there is no existing protocol that would allow the MNLF combatants to fight alongside government forces. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mechanisms for any kind of this arrangement need to be discussed thoroughly prior to its implementation. So right now, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the appropriate protocols,â&#x20AC;? Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, Armed Forces spokesman, told reporters last Monday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the appropriate coordinative elements on the ground to make this happen. So this may come later, after the resolution of the Marawi incident but not during this time. We have not sat down to discuss how it will be implemented,â&#x20AC;? he added.

PAGE A5 â&#x20AC;&#x153;x x x this Office cannot absolve him (PeĂąalba) for his inconsistent statements of having instructed Marlon Garcia to change the script because he (PeĂąalba) had no authority to do so, but belatedly acknowledged that Smartmatic personnel had authority to access the system. Rouie PeĂąalba, along with Frances Mae Gonzales and Nelson Herrera, as COMELEC representatives assigned to the PPCRV Center and holding ½ of the password to access the system, acquiesced to the access or interference effected by the Smartmatic personnel, beyond their authority,â&#x20AC;? the Resolution stated.

The DOJ also rejected the claim of Smartmatic that what was carried out was merely a â&#x20AC;&#x153;cosmetic changeâ&#x20AC;? that did not affect the elections. It explained that RA 10175 is a special law and as such, it did not require criminal intent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;x x x criminal intent is not necessary where the acts are prohibited by reason of public policy, the mere perpetration thereof, constitute an offense against the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of computer data and systems. When the doing of the act is prohibited by law, it is considered injurious to public welfare, and the doing of the prohibited act is the crime itself,â&#x20AC;? it said.

The Justice department also disputed Smartmaticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defense that the Protocol of Escalation, which involved contingency matters for escalation in particular levels of severity, gave them the authority to decide by themselves the course of action to be taken in case of any glitches in the system.

The DOJ said the Protocol of Escalation â&#x20AC;&#x153;require(d) Smartmatic personnel to report on any issue regardless of level (severity or intensity) to a Comelec personnel or official.â&#x20AC;? It said â&#x20AC;&#x153;it is only the designated Comelec personnel or official which may undertake any decision thereon.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Moreover, it was established that respondents [were] able to access the transparency server to change the same without notifying the Comelec en banc. It must be noted that the Comelec IT personnel assigned at the PPCRV center had no authority to allow any Smartmatic personnel to tweak the script of the transparency server. As a result thereof, the hash codes failed to match.â&#x20AC;?

The Justice department also

took notice of the failure of Smartmatic and Comelec to report the script change immediately after it was carried. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, despite the alteration, said fact was not announced until after the lapse of 24 hours when the parties were alerted of said fact,â&#x20AC;? it said.

Atty. Vic Rodriguez, spokesperson of former Senator Ferdinand â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bongbongâ&#x20AC;? R. Marcos Jr. lauded the resolution of the DOJ. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a most welcome development because the unauthorized change they introduced in the

A

script of the transparency server indeed undermined the credibility of the elections. It was only after the script was changed that the results for the Vice Presidential race began to change at a uniform rate of 40 to 1, which was statistically impossible. Everyone who was glued to their TV that fateful night could see this. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a victory for the Filipino people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially those whose votes were not counted on election day,â&#x20AC;? Rodriguez said.

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

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 8-14, 2017

VEGAS&STYLE

B

Journal Apl.de.ap joins other artists for Pia Wurtzbach accused of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;false storyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on MMK Late fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s live-in partner and son set Manchester tribute concert off social media war; Piaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister reacts

by Amierielle

InternatIonal Filipino singer apl.de.ap flaunted his Filipino pride by wearing Philippine flag-inspired merchandise at the â&#x20AC;&#x153;one love Manchesterâ&#x20AC;? benefit concert. apl.de.ap wore Philippine flagthemed earpiece and necklace during his performance with his band group, Black eyed Peas. the group, sans Fergie, performed their inspiring hit, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where is the love.â&#x20AC;?

Filipino netizens who watched the one love Manchester concert lauded apl for flaunting his Filipino blood. the â&#x20AC;&#x153;one love Manchesterâ&#x20AC;? concert held Monday (Philippine time) in Manchester, is a benefit concert for the victims of ariana Grandeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concert last May 23. the British red Cross said it raised more then ÂŁ10 million ($13 million) for the We love Manchester emergency Fund, created for those affected by the Manchester blast.

Artists perform for people of Manchester Pop star Grande showcased her love and support to the people of Manchester, england in the tribute concert.

Popular international artists such as Justin Bieber, liam Gallagher, Coldplay, Miley Cyrus, and Katy Perry shared the stage with Grande to honor the 22 victims who were killed and the dozens of people injured.

Grande graced the concert with emotional performances of her original songs. She also gave a rendition of â&#x20AC;&#x153;My everythingâ&#x20AC;? along with the Parrs Wood High School Choir.

Grandeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manager, Scooter Braun, took center stage to honor the â&#x20AC;&#x153;braveryâ&#x20AC;? of the people of Manchester. â&#x20AC;&#x153;this tragedy has made us all throw away our divides, our differences, our politics, our adult

AnnA BulAn And rosette Adel Philstar.com

by izA iglesiAs ManilaTimes.net

WHIle Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life story on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maalaala Mo Kayaâ&#x20AC;? and liza Soberanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portrayal in the lead both earned praises from the public, it seems not everyone is rejoicing over the primetime biographyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success. a couple of days after the episode aired, the partner and the son of the beauty queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late father Uwe Wurtzbach took to social media accusing her of giving a false account of her German dad. one of the scenes depicted

Piaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father leaving her Filipino mother because of his supposed affair with another woman. the next time they communicated was when Uwe called Pia and congratulated her for winning first runner-up in the 2013 Binibining Pilipinas pageant. thereafter, Uweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second wife [whose name was not revealed in the tV show]apparently asked Pia to help them financially since her dad was sick. reacting to the chain of events in the program, a certain robie Liza Soberano portrayed the life of Miss asingua, supposedly the last live- Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach in an episode PAGE B2 of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Maalaala Mo Kaya.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

;/, 9,(3 65, :;67 :/67 -69 (33 @6<9 )(*2@(9+ 5,,+: In this Sunday, June 4, 2017, handout photo provided by Dave Hogan for One Love Manchester, singers will.i.am, from left, apl.de.ap, Ariana Grande and Taboo perform at the One Love Manchester tribute concert in Manchester, north western England, Sunday, June 4, 2017.

nature and look to our children.

Manchester, your bravery is our hope,â&#x20AC;? Braun said.

British band Mumford & Sons opened the concert with their hit â&#x20AC;&#x153;timshel,â&#x20AC;? which was followed

by Manchester-based pop music group take thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uplifting performance of their original hits.

Former take that member robbie Williams reunited with the group to render an emotional performance of â&#x20AC;&#x153;angelsâ&#x20AC;? which led concert-goers raise â&#x20AC;&#x153;For our angelsâ&#x20AC;? signs.

Pharell Williams uplifted the crowd with a rendition of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get luckyâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Happy,â&#x20AC;? which he collaborated with Miley Cyrus as she makes her first appearance in the concert.

Former one Direction member niall Horan treated the audience to two of his uplifting songs, following Cyrusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; soulful rendition of her latest hit â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inspired.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me, the most important responsibility we have in this entire planet is to take care of one

another, and look what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing today and how amazing that is,â&#x20AC;? Cyrus told the crowd. a brief pre-taped video of Stevie Wonder was shown as the singer performs â&#x20AC;&#x153;loveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in need of love today.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care what ethnicity you are; what religion you are. love really is the way. So anyone who tries to make anyone think that things of destruction have anything to do with God or allah, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a liar. Yes, I stand with you Manchester,â&#x20AC;? Wonder said in the video.

Performances by Perry, Bieber, Victoria Monet, Imogean Heap and Grandeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boyfriend Mac Miller followed. liam Gallagher, former member of another Manchesterbased group oasis, also graced the concert with a touching song performed with Coldplay.

Grande capped off the concert with â&#x20AC;&#x153;one last timeâ&#x20AC;? and her own version of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Somewhere over the rainbow,â&#x20AC;? originally sung by Judy Garland.

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PhiliPPine indePendence day celebrations in the U.s.

119th PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY

A celebration of progress through peace and freedom The Philippines will celebrate its 119th Independence Day to commemorate its independence from colonial Spain. Also

known as “Araw ng Kasarinlan” 12. The theme for this year is or “Araw ng Kalayaan,” it is an “Kalayaan 2017: Pagbabagong annual national holiday in the Sama-Samang Balikatin.” country observed every June Background and history Originally, Philippine Independence Day wasn’t celebrated on June 12. From 1946 to 1964, the date designated for it was July 4, the day when the Americans formally ended their colonization of the Philippines in 1946. This also officially ended the Commonwealth government they established in 1935.

Then in August 4, 1964, thenPresident Diosdado Macapagal signed Republic Act 4166 that moved the date from July 4 to June 12.

The act legalized the holiday, which is based on the Declaration of Independence of June 12, 1898 by General emilio Aguinaldo and Filipino revolutionary forces. The Philippine flag was raised and its national anthem was played for the first time in 1898. however, freedom from Spanish rule was not for long, because Spain and the United States did not acknowledge the declaration.

This was due to the 1898 Treaty of Paris, which ended the war between Spain and the U.S. Spain surrendered the Philippines to the U.S., resulting to a revolt of Filipinos against the latter. The Philippine revolution against the Americans started in 1899 and achieved sovereignty on July 4, 1946, through the Treaty of Manila.

Philippine Independence Day is more than just having to wave a flag and organize celebrations. It is a reminder of the self-determination of Filipinos to exercise their right to liberty and independence. It is a legitimate assertion by the Philippine nation of its natural and inalienable claim to freedom and indepenIllustration by Kendrick Tan/AJPress

LOS ANGELES

RHODE ISLAND

Saturday , June 10

Saturday, June 10

The Philippine Independence Day Foundation Inc. (PIDF) will once again be working with the City of Carson in hosting the celebration of the 199th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day. Event will be held at Veterans Park (22400 Moneta Ave., Carson) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be a parade, live entertainment, booths and exhibits, health education, food vendors, a children’s area and many more!

CHICAGO

FLORIDA Sunday, June 11

Monday, June 12 Flag-raising ceremony to be held at the Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago (W. Washington and N. Clark Streets), at 9 a.m. conducted by the Consulate General of the Philippines in Chicago. A reception with the Fil-Am community will take place at the Consulate General after.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA Friday , June 16 A Philippine Independence Day Concert (at 7 p.m.) and Gala Reception (at 8 p.m.) will be held at the beautiful and historic Marines’ Memorial Theater in San Francisco. The annual celebration has been a favorite event for Fil-Am political, business, arts, academic and non-profit circles, foreign dignitaries, state and city officials an a wide cross-section of the Bay Area community.

Sunday, June 18 KalayaanSF 2017 in historic Union Square in San Francisco. An exciting celebration featuring a cultural showcase, live entertainment, food alley, marketplace and an evening concert. dence, which is an inherent right of every people, not dependent upon the will and discretion of another nation or government.

Some unknown facts about Philippine Independence Day Apart from the Philippine flag and national anthem, a lot of Filipinos are not knowledgeable about Philippine Independence Day. here are few facts that may surprise you: • The original Philippine flag hoisted by Aguinaldo in Kawit was a sketch he personally sub-

The Fil-Am Community of R.I. will celebrate Philippine Independence Day at the Johnston Memorial Park (1583 Hartford Ave., Johnston) at 10 a.m. with a Filipiniana parada, basketball game (R.I. vs Connecticut), Filipino Kids Got Talent, games, food and special guests.

The Philippine-American Association of South Florida, Inc.’s Annual Philippine Independence Day celebrations the Miramar Regional Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be various booths and displays, Filipino food, games, prizes, raffle, giveaways and entertainment.

OKLAHOMA Sunday, June 11 Come and enjoy delicious Filipino food and fun games during the Philippine Independence Day celebration at the Regional Park at E. Reno, Midwest City from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

BOSTON Sunday, June 25 The Philippine Independence Day celebration in Boston will kick off with a parade including the Binibining Pilipinas Malayan 2017 winner and runner up, followed by a cultural show and concert. There will also be a wonderful assortment of vendors. Venue will be at the Boston City Hall and event will start at 9:30 a.m.

mitted to Dona Marcella Agoncillo (who was living in hong Kong at the time). It took Agoncillo (and two assistants) five days of hard work to finish the flag.

• The three stars in the flag does not represent Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao as most Filipinos think. It actually represents Luzon, Panay and Mindanao. Panay was part of the Proclamation of Independence in Kawit, Cavite, referred to as “the archipelago’s three principal islands.”

• The original flag was lost somewhere in Pangasinan during the Filipino-American war.

• “Lupang hinirang” was not the first national anthem but “Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan,” commissioned by national hero Andres Bonifacio in 1987 and requested musician Julio Nakpil to compose it. however, despite Bonifacio’s version of the anthem, Aguinaldo still asked composer Julian Felipe to make our National Anthem in 1898.

(AJPress)

Angel Locsin, Richard Gutierrez very sweet at ‘La Luna Sangre’ press con by

Deni Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

IF you do not know that Richard Gutierrez has Sarah Lahbati as girlfriend, you would think that he and Angel still have something going on between them.

Angel and Richard, fondly called Team ChardGel, still have that undeniable chemistry and natural sweetness they cannot hide, as seen from their closeness and touchy gestures in the“La Luna Sangre” grand press conference on Wednesday, June 7.

A fan of the couple shouted “Alwina!” to catch Angel’s attention, referring to her character in the rival network’s fantasy series, “Mulawin,” in which she and Richard first came together as a reel and real-life couple.

Since then, the two seemed they never aged at all. They both look good and they still look good together.

Daniel Padilla, Angel and Richard’s co-star in “La Luna Sangre,” admitted that even he watched the pair in “Mulawin.”

“Very happy si Angel. Ang sabi n’ya, ‘Welcome Chard, finally, nandito ka na rin. Magkasama ulit tayo.’ And she feels very happy

Angel Locsin and Richard Gutierrez still have that spark as seen from last the “La Luna Sangre” grand press con on Wednesday, June 7.

Philstar.com photos by Deni Rose Bernardo

for me. She seems very excited,” Richard shared in another press con that welcomed him as a cast member for “La Luna Sangre.”

“Ang sarap ng feeling na makakatrabaho ko ulit si Angel kasi sabay kami nag-start. It’s good to see familiar faces and work with them…Angel’s been a vital person in my career. It’s nice to do a reunion project.”

Angel, for her part, feels that there are just small nuances that changed since she and Richard last made a movie together, “The Promise,” in which the two have a love scene.

Angel’s reunion movie with

Richard and Angelica Panganiban, temporarily titled “Wife, husband, Wife,” will start filming soon.

“When it rains it pours, I guess.

I’m embracing the grind,” said Richard.

What pressures him more, apart from juggling himself between taping the movie and “La Luna Sangre,” is to look physically fit for Angel. As he said, he had to push the treadmill button harder for “action scenes” with Angel.

Angel said she believes God will give her “the one” when the right time comes. What if that “one” has been there all along?

Pia Wurtzbach accused of ‘false story’...

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in partner of Uwe before his passing, branded the beauty queen “a big liar” on Facebook, adding that Pia’s father never bothered to ask her for money. Asingua went on to say that contrary to the “other woman” story, it was Pia’s mother, Cheryl Alonzo Tyndall, who allegedly “got into an affair with a neighbor,” prompting Uwe to abandon them.

“What a hell are you doing Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, making a false story? Oh yeah, you are a big liar.

Your papa never asked for money from you, shame on yourself.

Your mama had an affair with [a] neighbor named Jojo, that’s why papa abandoned your mother and you know that all,” Asingua posted on her Facebook account.

Following the thread, Asingua later confirmed that her son Alexander and the beauty queen share the same father.

Alexander, who also carries the surname Wurtzbach, came to his father’s defense too. he even dared Pia to stop using

their father’s surname if will only continue to spread false stories about him.

“Sa lahat-lahat, ayaw ko yung sisiraan mo ang patay na wala nang kinalaman ‘yun eh. Karmahin sana kayo, parang walang pinag-aralan. Wag mong dadalahin ang apelyedo na ‘yan kung alam mo ganyan ugali ng tatay mo. ‘Kala ko ba babaero siya at wala siyang kwenta. Bakit mahal mo pa rin siya? You’re a freaking liar, don’t use my father’s surname if you don’t like him, you’re a millionaire now, so change it! Don’t say your money will help you. You are a liar!” Alexander’s Facebook post read.

While the beauty queen has not reacted to the social media brouhaha, Pia’s younger sister, Sarah Wurtzbach, chose to do so, angrily posting, “Baka gusto mong kalkalin ko yung mga message niyo ng nanay mo sa amin. Baka mapahiya ka. Tigil na kasi, ayan na, fame oh! embrace it!”

Sarah then answered a question from another netizen who

asked if she indeed plans to gather proof against Robie and Alexander, saying, “Mamshie hinahakot ko. Naghahanap na. May baril ako pero walang bala e.”

Meanwhile on Tuesday, a source from Pia’s camp told online showbiz website Pep.ph that her father Uwe had pleaded with Pia to support the schooling of her half-brother Alexander when he was still alive.

“This was during the Binibini days. I’m sure not a lot of people know, but when you are first runner-up, wala ka ding pera from winnings ‘coz technically you don’t have a crown. So, Pia said she couldn’t help.”

The source went on to disclose that it was Sarah, who lives in the United Kingdom with her husband and daughter, who financially supported Pia in her early days joining beauty pageants which was why she was unable to help her dad when he was ill.

Pia just came from New York, and has yet to comment on the issue as of press time.

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

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 8-14, 2017

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Jennylyn Mercado: Crazy, sexy, cool Anthony Bourdain’s take on Filipino food by irish

by MJ

Marfori ManilaTimes.net

Christianne Dizon Philstar.com

WrITINg about any celebrity requires research — any journalist worth her salt wouldn’t want to regurgitate what’s already been said online and off — especially if your subject is somebody like singer, TV/film actress and host Jennylyn Mercado. Since the resurgence of her career at the tail end of 2014 (thanks to her charming performance in the rom-com “English only, Please”), she’s landed one magazine cover after the other — which, for us, necessitates extra digging.

So this week, at a basement bookstore selling comics, collectibles and discounted back issues, dig is what we did. We found three glossies with Jen on the cover and it dawned on us: between August 2015 and January 2016, a span of six months, Jennylyn Mercado was on the cover of Good Housekeeping (a title for moms), Cosmopolitan (the “bible” of modern Pinays), and FHM (the No. 1 lad’s mag). on each cover, her vibe is different: pretty and wholesome for her tight portrait shot on GH, party-ready in a sparkly mini dress on Cosmo, and seduction personified in a “tangga sideboob swimsuit” on FHM. The moms want her beauty tips; the Cosmo girls need their life peg’s success secret. And the men? let’s just say they crave an intimate look at this woman. (Nota bene: It’s not usual for a mother to land a Cosmo cover, just as it is uncommon for an FHM babe to win over the gH crowd.)

These magazines have different brand values and audiences and the fact that she can jump from GH to Cosmo to her fourth FHM cover reveals two crucial things about the Jennylyn Mercado brand: she has wide appeal, and, most important for the top brass, she sells. For this Supreme profile, we take three different perspectives on Jennylyn Mercado, the actress showbiz has dubbed “Ultimate Star.”

Crazy Myrza Sison, founding editor of Cosmopolitan Philippines, says a Cosmo cover girl “has to definitely be ‘of-the-moment’ when her cover comes out — in the limelight because of her work, a household name, making big strides in the industry.” Team Cosmo put Jen on the cover of the december 2015 issue because she had a highly anticipated Metro Manila Film Festival entry then:

Jennylyn Mercado

the romance-drama “#WalangForever.” (It went on to become the third-highest-grossing MMFF 2015 film and earned Jennylyn her second consecutive MMFF Best Actress trophy.) Myrza adds, “In short, she has to have made it (or continues to be relevant).” It’s been a year and five months since that Cosmo cover, and Jennylyn is still on our radar.

The Filipino adaptation of the hit Korean rom-com series “My love from the Star” headlined by Jen debuted on gMA-7. She was handpicked by management to play Steffi, a not-so-smart, very loud, and quite misunderstood superstar, originally played by Jun Ji-hyun. Her leading man is newcomer gil Cuerva who plays stoic, alien-disguised-as-a-human Matteo. If you’ve seen blockbuster rom-coms “English only, Please,” “The Pre-nup,” and “Just the 3 of Us,” it’s easy to understand why she’s the top choice of the top brass. Jennylyn’s marked performances prove she has an uncanny mastery of the genre (hell, she owns the genre) and she makes any project work, no matter who she’s paired with.

But despite already having proven herself, a few hours before the pilot episode aired, Jennylyn was nervous. “Kinakabahan ako na baka hindi nila magustuhan,” she tells us between sips of buko shake. She’s hyper-aware that K-drama has a cult following in

World-renowned chef and foodie Anthony Bourdain visited the Philippines yet again, this time for the World Street Food Congress held at the Mall of Asia concert grounds.

Manila Times had the chance to chat with the “No reservations” host last weekend where he excitedly shared that his upcoming Bourdain Market is set to open in New York City in 2019.

But was even more exciting was his promise of including a truly Filipino dish.

“I will definitely include sisig!”

Bourdain intimated.

Why sisig? Bourdain says that the minced dish of pork’s head and liver will give Filipino cuisine the big break and will make it into a household name.

“It is the ultimate drinking food! With beer in particular, it is perfect! It fits right in the current pork-centric society. Americans and Europeans are now into the face, meat and snouts so it’s got the Philippines, and understands all.”

He wishes that sisig would now how deeply invested K-drama fans replace balut as the first Filipino are. “Natatakot ako dun sa mga reaksyon nila. ‘oA!’ Exag!’ Mga ganun. Hinahanda ko na ang sarili ko.” We were in one of gMA’s cold dressing rooms, and Jennylyn’s immediate plan after the interview was to hold a viewing party in her house. She told me she could only breathe easy if it rates well. She could breathe easy if she pleases as many people as possible. (It’s impossible to please them all.) “ginastusan yan ng mga producers eh, business yan eh, so importante para sa akin na talagang panoorin siya,” she explains. “Sa social media, makikita mo naman kung napapanood nila. Kapag maganda ‘yung reaction, maraming nag-co-comment, feeling ko, successful na siya!”

At 10:15 that night, #MyloveFromTheStarPH garnered 88,700 tweets. It was the top trending topic in the country, and number two worldwide. As expected, there were disgruntled viewers.

But there were also people like @uy_jessie who were satisfied enough to post this: “Tapos na. I think I’ll like the PH version more. @MercadoJen is so perfect for the role.” Happy campers outnumbered the former that night.

In the following days, Nielsen Philippines TAM NUTAM (Nationwide Urban TV Audience Measurement) People’s ratings data PAGE B6

Anthony Bourdain

food that will come to mind to foreigners.

The American chef even offered constructive criticisms on how our cuisine should stop becoming so underrated, “I sense the lack of confidence. Some cultures love to assimilate when they

arrive and Filipino very quickly assimilated and integrated with American culture… I sense the lack of security in promoting and trying to build it into a business … but it is good that in the last few years we have started seeing Filipino hipster food.”

B June 8-14, 2017 • LAS VeGAS ASIAn JOuRnAL

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Arci Muñoz closes door on reconciliation with ex by

Maridol rañoa-BisMark Philstar.com

Unlike before, when her doors remained open for a reconciliation with ex-boyfriend Badi del Rosario, Arci Munoz is sure she and her former love can no longer rekindle their four-yearromance. “i’ve moved on. everything has been said and done. i can see that he’s happy,” she said at the press con of Star Cinema’s “Can We Still Be Friends,” her second movie with Gerald Anderson (the first was last year’s hit movie “Always

Be My Maybe”). no, she has not asked around how her ex is doing. it is just that somehow, she knows he is happy where he is right now.

Arci admitted it was she who courted Badi, the way she did with all her exes. So, it is possible for her to bring food to Gerald’s set as her way of showing how much she cares, if he does not have Bea Alonzo for his girlfriend.

But since her leading man (their team-up is popularly called “Team lablab”) is committed to someone else, Arci will not rock the boat.

Arci Munoz and Gerald Anderson star in “Can We Still Be Friends?”

The actress wants peace of mind, the kind that she said could come from being able to greet your ex with a sincere hello should you bump into him.

“You don’t have to be friends.

You can just be casual with each other, and be able to say hi to him. if you don’t, he might think you’ve become bitter (about the break-up).”

Arci is letting experience be her best teacher. After her ex asked her if they can still be friends, Arci decided to reject the offer. “i still loved him. So, it’s best that we don’t see each other anymore at all,” she recalled.

Yes, she could be friends with an ex, but it will take time. The wounds must heal. The painful memories must slowly fade away.

Arci admitted “Can We Still Be Friends” (to open nationwide on Wednesday, June 14) is her story.

She can relate to Sam, the idealistic achiever whose character she portrays.

Suddenly, the past is back with a vengeance. except that the relationship lasted for eight years in Sam and Digs’ (Gerald’s character) case.

Gerald, Arci, their fellow millennial co-stars, and director Prime Cruz (who helms the indie hit “Sleepless”), hope moviegoers will relate to it as well.

Will Liza Soberano win an award for her MMK role? by deni

rose Bernardo Philstar.com

lAST June 3, Filipinos held their breaths, while some raised their eyebrows, for one of the most challenging “Maalaala Mo kaya” portrayals of all: liza Soberano as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

Most netizens congratulated the “Dolce Amore” star for her realistic portrayal of Pia’s hardships, particularly, how the beauty queen handled criticisms from bashers and even from her own mom, played in the show by Zsa Zsa Padilla.

Her acting prowess on the show made liza’s fans more excited for her upcoming portrayal of Mars Ravelo’s “Darna,” a role also reportedly desired by Wurtzbach.

As Pia’s Twitter posts show, she is also a fan of liza, so she is happy that liza represented her on MMk.

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in a previous interview with Philstar.com, liza said her dad wants her to join beauty contests after Pia won at Miss Universe.

Though she is so busy to join a pageant at the moment, she is not closing her doors to becoming a beauty queen someday.

After her MMk performance, fans will surely root to see her not

only wearing a real crown, but also with a Best Actress award in hand.

As some of the reactions to liza’s MMk episode show, she proved that she does not only have the looks and the body to play Pia and Darna; she can really make fans proud with her acting.

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Bea Binene, who is set to portray the grown-up Anya in Mulawin vs. Ravena, enjoys every moment of her showbiz career, making her fans feel giddy as the other half of a love team in a TV series and expressing herself more as a host in a news and public affairs show.

Bea Binene okay with or without a love team by

Bot Glorioso Philstar.com

BeA Binene is visibly amused every time she is being teased about making her reel love affair with Derrick Monasterio real. After all, Derrick reportedly had sent feelers to her in the past when the two got to work for the first time in a project. Bea even fondly recalls the first gift Derrick gave her. “it was a lacoste bag which could only fit this size (showing her cellphone),” reveals Bea. “But i appreciated his effort because he was just starting out with his career at that time.” it was only recently when she received another present from Derrick. “He gave me a pair of nike rubber shoes on my birthday para daw ma-motivate ako lalong mag-gym.”

However, Bea insists that nothing romantic is going on between them because as she puts it, “Paechos lang yun at pabigla-bigla like one time when he called me at 4 a.m. inviting me out just to eat Tapsilog ako naman hindi ah, alas-kwatro na yun.”

Her mom, Carina, also knows too well that Bea and Derrick are close and adds, “Hindi po sila nagliligawan, mga magkakaibigan lang.”

Still, Bea and Derrick click as a love team that is popularly known to fans as DerBea. The two are together again as part of the cast of GMA 7’s telefantasya “Mulawin vs. Ravena.” Bea is fully embracing the idea of being in a love team for good reason.

“For me, it’s okay to have a love team since most Pinoy view-

ers have this fondness for stories that would make them feel giddy or fall in love again,” says Bea on the advantage of having an onscreen partner. “But, of course, an actor should not depend on it.

One needs to learn to stand on his own so he can handle every project even without a partner.”

Bea believes it would also be tough for any actor to be identified with a perennial onscreen partner because “nothing lasts forever in showbiz because it always evolves.” luckily, Bea is among today’s young kapuso stars who do not solely rely on the popularity of a love team. She manages to go “solo” as host of GMA news TV’s Good news with Vicky Morales that allows her to express herself as natural and spontaneous as can be. “i am not good at hiding my true feelings so whatever people see on the show is what i really am and i guess, mas gusto ng PM (program manager) ang ganun like there was one segment where i said, ‘Ay may pa-helmet si mayor.’ natural lang talaga yung salita kaya naiintindihan ng lahat. Through the show, i get to travel and experience a lot of exciting adventures.”

Asked to assess her being an actress, Bea says that she is still in the process of learning, particularly in the drama department where one is required to cry buckets.

Good thing, her character in “Mulawin vs Ravena” does not require her to shed copious tears. “i will be doing more action scenes that need physical strength. And definitely, there is a lot of flying,” says Bea who will portray

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the grown-up Anya and is set to appear in the third week of the series.

This early, Bea is feeling the pressure since leann Bautista, who is playing the young Anya, has been receiving positive remarks from televiewers and netizens for her impressive performance. Bea hopes to sustain the good feedback on the character.

“Tapings have already started and i am enjoying every minute on the set because i love doing action.

The harness hurts but i’m beginning to get used to it.” The wings, Bea adds, begin to feel too heavy when they are worn for a long time “pero tipid sa damit because of the costume. i only need to bring cycling shorts and socks.”

Although her character belongs to the new breed of Mulawin, Bea is familiar with the original story having watched the fantasy series when she was six years old. Small wonder she knows the background of every “old” character of the series.

“That’s why i’m also interested to know how the story will go.

Aside from the fight scenes and a lot of flying, the show also tackles issues about dictatorship, discrimination and bullying. even if we are in a different world, we exist in the present time kasi alam namin na may cell phone and the modern way of living.” is there a role she looks forward to doing in her next project? “i am a fan of action movies so if given a chance to choose what kind of role to play, i’ll be happy to portray as a gun-toting crime fighter,” says Bea who is also into target shooting.

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

Your Immigration Solution atty. Devin Connolly & nanCy Miller There are countless number of people who dream about lawfully living and working in the United States. Making this dream a reality is a possibility for many of them, but only if they are able to successfully navigate the United States’ confusing and complex immigration laws. Given the incredible importance placed on being granted permanent resident status (green card) or U.S. citizenship, it is surprising how many people attempt to achieve their immigration goals without the assistance of an experienced attorney that specializes in immigration law. It is true that some do succeed, but many others fail. And this failure may lead to their ultimate nightmare—being deported.

A person that is presently living in the United States must file their request for immigration benefits with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). however, do not think that the process merely requires the completion of a simple form. First, the forms are not always easy to understand. Many of the forms contain complicated questions that require a person to understand terms and language which have a precise meaning unique to immigration law. This meaning may differ from what many people expect it to be. Thus, a person may deprive themselves of lawfully residing in the United States simply because they did not understand the question they were being asked. More important than the forms though is that an applicant should carefully review their eligibility for the requested benefit before submitting any application to the USCIS. This assessment requires a review of

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS What causes palpitation?

Palpitation (pounding heart beat, harder and faster than normal) could be due to extrinsic causes like ingestion of a stimulant (coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolates, some medications, etc.) and/or cigarette smoking, or due to intrinsic causes like coronary or heart valve diseases.

The person feels the heart thumping in the chest that could lead to some degree of discomfort and anxiety. When this happens regularly, in spite of abstinence from the extrinsic causes listed above, prompt medical consultation is recommended.

Do cellphone radiation shields work?

No, the so-called “radiation shields” for cell phones do not work, and therefore are not effective in protecting the user from radiation, reports the FTC in the United States. If anything at all, this shield “lulls” the user to complacency and thus the user is subjected to a more prolonged radiation exposure because of the false sense of security the unsuspecting consumers will have.

While the association between cell phone use and some type of brain

Community Journal

The importance of an immigration attorney many things, including dates of entries and exits from the U.S., type of visa (if any) held at entry to the U.S., the immigration status and history of the applicant and their family members, etc. The failure to make this assessment before submitting the application may lead to something much worse than a denial – it may lead to being deported, perhaps within a matter of hours.

After eligibility is established, the applicant must submit a well-documented request for an immigration benefit. The submission of sufficient documentary evidence, ranging from a birth or marriage certificate to complex medical records, is vital since it is the applicant who has the burden of proving that they are eligible for the requested benefit. Since it is the applicant who must prove admissibility, they should do everything they can to maximize their chances of being granted the requested benefit by submitting evidence that is thorough and persuasive.

It is clear that an assessment of eligibility is important, as are properly completed forms and sufficient supporting documents, but perhaps the most important reason to retain an experienced immigration attorney is to be adequately represented at your personal interview before a USCIS officer. A decision on the application will frequently be made based off statements made by the applicant during their interview.

These interviews can be stressful, nerve-wracking experiences, but the aspiring immigrant needs to do everything possible to ensure their personal interview is successful. That is not always easy though. It may be the applicant’s first time attending a personal interview for an immigration benefit with the USCIS, and they are

likely to be questioned by an experienced USCIS officer who has conducted many of these types of interviews. In addition, the USCIS officer may aggressively question the applicant, they may pressure them to answer questions to which they do not know the answers, and they may also allow the applicant to make statements that are harmful to their case.

Saying the wrong thing during an interview can make it significantly more difficult to ever lawfully reside in the U.S. And while the applicant may later realize they misspoke or that they did not actually understand the questions they were being asked, it may too late to fix the problems created. The application may already be denied and the Department of homeland Security may have already begun the process of deporting them to their native country. As you can see, the personal interview is extremely important.

In conclusion, it is always advisable for immigrants to retain the services of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who is dedicated solely to the practice of immigration law. hiring the right attorney may be the difference between obtaining a green card and being deported. It is therefore one of the most significant decisions that a person will make in their lifetime. *** 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)

Queries from readers tumors is still unclear, it is best to avoid and minimize any type of radiation exposure from whatsoever source. To reduce radiation exposure from cell phones, we recommend the use one of the hands-free (bluetooth) devices now commercially available. how does tobacco hurt the smoker?

Besides the tissue irritation on the breathing pipes and lungs caused by the fumes and the various toxic chemicals in the cigarette, tobacco also thickens the blood, which makes the smoker (active or passive) more prone to thrombosis (blood clot formation) in the arteries and veins, and aggravates arteriosclerosis (hardening of the artery). On top of this, smoking also speeds up the process of arteriosclerosis (especially the arteries of the heart and brain, abdomen and legs). Smoking can also cause cancer of the breathing pipes and/or the lungs and cancers in other organs in the body in either gender. Stained teeth and fingers, smoker’s bad breath and a household that smells like tobacco fumes are the most minor effects of smoking. are body moisturizing lotions safe?

Yes, in general, hand and body lotions in the market are safe. The frequent (two or more times a day) use of hand and body lotion

is recommended because our skin needs moisture to keep it comfortable, healthy and as young looking as possible. Caution: some people may be allergic to some of these commercially available skin moisturizers.

Can trauma to the breasts cause cancer? repeated trauma to the breast has been implicated as a possible etiology in the formation of cancer of the breast among women. This could be in the form of biting, pinching, squeezing or rough manual manipulation. The breasts, like the person, must be treated with care and tenderness.

Does diabetes cause blindness?

Most definitely, especially among persons whose diabetes is untreated, poorly treated or simply brittle and hard to treat. The blindness is due to what is termed diabetic retinopathy. A significant number of blindness in the world today is caused by diabetes. Once the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is confirmed, prompt and appropriate therapy should be instituted.

The diabetic should be disciplined enough to religiously follow the prescribed medical regimen if the complications of the disease, like blindness, leg gangrene, etc. are to be prevented.

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Counting on other people’s kindness Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette aDeva Maglaya I hAVe long predicted that the explosive issue of immigration will come to a head. The time has come. People are awake and have become fully aware of the seriously negative effects unmitigated and unchecked illegal immigration can do to sovereign nations over the long term.

When the process of assimilation and integration into the fabric of host nations is non-existent, that nation begins to disintegrate and becomes divided into warring factions. The American founders’ noble concept of nation-building, et Pluribus Unum, From Many One, is dead and gone.

Immigration as an issue has been used by one political party over the course of the last five decades to put themselves in power.

For nefarious reasons such as making sure that new citizens always voted their party, the borders have been made intentionally porous for many years by the powers that be, allowing not only hundreds of thousands of undesirable migrants to populate the country but to also allow the drug cartels from the southern border to flourish and destroy many lives

“Fish and visitors smell in three days.”

- Benjamin Franklin with opioid addiction.

Big business is guilty as sin as well. It has aided and abetted the situation. Multinationals and global companies who hold no loyalty towards any nation have waged a war against borders and boundaries and the rule of law essentially to pad their bottom lines by exploiting cheap labor. history moves like a pendulum however. It is action and reaction. The tide is turning, not only in America but worldwide. Yet it does not mean that immigration will stop altogether.

Legal, orderly immigration, the kind that shaped the nation largely for the better in the first half of the last century, will become the rule of the land. That is — for the time being, as long as sensible, honest adults are in charge of the levers of power. From the gusher that illegal mass migration once was, the movement will come down to a trickle.

And so it stands to reason that for most new legal immigrants who have to run the gauntlet of scrutiny and vast amounts of paperwork from every part of the world for a period of time before they can come to America, they will have have to depend, for the first few weeks, months or years, on the kindness of oth-

ers — friends, relatives and even strangers —until they can be on their own.

The first concern will be finding a place to live. Your circumstances depend on whether you are the first to come here to America as the trailblazing immigrant or you have some resources of your own and the blessings of well-entrenched relatives or friends who can give you a leg up on finding a place to live or just a place to sleep or bunk down until you get your bearings straight.

For many, expediency will be the key. This means you will have to snatch up and make do with what is available at the moment as you try to see the fit and the practical considerations of time and distance of where you live and where you will be working for a considerable length of time.

This phase is important because you will see within a short time that although there is a mass transport system available in most American cities, the time spent in commuting to work, although not a very big deal in the beginning, should be a factor to consider for the long haul, whether or not you are commuting or eventually driving a car to work. Anything that costs you unnecessary smidgens PAGE B6

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 8-14, 2017

Calendar of Events across

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119th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day in Carson, CA The Philippine Independence Day Foundation, Inc. (PIDF), in conjunction with the City of Carson, GMA Life TV, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA News TV, and Tesoro, will celebrate the 119th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day at the Carson Veterans Park (22400 Moneta Street, Carson, CA 90745) on Saturday, June 10. Thousands of people are expected to enjoy the non-stop, day-long event that will be jam-packed with entertainment and activities featuring the rich, beautiful, and spirited Filipino heritage. The eventful day kicks off with a flag raising ceremony at 7:30 a.m., followed by an ecumenical service and a community mass. The parade — to be headed by 119th Philippine Independence Grand Marshal, Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz of the Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles, and to be participated in by a multitude of community organizations and associations from all across Southern California — will be at about 10:00 a.m. This will be followed by the daylong program featuring talented performers from across the South Bay, Southern California, and beyond! The program will be headlined by none other than GMA Network Kapuso’s Primetime Queen Marian Rivera and Primetime King Dingdong Dantes! In addition to the live entertainment, cultural center, food booths, exhibits, vendors, PWC’s Jeepney, chess tournament, and children’s area, there will also be a bone marrow drive for Fil-Am LAPD Officer Matthew Medina. This event would not possible without the leadership of Councilmember Elito M. Santarina, the hard work of our dedicated PIDF Trustees and volunteers, and of course the generosity of our sponsors; Tesoro Refining and Marketing LLC, Waste Management, Carson Companies, KL Fenix, Watson Land, Community Dynamics, IBEW Local 11 &NECA Los Angeles, Nationwide Environmental Services, Brea Canon Oil Co., Inc., Leelin Bakery & Cafe, and Kellogg Garden Products.

For more information or any questions, please email pidf.info@gmail.com.

JUNE 11

Filipino Medical Program hosts community health screening in Passaic, NJ Holy Name Medical Center’s Filipino Medical Program will have a health screening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 11 at the Philippine Independence Day Festival in Passaic, New Jersey. It will be held at 3rd Ward Park, 350 Passaic Ave (cor. Van Houten), Passaic, NJ 07055. For more information, please call the FMP at (201) 833-3355 or email lavarro@ holyname.org.

JUNE 16

Philippine Independence Day Concert & Gala in San Francisco A concert and gala reception will be held at the beautiful and historic Marines’ Memorial Theater in San Francisco on Friday, June 16. The annual Philippine Independence Day Concert & Gala has been a favorite event for Fil-Am political, business, arts, academic and non-profit circles, foreign dignitaries, state and city officials, and a wide cross-section of the Bay Area community. This year’s event will kick-off with a full-length concert at the Marines’ Memorial Theater featuring renowned Filipino music maestro, Ryan Cayabyab with seven of his highly-acclaimed and award-winning vocalists at 7 p.m. The gala reception will follow immediately after the concert at 8 p.m. at the adjacent Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel hall where guests will be welcomed by a beautiful Rigodon de Honor, a Filipino-Spanish quadrille folk dance, to be performed by consular officials and community leaders. Three beautiful ballrooms and reception areas will be open for guests to either sit with friends or mingle with the community. A sumptuous buffet dinner and bar will be served while guests are treated to exciting performances by featured artists.

Finally, a top DJ will be on hand to keep everyone dancing till midnight! Tickets are $125 / person. Marines’ Memorial Theater is located at 609 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94102.

For more information, please visit www.kalayaansf.com/gala or email gala@kalayaansf.com.

JUNE 17

FASO to hold gala benefit in Los Angeles The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines, will hold “A Night of Symphony,” its first ever gala benefit dinner on Saturday, June 17 at the majestic estate of Hollywood legend Mary Pickford in Hancock Park, Los Angeles. The special evening will honor FASO’s first Excellence in Music awardees and distinguished contributors to the pioneering orchestra’s mission and objectives. The names of the honorees will be announced soon. Filipino chefs who are part of the movement that’s making Pinoy cuisine a worldwide sensation will prepare the sumptuous dinner. The exciting gala, sponsored by Bank of Hope, Pacific Western Bank and Silver Saddle Ranch & Club, will feature two parts. There will be a meet and greet for a limited number of guests, starting at 4:00 p.m., with a guest of honor, the awardees and other distinguished guests. The second part will be the main event – awards program and dinner – which will begin at 5:30 p.m. For inquiries, contact FASO board members Rocio Nuyda, the gala’s chairperson at 818-602-3214 or rocio@msn.com, or Jose Luis Garcia at 310-936-2988 or jl.garcia@aol.com. More details are also available at www.fasogala.org.

“Dancing for the World,” a fundraiser for the Columban Mission in Los Angeles Kalayaan Incorporated Southern California, with the cooperation of the Philippine Consulate GenDancing for the World is hosting an event on Saturday, June 17 to raise funds for the Columban missionaries all over the world. It will be held at the Friendship Auditorium (3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027) from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. The Columban missionaries help poor communities that need spiritual, material and organizational assistance. Priests and lay missionaries alike follow the examples of Jesus by witnessing and helping people, crossing boundaries of culture, language and dialogue with other religious beliefs. The dinner dance event ticket is at $40 and raffle ticket is at $2 each. If you buy a booklet of $20 raffle tickets, you can get 2 extra tickets. The more tickets you buy, the more chances of winning. First prize is a cruise for two along the Mexican Riviera; second prize is a Flat Screen TV and third prize is an iPad tablet. If you have anything to share for consolation prizes, we are also collecting. You can send it to this address: Dancing for the World (c/o Bernie Santos), 2912 Moss Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90065.For tickets and more information, you can contact Carmencita Enriquez at (213) 880-5075 or Ariel Presbitero at (323) 691-5262.

J U N E 25

Fiesta ng Calamba in Carson, CA The Calamba Association of Southern California invites everyone to the Fiesta ng Calamba (St. John the Baptist Feast Day) on Sunday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will be held at the Veterans Sports Complex at 22400 Moneta Ave., Carson, CA 90745. For more information, please contact Teresita Pinuela Hermosura at (626) 335-1008.

“Musikahan! with Maestro Ryan Cayabyab” in Glendale, CA Come to the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 25 for an unforgettable performance! The Ryan Cayabyab Singers will be joined by local Fil-Am artists, including Giselle Tongi, Annie Nepomuceno, Miguel Vera, The Harana Men’s Chorus, Edsel Sotiangco, Michael Keith, the Los Angeles Young Ambassadors (LAYA), Josie Gonzalez, Louisa Tampi and more from the Pilipino Artist Network. Presented by Philippine Patrons of the Arts USA in cooperation with FilamARTS, tickets are available at the Alex Theatre box office and online links are posted on www.musicartsevents.com. Venue address is 216 North Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203.

J U N E 29

APALA’s fundraising awards dinner in San Francisco The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)’s San Francisco Chapter will hold a “fundraising awards dinner” on June 29 at 5:30-10 p.m. at Fort McKinley Restaurant (101 Brentwood Drive, South San Francisco, CA 94080). APALA will honor individuals who have dedicated their lives to advocating and defending worker and immigrant rights and promoting economic justice. For more information, please call Celia Rivera of APALA-SF at (650) 296-9623.

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

Features

B June 8-14, 2017 • LAS VeGAS ASIAn JOuRnAL

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

Am I a US citizen?

Immigration Corner Atty. MAriA ritA reyes-stuby And bernAdette bretAnA

Morisette Amon, Angeline Quinto, Jonalyn Viray and Klarisse de Guzman

A night with the ‘Birit Queens’

By Monet

Lu

tO keep up with my social life, while at the same time support our local artists, I spent one melodious Sunday watching the “Birit Queens” belt out a tune or two at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and it was phenomenal!

I confess that I am not into the “birit” fad otherwise known as your voice hitting the highest notes similar to that of a whistle. think: Mariah Carey, regine velasquez or Lani Misalucha, but this concert was such a game changer for me. as expected though, the Birit Queens namely, angeline Quinto, Jona, Morisette and Klarisse De Guzman were astounding. But what impressed me even more is how the entire event was so well coordinated.

May I just add also that the stylist or wardrobe manager did a great job dressing the singers. their gowns were stunning but not too flashy to the point of overshadowing the one wearing it.

Overall, it was wonderful experience for me. all four them are such amazing singers. I do have to say that out of all of them, Jona is my favorite. She can effortlessly switch her singing style. I feel that she sing as beautiful with or without belting the highest octave known to a human being.

I am looking forward to watching them again perform. as for those who want to know more about the Birit Queens, read on.

Angeline Quinto She is also known as “Queen of teleserye theme Songs.” after

emerging as the “First Female Pop Superstar at the “Star Power: Sharon’s Search for the next Female Pop Superstar,” angeline released her debut/self-titled album under Star records. her concert bio says, “the album has 14 tracks including the original, alternate, radio, extended remix and minus-one versions of ‘Patuloy ang Pangarap’, her winning contest piece in the 1st Search for the Next Female Pop Superstar. her self-titled album topped the list of best-selling albums for both local and foreign artists. It is considered the bestselling album of the first quarter of 2011.”

Morissette Amon this Cebuana native made her Broadway debut in the repertory Philippines’ Disney’s “Camp rock: the Musical,” as the lead role of Mitchie torres and the rest, as they say, is history.

Morissette later joined the first season of aBS-CBN’s singing competition, “the voice of the Philippines.”

While she did not came home as the grand champion, she had much success in her singing career as a recording artist. She had released her first album, selftitled, “Morissette,” which won her New Female recording artist of the Year by the 7th PMPC Star awards for Music. She also earned a regular spot in aBSCBN’s Sunday afternoon musical variety show, “aSaP,” as well as recording theme songs to several popular drama series and movies.

Jona at an early age, Jona has already made a name for herself. She joined several singing competitions, and won as first

grand champion of “Pinoy Pop Superstar.”

Jona then joined the trio girl group, La Diva, as lead vocalist. the group met much success, winning various music awards and earning several hits.

She is now a mainstay on the aBS-CBN music variety program, “aSaP,” and has sung theme songs for several popular dramas on aBS-CBN. Klarisse de Guzman her version of Celine Dion’s “all By Myself” paved the way for her to be discovered and compete with the big leagues. after Klarisse put her singing career on hold to continue her studies, she graduated in 2010 with a degree in music production. Klarisse found herself still yearning to perform and compete.

She joined the first season of aBS-CBN’s “the voice of the Philippines,” where she finished second. according to her online bio: “Klarisee continues to build her impressive resume with her self-titled debut album, local and overseas concerts, as well as her appearances on the aBS-CBN programs, ‘aSaP’ and ‘We Love OPM – the Celebrity Sing-Offs,’ where is she is a mainstay.” *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

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

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

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

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

Whatever the immigration status of an alien is so long as they are residing or simply physically present in the United States, a child born in the U.S. is a citizen. the U.S. Constitution bestows citizenship based on place of birth (‘jus soli’ or ‘law of the soil’). Other countries which were or are highly influenced by the earlier French Civil Code (like the Philippines) purely subscribe to ‘jus sanguinis’ or ‘law of the bloodline’, i.e.,citizenship transmitted thru blood relationship. therefore, a child born in the Philippines of non-Filipino parentage does not automatically become a Filipino citizen. One of the parents must be Filipino to transmit Filipino citizenship.

Not of common knowledge is the fact that ‘jus sanguinis’ is likewise recognized as a means of acquiring citizenship by birth in the U.S. Specific rules are provided solely by Federal statutes and are complicated.

Is a child born to U.S. citizen parent/s outside of the territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. and all of its outlying possessions automatically a U.S. citizen?

Not necessarily. Federal laws must be checked whether U.S. citizenship can be transmitted from parent/s to child. the applicable statutory provisions and

PAGE B5

conditions that existed at the time of the person’s birth is relevant, as the laws on transmitting citizenship based on ‘jus sanguinis’ have evolved through the years. the two more basic and controlling components that a consular officer needs to look into in determining whether citizenship has been transmitted are: (1) whether ‘blood relations’ exist between the child and the U.S. citizenparent; and, (2) whether said U.S. citizen parent/s has or have complied with the ‘residency’ or ‘physical presence’ requirement in the United States for a number of years. In order to establish “blood relations”, the mere fact of birth to said U.S. citizen parent is not enough; acknowledgement of parent-child relationship is equally important. One common hindrance to the ability to transmit U.S. citizenship is proving “residency” or “physical presence” in the United States by the U.S. citizen parent. Before U.S. citizenship can be transmitted and depending on whether the parent is the mother or the father, the number of years of residency or physical presence in the U.S. for either, must be established.

Proving “residence” or “physical presence” can be contentious and controversial.. although the laws have on occasion defined what constitutes “residency” it has not provided what should be considered as “physical presence”. the difference between the two concepts is significant.

In many instances, the degree of

proof that should be adduced will be pivotal in deciding whether a person should be removed from the United States due to the commission of an offense/s which can result in deportation, if undocumented or a green card holder, depending on the circumstances of the case. however, if you have been a U.S. citizen since birth, the removal proeedings should not have been filed in the first place. after 1952, the legal trend has shifted to requiring the parent’s “physical presence” in the U.S. rather than “residency”. ‘residence’ connotes a more permanent place of abode; meaning where one lives in a place that is ‘fixed’ while ‘physical presence’ does not necessarily require one to have a ‘fixed place or home’ and still have actual physical presence in the U.S. You can be transient but still be considered to have actual physical presence in the US. the latter is less stringent to establish. Does this mean US immigration policy is in sync with the real facts of globalization? *** Maria Rita Reyes-Stuby is a licensed attorney in Michigan. She is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Law. She specializes in immigration and practices in Las Vegas, Michigan, California and other states. Bernadette Bretana, a graduate of the Ateneo Law School and Ms. Stuby are licensed attorneys in the Philippines. Please call @702-403-4704 or email her at stubylaw@aol.com or go to www.mrstubylaw.com for any questions on this article.

using this should stay away from sunlight to prevent skin burns.

One substance, whose side-effect is making the skin lighter, whiter, is glutathione. Before applying skin whitener, one must consult with his/her physician first because of potential allergy, side effects and possible complications of these items.

Can loud music lead to deafness?

Yes, and not only music. Prolonged or repeated exposure to any type of very loud noise or sound can cause damage to the auditory nerve damage, which could lead to varying degrees of hearing impairment, and even to permanent deafness. headset users should set the volume of sound to a safe level. a simple way to do this is to turn the volume down until you can barely hear it, then gradually increasing the loudness (and adjusting the treble and the base if possible) to a comfortable level.

Can skin ointment be used for the eyes?

No, most definitely no. Skin lotions, creams, gel, ointments, and solutions, are for topical (external or skin) application only, and are not safe for the eyes. there are specific drops and ointments for the eyes. Never use any other preparation, except those prescribed by healthcare professionals specifically for the eyes, which are always labeled “Ophthalmic” or “For ophthalmic use.”

Does surgery make cancer

spread?

No, this is a myth. Doing surgery or “opening the patient up” does not cause metastasis (spread) of the cancer. In general, cancer proliferates rapidly to invade surrounding tissues and distant organs. the misconception resulted from the refusal of patients suspected or confirmed to have cancer to be operated on early when first advised, and had delayed the surgery so much that the malignant tumor had already spread beyond help before acceding to have the operation. So, when the surgeons operated on them that late, invariably the cancer had already spread all over.

When the patients soon expired, people blamed the surgery as the cause of the spread. today, almost everybody knows that prompt detection and early operation in the treatment of cancer gives the best chance for a cure for majority of patients with malignancy.

Queries from readers

Can hydrogen peroxide be used for gurgling?

Yes, hydrogen peroxide could be used for gurgling, but ask your dentist first since he/she knows your dental condition better and can advise you accordingly. hydrogen peroxide, together with sodium fluoride and other common ingredients (like triclosan) in toothpastes, help prevent tooth decay, gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), tartar and plaque formation, and halitosis (bad breath). hydrogen peroxide is a substance that is incorporated in many toothpaste preparations in the market today. Baking soda is another. In children, the anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis effectiveness of toothpastes is still not proven.

Does skin whitener work? there are a few popular preparations of skin (“bleach”) whitener available in the market today which are effective and safe. they are not cheap. One well-known brand costs about One thousand Pesos for 2 ounces. the basic ingredient is 4 percent hydroquinone. the original use of it was to make skin blemishes (chloasma, melasma, freckles, senile lentigenes and other areas of melanin hyperpigmentation) disappear, but today cosmetologists, many dermatologists and some plastic surgeons, recommend it for the entire face as a “bleaching agent” to whiten the complexion. those

*** 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

Jennylyn Mercado: Crazy, sexy...

PAGE B3 would reveal that My Love From the Star’s first three episodes consistently beat the rival show in the ratings game: 11.0 versus 9.4, 10.9 versus 9.5, and 10 versus 9.1.

Clearly, people tune in to see her play crazy Steffi Jennylyn can breathe easy now.

Sexy allan Madrilejos, team editor of FHM Philippines, says they put Jennylyn on the cover for the fourth time in January 2016 because “ang positive lang ng aura (niya). Part of it: empowerment, mental toughness, confidence.” empowered, mentally tough and confident are words that capture the essence of survivor Jennylyn Mercado.

In June 2011, she did the smartest thing any celebrity with a dark secret can do, one of the most powerful things an oppressed woman can do, in fact: she told the truth. and she told it in detail.

She spoke of the unspeakable childhood abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfather, the abandonment of her babydaddy, and the controversial scuffle with her then-beau Dennis trillo. (there’s a grainy Youtube video where a crying Jen explains why she did the tell-all: “Importante sa akin na maintindihan ng mga tao kung ano yung totoo. Kasi ayoko na ng marami pang tanong. Paulit ulit na tanong.”)

Once you’ve combed through her old interviews and watched her Magpakailanman life story, you’ll know that it takes an especially mentally tough human being to suffer what she suffered and still be standing. there’s not a single copy of that explosive Yes! magazine issue left at the basement bookstore, and it’s probably the universe’s way of telling journalists preparing to

talk to this actress to leave those closed issues alone. So we don’t conjure old ghosts. Instead, we compliment her confident, serene aura.

She turned 30 two weeks ago, but is still as fresh-faced as ever, the lead star of a promising primetime series, with an erik Matti-helmed film in the pipeline. her career is on the upswing, her personal life is peaceful (her biological dad is home for good and they’re making up for lost time), and her love life is quiet but blooming. She’s back with Dennis trillo, and the two are more open now about their love’s second wind. If you’re raising your eyebrow because of their much-publicized violence-tinged past, you can relax. Jen says she entered the relationship with eyes wide open.

“Nung okay na, tsaka na bumalik.” he has changed for the better, she insisted with a smile. typical Jen, she didn’t want to say more, but indulged Supreme a little bit when we asked for specfics. “Dati, hindi ako pwedeng magsuot ng mga sleeveless, shorts. Dati lagi akong naka leggings, ganyan.

Ngayon, okay lang kahit na siguro maglakad ako nang nakahubad,” she said, laughing. (and maybe he really has changed. the intensely private actor posted Jen’s January 2016 FHM cover and captioned it, “Para sa akin, ito ang No.1.” It was his way of supporting his girlfriend (voted Sexiest Woman in the Country in 2015) last year, when she lost to Jessy Mendiola.)

Cool Good Housekeeping editor tisha alvarez says Jennylyn Mercado is the only star in recent memory who was able to land a GH cover despite having been on FHM prior. “It doesn’t matter if she’s been on FHM. hindi lang naman iisa ang hubog ng nanay.

She’s a single mom who takes good care of her kid.” her 8-yearold son Jazz who has special needs is the reason Jennylyn shows up to work and brings it every time.

“Dati, ayoko mag work. Umiiyak ako, ayoko na magtrabaho. Kasi from one work to another talaga.

Dun na ako maliligo sa susunod kong location,” she recalled. It’s Jazz who is the missing puzzle piece. “Mas may drive, mas sisipagan ko pa. Okay lang kahit sunud-sunod na yung work. Para sa future niya.”

In a country obsessed with labeling people — superstar, megastar, star for all seasons, unkabogable star, etc — Jennylyn Mercado has earned hers: Ultimate Star, something that, frankly, makes her cringe. “Parang nahihiya ako,” she admitted.

It took her 22 seconds to explain what “Ultimate Star” means to her (“Parang todo”). the absence of a canned answer gives you a glimpse into how little she thinks about labels and such shallow things.

Ultimate Star doesn’t make sense at first, if you think about PAGE B7

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Nyoy Volante admits he enjoys cross-dressing Carlo Caparas to direct Coco Martin in ‘Ang Panday’ remake

by Ronnie

CaRRasCo ManilaTimes.net

by Tessa

MauRiCioa-aRRiola ManilaTimes.net

“I’d be a fabulous gay guy; I already have all the qualities of being gay,” was the candid statement of the very talented Nyoy Volante to the ManilaTimes. net and a small huddle of Entertainment editors one afternoon.

Nyoy had just wrapped up a press conference for his latest project for Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group, pop icon Cyndi Lauper’s Tony- and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical “Kinky Boots,” when he sat down with the group. He teasingly hugged his co-actor, the half-Australian, half-Filipino Laurence Mossman from behind just before saying that, making everyone laugh at his antics.”

I actually enjoy wearing women’s clothes,” added the happily married thespian and recording artist, repeating it for emphasis into a voice recorder.

“That’s why I’m so looking forward to portraying Lola in Kinky Boots. I mean, what a way to be free and express your artistry, right?”

A winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Kinky Boots features a joyous, Tony-winning score by Cyndi Lauper and a hilarious, uplifting book by four-time Tony winner, Harvey Fierstein.

Its story begins with a chap named Charlie Price (Mossman) who has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory in Northampton, England, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and saving his family business, Charlie realizes no one wants to buy old-fashioned men’s shoes anymore and finds inspiration in the form of Lola. Lola is a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, and ends up helping Charlie turn the factory around. In the process, this unlikely pair finds they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible, while and discovering that changing one’s judgment can change their world.

“Besides being a great story, the music of Kinky Boots is just amazing,” Nyoy continued. “As a songwriter, too—and a fan—I could actually see that Cyndi Lauper stamp on the songs we sing.”

Bringing the house down most recently in his portrayal of the legendary Frankie Valli in “Jersey Boys” in October 2016—singing and speaking in falsetto throughout the entire musical—there is no doubt Nyoy can hit Lola’s high notes however up there the pop icon made them to be. And of course, as known to the wider public, his winning impersonations of Tina Turner, Katy Perry and Whitney Houston in the very first season of “Your Face Sounds Familiar’s” Philippine franchise on ABS-CBN has this role in the bag.

PERHAPS it won’t be until January 17, 2018 when famed komiks novelist-film director Carlo Caparas will have fully recovered from the passing of his wife Donna Villa.

It will be the lady producer’s first death anniversary.

Caparas—still reeling from his wife’s loss—hasn’t come back from Cebu, Villa’s home province to resume work. He has his trilogy”Miracles Of Love” to promote which is long overdue, as well as the remake of his classic “Ang Panday” to be produced by Star Cinema for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

Turning to drawing to keep his mind off it, Caparas never fails to make daily visits at Villa’s tomb – where half of her cremated remains were interred, less than half scattered on the waters of Santander and a lump of it placed inside a container which he lugs around everywhere he goes – which he tends while offering her favorite Nyoy Volante as Lola—a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos.

Humbled by praises for his singing stamina— whether as the world’s female music greats, Valli, “In the Height’s” rapping bodega owner Unsavi, “Shrek’s” non-stop talking Donkey, or as “Rock of Ages’” aspiring rock star Drew Bowley—Nyoy still maintains that he needs a lot of work to perfect the role of Lola.

“You really need to be that person for you to pull off a convincing performance in any musical so besides mastering the songs, speaking like Lola and moving like Lola, I need to ‘live’ her character. You start learning your role through rehearsals and by the time the musical comes, you do end up becoming that character during the run,” he explained.

“Oh! And one more thing,” Nyoy added before wrapping up the conversation, “I also plan to wear heels for two to three hours a day before we start rehearsals just to get used to it.”

Those are six-inch babies by the way. All the better to let this talented musician soar higher in the world of theater.

Jennylyn Mercado: Crazy, sexy...

PAGE B6 Jennylyn. She’s not the most followed star on Instagram. Her fans aren’t zealots who will bash any critic of hers ‘til kingdom come. She has seven active endorsements, yes, but it’s a paltry number vis-à-vis those who earn millions multiplied by 20. Social media numbers, fans and endorsements, these are modern metrics by which we judge how “ultimate” someone

iii

is. There are many celebrities who have more of those.

But when you consider that, that’s when Jennylyn Mercado = Ultimate Star starts to make sense. She has survived abuse, jumped over career-jeopardizing controversies, and made a stellar comeback after a surprise pregnancy — with blockbuster hits and best actress trophies to boot. She fell into a jobless black hole but found the fight in her to climb back up and reclaim her

spot in the showbiz galaxy. She defies the laws of showbiz: still a sought-after leading lady at 30, an exceptional earner even after the baby, even without the babydaddy. That is an Ultimate Star.

Jennylyn Mercado may not have the most number of this or be the highest paid that, but she can jump from a Good Housekeeping cover to a Cosmo cover, straight onto her fourth FHM cover. When will your faves do all that?

Carlo Caparas and Coco Martin to work together in the remake of ‘Ang Panday’

flowers. He’s also having it refurbished with new tiles.

“I thought I was the bravest man on earth, but the death of Donna still leaves my heart broken. One sleepless night, I spoke to her. Sabi ko sa kanya, patulugin naman niya ako and she did put me to sleep,” Caparas was quoted as saying.

Aside from him, Villa is survived by their children Peachy and CJ. “Whenever CJ and I face each other, wala, pareho kaming bumibi-

gay,” Caparas related.

But if Tita Donna—who’s fondly called in showbiz circles—were alive, she’d certainly be glad to see direk Carlo back on his feet doing what he loves the most, which is directing, of course.

Caparas has yet to release Miracles Of Love which is already in the can. Also, he must be visible this early as Star Cinema has acquired the filming rights of his classic “Ang Panday,” starring Coco Martin.

Counting on other people’s...

PAGE B5 and chunks of time when played out over long periods of time detracts from the quality of your life overall. You could be doing something fun and easier on yourself, like sleeping for a half hour longer, if you have a short commute.

If you are bunking with friends and relatives, the likely places will be guest rooms, converted garages, back houses, lofts, attics and basements—just initially. Those who have some managerial background in the old home country have been able to find apartments rent free or at a reduced rate by applying as assistant manager, or even resident manager of an apartment complex on a part time basis while they keep their full time jobs.

The savings can be enormous because rent is and will continue to be the biggest expense for the immigrant. See if this is an option that you can explore. Your disadvantage is that you still do not have local experience. Yet there is always a chance that with persistence, creativity and tenacity, you can get a lucky break. When something is really necessary, one can always seek the grace to find a way. Just keep your hopes up.

Those with built-in, well-entrenched support systems (trans-

lation: a loose network of earlier immigrants related by kinship or friendship) have an advantage. He is far ahead of the game although he probably won’t know or appreciate it until much later. The other kind—the pioneering, trailblazing immigrant however—will have to start from scratch and clutch on straws in the beginning as he fashions a new way of life for himself and for those yet to come.

The support given by relatively established friends and relatives enables the new arrival to transition to a new life relatively easily.

In some cultures where blood or family ties are exceptionally strong, relatives and friends take it as a matter of course and make room and put out the welcome mat for the new arrival. They can give him his first briefing about American life, e.g. how to use the phone, which bus routes to take, acceptable behavior, the first American English phrases that will get him through a typical day, what to watch out for, the 800 number, the 900 number, 411 and 911 — basic information that he is expected to know.

Consequently, cities with high density immigrant populations have more than the average number of members per household as they make do with whatever accommodations and living ar-

rangements that can be stretched to the limit. Some cities are stricter than others. Apartment managers can stipulate and enforce the number of occupants that they allow per unit.

In older, rundown neighborhoods, this may be loosely interpreted and at times, not strictly enforced. The newer apartments with cramped square footage and paper-thin walls usually enforce this stipulation more strictly. The new immigrant, unless he comes with enough initial financial resources to pay for his own apartment, usually bunks with supportive friends and relatives for a temporary period of time for the sake of expediency while he grapples with the challenges of being new in a strange place.

In due time, however, it is expected by the host family that the arrangement is temporary and that the new arrival finds his own place as soon as possible. The independence that he gains by being on his own can be liberating and the learning experience, much more enjoyable.

Good luck to the new immigrant on your new adventure! *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

B June 8-14, 2017 • LAS VeGAS ASIAn JOuRnAL

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