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Obama: US has ‘rock solid’ commitment to defend PH

by Louis

Bacani Philstar.com

standing mutual Defense treaty and the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (eDCA). “the broader point is that, as a treaty ally, we have a rock solid commitment to the defense of the Philippines,” obama said in a joint press conference with Aquino at the sofitel.

“And part of our goal is to continue to help our treaty partners

mANILA—United states President Barack obama assured on Wednesday, Nov. 18 that his nation is committed to defend its longtime ally the Philippines.

After a bilateral meeting with President Benigno Aquino III, obama said the Us will help the Philippines because of their long-

build up capacity, to make sure that the architecture of both defense work, but also humanitarian work, and other important activities in the region are coordinated more effectively, and we think that the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement is going to help us do that,” he added. obama said he is confident PAGE A2

Amid sea row, Xi calls for peace: ‘Pacific Ocean our common home’

by TeTch

Torres-Tupas Inquirer.net

In his speech during the APeC Ceo summit on Wednesday, Nov. ChINese President Xi Jinping 18, Xi said APeC countries should has stressed on the importance “step up policy dialogue and of fostering peace in the Asia- coordination and use APeC as a Pacific region and not allowing platform to create synergy.”

“We must focus on developdisruptions to take away attenChinese President Xi Jinping and Pres. Benigno ment and spare no effort to foster tion from Asia-Pacific economic Aquino III listen during a ABAC dialogue at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Cooperation’s (APeC) sustainable an environment of peace condudevelopment agenda.

Summit in Manila on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

PAGE A2

USA

DATELINE Fil-Am WWI veterans march for recognition from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Over 120 killed in Paris attacks, Pinay inventor shares stage including Cal State Long Beach student with Obama, Alibaba’s Jack Ma by agnes

consTanTe and aLLyson escoBar AJPress

WeDNesDAY, Nov. 11 marked the United states’ official day to honor its war veterans, alive and deceased, for their faithful service to country. But on hollywood Boulevard, one of the busiest streets in Los Angeles, it was a different story. hundreds of protestors, mainly university students from all over the southern

FDA sets new rules to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks

PAGE A4

mANILA—Aisa mijeno, a filipina entrepreneur who invented lamps powered by salt water, was lauded by Us president Barack obama during a forum at the Asia-Pacific economic Cooperation (APeC) summit in manila on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

At the start of his session, obama made a pitch for renewable energy, noting how big Us businesses are saving billions of dollars by tapping into solar and other renewable en-

horror struck on the night of friday, Nov. 13 in Paris, france, the site of multiple coordinated terrorist attacks, including mass shootings, suicide bombings, and the taking of hostages. the attacks have reportedly left at least 129 people dead and 352 wounded, according to multiple sources. the Islamic state has claimed full responsibility on the day after the deadly unprecedented attacks in the french capital, prompting french President françois hollande to declare a state of emergency and declare that france is “at war.” he further said that france is committed to “destroying” the Islamic state group, according to BBC. In public, multilingual statements on IsIs’s encrypted messaging accounts, the terror group called the assaults “the first of the storm,” and mocked the Western european city as the “capital of prostitution and obscenity.”

PAGE A3 Sen. Grace Poe

ergy sources. obama said climate change could be viewed as a business opportunity, citing the efforts of young entrepreneurs and importance of capitalizing on them. obama cited mijeno, an engineer who devised the sustainable and cost-effective lamp dubbed as the sustainable Alternative Lighting (sALt) lamp, as a fine example PAGE A2

Poe jumps for joy, as SET scraps disqualification case

PAGE A3

WIth multiple recent foodborne illness outbreaks, the Us food and Drug Administration (fDA) has finalized a set of groundbreaking rules to strengthen the farm food safety system, ensuring quality produce for Americans. the new set of guidelines will require

SHIPSHAPE, SHARPLY WORDED MESSAGE. With the BRP Gregorio del Pilar as the background and flanked by American and Filipino troops, US President Barack Obama delivers a speech upon his arrival in Manila on Tuesday, Nov. 17 for the APEC Leaders’ Meeting. The US will hand over two ships to the Philippine Navy to boost its maritime security capabilities, in a bid to show the United States and its allies won’t be cowed

by China in disputed waters far off its coast.

Inquirer.net photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta

PH HONORS FRANCE. After the horrendous series of attacks in Paris, the world has come together to show their support and solidarity, including the Philippines. Tourism Philippines recently shared a photo of Rizal Monument beaming with colors of France’s flag. The photo includes a caption, “Philippines honors France.” Following the attacks, countries have lit up their most iconic landmarks to show respect to the victims of the attacks - Mexico, Brazil, United Kingdom, Australia, US cities and other countries in Asia.

seafood footer ad

by Tarra

Quismundo Inquirer.net

IN A VIsIt to Biñan, Laguna province tuesday, Nov. 18, sen. Grace Poe jumped for joy on hearing the senate electoral tribunal (set) decision. “from the bottom of my heart, I wish to thank everyone who chose justice and upheld the rights of voters and abanPAGE A2

A

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From The FronT Page

Obama: US has ‘rock solid’...

PAGE A1 that the EDCA, which was signed during his state visit to Manila in May 2014, will pass the Supreme Court’s scrutiny.

For his part, Aquino said the EDCA, which allows greater US military presence in the Philippines, will strengthen Manila’s defense capabilities.

Aquino said the defense pact will also help in the Asian pivot of the US and in the improvement of regional stability.

“In the Philippines’ part, we will have access to the most modern technology that will bring us into higher capabilities, and that is why we welcome now with very open arms this agreement pending before our Supreme Court,�

Aquino said. “America gets the use of our bases to be able to have more stability in its ability to project its own power within the region in an effort to help in the stability and the orderliness and the

President Barack Obama talks with Captain Vince Sibala on the bridge of the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15), during a tour of the ship in Manila Harbor on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

White House photo by Pete Souza

diffusion of the tension with the region,� he added.

Obama renewed the US’ commitment to defend the Philippines amid the ongoing South China Sea dispute.

He said the US supports the arbitration case filed by the Philippines that sought to invalidate China’s nine-dash line claim. “We fully support a process in which through international law and international norms these issues are resolved. And we look forward to working with all parties to move disputes through these channels,� Obama said.

The South China Sea dispute was among the issues discussed

by Aquino and Obama during their meeting. “President Obama and I likewise had a discussion on maritime security, including on the maritime disputes in the region, and how international law should remain the framework for behavior of all countries and for the peaceful resolution of disputes,�

Aquino said.

He said the two nations reaffirmed their defense alliance which “remains a cornerstone of peace and stability in the AsiaPacific.� “President Obama and I reiterated the longstanding and multi-layered engagement between our two peoples, and we pledged to ensure that our two countries work together not only strengthen defense cooperation and increase mutual prosperity, but also to foster more meaningful ties between our people,�

Aquino said.

Amid sea row, Xi calls for peace; ‘Pacific Ocean...

PAGE A1 cive to development and never allow anything to disrupt the AsiaPacific development process,� Xi added.

China is embroiled in a territorial dispute with the Philippines.

The Arbitral Tribunal in The

Hague recently ruled in favor of tribunal’s jurisdiction to hear the dispute.

The Arbitral Tribunal’s ruling will pave the way for the presentation of the merits of the Philippines’ substantive claims in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

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China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea and its aggressive stance, including the reclamation activities in Kagitingan, Zamora and Panganiban Reefs as well as the building of artificial islets over Mabini, Burgos, Calderon and Kennar Reefs, have rattled the nerves of other claimant countries, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam.

But in his speech, Xi said conflicts among the member countries should be resolved through dialogue and consultation. “I am confident that the vast Pacific Ocean will become a bridge of cooperation, a bond of friendship and a place we call our common home,� Xi said. “It is important that we establish an all-round partnership on development and mobilize the government, enterprise and social resources in concerted efforts for implementation of the sustainable development agenda,� he said, adding it was important to promote inclusive and harmonious development to meet APEC’s target of sustainable development. “And in so doing, create more room for better quality and efficiency of development and make sure that these tasks can mutually reinforce each other,� Xi said.

President Barack Obama poses for a photo with Alibaba founder Jack Ma and Filipina scientist Aisa Mijeno following a discussion at the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, attended by 800 business leaders from around the region representing US and Asia-Pacific companies in Manila on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Pinay inventor shares stage with Obama...

PAGE A1 of “young entrepreneurs coming out with leapfrog technologies.�

Inspired by the natives of the Butbut tribe in Kalinga who use kerosene lamps as source of light at night, Mijeno conceptualized a safe, cost-efficient, environmental friendly lamp, which functions by adding two tablespoons of salt on a glass of tap water. SALT which costs $20 each, can run for eight hours every day without the hazards of a combustible fuel. With proper maintenance, it can last for six months. “I wanted to address the light inequality gap, first in the Philippines, by focusing on the people at the bottom of the pyramid,� said Mijeno.

“Most of these families live on island, communities and they are not connected to power grids. So they mainly use kerosene and fuel based lamps as the main source of lighting...kerosene lamps cause fire accidents, it emits black carbon,� she continued. “We want to provide a lighting option that is more cost-effective, more safe, more sustainable and environmentally friendly by way of a lantern that uses saline solution or ocean water, as a catalyst to generate electricity, she added.

Asked by Obama what more can the government do to assist young entrepreneurs in doing sustainable innovations, Mijeno said,“We also need a lot of support in terms of funding. That’s our main challenge

right now.� “We have the passion, but we need a support system both from the private sector and government to mentor us and guide us,� Mijeno explained.

The Filipina entrepreneur also backed Obama’s claim, saying “Climate change is real and not a myth created by scientists to get funding.� “It is like cancer,� Mijeno said, citing the four stages of the disease: cell mutation, symptoms, manifest effects, and decline. “I believe we are at Stage 2.�

The SALT lamp has received various awards and recognition from organizations in the Philippines, Singapore, Japan and South Korea. (Philstar.com)

Poe jumps for joy, as SET scraps...

PAGE A1 doned children,� the senator told reporters.

Poe scored an early victory against moves to disqualify her in next year’s presidential election after the SET, voting 5-4, dismissed a petition seeking to oust her as senator on the ground that she is not a naturalborn Filipino as required by the Constitution.

Poe’s supporters in the SET announced the ruling and hailed the quick vote in the tribunal’s meeting at Manila Polo Club, calling it a triumph for foundlings, echoing the senator’s position on the belated disqualification case filed by Rizalito David, a losing candidate in the 2013 senatorial elections.

The decision has not been released.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it would consider the SET ruling when it tackled four petitions questioning Poe’s citizenship and residency to run for President

in the 2016 balloting.

The Constitution states that a presidential candidate should be a natural-born citizen and should be a resident for at least 10 years in the Philippines. An elected President takes an oath to uphold the Constitution.

Senators Loren Legarda, Vicente Sotto III, Cynthia Villar, Bam Aquino and Pia Cayetano voted to dismiss David’s disqualification case.

5-4 vote All Supreme Court magistrates in the nine-member SET—Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo Brion and Antonio Carpio—voted to disqualify Poe, along with Sen. Nancy Binay. Her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, is among the contenders against Poe in the 2016 presidential race. “It was a vote of 5-4, five dismissing the petition of Mr. David, and four concurring with the petition of Mr. David,�

Legarda told reporters. “That means, five voted and gave consideration to the fact that, as a foundling, Senator Poe is natural-born Filipino,� she added.

David called the SET decision a “moral victory� and planned to go to the Supreme Court to question it. “It’s a pity that our senators failed to rise above their political nature.�

David has charged Poe with “material misrepresentation� in the 2013 senatorial race, while four other petitions in the Comelec want to disqualify her from the presidential race and have her certificate of candidacy canceled.

In the SET case, David’s camp is contending that Poe, then a baby, found in 1968 at a church in Jaro, Iloilo province, is stateless and is, thus, unqualified to hold public office.

Poe, an adopted daughter of the late actor and presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., had acquired American citizenship in October 2001, 10 years after marrying Filipino-American Neil Llamanzares.

She reacquired her Philippine citizenship in 2006, and in 2010 she renounced her US citizenship upon her appointment as chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

David’s lawyer Manuelito Luna said the petitioner would file a motion for reconsideration. He has 10 days to do so, or the ruling will become final, Legarda said.

Commenting on the ruling, Luna expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would eventually overturn the ruling once elevated on appeal. “We’ll have to peruse the decision first, but in the event it’s a political decision and the senators disregarded the Constitution, then on the strength of the ruling in the Lerias case, the Supreme Court will set aside

the decision,� Luna said.

In ruling on a 1991 case filed by petitioner Rosette Lerias against the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal and her rival for the Southern Leyte congressional seat at the time, Roger Mercado, the high court warned politicians against making political decisions in ruling on electoral protests, saying “they must resolve election controversies with judicial, not political, integrity.�

If the petitioner files an appeal, SET must rule on the case and release a decision with finality before Dec. 10, the deadline for the printing of ballots for the 2016 elections.

Foundlings “I think this will have both legal and political implications.

And more important, the most important I think, this will have a great implication on foundlings. This issue goes beyond Grace Poe,� Legarda said. “This is important for adopted children who do not know where they came from,� she said.

Sotto, who is running under Poe’s slate and also a guest candidate at Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance party, echoed this and said via text messages: “All the foundlings and children in the orphanages triumphed!�

Media were barred from covering the SET proceedings, which took roughly two hours.

Cayetano said in a statement, “The case is still pending with us given that the petitioner has a right to file a motion for reconsideration.�

No debate Cayetano and Legarda are expected to release separate opinions explaining their vote.

Legarda said the atmosphere was “very calm, short and friendly� during the voting, and that the members came in with their minds already made up. “There were two decisions that were ready: One saying [Poe] is natural born, the other is just in case whatever happens. The two drafts either granted or dismissed the petition,� she said. “The chair said raise your hands, who votes to grant the petition, who votes to dismiss it. Then they routed the majority ruling, which we then signed,� she said. “There was no debate unlike in the Senate. The lunch was longer than the discussion.

In short, there was no need for a debate.� “I decided to vote with the justices of the Supreme Court based on the Constitution and evidence presented,� Senator Binay said in a statement.

She said the SET case was not about her father and his presidential aspiration but about the “Constitution which each and every Filipino must uphold.�

Rico Quicho, a Binay spokesperson, said in a statement, “The Vice President enjoins everyone to respect the decision.�

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Over 120 killed in Paris attacks...

PAGE A1

The style of the attack was in line with ISIS’s tactic of indiscriminate killings, and goes against the guidelines of Al Qaeda, said the New York Times, which states that Qaeda operatives should avoid attacks that could inadvertently cause the death of Muslim civilians.

Two days after the bloodshed, Hollande launched airstrikes on ISIS’s de factocapital and stronghold in Raqqa, Syria. He also promised to move an aircraft carrier to the Middle East, as part of a large effort to intensify airstrike bombings, assaults, and rocket launches in Syria, reported BBC and NPR. “The attacks represent an aggression against our country, against our values, against its youth and its way of life,” Hollande said in a joint session of both houses of parliament. “The faces of the dead people, of the wounded, of the families don’t leave my mind…in my determination to combat terrorism, I want France to remain itself. The barbarians who attack France would like to disfigure it. They will not make it change. They must never be able to spoil France’s soul.”

Multiple raids in Paris Starting around 9:20 pm on Nov. 13, three explosions occurred at the Stade de France, the national sports stadium, where an anticipated soccer match between France and Germany was taking place that was attended by Hollande. The French president was immediately removed from the scene, and the game was allowed to finish before fans were swiftly evacuated.

“About 15 minutes from the time the game started, we heard a loud bang, like big,” Filipina Rachel Gunther, who was attending the soccer game, told ABC7. “It shook the stadium. And then the second bang or boom happened within minutes of each other and we thought, ‘boy, they really enjoy their soccer here…’ we thought it was a joke.”

“Thousands of those ahead of us started charging back. Like running wild, desperate, terrorized looks in their faces, as if something was following them…All I could think of was, ‘I’m going to get trampled if I don’t run with the crowd.’ So I started running and it was the most terrifying ordeal I’ve ever experienced. I was literally running for my life,” Gunther continued.

The stadium in the Saint-Denis suburb resulted in the death

Dateline USa

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEmbER 19-25, 2015

A

Filipino US Navy vet’s box of memories found in Maryland attic

SAN FRANCISCO–A box of World War II memorabilia found in a Laurel, Maryland, attic was traced to a Filipino immigrant who served in the US Navy for more than 30 years and returned to his family last Veterans’ Day. Less than 48 hours after the box of mementos was found in the attic of a District Heights home and turned over by the homeowner the Laurel Police Department, the box and its Nohemi Gonzalez, a junior studying design at Cal State Long Beach, was among the victims contents were traced to Amando of the terrorist attacks in Paris, France on Friday, Nov. 13.

Custodio, who was born in 1908, of four, including three suicide Islamic State in Syria and has been and returned to his daughter, bombers. A Syrian passport was linked to other terrorist attacks, Rita Shane.

Shane and two of Custodio’s found near the body of one of the The New York Times reported. Inbombers killed near the stadium, vestigators say Abdeslam escaped grandchildren came to the police reported the Los Angeles Times, back to Belgium on Saturday fol- station to pick up the box filled with Amando’s naturalization but authorities believe it was fake, lowing the attacks.

Authorities are also focusing on papers, a war ration book and according to BBC. At the same time, several street a Belgian of Moroccan descent, dozens of photos and letters. shootings and bombing attacks Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 27, who is throughout the city also occurred believed to be the possible archiat four populated outdoor plazas tect of the assaults. The New York known for their restaurants and Times reported that Abaaoud is PAGE A1 nightlife. The shootings by gun- believed to be in Syria with fellow California region, joined with agmen killed at least 25, said the As- Islamic State militants.

On Tuesday, Nov. 17, Reuters ing Filipino veterans for a yearly sociated Press.

The deadliest attack was a reported that German police ar- march and rally, organized by mass-shooting at the Bataclan rested seven individuals, at least Justice for Filipino-American music hall theater, which has been three of whom are foreign citi- Veterans (JFAV).

JFAV is a national alliance of repeatedly threatened for its past zens, linked to the attacks.

The Eiffel Tower had been dark organizations, which advocates sponsorship of Jewish events. An evening concert by the Eagles of and closed for the past few days for the rights and equality for FilDeath Metal, an American band following the attacks. On Monday, Am World War II veterans.

“We have been marching for from Southern California, had an Nov. 16, it reopened to tourists attendance of over 1,000 people at and Parisians, brightly lit with the the past 22 years, and we will the venue. Around 9:45 pm, three red, white, and blue colors of the not stop until we get justice and equity for our freedom fighters,” men with assault rifles entered the French flag.

“The United States and France said Arturo Garcia, national cohall and opened fire on the crowd, and several hand grenades were are not only friends, we are fam- ordinator for JFAV. Over 250,000 Filipinos signed also reportedly thrown in the cha- ily,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry. “And today, the entire up to fight for the US during otic scene.

Witnesses said they heard world joins our family in heart- World War II, and were promrounds of automatic and Kalash- break yet again. Don’t mistake ised equal treatment as Amerinikov rifles fire, and gunmen what these attacks represent. can veterans after the war. Howshouting “Allahu akbar! (God is This is not a clash of civilizations. ever, the Rescission Act enacted greatest)” as they entered the These terrorists have declared in 1946 by President Harry Truwar against all civilization... it is man took away full recognition crowded hall.

“When they started shooting we an assault on our collective sense of their participation in the war, just saw flashes,” said an escaped of reason and purpose, an attack stripping thousands of Filipino vets of their rightful benefits. witness, according to NY Times. on civility itself.”

In 2009, Congress approved US President Barack Obama “People got down on the ground also stressed solidarity with the the Filipino Veterans Equity right away.”

French news services said that French people, defending his Compensation Act, a stimulus as many as 100 hostages were administration’s policy in fighting package that included one-time lump sum payments of $15,000 taken at Bataclan, many of them ISIS, said NBC News.

“ISIS is the face of evil,” Obama to Fil-Am veterans in the US, apparently killed later by ISIS. Paris prosecutor François Mo- said at the conclusion of the G20 and $9,000 to those living in the lins said that five out of seven of summit in Turkey. “Our goal is Philippines, reported Inquirer. the dead terrorists have been iden- to destroy this barbaric organiza- However, thousands of veterans tified, and police have launched a tion…these are killers with fanta- had their claims denied, mainly manhunt for eighth and ninth sus- sies of glory. Once again, we’ve because US authorities did not seen an outrageous attempt to ter- accept records from the Philippects. pines, the only way veterans French and Belgian police rorize innocent civilians.”

“There will be intensification of could prove their service in the are searching for Brussells-born Frenchman Salah Abdeslam, 26 the strategy that we put forward,” war.

Today, the White House eswho has previously fought for the PAGE A4

Police said there were pictures of a woman believed to be his wife and his daughter, Rita, as a small girl.

Shane said her father was a steward while in the Navy and that he loved being in the service. The memorabilia fills in some blanks, said Shane, and the she couldn’t wait to read Custodio’s love letter to her mother.

Police pieced together that Custodio was born in 1908, immigrated to the United States from the Philippines and was in the Navy. They ran a computer search on Custodio’s name, which showed up in the record from the Truman Library of him being on board the USS Williamsburg, which was Harry Truman’s presidential yacht. (Inquirer.net)

Armando Custodio, born in 1908, spent more than three decades in the U.S. Navy. A box of memorabilia that belonged to him was found in an attic in Maryland.

Armando Custodio’s box of memorabilila

Fil-Am WWI veterans march for... timates around 6,000 veterans still alive in the US. “I have done my service, I am a veteran, and I believe in the spirit of justice,” 91-year-old Artemio Caleda, who fought bravely in WWII, told NBC News. Despite Caleda’s verifiable documents that recognize his service, the Department of Veterans Affairs has denied his claims for pay restoration and benefits stripped from the Rescission Act. “Nothing has been received, we are still waiting. Until the end, I’ll be here, walking on this street right here in Hollywood,” added war veteran John Aspiras, 84.

The importance of the Filipino war effort was apparent when Japanese occupation troops forced American General Douglas McArthur to flee to Australia.

Filipinos battled side-by-side with the remaining US troops kept up the fight in the Philippines.

“The order of President Roosevelt is very clear: when we were drafted into the US Army, we would be compensated just like American soldiers,” Caleda recalled.

So far, of the more than 250,000 Filipinos who faithfully served, only 18,000 have been officially recognized and deemed eligible for the lump sum payments approved by the Equity Compensation Act. Other vets have been granted US citizenship and some health benefits,

but denied the equity payment.

Attrition rates among the aging veteran community is also the prime reason the vast majority have seen little to no benefits-the laborious file-work and political cases have simply outlived many of them.

Among the benefits advocated

by JFAV include full recognition of wartime services, a non-taxable lump sum under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a Survivors Pension (Death Pension) for widows and children, a working visa to expedite the process of reuniting families, and overall progress in Congress for the Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2015, which would reconcile all benefits stripped in 1946.

“I will continue [to fight] until I get what I deserve,” said 98year-old Celestino Almeda, the leader of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, which continues to meet with Washington officials for justice.

Among the 60+ organizations present at the 15th annual JFAV March included API Equality-LA, AF3IRM, Alliance Philippines, Kasama Filipino American Students Organization, Kabataang maka-Bayan (KmB) / Pro-People Youth, Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), People’s CORE, and the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC).

PWC’s Executive Director Aquilina Soriano-Verzosa gave PAGE A4

A

Dateline USa

november 19-25, 2015 • LAS veGAS ASIAn JoUrnAL

Fil-Am WWI veterans march for...

PAGE A3

the opening speech at the rally, along with statements from Doug Kaufman of ANSWER-LA, FASGI director Bernie Ganon, and A3FIRM national leader Jollene Levid. The rally also included a special performance from Filipino rap artist and war veteran BAMBU. Hundreds of university students came out to march on their day off from classes, holding signs, chanting, and showing their support for the years-long cause.

“It’s important for students to advocate for minority communities,” said UCLA student Andrew Esguerra, the community projects coordinator for UCLA’s Samahang Pilipino group. “Even if

it doesn’t affect you personally, it affects your community, and you have to come out for that.”

Students also did a 69-second die-in in front of the CNN building, representing the 69 years since the Rescission Act was passed.

“We essentially came out to raise awareness for the lack of benefits that Filipino veterans received for their service in World War II,” said UCLA neuroscience student Claire Garcia, who performed the Filipino national anthem with her choir group, Tinig Choral. “I think that even though this event is in regards to an issue that happened many years ago, it’s still extremely important to get the Fil-Am veterans the benefits and recognition they

deserve. It’s not right for them to have their service forgotten as time goes on.”

In July of this year, President Obama announced a new policy that will allow certain eligible family members of Fil-Am vets to seek parole, under a new program by the Department of Homeland Security. That policy is still waiting to be implemented.

“We have been marching for the last 22 years against systemic racism and racial discrimination,” added Art Garcia. “We will continue to march for equity and justice, and we will not stop until we get [this] for our Lolos and Lolas, and for the Fil-Am community.” (Allyson Escobar / AJPress)

FDA sets new rules to prevent...

PAGE A1 importers and producers to verify the cleanliness of their food, according to The Daily Meal.

Implemented by the bipartisan Food Safety Modernization Act, the rules are considered to be the FDA’s primary initiative towards the prevention of foodborne illness outbreaks. With random spot testing, health official hope to stop outbreaks at the source before contaminated food products can enter stores and mouths.

The Food Safety Modernization Act “establishes enforceable safety standards for pro-

duce farms and make importers accountable for verifying that imported food meets US safety standards,” according to the FDA and International Business Times.

Importers and distributors must also provide third-party auditing services to evaluate procedures at foreign food suppliers. The accredited bodies will be responsible for conducting an audit of foreign facilities, and finalized rules can help farmers and importers prevent future problems with operations.

The recent, high-profile outbreaks over the last few years

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have led the FDA to draft a new set of rules and regulations to ensure food safety.

The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) often can only respond after people have already fallen ill from contaminated food.

For instance, the recent salmonella outbreak from imported cucumbers crossed state lines and sickened hundreds of citizens, killing four and hospitalizing 157.

“The recent multistate outbreak…is exactly the kind of outbreak these rules can help prevent,” said the FDA’s Michael R. Taylor in a press release. “The new rules will help prevent people against such outbreak and will strengthen their confidence that proper food safety checks are in place.”

“For the first time these rules are going to require producers, growers, and importers to ensure that the food they produce or import has minimal contamination,” said Sarah Eskin, director of food safety research at the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Prior to the new law, importers were rarely held accountable for the safety of their products from foreign suppliers. Over half of all fresh fruit and 22 percent of fresh vegetables consumed in the United States are imported.

According to the CDC, over 48 million Americans suffer from foodborne illness each year. Out of those affected, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 people die from illnesses. (Allyson Escobar/AJPress)

ANIMAL ACTIVISTS. Activists of the “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” or PETA wore animal costumes to address animal welfare issues to delegates of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. The activists were on their way to welcome the delegates with their “Jeepney Jamboree of Animals” when they were stopped by police officers aboard a motorcycle and a patrol car along Amorsolo Street at around 10:30am.

Over 120 killed in Paris attacks...

PAGE A3 he added. “The strategy that we are putting forward is the strategy that will ultimately work…but as I said in the beginning, it is going to take time.”

On Monday, ISIS purportedly released a new video from Iraq threatening Western countries that are launching airstrikes against the organization, including Italy, Belgium and the US: “the same fate will happen to them.”

“We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that, by God, you will have a day, God willing, like France’s and by God, as we struck France in the center of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its center in Washington,” said one militant in the video, according to Reuters.

“You will not feel safe so long as you keep bombing,” the video message said. “You will be killed as long as you keep killing.”

“Americans don’t have a religious test to our compassion,” said Obama. “The values we are fighting against ISIL for is that we don’t discriminate against people because of their faith.”

An immediate release by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch read, “We stand in solidarity with France, as it has stood with us so often in the past. This is a devastating attack on our shared values and we at the Department of Justice will do everything within our power to assist and work in partnership with our French law enforcement colleagues.”

US governors say they won’t admit Syrian refugees In wake of the attacks, about 30 governors in the US are seeking to ban the admission of Syrian refugees.

Michigan and Alabama were the first states to refuse the relocation of refugees on Sunday, Nov. 15, after which they were joined

by Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin, among others.

Republican governors say there is a chance that among refugees are those with terrorist ties, USA Today reported. Only one Democrat, Gov. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, joined the GOP governors in urging the federal government to cease the admission of refugees until more details about the vetting process are known.

“The acts of terror committed over the weekend are a tragic reminder to the world that evil exists and takes the form of terrorists who seek to destroy the basic freedoms we will always fight to preserve,” Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said in a statement. “I will not place Alabamians at even the slightest, possible risk of an attack on our people.”

Michigan had been working to attract Syrian refugees to the state, but on Monday, Nov. 16, Gov. Rick Snyder said he is suspending the program, USA Today reported.

“Michigan is a welcoming state and we are proud of our rich history of immigration,” Snyder said in a statement. “But our first priority is protecting the safety of our residents.”

The governor further demanded that the Department of Homeland Security review its security measures for screening refugees, but added that not all people with the ethnic background of those who coordinated the Paris attacks are the same.

“It’s also important to remember that these attacks are the efforts of extremists and do not reflect the peaceful ways of people of Middle Eastern descent here and around the world,” Snyder said.

The Obama administration previously announced plans to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees throughout the next year and the State Department said Monday it would not change that plan. A September report from The New York Times said the United States could end

up taking in a total of more than 100,000 refugees.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Monday announced that they issued executive orders to suspend the relocation of refugees in their states. Jindal also urged Obama to hold off in accepting additional refugees.

“It would be prudent to pause the process of refugees coming to the United States. Authorities need to investigate what happened in Europe before this problem comes to the United States,” Jindal said.

Legislators have also echoed the sentiment of opposed US governors, including House Speaker Paul Ryan who plans on introducing a bill this week to suspend the US refugee program, CNBC reported Tuesday.

Obama, while addressing reporters on Monday, called out Republican candidates who have objected to admitting refugees to the United States, according to CNN. “When I hear a political leader suggesting that there should be a religious test for which a person who is fleeing from a war torn country is admitted … when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution, that is shameful. We don’t have religious tests to our compassion,” Obama said.

Democrat governors of at least seven states - Connecticut, Delaware Hawaii, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Washington - announced Monday that they would continue allowing resettlement of refugees.

“It is unfortunate that anyone would use the tragic events in Paris to send a message that we do not understand the plight of these refugees, ignoring the fact that the people we are talking about are fleeing the perpetrators of terror,” Delaware Gov. Jack Markell said in a statement.

While Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker told reporters on Monday that he would say “no as of right now” to accepting refugees from Syria, state Sen. Edward J. Markey was more welcoming.

“We should not close our hearts or our doors to the women, children and families that are fleeing the Middle East to escape war and the daily terror, violence and chaos it brings. America has always been a refuge for the persecuted and oppressed,” Markey said in a statement.

The United States has so far accepted more than 2,000 Syrian refugees since the civil war began in the country in March 2011. Refugees have been admitted to 138 cities and towns and 36 states. The bulk of refugees are located in California, Texas, Michigan, Arizona and Illinois, according to wrapsnet.org, where the U.S. government posts its official numbers.

Louisiana has 14 refugees, Ohio has 76, and New Jersey has 88.

Immigration and constitutional attorneys and experts have raised doubts whether governors have a say in the accepting or refusal of refugees.

“The one thing I feel very comfortable saying is there is absolutely no constitutional power for a state to exclude anyone from its territories,” said Stephen Legomsky, a law professor at Washington University of St. Louis and former chief counsel of US Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Obama administration.

Rachel Rosenbloom, an immigration law professor at Northeastern, told the Boston Globe that no legal basis exists for state to keep out refugees.

“States can’t keep out people who they consider to be undesirable. States don’t play a significant enough role in this process where it matters what they think,” she said.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot prohibit people from traveling across states once they are in the United States legally, according to

the Globe.

Fourteen states have not admitted any refugees: Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. The District of Columbia also has no refugees.

Student from Cal State Long Beach among fatalities Victims included people from all nationalities and walks of life, from Algeria to Egypt, Mexico, Spain, the US, and the UK. Among fatalities in the Friday attacks was 23-year-old Nohemi Gonzalez from El Monte, a junior studying design at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) who was completing a semester abroad at Strate School of Design.

Gonzalez, who is so far the only American victim identified in the attacks, was killed at a restaurant while having dinner with three friends.

One of Gonzalez’s schoolmates in Paris saw her get shot in the stomach, but she was able to escape from the Le Petit Cambodge restaurant, ABC 7 reported.

The spray of gunfire at the sidewalk bistro left a total of 19 dead, including Gonzalez.

Hundreds on Sunday, Nov. 15, gathered at the university in Long Beach to mourn Gonzalez’s death and remember her spirit, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“Nohemi possessed a character that was truly rare,” Martin Herman, chairman of the university’s design department, told the crowd on Sunday, according to the LA Times.

“What I saw in her was a beautiful soul who practiced goodness and compassion in her friendships and relationships with others. She exuded such energy and enthusiasm and infused the entire department with these same qualities by virtue of her presence.”

At the university, Gonzalez was described as a “shining star” in the design program by professor Michael LaForte, and a hardworking student with a bubbly, fun-loving personality. Herman added that she frequently headed the design workshop and “ran a very tight ship.”

“She was always the last one to leave the shop,” said a classmate, Alex Schumacher, according to USA Today.

Francis Redublo, 24, a design student at CSULB, told the Asian Journal that Gonzalez’s passion for design was evident.

“Design was her calling and you could tell that it lit a fire inside her. She was running everything!

From being a [teacher’s assistant] and working to open shop, to running the print lab, to running the laser cutting room, she was all over the place. The design family will truly miss her,” she said.

Gonzalez’s mother, Beatriz Gonzalez, is struggling to cope with the loss of her only daughter, who she said wanted to have a career and family.

“I feel lost, sadness and she was my only daughter,” her mother said, according to ABC. “She was a very strong young woman. She had big decisions, when she went to do something she was committed to whatever she was doing.”

Her boyfriend of almost four years, who she met in shop class, Tim Mraz, said, “she ran that place, man. She owned it. Now, she will “always be here. She will be still roaming those halls.”

In a statement on Saturday, Nov. 14, CSU Chancellor Timothy B. White expressed outrage at the attacks.

“My heart is heavy and I am deeply saddened for the family and Long Beach State community, and I grieve with all those who have lost a cherished one,” White said in a statement. “Many campuses in the CSU have student studying abroad in France, and all others are known to be safe,” he said.

A total of 17 students from CSULB were studying abroad, and the other 16 were accounted for as safe, according to a school official, ABC reported.

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D ateline PhiliPPines ‘Rescued’ street families for APEC feeling homesick

by Jovic

Yee Inquirer.net

STREET dwellers rounded up last week by the Manila City government, supposedly because of the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, are pleading to be released from the Manila Boystown Complex in Marikina City, citing poor living conditions and the loss of their livelihood.

Ramona Rodriguez told the Inquirer which visited the facility Tuesday that she and her 9-yearold son Adrian were rounded up on Mabini Street on Nov. 11 by Manila social workers who told them they would be interviewed for the government’s Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program for families who are either homeless or living in makeshift houses.

Rodriguez, a street sweeper and cash-for-work beneficiary since October, said she told the social workers that she was already enrolled in the program. However, she and her son were still brought to Manila’s Reception and Action Center (RAC) where they were informed that they would be taken to Boystown as “there will be visitors coming [to Manila] for the APEC [summit].”

The facility located in Marikina’s Barangay Fortune and operated by the Manila City government, serves as a rehabilitation center

and orphanage for homeless and abandoned boys. Since renovations are being undertaken at RAC, street dwellers rounded up by the local government are brought to Boystown where they are temporarily housed and undergo skills training such as massage therapy so that they can look for employment following their release from the facility.

Eduardo Pascua Jr., however, said that he lost his source of livelihood when he and his family of four were taken from Arranque Market on Nov. 10 also by Manila social workers who told them they were to be interviewed on why they were living in the streets. Pascua added that he doesn’t know what happened to his merchandise of secondhand cell phones which he was forced to leave behind.

A week since they were brought to Boystown, Pascua, Rodriguez and 22 other families have been decrying their continued stay at the facility, noting that they are better off fending for themselves on the streets.

Pascua said that while they are fed three meals a day, these are “insufficient” and given late. For example, breakfast is served most of the time at 9am, lunch at 2pm and dinner at 8pm, he told the Inquirer. They are given either porridge, noodles or sardines.

Tuesday’s lunch of chicken tinola,

Street dwellers from Manila find ways to amuse themselves at the Boystown Complex in Parang, Marikina City, where they have been staying for more than a week following their “rescue” by social workers.

Inquirer.net photo by Richard Reyes

on the other hand, was served past noon.

Aside from the complaints about food, Verlita Alejandro, who was with her year-old son, also decried the lack of diapers, medicines, as well as medical personnel to look after their needs.

These complaints reached the office of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada who visited them Tuesday to check on their condition and, at one point, gave candy to the children. When he asked if they were being cared for and had enough food, they said yes but added that it wasn’t enough.

When Estrada asked if there was a doctor looking after them, Rodriguez answered that there was none. His reply apparently irked Estrada who told them not to lie while presenting to them the facility’s doctor. Rodriguez and other families, however, later told the Inquirer that it was the first time they saw the doctor.

In a chance interview, Estrada denied that the families staying in the facility were rounded up because of the ongoing APEC summit, saying they were free to leave the facility once social workers have assessed that they have homes to go back to instead of living in the streets.

Estrada also maintained that the rounding up of street dwellers to “take care of their well-being” was a continuous program of the city and that it was “intensified” only because of the APEC summit.

“It would be embarrassing because we have foreign visitors.

What would they say about the Philippines? This is our country. We need to take care of our country’s image,” the former President told reporters.

“Do you want foreigners to see [children and families] sleeping in the streets? [Do you want them to say] that Filipinos [do not take] care of their poor countrymen?” he said.

Pascua, however, said that “if the government really wants to help us, they shouldn’t hide us.” He added that instead of rounding them up whenever foreign dignitaries are in the country, “the government must help us through programs that would help us succeed in life.”

MIAA chief faces graft raps over CCTV project

by Ding

cervantes Philstar.com

MANILA—Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado was charged on Tuesday, Nov. 17 with graft over the planned procurement of a P486-million closed-circuit television (CCTV) system without public bidding.

Enrico Quiambao, lawyer for Annex Digital Inc. and Geutebruck Pty. Ltd. joint venture, filed the charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against Honrado, members of the MIAA bids and awards committee and its technical working group and project consultant Rizaldy Reblora.

Quiambao claimed that Honrado was just using the bullet planting incidents to justify the installation of the CCTV system at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

“All these tanim-bala incidents would not have happened had the CCTV system been installed long time ago. But the project had been slowed down by attempts to rig the bidding,” Quiambao said.

Earlier, Honrado said the MIAA would enter into a negotiated procurement following two failed biddings.

Under Republic Act 9184 or the Procurement Law, a negotiated mode of procurement may take place after two failed biddings.

MIAA officials attributed the failed bids to the inability of participating bidders to meet technical requirements for the project.

“It’s not true. There was only one bidding held because the TOR (terms of reference) was changed during the first bidding last year.

Under the procurement law, the first bidding should not count because the TOR was changed,” Quiambao said.

Also named respondents were the officials of the allegedly favored firms, Advance Security and Safety Solutions Inc. (AS3) and One Commerce International Corp.

The complaint said AS3 did not participate in the initial bidding, while One Commerce had failed to meet certain requirements.

According to Quiambao, the joint venture of Annex Digital and Geutebruck Pty. Ltd. and another firm, Trends & Technologies Inc., were initially declared as eligible bidders.

However, in a post-evaluation of bids reportedly prepared by Reblora, the two firms were disqualified.

During the submission of another round of bids on Feb. 24 this year, Annex Digital was again declared eligible as the second lowest bidder, along with AS3 and One Commerce as the lowest and third lowest bidders, respectively.

Tanim-bala case A number of government officials also face possible legal suit for their alleged failure to protect tanim-bala victim Gloria Ortinez.

Spokcy Farolan, Ortinez’s legal counsel, said they are preparing charges against the government on the case.

“We are studying what appropriate charges to file, not only against those involved in the tanim-bala scheme, but also those who failed to do their duties of protecting Ortinez,” Farolan said in a radio interview.

He noted that her employer in Hong Kong terminated Ortinez because she was unable to return

to her job as scheduled.

Farolan said the government even failed to notify Ortinez that she had been formally terminated and were informed only by Hong Kong immigration authorities when they arrived there last Saturday.

OFW advocate Susan Ople said Ortinez’s employer refused to allow the Filipina worker to enter her home.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said he is willing to provide employment to Ortinez.

Romualdez said his staff is now establishing contact with her for details of her case and provide her suitable employment here at home.

A

President Benigno S. Aquino III walks with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet (center), China President Xi Jinping (right), Hong Kong Chief Executive LeungChun-ying and Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto as they arrive for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders welcome ceremony inside the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Inquirer.net photo by Lyn Rillon

Lumads, Catholic Church leaders slam APEC summit

protests against the APEC Summit.

Fanagel said that this resistance MEMBERS of the lumad and is not by the lumad alone, but the Church lit up their candles on with the broad population of the Wednesday evening, Nov. 18 at Filipino people.

Redemptorist Church in Baclaran to express their “burning resistance” to the ongoing Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

It was also to show solidarity with people who are victims of militarization and plunder, said Kerlan Fanagel, community leader of the Blaan tribe and chairperson of Pasaka (Lumad organization in Southern Mindanao).

“Walang maidudulot ang APEC. Ito ay sistematikong patuloy na pang-aagaw ng lupain at yaman ng mga ninuno, he said.

The policies in APEC are not for the Filipinos but for globalization and privatization of entities, he said.

“Wala na tayong hawak or kontrol ’pag may de regulasyon,” he said.

Some 50 leaders of the Church and Lumad leaders marched a few meters from Baclaran church and took part in climbing the bell tower to unveil streamers and tarpaulin bearing messages of

by Frances

Mangosing Inquirer.net

The lumad members who are part of the Manilakbayan 2015, a protest caravan, were moved to Baclaran Church after their permit to rally was cut off by the government.

A

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OpiniOn

Pray for Paris

Features

“ONCE again we’ve seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians. This is an attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.” - Pres. Barack Obama Sharing his sentiments over the multiple terror attacks on Paris, France on Friday, Nov. 13, President Obama vowed to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice, and fight terrorism and extremism.

“Paris itself represents the timeless values of human progress. Those who think that they can terrorize the people of France or the values that they stand for are wrong. The American people draw strength from the French people’s commitment to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness,” Obama said.

The terrorist attacks left at least 129 people dead and 352 wounded, shocking the world over ghastly images and videos of the bloodstained scenes from the attacks. Then came a worldwide silence for France as calls for prayers for the victims and their families flooded various social networking sites, as #jesuisfrance trended instantly. In this time of distraught, the world expressed its compassion and paid respects to the victims of this recent senseless violence that disrupted a peaceful country.

Although relieved that the over 50,000 Filipinos in France are safe, the Philippines joined in on the

worldwide clamor and condemned the terrorist attacks, saying it showed not only a premeditated act of violence but also the cruelty that “demands the greatest indignation from the world.”

“The Philippines mourns the dead and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with France. At a time that demands heightened security from all of us, we ask Filipinos in Paris to heed the instructions of the authorities and for all of us to cooperate and be vigilant here at home,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

Pres. Benigno Aquino III deplored the senseless murders of the civilians escribing it as “atrocities that demand a united voice from the world in condemnation and grief.”

The world stands witness to how terrorism and genocide still linger. The world calls for justice, an accountability to the lives lost because of extremely unstable political and security situations. The world calls for peace. This is the moment where every nation and every citizen take a stand. We are all called to become a modern and civil society, to bring an all out war against terrorism and fight for peace.

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

The Paris attacks are like a recurring nightmare.

Who’s to say that the world is gaining momentum in its fight against terrorism when everyday we are reminded by its horrors?

As an offshoot to these latest news of violence and terrorism, people are alerted to remain

vigilant. Confronting this looming threat goes beyond the power of the governments. It will require resolute citizens to take a stand and confront it.

This also means understanding terrorism -- why it exists and why it has had adverse consequences on humanity. (AJPress)

Should the US abandon its plan to accept more Syrian refugees to keep the country safe?

AT least 129 people were killed and 352 wounded after three groups of terrorists staged coordinated attacks at six locations throughout Paris, France late Friday, Nov. 13.

ISIS, a jihadist organization that has declared a self-styled “caliphate” across parts of Iraq and Syria, has claimed responsibility for the massacre, and warned that the United States will be the next target. The nation’s state capital, Washington, DC and New York City, have now been on heightened security alert.

According to reports by the Agence FrancePresse (AFP), Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reacted Saturday to the deadly attacks in Paris, taking France to task and calling on it to change policies that he says have contributed to the “spread of terrorism”.

AFP said France has been a leading supporter of the Syrian opposition since soon after protests against Assad’s rule broke out in 2011.

France has also been part of a US-led coalition conducting an air war against ISIS in both Syria and Iraq.

Less than a year before the 2016 presidential elections in the US, national and global security have once again dominated the debate. Candidates aiming to be the next commander-inchief, along with their party mates, offer their own tactics on how to defeat ISIS and keep

Demand And Supply Boo ChanCo ANDREW Masigan, an economist and entrepreneur who writes for the Bulletin, estimated the cost of hosting APEC at P30 billion. That is also what it would cost to do tax reform as estimated by the BIR. If the estimates are in the ballpark, how can PNoy say we don’t have money to do tax reform but there is money to host APEC? Okay… some will say these are apples and oranges. Not so. P30 billion is the same whether that is splurged on hosting an international event of dubious benefit to the country or giving harassed citizens tax relief.

And it is also not as if we are asking for something truly outrageous with tax reform. We are only asking they update the basis of our income tax to account for inflation over the last 18 years.

The peso in 1997 when they set the tax brackets is only worth 47 centavos today.

Indeed, government is effectively stealing money from its citizens with this failure to update.

The administration is implementing a tax system whose rates had effectively been Increased without an act of Congress, normally required.

It looks bad on President Aquino and his anointed Mar Roxas to be so bullheaded about tax reform which is really nothing more

America safe.

Questions in contention The Fil-Am are: Should America send more troops and boots on the Perspective ground? Should America still accept Syrian refugees who’ve been caught in the war between the Assad regime and the op- Gel SantoS-ReloS position? Should America be stricter and more suspicious of Muslims in America?

President Barack Obama has once again been criticized for not being “strong enough” in the fight against ISIS. Many Republicans have been advocating for America to send boots on the ground to extinguish the extremist group.

They blame Obama for empowering ISIS by appearing to be “weak” when he did not declare war against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad after he stepped on the “red line.”

“We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus. That would change my equation,” Obama stated.

Obama’s critics argue that because of the continued strife in Syria, ISIS has grown stronger and is not afraid of the US military.

According to CNN, more than 250,000 people have died since the violence broke out in Syria in 2011, and at least 11 million people in the country of 22 million have fled their homes. The United Nations says Syrians are now the world’s largest refugee population, and most are struggling to take refuge in Europe.

Since 2011, the United States has been accepting about 1,500 Syrian refugees for humanitarian reasons. The Obama administration, however, has announced in September that 10,000 Syrian refugees will be allowed entry next year.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has just announced that the US should pause its refugee program so that ISIS will not be able to use it to get into the US and launch an attack in the country.

This is a stance shared by more than half the nation’s governors who say they oppose letting Syrian refugees into their states, although CNN reported that the final say on this contentious immigration issue will fall to the federal government.

The states protesting the admission of refugees, include Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Michigan Illinois, Maine and New Hampshire.

All but one of these 31 states have Republican

governors. Republican candidates have also taken this position.

President Obama said the tragedy in Paris should not affect the small intake of Syrian refugees into the United States. “Slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values,” the US commander-in-chief said during remarks at the G20 economic summit in Antalya, Turkey.

Obama also ruled out sending more ground troops to fight ISIS in response to the terrorist attacks in Paris.

“It is not just my view, but the view of my closest military and civilian advisers, that that would be a mistake,” Obama said in media reports. “A strategy has to be one that can be sustained,” Obama added.

“Given the fact there are sacrifices involved in any military action, it is best that we don’t shoot first and aim later,” Obama argued. “It’s important for us to get the strategy right, and the strategy that we are pursuing is the right one.” *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

APEC will cost as much as tax reform than an update. Senate President Frank Drilon and Speaker Sonny Belmonte already went to PNoy to convince him to change his mind, but it seems, to no avail.

Of course, the DOF and the BIR are right about the need to do a total tax reform but that, is too complicated to do in the time left. The DOF and the BIR is effectively saying no to tax reform.

This is rather myopic, as many observers have already pointed out.

Our economy is consumer driven and tax reform that would put a little more money in the hands of consumers will boost GDP, the favorite measure of economic health of PNoy and his economic team. More than that however, tax reform through a simple updating that takes into account inflation over the last two decades, will be a good morale booster for our harassed taxpayers.

It isn’t as if giving in to this demand will bankrupt our National Treasury. If it is alright to spend P30 billion on something as useless as this APEC conference, why is instituting tax reform for about the same amount not alright to do? Indeed, I suspect the estimate of P30 billion for APEC may be on the low side.

Let us not just count the actual money out of the National Treasury to host this event. Let us also count the cost of all those cancelled flights, not just on the airlines but also on the affected passengers – specially those with forfeited onward airline

and hotel reservations they have to pay out of pocket.

Let us count the cost of paralyzing the economy of Metro Manila, which accounts for over a third of the country’s total GDP. Let us count the wages lost by workers paid by the day, and the opportunity costs for thousands of SMEs that could not do business during APEC week.

I realize we have an international obligation to host APEC. We had 20 years to prepare for it and do it right with the least disturbance to the lives of our people. But I imagine they worked on it in earnest only over the last two years. Our Great Leader, the haciendero that he is, took it for granted he can just tell the people of Metro Manila to shove it while he has his party. It is like telling us to go eat cake.

It isn’t as if we have not done this before. In his wisdom, FVR decided to hold APEC in Subic so that Metro Manila could be spared the chaos we have today.

We could have done this in Clark and we would not have had to cancel all those flights at NAIA. Of course they would have had to build a convention center at Clark, but that is the kind of infrastructure that ought to be built anyway. APEC could have been a good excuse to do that at Clark.

It is all water under the bridge now, but let us not forget how this unfeeling administration failed to consider the impact on our lives by deciding to hold APEC in Manila. Let us remem-

ber that come May 2016 when we vote. Let us remember we cannot have more of this kind of officials with absolutely no regard for the people, supposedly their bosses.

At the opening session of the APEC Business Advisory Council, PNoy declared “voting for or against Mar is a referendum of whether we did it right or wrong.” Putting it that way, I guess even if we are thinking of voting Mar as the least detestable option, we can’t do that now and give PNoy the wrong idea.

For now, let us just hope and pray the administration that gave us the Luneta carnage and Mamasapano will not once again bring the country shame as we host APEC this week. I suppose that as Filipinos, we have the obligation to help see this event through. Retribution can wait for next year when we vote.

Our economy Rappler picked up this very interesting quote on APEC. Try to guess who said it and when.

“The correctness of our reforms so far has been validated by the growth of the economy and a new tempo of nationwide self-reliance, even at the grassroots….We have demonstrated our own capability to manage our economy towards stability and sustained growth – earning the respect of the global economic community.”

If you thought this was something coming out of Sonny Coloma’s shop, you would be wrong.

This is a quote from FVR in a

SONA just before the last APEC we hosted in Subic. But isn’t it creepy how something said 20 years ago can seem so current?

We were a promising economy then and we still are now.

Our economy is like the typical Filipino politician... forever promising. The international economic community, mostly rating agencies and banks who do business with DOF, had been optimistic about our growth then as now. Nothing new.

Twenty years is a long time.

You can be a brand new parent and have that baby as a voting adult in all of twenty years. But our economy seems unable to go beyond a threatened take off… unable to grow beyond the promise and the big words.

One might say that if APEC was any good to our long term economic prospects, we would have seen it by now. I hate it when the same promises of long term benefits 20 years ago are being hoisted on us now when they ask for our patience while we host APEC. Twenty years is a long time. I don’t think I can wait for another 20 years to see the supposed promise of APEC to dawn on my country. And don’t believe them when they say they will reach agreements good for our economy during this APEC meeting.

Nothing significantly earthshaking happens in these large scale summits. Everything is ceremonial. The big things happen behind closed doors, mostly in bilateral meetings that don’t

require a metropolis of 20 million to stand still.

I sure wish public officials will just tell it like it is. Of course that would take guts, specially given the people’s sour mood in the light of the significant disturbance we all have to endure this week. We should consider ourselves lucky if nothing untoward happens.

Deng Xiaoping My thought for the day comes from Deng Xiaoping, that wise old Chinese leader who is responsible for China’s growth into a world economic and political superpower. This quote is from a speech delivered at the United Nations on April 10, 1974 If one day China should change her color and turn into a superpower, if she too should play the tyrant in the world and everywhere subject others to her bullying, aggression and exploitation, the people of the world should identify her as social imperialism, expose it, oppose it and work together with the Chinese people to overthrow it.

That’s the same Deng Xiaoping who didn’t want to talk about the nine dash line and said it ought to be left to a future generation who may be wiser than his.

Looks like that wiser generation isn’t here yet. But the China Deng warned us about is already playing the big power role and is no different from the big powers Deng and yes, Mao, detested and fought all their lives. (Philstar.com)

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

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEmbER 19-25, 2015

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Junjun Binay may use Supreme Court condonation ruling to take back post

PHOTOBOMBED. Torre de Manila, the building netizens have dubbed as the “Pambansang Photobomber,” is in the spotlight once again. The condominium’s full height ruined the view of the skyline when Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto paid the Rizal Monument in Manila a visit on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Nieto, who is in the country for the the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit and a state visit, posted the photos of his visit on his Facebook account.

Movies, Pacquiao fight videos readied to lift APEC cops’ morale by

JullianE lovE dE JESuS Inquirer.net

POLICE officers deployed for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) security will be treated to a movie after working extended shifts for the week-long summit.

Previous fights of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and blockbuster film “Heneral Luna,” which depicts the gallantry of the first Filipino general Antonio Luna, and other movies will be shown to police officers who have been asked to leave their units to render service for the APEC meeting.

These were among the Philippine National Police’s move to uplift the morale of the troops, some of them came from the provinces and sent to the field to protect foreign delegates attend-

ing the APEC, guard the streets and maintain peace and order during the APEC week.

But Police Director Juanito Vano of the PNP’s Directorate for Logistics said some of the officers have requested them to set up a live stream of the APEC meetings to keep themselves updated with the event attended by international leaders and dignitaries.

On the third day of the deployment of APEC police officers, PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez brought Vano with him during the inspection of troops in areas near the Apec venues.

They checked on the condition of the officers, particularly their billeting areas and food ration.

During the inspection, Vano also gave out chocolates as energy

bars to the troops.

After the inspection, Vano said they found out that they needed more tents and rain coats, aside from the 7,500 items they procured before APEC, for those on field duty.

Some of the troopers, meanwhile, asked Marquez if their uniforms could be altered when they are being sent to rallies. Instead of pinned badges and nameplates, they are asking if these could be embroidered.

Marquez assured them that they would consider making some changes to the standard police uniform.

“I wanted to hear from the troopers themselves if the assistance the logistics team had given them is sufficient,” said Marquez.

OFW cleared in ‘tanim bala’ case gets back her nanny job in HK A tearful 13-year-old boy convinced his mom to hire back Gloria Ortinez by tina

G. SantoS Inquirer.net

MANILA—Her 13-year-old ward’s tears made her employer change her mind and gave her another chance.

Gloria Ortinez, the overseas Filipino worker who recently fell victim to the “tanim-bala” (bulletplanting) racket at the airport, was issued another contract by her employer in Hong Kong, according to migrant workers advocate Susan “Toots” Ople.

Ople said Ortinez’ previous contract was terminated by her employer due to the tanim-bala incident.

“They agreed on a settlement that includes a prospect of a new contract once Nanay Glo is prepared to come back,” she told the Philippine Daily Inquirer over the phone.

According to Ople, Ortinez and her employer, a single mother, initially had a bitter parting of ways Sunday night after the latter refused to allow the former to enter the apartment to get her things.

The employer’s 13-year old son went down the building, without her mother’s knowledge, to bid Ortinez goodbye.

“The mother witnessed how emotionally affected her son was by her decision to let go of Nanay Gloria,” Ople said.

“You study well. I love you,” she qouted Ortinez as telling her crying ward.

“If you love me then, why are

Overseas Filipino worker Gloria Ortinez (center), victimized by the alleged “tanim-bala scam,” attends Senate probe.

Inquirer.net photo by Maila Ager

you leaving me?” Ople quoted the boy as saying in reply to Ortinez.

The next day, Ople said Ortinez received a call from her employer.

“She was saying sorry to Nanay Gloria. She said her son cried the whole night and refused to eat breakfast before going to school.

The employer then invited Nanay Gloria to meet her at a small restaurant across her apartment,” narrated Ople.

She added it was an opportunity for Ortinez to explain to her employer the tanim-bala incident and latter expressed her sympathy over what happened.

“They agreed on a financial settlement and the employer

promised not to replace her.

They will wait for Nanay Gloria to come back once all her papers are ready,” Ople added.

Ortinez, 56, was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Oct. 25 after two policemen claimed to have found a live bullet in her handbag.

The case was dropped against Ortinez after three days due to “lack of probable cause,” and the two policemen were suspended from duty.

Ople said they have already asked the Commission on Human Rights to look into the possible human rights violations committed against Ortinez in the tanim-bala incident.

Nancy Binay on vote vs Poe: Not about my father

by Earl lEonard

SEbaStian

Philstar.com

MANILA—Sen. Nancy Binay on Tuesday, Nov. 17 said she decided to vote in favor of the disqualification case against Sen. Grace Poe not because her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, is her contender in the 2016 presidential race.

In a statement Tuesday, the the neophyte senator said her losing vote with the justices of the Supreme Court was based on evidence presented by Poe regarding her citizenship.

Binay, who voted as part of the Senate Electoral Tribunal deciding on the petition against Poe, said she questioned Poe’s adoption papers and documents on appointment as chairperson of the Movie and Television Ratings and Classification Board.

“This case is not about my father or the presidential election,” Binay said following the issuance of 5-4 ruling dismissing the disqualification bid.

Binay cited “political analysts” in arguing that her father would benefit if Poe would run and if there were more candidates for the presidency.

Sen. Nancy Binay

“With my father’s core supporters intact, the other votes will be split among the other candidates,” she said.

“This is about the provisions of the Constitution which each and every Filipino must uphold.

Binay’s father, however, is trailing behind Poe in recent surveys. Other presidential aspirants are former Interior and Local Government Secretary and administration candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Sen. Miriam

Defensor-Santiago.

The younger Binay insisted Poe does not classify as a natural-born citizen required by the Constitution for candidates for elected posts.

“As a senator of the country who was elected and entrusted by the Filipinos to uphold the law, I must make a decision based on the provisions of the Constitution.

More than anyone else, a senator of the land must respect the Constitution,” the senator said.

MANILA—Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. could still invoke the condonation doctrine in questioning his dismissal by the ombudsman, three legal experts said.

Former University of the Philippines law dean Pacifico Agabin, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Vicente Joyas and former University of the East law dean Amado Valdez believe that the prospective application of the Supreme Court (SC) ruling last week abandoning the condonation doctrine could actually benefit Binay.

They all agreed that Binay may still invoke the doctrine, which condones administrative liability of reelected officials for acts committed in a previous term.

In its ruling, the SC held that the condonation doctrine, which became part of Philippine jurisprudence in 1959 upon a ruling by the high court, should be abandoned for lack of basis in the 1987 Philippine

Suspended Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr.

Constitution and law. The majority, however, ruled that the application of the abandonment should be prospective.

The three legal experts rebutted an earlier opinion of SC spokesman Theodore Te, who

said Binay could no longer invoke the doctrine against his dismissal, which stemmed from the same charges related to the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

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Journal

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Filipino twist Recipes from our favorite chefs for a non-traditional fare

By Malou liwanag-Bledsoe

in traditional American Thanksgiving dishes to make it our own, FILIPINOS love to celebrate or create our own menu. with food wherever they are.

“I think Filipinos in the US may That is why, like most races and want to (or should) try non-tracultures, we put in our own twist ditional dishes for Thanksgiving AJPress

because we should take advantage of the availability of the local ingredients and other cooking techniques,” said Chef Eric Pascual of Eats by E. “I also believe that in doing so we can still stay true to

Chef Cocoy’s Roasted Crabs with Garlic Calamansi 2 servings

IngredIents: • 1 large Dungeness crab, cleaned and sectioned (raw or precooked) • ¼ cup SunTropics Pure Calamansi • 4 tbsp butter • 10 cloves garlic, crushed • 2 tbsp salt • ½ tsp black pepper

Procedure: 1. Preheat oven to 500°F. 2. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

3. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients.

4. Tear about 20” long foil, place onto lined sheet, place mixture in the center of foil and wrap it up, seal all openings.

5. Bake for 10-15 minutes.

6. Transfer on a serving platter, pour cooking juice on top, arrange and garnish with scallions or herbs (optional).

Chef Eric’s Braised Bistek IngredIents: • 3 lbs. of beef chuck roast or short rib (bone-in preferably) • 4 tbsp. SunTropics Pure Calamansi • 5 garlic cloves (minced) • ½ cup soy sauce • ½ cup water • ½ cup chicken stock • 1 tbsp. sea salt • 2 tbsp. cane sugar • 1 tbsp black pepper • 4 tbsp oil • 3 medium onions cut into rings Procedure: 1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. 2. Pat beef dry and rub all over with the salt and pepper.

3. Heat oil in an ovenproof 5-quart wide heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not mansi, water, and chicken stock, smoking and brown beef on all and bring to a boil.

5. Cover pot tightly and braise sides, about 15 minutes total.

4. Add garlic, soy sauce, cane in oven, until beef is very tender, sugar, SunTropics Pure Cala-

approximately 3-3.5 hours total.

6. In a separate pot, sauté onions in 2 tbsp. of oil until clear.

Serve onions over beef.

MORE RECIPES IN B2

some of the traditional flavors.”

The great part about celebrating Thanksgiving is that we can do it any way we like. Although the standard of roasted turkey and stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie are expected on one’s dinner table, it doesn’t mean we have to follow suit. In this age of food blogs, Pinterest and fusion cooking, the options are endless.

In this special Thanksgiving feature of the Asian Journal, Chef Eric and international chef Cocoy Ventura share recipes of alternative and Filipino-inspired Thanksgiving dishes.

Cocoy Ventura

AJPress file photo

Chef Eric Pascual Photo courtesy of Feastly

B november 19-25, 2015 • LAS veGAS ASIAn JoUrnAL

PAGE B1

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Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Filipino twist Chef Eric’s Calamansi Dipping Sauce

IngredIents: • 2 tbsp. SunTropics Pure Calamansi • 3 diced garlic cloves • 2 tbsp. diced red onion • 2 tbsp. diced jalapeno (seeds removed) • 2 tbsp. cane sugar • ¼ cup cane vinegar • 2 tbsp. soy sauce

Procedure: 1. Combine all ingredients and stir until sugar has dissolved.

2. Allow 30 minutes for ingredients and flavors to combine before serving.

Thanksgiving is All Rolled Up with this Dish!

by Grace

O

IF you don’t feel like roasting a big turkey for Thanksgiving, or want to try a great dish for holiday entertaining, you might want to try my Stuffed Turkey Rolls. I pack these turkey cutlets with my Savory Stuffing, roll them up, and secure them with kitchen twine. The finished rolls are sliced and fanned out on a plate to make a beautiful presentation, and you can serve them with cranberry chutney or cranberry sauce for a nice added touch.

Because I marinate the turkey before cooking, it’s juicy and flavorful. The selenium in turkey can increase your resistance to infection. The red wine (I use a Pinot noir) adds a bit of resveratrol to the selenium’s antioxidant power.

Stuffed Turkey Rolls serVes 6 ¼ cup soy sauce 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 Tbs. lemon juice (about ½ lemon) 2 Tbs. red wine Sea salt and ground pepper to taste 6 turkey cutlets or butterflied turkey breasts 1 recipe Savory Stuffing 2 Tbs. butter 2 Tbs. olive oil

YIelds 2-3 cups 4 Tbs. olive oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 lb. ground turkey 2 slices cubed whole-wheat bread Sea salt and ground pepper to taste 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning 1 cup turkey or chicken broth 1/4 cup chopped celery

Shrimp and Moringa Curry

Homemade croutons, fresh celery and onion give this stuffing its unique flavor and texture. It can also be served on its own as a side dish if you spread the stuffing in a greased baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

IngredIents: • 1 tsp. grated ginger • 4 cloves finely-diced garlic • 3 sliced tomatoes • 4 tbsp. oil • 2 lbs. green beans • ½ cup sliced onions • 2 tbsp. SunTropics Pure Calamansi • 3 tbsp. Oyster sauce • 1 tbsp. black pepper • 2 tbsp. Patis (fish sauce) Procedure: 1. In a wok, add in oil.

2. Once heated add and sauté garlic, ginger and onion in oil for 2 minutes stirring occasionally. oyster sauce, patis, and black heat.

6. Correct seasoning if re3. Add in the tomatoes and pepper.

5. Stir with vegetables, for quired. Serve hot. cook for 2 minutes.

4. Add in the green beans, 3 minutes at moderate to high

Chef Cocoy’s Pork Spareribs Toyo-mansi

1. Heat 3 Tbs. of the olive oil in a large pan over medium high-heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.

2. Add the ground turkey and cook until done.

Set aside.

3. To make the croutons, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season the bread cubes with the salt and pepper, drizzle with the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil and the Italian seasoning, bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes.

4. Add the broth, croutons, celery, and sausages, 1. To make the marinade, combine the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, red wine, salt, if using, to the turkey mixture and mix well. Season to taste. and pepper in a large re-sealable plastic bag.

2. Add the turkey cutlets to the bag. Squeeze out the air, seal the bag, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Shrimp and coconut milk are a classic Asian 3. Remove cutlets, reserving the marinade. Pat combination. I’ve added moringa powder to each cutlet dry with paper towels. this very mild dish in order to increase the 4. On a work surface, lay one cutlet so it slightly health benefits. If you want to dial up the heat overlaps a second one. Pound the seam together a notch or two, use Serrano or other hot pepwith a mallet. You should have one fairly large, thin pers in place of the mild red Anaheim chilies. If turkey round. Repeat with the remaining cutlets desired, serve over brown or jasmine rice. until you have 3 rounds.

5. Spread about 1/2 cup of Savory Stuffing evenly Ingredients: onto each turkey round, smoothing almost to the 1⁄4 cup peanut oil edge. Roll up the turkey, pinwheel style, and secure 1 tsp. minced garlic with kitchen twine.

1 inch peeled and thinly sliced gingerroot 6. Heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy bot1⁄2 cup sliced red onion tomed sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the 2 red Anaheim chilies, seeded and cut into turkey rolls and sear until a golden crust develops, strips about 1–2 minutes per side.

1 can (19 oz.) coconut milk 7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place turkey rolls 1 orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded and in a glass or ceramic baking dish. Spoon the re- cut into strips served marinade and any remaining stuffing around 1 lb. peeled tiger shrimp (devein, if desired) the rolls. Cover with foil and bake until the turkey is Sea salt and ground pepper to taste cooked through, about 20–30 minutes.

1 Tbs. moringa powder dissolved in 1 Tbs. 8. Before serving, remove the twine and cut each warm water turkey roll into 5 slices.

9. Serve with a cranberry sauce or cranberry MAIn COuRSES chutney if desired.

1. Heat the peanut oil in a nonreactive saucepan,

Savory Stuffing

Chef Eric’s Green Bean Stir Fry

such as copper or enamel-coated cast iron, over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and onion slices and sauté for 5 minutes.

2. Add the chilies and cook for 2 minutes.

3. Add the coconut milk, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.

4. Add the bell pepper, shrimp, salt, pepper, and Moring a powder and simmer for 5 minutes.

2 servings

IngredIents: • 1 lb pork spare ribs, cut into manageable pieces 1/3 cup SunTropics Pure Calamansi ¼ cup soy sauce 2 tbsp dark soy sauce 3 tbsp brown sugar 10 cloves of garlic, crushed ground black pepper 4 dried bay leaves 1 cup water

Procedure: 1. Mix all ingredients in a medium pot and cook over high heat with the lid on.

2. When boiling, gently stir, turn down heat to medium low and put the lid back on.

3. Cook for 30 minutes until pork is soft.

4. Reduce sauce by raising heat to high, lid off. Stir occasionally.

5. Serve with rice.

Photo courtesy of Sharon Sy Lao of SunTropics

Maharlika/Jeepney’s Kamote Pie IngredIents: For PIe crust • All-purpose flour • Shortening • Ice water For FIllIng • Sweet potato or kamote, chopped • 1/4 cup butter • 2 tbsp of canola oil • 1/3 cup milk • 5 eggs • ginger powder • coconut powder • salt Procedure: Pie crust: 1. Combine flour, shortening and butter in a food processor until coarse in texture then slowly

add ice water. Once it starts to form a ball, transfer the crust to a ziplock bag or bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, let it sit in the fridge for 15 minutes.

2. When handling the pie crust, make sure to dust your cutting board with flour to avoid it from sticking.

Filling: 1. Pan roast chopped kamote with 1/4 of butter and 2tbsp of canola oil. Once the kamote is fork tender add the ginger powder, coconut powder, brown sugar, and salt. Mix well.

2. In a food processor puree the kamote with 1/3 cup milk.

Make sure its smooth to texture.

3. With the processor on low, slowly then add 5 eggs one at a

Photo courtesy of Maharlika/Jeepney

time.

4. Transfer to pie crust brush the top with a little egg white for color. Bake 325 degrees for about 45 minutes to an hour until golden brown.

Chef Cocoy’s Calamansi Creme Brûlée 2 servings

325°F. 2. In a heavy sauce pan, stir in 7 tbsp turbinado sugar in the cream and a pinch of salt.

3. Heat mixture over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until almost boiling, then remove from heat.

4. In a mixing bowl, beatf egg yolks with a wooden spoon, Procedure: 1. Put oven rack in the middle then gradually stir in hot cream position and preheat oven to mixture. Pour custard onto ramekins.

5. Arrange ramekins in a roasting pan and bake in water bath until custards are just set around the edges but centers wobble when pan is gently shaken, 30 to 35 minutes.

6. Cool custard in water bath for 20 minutes then remove from pan and chill, uncovered at least for 2 hours. This will set the custard.

7. Sprinkle about 1 tsp turbinaIngredIents: • 2 tbsp SunTropics Pure Calamansi • 3 cups heavy cream • 10 tbsp turbinado sugar (raw sugar) • 6 large egg yolks • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Photo courtesy of Sharon Sy Lao of SunTropics

do sugar evenly over each custard, then move blowtorch flame evenly back and forth close to sugar until caramelized. Caramel will harden in 3 to 5 minutes.

SunTropics Pure Calamansi SunTROPICS was started to bring the finest of the Filipino fruit flavors to the uS market.

Through our products, we seek to tantalize the senses with succulent and fragrant fruits of the Philippines.

The products we take to market are rich with true to the fruit flavors.

• not from Concentrate

• Premium Ingredients • More fruit & lower sugar than other nectars • Made with Fruit Purees • no High Fructose Corn Syrup SunTropics Pure Calamansi is available at Seafood City, Island Pacific, Manila Oriental, Pacific Supermarkets, and Amazon.com.

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(L-R) Richard Chang (CAG Taiwan Association Chairman), Kirk Zhang (CAG Taiwan Association Vice Chairman), Charlie Shen (CAG ZheJiang Association, Vice Chairman), Helen Hanson (CAG ZheJiang Association, Chairman), Linda Zheng (CAG ZheJiang Association, Vice Chairman), Ron Xiong Taiwan Association Vice Chairman), Jay Lee (CAG Guang Dong Association Chairman), Ruili Wang (CAG TianJin Association Vice Chairman), Ding Rong Liu (CAG ShanDongSheng Association Chairman), Xiao Longley (CAG TianJin Association Chairman), CiCi Zhou (CAG JiangSu Association Vice Chairman), MiMi Yao (CAG JiangSu Association Chairman) and Judge Marshall.

ACA holds first Asian Culture Day TO officially recognize all Asians and their unique contributions to the creation and continued success of the United States, the Asian Culture Alliance (ACA) successfully held the first, American “Asian Culture Day” on Thursday, Nov. 12 at the Texas Station Hotel & Casino.

The “Asian Culture Day” Celebration was a unique event as it featured numerous presentations by local and international Asian Heritage Associations, who shared unique Art, Culture, and Education for everyone’s enjoyment.

Over 900 attendees showed up including distinguished dignitaries, politicians, community leaders, successful busi-

ness people, humanitarians, philanthropists, and numerous other supporters of Cultures, Art & Education. The exciting entertainment was represented

by Korea, Japan, Polynesia, Philippines and China/Taiwan. The highlight of this historic event was a message from Ms. Lily Sun, the Granddaughter of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who is recognized as the Historic Visionary who made China the first, Democratic Republic in Asia.

ACA thanks its members for making this event successful, especially the driving force behind the event, Mr. Cavin Fung.

ACA would also like to thank to the Filipiniana Dance Group, the Tevakanui Polynesian Dance

School, Korean Dance School, The Kaminari Taiko, The Black Bear Acrobatic Team, the Ladies Asian Ambassadors, the Ambassador Membership Directory, FINS Magazine, and all the supporters and volunteers.

The Asian Culture Alliance Center has over 5000 sq. ft. of space offering free workshops and lessons in Tai Chi, the English Language, Fruit Carving, Vocal Coaching, Dancing, Photography, Chess, Ping Pong, Fashion and Costume Design, Yoga, with a continually updated curriculum. The facility is now being used by numerous Asian Communities for cultural, artistic, and educational endeavors at no charge.

AJPress photos by Robert Macabagdal

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APEC delegates chill out on Filipino cuisine, pop music Filipina photographer included by

in BBC 100 Women of 2015 list

Pocholo concePcion Inquirer.net

ON Monday, Nov. 15, it felt like the Philippines was the safest place on Earth as 600 foreign guests—among the 7,000 delegates representing 21 countries to the ongoing APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) business forum—savored creative takes on Filipino and international cuisine while chilling out on traditional and contemporary Pinoy music.

The occasion was a welcome dinner for the delegates of the APEC ministerial meetings at the Marriott hotel in the Resorts World Manila complex. A fourcourse meal was served at Marriott Manila’s newly built grand ballroom.

The scene was relaxed during cocktail hour at the ballroom lobby, where people of different nationalities mixed freely while sipping wine. A few were fiddling on their mobile phones.

Everyone seemed in a convivial mood. At one table, United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel engaged in animated banter with Egyptian Ambassador to the Philippines Mahmoud Mostafa Ahmed Mohamed. Their laughter was contagious.

Every so often, guests were spotted exchanging calling cards.

The Japanese contingent was quite obvious with their customary bows in the course of introductions.

Soft rondalla music was played while the guests waited for dinner.

‘Mangga,’ ‘hipon,’ ‘binakol’ First served was an appetizer of Ensaladang Mangga at Hipon (green mango and prawn salad), followed by a soup of Chicken Binakol (double-boiled chicken with

by

Inquirer.net

APEC 2015 CEO Summit guests line up at the roast beef station.

papaya and young coconut). This Ilonggo version of tinola came in a coconut shell.

The main course was Roasted US Beef Tenderloin with Seared Atlantic Scallops and crushed potato, bell pepper relish and organic petit carrots with liver jus.

Dessert consisted of Leche Flan with Macapuno (caramel custard with young coconut), Turon (sweet banana roll with jackfuit) and Tropical Island Fruit Salad.

Manila Polo Club president Isabel Caro Wilson took note of the tastiness of the dishes, considering the large number of guests, though the Binakol was not warm enough. “The steak’s really good,” she said, as Goldberg quipped: “Well, this is an American hotel…”

A special cultural performance commenced. Dubbed “Archipelago of Sounds,” the show featured renowned soprano Rachelle Gero-

dias who sang Filipino classics “Buhat” and “Ikaw”; West End theater star Joanna Ampil did a reprise of her “Miss Saigon” piece “On My Own,” including a Tagalog version. The world famous Philippine Madrigal Singers offered a touching rendition of the Visayan love song “Usahay.”

But it was the old pop hit “Manila” that had the guests smiling and swaying on their seats. Ampil and Gerodias joined rock and pop singers Jett Pangan and VJ Caber, along with musical theater star Aicelle Santos, in a lively version of the Hotdog hit. Dancers used stylized jeepneys as props.

Seen lingering after the show were Bernard Morgan of the Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce and wife Margaret.

Bernard, who was wearing a barong Tagalog said, “We had so much fun, we were waiting if there was an act two!”

Fil-Am singer advances to ‘The Voice US’ top 11 MANILA—Filipino-American singer Amy Vachal made it through the second live show week of the American reality talent show “The Voice” on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The 26-year-old artist survived another week in the show thanks to her performance of Drake’s “Hotline Bling.”

“I don’t think there’s ever been a more elegant and classy performance of a song about a booty call in the history of music,” “The Voice”

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Julie esPinosa

coach Blake Shelton quipped. “That was, like, unbelievable.”

“Amy, you always make songs yours. It’s an amazing, uncanny ability that not many people have,” Pharell Williams said.

Amy is part of coach Adam Levine’s team.

Mark Hood, who sang “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” was eliminated from the competition.

This leaves Amy and 10 other contestants vying for win for the

ninth season of “The Voice.”

In “The Voice US,” finalists are saved based on a voting system that factors in iTunes singles purchases of the contestant’s performance for the week, online votes and votes via the show’s official app.

Amy’s “Hotline Bling” single is number six on the iTunes Singles Chart, second only to Jordan Smith’s “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” which reached number one. (Philstar.com)

EMPLOYMENT

XYZA Cruz Bacani, a Filipina domestic worker-turned-street photographer, shared on Wednesday that has been included in the list of the BBC 100 Women of 2015.

“Very Honored to be one of the BBC 100 Women of 2015 from all corners of the world. Thank you so much Sarah Bukley and BBC. This is awesome! Yey! #100Women #MagnumFoundation #BBC #Pinay #Ofw Thanks to my Ma and Pa who always inspire me!” the 28 year old enthused on her Facebook account.

Bacani started working as a maid in Hong Kong at the age of 19 with her mother. To unwind, she began taking casual pictures which evolved into dramatic street photographs that gave a raw look

into the lives of people from diverse backgrounds.

She is known for her remarkable black-and-white photos which have been featured in several international news sites, such as CNN and The New York Times.

“Having worked as a domestic worker in Hong Kong for almost a decade, Xyza tells the stories of the victims of human rights violations through photography,” BBC describes the Filipina on its website.

The BBC 100 Women of 2015 is a list “of the most inspirational women across the world” named by the British media outlet. The list features “30 entrepreneurs under the age of 30 and inspiring women over the age of 80,” as well as “nurses on the front line, young female film-makers documenting the pressures and expectations in

Xyza Cruz Bacani, a Filipina domestic workerturned-street photographer.

AJPress file photo by Momar G. Visaya

their community and leaders in science, politics, education and the arts.”

A little bit of Caitlyn Jenner in Trixie Maristela’s life, love, struggles THERE is a little bit of Caitlyn Jenner is this year’s Miss International Queen winner Trixie Maristela. Not unlike the former Bruce Jenner who has become a high-profile transgender advocate after her breakout Vanity Fair cover, the Filipina was put on the pedestal as a rising LGBT advocate after winning a series of beauty pageants.

Shortly after winning the inaugural Miss Gay Manila 2015 title, Maristela caused a buzz in the social media when she and transgender fashion designer Veejay Floresca were denied entry to a high-end night club in Metro Manila earlier in June this year.

At the ID check prior to entering the club, Maristela who was wearing a short yellow dress that night was told that she was not dressed appropriately as the club did not allow cross-dressers.

“I was humiliated in front of my clients,” Maristela related the incident to Asia News Network in an interview.

Her Instagram and Facebook posts on the episode then went viral forcing the club to subsequently issue an apology. The unfortunate incident in turn had sparked a healthy debate on the

rights of transgender people in the Philippines; other clubs were compelled to reassess their entrance policies.

“It was a good thing that it happened and I had a chance to share it on social media to make people talk about it,” said Maristela, 29.

Legal status Although a largely Roman Catholic country, the Filipino society has largely tolerated the LGBT community.

Nevertheless, Maristela and her companion’s slight brush with the night club bouncer highlights the fact that even fame and status did not translate to liberation and respect for the both of them. The crux of the problem, she said, lies in the ambiguous legal status of transgender people.

“We still can’t change our gender markers and don’t have a legal status,” said Maristela.

All is not lost yet for Maristela and her comrades—LGBT rights have lately become hot button issue for politicians with the large and vibrant LGBT community in Manila.

Maristela herself was tapped by the campaign machinery of Manila mayor and former Philippine President Joseph Estrada to Her highness, Miss International Queen 2015 PAGE B7 winner Trixie Maristela.

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Your Immigration Solution

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unusual hardship if the applicant were forced to leave the United states. applicants are eligible to apply for a work permit as soon as their application is filed. as always, anyone with a Us citizen or lawful permanent resident family member should explore the possibility of a familybased petition. Immediate relatives (IR) who entered the Us with inspection are able to obtain their green card in the United states in a process called adjustment of status. If the foreign citizen has to return home to complete their immigration process, they can seek a provisional waiver of the 10-year unlawful presence bar that will be tripped when they leave to United states to consular process.

Provisional waivers allow the applicant to submit the request from inside the Us and wait for the decision here. Once approved, the applicant departs for their immigrant visa interview at a Us Consulate. this waiver avoids

Last week we reported that speaker of the House Paul Ryan had announced that no comprehensive immigration reform bill will be introduced or entertained in the House while President Obama is in the White House. this week, in keeping with that philosophical bent, the Fifth Circuit Court of appeals denied the federal government’s appeal of the preliminary injunction that put a halt to Deferred action for Parents of americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (“DaPa”).

While the Obama administration quickly declared its intention to appeal to the Us supreme Court, any positive decision is at least a year away. so, no comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) and no DaPa; what is there? a lot!

Health@Heart

Queries from readers

PhiliP s. chuA, MD, FAcs, FPcs Can tubal ligation be reversed?

Ligation of the fallopian tubes, performed for birth control, can be reversed to allow pregnancy to take place, depending on how long a segment of the tubes were cut in the original operation. If the segments removed are too long to precluded re-anastomosis (re-connection or bridging), then it can’t be done. the factors that will affect the success rate of pregnancy, following “reversal,” are: how old and healthy the patient is, the pregnancy history of the patient, whether the tubes were initially cut by a knife or electrocoagulation (the latter burns and injures the cut ends of the tubes and lessens the success rate), the experience and skill of the gynecologist in microsurgery, etc. the highest success rate (65%), according to Ob-Gynecologist anthony Gentile, M.D., Ph.D., of Flosmore, Illinois, “is with reversal of tubes ligated with the thin Hukla clip, and the lowest (less than 40%) with electrocautery.”

Practically he same medical facts and limitations apply to vasectomy reversal, which can be done by a

B

Fifth Circuit says no to dapa – what now?

as societies in various countries around the world become more unstable and existing governments become less able or willing to protect their citizens, political asylum is a very real avenue for relief. Changes in country conditions allow one to file for asylum despite having been here for more than one-year. Once the application has been pending for 6 months, the applicant is eligible for an Employment authorization Document (work permit). With work authorization, one may apply for a social security number, work legally and obtain a state-issued driver’s license. another option is cancellation of removal. Cancellation of removal allows qualified individuals to obtain a green card if they have lived in the Us for at least ten years, have good moral character and can show that their Us citizen, or Lawful Permanent Resident parent, spouse or child would suffer exceptional and extremely

Atty. RobeRt Reeves NANcy e. MilleR Reeves MilleR ZhANg & DiZA

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEmbER 19-25, 2015

urologist to enable vasectomized men to be fertile again. Of course, pregnancy can be achieved without the use of the fallopian tubes, but using IVF (InVitro – “test tube”- Fertilization).

Can appendicitis recur after removal of the appendix?

No, once the appendix is removed properly, appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix) will not recur, because there is no more appendiceal tissue left to get inflammed. sometimes, though, the patient may feel right lower quadrant abdominal discomfort similar to appendicitis pain days, or months, after appendectomy, but these pains could be due to post-operative adhesions or other causes brought on by other conditions. the prudent thing to do if pains recur is to visit the surgeon who performed the procedure.

Why is it dangerous to shake babies? shaking or jarring infants and babies could lead to injury to the neck bones and disruption of the spinal cord in that area, leading to sudden death. the necks of infants and babies are quite limp -- literally weak and unstable -that jarring or shaking the baby can often lead to fatal neck injury due to severe hyperextension of the neck and severing the cervical spinal cord at the base of the brain. When holding an infant or

a child, the head and neck should always be supported as “one piece” with the hand holding the back of the head, the neck and the upper back, acting as a “brace” that prevents the heavy head from falling back.

What do I do when a child chokes?

When a child, or even an adult, chokes, there is only about 4 minutes to act to save the victim. sudden gasping for air and extreme anxiety during a meal or while the childan object in the mouth are the telltale sign that should alert us to the possibility of foreign body as the cause of the problem.

If the foreign body in the throat is accessible, it should be removed instantly. If the foreign body is not obvious, the Heimlich Maneuver should be done immediately, without wasting time trying to decipher what the problem is. this is accomplished by going behind the victim, putting your arm around his upper abdominal area and applying repeated pressure against the abdomen towards you, like giving the victim a forceful bear hug. the idea is to press the stomach and let the air in the stomach push the foreign body upward and outward of the breathing pipe where the foreign body is lodged. In the case of a baby or small infant, put them on PAGE B7

lengthy separation of family members. the provisional waiver applies to aliens who entered the United states without papers, who came in on a crewman visa, who entered the United states on a fiancé visa but did not marry their petitioner and who entered on a visa but overstayed or violated the visa and are not in the immediate relative category.

Other waivers are available for those with various other grounds of inadmissibility. those who entered the United states using false information or false documentation and can show that their UsC or LPR parent or spouse would suffer extreme hardship may be able to get a waiver. Non-citizens who have convictions for various criminal offenses may be able to obtain a waiver if they can show that their UsC or LPR parent, spouse or son or daughter would suffer extreme hardship. Due to some recent court decisions, many non-citizens may be eligible

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Part 3 of 3) IN many cases, those in their immediate family orbit say, they never saw it coming and will be left wondering WHY. suicide, contrary to the lyrics of a popular song, is never painless. those left behind who will have to pick up the pieces deal with the heavy pall of gloom and guilt that descends on them for a long time. so how does one deal with the dark night of the soul?

I don’t know about you but it seems to me that darkness can only be fought and won decisively by seeking the light. Only light can dispel darkness.

Psychotherapy, anti-depressants and all other known scientifically proven ways of dealing with mental illness and the eventual sickness of the soul may be of some help.

But as in anything, the first step is to acknowledge and admit the condition as a serious cause for concern and to seek help right away. this is the crucial first step towards healing. and the hardest. the courage to recognize and

for criminal conviction waivers even if they were not before.

Waivers also exist for those who obtained their green cards through false information and want to clear their record so they can naturalize.

Non-citizens who are studying in the United states may be able to turn that education into both a non-immigrant work visa and a green card depending on what they are studying.

While not technically lawful status, another option is Deferred action for Childhood arrivals (“DaCa”). Yes, DaCa 1 – the original version is still available.

It was not part of the lawsuit and injunction. DaCa is available to a person who: (1) was under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012; (2) entered the Us before the age of 16; (3) has resided in the Us since June 15, 2007 up to the present date; (4) is currently out of status; (5) is in school or has graduated from school in the Us

(or is a veteran of the Coast Guard or armed Forces); and, (7) has not been convicted of a felony or a significant misdemeanor.

More than one million individuals obtain legal permanent resident status each year. In order to find out if you could be one of them, consult with a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney.

*** Atty. Reeves has represented clients in numerous landmark immigration cases that have set new policies regarding INS action and immigrants’ rights. His offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City.

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

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Whatever happened to ‘Happily Ever After’? “… You have changed my mourning into dancing, O Lord, and have girded me with joy, alleluia…”

—Psalm 30 admit one needs help may not be enough though. Humility is a key ingredient. the afflicted must reach out to someone he can trust, someone who cares about him and lead him to those that can help. this is when fervent heartfelt prayers, his own and those of others, can assault the heavens for mercy. the bigger part of defeating the darkness of the soul lies within one’s self. seek the light every which way possible, both physical and spiritual. Even the very act of being exposed to sunlight can fight off the sadness that afflicts many when the fall and winter seasons with their diminished amounts of sunlight come every year.

If you have strayed from the Christian faith, come back, renew and rekindle that relation-

ship with God. He is the vine; we are the branches. Cut off from God, we wither and die.

In daily life, seek the company of genuinely happy people who have that buoyant tendency to lift others. they have the force of high tide that lifts all boats.

Cheerfulness is the daylight of the soul. Bask in joy-filled people’s megawatt light until you can generate your own. It may just be a flicker of hope in the beginning that grows into a bigger flame that may become a bonfire blazing within one’s soul. Quite possibly, with the Holy spirit’s help, that onceailing soul can become a light bright enough to give hope to others similarly situated.

Like anyone else, cheerful people do have problems and PAGE B7

B november 19-25, 2015 • LAS veGAS ASIAn JoUrnAL

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The inspiring story of Ms. Cora Buffa Barclaycard announces expansion

By Monet

Lu

I love hearing success stories produced by humble beginnings.

It is probably because I believe all of us, at one point have to start somewhere. Sometimes we have to start small and hope that it would someday grow bigger; other times, we expect nothing, and wake up with so many blessings. Such is the story of Ms. Maria Regina Buffa, more commonly known as the humble Ms. “Cora” Buffa.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Cora a few days ago. It was a short meeting and mostly “workrelated.” But despite the formality, I did not miss the chance to try and get to know more about her and her beautiful story. I decided to write about Cora today in the hopes that her story would inspire you, as it did me.

Cora is one of the sweetest and down-to-earth “Ilongga” (native from Iloilo) I have ever met. She spoke in a noticeably sweet accent, and yet, it’s what she says that’s stood out. She talked about her husband very lovingly as she happily shares their recent europe vacation and her husband’s antique gun and armor collection.

Cora and her husband have been running an Adult Nursing and Care Service conglomerate for over a decade. Their company, Care Plus Nursing Services, is comprised of 3 sub-companies namely, Care Plus Home Care, Care Plus Home Health, and Care Plus Hospice. But, before it gives you the impression that the “Buffas” are your typical entrepreneurs who are only concerned about their RoIs, Allow me

Cora Buffa

to say that Carl, Cora’s husband, actually founded their company out of love for his senior parents.

As for Cora, she is one of the reasons why Carl’s parents were very much cared for—Cora was their caregiver.

Cora started out as a caregiver when she moved to the US. She worked tirelessly for 23 hours a day, seven days a week, for five years and cherishes every single moment of it. She is known for being hardworking and cheerful. one of Cora’s clients loves to talk to her about their son, Carl. They tell her how kind and smart their son is (possibly hinting that he is perfect for her). Well, a few years passed, Cora officially became their daughter-in-law.

Cora describes her husband Carl as the nicest, highly educated and a very smart guy. They dated for 3 years and got married in 2005. Before they got married, they started Care Plus Home Care in orange County – a non-medical home care company.

Care Plus was founded because of their love for Carl’s parents. It is what inspired them to build a community that aims to provide the same level of customer care and personalized service for their clients. They know just how it’s like to care for the aged. They picked

the right business that speaks their hearts.

In 2010, Cora and Carl then started their second company, Care Plus Home Health which provides skilled nursing care through the Medicare program. After two years, Care Plus Hospice, also under Medicare, was added to the family. This service provides nursing care and end-oflife care with comfort, compassion and dignity.

Throughout the family of companies, the guiding principal has been to provide care that allows clients/patients the option to age in place at home.

Cora and Carl are very proud of the continuity of care they offer their community, and the employment provided for over 250 people.

As Cora recalls her humble beginning, she ceaselessly thanks God for all the blessings that she and her husband receives. I nodded my head in agreement. In my mind, I know by experience that God indeed blesses us even when we are not deserving of His blessings. I also believe that good people, like Cora and her husband, receive more because they willingly give more to the community whom they love so evidently.

To Cora; who will be honored on November 21st for her heartfelt service in her chosen field, I thank you for the inspiration. May you stay as humble and kindhearted as you are. *** 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

Fil-Am actress joining hit series ‘The Vampire Diaries’ SAN FRANCISCo—A Filipino-American actress is moving on up to prime time, joining the cast of The CW’S “The vampire Diaries.” leslie Anne Huff will play Rayna, a vampire hunter who returns to the world of the living to exact vengeance on her enemies.

Huff was born and raised in the San Fernando valley to an American father of english descent and a Filipino mother.

She attended the University of California, Berkeley and became active with the Filipino community, co-producing the yearly Pilipino Cultural Night show on campus. She was also an intern with the now-defunct Filipinas Magazine based in San Francisco.

Huff’s career began in 2006 with a role in the television series “CSI:NY.” She has made guest appearances in several television series, including roles in “NCIS,”

“Bones,” “Days of our lives,” “Chuck,” “Greek” and “The Suite life on Deck.”

She starred in Disney Channel’s first original web series, “Mackenzie Falls,” a stand-alone spin-off of “Sonny with a Chance” in 2009.

Huff was cast in the film “Cowgirls n’ Angels,” in 2011 and in 2013, she was cast in “Dakota’s Summer,” the sequel to “Cowgirls n’ Angels.” (Inquirer.net)

of Southern Nevada operations Fast-growing payments business expects to hire 300 more employees over the next year as growth continues

HeNDeRSoN—Barclaycard US, the payments business of Barclays in the United States, announced today it is expanding its operations in Henderson and plans to hire 300 new employees over the next year to fill several positions. The notable growth comes less than two years after Barclaycard officially opened its customer contact center in Henderson in February 2014.

Barclaycard celebrated its Phase II expansion on Nov. 12 by holding a ribbon-cutting event with company executives, elected officials and local dignitaries at its location at 2290 Corporate Circle in the Green valley Corporate Center in Henderson. Since opening locally, about 1,000 people have been hired.

“We have been thrilled by our experience in Southern Nevada and are pleased to continue being a strong business partner in the community,” said Chief operating officer for Barclaycard US Patrick Wright. “our workforce comprises great experience and quick learners who appreciate what our company has to offer as an employer. They are all strong believers in enhancing customer service.”

Colleagues at the Henderson center provide inbound telephone support for customers of the Barclaycard partnerships as well as Barclaycard-branded programs,

including the Barclaycard Arrival card launched two years ago.

Barclaycard issues credit cards with 35 travel, retail and financial institution partners and also offers payment cards featuring the Barclaycard brand. The business also offers an online savings account and CDs. Barclaycard continues to hire

and train new employees for the center. The positions are full time and include generous benefits such as health insurance, dental insurance, vision coverage and a 401K plan with matching corporate contributions. For more information on available positions and employment opportunities, please visit joinbarclays.com.

Celebrate the Year of the Monkey in Las Vegas on Feb. 8 -14, 2016 Fifth Annual Chinese New Year in the Desert/Las Vegas Spring Festival Hosts Holiday Activities with Week-Long Celebration CHINeSe New Year is recognized as the important Chinese holiday and is known as “Spring Festival” in China, “Tet New Year” in vietnam and “Seol-lal” in Korea. For the first time, Chinese New Year in the Desert™ will be held in multiple locations over a one-week period. Participating venues include: The lINQ Promenade, Downtown Container Park, Fashion Show Mall, las vegas Natural History Museum and The

Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

The fifth annual Chinese New Year in the Desert™ will celebrate the year of the monkey. Forbes Magazine named las vegas as one of the “8 Great Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year” in the United States and Canada. Major sponsors for the 2016 celebration include: Caesars entertainment, the las vegas Convention and visitors Authority and Golden Catalyst, llC.

Throughout the one-week festival, guests will be taken on a journey around the world as they experience performances from various Asian entertainers on The lINQ Promenade Stage.

Dragon dance performances by lohan School of Shaolin will be held nightly at 7 p.m.

Marquee events at The lINQ Promenade will include the following: PAGE B7

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B

OPM artists pay tribute to Paris PROJECT 150 to provide 1,500 attack victims at nat’l music camp Thanksgiving meals for local homeless high school students by

Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

MANILA—Original Pilipino Music artists unite once again to inspire budding artists at the Elements Singing-Singwriting Camp at the Hacienda Isabella in Indang, Cavite.

Now on its sixth year, the Elements music camp is a five-day singing and songwriting workshop that aims to improve the musical talent of young Filipino aspiring artists through talks and seminars given by professional musicians.

The sixty participants were chosen through audition pieces they sent online.

The camp is headed by Ryan Cayabyab. The participants, called campers, will be mentored by some of the country’s most renowned artists including Jim Paredes, Audie Gemora, Joey Ayala, Chito Miranda, Ebe Dancel and Gloc 9.

Renowned songwriters Trina Belamide and Jungee Marcelo, conductor and musical arranger Gerard Salonga, and Star Records

Ryan Cayabyab during the 6th Elements National Singing-Songwriting Camp at the Hacienda Isabella in Indang, Cavite on Sunday, Nov. 15.

executive Jonathan Manalo also join as mentors.

Thryo Alfaro, co-winner of this year’s PhilPop songwriting competition and an Elements camper in 2013, is also a mentor this year.

Aside from workshops, the mentors will also work on a tribute for the victims of the recent Paris attack.

Cayabyab said that they will be doing their own rendition of the

song “Imagine” by John Lenon.

Jim Paredes will add few Filipino lines to the song to give it a “Filipino touch.”

Cayabyab explained that the tribute is not only for the victims in Paris but also “worldwide for those who suffered terrorism.”

After the news about the Paris attack came out, local celebrities joined the world in appealing to the public to pray for the victims.

LAS VEGAS—When the holidays come, most high students celebrate a break from books and teachers. But for some 11,000 Clark County School District students who are homeless, displaced or disadvantaged, it is a time of stress because school is often the only place they have to find their next meal.

In response, Project 150 is stepping up to ensure at least 1,500 local high school students and their families have a Thanksgiving meal. Project 150 relies on community support to provide the meals, which cost about $25 and feed a family of four.

The local nonprofit that provides these high school students with basic necessities throughout the year will be assembling the Project 150 holiday meal boxes with volunteers from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 23, at Landsberg Orora, the organization’s packaging sponsor, 6625

Arroyo Springs Street, Suite 140, in Las Vegas.

“We believe in giving back to our community and Project 150 has given us the opportunity,” said Jimmy Sandford, operations manager for Landsberg Orora. “There’s no better way to support the youth of Las Vegas than to team up with this great cause.”

Members of the media are invited to cover this effort as well as the delivery of the packages to the students at their high schools from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Deliveries will be made to each of the 44 CCSD high schools Project 150 serves.

Project 150 will repeat this effort Dec. 16 and 17 to provide Christmas meals for homeless high school students and their families; ultimately providing 12,000 holiday meals. To contribute and join the effort to “Feed it Forward,” contact Project 150 at (702) 721-

A little bit of Caitlyn Jenner in...

PAGE B4 engage the LGBT community.

“I wish to conduct more seminars on LGBT and talk about issues like sexual harassment and sexual orientation.

“It is important for people to understand the basics and learn the difference between being gay and transgender, for instance.

In the Philippines, transgender women are often called ‘bakla’ although the term actually refers to homosexual men,” said Maristela.

Rising star With her recent triumph at the Miss International Queen’s finale on November 6, Maristela who was earlier signed on by Philippines’ Viva Entertainment was set to be propelled to further stardom.

That would prove to be a huge leap from her former job as a multilingual business analyst but true to her advocacy streak, Maristela hoped be more than

just a pretty face.

“It is important for a transwoman like me in be visible in the media but I don’t just want to appear glamorous.

“I want to send out the message that transgender people are just like everyone else…we have rights, we can be talented and beautiful. There’s really no reason to look down on us, we can be the best version of ourselves if you just let us do what we want,” said Maristela.

While Maristela is adjusting to life as a public figure, her romance with her beau Art Sta. Ana is already out in the open with the release of the book “He’s dating the transgender” lovingly written

by Sta. Ana. The lovebirds started in a typical boy-meets-girl fashion and their relationship has been going strong for six years.Their love story became the talk of the town in the Philippines when a column titled “‘I’m dating

a transgender” that Sta. Ana wrote in a Manila-based national newspaper had 80,000 shares on social media within hours of publication.

In a honest recount of their relationship, Sta. Ana who identifies himself as a straight man wrote that many of his family and friends were not aware that Maristela was a transwoman until she came out on the popular television show, Eat Bulaga’s gay beauty pageant titled “SuperSireyna.”

He admitted that it was not easy for them to ignore what others think. He said, “Being with Trixie exposed me to the plight not just of transwomen but of LGBT people in general.

Being gender deviant doesn’t make you any less capable of contributing to the society, taking care of family and living a normal life”.

It looks like Maristela has found her soulmate in her crusade. (Inquirer.net)

Queries from readers PAGE B5 their tummy, with the face turned to one side, and put your hand underneath their upper abdomen and press against the stomach repeatedly until the foreign body jumps out of their throat. Another person, if available, should call for emergency medical help. If you are alone, do the Heimlick right away, as you shout at the top of your lungs for help.

Can I take my friend’s blood pressure pill?

No, absolutely not, unless your physician, after interviewing and examining you, recommends the same pill to control your high blood pressure. It is not only illegal for your friend to “prescribe and dispense” medications if he was not a licensed physician but also very dangerous for you. What is good for him may not be good or tolerated by you. Your friend’s good intention may backfire and do disservice to you by causing serious complications from taking the pills he gives you or advise y to ou to take take without consulting with your physician. This caveat goes true with any and all medications, even as simple as aspirin.

Do some skin lotions cause cancer?

There is nothing in the medical literature that says skin moisturizing lotions or creams or gels can cause cancer. Some people may be sensitive or allergic to some form of moisturizing lotions, but we are not aware of any of these causing skin or other malignancies. We highly recommend these moisturizing skin aids for healthy skin. Each person should try to find one that suits their skin the best, and use this 2 to 3 times daily.

What can I do with dryness that causes pain during sex?

This is a normal or physiologic condition that comes with menopause or with age, usually above 40, although even younger women could have decreased vaginal secretion to allow for a comfortable and pleasurable sex.

Water-soluble lubricants, like KY Jelly, which is sterile (free of bacteria) helps tremendously in situations like this. Some women may be allergic or senstitive to some lubricants. Oil is not safe to use. And neither is saliva, since it is full of bacteria and can cause infection. It is also a good practice for the partners take a shower before and, preferably also after, an intimate encounter, to prevent infection.

Is heartburn a form of a heart attack?

No heartburn is a misleading and confusing misnomer. It has nothing to do with the heart, so it is not a form of heart attack.

Heartburns have been loosely used, even in medical circles, to denote stomach hyperacidity, gastric upset, or indigestion, especially following intake of spicy foods or drinking alcoholic beverages.

My toes are burning with severe itchiness, why?

Obviously you have what we call Tinea Pedis (Athletes’ Foot) which is a form of fungus infection of the plantar aspect (bottom) of the feet and the toes.

One of the latest medications very effective for this condition, which could drive people crazy with severe itchiness of the feet and toes, is Lamisil (terbinafine Hydrochoride) cream or tablets.

Consult with your physician about this wonderful drug that could possible end your misery.

Does exercise increase appetite?

Contrary to popular belief or

what we call “common sense,” exercise does not increase the appetite. As a matter of fact, regular exercise reduces appetite to a healthy level. This is a proven finding among those trying to lose weight, where exercise plays a vital role in the success of the regimen and the long term maintenance of healthier weight.

Can one get a fungus infection from a manicure?

Yes, most definitely, and especially in the toes. The Tinea Pedis we talked about earlier can affect the fingernails, when a nail cutter and other instrument to remove cuticle are contaminated by the fungus in the toes or toenails of people with the infection. It is the responsibility of the beauty shops to prevent infection and the spread of infection among their customers. Washing the “instruments” and soaking them in recommended medical antiseptic solutions, or even in diluted form of chlorine use for laundry, can minimize, if not prevent contamination. Chlorine solution, for one, also kills the AIDS virus on contact. When beauty shops do not follow these safe and hygienic procedures, it behooves any of us customers to report them to the bureau of health or other appropriate governmental agency to protect the public. We must always be on our toes! *** 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

Whatever happened to ‘Happily...

PAGE B5

undergo dark times. But they have within their inmost core, a steady spark of God’s light that enables them to tap a wellspring of joy, no matter what season of the soul they are going through. You must stay away from negative, depressed people. Darkness can and will go viral given the chance. They have twice the force of gravity to bring you down to the depths of despair.

In my pedestrian view, since deep depression is essentially a disease that afflicts the mind and withers the soul, all physical remedies seem to me to fall far short of true healing. A spiritual

illness can only be cured by spiritual means. Match the method to the madness.

A leap of faith is a must. God is light and only God can dispel the darkness of one’s soul. Without God, one can do nothing.

The promise is clear for many who have remained steadfast in their faith. Faith is the solid and unwavering core belief that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead so we may live happily ever after far beyond death into eternity. This is the ending really worth seeking for every life story.

Rock solid faith brings a bottomless well of hope. Faith gives us a deep, down to the marrow, heartfelt and genuine

appreciation of God’s unfailing love to see us through and bring us home in His own good and perfect timing.

God gave us life as a gift. Our gift to God in return, is to live as joyfully as possible the whole enchilada, the full measure of that life until we are called home.

What then is the ultimate weapon against dangerous depression that afflicts many today? It is JOY, the pure and simple expression of gratitude for GOD’S ENDURING LOVE. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

7150 or visit the website, www. project150.org. Follow Project 150 on Facebook and Twitter.

Project 150 Project 150 is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization, founded in December 2011 by Nevada businessmen Don Purdue and Patrick Spargur. The two had heard about 150 homeless high school students at Rancho High School in Las Vegas who were in need of support over the Christmas break. Since that time, Project 150 has expanded and now serves more than 2,500 homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students in 44 schools throughout Nevada.

Project 150 provides these students with food, clothing, school supplies, sports equipment, shoes and other needs so they have what they need to continue school and be successful in life.

Celebrate the Year of the Monkey in Las Vegas...

PAGE B6 CNY in the Desert opening ceremonies Usher in the New Year by participating in the Opening Ceremonies and ribbon cutting. The New Year will be greeted with a live authentic dragon dance, an eye painting ceremony and performers dressed in elaborate costumes.

Wishing Tree Join thousands of people around the world to toss their red ribbons up into the wishing tree with the hope that it will stick and

their wish will come true for good fortune in the coming year!

Live Painting Guerrilla Kages by District Artz and various International artists from China will be joining efforts to do large-scale live canvas paintings.

International Culinary Competitions Enjoy live cooking demonstrations and food art carvings by Caesars Entertainment and Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas chefs.

Dance-4-a-Cause

Calendar of Events across

In collaboration with FightingUnited, the third annual Dance4-a-Cause will gather thousands of Zumba®, Hot Hula Fitness, U-Jam Fitness®, and MixxedFit® participants from all over the valley. Live DJ and Entertainment.

Participants are asked to bring chapter books (K-12th grade) to benefit Somerset Academy and Spread the Word Nevada.

Mass Wedding Ceremony Las Vegas closes out the Lunar New Year celebration with a Mass Ceremony on Valentine’s Day!

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS N OV E m b E R 2 0 -2 1

Free AARP TEK Mobile Technology Workshop What: A free technology workshop from AARP TEK Program AARP TEK and presented with AT&T’s generous support comes to Cerritos on Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November 21st. Featuring 50-plus technology learners from the Cerritos area, AARP TEK representatives, and local elected officials, the “hands on” AARP TEK workshop is designed to enable people to leverage personal technology to enrich their lives and to educate the community on how they can maximize their use of their tablets and smartphones.

When: November 20th: 11 am - 1 pm: Intro to Smart Phones – Beginner Workshop 3 pm – 5 pm: Beyond the Basics: Smart Phones – Intermediate Workshop November 21st: 10 am - 12 noon: Intro to Smart Phones – Beginner Workshop 2 pm – 4 pm: Beyond the Basics: Smart Phones – Intermediate Workshop Where: Sheraton Cerritos Hotel, Garden Terrace Ballroom. 12725 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, CA 90703 For more information on AARP TEK or for more details on scheduled workshops, visit the Events tab on aarptek.org.

N OV E m b E R 28

Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award for Excellence Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award For Excellence In Medicine, Education, Arts & Literature and The Youth When: Saturday, November 28, 2015, 1-6 pm Where: Astoria World Manor in Astoria, Queens, NY Hosted by: Knights of Rizal - New York For More Information, please contact: Atty. Ferdinand G. Suba, Esq., KCR Commander, Knights of Rizal - NY E-mail: SUBALAW@aol.com

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AAPA Awards Gala Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) will host The Achievement Awards & Graduation Gala, honoring prominent leaders who trailblaze and inspire others to become leaders, and celebrating the 2015 graduating class of AAPA Mentees. The theme is “Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunity.” The gala will take place on Thursday, Dec 3 from 5:30pm - 9:30pm, at the Hilton San Gabriel (225 West Valley Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91776).

Expose your brand to the professional community who are your customers, clients, potential employees, entrepreneurs, corporate and community leaders. Your support will directly benefit the AAPA mentees in the program. To purchase a ticket or ad, the cost is $50 each (limited time only); full/half/quarter page ad sizes are available in full color. Please visit http://aapaawards.eventbrite.com/ for more details and to RSVP by Nov. 13. Please get involved by emailing lia.andika@aapamentoring.com.

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Santo Nino de Cebu Association Annual Dinner Dance The Santo Niño de Cebu Association of Southern California, Inc. will hold its ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER DANCE on December 5, 6pm - 12:00 midnight, at Almansor Court (700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801). For more details and reservations, please contact Helah (626) 215-2684, Gemma (909) 997-1026, Nelia (818) 425-9926, Joy (909) 228-0437 or Willo (818) 458-0779.

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

B november 19-25, 2015 • LAS veGAS ASIAn JoUrnAL

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