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Filipino WWII Vets honored at historic Congressional Gold Medal ceremony

by MoMar

G. ViSaya

AJPress

filiPino Veterans of World War ii were honored in a bipartisan and bicameral Congressional Gold medal ceremony on Capitol hill on Wednesday, oct. 25, by speaker Paul ryan (r-Wi), senate majority leader mitch mcConnell (r-KY), house Democratic leader nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and senate Democratic leader Chuck schumer (D-nY) who presided over the official presentation. the Congressional Gold medal is the highest civilian honor the United states can bestow. in accordance with Public law no: 114-265, a single gold medal has been struck to honor the filipino veterans of World War ii in recognition of their dedicated service during the war. “today, we recognize the extraordinary heroism and sacrifice of the filipino Veterans of World War ii by conferring the highest honor Congress can bestow. Generations of Americans and

filipinos alike have been shaped by their courage, inspired by their service and humbled by their sacrifice,” rep. nancy Pelosi said. “We are inspired not only by their bravery on the battlefield but also by the courage they have shown in fighting for the recognition they have earned but long been denied.

We must not rest until the service of every filipino veteran is recognized and rewarded.” the long-awaited event was a formal presentation recognizing the tremendous service and sacrifice of filipino WWii veterans during the war from July 26, 1941 to December 31, 1946. some of the families of the surviving veterans and representatives of those who have passed on attended the event. the filipino Veterans recognition and education Project (filVetreP) spearheaded the national campaign to secure the Congressional Gold medal for these Veterans. filVetrep is also the Filipino Veterans of World War II were honored in a bipartisan and bicameral Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Oct. 25, by Speaker Paul officially-designated liaison to the U.s. Ryan (R-WI), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) who

USA

DATELINE Young Fil-Am hiker and friend dead from apparent ‘sympathetic murder-suicide’

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presided over the official presentation.

Screen grab from Speaker.gov

Duterte urges troops to remain loyal Narco suspect tags Drilon, to Constitution amid martial law Roxas as drug protectors

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

PhiliPPine President rodrigo Duterte called on the country’s security forces to remain loyal to the Constitution amid the implementation of martial law.

Duterte on tuesday, october 24 hailed the military’s efforts in combating rebels Bodies found at Joshua Tree in marawi City but warned of terrorism and insurgency National Park after three months that continue to pose threats inVestiGAtors said on friday, october SEND OFF. President Duterte salutes members of the Army’s 1st Infantry Battalion to public safety.

20 that a young couple, whose bodies were as they prepare to leave the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental on Friday, “We have made signifidiscovered in a remote area of Joshua tree Oct. 20. Soldiers of the 1IB were among the first to be deployed in Marawi when cant headway in ridding the national Park earlier this week, died from a the battle against the terrorists broke out almost five months ago. u PAGE A3 murder-suicide — upon speaking to investigaMalacañang photo by King Rodriguez tors, relatives of the victim say it was a “sympathetic murder-suicide.” the bodies of 22-year-old filipino-American hiker Joseph orbeso and his Vietnamese-American companion rachel nguyen, 20, were found on sunday, october 15 at around

Comelec starts decryption, printing of ballot images in vice pres. electoral protest

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As NorCal fires near containment, Fil-Ams tell their stories Filipina caregiver who stayed with patient in Napa among those who perished

by Dana

SioSon

AJPress

the Commission on elections (Comelec) has begun to decrypt and print the ballot images from three pilot provinces former Philippine senator ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. identified in his poll protest against Vice President leni robredo.

the Comelec started the process in the provinces of Camarines sur, iloilo, and negros oriental on monday, october 23, after getting the go signal from the supreme Court (sC), sitting as the Presidential electoral tribunal (Pet). it is expected to take at least seven months. the son and namesake of the late Presi-

SioSon AJPress

submitted an affidavit last week identifying the two liberal Party (lP) stalwarts as protectors of A toP drug personality has slain melvin odicta sr. odicta allegedly controlled the implicated senator franklin Drilon and former interior secretary narcotics trade in iloilo City. he manuel roxas ii as protectors of and his wife, merriam, were shot dead in August 29 last year at the the drug trade in Visayas. ricky serenio, confessed bag- Caticlan Jetty Port in Aklan. man of the Berya drug cartel, u PAGE A4

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Target of drug probe: Senator Franklin Drilon and Mar Roxas’ alleged ties to Melvin Odicta Sr. (center).

Inquirer.net photos

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Trump to meet Duterte, but will skip major meeting

by Patricia LourDeS Philstar.com

eVer since the massive wildfires began in northern California on october 8, fire and police officials have been grappling with containing the ongoing devastation as well as searching for more information on the damage done and the more than 100,000 residents that have been affected. mainly affecting Wine Country, the devastating fires have burned more than 245,000 acres of land and have claimed the lives of at least 42 people, according to fire officials.

Additionally, the fires have charred more than 8,400 structures, as of monday, octo-

u PAGE A4

by Dana

Viray

U.s. PresiDent Donald trump will be visiting manila on november 12 and 13 but will go home before the east Asia summit, a key regional meeting involving leaders of more than a dozen countries. the DfA, meanwhile, noted that based on the schedule the White house has given, trump will be in manila for the special gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of AseAn november 12 and the Pres. Donald Trump

Photo from Whitehouse.gov

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Comelec starts decryption, printing of...

From The FronT Page

PAGE A1

jor discrepancies” in the votes dent Ferdinand Marcos lost last can be particularly seen in the year’s vice presidential election ballots from Camarines Sur, Iloiwith around 263,000 fewer votes lo, and Negros Oriental.

In a statement on Tuesday, than Robredo. Marcos filed a case before the SC, accusing her October 23, the camp of the forof committing a massive elec- mer senator welcomed the developments. toral fraud.

Marcos’ spokesman, lawyer In his poll protest, the former senator asked for the manual Victor Rodriguez, is positive recount of votes in 25 provinces that the decryption and printing Vice President Leni Robredo nationwide but noted that “ma- of ballot images in the particular

Former Senator Bongbong Marcos Philstar.com photos

provinces would “facilitate and expedite” the resolution to their election protest.

“All these constant and spurious delaying tactics by the Robredo camp have been going on for more than a year now. What are they afraid of?” Rodriguez said.

“If they believe she won, they should be rushing to count the ballots so that this issue could finally be laid to rest, in her favor. Instead, they have adopted a strategy of delay and obfuscation,” he added.

For their part, Robredo’s camp expressed confidence that the decryption results will be “nothing spectacular.”

In a message to Inquirer.net, Robredo’s lawyer Romulo Macalintal said, “nothing spectacular is expected from this decryption. For we are confident that the results will tally with the results in the election returns and no substantial recovery will be made by Mr. Marcos.”

“No protest has ever won in the recount of ballots especially now that the PET affirmed the integrity of the 2016 automated election system when it dismissed the first cause of action of Marcos’ protest,” Macalintal added.

In his first cause of action, Marcos called on the SC to declare all the certificates of canvass used to proclaim Robredo’s victory as “authentic.”

But in a resolution dated August 29, the high court affirmed the authenticity of the Automated Election System (AES) in the 2016 elections. n

FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

( Mt Carmel, Mt Beatitude, Mt.Tabor, Cana, Capernum, Nazareth, Mt. of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Bethlehem Qumran, Masada, Jericho )

Dec 3 to 14, 2017

Spiritual Director: Rev. Fr. Alvin Cachola

Filipino WWII veterans honored...

PAGE A1 Mint, which handles the design and minting of the Congressional Gold Medal.

In his special remarks, Filipino World War II veteran Celestino Almeda of Gaithersburg, Maryland said that many of his fellow soldiers have passed away as they waited 75 years for this day to come. It is estimated that there are fewer than 7,000 surviving veterans residing in the United States today.

“After the war, we felt underappreciated and under-recognized and I wondered what else could we have done, but we stayed loyal and relied on our faith and prayers. We thank God for watching over us in this long ordeal,” said the 100-year-old veteran, who received wild applause and standing ovation from the audience.

“With the gold medal we present today we are paying tribute to a selfless sacrifice, we are remembering the indomitable spirit of a Pacific people, we are preserving for generations hence this enduring reminder of valor and of honor. This powerful symbol of a nation’s gratitude,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, thanking the veterans.

Among the other speakers at the event were Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Rep. Ed Royce, Sen. Mazie Hirono and Sen. Dean Heller.

The ceremony is a result of Congresswoman Gabbard and Senator Hirono’s bill to honor the over 260,000 Filipino and FilipinoAmerican soldiers who fought in the Pacific Theater.

“What a wonderful day for many veterans who have patiently been waiting for this. We are finally righting this wrong, and finally honor the service and sacrifice of these heroes and their families, and ensure they are never forgotten,” Rep. Gabbard said.

Sen. Hirono in her speech said that the recognition is the culmination of decades of hard work to honor the veterans for their service to our country.

“Today is an opportunity to say ‘Thank You’ to the more than 250,000 Filipinos who heeded the call of then President Roosevelt. Only 18,000 of them are still alive and theirs is a story of struggle and perseverance,” Hirono said.

“Presenting the Congressional Gold Medal to our Filipino World War II veterans is a long overdue honor for hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families.

Last Veterans Day, Filipino World War II veteran Domingo Los Banos urged me to make sure our Congressional Gold Medal bill was passed that year. I hope that today’s ceremony conveyed to Domingo and every other veteran our gratitude for their service during the war and recognition of the hardship they face in receiving the benefits they earned.”

From July 1941 to December 1946, 260,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers served and fought for the United States and the Philippines to topple Axis powers during World War II. In July of 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called all organized military forces of the Philippines into the service of the United States. Their bravery, heroism, and dedication played an integral part in leading Allied powers to victory over Nazi and fascist forces. They were promised U.S. citizenship and health and pension benefits.

In February 1946, the U.S. Congress passed the Rescission Act of 1946, which stripped Filipino soldiers the benefits promised by President Roosevelt.

Hirono and Gabbard’s bill, the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act (Public Law 114-265), was signed into law by President Barack Obama and awarded the medal collectively to the over 260,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers who responded to President Roosevelt’s call-to-duty and fought under the American flag during World War II. “Today we pay tribute to the quarter of a million Filipinos who answered an American President’s call to fight for our country in the defining war of the 20thCentury. Those brave men, who bravely took up arms and risked life and limb on behalf of a country that was not yet their own, were heroes. It is a mark of a confident and exceptional nation to look back on its history and say we made a grievous error, but we recognize it and pledge never to let it happen again,” Sen Charles Schumer said. “I’m especially proud to be an American today as Congress

rights a decades-old wrong and bestows the highest civilian honor on the Filipino veterans of the Second World War, enshrining in the history books their courage and sacrifice on behalf of a grateful nation.”

Caroline Burkhart, daughter of WWII veteran Thomas Burkhart, was one of the six veterans and next of kin called by Rep. Ryan to be recognized as he presented the Congressional Gold Medal to them.

Mr. Almeda represented the Philippine Commonwealth Army; Mr. Frank Francone, an American veteran, representing the Philippine Scouts; Mr. Dean Aquilino Delen, Filipino veteran representing Guerrilla units; Mrs. Alicia Benitze, next of kin of Filipino veteran; Mrs. Margrit Baltazar, next of kin of Filipino veteran and Mrs. Burkhart, next of kin of American veteran.

Community support “We have waited a long time to witness the well-deserved honor of presenting Filipino Veterans of World War II with the Congressional Gold Medal,” said John C. Yang, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC President and Executive Director. “It is fitting the ceremony occurs during Filipino American History Month in acknowledgment of the contributions and proud heritage of nearly four million Filipino Americans who call the United States home.”

“As we honor these veterans and their families today, we must remember to keep supporting their right to be reunited with family members through the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program.”

For Congressman Bobby Scott, what happened at Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning is a proud moment.

“As a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and the only member of Congress of Filipino ancestry, I am proud to honor the invaluable service of our Filipino veterans who nobly served in World War II,” Scott said. “The contributions of our Filipino veterans have left a remarkable legacy on the history of the United States and the Philippines. We must continue to recognize and honor the sacrifice and dedication of these veterans.” n

Italia� Pilgrimag� Ho�� �eek� March 23 to April 3,2018 Spiritual Director : TBA

Day 1 - March 23, 2018 (Fri) Los Angeles, California to Venice, Italy Trans-Atlantic flight from LAX to LHR connect to our flight to Venice (Meals served in-flight)

Day 2 - March 24, 2018 (Sat) Venice, Italy 3 DEC-Day 1 - (Sun) LAX/TLV On board meals are served

4 DEC-Day 2 - (Mon) - Arrive at Ben Gurion airport Tel-Aviv/Tiberias

After you have finished Immigration, collect Luggage then Meet our guide and driver. Transfer to Tiberias , Dinner /overnight Gai Beach Hotel

After we clear Immigration & Custom, we will meet our Tour Director and driver for our transfer to our hotel,. Dinner at the hotel.( Dinner) If time permit, discover the most romantic views of Venice on foot and from the comfortable seats of a gondola, spend some time gliding through the cities peaceful canals.

Day 3 – March 25, 2018 (Sun) Venice, Italy

Holy Eucharist at the Church of annunciation “And Mary said, Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” We head to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed the first miracle – changing water into wine at the wedding feast. Here, we’ll invite couples to renew their marriage vows. Continue to Nazareth, Celebrate Holy Eucharist at the Church of Annunciation, visit St Joseph workshop. We return to Gai Beach Hotel for our dinner and overnight. (BB/D)

The greatness of Venice has always been reflected in the richness of St. Mark’s Basilica, the perfect synthesis of Venetian art and a unique blend of Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic elements. Five Oriental-looking domes crown the shadowy, mysterious interior gleaming with golden mosaics, colored marbles, precious stones and pearls, and guarded by the four gilded bronze horses that stand proudly atop the central entrance. The glittering mosaics of the interior tell the story of St. Mark and episodes from the Bible. It’s most famous treasure stands behind the altar in the sanctuary - the Pala D’Oro, a golden altar screen encrusted with jewels We’ll visit theDoge’s Palace, the magnificent VenetianGothic building from where the leaders of the former Venetian Republic ruled until the late 18th century. Head inside and explore the grandiose public chambers that the doges lavished with fine art and ornamentation. Masterpieces by Renaissance champions.(BB,D) Holy Mass at St. Marks Basilica.

07 Dec-Day 5 - (Thurs) Mt Tabor/Mt Beatitude/Capernum/ Sea of Galilee/Tabgha

Day 4 - March 26, 2018 (Mon) Venice to San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

5 DEC-Day 3 - (Tues) Cesarea /Haifa

There was a certain man in Caesarea” Drive north to the sparkling port city of Haifa, viewing Caesarea en route, the city built by Herod. In Haifa, we will ascend Mt. Carmel; home of the two prophets Elijah and Elisha, Visit the Stella Maris Church celebrate Holy Mass in the main Altar, after enjoy the panoramic view of the Mediterranean, continue to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. Gai Beach Hotel (BB,D)

6 DEC-Day 4 - (Wed) - Tiberias/ Cana/ Nazareth

We drive to Mount Tabor, celebrate Holy Eucharist at the church of Transfiguration, Visit Mt. of Beatitudes the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people. enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry. After visiting the Synagogue where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Gai Beach Hotel for our dinner and overnight. (BB/D)

08 DEC-Day 6 - (FRI)-Jordan valley/Jericho/Bethany/Jerusalem

After breakfast, we will spend the day travelling from Venice to San Giovanni Rotondo, the home of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina from 28 July 1916 until his death on 23 September 1968. Sit back, relax and enjoy the drive and take in the picturesque scenery along the way. We will reach our hotel in San Giovanni Rotondo in the afternoon. Will have panoramic sightseeing on the way to our hotel,(BB,D).

Day 5 - March 27,2018 (Tues) San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

Drive the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world. View the Mount of temptation, where Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. Visit the ancient ruins of the wall. Drive through Wadi Welt to view St George’s Monastery. Continue to Bethany celebrate Holy Eucharist, and then visit the tomb of Lazarus. Arrive in Mount Scopus; enjoy the first view of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at Notre DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB,D)

We begin the day by celebrating Holy Eucharist. Eucharist,. Followed by a short film about St. Padre Pio.Done by our local guide who are very knowledgeable about the life of St. Padre Pio. We’ll start our visit with the Old Church.Here you can see his cell, his confessional box, the crucifix from which he received the stigmata, and nearly everything he owned or touched, carefully preserved and labeled. Then will visit the New Basilica, Santa Maria delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) dedicated to Padre Pio. (BB,D)

09 DEC-Day 7 - (Sat) - Jerusalem (old City) - Via Dolorosa

Day 6 March 28,2018 (Wed)San Giovanni Rotondo

Holy Sepulcher Church “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place of a skull, which was called in Hebrew Golgotha” Enter the old city of Jerusalem, Sing a hymn in the Church of St Anne and view the pool of Bethesda. Visit the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, where the soldiers played the Game of Kings, and Arch of the “Ecce Homo”. Follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, visit Golgotha and the tomb of Our Lord. This afternoon drive to Mount Zion, to visit the upper room, revered as the site of the last supper. Then survey the Dormition Abbey’s, St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Jesus three times. Dinner and overnight at NOTRE DAME Vatican Hotel (BB.D)

Holy Eucharist in the Morning in the New Basilica.followed by Station of the Cross. Rest of day spend Praying and meditating (BB,D)

10 DEC-Day 8 - (SUN) - Mount of Olives/Gethesemane/Bethlehem/New City

Day 8 - March 30 2018 (Fri) Assisi to Florence (Good Friday)

Holy Eucharist celebration at the Church of all nations Main altar Arrive at the Mount of Olives and enjoy the beautiful view of Jerusalem. Visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the Dominus Flevit Church”God wept “& walk the Palm Sunday road to the Garden of Gethesemane and the Church of all Nations. This Afternoon drive to Bethlehem, a city whose name the whole world recognizes ,visit the Church of Nativity, the manger, Church of St Catherine, The Grotto of St Jerome, and the shepherds fields. Dinner and overnight at NOTRE DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB ,D).

11 DEC-Day 9 - ( MON) - Jerusalem/Dead Sea/Qumran/Masada

Visit the Western Wall , the only part of the Herodian temple still standing and the most sacred place in the world for Jews. We drive to Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Visit Qumran; see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada, visit Herod’s fortress and the Jew’s last stronghold against the Roman. Return to Jerusalem Overnight Notre Dame Vatican Hotel (BB,D)

12 DEC-Day10 - (TUE) Jerusalem New City

Return to the new City, Including the Temple Model to see a scale model of Jerusalem as it was during the time of Jesus. Here we will have a better understanding between old and New Jerusalem. Next to Ein Karem, birthplace of St John the Baptist, visit the Visitation church where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat Overnight NOTRE DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB,D)

13 Dec-Day 11 - (WED) Jerusalem/TLV/LAX

Breakfast rest of the morning Free time early PM dinner has to check out from the hotel, around 8:30 PM flight from TLV/ LAX in the 13 Dec flight depart TLV at 1:00 Am Dec 14,2017 ( end of Service )

Day 7 – March 29, 2018 (Thur) San Giovanni Rotondo to Siena, Italy

After breakfast, we will spend the day travelling from San Giovanni Rotondo to Siena. We will begin in the old town center with a visit to the Basilica of San Domenico. Built in the 13th century, it is a treasure chest of Renaissance art and is dedicated to St. Catherine of Siena. You’ll learn about the city’s history while admiring its cathedrals, museums, and libraries. Then admire famous Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s great medieval squares.(BB,D) Continue to Assisi overnight /Dinner Celebrate Holy Eucharist in the Crypt where the tomb of the most beloved saints is located ,after Mass visit the Basilica of St Francis, We’ll also visit the Basilica of St.Claire After Lunch continue to Florence Best know for it leather goods,the best in the world Leather (BB,D) Free time in the afternoon Dinner/ Overnight

Day 9 - March 31, 2018 (Sat) Florence to Rome

2 hrs walking tours of Florence,before we continue to Rome We will have a guided walking tour of this fascinating city with its Piazza, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of St. John the Baptist, Continue to Rome.

Upon our arrival in Rome, Guided tours of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel .See the Largest church in Roman Catholicism ,St Peter Basilica,see the Crypt of St Pope John Paul (BB,D) Transfer to the Hotel /overnight

Day 10 April 1, 2018 (Sun ) Rome

EASTER SUNDAY MASS, VATICAN SQUARE FOLLOWED BY PAPAL BLESSING Visit the Major Basilicas like St Mary Major,St. John Lateran, the Holy Stairs, St. Paul Outside the Wall, St. Peter’s in Chain, Santa Croce of Jerusalem, afternoon see Imperial Rome, and short visit to the Trevi Fountain on the way to the hotel (BB,D) Dinner in the hotel

Day 11 April 2, 2018 (Mon) Rome Free time in Rome ( BB,D)

Day 12 April 3, 2018 (Mon) Rome – USA

Transfer to the airport for our flight back to USA, End of our memorable Pilgrimage

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A

DFA chief: PH to reject aid with conditionalities from all countries

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

COOPERATION VS TERRORISM. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzan receives Chinese Defense Minister Ge Chang Wanquan at the Department of National Defense. They held a bilateral meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 25 in an effort to enhance the security and defense ties of the two nations. To achieve this goal, the two nations are looking at the possibility of improved intelligence sharing, joint counterterrorism exercises and specialized training.

Photo courtesy of DND

Duterte urges troops to remain loyal...

PAGE A1 country of the scourges of criminality, insurgency, terrorism and corruption because of your invaluable contributions and there could never be a task more ennobling than that,” the president said in a speech.

“I enjoin our troops to continue performing their duties well, especially as martial law remains in effect in Mindanao, and there are persisting threats of terrorism and insurgency,” he added. earlier this week, the Philippine government declared the Marawi siege over.

Considered as the longest conflict in the Philippines since World War II, more than 800 militants, 160 government troopers, and 40 civilians died nearly five months

since the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute terrorist group attacked the city on May 23.

The attack prompted Duterte to impose martial law in the entire Mindanao, which is set to expire by the end of the year.

Duterte lauded the “valor and sacrifices” of the soldiers who were killed and wounded in Marawi as he reiterated his vow to take care of their families.

“Rest assured that the Philippines is committed to promote the welfare of all PAF personnel and their loved ones,” the president said.

“That you have left your families and the comfort of your homes to serve the country is truly praiseworthy. Indeed, the Philippines and our people are indebted to you because of the

sacrifices you have made every single day,” he added.

In a separate statement, Malacañang admitted that the IS terrorist group remains a global threat despite its defeat in Marawi.

“While we have defeated the Maute group here, it cannot be denied that IS remains a global threat,” Duterte’s spokesperson ernesto Abella said. he further emphasized the importance of continuous cooperation with other countries in combating the threats posed by the terrorist groups.

“It is therefore necessary for us to continue our cooperation and alliance with our friends in the international community to halt the spread of IS menace,” Abella added.

Trump to meet Duterte, but will skip...

PAGE A1 ASeAN-US Summit on November 13. Both events will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

“The Philippine and U.S. sides are also working out a bilateral meeting between the two Presidents,” DFA spokesperson Rob Bolivar said.

Former Ambassador Marciano Paynor, chief of presidential protocol, confirmed an earlier report that Trump will no longer attend the east Asia Summit but will still meet with Duterte at the sidelines of the ASeAN event on November 13.

The White house earlier announced that Trump will visit

Manila as part of his Asian tour of China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the U.S. state of hawaii.

The Washington Post first reported that Trump will still meet with President Rodrigo Duterte and other heads of state.

The American leader, however, will not travel to Angeles City on November 14 for the east Asia Summit, according to the report. The Department of Foreign Affairs, however, said that the east Asia Summit will be held in Manila.

The Washington Post’s Josh Rogin said that a spokesperson told him that Trump will be returning to the U.S. on the evening of November 13.

“You should not read anything into his being absent on the 14th,” the spokesman told Rogin.

Trump’s absence at the key annual conference of Asian and world leaders comes at time when the United States’ partners and allies are seeking signs of the new administration’s commitment to the region. The Post noted that the move may undermine the overall goal of Trump’s Asia tour.

The Obama administration’s pivot to Asia involved a deepening of ties with regional actors, including the Philippines which saw the signing of a major executive agreement allowing rotating presence of American troops in the country.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday, October 25 clarified that the government’s policy to reject foreign aid applies to all countries and not just the european Union (eU).

In an interview with reporters, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the new policy on accepting foreign aid came from Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte himself.

“I cleared it with the president last night. It is the policy to all countries. If you’re going to give us conditionalities that will affect our sovereignty to give you the right to interfere into our domestic affairs, we will not accept that donation,” Cayetano said.

As for foreign assistance that comes with certain conditions, the country’s top diplomat explained it may be given directly to Filipinos through non-government organizations.

“Now questions, will the people not suffer? No, because you can give it directly to the people. So for example, the U.S., they use the international organizations, even

eU gives some of the money to the International Red Cross,” the DFA official said.

“So just because we will not take something that is with conditionalities, that doesn’t mean our people will be hurt,” he added.

Cayetano made the remarks days after the Philippine government announced that it would no longer accept grants from eU with conditions perceived to affect the country’s sovereignty.

Asked if the government would accept aid from eU for the victims of Marawi crisis, Cayetano said everyone was “free to help” as long as the assistance is not tied to any conditions.

“So the question should now be addressed to eU. Are they willing to give without conditionalities or if the conditionalities are there, are they willing to do it through international organizations?” he said.

The european Commission recently pledged to provide €850,000, or about P49 million, in humanitarian aid for the victims and rehabilitation of Marawi City.

The DFA chief also disclosed he that recently had a “very frank and honest” meeting with eU officials.

During the meeting, Cayetano

said the bloc gave an assurance it was not interfering in the country’s autonomy as he cited the Philippines’ concerns about statements issued by some european-led parliamentarians criticizing Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Cayetano likewise affirmed that the Philippines’ relation with eU remains “strong,” and that the country remains committed to trade relations with foreign countries for mutual benefit.

“Well, it was a long meeting and of course nagkapaliwanagan about ito ang stand nila, hindi naman sila nakikialam (they made a clarification concerning their stand, they’re not interfering),” he said. he went on to say, “We agreed on two things, one to keep talking. Number two, to look for the way forward. So hopefully kung maganda ang usapan ng (if talks went smooth between) eU and President Duterte then it’ll be a giant step forward but there are real issues that have to be resolved.” earlier this year, the Philippine government announced it would reject aids from the eU. But economic Planning Secretary ernesto Pernia later said the move to reject eU grants was “not a policy.” n

US proposes new maritime exercises with ASEAN The United States proposed to conduct a new maritime exercise with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASeAN) in 2018, Pentagon said Wednesday, October 24.

In his visit to the Philippines, U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis attended ASeAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), where he highlighted the maritime security as a natural area for deeper cooperation between the U.S. and ASeAN. According to Pentagon spokesperson Dana White, Mattis proposed to hold a new maritime exercise with ASeAN partners in 2018, as well as to host a maritime security dialogue featuring regional navies and maritime law enforcement.

During the meeting, the Defense secretary also reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to allies and partners across the region. he likewise reaffirmed the United States’ “commitment to freedom of navigation, and to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.”

This apparently indicates that

Washington will continue its freedom of navigation operations challenging China’s massive territorial claims at the South China Sea, which are partly disputed by its neighboring countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. earlier this month, the U.S. carried out its fourth freedom of navigation operation under the administration of President Donald Trump. The USS Chafee, a guidedmissile destroyer, reportedly sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in South China Sea. Apart from the freedom of navigation, Mattis also stressed the importance of international cooperation to pressure North Korea amid its nuclear threats “in order to realize the shared goal of complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.”

The U.S. Defense chief likewise commended the Philippines for its victory against Islamic State (IS)inspired terrorists in Mindanao. his praise came following the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND)’s declaration on Monday, October 23, that the

Marawi siege is finally over, five months since the Maute terrorist group attacked the city on May 23.

To improve counterterrorism cooperation among ASeAN members, Pentagon said the U.S. Defense chief proposed to convene a tabletop exercise to discuss lessons learned from the D-ISIS campaign.

Mattis also proposed to hold a workshop on regional terrorist threats at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

Apart from Defense ministers from ASeAN and U.S., the ADMMPlus was also attended by their counterparts from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Russia.

“Meeting participants recognized the importance of the ADMMPlus as an inclusive platform for high-level discussions of strategic defense and security matters including North Korea, terrorism and maritime security, as well as to promote practical cooperation and confidence-building among their defense establishments,” White said. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

A

OctOber 26-nOvember 1, 2017 • LAS veGAS ASIAn JOUrnAL

Dateline USa

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PH-made jewelry sold as Native American craft Young Fil-Am hiker and friend dead from...

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO—A New Mexico art gallery owner and a jewelry supplier have pleaded guilty in federal court to criminal charges for selling Philippine-made jewelry that they passed off as Native American.

Art gallery owner Nael Ali pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Oct. 18 to misrepresenting fake Indian-produced goods in violation of the Indian Arts and Craft Act, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albuquerque.

His conviction followed an earlier guilty plea by jewelry sup-

plier Mohammad Manasra on less severe charges under the Indian Arts and Craft Act. The act makes it a crime to falsely market and sell art as Native American when it is not.

In October 2015, federal agents raided Indian art galleries in Albuquerque, Gallup and Calistoga, California, to seize counterfeits and evidence.

Ali and Manasra have agreed to forfeit 5,268 pieces of jewelry, while acknowledging that Manasra passed off jewelry made in the Philippines as the work of

Navajo and Zuni Pueblo artists, according to court documents.

Sentencing hearings are still months away. Ali faces possible jail time of up to 18 months, according to court documents. An attorney for Manasra declined on Wednesday to discuss the case. Ali’s attorney could not be reached immediately.

Joyce Begay-Foss, a Navajo weaver and education director of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, said that cheap Indian art knockoffs were having an effect on the art business in New Mexico and throughout the country.

She called the guilty pleas a step in the right direction. But she said stiffer state and federal penalties along with border enforcement were needed to deter fraud.

“It is a step in the right direction. It is alerting people to be more cognizant when they buy Indian art, to be more aware of the provenance and the materials,” said Begay-Foss, who recently completed a guide on how to buy Navajo weavings that will be published by the U.S. Indian Arts and Crafts board.

Authorities have accused Ali, the owner of two Indian art galleries in the Old Town neighborhood of Albuquerque and another in Arizona, of attributing jewelry to specific Navajo and Zuni craftsmen when it was actually made in the Philippines.

Four other people have been charged under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act in a separate indictment that traces Filipinomade jewelry to Indian-art galleries in Santa Fe and San Diego, with a trial scheduled next year.

The investigations spearheaded by the Fish and Wildlife Service have laid bare the breadth and sophistication of distribution networks for fake Indian-style art and crafts.

Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico has warned that Native American art markets are being destabilized by fakes, undermining a crucial source of income for tribal members.

Former Attorney Damon Martinez, who participated previously in the prosecution of Ali and Manasra, has recommended several reforms, including requirements that imported jewelry carry a country of origin and legal changes to apply money laundering and wire fraud provisions to the investigation of Indian-art fraud. (Inquirer.net with reports from AP)

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PAGE A1 11:30 a.m. in the northern vicinity of the Maze Loop trail area of the park, from where their car was left. The pair reportedly went missing nearly three months ago.

On Friday, a release by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin station said the autopsy found that “injuries consistent with a gunshot wound were located on both Nguyen and Orbeso.” It added that detectives believe Orbeso shot Nguyen before shooting himself.

Rachel Nguyen’s uncle Son Nguyen told The Desert Sun on Saturday, Oct. 21, “It was explained to us by the investigators on scene, with the circumstances and positioning of the bodies, that they believe this was a sympathetic murder-suicide.”

“Rachel possibly injured herself sliding down a cliff and Joseph went after her and took care of her,” Son Nguyen added.

Based on conversations with the police, Mongo Ha Le, Nguyen’s aunt, told the Los Angeles Times that Nguyen had a head injury to which Orbeso “tried to save her the only way he could.”

Austin Young, who in a Facebook post described Orbeso as “the best friend I could ever ask for”, told the Orange County Register, “they had a choice of a slow and painful death or a quick death. And they made the choice of a quick death.”

Officials said the gun found near the bodies was registered to Orbeso. Le said that Orbeso had the gun because he was a security guard and most probably brought it for protection.

The sheriff department’s release reported that the pair appeared to have been rationing their food and did not have water. Their bodies were found under a tree with clothing positioned to cover their lower extremities, and to protect from the sun.

Some of Orbeso’s clothes were found wrapped around Nguyen, according to authorities. His

Authorities revealed on Friday, October 20 that Fil-Am Joseph Orbeso, 22, fatally shot his girlfriend Rachel Nguyen, 20, before turning the gun on himself in a remote area of Joshua Tree National Park. The pair’s bodies were recovered on Monday, October 16, after being reported missing nearly two months ago.

Photo from a GoFundMe page set up for the couple

T-shirt was said to have been wrapped around Nguyen’s head like a bandage.

Sheriff’s department spokeswoman Cindy Bachman, confirmed initial reports of the bodies embracing each other, and said the bodies appeared interlocked when found.

Orbeso’s father, Gilbert Orbeso, described his son as “caring, thoughtful” and was “clearly taking care of her.”

According to the National Park Service (NPS), an investigation on why Orbeso shot Nguyen is ongoing as of October 20.

The pair were last seen on July 27 and were thought to be missing on July 28 after they failed to checkout of their Airbnb in which they left their belongings. The owner of the bed-and-breakfast, remembered that the couple mentioned hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, and called the police after the two had not come back. An extensive search was then initiated.

Orbeso’s phone last recorded their location inside the park at around 4 p.m. on July 27.

According to ModernHiker. com, the Maze Loop trail in which they were found is a mod-

erate 6.5 mile round trip with an average completion time of four hours. Suggested times to visit are spring, fall, and winter.

Before the bodies were identified by the San Bernardino Sheriff Coroner’s office to which they were sent, Orbeso’s father, Gilbert, was among the ones who found the bodies along with the Joshua Tree Search and Rescue (JOSAR) team.

The bodies were transferred to the coroner’s office on Monday, October 16 and were identified by the respective families as Joseph Orbeso and Rachel Nguyen, who were both from Orange County.

According to the news release by the NPS, a large-scale search for Orbeso and Nguyen was launched with over 250 searchers comprising of ground teams, dog teams, and aircraft.

“It’s been a journey,” said Gilbert Orbeso to the Desert Sun earlier this week. “I’m glad we have a conclusion to this journey. We’re just in a different recovery process now.”

Son Nguyen said, “We hold no grudges against Joseph or the Orbeso family.” (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)

Narco suspect tags Drilon, Roxas...

PAGE A1 In his affidavit submitted to La Carlota City prosecutor’s office in Negros Occidental on Wednesday, Oct. 18, Serenio accused Drilon and Roxas of partnering with Odicta to “take-over the drug trade in Negros by kicking out Berya-Camaria drug operations.”

“Being in power with close association to the PNP (Philippine National Police), it was easy for the Roxas-Drilon tandem to paralyze, and eventually overthrow the Berya-Camaria drug operations and wipe out these groups from operating in Negros Island,” his affidavit read.

By taking out the Berya-Camaria taken out of play, Serenio said Drilon and Roxas could then “turn over” the drug operations in the region to Odicta.

Serenio likewise claimed that Drilon and Roxas were patrons of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who supposedly protected the illegal drug operations of the Odicta.

In a statement, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the department would treat Serenio’s affidavit tagging Drilon and Roxas as a complaint.

He said “a preliminary investigation can be conducted since the affidavit could serve as a complaint.”

“If sa city prosecutor, parang complaint na ‘yan (if it was filed with the city prosecutor, then it’s like a complaint), then we would be duty bound to act on it,” Aguirre said in a news conference on Wednesday, October 25.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, October 21, Roxas dismissed

Serenio’s affidavit as a “poor and laughable attempt at fake news.”

“I don’t know nor have I any dealings with Serenio nor Odicta; as in zero. I have been and am anti-illegal drugs and the record of arrests, confiscations and buy bust operations by the PNP during my time at DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) will show this,” Roxas said.

“I hear [President Rodrigo] Duterte is visiting Negros this weekend. This is an attempt by mga local KSP to get his attention and curry favor with him,” he added.

Duterte attended the Masskara Festival celebration on October 22 in Bacolod City.

Drilon, meanwhile, is still in the United Kingdom, and his camp has yet to release a comment on the issue. n

As NorCal fires near containment, Fil-Ams tell...

PAGE A1 ber 23.

That makes the weeks-long fires the deadliest and most destructive in the state’s modern history.

“The numbers are going to continue to increase,” said Robert Foxworthy, a spokesman for Cal Fire. “The reason the numbers are increasing is because our damage assessment teams are getting into the areas and finally getting an accurate count.”

Among the fatalities was Filipino-American caregiver Teresa Santos, 50, who was caring for 90-year-old Sally Lewis of Napa.

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, Santos worked from Sunday through Friday and when the fires neared the home on Sunday, October 8, she refused to leave Lewis as the fires reached Lewis’ home in mid-October.

“She didn’t save herself, she stayed with my mother until the end,” Windermere Tirados, Lewis’s daughter, told the LA Times.

Santos lived with Lewis five days out of the week and has been working for her for about a year. Tirados described Santos as a very committed and “loyal” caregiver who was a “sweet quiet person and very loving.”

“She was an angel sent to us definitely, to take care of my mom,” Tirados added.

According to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), approximately 13,500 Filipinos live in the affected areas of the Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties.

The 4,200 Filipinos that live in the nearby Lake, Marin and Mendocino counties were also affected by the fires, which are expected to be fully contained

by Wednesday, October 25, fire officials told reporters on Monday.

The City of Santa Rosa was one of the most heavily impact-

ed areas of the Tubbs fire, especially residents of the ravaged Coffey Park. Vicious winds that formed little tornadoes completely incinerated more than 200 square miles of homes.

The Padilla family had lived in a single-story home in Coffey Park since 1989. Just two days before fire took over the neighborhood on October 9, Patricia and Jay Padilla and her two teenage daughters packed up their valuables (including their Australian shepherd named Pogi) and headed for San Francisco.

“We saw everyone on our street just hurrying to get the hell out so we decided that we probably should too,” daughter Ashley Padilla, 18, told the Asian Journal in a phone interview on Monday, October 23. “We were in the line of fire, literally. It was like night time when we packed all our cars, three of them, with stuff that we needed, like documents, family albums, heirlooms and our dog and drove to our tita’s house in Oakland.”

Padilla remembers seeing the view of the sky as she drove out of Santa Rosa. She recalls blood orange skies and hot gusts of wind that made her eyes water.

“It almost looked apocalyptic, like the rapture,” the recent high school graduate said. “I tried to remain calm because Pogi was driving with me and I didn’t want to freak him out.”

“Right now, we’re picking up the pieces. We’re all just glad we’re all okay and alive. It’s going to suck trying to like, arrange where we’re going to live, but as long as we’re all together it’s going to be okay,” Padilla said.

“That’s what we all kind of remind ourselves when one of us begins to get upset. We’re just sticking together and supporting each other and reminding each other that we’re all okay.”

Another Santa Rosa family, the De Castros, also found themselves in the line of fire in

the early hours of Sunday, October 8 when they were alerted about the fire by a neighbor, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

Dr. Marlon De Castro and his wife Ina quickly packed up some clothes, photo albums and documents in the car and drove their two sons and dog to a friend’s home in San Francisco.

The family could not visit their home due to mandatory limits enforced by the city, but found out their home was one of the few that remained intact.

“While it will be a long time before their lives go back to normal, the De Castros are grateful they are safe, alive and that they can still go back to their home.

Other families have not been as fortunate,” Gel Santos-Relos wrote for the Asian Journal.

As of press time, 90 percent of the fire has been contained despite five large fires still raging in the Northern Bay Region.

Last week, Moody’s Analytics estimated that the Northern California fires “will be among the costliest wildfires on record for the U.S.” According to the California State Insurance Commission, the damage done will cost at least $1 billion, but officials say that the total cost of the damages is expected to rise in the coming weeks. Property and casualty insurers have already experienced record high catastrophe losses from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria as well as the devastating earthquakes in Mexico.

The wildfires began on October 8 and, in addition to the 42 declared dead, there are still 21 people missing in Sonoma County as of Monday.

Officials are still probing the cause of the fires, but Foxworthy said that it could “be weeks” before the investigation is complete and details will be released. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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D ateline PhiliPPines Palace: DOJ to study treason

Sereno formally asks House to let lawyers cross-examine impeachment witnesses

allegations against Trillanes SioSon AJPress

ed first before any conclusions can be made. “ah ‘yan ay pag-aaralan ng DeMalacañang said it would partment of Justice, pag-aaralan be up to the Department of Jus- ‘yan ng mga abogado ng ating tice (DOJ) to probe allegations pangulo, sapagka’t ito rin po ay that Senator antonio Trillanes mga legal matters (That will be IV committed treason when he studied by the Department of discussed with United States of- Justice, that will be studied by ficials the corruption and human the lawyers of our president berights situation in the Philip- cause these are legal matters),” the communications secretary pines.

In a radio interview on Sunday, responded.

“We have to study this first. It’s October 22, communications Secretary Martin andanar was hard to make hasty pronounceasked to comment if Trillanes ments,” he added. last week, U.S. Republican should be charged with treason. andanar said that the opposi- Senator Marco Rubio, a critic Senator Antonio Trillanes IV tion senator should be investigatInquirer.net photo PAGE A7

Sara Duterte launches coalition to counter destabilization efforts book page, the coalition is “an alliance of groups who believed in the president and trusted his PReSIDenTIal daughter and vision of change for the PhilipDavao city Mayor Sara Duterte- pines.” carpio on Monday, October 23, groups listed under the Talaunched a coalition that would pang at Malasakit alliance for fight the supposed ouster plot the Philippines include Duterteagainst his father, Philippine cayetano Socmed; DDS global; President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte Youth; Mindavote; The The pro-government coalition, amazing Duterte ninjas-Japan; named as “Tapang at Malasakit Rody Duterte Solid group; PDP alliance for the Philippines,” laban Volunteers for Presiwill serve as the umbrella orga- dent Duterte; Friends of Rody nization of all her father’s sup- Duterte; and Duterte alliance porters during the presidential hongkong. campaign last year. also included were Sisterhood according to its official Face- for Duterte; Vivian Velez group;

SioSon AJPress

Justice’s previous requests because they were in a form of letter and not in a form of a motion. apart from the request to PhIlIPPIne chief Justice Ma. lourdes Sereno on Monday, Oc- cross-examine witnesses, Seretober 23, asked the house com- no’s lawyers likewise asked the mittee on Justice to allow her congressmen to “confirm that lawyers to question the witnesses the chief Justice’s right through in the impeachment proceedings against her.

In a motion, Sereno’s lawyers sought confirmation that persons testifying as “resource persons” against her may be “cross-examined by her counsel on her behalf.”

Sereno’s counsel also asked the panel to “recognize her constitutionally guaranteed rights to be represented by a legal counsel and to confront the witnesses against her through lawyers representing her.”

“The confirmation was sought in light of public pronouncements by some members of this honorable committee, and in order to be clarified and assured that the procedure which the committee would adopt during the hearings would respect the basic rights of the chief Justice as a respondent in an impeachment proceeding,” Sereno’s lawyers, led by alex Poblador, stated in the motion.

The chief justice’s camp filed the motion after the committee declined to rule on her earlier request to cross-examine the resource persons herself or by her own lawyer in letters dated Sept.

28 and Oct. 3.

Justice committee chairman and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali previously said the house could not act on the chief

by Dana

by Dana

by Dana

A

hugpong Federal; alyansang Duterte Bongbong; Doctors for Duterte; DDS Bloggers; Pwersa Pilipino Patungo Sa Pagbabago; United Builders Missions of the Philippines, Inc.; Republic Defenders for Peace and Unity, among others.

“We [will] stand together, firm in our decision to fight for our country, vowing to resist interests and forces out to topple a democratically chosen leader of the nation. We will guard our freedom from the traitors of the Philippines and those who betray economic stability and govPAGE A7

UNITED VS ‘DESTAB’. Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano, Philippine Economic Zone Authority chief Charito Plaza, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, lawyer Karen Jimeno, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada raise their fists at the launching of the ‘Tapang at Malasakit’ coalition on Monday, Oct. 23.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Procurement Dept.

340 N. 11TH Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) RFP NO. P18024 PEST CONTROL – BED BUG HEAT TREATMENT SNRHA CONTACT PERSON(S) ONLY: Note: Contact with any other SNRHA staff other than the named within this document is prohibited and will result in your Proposal being rejected. This also includes contact with SNRHA’s Residents and Board of Commissioners.

Wanda Beckett, Contracts Administrator Telephone: (702) 477-3145 Email: wbeckett@snvrha.org Or, if not available, contact Linda Price Simpson, Contracts Administrator Telephone: (702) 477-3144 Email: lpsimpson@snvrha.org TDD: (702) 387-1898

HOW TO OBTAIN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS ON THE APPLICABLE INTERNET SITES:

1. DOWNLOAD AND RESPOND TO THIS SOLICITATION: Housing Agency Marketplace website: ha.economicengine.com Registered Users: Log in and insert Solicitation No. RFP P18 Non-Registered Users: You must register your company before downloading and responding to this RFP, which is free of charge. Click on “As a Vendor” to register. Problems accessing or registering your company, call 866-526-9266, 9AM-4PM Eastern 2. DOWNLOADS ONLY: SNRHA website: www. snvrha.org, click on Procurement and “Current Bid Invitations” and proceed to the appropriate solicitation number. Problems downloading the Solicitation, notify our IT Department at (702) 477-3160, M-F, 8AM-5PM PST

PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE:

November 7, 2017, 10:00 am SNRHA Commissioners’ Chambers 340 N. 11th Street, Las Vegas NV 89101

Q&A DEADLINE:

November 17, 2017 @ 10:00 a.m. (PST) All questions and answers shall be submitted in writing via ha.economicengine.com

SOLICITATION SUBMITTAL RETURN & DEADLINE:

Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Procurement & Contracts 340 N. 11th Street, Suite 180 Las Vegas, NV 89101 November 27, 2017 @ 10:00 a.m.

Your proposed costs must be entered at the applicable website, ha.economicengine.com by the deadline date and time. Additionally, your three (3), sealed, hard-copy, proposals must be received in-hand and time-stamped by the SNRHA 3URFXUHPHQW &RQWUDFWV 2I¿FH QR ODWHU WKDQ 10:00 AM (PST) on the above-stated deadline date.

SioSon AJPress

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno Inquirer.net photo

counsel to object to improper questions during the direct examination of complainant’s witnesses will be recognized.” citing the Rules of criminal Procedure, they further requested that Sereno be provided PAGE A7

A

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OctOber 26-nOvember 1, 2017 • LAS veGAS ASIAn JOUrnAL

OpiniOn

Healing process

Features

IS it really over?

On Monday, Oct. 23, the Philippine Department of Defense (DND) formally announced the termination of the government’s combat operations in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. This development comes a week after President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberation of the besieged city from the influence of terrorist groups.

It has been five months since government forces clashed with members of the Maute rebel group and other Islamic State-Inspired terrorist groups in Marawi City.

The conflict claimed the lives of 847 terrorists, 163 government troopers and 47 civilians, as of Monday. The crisis has also displaced 78,466 families or 359,680 residents, who are now raring to go back home.

The local government of Marawi City has begun conducting clearing operations within the city to prepare for the return of the displaced residents. Among the phases of operations being made are the retrieval of properties, restoration of governance, barangay mapping, profiling, restoration of power system water and facilities or utilities.

Just by looking at the destruction, the rehabilitation of the war-torn city may take three years or longer, according to Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra.

“Talagang sa laki ng pinsala ho ‘yung destruction talagang pag nakita mo I dont think matatapos natin within three years but at least may timeline (With the extent of damage of the destruction, if you see it, I don’t think we can finish it within three years but at least there is a timeline), Gandamra told CNN Philippines.

The government has allocated “about P5 billion ($100 million)” for the support of evacuees, reconstruction of infrastructure and repair of bridges. The budget will be spent until the end of the year. For next year, another P10 billion ($200 million) would be pulled by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) from various government agencies for the city’s rehabilitation.

Since the expenses in the rehabilitation of Marawi was not anticipated, Lorenzana believes that P50 billion ($1 billion) is not enough to cover the complete restoration of Marawi City. He said that at least P100 billion ($2 billion) might be needed to rebuild the affected areas.

The extent of damage will only be determined once assessment teams deployed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) finish collating data on the damage and losses incurred in 24 barangays in Marawi City.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who visited Marawi City last week, said everything in the battle area has been rendered useless. bulldoze the entire area, the ground zero,” An“I was there in ground zero, talagang wala ka danar said. nqng mapapakinabangan eh (everything there Given the extent of the devastation and the can no longer be of use). “You really have to number of people affected, the national govern-

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

ment should now focus on rehabilitation and peace-building efforts. Operation “get Marawi City and its people get back on their feet” must now commence. (AJPress)

Trump to discuss human rights with Duterte: How will the Philippine president respond?

TRUMP and DUTERTE. They like The Fil-Am each other a lot. They only have accolades Perspective for each other, pretty much like Trump and Putin.

It’s a stark contrast with the tense Gel SantoS-ReloS relationship Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had with Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, whom he cursed because the 44th president of the United States openly said he wished to discuss human rights principles and issue with the then newly elected leader of the

Philippines.

Obama canceled the meeting realizing that nothing productive will come out of their face-to-face encounter. This was not an isolated experience by a foreign leader who dared to question or criticize Duterte’s war on drugs.

The leaders of the European Union, who had also been vocal about their concerns regarding human rights violations and alleged extrajudicial killings in Duterte’s bloody war on drugs,

OPPOSITION figures seem to have been bitten by the travel bug, from Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, to Raissa Robles, to activists from Akbayan, to a group of authors of a book critical of President Rodrigo Duterte.

They are everywhere, from a political meeting between Trillanes and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, to Robles’ talk at the University of California in Los Angeles, to an academic forum in Columbia University in New York, to a civil society forum at Thammasat University in Bangkok.

While on travel abroad, these Filipino nationals freely talk about their criticisms of President Duterte and his government.

Meanwhile, foreign journalists, politicians and civil society activists take advantage of our hospitality as they freely talk about their criticisms of the President right in our country, as if there is an exchange program.

Filipinos abroad and foreigners in the Philippines, all freely talking without fear of being arrested by a government and a President they paint as a tyrannical fascist who to their eyes is hell bent on controlling free speech.

And this is a luxury that is not enjoyed by nationals of many countries, including those from our immediate neighbors.

Despite these issues raised by human rights advocates around the world against Duterte’s “vigilante” approach to solving the drug menace in the Philippine, U.S. President Donald Trump not only defended the Philippine president, but even praised him in the way he has been governing the Philippines. Trump even invited his Philippine counterpart to the White House.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS now, with the White House announcement that a discussion about human rights is on Trump’s agenda when the two presidents meet for the first time in Manila this November during Trump’s up-

coming first trip to Asia as U.S. president?

Will Duterte cancel the meeting and curse Trump too? Or will he be open and accommodating to Trump who has defended and praised him when most of the leaders of the free world had been critical of him and his war on drugs?

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

Speaking ill of the country from a distance

Commentary

antonio ContReRaS

had not been spared from the Philippine president’s toxic rhetoric. EU envoys had even been asked by Duterte to leave the country and that he does not need the aid coming from the EU. The Philippine government’s records show that more than 3,451 “drug personalities” have been killed as they resisted arrest or fought against police during raids and apprehensions. Human rights advocates, however, claim that more than 13,000 people have been killed since Duterte took office in June 2016, and that many of those killed were denied due process of law, with some victimized by the corruption and abuses of the police.

I know the story of a Singaporean academic who was on a scholarship in the U.S. and who wrote an academic paper which was critical of his government. He was stripped of his scholarship and was never allowed to return to the U.S. I remember this Malaysian who I sat with in a panel at a conference who was openly chastised by someone from the audience, who I learned was sent deliberately by the government to be its eyes and ears to ensure that Malaysian scholars always toe the line.

I also vividly remember my foreign students at UP who had to talk in whispers when they said something critical about their governments. This happened while they were in my class, in the Philippines, not in their countries. This is evidence of the imprint of censorship and the internalization of the repressive apparatus of the state that are already deeply embedded in their psyche.

Malaysia charges people speaking ill of the government with sedition. Singapore has its internal security act that it invokes to crack down on dissent.

Akbayan and the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) co-sponsored a public forum on the war on drugs and the human rights situation in the Philippines held in Bangkok on October 5, 2017 with speakers from the Philippines. But months before, a noted academic from Chiang Mai University, professor Chayan Vaddhanaputhi, to-

gether with four other students and faculty, were charged by the government as organizers of the 13th International Thai Studies Conference held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This was because it was reported that criticisms were raised during the conference about the presence of military officers in the venue.

It was indeed ironic that Filipinos freely spoke about human rights violations in the Philippines in Bangkok, even as Thai scholars in Chiang Mai were charged simply for running a conference where the Thai government was subjected to criticism.

Speaking ill of one’s country while abroad, or having a demeaning attitude towards the homeland, is a very elitist conduct that I have personally observed to be committed by some, not all, privileged graduate students studying abroad and white-collar immigrants. These are the people who look for every opportunity to renege on their contractual obligations of going back to the country, from getting an American spouse to obtaining post-graduate fellowships hoping they can get permanent resident status and eventually become citizens. These are people who see nothing good about the country, from our poor habits to our stinking airport toilets.

And then you juxtapose this with the OFWs who have every reason to feel abandoned and betrayed by their leaders who failed to provide them

Sen. Antonio Trillanes with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio after their meeting in Washington, DC last week.

with economic opportunities that they had to leave their children behind to take care of the children of other countries. However, what you see are people that rarely speak ill of the country. The OFW communities, in fact, provide a strong base of support for the President.

The people who label the President as a tyrant and a dictator in meetings, forums and conferences abroad freely do so without fear of retribution or arrest.

Raissa Robles painted a negative image not only of the President but of the country to her UCLA audience, which thankfully was only a handful, without the fear of a mole sent by the Philippine Consulate

to censor her. It took a Filipino graduate student, a proDuterte blogger who was there on her own volition, to challenge her misrepresentations.

The academics in the Columbia University forum freely articulated their analysis of the Duterte administration from their biased perspectives. They do not face the risk of retribution from the government of having their passports cancelled, or of being asked to report to the authorities upon their return to the country.

Trillanes openly admitted talking to Senator Rubio with the purpose of attacking the President in the guise of telling his own version of the truth.

Armed with nothing, no official designation from the Senate,

or from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trillanes took it upon himself to provide Rubio, a defeated presidential candidate who is the head of the foreign relations committee in the U.S. Senate, a briefing about the state of affairs of our country. Rubio is the co-author of a bill to ban the sale of arms to the Philippine National Police in protest against the alleged extra-judicial killings in relation to the war on drugs.

And yet Senator Trillanes will never be punished for an act which, if we were in a state of war, would have already amounted to treason.

These people should be thankful that we are not what they paint us to be. (ManilaTimes.net)

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

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 26-NOVEmbER 1, 2017

A

Duterte decries EJK tag: ‘I’ve been demonized’

by Ian

BLAAN WEAVERS FROM LAMLIFEW WOMEN’S TRIBAL ASSOCIATION IN MALUNGON, SARANGANI. The 2017 SikatPinoy National Arts and Crafts Fair, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with the support of Senator Loren Legarda, will be held from October 26-29, 2017 at the SM Megatrade Halls in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. Around 280 micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) manufacturers of heritage crafts, artisanal crafts and native delicacies will be present, including those that have been met and helped by Senator Legarda, such as the following Blaan wavers from Malungon, Sarangani.

Senate photo

Sereno formally asks House to let lawyers...

PAGE A5 with “any evidence, testimonial, documentary, or object, which has been (or may be) submitted to the honorable committee in support of the charges against her.”

Last month, the House justice committee found the impeachment complaint filed by Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon to be sufficient in

form and substance. He accused Sereno of culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, other high crimes and betrayal of public trust.

Among the grounds in Gadon’s impeachment rap include Sereno’s “whimsical” and “excessive” purchase of a Toyota Land Cruiser amounting to P5.1 million, and misuse of judiciary

funds when attending local and foreign conferences.

He also accused Sereno of failing to be truthful in declaring her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), as well as obstructing justice when she ordered Muntinlupa judges to not to issue arrest warrants against Senator Leila De Lima, among others.

month. He further clarified that he only “presented only factual information” before the foreign officials, saying the U.S. government cannot “fooled” because “they know what’s happening” in the Philippines.

Reacting to Andanar’s statement, Trillanes disputed any possible treason charges against him.

“Nagtraydor daw ako sa bayan dahil nakipag usap ako kay (I was accused of betraying my country because I met with) U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio kahit pa sinabi na nya mismo na (even Rubio himself said we only talked about) PH-U.S. alliance, corruption and human rights situation ang pinagusapan namin,” Trillanes said in a statement.

“Ano naman ngayon ang tawag sa mga protektor ng isang presidenteng pumatay at nagpapapatay ng mga Pilipino, mga bayani?

Pwede ba, umayos kayo! (Now

what do you call the protectors of a president who kills and orders the killings of Filipinos? Heroes?

Stop joking around),” he added.

Libel case Also on Monday, the DOJ filed a libel case against Trillanes over media statements he made in 2015 against former Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also a former Makati City mayor.

The case was filed before the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) and its information was signed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin S. Dayon on October 9.

The DOJ charged Trillanes of “defaming and maligning the reputation and causing the dishonor” of Binay when the senator was quoted as saying in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report that he would expose an alleged P100-million “racket” of the former vice president in Makati City.

Palace: DOJ to study treason allegations...

PAGE A5

of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, confirmed in a Twitter post that he met with Trillanes.

“Senator @TrillanesSonny & I discussed U.S.-#Philippines alliance, combating corruption & protecting #humanrights amid their narcotics crisis,” Rubio said in a tweet.

Last year, Rubio expressed “grave concern about the campaign of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations” under the Duterte administration.

Trillanes, for his part, confirmed that his meeting with Rubio focused on “enhancing RPU.S. relations, corruption, and the human rights situation in the country.”

The Filipino senator, however, denied reports claiming that he tried to convince officials to stop U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Manila scheduled next

nIcolas cIgaral Philstar.com

MANILA — Amid mounting criticisms over the spate of killings under his deadly drug war, President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, Oct. 25 maintained he has never encouraged extrajudicial killings and decried being “demonized” by his critics.

“I know that I have been demonized and well, of course, I will assure you upon my oath as a lawyer and before God that some are true and some are not,” Duterte said in his speech before Southeast Asian justices, judges and lawyers in an event in Malacañan.

“The extrajudicial tag that has been placed on me is simply not true,” he added.

But on the same occasion, Duterte threatened anew to kill suspected drug personalities should they continue to get involved in narco-trafficking.

“I will kill you, make no mistake about it, I will kill you,” he remarked.

Duterte—who easily won the race to Malacañang last year on a promise to use deadly force to wipe out crime and drugs—has stoked international alarm for activating his fierce anti-drug campaign.

Human rights watchdogs said most of the fatalities are extrajudicial killings committed by cops and unknown assailants—a claim that the government has vehemently denied by insisting that police are

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

Philstar.com photo

only killing in self-defense while gangsters are silencing potential witnesses.

Filipinos have mostly backed Duterte’s drug war even as critics condemned the wave of killings.

But the recent deaths of three teenagers in the country’s capital have triggered rare street protests and highlighted concerns about alleged police abuse.

According to Duterte, the country’s drug problem flourished during the time of former Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III. But he said it was only during Aquino’s presidency when the country turned into a “narco-state.”

He also reiterated his reminder to police to only pull the trigger when their life is in danger, adding that based on his experience as Davao City mayor, all drug suspects possess guns and are violently resisting arrests.

While admitting that there had been killings in the brutal crack-

down, Duterte also slammed his political opponents whom he accused of spreading “fake news” regarding the death toll in the anti-drug campaign.

“Most of the victims who were killed and according to the bright guys of this country and the political opposition—the guys who cannot accept defeat—they invented the fake news and concocted figures,” Duterte said.

“I did not tell any policeman for the life of me to kill everybody perhaps sitting down or kneeling in front of the police with his hands outstretched in surrender. That is really murder,” he added.

According to police data, there have been 6,225 drug-related deaths between July 2016 and September 2017, contrasting estimates by administration critics and human rights organizations that reach as high as 13,000.

The police said 3,850 have “died in police operations,” suggesting these are drug suspects who engaged arresting officers in shootouts. Meanwhile, another 2,290 “deaths under investigation,” have already been determined to be “drug-related.”

Duterte last December drew flak after he indicated that he had given instructions to plant guns to show that drug suspects offered violent resistance.

In July, the firebrand leader, apparently in jest, said security forces should make criminals fight back to justify the possible use of violence.

Sara Duterte launches coalition...

PAGE A5 ernment authority,” it said.

“We will guard our freedom from the traitors of the Philippines and those who betray economic stability and government authority,” the group added.

Earlier, the president warned that he would not hesitate to set up a revolutionary government in order to avert the country from falling into chaos amid the alleged destabilization efforts by his political enemies.

The president accused the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the elite, the terrorists, and even the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), as among the entities allegedly working on his ouster.

He further claimed that bank deposits of Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, one of his staunch critics, could have been used to fund attempts to unseat him.

While Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesman Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla affirmed that there are no destabilization threats against the Duterte administration, Sara insisted that her father’s warning of a destabilization plot should not be ignored.

“All of his claims of destabilization are from intelligence reports and reliable sources from inside the offices of the people identified with the opposition,” said the Davao City mayor.

No interest in national elections In a media briefing after the launch of the new pro-government coalition in Taguig City, Mayor Duterte belied rumors that she intends to run for national a position at the upcoming midterms elections in 2019.

Denying that the coalition was a “show of force” and a “politi-

cal party” in preparation for the next elections, she disclosed that instead of running for a national position, she had plans of running as representative of Davao City’s first district.

“Di ko naman kailangan mga taga-Luzon para sa kandidatura ko sa Davao (I don’t need the votes of the people in Luzon for my candidacy in Davao),” she said.

The Davao City mayor likewise denied that the Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines was created to match cause-oriented opposition group “Tindig Pilipinas,” a multi-sector coalition that calls for an end to the alleged spate of killings related to President Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“No, in fact we’re inviting them to join in turning the country to a better one,” she said.

A

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 26-NOVEMbER 1, 2017

VEGAS&STYLE Journal

Filipino boxer Romero Duno: From underdog to Golden Boy prospect

By Rae

Despite being nicknamed “Ruthless”, there’s nothing heartless nor callous about Romero Duno.

At first impression, Duno comes off as shy and rather humble despite gaining new attention in the professional boxing world — that itself is noteworthy in a sport full of strong-egoed athletes.

But, as the adage says, “actions speak louder than words”, and Duno’s recent moves in the ring have many people all ears and eyes to see what he can do.

Just having turned 22 this month, Duno has already been described as a knockout artist with an impressive record of 13-1, 12 KOs. Only three of his professional bouts have been outside of the philippines, with two wins in the United states.

Duno, which his friends call him, hails from tagum City, the capital of the philippines’ Davao del Norte province. When home, he lives with his parents Nepht-

ann VaRona with RepoRts fRom VictoR sy AJPress

alie and Victoria, and is the sixth out of seven kids.

Like most parents, basic hopes for their children are that they stay out of fights, and stay in school. Duno — by no means a bad kid — did the opposite of both. “it was just over a paper,” confessed Duno to the Asian Journal about his first ever fist fight win as a high school freshman.

His opponent so happened to be a local boxer and a son of a boxing trainer who eventually took Duno as his trainee. that marked Duno’s beginning as a boxer.

A few years later as a student at the University of Mindanao, Duno, like many other college students, decided to skip school.

But, he didn’t just skip class, or one day to hang out with friends at the mall or beach. Duno instead moved four hours away to pursue his boxing career in General santos City at the invitation of engelbert Moralde, another

known Filipino boxer.

“My mom didn’t know,” said Duno.

Duno’s mom Victoria, had plans to support both him and his sister in finishing their postsecondary education at the time. “i told myself that if we study together, my mom and dad may have a hard time — maybe neither of us may finish school due to shortness of budget,” said Duno. “so i just told myself that i should just go straight to Gen san.”

Just as all mothers eventually find out if they’ve been disobeyed, Victoria found out that he indeed was not studying. But it wasn’t until after two fights. “she was mad — she wanted me to stop,” said Duno quietly laughing. “i said that i had already started — i had already signed the contract,” he added.

Many boxers enter the profes- Duno signing boxing gloves AJPress photos by Ding Carreon sional field with a lot of amateur experience. Duno, on the other hand, did not have many tournament fights under his belt as they required the process of defeating other boxers in order to move up — a classic game of elimination. the majority of Duno’s fights were in local barangays or villages.

As a result, not much training focus was initially put on the powerful, but limited amateur experienced Duno. in his first-ever fight outside the philippines last May, where he experienced his first and only loss in an eight-round decision to Mikhail Alexeev in Russia — only his manager accompanied him. “they were not sure with Duno,” said Rodel Mayol, the Filipino former World Boxing Council (WBC) Light Flyweight World Champion who now trains Duno won in an eight-round lightweight match against Mexican Juan Pablo Sanchez at The Forum in Los Angeles last September.

PAGE B3 Photos by Peter Dumaual

B

Isabel Granada’s husband releases statement on actress’ condition

by Deni

Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

tO shed light on the real condition of actress isabel Granada, her husband released a statement on Wednesday, Oct. 25, as posted by isabel’s former love team partner, Chuckie Dreyfus. “to all family and friends, please pray for my wife isabel Granada who is in iCU at Doha Qatar in a critical condition. she suffered from a brain haemorrhage which indicates aneurism and in turn affected her heart. she collapsed suddenly without warning yesterday afternoon [Oct. 24] and is still not responding,” Arnel Cowley, isabel’s husband, said in the statement. “i have released this statement to end inaccurate speculations during this hard time for myself and the rest of the family and i would also like to thank the people that’s supporting me here in Doha,” Cowley added.

Isabel Granada and husband Arnel Cowley just celebrated their anniversary about a week ago.

Photo from Instagram/@isabelgranada21

Granada is said to be in a coma after suddenly collapsing in Qatar. in a previous post, Chuckie asked people to stop spreading fake news about the actress’ condition.

Ellen calls John Lloyd ‘baby love’ FiNALLy, it is confirmed: ellen Adarna and John Lloyd Cruz are in a relationship. in her latest instagram post, the actress showed how happy she is with John Lloyd in a ski resort in switzerland. ellen specifically called John Lloyd her “baby love.” in the same post, she noted how a fast learner at It might be cold at the Swiss Alps, but Christmas will not be cold for ElLoyd (Ellen Adarna and John Lloyd skiing John Lloyd is. she Cruz), as seen in this photo showing them happy compared the slopes to the together in a skiing trip in Europe. ups and downs they had as Photo from Instagram/Ellen Adarna a couple. in another post, ellen says “Hi love” to John Lloyd. in previous posts, John Lloyd has also used the same emoticons to refer to ellen as his “baby love.” in one post, he also called ellen his muse, and that she does “something good” for his soul.

While it is uncertain if they have eloped, got married or are having a baby, one thing is for sure: the “My sweetie Home” co-stars are now officially together. (Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo/Philstar.com)

B october 26-NoVeMber 1, 2017 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

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Fil-Am nerds geek out at New York Comic Con 2017

By MoMar

G. Visaya

tails of said proposal. he worked with the comic con as a volunteer The streets of Manhattan get that year and that was his way filled with geeks, nerds and co- in - he got permission from the splay fans in full costume for four organizers to hold a flash mob in days in October as they inch their front of the main theater. With a way to the Jacob Javits Convention little help from friends and family, Center for the annual New York Marq pulled off what he calls as Comic Con. “the geekiest marriage proposal One of the self-described nerds, of the year” at New York Comic Fil-Am Marq Romero is a veteran Con ‘11. in this field. In fact, he has been “It took a lot of logistics and going to the New York Comic Con organization to pull it off, but since 2007 when it was still in its with the help of friends and faminfancy and was held in a small ily, I was able to pull it off,” Marq hotel in Times Square. recalls.

And he doesn’t just attend he was walking on pins and the events or visit the booths, needles as the day arrived. Thankhe makes it a point to dress up fully, everything went in order. in character. Of the four-day “I was so nervous! After she geekfest, Marq says he usually said “yes,” I was in shock how puts on his costume on Saturday, many people we were surrounded considered as the busiest day of by. It was surreal,” he adds. the convention and the day when Just how did he pull it off? most of the cosplayers come out The proposal won the grand to show off their costumes. prize in the 2011 Brides Proposal he has donned various cos- Awards and the prize was honeytumes through the years as he moon in Fiji. dresses up into whatever he hap“I conducted a flash mob of pens to be into at the moment or costumed dancers to the song whatever is popular. This year, he “Marry You” by Bruno Mars (the dressed up as Doctor Strange.

Glee version). We had Green LanThrowback: A Wedding Pro- tern, harley Quinn, Buzz Lightyear posal and even a breakdancing Boba Back in 2011, Marq decided to Fett. Towards the end, a red carpet propose to his girlfriend Chriselle was rolled out and all the dancand thought of proposing to her at ers lined up as Chriselle walked the comic con. down the aisle. She reached the It wasn’t quite a walk in the end where four people were lined park. up. They separated, revealing me Marq says it took him more on one knee dressed as the main than three months to plan the de- character, Ash from Pokémon. A girl dressed as Pikachu handed me a pokéball which I opened to reveal the engagement ring.

After she said “yes” and the crowd cheered, both our families came out to surprise her. It took place at 2:22pm which symbolized our anniversary, 2/22.”

Now, every year, the couple celebrates their anniversary at the comic con by taking a picture in the same spot where he proposed to her.

Filipino Superhero Jeremiah Agojo is also a big comic con fan. he has been to four New York comic cons and lately, he started to get into smaller ones and so far, he has attended three of those. he says he tries to dress up every year, but sometimes he only gets to go for one or two days, and for him, it’s not worth making a costume. Of the four years he has been to NYCC, he dressed up in three.

This year, he made a Captain We spied Captain Philippines, rocking the Philippines costume. colors of the Philippine flag.

AJPress

Photos by Momar G. Visaya and Troi Santos, and courtesy of Marq Romero

“My inspiration behind my Captain Philippines was obviously Captain America. I love WWII movies as well as Captain America comics and films,” Jeremiah shares.

Coming from a military family, he believes it is also his chance to say thank you to them and to everyone who has been in service of the country.

“I also have my father, grandparents and great grandparents, all of whom are Veterans [and] I felt like this would be a nice tribute to their service, as well as a cool way to make a unique, but recognizable costume,” he adds.

Going to the comic con every year has become a tradition for Jeremiah one that he looks forward to every year because he gets to meet comic artists and writers and fellow fans.

The comic con has also become a huge marketplace for any comic or even pop culture-related merchandise. From dolls to comic books to shirts and keychains, from posters to original commissioned artworks to action figures and collectibles, the comic con is the place to be.

“There’s no judgment for what you enjoy at comic con. everyone is a bit nerdy about something, and you can truly express yourself while you’re there. Whether you’re nerdy, artsy, geeky, or a mix of all three, you’re welcomed. That’s not something us nerds get in everyday society,” he explains.

Playing Favorites We asked both self-described nerds about their favorites.

“My favorite superhero is Spider-Man without a doubt,” Marq says and went on to explain his choice. “he is just more relatable as he

deals with daily problems like us normal folk do. he’s also flawed like the rest of us, which is why I can’t really get into Superman who is just too perfect. Spider-Man was also the first Marvel comic I remember buying and I still have that comic. I just instantly fell in love with the way he was drawn in the most impossible poses.”

Jeremiah on the other hand enumerated his list.

“Some of my favorite media franchises are Marvel Comics, Walking Dead, Power Rangers, Batman, Fallout, Overwatch and almost anything released by BOOM! studios. This year I got to meet humberto Ramos, Marjorie Liu, Jason David Frank, David Yost, Sarag Pichelli, Scott Snyder, Stephen Byrne, and plenty others.

It was an awesome experience meeting some awesome artists and writers and getting tips on the business from them,” he shares. having seen it evolved into what it has become now, Marq says it has become harder to navigate it now, specially with the size and amount of people that go every day.

“We now live in a time where it’s more mainstream and “cool” to go to comic cons now. When I first went, you can just go to the venue the day of and buy a ticket. Now you have to be on the website the second tickets go on sale and pray they don’t sell out.

There weren’t a lot of females at comic con back in the day. Now there are so many females that attend NYCC so it’s good to see the culture spread out among ages and gender,” he says.

It may take awhile before New York Comic Con gets on the same level as the San Diego Comic Con where fans from across the coun-

Marq Romero proposed to his girlfriend Chriselle at the New York Comic Con in 2011. They celebrate their anniversary by taking a photo at the same spot every year.

Photos courtesy of Marq Romero

try attend.

As a big comic con fan, Marq flew to San Diego in 2014 to attend the SDCC. If you think that four days at the Javits and multiple locations in the city is big, you might want to think again.

“It’s so much bigger than New York. All the big movie studios have a large presence and hold the most exciting movie panels. What makes it so big is that the entire downtown of San Diego is transformed into comic con,” Marq recalls. “The whole downtown is in the spirit of comic con with restaurants employees wearing costumes and having superhero themed menus.”

Marq couldn’t help but compare – the SDCC convention hall is bigger and that helps because “you’re not always getting hit by someone’s costume or sword trying to walk down the aisles on the

show floor.”

As a fan, he’s really not complaining. he is happy to just see “amazing hand-crafted costumes, buying new comic books and toys, meeting my favorite comic book artists and writers, and just geeking out with my wife and friends.”

And as a last point, he hopes that organizers could find a bigger venue than the Javits Center although he is not sure there is one.

“But they are doing renovations to expand the Javits Center so I am hopeful,” Marq says. “And not to stereotype the typical nerd (because I am one!), but there are a lot of people that don’t practice good hygiene at these conventions, and sometimes the smells can be pretty bad. I think deodorant companies like Axe and Old Spice are missing an excellent marketing opportunity here!”

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 26-NOVEMbER 1, 2017

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Filipino boxer Romero Duno: From underdog to... Direk Dennis banking on Empoy’s being ‘hot’ PAGE B1 and houses Duno in Los Angeles.

But it didn’t take long before Duno began to prove himself as what Mayol described as an “Aplus boxer”.

Duno, the new ‘golden boy’ At his U.S debut fight in March, Duno took victory over the then-undefeated prospect Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez in less than a minute into the second of what was supposed to be eight rounds.

Crowd favorite Gonzalez, who had entered the arena to the sounds of enthusiastically chanting fans, was later carried out of the ring to a more silent and stunned crowd.

“We saw Romero’s power in the ring — he is the real deal,” said former professional boxer and ten world title winner Oscar De La Hoya, in a statement on signing Duno to his Golden Boy Promotions firm.

“He has the exceptional power, along with the talent and desire to be a great fighter. He could be the next big boxing star from the Philippines as time is on his side, and I’m pleased he chose Golden Boy to introduce him to a wider audience in the U.S.” Gonzalez (also with Golden Boy Promotions) has himself amassed a strong following with many from Mexico where he spent his early pro boxing years, and from his hometown of Buena Park, California. He is also the youngest brother of former WBC Featherweight World Champion, Alejandro “La Cobrita” Gonzalez.

“Chimpa was 16-0, with 14 knockouts, so they were really building him up,” said Mayol.

Upon entering the venue, Duno recalled hearing taunts and chants from the pro-Chimpa crowd attempting to get into this head.

“I told him, ‘let’s just focus — don’t think about their shouting. Think instead that they’re shouting for you. They’re shouting to distract you’,” said Mayol, adding that Filipinos were very underrepresented in the venue.

Out of maybe 200 to 300 people, less than 15 were Filipino, said Mayol.

Ecstatic, Duno’s accompanying team rushed on stage while security attempted to hold them back.

The shocking win resulted in a

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

Duno with cutman Dr. Ed dela Vega

multi-year promotional deal with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, a “Hero’s Welcome” in General Santos City, and a push into the spotlight among boxing fans.

“I was surprised because I didn’t even know that was a thing,” said Duno on his General Santos City welcome and meeting with the mayor.

“His mom wasn’t there. She’s upset. But I know that she is also proud,” said Mayol.

In late September, Duno went on to take another 78-74 win over Juan Pablo Sanchez (30-14, 14 KOs) at The Forum in Los Angeles through a unanimous decision.

Once again, Duno’s team rushed on stage. This time, Mayol received a fine but said it was worth it.

“It was okay because it was a happy moment,” shared Mayol.

Duno now trains at Los Angeles’ Wild Card Boxing Club, which has been the training grounds for numerous world champions like Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, De La Hoya, Mike Tyson, and even Mayol. The gym is owned by well-respected boxing trainer and former professional boxer Freddie Roach.

“Freddie is always supporting us at the gym,” Mayol said.

Roach often helps find Duno good sparring partners.

Considered as one of best boxing trainers of all time, Roach’s lineup of famed boxers include former WBC Middleweight Champion Julio César Chávez, Jr., five-time and four-

Photos by Peter Dumaual

FOR the record: “The Barker,” starring Empoy Marquez (with Shy Carlos), started shooting a month before the release of “Kita Kita” (with Alessandra de Rossi), Empoy’s phenomenal first solo starrer which grossed more than P350 million, ranking it among the Top 5 blockbusters so far this year.

“At that time, Empoy was not as hot as he is now so it was a gamble on our part,” Dennis told Funfare.“But, of course, it’s our luck that we can bank on the success of ‘Kita Kita.’ Makikinabang kami sa tagumpay ng pelikula.”

Produced by Arlyn dela Cruz’s Blank Page Productions, “The Barker” is being released by Viva Films, the same company that partnered with Spring Films (Piolo Pascual and Bb. Joyce Bernal among the producers) for “Kita Kita” after Star Cinema turned down a partnership offer. (Ironically, Star Cinema hastened to tie Empoy to an exclusive contract after he hit the jackpot.)

Produced by Arlyn dela Cruz’s Blank Page Productions, “The Barker” is being released by Viva Films, the same company that partnered with Spring Films (Piolo Pascual and Bb. Joyce Bernal among the producers) for “Kita Kita” after Star Cinema turned down a partnership offer. (Ironically, Star Cinema hastened to tie Empoy to an exclusive contract after he hit the jackpot.)

“We wanted to get good theaters,” said Dennis, “so Arlyn decided to talk to (Viva) Boss Vic (del Rosario Jr.). Pumayag naman kaagad si Boss Vic. We started shooting in September but had to stop because our stars were busy with other projects. But we finished the shoot in time for the Oct. 25 playdate.”

The story of a barker (the guy who “barks” at commuters what jeepney or bus to take), the movie marks the overdue directorial debut of Dennis, son of the late all-around comedian Dencio Padilla who was a regular fixture in FPJ movies. Taking after his father, Dennis specializes in action-comedy so he opted for an action-comedy as Empoy’s sophomore starrer.

“The role fits Empoy,” assured Dennis who wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay with Arlyn.

The trailer shows Empoy in action scenes (equipped with a gun) but according to Dennis, the movie explains the inclusion of such scenes, something which he begged off from revealing to avoid a spoiler alert.

“I have worked with Empoy but never in a movie,” recalled Dennis. “We were together in Bora, an ABS-CBN TV series, and when he won in the Mr. Suave contest on “MTB” (“Magandang Tanghali Bayan,” the predecessor of “It’s Showtime,” then hosted by Willie Revillame, Randy Santiago and John Estrada), I was among the co-hosts with Ai-Ai (delas Alas), Bayani (Agbayani) and Tado.”

Empoy had appeared in several other TV shows and movies before he got his big break (Kita Kita).

“I knew he would make it,” said Dennis. “He was just waiting for the right time. During the promo for Kita Kita, I was active on social media pushing for it. I wanted to help the promo in my own little way. It was his first starring movie so I attended the premiere.”

Dennis is sure that moviegoers will like The Barker because he said it showcases Empoy in a different role, in a different light.

“His role is similar to the ones that I used to play but with his own brand of comedy na parang

division world champion Miguel Cotto, and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao whom many on the internet are likening Duno to.

During Duno’s U.S. debut win over Gonzalez, commentator Steve Kim compared the victory to Pacquiao’s shocking defeat over Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in 2001 which thrust him into the spotlight.

“Much like tonight to a certain degree, he just blitzed Lehlo Ledwaba, and really at that point, arrived,” said Kim of Pacquiao’s 2001 fight.

“I’m happy when they say that, but in my opinion, you can’t compare with Manny — there’s only one Manny,” said Duno.

“All I want is to make my own name in boxing,” he added. “I don’t want to imitate him. I want to be different, so that there will be something different.”

On October 9, Duno went back to the Philippines for a quick two-week vacation before continuing training for an upcoming U.S. fight on December 18 in southern California.

In the Philippines, he got to spend his 22nd birthday doing one of the things he loves to do the most: hanging out with his family, who he sees as his biggest inspiration.

“I just want to prove to the people who look down on my family that we can make it without them,” said Duno.

As for his December fight, his opponent has yet to be announced. But one thing for sure is that people will be watching.

Dennis and Empoy with Jeric Raval, one of the movie’s stars.

Produced by Blank Page Productions and released by Viva Films nationwide, “The Barker” is the directorial debut of Dennis Padilla (with Empoy Marquez, star of the movie).

naive, inosente ang dating. Read his book and you will see that he even has his own vocabulary. He is now the only one in the category which Andrew E, Herbert (Bautista) and I used to occupy when we were younger. Ngayon, nag-iisa na lang si Empoy sa kategoryang ‘yon. Solong-solo nya.”

Even now that he’s the star of the hour, swamped with more projects than his schedule can perhaps accommodate, all for lead roles (a Kapamilya sitcom with Piolo Pascual and Alessandra, and a Star Cinema movie with Zanjoe Marudo), Empoy doesn’t seem to realize his impact on the public.

“Hindi pa nagsi-sink in na superstar na siya,” observed Dennis who related an incident in Trece Martires, Cavite, where they shot a big scene along the main highway near the Municipal Hall and the market. Dennis was taking a full shot from a crane and when he shouted “Cut!!!,” the crowd mobbed Empoy.

“Nagulat siya. We could see in his face that he couldn’t believe it...bakit ako dinudumog ng tao?

There were 10 Barangay Tanods with us at nahirapan kaming i-escort siya to the nearest restaurant.

Paano kasi, ang tagal na n’ya sa showbiz at ngayon lang ito nangyayari sa kanya.”

Dennis said that he didn’t think Empoy would be over-exposed.

“Iba-iba naman ang projects niya. Besides, it’s okay to strike while the iron is hot.”

His reminder to Empoy?

“Lalo pang dadami ang blessings mo kasi hindi lumalaki ang Philstar.com photos ulo mo.”

B october 26-NoVeMber 1, 2017 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

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Gemma Cruz-Araneta: Kris Aquino opens up on Beauty queen with a heart for art harassment in Philippine showbiz by iza iglesias ManilaTimes.net

Gemma Cruz-araneta first rose to fame when she earned the right to represent the country in the 1964 miss International pageant by being chosen as miss Philippines, sponsored by the City of manila that year. Her historic win—becoming the first Filipina and asian crowned as miss International—also set the tone for the Philippines as a powerhouse in global beauty pageantry.

Known for kindness and generosity, she donated the US$10,000 prize money she won in the Japanbased pageant to manila Boys Town and Girls Home, a place where indigent and out-of-school youth are housed, in marikina City. Because of that, she received an Outstanding manileña and a Golden Heart Presidential decoration from President Diosdado macapagal.

But not everyone knows that Cruz-araneta has been very passionate about history, culture and the arts prior to becoming a beauty queen.

The pretty manileña entered public service in 1968 when then President Ferdinand marcos appointed her Director of the National museum. She was also a member of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. “my fascination for the arts started even before I became a beauty queen, coming from an art-loving family. I have uncles who

The lost island of San Juan,’ 2014, oil on wood

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are artists and also writers. We have a lot of paintings in the house. my mother would take me to exhibits even when I was a little girl.

So I grew up in this atmosphere. after I graduated from maryknoll College, I worked in the National museum. That was my first job.

I was an Information editor and I also worked in the Department of anthropology in the National museum,” Cruz-araneta told The Sunday Times magazine in this exclusive interview. a fun fact, araneta’s paternal great-grandmother was Doña maria mercado, the sister of the country’s national hero, José Rizal.

Her mother is writer and journalist Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, and her maternal uncle is writer and diplomat León maría Guerrero 3rd.

“I was really immersed in this historical and cultural world even before I joined the pageant. and I think my memorable experience was when I was a worker in the National museum, and eventually becoming the director. I consider it the most important part of my life,” she said. “and after I became a beauty queen, I attracted a lot of attention especially for the young people. I felt that I could use my fame to also attract and divert their attention to history, culture and the arts, which I am still doing now. I am not really in the loop of celebrity but I have remained in the world of history, arts and culture,” the now-74-yearold-still-statuesque beauty added.

Recently, Cruz-araneta curated a unique art exhibit dubbed as “Hocus,” which depicts the ramification of the “Cross and Sword” rule of Spain in the Philippines. These 26 oil paintings which feature contemporary art works with religious themes are on exhibit until the end of the month at the National museum.

“Hocus consists of the first syllables of the surnames of Saul Hofileña Jr. and the intellectual author and painter, Guy Custodio.

Since it was about the colonial regime, and the religious influence, they decided to make the paintings as if they came from that period.

by Deni

Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

IN the face of sexual assault and harassment allegations against Hollywood film mogul Harvey Weinstein, multimedia star and now Hollywood actress Kris aquino shared what she knows about alleged sexual harassment issues in Philippine show business.

During an exclusive round table interview with select media at her new home in Quezon City last Friday, Oct. 20, Kris admitted that sexual harassment also happens at the local level.

“In this country, I feel there is more problem among men than Gemma Cruz-Araneta ManilaTimes.net photos girls,” clarified Kris.

Besides, Custodio, the painter, is She thinks fewer Filipina acan expert in restoration of reli- tresses get harassed as compared gious art of that period. attorney to their Hollywood counterparts Hofileña met him in Bohol when he because “mas maraming empowwas restoring one of the churches ered na girls dito” and top directhere. So I think they agree that tors in the Philippines are mostly the style should look archaic and gays and women. most of the paintings are made of “especially ‘yung mga katulad old wood,” she informed.

She added that she’s happy that more and more people are now fascinated with all forms of art. “as you can see, the National

by VeR Paulino museum is always full. Since it Philstar.com opened to the public for free more people from all ages come here. maRIaN Rivera successfully I think that is good because they headlined another most-watched learn about Filipino painters and series in Philippine TV and her Filipino masters. They are always fans’ days won’t be complete surprised when they see the Spo- without seeing her in her new larium of Juan Luna because they superhero role on Gma 7’s “Super can’t imagine that it’s that mas- ma’am”. sive,” she said.

But for marian, playing Super “With that, the National mu- ma’am helps her reach out to a seum of Natural History, which whole new generation of audience, used to house the Department of “I love playing Super ma’am, and Tourism, will also soon be open being a superhero is not a joke, to the public for free. The former it’s a big responsibility. I have to Department of Finance Building watch everything I do, because was also transformed to become of all the kids who are watching, the National museum of anthro- even my own daughter Zia. Si Zia pology and archeology. a lot of pag nanunuod s’ya sinasabi n’ya young people also go there to learn Super ma’am, mama, mama,” said about the past and to see where marian during a recent set visit in Filipino ancestry came from,” she Quezon City. added. as an actress, marian has In retrospect, she doesn’t see played many roles. But accordherself in any field other than arts ing to her, the greatest and most and history. fulfilling role is being a mother “Remember, Jose Rizal said, ‘If to her two-year-old daughter and you want to learn about the future, wife to Dingdong Dantes. you have to open the book of the “I’m more excited about the past.’ I see myself to be continu- idea that I’ll be able to watch Zia ously in the art industry. In fact, I grow up and our future son, daalready told the National museum hil sana boy na next time. I find director that I am always here at much joy in cooking for my famtheir service whenever they need ily and close friends, especially me,” the beauteous arts and his- sa asawa ko. I find joy in giving tory patroness ended.

Zia a bath, sabay kami naliligo

nina Sarah Geronimo, Kim Chiu, ‘yung mga young superstars, ‘di pagdadaanan ‘yan,” Kris said.

While she cannot speak for her fellow Filipina actresses’ experiences, she assured that “even sa talent searches, walang ganyan kasi may nanay na nakabantay. Our culture is protective sa girls.”

Some of the country’s biggest female stars, Kris said, have a stage mom behind them, making it difficult for producers to make sexual advances.

“It’s a very different culture and we also have Catholic culture,” Kris said.

“Ang benchmark sa’tin ng success ng artista is paramihan ng endorsements, so we take care of the wholesome image.”

Kris explained that because they are taking care of their wholesome image, Filipinas in showbiz usually make sure they stay wholesome even when off-cam. according to her team’s re-

Actress Kris Aquino is the new endorser of antihistamine brand Claritin. Philstar.com photo

by Efigenio Christopher Toledo IV

search, more women last in the local showbiz industry, with an average of 20 years, than men do.

This, according to Kris, indicates that in general, Philippine showbiz is a relatively safe industry for women like her who want to pursue their acting passion and dreams.

Marian Rivera: Being Super Ma’am not a joke

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Marian Rivera

at gustong-gusto n’yang gamitin ang hair blower after bath (while showing a video of their motherand-daughter bonding in the bathroom). Kailangan gampanan ko ang papel ko bilang asawa at ina no matter how busy I can get,” shared marian.

The Kapuso Network shared that “Super ma’am” landed on the 10th spot of the Social Wit List for the month of September. During its premiere, the fantasy series generated 33,000 Facebook and Twitter comments with netizens worldwide

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GMA photos

buzzing about #marianRivera #GreatactionScenes #entertaining and #applause. marian also shared that she recently scored an endorsement contract with Sm Kultura Filipino Store, “Lahat makikita n’yo sa Kultura from fashion, home decor and souvenirs. Itong suot kong sandals? Galing sa Kultura,” ended marian. also seen during the set visit were co-stars Helen GamboaSotto, al Tantay, Jackielou Blanco and matthias Rhoads and director Lord alvin madridejos.

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Your Immigration Solution Atty. Devin Connolly & nAnCy Miller The ability to apply for permanent resident status (green card) in the U.S. rather than at the embassy in your native country is frequently more than a simple convenience. Rather, being forced to depart the U.S. and apply abroad can have life-altering consequences. By leaving the U.S. an applicant may be making themselves ineligible for the very thing they are leaving the U.S. to apply for – a green card. And no, it does not matter that they only reason you left the U.S. was because you were told that you were ineligible be granted your green card from within the U.S. So it is clear that it is beneficial to apply in the U.S. Not only is it less disruptive to your life and likely less expensive since you do not have to travel, but you also will not trigger any bars to returning because you would have never left. Unfortunately though, not everybody is eligible to be granted their green card in the U.S. There are many reasons why a person may not be currently eligible to apply for their green card in the U.S. A common reason for this ineligibility is because they were previously ordered deported. Whether they were ordered deported after failing to appear in Immigration Court or because the Immigration Judge denied their application, this outstanding order of deportation will make you ineligible for your green card. It then becomes necessary to have the prior court case reopened.

A person will be ordered deported if they fail to appear for their hearing in Immigration Court. This is referred to as an

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette ADevA MAglAyA (Part 2 of 2)

TIGeR’S spin doctors went on overdrive. he looked like a contrite man being led to the gallows. his apology seemed heartfelt. Cynical pundits begged to differ, however, arguing that the stunt is commercial in nature, a pathetic attempt to save a lucrative brand and image.

That was Tiger’s winter of discontent. After 7 years, it may be that he has learned something from his very public humiliation.

If he truly learns from this, he will find redemption, even forgiveness, but it won’t be easy. he acknowledges that he has strayed from his core spiritual values and that his arrogance and pure sense of entitlement led him to believe that he was not subject to the same rules as ordinary mortals.

Some celebrities in the entertainment business and the sports world as well as powerful politicians and influence ped-

Health@Heart PhiliP S. ChuA, MD, FACS, FPCS exCepT for infectious, congenital diseases, and rarer maladies, the most common major illnesses today are caused by four main risk factors, for which I have coined the acronym: TABA, which happens to be the Filipino word for fat, for easy remembrance. however, in this context, I am not relating it to weight or BMI (Body Mass Index).

T is for Tobacco, A for Alcohol, B for Bad diet, and the second A, for Activity deficit or absence of exercise. This acronym itself, TABA, when used to mean fat or overweight, is also a significant factor, since obesity impacts our health negatively, catapulting our risk for major ailments, like hypertension (high Blood pressure), arthritis, Type 2 Diabetes, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. even the english word, FAT, could be an applicable acronym: F for Food (quality and quantity), A for Alcohol abuse, T for tobacco use or exposure, and we could add “e,” for exercise deficit, and make it FATe. This also spells the prognosis (fate) of those individuals with an unhealthy lifestyle, which most often means higher morbidity and mortality (more illnesses and shorter life).

Genes vs. lifestyle While we know that our genes are also a risk factor, studies have shown that a healthy lifestyle could outplay genetic predisposition, enabling siblings of parents, who are both diabetic and hypertensive, who smoke, drink excessively, eat unhealthy diet, and do not

Community Journal

Obtaining a green card after being ordered deported in absentia order of deportation.

A foreign national issued an in absentia order of deportation has 180 days to file a motion with the Immigration Court requesting that the order be rescinded because their failure to appear was due to ‘exceptional circumstances.’ The term ‘exceptional circumstances’ refers to compelling situations beyond the control of the foreign national, such as serious illness to themselves or serious illness or death of their spouse, child, or parent. As you can see, a case will not be reopened for something as trivial as car problems the day of the hearing or an inability to take time off from work. Rather, it truly must be an exceptional situation for a case to be reopened on this ground.

A second reason an in absentia order of deportation may be rescinded is if the Immigration Court did not provide proper notice of the time, date and location of the hearing. And while many people are indeed notified and simply choose not to appear because they fear the outcome will not be positive, many others are not properly notified. There are no official time limits on filing a motion based on a lack of notice, but a person should make this request to the court in a timely manner after learning that they were ordered deported. It is also important to note that a foreign national is required to inform the Immigration Court when they changes their address, Thus, a person cannot fail to appear after moving and then ask for their case to be reopened because the post office did not properly forward their mail.

There are also times when a person appears in court and submits their application for relief, only to have the Immigra-

tion Judge deny their case. The foreign national may even appeal and have their case denied by the Board of Immigration Appeals as well. In this situation a person is required to file their motion to reopen within 90 days of the decision. But what happens if you do not become eligible for your green card for several years, perhaps when your child turns 21-years-old. Despite being well beyond the 90-day limit, it may still be possible to have your case reopened and be granted your green card. You will have to show clear evidence that you are eligible for your green card if the court case is reopened, and it helps to also show compelling evidence why your case should be reopened, such as hardship to family members or significant ties to the U.S. Despite an outstanding order of deportation, a green card may still be within your grasp. It is advisable to consult an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who is dedicated solely to the practice of immigration law so that they may advise you of potential options and their likelihood of success. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

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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Tales of entitlement “...I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me.

I felt I was entitled...”

— Tiger Woods

dlers feel the same way. Fame, power and a fat bank account seem to make them feel that they are exempt from accountability and karma. They are in for a rude awakening. It is just a matter of time when they discover that they too have feet of clay and in time, will return to dust.

Tiger thought he was a god. his handlers made sure he bought their paid spinmeister’s myth.

I guess that is what being a celebrity does to you. he took liberties with what he felt were fringe benefits of a fabulously rich and famous life. Before him still lies a long and tortuous road. Is this epic lesson in humility doing its job? Only he knows for sure.

With no possibility for parole, Amy Bishop will live her life in jail. There is still time for Tiger

to find redemption. Both have caused their families extreme sorrow and indescribable collateral damage to everyone affected by their actions.

Both were egocentric. They believed the universe revolved around them. Tiger is the lucky one. he got a pass and a chance for a mid-course correction and perhaps, one chance to write a good sequel with a happy ending. It could be that he has some good karmic points stacked from a past life, that is, if the idea of karma and reincarnation holds true in human life. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Causes of major illnesses exercise, to escape diabetes and hypertension simply by living a healthy lifestyle, starting from their teen years.

It is clear that children are not doomed to their elders’ fates, provided they take the healthier path. But, if they are a copycat of their parents’ unhealthy behaviors and bad habits, obviously, they will fall victims to major illnesses as well. To paraphrase einstein, we cannot do the exact same things or actions repeatedly and expect a different result.

Killer carbohydrates When it comes to diet, carbs (rice, bread, sugary desserts, soft drinks, which I call “liquid candy,” other sweets) are food items we must minimize to maintain our weight and good health. Rice contributes to high triglyceride level, obesity, and increased risk for diabetes, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer, and overall morbidity and mortality rates.

Repeat: Soft drinks as a whole, regular or diet, cola or uncola, caffeinated or not, all toxic to our body, especially to children. They extremely increase the risk for metabolic illnesses.

Sixty percent of the world’s diabetic population is Asian. Asians have a higher risk for type 2 diabetes compared to those with european ancestry. More than 6.1 million Filipinos have type 2 diabetes. Our staple food, rice, appears to be the major culprit, not to mention the lack of exercise.

The Filipinos (even those with normal weight) have a disproportionately high incidence of type 2 diabetes, with 6 percent of its population afflicted with type 2 diabetes. Saudi Arabia has the highest, 20.2 percent, followed by Kuwait, 17 percent, Lebanon, 14.5

percent, Singapore, 12.3 percent, China, 12 percent, United Arab emirates, 10 percent, and the USA, 9.4 percent. The lowest, Maldives, at 3.8 percent.

Globally, an estimated 1.6 million deaths were attributed to diabetes and its complications in 2015. In the USA alone, about 30.3 million people have type 2 diabetes (23.1 million diagnosed and an estimated 7.2 million (23.8 percent) undiagnosed. About 84.1 million (33.9 percent) have pre-diabetes, or the so-called borderline diabetes.

More than 6.1 million Filipinos are diabetics and about 8 million are undiagnosed.

Hypertension – a “time bomb” Asians, particularly Filipinos, consume an overdose of salt each day. We tend to grab the salt shaker, or add salty condiments, even before we taste the food before us.

As a result, about 10 million Filipinos have high blood pressure and 20 percent are pre-hypertensive.

The Department of health says, about 6 million are undiagnosed and unaware they have high blood pressure, and are a “walking time bomb.”

Worldwide, high blood pressure kills 7.5 million each year, and 1.5 billion suffer from its complications, like coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke.

In the USA, 75 million of adults (one in three, or 33 percent) have hypertension, killing about 1,200 a day. This disease costs the nation $48.6 billion dollars annually. In the philippines, about 200,000 die each year from complications of hypertension.

In the United States, one person is diagnosed with a stroke every 40 seconds. This dreaded and debilitating illness is so common it vicPAGE B7

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 26-NOVEMbER 1, 2017

Calendar of Events across

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2nd annual Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival in Carson, CA You are invited to the 2nd annual Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival (LAPIFF) from October 26 to 29 at the SouthBay Pavilion Cinemark Theatre in Carson, CA. LAPIFF is an organization devoted to the advancement, development and showcase of Filipino filmmakers/artists around the world through film, providing the global community of entertainment professionals and film goers with consistent annual screening events and workshops. LAPIFF provides charitable scholarships and a forum where Filipino filmmakers/ artists can be recognized for their gifts, have open discussions about their movies and connect with industry professionals for understanding on production, distribution, representation and acquirement. Cinemark is located at 20700 South Avalon Boulevard #285, Carson, CA 90746. For more information and schedule, please visit http://www.lapiff.org/.

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Filipino-American celebration in Las Vegas, NV To commemorate the month of October being Filipino-American History Month, the Filipino-American Chamber of Greater Nevada (FACCGN) invites you to a tandem event with a business/social networking mixer with a musical performance of Philippine music on Friday, October 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aldo Endiquez and the Swing Band takes center stage at the Event Mixer with a rendition of nostalgic Filipino songs to start the night with.

A dance event happens right after with HOT MANILA NIGHTS top-billed by the 360 Band sizzling with more Filipino music to enjoy and dance with. Please come and celebrate with us! The event will be held at Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino at 300 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89102. To register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/filipino-americanheritage-celebration-tickets-39131964760.

FACC-GLA’s Halloween Dance Party in Canoga Park, CA FACC-GLA’s Halloween Dance Party in Canoga Park, CA The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce - Greater Los Angeles (FACC - GLA) invites members and guests to its Halloween Dance Party on Friday, October 27 from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the Best Western Canoga Park Hotel. Come in with your scariest attire as there will be special gifts for the best costume attire. Food & drinks will be included. Tickets are limited and entry will only be allowed for those who paid online or through check on or before Tuesday, October 24. Payment can be made through the website www.filamchambergla.org. Strictly NO payment will be accepted at the door.

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3rd annual Larry Itliong Day parade & festival in Los Angeles Join the Larry Itliong Day Committee (LIDC) in honoring the legacy of Filipino American Labor Leader Larry Itliong on Saturday, October 28. There will be a parade followed by a festival with cultural music, dance performances, food vendors, art exhibits, health screenings and various vendors. Parade starts at 9 a.m. with a light breakfast, opening ceremony and line-up at 8 a.m. at Unidad Park (1648 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026). The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Columban Church at 125 Loma Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90026. There will be film screenings of “Delano Manongs” by Marissa Aroy at the church at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. For more information on sponsorships, parade registration, exhibitor opportunities, and volunteering, please email larryitliongdayLA@gmail.com.

PHII presents Tribute 2017: Recognition ceremony and dinner dance The Philippine Heritage Institute International celebrates its 28th anniversary with its annual recognition ceremony and dinner dance on Saturday, October 28, 6:30 p.m. to midnight, at the Pasadena Hilton, 168 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 -- 19th Tribute to Outstanding Filipino American Nurses and 11th President’s Award: ‘Profiles in Services, Pillars of Community.’ Cost is $65; attire, formal. PHII’s annual tribute is in answer to the White House Millennium Council Initiative from then Pres. Bill Clinton, who came with his wife Hillary to Los Angeles in January 1998. They created the Council in August 1997, with the theme ‘Honor the Past, Imagine the Future’ and traveled across the United States to promote its objectives -- an agenda with 21 ‘Ways to Commemorate the Millennium.’ “Mrs. Clinton gave a speech, stirring and inspirational,” said the late Mrs. Armada. In 1999, PHII became a partner to the White House Millennium Council selecting the ‘Millennium Recognition Awards’ to pay tribute to outstanding individuals whose contributions have enhanced the quality of life in the community. PHII seeks to improve the quality of life affecting Filipino American communities through research, education and recognition with the youth as its main focus. The foundation sponsors a youth congress annually with featured speakers. For more information, contact President Josie E. De Jesus (714) 272-0300; or Executive Director Anna A. Chickey, M.D. (562) 900-0379 (payments can be mailed to Dr. Chickey, daughter of Mrs. Armada, at 2032 Redfield St., Fullerton, CA 92833); or Email Lydia V. Solis at lvsolis@ aol.com.

Philippine Heritage Arts and Culture Celebration in Glendale, CA Join the Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale (FABAG), Glendale LibraryArts and Culture and Alexis Louise Quiza Foundation (ALQ) on Saturday, October 28 from 5:30 p.m. at the Glendale Central Library (222 E. Harvard St.) for the “Philippine Heritage Arts and Culture Celebration.” This event is OPEN TO ALL and is FREE admission. It will be a wonderful evening showcasing folk dances by Malaya Fil-Am Dance Arts, a Filipinana-inspired creation fashion show by designer Carl Andrada, and music and songs by Holy Family Filipino Chorale, Ethel and Clarita Alejo, Jennifer Kumiyama and the INTROVOYS... and more. Meet&greet and food sampling will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., after which an exciting program will start until 8:30 p.m. Bring your family and friends! The Office of the Philippine Consulate, Legislative Offices, City Officials, GCC Board, GUSD Board and other organizations were also invited. For further info, please contact Marlene Cagatao at (818) 450-9704 or Edith Fuentes at (818) 736-1911.

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Franchise Expo West in Los Angeles Franchise Expo West, the premier franchise event in the western U.S. is returning to Los Angeles after a five-year absence, to provide the strongest business opportunities for potential franchisees in this dynamic, growing region. Attendees can engage with over 200 franchise brands in every industry at every investment level, access over 60 free educational sessions where in depth answers are provided to any franchising questions, and meet with lenders and consultants to learn about financing options. It will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center at 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 from Thursday, Nov. 2 to Saturday, Nov. 4. For more information, please visit: www.franchiseexpowest.com. For free registration, use promo code AJ here: https://r1.events-registration.com/franwest2017/.

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Free oil filter and motor oil recycling event in Gardena, CA Attention all Gardena and West Carson residents! There will be a free oil filter & motor oil recycling event on Saturday, November 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at AutoZone (1361 W. 190th St., Gardena, CA 90248). Everyone is invited to bring in their used motor oil and used oil filters. All those who recycle their used oil filter will receive one FREE new oil filter. Recycling motor oil and filters helps save our environment and keeps our water clean.

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Filipino indie film “1st Semester” screening in Los Angeles Catch the Hollywood premiere screening of the award-winning Filipino indie film, “1st Semester” on Wednesday, November 8. “1st Semester” is a Filipino coming-of-age comedy movie about a young boy who is sent to college by his mother with their entire clan but goes home immediately after experiencing separation anxiety. It explores a boy’s rite of passage to manhood and a mother’s strong will and determination to uphold the best for her family. “1st Semester” stars Allan Paule, Darwin Yu and award-winning actress Lotlot de Leon. It is written and directed by Dexter Paglinawan Hemedez and Allan Michael Ibanez.

The Hollywood Premiere will be held on Wednesday, November 8 at the American Film Institute (AFI), 2021 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. Showtimes are at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Come and meet the writers and directors of this internationally-acclaimed film. Parking is free For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please email 1stSemAFI@gmail. com.

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 october 26-NoVeMber 1, 2017 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

Features

Filipino toy artist impresses Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo with his tsinelas creation by iza iglesias ManilaTimes.net

TOP Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo—famous for playing the Hulk in “The Avengers” films— praised Filipino toy artist Elmer Padilla over the weekend for his version of his character’s action figure, calling it “inventively creative.”

“Believe it or not, this #Hulk doll is made out of recycled tsinelas (that’s Tagalog for flip-flops). @elmerboytsinelas made this for me so I just wanted to give a nice shoutout. not only is this inventively creative, but it’s sustainable and just pure awesome! Thank you Elmer!” Ruffalo posted on his Instagram and Twitter page.

Ruffalo—an environmentalist and co-founder of the Solutions Project advocacy that focuses on clean, renewable energy for the world—was naturally excited by the artist’s choice of material.

In an ABS-CBn television report, Padilla meanwhile said he grew with hardly any toys, an experience that taught him to make his own out of trash. All the same superhero stories inspired him to be ”extraordinary.“ Padilla, a budding action figure artist now based in Cavite province, used to be a construction worker and pedicab driver. He thanked Ruffalo for giving him a shout out and appreciating his art.

“Thank you so much Sir @ markruffalo for the shoutout. I can’t explain how happy I am today because one of my idols had it now and holding my creation.

Hope to meet you someday in person,” Padilla posted on his Instagram account along with the picture of Ruffalo holding his work.

Vegas Aces Volleyball Club attracts hundreds at grand opening of Southern Nevada’s First Training Center

On Saturday, Oct. 21, Southern nevada’s first dedicated volleyball facility, Vegas Aces Training Centre, hosted its official grand opening with a ceremonial “netcutting” by Henderson Mayor Debra March. nearly 200 aspiring players, their families and local dignitaries gathered for the official opening for the new home of the Vegas Aces Volleyball Club. The event featured a proclamation ceremony

by Mayor March deeming Oct. 21 “Vegas Aces Day” which included head coach Ruben Herrera presenting her with a customized Vegas Aces uniform. The opening was complete with dozens of smiling young athletes and volleyballs whizzing through the air. Food for the event was donated by nacho Daddy and beverages by Breakthru Beverage Group.

This first-of-its-kind facility in the region will attract girls from across the valley to play volleyball at its highest level, training them to be competitive in the national arena.

Construction for the 2-story Mark Ruffalo (above) describes Filipino-made ‘tsinelas’ Hulk doll, by Elmer Padilla (insert), as ‘inventively facility began in October 2016. creative’.

Photos from Instagram/@markruffalo It features 28-foot-high ceilings with three courts on the first Apparently, it is not only Ruffa- characters from comics, popular floor, dedicated viewing areas for lo who received a rubber slippers films and animated features such guests from the second floor balaction figure. Chris Hemsworth as Wolverine, Predator, Voltes V cony and office space. The court who plays Thor in “The Aveng- and Gundam. features the same padded faux On October 20, the local gov- wood floors used at the Beijing ers” also received his character as ernment of Imus recognized Pa- Olympics. The space is open daily executed by Padilla.

“That is fantastic. It looks bet- dilla for for setting an example to players of all ages to practice, ter than me,” Hemsworth said in to save the environment through train and attend clinics with staff an interview with ABS-CBn’s Ma- recycling. He also had his first exhibit at the Warner TV Pop Expo rie Lozano.

Besides superheroes, Padilla 2017 in Taguig last week with his also creates toys modeled after super tsinelas collection.

Henderson Mayor Debra March and Vegas Aces volleyball players cut the net for the grand opening. Photo courtesy of Steve Spatafore

dedicated to educating athletes in a multitude of areas. Currently, Vegas Aces’ after-school program is the only one its kind for girls 14 and under to play club volleyball.

The team also holds an exclusive partnership with the global sporting wear brand Under Armour, as the companies only sponsored volleyball team in the world.

Vegas Aces Volleyball is the premier volleyball club in Las Vegas redefining competitive training in the growing sport. The team is based out of the Vegas Aces Training Centre which officially debuted in October 2017.

Founded by Brian and Angela Edgeworth and evolved from The Edge non-profit private volleyball center, Vegas Aces Training Centre was designed to be the premier

place for young athletes to play and train at a competitive level.

The Training Centre’s two-story facility features 28-foot-high ceilings with three courts on the first floor, dedicated to viewing areas for guests and the court features the same padded faux wood floors used at the Beijing Olympics. The space is open daily to players of all ages to practice, train and attend clinics with staff dedicated to educating athletes in a multitude of areas. Vegas Aces Volleyball has amassed impressive accolades and rankings. In its first year in 2015, the club took one team to nationals, two teams to Junior nationals one taking home the silver medal in 2016. Currently, in 2017, four of their five teams ranking in top 10 in Southern California.

Laura Lehmann, Winwyn Marquez set for int’l tilts

Solenn Heussaff’s recipe for health: Live life with passion SOLEnn Heussaff is definitely one of those people who is living the life in her prime. With a successful showbiz career, countless magazine covers, booming entrepreneurial ventures, best-selling books, and a fast-rising blogger status, it is undeniable that this 30something has hit life’s winning formula.

“To live life to the fullest is my top priority,” Solenn shares. “I don’t want to look back and regret not being able to give more of myself to the things that I’m passionate about, and to the people that I love.”

It is no wonder that this “It” girl

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embraces every opportunity with zest and passion.

“It’s really an everyday commitment for me. I make my own meals even when I go to tapings so I make it a point to wake up early and be mindful of what I prepare. I am happy that I can share what I’ve learned and have yet to learn in my journey through the book and my blog,” she declares.

Solenn aims to inspire and encourage Filipinos to start living better in all aspects of their lives — from health and fitness to financial wellness. (Kathy Moran/ Philstar.com)

by Christina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

MISS World Philippines 2017 Laura Lehmann and Reina Hispanoamericana-Filipinas 2017 Teresita “Winwyn” Marquez are confident that they will make the country proud with wins from their respective beauty pageants in the coming days.

Both beauties have left the country for their international tilts.

Lehmann left for China on Friday, Oct. 20 while Marquez flew a day earlier to Bolivia. To wish them well, a send send-off party was held in their honor on Wednesday where they both assured the pubHere’s to life: Solenn Heussaff takes charge lic they will do their best to bring of her life by choosing to #LiveBetter. home the crown.

Philstar.com photo “As soon as I land in China, I’m no longer Laura, I am the Philippines. With that, I will do everything to represent the country I love so much in the best way I can, because I want the world to see how great we are and how much spirit we have as a nation,” Lehmann enthused.

Lehmann will try to snag the country’s second Miss World crown after Megan Young’s win in 2013. The country came in close to winning in 2016 with then representative Catriona Gray. Despite showing a strong start, however, Gray only landed in the final five, prompting some pageant fans—not necessarily Filipino—to question the integrity of the international tilt.

Of the recollection, Lehmann came to Miss World’s defense insisting that it remains to be one of the most noted beauty pageant’s around the globe.

“Because of what has happened in the past, there may still be pageant fans who are a little upset [but]I want them to know that Miss World maintains its integrity,” the 24-year-old assured.

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

Miss Philippines World 2017 Laura Lehmann

Reina Hispanoamericana-Filipinas 2017 Winwyn Marquez ManilaTimes.net photos

“They will surely choose a winner who is deserving, who is sincere and who can give back to people. I don’t think we’re in the position to make these insinuations. I just want everyone to be positive.”

Miss World 2017’s finals night is slated on november 18 at The Sanya City Arena in Sanya, China.

For her part, Marquez also had a bit of defending to do for the pageant the Philippines is joining for the very first time. A popular TV actress, it has reached the daughter of showbiz veterans Joey Marquez and Alma Moreno that most of her fans do not consider Reina Hispanoamericana to be at par with other international titles.

“You just have to respect them [those people who say negative things against the pageant]kasi bago sa pandinig nila. I understand it will take time for them to accept that it’s happening already and that the organization invited to participate,” Marquez told The Manila Times at the sidelines of the event.

“But the best thing to do is just do your best and hope they accept [the opportunity to participate]and

be proud of the title as well once they see me in the pageant,” the 25-year-old added.

Marquez will compete not only against Latina beauty queens— generally known to top the world’s biggest beauty pageants—but other invited candidates from Europe and Australia. She has happily shown a strong head start by topping social media voting.

“They are all very beautiful and they are really, really good at dancing which is also a trademark of the competition,” Marquez admitted. “But I don’t want to put myself down because I know that I am competing for my country and I’ll do my very best.”

Marquez, further assured fans the Spanish-language pageant will not hinder her performance.

“A language can be learned but the will and determination to win for country is what I will hold on to when I get to Bolivia,” Marquez waxed poetic, adding that during training she studied enough Spanish to be able to understand and engage in simple conversations.

The Reina Hispanoamericana grand coronation night is scheduledon november 4 at Salon Siriono Fexpocruz in Sta. Cruz, Bolivia.

Down ‘difficult’ memory lane with Arnell Ignacio by ronnie

CarrasCo iii

ManilaTimes.net

THOUGH neck-deep in work as Pagcor Assistant Vice President for Community Services, Arnell Ignacio is still abreast with showbiz goings on—including that of the infamous Xander Ford.

“Yes, I’m updated. I get to read his brickbats against Kathryn [Bernardo] calling her sakang (bow-legged). Well, I look at it this way—napakasuwerte ng Xander Ford na yan dahil napakadali niyang na-penetrate ang mundo natin, hardly any sweat. Pero ginagawa niyang mababa ang tingin sa showbiz. Buti pa, magkita tayo Xander nang masampal kita!” the

TV host-comedian-turned-Duterte appointee jested during his “accidental” guesting on “Cristy Ferminute” last week.

Arnell couldn’t help but recall his arduous journey when he was just beginning to carve a name in showbiz.

“Tandang-tanda ko noon, since Allan K couldn’t make it to his regular hosting gig at a comedy bar, ako yung inirekomenda niya.

Tinanong ko muna kung magkano ang TF (talent fee). Seven hundred pesos daw. Wow, sabi ko, malaki na rin yun that time so I went to the venue to look for the contact person. Inabutan ko siya, may sinusulat na kung ano.

Sabi ko, ‘Excuse me, I’m Arnell

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Arnell Ignacio

ManilaTimes.net photo

Ignacio. I was sent by Allan K to pinchhit for him.’ Sige pa rin siya sa kakasulat. Without looking at me, he said, ‘Pakisabi kay Allan K na mag-abiso siya in advance kung hindi siya puwede, hindi yung kung sinu-sino lang ang ipapadala niya!’

“I was stunned, but my thought balloon was, ‘Wait till you see me perform. Kukunin n’yo akong regular performer at ako naman ang magpepresyo sa inyo!’

“I’m saying this because it wasn’t an easy climb for me to get to where I am now. Let this be a lesson to Xander,” Arnell rambled, nearly monopolizing the program.

Guesting ahead of Arnel that Tuesday was his new find Lance Busa. A native of Butuan City, Lance recently emerged grand champion in a singing search held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia besting seven other contestants from neighboring Asian countries with Michael Bolton as the main judge no less.

“Kuya Arnel got in touch with me through FB, he said he wanted to help me build a singing career,” beamed the young singer who’s slated to perform with Bolton on november 3 at the Marriot Hotel along with Morisette Amon.

It was pretty obvious that there’s more to their manager-artist relationship as Arnell couldn’t seem to contain his joy.

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 26-NOVEMbER 1, 2017

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What it is like to be single for Piolo Pascual? by tessa

mauricioa-arriola ManilaTimes.net

Present at the closing night of the first Tingin ASEAN Film Festival are (from left) Maya Quirino, festival project manager; Babyruth Villarama, forum speaker; Som Khemra, representative for Cambodia’s Victim; Teddy Co, NCCA commissioner; Aung Ko Latt, director of Myanmar’s Kayan Beauties; Syahrul Fithri Bin Musa, assistant director for Malaysia’s Wayang; Sasithorn Panichnok, actress in Thailand’s The Island Funeral; Noor Alimin bin Haji Garip, producer of Brunei’s Waris; Remton Zuasola, director of the Philippines’ Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria; Mattie Do, director of Lao PDR’s Dearest Sister; Vongchith Phommachack, representative for Lao PDR’s Khuannang; Annie Luis, head of NCCA International Affairs Office; and Patrick Campos of the UP Film Institute.

Philstar.com photo

What the future holds for ASEAN cinema

by Nathalie

tomada

Philstar.com

What does the future hold for ASEAN Cinema? This was one of the questions explored at the first Tingin ASEAN Film Festival recently mounted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to expose Filipino audiences more to Southeast Asian films.

Film directors, talents and representatives from neighboring countries gathered for the weeklong screenings and forums at the Shang Cineplex.

Tingin also served to highlight the 50th anniversary of the country’s ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) membership and at the same time, chairmanship this year. “The Philippines has very low awareness of being part of ASEAN but Filipinos love to watch movies. Film is the most accessible art form or media. We want to penetrate the market and reach more people through movies,” said Annie Luis, who heads NCCA’s international affairs office.

The films, which were split into the Official and Tastemakers sections, were carefully curated by the NCCA, with the help of its ASEAN counterparts and industry “tastemakers” — actor Piolo Pascual, producer Moira Lang and UP Film Institute’s Patrick Campos. The line-up included Remton Zuasola’s “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria” (Philippines), Jonathan Chen’s “Ilo Ilo” (Singapore) and the omnibus film “Three-Fold Mirror: Reflections” featuring cross-border stories directed by the Philippines’ Brillante Mendoza, Cambodia’s Kulikar Sotho and Japan’s Isao Yukisada.

Organizers were happy with the outcome of the Tingin filmfest.

Maya Quirino, festival project head, told The Star, “Most of the screenings had around 150 to 170 people attending. For a first-time festival of mostly independent Southeast Asian movies, that’s a good number. We had moviegoers come up to us and say this should have been a two-week-long festival.

It was encouraging. We hope that this becomes a regular festival, an event that moviegoers, students and cineastes look forward to each year.”

Tingin also held forums tackling such concerns as what lies ahead for ASEAN cinema. Among those who shared their thoughts were Aung Ko Latt, director of Myanmar’s “Kayan Beauties”; Syahrul Fithri Bin Musa, assistant director of Malaysia’s “Wayang”; Sasithorn Panichnok, actress of Thailand’s “Island Funeral”; Zuasola; and Bagu Prihantoro Filemon, cinematographer of Indonesia’s “Solo Solitude”.

More conversations, cooperation and collective goals on film development were hoped for, with suggestions that ASEAN unite as a

film market.

Said Campos, who moderated the forums, “As ASEAN faces the challenges of the new century, the future of Southeast Asian cinemas as mirror, beacon and megaphone remains even more urgent. The time is now ripe as well to actively and collectively define an independent regional cinema that breaks down borders.”

Zuasola, for his part, said, “Lately, I’ve been to a number of film festivals and forums around Southeast Asia focusing on films from this region. One common observation among peers is that more often than not we just bump into each other at film festivals in Europe or other countries outside ASEAN. “It is this ironic situation that has led to an awakening among our neighbors, that in order for us to grow together we need to talk to each other more, establish an open communication line and create avenues for films from ASEAN countries to be seen by each other.”

There are many exciting ASEAN filmmakers who make movies even without the assurance of an audience, Quirino also noted. “Filipinos know more about Hollywood than they know their ASEAN neighbors’ films. But to start growing the local demand, you need to make it easy for people to catch an ASEAN film.”

Quirino believes that Internet streaming services will give ASEAN cinema a fighting chance while film festivals, however niche they are, can definitely help. “But the future of ASEAN cinemas depends on an interplay of factors that include government support, distribution, the ASEAN economic integration, the appetite for ASEAN cinemas and so on. We just need to keep at it.”

Meanwhile, being the filmmaker representing the host country, Zuasola had the opportunity to spend the most time with the other ASEAN reps. He likened Tingin to a grand reunion of long-lost relatives who got to swap stories about the challenges and developments in their respective film communities.

What he learned from his peers was that “the situation of the film industries from each country cuts across a wide spectrum — (you have) countries that produce hundreds of films each year to another country that only has around 20 films produced in its entire history.”

Zuasola further said, “Despite the challenges Filipino filmmakers face every day, we are still considered by our ASEAN neighbors luckier because our censorship is not as stringent compared to theirs.”

According to him, other countries are quite strict on the depiction of sensitive topics like politics, religion and LGBT stories. “One country doesn’t even allow couple (characters) to hold hands on

Causes of major illnesses

PAGE B5 timizes more than 2,000 individuals each day and killing about 133,000 each year. Luckily about 80 percent of stroke is preventable.

Less salt is best Salt consumption significantly affects individuals with hypertension. The current recommendation is no more than 2300 mg (one teaspoon) of salt (sodium chloride) a day. The average intake of 3400 mg is way above what is healthy.

The American Heart Association is even suggesting 1500 mg a day (3/4 of a teaspoon) a day. The total should include all use for cooking, in condiments, and what is in processed or canned goods, which are loaded with salt preservative.

Reducing our salt intake could reduce the number of hypertensives by 11 million, in the USA alone. It would, indeed, be best to get rid of salt shakers.

In the United States, one person is diagnosed with a stroke every 40 seconds. This dreaded and debilitating illness is so common it victimizes more than 2,000 individuals each day and killing about 133,000 each year. Not to mention kidney failure, heart attack, and cancer.

Discipline and sacrifices Good health, freedom from illnesses, and longevity are not free. To achieve them, we must be pre-emptive and pro-active early, and religiously work for them, by arming ourselves with a proven scientific strategy, discipline, com-

pliance, determination, and a lot of personal sacrifices.

Here are some tips to greatly reduce the risk of having hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, Alzheimer’s, and cancer, basically by living a healthy lifestyle or making necessary lifestyle changes, following the acronym TABA or FATE as suggested above: Food - low-carb, fish, vegetables, nuts, fruits, minimal or no red meat Alcohol - extreme moderation, not more than 2 glasses of wine or beer Tobacco - total abstinence and avoid second-hand smoke Exercise - brisk walking, tae-bo, swimming, biking, etc. 30 minutes daily.

When it comes to health, our fate is significantly in our hands. The choice is ours: fight or surrender.

The crucial question is: Are you prepared to do personal sacrifices to prevent illnesses and achieve a healthier life and greater longevity? *** 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

screen. But like the rest of Asia, things are starting to change.”

He cited as an example, Lao PDR, which “previously didn’t allow the depiction of ghosts and monsters in their films for fear of instilling wrong beliefs among the people (but) has embraced Mattie Do’s horror film “Dearest Sister” or Singapore, (which is) known as an ‘image-conscious’ country, has recently supported K. Rajagopal’s “A Yellow Bird,” a film (showing) poverty and hardships of the minorities living in Singapore.”

For him, the Tingin roster of films only proved that despite the diversity in culture, members of the ASEAN have so much in common as people.

“And if viewed from afar,” Zuasola added, “films from this region have created a distinct flavor, with a very unique, stylistic execution and closely related dramatic values that are truly Southeast Asian.”

NO matter how many handsome and talented faces have come and gone into the spotlight, actor-singer-producer Piolo Pascual has carved a place in show business that is all his own.

Now 40 years old, the mere mention of his name still causes a commotion especially among female admirers. As an actor and singer, he has proven himself to the public with box office hits and chart toppers, and he is highly regarded by colleagues from different generations. And lately, as a producer of quality movies, the most recent of which is the phenomenally successful “Kita Kita,” Pascual has found a way to continue his relevance in the industry, if and when the time comes he chooses to stay behind the camera.

Behind all the glamour and fame, however, the Ultimate Heartthrob tells The Manila Times he actually prefers a laidback life in private.

“I’ve learnt to not take my work home. Iniiwan ko sa set. Pagkatapos magtrabaho, uuwi ako sa bahay. Wala akong stress because I choose not to get stressed,” said the very eligible bachelor.

His idea, he says of a perfect end to a long day is quiet time and comfort food.

“Ang paborito kong lutuin corned beef,” he chuckled. “Gisagisa na may konting sibuyas,” he added.

Asked whether he is conscious of the food he eats, especially

Piolo Pascual

with the need to maintain his buffed body, he replies happily, “Walang bawal sa akin. I can eat anything. Malakas akong kumain, sobra. Kaya malakas akong mag-workout. Ayokong i-deprive ang sarili ko. For me, eating is a reward.”

Sounding more and more like the guy next door even if he is a superstar, Pascual’s down-toearth ways make him a rarity in the industry like everyone says.

What you see is what you get when it comes to Piolo Pascual

Photo from Instagram/@piolo_pascual

so that whenever he can, he tries to show the public how simple makes him happy via his social media pots.

“What you put out there, it’s you, yourself. It’s private and personal but I still want people to identify with me that’s why I choose to share parts of my life like this.”

And with that, the bachelor digs into his plate of homecooked food, but not without offering a spoonful, unpretentiously asking, “Gusto n’yo?”

B october 26-NoVeMber 1, 2017 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

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