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Volume 28 - No. 35 • 2 sections – 16 pages

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USA

DATELINE US pledges $14.3 million for Marawi relief

Fight to keep DREAMers in full swing Over 4,500 Filipino beneficiaries of DACA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

the United states has donated P730 million ($14.3 million) for the ongoing relief operations and rehabilitation of marawi City, according to U.s. Ambassador to the Philippines sung Kim. in a press briefing on tuesday, september 5, Kim announced that Washington will provide humanitarian aid to the victims of the besieged city in mindanao through its Agency for international Development (UsAiD). “this money will focus on restoring basic public services, including health care, water, and electricity, jumpstarting livelihoods, and promoting community reconciliation and alternatives to violent extremism,” Kim said.

According to him, P153 million of the U.s. donation will be used for humanitarian assistance to deliver supplies including drinking water, hygiene kits, and shelter materials for evacuation centers. meanwhile, P577 million will be allocated for the rehabilitation of the city and affect-

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US gov’t vows to return church bells but unsure when the United states is committed to returning three church bells seized by American forces as war spoils from the Philippines more than a century ago, the U.s. ambassador said tuesday, sept. 5, raising the prospects of a resolution of a thorny issue between the allies.

Ambassador sung Kim said the two governments have discussed the return of the Balangiga bells, named for the Philippine village from which they were taken in the early 1900s. he said in response to questions from reporters that the U.s. is “deeply committed that the bells are returned to the filipino people,” but that he could not specify when that would happen. filipinos revere the Balangiga bells as symbols of their long struggle for independence. the bells gave the signal for insurgents to attack American soldiers who were occupying Balangiga after the U.s. took possession of the Philippines following the spanish-American War. talks about returning the bells have been a perennial issue in U.s.-Philippine relations.

Kim said there was “an ongoing discussion within the U.s. government and the Philippine government to try and facilitate the return of these bells as quickly as possible,” but added there were some issues that needed to be solved in the U.s.

s e p t e mbe r 7 - 1 3 , 2 0 1 7

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

DesPite many urges not to proceed, the trump administration rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on tuesday, september 5. As the phasing out of the program

begins, the rush to find solutions for DreAmers is in full swing.

Attorney General Jeff sessions officially announced the administration’s decision to end the DACA program which he said was an “unconstitutional exercise of authority by the executive Branch.”

the program, signed by former President Barack obama in an executive action in 2012, protected from deportation nearly 800,000 undocumented people brought to the U.s. illegally as children. With a six-month period winding down to its termination, White house

members are already looking to counter the decision. in California, where the largest number of DACA recipients live, government officials are turning towards legal action against tuesday’s decision. in a state-

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Duterte tells police to let media join drug raids to disprove killings Philippine President rodrigo Duterte on tuesday, september 5 ordered the police to allow journalists to join law enforcers in their anti-illegal drug operations.

Duterte issued the order to disprove the growing allegations of state-sanctioned killings in his heavily-criticized campaign against illegal Pres. Rodrigo Duterte drugs.

Philstar.com photo “Now, this is an order: Bring the media and let them go first so that they can get the story from the beginning to the end. if you allow them in and the gunbattle is over, you’ll just say ‘Ah, they just dumped the guns on the suspects,’” Duterte said after a public hearing into the death of 17-year-old Kian Delos santos. he added, “if you get shot, will you still believe that PROTECT OUR DREAMERS. Rallies and marches took place around the country on Monday, Sept. 5, following the Trump administration’s decision those (suspects) have no guns? Go ahead.” to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program which protects certain young immigrants from deportation. At one event in downtown Delos santos’s death sparked public outrage as Los Angeles, people held signs that read, “We are here to stay,” and chanted, “If they won’t let us dream, we won’t let them sleep.”

Photo by Anna Gorman for Kaiser Health News

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Marcos camp says ‘fight not over,’ Sereno, Bautista impeachment cites evidence of 2016 polls anomaly raps move forward in PH House

by Dana

SioSon

AJPress

the camp of former senator ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. remains confident that it will win its bid against Philippine Vice President ma. Leonor “Leni” robredo despite a recent court decision affirming the authenticity of the 2016 elections. the supreme Court (sC), sitting as the Presidential electoral tribunal (Pet), earlier dismissed marcos’ first cause of action in his poll protest against robredo, which challenged the authenticity of the Automated election system (Aes) in the 2016 elections.

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Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Inquirer.net photo

Trillanes fires back, threatens to file ethics complaint against Gordon

imPeAChmeNt complaints against Philippine Chief Justice ma. Lourdes sereno and Commission on elections (Comelec) Chief Andres Bautista have been passed on to the house Committee on rules. earlier this week, house speaker Pantaleon Alvarez referred the complaints to the committee headed by majority Leader rodolfo farinas. the speaker has 10 days from receipt to refer an impeachment complaint to the rules Committee to be included in the order of Business the complaint will then be referred to the Committee on Justice within three days. the Justice Committee, on the other hand, has 60 days to conduct hearings and determine the sufficiency in form and substance of

the complaints. two impeachment complaints have been so far filed against sereno. twenty-five house members endorsed the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon against the chief justice on Wednesday, August 30, for culpably violating the Constitution, betraying public trust, committing corrupt practices, and other high crimes.

Among the grounds in the impeachment rap include sereno’s “whimsical” and “excessive” purchase of a toyota Land Cruiser amounting to P5.1 million, and the misuse of judiciary funds when attending local and foreign conferences. he also accused sereno of failing to be truthful in declaring her

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by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Senator Richard Gordon followed through on his threat to file an ethics complaint against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for his “unparliamentary behavior” during the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee last week.

Senate photo by Alexis Nuevaespaña

and his family during a hearing on thursday, August 31. in response to Gordon’s commANiLA — senator Antonio trillanes iV on tuesday, sep- plaint, trillanes said he will also tember 5, said he will also file an file his own ethics case, citing the ethics complaint against sena- former’s supposed “unparliamentor richard Gordon and further tary and unethical acts” during expose the latter’s supposed the proceedings.

“Normally i’m not the whining “corrupt acts” as chairman of the type and could have easily let Philippine red Cross (PrC).

A day before, Gordon filed an these things pass so i could focus ethics case against trillanes. this on the more important issues at was after trillanes called Gordon’s hand,” trillanes said in a privilege panel “committee de absuwelto” speech.

“But in the spirit of justice and (committee of exoneration) and accused the latter of “lawyering” fairness, at the appropriate time, for President rodrigo Duterte u PAGE A3

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno

Comelec Chief Andres Bautista Inquirer.net photos

A

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

September 7-13, 2017 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

From The FronT Page

Duterte tells police to let media join...

PAGE A1 witnesses gave testimonies and supported evidence, including a CCTV footage, that the victim was dragged in a dark alley and pleaded for his life during a police raid on August 16.

The autopsy of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and the probe of the National Bureau Investigation (NBI) also suggested that Delos Santos may have been executed.

Police contended that the victim violently resisted arrest and pulled a gun on the officers. They also denied that it was the Kian who was seen being dragged in the CCTV footage.

The hearing also touched the death of Carl Arnaiz, a 19-year-old who was killed by policemen in an alleged shoot-out along C3 Road in Navotas after allegedly robbing a taxi driver on August 18.

The PAO autopsy results, how-

ever, suggested that Arnaiz was kneeling when he was initially shot, then was killed with more shots after he was lying on the ground. The victim suffered three gunshot wounds to the middle of his chest — one to the left side of his chest, and one to the back of his arm.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa defended his men from allegations of statesanctioned killings.

“Wala kaming pinapairal na policy na malawakang pagpatay — mamatay man ako ngayon (We are not implementing a policy of extensive killings — even if I die today),” an emotional Dela Rosa reiterated during the hearing.

The PNP chief also maintained Duterte has no orders to kill and accusing Senator Risa Hontiveros — who said there seemed to be a “pattern” of killings of drug suspects — and other critics of the administration’s war on drugs of being “closed-minded.”

“I am grieving for majority of my men, ‘yung buhay nila [nakataya] tapos ia-accuse mo kami ng polisiya na ganoon. Masakit.

Magpakamatay kami para sa inosenteng tao. Napakahirap naman sabihin na polisiya (I am grieving for majority of my men, their lives are on the line, then you will accuse us of such a policy. It hurts.

We give up our lives for innocent people. It’s so hard to hear you say it’s a policy),” Dela Rosa added.

(Dana Sioson/AJPress)

US gov’t vows...

PAGE A1 “We want to return them,” he said. “I believe it’s the right thing to do.”

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte asked the U.S. to return the bells in his state of the nation address in July, saying “they are part of our national heritage ... return it to us, this is painful for us.”

Duterte has had an antagonistic attitude toward U.S. security policies while building closer ties with China and Russia.

Two of the three bells are displayed at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. They are part of a memorial to 46 U.S. troops killed by Filipino insurgents in 1901. A third bell is with a U.S. Army regiment in South Korea.

(Philstar.com with reports from Associated Press)

Dozens of immigrant rights activists, students, DACA recipients and union leaders rallied in downtown Los Angeles to protest the White House announcement to end the DACA program. Speakers urged attendees to keep fighting and to seek legal advice.

Fight to keep DREAMers in...

PAGE A1 ment following the announcement, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said that the state was ready to sue the Trump administration.

“President Trump has turned his back on hundreds of thousands of children and young Americans who came forward and put their trust in our government. But in terminating DACA, the Trump administration has also violated the Constitution and federal laws,” said Becerra.

“California is taking action because one in four DACA grantees live in our great state,” he added. “I will do everything I can to fight for them.”

In New York, where the third highest DACA population resides, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman also vowed to sue the Trump administration over its decision that he described as “cruel, gratuitous, and devastating to tens of thousands of New Yorkers.”

“My job is to protect all the residents of New York — no matter where they come from, and I will use every legal tool I have available to make sure they get the opportunity to live the American dream, just like millions of New York immigrants before them,” said Schneiderman. “Dreamers are Americans in every way. They played by the rules. They pay their taxes.”

Late July, Becerra led a coalition of 20 attorneys general, which included Schneiderman, in sending a letter to President Donald Trump that urged him to retain DACA. Pending bills in Congress On Tuesday, Trump sent out tweets mentioning Congress’ major role in the upcoming months, and the possibility of him revisiting the issue if still in a deadlock.

“I look forward to working [with Democrats and Republicans] in Congress to address immigration reform in a way that puts hardworking citizens of our country 1st,” read one tweet.

He later tweeted, “Congress now has 6 months to legalize DACA (something the Obama Administration was unable to do). If they can’t, I will revisit the issue!”

There are a number of pending bills that Congress could act upon within the next six months that would address the future status of DREAMers.

At the forefront is the “Develop-

Jocelin Reyes, 19, said having protection from deportation relieved her fears and anxieties.

But now, the University of California-Santa Barbara student said, “the fear has tripled.”

Photos by Anna Gorman for Kaiser Health News

ment, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act” (DREAM Act) which was first introduced in 2001, and failed to pass multiple times.

Sponsor Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill), and Lindsey Graham, (RS.C) proposed a new version of the bill in July of this year which got a seemingly unfavorable response by the Trump administration. Trump’s legislative affairs director Marc Short expressed that the administration had “opposed the Dream Act and likely will be consistent on that.”

Still, Durbin and Graham said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon that they were calling on Congress to act on the bill before the end of September.

“We need to pass in this month of September a DREAM Act — a permanent law in this country that says that these young people will have their chance to become part of America’s future, “ said Durbin.

If the revised DREAM Act is to pass, recipients would have the same protections as DACA, as well as a path for permanent legal resident status or citizenship, if certain requirements are met — DACA did not provide either.

Other bills include the Recognizing America’s Children (RAC) Act, the American Hope Act, and the Bar Removal of Individuals Who Dream (BRIDGE) Act. Like the DREAM Act, the RAC and the American Hope Act offer a path to citizenship upon meeting certain requirements. The RAC Act, sponsored by Rep. Carlos

Curbelo (R-Fla.), would allow immigrants who have been vetted by the Department of Homeland Security a pathway to legalization through either higher education, service in the armed forces, or work authorization.

Participants would be put on a five-year conditional status which they could reapply for a five-year permanent status, according to a press release by Curbelo.

The fastest option to gaining citizenship would be the American Hope Act, sponsored by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill, which only requires that applicants to have entered the U.S. before the age of 18, and have not been convicted of certain crimes. Eligible participants can apply for a conditional permanent residency before applying for a lawful permanent residence status, and finally citizenship.

Like DACA, the BRIDGE Act, sponsored by Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., would give eligible participants protection and authorization to work. It also would not include a path to citizenship. According to the National Immigration Law Center, the requirements would essentially be the same.

The big difference lies in that the benefits would be extended for three years, basically allowing Congress more time to solidify a solution for DREAMers.

In the meantime, over 800,000 individuals who have been protected by DACA are watching to see what actions the White House will make. Over 4,500 of them come from the Philippines.

that the Smartmatic vote-counting machines (VCM) used for the automated polls lack “demonstrated capability.”

But in a resolution dated August 29, the high court junked Marcos’ first cause of action, deeming the hope to nullify the integrity of the 2016 polls as “meaningless and pointless.”

“Allowing the First Cause of Action to continue would be an exercise in futility and would have no practical effect,” PET said in its decision made public on Tuesday, September 5.

“Even if [the] protestant succeeds in proving his first cause of action, this will not mean that he has already won the position of vice president as this can only be determined by a manual recount of all votes in all precincts,” it added.

Several SC justices previously expressed apprehension over the possibility that the former senator’s electoral protest may put the entire nation’s election result last year into question.

In his second cause of action, the former senator asked for the manual recount of votes in 36,465 clustered precincts in 22 provinces and five cities.

Areas include Cebu, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Masbate, Zamboanga Del Sur, Zamboanga Del Norte, Bukidnon, Iloilo, Bohol, Quezon, Batangas, Western Samar, Misamis Oriental, Camarines Sur, 2nd District of Northern Samar, Palawan, Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, Pangasinan, Isabela, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Cebu City, LapuLapu City and Zamboanga City.

In his third cause of action,

Marcos also sought the nullification of the vice presidential votes in Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Maguindanao due to alleged occurrence of “traditional” modes of cheating, such as vote buying, pre-shading, intimidation and failure of elections, among others.

“The SC merely said if the party is able to prove 51 percent of the voters were not the ones who voted or there was massive fraud, irregularity then that may result in the nullification of the results in all of these precincts or areas,” Garcia added, citing jurisprudence from the last election.

In its resolution, PET gave Marcos five non-extendible days to provide at least three witnesses per clustered precincts on the three questioned provinces.

“The Tribunal reiterates its directive to protestant [Marcos] to submit a new list of witnesses for the third cause of action by limiting the number of witnesses to three per clustered precinct and already identifying the concerned clustered precinct, within nonextendible period of five days from receipt,” the PET said.

“Protestant’s failure to do so will be deemed a waiver of his right to name and identify his witnesses and to present them during the reception of evidence,” it added.

Robredo’s camp, meanwhile, welcomed the PET’s ruling.

“The ruling’s effect is that the integrity and credibility of the automated election system [have] been upheld by the Supreme Court,” Atty. Romulo Macalintal, lead counsel for Robredo, said in a statement.

Marcos camp says ‘fight not over,’ cites...

PAGE A1

Atty. George Garcia, head of Marcos’ legal team, said they “highly respect” the court’s decision, admitting that the first cause of action “will not result to the proclamation of Bongbong Marcos,” The former senator’s camp, however, stressed that the “fight is not yet over.”

“The ball is now rolling, the protest is now on its way. It’s wrong to say that the protest has been dismissed. It’s wrong to say that there was a full victory on the part of the other camp,” Garcia told ANC’s Headstart.

He claimed that they have sufficient evidence to prove that “more than 51 percent of the voters were not the ones who voted on election day” in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao.

“The Supreme Court merely set aside our motion to conduct the so-called technical examination. We will be able to prove that people who voted were not the registered voters because they were not the ones who signed on election day,” he said.

In June 2016, Marcos filed an electoral protest against Robredo before the SC after she won the seat by a slim margin. Robredo won the position by only around 263,000 votes more than Marcos.

Marcos filed three causes of action in his protest.

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

Questioning the “flawed” AES, the former senator also claimed

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Dateline USa

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 7-13, 2017

A

Horn moves on from rematch with Pacquiao, starts talks with Vargas

by Dino

Maragay Philstar.com

With Manny Pacquiao turning down a November 12 rematch with Jeff horn, the Australian’s camp has reportedly started negotiations to fight a different opponent.

According to a report by Brisbane-based 7 News, horn’s side has began efforts to seal a deal with the camp of former champion Jessie Vargas, who interestingly previously fought Pacquiao.

And the 29-year-old horn likes the match-up so far. “i feel like i’ve got the moves to take Jessie down,” horn told 7 News.

RENAMING, CONVERTING ROADS AND BRIDGES. Senator Manny Pacquiao, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Works, welcomes members of Vargas used to be the WBO the House of Representatives before the start of the hearing on proposed bills for the renaming and conversion of several roads and bridges in the country. (L-R) Cavite Representatives Luis Ferrer IV, Strike Revilla and Francis Abaya, Zamboanga Representative Celso Lobregat and welterweight champion until Bohol Representative Rene Relampagos.

Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo Pacquiao routed him last year in Las Vegas. the same title didn’t stay long on Pacquiao’s waist as horn stunned the Filipino icon in their PAGE A1 he likewise accused Gordon of well-attended bout at the SunStatements made in private or i’d be filing my own ethics case in the Senator’s lounge are defi- “monopolizing” the flow of hearagainst Senator Gordon for his nitely not covered. Statements ings by conducting a “monologue unparliamentary and unethical made in media are not covered,” for hours.”

Aside from filing an ethics acts as senator and chairman of he noted. by rosette aDel trillanes also accused Gordon complaint, trillanes said he would the blue ribbon committee,” he Philstar.com of disregarding the objection of a also “expose” Gordon’s alleged added. trillanes said Gordon violated panel member, and disrespecting anomalies in the PRC. U.S. Ambassador to the PhilipGordon, in response, lamented the Senate rules for refusing “the and insulting a member of the trillanes’ attacks on the PRC. he pines Sung Kim on Wednesday, right of the minority to be heard,” committee. the opposition senator said insisted that he does not get “any Sept. 6 described the recent as well as committing dishonesty for insisting that the phrase “com- Gordon disregarded his objec- salary or allowances” from the killings of teenagers in police operations “tragic” but noted mittee de absuwelto” was made tion of a member of the commit- organization. “i am also a governor of the that authorities are already intee, “insinuating that i was just on record. the opposition senator ar- peddling rumors when clearly, international Federation of Red vestigating the cases.

Kim, who admitted he is “very gued that he made the comment the information came from his Cross. i just appeal to the senators to be very, very careful. You may cautious about commenting while the session was already resource persons.” “he further insulted me by hurt me but not the movement,” substantively” on the recent suspended. killings of students Kian Delos “Senate Rules or the Rules saying, ‘wag daw ako nagdada- Gordon remarked. he went on to say, “he can Santos and Carl Angelo Arnaiz, of parliament only cover words ldal nang hindi ko nalalaman (i said or actions done while a should stop talking about what i accuse me of corruption, that reiterated the need for a probe session or hearing is on-going. don’t know). if at all, the comite is his privilege, but do not drag into the slay cases. “the recent cases involvConversations made while a de absuelto remarks are but a the Red Cross especially if there session or hearing is suspended response to his ‘cockpit of chis- is no proof. that is my humble ing the police and these tragic deaths of young men... there’s request.” or adjourned are not covered. mis,’” trillanes added.

Trillanes fires back, threatens to file ethics...

Jeff Horn and Manny Pacquiao

corp Stadium last July 2.

Pacquiao and horn was supposedly headed to a rematch this November, but the former wanted to stage it in the Philippines. this, according to top Rank inc. chief Bob Arum, is impossible because they are contractually obliged to do it again in Australia. the fighting senator then de-

Philstar.com photos

cided that he’ll just face horn again next year. horn, for his part, wants to sustain the momentum of his massive upset of Pacquiao and fight someone else. he believes Vargas will be a worthy alternative. “he’s a former world champion so he’ll definitely be a hard fight,” said horn.

US envoy: Teens’ deaths in police operations ‘a tragedy’

Sereno, Bautista impeachment raps move...

PAGE A1 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.

A second impeachment complaint against Sereno was also filed by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) founding chairman Dante Jimenez and Vanguard of the Philippine

Constitution inc. president lawyer Eligio Mallari on Monday, September 5. it was endorsed by 16 house members.

Jimenez and Mallari initially submitted an impeachment complaint earlier in August but no member of the house has endorsed the case at that time.

On the other hand, three house members endorsed the complaint against Bautista.

Lawyer Ferdinand topacio

and former Congressman Jacinto Paras filed the complaint on Wednesday, August 23, accusing Bautista of alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust. the complaint stemmed from allegations of the Comelec chief’s estranged wife, Patricia Paz Bautista, that he had about one billion pesos of undeclared wealth in his 2016 SALN. (Dana Sioson/ AJPress)

an ongoing investigation so i’m very cautious about commenting substantively on what exactly happened,” Kim said in a press briefing.

“But, obviously, it’s a tragedy that young men lose their lives in this manner, and this is why i think it’s so important for there to be full investigation and accountability of what happened,” he added.

Envoy notes government probes the US envoy also cited how Malacañang has also indicated there will be complete investigations into the deaths.

“Relevant authorities will look closely at what happened, and

then, if any wrong is discovered, then there should be appropriate punishment for those involved,” Kim said.

On August 22, Kim extended his sympathies to the family of Delos Santos. he took to twitter to express hope that the investigations will lead to “full accountability.”

Delos Santos was shot dead by the police in an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City while Arnaiz was slain after he allegedly robbed a taxi driver and was chased also by the members of Caloocan City police.

Both Delos Santos and Arnaiz were allegedly linked to illegal drugs.

US pledges $14.3 million for...

PAGE A1 ed surrounding areas. this includes the restoration of basic public services like health care, water and electricity.

Washington also vowed to provide 6,500 tablet arm chairs for schools in Mindanao. Additionally, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Manila will also provide P22 million for educational programs for students and women

leaders. “the United States is deeply committed to this relationship and remains ready to support our friend and ally as we face the challenges and opportunities,” the ambassador said. he also reiterated Washington’s continuous support for the Philippine government in its efforts to combat terrorism.

Since the Marawi crisis broke out on May 23 following the at-

tack of islamic State-inspired extremists, the U.S. Army has been providing technical assistance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“We all look forward to the end of the crisis, and the end of the fighting and suffering. We have been and will continue to support the Philippine government’s efforts to deal with the crisis,” Kim added. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

A

Dateline USa

September 7-13, 2017 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

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US planning more regular SCS patrols THE Pentagon is planning to conduct more regular patrols in the South China Sea — as many as two to three a month — to assert freedom of navigation in disputed waters claimed

by China, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The newspaper said the aim is to create a more consistent posture to counter China’s maritime claims, rather than a more ad hoc approach favored during Barack Obama’s administration.

U.S. officials declined to say where or when the new patrols would be made, but said the plan developed by the U.S. Pacific Command calls for two or three

so-called “freedom of navigation” operations a month over the next few months.

Future patrols also could include US military aircraft as well as U.S. Navy warships, the Journal said.

There have been three “freedom of navigation” operations since President Donald Trump took office in January – the last one by the USS John S. McCain, a destroyer that collided with a cargo ship days later off Singapore, killing 10 sailors.

During the Obama administration, the U.S. Navy conducted four such operations in the South China Sea, where China has

asserted its claims by building artificial islands and establishing runways, ports and other facilities on them.

China claims nearly all of the sea, through which $5 trillion in annual shipping trade passes and which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits.

Its sweeping claims overlap with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei — all ASEAN members — as well as Taiwan.

Washington and Beijing have seen their relations grow increasingly fraught since a promising summit between Trump and China’s Xi Jinping in April. (Philstar. com with reports from AFP)

Wesley So advances in Georgia chess tiff

by Joey

VillAr Philstar.com

fense Monday night, Sept. 4, to complete a 1.5-.5 first round win WESLEY So drew with Colom- and advance to the second round bian Joshua Daniel Ruiz Castillo of the FIDE World Cup 2017 in in 31 moves of a Gruenfeld De- Tbilisi, Georgia.

So gained the early initiative and a slight positional edge but ended up opting for a draw in the second game knowing he beat Castillo with black in 59 moves of a Caro-kann in their first game to gain the early upper hand the day before.

In their first duel, So won the exchange in the middlegame and easily turned it into a victory after finding a way to trap Castillo’s knight in the corner.

The win arranged So a seco n d - ro u n d e n c o u n t e r w i t h German Matthias Bluebaum, who edged Argentinian Sandro Mareco, 1.5-.5.

Wesley So Philstar.com photo Julio Catalino Sadorra, the

country’s highest rated chesser, could muster just a 33-move standoff in 33 moves of another Gruenfeld to fall to Russian Maxim Matlakov, .5-1.5.

Sadorra, who lost their first duel, went desperately for a win that would force a twogame tiebreak with lesser time control but wound up splitting the point.

Sadorra though will not go home empty-handed as first round losers will receive US$6,000.

So for his part is assured of US$10,000 for just making it the second round of this tournament giving US$120,000 to the champion and a spot in the World Candidates Matches, the final round to gain a crack of the world title currently held by Magnus Carlsen.

American wanted for stepdad’s murder nabbed in Leyte by tetCh

torres-tupAs Inquirer.net

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) is preparing the deportation of an American national wanted in his country for murdering his stepfather seven years ago.

Tipton Shea McMahon, 30, was arrested by members of the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) last Tuesday at his home in Barangay (village) Balinsasayaw, Abuyog, Leyte.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente on Friday, Sept. 1 said the U.S. embassy in Manila sought McMahon’s capture from a pend-

ing arrest warrant that was issued against the latter by a U.S. district court in Harris County, Texas.

“His passport was already canceled by the US government, thus he will be deported for being an undocumented and undesirable alien,” the BI chief added.

McMahon was charged with murder for stabbing to death his stepfather Peter O’Shea at his home in Cypress, Texas on Aug. 2, 2010.

Police arrested the then 23year-old McMahon after the incident. His mother told police that he saw her son holding a knife while standing above the

lifeless body of the 52-year-old victim.

Apparently, the suspect went into hiding after he was freed on bail, prompting the court to order his arrest.

BI intelligence officer Bobby Raquepo, BI-FSU acting chief, said McMahon arrived in Manila on Oct. 2 last year and did not leave the country since then.

Raquepo said McMahon eluded arrest in the U.S. for six years before he fled to the Philippines.

“We will put him in our blacklist to prevent him from re-entering our country,” the BI official added.

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SAFE-TO-EAT. Sen. Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Chairman of the Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship cites the Department of Agriculture efforts to stamp out the Avian flu in Central Luzon. The DA Avian Influenza Task Force has recommended the lifting of the shipment ban and assured that trade in poultry and eggs can resume. All eggs and chicken are safe-to-eat, said Zubiri, during the DA budget hearing.

Senate photo

With the Census in peril, what will it take to ‘right the ship?’

by AnnA

ChAllet New America Media

THE 2020 Census is off to a rocky start, with crucial preparations already delayed or falling to the wayside, largely a result of inadequate funding from Congress.

Some of the nation’s oldest civil rights organizations, while fearing the worst, say there’s still time for Congress and the Trump administration to turn things around – but the window is “closing fast,” according to Vanita Gupta, the president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

“We’re increasingly worried that the Administration and Congress have not prioritized support for a fair and accurate census, and that ill-advised decisions in the next few months will further erode the chance [for success],” Gupta said on a nationwide press call for ethnic media.

“There’s really too much at stake to ignore the growing threat to a successful census,” she says.

“Being undercounted in the census deprives already vulnerable communities of fair representation and vital public and private resources … The health and wellbeing as well as the political power of all the diverse communities in America rest on a fair and accurate count.”

The consequences of a botched census would ripple across the country, affecting everything from funding levels in education and health care, to redistricting and the implementation of the Voting Rights Act. Data from the census is used to allocate resources for all kinds of services nationwide, from hospitals to transportation.

“A good census is a sound investment in everything we hold dear in this country – a representative democracy, government and elected officials that are accountable to the people, and business and industry investment to drive economic growth, good jobs, and innovation,” says Terri Ann Lowenthal, former staff director of the House Census and Population Subcommittee, and now a consultant to the Leadership Conference Education Fund.

Lowenthal says that the 2020 Census is facing a “confluence of

unprecedented factors” amounting to “a perfect storm.” The Census Bureau’s prior director, John Thompson, resigned in May of this year, and the agency is “facing a leadership vacuum at a time when it is faced with critical decisions” on its methods and use of resources, according to Gupta.

In addition to the nomination of a “qualified, non-partisan candidate to lead the Census Bureau,” Gupta says the agency is in dire need of more adequate funding.

Lowenthal says that funding for the 2020 Census has been so far “insufficient, uncertain and frequently late.” Following the 2010 Census, Congress for the first time set a cap on census costs. The Census Bureau was directed to spend no more on the 2020 Census than it did on the 2010 Census; following that, says Lowenthal, Congress “shortchanged the census in annual funding bills throughout much of this decade.” Lawmakers later decided that the 2020 Census would in fact receive less funding than the 2010 Census.

Congress failed to allocate sufficient funds in 2017, according to Lowenthal, and now the Trump administration has requested far less funding in 2018 than the Census Bureau needs, she says.

As things stand now, there will be fewer than half as many temporary census takers in the 2020 Census as there were in 2010.

“The window of opportunity to right this ship is closing fast,” says Lowenthal. But, she says, “Congress can demonstrate leadership by adjusting the budget cuts upward in advance starting this fall for the next three years.”

The lack of adequate funding has already had real consequences, says Arturo Vargas, the

executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund.

The Census Bureau failed to complete a Spanish-language test census that was planned for Puerto Rico, and is also failing to test and implement methods for more accurately counting people in remote and rural areas.

The agency also won’t be testing certain local outreach and messaging strategies to get people to complete their census forms, Vargas says.

Outreach strategies have become more crucial among some marginalized communities. “We know that there is increasingly a climate of fear among immigrant communities and immigrant households,” he says, due to the current political atmosphere and an uptick in anti-immigrant rhetoric under the Trump administration.

“We have seen immigrant families opting out of participating in programs in which they have any kind of contact with government, including health care programs and school lunch programs,” says Vargas. “As a result we believe it will be even more difficult to encourage these immigrant populations to participate” in the census.

Indeed, it’s groups like “people of color, low-income families, people with disabilities, and limited English proficient individuals” who would be most affected by an inadequately funded census, according to John C. Yang, the executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice. “Any gap in testing and any gap in discovering deficiencies” in methodology, he says, would have the greatest impact on these communities.

Fil-Am doctor performs first robotic surgery in Northern Florida JACKSONVILLE, Florida – A Filipino American doctor recently performed the first robotic surgery at the Mayo Clinic here. The procedure was also the first to be done in all of Northern Florida.

Dr. Cedric J. Ortiguera performed the robotic surgery, which is a type of minimally invasive surgery using miniaturized surgical instruments that fit through a series of quarter-inch incisions instead of large ones.

He was born and grew up on Long Island, New York in June

1968. He graduated magna cum laude in biochemistry at Stony Brook University of the State University of New York (SUNY).

He earned his medical degree at New York University, also with honors.

Ortiguera did his orthopedic residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota with subspecialty in sports orthopedics. He joined the surgical Staff of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville in 2000.

Ortiguera is also an assistant professor of surgery at the Mayo

Dr. Cedric J. Ortiguera performed the robotic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Medical School and lectures at orthopedic conferences in South America and Central America, as well as in some medical centers in the U.S. Ortiguera is the son of two retired medical doctors who were graduates of the University of Santo Tomas in 1963–Dr. Jose Ortiguera, a gastroenterologist in Queens, New York, and Dr. Aida Domingo, a pediatrician and primary care physician for the New York State of Mental Health.

(Inquirer.net)

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A

Dateline PDe hiliPPines Lima to Duterte: You know why I should be released

House to study move granting Duterte talks with Marcos over ‘ill-gotten’ wealth

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

The house of Representatives is going to study the request to grant Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte the authority to start negotiations with the Marcos family on their offer to return their alleged ill-gotten wealth to the government. house Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday, September 5, said that Congress should first into the specifics of the planned proposal of the family of late President Ferdinand Marcos.

Last week, Duterte said that the Marcoses expressed willingness to return a portion of their wealth—including few gold bars—which was accumulated during the two-decade rule of the late dictator.

Alvarez, however, expressed doubt on the sincerity of the Marcoses to return their ill-gotten wealth to the national government.

“Yun namang proposed negotiation doon sa ano ito—Marcos loot? Loot, kasi nakaw di ba?

Matagal nang pinag-uusapan.

Tignan muna natin ano ba, seryoso ba kayo o hindi? (Regarding the proposed negotiation with the Marcos loot? Loot, because it’s ill-gotten, right? It has been being discussed for so long now. Let’s look at it first, are they serious or not?),” the speaker said in a press briefing. he added that it is also a “good question” whether or not Congress has the power to authorize the president to negotiate with the Marcoses on the retrieval of plundered cash and assets.

“Ngayon lang kasi nangyari yan so mabuti na yung tignan nating yung legalities (This is the first time this happened that is why we still need to check the legalities),” Alvarez said.

A day before, Malacañang urged Congress to grant Duterte authority to start the negotiation with the Marcoses.

“The president has promised the negotiation on the Marcoses’ wealth would be done legally, with full accounting to the people as well as authority from Congress,” Duterte’s spokesperson ernesto Abella said. he went on to say, “We urge Congress to authorize the president to proceed with the negotiation and set parameters, taking into account the concerns raised by critics and the citizenry. It would be best if we all work together for final justice, closure and national reconciliation.”

But Albay Rep. edcel Lagman said the president does not need approval from Congress for the Marcos wealth talks, citing the creation of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) during the administration of the late President Cory Aquino.

The PCGG, Lagman noted, is “charged with the task of assisting the president” in “the recovery of all ill-gotten wealth accumulated by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, his immediate family, relatives, subordinates and close associates, whether located in the Philippines or abroad.”

“The president even on his own accord can negotiate the surrender of the ill-gotten hoard in the same manner that he can

negotiate for the surrender of a high-profile suspected criminal without any act of the Congress,” the lawmaker said. he, however, urged Duterte to proceed with the negotiation with “transparency, accountability and no conditionality.”

Lagman also expressed uncertainty on the reported proposal, saying, “Why involve the Congress in a negotiation where the Marcos heirs are at best ambivalent and which may not even prosper beyond propaganda?”

“I don’t think Congress should do that, granting him the authority to exchange the criminal responsibility of the Marcoses for a few pieces of gold bars,” he added.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, September 3, Duterte clarified that he has not made any deal yet with the Marcoses.

“It was like this: The Marcoses are ready to return [assets].

I said I accepted the explanation because there’s no other explanation. I do not know anything, I cannot debate with them so I accepted the explanation. It’s about time that this thing is finally settled,” the president explained.

But in making the offer, Duterte said that the Marcoses were not admitting that the wealth they are willing to return was stolen. “[Imee] is not ready to announce that it had been stolen.

But she said whatever was under suspicion should be discussed and that I accepted,” he said, referring to the late dictator’s eldest daughter and Ilocos Gov. Imee Marcos.

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

SeN. Leila de Lima hit President Rodrigo Duterte for “pretending not to know” why the detained lawmaker should be released from prison.

“Of course, he knows on what grounds,” De Lima said in a statement on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

“On the grounds that the charges against me are all fabricated, based on the perjured statements of convicted felons; that even the perjured testimonies they provided are grossly inadequate to support the finding of probable cause; that the charges filed are even inconsistent with what little evidence the prosecution has; and, most of all, this is all part of my political persecution for daring to stand up for human rights and against eJKs,” she added.

This came as a response to Duterte’s statement when representatives from the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats urged him over the weekend to set De Lima free.

“On what grounds?” the president replied.

Duterte also declined to comment on De Lima’s alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade, saying the “case is already in court.”

De Lima likened Duterte to a “thief who suddenly becomes self-aware that the evidence of his crime is sitting in plain sight.”

“The President is attempting to surreptitiously, yet futilely, kick dirt to cover his crime by backtracking on his constant public

lashings and attacks against me,” she said.

“The president knows what he and his men have done. And he knows he has the power to order prosecutors to withdraw the cases against me in order to rectify a monumental wrong. UnPAGE A7

CHR: Let courts decide on ‘nanlaban’ cases

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

MANILA - Deaths related to the government’s anti-narcotics campaign, especially the socalled “nanlaban” cases, should reach the courts.

This was the call of the Commission on human Rights during the Senate probe on the deaths of teenagers Kian delos Reyes and Carl Angelo Arnaiz on Tuesday.

“Meron po kaming pagasa na ang kaso ni Kian (delos Santos) ay aabot sa korte sa tulong na rin po ng ating mga kaibigan sa PAO (Public Attorneys Office). Pero sana po ang iba pa pong mga kaso na nanlaban daw ay tignan natin ang puno’t dulo nito,” ChR chairman Chito Gascon said.

But out of the thousands who have died in the administration’s drug on war, only one case has reached the court so far, Gascon claimed.

“Sa kasalukuyan, nasa dalawang libo mahigit na ang napatay sa police operations [...] Sa aming kaalaman po, sa mga kaso na napatay sa legitimate police operations, bagama’t mayroon sa Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service, isa pa lamang po ang nakaabot sa korte,” he said.

According to police records,

2,216 people died in police operations.

A “RealNumbersPh” data release on June 30 pegged the number of drug suspects killed in the drug war at 3,451. A similar release in June said there were 8,200 deaths under investigation out of 12,833 homicides recorded since July 1, 2016. The Presidential Communications Operations Office said 2,098 were drug-related.

Gascon said the sole case that reached the court was the killing of Renato Bertes and his son, Jaypee. earlier reports said Jaypee was arrested at his home on Thursday.

Fearing for his son’s life, his father accompanied him to the police station.

But they were both killed, with the police alleging that Renato tried to grab the gun of one of the officers.

The delos Santoses have filed murder and torture complaints against Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jerwin Cruz and PO1 Jeremias Pereda, the officers involved in their son’s death during a Caloocan City police operation last month. The National Bureau of Investigation has also recommended murder charges over Kian’s death.

Investigations are also ongoing into the death of 19-year-old Carl Arnaiz, also at the hands of Caloocan police. Police said Arnaiz robbed a taxi driver and then shot at them, forcing them to fire back.

A police autopsy report, however, has suggested Arnaiz was lying on the ground when he was shot.

Bruises and marks also suggest he was handcuffed and manhandled before he was killed.

A prosecutor will determine whether there is basis to bring complaints filed against the police officers to court.

Stronger collaboration between ChR and police ChR called for stronger collaboration in ensuring effective monitoring and investigation of drug-related cases in a meeting with PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa last week.

“Malaking tulong para sa pagalam kung ‘nanlaban nga ba’ o ‘nanlaban daw’ [ang pagbigay] ng pulis ng lahat ng impormasyon na nasa kanila [...] nang sa gayon kayo sa Senado at kami sa ChR mapag-aralan nang buo ang bawat kaso at malaman bakit isa pa lang na nanlaban case ang umabot sa korte [kung] dumadami na ang nanlaban daw,” Gascon said.

BBL remains a priority, Duterte assures MILF by alexiS

romero Philstar.com

MANILA — President Duterte has assured the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) remains a priority of his administration and has vowed to meet with congressional leaders to fast-track its passage.

Duterte made the commitment in a meeting with MILF leaders in

Malacañang Monday night, said presidential spokesman ernesto Abella in a press briefing. “(he) met with the leadership of MILF to discuss, among others, their concern about social media posts critical of their handling of the progress of the BBL bill,” Abella said.

“The President assured them that he considers this high priority and vital to the future of Mindanao and the nation. he’s

asking to meet with the Senate President and Speaker of the house to facilitate the process,” he added.

Abella said Duterte had also thanked the MILF “for its strong support” for the fight against extremists in Mindanao. The President also cited the humanitarian efforts to save civilians in Marawi City and the continued operations of the MILF against terrorists.

Sen. Leila de Lima said President Rodrigo Duterte knows why the detained lawmaker should be released from prison. An outspoken critic of the administration, De Lima has been imprisoned since February on charges that she accepted bribes from drug lords when she was the justice secretary.

Phistar.com photo

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BLOOD FOR PEACE. Military and police personnel join “Dugo para sa Kapayapaan”—a blood-letting activity held at the Armed Forces of the Philippines General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

PNA photo by Joey Razon

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september 7-13 2017 • LAs VeGAs AsIAN JOUrNAL

OpiniOn

Political bickering

Features

SOME say that in any political landscape, opposition is good. Opposition is more prevalent in a democracy as it keeps current leaders on their toes, and makes sure that no one has absolute power.

While democracy allows the people to put into power leaders who will represent their interests, the opposition is present to avoid any form of tyranny.

The Philippines is no stranger to a polarized political environment. The country has been molded— and tested by—constant political bickering between the ruling party and the opposition, administration after administration.

When asked how he would grade the first year of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the president’s staunchest critics, said he would describe it as a “massive failure.”

Trillanes said that the president has failed to fulfill many of his campaign promises and has yet to improve the lives of ordinary Filipinos under his leadership.

The senator is particularly scathing when criticizing Duterte’s bloody anti-drug campaign.

Trillanes believes that drug-related killings during police operations were state-sponsored and that the president has ordered police officers to kill drug suspects.

“Remember, his war on drugs has already killed more than 10,000 people. And that’s even higher than the 9/11 casualties,” Trillanes said during an

interview with ANC’s Headstart, referring to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S. “Remember, he is the president of the republic and he launched this policy against illegal drugs and the policemen are being ordered to randomly kill Filipinos based on mere suspicion,” he claimed.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) only accounts 3,451 drugs personalities who were killed in the government’s anti-drugs campaign from July 1, 2016 to July 26, 2017. The number does not include 1,398 cases that were drug-related but not statesanctioned; 828 deaths that were not connected to drugs; and 3,785 other killings that are under investigation.

Over the weekend, Duterte called Trillanes a “political ISIS.” The president made this remark after Trillanes made fresh accusations against Duterte’s son Paolo and son-in-law Manase Carpio for their alleged involvement in smuggling.

“He (Trillanes) does not have any talent. He does not even know the difference between a democrat and a member of a party. How can you expect [him to do good] when he lacked a knowledge of life?” the president said. “Bira nang bira, akala niya tama siya. (Trillanes is the political ISIS. He is ignorant, he just attacks and attacks,

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

thinking he is right).”

While political mudslinging may seem typical in a democratic setting, the continuous trading of barbs between the president and the senator attracts scaremongers, ones who are pushing into this emotionally polarized atmosphere to convince people on their side rather than ignite political aspirations

and ideals.

It is highly unlikely that these two will reach a compromise and decide to set aside their differences to fight together—instead of each other—for the good of the people.

If this narrative continues, the ones who will lose are the Filipinos. (AJPress)

Are the ’dreamers’ now being held hostage for Congress to fund Trump’s wall and end family-based petitions?

THEY are more than nation’s just statistics — these broken 800,000 people brought The Fil-Am immiinto the United States as Perspective gration kids by their parents or system. grandparents grew up in T h e this country not knowing legal that they did not have all basis the required immigra- Gel SantoS-ReloS for this tion documents to live execuin America legally until they had tive order was the “prosecutoto apply for a driver’s license or rial” discretion exercised by for college. They may have been both Republican and Democratic our kids’ classmates, or a volun- past presidents. DACA’s intent is teer helping out during times of to make “Dreamers” low priority calamity, or a soldier willing to in the use of the government’s make the ultimate sacrifice of of- limited resources so that those fering their lives for the freedom undocumented immigrants with and security of the United States. criminal records will be given top They are the “Dreamers,” who, priority in moving forward with for the longest time, had to live deportation cases. under the shadows for fear of beDACA is NOT amnesty as this ing deported out of the only coun- program only gives qualified try they know as “home.” That “Dreamers” a renewable twowas until former President Barack year period of deferred action Obama signed an executive order from deportation and eligibilin June 2012 called the Deferred ity for a work permit. Meantime, Action for Childhood Arrivals pro- many of these undocumented gram (DACA), which was meant youth have come out and have to help these qualified “Dream- become responsible, producers” who have not committed any tive members of society who pay crimes and do not pose harm and taxes, and aspire to serve their danger to America to come out of adoptive country in the academe, the shadows. This program was work force, and the military. meant to be a temporary solution However, on Tuesday, Sepas they waited for Congress to fi- tember 5, President Donald nally pass a comprehensive immi- Trump delivered a “gift” to these gration reform bill that will fix the “Dreamers” he claims he loves,

IMPEACHMENT complaints have been filed in the House of Representatives against Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista and Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on different grounds, while certain other parties are talking of filing similar complaints against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and Vice President Leni Robredo on various grounds. Not all of them may prosper. But should more than one of them mature into triable cases, we would be seeing something unprecedented in the whole storybook of impeachment. Ours could become the first Republic of Impeachments.

Impeachment is a politico-judicial process by means of which certain officials, who may not under the Constitution be charged with any criminal offense while in office, may be removed for culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corrup-

Obama breaks his silence and issued a statement for the first time saying that “to target hopeful young strivers who grew up here is wrong, because they’ve done nothing wrong.

“The action taken today isn’t required legally. It’s a political decision, and a moral question.

Whatever concerns or complaints Americans may have about immigration in general, we shouldn’t threaten the future of this group of young people who are here through no fault of their own, who pose no threat, who are not taking away anything from the rest of us.”

“It is precisely because this action is contrary to our spirit, and to common sense, that business leaders, faith leaders, economists, and Americans of all political stripes called on the administration not to do what it did today. And now that the White House has shifted its responsibility for these young people to Congress, it’s up to Members of Congress to protect these young people and our future. I’m heartened by those who’ve suggested that they should. And I join my voice with the majority of Americans who hope they step up and do it with a sense of moral urgency that matches the urgency these

young people feel.

“Ultimately, this is about basic decency. This is about whether we are a people who kick hopeful young strivers out of America, or whether we treat them the way we’d want our own kids to be treated. It’s about who we are as a people – and who we want to be.

What makes us American is not a question of what we look like, or where our names come from, or the way we pray. What makes us American is our fidelity to a set of ideals – that all of us are created equal; that all of us deserve the chance to make of our lives what we will; that all of us share an obligation to stand up, speak out, and secure our most cherished values for the next generation.

That’s how America has traveled this far. That’s how, if we keep at it, we will ultimately reach that more perfect union.”

WATCHING THE NEWS on Tuesday, however, revealed how some conservative Republicans with a hardline stance on immigration want to proceed with that “legislative fix” that may spare the “Dreamers” from deportation.

On CNN’s “The Situation Room,” a Republican lawmaker told Wolf Blitzer that he would reconsider voting to give legal

status to these “Dreamers” if Congress would pass a bill in six months that will strengthen our borders, which should include a downpayment for the border wall, and that the “Merit based” bill which hopes to cut down LEGAL immigration by 50 percent by slashing visas for family based petitions to prioritize high skilled workers should also be part of the mix, among others.

Are the “Dreamers” now being used as bargaining chips or hostages for Trump to get the funding for his border wall that he promised Mexico would be paying? Are the Dreamers’ life being used as leverage for the bill that will cut legal immigration which kills our dream of family reunification?

WHATEVER YOUR POSITION IS, tell your senators and representatives your stand on this issue. Do you want to save the “Dreamers” or do you think they should be deported? CALL NOW: 1-866-834-8040. Time is running out. *** 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

A unique Republic of Impeachments?

Opinion

FRanciSco tatad

through an announcement made

by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Trump is rescinding DACA and has passed the “porcupine” of the job of “fixing” the “Dreamers’” problem onto Congress within six months. After this period and without any new legislation that will protect their status, these more than 800,000 men and women will have to be deported, including 5,050 Filipinos.

As Balitang America reported, there are 22,000 undocumented Filipino youths who qualify for DACA. The Trump administration defends its decision contending that DACA is “unconstitutional”, an overreach of Obama’s use of executive power, even if it had been used by no less than Presidents Reagan, Clinton, and Bush before Obama.

Even Trump’s own party was divided in its support of the president, with many siding with the Democrats that the decision to rescind DACA is cruel and inhumane, and was made by the president to make his followers who make up about 30-40 percent of Americans, happy and loyal. More than anything else, they argue that this is a politically motivated move that will do more harm than good to America.

Former President Barack

tion, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. The House has “the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment,” and the Senate “the sole power to try and decide all such cases”. Other than the President, the Vice President, the members of the Supreme Court, the Comelec, the Civil Service Commission, and the Commission on Audit, and the Ombudsman, no one else may be subjected to impeachment.

Our impeachment experience Noble and high-minded as its original purpose may be, the impeachment process has been subverted and misused since 2000-2001. At President Joseph Estrada’s impeachment trial, at least eight of the 21 senatorjudges, who had taken an oath to render “impartial justice,” publicly called for the respondent’s resignation while the trial was going on. Many of the senatorjudges conducted themselves as prosecutors, without being restrained by the Supreme Court Chief Justice, who presided over the proceedings.

When the prosecutors walked out after they failed to introduce into the proceedings an envelope

which outside parties had volunteered without need of a court subpoena, Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. not only failed to summon them back to court, but even joined the protest crowd at EDSA and swore in Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as acting President, without the presidency having been first vacated. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who had threatened an empty resignation (“as soon as my successor is elected”) after 11 of the senator judges denied the prosecutors’ motion, ended holding the microphone for Mrs. Arroyo during her oath-taking, while her military aide, who might have done a less conspicuous job, stood by.

The eventual filing of non-bailable charges against Estrada, his consequent prolonged detention at the Veterans Medical Center, and Arroyo’s controversial electoral victory over the immensely popular Fernando Poe Jr. in 2004, which gave her a chance to pardon Estrada upon his conviction of plunder by the Sandiganbayan, put everything about the botched impeachment trial behind the new political reality, but the impeachment process as

such remained scarred.

The Supreme Court strikes In June 2003, Estrada filed an impeachment complaint against Davide. On October 22, 2003, the House committee on justice threw it out. The next day, Representatives Gilbert Teodoro Jr. of Tarlac and Felix William “Wimpy” Fuentebella of Camarines Sur filed a new complaint against Davide for his alleged misuse of the Judiciary Development Fund. It was a well-documented complaint, and very quickly, it was endorsed by more than one-third of the members of the House—the minimum number required to transmit the articles of impeachment from the House to the Senate for trial, without floor debates.

But the Supreme Court, acting in defense of its Chief Justice, struck down the impeachment complaint as “unconstitutional,” on the ground that under Section 3, paragraph 5, Article XI of the Constitution, “no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year.” The ruling, penned by then Associate Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, now Ombudsman, held

that after the Estrada abortive complaint, Davide could no longer be subjected to an impeachment proceeding for a period of one year. This struck some constitutional experts as a deliberate misreading of the Constitution.

As written in the law, the House alone “initiates” all impeachment proceedings. This happens when it transmits a verified impeachment complaint to the Senate for trial. Estrada’s complaint failed to develop into an impeachment case or proceeding against Davide, so the court could not say by trying Davide on the TeodoroFuentebellacomplaint, he would be subjected to two impeachment “proceedings” within one year.

But the Carpio-Morales ponencia not only saved Davide from an open-and-shut case, which could have cut short his judicial career, and prevented him from occupying the position of Permanent Representative to the UN later, in violation of the Foreign Service Act and without being confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. It also damaged the law on impeachment.

GMA uses the SC ruling This would become manifest

during GMA’s elected term. In 2005, Arroyo’s supporters helped her overcome the first impeachment threat against her by filing an insufficient complaint which the House committee on justice was certain to dismiss; as soon as this happened, no serious impeachment complaint could be filed against her for a period of one year. This allowed her to beat the recurring impeachment threats against her until 2009.

In 2010, B. S. Aquino 3rd became the nation’s first “machine-elected” president. He had grievances against the Arroyo administration, and he swiftly set out to settle them by having Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez impeached by his allies in the House for betrayal of public trust on March 22, 2011. Fearing a one-sided Senate impeachment trial, Gutierrez resigned on April 29, 2011, thereby allowing Aquino to appoint Justice CarpioMorales as the new Ombudsman.

Morales had earlier gained public notice when Aquino chose her to swear him into office on June 30, 2010, in lieu of the Chief Justice, who traditionally swore in the

u PAGE A7

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 7-13 2017

A

Report: China poised to achieve air supremacy over ‘first island chain’

CHINA has demonstrated its ability to gain air supremacy over areas of the “first island chain” as it continues its military buildup in the region, according to a report from Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND).

The “first island chain” covers major archipelagos on the East Asian continental coast including the northern Philippines, the Kuril Islands, the Japanese archipelago, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and Borneo.

Focus Taiwan News Channel reported that Chinese bombers and fighter jets have been crossing the “first island chain” regularly, chalDEFENSE OF THE ANCIENTS. The town of Agutaya is one of the 40 cluster islands in Cuyo, Palawan. It was an old Spanish fort primarily because of its elevation — built by the Augustinian Recollects with the help of local residents in 1683 and remodeled in early 18th century. Inside the fort, which was used as a defense against Muslim invasions, is a church — Baluarte de San Juan Bautista. During World War II, the church fortress became an evacuation and refugee center for the people of Agutaya, Palawan. To this day, it remains as one of the town’s main attractions.

PNA photo by Roland Nablo

UP still one of top 1,000 universities in the world

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

MANILA — The University of the Philippines is still the country’s lone tertiary education institution in this year’s Times

Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

UP jumped to the 601-800 bracket from the 800 bracket last year.

THE World University Rankings lists the top 1,000 universities in

The University of the Philippines is still the sole university in the country in this year’s Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, after moving to the 601-800 bracket from the >800 bracket last year.

Philstar.com photo

the world. It uses 13 performance indicators covering the areas of teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income.

The country’s premier university got an overall score of 30.6.

“UP is largely seen as one of the best Filipino universities in national rankings and among the top institutions in Asia. Recent improvements include academic reputation and international faculty ratio,” THE said on its website.

UP also placed in the 201-250 bracket of the Asia University Rankings and the BRICS and Emerging Economies Rankings and 367th in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.

University of Oxford has been the world’s best university for two consecutive years, while the University of Cambridge moved to second place from fourth.

The National University of Singapore is still the best university in Asia, ranking alongside the University of Toronto at 22nd place.

De Lima to Duterte: You know why I should be...

and stop the killings of his own people,” De Lima added. fortunately, he does not have the De Lima, an outspoken critic of guts to man up to it, and do what the administration, was arrested is right—free an innocent woman, in February on charges that she PAGE A5

accepted bribes from jailed drug lords when she was the secretary of the Department of Justice. She has repeatedly denied allegations and reiterated her innocence.

lenging U.S. military presence in the Asia Pacific region.

Beijing has been conducting far-sea training and using its operational aircraft carrier to gradually increase its ability to take over the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwanese MND reported.

To strengthen its preparedness against Taiwan, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army had been holding land drills to seize Taiwan’s offshore islands, the report said.

China is reportedly developing long-range missiles, which will be capable of countering foreign military forces.

The Liaoning, China’s aircraft

A unique Republic of...

PAGE A6 President.

Aquino’s turn On December 12,2011, 188 congressmen, after meeting with Aquino, who had expressed his displeasure against Chief Justice Renato Corona, signed an impeachment complaint against the latter, without perusing the document. It contained eight articles of impeachment and was transmitted to the Senate the next day for trial. The trial began on January 16, 2012, with the prosecution excluding five of the eight charges for lack of evidence, leaving only three, but ultimately concentrating on only one.

The trial concluded on May 29, 2012, after Malacañang released P50 million or more to each, except one, of the 20 senator-judges, who ultimately voted to convict Corona. The bribery was revealed in a privilege speech

by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in September 2013 and confirmed by then Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, who said P1.107 billion was released to the senators from Aquino’s so-called Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which the Supreme Court later struck down as “unconstitutional”.

Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and the late Senators Joker Arroyo and Miriam Defensor Santiago all voted to acquit Corona and received nothing; Sen. PanfiloLacson was the only senator who voted to convict, but also got nothing.

Corona’s trial invalidated The admitted bribery should have invalidated the Senate ruling, and provided sufficient

ground to reinstate Corona. But Aquino quickly appointed Sereno, a Supreme Court newcomer, to Corona’s position, and Corona died on April 29, 2016, before his lawyers could come up with the appropriate petition. Many of the 19 senators who had taken bribes to convict Corona are still in the Senate, without having been formally charged with any crime.

In case any of the impeachment complaints prospers into a Senate proceeding, they will once again be acting as “senator-judges”.

How long can this travesty go on?

Except for Robredo whose legitimacy remains under question before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, but who, aside from that, has not, in the view of many, committed any impeachable offense, the others who are now the subject of an actual or impending impeachment complaint deserve to be given the opportunity to respond to the allegations against them, without the President weighing in. But who can assure them this?

Hands-off policy?

Malacañang continues to announce a “hands-off” policy on the impeachment complaints, but the best-known secret is that DU30 had reportedly given his imprimatur before any of the complaints were filed. On the Ombudsman’s proposed impeachment, it was earlier reported that DU30 had some misgivings, because Carpio Morales’ nephew Maneses is married to DU30’s daughter Sara, who is the mayor of Davao City. But he wants to appoint his own Ombudsman, and she claims she is entitled to a full seven-year term, not just the unexpired por-

carrier, has conducted four drills in waters near Taiwan between Dec. 25, 2016 and July 12 this year, according to the report.

Any military action by China against Taiwan may take the form of deterrence, blockade and live fire.

China is also seen to increase non-traditional combat operations against Taiwan such as cyber attacks and electronic warfare.

In 2013, the Chinese navy, or the People’s Liberation Army Navy, broke through the “first island chain”blockade, its vessels gaining access to the Pacific Ocean. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com)

tion of her predecessor’s term.

She says this is what the law says, but DU30 points out, the Constitution does not agree with her.

In the end, whatever DU30 wants, as in his war on drugs, will decide who will be impeached and who will be spared.

For he remains in control of all the variables. Just look at what happened to the Magdalo impeachment complaint against him. DU30 has committed all the impeachable offenses which should prompt an independent and impartial House to transmit the appropriate articles to the Senate for trial. But the Magdalo complaint was summarily thrown out of the House justice committee without a full hearing.

The only thing I see that could prevent the simultaneous or serial impeachment and trial of Comelec Chairman Bautista, Chief Justice Sereno and Ombudsman Carpio Morales is the Senate’s capability as an impeachment court to try three or even just two cases at the same time. If the Senate could bear this load, doing so would have the singular benefit of keeping the senators out of the obscene and deranged business of monkeying around with “inverted federalism,” which DU30 and his sycophants seem so eager to railroad through this puppet Congress without any real effort to make the people at their level understand the serious issues involved.

But knowing the carrying capacity of our mediocre institutions and their members, my real fear is that it would be imposing upon the Senate and its members a burden far beyond their capacity to bear. (ManilaTimes.net)

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Sharon Cuneta admits going through an emotional time

by Tessa

Mauricio-arriola

ManilaTimes.net

As soon as sharon Cuneta walked into ABs-CBN’s Dolphy Theater for a press conference on Monday, everyone knew there was something going on with the Megastar. she wasn’t her usual jolly and bubbly self, which had long endeared her to the Entertainment press. she wasn’t unfriendly in the least, but as she walked down the red carpet, it seemed as though she was deep in thought, so much so that she hardly noticed longtime writer friends whom she would normally greet with a warm hug or kiss.

Ever honest with her feelings, Cuneta first apologized to the press for moving the conference schedule almost three hours later than the original invitation, explaining she wasn’t feeling well. she also genuinely said sorry if she passed by old friends on her way to the stage without noticing they were there. It was all unintended and everyone believed her.

“As you know, I’ve been on a strict diet to lose weight and for the first time in my life, my blood test this morning said I was anemic,” she shared in disbelief. “That’s why I’m like this. Kulang kasi sa nutrisyon ang katawan ko at lahat

ng aspeto ng buhay ko!” she managed to joke.

The last part of that quote, however, immediately piqued the members of the press who requested the actress to clarify what she meant, lest her fans and even they themselves worry about her wellbeing.

Incidentally, one tabloid carried a banner story that Monday morning with the question “sharon at Kiko hiwalay na?” referring to her husband senator Francis Pangilinan. On sunday too, when she guested on ABs-CBN’s AsAP, she couldn’t stop crying as she sang “You” by the Carpenters.

“Yes, I’m going through something emotional, but I’m OK,” she admitted. “It’s just one of those things we all go through every now and then…. And it happens just when there’s so much you have to do, like today of all days, or [sunday] on AsAP of all days when I started crying while singing a song that has meaning for me.”

Without giving specifics, she curiously said again, “Marami din akong pinagdadaanan, pero minsan, it’s too personal to talk about.”

Changing topics quickly, Cuneta thanked everyone for their concern and said that she really needs to gain her strength back to prepare for her upcoming movie swith one-

by Bianca

Piolo Pascual

ABS-CBN photo

Journal

Hayden Kho, Vicki Belo seal the deal in the City of Love

by Tessa

Mauricioa-arriola ManilaTimes.net

AFTER weeks of lavish wedding updates on social media, celebrity doctors Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho finally exchanged “I do’s” over the weekend in the ultra-expensive City of Love.

On Friday, sept. 1, the couple, who were civilly married in Manila some weeks before leaving for their grand Parisian wedding, held a welcome dinner for celebrity guests aboard a 70-meter cruise ship that sailed along the River seine.

“We formally welcome all our loved ones as we cruise along the Sharon Cuneta ManilaTimes.net photo River seine to celebrate our oncetime boyfriend and favorite leading in-a-lifetime kind of love,” Belo man Robin Padilla. said on her Instagram account.

“We start shooting by the end of On the morning of the wedseptember and that’s what excites me these days,” she wrapped up.

[The sharon-Robin starrer replaced star Cinema’s original plan to reunite the Megastar with her first husband Gabby Concepcion on the big screen. According to the rumor mill, the latter backed out over talent fee issues.]

Later, at a press huddle, Cuneta categorically stated her problems had nothing to do with her husband and that they were “OK.” she also said she had already gone through mid-life crisis and apologized that she simply cannot talk about what she’s currently going through.

Photos from Hayden Kho’s Instagram account

ding, the 61-year-old dermatologist who singlehandedly built the Belo Medical Beauty empire, posted her one and only Instagram photo for the entire day: her breath-taking blush pink Michael Cinco bridal gown made entirely of French lace and embroidered with swarovski crystals, complete with a three-meter long train.

With the church and reception venue kept secret from the public until saturday, Instagram feeds in the Philippines were flooded with posts taken by the couple’s guests from the American Church in Paris for the ceremony, and the opulent Palais Garnier, also known as the Paris Opera, for the elaborate dinner party.

The American Church in Paris is said to be the first American church established outside the

United states. Belo and Kho, both renewed Christians, were wed by a pastor, with a complete bridal entourage, led by their daughter scarlet snow Belo as flower girl.

But before the party went into full swing, Belo and Kho danced on the Grand staircase to “Take Me as I Am” from the Broadway musical “Jekyll and Hyde,” choreographed, according to Belo’s daughter Cristalle Belo-Pitt, by Lala Movement. The guests included Piolo Pascual, Derek Ramsay, Alden Richards, Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres, Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera and Lovi Poe. At 37, Kho is younger than Belo by 24 years. Belo was previously married to businessman Atom Henares, with whom she has two children, Cristalle and Quark.

Getting to know more about Piolo Pascual

Gonzalez Philstar.com

B

about Piolo Pascual, off-cam.

1. On the saying “Life begins WITH his hair still wet from at 40”: “I already know what I playing badminton, he comes to want in life.”

“Life got more exciting. Bethe interview, not with an entourage of assistants, but with his son cause you’re wiser, you’re a better Iñigo. He sincerely apologized for person, you’re more aware of your being only five minutes late. “Just environment and yourself,” says water, please,” he tells the server. the matinee idol, who turned 40 this year.

He’s fasting.

He describes his 20s as a time He is idolized by millions for his looks, talent, and what he has done when he was “really hungry, strugin showbiz. But he is so much gling, and didn’t want to stop.” In more than just an actor. Here are his 30s, he was “slowly realizing 10 things you might want to know and accepting” himself for who he

was and what he could do.

“For me, my ‘midlife’ happened earlier, because I started my life really early. I had to deal with professional and personal issues a couple of years back, so by the time I turned 40, I was set.”

2. Before going back to the Philippines to try his hand at acting, Piolo took on different jobs in the U.S., one of which was being a security guard at the Oscar Awards.

“That was the year of Titanic.

I saw all of them, the actors, the

winners. I remember taking a nap behind the Oscar statue because I was the graveyard shift. After that, I would go back to the hospital,” says Piolo, who also worked as an admitting clerk in a hospital ER. “What I realized back then was,tao rin pala sila! some of them even looked smaller than me. Even if they’re blown up on the big screen, in person, they’re also regular Joes.”

“I knew for a fact that I wasn’t cut out for an 8 to 5 job. I was feeling, in my core, this is not where

I should be. I told my mom that I wanted to go back to the Philippines (to try acting.) That if I don’t do this now, I’ll be 40 and look back and regret not doing what I wanted to do.”

3. On producing the film Kita Kita: “I’ve never seen any of my films more times than I’ve seen this.”

“We had FGDs, we went through a lot of editing and cutting, we poured our heart and soul into it,” he says about “Kita PAGE B3

Features

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Dale talDe anD SheDlon Simeon

Filipino Top Chefs collaborate to push Filipino cuisine further

By MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

This screenshot from “Bizaare Foods with Andrew Zimmern” shows the American TV host sampling Filipino food.

Philstar.com photo

Zimmern calls Filipino food ‘America’s next big trend’

AwArd-winning American chef and TV host Andrew Zimmern has praised Filipino food anew as his new video explaining why Filipino food is “America’s next big trend” goes viral on social media.

In the video by Tech Insider and Business Insider, Zimmern said he has been telling people for years that Filipino food “will get more and more popular because of the variety of ingredients and the European techniques found in Filipino cuisine.”

According to him, America has been experimenting on cuisines from different ethnicities in the past three to four decades and Chinese, Thai, and Japanese food already had their season in the sun in America.

It is therefore FIlipino food’s time in the spotlight.

“Their (Filipinos’) use of acidity, the quality of their food has the best of Asian cuisine and the best of sort of what happens when really good Asian food, island nation food brushes up against Spanish culture,” he expounded in the video.

He said the Spanish has colonized the Philippines for almost 500 years (actually, it is over 300 years) at one point, “so the influence is heartfelt.”

He thinks people are going into pre-colonial foods because Americans are now in love with pre-colonial foods from Mexico.

“Filipino food will help contribute more diversity into America’s world system,” he espoused.

It was in 2012 when the host of “Bizaare Foods with Andrew Zimmern” first said Filipino food will be the next big thing in America.

The new video, so far, has over two million views, 8,000 shares, and 11,000 likes on Facebook. It has reaped mixed reactions among local and foreign netizens. Some said Filipino food is too salty, sweet or greasy to be the next big thing in the US, while some praised it for being healthy because it involves a lot of vegetables.

To fuel Zimmern’s claim, some Filipinos commented that they want to go to America right now and put up a “turo-turo” or a “jollijeep.”

(Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo/Philstar.com)

wITH the upcoming opening of his Manhattan restaurant called rice and Gold, dale Talde continues to be a man on a mission, not just to build his empire but also to push Filipino cuisine whenever and wherever he can.

A couple of weeks ago, Talde collaborated with fellow Top Chef alumni Sheldon Simeon for a barbecue/luau party. Tickets to the two-seating pop-up event at the Massoni in midtown got sold out when word got out that the two were collaborating on a project.

“He was in town, so I said let’s do something. I love Sheldon, he is a good dude, he’s a homie,” Talde said. “I was in Maui 2-3 years ago and he was then at Migrant. I ate there and it was f’in awesome, man. That’s how I met him.”

The ideas came flying – the Dale Talde concept was fast, it was not individual dining, it was a party. “we will eat some great food, watch some hula dancers and finish it off with halo-halo or shave ice, all while drinking beer or cocktails. It’s actually like going to a barbecue at your Ate’s house, or Tito’s house,” dale said laughing.

I had to ask about that “Tito” reference, because their posters for the event said it was going to be a barbecue at Tito dale and Tito Sheldon’s.

“I’m 38 right now and my body feels like 65. I should be Lolo,” he quipped, as he let out a loud laugh.

Collaboration For Sheldon, the possibility of working with dale, the chef he watched on Top Chef, was a great opportunity too hard to pass up.

“when you get to cook with your brothers, it is a celebration of our culture. we’re all brothers in some way or form. It couldn’t be a more personal moment. The moments that I got to spend cooking with my grandparents is still vivid in my mind even though they have passed. The memories are still seared in my mind,” Sheldon shared.

That image is of his lolo letting him taste the sabaw (soup) using an aklo (Ilocano word for ladle) that his own grandfather made. “we wanted to make it luauesque. we were blessed to have a 220-pound mangalitsa pig. So we used the hams, bellies, head, the whole nine yards,” dale said.

“Every celebrated event at my house where we had a potluck, my mom was one of 13. You ask one auntie to make pinakbet, another to make pancit and another one makes kare-kare. I wanted to ask him that same thing, what do you want to make?”

So basically, it was two Filipino guys who love to cook and eat hanging out.

Aside from the collaboration with Sheldon for the pop-up luau dinner at Massoni, Talde is also working with Alvin Cailan of Eggslut for a project at the New York Food and wine Festival this October.

It is going to be the ultimate Sunday brunch with a silog station and the concept is a Mother’s day-style brunch (which is not happening on Mother’s day).

A lot of people are excited to see this collaboration between dale and Alvin, the creator of Los Angeles’ latest cult favorite Eggslut, a chef driven, gourmet food concept inspired by Cailan’s love for eggs and is known for its staple egg sandwich.

Sheldon Simeon

I’ll call it what it is. I am a son of immigrants now living in America and this is the food we are making. I’m trying to figure out how to remind people that this country was built on the backs of immigrants,” he said.

“They talk sh*t about slowing down immigration coming to the US but they weren’t crying that sh*t in the late 60s when they needed healthcare professionals.

Now they’re picking and choosing? we raised your children, we fed you, we take care of you in the hospitals and you’re too good to eat our food?,” he asked.

“It is frustrating and it is to some degree status quo for us.

This is the reality we’ve been living all our lives in America. we’re some Asian culture that no one ever knew was there. we’re always second-class citizens. we speak up for ourselves now and we always have. But are your surprised? we took it on the chin for years because to a certain degree we were happy to just be in a better situation,” he added.

Projects Aside from rice and Gold at The Bowery Hotel, Talde is also opening a couple of dining spots and a bar in west Palm Beach.

He currently owns Atlantic Social in Brooklyn and the three Talde locations (Miami, Jersey City and Park Slope, Brooklyn). dale and his partners at Three Kings restaurant Group (TKrG), david Massoni and John Bush, debuted their first project in Manhattan with the opening of Massoni in the Arlo NoMad Hotel last year. The group then opened Atlantic Social in Brooklyn followed

by The Crown, a rooftop bar and lounge, in the 50 Bowery Hotel in New York City’s Chinatown.

I kidded him about the empire he has been building, one that has been years in the making.

“Hey, man, I’m just trying to carve out a little niche that hopefully people like. I thank my parents - my mom and dad are the most supportive people that I know. It’s a good ride,” he said.

“Now is a good time. I have the energy to do it now.”

Our conversation shifted to one of the dishes they served that evening. It was KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, Langka), an Ilonggo dish and a nod to dale’s roots.

He said he thought on using KBL but then no one would understand the dish (except maybe for the handful of Filipinos present at the dinner). Someone suggested calling it Black Beans with Pork. “why are we trying to turn it into something it’s not? Let’s call it what it is – Pig’s Feet with Black Beans.

If they don’t want to eat it, it’s on them,” dale shared.

Sheldon nodded.

“That’s the way I am cooking now, that chefs are saying to represent. It’s not even to represent, [I cook Filipino] because it is the right thing to do,” he said.

“You can’t say that any more honestly than that. It’s the right Top Chef stars Sheldon Simeon and Dale Talde talk about cooking Filipino cuisine and how it thing to do,” dale said, smacking is the right thing to do.

AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya the table for emphasis.

Next Big Trend?

“I don’t care if you don’t want to eat Filipino food, I am still doing it. It’s on you. The Filipinos will always come and eat,” Talde said, showing flashes of his old mercurial self when he began on Top Chef a few seasons ago.

He has reason to feel a little pissed, especially when some people in the food industry call Filipino cuisine a trend, or worse, a fad. Sometimes, being called the next big thing (for the past five years and counting) is nothing big anymore.

“They all say it’s the next big thing but who gives a sh*t? I don’t f*cking care! You know what the new thing is? Fats,” Talde said. “don’t put Filipino and poke on the same category, which a lot of people are doing. They’re trying to say that boba tea as the next new sh*t, we’ve been eating and drinking this for 25, 30 years.”

“I don’t care about them branding Filipino food as the next new thing. Now, more than any other time, is when we show that immigrants have been and will be the backbone of this country, whether you want it or not,” he added.

“Anything that you connect with a trend becomes a timeline,” Sheldon said. “Judging somebody else’s food and calling it disgusting, for me that is discrimination.”

“It’s like trying to put someone down for who they are,” dale said, agreeing with Sheldon.

Talde said what is happening in the country in the past few months have made him realize a number of things. Born to immigrant parents from the Philippines, he is an immigrant who, through sheer hard work and passion has achieved his American dream. “we’re immigrants, I am all about the immigrant food and

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 7-13, 2017

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Courtside reporter crowned Miss World Philippines JoshLia or RonLia? Julia Barretto makes her choice

by Christina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

EARLY pageant favorite Laura Lehmann did not disappoint supporters by winning the Miss World Philippines 2017 crown on Sunday night, Sept. 3, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The 24-year-old beauty bested 34 other hopefuls, and vowed to try her best to win the country its second Miss World title when she competes in China on November 18.

Actress Megan Young was the only Filipina to be crowned Miss World, winning the title in 2013. A decade earlier, actress Ruffa Guttierez won second runner-up.

Besides Lehmann’s regal looks and sophisticated catwalk, she won over judges with her answer to the question, “What would you say to people who do not believe that pageants are there to empower women?”

Her winning reply: “To anyone who doesn’t believe in pageants, I would ask them to take a look at the girls we have onstage tonight because we have lawyers, architects, we have women of substance who are here today not only because of what they look like, but because of what’s in their heart, what’s in their mind, and because what they’ve brought forth – beauty with a purpose projects. They are here fighting to represent the Philippines and become the best version of the Filipina and to me that’s something

by Kristel

Miss World PHilippines 2017 Laura Lehman

only to celebrate not protest.”

An Ateneo de Manila University graduate, the new Miss World Philippines is a familiar face on TV, especially to those who follow University Athletic Association of the Philippines games. She served as courtside reporter during UAAP’s 77th and 78th seasons.

She later hosted shows for ABS-CBN Sports and then took a spot in the travel show “Listed” on cable’s Lifestyle Network.

Beauty contests are also nothing new to Lehmann. She previously competed in Binibining Pilipinas 2014, when MJ Lastimosa won the Miss Universe Philippines crown. Lehmann had a runner-up finish that year.

On Monday morning, the newly crowned Miss World Philippines took to her Instagram account @ iamlauralehmann to share her

Photos from Miss World Facebook page

emotions.

“Surreal, that’s the only word I can use to describe what I’m feeling right now. This is a dream to me and I feel like it’s going to end any moment.

“I truly believe in everything it stands for. Miss World reminds us all that the greatest beauty is that in giving, and I am so proud to be part of it,” she said.

Completing the Miss World Philippines winners were Winwyn Marquez, Miss Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas; Cynthia Tomalla, Miss Eco Philippines; Sophia Senoron, Miss Multinational; Glyssa Perez, First Princess; and Zara Carbonell, Second Princess.

Save for the first and second princesses, the winners will represent the Philippines in the beauty pageants corresponding to their titles.

daCumos-lagorza Philstar.com

LOVE is truly in the air, and just like real-life love stories - it gets honest really fast!

After making audiences fall in love with their characters - Chloe and Tupe - on the the successful teleserye, “A Love to Last” (ALTL), Julia Barretto and Ronnie Alonte reveal the true status of their relationship.

Julia is currently linked to two dashing leading men - Ronnie and Joshua Garcia. Joshua is her real-life suitor and onscreen partner in her latest film, “Love You to the Stars and Back.”

At the recent press conference for ALTL, Julia was asked who she would choose - Ronnie or Joshua?

Due to the media’s insistence, Julia finally confessed: “Alam mo, I will have to pick Joshua, because Ronnie has a different ‘love to last’.”

It’s confirmed, and JoshLia

JoshLia (Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto) in “Love You to the Stars and Back” or RonLia (Ronnie Alonte and Julia Barretto) in “A Love to Last”

fans can rejoice!

Ronnie, who is reportedly dating actress Loisa Andalio, gamely laughed.

What kind of love lasts a lifetime? Is this the kind of love shared by Anton (Ian Veneracion) and Andeng (Bea Alonzo)?

Find out in the last four weeks

Calendar of Events across

of “A Love To Last” as Anton and Andeng face the biggest and toughest challenges yet in their continuous fight for love.

Fans are invited to watch the cast in “Love Goals: A Love to Last Concert” happening on September 8, 8 p.m. at the Kia Theater.

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS S E p t E m b E R 1 5 -1 7

Liliwenos reunion in Las Vegas, NV Calling all Liliwenos living all around the world! There will be a three-day reunion in Las Vegas, NV starting with a picnic on Friday, Sept. 15 at Silverado Ranch Park. On Saturday, Sept. 16, it is a dinner/dance party at the Palace Station (2411 W. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89102) at 5 p.m. The attire is semi-formal and costs $50 / person. Souvenir t-shirts cost $10 regardless of size. Deadline of payment for both the reunion and t-shirt cost is August 31 to be sent to Ms. Nerri Monteagudo at 9252 Bronze River, Las Vegas, Nevada 89149. On Sept.

17, participants are free to explore the Strip and other Vegas activities. For more information, please contact Bob and Nerri Monteagudo at (702) 339-3838; Carmen P. Manguin (702) 526-8005; Loida Borgonos at (201) 654-5482; or Fred Polistico at (818) 527-3476.

Getting to know more about Piolo...

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26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Echo Park

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Kita,” which is now the highest grossing Filipino independent film of all time.

“The story there is… less risk for us was to do MMFF. But the MMFF had a deadline last year, and we ended up rushing into editing and the final product. So at the last minute, we pulled out because we were not quite sold on the film, to make it more beautiful.

We waited for a play date. Then ‘Wonder Woman’ happened. Then all the summer movies came out.

We were stuck with a play date wherein we were sandwiched between Star Cinema films and the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino. So we said, as long as we have one week, then we’re good.” The film went from being shown in 60 cinemas and earning only P2 million on their opening day, to going to as high as 220 cinemas nationwide and earning P320 million in just four weeks. “The universe conspired for it to be the kind of film it is now,” Piolo says.

4. He would run from his home in Makati to work in Quezon City and back. Yes, run.

“I wear a mask, to avoid the harsh effects of the sun,” he says smiling. “I run through Makati Bridge, then Mandaluyong, San Juan, then Quezon City. I swim at home, I bike in the village the moment I wake up, or I run. Even if I’m working, I bring my stuff to the set, even my trainers! I don’t believe in off days. It’s become part of my lifestyle, my daily routine. If I have an early call time, I’ll work out during lunch time. I’ll find a way. Sometimes, I go to the set from my house on foot. I’ll run.”

Joining a marathon has been on his bucket list, and upon the prodding of the CFO of Sunlife who is turning 50, he is finally running his first full, 42-kilometer marathon in February next year. “I couldn’t say no because he’s 50, and I’m only 40!”

5. He once thought about becoming a pastor.

“I’ve always been religious.

I’ve always been curious about faith and spirituality,” he says about his short course on Theology in Oxford University last year.

“I just wanted to know where I should be, if I could be a pastor or if I should continue being in the business. That was when I was going through a transition.

“If there was anything else I would want to take up, it’s real estate. That is my other business.

All these years that I’ve been working, I put aside money for that. You cannot rely on entertainment all your life, I’m well aware of that.”

6. It was Rep. Vilma Santos-

Save the date! The 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) hosted by Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is back at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, October 14. Expect a whole day filled with art exhibits, entertainment, and Fil-Am vendors. More details and special guests to be announced. For more information, please visit: http://www.filamarts.org/.

18th annual Asian Small Business Expo in Alhambra, CA

Philstar.com photo

Recto who influenced Piolo to get into real estate.

“When we were doing Dekada ’70, I was just starting out in the industry. Mommy Vi told me that she got into film production and all sorts of things, but what saved her were the properties she bought. Since then, what I would do, when I would get a big paycheck, I would buy a piece of land. I never (take out a) loan. I only did one time for my car because I didn’t have enough. Then when the recession hit the States, we got into U.S. real estate,” Piolo recalls. “Now we’re in stage two, we’re partnering with different companies for commercial businesses. We’re building.”

7. On his son Iñigo joining showbiz: “I did everything I could to stop him from getting into the business.”

“I’ve always tried to brainwash him to not like the business.

Because it’s hard. And every Father’s Day he would give me a card, then ask me, ‘Pa, can I join showbiz? And I’d say no, ‘Give me a degree first.’ Until offers came, and I said to make sure he finishes school,” he shares. Piolo takes every chance to spend time with his son, including bringing him to school to enroll. “I like the fact that I am still able to send him to school, literally. I’d like him to value that. To make him feel that I’m there for him, no matter what.”

8. On his new home in Alabang: “I moved in with my mom, my sister, and my son has a room.”

“I know it’s a bit odd. Usually at 40, you’re starting a family of your own, married, with kids,” he laughs. “My mom cooks for us, that is what I missed. I look forward to waking up and knowing that she’s there. How she joins us for breakfast even if she’s already eaten. When I would come home I would always go to her room and greet her even if she’s already asleep.

“I wouldn’t be where I am right now if not for my mom,” says the youngest of six siblings. “My mom worked hard to make sure we had food on the table, that we had an education, even if she had a hard time. So I just want to do things that will make her happy. She forgot herself to be able to give us a better life. Now, I tell her to enjoy life, that she doesn’t have to think about us anymore.”

9. His mom Amy is not afraid to ask girls, “May boyfriend ka na ba? Etong anak ko, single pa.”

“On the plane, to flight attendants, yeah,” Piolo reveals.

“Or even in restaurants when she meets with her kumares. ‘O, the daughter of my kumare, she’s single, she’s a Christian, you wanna date her?’ Or she’d tell me, ‘Anak, magka-baby ka na,” he says laughing.

“My pastor would always tell me, ‘The more you delay it, the more you enjoy being single,’ and that’s what’s happening right now. Not for anything, but I have my hands full. And I believe that it will happen in God’s perfect time,” Piolo says about settling down.

10. Piolo’s advice to those at the start of their own careers, in any industry: “Even if you want to be the best that you can be, you have to be compassionate and know there are other people who want to be successful as well.

“It is never just about you. If you want to co-exist, you have to make sure that you can adjust.

You have to learn to make way for other people to shine as well,” Piolo explains. “I grew up competing with myself. I never had any problem with peer pressure, or if somebody’s becoming more popular or getting more adulation.

It’s applicable to all the things that I do. To advance in life, you compete with yourself. Because you’re bound to hurt yourself if you compare yourself with another person’s success.”

On Saturday, Oct. 14, the 18th annual Asian Small Business Expo will be held at the Almansor Court Conference Center (700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801), featuring free workshops, exhibitors, networking opportunities, and more! Jonny Hwang, founder of 626 Night Market, is the featured guest speaker with special guest, Jerome Horton, chairman of the California Board of Equalization. It is FREE to attend! The Asian Small Business Expo is the only business-to-business expo that engages the Asian business community and brings this growing economic force into the mainstream to connect and utilize your company and its services. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with small businesses, market your organization and tap into a network of entrepreneurs, service providers, financial organizations, franchises and governmental and legislative representatives. For more information, please visit http://www.apisbp.org/expo.html.

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26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Echo Park Save the date! The 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) hosted by Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is back at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, October 14. Expect a whole day filled with art exhibits, entertainment, and Fil-Am vendors. More details and special guests to be announced. For more information, please visit: http://www.filamarts.org/.

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NaFFAA to celebrate 20th anniversary in Washington, DC The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) turns 20 years old this year. This October, several events are being planned to celebrate this milestone, which coincides with the national observance of Filipino American History Month. They will culminate with NaFFAA’s 20th Anniversary Gala, to be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 21. With its theme “NaFFAA 2.0: One Voice, Four Million Strong,” NaFFAA will recognize the legacy and accomplishments of the organization over the past 20 years, and highlight its comprehensive vision to unite and amplify the voices of the four million Filipinos living in the United States. “NaFFAA 2.0” represents how NaFFAA is honoring its past while forging a new forward-thinking and balanced approach in uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse Filipino American individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and advocacy. To learn more about NaFFAA or to purchase tickets for the 20th Anniversary Gala, please visit www. naffaa.org.

D EC E m b E R 27-29

Ateneo de Naga High School Class ’67 celebrates 50th anniversary in Naga City The Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU) High School Class 1967 is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2017 from December 27 to 29 with various activities lined up for its 153 alumni members. (ADNU is a leading Jesuit university in the Bicol region located in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines). The activities include the publication of its 50th Anniversary Yearbook, a coffee table book which features the individual life stories of the class members after high school, tributes to their mentors, and various articles about school life in the 1960s. Also scheduled for the middle of the year is a golf tournament which — aside from fostering camaraderie — will essentially be a fund-raising activity for planned alumni projects such as a medical mission to a remote provincial town, scholarships, and donations for other worthy causes. This year’s reunion will be at the ADNU main campus in Naga City with various fun and commemorative activities lined up for the occasion. All batch members, wherever they are domiciled, including those residing in foreign countries, especially those in the USA and Canada, are enjoined to contribute their life story articles for the anniversary book as soon as possible, to participate in the various identified activities and outreach projects, and attend the grand homecoming in December. For coordination and for details about the events and activities, please email or call up any of the following batch members: Jojo de Jesus (email: jvdejesus6@yahoo.com; cell: 09772114750); Nilo Ezequiel (email: nilo. ezequiel0977@gma

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 september 7-13, 2017 • LAs VeGAs AsIAN JOUrNAL

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Michael Cinco reveals secrets Cesar Montano asks James Franco to visit PH behind Vicki Belo’s wedding dress

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

by c.

Mendez Legaspi Philstar.com

In what is perhaps the most glamorous gathering of Pinoys in Paris, the wedding of Vicky Belo and Hayden Kho was held at the American Church along the Quai d’Orsay, with an opulent reception at the Palais Garnier.

The celebrated and controversial doctors showcased to the City of Love all that is beautiful and fashionable from the Philippines. Silver screen and society stars were present to toast for the lovers, all of them dressed in their finest, befitting the world’s couture capital.

A CLOSe friendship developed between Cesar Montano and James Franco while they were shooting the 2005 Hollywood movie “The Great Raid” (with Joseph Fiennes among their co-stars) for several weeks in the jungles of Australia.

“I can’t forget when we were at a boot camp for two weeks,” Cesar recalled to Funfare. “That was before the shooting started.

It was winter. One day, James and I were tasked to look for tick on each other’s head. We were partners. Luckily, we didn’t find any. We hadn’t taken a bath for two weeks and we could smell each other, hahaha!!!”

Cesar’s memory was refreshed But the highlight was, of when I told him that I was going to course, the haute couture gown new York City to interview James of the bride. for ”The Deuce,” an eight-episode From his posh suite in a Paris original drama series which prehotel, couturier Michael Cinco mieres on Monday, Sept. 11, on shared insights on the most Insta- HBO Go starting at 9 a.m. simultagrammed dress at the “Wedding neously with the US debut. (While of the Year” dubbed #aKhoand- you are reading this, Your Funfarer myBeloved: “The wedding dress of Vicki Belo is in blush color made of French lace with silk thread baroque embroidery with French paillette, pearls and rose

by Bot gLoRioso opal Swarovski crystals. It has a Philstar.com three-meter long train and it took eVen while televiewers are me a thousand hours to create with 50 skilled workers,” Cinco hankering for more intense drama explained in an exclusive inter- and suspense scenes in “The Better Half” (TBH), the ABS-CBn’s hit view with this writer.

“The only requests she wanted afternoon soap is coming to a close was she didn’t like to wear a this week.

According to its female lead white or ivory-colored wedding gown and she didn’t want it to be stars Shaina Magdayao and Denise heavy. She specifically requested Laurel, their characters Camille the length on the front to be a bit and Bianca, respectively, have so shorter. But I convinced her if the many emotionally-draining molength is short, it will make her ments — from the very start until look shorter,” Cinco said, most their last two taping days — that perhaps, as Shaina put it, have likely with a pout. already affected their health. That’s why both of them wish to take a much-needed rest as soon as the soap airs its finale episode.

“Parang kasi ‘yung katawan ko, I feel na wear and tear because I started working at a very young age,” begins Shaina. “I think it started last year when I renewed my contract and promised myself to be serious with my work. It’s not that I wasn’t serious before but this time, I felt more passionate since hindi mga birong proyekto ang naibibigay sa akin, especially when they pitched this project to me.

“From the (soap’s) very beginning, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Sa simula pa lang baliwPhotos from Michael Cinco’s Instagram account baliwan na si Camille because

James Franco was nothing but praises for Cesar Montano, with whom he worked on the 2005 Hollywood movie The Great Raid. ‘He’s a very serious actor,’ said James of Cesar, ‘and a very, very nice guy.’

should be having a one-on-one with James and co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal, along with the creators David Simon and David Pelecanos of the series directed by Michelle MacLaren. More on them in future issues.)

Titled after the local slang for

new York’s fabled 42nd Street, The Deuce chronicles that moment in time when sex went from being a back-alley, brown-paper-bag commodity to a billion-dollar universal attraction in American life, a moment when ground zero for the earliest pioneers in the flesh trade was the midtown heart of the nation’s largest city, the new York’s Times Square.

In episode 1, James is introduced in dual roles as brothers Vincent and Frankie Martino, one a double-shifting bartender with two kids and a wayward wife in Brooklyn, and the other an insouciant gambler with piling mob debts.

They navigate their way through the rough-and-tumble world of 1971 Time Square.

While Vincent plots ways to improve his situation and pay off his brother’s debt, he crosses paths with other midtown denizens including two veteran hookers (one of them Candy, played by Maggie), young streetwalkers, smooth-talking pimps as they ply their trades PAGE B5

Shaina & Denise after ‘The Better Half’

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There’s no let-up on emotionally-draining scenes for Shaina Magdayao (left) and Denise Laurel until their soap’s finale episode. The ABS-CBN afternoon series is now on its last week of airing.

Philstar.com photo

she couldn’t bear the loss of her husband, so lahat ng klaseng breakdown ginawa na ni Camille and there’s more to go.”

Her role has challenged her so much that it somehow took a toll on her body. “So, I guess at this point in my life na mas seryoso (ako), it’s not Shaina whom you see crying but my character and I think (it) shows in my health at hindi pa masyado na maganda na natapat din na nagka-hypothyroid ako.”

And though she knew health issues usually required a lifestyle change, it would seem impossible for actors whose schedules are un-

SERVICES

predictable. For her body to compensate for the “abnormalities” of showbiz life, the Kapamilya actress tries to hit the sack early every after taping day to get the much-needed eight hours of sleep.

“If you notice, I haven’t appeared in ASAP lately because I took a leave. It’s really tough to be a dancer (in the Sunday afternoon variety show) and at the same time to be Camille (in TBH). Gusto ko munang ibigay ang 110 percent ko sa soap.”

And as much as she wants to take a longer break after TBH, PAGE B6

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Your Immigration Solution

Community Journal

DACA is ending to deny admission and/or revoke or terminate parole where it deems appropriate.

What will happen to those who were granted DACA after the program officially ends, assuming Congress does not pass something to replace it is a question without an answer at this time. Given the uncertainty of this situation, DACA recipients who are considering traveling outside the United states on previously granted advance parole are advised to consult an immigration lawyer before actually leaving the country.

DACA was designed to help so-called “Dreamers,” a term used to refer to an undocumented immigrant brought to the U.s. at a young age. It was President Obama’s signature immigration accomplishment. Applicants for DACA were “coming out of the shadows.” They were voluntarily disclosing their full name and home address, their social se-

As anticipated, the Trump Administration, through Attorney General Jeff sessions announced on september 5, the end of the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (commonly known as “DACA”) program with a six-month delay for enactment. The delay is to allow Congress to enact legislation that will address the immigration status of those currently in the DACA program. Whether Congress will take any steps in this regard and, if so, what steps they will be are questions to which no one has answers right now.

Department of Homeland security (DHs) issued a Memo with some guidelines as to what will happen in the immediate future: • Previously issued EADs and DACA grants will remain valid for

their full validity period.

• Pending (those already filed by september 5, 2017) initial requests for DACA and related EADs will be adjudicated.

• Initial applications not filed by today will not be accepted after today.

• Pending DACA renewals will be adjudicated.

• Not-yet-filed DACA renewals will be accepted for filing until October 5, 2017. • Renewals can only be filed for those whose DACA grant will expire between september 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018. No one knows how long the renewals will be granted for.

• No new DACA-based advance parole applications will be approved. All pending advance parole applications will be administratively closed and the filing fees will be refunded.

• Previously approved advance paroles will be generally honored though DHs retains the authority

Health@Heart

Heart chelation: a scam

Atty. Devin Connolly & nAnCy Miller

PhiliP S. ChuA, MD, FACS, FPCS What is Chelation therapy?

Chelation Therapy is an accepted treatment for poisoning by many metals (like lead, cadmium, arsenic, zinc, etc.) and other toxic substances. These chelating agents “cleanse” the blood of these poisons. some unscrupulous healthcare providers, however, are bilking the unsuspecting public prescribing and giving chelation intravenous shots “to unclog heart arteries,” a claim that is false and without medical basis.

Which drugs are used as chelating agents?

Calcium disodium edetate, Dimercaprol, and Penillamine are some of them.

Is this the “therapy” advertised to unclog arteries?

Yes, there are unscrupulous individuals in the United states, Europe, Asia, and other parts of the globe (including the cities of Manila and Cebu), who victimize the innocent public with claims that intravenous injections of these drugs, which they call chelation therapy, can unclog arteries to prevent a heart attack and stroke.

These “practitioners,” who advertise that Chelation Therapy can dissolve hardening of the arteries and therefore preclude the need for angioplasty or open heart surgery, charge exorbitant.

In the U. s., charges range from Us$4000 -$6000 for “the complete session.” how is chelation treatment given?

The patients are given a series of intravenous injections for so many days. No one knows what drug is actually injected — whether only plain saline or dextrose instead of true chelating agents. In the U.s., this practice of using chelation therapy to dissolve hardening of the arteries is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and condemned by the medical community. There is no legitimate scientific proof or basis for the claim. some physicians and doctors of osteopathy have lost their medical license for perpetrating this fraud. how did this practice come about?

It is easy to surmise that since chelating agents are really effective in the treatment of poisoning with metals and other toxic substances, and “cleanse” the blood, some enterprising people

conveniently “extended” the use of these agents to include unclogging blocked arteries. since all adults develop hardening of the arteries, to one degree or another, sooner or later in life, and since heart attack and stroke are commonplace, financial greed and deception have overcome some of these “practitioners” (who may not even be licensed physicians) to go into this very lucrative business.

Why does the FDa not ban these chelating agents?

Chelating agents are legitimate and good drugs indicated for specific conditions: metal poisoning and toxicity from other substances. The issue here is that these chelating agents are being used for a condition for which they are not indicated or effective.

They are useless as far as dissolving hardening of the arteries, or unclogging arteries.

Is there any drug that can dissolve hardening of the arteries?

No. There is no known safe drug that can dissolve hardening of the arteries or unclog blocked arteries. The blockages in the arteries are so hard and usually calcified like teeth or bone that to date, medical science has not discovered any medication for it. In the recent meeting of the American College of Cardiology, another study confirmed that chelation therapy for coronary artery disease is baseless, useless and ineffective. how about the enzymes injected to treat acute heart attack?

These enzymes (streptokinase, urokinase, TPA, etc.), which cardiologists administer intravenously in the emergency room or ICU when the patient is diagnosed to have an acute heart attack that is 4 to 6 hours old, are substances that dissolve the solid but still soft blood clot that blocks the coronary artery causing it. These enzymes cannot dissolve arteriosclerotic plaque or hardening of the arteries. how do these “doctors” get away defrauding the public?

First, we do not know if only harmless saline or innocuous dextrose is the “drug” that is administered, in order not to have the possible side effects of true chelating agents. secondly, public ignorance makes the consumer an easy prey, the reason we have decided to educate and forewarn the public about this scam. Third, both the lay and the medical communities have not organized themselves to expose and fight these money-hungry charlatans,

and bring them to justice. how are patients adversely affected by this scam?

Not only do unsuspecting patients lose their hard earned money for a treatment that has been proven by medical science as ineffective, but they are also deceived and given false hopes, which delay the proper diagnosis and treatment of their heart illness.

Needless to say, this unwarranted delay could lead to worsening of the disease and a higher morbidity and mortality rate. We have heard of cases where patients have died as a result of reliance on this unconventional therapy and the delay in getting the proper treatment.

So, what’s the best thing to do?

In this age of modern and sophisticated medical technology, it is only prudent for all of us to safeguard our health by doing preventive measures and taking advantage of the scientifically proven and accepted convention of treatment. When needed, there is no substitute for a thallium stress test and heart catheterization in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease. For therapy, appropriately chosen medications, and/or angioplasty, or coronary bypass surgery are the proven effective management for coronary artery disease. The easier or quicker treatment is always more appealing, but consumers beware of these advertisements!

If they sound too good to be true, chances are they are not true. Do not gamble your life away.

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities, and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** 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

Cesar Montano asks James Franco to...

PAGE B4 under the not-so-watchful eye of the NYPD. It’s a demanding role fit for Cesar who will surely enjoy watching how his good friend James will tackle it. since The Great Raid, the friends have gone a long way.

Cesar resumed doing action flicks back home and then starring in TV soaps, and is now head of Tourism Promotions Board (TPB). James went on to get bigger breaks — as the titular role in the James Dean biopic that won him a Golden Globe Best Actor in a Motion Picture Made for Television and a nomination for an Emmy and a screen Actors Guild Award; playing the villainous Harry Osborne in the spider-Man franchise and myriad other characters, while pursuing a course in English (specializing in fiction-writing) at UCLA. “James is a committed and passionate artist,” noted Cesar, “and a good man, too. I knew that he would go a long way and certainly leave a huge mark in the industry.”

When Funfare interviewed James in 2007 during the spiderMan junket in Japan, I asked him about his impression of Cesar.

“He’s a very serious actor,” said

James, “and a very, very nice guy.

Before we began filming Great Raid,we had to do two weeks of boot-camping training in the wilderness with other actors playing soldiers. Cesar is a very sweet man. I heard that he’s running for a public office.” (Flashback: Cesar did run not just once but twice, first for senator and then for governor of Bohol, but luck was not in his favor.)

“I smile when I remember that boot camp,” added Cesar. “We would jog five miles every morning. We were trained to live in the jungle and taught how to stage an ambush and other tactics. We addressed each other not by our real names but by the names of our characters. I played Capt.

Juan Pajota, a guerilla, and James played Capt. Prince.”

After the shoot, James sent Cesar a letter (being reprinted here from that 2007 story) that read: Cesar, I wanted to let you know what a joy it is to work with you. Your reputation preceded you and you have done nothing but fulfill the excellent name you made for yourself. You and the rest of your squad are a pleasure to work with and a pleasure to be around. I appreciate greatly your work ethic and the won-

derful, easy spirit that each of you possesses. I am honored and grateful to be on this movie with you.

“I’m looking forward to working with James again,” said Cesar.

“I have three offers for him: 1). to host/narrate a documentary series for Discovery Channel, to be shot in the Philippines; it will showcase our country’s tourist destinations; 2). I’m inviting him to do an ocular tour in the Philippines which could be a perfect location for his next movie, The Bells of Balangiga, which he’s directing; I can be his second unit director; and 3). To star in a romantic-comedy with Manny Pacquiao, Asia’s Next Top Model Maureen Wroblewitz and Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, which is about a Filipina tourist guide helping a broken-hearted traveler enjoy his stay in the Philippines.”

Then, addressing James, Cesar added, “It was indeed such an honor working with you, Capt.

Prince.”

Asked what his message was to James, Cesar texted this: “Please tell James that anytime he wants to come to the Philippines, I will assist him and show him around.

I will sponsor his visit.” (signed Capt. Pajota).

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 7-13, 2017

curity number and employment history, etc. In short, they were proving the U.s. government with all of the information they needed to more easily deport them from the U.s.

They provided this personal information to prove they met all of DACA’s requirements, including arriving in the U.s. before they turned 16-years-old, being a high school graduate or currently enrolled in school, the lack of a significant criminal history, etc.

And they were only providing this information after being told by the U.s. Citizenship and Immigration service that their personal information would not be shared with U.s. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the division of the U.s. Department of Homeland security responsible for deporting people from the U.s. A grant of DACA meant that beneficiaries would receive protected status and work authorization for two years. It was renewable every two years and was considered by many to be life-changing.

Ending DACA was one of Presi-

dent Trump’s campaign promises. However, he has also said various things over the last several months that indicated he was going to continue DACA. These comments included saying that “we love the Dreamers” and “we are going to deal with DACA with heart.” Whether ending DACA was a decision made with “heart” is debatable, but what is clear is that President Trump is saying that it is the job of Congress to pass immigration legislation rather then the President, in this case President Obama. DACA will officially continue for 6 months, thereby providing Congress an opportunity to enact a suitable replacement.

In the last few days and weeks there has been bilateral support for continuing DACA due to the fact that these children were brought to the U.s. through no fault of their own. speaker of the House Paul Ryan was amongst the most high profile Republicans advocating for the continuance of DACA. However, there are also many Republicans who believe

B

that President Obama was wrong to enact the program through executive action, rather than allowing Congress to pass legislation dealing with the issue.

There are now close to a million people more confused than ever about their immigration status.

They do not know whether they will be deported or granted immigration benefits by Congress.

Because of this uncertainty, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney to find out if any other options are available. *** Reeves, Miller, Zhang & Diza Law Corporation’s offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Angels among us

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette ADevA MAglAyA DO you believe in angels? I do. Most people do.

The strong presence of angels in the various books of the Bible, especially during the birth of Jesus Christ attests to the role of angels in human history.

The Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bring forth a son. Zechariah received a message from an angel. It was an angel that told Joseph to take Mary for his wife. It was a multitude of angels that told the shepherds where to find the newborn child while angels hovered above the stable during that wondrous night.

It was also an angel that warned Joseph of a clear and present danger to the child Jesus. Herod, the unhinged, murderous king descended from a long line of power-mad monarchs, wanted to make sure no one stood between him and his throne.

In haste, Joseph left with Mary and the child during the night after the Magi had left for a long and arduous trek to a town in Egypt some scholars estimate to

“I think that someone is watching out for me, God, my guardian angel, I’m not sure who that is, but they really work hard.”

- Mattie Stepanek be 200 miles away where Herod had no authority to commit mass murder.

You can bet a host of angels guided them in seeking refuge.

Herod’s murderous rampage began when he realized that the Magi had tricked him and had taken a different route home ignoring his sly request to tell him of the child’s location.

It is believed 14,000 innocent male babies from the age of two and below were killed in Herod’s most cruel, preemptive strike against this perceived threat to his kingdom. The holy family stayed safely away for years until the king died and the danger had passed.

Did these holy innocents become cherubs, angels without wings? Do the millions of the unborn of our time the world over cut down by murderous abortionists become cherubs?

Does God repurpose innocent souls upon their deaths to become angels themselves?

There is a belief that souls are indestructible. If so, do souls get recycled back to be born at another time and place? Only God knows for certain.

Angels were strong proactive characters when the story of humanity unfolded during biblical times. And while today, cynics, atheists and those on the dark side might argue that angels are figments of the human imagination, there are countless people who will brave the scorn of scoffers, fight back vehemently and attest to the very real presence of angels in their lives.

(To be continued …) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

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FUN Chair appeals for the victims of Harvey “HURRICANE Harvey has devastated parts of Texas and vicinity, with thousands of totally destroyed homes and almost 50 deaths, and all the displaced and injured victims need our help,” pleads Philip S. Chua, MD, Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a humanitarian Foundation in the United States, whose website is FUN8888.com “ I urge everyone and all

the Fil ipino -Am erican associations to donate to the American Red Cross to help the devastated victims of Hurricane Harv ey,” Chua appealed.

“T he Filipino United Network-USA has embraced this humanitarian campaign. While its donation is modest, only a micro-mini token of the prayer , love , and car ing for the suffering people of Texas and nearby

counties to be added to the 8-Billion dollar relief, it still says a lot about us Filipinos and our innate spirit of “bayanihan and damaya n “ to extend a helping hand to our suffering fellow Americans in this great adopted country of ours . Please forward this appeal to all your association affiliation and friends , and inspire them,” Chua stressed in his nationwide appeal.

By Monet

Lu

THEY say one of the most precious moments a woman could ever have is to be a mother. It changes you from within and you’ll never look at life the same way again. But what happens when the baby you once cradled in your arms turns into a lady right before your eyes?

I had the pleasure of hearing about this experience straight from my favorite mom-anddaughter: Lalaine and Richie LBC continues to find ways money product has a value of 1.0. tance, and logistics services. With Anne Soliven. to care for their loyal customers One has to have at least 25 points a growing network of over 6,400 “I am excited to see the womand make certain that they are to qualify. Discounted transactions, branches, hubs & warehouses, an of God that she is becoming; a partners, and agents in over woman of character, love & grace. rewarded. Recently, LBC North however, do not earn points.

Each point earned is exclusive 30 countries, LBC is commit- Richie Anne and I became closer America launched a passport program for customers in the U.S. only to the customer and non- ted to moving lives, businesses, like we’re “best friends.” We talk transferrable. If a customer opts and communities and delivering through everything but we manand Canada.

U.S. customers (from July 15, to donate the points earned to smiles around the world. Listed age to set boundaries like have 2017) and Canada Customers Project Pearls, they will receive a in the Philippine Stock Exchange ups & downs and still balance our (from August 15, 2017), who tax deductible receipt within 60 through LBC Express Holdings, individuality and closeness, have Inc., LBC aims to deliver value unconditional love for each other transacted whether through an days of point conversion.

To make it easy for customers to all of its stakeholders, as it by accepting one another’s imperLBC branch, an authorized partner or a sales representative, were to track their points, they can has for over 60 years. Founded fections,” Lalaine Soliven, mother given passports. These passports view it on their passport or on the in 1945 as a brokerage and air of Richie Anne opened up when I get to earn reward points until LBC website. Redemption period cargo agent, LBC pioneered asked her about the relationship of earned points is until January time-sensitive cargo delivery and she has with her daughter now December 31, 2017.

24-hour door-to-door delivery in that she has officially entered These points can be converted 31, 2018.

For more details on the promo, the Philippines. Today, it is the adulthood. to a cash card or donation to the CSR project - Project Pearls - once patrons can visit any LBC North most trusted logistics brand of the Richie Anne turned 18 last July a customer attains a certain num- America and Canada branches Global Filipino. LBC can move it 4. Her Fabulous-and-Glamournearest to them. They can also call for you: visit www.LBCexpress. Night-themed debut was held ber of points.

To get the points, transactions the Customer Service at 1-800- com, or call telephone +632 8585 at the Pacific Palms Resort. The equate to a certain value -- for sea 338-5424 in the USA or 1-888- 999 (Metro Manila), 1 800 10 night was filled with unforgettable 8585 999 (Provincial), +632 9086 moments and was well attended small boxes, the value is 2.5; for 652-2522 in Canada.

LBC is the Philippines’ market 522 (Solutions) and follow LBCEx- with over a hundred guests who sea large or extra-large products’ value is 5.0; for air products is 2.5; leader in retail and corporate press (Facebook and Twitter). all have played an important role VIP services have 2.5 value; while courier & cargo, money remit(Advertising Supplement) in Richie Anne’s life.

“I had the the best time making sure the party was in order and that it would be memorable PAGE B4 ful projects? Kaya ‘yun po puro and netizens for her effective por- for everyone. I really wanted to make Richie Anne happy on her several projects are already lined pasasalamat. On my birthday, I trayal of a woman whose deep love special day,” Lalaine added. for a man turns into an obsession will go to Italy, kay Padre Pio, to up for her, which she considers The most awaited dance aka as an early birthday present from give thanks for having a wonderful and leads her to do insane acts. the 18 roses was executed flawThe show, Denise adds, cersecond quarter this year.”

God. Shaina will be turning 28 on Denise, on the other hand, ad- tainly made her stronger yet it’s lessly. The lovely debutant danced Nov. 6. mits to have gone through several now nearing its end. It will be an with her godfathers, grandfathers, Perhaps by this time, Shaina cousins, brother and of course, is already in Singapore to start trying times while doing the soap. opportune time for her to take a her father, who happened to be rest to, in her own words, “get my “I came from a cancer scare.

I shooting for a film under direcher final dance. tor Lav Diaz. From there, she will came from an engagement break- body back. I think I gained about “The Father-Daughter Dance 30 pounds during the show so up... and then I’m playing somehead straight to Siargao for the was very emotional. It signifies launching of her Smile Cares body as complicated and as crazy I’m just gonna be working out, Richie Anne’s first step to womgetting my freshness back.

So, as Bianca.

There were definitely Foundation. anhood and my husband’s accep“The Lord doesn’t want me to times when I thought I could no after nito, papaganda muna ako tance of the fact. During the 18 ng very light.” longer take anything more but take a rest,” quips Shaina who will In a recent report, Denise said Roses, Richie Anne’s Godfather buckle down to work for her new I think the show had shown me she is set to undergo surgery to (her Uncle Ronald) carried her how much I can truly endure and soap under Dreamscape Enterlike a baby in his arms. It was very tainment as soon as she returns (what to) appreciate and be thank- remove a cyst from her breast. touchy-feely. It brought everyone She went on to say that her cyst ful for.” to Manila. to tears,” Lalaine continued.

Denise has been earning posi- is benign but still she wants it “So how can you afford to rest According to her, Richie removed. tive comments from televiewers when you are given such beautiAnne’s father was very supportive and in effect, Richie Anne grew up strong & confident and she attributes that to having a strong male influence in their daughter’s life.

“Looking back at those eighteen years, the memories that really stand out to me were the simple things: taking piano lessons together, taking turns reading to one another, letting her choose the music in the car or playing a game or coloring together, just her and I being silly,” she said.

The baby is now a lady “As a young lady, I would like people to recognize my God-given gifts, I would love to inspire more people through my joy and kindness. I would want people to be excited that I am part

When the baby turns into a lady: A chat with my favorite mother-daughter tandem

LBC passport program rewards loyal customers in US and Canada

Shaina & Denise after...

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If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

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

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

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

Mother and daughter tandem Lalaine and Richie Anne Soliven. Richie Anne turned 18 last July 4.

of their life and would hate to see me go. I want them to able to trust me and see me as someone who stays true to her word but walks with confidence not seeking approval of everyone,” Richie Anne says when I asked her how she wants to be treated now that she is a full-grown woman.

“I would describe myself as a person with a humble heart. Many people think that I think ‘little of myself’ and I don’t think that’s true at all. I am a person with real interest in others and would want to contribute positively to the world,” Richie Anne says when I asked her to describe herself.

Richie Anne was one of The Beautiful Life Celebration’s “Most Beautiful Fil-Am 2015”and was crowned “Darling of the Night.”

She is currently majoring in Biological Sciences at University of California-Irvine. Ten years from now, she sees herself as a doctor, giving back to the community by affecting positive change and opening opportunities for others and for herself.

Right now, she is involved in the “Thirst Project,” a non-profit organization aimed towards providing clean water sources in third world countries. They are fundraising money to build wells or water filters for hundreds of people where all donations are directly given to the water projects. Just last year, the total funds donated for water projects reached $449,517.

“I believe that each individual have enough opportunities to make a difference in their everyday lives. A simple smile can evoke positive emotions of love, compassion and joy that would bring about change,” she said.

Lalaine and Richie Anne would like to thank the following people: Miracle Santos of Miracle Dream for being the best event planner/coordinator, Leo Bagtas of Da Vinci Camera, for captur-

ing memorable moments, Carl Andrada of Carmelo Design for the debutant’s grandiose gowns, twins Monica & Monique Santos for the lovely hair & make up, Host/DJ Joseph Gelito for the entertainment, Asian Journal and Monet Lu for taking the time to publish our story and writing such an amazing piece. Richie Anne’s dad Richard Soliven and her brother AJ Soliven, as well family & friends who were there to celebrate her special day.

To my favorite mother-daughter tandem who I’ve know for quite sometime and have grown really fond of, I am so proud that this milestone has brought you closer to each other and I am thankful for letting me be part of it. Good luck to both of you and I hope you continue to be each other’s best friend. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

JK a revelation in ‘A Love to Last’

by Bot

Glorioso Philstar.com

JK Labajo is not about to go unnoticed even while his co-stars in the ABS-CBN primetime soap “A Love to Last” all excel in the acting department. He displays quite an impressive acting performance knowing that he was not an actor first but a singer.

His portrayal of Lucas Noble, the son of Ian Veneracion’s Anton and Iza Calzado’s Grace, can easily make one hate him or love him. Lucas’ moody side shows in the slightest nuances of JK’s facial expression and body language, although Lucas is becoming less temperamental nowadays.

JK sheepishly smiles when told about how his acting has been earning notice and praise from televiewers and netizens.

“Thank you, thank you. I’m so flattered,” begins JK. “I really don’t know how to take compliments like, for example, someone tells something good about me, I just can’t say much but thank you. But I really appreciate the good things, and, well, the bad things, everything.”

His stirring portrayal of the character, JK shares, has something to do with his heartbreaking experiences during his younger years. The slightest recall of how he had lost his mom at an early age, easily makes the 16-year-old singer-actor teary-eyed. “I guess, aside from that, it easily saddens me when I thought of what I’ve been through na mga bagay na di dapat ma-experience ng isang 16-year-old na tulad ko.”

Thus, JK demonstrated a heart-wrenching performance in one of the soap’s remarkable scenes where Lucas couldn’t do

JK Labajo

ABS-CBN photo

anything but to say goodbye to his mom Grace who will be leaving for the U.S. due to her dad’s serious condition.

That scene was also the most memorable for him saying, “It feels great to experience having a mom even if it’s just for a show.

I felt it was for real. Ang saya ng pakiramdam ng may nanay.”

However, JK assures he has a pleasant disposition as opposed to Lucas whom he describes as “laging mainit ang ulo.”

Asked if Lucas was one of his friends, what advice would he give to him, JK says that he would perhaps punch Lucas for his “not so kind” behavior. “I would tell him to just be happy for his dad having found a new

love. He has to accept it and move on because it does not mean na end of the world na kumbagaand eventually, it will happen that his dad will fall in love again. ‘Yung pagmumukmok n’ya wala ring patutunguhan so yeah sasapakin ko talaga si Lucas (laughs).”

Although A Love to Last is his third drama outing — after having appeared in Pangako sa ‘Yo andHawak-Kamay — JK believes “dito ko na-feel ‘yung legit acting na wow this is how acting feels like.”

Iza, who also co-starred with JK in “Hawak-Kamay,” has also noticed how he has grown up and improved as a young actor.

“I’m very happy to see him going this path at sana magtuloy-tuloy na.”

Does it mean that JK will turn his back on singing?

“No naman po. Never mawawala sa akin ang pagkanta.

I just focused on acting because I don’t think I can attend to my singing (career) and acting at the same time since I don’t have enough rest. So I’ve decided to focus on acting,” replies JK, who was a finalist in “The Voice Kids Philippines.”

Meanwhile, “A Love to Last” is now on its last three weeks of airing and what better way to thank their supporters is through songs that continuously send kilig to televiewers. JK and his co-stars Ian, Bea Alonzo, Iza, Enchong Dee and Hannah Vito will treat fans via a show titled Love Goals: A Love to Last Concert on Sept.

8 at the Kia Theater.

Ian, of course, will be performing most of the songs that have added passion to his and Andeng’s (Bea) love for each other.

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