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Volume 10 – Issue 1 • 16 Pages
S E P T E MBE R 3 0 - O C T O BE R 6 , 2 0 1 6 Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
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Asia’s Iron Lady Miriam Defensor-Santiago passes away at 71 by Dana
SioSon AJPress
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago
After battling lung cancer, senator miriam-Defensor santiago passed away at the age of 71 on thursday morning, september 29. the senator passed away while being confined at the st. Luke’s medical Center in Bonifacio Global City. “she died this morning in her sleep. she was unconscious when she passed
away,” her husband, Atty. Narciso “Jun” santiago, told Inquirer. In 2014, miriam was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer but later declared that she had “conquered” her illness a year after. her remains were brought to the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Cubao. In a statement, President rodrigo Duterte expressed his sympathies to the families of the late senator.
“she is best remembered as a graft buster ‘eating death threats for breakfast’ earning her the title ‘Iron Lady of Asia,’” Duterte said, who is presently in Vietnam for a two-day official visit. “rest in peace, madam senator. may your legacy continue to guide this nation for many years to come,” the president added. Born in Iloilo City on June 15, 1945, miriam was one of the most notable figure in Philippine politics. she was
dubbed as the “Iron Lady of Asia” for her strong campaign against corruption. recently, she ran for presidency in the may 2016 elections despite the doubts cast regarding her health. the 2016 elections was won by current president Duterte. she also sought the presidency in 1992 and lost to fidel ramos, and in 1998 which was won by Joseph estrada. miriam served as senator for three
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Philippines to US: Let us chart our own course by Patricia LourDeS Philstar.com
Viray
mANILA — the Philippines respects the opinion of other nations but called on long-time ally the United states to let it chart its own course, a Palace official said on thursday, sept. 29. An American senator earlier warned that the Us may take action if extrajudicial killings and state-sanctioned violence continue in the Philippines. “We respect the opinion of others but we also give ourselves the permission to chart our own
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course and fulfill our destiny on our own terms,” Presidential spokesperson ernesto Abella said in a press briefing. Abella stressed that the relationship between the Philippines and the Us remains unchanged despite differences in political perspectives and opinions. “We’d also like to stress that extrajudicial killings is not statesanctioned and that the Philippines remains committed to human rights, the rule of law, and to democracy,” Abella said. Us sen. Patrick Leahy said that the Us state Department is
set to discuss with the Us senate its current assistance for the Philippines. this will affect the national budget of the Us for next year. the American senator authored the Leahy Law, which prohibits the Us Department of state and Department of Defense from providing assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights. ‘Philippines committed to human rights’ the Palace official said that the Philippines has not veered away
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President Rodrigo Duterte is inside an official state car with Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go following a meeting at the State Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam on Thursday, Sept. 29. Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez
DENR Secretary Lopez aims to achieve social justice, erase poverty
USA
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
Clinton, Trump square off in first debate
Fiery discussion included jobs, race, nat’l security and scandals NeIther Donald trump nor hillary Clinton held back in their much-anticipated first presidential debate on monday, sept. 28. moderated by “NBC Nightly News” anchor Lester holt, the debate explored topics like the economy, job creation, race relations amid police brutality and national security in the wake of attacks from the Islamic state (Is). however, a great portion of the evening was spent discussing scandals which have
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by MoMar Steve Austria
Ron Falconi
Sean Reyes
Ron Villanueva
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Herman Martir
5 Fil-Ams named to Trump’s APA advisory committee by chriStina
M. orieL
AJPress
As the November election approaches, the campaign of republican presidential nominee Donald trump formally announced its Asian Pacific American (APA) Advisory Committee in an effort to reach out to the fast-growing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) electorate. the formation of the committee was first introduced during an APA
National forum at the sidelines of the republican National Convention last July, the Asian Journal previously reported. “the committee members will support and strengthen ties to each community and provide recommendations on how best to ensure AAPI voices are heard and included in the campaign,” said a release by the trump campaign on sunday, sept. 25, a day ahead of the first presidential debate against Democratic nominee hill-
ary Clinton. the 31-member committee — comprised of a mix of male and female elected, appointed and grassroots leaders who believe in the republican nominee’s message to “make America Great Again” — includes co-chairs Guam Gov. eddie Calvo and Northern mariana Islands Gov. ralph torres, former Labor secretary elaine Chao and Korean Americans for trump founder Lisa shin.
Filipino Veterans of ASEAN @ 50 IN 2017 WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act gets PH officials look forward to ASEAN’s 50th anniversary, PH hosting summits and meetings closer to passage fILIPINo veterans who fought in World War II are closer to receiving the Congressional Gold medal (CGm), one of the highest civilians awards in the United states. After the senate unanimously approved the filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold medal Act of 2015, the bill received enough co-sponsors in the house of representatives. on July 13, the bill passed in the senate and was sponsored by the likes
G. ViSaya
AJPress
by MoMar
G. ViSaya
AJPress
NeW YorK — Department of foreign Affairs Undersecretary enrique manalo led visiting DfA-AseAN officials in a filipino community townhall meeting Wednesday, sept. 28 to promote the Phiippines’ chairmanship next year of AseAN in its golden year. the delegation was in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, along with
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NeW YorK — Department of environment and Natural resources (DeNr) secretary regina Paz Lopez participated in a town hall meeting last week with community leaders during her visit to New York on the occasion of her participation at the Global Leadership forum at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. the Consulate General represented by Consul General mario L. de Leon, Jr. along with community members composed of fil-muslim community, the Lumads, fil-Am press and National federation for filipino Concerns engaged Lopez in a dialogue about the DeNr. “I am shifting from a predominantly regulatory arm into a proactive, dynamic development one. With the money and the power the DeNr has, we can maximize that and utilize it in a way that it has social and economic impact,” Lopez said. In his welcome remarks, Consul General De Leon thanked secretary Lopez for her participation in the forum and recognized the Global
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AseAN meetings and conferences on the sidelines. they also delivered talks at the seton hall University and fordham University in order to raise awareness of the AseAN and the work that they do among the Asian American faculty and students. Joining the undersecretary were elizabeth Buensuceso, permanent representative of the Philippines to AseAN; DfA As- Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique Manalo (center) with his colleagues from the sistant secretary hellen de la Vega; office DFA (from left) Edgar Badajos, Office of ASEAN Affairs director; Elizabeth Buensuceso, permanent of AseAN Affairs executive director Zaldy representative of the Philippines to ASEAN; Hellen De La Vega, DFA assistant secretary and Zaldy
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Patron, Office of ASEAN Affairs executive director.
AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya