New York & New Jersey -- August 5 -- 11 , 2016

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Volume 9 – Issue 45 • 16 Pages

august 5-11, 2016 Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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Duterte on mining firms: I am fighting a monster DATELINE USA tice environmentally destructive openpit methods and corporations which are granted mining permits through MANILA – President rodrigo money, influence and sheer greed.

Duterte lashed out at the oligarchs The president scored the reckless who exploit the country’s natural re- grant of permits solely on the basis sources particularly, those in the min- that a mining firm can afford it. ing and fisheries industry.

Foregoing a prepared speech, “I am fighting a monster. Believe me, Duterte pressed for a stop to destrucI will destroy their clutches on our na- tive mining practices simply because tion,” he said at an environment sum- the land has already taken a beating. mit at Ateneo de Davao University.

“What I am sure of, I am a worker of Duterte vowed anew to go after government. Mining is a sunset indusmining firms which continue to prac- try and also logging. It is already too

by Christina

FrOM THE AJPrESS NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Filipina in Harbor Gateway killed after car crashes into prayer meeting

A FILIPINO family mourns the loss of 72-year-old Elsa De Belen who died after a car careened into a prayer meeting held inside a Harbor Gateway, California home on Wednesday, July 27.

A red Buick sedan hopped the curb and crashed into a living room on the 14800 block of S. Orchard Ave. just after 8 p.m., while a religious gathering was taking place, according to police reports.

De Belen was left trapped beneath the vehicle, while the driver fled the scene on foot.

Witness Charry Maduma told KTLA News the driver of the Buick was speeding before the accident. She said the driver was moving too quickly to make a turn and went airborne before smashing into the house.

“I ducked and saw...so much debris and someone afterward was screaming,” Angie Villanueva, a prayer group

M. Mendez

Philstar.com

late. If there were 24 hours in a day, logging is on its 25th hour. We cannot cut trees anymore,” he said.

Proud of the fact that during the elections, the former Davao City mayor refused to accept campaign contributions from individuals who had vested interests, the president feels he owes no favor to anyone and he serves not one but everyone.

“The oligarchs are resisting because it wil destroy the power vortex. I do not owe anyone. Many would like to maintain the status quo. I will destroy this

PrOSECUTOrS charged a man with murder and attempted murder after allegedly killing one veteran police officer and wounding another during a gun battle in a San Diego Jonathan “JD” De Guzman neighborhood Photo courtesy of the on Thursday, San Diego Police Department July 28.

Jesse Gomez, 53, pleaded not guilty to charges filed against him by the San Diego District Attorney’s office on Tuesday, August 2 at UC San Diego Medical Center.

Officers took the suspect to the hospital after he was found bleeding in the Chollas Creek ravine near the scene of a gunfight in Southcrest that left Filipino-American police officer Jonathan “JD” De Guzman

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Supreme Court orders Robredo to respond to Marcos’s election protests by dana

sison

AJPress

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Suspect charged for fatally shooting Fil-Am officer in San Diego

little by little. I will open the country’s resources to all Filipinos regardless of tribe, race or religion. We have only one nation,” he said.

He also said there should be a limit to mining operations even when they are within bounds of the law.

Duterte, defending anew policies of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, said mining eventually destroys the environment and should observe tighter regulations.

“We are still starting, but we will go

President Rodrigo Duterte arrives at the Ateneo de Davao University with Environment Secretary Gina Lopez and university president Joel Tabora for the State of Mindanao Environment Day. Malacañang photo

MANILA – The Philippine Supreme Court (SC) has ordered Vice President Leni robredo to respond to the electoral protest filed by defeated candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. within 10 days of receipt of summons.

Acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), the court on Tuesday, August 2 also required robredo to file her response by presenting her defense against Marcos’s allegations that the vice presidential race was rigged in her favor last May. The court has “issued a precautionary protection order for the Commission on Elections to preserve the integrity of all election materials effective immediately,” according to the Philippine Star.

Last June 29, Marcos filed an election protest against robredo a day before she took her oath as

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Taking a closer look at Hep B and the Asian American community

by MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

NEW YOrK - The statistics are overwhelming to digest: one in ten Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders live with chronic Hepatitis B and two-thirds of those who are infected are not aware of their status.

Globally, hepatitis B virus infection is the primary cause of cancer after tobacco use and, if untreated, an estimated 15 percent to 25 percent of those infected will die from a related condition.

Among U.S. populations, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders have the highest rate of liver cancer (up to 7.2 times higher than non-

Hispanic whites).

Hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with an infected person’s blood, semen or other body fluid. A pregnant woman infected with the virus can pass it to her unborn child.

There are a variety of drugs now available to treat chronic hepatitis B, which can slow or prevent damage to the liver.

“Be About It” is a documentary directed by Christopher Wong, which chronicled the lives of Bay Area reporter/news anchor Alan Wang and Fil-Am athlete AJ Jabonero as they battle chronic hepatitis B was screened in New York recently

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Shawne Jabonero Lopes (second from right) explains the need to get tested for Hepatitis B because it is a disease that is a silent killer among Asian Americans. Shawne, her brother AJ, AJ’s wife Melisaa Jabonero (right) and broadcast journalist Alan Wang (third from right) are among the subjects in the documentary ‘Be About It,’ which aims to raise awareness of the deadly disease. Joining them on the panel were (from left) Dr. Danny Chu and Dr. James Park of the NYU Langone Medical Center and director Christopher Wong.

AJPress photo

Obama urges Republicans to drop support for Trump Jason Day finishes 2nd in PGA Championship, remains #1 in the world

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

Jason Day

DESPITE a stellar week and a now-iconic 2-iron shot on the closing hole, No. 1 in the world Jason Day narrowly missed repeating a win at the 98th PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey on Sunday, July 31.

The Filipino-Australian defending PGA champion lost to American Jimmy Walker, who had topped the leaderboard throughout the four-day affair.

Walker, 37, started off the final round with a one stroke lead ahead of Day. The No. 15 in the world

played with ease and composure, making par throughout the front nine before making birdie on the 10th, 11th and 17th greens.

But come the tournament’s final hours, the 28-year-old Aussie did not go down without a fight.

During the par-5 final hole, Walker and Day were at 14 under par and 11 under par, respectively. Day used a 2-iron to tee off the 554-yard hole which brought him within 258 yards to the green.

For his second shot, he returned to the 2-iron for a near perfect second shot to the green.

The ball landed squarely on the

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PrESIDENT Barack Obama has called on the GOP to discontinue endorsing Donald Trump for president, calling the republican nominee “unfit to serve” as Commanderin-Chief.

“This isn’t a situation where you have an episodic gaffe.

This is daily,” Obama said on Tuesday, August 2 at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore at the White House. “There has to be a point at which you say, this is not somebody I can support for president of the United

States, even if he purports to be a member of my party. The fact that that has not yet happened makes some of these denunciations ring hollow.”

The president’s comments come after Trump received backlash for his criticism on

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PH Tourism Secretary Teo, DTI rep to join Fiesta in America festivities NEW YOrK - Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo Teo will be one of the keynote guest speakers at the Fiesta in America, slated to happen in Secaucus, New Jersey on August 13 and 14, 2016, the

Asian Journal has learned.

Sec. Teo was in the news recently when she announced on July 28 that the Philippines will be hosting the Miss Universe pageant in January 2017, with

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Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo AJPress photo by Noel Ty

A august 5-11, 2016 • NEW YORK aND NEW JERsEY asIaN JOuRNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

From the Front Page

Duterte on mining firms...

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after mining na hindi sumusunod sa standard,” Duterte said.

Duterte said Australia and Canada have the best mining practices in the world, and should be emulated by firms in

the Philippines.

Lopez, meanwhile, has so far suspended six mining permits over violations of standards.

Duterte backed Lopez on her decision to revoke the licenses, saying Mindanao is a fragile

state.

“If you cannot follow that standard, sorry. Maski na legal, we can only hold so much, iilang butas kung lagyan mo lahat, it will be a wobbling island,” Duterte said.

Taking a closer look at Hep B...

PAGE A1 t to coincide with July 28 as World Hepatitis Day. Medical experts and community advocates joined forces to raise awareness of a disease that affects as many as two million Americans.

Up to one million Asian Americans have hepatitis B, half of all the cases in the country today and way more than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. While anyone can contract hep B, people of Asian descent bear the heaviest burden, representing nearly three quarters of individuals affected worldwide.

Shawne Jabonero Lopes is a first-generation Filipino American living with hep B. Both Shawne and her brother AJ, contracted the virus from their mother at birth. Shawne’s viral loads are currently undetectable, and she has a chronic form of the disease that is regularly monitored to detect potential liver damage.

Her father and brother, however, had high viral loads, and eventually both of them developed liver

cancer.

When her brother AJ was three years old, he had to be brought to a hospital and the doctors told the family that the young boy had jaundice. Everyone in the family was tested as well and the results showed that they all had hep B. But that was just it. At the time, Shawne and her family were not aware of the serious risks associated with hep B. “It wasn’t clear what that meant then. We didn’t understand that we could potentially die from it.

I grew up being told that I was a carrier of the virus,” Shawne told the Asian Journal. Their dad passed away in 2005 due to liver cancer yet they still did not make the connection with hep B. “We had an idea but we just thought that he was unhealthy,” she added.

Shawne recently became an advocate to raise awareness and empower people to get screened and know their status. She and AJ had no idea how to navigate the situation they were in, no one told them that they were still at risk, that they had to consult a

green and rolled to perch 14 feet from the cup.

The shot — which Day has called “probably one of the best 2-irons I’ve ever hit” — has been looped on highlight reels and celebrated on the Internet.

“As soon as I hit it, it felt perfect,” Day said. “It was cutting up against the wind. It was going to land soft. It was going to be really nice.”

After Day’s expected eagle, he had a chance to send the Championship to a playoff. Walker needed to make par to win the championship. He had missed right on his second shot, but

managed to escape the rough on his third shot and make two putts to clutch the championship.

Day told reporters after the tournament that he was unaware that he was a three shots behind Walker; he thought he was two shots behind.

Walker had led throughout the entire tournament, but he was not surprised by Day’s dramatic efforts to snatch the title.

“I was hoping to relax — I could have used it — but I wouldn’t have expected any less from Jason,” Walker said.

This season, Day went into all four majors — the Masters, the U.S. Open, the Open Champion-

PAGE A1 t the second highest government official of the country.

Marcos pointed out that there should be an investigation regarding the accuracy of the election results and the reported irregularities in the election to unveil the electoral fraud that involved the Liberal Party, Smartmatic Corporation and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The petition — which questions 39,221 clustered precincts in 25 provinces and five cities — includes 20,000 pages of annexes that consist of affidavits and other files. He is calling for “manual recount, technical examination and judicial revisions,” the Philippine Star reported.

The senator also claimed that there were instances of vote buying and intimidation and that a fourth server was used, but was not disclosed to the public and not subjected to source code review.

However, Robredo’s lawyer Romulo Macalintal said on Tuesday, July 26, that the existence of an additional server won’t nullify her victory in the vice presidential race.

Macalintal said that servers have nothing to do with the election results for any position since they cannot even alter the

liver doctor and that they had to monitor their liver.

But on their own, they tried to get healthier. AJ for example experimented with vegetarianism, got into endurance athletics and partied a lot less, according to Shawne. He also ate a lot better and exercised a lot.

In August 2014, AJ even joined and finished his first Iron Man competition after doing a number of triathlons. He began complaining about pain in his abdomen and chest around November and

by December, a tumor was found and he was diagnosed with liver cancer.

“Spreading the word and helping others is something AJ inspired me to do,” Shawne said.

“This film and my advocacy work are a great tribute to my brother and his fight.”

Shawne is a devoted wife and loving mother to her 3-year-old son. She recently obtained her Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is currently working as a board certi- PAGE A1 t fied acupuncturist and herbalist. the hopes that the international u PAGE A4 event would drive more foreign visitors to the Philippines. This will be the third time that the country is hosting the international beauty pageant. The first ship and the PGA Champion — as was in 1974 when Amparo Muthe world No. 1 and the favorite noz won, then twenty years later in 1994 when Sushmita Sen was to win.

Despite finishing as runner-up crowned Miss Universe.

In an interview, the DOT secin each major this season, Day remains the top-ranked golfer in retary said she met with Paula M. Shugart, president of the the world.

Day won the PGA Champion- Miss Universe Organization who ship last year when he finished had proposed to hold the 2017 with a record 20 strokes under beauty pageant in the Philippines par. The Aussie first achieved next January. The Miss Universe the No. 1 ranking in September team, including Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, met with 2015.

Following the 98th PGA Cham- President Rodrigo Duterte and pionship, Day had finished with the DOT team recently to iron the lowest cumulative score of all out the details of the country’s competitors who made the cut in hosting.

The secretary met with Asian all four majors, according to Golf Journal / Balikbayan Magazine Digest.

Jason Day finishes 2nd in PGA...

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Supreme Court orders Robredo...

ROBREDO IN THAILAND. Vice President Leni Robredo was in Thailand on Monday, August 1 to receive the “Honorary Outstanding Women of 2016” award by the Thai government. Photo from the Office of the Vice President

results.

Marcos initially requested the court to declare him as the rightfully elected vice president of the Philippines and to nullify the proclamation of Robredo.

During the May elections, it was a tight race between Marcos and

Robredo for the vice presidential positions, with the latter winning by just 263,473 votes, according to the final official tally of the National Board of Canvassers.

Robredo won with 14,418,817 votes while Marcos placed second with 14,155,344 votes.

PH Tourism Secretary Teo, DTI rep... last week to discuss her plans about the department and how to continually increase tourist arrivals to the country. She was based in Davao for more than two decades and it was there where he met then Mayor Duterte. Back then, Sec. Teo has been passionate about tourism and showcasing the best that the country has to offer.

“And that was the time when the president saw I was really doing my best selling the destinations in the Philippines,” Sec. Teo said.

She is also a strong believer that the global Filipino market is a strong market that needs to get encouraged more to travel back to the homeland.

Secretary Teo graduated with a degree in Business Administration from St. Theresa’s College, Quezon City. She is the owner and past president of Mt. Apo

Travel and Tours in Davao City and an active tourism player in Davao. She is also a member of the Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA), the Davao Association of Tour Operators (DATO), the Davao Regional Tourism Council (DRTC), and the president of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS).

Business Forum Prof. Eric Soriano, a National Agora Awardee for Excellence in Marketing Education by the Philippine Marketing Association, will be holding a business and investment forum at the Fiesta in America where he will talk about the various ways FilipinoAmericans across America can invest their hard-earned dollars in the Philippines. Whether it is through real estate or franchising or starting small businesses,

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Obama urges Republicans...

PAGE A1 t Khizr and Ghazala Khan, two Muslim Americans whose son died in Iraq in 2004 while fighting for the U.S. Army.

The Khan family were at last week’s Democratic National Convention, where only the father Khizr Khan spoke, taking issue with several of Trump’s proposed policies, including a temporary ban on Muslim immigration. Trump criticized Ghazala Khan for her silence, asking whether or not she was even allowed to speak.

“The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that had made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country...means that he’s woefully unprepared to do this job,” Obama said.

Obama added his thoughts on Trump run no different than those of mainstream Republicans, like Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), who Trump had previously criticized for not being a war hero.

Throughout the election cycle, Republican legislators have expressed concern over Trump’s controversial comments, but none have withdrawn support. Obama said that he doesn’t “doubt that they were outraged” by Trump’s statements on the Khan family.

“The question I think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say, in very strong terms, that what has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him?” Obama said.

Obama added that although he has disagreed with Republican presidents in the past, he said that he “didn’t have a doubt that they could function as president.” He added that had he lost to Mitt Romney in 2012 or McCain in 2008, he “would have been disappointed,” but would have had no doubt that they would “abide by certain norms and rules

and common sense.”

The president said he does not see Trump as an accurate representation of a majority of the Republican Party, and that the party needs to discontinue validating his positions.

On the same day Obama made his comments, a Republican congressperson from New York declared support for Hillary Clinton over Trump, calling the latter “deeply flawed in endless ways.”

Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) justified his choice in an op-ed released on Tuesday, August 2, saying that Trump will further “alienate” the Republican Party from historically ostracized groups and will push the party to its extremes.

“I have long held the belief that the Republican Party is becoming less capable of nominating a person who is electable as president,” Hanna wrote. “The primary process is geared toward the party’s political base, which ignores the fact that we have largely alienated women, Hispanics, the LGBT community, young voters and many others in general.”

In response to Trump’s harsh criticism toward the Khan family, 17 Gold Star families—families of servicemembers who died fighting for the country—have demanded an apology from the business mogul.

They said that Trump’s comments attacking Ghazala Khan were “repugnant, and personally offensive.”

“When you question a mother’s pain, by implying that her religion, not her grief, kept her from addressing an arena of people, you are attacking us,” the letter read. “When you say your job building buildings is akin to our sacrifice, you are attacking our sacrifice.”

“You are minimizing the risk our service members make for all of us. This goes beyond politics. It is about a sense of decency,” it added. (Klarize Medenilla/AJ Press)

Filipina in Harbor Gateway...

PAGE A1 t attendee told a local ABC station. “They were screaming for help.”

Eleven other people were hurt. People nearby rushed to help victims pinned against the car before fire crews arrived.

Neighbors and friends of De Belen described her as a devout Catholic who had hosted prayer groups at her home for years. She worked as a teacher in the Philippines before managing a doctor’s office in Gardena for more than three decades. De Belen had moved into her most recent community about six or seven years ago and lived alone. One of her nephews said, “her laugh was adored by all.”

“She had the most hysterical and contagious laugh you’ll ever hear … it was incredible,” Al De Belen told the Asian Journal, adding that “The whole family was devastated upon hearing the news, hoping that it was just a bad dream.”

Private memorial services

for De Belen will take place at Holy Cross Mortuary and Cemetery in Culver City. Her relatives have set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds to cover funeral services.

The alleged driver, 34-yearold Rashanda Monique Norman, identified herself as a transient and told reporters for a local CBS station she had blacked out at the time of the accident. She turned herself in at the 77th street police station on Thursday, July 28. Norman is presently being held at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California on a $110,000 bail.

She faces one count of felony vehicular manslaughter and a misdemeanor charge for driving with a revoked or suspended driver’s license. Norman has pled not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, August 10. If convicted, she could serve as many as six years in a state prison. (Eric Anthony Licas/AJPress)

Suspect charged for fatally...

PAGE A1 t dead, and his partner, Wade Irwin, wounded.

Gomez allegedly “answered with gunfire” moments after Irwin stepped out of a police cruiser at about 11 p.m. and asked the suspect if he lived in the area, according to Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon. He said Gomez then proceeded to shoot at De Guzman, striking the veteran police officer with five bullets as he sat in the squad car.

Neither prosecutors nor police have discussed a motive for the shooting.

Gomez’s family members maintain his innocence and told the San Diego Tribune they have received little information from law enforcement.

“No one in my family believes he did this,” said the suspect’s son, Daniel Gomez, 26. “I know he’s been in trouble, like when I was a baby, but after that nothing.”

The elder Gomez possesses a criminal record that goes as far back as 1983, which included several gun-related convictions.

A trail of blood originating near the site of the shooting led police to the ravine where he was discovered.

Police also searched for a man who had been walking with Gomez just before Wednesday evening’s violent incident. A second person of interest was detained on unrelated warrants after evading police in two separate standoffs, but was eventually released.

De Guzman and Irwin had been equipped with body cameras, but they were not recording

as they approached the suspect, according to the Los Angeles Times. Irwin, a nine-year veteran of the police force, did manage to turn on his camera at some point after he was shot in the throat. He and his partner had been rushed to the hospital by other nearby officers.

Irwin, 32, is expected to survive his injuries. He has regained consciousness but “is looking at a long recovery,” according to a GoFundMe page raising money to help cover Irwin’s medical expenses.

De Guzman, 43, died on Friday, July 29 at Scripps Mercy Hospital as a result of wounds sustained while on duty. He fought to improve the lives of people around him throughout 16 years of service, according to San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, who used to work with De Guzman before she was promoted.

“He came to work every single day wanting to just make a positive difference,” said Zimmerman during a press conference on Friday, and described De Guzman as a “loving, caring husband and father.”

The San Diego Police Officers Association is collecting donations on its website to help the fallen officer’s family pay for the funeral and other expenses.

On Friday, Aug. 5, Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon will host an open memorial service for De Guzman at 11 a.m., which California Governor Jerry Brown is scheduled to attend. Other public gatherings honoring De Guzman’s memory had been scheduled earlier in the week.

Dateline USa

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 5-11, 2016

VP Leni Robredo to visit US

NEW YORK—The new and first woman Vice President of the Philippines, Leonora Gerona Robredo, popularly known as Leni, will be visiting the United States after confirming her acceptance of an invitation to the 12th National Empowerment Conference of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) taking place at the Valley Forge Casino & Resort in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, August 4 to 7, 2016.

The highlight of Vice President Robredo’s visit will be a keynote address to the conferees to be delivered at the Conference Gala on the evening of Saturday, August 6.

Filipino and other media in the Northeastern United States are all eyes and ears for the Philippines’ first woman Vice President’s visit especially after the Philippine Consul General in New York issued an invitation to a Press Conference with the Vice President prior to the evening Gala at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, August 6 also at the Casino & Resort.

Tha conference, with the theme “Celebrating Our History and Building a Brighter Future” will hosted by NaFFAA Region One, chaired by Dr. Aida Rivera of Media, Pennsylvania.

Focus of the four-day conference will be the development of key strategies to address the political, social, health, education and economic concerns of the burgeoning Filipino-American community in the United States.

Plenary sessions will take up issues that impact the FilipinoAmerican community especially including immigration reform, health care, voter participation,

Vp Leni Robredo

CG M. De Leon, Jr.

electoral politics and business development.

A long list of speakers and resource persons have been drawn up by organizers of the conference among whom are keynote speaker Bobby Scott, a Virginia Congressman of Filipino parentage; Philippine Vice President Robredo; Ambassador Mario Lopez de Leon, Jr., Philippine Consul General in New York; Loida Nicolas-Lewis, international philanthropist and National Chair Emerita of NaFFAA; JT Mallonga, current NaFFAA national Chair, Jon Melegrito, Communications Director; Rose Tibayan, multimedia journalist and many others.

Hosting the conference in Valley Forge is NaFFAA Region One (R1) whose members come from organizations in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

NaFFAA is a US national organization of Filipino-American associations split up into 12 Regions.

The organization is governed by five national executive officers and

Loida Lewis

15 board of governors.

The national executive officers are JT Mallonga, Esq., National Chairman; Emraida Kiram, National Vice Chair; Mariela Fletcher, Secretary; Brendan Flores, Treasurer; and Giselle Rushford, Executive Director.

The Board of Governors are Brendan Flores, Romeo Jurani, Emraida Kiram, Rozita Lee, Merit Salud, Jelly Carandang, JT Mallonga, Jon Melegrito, Ed Navarra, Rodel Rodis, Bing Branigin, Gloria T. Caoile, Jing Espitiru, Steven Raga, and Loida Nicolas-Lewis.

The 12 distinct Regions are and include the states of and chaired by: Region 1 – Eastern Region, Aida Rivera; Region 2 – Capital Region with the States of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia – Bing Branigin; Region 3 – Midwest (West) with Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin – Jelly Carandang; Region 3 – Midwest (East), with Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio – Armin Sayson; Region 4 – Southern Region, with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi,

A

Jt Mallonga

North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands – Cesar Abueg; Region 5 – Central Region, with Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming – Dennis Apuan.

Region 6 – Southwest Region, with Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas – Anthony Guevara; Region 7 – Pacific Northwest Region, with Alaska, Idaho Oregon and Washington State – Mariela Fletcher; Region 8 – Northern California Region, with the Counties North of San Luis Obispo and Kern – Rudy Asercion; Region 9 – Los Angeles Region, with Counties South of San Luis Obispo, Kern, and Los Angeles, through the northern boundary of San Diego – Noel Omega; Region 10 – San Diego Region, with San Diego, Riverside and Imperial – Myrna Reyes; Region 11 – Nevada Region, with Arizona, Nevada and Utah – Amie Belmonte; and Region 12 – Pacific Islands Region, with Hawaii, Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa – Rouel Velasco.

(Tambi Wycoco)

A august 5-11, 2016 • NEW YORK aND NEW JERsEY asIaN JOuRNaL

China warns trespassers on ‘claimed’ sea territories

by Dana

Dateline USa

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

M. SioSon

AJPress

CHINA warned foreigners who operate vessels not to trespass into its ‘claimed’ waters or else face prosecution.

The Chinese Supreme People’s Court declared that trespassers caught despite past warnings or conviction could be jailed up to a year. This rule was released on Monday, August 1, and took effect on Tuesday, August 2.

The rule also applies to Chinese citizens and foreigners declared guilty of “serious” illegal activities such as unlicensed fishing or wildlife poaching.

A statement released by the court on Tuesday, August 2, said it issued two judicial interpretations to clarify China’s jurisdiction and enforcement in their “controlled” waters which include the 200nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), internal seas, continental shelves, territorial seas, and contiguous zones.

“Judicial power is an important component of national sovereignty,” Reuters quoted the court.

“People’s courts will actively exercise jurisdiction over China’s territorial waters, support administrative departments to legally perform maritime management duties ... and safeguard Chinese territorial sovereignty and maritime interests.”

H o w e v e r, P r o f e s s o r F u Kuncheng, director of Xiamen University’s South China Sea Institute, told The Straits Times that it has “nothing to do with the tribunal ruling.”

The Hague ruled on July 12 that China’s historic claims over a large part of the South China Sea have no legal basis, favoring the Philippines.

China, however, refused to accept the ruling, saying the court had no jurisdiction over the issue.

Kuncheng said that the rule will serve largely to remove confusion among local governments by setting a national policy and standard.

China also has maritime disputes with other countries including Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia.

PH hopes COC will be implemented The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday, August 3 that the Philippines

In this Monday, Aug. 1, 2016 photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a missile is launched from a guided-missile destroyer during a live ammunition drill in the East China Sea. China’s navy has fired dozens of missiles and torpedoes during exercises in the East China Sea that come amid heightened maritime tensions in the region, underscoring Beijing’s determination to back up its sovereignty claims with force if needed. The live-fire drills that began Monday follow China’s strident rejection of an international arbitration panel’s ruling last month that invalidated Beijing’s claims to a vast swath of the South China Sea. Photo courtesy of Wu Dengfeng/Xinhua

hopes a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea would soon be adopted by concerned parties.

“The Philippines wants to see the early adoption of the COC,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said, according to Inquirer.

“All parties need to work expeditiously towards the establishment of an effective code of conduct (COC), and undertake activities that are in good faith and consistent with international law with the aim of advancing, and not delaying, the process.”

Yasay’s speech was read by Undersecretary Enrique Manalo at the 2nd Manila Conference on the South China Sea. A Declaration of Conduct (DOC) signed by Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) members and China in 2002 was supposed to result in a COC that “would further promote peace and stability in the region and agree to work, on the basis of consensus, towards the eventual attainment of this objective.”

COC has long been stalled, however, as reports state it is difficult to get consensus among the diverse ASEAN nations.

US and Singapore joint statement United States President Barack Obama and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong released a joint statement on Tuesday, August 2, urging all concerned parties in the disputed South China Sea to avoid actions, like the militarization of outposts in

the area, that would elevate tensions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. “Beyond bilateral cooperation, the two countries have worked as close partners to build a rulesbased economic and security order for the Asia-Pacific and to address challenges on the global stage, including economic prosperity, climate change, terrorism, transnational crime, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” the joint statement read.

With regard to the South China Sea, the two leaders “reaffirmed the importance of maintaining regional peace and stability and upholding freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea.” “They emphasized the importance of resolving disputes peacefully, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with international law, including as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” They also expressed their support for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the expeditious conclusion of a COC in the area.

Lee made an official visit to the U.S. in celebration of the 50-year diplomatic relationship and at the same time, to enhance the bilateral strategic partnership between the two countries.

IN MEMORIAM. Hundreds of bikers remember Mark Vincent Garalde’s by cycling on the street where he was shot dead by Vhon Martin Tanto, also offering prayers and lighting candles on the spot where he fell.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

AAPI communities urged to apply to DACA

by Klarize

MeDenilla AJPress

LOS ANGELES – There are more than 152,000 Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

However, less than 15 percent of eligible AAPIs actually apply for the program. Moreover, nine out of every 10 AAPI who are currently eligible to request DACA have not done so.

The statistics — which come from the Migration Policy Institute and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) — were the topics of interest at a roundtable discussion about DACA on Thursday, July 28 at the Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice - LA) headquarters.

DACA is an immigration program introduced by the Department of Homeland Security in 2012 under the Obama administration. DACA grants young undocumented immigrants two years of work authorization and exemption from deportation. Recipients may renew for the program once their two years are up.

Experts from Advancing Justice - LA, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), the White House Initiative for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) and the USCIS spoke about the impact of DACA and why more qualified AAPI immigrants should seek resources to see if the program is right for them.

While there is no structured research explaining why people opt not to apply for immigration programs, there are common concerns among those individuals including fear that the family would be split and costs for application and legal counsel among others, according to Odette Keeley, national media network director for New America Media.

Moreover, Keeley said that the stigma associated with being an undocumented immigrant, which still runs strong in the U.S., may discourage those to come forward and seek consideration for DACA. Keeley, who moderated the

roundtable, said that creating awareness and reducing the concerns regarding DACA is “critical in the midst of anti-immigration rhetoric and the uncertain aftermath of the ‘non-decision decision’ of the Supreme Court immigration case [U.S. v.

Texas].”

Martha Flores, chief of staff for the LA District Office of USCIS, said that the ruling does not affect the existing 2012 policy.

Individuals that meet the criteria may continue to file requests and renewals for the program.

DACA is temporary and does not provide a pathway to citizenship, according to Flores. Plans to implement a more permanent program that guarantees a pathway to citizenship are up to the U.S. Congress.

But the speakers emphasized that eligible individuals should come forward because of the impact DACA has a lasting impact on the recipients and their families.

According to data from the USCIS, those who receive DACA have better job opportunities. Of DACA recipients, 69 percent reportedly found jobs with better pay, 57 percent found jobs that fit their education and training and 54 percent found jobs with better working conditions.

“It’s clear that DACA provides real advantages to hard working individuals and families,” said Reva Gupta, senior policy advisor for WHIAAPI. “The opportunities that are available for DACA recipients allows them to come out of the shadows and become more part of the mainstream society and mainstream economy.

“The impact of DACA can be life changing on these individuals, these families and these communities and our country.

These youth are our leaders of tomorrow and it’s really important to remember that, and it’s critical we invest in them and their families.”

Shiu-Ming Cheer, senior staff attorney at NILC, said that even though DACA may not be the right program, legal counsels can point them in the direction of other immigration programs, like the U visa for victims of crime or the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status program.

The roundtable also featured

DACA recipients who both agreed that the benefits associated with DACA have impacted their lives for the better.

Filipino DACA recipient Anthony Ng came to the U.S. when he was 12 years old. While he was hesitant about applying for DACA, he sought out help from Advancing Justice-LA, which led him to pursuing his dreams.

“If you asked me eight years ago if I thought undocumented people could become lawyers and doctors, I would have told you no because of the clear barriers we face,” Ng, 27, said at the roundtable. “DACA has allowed me to have some peace of mind that I can have a bright future and not be separated from my family. If it were not for DACA, I would not have been able to pursue a meaningful career in the nonprofit sector.”

The USCIS’ criteria for DACA eligibility requires applicants to: • Be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012 • Have come to the U.S. before turning 16, • Have continuously lived in the U.S. since June 27, 2007 until present time • Have had no lawful status on June 15, 2012 • Be currently in enrolled school, have graduated, received certification from high school obtained through General Education Development (GED) certificate or have been honorably discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the U.S. • Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor or three or more misdemeanors and do not pose a threat to national security or public safety All the speakers encouraged those interested in applying to DACA to contact accredited legal services.

To contact Advancing Justice – LA, call their English line (888) 349-9695 or their Tagalog line (855) 300-2552. To contact NILC, call (213) 639-3900. To learn more about DACA, visit www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/ consideration-deferred-actionchildhood-arrivals-daca.

To avoid immigration scam and fraudulent attorneys, USCIS offers tips on how to avoid scams at www.uscis.gov/avoidscams.

PH Tourism Secretary Teo, DTI rep...

PAGE A2 t Fil-Ams have options and Prof.

Soriano will share his experiences when it comes to these investments.

Commercial Attache Katrina Banzon of the Department of Trade and Industry in New York will be representing DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez as a speaker in this forum.

The forum was designed to help entrepreneurs, investors and possible retirees who are on the lookout for investment opportunities in the homeland, and Prof. Soriano said that there is an opportunity for every budget as he will be discussing the various options there are, depending on the budget of the investors.

Learn more about small businesses, franchising and other business and investment opportunities that abound in the Philippines today and find out about the scams to avoid to make sure that you don’t gamble your life savings away at this business and franchising forum, one of the many events and happenings slated to happen at this year’s Fiesta in America.

Fiesta In America, the east coast’s biggest indoor expo of its kind will revolve around a Total Wellness theme this year, according to Nanding Mendez, Fiesta In America’s President.

“A Goya Foods, Inc. cooking show and sampling, a spectacular demo by New Jersey’s top health

management organization, free health screenings and fitness tips are some of the wellness aspects that will benefit our guests,” said Mendez. “Our mission is to support Philippine exports and tourism, but we are just as driven by other issues vital to Filipinos, including their health.”

ABS-CBN superstars Paulo Avelino and Julia Montes will lead a multicultural roster of performers. Fans will have a chance to meet the teleserye prince and princess up-close at a “meetand-greet” session.

Fiesta in America will celebrate its 18th anniversary on August 13 and 14 at the Meadowlands ExpoCenter in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Taking a closer look at Hep B...

PAGE A2 t She looks forward to using her educational and personal life experiences to help others to live a healthy and balanced life.

Hep B can be detected and diagnosed with a simple blood test, and health officials hope to impart the importance of screening since people with chronic hep B usually do not experience any symptoms until advanced liver diseases has already developed.

Chronic hep B can slowly destroy the liver over many years – even decades – without producing symptoms. It may cause life-threatening complications including liver cancer or cirrhosis, which is severe liver scarring.

U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, founder

of the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus, has been staging a long fight to educate Asian Americans and help end hepatitis B, a disease which disproportionately affects the Asian American community.

“By educating our community, and increasing access to testing services, we can help those who are infected address the disease earlier, and take measures to keep from passing it on to their children,” said Honda. “As Asian Americans, it is the responsibility of all of us to get tested ourselves, and to take action to educate our communities about this disease.”

In 2015, Honda offered an amendment to increase funding

for the Viral Hepatitis Division at Center for Diseases Control (CDC) by $31.3 million to improve their public education programs.

According to the CDC, Hepatitis B is common in many parts of the world, with an estimated 350 million people living with the disease worldwide. In the US, an estimated 1.2 million Americans are infected. However, hepatitis B disproportionately affects Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders because it is especially common in many Asian and Pacific Island countries. While AAPIs make up less than 5% of the total U.S. population, they account for more than 50% of Americans living with chronic hepatitis B.

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A

Indonesia, Malaysia and PH to start joint maritime patrols

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

IndonesIa, Malaysia and the Philippines signed a document on standard operating procedures (soP) for trilateral maritime cooperation to secure regional water areas.

The signing on Monday, august 1 marked the official start of coordinated joint sea patrols of the three countries.

The third trilateral defense meeting between the countries’ defense ministers and officials was held in Bali, Indonesia from august 1 to 2.

The implementation of the joint patrols was further pushed after the abduction of seven Indonesian crew members by abu sayyaf militants in the southern Philip-

pines last June and the kidnapping of three Indonesian sailors in sabah waters off Malaysia in early July, marking the fourth maritime abduction this year. officials discussed follow-up measures related to the joint declaration on maritime security earlier signed by the three countries in Yogyakarta, Indonesia last May. The two-day meeting was attended by Indonesian defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, Malaysian defense Minister dato’ seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, and Philippine national defense Minister delfin n. Lorenzana.

They also discussed a system to allow naval vessels to enter another nation’s territory and deploying security personnel to

guard commercial ships passing through sulu waters in the Philippines.

They also deliberated in securing the release of Indonesian and Malaysian sailors held hostage by abu sayyaf in the Philippines. “our main duty and function is to prepare our personnel, alutsista, and our strategic plans.

We are now waiting for the command from [Indonesian Military] headquarters,” Indonesian navy spokesman First admiral edi sucipto said on Tuesday, quoted by the Jakarta Post.

Ryamizard also suggested to conduct joint navy and army exercises, and to establish a military post that would intensify coordination and intelligence sharing among the countries.

PNP chief: ‘We value lives’

innocent people because they’re working hard. Police have children too. They have families PHILIPPIne national Police too),” he added.

(PnP) director General Ronald as of July 25, the Commis“Bato” dela Rosa admitted on sion on Human Rights (CHR) has Monday, august 1, that it is ‘painbeen investigating and reviewing ful for police to be accused of 103 cases of extrajudicial killings killing innocent people,’ as they related to the anti-illegal drugs continue their campaign against campaign. There were 39 cases illegal drugs. in nCR; 27 cases in Region I; 15 since the present administracases in Region II; 13 cases in the tion has been cracking down on Cordillera administrative Region; illegal drugs, Inquirer has reportand nine cases in Region XII. ed 467 deaths nationwide.

It includes cases where sus“Kung inosente yan, masakit pects were killed in the middle of rin sa amin kung may madisgraa police operation, or by an unsya na inosente, eh pareho tayidentified assailant, according to ong tao. We value lives, we want the Philippine Center for Investito preserve lives… (If they were gative Journalism. as the number of casualties continued to increase, dela Rosa stressed that he does not condone vigilantism.

“Kung kayo tao, nasasaktan… ang pulis tao, nasasaktan. at kami’y nagmamahal sa aming kapwa. ayaw talaga namin may masaktan unnecessarily (If you get hurt, police get hurt too. We care for our fellowmen. We don’t want them to get hurt unnecessarily),” dela Rosa said. dela Rosa claimed that policemen were professional enough not to mistake innocent people as suspects during operations against illegal drugs.

Last week, President Rodrigo duterte denounced extrajudicial SEEING DOUBLE. Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa introduces“PO1 Bato,” the killings and said that it would be official mascot of the PNP. The mascot entertained policemen and other PNP personnel when put “under control.”

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

really innocent, it pains us too if innocent lives were dragged into this, we’re humans too. We value lives, we want to preserve lives),” Rappler quoted dela Rosa.

He pointed out that the police does not want people to get killed and challenged the accusers to prove that they’re really innocent.

“I-prove nila, kasi masakit naman sa aming mga pulis na lagi nalang ina-accuse ng ganoon. eh nagtratrabaho na nga yung pulis, inaaccuse pa ng ganoon. eh yung pulis na yan, may mga anak rin ‘yan eh. May mga pamilya rin ‘yan (They should prove those allegations because it’s also painful for police to be accused of killing

he danced after the flag raising ceremony in Camp Crame Monday.

DARK SIDE OF DRUG WAR. Stuck in a swamp of trash in the middle of an estero is the shanty of Michael Siaron and his wife, Jennilyn Olayres, at Barangay 145 in Santo Nino, Pasay City. Siaron, a suspected drug pusher who was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen, was the subject of a stirring Inquirer photograph that has sparked calls for a stop to summary executions amid a government campaign against illegal drugs.

Inquirer.net photo by Raffy Lerma

UN condemns extrajudicial killings, Duterte ready to face int’l rights group

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

THe United nations office on drugs and Crime (UnodC) released a statement on Wednesday, aug. 3, condemning the “apparent endorsement of extrajudicial killing, which is illegal and a breach of fundamental rights and freedom.” since President Rodrigo duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs started, 402 drug suspects had been killed nationwide from July 1 to august 2, according to the Philippine national Police (PnP). at the same time, around 114,800 people surrendered as either drug addicts or illegal drug dealers.

UnodC executive director Yury Fedotov said that the Un “remains greatly concerned by the reports of extrajudicial killing of suspected drug dealers and users in the Philippines.” “such responses contravene the provisions of the international drug control conventions, do not serve the cause of justice, and will not help to ensure that ‘all people can live in health, dignity and peace, with security and prosperity’, as agreed by governments in the outcome document approved at the Un General as-

sembly special session on the world drug problem,” the statement read.

“UnodC supports balanced, people-centred, evidence- and rights-based approaches to drug control, rooted in the agreed international conventions and standards.”

The international group also expressed its readiness to engage with the Philippines regarding the issue.

“UnodC stands ready to further engage with the Philippines and all countries to bring drug traffickers to justice with the appropriate legal safeguards in line with international standards and norms, and promote prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration approaches based in evidence, science, public health and human rights.”

In a press briefing with the Philippine star, duterte said he is ready to face the Un and even challenged the international group to instead suggest ways to solve the drug issue in the country.

“I am ready to face the Un, if you are ready to solve it for us. I am ready for you,” he said.

In his first state of the nation address (sona) on July 25, duterte said that human rights

should never be used to protect drug offenders.

“Human rights must work to uplift human dignity. But human rights cannot be used as a shield or an excuse to destroy the country – your country and my country,” he stressed.

“We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier and the last pusher have surrendered or been put behind bars or are below the ground if they so wish.”

In her privilege speech on Tuesday, august 2, senator Leila de Lima asked the administration to put an end to the spate of killings in the country “We cannot wage the war against drugs with blood. We will only be trading drug addiction with another more malevolent kind of addiction. This is the compulsion for more killing, killings that have now included the innocent,” she said. “as a human rights advocate and human being, I plead to the government, this administration, and to the president. There must be another way.”

The Palace, however, refused to take a stance on de Lima’s speech. duterte only said that “it is her job.”

ManilaTimes.net photo

Pacquiao files 3 bills re-imposing death penalty, says ‘it is in the Bible’

by JoSeph

almer B. peDraJaS AJPress

BoXInG champ and Philippine senator Manny Pacquiao filed three bills on Wednesday, august 3, seeking the re-imposition of the death penalty on heinous crimes on the basis that “it is in the Bible.”

Pacquiao met with President Rodrigo duterte last Monday, august 1, to discuss the need to impose once again the death penalty in the country on crimes such as drug peddling, kidnapping and rape.

The born again Christian Pacquiao justified that the death penalty does not go to the teachings of the Christian Bible. “sa Romans 13, basahin natin ‘yang one to seven. Malalaman natin ‘yan (Read Romans 13:1-7, we’ll know),” he said to the media at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

“Hindi naman ang presidente ang maghahatol niyan, kun’di ang gobyerno (It will be the government who will decide, not just the president),” he added. “sa mata ng Panginoon, hindi bawal ‘yan (In God’s eyes, it’s not prohibited).”

The three bills will punish criminals and have stiffer penalties than existing laws. senate Bill no. 185 seeks the imposition of the death penalty and increased penalties on certain crimes involving dangerous drugs. senate Bill no. 186 seeks to impose the death penalty on the heinous crime of kidnapping.

Bill no. 187 seeks to impose the death penalty on the heinous crime of aggravated rape.

The senator also defined different consequences that criminals will face if not given the death penalty. according to him, a penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine of P1 million to P10 million should be imposed on

Atty. Rio Guerrero

“BEST LAWYERS NATIONAL AWARD” NAPABA

NEOPHYTE LISTENS TO VETERAN. Neophyte Senator Manny Pacquiao listens intently to words of advice from Senator Kiko Pangilinan before the start of the plenary session on Monday, Aug. 1.

Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo

any person who imports or brings into the country, forces, intimidates, directs, instructs or otherwise cause another person to bring into the country any dangerous drug, including any and all species of opium poppy.

The maximum penalty shall also be imposed upon any person who brings illegal drugs through the use of a diplomatic passport, diplomatic facilities or any other means involving his official status.

For a drug protectors, the penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine of P500,000 to P1 million will be imposed. a penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine of from P1 million to P10 million also awaits a person or group of persons who shall maintain a den, dive or resort where dangerous drugs are used, given away or sold in any form. a penalty of P1 million to P10 million and a jail term of life imprisonment to death will be imposed upon any person who manufactures any dangerous drug.

The maximum penalty – life imprisonment to death and P10 million fine) – shall also be imposed on any person who possesses any danger-

ous drugs (10 grams or more of opium, 10 grams or more of morphine, 10 grams or more of heroin, 10 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of shabu, 10 grams of marijuana and 10 grams of other dangerous drugs or ecstasy or other illegal drugs. aside from his proposal to apply the death penalty, Pacquiao also wanted to push better education for the Filipinos. “dapat may programa ang gobyerno para hindi maging hadlang ang kahirapan sa pagaaral (The government should have programs to ensure that poverty won’t hinder the student to study),” he said.

When asked if he will be incur more absences in the senate, Pacquiao replied that he will not make any promises. “as a Christian, hindi dapat tama yung mangako ka (it’s not right to promise),” he answered. “For example, nangako kang perfect attendance. Then let’s say nagka-sakit ka, hindi mo na matutupad yung pangako mo (For example, you promised for perfect attendance. Then let’s say, you got sick, then you won’t be able to stand on what you promised).” n

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OpiniOn

Features

Turnaround

AMID President Rodrigo Duterte’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, the Philippine National Police (PNP) proudly reported that the country has also seen a downward trend in crime in the first half of 2016.

“We are seeing the reduction of street crimes, particularly crimes against property metro-wide,” Chief Supt. oscar albayalde said. albayalde said that the significant decline in Metro Manila’s crime was due to the implementation of “oplan Tokhang” and “Double Barrel,” the government’s drive against illegal drugs. according to Inquirer.net, “oplan Double Barrel” is the government’s blueprint for its drug war, which supposedly involves exposing the “upper barrel” to capture “high-value” and supply-side targets; and the “lower barrel” to eliminate “lowvalue” and demand-side targets.

“Tokhang,” which was first launched in Davao City in 2012, is a combination of “toktok” or knock and “hangyo” or to plead or request.

In the last month, authorities have reported a total of 402 drugs suspects killed, 5,418 suspects arrested and 565,806 others who have surrendered. albayalde said that the weekly crime trend data from July 1- 19, 2016 reflected the significant decrease of street crimes compared with the data recorded on the first semester of 2016. other forms of index crimes against persons and properties correlated to illegal drugs have also been

reduced.

Meanwhile, beginning this week, an emergency 911 hotline has been formally activated to immediately provide police assistance to the people. The 24 hour-hotline is also available for fire and medical emergencies.

Since its activation, various calls for emergencies were received by the emergency hotline, such as ambulance assistance, vehicular accidents, petty harassment and civil disturbances, drag racing, drinking in public places, and drug pushing, among others.

It seems that the PnP will help the president fulfill his promise of suppressing illegal drugs and criminality in the country within three to six months.

The agency also vowed to clean up its ranks. of the 16,000 police officers drug tested, 11 were found positive. They were relieved from their posts and now under investigation.

While these recent reports have been fairly positive, it would also be good for both the PnP and the government to look into the recent spike in Currently, the country has 160,000 policemen killings of suspected drug dealers and users un- manning the streets for a population of 102.3 milidentified gunmen. This alleged vigilante killings lion or a ratio of one cop for every 640 people. For incited fear among the citizenry. the PnP to further ensure the public’s safety and

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

purging misfits from the streets, policemen must be reminded to perform their duties based on respect for the sanctity of life and human rights. (AJPress)

Could this be the beginning of the end of Trump’s sprint to the White House?

DonalD Trump’s millions of loyal ardent followers, many of whom are Filipinos in america, would even question the title of this piece as they believe in their hearts that he can indeed “make america great again.” There are kababayans who find it unfathomable how there are people who could not see beyond what they call lies the liberals are spewing against Trump. They say the real estate billionaire is the best candidate and best leader america could ever have, compared to obama, Clinton, Sanders, and any other Democrat.

But the liberals and those who affiliate themselves with the Democratic Party are not the only ones speaking out against Trump these days, especially in light of his comments criticizing the parents of army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed in the line of duty in Baghdad in 2004.

Many people from within the party he is supposed to represent have distanced themselves from his comments, while members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and a group of Goldstar families (an organization founded by individuals who lost family members in the Iraq war) have demanded an apology.

The father Khizr Khan gave a speech at last week’s Democratic national Convention against Trump’s plan to ban Muslims in america. The el-

der Khan said the plan denigrates the ultimate sacrifice their son and many other men in uniform The Fil-Am made for the United States when Perspective they offered their own lives for this country they love.

Khan claimed Trump “sacrificed nothing and no one,” and this prompted the Republican Gel sanTos-relos presidential nominee to retaliate and even speculate why Khan’s wife Ghazala did not even speak up during the convention to deliver her own remarks.

In an opinion article published by the Washington Post, Ms. Khan wrote, “all the world, all america, felt my pain. I am a Gold Star mother.

Whoever saw me felt me in their heart.”

“Donald Trump has children whom he loves.

Does he really need to wonder why I did not speak?” she added.

Ms. Khan further said Mr. Trump was “ignorant” of Islam and criticized him for offering his business career as evidence that he had sacrificed for his country. “Donald Trump said he has made a lot of sacrifices,” Ms. Khan said. “He doesn’t know what the word sacrifice means.”

The New York Times reported how Mr. and Ms. Khan stiffened their denunciation of Trump,

An open letter to President Rodrigo Duterte Many years ago, in May of 1986, our family — my Community husband and three children — decided to leave our Voice country when weexperienced too much chaos and violence after the aquino assassination.

Tess Marino However, only ten months after arriving in the US, another blow more devastating came to my life: a huge fire in my parent’s Ermita property took the lives of four — my Dad and Mom, who were in their mid-seventies, a balikbayan sister who was to come home the following day, and an 8-year-old nephew.

Fortunately, my brother with his wife and six children were able to run away, but he was traumatized as he watched the fire engulf our loved ones. Firemen refused to spray the hose at our building because they prioritized on helping a neighbor whose building was not even burning because the owner had given P40,000 grease money to them!

My bitterness and pain were indescribable as I vowed never to set foot again on Philippine soil. I decided to fight depression by writing an advice column for a California Filipino newspaper, praying for my heart to melt and forgive!

I made the choice to accept the trials life threw at me, act positively to pursue worthy goals and fill my life with meaning and contribution. I let my heart overflow with joy as I watched our three children grow up to be amazingly responsible, compassionate and loving individuals and a happy marriage with my supportive husband.

Ten years after the tragedy, we had to come home to attend the wedding of our eldest son to his beautiful wife in Batangas City. We have come and gone since, have never been to the scene until now. I just released forgiveness

for the evil deeds of men, and think back about good times from the past.

Even as turbulence all over the world continues to roll like the waves of an ocean, my day never ends without a prayer for peace to reign in everyone’s hearts. I pray especially for my countrymen who for ages have been suffering from the hands of past leaders who had only self interests and greed, as well as natural disasters, poverty and overpopulation, heinous crimes by mentally impaired drug addicts, and the inability to survive against the odds. With the grace of God, their tools in life were strong faith and resilience! as Helen Keller quoted, “The world is moved not only by the mighty shoves of the heroes but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.”

I feel you, Mr. President, will live up to the challenges — dare mighty things — and win glorious triumphs together with each Filipino whose heart you have aroused. after watching your Sona speech, Mr. President, I can truly say that now I can see the light from the darkness. That my soul can feel the peace that someday, my husband and I, in our twilight years, will not be afraid to come back to our once beautiful beloved Philippines, because finally God has sent a leader like you with a compassionate heart and an iron hand.

To be willing to sacrifice at the risk of your life will be your ultimate test, but what a reward you will get from all 100 million Filipinos and our future generations. our endless thanks from our grateful hearts and a prayer for you to never stop fighting for the sake of the country you seem to love at all costs!

Very gratefully yours, Tess Marino

saying on the TV show “Meet the Press” on nBC last Sunday that Trump lacked the moral character and empathy to be president. Mr. Khan said Trump had shown disrespect to his wife, and he accused the Republican nominee of running a campaign “of hatred, of derision, of dividing us.”

Mr. Khan made his appeal on “Meet the Press” to the “patriotic americans that would probably vote for Donald Trump,” saying “I appeal to them not to vote for hatred, not to vote for fear-mongering. Vote for unity. Vote for the goodness of this country.”

Trump tweeted on Monday, aug. 1 that Khan “viciously attacked me from the stage of the DnC and is now all over T.V. doing the same.”

He then continued the barrage of comments against Khan on Twitter and in interviews, arguing that he has done a lot of sacrifices as a businessman. He and his surrogates contended that Khan’s remarks against him are just being exploited for political expediency.

But many leaders of the Republican Party do not agree with Trump and have been very public about their denouncement of Trump’s statements.

Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenTa I WEnT through the transcript of the State of the nation address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte with a sincere desire to experience the emotional impact that it had on Communications office Secretary Martin andanar.

He said a preview of the speech made him cry. at the risk of seeming like a cold-hearted individual, I felt no such emotional high. no such luck. First of all, it was hardly a report on the state of the nation in its various facets – and not just the state of criminality in the country, specifically the drug menace, and the broken justice system.

In his opening words, Duterte said he had no taste for raking up the sins of his predecessors, although he did state that those found guilty of violations of law would be made answerable, albeit with due process, The Sona was in fact a report on the State of the new administration’ plans, programs and policies - whatever one could make of them, from a rambling disjointed speech.

This is not to belittle the honest effort of the new president to express himself in the manner that he thought best. Remember that it was that manner of expressing himself that persuaded over 16 million Filipinos to vote

They condemned Trump’s treatment of the Khans and as the New York Times reported, these leaders have called “his behavior outside the bounds of political discourse.”

In a statement released last Monday, Sen. John McCain accused Donald Trump of defaming Khizr Khan and argued the Republican presidential candidate does not represent the GoP. “While our Party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us,” McCain said.

Military veterans in Congress even urged House Speaker Paul Ryan to drop his endorsement of Trump.

Recent polls reveal that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has widened her lead over Trump after the Democratic national Convention, with an 8, even 9 percent margin. Is this ominous for Trump’s presidential ambitions?

Do you support Donald Trump’s statement? Do you agree that he went too far? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos

Trying to appreciate the SONA for him. It may be assumed that many of those millions would not recognize a coherent speech if it bit them on the nose.

But as someone interested in the wisdom and profundity of national leaders – never mind eloquence, grassroots sincerity is more inspiring – I had to find a way to piece together the thoughts of our president in his first report to the nation.

Following Duterte’s trend of thought, frankly, took some effort. The process reminded me of the old copy reading days in the Kislap-Graphic Magazine (circa 1957) where the editor’s mandatory tools, aside from the blue pencil, were a pair of scissors and scotch tape. one had to go through each manuscript to find a paragraph that could logically follow the lead. and one had to search for and piece together sections of the manuscript to come up with a logical and coherent sequence.

That’s what I decided to do with Duterte’s Sona. you see, he kept jumping from topic to topic with no apparent concern for developing each one. What made it worse was his penchant for ad-libbing, depending on which subject took his fancy.

By focusing on a specific topic – say, the drug problem and the broken justice system – I succeeded in finding related paragraphs in various sections of the entire speech, and transposed them to where I thought they logically belonged. That way, I managed to get a more

comprehensive view of Dutete’s thoughts.

For easier identification, I labeled each related topic or paragraph with a heading; ·Justice system, crime and the drug menace · Back to drugs · Uplift people’s welfare by fixing the justice system · People’s welfare with reference to criminality · Media killings · Back to the broken justice system · Back to drugs · Educational development related to drug education · Back to drug problem out of nearly 9000 words in the entire speech, including ad-libs, this topic accounted for 2.137 words. of that only 24 words were devoted to educational development and that had to do with drug education..

Streamlining the civil service was the next favorite topic of Dutete, accounting for 1,250 words.

DEnR, Gina lopez, global waming, garbage and laguna lake took up 1,116 words, beating Infrastructure development and the traffic problem which took 1,021 words. The paeans Dutete gave to lopez accounted for the margin.

Internal security, the Bangsamoro issue, the CPP-nPa-nDF and lumads accounted for 757 words. Squatters and poverty alleviation rated 593 words. While Duterte’s other favorite topics, Federalsim, took 615 words and PAGE A7

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Gabriela pushes divorce bill again in Congress

by Joseph

Almer B. pedrAJAs AJPress

FOR the fifth time, women’s party list group Gabriela pushed and filed anew in Congress House Bill 2380 — a bill which seeks to legalize divorce in the country — on Wednesday, August 3.

“It is high time that the state [should] give couples in abusive and irreparable marriages the option to divorce. We hope that this time, both Houses of Congress will finally approve the Divorce Bill,” Gabriela representative Emmi de Jesus said.

Gabriela has been pushing the 13th Congress to pass the bill since 2005.

By passing the bill, any of the separated party will have more leeway once the court grants them a divorce.

Compared to the existing bills of legal separation and annulment, divorce will be able to help both men and women on their plight in disastrous marriages.

“Ang weakness ng legal separation, hindi ka maka-move on dahil hindi pinawawalang bisa ang kasal [The weakness of legal separation is that you can’t move on from your marriage since it is not yet nulled],” de Jesus explained.

“Ang annulment, kinikilala lamang ang problema ng relasyon noon pang panahon ng kasal tulad ng psychological incapacity na noon pa man nag-exist [While annulment just recognizes that there has been a problem in the relation since marriage, it is just like recognizing a psychological incapacity],” she added.

De Jesus, together with Gabriela spokesperson Arlene Broas and other divorce advocates, filed the bill in Congress. They believe that it is high time that the state should give couples in abusive and irreparable marriages the option to divorce.

Under the House Bill 2380,

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 5-11, 2016

A

Ombudsman asks SC to reconsider Arroyo’s acquittal by dAnA

m. sioson

AJPress

resentative Miro Quimbo argued that, “the country is not ready to discuss absolute divorce,” expressing disapproval as the said bill is a western-based concept that is contrary to the Filipino culture.

Maviv Millora, the Secretary General of the pro-divorce group, cited situation of her friend who suffered the plight of victims who could not file divorce.

Nung isang araw, tumawag kaibigan ko, tinutukan siya ng baril ng kanyang asawa, sabi ko anong magagawa ko, go to the police, go to PAO (Public Attorneys Office), o kaya sa Gabriela, pero iniisip niya kahihiyan nya [The other day, my friend called, she told that her husband pointed a gun at her. I advised her to go to the police, to PAO or to Gabriela, but she is worried of her reputation],” Millora said.

Meanwhile, Divorce Advocates of the Philippines President Cecile Jueco left a message to those who are against the bill.

“If you are not in favor of divorce, then do not file for divorce.

Thank God, you have a happy married life,” she said.

Jueco also added that those who are against divorce should understand the situation of the people who suffer from their existing marriages. n

MANILA – Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales formally asked the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday, August 3, to reconsider its decision after acquitting former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from her P366-million plunder case in connection with the disbursement of confidential funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

The SC granted Arroyo’s petition for demurrer to evidence on July 19, 2016. It was filed after the prosecution has finished its presentation of evidence, which was earlier junked by the Sandiganbayan.

The SC ruled that the Sandiganbayan’s conclusion was “plainly conjectural and outrightly unfounded” and that “the [Ombudsman] had no case for plunder against petitioners.”

“The corpus delicti of plunder is the amassment, accumulation or acquisition of ill-gotten wealth valued at not less than P50,000,000. The failure to establish the corpus delicti should lead to the dismissal of the criminal prosecution,” the SC decision read, according to ABS-CBN. “There was no evidence, testimonial or otherwise, presented by the [Ombudsman] showing even the remotest possibility that the [Confidential Intelligence Funds or CIF] of the PCSO had been diverted to either GMA or [former PCSO Budget and Accounts Manager Benigno] Aguas, or [former PCSO general manager Rosario] Uriarte.”

The Ombudsman’s 32-page motion for reconsideration said that the high court has committed “grave errors which amount to

a violation or deprivation of the state’s fundamental right to due process of law.”

“The evidence presented by the [Ombudsman] was not fully taken into account, including but not limited to the irregularities in the [CIF] disbursement process, questionable practice of comingling of funds and [Aguas’] reports to the Commission on Audit (COA) that bulk of the P365,997,915.00 withdrawn from the [PCSO’s] CIF were diverted to the Arroyo-headed Office of the President.”

The Ombudsman argued that Arroyo’s demurrer to evidence plea is not reviewable by appeal before the judgment of the case, stating that the court “committed grave errors which amount to a violation or deprivation of the

state’s fundamental right to due process of law.”

“The concept of actual personal gain, benefit or enrichment to the offender is immaterial as the important consideration in offenses involving the unlawful taking of property, as in plunder, is the intent to gain,” the motion read.

“Unlawful taking or apoderamiento is deemed complete from the moment the offender gains possession of the thing, even if he or she has no opportunity to dispose of the same.”

The Ombudsman also argued that Arroyo and co-accused Aguas conspired with their other co-accused “via a complex, illegal scheme which defrauded PCSO in hundreds of millions of pesos.”

ment level could be beyond the national government’s control.

I think this SONA gives the words, respectively. country an idea of where the PAGE A6 Also given only passing men- new president intends to focus the Freedom of Information ex- tion were women’s rights with his passion. There are issues and ecutive order had 472 words.

85 words and natural calamities concerns that different sectors What about topics close to the with 56. may think are important and reheart of business and related to Foreign relations and the West quire more – or at least as much the economy? The economy and Philippine Sea issue accounted attention and diligence as those tax reform rated only 151 words. for 149 words. No ad libs. in Duterte’s comfort zone.

Jobs and entrepreneurship had That’s one word less than One would have difficulty 209, health care and reproduc- clean governance, which had understanding why education, tive health took all of 111 words, 150 words – but included a ratio- health care, agricultural develwhile agriculture and tourism nale that corruption and ineffi- opment and tourism developdevelopment took 65 and 20 ciency at the lower local govern- ment merited only passing men-

tion. I think Duterte is intelligent enough to appreciate their importance, But prudent enough not to discuss topics beyond his full comprehension.

That’s the function of the presidential staff – or maybe they’re still warming their seats.

Perhaps he intends to delegate those issues and concerns to the heads of Cabinets or to Comgress. But while the President can delegate authority, Duterte cannot delegate responsibility and accountability.

Duterte did end on a poignant

note: “There are many among us whose emotional wounds are still fresh and painful to the touch.

We cannot erase the images of death and destruction from our minds. We cannot wash away the stench of rotting flesh from our noses. And there are many of us who are still waiting for the help that was promised. ”But we should not despair.

Like someone wrote: It is when the night is darkest, that dawn breaks. We are imbued with resiliency that has been tested and

proven. More difficult times As in the past. We have a bond to act together. We have to help each other. For then and only then can we truly prevail.

“And the Filipino, disciplined, informed, involved, shall rise from the rubbles of sorrow and pain. So that all the mirrors in the world will reflect the face of a passion that has changed this land.

“Daghang Salamat.”

Let us all hope fpr the best. (gregmacabenta@hotmail. com).

NO FOREVER. Proponents of divorce gather at the House of Representatives on Wednesday as the Gabriela party-list group filed its version of the divorce bill for the fifth time. The Philippines is the only country in the world (aside from the Vatican) where divorce is not allowed, except for the Muslim minority.

ManilaTimes.net photo

the court shall grant divorce only when circumstances are met: • The petitioner has been separated de facto from his or her spouse for at least five years at the time of the filing of the petition and reconciliation is highly improbable; • The petitioner has been legally separated from the spouse for at least two years at the time of the filing and reconciliation is highly improbable; • When any of the grounds for legal separation has caused the irreparable breakdown of the marriage; • When one or both spouses are psychologically incapable to comply with the essential marital obligations; and • When the spouses suffer from irreconcilable differences that have caused the irreparable breakdown of marriage.

However, some legislators do not necessarily agree with the proposal, saying that it could damage the sanctity of marriage.

“Ako ay hindi sangayon. Kung ano ang sinumpaan sa Diyos at sa tao, dapat panindigan mo [I do not agree with the proposal.

Whatever you swore to God and to the people, stand for it],” Deputy Speaker Representative Fred Castro said.

Another Deputy Speaker Rep-

Trying to appreciate...

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo physically reported for work on Monday, July 25 as Pampanga representative for the opening of the 17th Congress after being in detention for four years. Inset photo shows Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales. Philstar.com photos

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Karla Garcia: reapinG the rewards of hard worK, patience

by MoMar

Hard work, a lot of it, perseverance and determination are some of the ingredients in Broadway performer Karla Puno Garcia’s journey to stardom.

She shared this with young Filipino-americans in northeast USa who graduated this year and joined the Philippine Consulate General’s P Grad or Philippine Graduation program at the Kalayaan Hall. Garcia, together with Michael Vea, founder of KIPP and teach for Philippines, were the evening’s keynote speakers.

“To be able to inspire younger Filipinos, that is very important to me,” Karla told the Asian Journal.

“I took a day off today and I asked my management for permission to do this.”

Garcia recalled her own story and the challenges she had to go through as she chased her dream – to become a star onstage. an older cousin Lamae Caparas competed in dance competitions, and Karla thought, “That seems fun.” She tried it out herself and she fell in love with dance. a few years later, Karla watched her cousin on the Broadway show “The Lion King.”

“I was so inspired seeing her on that stage … seeing a fellow Filipina family member from my hometown perform for thousands of people on a Broadway stage. I wanted to be up there too. I knew I had found my true calling,” she shared.

Karla is now the first Filipina cast member of the highly successful and Tony awardwinning Broadway musical, “Hamilton.” Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical’s creator, lyricist and star, and the rest of the cast welcomed her with open arms last February. They even had a special ‘Ham4Ham’ video that eventually went viral.

Miranda, introducing the video said, “Hello, hello! Kumusta, kaibigan. Welcome to the Taglish edition of the digital Ham4Ham show.” He then thanked an exgirlfriend for his conversational Taglish and rattled the phrases he knows like “Mahal kita, minamahal kita”, “Kaibigan lang”, “Wanna bet, kiss my puwet” and the cuss words he learned. Ham4Ham is the digital lottery for tickets to “Hamilton,” where winners can pay ten dollars – a Hamilton – to watch the show.

Karla said she is having the time of her life as part of Broadway’s biggest musical in years.

She shared that just like other actors before her, she worked hard and took odd jobs in order to make ends meet.

G. Visaya/AJPress

“I did retail at Express. I passed out flyers in Times Square (similar to the girls dressed head to toe in red tights and Bowler hats, passing out ads to go see Chicago). I didn’t wear a costume, but it was still very humbling. I also hostessed at a Mexican restaurant,” Karla enumerated.

She found hostessing easy.

“You just smile and lead people to a table. I was doing so well, that my restaurant manager decided to promote me to calling in delivery orders to the kitchen. Well, I lasted one night.

I sent multiple wrong orders to the kitchen, so the chefs were hustling, making all kinds of food that wasn’t being ordered,” Karla shared. The kitchen staff had to throw some of the food away and Karla apologized to the manager and asked for her hostessing job back.

The road to Hamilton raised in Oxon Hill, Maryland, a navy suburb of Washington dC, Karla was surrounded by Filipino culture nonstop. Her elementary school, parish, and even her dance studio were 90% Filipino. On Sundays, her entire family would go to Mass, then come home and eat either adobo or kare kare and rice.

She would then go to her dance studio and rehearse for hours then come home and start her homework at about 11:00 pm.

“Mom and dad always said, ‘No grades no dance.’ I had to dance, so I stayed up sometimes till 3:00 am finishing school projects or studying for exams,” she shared.

The routine of [wake up, school, dance, family meal, homework, sleep and repeat] became quite normal for her.

She appreciates that she was brought up to understand the value of hard work, discipline, and building the path to your chosen destination.

“Most of our parents immigrated here to ensure that we had all the opportunities available to us to take on whatever life we envisioned. We could become a doctor, a teacher, a musician, a playwright … and even a secretary,” she said, a dream she once entertained. “There are no limits. We are our own architects and because of our culture and upbringing, we have all the tools necessary to realize our dreams.” after high school, Karla knew she needed structure in her transition to become a professional dancer. She knew she needed time to discover herself so she gave herself time to grow and mature.

Her grandfather in the

Karla Garcia hams it up backstage with her fellow Hamilton cast members

Philippines found out that she wanted to be a dancer and he was almost incredulous.

“He couldn’t believe that one of his grandchildren wasn’t going to practice law or medicine, or be an engineer. I told him it was what I loved. He could tell I was serious about it, but he said ‘Just make sure you have a backup plan’,” she shared.

Karla heeded this advice. along with her dance BFa at New York University, she also minored in journalism.

When she was a junior, she auditioned for a new Broadway show called “Hot Feet” and was immediately cast. “at 20 years old, I was the youngest dancer to be cast in the show. at this point, I think my Lolo was starting to understand my dream a bit more,” she said, adding that she took a few months off from school to do the show,

Karla has performed in various productions such as Wicked (on tour) and Gigi and West Side Story on Broadway, prior to landing her job at Hamilton

and after a brief summer run, the show closed and she went back to NYU to complete her degree. “I’m so glad that I had those years to improve upon myself both as an artist and an adult.” after her Broadway debut, and armed with an NYU degree under her belt, Karla thought to herself, “Oh, this is a piece of cake! I’ll book another Broadway show … easy!

No problem!”

She couldn’t be more wrong.

Karla faced months and months of rejection. Nothing was happening and she got close to booking gigs only to get passed over for someone else. She was on survival mode and this was when she showed resilience as she took on the various jobs she had to do, gaining further appreciation for every form of hard work. “all jobs, all parts are important and necessary. The boss, for instance, cannot perform their duties without their secretary. In a musical, the lead actors need their ensemble members to support the energy in a scene, or elevate a moment with choreography,” Karla explained.

Tides turned and Karla began to book more consistent work in the industry, from national tours to TV gigs, and a stint on the Fox reality show “So You Think You Can dance”.

Then, came “Hamilton.” as a swing in the musical, Karla is not onstage every night, but she has to know five different roles, and be ready to go on at the drop of a dime in case someone calls out.

“Before our Tony performance

Throughout her waves of unemployment, survival gigs, rejection and success, there was always one constant for Karla – family. The same family that taught her the work ethic she continues to uphold to this date.

last June, our director Tommy Kail gave the cast a little pep talk. He reminded us how vital each and every person in our company is to the life of the show,” she said, remembering her unforgettable and life-changing Tony awards experience. “From the understudies, to the swings, to the wardrobe department … the show would not go on without every single one of these components. Be proud of your task, your part in the machine … take ownership of your piece in the puzzle.”

Throughout her training as a kid, Karla knew her family always had her back and with their encouragement, she ran full force towards her dream.

“I saw older girls from my dance studio graduate and go on to perform on Broadway, in award shows and on television. I thought ‘That could be me!’ I never saw a Broadway show and thought I couldn’t be in it because of any reason, especially my ethnicity,” she shared. “I watched dancers like Fred astaire, Ginger rogers, or Savion Glover and I wanted to dance like them. I wanted to be them, and it didn’t matter that we didn’t look the same.”

She credits her parents for this positive outlook since she was brought up in a household that encouraged excellence no matter what they looked like. and this pretty much sums her inclusion in Hamilton.

“I am blessed to be a part of a production that sees absolutely no color, and at the same time celebrates the diversity that we,

as Filipinos, add so richly to this country,” she said. “Landing a spot in this production where the colorblind casting is intentional, I feel so fortunate to be living in this time.”

Karla is the first Filipino cast member in the show, but in the orchestra, there is robin Macatangay, a brilliant guitarist.

“Meeting him on my first day made me even prouder to be a Filipina in this industry. It reminded me that we are really one of the most talented, hardworking ethnic groups in the world,” Karla added. “Even our writer and creator Lin Manuel Miranda recognizes the beauty of our culture and our language.”

Which brings us back to that Taglish Ham4Ham viral video.

Lin-Manuel was so welcoming that when Karla joined the cast, he did a special Ham4Ham with her and now Tony award winner Lamar Odom, who plays the role of Vice President aaron Burr.

“He was like ‘We should definitely speak Taglish!’ It was his idea! I said, ‘Well … I know my numbers really well! We could do ‘Ten duel Commandments’ but in Tagalog and English!,” Karla shared, reminiscing that moment.

Lin-Manuel loved the idea and he named their bit “The Taglish Commandments!”

“Lin likes to do a prayer circle with the cast every night before the show. The night of my Hamilton debut, he gave gratitude to my mom and dad, who helped get me to that very moment. He ended the prayer with, ‘Mahal kita!’,” she added.

James Reid, Nadine Lustre ‘Teen Vogue’ feature finally out Charo Santos-Concio recalls ‘MMK’ success 25 years later by alixandra Caole Vila Philstar.com

US-based magazine “Teen Vogue” finally released their article featuring Philippines’s favorite celebrity couple, James reid and Nadine Lustre.

Titled “James reid and Nadine Lustre are the Filipino Love Team You Need to Know,” the write-up tells the story of how the two won over the hearts of the Filipino community and how their on-cam romance transcended to reality.

“James and Nadine say they never tried to be anything they weren’t and this transparency is what set them apart from other love teams. a partnership that started out as a mere example of what the ideal love looks like transformed into a real, undeniable romance that the country fell head over heels for,” the article said.

James and Nadine first appeared together in a music video in 2013. “after that music video, nothing really happened…[until] our first

by JoyCe JiMenez/Philstar.com

movie,” James told the magazine, referring to their hit movie “diary ng Panget.” “That’s when the Jadine love team started, the fans made the name,” the article read.

It took two years before “real feelings” finally kicked in. Last February 20, James summoned the guts to tell the whole world about

their real status. It happened during their concert “Jadine in Love.”While longtime fans rejoiced over it, some others criticized them for being too public about it, saying it might have been just a publicity stunt to boost their careers. regardless, they admitted they are both happy and it does not matter what other

THE drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya” is one of the TV shows that has been followed by the public every Saturday.

It features inspiring stories by the Filipinos for 25 years now, which is being hosted by Charo SantosConcio.

When asked what she thinks is the secret of their show, Charo replied, “Hindi dahil sa akin kung hindi dahil sa mga kuwentong ibinahagi sa programa.”

She also pointed out that it was Screenshot of Teen Vogue page not an easy journey for their show. people think.

In those 25 years, she said, The pair was interviewed “‘MMK’ has gone through its ups by the publisher during the d.C. and downs. It’s not like a program Washington leg of their world tour that faired from the challenges of dubbed as “Jadine High On Love.” the competition. Mayro’n din siyang Viva artist agency which maraming challenges, pero sa awa handles the celebrity couple has ng diyos hindi kami tinalikuran ng previously shared a photo taken mga manonood.” during the interview.

Charo Santos-Concio said their show draws strength and inspiration from the life stories of their letter-senders.

In the past few months, Charo had the chance to get up close and personal with some Filipino overseas workers (OFWs), the ones who often send in letters to their show. during those moments in Continued on Page 7

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On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places

The Great Gatsby’s influence on the Roaring 20s Era & The People’s Ball

BoBBy T. yalong ThAT fashion is a reflection of the social, economic, political, and cultural changes is indubitably factual and that while it mirrors the changing trends of our daily life, it simultaneously conveys the apogee of modernization and reinvention of styling perspectives. The standard paradigm of certain epoch may be regarded as discordant to be adapted by current age but trendsetters won’t have second thoughts in embracing something novel just to be different from among the rest.

Take for instance the ever well-liked and archetypal Gatsbylook that set an unprecedented trendy movement during the 1920s… the most significant era in American history. Along with the said fashion statement the western world experienced a period of sustained economic prosperity and cultural dynamism.

There was the birth of ‘flappers,’ a new breed of young women who wore short skirts, sported short hair (the Bob-cut), loved jazz music, wore excessive make-up, drove cars, and treated sex as a casual thing. In short, these were the women who broke loose from the conventional stereotypes.

This decade created men and women who lavishly partied and ostentatiously celebrated every single event with extreme exuberance, deafening music, and thunderous excitement ---hence, the term Roaring Twenties.

Those years of dramatic social and political change encouraged more Americans to live in cities than on farms that swept them into a well-heeled but unfamiliar lifestyle.

The striking social set-up also attracted a great migration of African Americans that caused an increasing visibility of black culture which discomfited the whites… the so-called Cultural Civil War. The Blues and Jazz beats pervaded the music scene while

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All in the role...

American novelist and short story writer Francis Scott Fitzgerald

new dances were introduced: the Charleston, the Peabody, Turkey Trot, and later, the Boogie. Alcohol was banned and considered illegal.

The 1920s era significantly introduced the credit cards, the vacuum cleaner, washing machines, radios, frozen foods, and hair dryer.

Popular celebrities during those times were author Ernest hemingway, Poet Robert Frost, Magician harry houdini, fashion designer Coco Chanel, scientist Albert Einstein, dancer-actor Fred Astaire, gangster Al Capone, singer-songwriter-composer George Gershwin, and the Great Gatsby author Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald.

The Crash of Wall Street in 1929 brought an end to the height of the Roaring 20s era followed by the years of industrial meltdown. A huge number of Americans was extremely affected by the declining economy and social restlessness started to set forth. America suffered an unparalleled slump in its financial system coupled with a massive number of unemployment. Due to these disheartening social and economic situations, especially towards the later years (1930 – 1939), it was easy for those severely affected to disclose the perilous condition as the Decade

The People’s Ball ladies all donned in the Roaring 20s costume.

Perfect copycats of the women of the 1920s Photos by Dominic Senador & Nanding Mendez

of Depression.

There were public assemblies that called for change and free the people from the miserable bondage of excessive deficiency and paucity of food. The dismal economic situation that critically stemmed from the Wall Street crash that brought a domino effect which caused a global economic crisis. At the height of the Great Depression it was reported that more than a quarter million teenagers were living on the roads and sidewalks.

The frighteningly demoralizing social condition induced the people to reverse the situation. Instead of merely sulking in the corner waiting for uncertain development, they went boisterous in extreme

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contradiction.

The history of the Great Gatsby In 1924, American short story writer and novelist Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896-December 21, 1940) moved to France, in Valescure, where he wrote what would be credited as his greatest novel, The Great Gatsby which was published in 1925.

The story was set in a fictional town of West Egg in Long Island during the summer of 1922 as told or narrated by Nick Carraway, supposedly a neighbor and friend of Gatsby.

The main male protagonist was a young and mysterious millionaire named Jay Gatsby who constantly hosted weekly parties for the rich and fashionable. Jay Gatsby had

The Jay Gatsby-wannabees of the 8th People’s Ball

always set his eyes on Daisy Buchanan whom he met years earlier when he was still in the army. Later, Gatsby made his fortune with nothing in his mind but to win Daisy.

In contrast to his current lavish and affluent lifestyle, according to Nick Carraway, Gatsby was born James Gatz to an unsuccessful farming family and changed his name when he turned seventeen when he met Dan Cody, the man who would become Gatsby’s powerfully influential mentor. When Cody died, Gatsby, who was then a full grown man with all the bearings of a well-cultured man who would never acknowledge his meager past, effortlessly acclimatized the ritzy feel as his second skin.

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A party animal and gracious host, Jay Gatsby was the epitome of a great dresser…consistently fashionable and updated with the latest trend that made him a standout in every social gathering and party he threw.

Every man in West Egg would attend his party not only for the high-end wine but to see and copy what he wore.

Gatsby met his tragic end from the hands of the same men he considered his allies. For Nick, all men are all a little like Jay Gatsby… rowing boats up a river, sailing onward but persistently being dragged by the haunting past.

The influence of Jay Gatsby and the Roaring 20s to People’s Ball After having had the state Continued on Page 7

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ On July 29, 2016, the USCIS finally published their FInAL rule expanding eligibility for a provisional waiver of the 3/10 year bar. The rule will go into effect on Aug. 29, 2016.

The expanded provisional waiver “expands eligibility for the provisional waiver process to all individuals who are statutorily eligible for the waiver of the unlawful presence ground of inadmissibility“. This could include people who have a spouse or parent who is a green card holder. (The original provisional waiver allowed only immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouse, parents, and child) to apply for a provisional waiver of the 3/10 year bar, provided they demonstrate “extreme hardship” on a US citizen parent or spouse.). Upon approval of the waiver, they can depart for immigrant visa processing at the U.S. Embassy in their home country.

The new rule expands eligibility for the provisional waiver in several ways: • not only are immediate relatives of US citizens eligible for a provisional waiver, but also all other family and employment based categories/petitions, provided the person has an approved petition with a current priority date (whether a family or employment petition) and a spouse or parent who is a US citizen or green card holder.

• A person can now demonstrate “extreme hardship” not only on a US citizen parent or spouse, but also on an immigrant (LPR) spouse or parent.

A provisional waiver could benefit people who are ineligible to adjust status in the US, such as: • Crewman (or jump ships), who do not have the benefit of Section 245(i); • People who entered the U.S. without inspection (EWI), but do not have the benefit of Section 245(i) or a close family member who is on active duty or US veteran; • People who entered the U.S. on a K-1 fiancée visa, but did not marry the US citizen who petitioned them, but instead married a different US citizen, or have another avenue for a green card, such as an approved employment based petition; and\or • People who are out of status, do not have the benefit of Section 245(i), and no “immediate relative” spouse or parent. Instead, they may have a spouse or parent who is a green card holder.

In all these cases, the person is ordinarily not eligible to receive a green card (adjust status) in the U.S., but instead must go back to the Philippines for an immigrant visa, which could trigger the 3/10 year bar. The purpose of this regulation is to shorten the amount of time these people are separated

DHS finally publishes ‘final’ expanded provisional waiver rule for 3/10 year bar! from their family members, while they process their immigrant visas overseas at the Embassy.

However, before you jump on a plane for Manila, here are some FAQ’s about this regulation: 1. What is the 3/10 year bar?

The 3/10 year bar is a law, which basically states that anyone who is out of status in the U.S. for more than 180 days, but less than a year, and then departs the U.S., is barred from returning to the US for 3 years. Anyone who had been out of status for more than one year, and then departs is barred from returning for 10 years. This 3/10 year bar is triggered only when the alien departs the U.S. 2. Who was eligible under the original\existing “provisional waiver” process?

The only family members eligible for the original provisional waiver were immediate relatives (spouse, parent, or minor child) of a U.S. citizen, and only where a U.S. citizen parent or spouse would suffer extreme hardship.

3. Who is eligible under the new expanded provisional waiver process?

In addition to “immediate relatives”, a petition by an LPR (green card holder) relative or even an employer would also qualify, where the “qualifying relative” is a US citizen OR LPR spouse or parent. For example, if you have a USC child and an LPR spouse or parent, you could be petitioned by your USC child (which is faster), and qualify for an expanded provisional waiver by demonstrating extreme hardship on your LPR spouse or parent.

Similarly, if you were petitioned by an employer and have an LPR parent, you could also qualify for the provisional waiver, by obtaining your immigrant visa through your employer’s petition and by demonstrating extreme hardship on your LPR parent.

4. What are the benefits of the “provisional waiver” program?

This procedure would allow qualified aliens, with a U.S. citizen or LPR parent or spouse, to apply for a waiver of the 3/10 year bar, while still in the U.S., and before they depart the U.S. for immigrant visa processing overseas. If the waiver is granted, they would then depart the U.S. (with the approved waiver in hand), to be processed for their immigrant visa and return to the US as a green card holder!

5. Would this provisional waiver process apply to other immigration violations or grounds of inadmissibility? no. This provisional waiver applies only to violations of the 3/10 year bar. If a person has other immigration violations, such as fraud (assumed name entry), criminal convictions, and the like, he is not eligible for a provisional waiver and would have to apply

Calendar of Events across

for all such waivers outside the U.S. 6. If I’m being petitioned as an immediate relative, do I really need to depart the U.S.?

In many cases, people being petitioned as an “immediate relative” can still adjust status (obtain their green card), in the U.S. even if they are out of status, worked without authorization, or do not have the benefit of Section 245(i). If a person is eligible to adjust status in the U.S., they should not even think of departing the U.S., and, therefore, trigger the 3/10 year bar. See an attorney, who can determine if you even need to depart the US to obtain your green card. Maybe you don’t need to.

7. Are there any people who could benefit from the new expanded “provisional waiver” process?

There are several categories of aliens who are not eligible to adjust status in the U.S., even if petitioned by a U.S. citizen as an immediate relative. These include: (a) crewman (jump ship) without Section 245(i); (b) someone who entered the U.S. without inspection (EWI), such as snuck across the border, and does not have the benefit of Section 245(i); (c) a person who entered the U.S. on a K-1 fiancée visa, but did not marry the US citizen who filed the K-1 petition, but married a different UIS citizen instead or was petitioned by an employer, and the like. So this regulation could possibly benefit them, if they have no other immigration violations, such as fraud, misrepresentation, etc.

In conclusion, if you think this new expanded provisional waiver could benefit you, you should definitely seek the advice of a reputable attorney, who can evaluate your circumstances and status, and determine your eligibility for a provisional waiver, and assist in preparing and processing this provisional waiver application. As you can see, only certain people would be eligible for this provisional waiver. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

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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 SEPTEMBER 5-9

2016 PICPA International (US-RP Global Convention The Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) International proudly presents the “2016 PICPA International (US-RP) MRA Global Convention” on Sept. 5-9 at the Orleans Hotel & Casino (located at 4500 West Tropicana Ave. Las Vegas, Nevada, 89103). All Philippine accountants are invited! For more information, please contact Danilo Abuan (President): (702) 401-5118 or Chito Lopez (Vice Pres. Las Vegas Chapter): (702) 767-1099.

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42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA) invites everyone, Bicolanos, devotees and friends to come and celebrate the 42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Patroness of the Bicol Region. The festivities will start on Sept. 9, with the translacion at 5pm at the Immaculate of Mary Church (4954 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029. A nightly novena Mass follows from Sept. 9 to Sept. 16 at 6 PM except on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 3:30 PM and Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2;30 PM and culminates on Saturday, Sept.

17, with the ninth day novena at 8am, foot & fluvial procession at 9 AM, and a Concelebrated Mass at 10 am at Lincoln Park, 3501 Valley Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90031. Main celebrant will be HE Most Rev Arturo Bastes, Bishop of Sorsogon. For details, please call Lanie Berrei (818) 281-3169 or Gene Leano (818) 439-6896.

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

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ENCORE EPISODE: A REAL-LIFE TELESERYE FOR CHRISTOPHER AND SANDY, TO REUNITE THEIR SICK SON WITH HIS CHILD, ON A SPECIAL EPISODE OF CITIZEN PINOY! Philippine showbiz icons Christopher De Leon & Sandy Andolong put their careers on hold to care for their cancer-stricken son, Miguel. Apart from this heartbreaking ordeal, Christopher and Sandy were able to bring Miguel’s child from the Philippines to the U.S., as a green card holder, to be with his ailing father, through the help of their immigration lawyer, Atty. MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL, on an encore episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on August 7 Sunday at 6:15 pm PST/EST on TFC.

McDonald’s USA announces big changes to its food

Latest efforts further company’s journey to build a better McDonald’s

OAK BROOK, Ill. – On Monday, August 1, McDonald’s USA announced a number of moves across its menu as the company continues to evolve. This includes: removing artificial preservatives from several items which also don’t have artificial colors or flavors, including its iconic Chicken Mcnuggets. Across its breakfast menu, the pork sausage patties and omelet-style eggs served on McGriddles, Bagel and Biscuit breakfast sandwiches, along with the scrambled eggs on its breakfast platters, also now have no artificial preservatives. rolling out new buns this month that no longer contain high fructose corn syrup, including the buns used on Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, Filet-O-Fish and McChicken sandwiches. The Artisan

roll introduced in 2015 never contained high fructose corn syrup. completing a major commitment to only serve chicken not treated with antibiotics important to human medicine* nearly a year ahead of schedule.

In total, these changes touch ingredients in nearly half of the food on McDonald’s menu.

“More than ever, people care about their food – where it comes from, what goes into it and how it’s prepared,” said Mike Andres, president, McDonald’s USA. “We’re making changes to ensure the food we’re proud of is food our customers love and feel good eating, and we remain committed to our continuing food journey at McDonald’s.”

McDonald’s originally set out to achieve its antibiotics chicken commitment by March 2017.

Through a collaborative effort with its suppliers and farmers on a large scale, the company was able to make this change a reality and bring it to its customers nearly a year ahead of schedule. now every chicken item McDonald’s serves is made from chicken not treated with antibiotics important to human medicine, including its new Chicken Mcnuggets.

“I applaud efforts such as those undertaken by McDonald’s in close collaboration with its suppliers and poultry farmers, to greatly reduce the use of medically important antibiotics in its animal agricultural food supply chain,” said Dr. H Morgan Scott, professor of epidemiology in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at Texas A&M University. “McDonald’s and its suppliers have worked to Continued on Page 7

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Newsflash: Miss Universe 2017 to be held in the Philippines

By Monet

Lu

IF you’ve been reading my columns or following my posts on Facebook, you’d probably notice that I have three things that hold a special place in my heart: passion, pleasure and beauty pageants – particularly the Miss Universe pageant.

And what could be more awesome but to have my favorite event of all time hosted in my motherland! Yes, you read that right! After two decades, it’s finally happening!

The Miss Universe pageant will be held in the Philippines.

According to Rappler, the announcement was made on Thursday, July 28, at a press conference in Makati City by Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo. It was also stressed that funding will come from the private sector. DOT Secretary Wanda Teo also confirmed that among the sponsors are Henry Sy and Japanese casino mogul Kazuo Okada.

“I would like to inform everybody that the Miss Universe pageant will be on January 30, 2017 in the Philippines. The government is not going to spend any single centavo. It will be the private sector who would shoulder the expenses.” said Teo. It was reported earlier this month that President Rodrigo Duterte said he would not spend government funds on hosting the Miss Universe pageant. Which explains the transparency on where the funds will come from.

Teo said she assured the President that the government will not shoulder any of the expenses, which will amount to $11 million.

Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro said President Duterte never said he didn’t like the idea; he was just concerned about the expenses. De Castro said her department got in touch with Shawn McClain, the vice president of business development and marketing at the Miss Universe Organization, to clear the issue.

Reports confirmed that President Duterte have met with

The Filipina Misses Universe: Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran-Floirendo (1973) and Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (2015)

officials of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Incorporated led by Okada, executive assistant to the chairman Sumire Kamura, and chief operating officer Takahiro Usui at the Music Room in Malacañang Palace on July 18.

As I recall, there have been talks about hosting the pageant but nothing was confirmed until now. I agree with de Castro when she said in an interview that hosting the pageant can bring many opportunities to the country such as creating jobs and increasing revenue.

In addition, de Castro said that hosting the pageant will give the country a good image.

“We know that the Miss Universe is one of the prestigious pageants that we have right now in the entire world. Kumbaga kapag kaya natin gawin natin dito sa (In other words, if we can hold it here in the) Philippines, it would show a very good image of the country para sa ibang mga bayan na yung mga ganyang prestihiyosong pageant ay kaya na natin gawin (to the international community that we can hold such a prestigious pageant),” she said.

It would be surreal to watch the reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach to crown her successor in the Philippines. In a previous interview, Wurtzbach said, “I am actively campaigning and we all want the pageant to happen here. We want to happen. It

hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

This will be the third time that the Philippines will host the pageant. The country hosted Miss Universe in 1974 where Miss Universe 1973 Margarita Moran passed her crown to Spain’s Amparo Muñoz. In 1994, the country hosted the pageant for the second time, where India’s Sushmita Sen was crowned by 1993 Miss Universe Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico.

To say that “I wouldn’t miss this for the world” is an understatement. I’d definitely want to see everything unfold. Plus, I’ve pledged my full support to our candidate Maxine Medina. It is my wish that we (Filipinos) show the world – the universe rather – that the Philippines is truly amazing and the Pinoys are one of the most wonderful people they will ever encounter in their lifetime.

Good luck to my Kababayans and may the entire universe be in your favor. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning 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

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Free ‘health and wealth’ workshops at indoor expo Fiesta in america’s seminars will feature the hottest-button topics in the expo’s 18-year history, said Len Manansala, Vice President for Marketing and Communications. “Heart-healthy cooking based on ancestral diets, Philippine franchise investing opportunities, and immigration will be at the core of discussions at New Jersey’s Meadowlands expo Center in secaucus, New Jersey on august 13 and 14,” said Manansala. “Participants should come out of the workshops with clear action plans on how to become healthy on a daily basis, financially strong in retirement, as well as informed on green cards, naturalization and other related immigration issues”, announced

by Nanding Mendez, president of Fiesta in america expo and Cultural show. a limited number of free entrance tickets and workshop seats can be secured by arriving at a specific time on both days of the expo – saturday, august 13 between 12 noon and 1 pm, and sunday, august 14 from 10 am to 11 am. tickets are regularly priced at $25 for general admission, and $65 for ViP seating. seniors can also avail themselves of free tickets courtesy of aaRP during that brief span and while specialoffer ticket supplies last. all seminar attendees will get special gift bags courtesy of Goya Foods.interested attendees are encouraged to register early by email: info@fiestainamerica. com or phone (212) 682-6610.

Participants can also attend a solemn Mass and a festive santacruzan on sunday. On both days, workshops are slated from 1 pm and 3 pm just before the concert starring teleserye superstars Paulo avelino and Julia Montes, “Lounge Queen” Jo awayan, comic Poca, and comedian Jojo Mabolo, plus a bevy of Us and international performers.

Meriterese Racanelli, Ms, R&D Food scientist/Nutritionist for Goya Foods internationally and the National Hispanic Medical association, will present “MyPlate Recipe for Better Blood Pressure, Body & Mind”. she will discuss how lower sodium, lower-sugar cultural foods and meals can help the Us Filipino community reduce blood pressure, diabetes and weight gain issues. Her presentations continue the Goya Foods MyPlate/MiPlato program that Goya started in 2012 as part of the initiative by

Meriterese Racanelli

Prof. Eric Soriano

Maricar Mardrid Crost

Paulo Avelino

Julia Montes

Jo Awayan

Poca

Jojo Mabolo

Nanding Mendez President Fiesta in America

the Us Department of Health and Human services and UsDa to help consumers make better food choices. People attending the Goya workshops will receive a Goya MyPlate recipe gift bag with Goya low sodium products, MyPlate cookbook, recipes and more.

Prof. eric soriano of the ateneo Graduate school of Business will conduct a workshop “Become a Franchise Business Owner!” on Philippine franchising opportunities. He teaches global marketing, chairs the marketing cluster, and heads the business school’s real estate program. He is a National agora awardee for excellence in Marketing education by the Philippine Marketing association. “Filipino franchisers are expanding their customer base across the rest of asia, in the United states, in europe, and in africa,” said Prof. soriano. “Filipino brands continue to make waves in the international franchise arena, proving that the local franchise industry is fast becoming one of the country’s biggest dollar earners.” in a separate workshop, atty.

Maricar Mardrid Crost of Madrid Crost Law Group will discuss the “Parole in place for relatives of Fil-am Vets” and “expanded Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver” other crucial immigration

and naturalization subjects. aside from Goya’s workshop on better food choices, major Us brands will make trade Pavilion presentations related to total Wellness, the 2016 theme of Fiesta in america. “total Wellness means practices that contribute to overall well-being,” said Coy apostol, Fiesta in america’s sponsor and exhibitor Relations Manager. “they range from healthy diets to brain health and positive relationships. aaRP will promote real possibilities at 50+ years of age. the Hackensack University Medical Center will offer free health screenings and distribute free passes to their state-of-theart Corporate Wellness Center. and at the Horizon Blue Cross Blue shield of New Jersey exhibitor booth, attendees can ride a stationary bike that produces healthful fruit and vegetable drinks powered by the rider’s pedaling.”

For more information, and to find out how Fiesta in america can help nonprofit associations with their fundraising drives, please call 212-682-6610; email: sepmgzn@yahoo.com or visit www.fiestainamerica.com. Video and photo galleries are available on Facebook.

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Customer Sales and Service Representative

REUNION. The annual picnic for the Silliman University Alumni Association New York-New Jersey Chapter (SUAANYNJ) was held last Saturday, July 30 with great enthusiasm and merriment. This year’s venue was Croton Point, Croton on Hudson, New York. To join the SUAANYNJ, please contact Laura Garcia, President, at Laugarcia10@yahoo.com.

Miss Universe to young girls: ‘Enjoy being a teenager’ by

Fax résumé to:

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Joseph Almer B. pedrAJAs AJPress

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach attended Miss teen Usa 2016 pageant held at the Venetian theater in Las Vegas last saturday, July 30, where she told the young contestants to “enjoy being a teenager.”

Wearing a floral gown designed by sherri Hill, Wurtzbach stunned the mostly american crowd as the pageant’s host Miss Usa 2015 Olivia Jordan and actor Cody Johns introduced her.

Jordan, Wurtzbach’s former roommate, asked the reigning beauty queen her advice for the next Miss teen Usa. “My advice for the next Miss teen Usa [is] don’t rush into growing up. enjoy being a teenager!” Wurtzbach answered, drawing cheers from the audience. she added, “the judges will choose a girl tonight based on who they think is the perfect fit to be a role model for girls. Well, not just girls, but anybody your

age.” together with Miss teen Usa 2015 Katherine Haik and Miss Usa 2016 Deshauna Barber, Wurtzbach crowned Karlie Hay from texas as Miss teen Usa 2016.

Wurtzbach praised Hay for choosing to talk about peer pressure during the question and answer round. “i loved that you weren’t hesitant with how the way you answered. Like some girls would be a little bit hesitant to say the words drugs or peer pressure,” she told Hay. ‘i am very happy’ On the other hand, Wurtzbach noted that she is “very happy” with her reign as the Miss Universe. “i am very happy that i go to all these countries, learning about culture, learning about the people… it’s all about a good thing,” she said. the beauty queen also boasted that she has advocated for HiV awareness during her reign.

Miss Universe 2015 during the Miss Teen USA pageant held last Saturday, July 30 in Las Vegas. Photo from Miss Universe Facebook page

“i’m finally able to talk more about my advocacy, which is HiV awareness,” she announced, “just recently i had myself tested publicly… to lessen the stigma.”

McDonald’s USA...

From Page 5

identify appropriate alternatives for sustaining broiler flock health while implementing protocols to ensure that animal welfare is not compromised. Sourcing decisions by industry leaders such as McDonald’s have great potential to positively influence appropriate antibiotic stewardship in food animal sectors around the world.”

These changes are the latest in a series of actions McDonald’s has taken across its restaurants and kitchens, such as: • making an industry leading commitment in September 2015 to source 100% cage-free eggs by 2025 in the U.S and Canada.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, more than 100 companies have since announced their commitments to do the same, showing positive impact across the industry.

• refreshing McDonald’s premium salad blend in June 2015 by replacing iceberg lettuce with fresh romaine, baby spinach and baby kale, and making further enhancements in June 2016 with the addition of Tuscan red leaf lettuce and ribbon-cut carrot curls.

The freshly prepared Premium Salads offer at least 2.5 cups of vegetables.

• revitalizing its classic Egg McMuffin, moving from margarine to 100% real butter*, and continuing to serve a fresh cracked Grade A egg at the center of it all.

• sourcing milk in its low fat milk jugs and Go-GURT® low fat yogurt from cows not treated with rbST*, an artificial growth hormone.

• introducing Buttermilk Crispy Chicken in August 2015, made with 100% chicken breast filet, real buttermilk and a blend of spices including black pepper, garlic and onion powder. This followed the introduction of Artisan Grilled Chicken in March 2015.

McDonald’s continues to innovate its menu to include new tastes and ingredients that customers are looking for, such as turkey sausage, guacamole made with real Hass avocados, Sriracha and freshly prepared pico de gallo as part of local tests and regional introductions.

“From our test kitchens to what we serve in our restaurants, we’re zeroing in on how to bring new flavors and choices some

never seen before on our menu to customers across the country,” said Chef Jessica Foust, RDN, director of culinary innovation, McDonald’s Corporation. “Our focus on culinary innovation at McDonald’s is essential as we continue to evolve.”

McDonald’s is appealing to local tastes with innovations and new ingredients relevant in certain regions of the country: Gilroy Garlic Fries in the San Francisco Bay area, where McDonald’s world famous fries are hand tossed in stainless steel bowls with a purée mix including garlic from Gilroy, California, olive oil, parmesan cheese, parsley and a pinch of salt Old Bay Filet-O-Fish sandwich across the Mid-Atlantic, made with 100% sustainably sourced, Marine Stewardship Council certified wild caught Alaskan Pollock Lobster Rolls in New England, the birthplace of the dish, made with 100% North Atlantic lobster As a restaurant company, McDonald’s prepares quality food in its kitchens and has served iconic recipes for more than 60 years.

Today, that same focus and care for its food matters more than ever.

For more information, visit news. mcdonalds.com/us.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald’s U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www. mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook www.facebook.com/ mcdonalds. *Farmers still use ionophores, a class of antibiotics that are not prescribed to people, to help keep chickens healthy. *Applies to all breakfast sandwiches * No significant difference shown between milk from rbSTtreated and non-rbST treated cows.

Trademarks and/or registered trademarks are owned by their respective companies.

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Charo Santos-Concio recalls...

From Page 2 Madrid, Spain and Hong Kong, she heard stories of struggles encountered by OFWs. “They talk about the pain of being separated, and yet I don’t hear them talking about coming back home,” Charo said.

Yet after hearing their stories, she realized that “they have found peace elsewhere.”

“Some of them said, ‘well, you know, we’ve met so many kind employers who made us part of their families. Naging miyembro kami ng pamilya nila, tinuring

kaming kapamilya. Naikot namin ang buong mundo dahil sa kanila, so to repay them for their kindness hindi namin sila maiwan,’” she recalled.

No matter how ironic it may sound, Charo said these OFWs felt that “when they’re able and ready to come back home, they have found peace elsewhere.”

These inspiring stories were translated by Charo, with the help of Jonathan Manalo of Star Music, through the “Maalaala Mo Kaya” commemorative album titled “MMK Life Songs.”

The Great Gatsby’s influence...

From Page 4 dance Rigodon-de-honor for five consecutive times, the Cotillion when Fiesta in America turned 16 (2014), followed by the Formation Dance, this year ushers in a timeless classic dance patterned after the celebrated years of the 1920s and the enduring appeal of Gatsby’s fashion sense for the commemoration of the 8th People’s Ball.

Through the collective efforts and driven enthusiasm of the regular Fiesta Dancers, the Great Gatsby-inspired trend during the Roaring 20s takes a rebirth via a choreographed dance production toreminisce the good old days and relish the splendor of the unforgettable era. Through their authentic costume and imposing movements, the Fiesta Dancers will attempt to invade the splendid years of decadence through their passionately fashionable outfits and wellcalculated terpsichorean motions.

All donned in their Roaring 20s finest are: Rose P. Javier, Ramona S. Gapasin, Linda Navarette, Marieta Lamar, Shirley Capaldo, Myrna Bautista, and Becky Samanyaphon.

The dashing gentlemen who will give the justifiable reincarnation of Jay Gatsby include: Vince Gesmundo, Tony Abellar, Ben Hernandez, Gani Puertollano, Emmanuel Sorza, Anthony Bautista, Suriya Samanyaphon, Ed Manalo, and Marcelo Valarezo.

Active and prominent community leaders Angie Molina and Ollie David will exhibit their inherent dancing prowess when they join the group as People’s Ball Honorary Chairs.

Gracing the event and to entertain guests with their innate brand of musical capabilities are fast-rising balladeers, boy band, and chanteuses of the tri-state area:

Take The Stage, Michele Pross, Rasmin Diaz, Michelle ‘Mitch Week’ Semana, Usher Turek, and Christopher Corro.

If only for the acclaimed presence of the most in-demand Musical Director around Eric Celerio on keyboards and Master Saxophonist Adam Hutcheson, the entertainment segment of the People’s Ball is, undoubtedly, a surefire hit.

Two of unrivaled personalities are slated to host the event: tested field broadcaster / reporter Lenn Almadin-Thornhill and New York City socialite and documentary producer Paola Isabella Rocha Tornito while full excitement envelopes the air with the sounds provided by Ernie Bugarin.

An Invitation Though ambitiously conceptualized and a gargantuan task to execute, the event’s venue will be inexplicably turned into the era of sophisticated party hall reminiscent of the 1920s.

Relive the rebellious decade of the 1920s…! Attend the 18th Fiesta in America’s 8th People’s Ball on Friday, August 12 at 7 PM at Double Tree by Hilton along 128 Frontage Road, Newark, New Jersey 07114 and experience a different kind of high induced by the infectious jazz beats.

Come stylishly Roaring 20s!

Be Gatsby modish!

Exciting prizes are at stake for the “Most Authentic-looking 1920s Outfit” (Male & Female), the “Gatsby Icon of the Night”, and the “8th People’s Ball Flapper of the Night.”

For more information, inquiries, to purchase or reserve tickets, please call: 201-300-5234, 201-993-8815, or 201-920-0441.

Please visit: www. fiestainamerica.com or email: info@fiestainamerica.com For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@yahoo.com

An Asian Journal Magazine

7

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY Au g u ST 5, 20 1 6

New York children rediscover Filipino values and traditions at 18th Paaralan sa Konsulado FOR 35 students, five fun Saturdays of learning and rediscovering their Philippine identity culminated in a colorful program of song, dance and prizes at the Culminating Day of the 18th Paaralan sa Konsulado on July 30 at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall in New York.

The students, aged 3 to 15, rendered performances exhibiting what they learned during the summer Saturday sessions. Group 1, the youngest group, performed the song “Bahay Kubo” in their bee and flower costumes and danced the “Bubuyog at Bulaklak”.

The second group performed the Francis M rap “Ito ang Gusto Ko”, while the oldest group did a declamation of Dr. Jose Rizal’s “Huling Paalam” by Dr. Jose Rizal.

Groups 2 and 3, with pupils aged 8 to 10 and 11 to 15, joined together to perform the popular Philippine folk dances “Bulaklakan” using floral arcs, “Maglalatik” with coconut shells, and the exciting “Sayaw sa Bangko”. The parents, who helped in preparing the costumes for their children and decorating the venue, also showed off their dancing talents with a rendition of “Sumaya

Sumunod”.

Following the cultural show, Consul General Mario L. de Leon Jr. and representatives of the Association of Filipino Teachers in America (AFTA), co-organizer of PSK, handed Certificates of Participation to the 35 students, as well as medals to the three winners each of the “Tuklas Talino” Essay Writing Contest and Painting Contest. Loyalty Awards were also given to children who have attended the Paaralan sa Konsulado for three consecutive years. The Consul General also handed Certificates

The 35 participants and graduates of the 18th Paaralan sa Konsulado pose with their certificates during the culminating day of the program.

of Appreciation to all the resource speakers, teachers and volunteers.

A closing song titled “Kanta Pilipinas” was rendered by all the graduates and three alumni volunteers who represented Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in their colorful costumes and head dress.

The program was hosted by two PSK students, Kyla Farinas and Matthew Friend.

In his remarks, Consul General de Leon congratulated the children and thanked the parents for their commitment in bringing their children to attend PSK every Saturday during the summer. He also expressed his gratitude to the AFTA and its teacher volunteers who worked closely with the Consulate General in sustaining PSK and making it better every year.

“Every year, we are grateful for this opportunity to offer our pupils five days of fun, new memories, new friendships, rediscovering Filipino values and traditions, and renewing their love of their Filipino identity through the Paaralan sa Konsulado. Your support assures us that Paaralan sa Konsulado is an effective tool toward this end”, the Consul General said.

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The Biggest Two-Day EXPO of its Kind on the East Coast!

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY AuguST 5, 2016

2016

® EXPO and Cultural Show

Aug.13-14

ITS NOW ON

18th Year

355 Plaza Dr, Secaucus, NJ

Saturday starts at 12noon (201) 330-7773 Free Parking Sunday starts at 10am Mass & Santacruzan

Cultural & Food Festival Networking & Fun Activities

Exhibitors & Sponsors International & Local Entertainers

POCA

MEADOWLAND EXPO CENTER, SECAUCUS, NJ

JOJO MABOLO

MICHELE BAND OF BROTHERS

ARATO BROTHERS

TAKE THE STAGE

Featuring Paulo Avelino and Julia Montes!

CHOIR FRIENDS OF ST. ANTHONY BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY

Visit www.fiestainamerica.com

email: info@fiestainamerica.com JO AWAYAN Tickets available online: www.FiestainAmerica.com $22 with this ad. $25 at the door.

FREE admission for Seniors (62 years and older) Sat. Aug 13, 12noon–1pm only, and Sun. Aug. 14, 10am-11am only.

All paid attendees will receive raffle tickets for a chance to win a free round trip to the Philippines! Airline conditions apply.

Plus, Free Seminars Health

MyPlate Recipe for Better Blood Pressure, Body & Mind Speaker: Meriterese Racanelli, MS R&D Food Scientist/Nutritionist for Goya Foods internationally and the National Hispanic Medical Association

Seminar Schedules • Aug. 13 & 14 • 1:00pm –5pm

Seminar rooms inside the Meadowlands Expo Center Business

Become a Franchise Business Owner!

Speaker: Prof. Eric Soriano Ateneo Graduate School

www.fiestainamerica.com

Legal

Free Goya Gift bags for all seminar attendees!

Advance Reserve Your Seats Today!

(212) 682-6610 email: info@fiestainamerica.com

Parole in place for relatives of Fil-Am Vets Expanded Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver Speaker: Atty. Maricar Mardrid Crost Madrid Crost Law Group

Plus, Attend

Aug.12 • 7 pm

DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Newark Airport, NJ Info: (212) 682-6610

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To Sponsor, Exhibit or Attend,(212)682-6610 email: info@fiestainamerica.com Fiesta in America – A 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation Watch our TV Commercial in Youtube: Keyword: Fiesta in America 2016