New York & New Jersey -- April 22 -- 28, 2016

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Volume 10 – Issue 17 • 16 Pages

APRIL 22-28, 2016 Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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Clinton, Trump post decisive wins in New York primaries by momar

G. VIsaya

AJPress

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stresses a point as she delivers her speech at the Sheraton New York in Manhattan after defeating Bernie Sanders in the New York primary on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

USA

DATELINE US shows power in Asia

by Ian JamotIllo AJPress

A reCorDeD video of presidential bet, Davao City mayor rodrigo Duterte commenting about an Australian woman who was raped and killed during the 1989 Davao hostage crisis, went viral in social media last April 17 — igniting furious remarks towards netizens, politicians, celebrities and humanitarian groups. earlier in his message, Duterte said he was mad about the incident and ordered the criminals to be killed. however, the Davao City mayor was slammed after making a joke about Jacqueline

Carter says America’s presence due to China’s behavior in sea row

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Two Fil-Am teens swept out to sea in San Francisco, presumed dead

sAN frANCIsCo — two filipino teenagers were swept out to sea at san francisco’s ocean Beach saturday, April 16 and are presumed dead as searchers failed to find them.

A wave pulled Wayne Ausa, 17, and Grisham Duran, 18, from Vallejo, California, out to sea as they waded into the ocean with three of their friends on saturday afternoon. the five teens had walked into the surf arms locked on a sunny day of record high temperatures in the san francisco Bay Area. A wave knocked them down, forcing the boys apart and dragging out Ausa and Duran. the fire department said the rip currents off ocean Beach could be very strong even

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Duterte under fire for rape joke Supreme Court issues TRO

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

ABoArD the Uss JohN C. steNNIs — for the second time in five months, Defense secretary Ashton Carter landed aboard a Us aircraft carrier in the bitterly contested south China sea, sending a deliberate message to China on American power in the region.

With a key Asia-Pacific ally at his side on the Uss John C. stennis on friday, April 15, Carter said the only reason America’s presence in the region came up as an issue was because of China’s behavior in the south China sea over the past year. “that’s a question of Chinese behavior,” Carter told reporters as he and Philippine Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin watched Us Navy f/A 18 “hornet” fighter jets launch into the vivid blue skies, about 126 kilometers west of the main Philippine island of Luzon.

“What’s new is not an American car-

NeW YorK—hillary Clinton and Donald trump both cruised to victory in New York’s presidential primary beating their rivals Bernie sanders, John Kasich and ted Cruz. Both frontrunners had a double digit lead against their opponents.

With the win, Clinton will take 139 of New York’s 247 pledged delegates. her win also ended sanders’ month-long winning streak.

“New Yorkers, you’ve always had my back and I’ve always tried to have yours. today, we did it again – and I’m deeply, deeply grateful,” Clinton said as she began her victory speech in front of a throng of supporters. “to all the people who supported sen. sanders, I believe that there is Jason Tengco, Director for Outreach, much more that unites us than divides us.” Asian American and Pacific Islanders for her 19-minute speech was disrupted a Hillary Clinton Campaign.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya number of times when the crowd cheered her on and chanted her name. “the race for the Democratic nomination is in the home stretch and victory is in sight,” Clinton added. “It’s becoming clearer that this may be one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime.” filipino-Americans came to support Clinton. Among those who attend-

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Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte

DENR’s Paje to deliver PH statement at Paris Agreement signing Legarda addresses Climate Vulnerable Forum nations by momar

G. VIsaya

AJPress

NeW YorK — Philippine senator Loren Legarda, United Nations Global Champion for resilience, addressed members of the Climate Vulnerable forum (CVf) in a meeting at the UN headquarters Wednesday, April 20. two days ahead of the high-Level signing Ceremony

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Sen. Loren Legarda AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

on overseas campaign ban

by PatrIcIa lourdes Philstar.com

VIray

mANILA—the supreme Court (sC) on Wednesday, April 20, issued a temporary restraining order (tro) which lifts the Commission on elections’ (Comelec) ban on campaigning overseas. the high court allowed campaigning abroad except in Philippine embassies and consulates where voting takes place. the sC en banc partially granted the application for a tro in the implementation of republic Act 9189 or the overseas Absentee Voting Act which prohibits campaigning abroad during the 30-day overseas voting period. filipino-American businesswoman Loida Nicolas-Lewis filed the petition before the high court to issue the tro, citing that the prohibition on campaigning overseas violates the right to assembly and freedom of expression.

“It is also settled in jurispru-

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NO BAN ON OVERSEAS CAMPAIGNING. Fil-Am businesswoman and community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis (center), with Ateneo Human Rights Center’s Executive Director Atty.

Ray Paolo Santiago and Atty. Jaymie Ann Reyes, filed the Certoriari and TRO Petition before the Supreme Court, a suit against the unconstitutional prohibition on political campaigning abroad during the election period being enforced by the Comelec under the Overseas Absentee Voting Act. On April 19, 2016, the Supreme Court granted Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Comelec before recess.

NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs launches NYCitizenship Services Approximately 650,000 immigrant New Yorkers are one step away from citizenship by momar

G. VIsaya

AJPress

NeW YorK —the mayor’s office of Immigrant Affairs joined forces with public and private corporations and organizations tuesday, April 19 to launch the start of NYCitizenship services across New York City with a press conference at New York Public Library’s mid-manhattan branch, one of NYCitizenship’s participating library branches.

As part of NYCitizenship, New Yorkers will receive free services Commissioner Nisha Agarwal of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (left) led the launch of NYCitizenship on Tuesday, April that include appointments with a 19 at the Mid-Manhattan branch of the New York Public Library. She was joined by (from left) Eileen Auld, Citi’s Community trusted attorney for help with citiDevelopment Director for the New York Tri State Market; Veyom Bahl, senior program officer at Robin Hood; NYPL President zenship applications, information Tony Marx; Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda Johnson, among others.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya sessions about the citizenship

process and its benefits, and free and confidential financial counseling.

Commissioner Nisha Agarwal of the mayor’s office of Immigrant Affairs and the representatives of Brooklyn Public Library; New York Public Library; Queens Library; Citi Community Development; Carnegie Corporation of New York; robin hood foundation; New York City human resources Administration (hrA); and the New York Legal Assistance Group; and the mayor’s fund to Advance New York City gathered to discuss what the program means to the city’s

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A APRIL 22-28, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From the Front Page

Clinton, Trump post decisive wins in…

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ed the gathering at the campaign headquarters were Jerry Sibal, Edwin Josue, Dr. Angie Cruz, Kevin Nadal, Filipino-American Democratic Club president Aries de la Cruz and Nicole Ponseca.

The campaign’s Asian Pacific Islander outreach director Jason Tengco was also on hand to make sure that the AAPI contingent was present.

“This is an exciting moment for the Asian American com-

munity. Her victory here tonight means a lot. This is her home state, she was elected here twice. Our community – the Filipino-American community to be specific - had a concerted effort over the past few weeks. We are grateful to the volunteers and everyone who came out to vote,” Tengco said.

“We’re not going to take any state or vote for granted and we will continue to fight through Pennsylvania, Maryland all the

way to California. We’re just so happy with tonight’s results and we will continue to engage the Asian American community as we move forward,” he added.

Filipino Americans for Hillary Filipino Americans for Hillary celebrated Clinton’s win in the New York Primary Election at the Sheraton Hotel along with many Democrats supporting the former Secretary of State.

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ON THE RIGHT TRACK. While others cried, grimaced in pain or hid their faces in their hands to avoid seeing the needle, a student of Parang Elementary School in Marikina City is a picture of calmness as he is injected with the dengue vaccine. The Department of Health (DOH) said that nearly 150,000 children in the country have now received doses of the world’s first dengue vaccine. Only 240 children – or 0.16 percent – suffered adverse effects such as fever, dizziness and headaches, health officials said at a news briefing Monday, April 18.

Inquirer.net photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta

DENR’s Paje to deliver PH statement at…

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for the Paris Agreement in New York, Legarda said that CVF member states must unite in ensuring the early entry into force of the Agreement. Legarda is also co-Head of the Philippine Delegation along with Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje, “Two days from now, representatives of nations will assemble to take us closer to delivering meaningful action on climate change.

Our advocacies will not stop in New York; but rather, our efforts will need to ramp up as we strive to achieve the ratification by at least 55 countries representing 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is only then that the Paris Agreement will enter into force,” she said.

President Aquino issued a spe-

cial authority designating and authorizing Secretary Paje to sign for and behalf of the Republic of the Philippines the Paris Agreement.

According to Paje, the formal signing of the U.N. climate deal is a victory for the Philippines having been an active player in the seven-year effort to get the world to act on climate change.

“The irony of being among the countries most extremely vulnerable to climate change despite having one of the smallest carbon footprints impelled us to be highly articulate and assertive on the global stage on the need for urgent action against climate change,” Paje said.

The Philippines was among the states that were most insistent on reaching a truly meaningful global compact to limit and reduce the

Supreme Court issues TRO on…

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dence that any prior restriction of protected speech is presumed unconstitutional, and the governing body restraining such speech is burdened with proving that such measure is justifiable and valid,” Lewis said in the petition.

Overseas absentee voting started on April 9 despite minor glitch-

es, according to the poll body.

It also declared that the start of the overseas absentee voting was “generally good.”

Comelec records show that 593,772 overseas Filipino voters are in the Middle East and Africa, 344,848 in Asia-Pacific, 275,729 in North and Latin America, and 161,718 in Europe. n

global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Sen. Legarda explained that the Paris Agreement is vital because national actions will be driven by the countries’ ambitions and plans for carbon reduction.

“The historic Paris Agreement is very urgent for the world specially for a vulnerable nation like the Philippines considering the extreme weather impacts that happen in our country from Ondoy to Yolanda and the drought that’s happening as well,” Legarda told the Asian Journal.

“We cannot afford delays in carrying out our commitments because the more we stall action, the faster we reach the dangerous 2 degrees Celsius mark,” Legarda added, stressing that CVF member states have already been experiencing the severe impacts of climate change even before warming exceeded the 1 degree Celsius mark above pre-industrial levels.

Climate Vulnerable Forum The Philippines is the current Chair of the CVF, an international partnership of countries highly vulnerable to climate change. The Forum serves as a cooperation platform for participating govern-

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FIL-AMS FOR CLINTON. Filipino Americans for Hillary celebrated Democrat Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s win in the New York Primary Election on Tuesday, April 19 at the Sheraton Hotel along with many Democrats supporting the Secretary of State.

Duterte under fire for rape…

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Hamill, a 36-year-old Australian missionary woman who was raped during the prison outbreak incident.

“I was angry because she was raped, that’s one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste,” Duterte said.

The controversial video was not received well by netizens, calling it an “inhumane remark,” stating that topic of rape is a sensitive and a serious matter that is currently haunting Philippine society.

Duterte’s rivals weighed on the issue and expressed dismay over the latter’s insensitive remark. Senator Grace Poe who tied with Duterte in the latest SWS survey said that as a woman, she was offended by latter’s apparent joke.

“It is distasteful and unacceptable, and reflects his disrespect for women. Rape is a crime and no laughing matter.

We should all be outraged at abuses against women.”

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) bet, Vice President Jejomar Binay, has also spoken strongly against Duterte’s remark calling him a “crazy maniac,” while urging the people not to vote for him.

Former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas commented that rape is a serious crime and “anyone who laughs at the ultimate assault on the dignity of women should not be allowed to wield power.”

Senator Miriam Santiago who is also a candidate for the presidential race, expressed that Duterte crossed the line and

people should express their feelings through the ballot.

Duterte already issued an apology stating, “I apologize to the Filipino people for my recent remarks in a rally. There was no intention of disrespecting our women and those who have been victims of this horrible crime,” he said. “Sometimes my mouth can get the better of me.”

Duterte’s apology was accepted by his avid supporters but added that he is not afraid that the statement would cost him the presidency. He also said he will not apologize for the things he has done “to protect our people, especially the weak and defenseless, from crime.” He also added that if ever he gets elected, he will protect women, children and families “from the horrors and disorder of crime.” n

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

From the Front Page

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 22-28, 2016

A

Clinton, Trump post decisive wins in…

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ALIWAN FIESTA. Participants in their colorful costume perform for the Aliwan Festival parade, held along the road from Quirino Grandstand to CCP complex despite the hot weather.

Inquirer.net photo by Jilson Seckler Tiu

NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs… immigrant community.

Mayor Bill de Blasio first announced NYCitizenship during the City’s first-ever Citizenship Week of Action, and builds on a letter of agreement between the City of New York and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to strengthen citizenship education and awareness efforts in New York City by establishing “New Americans Corners” in all 217 of the City’s library branches.

“For cities, increasing rates of citizenship is a win-win,” said Commissioner Agarwal. “Today we deepen our commitment to creating pathways for citizenship for all New York City immigrants.

Further, the NYCitizenship model empowers New York immigrants and their families to progress socioeconomically and financially.

Increasing citizenship strengthens the financial standing of immigrants and directly benefits the health and vitality of all cities. We thank NYCitizenship’s partners and supporters who are instrumental in making this progress possible.”

“The value of this initiative is

that it targets New Yorkers who are facing not only financial hardship but also health barriers that make their path to self-sufficiency even more challenging,” said NYC Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “By assisting immigrants through the process of naturalization, we are giving them an opportunity to improve their lives and enjoy the many benefits and protections of becoming citizens.”

New York City is home to an estimated 650,000 lawful permanent residents who may be eligible to naturalize. City officials say that U.S. Citizenship provides many positive social and economic benefits for the individual, their family members, and their local communities.

New research from the Urban Institute, supported by NYC’s Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and Citi Community Development, gives quantifiable evidence of citizenship as an economic catalyst. Increasing immigrant access to citizenship through NYCitizenship is a powerful tool for fighting poverty and supporting the economic em-

Grisham Duran

Wayne Ausa

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aged to swim to shore were taken to a hospital to be checked.

Firefighters and the US Coast Guard boats and a helicopter searched the waters off Ocean Beach but called off the search that night, saying it could take weeks before their bodies drift back to shore. (Inquirer.net)

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Two Fil-Am teens swept out…

in shallow water. Firemen said the two boys might have been swept as far as 15 miles from shore.

The water off the beach is also very cold and long exposure to it could lead to fatal hypothermia.

The other three teens who man-

powerment and civic integration of foreign-born New Yorkers.

The study found that if all eligible NYC residents naturalized, the City would see a net economic benefit of $823 million.

“We at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services know that libraries are a second home to immigrants – more than 55 percent of recent immigrants use the public library at least once a week. For years, libraries nationwide have been great allies for USCIS in helping to get important immigration information

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“Today you proved once again, there’s no place like home,” said Hillary to the cheering crowd.

Clinton won 58% of the New York Democrat votes while Senator Bernie Sanders received 42%. Hillary presently has 1428 delegates committed to her to Sanders’ 1151. She will need 2383 delegates to garner the nomination.

Filipino Americans for Hillary New York recently re-launched at Maharlika Restaurant in New York City to galvanize support for Clinton. Chaired by Loida Nicolas Lewis, the political group has been reaching out to the Filipino American community getting out the vote for Hillary.

“Hillary Clinton has always been attentive to the Fil Am community,” said Ms. Lewis, “In 1999, she was the first and so far the only First Lady of the White House who accepted to be the keynote speaker of NAFFA3rd Empowerment Conference. As Secretary of State, she agreed to our suggestion in 2010 to send US observers to the Philippine elections. She signed the Omnibus Bill in 2009 which gave lump sum payments to Filipino Veterans of WWII. As President of the USA, she will be sympathetic to the Philippines vis a vis China.”

Clinton talked about how New York is home to a diverse group of people with diverse beliefs as well.

“New Yorkers speak every language, worship every faith,

and hail from every continent.

Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths, not a weakness,” she said.

Tengco cited that the New York Primary victory was a testament of the outreach of the Campaign, especially to the Asian American, Filipino American community. “I am proud to be a Filipino American and to serve as Outreach Director.

I understand the needs of the community – just like Hillary does,” he said.

Representatives of the Fil Ams for Hillary NY who attended the Primary Night Celebration were elated with the results.

“I was there last night to witness this historical event and was blown away by the high energy. It was so contagious!” said Jerry Sibal.

Dr. Angie Cruz reiterated that Hillary is the best qualified candidate to serve as President of the United States. Coupled with her experience, her engagement with Filipinos has generated the admiration and affection of Filipino Americans.

“Hillary has a proven track record of working across the aisle, and her experience as junior Senator of NY and Secretary of State has enhanced her understanding of the unique experiences of all Americansparticularly Filipino Americans and other communities of color,” said Kaleo Nadal of the Filipino American National Historical Society. Kaleo also spoke at the Fil Ams for Hillary

NY launch along with Nicole Ponseca and Broadway actor Jose Llana.

“Last night, Filipino American Democrats stood with Hillary because throughout her decades-long career in public service, she has stood with us.

We have chosen as the next President of the United States a woman who shares our values of family, strong communities, and taking care of one another,” said Aries Dela Cruz, President of the Filipino American Democratic Club of NY, “I know that if we continue to stand with her to defeat the anti-immigrant Republican nominee in November, as President she will ensure that our community, the second largest Asian group in the United States will be a visible presence in the White House. Our choice in November is clear: We need Hillary’s leadership for America.”

“There’s really no place like home! New York will never abandon her and neither will she!” added realtor Edwin Josue, “We are with her all the way to the White House!”

There will be ongoing activities to reach out and support for Hillary throughout the general election, said Marilyn Abalos, New York Lead Organizer. The group plans to hold phone banks and other events to help get out the vote for neighboring states upcoming primaries, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island on April 26th. n

A APRIL 22-28, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Accomplished Fil-Ams share secrets to success by agnes

Constante AJPress

WHILE Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant cruised to victory in the final game of his career last week, dozens of individuals gathered that same day at the Muzeo Museum in Anaheim where accomplished Filipinos shared their ingredients to success.

The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County (FACCOC) on Wednesday, April 13, hosted its eighth annual Secrets to Success. The event featured five Filipinos who have made large strides in their careers, including ABS-CBN broadcast reporter Stephen Angeles, who moderated the panel discussion event.

“You take whatever greater good you can get, you take whatever blessings, and you just run with it,” Angeles said.

Angeles attended the event straight after covering Bryant’s retirement at the Staples Center and participated in telephone interviews with ABS-CBN news channel ANC while in Anaheim.

“And for some odd reason I’ve run with it for the last 11 years and it’s I guess it’s worked,” he said of his blessings. “They haven’t kicked me out yet. I’ve been in trouble a lot at the office, but the fact that they’re calling me right now to bug me and ask me where Kobe Bryant is, I guess it’s cool.”

Other panelists included Louie Jocson, director of culinary operations at Zov’s Restaurant Group; Wendell Alinea, a photo journalist and official photographer of Manny Pacquiao; Giovanni Ortega, an actor, author and director; and Linda Young, founder of

PAGE A1 t

event production company Elite OC Productions.

In his speech, Jocson dissected the word “success,” which he noted was associated with terms like achievement, purpose, passion and triumph. However, they did not include others, such as choice, hard work, support, positive perspective, balance, persistence, joy and sacrifice.

“All the words, this word success it was just telling you what it is, but it didn’t tell you anything else that went with it. Which were action, which were verbs, right. You have to do something.

It didn’t just hit you in the backside and voila: success. Right?” he said.

When he was younger, Jocson was subject to peeling and mincing garlic, and peeling and dicing onions, a requirement his mother imposed before he could go out and play. At one point, he was required to cook dinner twice a week for his family, and would have to stop whatever he was doing to attend to the responsibility on days he had to cook.

Jocson eventually went to the California Culinary Academy while some of his friends made it into prestigious institutions like Harvard and Stanford. Although going to culinary school was looked down upon when he went in the ‘90s, Jocson said it’s something many professionals want to do these days.

Pacquiao’s photographer, Alinea, began documenting the now retired boxer’s life in 2012. Nine years ago, Alinea said he was diagnosed with leukemia and was given only a short period of time to live. Today, he is cancer-free and attributes his success to that time in his life.

“Many people said you have to live every day as if it is your last and for me I experienced that literally. I lived my day as if it was my last. Every time I woke upI’m thankful that I’m still alive, and everything is a bonus.

Maybe that’s the secret.... I don’t feel pressure to succeed because I think everything’s a bonus as long as I’m alive,” Alinea said.

Ortega, an assistant professor of theatre and dance at Pomona College who wrote “Criers for Hire,” a comedy production about professional Filipino funeral criers and one based on some events in his own life, told the audience that struggles are a reason for people to succeed.

“The struggle of my past is not the reason for me to fail. It is the reason that I continue to succeed, and that is based on ambition,” he said.

He also left the audience with four tenets of success: be a visionary, be collaborative, be nurturing and be decisive.

One of the considerations when it comes to success, is that the definition of the term varies depending on the individual, Young said in her speech. For some, she said it might be dependent on the money one earns or the size of one’s house; For others, success could be based on the amount of hard work one invests into their career or family, or how well one manages to balance different areas of their life. “[Given that], it’s really, really difficult to really determine what the secret to success is in your life,” Young said.

In the end, panelists suggested that keys to success include never forgetting one’s faith and that success is a choice. n

Dateline USa

SIKARAN. Franz Jessen, the Biking Ambassador from the European Union, participates in the Guimaras’ “Sikaran” together with Romanian Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Mihai Sion and German Deputy Ambassador Michael Hasper during the weekend to enjoin everyone to counter climate change.

Photo from the European Union in the Philippines Facebook page

Low voter turnout in overseas voting

by William

B. Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

“The Chinese military will pay very close attention to related developments, and firmly safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” it said.

Sweeping claims China claims nearly the whole of the 3.5-million-square-kilometer South China Sea, even waters close to the shores of its Southeast Asian neighbors, and has over the past year built artificial islands in the Spratly archipelago to assert what it insists is its “undisputed sovereignty” over territory in the sea also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

will increase. There is also the last two minutes habit [of Filipinos]. In the last two week, we are hoping that there will be really a big turnout,” he said.

The 30-day overseas voting started on April 9 and will end on May 9.

The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 enacted the system that allows Filipinos abroad to exercise their right of suffrage.

Overseas voters are only allowed to vote for national candidates such as President, Vice President, senators and party-list representatives.

There are 85 voting centers around the world but voting in three areas Baghdad (Iraq), Damascus (Syria) and Tripoli (Libya) were suspended for security reasons.

During the 2010 elections there was a 26 percent turnout out of more than 500,000 voters and 16 percent in 2013 out of 710,951 voters.

“If we could reach 50 percent, we would already be happy.

Higher than 50 percent is already a bonus, Lower than 50 percent,

ALMOST halfway into the ongoing one-month overseas voting, turnout remains low with only a fraction of the more than one million registered overseas Filipino voters able to cast their votes so far, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Commissioner Arthur Lim, chairman, Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV), disclosed on Tuesday that as of April 19, only 95,947 overseas voters out of 1,386,067 registered voters had cast their votes.

Lim admitted that the turnout was very anemic in relation to the commission’s target of 80 percent turnout , which is equivalent The Chinese defense minis- to 1.1 million voters, at the end try’s statement also referenced of voting hours on May 9 even as China’s longstanding opposition he expressed confidence that the to US military alliances in the re- turnout would pick up during the gion. It regards those as a form last two weeks of voting. of unwelcome interference that “It’s still low. We are hoping stymies its desired status as the that when votes in areas adoptpreeminent military power in the ing the mix modified postal votAsia-Pacific region. ing will come in and received, it “Strengthening the US-Philippine military alliance … is a sign of a Cold War mentality that is unbeneficial to peace and stability in the South China Sea,” it PAGE A3 t Paris Agreement said. ments to act together to deal with United Nations Secretary-GenOn Friday, April 15, Carter em- climate change. It currently has eral Ban Ki-moon has invited phasized the United States would 43 member states. leaders from all countries to atback up the Philippines and other The 20 nations that first joined tend a high-level signing ceremou PAGE A5 the CVF have recorded, collec- ny on Friday, April 22 to accelertively, an average of more than ate climate action and to drive the 50,000 deaths per year since political momentum towards rati2010, a number expected to in- fication and early entry into force crease exponentially by 2030; and of the Paris Agreement. have experienced escalating anThe Paris Agreement calls for nual losses of at least 2.5% of our the Agreement to be open for GDP potential per year, estimated signature from April 22, 2016 to at US$45 billion since 2010. This April 21, 2017. April 22, which cois expected to increase to close incides with Earth Day, marks the to US$400 billion in the next 20 first day that the Agreement will years. be open for signing by member The Philippines is among the states. first 20 CVF Member States along The Philippines will be reprewith Afghanistan, Bangladesh, sented in the signing by DepartBarbados, Bhutan, Costa Rica, ment of Environment and Natural Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Kiribati, Resources Secretary Ramon Paje.

Madagascar, Maldives, Nepal, Leaders from all over the world Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Tanzania, are expected to participate in the Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, formal signing so there will be a and Vietnam “smooth finalization of the opera“The number of extremely hot tional details” to accomplish prodays and hot nights has doubled visions in the new climate change in the last 50 years and extreme accord. weather events have increased The Philippines had already and have become more frequent, submitted its first Intended Nalike typhoons with wind speeds tionally Determined Contributions that are around 10% stronger, (INDCs) which serves as the roadas my country had experienced map to actualize the country’s during Supertyphoon Haiyan,” commitments to address climate Legarda added. change.

“I call on my fellow parliamen“Priority mitigation measures tarians in the CVF and everyone will cover 40 of the 70 percent towho values life and our future -- let tal emission reduction which will us continue to rally our networks, include greater use of cleaner and organizations, and civil society in renewable energy, improved mass ensuring that our governments transport services, more efficient keep the promises they delivered waste management, reforestation in Paris,” said Legarda. and forest protection, and co-firCVF members Fiji, Palau, Mar- ing biomass,” Paje explained. shall Islands and Maldives were The INDCs are the submissions the first countries to ratify the prepared by each country to help Paris Agreement last year. mitigate climate change, which “The members of CVF are put was formally submitted before in a unique leadership position the United Nations Framework in that our commitments and ac- Convention on Climate Change tions should inspire action from last October. others, such as in the areas of Paje further stated that during energy efficiency, renewable en- the ceremony, the Philippines will ergy deployment, and forest pro- manifest its intent to shift from tection.” the INDCs to the UN Framework

US shows power in…

rier in this region. What’s new is the context of tension [that] exists, which we want to reduce,” Carter said.

China late on Thursday, April 14, reacted defiantly to Carter’s announcement of joint US-Philippine patrols in the South China Sea and the rotation of more US troops with combat aircraft and equipment to the Philippines under a new security agreement.

“US-Philippine joint patrols in the South China Sea promote regional militarization and undermine regional peace and stability,” the Chinese defense ministry said in a statement.

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

I hope not, But surely we should exceed the 16 percent of around 700,000 registered voters turnout in the 2013 mid-term elections,” Lim said.

He cautioned candidates and their supporters that overseas campaigning is no longer allowed after the start of the overseas voting on April 9.

The campaign prohibition on election day, according to him, is expressly provided under the law, which is April 9 to May 9 for overseas voting and April 8 and 9 here in the Philippines.

“We will monitor and record the violations, and we will act accordingly. The law provides that during election period, there is no more campaigning,” Lim said.

He added that the same is also true for social media campaigning, which he noted is hard to control because nobody can stop someone from posting on his or her Facebook account.

“We will monitor and study that. It is an en banc matter and I will not preempt the en banc,” Lim said. n

DENR’s Paje to deliver PH statement at…

Convention on Climate Change, to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which will be updated every five years.

The Philippines submitted a goal of 70 percent carbon emissions reduction by 2030 as its contribution to help combat climate change.

Paje, who also represented the Philippines during the high-level signing ceremony for the adoption of the U.N. climate deal in Paris, said the country is already taking steps to perform its commitments.

According to Paje, President Aquino has given the assurance that the country will continue to work with the U.N. and other countries against global warming for the benefit of climate vulnerable communities around the world.

The Secretary-General intends to use the occasion of the signing ceremony to further engage leaders from business and civil society to put the new agreement into action.

In Paris last year, the 196 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change reached an historic agreement to combat climate change that will spur actions and investment towards a low-carbon, resilient and sustainable future. It is the first agreement that joins all nations in a common cause based on their historic, current and future responsibilities.

The main aim is to keep a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen capability to deal with the impacts of climate change.

To reach these ambitious and important goals, appropriate financial flows will be put in place, thus making stronger action by

u PAGE A5

NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs…

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to those who need it. Last year, we were proud to partner with New York libraries to establish ‘New Americans Corners’ in every library branch in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens,” said Phyllis Coven, New York District Director for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The launch happened during Immigrant Heritage Week 2016, an annual citywide program of events designed to recognize and celebrate the history, traditions, and contributions of NYC’s diverse immigrant communities.

Citizenship applications NYCitizenship will provide free legal help with citizenship applications at select public library branches in the city. Legal

permanent residents who are already qualified to become citizens can go to a designated city library to arrange a meeting with a trusted lawyer who will help the applicant apply for citizenship easily. Free, confidential financial counseling is also offered.

A dozen city library branches across the five boroughs have been identified as locations where NYCitizenship services can be offered. These are: Bronx (Bronx Library Center (Fordham) & Mott Haven Library); Brooklyn (Central Library (Grand Army Plaza), New Utrecht Library (Bensonhurst), Kings Highway Library & Sheepshead Bay Library; Manhattan (Inwood Library & Mid-Manhattan Library (Midtown)); Queens (Central

Library (Jamaica), Flushing Library, Jackson Heights Library & Ridgewood Library).

NYCitizenship is supported by Citi Community Development, the Carnegie Corporation, the Robin Hood Foundation, and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. The program is a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Human Resources Administration, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library and Queens Library.

An appointment is required to receive these services. To make an appointment call 311 and say “citizenship appointment” or call the NYCitizenship Hotline at 212514-4277. n

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

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Dateline USa

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 22-28, 2016

A

US shows power in…

allies in the region.

“At a time of change in this dynamic region, and democratic transitions in the Philippines and the United States, we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder,” Carter said at the closing ceremony for Balikatan 2016, the annual war games between US and Philippine troops, at Camp Aguinaldo, the Philippine military’s headquarters in Quezon City.

“We will continue to stand up for our safety and freedoms, for those of our friends and allies, and for the values, principles and rules-based order that has benefited so many for so long,” he said.

Carter’s visit aboard the Stennis underscores persistent complaints from the United States and its allies in the region about China’s military buildup in the South China Sea. Later in the massive gray ship’s hangar bay, Carter said his message in making the trip was that the United States “intends to continue to play a role in keeping peace and stability in this region.”

Rear Adm. Ronald Boxall, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, told reporters that the Stennis and the ships in the carrier’s strike group “regularly have a (Chinese) ship or two operating with us or near us.”

So far, he said, the Chinese vessels have been operating very professionally.

“We’ve been very pleased with the interactions we’ve had,” he said. “They are operating where they think they should, we’re operating where we think we should. They generally have professional discussions over the bridge about where we are.”

Flight to the carrier Accompanied by Gazmin,

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri and Defense Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista, Carter rode to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City after the Balikatan closing ceremony and took a Boeing C-17 Globemaster aircraft for a flight to Palawan.

From Palawan, the closest Philippine landmass to the Spratly archipelago, they took a Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey military helicopter for a short flight to the Stennis, which was in Philippineclaimed waters.

Under a blazing sun, as the heat index pushed past 37 degrees Celsius, Carter and the Philippine officials landed on the Stennis.

Carter spent about two hours on the ship, watching a number of fighter jets shoot into the sky off the flight deck, do circles around the Stennis and then land again, roaring to a stop as their tailhook caught the arresting wire.

He later spoke to several hundred sailors in the hangar bay, including one who asked why the United States allows China to participate in the large annual military exercise in the Asia-Pacific region.

Carter said the United States wanted to work together with China, and added that Beijing should not isolate itself.

Not aimed at anyone The United States insists that the increasing American presence in the South China Sea and the broader Asia-Pacific region is meant to show support for allies and is not aimed at any one nation.

But the US military presence also reinforces Carter’s assertion that America will continue to fly and sail throughout the region, despite China’s claims of sovereignty over the vast South China Sea.

DENR’s Paje to deliver PH…

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developing countries and the most vulnerable possible, in line with their own national objectives.

“Each nation has its own nationally determined commitments that will be implemented in various sectors – agriculture, energy, transport to cut down on their emissions. The Philippines, since we are not a major emitter in the world. We have many adaptation projects and programs to be determined by the national and local governments,” Legarda

explained.

The Secretary-General thanked heads of state and government for their leadership in combating climate change.

“The adoption of the Paris Agreement caps a remarkable year of multilateral achievements for people and the planet,” he said. “It provides a solid foundation for the low-carbon, climateresilient transformation of the global economy. This transformation will help secure a future that is safer, healthier and more prosperous for all.” n

China’s foreign ministry statement on Thursday said “military exchanges by relevant countries should not target third parties, much less support a few countries in challenging China’s sovereignty and security, inciting regional contradictions and sabotaging regional peace and stability.”

And on Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said that, “Before the US returned to the Asia-Pacific region, relevant countries had sought to control the disputes and handle the conflicts through friendly negotiations, despite the disputes having existed for over four decades.”

He told reporters during a press conference that if the United States wanted a peaceful solution to disputes, “I hope it can practice what it has preached, and that their actions can really help to peacefully solve the disputes.”

The Philippines has challenged China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea at the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration.

China has refused to take part in the arbitration, and said it would not recognize any ruling by the court.

The tribunal has proceeded to hear the case, though, and is expected to hand down a ruling in coming weeks.

The United States has said it does not take a position on the territorial disputes, but wants them settled legally.

Message of solidarity But Carter’s visit to the Philippines last week, and Gazmin’s presence on the Stennis sent a more pointed message of solidarity.

The visit to the Stennis came a day after Carter announced new military aid to the Philippines that spurred protests from China.

This was the second time that Carter had flown onto a carrier while it was embarked in the South China Sea. Last November, he was on the USS Theodore Roosevelt as it sailed northwest of Borneo.

That visit came just a week after a US Navy destroyer, the USS Lassen, challenged China’s claim to a 21-km territorial limit around Zamora Reef (international name: Subi Reef) in the Philippines’ part of the Spratlys, about 270 to 360 km from where the Theodore Roosevelt was sailing on Thursday. (Reports from AP and AFP/TVJ)

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Watch us on

SWITCH ON. President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada; Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr.; San Carlos City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor, Jr.; Aboitiz Power Corporation chief executive officer ErramonAboitiz; and Aboitiz Power Corporation chief operating officer and president Antonio Moraza, lead the ceremonial switch-on during the Inauguration of the 59MW San Carlos Sun Power Inc. Solar Power Plant in San Carlos Ecozone, Barangay Punao, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, April 19.

Malacañang photo by Benhur Arcayan

Fil-Am survivor of Bataan Death March passes away at 95

JESSE Mallares Baltazar, a World War II veteran who fought under the US Armed Forces and received the United States Purple Heart, died due to cancer last week at a hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, US. He was 95.

In a report by the Washington Post, the retired major joined the US Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE) in 1941 while he was a student at the American Far Eastern Aviation School in Manila.

He was commanded by Maj. Gen. Douglas McArthur, then Field Marshall of the Philippine Army.

He was also a survivor of the

Bataan Death March, where Japanese troops coerced their Filipino and American counterparts to trek 106 kilometers from Mariveles, Bataan, to Camp O’Donnel in Capas, Tarlac. On the third night, he escaped from the agonizing procession that starved thousands of soldiers to death.

After the war, Baltazar flew to the US and worked at the Office of Special Investigations under the US Navy and was commissioned to Korea and West Germany.

Upon his military retirement, he joined the US Agency for International Development in Vietnam

and retired from the State Department in 1988.

Baltazar was born on October 8, 1920, in Quezon City. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Russian at Georgetown University in 1950 and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Virginia in 1979. He left behind five children with his wife Margrit Kilchmann.

This year, he published a novel entitled ‘The Naked Soldier’, which is a memoir about his prodigious life and times in the military. (Gianna Francesca Catolico/Inquirer.net)

UNSUNG HERO NO MORE. Jesse Baltazar, veteran of three wars, receives his overdue medal with a full-dress parade, fixed bayonets, colonial fife and drum corps.

Inquirer.net photo

A APRIL 22-28, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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

OpiniOn

Features

Fundamental right

SINCE freeing itself from an authoritarian rule three decades ago, the Philippines has enjoyed the restoration of democracy and freedom. However, human rights issues remain prevalent in the country, challenging the commitment of the government and its people to have a collective resolve to uphold human dignity.

On Wednesday, April 13, US Secretary of State John Kerry released the 2015 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, to provide the US Congress with the status of internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in countries around the world.

“The contents of this report renew our commitment to promoting and protecting universal human rights, to supporting and defending civil society in its peaceful efforts to hold governments accountable, and to working with our partners to advance peace, development, human rights, and democracy,” Kerry said in his statement.

The report acknowledged the gains made by the Philippine government on important human rights issues and highlighted the challenges that continue to exist.

“The most significant human rights problems continued to be extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances undertaken by security forces, insurgents, and suspected vigilante groups; a weak and overburdened criminal justice system notable for poor cooperation between police and investigators, a meager record of prosecutions and lengthy procedural delays; and widespread official corruption and abuse of power,” the report noted.

“Other human rights problems included allegations of prisoner/detainee torture and abuse

by security forces; harassment, including allegations of violence against human rights activists by local security forces; warrantless arrests; lengthy pretrial detentions; overcrowding and inadequate prison conditions; killings and harassment of journalists; mistreatment of internally displaced persons (IDPs); violence against women; abuse and sexual exploitation of children; trafficking in persons; limited access to facilities for persons with disabilities; lack of full integration of indigenous people into political and economic structures; absence of law and policy to protect persons from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; child labor; and ineffective enforcement of worker rights,” it added.

While the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III has made strides in battling impunity, much more is needed to be done to ensure that the perpetrators of human rights violations do not brazenly roam the streets free, and instead be held accountable for their atrocities.

“The government continued to investigate and prosecute only a limited number of reported human rights abuses, including abuses by its own forces, paramilitaries, and insurgent/terrorist groups. Concerns about impunity of national and As the elections draw near, the human rights local government officials, security force mem- report implores the country’s incoming leaders to bers, and powerful business and commercial fig- have the political will to make a comprehensive ures persisted,” the report added. approach in addressing existing human rights vi-

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

olations. They must realize that human rights violations breed through many problems, which are related to the country’s political, economic, social and cultural conditions. (AJPress)

Fil-Am leader sues Comelec for violating overseas Filipino voters’ rights GREAT news: The Supreme Court en banc has declared that Filipinos overseas can resume campaigning abroad for their candidates, except in the vicinity of Philippine Embassies and Consulates where actual voting takes place.

Kudos to Fil-Am community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis for calling out the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) over a resolution that she says is a violation of the Fil-Ams and other overseas voters’ right to freedom of speech, expression, and even assembly.

Last Monday, April 18, Lewis, together with the Ateneo Human Rights Center, filed a case on before the Philippine Supreme Court to question the constitutionality of Comelec’s resolution prohibiting partisan political activities abroad during the 30-day overseas voting period which started last April 9.

Comelec rules prohibit any campaigning and

partisan political activities during election day. In the Philippines, The Fil-Am this will be on May 9. For voters here in the US and other parts of Perspective the world, voting started last April 9 up to May 9. Following the contentious Comelec resolution, Pinoy voters abroad are therefore Gel SantoS-reloS prohibited to campaign, hold information dissemination rallies and activities during this most important month.

In a Balitang America report, Lewis said, “So that means habang we’re having our election campaigning period here in the Philippines, Filipinos abroad are prohibited to discuss election issues which are relevant to them. So we are questioning this. We have filed a case against the Commission on Elections.”

Lewis likewise suggested that such resolution

discriminates against Filipinos overseas, because it denies them to hold campaign events that will help them discuss and understand issues, get to know the candidates better and make an informed decision in exercising their right of suffrage.

“Sa aming mga overseas Filipinos ang daming dapat pagusapan. Etong gag order ng Comelec is totally unfair, arbitrary and unreasonable,” Lewsis contended.

Lewis added, “Para bang kayong Filipino overseas, hindi kayo tunay na Pilipino. Kami lang dito ang puwedeng mag-discuss hanggang May 8.

Pero kayo diyan—quiet. Mali yon. Unconstitutional.”

Upon learning of the TRO, Lewis issued a state-

ment saying, “Thanks be to God and to the Justices of the Supreme Court! Filipinos abroad can now campaign without fear. Bravo to Ateneo Human Rights Center lead by Atty. Ray Paolo Santiago!

They burned the midnight oil to finish the legal papers over the weekend. A big win for Filipinos Overseas!” Lewis heads both the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG) and the Global Filipino Diaspora Council (GDDP).

Lewis has long been an advocate of good governance and actively campaigns for Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo for President and Vice President respectively. *** 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

Does anybody still believe in the surveys?

Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenta THE way the spate of public opinion polls on the forthcoming elections have been tarred and feathered in mainstream and social media should alarm the research companies that have been conducting them with greater frequency as May 9 approaches. The question now being frequently asked by opinion makers is, “Does anybody still believe in the surveys?”

But the unflattering commentaries have, themselves, been dismissed by the polling specialists as sour graping by parties who have been unhappy with the results. That may be true to a large extent. But there are enough verified instances of biased surveys – or those employing questionable methodologies – to damage the credibility of the principal survey companies, specifically SWS and Pulse Asia.

Worse yet, the Duterte camp recently released the “results” of a survey that showed him in the lead - a claim promptly denied as fake by Pulse Asia, to which the research had been attributed. Too bad for the Duterte group, because - like the proverbial boy who cried wolf - even possibly genuine survey findings are now being met with raised eyebrows.

One series of public opinion readings currently being roundly criticized is the Bilang Pilipino

Mobile Survey being conducted

by SWS with the technical and logistical support of TV5 and the PLDT-Smart Communications group.

SWS is the same research firm that conducted the muchmaligned survey in late November 2015 which showed Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte leading the field at 38 percent, ahead of Vice-President Jejomar Binay (21 percent), Sen. Grace Poe (21 percent), Sec. Mar Roxas (15 percent) and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago (4 percent).

The survey, which SWS admitted was commissioned by a Duterte supporter, asked a leading question, as follows: “Ibang listahan naman po ang gamitin natin. Kasama dito si RODRIGO DUTERTE bilang isang substitute candidate sa Presidente. Sa mga sumusunod na mga pangalan sa listahang ito, sino po ang malamang ninyong iboto bilang PRESIDENTE NG PILIPINAS, kung ang eleksyon ay gaganapin ngayon (SHOW LIST 2)” (Let us use another list. This one includes Rodrigo Duterte as a substitute candidate for president. From the list of names here, who do you think will be your choice for president of the Philippines if elections were held today?)

Any research practitioner worth his coconuts will tell you that the framing of the question created an obvious bias in favor of Duterte that resulted in his high rating.

That was not the first time that SWS had used a question-

able methodology in its surveys.

In recent presidential preference polls, SWS has used varying lists of purported candidates, including those who had not indicated any interest in running for president. The results have, therefore, not been comparable and have been lacking in reliability and credibility (Pulse Asia has also applied the same methodology).

Unfortunately, these “public opinion polls” have been widely publicized in media and have been used by interested parties to influence public attitudes and stir a bandwagon effect among prospective voters.

The current Bilang Pilipino Mobile Survey, which SWS characterizes as a “pioneering project to rapidly track the opinions of a statistically representative national panel of voters,” has been subjected to much criticism. According to SWS, a panel of randomly selected respondents, ostensibly representing the Philippine voting population, was constituted and given mobile phones. Starting with the 2nd presidential debate held in Cebu, the panelists have been asked to respond to questions transmitted to them by SWS about current election issues, with a focus on candidate preferences.

The Bilang Pilipino Mobile Survey has, in effect, constituted a consumer panel on ongoing election issues. The effective usage of consumer panels is in deriving short and quick insights on the subject of a market test

(such as a product test) from respondents with specialist knowledge, but they are not intended as a representative sample for the general population.

In this regard, the Bilang Pilipino Mobile Survey is severely flawed in two aspects. Firstly, the average response rate has been poor, rendering the findings with a high margin of error – up to plus/minus 7 percent in Metro Manila and the Visayas and as high as plus/minus 8 percent in balance Luzon and Mindanao.

And, worse yet, the panelists are, in effect, being used as “specialists” on election issues.

Anyone who has used research for marketing purposes (as I have for over half a century) will tell you that it is not advisable to derive “expert opinions” from respondents unless they are specialists on the subject being tested.

You never ask ordinary consumers whether an ad layout is good or bad – in effect, asking them to render the opinion of graphic experts or ad specialists.

You will end up with responses ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Spontaneity is key in research and leading questions are an abomination. The Bilang Pilipino Mobile Survey is peppered with holes in this respect.

Spontaneity is lost because the mobile phone panelists, knowing that they will be periodically asked to respond to questions, are most likely anticipating and discussing them with others. If

they were members of a jury in the US, they would be dismissed for exposing themselves to extraneous influences.

The mobile survey also falls into the category of a “push poll,” an unflattering term in the scientific research community and defined by Wikipedia as follows: “A push poll is an interactive marketing technique, most commonly employed during political campaigning, in which an individual or organization attempts to influence or alter the view of voters under the guise of conducting a poll.

“In a push poll, large numbers of voters are contacted briefly (often less than 60 seconds), and little or no effort is made to collect and analyze response data.

Instead, the push poll is a form of telemarketing-based propaganda and rumor mongering, masquerading as a poll. Push polls may rely on innuendo or knowledge gleaned from opposition research on an opponent.

“Push polls are generally viewed as a form of negative campaigning. Indeed, the term is commonly (and confusingly) used in a broader sense to refer to legitimate polls that aim to test negative political messages. Future usage of the term will determine whether the strict or broad definition becomes the most favored definition. However, in all such polls, the pollster asks leading questions or suggestive questions that ‘push’ the interviewee towards adopting an unfavorable response towards the

political candidate.

“Push polling has been condemned by the American Association of Political Consultants and the American Association of Public Opinion Research.”

In the first Bilang Pilipino Mobile Survey, which ostensibly tracked public opinion on the results of the 2ndpresidential debate in Cebu, SWS asked a leading negative question: “Whom among the candidates for PRESIDENT of the PHILIPPINES you DO NOT LIKE TO WIN the most? (CHOOSE ONE) [Sino sa mga kandidato sa PRESIDENTE ng PILIPINAS ang PINAKA-AYAW MONG MANALO? (PUMILI NG ISA)].”

The way the question was framed falls into the exact pattern defined by Wikipedia as an attempt “to influence or alter the view of voters under the guise of conducting a poll.” Nonetheless, SWS has been unapologetic in using this highly irregular and questionable methodology for whatever reason it may have.

And whatever reason that might be, it certainly does not define SWS as a credible and reliable research organization but rather as a political propaganda tool.

In sum, if your life depended on the reliability of the Bilang Pilipino SWS Mobile Survey, you really wouldn’t be sure if you will live or die. But at least, you will have an indication of odds. As in gambling, that’s the best use of this push poll masquerading as a scientific research study. (gregmacabenta@ hotmail.com)

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 22-28, 2016

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Deguito admits lying to conceal people involved in money laundering scheme

Vice presidential candidate Sen. Bongbong Marcos during a campaign sortie in Tarlac province .

Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande

Bongbong tops survey for VP amid attacks by rival bets

by AnA

RoA Inquirer.net

SEN. FERDINAND “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. appears to have so far escaped unhurt the sustained bashing he has been getting front and center for refusing to apologize for the martial law excesses of his father’s martial law regime, topping the latest Pulse Asia voter preference survey of vice presidential candidates released on Tuesday, April 19.

The survey showed Marcos got a nationwide rating of 27 percent, with solid support coming from Metro Manila, Luzon outside Metro Manila, Classes ABC and D, results of the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted from April 5 to 10 showed.

He held a four-point lead over Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero who was preferred by 23 percent of the respondents. Escudero was in a statistical tie with Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo who had 21 percent.

The survey, commissioned by ABS-CBN, interviewed 4,000 respondents and used a margin of error of plus-or-minus 1.5 percentage points.

In the one and only vice presidential debate sponsored by the Commission on Elections and TV5 on April 10, Marcos was skewered by his rival on issues of his father’s human rights record, corruption and the alleged stolen billions of dollars.

President Aquino himself has been leading the Bongbong Marcos bashing, devoting his speech on the 30th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution in February to the excesses of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship after the New York Times said that Filipinos, disillusioned by the Aquino administration’s ineptness, were yearning for the Philippines’ “golden age” under martial law rule.

Duterte, Marcos Explaining Marcos’ surge in the survey, Edmund Tayao, a political science professor at the University of Santo Tomas, noted a similarity between Marcos and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is

seeking the presidency.

Duterte and Marcos leading the polls shows the voters’ preference for “strong men and decisive leadership,” said Richard Javad Heydarian, political science professor at De La Salle University.

There was little change in the ratings of the vice presidential candidates compared to the last Pulse survey conducted from March 29 to April 3. Marcos was down by a point, Escudero was up by one point while Robredo’s rating was unchanged.

“Albeit small, there are still movements in the ratings. This remains a three-way race,” Tayao said.

Following the top three were Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (17 percent from 15 percent), Sen. Gringo Honasan (4 percent, unchanged from the last survey) and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (3 percent from 5 percent).

Marcos was the leading candidate in Metro Manila (40 percent), Luzon outside Metro Manila (35 percent), Class ABC (43 percent) and Class D (28 percent), while Robredo topped the Visayas (35 percent) and Cayetano was the most favored in Mindanao (32 percent).

The ratings of Escudero (23 percent), Marcos (22 percent), Robredo (22 percent) and Cayetano (20 percent) were almost the same among Class E. The survey also showed Escudero as the leading second-choice of voters with 26 percent of the respondents saying they would vote for him in the event their candidate withdraws.

Sixteen percent said Cayetano was their alternative candidate while 13 percent chose Robredo and 13 percent picked Marcos.

Trillanes and Honasan were the second choice of 7 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

Escudero would gain the most if Marcos cancels his candidacy with 33 percent of the latter’s voters naming Escudero as their secondchoice candidate.

Escudero was also the alternative candidate of 38 percent of Robredo’s voters, 36 percent of Cayetano’s supporters and 24 percent

‘Hacker’ of Comelec website arrested by nAncy

c. cARvAjAl Inquirer.net

MANILA — The alleged hacker of the Commission on Elections website was arrested on Wednesday night and is now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division.

NBI Director Virgilio Mendez said the suspect was apprehended somewhere in Metro Manila

after weeks of digital and human surveillance.

MANILA — The alleged hacker of the Commission on Elections website was arrested on Wednesday night and is now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division.

NBI Director Virgilio Mendez said the suspect was apprehended somewhere in Metro Manila after weeks of digital and human surveillance. n

Binay seeks Iglesia support

by MARc jAyson

cAyAbyAb

Inquirer.net

VICE President Jejomar Binay has sought the support of the influential religious sect Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).

Binay’s information officer Joey Salgado on Thursday, April 21 confirmed the Eagle News story that Binay met with INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo on Thursday at the Central Office’s “Bulwagan.”

The INC had earlier met with other presidential aspirants Mar Roxas and Sen. Grace Poe after they sought an audience with the INC to discuss their platforms.

VICE President Jejomar Binay has sought the support of the influential religious sect Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).

Binay’s information officer Joey Salgado on Thursday confirmed the Eagle News story that Binay met with INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo

Vice President Jejomar Binay

on Thursday at the Central Office’s “Bulwagan.”

The INC had earlier met with other presidential aspirants Mar Roxas and Sen. Grace Poe after they sought an audience with the INC to discuss their platforms. n

of those who favored Trillanes.

In a statement on the survey result, Marcos said, “It is a validation that the Filipino people want to hear platforms and programs rather than mudslinging.”

He added, “Our message of unity is being accepted and the survey results will continue to inspire us to work doubly hard in the remaining days of the campaign.” n

MAIA Santos-Deguito, the former branch manager of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

(RCBC), has admitted lying just to conceal the personalities involved in the alleged $81-million money laundering scheme.

Testifying at the ongoing investigation of the Senate blue ribbon committee on Tuesday, April 19, Deguito said it was casino junket operator Kim Wong who instructed her to transfer the money from the accounts of four depositors to the account of Centurytex Trading owned by William Go. The alleged stolen funds were transmitted to the accounts of certain Michael Francisco Cruz, Jessie Christopher Lagrosas, Enrico Teodoro Vasquez and Alfred Santos Vergara before it was transferred to Go’s account.

“Who instructed you to transfer all the money from the accounts of the four individuals to the account of Mr. William Go?” Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III asked the former branch manager.

“It was Mr. Kim Wong who instructed me,” Deguito said, adding that she could not also understand why Wong would order the transfer of the money to the account of Go. Wong is a junket casino operator and one of the key personalities tagged in the controversy.

Maia Santos-Deguito

“You are telling us that Wong instructed you, who do you expect the committee to believe?”

Osmeña said.

“You know that the four individuals own the accounts. Theoretically, if they exist, the owners of the four accounts…should have been the ones telling you, giving you instructions. Why did you receive instructions from Mr. Wong?”

Deguito explained that it was Wong, who referred the four account holders and that the junket operator “acted as their authorized representative to inquire balances and instruct me for further instructions.”

However, RCBC’s legal chief

Maria Celia Estavillo contradicted Deguito’s claim.

“Your honor, it’s not allowed.

There are no documents to support what she’s saying,” Estavillo said.

“And in fact, your honor, in her letter to us, she categorically told us that it was Mr. Lagrosas who gave her instructions on the transfer of funds to Mr. William Go so she’s contradicting her own written statement to the bank,” she added.

Asked by Osmeña why she gave a different statement to the bank, Deguito said: “At that time, I was not prepared to reveal the identities of the referrals of the account and who were the people involved [in the controversy] so that was the advice of my lawyer.”

“You did not want to name Mr. Kim Wong? That’s what you’re saying? And you’d lie and say it was Mr. Lagrosas who gave you the order. Is that so?”

“Yes, your honor,” Deguito said.

“You’re now saying that it was not Mr. Lagrosas, who gave you orders to transfer it to the account of (Mr. Go)?” the senator asked again.

“Yes, your honor, it was really Mr. Wong who instructed me,” she said. n

A APRIL 22-28, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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

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Stella Abrera in “The Nutcracker.�

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Photo by Rosalie O’Connor

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A P R I L 22 , 20 1 6

Stella abrera:

Making history in the world of ballet

by MoMar

It has been eight months since Stella Abrera broke the proverbial glass ceiling at the American Ballet theatre when she was promoted as one of the elite company’s principal dancers, becoming the first Filipino-American to do so.

“So far, so good,” the ballerina told the Asian Journal. “I’m still enjoying sinking my teeth into learning new roles and having a good time.”

Abrera was one of three accomplished Filipinas lauded by the Philippine Consulate General on International Women’s Day this year. Along with Care.com founder and CEO Sheila Marcelo-Lirio and New York City chair of Commission on Human Rights, they were honored with the Distinguished Women of 2016 award.

“I’m so extremely honored to be included in their com-

pany. I find a lot of inspiration from my fellow female colleagues as well as other female artists and leaders in the art world. I get a lot of lessons and motivations from them. tonight is a huge honor for me,” Abrera said. the prima ballerina is currently rehearsing for three different ballets which will be staged at the Metropolitan Opera House beginning this May: “La Fille mal Gardee,” “Firebird” and the “Golden Cockerel.”

“I’ve been working quite hard lately but I’m enjoying myself, that’s for sure,” she remarked.

Stella started dancing when she was barely five years old. An older sister – who was 17 years her senior – was in college and had been taking modern dance classes and she

G. Visaya /AJPress

Photo by Jade Young

IN HER OWN WORDS

On what a typical day is I get to work around 10:00 a.m. and I take a ballet class to warm myself up and work on my skills for about an hour and Stella Abrera was named one of the Distinguished Filipino Women of 2016 for her success as a Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre last March 8. Also in photo are Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Jr. a half. On the hardest seasons, I rehearse from 12 noon to 7pm, and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Irene Susie Natividad.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya sometimes straight without a lunch break, which is not ideal of her father’s work as a civil suggested that Stella try it out. but it happens. That’s a typical engineer.

And she did.

Stella and her family moved rehearsal day. But when we’re in “I am so lucky. I had this season, performing-wise, then we from Pasadena, California dream to be a ballerina when rehearse a few hour during the to San Diego and Sydney, I was a little girl and I grew up day and have the performance in and became one. Not everyone Australia because of this. She the evening. began her studies with Philip has that luck, timing wise, but I On International Women’s and Charles Fuller and Cynthia worked hard and I am grateYoung at Le Studio in Pasadena Day ful,” she shared.

It is important for women to At age 11, she tried her first and continued it at the West believe in themselves and believe Coast Ballet theatre in San pair pointe shoes. She knew in their power and beauty.

Diego when they moved there. then that this was her dream to On her 2014 visit to the PhilipShe also spent three years pursue. studying the Royal Academy of pines (a year after Super Typhoon With the full support of her Dancing method with Joan and Haiyan devastated many parts of family, Stella enrolled in more Monica Halliday at the Halliday the country) dance classes and her parents, I was a guest of Ballet PhilipDance Centre in Sydney.

Jack and Aurora would sit and pines and I got to perform at the When Abrera was 16, Ross wait for her to finish her classes Cultural Center of the Philipand rehearsals. At this time, she Stretton, the assistant artistic pines, which is such an iconic was dancing and rehearsing five director of the American Ballet theatre (ABt) was adjudicating theater. I really enjoyed my sort of hours a day. one of her final exams. He facili- homecoming then. I have never As the youngest of five children, Stella chose a different tated her audition for ABt. “He performed there before, in the country of my heritage so it was a plucked me out of the garden, career path from her brother you might say. Of course, Kevin big deal for me. I was so warmly and three sisters. Her parents (McKenzie, artistic director) had welcomed and it was a very nice were both immigrants from the experience. to give his OK,” she told NBC Philippines and they constantly On Filipino Food and eating News. moved the family to different What’s great about how hard Photo by Rosalie O’Connor cities and countries because Continued on Page 3

we are required to work is that it affords me the luxury of eating a lot. I can work out all the yummy food, I really enjoy eating. I do ask my mom for her adobo recipe and her nilaga. If I could, I would eat longganisa every day, but I can’t because it’s hard to find. I love cooking, I really enjoy it. This today is a good inspiration for me, actually will light my fire to cook more Filipino food, maybe once a week.

On the days she’s off I enjoy sleeping in, having a good breakfast, getting a massage and just not doing anything and just being a couch potato, while eating potato chips.

On being inspiration to young boys and girls of color who want to dance It’s complex especially in our times now. It’s wonderful, the striving to have diversity in all fields. I personally would say that my own story - I was very lucky and I never felt singled out or different or that my ethnicity or ethnic background was a negative thing. I hope that we can all move forward together with all the different cultures and racial backgrounds. Let’s celebrate our heritage.

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

Supreme court hears oral arguments on Obama’s DAPA/DCA executive action; decision expected by June 2016

During oral arguments, the basic issues are whether Texas and the other states ON April 18, 2016, the US have “standing to sue,” and if Supreme Court heard oral Obama exceeded his authority arguments from Texas and other by effectively passing a law on states, as well as the Obama immigration. I will briefly discuss administration, concerning these two issues: President Obama’s November Standing: One of the long2014 Executive Action for DAPA and expanded DACA, which would standing rules for suing in federal enable qualified\eligible parents of court is that the party must have US citizens and green card holders suffered a legally recognized injury. In this case, Texas claimed to obtain work authorization and be protected against deportation. that in subsidizing the cost of His executive action also expanded driver’s licenses, and being forced the number of young people who to issue driver’s licenses to DAPA and expanded DACA applicants, would be eligible for DACA. Soon after Obama announced Texas has been injured. But the problem with Texas’s argument these Executive Actions, Texas is this injury was “self inflicted.” and other states filed a lawsuit, Texas should simply charge trying to block USCIS from people the actual cost of driver’s moving forward. Texas claimed licenses, and it would not suffer a it was being harmed or injured monetary loss. Instead, it appears because the state would be Texas purposely created this required to issue driver’s licenses injury, so it would have “standing” to DAPA/DACA applicants, and, in the process, would lose money, to sue. But if Texas’ theory is allowed to stand, the courts would because Texas subsidizes the be flooded with states bringing cost of driver’s licenses. (In other words, it costs Texas more to issue all kinds of lawsuits challenging driver’s licenses than the amount it the authority of the federal government, by creating selfcharges people). inflicted injuries.

A federal court judge and the Executive branch cannot Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal sided legislate: It is Congress’s job to with Texas, and put DAPA and pass laws, and the president’s job DACA on hold, pending a written to enforce them. Texas and others decision from the US Supreme are arguing Obama’s executive Court, which is expected in June action is effectively making or 2016.

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA

passing immigration laws, which is under Congress’s power and authority, not the president’s.

Obama has been arguing that for years he has been urging Congress to pass laws dealing with the immigration situation and the 11 million undocumented immigrants. Congress consistently refused to act. With the executive actions, Obama basically said that in enforcing the existing immigration laws, the executive branch does not have enough budget, personnel, courtrooms, etc. to deport everyone. Therefore, in exercising his discretion in enforcing the immigration laws, the executive branch was first going after the “high priority” undocumented (such as felons, terrorists, etc.) and conserve resources by not going after certain people, such as parents of US citizens and young people brought to the US at an early age, who pose no threat to US safety or security. Therefore, he is not passing any law, but instead deciding best how to enforce the existing laws, until Congress finally acts.

With the death of Justice Scalia, the Court is split between four conservative and four liberal justices. If there is a 4-4 tie, then the lower court’s decision, halting implementation of DAPA, would stand.

The power of words “ … for from the fullness of the heart, he mouth speaks.”

— Luke 6:45

HERE’S a simple story that packs a punch about how we should regard the words that come out of our mouths and in our writings.

A story is told of a man who spread malicious and false rumors about the rabbi of his small community. Overcome by remorse one day, he asked the rabbi to forgive him asking him how he can make amends. The rabbi asked him to take a pillow made of feathers and scatter the feathers to the wind. He did as he was

instructed. The man then asks the rabbi, “Am I forgiven?”

“Not yet. There’s just one more thing you have to do – gather up each and every feather and place them all back in the pillow.”

Stunned, he whined, “ But that’s impossible.”

“Of course,” the wise old rabbi said. “And though you honestly mean to correct the wrong you have done, it is as impossible to repair the damage you have done by your words as it is to gather up

those feathers.”

Words are powerful.

Unleashed in the heat of an argument, they are flaming laser swords that can cut, wound, even decimate someone. If addressed to a loved one, such wounds can take a long time to heal, if at all. If these words are allowed to take root in the soil of memory and of the heart of the wounded, the wounds may never heal.

So next time circumstances like stress, frustration or fatigue

Stella Abrera: Making history...

From Page 2

Stella joined the ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in 1996 at the age of 17 after being an apprentice for a few months.

Founded in 1940, American Ballet Theatre is recognized as one of the most renowned ballet companies in the world. Few ballet companies equal ABT for its combination of size, scope, and outreach and as such, it is a living national treasure. On April 27, 2006, by an act of Congress, American Ballet Theatre became America’s National Ballet Company.

Abrera was appointed as a soloist in 2001. Six years ago, she suffered a crippling back injury that threatened to end her blossoming career. She was sidelined for 18 months.

“It took a lot of grit and determination and perseverance. I endured many painful moments as well as I enjoyed the many wonderful moments in my career,” she said.

Stella made history in August last year when she was promoted to Principal Dancer, the first Filipino-American in ABT’s 76-year history to reach the elite ballet company’s highest rank.

What made the promotion extra special was the fact that

Stella Abrera in Romeo and Juliet.

Photo by Gene Schiavone

An Asian Journal

Stella Abrera in “The Bright Stream.”

she had already come to terms with the fact that with the injury that happened and her current age, she accepted the fact that it was not going to happen. But it did. After almost two decades with ABT, Stella reached the pinnacle of her career.

“To be honest, it’s mostly the feeling of responsibility, to help inspire the next generation of dancers not only Filipinos but all of them. It warms my heart to see these young Filipina dancers on social media saying that I inspire them. That’s very heartwarming, and it’s a responsibility that I am happy to take

Stella Abrera in “Leaves are Fading.”

Photo by Rosalie O’Connor

Photo by Gene Schiavone

on,” she told the Asian Journal.

Her memorable performances at the ABT include the girl in “Afternoon of a Faun,” Calliope in “Apollo,” Gamzatti in “La Bayadere,” the ballerina in “The Bright Stream,” Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother in Frederick Ashton’s “Cinderella,” Myrtha in “Giselle,” and Aurora in “Coppelia,” among many others.

She created the roles of His Memory and His Experiences in “HereAfter,” the Spanish Dance in Ratmansky’s “The Nutcracker,” the Fairy Violente (Temperament) in Ratmansky’s “The Sleeping Beauty,” His Mistress in “Weren’t We Fools?,” leading roles in “Piece d’Occasion” with Herbie Hancock and S”even Sonatas,” and roles in “After You” and “Pretty Good Year.”

As she celebrates her 20th anniversary this year, Stella is thankful for what those two decades have given her – a hearty combination of successes and failures, heartbreaks and triumphs.

“It has been my life my entire adult life. It’s what I know, I am so grateful to be living my dream. It hasn’t always felt wonderful like I’ve said – I had hard times just like everyone else but those hard times make the great times much more wonderful,” she said.

Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A p R i l 22 , 20 1 6

BEAUTY QUEEN’S CASE DENIED BECAUSE OF FRAUD, ON A ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Karen (center) married US citizen Paul (left) in 2007. It was a match made in heaven, until their beautiful life was put under extreme hardship when Karen’s adjustment of status was denied, after she was found guilty of immigration fraud. They submitted a fraud waiver, and even that was denied.

The couple was devastated and all plans for their family and businesses were shattered. Everything seemed hopeless until leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) took over Karen’s case and fought to convince USCIS Karen never committed any fraud. Watch how the “Beauty Queen” and her family regained their charmed life and Karen’s name was cleared, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday April 24 at 6:15pm (PST) on TFC.

Let’s hope at least one conservative justice understands that Texas does not have “standing” based on self-inflicted injuries, and Obama’s executive action is not making or passing an immigration law, but simply figuring out the best way to enforce the laws, given the limited resources and manpower. ***

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

push you to lash out over anything and you value the relationship as much as you value your life, learn to bite your tongue instead. Take evasive action. DO NOT ENGAGE. You are entering “scorched earth” territory. Be your own drill sergeant and drop down to do 20 push-ups or take a brisk walk around the block for 30 minutes, to clear your head and let the moment pass.

As we age, we learn to become patient and wise and learn to size down our treacherous outsized ego that eggs us on to think we are better than everyone else or that we are the center of the universe.

With time and humility to

guide us, we learn to overlook the trivial and unimportant and focus only on the good. We become THE editor of our own life story.

Life is good and beautiful. We just have to open our eyes, oftentimes think with a kind heart and take absolutely nothing for granted.

Or if you have the facility to write, go ahead and express yourself on paper or the computer screen and then HIT DELETE OR TRASH IT COMPLETELY after you have unloaded and vented. Take this written approach of venting your spleen on what vexes you with EXTREME CAUTION. The written word has ten thousand times the punch of the spoken word. The

exercise is simply therapy, NOT MEANT to document and justify one’s self.

The heart and the mind are the soil of our soul. Choose only good seeds to plant in the furrows of that soil. Water these seeds and nurture them with heartfelt, unceasing prayers, 24/7, if you can. Especially during this Age of (Too Much) Information when we have access to all kinds of stories and images through the internet, we have to be particularly vigilant about the seeds that take root in the soil of our souls.

Over the years, I have learned to decipher what a person really Continued on Page 6

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A p R i l 22 , 20 1 6

On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places

Kuh Ledesma: ‘The Renaissance Woman’

BoBBy T. yalong PhiliPPinE Pop Diva Kuh ledesma has consistently reigned in the entertainment industry for more than 36 years and aside from her unprecedented talent that she had been known for, the singer-performer from Bacolod has also been duly recognized as a painter, model, movie-TV actress, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and religious practitioner… the quintessential paradigm of a trueblooded Renaissance Woman, a fitting title she’ll most heartily sanction. her singing career initially took shape when she joined lastiko, the Ensalada Band in Bacolod while she was still in college as a nursing student.

With close pals Jet Montelibano and Toto Gentica, they hied off to the center of the entertainment business, Manila, and became part of the popular Music and Magic Band. her continuously impressive bar and hotel exposures created waves giving her well-earned credits and plaudits… paving way to landing in theater via the lead role in Alice Reyes’s pop ballet presentation of “Mata hari.”

With her name getting bigger marquee exposures, her face earning wide recognition and her talent readily gaining nationwide acceptance, Kuh eventually went solo via her first hit song, “Dito Ba?” which gave her even tremendous awards and accolades. Truly creative and known for her penchant for everything grandiose and fabulous, Kuh mounted her solo concerts in huge venues like the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine international Convention Center, the Folk Arts Theater and the Araneta Coliseum… huge venues other established artists deemed too daringly ambitious and daunting.

Going international didn’t

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The Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma

The Pop Diva as a fashionable icon

come surprising for Kuh’s followers. She’s credited as the first Filipino singer to receive the Salem Music Award at the Royal Albert hall in london in 1989. By the 90s Kuh had already a series of back-to-back concerts with foreign artists like noel Pointer, Jack Jones, Kenny Rankin, the Platters and Michel legrand. in 1997, she released an international album, “Precious,” a collaboration of the best American and Filipino songwriters, arrangers and musicians.

Kuh’s unprecedented homebase success was likened to a distinct scent that has wafted across foreign shores and didn’t escape being noticed by international entertainment bigwigs with impeccable preference. A sudden change of pace followed after a series of successful concerts abroad that in 1990, she appeared in Gilbert Becaud’s TV show in Paris. The innate nationalism in her still managed to shine even amid European culture that her rendition of “Bulaklak” in her very own brand of modest

sophistication more than made her a standout… especially so when she sang it not only in its original Filipino version but also in English and French.

That sterling performance earned for Kuh another offshore stage appearance when she represented the Philippines at “Earth 90,” an international environment-related TV Special held in Tokyo, Japan and simultaneously aired in 80 countries.

Kuh’s distinctly melodic singing style was in itself a competing factor with her own exquisite beauty and stunning charm that in the 1991 Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in las Vegas, nevada, she was invited to grace the affair not as an entertainer but as a member of the Panel of Judges… proving her able capacity to quantify beauty as an art form.

And speaking of beauty, Kuh’s perfect bone structure and dusky features landed her on the wide screen via an impressive thespian debut in “Oro, Plata, Mata,” and closely followed by “Tinimbang Ang langit.” As

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always, every Kuh’s new endeavor seemed to be always paving way for global projects. in 1982, she was personally hand-picked by international director Peter Weir to play a pivotal role in “The Year of living Dangerously” with then hollywood’s leading man on-therise, Mel Gibson and up-coming Sigourney Weaver.

The boob-tube was never left unexplored and unconquered.

Earlier her classic beauty that seemingly could surpass time inevitably mesmerized TV aficionados with her adorable face that graced the screen as a Philippine lux beauty soap endorser (a counterpart Rosanna Podesta, lux’s soap international endorser) that ran from 19841990, in Singapore from 19881989 and in indonesia in 1992… which undeniably proved Kuh ledesma’s veritably total persona.

Just recently she returned to TV acting via the well-received drama series, My husband’s lover, where she effectually delineated the role of an aristocratic but understanding mom to the character of Tom Rodriguez.

Lucky in everything but love Fame is selfish that it wouldn’t allow itself to stand alongside with another successful bid in equal footing… and this holds true in Kuh’s case. Falling in love with one she thought would be her lifetime partner only gave her a fleeting moment of bliss… for after having an equally beautiful and talented daughter, isabella, fate had it that she parted ways with louie Gonzales, the only man in her life.

But life has to go on… her career remained unaffected despite the heartaches. Devoted and focused, Kuh all the more attained

Performing in a modernized Filipiniana costume.

the height she had aimed for… maybe, even much more than what she expected… all because of her dedication and intense passion. instead of mourning and crying over her jilted past, she merely took the bitter heartache with a grain of salt. “life has to go on… if it wasn’t meant to be, so be it. There are tons of fishes in the ocean…one loss won’t be the end of the world,” the Pop Diva could only shrug her shoulder to conceal her emotional disgust.

Kuh’s Selflessness it must be in her innate desire to influence others and be instrumental in the “rise” of new faces … setting aside personal interest and … through establishing her own production company, “headline Concepts,” a recording outfit, “Bravo Records,” and building concert venues like “Music Museum” and “Republic of Malate”… that she could have multiple options in helping struggling singers and potential talents.

Aside from all these and her hectic schedules of performing and producing concerts, special events and shows, Kuh has also extensively travelled locally and abroad to speak on values formation and deliver inspirational and motivational talks… and those are apart from her being the President of Restaurant Owners Association of Malate and owner of a dreamland paradise, hacienda isabella.

Spiritual Awakening in her “Fragrance of Worship” CD released on December 2011,

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the Pop Diva’s religious affinity (Evangelical Christianity) and her more than 30 years in the industry more than influenced her not only to emotionally expressed what she feels through music but spiritually persuaded her to come up with a full-praise-gospel compilation of her unspoken sacred awakening of sort which was followed by another smash hit album, “Memories” wherein she re-recorded one of her most popular songs, “i Think i’m in love.”

Awards Outstanding Contemporary Singer, 1988 Best Female Performer-Movie Theme Song, 1989 Jingle Most Popular Concert Performer, 1990 Most Outstanding Singer of the Phil., 1992 Awardee For Earth SaversDreams, 1993 Entertainer of the Year (Tagumpay Awards), 1999 natatanging Gawad Sentenaryo, “ 2001 natatanging Pilipino Award (Phil. Jaycees), and a lot more. name an award-giving body and without any doubt, Kuh already owned its trophy or has been honored and duly recognized: Aliw Awards Foundation, inc., Phil. Movie Press Club, Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation, inc., Catholic Mass Media Award, CCP-Gawad Pang-Telebisyon, national Press Club Tinig Awards, Tagumpay Awards California, USA, Metro Pop, national Centennial Commission, Phil. Jaycees, Reflections 18 Awards (lA, Ca., USA), and fittingly capped with Continued on Page 6

Shaina on rumored John Lloyd-Bea romance: None of my business

SHAInA Magdayao would rather not comment on the rumored romance between John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo.

John Lloyd is Shaina’s exboyfriend while Bea is one of her showbiz friends.

“I don’t think kailangan kong mag-react,” replied Shaina when asked to react on the rumor. “That’s totally out of the environment kung saan ako gumagalaw ngayon, and it’s actually none of my business.”

The Kapamilya actress added she would rather focus on her work than meddle with the personal lives Shaina Magdayao didn’t want to meddle with of her co-celebrities. the personal lives of ex-boyfriend John Lloyd “Bakit ka pa gagawa ng friction Cruz and friend Bea Alonzo. with any other individual?” she Philstar.com photo by Joyce Jimenez

said. “I’m just here, sa showbiz, sa mundong ito to work. And that’s it, nothing else. Lahat itong ginagawa ko, it’s just work.”

“My personal life is bigger than this world,” she added. now Shaina is happily single and pointed out that “walang kinalaman yung pagiging happy ko as a single person sa kanila,” referring to the recent breakup of John Lloyd and Angelica Panganiban.

Asked if there’s a chance for her to get back with her ex-boyfriend, Shaina replied, “Ayoko magsalita kasi wala naman po nangyayari pa.”

She’s also not dating anybody now since she’s busy with her work.

(Joyce Jimenez/Philstar.com)

Beauty advice 411

By Monet

Lu

In this current economy, I do understand that a lot of us have had to give up on some things we were used to when financial times were better. But I hope that despite the challenges, we do not neglect to take care of ourselves.

This includes grooming. We have to encourage feeling good on the inside as well as looking good on the outside. now on to our hair/beauty discussions: Lorraine from New Jersey: Monet, I have really long hair that falls all the way down to my derriere area. I want to cut it for practical reasons but my boyfriend does not approve. He really likes my hair this long.

Although I want to please him, I’m concerned that I’m not able to keep my hair healthy this way. I’m seeing a lot of split ends already.

I used to enjoy having really long hair but now it’s not that fun anymore.

Monet: I know you feel torn between pleasing your man and the inconvenience of maintaining a lengthy hair. You have to strike a balance between what will make him happy but also not putting the burden on you. It is your hair after all. There’s a midway point to address this. Why not try layers?

You can preserve a portion of the length while taking out the damaged area. One thing’s for sure, you need to remove the split ends.

I have to assume that your hair is also a bit dry now. You need some deep conditioning treatment. My salon is offering some good deals on moisture enrichment that may benefit you. Good luck!

Ami from San Jose: Dear Monet, because of our bad economy and partly because of my adventurous spirit, I’ve experimented with coloring my own hair at home. I have naturally black hair but I’ve been seeing grays here and there. So I decided to change my entire hair color to light brown hoping that this will also remove the grays. The result is not what I expected. My hair color looks gold in the root area but other parts are black. I don’t know what to do. Any advice?

Monet: You are not the first to come to me with this problem.

5

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Chino Hills Multicultural Festival Inspired by last year’s successful celebration of the community’s diversity, the Rotary Club of Greater Chino Hills Foundation will host its second Multicultural Festival on Saturday, April 23, from 3 to 9 pm, at the Chino Hills Community Center (14250 Peyton Drive, Chino Hills, CA 91709). Admission is free. There will be food booths, live entertainment, music, dance and performances by an array of participants. Sponsorship and advertisement packages are available for non-profit organizations to fundraise, and for businesses interested in market their products and services. For more information, contact rotary.chinohills@gmail.com or visit www.chinohillsrotaryclub.org. Contact: Ted Alvarez (909) 456-0359, tedalvarez@verizon.net; Tessie Lightholder (909) 576-4152,tessielightholder@gmail.com, or Ginny Mondonedo (951) 212-4624, vmondonedo55@gmail.com.

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It appears that there’s a color conflict going on there. The one thing I know, having not seen your situation first-hand, is that we need to strip the light brown color you applied on yourself. The process is a bit technical to explain here. You need to come see us at the salon because I feel like this issue you have should be handled by a professional colorist!

Ashley from Los Angeles: My wedding is this coming June.

I’ve had many trials for hair and make-up but I have not been happy with any of the styles so far. My mother has been the one recommending the hair and make-up artists but our styles just don’t match. None of them could provide the make-up foundation that I need because of blemishes and acne marks that I wish to hide. I’m very stressed because I feel like my mother wants to plan everything but I’m the bride. Shouldn’t I be the one to decide?

Monet: Ashley, we need to focus on the important issues at hand, which is your quest for the right stylist who can deliver the look you want. I’m not Dear Abby, but I’m a hair doctor. So I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment about the internal issues between you and your mother. But if you were serious about finding the best stylist, you have to push forward with that. If you were my bride, I would recommend that we meet for a personal, one-onone consultation. I would advise you to cut up pictures of make-up and hair styles that you like from bridal magazines or from the Internet so that I can be on the same page with you. Once you have shared with me your vision, then it would be my turn to offer

my professional opinion about what would be the best fit for your wedding makeover. After all, I have been doing this for many many years. This collaboration will avoid mistakes and stress on the wedding day. It has worked very well for me over the years. As for your specific question about make-up foundation that will give you more coverage, I just happen to have the solution for you. It’s called the Monet Salon Velvet Finish Make-up.

Evelyn from Alhambra: My hair is frizzy and dry from bleaching and coloring and also it has a natural wave which makes it looks damage and unmanageable. I don’t flat iron or I don’t have time to blow dry my hair. I don’t like it straight because I have very fine, thin hair. What can you recommend?

Should I have hot oil treatment or rebonding? I have tried almost all the treatments and products, but I don’t think they work.

Monet: Don’t worry-- we have the latest answer for this problem and that is our signature Brazilian Blow Me away Keratin treatment of the Hair spa magic. Your hair is the best candidate for this kind of treatment. I will guarantee you that your hair will be shiny, manageable and healthier. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns.

Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

Beauty queens and artists unite to help build a Philippine Heritage Cultural Center in NY neW York, new York—It all started with a conversation between Miguel Braganza II and Fely Perez, founding presidents of the Filipinos in the Arts in America, Inc. and Philippine Heritage Center, Inc., respectively. They concurred that it would be extremely beneficial for the Filipino-American community to have its own Philippine Heritage Cultural Center, a focal venue for Philippine culture and arts in new York. After several meetings, they decided to make it a reality, in collaboration with a third organization, the Filipino Arts and Music ensemble.

Ooh La La Filipina: A Philippine Revue is the first in a series of

An Asian Journal

fundraising shows for building the cultural center. Happening on Saturday, April 30, at 7pm, at the ethel Lefrak Theatre in Queens College, new York (65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Queens, n.Y.), this show is conceptualized, directed and choreographed by Braganza himself. The show promises an evening of Philippine songs, dances and fashion. It will also pay tribute to distinguished Filipino-American women and world-class beauties.

Headlining the show is Audra Mari, Miss Teen USA 2011 and Miss USA 2014 First Runner Up. The show features an amazing line-up of performers including former members of Philippine

Ballet Theater Joey Atayde, Saeko Hayashi and Tiffany Mangulabnan; Dance Theater Philippines veterans Marissa de Guzman, nina Grajo and Virgie Alvarez; American Swiss Ballet Company’s Sonia Melo; and Gelsey Kirkland’s natalia Sheptalova.

Local artists will also grace the show including Angel Ram, Geo Rebucas, Usher Tureck, edmerald Gan, Jilliane Say-Maranan, Anna Liza Samson Temple, Anthony Samonte, Marvee Sanagustin, and Jason Perez, star of Lifetime’s “Little Women: nY.” Also showcasing their talents are up-and-coming young artists, Continued on Page 6

Please join our FREE annual Elder Law seminar presented by the attorneys at Elder Law Services of California, a professional law corporation, and take advantage of our $1,000 off trust or trust update package SEMINAR DISCOUNT! This event will provide a wealth of information to both individuals and families who are planning to start their estate planning, have no clue whether they need an estate plan, or already have an estate plan in place. We will be going over topics such as how to save thousands in probate fees, whether your existing trust needs updating, how to avoid conservatorship, how to pay for long-term care, Medi-Cal House Protection Trusts, and most importantly, how to preserve your assets. We have two seminars on Saturday April 23: one at 10am to 11:30 am and one from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. They will be held at 110 Jackson Street San Jose, CA 95112. Call 1-800-411-0546 for reservations.

APRIL 30

COSC celebrates 27th Anniversary The Candonians of Southern California (COSC), under the leadership of their newly elected president, Mrs. Elizabeth Gacula Singh, will celebrate their 27th Anniversary on April 30 at the Doubletree Hotel-Monrovia (924 W. Huntington Dr., Monrovia). Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For questions and those interested, please email thecandoniansofsocal@gmail.com.

FALEO Kamayan The Filipino American Law Enforcement Officers Association (FALEO), a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, along with Pastor Chef, a graduate of Le Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts, have come together to host an event that samples some traditional and popular dishes from his restaurant. Guests will receive an exclusive experience, as the restaurant is not open to the general public during the time of the event. The event will be a classic taste of Filipino cooking where utensils are optional. Menu items will include chicken adobo, pancit, lumpiang Shanghai, crispy pata and bangus. Tickets are $20 for FALEO members and $30 for general guests. Proceeds will benefit FALEO-LA’s Annual Scholarship program. Seats are limited and those who do not pre-pay may not have a seat. For reservations, please contact Arlene Herrero at (213) 435-8700.

APRIL — SEPTEMBER

Pilgrimages to Eastern Europe, Mexico and India Amazing Pilgrimages for the Jubilee Year of Mercy! All are welcome to join Fr. Joe Joseph of Holy Trinity Church for the spiritual and fun-filled experiences of EASTERN EUROPE (April 17- 30): Poland, Czech., Austria, Hungary, Medjugorje; COLONIAL MEXICO/ OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (June 20 - 27): Mexico City, Theotihuacan, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Ocotlan, Xochimilco, Guanajuato, San Miguel De Allende, Guadalajara, San Juan De Los Lagos, Cristo Rey, Zapopan, Tonala; and INDIA (September 15 - 29): Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kerala. For more pilgrimage information and detailed flyers, please contact Bernadette at bcorp1114@hotmail.com OR call 323-344-1548 & 323-547-6618.

M AY 7

Community Mini Health & Resource Fair May is Hepatitis Month, and Asian Pacific Liver Center has teamed up with Asian Pacific Health Care Venture to offer Hepatitis B screenings at the Community Mini Health & Resources Fair on Saturday, May 7, from 9am to noon. The event will feature an educational awareness workshop to promote Hepatitis B prevention as well as blood pressure screening, blood sugar checks and various community resources. The fair will take place at Center of Hope, 2707 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, California 90026. For more information, contact Perla Santos (323) 664 3880 Ext. 341 or email psantos@aphcv.org.

M AY 27-29

PUP/PCC to hold 1st Global Reunion Attention all graduates of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Philippine College of Commerce: join us in our FIRST GLOBAL REUNION being organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association, USA Inc. scheduled on May 27-29, 2016 (Memorial Day Weekend) at the New Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. We promise a weekend of fun-filled activities, of friendship and camaraderie as we reminisce our best memories during our high school and college days. There will be lots of entertainment, singing and dancing and photo opportunities with your classmates and friends.

For more information, please contact any of the following: Loi Herrera at 562-5448210 orloiherrera@yahoo.com; Monette Santillan-Rivera at 818-970-8317 orMonette_santillan@yahoo.com; Rose Mejia at 323-997-3838 or Rosemariemejia@kw.com; Marissa Sugay-Palanca at 818-281-7460 or marispalanca@yahoo.com; Rose Maghari at661-7948906 or rmaghari@gmail.com; Sally Mendoza at 323-695-0235 or sally.mendoza616@ yahoo.com; Honeylette De Leon at 562-480-5743 orhoney@worldclassfreight.com; Virginia Herbito at virginiaherbito@gmail.com; Connie Acosta at 323-854-5303 or connieacosta1@ att.net; Violeta D. Cristobal at 310-880-5808 orvee@cristobalcpa.com; Jun Mapoy at 323627-5326 or jcmapoy@yahoo.com.

JUNE 4

Missionary Society of St. Columban Dinner-Dance The Missionary Society of St. Columban will hold its annual dinner dance event on June 4th, 6PM, at the Friendship Auditorium (3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90941). Organized by the Dancing for the World, an affiliate of the Columbans, will celebrate the “Year of Mercy” to echo and emphatically support the call of Pope Francis’s Jubilee Year. This year is very important to be responsive to the call of the church and be faithful to the mission of God because God is by nature merciful. Thanks to the many dedicated missionaries, priests, sisters and lay missionaries who responded to the call of God and live among the poor to make a difference and allow God’s mercy to flow into the hearts of those they minister. For more information, please visit www.columban.org. The Dancing for the World event on June 4 is also an opportunity to meet supporters, donors and friends to thank them for their valuable contribution to the Columban mission. Event will include delicious food, ballroom dancing, and fabulous raffle prizes. (For this year, the first prize will be a cruise for two to Mexican Riviera. The second prize is a Flat screen TV. The third prize is a Tablet.) There are many amazing prizes available for all lucky winners. The dinner dance ticket is $40.Reserve your tickets now or before May 15. For information and tickets please contact Carmencita Enriquez (213) 880-5075 or Ariel Presbitero (323) 691-5262, or at: 2919 Moss Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Thank you in advance on behalf of the Missionary Society of St. Columban and the Dancing for the World committee members. Please continue praying for all Columban Missionaries all over the world and the success of this event.

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 Julee Ann Marie Bourgoin, Mutya Ng Pilipinas 2015 First Runner-Up

M i g u e l B ra g a n z a I I , D i re c to r a n d Choreographer of Ooh La La Filipina

Audra Mari, Miss Teen USA 2011 and Miss USA 2014 First Runner Up

An Asian Journal

6

Magazine

Coleen Garcia on settling down: Soon, but not too soon

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A p R i l 22 , 20 1 6

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

Sister Cities Olongapo & VA Beach celebrate fruits of dynamic diplomacy

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. with Virginia Beach Mayor William Sessoms (right) and Virginia State Delegate Ron Villanueva (left) before the lunch at the Philippine Cultural Center in Virginia Beach.

Dr Manuel Hipol (center), Chairman of the Council of United Filipino Organizations of Tidewater (CUFOT), reads the letter of appreciation from CUFOT to Ambassador Cuisia, in the presence of other Filipino American Community leaders.

COLEEN Garcia has no doubt that she’ll settle down with boyfriend Billy Crawford.

“Soon, but not too soon,” said Coleen Garcia when asked if she’s settling down anytime soon with boyfriend Billy, in an interview on Tuesday.

“Hindi pa rin siya nagtatanong sa akin, ‘yon ang pinakaimportante,” she added laughing, pertaining to a wedding proposal. “So wala pa naman plans, nothing concrete.”

During their recent vacation in U.S., Billy revealed that he already have the blessing of Coleen’s father, in case he plans to ask for her hand in marriage.

For now, the Kapamilya actress is happy that her boyfriend remains supportive of her plans in her career. She’s working on the upcoming film “Love Me Tomorrow” where she stars with Dawn Zulueta and Piolo Pascual.

“Sobrang overwhelming pa rin to me,” she said about Billy’s support. “It’s good to know to have somebody who actually supports me, who encourages

Coleen Garcia said that it’s possible that she’ll settle down with boyfriend Billy Crawford but not too soon.

me. Ngayon, hindi ako nawawala in terms of where I go, what I do, what I want to be kasi alam niya kung ano ang mga gusto kong iachieve sa buhay ko, so he pushes me towards that.”

Coleen is enjoying her time doing movies, after starring in the defunct TV show “Passion de Amor.” She’s open to accepting TV projects again once finished with her film projects.

Nadine Lustre: James is not a playboy The six Olongapo City high school students comprising the third batch from the Philippines under the student exchange program of the Olongapo-Virginia Beach Sister City Agreement sing a song at the Tallwood High School Appreciation Program for Ambassador Cuisia.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA— What was supposed to be a farewell tribute to a friend and collaborator of the government and people of Virginia Beach became a testament to the strength, dynamism and great promise of the Sister City relationship of Olongapo City and Virginia Beach.

At a luncheon dubbed Celebrating Five Years of Dynamic Diplomacy, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. was lauded for the work he did during his tenure as Ambassador, with the City of Virginia Beach and the Filipino-

American Community in the Tidewater Area.

Held at the Philippine Cultural Center in Virginia Beach, the program included a dance performance from the students of the School of Creative and Performing Arts; remarks from City Clerk Ruth Fraser, President of the Sister Cities Association of Virginia Beach; presentation of the flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia by State Delegate Ron Villanueva; and awarding of Resolutions of Commendation from the Virginia Beach City Council, the Virginia Beach Economic

Ambassador Cuisia delivers his farewell remarks to the teachers and students of Tallwood High School including the six exchange students from Olongapo City and past delegates to the Philippines under Tallwood High’s Global Studies and World Languages Academy.

Development Authority (VB-EDA), and the Council of United Filipino Organizations of Tidewater (CUFOT).

In a formal resolution of the Virginia Beach City Council, which was read by Mayor Will Sessoms, the Council recognized the Ambassador for his “foresight, and seizing the many opportunities to bridge peace, security, economic ties, understanding, education and cultural ties between the Philippines and the United States,” Continued on Page 7

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NADINE Lustre defended boyfriend and onscreen partner James Reid from those who label him as a “playboy.”

Recently, a video clip of James with two ladies circulated online a few weeks after they have admitted their relationship.

“Well ‘yong doon naman po sa video, ‘yong nasa video kilala ko naman po ‘yon. So hindi naman po ako [affected],” she said in an interview aired in “Tonight with Boy Abunda” on Tuesday, April 19. “[He’s] not naman playboy,” she added.

Meanwhile, Nadine was asked about the surprise prepared by James for her when they were in Paris, France for their “JaDine In Love” tour.

The Kapamilya actor brought his girlfriend in a park in the heart of Paris, and prepared some of her favorite food.

“Nakakakilig!” the Kapamilya

Nadine Lustre clarified her boyfriend and onscreen love team James Reid is not a playboy.

actress exclaimed when asked to react about the surprise.

Although Nadine and her “love” James were very open about their relationship, some are still skeptical about it, thinking that it’s all for show.

“If ayaw naman po nila

The power...

From Page 3

thinks or feels about anything on two occasions: first, when he is angry — when the mask of civility is off and the other time, when something is said purportedly as a harmless joke, when the punch is there but cloaked in a sheathed fist of humor.

If we guard and filter the thoughts that take shape in our minds and hearts, in time, we can achieve that state of grace and peace that surpasses all understanding. It’s tough but with prayer, it can be done.

Never underestimate the influence of the people in your daily orbit and censor the increasingly depraved and amoral stories and images that the media and the internet have been spewing unrelentingly with such viciousness.

Pray God gives us the industrial strength moral filters to choose wisely. These are seeds that can take root in our hearts and minds and as human beings created in God’s image, we have every right to reject them.

Somehow we are subject

maniwala, it’s up to them. Basta ang importante po me and James, we know what’s real and we know the truth,” Nadine said.

The couple has an upcoming movie, “This Time” which will be in cinemas on May 4. (Joyce Jimenez/Philstar.com) to the computer world’s GIGO LAW, which stands for Garbage in, Garbage Out. If we have garbage in our hearts, we are highly unlikely to cause good stuff to happen. Good thoughts eventually take the shape of good words and deeds. The same is true of the origins of evil. It’s as simple as that.

Take heed. Then as now, the mouth always speaks what the heart is full of. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Kuh Ledesma: ‘The Renaissance...

From Page 4 the prestigious induction to and honored with a star in the Philippine Walk of Fame.

After more than 1,000 concerts all over the world, 20 albums, and various appearances in different live and taped productions, Kuh has had her share of “blessings” (read: awards) too. Her maiden recording, “Dito Ba?”, garnered Gold and Double Platinum Awards… just like “Ako

Ay Pilipino,” “I Think I’m In Love,” “Lihim,” and “Unforgettable.”

She has collected an enormous number of titles, awards and recognitions: 1980 Best Female Concert & Roadshow Performer, 1981 Best Female Performer in Hotels, Nightclubs & restaurants, 1981-1982 MS. Popular SingerEntertainer of the Phil., 1982 Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and 1982 Entertainer of the Year.

In a recent interview, Kuh admits that the pressing demands

of her current concert schedules and mounting personal matters constantly burn both ends of her system as a livewire: “Although exhausting at times and yes, mind-boggling, I cannot complain for these are bountiful blessings denied to most. After all these years my career has constantly been going on a steady pace. God is truly great!”

For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@yahoo.com.

Beauty queens and artists unite...

From Page 5

Fax résumé to:

info@asianjournalinc.com

students at LaGuardia High School of Music Art and Performing Arts, and MB2NY Young Performers Workshop participants Trisha Barras, Katarina Ladaga, Stephanie Quiambao, Leila Cicco, Tammy Pattugalan, Bertha Birotte, Christopher Morales, Fran Manligoy, Christine Morales, Ryan Paqueo, Nica Garana, Anne Garana and Rianne Avendula.

In addition, there will be a number of international dancers, models, musicians and singers including Angelica Mejia, Katerina Giannakopoulus, Irninta Dwitika, Bea Acain, Kyle Jones, Marcus Shapiro and Kevin Yu. Special appearance will be made by Jiaju Shen, Gail Banawis, Radio City Rockettes’ Christine Sienicki, and Mutya Ng Pilipinas 2015 First Runner-Up Julee Ann Marie Bourgoin.

Completing the cast are Philippine Heritage Center and Filipino Arts and Music Ensemble artists. Lighting design will be

Tiffany Mangulabnan of the Philippine Ballet Theater

done by Darrell Bryan T. Rosales and sound design by Shigemasa Nakano.

For tickets or more information, visit www.mb2ny.com or email miguel@mb2ny.com.

Anne Curtis rides MRT again ACTRESS Anne Curtis joined thousands of Filipinos on Wednesday in riding the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) amid traffic along Edsa.

Curtis posted on her Facebook page a photo of her inside an MRT coach, holding a handrail and posing for the camera with her fellow passengers. Two other people are shown raising their phones to take a selfie with the actress.

“Beating the traffic. Sabi nila swerte daw ako kasi hindi pa daw masyado siksikan. Ang bilis! Lapit na ako sa bahay (They said I’m lucky that the MRT coach is not jam-packed. It is so fast. I’m near our house)!” Curtis said in the caption.

In less than 30 minutes, her post has received 57,000 likes and more than 350 shares.

His work was also compared as mirroring the “people to people program” established by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956 in order to foster international understanding. President Eisenhower and Ambassador Cuisia have also both been awarded the Philippine Order of the Sikatuna.

On behalf of CUFOT, its Chairman Dr Manuel Hipol invoked the old tradition of the Navy, with which the region is associated, and wished Ambassador Cuisia “fair wind and following seas,” as he leaves the United States.

At the same program, City Councilman James Wood also presented five Olongapo City Firefighters who are currently enrolled in a six-month firefighters and emergency medical technicians’ course at the Virginia Beach Firefighters Academy.

Their attendance in the course is again part of the activities of the sister cities, and has been made possible by the efforts of the City Government, Rotary Club of Cape Henry, Rotary Club Foundation, and the local Fil-Am community.

After the luncheon, the Ambassador visited Tallwood

Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A p R i l 22 , 20 1 6

Maxine Medina is new Miss Universe Philippines

by Christina

alpad ManilaTImes.net

Many of her followers commented and expressed their admiration for the television host, which they described as beautiful and down-to-earth.

The last time Curtis rode the MRT was to promote her show on

the cable channel LifeTime Asia.

Despite constantly suffering technical glitches and other problems, the MRT is still the preferred mode of transportation

by Filipinos who want to escape Metro Manila traffic. (Inquirer.net)

Sister Cities Olongapo & VA Beach...

From Page 6

An Asian Journal

High School, which also hosted a farewell celebration consisting of performances from the third batch of Olongapo City High School students currently spending a few weeks in Virginia Beach, and from representatives of previous Tallwood delegations to the Philippines.

The student exchange program between Tallwood High School and Olongapo City schools, including the Olongapo National High School, is the people-to-people pillar of the Sister City Agreement between Olongapo and Virginia Beach.

Olongapo City has already sent two earlier delegations in 2014 and 2015, and Virginia Beach, through Tallwood’s Global Studies and World Languages Academy (GSWLA), will be sending its third delegation later this year.

The exchange program has been good not only for the students of Olongapo and of Tallwood High. “It has also enabled us, the chaperone teachers who come with the students every year, to learn of the newest strategies for an effective classroom, as well as update our pedagogical knowledge and techniques,” explained teachers Trifina

Tagulao and Nicole Maldupana, who are the chaperones for this year.

But the experience has been life changing for the students themselves. Syd Ramirez and Yvonne Reyes, 9th and 10thgraders, respectively, from Olongapo, describe the opportunity to study alongside students of Tallwood High this year as a great opportunity to learn about other cultures, explore new places, meet new friends, and to understand the United States and Americans more, with whom Filipinos share a lot of in terms of values, culture, and history.

As eloquently narrated in a video presentation by the 2014 GSWLA delegation to the Philippines, “all students should have the chance to experience the program, to travel across the ocean, to learn of other cultures, to understand each other, to change the world, one friendship at a time.”

At the Virginia Beach Economic Development Office later in the day, Ambassador Cuisia was briefed by Director Warren Harris and Scott Hall on the initiatives undertaken on the economic side of the sister city

THE pressure is on for newlycrowned Binibining PilipinasUniverse 2016 Maria Mika Maxine Medina.

Along with the crown that she won is the challenge to achieve the same level of success that reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach has set in the international arena.

Medina, an interior designer, is by no means a stranger to parading her winning looks on stage.

A familiar face in the modelling industry, the 25-yearold beauty emerged a strong contender on pageant night even if she was never considered one of the frontrunners among the 40 candidates in this year’s search.

While the competition was far from easy, her win should not be attributed to pure luck especially with such an esteemed panel of judges –celebrated visual artist Betsy Westendorp, actor Ian Veneracion, Danish Ambassador Jan Top Christensen, ABS-CBN COO Cory Vidanes, Belgian Ambassador Roland Van Remoortele, Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan Thomas, Russian Ambassador Igor Anatolyevich, former ambassador Lani Bernardo, ABS-CBN TV production head Lauren Dyogi, youth leader Paolo Roxas and Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. Medina was also named Miss Philippine Airlines (PAL).

The rest of the winning relationship. They spoke about the establishment of the Virginia Beach Olongapo Business Development Foundation office, planned and ongoing investments by Virginia Beach companies in Olongapo City and the Subic-Clark corridor, and the possible trade visit by a delegation led by the Governor of Virginia. They also discussed the sister city ports agreement between the Virginia Ports Authority and Subic Bay

HER TURN TO SHINE. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (right) crowns Binibining Pilipinas Universe Maxine Medina, who will represent the country in this year’s Miss Universe pageant.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Czeasar Dancel

candidates were Kylie Verzosa, Bb. Pilipinas-International; Joanna Deapera Eden, Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational; Jennifer Ruth Hammon, Bb. PilipinasIntercontinental; Nichole Marie Manalo, Bb. Pilipinas Globe; and Nicole Cordoves, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International.

As soon as Medina was named the winner, many were quick to react on social media that she pales in comparison to Wurtzback.

Criticisms mostly pointed to her “unimpressive question and answer skills,” which beyond beauty is a must in the Miss Universe pageant.

Just as quickly, supporters of the new queen came to Medina’s defense, saying she still has time to correct her perceived weaknesses.

This is the second time that

Medina has joined the Binibining Pilipinas pageant.

In 2012, she was selected as one of the official candidates for the beauty contest but her name was withdrawn because her endorsement contract conflicted with a major pageant sponsor.

Before turning over the crown she won on her third try at the beauty pageant, Wurtzbach advised her successor to “give her best.”

“Behind that beautiful gown, your knees may be trembling like me right now. I’m still not used to it,” she said.

“And being in front of millions of people is nerve-wracking, but you have to remember that you are proudly wearing a sash that says Philippines. “In your moment of doubt, remember you have the whole country cheering you on.”

Metropolitan Authority.

“I would like to think that I have made my small contribution in establishing this vibrant relationship between these two great cities. But credit for the great strides in the political, economic, and people-to-people achievements should really go to the leadership of Mayor Will Sessoms and Mayor Rolen Paulino, and the amazing work of their teams,” Ambassador Cuisia said in his remarks at the

luncheon.

“We celebrate 70 years of Philippine-US diplomatic relations this year, and we see growing opportunities for our bilateral relations to expand and flourish. So I urge you to continue your part. Do build on the gains of our collaboration, and let the two cities be major parts of the story of the enduring friendship between the Philippines and the United States,” the Ambassador added.

An Asian Journal

Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY ApRil 22, 2016