New York & New Jersey -- July 8 -- 14, 2016

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Volume 9 – Issue 41 • 16 Pages

JULY 8-14, 2016 Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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Duterte threatens top ‘drug lords’: You will die by alexis

roMero Philstar.com

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte continued on Thursday, July 7 his shame campaign against people with alleged links to the narcotics trade as he revealed the names of drug lords behind huge syndicates as well as the retired police general supposedly protecting them.

Duterte said two of the drug lords are already behind bars but are still directing the operations of their respective groups. he identified them as Wu Tuan alias “Peter Co,” a drug triad member operating in Luzon and Metro Manila, and herbert

Colangco alias “Ampang,” who reportedly has links with the Parojinog drug syndicate and Kuratong Baleleng gang. Both of them are detained at the New Bilibid Prison.

“Talagang binabastos tayo…

(They are really disrespecting us). They are destroying the country. They are destroying the youth of the land. My appeal to them, since they are beyond redemption, they can stop and commit suicide because I will not allow these idiots to run their show. Not during my watch,” Duterte said.

“Peter Co do not escape from prison. You will die. Colangco never try to go out of prison. You

will die,” he added.

Duterte also cited a certain Peter Lim alias Jaguar, allegedly a member of a drug triad in Visayas. Lim remains at large and reportedly goes in and out of the country.

“If he has friends here, tell him, the moment he lands at NAIA, he will die,” the president said.

“Better tell him not to come back to the Philippines anymore.

The moment he steps out of the plane, he will die. That is my assurance to the people of the Philippines. how? It doesn’t matter,” he added.

Duterte said all the three drug

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SECOND MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo chat when the latter paid the Chief Executive a courtesy call in Malacañang on Monday, July 4. The two officials met for the first time during the turnover of police command in Camp Crame last week.

Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez

The Pres. Duterte effect: Thousands DATELINE USA of drug pushers, users surrender FROM The AJPReSS NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Transgender troops now allowed to openly serve in military

TRANSGeNDeR troops can now enlist and serve openly in the military, the Pentagon recently announced.

The announcement came as a surprise after top officials voiced concerns about medical, housing and uniform issues for transgender individuals.

The policy change removes one of the last military restrictions based on sex or gender identity.

Carter said that the move was a way to be all inclusive of the U.S. population to recruit as many qualified troops for a stronger military.

“We don’t want barriers unrelated to a person’s qualifications to serve preventing us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman or Marine who can best accomplish the mission,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a press conference on Thursday, June 30. “We have to have access to 100 percent of America’s population for our all-volunteer force to be able

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Fil-Am nurse reaches settlement being terminated from hospital PASADeNA, Calif. — The California Nurses Association (CNA) and huntington hospital have reached an agreement in the case of two Asian American nurses who were terminated by the hospital last year for allegedly trying to unionize.

Under the settlement agreement announced in early June, the hospital has agreed to rescind the terminations of Allysha Almada Shin and Vicki Lin and pay them full back pay.

Almada Shin received $26,701.00 in back pay, while Lin received $28,520.00.

Both amounts shown in the agreement are before taxes.

At a press conference in front of the hospital’s emergency department on Wednesday, June 29, Rep. Judy Chu, nurses and community leaders applauded the settlement.

“It definitely brings justification for

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Three of 5 PNP “narco generals” now in Napolcom custody by eric

anthony licas AJPress

PReSIDeNT Rodrigo Duterte’s promise of a bloody war on drugs convinced thousands of self-confessed drug pushers and users to surrender to police, and has led to accusations of corruption at the highest levels of law enforcement.

During a televised speech on Tuesday, July 5, Duterte accused three high-ranking police officials and two retired police generals of contributing to the “deterioration of law and order” by aiding Philippine drug cartels.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Joel Pagdilao, Western Visayas Regional PNP Chief Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa meets three of the five generals exposed by President Rodrigo Duterte Director Chief Supt. Bernardo as coddlers of drug lords.

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PNP photo

Duterte appoints Robredo housing chief

by Klarize

Medenilla and eric anthony licas AJPress

PReSIDeNT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo as chief of the housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (hUDCC), Martin Andanar, presidential communications secretary, confirmed on Thursday, July 7.

Robredo thanked the president for the appointment and opportunity to help marginalized Filipinos.

“Mas paglilingkuran natin ang ating mga kababayang walang tahanan at maipagpatuloy natin ang ating pangakong itulak ang kaunlaran at kaginhawaan para sa ating mga kapus palad na kababayan (i can serve our countrymen who are homeless and i can continue my promise to push for progress and improvement of the lives of our underprivileged countrymen),” she said in the statement.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II also confirmed Robredo’s appointment during a press briefing. he also said the vice president was asked to attend the first cabinet meeting on Monday, July 11.

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Charter change, 5 other US report: PH ‘fully compliant’ bills top House agenda in human trafficking efforts President Duterte wants approved Inquirer.net in the first year of the 17th Congress.

ADMINISTRATION allies led by Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Faripresumptive Speaker Pantaleon ñas, who is expected to be elected Alvarez have identified the “first majority leader once Congress six” bills covering charter change, convenes on July 25, said these juvenile law to drunk driving that u PAGE A2

by Gil

c. cabcaunGan jr.

On top of Duterte’s wish list is House Resolution seeking the creation of a constitutional convention to amend the 1987 Constitution, specifically to shift to a parliamentary form of government.

Philstar.com photo

nificant moves to to address the problem and meet the standards of compliance per the TVPA. The Philippines is in full “The Philippines is a source compliance with United country and, to a lesser extent, States standards accorda destination and transit country ing to the annual human for men, women and children trafficking report released subjected to sex trafficking and by the State Department. forced labor,” the report said.

The assessment, which Government corruption that was released on Thursday, has allowed traffickers to operJune 30, has upgraded the ate remains a critical problem Philippines, where human and a significant drawback to trafficking has historically anti-trafficking efforts, but in been a critical issue, from the last year, the country has Tier 2 - not full compliance made crucial steps. making significant efforts In the last year, the Philippine to comply with standards government collaborated with - to Tier 1, which is full the State Department’s Trafcompliance with the mini- Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. ficking in Persons Bureau to mum standards of the develop initiatives to eliminate Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). human trafficking. however, a Tier 1 rating does not mean Trafficking of migrant workers is one that trafficking has been eradicated and the of the most pressing issues, and last year, country is doing enough to fix the issue. the Philippine government allocated more Rather, the rating indicates that the gov- funds to the Commission on Filipinos Overernment “has acknowledged the existence seas (CFO). The report detailed some of the of human trafficking” and has made sigu PAGE A2

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

A JULY 8-14, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From the Front Page

Duterte threatens top ‘drug lords’…

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lords are from mainland China.

He said retired Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr. served as “protector” and “associate” of the drug lords.Garbo Jr. served as “protector” and “associate” of the drug lords.

“The DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) will take care of him,” Duterte said.

He also said other Chinese nationals and officials of the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and local executives are in cahoots with the drug lords and are now considered “persons of interests.”

Duterte also showed what appeared to be white cartolina with a flow chart of persons involved in the narcotics trade. He said he is still gathering information about the extent of the involvement of these individuals, many of whom are mayors.

“I was asking for more dossier and I have to read the documents and reports from the intelligence gathering of the different branches. This is a mixed of Chinese, mayors, many of them are mayors,” he said.

“The other personalities in this matrix are persons of interest. Will they also die? I do not know.”

Solicitor General Jose Calida said the drug lords mentioned by Duterte belong to “level 5” or the top tier of the drug hierarchy. He said the five levels of drug syndi-

cates are grouped according to the capability to sell and quantity of drugs sold.

Calida said the other generals mentioned by Duterte last Tuesday belong to the lower levels of the drug tier. They were retired police general and newly elected Daanbantayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot, former National Capital Region Police Office head Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, former Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio and Western Visayas regional director Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said they would step up measures to prevent jailed drug lords from conducting

transactions. He said about 75 percent of drug trade all over the country are being cooked or transacted inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Aguirre said they might let the drug lords remain inside Building 14, which once housed the electric chair chamber or move them to Tanay Rizal or the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp Aguinaldo.

“In the long run, we are also contemplating of even transferring them to Caballo Island or an OPEN DOOR POLICY. Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano leads the opening of the main gate of the Department of Agrarian Reform island in Palawan where there on the Elliptical Road in Quezon City on Monday, July 4. Mariano announced his open door policy for farmers in the once heavily guarded government agency.

Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande are no cellphone signals,” Aguirre said.

“Without cellphones, no transaction can be done inside Bilibid prisons by the drug lords,” he PAGE A1 t The new president also lodged “Imbestigahan ninyo ito at ‘wag added. n Diaz and Quezon City Police Dis- accusations against Vicente Loot, ninyo akong bigyan ng zarzuela trict (QCPD) Director Chief Supt. former PNP general and current (Investigate this and don’t give me Edgardo Tinio have all been re- mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu, and a farce),” Duterte said. lieved of their posts, according to former PNP Deputy Director, Gen. Loot, Diaz, and Tinio have pubMarcelo Garbo Jr. Duterte. u PAGE A3

Duterte appoints Robredo...

PAGE A1 t Historically, the vice president is usually assigned a leading position in the president’s cabinet.

Robredo joins the likes of former Philippine vice presidents who have held the head positions in the HUDCC like Jejomar Binay under former President Benigno SURPRISE DRUG TEST. Quezon City policemen line up during a surprise drug test as part of the Aquino, III and Noli de Castro continuing efforts of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s administration to rid the national police force of from President Gloria Macapagal drug users.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan Arroyo’s administration.

“Many of the Cabinet members are happy (about) the development. At last the Vice President is no longer an elected officer withand programs to accommodate US, Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. was on the forefront of the Philippines’ antithe needs of victims “with a particular focus on male victims and trafficking campaign and hailed mental health provisions.” Also, the State Department’s rating as the report stated that the Philip- a win for anti-trafficking advo- PAGE A1 t pines should increase anti-traf- cates. were the legislative measures “The Embassy will continue its that Duterte spelled out as his top ficking training to authorities and provide education and safe engagement with the US State priorities during their meeting in migration tactics for migrant Department to ensure that the Davao City last June 7.

Philippines’ efforts to combat workers.

On top of Duterte’s wish list is The State Department has this scourge are accurately re- House Resolution seeking the crebeen releasing the report annu- ported and considered by the ation of a constitutional convention ally since 2001 after the passing State Department,” Cuisia said in to amend the 1987 Constitution, of the TVPA in 2000. The report a statement. specifically to shift to a parliamen“Our country’s goal is to re- tary form of government. identifies the minimum standards for combating trafficking, main in Tier 1 to ensure that The second priority is House Bill rates each country’s compliance the estimated 10 million Filipino No. 1 proposing the reimposition to those standards and offers so- workers overseas are protected of death penalty which the Presifrom unscrupulous practices,” dent hopes to use as main deterlutions tailored to each country.

Philippine Ambassador to the Cuisia added. n rent against heinous crimes.

US report: PH ‘fully compliant’ in...

PAGE A1 t

commission’s efforts, including producing anti-trafficking prevention campaigns for migrant workers and increasing awareness and prevention training for “government officials, prospective employees and the general public.”

Other highlights include the conviction of officials suspected in facilitating trafficking, assisting about 1,500 victims and providing a temporary shelter for male Filipino trafficking victims in Saudi Arabia.

The State Department recommended that the Philippines increase the availability of shelters and protection resources

The Pres. Duterte effect: Thousands of...

out a Cabinet post,” Aguirre said.

In May, Robredo had told reporters she would prefer a job in the anti-poverty cluster. She looked forward to the position partly because providing housing for “marginalized” Filipinos was a priority for her late husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.

The appointment comes as a surprise given that Duterte was first hesitant to assign Robredo a cabinet position. He referred to his friendship with former Secretary Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. who narrowly lost the VP

race to Robredo. Marcos filed a protest over Robredo’s victory.

Since her victory, Duterte had been “non-committal” about appointing Robredo a cabinet position.

However, the two have gotten friendlier since their meetings at Camp Aguinaldo for the change of command ceremony of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday, July 1 and at Malacanang on Monday, July 4.

“The past two meetings between the two are very amiable,” Aguirre told GMA News. “I believe that was the key for the president to offer her a position and for the vice president to accept it.”

Charter change, 5 other bills top...

The third priority is HB 2 which seeks to lower or restore to nine years of age and below the exemption from criminal liability of criminal offenders. This will amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 which raised the age of discretion to 16 years of age or where those aged 15 years old and below were exempted from imprisonment or punishment even if they commit heinous crime.

The fourth priority bill is HB 3 which seeks to grant emergency powers to the President to address

the traffic problem in Metro Manila.

The fifth priority bill is HB 4 which proposes to establish circuit criminal courts that AKO Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe said would fast track criminal cases “to hasten trial heinous crimes, specifically drug pushing, to address the huge backlog.”

The sixth priority is HB 5 which amends the driving under influence law to provide for the instant 36-hour detention of offenders on top of other penalties provided for in the present law. n

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From the Front Page

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 8-14, 2016

A

The Pres. Duterte effect: Thousands of…

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SEIZED. PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs members and its chief Senior Supt. Albert Ferro, and a Special Action Force operative do the signature pose of President Duterte after recovering P900-million worth of illegal drugs in Claveria, Cagayan province.

Inquirer.net photo by Julliane Love De Jesus

Transgender troops now allowed to openly…

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to recruit from among them the most highly qualified and to retain them.”

The move is considered a win for LGBT rights, but the change will not happen overnight.

According to Carter, the Pentagon will create a training handbook, establish new medical conduct and provide assistance for changing a troop’s gender in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment System (DEERS) by Oct. 1.

By that date, the military will be required to provide “medically necessary” care to transgender service members.

According to a RAND Corp study commissioned by the Pentagon, there are between 1,320 and 6,630 transgender troops in the active-duty force, and of those troops, up to 140 would need hormone treatment and up to 130 would seek gender reassignment surgery.

RAND Corp. also indicated that the move is estimated to leave a “minimal” impact on the military’s readiness and budget, and

the new healthcare accommodations represent “an exceedingly small proportion” of the Department of Defense’s (DOD) overall medical expenses.

The projected costs for each troop’s healthcare would be as much as $50,000, according to an official from the DOD anonymously told USA Today (DOD officials are not authorized to speak publicly). The official also added that altering shower facilities and sleeping quarters may be expected to cost $10 million, but it is difficult to project.

The U.S. is the 19th country to allow transgender individuals to openly serve in the military.

In February, the Department of Defense removed barriers to allow women who meet physical standards to serve in frontline combat roles. In 2011, the DOD repealed the controversial Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy that required gay and lesbian troops to conceal their sexual orientation to avoid discharge from the military.

“This is a historic day and for

Allysha Alamada Shin (right) is joined by another nurse in celebration of the settlement reached between the CNA and Huntington Hospital. Almada Shin was terminated by the hospital for trying to unionize.

AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel

Fil-Am nurse reaches settlement…

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what...my co-worker, Vicki, [and I] have been going through for the past nine or more months.

It serves as a reminder that our fight is just, our fight is right.

It’s a huge victory for all of us,” Almada Shin, a 28-year-old Filipina-American told the Asian Journal.

The two nurses, who worked in the hospital’s intensive care unit, were terminated in August of last year after spearheading a union organizing drive under the California Nurses Association/ National Nurses United (CNA/ NNU). They also publicly spoke about deteriorating conditions, short staffing and inadequate supplies at the hospital.

Registered nurses at the hospital began organizing with CNA/ NNU in May 2014, but many voted against representation in April 2015 after they were allegedly intimidated by hospital officials.

The union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) challenging the dismissal of Almada Shin and Lin, which the labor board responded to last January by siding with the nurses.

According to a release from the CNA, an administrative law judge for the NLRB was scheduled to review the objections to the 2015 election as well as unfair labor practice charges on June 6, but the settlement was reached just a few days before that.

Lin, who was not present at Wednesday’s event, said her termination was “completely wrong, unjust, and illegal,” according to a statement read aloud by Almada Shin.

“What happened to me is the perfect example of why nurses [at Huntington] need to stand together and not allow this hospital’s administration to continue to devalue their nurses,” the statement said.

Though she was given her job back, Almada Shin declined to return to Huntington and chose to stay at her current position at Keck Hospital of USC, a CNArepresented facility.

“I actually opted to not go

back to work at Huntington. The main reason is because they are not organized right now, I don’t feel safe working there,” the FilAm nurse told the Asian Journal. “The anti-union movement within the hospital [and] the anti-union harassment [are] still very strong, so I just don’t want to subject myself and put myself through that.”

The hospital has also agreed to hold a new union election for the registered nurses this October and set aside the results of the election last year. Almada Shin said she will continue helping nurses at the hospital unionize.

“When you silence the voices of nurses, patients ultimately suffer,” she said.

In a statement emailed to the Asian Journal, Huntington Hospital’s Chief Operating Officer James Noble said the election last year “rejecting union representation was lawful,” but the settlement is in the hospital’s “best interest.”

“We have the best nurses in the world and we continue to respect all of their rights, including their right to be represented by a union, should they so choose,” Noble said.

Since being terminated, Almada Shin has been vocal about advocating for nurses’ rights.

In October, she attended the White House Summit on Worker Voice, where she spoke to President Barack Obama about her situation. She also spoke at a press conference alongside Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and met with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

“I definitely want to encourage all of my Filipino brothers, sisters, aunties and uncles out there that you need to stand up for yourself, have a voice and be strong because this isn’t just about you — it’s about all of us together,” Almada Shin said.

“This is about your children being at the hospital, growing up and being nurses themselves and in health care.” (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)

me satisfied a promise I made to a group of transgender soldiers I met two years ago,” former Pentagon personnel chief Brad Carson told USA Today.

Carson played a major role in the construction of the plan, and said that the move was “hardfought and overdue.”

“I’m proud to have pushed this reform and I salute the contributions transgender service members have made and will make in the future to our nation. (Klarize Medenilla / AJ Press)

licly denied the president’s allegations. They say the president is misinformed, and has potentially biased future proceedings by publicly shaming them.

“Because of that statement, I will be tried by publicity,” Loot told ABS-CBN News. “I hope I will be given a chance to face my accuser... and clear my name.”

Pagdilao, Diaz, and Tinio met privately with Duterte’s newly appointed Director General of the PNP, Ronald Dela Rosa on Wednesday, July 6 before being turned over to the National Police Commission (Napolcom). He said the accused were given a chance to tell him their side of the story, and have pledged to cooperate with the investigations against them. Dela Rosa described their meeting as “purely intimate and personal.”

“All other details sa aming usapan, sa’min na lang ‘yun.

Basta malungkot sila (All other details that we spoke of are ours only. They are sad [about what is going on]),” said Dela Rosa on Wednesday. He added that, “Kung meron man (evidence), they’re all classified [documents] …hindi ko puwedeng i-divulge (if there is also evidence, they’re all classified documents. I am not allowed to divulge [that information]). ” Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno told the Philippines News Agency that the recently sacked PNP officials will receive a fair trial. Napolcom undertook the investigation of all five generals suspected of working for drug dealers, but only has jurisdiction over active police officers.

During Tuesday’s speech, Du-

terte warned officials and citizens to not get involved with the drug trade, or else they face being killed.

“I’ve been warning everybody.

Do not destroy my country because I will kill you. Do not destroy the youth of my country because I will kill you,” he said.

Duterte’s vow to end drugs is also slated to reach the classrooms.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones revealed on Monday, July 4 that drug education will be strengthened and taught to students, as early as the age of 10.

“I think what needs to be added are [pointers] on how children would know that they are being drawn in, how they should say no, and how and where to report if they are offered illegal drugs,” Briones said, according to Inquirer.

The new president — dubbed “The Punisher” — campaigned largely on a promise to eradicate crime in the Philippines within his first six months in office. Since his landslide victory in May, law enforcement agencies throughout the country have ramped up operations, especially against drug-related crimes.

Those who don’t surrender risk losing their lives. The president has called upon citizens to shoot suspected drug dealers that resist arrest, and has promised legal protection to police who kill criminals in the line of duty. Duterte has also offered bounties to cops for killing drug lords, while cautioning members of the police force that they are not beyond scrutiny.

“Oo, attainable ‘yan; kaya ‘yan. Hindi kaya kung hindi tayo

kikilos at ang komunidad hindi tutulong (Yes, it is attainable, we can do it. It is only not attainable if we do not move and if the community will not help),” said Dela Rosa to reporters on Tuesday, May 31.

As the former director of the Davao City Police Office, Dela Rosa was credited with reducing the circulation of illegal drugs in the city by 60 percent, according to Philstar. However, human rights groups allege that Dela Rosa has connections to the “death squads” responsible for the vigilante murders of more than 1,400 people since 1998, Reuters reported.

“As far as I know, wala akong death squad. During my time, legitimate operations ang ginagawa ko. Napapatay namin ‘yung kalaban through legitimate operations (As far as I know, I do not have a death squad. During my time, legitimate operations were what I did. We only killed our enemies through legitimate operations),” said Dela Rosa in May. One of the strategies Dela Rosa employed in Davao, named Oplan Tukhang (Operation Plan tuktokhangyo), sent officers to each home of a neighborhood to offer potential suspects a chance to turn themselves in. Dela Rosa has exported the tactic throughout the country since becoming the PNP’s Chief.

Almost 1,400 alleged criminals surrendered to the authorities in Quezon City, Taguig, Pasay and San Juan, two days after the president officially took office on June 30. In Leyte, Sarangani, Rizal and Pampanga, over 1,100 people

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A JULY 8-14, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

FBI finds Clinton ‘extremely careless’ in use of private server

Dateline USa

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

Does not recommend criminal charges

FBI. director, James B. Comey said Tuesday, July 5 that the organization would not recommend criminal charges for Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified emails.

In a statement, Comey said presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was “extremely careless” for using a personal, nongovernment email address, which she routed through a server in her Chappaqua, NY home.

According to the New York Times, she sent or received about two dozen emails marked “topsecret,” the highest level of classification, through that address.

“There is evidence to support a conclusion [that Clinton] should have know that an unclassified system was no place for that conversation,” Comey said.

However to warrant a criminal charge, Comey said there needed to be evidence that Clinton intentionally sent or received classified information, which the FBI did not find.

“Our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring

such a case,” Comey said.

On Friday, July 1, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said she would accept the FBI’s recommendation, according to various media reports. Lynch has triggered controversy after meeting with former President Bill Clinton at the Phoenix airport.

“We are pleased that the career officials handling this case have determined that no further action by the department is appropriate,” Clinton’s spokesman Brian Fallon said in a statement on Tuesday. “As the secretary has long said, it was a mistake to use her personal email, and she would not do it again. We are glad that this matter is now resolved.”

Many Republicans viewed Comey’s statement differently.

“The system is rigged,” presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted.

“As usual, bad judgment!”

In a statement, Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus added, “The [FBI] confirms what we’ve long known: Hillary Clinton has spent the last

16 months looking into cameras deliberately lying to the American people.”

The investigation had lasted for a year, in which the FBI poured over servers, emails and interviewed dozens of people, according to the Times.

For the investigation, Clinton’s lawyers turned over 55,000 pages of email to the State Department, but withheld many that she claimed to be personal, regarding matters such as yoga classes and her daughter’s wedding.

Three days before Comey made his statement, FBI investigators interviewed Clinton -- a sign that the investigation was winding down.

The FBI investigation unearthed additional work-related emails that Clinton failed to turn over, some of which contained classified information. However, there is no evidence those were withheld intentionally.

Comey’s statement came just hours before Clinton’s first joint campaign appearance with President Barack Obama in North Carolina. (By Cybele Zhang / AJPress)

CEREMONIAL TOSS. President Rodrigo Duterte takes center court for the ceremonial toss before the Philippines vs France game in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament held at the MOA Arena on Tuesday, July 5. Duterte, who was in a brown polo and jeans, braved the bad weather and showed his full support to Gilas Pilipinas, arriving at the venue in Pasay City after making a speech at the Philippine Air Force in Clark, Pampanga.

Inquirer.net photo by August Dela Cruz

Filipinos called to rally behind PH vs China UN court case decision

NEW YORK—Filipinos across many major cities across the United States and the world are being called upon to stage rallies in support of the impending decision of the United Nations’ Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the case filed by the Philippines against China concerning the latter’s actions in the South China Sea, also known as the West Philippine Sea. Many media and other analysts around the world have predicted The Hague Court’s decision would favor the Philippines. the United States and Philippines The Court announced more for their wartime service. than a week ago that it would The theme of this year’s OCA make public its decision on July convention is “Forging Ahead”, 12, at 11:00 a.m. local time (Cenhighlighting the new, positive di- tral European Summer Time). rection that OCA is headed and The call to rallies was issued by the organization’s ongoing community advocacy work. Important discussions between policy experts and thought leaders will take place in workshops that cover many of the most important issues affecting the community, inby Cybele zhang cluding fixing the nation’s broken AJPress immigration system. All workshops are free to attend for comSWIMMER Natalie Coughlin, munity members and registration who is a quarter Filipino, will not is not required. More information appear at the 31st Olympiad this about convention schedule and summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. topics can be found athttps://ocaThe 33-year-old swimmer, who national.site-ym.com/. has represented the U.S. in three “I invite the community to Olympic Games, failed to qualify attend the OCA convention, in the 100-meter backstroke and strengthen our ties and join dis- 100-meter freestyle last week. She cussions that are relevant to the pulled out of her final event, the 50Asian American community,” meter freestyle qualifier, in a press concluded Lavarro. n conference on Friday, July 1.

“It’s a difficult decision because you train for so many hours to get to this meet and to hopefully move onto the next stage, which is the Olympics,” Coughlin said in the press conference, according to the Washington Post. “That just didn’t work out for me this time, which is fine. I’m obviously disappointed because I’ve been working so hard.”

The 5-foot-8 swimmer decided against competing in the 50-meter freestyle because she knew she would not swim her personal best.

She had spent the majority of her

Gen. Taguba featured speaker at OCA Convention in Jersey City Council President Lavarro urges Fil-Ams to support convention

JERSEY CITY, NJ—Filipino Americans and issues relevant to the community will be prominently featured at the upcoming 43rd annual National Convention of the Organization of Chinese Americans – Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA-APAA), at the Westin Jersey City Newport in Jersey City, New Jersey, from July 21-24, 2016. Except for ticketed events, the convention is free and open to the public.

“OCA is a leading organization that advocates for Asian American and Pacific Islanders, and I urge the Filipino American community to support a convention that highlights issues that impact our community,” said Jersey City Council President Rolando Lavarro. “The Congressional Medal for Fil-Am vets is one of various important topics in the OCA convention that we should not only be familiar with, but be actively engaged in.”

Council President Lavarro is a

key speaker at the Kick-off event on Friday, July 22, 5:30 p.m. at the Westin’s Newport Grand Ballroom, which will be immediately followed by a cruise around New York Harbor.

Retired Major General Antonio Taguba will lead a panel on Congressional Gold Medal for Fil-Am WWII Vets, which is scheduled Saturday, July 23, at 10:30 AM, under the convention’s “General Track.” Gen. Taguba was the second American citizen of Philippine birth to be promoted to general officer rank in the U.S. Army. He authored the “Taguba Report”, an internal U.S. Army report on abuse of detainees held at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

The workshop will discuss objectives to seek action of U.S. Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino American World War II soldiers, and obtain national recognition of Filipino WWII Soldiers across

the core group of leaders of the US Filipinos for Good Governance, Inc. (formerly U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance), whose main leader is philanthropist Loida Nicolas-Lewis.

The rallies called for by the USF4GG are scheduled in major cities across the United States, Canada and across the globe. In the US, the rallies have been called for New York, NY; Washington, DC; San Francisco and Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; and Houston, TX. In Canada they’re set for Toronto and Vancouver. Across the seas, rallies will take place in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) of Saipan and Tinian. And so also in Guam and in Manila, Philippines.

At this writing rallies are also

being arranged and organized in London, Tokyo and Milan. Other cities are to be announced later.

The rallies will be launched simultaneously at 12:00 noon of Tuesday, July 12, 2016, in New York, across from the grounds of the United Nations Headquarters on First Avenue in Manhattan, and in Washington, DC, by which time seven hours would have elapsed since the U.N. court in The Hague would have announced its decision.

Most of the other rallies will take place at 12:00 noon local time.

A source from the core group said that the rallies would call for China to abide by the U.N. Permanent Court of Arbitration’s decision. (Tambi Wycoco)

12-time Olympic Medalist Natalie Coughlin does not qualify for Rio

Natalie Coughlin Photo courtesy of USA Swimming National Team website

training focusing on her other two events, according to USA Today.

“There are so many special [Olympic] moments I have had.

Anything beyond that is icing on the cake in terms of legacy or anything like that,” Coughlin said.

Coughlin grew up in Vallejo, California with a half-Filipino mother. According to GMA News, her grandmother is from Cavite

and Coughlin was “raised with a lot of Filipino culture.”

“Where I went to my first nine years in school, kindergarten through eighth grade, was primarily a Filipino school,” Coughlin said in an interview with GMA News. “I was very much exposed to the Filipino culture.”

Over the course of her career, Coughlin has won three gold, four silver and five bronze Olympic medals, according to her official website. She is tied with retired swimmers Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres for most number of Olympic medals achieved by an American female in swimming.

This will probably be the end of Coughlin’s Olympic career, although she insists she is not retiring from swimming.

“I’m not announcing a retirement or anything like that; I’m just not going to the Olympics,” Coughlin said. “From there, I don’t know. Swimming has been a part of my life since I joined my first club team when I was six years old.” n

Report: 5,000 water systems violate federal law

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

MORE than 5,000 water systems in the United States violate federal law, affecting approximately 18 million Americans, according to a new report.

In its report released on Tuesday, June 28, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that these systems violated lead and copper laws, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the body that is responsible for regulating the water systems, knew about them but did little to nothing about it.

A CNN report indicated that in approximately nine out of 10 cases of contaminated water, the EPA took no enforcement action.

NRDC said that the water systems required to complete thorough water testing, regular reporting of contamination and meticulous water treatment, but these water systems have failed to do so; in other words, these systems have committed health, monitoring and reporting violations.

“These violations were recorded because the systems were not doing everything that they are

required to do to protect the public from lead issues, which could include failure to treat to reduce lead levels in the water (health violations), failure to monitor the water for lead as required (monitoring violations), or failure to report lead results to the public or government,” the report said.

But the 5,000 systems that have committed violations only made up the reported violations and failed to account for unreported instances.

Erik Olson, health program director at NRDC, told CNN that some water utility companies manipulate the systems’ machinery and purposefully use imprecise testing methods so that they don’t detect higher levels of lead.

In other words, there are water systems who are breaching the law but don’t get reported.

The NRDC mapped out leadrelated issues reported throughout the U.S. and found that lead contamination is rampant across the country and the contaminated systems cover an expansive geographic scope.

According to NRDC’s findings, there were 13 reported violations in Los Angeles County water

systems that served over 5,000 Angelenos. Kern County’s water systems were especially affected with 74 reported violations that affected 102,691 residents.

There are many reasons why a water system can fail, but one of the most common reasons is through repairs gone wrong.

Unsafe levels of lead were discovered in Sebring, Ohio earlier this year after workers altered the water’s chemistry to prevent pipe corrosion. It took five months before the city issued a warning of the water’s detrimental effects to children and pregnant women, according to reports from The Columbus Dispatch.

In 2001, The Washington Post reported that lead levels in Washington, D.C.’s tap water escalated to 20 times the federallyapproved level, and it took three years before residents found out.

Yet the problem may be a product of the country’s infrastructure. Thirty years ago, Congress passed a law that banned lead water pipes, yet between 3.3 million and 10 million of them remain in today’s water systems, allowing lead to infiltrate many of the country’s water systems. n

The Pres. Duterte effect: Thousands of…

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turned themselves in to police.

Prior to Duterte’s inauguration, more than 200 people from Agusan del Sur and Sarangani had also submitted themselves to police custody in June.

“Sumuko kami dahil sa batas ni Duterte. Natakot kami sa kapulisan baka anuhin kami. May pamilya kami kaya natakot kami (We surrendered because of Duterte’s law. We were scared of the police because they might [hurt] us. We have families that is why we were scared),”Allan Looc, a drug user, told GMA News.

Drug-related killings have been

on the rise since Duterte won the election last May. At least 45 people with suspected links to drug trafficking were killed in different operations in Bulacan. There have also been 63 drug-related deaths recorded in many parts of the country. Meanwhile, in Tondo, Manila, a man was found dead with a note saying “Drug Lord Ako (I am a Drug Lord).” Other bodies displaying similar messages have turned up throughout the country.

“It’s going to be a dirty fight. It’s going to be a bloody fight. I am not apologizing for it,” said Duterte during Tuesday’s speech.

The uptick in murders committed by police and incidents of apparent vigilantism has drawn the concern of human rights groups and the Catholic Church. In spite of the violence, supporters of the crackdown have told the general public that they have nothing to fear.

“I will assure the public that kami ay mga pulis, hindi kami kriminal, susunod kami sa police operational procedure (I will assure the public that we are policemen, not criminals, [and] we will follow police operational procedure),” said Dela Rosa.(With reports from Joseph Almer B. Pedrajas)

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Rody’s 2nd home: Bahay Pangarap by maRlon and

PLASTIC CHAIRS DONATION. Senator Cynthia A. Villar poses with the officials and students who are beneficiaries of school chairs made from recyclable plastic wastes. The senator has been giving the sturdy and durable school chairs to public schools to help the government cope up with the problem on the lack of school chairs. Upper photo shows the senator with beneficiaries from Upper Bicutan National High School. Lower photo shows her with beneficiaries from Sucat Elementary School. Both schools are found in Paranaque City.

Senate photo

Marcos camp confident of winning cybercrime case

by Jaime R. PilaPil and JomaR Canlas ManilaTiames.net

THE camp of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed confidence it would win a cybercrime complaint it brought before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office against personnel of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and vote-counting machine provider Smartmatic, after the respondents failed to prove that they were not responsible for the “hash code” change at the height of the transmission of votes during the May 9 polls.

At the Manila Prosecutor’s Office, complainant Jonathan de la Cruz, a former representative of Abakada party-list, noted that lawyers of Smartmatic and Comelec assailed instead his competence to testify by saying he had no personal knowledge of the change in script in a computer server that processed election results.

“I am a complainant not just because I am an adviser of Marcos during the campaign period but also in my capacity as representative of Abakada party-list,” de la Cruz told reporters after the hearing.

He said the next hearing was set on July 15 at 1:30 p.m.

“If Smartmatic and Comelec will not submit any rejoinder, the case is deemed submitted for decision,” said Anna Liza Logan, lawyer of the Marcos camp.

City Prosecutor Recto Macapagal directed the Smartmatic legal team to submit again the affidavit of one of the respondents, Mauricio Herrera, who had left the country for Panama.

FROM a reluctant candidate, to a reluctant Palace occupant.

After saying he was spooked by reported ghost sightings in Malacañang, President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to move into Bahay Pangarap which his predecessor, former President Benigno Aquino III, used during his six-year term.

And like its previous resident, the new occupant of the bungalow structure facing Pasig River will stay there by his lonesome, as members of his immediate family are staying put in Davao City.

A senior Malacañang official on Wednesday, July 6 said Mr. Duterte had decided to make Bahay Pangarap his official residence in Manila after staying in various hotels in the metropolis since he was sworn into office on June 30.

The source, who agreed to be interviewed on condition of anonymity, said the President’s new home was now undergoing repairs in time for his transfer.

“It’s now being cleaned up.

President Duterte will move in probably by next week,” the Palace official said.

Simple person Christopher “Bong” Go, newly appointed head of the Presidential Management Staff, confirmed as much in a text message to Inquirer.net.

“He actually prefers a smaller and much simpler place. The President is a very simple person,” Go added.

DREAM HOUSE. Despite initial reservations, President Duterte has decided to take up official residence at Bahay Pangarap (top), where then President Benigno Aquino III used to live.

Inquirer.net photo

The Palace source said President Duterte would still fly home to Davao City every weekend as he had previously disclosed to the media.

The President will be living on his own, the source said, adding that the Duterte children are all living in Davao.

“His youngest daughter is still studying in Davao,” he added.

Asked if new furniture would be brought in for Mr. Duterte’s new home, the source said there was no need for it. “Only new curtains will be installed,” he said.

“As I have said, the President is a very simple guy. A simple place is OK with him,” the source added.

Formal dinners In 2010, then President Aquino chose to stay in the prewar era structure and became the first Philippine President to make Bahay Pangarap his official residence.

Previous Presidents have used the structure for formal dinners

ment’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs on Tuesday said FDI in the Philippines reached THE Philippines is becoming $5.72 billion in 2015 with the a more attractive destination majority of investment inflows for foreign direct investment going to manufacturing, finance (FDI) and the country’s growing and insurance, real estate, VICTORY IS NEAR. Jonathan de la Cruz (left) signs documents during continuation of preliminary middle class is quickly spendwholesale and retail trade, and investigation of complaint filed by his group against personnel of the Commission on Elections ing their disposable income in construction. and Smartmatic.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan a stable political environment, Thanks in part to a large, educatThe affidavit of Herrera was script of the Comelec transpar- helping gross domestic product ed, English-speaking workforce, only sworn to before a lawyer ency server was changed, and soar to an average growth of 6.2 the business process outsourcbut the fiscal said it must be statements issued thereafter by percent over the last six years, ing and tourism industries have the US State Department said. experienced tremendous growth sworn to before a consul for it individuals like Garcia.

A report by the State depart- in recent years, with no signs of a to be valid.

He noted that no less than Other respondents in the cy- Comelec Commissioner Rowebercrime case, aside from Her- na Guanzon had admitted that rera, are Marlon Garcia, Elie Smartmatic and Comelec perMoreno and Neil Banugued of sonnel “should have asked perSmartmatic, and Rouie Penalba, mission from the en banc” before Nelson Herrera and Frances Mae changing the script.

Gonzales of the Comelec.

The seven individuals are acManila prosecutors are con- cused of cybercrime offenses as ducting a preliminary investiga- provided under Section 4(a), (3) tion of the cybercrime complaint and (4) of Republic Act 10175 or that is separate from the elec- the Cybercrime Prevention Act tion protest filed last week by of 2012.

Marcos to contest the proclamaDe la Cruz informed Macapation of the Liberal Party’s Maria gal on Monday that two related Leonor “Leni” Robredo as Vice cases had also been filed before President. the Comelec and the Supreme If the complaint is found with Court (SC), sitting as the Presimerit, it will be elevated to the dential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

Regional Trial Court and the reThe Marcos camp is urging the spondents will be arrested.

Comelec to audit the Automated De la Cruz submitted a consoli- Elections System to reveal if the dated reply-affidavit along with servers were used to manipulate Atty. Rio Guerrero documents and news articles the election results in favor of containing reports of how the Robredo. n

by Jose

KatigbaK Philstar.com

dumlao-abadilla Inquirer.net

TWO Filipinos, an octogenarian real estate developer and a veterinarian who helps educate children in Zamboanga, landed on Forbes Asia magazine’s 2016 “Heroes of Philanthropy,” an annual list of some of the region’s noteworthy givers.

Geronimo De Los Reyes, 80 – chair emeritus of Gateway Property Holdings Inc., a company engaged in vertical and horizontal real estate development and the holding company of industrial Cavite estate Gateway Business Park (GBP) – was among those honored this year along with 50year-old veterinarian Anton Mari Lim who helped start the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation.

Forbes Asia honored 40 philanthropists from 13 countries across Asia Pacific in its July issue, handpicking a mix of billionaires, businesspeople and captains of industries who are also “making a mark with their generosity.”

The list not only features philanthropists who have made the news with their donations in the past year but also recognizes people who have compiled a long record of supporting worthy causes, the magazine said.

The magazine noted how De Los Reyes had started his namesake foundation in 1995 to provide scholarships and support faculty development and research. “His GBR Museum exhibits photographs of the Philippine Revolution, the FilipinoAmerican War and the country at the turn of the last century,” the magazine said.

Inquirer.net

and other social functions, with then First Lady Evangeline Macapagal renaming it Bahay Pangarap in the 1960s.

Located near the presidential golf course, Bahay Pangarap was renovated in 2010 when Mr. Aquino moved in.

It retained its art deco look but was refurbished with the addition of three bedrooms to the existing master bedroom. It has been described as having a “resort ambience,” complete with a swimming pool and a Balinesestyle garden.

Bahay Pangarap was built before World War II as a recreational retreat inside Malacañang Park. The prewar park had a rest house, a recreation hall, putting green, stables and tennis courts.

Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino lived at the Arlegui Mansion but held office at Malacañang’s Premier Guest House.

Fidel V. Ramos also lived in Arlegui and held office in the Palace. n

US lauds PH for luring more FDI

Forbes cites 2 Filipinos as ‘Heroes of Philanthropy’ by doRis

Ramos nestoR CoRRales

“BEST LAWYERS NATIONAL AWARD” NAPABA

“CONTRIBUTIONS TO EXCELLENCE AWARD” FANHS

slowdown, the report said.

The Philippines improved its investment climate under the Aquino administration, making strides in good governance, transparency and accountability, the report said.

Major international credit ratings agencies have upgraded the Philippines’ sovereign credit ratings to investment grade, citing robust economic performance, continued fiscal and debt consolidation, and improved gover-

u PAGE A7

Atty. Tsui Yee

“PUBLIC SERVICE AND POLITICS AWARD” TOFANY

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Geronimo De Los Reyes

Anton Mari Lim

In the case of Lim, the magazine noted how in 2010 he helped start the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation to build boats for children from the mangrove village of Layag-Layag, who had to swim to school.

So far, the foundation has built 1,045 boats, five schools and two dormitories, giving 11,942 children better access to education.

Based on its website, the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation was formerly referred to as the “Philippine Funds for Little Kids,” which in turn started out as “Zamboanga Funds for Little Kids.”

Aside from donating the yellow boats, the group has since then branched out to building and maintaining a day care center, building classrooms and schools, dormitories, providing scholarships, providing school bags and other school supplies, conducting medical/dental missions, and empowering the community as

a whole through applicable environmental and livelihood programs.

Yellow Boat Foundation is now present in 40 communities across the Philippine archipelago.

De los Reyes-led Gateway Property built a 180-hectare industrial park in Cavite which was the first to have a centralized industrial waste water treatment plant. This was to return clean and processed water to preserve the pristine condition of Halang River where wildlife and fish abound.

In 1995, De los Reyes established the Geronimo Berenguer de los Reyes, Jr. (GBR) Foundation, Inc. which manages the GBRMuseum, where the most extensive 19th and 20th century photographs of old Manila, World War II and other environs in the Philippines are exhibited. He also built the “Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church” across his

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Ang Pangarap Niyo Ay Pangarap Namin.

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Features

Still in danger

“TODAY, we continue the long journey toward an America and a world where liberty and equality are not reserved for some, but extended to all. Across the globe, including right here at home, millions of men, women, and children are victims of human trafficking and modern-day slavery. We remain committed to abolishing slavery in all its forms and draw strength from the courage and resolve generations past.” — Pres. Barack Obama Every year, millions of Filipinos go to great—and in some cases— drastic lengths by working abroad, to pursue better lives for themselves and their families.

There are an estimated 15,000,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) across the world. On average, 6,000 Filipinos leave the country each day to work abroad, an increase from only around 2,500 before 2010. At least a quarter of the country’s labor force has gone to work overseas.

Many of these OFWs are often compelled to work while succumbing to unfair and harsh working conditions, including long hours, low pay, and human rights abuses. We’ve heard news of Pinoys who faced death row in China and the never-ending and horrific stories of domestic helpers in the Middle East -- all for a chance to seek greener pastures.

Despite the billions of pesos they bring home -which continues to prop up the Philippine economy -- the nightmares of being an OFW still linger.

These people who resort to severe measures are employed through illegal channels. While many of them would refuse to admit it (for fear of losing their jobs), some of these modern heroes are victims of human trafficking.

The Philippines has recently been upgraded as a Tier 1 country by the 2016 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, which rated 190 nations according to their efficiency in addressing human trafficking.

This is a welcome development for the Philippines

after lingering in Tier 2 status the past years.

The annual TIP report is used as a comprehensive resource by international organizations, foreign governments, and nongovernmental organizations on countries in tiers based on their compliance with the standard of the US’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA).

Freeing victims, preventing trafficking, and bringing traffickers to justice are the ultimate goals of the report and of the US Government’s anti-human trafficking policy.

Tier 1 countries met minimum the standards of the American government’s “principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking,” which means a government “fully complied” with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Tier 2 nations do not fully comply but are “making significant efforts” to do so, while Tier 2 Watch List involves other negative indicators. Nations under Tier 3 neither comply nor make significant efforts.

However, the TIP report describes the Philippines as “a source country and, to a lesser extent, a destination and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor.”

The TIP Report also said that a significant number of Filipino migrant workers are subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor—predominantly via debt bondage—in the fishing, shipping, construction, education, nursing and agricultural in-

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

dustries, as well as in domestic work, janitorial service, and other hospitality jobs, particularly across the Middle East, Asia and North America.

Despite continuous worldwide sanctions and efforts to alleviate human trafficking, business continues to thrive for this repressive industry.

Stereotypically, human trafficking stories often depict victims as innocent young girls, who are seduced from their homes and forced into the sex industry. But now, cases involve men, women and children of all ages falling prey to traffickers for a

promise of better pecuniary compensation.

No matter how strict the laws are implemented or how rigorous campaigns are against human trafficking, the problem will not cease to exist if not dealt with first at home. Filipinos or anyone for that matter, seek jobs abroad due to lack of economic opportunities and the struggle to meet the basic needs.

Before apprehending perpetrators, governments should first promote and protect the basic human rights. (AJPress)

Fil-Ams hopeful about Duterte presidency and the plight of overseas Filipinos A RECENT “Balitang America” online viewer poll revealed that a large majority of Filipinos in America are feeling very hopeful under the Duterte presidency. Eighty-seven percent of kababayans who voted in The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast opinion poll feel the Philippines will be better off with newly sworn-in President Rodrigo Duterte stirring the country toward a new direction.

Many Fil-Am community leaders share the optimism, especially after Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said topping the “marching orders” he received from Pres. Duterte is to make sure that the needs of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are “specially and adequately addressed.”

“We want to make sure that from the very day, the first day that the recruitment processes start, up to the time that they arrive at their point of

“We support the call of Presidestination, we will be ready and dent Duterte to provide assisavailable to help them in their The Fil-Am tance in securing and protectneeds,” Yasay said in an ABSPerspective ing the rights of OFWs from CBN News report. their country of origin until “We know that as they go their final destination . We also abroad, they’ll be the subject of call upon the Phil Government a lot of difficulties, uncertainties, to revamp its existing policies and vulnerabilities, and the least on [the] deployment of Filipino that we can do for our overseas Gel SantoS-ReloS workers overseas, which inworkers, who—in a true sense— are our economic heroes, is to make ourselves cludes [the] elimination of recruitment agencies readily available for their service,” the DFA chief and for the government to undertake direct supervision and approval of employment contracts with explained.

The Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), a Fili- receiving countries.”

MHC Executive Directors Atty. Arnedo Valera, pino-American group based in the nation’s capital, offered their support to Duterte’s marching order Grace Valera and Jesse Gatchalian further stated: “The Government among others must initiate in this statement:

bilateral agreements with countries employing OFWs with involved countries committing to protect and uphold the human rights and dignity of Filipino workers around the world . We also call on President Duterte to investigate and jail illegal and legal recruiters who have caused the physical,psychological and emotional abuse of Filipino workers!”

Do you share this optimism that the concerns of OFWs will finally be addressed under the DuterteRobredo administration? *** 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

If Duterte fails, we all lose I WAS one of the most severe critics of Street Rodrigo Duterte as Talk a presidential candidate. But now that he has assumed the presidency, I believe he should be given every GReG B. MacaBenta chance and every reasonable support to succeed. And, boy, will he need a lot of support!

In my own limited way, I’ve faced the challenges of a presidency. Obviously, those posed by an ad agency or even a national organization in the United States are miniscule compared to what the chief executive of the Philippines must confront. But there are parallels, one of which is that, in spite of a cordon of advisers, a leader has to personally and singularly make the hard choices – the critical decisions – and be prepared to face the consequences, if any.

Whether you lead a company of 200 people or a country of 100 million, the harsh realities are the same: success has many fathers and failure is an orphan.

President Harry S. Truman said it more bluntly: The buck stops here.

We know that candidate Duterte had a bad habit of overpromising, overdramatizing and putting his foot in his mouth, but, by now, he has likely undergone a reality check. In fact, he has begun to scale down his bluster and to backtrack on some of his more dazzling campaign promises. At this point, I think we should grant him the benefit of faith in his sincerity and his determination to do a good job. We should also be prepared to concede his limitations.

One cannot help recalling what the late comedian, Dolphy, said when asked why he didn’t want to run for president.

Was it because he was afraid that he would lose? No, he was afraid that he would win – and would then not know what to do.

This is not to compare Duterte, as president, with the capabilities of Dolphy as a comedian. As a hands-on mayor of Davao City, Duterte is certainly better prepared to face the challenges of the presidency than Dolphy and, as we eventually found out, better, too, than Benigno S. Aquino III. And speaking of Duterte and Aquino, there appears to be a world of difference in the character of both men – as well as many similarities. Duterte has shown that he is prepared to accept responsibility for the consequences of his actions and decisions. His classic boast is that he doesn’t care if he is impeached, as long as he believes he is doing his job.

In contrast, Aquino bared a tendency to wash his hands and pass the blame on to others. Just as bad was his tendency to claim credit for policies and programs initiated by his predecessors.

Where I think Duterte and Aquino are the same is in their bullheadedness and their twisted perception of right and wrong – and that doesn’t end with Duterte’s insistence on giving Ferdinand Marcos a hero’s burial.

When a friend and former advertising client asked me to help in the presidential campaign of Noynoy Aquino, I told him that I was not impressed with the credentials of his candidate. I was assured that Aquino would have the support of the best advisers on every aspect of governance. I was also assured that, because of his heroic lineage, he would

be the exact opposite of outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whom the media had succeeded in portraying as the epitome of corruption.

I could only argue that the best advisers in the world would not necessarily agree with each other and that, in a crunch, Aquino would have to make the hard decisions himself. But I allowed myself to be persuaded and, in fact, lent my support.

In retrospect, I believe that Aquino, as president, tried his best to live up to the high expectations of those who gave him a rousing mandate to lead the country. I believe that he himself tried his best to keep his promise of clean and honest governance by applying that vow to himself. But he had no control over the culture of corruption, incompetence and impunity that had become the norm – and still is the norm – in a transactional environment – an environment where mediocrity is acceptable and compromise is inevitable.

I recall that, whenever the late President Cory Aquino was described to me as being near-saintly in her honesty and integrity, I would draw an analogy with a housewife who kept herself meticulously dressed, coiffed and perfumed, but whose household was a mess and whose children were undisciplined.

How could she be characterized as an ideal housewife?

To her credit, Cory appeared to be aware of her personal limitations, as well as her mandate as a revolutionary head of state: to restore democracy to the country. She did that. And as soon as her term was over, she did not hesitate to step down.

But I think she had a narrow perception of her mandate. She should not

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

have left the country in a state that made it vulnerable to retrogression to its prePeople Power condition. But could she have done better? She had to cope with the “damaged culture” that American journalist James Fallows wrote about.

The same culture that Noynoy Aquino had to deal and compromise with. And the very same one that Duterte must confront.

In this regard, Duterte’s attitude appears to be different. He is aware of the damaged culture and appears intent on repairing it, even if it means doing it over the dead bodies of those who would stand in the way. The 16 millionplus who voted him into office should be cheering him on, except for the fact that many of them have been part of the root cause of that damaged culture.

That includes Duterte, too. For instance, by tolerating the crimes of the NPA in his jurisdiction as mayor, in the name of ridding his city of the more traditional crimes, he bared the kind of weakness that has bedeviled president after president in our hapless country.

Compromise.

And yet compromise is the bitter pill demanded by politics. Regardless of any Utopian promises that Duterte has made, in the privacy of his presidential quarters, when all of his Solomonic advisers are asleep, he will have to accept the fact that solving one problem of nationhood may require tolerating another problem.

There are other realities that Duterte has to deal with. During the Marcos regime, Imee Marcos aptly described Malacañang as a snake pit. It still is.

Who among Duterte’s closest confidants are among the snakes? He will soon find out. One thing is certain – in dealing with the CPP-NPA, he will be dealing with scorpions.

The other reality is that, reforming a country is like trying to scale the steep face of a mountain. For his cabinet officials and other appointees, it will be challenging, exciting and inspiring at the outset. But soon, some will begin to tire and fall off. Others will seek shortcuts. Duterte himself, if he manages to maintain his zeal, will soon realize that he has fewer and fewer support. Msgr.

Juan Hervas, moving spirit of the Cursillo, pointed out that every organization or movement eventually has to depend on a few hardy souls to keep it alive. He described them as martyrs. Duterte will find that out before his term ends. Unfortunately, he may also realize that the martyrs left to scale the mountain with him are Jose Maria Sison and the CPPNPA. If we don’t want that to happen, then we must be willing to scale the mountain with Duterte and help him succeed. Truman was wrong. The buck does not stop with the president. If Duterte fails, we all lose. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 8-14, 2016

Unemployed Pinoys up by 2 million in Q1 – SWS

by Helen

Flores Philstar.com

untarily rose 3.1 points from 9.6 percent in December, those retrenched fell by 0.9 of a point from eight percent, while the proportion of first-time job seekers slightly went up by 0.2 from 3.6 percent.

Those who were retrenched consisted of 5.6 percent whose contracts were not renewed, one percent who were laid off and 0.6 percent whose employers closed shop.

Meanwhile, the same survey showed that net optimism on job availability in the next 12 months dropped but remained “high.”

The SWS poll found 39 per-

cent of respondents saying they expected the number of available jobs in the next 12 months to increase, 31 percent saying it will not change and 15 percent saying it will decrease.

The results yielded a net optimism score of +23 which was classified by SWS as “high.” This was a six-point drop from December 2015’s “high” +29.

The SWS classifies net optimism on job availability score of at least +30 as “very high”; +20 to +29, “high”; +10 to +19, “fair”; +1 to +9, “mediocre”; -9 to zero, “low”; as well as -10 and down as EID’L FITR. Muslims wait for the break of the dawn at Quezon City Memorial Circle to say their prayers in celebration of Eid Al-Fitr. Eid Al-Fitr is observed as a national holiday to mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Inquirer.net photo by Raffy Lerma “very low.” n

MANILA — The number of unemployed Filipinos rose by nearly two million in the first quarter of the year, according to the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The poll, conducted from March 30 to April 2, placed the joblessness rate at 23.9 percent (or an estimated 11.0 million adults), up by 2.5 points from 21.4 percent (9.1 million adults) recorded in December last year.

SWS said the new unemployment figure was the highest since December 2014’s 27 percent.

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide and has sampling error margins of plus or minus three percentage points.

The results of the survey were published in the newspaper BusinessWorld on Wednesday, July 6.

The jobless Filipinos were composed of 12.8 percent (or an estimated 5.9 million adults) who voluntarily left their jobs, 7.2 percent (3.3 million adults) who involuntarily lost their jobs and 3.8 percent (1.8 million adults) who were first-time job seekers.

The proportion of those who The number of unemployed Filipinos rose by nearly two million in the first quarter of the year, resigned or left their jobs vol- according to the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations.

Philstar.com file photo

US lauds PH for luring more FDI PAGE A5 t

nance.

Nevertheless improvements are needed, the report said.

The Philippines lags behind most ASEAN nations in attracting FDI because of limits on foreign ownership in many sectors of the economy.

Poor infrastructure, includ-

ing high power costs and slow broadband connections, regulatory inconsistency and corruption are major constraints to investment.

The Philippines’ complex, slow, and sometimes corrupt judicial system inhibits the timely and fair resolution of commercial disputes. In addition, traffic and

Forbes cites 2 Filipinos as…

PAGE A5 t

industrial estate in 2007 due to his deep devotion to our Blessed Mother Maryand Our Lord Jesus Christ. The church can accommodate 1,200 – 1,500 parishioners.

In 2004, he was recognized as an “illustrious adopted son of the Province of Cavite”, for supporting communities and pub-

lic schools across the province through the GBR Foundation’s programs for social and educational development including the ‘GBR Award and Excellence’ in History, Culture, Mathematics, English and its continuing program to promote computer literacy towards gaining global competitiveness for the Caviteño youth”. n

A

port congestion are a regular cost of business.

Investors report the Philippine bureaucracy can be difficult and opaque, and business registration and procedures are slow and burdensome.

Overall, the investment climate of the Philippines has improved in recent years. If the country can maintain its reform momentum, continue to improve its infrastructure and relax foreign ownership limitations, the prospects for investment would continue to brighten, the report said.

The report includes investment climate statements covering 170 foreign markets prepared primarily by US embassies and consulates overseas to assist US companies make informed decisions regarding investment in foreign markets. n

Chinese envoy calls on Duterte ahead of Hague ruling

by Alexis

romero Philstar.com

July 12. of the arbitral judgment. We will While then President Aquino always decide for the greater inMANILA — Chinese Ambas- insisted that the only way to terest of our country,” he added.

At a previous press conference, sador Zhao Jinhua on Thursday, address the maritime row is through a multilateral arbitral Duterte said he might talk to the July 7 paid a courtesy call on tribunal, Duterte has expressed Chinese government if current President Rodrigo Duterte five readiness to hold bilateral negoefforts to resolve the row remain days before an international artiations with China. stagnant in the first two years of bitral tribunal issues its ruling “We remain optimistic that the his administration. on the Philippines’s complaint Last month, Duterte said his against China’s expansive ter- judgment will be in our favor and if it’s not then we will accept it first big project would be a railritorial claim in the West Philipas part of a country who honors way that would ease the Philippine Sea (South China Sea). international commitments,” pines’s traffic woes. He said the Presidential spokesman ErnesDuterte said in a speech during project may be undertaken with to Abella said the envoy congratthe Air Force’s 69th anniversary China because the country does ulated Duterte for being the 16th last Tuesday. not have funds to bankroll it.

Philippine president in behalf of “When if it’s favorable to us, Duterte assured the public Chinese President Xi Jinping. let’s talk.

We are not prepared that he would not abandon the It was not clear whether to go to war.

War is a dirty word Philippines’s rights to the West Duterte and Zhao discussed the West Philippine Sea row during now, but we will proceed accord- Philippine Sea because of the ingly after we shall have the copy project. n the meeting.

“No further details regarding courtesy call,” Abella said.

China claims virtually the entire West Philippine Sea, where more than $5-trillion worth of goods passes through every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the resource-rich area.

In 2013, the Philippines filed a complaint against what it described as China’s “excessive” and “exaggerated” territorial claim before an international arbitral tribunal. China, however, refused to recognize the case, saying it has “indisputable sovereignty” over the disputed areas.

The tribunal is expected to is- Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jinhua on Thursday, July 7 paid a courtesy call on President sue a ruling on the complaint on Rodrigo Duterte

A JULY 8-14, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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

July 8-14, 2016

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An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY J u lY 8 , 20 1 6

John LLoyd Cruz, Teri MaLvar reCeive nyaFF awards Apocalypse Child, Hamog (Haze) & Honor Thy Father Showcased at 2016 NYAFF

by MoMar G. Visaya/AJPress The Film Society of Lincoln Center and Subway Cinema announced today the complete lineup for the The 15th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) wrapped up this week after more than two weeks of showcasing a total of 51 feature films and in-person appearances by more than 30 international filmmakers and celebrity guests from hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Three films from the Philippines made it to this year’s crop, including “honor Thy Father,” “hamog (haze)” and “Apocalypse Child.”

“We believe that these three films represent the best of the Philippines for 2015-2016 and will have the most impact ten years from now,” said Stephen Cremin, senior programmer at Film Society of Lincoln Center, the group behind the annual NYAFF. “The audience likes the films, so far we’ve seen a half and half mix, half of the audience is composed of Filipinos and the other half is non-Filipino Americans. It is exciting that we are bringing these films and stars to a much wider audience.”

John Lloyd Cruz led this year’s group of Star Asia Awards honorees, joining hong Kong’s Miriam Yeung and South Korea’s Lee Byung-hun. The three box-office megastars were in New York in person to attend the festival and discuss their newest films and their careers.

Cruz, one of the Philippines’ most popular movie stars, broke box-office records in last year’s romantic drama “A Second Chance.” he transforms his image as a father who will do anything in festival selection “honor Thy Father,” a powerful crime epic from erik Matti. Lee, South Korean cinema’s leading man and one of the few to successfully cross over to hollywood, stars in “Inside Men,” while Yeung stars in Adam Wong’s romantic drama “She Remembers, he Forgets. “ “I look at it as a recognition for the voice of the film that we made. Thank you for this, na makapag-contribute ka ng honor at dangal sa bansa. Sana, beyond this recognition, makita rin ng mas nakakarami yung boses ng pelikula,” John Lloyd told the Asian Journal. “To be honest with you, nakakalungkot na itong pelikulang ito, nag-struggle in finding its audience back home.”

Three other Asian actors, including Teri Malvar, a 15-year-old Filipina actress, were honored with the Screen International Rising Star Asia Awards. Malvar is one of the stars of the film “hamog,” the festival’s centerpiece gala, which is described as an empowering, thrilling and impassioned tale of a gang of street kids.

The two other awardees are

John Lloyd Cruz made a bold move in 2015 when he decided to star in Honor Thy Father, an independent film outside his mother studio, Star Cinema. Five of his films with the company have made it to the list of 25 Filipino films that have earned at least P200 million.

Teri Malvar and John Lloyd Cruz

Photo by Efren Landaos

Stephen Cremin, senior programmer at NYAFF

Jelly Lin, who made a powerful debut this year, showcasing her natural comedic skills in Stephen Chow’s fish-out-of-water tale (China’s highest-grossing film) “The Mermaid” and Go Ayano, Japan’s hottest actor of 2016, who is being recognized for his chameleon-like range and who also stars in two of the festival’s key films, “Twisted Justice” and “A Bride for Rip Van Winkle.”

“I am thankful to receive this award. I have three Best Actress awards now and this one is different and they told me this award is for all the films I have been. It is very humbling to know that they have seen all my films and they think I deserve this award,” Teri told us about her Screen International Rising Star Award.

Both Cruz and Malvar are fresh from victories.

Cruz won Best Actor for “honor Thy Father” at the Gawad Urian Awards in Manila while Malvar won as Best Actress for “hamog” at the Moscow International Film Festival.

They were in Vancouver en route to New York when Malvar and her mom received the news of her victory in Russia. “[It was] Unexpected. I am deeply humbled by this win in Moscow,” Teri told us while we were waiting for her film to screen at Lincoln Center.

Honor Thy Father journey John Lloyd’s first foray into the independent film genre was something that was not planned, but it was bound to happen.

“This was my first venture into independent cinema and outside Star Cinema, my mother studio.

My entire career, sila ang nag-alaga sa akin mula simula. This was a bold move for me,” he quipped.

“Mas lumalalim ang pagtingin mo sa isang script kasi mas personal.

Magmula nung gumawa ako outside Star, na-realize ko na parang kahit anong gawin ko, napaka personal na. Ang daming nagawa ng pelikulang ito sa akin.

It was liberating, it was a humbling experience.”

In the film, John Lloyd plays the

John Lloyd Cruz, Teri Malvar and other Asian stars at the NYAFF. AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

role of edgar, who is married to Kaye, played with grit and control

by Meryll Soriano. he admitted to being pulled by the role the moment he read the script, saying he was fascinated by edgar’s character.

The actor is thankful for being given the opportunity to do this film and he has nothing but praise for erik Matti and Michiko Yamamoto for their vision in the film.

“Michiko is a great story-teller, plus erik Matti who is known for the visuals na gusto niyang macapture. I was supposed to work with direk erik prior to his film pero hindi nangyari for some reason.

Nag carry over yung desire to work with another. Then, lumabas yung material na ito. They asked me to read it,” John Lloyd shared.

“After reading it, I said, ‘Oo naman, let’s go’. It was very intimate, very personal. Gustong gusto ko siya nung nabasa ko.”

John Lloyd is known for his string of box-office hits with Star Cinema, mostly romantic comedies with his perennial screen partner Bea Alonzo. Their 2015 film “A Second Chance”—a sequel to their now classic “One More Chance”—was one of the year’s top-grossing movies, earning P480 million. Their more serious film “The Mistress” earned P260 million.

Three other films that paired John Lloyd with other leading ladies made it on the list of 25 films that have earned more than P200 million in the box-office—”It Takes A Man And A Woman,” with singer-actress Sarah Geronimo earned P405 million. Their other film “You Changed My Life” raked in P232 million. For 2016, John Lloyd’s first film with Jennylyn Mercado, “Just the 3 of Us,” has earned P229 million. These five films alone have grossed more

than P1.6 billion.

“Nagkataon lang na yung mga pelikulang ginawa ko ang laki ng kinita. Pero kumbaga, hindi man kumita o maging successful sa box-office ang isang pelikula, that will not stop me from making films,” he told us, after lamenting earlier that “honor Thy Father” faced a number of challenges in the Philippines. “hindi mo naman din kasi puwedeng pilitin yung mga tao na manood kasi pera naman nila yung ibabayad nila eh.”

And there lies the dichotomy of John Lloyd Cruz. There’s the big money-earner part and now, the indie part.

“Ibang level din ng satisfaction yung makapag-pasaya ka ng tao sa loob ng dalawang oras. Kahit papaano makalimutan nila yung mga iniintindi nila sa buhay,” he said, referring to the masses who escape their day-to-day problems by going to the movies and watching rom-coms or family comedies.

“Like any form of art, it evolves, film evolves. First love ko ang film so imposibleng hindi ka mag-evolve, hindi ka lumabas sa comfort zone mo, imposibleng hindi ka makakilala ng ibang collaborators,” he said. “When you grow old and look back, baka hindi ka matuwa sa makita mo. That is scary.”

John Lloyd believed in “honor Thy Father” so much that he invested in the film. The closing credits say that he is one of the film’s executive producers.

“I’d rather use the term investor,” he remarked.

“Nakakahiya naman king ike-claim ko pa yun. As an actor, I worry about my own stuff. I don’t think like a producer.”

The indie bug has indeed bit John Lloyd Cruz. After “honor Thy Father,” he went on to shoot

Photo by Efren Landaos Sid Lucero in a Q-and-A with NYAFF’s Stephen Cremin

Teri Malvar was first noticed by the industry when she scored an upset and won Best Actress at the CineFilipino Festival in 2013 beating, among others, superstar Nora Aunor. Hamog is her fifth independent film.

another indie with Lav Diaz called “hele ng hiwagang hapis.” his next film is also by Lav and it is called “Ang Babaeng humayo,” the film comeback of former ABS-CBN President and CeO Charo SantosConcio.

Hamog High At 15 years old, one can already consider Teri Malvar as a veteran in the indie film circuit.

She started at age 12. It was the summer vacation and she asked her mom, a theater and film bit player, if she can join in her shoot. They came across and audition for a new indie film which was looking for a “butch lesbian, willing to cut her hair and willing to kiss a girl”. She auditioned for the role, her first, and she was accepted. The film was “Ang huling Cha-Cha ni Anita,” directed by Sigrid Bernardo, and it gave Teri her first acting award, the 2013 CineFilipino Best Actress Award.

Now, she is on her fifth film.

She plays the role of Jinky in “hamog,” one of the young, petty criminals in the story. “‘hamog’ is an important film.

On the surface, it is another film about poverty in the Philippines but it’s really much more than that because it gives dignity to the poor people and they are fighting to survive. It is exciting that this film has been to the Shanghai and Moscow film festivals,” Cremin said.

Teri shared that they went to Guadalupe Bridge to interact with the children there and study how they are.

“Iba talaga sila from other kids. Matapang sila and wala silang pakialam kahit wala silang mga bahay. hindi yung parang pinapakita sa TV na ginagawa silang biktima ng lipunan,” Teri said. “In this film, it is about them surviving despite the odds.”

Director Ralston Jover talked to her mom and told her he wanted to do a film with her.

She met with the director and auditioned, just to make sure that she can convincingly pull the challenging role of a street urchin, an offbeat and sensitive character.

“It is one of the best feelings, na-cha-challenge po ako. Ang sarap ng feeling na dapat kayanin ko kasi ibang-iba talaga yung character ni Jinky, she is confident, proud and very strong,” she shared.

“Direk made sure that the one acting as my mom would be my mom para ma-feel ko talaga. Grabe yung mga mura niya sa akin, yung

pagbato niya ng paper cups, yung adlibs. Sobra. Dinamdam ko talaga yun,” she said.

Teri’s mom Cherry, the cuss-spewing blabbermouth in “hamog,” played a bit role in honor Thy Father, as a cuss-spewing blabbermouth.

Teri is also a part of “Sakaling hindi Makarating,” an indie directed by Ice Indanan and currently working on another indie with Carlo Obispo called “1-2-3.” As part of the GMA Artist Center, she is also hoping to become a part of a tele-serye.

“I’m very happy to be in this time when indie films are becoming part of Philippine cinema in general and I can’t wait for the day na pati yung mga masa eh manonood na din ng mga indie movies,” she said.

Apocalypse Child “We set out this year to champion a much broader range of Asian cinema,” said NYAFF executive Director Samuel Jamier.

“For example, we are particularly excited by a new breed of noir film, rooted in social issues, that is emerging in both China and Southeast Asia. With these and other selections in the lineup, we want to show that Asian films are still exploring new directions for world cinema.” “‘Apocalypse Child’ is pretty unique for Philippine cinema and it shows a very different style, something new for the Philippines and it has been embraced here in New York,” said Cremin.

The film, directed by Mario Cornejo, stars Sid Lucero and Annicka Dolonius, who were both in New York to attend their film’s screening and a subsequent Qand-A with the viewers.

The festival also used the film’s posters in its promotional materials, including all the festival posters scattered around the Lincoln Center and the festival program and postcards.

“We’re so happy with the response we received when we screened. The viewers were very engaged and they were enthusiastic in asking us questions,” Sid said in a separate interview.

It is indeed a good time for the independent film industry in the Philippines. “Toto” (directed by John Paul Su), one of Sid’s films last year also made it as an official selection to the upcoming Asian American International Film festival.

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 J u lY 8 , 20 1 6

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

Being waved across the border could constitute ‘inspection’ for adjustment of status

the border, may not be able to prove they were “inspected,” IN most cases, in order for a and may not be eligible to adjust person to adjust status (obtain status in the US. a green card) in the US, the However, in some cases, a person must prove he or she was person may be able to prove “inspected and admitted” by an immigration officer at the airport or they were “inspected” if they were the border and “waved border (port of entry). This means through” by the immigration that the person presented himself officer. For example, the person to an immigration officer who was sitting in the back seat of reviewed his or her visa or other documentation and was allowed to a car and was driven across the border from Canada (or Mexico) enter the US. into the US. The car comes to an Even if a person is married immigration\border checkpoint, to a US citizen, the person must ordinarily prove that he or she was and the immigration officer looks inside, perhaps asks the driver a inspected (unless, for example, few questions, and says “passo.” they were “grandfathered” That could constitute being under section 245(i) or have an “inspected and admitted” for immediate relative who served in the military). Consequently, people adjustment purposes, as long as the person presented themselves who entered the US without for questioning, and did not claim inspection (EWI), or snuck across

to be a citizen, even if the officer never asked them any questions.

In a case published by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), a person approached the border as a passenger in a car being driven by her US citizen friend. The immigration inspector asked the friend whether he was a US citizen, but did not ask the passenger anything. The officer then waved the car through the port of entry. Eventually, the person married a US citizen, and the issue was whether being waved through the border constituted “inspection.” The BIA ruled that being waved through the border constituted “inspection and admission” to the US. Please note that if a person claims he or she was waved Continued on Page 5

A MOTHER’S AND HER ATTORNEY’S PERSISTENCE RESULT IN HER DAUGHTERS FINALLY BEING ISSUED CSPA VISAS BASED ON “EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES”-- ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Lolita left her two daughters in the Philippines to seek a better life in the US, with the dream that she would eventually have them join her. However, her previous attorney missed the one year “sought to acquire” filing deadline for CSPA eligibility, resulting in the Embassy refusing to issue their immigrant visas. Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel was her beacon of hope, as he did not give up in trying to convince the Embassy that the daughters should be entitled to visas, despite missing the one-year deadline. Find out how Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to prove extraordinary circumstances, have the two “aged-out” daughters be issued visas, and reunite this family on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday, July 10 at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

An Asian Journal Magazine

4

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY JulY 8, 2016

Pachada Band’s frontman Chad Baluran’s tumultuous journey

On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places BoBBy T. yalong Man can neither be judged by merely based on his failures nor through the vast wealth accumulated but by the macadamized roads he traveled from where his journey commenced.

The same way when we try to fathom the disheartening pain every time we fall: the barometer for evaluation shouldn’t be based on the intensity of injury but in our driven initiative to stand and resume the journey.

The inevitable perils and enormous challenges encountered along the way sometimes lead us astray but still we manage to find the right path for not all that wander are actually lost…we’re just taken in a spin by our own fate.

One’s life-threatening struggle and deprived freedom from vicious bondage can be an enlightening motivation for others while long kept debility could instantaneously revolt and audaciously find means to a forceful deliverance.

Richard “Chad” Baluran, a proud holder of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from Liceo de Cagayan (1994), candidly shared his tear-jerking plight in the hands of opportunistic human traffickers that serendipitously altered his career path and ultimately, his life .

The youngest among the 6 children of Margino (an insurance manager) and Eustaquia (a sari-sari store operator) of Cagayan de Oro

City, Chad was recruited for an overseas employment while he was just about to take his licensure exam. at 20 (born July 12, 1973) and aggressive to land a job with an H1-B visa, Chad was left with no other option despite parental rejection. Having been sweet-talked and gently persuaded, the young adventurer set foot in Florida on July 1995 with attractive fringe benefits: an apartment (where he lived together with other recruits) and a brand new car for easy commute to assigned healthcare facilities.

Being an enthusiastic first time driver, it was uncomplicated for Chad to familiarize himself with maneuvering his way around Tampa driving his nissan Sentra.

But mishaps come about when one least expected it. On his way to work one sunny august morning, a miscalculated move resulted to an on the spot accident where his car flipped eight times before it landed on its roof. But miracle of miracles, Chad cheated death and escaped unscathed: no scratch, no SCI (Spinal Cord Injury), no need for hospitalization and just sternly shocked.

Left with mental trauma and surviving in erratic paycheck schedules, Chad thought his threemonth stint under his recruiter wasn’t worth it. after having mustered enough courage, he drove off, abandoned the car, and phoned a colleague for help.

With his innately hardworking trait and compassionate attitude, it only took a while for Chad to find a new job…this time an employment

Chad with his band

agency that assured him of sponsoring his visa. He was assigned in a Harlem hospital and was provided with a sleeping quarter in a residential house in Jamaica, Queens. armed with a keen presence of mind, he consulted a lawyer when things turned out to be no different from his first employer…unstable job, uncertain future, and anomalous contract.

Later in 1997 he was hired by a prestigious placement agency that munificently sponsored his visa within five years. That spirit-lifting privilege more than gave him mental stability and contentment.

But still, a confident leap was all he needed to start his new career plan.

In 2001, strappingly backed by his efficient working experience and dedicated service, he was directly employed with permanence as a PT Supervisor in an established medical facility. That phase of his life more than induced his enthusiasm to work and ignited his zest for survival. For him, the truest essence of success is to benefit from the bliss and contentment it brings… after tempestuous and seemingly endless trials. amid his thriving professional career lies something that gives him an equally gratifying sentiment ---singing and performing…an innately dormant talent that just manifested lately.

“My musical inclination was fueled when I was 6 after an uncle gifted me with a ukulele. at home ‘The Sound of Music’ tracks became household tunes. Then a high school teacher volunteered to teach me how to play the piano…and since my fingers and voice took over every single moment that I was free from books,” Chad amusingly recounted.

“Even when I actually had enough savings, it was a Yamaha Clarinova that filled-up my rented room that made me opt to just retire in a sleeping bag. Unknown to many, singing was never scared out of my wits…it’s consistently been within me,” he added.

Back in 2004, his long kept obsession was publicly bared when

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Pachada Band’s Frontman Chad Baluran

he was invited to perform in Ma-Yi Theater after talent scouts heard him sing in various private parties. With nobody to accompany him, a friend eagerly recommended a guitarist while another referred a drummer who were both in the same field like him…and that made them a triumvirate of performing Physical Therapists.

The trio became an instant hit. after more than a few similarly well-received appearances and fully attended gigs, the foreseeable fate of the singing PTs needed some kind of branding while new members (who were, coincidentally, PTs, too) had ardently joined.

It was easy for the group to coin a moniker with instant recall.

Since they were all Visayans, they collectively agreed on “Pachada,” a Kagay-anon term that connotes nice or good… a fitting name for the uncontested brotherhood of alternative rockers.

The Pachada Band is essentially a stress reliever for every PT member after a hard day’s work. Composed of Tyron Medalla as the lead guitarist, Stephen “Teban” Quijote on bass guitar (Henry Caylan was the original bassist before he relocated in Indiana), Donny alonzo on drums, and Chad as its frontman, Pachada Band is prevalently known as an alternative rock band. already fortified with more than a hundred songs in its playlist, the group has performed in almost every entertainment venue and eatery in the east coast, having been featured in QPTV (Queens Public Television) under Empyre Media Productions, and with a regular gig at Wicked Willy’s, a college bar in Greenwich Village. The singing and performing Physical Therapists had also opened for Kitchie nadal, Mig ayesa, Pork Chop, The Hotdogs, and

How Ian King became the Queen of Joey Mead

By Tim

Yap Philstar.com

THE online and offline worlds were all abuzz when Ian King, scion of Victoria Court group of companies and a prominent figure in the motoring world came out on social media as angelina Mead King, a purple haired woman wearing a dress. “Sometimes the king is a woman,” said the husband of popular TV host and supermodel Joey Mead on a post released on an Instagram account named @ hailtothe_queen_.

Ian King’s account is @hailtothe_ king so when screencaps of @ hailtothe_queen_’s identity on IG broke out on social media, a lot of questions were raised. People were intrigued who angelina Mead King was. “Since people were already asking, we just decided to come out with it.”

Ian angelo King and angelina Mead King are one and the same person–the man, now transitioning

to be a woman who’s married to Joey Mead. a lot of people were shocked about the news but based on posts from social media, the couple was met with so much love and support.

“It was a secret that I’ve kept for quite some time. I’m glad it’s now out, so I don’t have to explain myself anymore.”They have been met with so much acceptance and support from friends and loved ones that on Sunday morning, Ian’s car group hosted an informal welcome for angie Mead King at Locavore at the Fort. Outside the Burgos Circle strip were more than a billion pesos worth of sports cars parked on both sides. Ian is an elite member of this predominantly alpha male group of luxury sports car owners, being the founder of Car Porn Racing and a car aficionado himself.

“What’s a dream, I couldn’t sleep from being so happy! Thank you to everyone for the love and support.

You can’t imagine what kind of

Sport enthusiasts Chad and Cathy are regular fixtures in NY Marathons

Chad and wife Cathy

other named celebrity entertainers.

Chad’s musical ingenuity has literally made up for what he’s short of. Hearing him effectually nailing top chart ditties by U2, Pearl Jam, Tears For Fears, Stone Temple Pilot, Duran Duran, The Beatles, and other rock bands could indubitably mistake him for owning the songs while injecting his own vocal style and Pachada’s infectious instrumentation.

“Playing is merely our passion.

We feel great after a well-applauded performance. If we don’t have our professional day jobs and just depend on the band for survival, we could have been disbanded even before we took off and earned a name,” Chad quipped with a shrug.

“Our time became restricted after we have our own families. We try to limit our gigs to just weekends or at least twice a month…so we have more quality time to spend home.”

“The band is promising…no doubt. But we still dream of coming out with an album of our original compositions.” he spoke in a whispery tone. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed that it will be sooner than expected.”

In private Chad enjoys fatherhood to the hilt. He took Catherine Superable, also a Physical Therapist, for his wife after an inevitable encounter in a common friend’s wedding where he was a groomsman and she, a bride’s maid. although they already knew each other back in Cagayan De Oro, it was only during their fortuitous reunion that his heart beat differently for Cathy. They exchanged “I Do’s” in Cagayan De Oro City in 2004 after being civilly married a year earlier.

Their blissful union was blessed with two kids: Chadrine (7) and Callia Hope (4).

Having both completed their Doctorate in Physical Therapy even before raising a family, Chad is currently affiliated with Lighthouse Guild (since 2005), a geriatric facility that specializes in cases with visual impairment, diabetes, and obesity while Cathy works as a PT with the Board of Education in the Chelsea area. aside from music and drawing, Chad, together with Cathy, is an active member of nYRR (new York Road Runners) and had completed the nYC Marathon five times.

His being a movie aficionado brought him to the fore: as an extra under the actors Reps of new York with a minimal talent fee of a hundred dollars per shooting day.

But it wasn’t all about the money… the exceptional experience and technical knowlegeability about filmmaking more than compensated the rigors and time-consuming aspects of film shooting.

The jolts, turns, and twists in life are composite elements of an eventful joyride. Regardless the destination, just buckle up and enjoy the ride…for soon enough the topsy-turvy rollercoaster ride is already over before you even realized it.

For Pachada Band’s main sites: Facebook.com/pachadaband, youtube/pachada band, and videos @vimeo.com. Follow them @ twitter. com/pachada or on instagram/ pachadaband.

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

Being waved across the border...

From Page 3 through the border, the USCIS will require detailed and extensive information on how you crossed the border, such as the make and model of the car you drove in, who was driving, who was in the car, how long did you wait in line at the border, the color of clothing the For Joey Mead King and husband–now wife–Ian King, who just came out as a transwoman now officers were wearing, what time of known as Angie Mead King, love wins indeed. day did you enter the US, what was the weather like, how did you get “She’s my rock. We’ve been weight has been lifted off my heart. through so much and I’m happy that to Canada or Mexico, and where is I am excited to see you all soon” She we have decided to stick it out, no wrote on her Facebook account, your Canadian or Mexican visa? now as a trans-woman named angie matter what happens,” says angie If this situation applies to you, Mead, a tribute to his wife Joey who about her wife Joey in an exclusive you may want to consult with an interview for the Star. adores actress angelina Jolie. immigration attorney to prove your eligibility to adjust status, and possibly avoid having to go back to Manila or immigrant visa processing. Please bear in mind results as quickly as she expected, that you must have truly been she decided to go under the knife waved across the border vs. saying and underwent liposuction—but you were. If you claimed to be a only to experience the worst side U.S. citizen, or you entered the US effects. with an assumed name (or altered) Continued on Page 6

How Bing Loyzaga’s lifestyle change helped her regain confidence complications of a stroke—and, while her weight gain helped her take care of him, her career suffered SHE has been despised by many when producers refused to cast a for her ruthless roles on television heavy Bing Loyzaga. and the movies, but in real life, To make things worse, Bing Loyzaga is just as vulnerable the actress also acquired as the protagonists her onscreen hypothyroidism, a condition where characters have trampled on. the body is unable to produce Besides being emotional, one of the enough thyroid hormones, slowing ’80s freshest faces in showbiz has down her metabolism all the more. lately suffered from a common woe Her initial solution to curb her in women known as “body shaming.” weight gain, as everyone does, was Due to stress and misinformed minimize her calorie intake. lifestyle choices, the 45-year-old “I would count my calories per actress lost control of her eating day and eat whatever I wanted, even habits hitting the 180-pound mark if they were unhealthy. I thought to at her heaviest. This was the same myself, as long as they are within time she was depressed over her my calorie limit for the day, I was father’s worsening condition— OK,” Loyzaga shared with The Manila basketball legend Caloy Loyzaga Times. who eventually succumbed to When she failed to see the

By ChrisTina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

Calendar of Events across

At age 45, Bing Loyzaga is proud to have shed more than 30 pounds without starving or going under the knife.

Meet Xian Lim the concert artist

By JerrY

donaTo

Philstar.com

“THE feeling is high and it’s mixed emotions.” That was Xian Lim speaking about his first solo concert titled a Date With Xian on July 9 at the Kia Theater in a recent presscon.

Prior to it, Xian did sell tickets at the Kia booth. “It boosted my morale as ticket buyers would encourage me, saying, ‘Kaya mo yan.’ Simple gestures like that ay nagpapalakas ng loob ko, especially now that the concert date is near or the show is days away.” as Xian put it, everything now is sinking in, and he has to put up a good show for fans and showbiz watchers.

Since it’s his debut venture into the live solo performance, Xian is not spared from, you know, first-

time jitters. “nandyan pa rin yung halong kaba na parang ‘Can I do it?’” the handsome performer said. “nandun yung tanong na siyempre kaya ko ba? Yung requirement na kailangan ng concert. Pero ngayong papalapit na (ang concert) I can say we have a show.” a Date with Xian is a wish granted for the Kapamilya star because “I’ve wanted to have a (solo) show before... When the Star Events gave me the opportunity, I just grabbed it. I didn’t think twice.

OK na ito, ito na yun. Kumbaga, this is it.” asked about how hands-on he is when it comes to the show’s nitty-gritty, Xian replied, “(The conceptualization) started last year. Before The Story of Us began (taping), we were conceptualizing it. The title then was Must Date

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passport and visa, or in the trunk of a car, this rule would not apply to you. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

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

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

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ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS J u ly 1 0

The People’s Summit: A Community Forum on the Duterte Administration and the People’s Agenda for Change Join us for a community forum on Sunday, July 10 from 4pm-7pm Sisa Pakari Cultural Center (located at 67-10 Roosevelt Ave Woodside, NY 11377) to educate and unite the Filipino community and allies on the national situation of the Philippines and prospects for change under the newly inaugurated president Rodrigo Duterte. We will be discussing Duterte’s social and economic reforms and opportunities to address the basic issues of Philippine society.

Xian Lim

Xian. Then (it) eventually became a Date With Xian. as for the list of songs, I had ideas that I wanted to do and Star Records also pitched in ideas. and also my director, whom I requested, alco Guerrero, (was there) to help us out with the concert. When he was onboard, he got Chino David from Silent Sanctuary. They told me we would weave this concert based on how (or who) you are.” although the concert is Continued on Page 6

J u ly 23

Ocean City’s 7th Annual Tribute to the Philippines The Philippine Consulate General New York in cooperation with the Philippine Department of Tourism and the Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia invites you to Ocean City’s 7th Annual Tribute to the Philippines on Saturday, July 23 at the Ocean City Music Pier. The event, which will be held from 10am to 4pm also honors its sister city San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Admission is free.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

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Ria Serrano announces run for VP Post in US Junior Chamber FILIPINO-AMeRICAN community activist Ria Serrano, President of State of New Jersey Jaycees and former President of Jaycees North Jersey, announced earlier in Facebook, she was running for vice president of the US Junior Chamber.

Aside from being a computer techie, Serrano is co-owner of a restaurant in Jersey City called Noodle Fan Journal Square.

Serrano’s full announcement follows: “Twenty years ago, I was given an amazing opportunity by my parents to live in the United States.

Although it was tough to leave my birth country, Philippines, and re-start life in America, it was the values instilled by my parents that had always helped me – that no matter where I go or what I do, I can always start anew.

“Year after year, America’s promise continues to become a reality. That for as long as you keep chasing and acting on your dreams, you could reach them.

Ria Serrano, President, New Jersey Jaycees

“Today, I am blessed with a good company to work for, a good family, and a good life to enjoy every day’s blessings.

“On my 20th year in America, I am embarking on another venture, which is to GIVe BACK. “I announce my candidacy to be one of the 2017 National Vice

Wellness, cooking show and franchising at Fiesta In America

The east coast’s biggest Filipino and multicultural indoor expo will revolve around a Total Wellness theme, according to Nanding Mendez, Fiesta In America’s President. Fiesta In America will celebrate its 18th Presidents of The UNITeD STATeS anniversary on August 13 and 14 JUNIOR ChAMBeR. at the Meadowlands expo Center “In 2017, I want to continue in Secaucus, New Jersey. “A Goya helping young professionals Foods, Inc. cooking show based recognize their skills, strengthen on ancestral diets, a spectacular and make use of their latent demo by New Jersey’s top health talents to help build communities management organization, free stronger. By planning meaningful vital-signs screenings and fitness tips projects from conceptualization are some of the wellness aspects that to implementation. And by will benefit our guests,” said Mendez. addressing issues that are solved “Our mission is to support small through the power of positive exporters and Philippine tourism, cooperation. but we are just as driven by other “As I look forward to the Annual issues vital to Filipinos, including Summit in September 2016 where health.” our final marks will be made, I will ABS-CBN superstars Paulo continue to work with the chapters Avelino and Julia Montes will lead a within the state and welcome all multicultural roster of cultural show young professionals who would performers. Fans will have a chance like to join the bandwagon and to meet the teleserye prince and MAKe AN IMPACT.” princess up-close at a “meet-and“In your hands lie the destiny greet” session. As a special treat, of a great organization.” henry seniors aged 62-and-over can avail Giessenbier, Jr, Founder of the themselves of free entrance tickets Junior Chamber International. from 12 noon to 1 pm on Saturday, “To provide development Aug 13 only. exhibitors from the opportunities that empower young Philippines and the U.S. will pack the people to create positive change.”

Trade Pavilion with export-quality – USJC Mission Statement. products, real estate packages, and various services. Regional dishes can be enjoyed at the Food Court, and people of all age groups can take part in fun activities throughout the From Page 5 venue. A solemn Mass and festive showcasing Xian’s musical talents, Santacruzan will be the highlights he will surprise everyone by going on Sunday beginning at 10 am. As a out of his comfort zone. new twist this year, Prof. eric Soriano, “Gusto kong makita nila na a National Agora Awardee for wala si Xian sa comfort zone,” he excellence in Marketing education said. by the Philippine Marketing Going out of Xian’s comfort Association, will conduct a forum on zone could also mean him bringing franchising. The forum is designed his dancing shoes and proving that he’s more than just the pianoguitar playing guy. “Ang dami na pong dance lessons. Madami, dami na rin. I’m very excited From Page 5 about the dance segment. For “I’m not kidding! Yung fats, literal sure, I will bring something new na tumutulo from the wound,” she (another musical instruments) to recalled of her post-op shock. She surprise the fans, may mga iba also found that all the weight from akong dadalhin dito. We have a the invasive procedure all came grand piano in the middle. We’re back just as quickly as she lost them. gonna play classical music with Healthier choices the Philharmonic. I’m very excited According to Loyzaga, she about it. There will be ballad and was at her most desperate when rock (songs).” she approached well known If that seems a full detail of slimming center Marie France for what fans can expect from Xian help. As she consulted with inas a concert artist, it is just a sneak house doctors, nutritionists, and peek and we’ve just scratched the therapists, Loyzaga began to see surface. the light at the end of the tunnel,

Meet Xian Lim...

Prof. Eric Soriano

for heads of family businesses and entrepreneurs on the lookout for investment opportunities.

Major U.S. brands will present distinct wellness modules that embody the Total Wellness concept, said Coy Apostol, Fiesta In America’s Sponsor and exhibitor Relations Manager. “Goya’s Food Scientist, Meriterese Racanelli, MS, will present a cooking demo using Goya’s lowsodium products as ingredients in traditional Filipino dishes. AARP will promote real possibilities at 50+ years of age, which range from caring for elderly parents to avoiding identity theft. The hackensack University Medical Center will distribute free two-week passes to their state-of-the-art Corporate Wellness Center. And we are excited by a dazzling interactive demo by horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.”

Len Manansala, Fiesta In America’s Vice President for Marketing and Communications, described horizon BCBSNJ’s presentation as a mix of science and optics. “New Jersey’s premier hMO values cultural sensitivity,” said Manansala, “and they are aware

that serious matters such as health education can be more effective with attention-getting devices.” he expects that audience buzz will be created by horizon BCBSNJ at their Trade Pavilion section, wherein individuals can ride a stationary bike dubbed the Fender Bender.

Nemesio Kinsora, horizon BCBSNJ Sales executive for Government Programs, explained that the bike is “exclusively designed with an attachable fruit smoothie blender that is powered solely by people pedaling.” The visual impact will be powerful, said Kinsora, and the message will be clear: “Vigorous exercise coupled with the proper diet can be a fast track to good health.”

America’s biggest producer of hispanic packaged food products, Goya Foods, Inc., will provide a cross-cultural twist to healthy eating as their Total Wellness module.

The Secaucus, NJ-based Goya is a strong advocate of returning to ancestral diets as well as the MyPlate Program. MyPlate is part of the federal government’s larger initiative based on Dietary Guidelines that help consumers make better food choices. The health value of ancestral diets – previous generations’ intake of native dishes that are low on salt and preservatives – will be demonstrated by the cooking show and food tasting.

For information on how to take part as visitors, exhibitors, sponsors or advertisers, as well group discounts and how nonprofit groups can boost their fundraising through the expo, please call 212-682-6610, email info@fiestainamerica.com, or visit www.fiestainamerica.com.

Fiesta In America is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit company.

(Advertising Supplement)

How Bing Loyzaga’s lifestyle change helped...

US Senator Cory Booker is shown with Fil-Am singer Kirby Asunto during the July 4th Freedom Program. in Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Kirby sang “America the Beautiful” during the program, where 21 new American citizens took their oath of citizenship.

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and made a vow to change her entire lifestyle to complement the recommended machine treatments for her problem areas.

She believes the main factor in her successful weight loss relied on healthier choices.

“Unlike before, I no longer starved myself,” Loyzaga recalled.

“I learned how to prepare healthy food and in a way give my daughters a good example.”

“I also gave up drinking and partying,” Loyzaga proudly added.

Asked how she now feels, the

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mom-of-two happily said she never felt healthier in her entire life.

“It’s so important to me because I still want to see my grandchildren someday. I still want to be able to play with them. I’m more conscious of my health now not just for me, but also for my family.”

She shared that her new body gave back her confidence and the happy disposition she is known for by friends and family.

“Didn’t you notice I haven’t stopped smiling since our interview?” Loyzaga beamed.

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