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Volume10 – Issue 15 • 16 Pages

january 6-12, 2017 Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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US downplays PH defense cooperation with Russia

by Jose

KatigbaK Philstar.com

WAshINGtoN – Any bilateral defense ties between the Philippines and russia will not affect how the United states views the importance of its bilateral relationship with the Philippines, a long time ally, state Department spokesman John Kirby said. he said the defense relationship between the United states and the Philippines remains “very, very strong.” “our overall mil-to-mil relations remain robust, they remain multifaceted and that’s the way we want to see it continue,” Kirby added.

In recent months President Duterte, seething at the outgoing obama administration’s criticism of extrajudicial killings in his war on drugs, has been moving to lessen the country’s foreign military dependence on the United states and veering

MAKING FRIENDS. Russia has responded warmly to the friendly overtures of President Rodrigo Duterte, with its ambassador to the Philippines saying it is time for both countries to discover each other. Russian envoy to Manila Igor Khovaev said security cooperation must be equal between all members of the international community even as he urged the Philippines to diversify its circle of foreign partners.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr.

toward russia and China.

“I’d let the Philippine government and the russian government speak to the degree of their bilateral defense relations and how that is taking shape.

I’ve said many times – and this

USA

DATELINE Filipino-American participants celebrate history, promote heart health awareness at 2017 Rose Parade

is a good example of it – that foreign relations aren’t binary. right? And these choices that countries have to make are not binary choices, and every nation-state has the right to pur-

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Robredo denies existence of US blueprint to oust Duterte PH gov’t will

by Dana

sioson AJPress

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

CloUDy skies could not hamper the high spirits of thousands of cheering spectators who lined the five-and-a-half mile route of the 128th tournament of roses Parade in the City of Pasadena, California on monday, January 2.

A collection of 41 floats, 19 marching bands and 20 equestrian units from across the country captivated people of all ages and walks of life who came out to witness the iconic celebration of the New year. “the vibes from everybody, everyone’s energy, it’s really cool!” said filipino-Ameri-

THE RUSSIANS ARE IN PH. The Russian submarine destroyer Admiral Tributs (above) arrives at South Harbor’s Pier 15 on Tuesday, Jan. 3 for a goodwill visit until January 7. Below, left, Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov, deputy commander of the Russian Navy’s Pacific fleet, answers questions from the press. Below, right, Russian sailors stand guard at the gangway leading to the Admiral Tributs.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

PhIlIPPINe Vice President leni robredo on Wednesday, January 4, said she does not believe the existence of a “blueprint” allegedly left by former United states Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg that outlines plans to oust President rodrigo Duterte.

“Ako, hindi ako naniniwala na mayroong ganoon (i do not believe that it exists),” robredo said in an interview

during her visit to tiwi, Albay.

In its earlier report, The Manila Times, citing a “highly placed source,” said Goldberg supposedly left behind a “blueprint to undermine Duterte.”

According to the report, among the ouster tactics Goldberg allegedly suggested include the support for “robredoled opposition groups” and fueling public dissatisfaction with the president.

In a statement, U.s. Assistant secretary of state for east Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel russel said that “[t]hese

allegations of a blueprint are false.”

“No such blueprint exists,” russel stressed. he also reiterated that the United states’ relationship with the Philippines is “one of our most enduring and important relationships in the Asia-Pacific region.”

“It has been a cornerstone of stability for over 70 years. It is built on shared sacrifices for democracy and human rights and strong people-to-people and

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The AsiAn JournAl YeArend reporT

A year of political surprises, uncertainty in US-PH relations and more

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Filipino Lakers fan wins $95K after sinking half court shot

A fIlIPINo lakers fan on tuesday, JanuaA filipino lakers fan on tuesday, January 3, took home $95,000 after hitting an improbable half-court shot during a los Angeles lakers game at the staples Center.

Between the third and fourth quarters, Jerald Acoba, from tulare, California, sank the Aria Big shot Jackpot contest. following his successful shot, the 30year-old pointed at his wrists, mimicking D’Angelo russell’s trademark “ice in my veins.”

“It’s good to see a lot of fans keeping that ‘ice in the veins’ going,” russell said after the game, according to reports from NBA.com.

“I appreciate everybody for that. that’s a lot of money, man. take care of it.”

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not ‘hide’ street dwellers during Miss Universe pageant

by Dana

sioson AJPress

the Philippine government will not ‘hide’ street dwellers during the upcoming miss Universe 2016 beauty pageant later this month, the Department of tourism (Dot) said on tuesday, January 2.

“In fact, we would like to show them this is the Philippines,” tourism secretary Wanda teo told CNN Philippines in an interview. teo noted that most candidates in the miss Universe pageant are also not from rich countries. “sila naman din they have also the squatters (they also have squatters), they also have the homeless in their country. hindi naman sila mayayaman din (they

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Pres. Benigno Aquino III was conferred an Honorary Degree in Humane Letters by the Loyola Marymount University.

Photo from Pia.gov.ph

WIth 2016 now behind us, the Asian Journal editorial team takes a look back at the top news stories of the past year. from the elections of Donald trump and rodrigo Duterte as the presidents of the United states and the Philippines, respectively, to long-awaited recognition for filipino World War II veterans, the Asian Journal has been there reporting as these stories unfolded, and how they have impacted filipinos in the United states and around the globe. here is our roundup of top issues and events — broken down by month — that have dominated the front pages of our six editions:

January PH Supreme Court rules EDCA constitutional the Philippine supreme Court on tuesday, Jan. 12, upheld the constitutionality of an executive agreement between the Philippines and the United states that permits increased rotational presence of Us military troops in the country. In a 10-4-1 vote, the top court ruled in favor of the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (eDCA), which was signed by the Philippines and U.s. in 2014 but was not implemented due to legal challenges. the agreement, which has a 10-year lifespan, also allows U.s. troops access to Philippine military bas-

Lacson: Lawmakers got ‘pork’

by Jefferson

antiporDa ManilaTImes.net

es. the decision comes amid the ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China regarding conflicting claims in the south China sea.

Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach returns to PH after win more than a month after she was crowned as miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach returned home to the Philippines. Wurtzbach arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on January 23 after triumphing at the international beauty pageant held in las Vegas in 2015. It was later followed by a Grand homecoming Parade on January 25, where she received a warm welcome

some senators and members of the house of representatives got billions of pesos in “pork barrel” under the General Appropriations Act of 2017, senator Panfilo lacson claimed on Wednesday, Jan. 4. lacson made the revelation after learning that the Department of Public Works and highways (DPWh) regained the P8- billion allocation slashed from its budget and even got an additional budget of P497 million. the senator said he learned

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A January 6-12, 2017 • nEW yOrK anD nEW JErSEy aSIan JOurnaL

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From the Front Page

US downplays Philippine defense...

PAGE A1 t sue bilateral relations of its own choosing,” Kirby said in a press briefing.

“And so again, I would leave it to both of their governments to discuss it. What it – what I can promise you is that it won’t affect how we view the importance of our bilateral relationship with the Philippines,” he said.

Russian anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs and tanker Boris Butoma made port call at the

Manila South Harbor.

In September, Duterte announced that he would establish alliances with China and Russia as part of his independent foreign policy.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines and Russia have agreed to speed up work on a legal framework and plan of action for cooperative activities aimed at enhancing Philippines-Russia defense engagement.

Defense Secretary Delfin

Lorenzana visited Moscow last month and discussed with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov expanding Philippines-Russia defense cooperation.

The visit was a first for a Philippine defense chief since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 40 years ago. It also came on the heels of a meeting between President Duterte and President Vladimir Putin in Lima, Peru last Nov. 19. n

Robredo denies existence of US blueprint...

PAGE A1 t HOT ITEMS. A vendor displays small images of the Black Nazarene in his stall near the Quiapo Church on Wednesday, Jan. 4 as preparations for the Traslacion, one of the country’s biggest religious festivals, reach fever pitch.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Boy Josue

Lacson: Lawmakers...

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about the P5 billion “pork” of some House members from Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) congressmen who talked to him during the plenary debates on the proposed 2017 budget.

The ARMM congressmen, Lacson said, explained their side on the specific allocation embedded on the DPWH’s budget intended for projects to be implemented in the eight legislative districts of the autonomous region.

Lacson, during the budget deliberation, pushed for the return of the P8.3 billion to the ARMM budget which the House of Representatives transferred to the DPWH and the removal of the P3.6 billion from the DPWH budget intended to fund infrastructure projects at ARMM. Lacson said the transfer is not allowed under Republic Act 6734 or an act providing for an organic act for the ARMM. “If you add the P8.3 billion and the P3.6 billion the House of Representatives allotted to ARMM and divided it for the eight legislative districts in the region, it would mean that each ARMM congressman get P1.5 billion worth of projects in 2017,” Lacson said earlier.

The ARMM congressmen,

the senator said, told him that the P1.5 billion worth of projects each of them were asking for their respective districts was small compared to the allocation given to some congressmen who were allowed up to P5 billion in projects.

“Change is coming? Maybe, but it’s pork allocations changing hands from LP (Liberal Party) congressmen to those from Mindanao,” Lacson said.

The lawmaker admitted that some of his colleagues in the Senate also got P300 million worth of projects but he did not name names.

Lacson said that he did not submit his list of projects to be funded by the P300 million.

He said two senators approached him after learning about the P1.5 billion being sought by ARMM congressmen and told him that members of the House were asking too much considering that senators were only allowed P300 million each.

“Senators Tito (Vicente) Sotto 3rd and Kiko (Francis) Pangilinan approached me on separate occasions to inform me that they too did not submit. I don’t know who else among my Senate colleagues likewise did not submit their list,” Lacson said.

He clarified however that he is

Sen. Panfilo Lacson

not saying that those who identified their projects in the 2017 national budget would get commissions from contractors.

“What I’m trying to say is Filipinos are made to believe that the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) is dead after the Supreme Court (SC) ruling in 2013. I am not stupid. Filipinos are not stupid. They are just resigned, I think. After all these years that I and my staff scrutinize the budget books year in and year out, I know pork when I see it,” Lacson said.

The senator’s efforts to have the P8.3-billion “pork” removed from the DPWH budget failed since the agency was able to regain the said amount and even managed to get an additional P497 million at the expense of the calamity fund.

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societal ties. We continue to focus on our broad relationship with the Philippines, and will work together in the many areas of mutual interest to improve the livelihoods of the Philippine people and uphold our shared democratic values,” Russel added.

Malacañang, meanwhile, downplayed the rumors that the U.S. participated in any destabilization moves against Duterte.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella noted that Duterte has a high trust rating in the country. The Social Weather Stations poll last month shows that Duterte has an ‘excellent’ +72 trust rating.

On the other hand, Robredo clarified that she and Goldberg

only talked about the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Philippines.

“Unang una, nagkausap kami ni Ambassador Goldberg noong nasa isang event, pangalawa nag-courtesy call siya sa opisina.

Wala kaming pinag-usapan tungkol kay Pangulo [Duterte] (I had a talk with Ambassador Goldberg in a particular event and when he paid a courtesy call to my office but we did not talk about the president),” Robredo said.

She also said that calling for the president’s resignation every time there is an upheaval in the government will do the country no good.

“Paniniwala ko makakabuti sa Pilipinas na instead humingi tayong matanggal ang iyong

pangulo, hingiin na lang natin sa pangulo na pakinggan ang ating hinaing (I believe that it would be best for the Philippines that instead of wanting to unseat him, we should ask that he hear us requests),” Robredo added.

Last month, Robredo resigned as the housing secretary after Duterte ordered her to “desist” from attending all Cabinet meetings. Following her resignation, Robredo announced that she will become the “unifying voice” of the opposition.

Duterte accused the ‘yellows’ of plotting to oust him, apparently referring to the Liberal Party, which uses the color as its political symbol. Robredo and the Liberal Party have denied the allegation. n

PH gov’t will not ‘hide’ street dwellers...

PAGE A1 t

were also not rich), so we would let them see that the reality that we are not a rich country,” she said.

The DOT also noted that the Philippine government would not shell out any money for the event.

“We are not spending any money. That was my promise to the president,” Teo added.

In 2015, the previous Aquino administration was heavily criticized for allegedly hiding poor families from Manila by sending them to a resort in Nasugbu, Batangas during Pope Francis’s visit to the country.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), however, clarified that it was a “family camping workshop” for the poor.

The DSWD said these families were under its Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) program which provides monthly cash grants for health and education assistance to “families with special needs.”

Homeless families were also reportedly rounded up in Manila during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit hosted by the Philippines in November 2015.

Last week, Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte wants the street dwellers to be left alone.

“What I heard but this is anecdotal, not policy, is the fact that the President apparently has said ‘go leave them there so that the people see exactly where we are,’” Presidential Spokes-

person Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing on December 27, 2016.

“As far as I know anecdotally that he has said we’re not hiding our true situation,” Abella added.

The beauty pageant’s coronation night will be held on January 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, with Steve Harvey as its host.

Maxine Medina will represent the Philippines in the pageant and attempt to succeed the crown from reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, who received the Miss Universe honor in December 2015.

Wurtzbach is the third Filipina to win the title, following Margie Moran in 1973 and Gloria Diaz in 1969. n

From the Front Page

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A

A year of political surprises...

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The Philippine Scouts Heritage Society made its Rose Parade debut on Monday, January 1.

from her fans and thousands of fellow Filipinos. During the coronation night on December 20, the pageant’s host Steve Harvey, incorrectly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner instead of Wurtzbach.

February PH Pres. Benigno Aquino visits LA Fil-Am community, earns honorary degree from Loyola Marymount University More than 800 members of Filipino community groups from the southwestern United States gathered in Los Angeles to hear Philippine President Benigno Aquino speak about the progress of the country. Some of the achievements under Aquino’s leadership include 91 percent of health coverage of Filipinos, the country’s reputation as one of the fastestgrowing economies in Asia, and the addition of 180,000 classrooms around the nation. Earlier in his trip, Aquino received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Loyola Marymount Universi-

AJPress Photos by Eric Anthony Licas

Filipino-American participants...

PAGE A1 t can snare drummer Kai Domingo, who had marched in three prior Rose Parades with the Los Angeles Unified School District’s All City Band.

“It’s a thrill,” he told the Asian Journal at the sidelines of Monday’s spectacle.

Filipino Americans were also among the riders and marchers at the annual event.

Recognizing Filipino World War II Veterans This year, a historical society commemorating the legacy of a U.S. Army unit made up of Filipino soldiers was featured for the first time in the parade’s history.

The Philippine Scouts Heritage Society (PSHS), a nationwide living history group, made its Rose Parade debut on Monday. The 26th Ceremonial Mounted Unit (CMU) of the PSHS’s Nininger chapter in Los Angeles rode proudly down Colorado Boulevard fully adorned in World War II regalia.

“It’s a great honor,” PSHS Membership Chair Gil Mislang told the Asian Journal during a phone interview on Saturday, December 31. “We also worked very hard to get in there so that the Filipino soldiers can be shown to the world.”

Members of the 26th CMU paid thousands of dollars to cover their own equestrian maintenance and transportation costs in order to take part in Monday’s parade as well as other events held throughout the year, according to Mislang.

He said the PSHS’s efforts seek to do more than educate people about the sacrifices made by the Philippine Scouts. They also celebrate the history of cooperation between the militaries of the Philippines and America, as well as the triumph of Filipinos who started families in the U.S. That mission reflects the theme of this year’s parade, “Echoes of Success.”

In 2016, American lawmakers helped take the hidden history of the Philippine Scouts out of the shadows. On Thursday, December 15, President Barack Obama signed legislation that awards Filipino veterans of WWII with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal.

Despite progress made last year, Mislang admitted that more still needs to be done in order to bring the contributions of those soldiers out of obscurity. He and other people working to bring

recognition to the Philippine Scouts are pushing for the passage of California Assembly Bill 199, which would add the stories of Filipino soldiers into the Gov. Jerry Brown history curriculum of the state’s public schools.

Promoting heart health Every person’s education should also include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

It invited Filipina-American Celine Showman, a cardiac arrest survivor, to ride on the organization’s parade float to help bring awareness to health issues affecting Filipinos and many other people in the U.S. In 2007, the resident of Oceanside, California had been momentarily declared deceased after her heart stopped beating while she was out to dinner with her daughter, Megan.

“It didn’t feel real. It felt like I was watching a movie,” said Showman’s daughter, who began screaming for help after watching her mother unexpectedly collapse. During a phone interview with the Asian Journal on Thursday, December 22, she went on to say “I was freaking out because no one was doing anything.”

Showman could have died or suffered permanent brain damage that day, surrounded by helpless bystanders. Thankfully, an ambulance was nearby and a group of three Navy Corpsmen who happened to be having dinner at the same restaurant stepped in to administer life-saving CPR. The experience was a wakeup call for Showman, who has since maintained a healthier, less stressful lifestyle.

“I was on the go, working 50 to 60 hours a week, and not getting enough sleep,” Showman told the Asian Journal on Thursday.

After the incident, Showman took stock of her circumstances, refocused her priorities on her family and loved ones, and learned to let go of unnecessary stressors. She has also led and participated in efforts to raise awareness of heart health concerns in her community.

On Monday, Showman and other survivors of cardiovascularrelated issues rode on the AHA’s float titled “Keep the Beat Alive” to promote CPR training and healthy living. The AHA’s entry won the Judges’ Special Trophy

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Jerald Acoba of Tulare said he plans to buy his mom a new car after winning $95,000.

Photo from LA Lakers’ Twitter account

Filipino Lakers fan...

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Acoba told the crowd that he plans to buy his mother a new car with the money he won. He said that he wanted to upgrade his parent’s old van.

“She’s always been there for me when I need her,” Acoba said. “She’s always there to help me out. It’s my turn to repay the

favor to her.”

Acoba went to watch the game with his wife, Lenslie, and his nieces. He is the fifth winner of the Lakers’ Big Shot Jackpot and also the second winner for this season.

“It’s surreal right now,” Acoba said. “I can’t believe it’s just happening right now.”

ty for his administration’s work in improving the lives of Filipinos.

Manny Pacquiao under fire for homophobic statements Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao apologized on Tuesday, Feb. 16 after he said that those who are in same-sex relationships are “worse than animals.” In an interview with TV5 network, Pacquiao — who ran in the Senate under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party — was asked to share his views on same-sex marriage.

Responding to the backlash, Pacquiao issued an apology on social media for his remarks, saying he was “just telling the truth of what the Bible says,” however, he said his stance on same-sex marriage remains unchanged. The boxer was criticized by local and international figures and was dropped

by Nike as an endorser.

March Obama visits Cuba, re-opens diplomatic ties President Barack Obama made history on Sunday, March 20 when he became the first sitting president to visit Cuba since 1928. Human rights and a potential end to a 54-year-old economic embargo were among the topics discussed by Obama and his Cuban counterpart, President Raul Castro. Obama also visited the recently reopened U.S. Embassy in Havana and paid tribute to Cuban independence hero Jose Marti during his trip. At the outset of his journey, the American president said the island nation was ripe for change and later encouraged the Cuban people to play an active role in their country’s future.

Fil-Am director of “Inside Out” wins Oscar Filipino-American Ronnie del

Manny Pacquiao

Carmen, co-director of the Pixar Film “Inside Out,” bagged this year’s Best Animated Feature Film at the 88th Academy Awards. Del Carmen, who hails from Cavite, is the first Filipino to co-direct a Pixar film, and, at the same time, the first Filipino to win an Oscar award. “Inside Out” was also the seventh Pixar movie to win an Oscar.

April Gov. Jerry Brown signs bill making CA’s min. wage $15/hour California, along with New York, became the first states to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022. The California legislation will raise the statewide minimum to $10.50 on Jan. 1 for businesses with 26 or more workers, the first of several incremental increases to $15, with future raises tied to inflation. Smaller businesses will have an additional year to phase in each increase. The law follows measures in Los Angeles and San Francisco, among other cities, to gradually raise their own mini-

AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal

mum wages to $15. It is expected to affect millions of low-wage workers and businesses that employ them, especially in the state’s agriculture, restaurant and retail industries. By 2022, a full-time minimum-wage worker would see annual earnings increase to $30,000 from $20,000 today.

Canadian hostage beheaded

by Abu Sayyaf Canadian John Ridsdel was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf after Canada’s refusal to pay the terrorists his ransom. Ridsdel and his companions — another Canadian Robert Hall, Kjartan Sekkingstad of Norway and Hall’s Filipino girlfriend, Marites Flor — were abducted at a resort in Samal Island, Davao in September 2015 and were taken to the island of Jolo. In November, the terrorists demanded $80 million for their release. In March, the group set a one-month deadline, then released a final 10-day warning in mid-April, setting April 25 as the last date to receive a ransom pay-

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A January 6-12, 2017 • nEW yOrK anD nEW JErSEy aSIan JOurnaL

Dateline USa

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115th Congress sworn in, agenda targets Obama initiatives

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

FISH HAUL. Fishermen bring their catch from the Laguna de Bay to the fish port in Binangonan, Rizal province, for delivery to different markets. The lake produces 400,000 metric tons of milkfish and tilapia, supplying 70 percent of the fish needs of Luzon and parts of the Visayas.

Inquirer.net photo by Rem Zamora

Foul play suspected in disappearance of Filipina in Georgia by eric

anthony licas AJPress

POLICE in Georgia suspect foul play is involved in the disappearance of a Filipino-American woman who has been missing for over two months.

Cecilia Bustamante, 42, was last seen as she was rushing to leave her place of employment, Willy’s restaurant, at the AT&T Midtown Center building in Atlanta, on Friday, October 28.

“I don’t think she voluntarily left Georgia or Chamblee,” Police Capt. Ernesto Ford told reporters earlier this month. “I think she is in grave danger or worse.”

Bustamante was not known to drive a car, and Chamblee city police have not confirmed exactly how she might have gotten home from Atlanta.

Authorities were not notified of the woman’s disappearance until Friday, December 2, after family members noted the wife and mother’s absence from a Thanksgiving celebration in Baltimore, Maryland.

While executing a warrant to inspect the Bustamante’s home, police discovered a small locked safe hidden beneath the bed of her 7-year-old son, according to Ford. After forcing the lockbox open, investigators found firearms, as well as the missing woman’s credit cards, bank card, identification, and passport.

Police also spoke with Bustamante’s husband, Carlo Jonson, who had not filed a missing per-

son’s report.

“He was indifferent in his responses and showed a total lack of concern for his wife’s well-being,” Ford told the Asian Journal during a brief phone interview on Wednesday, December 28.

Jonson said that he did not know where his wife might have gone, but suggested to investigators that she might be in either Baltimore or the Philippines, according to Ford.

He added that authorities have not brought charges against any individual.

Bustamante, Jonson and their son had just relocated to Georgia from Maryland a few years ago and were not known to have relatives elsewhere in the country, according to Ford and Willy Blanco of the Filipino-American Association of Atlanta. They say the family of three had rented an apartment in the Atlanta neighborhood of Lindbergh for about

a year before moving to a house in Chamblee.

Blanco said the family had few connections in the local community, making it difficult to find people in the area who knew Bustamante and might have any idea where she went.

However, he said that a few have gotten in touch with investigators with additional information that has yet to be confirmed by authorities. Blanco hopes that others will come forward.

“At this point, we have no suspect and we have not ruled anyone out,” Ford said on Wednesday.

Cecilia Bustamante is described as a 5’3” woman weighing approximately 120lbs. with brown hair and eyes. Anyone who might have any information regarding her whereabouts is urged to call the regional crime stoppers hotline at (404) 5775477. n

THE United States’ 115th Congress was sworn into office on Tuesday, January 3, ushering a GOP-controlled Legislative Branch.

Thirty-four senators and the entire House of Representatives was sworn in, including Speaker of the House Sen. Paul Ryan (RWisconsin).

Once President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on January 20, the GOP will be in control of both the Executive and Legislative branches —the first time in a decade.

That being said, the future of several key initiatives from President Barack Obama look bleak, especially the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.

The dismantling of Obamacare — which has been a fixture in the Republican agenda since Obama entered office in 2008 — is likely to happen after Republican lawmakers announced a bill that may repeal the law within the next month.

Democrats fear that repealing Obamacare will leave millions of Americans without health care.

Although the future of Obamacare doesn’t look good, Democratic lawmakers are committed to fighting to sustain it.

“We have the responsibility and the power to lift the lives and the hopes of the American people. Yet every American should know: if there’s any attempt to destroy Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security or ACA, we will stand our ground,” Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said on Twitter.

But, as Republican lawmakers previously mentioned, conservative lawmakers are seeking to replace it through bills and pro-

posals under the Committee on Ways and Means.

“We’re doing what we promised,” Rep. Doug Collins (RGeorgia) said. “What we have seen so much with Obamacare is that what has happened is that what sounded good turned out to be a disaster.”

Republicans also plan to do away with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The law — which was a direct response to the 2008 financial crisis — brought significant regulations and reform to the financial system and sought to prevent another Great Recession.

Collins proposed a bill called the Reins Act, which would essentially make it easier for Congress to eliminate multiple regulations at once.

“We’re simply saying, you’re not going to be able to do these in the undercover agencies with people not having input and knowing what happens,” Collins said of his new bill.

Some of other Republicanbased ideals this Congress has planned include cutting funding toward Medicaid, repeal the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, privatizing Veteran’s care and cutting taxes.

Although minority representation remains low, the 115th Congress features the widest array of ethnic and gender representation than any Congress in U.S. history.

Asian American and Latino representations is at an all-time high with 15 Asian Americans and 38 Latinos serving in both houses.

Female representation is also at a record high with 21 women serving in the Senate. Moreover, there is a record four women of color serving in the Senate: Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), Cath-

erine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Kamala Harris (D-California).

Cortez Masto is the first Latina to ever be elected to the U.S. Senate.

Trump criticizes House Republicans on ethics office In a shocking move that ruffled feathers, House Republicans voted behind closed doors on the night of Monday, January 2 to put Congress’ ethics office — which independent from both houses — under the control of the House of Representatives’ ethics committee.

However, the vote was dropped after President-elect Donald Trump criticized House Republicans for the move, which he considered a reverse to his call to “drain the swamp” — his promise to end corruption in Washington.

“With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it is may be, their number one act and priority. Focus on tax reform, health care and so many other things of far greater importance! #DTS,” Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning.

The move — which was only a part of the House’s rules set for approval on Tuesday by the new Congress — was intended to restrict the powers of the independent office.

However, the reversal may only be temporary as Republican leadership confirmed a bipartisan effort later in the year to negotiate with other Congress members on the issue.

The independent ethics office was established during the recession in 2008 after three Congress members were jailed for involvement in corrupt scandals. (Klarize Medenilla/AJ Press)

A year of political surprises...

PAGE A3 t ment. Hall, the other Canadian, was beheaded in June.

May Duterte, Robredo elected president & vice president of the Philippines After a tumultuous campaign, former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo won as president and vice president of the Philippines, respectively. Based on the final official tally, Duterte won the presidential race with 16,601,997 votes beating out other aspirants, including former Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay, Sen. Grace Poe, former Interior Sec. Mar Roxas, and the late Sen. Miriam Defensor- Santiago. The mayor’s victory was in spite of accusations of having ties to death squads in Davao, his hands-on style of leadership and off-color remarks. For vice president, the race was tight, as the numbers were a cliffhanger between Robredo and closest rival, Bongbong Marcos. In the months following the election, Marcos filed a protest with the Presidential Electoral Tribunal for election fraud against Robredo.

Filipino World War II veterans can reunite with family under new parole program A new policy introduced by the White House is now helping Filipino World War II veterans be reunited with their families in the U.S. The policy will allow certain family members of veterans who fought in the second world war to seek parole under a program set up by the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS). It is estimated that as many as 26,000 Filipino vets (of the over 260,000 who fought) are U.S. citizens, and their petitions for family members in the Philippines have to wait as long as more than 20 years due to statutory visa caps. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis for a temporary period of time based upon “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”

June U.S. Supreme Court fails to decide on Obama’s immigration orders On Thursday, June 23, the U.S. Supreme Court arrived at a deadlocked decision on a landmark case concerning President Barack Obama’s immigration policies, leaving 5 million undocumented immigrants uncertain of their future. The 4-4 ruling delayed a definitive judgment on the presi-

U.S. President Barack Obama

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

dent’s executive order that would have implemented the Deferred Action for Parents of US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and granted expansions to the championed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The tied ruling further ignited the ongoing national conversation concerning immigration reform in the contentious election year with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s strict immigration promises and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s commitment to creating a pathway to citizenship.

Orlando, Florida nightclub shooting claims 49 lives A terrorist attack in an Orlando gay nightclub on Sunday, June 12 claimed the lives of 49 people and injured 53 others. The attack occurred at around 2 a.m. and witnesses said the gunman fired shots into the crowd with an assault rifle before police arrived on the scene. A gunfight with police ensued which prompted the shooter to retreat to the club bathroom, holding hostages in a three-hour stand-off. That was followed by a second gun battle which killed the shooter. There was no evidence that suggested that the perpetrator, Omar Mateen of Fort Pierce, Florida, was tied to any major terrorist group, but the FBI had interviewed him twice regarding comments he made to co-workers about radical Islamic propaganda in 2013 and 2014.

July Philippines wins arbitration case against China On July 12, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the The Hague sided with the Philippines and ruled that China has no legal basis over its territorial claims in South China Sea. After several months of deliberations, the Tribunal declared China’s claim to ‘historic rights’ to resources within the sea areas that fall within the ‘nine-dash line’ as invalid. According to the Court, China also violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration, constructing artificial islands, and failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the

Vice Pres. Leni Robredo

zone. The Philippines filed its case at the PCA in 2013 after engaging with China in a stand-off in 2012.

China, which refused to take part in the proceedings, has said it will not recognize the ruling and will continue to take measures to protect its sovereignty over the disputed sea.

Clinton, Trump win nominations for respective parties On the final night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, Donald J. Trump defied the odds and clinched the Republican nomination for president, garnering a whopping 1,725 delegate votes. Some Filipino-American Republicans shared their praise for the results, saying they believe Trump’s family, religious and business values will benefit the community. The following week at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton formally became the Democratic presidential nominee, making history as the first woman to be on the top ticket of a major U.S. political party. Many Democratic Filipino Americans expressed faith in the seasoned politician and saw Clinton’s nomination as an open door for more representation of women as well as ethnic minorities in the government.

August PH wins Silver Medal at 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil The Philippines has earned its first Olympic medal in 20 years after Filipina weightlifter, Hidilyn Diaz, won the silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games held in Brazil. Diaz, who hails from Zamboanga city, scored 88 in snatch and 112 in clean and jerk, with a total of 200 points. Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Shu-Ching won the division with a score of 212, while South Korea’s Yoon Jin Hee, who placed third, finished with 199.

Filipinos angered by Trump’s immigration plan, suggesting PH is a ‘terrorist nation’ In his speech on August 4, Donald Trump, who was then a presidential nominee, proposed a ban on immigration from countries with high rates of terrorism.

Trump narrated names of what he described as terrorist nations,

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Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Moro rebels storm jail, set free 158

by Carlo

BACK TO WORK. Workers from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority clean up the mess that is the open field of Rizal Park on Monday, Jan. 2, a day after the New Year’s Day celebration.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada

Lacson: Lawmakers...

bilitation and recovery, he recommended funding of P167.8 billion PAGE A2 t but up to now, based on the anor a reduction of P21.5 billion.

Lacson said the additional fund“What is unfortunate is that with nual budget being appropriated ing increased the 2017 DPWH massive devastations brought by for the purpose since 2014, the budget from P445.766 billion to recent calamities starting with amount has been a drop in the P454.721 billion but led to a huge Pablo, Yolanda, Karen, Lawin, bucket compared to the total budcut in the budget of the Nation- and Nina, to name some, most of get required. al Disaster Risk Reduction and the victims might be left to fend “What is sad here is the Management Fund (NDRRMC) or for themselves instead of get- thought of sacrificing the victims Calamity Fund under the Special ting sufficient government assis- of calamities for political favors Purpose Fund. and alliances. The details of the tance,” Lacson said.

From an original budget of He cited the Yolanda rehabili- DPWH budget and other agenP37.255 billion in the National tation program that still needs at cies are not yet out. Once we get Expenditure Program (NEP), the least P100 billion to complete. hold of the budget books, we will calamity fund was reduced to a He noted that when he was diligently scrutinize them,” Lacmere P15.755 billion in the GAA the presidential adviser on reha- son said. n

Filipino-American participants...

PAGE A3 t in this year’s event.

Despite the gray weather and abundant competition for good viewing positions, most of those who came out for Monday’s celebration left with a smile.

“The first time I saw [the Rose Parade live], it was pretty impressive, but I think, through the years, it’s gotten bigger,” Filipino-American Manny Zamora, a system’s analyst for the city of Los Angeles, told Asian Journal

while in attendance of the parade on Monday.

Later in the day, University of Southern California football fans found an extra reason to cheer after the Trojans claimed victory in a hotly contested Rose Bowl game over Penn State’s Nittany Lions. (Eric Anthony Licas/AJPress)

A year of political surprises...

PAGE A3 t mentioning the Philippines in his list. Trump also suggested that immigrants should be heavily scrutinized, even those who obtained citizenship legally. Many Filipino immigrants condemned Trump’s pronouncements, asserting that his remarks disregarded the contributions Filipinos have made to the country. Some however, argued that Trump’s comments were taken out of context, citing that Trump previously professed his love for the Philippines during the launch of his 57-story luxury apartment in Makati.

September Duterte, Obama meeting at ASEAN Summit canceled U.S. President Barack Obama canceled a much-anticipated meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, that had been scheduled to take place at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Vientiane, Laos. The move came after Duterte appeared to use an expletive to refer to Obama while responding to a question about extrajudicial killings during a press conference on September 5. However, Filipino officials explained that Duterte was actually directing his comments at the news media. The two world leaders did wind up speaking informally and shaking hands before a gala dinner at the summit on Wednesday, September 7. It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two presidents.

PH gearing up for Miss Universe next year; Duterte opposes Steve Harvey as host Philippine Department of Tourism officials said President Rodrigo Duterte was displeased to learn that Steve Harvey had been selected to host the upcoming 2017 Miss Universe Pageant set to take place in the Philippines next January. Although the president has downplayed certain comments as jokes in the past, D.O.T. Secretary Wanda Teo said the president was not laughing when he expressed his disapproval with Harvey. When the comedian hosted the pageant in 2015, he mistakenly announced that Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, had won before retracting his statement and proclaiming victory for Filipino contestant, Pia Wurtzbach. Teo said the DOT would recommend a local media personality to take Harvey’s place.

October U.S. celebrates Fil-Am History Month People observing FilipinoAmerican History Month this past October had even more reasons to celebrate this year. 2016 marked the 70th anniversary of the Philippines’ independence from the U.S. and several other momentous events in Fil-Am history. 1946 was also the year of the Great Sugar Strike in Hawaii, during which roughly 6,000 foreign Filipino

field workers joined picket lines and demonstrations instead of undercutting the wages of fellow laborers. In Los Angeles, the Fil-Am community held several events to celebrate the month, including the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC).

Duterte marks first 100 days in office with rise in death toll and China visit President Rodrigo Duterte marked his first 100 days as president with a “very good” satisfaction rating from the Filipino public, anchored by his strong stance on his anti-drugs, anti-crime and anticorruption agenda. However, his intense campaign against illegal drugs has left more than 3,600 suspects dead, including more than 1,300 killed in gun battles with authorities—an average of 36 killings a day since he took office on June 30. Despite drawing ire from the international community, Duterte has been adamant on his ways and managed to alienate himself from the U.S., European Union, the United Nations and other international organizations that have criticized his anti-drug campaign.

Additionally, he made headlines for his state visit to China that seemingly suggested reopening diplomatic ties with the country, despite the years-long territorial dispute in the South China Sea. November Fil-Am shortstop helps Cubs win World Series The Chicago Cubs made history when they won game 7 of the World Series against the Cleveland Indians, for the first time in 108 years. The Cubs fought back from a 3-1 deficit in the series, winning four matches in a row to end one of sport’s longest running dry spells. That win was fuelled in no small part by the contributions of 20-year-old Filipino-American shortstop Addison Russell, who hit a grand slam in the third inning and sent home five other runners that evening to tie a Major League Baseball record with six runs batted in during a single world series game. In doing so, he became the first Cubs player to ever hit a homerun with the bases loaded in the season’s final series.

Donald Trump elected as 45th president of the United States In a truly stunning victory, Republican nominee and real estate billionaire Donald Trump -- whose campaign slogan was “Make America Great Again” -- was declared the 45th president of the United States, beating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who had been leading in the polls leading up to Election Day. With ballots still being counted weeks after the election, Clinton leads the popular vote with over 2 million votes, while Trump has 306 electoral votes to her 232. Trump, who will be inaugurated into the presidency on January 20, 2017, has drawn criticism for his administration

picks so far, including Steve Bannon as chief strategist and senior counselor, Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general, and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson for the Housing and Urban Development secretary.

Former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery In a ceremony on November 18, former Philippine president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ‘secretly’ buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) in Manila. Surrounded by his surviving family and military personnel, Marcos was given honors and a 21-gun salute. This ceremony came after the Philippine Supreme Court dismissed petitions that sought to stop the former president’s interment, which was supposed to be scheduled back in September. Though Malacañang was not informed about the surprised burial, President Rodrigo Duterte previously said Marcos was worthy of a hero’s burial because of his military and presidential service. Meanwhile, many activists and martial law victims have opposed the burial, saying it does not heal the country’s wounds. The remains of Marcos -- who died of kidney, heart and lung ailments while in exile in 1989 -- were brought back to the Philippines in 1993 and have stayed in a glass coffin in Ilocos Norte before the burial.

December PH Vice President Leni Robredo resigns from Cabinet, vows to finish term Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo stepped down as chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council on Dec. 5 after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered her not to attend future Cabinet meetings. She said that being barred from meetings would prevent her from doing her job properly. However, she will remain as Vice President, and said she will continue to voice her opposition to the administration’s actions she disagrees with. Robredo, whom Duterte and his supporters have accused of being involved in a plot to unseat him, asserted that she is not eyeing the presidency.

Trump praises Duterte’s drug war In a call with President Rodrigo Duterte, United States Presidentelect Donald Trump reportedly praised the Philippine leader’s war against the illegal drug trade as the ‘right way’. The two leaders — whom many have drawn comparisons for their unfiltered way of speaking — spoke for the first time earlier this month during a seven-minute phone call.

Trump went on to invite Duterte to visit the White House next year.

Duterte said hearing the real estate billionaire’s praise made him ‘feel like a saint.’ n

agamon & Williamor magbanua Inquirer.net

KIDAPAWAN CITY—All was quiet at the North Cotabato District Jail here and the inmates appeared asleep.

In fact, they were anticipating a daring predawn raid on Wednesday, Jan. 4 to rescue members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), according to Felix Capalla, one of the jail leaders.

At 12:30 a.m. black-uniformed men, some wearing balaclavas and armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and 50 cal. rifles, stormed the jail and sprang 158 prisoners in the biggest mass escape recorded so far in the country.

Darkness enveloped the jail protected by 20 guards, but their pistols and M16 rifles were no match for the firepower of the attackers, suspected to be BIFF guerrillas, a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“The jail guards fought the armed raiders but were overpowered by the sheer number of attackers,” Capalla said.

The men opened Cell Nos. 6 and 7, where high-profile inmates such as those accused of involvement in bomb attacks in the province and other parts of Central Mindanao were detained, he said.

Capalla said the attackers first rescued the Tamayan brothers and the Salik siblings, all alleged BIFF members. They then opened other cells and freed more inmates.

“They destroyed the padlocks,” Capalla said.

A total of 158 inmates fled under cover of darkness, according to Supt. Peter Bongngat, the warden.

Four escapees—Joey Aranas, Allan Tolentino, Edfel Lescano and Rapacon Amboludto Dimawan— were subsequently killed.

Biggest jailbreak In Manila, Chief Insp. Xavier Solda, spokesperson for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), said six escapees were killed by pursuing security forces.

Six escapees were later recaptured, including two who surrendered.

Solda said the raid was carried out by 100 men and that they were out to spring BIFF men charged with murder and drug trafficking.

The President’s spokesperson, Ernesto Abella, appealed for “calm and sobriety” amid speculation that BIFF guerrillas were involved.

He said no specific information on the identity of the attackers had so far been received.

“We assure our people that manhunt operations on the escapees are now under way,” he said in a statement.

A civilian was also killed in the hunt for the escapees. He was identified as Satar Manalundong, a barangay councilman. He was allegedly shot by policemen who mistook him for an escapee.

“I lost one guard,” Bongngat said. The guard was identified as JO1 Excell Ray Vicedo.

Vicedo was manning the gates of the jail when the attackers, led

by Esmael Nasser, alias Commander Derbi, arrived. Vicedo was immediately shot dead.

Well-planned operation Derbi was also an escapee from the same jail. He was detained on bombing charges and the killing of Kabacan Vice Mayor Policarpio Dulay in 2013. He and two other suspected BIFF members escaped in August last year.

Bongngat said Derbi and his men switched off the power to the entire jail while engaging other guards in a firefight.

Capalla said that before the attack, some of the 1,511 inmates in the 750-capacity jail were already talking about an impending rescue operation.

“I started hearing the plot before New Year’s Day. Word had been spreading that inmates of Cell No. 8 will be rescued. But prior to that, some inmates also told us to be ready,” Capalla said.

He said he informed Bongngat about the planned attack.

Capalla said Bongngat immediately asked for reinforcement and policemen were deployed to the jail.

But on Jan. 2, he said the policemen disappeared and only BJMP personnel were left to secure the jail.

“It was well planned,” Bongngat said.

A report by the regional police office quoted one of the recaptured inmates, Jason Angkanan, as saying he noticed that their cell was

DARING RAID. Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, some of them shown in this 2012 photo, staged a daring raid on the North Cotabato District Jail in Kidapawan City before dawn on Wednesday, Jan. 4 killing a guard and freeing 158 inmates.

Inquirer.net photo by Jeoffrey Maitem

not yet padlocked when he went to sleep at 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

He said he was awakened by gunfire at 1 a.m. and then heard some inmates shouting that they should go out of the jail because the attackers would burn the building.

He said he joined the others in scaling the wall.

Angkanan was arrested by village watchmen at the nearby Central Mindanao Institute and Research Center around 2 a.m. and later turned over to the military.

Both the BIFF and the MILF denied claims their members were behind the raid.

Abu Misri Mama, the BIFF spokesperson, told the Inquirer: “We have other priority targets.

And if ever we do conduct operations, we would never deny responsibility.”

Ghadzali Jaafar, the MILF political affairs vice chair, said his group “was not a fool to conduct such atrocity while talking peace with the government.”

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno directed the BJMP to intensify the hunt for the remaining escapees.

Sueno also expressed grief over the death of Vicedo. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of one valiant comrade who offered his life in the fulfillment of his avowed duty. He and the other jail wardens on duty held on to their post amid the havoc, the true mark of a public servant.” n

A January 6-12, 2017 • nEW yOrK anD nEW JErSEy aSIan JOurnaL

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OpiniOn

Features

Collateral damage

In war, there is collateral damage. In the case of the vicious war on illegal drugs, President Duterte acknowledged last week that there have been “unintended killings” that have claimed the lives of innocents including children. In fact practically everyone killed in the drug war was legally innocent since guilt beyond reasonable doubt was never established in court, and most of the slain weren’t even indicted.

For the unintended killings, the President said he’s sorry, although he made it clear that it would not stop his relentless war. Such a cavalier attitude toward human life is likely to rub off on the forces fighting the drug menace, making them careless about hitting innocents in the crossfire. It can encourage them to continue disregarding laws and rules on armed confrontations and the conduct of arrests and searches.

The forces of the Marcos dictatorship at least went through the motions of presenting arrest, search and seizure orders—the dreaded ASSO—that were used to crush political dissent. These days, polic—and masked vigilantes who may also be lawmen – simply enter neighborhoods and private homes and start shooting, unmindful if toddlers are caught in the crossfire.

Sorry, even from the president of the republic, isn’t enough for those who have lost their children in the course of Oplan Tokhang.

The bereaved need justice, which starts with competent investigation and the arrest of the killers.

The government must show that the rule of law still prevails in this country and that there is justice for rich and poor alike.

Every “unintended killing” must be investigated and the killer brought to justice. Law enforcers cannot just keep saying “oops!” each time they pull the trigger and hit the wrong target. They must be reminded that under most circumstances, they must first aim to disable rather than kill, and not the other way around.

In armed police operations, utmost care is required particularly when children are around. Callous disregard for human life can only erode public support for the police in its bloody campaign against the drug menace, especially when cases of “unintended killings” soar and more children become collateral damage. (Philstar.com)

Guest Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Do you feel optimistic and excited about US politics in 2017?

CRYSTAL BALL — what do you reveal? After a divisive, toxic and confusing election season in 2016, will it be an enlightening, hopeful and promising year for U.S. politics in 2017?

On Tuesday, January 3, Re-elected Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and the newly-elected members of Congress were sworn into office.

In his speech, Ryan said that all the elected officials, regardless of party affiliations, are in office right now because they want to help the American people and get things done to serve the country, promising to work with Democrats on things they agree on while treating each other and the institution with respect on issues they do not agree on.

Ryan is excited about the fact that the Re-

publicans control both the Executive and the Legisla- The Fil-Am tive branches of government, which means that there may Perspective be more actual results and action, instead of gridlock and bickering that held the American people in the past years.

Gel SantoS-reloS Minority Leader Democrat Nancy Pelosi affirmed the Democrats’ commitment to work with Republicans for the good of the American people, but also vowed in her speech before introducing Speaker Ryan: “We will stand our ground wherever in good conscience we must. If there is an attempt to destroy the guarantee of Medicare, harm Medi-

care, Social Security or the Affordable Care Act, Democrats will stand our ground!

If there is an assault on clean air and clear water, on civil rights, women’s rights or LGBT rights, if Dreamers and their immigrant families face the nightmare of deportation.”

On January 10, President Obama is set to deliver his farewell speech to the nation in Chicago, just as the first President of the United States George Washington did before his term ended.

On January 20, Obama’s successor, President-Elect Donald Trump will take his oath, and will be America’s president, chief execu-

tive and commander-in-chief for the next four years.

However, as most political experts point out, Trump is not really an ideological President.

This makes them wonder if he will really champion Republican principles and platform.

DO YOU THINK Trump will stir the country in the right direction? Do believe he will be able to fulfill his campaign promise to “make America great again”? Do you feel optimistic and excited about U.S. politics in 2017? *** 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 ABSCBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

The instincts of a leader

Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenta IN the wake of the devastation wreaked by super typhoon Nina in the Bicol Region, Vice-President Leni Robredo has been pilloried in social and mainstream media for being “missing in action.”

Camarines Sur has been among the most severely damaged, as well as Albay and neighboring provinces. The fact that CamSur is Robredo’s home province has made her fair game for supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte who see Robredo as a lurking threat to his presidency, what with the media playing up rumors of a plot to oust him.

But even those who think well of Robredo may have begun to have second thoughts about her readiness to assume the leadership of the country, in case of an abbreviated Duterte tenure. Proceeding with her Christmas vacation in the United States with her family, in spite of the approaching calamity, and remaining in the US in the face of the devastation have raised questions about her priorities as a national leader.

One pundit put it to me quite candidly: What would Jojo Binay have done under the circumstances? Knowing the former vice-president, I have no doubt that he would have personally been at ground zero as soon as typhoon Nina made a landfall, leading volunteers and distributing relief goods.

Another question posed to me was: What would the current vice-president’s late husband,

Jesse Robredo, have done under the circumstances? I never had the privilege of meeting him, but here is what I dug up in the archives about Jesse Robredo as mayor of Naga City (quoted verbatim): ”December 5, 1992, Naga City was flooded. It was like Ondoy and Habagat. Naga City was full of total darkness due to absence of power supply from CASURECO II. Large trees blocked the road and contaminated drinking water. Guess what, it was cleaned up in less than a week.

The power supply was restored in two days time. Trees blocking the road were cut immediately and you can see the road free from mud. How did DILG Secretary do this? He mobilized all the contractors of Naga City, he used the trucks and heavy equipment in clearing the city free of charge.

And, he personally led the clearing operations. Imagine that early morning of December 6, 1992, DILG Secretary Robredo is shoveling the mud in the streets and his city hall employees were helping. Every single resident of Naga City was inspired with the action taken by DILG Secretary Robredo…”

VP Binay and Jesse Robredo had the instincts of a leader.

They knew their priorities. On the other hand, Leni Robredo, in spite of being the second highest official in the land, apparently acted like the average individual who had already made plans for a holiday vacation and, therefore, could not cancel the trip.

In fact, that was how Robredo’s apologists explained it. In social media, a certain Gomez, responding to critics, posted: “Why are you overreacting? If she wants to spend her holidays

with her family and sister in the US, there’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone’s entitled to spend the holidays with their family, same as you and everyone else.”

Gomez further “argued that the vice president cannot stop a typhoon, and that local government units are the ones responsible in looking after their constituents. Camarines Sur Gov. Miguel Villafuerte and Naga Mayor John Bongat are on top of the situation and have evacuated people to safety.”

The apologist is absolutely right - that is, if Robredo were not the vice-president of the country.

But she is. She is not your average Juana or Maria. She is also being primed by supporters as head of the opposition and is just a heart attack (or a coup) away from being chief executive and commander-in-chief.

For sure, a long-planned overseas Christmas holiday with family members, is not easy to cancel, whatever natural calamity or disaster might be looming. It really depends on how important one considers the threatened victims of the calamity or how one values one’s image as a leader.

Several years ago, my wife and I were about to board a flight from Phoenix, Arizona to Europe, in the course of a long-planned trip to promote the 3rd Global Filipino Networking Convention in Cebu. But my mobile phone suddenly rang and we received the news that my mother-in-law had just died. Because the deceased was the mother of my wife and was someone dear to me and my family, rushing to her internment was more important than the trip to Europe, no matter what the additional expenses and other inconveniences were.

We cancelled our trip and immediately booked a flight to the Philippines.

It was simply a matter of priorities.

Were the people of Camarines Sur and the people of the Bicol Region, high on Robredo’s list of priorities? The decision she made to proceed with her trip – although seemingly logical and practical (she could probably not have been as effective as the provincial officials of CamSur and Albay in managing relief operations) – may have sent the wrong signals about her leadership instincts.

To put the issue in perspective, here is what was said about US Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush in a newspaper editorial, when Louisiana was struck by massive flooding in August 2016, while Obama was on vacation.

“Vacation or not, a hurting Louisiana needs you now, President Obama – Last week, as torrential rains brought death, destruction and misery to Louisiana, the president continued his vacation at Martha’s Vineyard, a playground for the posh and well-connected.

We’ve seen this story before in Louisiana, and we don’t deserve a sequel. In 2005, a fly-over by a vacationing President George W. Bush became a symbol of official neglect for the victims of Hurricane Katrina… It’s past time for the president to pay a personal visit, showing his solidarity with suffering Americans.”

The editorial added: “Like his predecessors, Obama has no doubt discovered that crises keep their own calendar, even when commanders-in-chief are trying to take some time off the clock.

It’s an inconvenience of the pres-

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

idency, but it’s what chief executives sign up for when they take the oath of office.”

Indeed, rushing to the side of beleaguered constituents is an inconvenience of high national office, but it’s what Leni Robredo signed up for when she agreed to run for vice-president.

It can be argued that Robredo is “helping coordinate the relief operations for typhoon ‘Nina’ in the Bicol Region, while on a break in the US,” to quote her spokeswoman, Georgina Hernandez, and that “a team from the office of the vice president (OVP) has been dispatched to the affected areas to facilitate relief and emergency response operations on the ground.”

But as the Louisiana editorial said about Obama, the president of the United States needed “to pay a personal visit, showing his solidarity with suffering Americans.” Likewise, Vice-President Leni Robredo needed to do the same in CamSur and the Bicol Region to show her solidarity with her suffering constituents.

In an August 2015 article in US News & World Report on the 10th anniversary Hurricane

Katrina, Democratic pollster Geoff Garin observed that Bush’s tepid response to the disaster “raised fundamental questions in people’s minds about how in touch he was while there was chaos in people’s lives, and how much he cared about it. And it raised questions about the basic competence of his administration.”

The same questions may have been raised about how in touch Robredo is with the chaos in her constituents’ lives and how much she cares about them.

Of course, Robredo can always make good the next time another disaster pummels our hapless nation (God forbid). Hopefully, she will learn a few lessons in crisis management, the burden and inconveniences of a national position, and the need for sharpening her leadership instincts.

Incidentally, President Rodrigo Duterte - whatever may be said about his verbiage and his deadly management style - is familiar with all of these and there is no doubt about his leadership instincts. (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.

aDVErTISInG anD aDVErTOrIaL POLICIES ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

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Dateline PhiliPPines

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 6-12, 2017

A

De Lima: DOJ chief fakes even his own hair

by Paolo

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA – Sen. Leila de Lima refuted allegations that she was behind the riot at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in September last year that left one high-value inmate dead and injured several other convicts, who later testified against her in a congressional inquiry over her alleged involvement in the drug trade in NBP. De Lima said Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who had accused her and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV of instigating the riot to stop some inmates from testifying, should be the one held accountable as the NBP is under his supervision.

“Aguirre is lying. He is a chronic liar like his boss, and a secretary of justice without balls.

What do you expect from a public official who fakes his own hair?”

De Lima said in a statement, referring to Aguirre’s wig.

De Lima said it was President Duterte who ordered the riot to pressure the inmates, including Jaybee Sebastian, to testify against her during the House of Representatives’ inquiry into the drug trade in the NBP. She said the allegation was in line with the propaganda thrust of the administration to pin all the blame on anybody except themselves.

“If I were responsible for the

THE BIRDS HAVE FLOWN. An armed policeman patrols along the perimeter fence of the Kidapawan district jail hours after 158 inmates escaped. A jail guard was killed when dozens of armed rebels raided the facility.

ManilaTimes.net photo Sen. Leila De Lima

stabbing, it then seems that the NBP is run and managed by idiots who cannot protect highvalue inmates staying inside the most guarded spot in Philippine prisons,” De Lima said.

She said Aguirre was exercising the powers of secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) without taking any responsibility for such exercise.

Aguirre has power and authority over the NBP but refuses to take responsibility for the stabbing of several high-profile inmates under

his watch, De Lima said.

“Instead, he creates a convenient scapegoat in the person of two senators who were at least several kilometers away from the crime scene,” De Lima said.

Aguirre has Special Action Force members from the Philippine National Police securing the NBP “but blames two senators for the stabbing incident, instead of asking the PNP-SAF why they were sleeping in the noodle house during the so-called riot,” De Lima said. n

Palace men dared to live on P40 a day

by DJ

YaP Inquirer.net

TRy to live on P40 a day.

That was the challenge issued

by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate and his former House colleague, Neri Colmenares, to the country’s economic managers blocking the P2,000 increase in pension for Social Security System (SSS) retirees.

The current P1,200 base pension received by SSS beneficiaries amounts to P40 a day.

“It’s so easy for them to obstruct the pension hike because they are not the ones experiencing not being able to eat right or to buy medicines to help pensioners live longer,” Zarate said on Wednesday. “Millions of pensioners will benefit from the pension hike but it seems they (economic managers) consider credit ratings to be more important than the lives of our senior

citizens.”

Zarate and Colmenares challenged Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Director General Ernesto Pernia to live on the SSS base pension to understand the plight of the beneficiaries.

The three economic officials earlier made a recommendation blocking the joint resolution passed by Congress to increase pensions by P2,000, with the first tranche supposedly being released this month and second tranche in 2019.

The economic managers warned that the increase might shorten the life of the SSS fund unless it was accompanied by higher contributions among its members.

But Colmenares, chair of Bayan Muna, questioned the figures put out by the economic manag-

ers.

“SSS announced during the deliberation of our bill last Congress that a P2,000 increase will deplete SSS funds by 2029. The current proposal is only P1,000 increase in 2017 and the other P1,000 increase sometime in 2020 and yet, the economic managers threatened that this will deplete the fund life further to 2027,” Colmenares said.

“How come a P1,000 increase will result in a shorter fund life than a P2,000 increase? This is absurd,” he said.

Colmenares argued that the SSS would not go bankrupt if it were to improve its collection.

“Out of the 40.8 million employed labor force, only the contribution of 11.8 million SSS members are remitted. If SSS will be able to collect from 16 million members, its fund life will increase by many years,” he said. n

DFA: PH will not discuss Hague ruling during ASEAN summit

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that the Philippines will not mention the international tribunal’s ruling last year regarding the South China Sea territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing during the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

“Well, actually, there’s no need to really discuss The Hague ruling because it already exists. It’s already a part of the law, of the international law, so it’s there and the focus will be of course on – I think the priority now is to try and get a Code of Conduct,” DFA Undersecretary Enrique Manalo said on Thursday, January 5, in a press briefing at the Malacañang.

Last year, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague ruled that China’s historic “ninedash line” claim of sovereignty over the South China Sea had no legal basis.

The tribunal also concluded that China violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a treaty signed by both Manila and Beijing.

The Chinese government, however, has refused to acknowledge the ruling.

“The Hague ruling will not be on the agenda in the sense that it’s already part of international law.

So we really can’t discuss the rul-

ing, it’s there,” Manalo added.

Early this week, Foreign Secretary Perfecto yasay Jr. also said that he “can’t see the point” of discussing the ruling during the summit.

“The PCA arbitral ruling on the South China Sea is final and binding only between the parties. No discussion of the ruling by ASEAN is going to change it or result in its implementation without the use of force except through our peaceful bilateral engagements with China,” he said.

According to yasay, no one could implement the ruling, not even the ASEAN. He noted that the arbitral tribunal itself has no enforcement power. “[B]ecause the arbitral tribunal has no enforcement power, the only remaining issue is on its implementation that the Philippines and China have agreed to defer until both parties are ready with a solution without eroding or compromising their respective claims,” he added.

The Philippines will be hosting the ASEAN summit this year.

Despite not discussing the ruling, the DFA said, however, that among the top priorities during this year’s ASEAN summit would be finalizing of the code of conduct for claimants on the South China Sea. “The issue of the South China Sea, of course, is in the agenda

of the ASEAN. In fact, we will be undertaking ongoing work throughout the year focusing on the unfinished Code of Conduct of the South China Sea and the Declaration of the Code of Conduct and the principles of the Code of Conduct,” Manalo said.

Asked how they would form the code of conduct with China’s reported construction and militarization on the South China Sea, Manalo replied: “That’s the challenge we face in coming out with the framework. It’s not only the Philippines who faces this challenge but other claimant states in the region.”

“And I think the whole purpose of the Code of Conduct is to try and see how these disputes can be managed in a peaceful way and in a non-confrontational way.

And this is the position that the Philippines and the other ASEAN countries will be taking when we discuss a possible framework for the Code of Conduct and the implementations of the principles on the Declaration of the Code of Conduct,” he added. yasay said that any ASEAN member may also raise its militarization concern in the South China Sea as a separate issue distinct from the arbitral ruling.

“However, only by unanimous consensus can the regional group agree to place this in the agenda,” yasay noted. n

A January 6-12, 2017 • nEW yOrK anD nEW JErSEy aSIan JOurnaL

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January 6-12, 2017

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An Asian Journal

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY JA N uA RY 6 , 2 0 1 7

The Best of LifEASTyle 2016

by MoMar

G. Visaya/AJPress

ann ong

2016 will go down in the history books as the year where change happened. Filipino-Americans know full well what this means as both our home countries – original and adopted – went through elections that can best be described as tumultuous.

When the dust settled, Rodrigo Duterte and Donald Trump both came out as victors.

But aside from politics, plenty of things happened in 2016. We met a lot of colorful personalities and we covered a slew of events as well.

From book authors to chefs to restaurateurs to politicians and historymaking, glass ceiling-breaking, just simply inspiring personalities – we tried to capture their essence and share their stories and beliefs with you.

As we take in the first few glorious days of the new year, we take a look back at 2016 and the numerous issues and people we met and covered along the way.

Pia alonzo Wurtzbach

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Stella abrera

Minerva tantoco

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach began her reign with a slew of media appearances and a round of interviews with print and TV outlets, including those from the Philippines. We had an opportunity to chat with her on the second day of her interviews and she excitedly told us about her new life in New York City.

We also had a chance of covering some of her events in the city – whether she was being awarded by APICHA for her HIV/ AIDS advocacy or her meeting with the Filipino-American community at the Philippine Center or her public HIV testing at the APICHA clinic in downtown Manhattan.

Stella Abrera broke the proverbial glass ceiling at the American Ballet Theatre in 2015 when she was promoted as one of the elite company’s principal dancers, becoming the first Filipino-American to do so.

We met her months after the announcement so we asked her about being the first FilipinoAmerican in ABT’s 76-year history to reach the elite ballet company’s highest rank “So far, so good,” the ballerina told the Asian Journal. “I’m still enjoying sinking my teeth into Photo by Troi Santos learning new roles and having a In a few weeks, all eyes will be good time.” on Pia as she crowns the next Miss What made the promotion Universe in Manila. extra special was the fact that she had already come to terms with the fact that with the injury that eraldine oMan happened a couple of years ago and her current age, she accepted The recent May elections the fact that it was not going to in the Philippines introduced a happen. But it did. After almost new politician to the rest of the two decades with ABT, Stella world. Her name is Geraldine reached the pinnacle of her career.

Roman and she was elected as a congresswoman to represent “To be honest, it’s mostly the the First District of the province feeling of responsibility, to help of Bataan in the House of inspire the next generation of Representatives.

The 49-year-old Roman made history when she won as she lint became the first transgender woman in the country’s history Only three Filipinos have to be elected to Congress. Her won the coveted Tony Award landslide victory is viewed – Lea Salonga for her Miss Saigon as a breakthrough for LGBT performance in 1991, Robert community in a country that is Lopez won Best Original Score considered traditionally Catholic for Avenue Q in 2004 and Jhett and conservative, and where Tolentino (with his partner divorce, same-sex marriage and abortion are still illegal. Roman

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya says she will champion equal about my experiences being opportunities under broader a a transgender politician in the platform.

Philippines,” Roman said. “I have A few weeks after she won, one message – we are talking Roman delivered the keynote speech at the Diversity Leadership about diversity, it’s not just about gender but it is also about gender, Forum, a vital platform for religion, culture. We should look companies to explore how to beyond these differences and look develop Asian Pacific American for common ground. Let’s try to as well as Asian talent to gain a work together and be productive competitive edge in the U.S. and and bring our companies to global marketplaces. success.”

“What better place to talk

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Karla garcia 8/5 Karla Garcia is the first Filipina cast member of the highly successful and Tony awardwinning Broadway musical, “Hamilton.” Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical’s creator, lyricist and star, and the rest of the cast welcomed her with open arms last February. They even had a special ‘Ham4Ham’ video that eventually went viral.

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

“I am blessed to be a part of a production that sees absolutely no color, and at the same time Continued on Page 5

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Photo by Rosalie O’Connor

dancers not only Filipinos but all of them. It warms my heart to see these young Filipina dancers on social media saying that I inspire them. That’s very heartwarming, and it’s a responsibility that I am happy to take on,” she told us.

we got to know her a little better.

Tantoco said that the creation of the first-ever CTO role was part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s platform when he was running for Mayor. “ It was a recognition – not only of the importance of technology in government but technology in the future of New York City itself and it is that kind of dual role and recognition that there needs to be a nerd in city hall. And I’m very proud to say, I’m that nerd,” she said laughing.

She is proud to be a part of the de Blasio cabinet, and shared that of the senior leadership in the current administration, 58% are held by women.

Tantoco left her post this year and moved back to the private sector and she is now a senior advisor at the woman-run tech venture capital firm Future\ Perfect ventures.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Minerva Tantoco made New York City history in 2014 by becoming the city’s first ever Chief Technology Officer and was tasked to lead citywide effort to make New York City the most technology-friendly and innovation-driven city in the world. Last year, we had a chance to meet her a couple of times and

Jordan andino

raMoS Joann Raffe) in 2014 for being co-producers of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” (Best Musical), “A Raisin in the Sun” (Best Revival of a Play, which starred Denzel Washington) and in 2013, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” (Best Play).

This year, another Filipino talent joined this very short list of Filipino Tony Awardees. His name is Clint Ramos and he won for Best Costume Design in a Play for his work in the Eclipsed, penned by The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira and starring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o .

“I was initially really shocked. I never expected to be nominated.

I’m also very pleased and very happy about it. Then Lea (Salonga) tweeted about it and it put a heavy pressure on me,” Clint told us in between crisp laughter a few weeks after the nominations were announced. “Masses are being offered in the Philippines, that’s sweet and great but now it’s serious.”

In May, we met the man behind 2nd City, one of New York’s newest Filipino-focused restaurant.

“It is a Filipino taqueria and we’re fast casual. We’re definitely not trying at all to be traditional Filipino. In fact, Filipino purists would hate this place. I am not trying to change the world,” Chef Jordan Andino told the Asian Journal a couple of days after officially opening 2nd City, the newest foodie destination in Greenwich Village.

“What I’m trying to do is gently introduce accessible Filipino food to the American

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

masses, in a vessel that they are all familiar with,” he said. By vessel, he means the current trend that’s all the rage in major foodie cities across the United States today, the poke bowl.

Then, there’s the pork bun, burrito and the taco.

His dishes are creatively named and the flavors are strong.

That is why he has developed quite a following and a cursory look at his Instagram account – where he also announces secret dishes that are not on the menu – would make you want to schedule a visit to 2nd City to satisfy that craving.

zach eSPiritu/iSabel Sieh Some people start building their empires after college.

Others do it after spending decades of working and gaining enough experience. A few start their own companies way after their prime years.

And then there are those who start young. Really young. Like Zachary Espiritu, Math Battle app creator & Isabel Sieh, founder, Girls Will Code PH. While their peers are busy dressing up and crushing on Justin Bieber, One Direction or Taylor Swift (or whoever it is that this generation fancies), or spending their time chatting with friends online about the most

Photo courtesy of Karla Garcia

ali eWoldt Ali Ewoldt made history when it was announced earlier last year that she has been chosen to play the role of Christine Daae, The Phantom of the Opera’s leading

materials.

“I am proud of what we brought here this time,” Ong said in an earlier interview with us, as she reached for a clutch that was on display. “This one is nominated for the Best New Product award, and like the others we brought, these are one of a kind pieces using found and salvaged objects you can use somewhere else, like this clutch for example. There is so much heart and soul in this one, just look at the craftsmanship.”

Filipina designer Ann Ong, who presented her work through Artisan Resource and was under the Handmade Collection., was declared as one of the Best New Product awardees at the winter edition of NY NOW, the Market for Home, Lifestyle + Gift, the industry’s most expansive market event for tens of thousands of buyers, designers, and consumers. Ong won for her SustainAbility clutch bag made out of salvaged wood and other

lady. She is the first woman of color, the first Asian-American to do so in the musical’s almost 30-year history.

“It means a lot just to do the part let alone be the groundbreaker or somebody at the forefront of change in that way. I’m just trying the best job I could do and to help tell the story the best way I can, which is to sing the songs really well,” Ali said, reacting to the news back in June.

She has been approached by people who tell her that they are inspired by her, after watching the musical.

“Now, they can aspire to be Christine on the show someday because they see me doing it. That’s something much bigger than me and it is kind of amazing to inspire people that way,” she said.

mundane of things, these two Filipino- American teens have found their passion and have both begun building their future.

Zach is 16 years old and he was just awarded one of “10 Under 20: Young Innovators to Watch” for creating his iOS app called “Math Battle”. Isabel, now 13 years old, started coding when she was 10. She is the founder of Girls Will Code PH. Zachary and Isabel are just two of the young FilipinoAmericans who are excelling in this field at such a young age, proving that age is just a state of mind when it comes to brilliance, creativity and selflessness.

Mario de leon

Consul General Mario L. de Leon arrived in New York in 2011, replacing then ConGen Cecile Rebong. Since then, he has had a number of Deputy Consuls General – from Millie Sta. Maria-Thomeczec (who is now the ambassador to Germany), Tess Dizon-De Vega (who is going to be the next PCGNY Consul General), Zaldy Patron (now the executive director of DFA’s Office of ASEAN Affairs) and Kira Azucena-Danganan (who will be moving to the Philippine Mission to the United Nations).

Last October, he bade goodbye to the Filipino community of Northeast USA as his tour of duty came to an end.

It’s a little-known fact that ConGen Mario was first assigned to New York about 25 or so years ago as a consul and he and his family lived Continued on Page 5 Photo by Troi Santos

An Asian Journal

Immigration Corner

simply knock on a person’s door or come to their place of work, grab and handcuff them, and take MANY people are justifiably them to the nearest train station afraid and concerned about their or airport and send them out. future in America once Donald Instead, each person is Trump becomes president. When entitled to his or her “day in he kicked off his campaign, he stated his intention to deport the court.” They must be served with a Notice to Appear (NTA), which approximate 11 million illegal sets forth the charges or reasons aliens who are in the US. He later they are deportable. changed his position to focusing The person then has the right on the approximate 3 million he to appear in court, and apply for referred to as “bad hombres,” various forms of relief, if eligible, or those who pose a danger which must be heard and ruled to society, such as criminals, terrorists, and possibly those with on by the immigration judge in a trial-like setting. previous deportation orders.

Some forms of relief, which However, people are still worried that ICE will come to their exist under current laws, could include cancellation of removal, home or workplace, handcuff adjustment of status (if they were them, and take them off to the petitioned by a relative and their airport, to be flown back to the priority date is current), waivers (if Philippines. But it is not that simple or easy for the government they are in removal/deportation because of some previous to deport/remove people. You immigration violation such as have rights and are entitled to fraud or crimes, to name a few).

Constitutional due process, and Court proceedings could if you are ever faced with a knock involve several appearances. on the door, you should have an attorney represent you, to protect If their case is denied by the immigration judge, they your rights and determine if you can appeal to the Board of are possibly eligible for some Immigration Appeals (BIA), which sort of relief from deportation/ could take several more years. removal.

Where is Mr. Trump going With respect to fearing a knock on the door, you should be to find enough courtrooms and judges to handle the approximate aware of the following: 11 million new removal The government cannot

Monette AdevA MAGlAyA (Part 1 of 4) Do you believe in angels? I do. Most people do.

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

The Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bring forth a son.

proceedings? It will cost billions of dollars to build new courtrooms and hire and pay new judges (and their staff) to handle all of these removal proceedings and appeals.

The bottom line is it is not feasible to gather up and deport/ remove millions of people. But if you are among the “unlucky ones” who are facing removal, or are later placed in removal, it is vital you have an attorney represent you, and protect your rights. *** 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)

Angels among us

SHE TRIED TO COMPLY, BUT HER CASE WAS DENIED… A MOTHER’S DESPAIR AND AN ATTORNEY’S RESCUE ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF CITIZEN PINOY! Rowena and Mike came to the US in 2010 to build a better life. Rowena was sponsored as a teacher. As she was filing her third extension for her H1-B visa in 2016, the shocking news hit her. She was denied! Then her adjustment (green card) application was denied because, according to the USCIS, she worked a mere 14 days without the necessary DHS authorization.

Three lawyers tried handling her case, to no avail, and her family was urging her to “give up” and return to the Philippines. She finally decided to consult with “the attorney of last hope,” Atty. MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL, in a last-ditch effort to be able to provide a better life for her children.

Watch how Atty. Gurfinkel was able to solve the problem in a record 43 days, turning a disastrous denial into green cards for the entire family, on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Christmas Day at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

Mary and the child during the night after the Magi had left for a long and arduous trek to a town in Egypt some scholars estimate to be 200 miles away where Herod had no authority to commit mass murder.

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

Herod’s murderous rampage began when he realized that the It was also an angel that Magi had tricked him and had warned Joseph of a clear and present danger to the child Jesus. taken a different route home Herod, the unhinged, murderous ignoring his sly request to tell king descended from a long line him of the child’s location.

It is believed 14,000 innocent of power-mad monarchs, wanted male babies from the age of two to make sure no one stood and below were killed in Herod’s between him and his throne. most cruel, preemptive strike In haste, Joseph left with

“I think that someone is watching out for me, God, my guardian angel, I’m not sure who that is, but they really work hard.” — Mattie Stepanek Zechariah received a message from an angel. It was an angel that told Joseph to take Mary for his wife. It was a multitude of angels that told the shepherds where to find the newborn child while angels hovered above the stable during that wondrous night.

3

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY JA N uA RY 6 , 20 1 7

What to do if you get a ‘knock on the door’

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

Magazine

against this perceived threat to his kingdom. The holy family stayed safely away for years until the king died and the danger had passed.

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

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

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

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

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

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY JA N uA RY 6 , 20 1 7

On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places

Devon Spence: Life within and out of camera range... a private assertion

BoBBy T. yalong WhilE the fashion industry has impressively produced branded products and familiar household commercial faces, it has simultaneously opened doors to the mushrooming integer of aspiring live mannequins. The glamorous and fascinating world of modeling has beguilingly inveigled a huge number of females that introduced and ultimately changed the lifestyles of millions.

More than just the face and body to behold, models became iconic images that greatly influence not only the fashion industry but also related social and commercial entities. Female models dominated the field as early as the 1850s as initiated by Marie Vernel Worth, wife of the Father of haute Couture Charles Federick Worth and since then live mannequins came into being (after being merely studio and photographic models) due to the great demand to promote, display, advertise, or pose as visual aids for creative arts, especially clothing.

Then came lisa Fonseca (who invaded the covers of Vogue Magazine for over 200 times), Claudia Schiffer, linda Evangelista, Christie Brinkley, Cindy Crawford,

Intensity profusely emanates from the strong-willed model

The image of a promising male mannequin who is Devon Spence

Devon Spence unveils the masculine allure Now an inspirer...soon a legend in him

and Twiggy. later on, the names Kate Moss, Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Gisele Bundchen, Miranda Kerr, Adriana lima, Kendall Jenner, and many others still earned their own spots in the already jampacked world of fashion modeling The creation of modeling agencies (like Ford, Wilhelmina, Elite, Friday’s, Cal-Carries, and the like) easily paved several avenues for models worldwide. But the fashion arena was still in need of “other players” to totally paint an absolute scenario of what fashion is all about - thus the inevitable demand and sudden emergence of full-pledged male models.

Leaning against a concrete support Devon The profile of a big dreamer looks forward to a bright future.

The modern social and cultural evolutions created a huge opportunity for aspiring live male mannequins to utilize their physical potentials to the extreme while earning fat paychecks and getting the best exposures. Being a lucrative job, male modeling also takes its course to where females had gone: fashion campaigns, print ads, ramp modelling, becoming spokespersons, and billboards.

Caught in the topsy-turvy web of the modeling craze back in 2010 was Filipino-Swedish Devon Spence who entered frame when male models were already prominent figures in the field. Born in Kissemmee, Florida (January 14) to William Spence and Jennifer hylander Spence, Devon is the eldest among three siblings.

For male models, the standard height set by the British Association of Model Agents was from at least 5’11” (180 cm.) to 6’2” (189 cm.), with a waistline of 29-32” (73.66 cm. to 81.28 cm.) and chest of 39-40” (99.06 cm -101.60 cm.).

Towering at six feet and weighs 170 lbs., Devon easily meets the criteria while aptly armed with a firm determination to be an accomplished model

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and actor. his sharply sculptured bone structure that could “cut” diamonds, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes are easy passport to his claim to fame. having walked the runway or posed for print ad for Ralph lauren, Nike, Old Navy, Original Penguin, l’Uomo Vogue, Ermenegildo Zegna, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Adidas, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Alternative Apparel, illustrado, Cole haan, and Bench aside from gracing the glossy pages of popular periodicals such as Viet Beauty Magazine, Gentlemen’s Quarterly, Fantastic Magazine, MMSCENE, and Philippine Tatler, Devon feels having not yet attained what he really aimed for --- a campaign ad for a branded fragrance.

“Every model feels accomplished once given a fragrance campaign project. imagine the huge publicity, not to mention the pay, one gets from billboards, magazine spreads, TV, and store standees,” Devon said, sounding high spirited with a tone of optimism. “You’ll notice that the model’s face and name are directly associated with promoted fragrance. “ Aside from having that rare opportunity to wear top-of-theline designers’ clothing, working

Devon remains grounded despite fame

with staggeringly gorgeouslooking people, and meeting influential personalities, modeling has taken Devon to places unimaginable to him: Canada, Barcelona, the Philippines, and almost all key cities in the USA. Given a suitable time frame and his most obsessed fragrance campaign the moniker Devon Spence won’t only be a household name but at par with such gigantic luminaries in the fashion world like David Gandy (Dolce & Gabbana), Michael Bergin (Calvin Klein), Mark Vanderloo (Guess), Tyson Beckford (Polo Rl), Alex lundqvist (Versace & hugo Boss), Brad Kroenig (Chanel), Sean O’Pry (Armani), and other big name male product endorsers.

Simple and down-to-earth, success hasn’t gotten into Devon’s head. “i don’t usually splurge on branded names. i’m just being practical but not really tightfisted or a compulsive shopper.

But when i go out to socialize i have to be what people expect of me (as a model) so i put on branded wardrobe,” the low-key male mannequin expounded

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assertively.

Aware of the perils and hidden dangers of being a model, Devon is sentient about exploitation cases, sexual harassment, lurid tales behind photo shoots, and that his profession doesn’t guarantee massive wealth, sound health, and even security.

For a better analysis of Devon Spence’s unadulterated individuality, let’s scrutinize the raison d’être he gave to justify the following pertinent questionnaire: Asian Journal (AJ): Why did you embark on a modeling career? What interested you?

Devon Spence (DS): i actually never had an interest in modeling. i was in college at that time changing my major each semester because i didn’t really know what i wanted. i was a member of the school’s Theater of Arts Society, Multi-Cultural Student Association, and Student Government. My sister was the one who started modeling and my Mom found my long time friend, John Fisher, who got me signed up with Front Management, now my mother Continued on Page 5

Anne Curtis: Pause, rest and reward yourself Between hosting her noontime show, filming an upcoming movie and attending to her overflowing commitments, Anne Curtis is definitely a busy woman.

In addition to her already brimming plate, Curtis will soon add wedding preparations to her to-do lists as she recently got engaged to her long-time beau erwan Heussaff.

But despite her demanding schedule, the multimedia

personality still makes sure to pause, rest and reward herself for her accomplishments. today, Curtis reveals how she rewards herself for every win, be it big or small: Relaxing at home. there’s nothing more rewarding for the actress than relaxing in the comfort of her own home. Here the self-confessed geek and pet lover can let her guard down, be herself, and do anything she wants to do—stay in bed or

Curtis with long-time boyfriend and fiance Erwan Heussaff.

lounge in her favorite sofa while reading her favorite book, playing with her pets, or going on a tV marathon.

Spending time with family. nothing beats the company of family. the 31-year-old enjoys shopping with her mom, sharing long conversations with her dad or going on trips with her sister, Jasmine if their schedules permit.

For the holidays, Curtis and her whole family, with fiancé Heussaff, basked in the sea, the sun and the sand at Hamilton Island in Queensland, Australia. Moments spent with her family are what she treasures most since sometimes she may not see them very often. enjoying a good meal. there is no doubt that Curtis—one of the most followed local celebrities with over 6-million Instagram followers—loves food. whether she’s spending time with friends or exploring a country abroad, she makes sure to indulge herself with their sumptuous meals or sinful desserts to satisfy her sweet tooth. Proof to this are her carefully-curated food shots on her Instagram feed. travelling. Despite her busy schedule, the globetrotter always finds time to explore the world.

For her, nothing is as enjoyable as learning different cultures, meeting new people and learning their way of living. (ManilaTimes. net)

Liza flaunts Enrique’s birthday gift that left her crying

By Rosette

AdeL

Philstar.com

ACtOR enrique Gil’s birthday gift to on-screen partner and rumored girlfriend Liza Soberano left the actress crying.

In an Instagram post dedicated to the actor, Liza showed off a photo of enrique’s “birthday gift.”

“Posting this picture to thank a special someone. I literally cried when opening a huge package which was supposedly my ‘birthday gift,’” Liza said. enrique gave her a distinct luxurious designer bag from Chanel.

Enrique gave Liza a distinct luxurious designer bag from Chanel.

She said she has been looking for the bag for a long time now. the Kapamilya actress gushed as she thanked enrique for making the impossible happen given her specifications. She said the actor made her the “happiest.” “thank you for making me the happiest and thank you for making my dreams come true,” Liza said to enrique.

For his part, enrique also posted a sweet message telling Liza he loves her before her birthday ends.

Liza just turned 19 on wednesday, Jan. 4.

The Best of LifEASTyle...

From Page 2

Karla Garcia 8/5 celebrates the diversity that we, as Filipinos, add so richly to this country,” she said. “Landing a spot in this production where the colorblind casting is intentional, I feel so fortunate to be living in

this time.”

She shared that just like other actors before her, she worked hard and took odd jobs in order to make ends meet. “I did retail at express. I passed out flyers in

Mario de leon then in Jersey City and Bayonne.

A career diplomat, ConGen de Leon has extensive experience in multilateral and bilateral diplomacy. He served as Philippine Ambassador to South Africa with concurrent

accreditation to eight other southern African countries.

He was also posted to the Philippine embassy in the United Kingdom (including Ireland and Iceland), the Philippine Mission to the United nations in new York,

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

and the Philippine Consulates General in new York and San Francisco, USA. At the Department of Foreign Affairs, he was designated the Chief Coordinator of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Assistant Secretary for Fiscal Management.

Devon Spence: Life within and out...

From Page 4

agency. I thought since I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be, modeling could be a good opportunity and something new to try and explore.

AJ: Did you attend formal training or any related course in modeling?

DS: It’s funny looking back at my first ever runway where I was allowed to choose my outfit and I’ll be the first to say: “I did not have style.” But I remember how cool I felt. I learned a bit from modeling school but not everything was taught. I learned much more in the real world and picked up quite some bits-and-pieces from veterans.

AJ: Who discovered you and gave you your maiden exposure?

DS: My sister dragged me into it…Mom was my strongest support…John Fisher found me and got me signed…but it was Christian Alexander who developed me. And everyone has been there supporting me.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without their guidance.

AJ: What was your status before you landed your first modeling job?

DS: the start was tough. It was my first time having my own place and for six months I did catering, bartending, valet graveyard shifts, and danced on the streets to meet rent each month. During that time, I was introduced to Bruce weber (famous fashion photographer and model discoverer) to whom I owe

so much. then my first campaign began here with Hollister.

AJ: What are your goals as a model? Have you seen yourself getting progress in this field?

DS: First I tried to be a good role model before anything.

Modeling has been a huge stepping stone towards my acting career where I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far after having done a movie, a few short films, and a tV guesting.

AJ: Do you have any limitations as a model? How far could you go if total body exposure is required?

DS: total body exposure isn’t a must to be successful but it certainly helps open more opportunities. Choosing carefully which brand to allow yourself to be in a birthday suit if you don’t have a good team planning for a long term goal. If we are talking about something more x-rated, then count me out. I’ll do something sexy but tastefully done and sells but not sell myself for a contemptible taste.

AJ: How do you feel or react when the outfits assigned to you are not to your liking or preference?

DS: It doesn’t matter if I like it or not. I’m there to do my job and sell what’s put on me. I’ll find a way to like it and make it look good and viable.

AJ: How long do you think will you last in the modeling industry?

DS: I’ll last until I give up. I might be doing Viagra ads when I’m sixty (lol) but seriously I will have moved on by then…deeper into film and as a tV actor.

AJ: As a model, do you think what you are paid could be enough for sustenance?

I have my father and mother to thank on money management.

I do very well with what I earned. I know how to stretch a dollar.

AJ: What preparations do you do before a photoshoot?

DS: I workout the night before, check on my fingernails and toenails, have a fresh haircut, eyebrow check, restful sleep, shower, drink lots of water, and a healthy breakfast.

AJ: Currently, what do you still aim for? What are your future plans?

DS: Aside from having a huge fragrance campaign, I see myself working on the big screen. I frequently have dreams being on the set working with Jim Carrey.

I hope that one day I’ll have my own house where I could host thank You parties for everyone I’ve met along my journey. note: thanks to celebrity photographer Filbert Diego Kung for having acted as an unpredicted linkage to Devon Spence and for all the photos I used in this column.

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

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY JA N uA RY 6 , 20 1 7

Kris Aquino

Ruffa Gutierrez

Luis Manzano

Angel Locsin

What does the crystal ball say for Pinoy celebs this 2017?

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

wHen the Rooster crows at the start of its year (Jan. 28, 2017, according to the Chinese Calendar), will somebody from showbiz recoil conscience-stricken? Hard to tell. It’s much easier to predict (with an old, sometimes hazy, Crystal Ball as usual) what could happen to showbiz denizens in the next 12 months which could witness a lot of, well, “cockfighting” since, as I just said, it’s the Year of the Rooster. to borrow the words of Miss world Organization (MwO) head Julia Morley, we’ll do it in reverse order — you know, we’ll start with the “wide-Awake Items”: • Kris Aquino will bounce back and spring a big surprise on all of us, proving to all and sundry that she’s not done yet, career- and romancewise. Is a dashing foreigner lurking nearby?

• Ruffa Gutierrez and her foreigner boyfriend will not elope (too old for that) but will seriously think of getting married despite the objection of her Mom Annabelle Rama (over her dead body?).

• Luis Manzano will not fall on his knees to propose to Jessy Mendiola even if that’s the “trend” among their colleagues, Luis and Jessy not being known for being gaya-gaya, puto-maya. But they will enjoy another year of blissful togetherness, with the blessing of Luis’ mother Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos who said she found Jessy mabait at maganda.

• Angel Locsin, Luis’ ex, will finally (finally!!!) find her own new happiness since she claimed to have already moved on…without looking back with anger. everybody deserves to be happy, right?

• Claudine Barretto will let

bygones be bygones and accept a peace offering if extended to her estranged husband Raymart Santiago. It isn’t nice to carry a heavy 2016 emotional baggage, is it?

• Miss Universe (2015) Pia Wurtzbach will make an “important announcement” after she relinquishes her crown to the winner (will she be somebody from Asia?) in the 2016 Miss Universe Miss Universe pageant on Jan. 30, the third time it’s being staged in Manila?

• Sen. Manny Pacquiao will defy age and prove that he’s invincible by having another fight (with Floyd Mayweather? not too soon!) middle of the year. In God, he trusts.

• Papa Jack will quit Love Radio after many years, leaving his followers (this one included) orphaned. Asked why, all that PJ said was, “Long story,” adding that he planned to take a well-deserved rest. will he resurface in another station?

Stay tuned.

• Although his “It’s Showtime! co-hosts Billy Crawford and Anne Curtis are engaged (to Coleen Garcia

Calendar of Events across

and erwan Heussaff, respectively), Vhong navarro is not going to be a copycat and propose to his long-time girlfriend tanya winona Bautista, probably shrugging that he’s “been there, done that,” with his first marriage annulled (he has two children with his ex-wife). But Vhong promised to give tanya “the best wedding ever.” As he marks his 40th birthday today, Vhong is keeping his fingers crossed that his starrer, Cineko Productions’“Mang Kepweng Returns” (inspired by the Chiquito movie first shown in 1977, remade in 1979 and 1981), will attract a long queue as it opens nationwide today, with Kim Domingo as one of his leading ladies, directed by GB Sampedro.

• Isabelle Daza and husband Adrien Semblat will welcome the stork’s visit before the end of the year, following her cousin Georgina wilson who has already given birth to her and husband Arthur Burnand’s first child last Dec. 26. their “It Girl” friend Solenn Heussaff (also married like Isabelle and Georgina last year) is not following suit, not this year anyway.

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Feast of Santo Niño in Los Angeles On Sunday, January 15, 2017, at 3:30 pm, a mass sponsored by Santo Niño Cruzada USA, will be held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to celebrate its 30th year anniversary of the solemn Feast of Santo Niño, the Divine Infant Jesus.

The Southern California Sinulog Dance Co. will perform traditional Sinulog dances after the mass.

Although the devotion to the Divine Infant has roots in Europe, Filipinos are known for their fervent devotion to the Infant Jesus, celebrating with religious and civic activities.

As a result, Filipino immigrants brought their Santo Niño to the United States to be their spiritual recourse, assistance, and protector.

We celebrated the first Feast of Santo Niño in 1986 at then Saint Vibiana’s Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles. It was in the summer of 1988 that the original group of Santo Niño devotees formally organized under the name, Cruzada de Santo Niño. The organization’s name was eventually changed to its present name, Santo Niño Cruzada, USA. As in any organization, the organization’s path to success is measured by the dedication and commitment of the officers and members whose primary goals are to promote devotion to Santo Niño, provide individual sanctifications, give aids to needy families and be united with other Santo Niño groups.

For more information in this year’s celebration, please contact any of the following officers and members: Romy & Tess Esturas: (213) 387-6982 Rey & Tess Edpao: (818) 469-7292; Carmen Estrada: (213) 413-2881; Fe Montano: (323) 218-1587; Ester Paredes: (213) 864-1149; Lilia Figuracion: (626) 394-2661; Fe Reyes: (213) 413-5286; Cherry Guerrero: (213) 747-6508; Tessie Cruz: (213) 361-0937; Vicky Samia: (818) 851-2262; Laurie Dolorfino: (213) 407-0097; Maria Oclarino: (213) 427-0353.

ja n ua ry 28

Historic Filipinotown Scavenger Hunt Explore the cultural gems of HiFi (Historic Filipinotown) by joining the 2nd HiFi Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser on Saturday, January 28 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m! Meet Filipino-specific challenges (from a Balut eating contest to dancing Tinikling to a hip hop beat!). You may find yourself meeting a little-known community hero, tasting a Filipino food challenge or receiving your very own Filipino nickname! You will be having a blast while building your bayanihan spirit by asking your friends and family and even your Facebook fans to donate money to sponsor your Team to take this challenge. You and your team choose your own fundraising goal! Funds raised by this event will go to the programs and services of 2 HiFi community organizations, Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI) to provide vital services to families, workers and seniors in our community. Services include free or low-cost citizenship application assistance, human trafficking survivor support, civic engagement, wage theft claims assistance, cultural programs and more! Have fun, Discover Historic Filipinotown win prizes and support your community while doing it! Go to www.pwcsc.org/HiddenHiFi to sign up now. PWC is located at 153 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026.

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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Enlighten skin whitening on sale!

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY JA N UA RY 6 , 20 1 7

Friends gather to celebrate Manny’s birthday.

A fun birthday celebration for Manny Ilagan IT was another memorable birthday for Manny Ilagan at their residence in Fullerton, CA on December 24, 2016 as he celebrated his special day on Christmas Eve. Christmas carols, delicious

food, lot of drinks and games marked Manny’s birthday party which was hosted by his wife Meg. Colleagues from the Filipino-American media, friends and co-choir members from the St. Pius V Parish Church of Buena

Park, CA were among those who came together and wished him well.

Entertainer Joseph Gelito, with his witty humor, brought the house down with his performances.

Post-holiday ‘damage control’

For dieters, those who are watching their weight or counting calories, these occasions are tough times. Blessed are those strong-willed souls, whether or not they carry a calorie counter on one hand and a scale on the PhiliP S. Chua, other. These health-conscious MD, faCS, fPCS individuals will reap their rewards in terms of stamina, energy, a THE holidays may be behind us stronger immune system, and even longevity, as shown by medical but their physical effects, among statistics. others, will linger for a while.

Bear and horse analogy Medically speaking, it is actually a Here is an analogy to clarify time for “damage control” for those of us who overindulged during the a point: “The bear, a carnivorous, eats with impunity in one sitting, festivities. gaining pounds after pounds, The post-holiday “makeover” and then sleeps, slowing down its is just as a healthy preemptive body metabolism, while the horse measure, more so for those who really want to maintain their normal grazes on grass several times the weight or those who have diabetes, whole day, and runs around very frequently, and as such, is a more heart disease, hypertension or agile, much leaner, and healthier hypercholesterolemia. animal.”

As with anything else, damage Our physiology is at the control is best as a preventive optimum when we exercise and strategy. However, the holidays consume just the right amount and special celebrations (like a of calories of the right foods to birthday or a wedding reception), maintain our normal weight and which could go on for more than when our glucose (blood sugar) a week, expose all of us to that levels are on an even keel most of great irresistible gastronomical the time. When we overeat and temptation.

Health@Heart

then try to starve ourselves to compensate for our indiscretion, our blood glucose spikes up and down — a phenomenon described as yo-yo dieting. This severe fluctuation in our blood glucose levels has adverse effects on our bodies and on our immune systems. And this poses an even greater danger for persons with diabetes.

Eating several times a day, even five or six times a day, not exceeding the total 24-hour caloric need of our body, is a healthier habit, which helps maintain our blood glucose level in a more stable, less erratic, pattern during the day. But the key is caloriecontrol, especially the ones from carbohydrates (rice, bread, soft drinks, cakes, ice cream, candies, and other sweets).

Several years ago, we wrote about two main hormones that control our appetite, which is apropos to our discussion. Here is a segment of that column: What triggers hunger and satiety?

The urge to eat (hungry or not) is, to a large extent, controlled by hormones in our body. And these

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Unfortunately, not all products

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Experts warn people: “Mag-ingat WE all wonder why many sa mga poor imitations.” There stars and celebrities seem to have have been reports that some flawless, white skin. For sure, not whitening products sourced from all of them were born with perfect parts of Asia that claim to have skin. Many rely on beauty products glutathione in them are actually that effectively lighten dark skin and laced with traces of chalk. So be evens out darker pigmentations. extra careful. I’m proud to say that Thank goodness, you too, can have Enlighten contains pure 500mg beautiful white skin within just Glutathione plus Alpha Lipoic Acid, a few weeks with Enlighten Skin rosehips, vitamin C, vitamin E and Whitening Beauty Pills. papaya. These ingredients work An FDA-cleared beauty product, harmoniously together to improve Enlighten Skin Whitening contains the skin. genuine, grade “A” Glutathione that Besides skin lightening, has gotten rave reviews from people Enlighten Skin Whitening Beauty who have tried it for themselves.

Pills also targets to even your skin We have exclusively marketed the tone, remove darks spots, erase product for years and glutathione acne marks, and delay skin aging. is a wonderful antioxidant. In fact, “Doctors recommend that it has been proclaimed by many Enlighten be taken once a day experts as “nature’s most powerful (one tablet) coupled with 1,000mg antioxidant.” Enlighten is formulated of Ester-C (the modified version and manufactured in the US at FDA- of vitamin C) which can be approved facilities that have been in purchased at any of your favorite existence for 40 years. supermarkets or pharmacies.

Glutathione strengthens the Results are usually visible before immune system and has actually or within three months of use. This been used as a defense against is a very limited sale. Stocks are cancer. There are people who running low. fear that taking this may damage Order now and save! One their liver. But on the contrary, unit order of Enlighten comes in a hormones fluctuate depending on how much sleep we get, what types of food we eat and how many calories we take in, and on how much physical activities we indulge in daily. Scientific researchers are focusing on four specific substances they call “fat hormones,” which our own endocrine glands in the body produce. There are hormones that make one eat and there are also hormones that signal the brain to tell the person to stop eating.

These substances control hunger and satiety.

Which is the “hunger hormone”?

The hunger hormone is Ghrelin, which is secreted by our guts (stomach and intestines).

When its level goes up, we feel hungry and have the urge to eat.

The level of Ghrelin goes up when we get less sleep or not enough sleep. This is the reason why those who are trying to lose weight should get adequate amount (about eight hours) of sleep.

An imbalanced meal and stress also elevate the Ghrelin level. Food deprivation obviously increases the Ghrelin level, hence it is better to keep the level of this hormone on an even keel and not fluctuate too much by eating regularly (or even more than three times a day) but at a controlled total calorie ceiling, to maintain health and body weight. So, starving oneself is not a good way to lose weight, since this will lead to a Ghrelin “boomerang” in the latter part of

the day.

What is the “satiety hormone”?

The opposite or counterhormone, which is called Leptin, signals the brain when to stop eating. It controls the appetite.

This “satiety hormone” is produced by fat cells in the body. When a person loses weight, the leptin level in the blood stream also goes down. As a result, there is a “rebound” weight gain. The best strategy for losing and maintaining a desired weight level is to lose in a slow and steady pace, about one to two pounds a week, and not more. In this manner, there will still be an effective level of leptin in the body to control the urge to eat.

Are appetite suppressants safe?

Most appetite control pills, juices, solutions and powders on the market are not the physiological and unnatural way to suppress (by force) the appetite for weight control. While they are readily available and very popular, they have potential adverse side effects on the heart, liver, kidneys and brain in the long haul. Some serious complications and even deaths have been reported from the use of these diet substances.

Since greater calorie intake than output is the cause of an increase in body weight, the safest, most natural strategy is to eat less and burn more calories with physical exercises, making the output of calories (energy) greater than the intake of calories (food). The use

package of three bottles, or a three months’ supply is on sale for $99.00 regular price is $209. Enlighten is available in all branches of Monet Salon outlets: Or call Reflections by Monet Salon: 8340 Van Nuys Blvd, Panorama City, CA. Tel# (818) 8918949and Monet salon Winnetka, Ca at 818-912-6835 .en you can help them have one. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

of appetite suppressants could be dangerous.

The healthier “damage control” for our post-holiday misadventures includes daily gradual incremental reduction in the food we eat, daily physical exercises, as simple and easy as brisk walking for about 30 minutes a day, and hitting the scale daily (yes, daily) to check on any progress. Drinking a lot of water (not fruit juices and, especially not toxic soft drinks!) can help a lot. Excess weight that does not come down only means a greater reduction in food intake is needed.

The excess weight gained over the holidays could be safely eliminated within a week. For those really overweight to begin with, the same strategy (output of calories must exceed the intake) could be used.

Simply put, more exercise and less food, until the scale tells you that you have achieved your dream weight for the NEW YOU and the new year. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States.

Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

A tribute to Benjamin G. Maynigo: An idealist and dreamer till the very end

from the tree).

Unlike many of my friends and business associates, I don’t remember Ben and I ever discussing any business deals to get super rich. That was probably due to our humble beginnings in Pangasinan where our parents and ErniE D. DElfin grandparents were not materially driven except to get the best (PART 2 of 2) education that we can obtain within BEN was one guy who just our means. loved to make up acronyms and/or To end this unusual tribute to repetitive letters to remember a dear compadre and soulmate, things easier, like his four Hs = let me reprint what he wrote Humility, Honesty, Honor, and Hope about two years ago, when he (and Humor, as added by his Tanya, stayed with us for a few days at our when she read her eulogy).

Fountain Valley home. You can see I still remember also his 5 Ms and savor the flavor of his unique for a successful business to have: descriptive writing that comes from Money (or capital) Management, a sharpened provincial pen. That Manpower, Materials (logistics) and visit was the last time we saw each “Mansion” or a great ROI (rate of other, with my wife and my son EJ, investment). For many of his friends his inaanak (godson) : and readers, Ben was known as a “….I also had a chance wordsmith who created many things to see and meet old friends. out of the 26 letters of the alphabet.

My compadre (I am godfather to That is one of the things I will miss his only son, EJ) Ernie Delfin and his from his always active and prolific beautiful and forever young wife mind amidst his weakened heart.

Benita, hosted me to a nice dinner.

When he semi-retired from In fact, EJ who is a school teacher his newfound love affair with AI actually taught at my Alma Mater, (Artificial Intelligence) field that Huntington Beach High School, as allowed him to travel extensively an American Field Scholar during in many countries, I introduced my high school senior year. My him to my Asian Journal-San Diego Facebook updated status described publisher friends Genny and Sim my visit with them: Silverio and shortly thereafter Yesterday, a welcome dinner for he started penning his almost me was hosted by one of my closest weekly columns “Take it from my friends, Ernie Delfin. The food was Barber” and also on “Tech IT” (on great but it was not what amazed technology) that made his mind me. always on high gear.

He brought me to his house The many times that we were for 36 years in Fountain Valley together both in his residence in — only about 10-15 minutes from Virginia or in our house in Southern Huntington Beach. It was also California, our friendship and respect the house where the late editordeepened because of common publisher Max Soliven and I used to values and ideals on so many stay every time we came for a visit. aspects of life in general. We talked He showed the guest room about what kind of legacy we can which was renovated, for me to leave to our world. Knowing his know that next time, I should stay family and children — Tanya, Traci with them as I used to. But again and Raul — at close range, without that was not what amazed me. doubt, I can say that “ang bunga His front and backyards are only ay hindi mahuhulog na malayo sa as small as mine in McLean, Va. This puno” (the fruits will never fall far was what amazed me:

The Metamorphosis

He was able to convert both into a combination of a little FARMYARD and floral garden.

He planted and is producing the following: A. VEGETABLES: Eggplant, Ampalaya, Kalabaza, Pipino, Leek, Kamatis, Kamote, Basil, different Mints and Herbs, Alugati, Malunggay, and a few more American salad vegetables that I cannot name.

B. FRUITS: Avocado, Guava, Banana (Saba), Persimmon, Papaya, Apple, Tangerines, Oranges, Grapes, Mango, and Palm trees.

C. FLORAL: Roses, Orchids, Arias, Annuals and Perennials, and hundreds of succulents.

Doesn’t that make you jealous?

My friend, who has proven himself as a good CPA, an Innovative Entrepreneur, a Pioneer of E-Rotary, and a Patriotic Community Leader, is also an excellent Small Urban Farmer.

I ate some of the fruits we picked in the small farmyard for breakfast.”

What kind of a person can’t be touched by reading and savoring such a beautifully written essay, on a seemingly mundane or ordinary “farmyard” and human activity?

As an insanely idealist like him, I am humbly moved and this is one reason that makes me sad that my compadre left this world so sudden.

With his family, however, I want to remember and celebrate his life where he did his best to leave this world a better one than he found it.

Compadre BEN, you are one of a kind! I will never forget you!

So, until we meet again in heaven and I promise you, together we will replicate our beautiful farm-garden in Paradise!

To you Compadre and those who you have left behind, HAPPY BIRTDAY, and yes, let me shout your signature Season’s Greetings: “ MALIGAYANG PASKO AT MAYNIGONG BAGONG TAON!” *** Email: ernie.delfin@gmail.com Website: www.gkerc.org

JCI Philippine-New York awards the 2016 Distinguished Icons of Impact award representing a new breed of excellence After almost nine years since the last Distinguished Service Award (DSA) was given, JCI Philippine-New York awarded three outstanding individuals with the 2016 Icons of Impact: A New Breed of excellence award. 2016 awardees Dr. Michael Avaricio, Janet Salazar and Miguel Braganza II were recognized as this year’s Distinguished Icons. the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) was successfully relaunched as the Icons of Impact on Dec 28th at the chapter’s Gala night held at the Sheraton La Guardia east, flushing. this was a very special occasion for the chapter since the awards, which was first presented in 1972, was last awarded in 2007. the Icons of Impact: A New Breed of excellence is the highest award a non-member can receive from a Jaycee chapter that recognizes someone from the community who has shown exceptional leadership qualities, outstanding record of personal and professional achievements, contributions and service in various fields of endeavor in our society. the Jaycees’ Icons of Impact awardees join a select group of achievers and pillars of the community. the Icons of Impact brings together a select group of achievers who possess a few common traits and characteristics/ that unite them such as intelligence, motivation, high energy, compassion, leadership and dedication.

Newly introduced this year is the the Young Icons of Impact

category. the award builds upon the JCI USA’s tOYA program recognizing ten Outstanding Young Americans and with Junior Chamber International’s (JCI) program tOYP (ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World). this award category recognizes a select group of outstanding young individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 who exemplify the best attributes of the nation’s young men and women, recognizing their important role in the world of today.

President Stevenson Van Derodar remarked, “tonight is a moment for us to realize the human capacity to achieve greater things as successful leaders, exemplifying the truest potential of Distinguished Icons awardees with the judges individuals who make an IMPACt Michael Avaricio, MD received in our societies. By IMPACt we the 2016 Distinguished Icon of mean how the awardees have Impact for Medical Achievement shown others OPtIMISM, CHANGe, and Youth empowerment. Miguel eXCeLLeNCe, and above all C. Braganza II received the 2016 SerVICe to others.”

Distinguished Icon of Impact Deputy Consul General Bong - Being an Artist extraordinaire and Carino represented the Philippine empowering Children. Janet Salazar Consulate General New York Office received the 2016 Distinguished at the ceremony.

Icon of Impact in the area of the 2016 Icons of Impact: Women empowerment and Impact A New Breed of excellence, was Leadership. chaired by Jeanette Marco.

The Icons Honorees Attended by some 160 people the chapter also recognized in the community, the night was three Icon Honorees for their described to be “powerful, high contributions in their fields. energy and truly inspirational.

Ismael Jampayas was the Lora Nicholas, a Broadway recipient of the 2016 Icon Honoree star, pianist eric Celerio and David -Outstanding Humanitarian award.

Vernon served as the night’s musical Ma. Consuelo Almonte received the entertainers.

2016 Icon Honoree as Champion The three Distinguished Icons for the Aging. Carol tanjutco was Awardees presented the 2016 Icon Honoree for Outstanding Legal & finance

Chef Charleen wins Chopped The Global Kababayan G. TönGi SOMe really exciting news for 2017 for our community! Sharing the success of Charleen Caabay – a chef based in Oakland, California and the owner of the Kainbigan restaurant – who won the “New Year’s Bash” episode of the realitybased cooking television game show “Chopped” on the food Network.

Chef Charleen is the first filipino-American female chef to win the food Network’s “Chopped.” She also happens to be my blood-related cousin as my grandmother and her grandmother are siblings.

As Michelle Caabay wrote: It was the first time that “Chopped” hosted a New Year’s party and the four chef competitors got to prepare a festive three-course meal with traditional and extravagant holiday ingredients. the show is divided into three rounds: each chef is given a basket of several unrelated ingredients and the prepared dish must contain all of them.

At the end of each round, the panel of rotating culinary judges decides which chef gets “chopped” based upon presentation, taste and creativity. the featured judges for this episode were: Alex Guarnaschelli, Aarón Sánchez and Scott Conant. the comforting flavors of filipino cuisine and Chef Charleen’s heritage served as an inspiration throughout the competition.

Chef Charleen proclaimed, “We’re gonna celebrate, We’re gonna cook good food, and we’re gonna party!” She got the celebration started with an appetizer dish of Crab torta with Collard Green Laing and Champagne Butter Sauce.

Alex Guarnaschelli commented, “Your sensibility really comes through and I respect that.”

Chef Charleen added her own twist on laing, by making it with collard greens; it is typically stewed taro leaves in coconut milk. Scott Conant really loved the richness from the coconut milk.

She also used the blini as a binder and mixed it with the king crab legs, and made it all into a into torta, a Spanish-inspired filipino omelet dish that she loved to eat while growing up. Aarón Sánchez appreciated the big chunks of crab that were welcoming and brought a sense of comfort when he ate the torta.

Moving into the second round, Chef Charleen shined through with her special entrée dish of Martini Steamed Lobster tail with Barbecue Strip Loin and Curried Black-eyed Peas. She wanted to create a party on the plate for the New Year’s theme, and that she did! Chef Charleen always finds a way to bring people together through the food that she makes. She said, “In my culture, barbecue stick is popular, so my first instinct is to marinate it with all the yummy seasonings.”

Growing up in a filipino household, she was always surrounded by amazing food

Chef Charleen Caabay Photo by Shar g. photography

shared with family and friends. It’s no wonder she ended up opening her own filipino comfort food restaurant, it’s like a family party every day!

Aarón Sánchez commented to the other judges, “Charleen’s going to show us a window into filipino cuisine, she’s doing it her way, I really appreciate that!” then Alex Guarnaschelli chimed in by complimenting Chef Charleen, “there’s some really great cooking here!” I love the meat, it’s deeelicious, when I pull the lobster out of the shell and I get the marinade on it, it’s delicious!” then Scott Conant said it simply, “It’s good eating!”

Chef Charleen topped the party off with a funnel Cake with Pomegranate Grape Compote. the dessert round can be a challenge at times, and kept us at the edge of our seat, but she made it! Chef Charleen commented, “I looked at Matt’s plate and see this fluffy white stuff… Oh-Oh! He used some kind of technique that I don’t even know…” She transformed the featured ingredients into a playful twist on a festive holiday funnel cake with a last-minute sprinkle of toasted coconut, but it was a tad too sweet and needed more balance.

Scott Conant said, “Your instincts are great, but those are the nuances that you learn as time goes on.” Chef Charleen’s own recipe of true passion for food, pride in her filipino heritage, determination and creativity won the judges over!

Thanks Michelle for writing this article and a special thanks to shar g. photography for Chef Charleen’s photos. Congrats Pinsan! The community rejoices in your success and accomplishment. Watch out for Chef Charleen in 2017! *** Giselle “G” Töngi is the host and producer of Kababayan Today, a daily talk show that features relevant topics for Filipino’s living in America. Her aim is to bridge not only the cultural gap between America & the Philippines but to help with the generational gap between our own people. She is married with two children and is based in Southern California and makes frequent trips in the Pacific Rim to Hawaii and Manila to feature fellow kababayans who are empowering the FilAm community.

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Special Jaycee Award Honorees JCI Philippine-New York presented three special awards to current or former Jaycee members who have made a name for themselves in their local communities. fernando Mendez was the recipient of the 2016 Phoenix Award for exemplary Community Leadership by an Alumni Jaycee.

Luis Pedron was presented the Outstanding Community Leadership by an Alumni Jaycee award.

Jonathan Wong was presented the Outstanding Community Leadership by a Current Jaycee Advocacy award. award.

YOUNG ICONS OF IMPACT The Judges Percival Cunanan was the Awards received high recognized with the 2016 Young quality applications this year from Icon of Impact for Business and entrepreneurs, social mobilizers, ecological Innovation. tiffany Ma artist extraordinaire to medical was presented the 2016 Young Icon professionals, advocates for of Impact for Legal Affairs and Asian the seniors, lawyers, politicians, empowerment. Venessa Manzano is filmmakers, educators and many the recipient of the 2016 Young Icon more…the board of judges of Impact for Cultural Achievement who selected the 2016 winners and Children empowerment. Steven included Michael Dadap, the 2003 raga was awarded the 2016 Young Distinguished Service Award Icon of Impact for Government recipient and 2016-17 Chapter Affairs and Social Services. Steven Commander of the NY Chapter of raga currently serves as the New the Knights of rizal; ruben rafaelov, York State Chair for the National the 2006 Outstanding Young New federation for filipino American Yorker; JCI Phil-NY Senator Sergio Associations (NaffAA) as well as estrada, JCI Phil-NY Senator and a member of its National Board of President of the Philippine Press Governors. Jessica robinson was Club – richard rillera, and JCI recognized as the 2016 Young Icon Senators Kimberly Lambert and for International Affairs and Women Dennis Kramer both from upstate Security.

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Jaycee Lifetime Award recipients In addition to the community awards, two lifetime awards were also presented to deserving Jaycee members. Both were recognized for their outstanding leadership and service to the Junior Chamber movement. the first lifetime award was the JCI Senatorship - the highest award presented by the International organization to Jaycees around the globe. Krizteen Dulay- Concepcion was presented the Senatorship

by Chapter Senate President richard Aguinaldo. Witnessing the presentation were ten chapter Senators and two upstate NY Senators in an emotional ceremony that capped the culmination of over fifteen years of service to the organization. She joins over 78,000 global Jaycees members with this highest honor. the second lifetime award presented was the New York State Jaycee Governorship. elaine Magalona received this Governorship from her home chapter of JCI Philippine-New York chapter. Witnessing the awarding ceremonies were eight governors including NYS Lt Governor Dennis Kramer. A short video slideshow was prepared by Aprille Aquino and reggie torrejon to showcase her accomplishments that have helped propel the chapter to the highest recognition during her year as President. elaine joins more than 350 individuals with this lifetime recognition in the State.

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY JANuARY 6, 2017