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Volume 10 – Issue 42 • 16 Pages

july 28-august 3, 2017

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Babe Romualdez named new PH envoy to US

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

relations and promote stronger cooperation between the two meDIA executive Jose manu- countries,” Duterte’s spokesperel “Babe” romualdez has been son ernesto Abella said.

According to Abella, romualnominated as the new Philippine Ambassador to the United dez would also have concurrent States, malacañang announced jurisdiction over the Commonwealth of Jamaica, republic of on Thursday, July 27.

In a statement, the adminis- Haiti, republic of Trinidad and tration of Philippine President Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, rodrigo Duterte expressed con- Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, fidence that romualdez’ nomi- The federation of Saint Kitts nation will further strengthen and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the bilateral relations between Grenadines and Saint Lucia. for his part, romualdez said the two countries.

“We are confident that with he was “honored” and “hummr. romualdez at the helm of bled” by his nomination to the Philippine embassy [in] be manila’s representative in Washington, D.C., [this] will fur- Washington.

Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez has been nominated as the new Philippine Ambassador ther strengthen Philippine-US

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DATELINE

USA

from THe AJPreSS NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Fil-Am groups hold rally, rate Duterte’s first year in office Various groups criticize PH president for lack of commitment to promises

PHILIPPINe President rodrigo Duterte was sworn into office on June 30, 2016, and filipinos around the world have mixed feelings about the controversial leader’s first year in office. on monday, July 24, nearly 50 students, social justice activists and religious leaders gathered in front of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles to address Duterte’s track record as he surpasses one year as president.

Called the “People’s State of the Nation rally and report Card for Duterte’s first Year,” the groups critiqued Duterte’s administration and condemned its handling of several national issues.

The rally was a part of a national movement in which cities across the U.S. and internationally held their own People’s State of the Nation rally to call attention to many of the Duterte administration’s “unfulfilled promises.”

There was an emphasis on the Duterte administration’s handling of the illegal drug war,

to the U.S.

COURTESY CALL. President Rodrigo Duterte meets with People’s Republic of China Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Ambassador of China to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua who paid a courtesy call on the president at the Study Room of Malacañang Palace Tuesday, July 25. Joining the president are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Sta. Romana.

Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi

Philstar.com photo

Palace defends planned Pres. Duterte delivers second SONA Maintains stand on fight against illegal drugs abolition of PCGG as ‘unremitting, unrelenting’ THe current administration is planning to scrap the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the agency tasked to recover the ill-gotten wealth of late President ferdinand marcos.

“They don’t do anything. What do they do?” Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said on Wednesday, July 26.

According to him, the plan to stop the PCGG operations is part of the administration’s bigger proposal to trim redundant agencies in the executive branch. on monday, July 25, President rodrigo Duterte, in his second State of the Nation Address (SoNA) called on Congress for the “expeditious” passage of the House Bill No. 5707 or the “rightsizing the National Government Act.” The bill, which was introduced by Senator Loren

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by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PHILIPPINe President rodrigo Duterte delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on monday, July 24, covering a wide range of issues — from his administration’s policies, such as his “unrelenting” drug war; call for implementation of laws, including capital punishment; and government spending on infrastructure projects; to lambasting his critics and warning to tax min-

THe United States embassy in manila on Tuesday, July 25, vowed to work on a solution to address the issue concerning the bells of Balangiga church in Samar, which were seized

by U.S. soldiers as spoils of war in 1900s.

US Ambassador Sung Kim “We are aware that the bells of Balangiga have deep significance for a number of people, both in the United States and in the Philippines. We will

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‘Unrelenting’ drug war Despite what he described as international and local pressures, Duterte maintained that his administration’s campaign against illegal drugs will be “unremitting as it will be unrelenting.”

The drug war has earned heavy criticisms over its alleged violation of human rights and related summary killings. But the unfazed president, while clarifying that he “value[s] human life,” insisted that he has no intention

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PH tourism revenues hit P220-B

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

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US gov’t vows to address bells of Balangiga issue

ing companies to “death.”

He also cited his administration’s achievements in his first year of presidency, including the establishment of Citizen’s Complaint Hotline, as well as the implementation of the No Balance Billing Policy, and the recent nationwide smoking ban.

The president mentioned the West Philippine Sea issue and federalism as matters the Philippine government has “to tackle sooner or later,” but were not further elaborated.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Times Square outside the U.S. Army Recruitment Center to protest President Donald Trump’s tweet banning transgender people in military.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Protesters rally to denounce Trump’s transgender military ban

by MoMar

G. ViSaya

THe Philippines’ tourism revenue has reached to P220.30 billion during President rodrigo rodrigo Duterte’s first year in the office, according to the country’s Department of Tourism (DoT).

In its one-year accomplishment report released on monday, July 25, the department said the tourism industry has become a “bright spot” for the country’s economy.

It noted that the country’s tourism revenue during the first year of the Duterte administration doubled in comparison with his predecessor’s, former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, during the same period.

The current administration, according to the department, achieved a 109.13-percent revenue increase.

“The tourism industry has become a bright spot for the Philippine economy during the first year of the Duterte administration, with the country more than doubling its tourism revenues to P222.3 billion from July 2016 to may 2017, a 109.13-percent increase compared to P106.297 billion receipts during the first 11 months of the Aquino administration,” the DoT said.

It attributed the tourism boom to the government’s “firm resolve in dealing with threats, creating a more secure and safe envi-

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A few hours later, hundreds of protesters descended to Times Square in front of the U.S. Army recruitment Center to protest PreSIDeNT Donald Trump announced the commander-in-chief’s latest pronouncethrough his Twitter account on Wednesday ments. morning, July 26, that he is banning transThe tweet sparked outrage and criticism gender people from serving in the military from both Democrats and republicans. “in any capacity”.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said Trump said that the “United States Gov- the ban is “fundamentally un-American and ernment will not accept or allow transgen- unconscionable.” der individuals to serve in any capacity in “The United States should be leading the the U.S. military” due to the “tremendous way on inclusivity and diversity, not running In its one-year accomplishment report released on Monday, July 25, Tourism Sec. Wanda Teo said that tourism has become a “bright spot” for the Philippine economy, hitting revenues medical costs and disruption” entailed. up to P220.30 billion.

Philstar.com photo AJPress

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From the Front Page

Babe Romualdez named new...

PAGE A1 t “I’m happy and honored to serve the country. I am humbled

by President [Rodrigo] Duterte’s trust and confidence,” Romualdez, who is also a columnists for the Philippine Star, said.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim also congratulated Romualdez.

“Warm congratulations to my good friend Babe Romualdez

on his nomination to be Ambassador to the U.S.,” Kim said in tweet.

Duterte initially offered the post to Romualdez in December last year but the latter reportedly declined as he was still about to undergo an operation the following January because of an eye ailment.

The Philippine Star reported that the columnist has since ful-

Palace defends planned...

PAGE A1 t Legarda in September last year, aims to improve public service delivery by merging or abolishing agencies under the executive branch with redundant operating functions.

“There are many specific recommendations for policy actions under the rightsizing bill. One such proposal is to abolish the PCGG and to transfer its remaining activities to the Department of Justice (DOJ),” Diokno said.

He noted, however, that the abolition of the PCGG remains a suggestion, and that the decision on the issue would be made by a committee chaired by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

“All decisions by the committee will be in the nature of an executive order to be signed by the president,” the budget secretary added.

Since its establishment three decades ago, the PCGG has so far recovered an estimated P170 billion-worth of cash and assets

plundered by the Marcoses and their allies.

Reacting to the report, PCGG said it was “surprised” at the recent questions regarding its “performance, relevance, and efficiency.”

“Aside from the fact that it was awarded as the best DOJ performing agency for three years, what other government agency can effectively raise nontax revenues?” the agency said in a statement on Thursday, July 27.

It also noted that it was able to recover P57.1 billion in 2012, P631 million in 2013, P1.57 billion in 2014, P14.01 billion in 2015 and P481.95 billion in 2016.

It went on to say, “Why is there a question on its budget and relevance when PCGG’s cost-torecovery ratio is exemplary as shown by [the] numbers? Of all agencies? Figures do not lie.”

The Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (I-DEFEND) Philippines, also de-

PH tourism revenues hit...

PAGE A1 t ronment, and raising tourists’ confidence.”

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo also mentioned several events that contributed to the success, citing the country’s hosting of Miss Universe pageant in, the third Madrid Fusion Manila, as well as the United Nations World Tourism Organization Conference, among others.

She also took note of the cooperation pacts the Philippines signed with other countries like

China, Russia, Cambodia, Thailand and Turkey.

“The numbers are expected to increase as China has committed to sending at least a million travelers to the Philippines this year,” Teo added.

Netizens, however, slammed the government agency for its supposed misleading data.

Some pointed at the omitted tourism revenues in years 2011 to 2015 from the DOT’s “Bright Spot report” graph, which aims to compare tourism revenues

ly recovered and is now ready to assume the position.

Romualdez is the chairman of the Philippine offices of several US-based multinational companies, including FCB Manila and Weber Shandwick Philippines.

He is also the president of the Manila Overseas Press Club and vice president of Manila Rotary, as well as the publisher and CEO of Stargate PeopleAsia. n scribed the plan to abolish the PCGG as a “huge blow to human rights groups especially those who have been against the Marcos dictatorship.”

“This administration seeks to absolve the Marcoses from their responsibility to the Filipino people,” iDEFEND Spokeswoman Jean Enriquez said in an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report.

Malacañang, however, denied that politics is influenced the proposed abolition of PCGG. “It’s a question of streamlining. There’s no question of politics there,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella clarified.

He further explained that the proposal came from Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which is tasked with filing of cases to recover Marcos ill-gotten wealth.

The PCGG, on the other hand, handles the administrative functions.

“There was a proposal that the OSG can also handle the administrative functions as well…

Based on the OSG’s position, apparently they can,” Abella said.

(Dana Sioson/AJPress) during Aquino administration’s first year and the current administration’s.

“Department of Tourism-Philippines, why is your chart missing a few years? Isn’t this a misleading graph? Selective use of data? As a matter of fact, 2016 had 313.6 billion tourism revenue from 306 billion in 2015,” a netizen tweeted, quoting data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Another netizen commented in part, “Compared to 2010, revenue increased during Duterte’s first year in office but compared to the last year of Noynoy Aquino in office, we lost a lot.”

GIFT FROM AMERICA. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (right) and U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim try out one of two Cessna 208B Grand Caravan intelligence and reconnaissance aircraft donated by the U.S. government. Lorenzana said the two aircraft would be used for maritime patrols over the West Philippine Sea. ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr.

Pres. Duterte delivers second...

PAGE A1 t “to loosen the leash in the campaign or lose the fight against illegal drugs.”

“I will not allow the ruin of the youth, the disintegration of families and the retrogression of communities, forced by criminals whose greed for money is as insatiable as it is devoid of moral purpose. Neither will I be immobilized into inaction by the fear that I will commit an act that will expose me to public condemnation or legal prosecution,” he remarked.

Addressing his critics, Duterte went on to say: “Your efforts will be better spent if you use the influence, moral authority and ascendancy of your organizations over your respective sectors to educate the people on the evils of illegal drugs instead of condemning the authorities and unjustly blaming for every killing that bloodies this country.”

Martial law ‘fastest way’ to quell rebellion Defending his martial law declaration and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in the entire Mindanao, the president said he believed it is the “fastest way to quell the rebellion at the least cost of lives and properties.”

“At the same time, the government would be adequately equipped with the constitutional tool not only to prevent the escape of rebels who can easily mingle and pretend to be civilian evacuees only to re-group in another place to fight another day, but also to prevent them from spreading their gospel of hate and violence in the rest of Mindanao,” he added.

Death penalty, implementation of laws Duterte called on Congress for the implementation of several bills, including capital punishment, Rightsizing the National Government Act, Salary Standardization Law, tax reform, and establishment of a new authority or department for disaster resiliency, among others.

In his speech, the president asked Congress to “act on all pending legislations to reimpose the death penalty on heinous crimes — especially on the trafficking of illegal drugs.”

He pointed out that capital punishment is “not only about deterrence” but also “about retribution.”

“In the Philippines, it is really an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. You took a life then you must pay for life. That is the only

way to even. You cannot place a premium on the human mind that he will go straight,” he said.

Duterte also called on for the “expeditious” passage of the “Rightsizing the National Government Act,” which aims to improve public service delivery.

For the government owned and controlled corporations, the president cited the implementation of the existing Salary Standardization Law pending the review in the Compensation and Position Classification System.

“Salaries and allowances, incentives, benefits, and bonuses across the government owned and controlled corporations – at this time increases will have to pass by my office. And I am not inclined to increase your allowances, bonuses, and salaries at this time,” he said.

The president also asked the Senate to support his tax reform in full and to pass it without haste.

“The passage of the Tax Reform Law is needed to fund the proposed 2018 budget which I am submitting here and today.

The poor and vulnerable are at the heart of my tax reform. Your support would ensure that the benefits of the tax reform can be felt immediately by them,” he

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ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event.

To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 28-AUgUSt 3, 2017

A

AARP celebrates Asian American & Pacific Islander Community Heroes AARP honors individuals who serve AAPIs age 50-plus

WASHINGTON, D.C. – AARP is proud to announce the winners of its 2nd Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Hero Awards that were created to acknowledge the hard-working staff and volunteers of nonprofit organizations serving AAPIs age 50-plus.

Three AARP Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Hero Award winners and their organizations will each receive a $1,000 cash prize: • Dilafroz Nargis Ahmed, Desi Senior Center Director, India Home, Glen Oaks, NY Dilafroz Nargis Ahmed has helped new immigrants in the Bangladeshi community in Queens, New York for three de-

cades. At Desi senior center India Home, Ahmed works to improve the quality of life of vulnerable South Asian seniors in a culturally appropriate environment.

Since 2014, Ahmed has strived to make India Home a comfortable place for immigrant seniors to come together, adjust to living in a new country, and build community. Ahmed also helps Bangladeshi older adults access services and find jobs.

• Shongchai Hang, Outreach Worker, South East Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition, Philadelphia, PA Shongchai Hang has been dedicated to serving Southeast Asian refugee and immigrant elders for more than 30 years. For the past

Protesters rally to denounce...

PAGE A1 t away from it,” Mayor de Blasio said. “The brave Americans who choose to dedicate themselves to serving this nation deserve dignity and respect, regardless of their gender identity.”

Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized Trump’s tweet saying that the statement was “unclear” and citing it as an “example of why major policy announcements should not be made via Twitter”.

“Any American who meets current medical and readiness standards should be allowed to continue serving. There is no reason to force service members who are able to fight, train, and deploy to leave the military—regardless of their gender identity. We should all be guided by the principle that any American who wants to serve our country and is able to meet the standards should have the opportunity to do so—and should be treated as the patriots they are,” McCain said.

According to McCain, the Department of Defense is currently conducting a study on the medical obligations it would incur, the impact on military readiness, and related questions associated with the accession of transgender individuals who are not currently serving in uniform and wish to join the military.

“I do not believe that any new policy decision is appropriate until that study is complete and thoroughly reviewed by the Secretary of Defense, our military leadership, and the Congress,” he added.

Sen. Kristin Gillibrand also issued an immediate statement denouncing Trump’s announcement.

“These service members are willing to die for their country, and this is an insult to their brave and honorable service,” Sen. Gillibrand, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, said.

“This new directive is harmful, misguided, and weakens – not strengthens – our military.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer on the other hand said that he is standing by with transgender Americans who are serving in the military, calling them patriots.

“There is no doubt that our military is only made more mighty when it embraces the inclusivity and diversity at the bedrock of our nation,” de Blasio added.

Organizations condemn ban Various organizations across the United States have expressed their sentiments, calling the President’s announcement discriminatory, mean-spirited and hateful.

The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) issued a statement denouncing the ban and expressing its support to the transgender members of the military.

“President Trump’s latest order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military is a complete affront to America’s standing as a beacon of equality and inclusion,” said Brendan Flores, NaFFAA’s National Chairman. “Individuals who love their country should be able to serve it proudly and honorably, regardless of how they identify.”

Viva Tarroza-Taft, member of NaFFAA’s Board of Governors and U.S. Army (Retired), added: “This is a major setback to the progress made on behalf of LGBT military personnel. There are thousands of transgender

individuals already serving honorably and effectively in the military, and this action pushes them back into the shadows. When members of our brave military are forced to hide and are subject to discriminatory retaliation, it impairs military readiness.”

“Rather than deeming transgender individuals as a ‘disruption,’ we should work to educate each other about how heteronormative language and systems can allow for bigotry and intolerance to spread,” Jason Tengco, NaFFAA’s first openly gay Executive Director, said. “NaFFAA looks forward to uplifting our global Filipino LGBT diaspora - everyone from Jake Zyrus to Geena Rocero - and advocating for our community’s diverse segments.”

Johanna Puno Hester, National President of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) called Trump’s announcement “deeply disappointing”.

“Serving our country in this capacity should be open to all Americans, and this includes the diverse transgender community throughout the country,” Hester said. “Our AAPI community has and continues to face discrimination – from the barring of Japanese Americans from serving in the military during World War II to the current administration’s agenda to criminalize and deport millions of immigrants.”

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the largest immigrant rights organization in California, joined community leaders in condemning President Trump’s to ban transgender men and women from serving in the military.

“Mr. Trump had a golden chance to protect, honor, and recognize the sacrifices transgender men and women in the military make on behalf of this country and he blew it -- big time,” said Angelica Salas, CHIRLA executive director. “Instead, Trump’s ban endanger the lives and careers of an estimated 15,000 transgenders who are activeduty service members, national guardspeople, and reservists, as well as shuts down the dreams of many who wanted to join the armed forces in the future.”

Military ban Transgender people have been able to openly serve in the military since June 2016 when thenDefense Secretary Ash Carter ended the ban.

Trump’s tweet did not specify the details of the military ban and what would happen to the transgender people who are currently serving in the military.

According to an NBC report, there are as many as 250 service members in the process of transitioning to their preferred genders or who have been approved to formally change gender within the Pentagon’s personnel system, citing several defense officials.

A 2014 study A 2014 Williams Institute study estimated that 15,500 trans people were currently serving in the U.S. military.

The institute is a think tank at UCLA School of Law that researches gender identity. They reached that figure based on a 2011 survey of 6,546 transgender Americans. A Bloomberg report said that around 20 percent of that survey’s respondents said they had served in the armed forces. There are currently 1.3 million active-duty personnel in the U.S. military and an additional 800,000 in reserves. n

11 years, Hang has worked as SEAMAAC’s Lao Outreach Worker to help diverse low-income communities in Philadelphia. At weekly Elders Gatherings, he plays an integral role in building bridges between elders from diverse communities. He helps community members to see their own leadership potential, by recruiting and supporting Lao elders to serve on SEAMAAC’s Elders Council. Hang also helps seniors apply for social services and navigate the health care system. Hang’s ability to speak Lao, Hmong, Thai, and English allows him to serve diverse groups of seniors.

• Linda Mayo, Founder and President Emeritus, Pan-American Concerned Citizens Action League (PACCAL), Jersey City, NJ

RAINY THURSDAY. The southwest monsoon, enhanced by Tropical Storm Gorio, has brought heavy rains, causing floods in some parts of Metro Manila on Thursday, July 27. Malacañang suspended work in government offices and classes at all levels of public schools in Metro Manila in the afternoon. It said suspension of work in private companies and classes in private schools was up to their respective heads.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Linda Mayo has served the local Filipino & Asian American community for more than 30 years. In 1992, Mayo found PACCAL, the first organization in Jersey City to address the health and human service needs of Filipinos and other Asians with a focus on senior citizen and veterans’ programs. It holds the distinction of being the only Asian Provider Agency recognized by the Hudson County Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office on Aging. PACCAL is a multi-service organization that organizes social and recreational activities for seniors, assists seniors and veterans apply successfully for

affordable housing, coordinates citizenship and voter registrations, helps victims of domestic violence, and holds education, art and cultural workshops.

“Congratulations to Dilafroz, Shongchai, and Linda for their exemplary contributions and dedication to our seniors,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy.

“They are unsung heroes who every day are improving the lives of seniors and their families.

They devote their time, talents, and passion to making a difference—not only to the elders and their families— but to the great-

er community. AARP commends all of our 2017 Heroes and all of those who were nominated for inspiring each and every one of us.”

AARP received submissions from around the country including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Washington, DC. The stellar nominees included executive directors, staff, and volunteers who work in healthcare, housing, social services, education, and media. Ten finalists were selected

by AARP, and the winners were chosen by AARP AAPI Facebook visitors. n

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Dateline USa

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US senator calls for renewal of Filipino veteran benefits program

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

On Monday, July 24, nearly 50 students, social justice activists and religious leaders gathered in front of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles to address Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s track record as he surpasses one year in office.

AJPress photo by Klarize Medenilla

Fil-Am groups hold rally...

PAGE A1 t

the recent extension of martial law in Mindanao and the increased militarization amid the stall of the peace talks between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“People were very hopeful for change, but what has really changed?” Deputy Secretary General of BAYAN USA Nikole Cababa told the Asian Journal. “We still see abject poverty, low wages and contractualization, people being pushed out of the country...and at the same time, we’re seeing this extension of martial law which has led to a lot of human rights violations.”

Cababa added that Duterte “should take a note in the history books,” in that martial law is widely condemned by people all over the globe. She also said that social justice organizations, like BAYAN USA, encourage Duterte — and all world leaders — to explore fighting terrorism through socioeconomic reform, like addressing poverty and the need for social services.

The rally began with the diverse group of young Fil-Ams

holding colorful signs and several chants, which were met with supportive car honks from drivers driving along the adjacent Wilshire Blvd.

One sign, in particular, was a blown up mock report card for Duterte, which criticized his handling of many foreign and domestic issues, including education, housing, the drug war, contractualization and more.

The rally grew as the speakers voiced their concerns for the growing tensions in the Philippines, with a focus on socio-economic reform, especially poverty and education. Annalou Lingat, vice chair of ANAKBAYAN LA spoke about the lack of education reform and stressed the importance of public programs and affordable education.

In 2013, the Philippine Department of Education added two more years to the country’s 10-year basic education system, implementing the K-12 system, widely implemented throughout the globe. Educators, parents and students have petitioned to have this system revoked, calling it “unfair” and a “catastrophe,” according to a petition sent to the

Philippine Supreme Court.

“Under this new education system, it’s much harder to gain access to quality education, forcing many Filipinos to settle for lower wage jobs or even make the hard decision to find jobs abroad. The Duterte administration should be able revive a free, accessible education for all.

The rally was hosted by BAYAN USA Southern California, the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHROP) Southern California Network and National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) Southern California.

Filipino youth and student organization ANAKBAYAN and Filipino women’s organization GABRIELA USA also joined in to voice their concerns over the president’s lack of attention on the ongoing human rights abuses.

“Human rights are still violated in the country right now,” Cervas told the Asian Journal after the rally. “We still have over 400 political prisoners who were imprisoned, in the first place, for trumped up charges. They were arrested because of their political beliefs and for fighting for a more just and free Philippines.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

)ROORZ XV RQ

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amid its looming expiration, United States Senator Mazie K. Hirono sought the renewal of a provision under “Keeping Our Commitment to Overseas Veterans Act” which extends the country’s authority to operate the Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office in Manila, Philippines.

Hirono introduced the bill on Wednesday, July 16, pointing out that it is “imperative” for Congress to renew it, citing its thousands of beneficiaries. The day coincides with the 76th anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s order to incorporate the Philippine Army into the U.S. forces in 1941.

“Hawaii’s deep cultural and family ties to the Philippines extend to the sizable community of veterans and their dependents who rely on the Manila VA to receive their pensions and health care,” Hirono was quoted saying in a news release.

According to the VA, its regional office in Manila supports around 13,000 beneficiaries through over $19 million per

month in disability compensation or pensions.

The office also serves about 6,000 enrolled patients through its outpatient clinic.

“We must keep our commitment to these veterans and all veterans who rely on the Manila VA. It is imperative for Congress to promptly renew authority for this facility to avoid any impact to the hard-earned critical services these veterans deserve,” the senator added.

If not extended, the bill will expire on September 30, 2017.

Edmund Aczon, chairman of the board of directors of the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu, Hawaii, thanked the senator for her “steadfast efforts to support [the] Filipino World War II Veterans,” including those who are currently residing the Philippines.

“We are grateful to Senator Hirono for introducing this bill to reauthorize the Manila VA Regional Office and Outpatient Clinic to ensure stability for the tens of thousands of veterans and their families who receive VA disability compensation, pensions or healthcare which will give peace

Pres. Duterte delivers second...

PAGE A2 t added.

Duterte also called the members of Congress to “craft a law establishing a new authority or

department that is responsive to the prevailing 21st century conditions and empowered to best deliver [an] enhanced disaster resiliency and quick disaster response.”

Golden age of infrastructure The administration is targeting to increase government spending on infrastructure from 5 percent of the GDP (gross domestic product) this year to 7 percent of the GDP by 2022, amounting to a total of 8 to 9 trillion pesos or 160 to 180 billion dollars.

“We will make the next few years the Golden Age of Infrastructure in the Philippines to enhance our mobility and connectivity, and thereby spur development growth equitable in the country. In other words, we are going to build, build and build,” Duterte said.

In connection with sea connectivity, he cited the launching of 15 brand new Ro-Ro vessels to ply major nautical routes all over the Philippines.

An ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Ro-Ro Shipping Route connecting the ports of Davao and General Santos, Philippines to Bitung, Indonesia, were also opened.

To further address the congestion of seaports in the country, ports of Iloilo, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga were “modernized.”

“We shall complete strategic road and bridge projects and some of the road sections shall be widened and improved to address the worsening traffic,” Duterte added.

The president also said that the government of China has “committed to build two bridges to span Pasig River free of charge.”

He went on to say, “We might get some money also from China and we’ll have new airports in the coming days and we are now accelerating the implementation of the communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic managements system projects which will result in the on-time arrivals, departures better managed air traffic, reduced flight operational cost and safer and more convenient travel experience.”

Prioritizing environment over mining Duterte warned mining companies and contractors in the Philippines “to refrain from the unbridled and irresponsible destruction of [the country’s] watersheds, forests, and aquatic resources.”

In his speech, he emphasized the government’s advocacy for “responsible, regulated and sustainable development,” saying that protection of the environment must be prioritized ahead of mining and all other activities that adversely affect it.

He then warned mining companies: “Either spend to restore the virginity of [your] source or I will tax you to death.”

of mind to their families in Hawaii,” Aczon added.

Retired U.S. Army Major General Antonio Taguba, chairman of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project, also expressed gratitude to the senator for her leadership in introducing legislation to reauthorize the Manila VA. Taguba said the VA’s longtime presence in the Philippines is a reflection of Washington’s duty to provide the benefits and services the veterans have earned during World War II. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) National Legislative Director Carlos Fuentes, on the other hand, described the Manila VA as not only a testament to Washington’s commitment but also serves as “a reminder of the sacrifices of those veterans in the Philippines who answered President Roosevelt’s call to service during World War II 76 years ago.”

“The VFW thanks Senator Hirono for her leadership in introducing this bill to ensure veterans in the Philippines continue to have access to their earned health care and services,” Fuentes added. n “So I will increase the taxes.

Then I will think of something that will compensate or make up for the damage or at least the income restored. Otherwise, I’ll have to stop mining. I will ask you to stop it. It’s not good,” he added.

The president further warned government officials tasked with monitoring mining operations to “do their job without fear or favor.”

Duterte also said that if possible, the government “shall put a stop to the extraction and exportation of our mineral resources to foreign nations for processing abroad and importing them back to the Philippines in the form of consumer goods at prices twice or thrice the value of the original raw materials foreign corporations pay for them.”

Achievements Citing some of the administration’s achievements, Duterte mentioned the establishment of Hotline 911, which allowed the government to receive and immediately respond to emergencies; and of Hotline 8888, or the Citizen’s Complaint Hotline, which receives feedbacks or concerns on government services.

Executive Order No. 26 imposing a ban on smoking in public places was also implemented to “minimize access to tobacco products, and provide a more supportive environment for those who are attempting to quit tobacco use.”

In securing the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) the president said he has ordered the increase of government assistance from 400 million pesos to more than 1 billion pesos.

Meanwhile, to ensure that Filipinos are given equitable access to quality and affordable health services, Duterte said the administration has “expanded health insurance coverage and benefits.”

“The destitute and the indigents, or those who just could not afford hospitalization, can now be provided with free services of government-operated and public hospitals as well. We have strengthened the implementation of the No Balance Billing Policy,” the president said.

The administration also “sustained investments in higher education” and “committed to the full implementation of the K-to-12 Basic Foundation Program.”

Duterte added that his administration “took steps to promote inclusiveness in the Bangsamoro Transition Commission [BTC] by expanding its membership through Executive Order No. 8,” which he signed in November last year.

“By giving representation to indigenous peoples, women, children, and sultanates, and key stakeholders in the drafting of the Bangsa[moro] Basic Law, we ensure a Bangsamoro government that truly reflects the aspirations of our Muslim brothers and sisters as well as our indigenous brethren,” the president said. n

NO MORE TALKS. President Rodrigo Duterte takes the stage put up by leftist rallyists outside the Batasan complex on Monday, July 24. He told them to go home as peace talks would no longer push through.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

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A

BOC promotes tax-free ‘Balikbayan Box’ program

Qualified Filipinos While Abroad (QFWA) can send balikbayan boxes to their families and relatives without having to pay for duties and taxes up to three times and not exceeding P150,000 in a calendar year, under the Republic Act No. 10836 or the Customs Modernization and Tarrif Act (CMTA).

Inquirer.net photo

by Jennifer

Soriano

AJPress

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is encouraging Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to use the taxfree “Balikbayan Box” program, saying that no one has availed of it yet as of this month.

“We are encouraging the OFWs to avail of this program. Isa itong pagpaparangal sa ating mga OFWs (This is one way of recognizing our OFWs),” Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said.

Qualified Filipinos While Abroad (QFWA) can send balikbayan boxes to their families and relatives without having to pay for duties and taxes up to three times and not exceeding P150,000 in a calendar year, under the Republic Act No. 10836 or the Customs Modernization and Tarrif Act (CMTA).

However, Faeldon said that as of July 2017, the program has no takers yet.

“P75 billion annually, this is the amount the government has given to the OFWs (in this project) instead of the government collecting tax from the OFWs,” Faeldon said.

Packages sent under this program is limited to packages sent to the OFWs’ family or relatives up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity.

The program does not include items in commercial quantity or intended for barter. It should only contain personal and household items, Faeldon said.

How to avail Qualified Filipinos who can avail of the program are OFWs with valid passports and certified for overseas employment, the Customs chief said.

Qualified applicants for the program also includes: Filipinos under job contract that do not require certification from the Department

of Labor and Employment and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration; non-resident Filipinos who are permanently living abroad but retained their Filipino citizenship; and resident Filipino citizens that are holders of student visa, investor’s visa, tourist visa, and similar visas which allow them to establish temporary stay abroad.

The OFWs will have to provide the biographical page of passport, the itemized list of their packages, and receipts of newly-purchased items to the consolidator.

Thereafter, international forwarders will then submit information sheets from the senders through a secured electronic format simultaneously to the BOC and to the deconsolidator.

The Philippine forwarder, on the other hand, will also submit the information sheets and documents in a secured electronic format to the BOC. Migrant workers group calls it a new ‘money-making’ ploy Meanwhile a migrant workers’ rights group hits the Bureau of Customs’ new guidelines on balikbayan boxes, calling the memorandum a “money-making” requirement.

Migrante International opposes latest order Customs Memorandum Order 04-2017, specifically on the items that requires the balikbayan boxes to include an “itemized list” of the contents and receipts of the newly-purchased items inside the box. Also, the new directive requires the recipients of the packages to show proof that they are a relative of the sender.

BOC said it issued the directive “to adopt transparent custom rules regulations policies procedures consistent with international standards and best practices

and “to prevent revenue loss from possible abuse in the availment of the privilege on the tax and dutyexempt importation of balikbayan boxes.”

“Itong mga taga-Customs, halatang walang malasakit at walang respeto sa mga OFW. Hindi ba nila alam na kasama sa sayang dulot ng balikbayan box ang surpresang dulot nito sa mga pamilya? Pati ba naman ito ay tatanggalin nila? Gusto nilang tanggalin ang saya ng OFW at pamilya sa pagpapadala at pagtanggap ng balikbayan box (The Customs does not care and respect the OFWs. Don’t they know that the idea of surprise brings happiness to the OFWs and their families?

And now, the Customs will remove this? They will remove the happiness brought about by sending and receiving balikbayan boxes to the OFW and their families?),” Migrante International spokesperson Arman Hernando said.

Hernando described sending balikbayan boxes as the “most personalized translation of love and affection for its recipients,” a culture practiced by Filipinos and their relatives abroad since then.

“Bakit kami ang pinagdidiskitahan ng gobyerno gayong hindi naman nila masawata ang mga malalaking iligal na smuggler at sindikato? Pawis at dugo ng mga OFW ang puhunan para mapuno ang bawat isang balikbayan box (Why are we the one being blamed by the government now that they cannot suppress the big time illegal smugglers and syndicates? It requires hard work for the OFWs to fill in their balikbayan boxes),” Hernando said.

“The least the government could do is to make sure that this simple vehicle of love is not burdened by unnecessary requirements and money-making schemes at the expense of OFWs and their families,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Monday, July 24, shared the sentiments of the migrant workers group, saying the present BOC guidelines and implementation on balikbayan boxes has loopholes that can encourage “pilferage and theft by corrupt customs personnel.”

Recto said that attaching a list of contents was “tantamount to providing a keyhole that might tempt unscrupulous handlers to open it and rid it of its contents.”

“We should review it because of the complicated requirements, balikbayan boxes will be wrapped in red tape,” Recto said in a statement.

CHECKPOINT. Soldiers guard against religious extremists in Maguindanao, where local officials and majority of local Muslim, Christian and Lumad residents are in favor of the extension of the martial law until yearend.

Philstar.com photo by John Unson

Drilon, Lacson claim ‘cover-up’ in downgrading Marcos’ liability

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

SENATORS Franklin Drilon and Panfilo Lacson believe that there is an obvious cover-up for Supt. Marvin Marcos and other policemen who were spared from murder charges in connection with the slay of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier downgraded the murder charges recommended by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Marcos and 18 other members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Eastern Visayas (CIDG-8) who were involved in an operation that lead to the death of Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap in November last year.

The suspected policemen were also reinstated, prompting the Senate to conduct an inquiry into the controversial developments.

In a sideline interview after the hearing on Wednesday, July 26, Drilon said the inquiry “proved that there’s a cover-up on the li-

Sen. Franklin Drilon

Sen. Panfilo Lacson

ability of Marcos.”

“Instead of being able to explain what happened, it is obvious from the hearing today that there’s a deliberate cover-up to allow Marcos and his group to be reinstated and to allow Marcos and his group to be able to post bail,” the Senate minority leader said.

He pointed out that both the NBI and the Senate concluded in its separate investigations that the slay of alleged drug lord Espinosa and Yap were “premeditated murder,” contrary to sus-

pects’ claim that they were killed in a “shootout” incident.

Drilon added that Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II also agreed that it was murder case.

But instead of murder, Justice Undersecretary Reynante Orceo downgraded the charges against the suspects to homicide.

During the hearing, Orceo maintained that Aguirre “doesn’t have any hand” in the draft of the resolution downgrading the policemen’s charges.

“To me, what the hearing to-

u PAGE A7

PH signs MOU on cooperation with China

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping as a THE governments of the Phil- “friendship worth fostering.”

Cayetano said the agreement ippines and China have signed a memorandum of agreement “will reinforce the foundation (MOU) on strengthening their of the relations” between the two foreign ministries “through bilateral cooperation.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Sec- exchanges and collaborative acretary Allan Peter Cayetano and tivities.”

“Taking to heart the Philiphis counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, signed the pine Constitution and President agreement on Tuesday, July 25, Duterte’s independent foreign during the latter’s official visit to policy, we seek to strengthen ties and cooperation with all counManila.

In a press briefing, Cayetano tries in order to bring tangible described the friendship between benefits to all Filipinos and to the the two countries under Philippine people of our partner countries,”

he added.

Joint gas exploration Earlier on Monday, July 24, Duterte cited a possible joint oil exploration between Manila and Beijing in the disputed South China Sea. In a conference after delivering his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte, while saying he could not reveal the details, disclosed that the talks about the joint exploration are ongoing.

“When they start to excavate the gas and all. I tell you, it’s going to be just like a joint venture. Para

u PAGE A7

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This May 2001 photo shows the two bells of Balangiga at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base outside Cheyenne, Wyoming, that signaled an attack

by Filipino insurgents on occupying American troops in 1901.

Inquirer.net photo

US gov’t vows to address bells...

PAGE A1 t continue to work with our Filipino partners to find a resolution,” U.S. Embassy press attache Molly Koscina said.

The embassy issued the statement after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte demanded the U.S. to return the century-old bells back to the Filipino people during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 24.

In his speech, Duterte recalled the Balangiga massacre during the Philippine-American War in 1901, when U.S. soldiers retaliated by “mak[ing] a desert of Balangiga” through killing Filipinos aged ten and above in Samar.

Duterte said the killings

“reduce[d] Samar Island into an island of ‘howling wilderness’.”

Three bells were taken from Balangiga Church by U.S. soldiers as spoils of war — two of which were presently displayed at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming as a memorial to U.S. troops killed by Filipino insurgents. The third bell was in South Korea.

“I say today give us back those Balangiga bells, they are ours, they belong to the Philippines.

They are part of our national heritage. Isauli naman ninyo, masakit yun sa amin. (Return those to us, it is painful for us),” the president said earning applause from the audience.

He pointed out that the bells

serve as “reminders of the gallantry and heroism” of Filipinos who “resisted the American colonizers” and “sacrificed their lives in the process.”

This was not the first time Duterte brought up the Balangiga massacre in his speeches.

In September last year, the president took a swipe at the U.S. government for the around 2,500 Filipinos killed in Samar under U.S. General Jacob Smith’s order, saying that his soldiers “hijacked [the Balangiga bells], stole it and never returned it” to the Filipino people.

Despite several attempts by previous administrations, the bells have yet to be returned in the Philippines. It remained to be a perennial issue between the two countries’ bilateral relations.

(Dana Sioson/AJPress)

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Features

‘Bane of efficiency’

Temporary restraining orders, president Duterte said on monday, July 24, are “the bane of our efficiency.” The president made the observation as he directly urged Chief Justice maria Lourdes Sereno, who was seated in the audience during his second State of the Nation address (SoNa), to lift the Supreme Court’s Tro on the implementation of the responsible parenthood and reproductive Health act.

THE RH law was passed in 2012, and the TRO has been in place for two years now. Contraceptives and other drugs costing millions in public funds, bought by the Department of Health before the TRO was issued, are about to expire because of the restraining order, Duterte said.

Last May, the SC stressed it had tossed the issue to the Food and Drug Administration, which was ordered by the tribunal to determine if two contraceptive implants are safe to use and not abortifacient. The SC should give the FDA a deadline for completing a task that doesn’t require rocket science.

Similar deadlines should be given for resolving the subjects of TROs throughout the judiciary. A two-year TRO is anything but temporary. Criminal cases in many other countries are resolved with finality within that period. President Duterte correctly pointed out that TROs have grossly delayed many government projects and programs, setting

back poverty alleviation and reform efforts.

He’s not the only one complaining about the TROs. Local and foreign investors have long lamented the issuance of TROs and denounced the corruption that underpins many such orders. The orders are not only issued arbitrarily, they complain, but can also take forever to lift. This is what the Supreme Court TRO on the RH law is starting to look like.

Benigno Aquino III, during his presidency, had also feuded with the SC over “judicial overreach” including the restraining orders. President Duterte, who at the start of his term included the promotion of reproductive health in his 10-point socioeconomic agenda, asked Congress in his second SONA to give him a law that would deal with judicial TROs. The judiciary should not wait for this. The SC should be able to temper the exercise of its power without the need for checks and balances from the two other branches of government.

(Philstar.com)

Guest Editorial

Phlstar.com photo

Trump’s imminent ‘firing’ of Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing in Russia probe is an assault to conservative causes

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-reloS MY HEART goes out to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. As you are reading this piece, the man President Donald Trump appointed to be his Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary may either have been fired or has resigned, following the barrage of tweets the president has made on Twitter over the past several days that publicly criticized and even humiliated Sessions.

Trump said in his tweets how disappointed he’s been with Sessions for recusing himself from the investigation probing into the alleged collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign to meddle in the U.S. presidential election last year.

Sessions was the first Senate Republican who endorsed Trump and has, in fact, been instrumental in winning many conservatives to believe in Trump, whose conserva-

tive principles were being questioned when he announced that he was running for president.

Sessions was very much respected in his home state of Alabama for his conservative principles, programs and advocacies.

He went on board the Trump train because he wanted to help Trump solve the problem of illegal immigration in the United States — an issue that is very close to many conservative Filipinos in America.

The senator left behind his secure seat to serve the Trump administration as his DOJ Secretary (also known as Attorney General), and has, in the past six months, been earning accolades and support from among his fellow Republicans for being an honest-to-goodness law and order officer who has helped lower the number of illegal immigration to the United States, and has been working hard to implement laws to solve the drug problems. He has been deemed

as a defender of the Constitution and the rule of law.

BUT TRUMP, in his recent interview with the New York Times, as well as in a news conference this week said he was disappointed in Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia probe in March, saying that had he known, he wouldn’t have hired him to be Attorney General.

His recent tweets have revealed that he has lost his amour for his loyal number one supporter and is willing to let go of him. President Trump has labeled him “beleaguered” (troubled, having a lot of difficulties). He also tweeted that Sessions was weak on investigating Hillary Clinton’s crimes and the leaks coming out of the U.S. intelligence community.

BUT why was Trump surprised? Sessions had been forthcoming during the Senate confirmation hearings in January that he would recuse himself from any investigation of Clinton

if confirmed because of the comments he previously made during the campaign about Clinton’s use of the email server and her family’s charitable foundation. He explained that this could place his objectivity and impartiality in question.

Trump said that by recusing himself, Sessions was unfair to the president and to the presidency. WHY? In my opinion, Sessions showed “delicadeza” in deciding to recuse himself from the Russia probe because he was part of the Trump campaign being investigated on after his undisclosed meeting with Russian officials during the campaign. How is that damaging to the presidency or to the Office of the President?

His recusing himself, in fact, has been helping Trump so that there will be no doubt in the investigation which, in fact, should be Trump’s way to prove he has nothing to hide and has not truly

The many possibilities in North Korea

PeaceMaker Former Speaker JoSe C. de VeneCia, Jr. TWO weeks ago at the first meeting of Asian and European Political Parties in the Asia-Europe Political Forum (AEPF) held in Seoul, July 6-10, 2017, we listed the major conflict areas in Asia and some of their extensions in Africa and at the same time pointed to some of the successful but seldom mentioned geo-political settlements in explosive conflicts in the region including some of the solutions that we thought could be useful.

Today it is correct to say that the most dangerous of the conflict areas in Asia and in the world is the continuing confrontation between South Korean and U.S. forces on one side with those of North Korea across the 38th Parallel, which slices the two Koreas at the waist, with the nucleararmed North under the young President Kim Jong-un, supported but also restrained to some extent but perhaps not controlled by the People’s Republic of China.

Over the years since the Korean Armstice of July, 1953, which ended the Korean War without a formal peace treaty, the threat of new fighting has always plagued the peninsula. The Philippines bravely sent three Army battalions to help South Korea over three years since 1950, barely five years after the end of a crippling World War II in our own country

in 1945.

Over the years, an explosion between South and North has always threatened intermittently.

But today a new war is even more dangerous, more fatal because it is clear nuclear weapons are now available to both sides.

At the conference in Seoul which we presided, we recalled that in 1990, as a young Congressman, we led a small Philippine Congressional Mission to Pyongyang, and we had an almost oneand-a-half hour meeting with the founder of North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK) Kim Il Sung, who led the North Korean Armies which fought the U.S., U.N. and South Korean forces in 1950-53 since the founding of North Korea in 1945, following the partition in the peninsula.

Then with us were the late Congressman Miguel Romero, businessman Len Oreta, the late President Corazon Aquino’s brother-in-law, Education Undersecretary Nestor Kalaw, and we were later joined by Kiyoshi Wakamiya, the Japanese journalist who later accompanied the late Sen. Benigno Aquino on his last fatal plane trip to the Philippines on August 21, 1983.

When we asked him then about persistent reports that he planned to attack and invade the South, the North Korean leader replied in serious terms: “If we attack the South, the South will be destroyed but we in the North will also be destroyed”.

His tone was indicative of how

the leaders in Pyongyang regarded the seriousness of an all-out war with the Americans and with the Koreans in the South.

We had recalled earlier in this column that our conversation went so well that we asked him for a written assurance that he would not extend material assistance to the New People’s Army (NPA) in the Philippines and he did, and we then journeyed back to Manila via Beijing, and feeling elated, we proudly presented his letter to a then pleased President Corazon Aquino and Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus in Malacañan Palace. Over the years, Pyongyang kept his word of their non-involvement with the Communist NPA. In a couple of weeks as he promised, and on our invitation, he sent to Manila then North Korea Vice-Premier Kim Dahl Hyun who set the schedule for the exchange of notes formalizing diplomatic relations between North Korea and the Philippines. We distinctly remember his last day’s visit in Manila because in that afternoon the Mt. Pinatubo volcano erupted and the gray ash rained over us all the way to Manila.

We also remember that the day before we took Vice-Premier Hyun on a helicopter visit to Corregidor and on the World War II island fortress, he suggested to us that we consider building a connecting bridge with enclosures between Bataan province to Corregidor to Cavite province, which links could be opened or closed to let ships in and out as needed, so

Manila Bay could then be part of a large reclaimed area for development as the North Koreans did with a successful similar project in North Korea (food for thought!)

Our friend, Kim Il Sung, has since passed away and was succeeded by his son Kim Jong Il who also led North Korea in many tense sessions with the South but did not live long enough. Today his 33-year-old son, the first President’s grandson, Kim Jong Un, is leader of a nuclear-armed North, over whom China apparently does not have overwhelming influence, since he has inherited and also built his own strength, developed a large army and created his own nuclear weapons and is today developing an inter-continental ballistic missile delivery system, already in an advanced stage, within easy reach of Japan and Guam, with its large U.S. bases, and farther, to the distant frontline areas of the U.S. in Alaska (range 6,700km).

We believe therefore the time has come for direct face-to-face talks, perhaps no longer avoidable, not through intermediaries, between a U.S. President and the young North Korean leader, in Beijing or in Hongkong, both reachable by train, the preferred means of transport by the North Korean leaders as far as we could remember.

We could also urge as well the revival of the long-postponed 6Party talks among the U.S., North Korea, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia to help the process but there is no substitute now to

been colluding with the Russians as alleged.

Trump’s critics are alleging that the reason why Trump was disappointed in Sessions’ recusal from the Russia probe was because it paved the way for the hiring of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the highly respected former FBI Director, by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to head the independent probe on the Russia connection.

As we read from the news, Mueller has now expanded the probe to include the Trump family’s business and financial ties to Russia.

His critics likewise allege that in firing or letting Sessions go, Trump could now appoint a new DOJ secretary who can fire Mueller (but the law says there needs to be a compelling cause to do this), OR, have this new AG stop the investigation because there was nothing out there, in support of Trump’s labeling this probe as

a “witch hunt”.

Trump has to understand that the Department of Justice, despite being under the executive department, is an independent body tasked by the Constitution to seek justice and the rule of law for ALL, and should not let anybody, not even the president, be above the law.

Trump tweeted this week: “It’s very sad that Republicans, even some that were carried over the line on my back, do very little to protect their President.”

MR. PRESIDENT, our public officials— both elected and appointed are there to defend the Constitution and NOT you, as a person. Let them do their job. ***

direct talks.

The case is difficult but successful direct talks have been done before between the two Germanys and the two Vietnams, which have been both long united, and as we pointed out before, an inter-Korean family might perhaps emerge someday united in a unique, federated system under common inclusive or alternating leadership which could lead to a modern prosperous first-world power in Northeast Asia, or with an accepted separate North, which later could join an ASEAN Plus 4.

In Seoul, in an earlier conference not too long ago, we told our friend, former U.S. Ambassador to the Six-Party Talks Joseph De Trani, South Korea’s religious and economic leader Sun Myung Moon and now his widow, Madame Hak Ja Han Moon, that the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) under President Thomas Walsh and its network which includes the Washington Times, could perhaps revisit their friendships in Pyongyang. The late Reverend Moon, born in Pyongyang, a religious Christian leader with an influential global following, became a successful business leader in Seoul and in the U.S., built a hotel and automobile factory in Pyongyang, which he both later donated to the North Korean government. The goodwill remains and the Moon family and the UPF can avail of their useful links in Pyongyang. The International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) could also rekindle its ties with the Korean Workers Party, the only political party in the North.

It is now clear that the conversations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jingping although helpful in other ways have so far failed to get any positive response from the young North Korean leader.

Other sincere initiatives have failed over the years and the danger today continues to mount.

We believe the time has now come for the U.S. President and the young North Korean leader to meet face to face, and subsequently to be joined by the new South Korean President Moon Jae-In to try to settle the mounting crisis in direct talks, for there seems to be no other workable alternative. The U.S. and China might offer to supply some of the North’s petrol requirements; Japan and South Korea might establish economic joint-ventures in the North; Russia and China can help build a railway across North Korea all the way to Pusan in the South, linked with the Caucasus and Europe.

In the latest move, President Moon offered rare direct SeoulPyongyang military talks at the Panmunjom truce village on the militarized inter-Korean border in the 38th Parallel but has elicited no response. Also, the Seoul Red Cross proposed an early August meeting to discuss “reunions of families reported by the 1950-53 Korean War”. These two proposals have good value and are workable.

But we believe only direct U.S.-North Korean talks will be the ground-breaking first choice for the North Koreans. Even Mr. Trump says direct talks with the North is now possible.

Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABSCBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 28-AUgUSt 3, 2017

Robredo reiterates call to human rights in pursuing anti-drug campaign

by Jennifer

A

Soriano

AJPress

A DAY after President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), Vice President Leni Robredo reiterated the need to uphold the human rights in pursuing the president’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“Ako po naniniwala ako na sa pagpapatupad ng anti-drug campaign, sa pag-aayos ng peace and order, hindi pa rin dapat labagin iyong karapatang pantao (I believe that in the implementation of the anti-drug campaign, in ensuring peace and order, human rights must still be upheld),” Robredo said.

The vice president also stressed that the rule of law is dictated in the 1987 Constitution.

“Ito naman iyong sandata ng mahihirap natin na mga kababayan laban sa pang-aabuso ng mga nasa kapangyarihan (This is the weapon of our poor countrymen against abuses committed by the power-

Vice Pres. Leni Robredo with daughter Tricia before they attended Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 24.

Photo from Tricia Robredo’s Twitter account

ful),” she said.

Duterte used much of his twohour speech to talk about his flagship program against illegal drugs and further pounced on his critics for their stand on the premise of human rights and the rule of law.

The two highest officials in the Philippine government do not have the same views when it comes to the situation of the illegal drug problem and human rights.

The vice president, who has repeatedly slammed Duterte’s brutal

drug war, has said that the drug problem should be addressed using a “health-based approach.”

Robredo has since initiated the creation of a community-based rehabilitation program, through the local government units and civic organizations.

Earlier, the vice president said that illegal drug problem is a “complex public-health issue linked intimately with poverty and social inequality” that needs to be addressed appropriately instead of using bullets.

House panel releases detained ‘Ilocos six’

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

THE Philippine House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has ordered the release of the so-called “Ilocos six” government officials from detention on Tuesday, July 25.

House Majority floor leader Rudy Fariñas, who is also the Ilocos Norte representative, ordered the release of the officials after they answered the panel’s questions during the House inquiry into the P66.45 million-worth tobacco excise tax anomaly.

The six provincial officials have been detained since May 29 for their “dismissive answers” during an investigation into the alleged illegal purchase of motor vehicles by the Ilocos Norte Provincial office using the tobacco excise tax.

They were provincial planning and development officer and bids and awards committee chair Pedro Agcaoili, provincial budget officer Evangeline Tabulog, provincial treasurer Josephine Calajate, accountant Eden Battulayan, and treasury office staff Genedine Jambaro and Encarnacion Gaor.

Earlier on the same day, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos attended the House panel’s hearing

CEBU PROTESTERS. More than 100 members of militant groups joined a protest action here on Monday, July 24 hours before President Rodrigo Duterte was scheduled to deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

PNA photo

Drilon, Lacson claim ‘cover-up’...

(PNP) Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, for his part, denied day confirms is a conspiracy to that President Rodrigo Duterte influenced his decision to reassign cover-up,” Drilon added.

Lacson also echoed Drilon’s the charged policemen.

“If we base it on the prostatement, saying, “We have all the reason to suspect that Mar- nouncements of the president, your honor, it has not affected cos is being coddled here.”

Referring to Marcos’ rein- our decision. Because for the statement and possible promo- record, your honor, he did not tion, Lacson added, “The rea- call me up to give instructions son I mentioned this is really to whether to absolve or to penalpreempt whatever it is they are ize Marcos. He did not interplanning because he (Marcos) vene,” the PNP chief said during is already at the entry point. He the hearing.

Dela Rosa, however, admitted was given an entry point to be promoted. At least I made them that Duterte repeatedly told him conscious that the Senate is to bring Marcos and his men back to duty since the governwatching closely.”

Philippine National Police ment is paying their salaries.

PAGE A5 t

Ilocos Norte governor Imee Marcos hugs one of the “Ilocos Six” after they were ordered released from detention for contempt by the House of Representatives.

Inquirer.net photo by Marc Jayson Cayabyab

into the alleged anomaly.

This was after the House panel issued a subpoena against her, warning that she will be detained for contempt if she did not attend the Tuesday’s hearing.

The panel issued the subpoena after Marcos skipped previous hearings, where she was invited to explain her knowledge in connection with the issue.

“Pagkakataon na rin para magsalita (It’s now time to speak),” Marcos told reporters in a chance interview.

During the hearing, the gover-

nor maintained her innocence in connection with the issue.

“Walang korapsyon at katiwalian sa pagbili ng pamahalaan ng Ilocos Norte sa minitruck.

Walang kickback o ghost purchase (There was no corruption or anomaly in the Ilocos Norte government’s purchase of minitrucks. There was no kickback or ghost purchase),” Marcos insisted.

The House panel’s next hearing into the alleged misuse of tobacco funds is slated on Wednesday, August 9. n

“As far as the reassignment back to CIDG… the president really said that we should use these people. We lack people on the ground. They are being paid so let’s put them to work,” he said.

He further noted that the reinstatement of Marcos and his men “boosts the morale” of the police.

Quoting the P\president, Dela Rosa went on to say, “He said that if you (police) run into trouble, I will back you up, I will not abandon you. What Superintendent Marcos did, it was in the line of duty. Supt. Marcos is being assisted to get back to work so this boosts the morale.”

PH signs MOU on cooperation...

PAGE A5 t pareho (So it will be fair),” the president said.

“We are there already, may partner na (There’s a partner already),” he added. “Di ko lang masabi kung sino. Nandoon na ang atin pati kanila (I just cannot reveal the partner. Our representatives and their representatives are there). They are talking and they are exploring.”

Asked about potential joint oil exploration with Beijing, Cayetano

expressed hope that both countries would find a way to use the natural resources in the area “for the benefit of the people.”

“As very spiritual people, we believe natural resources are blessings from God that should be enjoyed by His people,” Cayetano told reporters.

He went on to say, “Thus, the natural phase two of better relations here and of the environment of dialogue, peace and stability is seeking to be able to use those

natural resources to benefit your people.”

Wang echoed Cayetano’s sentiments.

“In waters where there are overlapping of maritime rights and interest, if one party goes for unilateral development, then the other party will take the same actions, and that might complicate the situation at sea that might lead to tensions, and as end result nobody might be able to develop the resources,” Wang said.

A july 28-august 3, 2017 • NEW yORK aND NEW jERsEy asIaN jOuRNal

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JULY 28-AUGUST 3, 2017

people events arts culture entertainment

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An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY J U LY 28 , 20 1 7

RACHELLE ANN GO & CHRISTINE ALLADO

ALL SET TO PLAY THE SCHUYLER SISTERS IN THE WEST END PRODUCTION OF ‘HAMILTON’

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA/AJPress

FILIPINA thespians Rachelle Ann Go and Christine Allado are both embarking on a major career move as both will star this fall in the West End production of “Hamilton: An American Musical.”

The two ladies will take on the roles of the Schuyler sisters: Rachelle Ann will be Eliza Schuyler Hamilton while Christine will take on the dual role of Eliza Schuyler and the temptress.

This Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award and Grammy Award winning musical will be staged at the Victoria Palace Theater in London at the end of this year.

We caught up with Rachelle Ann at the Broadway Theater a couple of weeks before she leaves her “Miss Saigon” family. Fans have until August 5 to catch her as Gigi Van Tranh, the same role she had at the West End revival of Miss Saigon a few years ago.

Performing on Broadway has been very fulfilling for Rachelle Ann and she said she would miss the entire cast, particularly Jon Jon Briones and Eva Noblezada who were also her co-stars in London.

“Nakakalungkot because I will leave my cast here in New York, sobra na akong napalapit sa kanilang lahat (It saddens me that I will leave my cast here in New York, I have gotten attached to them so much). Eva has become like a sister to me, I am going to miss her a lot,” she shared as segued to the chorus of Schuyler Sisters, one of the songs from Hamilton. “Si Kuya Jon Jon din, and mga Pinoy sa cast (Also Jon Jon, and the Filipino cast), actually, the entire cast because we’re all one big family here.”

Rachelle Ann’s last show will be the on August 5 and after that, she will fly to Manila for a month before embarking on yet another journey to London to start the rehearsals for “Hamilton.”

She is excited for this new chapter in her life where she takes on the demanding role of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, the wife of Alexander Hamilton. It is a big

role and Rachelle Ann is making sure that she fits the shoe real well. She has been listening to the music over and over again for it to become a part of her system.

Rachelle Ann heard that there were auditions in London for Hamilton so she signed up and auditioned for the show last year without having seen the show, which she finally watched on Broadway weeks before they opened “Miss Saigon.” She has seen it twice already and she is planning to catch it one more time before she flies to Manila.

“It’s another dream musical for me. I listened to the album and na-in love ako sa music (I fell in love with the music). Sabi ko, ‘Naku, Lord, parang gusto ko ito!’ Then narinig ko yung songs ni Eliza so sabi ko, ‘This is what I want’. At that point, cli-naim ko na, I’m going to do this.

(I said, ‘Lord, I think I like this!’ Then, I heard Eliza’s songs so I said, ‘I’m claiming it, I’m going to to this),’” she shared.

Rachelle Ann auditioned for two roles – Eliza and Peggy and sang a number of songs - “Burn,” “Schuyler Sisters,”“Helpless,”“That Would be Enough.”

During the same auditions, she saw fellow Filipina Christine Allado. The two stars have met a few times in London.

Christine Allado Christine Allado is an acclaimed classical Filipino cross-over singer making her name in theater. She is a proficient artist and actress with a voice that fuses her classical soprano roots with a contemporary spin of pop, musical theatre and jazz.

“I still can’t believe it,” Christine told us at the Ma-Yi Anniversary Gala held in Tribeca earlier this year.

“I am so excited to be a part of the ‘Hamilton’ family in London, I can’t wait.”

Recently, she had the great honor of singing the Philippine national anthem at the Battle of Brisbane, the title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn. As

Rachelle Ann Go with fellow “Miss Saigon” cast, Eva Noblezada Photos from Rachelle Ann Go’s Instagram account: @gorachelleann

Christine Allado with Paolo Montalban Photos from Christine Allado’s Instagram account: @christineallado

Rachel and Eva with Jon Jon Briones

Christine with Edwin Josue and Jerry Sibal

a performer, Christine joined the world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli as his featured artist in CINEMA World Tour around Europe and Asia.

This fall, she will be a part of the multi award winning musical “Hamilton.” Christine will play a dual role of Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds.

Christine was a sophomore University of the Philippines Diliman student taking up Business Administration when she decided to pursue her dream. She moved to Hong Kong for that and ended up doing “High School Musical” in 2009 and “The Golden Mickeys” in 2010.

Chasing her dream eventually brought her to London where she further honed her singing and

role, Eliza Hamilton. Yun ang pinakamasaya ko sigurong Pasko sa ngayon. (As soon as I arrived in the Philippines, they said I got the role, Eliza Hamilton. That’s my happiest Christmas so far),” she said laughing.

And that is why she made sure that even in the thick of rehearsals for “Miss Saigon” earlier this year, she made it a point to watch the musical.

She cried during and after watching it not only because she is going to be a part of that family but because of how amazing the show is.

She is now looking forward to a month-long break in the Philippines where she hopes to rest and recharge while doing more research on Eliza. For now, an uncle of hers is doing the research for her and he has been sending her lots of links and books.

For now, Rachelle Ann is taking it all in and enjoying her remaining days in “Miss Saigon.”

“I want to enjoy every single night. When I learned that I was leaving on the 5th, yung araw na yun naiyak ako sa stage. Parang kailan lang, we opened on Broadway and now I have a couple of weeks left na lang. So I am just enjoying the moment kasi hindi ko alam kung makakabalik pa tayo sa Photo by Troi Santos Broadway, di ba? So I just give 101

acting chops. Her journey led her to West End, where she became a part of “Here Lies Love” as an understudy for Imelda and starred as Vanessa in the triple Olivier Award winning musical and another Lin-Manuel Miranda creation “In The Heights” at the King’s Cross Theatre in London’s West End and performed in the Olivier Awards at the Royal Opera House on ITV, broadcast worldwide.

She also filmed for the BBC’s production of the 60th Anniversary of “West Side Story” playing the lead role of Maria. At the Burnham Stage she played Christine Daae in “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Getting the Role “They told me last December, pagdating na pagdating ko sa Pilipinas, sabi nila I got the

Rachelle Ann Go on the ‘Hamilton’ stage.

percent every night. (I cried on stage the day I learned that I was leaving on the 5th. It was like yesterday, we opened on Broadway and I just have a couple of weeks left. So I am just enjoying the moment because I don’t know if I would still be back on Broadway, right? So I just give [my] 101 percent every night),” she remarked.

From her West End debut as Gigi in “Miss Saigon” in 2014 to Fantine in “Les Miz” (both in London) and then making her Broadway debut reprising her role as Gigi to going back to London for the role of her life, Rachelle Ann is enjoying every minute of her life as a theater performer.

She is eternally thankful to friends who pushed her to audition for “Miss Saigon” a few years ago, along with some well-meaning people around her warned that she will be forgotten in the Philippines when she leaves her pop star career there. She also thanked a fellow Filipina for leading the way.

“Laking pasalamat talaga kay (I am extremely grateful to) Lea Salonga for opening these doors for Filipinos. It is a good thing for us to be essaying these roles, like me doing Fantine in ‘Les Miz’ and now this,” she expressed. “Wala na sa kulay, nasa talento na. (It’s not about skin color anymore, it’s about talent.) ”

Brillante Mendoza, Lav Diaz elated Sharon Cuneta shrinks to size medium, admits it’s not enough over invitation to join the Academy By

By

KRISSY AGUILAR AJPRESS

MEGASTAR Sharon Cuneta happily shared that she has finally reached “medium” size in an Instagram post.

“I’m going for size small but really would like to get to XS – EXTRA SMALL (or over na ba ‘yun? Baka mata at ngipin ko na lang ang makita niyo) [or am I going overboard? My eyes and teeth might be the only thing left for you to see]” she said.

She admitted that aside from following a strict diet, she has been losing her appetite.

She also said that she has a lot to think of “but at least this weight loss has been one good thing to come out of my concerns and stresses.”

The only thing she worries is to make sure she doesn’t get sick.

“Pumapayat ako (I’m becoming slimmer) but I’m afraid I’m not getting enough nourishment.”

Cuneta has long been dealing with her weight loss problems, but with perseverance, she’s finally getting back in shape.

She was congratulated by celebrity friends.

“Galing! Good job ate!” Judy Ann Santos said. “Happy for you mama,” actress Jackie Lou Blanco

KRISSY AGUILAR AJPRESS

INTERNATIONALLY-acclaimed filmmakers Lav Diaz and Brillante Mendoza were recently named as new members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind Oscars.

In a press release on the Oscars website, Mendoza and Diaz are among the 774 artists and executives from 57 countries invited to join the Academy.

The members will vote in the annual Oscar awards under the categories they have been invited in. This means that Mendoza and Diaz will help choose Academy Awards best director for 2018.

Its “Class of 2017” brought the prestigious organization a total of around 8,500 members, a huge leap from last year’s 683 new members.

“We’re proud to invite our newest class to the Academy. The entire motion picture community is what we make of it. It’s up to all of us to ensure that new faces and voices are seen and heard, and to take a shot on the next generation the way someone took a shot on each of us,” Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said.

This year’s members also Sharon Cunete Photo from Sharon Cuneta’s instagram account include high-profile directors such as Guy Ritchie (“Sherlock Holmes”), is an entry for Cinemalaya 2017 congratulated.

Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”), entitled “Ang Pamilyang Hindi “I will love you in any size!”

Anthony and Joseph Russo Lumuluha.” It will be shown at the singer Martin Nievera commented. (“Captain America: Civil War,” Cultural Center of the Philippines “The Voice” coach recently “Captain America: The Winter and Ayala Cinemas on August 4. finished filming a movie, which Soldier”) and David Ayer (“Suicide

Squad”).

Hollywood stars like Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”), Chris Evans (“Captain America”), Chris Hemsworth (“Thor”) and former wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson were also invited to the Academy Class of 2017.

“I am glad that we now have representation in the Academy,” Mendoza said in an interview with Inquirer. “In spite of our contrasting aesthetics, Lav and I were invited to join the same group.This can only mean that Hollywood now recognizes Philippine cinema.”

In 2016, Mendoza’s “Ma’Rosa” was chosen as the Philippine submission to the 89th Academy Awards. He was also the acclaimed Cannes best director winner for “Kinatay” in 2009.

“It’s a good development, and I hope other Filipino filmmakers

will continue our work of making positive contributions to the world of cinema,” Mendoza said.

It’s a historic first for Filipino directors to be invited. “It is an acknowledgment that Philippine cinema and Southeast Asian filmmaking are finally a part of the Academy’s once-exclusive forum,” Diaz told Inquirer.

“Now, they are opening up—albeit only in terms of the Oscars’ voting process. Uy, sama na rin kayo. May konting boses na rin kayo. (You can now join us. You now have a little say.)”

Diaz’s film, “Norte: Hangganan ng Kasaysayan,” was the country’s entry to Best Foreign Language Film to the 87th Academy Awards.

He also directed the Golden Lion prize-winning epic, “Ang Babaeng Humayo,” in Venice Film Festival last year.

Immigration Corner

Senators propose ‘Dream Act of 2017’

• Has been admitted to an institution of higher education or has graduated from high school or obtained a GED or high school On July 20, 2017 Senators equivalency diploma.

Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and • Anyone previously granted Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced DACA would also qualify under a bipartisan bill (supported by the Dream Act, unless that person Democrats and Republicans), engaged in conduct that would called the Dream Act of 2017, make him or her ineligible for which would provide a pathway to DACA. lawful permanent resident status • If qualified and eligible, to young people brought to the the person would be granted U.S. at an early age. conditional permanent resident The Dream Act would differ status for eight years. (By from Deferred Action for Child comparison, people who marry a Arrivals (DACA), in that DACA was US citizen are granted conditional an executive action by former permanent resident status for two Pres. Obama, whereas the Dream years, after which they can apply Act would be a law passed by to have their conditions removed.

Congress and hopefully signed Under the Dream Act, the person

by Pres. Trump. Moreover, DACA would be a conditional resident merely provided protection for eight years, and then apply to against deportation and work have those conditions removed authorization, whereas the Dream and get a full green card.)

Act could eventually lead to a full • In order to have conditional green card. resident status removed at the Some of the highlights of this end of those eight years, the proposed Dream Act include: person: • Granting lawful permanent • Must have been law-abiding, resident status on a conditional without criminal convictions or basis to a person who: inadmissibilities (such as fraud).

• entered the U.S. when they • Must have obtained a were 17 years old or younger bachelor’s degree or at least • Had been continuously two years in good standing for a physically present in the U.S. for bachelor’s degree, completed at at least 4 years before the date of least two years of military service, enactment of the Dream Act, or the or has been employed for at least date when the president signs it. three years, with employment • Must be law-abiding. This authorization. means they should not have • Must demonstrate the ability been convicted of any offense to read, write, and speak English, punishable by one year in jail or and demonstrates knowledge more, or three or more offenses of the fundamentals of U.S. where they spent a total of 90 days history, principles, and form of or more in prison. government.

• Is not inadmissible (ineligible • Information provided in for a green card) for committing DACA applications or applications certain crimes, terrorism, student filed under the Dream Act visa abuse, unlawful voting, etc. shall not be disclosed or used Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAGlAyA (PART 2OF 2) DAEDALUS took off flapping his wings faster and faster to get vertical lift-off and escape gravity.

Icarus followed suit and took off shortly after. As they flew, the people on the ground in Crete watched in amazement wondering

An Asian Journal Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY J u lY 28 , 20 1 7

for purposes of immigration enforcement.

I want to emphasize this Dream Act proposal is nOT YET LAW. Therefore, there is nothing for you to apply for at the present time. Both the House and Senate must vote to approve this proposal and the president must sign it. The Dream Act has been proposed many times in the past, but never became law. In addition, Pres. Trump initially vowed to eliminate DACA, but he has since expressed a willingness to support some kind of legislation that could benefit young people brought to the US at an early age, saying we have to deal “humanely” with these young people.

In the meantime, you should start gathering documents showing you have been in the US for at least four years, make sure you are law-abiding, and pray this proposal becomes law! *** 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

ABANDONED BY HER BIRTH PARENTS, WILL NIKKA BE LEFT BEHIND AGAIN WHEN USCIS CHALLENGED HER ADOPTIVE PARENT’S ELIGIBILITY TO PETITION HER? Lilia (right) and her husband Peter filed a petition to adopt Nikka (left) when the child was 12 years old. The adoption decree was issued six (6) days before Nikka turned 16 years old, and the certificate of finality came out two (2) months after Nikka’s 16th birthday.

When Lilia and Peter filed an Immediate Relative Petition for Nikka, the USCIS served a Request for Evidence (RFE), challenging them eligibility to adopt Nikka. Lilia and Peter were devastated, depressed, and in despair. Would this mean losing the chance to be reunited with their adopted child - whom they loved and considered their own?

Watch how leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel came to the rescue and secured approval of their petition in a mere two months, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC..

(Advertising supplement)

Fil-Am short film about an undocumented immigrant featured at nYC film fest

by Elijah

RodERos

“TO what extent can a mother sacrifice just to give her child a better life?”

An official selection to the 40th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), “The Pleasure Of Being Served” by “The deepest definition of youth is Michael Manese is a story of inner struggle between principle and life as yet untouched by tradegy.” pragmatism.

— Alfred North Whitehead The 15-minute short film centers on Rosa, a single mother reveling in his freedom and giving whether the winged creatures are from the Philippines who chose in to his impetuous, youthful the gods themselves flying. to work in the U.S as a domestic nature, Icarus deviated a little at Icarus trailed his father closely helper with the hope of bringing first, taking little swoops and side at first, following his flight pattern his son along to the “the land of trips and catching up with his and struggling to take heed of father who was intently flying on a the free.” his father’s admonitions. But She works for a young and rich steady speed and altitude. feeling an overwhelming sense of Continued on Page 7 American named Hudson, who is growing power in his ability to fly, (Advertising Supplement)

Children just like you

“The Pleasure Of Being Served” tells the story of Rosa, a single mother from the Philippines who chose to work in the U.S as a domestic helper with the hope of bringing his son along to the “The land of the free.”

caught between two lovers at the same time: Lynn, also a Filipina, and Jen, an American who both

don’t know about Hudson’s shenanigans. Having befriended Continued on Page 5

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY J u lY 28 , 20 1 7

On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places

Spotlight focus on world-class performers at the 2017 People’s Ball

BoBBy T. yalong WhilE all roads will lead to the hilton Meadowlands hotel along Meadowlands Plaza in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Friday, August 11, 2017 at 7 PM for the 9th Grand People’s Ball, every guest will indubitably experience that bizarre feeling of inquisitiveness about the impressive line-up of diverse personalities performing at the most awaited prelude to the two-day weekend event of Fiesta in America.

Already all agog and enthusiastic over this year’s theme, the Psychedelic and Kaleidoscopic 60s, the remarkable cast of performers and entertainers more than induced curiosity and persuasion to attend and be counted at the most anticipated summer gala of the year.

Get to know the world-class crowd drawers all set to provide nothing but only the best and top-notch production numbers that will surely turn the already glitzy occasion into an even more stellar evening gaudily laden with the music, fashion, culture, and the ostentatious lifestyle of the 60s era.

Take The Stage Queens, New York-based Take The Stage, a fast-rising triumvirate of young passionate singer-performers, has slowly but surely created a divergent image all their own while instituting a name that redefines the whole concept of boy bands. Smart and equally good-looking in their formative years, Take The Stage, this

Jerome Gentolia Sabrina Ramos

early, is already becoming a threat to the great number of related singing and playing groups which challenges the kids to deliver even better. Composed of Garcia brothers hans (18, vocalist, lead guitarist, and composer) and Shane (15, drummer and vocals), and cousin Kiel (18, bass guitar and back-up vocals), Take The Stage is cautiously emerging into one of the most in-demand groups while simultaneously building up a growing fan base.

Band Of Brothers Bonded by their common interest in music that solidifies their strongly driven aspiration to perform and entertain, the four members of the Band of Brothers had unquestionably demonstrated the efficacy of strapping brotherhood even sans blood line. The lozano brothers Jose /“Pepe” (lead guitarist / vocalist), Gregorio, Jr. / “Jay-Jay” (bass / vocalist), and Juan Carlos / “Jay-C” (keyboards / vocals), together with performing buddy Nielson Valero Manapat (drums /

Analia Farfan

Sarah Geronimo is starring in her fourth movie with John Lloyd Cruz in “Finally Found Someone.”

Star Cinema photos

Why Sarah Geronimo turned down a ring from John Lloyd Cruz

By IrIs

VIcente AJPress

Rasmin Diaz

Leonardo Sardella

vocals), have stood the test of time endowed with an unwritten accord to stay solid and united guided by a rock-solid mantra: “To be bonded by their music and remain brothers way beyond the band”. Known for their instinctively exceptional vocal blending and harmonizing, and after conquering numerous countries

aside from the US, there seem no stopping the exceedingly talented quartette from attaining supremacy not only in the local music scene but internationally, as well.

Rasmin Diaz Talk about paramount diversity of vocal range with an extensive Continued on Page 5

Take The Stage

The Band of Brothers

Bryan Magsayo

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

PSYCHIC

STAR of the movie “Finally Found Someone” John lloyd Cruz admits giving his co-star Sarah Geronimo a ring in the past which the latter did not accept.

The two stars of the box office hit trilogy movies: “A Very Special love,” “You Changed My life” and “it Takes A Man And A Woman,” are now back on the big screen for yet another blockbuster. They appeared as guests on the late show “Gandang Gabi, Vice” last Sunday, July 23 to promote their rom-com movie “Finally found Someone”.

As Vice Ganda is known for putting his guests on hot seats, the “Ashllyod” tandem were no exemption. During the show, Vice came up with a segment where the two played the “honesty cookie.”

The game prompted the two to spill about their relationship as costars through the years and were even asked if there was ever a time when the two developed romantic

SERVICES

feelings toward each other. The conversation led to John llyod’s juicy revelations.

“May binigay kasi ako sa kanya dati, eh ibinalik niya sa akin. Eh nasa akin pa rin, pwede ko na bang i-dispose? (I gave her something before but she returned it. I still have it though, should i dispose it?)” he told Sarah.

The actor was referring to a ring he supposedly gave Sarah but the actress refused to accept it. When asked why she gave it back, she explained that someone had advised her to return the ring to its owner so as not to cause confusion.

“Mahal ‘yun oi! Sayang yun llyodie. Balik mo nalang sa ‘kin wala namang problema. (Don’t dispose it! Its expensive. Just give it back to me)” she said as she joked about the subject.

Sarah is romantically involved with actor-athlete Matteo Guidicelli since 2014, while John llyod dated Angelica Panganiban in 2012 and broke up in 2016.

An Asian Journal Magazine

New York Consulate organizes postAmbassadors’ Tour in Pampanga NEW YORK – Philippine Consul General in New York Theresa Dizon-De Vega organized a special side event for US Ambassadors’ Tour delegates from the US Northeast to her home province of Pampanga on July 16-20.

Twenty-five delegates accompanied by Consul General Dizon-De Vega visited the cities of San Fernando and Angeles, Pampanga on July 16 after returning from the successful 11th Ambassadors’ Tour. A second group of delegates made the trip 20 July 20.

Both groups had the opportunity to visit heritage sites such as the Lazatin Mansion a national historic site in San Fernando. The heritage home served as the headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Army in Central Luzon during World War II. The delegates also visited the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando.

A highlight of the San Fernando Visit was a parolmaking demonstration by master parol maker Rolando Quiambao.

Some delegates purchased samples of the famous San Fernando lanterns for display in the United States.

Culinary stops were made at SOUQ restaurant and the iconic Everybody’s Café where guests samples Pampango dishes.

The groups were given briefings by Mayor Edwin Santiago of San Fernando and other local government officials as well as the San Fernando Tourism Office.

While in Angeles City, the delegations toured the historic Pamintuan Mansion and Museum which served as the headquarters of General Emilio Aguinaldo in Central Luzon. Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan of Angeles City hosted a merienda of Kapampangan specialities at the Museo ning Angeles (Angeles Museum) in the city’s historic district.

The second batch of visitors were welcomed by Angeles City Vice Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno.

Both groups likewise enjoyed

Delegates pose with Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega (2nd row 6th from left), Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan (2nd row 7th from left) and Department of Tourism New York Head Azucena Pallugna (2nd row 8th from left).

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY J u lY 28 , 20 1 7

Three community organizations collaborated to co-organize the Consular Outreach to Rhode Island. Officers and volunteers from Fil-Am of PCGNY photo Newport, Lingkod Timog, and Fil-Am Community of South Coast MA pose with the PCGNY Team.

PCGNY delivers consular services to Filipino-Americans in Rhode Island

NEW YORK – The Philippine Consulate General New York (PCGNY) returned to Rhode Island last July 22 to 23 to provide passport, legal, dual citizenship, and civil registry services to the San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago (6th from left) with Consul General Dizon-De Vega (7th Filipino community at the Elks from left) with the first batch of Fil-Am delegates at Everybody’s Café.

Lodge in Newport. The outreach was organized by the PCGNY in cooperation with Fil-Am of Newport, Lingkod Timog, and Fil-Am Community of South Coast MA.

More than 100 applicants availed of the consular services during the weekend, and 36 voters registered for Overseas Voting in preparation for the 2019 elections. PAG-IBIG Fund set up an information booth to update members on their investment options.

The team was headed by Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz, accompanied by Mr Bong Delos Santos, Ms Fe Dumaguit, Ms

Mayette Omar, Ms Jing Cuabo, Mr Renie Tomas, Mr Arturo Romua, Ms Carlos Cruz, and Ms Ayessa Pineda. Mr Michael Azucena represented PAG-IBIG Fund. The community organizations were led by Mr Doy Heredia.

The next Consular Outreach will be on 2 September in Connecticut. The full Outreach calendar can be accessed at http:// newyorkpcg.org/the-consulate/ our-services/consular-outreach.

Fil-Am short film about an undocumented...

From Page 3 both of them, Rosa knows exactly the consequence of infidelity.

Rosa is torn between telling the two women about Hudson’s manipulative lies and leave, or keeping mum about his deceit and accept Hudson’s generous offer.

A simple depiction of an 2nd group of delegates with Consul General Dizon-De Vega (7th from left) are joined by Angeles undocumented immigrant far City Vice Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno (1st from right) at the Angeles City historic district. away from home, yet a multifaceted narrative, “The Pleasure Of is aimed at introducing the a rolling tour of the Clark Being Served” speaks the dilemma heritage, cultural, and culinary Freeport Zone to view the latest attractions of Pampanga Province of our modern day heroes. developments in the one of “I would like the audience as well as the latest economic the country’s premiere special to come out of the theater developments and business economic zones. experiencing complex emotions. opportunities in the area.

The Post-Tour program

Was Rosa right in what she did?

What was she thinking? What would have the audience done in her situation?” said Manese, the writer and director of the film.

Drawing inspirations from different outlooks, the main character is inspired from Manese’s previous Latin American housekeeper while Hudson is from his favorite movie, Hud. He also shares that he’s always been fond of doing a film with subtitles.

“I always wanted to do a movie with subtitles. I loved the movies ‘The Remains of the Day’ and ‘Hud’. Both are two of my favorite movies ever that

just, coincidentally, have similar themes,” he said.

According to Manese, the title came from an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond where the mother goes to a restaurant and tells her family to leave her alone; she just wants to have the pleasure of being served.

The short film is currently being written into a featurelength film set in 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, in the light of Trump’s administration wherein the deportation is a threat to undocumented immigrants.

The festival will until August 5 in New York City.

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An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY J U LY 28 , 20 1 7

Calendar of Events across

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS J U LY 28 -29

The University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International’s annual reunion/convention in Garden Grove, CA The University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association (UPNAAI) announces its 38th annual reunion & convention on Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29. Calling all UP Nursing Alumni and Jubilarians to celebrate the milestone of their careers! This two-day event will be held at the Hyatt Regency of Orange County (11999 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA). The theme is “Charting the course for optimal impact.” The highlight of this reunion is the awarding of the JVSotejo Medallion of Honor to Lydia A. Palaypay, GN ’51, BSN, MSN, DSc (Hon.), RN. To read more about her, please visit http://upnaai.org/LAPNamed-2017-JVS-MOH-Recipient.

The full program can be accessed at www.UPNAAI.org. For questions, please contact Merly Abrenica at (818) 384-5064 or Natalia Matitu Mercado at (818) 894-5142.

J U LY 29

The Filipino-Americans of Contra Costa County, Inc. hosts annual picnic in Hercules, CA The Filipino-Americans of Contra Costa County, Inc. (FACCC, Inc.) invites you to its annual potluck picnic on Saturday, July 29 at Foxboro Park in Hercules, CA. It will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring your favorite dish to share. FACCC, Inc. will provide barbecued beef, chicken, hot dogs and water. For any inquiries, call Chairperson Roy de Leon at (510) 5655465 or Vice Chair Joe Medrano at (510) 417-0585.

Spotlight on Vets in Van Nuys, CA Together with and under the leadership of Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz, Mutch Carino of Maxx Promos is presenting a fundraiser show Spotlight on Vets, in support of the Filipino WWII Veterans. The benefit show was launched during a press conference that was hosted by Goldilocks Norwalk in Cerritos through the courtesy of Robert Yee and Ms. Jo Ann Kyle. The Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 was passed and was signed into law by President Obama on December 14, 2016. With this Act, our Filipino veterans will be honored by Congress with the Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) for their service and sacrifice during World War II. Spotlight on Vets aims to raise funds in order to purchase and award Congressional Gold Medal replicas in bronze to living veterans and posthumously to surviving family members. It will be held on July 29, 2017 Saturday 7:00pm at the Envision Center - 15055 Oxnard Street in Van Nuys, California. For tickets and sponsorship information, please call (626) 716-5442.

AU G U ST 5

2017 St. Joseph College of Olongapo City “grand alumni reunion gala night” in Alpine, CA The St. Joseph College of Olongapo City Class of 1987 is hosting a grand alumni reunion gala night on Saturday, August 5. The fundraiser will benefit the high school library project. It will be held at Viejas Casino and Resort at 5000 Willows Road, Alpine, CA 91901 from 5 to 11 p.m. It is $87 / person and the attire is formal. Please contact Gemma Gutierrez Hornilla at (949)861-1732 or Maridy Salle Curry at (818)730-4490. For registration and for further details about the upcoming event, you may also visit http://sjs2017grandreunion. com.

17th Annual St. Francis Children’s Fund fundraising dinner dance silent auction in Burbank, CA Join us for a night of great food, dancing, fellowship, and answering to God’s call of helping our poor children in the Philippines. This special fundraising dinner dance and silent auction will take place on Saturday, August 5 at Burbank Legion Hall Post 150 (940 W. Olive Avenue Burbank, CA 91506) from 6 to 11 p.m. For reservations, please call Emie at (818) 748-7361 or Ramon (818) 297-6618.

AU G U ST 1 2

Silliman University Alumni Association of Southern California’s annual picnic in El Monte, CA The Silliman University Alumni Association of Southern California invites alumni, their family and friends, to its annual picnic and membership meeting on Saturday, August 12, at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, Picnic Area D #9 ((near Legg Lake area with free parking for the early birds). The address: 750 S. Santa Anita Ave, South El Monte, CA 91733, 10 a.m. to sundown. For more information call: Jessie Mario Duran 626.715.2525, Joji Amparo 909.991.8919, and Zeny Duran Bennett 626.824.3595.

AU G U ST 1 3

University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) Induction Ball in Whittier, CA The Univeristy of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) will hold its Induction Ball on August 13, 2017 Sunday at the Double Tree by Hilton - Whittier on 7320 Greenleaf Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602. Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz will swear in Mutch Carino as President of UPAAGLA for 2017-2019, together with the newly elected officers composed of Ethel Rubio (President-Elect), Nati Matitu Mercado (1st VP), Evelyn Andamo (2nd VP), Joy Angeles (Recording Secretary), Yvee Tadeo-Guevara (Corresponding Secretary), Gil Guinto (Treasurer), Melette Lampino (Assistant Treasurer), Dick Cu (Auditor), Benny Uy (PRO) and Bobby Canseco (IT Officer). The 2017-2019 UPAAGLA Board of Directors are Ivy Manalang, Atty. Mary Lyn Sanga, Ellery Atienza, Mary Trinidad, Sonny Gancayco, Annie Nepomuceno, Mary Drees, Jess Espanola, Bob Shroder, Carina Slepian, Ivy Cosio-Bautista, Ellen Gomez, Relson Banas, and Angie Alvarez. The advisers of UPAAGLA are Dr. Arnel Joaquin, Vicky Gancayco, Jazmin Gaite, Alma Onrubia, Frank Mamaril, Doris Maligalig, and Sonja Menor. Red carpet arrivals and No Host Cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m.

Program and dinner start at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, sponsorships and souvenir program advertisements, please call Dick Cu (562) 547-0560.

AU G U ST 1 9

Philippine Madrigal Singers to perform in Northridge, CA Philippine Madrigal Singers in Concert on Saturday, August 19 is the long-awaited return to Los Angeles of the world-renowned prize-winning choir. The performance begins at 7 p.m. at the Plaza Del Sol Performance Hall at the Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC) located at 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330. The theatre is part of CSUN, and tickets are $70, $55, and $40 online anytime at www.ticketmaster.com. Special student pricing is available only in-person at the VPAC box office, call or visit (818) 677-3000 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Tour information at www.musicartsevents.com.

AU G U ST 2 0

Philippine Madrigal Singers in Loma Linda, CA An Evening with the MADZ on Sunday, August 20 is an opportunity to hear the awardwinning first-ever two-time European Grand Prix winning choir, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, at Campus Hill Church, 11057 Hill Dr Loma Linda CA 92354. The performance is at 7 p.m. $40 General Admission, $20 Child/Student. For tickets, call Ephraim Dela Cruz at (909) 831-4225, Marjorie Ann Reyno-Huynh at (909) 965-6936 or Nemuel Enriquez at (323) 2290506.

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

Miss Philippines USA 2017 winners

Photo courtesy of Miss Philippines USA

Sixth time’s the charm: 6th Miss Philippines USA, a roaring success

BY MONET

LU

THE sixth installation of the Miss Philippines USA 2017 and Miss Young Philippines 2017 held last Sunday, July 16 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale proved to be one of the most successful Filipino-American pageants in Southern California.

This year had the most number of contestants with 33 candidates vying for the crown.

“This year we are proud to stage a production with a fusion of Filipino and American. We have more candidates this year, and have screened more than 100 hundred applicants since 2016.

There are teens that are already interested in beauty pageants and Miss Young Philippines USA is their platform to prepare themselves for their career choice.

We are amazed at how many young applicants sent their profile to us,” said CEO and founder Lou Razon.

The evening’s co-hosts, broadcast personality Tony Cabrera and Cher Calvin, news anchor on KTLA 5 News, who have been co-hosting the pageant for six years, introduced the candidates as they opened the show with a dance number.

“The most memorable was the opening dance performance of the candidates wearing contemporary national costumes designed by me. I was screaming for joy while watching the girls perform,” Razon continued.

The swimsuit competition drew louder cheers from the crowd as 22 contestants competed in the Miss Philippines USA swimsuit category, while eleven competed for the Miss Young USA swimsuit round and was won by Jazlynn Dizon. Kayla Nadres won Best in Swimsuit for Miss Philippines USA 2017. The swim apparels were provided by Dylee & Lylee Active & Swimwear Apparel.

More exciting announcements were made throughout the program which was attended by over 1,400 distinguished guests.

Mrs. Cora Aragon Soriano, the first Mrs. Philippines USA, officially announced that Mrs. Philippines USA segment would be included in the competition category for next year’s pageant.

The Long Gown category followed shortly and was won by April Rose Maniwang in the Miss Young Philippines USA category and by Nicole Guerrero for Miss Philippines USA. Seven semi-finalists were chosen from the 11 young contestants and 13 semi-finalists were chosen from the 22 Miss Philippines contestants to compete in the final question-andanswer portion.

The Question-and-Answer segment concluded with the following special awards: Alexandra Dalumpines won Miss Filipinotown; Jessica Cabanos won Miss Foodtrients World, Alyssa Sandra Guevara and April Rose Maniwang were appointed 2017 Ambassadors; Alyssa Sandra Guevara was the second runnerup and Sabrina Garcia was the first runner-up.

The winners in all final categories for Miss Philippines USA 2017 were: Kayla Nadres who won World 2017; Gabby Pangan who won Filipinotown; Kristine Macalutas and Valerie Bondan who were appointed 2017 Ambassadors; Angelica Escandon who won third runner up, Andrea Valera as second runner up, and Angelica Escandon who emerged as the first runner up.

The evening culminated with the joyous crowning of both Miss Philippines USA 2017 and Miss Young Philippines USA 2017.

Nicole Guerrero emerged as the Miss Philippines USA 2017 and won Miss Philippines USA Top Model of the World and Miss Philippines USA Foodtrients World.

The title Miss Young Philippines 2017 was awarded to Jazlynn Dizon!

Amazing guest performances filled the night; Michael Keith, the Filipino “Michael Jackson,” performed two songs to get the show started, as well as an

energetic performance by Bagyo, Eric G serenaded Miss World 2013 Megan Young, who was also one of the 11 jurors, and Ding Dong Avanzado closed with an awesome song number. Aces and Queen Founder and Beauty Queen Maker Jonas Gaffud was also among the judges that night.

He joined Young on stage as they crown the Miss Philippines USA and Miss Young Philippines 2017.

He and Young functioned as mentors of the candidates during the pre-pageant season. He pledged his support for next year’s competition and said, “it will be bigger and better–if not best.”

The Miss Philippines USA is co-produced by program and technical director Randy Trinidad.

This year’s pageant was directed

by John De La Vega. With such an amazing team behind her, Ms. Razon expresses her deepest gratitude to all who made this event a successful and worth trailing, six years and beyond.

She said, “I feel blessed that we are in our 6th year. It is getting bigger and better and I feel like we need to move to a bigger location (laughs). This year, we wanted to come up with a more cultural show that shows the roots of Filipino-Americans. It took us three months to plan the theme and the costumes and the staging. Turnout was fabulous, the event was fun and exciting, it is a fusion of the Philippines and USA. I would like to thank all our sponsors, judges, candidates, parents, staff and crew and the audience for their support! I would like my candidates to know that they all looked beautiful. This year’s batch was one of the best. I do appreciate their hard work and dedication in making the pageant successful.” *** 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

Spotlight focus on world-class...

From Page 4 grasp of a multiplicity of genre, this chanteuse / belter from Cagayan de Oro has indubitably stamped her mark and carved a niche in the annals of local music history, particularly in the tri-state area. Her entrenched status with unflinching dedication to her craft makes her poles apart from among the crowding league of female vocalists.

Rasmin sings standards, belts out high-pitched disco and upbeat selections, effortlessly renders easy-on-the-ear love songs, chants romantic oldies, warbles saccharineloaded melodies, and could (still) deliver arias…when pressured.

Rasmin’s unrivaled professionalism and consummate commitment to her audience could instantaneously make her switch personalities… from a schmaltzy songstress to a fiery diva. Sooner than expected, the moniker “Rasmin Diaz” could synonymously mean “Entertainer par excellence.”

Jerome Gentolia A veteran of a number of Broadway and off-Broadway productions with a roster of interstate road shows, it’s but easy to bring to a conclusion that Jerome Gentolia is, without a doubt, one rare talent seamlessly cut from among the established and aspiring ones.

Despite having attained success after success, the suave singer has incredibly remained low key and selfeffacing. Jerome’s musical ingenuity is limitless. He effortlessly excels in ballads, Broadway, Rock, metal, punk rock, Soul, and what have you. While his feet are rooted deeply on the ground, his face is held up high… envisioning more significant projects that could eventually challenge his capabilities and put his vocal skills to an edge-defying acid test.

Sabrina Ramos Well-skilled in the performing arts (having been trained in singing, acting, and dancing and won in various stiffly-contested competitions), Maria Sabrina Ramos, was adjudged PAFCOM’s 2016 Miss Liberty. Sabrina is multilingual (she speaks French, Tagalog, English), a potential actress and model, an accomplished gymnast, a creative writer, and a multiawarded contender during the 2015 Hollywood Showcase competition.

Statuesque with regal bearing at 15 and seemingly confident when

queried about familiar subjects, the stylishly eloquent multi-faceted young lass could straightforwardly win anyone to her side with just her charming ways and gentle persuasion.

Bryan Magsayo As if the numerous Filipinos that attained global excellence and widely acknowledged for their superb distinction in singing were not enough to disclose our dominance in the field, the astounding emergence of Bryan Magsayo in YouTube more than attested our unrivaled supremacy in the music arena. His status as an overseas worker failed to thwart where his true destiny led him and hinder his passion for singing. The low-profile singer from Valencia, Bukidnon initiated training his vocal cords at age 7 with a voluminous record of amateur singing contest achievements behind him that catapulted his singing career to where he is currently based: in China doing what he does best-- singing! Discovered in YouTube being a vocal dead-ringer of Air Supply’s Russell Hitchcock, Bryan gained prominence since with a tag, “YouTube Sensation,” neatly stashed under his sleeves and “Air Supply cover virtuoso” after his name while enjoying life’s fine luxuries (that) fame brought him.

Analia Farfan Innately born with proficient terpsichorean skills while simultaneously armed with unambiguous focus and wholehearted dedication to her craft, Analia has utilized every bit of her mortal faculties and enormously honed her artistic ingenuity for excellence in Ballet and later, in Tango. She studied Ballet under the tutelage of the best in her place of birth, Buenos Aires, graduated with honors from Maria Ruanova Institute and later became National Ballet and Contemporary Dance Teacher while she concurrently studied Tango with Tango virtuoso Osvaldo Soto. Analia was a recipient of a scholarship grant from Marika Besobrasova at Princess Grace Academy in Monaco and her prior affiliations with several dance companies: Liliana Belfiore Studio Company, Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, American Youth Ballet,

Richard Marsden Ballet, Tbilisi Paliashvili Ballet & Opera, RussianAmerican Ballet, and AmericanSwiss Ballet. Currently the president of Argentina for the “UN of the World Organization,” Analia has been booked to perform at the Berlin Opera later part of the year.

Leonardo Sardella Having started dancing Tango professionally from his hometown in Buenos Aires, Leonardo has effectually and productively performed on the best stages in Argentina with several dance companies before he decided to move to NYC in 2011. To broaden his horizon and to expand his flair for dancing he co-founded Malevaje with Walter Perez. Leonardo currently teaches and performs at Dardo Galletto Studios in the heart of Times Square while simultaneously being a principal dancer for the Mariela Franganillo’s Dance Company. Some of his most eminent performances include: “Tango Connections” (2012), “Recuerdo Tango” (2013), “A Puro Tango” (2014 US Tour).

To be emceed by fast-rising female event host Allah Arcangel and multi-faceted singer-performer Jerome Gentolia, with veteran radio announcer / broadcaster Fiorello Salvo as guest host and music by Ernie Bugarin, the 2017 People’s Ball promises to surpass and outshine its own successful record in the past with exceeding degree of excellence.

Come and join us celebrate and relive the grandeur of the 60s era on Friday, August 11, 2017 at the aristocratic ballroom of Hilton Meadowlands Hotel at #2 Meadowlands Plaza, East Rutherford, NJ 07073 and experience the fun, excitement, and the high spirited ambience.

For reservations or more information please call 212-6826610 or 201-300-5234 or visit us at www.fiestainamerica.com. You can also contact the People’s Ball Honorary Chairs: Jocelyn Aligarbes @ 646-515-5234 (aligarbes@aol. com); Maria Pilar Monje @ 017-3783030 (mapilarmonje@yahoo.com); & Atty. Nick Caraquel @ 859-398-8999 (nick_caraquel@yahoo.com).

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

Fil-Am Angelica Hale earns Golden Buzzer on ‘America’s Got Talent’

by JOANNA

An Asian Journal Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY J U LY 28 , 20 1 7

ESTORQUE

American comic book writer creates ‘Rocket Girl’ from Manila

AJPress

THE extraordinary voice of 9-year-old Filipina-American singer Angelica Hale continues to prevail on “America’s Got Talent” as she incredibly performed “Girl on Fire,” convincing guest judge Chris Hardwick to bestow her the coveted Golden Buzzer on Tuesday, July 18.

The Golden Buzzer automatically advances contestants to the live shows, the later round of the contest.

“I’m so blown away because you walk out and you’ve got these sneakers on, and you look like this adorable little child. And then you open your mouth and it’s like, ‘How do those pipes fit in that tiny body?’

You are unbelievable!” Hardwick said before pushing the Golden Buzzer.

He continuously praised the singer by saying, “Angelica, I feel you’re the chosen one.”

Aside from Hardwick, the rest of the judging panel, which includes Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell

By KRISSY

AGUILAR AJPRESS

AN American comic book writer put a Filipino-American character in the spotlight of his comic book series called “Rocket Girl.”

The story’s creator, Fred Corder, originally hails from Washington DC. He is also the founder and Angelica Hale performing Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire” Photo courtesy of NBC creative director of Pockets Fulla were also impressed by the Fil-Am’s for raising money for the hospitals. Pillz (PFP), an art design company I won’t forget my experience in my that publishes the “Rocket Girl.” rendition of the Alica Keys’ hit.

The original comic series is hospital because that is kind of like The child wonder first illustrated by Corder’s Filipino artist a centerpiece in my life,” Hale said impressed the judges with her friend and business partner, Jeck astonishing performance of Andra in a video.

Flores.

The experience she was Days’“Rise Up” on her audition. She “Rocket Girl” delves into the life pertaining to was the bacterium further amazed viewers with her of a Filipino-American neurologist, infection in her lungs that kind heart for using her voice to Rashida Johnson, whose work is damaged her kidneys, requiring sing on charity events. taken by her Central Intelligence her to undergo a kidney “I wanted to become like Agency (CIA) boss. transplant when she was just four [popular singers], but instead of Rashida is a Filipina born in Luzon and was adopted by years old. doing it for something else, I did it African-American physicians who were conducting a mission in the Philippines.

Self-confidence and a healthy While Rashida looks like your self-esteem come only after the typical superhero, Corder said that independence and sense of power young have paid hefty dues in she has no superpowers in the goads them to “fly close to the life’s lessons learned. Humility, classical sense. sun.” erroneously perceived as meekness “She just can’t die properly,” Humility gets torpedoed and these days, is scoffed at and swept he told FilAm.net. “Each time she overweening pride rules. They feel under the rug. And yet without dies, she comes back 15 minutes they no longer need guidance from humility that instinctively knows before it happened. That’s just anyone. Sometimes a good scare and accepts that one needs the beginning of the oddity of or a tiny thorn of bad experience to learn from others to grow her predicament. It really plays can be humbling and worth more in wisdom, no real learning is with the question of morality and than a lifetime of warnings, advice possible. There are lives all around causality. Her character’s journey and admonitions to nudge prideful us who can serve as models that asks the central question: Do you youth back to reality and on the we can emulate and cautionary define your actions? Or do your straight and narrow. tales we can learn from. actions define you?”

While we may think that this On the part of adults who The only power that Rashida tendency of the youth today is have been there and done all that possesses is her quick-tempered unique to our times, we only have and have the scars to show for nature, hence the code name to look back several thousand it, achieving perspective and an “Rocket Girl.” years to know that the scenario empathetic bone are needed to What makes her different from may have changed, the cast of remember we were once just as other superheroes is that the only characters in every generation young, just as foolish, or perhaps villain present is Rashida herself. in every nation may be different, even more so. But that we praise “She is fighting the enslavement but the predilection for hubris the God of our being and with all imposed by her own dark emotions particularly in the young, remains humility admit that we were the and pride,” Corder said, “and that the same. lucky ones who got a pass because Notice the youth within your life was magnanimous enough immediate daily orbit. With few to let us get past that harrowing hands in the air in sheer frustration exceptions, you might see that the stage of youthful folly, with barely a after you’ve committed a stupid, egocentric self-absorption that scratch and live long enough to see arrogant stunt or acted like a consumes the severely distracted the cycle repeated in our children. mindless jackass for the nth time young these days is borne of hubris Sigh. when you were young, quipping a that a modern, tech-savvy culture Picture a flashback. You can line that sounds like a curse, “May seems to engender with short-cuts almost see your mother or father, you have children just like you!” that only serve to short-circuit. eyes rolling upward, throwing their Of course, it works just as well

Children just like...

From Page 3

As Icarus swooped, dived and indulged frivolously in his aerial acrobatics, Icarus soon forgot his father’s words and flew higher and higher towards the noonday sun.

Then the wax in his wings melted, the wooden framework broke apart and the feathers blew away.

Wingless and panicking, Icarus plunged headlong like deadweight into the blue waters. Daedalus swooped down in hot pursuit to save his son but it was much too late. All he saw were a few feathers floating on the surface.

Daedalus, with a heavy heart at the tragic loss of his beloved Icarus, managed to fly to Sicily.

In his grief, Daedalus retired his wings, lost his love for life and never flew again.

Over and over again through the generations, we see this tendency of some of the young ones to “forget” the things they have been taught and allow hubris and folly to rule. Some throw away everything they have learned and painstakingly worked for in one impetuous decision or action. It is as if their overwhelming sense of freedom, newly-attained

makes her relatable and interesting for fans.”

The comic duo, Corder and Flores, have been working together for six years already. They previously worked on designing album covers and other graphics before eventually shifting their focus to comics.

In 2012, Fred left his job as a psychologist in DC and made his move to Manila official to further expand his business.

“It took me by surprise honestly; the graphic artists of the Manila area are the best in the world,” he said. “I immersed myself

and intentionally got lost in the colorful world that is the Manila art underground scene.”

While writing the story and dialogue of his comic, Corder has also been on a lookout for new artists within Metro Manila to join his PFP team.

“Create! Create! If you are an artist, you must draw nonstop. If you are a writer, you have to write nonstop,” he advised aspiring comic artists. “Even if your art or writing sucks, as long as it’s original and there is a scary amount of it everywhere you will succeed eventually.”

on the flip side of the coin. When you have children who have finally become wise after being foolish, you can say the same line as a blessing and heave a sigh of relief.

Take heed, young ones. One day, you will become adults who

will have children of your own.

Then you’ll know that what goes around, definitely comes around. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

An Asian Journal Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY JulY 28, 2017