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Filipino fishermen sue China before UN by

roSette adel Philstar.com

mANILA—filipino fisherfolk who rely on waters near the disputed Panatag (scarborough) shoal submitted an appeal to United Nations against state agents of the People’s republic of China.

In the urgent appeal penned by Center for Law Philippines counsels harry roque Jr. and Gilbert Andres, 16 fishermen residing in the coastal town of Infanta, Pangasinan and sta. Cruz, Zambales accused the Chinese of violating their human rights. the fishermen said they are physically prevented from conducting their means Legal counsels of fisherfolk who rely on waters near Panatag Shoal file urgent appeal against China’s state agents for violating their human rights.

Philstar.com photo of livelihood by Chinese Coast Guard

and other maritime agencies of China that patrol the fishing areas around the shoal, also known as Bajo de masinloc. the Chinese officers are distinguished by their orange uniforms and markings on the maritime vessels they use. the Chinese authorities threaten their livelihood with water cannons and “no fishing” warnings and deprive them of shelter during inclement weather, the fishermen added. the petitioners said the Chinese violated their rights to an adequate standard of living, food and life.

“We request that you urgently intervene, remind, and direct China and its state agents to respect the human

rights—including the right to livelihood, the right to adequate food, and the right to life—of the filipino fisherfolks over their traditional fishing grounds and safe refuge in the scarborough shoal (Panatag shoal or Bajo de masinloc),” the lawyers said in the appeal addressed to the UN body. the fisherfolk’s lawyers noted China’s international obligation under the International Covenant on economic, social and Cultural rights, the Universal Declaration of human rights, and customary international law in stating their request.

In June, the Center for Law legal PAGE A2

FiRST PAPAl viSiT To CoNgReSS

Pope Francis urges action on immigration, environment, defense of the poor and of families by allySon

eSCobar

AJPress

IN the first-ever papal address to both houses of Congress on thursday, sept. 24, Pope francis brought to light important issues ranging from immigration to gun control to climate change, addressing the diverse crowd of political leaders and top lawmakers.

Appearing at the balcony of the Capitol, the pope was surrounded to his right and left by house speaker John Boehner and Vice President Joe Biden, both of whom are devout Catholics, NPr reported.

“I am most grateful for your inviPresident Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama introduce Pope tation to address this Joint session Francis to their family pets Bo and Sunny in the Blue Room following of Congress in ‘the land of the free the State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on and the home of the brave,’” the Wednesday, Sept. 23.

DATELINE

White House Photo by Pete Souza

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Fil-Am nominated to head Defense Health Agency PresIDeNt Barack obama has nominated a filipina for a high-ranking promotion in the United states Navy. rear Admiral raquel C. Bono, who was promoted in september 2014, was nominated by the president to the rank of Vice Admiral and for the position of Defense health Agency PAGE A3

SWS presidential survey: Poe, Binay, Roxas ‘statistically tied’

by Catherine

S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

NeXt year’s presidential elections would be a neck and neck race among the top three frontrunners, results of the latest social Weather stations (sWs) survey said.

According to the sWs presidential preference survey, sen.

Grace Poe, Vice President Jejomar Binay and former Interior secretary manuel roxas II are “statistically tied.”

Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Grace Poe Poe–an independent who deare leading the latest Social Weather Stations presidential survey.

clared her intention to vie for the nation’s top-most elective position just last week–got the nod of 26 percent of the 1,200 respondents surveyed while Binay and roxas got 24 and 20 percentage points, respectively. the survey, which was reportedly designed by BusinessWorld, asked the respondents to select one name from an alphabetically-arranged list of possible presidential candidates.

It was conducted from september 2 to 5.

the respondents were asked, “Among the names found in this list, who will you probably vote for as President of the Philippines if elections were held today?”

Davao City mayor rodrigo Duterte came in fourth with 11 percent followed by sen. ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. and sen. francis “Chiz” escudero with 4 percent, deposed president and now manila mayor Joseph estrada had 3 percent, sen. miriam Defensor santiago PAGE A2

Binay’s ‘stars’ to come out ‘in due time’ Coloma denies NY Times report stating PH requested $300 million in military aid by teSSa

MauriCio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

seN. Nancy Binay on tuesday, sept.

22 said celebrities who support her father’s bid for the presidency will come out soon.

“Sa tamang panahon [In due time],” Binay quipped, quoting the famous lesson of Lola Nidora in “eat Bulaga’s” popular “Kalyeserye.”

In a brief one-on-one with The Manila A fILIPINo-American teenager who Times before Vice President Jejomar Biwas charged as an adult in the murder nay arrived at a roundtable with select of an 8-year-old girl earlier this year members of the entertainment press in in santa Cruz, California, pleaded not a Quezon City restaurant, sen. Binay exguilty monday, sept. 21. plained why they have not identified the Adrian Jerry Gonzalez, 15, faces stars who will support her father. one count of murder with the special “Based on experience, we don’t want circumstance that he allegedly kid- to risk dragging them [celebrity supportnapped, sexually assaulted, and tied up ers] into our situation,” she said, obviousmadyson “maddy” middleton before ly referring to allegations of corruption killing her, according to santa Cruz against the Vice President and several PAGE A3 other members of their family.

Fil-Am teen pleads not guilty in killing of 8-year-old girl

PAPAL VISIT. Pope Francis addresses a Joint Session of Congress on Thursday, Sept. 24. The Pope, who became the first pontiff to address Congress, thanked Photo by House Office of Photography

PAGE A2 lawmakers for their warm welcome.

“If you remember, when Congressman manny Pacquiao attended the UNA [United Nationalist Alliance] rally in support of my dad, he suddenly had the BIr [Bureau of Internal revenue] harassing him,” according to the senator. she said the Vice President, even in his mayoral campaigns in makati City, hardly brought along celebrity endorsers in his sorties.

“Usually, it’s our children who would sing or dance,” she laughed. “even when he [Binay] ran for Vice President in 2010, robin Padilla only joined him on very few occasions.” the Binay camp confirmed that as far as actors go, Alma moreno is organizing a women’s group in mindanao to rally behind the Vice President’s campaign. [the actress gathered some influence in the south during her five-year marriage to marawi City mayor sultan fahad “Pre” PAGE A2

by agneS

ConStante AJPress

AmID ongoing territorial quarrels about the south China sea, the Aquino administration requested $300 million in military aid from the United states, according to a report by the New York Times. however, Philippine Presidential Communications secretary herminio Coloma, Jr. repudiated the report, citing a lack of explicit information on the claim.

“Wala tayong tuwirang information tungkol diyan at kailangan muna nating alamin kung ano ang isinasaad ng ulat na ‘yan at berepikahin kung merong batayan (We don’t have any direct information about that matter and PAGE A3

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September 25-october 1, 2015 • oc/Ie ASIAN JoUrNAL

From the Front Page

SWS presidential survey: Poe, Binay...

PAGE A1 had 2 percent and former senator Manuel Villar Jr., 1 percent.

Former senator Panfilo Lacson and Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Loren Legarda each obtained 0.8 percent.

Two percent of the respondents were undecided.

Meanwhile, Poe and his running mate Escudero led the vicepresidential race in the September 2015 pre-election survey.

Based on the survey, 27 percent of registered voters chose Poe while 20 percent picked Escudero.

Duterte scored 9 percent, Marcos had 7 percent, Estrada had 7

percent, Cayetano 5 percent, Legarda 5 percent, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto had 4 percent, Senator Antonio F. Trillanes 4th also had 4 percent, Lacson had 3 percent, Camarines Rep. Leni Robredo had 3 percent, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada had 2 percent and Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, 0.9 percent.

Three percent of those polled were undecided.

Poe said she is looking forward to the next survey, which she said would reflect how the people take her intention to be the next leader of the land.

“I thank our countrymen for their continued confidence in me

Binay’s ‘stars’ to come out ‘in...

PAGE A1 Salic].

But if Vice President Binay had to choose celebrity endorsers for what will be the toughest fight of his political life, he would go for the phenomenal tandem of AlDub. Binay cited the AlDub phenomenon for it allowed him to take a swipe at his political enemies.

“Talung-talo na nung AlDub [Kaleyeserye] yung teleserye sa Senado [The AlDub kalyeserye has eclipsed the Senate teleserye],” he also quipped. “That soap opera [in the Senate] has been going on for over a year and it’s already waning.”

“When I go around the country, I tell people who may just start be-

lieving these lies that I’m used to this kind of demolition job. Even when I was mayor of Makati, I had sacks upon sacks of allegations filed against me. But have I ever even been suspended or convicted of any crime?” he asked rhetorically. “The answer is never.”

“The Senate inquiry should be made in aid of legislation. If they really had something against me, they should try me in a court of law,” the Vice President said.

When asked whether he has ever thought of giving up his bid for the presidency amid the seemingly endless controversies, Binay replied, “Have you ever read the book by JFK [John F. Kennedy], Profiles in Courage? He said public service is a beautiful profession,

and my performance and hopes for the country,” she told reporters.

“I’m looking forward to the proceeding surveys where the respondents are already aware of my intention to run and have also had a preview of the programs I wish to promote and support,” the senator said.

Rico Quicho, the Vice President’s political spokesman, said the survey will inspire Binay and his supporters to work harder.

“The elections will be a battle for every single vote and the Vice President will continue to personally meet with the people around the country,” Quicho added.

Filipino fishermen sue China...

PAGE A1 counsels also filed urgent appeal against Chinese coast guards for the fisherfolk of Subic and Masinloc Zambales.

On Thursday, Sept. 24, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. also called on the government

to ask China to stop harassing Filipino fishermen.

“The first item in the agenda is to ask China to stop harassing our fishermen because they are just fishing and have no other motive in going there; it’s international waters anyway,” Mar-

cos said.

“Let’s make an arrangement with China that we will talk about fishermen only and not the contentious issue of who owns the territories. I think China will agree to that arrangement. That’s one big step,” he added.

Pope Francis urges action on immigration...

PAGE A1 Pope began, to the applause of thousands, who were granted a limited amount of tickets for the joint meeting. “I am so grateful for your presence here.”

To begin, the head of the Catholic Church reminded legislators of the function and purpose of and my quest for the presidency is government: “A political society just a continuation of my passion endures when it seeks, as a vofor public service.” cation, to satisfy common needs He promised that if he makes by stimulating the growth of its it to Malacañang, he will not take members, especially those in revenge on his enemies because situations of greater vulnerabilhe wants his administration to be ity or risk. Legislative activity is “healing and unifying.” always based on the care of the Indulging a “showbiz” ques- people. To this, you have been tion, the Vice President said if his invited, called and convened by life story were to become a movie, those who elected you.” he would choose Alden Richards He called on Congress to seek to portray his character (Alden is “effective solutions, rather than the “Al” in “AlDub”). getting bogged down in discus“Pero maputi ho siya [But he is sions.” fair-skinned],” reacted one columFrancis urged political leaders nist. to take vigorous action on issues “Bakit, puwede namang ku- largely favored by liberals, and layan si Alden, di ba [Why, we can concerns widely dividing both color Alden],” the Vice President houses of Congress: including retorted. his powerful defense of immi-

gration, a critique of modernday US capitalism, a call for the endorsement of environmental legislation, an end to war and a cry to help the poor, refugees, and those incarcerated.

“Politics is, instead, an expression of our compelling need to live as one, in order to build as one, the greatest common good,” the Pope said, also citing the examples of historical leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, and Martin Luther King, Jr. As the 266th Pope, Francis (whose birth name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio) also recognized his own role as a promoter of peace, and religious leader of the Catholic Church: “It is my duty to build bridges and to help all men and women, in any way possible, to do the same.”

In his speech, he defended religious freedom and the structure of the traditional family, dividing his views of marriage with that of President Barack Obama, according to the New York Times.

He was also less explicit in condemning abortion, but called for a defense of life “at every stage of development.”

“I cannot hide my concern for the family, which is threatened, perhaps as never before, from within and without,” he said.

“Fundamental relationships are being called into question, as is the very basis of marriage and the family. I can only reiterate the importance and, above all, the richness and the beauty of family life.”

Touching upon other points he made the day before, in front of the White House lawn, the Pope noted himself as “the son of immigrants, knowing that so many of you are also descended from immigrants.” He called for the further respect of immigrants and refugees, and for a major haul to the immigration system.

“We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best as we can to their situation,” he commenting, referencing the biblical Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

He also advocated for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty, calling every life “sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity…a just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the

goal of rehabilitation.”

Encouraging those living in a poverty to have hope, Francis said, “[…] in times of crisis and economic hardship a spirit of global solidarity must not be lost…The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on many fronts.”

As the session came to a close, he talked about caring “for the common good,” emphasizing the importance of creation and taking care of the earth, calling for “an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.”

Quoting from his second encyclical Laudato Si’, he said: “We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all.”

Finally, the Pontiff ended with a brief comment on gun control, and a collective cry for ongoing social justice and world peace.

“Being at the service of dialogue and peace also means being truly determined to minimize and, in the long term, to end the many armed conflicts throughout our world,” he said. “Here we have to ask ourselves: Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? […] In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade.”

The Pope’s speech in English was the longest, perhaps most challenging appearance of his papacy, the NY Times said. Francis, who speaks native Spanish and fluent Italian, has admitted his discomfort in speaking English.

But on Thursday, he clearly addressed 138 Catholic House members and 26 senators--nearly 31 percent, compared with 22 percent of the overall Catholic adult population.

Urging and encouraging these national leaders from all walks of life, Pope Francis said, “The challenges facing us today call for a renewal of that spirit of cooperation, which has accomplished so much good throughout the history of the United States. The complexity, the gravity and the urgency of these challenges demand that we pool our resources and talents, and resolve to support one another, with respect for our differences and our convictions of conscience.”

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Fil-Am teen pleads not guilty in killing...

PAGE A1 County District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell. Gonzalez is also accused of lying in wait.

The teen has also been charged with one count of kidnapping and four other sexual assault-related offenses, according to Rosell.

“We have charged this individual as an adult with the crimes for which he is responsible,” he said. “We are going to bring him to justice.”

At Gonzalez’s first court appearance on Thursday, July 30, the 15-year-old did not enter a plea. Later at his arraignment on Monday, Sept. 21, he pleaded not guilty, Inquirer.net reported.

Gonzalez’s lawyer Larry Biggam told reporters, “Our job is to review the evidence, conduct our own investigation, and make sure that the minor—like every citizen accused—receives a fair trial.”

Maddy was last seen around 5:05pm on Sunday, July 26 riding her white Razor scooter in the Tannery Arts Center on River Street, a public-private nonprofit artists colony in Santa Cruz where both she and Gonzalez lived. Her disappearance prompted a frantic overnight search, and FBI investigators went door-to-door looking for clues. The massive search involved volunteers from neighbors, to officials, to relatives and friends.

Around 250 people live in the Tannery Arts Center complex, including about 50 children.

At 7:55pm on Monday, July 27,

a little more than 24 hours after she disappeared, a police detective discovered Maddy’s body—4 feet tall, 46 pounds—lying at the bottom of the recycling bin, which had already been searched once by volunteers.

Investigators reportedly saw Gonzalez standing near the bin, causing automatic suspicion.

Police believe he was watching them as they searched, and said they have evidence tying him directly to Maddy.

The boy was detained and later arrested on suspicion of homicide, and is being held in a juvenile detention facility.

Gonzalez was described as a well-liked, quiet and polite young man and a “yo-yo expert.” According to a former classmate, Gonzalez’s father was absent and his mother is from Romblon, an island in the Luzon region of the Philippines.

Residents at the eight-acre complex were “stunned” to learn their neighbor was suspected in the killing.

“We’re just devastated. These are two of our kids, and one is dead and one has been taken away. And it’s horrible. It’s just horrible,” said resident Yasmina Porter, whose two children, ages 11 and 13, had regularly played with both the young victim and the suspect.

“From the community’s standpoint, we mostly feel like these are our babies,” Porter said. “This is the most horrible thing you can

Dateline USa

imagine.”

Santa Cruz police Chief Kevin Vogel said Gonzalez lured Maddy to his family’s upstairs apartment, where they were alone, and killed her. He then reportedly carried her body downstairs to a garage and hid it in the recycling bin. Police officials believe Maddy willingly went to Gonzalez’s apartment because she knew and trusted him.

“She was 8 years old. She had a reasonable amount of trust in him,” Vogel said. “They were “It is my belief that [Maddy] was killed even before we got the phone call Sunday at about 6pm, when she was first reported missing,” he added.

Gonzalez is being tried as an adult on the counts of murder, kidnapping, and rape. In their decision to determine charges, prosecutors looked at the Filipino teen’s age, his criminal record, the nature of the crime and how the offense was committed, Rosell said.

If convicted of the charges, Gonzalez may face life in prison.

Because of his age, he is not eligible for the death penalty. He was ordered to re-appear in court on Oct. 29.

An autopsy of Maddy shows that she died of asphyxiation and stab wounds to the neck.

“People do things for lots of different reasons,” Rosell said.

“Sometimes we understand them, sometimes we don’t.” (Allyson Escobar/AJPress)

Fil-Am nominated to head Defense Health...

PAGE A1 (DHA) director. She currently serves as director of the DHA’s National Capital Region Medical Directorate and the 11th chief of the Navy Medical Corps.

If Bono’s nomination is approved, she will become the highest-ranking Filipino-American naval officer in the US. The news was announced by Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Thursday, Sept. 17.

As DHA director, she will oversee an organization responsible for executing the military health program, including providing common health services for military hospitals and clinics, overseeing Tricare, and managing the system’s information technology, education, training, research and facilities programs.

Vice Admiral Matthew L. Nathan, the Navy surgeon general,

has described Bono as a “role model for others to emulate,” acknowledging the contributions of her veteran family.

Bono’s grandfather served as a Filipino obstetrician in the US Army as a colonel during World War II, according to Inquirer.

Twenty years later, Bono’s parents migrated to the US and settled in Minnesota, where her father finished his surgical residency and joined the Navy Reserve, retiring as a captain.

Bono and her younger brother, retired Rear Admiral Anatolio B. “AB” Cruz III, made US Navy history in 2012 when they became the first and only Filipino siblings to hold flag-officer ranks simultaneously, the DHA reported.

Cruz served as deputy commander of the US Naval Forces Southern Command and deputy commander, US Fourth Fleet.

“These two Navy officers are serving as prime examples of the diversity found within the Navy’s ranks,” said a press release from the US Department of Defense in 2012.

Service to others, service to country Commissioned in June 1979, Rear Admiral Raquel Bono received her baccalaureate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and attended medical school at Texas Tech University, according to her official biography.

As the eldest child, she initially wanted to go into nursing, but her father challenged her to go even further to become a doctor. “[Raquel] was the smart one and very disciplined at everything she did,” brother AB Cruz commented. “Dad set the bar and she raised that bar. Quite

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 25-OCtObER 1, 2015

A

Coloma denies NY Times report stating PH...

PAGE A1 we first need to know what the report said and verify if there is proof),” Coloma said in a press briefing, according to Philstar.

The Sept. 19 report by the Times stated that the Philippines’ request was rejected on the grounds of potential corruption and worries about the country’s ability to handle such an incoming of resources.

A Philippine official who spoke to the Times on the condition of anonymity said the Aquino administration requested for the aid this year because “it needs a substantial buildup of planes and ships to deter Chinese expansionism.”

Philippine lawmakers in 1991 voted to expel American troops from the country to break free from the “shackles of dictatorship.” But with continuing disputes in the South China Sea, the Philippines is considering whether or not to invite the US Navy back to Subic Bay, according to the Times, a naval base that was involved in nearly each American conflict in the 20th century.

Last year, the Philippine government signed a 10-year agreement that would allow America to station weapons, troops and military equipment at bases throughout the country, which would prepare for the return of America to some facilities, such as Subic Bay and Clark Air Base, the Times reported.

However, the arrangement faces legal challenges and mixed feelings from Filipinos, who largely perceive the United States in a positive light but are unsure about American troops being stationed in the Philippines. Furthermore, there are worries about how China could respond to American aid.

“When the elephants brawl, ants should be spared,” said Rene Augusto Saguisag, among a group of former senators who voted to dismiss American troops in 1991, according to the Times.

Saguisag has also petitioned the Philippines Supreme Court to block the military agreement.

“The US and China should leave us alone and not involve us in the quarrels of the strong.”

Secretary Coloma dismissed the claim in the Times’ report, based on the fact that US military bases are not permitted to operate in the Philippines.

“Labag sa Konstitusyon ‘yung pagkakaroon ng mga foreign military troops. At kahit kailanman ay hindi gumagawa ng labag sa Konstitusyon o batas ang ating pamahalaan. Kaya walang batayan at walang katotohanan ang paratang na iyan (It’s against the [Philippine] Constitution to have foreign military troops. And our government has never committed any violations against the Constitution or the laws of our government. There is no proof and there is no truth to that accusation),” Coloma

said, according to Philstar.

In the disputed territory that China has pushed to established as its own, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam are among other countries claiming certain parts of it. However, China’s efforts have affected the Philippines the most.

“The fight hasn’t even started yet, and it looks like the Philippines government has already surrendered,” Renato Etac, 35, a fishing boat captain who says Chinese vessels in the area routinely chase and attempt to ram his ship, told the Times. “I can’t even count the Chinese ships I see, there are so many.”

If the pact between the US and Philippines pulls through, America would be able to position itself less than 500 miles away from the new islands built

by China.

“The issue of the West Philippines Sea is a shared responsibility of the Philippines and the United States,” said Fernando Manalo, a Philippine defense official, according to the Times.

However, US Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), told the publication it would take time for the two countries to re-establish a trust.

“If you look what happened in Subic Bay, that was a pretty abrupt turnaround by the Philippines. I think memory probably lingers both in the Philippines and the United States,” Sullivan said.

frankly, she deserved to make flag before I did.”

Bono was well trained in the health professions; after completing a surgical internship, Trauma and Critical Care fellowship, and her general surgery residency at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. She was the first woman to graduate from the program.

“What I enjoyed about being in the Navy was that I always felt confident in my ability to be advanced was going to be based on my capabilities and my performance. I felt that I had an equitable opportunity to succeed,” Bono said in a 2012 interview with the Asian Journal.

Shortly after training, Bono saw duty in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as head, Casualty Receiving, Fleet Hospital Five in Saudi Arabia from August 1990 to March 1991. Later, she was sta-

tioned at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth as a surgeon in the General Surgery department; surgical intensivist in the Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit, and attending surgeon at the Burn Trauma Unit at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Other prestigious duties/positions she held were director of Restorative Care, medical corps career planning officer, director for Medical-Surgical Services at the National Naval Medical Center, and executive assistant to the 35th Navy Surgeon General and Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. She also held many top positions, such as commanding officer, chief of staff, deputy director of the Office of the assistant secretary of Defense, Health Affairs (OASD/HA), director of Medical Resources, Plans and Policy (N093), Chief of Naval Operations, and in 2011, the command surgeon of U.S. Pacific

Command, Camp H.M. Smith, as well as acting commander Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical (2013).

As of 2014, Bono currently serves as director, National Capital Region Medical Directorate of the Defense Health Agency, and as the 11th Chief, Navy Medical Corps.

Bono’s personal decorations and recognitions include Defense Superior Service Medal (2), Legion of Merit Medal (4), Meritorious Service Medal (2), and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal (2). She was also awarded in 2009 as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina American Women in the US. “Service to others; service to country,” Bono said of her words to live by. “It was ingrained in us by our father and mother in gratitude to their adopted country, the United States.” (Allyson Escobar/AJPress)

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D ateline PhiliPPines PH, US anti-drug cooperation successful, says envoy Asian Development Bank: PH at risk

by CeCille

Suerte Philstar.com

for slowest economic growth in 4 years

Felipe

MANILA—A United States envoy said the cooperation of the Philippines and the US against illegal drugs is a success as evidenced by a series of accomplishments.

In a press conference yesterday, State Assistant Secretary William Brownfield, head of the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), cited instances indicating that cooperation between the US and the Philippines has been fruitful.

Brownfield said the US is suffering from a major heroin crisis, as the sale and consumption of the drug there since 2007 have more than doubled.

Based on assessment, less than four percent of the heroin entering the US is supplied by Asia, despite nearly 90 percent of the drug’s supply in the world coming from Asia, specifically Afghanistan and Myanmar.

“This is one example of success. Logic would suggest that if we have not been successful in our drug cooperation with the Philippines, far closer to 90 percent of the heroin consumed in the US, reflecting the world supply, would come in some way from Asia,” Brownfield said.

He said it was somewhat illogical that the region producing

ConStAnte AJPress

A FILIPINO nurse working in Singapore was sentenced on Monday, Sept. 21, to four months in jail for insulting Singaporeans on Facebook and lying to police investigators afterward.

Ello Ed Mundsel Bello, 28, a former employee of governmentrun Tan Tock Seng Hospital, pleaded guilty to a three charges: one count of violating Singapore’s sedition act by promoting feelings of ill-will and hostility using social media and two charges of lying to police, according to the Associated Press (AP).

He was sentenced to three months in prison for the charge

by AgneS

ConStAnte AJPress

mand for exports and the contraction in agricultural output caused by WITH decreases in exports and El Niño, Rappler reported.

Recently, the peso also fell 4.6 agricultural production, the Philippine economy is headed for its percent against the US dollar by slowest economic growth in four mid-September, “as global volatility years, according to the Asian De- took hold of global markets causing foreign funds to exit developing velopment Bank (ADB).

Along with lackluster public markets,” Rappler reported.

The bank further forecasts that spending, the Manila-based ADB has trimmed its 2015 growth pro- the Association of South East Asian jection for the Philippines from 6.4 Nations (ASEAN) is set for its slowpercent to 6 percent, according est growth since 2000 at 4.4 percent this year and 4.9 percent in 2016; to CNN. ADB moved to update its 2015 growth for greater developing Asia Asian Development Outlook on will also slow from 6.3 percent to Tuesday, Sept. 22, after the econ- 5.8 percent for 2015 and 2016, the State Assistant Secretary William Brownfield, head of the US Dept of State International omy posted slower growth rates in ADB predicts.

Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), faces media after meeting with PNP chief “There are considerable headthe first two quarters – 5 percent in Director General Ricardo Marquez.

Inquirer.net photo by Julianne Love De Jesus the first and 5.2 percent in the sec- winds to growth in Asia although “We do cooperate, we do train- ond – due to a weakened global de- it remains the largest source of 90 percent of world heroin supply would have only four percent ing, we do capacity building between the US law enforcement share in the US market.

He also cited the arrest in the agency, particularly the Drug EnPhilippines of a drug trafficker forcement Agency, the Philippine MANILA—Sen. Vicente Sotto published in the newspaper who was trafficking Asian prod- National Police and the Philippine ucts in the US, saying it is another Drug Enforcement Agency. This is III and former senator Panfilo BusinessWorld on Thursday, Lacson topped the recent senato- Sept. 24. example of the success of the US- an example of success.

The survey was conducted “If you ask me if we have solved rial survey conducted by the SoPhilippines cooperation. from Sept. 2 to 5 with 1,200 re“Every time you hear of the the drug problem in the Philip- cial Weather Stations (SWS).

Sotto garnered 54 percent and spondents nationwide. national maritime group stop- pines and the US? No, of course It has sampling error margins ping and seizing a vessel that is not. I believe that will take a gen- Lacson 47 percent, while Sen. moving product, whether heroin eration. As I say, it has taken our Ralph Recto placed third with 43 of plus or minus three percentage points for national percentages or any other illicit drugs, through society 40 years or 50 years to get percent.

Senate President Franklin and plus or minus six percentage Philippine national waters, that into this mess and it will take us a is another example of success,” generation to get out of this,” he Drilon followed with 42 percent, points each for Metro Manila, then Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. added.

Brownfield said. and former senator Francis Pangilinan with 40 percent each.

The results of the BusinessWorld-SWS pre-election survey showed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao In a Jan. 2 Facebook post, Bello and Las Piñas City Rep. Mark related to Facebook and one month for providing police with wrote: “We take their jobs, their Villar would also win in the senafalse information, Agence France- future, their women, and soon, we torial race if the elections were will evict all SG loosers (sic) out of held from Sept. 2 to 5.

Presse reported.

De Lima received 33 percent, District Judge Siva Shanmugam, their own country.”

A subsequent comment written followed by former senator Juan who sentenced Bello, said there was no place for xenophobic com- by the Filipino read: “we will kick Miguel Zubiri (32 percent), Pacments in Singapore, as they pres- out all the Singaporeans and SG quiao (30 percent), former senator Richard Gordon (29 percent), ent “a threat to our social stability will be the new filipino state.”

The early January social media Sen. Sergio Osmeña III (28 perand security,” according to AP. “The local-foreigner divide has post further read, “The best part, cent) and Villar (24 percent).

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III and remained a challenging fault line I will be praying that disastors in our society in recent times,” (disasters) strike Singapore and Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Lemore Singaporeans will die than onor Robredo obtained 23 perShanmugam said.

“Unlike the limited effect and I will celebrate. Remember Pinoy cent each, while former Akbayan reach of distinct racial or religious better and stronger than Stinka- representative Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel and Taguig issues, this divide affects all and poreans.”

Prosecutors originally sought Rep. Lino Edgardo Cayetano got sundry and cannot be regarded as any less delicate or sensitive in the a five-month sentence for Bello 21 percent each.

Results of the survey were current context,” he added.

PAGE A7

Filipino nurse sentenced 4 months in Singapore jail for sedition on social media

by AgneS

A

global growth. Risks to the outlook increased coming from capital flow reversals and currency depreciation although these are manageable,” said Joseph Zveglich Jr., ADB director for macroeconomic research, according to Philstar.

However, among Southeast Asian countries, the bank maintains positive prospects for the Philippines, which has an above average growth rate.

“All in all, growth will [remain] favorable. We assess that economic expansion will continue and will accelerate on the second half of the year,” ADB Country director Richard Bolt said in a briefing, Philstar reported.

Despite low gains in the first PAGE A7

Sotto, Lacson are top Senate picks; Pacquiao, De Lima also in balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Respondents were given a list of 44 names to choose from but were only allowed to pick 12 names.

The respondents were asked whom they would most probably vote for as senators if elections were held on the day they were polled. (Philstar.com)

A

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September 25-october 1, 2015 • oc/Ie ASIAN JoUrNAL

OpiniOn

Features

Haunted

IT seems like a lifetime ago when on Sept. 21, 1972, former Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines. Forty-three years have passed, but the wretched moments of the martial law era have continued to linger on, especially for the people who had to endure it.

From this period in Philippine history, Filipinos must appreciate the genuine meaning of democracy. It is empowered by the will of the people.

It gives the citizenry the power to overturn the culture of corruption, unethical conduct, and self-serving antics of politics.

Around the country, various human rights groups and militant organizations staged protests on Monday, Sept. 21, to call for justice for the victims of human rights abuses during martial law and condemn the “continuing repression and terror” in the country.

“It is true that we need to remind the current and future generations of this dark period of history.

However, it seems that it is the Aquino government that has not learned any of the lessons of the past, as it continues to repeat the crimes of the dictator,” said Members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) chairperson Carol Araullo said.

For his part, Sen. Bam Aquino urged the nation to continue retelling the stories of martial law, saying “the sacrifices, atrocities and heroism during the darkest years in our country’s history should not be forgotten and must be imparted to today’s generation.”

As a stronger reminder of that tumultuous era, the

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will construct a P500-million memorial museum for artifacts, memorabilia and other items related to the martial law era under the Marcos dictatorship. Around 10,000 materials gathered from 75,000 victims of human rights abuses at the height of military rule in the country will be housed in the memorial museum.

In 2013, the Philippine government passed the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Law, to recognize human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrest and detention under the martial law and indemnify them and their families for the suffering they were put through.

Those qualified were encouraged to file a claim with the Human Rights Claim Board for reparation and/or recognition, as stated in Section 16 of the Act. Successful claimants will secure compensation from the P10-billion with interest worth of funds transferred to the Philippine government by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court in 1997.

According to Sen. Francis Escudero, “this is a first of such human rights legislation in the world where a state recognizes a previous administration’s fault against its own people and not only provides for, but also actually appropriates for reparation.”

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

However, the fight goes on for those who have filed for their claims. Franciscan Sister Crescencia Lucero of the religious superiors’ Justice and Peace Commission alleged that many victims have already applied but have yet to receive their compensation.

“They should be given what is due them,” Lucero said as she urged the current administration to speed

up the process.

This compensation is not a gift to cheer the victims. It is giving what they deserve to help repair the damages done onto them and make up for what they lost. While the law may have vindicated them, remnants of the martial law era will stay with them until they receive just compensation. (AJPress)

The ‘Pope Francis Effect’ hits Kababayans in America POPE Francis arrived in the United States on Tuesday, Sept. 22 for a six-day visit, exciting kababayans who wished they were in Manila when the Pontiff visited the Philippines last January.

It is this excitement that compelled many FilAms to travel to Washington DC, New York, or Philadelphia to see the Pope in person and be blessed by his messages of inclusive love, hope, justice and mercy.

The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast Balitang America even reported how some Filipinas even joined the 100-mile walking pilgrimage from Pennsylvania to Washington DC to see the Pope and to share with the Leaders of the Catholic Church a message: dignity for America’s immigrants!

Some of these Filipinas are from Southern California, who are among 100 women who walked the 100 miles for the “We Belong Together” campaign in honor of immigration reform and the first US visit of Pope Francis.

“This issue of immigration is a human rights issue,” said Aqui The Fil-Am Soriano Versoza of the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) in a Bali- Perspective tang America report. “It’s also an issue of women in particular because those that are impacted by all these policies this broken immigration system those are Gel SantoS-ReloS impacted the most are women and children”.

Balitang America’s News Bureau Chief Paul Henson reported from The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where Pope Francis will celebrate his first mass in the US. He talked to Bishop Richard Garcia of the Diocese of Monterey, who says the faith of Filipino-Americans has been instrumental in sustaining the spiritual life of the Catholic Church in America.

“They’re keeping our faith alive. I really love

How would Imelda Marcos have handled Metro Manila’s woes?

Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenta IN the face of the anarchy in the streets of Metro Manila, the paralysis that follows every heavy downpour, and the inability – nay, the unwillingness - of local officials to enforce such obvious rules as clearing major streets (like Taft Avenue) of vendors, desperate citizens have concocted various antidotes.

What has often been proposed is a “czar” – some kind of super manager who can untangle the mess. One clueless Quezon City congressman recommended a traffic czar on top of the current MMDA traffic czar on top of the traffic czars of the local governments in the metropolis.

Making much better sense, columnist Efren Cruz has suggested a Metro Manila governance czar. Wrote Cruz: “The problems of traffic, floods, illegal vendors, delays in public works construction, jurisdictional disputes, squatting, crime, land use planning, and urban mass transportation system are all intertwined. They cannot be solved separately. The activities needed to ensure the realization of the urban environment we all desire are all linked into one Metro Manila value chain.

“Call him the Metro Manila ‘Czar’ or Chair of a Metro Manila Inter Agency Task Force. The title is immaterial. The need is for a working Metro Manila governance structure now and a capable person, with the coercive powers, to be the head. I hope the public will endorse and support this proposal.”

In fact, without using the pretentious term “czar,” there is

supposed to be one such public official in the person of the chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, Francis Tolentino.

Unfortunately, he is neither competent nor armed with “coercive powers.”

Indeed, we must have realized by now that titles and good intentions alone do not an effective “czar” or “chairman” make.

In fact, even competence alone, while essential, does not guarantee results.

What is needed is someone gifted with a combination of competence, vision, a tireless work ethic, a capacity for paying attention to details, and a can-do, nothing-isimpossible attitude.

On top of all that, such an official must wield power. The power to compel self-important local officials and agency heads to get their act together under pain of dismissal. The power to railroad a project over objections, legal or otherwise.

And the power to tell loafers to get off their fat asses or get lost.

I can only think of one such individual: Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos.

Whatever detractors might think about her, Mrs. Marcos possessed that rare combination of vision, capacity for hard work, a penchant for detail and an unwillingness to acknowledge the impossible – over other people’s dead bodies.

Plus power.

To say that she was a handson manager, is an understatement. She was known to make surprise visits in the dead of night to check on the progress of her projects. She personally directed the table settings and décor for official receptions in Malaca ñang.

And while she was awake (which

seemed to be at all hours), no one could afford to be caught sleeping on the job.

I believe it was she who persuaded President Marcos to issue Presidential Decree 824, creating the Metro Manila Commission, with her as Governor and Ismael Mathay, Jr. as Vice-Governor. It was the forerunner of the present Metro Manila Development Authority.

Whatever her ultimate agenda was (did she want to become President? Well, why not?), she had a vision for Metro Manila as “The City of Man.” Her verbiage may have sounded corny (“The good, the true and the beautiful”), but she translated that into such structures as the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Folk Arts Theater, the Philippine International Convention Center, the Lung Center, Philippine Heart Center, Kidney Center and the Coconut Palace, as well as the Manila Film Center (an example of getting something done, over dead bodies).

She introduced a rational, stateowned air-conditioned transport system, the Love Bus, where the drivers felt no pressure to meet “boundary.” And she mounted a successful campaign to keep Metro Manila clean with an army of uniformed street sweepers (I recall a trip to Thailand where I felt good about being from Manila, after noting the liter in Bangkok’s streets at the time).

It was also during her watch that the idea of dredging Laguna de Bay and building a waterway up to Manila Bay was seriously considered. That was the forerunner of the Laguna Lake Rehabilitation Project that could have done much PAGE A7

the Filipino people for that because of the devotion they have for the Blessed Mother, for example,” Garcia told Henson in the report.

Here are the comments of Filipinos in America as gathered by Balitang America, in joyful anticipation of the Pope’s visit: “Sa akin nag-resonate is his [Pope Francis’] love for the poor, and the underprivileged, and we are the one that are blessed and we should share it with other people.” — Nenita Aure “Yung issue sa global warming…We are stewards of the Earth, so nagresonate talaga sa akin [Pope Francis’s message]. — Rosemarie Zamora “Open siya [Pope Francis] sa lahat ng tao, yung nakikinig siya sa lahat ng opinyon pero sinusunod pa rin niya yung mga utos ng Diyos…Yung being merciful, and yung being welcoming sa lahat ng

Commentary

FRanciSco S. tatad MALACAñANG sources have revealed that a nasty shouting match transpired between President B.S. Aquino III and Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad after the Supreme Court ordered the Ombudsman to have them investigated and possibly charged for their role in the manipulation and misuse of the constitutionally outlawed Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) amounting to P150 billion.

It is not known who got the upper hand, but PNoy reportedly blamed Abad for the DAP scandal, and Abad reportedly shot back by reminding PNoy that the program had the President’s full approval and that it was used to bribe Congress in order to remove Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona and implement the rest of his “personal program.”

This reveals two things. First, PNoy is now under investigation by the Ombudsman for possible impeachment, and he is pissed off by it, despite the fact that he remains in virtual control of the impeachment process and has less than a year to stay in office. By tradition, although not specified in the Constitution, the President is immune from suit; but the Supreme Court effectively divested him of his immunity when it struck down the DAP as unconstitutional and ordered the prosecution of all those involved in it. He is the official author of the DAP. Still, PNoy obviously did not expect to be investigated by the very Ombudsman he

tao.” — Cecile Salonga “I hope he would be.. a help to the community and to the politicians to invite them to help the struggles of the Filipino World War Two veterans.

Not only the Filipinos but all of the veterans in America….I [also] hope the Pope would try to convince the leaders that..they could avoid any wars and protect the humanity from harm.” — Bernie Ganon, Filipino American Service Group, Inc. “That is what we like with the Pope… He’s pushing for family reunification. remember the Immigration Bill has been dead in the US Congress because the Republicans won’t even [vote on it]”. — Arturo Garcia, Justice for Filipino American Veterans. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos

Shouting match at the Palace, a warning from the generals

had appointed after driving her predecessor out of office, in order to go after his enemies and political targets. He apparently blames Abad for this.

Second, the “fear” Aquino has instilled in his Cabinet members appears to have worn off. Abad’s heated exchange with Aquino shows this. It is a dangerous precedent that could be imitated by other members of the original Hyatt-10, said to be the real power running the Aquino government under Abad. This is the same group, with some minor modifications, which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ousted from her Cabinet while threatening to oust her.

Not only is Abad the “brains” of Aquino’s ingenious schemes to take full control of the government’s resources; his entire family is virtually in charge of the entire financial and budgetary operations of the government. While he controls the entire Department of Budget and Management (DBM), his only daughter runs the Presidential Management Staff, his only son holds a pivotal position in the Office of the Secretary of Finance; and his wife is not only Executive Vice President of the Liberal Party but also senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In the relationship between Aquino and Abad, the latter is seen as the puppet master, and the former the puppet. Although it has not happened before that the puppet masters had to answer to the puppet, it is happening now, so the relationship is strained, to say the least. It could strain further as more se-

rious cases are brought before the Supreme Court against the Aquino government’s undiminished effort to put vast sums of money under the sole discretion and control of the President. One probable suit could be against the P424.15 billion in lump-sum appropriations embedded in nine strategic departments and two agencies of the government in the 2015 General Appropriations Act, in contemptuous disregard of the Supreme Court ruling declaring such lump sums unconstitutional and void.

The worst is yet to come.

The generals speak out But it is not only the Cabinet that’s on fire. The military, police and entire security sector is equally on fire. And Aquino’s recent reckless statement about an “alternative truth” on the Mamasapano massacre, which cost the lives of 44 Special Action Force police commandos on Jan. 25, 2015 in the hands of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, has unduly stoked that fire. PNoy’s statement has prompted a closer look at what the various official inquiries had said and did not say about the massacre. It is now clear to all and sundry —-infinitely clearer than before— that the truth about the most important issues on Mamasapano was never aired. Why did Aquino discard the established PNP chain of command, and put an important police operations in the hands of a suspended PNP chief? Why did PNoy give the stand-down order which barred the military reinforcement unit from giving PAGE A7

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Filipino nurse sentenced 4 months in...

PAGE A5 to “send a clear message to likeminded individuals that their behaviour will not be tolerated,” Agence France Press reported.

Philippine authorities on Aug. 27 said they respected the Singapore court’s decision to convict Bello of sedition, according to AP. Mark Goh, Bello’s lawyer, told GMA News that his client, long before the trials, said he is “truly remorseful and sorry because of what he has done.”

“My client has surrendered. In fact he has already decided on a personal level that it has caused him already a lot of anxiety and stress. And therefore he did not want to perpetuate the trial and decided to plead guilty,” Goh said.

After Bello serves his sentence, he will be deported back to the Philippines and prohibited from returning to Singapore for a period of time, the attorney told GMA News.

Courts in Singapore have previously prosecuted individuals,

including both Singaporeans and foreigners, who have made racist comments perceived as seditious toward other ethnic groups.

Approximately 40 percent of Singapore’s population of nearly 5.5 million are foreigners, many of whom hail from nearby nations, including the Philippines.

Estimates put the Filipino population in Singapore at more than 170,000, a large number of which work in the entertainment, hospitality and medical industries, AP reported.

Asian Development Bank: PH at risk...

PAGE A5 semester of the year, the Aquino administration is aiming for a 7- to 8-percent growth rate for 2015.

“After a slow start to the year we are now seeing a pickup in fiscal spending which combined with spending linked to the May 2016 elections will help lift the domestic economy,” Bolt said.

He added that increased investments in public goods and infrastructure, coupled with higher private consumption and more jobs, could prompt more growth,

according to CNN. “Recently enacted reforms to improve competitiveness and to attract investment will play a key role in the future growth as will continued reforms and investments in infrastructure and other public goods,” Bolt said.

Along with lower growth rates predicted, the ADB also forecasts lower inflation because of lower oil prices that are likely to carry on until 2016, according to Philstar.

In spite of slowed growth, Rap-

pler reported that the ADP still anticipates that Asia will maintain its role as the largest contributor to global GDP, although it may require reforms to pull through.

“Emerging markets are facing receding capital flows and depreciating currencies – a trend that may be exacerbated by the upcoming rise in US interest rates. Implementing macroprudential policies and developing local currency bond markets can bolster financial resilience and mitigate risks to borrowers,” the ADB report stated.

PAGE A6 to mitigate the problem of flooding (unfortunately scuttled by the Aquino government, ostensibly in order to foil graft).

Beyond Metro Manila, she had a vision for the entire country. For this reason, she also got herself appointed head of the Ministry of Human Settlements, a super-cabinet that had its tentacles in virtually every aspect of governance (obviously, a template for Mar Roxas’ vastly expanded Department of Interior and Local Governments).

But compared to the analysisparalysis and clueless “convergent approach” style of management of Roxas, Dinky Soliman and Voltaire Gazmin (one of the main reasons why many of the victims of Yolanda are still suffering up to now) Mrs. Marcos was decisive and brooked no opposition, once she had made up her mind.

She even managed to have her way over the objections of President Marcos himself. I was privy to one such instance.

I had never met Mrs. Marcos until Bongbong Marcos became hermano mayor of the Tacloban Santo Ni ño fiesta. In true Imeldific fashion, she envisioned more than a town fiesta. She wanted a national festival, showcasing a cultural pa-

rade, similar to her Kasaysayan ng Lahi spectacular, plus a pageant and a book on the history of Leyte and Samar.

For these, she sent for the twin provinces’ noted poets and writers.

However, she was informed that they had all passed away but that their children were still around.

That was how my elder brother Eduardo, Jr., my cousin Yen, his maternal uncle, Ben Pe ñaranda, Leyte poet Paquing Javines, and I got summoned to Malacañang.

Together with a Cultural Center creative and production team familiar with the First Lady’s management style, we started work with a lead time of just over a month. For Mrs. Marcos, that was not a problem. She simply told us to miss our sleep. She did, too.

At any rate, a few days before the event, Mrs. Lourdes Villacorta, Mrs. Marcos’ chief of staff, informed her that President Marcos had given instructions to unload from the presidential yatch, Pagasa, all the sets, props and costumes intended for the Tacloban event. His reason: The Santo Ni ño fiesta was not an official government activity.

I watched Mrs. Marcos’ calm expression as she listened to the report. Without missing a beat,

she gave instructions to have the materials loaded instead in the vehicles of the Ministry of Information and transported overland, across Luzon, to Samar and on to Tacloban. They arrived in time for the festival.

I’m sure the President learned about the questionable use of government vehicles, but at that point, it was a fait accompli.

What about the current Metro Manila mess? With Imelda Marcos in charge, after making heads roll, she would have gotten the MRT and LRT properly equipped, operational and well-maintained; grounded the colorum buses and reactivated the Love Bus; ordered the dredging of esterosand canals over the protests of squatters and land grabbers – and the Supreme Court would not have dared issue a temporary restraining order.

And, in the middle of a typhoon, she would have monitored the situation to make sure that Metro Manila mayors, the PNP brass and officials of the MMDA were on the job.

But all that is wishful thinking.

Even Imelda Marcos would be ineffective under a President who is in the habit of passing the buck. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

How would Imelda Marcos have handled...

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 25-OCtObER 1, 2015

Shouting match at the Palace, a warning...

PAGE A6 support to the beleaguered SAF contingent at the most critical time?

What the public heard on these questions was either a Sphinxlike silence or an elephantine lie. Now, if Aquino really wants to set the record straight, he has to tell us the “untold and unvarnished truth,” rather than an “alternative” one; otherwise, what he really needs is an “alternative lie” to replace the existing one.

The search for the real truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth has now been complicated by the latest press reports from abroad on certain details of the Mamasapano affair, which the government had until now suppressed.

A report in the Sept. 16, 2015 issue of the Los Angeles Times, and reprinted on this paper on Sept. 18, 2015, says that “five or six US counter-terrorism advisors assisted (the SAF commandos) from a police command post nearby, tracking the assault team in live video from a US surveillance aircraft circling overhead.

Their main role was to provide tactical, live intelligence.” At no point during the inquiries were we ever told that the US government was involved in Operation Exodus; in fact, the US Embassy repeatedly denied any US involvement, even without anyone suggesting it. In light of the LA Times story, the government has a duty to bare all the facts about the US involvement.

Aquino has tried to minimize the public distress over Mamasapano by trying to steamroll the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, arising from the highly questionable Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which seeks to replace the present Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) with a new autonomous political entity for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Although fraught with constitutional infirmities, Aquino wanted the proposed BBL rushed to satisfy the desire of Malaysia and other foreign entities.

It took Sen. Ferdinand (Bongbong) Marcos Jr. and a wide array of concerned Filipinos to stop the proposed law from being bulldozed through Congress.

But PNoy’s zeal is undiminished.

He wants the widely opposed bill passed before he leaves office.

Stories have since circulated in the Malaysian political circuit that some $700 million had been coursed through the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office to facilitate the passage of the proposed BBL. It could be pure spin, but it is repeated on both sides of the Sulu Sea with relish, showing what the CAB/FAB/BBL means to interested parties. But if Aquino is determined to press its passage, an important segment of the military has warned him not to force it.

In a full-page ad in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sept.

14, 2015, 31 retired senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, reservists and veterans expressed “great apprehension and alarm” over the FAB and the CAB, and strong opposition to the passage of the proposed BBL, in its original form, “even as it now undergoes congressional scrutiny.”

Among the signatories were former Secretary of National Defense and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Renato de Villla, former AFP Chiefs of Staff Gen. Generoso S. Senga, Gen. Alexander Yano, Gen. Efren Abu, Gen. Dionisio Santiago, former Vice of Staff Lt. Gen. Alfredo Filler, Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan, chairman and president of the Association of General and Flag Officers (AGPO), Lt. Gen. Raul S. Urgello, chairman and president, KAMPILAN, Inc., Maj. Gen. Jose Magno, former Commander, CENCOM and SOUTHCOM, Rear Admiral Tagumpay Jardiniano, former Flag Officer in Command, Phillipine Navy, Brig. Gen. Danilo D. Lim, RAM Foundation, Inc. They had never signed any similar declaration on any issue before.

Saying that “the implementation of these crafty agreements is an express trip to the dismemberment of the country’s territory and the creation of a Moro state in Mindanao,” and the “renewal of organized violence and horrendous destruction of life and property,” they expressed “unsullied support” for the SC petition filed by PHILCONSA president Congressman Martin Romualdez, Archbishops Ramon Arguelles of Lipa, Romulo de la Cruz of Zamboanga, Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla of

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Davao, former national security adviser Norberto Gonzales, and this writer, asking the High Court to declare the FAB and the CAB unconstitutional and void.

The manifesto caught PNoy completely by surprise. He reportedly complained that the generals and flag officers could have talked to him first, or to the junior officers who, according to him, were fully supportive of the FAB, the CAB, and the BBL. But the signatories saw no need to talk to Aquino first because, according to them, he “never listens;” as far as the talking to the junior officers is concerned, the retired generals and flag officers are in constant touch with them, and Aquino was being delusional when he said they were in favor of any law that would balkanize Mindanao.

PNoy instructed Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to dialog with the signatories and verify if they had indeed signed the manifesto and why. But only a few managed to show up for the proposed dialogue with Gazmin, whose reputation appears to have suffered within the military and defense establishment because of unconfirmed yet unrefuted allegations about infected defense contracts related to the AFP modernization program.

Beyond the FAB/CAB/BBL, it is safe to assume that the security sector has developed a clear position on some election-related issues, such as the ongoing effort of the Commission on Elections to install the Venezuelan firm Smartmatic once again at the heart of the 2016 elections, and the determined effort of the oligarchy—-with tacit support from Malacañang— to impose a non-Filipino presidential candidate on the Filipino voters, in contemptuous disregard of the Constitution. I would not suggest that the security sector is prepared, as it was in 1986, to take direct political action against the administration, but it is as clear as daylight that as the constitutional protector of the people and the State, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will not allow itself to be used by the Aquino administration or the oligarchy for its own ends.

It could on the other hand support popular action by the people fighting for their rights and liberties against a malevolent regime. This is what many seem to be praying for. (ManilaTimes.net)

A

September 25-october 1, 2015 • oc/Ie ASIAN JoUrNAL

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september 25-october 1, 2015

Dr. Lori ADriAn On advocating a ‘students first’ philosophy and the call for more Filipino educational leaders

By Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

FOR Loretta “Lori” Adrian, ascending into the position of college president happened by chance.

As the daughter of two schoolteachers, Adrian was discouraged by her parents from going into an education-related career because, in the Philippines, the pay wasn’t sustainable.

However, that didn’t detract her as she eventually found her way into the field when she migrated to the United States.

“I always say that I became a president by accident because if you looked at how my education was in the Philippines...when I was an undergraduate, I switched about six majors before I settled on one,” she said. “But I think at the end, [my parents] were proud of me and were very supportive that I was in education. It was more of a sense of pride that I was in the field because they certainly know what education does in the lives of many students.”

Since 2010, Adrian has been the president of Coastline Community College, which has several campuses across Orange County. She is one of the few Filipinos leading a higher education institution in the United States — and the only Filipina.

From her varied experience at several private and community colleges in California, Adrian shared with the Asian Journal how she challenged herself to push the higher education bamboo ceiling and what more can be done to hone in on the skills of Filipinos, and even Asians in general, so that they too can be leaders in education.

“In every role I have taken in terms of my career, I’ve learned a lot from mentors and they’ve helped me prepare for where I am now,” she said.

Career beginnings Growing up, Adrian has credited her father as an early mentor.

“I think especially being a woman, [he] helped me a lot because I was always told that I could be whatever I wanted to be. I came from a family of four girls and three boys. He empowered us to think and be confident about who we are,” she said.

After graduating from the University of the Philippines, she started off as an intercultural trainer, then project director for the US Peace Corps in Manila for six years. In that position, Adrian helped create eight to 10 weeklong orientation programs for newly-arrived volunteers.

Years later, she relocated to Tennessee along with her husband and young child. However, the transition to the United States, like for many immigrants, was not smooth.

“I faced the usual problems of an immigrant, though I thought I was Americanized because I grew up in Manila,” she recalled. “I really didn’t know at the time what job I could get and I think that’s typical for immigrants. I lost confidence in myself.”

She moved to Stockton, California, where her mother was living, and secured a job at the University of the Pacific that dealt with recruiting international students. She also earned a master’s degree in communication theory from the university.

“I started off as a professional staff there and worked with the Dean of International Admissions in terms of recruiting students and evaluating their records,” she said. “In the process, it allowed me to grow and develop my selfconfidence again.”

From there, she ventured into her first community college position at San Joaquin Delta

Coastline Military Graduates

College in Stockton, then San Diego Mesa College, where she filled various roles like dean of students, interim dean of student development and matriculation, and acting vice president of student services. While working at the community college, she went on to pursue a doctorate degree in education from the Claremont Graduate University, in a joint program with San Diego State University.

“At the time, I knew my mother didn’t have very long to live so I moved back to Northern California to be closer to her so I became vice president of student services at Skyline College,” Adrian said of her eventual return up north. She was there for five years until her mother passed away. She wanted to move back closer to San Diego, where her sons and grandson live.

Assuming the presidency There were many colleges with openings in 2010, Adrian remembered, but the impetus to apply for the position at Coastline Community College was “personal.”

As a single mother, she wasn’t accustomed to living far away from her two children, even though they are adults.

“It’s really being a single mother that gave me the motivation to keep going. I don’t know [if] I could keep going out of ambition.

As a single mother, who at first did not have a job, I wanted to provide for my kids. Even though my parents were poor and I was raised by my sisters, they struggled a lot and always made sure that I had what I needed and more. That’s the one thing I wanted to do for my kids and that’s why I pursued leadership in higher education,” she said.

Further, her mentors — many of whom are female college presidents or in high positions themselves — saw the potential for her to take the helm of a college.

“I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be a president because when you are a person of color and an immigrant, there is always a selfdoubt, no matter if you are very confident on the outside. I always thought I was not ready or maybe I didn’t want it,” Adrian said. “But eventually, I got to the point where I thought I’ve been in this business for a long time — and I may not have a long time to go before I retire — and I would always wonder what it may have been if I didn’t do it.”

She was initially hesitant about Coastline because of its nontraditional roots as a distance learning institution; however, she was convinced that this route

would be refreshing.

As president, Adrian’s duties include making sure the college meets accreditation requirements (which are important to ensure that the students’ credits transfer or that they are eligible for financial aid) and making sure the college is financial healthy. Though, at times, her responsibilities have expanded to other roles as well, such as filling in as a dean.

Founded in 1976, Coastline started as a “college without walls,” which “was born out of that innovative philosophy that [it] should not be located in one place,” Adrian said. Back then, students could take telecourses, and the college would use various facilities around Orange County.

To date, Coastline has since expanded to physical classrooms with campuses in Westminster, Garden Grove and Newport Beach, and administrative offices in Fountain Valley. The college has 21 academic departments and continues to offer online courses for students unable to physically come to the classroom, including those in the military (anywhere from 3,500 to 5,000 students) or who are incarcerated.

Being at her fourth community college, her initial goal in taking on the presidency was to understand the institution’s culture and to create a master plan that would be the blueprint for what priorities to focus on.

“I had to make sure that I understood the ideas that people here had…As a new president, when I came, there was a beloved president who had been there for about seven or eight years. I liked her a lot and I never felt that I had to compete, but how do you establish yourself as a new leader? It was a difficult time for the college because they had been without a permanent president for about a year and a half, so there were a lot of foundational things that needed to be re-established,” she said.

Additionally, she had to learn the “politics” occurring within the institution and the district where it is located, and work with budget constraints.

“Being a president...the experience allows you to hone your skills because as my mentor once said, the higher you go up, as a leader, it’s not so much [about] the technical skills… it’s really about learning how to work with people — how to motivate and bring people together towards a common goal. It’s about learning how to be a better communicator and how to navigate the political

2

Photos courtesy of Dr. Adrian and Coastline Community College

environment in which we are in,” she shared. “You learn how to make difficult decisions because in the end, you can listen to everyone else and different perspectives but in the end, you are responsible for making critical decisions, some of which may be unpopular. It really teaches you to sharpen those skills and to be better as an effective leader.”

‘Students first’ Now five years into the position, Adrian shared that despite some challenging circumstances, she has paved an atmosphere of inclusiveness, mutual respect, open and transparent communication.

“My vision for the college always has been and will be that it continues to be the best that it can be. It continues to be on the leading edge…because there is so much innovation that is happening every day. Sometimes that has been difficult because innovation takes a lot of talent and energy but it also takes a lot of resources. I want us to be able to excel in terms of programs— the quality of teaching and services we offer as well as in terms of outcome,” she said.

But above all, her guiding philosophy has been to put the “students first” and to ensure that the college has equipped them with the skills and resources to obtain a degree on time, transfer to a four-year institution or find a job. Empathizing with the students is something she has learned from her own children and her experiences as an immigrant.

“I’m glad to have that insight because that has forced me to think of what I should be doing as a leader of a community college,” she said. “When we have to make difficult decisions, we can simplify and ask ourselves in terms of how

it will benefit students and help them complete their goals…I also want Coastline to be a place where people want to be and they look forward to coming here each and every day.”

One of the ways the college is preparing its students for success is through the STAR Program, which helps fast track full-time students to transfer to a four-year institution or graduate faster in the two-year time frame. (On average, community college students can take up to six years to earn a degree.)

In 2014, personal finance company SmartAsset ranked Coastline as the top community college out of 700 in the United States that provides low-cost education, a good return on investment and a high success rate.

“Coastline graduates make one and three-quarters times their total education costs their first year working after graduating, and in-state students pay $2,200 less a year than the national average to go to school, making it both the least-expensive school for local students and the top-performing community college on our list,” the report read.

Another accomplishment that Adrian regards is that the college is an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), one of 21 in the nation. In 2010, it was awarded a $2 million, five-year grant by the US Department of Education, given Adrian’s observations that Asian American students are not all achieving at high rates. Under the program, the college has to certify at least a 10 percent enrollment of Asian American and Pacific Islander students (over one-quarter of its students are Continued on Page 3

Vice Ganda: Sino bang nanggaya, sino bang ginaya? Dawn Zulueta denies she’s entering politics MANILA—Vice Ganda comments on allegations that his ABS-CBN noontime show It’s Showtime is copying competitor Eat Bulaga.

It’s Showtime recently segment called Nasaan Ka Mr. Pastillas? which aims to find a suitor for online personality Pastillas Gir (Angelica Yap in real life).

A number of netizens say the said segment is merely a copy of Eat Bulaga’s segment Kalyeserye, which features Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza as Yaya Dub. “Sino bang nanggaya, sino bang ginaya? Paulit-ulit na lang ‘yan. Sino bang original sa mundo?”

Vice said in an interview with Pang-Masa.

He added: “At basta, kahit anon’g sabihin sa ‘yo, for as long as everybody’s talking about you, you remain to be relevant. And in showbusiness, it’s all about being relevant.”

The comedian is thankful to fans who continuously support the show.

“Nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sa mga tao because they keep on talking about Pastillas. Anuman ang sabihin nila, whether good or bad, for as long as everyone is talking about it, it makes it relevant,” he said. (Philstar.com)

MANILA—Dawn Zulueta denied that she’s running for Congress in 2016.

Reports claim that there were offers for the actress to take over the post of her husband Anton Lagdameo, who will end his term as Davao del Norte representative next year.

“Mayro’n naman, may nagoffer,” she confirmed when asked to confirm the reports in an interview aired in Aquino and Abunda Tonight

Vice Ganda

Epy Quizon happy over support for film ‘Heneral Luna’

by JOyCe JiMenez Philstar.com

MANILA—Epy Quizon is both thankful and surprised for the good response that their film Heneral Luna is getting from the public.

Although Epy also acknowledge that there are still some who cannot appreciate such films, especially in the dawn of romantic-comedy films.

“I guess hindi pa rin ‘yon ang market. There are certain areas that people line up, while some dalawa lang ang pumapasok sa cinema. We’re really in a weird Epy Quizon is happy for the good feedbacks transition in this film industry,” that their film “Heneral Luna” is getting he said in an interview on from the public.

Wednesday, Sept. 22.

Philstar.com photo by Joyce Jimenez Despite this, the experienced

actor believes that this type of film is necessary to continually remind the Filipinos that there were people who selflessly offered their lives for the country.

“It’s a film that brings you back to characters where we see streets named after them and we see monuments erected for them,” he said. We forget our heroes, we forget these people and we cannot forget these people.”

This is why he thanks everyone who calls for a longer run of their film in different cinemas in the country.

“I really call on people to support films like this so that a lot of producers can continue funding films like this,” he concluded.

on Wednesday, Sept. 22.

Although she’s thankful to be considered for the post, Dawn said she knows her limits.

“I know naman kasi what my limits are and I’m happy with what I do. I enjoy acting and this is where I’ll stay,” she said.

She also added that her husband doesn’t force her to take the offer since “alam niyang hindi ko linya ‘yon, e. Ayoko naman.”

(Philstar.com)

Dawn Zulueta

Billy Crawford: Competing noontime shows ‘want the best for everyone’

by JOyCe JiMenez Philstar.com

MANILA—Billy Crawford does not want to dwell on the competition between the noontime shows GMA-7’s Eat Bulaga! and ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime.

The competition between the two shows has been the talk of the town after It’s Showtime followed the story of Pastillas Girl a few weeks after the Kalyeserye love team of Alden Richards and Yaya Dub made noise on social media.

“We’re just here. We’re enjoying what we’re doing.

Ang goal lang talaga namin is mapasaya ang tao,” he said. “Basta we’re here to work and we want the best for everyone.”

Billy also added that he respects Eat Bulaga main hosts

Vic Sotto, Tito Sotto and Joey de Leon, who he described as “one of the pillars in the industry.”

In earlier interviews, Anne Curtis and Vice Ganda gave their personal take on the competition between the noontime shows.

Anne said she’s aware there is an ongoing “war” between the fans of It’s Showtime and Eat Bulaga. But the actresshost added believes that the competition between the two shows just proves that “people are still into noontime shows.”

Meanwhile, Vice said he doesn’t mind the bashers of their show saying “for as long as everybody’s talking about you, you remain to be relevant. And in showbusiness, it’s all about being relevant.”

Billy talked to members of the press to promote ABS-CBN’s

Billy Crawford doesn’t want to dwell on the competition between the two noontime shows “Eat Bulaga!” and “It’s Showtime,” saying both shows just want to make the people happy. ‘

Philstar.com photo by Joyce Jimenez

upcoming game show Celebrity Playtime, which will premiere this Saturday, September 26.

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA

Mining memories of Mindoro “I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.”

— Lillian Smith

(Conclusion)

MoRe than a decade later, I went in his stead. It was something I had planned on doing for some time, as a quiet tribute. For my part, I wanted to understand how such a place shaped who he is and what moved him to sail the seven seas for 40 years as a ship captain, hauling logs and cars and tons of containers from port to port— from siberia to south Africa, from Pusan to Peru— bringing with him my mother’s keepsake, a small image of the nuestra senora de Antipolo, before the wanderlust gave out and he finally found home. He would have been surprised with the changes in his old hometown. gone are the slow, ponderous boats to Calapan that seemed more like floating coffins decades ago. gone is the mixture of smells—of sweat, salt spray, gasoline and livestock —which would make me throw up when the swells were big. of course, it didn’t help that I made it worse.

Progress has caught up with the place somewhat. now, for half the length of a Disney movie which gets shown onboard, you can get there from Batangas pier which has bus routes coming from Plaza

Lawton and Cubao. The Aboitizowned super Cat hydrofoil boats with theater style seating and airconditioning, that ply the sharkinfested, tricky waters between the two ports of Batangas City and Calapan have made it easy to island hop.

Fast, efficient and affordable, the sleek boats skim the surface in no time flat, particularly during good weather when these can run with the tide. These have become a boon to Mindoro that now connects Luzon to the Visayas region by sea and land, via buses that ran in tandem regularly plying the length of the Mindoro highway corridor.

Many people own cellphones and are nimble with their fingers as they go about texting through their days. There are cellphone towers in the middle of ricefields. My resident cousin, Andy who acted as our tour guide, says that most would rather forego food than have to go without a load of prepaid minutes.

Periodically as you drive along the highway, and in the towns, you will see modest-sized homes with Italianate designs sticking out from among thatched huts in the middle

AAPI) with at least 50 percent of its degree-seeking students receiving federal financial assistance.

By this month, the college has projected to accomplish the following over the past five years: “a total of 250 more AAPI students, originally underprepared for college work, will enroll in degreeapplicable courses; a total of 150 more AAPI students will earn an AA degree; a total of 100 more AAPI students will transfer to a four-year college or university,” according to its plan.

“While we do those things for Asian students, we build those programs for all students.

For example, we established a mentoring [program] that has helped more students of all ethnicities and backgrounds,” Adrian noted.

As Adrian continues to sit in the top leadership seat, she said

her goal is to boost up Coastline’s reputation as a choice not only for local students, but also for those outside of the district.

“I believe very strongly that we should have high-quality courses, regardless of how they are delivered. It’s how do you make sure that the faculty has the professional development and support that they need. I think we need to continue to show that we are graduating more students, employing more students and preparing them to transfer,” she said.

On future Filipino educational leaders A study by the American Council on education found that nationally, only 1.5 percent of college presidents were of Asian descent.

However, Adrian said Filipinos can make their mark in the education field and at

3

Time to enjoy Korean food, starts now!

Special deals on Korean food during Sept. 26 through Oct. 4

Los AngeLes—The embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UsA and Korea Agro-fisheries and Food Trade Corporation will promote the excellence of Korean food by setting the “K-Food Week” from september 26 through october 4, 2015. During this week, there will be discounts and promotional events of Korean foods.

This event is to expand the awareness of Korean food and to maximize the effect of the promotions by concentrating

of rice paddies.

Andy says that such progress is due to the fact that someone from that household is working as a domestic help somewhere in europe and the euros are what keeps the local economy afloat.

We spent a day to visit White Beach at Puerto galera, famous worldwide for their dive sites and its calm, protected waters and its coffee colored sand, a distant second to the pristine white sands of Boracay. We stopped by Tamaraw Falls at san Teodoro, an intense gusher that day because of the recent rains. on the approach to Puerto galera from Calapan, the ride takes you to a scenic, elevated zigzag route carved from the land exposing prized Mindoro white marble on the mountainside and above lush banana plantations, showing the sea in all its glory.

At the beach are the usual trappings of Philippine tourism: persistent, persuasive peddlers of pearl and coral rings, earrings LAs VegAs—The Annual and necklace, skilled masseuses grand Dragon Master Baccarat offering their services, restaurants, Championship, with a total Continued on Page 6 global prize pool worth over $10,000,000*, kicks off the Las Vegas leg of the competition on oct. 2, 2015 at The Palazzo. The global championship spans Las colleges and universities, but the Vegas sands properties in Macao messaging needs to be more and singapore. about their strengths and what The grand Dragon Master they can offer.

Baccarat Championship provides “Filipinos are in [educationbaccarat enthusiasts the ultimate related careers] — it’s just that tournament experience. Las they don’t see themselves in the Vegas players can compete for position that I am in now. I think we need to have more role models a portion of a $1.6 million prize for them, telling that they can and pool over three tournaments - the $280,000 golden Dragon should aim high…Who would Baccarat Tournament, the have thought that I would be a college president?” she said. “[W]e $350,000 Ruby Dragon Baccarat Tournament, and the invitationneed to highlight the qualities of only $1 Million Royal Dragon Filipinos and Asians that blend Baccarat Tournament – all well with academic institutions, like being accommodating culminating in the global Final — sometimes that’s seen as a to be held at Marina Bay sands in negative connotation. It doesn’t singapore in March 2016. mean being a pushover...[W]e The $280,000 golden need to show that we are good Dragon Baccarat Tournament accommodators in terms of takes place from oct. 2 through different points of view and oct. 5 and oct. 9 through oct. perspectives and that we are able 12. This tournament features a to make difficult decisions as $35,000 daily cash prize pool. needed.”

All grazie members receive one

On advocating a ‘students first’...

From Page 2

September 25-october 1, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

multiple events in multiple locations during the same period of time.

During the K-Food Week, participating Korean restaurants and import distribution companies will offer discounted price on certain menus and certain Korean food products for the consumers to enjoy.

In LA area, 13 locations of Korean supermarkets such as Hannam Chain, Zion Market, H-Mart and 7 Korean restaurants will be participating to this event by providing coupons and

discounts.

To find out the participants of K-Food Week and further details on discounts and coupons, please visit www.KFoodWeek2015. com or download the free app, KFoodWeek, at the application stores.

Contact: Minsun Kim, alland1@at.or.kr , 1-562-809-8810 https://www.facebook.com/ atcenterla 12750 Center Court Dr. s. ste 255, Cerritos, CA 92801 | 1-562809-8810 | www.at.or.kr/en

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World’s largest baccarat tournament returns to The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas on October 2 with $10,000,000 Global Prize Pool

Complimentary entry for Grazie members in first two tournaments of the Annual Grand Dragon Master Baccarat Championship complimentary tournament entry per day. Unlimited rebuys can be made for $50. The top three daily winners in the golden Dragon Baccarat Tournament will automatically advance to the semi-Finals of the Ruby Dragon Baccarat Tournament.

The Ruby Dragon Baccarat Tournament offers a $350,000 cash prize pool with daily prize pools of $75,000. Ruby Dragon Baccarat Tournament preliminaries take place oct. 16 and oct. 17. All grazie members will receive one complimentary tournament entry per day, and unlimited rebuys can be made for $150. The top six daily winners in the Ruby Dragon Baccarat Tournament preliminaries will advance to the semi-final round on oct.

18, where the top six finishers will receive one complimentary entry each to the semi-final round of the invite-only $1 Million Royal Dragon Baccarat Tournament on nov. 7.

In addition to sharing in a $1,000,000 promotional chip prize pool, the top three finishers in the invitation only Royal

Dragon Baccarat Tournament will advance to the global Final at Marina Bay sands in singapore in March 2016. each advancer to the global Final will receive roundtrip transportation to singapore, accommodations at Marina Bay sands, and a food and beverage allowance for the player and a guest. In addition, each advancer will receive one complimentary entry to the semi-Finals of the global Final Tournament.

The traditional table game of baccarat has taken on a new level of popularity with American audiences, so much so that The Venetian and The Palazzo have taken strides to make the game much more accessible to players with traditional tables available from only a $25 minimum bet, as well as the only Imperial Baccarat on the strip – a live dealt $5 minimum baccarat played on an electronic betting terminal.

For more information, visit venetian.com/dragon or call 866898-8013. *Based on accumulated total prize amount from Las Vegas, Macao, and Singapore.

(Advertising Supplement)

September 25-october 1, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

4

Gawad Kalinga-Rotary: Not only building houses but building people too

(then the president of the Rotary Club of Loyola Heights, Quezon City), spoke before our club.

Thereafter, our club, together with the Rotary Clubs of Signal Hill and Anaheim Hills donated a several thousand dollars (then, it was less than $2,000, per house) to build a few houses at the GK Brookside Village in Quezon City.

“Gawad Kalinga” means “to give care.” It is a Philippinebased movement that aims to end poverty by 2024 by first restoring the dignity of the poor. It employs an integrated and proven holistic approach to empowerment with valuesformation and leadership development at its core. GK’s work does not end after building the house, but it continues to BUILD UP the person and his family. Likened somewhat to the US–based Habitat for Humanity, made popular by the many years of physical involvement of President Jimmy Carter working as a carpenter building houses, I believe that GK is a better program as it is holistic in its approach to help a person reach his potential. The transformation of a very low self-esteem people in GK Villages -- before they became a part of a community that looks after each other -- to more confident and useful citizens has been documented a thousand times.

These transformed individuals are becoming the role models for others who knew them before they were GK resident.

Many poor people disqualified themselves to become GK beneficiaries for any number of reasons, like addiction to drugs or alcohol, laziness, living together and having children without marriage, or simply refusing to undergo the screening process and values-formation classes that are required for all candidates to be considered as a GK house beneficiary.

(To be continued next week) ***

Naked Truth

Effective solutions to hair loss

Dr. Vicki BElo HELLO everyone!

I am so thrilled by the influx of your emails! And as I am so happy that you trust me with your concerns, I would also like to share something close to my heart.

Recently, my beloved daughter Cristalle is finally engaged! As a mother I always wanted my daughter to be happy with someone who will cherish and honor her. She found the right partner in Justin. I was able to sneak a photo from behind-thescenes of that wonderful moment when Justin proposed!

Now on to our letter sender : Dear Dr. Vicki, Doc, I am a marine engineer by profession. I have been happily married for eight years and have children now. However, my wife noticed lately that I have lost hair at the upper back of my head. It has gotten thin and it looks like the eye of the storm. My wife always watches your show and has encouraged me to consult with you. I hope you can help me with this. I have also attached a photo for reference.

Thanks, Enzo Hi Enzo, There are many causes of hair loss among men. Some are acquired from genetic, environmental pollutants, or stress. Others are caused by changes in hormones, getting scars due to surgery or

which is now supported by over 35,000 Rotary Clubs, with about The 1.25 million members in over Metamorphosis 200 countries. (The Philippines has 10 Rotary Districts with approximately 100 clubs in each district with an approximate ErniE D. DElfin membership of about 20,000 men and women, that does (Part 1 of 2) not include the thousands of What do the Rotary Rotaractors (in colleges) or International (RI) and Gawad Interactors (in high schools) with Kalinga (GK) have in common? over 1.25 million members. More A person’s ten fingers are info at www.rotary.org.). not enough to count the many Gawad Kalinga, on the other humanitarian works these two hand, just turned 12 years old, non-governmental organizations started by Antonio Meloto, with (NGO) are doing in their his brothers and sisters-in-Christ common or parallel missions who were members of a Catholic such as: alleviating poverty and lay organization called Couples hunger, improving the quality for Christ in the Philippines, as a of education, health, livelihood part of their outreach service to projects, promoting peace and the “least of their brothers and justice, etc. Just consider Gawad sisters” in the poor communities Kalinga’s battle cry: “End Poverty in Metro Manila. GK has made in the Philippines by 2024!” and some noticeable transformation “Walang Iwanan!” (Nobody left in people in many successful behind!), or be inspired by Rotary’s GK Villages. It has successfully themes (chosen by the Rotary facilitated or enabled the International President every year) founding of over 2,000 villages such as “Be a Gift to the World,” and has been replicated in half a “Service Above Self,” or “Mankind dozen countries like Cambodia, is our Business;” and you will feel Papua New Guinea and that their rai’son d‘etre is a very Indonesia. Although originally serious matter. That explains why only in Christian communities, both organizations have attracted it is also thriving in the deep millions of supporters throughout South of Mindanao where the world.

Muslims are the majority, simply Both NGOs have ambitious because the basic human needs yet achievable goals that our of food shelter and clothing and world needs to enhance the children’s health and education quality of life, especially the next transcend religion, dialects generations. Started by one or tribal origins. For more person with a very small group information, visit www.gk1world. of professionals, the founders com and www.gkerc.org. had lofty dreams and a noble *** vision that if society’s problems Probably over 95 percent of are created by man, then the people I meet do not know what solutions can also be manmade.

Gawad Kalinga is and what it In 1905, Rotary was founded does. To help spread the word of by lawyer Paul Harris, with two what our GK e-Rotary Club and of his friends, who saw the need our sister club of Urdaneta City for the establishment of a public Rotary Club are embarking to do, restroom that was non-existent allow me to “advertise” about our at that time in Chicago and that bold project of building another became their first community GK Village in Pangasinan. I service. Today, that humanitarian learned about this movement and “Service Above Self” projects as early as 2005 when I was have expanded to bigger causes, president of our Rotary Clubs of like the eradication of polio Cerritos when a friend, Jess Cifra

WASHINGTON, DC—AARP released online survey results of people 50-plus and their opinions on some of the most topical issues of the day. With Pope Francis preparing for a six-day visit to the U.S. with stops in Washington, New York and Philadelphia, AARP asked Americans 50-plus about the head of the Roman Catholic Church’s leadership.

AARP asked in the poll, do you think Pope Francis is leading the Catholic Church in the right direction?

Of those surveyed: • 76 percent of people 50-plus said yes. * Of those who answered the question, 35 percent of Email me at ernie.delfin@gmail.com. Visit www. respondents indicated they were Catholic or had at one point rotaryeclubGlobalKalingaD3780.org.

considered themselves Catholic.

Additionally, AARP asked do you think the Pope should consider letting women become priests.

Of those surveyed: • 66 percent of people 50-plus said yes. ^ For this poll question, 37 percent indicated they were Catholic or had at one point considered themselves Catholic.

And, they were open to women priests at an even higher rate.

Of those surveyed who identified with being Catholic now or at one point in time, 70 percent said the Pope should consider women priests.

IS HEAVEN FOR REAL? AARP also asked those 50 and older whether they believe in

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health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure. Seems like in your photo your are showing early signs of receding hair line and bald patches. What is important is you see a doctor. We have to be sure that your hair loss is nothing short of a health problem. If that’s the case, you have to get well first and we can proceed with your hair loss treatment after.

Think of it this way, the soil is the scalp and the plant is the hair. When the plant is damaged, it dies and gets removed from the soil, same is your hair follicles. We have invasive and non invasive procedures for hair loss depending on the condition and severity. We have something called MesoHair, where we infuse “fertilizers” to your scalpt to enduce hairgrowth.

For our invasive procedure and still the most effective means to address hairloss, Belo uses an advanced technology to automatically harvest and implant hair follicles to the balding area without removing the scalp. It is called the NeoGrafting. What makes it better is that the results are natural looking hair re-growth, it is least invasive with little to no discomfort, minimal downtime and no linear scar. And it is also FDA-cleared procedure.

Hope this helps you, Enzo, on your problem.

So let’s have more stories coming in! Feel free to let me know about you. Send it to vicki@belomed. com.

Love, Dr. Belo

AARP survey: 76% of people 50-plus pleased with Pope 66% say Pope should consider letting women become priests

REAL ESTATE

heaven and hell.

Of those surveyed: • 72 percent of people 50-plus said yes, they do believe in heaven and hell. * The survey is part of an ongoing new polling series to disrupt aging and highlight how Americans 50 and older feel about issues that affect their health, finances, and everyday lives.

AARP will continue to share the opinions of Americans 50 and older on the issues of the day through the end of the year.

Follow @AARPMedia on Twitter. * Survey date September 1418, 2015; Margin of error is +/- 4 percent ^ Survey date September 1820, 2015; Margin of error is +/- 4 percent (Advertising Supplement)

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Proposed Provisional Waiver expansion will benefit children and spouses of green card holders Immigration Essentials

Atty. Jeff KhuRgel While the existing i-601A Provisional Waiver Program is limited to benefitting children and spouses of US citizens, a proposed rule will expand the categories of beneficiaries. The new rule, proposed by the United States Citizenship and immigration Service (USCiS), will expand the waiver to benefit children and spouses of lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders.)

One of the most challenging realities facing immigrants in this country is the 3/10 year rule. The rule is used to punish individuals who have accrued unlawful presence in the US and then departing. if a foreign national has remained for more than 180 days in the United States without permission—either from having entered the United States without inspection, having entered with a visa that has since expired, having entered with a crewman’s visa, or having entered the United States to marry a fiancée or fiancé but failed to do so—they will not be given permission to legally re-enter the United States for 3 years after departing. if they have remained unlawfully present in the US without permission for more than one year, they will not be given permission to legally enter the US for 10 years after departing.

The harsh consequence of accruing unlawful presence arises when a foreign national becomes the beneficiary of a family petition—either through a familial or spousal relationship with a US Citizen or a lawful Permanent Resident. in order for the foreign national to adjust their status to a lawful Permanent Resident, he or she must first receive an immigrant Visa, which requires them to submit a visa application and later attend an interview at

the U.S. consulate in their country of origin. Once this person leaves the United States to attend the visa interview, they may trigger the 3/10 rule, and are not allowed to re-enter the US for either 3 or 10 years, depending on how long they remained unlawfully in the US. Thankfully, there is a waiver that allows foreign nationals who have accrued unlawful presence to ask for permission to enter the US legally, even when they are subject to the 3/10 rule. in order to qualify for this waiver, the foreign national must prove that their US Citizen or lawful Permanent Resident spouse or parent will suffer extreme hardship if the foreign national is not allowed to live in the United States or if the spouse or parent joins the foreign national in the country of origin.

Until a few years ago, the foreign national had only one option—to apply for this waiver after they had already departed the US, and after they attended their visa interview in their country of origin. if USCiS denied the waiver application, the foreign national would be unable to return to their families in the United States for either 3 or 10 years. Alternatively, even if the waiver application were approved, the wait time for an approved waiver could leave the foreign national in suspense, sometimes up to months, before being allowed to legally re-enter the US. in March of 2013, USCiS announced the Provisional Waiver Program, which provides a second option to the above scenario. Under the Provisional Waiver Program, a foreign national who is in the United States, and whose only ground of inadmissibility is unlawful presence, can apply for the waiver and receive a decision before they depart the US to attend the visa interview in their country of origin. This was a positive development for those foreign nationals who wanted the

peace of mind that they would be allowed to re-enter the US after having departed for their immigrant Visa interview.

The Provisional Waiver Program makes the process of obtaining a waiver easier, but it narrows who can qualify for the waiver. Whereas the traditional waiver allows the foreign national to prove extreme hardship to either their US Citizen or lawful Permanent Resident spouse or parent, the Provisional Waiver Program allows a waiver only for those foreign nationals who can prove denial of the waiver would result in extreme hardship only to a spouse or parent who is a US citizen.

Under the proposed expansion which is the subject of this article, USCiS may grant a provisional waiver to foreign nationals who can prove extreme hardship to their spouse or parent, whether the spouse or parent is a US citizen or a lawful Permanent Resident.

Thus, the expansion opens up the possibility for children and spouses of lawful Permanent Residents who have accrued unlawful presence to apply for the waiver while remaining in the United States.

The proposed Provisional Waiver expansion rule was published in the Federal register on July 22, 2015, and the agency is allowing the public 60 days to comment on the proposed regulatory change. if and when the final rule is published, the rule will indicate the date on which foreign nationals may begin to apply for provisional unlawful presence waivers under the changes. if you have any questions about whether you or a loved one may benefit from this new proposed rule, please contact a licensed immigration attorney. *** Atty. Khurgel is a former USCIS and Department of State Embassy Officer with over ten years of government service and private immigration practice experience. His offices are located in Irvine, California.

File your green card application now which shows if a visa is available. however, a second chart which is titled “DATeS FOR FiliNG ViSA APPliCATiONS” indicates advanced priority dates to allow individuals that have priority dates current on the second chart to file for Atty. Kelly O’Reilly adjustment of status while waiting for the actual priority date to eDWARD, a 45 year-old married become current. An application man from Manila came to the United for adjustment of status will afford States in 1999. his mom and dad the applicant an employment are US citizens and filed a petition authorization and advanced parole for him in December 1994. he has for travel. been waiting 20 years for his priority For example, the second date to become current so that he priority chart indicates that the could adjust status in the United F-3 preference category for the States. edward has been checking Philippines is August 1, 1995, which the visa bulletin every month only is almost 2 years further than the to see it move about 10 to 15 days actual priority date. in edward’s each month. in September 2015, the situation, he would be eligible to file priority date for his F-3 preference for adjustment of status in October category for the Philippines was 2015 as opposed to waiting for only current to September 15, 1993. another year or more. During this At this rate, edward would have to time, he would be eligible for a wait at least another year or perhaps work permit and advanced parole much longer. to travel.

On September 9, the October These changes affect not only 2015 visa bulletin was issued. The family-based petitions, but also priority date for the F-3 preference employment-based petitions. category only moved about 15 Therefore, for those people who days to October 1993. however, are waiting for an employment a significant change occurred in based petition to become current the October visa bulletin which in the US, may be eligible to file for proved to be very beneficiary to adjustment of status earlier so that edward. The US State Department they do not have to worry about the announced that starting from limitations of their nonimmigrant October 2015, the State Department visas. The US Department hopes to will not issue two separate priority relieve some of the agony of waiting date charts. The first chart of for prolonged priority dates with priority dates is the original chart this new policy.

This significant change will benefit all immigrants in the US with a petition from a family member or employer. however, one must still be admissible and otherwise eligible for adjustment of status.

Therefore, it is important to note that the visa bulletin change does not affect an individual’s eligibility for adjustment of status. Rather, it only changes WheN the application may be submitted. Premature or incorrect filing could lead to denials, wasted filing fees or perhaps even removal proceedings. it is important that you consult with a competent immigration attorney to determine whether you are eligible to apply for adjustment of status now. At Wilner & O’Reilly, we are former immigration officers, board-certified specialists and true immigration experts. We have offices conveniently located in Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Utah. Schedule your free consultation today.

From Page 3 money changers, banana boat rides, souvenir shops, tattoo shops, dive shops and big outrigger boats spewing out tourists directly from Batangas City pier. Particularly when all the room rates of the smattering of hotels and honky tonk joints spike during holy Week and the summer months, Puerto Galera is all business, crass and hard-nosed. Take the time to check out this place before it gets much too commercial for one’s tastes, while nature is still at the helm of this vanishing beauty.

My sister Mitch and her husband, Bob, who live in Texas went on vacation to Mindoro more recently. They discovered a delightful best kept secret of a resort called Coco Beach. it is a banca ride away from Puerto Galera. it provides above standard amenities and an ambience that is worth the money one normally spends to experience the serenity of nature and island living, at least for a while. They are planning a sequel to their island

Thankfully, the rains held off and a bit of sun sneaked out as a grudging welcome the following day and the day after that and all was well. Two dolphins swimming and jumping alongside the Super Cat on the day we sailed must have been good signs.

On our last night, i stood outside on the shore beneath a velvet sky, clear of clouds and peppered with the brightest stars and watched the long, slow, rhythmic procession of tiny pinprick points of light from distant ships passing by the island headed for unknown destinations, like luminous rosary beads glowing in the darkness. The call of the sea is strong in this place. With a knowing nod, i headed back to the cottage finally understanding why my father chose the life he lived. ***

Problem Solved

*** Kelly O’Reilly is a nationally known immigration expert and former immigration officer. He is a highly sought after speaker on immigration and employment compliance issues. Mr. O’Reilly serves as the current chair of the Riverside County Bar Association Immigration section and is a partner in the full-service immigration firm of the Wilner & O’Reilly where he provides free consultations. Mr. O’Reilly can be contacted at (714) 919-8880 and he welcomes email inquiries at koreilly@wilneroreilly.com.

Mining memories of Mindoro adventure.

December isn’t the best time to go to Mindoro. Nature, in a grouchy mood, throws a hissy fit around this time. The seas are choppy.

Rain clouds hover about, casting a pall of unwelcoming soupy grey but i was determined to go, in fair or foul weather. The rivers are swollen overrunning their banks and Naujan, which never had floods before, is now consistently subject to flooding due to some public works project.

During the first night, the wind howled, the waves crested and the sea, all but roared in our ears. The fish weren’t biting and the fishermen, pulling in their nets, have practically nothing, save some flotsam and jetsam and detritus from an ill-tempered sea, to show for all their efforts – just slim pickings of espada fish to tide themselves over for the day. Still, they look to the sea for sustenance and they know, it will be good again.

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

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