Orange County/Inland Empire -- September 11-- 17, 2015

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Binay sues Trillanes, Mercado for libel DATELINE USA by bErnicE

cAMillE bAuzon ManilaTimes.net

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS SS AMEric MEricA ricA

CDC report: most Americans’ hearts are older than they are

A NeW report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that three out of four Americans has a “heart age” that is older than their actual age. the findings, published in the CDC’s morbidity and mortality Weekly report on tuesday, sept. 1, indicate that the average American man has a heart that is 7.8 years “older” than his chronological age, while the average American woman’s heart is 5.4 years more than her actual age, the Los Angeles Times wrote.

“Because so many U.s. adults don’t understand their cardiovascular disease risk, they are missing out on early opportunities to prevent future heart attacks or strokes,” said Barbara Bowman, director of the CDC’s division for heart disease and stroke prevention, according to UsA today.

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“the Vice President believes in our criminal justice system and is abiding by the rule of law in order to prove that his accusers are liars and political opportunists.” this was the statement of Joey salgado, the media affairs chief of the office of the Vice President, on thursday, sept.

10 after Vice President Jejomar CROWD DRAWER. Vice President Jejomar Binay buzzes a child during his visit to a community near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City. ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma Binay filed separate libel com-

plaints against his critics, sen.

Antonio trillanes IV and former makati City Vice mayor Nestor mercado.

Binay, clad in gym wear, personally filed the complaints with the makati City regional trial Court.

In his complaint against the senator, the Vice President denied allegations that he was involved in a P100-million annual “racket” on projects involving senior citizens when he was mayor of makati City.

he said trillanes’ claims were “utterly false and baseless.” trillanes is part of the senate blue ribbon sub-committee investigating Binay’s alleged links to multi-million anomalies during his term as makati City mayor. the libel complaint against mercado, meanwhile, pertains to a land development deal between the Boy scouts of the Philippines and property developer Alphaland Corp.

PAGE A2

Two Philippine nationals arrested in immigration sweep across SoCal

tWo Philippine nationals were among 244 foreign nationals arrested during a Us Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICe) four-day sweep in southern California. one of the men was 31 years old with convictions for battery and felony burglary, and was arrested in Los Angeles on monday, Aug. 24. the other was a 39-year-old with convictions for battery, petty theft, felony burglary, and two convictions for being under the influence of a controlled substance. he was arrested in moreno Valley on sunday, Aug. 23.

ICe only released the names of arrestees being held on administrative immigration violations, Virginia Kice, ICe western regional communications director and spokesperson, told the Asian Journal in an email.

As of thursday, sept. 3, both filipino men remain in custody pending removal proceedings, ICe Public Affairs spokeswoman Lori haley said in an CALIforNIA has agreed to reform email. its use of solitary confinement in pristhe southern California sweep, which took place MANILA TRAFFIC SOLUTION. A member of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) directs traffic at the foot of the Quezon Avenue flyover in Quezon City on ons by ending unlimited isolation for from Aug. 23 through Aug. 26, was the most success- Monday, Sept. 7. HPG director Chief Supt. Arnold Gunnacao said that they will continue to look for solutions to ease the flow of traffic along EDSA and other major thoroughfares. “So far so good, unlike the previous days when traffic was snarled because of unforeseen circumstances,” he said, citing certain inmates under conditions outPAGE A2 road repairs and undisciplined drivers.

Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas lined in a landmark legal settlement.

As part of the agreement, which was reached on tuesday, sept. 1, the practice of indefinite isolation to control violent prison gangs will come to an end and approximately 2,000 inmates will A roundtable discussion on thursday, the idea of citizenship seriously,” said ing Justice — Los Angeles (Advancing by christinA M. oriEl be returned to the general population, september 3 hosted by New America sandy Close, executive director of New Justice — LA) said that the cost could AJPress the Los Angeles Times reported. potentially rise, but there is advocacy media, the New Americans Campaign America media.

Prison officials have long used soliLos ANGeLes—8.8 million law- and several city-based organizations at As Citizenship Day approaches on being done to consider a sliding scale tary confinement as a means of control- ful permanent residents are eligible Los Angeles City hall emphasized the september 17, community organiza- based on household income and famling inmates they deem too dangerous to naturalize in the United states, but urgency of getting immigrants to ap- tions are sustaining a push to increase ily size. to house with the general population only 8 percent apply. of that qualified ply, especially with the elections com- citizenship application rates in minor“there are immigrants out there that because of gang membership or if population, 2.5 million are in Califor- ing up in 2016. ity immigrant communities by hosting want to become Us citizens, but they they’ve demonstrated violence in pris- nia and 800,000 in Los Angeles County “I can’t even remember when the accessible workshops and providing just don’t have the $680 to be able to ons. idea of citizenship has been dispar- in-language outreach and information. do so…,” she said. “that’s a real-life alone. most of these isolated prisoners have though naturalization is an ideal aged in the political forum the way it Overcoming barriers barrier we’re dealing with when it been without significant human contact goal for most immigrants, obstacles is being disparaged now…We think, A main hurdle to citizenship that comes to naturalization.” for more than 30 years, the LA Times still hinder the process of becoming what do we do? how do we respond? many immigrants mention is the appliKhansari gave an example of a filireported. the state has nearly 3,000 in- a Us citizen. Among them: cost, lan- What do we say? It is so important that cation fee, which is currently $680. pino couple (who requested not to be mates who spend more than 22 hours guage barriers and low access to infor- we encourage all of our colleagues, Nasim Khansari, citizenship project identified by name in this article) inrelatives, friends and audiences to take director of Asian Americans AdvancPAGE A5 mation.

PAGE A2

California agrees to reform use of solitary confinement, ending indefinite isolation

Immigrants encouraged to naturalize despite barriers

Comelec wants debates for all bets in 2016 polls

PH gov’t to roll-out nationwide free WiFi service by 2016

by Allyson

by MArvin

EscobAr

AJPress

A NeW W plan from the Philippine government would offer free wireless Internet access to people across the country, but would limit annual data revenue prospects of the nation’s largest telecoms.

According to Bloomberg Business, the government plans to roll-out its free Wi-fi services roughly half the country’s municipalities over the next few months, and has plans for full nationwide coverage by the end of 2016. the free service will be made available in public areas such as schools, hospitals, airports, and parks, and is expected to cost the government about 1.5 billion pesos ($32 million) a year.

PAGE A2

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Philstar.com

HOLY ALLIANCE. Three possible presidential rivals—Vice President Jejomar Binay (left), Sen. Grace Poe (center) and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas (fourth from left)—meet Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle at the Arzobispado de Manila compound in Intramuros for dinner, prayer and reflection on how to be a servant leader. At right is Henrietta de Villa, national chair of Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Manila

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mANILA—the Commission on elections (Comelec) is pushing for the conduct of debates for all candidates in the 2016 polls, from president down to local government officials.

During the hearing on the proposed P15.6-billion budget of the Comelec for 2016, sen. Loren Legarda, chairman of the senate committee on finance, said the voters deserve to know the candidates’ stand on various issues.

Legarda said holding debates is one of the best ways to bring the platforms of candidates to the

electorate. she said this is less expensive for the candidates to introduce themselves to the voters compared to house-to-house visits during the campaign period. sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, who chairs the senate committee on electoral reforms, supported the initiative.

Pimentel said there are proposed laws to make debates among candidates mandatory.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said they are planning to conduct three debates for the 2016 elections, one each for LuPAGE A7

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September 11-17, 2015 • OC/Ie ASIAN JOUrNAL

From the Front Page

Two Philippine nationals arrested in immigration...

PAGE A1 ful, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations deputy field office director David Marin told KPCC. This was because of the number of arrestees who had records with “really serious felonies,” Marin told the radio station.

“We think it’s really important that we get those people and remove them, not only from the community but from the coun-

try. Because ultimately, that’s going to make the community and our country safer,” Marin said, according to KPCC. The majority of individuals taken into custody as a result of the four-day operation are originally from Mexico (191), according to a release from the agency.

Arrestees came from 21 different countries, including Ghana, France, Peru and Thailand.

The sweep covered six Southland counties, with most number of arrests occurring in Los Angeles County (99), followed by Orange County (55), San Bernardino County (43), Riverside County (24), Santa Barbara County (20), and San Luis Obispo County (3), the ICE release stated.

Among individuals captured was Vincente Onofre-Ramirez, 35, a Mexican national who was convicted in 2002 in New York of sexual abuse with force. He was deported from the United States after he served his sentence.

Onofre-Ramirez was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 23 at his home in Santa Ana and appeared in federal court on Monday, Aug. 24.

Another arrestee was 46-yearold Guatemalan national who was formerly sentenced to 10 years in prison for the sexual abuse of two children. The individual was arrested in Upland on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

A 50-year-old Salvadoran national who was convicted in Los Angeles County last year of two criminal counts involving sex abuse was also arrested during the sweep in Sunland on Sunday, Aug. 23.

Yet despite the success of the sweep, Kice said it would be inaccurate to conclude that crimes committed by immigrants are on the rise. Kice also told the Los Angeles Times that not all those arrested in the sweep were violent felons or were in the United States illegally.

“One of the challenges we’re facing is because of state law and local policies, more individuals who are potentially deportable with significant criminal histories are being released onto the street instead of being turned over to ICE,” Kice said, according to the Times. “I think to infer from [the sweep] that potentially foreign nationals are committing more crimes is flawed.”

Individuals arrested during the sting who have pending deportation orders or re-entered the country after being deported are subject to immediate removal from the United States, according to the ICE release.

The remaining arrestees are in the custody of the agency and will have a hearing before an immigration judge, or are pending travel arrangements for removal in the near future. (Agnes Constante/AJPress)

Binay sues Trillanes, Mercado...

PAGE A1 Mercado told the Senate panel in February that Binay pocketed P651 million from the allegedly anomalous land deal.

He said Binay defrauded the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in the land deal.

The Vice President also denied the allegations.

“Being the consistent frontrunner in the presidential elections in May 2016, unscrupulous individuals, including respondent Trillanes, have conspired to politically assassinate me by blatantly and publicly maligning my good name and reputation with lies and defamatory statements,” Binay said.

He has declared that he will run for President under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance in next year’s elections.

The Vice President led preelection presidential preference surveys until Sen. Grace Poe overtook him in surveys early this year.

“The damaging and ruinous claims spewed out by respondent Mercado are mere concoctions and fabrications with no other purpose than to malign, discredit, ruin my reputation and besmirch my good name as well as that of my family,” Binay said.

He claimed that he “incurred the ire” of Mercado when the latter failed to get his endorsement in the 2010 elections.

Mercado, a former Binay ally, lost to the Vice President’s son, Jejomar Erwin, in the 2010 polls.

Parliamentary immunity The younger Binay, meanwile, told the Department of Justice (DOJ) that Trillanes can neither invoke parliamentary immunity nor freedom of speech as a defense in a libel complaint for accusing justices of the Court of

Former Makati City Vice Mayor Nestor Mercado

Appeals of accepting bribes.

In a reply-affidavit he filed with the DOJ, Binay insisted there is probable cause to charge Trillanes for violation of Article 355 in relation to Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code.

Trillanes had invoked parliamentary immunity under Section 11, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that no senator shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in Congress or in any committee hearing.

But the younger Binay said Trillanes was “grossly mistaken” for invoking such immunity because the privilege applies only when necessary to prevent indirect impairment of deliberations being made in Congress.

“Evidently, the investigation and, if warranted, the eventual prosecution of the respondent for the crime of libel will not impugn any of his legislative acts,” Binay said.

He added that Trillanes should not be covered by parliamentary immunity because the lawmaker made his accusations in the media, not in Congress.

“Clearly, when respondent authored, mouthed, disseminated and distributed his lies to the media and the public outside the session halls of the Senate, he shed any pretense of acting in the official discharge of his duties,” Binay said.

He took Trillanes to court for “publicly claiming” that the mayor bribed members of the 6th Division of the Court of Appeals (CA) “by paying them millions of pesos in exchange for favorable action” on the temporary restraining order (TRO) against his suspension order.

Binay escaped suspension after the CA issued a TRO against the Office of the Ombudsman, which had issued a preventive suspension order against the mayor over alleged overpricing in the Makati CIty Hall Building 2 project.

He, however, ended up leaving his post after the Office of the Ombudsman issued another preventive suspension over separate claims of overpricing in the Makati Science High School building project.

Binay failed to secure a TRO for the second suspension.

PH to roll-out nationwide free WiFi...

PAGE A1 Concerns for the proposal arose from Philippines’ two largest telecoms, Philippine Long Distance Telephone and Globe Telecom Inc. Both companies may need to make a value play to keep its customers.

“If subscribers move to using free public Wi-Fi, telecoms may need to lure them into getting higher-end services,” said Monchito Ibrahim, deputy executive director of the Information and Communications Technology Office in Makati City. “The government’s focus is on areas that absolutely don’t have access.”

The free connection has its limitations, Ibrahim said. Speed is capped at 256 kilobits per second, which is enough for basic Internet searches or access to Facebook.

The overall goal to expand internet access across the Philippines, especially in disconnected areas, will hopefully lower relatively expensive internet

costs. According to research firm IDC, data costs an average of $18 for each megabit per second, compared with a global average of just $5. Broadband connectivity in the Philippines is only ahead of Afghanistan in Asia, IDC said.

Other nations are slowly following suit, with lawmakers in India’s Delhi territory recently proposing a similar plan to offer free Wi-Fi usage up to one gigabyte per month, eventually leading to free internet access in all government and private colleges. Singapore also started a free public wireless service in 2006 that now offers speeds of as much as 2 megabits per second-enough for phone calls over data network and video streaming, and already eight times faster than that planned in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, companies like Facebook and Google have developing projects to bring better connectivity to remote areas

worldwide, said Fortune.

“The free Wi-Fi service would compel improvement of service of both telecoms,” said Lexter Azurin, research head at Unicapital Securities Inc. “Definitely, they might need more capex for that, which would impact earnings at the end of the day.”

“As more people get into the data traffic, they will understand and eventually appreciate the ease of using mobile Internet,” said Yolanda Crisanto, a spokeswoman at Globe, which in 2013 posted a 27 percent jump in firsthalf profit, with services such as free Facebook access. “That will induce usage.”

“While offering free Wi-Fi access is a step forward, what the country needs is a longer-term plan to improve Internet connectivity,” Senator Bam Aquino, head of the Philippine Senate trade and commerce committee, said last month. “What I’m looking for is really a major broadband plan.”

PAGE A1 eligible to apply for a fee waiver because their household income is $400 above the government poverty level. The couple has reached out to Advancing Justice — LA for application assistance, but has repeatedly been denied by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

To apply for a fee waiver, individuals must fill out a I-912 form and meet one of three requirements: a means-tested benefit (i.e. government programs such as food stamps or Medi-Cal); household income is at or below the 150 percent poverty level; or financial hardship that prevents you from paying the filing fee (having to pay for medical expenses, for example).

“Cost is definitely a factor, but I don’t think people should be dissuaded by that,” Linda Lopez, chief of the Office of Immigrant Affairs at the LA Mayor’s Office, said. Lopez said that there are other avenues to seek out assistance, like credit unions that offer microloans to those who do not qualify for the fee waiver.

Another barrier is the lack of awareness within immigrant communities of the process that goes into becoming a citizen.

“A lot of immigrants don’t even know where to begin the process. They don’t know a nonprofit organization that offers free or low-cost services even exist, so that’s why we need the media’s help to get these organizations’ names out there to let the community know there are a lot of services providers, particularly in Los Angeles County, coupled with Mayor’s Office, partnering together here to make citizenship as accessible as possible,” Khansari said.

Advancing Justice — LA, which is one of 20 organizations in LA part of the New Americans Campaign, hosts free citizenship

clinics at its office in downtown every first three Fridays and the last Saturday of each month.

Lopez cited an initiative by the LA Mayor’s Office to “integrate immigrants local in our civic, political, economic and social fabric” by making citizenship materials available at every city public library branch.

The materials include flyers in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese, naturalization test brochures, naturalization applications and more. She remarked that there has been an increase in citizenship interest in the city, as the immigration office has been tracking the number of people who go to the libraries for citizenship workshops and the information.

In 2014, 20,000 residents used the resources; it has since doubled this year, Lopez said.

Advancing Justice — LA also hosts English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at various libraries for residents who have had their green cards for at least four years.

Despite the common obstacles to naturalization, the benefits of citizenship outweigh them.

Naturalized citizens no longer have to fear deportation or circumstances that would cause their legal permanent residence status to be revoked.

Additionally, naturalized citizens tend to experience a nearly 20 percent increase in income.

Some studies have shown that naturalized citizens earn more than non-skilled counterparts and are more likely to be employed in high-skilled jobs, which are attractive factors for highly-educated immigrants who seek opportunities at par with those back in their countries of origin.

Alenoush Bidrousian, a newly naturalized citizen originally from Iran, shared at the roundtable that she was motivated by

the opportunities given to women in the US, especially when it comes to higher education, jobs and owning a business “The most important thing as a citizen is that there are more job opportunities, especially government jobs…also being more engaged in the city’s activities and the presidential elections [next year] and I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s our responsibility as a person living in the United States to be more active in any way that [you] can,” Bidrousian said.

More Filipino immigrants should consider the advantages of being a citizen, the Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI) Executive Director Yey Coronel noted, including the ability to petition family members from the Philippines and bring them to the US faster.

“A lot of Filipinos tend to not apply for food stamps or other welfare benefits because they’re worried that would affect not just their immigration [status], but also their citizenship, so FASGI will be starting another initiative soon to dispel those notions,” she said.

An issue Coronel mentioned is that the vulnerable immigrant communities need to be guarded against the scams that target them. FASGI, which is a community organization that partners with the city of LA to provide English and Tagalog assistance, is trying to be more vigilant when processing applications.

A notable scam is notaries or individuals, claiming to be lawyers, who charge too much for application processing.

Business impact of citizenship In addition to the personal benefits of naturalization, there is said to be an effect on the US work environment.

The National Immigration PAGE A5

Immigrants encouraged to naturalize...

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D ateline PhiliPPines MILF: Diluted BBL to slow down decommissioning Mayweather took banned IV

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Thursday, Sept. 10 claimed that a diluted Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) would delay the decommissioning of its armed combatants and its firearms.

In an editorial posted on its website luwaran.com, MILF said it considers the passage of a watered down BBL the “worst case scenario.”

“For sure, the MILF will reject it (diluted BBL) outright, and worse the various aspects of the normalization process including decommissioning of its weapons (and combatants) will come to a halt,” the group said.

“Likewise, we do not know if the various mechanisms including the international bodies will continue to stay,” it added.

MILF said the issue about a diluted BBL is not about how many provisions of the original draft are deleted.

“Just one issue, for instance, the aspect of natural resources, can make the BBL diluted and would force the MILF to reject it,” MILF said.

“Of what use an entity, dubbed as autonomous, if it has no access

or power over or share of the revenues derived from the natural resources? Both the House and Senate versions have deleted or seriously diluted this provision,” it added.

The BBL aims to establish a new Bangsamoro entity with enhanced economic and political powers. The entity will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which the government said did not solve the decades-old problem in the south.

The peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF last year serves as the basis of the draft law.

Opponents of BBL, however, are suspicious about the extent of the powers of the proposed Bangsamoro government. They also believe that the BBL will not withstand the legal challenges to be filed before the Supreme Court.

Other challenges confronting the supporters of BBL are the lack of quorum in the House of Representatives and differences over some key provisions of the measure.

The MILF has been pushing for the passage of the original BBL draft but some lawmakers insisted on introducing amendments.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. previously admitted that the notion the two chambers of Congress could agree on a BBL version before focusing on the 2016 budget is “really becoming an impossible dream.”

He also said that time is running out on the BBL because lawmakers will soon be preoccupied with the budget deliberations and election campaigns.

The MILF said a real and genuine autonomous entity “has the right or condition of self-government, especially in a particular sphere.” Such autonomy, the group explained, is more seen in terms of powers and shares of the wealth of the nation.

“Shares in powers and resources can be likened to a human being, who can stand firmly and on his own if he has two feet,” MILF said.

“Both the House and the Senate versions of the BBL have seriously unnerved or mutilated the right leg and amputated the left leg, so much so that if it is not restored would render the Bangsamoro entity inutile,” it added.

The MILF stressed that depriving the Moros of their rightful place in the country is “not a sure antidote to secession.”

Role of Pinay professionals in nuclear health care highlighted in Vienna conference MANILA—During the 23rd Women in Nuclear (WiN) Conference: Women in Nuclear Meet Atoms for Peace held in Vienna, Dr. Alumanda dela Rosa shared insights on the role of Filipino women professionals in safe and effective nuclear health care in the Philippines at the conference.

Dela Rosa, Director General of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, has been invited as a speaker at the event that brought together more than 450 participants from about 100 countries and international organizations.

The conference, held from from August 24 to 28, tackled issues such as career development of women in nuclear-related fields, nuclear applications, nuclear energy, environment, and climate change, and safeguards and nonproliferation.

In her presentation, Dela Rosa, herself a nuclear scientist with extensive experience in the field, highlighted the Philippine national legal framework for women empowerment and gave a backgrounder on the state of nuclear health care in the Philippines, the various activities of the nuclear regulatory body in ensuring safety, and the professional scientific

During the 23rd Women in Nuclear (WiN) Conference: Women in Nuclear Meet Atoms for Peace held in Vienna, Dr. Alumanda dela Rosa shared on her speech, her insights on the role of Filipino women professionals in safe and effective nuclear health care in the Philippines at the conference.

societies ensuring effective nuclear health care.

At the same time, she noted that the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, which she heads, enjoys a gender balance with an almost equivalent number of male and female nuclear scientists.

Panels feature high-level speakers from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as well as representatives of national governments, regulatory bodies, research centers, non-governmen-

tal organizations and the nuclear industry.

WiN Global is a worldwide non-profit association made up of mostly female professionals working in the various fields of nuclear energy and radiation applications. It has approximately 25,000 members from more than 100 countries and aims to promote understanding and public awareness of the benefits of nuclear and radiation applications.

(Philstar.com)

Immigrants encouraged to naturalize...

PAGE A2

Forum has launched the New American Workforce to work with businesses who have eligible immigrant employees and assist them with the citizenship process.

According to Laura Barrera, the LA organizer of the New American Workforce, the initiative “engage[s] employers [and] business owners that this is indeed a service to strengthen not only our community, but our workforce.”

Currently, it is operational in eight cities with large populations of legal permanent residents, including Los Angeles, New York City and Miami. The program, which includes information workshops, one-on-one application assistance and civics instruction, is offered on the worksite either during employee breaks, before or after work hours.

“It’s a win-win situation for their workforce to transition from [lawful] permanent residents to citizens. Our project is unique in that it’s helping change a typical conversation in the community to one that will open the doors to employment sites and changes the way human resources looks at the benefits of citizenship. We hope that through this, it will not only change the dialogue…[and] reeducate employers about why citizenship is important,” Barrera said.

In September 2014, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti challenged 25 businesses to partner with the New American Workforce and educate 25,000 legal permanent residents about opportunities that citizenship provides and help them apply.

Through immigrant integration and increasing workplace diversity, business profitability is positively impacted, according to the New American Workforce.

Political engagement With presidential candidates starting to campaign for 2016, immigration has already become

a hot-button issue that has led to many controversial remarks being covered in the news.

Despite the anti-immigrant rhetoric—Donald Trump’s deportation proposal or Jeb Bush’s ‘anchor babies’ comment, for example—eligible immigrants shouldn’t be detracted from applying for citizenship.

“The fact is, immigrants want to become US citizens, regardless of if someone is disparaging them or not. There is already an interest. But we do know that negative politics lead immigrants to be more motivated to get involved,” said Elisa Sequeira, director of national civic engagement programs for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund.

Once immigrants become naturalized, community assistance doesn’t stop there. It’s just “the beginning of a journey of civic participation,” Sequeira said.

Foreign-born citizens are even less likely to register to vote, she said, citing a University of Southern California study

by Manuel Pastor and Jared Sanchez. However, the study found these citizens would participate in elections if they do get registered.

“We have an important election year next year and a lot of our new citizens will be participating for the first time in electing the candidates and voting for laws that will affect our everyday life,” she said. NALEO provides civic education for the new citizens regarding voter registration, key issues and laws and political candidates.

Never too late Another key takeaway from the roundtable discussion was that there is still time for older legal permanent residents to become citizens.

Saul Montoya, who is originally from Mexico, became a citizen in June after 35 years of being a green card holder.

“You are always under the impression that you will go back

[to your home country],” Montoya said of why it took him so long to become a citizen, but he was grateful that the US gave him opportunities such as a home, job and security.

He was also motivated by his wife (also a US citizen) who convinced him that he still ran the risk of being deported as a green card holder.

Manok Cha shared that she came to the US from Korea in 1996 after her daughter petitioned her, and obtained legal permanent resident status in 2007.

“Living in a new country, I realized that the United States is a nation that protects the rights of its people and ensures opportunities for its [residents]…Slowly I began thinking about becoming a US citizen,” Cha said, adding that she initially had hesitations about applying because she was not fluent in English, which is among the considerations in the citizenship eligibility interview.

However, with the help of the Korean Resource Center, Cha was able to become a citizen in 2012. Though she was already a senior citizen when she naturalized, she said it’s not too late for older immigrants and noted some benefits that could be afforded to them like housing and government assistance.

Since 2011, the New Americans Campaign and its partner organizations have completed nearly 169,000 naturalization applications for legal permanent residents, and have helped them save $118 million in legal fees and $31 million in USCIS application fees.

Data from the Migrant Policy Institute released back in June revealed that Asians have one of the highest naturalization rates in the country, with 59 percent of the immigrant population becoming citizens.

As of 2013, 1.26 million Filipinos are US naturalized citizens; 43,489 of whom were naturalized that year.

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before fight vs Pacquiao - report

by Bong lozAdA Inquirer.net

A DAY before boxing’s most lucrative fight against Manny Pacquiao, pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. reportedly took an intravenous injection of saline and vitamins, a procedure which is banned under the guidelines of the World Anti Doping Agency.

According to SB Nation, agents of the United States Anti Doping Agency found evidence that Mayweather used an IV a day before the fight, on fight day, and after the weigh-ins.

Mayweather, SB Nation reports, received an exception from the USADA but his camp did not apply for the waiver until 18 days after he defeated Pacquiao via unanimous decision.

As per ESPN, the substances

Mayweather got injected with are not banned under WADA, whose standards the USADA follows, but the intravenous procedure is what WADA prohibits.

Mayweather’s team told USADA agents the IV contained a 250-milliliter mixture of saline and multivitamins and a 500milliliter mixture of saline and Vitamin C and was given to the boxer for rehydration purposes.

WADA does not allow intravenous injections of more than 50 milliliters per six hours “except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures, or clinical investigations.”

The SB Nation report added WADA bans procedures as it can be used to “dilute or mask the presence of another sub- Floyd Mayweather Jr. AJPress file photo by Robert Macabagdal stance.”

California agrees to reform use of solitary...

PAGE A1 per day alone in cells that don’t always have windows, The New York Times reported. No other state holds such a number of inmates for such a long period of time, according to the Center for Constitutional Rights.

The state has also agreed not to lock inmates with gang affiliations in soundproofed, windowless units just to prevent them from coordinating illegal activities with other gang members, USA Today reported.

“It will move California more into the mainstream of what other states are doing while still allowing us the ability to deal with people who are presenting problems within our system, but do so in a way where we rely less on the use of segregation,” Jeffrey Beard, secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, told the Associated Press.

Tuesday’s settlement does not eliminate solitary confinement, but it caps the duration of time prisoners can spend in isolation.

It also calls on California to create high-security units that permit some group activity, phone calls and job opportunities for prisoners they say are too dangerous for

mainline housing.

“This brings California in line with more modern national prison practices,” said Jules Lobel, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights and a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, who was the lead lawyer for the inmates who brought the lawsuit against California, the NY Times reported. “People have been kept in solitary confinement for outrageously long periods of time.

That’s one of the problems in the U.S. - people are warehoused in these places, and now that’s going to change.”

The suit settled on Tuesday was filed in 2009 by two inmates – Todd Ashker and Danny Troxell – held in isolation for at least 10 years at Pelican Bay State Prison and accused of membership in the Aryan Brotherhood, the NY and LA Times reported.

“This settlement represents a monumental victory for prisoners and an important step toward our goal of ending solitary confinement in California, and across the country,” the plaintiffs of the case said in a written statement. “The prisoners’ human rights movement is awakening the conscience of the nation to recognize that we are fellow human beings.”

As of Monday, Aug. 31, the NY Times reported that 2,858 inmates were in solitary housing units throughout California. Of those, more than 1,110 are in windowless cells at Pelican Bay. The Northern California correctional facility, the state’s toughest prison, had more than 500 inmates in its isolation unit for more than 10 years. But following recent policy changes, the number dropped to 62 as of late July.

Many prisoners who endure indefinite solitary confinement suffer serious psychological damage, including paranoia and panic attacks, according to RT. Terry Kuppers, a forensic psychiatrist who was among criminal justice experts who filed research findings in the lawsuit, told the LA Times that claimed prolonged solitary confinement increased inmates’ risk of suicide and anxiety, among other things.

“This is a game-changer. California has led the nation in keeping people in cold storage,” he told the publication.

Other supporters of the end of solitary confinement include President Barack Obama, who became the first president to visit a federal prison in July and told atPAGE A7

A

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September 11-17, 2015 • OC/Ie ASIAN JOUrNAL

OpiniOn

Features

Home stretch

AFTER occupying the highest and toughest job in the Philippines for six years, Pres. Benigno Aquino III made it clear that he might be ending his political career after next year’s elections. But with a few months left in his reign, Aquino will be working under a microscope.

In the early years of his leadership, Aquino enjoyed the highest approval ratings, gaining as much as 85 percent approval from the Filipino public. It is highest rating ever recorded by any individual included in trust probes since 1999, something that any politician would aspire for.

Traditionally, when a president is about to step down, his or her approval ratings get lower. In 2009, a year before former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ended her term, her ratings dropped to an all-time low of -11 percent. Aquino’s mother, the late former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino’s rating plunged to -1 in 1991.

Although the Aquino administration has been bloodied by unfortunate events in the past few months, the President still enjoys the support of majority of Filipinos at 54 percent. However, as the numbers go down, this also means that Aquino may be lauded for his accomplishments, but will be remembered for his shortcomings.

In a gathering with reporters and editors during the Meet the Inquirer forum on Tuesday, Sept. 8, Aquino described being the country’s president as “very daunting” but that the Filipinos’ cooperation

made his task easier.

The President also admitted that the job almost took its toll on him.

“No matter what you did, no matter what risks you took, no matter what energy you expended it seemed you couldn’t change anything. So I have gotten to that point in time that you were getting to be cynical and jaded,” Aquino revealed.

Despite the early successes of his “daang matuwid (straight path)” mantra, Aquino has also been under fire over his standing on controversial issues such as the country’s sea dispute entanglements and woes in the transportation sector and infrastructure. He is also criticized for the limited progress made in crucial areas such as corruption and poverty.

It’s really impossible to measure a politician’s performance. There are so many subjective factors to identify how formidable a politician can be. It is unjust to base the relationship of a leader and his followers on approval ratings alone. What matters more is the successful negotiations and compromises both parties extend to each other.

If the numbers are positive, the leaders are subjected to discernment. They are given an option to

Editorial

either be complacent or work even harder to make a lasting impression to the public. If the numbers are unfavorable, the ratings serve as a wake-up call.

Aquino may have gotten the best grade compared to his predecessors, but the work obviously doesn’t stop there. Before he embarks on a sab-

batical, Aquino should focus on ironing out kinks on his reforms, and make sure tangible and reliable results are felt by his constituents. In return, Filipinos should continue to join Aquino’s undertaking, to aid him in this final stretch of the race.

(AJPress)

Pope Francis makes marriage annulment easier, faster & cheaper for estranged couples 2. Giving bishops the ability to fastAFTER Pope Francis’s controversial track and grant the annulments themstatement allowing priests during the Year The Fil-Am selves in certain circumstances -- for of Mercy to “absolve” sins committed by example, when spousal abuse or an contrite women who have had abortions, Perspective extramarital affair has occurred. the leader of the Catholic Church has now 3. The process should be free, exradically revised the process by which cept for a nominal fee for administraCatholics may annul their marriages to tive costs, and should be completed make it easier, faster and cheaper. within 45 days.

This is especially significant for Filipinos Gel SantoS-ReloS Pope Francis reaffirms the “indissolback home who cannot remarry because divorce is not yet legal in the Philippines. The only option for ubility of the marriage bond,” but also says that “charity estranged couples is to seek marriage annulment in court, and mercy demand that the Church, as mother, be close the price of which is not affordable to most Filipinos. But to her children who consider themselves separated.”

As CNN stated in its report, this move is part of a seeven if the marriage is annulled judicially, Catholic couples cannot re-marry through Catholic rites unless the Church ries of reforms by Pope Francis “as he seeks to make the church more responsive to the real needs of lay Catholics, declares their previous marriage null and void.

Without going through Church annulments, Catholics especially those who have long felt marginalized by the who remarry through civil rites are banned from receiv- hierarchy”.

The Pope said that in the end, the Church’s many laws ing the Holy Communion, deemed by many as “a painful and institutions must be aimed at one chief purpose -exclusion from the church’s chief sacrament.”

“Some procedures are so long and so burdensome and “the salvation of souls.”

Do you laud Pope Francis in his reforms to make the people give up”, Pope Francis said in 2014, as reported Catholic Church more welcoming and inclusive to people

by CNN. The Catholic Church announced on Tuesday, Septem- — saints and sinners alike? *** ber 8, that the following changes will become part of Catholic canon law on December 8, 2015 — the begin- Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions ning of Francis’ declared “Year of Mercy”: expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and 1. Eliminating a second review by a cleric before a mar- not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFilriage can be nullified.

AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Is Aquino corrupt?

Commentary

RicaRdo Saludo “BuT he himself is not corrupt, right?”

That is a common refrain in conversations with Filipinos concerned about rising sleaze under President Benigno Aquino 3rd.

Ironically, the same thing was once said about Ferdinand Marcos, a frugal Ilocano unlike his extravagant wife Imelda.

After five years of Tuwid na Daan, many are disturbed, if not enraged that smuggling tripled from $7.9 billion in 2009 to nearly $27 billion last year, based on International Monetary Fund data.

Pork barrel more than doubled to over P20 billion annually, while anomalies in commuter trains, license plates, combat planes and choppers, and even office supplies are the biggest ever. And Aquino’s P157-billion Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) is the largest malversation in Philippine history.

Yet many Filipinos continue to give him the benefit of ever escalating doubt, believing or hoping he is personally honest. This despite Aquino’s constant defense of tainted allies and associates, his failure to probe mammoth scandals, and his refusal to push for the Freedom of Information bill, as he promised voters.

So on Year 6 of his presidency, let us sincerely ponder the question based on plain facts: Is Aquino

corrupt? Not just his allies, appointees, aides, and other associates close to him, including family members and the favored clique of schoolmates, partymates, and shooting buddies (KKK by their Filipino initials)—but Aquino himself.

It’s in the bagman Many instantly insist on the President’s integrity because he has never been known or shown to have personally solicited or accepted an inappropriate advantage.

Well, if that is enough to declare politicians clean, so many grafters would be exonerated simply by using bagmen to solicit, negotiate, and accept bribes. Indeed, only one Philippine president has been proven to have personally taken payoffs.

In his plunder trial, Joseph Ejercito Estrada was shown to have received illicit funds. Documents and testimony established that he was the true accountholder of the Jose Velarde false-name deposit in Equitable Bank, which once held billions of pesos, including P189 million in checks representing commissions on shares bought by state financial institutions at Estrada’s behest.

No other presidents were undeniably linked to payoffs. Hence, in pondering whether Aquino is corrupt, the apparent absence of actual money or other assets illicitly falling into his hands, pockets, accounts, or other personal receptacles is no reason to conclude he is clean. Otherwise, so many others would be deemed

honest, even those currently accused of high corruption by the administration.

Before leaving this issue, one might cite an instance when Aquino may have received an unlawful gift. In December 2011 he claimed to have bought with P4.5 million of his own money a “third-hand” Porsche 911 Turbo sportscar.

Seven months later, he said he sold it for the same amount.

Fellow columnist Rigoberto Tiglao, among other journalists, repeatedly pressed the Palace for car registrations and deeds of sale showing that the Porsche was really purchased then sold, and never gifted. No documents were presented. So many rightly concluded that the purported purchase never happened. But Aquino did get the luxury coupe, so it must have been a gift—and, given its high price, it violates the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Where there’s smoke…

The undocumented Porsche was but one of so many whiffs of Aquino smoke which got many looking for fire. In his first year alone, consider these dubous acts and omissions.

Aquino declined to put the Philippine National Police, the main weapon against jueteng, under anti-gambling nemesis Jesse Robredo. Instead of the DILG Secretary, Aquino himself supervised the PNP through his shooting buddy, then Interior undersecretary Rico Puno—whom anti-vice crusader Archbishop Oscar Cruz named along with then PNP Chief PAGE A7

Pope Francis

Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenta THANKFuLLY, the protest rallies of the Iglesia ni Cristo at EDSA have been called off. INC’s leaders have declared that they have reached an “agreement” with the government—without providing any details—while a Malaca ñang spokesman has insisted that “no special concessions” were given for the cessation of the rallies.

That, of course, leaves the public with more questions than answers. We can expect both sides to give a positive spin to their respective versions in order to save face.

Fortunately, the INC leadership was apparently not inclined to provoke a violent confrontation with the government, and the latter obviously had no taste for it either. But it could have escalated into a bloody mess. All it needed was for sinister quarters to explode a bomb in the crowd.

Then all hell would have broken loose.

In hindsight, it is easy to say that “effective crowd control” and “police monitoring” would have prevented that from happening – but hindsight is a perfect science. The wise crisis manager prepares for both the best and the worst case scenarios. The memory of the bombing of the Boston Marathon should serve as a stark reminder for the

The INC protest rallies, best and worst case scenarios optimists and the naïve.

The question is: While the worst case scenario hovered like a sword of Damocles, what could or should President Benigno S. Aquino III have done to prevent it from falling on our collective heads?

Aquino eventually called a meeting of key officials, and that seem to have resulted in the peaceful resolution of the escalating crisis. Why it took several days and much infernal inconvenience for Metro Manilans before that meeting was convened, and what was finally agreed on to defuse the situation, will remain the subject of speculation.

When presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda declares that he has no personal knowledge of the agreements, we can be sure that he has been made to swear by the Code of Omerta. As mischievous pundits put it, you can tell what Lacierda knows by the length of his nose.

At any rate, all’s well that ends without bloodshed. We can only hope that the amicable agreement entailed the following: (a) ensuring that the rule of law would prevail, (b) protecting the interests of the public in future protest rallies, (c) cleaning up the garbage and filth at EDSA at the expense of the INC, (c) a fair and just hearing of the grievances and apprehensions of the INC, as well as of those who filed suit against it, (d) a reiteration of

support for the duties of the Justice department and (e) a reassurance of a transparent and just resolution of the legal issues. Of course, the “transparency” part may be wishful thinking.

There are those who will insist that Aquino did the right thing by initially “keeping his hands off” the deteriorating situation.

In fact, one prominent columnist commented that Aquino’s legendary obstinacy was exactly what was needed because he showed “who’s the boss.”

That kind of macho attitude is only admirable in retrospect—in this case, because the crisis did not spin out of control. But it could have.

In May 1967, a small religious sect called Lapiang Malaya staged a protest march on Taft Avenue in the vicinity of De La Salle university. The confrontation with the Philippine Constabulary turned bloody, claiming 33 dead and 47 wounded.

In January 1987, less than a year after Cory Aquino assumed the presidency, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, joined by leftist and activist groups, staged a violent rally on Mendiola, virtually at the gates of Malaca ñang. In the skirmish with government authorities, 13 demonstrators were killed and scores were wounded. The media dubbed the incident The Mendiola Massacre.

PAGE A7

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Comelec wants debates for all...

overseas absentee voting (OAV) PAGE A1 in previous elections was low. zon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Comelec Commissioner Arthur The Comelec will also push for Lim said they are eyeing eight greater participation of overseas million overseas absentee voters Filipinos in the electoral process. to take part in next year’s polls.

Senate President Franklin DrilLim said the Comelec and the on noted that the turnout of the Department of Foreign Affairs

Dateline PhiliPPines

would be undertaking a campaign dubbed “Akyat Barko” to urge seafarers to register for the 2016 elections.

Under the proposed 2016 Comelec budget, a total of P192 million was allocated for the OAV.

CDC report: most Americans’ hearts are older...

PAGE A1 In obtaining its findings, the authors of the study examined data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which indicated participants’ age, body mass index, whether or not they smoke, and whether or not they have diabetes or use medication to control their blood pressure, according to the Times. Other risk factors considered included heart disease, excess weight and systolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats.

Researchers calculated the heart age of 236,101 men and 342,424 women between the ages of 30 to 74 and found that the average chronological ages were 47.8 and 47.9 years, respectively.

However, the average heart age for men was 55.6 years, while that number was 53.3 for women.

Among findings by the study authors was that the heart age gap was lowest in Utah, with men at 5.8 years and women at 2.8 years; the highest gap was found in Mississippi where men had a heart age of 10.1 years higher

than their actual age, while women were at 9.1 years.

The study also found that heart ages varied across ethnicities. For instance, among men, African Americans had the highest predicted heart age at 58.7 years, followed by Hispanics (55.7 years), whites (55.3 years) and others (54.7 years), the authors wrote.

For women, those numbers were 58.9, 53.5, 52.5 and 52.3 years, respectively.

Other contributing factors included education and household income, which, when taken into consideration, bring the average heart age for African Americans three years higher than white men and four years higher than Latinos. For women, the factors boost the average heart age for African Americans by five years compared to whites and seven years compared to Latinas.

Each year, approximately 800,000 Americans die of heartrelated conditions that cost nearly $320 billion annually, according to the American Heart Association.

And while heart age “is kind

which she is likely to do, the publication reports, California will have one year to make changes.

Afterward, attorneys representing inmates and a federal magistrate would monitor the outcome for two years.

In the past several years, more than 1,000 prisoners who were previously isolated due to gang affiliations were released. Beard, the secretary of the state corrections department, told NY Times that few of these individuals have stirred up any problems.

Thirty or 40 years ago, Beard said there was much violence in the system and something had to be done to stop it, according to the NY Times.

“You had a system that was so overcrowded over the years they just went from one crisis to another and didn’t have the time to look at some of these operational

Is Aquino corrupt?

PAGE A6 Jesus Versoza as “ultimate recipients” of jueteng payoffs.

Aquino also kept smuggling— an even bigger source of multi-billion-peso payoffs—away from another proven sleaze fighter, former Customs Commissioner Guillermo Parayno, hired by the IMF as consultant in customs reform for his Ramos-era achievements.

What’s worse, Aquino never probed the country’s biggest surge of contraband ever—the 2011 disappearance of more than 2,000 cargo containers—even if records show who kept releasing untaxed, uninspected boxes, though hundreds already vanished.

Congress bribery and DAP malversation came in later years, along with anomalies in transport, defense, agriculture, and police agencies. Yet like townsfolk gawking at the Emperor’s new clothes in the children’s fable,

huge segments of public and media, including opponents of graft in past regimes, still think Aquino is honest.

His admirers and apologists should ask themselves if his acts would not demonstrate sleaze if done by other presidents. For instance, would they think Fidel Ramos is clean if he did not back Parayno’s cleanup against political pressure, but replaced him as Aquino did to reform-minded Customs chief John Sevilla?

Would Gloria Arroyo be cheered if she kept expressing trust in Secretaries Hernando Perez of Justice, Angelo Reyes at National Defense, and Arthur Yap of Agriculture—as Aquino does with his Cabinet—instead of letting the three go amid sleaze allegations?

And what if Arroyo did not scrap the P15-billion ZTE deal, but defended it like the P157-billion DAP? Or if she stalled the trans-

of a gimmick,” cardiologist Cam Patterson told USA Today, the concept helps people comprehend their risk for heart disease and conditions, the Times wrote.

“If your heart age is older than your actual age, obviously you are at higher risk,” said Martha Gulati, director for preventive cardiology and women’s cardiovascular health at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, according to USA Today. “If you are 40 years old and told your heart is actually 60 years old, that can grab your [attention and] make you ask, how can I change it? What can I do? If your odds of having a heart attack or dying from heart PAGE A6 have been too many allegations disease is that of someone 20 I think it serves a good pur- of “selective justice” being inyears older than you, that might pose to try to understand what flicted on political enemies. be [a] motivator for change.” triggered the INC protest action, Note that, according to the Researchers wrote that a 50- the better to defuse similar situ- revised penal code, illegal deyear-old male smoker, for in- ations in the future. One thing is tention beyond 5 days is a nonstance, without diabetes, a body certain, if one were to depend bailable crime (until the 2006 mass index of 30 and a systolic mainly on social media, TV, ra- suspension of the death penalty, blood pressure of 140 mm Hg, dio and newspaper reports and it was also punishable by death). has a predicted heart age of 72 commentaries on an issue – any Under the prevailing environyears. If he adopted a healthier issue – one would end up con- ment of distrust and perceived lifestyle and stopped smoking fused or drawing the wrong con- unequal application of justice, if for one year, his heart age would clusions. you were leaders of the INC and drop by 14 years to 58.

At any rate, as far as I can tell, you are threatened with nonthe INC demonstration targeting bailable confinement, like that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima imposed on former President was ignited by the rumor that Gloria Arroyo, Senators Bong the Department of Justice was Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada issues,” Beard said, according to set to arrest the top leaders of and, until recently, Senator Juan the LA Times. the INC for “illegal detention,” Ponce Enrile, wouldn’t you have With the settlement, Nichol based on a complaint of an INC reacted in the extreme?

Gomez, a spokeswoman for the minister. That, in turn, started Whether or not that extreme union representing most prison with a conflict within the INC reaction is legal or rational is not guards, said it was disappointing that also involved possible viola- the immediate issue that should that “the people that actually have tions of the law. Thus, part of the have been addressed. As the to do the work” weren’t involved problem was truly an “internal” CEO of a company or of a counin the negotiations, according to issue. On the other hand, part of try, when you are confronted by RT. it did require the intervention of a serious problem involving your David Marcial, a corrections the justice system. people, it doesn’t matter whose consultant and former regional The “impending arrest” was fault it is. The first thing you do director with the Connecticut De- denied by the DOJ, clarifying is contain the problem, control partment of Correction, touted that only the court can issue an the damage, and find a solution Tuesday’s settlement and told the arrest warrant. But the tendency for it. Retribution should follow NY Times it could be used as a of Secretary De Lima to bask in – but only after the problem has model for other states. the media limelight, as well as been solved or at least mini“The problem is that it’s a settle- the tendency of certain media mized. ment and not a summary judg- to sensational vague statements This is where Noynoy Aquiment, so there’s no case law that and speculate on their implica- no, as chief executive, should can be used to pressure other tions, appear to have blown the have immediately acted. One states,” Marcial said. “But it can issue out of proportion. pines for those days when then be used as a guideline for states The problem with our justice Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos that are not as progressive that are system is that it suffers in terms went out of his way to personally struggling with what to do.” of credibility. Worse yet, there meet with the leaders of an at-

California agrees to reform use of solitary...

PAGE A5 tendees at an NAACP convention that month that prolonged periods of isolation are “not smart,” the LA Times reported.

Among criteria California has used in determining which prisoners to isolate include statements from informants, specific tattoos and possession of artwork displaying gang symbols. Now, inmates will not be subject to solitary confinement based solely on gang membership, the NY Times reported. Only those who are found guilty of violence or possessing narcotics will be isolated, according to the publication.

Before the settlement agreement is implemented, it will endure a comment period and hearings, and requires approval from U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, according to the LA Times. Should Wilken accept it,

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 11-17, 2015

A

parency-enhancing Procurement Reform Act of 2003, as Aquino has done with the FOI Bill?

Would it have been fine for Estrada to treble pork barrel and shower it on legislators ousting the Chief Justice, instead of restricting the fund early in his term?

If such excesses would make other leaders corrupt in our eyes, why not Aquino? Do we need a bagman like Chavit Singson to spill the beans about presidential payolas, before we finally see the fire amid Aquino’s huffing and puffing?

Yet even smoking pistols may fail to convince segments of the public and the press. As the Filipino adage goes, it’s hard to wake someone pretending to sleep. Nor would lapdogs spurn or bite the hand that feeds them. And often, we keep believing in a false idol, rather than admit he has made fools of us. (ManilaTimes.net)

The INC protest rallies, best and worst...

tempted military coup to listen to their grievances and to negotiate a de-escalation of the conflict.

In that respect, President Cory Aquino was more fortunate than her son. She had Ramos to decisively take up the cudgels for her.

Some kibitzers will say that reaching out to the INC would have been like giving a special concession to a powerful political sector - but that attitude ignores the fact that, whatever their voting clout and their political inclinations, the members of the INC are citizens of the Philippines.

As such, they deserve a respectful hearing from the president of the country.

The situation was most certainly more deserving of personal presidential intervention than the surrender of alleged super scammer Janet Napoles.

She was granted a meeting in Malaca ñang with no less than DILG Secretary Mar Roxas escorting her to the palace.

The harsh fact is that a group that can muster thousands for a massive demonstration that threatens to escalate into anarchy should never, never be taken for granted. In fact, one hostage taker with a gun, threatening the lives of a busload of innocent tourists, should never, never be taken for granted.

Aquino should have learned a lesson from the Luneta crisis. On second thought, maybe he did. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

A

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advocating personal development and community involvement through music

by Agnes

ConstAnte

AJPress

For some people, life unfolds in a linear and planned out path.

For others, life unravels with a number of twists and detours.

The latter is how it was for 26-year-old Menchie Caliboso, a Filipino-American who is a member of musical group Bootleg orchestra, co-founded an organization called the Society for Long Beach Music, and recently departed from Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles as a music therapist.

In addition to her versatile resume, Caliboso is currently focused on completing her final year of graduate school at Cal State Long Beach, where she is studying psychological research with an emphasis in stress management in low-income communities. After graduating, she hopes to use data science to make healthcare more efficient.

Though she’s set out on a path to make a difference in her community and beyond, it took a couple of switches before the FilAm decided to pursue the direction she is going in today.

Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Caliboso describes her former years as ones where music played a significant role.

At the age of 6, she began taking piano lessons. At 11 years old, she experienced the best day of her life when her dad gifted her with a guitar. For 20 years and counting, music has always been a big part of her life.

As a teenager, like most, Caliboso dealt with a variety of emotions. And to her, songwriting was where she found comfort.

“I realized that I liked music so

much because it was literally my therapy,” she said.

Eventually, she went on to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston where she obtained her degree in music therapy.

But that wasn’t where she kicked off her college career.

After high school, Caliboso enrolled at San Francisco State University to major in biology.

Then she dropped out to take a one-year break.

In that time, she escaped to Seattle for about five months, stayed with her cousin, pondered on what she was doing with her life and prepared for her audition at Berklee. In the next chapter of her life, Boston became Caliboso’s home for three years.

“I’ve had quite a few turns, but I feel very lucky to have been able to do those things. I mean it’s nice that other people have a straightforward path, whereas other people maybe feel pressured to do a linear path, but I felt very supported by my parents throughout all of this,” she said.

From music therapy to research Among the turns in Caliboso’s journey stemmed from a direction she was recently following. Having worked a col- lective total of one-and-a-half years at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as a music therapist made her realize she actually wanted to do research.

While at the hospital, Caliboso would use music to help patients explore their feelings and encourage a positive way of thinking, among other things.

For immobile patients or those with brain injuries, music would be used to encourage speech

driven evidence, she also wants to help reduce the health disparities she witnessed during her time at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Bootleg Orchestra, Society for Long Beach Music Another reason Caliboso decided to leave her most recent job as a music therapist was so she would have time for her own music.

A member of three-member Bootleg orchestra (a group whose name derives from the fact that the music is created using electronics), Caliboso and her group mates Vanessa Acosta and Chris Walker have already released a five-track extended playlist via Bandcamp.

Through the lyrics in its music, Bootleg orchestra tries to convey a theme of, ‘do something about the world.’

Acosta bears the responsibility of writing the words for the group’s tunes, but she and Caliboso both discuss what their songs will be about.

The Fil-Am pulls inspiration from music produced during the Civil rights Movement, because many musicians in the ‘60s used music to talk about the situation and to challenged people to do something, Caliboso said.

The chorus of the group’s song “Phenomenon,” for instance, is about needing a revolution and people rising up to demand change: “We need a phenomenon/ A place that we all belong.”

“I don’t want to make music any other way. I want music to reflect what’s going on in society and I want my music to be able to resonate with listeners and ask them to become a little more critical of the world, why things are they way they are,” Caliboso said.

Although she isn’t tasked with creating the lyrics for Bootleg orchestra, the Fil-Am musician did take an active hand in writing “Here We Are,” a song on the EP it released in May: “Here we are/What we’ll bring/history unfold me.”

The song essentially asks people what they’d like to see after they’re gone.

“You’re not just here for yourself, you’re here for family,” she said.

The group is not too explicit with its lyrics, Caliboso noted, though she thinks they should be to reach a broader audience. She describes “Here We Are” as the most explicit the group has gotten.

In addition to performing music, Caliboso is a co-founder of the Society for Long Beach Music, an organization that examines the cultural value of music from the South Bay city.

“There [are] a lot of huge AJPress photo by Agnes Constante

and singing. For children who are closed-off, Caliboso would ask them to choose their favorite song so they could analyze lyrics together, as a means of identifying feelings and situations. one of the biggest reasons she studied music therapy is because of the “interesting” neuroscience behind the music.

For instance, when an individual is walking while listening to a song, the person is more likely to walk at a certain pace unconsciously. And adults with brain injuries may be unable to talk but will be able to sing, as each action is processed in a different part of the brain.

“It’s cool that something as beautiful as music can facilitate those health benefits and promote those treatment goals,” she said.

Despite the fascinating science involved, Caliboso decided to return to school for research after noticing that many of her patients, who showed improvements while at the hospital, would come back.

“They would progress well in optional, but when they go back to their communities they don’t have the resources to thrive,” she said.

“A lot of them are also low income.

So it made me wonder what it is they’re missing in their community that’s not allowing them to thrive.

Why do they keep coming back?

A lot of low-income communities have their own unique stressors and we’re seeing new research that states mental health and stress has a huge effect on your illness. It’ll make the difference when you have [conditions like] cancer.”

While Caliboso is looking to contribute to streamlining the healthcare system by using data-

Menchi Caliboso with other members of the Bootleg Orchestra: Chris Walker and Vanessa Acosta.

Photos courtesy of j3collection

musical contributions that come out of Long Beach, but [they’re] not talked about,” she said, citing jazz artist Nat King Cole as an example.

Through a variety of outreach methods, the organization seeks to celebrate and explore the people, places and histories that have contributed to Long Beach pop music throughout the last three decades.

Drive to succeed In the years that Caliboso relocated to different cities – San Francisco, Seattle and Boston – she said her parents were hesitant about her moving multiple times.

Yet even if they tried harder to prevent her from going, she said she still would have gone.

“Ultimately, when I made those decisions, I was very convinced that nothing was going to stop me. I had that attitude and I think [my parents] knew that about me,” she said.

As a musician and researcher, Caliboso’s sights are set on making the world a better place

by enhancing social settings and health disparities. She also hopes to spark a cultural shift: Given the rising cost of living, education, among other things, she describes the American dream – an ideal she does not strive for – as “almost unattainable.”

“What I am after is ... a reality in which all people have the right to a quality of life and the right to self-determination. A reality free of oppression. That is why I enjoy the process of using music and research to uplift communities and create cultural change. I know this can happen when people with different backgrounds can come together and muster solutions,” she said.

While Caliboso’s journey did not follow a linear path, she said she “owns” all the turns she made and credits her detours for where she is today.

“Where I am now, I wouldn’t be here without all those years where I would just learn something new about myself and take a risk,” she said.

Anne Curtis on noontime show war: Vic: My family backs wedding with Pauleen Everyone needs to take a chill pill

by ChuCk

smith

Philstar.com

MANILA—Anne Curtis is aware there is an ongoing “war” between the fans of her ABS-CBN noontime show It’s Showtime and GMA-7’s Eat Bulaga.

The rivalry between the two shows was set in full swing with the popularity of Alden richards and Yaya Dub, the main characters in Eat Bulaga’s KalyeSerye segment.

But the 30-year-old actresshost said the brewing competition is good sign for both programs.

“I think it’s great. It goes to show that people are still into noontime shows. So I think it’s great,” Anne told members of the press in an interview on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

She added: “I think it’s just

evolving to what people want to watch. So gano’n talaga, you have to go with the times.”

Yet the It’s Showtime co-host said fans should also learn how to support the shows without going below the belt.

“I mean, of course you know, there’s a war now between the fans and everything. But I think everyone just needs to take a chill pill,” she quipped.

“Everyone has their own type naman, e. So, they can tune in to whoever they want to tune in,” Anne further said. “There doesn’t have to be any bashing.”

Anne told spoke to entertainment reporters during the announcement of the partnership between telecommunications giant Smart and transport company Uber.

Anne Curtis on noontime shows: “I think it’s just evolving to what people want to watch. So ganun talaga, you have to go with the times.”

Curtis is seen here performing in ABS-CBN’s “It’s Showtime.”

MANILA— Vic Sotto vehemently denied rumors that his family and children do not support his plans to tie the knot with longtime girlfriend Pauleen Luna.

The veteran TV host recently announced that he and Pauleen are engaged, after being in a relationship for over four years.

“With my family, with my brothers, boto naman sila kay Pauleen,” Vic said. “And my children, I’m just so blessed with beautiful and loving children.”

Vic Sotto on upcoming wedding with Pauleen Luna: “Nagkasundo kami na simple lang. I’m The 61-year-old comedian also not the type naman na magarbo, engrande. Basta andun lahat ng mga kaibigan, pamilya, revealed telling his children about okay na.” his wedding plans with Pauleen “a “quiet wedding.” host, an issue Danica and oyo long time ago.”

“Nagkasundo kami na simple Boy denied in interviews with the “Yung mga kontra-kontra, lang. I’m not the type naman na press. tsismis lang ‘yan,” he said. magarbo, engrande. Basta ‘andoon Meanwhile, Vic said he and Vic currently has four children: Pauleen are planning to hold the lahat ng mga kaibigan, pamilya, Danica, oyo Boy, Vico and Paulina. okay na,” Vic said, adding they will wedding before the end of the His children was previously announce the date of the wedding Year of the Goat. rumored to be against their father’s in due time. “Wala naman kaming He also confirmed reports romance with his Eat Bulaga coplanong itago.” that they’re planning to hold a

Priest: ‘Aldub’ offers lessons on true love

Alden Richards and Yaya Dub (Maine Mendoz)

LoVE without measure.

That is one lesson that Filipinos can learn from the current hit “Aldub” love story, according to rev. Fr. Joel Jason, new parish of Mary Mirror of Justice parish in Makati City.

“Whatever Lola Nidora’s challenge may be, even if it’s seems like a death wish, Alden (richards) does it for Yaya Dub. When you

love, you don’t measure. The true measure of love is love without measure,” said Jason as quoted in an article at CBCP News written by Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz.

“You don’t ask, ‘How far can I hurt my spouse until she leaves me?’ or ‘How far can I cheat you?’” the priest recently told participants of the Young Couples Assembly of the Couples for Christ

or CFC. “We should be maximalistic.

The motto (of CFC) ‘Love More’ is good. It shouldn’t be ‘less’. The question should be, how can I add to the love I give?” the CBCP article further quoted the former dean of theology of the San Carlos Seminary.

Aldub is the TV romance of televition celebrity Alden and Yaya

Dub (Maine Mendoza of YouTube’s dubsmash fame) who are forbidden from meeting by Lola Nidora (played by Wally Bayola).

Despite the challenges and the odds, however, Alden and Yaya Dub persist.

The semi-scripted “Kalyeserye” airs Monday to Friday as a segment on noontime show Eat Bulaga.

(Inquirer.net)

September 11-17, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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‘Your Face Sounds Familiar’ Season 2 AFtEr the phenomenal success of its first run, the toprating Your Face Sounds Familiar (YFSF) returns to weekend prime time to entertainment televiewers beginning September 12.

With its new batch of celebrity performers, the program is poised to serve up more astonishing transformations and surprises.

ABS-CBn revealed the eight celebrities competing in YFSF’s second season at a press conference at the network’s headquarters. Each given a nickname based on reputations in showbiz, they are “Absolute Performer” Sam Concepcion; “Soul Supreme” KZ; “Dental Diva” Kakai Bautista; “Harana Prince” Michael Pangilinan; “Playful Angel” Myrtle Local vocal: X Factor bosses have hit back at claims that girl band 4th Power was drafted in by producers ahead of the auditions.

Sarrosa; “Komikero ng Masa” Eric nicolas; “rebel rock royalty” Kean Cipriano; and “Sultry Heiress” Denise Laurel. the show, which transforms its contestants close enough to the world’s most popular singers, will have Billy Crawford returning

by Gino dela Paz Favored to win quick Youtube search reveals that as host, with a new and most Philstar.com While 4th Power may already certainly fun addition helping him they’re no stranger to bright lights have a background in performing in YFSF first grand winner Melai and big crowds. Appearing under EntEring the X Factor stage and a sizeable following online, the name of MiCA, the gollayan in a fit of giggles, sisters Mylene, Cantiveros. they are still considered amateurs Sisters, or the Cercado Sisters, Celina, irene and Almira Cercado “it’s all about just having fun since they are an unsigned act. if and doing things that you would their own channel is packed with told judges Cheryl Fernandezanything, their gigs thus far have not expect doing for everyone videos of their previous attempts Versini, Simon Cowell, rita Ora, proven to be excellent practice at stardom, from local noontime and nick grimshaw that they to see. it’s all about enjoying for their X Factor audition. British the weekend and changing the program “it’s Showtime” to Korean had travelled all the way from bookmakers—or shops that take weekend habit of viewers. We music contest “Superstar K” and the Philippines and were quite bets, calculate odds, and pay out were given the chance to return, the World Championships of excited to be in London. But jaws winnings—seem to have their Performing Arts, which they won soon dropped when the siblings, and we hope to make people eye on the girls, having installed aged 19 to 27, got going with their twice. happy again,” said Billy in a them as second favorites to win Viewers have been quick to rendition of Bang Bang, originally statement. the series after only the first comment that the quartet must recorded by Jessie J, Ariana Melai, who made a grand show. have been brought in by itV, grande, nicki Minaj.

Whether they make it to home network of the X Factor, “You absolutely just took the the top or not—and i hope roof off Wembley,” said a pleasantly rather than having auditioned they do reach the finals—their by themselves. the foursome, surprised Fernandez-Versini. “You appearance during Auditions however, made no secret of their are so demure, but when that Week 1 has made enough talent show past during their music kicked in you turn into four of an impression on viewers chat with the judges before their little bad girls!” across the globe and generated performance.

Cowell added, “that was one considerable interest in them.

“X Factor producers did of the best first auditions i’ve ever “People say it’s the British X Factor, not approach 4th Power to seen.” should it just be British talent? audition—they flew to the UK to grimshaw predicted that the But i’ve always said we welcome audition of their own accord and performance was “going to blow talent from around the world went through exactly the same up all around the world,” and and you are incredibly welcome,” audition process as other acts,” somehow it has.

Cowell told 4th Power. if these said a statement from the show.

Talent show past Filipino hopefuls don’t win the top introducing themselves as 4th “there are no rules preventing prize, they can at least say they’ve anyone who has appeared on Power, the sisters—who hail from Santiago City, isabela—have been other shows from applying for the performed at Wembley. that’s not too shabby.

X Factor.” singing as a group since 2001. A James Reid

X Factor UK’s Filipina girl band: Hitting the right notes

entrance at the press conference, will serve as a “KatroFamiliar” (a play on the Filipino slang “katropa”), for huge doses of comedy in each episode. And by the way, Melai will not be an ordinary host, but she will also transform into different personalities each week and join the eight celebrity contestants in post-performance gimmicks.

According to the comedienne, she is even more excited to return to the program this time because she no longer has the pressure of competition. She also thanked the program for giving her a once-ina-lifetime opportunity, which has opened even more doors in her thriving career. “it really changed my life. na-appreciate ko talaga yung panalo ko kasi ang hirap ng ginawa namin, especially with the prosthetics and singing. As a performer, nagka-confidence na ako at nawala na yung takot ko na humarap sa audience,” Melai added. the lives of the eight new celebrity performers will also surely change as they face the challenge of impersonating different local and international music icons throughout the competition. And at the press conference, Sam, KZ, Kakai, Michael, Myrtle, Eric, Kean, and Denise could not hide their excitement. After all, YFSF had propelled the careers of nyoy Volante, Jay-r, and Melai among others to greater heights because of the show’s first season.

‘YFSF Season 2’ hosts Billy Crawford and Melai Cantiveros

As for Season 2’s mechanics, just like first season, there will be no weekly eliminations in the program, and the performers will undergo acting, dance, and vocal training, plus a complete make-up transformation to closely match the looks and moves of their assigned music icons.

For each episode, the performer who receives the highest score will be awarded a cash prize, half of which will go to his or her chosen charity.

Besides Billy and Melai, YFSF jurors Mr. Pure Energy gary Valenciano, world singing champion Jed Madela, and Megastar Sharon Cuneta are also returning in full force to weigh in on the performances of the celebrity contestants.

(ManilaTimes.net)

James Reid nominee at 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards MAniLA—James reid is vying for the Southeast Asian Act award at the MtV Europe Music Awards.

He’s up against other Asian artists such as Faizal tahir of Malaysia, Clot Machine of thailand, the Sam Willows of Singapore, nOAH of indonesia, and Son tung M-tP of Vietnam. there’s one more slot for the said category, and James’ onscreen partner nadine Lustre is one of the wildcard nominees. nadine will vie for the remaining slot in the category against Afgan of indonesia, thaitanium of thailand, gentle Bones of Singapore, and Akim & the Majistret of Malaysia. the fans can vote for their favorite wildcard artist by using the hashtag “MtVEMA” and their respective hashtags which are “nominateAfgan,” “nominateAkimAndtheMajistret,” “nominategentleBones,” “nominatenadineLustre,” “nominatethaitanium.” (Philstar.com)

September 11-17, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

Naked Truth Dr. Vicki Belo Time flies by so quickly when you love what you do. it has been 25 years since i started my very first clinic, all with the goal of helping people look and feel more beautiful. The passion that i had has made Belo medical Group to what it is now and i would like to continue helping out in every way i can. So, i dedicate this space to you my beloved readers! i am proud to say that Belo medical Group has grown not only by number but also with innovation. i do take pride in

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It’s time to get Belofied! knowing that we are at the forefront of our field and that we are the innovator and leader of the pack. We have brought in the latest technologies and best practices from around the globe to make sure that you get only the best. That is why, we are the Philippine’s first and only aesthetic, medical outpatient clinic to be accredited by iSQua, the international gold standard for patient care safety and services.

But don’t let all this success make you feel intimidated. i shared the same problems as you did—acne, scars, getting overweight. i was like everybody else. So let me know your story and i’ll help you make it even more beautiful. This column

is about you, so trust that you will only get my honest, no frills answers.

This is such an exciting time for all of us! i believe that NOW is the time to be beautiful and i would like to help you get that Belo beautiful look you always wanted. it is something cloase to my heart so let’s make things personal. Let me know your beauty concerns and questions and i’ll give you only the naked truth about it. Feel free to send me an email at vicki@belomed.com. i look forward in having fun with all of you! it’s time you get Belofied!

Love, Dr. Vicki Belo

Lovi ‘boldly’ unstoppable LOvi Poe is not the kind of actress who enjoys playing the quiet, spineless heroine. There is always a morsel of spunk to her characters: A fearless mistress, an iron-willed teacher, a cunning bastard daughter and a lionhearted revolutionary.

“Heroine roles bore me a lot,” says the 26-year-old Lovi, who is one of the most-awarded actresses of her generation, with credits both in mainstream and indie titles.

The Kapuso artist credits her roles in indie films for her extensive acting range. “it’s through these films that i can tackle a wide variety of roles, because they can be experimental and more daring.” She is currently filming indie project Lakambini, in which she plays Gregoria de Jesus, wife of Katipunan leader Andres Bonifacio.

Also, the young actress is back on mainstream television, this time as a scorned woman out to seek vengeance via GmA’s primetime program Beautiful Strangers. in the series, Lovi portrays an attempted rape victim who suffers from selective amnesia, and later on assumes a new identity—a stronger, more vindictive character who crosses paths with the powerful family that wronged her.

Lovi says she enjoyed her scenes as a taong grasa the most. “i loved doing it. i was so

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

unrecognizable in the streets when we were shooting.”

She also loved her “breakdown scene” in the church. “it was when i was about to get married to Benjamin Alves’ character and the confrontation scene with Heart evangelista’s character. i really enjoyed that.”

The set of Beautiful Strangers feels a lot more like home to Lovi because she is sharing lead roles with her real-life beau Rocco Nacino and her best friend Heart.

Her friendship with Heart began when they co-starred in the series Legacy and they became even closer in the shooting of the film Temptation island. “even when i was just starting out and Heart was already established,” she recalls, “i always thought of her to be an ideal role model. i did not expect her to be my best friend.” in Heart’s wedding to Sen. Francis “Chiz” escudero, Lovi was among her 15 bridesmaids.

She talks about their friendship with much affection. “Heart is a good adviser. And i look up to her.

So you can say that i’m her follower and admirer, too. i follow all her advice.” it’s this sense of familiarity and comfort that made it easy for Lovi to tolerate Heart’s intimate scenes with Rocco. “But Heart felt very awkward,” she giggles. “very awkward.” Since

FOR SALE

Sen. Grace Poe and Lovi Poe

she looks up to Heart like a sister and mentor, Lovi shares, “it wasn’t awkward for me at all. Not at all!”

Speaking of sisters, Lovi’s real-life sister Sen. Grace Poe is very much in the political limelight these days.

Being one of the frontrunners in the presidential surveys, what are her thoughts on the possibility of her sister leading our country? Lovi firmly believes that her sister is a “strong woman and i pray for her all the time.” She has also reiterated several times before in interviews that she will support her sister’s future endeavors. in her downtime, she lives and breathes physical fitness. “i’m very athletic,” she adds. “i love to go to the gym. i move around a lot. if i don’t have work, i’m always on the go.”

Sometimes, she even participates in funruns and marathons with Rocco.

But for now, Lovi is boldly unstoppable in her upward showbiz career path. “i still want to do more offbeat roles.” (Philstar.com)

SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

SEAFOOD CITY FOOD SERVICE AD FPFC

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September 11-17, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

Tales from the Arena

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US citizenship by birth abroad to unwed citizen father and alien mother

wedlock is a UsC by birth if the UsC mother had been physically present in the U.s. or its outlying possession for a continuous Charles Medina, esq. period of one year prior to the A person may acquire Us child’s birth. citizenship either at birth or Under InA 309(a) and InA through naturalization. A person 301(g), a child born abroad to a born in the Us and subject to its UsC father and an alien mother jurisdiction acquires Us citizenship out of wedlock is a UsC by birth at birth but, under certain if: (1) the UsC father had been circumstances, a person born physically present in the Us or outside the Us may also acquire its outlying possession for a total Us citizenship at birth. period of 5 years prior to the Under InA 309(c), a child child’s birth, 2 years of which born abroad to a Us citizen (UsC) were after the age of 14; (2) the mother and an alien father out of blood relationship has been

Calendar of Events across

established; (3) the father was a UsC at the time of the child’s birth; (4) the father, unless he is deceased, agrees to support the child until he reaches 18; and (5), while under 18, the child was legitimated or the father acknowledged paternity or paternity was established by court adjudication. InA 301(g) refers to the physical presence requirement while InA 309(a) refers to the legitimation requirement.

In Morales-santana v. Lynch, no. 11-1252-ag, slip op., (2nd Cir. July 8, 2015), the petitioner raised

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS SEPTEMBER 13

PHii Tribute 2015 Awardees’ Orientation The Philippine Heritage Institute International invites Tribute 2015 awardees to a luncheon and orientation on September 13, at the Holiday Inn Select, 14299 Firestone Blvd., La Mirada, CA 90638. Networking and fellowship are first on the agenda among PHII Trustees and honorees. Marc Jonathan de Jesus will have an audio-visual presentation about PHII. Overall chair Norma Merza and co-chair Lily Lara will acquaint awardees with necessary information about Tribute 2015 onOctober 3, at the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel. For questions, contact: president Josie E. de Jesus (714) 272-0300;joestarisdejesus@gmail.com; event overall chair Norma Merza (562) 947-0248; norma.merza@yahoo.com; or co-chair Lily Lara at nogardc@aol.com.

SEPTEMBER 19

Citizenship Day 2015 The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association is having a FREE Citizenship Day event on September 19, from 10:00am to 3:00pm, to assist low-income, 18+ immigrants eligible for US citizenship with the full naturalization process. Every case will be reviewed by a legal attorney. Please call us at 407-841-8310 ext. 3123 for an appointment and any questions you may have. Thank You!

Heal the Bay Coastal Cleanup Day Heal the Bay, a volunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the health and safety of Southland beaches and waterways, will host the 26th annual Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, Sept. 19. More than 10,000 Southland residents and volunteers will mobilize from 9am to noon at more than 50 cleanup sites, from Compton to Malibu, to help remove trash along Los Angeles County beaches and inland waterways, parks, creeks, lakes, highways and alleys. Coastal Cleanup Day participants have collected more than 1 million pounds of trash in Los Angeles County since 1990. By removing debris from beaches and inland neighborhoods, volunteers reduce blight, protect marine animals and bolster the regional economy. Join the world’s biggest single-day volunteer event! Attendees will receive hands-on education about the easy steps they can take to local watersheds and neighborhoods clean, and participants will be given a voucher for free sustainable seafood tacos at any Rubio’s restaurant while extensive supplies last. For volunteers, Cancer Treatment Centers of America will be distributing free tubes of sunscreen at all sites, and Heal the Bay will be hosting a number of community-building activities, such as a sand castle-building contest. Heal the Bay seeks volunteers of all ages and physical abilities, and no special equipment or experience is necessary. For registration information and cleanup tips, please visit www.healthebay.org/ccd.

Contact Alys Arenas, (310) 451-1500, x148, aarenas@healthebay.org, or Matthew King, (310) 451-1500, x137; cell: (310) 463-6266 for more details.

PiLiPinO inTER-CLuB OPEn invitational Golf Tournament The 11th annual PILIPINO INTER-CLUB OPEN (PICO) is open to fellow master golfers from the tri-state area. The charity tournament will be held on Saturday, September 19, at Royce Brook Golf Club (201 Hamilton Rd, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844). It will be a shotgun start @ 1:30 pm. Registration is $120 each player; includes golf cart and food after the game. Come early for registration, refreshments, and mini contests. Come and join the quest for individual and team honors by class. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Family Center Christian Church, and donations are 100% tax deductible. Sign-up now at http://www. spgolfclub.com/PICO. For more details, please contact Ed Badiola 908-531-7377, or Justil Cruz 973-926-1400.

uBLA: Kaaldawan of the 41st Penafrancia Fiesta 2015 Most Reverend Gerald Eugene Wilkerson, D.D., V.G., former Bishop of the San Fernando Valley Pastoral Region, will preside over a concelebrated High Mass to highlight the Kaaldawan (Feast Day) of the 41st Annual Penafrancia Fiesta on Saturday, September 19, at 10:00am, through the United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA). Bicolanos are inviting all Marian devotees, Filipinos and other Catholics regardless of ethnicity, to join them in the day-long fiesta in honor of their regional patroness, Our Lady of Penafrancia, in the open air of Lincoln Park and Lake: 3529 N. Mission Road, Los Angeles, CA 90031 (corner E. Valley Blvd.) near downtown. There is a solemn Eucharist Mass schedule with music by Saint Anthony Claret Holy Rosary Choir, followed by a kaaldawan celebration including a novena, Fluvial parade of the Holy Virgin, lunch, and cultural entertainment highlighting Bicolano and Filipino culture.

The 8-day novena will start on the afternoon of Friday, September 11 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hollywood. The 2015 Penafrancia Fiesta will end on Sunday, September 27, with a fellowship ball at Montery Hill Restaurant (3700 W. Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park, CA 91754) at 5:30pm. For a full schedule, novenas, and more information, please contact UBLA President Lanie Berrei (818) 281-3169.

S E P T E M B E R 24

Laudato Si (Praise Be To you, O Lord) caring for our common home Laudato Si (Praise Be To You, O Lord!) is Pope Francis’ encyclical on “CARING FOR OUR COMMON HOME” which addresses the grave impact of climate change in world’s communities and ecosystems. On Thursday, September 24, Climate Scientist, Dr. Josh Fisher, from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will explain the scientific foundation of climate change, which is well-aligned with Pope Francis’ letter. The event will take place 7 to 9 PM at Holy Name of Mary Parish in San Dimas (724 E. Bonita Avenue, San Dimas, CA 91773). All are invited, and free refreshments and childcare will be provided. For more information, please contact Charlie Martinez, Director of Pastoral Ministries at charlie@hnmparish.org.

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This September, San Diego Restaurant Week, presented by Lexus Dealerships of San Diego, will CELEBRATE LOCAL... keepin’ it fresh - really fresh. San Diego Restaurant week returns September 20th - September 26th for ONE WEEK ONLY to “Celebrate Local” at all 180+ participating restaurants. Choose from a three-course dinner or two-course lunch deal to satisfy your cravings. NEW THIS YEAR, San Diego Restaurant Week will be partnering with Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank to provide backpacks for children in need within the San Diego community during the ALL FOR KIDS campaign. Ditch the dirty dishes and join over 150,000 fellow diners as we celebrate San Diego’s thriving culinary scene and the homegrown, local businesses that provide us with the produce and products we love! Tickets are not necessary for this delectable week of discounted dining, but reservations are recommended! Visit SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com for more information, including a list of participating restaurants, or to make your reservations in advance!

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

the issue of whether it was valid to treat unmarried UsC fathers and unmarried UsC mothers differently in terms of the physical presence required to transmit Us citizenship to their children born abroad.

In Morales-santana, the petitioner was born out of wedlock in 1962 in the Dominican republic to a UsC father and a Dominican mother. The law in effect at the time of petitioner’s birth, InA 301(a)(7), required that his father should have been physically present in the Us for 10 years prior to child’s birth, 5 years of which were after the age of 14. petitioner’s UsC father lived in the Us territory of puerto rico since birth until he permanently moved to the Dominican republic before he turned 19. Thus, petitioner’s father failed to meet the physical presence required under then InA 301(a)(7). However, if the physical presence required for unmarried UsC fathers were the same as that for unmarried UsC mothers under InA 309(c), then petitioner’s father would have easily met this requirement and petitioner would be considered a UsC by birth. petitioner argued before the second Circuit Court of Appeals that this gender-based difference in the way unmarried UsC fathers and unmarried UsC mothers are treated violated his father’s right to equal protection. so he requested the second Circuit

to extend to unmarried fathers the benefits unmarried mothers receive under InA 309(c).

The government asserted that this gender-based difference in treatment was justified to: (1) ensure sufficient connection between UsC children and the Us; and (2) avoid statelessness for children born in countries that do not confer citizenship based on place of birth. However, the second Circuit held that this difference in the treatment does not advance the government’s asserted interests.

The second Circuit found no reason why unmarried fathers need more time in the Us prior to their child’s birth in order to assimilate the values that they would pass on to their children born abroad and ensure a connection between the child and the Us. on this same issue, the ninth Circuit in Us v. Floresvillar, 536 F.3d 990 (9th Cir. 2008) had a contrary finding.

In nguyen v. Ins, 533 U.s. 53 (2001), the supreme Court found that the legitimation requirement for unmarried UsC fathers under InA 309(a), which did not apply to unmarried UsC mothers, did not violate the equal protection clause. The supreme Court explained that the purpose of the legitimation requirement was to provide an unmarried UsC father an opportunity to develop a meaningful relationship with his child born abroad. It is assumed

that the ties that provide a connection between the child and the UsC father would also connect the child to the Us. However, it is not necessary to provide an opportunity for a meaningful relationship to a biological mother since this is already inherent in the fact that she gave birth to the child.

Thus, the second Circuit concluded in Morales-santana that unmarried mothers and fathers are not similarly situated with respect to the parent‐child ties that justified the legitimation requirement at issue in nguyen.

However, unmarried mothers and fathers are similarly situated with respect to how long they should be present in the Us prior to the child’s birth in order to have assimilated citizenship‐related values that they could transmit to the child.

Finally, as to the government’s purpose of preventing a child from becoming stateless, the second Circuit found that this could be accomplished by other gender-neutral but more effective alternatives. *** Charles Medina practices immigration law. Visit his website at medinalawgroup. net for more details. This article provides general information only and does not provide legal advice on any specific matter or predict the outcome of any legal matter.

It does not invite or create an attorney-client relationship.

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The power of direct marketing your business establishment. This method is called a “spray and pray” approach because it is not exactly targeted to a specific recipient, rather it is sending to a targeted zip code and recipients are often GianCarlo PaCheCo random. This may not be the best way to get your ad noticed since it is being distributed with other HAve you ever received businesses that may have a more an email, a flier on your car, compelling or relevant offer, but shopping catalogues in the mail, coupons are still effective especially a promotional letter from your with the older demographics. In cable provider, or have seen fact, I often rummage through my television commercials, banner ads, or outdoor advertising? If you “junk mail” pile for coupons looking answered yes, then you have been for a good deal. now let’s talk about more a target of direct marketing. Direct popular brands as they tend to use marketing is a type of advertising direct mail a bit differently. These campaign that seeks to prompt companies have the resources an action and usually targets a to buy highly targeted lists of select group of consumers. The ‘middle man’ advertiser is removed, prospects and addresses from mailing houses. This process can and what’s left are tried-and-true be quite expensive depending marketing tactics that have been on how targeted you want to be proven as effective. You might with your marketing efforts. For feel that this form of marketing example, a list targeting Filipino is a bit archaic, but would it males in Daly City, California, surprise you to know that cable, between ages 21-35, can cost satellite, and telecom companies you thousands of dollars. These such as DirecTv and verizon Fios large brands also tend to utilize are continually utilizing direct agencies to create attractive direct advertising to reach out and mail pieces and clever packages communicate to their existing clients and prospective customers including compelling promotional offers just to stand out from with tremendous success? In this their competitors. Many of these article, I will focus on the most common form of direct marketing, brand offers are so alluring that prospective customers jump on to which is direct mail. the new service or make the switch Direct mail is not only utilized from a competitor. by cable, satellite, and telecom one of the greatest providers, but also by small advantages of direct mail is that businesses such as dry cleaners, businesses and organizations are local restaurants, and even granted extensive measurability. your neighborhood auto body Companies enjoy the benefits shops. The approach is to mail of tracking not only their target out promotions or coupons to everyone in the immediate area of audience as a whole, but also on

Marketing Matters

an individual level For example, a retailer who sends its catalogues to a new neighborhood can track which households are buying and determine whether the area is worth pursuing. In contrast, companies are much more limited in tracking their customers via Tv ads. perhaps a customer sees a Tv ad and makes a purchase. There’s nothing tracking that in-between period. With so many other factors in place, where the credit goes is often blurred. Direct marketing helps the company zone in on potential customers while keeping the customer loyalty.

Let’s recap. Determine your budget whether you will be able to purchase a targeted list of addresses or you would like to take advantage of the Us postal service circulars. secondly, design and develop a mail piece that is attractive and memorable. next, include a special offer to get customers and prospects to take action. Take advantage of Usps bulk discounts. And finally, be sure to capture the new customer data so that you can keep customer coming back for more. remember, sometimes the oldest method of marketing can yield the biggest benefit for your business. ***

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The Metamorphosis

ErniE D. DElfin (Part 2 of 3)

FROM the city of antiquity, we decided to spend the afternoon in a new 5- star entertainment hotel casino called Solaire, which is built on a large reclaimed area of Manila Bay along Roxas Boulevard towards Pasay City.

This hotel can be compared to the best hotel casinos in Las Vegas. The price of one San Miguel beer, being served by beautiful young ladies, is about equal the daily minimum wage of many workers, especially in the provinces.

As in real estate, it’s location, location, location that determines the wages and costs of living.

Ironically, this place where the affluent have money to burn and “entertain” themselves is just within 30 minutes away from those living under the bridges of Makati or Manila. A universal irony of the socio-economic life of any third country like the Philippines that continues to wallow in poverty. As the late iconic publisher-columnist Max V. Soliven loved to utter and write, “The Philippines is indeed a very poor country but always pretending to be rich!”

As we had experienced eating in expenses places like Solaire in the past, my son and I opted to go to Dampa along Macapagal Avenue to have an authentic seafood Philippine-style dinner, where customers choose any fresh seafood to be cooked to their liking. While waiting, we

US-born son’s first visit to his father’s roots in the Philippines ordered another round of San Miguel. With dollars to spend, everything seemed dirt cheap, and we indulged in ordering more than we normally can eat but since we were for about three hours, we finished most of it. While enjoying the seafood, the music provided by four guitarist-singers entertaining guests from table to another.

Surprisingly, the group knew several songs that my son requested. They were really good, that prompted my son (after a couple of San Miguels) to even sing with them! Having a real Philippine entertainment experience, he handed them several hundred pesos as their tip which my son commented that’s was not even $20!

That ended our first full day in Manila, where the very rich and very poor co-exist in the same city but one can obviously see the stark difference of their daily lives, like day and night. Oh, well that human condition also exists in New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles. In my reflection that night as a Christian I pondered, “What can be done more to mitigate or stop the continuing widening gap between the haves and the have-nots of Philippine society?” (That is another topic in another column!).

The last week of my son’s stay in the Philippines was in my home province of Pangasinan. This may be the most emotional experience and memorable that my son experienced, especially when he opted to go to the barrio

where I was born, at an era when houses did not even have electricity until I was in the 5th grade. While drinking beer, an accepted social or cultural glue for bonding between friends and relatives, my son willingly participated in the butchering of a goat and chickens for our family’s reunion. With plenty of typical Ilocano food, wine and beer; everybody enjoyed our rare homecoming picnic, especially when my son tried amusingly hard to speak some Ilocano words that our clan chose to teach him. We also invited some friends from Rotary and Gawad Kalinga to join us for village picnic as well as to see the future site of another Gawad Kalinga Hope Village in this barangay where I was born and raised. That fun event started early morning butchering the animals for lunch, gathering vegetables and produce for a big group of guests, and surprisingly the affair did not end at lunch but dragged on until dinnertime!

That was certainly the longest party lasting over 12 hours that my son and I not only in the Philippines but also in the US. The Metamorphosis food for thought: “I don’t want you to give your surplus. I want you to give with your personal deprivation.”

– Mother Teresa ***

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA

IN the fading light of the evening hours on Good Friday in 2014, Shield of Roses, a group that holds vigils on the sidewalk in front of an abortion facility along a quiet street in Glendale, California, held its 29th Annual Good Friday Stations of the Cross led by Fr. Thomas Cusack.

There were about several dozen people, young and old, including whole families, who stood gathered on the sidewalk before the entrance of the building housing the abortion clinic. There they stood steadfast and bowed in fervent prayer in front of a sizable crucifix held by 2 young boys each taking his turn to hold it up.

After the Stations of the Cross, the group leader, Ana Maria, told the assembly how early in the morning of the same day while a light drizzle fell on a very gray day, the abortion facility was busy (Translation: Humming with murderous activity.)

Many women had come to the clinic seeking to terminate their pregnancies. Of those who came, only one had a change of heart, did a U-turn vowing never to come back.

Below is a post on the group’s FB. It is, perhaps, in reference to that day.

“It was tough out there today.

Sadly, there were more women going in than the usual Friday count.

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September 11-17, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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Abortion, an abomination “Every civil law is based on the recognition of the first and most fundamental right, the right to life.”

— Pope Francis

being stubborn I am definitely one of God’s most stubborn donkeys so it’s okay”. Please pray for M. and her family. All thanks and praise be to God! Just before the Good Friday group dispersed, a woman gave a heartfelt testimony of how she nearly had an abortion years ago but through the intercession of the Shield of Roses decided against it and grateful for having done so.

At the time, she was in an abusive, violent relationship and she thought it best to terminate her pregnancy.

She brought her beautiful daughter along. She says being with her daughter now gives her so much joy and peace.

Pope Francis calls abortion an abominable crime. On April 11, 2014, he told an Italian pro-life organization that human life is “sacred and inviolable” and “every civil law is based on the recognition of the first and most fundamental right, the right to life.”

“The unborn child in the womb is the most concrete example of innocence,” he said. He doubles down and reiterates the unflinching position of the Catholic Church from Vatican II which was called by Pope (now newly minted Saint) John XXIII in January 1959, “From the moment of its conception, life must be guarded with the greatest care, while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes.”

That was 55 years ago. He further said, “It is therefore necessary to reiterate the strongest opposition to any direct attack on life, especially the innocent and defenseless…”

“If you look at life as something that is consumed,” Pope Francis said, “it will also be something that sooner or later you can throw away, with abortion to begin with.”

“Human life, however, is ‘a gift from God’ and if it is accepted as such, then you have before you a valuable and intangible asset, to be protected by all means and not to be discarded.”

Pope Francis goes further and deeper than his predecessors. He connects the dots. He links the prolife message of the Church to his view of the global economy and its throwaway culture—a major thrust of his pontificate.

Socialists and liberals have sadly latched onto his deep and abiding concern for the poor and disadvantaged by trying but failing to spin his love for mankind to align with their warped view of seemingly caring for the poor but actually controlling the poor for political gain. The socialist spin is being done in the hope of gaining traction by riding with the authority and the increasing popular acceptance of this pope.

Awake the Christian soldier in you! If the Holy Spirit moves you to stand for life as a gift of God and want to be a prayer warrior and/or to act and get behind the increasingly strong pro-life movement, currently experiencing quiet seismic shifts around the world, look locally for opportunities to protect the unborn.

Shield of Roses is a Catholic pro-life charitable organization promoting the Church’s teachings concerning the sanctity of the pre-born child. Its members have steadfastly stood witness to abortion facilities where babies, like our Lord Jesus Christ, are led to their deaths. Members try to talk to the women but if words fail, then their prayerful presence, like the presence of St. John, St. Mary Magdalene, and our Blessed Mother standing at the foot of the Cross, continue to stand witness to the dignity of the innocent and defenseless lives being lost in abortion clinics.

If you want to know more, visit www.shieldofroses.com or you can call Anna Maria at (818) 242 3912. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

September 11-17, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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