063017 - Orange County Inland Empire

We’ve got you covered from Hollywood to Broadway... and Online!

ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE w w w. a s i a n j o u r n a l . c o m

w w w. a s i a n Volume 24 - No. 25 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages

.com T H E F I L I P I N O –A M E R I C A N C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R

JUNE 30-JULY 6, 2017 Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

1210 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204 • Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854

Duterte on VP Robredo: ‘She’s the constitutional successor to presidency’

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, June 27, stressed that Vice President Leni Robredo is the only legitimate successor to his post in case his term ends prematurely, as pro-

vided by the Constitution.

Speaking before the 120th founding anniversary of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), Duterte said that the Philippines is facing another problem as there are “two claimants to the presidency.”

While pointing out that Robre-

USA

DATELINE Supreme Court allows parts of Pres.Trump’s travel ban to proceed FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

THIS week brought forth a slight victory for the Trump administration as the U.S. Supreme Court said that parts of the controversial travel ban can take effect.

In a 9-0 decision, the high court on Monday, June 26 said that President Donald Trump’s order can continue to bar entry to foreign nationals “who lack any bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.”

Examples of the relationships include “a close familial” one, students accepted to U.S. universities, or an individual who accepted an employment offer from an American company, according to the court.

The decision added that it leaves “the injunctions entered by the lower courts in place with respect to respondents and those similar situated.”

The court said it will hear oral arguments for the order, which blocks travelers from six PAGE A2

do is his lawful successor, Duterte added that there is another “pretender to the throne.”

“Kaya sasabihin ko sa inyo na may problema rin tayong isa (I tell you we have another problem) because there is a pretender to the throne, assuming that I die PAGE A2

Malacañang launches #Change365 to mark Duterte’s first year in office A MONTH before Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA), Malacañang on Wednesday, June 28, unveiled #Change365 campaign to mark the Filipino leader’s accomplishments during his first year in the office.

According to Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, #Change365 is a “plain narrative of accomplishments” of the Duterte administration in its first year of leadership.

PAGE A2

STAREDOWN. Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn engage in a traditional staredown. The legendary 38-year-old Filipino, one of the greatest fighters of his generation, is widely tipped to overcome the unbeaten Horn in front of an expected 50,000 people at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, July 2.

Philstar.com photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea

Pacquiao vows to come home as champion ‘Battle of the Brisbane is going to be ‘short and sweet’

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY GUARD. President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, June 28, led the 120th founding anniversary of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) reassuring the troops of his commitment to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). In his speech, President Duterte vowed to provide soldiers with proper services through the modernization of their medical and defense equipment. “I assure you of my loyalty to you and the best of the service that I can give you.”

Malacañang photo

SENATOR Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao may have been keeping his lips tight when asked about his opinion regarding the possibilities of knocking Jeff Horn out—but this doesn’t stop his long-time trainer, Freddie Roach, from making bold declarations.

Pacquiao and Horn will meet inside the ring on Sunday, July 2 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

While rivaling camps both acknowledged that the two fighters spent months of rigorous training for this match, Roach just can’t help but comment that this upcoming World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world

Asian American women often face delays in Resorts World Manila treatment after worrisome mammograms resumes gaming operation

RESORTS World Manila (RWM) careful scrutiny and deliberations” THREE years ago, Thu Hong Tran’s mam- on Thursday, June 29 resumed its of the Travellers International Homogram showed dense and discolored areas gaming operations after the state- tel Group, Inc. (TIHGI) compliance that worried her doctor, who suggested doing owned Philippine Amusement and with the government’s “required sea second test.

Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) lifted its curity and safety improvements.”

“My family said, ‘to be safe, let’s go to the suspension order on the company’s RWM is owned and operated by hospital and get it checked one more time,”’ provisional license to operate casi- TIHGI. said Tran, 72, speaking in Vietnamese.

PAGCOR said among the security nos and gaming facilities.

A biopsy revealed that Tran had breast canIn a statement, PAGCOR said it improvements include the hiring cer. Doctors detected it early, and it was still a lifted its suspension order “after PAGE A4 small tumor, Tran recounted.

Throughout her treatment, Tran said, her children helped translate medical forms and made sure she ate well. And they helped her keep on top of all her medical appointments, taking time off work to drive her to chemotherapy.

For Tran, who is now in remission, family played a vital role in ensuring she received timely care. But a new study by researchers at the University of California-San Francisco shows that many Asian women in the U.S. don’t have the same level of support.

Resorts World Manila (RWM) resumed Thursday, June 29 its gaming operations after the Philippine PAGE A3 Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) lifted the June 9 suspension order of the company’s provisional license to operate casinos.

championship fight will be nothing more but something “short and sweet.”

“You know, Manny is in great shape, he’s looking really good,” Roach said when asked for his prediction for the fight. “He doesn’t like to predict knockouts, but I do.”

Pacquiao, who is 38 years old, has a ring record of 59 wins, six losses, two draws — setting a historical record of becoming the only boxer who earned eight world titles in different weight classes.

But despite his experience, Pacquiao is on the less favorable side when it comes to age and height, being nine years older and almost two inches smaller.

Undefeated, the 29-year-old

Daniel Zuellig, David Zuellig and Nanette Medved-Po

Horn has a record of 16 wins and one draw, making a total number of matches to 17 since his professional debut in 2013.

With this match-up, Roach warned that “someone will get knocked out.”

However, for Roach, it’s not going to be Pacquiao.

“I think it’s going to be short and sweet,” Roach reckoned. “If our opponent comes out just like he says he’s going to, then Manny will fire back. I think it’s going to be a great fight, but it won’t last too long.”

Explaining what made him think that way, Roach said, “The thing is, in sparring, we haven’t had knockdowns and knockouts in a long time. This time we did,” PAGE A4

Philstar.com photos

Zuellig family, Medved-Po among Forbes’ 2017 philanthropy heroes

by IRIS

GONZALES Philstar.com

Since 2008, Forbes has been drawing up the list of philanthropists who have made the news with their donations and COUSINS David and Daniel Zuellig of recognizing those with a long record of the Zuellig Family Foundation as well supporting worthy causes. Its honorees as Nanette Medved-Po, founder of Gen- include billionaires, business people and eration Hope and Friends of Hope, have celebrities who are making a mark with made it to the Forbes 2017 Heroes of their generosity.

Philanthropy list in the Asia-Pacific.

PAGE A2

A

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

june 30-juLY 6, 2017 • OC/Ie ASIAn jOuRnAL

From the Front Page

Malacañang launches #Change365 to mark...

PAGE A1

“We want to know if they accomplished the promised outputs based on the first SONA of the President last year,” Andanar said in a forum in Manila.

“We want to check and we want to present their current projects and future projects vis-a-vis the Build, Build, Build program of the president,” he added.

The contents, he noted, would be released through the different government-run media outlets such as the PTV-4 television channel, dzRB radio station, the PCOO website, and Radio-TV Malacañang, among others. #Change365 will also be posted on the Philippine News Agency (PNA) website.

The PCOO secretary said that

“before [the Duterte administration] came in, the PNA website, which started in 1993, has no social media.”

“Form a mere 3,000 followers during the past administration, now we have 1.3 million viewers,” he emphasized.

Andanar, a former radio broadcaster, also vowed that all the government-run news agencies would remain free from “fake news.” #Change365, likewise, was formed to prevent false facts from spreading in social medias and other websites by issuing correct information, he added.

Asked about the difference between #Change365 and the SONA, Andanar explained that the former will only highlight the Duterte administration’s accomplishments.

The SONA, on the other hand, will encompass both the accomplishments and future projects of the president. “#Change365 is (a) plain narrative of accomplishments of the administration while (the) SONA is still being crafted because we are still collecting data from government agencies,” Andanar further said.

Duterte, who assumed presidency in June last year, is scheduled to deliver his second SONA this July.

Citing an example, Andanar said among the contents of the #Change365 would include that achievements of Duterte’s controversial war against illegal drugs.

The campaign, he said, resulted in the surrender of millions of users, the confiscation of billions of pesos worth of drugs, and the discovery of drug laboratories.

“In fact, the price of shabu went up, a proof that the supply has decreased tremendously,” he pointed out.

Andanar also mentioned the at least $35 billion worth of investments from Japan, Middle East, China, and other countries; as well as the peace negotiations with Moro and communist rebels headed by Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. He also cited the Freedom of Information (FOI) executive order which mandates full public disclosure of government dealings. n

MONEY FROM COCONUT HUSKS. Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate Agriculture committee, checks on residents engaged in coconet weaving following the inauguration of the Coconet Weaving Center at Golden Acres, Talon 2, Las Pinas City. Coconet weaving is one of the livelihood projects being offered by the senator and Villar SIPAG to give residents of poor communities a chance to earn money.

Senate photo

Duterte on VP Rodrigo: ‘She’s...

PAGE A1 within maybe tomorrow, next year, or next month,” Duterte said in his speech.

He then cited habitual nuisance bet and suspended lawyer, Elly Pamatong, who earlier proclaimed himself as the new president of the Philippines amid Duterte’s recent long hiatus from the public eye.

“There are two claimants to the presidency. Ang isa, nagorganize na at he (One of them) has claimed that he has deposed me, presidential candidate… si Pamatong,” Duterte said.

In a viral video posted June 17, Pamatong announced that he “assumed full-fledged powers of the presidency,” saying that the presidential post has been vacant. The video description also read that Pamatong received “reliable information that Duterte is either dead or dying.”

Earlier this month, Duterte did not make any public appearances from June 12 to 16. This was followed by another prolonged absence from June 21 to 26. The

Vice Pres. Leni Robredo

turn of events led to speculations that Duterte is suffering from grave illness, which Malacañang repeatedly denied.

“Nandiyan si Leni. Baka magkamali kayo ng kampo ha. Dito tayo sa Constitution (Leni is here. You might join the wrong camp. Let us side with the Con-

stitution). There is a successor there,” Duterte said.

For her part, Robredo affirmed that she and Duterte are maintaining a good working relationship despite being unable to talk for almost three months.

In a radio interview, Robredo said the last time she had a conversation with Duterte was during the graduation ceremony of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 2017 earlier in March, when he invited her for dinner.

Robredo said the dinner has yet to happen, citing Duterte’s successive foreign trips and the conflict in Marawi.

The country’s two top officials have notable clashing stances over some political policies — among which includes Robredo’s dissent over Duterte’s war against illegal drugs.

In December last year, Robredo also retired from her cabinet post as the chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council after Duterte barred her from attending cabinet meetings. n

Zuellig family, Medved-Po among Forbes’...

PAGE A1 Forbes listed 40 philanthropists from 14 countries this year.

In the Philippines, it recognized the Zuellig Family Foundation because of its improved health care services in poor rural areas, significantly reducing mortality rates for infants and mothers.

“The family’s Zuellig Group – a low-profile but powerhouse pharmaceutical company in Asia – has contributed an average of $2.3 million annually over the last five years to the foundation,” Forbes said.

With only 83 staff members, the Zuellig Family Foundation trains rural governors, mayors and their staff on leadership and good governance.

Forbes said the foundation only served nine municipalities when it started in 2009, but has since grown the program that it now caters to 640 municipalities or 42 percent of the country’s total number of towns.

“The program is also implemented through partnerships with the Philippine health department, the UN and the US government,” it added.

In recognizing Medved-Po, Forbes said the former actress and model started Generation Hope, which donates all profits made from the sale of “Hope in a Bottle” bottled water to the Friends of Hope, a nonprofit organization that builds classrooms around the country.

“She began the venture in 2012, has spent nearly $900,000 and has sold almost 9 million bottles, built 37 classrooms and improved the learning environment for more than 7,000 students,” Forbes pointed out.

Medved-Po explained why she focused on building classrooms.

“I believe investments in education carry the greatest ripple effect to narrow the wealth gap over time and my building a classroom was tangible and easy enough for everyone to understand.”

To make it to the list, Forbes said it only looks for “true philanthropists, people who are giving their own money, not their company’s (unless they own most of the company), because we don’t consider donating shareholder funds as charity.”

“And we also don’t list people who work in philanthropy solely as foundation heads, volunteers or fundraisers. We want to focus on the people supplying the financing and sketching the broad vision. If our effort in compiling this roster encourages more people to support worthy causes, then we’ll consider it a good deed,” it also said.

Forbes also listed former Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming for equipping and training students in sports, especially in schools that are in the remotest regions of China; and Charles Chen, co-founder of Tencent, who committed $320 million to

improving education last year.

The money will fund the Yidan Prize to be awarded each year to support the most transformational ideas in education.

From Australia, it listed iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest, founder & chairman of Fortescue Metals Group, which donated more than $300 million in May to various causes, including cancer research, education and greater opportunities for indigenous people.

Indonesia’s Tahir, founder and chairman of Mayapada Group, also made it to the list for contributing $2.2 million to Syrian refugee families in Jordan, providing them with a monthly allowance and solar panels for their schools. Tahir also donated $1 million last year for the winter coats of 10,000 refugees and $2 million to a UN campaign to provide temporary shelters for two million refugees.

For the first time, philanthropists from Myanmar and Vietnam also made it to the list.

Forbes recognized Ken Tun, founder and CEO of Parami Energy Group, who donated more than $1 million for rural development, reforestation and education in Myanmar over the past few years. He also founded the PyninYawDaya (Ray of Education) Foundation this year to develop social enterprises to support monastery schools and its graduates. n

Supreme Court allows parts of Trump’s...

PAGE A1 predominantly Muslim nations and refugees, during its next term in October.

The president hailed the ruling on Monday as “a clear victory for our national security.”

“As President, I cannot allow people into our country who want to do us harm. I want people who can love the United States and all of its citizens, and who will be hardworking and productive,” he said in a statement.

The Trump administration said it will begin enforcing the ban on Thursday, June 29, 8 p.m. (ET).

The executive order, which was signed a week after Trump took office in January, initially called for denying individuals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the U.S. for 90 days.

Meanwhile, the restriction was 120 days for refugees. It took effect immediately, causing hundreds of individuals to be detained at airports around the country, as well as deportations.

After being blocked by the

courts, the Trump administration revised the order in March that included the same countries except Iraq and did not apply to visa and green card holders.

This version has seen its own set of legal challenges as well, including being blocked by federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland.

On Monday, June 12, the San Francisco-based United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit had ruled that the president was overstepping his authority with this ban. Previously, the 4th Circuit upheld injunctions opposing the ban on the grounds that the travel ban was driven by religious intolerance and discrimination toward Muslims.

Civil rights organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice expressed that it was “disappointed” in the court’s ruling.

“Today we are deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court sided with fear while blindly ignoring the hardships faced by refugees and visa seekers.

Many Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian com-

Pres. Donald Trump

munities have suffered greatly since the first Muslim ban was issued,” the organization said in a statement. “The administration’s Muslim ban foments disturbing trends of anti-Muslim sentiments within the U.S. and abroad. The Supreme Court should not have allowed any part of the Muslim ban to move forward while this executive order is under review.” (Christina M. Oriel/AJPress)

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline USa

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 30-JULY 6, 2017

Pew Survey: Most Filipinos trust Trump in world affairs While there is not a lot of support from other countries for United States President Donald Trump, more than half of filipinos, however, expressed confidence that the American leader would make the correct decisions concerning global affairs.

A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 37 countries showed that the Philippines is Trump’s greatest supporter.

Results show that 69 percent of Filipinos are confident that Trump would do the right thing when it comes to world affairs.

Trump also received high confidence ratings in other countries including Vietnam at 58 percent, nigeria at 58 percent, israel at 56 percent, and Russia at 53 percent. in contrast, 23 percent of Filpinos showed distrust towards the U.S. president. Trump also received the lowest scores in Mexico and Spain, with trust ratings of only 5 percent and 7 percent respectively.

Overall, Trump received a median trust rate of 22 percent,

which “stands in contrast to the final years of Barack Obama’s presidency, when a median of 64 percent expressed confidence in Trump’s predecessor to direct America’s role in the world.�

Trump’s global rating is also the lowest compared to the three other major powers in the survey: German Chancellor Angela Merkel at 42 percent confidence rate, Chinese President Xi Jinping at 28 percent, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at 27 percent. likewise, Pew Research Center said that Trump’s ratings are “at some of the lowest levels� it measured “over the past decade and a half.� it explained that confidence in Trump is “influenced by reactions to both his policies and his character.� “With regard to the former, some of his signature policy initiatives are widely opposed around the globe,� it said. “his plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, for example, is opposed by a median of 76 percent across the 37 countries

surveyed.� “Trump’s character is also a factor in how he is viewed abroad. in the eyes of most people surveyed around the world, the White house’s new occupant is arrogant, intolerant and even dangerous,� it added.

Results show that 75 percent of the respondents viewed Trump as arrogant, 65 percent as intolerant, and 62 percent as dangerous.

Positively, 55 percent viewed him as a strong leader.

The survey also revealed that slightly more than half of the Filipino respondents have confidence in the Russian and Chinese leaders.

According to the survey, 54 percent of Filipinos trust Putin in world affairs while 53 percent trust Xi. The study surveyed around 40,000 people in 37 countries from February 16 to May 8.

Pew Research Center is “a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world.� (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

Asian American women often face delays...

PAGE A1 The UCSF researchers analyzed 10 years of data on women living in northern California and found that a higher percentage of Asians experienced delays in follow-up treatment after an abnormal mammogram than white women.

Over 40 percent of Asian American women had follow-up appointments a month or more after an abnormal test, compared to about a quarter of white women, according to the study. And that disparity with whites persisted at 60 and 90 days for most Asian women.

On the extreme end of the spectrum, 15 percent of Asian women had delays of a year or more in getting follow-up care, compared with 10 percent of white women, the study showed.

Among Filipina women, nearly 1 in 5 experienced delays of one year or more. “if there is a suspicious finding, an abnormal mammogram, it’s very important to get immediate follow-up,� said Kim hanh nguyen, a researcher at UCSF’s institute for health Policy Stud-

ies and the study’s lead author.

There is no medically specified time frame for receiving followup care, but research shows delays can be deadly, she said. “Anything beyond three months, you have a lower survival rate, and not following up for a year — that’s cause for concern.�

California’s every Woman Counts program, which provides breast and cervical cancer screening for uninsured and underinsured women, requires that at least three-fourths of its patients get a definitive diagnosis from a doctor in its network within 60 days of an abnormal mammogram.

That requirement is based on clinical standards established by the national Breast and Cervical Cancer early Detection Program of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. every Woman Counts, run by the California Department of health Care Services, spent $21 million on breast cancer screening and other diagnostic services for nearly 156,000 women in fiscal year 2014-2015, the most recent period for which complete

data are available.

Several factors explain the delayed post-mammogram care for many Asian women, including language barriers, health care access and financial resources, nguyen said. The UCSF study did not address the women’s health insurance status.

The analysis revealed disparities among different Asian national groups. Vietnamese and Filipina women had the longest average delays before following up — 32 days and 28 days, respectively — while Japanese women had the shortest, at 19 days. For white women, the average follow-up time was 15 days.

The findings are consistent with previous studies showing similar delays for latino and African American women, compared to their white counterparts. nguyen also cited cultural and social factors, noting that some studies show “Asians report a lack of trust with their health care provider, low satisfaction in their health care, and perceived discrimination or disrespect by providers.�

PAGE A4

Aug 26 (Sat ) Day 1, Angeles, California/Krakow, Poland Our pilgrimage begins with a transatlantic journey from Los Angeles International $LUSRUW WR .UDNRZ 3RODQG 0HDOV VHUYHG LQ À LJKW

Aug 27 (Sun) Day 2, Krakow :H ZLOO DUULYH LQ .UDNRZ LQ WKH HYHQLQJ 7KHUH ZH ZLOO PHHW RXU 7RXU 'LUHFWRU DQG GULYHU IRU D WUDQVIHU WR RXU KRWHO 'LQQHU DW WKH KRWHO %% '

A

FOR MARAWI KIDS. Teachers hold classes inside one of the ‘tent schools’ in Lanao put up for more than 900 pupils and students displaced by the fighting in Marawi City. The Department of Education is seeking donations for the tent schools as well as to rebuild school buildings destroyed by the fighting.

ManilaTimes.net photo

Robredo addresses LA Fil-Ams at gala fundraiser Protesters, critics rally outside venue

by AJPress PhiliPPine Vice President leni Robredo made a visit to los Angeles over the weekend to attend an invite-only fundraising event organized by a local Filipino-American non-profit organization.

The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) held its inaugural awards gala on Saturday, June 17 at the Mary Pickford estate and invited Robredo as its guest of honor. earlier in the afternoon, select attendees participated in a meet and greet with the vice president.

During the dinner, she addressed the crowd for nearly 15 minutes, in which she talked about the importance of the arts and progress on her office’s anti-poverty program. “i consider it a great honor to be given the chance to help, even in a very small way, in raising funds to sustain the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines,� she said in her speech. “Bringing music to every man, woman and child, especially for those who long the sounds of home, is a very important advocacy.�

Though she did not get into the political situation in the Philippines, she vaguely touched upon “global and local challenges, many of which we cannot control.� “But the extraordinariness of ordinary people are giving us hope,� she said, citing examples

she’s seen through Angat Buhay, which focuses on nutrition and food security, universal healthcare, education, rural development and women empowerment.

She noted that the program is now in 127 areas of the country.

With the current situation in the Philippines — including the Marawi crisis which is now in its fifth week — Robredo denied requests to be interviewed by local media.

Since May 23, Philippine troops have been fighting the islamic State(iS)-linked Maute group, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in the Mindanao region. This week, the government has recorded 375 deaths associated with the clash. “There are many ways each of us can give our nation a push towards a brighter future,� the vice president concluded in her speech.

Also during the event, four awardees were recognized: Filipina singer and actress Sylvia la Torre and soprano Maria Christina navarro for excellence in Music, and musician and teacher Cecilia A. Coo-Cruz and accountant and former FASO board member Titus Verzosa for excellence in Service.

Robredo’s overseas trip was not without controversy, however. nearly a dozen protestors held signs outside the gated community where the event was being held. On the internet, various bloggers questioned where the proceeds of the gala would go to, alleging that they would benefit

Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo delivers a speech at the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra’s gala on Saturday, June 17 in Los Angeles.

Contributed photo by Rick Gavino

the vice president. however, throughout the gala program, several of FASO’s board members reiterated that the funds would be put toward the orchestra and its music education programs.

As of this writing, the total amount raised on Saturday had not yet been disclosed.

While in lA, Robredo met with members of the United Bicolandia los Angeles, an association of individuals who immigrated to the U.S. from the Bicol region, where the vice president is also from.

Afterward, she made her way to Boston, where her eldest daughter, Aika, will be attending a master’s program at harvard University. The vice president returned to the Philippines on Thursday, June 22.

(XURSHÂśV PRVW DWWUDFWLYH FDSLWDOV 2Q RXU WRXU ZH ZLOO YLVLW \HDU ROG +5$'&$1< &$67/( 67 9,786 &$7+('5$/ WKH 2OG 7RZQ WKH -HZLVK JKHWWR DQG WKH FLW\ÂśV IDPRXV $VWURQRPLFDO &ORFN ZKLFK ZDV RQFH WKH HQY\ RI DOO (XURSH $IWHUZDUGV \RX ZLOO KDYH WKH FKRLFH RI PL[LQJ ZLWK WKH ORFDOV %% '

Sept 2 (Sat) Day 8, Prague / Budapest $IWHU EUHDNIDVW OHDYH IRU %XGDSHVW 2QFH LQ +XQJDU\ ZH ZLOO UHDFK WKH ZLGH RSHQ YDOOH\ RI WKH 'DQXEH 5LYHU 6RRQ DIWHUZDUG ZH ZLOO DUULYH LQ %XGDSHVW Aug 28 (Mon) Day 3, Krakow / Divine Mercy :H VWDUW WKH GD\ ZLWK D YLVLW LQ WKH 6$1&78$5< 2) /25'Âś6 DQG VSHQG WKH HYHQLQJ HQMR\LQJ D EXIIHW GLQQHU LQ WKH KRWHO WKHQ WDNH D SULYDWH %RDW 0(5&< DQG WKH FRQJUHJDWLRQ RI 2XU /DG\ RI 0HUF\ +RO\ 0DVV DW WKH &58,6( DORQJ WKH '$18%( 5,9(5 %% '

6DQFWXDU\ RI /RUGÂśV 0HUF\ LQ WKH FLW\ÂśV /DJLHZQLNL 'LVWULFW $IWHU OXQFK ZH ZLOO JR RQ D KDOI GD\ VLJKWVHHLQJ WRXU RI .UDNRZ IRU FHQWXULHV WKH Sept 3 (Sun) Day 9, Budapest UHVLGHQFH RI 3ROLVK NLQJV :H ZLOO YLVLW WKH 0DUNHW 6TXDUH WKH WK :H ZLOO VSHQG WKH GD\ ZLWK D ORFDO H[SHUW ZKR ZLOO H[SODLQ WKH KLVWRU\ DQG VLJKWV RI WKH &HQWXU\ -DJLHOORQLDQ 8QLYHUVLW\ 67 0$5<Âś6 &+85&+ DQG DOVR OLYHOLHVW DQG WKH PRVW FRVPRSROLWDQ FLWLHV RI (DVWHUQ (XURSH :H ZLOO VWDUW DW DQ LGHDO YLVLW WKH :$:(/ 52<$/ &$67/( ,Q WKH DIWHUQRRQ ZH ZLOO YLVLW WKH ORFDWLRQ &DVWOH +LOO LQ WKH KHDUW RI %XGD WKH SRUWLRQ RI %XGDSHVW RQ WKH 'DQXEHÂśV :LHOLF]ND 6DOW 0LQHV :HÂśOO WKHQ PHHW IRU GLQQHU WKDW HYHQLQJ DW RXU ZHVWHUQ EDQN )URP WKH ODF\ ORRNRXW WRZHUV RI )LVKHUPHQÂśV %DVWLRQ ZH FDQ HQMR\ KRWHO %% '

D SDQRUDPLF YLHZ RI WKH VSUDZOLQJ FLW\ KRPH WR PRUH WKDQ RQH Âż IWK RI WKH +XQJDULDQ SRSXODWLRQ 9LVLW WKH WK &HQWXU\ 67 0$7+,$6 &2521$7,21 &+85&+ WKH &LWDGHO RQ 0RXQW *HOOHUW DQG +(52(6Âś 648$5( DUH DOVR RQ WKH DJHQGD :HÂśOO Aug 29 (Tues) Day 4, Krakow/ Jasna Gora )XOO GD\ YLVLW -$61$ *25$ WKH PRQDVWHU\ QHDU &]HVWRFKRZD ZKLFK ZLWKVWRRG WKH FHOHEUDWH +RO\ (XFKDULVW LQ 6W 0DWWKLDV &KXUFK %% '

UHSHDWHG RQVODXJKW RI RYHUZKHOPLQJ 6ZHGLVK IRUFHV GXULQJ WKH UHOLJLRXV ZDUV RI WKH WK &HQWXU\ 6LQFH WKHQ LWV %/$&. 0$'211$ KDV EHHQ YHQHUDWHG DV WKH ³4XHHQ Sept 4 (Mon) Day 10, Budapest / Zagreb RI 3RODQG´ DQG LW KDV EHFRPH WKH RQH RI 3RODQGœV QDWLRQDO V\PEROV DQG KROLHVW UHOLFV $IWHU HDUO\ EUHDNIDVW OHDYH %XGDSHVW IRU =DJUHE RQ RXU ZD\ WR 0HGMXJRUMH 8SRQ :H ZLOO FHOHEUDWH 0DVV LQ WKH %ODFN 0DGRQQD &KDSHO .UDNRZ IRU GLQQHU DQG RYHUQLJKW DUULYDO ZH ZLOO KDYH D WRXU RI WKH FLW\ WR VHH WKLV &DSLWDO RI &URDWLD 'LQQHU DQG RYHUQLJKW %% ' 'RXEOH WUHH +RWHO =DJUHE Aug 30 (Wed) Day 5, KrakowAuschwitzWadowice/Kalwaria We will visit the infamous former Nazi concentration camp $86&+:,7= %,5.(1$8 DV ZHOO DV LWV RQ VLWH PXVHXP 7KLV VLWH UHPDLQV D FKLOOLQJ UHPLQGHU RI WKH +RORFDXVW )URP WKHUH ZH ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR :DGRZLFH ELUWKSODFH RI 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO ,, YLVLW WKH QHZ 0XVHXP RI 6W -RKQ 3DXO DQG WKHQ LWœV RQ WR .DOZDULD =HEU]\GRZVND ZLWK LWV :HHSLQJ 0DGRQQD KRO\ SLFWXUH $W WKH HQG RI WKH WRXU ZH ZLOO UHWXUQ WR .UDNRZ IRU GLQQHU DW D +RWHO %% '

Aug 31 (Thurs) Day 6, Krakow / Prague, Czech Republic :H ZLOO VSHQG WKH GD\ WUDYHOLQJ IURP .UDNRZ WR 3UDJXH FRQVLGHUHG DV RQH RI (XURSHÂśV PRVW DWWUDFWLYH FDSLWDOV 6LW EDFN UHOD[ DQG HQMR\ WKH GULYH DQG WDNH LQ WKH SLFWXUHVTXH VFHQHU\ DORQJ WKH ZD\ :H ZLOO UHDFK RXU KRWHO LQ 3UDJXH LQ WKH DIWHUQRRQ :H ZLOO KDYH SDQRUDPLF VLJKWVHHLQJ RQ WKH ZD\ WR RXU KRWHO KDYH GLQQHU %% '

Sept 5 (Tues) Day 11, Zagreb / Medjugorje $IWHU EUHDNIDVW FHOHEUDWH KRO\ (XFKDULVW DQG WKHQ OHDYH IRU 0HGMXJRUMH 8SRQ DUULYDO LQ 0HGMXJRUMH ZLOO HPEDUN RQ DQ RULHQWDWLRQ WRXU RI 6W -DPHV &KXUFK DQG LWV VXUURXQGLQJ 'LQQHU DQG RYHUQLJKW 0HGMXJRUMH Sept 6,7,8 ( Wed,Thurs,Fri) Day 12 to 14, Medjugorje :H ZLOO KDYH GDLO\ EUHDNIDVW DQG GLQQHUV DW RXU +RWHO (YHU\ PRUQLQJ DW DP ZH ZLOO DVVHPEOH DW 6W -DPHV &KXUFK WR DWWHQG +RO\ (XFKDULVW FHOHEUDWHG LQ (QJOLVK :H ZLOO FOLPE WKH $SSDULWLRQV +LOO 0W 3RGEUGR WR VHH WKH SODFHV PDUNHG E\ WKH FURVVHV ZKHUH LQ -XQH 2XU /DG\ ZDV Âż UVW UHSRUWHG WR DSSHDU WR WKH FKLOGUHQ 7KH QH[W PRUQLQJ ZH ZLOO FOLPE WKH VWHHS +RO\ &URVV 0RXQWDLQ 0W .UL]HYDF

for devotions and take in the Panorama of Medjugorje EHORZ

Sept 1 (Fri) Day 7, Prague, Infant Jesus of Prague :H ZLOO KDYH 0DVV DW 2XU /DG\ 9LFWRULRXV &KXUFK KRPH RI WKH ,QIDQW -HVXV RI 3UDJXH Sept 9,2017 (Sat) Day 15,Medjugorje / USA $IWHUZDUG ZH ZLOO GR VRPH VLJKWVHHLQJ WKDW UHYHDOV ZK\ 3UDJXH LV FRQVLGHUHG RQH RI (DUO\ PRUQLQJ GHSDUWXUH IRU RXU Ă&#x20AC; LJKW EDFN WR WKH 86$

A

june 30-juLY 6, 2017 • OC/Ie ASIAn jOuRnAL

Dateline USa

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Pacquiao vows to come home as champion CBO deals blow to Senate health bill with estimate of 22M more uninsured PAGE A1 “Manny has been his old self, having fun and doing what he does best,” the legendary trainer adder.

Despite his bold claims, Roach maintained that Pacquiao’s camp is “not taking anybody lightly.”

For his part, Pacquiao said: “I’m fighting a guy from australia, and he’s undefeated. this is going to be an exciting match.”

But for Horn’s trainer, Glenn Rushton, it seems that Horn is not getting enough respect he deserves, contrary to the other camp’s remarks.

“Jeff is a very, very competitive guy,” Rushton quipped. “He’s perfectly prepared. He literally has a heart as big as the Suncorp Stadium, and he’s got the toughest chin I’ve ever seen on anybody. He’s

Senate Republicans’ legislation to overhaul the affordable Care act would leave an additional 22 million people without health care coverage over the next decade and cut the federal deficit by $321 billion, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis released late Monday.

By 2026, an estimated 49 million people would be uninsured, Manny Pacquiao hits the mitts with Freddie Roach during his media workout at a gym inside compared with about 28 million who would lack coverage under Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia on Tuesday, June 27.

Philstar.com photo by Wendell Rupert Alinas current law. the Senate’s bill — the Bettechnically, incredibly good.” wrong,” Rushton said. “He was He also belied Roach’s predic- talking about an early stoppage, ter Health Care act, which GOP leaders hope to put to a vote lattion. and I don’t see that at all.”

“I think Freddie, as much as He then warned, “this will be- er this week — comes nearly two I respect him, I just think he’s come Manny’s toughest fight.” n months after the House passed its plan to overhaul the affordable Care act. that measure would cut about $834 billion from Medicaid and leave an adPAGE A1 force, whose livelihood are now tIHGI as well as all gaming op- ditional 23 million people withof a new security agency and affected.” erators to continuously improve out coverage in 2026, according experts to assess and improve It noted that the government their safety procedures and pro- to CBO. It would reduce the fedsafety and security systems; in- also “loses an average of P14 tocols to ensure that this tragic eral deficit by $119 billion. earlier in the day, before the creasing of x-ray machines and million per day or P434 million a incident will not happen again,” nonpartisan budget office’s metal detectors; and doubling month as a result of the suspen- it said. up of deployment of guards with sion order.”

For its part, the tIHGI wel- score was released, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConfirearms.

PaGCOR, however, clarified comed the PaGCOR’s decision.

It also include ongoing review that the lifting of suspension or“With PaGCOR’s assistance nell (R-Ky.) described the GOP and improvement of safety and der “does not disregard tIHGI’s and guidance, we can now start plan as preserving “access to security protocols for various officers and personnel of any the difficult task of rebuilding as care for patients with preexistemergency scenarios; conduct- criminal liability, which is to be it is also our responsibility to take ing conditions.” He also said it ing of additional safety and se- determined by government in- care of our 6,000 staff and per- would “strengthen Medicaid,” curity seminars for employees; vestigating bodies.” sonnel,” travellers International give “americans more power to having professional structural earlier on June 9, PaGCOR President and CeO Kingson Sian control and reduce their medical costs and out-of-pocket expensengineers assess building to en- suspended the gaming license said. sure structural integrity; and ob- of RWM after a lone gunman, He added, “We are bringing es” and give “states significant taining a Fire Safety Inspection identified as heavily indebted back the gaming operations on new tools to drive down premiCertificate.

Jessie Carlos, stormed the ca- the ground and third floors of ums.”

Yet it was unclear if Republiapart from the RWM’s com- sino and set fire to the premises, our integrated resort. the secpliance with security and safety causing the deaths of 38 indi- ond floor will no longer be used cans, who have a razor-thin Senimprovements, PaGCOR added viduals, including the assailant for casino operations and will be ate majority, could garner the 50 that it lifted the suspension or- himself. utilized for other non-gaming votes necessary for the measure der “in consideration of tIHGI’s “With the lifting of the sus- purposes instead.” (Dana Sio- to pass. the budget office’s findings added to this uncertainly.

6,000 gaming operations work- pension order, PaGCOR enjoins son/AJPress) Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a moderate who has been on the fence about the bill, tweeted late this afternoon that she could not support the current bill based on the clinic’s services help en- calon said. “Sometimes clients the CBO score. “I want to work PAGE A3 Because of that, it’s important sure that the women who go there are scared.” with my GOP and Democratic the UCSF study included colleagues to fix the flaws in for doctors to think about com- do not face delays, Cicerelli said. the breast clinic partners with nearly 50,000 white and asian- aCa. CBO analysis shows Senmunication with their patients, including translation, nguyen community organizations to fur- american women whose medical ate bill won’t do it. I will vote no” histories were in the San Fran- on bringing the bill to the Senate ther support patients. said.

Cecile ascalon, executive di- cisco Mammography Registry, floor, she announced. at Zuckerberg San Francisco General, the city’s public hospi- rector of the Pilipino Senior Re- which contains records from Senate Democrats were also tal, a breast cancer clinic offers source Center in San Francisco, participating radiology centers swift to react. support services to boost the fol- said staff escort Filipina patients in the area. “the CBO report should be the *** low-up rate among women with to follow-up appointments, help end of the road for trumpcare,” This story was produced by tweeted Senate Minority Leader them talk to their doctor, and abnormal mammograms.

Most of the clinic’s patients are ease their fears about the pro- Kaiser Health News, which pub- Chuck Schumer (D-n.Y.). and, lishes California Healthline, an in a statement, Sen. Ron Wyden covered by Medi-Cal and a third cess.

“Cancer is very difficult. editorially independent service (D-Ore.) said it was “abundantly are Chinese, said Barbara Cicerelli, director of cancer navigation there’s a kind of stigma when of the California Health Care clear [Republicans] are going in you’re diagnosed with it,” as- Foundation. services. the wrong direction.”

Resorts World Manila resumes...

Asian American women often face delays...

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pointed to the analysis and said the GOP plan was “a cynical and immoral proposal.”

Detailing the Medicaid numbers Under the GOP measure, federal spending on Medicaid would drop by 26 percent over current spending projections, or $772 billion, over the next decade, according to the analysis. the drop in spending would occur mainly because the Senate plan phases out federal funds for states to expand Medicaid and it puts annual caps on federal Medicaid dollars to states. Currently, federal Medicaid matching payments to states are openended.

By 2026, the budget office predicted, 15 million fewer people would be enrolled in Medicaid than projected under the aCa. Currently, more than 74 million low-income and disabled people are Medicaid beneficiaries.

How Medicaid beneficiaries are affected by these caps depends on how states respond to them, the CBO notes. the Medicaid funding provisions are a key reason several influential health groups say they cannot support the bill. “access to care for some of the most vulnerable members of our society — including those who require treatment for opioid-use disorder — would be endangered by the Senate proposal’s arbitrary, unsustainable, and shortsighted formula for funding Medicaid,” David Barbe, president of the american Medical association, said in a statement posted on the organization’s website. and even before the CBO report was issued, the national association of Medicaid Directors was on record with its concerns. “the Senate bill does formalize several critical administrative and regulatory improvements, such as giving Medicaid Directors a seat at the table in the development of regulations that impact how the program is run, and the pathway to permanency for certain waiver programs,” the group said. “However, no amount of administrative or regulatory flexibility can compensate for the federal spending reductions that would occur as a result of this bill.”

Other organizations, such as Families USa and the american

Public Health association, said the CBO’s findings show the Senate proposal did “devastating harm” and would “seriously jeopardize the health of america.”

Cost and coverage the budget scorekeepers also concluded that, for the individual insurance market, premium costs would go down under the Senate plan, but so would the amount of coverage provided.

Because these plans “would pay for a smaller average share of benefits under this legislation, most people purchasing it would have higher out-of-pocket spending on health care than under current law,” CBO said.

In 2017, an estimated 12 million people bought health coverage through the aCa’s marketplaces. Most bought silver-level plans, which covered 70 percent of health care costs.

Under the Senate’s plan, the average premiums for an individual in 2020 would be about 30 percent lower. But these policies would cover about 58 percent of costs on average. according to the CBO, “a combination of factors would lead to that decrease – most important, the smaller share of benefits paid for by the benchmark plans and federal funds provided to directly reduce premiums.” the CBO also analyzed the Senate bill provision that would allow states to use waivers to modify the health law’s essential health benefits that include items like prescription drugs, maternity coverage, mental health and substance abuse. In states where such waivers were granted, consumers could experience substantial cost increases for supplemental premiums or outof-pocket spending, or choose to forgo services. nearly half the population, the CBO estimates, would reside in states that seek these waivers.

In addition, the aCa’s ban on lifetime and annual limits on covered benefits would no longer apply to health benefits not defined as essential in a state (Mary Agnes Carey and Phil Galewitz/Kaiser Health News) *** This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 30-JULy 6, 2017

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

PH, China eye joint military drills to combat terrorism TO support the Philippine government’s efforts in flushing out Islamic State (IS) militants in Marawi City, China has donated around 3,000 rifles and 6 million pieces of ammunition to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Speaking before the turnover ceremony of approximately P590-million worth of military assistance to the Philippines on Wednesday, June 28, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua announced that Beijing is also exploring joint military exercises with the AFP. “Terrorism is the enemy both China and the Philippines are facing. It requires our two militaries to further enhance their cooperation in this area. The Chinese side would like to explore the possibility of joint training, intelligence sharing and joint military exercises in the area of fighting terrorism,” the Chinese envoy said.

On Tuesday, June 27, Zhao

presented a P15-million check to President Rodrigo Duterte for support relief operations and rehabilitation efforts in Marawi City.

Duterte expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government. He was joined by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano, and Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo in receiving the check.

“We are almost on bended knees sometimes because of lack of equipment. It is a good thing we have a good friend like China who is very understanding,” Duterte said.

Zhao added that there will be a second batch of guns and ammunition being prepared by the Chinese side and will be delivered in several months.

On top of the P15 million rehabilitation assistance, China also donated another P5 million to the families of soldiers who died or were wounded in battle.

“We will help not only the fight against terrorism but also to rehabilitate and reconstruct the conflict-affected areas in Marawi.

I hope the China participation in the rehabilitation of Mindanao will help the comprehensive settlement of the issue of terrorism,” Zhao said.

“China is your good neighbor, good partner and your good relatives and China will remain so in the many years to come,” he added.

Duterte said that the military assistance is one of the defense cooperation matters he discussed with Chinese President Xi Jin Ping in his visit to China in October last year.

“This is not only to strengthen our country’s commitment to support each other during times of need, but also highlights the dawn of a new era in Philippine-Chinese relations,” Duterte said. (AJPress)

De Lima to face drug case as private citizen

WOMEN AND WAR. Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, June 27 visited the women and families displaced by the Marawi conflict.

In partnership with fellow peace advocate Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, who convenes the Ranao Rescue Team (RRT), the senator distributed relief goods consisting of food, blankets, bath towels and hygiene kits to the Moneerah Integrated School in Iligan, which serves as an evacuation center for hundreds of internally displaced persons. Hontiveros said that women are one of the most affected by war. She said that many “women of war” lost their fathers, husbands and sons. They also become vulnerable to gender-based abuses. The Senator however said that women are also effective peacemakers and rebuilders of communities. She said that the Maranao women will play a central role in rehabilitating Marawi.

DOJ starts reinvestigation of DAP, PDAF scam ‘There will be no selective justice this time’

THe Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) has officially started its reinvestigation into the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) cases, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II announced.

Aguirre said the DOJ has already formed a new task force to correct the “miscarriage of justice” in the earlier inquiry during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III. In a department order issued Tuesday, June 27, Aguirre designated Justice Undersecretary Antonio ‘Richie’ Kho as the head of the new task force reinvestigating the PDAF and DAP cases, which he said were revived due to “new evidences (sic) discovered and presented.”

The order said Kho, who is also Aguirre’s Lex Talionis Fraternity brother, “shall have overall supervision and oversight over all stages of the investigation and any other proceedings that may result therefrom, including those before the Office of the Ombudsman…and those pending before the Sandiganbayan.”

Criticizing the alleged “selective justice” of the previous administration, Aguirre pointed out that only the opposition members were charged in the earlier investigation by then-Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

De Lima’s investigation has lead to the graft and plunder in-

dictment of former Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Jinggoy estrada, and Juan Ponce enrile.

“This time, we can assure the public that there will be no selective justice, unlike what happened in the previous administration,” Aguirre vowed.

According to him, the new team — composed of prosecutors and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents — would start by validating the statements and evidence to be submitted by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains architect of the PDAF. The PDAF, also known as pork barrel, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013 because it allowed lawmakers “to wield, in varying gradations, non-oversight, post-enactment authority in vital areas of budget executions.” earlier, Aguirre revealed that among the senators Napoles implicated in the scam were Senators de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV, and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon. Former budget secretary Butch Abad was also included.

De Lima, who was elected as a senator last year, is currently in detention on drug-related charges. She and Trillanes were notably among Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s staunchest critics.

All denied claims of their involvement in the scam.

Aguirre also suggested turning Napoles into a state witness, though he clarified that it will not affect her pending graft and plunder and cases in connection with the PDAF anomalies before the Sandiganbayan.

The Office of the Ombudsman, however, dismissed the idea, stressing that Napoles is one of the principal alleged malefactors.

While the DOJ has the discretion to conduct a new probe into the PDAF case, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales maintained that it is her office, not the DOJ, which has the final say on whether or not to recommend Napoles as a state witness.

She further noted that her office is not bound by the DOJ’s findings.

Last March, Morales also cleared Aquino from liabilities over the DAP and only indicted Abad for “unlawfully” issuing the National Budget Circular (NBC) No. 541, which paved the way for the release of P72 billion-worth of DAP. In October 2011, then-President Aquino approved the DAP proposed by Abad, which aimed to “fast-track public spending and push economic growth by prioritizing high-impact budgetary programs and projects.”

DAP was later declared partly unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2014. (Dana M. Sioson/ AJPress)

Trillanes to BBC: News about planning to sue untrue

by Jennifer

Soriano

AJPress

SeNATOR Antonio Trillanes IV, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, clarified in a letter dated June 23 to British Broadcasting Corp’s (BBC) Director-General Tony Hall that he is not going to sue the network, contrary to recent “fake news” reports circulating.

This happened a week after Trillanes was interviewed via satellite by “Hardtalk,” BBC’s interview program known for throwing hard-hitting questions at its guests.

The interview drew flak as supporters of Duterte were quick to lash out at the senator for his replies when the host tried to pose questions and comments that seemed to be in favor of the controversial president.

Used to being the target of his political foe, Trillanes, however, brushed off the dissenting remarks thrown at him.

“It is what it is. People who watched the full interview (not the spliced one) are entitled to their own opinions. The haters will hate; the believers will believe,” the senator said in a statement.

He added, “This propaganda

machine is also being used to swarm various media organizations and personalities to create an impression that there is an overwhelming support for President Duterte’s deadly war on drugs.”

Along with the letter, Trillanes attached a transcript of the said interview and a list of fake news websites proliferating his alleged plan to sue BBC. The websites that published the fake story include Our Daily Revelations PH and The Adobo Chronicles.

The senator also expressed that having a BBC interview was a privilege.

“Let me just say that it was an honour to be invited as a resource person on BBC World’s ‘Hardtalk’ program,” Trillanes wrote. “So, please be assured that I have no plans of suing your company. On the contrary, I am very satisfied with how the interview was conducted by Mr. Stephen Sackur, as I was given a chance to give my insights about the real situation in our country.”

He went on to say that the appearance was “one of the proudest moments in my public life.”

Stephen Sackur, “Hardtalk’s” host, laid down the idea that Duterte is “well-liked” by most

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV

Inquirer.net photo

of the Filipinos, citing the president’s “high satisfaction ratings” amidst various allegations against him.

“The bulk of the Filipino people are not really aware on the ground. The propaganda machine is very, very effective.

The bulk of the Filipino public are busy with their day-to-day living. They don’t really get to know the magnitude of the damage Duterte has done,” Trillanes said during the interview.

After Trillanes gave his explanation, Sackur said that the senator’s remarks were “out of tune” and inharmonious” with the sentiments of many Filipinos.

THe Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) ) issued another arrest warrant for Senator Leila De Lima on drug trafficking charges, alleging that she committed the offense after she resigned as justice secretary in 2015.

Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Alexander Ramos said De Lima will be treated as a private citizen for her involvement in the illegal drug operations at the New Bilibid Prison.

The latest arrest warrant issued on June 21 stemmed from the sworn statement submitted by convicted drug offender Peter Co who claimed De Lima and Jose Adrian Dera had “demanded, solicited and extorted” money from him in exchange for the release of his niece Sally under the threat of being charged for illegal drugs.

Co said that Dera acted on the senator’s behalf in receiving the initial P2 million from the P5 million. Dera then seized his four vehicles and used them for De Lima’s senatorial campaign. Co also accused Dera of obtaining the additional P3 million he demanded from Sally to finance De Lima’s election bid.

Judge Amelia Fabros-Corpuz,

through the RTC Branch 25, issued the latest arrest warrant for De Lima and Dera on June 21 over allegations that the senator, during her stint as the justice secretary, conspired with Dera in demanding, soliciting and extorting money and vehicles from Co, a drug lord and high-profile inmate at the national penitentiary.

The DOJ alleged that Dera is the nephew and aide of de Lima.

Both De Lima and Dera denied the recent allegations.

“I do not know him at all. Dera himself already denied any relationship or connection to me whatsoever,” said De Lima, is currently detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

De Lima said that her faith in the country’s judiciary remains and that she is “optimistic that the handling judges will more and more realize the unreliability of the witnesses against me, as well as the [incredulity] of their stories.”

“In the end, all of these socalled witnesses will be proven to have been lying all along, or have simply been threatened to falsely testify against me. The truth will still come out in the end. In the

Sen. Leila De Lima

Senate photo

meantime, I will continue to exhaust legal remedies to fight my illegal arrest and detention,” she added.

The senator is facing separate illegal drug trading cases before Judge Patria Manalastas-de Leon of Branch 206 and Judge Juanita Guerrero of Branch 204, commencing the senator’s arrest and detention on February 23.

(AJPress)

A

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

June 30-July 6, 2017 • OC/Ie ASIAn JOuRnAl

OpiniOn

Features

Numbers that matter PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has maintained excellent trust and approval ratings among top government officials in his first year in office.

This is a feat considering how negatively he was portrayed by media around the world for his unrelenting initiatives to rid the country of illegal drugs, crime and corruption.

Despite his critics, 80 percent of Filipinos had “much trust” for the president, while 10 percent expressed “little trust” and 11 percent were “undecided,” according to the latest poll conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

By being the most traveled Philippine president in his first year, Duterte fostered strong relationships with various world leaders, which also resulted in people-to-people relationships. Not to mention, he was named the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

While he almost severed ties with the U.S. and the European Union (EU) — by initiating an independent foreign policy — the president still managed to make unlikely allies in China and Russia.

More than the improved ties with other nations, Duterte has also brought home P35 billion in his sojourns. These are not just investments pledges because the actual signings of purchase orders are already taking place.

Preparations are already underway for his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) next month, where he is expected to list all of his administration’s achievements after just one year in office.

In past administrations, Filipinos were gener-

ally disappointed when most promises comprised in the past leaders’ SONA, never saw the light.

However, in this current government, Filipinos are witnessing a growing economy that is benefiting from reforms in governance and transparency. The nation also achieved gains in terms of reducing prospects for corruption, improved public service, decreasing crime rate, among others.

Because of these changes, Senate Pres. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III believes that the president has fulfilled his campaign promise that “change is coming,” particularly in the areas of foreign relations and peace and order.

“We’ve felt so many changes... The world believes that we have an independent foreign policy. We are no longer being dictated by other countries. We determine our own course in international affairs,” he said.

Pimentel gave the president a grade of 8.5 to nine for his performance in his first year.

“To our President, keep on doing what you have been doing. Surveys have been saying that the people appreciate what you have been doing.

There are also negative statements, but this is a democracy,” he said.

Duterte is expected by every Filipino — and even foreign observers — to give a more coher-

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

ent and appropriate address befitting the current socio-economic and political situation in the country. And because ordinary citizens offer limited interest in statistics, the president must also draw a clear outline of how he wants to achieve

the nation’s goals, while working with his constituents to move forward.

With still five years left in office, more tangible and reliable results of what his leadership is all about are yet to be seen. (AJPress)

Bill that aims to repeal and replace Obamacare hangs in the balance (again) for lack of support IT’S DÉJÁ VU all over again as the The Fil-Am much-anticipated vote for another ver- Perspective sion of the health care bill—which President Donald Trump and the Republicans wish to pass to repeal and Gel SantoS-ReloS replace Obamacare —has been delayed once again because of lack of support even among GOPs in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been pushing for a vote before the Fourth of July break but Republicans won’t all get on board to pass the bill that has been a revision of the first bill that the House of Representatives could not pass the first time around.

Opinion

RicaRdo Saludo THE battle is just about over.

The war is just beginning.

As the Armed Forces clear Marawi of remaining terrorists, and government agencies, private firms, and foreign aid groups help 200,000 displaced residents rebuild and recover, the anti-terror war shifts to the vastness of Mindanao.

Having shown that Islamic State-driven guerrillas can take and hold sizable city districts against a full-scale military assault, IS and its cohorts will now use the Marawi conflict to raise funds and recruit fighters.

Funds will come mainly from abroad, with IS and its backers keen to show the flag and flex their might outside the Iraqi and Syrian redoubts where the terrorist group is losing ground to the armies of two regimes, backed by Western and Russian air power.

Warm bodies too are flocking to Mindanao: the Southeast Asian extremists who joined IS in the Middle East and are coming back to the region. So warned experts at a major international security conference in Singapore in April.

Why IS targeted Mindanao The Marawi conflict shows that Mindanao offers a prime area for IS expansion. The region has millions of impoverished, poorly educated Muslim youth, who can be lured with IS cash and propaganda. Plus: indigent parents

With the Democrats totally against any effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act that has helped cover millions of uninsured Americans, the Trump’s party could only afford to lose two votes among Republicans. But as of Tuesday, about five Republican senators have signified their stances to NOT support the bill, either because it was not too conservative enough in fighting against entitlements, or that it would cause their constituents who are already being helped by Obamacare to lose the health care benefits they are now enjoying.

The recently released report by the

nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) did not help the Republicans’ cause as much as they thought it would in selling their health care bill to their constituents.

The CBO estimates that by the year 2026, 46 million Americans would be uninsured compared to 28 million who are uninsured under Obamacare.

Those who would be most vulnerable under the Republican Senate health care bill would be adults under 65, the elderly, the working poor on Medicaid, the middle class, women, those who use mental health services, and those with disabilities and pre-existing conditions.

Those who would benefit most are wealthy Americans who would enjoy about $563 billion in tax cuts over 10 years.

The CBO report further reveals that the Senate plan would lead to an estimated $321 billion in deficit reduction from 2017-2026. However, the savings would be coming mostly from Medicaid, which the CBO estimates to fall by 26 percent by 2026 as compared to Obamacare.

While Obamacare may have features that would have to be improved or modified, why throw away the Affordable Care Act if it has been helping so many?

Why rush the Republican health care bill to a vote when it does not have the support of most Americans? According to the latest Quinnipiac University poll, only 17 percent of Americans approve of the bill, which includes less than half of Republicans.

To repeal Obamacare has been the

obsession and the campaign promise of Republicans since the day it was signed into law. Yet, up to now, the party of Trump has not offered a viable solution to the health care problem that can and will benefit most Americans.

Shouldn’t the Republicans just keep Obamacare and work with Democrats to address the problems of the current health care law? Or are they just motivated by the goal to erase the landmark legacy of the first African American president? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

To defeat IS, Mindanao Muslims must reject it willing to let jihadists take boys supposedly for madrasah instruction, plus board and lodging.

IS-driven groups, which include Abu Sayyaf, Maute, and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, have carved out secure enclaves beyond military or police control. They can also find shelter in rebel-held areas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has extremist elements in its fold.

Not to mention the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), despite its 1996 peace accord with the government, and the communist New People’s Army (NPA), which continues to attack security forces and business establishments despite on-and-off peace talks.

Also helping fuel extremism in Mindanao are centuries-old grievances of the Muslim minority, who feel robbed of their freedoms and ancestral lands by the Spanish and American colonial regimes in centuries past, and by the Christian-dominated Philippine government and rich, powerful and well-connected Christian settlers and big businesses, including multinationals Dole and Del Monte, taking over vast lands.

Peace negotiations are supposed to blunt jihadist appeal, but the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, born of the MNLF pact, remains the most impoverished region in the country, where kidnappings, killings, and bombings are still facts of death.

Besides Mindanao’s rich recruiting grounds with guerrillaheld areas, there are the inter-

minable and largely unsecured coastline, among the world’s longest, and corrupt or lax border controls with hardly any maritime patrols to watch for IS infiltrators on boats.

As if all that weren’t enough to get IS cells mushrooming in Mindanao, drug lords are joining forces and wallets with jihadists, as President Rodrigo Duterte tells it.

And local politicians, too, like those whose signatures appear on checks found in a terrorist lair in Marawi, part of the P79 million in plastic-wrapped wads of cash and bank checks captured

by Marines.

Can the jihadists be stopped?

With all that going for the terrorists, can they be stopped?

It’s a terrible thought, but given what terrorists and rebels have done for decades, and the IS support local extremists now get, jihadists will unfortunately still wage violence and build forces, at least in the immediate future.

Think about it: After many months of sustained military offensives, the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups were still able to build forces, plan, coordinate and mount the Marawi attack, taking over much of the city, and holding out for more than a month.

And don’t for a moment think that jihadists and the young, impressionable minds they sway would see Marawi as anything but a great triumph stalemating a vastly superior enemy, helped

by Western military advisers and surveillance aircraft.

Nor are they scared of the joint air and sea patrols mounted by

Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The waters and beaches of Mindanao are just so vast, and the modes of concealed transport so difficult to interdict, that many extremists and weaponry can get through.

Islam can stop Islamic State This is not to say that security initiatives can do nothing against IS-driven groups in Mindanao.

Indeed, under martial law, key Maute family members, including the matriarch thought to handles finances, have been arrested. Ditto other operatives like the man who allegedly smuggled arms and ammunition into Marawi, and spirited out wounded fighters via Lake Lanao.

The fighting men and the weaponry, material and money expended by the terrorists are gone, and building up forces of the same size and power is probably no longer possible, at least for some years.

But zeroing IS recruits, funding, and arms is highly unlikely, too, just as the AFP could never wipe out the MNLF, MILF, NPA, or even the 400-strong Abu Sayyaf. IS is here to stay, at least for some years, and its cohorts will mount more attacks, though probably not another Marawi.

But for all their potency, it is not security counter-measures that will decide how far jihadists go along their bloodstained roadmap of terrorism and caliphate ambition. As we are seeing in the Middle East, what will decide how far and wide IS and other extremists reach is Islam itself.

On the sands of Arabia and now in the fields and streets of

EXODUS. Photos show residents fleeing marawi City in mindanao by road and sea, and strict security checkpoints on the highway going to Iligan City. President Rodrigo Duterte imposed military rule in mindanao on Tuesday, May 23 and said on Wednesday, May 24 he might expand it to Luzon and the Visayas if terrorist attacks spill over.

Contributed photos

Southeast Asia, Muslims high and low are having to choose between the tenets of peace and spirituality which true Islam has espoused for centuries, and the brutal, insane perversion of Mohammed’s teachings which IS foists.

In Mindanao, Muslims are being lured by a foreign ideology that beheads innocents, trains kids to shoot and bomb, uses hostages as human shields and

conscripted fighters, and forces women into sex slavery, as recounted by rescued Marawi residents.

Our Muslim compatriots must decide if that is really what Islam is. If IS ideology wins, Mindanao could descend into civil war, as President Duterte warned. If Muslim Filipinos reject it, both their religion and our republic triumph. In sha Allah. So help us God. (ManilaTimes.net)

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

ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

ELIZABETH HILARIO SISON Chief Financial Officer

Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com

Manila Office: 2nd Floor Units D&E, Fort Palm Springs 30th St., Cor 1st Ave, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel.: (632) 856-4921 • Fax: (632) 856-1661 New York office: 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 Tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (213) 481-0854

Northern California: 1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136 New Jersey office: Burlingame CA 94010 2500 Plaza 5, Harborside Financial Center, Tel.: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253 Jersey City, NJ 07311 Tel: (212)655-5426 • Fax: (818)502-0858 Las Vegas Sales Office: 2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

BELLE M. SISON Executive Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Senior Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal

IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal

SHARON ANN SAN PEDRO Vice President - Sales Balikbayan Magazine

MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor DING CARREON Videographer ANDY TECSON/TED TALAG BERT JAURIGUE Photographers

ADVeRTISInG AnD ADVeRTORIAl POlICIeS Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publication.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome.

Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline PhiliPPines

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 30-JULy 6, 2017

Senators trounce decision, file resolution against Espinosa slay case downgrade OPPOSITIOn senators decided to up the ante on Tuesday, June 27, by filing a resolution expressing “grave concerns” in the downgrade the charges against the 19 police-suspects involved in the killing of a highprofile inmate, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando espinosa Sr. Since the Department of Justice (DOJ) released its decision to downgrade the offense of the 19 suspects from Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 8 (CIDG-8) -- led by Psupt. Marvin Marcos -- to a less serious and a bailable offense on May 29, many senators, including the allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, have verbally expressed their criticisms.

Senator Risa hontiveros initiated the writing of the resolution and was signed by Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Leila De Lima, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV. In the resolution, the senators reflect the questionable inconsistencies in DOJ Secretary Vitaliano

Aguirre’s decision.

During the november 23 inquiry on the espinosa slay last year, “Aguirre categorically stated that given all the circumstances, he could conclude that the killing of espinosa and his fellow inmate Raul Yap was premeditated.”

“Further, he also considered the conduct of the operation at 4:30 in the morning as ‘very unusual’ and not consistent with the procedure. he also labeled the service of the search warrant for a single weapon at a provincial jail by 19 police personnel an ‘overkill,’ the resolution read.

After several inquiries, the Senate unanimously approved and adopted the resolution, which found that “the killing of Mayor espinosa was premeditated and with abuse of authority on the part of the operatives of CIDG-8.” however, on May 29, the DOJ murder charges against Marcos and other policemen were dismissed and indicted them instead for the lesser and bailable offense of homicide, on the grounds that ““[t]he evidence on record do not

support the allegation of evident premeditation.” The policemen were released out on bail.

The resolution filed by the senators also seeks the appropriate Senate committee to “inquire, in aid of legislation, why the recommendations of the Senate were ignored with the end in view of formulation remedial or corrective legislation.”

Aguirre, for his part, stands by his latest decision. he explained earlier in an interview by AnC that he was “goaded” by some senators to agree with them that what happened to espinosa in his detention cell was a premeditated killing.

“Actually, when I appeared before the Senate then, I had not studied this very deeply. As a matter of fact, if you review the transcript of stenographic notes you will notice that I was being goaded by some senators to agree with them. But at that time, there was yet not affidavit submitted in defense of the respondents,” the justice secretary said earlier. (Jennifer Soriano/AJPress)

Comelec: Polls’ reset Congress’ call The Commission on elections (Comelec) has called on leaders of Congress to decide early or come up with an amendatory law as early as July if they want to again postpone scheduled synchronized barangay (village) and youth polls.

“We will abide with the wisdom and collective decision of Congress. It doesn’t matter to us if [the elections are]postponed or [if they will]push through. But if [they are]postponed, we appeal to Congress that [they]should not be held very close to the coming 2019 mid-term elections or there should be at least a gap of one year,” Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said on Thursday, June 29.

Bautista explained that a late decision by Congress would put to waste ongoing preparations of the poll body, including printing of ballots.

The Comelec, he said, has formed working committees and scheduled preparation timelines for the October 31 village and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK or Youth Council) polls.

“Unless Congress gives us the assurance that the polls will be postponed, our preparations

will continue. We need to be prepared as mandated by law,” Bautista added.

To be able to conduct the twin polls, the Comelec needs some P6 billion for the conduct of public biddings and procurement of election paraphernalia.

According to Bautista, the printing of ballots is scheduled to start on the last week of July or early August.

The Comelec needs to print 78 million ballots: 57 million for the village elections and 21 million for the SK elections.

“We need a timetable of three months. Two months for the printing and one month for the delivery of ballots,” Bautista said.

The elections were originally scheduled to be held on October 2016.

President Rodrigo Duterte had said he did not want the 2016 village and SK polls to proceed because of the entry of “narco” money into mainstream politics, thus the postponement of the elections to October 2017.

For the same reason, the President broached again the idea this year that he wanted the polls postponed.

Duterte had even floated the idea of declaring all barangay positions vacant and filling them with appointed officials, saying 40 percent of village officials are into drugs.

Under Republic Act 9164 or the Local Government Code, the election for village officials shall be held on the last Monday of October and every three years thereafter. earlier, the Church-back Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said there must be a valid reason to justify the postponement of the elections.

Rene Sarmiento, retired Comelec commissioner and now PPCRV chairman, said the holding of elections is part of the democratic process to check the accountability of elected officials to get fresh mandate from the people.

The house Committee on Suffrage and electoral Reforms wants the village and SK polls postponed to the second Monday of May 2020.

Bautista said they have no problem with that because it is a year away from the scheduled May 2019 mid-term elections.

(ManilaTimes.net)

A

EID’L FITR. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shows a gesture of respect to one of the attendees of the Eid’L Fitr Celebration at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, June 27.

Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

PH gov’t rejects Maute hostage-swap deal

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

The Philippine government on Tuesday, June 27, turned down the reported offer from Maute terrorists to release their hostages in exchange for the detained parents of the pro-Islamic State (IS) group’s leaders. earlier this week, a local media outlet reported that one of the Maute terrorist group leaders, Abdullah Maute, is offering the release of Catholic priest Father Chito Suganob and other abducted civilians in exchange for his parents who were recently nabbed by authorities.

The report cited an unnamed source who supposedly went with fellow emissaries and talked to the extremists amid the ‘humanitarian pause’ on Sunday, June 25.

While Malacañang said that it has yet to verify the offer, it maintained that the government will not make any deals with terrorists.

“Government’s policy not to negotiate with terrorists remains,” Presidential Spokesperson ernesto Abella told reporters in a press briefing.

Abella also echoed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s earlier statement that the military has no knowledge of the negotiation. “hence, the local religious leader-led talks with the terrorists last Sunday is one of that was not sanctioned by government, the military and our political leaders. Any demands made inside,

(L-R) Fr. Teresito Suganob, Cayamora Maute and Farhana Maute

therefore, hold no basis,” Abella added.

Last June 6, the patriarch, Cayamora Maute, was arrested in Davao City, while his wife, Ominta “Farhana,” was detained on June 9 in Masui, Lanao Del Sur. Some of their relatives were also arrested alongside with them. Both parents face rebellion charges.

The Maute terrorists, lead by brothers Abdullah and Omar, laid siege of Marawi City on May 23, resulting in the displacement of at least 69,000 families and the deaths of about 27 civilians, according to authorities.

“Let us continue to remind the public that the gravity of theirs — of terrorists’ and their supporters’ offense is immense and they must all be held accountable for all their actions,” Abella further noted.

‘We are winning’ After more than a month since the conflict erupted, the Philippine military expressed confidence in its nearing victory against the Maute extremists in

Inquirer.net photos

Mindanao.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is winning and that victory is irreversible,” Lt. Col. Jo-ar herrera, the spokesperson of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said in a press briefing on Monday, June 26. he went on to say, “Troops continue to get deeper into once enemy-held positions as evidenced by the recovery of cadavers of terrorists and their firearms, computers and peripherals as well as communication equipment and accessories.”

Despite this, herrera admitted that the government forces are still not free from challenges, citing bombs found in houses or buildings being cleared by the military. he also asked for the public’s continued support and prayers for the government’s victory against the extremists.

“Troop morale remains very high and we appeal to everyone to continue to support and pray for our troops,” herrera said.

A

June 30-July 6, 2017 • OC/Ie ASIAn JOuRnAl

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Â&#x2020;Ã&#x153;¯Â&#x2020;Ã&#x2026;ºÃ&#x160;Ã¥Ã&#x2122;Ã&#x2026;Â&#x2020;¿Ã&#x2013;Ã¥Â&#x2019;¿¯Â&#x201C;Â&#x2020;â¯Ã&#x160;Ã&#x2026;Ã&#x153;

Ç&#x2020;Â&#x2020;Ã&#x153;¯Â&#x2020;Ã&#x2026;ºÃ&#x160;Ã¥Ã&#x2122;Ã&#x2026;Â&#x2020;¿Â&#x201C;Ã&#x160;Ã&#x201E;

Ç&#x2020;Â&#x2020;Ã&#x153;¯Â&#x2020;Ã&#x2026;ºÃ&#x160;Ã¥Ã&#x2122;Ã&#x2026;Â&#x2020;¿

XXX BTJBOKPVSOBM DPN -PT "OHFMFT Ç&#x2021; -BT 7FHBT Ç&#x2021; 0SBOHF $PVOUZ *OMBOE &NQJSF Ç&#x2021; /PSUIFSO $BMJGPSOJB Ç&#x2021; /FX :PSL /FX +FSTFZ

the asian journal entertainment magazine

Harana Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chorus

june 30-july 6, 2017

G Tongi

Becca Godinez

Miguel Vera AJPress photos by Andy Tecson

may 30-june 5, 2014 www.asianjournal.com

2

june 30-july 6, 2017

Musikahan! with Maestro Ryan Cayabyab

2

Raving gratitude to Maestro from his students

by Prosy

AbArquez-DelAcruz, J.D. /AJPress

“I am not in awe of people per se, because we are all pilgrims, we are given everything. Why am I here?

I am medium when it comes to talent. Supernatural talent comes from the Higher Being – bigger than all of us. I surrender my fate to Him, as He alone owns all of these. I am a human being still learning in life --how to be loving and how to be caring for others. It is important for me to teach as much as I can—it is up to you to spread it around.” – Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, Asian Journal MDWK Magazine, October 2016.

When Geneva Cruz sang “Kailan” (kailan)/Kailan mo ba mapapansin ang aking lihim/ Kahit ano’ng aking gawin/di mo pinapansin (When? When will you discover my secret? Whatever I do you are not paying attention),” you could sense that she wants to live up to the highest quality of musicality that the audience has experienced from Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS), those who had performed before her, the likes of Becca Godinez, Annie nepomuceno and Miguel Vera.

At sound check, as the opening bars of “Kailan” played out, Yong Chavez of ABS-CBn whispered, “Asan si Geneva Cruz (Where is Geneva Cruz)?”

Much like prescience, Cruz — dressed in her long blue gown with a ruffled bordered slit, á la Angelina Jolie — appeared, to the surprise of Maestro Ryan, and sang “Kailan.”

“I was nervous, because Tito Ryan was my mentor. he discovered me when I was twelve,” Cruz told the audience at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California, after hugging the Maestro twice.

“In both concerts, I saw with the Maestro and the RCS, a defining character of the show is it will make you feel proud you are a Filipino. his [Ryan]’s own narrations made me understood his genius, his compositions helped me appreciate more of the

treasure trove we have as a nation and having all these sang, and performed on stage by singers nurtured by him and to achieve this kind of excellence [is] one for the books. Truly, The Maestro. And yes the RCS are awesome. Though I would have loved more the stage, if the digital works were clearer.

But then the intensity of the group was outstanding. I told my friend [to] never miss a Ryan Cayabyab and RCS concert for it never fails to set a benchmark of excellence. It was totally pure music, incredible singing prowess, very good repertoire and Geneva Cruz was a so pleasant surprise. now you know a good show and The Maestro never ceases to amaze.

Thank you Annie nepomuceno!

And why I was proud to be a Filipino? It is because Ryan made it so clear that we have our own world in the music universe, unparalleled,” ed Rame wrote in his Facebook post.

Cruz then sang “Paraiso,” a song written by Maestro Ryan, which won the grand prize at the 1993 Tokyo Music Festival.

“I live in this land called paraiso/ In a house made of cardboard floors and walls/ I learned to be free in paraiso/Free to claim anything I see. Matching rags for my clothes/Plastic bags for the cold/And if empty cans were all I have/ what a joy/ I never fight to take someone else’s coins and live with fear like the rest of

Annie Nepomuceno surrounded by Ryan Cayabyab Singers, Harana Men’s Chorus, Henry and Monica Chen, and her fans. Behind her is Ryan Cayabyab (silver hair) with his fans and Rick Gavino with outstretched hands about to hug someone.

the boys/Paraiso, help me make a stand/Paraiso, take me by the hand/Paraiso, make the world understand that if I could see a single bird, what a joy/This tired and hungry land could expect/ Some truth and hope and respect/ From the rest of the world.” her soulful rendition spoke volumes and the audience heard every word she sang, which touched many hearts, to call out bravos.

After the concert, Maestro Ryan told this writer that local popular artists’ involvement is what made this concert much better than their last. Indeed, the local artists amazed the audience, as they too, “leveled up their performances,” accompanied by the Maestro on the piano.

The harana Men’s Chorus’ rendition of Annie nepomuceno’s new arrangement of “Sa May Bintana,” an original composition of Maestro Ryan, was an audience hit. each holding a microphone, the tenors — Jake Labado, Michael Zuniga, Don Sagarbarria, Kenneth Laurente, Dennis Jardiel and erwin Andaya — gave their best vocal

The entire cast of Musikahan with Ryan Cayabyab: Becca Godinez, V.J. Caber, Annie Nepomuceno, Celine Beatrice Fabie, Anthony Castillo, Giselle Tongi-Walters, Nica Tupas, Poppert Bernadas and Ed Nepomuceno, singing a heartfelt rendition of “Sabihin mo Ikaw ay Pilipino/ Kahit saang bansa ikaw ay magpunta/Sabihin mo ikaw ay Pilipino/Pilipino ka, yan ang totoo.” Other members of RCS include: Erwin Lasca and Katherine Tiuseco.

Jake Labado, Michael Zuñiga, Dennis Jardiel, Kenneth Laurente, Erwin Andaya and Don Sagarbarria, tenors of Harana Men’s Chorus and the entire choral group interpreted Annie Nepomuceno’s new arrangement of Ryan Cayabyab’s song, “Sa May Bintana.”

Ryan Cayabyab

AJPress photos by Andy Tecson

The most memorable night at Musikahan! with Maestro Ryan Behind the scenes, it was as amazing as it was onstage

by Annie

Miguel Vera singing a song from “El Filibusterismo,” a musical original of Ryan Cayabyab, with a photo collage of Jose Rizal and a dancing pair, by Eliseo Art Silva.

Photos by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D.

sounds. even more impressive was their rendition of “Ikaw ang Mahal Ko.” The opening bars quieted the audience which was so focused and hung onto every lyric sung by this group, giving the group a superior performance.

But “Iniibig Kita” made us fall in love again, when these were sung: “Malaman mo lang, Wala ng Iba, Mas hihigit Pa, Sa Pagibig Ko sa Iyo.” It was as if they all read what the Maestro told the Asian Journal’s MDWK Magazine in his 2016 interview, “We can’t turn out good musicians unless they have played with the literature of orchestra. They must have played with symphonic works, they study pieces and do solo pieces. They must have had a chance to sit at the end of the orchestra, for immersion.” no wonder Maestro Ryan introduced them as the premier male choral group in the world and the crowd went wild with applauses and hollers.

First songwriter and her first gold award But, truly, another gem that evening was Becca Godinez. She recalled how Ryan appeared on “happiness Is,” her first television show at the age of 12.

She then composed a song in english, Sam, which her producer said would be a hit, if translated Continued on Page 5

nePomuceno

AS I looked on during rehearsals, I kept thinking “what have I done?” But in a GOOD way.

There in front of me stood a children’s choir and its able conductor, a dance troupe and its vivacious choreographer, a TV host, a singing group that flew in from Manila, and the most celebrated living composer of the Philippines, who was also my mentor. I kept asking myself “why are we all here?”

As I looked on these groups rehearsing, I could see each the dedication to their craft, whether fledgling or seasoned. I could see how they knew that they were one piece in a humungous jigsaw puzzle, that when complete, delivers a stunning image.

The music of Ryan Cayabyab is what brought us together, but it was the desire to represent Filipino culture in the best light that motivated us. When asked how I thought about putting this together, my answer was simple: if the Maestro comes to town, everyone should not miss this opportunity to work with an artist of his caliber.

I looked on these singers and dancers and felt immense pride on how everyone knew their part, moved quickly and delivered. The Maestro was calm and collected, for when his fingers touch the piano, one just knew that they were in the presence of genius.

That, my friends, is what we need, and sometimes all we need—a good example.

Some artists rehearsed once, and bigger numbers were rehearsed a couple of times.

The pros like Becca Godinez and Miguel Vera needed less than a half hour with the Maestro to go over what needed to be done. The always game and enthusiastic G Tongi brought her equally game daughter Sake to join her, followed by a bevy of kids from Kayamanan ng Lahi

(KnL) who streamed behind her like the cutest little ducklings in “Da Coconut nut” which shaped up really quickly by the deft instructions of choreographer Barbs ele.

It is a sheer feat of determination to provide all the demo recordings, rehearsal tracks, music scores and the like, to all these individual artists to make a homogenous whole. The Los Angeles Young Ambassadors and the harana Men’s Chorus rehearsed the new vocal arrangements, led by their respective conductors in separate rehearsals. The kulintang ensemble for “Street People” also rehearsed separately, meeting the Maestro and the Smokey Mountain tribute singers on the day of the show.

It may sound crazy, but we do this all the time. Rehearsing a big number on the day of the show, mere hours before showtime. This is not for the faint of heart, and thoroughly nerve-wracking for the uninitiated.

But how else will you learn?

The Smokey Mountain tribute singers Josie Gonzalez, Michael Keith, Louisa Tampi and edsel Sotiangco hardly knew each other a week before the show.

By showtime, acclimatized to their surrounding artists like the phenomenal Ryan Cayabyab Singers, they basically whipped themselves into shape and delivered stellar performances, motivated to be at par with the other artists.

It is all worthwhile when you hear the audience ask for “more!” in the middle of a segment.

“Sa May Bintana,” a new vocal arrangement of mine of the Maestro’s song was premiered by the harana in “Musikahan!”

It simply was the perfect song for the group and arranged with the specific singers in mind. The Continued on Page 3

What’s next for host/producer G Tongi “Kababayan Today” to air farewell show on Friday, June 30

By KlArize

meDenillA AJPress

G Tongi

community in the greater LA area.

It currently is the only television AFTeR 11 years of serving program that features in-depth Los Angeles’ Filipino American stories and interviews with a wide community, daily talk show variety of Filipinos from all over “Kababayan Today” will air its final the globe. show on Friday, June 30.

“Kababayan Today” is also the Starting Saturday, July 1, all longest-running Filipino daily talk Chinese, Filipino, Spanish and show outside of the Philippines.

Armenian programming on host and producer Giselle “G” the multicultural independent Tongi — who took over the show television station KSCI (Channel in late 2014 — was one of the 18) will be replaced with english first to know that it was ending. infomercials due to a change in Initially, she was overcome with direction by the leaders at the confusion, but she decided that station. she wanted to somehow continue The decision to eliminate most the show, despite the station’s foreign-language programming change in direction. (some Korean programming “But after that initial reaction will still air) has been seen a of ‘oh, no, what do we do now?’, I devastating blow to many ethnic just wanted to be proactive about communities, including the it and saw this as a challenge to Filipino community, for whom LA- reproduce the program because 18 was a source of Philippine and I know that there’s a need for it U.S. news and entertainment. in the community,” Tongi told the Since 2006, “Kababayan Today” Asian Journal on Monday, June 26. was a platform of representation now, Tongi has plans to for the Filipino-American revamp “Kababayan Today” in

Photos courtesy of G Tongi

a weekly format and is in talks with various platform providers.

She has teamed up with the Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) and has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser (www.gofundme. com/KeepKababayanOnAir) to cover the initial fee for a year of broadcast.

“There are multiple platforms for syndication, and now it just comes down to being an entrepreneur about it and that’s something I feel like I’m ready to do at this stage in my life, and that’s so exciting,” Tongi said, adding that the weekly incarnation of the show is slated to air in September.

Continued on Page 6

3 Maureen Wroblewitz: Filipina Nadine Lustre feels honored to who topped them all be named sexiest Pinay june 30-july 6, 2017

www.asianjournal.com

by ChrIstIna

alpad ManilaTimes.net

IT was a night filled with cheers, tears, and resounding pride as 19-year-old Filipino Maureen Wroblewitz beat the towering contenders of “Asia’s Next Top Model,” bringing home the elusive title for the first time in five years.

Wroblewitz finally took home Asia’s Next Top Model (AsNTM) title. It was the country’s first since the Asian version of Tyra Banks’ popular reality modeling competition premiered in 2012.

Surrounded by friends and well-wishers on the night’s finale viewing party at The Palace Pool Club on Wednesday, June 28, Wroblewitz had tears welling in her eyes as the winner of the regional version of Tyra Bank’s popular production was about to be called.

And when host and judge Cindy Bishop finally announced Wroblewitz’s name, pandemonium erupted at the venue as the Asia’s Next Top Model let go of her emotions and cried with joy.

The 5’5” stunner impressively won over much taller and more experienced co-finalists in Vietnam’s Minh Tu Nguyen and Malaysia’s Shikin Gomez.

“I feel really happy because a Filipina has never won [the modeling competition]so I’m really proud of myself. I am so happy that I was finally able to make the fans’ dreams come true,” Wroblewitz declared during the

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

Maureen Wroblewitz

after-show interview.

The nation immediately celebrated her triumph as social media exploded with congratulatory messages for Wroblewitz, in turn catapulting her name to the top trending spot on Twitter.

Fans of the reality competition on Fox Philippines had indeed waited a long time for a winner, after Filipina contestants emerged only as runners-up in the past: Cycle 1’s Stephanie Retuya finished third in 2012; Cyle 2’s Jodilly Pendre was first runner-up in 2013; Cyle 3’s Monika Sta. Maria also first in 2014; and Cycle 4’s Julian Flores finished a semi-finalist.

Road to victory Dubbed as the most

“inexperienced and shortest girl” in the competition, having no modeling background before joining the reality show and standing inches below the usual height of moving mannequins, Wroblewitz was hardly a strong contender at the beginning of Cycle 5 in April.

In fact, by the third episode of AsNTM, Wroblewitz was pegged in the bottom two of 14 contestants from around the region, along with fellow Filipina Jennica Sanchez. The latter was eventually eliminated.

Acknowledging her weaknesses Wroblewitz said she had no confidence going into the competition.

Continued on Page 5

ABS-CBN talent and Viva contract artist Nadine Lustre has emerged as this year’s sexiest woman in the Philippines.

On Thursday, June 29, FHM announced that the 23-year-old actress led the online poll of the men’s magazine’s annual “100 Sexiest Women” list after garnering 491,039 votes online within a two-and-ahalf month polling period.

“Nadine’s ascension to the ‘Throne of Sexy’ comes as no surprise—not only does she have the most loyal fans, she also has the glowing assets to show for Nadine Lustre it. FHM Nation had a glimpse of a sexier Nadine in a series of summer photos she posted on social media, where she flaunted her body in the best swimsuits. From then on, it was apparent who would emerge as No. 1,” the magazine said on their website.

Lustre, who landed the third spot in 2016, thanked the magazine and hundreds of thousands who voted for her on social media on the same day.

“Really didn’t expect this to happen. Maraming salamat everyone for voting!

Thank you @FHMPhil. It’s an honor,” the multi-media princess posted on her Twitter account.

Rounding out the Top 10 are Kim Domingo in second place, garnering 459,192 votes, followed by Rhian Ramos (359,405 votes), last year’s winner Jessy Mendiola (350,182 votes), Ellen Adarna (320,391 votes), Jennylyn Mercado (318,273 votes), Angel Locsin (248,192 votes), Liza Soberano (201,925 votes ), Maine Mendoza (200,182 votes), and Solenn Heussaff (180,294 votes).

The complete list of “100 Sexiest Women” will be included in the July 2017 issue of FHM Philippines.

The most memorable night at Musikahan...

From Page 2 Maestro surprised me by teaching Harana soloist Erwin Andaya a super high note, delivered flawlessly, which Maestro said was the originally intended melody.

But there was a bigger surprise! Pulled off stealthily by the awesome team of Music Arts Events and Arnel Dulay, the original singer of the Maestro’s megahit “Kailan” glides onstage during the Smokey Mountain tribute. The Maestro grinned ear to ear as Geneva Cruz performed a second song, “Paraiso” with LAYA, RCS and the tribute singers in glorious harmony.

Stage Manager Padsy Padre ran the sound check on the dot, and associate Ditas Labado, assistant Maan Co, and Jane Mutiangpili along many volunteers keep all areas of the venue in order: backstage, front-of-house, the box office. Onstage the crew feverishly gets numerous microphones set

up, assigned and numbered, and sponsor videos, artwork projections by Eliseo Silva and Lyn Pacificar, and other pre-recorded announcements are lined up in a playlist by technical staff.

I got the most interesting question from a young chorister who asked: “why are we here?”

Apparently, she just felt it was so awesome to be part of this show with this megacast, learning new songs, sharing the stage with seasoned performers, that she could not help but wonder how she got to be a part of it. I felt the biggest vindication for pulling favors, from this child’s inquiry. She knew she was a part of something that had an impact on her community. It was enriching for her to do something important, with talented and dedicated people.

Amidst all this flurry and summer heat, the Maestro runs through the RCS repertoire: the

rap songs, the tap songs, the Spoliarium opera excerpt. His script, a mere few key words inserted between the song titles.

After years with his own TV show, Maestro Ryan not only improvises with music. He is just as skilled in repartee.

As for me, I held back the tears, rather unsuccessfully, when the whole cast rehearsed the encore “Sabihin Mo (Ikaw ay Pilipino)” as thoughts of “what have I done?” and “why are we here” raced through my mind. I simply could not believe the amount of contributing talent present that night. What I have done was to ask them if they wanted to join, and we were there because we needed to be.

So how do you come up with a wonderful show? Everyone in it must be exactly that—wonderful.

Work with greatness, you get greatness. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat!

june 30-july 6, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

4

Star Alliance takes Best Alliance Title at Skytrax World Airline Awards 13 member carriers claim a total of 26 awards experience Star Alliance carriers by winning a million miles* PARIS, FRANCe – In its 20th Anniversary year, Star Alliance has claimed the Best Airline Alliance title at the Skytrax World Airline Awards for the second year running. The Alliance’s prestigious Los Angeles Lounge also received the Best Airline Alliance Lounge Award for the third year in row.

Accepting the award at the Paris – Le Bourget Air Show, Jeffrey Goh, CeO Star Alliance said: “This is an important accolade to receive in our 20th Anniversary year. It once again shows that our investment into a modern IT infrastructure is paying off, enabling the more than 440,000 member Jeffrey Goh, CEO Star Alliance airline employees to provide customers with an even Aegean Airlines better Alliance travel experience.

Air Canada Our IT hubs are the foundation ANA which will allow us to use digital technology to offer a more individual and a better Alliance Austrian Airlines travel experience going forward.”

Star Alliance was the first Avianca airline alliance to receive the Best Alliance Award from Skytrax when COPA Airlines the category was first introduced in 2005 and has since held the award eight times.

World Airline Awards are managed by international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax Research of London, UK. The latest survey was conducted between August 2016 and May 2017, attracting 19.87 million eligible entries with participants from 105 nationalities. The survey covered over 325 airlines, from largest international airlines to smaller domestic carriers, measuring quality standards for 41 Key Performance Indicators across front-line product and service factors in the airport and on-board environments.

EMPLOYMENT

Ethiopian Airlines EVA Air Lufthansa

Singapore Airlines

South African Airways THAI

Turkish Airlines

Complementing the Alliance awards, 13 Star Alliance member carriers received distinctions in 26 individual categories, with four achieving top 10 rankings in the Top Airline Category: Singapore Airlines (2), ANA (3), eVA (6) and Lufthansa (7).

Your chance to become a mileage millionaire!

For those looking to experience our Skytrax awarded airlines and Alliance, here is your chance. As part of its 20th Anniversary activities, Star Alliance is currently running a global competition, inspired by the theme of “Connecting People and Cultures”. The prize is one million frequent flyer miles* and each of the Alliance’s 21 Frequent Flyer Programmes are participating.

Best Regional Airline in Europe Best Airline in North America World’s Best Airport Services Best Airline Staff in Asia Best Airline Staff in Europe Best Airline in South America Best Regional Airline in South America Best Airline in Central America / Caribbean Best Airline Staff in Central America Best Airline in Africa Best Business Class Comfort Amenities World’s Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness Best Airline in Europe Best Airline in Western Europe Best First Class Lounge Dining Best Airline in Asia Best Business Class Airline Seat Best Premium Economy Onboard Catering Best Airline Staff in Africa Best Economy Onboard Catering World’s Best Economy Class Best Airline Lounge Spa Facilities Best Airline in Southern Europe Best Business Class Onboard Catering World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge Best Business Class Lounge Dining

HOME AGENCY

PSYCHIC

Lee Torres, first-ever General Manager promoted from within Pechanga Resort & Casino The Pechanga Development Corporation’s Board of Directors has named the first-ever general manager to be promoted from within Pechanga Resort & Casino, voted the #1 casino in the country by the readers of USA Today. Mr. Lee Torres, with nearly 20 years of experience in the gaming industry, has been an integral part of our leadership team, serving Pechanga as Chief Marketing Officer since 2011. As of March 2017, Mr. Torres will now oversee the entire property’s overall performance across 11 divisions and departments as the new general manager, taking Pechanga and its new brand image to the next level.

“I’m honored to be the first general manager selected from within of such a premier property, rivaling even the most prestigious of casino-resort properties in Las Vegas, by the Pechanga Development Corporation’s Board of Directors,” said Mr. Lee Torres, general manager at Pechanga Resort & Casino. “They’re trusting me with not only the responsibility of overseeing all 11 divisions and essentially all four thousand team a on property, but also with leading the charge on Pechanga’s $285 million expansion. This is a very exciting time for Pechanga and I’m deeply humbled to be a part of the journey.”

“Play on Another Level” - Transformation to the Deluxe New Asian Brand Pechanga Resort & Casino, advancing with the rapidly changing trend and development, launched a new Asian brand identity early this year that anticipates the $285 Million resort expansion scheduled to be completed at the end of 2017. As the largest Casino in California, located in the Temecula Valley Wine Country, Pechanga takes your experience to another level. With an exhilarating array of table games and slots, a 4-diamond hotel accommodation, rejuvenating spa, delicious dining options, thrilling live performances, and a world-class golf course, Pechanga is elevating into a broader landscape to better compete in the global and digital environments and with properties in Las Vegas.

“Changing our brand is not something we’ve ventured into

Pechanga Resort & Casino expansion set to open at the end of the year The current $285 million resort expansion set to open at the end of the year includes the addition of 568 rooms and suites, 70,000 additional square feet of indoor/outdoor event space, a luxury, two-story spa and salon, a four-acre resort pool complex with three new pools and five spas, and two new restaurants.

Pechanga just celebrated the grand opening of the brand new 2,400space parking garage featuring 44 Lee Torres, Pechanga Resort & Casino general electric vehicles charging stations manager and three Tesla Superchargers, marking the completion of the first for more than 15 years,” said April phase of the expansion. enough Bouchard, Director of Advertising solar to power 100 homes along and Brand at Pechanga Resort with a moving sidewalk to the & Casino. “It was scary for a lot casino entrance will be added to of people, but look at all that’s the new east Parking Garage this happened in the world in 15 years. summer. The Pechanga Tribe also The Internet and social media can marked the mid-point to their drive business. Our new brand lets massive expansion in April with a us take the spirit we know to be topping out ceremony of the new Pechanga into the reaches of the hotel wing. More updates will be future. We’re so excited for it.” unveiled soon!

“This new logo is modern, Pechanga Resort & Casino elegant, and captures the essence of Pechanga Resort & Casino Pechanga Resort & Casino: laid back luxury,” said edith Atwood, President offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino of the Pechanga Development experiences anywhere in the Corporation. “This exciting change United States. Voted the Number comes just ahead of the ultimate One casino in America by readers change at Pechanga - the addition of USA TODAY and rated a Four of 568 new rooms, a luxury spa, Diamond property by AAA since a spectacular pool complex, and 2002, Pechanga Resort & Casino more. This new look and feel is all provides an unparalleled getaway. about positioning Pechanga Resort Offering more than 3,400 of & Casino for the future.”

New Asian Brand - Auspicious the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 517 “Pi Xiu” Logo hotel rooms, dining, spa and Taking our current brand to championship golf at Journey the next level and reinforcing the at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort & commitment to the Asian Brand, Casino features a destination that the transformation of the Pi Xiu meets and exceeds the needs of is now an elegant maturation of its guests and the community.

Pechanga’s original Asian logo.

Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned This auspicious symbol of wealth and operated by the Pechanga serves to carry good fortune to Band of Luiseño Indians. For more all guests. The overall theme and information, call toll free 1-888message is to wish everyone PeChANGA or visit www.Pechanga.

“Good Luck.” Pechanga Resort and com. Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino and iGraphix, their Asian Casino on Facebook <http://www. advertising agency, designed the New Asian Brand logo together and facebook.com/pechanga> and on Twitter @PechangaCasino <http:// is promoting this new trademark twitter.com/pechangacasino>. through different medias of digital Pechanga Resort & Casino is open and social platforms in the Asian 24-hours. Guests must be 21 and market. Prepare to experience the older to enter the casino. satisfaction as the new brand and logo takes you to another level.

(Advertising Supplement)

SERVICES

Ariana Grande Manila concert to push through Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher and more scheduled to perform ARIANA Grande is certainly the artist of the moment. She has impressively exhibited how to rise from tragedy and use her influence to bounce back from the horrific Manchester bombings during her Dangerous Woman tour in United Kingdom.

Back on her feet, Smart Music Live—her “Dangerous Woman” tour’s major sponsor in Manila— announced on Wednesday that the artist is all set to bring all the light and love with her when when she performs at Mall of Asia Arena her Dangerous Woman tour on August 21.

A concert to look forward to indeed, “The New York Times” praised rande’s Dangerous Woman as “a show of confidence, prowess and aplomb,” describing the performer as “a former child star who got national exposure on Nickelodeon, [who flaunts professionalism, not skin or profanities.”

Meanwhile, Smart Music Live–which gives their subscribers first dibs on tickets as well as free premium tickets—further informed The Manila Times that “Britney Spears was just the tip of the iceberg” in making up their rest-of-year concert lineup.

Justin Bieber headlines the allstar forthcoming concert series experience like never before

Ariana Grande

alongside Grande, Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher of Oasis, and In the Mix’s 5SoS, Dnce, Two-Door Cinema Club, Dua Lipa, Daya and Zara Larsson.

In September, Justin Bieber will take over the Manila stage for the second time with his ongoing “Purpose World Tour.” On Monday, the music star announced he has included the Philippine capital as part of his Asian leg.

According to Smart Music Live, the telecom’s subscribers will indeed have first crack at Bieber tickets through an exclusive ticket

selling activity on July 7. The concert is set on September 30 at the Philippine Arena.

Bieber has churned out some of the biggest hits in recent years including the lead single from the album Purpose called “What Do You Mean?” and other hits “Sorry,” “Love Yourself,” “Let Me Love You,” “Cold Water,” and his own version of “Despacito.”

Billboard praised Bieber’s vocals in Purpose calling it “smooth as ever” while Entertainment Weekly described it as “a concert that shows, beyond a doubt, that Bieber is back.”

But before Beiber and Grande, Liam Gallagher of Oasis will stage his own concert at the Arena on August 14, followed by a grand gathering of 5SoS, Dnce, TwoDoor Cinema Club, Dua Lipa, Daya and Zara Larsson in one concert event dubbed “In the Mix” on August 17.

Finally, as The Manila Times had already announced, Ed Sheeran will bring his muchanticipated 2017 tour to Manila on November 7.

Tracking the #SmartMusicLive hashtag on social media sites as well as logging on to smart.com. ph will provide updates for these shows, produced in Manila by Music Management International (MMI) Live. (ManilaTimes.net)

in Tagalog. George Canseco translated it and “Bakit ba ganyan ang pag-ibig? (Why is Love that Way?) became her first hit song, as predicted, and she bagged her first gold award.

Godinez was the pioneering female songwriter and composer of pop music in the Philippines, preceding Odette Quesada, who was in the audience that night.

Just like the multi-awarded Godinez, Maestro Ryan got an Awit Award for the Best Novelty Recording of his original, “Da Coconut Nut.” Giselle Tongi-Walters — also known as G — dressed in a luminous yellow dress, sang “Da Coconut Nut,” with a troop of children from the Kayamanan ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts, wearing bright colors of kimona. Right beside her was her daughter, Sakura, who sang and danced.

She seemed to be as comfortable onstage as her mom.

Much to the audience’s delight, G sang quite well with lightness and joyful energies, as the children accompanied her while dancing.

G posted on her Instagram, “We are all the colors of the rainbow, performing with children of KNLfolkarts and Sakura on stage was so much fun! I love my knlfolkarts family sooooooo much!”

As much as she enjoyed herself, the audience mirrored that joy as well.

El Filibusterismo, Ramahari, Spoliarium excerpts All three were musicals written

by Maestro Ryan, 11 in total.

El Filibusterismo’s song, “Awit ni Isagani” was sung by Miguel Vera. It was a beautiful, heartfelt rendition evoking such tenderness, with a visual collage of Eliseo Art Silva’s commissioned painting for the Rizal Day celebrations in Philadelphia. It features Inang Bayan hovering above the birthplace of Rizal in Silva’s hometown of Calamba, Laguna.

On the right of Rizal’s portrait are the main characters of his novel “Noli Me Tangere”: Maria Clara with Crisostomo Ibarra.

Had the projector fully illuminated these digital images, it would have had a more visual impact.

Annie Nepomuceno sang “Iduyan mo,” a tribute to Basil Valdez, as if swinging the hammock, back and forth, and with such slowing down and pacing of her lyrics.

“Iduyan mo ang duyan ko/untiunti itulak mo. It did the trick for the audience. The “Rama Hari” song, “Magbalik Ka Na, Mahal,” was a hit as well.

The audience’s favorites A retrospective journey to the 1950s, skip 60’s, to the 70’s, skip ‘80s, to the ‘90s created a stir. At some point, they were humming and joining in vocalizing the lyrics.

The Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) could not have been better.

The “Galawgaw” song created a tease, but when “Waray Waray” was sung and danced to as well, the audience was primed for the picking.

Then the sounds of “No money, no honey” accompanied by adept tap dancing wowed the crowds.

And of course, the song, “O Ang Babae, pag iyong ini wan, hahabol-habol (Oh, a woman, when you leave her, she chases after),” and “Rock Baby Rock,” complete with twirls delighted the audience so much.

By the time it was the tribute to Francis Magalona, RCS sang: “Mga kababayan ko, kaya mo, kaya ko, kaya natin,” our hearts and souls were ripe for picking.

Then, the clincher songs “Sirena”, and “Sabihin Mo Ikaw ay Pilipino” resonated.

During these two songs, no one was talking in the audience, no one was moving, and everyone was hooked to the lyrics of “Sirena,” a rap song composed

by Glock-9, about a gay son who lived with a hostile, harsh father.

He is talking about his struggles, his sufferings and how all the siblings had left home.

When the father was on his deathbed, he summoned his gay son to apologize for treating him so badly and said, “You gays are more men than men.” It touched us and made some folks cry.

Since that weekend was about LGBT pride, the song was quite relevant those sectors of the audience, some of whom were quite vocal in expressing their appreciation for Maestro Ryan and the RCS. When the cast sang their final song, “Sabihin Mo Ikaw ay Pilipino,” you would think folks would be tired, as it was close to three hours by then, yet most stayed until the finale.

These lyrics resonated with this writer, as much with the audience as it spoke to our collective truth: “Sabihin mo ikaw ay Pilipino Kahit saang bansa ikaw ay mag punta Sabihin mo ikaw ay Pilipino Pilipino ka, yan ang totoo (Tell them you are Pilipino/Whatever nation you go/Tell them you are Pilipino/That is the truth).”

Asuncion Ferrer, a retiree, had this to say, “It was good to know that [Ryan’s] students [Annie Nepomuceno, Ed Nepomuceno] are now the ones teaching musicality to the new generation of musicians. Ryan is a genius of our lifetime and contributed much to the OPM (Original Pilipino Music) we are now enjoying.

Sana ibalik ang “Musikahan” to introduce our next generation to Filipino music.”

5

Maureen Wroblewitz: Filipina who...

From Page 3

“At first, I was doubting myself—I didn’t know what I was doing in front of the camera.

I always felt shy to show the few poses I had because I knew everyone else had so much experience. I felt they were all watching me and judging me,” Wreblowitz confessed.

She got back into the game when the other contestants admitted Wroblewitz had a “pretty face.” But behind her back, they whispered it was the only reason why she was surviving eliminations. In fact, by the eighth episode, the group confronted the Filipina rookie and told her she did not deserve to stay in the show.

And that was all Wroblewitz needed to give the fight of her life, pushing her to give the best performances of the season from then on.

“I’d say AsNTM was a crazy, roller-coaster ride. I had a lot of ups and downs, I was at the bottom but I eventually gave the best performance. I’d say I finally saw myself as a strong competitor after ignoring the comments.

I told myself, ‘Just forget about them—do your own thing. You’re doing this for yourself and not for them or anyone else.’ So for the rest of the episodes, I started getting better and feeling more confident,” Wroblewitz recalled.

Indeed, Wroblewitz was on fire on the day of judgment with the panel comprised Bishop; Yu Tsai, AsNTM creative director; Ruby Adler, Storm Management’s model agent; Adele Chan, Nylon Singapore editor-in-chief; and special guest judge and Philippine pride, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

“I never cared that you were the pretty one, or the youngest and the shortest one among the bunch because truthfully in modeling today, none of those labels matters to me. Somehow I knew you would be here and you deserved to be here,” Tsai—who also served as a creative director AJPress photo by Andy Tecson for America’s Next Top Model— Next generation of musicians told Wroblewitz at the final “Ryan Ryan Musikahan” was deliberation.

Maestro Ryan’s television show for years. It garnered 14 awards from various award-giving bodies, such as Best Television Musical Show and Best Show Host for him.

As Ryan narrated, the LA version of Smokey Mountain has been discovered: Edsel Sotiangco, Michael Keith, Louisa Tampi and Josie Gonzalez. Sotiangco had his modern style of singing “Street People,” backed by a Kulintang ensemble, while Gonzalez so tenderly sang “Can this be love I am feeling right now?”

Tampi sang with such a hopeful, sensual style that it was so credible to hear the lyrics from her: “Together we will find a hideaway/ where we can stay from day to day.”

Michael Keith confided how nervous he was and that he was shaking coming onstage, yet, did not reveal those while he competently sang “Mama” and these lyrics: “Mom you were gone since I was five” got seared in our hearts, as any listener would. He sang with such abandonment that the crowd just quieted down on their own especially when he sang the list of jobs that distant moms do: governess, nurse and more.

Bravo to these next generation singers who are strong academically but also, in musicality, ranging in age from 12 to 19 years old.

Now, we all have been shown the light by Maestro Ryan and to the next generation of students, it is up to you to spread your wings and be the light, using your musicality!

Annie Nepomuceno, you produced with superior results, the venue had the best sound projection and acoustics. Not only did you excel as a producer, arranger, you did it too as a singer and inspirer-in-action!

What a seamless, impeccable show! This recent concert was phenomenal and if you were there, you would have witnessed history — our history — of quality, collective expressions of musicality, performance arts and mentoring.

This writer is in fact coming back to see another show in San Diego just to relive these beautiful, joyful moments!

Ryan Cayabyab is more than a musical genius. He elevates other singers, younger generations to exceed his musicality. This is the best of our Filipino-Americans in the U.S., mentoring one another to perform at their soaring level best

Musikahan! with Maestro Ryan...

From Page 2

june 30-july 6, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

Lack of experience Asked what she felt was her biggest advantage in the competition, Wroblewitz quickly credited her very lack of modeling experience.

“I really feel like being inexperienced is not a bad thing because it just gives you more room to learn. You become a sponge—you hear everything and learn everything and then you use them,” Wroblewitz affirmed.

She talked about how experienced models come to the competition set in their ways already.

“As an experienced model, you’ve already had many photo shoots so when someone comes up and tells you that you have to change this and that, you may say, ‘Why should I when I’ve been modeling for so long and it was never a problem?’ So it’s kind of harder to change your ways compared to someone like me who was learning everything for the first time and doing everything for the first time,” Wroblewitz analyzed.

The new top model of the region said she believes the judges saw “an overall package in her.” Elaborating, she said, “It’s not just about the look—the whole package also includes how you will fare outside the competition.”

Thoughts on bullying As the show’s new winner, Wroblewitz finally came to terms with the bullying she experienced in the competition. For the levelheaded young woman, it’s just all part of the game.

“We really felt the competition all through the show because that’s really how it is. But in the end, we can all just forget about it and be ourselves now,” Wreblowitz told The Manila Times.

She also defended fellow Filipina Sanchez who was among her vocal critics in the roster.

“I know Filipinos should support each other so at first, I didn’t really understand why that was happening. But on the other hand, if you forget about being Filipinas and really get into the competition, it makes more sense.

Maybe she was threatened by me so maybe she thought she had to bring me down and make me feel like giving up,” Wroblewitz surmised.

But in the end, all’s well that ends triumphantly and Wreblowitz is grateful she proved her critics wrong.

“I’m really happy that I proved them wrong—that I’m not just a pretty face. I am so much more that.”

Asked for her message to those who experience bullying in their lives, she said, “You shouldn’t really mind them. Just focus on yourself, focus on the people you love and who love you, and get positive vibes all the time.”

Where next?

Asia’s new top model is now ready to conquer the international scene as part of her prize. Besides driving home a new car and landing the cover of Nylon Singapore, she also has the chance to be represented by Storm Model Management of London based on her output from here on.

As she spent her night of victory though, the FilipinaGerman was happy to kick her heels off and express the happiness in her heart.

“I want thank you all so much for accepting me and for supporting me—the last Filipina standing,” she ended.

june 30-july 6, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

6

What’s next for host/producer G...

From Page 2

A platform for Fil-Am representation and discussion Hosting and producing a daily talk show lends itself to tackling a variety of issues. In addition to highlighting local artists and business owners in the LA Fil-Am community, Tongi said her favorite moments were the panels she hosted over the last three years.

Every month, the show would focus on a theme or a topical issue such as race, immigration, gender, health care and others. Tongi would then invite a wide variety of experts in the community to share diverse perspectives on the issues and challenge traditional points of view with progressive ones.

She also addressed the importance of the show to the Fil-Am community. Her mission was to “bridge the gap” between older generations of Filipinos to the contemporary Fil-Ams as well as between those living in the United States and Filipinos in the Philippines.

“I always want to advocate for Filipino Americans because it’s a tough space to be in because you’re in the middle of the pathway between these two cultures and understanding your place in this world,” Tongi remarked. “I felt if there was anything that ‘Kababayan Today’

G Tongi with Sen. Manny Pacquiao

provided was that space to recognize who we are, not just in media but in society, discussion and generations because Filipino Americans have different sensibilities according to their generation.”

Recently, Tongi has faced much backlash and cyberbullying from members of the community for voicing her candor on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, especially his rhetoric and encouragement of extrajudicial killings.

Since the announcement of the show’s ending, Tongi said she received unpleasant messages from Duterte supporters, calling the show’s ending “digital karma” for speaking out against the president.

Of the backlash, Tongi

wanted to reassure everyone that she isn’t less inclined to voice her opinions on any platform.

“This show going off the air is not going to stop me from critiquing, not just the Duterte administration, but all administrations. Many people say I have no right to talk about politics, but I do because it affects kababayans, and if there is anything happening that will affect kababayans living in America, I will have something to say about it,” Tongi affirmed, adding that once the weekly program is up and running, she plans to further discussions on political news.

The final episode of “Kababayan Today” will air on Friday on Channel 18 at 4:30 p.m.

Is Troye Sivan in Manila?

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

FAnS were abuzz on Wednesday, June 28 after alleged photos of Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan supposedly taken in Manila, circulated online.

A netizen posted a photo of a guy who appeared to be Troye on Twitter, with the caption “HOY HOY TEKA BAKIT KA AnDITO HInDI KO GETS!!” while tagging the international artist.

This was then shared by thousands of netizens, making Troye Sivan one of the trending topics last Wednesday.

Others pointed out that Troye’s photo was taken in a

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

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

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

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

Troye Sivan

“If he is in the country and you see him, please respect his privacy,” the fan page’s post read.

Troye is known for his songs “Youth,” “Wild,” “Fools,” “Happy Little Pill,” among others.

Why Derrick Monasterio almost fainted on set by lhAR

sAntiAgo ManilaTimes.net

HE was tied upside down and repeatedly plunged into water. That was the torture scene Derrick Monasterio taped at a bar, which unsurprisingly is his most challenging and physically difficult task for the camera to date.

Another gripping turn of events in the high-flying series, “Mulawin versus Ravena,” the story line presents Joko Diaz—who plays the role of Antonio—believing that Derrick’s character—Rodrigo—has knowledge about the half-humanhalf-bird creatures. And so, to extract information from Rodrigo about the Mulawins, Antonio tortures him.

“The scene was harder than I thought it would be,” admitted Derrick. “It was not easy holding my breath in the water. Iba pag nakabitin ka ng patiwarik at inilulubog ka sa tubig. I swallowed a lot of water. The scene was so real that I almost fainted. But I’m so thankful that the team, the staff and the he crew who were there keeping their eyes on me. Every time they noticed that my face was so red, itatayo na nila ko. Sa totoo lang, I felt so weak after.”

Before the scene was taken, the production told Derrick they would use a double for him since Kababayan Today often featured young local musicians, artists and innovators and gave them a platform to showcase their talents.

Photos courtesy of G Tongi they knew how difficult it would

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ

shopping mall in Makati City.

SM Makati also confirmed that Troye visited the mall.

Although there was no announcement of his arrival nor shows scheduled for Troye, he took to Twitter to confirm that he was indeed in Manila. “dipped in n out of the Philippines this week workin on fun stuff. If I’ve taken one thing from this trip it’s that I can’t WAIT to come back,” Troye wrote.

He also shared that he got some “craziest news” while he was in the country.

Troye’s Filipino fans on Facebook page Troye Sivan Philippines earlier called on other fans to respect Troye’s privacy in case they see him.

Derrick Monasterio

be. But Derrick insisted that to do it himself.

“I decided to do it because I want to learn. Kailan pa ako gagawa ng mga ganitong eksena?

The opportunity was there and I had to face the challenge. Besides, if I allow a double, pag pumalpak siya, it will still reflect on me.”

One thing is for sure though, and that is Derrick’s transformation happening soon in

the series. From being an ordinary man in Rodrigo, he will turn into the courageous and formidable leader and savior of Avila, the kingdom of the Mulawin, as Almiro.

The transformation is something else. That, everyone has to see. It will be a really glorious moment. We haven’t taped it yet but I’ve read the script already and got so excited. I don’t know how to describe it, I can’t find the right words. The viewers will surely get carried away by that transformation moment–iba siya talaga,” Derrick promised.

The Kapuso actor is so focused on Mulawin that on days when he doesn’t have tapings, he spends it in the gym. He said he wants to be ready all the time because his role is physically demanding. As much as possible, he doesn’t want to accept other projects might distract him Mulawin.

Last weekend, however, he temporarily shifted his attention to something he considers equally challenging–hosting. He emceed 2017 Miss Global Philippines with Luanne Dy. “I accepted the offer because hosting is something I consider foreign territory, which I also want to explore. This is the second year that I hosted the pageant and so far, I’m happy with the feedback I am getting. I hope this hosting stint leads to more hosting jobs for me,” Derrick ended.

june 30-july 6, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA

7

Calling a spade a spade “Speak the truth, but leave immediately after.”

- Slovenian Proverb We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.

We have abused power and called it political savvy.

We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the timehonored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of this state and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state of Kansas. Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your Will.

I ask in in the name of your Son, The Living Savior, Jesus Christ. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

A FRIEND emailed me the prayer below. I had to do some fact-checking with some websites that do the digging about the veracity of email content that does the rounds in Cyberville.

The internet is rife with rumors and it is always good policy to verify and dig deeper.

This prayer of repentance has gone viral and despite its longevity in cyberspace, refuses to die a natural death. My guess is that the prayer resonates with many in the country. The truth, as they said, will make us free.

This prayer is probably worth amplifying and passing to others during a time when political correctness marginalizes the truth.

American society has been conditioned by popular culture to play nice to the extent that we are afraid to confront what must be addressed. Calling a spade a spade is risky in a time when we have strayed as far away as we could from the core values that held this country for more than 2 centuries.

Fifteen years ago on January 23, 1s996, in Topeka, Kansas, Pastor Joe Wright of the Central Christian Church in Wichita led a prayer in the Kansas House that stirred controversy and continues to stir a hornet’s nest to this day.

It’s a prayer that made legislators, particularly those of the liberal persuasion, very uncomfortable. Pastor Wright

said a prayer written by Bob Russell, a Pastor of another Christian church in Kentucky. A member of the legislative body walked out and others were vocal in their criticism of the prayer.

Later that year, a lawmaker in Colorado repeated the prayer and some of his colleagues became angry and walked out in protest.

A radio personality, Paul Harvey, picked it up and aired the story and the prayer with some frequency. The response to the prayer is so overwhelmingly in favor of it, his phone system could not handle it.

Are you curious as to why a simple prayer can rile some lawmakers and make them uncomfortable? Are you curious as to why a simple prayer can be so controversial? Here it is in its entirety.

Judge for yourself.

A PRAYER FOR OUR NATION Heavenly Father, We come before You today to ask Your Forgiveness and seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘’Woe to those who call evil good,’’ but that’s exactly what we have done.

We have lost our Spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.

We confess that; we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism.

We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.

We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.

Health@Heart

Debunking diet myths

PhiliP S. ChuA, Md, FACS, FPCS IN today’s health-oriented world, the four major players — diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol abuse – are in the spotlight. Diet weighs heavily on this equation and has also been a subject of a lot of pervasive myths and misinformation. Today, we shall review some of the most popular misconception about diet.

Fasting is the best way to start Fasting is the wrong way to start, or even “punctuate,” your dieting schedule. Fasting has no place at all in controlling weight or quality of nutrition for our body. The temporary weight loss resulting from fasting is thru water loss (dehydration). The best way to maintain your weight is to burn the calories your take in daily (example: if you take in 2000 calories, you should exercise off 2000 calories that day). It is a matter of intake and output, an obvious common sense approach. If one is overweight and wants to lose weight, then the calories burned should be higher than the calories ingested, until the goal is reached…and at that point, the maintenance intake and output formula should prevail. Those who want to gain weight to reach the ideal weight, obviously, should have more intake than output of calories.

Low carb-high protein diet is best Not true. Those on low carbohydrate diet alone, but on high protein (meats, egss, etc) had good initial weight loss, but regained the weight after six to 12 months, as shown by some studies. They faired better than those on low fat diet, which is actually more healthy as far as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic illnesses and cancers are concerned. However, low carb diet, combined with low fat diet and exercise, has been found to be the best regimen. This means the diet mainly consists of fish and bean curd, beans, grains and nuts (as the main source of protein and oil) and a lot of green leafy and other vegetables, and fruits. Among diabetics, fruits should be included in the calculation of the total daily restricted calorie intake.

Enemas aids in dieting.

False! This is a myth that is unhealthy. Enemas for cleansing “to get rid of toxins in our body,” is not medically accepted as a means of detoxification and weight control. To detoxify our body, the best way is to

abstain from smoking, minimize alcohol intake and exposure to other toxic agents, eat a lot of vegetables, nuts, some fruits, and to exercise daily. There have been reports of deaths with frequent self-prescribed enemas.

They could lead to diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, electrolyte imbalance, heartbeat irregularity, and bowel perforation. The socalled designer coffee enema for colon cleansing is not only expensive but also useless and very dangerous.

Eating late at night leads to more weight gain and fats This is no more true than the myth that Elvis Presley is alive.

Of course, it is best not to have a full stomach close to bedtime.

Going to bed 3 to 4 hours after a meal is fine. The calories taken at night have the same effect as those taken during the daytime.

While you burn less calories while sleeping, you lose these when you get up in the morning and start your daily routine, especially if you exercise every day.

“Slimming tea” works This is a myth. “Slimming Tea,” or other drinks that are advertised as effective for weight reduction, are per se, useless and a waste of money. Any beverage, so long as they are zero calorie drinks, can help in weight reduction, if taken in lieu of a ton of calories. And I repeat, in lieu of. Not together with thousands of calories. If you drink them and still eat more calories than you burn, then you will gain weight, regardless of what fluid you drink.

There is absolutely NO beverage on the market that will lead to weight reduction, per se. There is no easy solution to overweight; it takes education, discipline, determination and hard work.

But the dividends are worth the sacrifices.

Drinking a lot of water leads to weight gain Only if you heart or kidney is not healthy. Heart or kidney failure patients tend to retain water, so water restriction is part of the treatment among many of them. However, for someone who is otherwise healthy except for excess body weight, drinking two glasses of water before each meal is a great strategy in appetite and calorie control (it “fools” the brain into thinking the stomach is already full), which reduces the food intake, and, subsequently, the weight. The recommended fluid intake is at least 8 glasses of water a day. However, if the beverage ingested is loaded with a lot of calories (like regular cola drinks, fruit drinks, smoothies, etc.), then rapid weight gain results. Fruits juices (fresh fruits are better than the juice) should

be limited to 4 oz a day since it has a high concentration of added sugar. Sugar-loaded pop beverages are among the top culprits in the calorie explosion of today, and should be avoided.

Purified water is the healthier and cheaper universal beverage for all seasons.

Eating grapefruit will help burn body fats A caveat to remember: there is no food known to man today that can burn or “melt” body fats, or that can reduce weight without proper dieting. Eating grapefruit is good, if done (again) in lieu of eating tons of calories.

Grapefruits, like many fruits and multi-colored and green leafy vegetables, are loaded with good anti-oxidants that protect our body from the ravages caused by free radicals. So, eating them daily is healthy for us, but for fat and weight reduction, the only guaranteed formula is our basic common sense principle: output must be equal to intake (calories taken in = calories burned) in order to maintain a certain weight. And you can extrapolate from there to suit your personal goal.

Are sodas/soft drinks safe?

Soft drinks, regular or diet, cola or uncola, caffeinated or not, are not only unhealthy but toxic to the body, especially for children. They increase the risk for the development of metabolic syndrome, number one killer among diseases. For those on a diet, drinking soft drinks is like pouring water on someone who is already drowning. Taxes for soft drinks, like taxes for cigarettes, are being increased through legislation to discourage people from using these toxic agents.

Diet without exercise While dieting or watching our diet, pushing ourselves away from the dining table less than full to maintain a healthy weight, body, and mind, doing this disciplined strategy, adding exercise to this healthy lifestyle regimen, more than triple its beneficial effects as far as boosting our immune system, our physiology, disease prevention, and overall well-being for health and longevity. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

Calendar of Events across

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS J u LY 7

Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers in concert in Las Vegas Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) will hold a concert at the Flamingo Theatre of the Clark County Library at 7 p.m., with touring guest Annie Nepomuceno and special guest tenor Edward Granadosin. Front acts are Michael Perez and Esmeralda Padilla. Please call Dr. Mike Santa Juana at (516) 669-5834, Art Jerus (702) 738-8029 or Randolph Umali (702) 985-5724 for inquiries.

J u LY 8

United Batanguenos of Southern California Induction in Los Angeles The United Batanguenos of Southern California will hold its induction of officers on Saturday, July 8 at Casa Italiana in Los Angeles. Millie Moncada will be inducted as new governor. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions please call Millie at (818) 322-9429; Cely Anuran (805) 630-3377 or Willie Manacsa at (818) 400-7391. Casa Italiana is located at 1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

J u LY 1 1 -1 6

11th Ambassadors’ Tour to Manila & Davao The 11th Ambassadors’ Tour will take place in the Philippines from July 11 to 16. Led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism’s Tourism Promotions Board and Rajah Tours, the itinerary for the 11th Ambassadors’ Tour combines the best of Metropolitan Manila up North and the sprawling city of Davao in the South into one adventure-packed and enriching vacation experience. The four-day stay in Davao, the King City of the South and current seat of power in the Philippines, is a special highlight of this year’s event. Participants in this year’s tour will be presented with an opportunity to experience Davao up-close. It is a chance for the participants to revel in Davao’s picturesque landscapes through its nature parks, agricultural farms, and resorts, experience the diversity of its people through a series of courtesy calls with Philippine government officials, and feel the harmony of its culture through its heritage and cultural museums. Tailor-fit to tell the narrative of a new, safer, more beautiful Philippines, the tour will provide its participants with enough experience to engage their respective communities and leverage goodwill towards Filipinos and generate interest in the Philippines. Delegates who will be part of the program become “Filipino ambassadors” in their own right, carrying a fresh perspective and the message of a new and improved Philippines when they go back to the United States. As “Filipino Ambassadors,” this year’s delegates will be well-capable of showcasing the strides made in tourism, economic development, and public safety in the Philippines to the larger international community. For more information and to register, please visit http://www. acgtdt.com.

J u LY 1 5

Money Smart for Small Business in El Monte, CA Come to an introductory two-day business course designed for newer business owners, self-employed individuals, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Course topics include: startup planning, organizational types, risk management, credit reporting, business insurance, time & financial management, selling & succession planning, banking services for small businesses, recordkeeping, and tax & business planning. The curriculum is developed jointly by the FDIC and the SBA. It will be held on Saturday, July 15 and July 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cathay Bank (9650 Flair Dr., El Monte, CA 91731). The fee is $20 payable to Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (API SBP). Breakfast, lunch and course materials will be provided by Cathay Bank. There will be limited seating so advance registration is required. To register, please contact Colleen Seto at (213) 373-1605 or cseto@ltsc.org. Participants will be eligible for free business counseling by API SBP.

J u LY 2 0

LEAP’s 35th anniversary celebration in Los Angeles Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP) is proud to celebrate 35 years of ”Growing Leaders” on Thursday, July 20 and the leadership of individuals that exemplify LEAP’s mission to achieve full participation and equality for Asian and Pacific Islanders through leadership, empowerment, and policy. Proceeds from the event will be used to develop LEAP’s innovative leadership programs, cutting-edge public policy research, and nationwide community building. This year’s 35th Anniversary Celebration will be like no other gala that LEAP has had in the past. LEAP’s 35th Anniversary Celebration will be an eventful evening that will be both interactive and experiential. With an abundance of food and friends, LEAP will celebrate those who have shaped the organization, those who have been impacted by the organization, and those who continue to grow as Asian and Pacific Islander leaders and dream big. Honores for the individual leadership award include Fatima Bustos-Choy, Phd, founder of Gaia Flow Consulting and CEO And owner of Body & Brain Holistic Wellness Center; Kenneth Kasamatsu, advisor to the CEO, E-Central Credit Union / The Pacific Bridge Companies, and founder of Pacific Commerce Bank ; Geri Mannion, program director, U.S. Democracy and Special Opportunities Fund at Carnegie Corporation of New York; and Paul Ong, director of the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge at UCLA. The David R. Barclay Alumni Leadership Award will be presented to Scott Chan, program director for the Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement and Patricia A. Neilson, director of Asian American Student Success at University of Massachusetts Boston. The VIP & general reception will begin at 5 p.m., while the program is from 7 to 10 p.m. It will be held at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (244 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90012). Attire is business. To RSVP, visit www.leap.org/celebration_tickets. For more information about registration, contact Mayta Lor at (213) 485-1422 x 4105 or mlor@leap.org.

J u LY 2 1 -23

Filipino Caucus Family Retreat in Lake Hughes, CA The Filipino Caucus of the California Pacific Annual Conference (CALPAC) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) is inviting its members to a family retreat to be held from July 21 to 23. The venue will be the scenic Oak Camps and Conference Center (18651 Pine Canyon Road, Lake Hughes, California). The Rev. Dr. Bener Agtarap, Associate General Secretary of the UMC Board of Discipleship Ministry will be the resource person and guest speaker during the three- day gathering to be marked with group discussions and fellowship. “Rekindling the Flame” will be the theme of this retreat. According to Rev. Nelson Castorillo, the Filipino Caucus president, the goal of the retreat is re-igniting and rekindling the symbolic flame representing the spirit and unity of this growing group of Filipino-American Methodists and hoping this type of gathering will reenergize and revitalize the Church.

The Rosewood UMC, headed by Ding Lapus, is coordinating the event. He is assisted

by Noribel Taguba, Vicky Ignacio, Dennis Mañacop, Auring Garcia, John Umaguing, Revs.

Manny Predas and Lisa Santiago. Food and lodging for three days is $148 and $103 for children 7-12 years old. Check is payable to the Filipino Caucus, PO Box 10435, Glendale, CA 91209. For more information please call Rev. Nelson (909) 538-7606 or email at nelsonpreacher@gmail.com.

O c tO b e r 1 4

26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Echo Park Save the date! The 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) hosted by Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is back at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, October 14. Expect a whole day filled with art exhibits, entertainment, and Fil-Am vendors. More details and special guests to be announced. For more information, please visit: http://www.filamarts.org/.

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

14608-3_4thofJulySale_June30_Final.pdf

1

6/26/17

3:15 PM

JUNE 30-JULY 6, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

8

thof

SALE

$

W NO 11

n o ULY g J

DM HMM 4272

in TIL

7PC DINING SET

Go UN

LOVESEAT

59999

$

Includes table and 6 side chairs

SOFA OR LOVESEAT

CHAIR AVAILABLE

SOFA

49999

349

$ RECLINER

89999

Includes headboard, footboard, 6PC QUEEN BEDROOM SETrails, dresser, mirror, and nightstand ALSO AVAILABLE IN GRAY!

$

99

RECLINER

$

LM KMX DR808

ELECTRONICS

69999

3PC SECTIONAL

LMTRJMALIBUS

LMTRJMALIBUL

SOFA and LOVESEAT +FREE RECLINER

79999

$ DUAL RECLINER

5PC PUB SET

APPLIANCES

July

BM EMB 800QB

FURNITURE

79999

$

AVAILABLE IN CAL KING

Includes pub table and 4 side chairs

+FRLEINEER REC

34999

$

BU HMM TR464

EASY CREDIT! IN-HOUSE FINANCING!

DUAL RECLINER

LM KMX 8358

DANIELSHOMECENTER.COM 99 699 $69999

$

6PC QUEEN BEDROOM SET

FREE

*

BOXSPRING

STORAGE

With a purchase of any iComfort and iComfort Hybrid Mattress

*Can not be combined with any other offers See store for Details

Set includes headboard, footboard, rails, dresser and mirror, and nightstand

STORAGE

BM GLO NOMAQ

TRELLESBURG EXTRA FIRM

DAWN SUPER PILLOW TOP

QUEEN MATTRESS

QUEEN MATTRESS

Adjustable Friendly

Adjustable Friendly

STAINLESS STEEL FRENCH DOOR REFRIGERATOR

59999

$

MATTRESS ONLY MATTRESS SET

69999

$

Recliner $

79999

er Reclin

MATTRESS ONLY

MTDMMDAWPTQM

55”

849

$ 99 LM KMX DR808

SMART 50”

SAVE 2,29999 $600 Technology SMART TV •• Q4KPicture Color Drive Elite

$

69999

$

SAVE $150

99999

TPSAM55åQ7FAM

#UN50MU6300

SAVE $800

#WA45H7000AW

#DV45H7000GW

47999

TPSAM50MU630

6THANNUAL SHOW 2017 17510 Carmenita Rd Cerritos, CA 90703 562-348-4773 Mon-Sat 10am-8pm Sun 10:30am-7:30pm

57999

$

SAVE $220

4.5 CF. TL.

7.4 CF. TL.

LWSAMH7000AW

LWSAMH7000GW

#RF26HFENDSR

RWSAMRF26H SAVE $250

Gear S3

39999

$

15.6" LAPTOP

• 6GB • 1TB W10 • Intel Core

99 299each

$

• iOS Compatible • Samsung Pay • Water Resistant • Bluetooth CPSAMR770NZS CPSAMR760NDA • GPS #SM-R760NDAAXAR #SM-R770NZSAXAR • Built-In Mic

JULY 9th

CERRITOS - NEW!

SAVE $220

$

Price Valid July 2 - 4

• Smart TV with One Remote • 4K UHD • 4K Color Drive • MR 120

• HDR Elite, Elite Black, Every View • Ultra High Definition

#QN55Q7FAM

MATTRESS SET

MTSERTREFMQM

DRYER

25.5 CU. FT.

$ • ENERGY STAR® • Door Alarm • Twin Cooling Plus® • Gallon Door Bins • Filtered Ice Maker in the Freezer

WASHER

ANAHEIM

255 S. Euclid St Anaheim, CA 92802 714-999-1285 Mon-Sat 10am-8:30pm Sun 10:30am-7:30pm

#X7T50UAABA

At Daniel’s Parking lot - ANAHEIM CHINO

RIZE!

P GRAND

12noon to 4 pm

12605 Central Ave Chino, CA 91710 909-291-0688 Mon-Sat 10am-8pm Sun 10:30am-7:30pm

CLHPX7T50UA

OUTLET CENTER

353 N Euclid Way Anaheim, CA 92801 714-999-1281 Mon-Sun 10am-7pm

Offers valid only until July 11, 2017 or while supplies last. Daniel’s Home Center is not responsible for misprinted sale prices and typographic errors. Advertised items are limited in quantities and we reserve the right to substitute advertised item with a comparable item. Color fabric and finishes may vary from shown. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers. One item per customer. Must bring ad for special pricing. *O.A.C

14608-3 ASIAN | NWSPR | 06/30

49”

LED HDTV

Compliments of Daniel’s Home Center

NOW HIRING ALL POSITIONS APPLY IN-STORE OR ONLINE!