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Palace: Int’l court can’t interfere in PH affairs

by CatheRine

Valente ManilaTimes.net

mAlAcAñAng sees no reason for the International criminal court (Icc) to intervene in issues concerning the Philippines, particularly on the country’s fight against illegal drugs.

In a statement, presidential spokesman ernesto Abella maintained that “no concrete evidence” has shown that the killings of suspected drug personalities in the Philippines were

state-sponsored. “the International criminal court (Icc) cannot arbitrarily interfere in the domestic affairs of a sovereign country like the Philippines,” Abella said. “there is no concrete evidence pointing to crimes against humanity here: such crimes must be widespread and systematically directed against a specific group. this element is absent in the Philippine situation,” he said. the Palace official added: “the

Philippine senate already absolved the President and there exists no such crime.”

Duterte has repeatedly blasted critics and opponents, including international bodies that have spoken out against his brutal war on drugs, saying he won’t stop until the last drug lord is driven out.

In a television interview, commission on human rights chairman Jose luis martin “chito” gascon said the Icc was closely monitoring drug kill-

ings in the country.

Icc prosecutor fatou Bensouda in october 2016 said that “any person in the Philippines who incites or engages in acts of mass violence, including by ordering, requesting, encouraging or contributing, in any other manner, to the commission of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Icc, is potentially liable to prosecution before the court.” the Philippines has been a state PAGE A2 Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella

OFWs suffer harassment due to Robredo’s UN message

DATELINE

USA

by RobeRtzon

Trump admin warns anew that sanctuary cities could lose federal funding stAtes and cities that continue to shield undocumented immigrants and refuse to abide by federal immigration laws may face the risk of losing federal funding, the trump administration said.

During an announcement at the White house on monday, march 27, Attorney general Jeff sessions urged the so-called sanctuary jurisdictions to “consider carefully the harm they are doing to their citizens” by resisting federal immigration enforcement. “such policies make their cities and states less safe — public safety, as well as national security, are at stake — and put them at risk of losing federal dollars,” he said. the attorney general added that if these sanctuary jurisdictions had not protected criminal undocumented immigrants, “countless Americans would be alive today and countless loved ones would not be grieving today.”

About $4.1 billion in law enforcement grants will be allocated through the Department of Justice this year. In order to receive a portion of that funding, cities and states must comply and share citizenship and immigration status if requested PAGE A2

Filipino faces murder, burglary charges in Las Vegas shooting

RamiRez

Philstar.com

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

LOOKING INTO BENHAM RISE. Senator Win Gatchalian (middle), chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, presides over the continuation of a Senate hearing looking into security and environmental concerns following reports of suspicious Chinese activities in the strategically important and mineral rich Benham Rise. “There is an urgent need to conduct extensive scientific research in Benham Rise to fully discover how its development will benefit the Filipino people. These plans must be put into place now so that future generations of Filipinos will be able to reap the benefits of the area’s ecological wealth and unexplored energy resources,” Gatchalian said. Senator Sonny Angara (right), author of a Senate bill creating a Benham Rise Development Authority (BRDA), also attended the hearing.

Senate photo by Alex Nuevaespaña

mAnIlA - some 500 overseas filipino workers (ofWs) want Vice President leni robredo impeached because of the video message she delivered before the Un that allegedly led their employers to harass them in their workplaces.

Interior and local government assistant secretary epimaco Densing III said ofWs in Italy, canada and UK reported being ostracized “because of robredo’s malicious video message.” “many ofWs complained the past 10 days because they are harassed by their employers... they could not work properly because they are being confronted on the killings here,” Densing said in a dzrJ forum in makati city. most of the complaining ofWs, he added, are working at health care facilities.

In the video message, robredo claimed filipinos have become “hopeless and helpless” against the killings, among other opinions she raised on President Duterte’s war against illegal drugs.

Densing said bloggers and lawyers would draft the PAGE A2

EU hits back at DSWD Duterte confronts US over past ‘inaction’ in sea row exec’s sarcasm: Child porn is a serious issue

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

chIlD pornography is a very serious issue that should be addressed properly and responsibly, the european Union (eU) said in response to a recent controversial facebook post made by an official from the Philippine Department of social Welfare and Development (DsWD). “the issue of child pornography is extremely serious and a grave crime. It should be addressed in a serious and responsible manner,” eU Ambassador to the Philippines franz Jessen said in a statement on tuesday, march 28.

Jessen made the remarks following social WelPAGE A4

A fIlIPIno man was arrested for a deadly shooting inside a public bus on the las Vegas strip on saturday, march 25. rolando Bueno cardenas faces charges of open murder with use of a firearm, attempted murder with Rolando Bueno Cardenas was use of a firearm, arrested on Saturday, March 25 for shooting at passengers inside burglary while in a public bus on the Las Vegas possession of a Strip. The incident left one man firearm, and disdead and another hospitalized charging a gun with nonlife-threatening injuries. within a vehicle, Photo courtesy of the Las Vegas the las Vegas metMetropolitan Police Department ropolitan Police Department (lVmPD) announced on sunday. the 55-year-old filipino peacefully surrendered to police after a nearly four-hour standoff that left one male dead and another injured. he had been sitting toward the back on the second floor of the double-decker bus before he began opening fire from a handgun around PAGE A2 Manny Pacquiao with adviser Mike Koncz (left) and trainer Freddie Roach.

PresIDent rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, march 29, disclosed that he confronted United states Ambassador to the Philippines sung Kim over Washington’s supposed ‘inaction’ when china began its building activities in the south china sea years ago.

Duterte said he told Kim that the U.s. should have sent its navy ships and stopped china from building manmade structures along the contested waters “had America really wanted to avoid trouble early on.”

“Why did you not send the Armada and the seventh fleet which is MEETING WITH DUTERTE. Cooperation in counterterrorism and intelligence highlighted stationed in the Pacific to just make President Rodrigo Duterte’s meeting with U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim on Monday, March a U-turn and go there and tell them 27 at the Malacañang of the South in Barangay Panacan.

Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante PAGE A2

Pacquiao camp: ‘We are not very worried about any deadline’

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Philstar.com photo

toP rank chief executive Bob Arum may have given an ultimatum but the camp of filipino boxing champion manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is apparently not in a hurry to decide whether or not to accept the match offer against Australian boxer Jeff horn.

“When we believe the terms and conditions of an agreement are in manny’s best interest then we will sign—simple as that,” Pacquiao’s adviser, michael Koncz, told Philippine star. earlier this week, Arum has given Pacquiao until Wednesday, march 29 to decide whether he wants to have a match against horn in Brisbane this coming July 2. sought for comments, Koncz said: “We are not very worried about any deadline.”

According to Arum, if Pacquiao can’t get a match in July, his next match would likely be set in november. he said that the Australian government, who is backing up the match, won’t be able to keep the money on the table forever.

Arum has been endorsing Pacquiao’s match against undefeated horn this coming April 23 at the suncorp stadium. his proposal, however, was put on hold as the possibility of a match against Britain’s Amir Khan this coming may in the United Arab emirates (UAe) was explored.

After the proposed UAe fight against Khan dropped, Arum began to rework his original offer.

“If we can’t get a fight for him this July, we’ll look at november,” manila Bulletin quoted Arum in its report. “Unless it’s a PAGE A4

A

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From the Front Page

Duterte confronts US over past ‘inaction’...

PAGE A1

right on their face ‘stop it’ because there is another set of the law which says you cannot build man-made structure there?,” Duterte recounted telling Kim in his speech during the People’s Day in Oriental Mindoro.

According to him, Kim responded by saying that he was not yet an envoy to the Philippines when China began its con-

structions, adding that he was assigned in North Korea during that time.

Last week, Duterte said the U.S. could have “cut the problem in the bud” had it taken decisive action in the disputed the South China Sea a few years ago.

He then accused Washington of waiting “for the problem to ripen into an international issue.”

Despite this, Manila and Wash-

ington assured that both countries enjoy a strong partnership and friendship.

According to Philippine Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, Duterte told Kim during their meeting earlier on Monday in Davao City that the relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. “at the bilateral level remain[s] strong,” adding that “there is readiness to discuss more matters of mutual interest with the U.S.” Abella said Kim also assured Duterte that the U.S. “understands the security concerns of the Philippines” and is “ready to provide more military equipment, assistance and training.”

“They agreed that the PH and the U.S. have mutual interests and shared values. Both stressed that these fruitful engagements and discussions are very important in ensuring that both states are on the same page,” Abella related.

On the other hand, the U.S. Embassy in Manila described Duterte and Kim’s meeting as “friendly” and “productive.”

In a statement on Tuesday, the Embassy said the two officials “discussed the extensive bilateral partnership over the years as well as cooperation on counterterrorism, child protection, piracy, and economic development in Mindanao.”

‘Bilateral mechanism’ Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua assured Beijing’s cooperation with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) towards a ‘bilateral mechanism’ and code of conduct in the South China Sea. “Through this bilateral mechanism, mutual trust and maritime cooperation will be forged and misunderstandings will be avoided,” Abella added. According to him, Zhao assured Duterte of China’s commitment during a meeting in Davao City.

Based on a “nine-dash-line,” China has claimed sovereignty on almost all of the South China Sea, resulting in territorial conflicts with its neighboring countries including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

To address the tensions the ASEAN, with Philippines as its chair this year, has been fast-tracking the framework of a code of conduct to ease the maritime conflicts in the South China Sea.

BAD COP. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said the arrest of Supt. Lito Cabamongan, the chief of the Crime Laboratory’s Muntinlupa unit, proves that there are no sacred cows in the ongoing internal cleansing of the PNP. Cabamongan was caught sniffing “shabu” (metamphetamine hydrochloride) with his female companion Nedy Sabdao in a shanty community inside Everlasting Homes at Barangay (village) Talon IV around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 30.

PNP photo

Palace: Int’l court can’t interfere...

PAGE A1

party to the ICC since November 1, 2011.

New tirade vs EU On Thursday, March 30, President Duterte launched another tirade against the European Union (EU), calling it “f****** s***” for criticizing his bloody war on drugs.

This came after the EU summoned Manila’s envoy to Brussels on Monday to explain “unacceptable” comments made by Duterte last week, in which the President said he would be “very glad” to hang the European Parliament for “interfering” in the affairs of the Philippines.

In remarks during the oathtaking ceremonies for newly appointed government officials in Malacañang, Duterte said the EU

had no moral ascendancy to recommend anti-narcotics policies in the Philippines because of its members’ history of colonization.

“I do not go into that kind of rigmarole of many stories. I am straightforward regarding drugs.

This EU, son of a b****,” the President said.

“You know if you would ask how I would describe them [EU lawmakers], just tell them the mayor has said, ‘You’re a f****** s***,’” said the former Davao City mayor.

Duterte then lambasted the EU because of how its member-countries had historically subjugated other lands.

“For after all, you are ahead of the industrialization age because you conquered lands. They massacred a lot of people,” the Presi-

dent said.

“We hate you, the EU, for being hypocrites. You are the incongruity of our times,” he added.

The EU had condemned the “many extrajudicial killings” in the country since Duterte launched the fight against narcotics trade.

On Wednesday, March 29, Duterte called the EU “crazy” for calling for the immediate release of his leading critic, Sen. Leila de Lima, who is detained on drug-related charges that she claims were trumped-up.

Despite criticisms hurled against him, Duterte maintained that his drug war would be relentless.

He warned drug traders: “I will kill you. I will really kill you. You choose: ambush or sniper? Don’t ruin my country.”

OFWs suffer harassment due to Robredo’s...

PAGE A1

impeachment complaint using economic sabotage as ground.

Some of the lawyers created a unified email address so they could consolidate their evidence and other needed data.

He added that the group, who called themselves the Impeach VP Leni Team, would review one of Duterte’s speeches that asked people to stop impeaching the Vice President as he might have said “step it up” and not “stop it.”

The assistant secretary said the Philippine economy was affected by what Robredo did.

“If it did not affect our economy and OFWs, maybe we would have just dismissed it… but her audience was the international community. This is too much,” Densing said.

Robredo’s comments, he

Robredo smiling as she claims to a UN body that thousands of Filipinos have been summarily executed in Duterte’s anti-drug war.

Screen grab from the video message sent to the UN posted on her official website.

added, led to the country’s loss of $432 million in grants from the Millennium Challenge Corp.

(MMC) and $1.8 billion in investments from three Spanish firms.

This is reportedly aside from the negative impact on tourism and the planned cancellations of trade privileges to the European Union.

Trump admin warns anew that sanctuary...

PAGE A1

by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Sessions said.

The attorney general, however, did not offer any new policies with regard to how the administration would handle the defiant areas.

“The American people want and deserve a lawful system of immigration that keeps us safe, and one that serves national interests,” Sessions said. “This expectation is reasonable, just, and our government has the duty to meet it and we will meet it.”

In late January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that called for the stripping of federal funds for areas that do not cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies and do not hand over undocumented immigrants who are subject to deportation.

Those who do not comply “are not eligible to receive federal grants, except as deemed necessary for law enforcement purposes by the Attorney General or the Secretary,” the order read.

It also called for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue a “Weekly Detainer Outcome Report” that highlights crimes committed by undocumented im-

migrants and a list of jurisdictions that choose not to cooperate with ICE’s detainers or requests for notification.

Last week, the department released its first report, which found that Clark County in Nevada had the highest number of declined detainer requests at 51. It also showed that 206 out of 3,083 detention requests were declined by local law enforcement across the country.

The requests call for local law enforcement to hold individuals who could be deportable for an extra 48 hours after they are jailed for their arrests so they can be picked up by ICE agents.

“Our goal is to build cooperative, respectful relationships with our law enforcement partners. We will continue collaborating with them to help ensure that illegal aliens who may pose a threat to our communities are not released onto the streets to potentially harm individuals living within our communities,” Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan said in a statement.

Cities and towns across the United States, including Los Angeles and New York, have made it clear that they would continued to defy the administration’s moves.

On Monday, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti reiterated that he would fight any attempts to take away federal funding.

“Slashing funds for first-responders, for our port and airport, for counterterrorism, crimefighting and community-building serves no one — not this city, not the federal government, not the American people,” he said, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

He added that he would work closely with members of Congress “to make sure that Los Angeles does not go without federal resources that help protect millions of people every day.”

Last week, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed a brief in support of a Santa Clara County lawsuit against the president’s executive order on sanctuary cities.

“California has a sovereign right and responsibility to protect the safety and the constitutional rights of its residents, and that is what we will continue to do,” he said, arguing that the threat to take away state and local resources “raises serious constitutional questions and threatens the safety of our communities.” (AJPress)

Filipino faces murder, burglary charges...

PAGE A1 11 a.m. The bus had come to a stop on Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the Cosmopolitan Hotel to unload passengers.

The deceased victim has been identified as 57-year-old Gary Breitling of Sidney, Montana, who died at a nearby hospital, various reports show. The other victim, who was shot in the stomach, has not been identified. He remains hospitalized but is expected to survive.

Cardenas proceeded to barricade himself inside the bus, leading the LVMPD to call in crisis negotiators and a SWAT team to help. No gunfire was exchanged with police.

During the standoff, the usually bustling tourist destination

had been closed off, while people were advised to stay inside other hotel-casino properties nearby.

“He was on the bus. He was shooting people on the bus. He was just contained to that location. He never exited the bus,” Clark County Assistant Sheriff Tom Roberts told reporters.

The gunman began shooting “for no apparent reason,” police said. An article by the Las Vegas Review-Journal said that Cardenas told police that he meant to threaten a “large male” sitting next to him. He supposedly intended to fire into the back of a seat, but instead hit the two men as they exited the bus.

According to the arrest report, the suspect “felt bad about what happened and reiterated that all

he wanted to do was scare the large male.”

Cardenas, who moved to Las Vegas from Hawaii in 2008, is said to have been a transient with no prior criminal history. He is currently being held at the Clark County Detention Center and had a hearing on Monday, March 27.

Saturday’s shooting is the 35th homicide investigated by the police department this year.

Hours before, masked robbers used sledgehammers to break into the Rolex store at the Bellagio Resort & Casino and stole several items. No injuries were reported and police say the two incidents are not related. (By AJPress with reports from Bev Llorente / ABS-CBN News North America Bureau)

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Bonta introduces legislation to phase out use of private prisons

HUG OF PEACE. President Rodrigo Duterte hugs Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari in Davao City on Tuesday, March 28. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to bring “just and lasting” peace in Mindanao.

Malacañang photo

Senate Judiciary Committee passes bill to provide relief to private student loan borrowers

CALIFORNIA Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) has introduced legislation this week that will put an end to private companies making a profit from incarcerating Californians.

AB 1320 will prohibit the renewal of state government contracts with for-profit prisons by 2018 and remove all state prison inmates from these facilities by 2028.

“The built-in incentives are all wrong,” said Bonta. “A private for-profit company that’s traded on Wall Street inherently will try to maximize profits and minimize costs through warehousing our inmates. They have a duty to shareholders, not to California.”

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

AMID reports of increased deportations under the Trump administration, beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program continue to be concerned about their statuses in the United States.

DACA, an executive order that was signed by former President Barack Obama in 2012, granted undocumented youth—also known as DREAMers—a renewable two-year work permit. Over 750,000 individuals have been spared from deportation.

As of this writing, President Donald Trump and his administration have not addressed the future of DACA. However, many immigrant communities are on edge as the signature program could be rescinded at any time, as it was one of Trump’s promises when he was campaigning.

Mariam Kelly, senior immigration attorney and DACA program supervisor at Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, California, advised communities to understand that the program is still ing super hard yet because Man- match via unanimous decision in a wait-and-see mode.

“That is something we really ny still hasn’t signed,” Horn said. and defended his WBO welter“It’s a waiting game and it’s tak- weight title against Jessie Vargas want to communicate to anybody who has DACA...and is looking last year. ing a lot longer than I thought.’’

Apart from Horn and Khan, to renew, it’s really important to Dubbed as “The Hornet,” Horn has a record of 16-0-1 and 11 Kell Brook and Terence Crawford know that to date there has been were also cited in several reports no change to the program at KOs. Pacquiao, with a record of 59- as Pacquiao’s possible next oppo- all,” Kelly told reporters during a press call on Thursday, March 23.

6-2 win-loss-draw, won his last nent.

“However, we do know that some kind of change will be coming.”

Though a lot of DACA recipients wonder if they could be deported should the program get canceled, Kelly reminded them that they have certain protections and rights.

“One thing to note for those who are in fear of deportation is that so long as a DACA holder has not been deported before, they have the right — the same as every other person who is present here without immigration status lawfully — to go before an immigration judge, to fight their case [and] contract a lawyer who can help them in representing them for some other form of relief,” she said.

Another possibility is whether the program would be replaced with legislation that would be more permanent.

Given that there are so many unknowns surrounding DACA, organizations represented on the call encouraged those looking to apply or renew for the relief to seek legal advice from a qualified and licensed attorney.

“We want to make sure that ev-

century economy, but by allowing so much to be garnished from their pay checks when they default on a private loan, we are not giving enough assistance to borrowers who are juggling paying off their loans with everyday living expenses. There should be parity between federal and private student loans.”

SB 16 will benefit thousands of borrowers in California, which has an estimated $20 billion in outstanding private student loan debt.

Unlike with federal student loans, private lenders are not required to offer different repayment options, such as deferments, income-based repayments and temporary postponements of payments. Student loans are also not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

“This bill would provide much needed protections to private student loan borrowers and work

to create more uniformity for all loans students receive,” said David Lopez, president of the California State Student Association. “As the costs to attend college rise, and as students take on more debt to finance their education, CSSA supports efforts, like SB 16, aimed at leveling the playing field for all student borrowers.”

Other organizations supporting SB 16 include the California Faculty Association, Faculty Association of California Community Colleges, the Consumer Federation of California, the California Association of Nonprofits, the Western Center on Law and Poverty, and several others.

SB 16 next goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Senator Wieckowski represents the 10th District, which includes southern Alameda County and northeast Santa Clara County.

Pacquiao camp: ‘We are not very worried...

PAGE A1 big fight, we are looking at Manny fighting outside the U.S.” Meanwhile, Horn previously told Courier Mail that he was “extremely frustrated’’ by the drawnout process of his possible match against Pacquiao.

“I’m training for it but not train-

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recidivism rates with 54 percent of former prisoners returning back into the system within three years.

“Their businesses flourish by having more people behind bars.

For-profit prisons have no real incentive to invest in the human capital of our prisoners. AB 1320 will help to redirect our criminal justice system to value and prioritize effective rehabilitative programs, which will ideally minimize recidivism rates and maximize successes for inmates upon their reentry into society,” Bonta said.

AB 1320 has been referred to the Assembly Public Safety Committee and can be set for a hearing as early as next month.

Fate of DACA still uncertain despite immigration crackdown

SB 16 lowers cap on the amount lenders can garnish from private borrowers

SACRAMENTO — The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March 28, passed Senate Bill 16

by Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to assist Californians struggling to repay their private student loan debts by lowering the cap on how much lenders can garnish from their paychecks. Wieckowski told the committee reducing the cap from 25 percent of a borrower’s wages to 15 percent, the same level as federal student loans, will encourage lenders to work more closely with students to create manageable repayment plans.

“Students, graduates and parental co-signers are being buried under a pile of debt that is a growing burden on the backs of families,” said Wieckowski, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“We need more college graduates to meet the demands of our 21st

California houses more than 9,000 inmates in 10 privatelyoperated, for-profit prisons, including two located out-of-state in Arizona and Mississippi. For the 2017-2018 fiscal year, Governor Jerry Brown has proposed to set aside $247,053 million for contracted private, for-profit correctional facilities.

“Defenders of for-profit private prisons will say they are cost effective. So is child labor, but it’s still wrong. In California, we put our money where our values are, even if it may cost a little more,” Bonta said.

According to a 2012 report by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the state has one of the highest

President Donald Trump

erybody has a detailed, in-depth consultation with an immigration attorney in order to assess whether they should apply for DACA for the first time or apply for renewal,” Kelly said, adding that each client will be handled on a caseby-case basis.

However, organizations like the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Community Legal Services and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles (Advancing Justice-LA) have put new applications for DACA on hold since they are unsure how the information of the undocumented youth would be used.

Depending on the advice of an attorney, those who were already granted DACA could seek renewal because their information is in the system.

“When it comes to risks, people who have DACA already are already known to immigration, their names are in the database of DACA recipients, so we have found they are at less risk of any kind of activity against them…so doing a renewal would not really change anything so long as there hasn’t been any change in circumstance of that particular client,” Kelly explained.

A legal screening could also point these immigrants to other options, such as special immigration juvenile status or familybased petitions.

For the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, Advancing Justice-LA staff attorney Martha Ruch said there are a lot of questions and concerns about who qualifies as undocumented.

Those who overstayed their visa are also considered undocumented, similar to those who came to the U.S. without legal papers.

Ruch added that AAPI citizens and legal permanent residents are worried as well how they would be affected by the Trump administration’s actions.

“The short answer is that citi-

zens are generally not going to be affected by this. Citizens are not deportable, including naturalized citizens. But legal immigrants may want to consult with an immigration attorney or licensed practitioner to discuss whether criminal issues or potential international travel may be a problem for them,” she said.

Speakers participating in Thursday’s briefing also urged individuals to know their rights should they be confronted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

“Whether they are U.S. citizens or undocumented or permanent residents or on some kind of visa, these are rights that are available to everyone solely by virtue of being on U.S. soil,” Kelly said.

Some of these rights include asking for a search warrant, due process, and access to an attorney.

“The reason why we’re emphasizing know your rights at this time is because increased immigration enforcement means that ordinary people are perhaps going to be subject to questioning about their country of origin [or] their legal status,” Ruch said.

She went on to say that undocumented immigrants should also make a general plan for their families and workplaces in case they are detained. The details that should be included are emergency contacts, who would take care of their children or elderly in the home, and where to go to help, among others.

“From an advocacy standpoint, it’s really important for DREAMers and other segments of the undocumented population to remain visible and to remain strong and to not bow down to the fear and pressure,” Kelly said. “The only reason that DACA happened in the first place was from the response of the amazing organizing of the students, the DREAMer movement trying to get something passed for themselves.”

EU hits back at DSWD exec’s sarcasm...

PAGE A1

fare Assistant Secretary Lorraine Badoy’s seemingly unsolicited and sarcastic advice that the EU should just engage in child pornography instead of criticizing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

In a Facebook post dated March 26, Badoy wrote: “Iyong mga taga-EU, mag-online child porn muna kayo. D’yan naman kayo magaling e (Those in the EU, just engage in online child pornography. Since that’s what you are good at).”

The EU Parliament has been critical of Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, condemning the alleged summary killings and human rights violation. The bloc also expressed “grave concern over credible reports to the effect that the Philippine police force is falsifying evidence to justify extrajudicial killings.”

Apparently, Badoy also blasted Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of Duterte’s staunchest critics: “In the meantime, learn a craft. Mag-gantsilyo club muna kayo (Join a knitting club), Trillanes, Leni, etc. Bake ng red velvet cupcakes.”

Defending Badoy, DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said in a separate statement that the issue “has been twisted out of context

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Judy Taguiwalo (left) defended DSWD Assistant Secretary Lorraine Badoy (right) after the latter sarcastically said on Facebook that the European Union should just engage in child pornography since this is what it is good at. Taguiwalo said Badoy’s post was taken out of context and was blown out of proportion.

Photo from Judy Taguiwalo’s Facebook account

and sensationalized.”

According to Taguiwalo, Badoy’s statement “was obviously sarcastic and under no circumstances was she advocating child pornography or making light of it.”

“To what purpose, we do not know; but what is evident is that this is being blown out of proportion,” the secretary said.

Pointing out that Badoy “loves children and cares about their welfare,” Taguiwalo said “it is un-

fair that her personal character is being questioned because of one sarcastic sentence she wrote in her own social networking page.”

Recognizing the risks of being “misinterpreted,” Taguiwalo acknowledged that government officials “should be more circumspect and careful about what we post on social media.”

“All of us in the DSWD executive committee and even our staff will take lessons from this incident,” she added.

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D ateline PhiliPPines Palace slams NY Times for ‘obvious

A

demolition work’ against Duterte

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

MALACAĂ‘ANG has accused U.S.-based publication The New York Times (NYT) of “demolition workâ€? against President Rodrigo Duterte, following its series of reports on the Philippine government’s controversial war against illegal drugs.

Citing the recent pieces, Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Monday, March 27 condemned the NYT and alleged that it is trying “to stir global outrage in a nation that welcomes its newfound peace and order.�

Last week, the publication published the following: a news feature, which Abella said narrates Duterte’s “rise to power under the context of violence�; an editorial, with jailed mutineer Gary Alejano and lawyer Jude Sabio “mouthing unsubstantiated claims� against the president; and a documentary “zeroing in on the vigilante deaths that occurred under the present administration.�

Abella then took note that with such reports, “one can only conclude that certain personalities and politicians have mounted a well-funded campaign utilizing hack writers and their ilk in their bid to oust PRRD.�

Despite this, MalacaĂąang affirmed that the Duterte administration “will not be deterred in fulfilling its promise of building a progressive and inclusive nation free from drugs, crimes and corruption.â€?

The spokesperson also said that the reporting comes “in the face of the very high approval� of the president. In January, a Pulse Asia survey found that Duterte’s trust and approval ratings reached 83 percent.

In an earlier statement, Abella criticized the NYT’s recent news

feature article about Duterte, describing it as a “cynical and unfair report.� “One gets the feeling NYT is not interested in presenting the whole truth, only that with which they can bully those who attempt an independent foreign policy,� he said, adding that the piece seems like a “well-paid hack job for well-heeled clients with shady motives.�

One article, entitled “Becoming Duterte: The Making of a Philippine Strongman,� follows Duterte’s life from his early childhood to his more than two decades term as Davao City’s mayor, and later as the country’s president. “President Rodrigo Duterte relishes the image of killer-savior. He boasts of killing criminals with his own hand. On occasion, he calls for mass murder,� the NYT report, authored by Richard Paddock, read.

The article went on to describe Duterte as a “child of privilege turned populist politician� and “an anti-drug crusader who has struggled with drug abuse.� “Obsessed with death, he has turned his violent vision into national policy,� Paddock wrote. “First as a mayor, now as president of the Philippines, he has encouraged the police and vigilantes to kill thousands of people with impunity.�

Meanwhile, in an editorial published on Thursday, March 24, the NYT called on the trading partners of the Philippines to make Duterte “accountable� for the alleged deaths and human rights abuses in his war on drugs. “The EU (European Union) has proposed hitting his government where it may hurt the most—by imposing tariffs on Philippine goods. Other democratic trading partners should do the same,�

NYT said in its editorial, titled

“Accountability for Duterte.�

The Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier revealed that some European countries threatened to impose taxes on Philippine products due to the drug war. “This will make our farmers suffer because this will be charged to them by European countries as a sanction to the Philippines. Many countries in Europe are importing products from the country,� Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said. “Our government is now accused of violating human rights so we stand to lose in this 27 trade agreements.�

Various reports claim that more than 7,000 individuals were killed either during legitimate police operations or by unknown vigilante suspects since Duterte launched the campaign last July 2016, earning condemnation from different local and international human rights groups.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reiterated that only about 1,400 cases were related to the government’s campaign while the remaining numbers were homicides or deaths under investigation.

The NYT also encouraged the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council to conduct a “thorough, independent investigation into the killings under Mr. Duterte’s watch.�

The country’s Department of Tourism (DOT) and the PNP have both called on the media to “tone down� reports of the drug war and the extrajudicial killings as the negative reports have made it harder to attract foreigners.

Earlier in March, the first impeachment complaint against the president was filed by Magdalo Party-list Rep Gary Alejano, who claims that the latter is guilty of culpably violating the Constitu-

MOVING UP. MOVING UP President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and partner Honeylet AvanceĂąa (right) kiss daughter Kitty during recognition rites at Stella Maris Academy in Davao City on Saturday, March 25. Kitty finished Grade 6 with honors.

MalacaĂąang photo

tion, engaging in bribery, beIn his 16-page complaint, Aletraying public trust, committing jano cited Duterte’s alleged links graft and corruption, and other to the so-called Davao Death high crimes.

Squad (DDS), the massive kill-

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THE United Nations (UN) has sent a letter to the leaders of the Philippine Congress, urging them to not lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility in the country.

In a letter sent to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez Jr. last January, UN Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral on Violence Against Children (VAC) Marta Santos Pais said that the move to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility would only further expose children to violence in prison facilities.

She argued that lowering the age of criminal responsibility and punitive criminal justice to youth offenses will have negative consequences.

Among the effects she cited include: risks of being used in criminal activities at increasingly younger ages; compromising completion of education and access to opportunities for vocational skills; and stigmatizing them as criminals and exposing

them to further violence, neglect and social exclusion. “The human brain is not fully developed in its capacity for cognitive functioning and emotional control until well into the period of young adulthood,� Pais said.

She argued that exposing children to toxic stress or violent environments—such as in prisons—this “will have irreversible damage to their brain architecture and create high long-term financial costs for families and the government.�

Likewise, she added that the move would only lead them to further commit crimes.

In a statement, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander said that “punishing and incarcerating children is not going to have any impact on crime reduction.� “Why penalize children who are themselves victims and do not have the maturity to discern right from wrong?� Sylwander said, pointing out that the percentage of children involved in crime is less than 2 percent.

She argued that such move “will only condemn and dam-

age the children for life instead of giving them a chance to reform.� “The underlying and structural factors that bring about child abuse, exploitation and violence must be addressed first. We need to invest in the full implementation of the Juvenile Justice Law, which is a much commended law. Then there should be support for parenting programmes to deter at-risk children from committing crimes,� she added.

A bill seeking to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility in the country from 15 to 9 years old was previously filed by Alvarez and Rep. Fredenil Castro.

While Alvarez and Castro acknowledged that protecting the youth was “laudable,� they argued that it has opposite effects. “The pampering of youthful offenders knowing they can get away with it. Worse, adult criminals individually, or in organized cabals knowingly and purposely make use of youth below 15 years of age to commit crimes,� Alvarez and Castro’s bill read.

Robredo camp: ‘Weak’ poll protest to blame for delay in case

by KriStian Javier Philstar.com

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo’s lawyer on Thursday, March 30 said Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should attribute supposed delays in his poll protest on the “weak� election case he filed against the vice president. “If Marcos only filed a strong and meritorious election protest with full compliance with the rules on the substance or evidence to be alleged in the complaint, we would not have any ground to question his apparent haphazardly prepared election protest,� lawyer Romulo Macalintal said in a statement.

Macalintal said that one requirement for filing an electoral protest is stating detailed allegations of electoral fraud.

Macalintal said that Marcos made detailed allegations in only 57 of the 662 municipalities he is protesting. The lawyer said that the protests in those municipalities should be the only ones given due course while the rest should be dismissed.

Earlier this month, the former senator, in his reply to Robredo’s opposition of his motion for the preliminary conference on the case, accused the vice president

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, lead counsel for Vice President Leni Robredo, said that former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong� Marcos himself is the cause of the delay on resolving the electoral protest.

of delaying the electoral protest. “If protestee Robredo has nothing to hide, why does she keep trying to delay the proceedings? What is there to fear about a simple Preliminary Conference?� Marcos said.

Robredo, in an interview with dzMM on Tuesday, denied the accusation, saying a recount would be in her favor since that will resolve doubts on her mandate. “Because until the issue is

resolved, it would only give Marcos’ supporters the right to claim that he’s the real vice president,� Robredo said.

Macalintal stressed that the Robredo camp wants a swift resolution of the poll protest. “As a matter of fact, we also look forward to the early resolution of our motion to dismiss the protest on the said 662 municipalities, which is clearly insufficient in form and substance,�

Macalintal said.

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OpiniOn

Features

Critical time

MILLIONS of people turned the lights off for at least an hour in some of the world’s most famous cities on Saturday, March 25, as they joined the global initiative to raise awareness and take action against climate change.

Now in its 10th year, the Earth Hour called for the world to collectively act together to protect the planet. More than 170 countries and territories joined the biggest Earth Hour event to date, which aimed to focus attention on people-driven solutions to building a bright, sustainable future.

“Each light turned off or profile picture changed represents an individual who has made the switch from being a passive bystander to someone eager to be a part of the solution...” said Sid Das, executive director of Earth Hour Global.

The United Nations led the event in the U.S. as it dimmed the lights at its iconic headquarters in New York.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Climate change continues to imperil lives and livelihoods around the world. From the darkness, we can create a sustainable and inclusive world for all” In the Philippines, this year’s observance of Earth Hour is a milestone as it comes after President Rodrigo Duterte’s ratification of the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The country has been actively participating in Earth Hour since 2008 and has topped global participation records from 2009 to 2012 – earning it the title Earth Hour Hero Country.

“The Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, but has a very small

climate footprint. However, this should not prevent the country from achieving economic development while adopting lifestyles, systems and measures that can slow down climate change,” Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said.

According to Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and UN Global Champion for Resilience, the Paris Agreement would allow the country access to the Green Climate Fund, which will allow developed countries that are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases (GHG) to aid vulnerable, low-emitting nations like the Philippines.

Every year, the world experiences weather-related disasters that cause significant loss of life, and economic and social development setbacks.

The planet is exhausted and the world stands witness to the devastating effects of climate change.

This dreaded phenomenon has brought signals of unimaginable changes such as increasing trends in change of temperature, sea level rise and extreme climate events. These manifestations have brought floods, droughts, forest fires, and an increase in tropical cyclones—all amounting to billions.

For now, the world is not forced to take drastic measures to let the Earth survive. Natural hazards are normal. But hazards become disasters when

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

people’s lives and livelihoods are swept away. When this happens, poor countries are the ones that suffer most—even though they are the least responsible for such disasters.

As experts warned and as the warming continues, the effects are sure to become more catastrophic.

There are no exact ways to stop the impending con-

sequences climate change has brought, but this is an endeavor every human being will have to surpass.

While we can’t undo the damages done, we are still capable of decelerating the rate of the effects of climate change and produce a desirable future for the planet altogether. Everyone is simply responsible. (AJPress)

Trump, Republicans in Congress give companies that steal their workers’ wages a gift AS the news gets inundated with headlines about the failed Trumpcare and the ongoing muddled investigation on the alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, President Donald Trump signed a bill into law that will end Obamaera regulation that protects ordinary folks from unscrupulous employers from abusing and neglecting them.

Under the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Rule, companies who have outrageously been stealing

Commentary

hard earned money from their employees by not paying them the right wages, and companies who do not follow safety laws at the expense of their workers, would lose their government contracts if they did not comply with labor laws.

Unfortunately, Trump and the Republicans in Congress

do not believe in this, and side with businesses who say these regulations are excessive and are job killers. They argue that the Obama rule was too punitive and unfair to businesses.

When Trump signed this bill into law, he made sure that the regulation would not only die, but also that no similar regulation could be im-

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS

posed by the Labor Department again.

Who are the real winners here? Is this law good for American workers or the millionaires and billionaires and greedy businessmen? *** 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

The NYT’s hatchet job on Duterte: We should all be outraged Proposes economic sanctions as those vs Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria

IF, after reading with RiGobeRto D. tiGlao a critical eye, the New York Times’ editorial last Friday, March 24, entitled “Accountability for Duterte,” and you aren’t outraged and even cheer it—as Vice President Robredo and the news website Rappler seem to have—you have lost all sense of being Filipino.

Because of the stupidity and temerity of that NYT piece, by-lined by the paper’s “Editorial Board*”, I am convinced that it is part of a Yellow plot to oust President Duterte.

What the NYT piece asked the US government and the world to do is an outrage: “The EU has proposed hitting his government where it may hurt the most — by imposing tariffs on Philippine goods.

Other democratic trading partners should do the same,” the editorial proposed. This sentence alone indicates how rushed or ignorant the NYT piece is, that it is simply a cheap black propaganda.

The NYT—whose biggest stockholder is the world’s second richest man, the Mexican businessman Carlos Slim—is disseminating fake news: that European nations have condemned Duterte and are in the process of imposing sanctions against us. Or perhaps the NYT editors are ignorant of what the EU is and its institutions.

It is not the EU—the union of 28 nations in Europe of 510 million citizens—that has proposed reducing our access to European markets to punish us.

Rather it was only a resolution—and not even a bill—of the European Parliament (EP), which is just one of the three institutions of the EU, the other being the more powerful Council of the European Union (which passes laws with the EP) and the “executive” body, the European Commission.

Members of the Council and the Commission are appointed by the governments of the EU nations; the EP by direct vote of each EU nation, in special elections.

Parliament resolution A resolution of the EP has as much chance of being implemented by the EU as the thousands of resolutions by members of our Congress which are approved only for the sake of camaraderie but which everyone there knows won’t be implemented, since a law—an entirely different thing—would be required for that. House Resolution CR 0004 “granting consent to Senator Drilon to accept the Grand Cordon of Order of the Rising Sun from Japan” by any stretch of the imagination can’t be interpreted as the wish of the entire nation.

More importantly, though, how can the NYT so cavalierly—or ignorantly—ask that our country’s “democratic trading partners,” which includes the US, renege on their multilateral commitments to

the World Trade Organization and bilaterally to the Philippine state and impose economic sanctions that will hurt not just our businessmen but the poor, especially destitute farmers? When China slowed down their exports of bananas because of President Aquino’s belligerent stance against it, was it Davao’s banana magnates who cried, or was it rather the thousands of minimum-wage banana plantation workers?

The short 400-word (a third of the length of this column) NYT proposal is so idiotic as it is appalling that it could have been drafted not by a professional journalist concerned with facts or logic or even human rights, but by a Filipino political partisan launching a black propaganda drive against Duterte. Was it something a rich New Yorker Filipina handed over to a NYT editorial writer after dinner at her posh Manhattan apartment, telling him: “Just my draft, do whatever you want with it.”

How many countries in the world have the US and the EU imposed trade and other economic sanctions against in the postwar period?

Seven, four of which are troublesome—or “hateAmerica”—Middle East countries: 1) Iran, as a means to force it to stop its nuclear-bomb program; 2) Iraq, when it invaded Kuwait in 1990; 3) North Korea, also over its nuclear-bomb and missile delivery system; 4) Russia, for its invasion of the Ukraine’s Crimea territory; 5) Burma (Myanmar), in order to force it to free the renowned democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and undertake free elections; 6) Libya to stop alleged killing of anti-government protesters; and 7) Syria, ostensibly to stop its President Bashar al-Assad from killing the opposition, but in reality to force him out of office.

Burma case The Burma case is informative, as the NYT or the New York-based Yellow leader, wants the world to confuse what happened to that sorry country with us, or wish would happen. But it was not the European Parliament which ordered the sanctions against Burma, but the Council of the European Union, which means that all of the EU states approved the move.

The NYT thinks we’ve done something as “bad’ as what Iran, Iraq, Russia, North Korea, Libya, Syria did that we deserve to be punished by trade sanctions?

That’s why I’ve said we should all be outraged.

Our government must issue a formal protest against the NYT editorial, and our Embassy there request the millions of Fil-Ams in the US to boycott it for their insult to our nation.

I cannot fathom how the NYT concluded that Senator Leila de Lima’s jailing for her alleged involvement in illegal drugs and the deaths due to police operations against suspected drug dealers are as threatening to the world as Iran and North

Korea’s nuclear-arms programs, and Russia’s invasion of Crimea. Is our system of republican democracy and rule of law on the same level as Burma?

Does the NYT think we’re a failed state like those in Africa that it thinks the US can bully us to comply with its notions of human rights, that actually do not correspond with Philippine reality?

As atrocious as NYT’s putting us in the league of Iran, North Korea, Russia and Burma deserving trade sanctions, are its arguments for proposing to do so.

The NYT claimed: “More than 7,000 suspected drug users and dealers, witnesses and bystanders— including children—have been killed by the police or vigilantes in the Philippines since last July.” The NYT piece came out March 24, and I’ve written two articles, March 20 and March 22, debunking that lie the news website Rappler spread around the world, which was fabricated by adding the 2,555 deaths the police claimed were killed in its anti-drug operations to the 4,525 of murders and deaths due to any reason. That Rappler made a mistake is incontrovertible, yet NYT uses that false number?

To argue that Duterte is so bad that trade sanctions are needed to force him out of office, the NYT claimed: ‘The Philippine lawmaker Gary Alejano filed an impeachment complaint against Mr. Duterte, accusing him of corruption, murder and crimes against humanity in connection with his bloody antidrug campaign. ‘We are of the firm belief that he is unfit to hold the highest office of the land,’ Mr. Alejano said.” Are the NYT writers so ignorant that they didn’t know that Alejano isn’t your ordinary “lawmaker” but the lackey of coup leader Antonio Trillanes IV, who has lied so much against Duterte few people believe him?

Jude Jose Sabio To claim that Duterte is so bad he will be tried by The Hague-based International Criminal Court, the NYT said: “Jude Josue Sabio, a lawyer for two men who say they belonged to a death squad that operated under Mr. Duterte… says he intends to bring a case against Mr. Duterte in The Hague.” Didn’t the NYT bother to do a background check on this mediocre lawyer Sabio, who got to be mentioned in jurisprudence because the Integrated Bar of the Philippines reprimanded him in 2007 for violating the lawyer’s Code of Professional Responsibility, which the Supreme Court in 2007 upheld and even fined him? What was his violation? For filing a groundless suit against a judge, who ruled against his client. Is that a habit of Sabio’s?

To claim that we have no rule of law, the NYT said: “Last month, Mr. Duterte’s Justice Department ordered Senator Leila de Lima, one of Mr. Duterte’s most vocal opponents, arrested on spurious charges that she took bribes from drug traffickers.” Spurious charges? Didn’t NYT’s fact checkers check that six

NO LONGER IN AMERICAN HANDS? NYT’s biggest stockholder, the Mexican Carlos Slim, who vies with Bill Gates for the title of the world’s richest man.

former drug lords testified that they gave bribes to De Lima, which her own former lover and an assistant had confirmed? If NYT bothered to do some quick research, they would have discovered that De Lima asked the Supreme Court to be released.

Does the NYT think it is just a tool of Duterte, when its chief justice and four other justices were appointed by former President Aquino?

The Yellow pieces all fall into place, into a plot: the 7,000 false figure fabricated and disseminated by Rappler’s yellow editors, the impeachment complaint by Trillanes’ minion, the suit purportedly to be filed at the International Court of Justice by a mediocre lawyer, and then De Lima’s portrayal of herself as a human rights victim. All to make up the narrative that Duterte must be taken out, with Filipinos threatened to be hurt through trade sanctions if they don’t move against him.

What a worn-out script. * Unlike the set-up in most Philippine newspapers, the NYT’s editorial board that writes its editorials consists of 16 full-time journalists. They take turns writing the editorial for the day, edited and approved by the editorial page editor, currently James Bennet. Although the NYT claims that the editorials represent the voice of its board, its editor and publisher, the paper’s deadline constraints do not require each editorial to be approved by the board. None of the current editorial board member are described as having covered Southeast Asia, or the Philippines. (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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Comelec gives Congress until July to decide on village polls

by WiLLiam

dePasuPiL ManilaTimes

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has called on Congress to decide as early as possible or until July if it wants village and youth polls postponed.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said on Wednesday, March 29 that an early pronouncement on whether to postpone or push through with the scheduled elections on October 31 was necessary to avoid unnecessary expenses and other problems.

“They should decide by July because if it goes further then we GAWAD SA MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN (GAMABA). Senator Loren Legarda received a tabungaw or traditional gourd hat from Teofilo Garcia, a National may incur problems that could be Living Treasure or GAMABA, during the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) Dayaw Festival 2016.

Senate photo costly for us,” said Jimenez at a breakfast forum at Café Adriatico in Malate, Manila.

“By July we should have settled it one way or another

by Patricia Lourdes Viray through Congress. The problem Philstar.com is that until the postponement is announced, our preparation will MANILA — The Philippine still go on,” he added. government said it is yet to verify The Comelec needs some P6 the completion of Chinese milibillion to conduct the twin polls, tary assets in the Spratly (Kalaywhich requires public biddings aan) Islands in the South China and procurement of election maSea, the country’s top diplomat terials. said Thursday, March 30.

Unless Congress passes a law This is despite Washingtonpostponing the polls, the October based think tank CSIS Asia Mari31 elections will push through as time Transparency Initiative’s (AMTI) recently released satellite images showing the nearly complete construction of infrastructures on Subi (Zamora), Mischief

by Patricia Lourdes Viray (Panganiban) and Fiery Cross Philstar.com (Kagitingan) Reefs.

Acting Foreign Affairs SecreMANILA — Former Sen. Jingtary Enrique Manalo said that the land of the Paracel Islands would clear that he would set aside the goy Estrada has asked the Fifth AMTI is basically suggesting that allow military aircraft to operate ruling of the Permanent Court of Division of the anti-graft court the facilities could accommodate nearly the entire South China Arbitration on the issue.

Sandiganbayan to allow him to military assets when it took the Sea. On July 12, 2016, the arbitral leave detention to help celebrate photos.

Manalo, however, said that the tribunal issued its award on Ma- his father Manila Mayor Joseph “We take it very seriously but Philippines would have to ask nila’s complaint against Beijing’s Estrada’s 80th birthday.

I think when they say that this China first on their intention of nine-dash line claim over the In a motion filed before the would accommodate this and building the facilities.

South China Sea. The United Na- court’s Fifth Division, Estrada that... We will have to verify with “These could also be used tions-backed tribunal ruled that asked that he be allowed to leave China,” Manalo said in an inter- for civilian uses and or military. China violated its commitment the Philippine National Police view with ANC’s “Headstart.”

We’re not yet sure so we have to to the United Nations Conven- Custodial Center in Camp Crame, The think tank reported that really see what happens,” Mana- tion on the Law of the Sea when Quezon City for up to 12 hours the facilities in the three air bas- lo said. it constructed artificial islands in starting at 5 p.m. on April 18 unes would allow Beijing to deploy The Foreign Affairs secretary the Philippines’ exclusive eco- til the early morning of April 19, military assets including com- said that the Philippines would nomic zone (EEZ).

2017. bat aircraft and mobile missile have to look at this issue in the The country’s top diplomat, The older Estrada, a former launchers to the Spratly Islands context of the country’s approach however, said that Duterte will president, will turn 80 on April 19. any time. raise the arbitral tribunal’s ruling His son said their family is orgato the South China Sea issue.

The hangars on the “Big “The Philippines is fully com- with China “at the appropriate nizing a party for him to be held Three” islands can accommo- mitted to seeking a peaceful time.” in Manila, though the exact venue date 24 combat aircraft and four resolution of the disputes in the “I can’t divulge exactly how was not indicated in the motion. larger planes that can be used for South China Sea,” the secretary we’d say it but we would be The younger Estrada reminded transport or refueling, according said. pointing out that these construc- the Fifth Division that when his to the report.

Manalo reiterated that Presi- tion are taking place on islands father was undergoing trial at the China’s facility on Woody Is- dent Rodrigo Duterte made it within our EEZ,” Manalo said.

Sandiganbayan for a plunder case

PH to verify Chinese military assets in Spratlys

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • mARCh 31-ApRIL 6, 2017

scheduled, Jimenez said.

“We need to be prepared even if we still don’t know if it will push through or not,” he said Under Republic Act 9164 or the law mandating synchronized barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections, the polls should be held on the last Monday of October and every three years thereafter.

President Rodrigo Duterte had broached the idea of postponing again the barangay polls and declaring all positions vacant, with the officials to be replaced with appointed officials. The President claims 40 percent of barangay officials were involved in illegal drugs.

Congress moved the October 2016 barangay and youth polls to October 2017, as the President did not want drug syndicates to influence the result.

In the same forum, Sen. Francis Pangilinan warned the President against postponing the elections anew and appointing barangay officials, saying it would be an impingement on the people’s right to choose their leaders.

“It is worrisome that the President should even contemplate such a rash decision that encroaches dangerously into

authoritarian ideologies reminiscent of those harbored and exemplified by the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos,” the senator, who is also president of the erstwhile ruling Liberal Party, pointed out.

The senator insisted that the barangay election should be held this year to give the Comelec time to prepare for the midterm election in 2019.

“The barangay elections should not be held too closely to the midterm elections. By next year, we will prepare again for the 2019 election,” he said.

“We should trust the voters to decide who they want. If they know (that a candidate) is connected to drugs, then don’t vote for them. I think that’s the best way,” Pangilinan added.

The Church-back Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said there must be a valid reason to justify the postponement of elections.

Retired Comelec commissioner and now PPCRV chief Rene Sarmiento stressed that the holding of elections is part of the democratic process to ensure the accountability of elected officials and allow them to get a fresh mandate from the people.

Jinggoy seeks furlough for dad’s 80th birthday

Jinggoy Estrada waves to the media and supporters as he is escorted to his detention cell after surrendering to police authorities on June 23, 2014 at Philippine National Police headquarters in Quezon City.

in 2004, the court allowed him to leave his detention to attend the 99th birthday of his mother, the late Mary Ejercito.

The ousted president was convicted in that case but later pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“This court can take judicial notice that it is a rare occasion to be an 80-year-old person will all his family around him to celebrate

the said occasion,” the younger Estrada said in his motion.

The younger Estrada is facing plunder and graft cases before the Fifth Division in connection with the alleged misuse of millions of pesos of his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel during his term as a senator.

He has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center since June 2014.

A

march 31-april 6, 2017 • Oc/iE aSiaN JOUrNal

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march 31-april 6, 2017

A PinAy gAtHering:

2

Celebrating Women’s History Month through Fil-Am women writers and their books

By HeatHer

Domingo

AJPress

To honor Women’s History Month, a Pinay gathering was celebrated at the Philippine Expressions Bookshop in San Pedro, California on Saturday, March 25.

With about 50 guests in attendance, eight different authors participated in the event, sharing their journeys as FilipinoAmerican women and authors, and the value of their books.

Although this bookshop was established in 1984, this event — hosted by co-owner Linda Nietes-Little — is part of over three decades of ongoing community outreach programs to promote books written by Filipino and Fil-Am authors in English and Tagalog for all ages. Philippine Expressions seeks to inspire Americans of Filipino heritage who want to discover their roots.

Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier, editor of the anthology “Filipinotown: Voices from Los Angeles” featuring 40 contributors, spoke of growing up in the Historic Filipinotown neighborhood of Los Angeles, where her strong paternal genes from her Swedish father forced her to stand out in the neighborhood.

Though she says she does not capture the look of a traditional Filipina and was not born in the Philippines, her heart remains close to her mother’s heritage.

Bonnivier spoke fondly of her mother who is “not five feet tall or 100 pounds,” but a gentle, sweet, and tender woman. Capturing daily life in the decades of the 1900s, Bonnivier shares the exciting daily adventures in “Little Manila,” as well as the political struggles Fil-Ams had to endure with the swaying government decisions. The cover of her book displays artist Eliseo Silva’s famous mural depicting Fil-Am history, which can be found in Unidad Park along Beverly Boulevard.

Herminia Menez Coben, author of “Verbal Arts in Philippine Indigenous Communities: Poetics, Society, and History” and “Explorations in Philippine Folklore,” was the first Filipino graduate of University of Pennsylvania’s Folklore and Folklife department. With a humble sense of humor, she

Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier, “Filipinotown: Voices from Los Angeles”

Herminia Meñez-Coben, “Verbal Arts in Philippine Indigenous Communities: Poetics, Society, and History” and “Explorations in Philippine Folklore”

Lucy Urgello Miller, “Glimpses of Old Cebu”

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, “Magdalena”

Roselyn Estepa Ibáñez, “Filipinos in Carson and the South Bay”

Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, “Forty Years of Writing in America”

Roselyn Estepa Ibáñez, Herminia Meñez-Coben, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Linda Nietes-Little, Lucy Urgello Miller, Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier, Carmen F. Davino, and Leslie Ryan receive certificates of recognition.

Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko shares her book, “Forty Years of Writing in America.”

picked up by UST in a Tagalog edition as well. She is now the author and writer of 20 different books.

Ludy Astraquillo ongkeko, author of “Forty Years Writing in America,” has lived in the U.S. for 54 years. A graduate of the University of the Philippines, she also became the first female reporter for the Philippine Times. Here in the States, she was also a professor at the University of Southern California (USC) and the managing editor of the university’s scholarly journal, Sociology and Social Research.

Leslie V. Ryan, author of “I am Flippish,” was inspired to write a children’s book when she overheard another mom tell her son that he wasn’t Irish. Because her son did not look traditionally Filipino, she wanted her son to understand why he is the way he is and where he “comes from.”

Ryan noticed that there were only a few books written for children explaining multiculturalism. She proudly exclaimed, “We are all made up of the best parts of our parents.”

She wants her son — and all children — to know that they can equally express gratitude in the varying cultures their parents come from. She says her book hopes to teach tolerance, love, kindness, and acceptance.

Lastly, Lucy Urgello Miller, who was born and raised in Cebu, shared her book, “Glimpses of old Cebu.”

A postcard collector, her passion started when she saw a postcard of a carabao pulling a native sled, a technique she said her grandparents used to talk about. Although she heard the stories of how they lived, these postcards made those stories Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier reads excerpts of her book, “Filipinotown: Voices from Los Philippine Expressions Bookshop co-owner alive, giving her a “window to my Angeles.”

Linda Nietes-Little grandparents’ world.” one day,

Leslie Ryan, “I am Flippish!”

Carmen F. Davino, “Of Love and Virtue”

she put up her postcards in Ayala Mall and now proudly owns the biggest postcard collection from Cebu in the world.

After each author spoke, a group discussion emerged with the audience. With an intimate setting, guests were able to network amongst themselves.

“It’s great to see these women come together to speak of their passions and remind us of the strong Pinays we have. I am thinking about doing my own writing and this has helped me a lot,” said Shalimar Verador, one of the guests.

Dr. Ronald Buenaventura, one of the few male audience members, shared his story of how he encourages young women to partake in their culture. He said that during his time off he trains

young women to do Garimot Arnis Training, a type of Filipino martial arts. He does this to “give the kids a sense of family outside their normal school groups, so they understand what it’s truly like to themselves with other Filipinos.”

While the Pinay gathering celebrated these successful women writers, it also called for young Fil-Ams to keep the fire burning in their hearts and represent who they are in a bright and honest way.

The authors and audience members developed a close bond stressing the value of living a humble and honorable way of life through giving back to the community – to the people who brought us to where we are now.

Books written by Fil-Am women showcased at an event on Saturday, March 25 at the Philippine Expressions Bookshop in San Pedro California.

Herminia Menez Coben speaks about her book, “Verbal Arts in Philippine Indigenous Communities: Poetics, Society, and History.”

said that despite her book being published in 1996, she is surprised to know it is still being widely used and is even “published as an eBook now, whatever that means,” she laughed. Her book is an analysis of indigenous cultures of the northern Luzon region.

Carmen Davino said her book, “of Love and Virtue,” is a coming-of-age novel set in the Philippines in the 1970s, teaching young adults to learn to rely on one another and achieve love through a deep respect in self and in others. She hopes it teaches young adults to wisely mesh East and West cultures, but to be also rooted in traditional values of hope and faith.

Davino was a columnist for the Philippine Times and taught at the International School of Manila. She received her doctorate from the University of Santo Tomas (UST). When she came to the United States, she attended the California State University of Northridge to continue her passion for teaching, and retired from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

During her free time, she writes music, plays the piano and spends time with her grandchildren, teaching them music and painting.

Roselyn Estepa Ibanez, the co-author of “Filipinos in Carson and the South Bay,” said her book highlights local heroes such as Helen Agcaoili Summers Brown (who founded the Filipino American Library in 1985) and Bobby Balcena of San Pedro (the first Filipino to play in Major League Baseball in 1956).

Ibanez is also a public servant, working with the LA City Housing Council to focus on combating the issue of homelessness. A proud Carson resident, she explained to the audience that the city is politically active and calls for more Fil-Ams to be more engaged. “our history needs to be told and our stories need to be written,” she stressed.

“Magdalena,” a novel by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, reveals the journey of three generations of women during the PhilippineAmerican War, World War II, and Vietnam War. “Magdalena” was

AJPress photos by Noel Ty

march 31-april 6, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

3

William Moseley willing to star in a PH local movie if...

by Ricky Lo

that was what William With a good script, a good came here director and the right leading lady, for‌the movie’s why not? promo. With “Yes, i would,â€? replied William his wife Kara Moseley when asked over a and daughter sumptuous Chinese dinner at Karenina, Wilson EDSA Shangri-La’s Summer Palace showed up at Monday night, March 27 if he EDSA Shang would come back to star in a local straight from a movie as long as some reasonable nearby theater “requirementsâ€? were met. “i’d love where William to do either an action drama or a graced a meetromance-drama, it doesn’t matter. and-greet with Just give me a good script and a fans, most of good director and it’s a go!â€? whom fondly Would he like to have Pia remembered Wurtzbach as leading lady? the actor for “hmmm,â€? William smiled, “i’ve his role as Peter seen pictures of her and she’s very Pevensie in the beautiful. i think she’s the most “Chronicles of beautiful woman in the world.â€?

Narnia� in which Now grown-up, Moseley shows a copy of The STAR with a front-page “But Pia might be too busy for he co-stars with feature on his starrer Chronicles of Narnia in 2008. that,� said Wilson Yuloque of Pioneer Anna Popplewell, Films who was thinking of that plan, Skandar Keynes and Georgie henley What got me excited in coming here adding, “William is a fan of (Chinese as his siblings Susan, Edmund is that when i was in Vietnam, i met director) Wong Kar Wai and other and Lucy, respectively. that was in Southeast Asian people and i liked Asian directors.�

2008 when The Star did exclusive them so much. they were very open “i’ve also heard about great interviews with the Narnia kids, and emotionally present; they were Filipino directors who have won during which William said he would happy and kind. i found out that in Cannes,� referring to Brillante love to visit the Philippines like they are quite close and they really Mendoza (Cannes Best Director his father Peter Moseley who is a enjoy life. i like the way they live.� for Kinatay). “i heard that he’s done cinematographer.

William has grown to love the a movie about drugs,� referring to “that’s when i first heard about Philippines that he’s staying for a Ma’Rosawhich won Jaclyn Jose Best the Philippines,� William had said week to explore more places like Actress in last year’s Cannes Filmfest. then. “i think my dad was there to Cebu and Bohol where he hopes “i’ve seen some Asian films like ‘Old shoot a tV show in the mountain. to say “hello!� to the tarsiers. Some Boy’ (by Korean director Park Chani heard that there are so many close friends must have arrived to wook) and ‘in the Mood for Love’ (by beautiful places in the Philippines join him in discovering how much Wong Kar Wai).� and so many beautiful girls, and i more fun it is in the Philippines. the dinner was hosted by would really love to go there.� told that, even after he has done Wilson whose company is releasing Wish fulfilled. other characters (one of which is “Carrie Pilby� (with Bel Powley “So many beautiful women, as a prince, “Somewhat like harry,� co-starring in the titular role). in indeed,� William broke into a wider in the E! long-running tV series the movie, William plays Cy, Carrie’s smile. “Everywhere i look, there are “the Royals,� loosely inspired by the neighbor who is a match to her beautiful women.�

British Royal Family), fans can’t stop intellectual ability. Carrie is a 19-yearAlthough he arrived from New identifying him with his “Narniaâ€? old genius, a year out of harvard, York Sunday night, the sleepless character, William was pleased. is he four years ahead of her peers, William was hardly jetlagged‌ in touch with his “Pevensie siblings?â€? living in New York City. Burdened ready, willing and able to go around “Oh yes, i am,â€? confirmed with an overactive moral compass and see more places around William. “Skandar works for the and self-consciously aware of her Metro Manila and, yes, meet more government in Westminster, in uncommon intellect in a city full of beautiful women.

Arabic relations. Anna went to people she considers oversexed, “i’ve been to other places in Oxford University and still acting deceitful and hypocrites, Carrie finds Asia like taiwan and Vietnam,â€? in a tV show. Georgie went to herself isolated, friendless, dateless shared William. “i heard that the Cambridge University.â€? and unemployed‌until she meets Philippines is one of the most Born on April 27, 1987, in Cy. beautiful countries in the world.

Continued on Page 4 Philstar.com

Headlining the cast are (from left): Heart Evangelista as Alwina; Dennis Trillo as Gabriel; and Carla Abellana as Aviona

‘Mulawin versus Ravena’ ready to soar Dennis Trillo leads beautiful cast of feathered humans in returning fantaserye

by Tessa MauRicio-aRRioLa ManilaTimes.net

A FANtAStiC flock of part human-part bird descended upon GMA Network’s evening newscast, “24 Oras,� on Monday, March 27 giving viewers a welcome respite from tiring national issues. “Mulawin versus Ravena� is a sequel to the hit 2004 fantasy series created and produced by GMA Network, originally starring Richard Guttierez, Angel Locsin, and Dennis trillo. Guttierez is currently a free-lancer on tV, while Locsin had long transferred to ABS-CBN. trillo is the lone returning lead from the trio, and will reprise the role of Gabriel, a human-Ravena, who is king of his race.

Replacing Locsin as Alwina, the savior of the Mulawins, is heart Evangelista; while Carla Abellana takes on the role of Aviona, previously portrayed by Bianca King.

Rounding up the lead cast

Lovi Poe as Magindara

Regine Velasquez as Sandawa

is Lovi Poe who takes on a new character named Magindara in the series.

Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez will also figure in the sequel as the goddess Sandawa.

From the network’s stable of young talents, Bea Binene, Derrick Monasterio, Miguel tanfelix, Bianca Umali, and Kiko Estrada, lead the supporting cast.

While no exact figure has been released by GMA, network executives have been saying

since the beginning of the year that “Mulawin versus Ravena� is their most expensive production to date. the same team who developed the original remain at the helm of the project in directors Don Michael Perez and Dominic Zapata.

Still to follow too is the announcement of the series premiere, but in the meantime, here are the official photos of Mulawin versus Ravena from Monday night’s big reveal.

Derrick Monasterio as Almiro

Bea Binene as Anya

TJ Trinidad as Greco

march 31-april 6, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

4

Mother Lily remembers Piolo’s beginnings in showbiz by chRistina aLpad ManilaTimes.net

WAY before Piolo Pascual became the ultimate leading man he is today in movies and television, Regal Entertainment matriarch “Mother” Lily Monteverde knew he would make it big in show business. “the first time I met Papa P [as the actor is fondly called], I knew that he was special. Not only do I find him to be a brilliant actor, he is a diligent one as well.

His eyes speak of sincerity; his heart is filled with compassion for others. Right there and then, I thought this guy would go along a way in his career. I was right,” Monteverde fondly recalled when she hosted a press conference for Pascual’s latest movie, “Northern Lights: A Journey to Love.” the family drama, is a three-way co-production among Regal, Star Cinema, and Pascual’s own outfit, Spring Films.

“I want you to know how generous a man Papa P is. On the last shooting day of Northern Lights, he shared his talent fee with the staff and crew. Nagiyakan ang mga taga-production sa sorpresa niya sa kanila. they love him to death now!”

Monteverde continued. the showbiz pillar’s anecdotes and kind words brought the actor to tears, and in response, Pascual said that his little acts of generosity are a “simple way” to show how much he appreciates everyone with whom he has worked.

A look back It was in 2002 when Pascual first worked with Monteverde’s Regal Films in the romantic movie, “I think I’m In Love,” opposite sexy actress Joyce Jimenez.

Since then, Pascual unknowingly proved to Monteverde she was right in predicting he would be a success as he went on to collect Best Supporting Actor awards left and right for his portrayal as the young activist Jules Bartolome in

EMPLOYMENT

Let Darna rest in peace

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

It has been 65 years since Rosa del Rosario burst onto the silver screen as Darna, the komiks heroine created by Mars Ravelo and showbiz is still debating who should jump into the costume worn twice by the marvelous Rosa in 1951-52 after Angel Locsin has grown maybe too old to reprise the role, her “back too broken” for her to take off and save the oppressed.

A dozen other actresses have played the role but showbiz pundits claim that none of them has neither equaled nor surpassed the sterling performance of Rosa who is deemed the perfect Darna because she more than lived up to the criteria required of a Darna aspirant: sweet, charming, lethal in a subtle way, fragile like a China Doll but actually tough inside, and who can fight bare-handed like a man.

After Rosa came the following: Liza Moreno in 1963-64, Eva Montes (1965), Gina Pareño (1969), Vilma Santos (thrice, in 1973, ‘74 and ‘75), Lorna tolentino (1977, on tV), Rio Locsin (1979), Sharon Cuneta (1986), Piolo Pascual is reunited with Regal Entertainment matriarch ‘Mother’ Lily Monteverde and Nanette Medved (1991), Anjanette her daughter Roselle for the movie ‘Northern Lights’.

Abayari (1994), Regine Velasquez (guest appearance in the Herbert that’s why I was able to work the movie Dekada ’70.

Bautista starrer “Captain Barbell),” with them again,” Pascual said Later, he went on to break Angel Locsin (2005, on tV) and with high regard for the Regal box-office records in the dramas Marian Rivera (2009, on tV). matriarch. “till there Was You and Milan,” It baffles why producers are so Also calling the movie his which was one of the first enamored with the Flying Woman “passion project,” “Northern Filipino movies on record to who has been resurrected so many Lights” is a story about a father reach the P100-million mark at times — with a vengeance — that trying to reconnect with his the box office. moviegoers don’t seem to mind estranged son.

Pascual’s career continued to the tedious rehash…or do they? “the reason why I was soar when he branched out from Like Mother Lily’s Magic Camison emotional [during Mother movies to top-rating tV shows, (actually a wedding gift to her Lily’s remarks] is because the sold-out concerts, and platinum by husband Remy Monteverde) Monteverdes and I share the records. today he is considered believed to catapult any actress who same passion—movie making. one of Philippine show business’ this movie is a joint effort among wears it to overnight stardom (Gina most valuable and in demand all of us, and we just want to talents, and while he also has his come out with something that’s share of intrigues, is admired for worthwhile for all of us,” the 40his charitable and humble ways.

From Page 3 year-old actor-producer said.

Homecoming “this is not about business Almost 14 years since his England, William is the eldest of but about passion. It’s really first movie with Regal, Pascual three children. He was 11 when he nice to be able to do something is happy to reunite with appeared as an extra in the tV show without fearing how it would Mother Lily, who now runs the “Cider With Rosie” (1998) and didn’t fare in the box-office. Manalo, production company with her resurface on screen until Narnia matalo. For that, I want to thank daughter Roselle. He and the came his way. As more offers poured Mother Lily and Roselle for this Monteverdes consider Northern in, William was forced to quit school opportunity to express and do Lights his much-awaited (after finishing his senior year). something na ang sarap lang homecoming to the 55-year-old “I’ve always wanted to be in gawin,” Pascual added. movie outfit. showbiz,” confessed William. “After Moreover, he considers “Yes, I am an exclusive my audition for ‘Cider with Rosie,’ I Northern Lights close to his real- knew that I wanted to be an actor. artist of Star Magic but Mother life experience with teenage son My father is a cinematographer and Lily here knows how to make wonders happen in the business Continued on Page 5 he must have influenced me. I like

Among the many actresses who have played the legendary komiks heroine were Rosa del Rosario and Vilma Santos and Angel Locsin and Marian Rivera, the last two to have essayed the role

Alajar, Cherie Gil and Rio Locsin among them), Darna is considered a surefire ticket to fame and fortune.

After Angel discarded the costume and flew the Kapuso coop to the rival Kapamilya, Marian took the chance. We all know how the then “struggling” starlet metamorphosed into a big star.

Angel’s loss was Marian’s big gain; that’s how the showbiz cookie usually crumbles. Give a wannabe a space and she rules the world. the “beneficiary” outshining the “benefactor.”

Anyway, Star Cinema is said to be looking for a new Darna: will it be Jessy Mendiola, Liza Soberano, Nadine Lustre and even Pia Wurtzbach who should beg off from the “competition” after she conquered the universe, just

like Sarah Geronimo who laughed off suggestions by saying that she didn’t have the “body” for it (unless you want Darna to soar in a jumpsuit, hehehe!!!)?

Come to think of it, isn’t it high time that producers let Darna rest in peace? Otherwise, reinvent the character and reintroduce her to the millennials the way Hollywood has come up with a modern-day Wonder Woman? You know, the old is new again, repackaged with radically fresh ideas. If Hollywood can make the oft-told fairytale “Beauty and the Beast” a runaway 3D smash hit, so dazzling and hypnotizing from opening scene to final credits (gape at the talking and dancing piano, chandeliers, lamps, kettle and teacup), why can’t local producers?

William Moseley willing to star in...

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the feeling of being on the set, and being with people, like a sports team, all working together to create something amazing. My favorite time is when I am on set.”

During his week-long visit, William will surely bump into more beautiful women.

“Everywhere I look, there’s a beautiful woman. Every turn, I see beautiful women. I think it’s because Asian women are happy, in contrast to Western women, especially in England, where women seem always to be angry

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and therefore unattractive, from too much stress I guess.”

What kind of women did he consider attractive? William blushed a bit.

“I find all women attractive.”

And how does he spend his time away from work?

“I now live in L.A. I have a simple life. I go surfing in my free time when I’m not working.”

William will have ample time for surfing during the rest of his Philippine visit — and watching beautiful women.

march 31-april 6, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

5

Christian Bautista: Music is still my core Christian said, “We have lots of shows playing now.”

Philstar.com Recently, Christian has signed Seeing an artist cross over up with Universal Records (UR) from one platform to another is a and an upcoming album with norm in local tinseltown. Christian original tunes, which he coBautista has taken this path and produced or co-wrote, is in the is still at it without any sign of offing. slowing down. “it’s time to grow with my From his most recent music,” he said. “Still at the very assignments as judge in “Superstar core is music. (it) is still the very Duets” and as Bob gaudio of core of my life, hindi naman “Jersey Boys,” Christian will soon mawawala yun.” At this point, be seen acting as Winston in the songs have been lined up for Pinoy version of the “Koreanovela final mastering, he added. “Hindi My Love from the Star,” which naman kailangan na every year Kapuso viewers are familiar with. may nilalabas ka. Sometimes, “(it’s still) in production, we’re still you really need to hone yourself, taping,” the balladeer-actor gave your music (and figure out) The Star an update on his career what’s next.” According to a during the launch of Kylie Padilla report, Christian and UR already as Christian’s fellow Watsons collaborated for such recording brand endorser along with fixtures outings as “Romance Revisited: edu Manzano, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, The Love Songs of Jose Mari Chan” Lorna Tolentino and iya Villania. and “A Wonderful Christmas.” “i’m not sure when the release is Christian’s music has also yet. Bangko lang kami ng bangko.” reached indonesia and enjoys a Christian also clarified that the following there. “Okay naman. i’m gMA production of “My Love there a lot every quarter, singing from the Star” will remain faithful for fans, (guesting in) TV shows,” to the original story, following he shared of his career abroad. the same structure. However, the “Because of The Way You Look At differences lie in “The language, Me, because of the indonesian the Filipino culture and how albums, i also branched out to to handle situations (by the Malaysia and Singapore. The Way characters)… it will not extend You Look At Me was able to reach (because if it does,) the story will Thailand as well. god willing, change. We’re just taping (scenes),” sana Amerika, sana UK. So if the he shared. door opens, then why not? if it’s What’s his impression of the meant for me, then it will happen. character Winston? i wanna try. if it’s not meant, then “He is amazing,” Christian it’s not meant.” answered. “(Winston) loves Steffi What does Christian think and will do everything for her, of Filipino recording artists just to make her feel happy, make penetrating Chinese territories, her feel loved. He is one-track which comprise the big part of minded — how to make Steffi Asian recording market? happy, how to make her mine “Iba kasi siyempre ang Chinese (referring to Winston).” Steffi is music industry kasi dapat local played by Jennylyn Mercado, who ang kakantahin mo,” he replied. was the main host in “Superstar “Dapat Mandarin, Cantonese. if Duets,” Christian’s sort of 2016 you will think about it, india is last-quarter show. if ever viewers also part of it. indians will sing wonder why the Telebabad indian (songs). Tayong ASeAn ang primetime romantic drama is not nakaka-cross sa isa’t isa (because) yet in the gMA programming, we like english songs as well so

by Jerry

Calendar of Events across

Donato

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 APRIL 7

Fashion Arts Autism Benefits The Philippine COnsulate General New York and the Autism Heart foundation present Fashion Arts Autism Benefits Foundation Fashion For Hope at 7pm on Friday, april 7 at the Kalayaan Hall, Philippine Center (located at 556 Fifth Avenue, New york City, NY 10036).

Fashion For Hope marks the first anniversary of a joint collaboration that promotes an innovative art therapy program and fashion project that make a difference in the live of children and youth with autism spectrum disorders.

The FAAB Project empowers these individuals to courageously overcome such challenges by promoting healthy self-expression, building essential life skills and providing inclusive opportunities in the creative arts. The entire FAAB Project also includes an educational art therapy program and a series of fashion shows and workshops where students produce original works of arts on canvases made of piña (pineapple) cloth.

This event features the incredible artworks created by FAAB Projhect artists rendered into unique fashion designs by famous Filipino designers Anthony Cruz Legarda and Patis Tesoro. For more information, please visit www.eventbrite.com.

APRIL 8

Filipino Cursillos’ Kalbaryo show in San Diego, CA Christian Bautista enjoys singing career in the Philippines and in Indonesia.

medyo colonized kasi tayo... yung (kultura) natin medyo pare-pareho.” given that cultural conditions, foreigners cannot deny the presence of Filipino entertainers and the latter’s good singing.

“Filipinos all over the world are recognized because of the hard work of our OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) in the past, present and future,” Christian said.

“You always say in every hotel, there’s a Filipino lounge singer. in every cruise ship, there’s a Filipino lounge singer. Parang kasi kapag sinabi mong Filipino, marunong kumanta yan. it is expected na kapag Filipino ay marunong dapat kumanta. it’s fantastic.” One can say that Christian, the balladeer is also part of that Pinoy voice in the international music circuit.

Jennylyn to bring home biological dad from Korea

by Lhar

Santiago ManilaTimes.net

COMe Holy Week, Jennylyn Mercado will fly to Korea not for a vacation but to pick up her biological father who works over there as a musician, and finally bring him home to the Philippines. The gMA network actress has decided that it’s about time for her to live with her dad.

“My communication with my Dad has always been open. He’s updated with what’s happening in my life. When Mommy Lydia died, he asked me if i was alright, and if i need his company. i told him i need him to be with me. Iba pa rin kasi pag may kasama kang kaanak. it’s been hard for me to manage my household since Mommy Lydia passed away. i now have to take care of everything. Dati yung mga bills, pamalengke and other needs, si Mommy ang nag-aayos. i really need someone who i can really trust and i believe that’s my Dad. i also want my son Jazz to grow up knowing him,” said Jen. Besides picking-up her dad, Jen is also planning to visit the set of “My Love From The Star.” “i really am looking forward to see the set. Sobrang interested ako kasi siyempre, i’m doing the Filipino version, so i really want to have a first-hand feel of the set,” she said, promising she will share her pictures with Showbuzz when she returns.

The actress will only have a one-week break in Korea, with work waiting for her a soon as she gets back. She has to tape for her cooking show, and will also resume shooting a movie. “i’m so excited about this movie i’m doing.

This is something different for me. People have been used to seeing me in romantic-comedy films and drama. This time, it will be a thriller that i will offer them. i like my character here because it’s something that i haven’t done.”

Her upcoming series “My Love From The Star” is also on Jen’s priority list. She is happy to announce that they have finished taping almost half of the series, and they are so happy with the results.

“Ginalingan talaga ni Direk Joyce [Bernal],” exclaimed Jen. “i am so proud of what we’ve done. i can’t wait for it to be aired. i’m sure, people will really enjoy it. Ang daming nakatutuwang eksena, yung mga nakakaaliw at nakakakilig. Cute nung love

iñigo, who is now carving his own name in showbiz as well. Pascual and his son by a former girlfriend spent time apart when iñigo lived with his mom in the US. it was only when the boy—now 19 years old—finished high school and decided to pursue showbiz that they were able to spend more time together.

“Sometimes it’s not the choice of the parents to be away from their children. it’s also not the choice of the kids and this

The Filipino Cursillos in Christianity of Los Angeles, CA (FCIC-LA) will present a Kalbaryo (Lenten) show about the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus on Saturday, April 8. It will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Pala Mission Church, San Juan Diego Center at 3015 Pala Mission Rd., Pala, CA 92059. For further information, please contact any of the following: Tess Tan Torres at (213) 249-1507; Agnes Golingay at (818) 599-8401; Len Balino at (310) 2033639; Genie Bagsic at (858) 472-9338; or Oddie Sabas at (760) 670-5868.

APRIL 14

Greenlining Institute Economic Summit in Oakland, CA On Friday, April 14, the Greenlining Institute’s 24th annual Economic Summit will boldly tackle local and national controversies as it focuses on the theme, “Racial Justice on the Frontlines.” With Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza moderating the opening discussion, community activists, political and business leaders will take on such challenging issues as gentrification, tech diversity (or the lack thereof), possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the impending arrival of Uber in downtown Oakland. It will be held at Oakland Marriott City Center at 1001 Broadway, Oakland, California. Registration opens 8 a.m., program starts at 8:30 and runs to 5:45 p.m. For more information, please visit www. greenlining.org.

APRIL 15

“A Musical Odyssey” in Cerritos, CA Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Inc. and DreamAgeGroup presents Rudolf Paleaz Golez, an internationally acclaimed Filipino virtuoso pianist in “A Musical Odyssey” on Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Other local singing talents will be present at the concert, such as recording artist Sean Collado, aspiring actress and singer Sheila Tejada, Sabrina Oxciano and Samantha Murray. Ticket prices are $35, $65 and $100. Proceeds of this performance will go toward the Pangansian Brotherhood-USA’s scholarship funds, which helps academically successful seniors who are college-bound in both the greater Los Angeles area and the Philippines. The performance will be at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts’ Sierra Room at 12700 Center Court Drive South, Cerritos, California 90703. Interested parties may contact project managers Dan E. Nino at (562) 921-5116 or denino1951@gmail.com; E. Mendoza at (623) 341-6247 or thedreamagegroup@gmail.com; Lino F. Caringal, Jr. at (714) 808-2642 or linojr.caringal@gmail.com; Bong Soriano at (909) 851-1493 or believe1156@gmail.com; Neil Estrada at (562) 301-9972 or bluezero2sixty@yahoo.com; or Feliz Lopez at (562) 572-2301 or fblopezinsurance@msn. com.

APRIL 20

CAUSE’s annual gala in Los Angeles Join Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) for its annual gala on Thursday, April 20. It will be held at LA Hotel’s California Ballroom at 333 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a VIP reception.

For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact kim@causeusa.org or visit www.causeusa.org.

APRIL 21

Fundraising event to benefit the first-ever Filipino American Heritage and Arts Museum in Las Vegas Jennylyn Mercado

story ni Stephanie, the character that i play, at ni Mateo, the role of gil [Cuerva, Jen’s leading man].” if there’s one thing that makes Jen happy on the set of “My Love From The Star,” it’s gil’s quick adjustment to life as an actor. Jen swears the newcomer is doing so well on the set. even gil’s relationship with the people on the set has warmed up, according to Jen. Blessings indeed keep on coming to Jen. She has a movie, two TV shows and just last weekend, Showbuzz exclusively witnessed her contract signing with Seoul Skin, her newest endorsement.

The company manufactures beauty products like lipstick and whitening soap.

“When it was offered to me, i didn’t immediately said yes. i asked for the products and used them.

Sa totoo lang, people are telling me na lalo akong pumuti after i used the soap. Tamang-tama nga because my peg now is the type of fair skin na parang Koreana because of My Love From The Star.”

Jen is turning 30 in May and people are asking her if she has any plans to settle down. She knows she’s already of age but maintains she is not in a hurry. “The right time will come. As for now, gusto ko munang maayos ang condition ni Jazz. Pag OK na, saka ko iisipin yan,” Jen declared.

Mother Lily remembers Piolo’s...

From Page 4

America

movie will dig into that conflict,” Pascual promised.

Another draw of “northern Lights” is to spotlight the travails of fathers, with mothers mostly the subject of movies.

“What we wanted to show is the point of view of the father.

We’ve all been exposed to the hardships and pains of mothers, but fathers also experience the same in trying to reconnect with their estranged children, and it’s also valid. i know i am not the only one who shares in this

story,” Pascual finally noted.

The story of Piolo Pascual’s desolate character, searching for the right path in life, and his child—played by Raikko Matteo— longing for love from his father will opens nationwide today.

Yen Santos, Joel Torre, Sandy Andolong, Tirsco Cruz iii, Maricar Reyes, glydel Mercado, Jerald napoles, Anna Vicente, K Brosas and David Chua complete the cast. The movie is directed by Dondon Santos and written by Onay Sales.

The Filipino American Heritage and Arts Museum (FAHAM) will host “Heritage Celebration - Filipinos Landing in California,” a fundraising event on Friday, April 21, starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Dallas Ballroom of Texas Station Hotel and Casino. Festivities include a buffet dinner, arts exhibits, vendor booths, cultural entertainment a native fashion show, a Philippine history presentation, and dance performances. The cultural entertainment will be provided by the FAHAM Cultural Dance Group, Heart of Polynesia, Gina Kim Korean Dance Group, Filipiniana Dance Company of Las Vegas, Sophia Ramos, Sharon Tanyag, and DJ Mike. Emcees will be Amie and Leo Belmonte. The donation is $50 / person. Attire is formal. FAHAM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is currently America’s first Filipino American Museum, Archives, Legacy, Culture, Innovation Research Center, and Library Garden founded in Delaware by Mrs. Ditta Camomot, M.Ed., M.A. Its holdings are artifacts, ethological materials, and ecclesiastical, historical, arts and ephemera collections, as well as environmental projects. Texas Station is located at 2101 Texas Star Ln, North Las Vegas, NV 89032. For tickets and more information, please contact Salve Edelman at (702) 418-8968.

A P R I L 29

12th annual Sikad ng Bayan bike ride in Anaheim Hills, CA The Sikad ng Bayan (Cycling for the Nation) is an annual bike ride that raises funds to build preschools for less fortunate communities at Gawad Kalinga (GK) villages in the Philippines. It is a non-competitive ride that will be held on Saturday, April 29, where cyclists traverse the Orange and Los Angeles counties. And in true Filipino fashion, this fun ride culminates in a Pinoy-style luncheon where cyclists can get together and know more about Sikad. It will be held at the Yorba Regional Park (7600 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807). For more information or to register please visit www.sikad.org or call Rey D. at (562) 964-1445 or Robbie V. at (949) 351-8344.

APRIL 30

Filipino Cultural School to host “Sari-Sari Talent Show 2017” in Cerritos, CA Filipino Cultural School (FCS) will host its 2nd annual Sari Sari: Talent Show Fundraiser on Sunday, April 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Josephine’s Cerritos (11305 183rd St, Cerritos, CA 90703). Filipino Cultural School, based in Cerritos, CA and other neighboring cities, is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization geared to the preservation and promotion of the Philippine heritage and culture. FCS has and continues to be open to all. Filipinos and non-Filipinos who are interested in Philippine culture are invited to attend. “Sari-Sari” is a Tagalog word for “variety,” and in this talent show, FCS aims to celebrate the diverse talents of our community members in forms of singing, dancing, spoken words, etc., along with some great Filipino food from the restaurant. Pre-sale tickets are $10 for ages 13 years old and above, and $5 for ages 12 years old and under. Door prices will be $15 for ages 13 years old and above, and still $5 for ages 12 years old and under (ticket prices do not include food). The raised funds for the event will go towards helping cover for the cost of venue, insurance, and materials for the FCS Summer Program. For information on how to purchase a ticket and also sign-up to perform in the show, please visit the website http://filipinoculturalschool.org. For any inquiries, feel free to contact FCS at filipinoculturalschool@ gmail.com.

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

march 31-april 6, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

6

Why Kiray Celis stands tall by

Boy ABundA Philstar.com

She’S 4’11”. At 5’11”, he towers above her.

But when they entered the Kia Theater Lobby for the recent MYX Awards where she was one of the hosts, Kiray Celis and fashion model Kirst Viray seemed oblivious to the height gap between them. Their body language said it all. The two — who both wore the same deep shade of green that night — stuck close to each other the whole night.

They sought each other’s eyes as the press asked them what the real score between them is.

Kirst kept singing Kiray’s praises.

“She’s fun to be with. I’m never bored when I’m with her.”

The feeling seems mutual.

Kiray admits she has introduced Kirst to her family — a sign that they’re getting closer by the day. her family members’ comments are neutral and obvious — the guy is tall.

Kiray prefers to keep mum about more important things, like whether her family likes Kirst, or whether they have grilled him about his intentions.

After all, Kiray says, “Ang tanda ko na po! (she’s 21),” and can very well decide for herself.

They first met at work — on the set of a Brillante Mendoza film, which Kiray says will not be shown in local theaters. This, she adds, proves beyond reasonable doubt that what they have between them is real, and not for promo purposes.

Suddenly, the unusually quiet Kiray begins talking non-stop.

“I’m getting pissed off (with the speculations). Stop it, stop it, stop it!”

The otherwise cheerful comedienne suddenly acts like a lion protecting her pride and her right to privacy.

Asked about the real score between her and Kirst, Kiray pauses, turns away from the press to consult her date, and proclaims in Filipino, “We have no answer to that question. We don’t want to answer the question.”

Department of Cultural Affairs partners with Los Angeles County Arts Commission to present first Los Angeles Arts Datathon Exploring data to increase access to the arts

LOS ANGLeS - The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission present the first Los Angeles Arts Datathon bringing together people from across the region to examine the significance of arts data for all residents and visitors. The datathon takes place on April 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Reef, the downtown Los Angeles campus of Claremont Graduate University and Sotheby’s Institute of Art - Los Angeles.

Research has long demonstrated that the arts are good for people and for communities. Participation in the artsimproves individual health and benefits children socially and emotionally. The arts bring people together across many lines: demographic, economic, and social. The arts are an effective tool for community empowerment. People express themselves, their communities, and their cultures in arts and cultural spaces. What’s more, in the Los Angeles region, the arts are a major part of Kiray Celis and her rumored boyfriend fashion model Kirst Viray: Their body language said the local economy, offering it all. substantial career and business opportunities. playfully puts a hand on his her unsmiling face shows In a region as big, diverse, forehead on their way to Gapan, Kiray’s not joking, and means and sprawling as Los Angeles, Nueva ecija, where she jokingly every word she says. But she “how can everyone have real and opens up a bit and lets Kirst take a says he’s her “PA (personal meaningful access to the arts?” assistant)” for the day. She peek at their bonding moments.

The inaugural Los Angeles Arts jokingly pulls strands of his long, “We bond over any kind of Datathon will bring together flowing black hair and he smiles food and music. She loves to sing local arts agencies with artists, good-naturedly. in videoke bars,” reveals Kirst, arts administrators, educators, The scenario is so happy, whose abs made Kiray squeal students, community advocates, the couple refuses to entertain Lion King when she touched and researchers as well as negative thoughts from anyone it (the moment was captured on other professionals in culture, — especially bashers who see YouTube). museums, and urban planning to Kiray’s Instagram photos of their Other photos show Kirst address this question. sweet moments. massaging Kiray’s leg because “We want to use all the tools “We don’t want to read the all that standing and walking on available to us to improve cultural negative comments,” says Kirst. high-heeled shoes can be painful. equity and inclusion in the arts,” Kiray follows this up with a The model from Pangasinan also confident “We don’t care!” accompanies Kiray in showbiz Yes, Kiray is no longer the little commitments, and patiently girl we saw in “Goin’ Bulilit.” She’s waits in the store until she’s done all grown up and ready to fall in buying clothes. love.

Neither does he mind if Kiray

Health@Heart

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

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

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

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

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

eARLIeR this March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that “nine deaths and hundreds of cases of a rare cancer have been linked with breast implants.”

The malignancy here is not breast cancer but an immune system cancer known as anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). The cancer nurtures itself in the breast, notably in the scar tissue around the foreign body implant. Fortunately, in most cases this is treatable.

The implant-cancer link was noted in 2011.

As of February 2017, the FDA has recorded 359 cases of ALCL linked to breast implants.

The New York Times reported that “the disease is most likely to occur with textured implants that have a pebbly surface rather than a smooth surface…and of the 359 reported cases, there was information about the implant surface in 231. Of those, 203 patients had textured implants and 28 had smooth implants….

Whether the implants contained silicone gel or saline appeared much less important than surface texture in disease risk.”

The number of this ALCL cases worldwide is not known.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were about 290,000 women in the United States in 2016 who had implants for breast enlargement and 109,000 received implants for reconstruction after breast cancer surgery.

Any pain, lumps, fluid accumulation or swelling of the breast after an implant, no matter when surgery was done need to be evaluated by the surgeon.

To prevent blindness A retrospective study published in the JAMA Ophthalmology found that many children and adolescents with diabetes are not being screened in a timely fashion for diabetic retinopathy, a common cause of blindness among diabetics.

Diabetic retinopathy is a dangerous complication of diabetes, which causes blood vessels in the eyes to leak, causing distortion of vision and can eventually lead to blindness.

said Laura Zucker, executive Director of the LA County Arts Commission. “If we are serious about improving access to the arts then we have to begin with the facts.” Zucker continues, “This datathon takes place during L.A.’s Arts Month and it’s serendipitous that it is on the same day that across the country, Americans will be marching in support of science. Facts DO matter.”A wealth of data has been collected about arts, the organizations that provide arts and cultural services, arts programming and participation, arts education, and creativity. Participants in the Los Angeles Arts Datathon will explore this data to come up with new ideas about how to put the data to work.

“As a progressive and innovative civic arts agency, the Department of Cultural Affairs is excited to participate in this collective effort to improve our arts ecosystem,” said Danielle Brazell, General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. “At this initial arts datathon, participants will explore available data to gain a greater understanding of how we can increase access to arts, build infrastructure, and promote policy across the Los Angeles region.”

The datathon will take place on Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Reef, the downtown LA campus of Claremont Graduate University and Sotheby’s Institute of Art - Los Angeles. The datathon website ishttp://artsdatathon.org.

About the Department of Cultural AffairsAs a leading, progressive arts and cultural agency, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs empowers Los Angeles’ vibrant

communities by supporting and providing access to quality visual, literary, musical, performing, and educational arts programming; managing vital cultural centers; preserving historic sites; creating public art; and funding services provided by arts organizations and individual artists.

Formed in 1925, DCA promotes arts and culture as a way to ignite a powerful dialogue, engage LA’s residents and visitors, and ensure LA’s varied cultures are recognized, acknowledged, and experienced.

DCA’s mission is to strengthen the quality of life inLos Angeles by stimulating and supporting arts and cultural activities, ensuring public access to the arts for residents and visitors alike. culturela.org Los Angeles County Arts Commission The Los Angeles County Arts Commission fosters excellence, diversity, vitality, understanding, and accessibility of the arts in Los Angeles County, encompassing 88 municipalities and nearly 140 unincorporated areas, and provides leadership in cultural services. The Arts Commission funds over 360 nonprofit arts organizations through a two-year $9 million grant program, implements Arts for All, the regional initiative dedicated to ensuring all students receive quality arts education in the county’s 81 public school districts, funds the largest arts internship program in the country, and manages the County’s civic art policy. The Arts Commission also produces free community programs, including the emmy® Award-winning LA County holiday Celebration for public television. lacountyarts. org

Breast implants and cancer In early stages, this disease of the retina may not have symptoms.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology strongly recommends retinopathy screening be performed five years after a diagnosis of type 1 (Juvenile) diabetes is confirmed to reduce the risk of blindness.

For those with type 2 diabetes, common among adults, screening is done at the time diagnosis is made, not later.

Diabetics and parents/ guardians of diabetic children are advised to confer with their attending physician about this retinal screening.

Dangers of body art Body Art is a popular fad especially among adolescents and young adults, which includes tattooing or body part piercing.

The tattoos are usually on the chest, arms, belly, butts, ankles, or on just about any area of the body. They come in different shapes, design, color and various objects, like a girl, snake, flag, heart, words of protest or love messages. It is estimated that 10 percent to 25 percent of young adults (25 and under) have at least one tattoo.

A survey in one university involving 454 students (236 females and 218 males), which was 14 percent of the total enrollment, revealed that 23 percent (106) of them had one to three tattoos. This could well mirror the prevalence in other schools and universities in the country, perhaps higher in big cities, compared to the conservative communities. The most popular sites were the back among women and the arms and hands among men. One hundred twenty-nine (51 percent) of those surveyed had a least one body piercing, 90 percent of men having had ears pierced, and 54 percent of the females had pierced navel, 49 percent on the ears and 27 percent on the tongue. Some of both the males and females had pierced nipples, eyebrows and genitalia.

Complications of body art include infection of the tattooed or pierced skin, transmission of hepatitis B and C, and hIV (AIDS). Allergic reactions, besides pain, swelling and bleeding, are potential complications of tattooing or body piercing. Keloid and scar formation is another.

Infection is common because the needle and instruments used for tattooing or body piercing are

mostly not medically sterile. A significant number of patients with hepatitis subsequently develop hepatoma, cancer of the liver, which is deadly.

Botox Clostridium botulinum is a bacteria, whose toxin produces muscle paralysis among the victims of botulism food poisoning. Advances in medical technology have made it possible for physicians, usually plastic surgeons, to use the botulinum toxin (botox) as a shot in the face to induce transient and localized paralysis in the facial muscles to smoothen out wrinkles between the eyebrows, for frown lines and furrowed brows. The cosmetic effect has been impressive, but this is temporary. Besides this, botox shot has also been found to stave off migraine headaches among individuals who are resistant to conventional therapy.

There are much more uses of this “good” toxin in clinical medicine today.

Colonoscopy saves lives Colonoscopy is a procedure where a flexible endoscope (malleable tube like a telescope), equipped with fiberoptic lighting and (video CCD) camera, is passed through the anus, to view and examine the inner walls of the colon (large bowels) and distal part of the small bowels for any abnormality, like bleeding, ulcers, or the presence of benign poly(s), or cancer. Thru the colonoscope, excision of polyps, or biopsies may also be performed for a definitive microscopic tissue diagnosis. A sigmoidoscope is another scope that examines the final two feet of the colon, while the colonoscope examines the rest of the entire colon which is about four to five feet long. Many times it is done in conjunction with colonoscopy.

Colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer in humans, topped only by cancer of the lungs and female breasts.

More than 150,000 people in the United States each year discover they have cancer of the colon or rectum, and approximately 46,000 will die from it this year alone. The incidence starts to rise at the age 40 and the peak is between ages 60 to 75.

Colon cancer is more common in women and cancer of the rectum among men. About 5 percent of the patients have both (synchronous cancer).

Continued on Page 7

7 Lea and Rachelle Ann still reaping the fruits of ‘Miss Saigon’ How to build a house of bricks march 31-april 6, 2017

www.asianjournal.com

by BaBy

a. Gil

IT was a wonderful surprise.

I mean opening the Sunday magazine of the New York Times and finding an article about “Miss Saigon” with quotes and reminiscences from the Filipino cast members among those prominently featured. The revival of the musical created by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, opened at the Broadway Theater last March 23 to excellent reviews.

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, “Miss Saigon” was the first musical to feature a lot of Asian actors. While a few were cast in musicals like “The King and I,”“Pacific Overtures” and “Flower Drum Song” in the past, the usual practice then was to have Caucasians made up as Asians to play the major roles.

But then “Miss Saigon” came along and the casting of British actor Jonathan Pryce as the Vietnamese pimp called The Engineer drew a lot of flak from Asians in the U.S. Jonathan gave an excellent performance and even won Tony and Olivier awards but from that time on, an Asian actor, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese or Filipino, etc. has always played the part.

I do not think that it was a decision that caused sleepless nights for Cameron. By that time, he had already been to the Philippines and discovered the only 18-year-old marvel that was Lea Salonga. He knew there would be a lot of Engineers and Kims to-go in Manila.

In fact, given what was termed “an embarrassment of talents” in this country, Miss Saigon and other musicals can be performed anywhere with an all or at the very least almost all-Filipino cast.

This was what happened in London with the “Miss Saigon” revival in 2014 with Jon Jon Briones, who was in the chorus of the original production in 1991, as The Engineer; 18-year-old Filipina from New York Eva Noblezada as Kim; and local singing champion Rachelle Ann Go as Gigi. They have all been cast in the Broadway revival. In fact, the producers have even upped the Filipino quotient in the show by casting another Filipino, Kevin Ilaw as Thuy.

Cameron’s discovery of Lea

with. Listen to what your whole being says you were meant to do and enter that rare, enviable state of being that finally feels like coming home.

13. Rein in the spirit of the Monette crab. Put a number of live crabs AdevA MAglAyA in a basket and witness how crabs behave. Any crab successful (3rd of 3 parts) enough to rise above the heads of the other crabs to escape the This is the third and final installment of the 15 Tips on How to confines of the basket will be pulled down by the pincer claws Build A House of Bricks Series. of the other crabs underfoot. The 11. Pray without ceasing to the God of your being. Realize that crab mentality is nothing more than envy in disguise— alive when you do, you will never be and well in human nature. Lest alone. The single, most important you think the Severe Acute Crab foundation of any life begins with Syndrome (SACS) — a name I the realization that by yourself coined for this social phenomenon alone, without help, you can do — is endemic or unique only to a nothing of real meaning and specific community, take heart, for lasting value. No obstacle is too we’re not alone. Other immigrant big, no situation too difficult, or communities report the same setback too overwhelming that thing. To counteract this, try and cannot be helped by constant, be happy for others (even if it kills heartfelt prayer and a foundation you). of faith so strong, it can move 14. Strive to learn any way mountains. In the physical world, gravity holds everything together. you can. Learning is a lifelong process of adaptation. To copy In the spiritual world, where transitional human life is ultimately Yoda’s transposed way of making a point, “Adapt, you must. Or die headed, prayer is the most early, you will.” The dodo bird of powerful force there is. the Galapagos never learned to 12. Bring it all together. Once your circumstances become stable adapt, never learned to defend itself against predators and and you are able to choose the became extinct. It’s been said type of work you love to do and that the human mind is like a more importantly, that which cup with a hole at the bottom. makes you happy — GO FOR IT. You just have to keep trying to The shift will be uncomfortable fill that bottomless cup. But be and unnerving at first. Seek the path that makes use of the abilities warned: intelligence alone is and the talents that you were born sorely inadequate. The whole

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

Philstar.com

Lea Salonga (left) and Rachelle Ann Go are two of the Filipino talents who have graced the Cameron Mackintosh musical.

was the start but I think the even bigger discovery was that Lea could not only sing, she was also pretty and a good actress. She delivered the goods. And that is what Pinoys who followed in her wake, have been doing since then, proving themselves true actors, no matter what race a role might traditionally call for. Of course, Cameron was also most helpful in this regard casting most of the Kim’s either as Fantine or Eponine in “Les Miserablés” which is set in Paris with French characters.

The doors of Broadway are now open for Jon Jon, Eva and Kevin. Rachelle Ann in true “Miss Saigon” fashion had already finished her run as Fantine in “Les Miz.” She is set to hang up her bar girl togs as Gigi later this year to move into bonnets and petticoats and hip-hop sounds while romancing an American founding father. She is playing Eliza Schuyler in the West End production of the blockbuster hip-hop musical “Hamilton.” Nobody is wondering anymore why an Asian is playing the part.

As for Lea, who helped pave the way, she is back home singing in concerts and coaching contestants in “The Voice.” Occasionally, that is when a good role comes along, she takes to the stage again. Last week saw her in the final shows of the Tony-winning musical Fun Home, which turned

out to be an extraordinary experience for everybody.

Originally a graphic novel, Fun Home was written by Alison Bechdel. It is about a girl’s recollections of life with her parents, particularly that of her father, who was a high school teacher and funeral parlor owner who liked the company of young men. It raised a question about our parents that we may have thought about but dismissed as unnecessary. They are the two people we are supposed to be closest to but it turns out also the ones we do not know at all.

A daring choice by director Bobby Garcia, who by the way, was also part of the original “Miss Saigon,”“Fun Home” was presented with well-paced precision in an intermission less one hundred minutes. It was studded with superb performances from a cast that left audiences stunned and gasping. How does one cope with such stark honesty?

Lea played the mother Helen, a pitiful figure of pent-up resentment. It is another crowning achievement, one that confirms what a remarkable talent she has matured into. There will be more roles to come and we will feel proud every time of her and all the other talents she helped bring into the fold. And we will always remember, it all started with “Miss Saigon.”

person’s mind and heart must evolve. Of the two, the heart should lead. A good heart has a wisdom all its own. Blaise Pascal, a noted French philosopher noted: “The heart has its reasons that reason does not know.” Draw from the strength of one’s native culture and weave it into the new one. The hybrid is often better suited to the new environment.

Yet, we must never lose sight of the fact that in the end, all learning means nothing if we never learn how to love.

15. See the big picture.

Between birth and death is life.

How you live your life is up to you.

Many of the wisest men who have pondered the meaning and the purpose of life over thousands of years, have defined life according to their own perceptions and circumstances. In the end, if you are in full control of all your faculties as an average human being, you and you alone define your own life with the set of gifts, talents and the circumstances that life gives you.

Remember what someone wise wrote so succinctly long ago about the essence of any worthwhile life and that is — TO LIVE WELL, LAUGH OFTEN AND LOVE MUCH. May the house of bricks you build allow you to do all that.

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

Breast implants and cancer

From Page 6

It appears that meat eaters have a higher risk for the development of colorectal cancer. This malignancy is found more prevalent in populations whose diet is low in fiber and high in animal proteins, fats, and refined carbohydrates. The incidence of colorectal cancer is indeed high among those who eat red meat (pork, beef, etc) compared to those who eat high fiber diets (vegetables, fruits, wheat, bran, etc) and fish.

The other predisposing factors

include chronic ulcerative colitis, granulomatous colitis, and familial polyposis. The older the person is, the higher the risk.

Smoking and alcohol abuse increase the risk for cancer in general.

Everyone 50 years old and older should have an annual fecal occult blood test (FOBT), a rectal digital exam, and a prophylactic colonoscopy every three to five years. Those with a strong family history of cancer should have the examinations more frequently in

accordance with the physician’s determination. *** 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

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