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w w w. a s i a n Volume 24 - No. 18 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages

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may 12-18, 2017 Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEw YORk/NEw JERSEY

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Pres.

Duterte pushes for a drug-free DATELINE USA community at World Economic Forum US senators

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

introduce bill to restrict defense exports to PH

tWo U.s. senators filed a bill on thursday, may 4 aimed at restricting the export of certain arms into the Philippines and reaffirming support for human rights policies, amid reports of the rising death toll associated with the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs. the Philippines human rights Accountability and Counternarcotics Act of 2017 filed by senators Ben Cardin (D-md.) and marco rubio (r-fla.) calls for withholding the exportation of “certain defense articles” to the Philippine national Police (PnP), working with the Philippines to tackle the drug epidemic from a “public health approach,” and reporting on the sources of narcotics to the country. the legislation comes less than a week after U.s. President Donald trump and Philippine President rodrigo Duterte spoke over the phone. trump — who is scheduled to visit the Philippines in november for the Association of southeast Asian nations (AseAn) summit — reportedly invited Duterte to the White house and

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PhiliPPine President rodrigo Duterte emphasized the need of eradicating drug impunity during the World economic forum (Wef) on the Association of southeast Asian nations (AseAn) on thursday, may

11, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. in his keynote speech, Duterte urged the international leaders to pursue a drug-free community to protect the younger generation from harm brought by narcotics. the filipino president warned that drugs threaten the southeast Asian youth’s potentials, which he de-

scribed as “among the best and are most creative, intelligent, and innovative in the world.”

“We cannot turn a blind eye on the scourge of illegal drugs that threatens our youth and the future of our societies,” Duterte said. he then urged international leaders to “take a committed stand” in

dismantling and destroying the “illegal drug apparatus.”

“We must reaffirm our commitment to realize a drug-free AseAn community,” he added. noting that the AseAn “is a demographic sweet spot and is likely to post Asia’s fastest economic growth PAGE A2

Palace: Palawan units on alert for maximum security by alexiS

romero Philstar.com

mAnilA — the government is on top of the situation in Palawan, malacañang said thursday, may 11 after the U.s. and the United Kingdom warned their citizens against traveling to the western province because of terrorist threats. the U.s. and the UK have issued travel advisories warning their nationals about supposed plans by terrorists to launch attacks and kidnap foreign PAGE A2

PAGE A3

US, PH launch first Balikatan under Duterte admin

DUTERTE AT WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM. President Rodrigo Duterte joins his fellow ASEAN leaders for the during the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the ASEAN 2017 at the Sokha Hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Thursday, May 11. Duterte urged ASEAN members to reaffirm their commitment to make the region a drug-free community.

Malacañang photo

The bridge of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel on patrol.

Duterte appoints Cayetano, Año as heads of DFA, DILG

the Philippines and United states formally launched their 12-day Balikatan war games on monday, may 8. in its opening ceremony, U.s. Ambassador to the Philippines sung Kim underscored Balikatan as an “important military exercise” that has become a “meaningful embodiment of strong partnership” between the two countries.

Balikatan, which literally means “shoulder to shoulder,” is considered the biggest military joint activity bound by the mutual Defense treaty between the Philippines and the U.s.

“Balikatan is always a very important exercise. it is a very special and meaningful embodiment of our robust bilateral relationship and reflects not only our strong military partnership but also the deep friendship between our two peoples, mutually beneficial economic ties and very importantly our shared history and shared interest,” Kim said.

Philippine President rodrigo Duterte, who Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, incoming Foreign Affairs Secretary PAGE A3

De Venecia also named special envoy for intercultural dialogue

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Jose de Venecia Jr., special envoy for interculturual dialogue

senAtor Alan Peter Cayetano and Armed forces (AfP) Chief of staff Gen. eduardo Año are joining Philippine President rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet as the new heads of the Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) and the Department of interior and local Government (DilG) respectively.

Duterte revealed the appointments of his new Cabinet of-

ficials in a press briefing at the ninoy Aquino international Airport before his departure to Cambodia. his announcement came a day after the one-year appointment ban on losing candidates in the may 2016 elections expired.

“Dito sa (Here at) DfA, i remember i signed an appointment just before i left my room, i saw the name of senator PAGE A2

‘Excited’ Pacquiao Napoles to name more lawmakers, starts training officials in pork scam, says lawyer for Horn fight

by TeTch

TorreS-TupaS Inquirer.net

by AJPress

Manny Pacquiao on Monday, May 8 began his preparations for his WBO welterweight championship defense against Jeff Horn on July 2.

Photo by Wendell Alinea

A thrilleD manny Pacquiao formally started his training on monday, may 8, in preparation for his upcoming match against Australian Jeff horn. the filipino boxing champion is set to defend his World Boxing organization (WBo) Welterweight title against horn on July 2 at suncorp stadium in Brisbane, Australia. “i am excited to go back to the gym PAGE A2

not only legislators but high-ranking officials from the executive department will be named in the pork barrel scam, the lawyer of Janet lim-napoles hinted thursday, may 11. napoles’ lawyer stephen David met with Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre ii and discussed the possibility of napoles being a state witness.

“We are just exploring [the] possibility that my client will be admitted to the Janet Lim Napoles (center with shades on head) steps Witness Protection Program (WPP),” out of the Sandiganbayan building Wednesday morning.

PAGE A2 Inquirer.net Marc Jayson Cayabyab

A

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may 12-18, 2017 • OC/IE aSIaN JOURNaL

From the Front Page

Duterte appoints Cayetano, Año...

PAGE A1 Cayetano. Itong hapon lang na ito (Just this afternoon),” Duterte said on Wednesday, May 10.

Cayetano is replacing Undersecretary Enrique Manalo, who was assigned as the Acting Foreign Secretary after the Commission on Appointments (CA) rejected the ad interim appoint-

ment of Perfecto Yasay Jr. over citizenship issues.

Cayetano, who was also Duterte’s defeated vice-presidential running mate, has often been seen joining the president in his foreign travels. Earlier this week, he co-lead the Philippine delegation in defending the government’s drug war and

human rights record before the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Duterte also revealed the appointment of Año, ending speculations that former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would be the next interior secretary.

Summoning the AFP chief, Duterte told the press: “You are now the facing the next DILG Secretary.”

Año, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1983, will retire from the military service this October.

In picking Año as the new interior secretary, Duterte said he needed “somebody who knows the police by the fingertips of his hand.”

Undersecretary Catalino Cuy currently serves as the acting DILG chief after Duterte sacked former Secretary Ismael Sueno over corruption allegations.

Earlier on Tuesday, May 9, Malacañang announced the appointment of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia as the DFA’s special envoy for intercultural dialogue.

“As Special Envoy, his duties are basically to advise the government regarding inter-cultural dialogue issues and to make recommendations to the govt on how to advance PH interests as regards this issue,” DFA spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar told reporters.

According to Bolivar, de Venecia’s new post is part of recognizing “his active role in promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue for many years.”

De Venecia previously served as the speaker of the House of Representatives from 1992 to 1998, and from 2001 to 2008.

Malacañang also announced the appointment of celebrity blogger Mocha Uson, who is notably a staunch supporter of Duterte, as the assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

On the other hand, former AFP chief of staff Roy Cimatu will replace Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez as Environment and Natural Resources secretary.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr, meanwhile, was named as the central bank’s next chief.

23 BILLS CREATING BARANGAYS. The committee on Local Government chaired by Senator Sonny Angara approved Monday, May 8, 23 bills creating barangays in various cities and municipalities nationwide. These bills are aimed at empowering barangays with Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) funding in order to deliver adequate public services in their respective jurisdictions.

Senate photo

Pres. Duterte pushes for a drug-free...

PAGE A1 rates in the coming years,” Duterte also encouraged international leaders to invest in human capital, particularly in the young workforce.

He went on to say, “The youth is certainly a key sector we must invest in. The ASEAN Work Plan on Youth 2016-2020 encourages youth entrepreneurship, employment and employability, awareness, volunteerism and resilience.”

Duterte also underscored the need to narrow the development gap in the region, which he said “remains skewed” despite the decreasing of poverty levels by half in the last 50 years.

According to him, there remains a huge disparity in the region’s GDP (gross domestic product) per capita, citing from a low of $1,200 to a high of nearly $53,000.

“ASEAN is cognizant of the need for more inclusive participation in the community building process,” Duterte said.

“We want to ensure that the benefits of integration are felt by all our peoples in the region. But we face a development gap that must be addressed.”

As this year’s ASEAN chair, Duterte also said that the Philippines “resolves to establish meaningful partnership for positive change.”

“We aim to operationalize the ASEAN goal of achieving a vibrant, sustainable and highly in-

tegrated economy,” he added.

Business confidence high Investors’ confidence in doing business in the Philippines remain high despite criticisms in Duterte’s drug war, his Cabinet officials said at the sidelines of WEF. In a press conference, a German journalist pointed out that businessmen from his country are concerned that the drug war might affect foreign direct investments.

Duterte, who assumed presidency in June last year, has been pursuing the eradication of narcotics in the Philippines through an anti-illegal drugs campaign that apparently claimed thousands of lives, earning international headlines and criticisms.

The Philippine government has repeatedly insisted that the killings are not state-sanctioned.

It also blamed reports that labeled deaths under investigation as summary killings for ruining the country’s image, saying that only about 3,000 were killed during presumed legitimate police operations when suspects tried to fight back, while the remaining 4,000 or so deaths were conducted by vigilante killers riding the drug war.

Amid criticisms, incoming Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano assured that for the Philippine government, “the protection of human rights is paramount,” added that the campaign against

drugs is also a “campaign to protect the human rights” of the Filipinos.

Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, meanwhile, cited surveys concluding that 82 percent of the Filipinos feel safer and “basically love what’s happening right now” in the country.

Lopez also took note that investments from the second half of 2016 was “100 percent higher” than the first half. “So a lot of very positive indicators especially on the investments and the investment confidence is here,” he said.

“Business confidence actually has gone up 34 percent when it used to be less than 10 percent and consumer confidence used to be negative number is now positive 14 percent,” he added.

Echoing Lopez, Philippine Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade also assured the safety in the country for both local and foreign investors.

“One of the program[s] which is program war against drugs and a lot of other things is to assure an environment of safety and security. So, on one hand you have no corruption, on the other [is] safe and secure,” Tugade said.

He went on to say, “So, that’s we’re trying to do and that’s what the president is impressing all of us to do. So that the businessmen will be assured of a level playing field, of a safe and secure place of business.”

Palace: Palawan units on alert for...

PAGE A1 nationals in Palawan including Puerto Princesa and areas surrounding the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

The warnings came after the U.S., UK and several other foreign governments cautioned their citizens about kidnapping threats in Bohol, the site of a clash that left five bandits and four security personnel dead last month.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the military and police are working closely to thwart any terrorist activity in Palawan, a known tourist site in Luzon.

‘All units utilized for maximum security’ “Public safety is everyone’s concern. We assure everyone that the government is on top of the situation and authorities, particularly those in the Western Command which covers

the province of Palawan, are on heightened alert to prevent any untoward incidents,” Abella said.

“All units and assets are being utilized to ensure maximum security to deny any terrorist group’s entry and access in the high seas and coastal areas,” he added.

Abella said the Armed Forces Western Command, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police and the local government of Palawan “are in close coordination in enforcing law and order.”

“We urge everyone’s cooperation, including residents and tourists, to be mindful and immediately report to law enforcement units any questionable individual or activity in the areas,” Abella said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to “shoot on sight” Abu Sayyaf bandits, which he described as “a problem of

security, law and order.”

“My order to the security forces is stalk, shoot them on sight.

Kill them, do not waste your bullet, then we [will have to] take care of them in hospital. Expend your bullet to finish the problem because it is really a problem,” the president said in a press conference on Wednesday.

“If you encounter them, kill them. Filipinos are in great number. Next year, there will be more – there will be about 125 million of us. We can always replenish the supply, do not worry,” he added.

Duterte has also directed security forces to use air assets to conduct “bombing runs” against Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Mindanao to prevent them from entering the Visayas.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the population of the Philippines was estimated at 100.98 million in 2015.

Napoles to name more lawmakers, officials...

When asked up to what level, David said “higher pa.” said David as he requested that Napoles was recently acquitted Napoles be given proper security of serious illegal detention. Howif it pushes through. ever, she remains in detention David said more leaders would because of the string of plunder be named. and graft cases against her.

PAGE A1

She provided the previous Department of Justice with a list of senators and congressmen who benefitted from their priority development assistance fund (PDAF) but only three senators were charged in court.

‘Excited’ Pacquiao starts training for...

PAGE A1 after about a six-month’s lay off. I really miss training at the gym with the members of Team Pacquiao and fans around,” Pacquiao told PhilBoxing.com.

Pacquiao, who is also a member of the Philippine Senate, has apparently been busy with his legislative duties since his unanimous win against Jessie Vargas last November 5.

But even with almost six months of inactivity, his childhood friend and co-trainer Buboy Fernandez is confident that the boxer-senator will be in his best form during his July fight.

“He trains hard at the gym and keeps himself in good shape even when there’s no fight. So, we expect him to be in tip-top

shape during the scheduled fight,” Fernandez said.

Pacquiao is training at Elorde Boxing Gym near the Mall of Asia commercial complex until May 31.

Fernandez and Nonoy Neri are overseeing the initial phase of his training. Meanwhile, coach Freddie Roach is expected to arrive in the Philippines later this week.

By the end of the month, Pacquiao said he’ll start training at his own Wildcard Boxing Gym in General Santos City until the third week of June.

Despite being a heavy favorite, Pacquiao said that he’s not going to underestimate Horn.

Pacquiao’s nine-week training schedule against Horn is apparently his longest since his match

against to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015, during which he trained for more than two months.

“Katunayan yan na (To be honest) I’m not taking this fight lightly as some sectors think I am,” Pacquiao said. “At hindi ko rin ina-underestimate and kalaban ko (And I am not underestimating my opponent).”

Pacquiao, 38, has a record of 59-6-2 win-loss-draw. He won his last match via unanimous decision and defended his WBO welterweight title against Jessie Vargas last year.

On the other hand, 29-yearold Horn has a record of 16-0-1 and 11 KOs. The Philippine Congress will start its month-long break on June 1 and will resume its session on July 2.

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US, PH launch first Balikatan under...

PAGE A1 assumed office in June last year, previously threatened to scrap military games with the U.S. amid his administration’s pivot to China and Russia.

While Duterte has been persuaded to continue joint exercises, adjustments, however were made upon his orders.

This year’s Balikatan, the first bilateral exercise under the Duterte administration, involves only 2,600 American soldiers and 2,800 of their Filipino counterparts—which is less than half the total of 12,000 participants in 2015.

The two militaries will also focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) and fighting terrorism instead of the usual boosting of maritime defense capabilities, particularly in South China.

Despite the scaled down Balikatan exercise, both its U.S.

and Philippine directors expressed the mutual importance of the military exchange and are still expecting a “very productive” outcome this year.

“We’re looking forward to a very productive 33rd Balikatan Exercises and this year’s themes were discussed and will touch on the humanitarian and disaster relief and counterterrorism. And so we are looking forward to a great couple of weeks,” Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, U.S. co-director for Balikatan.

Nicholson also remarked that working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is a privilege for U.S. troops.

“So whether it’s during other exercises, whether it’s Balikatan, whether it’s smaller individual efforts, when we get a chance to train with the AFP that’s great for us’” Nicholson said.

Dateline USa

AFP chief General Eduardo Año also underscored the mutual benefits of the exercises, citing the two countries’ long history of cooperation.

“Our armed forces have continuously shared ordeals that have strengthened our bond. It is an avenue for us to enhance cooperation between our military forces and an opportunity to test and validate our forces’ inter-operability,” Año said.

While this year’s Balikatan just commenced, Lt. Gen. Oscar Lactao, Philippine co-director for the Balikatan, revealed that plans for next year’s drills are already being discussed.

“The planning exercise for Balikatan ’18 is already being discussed,” Lactao said, without further elaboration.

Lactao also expressed confidence that this year’s Balikatan would be “a very successful exercise.” (AJPress)

US senators introduce bill to...

PAGE A1

reiterated the two countries’ decades-long alliance.

The call on Saturday, April 29 was the second time the two heads of state communicated.

They previously spoke in December — following Trump’s win in the presidential election — wherein the American leader lauded Duterte’s handling of the drug problem as the “right way.”

Further details, including an exact date, about Duterte’s possible White House visit are yet to be announced. On Monday, May 1, he said he was unsure if he’d travel to the U.S. because he is too “tied up” with a busy schedule.

Since Duterte assumed the presidency last June, over 7,000 individuals have been killed both by legitimate police operations and vigilantes in the crackdown on narcotics. These numbers, coupled with his brash statements, have drawn criticism from other nations and international human rights organizations. The administration, however, has continually argued that the killings were not state sanctioned.

Rubio, the chairman of the U.S. Senate’s foreign relations subcommittee on human rights and civilian security, said that the use of force was “not the right way to conduct an anti-

Clock is ticking on GOP bill: 5 ways health care tug-of-war may play out RovneR Kaiser Health News

drug campaign.” “…[O]ur legislation reflects our sincere desire to work with the Philippines to support human rights, expose narcotics networks emanating from mainland China and other countries, and use a public health approach to responsibly counter the dangers that drugs pose to our societies,” he said in a statement.

The senators’ bill reiterates the U.S.’ commitment and support toward the Philippines, in particular with defense, counterterrorism, and maritime law enforcement. The transfer of defense articles used for these purposes will not be halted, however.

It also authorizes $50 million to the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for public health and human rights programs.

“Senator Rubio and I recognize the Philippines is one of America’s oldest friends and allies, and that is why we are committed to the health and well-being of this relationship, and the fundamental human rights of the Filipino people,” Cardin said.

Last fall, the State Department halted the sale of 26,000 firearms to the PNP after Cardin publicly announced he would oppose the transaction. (Christina M. Oriel/ AJPress)

A

SHIP OF HOPE. Well wishers welcome the arrival of the landing dock vessel BRP Davao del Sur of the Philippine Navy at Pier 13, South Harbor, on Wednesday. The amphibious vessel will serve as a floating command and control center providing humanitarian assistance during disasters.

Photo by Roger Ranada

by Julie

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (left) and Ben Cardin (right) introduced a bill on Thursday, May 4 that calls for withholding certain defense exports to the Philippines.

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • mAy 12-18, 2017

THE House may pass its bill to repeal and replace parts of the Affordable Care Act. But Republicans’ pathway to fulfilling their seven-year effort to undo the federal health law is getting narrower by the day.

“As of now, they still don’t have the votes,” said Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) as he was leaving a meeting of GOP members Tuesday. King has been a target for those pushing both for and against the bill.

The latest snag is over whether people with preexisting health conditions should have guaranteed access to affordable coverage, as the ACA mandates. An amendment that would let states waive some of those requirements has garnered the votes of reluctant conservatives but left more moderate Republicans concerned.

By Wednesday, however, the combination of pressure from House leaders and President Donald Trump himself seemed to be turning at least some votes.

Following a White House meeting, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), a former chairman of the House committee that handles most health issues, said he would vote

for the bill if it added an additional $8 billion to help those with health problems pay for coverage. That same promised amendment also changed the vote of Trump supporter Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.), who said earlier in the week he planned to vote against the measure.

House leaders stressed that they are still working to muster a majority to pass the bill, which was originally scheduled for a full floor vote in March.

Here are some possible ways the effort could play out.

1. The House passes its bill soon.

Approval in the House would send the measure to the Senate, where the fight will be very different. Congress is using a special budget procedure that allows the bill to pass with 51 votes.

There are only 52 Republicans in the Senate, so they can’t afford to lose more than two GOP votes, assuming every Democrat opposes the measure. In that case, Vice President Mike Pence would be needed to break a tie.

While this special procedure makes the bill easier for Republicans to pass, the Senate’s budget “reconciliation” process must follow a series of specific rulesthat exclude provisions that

don’t directly affect the federal budget.

Various parts of the House bill, including a recent change to let states waive some coverage rules that has ignited concerns about preexisting conditions, have been mentioned as possible violations of those Senate rules and would have to be taken out in order to qualify for the protections of reconciliation.

The Senate may also amend the bill and the House would have to approve those changes, which could again break the delicate coalition of House GOP support.

2. The House walks away from the debate.

In theory, if the GOP votes necessary to pass the bill continue to be elusive, the House could just leave health care for another day — or another year. That would be a huge setback for President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to “repeal and replace” the health law, as well as for congressional Republicans, who have been promising to do the same since the bill became law in 2010.

But if the law truly implodes for 2018, meaning insurers drop out of so many areas that millions PAGE A4

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may 12-18, 2017 • OC/IE aSIaN JOURNaL

Dateline USa

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Filipina murdered by angry in-law

MEETING WITH KABABAYANS. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gets a warm welcome from officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs upon his arrival at the Presidential hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Wednesday, May 10. The President attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN 2017 on Thursday, May 11.

Malacañang photo

SAN FRANCISCO — A man found dead in an apparent suicide in Harrison, New York was responsible for the death of an elderly Filipina in Mahopac, according to police.

Perla Gatchalian, 75, was found by a neighbor in her Coventry Circle home on April 27 at 3:18 p.m. after the neighbor went to check on her. She died from an apparent gunshot wound.

The Carmel Police Department confirmed Wednesday, May 3, that 69-year-old Filippo Buffone, who killed himself Tuesday, murdered Gatchalian. Police believe Buffone was angry about a financial dispute. He was found dead with a gunshot wound in the head in a car in a social club parking lot.

Buffone’s son is married to Gatchalian’s daughter. Gatchalian lived with her daughter’s

The 75-year-old grandmother Perla Gatchalian was shot to death in a murder suicide at her daughter’s family home in this town in upstate New York.

family and looked after her three grandchildren.

Buffone was identified as the prime suspect within 24 hours

of Gatchalian’s death. Police recovered the suspected murder weapon off the Route 6 corridor in Yorktown on Tuesday.

US reiterates commitment to freedom CA’s tourism industry sets records in 2016 of navigation in the South China Sea UNITED States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim has reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to preserving freedom of navigation and flight in the South China Sea. Kim made the statement amid reports that U.S. President Donald Trump is disregarding China’s supposed incursions in the disputed sea as part of pursuing the country’s cooperation in stopping North Korea’s nuclear activities.

“I have not seen such reporting but what I can say is our basic position has not changed,” Kim told reporters on Sunday, May 7 on the sidelines of the 75th anniversary of Corregidor’s fall during World War II. Kim stressed that the freedom of navigation and flight in the South China Sea is not only a concern of the U.S. but of the international community as well.

“We continue to believe protecting freedom of navigation is not just a U.S. issue but it’s for the whole international community,” the envoy said.

Last week, the New York Times reported that the Pentagon had turned down a U.S. Pacific Command request to permit U.S. warships to sail within 12 nautical miles of the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

TRAVELER spending in 2016 injected a record $126 billion into the Golden State’s economy, Visit California announced on Thursday, May 4 as the industry marked the first-ever California Tourism Month.

Tourism in California generated $10.3 billion in tax revenue and supported 1.1 million jobs last year, further solidifying tourism’s role as a key economic driver for the Golden State.

According to the annual economic impact report released by Visit California and Dean Runyan Associates, 2016 marks the seventh consecutive year of growth for the Golden State’s travel and tourism industry. California travU.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim eler spending grew 3.2 percent, out-indexing the nation by nearThe newspaper also said in its Kim said.

Sought for comments, Philip- ly a percentage point. report that no U.S. ship has gone “This report shows that tourwithin 12 miles of any of the dis- pine Defense Secretary Delfin puted islands in the sea since Lorenzana doused speculations ism is a powerhouse that genTrump assumed the presidency that the decreased American erates community benefits and forces would affect the presence economic value for all Caliearlier this year.

Quoting a certain analyst, CNN of Filipino troops in the Philipreported that this may have been pine-controlled Spratlys in the part of Trump’s strategy to get South China Sea. “I don’t think so. We can still China’s support against North go to our [forces] in Pag-asa,” Korea’s nuclear threats.

by Leif Sykioco Kim, however, dismissed such Lorenzana said.

Philstar.com Also referred to as Tithu Isreports, saying that Washington’s KOBE Paras will take his talent land, Pag-asa is the largest Philstance “has not changed.” to the California State University, “Freedom of navigation and ippine-controlled island among freedom of flight…these are very the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) Northridge.

Paras on Tuesday, May 9 said he fundamental rights not just stra- in the Spratlys.

“We hope that freedom of will transfer to the NCAA Division tegically but in protecting the flow of international trade…so navigation is maintained there,” I team after playing for one season with Creighton University. our position has not changed,” Lorenzana added. (AJPress) “I believe that Cal State Northridge is the best fit for me,” the son of PBA legend Benjie Paras said.

The 6-foot-6 Paras will serve a season of residency before being allowed to play for the Matadors for three years.

He also said he is excited to work under the ropes of former NBA player Reggie Theus, who is the head coach of the Matadors.

“He’s in the NBA for so long and he is such a phenomenal player and being able to learn to

fornians,” said Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta. “California Tourism Month provides an opportunity to celebrate tourism as an important pillar of our economy, and highlight an effective and dynamic industry that remains a vital asset in all regions of the state.”

The report — using data on the statewide and local economic impacts of tourism in California from 1992 to 2016 — shows that in the past 25 years, travelers in California have spent nearly $2.16 trillion, created more than 410,000 jobs, and generated more than $165.3 billion in local and state tax revenues.

Visit California is a statewide organization that works with local partners across the state to develop and implement innovative global marketing programs that instill a desire for travel-

ers to experience the California dream. Successful global marketing campaigns reach targeted domestic and international visitors in 14 markets including China, Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom. These cuttingedge marketing efforts inspire travelers to visit California, where they stimulate California’s economy and sustain valuable jobs around the state.

The release of this report is part of California Travel and Tourism Month, which occurs every May following a resolution enacted by the California State Legislature last year.

Next week, California celebrates National Travel and Tourism Week when destinations in the Golden State will join communities across the nation to host events that communicate and celebrate the importance of sustaining the travel industry.

Kobe Paras commits to Cal State

Kobe Paras

such an educated guy in the game of basketball is just going to help me,” Paras added.

He further hinted that playing time was one the reasons why he left the Bluejays. Paras saw limited action with Creighton and

averaged only 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds.

Other schools that were interested in singing Paras include Grand Canyon University, University of Hawaii, Fullerton and Santa Clara University.

Clock is ticking on GOP bill: 5 ways...

PAGE A3 of people have no insurance options, it could trigger an entirely different health debate.

3. The House decides to switch gears to tax reform.

Health care is not the Republicans’ only high priority. So is an overhaul of the federal tax code.

But Republicans want to use the same budget reconciliation procedure to pass their tax plan.

That’s a problem.

In order to make sweeping tax changes under expedited budget rules, the House and Senate would have to move on to a fiscal 2018 budget resolution, which would override the 2017 budget blueprint. But as soon as it does, the protections for the health bill would expire.

There is another option. Each budget resolution can allow one spending bill and one tax bill to be protected by reconciliation rules. So Congress could simply start the process over in a 2018 budget resolution that would al-

low it to move on tax reform and changes to the health law simultaneously.

4. Congress tries to overhaul health law incrementally.

The House could abandon the budget process and simply pass bills without regard to whether they have an effect on the budget.

The first step, though, would likely be for the House to repeal the ACA wholesale — giving Republicans political cover. Then they could take up smaller pieces of legislation, such as a bill that would allow health insurance to be purchased across state lines, a favorite idea of Trump’s. Those bills, however, would require 60 votes in the Senate, which seems unlikely given Democratic opposition.

If the GOP efforts to bring wholesale change to the ACA are exhausted, though, it may be possible for some moderate Republicans to craft legislation with Democrats to fix some of the issues that both parties see in the law.

5. The Senate gets rid of the legislative filibuster.

The Senate earlier this year abolished the need for 60 votes to fill a Supreme Court seat, which got Trump’s nominee, Neil Gorsuch, approved. Trump has been calling for Republicans to also get rid of the filibuster for legislation. “Either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%,” he tweeted on Tuesday.

But the legislative filibuster is the last protection for a Senate minority party, and Republicans know they will someday be that minority again. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said repeatedly he has no intention of taking this step, telling reporters Tuesday it “would fundamentally change the way the Senate has worked for a very long time.” And even if he changed his mind, he might have trouble persuading some of his Republican colleagues to go along. n

BALIKATAN 2017. Philippine army Pvt. Ronaldo Balidio (left) and Cpl. John Rey Cagas operate a compactor while building a new school classroom during Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City. U.S. military engineers and Philippine service members worked together to build new classrooms at Don Carlos Elementary School in Ormoc City. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism and other combined military operations.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Markus Castaneda

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A

D ateline PhiliPPines PH defends Duterte’s drug war in Geneva SWS: Robredo’s trust rating declines Cayetano questions Callamard’s fairness before UN

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Amid international criticism, the Philippine government on monday, may 8, defended its drug war and other policies before the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. during the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the status of human rights record in the country, the Philippine delegation, co-lead by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, refuted the alleged existence of statesponsored killings of drug suspects and criminals in the country, asserting the government’s high regard for human rights and rule of law.

Cayetano lamented how critics and the media’s supposed “alternative facts” and “fake news,” ruined the country’s image before the international community.

“There is a deliberate attempt to include all homicides as statesponsored extrajudicial killings,” the senator argued, assailing reports that label deaths under investigation as part of duterte’s drug war. “[Fake news] created a domino effect of the foreign media, picking up from news reports in the Philippines, which also alerted human rights groups, which are also getting the wrong information,” he explained.

Cayetano clarified that for every 100 legitimate police operations, only five people were killed for supposedly resisting the police.

He added that there are “more deaths due to police operations because law enforcers are now conducting operations every day.” “if only there was a less political, more unbiased and fair way of describing what is happening in the Philippines, we will be having a more constructive discussion rather than groups throwing alternative facts and fake news,” he said.

While there may have been killings, “there can be no compromise on human rights and dignity of human life,” he said.

The senator went on to say, “illegal drugs can easily destroy a whole generation… Unless

the recent SWS Trust Rating survey results,” Georgina Hernandez, the vice president’s spokesPHiLiPPiNe Vice President person, said.

She added, “We are encourLeni Robredo’s trust rating suffered a steep decline in the first aged by the results of this survey quarter of the year, according to which covers the period from a recent Social Weather Stations december 2016 to march 2017 — the first three months that VP (SWS) survey.

According to the results of the Leni began work outside of Cabisurvey, which was released on net, and focused all her efforts Tuesday, may 9, the vice presi- on Angat Buhay, the Office of the dent’s net ratings plunged by 15 Vice President’s Anti-Poverty inipoints lower than her previous tiative.”

Robredo suffered the biggest 45 percent net trust rating in deloss in mindanao where her trust cember 2016.

Figures from the poll show rating fell down by 32 points — that 55 percent of Filipinos have from 52 percent last quarter to 20 STOP THE KILLINGS. Activists pose as victims of extrajudicial killings during a rally at the Chino “much trust” for the Vice Presi- percent, downgrading from “very Roces Bridge in Manila on Tuesday, May 9. An alliance of human rights organizations monitoring dent, while 25 percent have “little good” to “moderate.” the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the country’s rights situation by the United Nations Human in metro manila, her ratings trust.” The remaining 20 percent Rights Committee (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland has criticized the Philippine government for also dropped to “moderate” after misleading the rights body. The UPR Watch said the Philippine report submitted to the UNHRC did are undecided.

The poll, with an error mar- scoring 20 percent, which is 10 not reflect the realities on the ground.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman gin of plus or minus three, was points below the “good” 30 perwe recognize the relationship took place in 2008 and 2012 re- conducted using face-to-face cent in the december poll.

While Robredo’s trust reinterviews with a total of 1,200 of illegal drugs, especially crys- spectively.

‘Rapporteurs must be factual respondents nationwide from mained “very good” in Visayas tal meth or methamphetamine and Balance Luzon, both areas’ march 15 to 20.

Hydrochloride, to violent crimes and fair’ despite the drop in score, Ro- score decreased by 10 points— Cayetano also questioned the and poverty, we will not underimpartiality and fairness of Spe- bredo’s camp said that the survey scoring 40 percent and 33 perstand the Philippine situation.”

Citing the achievements of cial Rapporteur Agnes Callamard results show that many Filipinos cent respectively this year.

Impeachment case anti-illegal drugs campaign, Cay- over her statements against still trust the vice president.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alva“We are grateful for the continetano cited that 1.266 million duterte’s drug war before the ued show of trust in Vice Presi- rez said he is still making a carepushers and users have surren- UN Human Rights Council.

“Please look at the tweets and dent Leni Robredo reflected in ful review of the two impeachdered, while 64,917 have been statements of this special raparrested. in its presentation of the coun- porteur, your excellencies. if you try’s human rights-based devel- were Filipino and you read these opment programs, Cayetano also slides, would you think that the

by AJPress affirmed government’s commit- rapporteur is factual, is fair?” will resume session for the Presiment “to real change, to peace Cayetano asked. dent’s State of the Nation Address The senator emphasized that and development and to addressiT will be hard for the House (SONA) in July. ing the problems of poverty and it is essential for rapporteurs to of Representatives to tackle three “Ang balik natin Sona na. Tapos “always appear to be” factual, impeachment complaints before pagpasok ng Sona ay yung budget inequality.”

Likewise, he reaffirmed the fair and just. the end of the first regular ses- hearing naman. So yan ay tatakbo “The system of sending spe- sion, according to Speaker Pan- hanggang November siguro yan duterte administration’s commitment to various international cial rapporteurs has oftentimes taleon Alvarez. bago ma-approve yung budget, treaties ratified in the previous been effective. But sometimes in an interview on Tuesday, so wala na rin tayong…medyo this could create more harm than may 9, Alvarez was asked if the kakapusin tayo sa panahon (We years.

“The duterte administration good especially when human House could handle the already would return just in time for Sona. has vowed to integrate the hu- rights is politicized,” he said. filed impeachment complaint After that, there would be budget in her recent criticisms against against Philippine President Ro- hearings until November before man rights agenda in its development initiatives to protect all, the duterte administration’s drug drigo duterte and possibly two the approval of the budget… So especially the most vulnerable campaign, Callamard warned more raps against Vice President we would really run out of time),” sectors, including but not lim- that “ill-conceived drug policies” Leni Robredo and Ombudsman Alvarez explained. ited to, the indigenous people, would not only fail to address the Conchita morales-Carpio.

He maintained that the House children, women, migrant work- drug menace, but would also fos“definitely not,” Alvarez ad- will prioritize the already filed ers, elderly, domestic workers, ter a “regime of impunity” that mitted. impeachment complaint against persons with disabilities, farm- leads to fear and despair. “mahihirapan tayo kasi dapat duterte since complaints against Cayetano stressed that a dia- nating alalahanin na end of the Robredo has yet to be endorsed ers, laborers and members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, logue is only effective when month e recess na yung Congress by any lawmaker. and transgender) community,” “there is mutual trust and re- nun (It would be difficult for the earlier in march, magdalo Rep. spect and the aim is constructive House, noting it would go into Gary Alejano filed an impeachCayetano further added.

The UPR aims to improve the engagement.” recess by the end of the month),” ment complaint against duterte “As a general rule, engage- the speaker said. human rights situations of its for the president’s alleged links to member states. The Philippines’ ment should not be adversarial,” The Congress will end its first the so-called davao death Squad first and second UPR reviews regular session on June 2, and (ddS), the massive killings in his PAGE A7

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

ment raps against Robredo.

On Tuesday, Alvarez told reporters that he has yet to decide whether to endorse either of the complaints. “i don’t want to just keep attacking even when there’s no substance. So we are studying it. i’m not saying i will truly file. if there’s substance, why not?

Like i said before, if there is substance, and if it can stand in an impeachment trial, then it can be considered,” Alvarez said.

The House speaker added that he also referred the complaints to the justice committee “to evaluate whether it’s OK to endorse it.” “it would be hard it if it were just me,” he remarked.

Robredo is facing possible impeachment raps for allegedly betraying public trust when she sent a video message criticizing the Philippine government’s war on drugs before the United Nations. marcos loyalists Oliver Lozano and melchor Chavez filed the first complaint against Robredo in march, while the group ‘impeach Leni movement,’ led by law professor Bruce Rivera, tried to file an impeachment rap last week but failed to secure an endorsement from any lawmaker.

House can’t tackle Duterte, Robredo, Morales impeach raps

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez

war against illegal drugs, and his alleged undeclared wealth worth nearly P2.2 million.

A supplementary complaint against the president was also filed for his alleged inaction over the territorial issues concerning Benham Rise and the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).

The group ‘impeach Leni PAGE A7

A

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may 12-18, 2017 • OC/IE aSIaN JOURNaL

OpiniOn

Features

The PDAF queen is back AFTER managing to stay under the radar while being incarcerated for one of the biggest scandals in Philippine politics, pork barrel or Philippine Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles is back under intense media scrutiny.

Napoles, who is currently detained at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City since 2015, was recently acquitted by the Court of Appeals in the illegal detention case filed by whistleblower Benhur Luy. However, the PDAF queen will remain behind bars while still facing the string of non-bailable plunder and graft cases charged against her by the Sandiganbayan.

In its decision to reverse the 2015 ruling which sentenced Napoles to life imprisonment, the Court of Appeals’ 12 Division said that the evidence presented by the prosecutors were “grossly insufficient to sustain a conviction” and falls below the required proof of crime beyond reasonable doubt.

After her recent legal victory, Napoles is now being considered as a state witness in the government’s planned reinvestigation of the multibillionpeso controversy. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II revealed that his team is already planning to meet with Napoles to review the PDAF cases.

“She should have knowledge of everything because it all came from her. If what she would say will be coupled with documents, then there is no reason why she should not be credible,” Aguirre

explained.

If she becomes a state witness, Napoles is not only guaranteed government protection, she would also be free from all the charges that had been filed against her.

Malacañang assured that there has been no policy shift with regard to the PDAF scam and that Napoles will not be used to persecute the current administration’s opponents.

“The Duterte administration has never, will never and can never enter into sweetheart deals. It’s very strict on the observance of the rule of law and following constitutional due process,” presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo told reporters.

As one can recall, at the heat of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s investigation into the alleged misuse of public funds in November 2013, Napoles had the perfect opportunity to implicate more personalities into the PDAF scam when the Senate threw her to the deep end, with hard-hitting questions to reveal the truth on her alleged collusion with lawmakers and other government officials to funnel huge sums from the PDAF. Instead of spilling the beans, Napoles stuck to her legal strategy by continuously invoking her right against self-incrimination and remaining tight-lipped throughout the grilling session.

Editorial

Street Talk gReg b. Macabenta SOCIAL media have been abuzz over a tweet attributed to Dr. Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who was recently in Manila as a keynote speaker at a forum organized by the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG).

The controversial tweet reads: “@AgnesCallamard - Prof Carl Hart: No evidence Shabu leads to violence or brain damage. #Philippines drug policy forum” It should be clarified that the “Dr.” attached to Callamard’s name has nothing to do with being a medical specialist or psychiatrist. She has a PhD in Political Science, thus the “Dr.” appellation. Her official position in the UN is Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

Wikipedia describes her as “an expert on a number of international and UN human rights initiatives.” No mention at all of any

Commentary

RigobeRto tiglao IRONIC as it may seem, it is Jose “Chito” Gascon, the Commission on Human Rights chairman that President Benigno Aquino 3rd appointed in June 2015, who has emerged as the biggest stumbling block to the development of institutions and a political culture that would defend human rights in this country.

I base this conclusion on the following arguments: Gascon, the last straggler of the Yellow Party still in government, has politicized the issue of human rights in the Philippines, and has transformed it into a propaganda weapon against President Duterte. He is the very first CHR chairman since the agency’s establishment in 1987 to do so, to have adopted an openly belligerent stance against the incumbent administration.

• As such, Gascon’s thrust and activities since Duterte took power hasn’t been to build up the institutions necessary to propagate a culture of respect for hu-

ManilaTimes.net photo

Now that she is given a second chance, will truth afford Napoles the constitutional protections she wants? Will she be a valuable asset in revealing more truth—and justice at the end of this pork barrel saga?

From here on out, the Philippine government and its members stand in a parlous position. Every riveting detail of the pork barrel saga will further bring consciousness to the nation that has been subjected to this hullabaloo. (AJPress)

The ‘war on drugs’: Saying too much is saying nothing expertise on the effects of drugs like shabu on people.

Of course, Callamard didn’t claim that the tweeted opinion was hers, but if she has any understanding of the dynamics of communications, she should have known that quoting a third person’s opinion could be misunderstood as endorsing it. Not surprisingly, that led people to assume that the opinion was her own.

Callamard’s tweet on shabu reminds me of a screening in California of a movie that had Manny Pacquiao in the lead role.

Having been invited to the event, I was asked what I thought of Pacquiao’s performance.

My response: “As an actor, Manny Pacquiao is an excellent boxer.” I was too polite to suggest that he should not quit his day job.

With due respect to Callamard, she should have limited her social media postings to the subject of ”extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions”—conceivably, her area of expertise.

In advertising, there is an axiom: Saying too much is saying

nothing.

By making that needless tweet, Callamard shifted the discussion to her debatable familiarity with the effects of shabu, and away from the very serious problem of extra-judicial killings.

I’m guessing that Philippine Ambassador to the UN, Teddy Boy Locsin, welcomed Callamard’s tweet, because it gave him respite from a defensive and indefensible position at the UN. He must have relished calling Callamard an “idiot” and, by extension, implying that she had been dispatched to the Philippines by fellow idiots in the UN. I have one more point to make, and this is on the opinion of Prof. Carl Hart that there is “no evidence shabu leads to violence or brain damage” and his findings that “85-90 per cent of people who used illegal drugs do not become addicted.”

Has Hart tried to play Russian Roulette? Cocking a six-shooter with only one bullet loaded means that the odds are fiveto-one that he will not blow his brains out. But will he take that chance?

At any rate, all of these innu-

endoes unnecessarily draw attention away from the real issue at hand. Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

No amount of legalistic somersaults by the apologists of President Rodrigo Duterte and no amount of childish namecalling by his die-hard fans can justify the number of questionable killings perpetrated during Duterte’s first year in office.

Like Callamard, Duterte’s apologists have been saying too much and really saying nothing.

They have made a big thing of the “inconsistency” in the number of deaths reported, ranging from 3,000 to 8,000. And they have pointed to Singapore’s harsh anti-drug policy – death by hanging - to justify the killings.

Note, however, that there were only 259 drug-related executions in Singapore from 1991 to 2017 or a period of 26 years, according to statistics compiled

by Amnesty International.

Pray tell, is there any comparison with Duterte’s thousands in only one year?

Indeed, Singapore has been unforgiving in its campaign

against drugs, but in a March 2017 speech, Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam asserted: “The death penalty is applied only and strictly in the context of an unwavering commitment to the rule of law. In fact, you could argue that a prerequisite is an unwavering commitment to the rule of law, resting on a strong and independent judiciary. There must be fair and transparent laws and due process…

Capital punishment is carried out only after due judicial process and in accordance with the law.”

Even Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, known to also take a hardline against the drug menace, has expressed reservations about a “shoot on sight” policy: “If it was allowed by law then I would order the National Police and the BNN [National Narcotics Agency] chief to do so, but luckily it is not.”

Can Duterte and his Chief of Executioners, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa say as much? Have the police killed alleged drug users or pushers “in the context of an unwavering

commitment to the rule of law” as Singapore insists it does, and “only after due judicial process and in accordance with the law”?

Are people supposed to believe that everyone killed in the course of a drug raid “resisted arrest” and “tried to draw their guns” at the police?

Are people supposed to believe that this was what happened when Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and a cell companion, Raul Yap, were shot in cold blood inside their jail cell by elements of the PNP? Can Ambassador Teddy Boy Locsin and Duterte apologist Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano attribute to “due process” the killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo inside Camp Crame, near the office of De la Rosa, after a “tokhang” raid?

Is it humane for Duterte to dismiss the deaths of young children, in the course of drugrelated shootings, as “collateral damage” Are people supposed to believe that the PNP has absolutely nothing to do with the thousands

u PAGE A7

CHR head Gascon now the biggest threat to human rights man rights. It has been to paint this administration as a wanton violator of human rights, mainly by convincing foreign bodies to believe so. His real agenda is to convince Filipinos to rise up against Duterte and restore Yellow rule.

• Gascon and the CHR he leads now have therefore lost their credibility as human rights (HR) champions, with their accusations of HR violations received with such suspicion and cynicism, that little has been done to develop respect for human rights in the country, and to instill fear in those who would violate such rights. Because of his politicized stance, Gascon has been unable to get the cooperation from other government agencies, to the detriment of human rights in the country.

Every time I see a photo of Gascon, I can see either former President Aquino 3rd or Mar Roxas or Sen. Franklin Drilon at his back as ghosts whispering to him, how to hit the government.

Gascon is, as it were, the Liberal Party’s remaining ranking cadre still ensconced in a government agency with a budget of P500 million yearly, and which has been paying him P4 million

annually. (His salary grade of 31 is just two notches lower than the President’s 33.)

He was the executive director of the Liberal Party’s think tank, the National Institute for Policy Studies, the director general of the Liberal Party from 2008 to 2011, and the political director of its 2010 electoral campaign.

After that, he was at Aquino’s beck and call in the Office of the President at the same time that he was a board member of the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

As Yellow as can be In short, Gascon is as Yellow as can be, and the Yellow Cult’s big hope of killing Duterte with a thousand human-rights-violations cuts.

Not only has his party loyalty determined his stance and actions. Gascon has that kind of Manichaean and messianic world view so typical of activists who went against Marcos only when it was clear the dictatorship would be collapsing.

As Marcos was the Evil Lord he helped defeat, Duterte is now for Gascon the Dark King he will overthrow, as he practically stated in his oh-so melodramatic speech at the CHR’s recent an-

niversary: “We have entered a period of darkness, the sun is gone, night has fallen. Although we are a tropical country, winter has come. It is in this period of darkness that we shall all be tested as we fight for human rights. “ This is a guy who must have watched too many Game of Thrones episodes, or think of himself as the Aragorn who would defeat the Dark Lord Saruman. That line “night has fallen”, if you will remember, was exactly the headline of Time magazine cover story that was one of the first hatchet jobs abasing Duterte.

My sources have informed me it is Gascon himself who has been feeding the foreign and a section of the local press, mainly the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Rappler (both of which have had puff pieces on him), with material they could use to portray government as waging a ruthless war against illegal drugs and grossly violating Filipinos’ human rights.

Gascon also teamed up with the Free Legal Aid Group (FLAG) lawyers to assist former Davao police officer Arturo Lascañas in his campaign to claim

that Duterte himself participated in the Davao Death Squad. One can’t underestimate Gascon’s skill in conspiracies: He was the Liberal Party operator that plotted the breakaway from former President Gloria Arroyo of the traitorous Hyatt 10 which, if not for that President’s grit would have meant the collapse of her government.

Gascon and Callamard It was Gascon who invited UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard to give a speech at the CHR’s anniversary event.

Callamard has been so obnoxiously critical of the country’s war against drugs there is a tsunami of outrage against her.

It was even the CHR that paid Callamard’s air fare and five-star accommodation.

One demonstration of Gascon’s propaganda expertise was when his staff brought media to a cell in a precinct in Tondo which was blown up to be portrayed as “secret cells”. The connotation of course was that since the detainees were concealed, they would be executed soon. The “raid” was undertaken in the evening when it would be dark outside the window, which therefore made it appear

closed, necessary for such a cell to be kept secret. Daytime photos of the cell though show a huge window with bars. And that operation was timed during the Asean Summit.

Such an issue of course wasn’t new, as the nation has been shocked in the past several months by photos of horrific overcrowding in jails not only in Manila but in Cebu City. But if Gascon was authentically concerned about this, he could have asked his staff to prepare a detailed study on how much there is of such overcrowding, and propose a plan to be submitted to Congress which can fund the building of more jails.

The task of creating institutions and a political culture that upholds the rights of each individual is a daunting and really tedious one, which took the West generations to achieve.

Who wouldn’t want such respect for human rights?

But this cannot be done in the way Gascon assumes that Duterte has adopted a state policy of violating human rights, so that his response would be to discredit him so much he would be toppled, to be replaced by

u PAGE A7

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Dateline PhiliPPines

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • mAy 12-18, 2017

Death penalty proposal still alive in the Senate

by Jefferson

AntipordA

ManilaTimes

ATE COMMENDS 2016 BAR TOPNOTCHER. Senate President Koko Pimentel III presents a copy of a resolution commending Karen Mae Calam (5th from right), a certified public accountant and law graduate from the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, for topping the 2016 Philippine Bar Examinations. The Senate resolution, introduced by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri Tuesday, May 9, 2017, congratulates Calam for “obtaining the highest mark in what is considered as one of the toughest licensure exams in the country.” Also in the photo are (from left) Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto with Senators Manny Pacquiao, Zubiri, Calam’s family, and Senator Sonny Angara.

Senate photo by Romy Bugante

PH defends Duterte’s drug war in Geneva PAGE A5 he added.

Duterte previously invited Callamard to come to the Philippines and investigate the claims. The invitation, however, comes with conditions: these include a public debate with Duterte and that the UN special rapporteur should take an oath to “confirm her intention to be truthful.”

Callamard, however, rejected

the conditions, saying these were inconsistent with the Special Rapporteur Code of Conduct and Terms of Reference for country visits. She also suggested having a joint press conference instead of public debate.

Several UN-membering states—Bulgaria, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Peru—urged the Philippines to allow Callamard conduct an investigation into

Movement,’ led by law professor Bruce Rivera, is eyeing an impeachment complaint against Robredo for allegedly betraying public trust when she sent a video message criticizing the Philippine government’s war on drugs before the United Nations.

Complaints against Morales, meanwhile, have yet to be submitted by their proponents, among which include the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

The VACC accused Morales of being partial in investigating corruption cases against allies of the former President Benigno Aquino III. According to House Major-

ity Leader Rodolfo Farinas, the House of Representatives is set to start its hearings on the two impeachment complaints filed against Duterte as early as Monday next week.

The complaints against Duterte were officially referred to the House justice committee during the plenary session on Tuesday, May 9.

In a recent interview, Justice Committee Chair and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali said the impeachment case against the president will likely be dropped in just two hearings since it lacks widespread support, making the bid impossible to fly.

Despite the supposed low odds

“What is clear is that the version of the House of Representatives which involves firing squad and hanging won’t have a chance of passing in the Senate,” he added.

Sen. Richard Gordon, in a separate interview, said the fate of the death penalty is still too close to call, adding that his position against it would not change.

Gordon reiterated that instead of imposing capital punishment, the government should work on improving the prison system and adopting a stricter policy on life imprisonment.

“We have to really make sure that when we do impose life imprisonment, it should really be in prison, where prisoners are seen undergoing hard labor and far from their families,” he said.

The ‘war on drugs’: Saying too much...

PAGE A6 of killings attributed to “vigilantes”?

Vice-President Leni Robredo the alleged extrajudicial killings has been accused of “shaming in connection with the drug war the Philippines” for her video without any conditions. message to the 60thannual Australia, Brazil, Chile, Costa meeting of the UN Commission Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna in Vatican City, Iceland, Luxemwhich she reported that “more bourg, the Netherlands, New than 7,000 people (had) been Zealand, Portugal, Sierra Leone, killed in summary executions.”

Spain, Slovenia, Switzerland, Robredo has been accused United Kingdom, and the United of “lying to the world.” But if States have also expressed conshe was lying about the killings, cern over the alleged summary wouldn’t that make Duterte a liar executions. too? After all, he is the one who has been bragging about filling Manila Bay with dead bodies in his war on drugs.

In a December report by AFP of success, Liberal party member News Agency, Duterte was quotand Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman ed as follows: “In Davao I used to noted that the Committee on Justice “cannot outright dismiss or sustain a duly filed and referred impeachment complaint without conducting a hearing, as man- PAGE A6 dated by the Constitution.”

The hearing, he said, gives the a lover of human rights, who of complaint a chance “to be heard course would be a Liberal Party and present arguments and jus- loyalist.

Such a task requires painstifications.”

“Ang nakarating sa amin is ma- taking work outside the glare of bilis raw ang proseso (We heard news media. Among these: workthat the process is fast), because ing with the police to undertake there is the superiority of num- continuous education on the bers. But we should not forget importance of human rights; the that the Constitution explicitly strengthening of the police inprovides that the Committee on ternal affairs offices (or even the Justice must conduct the hear- establishment of human rights desks, as in the case of their ing,” Lagman added.

House can’t tackle Duterte, Robredo...

PAGE A5

THE proposed reimposition of the death penalty is still very much alive in the Senate, contrary to earlier claims of some senators in the minority bloc that it is already dead, Sen. Francis Escudero said on Thursday, May 11.

Escudero, who opposes the planned restoration of capital punishment, added that he was able to get the respective positions of senators on the matter two months ago and they are different from a statement earlier made by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

Drilon recently said in a news forum that the bill seeking to restore the death penalty in the country was already dead in the

Senate with at least 13 senators likely to reject it.

“I don’t believe that the death penalty is dead in the Senate and I hope he [Drilon] will not assume that and be complacent,” Escudero said, as he maintained his position against capital punishment.

According to him, there is a chance that the death penalty will gain the Senate’s nod.

Five death penalty bills are pending before the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights headed by Sen. Richard Gordon.

Escudero said that there was a proposal to limit the imposition of the death penalty to high-level drug trafficking and there is a big possibility that the move could convince more senators into supporting the proposal.

A

do it personally. I’d go around in Davao with a motorcycle, with a big bike around (sic), and I would just patrol the streets, looking for trouble also. I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill.”

Did Robredo’s report to the UN shame the Philippines more than Duterte has done with his boasting about personally killing people and his assertion that “Hitler massacred three million Jews…Now, there are 3 million drug addicts. ... I’d be happy to slaughter them”?

As to the “shaming of the Philippines” ostensibly caused by Robredo and by those who have brought the issue of extra-judicial killings to the attention of the UN, it may serve a good purpose to recall the preface (English

translation) of Dr. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere where he justified his frank exposure of the social cancer afflicting his beloved country: “Desiring thy welfare, which is our own, and seeking the best treatment, I will do with thee what the ancients did with their sick, exposing them on the steps of the temple so that everyone who came to invoke the Divinity might offer them a remedy.

“And to this end, I will strive to reproduce thy condition faithfully, without discriminations; I will raise a part of the veil that covers the evil, sacrificing to truth everything, even vanity itself, since, as thy son, I am conscious that I also suffer from thy defects and weaknesses.” (gregmacabenta@ hotmail.com)

CHR head Gascon now the biggest... women’s desks); working with Congress so it could pass the laws necessary for human rights (or just allocate a bigger budget to build proper jails); and most importantly, the rigorous investigation and prosecution of cases of human rights violations as a deterrent.

But that won’t seem to be glorious enough tasks for Gascon.

If he still has an ember of patriotism and has real concern for human rights, Gascon should

resign as CHR head, before his term ends in 2022. I’m sure with his talent, he can recoup elsewhere the P4 million he is getting from the agency. If he decides to be kapit-tuko, to use that Filipino term, I hope the other four commissioners and even the CHR staff revolt against this Yellow straggler.

Duterte I’m sure can find many Filipinos with a real concern for human rights. (ManilaTimes.net)

A

may 12-18, 2017 • OC/IE aSIaN JOURNaL

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

CARPET ,

the asian journal

entertainment magazine may 12-18, 2017

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

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may 12-18, 2017

2

Single moms in their multi-tasking, complicated world:

The STruggleS and joyS of doing iT alone

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe /aJPress

O

NE of my very close friends is a single mother. After a failed marriage, she had an affair with a married man and unexpectedly got pregnant. I didn’t know about the affair — or her pregnancy, until I saw her seven months on the way, during a party.

She told me about what happened, how the father of her unborn child at that time didn’t want any kind of scandal, and how she felt alone. She had to give up her job to downplay rumors, and had to depend on help from her siblings. When she gave birth to her son, I saw how she struggled to raise him alone, with no support from the biological father.

But I also saw how her strength grew, and how the love for her son made life have meaning. Today, her son is in college, doing well.

Being a parent is tough.

Although I have no children, I have seen my parents, brothers and friends go through parenthood and all of its perils. Having both parents doesn’t make it easy, so just imagine how it would be for a single mother. There’s having to raise your kid (or kids) by yourself, trying to put food on the table (especially when there is no support from their father), helping with schoolwork, being there when your kids are sick, etc.

Then there’s the shame and judgment from other people.

Sometimes it doesn’t matter if you’re the best mother in the world, as some are quick to judge.

This Mother’s Day as we celebrate all our moms/inays/ nanays, we also put our focus on single mothers — whether it is their choice or not.

Fritzie Marie Pascua Umali, 40-something: “There might be struggles in raising your kids alone but you’re not alone and eventually as time pass by, you’d look back and say, ‘I did it alone.’”

Fritzie Marie Pascua Umali has been separated from her husband for 17 years. Although their two children — daughter Tritzie Samanta Marie (21) and son Marvin Nicklaus (20) — were still very young when they split, Umali shared that they knew the situation. “...They would ask questions on whether or not their father really loved them (or me), or if they would be living in a separate house and who visits who,” Umali shared and continued, “I explained to them that their father wanted to go back to their parents’ house in the other city but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love them anymore.”

An online English coach and freelance events organizer in Manila, Umali faced the task of

raising her kids alone. For her, however, the greatest challenge is that she has to be both parents — father and mother — at the same time. “I face this challenge, head on, and thinking that I would be able to do it even if I am alone.”

Another hurdle that she had to surpass was the misconception of people about single moms, and the mentality that the blame falls on them.

“Most people think that single parents, most especially mothers, were just tossed aside when the kids came,” she said. “People would start to ask you ‘Why are you a single mom?,’ ‘Did you two do something accidentally and your partner regretted the consequences? (referring to the kids).’ ‘Is he not happy about this new life that’s why he left?’

The point is, for single parents, whether a mom or dad, the society’s weight is always on the women.”

Margaret Fuentes, 50+ going old: “We were built to be mothers, we even mother people who don’t need it or deserve it.”

Margaret Fuentes and her daughter, Angelique (Alex, who is now 27) moved to the United States almost 10 years ago not only had to face the challenges of being a new immigrant, but being a single mother as well.

“I had to face the challenges of studies and tuition (Alex came here just in time for college), and building a career from scratch,” she said. “Income was bleak and expenses were over the roof.”

According to Fuentes, her road to being a single mother is a complicated one. After migrating, she explained that Alex’s father became lonely and prompted him to fill his “void,” technically ending their relationship.

“His filling his ‘void’ resulted to a baby half-brother for Alex, whom she never met and only heard about, and a wife and four stepkids here in California.”

But in retrospect, she said, she actually considered herself a single mom from the beginning, as she made all the decisions, even when she and Alex’s dad were still together. “It was just like raising two kids instead of one.”

She also shared that she was too busy surviving and keeping her sanity to worry about what other people thought about single moms.

Margaret Fuentes with daughter Alex

Dulce Aysip with son Timothy

Fritzie Marie Pascua-Umali with her kids Tritzie Samantha Marie (left) and Marvin Nicklaus (right).

“If I were on the outside looking in, I would say that others might say that it’s not plausible, but that is just their mindset.

“We were built to be mothers.

We even mother people who don’t need it or deserve it.

Mothering comes naturally and there is no right and wrong, no manual but so many judges.

“It is not a contest to win, it is a life to live. Its main goal is to nurture to bring up your children the best way you could to give them the strength to push on with their own lives.

“It is a selfless act of giving life to another person and giving your life to that person without losing yourself and not expecting anything back.”

Dulce Aysip, 50ish: “Learn to sit back, relax and enjoy your time with your child or children.”

By choice — Dulce Aysip was sure about being a single mother even before she got pregnant with her son, Timothy, who is now 20.

“It was my choice, because I wanted to have a child to adore and share my overflowing and unconditional love,” she said.

Not going into details, Aysip also shared that she already explained to her son everything he needed to know about his father, with no doubt or fear.

With her choice, came many challenges.

“Making fair decisions, learning to trust my child (now that he’s almost and adult) and for my child to trust me, try to be emotionally and physically stable, and be a mother that my child could depend on,” Aysip said. She also added that she spends 99 percent of her time with Timothy when she’s not working.

“The common misconception of people about single moms is that a child is meant to have a father no matter how hard a single mother plays both roles,” she said and then added, “Single moms should learn to sit back, relax and enjoy their child/children. Bring lots of love around your home for a peaceful ambiance.”

Cherie Llorin, 43: “Happiness and love starts with me first before I can give that to my son.”

It was a mutual decision for Cherie Llorin, a footwear product developer, and her husband to separate two years ago. In fact, they have an amicable

Cherie Llorin with son Rockwell

Jona Jane Tajonera with her sons Jason and Joshua

Ledy Almadin with daughters Elena and Ellie

relationship and are partners in taking care for their son, Rockwell, who is now seven years old.

“My son was pretty young when we split (four years old). At that age, he didn’t know that it was a major life-changing event that Daddy didn’t live with us anymore. I just calmly explained that we didn’t live together anymore and he was okay with it,” Llorin said. “He does understand that we were married at one time, but doesn’t really ask too much about it.”

The biggest challenge for her, however, is asking for help from others.

“When I am in ‘Mom Mode,’ I feel the tendency of needing to do everything. I don’t want to be a burden to others, so I try to be ‘Super Mom’ and do everything myself,” she explained and continued, “But there are days that I cannot do it all, and I’m starting to realize it. I am learning to ask family and friends for help, and actually accepting their help when they offer it to me.”

Llorin also shared that single moms can spend 99.9 percent of their time taking care of their child/children, plus deal with other things in their life such as work, bills, etc. Because of this, single mothers forget that they have needs and have to take care of themselves.

“I felt unhappy and didn’t realize the reasons why. Once I reintroduced things I was passionate about into my life (i.e. dance and yoga) I felt a renewed spirit inside me. Whatever time I could manage, I would fit them in. I felt like I was being a better mother because I was happy inside and my son could feel it,” she said. “I feel more inspiring to him, because he sees me pursuing my passions and he in turn wants to do those things. He has a positive outlook, where as before (when we were still living with his dad), he seemed like he could not do anything. It is still a work in progress with him, but I see so many changes in him.

Happiness and love starts with me first before I can give that to my son.”

Her advice to other single moms is to take their time. “You won’t have all the answers right away. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ll figure it out one

way or another. If you fail in your journey, acknowledge it and move on..”

Jona Jane Tajonera, 47: “You can’t argue with stupid.”

According to Jona Jane Tajonera, a businesswoman, one of the misconceptions of people about single moms is that they are “failures, losers, immoral” — or all.

This, she said, is what makes her upset.

“Someone asked me if I go to communion when I go to church, so I said, ‘Yes!’ And this person said, ‘You’re not suppose to do that because you’re a single mom, you’re divorced, it’s a sin.’ I didn’t argue because in my mind, I can’t argue with stupid,” she said.

“Most men think that I carry huge baggage until they get to know me. Then either they think they hit a jackpot or they get intimidated by my status.”

For Tajonera, it was a bitter journey to single motherhood.

Divorced for 12 years now, her marriage crumbled when her ex-husband cheated on her. She was able to get full custody of her two children — Joshua Bailey, 19 and Jason Bailey, 14 — but did allow their father to take them on weekends.

“It turned out he was not even around during those times and the kids were left with their stepmother. So, they stopped going there,” she explained. “Since they were still young when we got divorced, they don’t have a good relationship with their father and they don’t ask or look for him even on Father’s Day. “ Because she did get full custody, it was a challenge to be both father and mother to her kids. Balancing work while taking her sons to their sports and extra curricular activities was tiring, so she decided to start her own business.

“I decided to start my own business so I can have more time with my kid and have a more flexible time. During the day I make sure it’s all about my kids and at night I worked late to catch up. It was hard but I was able to manage it because I saw my kids happier, and I am happier,” she shared. “Now that they are both teenagers, they don’t demand much of my time anymore but we still do activities together (I feel like I became their older sister).”

She also believes that although single motherhood is hard, nothing is more important than giving her kids her love and time.

“Those two (love and time) are the things money can’t buy, and they need it badly. I gave up a high-paying salary and started my own business because I want to be there for my boys. It was hard in the beginning, I struggled and made almost nothing, but with hard work, perseverance and faith, nothing is impossible.

“Lastly, for single mothers, do not worry about what others will say because it is your life. Your children’s happiness comes first and then yours,” she said. “I wake up everyday and say, ‘Today is another day to be awesome.’”

Leny Almadin, 49: “...

Be honest to the children and have that open communication for everyone’s healing process. Children are the ones that take it hard the most.”

The greatest challenge about being a single mother according to Leny Almadin, an accountant, is not being able to give her children a conservative whole family environment. Having been divorce for a decade now, her daughters — Elena Velez (now 20) and Ellie Velez (19) — knew about the end of their parents’ marriage through open communication.

“The change/transition was though, it took a few years to really settle in everyone’s system,” said Almadin. “Open communication and being honest with the kids is the big factor in the process.”

Almadin also said that people have the misconception that single mothers are at fault when their marriages break down.

Trying to keep the family whole may be a noble idea, but may not be the ideal answer. “...Divorce is probably the better choice to many,” she said and continued, “And it’s just part of life’s journey to get to the next chapter in many people’s lives.”

Like she initially said, having open communication, especially with the children, is essential. “...Let them know everything is going to be okay. If possible, have that open communication with their father as well. Kids need that that relationship to make them feel whole.”

may 12-18, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

3

Jodi Sta. Maria: The millennial mom, her dreams and young leading men

by Tessa MauRicio-aRRiola ManilaTimes.net

Troy Montero and Aubrey Miles

Why Aubrey Miles remains an unwed mom

by Deni Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

CelebriTieS Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero have been together for over a decade, and ever since, people have been asking, “When are they going to tie the knot”?

According to Aubrey, marriage, actually, never left her and Troy’s mind.

“Lagi naming napag-uusapan. it’s just that kung saan, kung dito or sa States,” she said.

Citizenship and whether she or Troy and their sons should stay in Manila or in America are the usual problems they face whenever they hear the word “wedding,” especially now that she has businesses to look after in Manila.

Whether or not wedding bells ring soon, Aubrey feels that she, Troy, and their 16 and eight-yearold sons are officially a happy family.

When asked if there is a chance for a third child, the actress quickly replied: “Oo naman! May fourth pa!” in fact, she said, they are going to try for a third one by the end of the year.

As a mom she is strict, especially with her children’s sleeping time, cleanliness and treating people with politeness.

She felt like she did not give her firstborn enough time, so she took a showbiz hiatus. “Sobrang busy ko, kaya gusto kong bumawi.

Kaya bumawi ako sa panganay ko at pati sa second son ko.”

Now, Aubrey is back in the limelight, playing a lesbian opposite Mercedes Cabral in a TV5 short film, “everlasting,” directed by brillante Mendoza.

The movie tells the story of two girls who fell in love at the backdrop of baguio’s Panagbenga Festival.

According to Mendoza, “everlasting” is one of the many short films TV5 commissioned him to execute; each featuring a region’s culture, local festival, and stories of common people.

Aubrey told Philstar.com that “everlasting” is her first lesbian flick, and she agreed to do it because there were no “girl-to-girl action” involved and everything that Mendoza asked for were done in good taste.

“Direk brillante asks for a different acting style. He allows you to bring your true self. Unlike in a soap opera, you have to be a little exaggerated,” Aubrey shared.

Contrary to those who thought Mercedes has an attitude due to her squabble with film producer lily Monteverde last year, Aubrey attested that Cabral is easy to work with.

“She’s very natural. Kung ano s’ya off-cam, ‘yung acting n’ya on-cam, ‘yun din s’ya. Parang super kumportable ka…She’s very spontaneous,” Aubrey said of Mercedes. in the film, she learned that baguio has a custom that loosely resembles same sex marriage. in the Philippines, however, she admitted that “same sex marriage is hard to push because we’re Catholic.”

What did Troy say about Aubrey playing a lesbian?

“Ooh…exciting!” he told his girlfriend. besides “everlasting,” Aubrey also did a reality TV show for

StarWorld, “Four Girls And A bucket list,” together with celebrities from other countries.

She also starred as Joseph Marco’s partner in the defunct AbS-CbN soap opera, “Pasion de Amor.”

She confessed that as a sexy star, she is pressured to always stay in shape. Which is why even when she was pregnant, she continued to exercise. “it’s a pressure to be a fitspiration especially in social media,” she said. “but i like it in such a way that i inspire my followers. Mostly, 90 percent of my followers talagang they want motivation. it’s good to be fit, pero ‘yung magbigay ng motivation, it’s flattering.”

She said, she is lucky that Troy and their kids are also into fitness.

“Troy told me, ‘i’m so happy na ikaw ‘yung girlfriend ko kasi, sabi n’ya, lagi s’yang na-pre-pressure sa’kin (mag-workout),” said Aubrey, who has been working out since her teens.

Apart from yoga and weight training, Aubrey also joins Nike Training Classes (NTC) held every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. and every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Kerry Sports Manila in bonifacio Global City.

NTC, said Nike Philippines officials, enable Filipinos to train with the best athletes and trainers using globally designed workouts to reach their individual fitness goals. The classes also cater to all fitness levels from beginner to advance.

“Any workout will do as long as you enjoy it,” Aubrey assured.

“Pump your heart. Kailangan talaga. And proper sleep!”

Kris Aquino ‘to force’ Bimby to become a doctor

by Deni Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

AFTer learning that one of the doctors in a press conference lately was pressured by her family to become a doctor, actress and TV host Kris Aquino thought of doing the same for her second son, bimby.

“Ah! So, pwede mag-force?

Okay! Got it! i will!” she quipped, sending her audience on a laugh trip during the recent antibacterial solution Fucidin’s press conference. “i keep telling bimby, ‘Your mom is not always healthy, so you better become a doctor, honey,” the star shared. “i’m always jealous of those na may doctor sa pamilya because isang tawag lang, nandyan na right away.”

She admitted that she has been strict to her sons. “i’m not a chill mom. Ako talaga, you have to (do it)!”

Now that she has met a doctor who did not seem to mind being “forced” into the profession, she believes bimby would not find it

Actress Kris Aquino and son Bimby in a recent Honolulu trip.

hard to fall in love with it. in fact, this early, Kris declared, “bimby wants to be a geneticist, but i want him to be an anesthesiologist or a cardiologist.”

She vowed to never stop until bimby fits into a lab gown like a hand to a glove. “i will do that every day of my life. Mind conditioning talaga!”

She, however, clarified that by “force,” she means “positive reinforcement.”

For now, just like any mother, she also dabbles as her children’s “doctor mom.” “i’m a working mom.

Although i can’t work at home, i make sure we, the midwife and i, have a list of things to do. We make sure to have a ready speed dial for the pedia,” she narrated.

Upon hearing that the other mom in the press con panel has a “wonderful husband,” Kris, a single parent, joked: “Ang sarap ka sabunutan!”

Teresa Loyzaga also happy being single mom

by Ricky lo Philstar.com

liKe Aiko Melendez, Teresa loyzaga is a happy single mom to her sons Joseph and diego — that is, aside from being a dutiful daughter to her mom Victoria (widow of basketball legend Carlos loyzaga) and good sister to her siblings Chito, Joey, Princess and bing.

“After all,” she said, “family means everything.”

The hard part of being a working mom is being away from family and Teresa is thankful that her NanayConchita, the yaya whom she considers her second mom, is always around. in 2000, taking her children along, Teresa joined her parents in Australia to start anew. it not only meant getting out of her comfort zone, it also required her, at the onset, to take on odd jobs just to support her family. “Yes, i took odd jobs. but i had a dream. it doesn’t come easy and definitely not for

Also happily single is Teresa Loyzaga, with sons Joseph and Diego: Raising children singlehandedly is a challenging career.

free, but they do come true,” she shared.

“She’s strong willed but most of all i’d just say she’s motherly,” said Joseph who is working towards opening a vegan restaurant. “She managed to teach

us to think for ourselves, to always do right, not because of merit and reward, but because it is the right thing.”

“She’s a superhero!” added diego (dad is Cesar Montano).

Continued on Page 6

JOdi Sta. Maria was the perfect picture of summer as she walked into a frenzy of cameras and smartphones at the grand press conference of her upcoming movie “dear Other Self.” Her skin almost golden with a sunkissed glow, she showed off toned arms in a nautical sleeveless top, the tiniest waist that gave way to a long navy blue skirt, and a beautifully youthful face framed by soft and swept-up locks.

Had she not been part of the iconic teen drama “Tabing ilog” of the late ‘90s—thereafter elevating herself to the level of experienced actresses in successively challenging roles—Jodi could well be mistaken for the so-called crop of millennial actors today.

As she thanked everyone for the barrage of “you-lookso-young” compliments, the 34-year-old celebrity graciously pointed out, “but technically, i am a millennial because i was born in 1982.” indeed, that was the very first year the said generation came to be.

She quickly added, however, “but if today’s definition of a millennial is a person who makes impulsive decisions with the ‘Yolo’ [you only live once] mindset, then i’m not a millennial in that sense. i think it comes from being a mom because i have to make decisions based on my son as my priority.”

Jodi, as everyone knows, is separated with a 10-year-old son in her very able care. Her exchange with The T-Zone was hinged on the millennial way of thinking, however, because of her character becky in “dear Other Self.” becky is a young woman torn between living a predictable life of responsibility and embarking on a carefree journey of fun and adventure. Movie magic allows her to try out both choices as she encounters two love interests who are polar opposites—adventureseeker Henry (Xian lim) and

Jodi Sta. Maria

dependable boy-next-door Chris (Joseph Marco)—and in the process, hopefully demonstrate to millennial audiences that with every decision—impulsive or not–comes consequences. “it’s a light-hearted but very unique movie in that it gets to answer the question of ‘what ifs,’ while sending a message that at the end of the day, we have to be responsible for our choices. becky is faced with the decision of choosing between her personal happiness and the happiness of people around her.” impassioned in tackling a very relevant theme in “dear Other Self,” Jodi also shared she enjoyed working with her two younger leading men. Xian is 27 years old, and Marco is 28.

“Lahat tayo dito bata!” the youthful actress declared with a hearty laugh. “but i have to say, working with both Xian and Marco for the first time, that they are both very professional and dedicated actors. They come to the set on time, and well prepared. Masarap sila parehong katrabaho.”

Jodi specifically noted how she admired Xian for his child-like qualities, almost envying how he is able to look at things with a sense of awe, especially when they were shooting part of the movie in Thailand.

As for Joseph on the other hand—who besides his notable acting as of late is famed for his sculpted physique—Jodi, ribbed for a scene where the actor was only wearing towel around his waist, said she admires his determination. “it takes a lot of determination and dedication to be as fit as he is, di’ba?” she properly remarked.

Finally, in answering what her takeaway is from becky’s character, Jodi generously shared another part of herself with the public—that of holding on to her dreams of one day becoming a doctor. “in the movie, becky also tells herself that she shouldn’t let go of her dreams even if they remain unfulfilled, because when the time is right, they can still come true,” Jodi elaborated. in her case, the actress happily related how she is going back to her pre-med course this year via home schooling.

“Hopefully in two and a half years matapos ko siya,” Jodi crossed her fingers, as she went on to say she will try her best to pursue Medicine thereafter.

“Partly i am motivated by my being a mother; i really want to put a premium on education because i have a son and i want to be able to set a good example,” she ended.

Christopher and Sandy’s daughter Aiko Melendez is happily single by choice snags title on second attempt may 12-18, 2017

www.asianjournal.com

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by Iza IglesIas

by RIcky lo

ManilaTimes.net

Philstar.com

afTEr two failed marriages, first to Jomari Yllana (by whom she has a son, andre, 18) and then to Martin Jickain (with one daughter, Martina, 10), and a four-year romance with a Bulacan local politician (father of another actress’ love child), aiko Melendez claimed that she’s happily single. “for 11 months now,” she famously announced when she met funfare for an exclusive interview. “Single by choice.” i met aiko two days before DSWD Sec. Judy Taguiwalo faced the Commission on appointments in the Senate and the interview didn’t have any reference to the “na-ano lang” issue heard ‘round the world.

“My marriage to Jom lasted for seven years and to Martin almost three years. i’m contented where i am now.” in the next breath, aiko admitted that she’s not in good terms with Jomari. “if he’s there, then he’s there,” she added dismissively. “if he’s not there, i’m not gonna look for him.

My only concern is his relationship with andre. all i ask of him is to take care of andre. as i said, i’m single, and happily so, and as far as i know, he has a non-showbiz girlfriend.”

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Aiko Melendez with children Martina (by ex-husband Martin Jickain) and Andre (by ex-husband Jomari Yllana)

During the elections in May last year, aiko gladly campaigned for Jomari who got elected councilor of Parañaque City. “after the elections,” aiko forced a smile, “wala na.

Nagkagalit na kami.” if they are not okay as exes, how is Jomari as a father?

“You mean if he supports andre financially? We don’t ask, we don’t demand. if he wants to give, okay lang. i cannot say that he’s really bad, but he can do better. You know, when Jom is in love, he tends to forget the people around him. Maybe if he’s okay and back to his old self, he will realize that, you know…”

No problem with Martin.

“We’re okay. i am even friends with his wife, Maggie. Their daughter is a good friend of my daughter.” in showbiz, the belief is that if you’re unlucky in love, you’re lucky in your career. it holds true with aiko.

She has bagged two awards, Gawad Tanglaw and Gawad Pasado, for her performance as the manipulative wife of a politician (played by ricky Davao) in “iadya Mo Kami” for which she also got nominated at the New York Manhattan film festival. although with only one show, aiko described her shooting schedule as “patayan, madugo” (killing, bloody).

“Whatever we shoot, for example, in the morning is schedule for airing that same day or the next day,” said aiko who has a 2 a.m. cut-off time so that she could sleep for at least six hours. “When i was taping ‘apoy sa Dagat,’ i had to be hospitalized

Maria angelica “Mariel” de Leon is definitely on her way to making a name outside her famous parents’ showbiz fame after winning the Binibining Pilipinas-international last april 30.

The 23-year-old, 5’8” stunner is the daughter of veteran actors Christopher De Leon and Sandy andolong, and is a second-timer in the country’s premiere beauty contest.

Her beauty undeniable, she also held her own at the allimportant question-and-answer portion when asked to name an activity perceived to be maleoriented, but which she can do just as well if not better than the opposite sex.

She replied, “i think i can box better than males,” adding, “i believe i can do anything better than males because it isn’t about gender at all. it’s about your abilities, your strengths, your weaknesses and your confidence within yourself. and with that, you can achieve anything.”

With the Binibining Pilipinas-international title came a P500,000-contract from Binibining Pilipinas Charities, inc.

(BPCi), a P500,000 endorsement contract, and complete wardrobe sponsorship from BPCi among other prizes.

De Leon also snagged special awards, namely Miss Cream Silk and Best in Long Gown.

The mestiza beauty first tried

because my blood pressure went up to 160/100; my normal BP is 110/80. My doctor told me to get enough sleep and to work out.

Thank you naman at nag-stabilize ang BP ko…and i also lost weight, more than 50 lbs. so far. i need to shed 20 more pounds.”

But she’s not complaining.

Mariel De Leon being crowned by Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa as her successor “i look at it as work. during the Bibining Pilipinas coronation night last April 30.

Everybody has to work hard to get paid, di ba? Sometimes, if year when i realized that i should her luck in Binibining Pilipinas in there are 32 sequences to shoot, i try [it] again. i was definitely 2013, achieving a Top 15 finish am in 28. as a kontrabida, my role inspired by Pia [Wurtzbach] and i under the guidance of talent is just as important as the bida so felt something in my heart…like a management agency aces and i have as many scenes as those of spark that just went off.”

Queens. in 2015, she signed up Maja.”

Meanwhile, in an interview with Viva Entertainment as a Her peg is rosamund Pike’s with aBS-CBN, which carried the member of singing group, The villainess character in “Gone Girl” delayed telecast of the pageant, Opera Belles. which aiko watched as part of de Leon’s famous father admitted according to her biography her research. “Ang ganda ng mga on the pageant’s website, de Leon he prayed hard for her daughter pitik-pitik niya,” observed aiko. to win Binibining Pilipinasfinished high school at Southville and who does she see in Maja’s international School, and took up international. face during the shoot of their Boyet, as he is fondly called a culinary course in New Zealand confrontation scenes? Does she in showbiz circles was quoted, where her eldest brother lives. draw from real life?

“This is the most exciting time of asked in previous interviews “Hmmm,” evaded aiko (who why she decided to join Binibining my life. i am so proud of her. i’ve has had brushes with some been dreaming of this. i’ve been Pilipinas again after four years, actresses over romantic issues), wanting something really, really she replied, “it was this just this “no more. i have passed that good for Mariel.” stage already, hehehe!!! Tapos Meanwhile, her mom who was na ako dyan. Before the shoot, initially not very keen on the idea Maja and i sit down to discuss the of de Leon joining the pageant details. She’s a very good actress. again, joyfully exclaimed, “She’s a Masarap ka-work. i can say that in princess. She’s our princess. Now this generation, Maja is the best.” she’s a queen. This is very special.

Her role in Wildflower is This has been her dream. Second different from the one in “iadya time na nga and finally, she won.

Mo Kami.”

She really prepared for this. “as a king maker in ‘iadya,’ Talagang determined,” she said. yung pagka-kontrabida ko ay Given her parents’ all-out pailalim. in ‘Wildflower,’ my support, the dutiful daughter took character is openly kontrabida; a moment during her victory to she’s really bad.” acknowledge them: “Thank you asked which character she nanay, tatay for all the love and identified with, aiko laughed. support that you’ve given me Mariel De Leon was joined by her proud family after being crowned Miss Philippines“Neither. ask my co-workers International 2017. In photo with Mariel are brother Gabriel, mother Sandy Andolong, father since birth. i love you so much and Continued on Page 6 Christopher De Leon and sister Mica. this one’s for you,” she said.

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On how not to become a pack rat Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA ONE man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

Just for a little fun, go garage “sale-ing.” There aren’t as many in the summer season as there are in spring. Many old-timers have to deal with their stuff gathered over the years, a lot of which have long ago outlived their usefulness. For practical purposes, many just want to reclaim the spaces occupied by junk and clutter and re-use the space for some other purpose other than storage.

Some simply want to make a few extra bucks. If you have too much stuff and would like to simply reclaim your breathing space or to get rid of what has become dust catchers, you can have fun clearing out your stuff and convert them to cash by becoming the seller. The pace could be faster than selling your stuff on ebay.

Don’t just kibitz if you are a buyer. Enter the flow. Don’t forget to bring along a few kindred souls and some cash. A note of caution is in order. Garage “sale-ing” is one fun activity that can get out of hand if you let it. Particularly during tough times, a good number of people are becoming creative on how to stretch the dollar and are looking at garage sales, either to sell or to buy.

Particularly for newly arrived immigrants or newly married couples starting a new life who are wary of getting into a whopping financial burden by going into debt at the outset, going to garage sales particularly in affluent areas might be an option.

Cash remains king. With a little cash, you can go to garage sales, tag sales, estate sales, swap meets and thrift shops to find practically everything that you will need, and more besides, to set you up in your new place — practically for pennies on the dollar, at least during the

Why do we do it? Why do we encumber ourselves with possessions?

- Alice Thomas Ellis beginning years, when you are conserving your resources to prep yourself for the big purchase decisions, e.g. like buying a car or a condo or house, when the time is right.You will be amazed at what you can find.

Newer communities with yuppies as residents will have newer, modern, mass-produced plastic or vinyl stuff, the kind that you get at Ikea while older communities will have items from the past, perhaps still in working condition but in outdated styles.

Unless those wily antique collectors and estate handlers beat you to estate liquidations as they most often will, if you’re lucky, you might stumble upon treasures or heirloom pieces that you only get to see on “Antiques Roadshow” ringing up unbelievable appraisals.

Be warned. Appraisals are just benchmarks of value given as expert opinions, from which buyer and seller can begin negotiation and arrive at a purchase price, which can be higher or lower than appraisal value, depending on the motivation and time frame of both buyer and seller and the perceived intrinsic value of the item being sold.

Simply because manufacturers are not making more of it, good handcrafted furniture pieces made from mahogany and other prized hardwood of over 100 years or porcelain ware, hold up their value comparatively well as sought-after prized antiques than disposable, ready-to-assemble furniture made from particle board and melamine mass produced in China. Still, there’s no accounting for taste and individual preferences. The younger ones prefer the sheen and gloss of lacquer or the spanking new, modern furniture of plastic, steel or formica over the patina of old, seasoned wood.

Whatever your choice, dare to

be different. Be creative. Immerse yourself in the books written about styles you would like to emulate. You can have your own style with very little money. Let your imagination and a little elbow grease help you create your own unique haven. The really creative ones do it on a shoestring budget and still have great fun along the way while earning themselves some bragging rights in creating treasures out of junk. Also, you’re doing your environmental bit by recycling.

America is a consumer society and the amount of discarded things is simply staggering. Out with the old, in with the new. Every season brings new fashions and trends and since closet, basement and garage spaces are limited (most times, bursting at the seams) and public storage units cost money, there is an endless round of garage sales going on in America, more so these days when money is tight for many households.

You will find that a lot of items, specially for babies and younger children who outgrow their things pretty fast, look almost new and highly usable. Plates, silverware, kitchen items, small and big appliances, decor, furniture, framed art, clothes, videos, audio and video tapes and tools are the usual fare.

Many items are still new and in their original packaging.

Sometimes, there are genuine antiques or priceless works of art hidden in dust and grime. That’s when you hit paydirt. But such instances are few and far-between, so keep yourself grounded. There is no sales tax. Check your local community newspapers or go online for these weekend events.

The early bird gets the early worm. The earlier you come during the day, the better the selection but the prices will be Continued on Page 6

Depression is great risk factor in suicide Health@Heart PhiliP S. ChuA, Md, FACS, FPCS DEPRESSION is a most significant risk factor in suicide.

In today’s busy, impatient, materialistic, and fast-paced society, people are subjected to various stressors in life everyday.

Encumbered by their personal circumstance, some are unable to adjust and cope, and develop depression. Suicide is a senseless option and a preventable alternative.

What is depression?

Depression is a state of emotion where the individual has some or all of the following senses, feelings, or moods: downhearted, unhappy, anxious, irritable, unable to concentrate, socially withdrawn, empty inside, has inordinate fatigue and reduced interest in activities which used to be fun, hopelessness, indecision, impaired sleep, misery, helplessness, confusion, monosyllabic speech or abnormally quiet.

What is the prevalence of depression?

In the United States, about 9 percent, or 28 million American adults “have feelings of hopelessness, despondency, and/or guilt that generate a diagnosis of depression,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Three percent or 9.6 million of adults have major depression, a chronic and severe form of depression. In the Philippines, the rate is about 5.3 percent. Worldwide, the rate is between 2.6 percent to 29.5 percent, a pandemic, actually, according to an international study conducted by the World Health organization. In general, women are 70 percent more prone to develop depression, in part due to hormonal changes, especially during menstruation, after pregnancy, and menopause. In the past 50 years, the rate has catapulted from 3.33 percent to 7.06 percent, from 1991 to 2002. The rate for the various types of depression in the United States are: Postpartum – 10 to 15 percent; SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) – 4 to 6 percent; Bipolar – 2.6 percent; Dysthymia (minor depression that lasts 2 years or longer) – 1.5 percent; Psychotic depression (most severe form) – 5 percent.

Are there screening tests for depression?

Yes, there are. Mental health specialists can administer preliminary tests such as the BDI (Beck Depression Inventory), or the HRS (Hamilton Rating Scale), which is composed of 20 questions to screen the patient.

Today, computerized phone interviews are gaining effectivity as a screening tool. These tests are only a small part of the evaluation process, because the specialists have the symptoms of the patient and other criteria to aid them make the correct diagnosis.

Don’t we all get depressed sometimes?

To some degree, some situations in life trigger depression, and normal people develop a mild form of depression, which is transient, self-terminating, and not a disease. As long as the resultant symptoms are trivial and temporary, and do not debilitate the person, the condition is not clinical illness and does not need any medical treatment What foods relieve depression?

Foods that are high in tryptophan, an amino acid involve in serotonin production, provide relief to some people with depression. Niacin (Vitamin B3), which is essential in the production of tryptophan, can be found in dried peas, beans, whole grains, dried fortified cereals, and especially in oily fishes like salmon and mackerel. It is reported that Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil may actually reduce depression. PMS Escape, a high carbohydrate drink, was claimed to increase tryptophan level and would control the depression related to pre-menopausal syndrome has been found to have impurities by the FDA and subsequently withdrawn from the market. Calcium supplements and Vitamin B-12 have been reported to reduce pre-menstrual depression. Also, some studies showed that among depressed people who drink caffeinated beverages have a lower incidence of suicide, which seems to suggest that coffee or tea reduces depression.

How about exercises?

Believe it or not, physical exercises may be as effective as psychotherapy in the management of mild to moderate depression.

Prolonged aerobic workouts lead to higher levels of serotonin, adrenalin, endorphins and

dopamine in the brain (producing the popular term “runner’s high”).

Physical exercises, brisk walking, ballroom dancing, yoga, tae-bo, etc. lead to better emotional health. As an extra bonus from physical exercises, weight loss and improved muscle tone lead to the sense of well-being and higher self-esteem. Those individuals with strong spiritual faiths have a relatively lower predisposition to depression. These people might benefit from meditation, yoga, and other techniques for obtaining spiritual security, inner peace and happiness. Severe depression needs medical treatment.

Does depression play a role in suicides?

Yes, very significantly.

Depression is present in about 90 percent of the more than 40,000 suicides that take place in the United States annually, and for every two homicides, there are 3 suicides. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States overall and the second leading cause of death in the age group 10 to 34. According to CDC, 1.3 million adults attempted suicide in 2014. About 78 percent of them are men, more than 4 times the rate for women. Depression lowers the mental threshold for selfdestruction.

Do you have depression?

If you do, it is most prudent to seek medical help, not necessarily psychotherapy. The first thing to do it to consult your family physician, who can help guide you. With early proper medication and/or advice, depression in most cases can be managed effectively and eliminated faster than one can imagine. Physicians today have invaluable tools in their armamentarium for the diagnosis and treatment of depression.

Many individuals with depression, who have sought medical care, are so “cured” with simple oral medications that they look, behave, function and live as normally and happily as anybody else, lost in the sea of anonymity. *** 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

may 12-18, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

Calendar of Events across

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AMBOY presents Filipino Dessert Night in LA AMBOY & Chef Isa Fabro present Filipino dessert night on Friday, May 12 where she and guest chefs will showcase their favorite Filipino sweets and treats. This dessert experience will show why the current breakout in Filipino desserts is something you need to be a part of. It will be held at the second floor of Far East Plaza (727 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012) at 5:30 p.m., 8 p.m., and 10 p.m. It is $48 per guest. To book online, please visit www.universe.com/amboydessertnight or email eatatamboy@gmail.com for any inquiries.

M AY 1 3

Thomasian Engineers Club to hold Gala Ball in Long Beach, CA The Thomasian Engineers Club (The University of Sto. Tomas College of Engineering Alumni Association) will hold its gala ball on Saturday, May 13 at the Long Beach Marriott.

The association is headed by President Elsa Camacho. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions, please call Norma de los Reyes at (310) 508-1477. The Long Beach Marriott is located at 4700 Airport Plaza Dr., Long Beach, CA 90815.

13th Annual Archdiocesan Celebration of Santacruzan in Los Angeles The Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles invites you to its 13th Annual Santacruzan on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 2:45 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012). There will be a free retreat for key participants, presentation of “Sagalas” – young girls and women comprising the Court of Honor for the Procession of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Eucharistic Celebration, Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Flower Offering, and a Procession accompanied by a “Banda Musiko.” The theme of the celebration is “Mary, Full of Grace, Virgin of Mercy!”

The celebration is capped with a Dinner-Dance (with ticket purchase) at Casa Italiana, 1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Please contact: Florie Pimentel at (818) 641-8690 or fpimentel08@gmail.com; Eric Cordeta at (310) 930-5443 or epcordeta@juno.com.

Davao Association USA of Southern California’s inaugural ball in Long Beach, CA The Davao Association USA (DAUSA) of Southern California will hold its inaugural ball and induction of officers 2016-2018 on Saturday, May 13 at 6 p.m. at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel (4700 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach, CA 90815). All Dabawenyos and friends are invited to celebrate DAUSA’s 24th year anniversary as well and dinner dance with the Babes n Friends band. Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Adelio Cruz will induct the 12 officers and 15 board of directors of the association. For further information, please contact Jimmy (818) 667-7242 and Jane (323) 333-9048.

M AY 1 9

AMBOY presents ULAM dinner in LA AMBOY presents a special night on Friday, May 19 with a six course dinner presented

by Filipino chefs who will each make one course using their culinary technique and cultural background. Guests in attendance will also receive a VIP ticket to the preview of ULAM – a Filipino food documentary, showing at the Million Dollar Theatre on Saturday May 20th. It will be held at the second floor of Far East Plaza (727 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012) at 5:30 p.m., 8 p.m., and 10 p.m. It is $75 per guest (includes a ticket to ULAM screening).

To book online, please visit www.universe.com/amboydinnernight or email eatatamboy@ gmail.com for any inquiries.

National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day Stakeholder Breakfast and Conference in Pasadena, CA National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day Stakeholder Breakfast and Conference, co-sponsored by Hep B Free-Los Angeles and Hepatitis C Task Force for Los Angeles County on Friday, May 19. It will be held at Huntington Hospital (100 W. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105) from 9:30 a.m. to noon, featuring a hepatitis/liver expert panel and roundtable discussion groups. Continental breakfast will be available. Please RSVP by May 12 to Koy Parada at kparada@apu.edu or (818) 599-9132.

M AY 2 0

Carlos Bulosan book club in LA The Echo Park Branch Library* of the LA Public Library system will host the launching of the Carlos Bulosan Book Club (CBBC) organized by Friends of the Echo Park Library (friendsechopark.org) on Saturday, May 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The first book will be “America is in the Heart” by Carlos Bulosan. The moderators will be James Castillo, Dr. Enrique dela Cruz, Vicky Perez & Jaime Geaga. The CBBC’s mission is to provide a forum to explore and learn about the Filipino-American immigrant experience as reflected through Fil-Am literature. It will be held at the Echo Park Library Community Room (1410 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026). To RSVP or for more info, please contact James Castillo at (626) 241-7010 or admin@friendsechopark.org.

M AY 2 1

Filipino Medical Program hosts mini health fair in Bergenfield, NJ Holy Name Medical Center’s Filipino Medical Program will take part in a mini health fair on Sunday, May 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church - Conlon Hall at 19 North William Street, Bergenfield, NJ. For more information, please call the FMP at (201) 833-3355 or email lavarro@holyname.org.

M AY 26

AMBOY presents lechon festival in LA AMBOY presents a Lechon festival on Friday, May 26 where six different chefs will compete and be given the chance to show their version of our beloved lechon. All attendees and judges will get the chance to taste each chef’s representation and get to vote for the best version of lechon in Los Angeles based on flavor, originality, plating and crunchiness.

VIP guests and judges will have additional courses made by each chef competing for the grand prizes. It is $75 for VIP (entrance at 6 p.m.) and $50 for GA (entrance at 7 p.m.). It will be held at the second floor of Far East Plaza (727 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012).

To book online, please visit www.universe.com/amboylechonfestival or email eatatamboy@ gmail.com for any inquiries.

M AY 28

Global gathering of Bulacan High School and Marcelo H. del Pilar High School in Rosemead, CA Graduates of Bulacan High School and Marcelo H. del Pilar High School of Malolos, Bulacan will hold their first ever global gathering on Sunday, May 28 at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Rosemead, California. Please call up any of the following for more details: Rosario “Charito” Aldaba Gabriel (Class ‘66), Tel. No. (818)-982-1165; Lourdes Ople Smith (Class ’64) Tel. No. (310)-662-1948; Gerry “German” Torres, Jr. (Class ’66) Tel. No. (818)646-3286. You can also visit the website at www.mhpnhs-maa.com.

Filipino Medical Program hosts community health screening in Jersey City Holy Name Medical Center’s Filipino Medical Program will have a health screening from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 28 at the Santacruzan Festival at St. Mary’s Church on 254 2nd St, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302. For more information, please call the FMP at (201) 833-3355 or email lavarro@holyname.org.

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

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may 12-18, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

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Keyland Corporation bags best Boutique Developer and Best Affordable Residential Condominium awards at Property GURU’s Philippine Property Awards 2017 Makati City – keyland Corporation bagged three prestigious awards at the May 4, 2017 Philippine Property awards held at the Fairmont Hotel – the Best Boutique Developer and the Best affordable Residential Condominium in Metro Manila awards and Highly Commended Best BPO Development. the Best Boutique Developer award is the highest award a “small” or a niche real estate developer could win in the 2017 Philippine Property awards. this means that keyland Corporation met all the standards and requirements set by asia’s most prestigious Real Estate awards organization, the Philippines Property awards, to qualify as the best among the very best. this is a remarkable feat to a sixyear-old (incorporated only in 2011) company that specializes in special “niche” markets in real estate in Metro Manila. its Casa De Sequoia residential development in Las Pinas won the “Best affordable Residential Condominium Development in Metro Manila. this means that Casa De Sequoia is the best “value for money” development in Metro Manila. keyland Corporation’s sold out Southkey Hub commercial development at Northgate Cyber Zone in alabang, won a

Charo Santos-Concio: Mother, unexpected leader

by Maridol

ranoa-BisMark Philstar.com

MaNiLa — Some people are meant to lead. they stand out from the rest because they are braver, smarter, and more charming. People automatically believe in them.

Such is the case with aBSCBN’s first woman president, Charo Santos-Concio.

She admits she is still the shy girl from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. it humanizes her, makes her more reachable, especially to the masses whom the kapamilya network caters to.

Charo uses the word “dyahe” (embarrassing) to describe how she feels about hogging the spotlight as aBS-CBN top executive, until she retired recently. “i love the work, but not the attention. that’s why dyahe,” Keyland Corporation president Jose “Lito” G. Montinola receives the “Best Affordable Residential she explained.

But the shrinking violet also Condominium Development for Metro Manila” for the Casa De Sequoia Residences in Las Pinas. has nerves of steel. She fought her fears to face a throng of disappointed fans at the Ultra and told them the show (Willie Revillame’s defunct “Wowowee”) cannot go on.

She did not know what kind of harmful object the angry crowd, that waited for days, will hurl at her. But Charo had a job to do. She was the network’s chief executive, so she had to break the bad news.

She apologized in public and learned an important lesson.

“Have the courage to take risks Montinola, President, Keyland Corporation receiving the “Best Boutique Developer Award” and the courage of your (own) with two Keyland Corporation staffers convictions. take a stand if you the winners at this year’s “Highly Commendable” award have to,” she advised anyone who Philippine Property awards will among Business Process Office wants to make it to the top. continue to compete at the (BPO) development category.

Her biographical book, aBSProperty Guru awards asian this is adjacent to the 17-storey CBN Publishing’s “My Journey: finals to be held in Singapore Southkey Place residential the Story of an Expected Leader,” later this year. condominium building that is includes this, and other lessons We anticipate that now ahead of its construction experience taught Charo. keyland Corporation’s onschedule. “if courage is hard to find, just going developments, the 110 take a small first step,” she advised Benavidez luxury condominium at Legaspi Village Makati and its would-be leaders again. it is like hearing a gentle, Southkey Place residential and investment condominium at Northgate Cyberzone in alabang are going to reap similar awards when they are completed in From Page 4 2022 and 2019 respectively. and they will say that i am easy to keyland Corporation set up work with, very jolly. i don’t want its marketing office at 1799 Old undue stress; i don’t want tension.

Bayshore Highway, Unit 136, if i have to say yes, eh di, yes na Burlingame, California 94010 and lang to avoid trouble. i want life to may be reached at (650) 393-9306. go on smoothly. i guess it comes (Advertising Supplement) with age,” explained aiko who is 41.

Since she became an active member of Victory Christian Fellowship four years ago, aiko has radically changed, according to her, “spiritually,” after what she described as a “turning point” in her life.

Actress, TV host, and ABS-CBN’s first woman president, Charo Santos-Concio.

loving older sister, the kind you picture in your mind each time Charo, as host of the long-running drama anthology “Maalaala Mo kaya” (MMk), goes on air. Empathy is high on Charo’s list of people skills.

“Let’s listen with our hearts,” she urged.

Charo can empathize with MMk letter-senders because, like them, she dreamed of a better life for herself and her family. She worked hard. She did her best (her most recent victory was at the 17th Festival internacional de Cine Las Palmas Gran Canaria in Canary islands, where Charo got a Special Mention award as lead actress of “ang Babaeng Humayo”). that is because Charo believes in never giving up, in excelling in whatever she is doing. She knows one cannot have it all, that problems happen. and when they do, Charo believes in carrying on and solving the problem herself. “i don’t turn helpless. You can’t put life on hold, for yourself and for others, because you’re going through some crisis,” she said. and when the crisis is borne of fear, Charo wants others to ask themselves, “ikamamatay ko ba ito (Will I die because of this)? if

the answer is no, Charo thinks there is only one thing to do—go for it.

Charo herself dared bare her soul by opening her life story to others. She opened herself to public scrutiny, and the prospect of being misjudged or misunderstood. But she knows it is how you inspire others, like the shy provincial lass that she had been, someone who wants to succeed for her family. it can help men understand and appreciate their grandma (Charo is proud of her new grandson), mother, wife, daughter and sister more. and when people ask questions, Charo has a ready answer. Women she meets during speaking engagements in schools and corporations ask Charo, “How do you balance career, marriage, and motherhood?” and she answers from experience. it seems people are learning a lot from Charo’s answers, so far.

She reports that so far, response to her leadership talks has been ”quite heartening.”

Charo may have retired from studying ratings and thinking of ways to beat the rival network as tV executive. But her journey as unexpected leader goes on.

Aiko Melendez is happily single... “it’s nice to wake up in the morning without a heavy heart, without any excess (emotional) baggage. i realized that no matter how many problems i have, i’m still lucky to have work. God has blessed me. i have Wildflower and two awards. the past two years were very bad. i was swindled in some investments, my savings were gone, i was financially zero.”

More than the acting awards, aiko considers her being a “happily single” mom to growing children as her biggest trophy. andre has quit school (a

Marketing freshman ) temporarily to try showbiz and Martina is in Grade 5 at Poveda. “i am single by choice,” stressed aiko. “andre and Martina are growing up and i’m glad i can spend more time with them. they are like barkada to me. andre is at the stage where he wants to explore. He courted a girl but he stopped na.” asked how long she intended to stay single, aiko said, “it depends. Who knows if somebody would come along…”

Teresa Loyzaga also happy being...

From Page 3

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.

“She would split herself into many versions and work multiple jobs.

She has fulfilled her dreams. She has given us a good life.” as a gesture of gratitude to their mom, Joseph and Diego are giving her a techoMarine

timepiece as Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 14) gift. the gift is very meaningful because teresa made use of her time raising her children singlehandedly.

She has a message to single moms: “to my fellow single moms,

chin up! You are no less than other moms as there is no task that you cannot achieve. Enrich yourselves through this journey and grow with each day of struggle. Most importantly, keep your feet on the ground but keep reaching for the stars.”

On how not to become a...

From Page 5 marked a tad higher unless the seller wants to seriously dispose of his merchandise fast and pack up early. the later in the day you come — from noon to early afternoon — the prices are cut drastically, practically at giveaway rates, but the selection is much less, with junk a-plenty.

Learn to negotiate. Read Donald trump’s “the art of the Deal.” in america, what you get is not what you deserve. Very often, it is what you negotiate. if you are uncomfortable with haggling and if you happen to be with someone who can dicker with the seller in a courteous, pleasant way, get him to do it for you. the key is to be respectful. Never disparage what is being sold in the transparent attempt to get a lower price.

Many crafty buyers use this as a tactic and instead of getting a better price, all it does is irritate the seller. if you want a lower price on an item you like, ask politely, “Would you take less for this?” and then state the price you are willing to pay. Very often, the seller will counter with a lower price and then you can proceed from there with the price getting tossed back and forth until you agree on the final figure.

Merchandise is sold on an “as is” basis and most of the time, is not returnable. Buyer, beware. inspect closely. there are more trustworthy sellers than there are hucksters. they will tell you if the item is working or if there is a crack or a flaw on it. if you are uneasy about

not being able to return things, buy the item new in a department store which will usually take it back, if it is defective. there are no guarantees when you buy stuff at garage sales. You decide on the spot and there is no turning back — most of the time. if you want to hone and practice your decision-making, buying and negotiating skills as an immigrant, this is one inexpensive (translate that to cheap) way to go. it is also a lighthearted learning experience of what people value and discard on the material level and a personal and up close method of interacting with people of various cultures no book or classroom can teach you. above all, have fun garage “sale-ing”. the joy of discovering something that you need or want practically at a price of a song and a dance is part of the whole experience. But as in all things good and bad, do this with balance and moderation. if you become obssessive-compulsive with even as trifling a thing as going to garage sales as a matter of habit, you can become a pack rat.

Curb the human tendency to be obsessive.

With time and as you accumulate things, you will find yourself holding your own garage sales because you have encumbered yourself with too much stuff. Or you might find yourself renting storage spaces for stuff that won’t fit in your home. When this happens you’ve reached a dangerous tipping point. the time has come to trim your

possessions down to size and take back some of that breathing space you used to have.

Better yet, when you buy one thing, discipline yourself to get rid of 2 items at the same time. it is a feng shui principle to clear the pathways in your home. avoid “plaque build-up” in the spaces of your home. Expedite the flow of “chi” or life force by becoming a minimalist. toss things out.

Less is more. From a practical standpoint, you get back the breathing space you had when you first moved in to your empty abode. Having less stuff also means possibly having more in your piggy bank, that will allow you to have better, more meaningful, fulfilling life experiences at the right time. the ironic thing a recovering pack rat discovers about himself is that as he travels down life’s highways and byways, it is so much more liberating and more fun to travel light, refusing to be bogged down by mere possessions. the bonus is that one gets to journey farther without stressing and straining while loading up instead on life’s precious experiences. in our final journey, the only thing we might bring with us in that big blue yonder, if alzheimer’s doesn’t wreck our brains first, are our MEMORiES. Stuff, after all, is just stuff. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

may 12-18, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

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may 12-18, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

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