102717 - Orange County Inland Empire Edition

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

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

w w w. a s i a n Volume 24 - No. 42 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages

.com T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r

october 27-NoVember 2, 2017 Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEw YORk/NEw JERSEY

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

Duterte, Trump to discuss security, trade at ASEAN meet

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PH President Rodrigo Duterte

US President Donald Trump

seCUritY and trade relations are among the top issues to be discussed at the upcoming bilateral meeting between Philippine President rodrigo Duterte and Filipino Veterans of World War II were honored in a bipartisan and bicameral Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Oct. 25, by United states President Donald trump in Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) who presided over the official presentation.

Screen grab from Speaker.gov manila.

According to Philippine foreign Affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, the two top leaders are slated to meet on the sidelines of the Association of southeast Asian nations (AseAn) conference next month.

PAGE A2

Filipino WWII Vets honored at historic Congressional Gold Medal ceremony

by MoMar

G. ViSaya

AJPress

USA

DATELINE As NorCal fires near containment, Fil-Ams tell their stories US envoy denies Filipina caregiver who stayed with patient in Napa CIA part of plot to among those who perished oust Pres. Duterte from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim

eVer since the massive wildfires began in northern California on october 8, fire and police officials have been grappling with containing the ongoing devastation as well as searching for more information on the damage done and the more than 100,000 residents that have been affected. mainly affecting Wine Country, the devastating fires have burned more than 245,000 acres of land and have claimed the lives of at least 42 people, according to fire officials. Additionally, the fires have charred more than 8,400 structures, as of monday, october 23.

PAGE A3

Young Fil-Am hiker and friend dead from apparent ‘sympathetic murder-suicide’

by Dana

Inquirer.net photo

SioSon AJPress

filiPino Veterans of World War ii were honored in a bipartisan and bicameral Congressional Gold medal ceremony on Capitol hill on Wednesday, oct. 25, by speaker Paul ryan (r-Wi), senate majority leader mitch mcConnell (r-KY), house Democratic leader nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and senate Democratic leader Chuck schumer (DnY) who presided over the official presentation. the Congressional Gold medal is the highest civilian honor the United states can bestow. in accordance with Public law no: 114-265, a single gold medal has been struck to honor the filipino veterans of World War ii in recognition of their dedicated service during the war. “today, we recognize the extraordinary heroism and sacrifice of the filipino Veterans of World War ii by conferring the highest honor Congress can bestow. Generations of

the United states’ Central intelligence Agency (CiA) is not behind any destabilization plot against Philippine President rodrigo Duterte, a U.s. official said on thursday, october 26. “there is absolutely no effort by the CiA to undermine the Philippines leadership,” U.s. Ambassador sung Kim told reporters in a media forum as he stressed that the relationship between the two countries remains strong. earlier this month, Duterte warned that he would not hesitate to set up a revolutionary government in order to avert the country from falling into chaos amid the alleged destabilization efforts by his political enemies. the president accused the CiA as among the entities allegedly working on his ouster. At one point, Duterte Target of drug probe: Senator Franklin Drilon and Mar Roxas’ alleged ties to Inquirer.net photos PAGE A4 Melvin Odicta Sr. (center).

tremendous service and sacrifice of filipino WWii veterans during the war from July 26, 1941 to December 31, 1946. some of the families of the surviving veterans and representatives of those who have passed on attended the event. the filipino Veterans recognition and education Project (filVetreP) spearheaded the national campaign to secure the Congressional Gold medal for these Veterans. filVetrep is also the officially-designated liaiPAGE A2

Narco suspect tags Drilon, Roxas as drug protectors

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

A toP drug personality has implicated senator franklin Drilon and former interior secretary manuel roxas ii as protectors of the drug trade in Visayas. ricky serenio, confessed bagman of the Berya drug cartel, submitted an affidavit last week identifying the two liberal Party (lP) stalwarts as protectors of slain melvin odicta sr. odicta allegedly controlled the narcotics trade in iloilo City. he and his wife, merriam, were shot dead in August 29 last year at the Caticlan Jetty Port in Aklan.

PAGE A2

US defense chief hails PH victory in Marawi

Bodies found at Joshua Tree National Park after three months

inVestiGAtors said on friday, october 20 that a young couple, whose bodies were discovered in a remote area of Joshua tree national Park earlier this week, died from a murder-suicide — but upon speaking to investigators, relatives of the victims say it was a “sympathetic murder-suicide.” the bodies of 22-year-old filipino-American hiker Joseph orbeso and his VietnameseAmerican companion rachel nguyen, 20, were found on sunday, october 15 at around 11:30 a.m. in the northern vicinity of the maze loop trail area of the park, from where their car was left. the pair reportedly went missing nearly three months ago.

PAGE A4

Americans and filipinos alike have been shaped by their courage, inspired by their service and humbled by their sacrifice,” rep. nancy Pelosi said. “We are inspired not only by their bravery on the battlefield but also by the courage they have shown in fighting for the recognition they have earned but long been denied.

We must not rest until the service of every filipino veteran is recognized and rewarded.” the long-awaited event was a formal presentation recognizing the

by AJPress

President Rodrigo Duterte greets U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis who were among the dialogue partners who joined the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting at the ASEAN Convention Center in Clark, Pampanga on Tuesday, October 24. Also in the photo are Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

UniteD states Defense secretary James mattis on monday, october 23, commended the Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP) for liberating marawi City from the islamic state-inspired maute group. mattis remarked that the Philippines’ victory has sent a “very strong message” to terrorists. “one of the first things i’m going to do when i get there is commend the Philippine military for liberating marawi from the terrorists,” the U.s. defense

chief told reporters on his way to manila to attend the 11th Association of southeast Asian nations (Asean) Defense ministers’ meeting. “it was a very tough fight as you know in southern mindanao, And i think the Philippine military sends a very strong message to the terrorists,” he added. earlier on the same day, the Philippine Department of Defense (DnD) declared the marawi siege is now over, nearly five months since the maute group launched an attack on may 23.

“After 154 days of siege in marawi with Daesh-inspired maute-isis group, after a week the commander-in-chief declared the liberation of marawi City, we now announce the termination of combat operations in marawi City,” DnD secretary Delfin lorenzana announced.

“Daesh” is another acronym used to refer to the is name in Arabic, but terrorists and their supporters considered its use an insult. lorenzana also lauded the killing of more than 800 maute terrorists, including foreign PAGE A2

A

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

october 27-november 2, 2017 • oc/Ie ASIAn JoUrnAL

From the Front Page

Duterte, Trump to discuss...

PAGE A1 In a chance interview on Wednesday, October 25, Cayetano said Duterte and Trump would discuss the threats posed by terrorism and illegal drugs to the public.

“What’s the fundamental interest, intersecting interest of America and the Philippines? First is security…which includes terrorism and drugs, the threat of terrorism

and illegal drugs. Secondly, trade.

So if you have security but the people are hungry, it’s useless,” Cayetano disclosed.

The top diplomat added that the U.S. government is also seeking a free trade agreement with the Philippines.

“They’re negotiating many regional and multilateral trade agreements but there’s a possibility that we will explore a bilateral

agreement,” he said.

Trump is expected to visit Manila from November 12 to 13 and participate in the special gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the ASEAN-U.S. meeting.

The U.S. leader, however, will skip the East Asia Summit (EAS) on November 14 in Pampanga.

“The decision was really that he will be here on the 12th and 13th [of November]. We tried to accommodate. We tried to fix all the schedules. But since you’re dealing with more than a dozen world leaders plus the ASEAN, it’s very difficult to get all the schedules together,” Cayetano said.

“They were actually just waiting for the East Asia Summit (EAS) [schedule]. Now that it has been finalized that the East Asia Summit will be on the 14th, it looks like his Secretary of State would be the one to attend,” he added, referring to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Cayetano explained that Trump could not extend his stay in the Philippines as the U.S. leader still has to visit other countries that are part of his Asia-Pacific tour.

These include China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the U.S. state of Hawaii.

“It would have been great if President Trump could attend all the activities but the reality is any world leader, especially of the United States, cannot spend too many days outside [his country]…

He’s attending most of the activities, and the bilaterals with the allies including the Philippines.

It’s a very, very strong message of friendship,” he said.

The EAS is composed of the ten ASEAN countries and its dialogue partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the U.S. and Russia.

Apart from the Philippines, ASEAN countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Despite Trump being unable to attend the EAS, the U.S. government reaffirmed its commitment to the region.

“We have made very clear that the United States is fully committed to the Asia Pacific region,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, saying that “it is in our interest to remain closely engaged in the Asia Pacific region.” n

DUTERTE MEETS WITH JACK MA. Alibaba founder Jack Ma visited President Rodrigo Duterte at Malacañang on Wednesday, Oct. 25. The Chinese billionaire is in the country for a series of talks and to promote a mobile payment system.

Malacañang photo

Filipino WWII Vets honored at historic...

PAGE A1 son to the U.S. Mint, which handles the design and minting of the Congressional Gold Medal.

In his special remarks, Filipino World War II veteran Celestino Almeda of Gaithersburg, Maryland said that many of his fellow soldiers have passed away as they waited 75 years for this day to come. It is estimated that there are fewer than 7,000 surviving veterans residing in the United States today.

“After the war, we felt under-appreciated and under-recognized and I wondered what else could we have done, but we stayed loyal and relied on our faith and prayers. We thank God for watching over us in this long ordeal,” said the 100-year-old veteran, who received wild applause and standing ovation from the audience.

“With the gold medal we present today we are paying tribute to a selfless sacrifice, we are remembering the indomitable spirit of a Pacific people, we are preserving for generations hence this enduring reminder of valor and of honor. This powerful symbol of a nation’s gratitude,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, thanking the veterans.

Among the other speakers at the event were Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Rep. Ed Royce, Sen. Mazie Hirono and Sen. Dean Heller. The ceremony is a result of Congresswoman Gabbard and Senator Hirono’s bill to honor the over 260,000 Filipino and FilipinoAmerican soldiers who fought in the Pacific Theater.

“What a wonderful day for many veterans who have patiently been waiting for this. We are finally righting this wrong, and finally honor the service and sacrifice of these heroes and their families, and ensure they are never forgotten,” Rep. Gabbard said.

Sen. Hirono in her speech said that the recognition is the culmination of decades of hard work to honor the veterans for their service to our country.

“Today is an opportunity to say ‘Thank You’ to the more than 250,000 Filipinos who heeded the call of then President Roosevelt.

Only 18,000 of them are still alive and theirs is a story of struggle and perseverance,” Hirono said.

“Presenting the Congressional

Gold Medal to our Filipino World War II veterans is a long overdue honor for hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families.

Last Veterans Day, Filipino World War II veteran Domingo Los Banos urged me to make sure our Congressional Gold Medal bill was passed that year. I hope that today’s ceremony conveyed to Domingo and every other veteran our gratitude for their service during the war and recognition of the hardship they face in receiving the benefits they earned.”

From July 1941 to December 1946, 260,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers served and fought for the United States and the Philippines to topple Axis powers during World War II. In July of 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called all organized military forces of the Philippines into the service of the United States. Their bravery, heroism, and dedication played an integral part in leading Allied powers to victory over Nazi and fascist forces. They were promised U.S. citizenship and health and pension benefits.

In February 1946, the U.S. Congress passed the Rescission Act of 1946, which stripped Filipino soldiers the benefits promised by President Roosevelt.

Hirono and Gabbard’s bill, the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act (Public Law 114-265), was signed into law by President Barack Obama and awarded the medal collectively to the over 260,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers who responded to President Roosevelt’s call-to-duty and fought under the American flag during World War II. “Today we pay tribute to the quarter of a million Filipinos who answered an American President’s call to fight for our country in the defining war of the 20thCentury. Those brave men, who bravely took up arms and risked life and limb on behalf of a country that was not yet their own, were heroes. It is a mark of a confident and exceptional nation to look back on its history and say we made a grievous error, but we recognize it and pledge never to let it happen again,” Sen Charles Schumer said. “I’m especially proud to be an American today as Congress rights a decades-old

wrong and bestows the highest civilian honor on the Filipino veterans of the Second World War, enshrining in the history books their courage and sacrifice on behalf of a grateful nation.”

Caroline Burkhart, daughter of WWII veteran Thomas Burkhart, was one of the six veterans and next of kin called by Rep. Ryan to be recognized as he presented the Congressional Gold Medal to them.

Mr. Almeda represented the Philippine Commonwealth Army; Mr. Frank Francone, an American veteran, representing the Philippine Scouts; Mr. Dean Aquilino Delen, Filipino veteran representing Guerrilla units; Mrs. Alicia Benitze, next of kin of Filipino veteran; Mrs. Margrit Baltazar, next of kin of Filipino veteran and Mrs. Burkhart, next of kin of American veteran.

Community support “We have waited a long time to witness the well-deserved honor of presenting Filipino Veterans of World War II with the Congressional Gold Medal,” said John C. Yang, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC President and Executive Director. “It is fitting the ceremony occurs during Filipino American History Month in acknowledgment of the contributions and proud heritage of nearly four million Filipino Americans who call the United States home.”

“As we honor these veterans and their families today, we must remember to keep supporting their right to be reunited with family members through the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program.”

For Congressman Bobby Scott, what happened at Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning is a proud moment.

“As a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and the only member of Congress of Filipino ancestry, I am proud to honor the invaluable service of our Filipino veterans who nobly served in World War II,” Scott said. “The contributions of our Filipino veterans have left a remarkable legacy on the history of the United States and the Philippines. We must continue to recognize and honor the sacrifice and dedication of these veterans.” n

Narco suspect tags Drilon, Roxas as...

PAGE A1

In his affidavit submitted to La Carlota City prosecutor’s office in Negros Occidental on Wednesday, Oct. 18, Serenio accused Drilon and Roxas of partnering with Odicta to “takeover the drug trade in Negros by kicking out Berya-Camaria drug operations.”

“Being in power with close association to the PNP (Philippine National Police), it was easy for the Roxas-Drilon tandem to paralyze, and eventually overthrow the Berya-Camaria drug operations and wipe out these groups from operating in Negros Island,” his affidavit read.

By taking out the Berya-Camaria taken out of play, Serenio said Drilon and Roxas could then “turn over” the drug operations in the region to Odicta.

Serenio likewise claimed that Drilon and Roxas were patrons of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who supposedly protected the illegal drug operations of the Odicta.

In a statement, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the department would treat Serenio’s affidavit tagging Drilon and Roxas as a complaint.

He said “a preliminary investigation can be conducted since the affidavit could serve as a complaint.”

“If sa city prosecutor, parang complaint na ‘yan (if it was filed with the city prosecutor, then it’s like a complaint), then we would be duty bound to act on it,” Aguirre said in a news conference on Wednesday, October 25.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, October 21, Roxas dismissed

Serenio’s affidavit as a “poor and laughable attempt at fake news.”

“I don’t know nor have I any dealings with Serenio nor Odicta; as in zero. I have been and am anti-illegal drugs and the record of arrests, confiscations and buy bust operations by the PNP during my time at DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) will show this,” Roxas said.

“I hear [President Rodrigo] Duterte is visiting Negros this weekend. This is an attempt by mga local KSP to get his attention and curry favor with him,” he added.

Duterte attended the Masskara Festival celebration on October 22 in Bacolod City.

Drilon, meanwhile, is still in the United Kingdom, and his camp has yet to release a comment on the issue. n

US defense chief hails PH victory...

PAGE A1 fighters, and of its top leaders, which he said has prevented the spread of extremism in Asia.

“In crushing thus far the most serious attempt to export violent extremism and radicalism in the Philippines and in the region, we have contributed to preventing its spread in Asia,” Lorenzana said.

“While we submit that these tactical and strategic gains will not annihilate the ideology completely, we declare that this achievement is clear manifestation of how our regional cooperation can lead to decisive advance against the proliferation of terrorism in this part of the world,” he added.

Last week on Monday, October 16, Lorenzana confirmed the deaths of Maute group leader Omar Maute, and Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon. Hapilon was also the supposed anointed head of IS in Southeast Asia.

The following Tuesday, October 17, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte personally went to Marawi to declare the city’s liberation from terrorists.

In a statement, Malacañang thanked the U.S. government for extending its help to the Philippines in combating terrorism. It likewise expressed appreciation to the U.S. Defense chief for recognizing the Philippine military’s

efforts to end the Marawi siege.

“We appreciate the message of U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, recognizing the valiant efforts of our troops in bringing to an end the Maute terrorist group’s siege of Marawi City,” Palace Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

He then added, “The government is grateful for the U.S. government for helping us defeat the ambition of the Islamic State-affiliated group to establish a caliphate in our country by providing us with technical expertise, men and equipment that bolstered the capability of our military in our campaign against the Maute group.” n

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

Dateline USa

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • OCtObER 27-NOvEmbER 2, 2017

A

Federal judges blocks Trump’s latest travel ban Two judges from Hawaii and Maryland temporarily restrict Trump’s third version of controversial travel ban

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

COOPERATION VS TERRORISM. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzan receives Chinese Defense Minister Ge Chang Wanquan at the Department of National Defense. They held a bilateral meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 25 in an effort to enhance the security and defense ties of the two nations. To achieve this goal, the two nations are looking at the possibility of improved intelligence sharing, joint counterterrorism exercises and specialized training.

Photo courtesy of DND

FBI confirms DNA sample from Hapilon’s remains by deMpsey

reyes ManilaTimes.net

THe United States’ Federal Bureau of investigation (FBi) has confirmed through dNA testing that the body retrieved from Marawi City believed to be isnilon Hapilon’s is indeed his remains.

“We have received an official report that the U.S. Federal Bureau of investigation has confirmed that the dNA sample taken from a body recovered by our operating units in Marawi matches that of isnilon Hapilon,” defense Secretary delfin Lorenzana said in a statement on Saturday, Oct. 21.

“This process of verification is also being conducted on the cadavers of the other terrorists that have been recovered so far,” Lorenza added.

Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute were both killed in a predawn assault by the Philippine Army’s Scout Rangers and Light Reaction on Monday, Oct. 16.

Their remains were retrieved by the same units.

Lorenzana had said that the location of the two were pinpointed by a female hostage, whose identity the Armed Forces of the Philippines refused to disclose.

The day after the operations, President Rodrigo duterte declared Marawi City liberated from the hands of the terrorists amid ongoing clashes to crack

down the remaining extremists in the main battle zone.

Three days after, Malaysia’s most wanted terrorist and former academician dr. Mahmud Ahmad was confirmed dead by the military following an overnight operation.

‘Not interested’ As for the remains of Maute, Lorenzana said the FBi “might not be interested” in running dNA tests.

“Maybe they (FBi) are not interested because they do not have a reward for Omar’s capture, only Hapilon,” Lorenzana told The Manila Times in a text message also on Saturday.

“Their requirement is to ensure that the cadaver retrieved is to the terrorist they (FBi) only have rewards for,” he added.

Hapilon has a bounty worth $5 million from the US government which shall be given to the person who identified the exact location of the self-proclaimed iS “emir” for southeast Asia.

Armed Forces of the Philippine Chief of Staff Gen. eduardo Año had said that the reward will be shared by two individuals.

Maute’s head has a bounty worth P10 million, which was offered by the Philippine government during the early days of the fighting.

Año and Lorenzana both clarified then that the rewards for the neutralization of the two prominent terrorist leaders will not go

PReSideNT donald Trump’s third attempt at instituting a temporary ban on U.S. entry from certain countries was once again shut down by two federal judges from Hawaii and Maryland earlier this week.

U.S. district Judge derrick K. Watson of Hawaii blocked the administration from implementing the third draft of the president’s travel ban which barred U.S. travel from six countries on Tuesday, October 17, one day before it was set to go into effect.

This means that the administration cannot restrict entry of travelers from six of the eight the affected countries listed in the ban: Chad, iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. Watson’s ruling, however, did not affect North Korea and Venezuela; the Trump administration may prohibit travel from those countries.

Watson, who blocked previous versions of the ban earlier this year, wrote a 40-page decision

that granted Hawaii’s request for a temporary nationwide restraining order of the ban.

He wrote that Trump’s latest reincarnation of the ban “suffers from precisely the same maladies as its predecessor” and it “plainly discriminates based on nationality” that violates “the founding principles of this Nation.”

Additionally, Watson wrote that the president has “wielded his authority unlawfully.”

The following day, U.S. district Judge Theodore d. Chuang of Hawaii issued a less restrictive halt on the ban, allowing U.S. entry only for people who can prove a “bona fide” relationship or entity in the U.S. Like Watson, under the Hawaii judge’s ruling, U.S. entry from North Korean and Venezuelan nationals is still restricted per the ban.

Granting a motion on behalf of plaintiffs led by the international Refugee Assistance Program (iRAP), Chuang’s decision to issue the block came from analyzing Trump’s rhetoric from his presidential campaign and his

Twitter.

Mirroring Watson’s reasons for implementing the block, Chuang was convinced that the latest ban proved to be an “inextricable re-animation” of the previous versions that were shut down by federal courts.

The judge added that the plaintiffs, who are refugees from the affected countries, will likely “suffer irreparable harm in the absence of injunctive relief, and that the balance of equities and the public interest favor an injunction,” according to his official order.

“To the extent that the Government might have provided additional evidence to establish that national security is now the primary purpose for the travel ban, it has not done so,” Chuang wrote in his ruling. in response to the two judges’ rulings, the Justice department — on behalf of the Trump administration — formally filed an appeal to challenge the ruling from the Maryland judge. As of press time, it has not filed a notice of appeal in the Hawaii case.

PAGE A4

As NorCal fires near containment, Fil-Ams tell...

PAGE A1

Isnilon Hapilon

ManilaTimes.net photo

to military personnel who conducted the operations, but will be handed to the civilians who pointed to their locations.

According to Lorenzana, no Philippine agency at this point is conducting dNA tests on Maute’s remains.

“Our PNP (Philippine National Police) [Crime] Laboratory is not, to my knowledge, conducting dNA testing nor any local outfit that i know of,” Lorenzana said.

He also disclosed that he saw the body and said he was sure that it was Maute.

“Besides, his (Maute) face was intact and so was easy to identify. i saw his body and i am sure it was him. And [these also]were the conclusion of the commanders. even isnilon was easily identifiable,” Lorenzana told The Manila Times. n

That makes the weeks-long fires the deadliest and most destructive in the state’s modern history.

“The numbers are going to continue to increase,” said Robert Foxworthy, a spokesman for Cal Fire. “The reason the numbers are increasing is because our damage assessment teams are getting into the areas and finally getting an accurate count.”

Among the fatalities was Filipino-American caregiver Teresa Santos, 50, who was caring for 90-year-old Sally Lewis of Napa.

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, Santos worked from Sunday through Friday and when the fires neared the home on Sunday, October 8, she refused to leave Lewis as the fires reached Lewis’ home in mid-October.

“She didn’t save herself, she stayed with my mother until the end,” Windermere Tirados, Lewis’s daughter, told the LA Times.

Santos lived with Lewis five

days out of the week and has been working for her for about a year. Tirados described Santos as a very committed and “loyal” caregiver who was a “sweet quiet person and very loving.”

“She was an angel sent to us definitely, to take care of my mom,” Tirados added.

According to the Philippine department of Foreign Affairs (dFA), approximately 13,500 Filipinos live in the affected areas of the Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties.

The 4,200 Filipinos that live in the nearby Lake, Marin and Mendocino counties were also affected by the fires, which are expected to be fully contained

by Wednesday, October 25, fire officials told reporters on Monday.

The City of Santa Rosa was one of the most heavily impacted areas of the Tubbs fire, especially residents of the ravaged Coffey Park. Vicious winds that formed little tornadoes completely incinerated more than 200 square miles of homes.

The Padilla family had lived

in a single-story home in Coffey Park since 1989. Just two days before fire took over the neighborhood on October 9, Patricia and Jay Padilla and her two teenage daughters packed up their valuables (including their Australian shepherd named Pogi) and headed for San Francisco.

“We saw everyone on our street just hurrying to get the hell out so we decided that we probably should too,” daughter Ashley Padilla, 18, told the Asian Journal in a phone interview on Monday, October 23. “We were in the line of fire, literally. it was like night time when we packed all our cars, three of them, with stuff that we needed, like documents, family albums, heirlooms and our dog and drove to our tita’s house in Oakland.”

Padilla remembers seeing the view of the sky as she drove out of Santa Rosa. She recalls blood orange skies and hot gusts of wind that made her eyes water. “it almost looked apocalyptic, like the rapture,” the recent high school graduate said. “i tried to PAGE A4

A

october 27-november 2, 2017 • oc/Ie ASIAn JoUrnAL

Dateline USa

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

Three Philippine islands named among world’s best PH-made jewelry sold as Native American craft Condé Nast Traveler readers rank Boracay, Cebu, Palawan top three islands outside the US

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

As a part of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, readers of Condé Nast Traveler have ranked three Philippine islands as the top three in its annual ranking of the 30 “Best Islands in the World.”

Topping the list was the island of Boracay, famous for its white sand beaches and clear, cerulean waters. Traveler described it as a southeast Asian tropical paradise with “gentle coastlines and transportative sunsets” that, come sunset, turns into an energetic nightlife destination.

The densely populated island of Cebu came in second for its expansive beaches on the mainland and the surrounding Visayan Islands.

“Not as wild as Phuket in Thailand, Cebu City is more personal, with plenty of up-and-coming restaurants and shopping,” Traveler wrote, suggesting to readers to “get off the grid” and visit the Camotes Islands, a couple hours east of Cebu.

The breath-taking tourist destination Palawan was third on the Traveler’s list. The small, but charming island is home to the famous Puerto Princesa subterranean River, a “natural wonder” that travels five miles through an underground system of caves.

“Guided boat tours take visi-

sANTA FE, NEW MEXICO—A New Mexico art gallery owner and a jewelry supplier have pleaded guilty in federal court to criminal charges for selling Philippine-made jewelry that they passed off as Native American.

Art gallery owner Nael Ali pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Oct. 18 to misrepresenting fake Indian-produced goods in violation of the Indian Arts and Craft Act, according to the U.s. Attorney’s Office in Albuquerque.

His conviction followed an earlier guilty plea by jewelry supplier Mohammad Manasra on less severe charges under the Indian Arts and Craft Act. The act makes Boracay topped this year’s “Best Islands in the World” list ranked by Conde Nast Traveler readers AJPress file photo it a crime to falsely market and sell art as Native American when it is not.

In October 2015, federal agents raided Indian art galleries in Albuquerque, Gallup and Calistoga, California, to seize counterfeits and evidence.

Ali and Manasra have agreed to forfeit 5,268 pieces of jewelry, while acknowledging that Manasra passed off jewelry made in the Philippines as the work of Navajo and Zuni Pueblo artists, Palawan Cebu AJPress file photos by Gemma Fabro according to court documents. sentencing hearings are still tors down a portion of the water- Islands.

Despite the increasingly tense way, where karsts, natural rock formations created by dissolving political climate (portions of Minlimestone, loom in every direc- danao are currently under martial law), tourism to the Philip- PAGE A1 tion,” Traveler wrote.

The following renowned is- pines saw a 2.3 increase in 2016, On Friday, a release from the lands that made the top 10, from according to the Philippines top of the list, were Mallorca, statistics Authority. More than san Bernardino sheriff’s Despain; Mykonos, Greece; Bermu- 300,000 travelers took part in the partment Morongo Basin station da; st. Barts; Turks and Caicos; survey, according to Traveler’s said the autopsy found that “injuries consistent with a gunshot Bali, Indonesia and the Cayman website. n wound were located on both Nguyen and Orbeso.” It added that detectives believe Orbeso shot Nguyen before shooting cus on what we are doing with information to the Armed Forc- himself. our relationship than public es of the Philippines so that Rachel Nguyen’s uncle son they would be able to carry out Nguyen told The Desert sun on statements.” operations necessary to retake saturday, Oct. 21, “It was exMarawi role During the forum, the top Marawi,” he added. plained to us by the investigators Kim added that the U.s. on scene, with the circumstancdiplomat also highlighted Washington’s crucial role in forces provided guns, ammu- es and positioning of the bodies, combating Islamic state (Is)-in- nition and rubber boats to the that they believe this was a symspired terrorists in the southern Philippine military, as well as pathetic murder-suicide.” “very useful technical advice,” Philippines.

“Rachel possibly injured herKim cited American intelli- particularly in the area of urban self sliding down a cliff and Jogence, urban warfare training, warfare. seph went after her and took care The U.s. government likewise of her,” son Nguyen added. and drones as among the factors that contributed to the suc- committed P750 million ($14.7 Based on conversations with cess of fully retaking the Marawi million) in aid to victims of the the police, Mongo Ha Le, Nguycrisis and for rehabilitation of en’s aunt, told the Los Angeles City from Maute rebels.

“We did play a very impor- the city.

Times that Nguyen had a head On Monday, October 23, the injury to which Orbeso “tried tant role in supporting the (Philippines’) efforts to retake Philippine Department of De- to save her the only way he fense (DND) declared the Marawi could.”

Marawi,” Kim said.

“We had P-3s (surveillance siege is now over, five months Austin Young, who in a Faceplanes), Grey Eagles (drones) since the Maute group launched book post described Orbeso as providing crucial intelligence an attack onMay 23. n “the best friend I could ever ask for”, told the Orange County Register, “they had a choice of a slow and painful death or a quick death. And they made the choice of a quick death.”

Officials said the gun found near the bodies was registered to Orbeso. Le said that Orbeso had the gun because he was a security guard and most probably brought it for protection.

The sheriff department’s release reported that the pair appeared to have been rationing their food and did not have water. Their bodies were found under a tree with clothing positioned to cover their lower extremities, and to protect from the sun. some of Orbeso’s clothes were found wrapped around Nguyen, according to authorities. His T-shirt was said to have been wrapped around Nguyen’s

months away. Ali faces possible jail time of up to 18 months, according to court documents. An attorney for Manasra declined on Wednesday to discuss the case. Ali’s attorney could not be reached immediately.

Joyce Begay-Foss, a Navajo weaver and education director of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in santa Fe, said that cheap Indian art knockoffs were having an effect on the art business in New Mexico and throughout the country. she called the guilty pleas a step in the right direction. But she said stiffer state and federal penalties along with border enforcement were needed to deter fraud.

“It is a step in the right direction. It is alerting people to be more cognizant when they buy Indian art, to be more aware of the provenance and the materials,” said Begay-Foss, who recently completed a guide on how to buy Navajo weavings that will be published by the U.s. Indian Arts and Crafts board.

Authorities have accused Ali, the owner of two Indian art galleries in the Old Town neighborhood of Albuquerque and another in

Arizona, of attributing jewelry to specific Navajo and Zuni craftsmen when it was actually made in the Philippines.

Four other people have been charged under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act in a separate indictment that traces Filipinomade jewelry to Indian-art galleries in santa Fe and san Diego, with a trial scheduled next year.

The investigations spearheaded by the Fish and Wildlife service have laid bare the breadth and sophistication of distribution networks for fake Indian-style art and crafts. sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico has warned that Native American art markets are being destabilized by fakes, undermining a crucial source of income for tribal members.

Former Attorney Damon Martinez, who participated previously in the prosecution of Ali and Manasra, has recommended several reforms, including requirements that imported jewelry carry a country of origin and legal changes to apply money laundering and wire fraud provisions to the investigation of Indian-art fraud. (Inquirer.net with reports from AP)

Young Fil-Am hiker and friend dead from...

US envoy denies CIA part of plot to oust...

PAGE A1 also claimed that he obtained reports pointing the foreign intelligence agency has plans to eliminate him.

“They say that the CIA wanted me out of the government.

I believe so but not really killing but they could have – they would have prepared another one,” he said in a speech.

The U.s. envoy, however, denied the allegations. Kim remarked that the U.s. government respects Duterte’s electoral victory last year.

“President Duterte won a very impressive election. We respect his election and we are in fact working very well together with his administration,” he added.

Kim further emphasized, “It is much important for us to fo-

Authorities revealed on Friday, October 20 that Fil-Am Joseph Orbeso, 22, fatally shot his girlfriend Rachel Nguyen, 20, before turning the gun on himself in a remote area of Joshua Tree National Park. The pair’s bodies were recovered on Monday, October 16, after being reported missing nearly two months ago.

Photo from a GoFundMe page set up for the couple

head like a bandage. sheriff’s department spokeswoman Cindy Bachman, confirmed initial reports of the bodies embracing each other, and said the bodies appeared interlocked when found.

Orbeso’s father, Gilbert Orbeso, described his son as “caring, thoughtful” and was “clearly taking care of her.”

According to the National Park service (NPs), an investigation on why Orbeso shot Nguyen is ongoing as of October 20.

The pair were last seen on July 27 and were thought to be missing on July 28 after they failed to check out of their Airbnb in which they left their belongings. The owner of the bedand-breakfast, remembered that the couple mentioned hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, and called the police after the two had not come back. An extensive search was then initiated.

Orbeso’s phone last recorded their location inside the park at around 4 p.m. on July 27.

According to ModernHiker. com, the Maze Loop trail in which they were found is a mod-

erate 6.5 mile round trip with an average completion time of four hours. suggested times to visit are spring, fall, and winter.

Before the bodies were identified by the san Bernardino sheriff Coroner’s office to which they were sent, Orbeso’s father, Gilbert, was among the ones who found the bodies along with the Joshua Tree search and Rescue (JOsAR) team.

The bodies were transferred to the coroner’s office on Monday, October 16 and were identified by the respective families as Orbeso and Nguyen, who were both from Orange County.

According to the news release by the NPs, a large-scale search for Orbeso and Nguyen was launched with over 250 searchers comprising of ground teams, dog teams, and aircraft.

“It’s been a journey,” said Gilbert Orbeso to the Desert sun earlier this week. “I’m glad we have a conclusion to this journey. We’re just in a different recovery process now.” son Nguyen said, “We hold no grudges against Joseph or the Orbeso family.” (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)

Federal judges blocks Trump’s latest...

PAGE A3 But in order to get the ban fully in effect, the Justice Department will have to win both cases; victories are needed in both the U.s. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit for the Maryland case and the U.s. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in the Hawaii case. Both appellate courts have previously ruled against the Trump administration in the second version of the travel ban.

Trump’s third travel ban involved barring all entry into the U.s. of nationals from Iran, Lib-

ya, syria, Yemen, somalia, Chad and North Korea. Additionally, certain people from Iraq and Venezuela would face stricter security protocols, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

The ban also included stronger collaboration with foreign governments to strengthen identity-management protocols and information-sharing practices as a way to limit “risk-factors” when welcoming travelers from affected countries.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been legally advocating on behalf of IRAP

and condemned the administration for the third travel ban, maintaining that it is unconstitutional in that it still promotes Islamophobic policies.

“Like the two versions before it, President Trump’s latest travel ban is still a Muslim ban at its core. And like the two before it, this one is going down to defeat in the courts. Religious discrimination with window dressing is still unconstitutional,” said Omar Jadwat, director of ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said on Wednesday following the rulings from the two judges.

As NorCal fires near containment, Fil-Ams tell...

PAGE A3 remain calm because Pogi was driving with me and I didn’t want to freak him out.”

“Right now, we’re picking up the pieces. We’re all just glad we’re all okay and alive.

It’s going to suck trying to like, arrange where we’re going to live, but as long as we’re all together it’s going to be okay,” Padilla said. “That’s what we all kind of remind ourselves when one of us begins to get upset.

We’re just sticking together and supporting each other and reminding each other that we’re all okay.”

Another santa Rosa family, the De Castros, also found themselves in the line of fire in the early hours of sunday, October 8 when they were alerted about the fire by a neighbor, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

Dr. Marlon De Castro and his wife Ina quickly packed up some clothes, photo albums and documents in the car and drove their two sons and dog to a friend’s home in san Francisco.

The family could not visit their home due to mandatory limits enforced by the city, but found out their home was one of the few that remained intact.

“While it will be a long time before their lives go back to normal, the De Castros are grateful they are safe, alive and that they can still go back to their home. Other families have not been as fortunate,” Gel santos-Relos wrote for the Asian Journal.

As of press time, 90 percent of the fire has been contained despite five large fires still raging in the Northern Bay Region.

Last week, Moody’s Analytics estimated that the Northern

California fires “will be among the costliest wildfires on record for the U.s.”

According to the California state Insurance Commission, the damage done will cost at least $1 billion, but officials say that the total cost of the damages is expected to rise in the coming weeks. Property and casualty insurers have already experienced record high catastrophe losses from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria as well as the devastating earthquakes in Mexico.

The wildfires began on October 8 and, in addition to the 42 declared dead, there are still 21 people missing in sonoma County as of Monday.

Officials are still probing the cause of the fires, but Foxworthy said that it could “be weeks” before the investigation is complete and details will be released.

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • OCtObER 27-NOvEmbER 2, 2017

TRAVEL TRADE & CONSUMER MULTI-CITY ROADSHOWS PROMOTING TOURISM, TRADE, AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE USA AND PHILIPPINES.

AUGUST 2018

The Asian Journal Media Group, now on its 27th year in business, is a leading ethnic multimedia agency serving the global Filipino industry. Asian Journal publishes over 7 million weekly community newspapers annually in the USA from California, Nevada, New York, to New Jersey. In addition to this, the Asian Journal also publishes a quarterly magazine that is distributed in 60 countries and 101 cities throughout the World.

Complementing these frequent print publications are a variety of digital channels such as AsianJournal.com, BalikbayanMag.com, and LoveOfCounry.ph.

As an extension of that core mission, the Asian Journal, in cooperation with the Philippine Departments of Tourism (DOT), and Trade and Industry (DTI), is organizing multi-city “Travel, Trade, and Consumer Roadshows” to connect the US and Philippine markets together.

These events are in line with the “Balikbayan Program” of the Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and the “One Town, One Product” of the DTI. The organizers collectively aim to ignite, drive, and fuel business-to-business, government-to-business, and business-to-consumer networking while showcasing and promoting tourism, investment, studying abroad, philanthropy, and retirement in the Philippines.

GLOBAL BUSINESS NETWORKING & MARKETING BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS

GOVERNMENT-TO-BUSINESS

BUSINESS-TO-CONSUMER SALES

MEET, CONNECT, AND COLLABORATE WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND STREAMLINE YOUR BUSINESS RESULTS.

CONNECT WITH LEADERS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR FROM ACROSS THE USA REGION AND PHILIPPINES.

WHETHER YOU’RE SHOPPING FOR NEW AND AMAZING PRODUCTS OR A VENDOR LOOKING TO PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCT,

FOR MORE INFORMATION TRAVELTRADECONSUMER.COM I INFO@ASIANJOURNALINC.COM

A

A

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

october 27-november 2, 2017 • oc/Ie ASIAn JoUrnAL

OpiniOn

Healing process

Features

IS it really over?

On Monday, Oct. 23, the Philippine Department of Defense (DND) formally announced the termination of the government’s combat operations in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. This development comes a week after President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberation of the besieged city from the influence of terrorist groups.

It has been five months since government forces clashed with members of the Maute rebel group and other Islamic State-Inspired terrorist groups in Marawi City.

The conflict claimed the lives of 847 terrorists, 163 government troopers and 47 civilians, as of Monday. The crisis has also displaced 78,466 families or 359,680 residents, who are now raring to go back home.

The local government of Marawi City has begun conducting clearing operations within the city to prepare for the return of the displaced residents. Among the phases of operations being made are the retrieval of properties, restoration of governance, barangay mapping, profiling, restoration of power system water and facilities or utilities.

Just by looking at the destruction, the rehabilitation of the war-torn city may take three years or longer, according to Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra.

“Talagang sa laki ng pinsala ho ‘yung destruction talagang pag nakita mo I dont think matatapos natin within three years but at least may timeline (With the extent of damage of the destruction, if you see it, I don’t think we can finish

it within three years but at least there is a timeline), Gandamra told CNN Philippines.

The government has allocated “about P5 billion ($100 million)” for the support of evacuees, reconstruction of infrastructure and repair of bridges. The budget will be spent until the end of the year. For next year, another P10 billion ($200 million) would be pulled by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) from various government agencies for the city’s rehabilitation.

Since the expenses in the rehabilitation of Marawi was not anticipated, Lorenzana believes that P50 billion ($1 billion) is not enough to cover the complete restoration of Marawi City. He said that at least P100 billion ($2 billion) might be needed to rebuild the affected areas.

The extent of damage will only be determined once assessment teams deployed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) finish collating data on the damage and losses incurred in 24 barangays in Marawi City.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who visited Marawi City last week, said everything in the battle area has been ren-

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

dered useless.

“I was there in ground zero, talagang wala ka nqng mapapakinabangan eh (everything there can no longer be of use). “You really have to bulldoze the entire area, the ground zero,” Andanar said.

Given the extent of the devastation and the number of people affected, the national government should now focus on rehabilitation and peace-building efforts. Operation “get Marawi City and its people get back on their feet” must now commence. (AJPress)

Trump to discuss human rights with Duterte: How will the Philippine president respond?

TRUMP and DUTERTE. They like The Fil-Am each other a lot. They only have accolades Perspective for each other, pretty much like Trump and Putin.

It’s a stark contrast Gel SantoS-ReloS with the tense relationship Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had with Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, whom he cursed because the 44th president of the United States openly said he wished to discuss human rights principles and issue with the then newly elected leader

of the Philippines.

Obama canceled the meeting realizing that nothing productive will come out of their faceto-face encounter. This was not an isolated experience by a foreign leader who dared to question or criticize Duterte’s war on drugs.

The leaders of the European Union, who had also been vocal about their concerns regarding human rights violations and alleged extrajudicial killings in Duterte’s bloody war on drugs, had not

MANILA and Washington may have to do public relations damage control if, as reported, U.S. President Donald Trump skips the East Asia summit meeting in the Philippines of ASEAN leaders and several heads of government in mid-November.

In an article by columnist Josh Rogin, the Washington Post reported that Trump will be in Manila Nov. 12-13 and meet with President Rodrigo Duterte and other leaders, but will not attend the East Asia summit scheduled Nov. 13-14 in Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

Trump could head for home Nov. 14 and miss interacting with leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and those of Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, and South Korea.

Rogin said State Secretary Rex Tillerson may sit in for the President. That could accentuate Trump’s known low regard for multilateral forums. His absence could also be interpreted as demeaning a region increasingly falling under China’s sphere of influence.

In Manila, except for the fact that his detractors are expected to give negative significance to Trump’s cutting short his visit, Duterte need not worry too much about the American leader not tarrying in high-risk Manila.

If the stars would be in their proper places on Nov. 10, Duterte and Trump could still have a oneon-one in Vietnam, when they are scheduled to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Their meeting again in

of the police.

Despite these issues raised by human rights advocates around the world against Duterte’s “vigilante” approach to solving the drug menace in the Philippine, U.S. President Donald Trump not only defended the Philippine president, but even praised him in the way he has been governing the Philippines. Trump even invited his Philippine counterpart to the White House.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS now, with the White House announcement that a discussion about human rights is on Trump’s agenda when the two presidents meet for the first time in Manila

this November during Trump’s upcoming first trip to Asia as U.S. president?

Will Duterte cancel the meeting and curse Trump too? Or will he be open and accommodating to Trump who has defended and praised him when most of the leaders of the free world had been critical of him and his war on drugs?

ABANGAN! *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Trump cuts short summit presence

Postscript

FedeRico d. PaScual JR.

been spared from the Philippine president’s toxic rhetoric. EU envoys had even been asked by Duterte to leave the country and that he does not need the aid coming from the EU. The Philippine government’s records show that more than 3,451 “drug personalities” have been killed as they resisted arrest or fought against police during raids and apprehensions. Human rights advocates, however, claim that more than 13,000 people have been killed since Duterte took office in June 2016, and that many of those killed were denied due process of law, with some victimized by the corruption and abuses

Manila could then be just a follow-up.

The opposition could capitalize on stories about Trump’s reportedly being advised to be careful not to be viewed as too chummy with Duterte, who has been assailed for alleged human rights violations staining his bloody drug war.

Human rights groups are set to gear up their advocacies and stage protests while ASEAN and other world leader — with the international press in full force — are in town.

But Duterte could try reaping plus points by parleying photos with the U.S. leader as a kind of “Good Housekeeping” seal, especially if Trump repeats his “good job” comment made in their last phone conversation where the drugs issue was mentioned.

China catches Duterte on rebound Trump’s abbreviating his visit could color perception of how he regards the firebrand Philippine leader who has declared his own pivot to the left toward communist China and Russia, two of the powers attending the Clark and Manila meetings.

Duterte’s infatuation with Beijing and Moscow grew unhampered late last year while the U.S. under a lameduck Democratic president did virtually nothing to catch up with the other suitors of Manila.

One interesting new focus of this courtship is Marawi City where the U.S. and China have been competing to show their noble intentions by contributing to the herculean rebuilding of the devastated Muslim community by the shore of Lanao Lake.

Although it has chipped in $15 million, the U.S. is under pressure to keep ahead in donating rehab funds and heavy equip-

Pres. Donald Trump

ment for Marawi. In other areas, China and Russia have also given military materiel, including munitions and sea craft, for the Philippine armed forces.

It is intriguing that days ago, the Philippines — long tied to a mutual defense treaty and related agreements with the U.S. — signed a security contract with Russia days before Trump’s visit.

U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim is doing his best (to the extent of even twitting like his President), but his Chinese counterpart Zhao Jianhua has had a head start, cultivating the goodwill of Duterte from the time the former Davao mayor won the May 2016 presidential election.

Zhao caught Duterte on the rebound as the latter was smarting from supposed slights by Ameri-

Photo from Whitehouse.gov

cans. The President was then publicly berating US Ambassador Philip Goldberg and threatening to curse then President Barack Obama to his face if their paths crossed.

The Philippines is the last stop in Trump’s five-nation, 12-day swing through the region that his predecessor Obama sought to embrace as he pivoted to Asia.

Trump has dropped that pivot idea.

Group backs revolutionary government As Clark prepared for the summit, media colleague Ding Cervantes reported from the Freeport that a group led by Bishop Nilo S. Tayag has launched a “Rebolusyong Duterte for a Revolutionary Government” movement.

The decision to start the movement was reportedly made Sun-

day in an assembly in Gerona, Tarlac, aimed, according to the group, to free Filipinos from the “bondage of repression by illustrados and their oligarch masters.”

The group’s statement urging President Duterte to declare a revolutionary government was signed by Tayag as “lead convenor and founding national chairman.” He claimed some “Filipino Guardians” were members. He was former head of the Marcostime Kabataang Makabayan.

Cervantes checked with Abel C. Pablo, the group’s press bureau chief, who said that Tayag was the same activist who figured prominently in the 1960’s as chairman of the Kabataang Makabayan.

The statement had the name of retired Gen. Danilo Lim, national

chairman of RAM/Guardians, among the signatories. Others were those of Gerona Councilor Ronjie Daquigan, identified as coordinator for Central and Northern Luzon, lawyer Rodel Manzanilla as chief for finance and logistics, and Pablo as press chief.

A number of times, Duterte had threatened to declare a revolutionary government to cut short his campaign for “pagbabago” (reform). His plan had been criticized as a shortcut to one-man rule.

The statement claimed: “More than 300 factions of the Filipino Guardians can only be unified through the leadership of Digong (Duterte) and through his guiding ideology as well as the Rebolusyong Duterte for Revolutionary Government.” (Philstar.com)

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

ADvertISInG AnD ADvertorIAL PoLIcIeS

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

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

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

ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

MALOu LIwANAG-BLEDSOE Editor-in-Chief

MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor

IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Senior Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal

DING CARREON Videographer

ANDY TECSON Photographer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dateline PhiliPPines

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • OCtObER 27-NOvEmbER 2, 2017

A

D ateline PhiliPPines Duterte urges troops to remain loyal Palace: DOJ to study treason allegations against Trillanes to Constitution amid martial law

by Dana

SioSon

AJPress

PhiliPPine President Rodrigo Duterte called on the country’s security forces to remain loyal to the Constitution amid the implementation of martial law.

Duterte on Tuesday, October 24 hailed the military’s efforts in combating rebels in Marawi City but warned of terrorism and insurgency that continue to pose threats to public safety.

“We have made significant headway in ridding the country of the scourges of criminality, insurgency, terrorism and corruption because of your invaluable contributions and there could never be a task more ennobling than that,” the president said in a speech. “i enjoin our troops to continue performing their duties well, especially as martial law remains in effect in Mindanao, and there are persisting threats of terrorism and insurgency,” he added. earlier this week, the Philippine government declared the Marawi siege over.

Considered as the longest conflict in the Philippines since World War ii, more than 800 militants, 160 government troopers, and 40 civilians died nearly five months since the islamic State (iS)-inspired Maute terrorist group attacked the city on May 23.

The attack prompted Duterte to impose martial law in the entire Mindanao, which is set to ex-

SEND OFF. President Duterte salutes members of the Army’s 1st Infantry Battalion as they prepare to leave the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental on Friday, Oct. 20. Soldiers of the 1IB were among the first to be deployed in Marawi when the battle against the terrorists broke out almost five months ago.

Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez

pire by the end of the year.

Duterte lauded the “valor and sacrifices” of the soldiers who were killed and wounded in Marawi as he reiterated his vow to take care of their families.

“Rest assured that the Philippines is committed to promote the welfare of all PAF personnel and their loved ones,” the president said.

“That you have left your families and the comfort of your homes to serve the country is truly praiseworthy. indeed, the Philippines and our people are indebted to you because of the sacrifices you have made every single day,” he added. in a separate statement,

Malacañang admitted that the iS terrorist group remains a global threat despite its defeat in Marawi.

“While we have defeated the Maute group here, it cannot be denied that iS remains a global threat,” Duterte’s spokesperson ernesto Abella said. he further emphasized the importance of continuous cooperation with other countries in combating the threats posed by the terrorist groups. “it is therefore necessary for us to continue our cooperation and alliance with our friends in the international community to halt the spread of iS menace,” Abella added.

China eyes ‘more expansive, productive’ ties with PH MAnilA — As Chinese President Xi Jinping has been given a second term, Beijing is seeking “more expansive and productive” ties with the Philippines.

Yi “ethan” Sun, Counsellor of the Chinese embassy in the Philippines, stressed that China will always be a close partner of the Philippines.

“We shall spare no efforts in making China-Philippines relations and China-ASeAn cooperation become more expansive and productive,” Sun said during the China-Philippines Dialogue in

Makati City on Thursday, Oct. 26.

On Wednesday, Oct. 25, Xi had been given a second five-year term as leader of the ruling Communist Party.

“China will continue to work along with the rest of the world for global peace and development and stay committed to building human community with a shared future,” the Chinese embassy counsellor said.

China has been the biggest trading partner of the ASeAn for eight consecutive years while the ASeAn has been China’s largest

trading partner for the past six years.

Sun noted that China and the 10-member regional bloc has enforced a strategic partnership which has become one of the “most vigorous and dynamic relationships” that ASeAn has developed.

“The year 2017 is designated as China-ASeAn year of tourism cooperation which will further enhance China-ASeAn strategic partnership and deepen amity and trust among our peoples,” Sun said. (Philstar.com)

FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

( Mt Carmel, Mt Beatitude, Mt.Tabor, Cana, Capernum, Nazareth, Mt. of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Bethlehem Qumran, Masada, Jericho )

Dec 3 to 14, 2017

Spiritual Director: Rev. Fr. Alvin Cachola

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

MAlACAñAng said it would be up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to probe allegations that Senator Antonio Trillanes iV committed treason when he discussed with United States officials the corruption and human rights situation in the Philippines. in a radio interview on Sunday, October 22, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar was asked to comment if Trillanes should be charged with treason.

Andanar said that the opposition senator should be investigated first before any conclusions can be made.

“Ah ‘yan ay pag-aaralan ng Department of Justice, pag-aaralan ‘yan ng mga abogado ng ating pangulo, sapagka’t ito rin po ay mga legal matters (That will be studied by the Department of Justice, that will be studied by the lawyers of our president because these are legal matters),” the communications secretary responded.

“We have to study this first. it’s hard to make hasty pronouncements,” he added. last week, U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, confirmed in a Twitter post that he met with Trillanes.

“Senator @TrillanesSonny & i discussed U.S.-#Philippines alliance, combating corruption & protecting #humanrights amid their narcotics crisis,” Rubio said in a

tweet. last year, Rubio expressed “grave concern about the campaign of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations” under the Duterte administration.

Trillanes, for his part, confirmed that his meeting with Rubio focused on “enhancing RP-U.S. relations, corruption, and the human rights situation in the country.”

The Filipino senator, however, denied reports claiming that he tried to convince officials to stop U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Manila scheduled next month. he further clarified that he only “presented only factual information” before the foreign officials, saying the U.S. government cannot “fooled” because “they know what’s happening” in the Philippines.

Reacting to Andanar’s statement, Trillanes disputed any possible treason charges against him. “nagtraydor daw ako sa bayan dahil nakipag usap ako kay (I was accused of betraying my country because I met with) U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio kahit pa sinabi na nya mismo na (even Rubio himself said we only talked about) Ph-U.S. alliance, corruption and human rights situation ang pinagusapan namin,” Trillanes said in a statement.

“Ano naman ngayon ang tawag sa mga protektor ng isang presidenteng pumatay at nagpapapatay ng mga Pilipino, mga bayani?

Pwede ba, umayos kayo! (Now what do you call the protectors of a

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV Inquirer.net photo

president who kills and orders the killings of Filipinos? Heroes? Stop joking around),” he added.

Libel case Also on Monday, the DOJ filed a libel case against Trillanes over media statements he made in 2015 against former Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also a former Makati City mayor.

The case was filed before the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) and its information was signed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor edwin S. Dayon on October 9.

The DOJ charged Trillanes of “defaming and maligning the reputation and causing the dishonor” of Binay when the senator was quoted as saying in a Philippine Daily inquirer report that he would expose an alleged P100-million “racket” of the former vice president in Makati City.

Palace defends obscene remarks of Andanar, Panelo by alexiS

RomeRo Philstar.com

MAnilA — Malacañang on Thursday, Oct. 26 defended the two Cabinet secretaries who drew flak for their sexual jokes, saying they were just trying to reach out to their audience.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and Chief Presidential legal Counsel Salvador Panelo stirred controversy recently for cracking jokes that some sectors found inappropriate.

Andanar told Filipinos in the United Kingdom that officials of the european Union lack sex or “kulang pa sa iyot.” The eU has expressed concerns over the deaths tied to President

Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.

Panelo, meanwhile, told the Swiss national Public Radio and Television Southeast Asia that he was “better in bed.” The presidential legal adviser also claimed to have been told that he f***s like an 18-year-old when he was still a bachelor.

Andanar said his remark was made in jest while Panelo said he was just interplaying words to make his interviewers laugh.

Presidential spokesman ernesto Abella said Andanar and Panelo were just trying to connect with their audience. “i think we need to be able to see in the light of these officials… attempting to relay it in

a more personal manner with the intended audience,” Abella said.

Asked if the jokes of Andanar and Panelo were acceptable, Abella said: “Well, i suppose the levels of acceptance differ. And, you know, the cultural landscape continues to evolve… So if you’re asking what is acceptable, then you know, it all depends on what kinds of standards you’re asking.” “i am not implying any bias. i’m simply saying, that apparently, the secretary was trying to relate in a manner that seemed to him appropriate to the culture... i’m not the judge of the acceptability regarding that matter,” he added.

Italia� Pilgrimag� Ho�� �eek� March 23 to April 3,2018 Spiritual Director : TBA

Day 1 - March 23, 2018 (Fri) Los Angeles, California to Venice, Italy Trans-Atlantic flight from LAX to LHR connect to our flight to Venice (Meals served in-flight)

Day 2 - March 24, 2018 (Sat) Venice, Italy 3 DEC-Day 1 - (Sun) LAX/TLV On board meals are served

4 DEC-Day 2 - (Mon) - Arrive at Ben Gurion airport Tel-Aviv/Tiberias

After you have finished Immigration, collect Luggage then Meet our guide and driver. Transfer to Tiberias , Dinner /overnight Gai Beach Hotel

After we clear Immigration & Custom, we will meet our Tour Director and driver for our transfer to our hotel,. Dinner at the hotel.( Dinner) If time permit, discover the most romantic views of Venice on foot and from the comfortable seats of a gondola, spend some time gliding through the cities peaceful canals.

Day 3 – March 25, 2018 (Sun) Venice, Italy

The greatness of Venice has always been reflected in the richness of St. Mark’s Basilica, the perfect synthesis of Venetian art and a unique blend There was a certain man in Caesarea” Drive north to the sparkling port city of Haifa, viewing Caesarea en route, the city built by Herod. In of Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic elements. Five Oriental-looking Haifa, we will ascend Mt. Carmel; home of the two prophets Elijah and Elisha, Visit the Stella Maris Church celebrate Holy Mass in the main domes crown the shadowy, mysterious interior gleaming with golden mosaics, colored marbles, precious stones and pearls, and guarded Altar, after enjoy the panoramic view of the Mediterranean, continue to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. Gai Beach Hotel (BB,D) by the four gilded bronze horses that stand proudly atop the central 6 DEC-Day 4 - (Wed) - Tiberias/ Cana/ Nazareth entrance. The glittering mosaics of the interior tell the story of St. Mark and episodes from the Bible. It’s most famous treasure stands behind Holy Eucharist at the Church of annunciation “And Mary said, Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your the altar in the sanctuary - the Pala D’Oro, a golden altar screen encrusted with jewels We’ll visit theDoge’s Palace, the magnificent Venetianword” We head to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed the first miracle – changing water into wine at the wedding feast. Here, we’ll Gothic building from where the leaders of the former Venetian Republic ruled until the late 18th century. Head inside and explore the grandiose invite couples to renew their marriage vows. Continue to Nazareth, Celebrate Holy Eucharist at the Church of Annunciation, visit St Joseph public chambers that the doges lavished with fine art and ornamentation. Masterpieces by Renaissance champions.(BB,D) Holy Mass at St. workshop. We return to Gai Beach Hotel for our dinner and overnight. (BB/D) Marks Basilica.

5 DEC-Day 3 - (Tues) Cesarea /Haifa

07 Dec-Day 5 - (Thurs) Mt Tabor/Mt Beatitude/Capernum/ Sea of Galilee/Tabgha

We drive to Mount Tabor, celebrate Holy Eucharist at the church of Transfiguration, Visit Mt. of Beatitudes the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people. enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry. After visiting the Synagogue where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Gai Beach Hotel for our dinner and overnight. (BB/D)

08 DEC-Day 6 - (FRI)-Jordan valley/Jericho/Bethany/Jerusalem

Day 4 - March 26, 2018 (Mon) Venice to San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

After breakfast, we will spend the day travelling from Venice to San Giovanni Rotondo, the home of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina from 28 July 1916 until his death on 23 September 1968. Sit back, relax and enjoy the drive and take in the picturesque scenery along the way. We will reach our hotel in San Giovanni Rotondo in the afternoon. Will have panoramic sightseeing on the way to our hotel,(BB,D).

Day 5 - March 27,2018 (Tues) San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

Drive the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world. View the Mount of temptation, where Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. Visit the ancient ruins of the wall. Drive through Wadi Welt to view St George’s Monastery. Continue to Bethany celebrate Holy Eucharist, and then visit the tomb of Lazarus. Arrive in Mount Scopus; enjoy the first view of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at Notre DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB,D)

We begin the day by celebrating Holy Eucharist. Eucharist,. Followed by a short film about St. Padre Pio.Done by our local guide who are very knowledgeable about the life of St. Padre Pio. We’ll start our visit with the Old Church.Here you can see his cell, his confessional box, the crucifix from which he received the stigmata, and nearly everything he owned or touched, carefully preserved and labeled. Then will visit the New Basilica, Santa Maria delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) dedicated to Padre Pio. (BB,D)

09 DEC-Day 7 - (Sat) - Jerusalem (old City) - Via Dolorosa

Day 6 March 28,2018 (Wed)San Giovanni Rotondo

Holy Sepulcher Church “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place of a skull, which was called in Hebrew Golgotha” Enter the old city of Jerusalem, Sing a hymn in the Church of St Anne and view the pool of Bethesda. Visit the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, where the soldiers played the Game of Kings, and Arch of the “Ecce Homo”. Follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, visit Golgotha and the tomb of Our Lord. This afternoon drive to Mount Zion, to visit the upper room, revered as the site of the last supper. Then survey the Dormition Abbey’s, St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Jesus three times. Dinner and overnight at NOTRE DAME Vatican Hotel (BB.D)

Holy Eucharist in the Morning in the New Basilica.followed by Station of the Cross. Rest of day spend Praying and meditating (BB,D)

10 DEC-Day 8 - (SUN) - Mount of Olives/Gethesemane/Bethlehem/New City

Day 8 - March 30 2018 (Fri) Assisi to Florence (Good Friday)

Holy Eucharist celebration at the Church of all nations Main altar Arrive at the Mount of Olives and enjoy the beautiful view of Jerusalem. Visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the Dominus Flevit Church”God wept “& walk the Palm Sunday road to the Garden of Gethesemane and the Church of all Nations. This Afternoon drive to Bethlehem, a city whose name the whole world recognizes ,visit the Church of Nativity, the manger, Church of St Catherine, The Grotto of St Jerome, and the shepherds fields. Dinner and overnight at NOTRE DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB ,D).

11 DEC-Day 9 - ( MON) - Jerusalem/Dead Sea/Qumran/Masada

Visit the Western Wall , the only part of the Herodian temple still standing and the most sacred place in the world for Jews. We drive to Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Visit Qumran; see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada, visit Herod’s fortress and the Jew’s last stronghold against the Roman. Return to Jerusalem Overnight Notre Dame Vatican Hotel (BB,D)

12 DEC-Day10 - (TUE) Jerusalem New City

Return to the new City, Including the Temple Model to see a scale model of Jerusalem as it was during the time of Jesus. Here we will have a better understanding between old and New Jerusalem. Next to Ein Karem, birthplace of St John the Baptist, visit the Visitation church where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat Overnight NOTRE DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB,D)

13 Dec-Day 11 - (WED) Jerusalem/TLV/LAX

Breakfast rest of the morning Free time early PM dinner has to check out from the hotel, around 8:30 PM flight from TLV/ LAX in the 13 Dec flight depart TLV at 1:00 Am Dec 14,2017 ( end of Service )

Day 7 – March 29, 2018 (Thur) San Giovanni Rotondo to Siena, Italy

After breakfast, we will spend the day travelling from San Giovanni Rotondo to Siena. We will begin in the old town center with a visit to the Basilica of San Domenico. Built in the 13th century, it is a treasure chest of Renaissance art and is dedicated to St. Catherine of Siena. You’ll learn about the city’s history while admiring its cathedrals, museums, and libraries. Then admire famous Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s great medieval squares.(BB,D) Continue to Assisi overnight /Dinner Celebrate Holy Eucharist in the Crypt where the tomb of the most beloved saints is located ,after Mass visit the Basilica of St Francis, We’ll also visit the Basilica of St.Claire After Lunch continue to Florence Best know for it leather goods,the best in the world Leather (BB,D) Free time in the afternoon Dinner/ Overnight

Day 9 - March 31, 2018 (Sat) Florence to Rome

2 hrs walking tours of Florence,before we continue to Rome We will have a guided walking tour of this fascinating city with its Piazza, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of St. John the Baptist, Continue to Rome.

Upon our arrival in Rome, Guided tours of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel .See the Largest church in Roman Catholicism ,St Peter Basilica,see the Crypt of St Pope John Paul (BB,D) Transfer to the Hotel /overnight

Day 10 April 1, 2018 (Sun ) Rome

EASTER SUNDAY MASS, VATICAN SQUARE FOLLOWED BY PAPAL BLESSING Visit the Major Basilicas like St Mary Major,St. John Lateran, the Holy Stairs, St. Paul Outside the Wall, St. Peter’s in Chain, Santa Croce of Jerusalem, afternoon see Imperial Rome, and short visit to the Trevi Fountain on the way to the hotel (BB,D) Dinner in the hotel

Day 11 April 2, 2018 (Mon) Rome Free time in Rome ( BB,D)

Day 12 April 3, 2018 (Mon) Rome – USA

Transfer to the airport for our flight back to USA, End of our memorable Pilgrimage

A

october 27-november 2, 2017 • oc/Ie ASIAn JoUrnAL

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

†Ü¯†ÅºÊåÙņ¿Ö咿¯“†â¯ÊÅÜ

dž†Ü¯†ÅºÊåÙņ¿“ÊÄ

dž†Ü¯†ÅºÊåÙņ¿

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

the asian journal entertainment magazine

october 27-november 2, 2017

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

2

october 27-november 2, 2017

2

Filipino boxer romero Duno:

From underdog to Golden Boy prospect by rae ann Varona with reports froM Victor sy / aJpress Despite being nicknamed “Ruthless”, there’s nothing heartless nor callous about Romero Duno.

At first impression, Duno comes off as shy and rather humble despite gaining new attention in the professional boxing world — that itself is noteworthy in a sport full of strong-egoed athletes.

But, as the adage says, “actions speak louder than words”, and Duno’s recent moves in the ring have many people all ears and eyes to see what he can do.

Just having turned 22 this month, Duno has already been described as a knockout artist with an impressive record of 13-1, 12 KOs. Only three of his professional bouts have been outside of the philippines, with two wins in the United states.

Duno, which his friends call him, hails from tagum City, the capital of the philippines’ Davao del Norte province. When home, he lives with his parents Nephtalie and Victoria, and is the sixth out of seven kids.

Like most parents, basic hopes for their children are that they stay out of fights, and stay in school. Duno — by no means a bad kid — did the opposite of both.

“it was just over a paper,” confessed Duno to the Asian Journal about his first ever fist fight win as a high school freshman.

His opponent so happened to be a local boxer and a son of a boxing trainer who eventually took Duno as his trainee. that marked Duno’s beginning as a boxer.

A few years later as a student at the University of Mindanao, Duno, like many other college students, decided to skip school.

But, he didn’t just skip class, or one day to hang out with friends at the mall or beach. Duno instead moved four hours away to pursue his boxing career in General santos City at the invitation of engelbert Moralde, another known Filipino boxer.

“My mom didn’t know,” said Duno.

Duno’s mom Victoria, had plans to support both him and his sister in finishing their postsecondary education at the time. “i told myself that if we study together, my mom and dad may have a hard time — maybe neither of us may finish school due to shortness of budget,” said Duno. “so i just told myself that i should just go straight to Gen san.”

Just as all mothers eventually

find out if they’ve been disobeyed, Victoria found out that he indeed was not studying.

But it wasn’t until after two fights. “she was mad — she wanted me to stop,” said Duno quietly laughing. “i said that i had already started — i had already signed the contract,” he added.

Many boxers enter the professional field with a lot of amateur experience. Duno, on the other hand, did not have many tournament fights under his belt as they required the process of defeating other boxers in order to move up — a classic game of elimination. the majority of Duno’s fights were in local barangays or villages.

As a result, not much training focus was initially put on the powerful, but limited amateur experienced Duno. in his first-ever fight outside the philippines last May, where he experienced his first and only loss in an eight-round decision to Mikhail Alexeev in Russia — only his manager accompanied him. “they were not sure with Duno,” said Rodel Mayol, the Filipino former World Boxing Council (WBC) Light Flyweight World Champion who now trains and houses Duno in Los Angeles.

Duno won in an eight-round lightweight match against Mexican Juan Pablo Sanchez at The Forum in Los Angeles last September.

Duno with cutman Dr. Ed dela Vega

Photos by Peter Dumaual

Jericho Rosales fights for excellence in acting

by Maridol ranoa-BisMark Philstar.com

tHeRe comes a time in a person’s life when one reaches a crossroad and questions the path he is taking.

Jericho Rosales reached that crossroad when he sat down and asked himself if making money from his work as an actor is all there is in life. “is this it? then i got scared. i quit (acting). i started writing songs. i started to sing. Nag-banda ako. Nasagot ko ‘yung tanong. then i go back to the question of what’s next,” Jericho admitted at the press con of his upcoming ABs-CBN teleserye “Love Will Lead You Back.”

He knows everyone must work to earn a living. But for seasoned actors like Jericho who have proven themselves, there is got to be more to work than earning money. there is got to be a “why” and a “where” for everything he does. the project, he said, must excite him. For instance, his character in a teleserye or film

But it didn’t take long before Duno began to prove himself as what Mayol described as an “Aplus boxer”.

Duno, the new ‘golden boy’ At his U.s debut fight in March, Duno took victory over the then-undefeated prospect Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez in less than a minute into the second of what was supposed to be eight rounds.

Crowd favorite Gonzalez, who had entered the arena to the sounds of enthusiastically chanting fans, was later carried out of the ring to a more silent and stunned crowd.

“We saw Romero’s power in the ring — he is the real deal,” said former professional boxer and ten world title winner Oscar De La Hoya, in a statement on signing Duno to his Golden Boy promotions firm.

“He has the exceptional power, along with the talent and desire to be a great fighter. He could be the next big boxing star from the philippines as time is on his side, and i’m pleased he chose Golden Boy to introduce him to a wider audience in the U.s.”

Gonzalez (also with Golden Boy promotions) has himself amassed a strong following with many from Mexico where he spent his early pro boxing years, and from his hometown of Buena park, California. He is also the youngest brother of former WBC Featherweight World Champion, Alejandro “La Cobrita” Gonzalez.

“Chimpa was 16-0, with 14 knockouts, so they were really building him up,” said Mayol.

Upon entering the venue, Duno recalled hearing taunts and chants from the pro-Chimpa crowd attempting to get into this head. “i told him, ‘let’s just focus — don’t think about their shouting. think instead that they’re shouting for you. they’re shouting to distract you’,” said Mayol, adding that Filipinos were very underrepresented in the venue.

Out of maybe 200 to 300 people, less than 15 were Filipino, said Mayol. ecstatic, Duno’s accompanying team rushed on stage while security attempted to hold them back. the shocking win resulted in a multi-year promotional deal with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy promotions, a “Hero’s Welcome” in General santos City, and a push into the spotlight among boxing fans. “i was surprised because i didn’t even know that was a thing,” said Duno on his General santos City welcome and meeting with the mayor.

“His mom wasn’t there. she’s upset. But i know that she is also proud,” said Mayol.

Duno signing boxing gloves

in late september, Duno went on to take another 78-74 win over Juan pablo sanchez (30-14, 14 KOs) at the Forum in Los Angeles through a unanimous decision.

Once again, Duno’s team rushed on stage. this time, Mayol received a fine but said it was worth it. “it was okay because it was a happy moment,” shared Mayol.

Duno now trains at Los Angeles’ Wild Card Boxing Club, which has been the training grounds for numerous world champions like Filipino boxing hero Manny pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, De La Hoya, Mike tyson, and even Mayol. the gym is owned by well-respected boxing trainer and former professional boxer Freddie Roach.

“Freddie is always supporting us at the gym,” Mayol said. Roach often helps find Duno good sparring partners.

Considered as one of best boxing trainers of all time, Roach’s lineup of famed boxers include former WBC Middleweight Champion Julio César Chávez, Jr., five-time and four-division world champion Miguel Cotto, and eight-division world champion Manny pacquiao whom many on the internet are likening Duno to.

During Duno’s U.s. debut win over Gonzalez, commentator steve Kim compared the victory

AJPress photos by Ding Carreon

to pacquiao’s shocking defeat over Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in 2001 which thrust him into the spotlight.

“Much like tonight to a certain degree, he just blitzed Lehlo Ledwaba, and really at that point, arrived,” said Kim of pacquiao’s 2001 fight. “i’m happy when they say that, but in my opinion, you can’t compare with Manny — there’s only one Manny,” said Duno.

“All i want is to make my own name in boxing,” he added. “i don’t want to imitate him. i want to be different, so that there will be something different.”

On October 9, Duno went back to the philippines for a quick two-week vacation before continuing training for an upcoming U.s. fight on December 18 in southern California. in the philippines, he got to spend his 22nd birthday doing one of the things he loves to do the most: hanging out with his family, who he sees as his biggest inspiration. “i just want to prove to the people who look down on my family that we can make it without them,” said Duno.

As for his December fight, his opponent has yet to be announced. But one thing for sure is that people will be watching.

Kim Chiu retraces her Chinese heritage in new flick

Will Lead You Back” because he enjoys depicting the early stages of marriage in the teleserye, where he stars with sam Milby, Yam Concepcion and Yen santos.

Himself happily married for three years to fashion blogger and tV host Kim Jones, Jericho knows what facing the challenges of marriage is all about. He knows what great love — the theme of the teleserye — is.

Most of all, he values his work, and does not consider it as just another soap to add to his list of tV projects. that is the reason why he is still around, 20 years after he first stepped foot in showbiz.

Jericho Rosales Photo from “You have to evolve. A lot Instagram/@jerichorosalesofficial of actors have this bad habit of saying ‘soap lang yan.’ i hate it. must challenge him to attack the some directors also say ‘soap lang role in a way he has not done yan.’ six years into my career, nang before. dumating ang tFC (the Filipino “i must always make it fresh,” Channel), every time we travel, he said. someone in a small town in New so he does not take just any Zealand, and a Filipino family role that comes along. He would somewhere around the world rather wait for a good project. would thank me and say almost Jericho accepted the role of a married furniture designer in “Love Continued on Page 4 Kim Chiu’s latest film, “The Ghost Bride”

by christina alpad ManilaTimes.net

sHe may have started her career in 2006 as the bubbly Filipino-Chinese teenager on “pinoy Big Brother” to become the noted dramatic actress that she is today, but somewhere in between her rise to stardom, Kim Chui learned to scare her audience very well.

Chiu’s very first movie was in fact a horror flick. she essayed the a role of a high schooler haunted by the ghost of a nun in 2008’s p68 million-box office hit, “shake, Rattle and Roll 10,” via the episode, “Classroom.”

Four years later, Chiu starred in her sophomore horror, “the Healing,” with no less than multi-awarded actress Vilma santos in the lead. Working under revered director Chito Roño for the first time, Chui earned praises for her role a demented patient, holding her own across santos’ excellent portrayal. the movie surpassed the p100-million mark in the box-office. excited to return to the genre that launched her movie career with her latest starrer, the 27-year-old actress promises the five-year wait for scare fans will be worth it.

Reunion with Roño Reuniting with Roño—who also directed Chiu in the ensemble cast of “etiquette for Mistresses”—tV’s “Chinita princess” finally takes on the titular role of Continued on Page 4 Star Cinema photo

3 Chuckie Dreyfus gives update on Isabel Granada’s condition Richard & Sarah expecting another baby boy october 27-november 2, 2017

www.asianjournal.com

AS of 10:20 a.m. of Thursday, Oct. 26, actress Isabel Granada is “stable,” according to the latest post of her former love team partner, Chuckie Dreyfus.

Isabel, who is reportedly in comatose after suddenly collapsing during a fan meet-andgreet in Qatar on Tuesday, Oct. 24, now has “okay” vital signs, said Chuckie on Thursday.

The actress and marketing director of company Star net was reportedly diagnosed to have had six cardiac arrests, internal hemorrhage and brain aneurysm. now that the actress is reportedly on stable condition,

“they are praying for her to just wake up,” said Chuckie.

“Please continue prayers. nothing is impossible,” Chuckie pleaded.

Isabel and her husband are in Qatar as the actress was invited to speak at the Philippine Trade and Tourism Conference – Qatar on October 20 in Shangri-La Hotel Doha.

To clear rumors, even from an another actress that tweeted “RIP” that has since been deleted, Isabel’s husband released a statement on Wednesday about the actress’ real whereabouts.

Likewise, Chuckie asked

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

EvEn after she and son Zion burst the balloon that confirmed her and fiancé Richard Gutierrez’s second child is a boy, Sarah Lahbati still thought that it would be a girl. “Blame” it on Alexa Uichico, wife of Richard’s brother Elvis, who was the first to learn about the baby’s gender from Dr. Teresa Henson, her and Sarah’s Isabel Granada Philstar.com photo OB-Gyne. people to stop spreading false or Until the “gender reveal” unverified information about his party held last Sunday, Oct. 22, at good friend, who is said to be also Discovery Primea in Makati City, the godmother of his child. (Deni Alexa kept the “secret” that she Rose Bernardo/Philstar.com) had shared with Dr. Henson who very gladly “conspired” with Alexa.

Even Elvis didn’t know, and neither did Ruffa.

You know how Ruffa is…she couldn’t keep a secret. Remember how, after Sarah gave birth to first child Zion in April 2013 in Switzerland (where Sarah’s parents implement better rehabilitation. are based), Ruffa kept hinting at Thank you.” it even as the whole Gutierrez Her speech and Q&A answer family kept mum until, as per the was highly commended by contract stated, the big reveal Filipinos in social media since would be done on the family show it coincides with the recently “It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez” concluded war against rebels (ITGTBAG) on E! Channel. in Marawi and touches on “Ate Ruffa would ask me, ‘You current issues like the Philippine know what the gender is?’ And I government’s war on drugs, would tell her, ‘Yeah, but I’m not human rights issues and even telling you.” the current discussion on mental All the while, Sarah was trying health. to “catch” Alexa.

Besides her wit and beauty, “Every time she asked me, I Clenci stunned in her revealing would say, ‘She’s gonna be so cute!’ yet sophisticated metallic gold Then, Sarah would ask again, ‘Girl, and pink long gown, prompting bakit mo sinasabi?’

I pretended na netizens to use #ClassyClenci in I was making a slip of the tongue.

Elizabeth Clenci is Miss Grand International describing her on Twitter.

She didn’t suspect na drama ko 2017 2nd runner-up.

Though Clenci lost the title to Photo from Instagram/@mselizabethclenci lang ‘yon.”

Miss Peru, Filipinos are still proud now into her fourth month of that she is the only Asian to have Clenci replied: “They say pregnancy, Sarah was convinced landed in the top 5. She was also at a nation is judged not by the that she was having a girl so at the top 10 in Best in Swimsuit and criminals and the crimes that home, she would practice taking national Costume, wherein she they commit, but how the nation care of a daughter with Alexa and punishes them. If I were to create a donned a costume inspired by a Elvis’ kids Aria and Ezra.

Mindanao tribal princess, another law, it will be in line with jailment Incidentally, Annabelle Rama, allusion to the war and the call for (sic) is to implement rehabilitation the family matriarch, was visibly peace in Marawi. and mental rehabilitation. Because absent from the party. The guests netizens also applauded the character is such a complex wondered if the reason was the pageant’s Filipino hosts, singerphenomenon, but we cannot presence of Ruffa’s foreigner actor Xian Lim and 2016 Miss judge someone’s character based boyfriend Jordan Mouyal whom Grand International first runner-up on the crimes that they commit. nicole Cordoves, for their polished Annabelle openly disliked.

If we punish somebody just as “Tita Annabelle said she presentation of the winners and equally as the crimes that they was not feeling well,” said the the whole program. (Deni Rose M. have committed, then what Gutierrez family PR Jun Lalin. “So Afinidad-Bernardo/Philstar.com) does that say about us? I would

Filipina is 2nd runner-up at Miss Grand International 2017 THE Philippines’ bet, Elizabeth Clenci, finished as second runnerup in this year’s Miss Grand International pageant held in vietnam.

As one of those in the top 10, Clenci shared her platform on peace.

According to her, peace is “one that is more significant than any other and that holds dearly to my heart. But we know the horrors of war and that many died fighting it and precisely why so few are willing to fight for peace. Today, I stand here knowing that it is my responsibility to fight for peace and to strive for peace in this world through love, compassion, understanding, and education.

Tonight, I stand here will these women behind me, spreading a message of peace. I’m here to remind you all as a Philippines peace ambassador that this is your responsibility too. This is our responsibility today, tomorrow, and for the generations to come,” she said.

She further strengthened this statement with her answer to the final top five Question and Answer portion, wherein the question for all candidates was: “If you have to issue a law to punish criminals of war and violence, how would you punish these people and why?”

Richard Gutierrez and girlfriend Sarah Lahbati with son Zion who helped his mom burst the balloon that revealed the gender of the couple’s second child at a party at Discovery Primea.

Photos from Instagram/@sarahlahbati

she stayed home and watched Richard’s (ABS-CBn) Tv series ‘La Luna Sangre’ on the network’s iWantTv.”

By the way, Sarah and Richard are engaged but they haven’t decided when they would get married.

october 27-november 2, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

4

Angel Locsin’s vampire transformation tops network ratings

by Deni Rose BeRnaRDo

werewolves and vampires.

Following Jacintha’s great The transformation of unveil, the hashtags Angel and Jacintha Magsaysay (Angel Locsin) #LSSBagongPinuno became into a vampire in ABS-CBN’s “La among those top trending on Luna Sangre” surprised viewers Twitter on Tuesday, Oct. 24. nationwide as the show hit a Fans of Angel and “La Luna national TV rating of 34.1 percent Sangre” lead love team KathNiel versus GMA-7’s “Alyas Robin hood” (Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel (14.7 percent), according to data Padilla) had mixed reactions from Kantar Media released on about the emergence of Angel Monday. as a major character in the ABS-CBN’s hit fantasy action show. While some are happy for series “La Luna Sangre” continues Angel’s comeback as an “action to keep viewers on the edge of star,” others were enraged and Angel Locsin as Jacintha Magsaysay in “La even alleged ABS-CBN of trying their seats and opened the week ABS-CBN photo to overshadow KathNiel with with the heart-stopping revelation Luna Sangre.” of Jacintha (Angel Locsin) as the ChardGel, the love team Angel using a bullet made of wolf mysterious “Lady in Red.” shares with fellow “La Luna fang, which caused the supreme To everyone’s Sangre” star Richard Gutierrez, vampire’s heart to beat again. surprise, Jacintha finally who is a villain vampire in the Malia, on the other hand, is showed her true self as a show. slowly embracing her destiny as vampire and effortlessly What will be the plans of Malia her powers gradually unfolds. She killed Sandrino’s (Richard as the new Punong Bantay? After successfully led La Liga Unida in Gutierrez) men, including killing Sandrino’s allies, what is overtaking Sandrino’s lair and Boris (Ali Khatibi). It was also next for the Lady in Red? What even killed Omar (Ahron Villena). revealed that she was behind will happen if she and Malia cross Their victory, however, led Tristan the shooting of Sandrino by paths? Will Sandrino become a (Daniel Padilla) to discover that Sen. Paglinauan (Freddie Webb) mortal again? she has long been working with Philstar.com

Jericho Rosales fights for excellence...

From Page 2

in tears that our shows are good.

I find a purpose in what I do,” he pointed out.

Jericho realized he has a responsibility to keep on doing his best and never get tired doing so. he thinks it is this passion that makes his home network ABS-CBN assign new projects to him.

“I value my work. I don’t get tired studying,” he explained.

Jericho admitted American and Korean actors are good. This observation pushes him to do even better, and fight for excellence in his craft.

“We’re competent. May hitsura naman tayo. I’m just a proud Filipino actor. I want to go global,” he beamed.

Billing and titles no longer matter to him. What matters, he said, is what you do when you are in the zone, what viewers and moviegoers see in you on the big or small screen.

EMPLOYMENT

Jericho Rosales stars with Sam Milby, Yam Concepcion and Yen Santos in the new soap, “Love Will Lead You Back.”

ABS-CBN photo

That is why his hunger to play different roles remains as strong as ever.

“After this (“Love Will Lead You Back”), in the next few years, I want to do action drama, action comedy, and a psychological thriller. I’m a thinking actor, but

for the last two decades, it’s been explosive emotions, and a heart.

I’d like to play more quiet roles that are exciting,” he revealed.

Jericho’s journey as an actor who loves his craft continues. And chances are, we will be seeing more of him in years to come.

EMPLOYMENT

Anne Curtis turns into human Barbie doll

by Deni Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

BeAUTIFUL, sexy, rich and famous — that is Barbie to many girls from across generations, and the same could be said of Filipina actress and TV host Anne Curtis.

Not to mention that Anne is also getting married to a real-life “Ken,” erwan heussaff.

Anne can still recall having Barbie dolls when she was a kid. Though none of these dolls from her childhood survived, she continues to hold a special place in her house for a collector’s Audrey hepburn Barbie that is still in the box — and she has no plans of opening it.

Like Barbie and Audrey hepburn, Anne hopes she can become an icon in her own way.

“Barbie is the ultimate #girlygoals. I mean, from when you were a kid until you were an adult, she’s so iconic,” Anne shared in an interview with Philstar.com.

“What’s great now about Barbie is she comes in different sizes na. Then, women were just idolizing the perfect-sized Barbie.

Now, there’s so many Barbies that you can get. So I think, that’s how Barbie has grown with women and has given them such an open mind, which is what I love about Barbie!”

For those looking for an effortless costume that one can wear even beyond halloween or Christmas, Anne models Plains & Prints’ new limited-edition Barbie collection.

The brand’s founder and owner, Roxanne Ang-Farillas, told Philstar.com that the clothing label is arguably the first Filipino brand licensed by Barbie creator Mattel to create a full collection for the iconic doll. The collection was overseen by Plains & Prints Creative Director Rhett eala.

The doll is known for Continued on Page 5

Actress and TV host Anne Curtis (right) poses like Barbie during the launch of Plains & Prints’ new Barbie-inspired collection, with matching Barbie dolls. Philstar.com photo

Kim Chiu retraces her Chinese heritage...

From Page 2

Star Cinema’s “Ghost Bride.”

As the title suggests, her role as a dutiful Filipino-Chinese daughter in Mayen agrees to be a traditional ghost bride to help her struggling family.

According to co-writer Charlson Ong, the concept of a ghost bride—as well as a ghost groom—is rooted from the Chinese belief that everyone has to have a family before they die in order to avoid becoming hungry ghosts in the spirit life.

“When someone from a family dies without a surviving husband or wife, the Chinese seek a ghost marriage where they look for a life partner for the deceased to carry out specific duties,” Ong explained at the movie’s grand press conference in Binondo, considered Manila’s China Town.

Ong added that the tradition was prevalent before the Chinese Communism Revolution in 1912, eventually fading away.

Chinese heritage Interestingly, doing the movie enabled Chiu to retrace her Chinese heritage when she found out that an ancestor had been a ghost bride during her lifetime.

“When my grandmother learned the storyline of the movie, she told me me that her late cousin was a ghost bride. She detailed that ghost brides dedicate their lives to the dead to whom they were married off—they pray for them twice a week, offer incense every day, and are present in every event for the deceased. In exchange for their freedom, ghost brides are paid a huge amount of money,” the actress thoroughly explained.

“So my grandmother’s cousin, for her service, made her family rich. Up to this day, they’re enjoying the life she bequeathed them,” Chiu continued.

But of course, Roño, being the creative mind that he is, does not only highlight the culture of a ghost bride. he explained, “The main concept here is an arranged marriage but I wanted to give the theme a twist that what if the ghost bride’s deceased husband was not ‘normal’? I thought it to be good material for something supernatural.”

As such Chui’s supernatural miseries begin when she tries to cut off ties with her ghost husband.

Hand-picked To make his latest project

SERVICES

possible, Rono, dubbed the “Master of horror Films,” admitted he handpicked Chiu for the role because of her several factors.

“Mayen fits Kim to a tee because of her heritage and age.

Kids these days are so modern that they don’t totally submit to tradition, and I think Kim is in an age zone where they have different perspectives already,” explained the director.

With a stamp of approval from Roño and her pair of previous box office hits in the genre, Chiu is now being talked about as the “Princess of horror,” with many others opining she has already taken the place of “Queen of horror” Kris Aquino, who ruled the genre via “Feng Shui” and “Sukob,” also directed by Roño. humble as ever, Chiu refused the comparison and instead thanked her home network for giving her this first solo movie. “horror lang, walang queen,” Chiu remarked in jest. “But seriously, I am just thankful to Star Cinema for giving me a solo movie and with Direk Chito Rono pa. I am very honored, wala na akong hihilingin pa sa movie na ito,” Chiu ended.

october 27-november 2, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Part 2 of 2)

TIGER’S spin doctors went on overdrive. He looked like a contrite man being led to the gallows.

His apology seemed heartfelt.

Cynical pundits begged to differ, however, arguing that the stunt is commercial in nature, a pathetic attempt to save a lucrative brand and image.

That was Tiger’s winter of discontent. After 7 years, it may be that he has learned something from his very public humiliation.

If he truly learns from this, he will find redemption, even forgiveness, but it won’t be easy.

He acknowledges that he has strayed from his core spiritual values and that his arrogance and pure sense of entitlement led him to believe that he was not subject to the same rules as ordinary mortals.

Some celebrities in the entertainment business and the sports world as well as powerful

Health@Heart PhiliP S. ChuA, Md, FACS, FPCS ExCEpT for infectious, congenital diseases, and rarer maladies, the most common major illnesses today are caused by four main risk factors, for which I have coined the acronym: TABA, which happens to be the Filipino word for fat, for easy remembrance.

However, in this context, I am not relating it to weight or BMI (Body Mass Index).

T is for Tobacco, A for Alcohol, B for Bad diet, and the second A, for Activity deficit or absence of exercise. This acronym itself, TABA, when used to mean fat or overweight, is also a significant factor, since obesity impacts our health negatively, catapulting our risk for major ailments, like hypertension (High Blood pressure), arthritis, Type 2 Diabetes, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.

Even the English word, FAT, could be an applicable acronym: F for Food (quality and quantity), A for Alcohol abuse, T for tobacco use or exposure, and we could add “E,” for Exercise deficit, and make it FATE. This also spells the prognosis (fate) of those individuals with an unhealthy lifestyle, which most often means higher morbidity and mortality (more illnesses and shorter life).

Genes vs. lifestyle While we know that our genes are also a risk factor, studies have shown that a healthy lifestyle could outplay genetic predisposition, enabling siblings of parents, who are both diabetic and hypertensive, who smoke, drink excessively, eat unhealthy diet, and do not exercise, to escape diabetes and hypertension simply by living a healthy lifestyle, starting from their teen years.

It is clear that children are not doomed to their elders’ fates, provided they take the healthier path. But, if they are a copycat of their parents’ unhealthy behaviors and bad habits, obviously, they will fall victims to major illnesses as well. To paraphrase Einstein, we cannot do the exact same things or actions repeatedly and expect a different result.

Killer carbohydrates When it comes to diet, carbs (rice, bread, sugary desserts, soft drinks, which I call “liquid candy,” other sweets) are food items we must minimize to maintain our weight and good health. Rice contributes to high triglyceride level, obesity, and increased risk for diabetes, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer, and overall morbidity and mortality rates.

Repeat: Soft drinks as a whole,

5

Tales of entitlement “...I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me.

I felt I was entitled...”

— Tiger Woods politicians and influence peddlers feel the same way. Fame, power and a fat bank account seem to make them feel that they are exempt from accountability and karma. They are in for a rude awakening. It is just a matter of time when they discover that they too have feet of clay and in time, will return to dust.

Tiger thought he was a god. His handlers made sure he bought their paid spinmeister’s myth. I guess that is what being a celebrity does to you. He took liberties with what he felt were fringe benefits of a fabulously rich and famous life. Before him still lies a long and tortuous road. Is this epic lesson in humility doing its job? Only he knows for sure.

With no possibility for parole, Amy Bishop will live her life in jail.

There is still time for Tiger to find redemption. Both have caused their families extreme sorrow and indescribable collateral damage to everyone affected by their actions.

Both were egocentric. They believed the universe revolved around them. Tiger is the lucky one. He got a pass and a chance for a mid-course correction and perhaps, one chance to write a good sequel with a happy ending.

It could be that he has some good karmic points stacked from a past life, that is, if the idea of karma and reincarnation holds true in human life. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Causes of major illnesses regular or diet, cola or uncola, caffeinated or not, all toxic to our body, especially to children. They extremely increase the risk for metabolic illnesses.

Sixty percent of the world’s diabetic population is Asian.

Asians have a higher risk for type 2 diabetes compared to those with European ancestry. More than 6.1 million Filipinos have type 2 diabetes. Our staple food, rice, appears to be the major culprit, not to mention the lack of exercise.

The Filipinos (even those with normal weight) have a disproportionately high incidence of type 2 diabetes, with 6 percent of its population afflicted with type 2 diabetes. Saudi Arabia has the highest, 20.2 percent, followed by Kuwait, 17 percent, Lebanon, 14.5 percent, Singapore, 12.3 percent, China, 12 percent, United Arab Emirates, 10 percent, and the USA, 9.4 percent. The lowest, Maldives, at 3.8 percent.

Globally, an estimated 1.6 million deaths were attributed to diabetes and its complications in 2015. In the USA alone, about 30.3 million people have type 2 diabetes (23.1 million diagnosed and an estimated 7.2 million (23.8 percent) undiagnosed. About 84.1 million (33.9 percent) have pre-diabetes, or the so-called borderline diabetes. More than 6.1 million Filipinos are diabetics and about 8 million are undiagnosed.

Hypertension – a “time bomb” Asians, particularly Filipinos, consume an overdose of salt each day. We tend to grab the salt shaker, or add salty condiments, even before we taste the food before us. As a result, about 10 million Filipinos have high blood pressure and 20 percent are prehypertensive. The Department of Health says, about 6 million are undiagnosed and unaware they have high blood pressure, and are a “walking time bomb.”

Worldwide, high blood pressure kills 7.5 million each year, and 1.5 billion suffer from its complications, like coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke.

In the USA, 75 million of adults (one in three, or 33 percent) have hypertension, killing about 1,200 a day. This disease costs the nation $48.6 billion dollars annually. In the philippines, about 200,000 die each year from complications of hypertension.

In the United States, one person is diagnosed with a stroke every 40 seconds. This dreaded and debilitating illness is so common it victimizes more than 2,000 individuals each day and killing about 133,000 each year. Luckily about 80 percent of stroke is preventable.

Less salt is best Salt consumption

significantly affects individuals with hypertension. The current recommendation is no more than 2300 mg (one teaspoon) of salt (sodium chloride) a day.

The average intake of 3400 mg is way above what is healthy.

The American Heart Association is even suggesting 1500 mg a day (3/4 of a teaspoon) a day.

The total should include all use for cooking, in condiments, and what is in processed or canned goods, which are loaded with salt preservative. Reducing our salt intake could reduce the number of hypertensives by 11 million, in the USA alone. It would, indeed, be best to get rid of salt shakers.

In the United States, one person is diagnosed with a stroke every 40 seconds. This dreaded and debilitating illness is so common it victimizes more than 2,000 individuals each day and killing about 133,000 each year. Not to mention kidney failure, heart attack, and cancer.

Discipline and sacrifices Good health, freedom from illnesses, and longevity are not free. To achieve them, we must be pre-emptive and pro-active early, and religiously work for them, by arming ourselves with a proven scientific strategy, discipline, compliance, determination, and a lot of personal sacrifices.

Here are some tips to greatly reduce the risk of having hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, Alzheimer’s, and cancer, basically by living a healthy lifestyle or making necessary lifestyle changes, following the acronym TABA or FATE as suggested above: Food - low-carb, fish, vegetables, nuts, fruits, minimal or no red meat Alcohol - extreme moderation, not more than 2 glasses of wine or beer Tobacco - total abstinence and avoid second-hand smoke Exercise - brisk walking, tae-bo, swimming, biking, etc. 30 minutes daily.

When it comes to health, our fate is significantly in our hands. The choice is ours: fight or surrender.

The crucial question is: Are you prepared to do personal sacrifices to prevent illnesses and achieve a healthier life and greater longevity? *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

Anne Curtis turns into human Barbie...

From Page 4

its special collections by internationally renowned designers like Kate Spade and Vera Wang.

Anne describes the collection as festive. Her favorite from the range is a black halter top paired with a black-and-white, polka-dot skirt. If she were to design her own collection for Barbie, she said it will be all black because

the color is timeless, classic and elegant.

For holidays, however, her advice is to go for red, maroons or deeper colors. She swore that she repeats clothes, especially A-line dresses because they are “very classy, feminine and girly.”

“Always find the perfect piece for you,” she advised those who also want to look great in their holiday #OoTDs (outfit of the

day).

“You should be doing it for yourself naman. It doesn’t matter how many likes you get for your OoTDs. It’s a matter of liking your dress or fashion and style. That’s how I think whenever I’m taking my OoTD!” The actress once launched her own self-titled doll. Will she revive it soon?

“Maybe!” she giggled.

Calendar of Events across

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS O C TO B E R 26 -29

2nd annual Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival in Carson, CA You are invited to the 2nd annual Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival (LAPIFF) from October 26 to 29 at the SouthBay Pavilion Cinemark Theatre in Carson, CA. LAPIFF is an organization devoted to the advancement, development and showcase of Filipino filmmakers/artists around the world through film, providing the global community of entertainment professionals and film goers with consistent annual screening events and workshops. LAPIFF provides charitable scholarships and a forum where Filipino filmmakers/ artists can be recognized for their gifts, have open discussions about their movies and connect with industry professionals for understanding on production, distribution, representation and acquirement. Cinemark is located at 20700 South Avalon Boulevard #285, Carson, CA 90746. For more information and schedule, please visit http://www.lapiff.org/.

O C TO B E R 27

Filipino-American celebration in Las Vegas, NV To commemorate the month of October being Filipino-American History Month, the Filipino-American Chamber of Greater Nevada (FACCGN) invites you to a tandem event with a business/social networking mixer with a musical performance of Philippine music on Friday, October 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aldo Endiquez and the Swing Band takes center stage at the Event Mixer with a rendition of nostalgic Filipino songs to start the night with.

A dance event happens right after with HOT MANILA NIGHTS top-billed by the 360 Band sizzling with more Filipino music to enjoy and dance with. Please come and celebrate with us! The event will be held at Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino at 300 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89102. To register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/filipino-americanheritage-celebration-tickets-39131964760.

FACC-GLA’s Halloween Dance Party in Canoga Park, CA FACC-GLA’s Halloween Dance Party in Canoga Park, CA The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce - Greater Los Angeles (FACC - GLA) invites members and guests to its Halloween Dance Party on Friday, October 27 from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the Best Western Canoga Park Hotel. Come in with your scariest attire as there will be special gifts for the best costume attire. Food & drinks will be included. Tickets are limited and entry will only be allowed for those who paid online or through check on or before Tuesday, October 24. Payment can be made through the website www.filamchambergla.org. Strictly NO payment will be accepted at the door.

O C TO B E R 28

3rd annual Larry Itliong Day parade & festival in Los Angeles Join the Larry Itliong Day Committee (LIDC) in honoring the legacy of Filipino American Labor Leader Larry Itliong on Saturday, October 28. There will be a parade followed by a festival with cultural music, dance performances, food vendors, art exhibits, health screenings and various vendors. Parade starts at 9 a.m. with a light breakfast, opening ceremony and line-up at 8 a.m. at Unidad Park (1648 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026). The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Columban Church at 125 Loma Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90026. There will be film screenings of “Delano Manongs” by Marissa Aroy at the church at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. For more information on sponsorships, parade registration, exhibitor opportunities, and volunteering, please email larryitliongdayLA@gmail.com.

PHII presents Tribute 2017: Recognition ceremony and dinner dance The Philippine Heritage Institute International celebrates its 28th anniversary with its annual recognition ceremony and dinner dance on Saturday, October 28, 6:30 p.m. to midnight, at the Pasadena Hilton, 168 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 -- 19th Tribute to Outstanding Filipino American Nurses and 11th President’s Award: ‘Profiles in Services, Pillars of Community.’ Cost is $65; attire, formal. PHII’s annual tribute is in answer to the White House Millennium Council Initiative from then Pres. Bill Clinton, who came with his wife Hillary to Los Angeles in January 1998. They created the Council in August 1997, with the theme ‘Honor the Past, Imagine the Future’ and traveled across the United States to promote its objectives -- an agenda with 21 ‘Ways to Commemorate the Millennium.’ “Mrs. Clinton gave a speech, stirring and inspirational,” said the late Mrs. Armada. In 1999, PHII became a partner to the White House Millennium Council selecting the ‘Millennium Recognition Awards’ to pay tribute to outstanding individuals whose contributions have enhanced the quality of life in the community. PHII seeks to improve the quality of life affecting Filipino American communities through research, education and recognition with the youth as its main focus. The foundation sponsors a youth congress annually with featured speakers. For more information, contact President Josie E. De Jesus (714) 272-0300; or Executive Director Anna A. Chickey, M.D. (562) 900-0379 (payments can be mailed to Dr. Chickey, daughter of Mrs. Armada, at 2032 Redfield St., Fullerton, CA 92833); or Email Lydia V. Solis at lvsolis@ aol.com.

Philippine Heritage Arts and Culture Celebration in Glendale, CA Join the Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale (FABAG), Glendale LibraryArts and Culture and Alexis Louise Quiza Foundation (ALQ) on Saturday, October 28 from 5:30 p.m. at the Glendale Central Library (222 E. Harvard St.) for the “Philippine Heritage Arts and Culture Celebration.” This event is OPEN TO ALL and is FREE admission. It will be a wonderful evening showcasing folk dances by Malaya Fil-Am Dance Arts, a Filipinana-inspired creation fashion show by designer Carl Andrada, and music and songs by Holy Family Filipino Chorale, Ethel and Clarita Alejo, Jennifer Kumiyama and the INTROVOYS... and more. Meet&greet and food sampling will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., after which an exciting program will start until 8:30 p.m. Bring your family and friends! The Office of the Philippine Consulate, Legislative Offices, City Officials, GCC Board, GUSD Board and other organizations were also invited. For further info, please contact Marlene Cagatao at (818) 450-9704 or Edith Fuentes at (818) 736-1911.

N Ov E m B E R 2- 4

Franchise Expo West in Los Angeles Franchise Expo West, the premier franchise event in the western U.S. is returning to Los Angeles after a five-year absence, to provide the strongest business opportunities for potential franchisees in this dynamic, growing region. Attendees can engage with over 200 franchise brands in every industry at every investment level, access over 60 free educational sessions where in depth answers are provided to any franchising questions, and meet with lenders and consultants to learn about financing options. It will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center at 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 from Thursday, Nov. 2 to Saturday, Nov. 4. For more information, please visit: www.franchiseexpowest.com. For free registration, use promo code AJ here: https://r1.events-registration.com/franwest2017/.

N Ov E m B E R 4

Free oil filter and motor oil recycling event in Gardena, CA Attention all Gardena and West Carson residents! There will be a free oil filter & motor oil recycling event on Saturday, November 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at AutoZone (1361 W. 190th St., Gardena, CA 90248). Everyone is invited to bring in their used motor oil and used oil filters. All those who recycle their used oil filter will receive one FREE new oil filter. Recycling motor oil and filters helps save our environment and keeps our water clean.

N Ov E m B E R 8

Filipino indie film “1st Semester” screening in Los Angeles Catch the Hollywood premiere screening of the award-winning Filipino indie film, “1st Semester” on Wednesday, November 8. “1st Semester” is a Filipino coming-of-age comedy movie about a young boy who is sent to college by his mother with their entire clan but goes home immediately after experiencing separation anxiety. It explores a boy’s rite of passage to manhood and a mother’s strong will and determination to uphold the best for her family. “1st Semester” stars Allan Paule, Darwin Yu and award-winning actress Lotlot de Leon. It is written and directed by Dexter Paglinawan Hemedez and Allan Michael Ibanez.

The Hollywood Premiere will be held on Wednesday, November 8 at the American Film Institute (AFI), 2021 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. Showtimes are at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Come and meet the writers and directors of this internationally-acclaimed film. Parking is free For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please email 1stSemAFI@gmail. com.

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

october 27-november 2, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

6

Vic and Pauleen excited over baby’s birth in five weeks

by LhaR

santiago ManilaTimes.net

Fans felt proud after seeing David once again and realized how much he had grown as an artist and as a man of God.

David Archuleta, Tippy dos Santos fire up Manila stage by seph

asong Philstar.com

“AMERICAN Idol” runner-up David Archuleta and MYX VJ and singer Tippy dos santos shared the Kia Theatre stage on Friday, October 20, for Archuleta’s Manila concert.

The concert was a success as fans already filled the venue hours before the concert started.

Excitement built up from Tippy’s opening number, where she performed some of today’s hit songs, including her famed “Dati,” which was first released back in 2015, leading to Archuleta’s awaited come back performance, where he showed off his vocal range and to prove one thing: that this “American Idol” alum still has the chops despite lying low from the music scene for two years.

For the first time, David performed his new album and he did not disappoint at all. The magic that we saw from David during his early years in AI all came rushing down and we could not help but get teary-eyed as we watch him sing and dance.

Fans felt proud after seeing David once again and realized how much he had grown as

HusBAND and wife Vic sotto and Pauleen Luna are overwhelmed with the love that they and their coming baby are getting from family and friends. They are given baby showers almost every week.

The last one was attended by “Eat Bulaga” dabarkads.

But among all the baby showers, Vic and Pauleen were most touched by the one organized by Vic’s family and children.

“Siyempre I’m touched because nagsalita ang mga anak ko and they promised to be good kuyas and ates to their youngest sister.

I couldn’t help but be touched by the words I heard from my children,” said Vic. On her part, Pauleen was not able to control her tears. The gesture alone of organizing a baby shower moved her enormously.

When Vic’s children spoke, the expectant mom got emotional.

“I really cried because of happiness,” Pauleen admitted. “We were given that kind of importance and we see how excited they are for their coming baby sister. Sino ba’ng hindi matutuwa? Sino ba’ng hindi maiiyak with that kind of effort that they put for that baby shower?”

With all the gifts that they receive for their coming baby, Vic and Pauleen announced that they already completed everything they need for baby Jessica.

“The only thing that we bought

Vic Sotto and Pauleen Luna

was the crib. The rest of the baby needs were all given by friends and family. Nakakatuwa lang na hindi pa siya lumalabas pero kumpleto na ang gamit,” Pauleen enthused.

It’s five weeks before Pauleen gives birth and she and Vic cannot hide their excitement. They have seen the 4D picture of the baby inside Pauleen’s tummy.

“The more we got excited when we saw her on 4D. We have seen kung ano hitsura niya. I cried again when I saw her. I was overjoyed. I can’t believe that there she was, in the picture, our daughter so beautiful. I really can’t wait to hold her in my arms,” Pauleen said as she got emotional again.

On the other hand, thrilled will be an understatement to describe what Vic felt when he saw the 4D picture of his coming baby girl.

“From what I saw, she takes after Pauleen. Siya ang kamukha talaga. Mabuti naman because our baby is a girl. Can you imagine kung

Photo from Instagram/@pauleenlunasotto

ako kamukha niya, tapos babae, lagyan mo ako ng buhok, parang hindi naman magandang tingnan,” Vic averred.

Pauleen is now on her 34th week so she is thinking to take a leave from “Eat Bulaga” to prepare for her delivery.

“The baby keeps on moving inside me,” she exclaimed. “But I didn’t complain. There is that kind of joy that I feel everytime she moves. Malikot siya, very active.

Minsan mahirap but it’s a good sign, according to my doctor, that we have a healthy baby. she’s always active, always moving so it means she’s OK.” From Pauleen’s last check-up, the baby is in the right position, head down. The doctor said that since Pauleen is still five weeks away from giving birth, the baby might still change her position.

“Hopefully hindi na. We really pray that I deliver the baby normally and mukha namang it will happen,” said Pauleen.

Scarlet Snow Belo dons Miss Philippines costume for UN Day David Archuleta and Tippy dos Santos.

an artist and as a man of God. Though his new sound is quite on the mellow and gospel side, he still managed to incorporate his modern pop and soul background, which only proved his versatility.

Kudos to Tippy also for bringing her entire game. Her music blended so well with that of David’s; a match made in heaven indeed. starting out with an upbeat song, she ended her performance with heart-felt songs that really showcased her talent: just pure vocals and

Philstar.com photos by Kris Rocha

acoustic guitar.

As posted on her Instagram, Tippy shared a clip of her singing an OPM ballad “You Are My song” with David, which became the highlight of the night.

After the concert, fans could not help but express how much they have missed seeing David perform and wished he and Tippy could someday record a song together. That would be a dream come true for fans and even for Tippy, who has been idolizing David since his first appearance in AI.

WITH her beauty and wealth, scarlet snow Belo could choose to have a grand costume of any country tailor-made for her.

But for united Nations Day this year, the social media star daughter of celebrity doctors Vicki Belo-Kho and Hayden Kho Jr. chose to stick to her roots as a proud Filipina.

In an Instagram post Tuesday, Oct. 24, scarlet snow is seen wearing a baby pink terno with floral embroidery and a matching headband. The caption read: “Mommy’s dream for me is to be a dermatologist. Daddy’s is for me to become the head of the united

Nations. But me, I only want God’s dream for me because I’m sure that would be the best. I’m glad they agree.”

In an earlier post, scarlet snow made a plea to save the seas: “Big people, can you please please take care of the seas so that when I and my other baby friends grow up we can still see real corals and fishies?”

In another post, she can be seen playing stop dance with daddy Hayden and ate Cristalle. surely, if all people would only be as positive as scarlet snow, the world would become a better Scarlet Snow Belo in a United Nations Day place. (Deni Rose M. Afinidadcostume.

Photo from Instagram/Scarlet Snow Belo Bernardo/Philstar.com)

Maja Salvador, Zsa Zsa Padilla to sing off in ‘Wildflower’?

by Deni

Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

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.

Is Maja salvador now a recording star?

According to a reliable source that requested anonymity, the actress and dancer has just added another feather to her cap: singer.

The recording company that allegedly signed up salvador told Philstar.com’s source that Maja allegedly flew to Thailand recently to record a song with a Thai superstar.

The recording company is allegedly tied to former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello, who is set to perform in the upcoming MTV Europe Music Awards in London on November.

If it is true that Maja is now a singer, is this the reason why singing diva Zsa Zsa Padilla was picked to become her new nemesis in the hit primetime soap “Wildflower”?

ABs-CBN’s hit and record-

“Wildflower” stars Maja Salvador (left) and Zsa Zsa Padilla

breaking series “Wildflower” once again captivated viewers as it finally revealed Zsa Zsa as the mysterious Red Dragon, Emilia’s (Aiko Melendez) mother and Lily’s (Maja salvador) newest enemy.

Viewers witnessed the mother and daughter’s emotional reunion on the October 20 episode, with the former singing the popular ballad “La Vie en Rose.” To make

ABS-CBN photos

up for lost time, Red Dragon vowed to get back at everyone who wronged Emilia, from Red Dragon’s ex-husband Julio (Tirso Cruz III), to Diego (Joseph Marco), and most especially Lily.

Now that Red Dragon has finally come out, what will be her next steps against Lily and the Ardientes? How will Lily Cruz fight her new enemy?

Ivan Dorschner as Francisco Dagohoy in ‘Super Ma’am’

by LhaR

santiago ManilaTimes.net

CHALLENGE with a capital C. That’s how Ivan Dorschner sees his new acting assignment for GMA. The Fil-Am heartthrob is tasked to portray the role of a Filipino warrior Francisco Dagohoy or Isko, in the primetime series “super Ma’am.”

Ivan is not just any brave warrior, he is a Filipino who comes from the past which means the actor has to speak pure unadulterated Tagalog.

“There are lots of Tagalog words in the script that I don’t understand and I have to ask the staff on the set what they mean.

They are words that I encountered for the first time so I also have to ask how to pronounce them right.

Siyempre I have to be believable in my character and I also don’t want to look and sound funny. What’s good is I learn while I work. More Tagalog words are added in my vocabulary,” Ivan boasted to.

Another challenge for Ivan is doing action scenes. Although doing fight routines is not new to him because he has done it before in theater, his fight scenes as Isko Dagohoy are more demanding.

“Here I have this itak as my weapon,” he said pointing to the

The Fil-Am heartthrob is tasked to portray the role of a Filipino warrior Francisco Dagohoy.

Photo from Instagram/@ivandorschner

bolo hanging on his waist. It was doubly hard because two days before my taping for my first fight routine, I had an accident while playing Bulaga Olympics.

I sprained my ankle. I requested the production to let me skip the training so that it would heal fast.

The following day, there was still pain but I could already move it for the fight scene.”

One more thing that excites Ivan is the fact that he is working with Marian Rivera for the first time. He, of course, knows how big of a star is Marian, the primetime queen, no less. They met each other on the set and Ivan has nothing but good words for

Marian. “she’s very nice. she has a way of making you comfortable when you do a scene with her. she’s very professional, so admirable,” he said.

What Ivan misses are his costars in “Meant To Be.” They have become so close that until now, a few months after the show ended, they still go out and bond.

“Our next date is the premiere night of ‘This Time I’ll Be sweeter,’ the movie of Barbie (Forteza) and Ken (Chan). Jak, Addy and I have agreed that we will attend the premiere to support Barbie and Ken. so expect us to walk on the red carpet during the premiere night,” Ivan declared.

october 27-november 2, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

7

october 27-november 2, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

8