Orange County/Inland Empire -- December 25 -- 31, 2015

ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE

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by ARIES JOSEPH

Inquirer.net

FIVE commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have consistently voted to favor the petitions disqualifying presidential aspirant and Sen. Grace Poe. On both motions for reconsideration filed by Poeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camp, the five commissionersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Al Parreno, Luie Tito Guia, Arthur Lim, Rowena Guanzon and Sheriff Abasâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ruled to uphold the earlier decisions of the first and second divisions canceling Poeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certificate of

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DATELINE

HEGINA

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Clinton, Sanders, Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Malley take stage in final 2015 Democratic presidential debate SIX days before Christmas, the three Democratic presidential candidates faced off in New Hampshire for the final Democratic presidential debate of 2015 and offered their opinions on issues such as terrorism, gun control, healthcare and foreign policy.

Hosted by ABC, the two-and-a-half hour debate took place Saturday, Dec. 19, in New Hampshire where Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders holds the lead, despite former Secretary of State HillG8>< 8*

Fatal crash on Las Vegas Strip leaves dozens injured Hit-and-run suspect was honored for turning her life around

The commissioner said majority of the Comelecâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seven commissioners believed Poe should know the law as a legislator. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The respondent knew that she was adopted and not natural-born and yet, being a legislator, a lawmaker, she is expected to know the law and to follow it. In residency, the resolution states that she could not have started her domicile in the Philippines in May 2005 because at the time, she was just a foreign visitor temporarily staying in the country,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Elamparo case Only six commissioners voted on the motion for reconsideration on the petition filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo as Commissioner Christian Robert Lim inhibited.

In the Elamparo petition, five commissioners believed Poe failed to satisfy the 10-year residency requirement while Commissioner Guia dissented.

On the issue of natural-born citizenship, all six commissioners said Poe was not a natural-born Filipino.

G8>< 8)

Miss Philippines wins Miss Universe crown Host Steve Harvey mistakenly announces wrong name, creates confusion and controversy by

ALLYSON ESCOBAR/AJPress

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I WANT to show the world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the universe, rather â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that I am confidently beautiful, with a heart.â&#x20AC;?

Those were the words of Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, 26, who took home the crown for Miss Universe 2015 on live television Sunday, Dec. 20 at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be a Miss Universe is both an honor and a responsibility. I will use my voice to influence the youth and to raise awareness to certain causes, like HIV awareness, that is timely and relevant to my country which is the Philippines,â&#x20AC;? she said, during the final question-and-answer portion of the night.

In true beauty pageant fashion, the final crowning did not go without drama and a surprise ending when show host Steve Harvey, a comedian and talk show personality, accidentally announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez ArĂŠvalo as the winner, but backtracked a few moments

later to proclaim Wurtzbach as the true Miss Universe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have to apologize,â&#x20AC;? Harvey said on live television, as a tearful Miss Colombia smiles and flashes her crown. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The first runnerup is Colombia. Miss Universe 2015 isâ&#x20AC;ŚPhilippines.â&#x20AC;?

The cameras showed the speechless, stunned face of Wurtzbach, who was standing towards the back with the other top third finalist, Miss USA Olivia Jordan from Oklahoma. Wurtzbach hesitantly came forward to be crowned, while Harvey apologized again and told the Filipina-German actress and model to take her first walk as the new Miss Universe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will take full responsibility for this. It was my mistake.

It was on the card,â&#x20AC;? Harvey immediately said, flashing the card onscreen as the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s credits began to roll. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Horrible mistake, but the right thing. I could show it to you right here. Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hold it against the ladiesâ&#x20AC;Śit was G8>< 8*

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Binay regains No. 1 latest Pulse Asia presidential poll

LAKEISHA Holloway, the 24-year-old woman accused of deliberately driving onto a packed sidewalk several times through a crowd of pedestrians along the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday, Dec. 20, was publicly honored for turning her life around from homelessness to a government job. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boy, have I come a long ways,â&#x20AC;? Holloway says in a 2012 video by the Portland G8>< 8)

candidacy, saying she has not been a resident of the Philippines for the past 10 years and she is not a natural-born Filipino. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The majority, five commissioners in both cases, voted that there was deliberate attempt to mislead the electorate.

The decision in the first division states that bothâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;her statement that she is a natural-born citizen and that she had 10-year residencyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;are false and she intended and attempted to mislead the electorate,â&#x20AC;? Guanzon told the press on Wednesday, Dec. 23.

by JOEY

M. SY EGCO

ManilaTimes.net

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VICE President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Francis â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chizâ&#x20AC;? Escudero emerged as the most likely winners if the voting for President and Vice President were held today, according to the latest poll by Pulse Asia.

Binay, who tailed his rivals in previous

surveys owing largely to the controversies that surrounded him, pulled off a surprise by getting the approval of 33 percent of respondents in the survey conducted December 4 to 11.

Binayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political spokesman, Rico Quicho, said the results only encourage the Vice President to work harder in the campaign trail.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We thank our people for their continued trust [in] and support to the Vice President. The recent survey results encourage the Vice President to double his effort of directly telling our people of his plans to uplift their lives and make the government relevant in solving poverty, unemployment and lingering social ills. We remain G8>< 8*

Obama visits families of San Bernardino shooting victims Duterte-Marcos is the new â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;AlDuBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Friend of shooters arrested and charged

by IZA

GABRIELLE IGLESIAS ManilaTiames.net

LABOR groups and people supportive of the candidacy of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ferdinand Marcos PRESIDENT Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle visited Jr. on Saturday, Dec. 19, said they have reSan Bernardino, California on Friday, Dec. 18, to meet pri- packaged the tandem as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Team AlDuB.â&#x20AC;? vately with families of the victims of the mass shooting in the A take from the phenomenal noontime city that killed 14 and injured more than 20 others. show love team between Alden Richards The president was slated to stop in San Bernardino while and Maine â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yaya Dubâ&#x20AC;? Mendoza, popuen route to his Christmas vacation in Hawaii, White House larly known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;AlDub,â&#x20AC;? the political â&#x20AC;&#x153;AlPress Secretary Josh Earnest said on Wednesday, Dec. 16, but DuBâ&#x20AC;? refers to Alyansang Duterte-Bongwas not set to make a public appearance. bong.

In his third address to the nation from the Oval Office, the Bongbong is Marcosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; nickname. president condemned the attack in Southern California and Duterte, the feisty mayor whose certifisought to reassure Americans that the country can handle the cate of candidacy as a substitute candidate Gi\j`[\ek 9XiXZb FYXdX gXik`Z`gXk\j `e X Zflek\ik\iifi`jd k_i\Xk Yi`\Ă&#x201D;e^ Xk k_\ dangers of terrorism. for President of PDP-Laban was recently EXk`feXc :flek\ik\iifi`jd :\ek\i `e DZC\Xe# MX%# cXjk K_lij[Xp# ;\Z% (.% G8>< 8) accepted by the Commission on Elections,

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by AGNES

CONSTANTE AND ALLYSON ESCOBAR AJPress

SFC FOOTER AD 3 X 1/16

topped a recent pre-election survey, dislodging Sen. Grace Poe. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s running mate.

Marcos, son and namesake of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, is running for Vice President as an independent and is in tandem with Sen. Miriam DefensorSantiago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are volunteer groups, we do not have anything to do with the campaign line of Duterte-Cayetano and MiriamBongbong because there are two tandems here. It was not started from just one group. This Team AlDuB was made by several groups, we are just trying to unify to solidify the win of Mayor Duterte and Senator Bongbong,â&#x20AC;? Col. Jose PalG8>< 8)

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FROM THE FRONT PAGE

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On the issue of whether or not there was an attempt by Poe to mislead the electorate on her residency and citizenship, four commissioners concurred.

On granting the petition, five commissioners voted in favor of canceling Poe’s COC while Comelec Chair Andres Bautista dis-

sented.

Consolidated petition Five commissioners also voted to cancel Poe’s COC based on the consolidated petition of former University of the East College of Law dean Amado Valdez, De La Salle University professor Antonio Contreras and former Sen. Kit Tatad.

Obama visits families of San Bernardino...

G8>< 8( “As a father to two young daughters who are the most precious part of my life, I know that we see ourselves with friends and coworkers at a holiday party like the one in San Bernardino. I know we see our kids in the faces of the young people killed in Paris,” Obama said during the address to the nation earlier this month.

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), who represents the area, said he is pleased of the president’s visit to families.

“I’ve conveyed to the White House the importance of the president’s presence in our region as we rebuild, and I join with our community in welcoming him to San Bernardino,” Aguilar said in a statement.

Obama has previously attended memorial services for the victims of mass shootings across the country, including in Tuscon, Arizona, Newton, Connecticut, Charleston, South Carolina, Fort Hood, Texas and the Washington Navy Yard.

He has also privately met with victims’ families, including in October after nine people were shot dead at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.

Also announced on Wednesday was that the Inland Regional Center, where the shooting took place, will reopen on Jan. 4, 2016.

However, officials said the conference room, the area in the building where the attack occurred, will be closed indefinitely.

Friend of San Bernardino shooters arrested and charged with terror plot Gun charges were filed against a friend of Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the married couple that carried out the Dec. 2 attack and died in a shootout with police a few hours later.

Enrique Marquez, 25, purchased the assault rifles used by the shooters, US law enforcement officials said Thursday, Dec. 17.

The weapons were purchased in 2011 and 2012, authorities said.

Marquez was arrested Thursday and charged with “conspiring to provide material support to terrorists,” and with making a “straw purchase” of the two rifles used in

On the issue of residency, Guia and Christian Robert Lim dissented while Bautista, Arthur Lim, Abas, Guanzon and Parreno believed Poe failed to satisfy the 10-year residency requirement.

All seven commissioners believed Poe was not a natural-born Filipino.

Meanwhile, Guia, Bautista and Christian Robert Lim said Poe did not attempt to mislead the public regarding her residency and her being a natural-born Filipino.

They were outvoted by four commissioners.

Five commissioners voted to grant the consolidated petition.

Guanzon said Poe’s camp did not present any new arguments or new jurisprudence which could have helped the commissioners to overturn their previous decisions.

No outside influence Meanwhile, Guanzon denied any outside influence or political pressure in upholding the disqualification cases against Poe. “We are here because we are constitutional commissioners. We should uphold and protect the Constitution; that is our duty. Our duty is to ensure that the true will of the electorate prevails,” she said.

She said the claim of Poe’s camp that the cases would be decided faster if the Comelec decided to consolidate the petitions was unfounded.

“We did not consolidate because these were cases filed separately and were raffled to different divisions. You cannot say that if all these cases were consolidated, it would have been resolved faster. I don’t think so,” Guanzon said.

In the end, the commissioner said it was best for the parties to present their case before the Supreme Court.

“I was saying it at the en banc, that we should decide on this a week ago. It is best for the parties to just go to the Supreme Court.

But, some commissioners were not ready with their separate opinions,” Guanzon said.

“We would like to assure the public that the commission has done its duty. Since the Supreme Court is the final arbiter, it is best for the parties to go to the Supreme Court so that issue can be resolved with finality and certain- G8>< 8( ty because the people have a right larca said.

According to Terry Tuazon, to choose their next leader.” secretary-general of Lakas Manggagawa Labor Center, one reason they have chosen the two because both are against contractualization, outsourcing and the so-called 555 labor scheme.

“They have pronouncement that they are against this. Sabi nga natin ang manggagawang Pilipino ang producers ng wealth ng ating bansa, sila yung nagpapatakbo ng ating lipunan. Pero sila din yung uri sa ating lipunan na pinapabayaan ng ating gobyerno,” Tuazon told the media.

“During the regime of President Marcos, he gave benefits during Labor Day. It only stopped during the leadership of President Corazon Aquino until today, kaya sa palagay namin si Bongbong ang kaniyang plataporma ay nakatuon sa pagkalinga, pagasikaso at pagbibigay benipisyo sa ating working class,” he added.

Tuazon said he was jailed three times during Martial law for he was an activist, however, he is now

the attacks, officials said.

Under California law, transferring gun ownership must be conducted through a registered dealer, with exemptions such as transfers between spouses or from a parent to an adult child. However, federal law enforcement sources told The Washington Post that no transfer record exists between Marquez and Farook or Malik, and when he handed them the rifles is unknown.

In addition to the terrorism charge, Marquez faces a count of lying on gun purchase forms to hide that he was really buying the rifles not for himself, and one of defrauding the immigration system by entering into a sham marriage with a Russian immigrant-the sister of the woman married to Farook’s brother, so that she could gain legal immigration status paying him $200 a month, the New York Times reported.

Marquez told investigators that he and Farook, a longtime neighbor, had been discussing radical Islam since 2007.

“Farook introduced Marquez to radical Islamic ideology,” FBI agent Joel Anderson wrote in the affidavit filed with the charges, which also discussed the time Marquez spent at his neighbor’s house, reading articles and watching videos involving radical Islamic content. Marquez converted to Islam later that year.

Though Marquez had no direct role in the Dec. 2 massacre, he admitted to “conspiring with Farook to commit vicious attacks, as set forth in [the] charges,” said US attorney Eileen M. Decker in a statement. “Even though these plans were not carried out, Mr. Marquez’s criminal conduct deeply affected San Bernardino County, Southern California and the entire United States when the guns purchased by Marquez were used to kill innocent people and wound many others.”

“His prior purchase of the firearms and ongoing failure to warn authorities about Farook’s intent to commit mass murder had fatal consequences.”

On the day after the shooting, a distraught Marquez allegedly

called 911 to report Farook: “My neighbor did the San Bernardino shooting.” He also said that Farook had “used my gun in the shooting,” and “they can trace all the guns back to me.”

Officials who requested anonymity told CNN that Marquez told investigators he and Farook were planning a terror attack in 2011 and 2012 at Riverside Community College, but dropped the plan partly because they were concerned about arrests of four Riverside-area men who were charged with attempting to travel abroad to carry out jihad.

In a report from The New York Times, Nick Rodriguez, a frequent patron at Morgan’s Tavern, where Marquez worked, said he would say things like, “‘There’s so much going on. There’s so many sleeper cells, so many people just waiting.

When it happens, it’s going to be big. Watch.’”

Rodriguez said the remarks were taken as a joke.

“When you look at the kid and talk to him, no one would take him seriously about that,” he told the Times.

But Marquez’s link to the San Bernardino incident came as a surprise to his boss, Jerry Morgan, owner of the tavern in Riverside, California, according to USA Today.

He described Marquez as an “emotionally immature” man who enjoyed reading comic books, but was not terrorist material, the publication reported.

“He was a goody, goody two shoes type kid,” Morgan said. “If anybody was talking about sleeper cells, if I had any suspicion he was a weirdo, I would have fired him.”

If Marquez was aware of a plot and aided it, he could face charges that could amount to a maximum life sentence to prison. Marquez will return to court on Monday, Dec. 21 for a bail hearing. His arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 6, where he is expected to enter a plea.

The conspiracy charge against Marquez carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and 10 years each for the firearms and marriage visa charges.

Duterte-Marcos is the new... campaigning for Marcos because people should now move forward.

“Let’s give Bongbong a break to lead the Philippines. Yung kasalanan ng ama ay hindi naman pwedeng kasalanan din ng anak. Hindi ako nagtanim ng galit. Ang kailangan ng ating bayan ay isang leader na kayang disiplinahin hindi lang ang mga mahihirap kundi pati na yung mamamayang umaabuso sa taas at yung military na abusado.

Kaya ako naniniwala na ang tandem Duterte-Marcos ay people’s choice,” Tuazon said.

Pallarca, meanwhile, said that they are tired of hearing leaders who are full of excuses and who are blaming past administrations.

He said that it is about time that leaders who will assume in the office have the responsibility to be accountable and who will make solutions for the problems ahead and the problems to be inherited in the past administration.

“Kung hindi nila lalapatan ng solusyon ay dapat hindi po natin dapat sila iboto. Si Mayor Duterte lang ang nagsabing ‘When I assume command, wala na akong

problema sa nakaraan, gagawan natin ng solusyon’. Si Bongbong naman also stood by his priniciples,” Pallarca said.

On the other hand, Atty. Raul Lambino, who was the spokesman of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said he started supporting Duterte as early as April 2014 when the mayor started going on a nationwide speaking tour purportedly to campaign for a shift to the federal form of government.

“Hindi na ako nagpatumpiktumpik pa dahil sa pagkakakilala ko kay Mayor Duterte sa husay sa pamumuno sa Davao City. Yung pag suporta ko naman kay Senator Bongbong bilang pangalawang pangulo ito po ay commitment naming mga taga Norte and Central Luzon, hindi bababa ng 90 percent ay naniniwala kay Sen. Bongbong Marcos,” Lambino said.

Lambino cleared that he is not a Marcos loyalist, in fact he was antiMarcos when he was younger, but according to him he have seen huge difference between Senator Marcos and the regime of President Marcos.

Fatal crash on Las Vegas Strip leaves...

G8>< 8( Opportunities Industrialization Center, which helps at-risk youth with education and career training, according to CNN. “I was a scared little girl who knew that there was more to life outside of crime, drug addiction, lower income, alcoholism, being undereducated--all of which I grew up being familiar with.”

Everything changed on the night of Dec. 20, when police reported a fatal incident on Las Vegas Boulevard, steps away from the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino where the 2015 Miss Universe pageant was taking place before a live audience. The crash left one person dead, identified as 32-year-old Jessica Valenzuela. Dozens (at least 35 people) were reported injured, with multiple persons in critical condition.

“The videos obviously show intention,” said Nevada Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo in a press conference on Dec. 21.

Videos from bystanders show Holloway driving her 1996 Oldsmobile sedan into the sidewalk, smashing into pedestrians, some of whom fought back by jumping onto the car. Holloway drove off from the scene and parked at a nearby hotel, the Tuscany Suites and Casino, before speaking with the valet/a security officer, admitting what she had done and telling them to call the police.

A 3-year-old toddler was discovered in the back seat, apparently Holloway’s daughter. The child was in good condition and is now under the care of child services,

Lombardo said.

Metro Police Deputy Chief Brett Zimmerman denied initial reports that suggested the involvement of gunshots. “The preliminary investigation indicates [Holloway] jumped the curb just south of Paris Hotel, striking numerous pedestrians, before continuing north on Las Vegas Boulevard. The vehicle hit pedestrians in two separate locations—just before Paris and then in front of Paris,” Zimmerman said.

Holloway will be charged with murder with a deadly weapon (her car) and other charges related to the incident, which occurred at 6:38 pm on Sunday evening, reported USA Today. She also faces charges of leaving the scene of the accident, as well as child abuse or neglect.

Charges could be filed as early as Tuesday [Dec. 22], said Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson. Holloway is being held without bail at Clark County Detention Center.

In the arrest report, Holloway said she lived in Oregon and had been visiting Las Vegas for about a week, apparently living out of her car and parking it at garages throughout the city. After her arrest, Holloway told police she was in a “stressful period” that day, “where she was trying to rest/sleep inside her vehicle with her daughter, but kept getting run off by security of the properties she stopped at.”

“She ended up on the Strip, ‘a place she did not want to be,’” the report quotes Holloway as saying. “She would not explain why she drove onto the sidewalk but remembered a body bounding off

her windshield, breaking it.”

“We are treating this as an intentional act,” said Metro Police homicide Lt. Dan McGrath, according to the Las Vegas Sun. Lombardo said Monday that he did not believe the incident was terrorism-related, but the department is “still working through it. We are not 100% ruling out the possibility of terrorism.”

Investigators said Holloway had run out of money and that she and her daughter had been living in the car. They believed she was headed to Dallas to find her daughter’s father after they had a falling out.

However, a family representative said that Holloway was not homeless, had a job, and came from a loving family. The representative declined to comment on what could have prompted the incident.

Holloway’s cousin, LaShay Hardaway, described her as “an overachiever” and “a hard-driven young mother” who spent long hours designing cl othes and doing her best to support her young daughter, reported LA Times. “She’s never been homeless.”

“She was such a great kid while she was a part of our program,” said a youth employment staff member at Portland OIC, the nonprofit that honored Holloway just years before.

Antonio Nassar told the Sun he had just walked out of Planet Hollywood when he saw the car roar onto the sidewalk, careening into pedestrians. It also briefly dragged a young boy, he said. “By the time I looked over to the right, all you could see was [her] driving away, G8>< 8,

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Binay regains No.1 spot in latest Pulse... Miss Philippines wins Miss Universe...

G8>< 8( steadfast and focused on the task at hand,” he added in a statement.

Pulse Asia said the 1,800 respondents are registered voters aged 18 and above. They come from different parts of the country.

Escudero got the top position with 29 percent, just ahead of another favorite and fellow lawmaker, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who got 23 percent.

In second place for President was Davao City Mayor Rodrigo

Duterte with 23 percent, followed

by Escudero’s presidential running mate, Sen. Grace Poe with 21 percent.

Tailing the pack were Liberal Party standard-bearer, Manuel G8>< 8.

Clinton, Sanders, O’Malley take stage in final...

G8>< 8( ary Clinton’s significant national lead. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley also participated in the debate.

During the early stages of the discussion, Sanders apologized to Clinton for a breach of voter data – which is typically shielded by a firewall from other opponents – involving at least one campaign aide.

“This is not the type of campaign that we run, and if I find anybody else involved in this, they will also be fired,” the senator said.

Clinton then thanked Sanders for the apology and the debate pressed forward without much time spent on the breach.

“Now that, I think you know, we have resolved your data, we have agreed on an independent inquiry, we should move on. Because I don’t think the American people are all that interested in this,” she said.

Foreign policy and terrorism Terrorism consumed the first half of the debate, and all candidates agreed that air strikes on ISIS were necessary, as well as a Sunni army to fight jihadi fighters on the ground.

Clinton expressed support for sending special operations forces to Syria. And when asked if she would shoot down a Syrian military aircraft or Russian airplane, she responded that she didn’t think it would come to that point.

“We are already de-conflicting air space.

“I am advocating the no-fly zone because I think it would help us on the ground to protect Syrians; I’m also advocating because I think it gives us some leverage in our conversations with Russia,” she said.

Sanders was much more skeptical about American involvement beyond bombing, and said the US cannot fight the Islamic State and the Assad regime simultaneously.

“I worry too much that Secretary Clinton is too much into regime change and a little bit too aggressive without knowing what the unintended consequences might be,” Sanders said.

In his opening statement, O’Malley addressed the issue by saying the United States would only defeat ISIS “if we hold true to the values and the freedom that unites us, which means we must never surrender to them terrorists, must never surrender our Americans values to racists, must never surrender to the fascists pleas of billionaires with big mouths.”

Gun control Following an ISIS-inspired mass shooting in San Bernardino earlier this month, the former Secretary of State also said she does support Republican frontrunner Donald Trump’s idea that arming more Americans will make citizens safer.

“Guns, in and of themselves, in my opinion will not make Americans safer. We lose 33,000 people a year already to gun violence. Arming more people to do what I think is not the appropriate response to terrorism,” Clinton said.

Sanders cited that more than half of the population in Vermont – a state with virtually no gun control – owns guns, but said he believes there is a consensus on sensible gun safety regulations.

“Who denies that it is crazy to

allow people to own guns who are criminals or are mentally unstable? We’ve got to eliminate the gun show loophole. In my view, we have got to see that weapons designed by the military to kill people are not in the hands of civilians,” he said.

O’Malley cited his own track record when responding to the issue, saying he was the only candidate on Saturday’s stage that approved comprehensive gun safety legislation with a ban on combat assault weapons. However, he said he would not confiscate semi-automatic rifles that an estimated seven to 10 million Americans currently own.

Government programs and the middle class Contrasts emerged between Sanders and Clinton when it came to addressing domestic issues. Clinton vowed she would not raise taxes on the middle class, specifically those making less than $250,000 annually.

“That is off the table as far as I’m concerned,” Clinton said.

“That is a pledge that I am making.”

She said the cost of paid leave could be covered by increasing taxes on the wealthy.

However, Sanders said Clinton’s plan would exempt everyone but 2 to 3 percent of American families, and it would rule out the possibility of any new programs similar to Social Security, which are funded by national taxes.

“She is disagreeing with FDR on Social Security, LBJ on Medicare, and with the vast majority of progressive Democrats in the House and the Senate, who are fighting to end the disgrace of the United States being the only major country on Earth that doesn’t provide paid family and medical leave,” Sanders said.

The senator discussed his own proposal for paid leave, which he said would cost the average household just $1.61 per week.

“Now, you can say that’s a tax on the middle class. It will provide three months paid family and medical leave for the working families of this country. I think, Secretary Clinton, $1.61 a week is a pretty good investment,” he said.

Donald Trump Sanders and Clinton also agreed they dislike Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

Sanders said Trump’s popularity reflects Americans’ fears of another terrorist attack and put it in the context of stagnant wages, increasing inequality and widespread disaffection with the political process, according to The New Yorker.

“Somebody like a Trump comes along and says, ‘I know the answers. The answer is that all of the Mexicans, they’re criminals and rapists. We’ve got to hate the Mexicans. Those are your enemies. We hate all the Muslims, because all of the Muslims are terrorists. We’ve got to hate the Muslims.’ Meanwhile, the rich get richer,” he said.

Clinton called Trump, who suggested a controversial ban on all Muslims entering the United States, a powerful tool for the Islamic State.

“He is becoming ISIS’ best recruiter. They are going to people showing videos of Donald Trump insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists.”

Steve Elmendorf, a veteran of Democratic presidential and congressional campaigns, said focusing on Trump was a good strategy for the democratic candidates.

“He provides a useful foil to remind Democrats what the stakes of the election are,” Elmendorf, who is supporting Clinton, told The Wall Street Journal.

Even if Trump doesn’t win the nomination, Elmendorf told the Journal that “it’s in the Democrats’ interest to make the Republican Party own him.

Winners and losers Various publications had different takes on who won Saturday’s debate.

The New Yorker magazine said there were no winners; Washington Post political reporter Chris Cillizza said Clinton won, while Sanders and O’Malley lost; in an opinion piece, Fox News contributor Douglas Schoen wrote that Clinton won, executing a “masterful strategy,” while O’Malley lost.

“The former secretary of state was the only one on stage Saturday night who looked like she could step into the presidency tomorrow,” Cillizza wrote, citing that her knowledge was evidently significantly greater than her opponents, and that she often focused on the differences between Democratic candidates and Trump rather than disagreements between members of her party.

Cillizza pointed out that O’Malley attempted to portray Sanders and Clinton as old Washington politicians and highlight that he was the youngest candidate. However, Cillizza said this made him appear too scripted and forced.

Schoen wrote Clinton was “the most balanced candidate on how she’d manage the economy.”

He also wrote that Sanders was “completely sincere and passionate, showcasing his major selling points.”

While O’Malley has experience, Schoen said he is not appealing to voters. “[O’Malley did] his best, but flopped on a number of issues.

He took swipes at both Clinton and Sanders that won’t resonate with viewers and voters,” he wrote.

Separate from the issues discussed, Cillizza said there was no justification for hosting the final debate less than a week before Christmas.

“Unless the goal is to ensure that said debate is lightlywatched and, therefore, any mistakes made by the presumptive frontrunner are lessened,” he wrote on “The Fix,” a political blog for the Post.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus expressed a similar view.

“It’s clear the Democrat establishment worked hard to bury their debate on a Saturday night just days before Christmas, when few would be watching, in order to prevent the American people from seeing Hillary Clinton’s record of dishonesty and her role as the architect of the Obama administration’s failed strategy for confronting radical Islamic terrorism,” Priebus said in a statement.

The final debate came less than two months before the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. (Agnes Constante / AJPress)

G8>< 8(

still a great night.”

Fellow Colombian Paulina Vega, last year’s winner, had no choice but to awkwardly uncrown Arévalo and hand the title over to Miss Philippines, who was dressed in a stunning blue evening gown by Filipino designer Albert Andrada.

“I’d like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia and Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible,” Harvey tweeted not long after the show. “Secondly, I’d like to apologize to the viewers at that I disappointed as well. Again it was an honest mistake. I don’t want to take away from this amazing night and pageant. As well as the wonderful contestants. They were all amazing.”

The public was in a laughable uproar after Harvey’s original tweet – “I want to apologize emphatically to Miss Philippians and Miss Columbia” – misspelling both countries’ names was swiftly deleted.

The official Miss Universe Twitter account also released a statement, calling the incident a direct result of “human error,” and apologized to each contestant, their families, and fans.

“The excitement of live TV was evident tonight on The Miss Universe stage with over 10 million live fan votes tabulated. Unfortunately, a live telecast means that human error can come into play.

We witnessed that tonight when the wrong winner was initially announced.”

“Everything happens for a reason,” said Arevalo in a video message later posted by the Miss Universe account. “I’m happy for all what I did to [reach] this dream.”

At a post-pageant press conference, Wurtzbach shared her sentiments about the crowning. “I felt calm when I was called first runner-up, because I felt like it was fate. But when they announced that I was Miss Universe, I had mixed emotions. I was happy because I really wanted to win, but felt sad for Miss Colombia,” she said, according to Inquirer.

“I was confused,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “I wasn’t sure what was going on.”

Pia said she even tried to reach out to Miss Colombia after the show, to apologize, but “I couldn’t get near her, as she was surrounded by the Latin American contestants. She was crying and then there was a crowd around her, the girls who were comforting her. I was actually very close to her already, but I decided that maybe it was bad timing to do it

now--to apologize to her for what happened. So maybe I’ll do that in the future.”

“I won Miss Universe based on the judges’ vote…it’s not as if I took the crown from her,” she added. “I had to ask [them] many times, ‘Did I really win? Am I really Miss Universe? Are you going to take the crown from me now?’

And they said, ‘No, you’re really the winner.’”

“It’s a very non-traditional crowning moment, isn’t it?

Very…2015,” Wurtzbach later said, laughing.

The 26-year-old Wurtzbach was born in Stuttgart, a large city in southwest Germany, and grew up in Cagayan de Oro. She attended secondary school in Quezon City, as well as culinary arts school in Metro Manila, and speaks Tagalog, English, and German.

She appeared in several TV and film roles under Star Magic Talent, going by the stage name Pia Romero. Known for her determination and strong personality, Wurtzbach has been training for beauty pageants since late 2012.

She competed in several competitions including Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Universe-Philippines, winning the title as successor of Mary Jean Lastimosa.

After three tries at the Binibining Pilipinas crown, Pia also hoped that her fans worldwide can learn from her story.

“Wow, what an honor it is to represent our country in the most prestigious pageant ever. This may very well be the highlight of my life. Absolutely no regrets,” she said in an earlier Instagram post, the night before the big show.

“Of course most importantly, I hope I inspired you. Never give up on your dreams and believe that dreams do come true! Walang susuko! Ang Pilipino, palaban (No giving up! The Filipino is a fighter),” she wrote, according to Rappler.

The following day after her win, the pageant queen posted a stunning photo with her crown and sash, with the caption: “42 years of drought and now it finally reigns.

Mabuhay! Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat!”

When asked by Harvey about US military presence in her home country, Wurtzbach gracefully responded, “I think that the United States and the Philippines has have always had a good relationship with each other. We were colonized by the Americans and we have their culture and our traditions even up to this day, and I think that we’re very welcoming

8*

with the Americans. And I don’t see any problem with that at all.”

Filipinos react, Colombia in uproar On the Internet, the announcement was met with mixed reactions: shock, anger, excitement, and an abundance of humorous memes.

“Our Miss Philippines didn’t get her shining moment,” a fan said on Facebook. “It feels like she and our country were robbed of the winning moment, shame!”

“It was a horrible mistake that hurt both [Colombia and Philippines], because Miss Philippines didn’t get her time to shine. And that’s devastating to Colombia, to have that taken away right when you thought you won,” said Mariel Camiling from Chino Hills, CA. Immigration activist Jose Antonio Vargas tweeted: “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!?” and later, “Imagine if [Steve Harvey] DID NOT correct his mistake because he feared the reaction??”

Broadway star Lea Salonga also chimed in, “Mabuhay ka, Pia Wurtzbach! Congratulations!

We have something to smile about! This high is going to last us awhile!”

Salonga also said: “I shall refrain from the #MissUniverse host-bashing today. He takes full responsibility for the error and in the end, he righted the wrong.

Let’s keep it classy, everyone.”

Philippines presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda commented Wurtzbach for her poise and grace throughout the competition and during the announcement. “In the first few moments of the original announcement, she showed tremendous poise and control, and even more tremendous graciousness when the real verdict was finally announced,” Lacierda said.

Past winners, including Margarita “Margie” Moran-Floreindo, the last Filipina Miss Universe crowned in 1973, also criticized the incident.

“It robbed [Pia] from the glory of that moment, of the excitement and waiting to be called Miss Universe and hearing the rejoice of all the Pinoys watching it. That was the most unfortunate part of the whole contest. Unfortunate, but she won. That’s all that matters really.”

Another former Miss Universe Philippines, Gloria Diaz, told TV Patrol that Harvey should pay a fine of “$100,000, to Miss Colombia and to the Miss Universe [Wurtzbach].” Diaz won the title G8>< 8,

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D ATELINE PHILIPPINES Aquino’s last mission order to AFP: Ensure peaceful polls Escudero confident Poe will regain

by AUREA

CALICA AND ALEXIS ROMERO Philstar.com

CLARK AIR BASE, Pampanga— As he led the celebration of the 80th founding anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the last time, President Aquino gave orders to his generals and the troops to ensure peaceful and orderly elections in May next year.

“Next year, the responsibility to ensure that the coming elections will be peaceful and successful rests on our shoulders. This is my last mission for you, and as your commander-in-chief, I am confident that you will follow only one signal: to do what is right, reasonable and just for the good of the people,” Aquino said in his speech.

“Let me just point out: now that we are entering the last six months of our administration, our bosses are expecting much from us. Their order is clear: continue to serve without siding with anyone but the people; continue to repay with service the care they are according you; continue to be their strength and foundation,” Aquino said.

Administration standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II was present during the event. While Roxas’ ratings have improved, he is still trailing Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

In his speech, the President also expressed his heartfelt thanks for the service of the soldiers, reservists and employees of the AFP. Aquino also praised the military for their role in the successful visit of Pope Francis in January and the country’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November.

The President also cited their role in responding to crises such as the Zamboanga City siege, the typhoons that hit the country including the latest, Nona and Onyok, defense of the West Philippine Sea and as peacekeepers in various parts of the world.

Aquino said the soldiers have shown their readiness to sacrifice for the people. Even in danger situations, the soldiers have dem-

onstrated extraordinary abilities, intelligence and preparedness, he said.

The President stressed he has kept his promise to help the military effect changes in the organization before the end of his term.

“From a force that was neglected after a decade of lies, cheating and stealing in government, we strengthened your ranks to become a more modern, prepared and dependable military whose only interest is to uphold the interest and welfare of our bosses,” Aquino said.

Purple backpack Aquino said that before the military’s modernization, he heard reports of a soldier making do with a promotional purple backpack from a fastfood restaurant during a sensitive operation.

Aside from being inappropriate for a military operation, the purple backpack appeared to have helped the enemy spot its carrier in the forest.

The President said the AFP has come full circle, noting the big ticket items in the military’s modernization program as well as the completion of 65 projects worth a total of P56.79 billion as against the 45 projects worth P31.75 billion under the past three administrations.

This was on top of the implementation of the Medium Term Capability Development until 2017 that would reach P83.9 billion.

The President said military assets acquired during his term include those that have improved the soldiers’ lifting capability in times of disasters: three additional C-130s, the three C-295 medium lift transports and two Landing Craft Heavy vessels from Australia and various troop carrier trucks.

For heavier operations, Aquino noted the acquisition of BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Gregorio del Pilar, along with new combat utility and attack helicopters, as well as multi-purpose attack craft and armored personnel carrier for the troops.

After a decade, the President said the military also managed to acquire 12 FA-50 fighters, two of which have arrived.

Miss Philippines wins Miss Universe...

G8>< 8* in 1969.

Other Filipinos were not happy with certain aspects of the results, arguing it was a “shallow victory.”

Arturo P. Garcia, national coordinator of Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) said in an email, “We respectfully disagree to the statement of winner of Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach for saying that ‘the Philippines and the US have always had a good relationship.’ Injustice and racial discrimination in America still prevails. It is due to the fact that until today, 250,000 FilipinoAmerican soldiers who served this country in WWII had their benefits exclusively rescinded by the US, and remained unrecognized and denied of their rights and benefits as American soldiers…Colonization is the exploitation and oppression of a people. Historically, the US has subjugated the people of the Philippines through plunder, rape, and genocide.”

“We have not won. Our winning is very shallow for our people still fighting for true independence, freedom, and justice. We understand Ms. Wurtzbach for [in] her mind she ‘won,’ but at the expense of the great patriotic and brave heart of all patriotic Filipinos,” he added.

“I’ll tell you what I think I’d do…

I’d make ‘em a co-winner; it’d be very cool,” Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (who was cut off from NBC in June amid controversial comments, and later sold the Miss Universe and Miss

USA pageants to WME/IMG), told Matt Lauer on the Today Show.

In Colombia, celebration turned to anger just moments later as the real results were announced.

“They took away her crown” and “the shortest reign in history” was voiced on Twitter, and the hashtag #RespecttheCrown became the country’s top trending topic. #Colombiazoned was also trending on social media.

“I was watching Miss Universe with my family. We started a huge celebration when they said Colombia had won the Miss Universe title for the second straight year,” said Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos, according to Radio Nacional. “They put the crown on [Arévalo’s] head. The photos are there to prove it. To me, as a Colombian, she is still Miss Universe.”

Fil-Am Jenine Nerecina from Northridge, CA expressed her overall excitement, pride and joy for her country. “When I first heard that Pia won, I couldn’t believe it. I was filled with excitement and pride that the Philippines is gaining deserving recognition. I am so proud that in these modern times Filipinos are actually making a difference, and that the world is finally seeing it!” she exclaimed.

“Humility is one of the most important attributes in our culture, and Pia showed that throughout the competition,” Nerecina added.

“It feels amazing to be a part of this moment because this is going to be a part of history!”

Fatal crash on Las Vegas Strip...

G8>< 8) and people were bouncing off the front of the car,” Nassar said.

The sound of the car hitting people was like “watermelons falling on the sidewalk,” he added. “It was chaotic. I was running down the street saying, ‘Move! Move! Get out of the way!’”

Another bystander, Justin Cochrane, said he and two other people had just sat down for dinner when the car began speeding onto the sidewalk.

“It was mayhem and it was very intentional,” Cochran told CNN. “People were flying. It was a sound I will never forget. It (the car) wasn’t hitting cars, it was hitting people.

I’m shaken still.”

Clark County Fire Department spokesman Jeff Buchanan said six victims were transported to Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center and University Medical Center in critical condition. At 11:15 pm, authorities listed those six in stable condition.

Victims also were sent to Spring Valley Hospital, according to Metro

Police. Four victims were treated and released, including members of Oregon’s Pacific University wrestling team, who were in Las Vegas for a tournament.

The case eerily mirrored a fatal incident from ten years ago, when the driver of a stolen car deliberately plowed into pedestrians on the Strip, killing three people and injuring a dozen others. Stephen Ressa of Rialto, California, pleaded guilty but mentally ill and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In her video from 2012, Holloway said she was homeless in high school and nearly failing all her classes. Through the help of the Portland non-profit program, she graduated with a B+ average, went on to college and started working with the United States Forest Service.

“Today, I am not the same scared girl I used to be,” she says in the video. “I’m a mature young woman who has broken many generational cycle(s) that those before me hadn’t.”

poll standing once Supreme Court rules on disqualification cases

by MAILA

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Aquino said the government would also purchase new frigate and strategic sealift vessels, long range patrol, Close Air Support Aircraft and some engineering equipment.

The President said with the United States and Japan, two of the country’s strategic partners, the AFP’s capabilities would continue to improve.

Aquino also bared new medical facilities and health benefits for the soldiers, housing projects, higher subsistence allowance, livelihood programs, pension and others.

“My question now is: in all of these, who can say that the military was neglected under the straight path?” Aquino said.

He also thanked the AFP leadership for its efficiency, professionalism and honesty in carrying out its duties.

“It is really a great honor to serve as commander-in-chief of an AFP that is never overcome by any challenge and reflective of the highest ideals of the Filipino race,” Aquino said.

Grateful AFP The military in return thanked President Aquino for supporting its modernization program as it vowed to continue protecting the country and the people.

“Dear President, the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines is expressing its heartfelt gratitude G8>< 8.

VICE presidential bet and Senator Francis “Chiz’ Escudero is confident that Senator Grace Poe will regain her lead in the presidential surveys once the Supreme Court (SC) rules against the disqualification cases filed against her.

Escudero, running mate of Poe, said it could not be denied that the decisions of the Commission on Elections’ First and Second Divisions to disqualify her have affected Poe’s standing in the surveys.

“Dawalang bagay, una talgang mag ti-taper off naman yung mga survey habang papalapit ang election dahil unti-unting nagde-decision ang ating mga kababayan,” he said, reacting to the latest Pulse Asia survey which showed Vice President Jejomar Binay as the voters’ top choice for president if elections were be held today.

(Two things, first, survey [results] will eventually taper off as election day draws near because the people are slowly deciding on their choices.)

Binay emerged as the voters’ top choice for president with 33 percent based on the Pulse Asia survey conducted from December 4 to 11, followed by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Poe in

second place with 23 percent and 21 percent , respectively, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas with 17 percent and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago with 4 percent.

“Pangalawa, hindi rin natin maipagkakaila na nakaapekto yung dalawang disqualification orders ng Comelec’s First at Comelec’s Second Division na hopefully, pag pumabor kay Senator Grace ang Korte Suprema mababawi din naman yun,” Escudero said.

(Second, the impact of the two disqualification orders of the Comelec First and Second Division cannot be disputed, and hopefully, the Supreme Court favors Senator Grace [Poe] so that the effect would be recovered.)

The two divisions of Comelec have already decided to disqualify Poe for allegedly making false statements about her period of residency in the country and her status as a natural-born Filipino but the lady senator appealed the decision at the Comelec en banc.

But Escudero pointed out that only the SC can disqualify a candidate.

Aside from four disqualification cases at the Comelec, another petition seeking to unseat Poe as senator over her citizenship has G8>< 8.

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OPINION

FEATURES

Christmas wish

GIVEN the unsure situation the world is facing today, we are looking for some sort of a sign this Christmas—something that could calm our fears about what lies ahead. Times may be difficult, but Christmas and its spirit of love, faith and hope will always endure. It’s that time of the year—when war, conflict, political differences, disputes and ill wishes come to a grinding halt, replaced by warm tidings of love, hope, peace and generosity.

For Pres. Benigno Aquino III, “this is the time for reunions. This is the time to bond with each other and also commune with God, and we are re-energized for all of the challenges in the coming years.” Aquino wishes Filipinos to have a peaceful, clam and optimistic Christmas celebration.

Meanwhile, Pres. Barack Obama and the first family arrived in Hawaii on Saturday, Dec. 19 to celebrate their annual Christmas vacation. But before heading to Hawaii, Obama and First Lady Michelle stopped by in Southern California to console the loved ones of the victims of the San Bernardino shooting, where a married couple opened fire on the husband’s co-workers at a workplace holiday party. At least 14 people were killed in the shooting.

“You had people from every background, every faith. Some described loved ones who had come to this country as immigrants, others who had lived in the area all their lives, all of them extraordinarily proud of the work they were doing to keep people healthy and safe” Obama shared. “As difficult as this time is for them and for the entire community, they’re also representative of the strength and the

unity and the love that exists in this community and in this country.”

With less than a year left in office, Obama vowed to focus on the USled campaign to defeat IS. “Since taking this office, I’ve never been more optimistic about a year ahead than I am right now,” he said.

“And in 2016, I’m going to leave it out all on the field.”

Earlier this month, Obama also listed down the top 10 things that happened in 2015.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Not just for spreading holiday cheer—but also for list makers. You’ve got wish lists; Santa’s list; and of course, a blizzard of year-in-review lists. So I decided to get in on the action,” Obama said.

Among the country’s recent achievements included in the President’s list are the positive performance of the economy, more Americans getting health coverage, and the US-led campaign on climate change and terrorism.

The President said that it’s been a good year and that he is confident of bigger things in the new year.

“And the number one reason I’m optimistic going into 2016: It’s you—the American people. All

Editorial

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of this progress is because of you—because of workers rolling up their sleeves and getting the job done, and entrepreneurs starting new businesses.

Because of teachers and health workers and parents—all of us taking care of each other. Because of our incredible men and women in uniform, serving to protect us all. Because, when we’re united as Americans, there’s nothing that we cannot do,” Obama concluded.

So as we look for answers, and as we try to

search for Christmas and its true meaning in these troubled times, we must be reminded that our focus should not be on what we don’t have today.

Christ was born in a manger, with hardly any possessions. And yet His birth is a symbol of hope for all Christians.

Christmas is also about sharing more than material things. It is embracing its true meaning, and knowing that it should always be in our hearts.

(AJPress)

Duterte’s way isn’t the best way

Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA I WOULD like to apologize to everyone I have called an idiot for believing that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte deserves to be president of the Philippines in spite of his womanizing, his potty-mouth and his homicidal bluster.

On reflection, there is in all of us a kind of idiocy that causes us to resort to extreme options in the face of intractable problems or severe aggravations. Call it jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Call it suicidal or masochistic. Or call it something we will regret in hindsight. But at the point in time that the idiot in each one of us is ticked off, who the hell cares.

Sluggo Rigor, who publishes and edits the Filipino-American Bulletin, a newspaper in Seattle, Washington, must have thought that I myself had reached the tipping point, when I wrote a column item entitled, May Angal!!!??? Circa 2015.

“May angal?” is Tagalog for “Any complaints?” which is what the neighborhood toughie tells you to your face when he bullies you, knowing you can’t do anything about it.

My piece was a litany of instances of impunity, incompetence and insensitivity on the

part of the Aquino administration that have left the citizenry hurling unprintables at the President and his key officials.

In each instance, this administration’s response – or the message communicated by its inaction - has been the equivalent of, “May angal???!!!”

Sluggo was so upset himself that he suggested launching a contest that would urge Pinoys in the Philippines and overseas to submit “May angal???!!!” incidents attributable to the Aquino government. In fact, Sluggo started it off with his own long list. I promised him that I would use his piece in one of my columns.

At any rate, the kind of frustration felt by Sluggo Rigor and I and many otherwise intelligent folks has stirred the inherent idiots in us. Some have already succumbed to their idiocy as shown in the latest Pulse Asia and SWS surveys on presidential preferences.

Even assuming that the surveys were flawed, the emergence of Duterte as the first choice even among socio-economic classes ABC (who are supposed to be more financially well off, better educated, more enlightened and better informed) cannot be dismissed. These folks are fed up and don’t care if Duterte is Beelzebub himself. As far as they are concerned, he will at least solve their problems - and let the devil

take care of the rest.

They seem to think that Duterte is offering not one silver bullet but an arsenal of silver bullets that will – if we are to follow their logic – extinguish criminality in all its permutations (the drug menace, particularly), cleanse the government of graft and corruption, infuse the bureaucracy with competence and efficiency, provide the business sector with a safe and secure environment in which to grow their enterprises and, as a result, create job opportunities which will, in turn, bring about the muchsought inclusive prosperity that will guarantee a bright future for every Filipino family.

This fantasy is naïve and obviously born out of desperation and Duterte has been milking it, vowing to make it all come true over people’s dead bodies. Take it or leave it. To use an American idiom, it’s Duterte’s way or the highway.

Blinded by their frustration, they fail to see that Duterte’s way will bring the country to the edge, where vigilante justice is the norm. They also fail to see that there are other ways to achieve their elusive goals without giving the funeral parlors a windfall.

Duterte’s admirers have even likened him to Lee Kwan Yew, conveniently overlooking the fact that Singapore never resorted to extra-judicial killings

even while being authoritarian and very tough in dealing with official graft and corruption, sending bureaucrats to jail if perceived to be living beyond their legitimate means.

Lee Kwan Yew and his new government also set an example of strict morality, civility and urbanity – a stark contrast to the vulgarity and low-life bluster of Duterte.

Duterte’s fans and admirers talk about “the need to enforce discipline” among the citizenry, forgetting two things: (a) they themselves make up the citizenry and should learn to discipline themselves without a gun being cocked at their temples, and (b) there is a difference between a disciplinarian and an executioner.

As Mayor of Olongapo, Dick Gordon was a disciplinarian.

He enforced the kind of civic discipline – including traffic discipline - that we in America automatically observe, like making a full stop at stop signs, even in the dead or night or in the middle of nowhere.

An online write-up about Gordon as Mayor of Olongapo states: “When Dick Gordon was first elected, Olongapo was known as ‘Sin City’ for the rampant prostitution and rowdy night clubs in its infamous Red Light District, populated by GIs from the US naval base in nearby Subic. Under his leader-

ship, Olongapo became a ‘model city’ through his innovative programs such as raising police accountability through ID systems, proper health and sanitation, waste management and the strict observance of color-coding in public transport.”

And then, of course, there’s Gordon’s unmatched track record of raising Subic from the ashes and converting it into a bustling Freeport – through volunteer effort and not at the point of a gun.

Vice-presidential candidate Leni Robredo was right when she reminded Duterte that Naga City, under her late husband, Mayor Jesse Robredo, was considered one of the most business-friendly and livable cities in the Philippines, with poverty and unemployment significantly lower than the national average, with a successful housing program that alleviated rampant squatting, and with greatly improved levels of literacy and sanitation.

Did Robredo have to do it with a death squad? Not at all. He applied governance by consensus, empowering the citizenry through the Naga City People’s Council. For his sterling performance, Robredo received the 2000 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service.

Indeed, without belittling his achievements in Davao City, Duterte does not have a mo-

nopoly of effective governance.

There are many others who have either matched or surpassed his performance without being vulgar and homicidal, from Albay governor Joey Salceda to former Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando, to former Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn, to Iloilo Mayor Jed Mabilog, who ranked 5th among the Top Ten World Mayors in 2014.

Vice-President Jejomar Binay who was Mayor of Makati for over two decades, was ranked 4th among World Mayors in 2006, and managed a deficitfree government throughout his entire tenure while providing educational, health care and other social services that became the template for other progressive local executives.

And during the incumbency of Mayor Junjun Binay, Makati was one of twenty world cities that matched the stringent 37120 ISO certification in 2014, and one of only nine rated platinum.

The certification was given to Makati by the International Organizational Standards of Geneva, Switzerland, for meeting 98 out of 100 indicators intended to measure a city’s social, economic and environmental performance.

With due respect to those who are completely sold on Duterte, his way is not the only way – nor is it the best. (gregmacabenta@ hotmail.com)

God and sinners reconcile PALO ALTO, Calif—The choir was singing a medley of Christmas Carols in a recent Sunday service I attended and there it was… a line in one of the songs that captures the real essence of Christmas: God and sinners reconcile. That’s a great reason to be joyful and yet I have never understood the importance of that line for as many years as I had been singing that Christmas carol.

Indeed, sin has separated God from sinful man.... from the disobedience at the Garden of Eden to that day in Sinai when the recently rescued Israelites decided to build a golden calf to worship.

In Psalm 90, Moses described how sin angers God: “We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence…Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.”

Yet, God’s anger is tempered

by His love for us. And that’s why Christmas happened.

I had been struggling for an explanation of the very basis of our Christian faith — why the Son of God must suffer the pain and the indignity of death on the cross to bring salvation to all of us. He who can turn water to wine, multiply the five loaves of bread and two fish to feed 5000 people and make the dead Lazarus rise can surely defend Himself from the Jewish leaders and the Roman soldiers... perhaps blind them as what happened to Saul, who was persecuting Christians,

on the road to Damascus.

Demand But Christ had to follow and Supply the will of the Father. His mission of redemption must be accomplished and BOO CHANCO that requires the cross.

God abhors sin. God’s sense of justice makes it impossible for him to simply ignore sin. And Isaiah 59:2 declares: “your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”

Because God so loves us, he has provided a way for sinful men to approach Him. As was explained by Pastor Peter Tanchi in a CCF service, God’s solution

to this separation between God and man is the shedding of blood.

During a visit to the Holy Land, we went to a site where they have a replica of the Tabernacle, which has the Ark of the Covenant within the Holy of Holies. The Ark represents the presence of God.Only the high priest approached God by entering the inner room, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people have committed in ignorance. He sprinkles the blood of unblemished animals on the mercy seat (Hebrews 9:6-7).

But when Christ appeared as our high priest, He entered God’s

presence through His own blood.

Once and for all time. He obtained eternal redemption for us.

Remember the scene at the Crucifixion at the moment of Christ’s death as recounted by St Luke: “darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two…” The curtain symbolizes the separation of sinful man from God. When it was torn in two from top to bottom, separation ended because man was redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, once and for all times.

It all makes sense now. That nativity scene predicted by the prophet Isaiah is the expression of God’s love for us despite our sinfulness… God sent his only Son to be born as man on Christmas Day…unblemished by sin,

to be the ultimate sacrifice, so that by Christ’s death and resurrection, we are given hope for eternal life in heaven.

The prophet Isaiah: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned…”

This is the story of Christmas. It is the story of our redemption. It is God’s way of ending our separation from Him. And because Christ was born to us on Christmas Day, we have that hope for eternal life that once was beyond our reach because of sin.

On Christmas day, God and sinners reconciled. Hark the herald angels sing… glory to the new born King. A real joy to the world, indeed!

A Merry and Blessed Christmas to everyone! (Philstar.com)

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Gov’t denies presence of ISIS training camps in PH despite video

by KRISTINE

ANGELI Inquirer.net

SABILLO

IT is not true that the infamous terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has training camps in the country, the Philippine government said.

“According to National Security Adviser Secretary Cesar Garcia, ‘ISIS has no training camps in the Philippines,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text statement.

He quoted Garcia saying that “ISIS-linked personalities” have tried to link-up with local jihadist LJK G8JBL?8E% 8 jkl[\ek ilej XZifjj k_\ HlX[i`Z\ek\ee`Xc ]flekX`e `ej`[\ Le`m\ij`kp f] JXekf KfdXj [li`e^ k_\ XeelXc LJK GXjbl_Xe% K_\ \m\ek `j k_\ Zlcd`eXk`fe f] k_\ le`m\ij`kp$n`[\ :_i`jkdXj XZk`m`k`\j `e LJK% @ehl`i\i%e\k g_fkf Yp A`cjfe J\Zbc\i K`l

Aquino’s last mission order to AFP...

G8>< 8, to you for supporting its goals in the modernization program and for improving the lives of soldiers, especially for leading our troops towards the straight path,” Armed Forces chief Gen. Hernando Iriberri said.

Iriberri said the military would reciprocate the President’s actions by rendering service that the country can be proud of.

Earlier, The Star reported that Aquino has approved the AFP’s shopping list, allowing the procurement process of several territorial defense assets to proceed.

More than P60 billion is needed to bankroll the modernization program submitted to the President.

The President approved the pro-

gram in July.

The defense equipment approved by Aquino include two Navy frigates worth P18 billion, three air surveillance radars worth P2.68 billion, six close air support aircraft worth P4.97 billion, two units of long range patrol aircraft (P5.98 billion), multi-purpose attack craft project (P864.32 million), night fighting system (P1.116 billion), two C-130 aircraft (P1.6 billion), two naval helicopters (P5.4 billion) and lead-in fighter trainer jets ammunition (P4.47 billion).

“The assets that were acquired during the time of the President surpassed the amount of assets that the three previous administrations combined were able to acquire. His commitment to the

upgrading of the Armed Forces is very good,” Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said.

“We hope this will be continued by the next administration because eventually, it is not only the Armed Forces that will benefit, it’s the country and the people,” he added.

Meanwhile, the military honored the late Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario Otaza, who was killed by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels last October.

Otaza was given the posthumous Bayanihan Award for his efforts to preserve the heritage of Lumads or indigenous peoples and curb insurgency in his town. His widow Ligaya and daughter Kimberly received the award.

Escudero confident Poe will regain poll standing...

G8>< 8, also been pending at the high tribunal.

Escudero hopes that the SC would come up with a decision on all the cases against Poe before the May 2016 elections. He also expressed confidence that the high tribunal, based on its jurisprudence or previous decisions, would favor the lady senator.

“Uulitin ko, Korte Suprema lamang ang pwdeng mag-disqualify sa isang kandidado. Hindi ang Comelec, hindi ang SET [Senate Electoral Tribunal] o ang iba pang mga bodies na nagpapasya J\eXkfij >iXZ\ Gf\ Xe[ :_`q <jZl[\if o nagde-decision,” he further Court can disqualify a candidate. Electoral Tribunal or other judicial said.

(I reiterate, only the Supreme Not the Comelec, not the Senate bodies.)

or terrorist groups.

“Some of these ISIS-linked personalities, who are really few in number, have also sought refuge in the base areas of these local terrorist groups,” Garcia told him.

UK-based tabloid MailOnline reported that the Philippines “has become the latest ISIS target for expansion” as it shared a video footage of what is said to be an ISIS training camp in the Philippines.

The video features a man talking in Filipino, encouraging others to join the group, and recruits

undergoing training. They are shown scaling rope and wooden ladders and practicing with firearms.

The report quoted Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Filemon Tan Jr. who attributed the video to the group Ansar al-Khalifa.

Ansar al-Khalifa supposedly declared its support for ISIS but MailOnline also quoted AFP spokesperson Colonel Restituto Padilla saying that the group has no proven links with the ISIS.

DOT surprises Philippines’s 5 millionth visitor

by ROSETTE

ADEL

Philstar.com

MANILA—Department of Tourism (DOT) officials on Monday , Dec. 21 surprised the 5 millionth person to visit the Philippines this year.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Alan Canizal and Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. warmly welcomed and greeted the lucky Filipino-American female tourist at the Ninoy Aquino International Terminal 2.

The lucky visitor, 23-year old New York-based Gabby Grantham, received a bouquet of flowers from the DOT officials which caught her by surprise.

Canizal said that Grantham will also be receiving a package tour with hotel accommodation as a prize for being the 5 millionth visitor in the Philippines.

“I thought I was in trouble,” Grantham said.

It was Grantham’s second time to visit the country while the last time was when she was still seven years old.

Grantham, born to a Filipino mother and American father, flew via Philippine Airlines flight PR103 and landed in Manila at 3:48 a.m.

She planned to visit her grandparents in Cebu and explore Palawan in her two-week stay in the country.

Meanwhile, Canizal said the next to be welcomed and rewarded will be the 6 or 7 millionth foreign tourist.

Bengzon described welcoming the 5 millionth visitor as a very significant event.

“This milestone is a result of the collaborative and sustained efforts of all partners in tourism industry,” Bengzon said.

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He said that motivation to push harder is better than the headcount.

“This will allow us to compete more strongly against other destinations in the region. After the 5 millionth mark the next will be 5 millionth,” he added.

DOT eyes to have 5.2 million tourist arrivals before 2015 ends and aims to double the visitors by 10 million next year.

Binay regains No.1 spot in latest Pulse...

G8>< 8( “Mar” Roxas 2nd who garnered 17 percent and Sen. Miriam DefensorSantiago with 4 percent.

Pulse Asia said the respondents were asked: “Sa mga taong nasa listahang ito, sino ang inyong iboboto bilang Presidente ng Pilipinas kung ang eleksiyon ng 2016 ay gaganapin ngayon at sila ay mga kandidato (one answer only) [Of the persons on this list, who will you vote for as President of the Philippines if the 2016 elections are held today and they are candidates for the post]?”

The candidates’ names were picked from certificates of canvass submitted to the Commission on Elections last October 12

to 16, 2015.

Rizalito David, Poe’s principal “persecutor,” got “zero,” alongside Leo Cadion, Justino Padiernos, Camilo Sabio, Roy Señeres, Augusto Syjuco Jr. and Juanita Trocenio.

When told about his dismal showing in the Pulse Asia survey, Roxas issued a statement indicating that he has not lost faith in the electorate.

“Tulad ng parati kong sinasabi, ang pinakaimportante ay ang survey sa Mayo, sa botohan mismo.

Nakita natin na magulo pa ito: Noong isang buwan, si Grace ang una. Noong isang linggo, si Duterte.

Ngayon naman, si Binay. Baka sa susunod, tayo na [Like what I

always say, what is most important is the voting in May 2016. It is still chaotic at present: Last month, it was Grace as No. 1. Last week, it was Duterte. Now it is Binay. In the next survey, it could be me as the topnotcher],” he said.

What is important, Roxas added, is that he has a clean record and clear platform.

In the vice presidential race, Escudero and Marcos were followed by fellow senator Alan Peter Cayetano with 18 percent and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, Roxas’ running mate, 14 percent.

Meanwhile, Binay’s running mate, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, got 9 percent followed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th with 4 percent.

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THE ASIAN JOURNAL

SFC 11.5 X 20 ROGER

ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE DECEMBER 25-31, 2015

MAY 30-JUNE 5, 2014 www.asianjournal.com

2

DECEMBER 25-31, 2015

Bridging the culinary culture between Los Angeles and Manila

2

Walter & Margarita Manzke bring accessible dining to two different settings

by CHRISTINA M. ORIEL / AJPRESS

ON an unusually warm fall morning, the scene at Republique — a French-leaning eatery in Los Angeles — captured that quintessential laid-back aura familiar to those who frequent cafés across the city. Natural sunlight penetrated the glass windows and shone down the open-air atrium, as the rustic communal tables filled up with an assortment of patrons either shielded behind their laptops or engaged in discussions with one another.

Dishes like a Shakshouka (fried egg, stewed tomatoes & peppers, black kale, yogurt, cilantro, baguette), a slab of French toast, and pork belly adobo fried rice exited the kitchen and made their ways to patrons who had a moment to dine leisurely. Earlier, as what typically happens every morning, a line formed for the newly baked, aromatic pastries (anything from a pecan sticky bun to a flaky chocolate croissant) graciously arranged behind the glass counter.

The casualness of it all felt more like a Saturday around brunch time, rather than during the middle of the week.

By 6 pm, the service transitions into a relatively more refined, sit-down setting where decadent items like caviar, escargot and foie gras are on the menu, as are dry-aged and braised meats and dishes with cross-cultural elements. Yet, absent are stiff, white tablecloths or rigid dress codes that need to be followed in order to dine there.

The dualism — literally night and day — of the space is the brainchild of chef Walter Manzke and his wife Margarita (or Marge, for short), alongside

restaurateur Bill Chait, as a way to make a dining establishment accessible for any meal of the day, while still delivering quality ingredients and dishes.

Since 2013, the restaurant/café/bakery/wine bar has inhabited the walls of a historic, Old Hollywood building conceptualized and built by Charlie Chaplin in the 1920s, which later became the joint site of fine-dining restaurant Campanille and city-favorite La Brea Bakery. The building has since been restored for Republique’s purpose, using Yakal wood for the furniture and thousands of tiles imported from the Philippines, where Marge is originally from.

The daytime concept was an undertaking pushed by Marge, who heads the pastry department; however, it wasn’t initially well-received.

“When we opened at dinner, it fell into place quite easily. But this whole concept of breakfast and lunch was a huge challenge.

Most of our clientele didn’t accept the idea of doing this counter service. They wanted it to be a restaurant and not a café,” Walter said. “When we opened, Marge was here at 4 in the morning baking pastries and filling up the cases, only to sell five of them and watch the staff eat the rest.”

But, being open throughout the day resonated with those who want to nosh while doing work or have a decent meal in the middle of the day.

“It really paid off because it is an important and successful part of this business. It makes it two restaurants — we have people who come here every day and go through dinner sometimes, those who only come in the day [and] people

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who only come at night. We definitely have two restaurants with two different clientele,” Walter said.

In creating the dinner setting, Walter synthesized his previous culinary experiences by taking elements of French cuisine and fine dining, as well as the cultures of those working in the kitchen. Drawing from Asian influence, dishes are served in more generous, family-style portions, enabling diners to taste a little bit of everything and not be limited to the parameters that come from a fine dining establishment.

“All of that is blended together as a restaurant that is young, vibrant, has energy and is most importantly, very easy and unpretentious,” he added.

“I always wanted Republique to be a place where you could come for any reason at any time.

It’s as important for me that it’s a place that when you’re driving by and you look into the window that you’re draw in and you just want to come into the bar and have a drink. You can come by during the day, have a cup of coffee and work on your laptop, just like it’s any other café. You can also come here for a special occasion, and everywhere in between. It’s a place where you should be comfortable to come for any reason at any time.”

In just two years, Republique has won over critics, topping best-of lists, including Los Angeles Magazine’s ‘Best New Restaurant’ for 2014. Forbes has named it a restaurant slated to become an LA classic. Marge’s pastries have garnered her the title of LA Weekly’s Best Pastry Chef for 2014 and a nomination for Outstanding Pastry Chef by the James Beard Foundation earlier this year.

A culinary power couple Walter and Marge respectively grew up with a love for food. In San Diego, he was surrounded by seasonable produce in his family’s backyard and went on to study business and restaurant management before going on to famed kitchens, such as Patina, El Bulli and Le Louis XV in the Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo under Alain Ducasse.

In the Philippines, Marge grew up in the kitchen at a restaurant in Quiapo and at White Rock Resort, a hotel and restaurant outside of Manila, both of which were owned by her parents. She studied pastry at Le Cordon Bleu in London, then received a degree in culinary arts at The Culinary Institute of America in New York.

Their worlds converged in Los Angeles, where Walter returned after working in Europe and where Marge began her career at Spago and Patina.

“We met at the kitchen at Patina. I was the chef du cuisine there and Marge, most of the time she was there, was working at the fish station. Then when we started dating, I was the manager and that’s really not the right thing to do so she left and began working with a friend of mine at Mélisse [a Michelinstarred French restaurant in Santa Monica] and became the sous chef there,” Walter said.

The couple worked together again when they moved to Carmel in 2002, where they spent five years at places like Bouchée, Cantinetta Luca and l’Auberge Carmel. At Bouchée, Marge developed her pastry skills by baking bread and other pastries by scratch.

“We wanted to leave Carmel [and] felt that it was time to open a restaurant. We knew Carmel was not the place to do so because it was a little too sleepy,” Marge said. “But it was a long road before we even opened [Republique].”

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Added Walter, “there was something that steered us back to LA. Going from working as an employee to opening a restaurant is difficult for anyone — it’s a huge step. It’s a whole new set of skills and everything. We decided that in order to do that, we had to work for somebody to get to know people and LA again because we had been gone for five years.”

In 2007, they re-opened Bastide, which lasted for two years, and went on to work at Church & State, where Walter was the head chef and Marge was a server, and later pastry chef. The first conceptualization for Republique was planned for a location in Downtown’s Arts District, before it had developments like today.

Bringing the brunch culture to Manila In between talks about their own restaurant, the couple experienced a period in which they described what seemed like “everything in the world was going wrong for us.” Then, Marge’s sister, Ana De Ocampo, approached them about a restaurant project in Manila.

By 2012, the couple, along with Ana and Church & State’s former sous chef Allen Buhay, opened Wildflour Café + Bakery in Bonifacio Global City.

“We got more and more involved in that and decided to be partners. My sous chef from Church & State, Allen Buhay, was interested in moving back to Manila, where he is [originally] from,” Walter said. “Now he’s our partner and he runs the dayto-day operations in the kitchen, while Ana runs the majority of the business and operations.

They’re the ones there doing most of the work.”

Opening the restaurant was a challenge because, at the time, that part of Fort Bonifacio didn’t get a lot of foot traffic.

The slow business almost made the Manzkes tune into the criticism and pack up back to Los Angeles.

“Everything about Wildflour, people criticized. When we opened up, we had these black stenciled, barely visible signs on the window, which we still have, and people were saying we had to put up big signs. Everybody thought the decor was bad. All we heard was every reason why we would fail. It was just kind of doing what we knew and liked here in LA and it all fell into place,” Walter said.

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But after a few food bloggers posted about the restaurant, tables were constantly filled within the week, to the point where people would walk out because of the slow service.

“We went from one extreme to the other and we hadn’t planned for that. But every day after that going forward, Wildflour, especially during lunch, has never had a slow day,” he added.

The couple calls Wildflour, “an accessible middle-class restaurant” and Republique’s counterpart in the Philippines, crediting its success to Filipinos’ connectivity to overseas food trends and more disposable income from the younger working generation. Essentially, they want what people here in other big cities are eating, and have the spending power to get it.

A lot of similarities can be pointed out between the two restaurants: an open kitchen floor plan, wooden furniture, exposed brick walls, cases with pastries baked in house and brunch items, from the signature Croque Madame to kimchi fried rice.

Those dining there won’t feel as if they’re in Metro Manila, but rather catapulted into the middle of the brunch culture in a city, such as LA or New York.

“As far as restaurants in the Philippines, with the ambiance of Wildflour, I don’t think there’s anything like it. It’s very much like you can take the restaurant and put it in LA or San Francisco or New York. People like to feel like they’re in a different place.

When you enter, you feel like you’re not in the Philippines,” Marge said, also emphasizing the ingredients used to prepare the dishes.

Wildflour is also famous for replicating Dominique Ansel’s “cronut,” during the height of the trend, branding it a croissant-donut that attracted hordes of customers, only to be sold out in just a few hours.

“The cronut trend is definitely the thing that made me believe and confirm what I’m talking about: Filipinos have a close eye on the rest of the world and when they see something, they want it more than anybody and are willing to stand in line and fight over it. They literally will do anything to get it. I think that what Marge did with the cronut was us feeding Dominque Ansel’s PR. It started when he started it and died [for

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us] when it died for him,” Walter said.

Marge continued, “even with the cronut, if we didn’t make our own croissants, we wouldn’t have been able to do it…We can make a lot of things and not just get stuck with what we can get from others.”

To date, there are four Wildflour locations at the Podium Mall and Makati’s Salcedo Village and Legazpi Village, and there are plans to open more.

Next to the location at Fort Bonifacio, the team recently opened Farmacy, an ice cream and soda fountain, where they make their own ice cream flavors and cones.

But in the coming year, the couple is most excited about importing Pink’s Hot Dogs to the Philippines, once the construction of the Shangri-La Hotel in Fort Bonifacio is completed.

Richard Pink, who came into Walter’s other restaurant Petty Cash (a taqueria) for dinner one night approached him about bringing Pink’s to Asia, which was always a plan for the iconic hot dog stand.

“I’ve been told the people there love everything American.

It wouldn’t surprise me to have to tailor to Filipino tastes a little, but our menu will have that Pink’s style everyone’s familiar with. We are even importing the hot dogs,” Pink said in an interview with The Daily Meal.

Patterned after an “LA-style Biergarten,” the Manzkes shared that it will have a bar, picnic tables, stands for hot dogs and hamburgers and ice cream from Farmacy.

“It’ll be a fun place [and even] more accessible than Wildflour. We’ll keep the same formula of Wildflour in that we’ll bake all the bread, make all the fries from scratch -- it’ll be quality ingredients,” Walter added.

As for the future of Republique — despite its praises — the Manzkes said that it is continually a work in progress, and it never feels like the restaurant is fully opened yet.

“All of this exists because of Marge’s support. For me, the most important restaurant is in the Philippines and it’s maybe, who knows, where our future is.

But we’re very fortunate to be at both places and I’m very honored and humbled of our success there. I have a lot of people to thank for it. We’ve provided great jobs a lot of people in the Philippines,” Walter said.

DECEMBER 25-31, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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DECEMBER 25-31, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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Miss Universe judge: Pia Wurtzbach deserved to win, Miss Colombia didn’t HOLLYWOOD gossip blogger Perez Hilton, who served as one of the judges in the 2015 Miss Universe, has broken his silence on the controversy which has plagued the annual pageant.

Perez on Tuesday, Dec. 22 said that he refused interviews so that he would be able to talk about the contest in his podcast hosted on his own website. In the podcast, he compared Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach with first runner-up Ariadna Gutierrez of Colombia, saying that the Filipina delegate deserved the title unlike the latter.

Miss Colombia was the most beautiful contestant, but I don’t think she deserves to win the title, and she didn’t win the title for a variety of reasons,” Hilton told his co-host Chris Booker.

“Here’s the difference between Miss Philippines and Miss Colombia. Miss Philippines came to win. Miss Colombia came to lose. Colombia came there as if she had already won. And that’s sexy also and intoxicating that confidence. But I think that she came there thinking she would really win. Whereas Miss Philippines came with something to prove,” he further said.

He explained that while Gutierrez was considered as among the frontrunners, Wurtzbach surprised him during the competition.

“She really surprised me. I wasn’t expecting her to be fierce and fabulous,” the blogger said about the Filipina beauty during the swimsuit round.

He also revealed that he liked Colombia’s performance in the evening gown competition better.

Major turnoff The outspoken blogger, however, called out Gutierrez for her snarky attitude during the question and answer portion.

“I don’t know if the people at home could see this. But Miss Colombia was being straight-out diva-bitch rude to her translator…

She was giving the most awful side-eye, throwing major shade because Colombia was not happy

EMPLOYMENT

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with the pace or the way the translator was translating…I was drying. She’s being cunty right now,” he said.

“It was a major turnoff,” he said of Colombia’s attitude.

“It wasn’t just that she (Colombia) didn’t give the best answer. And it wasn’t just that she came across not just me, but several of the other judges (as) bitchy and arrogant. It was that Miss Philippines gave a better answer,” he further said.

During the final round of the competition, finalists Philippines, Colombia and Miss USA Olivia Jordan were asked why they should win Miss Universe.

Wurtzbach answered, “To be a Miss Universe is both an honor and a responsibility. If I were to be Miss Universe, I will use my voice to influence the youth and I will raise awareness to certain causes like HIV awareness that

is timely and relevant to my country, which is the Philippines.

I want to show the world, the universe, rather, that I am confidently beautiful with a heart.”

Hilton said he was impressed

by Wurtzbach’s performance in both question and answer portions.

“It was the second time that she (Pia) gave a great answer, actually a better answer, and by that point, I felt like wow, she really brought her A-game, was super competitive, but also like, she deserved it. Like she deserves it. To me, there’s a real beauty, and grace, and elegance (in Pia).

She is Miss Universe.”

He then proceeded to compare Gutierrez to her fellow Colombian, Hollywood actress Sofia Vergara.

“Miss Colombia, you’re Continued on Page 5

EMPLOYMENT

PSYCHIC

Kris bares why President’s romance with Wurtzbach failed “I DON’T think she liked Noy,” said Presidential sister Kris Aquino when asked why her brother’s relationship with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach didn’t prosper.

In an interview on Monday, the younger Aquino said she and her sisters liked Wurtzbach since the time she was rumored to have been dating President Benigno Aquino III. “All of us kaming mga sisters, from before pa, we liked her, noong naru-rumor that they were dating. Because one, she could have easily denied [that they were dating] because that was the time na ‘yung SAF big deal, and Noy was being hit left and right. But she spoke up for him. Kaya sabi ko ay matapang itong girl na ito,” she said.

Kris was referring to the Mamasapano clash that left 44 members of the elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police, 23 Moro rebels and several civilians.

“But I don’t think she liked Noy,” she added, drawing laughter from the media.

The younger Aquino believed

that Wurtzbach treated her brother well but the beauty queen was focused on her preparation for the Miss Philippines and Miss Universe.

“I think she entertained him but the thing is, you can tell from her character na single-minded.

Kinailangan na ito ang focus ko muna,” she said.

The actress-host congratulated Wurtzbach, admitting that she was impressed with how she answered during the questionand-answer portion.

“She answered so well,” Kris said, referring to Wurtzbach’s answer on her stand on the reestablishment of US military bases in the country.

Citing the shared history of the Philippines and the US, Wurtzbach said that the Philippines is “very welcoming” to the Americans.

“I don’t see any problem with that at all,” she said.

The TV-host said she agreed with Wurtzbach’s answer.

“I agree with her. Because in a world where China is so strong we need them. Let’s be honest.

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Kailangan natin sila and let’s be friendly with them, di ba?” she said.

During final question-andanswer portion, all the candidates answered the question: “Why should you be the next Miss Universe?”

Wurtzbach said that she wants to lend her voice to certain causes such as HIV/AIDS awareness and youth issues.

“I want to show the universe that I am confidently beautiful with a heart,” she said.

Aquino said she was inspired

by Wurtzbach’s answer.

“Ang galing niya, gusto ko siya,” she said. (Inquirer.net)

Pauleen Luna posts heartfelt message to bestfriend Pia Wurtzbach MANILA—Pauleen Luna on Monday, Dec. 21 took to Instagram to post a touching congratulatory message to her bestfriend, Pia Wurtzbach, who has just been recently crowned the Miss Universe 2015 title.

“You were 12 and I was 13. We had nothing but BIG dreams,” Luna wrote on her Instagram post as she reminisce on her friendship with Wurtzbach.

She continued her message by recalling the hardships that both of them had experienced - enduring the tough days, hoping that they will both emerge victorious one day.

“I remember we would choose to buy food in Mini Stop instead of Brother’s Burger in ABS because we only had little money. We would patiently go to workshop every single day because we wanna be big stars!... I will never forget those days. Simple and days made up of

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dreams.”

Luna also added on her post that 2015 has been good for the both of them—referring to her recent engagement to Vic Sotto and Wurtzbach’s victory.

“And now, it’s so nice to know

SERVICES

that we’ve both come so far. We’re both blessed, in our own way, and I must say, 2015 is both our year!” exclaimed Luna.

Luna, current Eat Bulaga co-host and a former ABSContinued on Page 6

DECEMBER 25-31, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA LEST we forget, Christ is the reason for the season. The generosity personified by the iconic Santa Claus figure comes from the love of God who sent His only begotten Son as a gift to the world. We need to refocus with laser sharp accuracy on what is truly important about the season.

So say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays if you agree. Those who wish to stay politically correct will say Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings.

Businesses who cater to all denominations and do not wish to “offend” will stay the course of political correctness. It’s a matter of survival these days given the cultural climate.

But take heart, it seems the pendulum is swinging. Soon the scourge of political correctness in our time and all its dark assaults on morality, truth and goodness will go the way of the dodo.

The weather is highly unusual in most parts of the world this year but if you tune in to sky watchers’ websites and yahoo news segments devoted to science, the heavens are putting out spectacular light shows seen during midnight and the early morning hours.

If you live in Los Angeles, go

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Christ is still the reason for the season “He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”

-Roy L. Smith check out the schedule at the Griffith Park Observatory. Tune out of the internet. We live too much in our heads gawking, gaping tethered to our phones.

We become virtual slaves to our ipads and our computers — our eyesight becoming progressively weak, our derrieres getting bigger, our muscles getting flabbier and sadly, our lives becoming predictably boring. We fail to see the big picture.

We need to stop living virtual lives. We need to CHOOSE TO REALLY LIVE with all our senses and marvel at the heavens. If you live in areas with very little light pollution or you can find a group of friends who love to watch the night sky with their telescopes on higher ground, bundled up like Eskimos for the frigid hours of the night and early morning hours with their thermos full of hot cocoa, you can really feel the velvet grandeur of the night skies around this time of the year.

At no other time during the year is the line, “Nobody

can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.” more appropriate to ponder than at Christmas time when all the splendors of the world around us, if we look carefully and listen well, take on special meaning.

Christmas is a time for remembrance of things past, mostly the good ones. We ought to edit out and leave the unwanted footage of those memories that are best left forgotten on the cutting room floor.

Above all, it is a time to say “THANK YOU”, a time to draw lessons from the year just past in order to use a new and fresh supply of God’s gift called TIME, given in equal measure to all men, rich or poor, from one glorious day to the next.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! *** EfkX 9\e\1 Dfe\kk\ 8[\mX DX^cXpX `j JMG f] 8j`Xe AflieXc GlYc`ZXk`fej# @eZ% Kf j\e[ Zfdd\ekj# \$dX`c dfe\kk\%dX^cXpX7 Xj`XeaflieXc`eZ%Zfd

John Lloyd loses hair for ‘Honor Thy Father’

by RICKY LO Philstar.com

FOR John Lloyd Cruz (JLC) who values his hair as much as he does his face (he and Angel Locsin are endorsing Head & Shoulders shampoo), there must have been a good reason for him to agree to lose it for a movie, Reality Entertainment’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry Honor Thy Father (formerly titled Conman) directed by Erik Matti.

“It was an act of courage,” said John Lloyd. “Mas mahirap magpakalbo kaysa pumatay,” without giving away his character (for the benefit of those who haven’t watched the movie).

Besides being his first time ever to join MMFF, John Lloyd considers the movie (graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board) a “brand-new experience, a dream project come true,” echoed by Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde who revealed that making a movie with John Lloyd was a long-time dream.

(HTF took over the slot vacated by Gil Portes’ Hermano Puli.)

HTF premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival where it received good reviews from The Hollywood Reporter which described it as “a strong portrait of inequality and vigilante justice in modern Philippines.” It’s the latest collaboration of Reality producers Erik and Dondon Monteverde (Mother Lily’s son), after Prosti, Pa-Siyam, Exodus, Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles, Rigodon, Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2 and the critically-acclaimed action-thriller On The Job (OTJ) for which Piolo Pascual (as a cop) and Gerald Anderson (as a hired killer) were widely praised. John Lloyd is coproducer of HTF. He has worked with Erik on a TV commercial.

“After OTJ,” said Erik, “I wanted to do a family drama. I think the movie will make even Popoy’s fans cry,” referring to John Lloyd’s character in A Second Chance (with Bea Alonzo

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as his girlfriend Basha) which is turning out to be the Philippines’ all-time box-office hit with a staggering P450M-plus gross so far (and counting).

Written by Michiko Yamamoto, HTF is the saga of a father named Edgar (John Lloyd). The investment business run by Edgar’s wife Kaye (Meryll Soriano) collapses, prompting co-financiers to pressure the couple to return their money. Kaye turns to her formalist church to borrow their past donations. The church’s bishop (played by Tirso Cruz III whose performance is said to be “pangaward”) turns down the request and simply gives them prayers.

Edgar is forced to resort to extreme measures to keep his wife and their daughter Angel (played by Krystal Brimmer) safe and alive.

Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, who with Kahlil Ramos play John Lloyd’s brothers, confirmed what Erik said.

“No actor has ever made me cry,” Dan confessed, “only John Lloyd. I watched A Second Chance twice and I cried. I cried again when I watched the ending of Honor Thy Father,” adding as he turned to John Lloyd during the presscon, “ikaw, ha, pinaiiyak mo ako.”

Like Erik, Dondon is all praises for Krystal who, against her parents’ wishes, readily parted with her curly and wavy locks, saying, “maski

ayaw ng mommy at daddy ko, ginawa ko ‘yon dahil ‘yon po ang dapat sa isang tunay na artista,” drawing applause from those at the presscon.

“It was needed in the scene,” explained Dondon. “In the story, a bad couple (played by Yayo Aguila and Lander Vera-Perez), who lost their investment, shaves the head of Krystal. The girl is so embarrassed that she refuses to go out of the house. To console his daughter, John Lloyd shaves his head and assures Krystal that there’s nothing wrong with being bald.”

John Lloyd is so proud of HTF that, he said, he wouldn’t have any other film as his MMFF “debut.”

“Ito ang gusto kong entry,” John Lloyd reiterated.

There’s no way of telling whether or not HTF will or can equal the box-office gross of A Second Chance, but the fearless forecast is that John Lloyd will, knock on wood, run away with the Best Actor plum.

Asked about his reaction, John Lloyd said, “I’m not good at predicting. But more than the awards, I’m more concerned about how the audience will receive the movie,” adding that he’s excited to join the Parade of Stars on Wednesday, Dec. 23, that ushers in the 10-day MMFF (Dec. 25 to Jan. 3, 2016).

Miss Universe judge: Pia Wurtzbach deserved...

From Page 4 Sofia Vergara. You’re not Miss Universe. You look so much like Sofia Vergara. It’s spooky how much she looks like Sofia Vergara.

Whereas this other girl, she was just being herself and not trying to emulate anybody else. I felt like she earned it and won it fair and square,” he said.

Unanimous He said that up until the last round, he was not sure whom he was going to select as Miss Universe.

“I went with my gut and voted for Miss Philippines. And actually, I found out afterwards it was unanimous. Every single judge on that panel, all four of us, voted for Miss Philippines to be number 1,” he revealed.

Aside from Hilton, the other judges were former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo; actress-comedian Niecy Nash; and former American

football player Emmitt Smith.

The global audience and the 77 eliminated contestants were also asked to vote during different segments of the competition.

With their votes unanimous, he said he and the other judges were surprised when host Steve Harvey announced that it was Colombia who won and not the Philippines.

“My initial thought when Steve Harvey announced that Colombia won was ‘this is rigged,’” Hilton said.

He later backtracked, saying that he thought the mix-up was just a publicity stunt for more people to talk about the pageant.

“I still find it hard that he could have messed up that badly,” Hilton continued.

The media personality closed the podcast by saying that amid the gaffe and that furor it had caused, it was important to know

that the Philippine delegate won the competition “fair and square.”

“It’s important to know that Miss Philippines won it fair and square. All of the judges thought so. She deserved to win. It’s not just a physical beauty contest,” he said.

He said that he, however, believes that Gutierrez would have a successful career after the competition.

“I think that she could have a more successful career after Miss Universe than Miss Philippines will,” the gossip blogger said.

“Miss Philippines is perfect for being a Miss Universe, but I think that Colombia can go on like Sofia Vergara and be a crossover success in the US, and be a Spanish-language personality or if her language improves, an English-language personality. She is smoking,” he closed. (Inquirer.net)

Calendar of Events across

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Jk% GXlc k_\ 8gfjkc\ :Xk_fc`Z :_liZ_ J`dYXe^ >XY` )'(, We invite you be a part of our annual celebration of an old-time Filipino Christmas tradition, Simbang Gabi, a project of the Filipino Catholics of Saint Paul the Apostle Ministry.

Simbang Gabi (meaning “Night Mass”) will occur each morning for 9 straight days, starting December 16 to 25, with Mass starting at 5:30am. Everyone is welcome to celebrate the joyful upcoming birth of Jesus Christ! Light breakfast will be provided after each mass at the Maher Hall of St. Paul the Apostle Church (14085 Peyton Dr, Chino Hills, CA 91709). We are currently in need of volunteers to help serve breakfast or assist us in serving at the Mass as ushers or Eucharistic ministers. We gladly accept and encourage individual or group volunteers. Please spread the news and invite your friends to this joyous community gathering. If you are interested in helping please call any of the following; Tara Villavicencio - (909) 2104891, Emily Jiao - (909) 248-8791, or Rick Jiao (909) 248-8790.

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:_liZ_ f] k_\ >ff[ J_\g_\i[ J`dYXe^ >XY` )'(, The Filipino-American & ethnic parishioners of the Church of the Good Shepherd of Beverly Hills will celebrate “Simbang Gabi 2015” on Tuesday, December 22, at 7:00 pm.

Everyone is invited to come and celebrate the special Advent Mass in the parish, in consonance with the observance of the tradition by the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The theme of this year’s Simbang Gabi is “Jesus our Savior, empower our families to be better stewards of your creation” –translated in Pilipino as “Jesus aming Tagapagligtas, bigyan mo ng kapangyarihan ang aming Pamilya na maging mas mahusay na tagapangalaga ng iyong nilikha.” Most Reverend Bishop Oscar A. Solis, the first Filipino Bishop in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and currently the Head of the San Pedro Pastoral Region, will be the main celebrant, with other priests including Fr. Ed Benioff to concelebrate with the Bishop. Special guests include the Philippine Consul General of Los Angeles, Leo HerreraLim, and his wife, with music from the Philippine Chamber Singers of Los Angeles. A catered and potluck reception follows after the Mass at the Church Hall.

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GXdgXe^X ?`^_ JZ_ffc :cXjj f] Ë-, >fc[\e AlY`c\\ :\c\YiXk`fe The Class of 1965 of the Pampanga High School will hold “TULA ampong SAYA,” its 50th Anniversary Reunion, this coming December 29-30, in San Fernando Pampanga, Philippines.

All 1965 graduates of the Pampanga High School (PHS), formerly the Jose Abad Santos High School (JASHS), and their spouses are welcome to all scheduled events. Admission is free. The celebration will begin with BISPERAS on December 29 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, enjoying fun games, old music, and togetherness at the DIASPORA FARM RESORT in Santa Barbara, Bacolor, Pampanga. On December 30, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, join us for KAPIYESTAN, a provincial fiesta luncheon featuring familiar Kapampangan dishes, at the Mulang Galang orchard in San Antonio, Mexico, Pampanga. The evening of Dec. 30 will conclude with TERAKAN, a gala dinner-dance from 6:30 pm to 12 midnight, at the Fortune Hongkong Seafood Restaurant in the San Fernando, Pampanga. Enjoy a fun evening of dancing to the retro music of Decadas and the mellow songs of folksinger Jerry. Class ‘65ers, please join us in celebrating our 50th Golden Anniversary! Full details on preparations, events and venues can be found on “TULA ampong SAYA,” on Facebook. For donations, interest in the 50th Anniversary Reunion souvenir memory book, highlighting the successes of individual Class ‘65ers and the accomplishments of the PHS Class ’65 Foundation, Inc., please contact the jubilee reunion organizing committee in the Philippines: Joseph Deang (0927-228-8588); Erlie Aquino Estandarte (0929-219-0248); Corazon Cunanan (0939-118-2888; 0926-660-35540); Cecille Morales Bernas (0932-509-2646); and Marcial Morales (0918-915-9095); and Dan Galang 0929-427-9308; 045-966-0764). In the US and Canada, please contact Dan Galang at (510) 487-5551 or at (510) 648-1047.

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=\Xjk f] JXekf E` f [\ :\Yl All are cordially invited to the Feast of Santo Niño de Cebu on Saturday, January 9, 2016, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bellflower, California, organized and sponsored by the Santo Niño de Cebu Association of Southern California, Inc., a non-profit religious organization. The Eucharistic Celebration will be presided by the Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, His Excellency Bishop Oscar A. Solis at 10:00 am followed by the traditional procession of the image of Santo Niño de Cebu, fiesta lunch and Sinulog presentations. Food and financial donations are welcome, and all donations are tax deductible. For further information, you may contact the association President, Danny C. Diluvio at (323) 252-4991 or email at: dannydiluvio1@gmail.com.

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)0k_ 8ee`m\ijXip =\Xjk f] JXekf E` f Santo Niño Cruzada USA, with the participation of the Cathedral Knights of Columbus and a Sinulog group, is inviting everyone for a holy mass to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the Feast of Santo Niño, the Divine Infant Jesus, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles (555 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012) on Sunday, January 17, at 3:30pm. The main celebrant is Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik, with Father David Gallardo as concelebrant. For more information, please contact any of the following officers: Romy & Tess Esturas (213-387-9682), Rey & Tess Edpao (818-469-7292), Lilia Figuracion (626-3942661, Carmen Estrada (213-413-2881), Fe Montana (323-218-1587), Ester Paredes (213864-1149), Fe Reyes (213-413-5286), Laurie Dolorfino (213-407-0097), and Cherry Guerrero (213-632-2096).

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GXiXk_XeXc f] ?fcp Ki`e`kp GXi`j_ G`c`^i`dX^\j Fr. Jose Joseph Parathanal of Holy Trinity Parish, San Pedro District, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, invites all to join Fr. Joseph Parathanal’s Pilgrimages to EASTERN EUROPE, OLGUADALUPE/Colonial Mexico, and INDIA. During the journey, pilgrims will pray to God for healing of body, mind and spirit especially for healing of the world from violence, terrorism and climate changes. Trip dates are: Divine Mercy/Infant Jesus of Prague/Austria/Hungary/ Medjugorje (Eastern Europe) April 17- April 30; OLGuadalupe and Colonial Mexico - June 20 - June 27; and Mother Teresa/St. Thomas/St. Alphonsa/St. Euprasia/St. Chavarra (India) - Sept. 15 - Sept. 29, 2016. For more details and pilgrimage information, please contact Bernadette at bcorp1114@hotmail.com or call 323-344-1548 & 323-547-6618.

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GLG&G:: kf _fc[ (jk >cfYXc I\le`fe Attention all graduates of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Philippine College of Commerce: join us in our FIRST GLOBAL REUNION being organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association, USA Inc. scheduled on May 27-29, 2016 (Memorial Day Weekend) at the New Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. We promise a weekend of fun-filled activities, of friendship and camaraderie as we reminisce our best memories during our high school and college days. There will be lots of entertainment, singing and dancing and photo opportunities with your classmates and friends.

For more information, please contact any of the following: Loi Herrera at 562-544-8210 or loiherrera@yahoo.com; Monette Santillan-Rivera at 818-970-8317 or Monette_santillan@yahoo. com; Rose Mejia at 323-997-3838 or Rosemariemejia@kw.com; Marissa Sugay-Palanca at 818281-7460 ormarispalanca@yahoo.com; Rose Maghari at 661-794-8906 or rmaghari@gmail. com; Sally Mendoza at 323-695-0235 or sally.mendoza616@yahoo.com; Honeylette De Leon at 562-480-5743 or honey@worldclassfreight.com; Virginia Herbito at virginiaherbito@gmail.com; Connie Acosta at 323-854-5303 or connieacosta1@att.net; Violeta D. Cristobal at 310-880-5808 or vee@cristobalcpa.com; Jun Mapoy at 323-627-5326 or jcmapoy@yahoo.com.

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DECEMBER 25-31, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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Sarah Geronimo delivers in her most ‘daring’ show ever

by ALLAN

POLICARPIO

Inquirer.net

ON the first of two nights of her recent major concert, From the Top, Sarah Geronimo made sure to tell the crowd every so often that it was her most “daring” show yet. Not because she was wearing a shoulder-baring top and pants with slits that ran up to her thighs, she jested, but because, for the first time, she chose “to give importance to her own music.”

Forget about covers of the latest foreign chart-toppers; she wasn’t doing those. What she offered was a set list composed of her most popular singles, as well as unreleased tracks culled from previous albums—a set that offered a glimpse of how much her sound has evolved since winning the talent search Star for a Night in 2003.

She kicked off the show— quite literally—from the top of the massive stage fashioned after what looked like a step pyramid.

Clad in a white, body-hugging suit, Sarah made her way down, singing and dancing on each tier as the speakers blared what turned out to be one of the most important releases of her career— the mid-tempo, electronic popdance ditty Kilometro.

The recorded song, which presented a more current musical style for Sarah to explore, is always delightful to listen to. But performed live, amid an eruption

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of trippy, pulsating lights, burnished synths and rumbling bass, Kilometro made for a bustling musical experience that implores one to at least tap his or her feet to the beat, if not break into a dance altogether.

The 27-year-old singer, dubbed “Popstar Princess” by diehards, followed it up with such similarly-wired bangers as Record Breaker, Played and Just Me. This was Sarah, the performer, pulling off choreography and commanding the stage at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with confidence, sass and, at times, a dash of coyness.

The next segment saw Sarah dialing the tempo down a notch by churning out the kind of music closely associated with her early years in the industry: syrupy, pleading love ballads. She sang one of her first hits, If Only, and other serviceable ballads, including What Have You Done to My Heart, whose intermittent guitar and saxophone licks, made it sound a tad dated. The best of the lot was easily Minamahal, which had a pleasing backbeat and a light staccato chorus.

Far stronger numbers followed: “Forever’s Not Enough” was given a refreshing a cappella arrangement; the languid and dramatic “Ibulong sa Hangin,” in which Sarah gave one of the night’s most controlled vocal performances; and the anthemic Dulo that had the singer pumping her fists and banging her head.

Glory note

In the R&B-inflected IkotIkot, Sarah forewent the glory note in the climax for a series of ad libs that built up to a sudden, dramatic stop. There was a smattering of breezy, danceable pop ditties, too, like Tala, from her latest record, The Great Unknown, and Perfectly Imperfect—a shout-out to those who support and love her unconditionally in spite of her perceived flaws and insecurities.

“I thought I didn’t have anything else to give,” said Sarah, who likewise shared the spotlight with Kito Romualdez in This Fight and Erik Santos for Paano Ba ang Magmahal, the theme song of the movie, Breakup Playlist, which Sarah topbilled with Piolo Pascual. (Piolo performed on the second night.)

Sarah likewise rendered a timely carol, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, while playing the keyboard.

In an interview prior to the event, Sarah admitted to being anxious over how the audience would take a concert that relied on the strength of her original songs. It was a tall order, indeed, as she ran the risk of alienating her more casual fans, who may not know her entire discography at heart. At one point in the show, she even asked the crowd, “Hindi ba boring?”

But whatever doubt Sarah may have had was mostly quelled whenever fans started to sing along even to her lesserknown songs—“That’s the best feeling!”

Timely reminder of Gerald’s thespic edge

by NESTOR

U. TORRE

Inquirer.net

RECENTLY on Maalaala Mo Kaya, Gerald Anderson was given a plum opportunity to remind viewers of his thespic talent, when he was assigned to play a dedicated teacher whose bright career was tragically abridged by his being stricken with a rather rare form of Parkinson’s disease.

At first sight, Gerald looked too old to play a college student—but, after his character had become a teacher, that dubious piece of casting was rendered moot, and we could more pertinently appreciate the actor’s depiction of his ethically and physically contorted character.

Gerald’s new portrayal was reminiscent of his acclaimed performance in Budoy years ago.

To his credit, he went beyond early career achievement—his recent MMK characterization was more mature not just on point of chronological age, but also in thespic insight.

Also scoring thespic points in the episode was Snooky Serna in the role of the teacher’s mother, who felt spasms of guilt when she was told that her line of the family had given her son the dreaded and

debilitating disease.

Gerald and Snooky did well, but the younger actors who played his character’s siblings were less focused in their roles, which came off more like an “ensemble blur.”

Still, the episode was ultimately an inspiring and instructive viewing experience, even if it ended in a question mark rather than with a clear denouement and resolution of its harrowing central problem.

That “hanging” ending gave the telecast an element of uniqueness, because it concluded with an invitation to viewers to assist in giving the drama a happy ending—by actually contributing money to defray the cost of the expensive operation that would gift its real-life protagonist with the prospect of living a more “normal” life.

Unusual turn This is an unusual turn of events in a local TV drama because it breaks down the separation between acted drama and the reallife issue or medical problem it’s been based on.

How will viewers respond to this unusual invitation to participate in solving or salving an

actual problem or need? Some of the people we were watching the telecast with said it was worth a try—but suggested that the show’s staffers and cast members should start with their own donations.

What do you think?

Finally, back to Gerald: His convincing portrayal in the MMK drama came right in the nick of time for him, because his acting career has been faring rather poorly these days, and viewers need to be reminded of how good he can be.

Perhaps, to further strengthen his stellar prospects, Gerald should objectively see that he looks too big and chunky these days, which makes him come off as older and thus less of an exciting lead with something dynamically new to offer.

He definitely isn’t stout or flabby, but his added heft makes him look not just older but also less sensitive, a projection that dramatic leads should have, in order to convince the viewing public that they’re deeply troubled and emotionally exposed and vulnerable, thus needing and descending to its concern and empathy.

Jennylyn Mercado on love, career: Maghintay ka lang!

MANILA—Jennylyn Mercado said waiting for the right time is the most important lesson she has learned from her career and love life.

“Maghintay ka lang, maghintay ka lang sa tamang panahon, tamang tao,” she said in an interview in the ABS-CBN latenight talk show Tonight with Boy Abunda.

The Kapuso actress, however, admitted the “waiting game” will

really test one’s patience.

“Mahirap maghintay,” she said. “Ang tagal ko ng naghihintay.

Minsan nakakainggit kapag nakakakita ka ng gano’n, ‘ang sweet nila, kalian kaya ako?’”

Despite that, Jennylyn said that the state of her heart is “happy.”

During the fast talk segment of the show, she was asked: “Naniniwala ka ba sa forever?”

The actress-host replied:

“No. Kasi wala naman forever, e.

May pang-lifetime, pero walang forever.”

She’s currently linked to her ex-boyfriend Dennis Trillio after some reports claimed that they have reconciled, an issue both have denied.

Jennylyn stars in the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Walang Forever together with Jericho Rosales and directed by Dan Villegas. (Philstar.com)

Pauleen Luna posts heartfelt message...

From Page 4

CBN talent, has been friends with Wurtzbach ever since they both started dreaming big in the industry.

Read her full message here: “You were 12 and I was 13.

We had nothing but BIG dreams.

I remember we would choose to buy food in Mini Stop instead of Brother’s Burger in ABS because we

only had little money. We would patiently go to workshop every single day because we wanna be big stars! We would wait for hours at taping because our scenes were only very few. We even shared one role in a movie. I will never forget those days. Simple and days made up of dreams. And now, it’s so nice to know that we’ve both come so far. We’re both blessed,

in our own way, and I must say, 2015 is both our year! I am very glad also that you have found a deep relationship with the Lord. CONGRATULATIONS MISS UNIVERSE! I am equally proud of you before as I am proud of you now. You have such a good and kind heart. You totally deserve this! Congratulations P! Love you! @piawurtzbach.” (Philstar.com)

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DECEMBER 25-31, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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DECEMBER 25-31, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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