Orange County/Inland Empire -- March 11 -- 17, 2016

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SC justices lament over bribe allegations on Grace Poe ruling

by Edu

Punay and JosE RodEl ClaPano /Philstar.com

mANILA—Justices of the supreme Court on thursday, march 10 broke their silence over a newspaper report about a supposed P50-million bribe offer to sC magistrates to disqualify sen. Grace Poe from the presidential race.

Chief Justice ma. Lourdes sereno and Associate Justice teresita Leonardo-de Castro lamented the bribery insinuation that was published on the same day the high court voted 9-6 last tuesday to allow Poe to run for president.

In an ambush interview at the 21st annual convention of the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA) at the manila hotel, sereno

DATELINE

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Jersey City man nabbed for unlawful possession of loaded gun, assault weapon JerseY City police arrested a 59year old filipino man tuesday, march 8 inside the hudson mall for carrying a handgun while dressed in policestyle clothing. he was identified as Julio Concepcion of Boyd Court and was initially charged with one count of possession of a handgun without first obtaining a permit to carry.

According to reports, he posted a $50,000 cash-or-bond bail, but an arrest warrant was issued when he failed to appear for his first hearing Wednesday morning, the Jersey Journal reported. he was charged additionally on Wednesday evening with possession of an assault weapon and hollow point bullets and after failing to appear in court on the original charges, he was arrested at his home. the judge ordered him held without bail.

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said the court is aware that some people would like to raise issues against the sC. “some matters are best disregarded or ignored. some matters are just speculations,” she stressed. the sC chief said that of the various issues being hurled against the court, the justices are aware of their “duty now to identify which kind of noise to respond to and which to set aside.”

De Castro, who was among the six magistrates in the dissenting vote against Poe, had stronger words in crying foul over the allegation.

PAGE A2

Ex-Senate president Salonga passes away

by JEffERson

antiPoRda and CathERinE s. valEntE ManilaTimes.net

former senate President Jovito salonga, nationalist, defender of political prisoners and himself a victim of martial law, died on thursday at the age of 95. salonga served as senate president from 1987 to 1992 after heading the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), which was mandated to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the marcos family and their cronies. he started his career in politics in 1961 as repre-

sentative of rizal province. salonga topped the senatorial race in 1965. he was one of several people injured at the Plaza miranda bombing on August 21, 1971 during the proclamation rally of the Liberal Party, leaving him blind in one eye.

In 1980, during martial law, salonga was arrested for allegedly masterminding a series of bombings in metro manila.

President ferdinand PAGE A2

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Poe willing to give Aquino clarity on citizenship

by MaRvin

sy

Philstar.com

mANILA—sen. Grace Poe on thursday, march 10 said she is willing to provide President Aquino with all the information he needs to get the answers to his questions regarding her citizenship.

Poe expressed surprise at the President’s statement but said she would gladly provide him with whatever he needs to understand her case. talking with reporters the other day, the President said he is hoping the supreme Court would clarify the laws on citizenship in the decision it handed down on Poe’s disqualification case. the President said he was un-

IT’S A GO FOR GRACE. The Supreme Court has cleared the way for Sen. Grace Poe to run for President, voting to reverse the Commission on Elections (Comelec) orders disqualifying her from the tight race just two months before Election Day. Inquirer.net photo by Lyn Rillon

der the impression that there were no issues with Poe’s Philippine citizenship when he appointed her as chairperson of the movie and television review and Classification Board (mtrCB) in 2010.

“It was my first time to hear that she had to go to a consular official of America in 2011 to renounce the citizenship, when she was already mtrCB chair,” Aquino said.

PAGE A2

PhilHealth denies reports health firm is dying in 10 months

by RosEttE

adEl

Philstar.com

USAID picks PH for growth program the United states Agency for International Development (UsAID) has picked the Philippines as the only Asian country for its Partnership for Growth (PfG) project. the PfG is a White house signature initiative through which the Us and the Philippine governments work together to improve economic growth and development in manila. “the Philippines is very, very special in the eyes of the United states,” Dr. susan Brems, mission director of UsAID Philippines, said in a Kapihan session on Wednesday. she added that the country has seen growth in the past years and the agency only needs to address manila’s “constraints” to help its economy even move faster.

“We chose the Philippines because this is the only country [in Asia] that is doing well. the people, the government, as well as the private and academic sectors are committed for the

ALL CLEAR. Sen. Grace Poe, who has been allowed to run for President by the Supreme Court after it junked disqualification cases against her, addresses an International Women’s Day rally in Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

Inquirer.net photo by Edwin Bacasmas

Inquirer.net photo

mANILA—the Philippines health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) on thursday, march 10 allayed the fears of members and stakeholders and denied reports that it can only operate for 10 more months.

Philhealth president and Ceo Alex Padilla clarified that the state health firm remains stable

and board member eddie Dorotan, was misquoted in the report on Philhealth’s supposed funding problems.

“It’s not true... Dorotan was misquoted,” Padilla said in an interview over ANC. Padilla issued an official statement in response to news reports on thursday morning that “Philhealth is dying due to fund payout larger than its

members’ monthly contributions and income” and that may have caused panic among Philhealth’s members and stakeholders.

In its statement, Philhealth stressed that since the stability of the health insurance fund is concerned in the allegedly inaccurate news reports, it is clarifying that the firm’s finances are healthy. It cited its growth PAGE A2

Las Vegas mom sentenced to life without parole for husband’s murder

by ChRistina

M. oRiEl

AJPress

A LAs VeGAs mother of four was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on thursday, march 3, for plotting to have her husband killed in order to collect his life insurance. michelle Antwanette Paet, 34, -- who is of filipino descent, a source told the Asian Journal -- pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon back in october, which took the death penalty option off the table. she had revealed that she and her then-boyfriend, michael rudolph rodriguez, planned to murder her husband Nathan Paet, who was Guilty: Michelle Paet, 33 (left), broke down in the stand Thursday, March 3 as she admitted a Us Air force service member and Iraq War to having her boyfriend shoot dead her husband, Staff Sgt. Nathan Paet (right), an Iraq War veteran. veteran, outside their Las Vegas home in 2010. michelle and Nathan Paet were high school Photos from Las Vegas Metropolitan Department and Nathan Paet’s Facebook account

sweethearts and got married in 2006, a source told the Asian Journal.

“I made a huge mistake and a really bad choice and I’m truly sorry,” michelle Paet tearfully said in court on thursday, according to the Las Vegas review-Journal. the murder occurred back in December 2010, prosecutors detailed, when rodriguez waited outside the Paet residence and was signaled by a text message that Nathan Paet was getting ready to leave for work at Nellis Air force Base. rodriguez and an accomplice, Corey hawkins, confronted Nathan Paet and shot him five times in the back. he reportedly collapsed in front of his wife and their four children, before he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

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march 11-17, 2016 • Oc/IE aSIaN JOUrNaL

From the Front Page

SC justices lament over bribe...

PAGE A1 “Grabe naman yun (That’s too much). We feel so bad about it,” she told reporters.

De Castro even dared the newspaper that came out with the report to present proof.

“Unless the one who published it will give hard evidence and if he cannot, then he is do-

ing a disservice to the judiciary.

He is putting down the judiciary without good reason,” she stressed.

“So, if he really has any evidence about it, then bring it out so the Supreme Court can take action on that. We deplore unverified information being published, especially before a

case is decided because it may be used to sway the justices one way or the other,” she added.

The report alleged that a lady lawyer previously connected with Malacañang had approached the justices and made the offer to dismiss Poe’s petition and disqualify her from the presidential election.

The SC ruling, penned by Associate Justice Jose Perez and which granted Poe’s petition and overturned her disqualification by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), has not been released, pending the signatures of the justices.

“In order not to aggravate whatever tension is there, it is best for everyone to wait, because these decisions are very important - it must be carefully crafted, all the appropriate rulings are being circulated even now, so please just wait for the same. It will not be too late; it will be released to you in due time,” Sereno said.

Asked for her reaction to the statement of President Aquino that he hoped the SC ruling would fully clarify the citizenship issue, Sereno said it would be up to the public to judge if the high court settled the issue.

Sereno urged the people to read the decision and opinions “and decide for yourselves.”

“I don’t want to say that we are very clear or what, because that is a matter that is best left to the reader,” she stressed.

De Castro, for her part, hinted that the citizenship issue would be touched on in the SC ruling.

She also revealed that even the majority that voted in favor of Poe were divided on issues surrounding her qualifications for the presidency.

“The votes are split. Even the nine who voted in the majority didn’t have uniform position on the issues,” she bared.

Erap approves SC ruling Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada lauded the SC for its “impartiality and probity” in ruling on disqualification cases, including that of Poe. In a speech during the 21st convention-seminar of PWJA headed by Justice De Castro, PAGE A3

PARTIAL ECLIPSE. A partial solar eclipse is seen from Rizal Park in Manila on Wednesday, March 9. The eclipse was seen in other Asian countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets between Earth and the sun, and the moon casts a shadow over Earth.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Poe willing to give Aquino clarity...

PAGE A1

He asked why Poe had to do this when his assumption was that she had already reacquired her Philippine citizenship for some time before her appointment.

Before declaring her bid for the presidency last year, Poe met with the President several times to discuss the possibility of her joining the administration as either its standard bearer or as runningmate to Manuel Roxas II. Poe had said that during these meetings, no issue regarding her citizenship was ever raised or mentioned.

It was only after Poe made the formal announcement to run for president that the disqualification cases started coming from

different directions.

In his press conference, the President also acknowledged that the candidacy of Poe would benefit from her victory before the Supreme Court but that he does know how long this will last.

Poe agreed with the President that there is no guarantee on how long any candidate could sustain a lead in the surveys on voter preferences.

She said that the strength of a candidate would depend on her message and how well she delivers this to the electorate.

“That is why no candidate can afford to relax. Everyone must go around and spread his message because there is no sure thing here. Anything can

happen,” Poe said.

Tool for development Meanwhile, Poe is in favor of the creation of a Samar Island Region to accelerate economic development and improve the delivery of public services in the Samar provinces, which remain among the poorest in the country.

During her visit to Calbayog City yesterday, Poe noted that the creation of a Samar region is consistent with her programs of government, which focus on more efficient delivery of services, inclusive economic development and job creation.

She vowed that if she gets elected, poverty reduction projects will top her agenda during her first 100 days in office.

USAID picks PH for growth...

PAGE A1

development,” Brems said.

Among the major constraints in the Philippines’ development that she cited were weak governance, regulatory environment, fiscal space and human capital.

In line with this, the USAID granted a P1.5-billion fund for Stride (Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development) program.

The fund was seen as a key in strengthening the regulatory capability of the government while providing governance and capacity building training for universities in planning, financial management, patents and networking.

Stride is a five-year program started in July 2013, under the PFG project.

“Stride aims to spur inclusive economic growth by boosting sci-

The Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries Project (ECOFISH) is a USAID initiative to improve the management of important coastal and marine resources and associated ecosystems in eight marine key biodiversity areas.

USAID photo

ence and technology research,” said Dr. Dave Hall, the program’s chief of party.

As of last month, the program has awarded P144.8 million in research grants to 34 universities around the country to conduct sci-

ence and technology innovation research. It has also awarded 31 scholarships to Filipinos who will study in US universities.

“What we want is to have an economic growth that can benefit everyone,” Brems said.

Ex-Senate president Salonga...

PAGE A1

Marcos ordered his release a month later because of immense pressure from Salonga’s supporters and lack of concrete evidence against him.

Salonga’s significant pieces of legislation include the State Scholarship Law, the Disclosure of Interest Act, the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder.

After the 1986 EDSA people power revolution, President Corazon Aquino tapped him to head the PCGG. The next year, Salonga topped the Senate elections for the third time.

It was during his term term that he and 11 other senators opposed the RP-US Bases Treaty, which had aimed to extend the stay of US military bases in the

country.

Malacañang, in extending its condolences to Salonga’s family, said the passing of the esteemed statesman “challenges all who would seek election to live up to a life well lived as a patriot and citizen.”

“With heads bowed in grief and respect, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Senator Jovito Salonga. His passing marks the departure from this life of another of those brave, committed individuals who lit a candle during the deep darkness of the dictatorship; and who contributed to the restoration of our democratic way of life after the triumph of people power,” Palace Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Salonga, he added, “stood squarely on the side of good government, and did his part in Kilosbayan and the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation to ensure that

the sins of the past would not be repeated in the future, becoming a Magsaysay laureate in 2007.”

“His life stands as a reproach to all those who would put personal gain ahead of public service; who would lower the standards of public discourse; and who would sacrifice human rights and the rule of law either for personal or partisan advantage. He joins the ranks of those who have made the position of senator of the Republic an honorable, and respectable, thing,” Lacierda said.

Salonga, who served as the country’s 14th Senate president upon the restoration of the Philippine Senate in 1987, ran but lost in the 1992 presidential elections, landing in sixth place.

He took up law at the University of the Philippines and eventually topped the 1944 Bar examinations alongside Jose W. Diokno.

PhilHealth denies reports health...

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over the last five years and said it remains committed to serving its members.

Philhealth said that it paid about P34 billion in 2011, about P44 billion in 2012, up to P55 billion in 2013, P77 billion in 2014 and about P97 billion in 2015.

“PhilHealth’s finances are as robust, healthy and substantial as ever. Proof of this is our ability to pay for the benefit claims of our members at an amount that has been steadily growing over the last five years,” Padilla said in the statement.

“While we paid P1 billion more than what we collected in premium contributions in 2015, we gained about P7 billion from investment income, resulting in positive numbers still,” he added.

Padilla dismissed the public’s worry that members’ contributions might be insufficient to sustain the state health firm.

“There is no reason for our members and other stakeholders to worry about our capacity to meet our obligations,” Padilla stressed.

There are 93 million Filipinos who rely on the National Health Insurance Program for their health coverage.

Aside from its income, Padilla also disclosed PhilHealth’s reserve funds to show that the firm is still strong and growing. He said the reserve funds have been growing steadily from about P112 billion in 2012 to P128 billion in 2015.

“We are mandated to maintain reserve fund level equivalent to

two years so that we can readily address our members’ needs should any eventuality happen.

While other social protection programs maintain probably higher levels of reserve funds, we operate on a pay-as-you-go system where we immediately translate what we collect into benefit payments for our members,” Padilla explained.

In the report that came out on Thursday morning, Dorotan was quoted as saying PhilHealth lost almost P1 billion last year as its payment for the benefits of claimants reached P97 billion against returns of only P96 billion. The report added that the state health firm’s gains are from its share in sin tax, member contributions and the earnings from investments.

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Dateline USa

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Homeland Security launches employer pilot program

LET GIRLS LEARN. First Lady Michelle Obama views murals by Mr. Brainwash, left, a Los Angeles based graffiti artist, during an event marking the one-year anniversary of Let Girls Learn, hosted by the US Department of State’s Office of Global Women’s Issues at Union Market in Washington, DC on Tuesday, March 8.

White House photo by Amanda Lucidon

Obamacare still confusing to many taxpayers

by Agnes

ConstAnte AJPress

MANY Americans who didn’t have health coverage last year saw an average penalty more than twice as high as that in 2014, according to a report from tax services company H&R Block.

On average, H&R customers owe a penalty of $383, up from $172 for 2014. Furthermore, 60 percent of taxpayers who had subsidized healthcare are having to pay back some of their financial assistance. This year the average payment is $579, up from $530 in the previous tax season.

The findings indicate that most taxpayers remain confused about

how the Affordable Care Act, which requires Americans to purchase health insurance or pay a fine, affects tax credits and refunds.

“There is still a steep learning curve,” Mark Ciaramitaro, H&R Block’s vice president for taxes and health care, told the Associated Press (AP).

To help consumers gain coverage, the law provided tax credits for individuals who opted for insurance through state or federal exchanges.

The problem, however, is that a number of Americans appear to have trouble estimating their expected annual incomes, Ciaramitaro told the AP. Those who

underestimated their incomes had to repay part of the credit.

Consumers who owed money saw, on average, a 17 percent decrease in their federal refunds, according to H&R Block.

On the other hand, more than one in three taxpayers overestimated their incomes, and thus received an additional average of $450 in their refunds.

Only 3 percent of H&R Block customers with health law subsidies correctly estimated their incomes and didn’t see a change in their tax returns.

The minimum fine an uninsured adult will be subject to in 2016 is $695, up from $325 in 2015 and $95 in 2014.

THE US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the launch of a Known Employer pilot program on Thursday, March 3, assessing a new process for employers who seek to hire workers through employment-based visa categories.

Modifying the process US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) already uses to review an employer’s eligibility to sponsor individuals (under certain employmentbased immigrant and non-immigrant classifications), the Known Employer pilot is expected to streamline paperwork, reduce costs and delays in the processing of these benefit requests.

According to a release from the DHS press office, USCIS will oversee the pilot program, in collaboration with the DHS Office of Policy, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the US Department of State (DOS).

“Last year, DHS announced it would explore a Known Employer pilot to modernize and streamline the process for U.S. employers seeking to employ certain foreign workers,” said USCIS Director León Rodríguez. “Today, we’re partnering with a select group of representative organizations across a variety of industries to determine how we can improve ef-

ficiency and cut costs. If successful, we will continue to build on this trial program and promote robust trade, travel, and economic prosperity.”

DHS first announced in January 2015 that it would explore a Known Employer pilot program, under the United StatesCanada Beyond the Border initiative. The pilot also was highlighted as a recommendation in a report from federal agencies, “Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century,” that was submitted to the President in July 2015.

The Known Employer pilot aims to make the employment eligibility adjudication process more efficient, while reducing delays for businesses and employers who wish to employ foreign workers under certain immigrant and non-immigrant visa programs.

Goals of the program include: reducing the amount of paperwork filed by employers and retained by USCIS; promoting consistency in the adjudication of employment-based petitions and applications; streamlining the adjudicative process to achieve greater efficiency within USCIS; and providing greater support to CBP and DOS in support of greater efficiency and consistency at ports of entry and consular posts.

Under the Known Employer pilot, up to nine pre-selected employers can file applications requesting that USCIS predetermine that they meet the requirements relating to certain immigrant and non-immigrant visa classifications. When making this request, employers will create a profile in the Webbased Known Employer Document Library (KEDL), and can upload documents relating to the requirements.

USCIS officers will swiftly review and predetermine whether a prospective employer has met certain requirements relating to the visa classifications. If the predetermination request is approved, the employer may then file petitions or applications for individual employees, without needing to resubmit company information with each petition or application.

According to the process, employers will not be charged any additional fees to participate in the Known Employer pilot, which is scheduled to last for up to one year. The DHS reports that USCIS may terminate or extend the pilot at any time.

DHS and DOS will solicit ongoing feedback on the program from its participants. More information and a list of participating employers can be found on the Known Employer pilot page.

SC justices lament over bribe...

Gov. Brown approves health care package that secures federal funding for Medi-Cal CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday, March 1, signed into law three bills designed to avoid a $1.1-billion cutoff in federal funding for Medi-Cal, which provides health insurance coverage to nearly one-third of Californians.

The state’s current tax, which would have expired on July 1, applies to only 26 plans that accept Medi-Cal patients. Revenue collected from these plans is used to fund the program. The new tax meets a federal government demand that the an extension of the levy must apply to all managed care organizations so that the state can receive matching federal funds for the health care program.

“Democrats and Republicans came together today to do what’s best for California,” Brown said in a statement after the state legislature approved the bills.

“This legislation will save money and help millions of people with health care and disability services.”

The new plan includes tax offsets to minimize the impact on health plans that could potentially be absorbed by consumers.

It was supported by many health insurers, including Anthem and Blue Shield.

“The proposal provides a stable ongoing funding source for Medi-Cal,” said Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), who led the effort to pass the bill. “It allows California to maximize its share of existing federal dollars, and we’re always complaining that we don’t get our fair share.

It will not negatively impact premiums.”

Bipartisan support was required for the new tax, including at least one Republican vote in the Senate and three GOP votes in the Assembly.

Though Republicans are typically tax-averse, the new tax

received support from two GOP members in the Senate and 11 in the Assembly. Democrats unanimously voted in favor of the measure.

“Collectively, we came up with something that’s really good,” said Assemblyman Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego).

However, some Republicans who voted against the plan are concerned that the replacement tax will unavoidably be passed on to consumers.

“Is there anything written in this bill that would codify the fact there would be no increases to any citizens of California? No,” said Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Riverside).

“The bottom line is the consumer will get hurt with this bill.”

Before the new tax goes into effect, it requires approval from the Obama administration, which state officials are optimistic about.

It took months of negotiations before the state senate and assembly came to the final deal.

To secure Republican support, the package included several components, such as allocating additional funding for Californians with developmental disabilities and forgiving a budget debt owed by skilled-nursing facilities.

Both chambers also unanimously approved on Monday a separate measure that allocates about $300 million to services for about 300,000 developmentally disabled Californians. It boosts wages for staff at regional centers and provides additional money for independent-living programs.

This bill also The third bill approved provides about $240 million to prefund retiree health care for public workers and pay back a $173 million transportation loan. (Agnes Constante/AJPress)

PAGE A2 Estrada nostalgically recalled the role played by De Castro in his return to power as mayor of Manila.

De Castro was one of the justices of the Sandiganbayan special division that handled the plunder case against Estrada for allegedly mishandling government funds.

Estrada was convicted of plunder but was later pardoned by his successor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

De Castro was later appointed to the SC and Estrada was elected mayor of Manila.

The lady justice later penned the SC decision that junked

the disqualification case filed against Estrada.

“Even for my being a mayor, Justice De Castro has played a big role, after she penned the decision junking the disqualification case filed against me.

In truth, I would not be here today, delivering these welcome remarks, were it not for the probity and impartiality of that decision by the Supreme Court. Neither would I have had the authority nor the power to put in place the reforms necessary to resurrect a bankrupt city and steer it back on the road to progress,” Estrada said.

Estrada also said that he

would announce on March 28 the presidential candidate that he would endorse.

Estrada and his official ticket for the Manila elections will also be proclaimed on March 28.

He said that the recent SC ruling allowing his goddaughter Poe to run for president makes it more difficult for him to choose his presidential bet.

Aside from Poe, the candidate close to Estrada is Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Estrada and Binay ran as president and vice president, respectively, under UNA in the 2010 polls.

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Group raises concern over new requirement for overseas voting in the Philippine elections

BEST FOOT FORWARD. For the third edition of “In Her Shoes,” a yearly campaign by the National Youth Commission to highlight women’s issues, the police chief of La Trinidad town walked in high heels, while members of militant women’s groups, students, teachers and sidewalk vendors danced to the theme song of the One Billion Rising Revolution before joining a unity march down Session Road. Wearing purple and pink T-shirts, women lined the streets to witness their menfolk march on the city’s Malcolm Square in heels.

Inquirer.net photo by Kimberlie Quitasol

Jersey City man nabbed for unlawful...

PAGE A1 It was learned that Concepcion worked for the Department of Defense from 1989 to 2003 but it is unclear as of press time what his role was in the department.

He allegedly told police that he is a retired federal law enforcement officer providing an ID and complied with the officers who

arrived on the scene after receiving a call from an off-duty officer who reported the suspicious condition.

Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said Concepcion, who was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, was found sitting at a table in front of the Popeye’s restaurant at ap-

proximately 11:30 a.m. He was wearing a full-duty police belt, with a .40 caliber gun and two magazines in the pouch.

After securing the weapon, officers asked Concepcion if he had any additional weapons, to which he said yes in the trunk. There, police recovered a .38 caliber fully-loaded gun and two bullet proof vests.

Several hours later during the course of the investigation Concepcion was arrested while in custody at the West District, according to Morrill. During the course of the investigation, officers discovered Concepcion had been an employee of the Department of Defense from 1989 through 2003, however his role with the DOD is still under investigation.

Concepcion also told officers he had additional weapons in his home, and two additional firearms were recovered during a subsequent search.

Members of the city’s Filipino community expressed their reactions on social media, calling the arrest as “unfortunate”. A couple of residents said that they have always seen Mr. Concepcion either in the mall or along Westside Avenue wearing police-style clothing which they thought were his uniform as a policeman or military police. (Momar G. Visaya/AJPress)

THE National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) raises serious concern about a new requirement from the Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) that would require Filipinos in the US to request their ballot by mail to be able to participate in the upcoming 2016 national Philippine elections.

Historically, voters in the US automatically received their ballots in the mail. Last December 2015 the COMELEC decided that 30 voting posts outside the Philippines will be implementing the automated election system (AES), and this past February approved a resolution that requires voters in 8 countries, including those registered in the 6 voting posts in the United States, to request for their ballot by April 22nd, otherwise they will not receive any by mail and will be expected to vote in person.

“There were no consultations made with voters regarding these changes. As we reach out to community members, we find out that many Filipinos have not heard about this new requirement regarding postal voting.

The challenge now is to notify all 170,000 registered voters in the US and make sure they know

about the new requirement and the different methods to vote,” says AV David, NAFCON Secretary General.

NAFCON urges the COMELEC and their local counterparts in the US to come up with a comprehensive plan to notify registered voters to ensure their participation in the elections. “Personal voting is a good option for those who can make it to their local Consulate, however, the jurisdiction of one Consulate encompasses several states. We cannot expect someone from Alaska or Washington State to fly to the nearest Consulate in San Francisco just to vote -- this is why postal voting is important. But with this new requirement, tens of thousands of voters could potentially not know that they will not be automatically receiving their ballots in the mail and in the process would be disenfranchised,” continues David.

“Filipinos in the US contributed almost 40% of the $26.9 B in remittances to the Philippines in 2014, the largest among all countries that remitted to the Philippines. Voting allows Filipinos overseas to have a say in their own lives and the future of their families in the Philippines.

Let’s inform our fellow Filipinos about this new voting requirement, and not allow this requirement to be a bureaucratic hurdle that will effectively silence the basic democratic voice of tens of thousands of overseas voters,” adds Terrence Valen, NAFCON President.

We enjoin all Filipino groups and institutions in the United States to share this important information. We support the campaign of the U.S. Chapter of Migrante Partylist to inform Filipinos of this new requirement and we urge others to disseminate their educational materials.

On March 12, NAFCON will participate via live stream in the worldwide Miting De Avance of Migrante Partylist that will be hosted by its Hong Kong Chapter and that will feature Senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares and Migrante Partylist nominees. During this activity Filipinos around the world will voice their concerns and aspirations, the issues their sector faces, and the vision of a better Philippines that they want for themselves and their families.

For more information, please contact Migrante Partylist-USA at 415-890-4526 or migrantepl. usa@gmail.com.

Cuisia leads economic diplomacy mission in Atlanta ATLANTA, GA—Jumping off from the success of the Philippine Business and Investment Forum in New York last week, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. brought the message of a resurgent Philippine economy to one of the most vibrant cities in the south – Atlanta.

On Tuesday, March 8, the Ambassador met with Mr. Gary Black, Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia, to assess prospects for trade and cooperation in several areas, including food manufacturing and safety, agricultural research, and distribution of agricultural commodities.

Agriculture is Georgia’s oldest and largest industry and farming remains the foundation of the state’s economic well-being. Organized in 1874, the Department of Agriculture in Georgia was the first to be established in the United States.

“Georgia, being a world leader in agriculture, would be a valuable partner for the Philippines.

Its experiences can provide additional insight into growing the sector. The Philippines also have a lot to offer to Georgia’s companies. I highlighted to Commissioner Black the significant investments we have made in agriculture and agribusiness to make them internationally competitive,” Ambassador Cuisia said.

On Wednesday, March 9, Ambassador Cuisia exchanged views with Mr. Dennis Lockhart, the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, on manifold issues such as the state of the Philippine and US economies, the future of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), remittances, and the impact of the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on the Asia-Pacific region.

As the former chief of the now defunct Central Bank of the Philippines—the precursor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas—

Meeting with The Coca-Cola Company executives: (L-R) Pia Valeriano, President of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia; John UyHam, M&A Councel, Corporate Legal Finance, Coca-Cola; Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.; Anthony Quan, Director, Strategic Initiatives, Global Finance, Coca-Cola; Jennifer Ragland, Director, International Government Relations and Public Affairs; and Philippine Honorary Consul General Raoul Donato.

Ambassador Cuisia was able to engage Mr. Lockhart into an indepth discussion on monetary policy. The two central bankers agreed that interest rates represent only one tool in the box and that much is demanded from the fiscal side to stabilize any economy.

The envoy likewise touched base with the executives of The Coca-Cola Company, which continues to be a strong source of employment and income for host communities in the Philippines.

“We note Coca-Cola’s leadership for their commitment to invest US$1 billion in the Philippines over the last five years, and its expansion plans that are expected to further benefit the Philippine economy,” Ambassador Cuisia remarked.

Mr. Anthony Quan, CocaCola’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, said that Coca-Cola remains upbeat about the economic trajectory of the Philippines. He likewise reiterated his company’s strong commitment to the country.

Ambassador Cuisia was also interviewed by Global Atlanta,

a widely circulated publication “devoted to tracking Atlanta’s rise as a center for international business, education and culture.”

In response to the question of how the Philippines has been able to sustain a relatively high level of economic growth, the Ambassador cited three factors: 1) remittances from overseas Filipinos; 2) growth of the IT-BPM sector; 3) the Government’s substantial investment in developing infrastructure.

The meetings were arranged through the offices of Mr. Raoul Donato, the Philippines’ longtime Honorary Consul General in the state of Georgia. Ms. Pia Valeriano, President of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, was a member of the Ambassador’s delegation.

Atlanta’s metropolitan area constitutes the 10th largest metro economy in the United States and the largest in the south. It also ranks third among cities in the US with the highest number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the metro area.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia Gary Black meet in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 8.

Las Vegas mom sentenced to life without...

PAGE A1 Michelle Paet revealed that the murder plot was conspired to collect $650,000 in life insurance — $400,000 from the military and $250,000 from her husband’s insurance policy.

She and Rodriguez met and entered a relationship while working at a telemarketing company in Las Vegas. The murder plot was planned over the course of six months, prosecutors said.

“She sits before you as she has before other men, crying and kind of the perfect picture of femininity and vulnerability, looking like a victim,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Michelle Fleck said. “What you see is not what you get.”

Rodriguez was separately found guilty last year for his part in the murder.

The Paets’ four children currently live in Guam with relatives and are reportedly afraid of their

mother.

“They are afraid that if she can do this to their father, she may be capable of doing this to them,” Nathan Paet’s mother Carmelita said.

Michelle Paet, addressing the judge and her murdered husband’s relatives, sought forgiveness.

“I hope and pray that one day each and every one of them will find it in their hearts to truly forgive me,” she said.

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Dateline PEstrada hiliPPines buries the hatchet, all praise for justice who convicted him of plunder

by TeTch

Torres-Tupas Inquirer.net

Vice President Jejomar Binay woos voters in Olongapo City on Tuesday. March 8.

Inquirer.net photo

Ombudsman denies leaking COA report against Binay

by Marc Jayson

cayabyab

Inquirer.net

THE Office of the Ombudsman has denied that it leaked the Commission on Audit (COA) report to the media to shame Vice President Jejomar Binay.

On Thursday, March 10, Atty.

Rawnsle Lopez, acting director of the Ombudsman Public Information and Media Relations Bureau, said in a text message that the Ombudsman has yet to receive a copy of the report.

“As of the moment, the office is still waiting for the transmittal of the COA report. The office will thoroughly study the COA findings before issuing any further statement,” Lopez said.

In a statement, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) President Toby Tiangco accused the Ombudsman of hiring a public relations consultant to leak to the media the audit report that found anomalies in the design and construction of the Makati City Hall Building II when the vice president and his son were Makati mayor.

Tiangco also accused the COA of the same bias as the Ombudsman in besmirching the image of the vice president to derail his presidential bid.

“We have received information that a PR consultant working for the Ombudsman provided copies of the COA report to select reporters. To this we ask why,

if the case against us is strong, would there be any need for underhanded tactics?” Tiangco said.

Asked to react on Tiangco’s claims, Lopez said: “No such report was released.”

The Ombudsman and Binay’s camp had traded barbs after UNA accused the Ombudsman of pressuring the COA to release the audit report on the Makati car park building to drag down the name of the vice president at the height of the elections.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman had lashed back that Binay pleaded to a COA official to delay the release of the report until after the May 9 elections.

The Inquirer reported Thursday that the COA finished its final special audit report on the P2.8 billion Makati car park building, which started construction when Vice President Binay was Makati mayor and continued to the term of his son Junjun.

The report said the procurement was rigged to award the contract to favored contractors despite deficiencies in required documents, and that the contract price was “bloated” to the disadvantage of government.

The auditors found the Vice President administratively liable for grave misconduct, dishonesty and gross inexcusable negligence, graft and corrupt practices, and thus recommend to penalize Binay with removal from

office, fines and imprisonment.

The vice president’s son had been charged with graft and falsification of public documents for the alleged anomaly, while Binay, a leading presidential candidate, would be charged when his immunity expires at the end of his term.

Binay had filed a P200-million damage suit against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and the Philippine Daily Inquirer before the Makati Regional Trial Court.

FORMER President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has already moved on from his plunder conviction by the Sandiganbayan in 2007.

Speaking as a special guest for the 21st annual convention of the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA), Estrada said in jest that he will never forget Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro.

Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro De Castro was the presiding Estrada justice and chair of the Sandigan- Sabi nga, iba na ang may pinagsa- laughter from the audience inbayan Special Division that con- mahan. Mahigit isang dekada na cluding De Castro and Chief Jusvicted Estrada of plunder that car- rin pala ang nakalipas mula noong tice Sereno. ries the penalty of up to 40 years nagkakaharap kami sa SandiganHowever, Estrada said that is all imprisonment. However, he was bayan… More than a decade has water under the bridge. pardoned by former President passed since we encountered “It is a chapter now relegated and now Pampanga Representa- each other at Sandiganbayan)…I to the past. Between that time and tive Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. will never forget her, Justice Tere- now, Justice De Castro has risen “I cannot forget the justice sita de Castro was one of the three to be part of our nation’s highest who is responsible for the…never justices who heard the plunder court while I have returned to the mind,” Estrada said laughing. case against me. Sinabi ko nga city of my birth to heed the call of He said he will never forget De noon handa ako makulong dahil public service once again,” EsCastro because she is one of the wala akong ninakaw na pera sa trada said. three justices who convicted her gobyerno, akalain ninyo, ipinakuEstrada also thanked De Casof plunder—the other two be- long nga ako, si Ma’am naman tro because she was the ponente ing now Supreme Court Associ- hindi na mabiro (I have said be- in the 2015 decision dismissing a ate Justice Diosdado Peralta and fore that I was ready to be impris- petition seeking his disqualificaretired Sandiganbayan Associate oned because I didn’t steal money tion as mayor of Manila.

Justice Francisco Villaruz. from the government and as you “In truth, I would not be here to“Justice De Castro and I as you know, she really sent me to jail),” day, delivering these welcome reall know share a unique history. Estrada said which solicited loud PAGE A7

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OpiniOn

Features

Empowered

ON MARCH 8, the world celebrated International Women’s Day. It has been designated to acknowledge and celebrate the many social, economic, cultural and political achievements and contributions of women around the world.

According to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the observance of International Women’s Day (IWD) was a result of the organizing activities of women in the early 20th century. Between 1909 and 1911, working women in the United States participated in organizing strike activities of the National Women’s Trade Union League and other concerned groups.

They were responding to the low wages, lack of protective legislation and the poor working conditions to which women workers were subjected during that time.

With this year’s team “Pledge for Parity,” people are encouraged to take a concrete step to help achieve gender parity more quickly—whether to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, call for gender-balanced leadership, respect and value difference, develop more inclusive and flexible cultures or root out workplace bias. Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to taking pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) predicted in 2014 that it would take until 2095 to achieve global gender parity. Then one year later in 2015, they estimated that a slowdown in the already glacial pace of progress meant the gender gap wouldn’t

close entirely until 2133.

In the Philippines, March is Women’s Role in History Month.

It is also National Women’s Heart Health Month, its first week is Women’s Week and its 8th day is International Women’s Day. The country was recently hailed by WEF as Asia’s best-performing country and fifth in the world when it comes to closing gender disparity.

Iceland remained the most gender-equal country in this year’s list, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden and Ireland. Rwanda ranked sixth, followed by the Philippines at seventh. Switzerland, Slovenia, and New Zealand completed the top 10 worldwide.

The Global Gender Gap Index is measured based on four primary indicators which include economic participation and opportunity, education, political empowerment, and health and survival.

In its Global Gender Gap Index, the WEF reported that the major improvement was seen in the economic participation and opportunity indicator after the Philippines recorded more female legislators, senior officials and managers, as well as professional and technical workers. The country also saw slight improvement in its score for political empowerment due to a higher number of women

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

in ministerial positions.

While Filipinas have made strides in realizing their formidable role in nation building, the Center for Women’s Resources (CWR) still insists that more women initiate genuine societal transformation where their demands would be fulfilled. They must contribute to bridging gender disparities and shortfalls especially in areas with low development

levels such as areas with high poverty level, and are hazard-prone and disaster affected.

For the world to truly enjoy gender equality and women empowerment, men and women alike must continue exerting tremendous efforts to identify remaining difficulties threatening women’s development, not just for their advancement but for the better future of all. (AJPress)

Could the Republican Party establishment stop Trump’s momentum and prevent him from becoming the GOP nominee?

WHAT is going on in the Republican Party nomination contest has become more of a nailbiter than most reality shows, thanks to the unexpected sprint to the front by reality show star and business mogul Donald Trump. Perhaps the Republican Party establishment did not see this coming, thinking that the Grand Old Party (GOP) electorate’s relationship with him was just a “fling”, arousing its curiosity when he announced he was running for president. But now, Trump has proven such fling is looking like a lasting affair, as he has been winning in more states than any of the traditional Republican presidential candidates.

Could it be too little, too late? The GOP has been scrambling to convince voters to think again before voting for Trump. Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney had

even spoken out as one of the elder party leaders to warn The Fil-Am people against Trump, delivering a fiery speech against their Perspective party’s front-runner.

“Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud,” Romney said of Trump.

“His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump Univer- Gel SantoS-reloS sity. He’s playing members of the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House, and all we get is a lousy hat.”

Romney went on to characterize Trump as somebody the voters should not put their trust in during this election season, alleging that “dishonesty is Donald Trump’s hallmark,” pointing to his “bullying, the greed, the showing off, the mi-

sogyny, the absurd third-grade theatrics.”

Of course, these words went antithetical to what Romney did when he was running against Pres. Barack Obama four years ago. He courted Trump’s endorsement -- as CNN reported, even after Trump had led the “birther” controversy against President Barack Obama, insisting that Obama release his birth certificate to prove he is an American citizen.

Now the Republican Party SuperPAC has been spending millions of dollars to attack Trump, but the more they do this, the more his loyal fans came to his defense.

However, it seems some of the criticism may

have been gaining traction as Trump’s ratings have gone south by a few percentage points leading up to Super Tuesday 2 (Tuesday, March 8).

More consequential primaries and caucuses are taking place this March, and the results of these will prove if Donald Trump can hold on to his frontrunner status, and eventually win enough delegates to clinch the nomination.

However, pundits say if Trump does not win the required number of delegates, we may be expecting some backroom deals happening within the Republican Party leading up to the convention. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos

The whole truth about EDSA 1 may never be told

Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenta WHILE doing research at the Library of Congress in Washington DC on the presence of natives of Las Islas Filipinas in Louisiana in the 1700s, I chanced upon a compilation of “Manuscripts and materials relating to the Philippines,” prepared by Charles O. Houston of the library’s manuscript division.

In the preface, Houston wrote: “The library’s collection is extremely rich in the period 1898 and contains as well materials on the preceding period which reflect the interests and biases of Americans who were concerned with Philippine affairs in the opening years of this century.

“Enough was discovered in only two of the collections to make necessary an almost complete revision of the history of the period 1898-1934, and which makes tendentious and misleading most works printed about the Philippines since 1900.“ I recalled Houston’s critical comment on reading the news about the speeches of President Noynoy Aquino at the observance of the 30th anniversary of the People Power Revolution or EDSA 1 and at the memorial service for the late Stephen Bosworth, former US ambassador to the Philippines.

In both speeches, Aquino heaped opprobrium on the

late President Ferdinand Marcos and his family, and passed on the onus to vice-presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos II. Among other things, Aquino tried to dispel any notion that the Marcos era was a “golden age” for the Philippines, in the process making that claim for his own administration. He also belied the story about Marcos restraining his military from attacking the civilians massed at EDSA and around Camp Aguinaldo, where the breakaway forces of Gen. Fidel V. Ramos and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile were entrenched.

Not surprisingly, Aquino’s narratives were challenged by individuals who had intimate knowledge of the Marcos years and the incidents leading to the civil-military uprising that deposed him. Among the detractors were Manila Times columnists Rigoberto Tiglao, former ambassador and key official under President Gloria MacapagalArroyo, and Francisco “Kit” Tatad, former senator and former press secretary in the Marcos cabinet.

Note that each one had played a role in the events that led to the declaration of martial law that, subsequently, led to EDSA 1: Aquino, as the son of the man whose assassination was one of the sparks that set ablaze the embers of the revolt, and a mother who became president as a result of that uprising; Tatad, as a key official in the Marcos government, privy to the machinations in Malacañang; and Tiglao, as a young member

of a Communist cadre openly working for the overthrow of the government – the reason Marcos gave for declaring martial law.

Was Aquino lying or were his detractors the ones doing so?

Frankly, I think that they were all telling the truth—their versions of the truth.

History is written by the victors. Thus, like the records on Philippine-American relations that Houston described as “tendentious and misleading,” the stories about the Marcos regime and EDSA 1 have been told mainly from the perspective of those who deposed him. Expectedly, while based on facts, these have been subjected to biases and varying degrees of embellishments.

It was in that context that Aquino recounted his version of the Marcos years and EDSA 1.

It takes a truly dedicated and objective historian or journalist to dig up accounts from various sources, attempt to separate the grain from the chaff, and come up with a truthful and balanced recounting of the Marcos years and EDSA 1. That may not be possible in our lifetime.

In his speech at the Bosworth memorial service, Aquino said that it was not true that Marcos was compassionate and refused to order government forces to attack the rebels and slaughter their civilian supporters.

I know of different versions of this. One version is that the US warned Marcos that he would be made severely answerable for any deaths at EDSA. On the other hand, I personally overheard

the commander of the Philippine Marines at the time, Gen, Artemio Tadiar, admit that he could not, in all conscience, order his tanks to attack. This was confirmed by other senior officers. In other words, the Marcos military did not have the heart to massacre fellow Filipinos.

But Aquino’s version is understandable. Anyone under his circumstances would be burdened by a humongous prejudice. He is entitled to it, never mind that the main reason for his speech was to keep “Bongbong” Marcos II from winning the vicepresidency.

The best that readers and kibitzers can do is to go by the incontrovertible facts.

What is fact is that Marcos and his military did not spill blood at EDSA. In contrast, one need only Google the heading, “Mendiola massacre,” to read this entry: “The Mendiola massacre, also called Black Thursday by some Filipino journalists, was an incident that took place in Mendiola Street, San Miguel, Manila, Philippines on January 22, 1987, in which state security forces violently dispersed a farmers’ march to Malacañan Palace. Thirteen of the farmers were killed and many wounded when government anti-riot forces opened fire on them. The farmers were demanding fulfillment of the promises made regarding land reform during the Presidential campaign of Cory Aquino, and distribution of lands at no cost to beneficiaries.”

This carnage happened less than a year after President Cory

Aquino’s assumption of the presidency by virtue of her revolutionary powers.

Who had compassion? Marcos or Cory Aquino?

And speaking of compassion, the day after Ninoy Aquino was allowed to leave for the US for medical treatment, it was revealed to us by then First Lady Imelda Marcos that Ninoy was so sick, they had to let him go.

According to her, if Ninoy had died while incarcerated, nobody would have believed that Marcos did not have him killed. Talk about irony.

The reason I know this is because, I happened to be in Malacañang that day with my elder brother, Danding, my cousin, Yen, his uncle Ben Peñaranda, and Leyte poet, Paquing Javines, on the invitation of Mrs. Marcos, in connection with the Santo Niño Fiesta in Tacloban of which Bongbong Marcos was the hermano mayor.

Those are the facts.

Another fact is that Noynoy Aquino has not shown similar compassion for a former president who continues to languish in “hospital arrest” while suffering from a spinal ailment.

The books that have been written about EDSA 1 have been based mostly on the accounts of one side of the confrontation— that of the side that won. In that regard, I happen to have in my possession, copies of three reports written by high-ranking officers in the Marcos military who were in the thick of that conflict. They may present what I refer to as “The other side of EDSA.”

One of the reports was submitted by former Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command, Admiral Brillante Ochoco. He had requested newly-designated AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Fidel Ramos, permission to leave for the US. As a condition, Ramos asked Ochoco to submit a detailed—virtually hour by hour— account of his role in the threeday uprising. Ramos must have been satisfied with the report, because Ochoco was allowed to leave.

The reason I am familiar with the report is because Ochoco was a friend and he asked me, as a personal favor, to go over the draft of his manuscript. I retained a copy of it. I also managed to get a copy of two other hour-by-hour narratives submitted to Ramos by two Philippine Navy captains who were also on the government side.

If you were to juxtapose the EDSA 1 accounts of writers like Nick Joaquin with the reports of the senior officers of the Marcos military (which Ramos may have in his archives), we could have a better picture of what really happened in those three fateful days.

The same can be said about the Marcos years, if told from different eyewitness perspectives, such as those of Tatad and Tiglao, and not just from Noynoy Aquino’s point of view.

Until then, we will have to make do with incomplete, possibly tendentious, possibly misleading and possibly self-serving versions of an important part of our country’s history. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • mARCh 11-17, 2016

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Aquino on rebels in Lanao clashes: They want ISIS’ attention

by FrAnceS

MAngoSing Inquirer.net

RECORD-BREAKING HEAT. The Philippines may experience record-breaking heat in coming months, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

The highest temperature recorded in the country was 1969, when the heat in Tuguegarao City reached 42.2 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature recorded in Metro Manila was 38.6 degrees Celsius in 1915.

Philstar.com photo

Abu Sayyaf captives ask Canada, Norway anew: Negotiate for our safety

by Julie

S. AlipAlA Inquirer.net

ZAMBOANGA CITY— The Abu Sayyaf has released a new video of the three foreigners and a Filipina who were kidnapped from the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte in September last year.

In the video, the Canadian and Norwegian captives were apparently forced to plead for help to their governments. A hooded Abu Sayyaf member warned that “something terrible” would be done to the four victims if ransom demands were not met by April 8.

The one-minute, 37-second video was posted on the Facebook page of “Pamantasan ng Tawheed at Jihad Filibin.” In the video, one of the six armed men forced three of their captives to ask for help.

Canadian John Ridsdel was the first to beg. “For my wife, to my family and this is so much bigger than family, to the Canadian Prime Minister and to the Canadian people in the world, please, do as needed to meet their demand

ABDUCTION ON SAMAL ISLAND. Armed men abducted Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, with Filipino girlfriend Marites Flor (inset photos), Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad on the Island Garden City of Samal in September 2015. Photo taken on Sept. 19 shows the Norwegian shipbuilder and caretaker of Oceanview Marina posing beside his newly finished catamaran twinhull yacht at Barangay Camudmud on Samal Island.

within one month or they will kill me, they will execute us,” Ridsdel said while a man wearing held a bolo on his neck.

Canadian Robert Hall, who was seated beside his Filipina girlfriend Flor, was next. “I am a Canadian citizen being held by the Abu Sayyaf Group for ransom, the amount is, I do not know what it is.

But the Canadian government has got to get us out of here fast, to do what is necessary to get us out

of here soon. We got one month before this happens,” he said.

Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad said it was his “last message to my family, friends and authorities.”

“Follow the negotiation, try to meet their demands within 30 days or we are all dead,” he said.

The victims were kidnapped from the Overview Marina in the Island Garden City of Samal in September last year.

Estrada buries the hatchet, all praise for justice...

PAGE A5 marks, were it not for the probity and impartiality of that decision by the Supreme Court. Neither would I have had the authority nor the power to put in place the reforms necessary to resurrect a bankrupt city and steer it back on the road to progress,” said Estrada.

In his speech during the PWJA, Estrada assured the women judges that he is in full support and

very vocal against any form of abuse against women, especially those entailing violence against women and children.

“Tulad ng lagi kong sinasabi, ang kababaihan ay ginagalang at inaalagaan. Ang kababaihan ay iniingatan at minamahal. At si Erap, noon at ngayon, ay likas na mapag-mahal. (As I always say, women should be respected and taken good care of. Women should

be protected and loved. And Erap, before and now, has been loving by nature),” he said.

Meanwhile, De Castro acknowledged Estrada as “the quintessential gentleman, most kind-hearted, public servant and most-loved by the poor.”

She also thanked him for providing security during the 2015 Bar examination where she is the chairperson.

FERNANDO AIR BASE, Batangas—The rebels who attacked Butig, Lanao del Sur in a weeklong clashes with the military wanted to get the attention of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), President Benigno Aquino III said.

“Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, first time na kumilos ‘yung grupong iyan (If I’m not mistaken, it was the first time that group attacked) and what were they able to do? They harassed one detachment and a detachment by definition is small. So, again, ginawa iyon tawag pansin with the expectation ang pananaw ng ating intel community, ang pananaw ay para makalikom ng pondo mula sa Middle East. Kumbaga nagpapakitang-gilas at balik nga tayo doon (So, again, the attacks were done to get attention with the expectation, as our intel community believes, to collect funds from the Middle East. It seems like they were showing off and let’s go back to issue) is it ideological or religious? They will say it is, but, primarily, we believe it is by mercenary reasons that are prompting them to do this,” he told reporters in a press briefing on Wednesday, March 9.

The Moro rebel group is led by Maute brothers—Abdullah and Omar, and has around 40 to 80 members. The military says they are remnants of the Jemaah Islamiyah.

The rebels were able to sustain the weeklong clashes with the military with their strong defense and high-powered firearms, however, the government forces were able to overrun their base eventually. Thousands have fled because of the fighting.

The government has repeatedly denied the existence of ISIS in the country, saying it was a mere propaganda.

This is despite videos of rebels pledging allegiance to the ISIS circulating on the Internet and the acknowledgment of the latter to these materials.

It is reportedly required from rebel groups to show their capability to launch large-scale attacks in order to get funding from the ISIS. Armed Forces chief Gen. Hernando Iriberri, meanwhile, explained that the rebels did not set up the compound they are using, which was fit for battle.

“The compound was initially built not by the group, it was

built by some family rido ‘yon e. Nagumpisa kaya…Pati ‘yung tower doon, ginamit para sa rido.

So, originally, hindi sila ang gumamit ‘non. So ‘nung nakita nila ‘yung opportunity na merong facility na ganun ginamit na nila,” he said in the same briefing.

He also said the rebels had no supplier of high-powered firearms as speculated: “Alam mo naman doon sa Mindanao, sa ating mga kapatid na Muslim ay talagang gusto nila isa sa mga prized possession nila ay magka-

roon ng armas.”

Iriberri also defended the deployment of the Light Reaction Company (LRC) troops to the said clashes. The LRC is a special unit that leads in the conduct of anti-terrorist operations, mostly high-profile.

“Ang LRC hindi lamang para sa terorista (LRC is not just deployed to fight terrorists). Any group that would threaten the lives of our people and the communities, ginagamit natin iyon,” he said.

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march 11-17, 2016 • Oc/IE aSIaN JOUrNaL

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2

march 11-17, 2016

Fil-Am, a ‘huge’ fan of Ronnie del Carmen, is also making a mark in animation by ruben

v. nepAles

Inquirer.net

LOS ANGELES—Josie Trinidad is “a huge fan of Ronnie del Carmen,” the “Pixnoy” (a Pinoy who works at Pixar) who was a nominee in the recent Oscars, but she herself is going places. The Fil-Am is the cohead of the story of “Zootopia,” Disney’s 55th animated feature film. She began as an apprentice in 2004 and rose from the ranks.

The UCLA and CalArts alumna said she was inspired by her father, Amado Fernando Trinidad, who recently passed away. “He truly influenced me the most as a creative storyteller,” Josie remarked about her father who was born and raised in San Juan, Metro Manila.

Set in a world of talking critters, “Zootopia” is being hailed for its uncanny timeliness. Featuring a lovable small town rabbit named Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin), who dreams

of becoming a cop, this very entertaining toon touches on race relations and explores bigotry, apropos in these times when the diversity issue is a pressing topic.

These themes are not handled with heavyhandedness, though.

Credit Josie and her team, which includes directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore, for coming up with a fun, engaging movie that taps excellent actors as voices for the various characters, including Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, JK Simmons, Octavia Spencer and even singer Shakira (who also sings the catchy theme song).

Excerpts from our interview with Josie: Can you talk about how fortuitous it is that “Zootopia” tackles diversity at a time when that topic is very much in the news?

At Disney Animation, our goal first and foremost is creating believable, complex and real

“Futurama,” as well as “Wreck-it Ralph.”

They are uniquely funny guys who brought together two great writers, Phil Johnston (also from “Wreck-it Ralph”) and Jared Bush (also our codirector) and a wonderful story crew (many of whom I worked with on “Tangled” and “Ralph”).

In addition, we test our story out through several internal screenings over a period of roughly two years. After each screening, our Story Trust, similar to Pixar’s Brain Trust (which includes directors, story supervisors and our creative leadership—John Lasseter and Ed Catmull), give extensive notes on what worked and didn’t work, and how to improve the story.

We also get feedback from the crew.

Speaking of diversity, as a person of color and a woman, what was your journey like in your pursuit of a career in the maledominated world of animation?

My journey in animation began when I was accepted to the character animation program at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). This is where a lot of great artists in animation studied.

When I went to CalArts, the animation department was roughly half women and half men.

Many of my classmates were from around the world, particularly Asia (Korea, Thailand and the Philippines). So where you came from and who you were (male or female) didn’t really matter. It was about how talented you were.

I admit I wasn’t a very talented animator or designer, but I knew I had a knack for story. So, that’s what I focused on while at CalArts.

Fortunately, I had the best Inquirer.net photo story teachers during my time there—people who became directors and story supervisors like Steve Anderson (“Meet the Robinsons”), Mark Andrews (“The Incredibles” and “Brave”), Cody Cameron (“Shrek,”“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2,”“Open Season 3”) and Mark Walton.

I heard about a story apprenticeship at Disney through Mark Walton, who worked at Disney Animation at the time.

I applied, was accepted and

characters who live in worlds that we’ve never seen before.

Rather than broadly tackling any theme, we chose to focus on our main character, Judy Hopps, and her journey from a small-town girl to fulfilling her dream of being a police officer in the big city.

That’s how we approach story at Disney—by focusing on specific characters and asking how they would respond to the situations we put them in.

How did you strike a balance between tackling prejudice and diversity and still manage to be entertaining?

We were able to strike a nice balance because telling entertaining stories with a strong emotional core is part of what we do. I credit our directors, Byron Howard and Rich Moore, for creating such an entertaining and hilarious movie. Byron directed “Bolt” and “Tangled”; Rich is a veteran from “The Simpsons” and

FIl-Am Josie Trinidad is the brains behind ‘Zootopia’

What stars are cooking up

by Dolly

Anne CArvAjAl

Inquirer.net

LET’S take a break from the show biz circus. For a change, let’s take a peek at what some stars are into when the cameras stop grinding.

Here’s what Janice de Belen, Lotlot de Leon, Wency Cornejo and Baron Geisler are cooking up!

Janice de Belen: I have always loved cooking for friends, and I usually give dishes I make as Christmas gifts.

Last year, Gelli and I joined a bazaar where I sold my specialties.

Then, people asked how to order [them].

That’s how I got started with my “food biz.” It’s home-based.

I don’t cook by bulk because I don’t want to compromise quality and taste. Orders are for pickup only and must be made four days in advance (call 09188086000; Instagram kitchen_of_ superjanice).

My callos and cheese cupcakes are the original bestsellers. And my roasted chicken, too. I have only a few items for now. I’ll add more dishes soon. I don’t want to put my culinary education to waste.

Janice de Belen

Lotlot de Leon: My “Lotlot Homemade” specialties are bopis, Bicol express and dulong in olive oil. They are catered for those who like spicy food (call 5217887).

Wency Cornejo: My bakeshop/resto Carmela’s is located at JJ’s Commune, Loyola st. near the intersection of Bajada and Torres, Obrero side, in Davao City.

I decided to open it in Davao because there’s less competition.

I named it after my mom (Mel Tiangco). We specialize in “EnZayms,” which are ensaymadas in different flavors.

Bestsellers are queso de bola and cheese rolls. We also offer “Biscochomada” (biscochong ensaymada) and choco-filled meringue. We also have several pasta and rice dishes.

A must-try is our steak arroz a la Cubana and the Jack ’n’ Jill plate (Chippy-encrusted fried chicken breast, served with mac and cheese curls).

For dessert, we have our cheesecake line, most famous of which is the sans rival cheesecake.

Other flavors are choco sans rival, mango float and the banoffee cheesecake.

I’ve always been a reluctant

Baron Geisler in his resto, Relish

singer. I always say that I am not confident as a singer, but I’m proud of my dishes as a cook.

Everything on the menu is my recipe. My resto is a childhood dream-come-true.

Baron Geisler: Relish is a family restaurant located at Diamond Subdivision, Arayat st., Angeles, Pampanga. Our specialties include wood-smoked ribs and crispy chicken wings.

Our bestseller, and one of my favorites, is The Big Meanie. It is a savory Asian pork rib that is wood-smoked for six hours in the patented fire-brick oven we fondly call “The Beast.”

It was an easy decision to buy a small stake in the company because the specialties tasted great, and it is one of its kind locally—and because I thought it was time for me to venture outside [show biz] and see what else I can do aside from being an actor.

I am not in the restaurant all the time, but I don’t mind becoming one of its servers every time I am there.

I find it interesting to talk to diners. I get a sense of fulfillment every time they leave the restaurant with a smile.

Lotlot de Leon

when I first started at Disney, there were only two women in the story department including my mentor, Stevie Wermers. Stevie helped me transition from a fledgling story trainee to a capable veteran.

Have you always dreamt of a career in animation?

Not always. When I was young, I had silly dreams like working at an ice cream parlor and wanting to be a professional volleyball player, which is ridiculous since I’m very short!

I also wanted to be a teacher, a lawyer and a park ranger when I was in school. But much of my time as a child was spent watching movies and cartoons. And I always loved reading, writing and drawing.

What are your earliest memories of watching animated films?

I saw “Cinderella” in the theater when I was 5 years old.

It’s my favorite Disney movie to this day—a wonderful, classic animated film with a great story and characters and fun songs.

But when I was about 10 or 11, when my best friend and I were watching “Robin Hood” on VHS, I accidentally paused it. It started playing frame by frame and at that moment, I realized those were individual drawings. That’s when the idea of my becoming an animator first started.

Can you comment on the success of several Fil-Ams in animation, including Ronnie del Carmen who was a story artist

2

and supervisor like you?

While I don’t know him personally, I’m a huge fan of Ronnie del Carmen, and have been for a long time. I greatly admire his personal comic book series, “Paper Biscuit.”

I’ve attended his lectures on screenwriting and the story process at Pixar. I especially love his drawing style and sensibility— a perfect combination of emotion and humor.

Can you also comment on Ronnie being the first Fil-Am to be nominated for best original screenplay Oscar for “Inside Out”?

Ronnie’s nomination is a great achievement for FilipinoAmericans.

Can you talk about your Filipino heritage?

I was born and raised in California. My mother is Carmencita Lazo Trinidad, born and raised in Canlubang, Laguna.

And my father is Amado Fernando Trinidad, born and raised in San Juan, Metro Manila with roots in Marikina.

What are your tips to people aspiring to have careers in animation?

My advice to aspiring story artists is to build your artistic skill set. Focus on drawing, composition, editing, acting, film analysis and structure and enrich your mind through experience… because that is where your own characters and stories are going to come from.

DESPITE APOLOGY

Vivian Velez wants Cristine Reyes to ‘drown in own vomit’ VETERAN actress Vivian Velez has reacted on the statement issued by her “Tubig at Langis” co-star Cristine Reyes whom she accused of being rude to her.

In a statement, Velez told the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) that she is now in the process of moving on from her spat with Reyes.

Not mincing her words, Velez said on Wednesday, March 9: “Let her drown in her own vomit. I’m taking the high road and moving on.”

The issue between the two actresses started when Velez vented out on Facebook on Sunday that she will be quitting the afternoon show because she was humiliated by a co-star. She later confirmed that it was Reyes who treated her rudely on set.

In her statement, Reyes lengthily narrated her side. She said that it all started when she had to share a dressing room with Velez. When the veteran actress was being asked to be transferred by the showrunners to her own dressing room, Velez supposedly threw a fit and accused Reyes of booting her out.

The issue on the dressing room, Reyes said, went unresolved. In another instance, Velez and her make-up artist supposedly charged toward Reyes after they heard her singing Avril Lavigne’s “Goodbye.”

Reyes has since apologized to Velez.

With regard to the statement issued by the “Tubig at Langis” production team where they shielded Reyes from blame and owned up to the miscommunication between the two actresses, Velez said: “Understandably, they have a show to protect. But I stand firm with my truth.” (Inquirer.net)

Vivian Velez

Cristine Reyes

Cristine Reyes: Not shaken by negativity by joyCe jimenez Philstar.com

CRISTINE Reyes chooses to be positive amid the issue involving her and experienced actress Vivian Velez.

“I will no longer be shaken by negativity,” she said in a post on her Facebook page on Thursday.

The Kapamilya actress said what matters to her is “the people I love know the truth.”

“It is at these moments that I am called [to] be a better person,” she added.

It was earlier this week when Velez left the show “Tubig at Langis” where she’s co-stars with Reyes. The experienced actress claimed that Cristine “humiliated” her and has been “rude” to her.

On her post, she thanked the people behind “Tubig at Langis,” her co-stars Zanjoe Marudo, Isabelle Daza, Nadia Motenegro and Yanna Montenegro.

She also mentioned Viva Talent Agency for not leaving her side.

“Truly, it is during these times that the people who truly care for you stay by your side,” she concluded.

march 11-17, 2016 www.asianjournal.com

3

Veteran actors to star in new Pinoy musical

Jose Javier Reyes: “I would rather have a life than die for a living. In the end, you would realize na, was it really worth it?”

Joey Reyes’ advice to directors: Have a life, not just a living

by ChuCk

Smith Philstar.com

In an interview during the press conference for the 2nd MANILA — “That’s why I don’t CineFilipino Film Festival on Tuesday, Reyes agreed that work do TV.” Thus quipped veteran director on television is difficult and that there is “is a need to reassess Jose Javier Reyes when asked for the working hours, the working a comment on the recent deaths conditions, but more so the of directors Wenn Deramas and security and healthcare given to Francis Pasion and the recent criticism on the working conditions television workers.”

He also hopes that the in movie and television. people in the industry continue It can be remembered that to discuss the work conditions movie director Quark Henares of people who work in television took to Facebook to blame the and movies. “horrible working hours and “This has been going on condition” as presumably the for years. Only now do you see reason why Deramas and Pasion something visible,” Reyes said. got cardiac arrests.

“Hindi lang natin alam ‘yung mga The post turned viral and namamatay na trabahador na began a conversation in the hindi kasing high profile ng mga industry on the heavy work load direktor.” of those who work in television.

But Reyes believes it’s still a matter of choice.

“You are actually given a choice... When you accept TV work, especially if you accept teleseryes, it’s gonna be like that,” he said.

“I’ve been like that during my young and ambitious days, and I was already hospitalized because of stress. So it suddenly dawned upon me, it’s really your choice, ‘di ba?”

He also said: “I would rather have a life than die for a living... In the end, you would realize na, was it really worth it?”

His advice to young directors who work on television?

“Have a life,” he said. “It’s all about having a life, not merely having a living.”

SPOTLIGHT Artists Centre, the theater company founded and run by the husband-and-wife team of Robert Seña and Isay AlvarezSeña, has announced that its next production will be “Dirty Old Musical,” an original Filipino work to be headlined by a powerhouse cast of topnotch actors in film and theater: John Arcilla, Nonie Buencamino, Michael Williams, Ricky Davao and Seña himself.

“DOM (Dirty Old Musical)” is slated to run Sept. 1-10 at the Music Museum, under Dexter Santos’ direction. The libretto is by Rody Vera, with Myke Salomon as musical director.

Salomon is also the awardwinning musical director behind the Peta hit musicals “Rak of Aegis” and “3 Stars and a Sun”. In an interview with this paper last week, he revealed some information about “DOM”, the idea of which he said he had pitched to Seña.

“Yan yung pinitch ko kay Robert… Kasi di ba may ‘Vagina Monologues.’ Di naman masyadong madaldal ang lalaki. Pag-usapan natin issues ng mga lalaki, lalo na pag nagmimidlife na,” he said.

The musical will feature original songs and jukebox hits. “May Imelda Papin dyan,” said Salomon.

It’s a casting feat to have Arcilla, Seña, Buencamino, Williams and Davao—five of the most accomplished performers around— in one show.

Arcilla, of course, is best known these days for his starring role in the

Anne CArvAjAl Inquirer.net

“CesDolNoVin”).

His reply: “I was playing golf WHEN news broke out in Tagaytay. I had no idea that on Thursday, March 10 about the issue about me was already Japanese sexy star Maria Ozawa’s trending in social media. Then, “admission” that she had a Maria sent me a message to one-night stand with Cesar clarify matters.”

Montano (her leading man in With Buboy’s permission, “Nilalang”) on DJ Mo Twister’s let me share with you their text “Good Times with Mo” podcast, exchange. Here goes: I immediately sent a message Maria: Did you see the news? to Buboy (Cesar’s nickname) What’s up with PH media? DJ Mo in our private Viber chat group, and I were joking about it in the along with Alvin Anson and Noel podcast, but I didn’t know the Cabangon (which we named news will pick it up. I’m sorry, Cesar—for the hassle.

Cesar: Yeah. A lot of people are calling and texting me about that. I know you aren’t the kind of person who would make up stories. Thanks for the text and concern.

Maria: The news really broke my heart. DJ Mo was joking about it, and I was flirting with the way I answered because I thought it would be better for his podcast to have a little entertainment. But this is too much. I will talk to Mo and tell him to stop saying whatever.

That was the end of their text exchange.

I was not able to tune in to Cesar Montano and Maria Ozawa in the podcast. But based on what I “Nilalang”

read online, Maria was changing the topic, yet Mo persisted.

According to an Internet report, Mo bluntly asked Maria: “How many times did you have sex with Cesar? I really have a feeling that you did.”

I’m not surprised about Mo’s line of questioning. That’s his trademark style. I should know because we used to be cohosts in the defunct talk show, “Paparazzi.” And I was also a guest in the “Forbidden Questions” portion of his radio show on Magic 89.9, where I was grilled to no end. Stirring up controversy is his forte. He won’t be called “Twister” for nothing.

I’ve seen Mo’s soft side.

I even defended him in this column when there were issues hounding him when we were still working together.

But this time, I just wonder how Mo would feel if Buboy would ask any girl whom he worked with the same questions he asked Maria based on presumptions alone.

Buboy is no saint. Yes, he is a ladies’ man, but more than that, he is a gentleman, no matter what.

Kris Aquino to leave ABS-CBN for ‘healthier lifestyle’ TV HOST-ACTRESS Kris Aquino on Tuesday, March 8 revealed she would leave her work at ABS-CBN to pursue a stress-free life.

In a series Instagram posts, the “Queen of All Media” shared her farewell statement, thanking the Kapamilya network for their relationship.

“Thank you, Kapamilya. Our relationship as a family started October 28, 1996 and it will soon end this March 23, 2016. A total of 10,354 days working for ABS-CBN, my life’s most fulfilling professional journey because of your love, acceptance and loyalty,” Aquino said.

The presidential sister said that she doesn’t want her siblings and two sons to worry about her health.

“Just like all of you, I love my FAMILY. My most valuable life destiny is to be a Mama to KUYA JOSH and BIMBY; and to be a loving, selfless sister to ATE, PINKY, NOY and VIEL: a bunso who doesn’t give them constant worry because of my health and safety,” she said.

“I’m not putting a time frame, but with my type of work, it’s realistic to accept by leaving

ABS-CBN I’ll be replaced and soon forgotten… My sons and I will travel, we’ll move to our new home, and I’ll eat healthy, sleep early, exercise regularly, and live quietly-everything to make sure Kuya Josh and Bimby have a healthy mother.”

Aquino also thanked her supporters and her

endorsements and hoped that she will be missed.

“My not so healthy heart wants to thank all of you for your LOVE, for me, my family & my work. I’LL BE BACK W/ A 100% HEALTHY HEART SO I CAN LOVE ALL OF YOU EVEN MORE & for much longer,” she said.

(Inquirer.net)

blockbuster film “Heneral Luna”, though he had cut his teeth for years in plays and musicals as one the original members of the Actors’ Company of Tanghalang Pilipino, the resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Buencamino, a batchmate of Arcilla in the Actors’ Company, is a much-praised actor of singular versatility who has appeared in a wide variety of mediums, from theater and film to TV and even dance. He was last seen onstage in Red Turnip Theater’s “Time Stands Still”.

Seña and Williams were two of the original Filipino cast members of “Miss Saigon” in 1989.

Seña appeared in musicals such as “Magsimula Ka”, “Katy” and “Rama at Sita”, while Williams was

a Repertory Philippines mainstay with acclaimed turns in the local stagings of “Les Miserables”, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and “Man of La Mancha”, among others.

Davao has also appeared extensively in film, TV and theater, in the latter headlining such productions as “Larawan, The Musical” (as Tony Javier) and two Mario O’Hara masterworks— “Insiang” (the stage version) and the contemporary sarsuwela “Palasyo ni Valentin”.

“DOM” will be Spotlight Artists Centre’s first original Filipino musical; previous to this, its first two productions had been revivals of landmark Filipino musicals— Gines Tan’s “Magsimula Ka” and Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes’“Katy!”.

Valeen mum on Ciara-Jojo marital problem

Maria Ozawa apologizes to Cesar Montano

by Dolly

John Arcilla, Nonie Buencamino, Robert Seña, Michael Williams and Ricky Davao.

Valeen Montengero

MANILA—Valeen Montengero prefers not to comment on her alleged involvement to the marital problem of Ciara Sotto and Jojo Oconer.

“I don’t want to talk about it din in a way na wala akong pakialam kasi, it’s something na...it’s really big for them, and there are other people involved,” she replied when asked about the issue, Philippine Entertainment Portal reported.

It was in January when Sotto admitted that she and husband Oconer are having marital problems, and Montenegro’s name was dragged since the issue

came out.

Montenegro’s camp has already denied her involvement in the issue saying the actress’ career success was not because of Oconer’s backing.

The actress didn’t deny that she was shocked after her name got dragged in the issue, but choose to keep mum about it.

“I cannot talk about it. The talent management also advised me not to,” she said. “Sorry, I really don’t want to talk about it.”

“It’s best not to say anything, let the issue die a natural death,” she concluded. (Philstar.com)

march 11-17, 2016 www.asianjournal.com

4

Zsa Zsa Padilla wants to ‘surprise’ fiancé on wedding day

KimXi refuses to do a JaDine by mArinel

r. cruz

how similar they are in terms of personality. “We share the same dreams. We get along really “THere’S a proper time and well. When we go out, we prefer place to admit it … not in a press intimate chats than going to conference where the move can be interpreted at different angles,” parties. We hang out in places

by Joyce Jimenez where we can talk about our said actor Xian Lim when asked Philstar.com about the real score between him plans for the future.”

According to Xian, they also and his “The Story of Us” costar, MANILA—A “surprise wedding” have misunderstandings, “but Kim Chiu. is what Zsa Zsa Padilla is planning we make sure to patch things up At the press conference for her fiancé Conrad Onglao. before the day ends.” of their latest drama series She’s the one who’s planning In “The Story of Us,” Macoy on ABS-CBN, show biz scribes everything and would prefer not Sandoval (Xian) and Tin Manalo prodded Kim and Xian, who to reveal any details, especially remained tight-lipped about their (Kim) are childhood best friendssince she’s still in the planning turned lovers. relationship. stage.

Kim said she was able This was despite the recent “Na-e-excite pa ba kayo?” she to relate to her character in admission of “On the Wings of asked the entertainment press Love” stars, James reid and Nadine many ways. “Like me, she is the when she was being prodded breadwinner (of the family she Lustre, that they are officially a about her wedding, in an grew up with in Palawan). She couple. The two announced this interview on Tuesday, March 8. “Sa during their “JaDine in Love” show provides for her stepmother and edad ko talaga, (ako) hindi na,” she Zsa Zsa Padilla wants to prepare a surprise wedding with fiancé Conrad Onglao as to keep it at Araneta Coliseum. brother. She prioritizes family said. intimate and not offend anyone who doesn’t get invited.

Philstar.com photo over her love life. I can relate to “Before this, I already More than excitement, what her because, for me, family comes apologized to most of you who understood Xian Lim and Kim the Kapamilya singer-actress feels ako do’n, na-trauma ako,” she first before anything else.”

Chiu’s decision not to put label to are probably already tired of is “pressure.” confessed. “So ‘pag nagpaplano “Macoy is driven. He has hearing us say ‘we’re happy their relationship, and to keep it “Nape-pressure ako, napeako nane-nega ako, baka hindi dreams, which he is working together’ or ‘there’s something private for now. pressure ako na baka may matuloy ganyan. Kaya sabi ko hard to fulfill,” Xian shared with special between us,’ or that our “’Yong stand nga ni Xian sabi masaktan na ‘di maimbita,” she kung bibiglain ko na lang parang reporters. “While working on relationship is ‘leveling up.’ But ko naiintindihan ko,” she said. explained. “I don’t want it to be pati siya mabibigla, surprise na the series, I was able to meet Kim and I don’t want to say “Kumbaga they’re leaving a little big kasi sabi ko hindi ko naman ito lang.” anything more, for fear that first wedding. Hindi rin naman niya It took a while before Zsa Zsa’s something for themselves and this might complicate things that’s not a bad thing.” ito first wedding, tapos mayro’n pa relationship with Onglao became between us,” Xian told reporters She added that “when kong naudlot na wedding.” public. present at the luncheon held on you invite everybody in (the She was first married to Dr. Aside from protecting her Tuesday, March 8 at the ABS-CBN relationship), everyone has an Modesto Tatlonghari before her partner from receiving flak from opinion, you have to respect that studios in Quezon City. relationship with the late Comedy the public since Dolphy’s death is The actor added: “I’m not kasi you let them in, e. Kumbaga King Dolphy. Onglao was also still fresh, she’s also not ready for hindi ako magugulat kasi I allowed afraid to publicly say that I love married before with Ivy Almario the comments that people might Kim, but my personal take on it.” and had two sons. throw to them. this issue is that, people might Zsa Zsa stars with Xian and What Zsa Zsa admitted was So when she finally made react negatively (once we admit Kim in the ABS-CBN primetime she was “traumatized” with the relationship with Onglao public, to something). We fear that the TV series “The Story of Us, ” which planned wedding with Dolphy she accepted the fact that airs Monday to Friday after “Dolce wrong story would be printed … that didn’t push through. “everyone has an opinion.”

I just want to protect Kim. I don’t Amore.”

“Actually na-traumatize This is the reason why she want her to get hurt.”

Xian said that “since it would not be nice for Kim to talk since she is a girl,” he would simply happy when fans bring food to speak on her behalf. “To those

by Dolly Anne cArvAJAl the set. He is very proper. He who want to know our story, yes, Inquirer.net asks permission from everyone we love each other. We simply PrINCeSS Punzalan had a blast before he leaves. I can see how refuse to put a label to it,” he shooting with Kim Chiu and Xian he takes his craft seriously. Kim insisted.

Lim in New York for ABS-CBN’s new is very sweet, always smiling and Kim, meanwhile, said she teleserye, “The Story of Us.” joking around. Very respectful, had long healed from her even though she savors her too. previous painful relationship. real-life roles as a wife to Jay “It was extremely cold when “That happened more than half and mom to ellie in California, they shot in Central Park from a decade ago. I’ve long forgotten Cess can never turn her back on morning till night. They were it. Xian and I are happy now,” she acting completely. shivering. Xian and Kim seem to said in Filipino.

Cess shares her KimXi story be very good buddies. I didn’t Kim and Xian first worked with the Inquirer: see anything to make me think together in the 2011 romantic “Xian is like a growing that there’s already something comedy TV series, “My Binondo Princess Punzalan with “The Story Of Us” stars boy who’s always hungry. He’s Kim Chiu and Xian Lim. Inquirer.net photo between them.”

Girl.” Xian said he was amazed at Xian Lim and Kim Chiu Inquirer.net

Princess Punzalan is back

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interesting people like the fishermen in Palawan who earn a meager P200 a day, but are still happy. I also met people in the US who told me about their struggles there. I can relate to them because I once lived in the US with my mom.”

The production team spent 10 days in New York City, where Kim said working had been tough because of the extremely cold weather.

“I feel my toes and fingers get frozen each time we’re outdoors. Xian was so kind to get me earmuffs and buy me hot drinks every so often,” she recalled, adding that it helped that Filipinos living there were so accommodating. “Some of them would ask their photos be taken with us, then come back (to our set) with boxes of pizza.”

“The Story of Us,” which premiered on Feb. 29, is codirected by richard Somes and Will Fredo. It also features Aiko Melendez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, John Arcilla, Zaijian Jaranilla and Alyanna Angeles.

march 11-17, 2016 www.asianjournal.com

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA AMERICA is now a debtor nation owing $19 trillion and still mounting, the last $10 trillion load incurred in the last 7 years. Economists say that with the current budget passed by the feckless, reckless bunch of politicians of both parties in Congress, this budget will catapult the national debt to $21 trillion in 2 years.

Early warning signs indicate that unless something drastic is done and a tourniquet applied to stop the hemorhage, America is on a tipping point going the way of socialist Greece in a few short years. Greece, long admired as the foundation of Western civilization, has become a case study in modern times on how nations Let me try and break it down for those of us trying to wrap this staggering national debt load in our heads: $19,000,000,000,000.00 or 12 zeroes to the left of the decimal point. A trillion is a million million dollars. If every individual living in this country were to pay this debt just to be free and clear, each one would have to pay through the nose, roughly $70,000 for every man, woman and child.

How can any country sustain its sovereignty with such a staggering load? How can our leaders be so inept as to be unable to bite the bullet and rein in such utterly reprehensible fiscal irresponsibility?

How can we leave generations yet to come with such a shameful legacy?

On the more mundane individual level, many people do not realize until it is too late that they have become addicted to the use of credit cards to the point that after just a few years, they seek credit card counselling and in a worst case scenario, bankruptcy relief protection. They have unwittingly entered credit card hell with collection agencies hounding them and recording all sorts of negative entries into their credit history.

How do you know if you are way in over your head with too much debt? There are early warning signs. If you find yourself like an acrobat trying to juggle too many bills, paying one company this month and another next month,

The Metamorphosis

Credit card hell on the macro and micro levels “Just because America is $19 trillion in debt does not give us the go-ahead to do likewise in our personal fiscal life.”

— MAM

borrowing from one to pay the other one and when lenders send you overdue notices, you are wading into the waters of financial trouble.

Making only the minimum payments never really paying down the principal owed is one sure sign. When you have nightmares and begin dreading going to the mailbox and opening your monthly credit card statements, it is time for a reality check.

Face this problem squarely.

Ignoring it will not make it go away. Try discussing this with your lenders to work out a debt repayment schedule. They would rather not seize your property or send the hounds of a collection agency to you. This is their last resort if you try to bury your head in the sand and ignore this problem.

Even if you have defaulted on your credit, you still have certain rights as mandated by the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. There are a number of provisions about this act that affords you certain types of protection that you should know. Under the current laws of the land governing this matter, debt collectors cannot use abusive, deceptive or unfair techniques to collect the money that you owe. Unlike in some other countries, there are parameters that a collection agency cannot and should not cross. It will cost them if they do. There are resources in the internet and books in the library to help you through this sticky situation.

Collection agencies cannot threaten you with violence, curse you or verbally assault you with arrest or imprisonment unless they are able to obtain the legal right to do so. They cannot force you to accept collect telephone calls or shame you by advertising your debt. You should know that bill collectors are prohibited from calling you before 8:00 AM or after 9:00 PM, and they may not call you at work if they know that your

employer disapproves.

If the collectors violate any of the rules of the act, you can sue for damages. But do not look at this as a way to make money. Know that if the court finds you have acted in bad faith with the collection agency, you may have to pay the collector’s legal bills. Suing for damages can backfire on you and cause you more trouble.

The rights protect you from abuse but your debts have not been forgiven. Creditors can and will seize whatever assets you have, attach or garnish your wages or foreclose on your home or property if you do not pay what is due them.

Recent legislation that govern bankruptcy protection laws seem to go in favor of credit card companies rather than the consumer. Gone are the times when consumers who have abused their credit lines can seek protection from their creditors by simply hiding their assets and filing for bankruptcy.

If you seek to understand the substantial changes that are shaping the country’s bankruptcy protection laws, go to government internet websites that cover consumer debt and bankruptcy laws. Who would know better than a government mired in debt itself?

For those of us pathetic rubes near or at the bottom of the American social structure who must work or tend to our businesses, there is a basic life lesson to be learned from this cautionary tale of American fiscal recklessness. In our time, this would be the big kahuna of debts.

Bringing this down to the microcosmic level of our personal lives, there is a simple life lesson to be learned from this monumental fiasco.

When it comes to drugs and debt: Don’t do it. Just don’t. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

GK-Rotary-LGU collaboration for the common good

our Pastoral Council, Eucharistic Minister as well as Social Justice and Prison minister) — I am (Part 1 of 2) “BE a gift to the world!”– Rotary pleased and proud to say that an ambitious and collaborative International motto for 2015-16 “Building peaceful communities project has been started. This project involves building a Gawad especially in conflict-torn regions Kalinga Village in the farming has not always been easy, but it Barangay (village) Anis where I first has left me convinced of one thing saw the light of day in the newest above all others: “Far better to town of Pangasinan, Laoac, has sweat for peace than to bleed in started. war!” – GK founder, Tony Meloto As no individual can do it It ‘s Lenten season once alone, I have to reach out to again and to the Christian world, many people for their support especially for us Catholics, we are again reminded of the old traditions to be able to complete this of the Church: doing corporal works project. Like most projects, it started with just a lofty dream of mercy as well as spiritual works for the poor who also deserve to of mercy. In addition to these, the a better life. It was serendipity healthy practice of fasting and abstinence (from meat) is observed, and providence, I believe, that caused this noble project to be especially during this jubilee year born when God in His mysterious as promulgated by Pope Francis. ways, made a few people of like For us practicing Catholics who go minds meet, and started a chain to church regularly, these Lenten reaction. We (in Rotary or Gawad weeks followed by easter week are Kalinga, church or religious great reminders for us to meditate on the deeper meaning of our lives people—like Sister Letty, a Dominican nun for over 30 here on earth. For many of us who go on spiritual retreats, it is a perfect years—working collaboratively with a local government unit) time to ponder the real purpose of believe that by 2017 with His our lives that we alone can answer blessings, this challenging project in prayerful silence. For me —who had three friends pass away the last will be completed. Thereafter, we dream that another town inside 60 days—it is a sobering thought or outside Pangasinan will be also that one day, sooner or later inspired to follow our example in (prayerfully, much later), it will be building the next GK Namnama my time too. That reflection makes me energized to do as much as I can (Hope) Village # 3 and so on.

Let me briefly narrate the story: while all my faculties are intact, to Due to common denominators, I leave a legacy to our world where my offsprings and their children will was introduced to a fellow Fil-Am couple, Soledad and Pete Montilla inherit.

With those pensive thoughts as (who were also from Pangasinan, backdrops, allow me to share what GK advocates and Rotarians) by a common friend, Jose Maria is so close to my heart doing my Montelibano (a columnist for best to make it a reality, while I am alive and kicking. This is also to give Inquirer.net / Philippine Daily Inquirer and also a GK advocate) meaning to my own life, with the a few years ago. From that fervent hope that I will leave this world a better place for our children cyberspace “meeting” we had countless of chats that led to and their children. As a Filipinosupporting them in the completion American wearing different hats of the GK Villasis Namnama (Hope) — like being a long time Rotarian Village, which they founded. Their leader, GK advocate and also an GK Village was completed last July active church volunteer (serving in

ErniE D. DElfin

5

2015, and I was invited to witness the final turnover of several houses that we helped solicit funds in California. Inspired by that simple but beautiful village done with plenty of sweat, blood, tears and love, our own Mayor of Laoac, Boying Alarcio and his fellow town officials also dreamed to have the same in our hometown.

That sunny day in the Montillas’ GK Village in Villasis planted a dream in the hearts of my townmates from Laoac.

Serendipitously, in that same month, the ground breaking of the GK Laoac Namnama Village # 2 was witnessed by a couple hundred people, led by Mayor Boying, dozens of Rotarians and Congresswoman Kimi Cojuangco.

That groundbreaking event generated several pledges from generous families to donate one house each! So this year, we hope to have about a dozen houses built, with our continuous fundraising (like a grand raffle of a brand new house and lot in early December 2016) and aggressive solicitation of house donors. With God’s help and blessings, we hope and pray that this 30-house GK Village # 2 will be completed by the end of 2017!

Although the project was spearheaded by Rotarians, it will not be possible without the collaborative efforts of likeminded people from Gawad Kalinga supporters, church people, other NGOs, LGUs (town of Laoac) and town or provincial associations like the Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA. We believe that only through collaboration and the commitment to “Service Above Self “ and the common love to poor, that a big project like building a Gawad Kalinga village can be realized.

(To be continued next week) *** Email me at ernie.gkerc@gmail.com Websites: www.gkerc.com / www.rotary. org

Calendar of Events across

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS M A R C H 1 1 —A P R I L 1

Eagle Rock High School Monthly Open House Tours laureate Open House Tours, from 8-10am during the spring semester on Friday, March 11; and Friday, April 1. Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School serves students in grades 712, and was the first school in the LAUSD to be authorized to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (grades 7-10) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (grades 11-12), a project-based program for concept and content-based learning to promote global mindedness and service to others. The IB Open House is open to all interested students, and will include an introductory presentation in the ERHS library, followed by campus tours, classroom visits, and a short questionand-answer period. To register for the Open Houses, please visit www.erhs.la, and click on the “IB Open House Registration” link. Please email Mylene Keipp mylene.keipp@lausd. net for more information. We look forward to your visit!

MARCH 12

Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. Grand Marshals Gala The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) will launch the commemoration of the 118th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence on Saturday, March 12 with the Grand Marshals Gala at the Astoria World Manor (25-22 Astoria Boulevard in Astoria, Queens, New York 11102). The gala will take place from 7:00pm until 12:30am, honoring Dr. Leonidas “Ned” Pulido and wife Carmencita “Menchie” Pulido, who were chosen as the Grand Marshals of the 2016 Philippine Independence Day Parade in June.

Gala tickets are $100 per person, with formal or Filipinana attire. Please contact the Chairwomen of the Grand Marshals Selection and Gala Committee, Ollie David (732-499-7995) and Helen LaBarbera (516-581-8830), ir OUDCU President Dr. Prospero Lim (347-248-5106) for gala invitations and more information. Interested parties may also call any of the Committee Co-chairs: Drs. Emilio and Fely Quines (347-254-2945), Drs. Rod and Elma Castillo (201-869-4044), Dr. Ely Parico (908-265-1293), Dulce Barangan (516-343-8592), Lauren Martinez (347-284-9886), Thelma Cabralda (631-331-5891), Zita Lapena (917-454-9344), Nida Cortez (646-649-5531), or Angie Molina (917-478-6754) or any of the PIDCI Board of Directors.

FACC-SLAA Induction Gala The Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce for South Bay Los Angeles Area (FACCSLAA) presents the annual fundraising gala and induction of its board members, to be held on Saturday, March 12 at 6:00 pm, at the Holiday Inn Los Angeles Gateway-Torrance (19800 S Vermont Ave. Torrance, CA 90502). Philippine Consulate General Leo Herrera-Lim will be the inducting officer, with guest speakers Assemblymember Rob Bonta and former Assemblyman Warren Furutani. Attire for the dinner is Filipiniana/formal. The gala dinner is also a fundraiser for the FACC-SLAA Scholarship project of the chamber raising funds for deserving, eligible Filipino American students who are business (or related) majors in colleges and universities in the South Bay area. Four scholars who will each receive a $500 scholarship award. Fil-Am students applying for the scholarship should have a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average, low income/financial need, have no criminal record, must submit a one page essay on why the student is applying, and must be willing to volunteer or intern at FACC-SLAA for 80 hours. The deadline to apply is on Feb 15 to apply. Interested students, please email facc.slaa@gmail.com or fekoons@aol.com. Tickets for the FACC-SLAA Induction and Fundraising Gala are $60 each. Please email facc.slaa@gmail.com for more information, or contact President Cynthia Tan (310) 748-9688 or Fred Docdocil, VP Programs (310) 619-8101.

MARCH 13

Sto. Tomas, Batangas Association Fiesta The Sto. Tomas, Batangas Association of Southern California will celebrate their fiesta on Sunday, March 13, at 1:00pm at Sliver Star Financial office (217 N Azusa St. Azusa, CA).

For further details, please call Willie Manacsa (818) 400-7391, Ofie Villanueva (626) 3834152, Rosie Sancianco (951) 898-7628 or Myrna Jaurigue at (909) 545-9876.

M A R C H 1 8 -1 9

5th Statewide Disabilities Conference Agencies, service providers and caretakers, community organizations, consumers, jobseekers, families…please join us for the California Statewide Disabilities Conference from March 18-19, 2016 at The Westin Pasadena hotel (191 N. Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA).

Expert panels/sessions/topics to be discussed include special education for those with disabilities, autism, assistive technology, ACA/Health, civil rights, mental health, financial wellness, discrimination, employment benefits, college supportive services, transition to adulthood, and outreach to the diverse Asian American - Pacific Islander community. This event is sponsored by the Asian & Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California (APIDC), giving a voice and face to Asians and Pacific Islanders with disabilities, and improving access to resources for API families. APIDC has hosted four major conferences in California.

The conference will also include social service agencies, and exhibitors/representatives such as educators, attorneys, and health care providers. Special gift giveaways and raffle prizes are available to all registered conference attendees. For registration and more information (including scholarships) about the conference, please contact Jamie Hwang at 714-4033188, APIDC@gmail.com, and visit www.apidisabilities.net.

MARCH 19

CSFLU 26th Anniversary The City of San Fernando La Union, headed by Vickie Balcita-Neri, will celebrate their 26th Anniversary on March 19, 2016 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Brea (900 E Birch St, Brea, CA 9282). Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For invitation and other questions, please call Vangie So at (626) 485-3110.

MARCH 20

2016 Piyesta Pinoy Chicago Sunday, March 20 from 11:45am to 4:00pm is the Philippine Celebration (Piyesta Pinoy sa Chicago), as part of the Neighborhoods of the World series at Navy Pier’s Crystal Gardens (Navy Pier 600 E. Grand Ave. Chicago, IL). Come travel to the Philippines without ever leaving your backyard! This cultural celebration is free and open to the public of all ages. Join us and enjoy an afternoon of lively folk music, special performances, traditional dance, cuisine, arts and crafts. The Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF) and thevibrant Filipino community of Chicago is so proud to put on this event for the 5th year in a row, and Piyesta Pinoy is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our culture with our people.For more information, or to volunteer, perform, exhibit, or donate, please visitwww. piyestapinoy.net, or email Piyestpinoy@gmail.com.

APRIL 9

Prisoners of War Day at the Filipino Veterans Education Center All WWII veterans and families, please join us as we commemorate the historic 74thanniversary of Prisoners of War Day and the Fall of Bataan, the Day of Valor, on Saturday, April 9th. In the spirit of reconciliation, friendship and international cooperation, let us leave the past behind us as we move forward with joined hands to attain peace for all mankind. The formal Commemoration and remembrance ceremony will start at 2:00pm in the Filipino Veterans Education Center, at the War Memorial Performing Arts Veterans Building (401 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA 94102). This event is open to the public.

Please RSVP RudyAsercion@gmail.com; naffaasf@gmail.com. Tel: 415 564 6262.

APRIL — SEPTEMBER

Pilgrimages to Eastern Europe, Mexico and India Amazing Pilgrimages for the Jubilee Year of Mercy! All are welcome to join Fr. Joe Joseph of Holy Trinity Church for the spiritual and fun-filled experiences of EASTERN EUROPE (April 17- 30): Poland, Czech., Austria, Hungary, Medjugorje; COLONIAL MEXICO/ OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (June 20 - 27): Mexico City, Theotihuacan, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Ocotlan, Xochimilco, Guanajuato, San Miguel De Allende, Guadalajara, San Juan De Los Lagos, Cristo Rey, Zapopan, Tonala; and INDIA (September 15 - 29): Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kerala. For more pilgrimage information and detailed flyers, please contact Bernadette at bcorp1114@hotmail.com OR call 323-344-1548 & 323-547-6618.

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

march 11-17, 2016 www.asianjournal.com

6

Who will be the next Top Model of the World Philippines 2016?

The search for deserving candidates for the national finals of the “Top Model of the World Philippines” (TMWPh) is now on high gear.

The forthcoming national finals of TMWPh is slated in early July in Australia in the greater Melbourne area. expected to participate are delegates coming from various jurisdictions among the overseas Filipino communities. The top pageant group from Canada is the first to select and appoint its pageant winner to represent Canada in the event. Other cooperators such Northern California, Southern California, the New York and New Jersey, and Germany area are now in the thick of their respective searches for strong candidates. Candidates from various locations in Australia and New Zealand are expected to put up a goodfight. The search for prospect candidates from the Philippines is also ongoing.

For the 2016 edition, TMWPh awarded to one of its partners the right to launch the national event in its entirety in Australia. Recipient of the award is “The Face Australia Promotion Management Organization” under the leadership of its National Director Maria Symes. Ms. Symes is a pageant impresario in the Australia-New Zealand area and is known as dominant operator in the Oceania. This distinction and privilege was signed by TMWPh’s Caroline C. De Venecia who is currently the president of the organization.

TMWPh’s motivation is to promote closeness among the Filipino communities worldwide. In its desire to further enhance the image of the Filipina as a multi-talented person, it wants to show the world its exceptional character and distinction, a person who will always nurture her roots and diversity, and be

proud of it.

TMWPh wants to exemplify Filipinas at home and those based overseas as being exceptionally competitive worldwide in the field of fashion, modeling, beauty. Part of its distinction is to launch its selection processes and events in select parts of the world where there substantial concentration of Filipino communities. It is currently inviting other location to participate in its national events which have the semblance of an international launch. The particulars of the search can be viewed at www. topmodeloftheworldph.com.

Partners of TMWP are renowned operators with a history of having organized and launched countless of events and pageants in their respective territories. Some of their candidates who joined other pageants in national and international competitions have won the principal titles. These renowned organizations are: For the New York and New Jersey area – Marhalikang Pilipino USA headed

by Danny Pagsambugan; for Toronto, Canada – International Professional entertainment Network led by edgar Sulit; for Southern California, Nevada and Arizona – Pageantry Global, Inc headed by Trini Foliente and Cora Soriano; for Northern California – JS Camins Productions headed by Joey Camins; for Germany – Kapisanan ng mga Filipinos sa Aachen led by eric and eden Peñalosa; for Australia and New Zealand – The Face Australia Promotion Management Organization.

The principal media partner in this national event is the Asian Journal Publications, Inc (AJPI). Interested parties may directly contact Trini Foliente at (818) 4552132 or Cora Soriano at (213) 999-1993.

Philstar.com

The baby is due sometime next month yet. But early on, even into Isabel Oli’s first month of pregnancy, she and husband John Prats have already chosen a name: Lilly Feather.

That’s why when John surprised Isabel with a baby shower last Sunday, March 6, at Le Jardin, W Tower in Bonifacio Global City, invited guests came with “girl” gifts, among them Gerald Anderson, Robi Domingo, erik Santos, Sam Milby, MJ Lastimosa, Kaye Abad, Richard Poon and wife Maricar Reyes, Gretchen Fullido and Jay Contreras (of Kamikazee).

The shower was held in cooperation with premier baby

gear brand Aprica. John’s sister Camille (who brought along son Nathan) hosted and prepared games for everyone.

As soon as half of those on the list of invitees were seated, John ushered Isabel in. Unlike in a photo they posted on social media with Isabel proudly showing her big tummy (with John lovingly touching, a “pregnant pose” initiated by Demi Moore and copied by other celebrities including Marian Rivera for the cover of a glossy magazine), she arrived blooming in a pink dress. and was overwhelmed to see everyone.

John let the attendees in on a Continued on Page 7

A third of young adults prediabetic, putting a generation in jeopardy

DAVIS—Nearly half of California adults – including one out of every three young adults – have prediabetes, a precursor to life-threatening type 2 diabetes, or undiagnosed diabetes, according to a UCLA study released today. The research provides the first analysis and breakdown of California prediabetes rates by county, age and ethnicity, and offers alarming insights into the future of the nation’s diabetes epidemic.

Conducted by the UCLA Center for health Policy Research and commissioned by the California Center for Public health Advocacy (CCPhA), the landmark study analyzed hemoglobin A1c and fasting plasma glucose findings from the National health and Nutrition examination Survey together with California health Interview Survey data from over 40,000 respondents.

The study found that 13 million adults in California (46 percent) are estimated to have prediabetes or undiagnosed diabetes, while another 2.5 million adults (9 percent) have already been diagnosed with diabetes. Combined, the two Isabel Oli and husband John Prats: Proud groups represent a majority of parents in April. the state’s adult population, 15.5 million (55 percent). Since diabetes is more commonly seen among older adults, the study’s finding that 33 percent of young adults (18 to 39 years old) have prediabetes is of particular concern.

“This is the clearest indication to date that the diabetes epidemic is out of control and getting worse,” says CCPhA’s executive Director Dr. harold Goldstein. “With limited availability of healthy food in low-income communities, a preponderance of soda and junk food marketing, and urban neighborhoods lacking safe places to play, we have created a world where diabetes is the natural consequence. If there is any hope to keep health insurance costs from skyrocketing, health care providers from being overwhelmed and millions of Californians from suffering needlessly from amputations, blindness and kidney failure, the state of California must launch a

A baby girl for John & Isabel

by Ricky Lo

Majority of California adults have prediabetes or diabetes major campaign to turn around the epidemic of type 2 diabetes.”

County-by-county crisis The study estimates prediabetes rates by county, finding major disparities across the state, particularly among the 18-39 year-old population. For those young adults, prediabetes rates ranged from lows of 26 percent in Lake County and 28 percent in San Francisco County, to a high of 40 percent in rural Kings and Imperial counties.

Racial and ethnic disparities are extremely pronounced.

disease.”

Prevention is possible Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Up to 30 percent of those identified with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years, and as much as 70 percent will develop the disease in their lifetime. Diabetes is associated with dramatically increased risk of amputation, nerve damage, blindness, kidney disease, heart disease, hospitalization and premature death.

Diabetes is one of America’s fastest growing diseases and one of the most costly. Nationally, diabetes rates have tripled over the past thirty years. In California, the rate has increased by 35 percent since 2001.

Nationally, annual medical spending for people with diabetes is almost twice that for people without diabetes. Someone diagnosed with diabetes by age 40 will have lifetime medical spending that is $124,600 more than someone that age who does not have diabetes.

Three-quarters of that care is paid through Medicare and Medi-Cal, including $254 million in annual hospital costs that are paid by Medi-Cal alone.

To avoid the progression from prediabetes to diabetes, the study’s authors recommend greater participation in the National Diabetes Prevention Program, as well as policy and environmental changes to increase screening, prevention and healthy lifestyle supports.

“For most people, type 2 diabetes is entirely preventable,” says Dr. Goldstein. “If Medi-Cal covered diabetes prevention programs and every health provider screened for prediabetes, we could prevent a large proportion of cases.

In exchange for a proactive investment today, we can save billions of dollars in health care costs over the next five years and beyond, and save thousands of lives.”

Funded by the California health Care Foundation and The California endowment, the study and accompanying recommendations and materials are available at www. caprediabetes.org.

“13 million adults in California (46 percent) are estimated to have prediabetes or undiagnosed diabetes, while another 2.5 million adults (9 percent) have already been diagnosed with diabetes. Combined, the two groups represent a majority of the state’s adult population, 15.5 million (55 percent). Since diabetes is more commonly seen among older adults, the study’s finding that 33 percent of young adults (18 to 39 years old) have prediabetes is of particular concern.”

There are statistically higher prediabetes rates among young adult Pacific Islanders (43 percent), African-Americans (38 percent), American Indians (38 percent), multi-racial Californians (37 percent), Latinos (36 percent) and Asian Americans (31 percent) than Whites (29 percent), pointing to the need to focus additional prevention efforts in those communities.

Altogether, no demographic or region appeared to be free of the diabetes and prediabetes epidemics.

Complicating matters is the fact that many people do not get tested for prediabetes because the test often is not covered by insurance, particularly for those under the age of 45. And although there are effective interventions to control weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle, these programs are often not be covered by insurers.

“There are significant barriers not only to people knowing their status, but getting effective help,” says Dr. Susan Babey, lead author of the study and co-director of the UCLA Center for health Policy Research’s Chronic Disease Program. “A simple blood test for diabetes should be covered by all insurers, as should the resources and programs that can make a real difference in stopping the progression of this terrible

USCIS announces citizenship and Integration grant opportunities Grants will support citizenship preparation services for permanent residents WAShINGTON — US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is now accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. These are competitive grant opportunities for organizations that prepare permanent residents for naturalization and promote civic integration through increased knowledge of english, U.S. history and civics. The two programs will provide up to $10 million in grants for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country.

Applications are due by April 22.

Through these grant opportunities, USCIS seeks to expand availability of highquality citizenship preparation services throughout the country.

The two opportunities are: • Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services: This opportunity will fund up to 36 organizations

which offer both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services to permanent residents.

• Citizenship Instruction only: This newly created grant opportunity will assist nonprofit organizations in establishing new citizenship instruction programs or expanding the quality and reach of existing citizenship instruction programs. USCIS expects to award up to 10 nonprofit organizations through this opportunity. In doing so, USCIS seeks to encourage the expansion of the existing field of citizenship instruction programs, particularly those offered by small, communitybased organizations that have not previously received a grant from USCIS. USCIS expects to announce all 46 award recipients in September.

Since 2009, USCIS has awarded approximately $53

million through 262 grants to organizations that have provided citizenship preparation services to more than 138,000 permanent residents in 35 states and the District of Columbia.

To apply for this funding opportunity, visit www. grants.gov. USCIS encourages applicants to visit www.grants. gov before the application deadline in order to obtain the registration information needed to complete the application process.

For additional information on the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program for fiscal year 2016, visit www. uscis.gov/grants or email the USCIS Office of Citizenship at citizenshipgrantprogram@uscis. dhs.gov.

For more information about USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov. Follow us on Facebook (/uscis), Twitter (@ uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

‘Encantadia’ coming back soon

by BiBsy

M. CArBAllo Philstar.com

“eNCANTADIA” is one of GMA 7’s most successful telefantasyas ever. At the time of its release, it was the grandest, most unforgettable and most expensive production for Philippine television. The pilot episode was aired on May 2, 2005 and the series ended on April 2006. The telefantasya is a story about four Sanggres — Pirena (Sunshine Dizon), Amihan (Iza Calzado), Alena (Karylle) and Danaya (Diana Zubiri). They are

Marian Rivera plays Ynang Reyna in the remake.

the guardians of four gems representing fire, air, water and earth that maintain the balance in the land of encantadia. encantadia consists of four kingdoms where different mythical entities thrive. These kingdoms — Adamya, Sapiro, Lireo and Hathoria — bear the four precious stones. The future of encantadia rests on the four gems. But when the Hathors, from the kingdom of Hathoria, threaten to claim all the gems for themselves, war sweeps over the realm. It turns into a battle of three kingdoms against one.

The series was created by the Kapuso Network, which also produced the fantasy-themed series “Mulawin” and “Darna.” It was directed by Mark reyes and Gil Tejada Jr., and written by Suzette Doctolero. The series was originally planned as GMA films’ entry to the 2004 Metro Manila film festival, but they later decided to make encantadia a fantasy TV series.

The sets of the 2005 “encantadia” were located in various places in the Philippines — Calatagan, Batangas, Kalinawan Cave in Tanay, Daranak falls and Batlag falls in rizal, a 1,900 square meter warehouse in Pasig as an indoor set and inside the historic Intramuros of Manila. The series won the 2005 Teleserye of the Year at the Los Angeles-based Gawad Amerika Awards and won

outstanding Drama Series 2005 at the Golden Screen TV Awards.

It is also one of the all-time highest rated TV shows in the Philippines.

GMA is set to remake “encantadia” this year. In the remake, it has been confirmed that Marian rivera will play Ynang reyna (previously played by Dawn Zulueta), the mother of four Sanggres, but no official announcement has been made yet so far on who will portray the four Sanggres or the new keepers of the gemstones.

“Dear encatadiks, I know how much you loved the Sanggres.

They are your childhood heroes so I understand why may takot during the casting. And I’m sure whoever will be part of the new cast will also be afraid, knowing that they will be compared to the original,” said Suzette, the writer of encantadia saga, My Husband’s Lover, Amaya, one True Love and Indio, in a Twitter post on feb. 16 for the fans of encantadia.

Some netizens also reacted on Twitter. fromGareth regulacion: “Yes!!! Pero iba pa din ang original cast. (Still, there’s nothing like the original cast).” Angelyn de Lara: “Nasa ABS na sina Karylle at Iza. Paano na ‘yan GMA?, (Karylle and Iza are already with ABS. What happens now, GMA?).” Most of the netizens feel that the spirit of encantadia is still alive in their hearts and minds. (Philstar.com)

Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo post photos of daughter’s baptism ACTreSS Judy Ann Santos and television host ryan Agoncillo celebrated the baptism of their daughter Luna with the rest of the online world by posting photos of the event on Instagram.

Santos posted a family photo with the caption, “Can’t and won’t ask for anything more.”

Agoncillo, on the other hand, posted photos of the whole group, including fr. Tito Caluag.

“Ang Parokya ni Luna #firstsundaymass with father @ titocaluag #lunasbaptism,” he said in his post.

Santos also posted photos of Luna’s cake and giveaways, which included a bib with the text “a ryan & judy ann production.”

(Inquirer.net)

march 11-17, 2016 www.asianjournal.com

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Bailey makes sacrifices for his music dream

by Boy

ABundA Philstar.com

Before becoming a housemate in “Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) 737,” then 12-year-old Bailey May didn’t expect his life to turn out the way it has. Now 13, the budding actor-singer has just come out with a self-titled album. Bailey, whom people say has a similar sound and the same freshly-scrubbed good looks that made Justin Bieber a pop sensation around the world, still can’t believe his dreams are coming true.

Bailey’s self-titled CD contains six songs. Two of these singles — the catchy Can You Be My Girl and Gusto Kita — were composed

by Inspirational Diva Jamie rivera, who is also the album producer.

Bailey relates that during the recording (which began even before he entered PBB), he ran into some trouble trying to pronounce a few Tagalog words in the latter song (the hardest, he says, was “nahihiya”) but otherwise, doing it was a breeze because he really loves music.

“Having my own album was really a dream of mine ever since I started singing and having it now is just a blessing,” says the goodlooking teener, whose videos of him singing went viral and led, in part, to him joining PBB. The first song he ever learned to sing was the late King of Pop Michael Jackson’s hit Ben, while the first-ever Tagalog song he learned in full was Nasa ‘Yo Na Ang Lahat by Daniel Padilla.

Since making it to the PBB finals and doing all this work in showbiz (aside from PBB, he occasionally appeared in the recently-concluded “on the Wings of Love (oTWoL)” starring James reid and Nadine Lustre), seeing his social media following grow and having people recognize him whenever he goes out in public, Bailey is still learning how to adjust to the sudden fame.

A big part of that is balancing

his schedule. Although he confesses that if he had to choose between acting and singing, he’d put his music first, he is enjoying everything that he gets to do right now. So even if all these things leave him with little free time, he doesn’t mind at all.

“There have been so many big changes (in my life),” says Bailey.

“Like now, when I go out in public, I get noticed. Before PBB, that didn’t happen. Also, my following on social media increased after PBB, and the amount of work that I have (also increased). even my spare days are now being booked. But it’s a blessing.”

In oTWoL’s case, Bailey had been hearing about it and watching it on television back in the UK via TfC. “Before PBB, I was watching this stuff on television and hearing that it’s one of the biggest in the Philippines, so me (part of it) was a bonus,” he says, grinning. “And acting with James and Nadine (was) great because I learned a lot from them.”

In fact, Bailey (who counts the British boy band one Direction and Bieber among his musical influences) enjoys not just the work he does, but also the people he works with.

He enjoyed collaborating with Jamie on his album. Bailey and Jamie share the same manager, and also belong to the same recording company — Star Music — so that made it easy for them to work together. “It’s also a blessing, because she’s one of the most famous artists in the Bailey May didn’t expect his life to turn out the way it has.

Philstar.com photo by Ver Paulino

A baby girl for John...

From Page 6 secret — Isabel didn’t even want to go to the party! John told her that it was a birthday party of his high

Philippines. To be able work with her (Jamie) is a blessing. I hope we have more work together,” he says. right now, his life in the UK (where his filipina mother and his sister still live) seems so far away.

Nevertheless, Bailey’s father Matt says sacrifices have to be made.

“It’s difficult (for the family to be apart) but we can work through it,” says Daddy Matt. “His dreams have been answered here, so we have to make some sacrifices in order for him to live out his dreams. He makes a lot of people happy, so we don’t want to take that away from him and bring him back to the UK. We want to let him have his opportunities here.” for Bailey, the “showbiz” ride is just beginning. He still has a long way to go, but knowing that he’s headed in the right direction — and surrounded by all the right people — makes all the difference.

school friend, and Isabel didn’t suspect a thing.

“I really had no idea. I told him pa nga na baka pwedeng siya na

lang ang pumunta,” Isabel told the guests.

Isabel took a break from showbiz as soon as she entered her fourth month of pregnancy.

“I will be a hands-on mom,” said Isabel.

march 11-17, 2016 www.asianjournal.com

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