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Binay: I can walk the talk

by Rhaydz

B. BaRcia

ManilaTimes.net

LeGAZPI CItY, Albay—Vice President Jejomar Binay believes that he can make things happen if he is elected President next year because he had

implemented the promises being made by his contenders in the presidential elections.

“All candidates are promising something but at the end of the day, I’ve done all the things they are promising. I have a good track record, I’m a good

Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay

DATELINE

USA

manager. I could make things happen, so, if I’m elected President, I can walk the talk,” Binay said in a radio interview with Dante maravillas over dzGB radio station in this city. he added that if he wins, he will introduce hybrid rice to help farmers recover from the impact of natural disasters.

Binay deplored the Aquino administration’s lack of vision to address water scarcity.

“We don’t want to experience water crisis in the future,” he said. the Vice President also criticized President Benigno Aquino III for his failure to make the much-touted economic growth inclusive. “the Philippine economy, according to the administration, UNDAS. In this October file photo, a caretaker at the Manila South Cemetery applies fresh cement to damaged tombs in preparation for the is growing tremendously. Un- observance of All Saints’ Day. President Benigno Aquino III is closely monitoring the situation ahead of the commemoration of Undas or All fortunately, we have the high- Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2. Millions are expected to leave their homes in the city and provinces to troop to the cemeteries Inquirer.net photo PAGE A2 this Undas.

PH scores against China in UN arbitration tribunal santos Inquirer.net

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Brown vetoes bill aimed at disaggregating AAPI data

eArLIer this year, fil-Am Assemblyman rob Bonta introduced a bill that would roll out new guidelines to collect disaggregated demographic data about California’s diverse Asian Pacific Islander (API) population. the measure, AB176, aimed to address disparities in health and education. “the API community is not a monolith.

We are not the same in every single respect. each of our diverse communities has different social, economic, and educational challenges and outcomes that need to be addressed differently,” Bonta said.

A report by Los Angeles Times published Wednesday, oct. 21, illustrated the disparities with some statistics: approximately PAGE A2

A nine-page press release issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration “on behalf of the Arbitral tribunal in the the Philippines scored a victory at Philippines v. China arbitration” clarithe international Arbitral tribunal after fied that the dispute was not about sovthe panel unanimously decided thurs- ereignty, as China has claimed. day, oct. 29 that it has jurisdiction over “this arbitration concerns the role of the maritime dispute between China ‘historic rights’ and the source of mariand the Philippines involving parts of time entitlements in the south China the south China sea (West Philippine sea, the status of certain maritime feasea.) tures in the south China sea and the the decision means that the tribunal, maritime entitlements they are capable convened under the provisions of the of generating, and the lawfulness of United Nations Convention on the Law certain actions by China in the south of the sea (UNCLos), will hold further China sea that are alleged by the Philhearings to settle the increasingly con- ippines to violate the Convention.” tentious dispute.

PAGE A2

by Matikas

The United Nations arbitral tribunal in The Hague hears the case filed by the Philippines over the maritime dispute in the West Philippines Sea. Photo from the Permanent Court of Arbitration

Pres. Obama to attend Aquino belittles Marcoses disregards resurgence of APEC Summit in Manila President support for former First Family and witnessed the signing of the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (eDCA), the legality of which is still being reviewed by the supreme Court. there is talk that obama wants to play basketball with filipino children if time will allow it but there is no official confirmation about this sup-

mANILA—United states President Barack obama will attend the Asia-Pacific economic Cooperation (APeC) summit next month in the Philippines, Washington announced on tuesday, oct. 27. this will be obama’s second trip to the Philippines in over two years. In April last year, obama paid a two-day state visit to the Philippines

by Joel

M. sy egco ManilaTimes.net

PresIDeNt Benigno Aquino III on tuesday, oct. 27 belittled the marcos family’s ability to claw its way back to power. the President particularly took pot shots at sen. ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos

World Health Organization: PH reelected to UN Human Rights Council Processed meat can cause cancer

by BeRnice

caMille V. ManilaTimes.net

ProCesseD meat—including ham, corned beef, bacon and beef jerky—can cause cancer, the World health organization (Who) announced monday, oct. 26, putting the meat in the same danger category as smoking or asbestos. the agency’s International Agency for research on Cancer (IArC) in Lyon, france reached the conclusion after analyzing decades of research. It evaluated more than 800 studies across several continents about meat and cancer, which looked at more than 12 types of cancer in populations with a wide spectrum of diets throughout the last 20 years.

Among its findings suggest that consuming 50 grams of processed meat per day, PAGE A3

PAGE A2

Bauzon

the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) reelected the Philippines to serve its fourth term at the UN human rights Council, proving the international community’s recognition of manila’s efforts to fight violations of human rights, the Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) said thursday, oct. 29.

Citing a report from the Permanent mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York, the DfA said the Philippines will serve as member of the UN human rights body from 2016 to 2018. the UNGA elected 18 members of the council on october 28. of the 15 member-states,

Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert del Rosario

only the Philippines and the republic of Korea were elected for a fourth term, after serving in the council in previous years. foreign Affairs secre-

tary Albert del rosario said that the Philippines victory in the UN for a fourth term “is a clear and strong manifestation of PAGE A2

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Jr.’s bid for the vice presidency, belying the purported “resurgence of support” for members of the former first family.

“No, no. I think the answer to that is very obvious. I don’t think so,” Aquino said when asked if he believes that the PAGE A2

Pres. Benigno Aquino III

A

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Brown vetoes bill aimed at...

PAGE A1 70 percent of the state’s Indian American population above the age of 25 possess bachelor’s degrees; for Laotian Americans in California, that number is 10 percent.

In another comparison, a number of Hmong immigrants, many of whom came as refugees from war and genocide, are among California’s poorest ethnic

groups; Taiwanese immigrants, however, are one of the wealthiest groups in the state, according to the Times.

AB 176 overwhelmingly cleared both chambers of the legislature – unanimously in the Senate, and in the Assembly with only one dissenting vote.

But on Oct. 7, in a shock for API community advocates, California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the bill.

From the Front Page

“I am wary of the ever growing desire to stratify,” the governor wrote in a letter to the California State Assembly on Wednesday, Oct. 21. “Dividing people into ethnic or other subcategories may yield more information, but not necessarily greater wisdom about what actions should follow. To focus just on ethnic identity may not be enough.”

Under AB 176, separate categories would be required for at least Bangladeshi, Fijian, Hmong, Indonesian, Malaysian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, Thai and Tongan individuals, who are typically categorized collectively as “Other Asian.” It would also have mandated the University of California and California State University systems, community colleges, and the state Department of Health to use specified categories for each major API group.

Furthermore, the measure would require those entities to make that data publicly available on their website.

“I was disappointed by Governor Brown’s veto of my AB 176, which would have uncovered many of the social, economic, and educational disparities in the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community,” said Bonta in a statement to NBC News. He added that he “respectfully, but very strongly, disagree[d]” with Brown’s veto.

Other API leaders and activists offered statements mirroring Bonta’s position, saying that for California’s growing 5.6 million API population, the largest of any state, stratification is necessary to reflect the diversity, according to the Times.

Bonta previously cited data from the 2010 US Census Bureau, which indicated that California’s Asian American population grew 34 percent between 2000 to 2010, while the Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander population grew by 29 percent in the same time period.

“I think he is ignoring the … reality of how diverse our nation, and in particular, California, is becoming,” said Quyen Dinh, executive director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, the Times reported.

“In vetoing AB 176, Governor Brown, unfortunately, sets forth a public policy approach that perpetuates the model minority myth and the dilemma of the AANHPI community being treated as a PAGE A3

Binay: I can walk the talk

PAGE A1

est number of poor families. This reported economic growth is not trickling down to the poor,” he said.

According to Binay, he will also push expanded health care and education programs.

He vowed to continue the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program for the poor.

The Vice President flew to Bicol for a two-day sortie with members of his senatorial slate.

Binay’s camp challenged the Aquino administration to explain why poverty worsened in the country, proof, it said, of the failure of its Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap (Where no one is corrupt, no one is poor) campaign slogan.

Rico Quicho, Binay’s spokesman for political affairs, said poverty and corruption persist despite Aquino’s promise of a better life five years ago.

“The administration should retire this tired slogan. Mas dumami ang mahihirap pagkatapos ng limang taon. Mas marami ang nagugutom. Mas marami ang walang trabaho at naghahanap ng trabaho [The number of poor and jobless Filipinos grew],” Quicho noted.

“The administration must man up to the reality that it has failed to deliver on its promise to the people to address poverty,” he said.

Results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey in September showed that 50 percent of

respondents or around 11 million see themselves as poor.

Quicho said instead of “spouting empty promises,” the Aquino administration should answer why corrupt practices remain rampant, and why the administration’s friends and partymates accused of large-scale corruption are allowed to go scot-free.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27 the Vice President told members of the business community that poverty is the moral issue that must be addressed.

“My vision is for every Filipino to have an equal share in the nation’s progress. No one should be left behind. Ang hangad at pangarap ko ay ginhawa para sa lahat [My dream is prosperity for all],” he said.

PH scores against China in UN...

PAGE A1 The panel concluded that it had jurisdiction over the case.

“The Tribunal’s Award of today’s date is unanimous and concerns only whether the Tribunal has jurisdiction to consider the Philippines’ claims and whether such claims are admissible. The Award does not decide any aspect of the merits of the Parties’ dispute. In its Award, the Tribunal has held that both the Philippines and China are parties to the Convention and bound by its provisions on the settlement of disputes. The Tribunal has also held that China’s decision not to participate in these proceedings does not deprive the Tribunal of jurisdiction and that the Philippines’ decision to commence arbitration unilaterally was not an abuse of the Convention’s dispute settlement procedures.”

The tribunal expects to “render its Award on the merits and remaining jurisdictional issues in 2016.”

The announcement from The Hague noted that the following 10 findings or conclusions of the tribunal were all “unanimous decisions.”

1. FINDS that the Tribunal

PAGE A1

was properly constituted in accordance with Annex VII to the Convention.

2. FINDS that China’s non-appearance in these proceedings does not deprive the Tribunal of jurisdiction.

3. FINDS that the Philippines’ act of initiating this arbitration did not constitute an abuse of process.

4. FINDS that there is no indispensable third party whose absence deprives the Tribunal of jurisdiction.

5. FINDS that the 2002 China– ASEAN Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea, the joint statements of the Parties referred to in paragraphs 231 to 232 of this Award, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and the Convention on Biological Diversity, do not preclude, under Articles 281 or 282 of the Convention, recourse to the compulsory dispute settlement procedures available under Section 2 of Part XV of the Convention.

6. FINDS that the Parties have exchanged views as required by Article 283 of the Convention.

7. FINDS that the Tribunal has jurisdiction to consider the Phil-

ippines’ Submissions No. 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 13, subject to the conditions noted in paragraphs 400, 401, 403, 404, 407, 408, and 410 of this Award.

8. FINDS that a determination of whether the Tribunal has jurisdiction to consider the Philippines’ Submissions No. 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, and 14 would involve consideration of issues that do not possess an exclusively preliminary character, and accordingly RESERVES consideration of its jurisdiction to rule on Submissions No. 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, and 14 to the merits phase.

9. DIRECTS the Philippines to clarify the content and narrow the scope of its Submission 15 and RESERVES consideration of its jurisdiction over Submission No. 15 to the merits phase.

10. RESERVES for further consideration and directions all issues not decided in this Award.

The panel is led by Judge Thomas A. Mensah of Ghana as President of the Tribunal; its members include Judges JeanPierre Cot (France), Stanislaw Pawlak (Poland), and Rüdiger Wolfrum (Germany), and Prof.

Alfred Soons (Netherlands).

Aquino belittles Marcoses

Marcoses are regaining wide support from the people.

Marcos is running as an independent candidate for Vice President and is purportedly the running mate of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

While admitting that his camp had met with Santiago’s representatives over a possible teamup, he is yet to confirm their alliance.

The President’s father and namesake, late former senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr., was killed a few minutes after he arrived in the country from exile in 1983.

His father’s death catapulted his mother, Corazon “Cory” Aquino, to political prominence, paving the way for her to become the opposition’s standard-bearer in the 1986 snap presidential elections.

She was later installed into power in 1986 after allegedly anomalous elections fueled a “people’s revolt” that led to the ouster of the Marcoses.

Fielding questions from members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) on Tuesday, Oct. 27, President Aquino said he does not see the view that “by appearing on a cover of a magazine demonstrates a resurgence of support.”

Aquino was referring to a glossy magazine, which had the 60-year-old Ilocos Norte governor, Imee Marcos, on the cover of its latest issue.

The governor is Ferdinand Jr.’s elder sister.

Aquino said he faithfully believes that the Marcoses would not be able to return to Malacañang.

“I have faith in my bosses, the

Filipino people. There was nothing that has caused me to change the faith that they are able to discern,” the President noted during the Focap forum.

What should be “highlighted,” he said, “is the fact that there is a period in time that contrary opinions were not encouraged, that somehow they were involved in the periphery of.”

“In our watch, contrary opinions are part and parcel and protected in the democratic space that we have managed to really strengthen within our watch. That is, I think, proof positive that the democratic system in this country works,” Aquino pointed out.

The President noted that his administration showed that “the democratic system in this country works” contrary to how it was during martial law, which Sen. Marcos’ father and namesake imposed.

Pres. Obama to attend APEC Summit...

PAGE A1

posed request.

Meanwhile, President Aquino promises to be a “perfect host” to Chinese President Xi Jinping should he decide to attend the APEC Summit in the country next month along with other heads of state, including President Obama.

Sources said the Chinese have communicated with the Philippines regarding its participation in the four-day event and have not given the impression that Xi would not be coming.

“I will try to engage all 21 in fruitful conversations,” Aquino said when asked about a possible meeting with Xi, during the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines’ annual presidential forum held in Parañaque City.

The APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Manila is from Nov. 18 to 19.

Aquino said there is no scheduled bilateral meeting yet with Xi, and that the brief tete-a-tete with the Chinese leader on the sidelines of the APEC Summit hosted by Beijing last year was not really by accident. He said he is looking forward to having “cooperation” as part of the summit’s core objectives. “That is the goal,” he said.

“Currently, there is no schedule for a bilateral talk, but we are very open to it. But there are others that have already indicated that they want bilateral discussions, including those that will be coming on state visits before the launch of APEC,” Aquino added.

The President said an invita-

tion has been formally transmitted to Xi and that he expressed hope the Chinese leader would come.

“We were very supportive of China when they hosted. We assume that our big brother to the West will also be supportive. We have not yet received confirmation as to who will be attending,” Aquino said.

The President said he would tell Xi what he had conveyed to the latter’s predecessors – that the event would promote stability as well as foster better relations among countries.

“So if there is a central message that would be what I want to convey,” Aquino said.

The President said he has been emphasizing since 2011 when he went to China for a state visit the need for improved relations between the two countries despite the West Philippine Sea dispute.

Aquino said at that time, Chinese companies invested around $600 million in the Philippine economy while local companies put in about P2.5 billion in China.

He added China has been sending 200,000 tourists in the country annually as of 2011 as against 800,000 Filipinos going to China in the same period.

Culturally, the ties between the Philippines and China cannot be ignored.

“The Chinese side has also pointed out the very long relationship. And obviously, it profits both to really be able to manage the issues that have a conflict between our two parties, and go back to a concentration on that

Pres. Barack Obama

which can be beneficial for both sides,” Aquino said.

The White House said President Obama is also set to travel to Turkey and Malaysia from Nov. 14 to 22.

In Turkey, the President will participate in the G-20 Leaders Summit.

In Malaysia, he will participate in the US-ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit.

Obama’s visit to the Philippines and Malaysia underscores America’s support for Asia’s regional institutions.

These visits also will support the President’s efforts to expand opportunities for American businesses and workers.

APEC groups 21 membereconomies namely: the Philippines, US, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Canada, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Russia, and Vietnam. (Joseph Lariosa and Aurea Calica, Philstar.com)

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PH reelected to UN Human Rights...

PAGE A1 the international community’s recognition of the Philippines’ steady progress in fulfilling international human rights obligations.”

The council is an inter-governmental body responsible for

strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.

It also addresses human rights violations and makes recommendations on them.

The Council consists of 47 UN member-states elected by

Dateline USa

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • OCtObER 30-NOvEmbER 5, 2015

PHOTO OP WITH THE PRESIDENT. President Barack Obama holds two youngsters while p o s i n g fo r a photo with them during halftime of the Chicago Bulls-Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., Oct. 27, 2015.

White House photo by Pete Souza

the UNGA. Other members elected were Belgium, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Panama, Slovenia, Switzerland, Togo, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

World Health Organization: Processed...

PAGE A1 equivalent to about 1.75 ounces or two slices of bacon, heightens the risk of developing colorectal cancer by 18 percent.

“This is an important step in helping individuals make healthier dietary choices to reduce their risk of colorectal cancer in particular,” said Susan Gapstur of the American Cancer Society, according to The Associated Press. The organization has recommended limiting the consumption of red and processed meat since 2002.

It suggests opting for fish or poultry, or cooking red meat at low temperatures.

Processed meat, which is modified either to extend shelf life or enhance taste, is smoked, salted, fermented, smoked, or cured.

Among chemicals used to cure meat include nitrates and nitrites, which the body converts into cancer-causing compounds. The IARC has labeled processed meat as a carcinogen, similarly to how cigarettes are labeled.

Still, this is not to say processed meat and smoking are equally dangerous: smoking remains worse than eating a bacon sandwich.

The IARC’s findings state that the chance of individuals developing colorectal cancer because of their consumption

of processed meat is small, Dr. Kurt Straif of the IARC said in a statement. However, the risk increases with the amount of meat consumed.

In the United States, the overall lifetime risk of developing the cancer is about 5 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. But the WHO says eating a cold-cut sandwich on a daily basis would only raise the risk to about 6 percent.

In the United Kingdom, approximately 6 percent of individuals develop bowel cancer in their lives. If, in the UK, people ate an additional 50 grams of bacon every day for the rest of their lives, their risk for would rise by 18 percent to about seven in every 100 people developing bowel cancer.

“This is still very relevant from a public health point of view, as there are more than 30,000 new cases per year [of colon cancer],” said Gunter Kuhnle, a food nutrition scientist at the University of Reading, according to the AP. “But it should not be used for scaremongering.”

The IARC found that red meat – defined by the WHO to include beef, goat, horse, lamb, mutton, pork and veal – is “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

Despite the linkage established

in these findings, the agency did not make any specific dietary recommendations and said it did not possess sufficient data to indicate the amount of processed meat to be considered too dangerous.

Furthermore, doctors are not all advising against completely eliminating meat from the diet.

“It’s not that you can’t have any,” ABC News Chief Health & Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser said. “But you want to reduce the amount of processed meat that you’re taking in. Go with broiling, with baking, those things will not release some of the chemicals.”

Red meat does have nutritional value and is a major source of iron, vitamin B12 and zinc. The WHO said there was limited evidence that 100 grams of red meat per day boosts the risk of cancer by 17 percent.

“People should limit consumption of red meat and avoid consuming processed meat, but they should also have a diet rich in fibre, from fruit and vegetables and maintain an adequate body weight throughout life and limit the consumption of alcohol and be physically active,” Dr. Teresa Norat, an advisor to the WHO report, told BBC News.

After the new pronouncement from the WHO, the North American Meat Institute pointed out that the report ignored “numerous” studies with findings indicating no connection between meat and cancer. The new findings could impact the American meat industry, which is arguing against the linkage between their products and colorectal cancer, citing the illness involves other lifestyle and environmental factors, the AP reported.

Yet shares of the majority of meat companies experienced little change on Monday.

“I’m not expecting that [IARC] report to be a big issue going forward,” said Brian Weddington, a vice president of Moody’s Investors Service’s corporate financial group, according to Reuters. “I The World Health Organization (WHO) linked bacon, ham, cold cuts and other processed meat think there’s still going to be a like corned beef, luncheon meat, beef jerky and sausages (longganisa) to colon and stomach lot of hot dogs sold tomorrow." cancers.

Inquirer.net photo (Agnes Constante/AJPress)

A

Brown vetoes bill aimed at...

PAGE A2 monolithic whole,” said Betty Hung, policy director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, according to NBC News.

Richard Chang, policy director of Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, told NBC News that AB 176 would have portrayed a more accurate picture of who Californians are, inform state and local policymakers and allow them to make better use of resources, and improve educational outcomes for some of the state’s most underserved communities.

“For now, community stakeholders and organizations like ourselves will simply have to continue engaging in a costly, time consuming struggle to extract data from each public higher education institution,” he told NBC News.

Although being lumped together in one group may hide education and income disparities among Asian populations, it collectively provides members of the groups a louder voice, Barbara O’Connor, director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and Media at Cal State Sacramento and a former Brown appointee, told the Times.

“I think he really believes that minorities of all types are represented better when they’re not stratified,” O’Connor said. “Asians have more clout in Sacramento when they act as a caucus.”

The veto came as a surprise especially because AB 176 measure was modeled after a bill Brown signed in 2011, Bonta said, according to the Times. AB 1088 required the Department of Industrial Relations, a labor agency, and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to

gather data about the same ethnic groups.

“It shows that at one point at least, the governor thought this was important,” Bonta said, the Times reported.

When the measure was introduced earlier this year, Bonta pointed out that there had been no Filipino member of the California state legislature until he was elected in 2012.

“And I mention that to draw attn to the issue of why it’s so important that I and we here today give voice to not just the FilipinoAmerican community, but all API subgroups who face challenges that are distinct and unique from the greater API population. And while all of us as part of the API community share common goals

and struggles, our struggles and challenges are simply not all the same,” he said.

Bonta also remembered struggling to figure out what box to check on standardized test forms as a kid, the Times reported. And while he was the political chair of a Filipino student group at Yale University, he asked for information regarding retention and graduation rates for Filipino students and learned the institution did not have it.

“When you use the monolithic Asian category, you render invisible the experiences of each specific population,” Bonta said, according to the Times.

Despite Brown’s veto, Bonta said he plans to reintroduce the bill next year. n

A

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D ateline PhiliPPines PH welcomes support ASEAN support on sea row Grace, Chiz bare complete senatorial slate

by AureA

CAliCA Philstar.com

MANILA—President Benigno Aquino III is satisfied with the support of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the country’s position on the West Philippine Sea and understands the “limitations” of each member-country in dealing with the issue.

“We have broadened our view as to what solutions are appropriate for given problems. So we recognize everybody has their limitations and their capacities. So, if we deal on areas where we can cooperate, then that enhances cooperation,” the President said Tuesday at an annual presidential forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

“When we recognize that there are certain areas (where) there are limitations as to cooperation, the depth of cooperation available on particular issues, if we recognize all of these, then it leads to a really harmonious relationship amongst all,” Aquino said.

China’s encroachment on the territorial waters of neighboring countries, including the Philippines, as well as its massive island building activities have raised tensions in the region.

With its weak military, the Philippines turned to the international court of arbitration for help in challenging Beijing’s incredible maritime claim.

Aquino has also confirmed his attendance to the ASEAN leaders’ and other summits in Kuala Lumpur next month, to be attended by the grouping’s dialogue part-

ners, including the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, Russia and India.

He will be flying to Kuala Lumpur right after hosting the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit on Nov. 18 to 19.

The President said all ASEAN member-countries have demonstrated their being “extremely friendly” to the Philippines, especially in times of disasters.

“Perhaps it has been a learning experience also that we have gotten to know all of our partners even that much more intimately.

We recognize that perhaps accepted standard solutions to perceived problems might really need a local or indigenous character if it is to take hold in these countries,” he said.

The President said overall, he was satisfied with the country’s relationship with ASEAN. “It is not only the Philippines vis-à-vis ASEAN, but also ASEAN vis-à-vis the Philippines that, I think, has experienced a deeper sense of community, a growth in the relationship,” he said.

“You know, when we started out, we felt like ‘okay, you’re here, you’re a member.’ But now there is, when we say brother-nations or sister-nations, there really is that sense that there is a commonality of goals and also a commonality of problems that confront us,” Aquino said.

The West Philippine Sea and South China Sea are also being claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Stronger navy Meanwhile in Virac, Catanduanes, Sen. Grace Poe said the Philippines should be firm in asserting its position on the West Philippine Sea issue with China, but should not disregard the other facets of its relationship with the Asian giant.

“We must also continue and support this move because China is one of the signatories to UNCLOS and China must understand that we are fighting for our rights in the arbitration case,” Poe, who is running for president in 2016, said referring to the arbitration case filed by Manila against Beijing.

“We have no bilateral talks with China on the issue of the West Philippine Sea but when it comes to our other relations with China we should continue this,” she said.

“We have economic ties with them and we must continue this,” she added.

“But we should not give away our rights on the West Philippine Sea,” she emphasized.

To demonstrate the country’s resolve to guard and defend its maritime borders, the Coast Guard and the navy should be strengthened, she said.

“Even if we are not militarily strong than China we must strengthen our Navy, strengthen the joint exercises with the allied countries which can help us defend our territory,” she pointed out.

China was the Philippines’ largest source of imports in 2014 with shipments amounting to $9.57 billion.

INC seeks prayers, understanding amid abduction allegations by rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

MANILA—The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) on Wednesday, Oct. 28 sought for prayers and understanding from members and Filipinos amid reports that police are being deployed in its central office in Tandang Sora, Quezon City as security.

Although he did not confirm the reports of police presence in the Church, the INC spokesperson appealed to its members asking them to remain calm despite the situation.

“In this time of great tribulation we ask our brethren to remain calm and continue praying for our Church,” Zabala said in a statement.

Zabala vowed that the INC will face all issues hurled against it and called on the public to be understanding and objective in order to attain the justice everyone deserves.

“Rest assured that the Church leadership will face all the issues with dignity and with full confi-

Tarpaulins that read “One with EVM” are hung outside the church of the Iglesia ni Cristo in Los Baños, Laguna.

Inquirer.net photo

dence in the fairness of our justice system,” Zabala said.

“To our fellow Filipinos, we appeal for open-mindedness, objectivity and understanding, We likewise call for circumspection in the face of baseless speculation and reckless accusations that do not contribute to efforts to obtain justice for all those involved.” he said.

INC leaders were charged

for allegedly kidnapping former church ministers Isaias Samson Jr. and Lowell Menorca II, together with their families.

The case reached the Supreme Court as members of the Menorca family filed a petition for habeas corpus and writ of amparo over the weekend.

According to reports, about 100 policemen are deployed as security in the INC compound.

PDP-Laban’s prexy bet withdraws candidacy, names Duterte as substitute MANILA—Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan’s (PDP-Laban) standard bearer for president on Thursday, Oct. 29 officially withdrew his candidacy and named his party mate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte, as substitute.

Martin “Bobot” Diño, a longtime barangay chair in Quezon City, chair of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and the secretary general of PDP-Laban, withdrew from the presidential race after he received a motu propio letter from the legal department of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that he will likely be declared as a nuisance candidate.

Diño submitted his withdrawal from the candidacy two days after PDP-Laban released a resolution on Tuesday, Oct. 27 that

PDP-Laban nominated Duterte as a substitute for Diño.

Reports said Diño opposed the Comelec’s decision to declare him as a nuisance candidate as he is a member of a legitimate political party.

Under the Comelec ruling, any candidate may still be allowed to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president as substitute of a party mate until December 10.

However, Duterte, who filed his COC for local re-election, repeatedly said he has no intentions of running for president.

Reports added that in the event that Duterte will still not file his COC for presidency, PDP-Laban President Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III will replace him as a second substitute.

Diño filed his COC during the last day and hour of the COC fil-

Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan presidential bet Martin “Bobot” Diño named Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte as his substitute.

Philstar.com by Efigenio Toledo IV

ing last October 16 after Duterte released a statement that he has no interest in seeking presidency. (Philstar.com)

Pope Francis reaffirms love for Pinoys MANILA—Pope Francis has reaffirmed his love for the Filipino faithful during the synod on the family in the Vatican, which concluded on Monday, Oct. 26.

This was according to Filipino bishops who had a brief encounter with the pontiff, who recalled his impression of the Filipino’s great faith and respect for elders.

“The Holy Father said ‘I have special admiration for the Filipinos,’” Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma quoted the pope as saying in a post on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines website.

“Basically, he is taking us as people of great faith,” he said.

Daet Bishop Gilbert Garcera, for his part, said the pope recalled with “great happiness” the “Lolo Kiko” nickname that Filipinos gave him.

“He was really laughing and was

so happy about it,” Garcera said.

Palma said it created a good impression on the pope how the elderly are held in high regard in the Philippines.

“It’s a sign that I am appreciated. I am loved in the Philippines,” Pope Francis said, according to the Cebu prelate.

Palma and Garcera were among six Filipinos out of 270 prelates and 18 couples from around the world who participated in the synod on the family.

Both added that results of the synod will highlight the church’s “great concern” for families and also address the many issues facing families in the modern world.

“It makes us aware of the realities of families. It makes us aware that efforts are being done all over the world,” said Palma, a former president of the CBCP.

“The church must accompany all people of God whoever they are. We are sinners but the church must be there to guide, to help, and to tell them that God will never ever abandon us. That is the point,” Garcera added, alluding to the matter of communion for divorced and remarried persons.

Among the issues raised in the synod, which started last Oct. 4, is the possibility of divorced and remarried Catholics to receive holy communion again as they are currently barred from doing so.

“What is important is that although they cannot receive communion, they are still part of the people of God,” Garcera said.

“No matter what condition you are in, the church must still take care of you because, basically, God will never abandon us no matter what,” he said.

MANILA—The camp of presidential aspirant Grace Poe and her running mate, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, on Thursday, Oct. 29 bared their senatorial ticket in the 2016 elections.

Poe and Escudero introduced their choice candidates in a gathering at Club Filipino in San Juan City.

In the tandem’s slate are: 1. Former Labor Undersecretary Susan Ople 2. Former Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon 3. Former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri 4. Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian 5. Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III 6. Lawyer Lorna Kapunan 7. Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo 8. Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares 9. Actor and former Makati City Vice Mayor Edu Manzano 10. ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao 11. Manila Vice Mayor Francis-

The slate of Sen. Grace Poe and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who seek the presidency and the vice presidency, will be known as Partido Galing at Puso, or PGP. Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Toledo IV

co “Isko Moreno” Domagoso 12. Sen. Ralph Recto Some of the senatorial candidates of the Liberal Party (LP) and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) are also included in the lineup.

LP members Recto and Romulo are also included in the “Partido Galing at Puso” (PGP) of Poe and Escudero. Romulo, however, filed his senatorial candidacy as an independent candidate.

UNA senatorial bets Ople, Gordon, Zubiri and Sotto were also invited as guest candidates of PGP. Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, lawyer Lorna Kapunan, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, actor Edu Manzano, ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Samuel Pagdilao and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno complete Poe and Escudero’s senatorial lineup.

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OpiniOn

Features

Proposition

A GREAT fight is brewing among four opposing names who dare to covet the highest political rank in the Philippines. While the top presidential aspirants are strong contenders—each carrying a political track record—one test they have to accomplish is being the most business-friendly.

With a growing middle class, strong domestic demand, stable economic policy and GDP growth, signposts for the Philippine economy are generally in a positive outlook. What the country needs now is a leader who will hold a successful transition of power by 2016.

Elections are shaped by the involvement of corporate businesses. For a leader to initiate a successful leadership, he or she must encourage the support of business leaders.

The country’s largest business organization recently held a two-day conference on Oct. 26-27 to discuss how the government and business community can improve Philippine competitiveness and spur economic growth beyond 2016. Invited during the event were top presidential candidates, Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay, Former Interior and Local Secretary Mar Roxas, Sen. Miriam DefensorSantiago and Sen. Grace Poe. They took turns on the hot seat as they seized the opportunity to appeal to the country’s local business community and explain why they are the best candidate by outlining programs they will pursue if elected president. Among the programs discussed were priority bills, tax reforms, human capital and infrastructure investments, constitutional amendments and addressing corruption in the government.

Binay aims to alleviate corruption in the gov-

ernment and focus on poverty reduction by providing more jobs Filipinos. He allayed the current corruption allegations against him and said he leaves it to the courts to decide on the matter.

“The moral problem actually is not corruption, the moral problem is poverty. That is what I have to face, not a fight against all these allegations but a fight to alleviate poverty in the life of every Filipino,” Binay said.

Roxas will continue the current administration’s track record on anticorruption and public service. He also aims to address corruption in the government.

“We want to eliminate corruption irrespective of what the person’s chaleco is wearing. We are agnostic. We don’t look at their affiliation so long as its corruption, we are against it,” Roxas warned.

Santiago promised a nation that is more prosperous, people who are more united and institutions that are more stable by 2022. And to promote public accountability, Santiago vowed to have the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) enacted into law when elected as president.

Poe admitted that she has the least number of years in public service among the presidential candidates, but reiterated that she is capable to hold such position.

“Even if they say that my resume is quite lean compared to the others, in terms of my service in

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

the public sector, my resume is lean enough that I don’t have the added baggage that is not necessary to be successful in government,” Poe said.

Sergio Ortiz-Luis, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said that as businessmen and citizens, they are looking at who will take action on his or her promises. He said that business executives were impressed with the plans laid out by the presidential aspirants.

“What we can say is we will record what they promised to us and if they win, we will hold them accountable for what they promised,” Ortiz-Luis said.

The event also highlighted success stories and global and regional trends on business competitiveness, including strategies for business and economic growth, developing a world-class infrastructure and advancing international trade partnerships.

This campaign season has no room for political candidates spouting platitudes. Economists will note that the quality of life enhances business climate. Because like ordinary citizens, the country’s business leaders are looking for someone who will turn pledges into actions and who can make a corruption-free society possible. (AJPress)

Usapang Todos Los Santos: When your time comes, would you choose to be cremated?

PERHAPS a lot of us Filipinos living abroad would have a collective memory of how “Todos Los Santos” was observed in the Philippines where many of us grew up. This would be totally different from the “Halloween” culture of today’s generation — no costumes or Halloween parades and party for us. October 31 and November 1 would a time when we meet with family at cemeteries to remember our loved ones who have gone ahead of us.

However, in the past decade, we have seen a shift in the way people choose to be laid to rest. It is no longer an automatic burial of the remains; instead the option of being cremated has now been accepted by many Filipino families, both here in the United States and in the Philippines.

I had first hand experience on this when we sent off my brother David and my Daddy just in the past two years. This happened in the Philippines at the Sanctuarium near Araneta Avenue.

We had a “lamay” (wake) for them for a few days, with their remains in the caskets for family and friends to pay their last respects. As in the traditional wake, we had masses and eulogies, with people watching over the remains of our dearly departed 24/7, until it was time for cremation.

This is where the practice deviates from tradition. After the final The Fil-Am mass and blessing, the remains were brought to the crematory Perspective level. There was a final viewing but during this time, the body was already brought out of the casket and was made to lie down on a “stretcher” for family members to Gel SantoS-reloS pray over and bid them goodbye for the last time through a touch of the hand, a last hug, a last kiss, a last whisper of words of affection. Stems of flowers were also offered before the “stretcher” was rolled out to the crematory for incineration.

The process of incineration This is a detailed description of how it is done, as described by cremationresource.org: During incineration, the body is exposed to a column of flames produced by a furnace fueled by natural gas, oils, propane, etc.

As the corpse is placed in a casket or container (preferably prepared from a combustible material), the container burns down.

Next, the heat dries the body and burns it until

Election or revolution?

Commentary

HoMoBono a. adaza “No faith is potent unless it is also faith in the future, unless it has a millennial component. So, too, an effective doctrine: as well as being a source of power, it must also claim to be a key to the book of the future.”

—From The True Believer by Eric Hoffer ELECTION is the new preoccupation of the multitude. The last minute rush for registration is suffocating. Lines span a kilometer in many malls throughout the country. It takes hours to complete the biometrics for everyone on the line. But the prospective voters seem to enjoy the exercise.

Since I have no affection for voting in this country, I took the trouble of asking prospective voters of all sizes, ages and genders including the weird ones like PNoy and Chiz. Wonder of wonders, they came out with familiar answers – silence in a desperate effort to hide their ignorance or a hope that somewhere along the way, there may be changes for the better.

They are both stupid and ignorant answers because there is no

hope of meaningful changes in the lives of our people, if we use election as a mode of changing our lives. From 1949 up to this day; from birds and bees as well as the dead voting in Mindanao to the favorite Garci Tape of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; from the computers of Corazon Aquino to the PCOS machines of Gloria and PNoy – nothing has effectively change for the better for the Filipinos.

Nothing! And you think that your vote can change the lives of the poor and underprivileged and the alienated in this country? You must be joking! If you are not, then you are ready for an honored room in the National Center for Mental Health in Abalos’ City of Mandaluyong.

Peaceful or violent revolution A fairly intelligent person knows that a revolution means systemic change.

Systemic change cannot happen in an election. Why? First, election in this country is very expensive, especially for a national office.

Being expensive, only the rich or their running dogs can afford to run in an election and win. Of course, there are many idiots in this country who run despite the fact that their chances of winning are virtually nonexistent; but they run anyway to give meaning to their hallucinations.

Second, since the rich and their running dogs are creatures of the system and they wallow in

the luxuries and the perquisites of the system, why should they opt for systemic change?

So election cannot change the system. It is as clear as day in a cloudless sky, The only other way for changing the system, in a manner that is peaceful, is to invoke sections 1 and 3 of Article II of the Philippine Constitution. As I have repeatedly pointed out, these are the only constitutional provisions that can safely change the system. But our problem is the institutions that can change the system are all controlled by the governing oligarchy and its conspiratorial power elites – the presidency, the military and the people. They are all creatures of the system. PNoy is the personification of the oligarch – the cacique. Most of the military leaders have embraced the corruption of the system, including blindly following the man in Malacañang as shown in the Mamasapano incident. The people, as a rule, have become lickers of the asses of the oligarchy and their running dogs by years of control – economically, politically and psychologically.

This is precisely the reason why I abandoned, after very serious and thorough re-examination, the idea of calling a dialogue to discuss the institution of a constitutional transition government (CTG). It would have been an exPAGE A7

it is reduced to skeletal remains and bone fragments. It is then collected in a tray or pan (tiny residue may still remain in the chamber and mix with the particles from subsequent cremations) and allowed to cool for sometime.

Finally, the dried bone fragments are further ground into a finer sand-like consistency. The machine used for this pulverization is called cremulator.

On an average, it takes about one to three hours to cremate a human body, thereby reducing it to 3-7 pounds of cremains. The cremation remains are usually pasty white in color.

These remains are transferred in a cremation urn and given to the relative or representative of the deceased. If you do not have an urn, the crematorium may return the ashes in a plastic box or default container.

The convenience of cremation Some people indicate their will to be cremated through written documents or just through a solemn “bilin” to be respected and followed by

Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenta “GREG, how true!” This was the comment of a friend from Seattle upon reading my piece, “Insights from a small town politician,” particularly the part about the need for “mobilization” (a euphemism for vote-buying) in order to win an election.

As a result of that column, other savvy individuals have come forward with their own first person narratives of election cheating. At our parish in Pinole, California, a retired Philippine Constabulary colonel who said he had already found God, told me about the riproaring days back in Central and Northern Luzon when they made piles of money during the election season.

“We collected contributions from the jueteng lords,” he said.

And added: “Of course, we did it all the time, but we got more during elections.” Orders from the top, he explained.

According to him, there were other fund-raising tactics, like kidnapping businessmen for ransom money.

“But that’s not the only way the PC got involved in the elections,” said the ex-colonel. “On election day, we would swoop down on a precinct, drive out the voters and fill the ballot boxes with rigged

family.

Many, like my Dad and my brother, follow the traditional viewing practices before the body is cremated, and then the pulverized remains or ashes in the urn are interred in the cemetery.

Others choose to have their ashes scattered in the sea or other favorite places.

Some have part of their ashes kept in ornamental pendants and given to immediate family members.

There are those who choose to be cremated before memorial services as they wish to be remembered how they were when they were alive and strong by their family and friends.

Many kababayans living abroad also choose to be cremated because it is easer and cheaper to have their ashes be brought back home to the Philippines instead of their remains in casket.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS? Would you choose to be cremated when your time comes? *** 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

Insights on election cheating and corruption ballots.” Orders from the top, he explained again.

The ex-colonel’s tale made the New People’s Army’s PTC or Permit to Campaign seem almost legitimate. I commented that the new automated voting system appears to have addressed the problem of election cheating.

“Not quite,” said the ex-colonel.

“A friend of mine who is still in the active service, in the PNP, told me that there are ways around the system.”

I recalled that the vice-mayor who had provided insights on local elections for my last column had also told me something related to the automated election system, based on his own personal experience.

According to him, to ensure that the system would work fairly, he and other candidates were asked to participate in a test of the PCOS machine in their barangay precinct. Each one was attributed a hypothetical number of votes which they then marked on ballots and fed into the PCOS machine.

The accuracy of the count was then confirmed by the machine.

If the count had not matched the hypothetical votes cast, that would have been a red flag.

On election day, there was a problem at the barangay precinct in transmitting the results online.

The election officers were constrained to bring the compact flash drive containing the results to the poblacion. When the votes from the concerned precinct were flashed on the screen, the numbers reflected were those in the test and did not conform with the number of voters in the precinct.

“That means the compact flash drive containing the test was the one fed into the machine in the poblacion,” said the vice-mayor.

According to him, it doesn’t take rocket science to conclude that a pre-programmed compact flash drive could be fed into the PCOS machines in the poblacions in those instances when barangay precincts had transmission problems.

“Of course, that kind of transmission problem can always be arranged,” he said knowingly.

While Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista has assured the country that everything is being done – and will be done – to ensure a fair and accurate count, he could give no guarantee, as quoted by the Manila Times in a story filed on October 8, 2015: “How can you guarantee clean, orderly and honest elections? But we will do our best.”

Indeed, much depends on the honesty of the politicians, the poPAGE A7

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OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • OCtObER 30-NOvEmbER 5, 2015

Senate tribunal grants Poe more time to submit DNA results

by TeTch

Torres-Tupas Inquirer.net

executive committee granted Poe’s camp’s request for an exTHE Senate Electoral Tribunal tension until Nov. 5. has granted the request of the During last month’s oral argucamp of Sen. Grace Poe for more ment, Poe, through her counsel time to submit the results of a Alex Poblador, revealed before DNA test to prove her identity the nine-member SET that she and put an end to questions on had undergone DNA testing. her citizenship.

Poe is facing a disqualification SET spokesperson and secre- case before the SET over allegatary Irene Guevarra said the SET tions that she does not meet the

citizenship requirement.

Rizalito David, who filed the disqualification case, said that being a foundling or a child with no known parent, Poe could not be considered a natural-born Filipino.

Poe was abandoned at a church in Jaro, Iloilo, before she was adopted by movie stars Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces.

Election or revolution?

ercise in idiocy, to the delight of the oligarchs and their running dogs.

Revolution of the National Transformation Council (NTC) The main spokesmen of the NTC appear to be former Senator and Press Secretary Francisco “Kit” Tatad and former National Defense Secretary and National Security Adviser Norberto “Bert” Adviser Norberto “Bert” Gonzales. Both are perceived to have a good set of brains. Both of them are good writers.

I have taken the trouble of reading the Lipa Declaration and their write ups on the need for a peaceful revolution – one writes about election as a mode of bringing about their concept of revolutionary change and the other talks of mass uprisings as the beginning of a meaningful revolution. As students of history, both ancient and contemporary, they seem to me to have missed some very important points. First, from as early as 1949 up to this day, elections have not resulted in meaningful changes in the lives of our people. Second, uprisings in this country only occur when a branch of the outsider oligarchs and power elite are the ones to trigger the so-called mass uprisings. These refer to the mislabeled Edsa I and Edsa II “revolutions.” They were not genuine mass uprisings; they were manipulated “mass uprisings” by the outsider oligarchs and their conspiratorial power elites..

The Lipa Declaration, I am sad to say, is not an inspiring document. It is dull and uninspiring.

It does not deal with specifics; it deals with grandmother-hood statements like those of weatherbeaten traditional politicians.

For a document to have revolutionary impact, it must shine with incandescent celestial fire. With-

out sounding presumptuous, I think this is where Bert and Kit should begin, if they want effective results.

So what is the alternative?

If a peaceful revolution as conceived by the NTC cannot be achieved, what is the viable alternative? Of course, what immediately comes to mind is a violent revolution. But in the Philippine experience, can such type of a revolution be an immediate alternative to the present system?

It cannot be since the traditional Communist Party of the Philippines started its revolution in 1931 and that was 84 years ago; and it has not succeeded. The CPP-NPA started its revolution in 1959 and that was 55 years ago; and it has not succeeded. So that cannot be the alternative!

Is there any other alternative? Of course there is; as the cliché goes, if there is a will, there is a way. It is as copyrighted as Sun Tzu’s Art of War, Grigor Ferguson’s Coup d’Etat, and Edward Luttwak’s Coup d’Etat. It is not for sale. It is not in print. But it can be found and negotiated. Is it mysterious? Yes! I can share two elements for free – a brilliant, charismatic leader and a vision that scintillates as an incandescent magical dream.

Brilliant and charismatic leaders like Trotsky and Lenin, Fidel Castro and Che Guevarra and incandescent dreams like those of John F. and Robert Kennedy!

They are difficult to find. But they can be found, if you try. May be you are temporarily blind because they may be staring at you, straight at your face.

Fading Duterte option The followers of Mayor Rodrigo of Davao City never tire egging him to run for President.

He is fanning the hopes of the Dutertistas by saying he may yet change his mind by December 2015 through the magic of sub-

A

stitution. Many people are tired of Duterte changing his mind – now he is running; now he is not. He is like a teenager holding a four leaf clover saying – I love you; I love you not. He is driving his follower nuts.

Every time Duterte opens his mouth, he reveals himself as not ready for the big leagues, just like the rest of the current presidential candidates, he needs six years seminar in the art of national governance and the science of good behavior and decent language.

The most revealing side of Duterte was shown in a recent interview as published in one of the Manila dailies. When asked whether he will decide to run for President by December of 2015, his immediate answer was – it would depend on what is good for him or what is good for his party. No mention was made by him on what is good for the country or the people. The statement reveals entirely the man – naked as the emperor with no clothes.

I wish that the man were somebody else – with vision, intellectual depth, probably brilliant and committed, and disciplined – and maybe that man could make the difference for this country.

Is the country hopeless?

Is the country hopeless? Of course not! Are the majority of the people hopeless? Maybe! To detail the familiar refrain – Erap said weather weather lang yan.

He was referring to the choice of the national leader as a matter of destiny. But as I have written before, in complete disagreement with that Erap observation, great leaders create their own weather.

They create their own season.

Will a great leader emerge in this country to rescue us from the slough of despond? Yes, yes, yes!

Sooner than you think! (ManilaTimes.net)

PESO ACT. President Benigno S. Aquino III signs into law the Amendments to the PESO Act during the 15th National Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Congress at the Reception Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Monday, Oct. 26. With the theme: “Pagdaloy ng Disenteng Trabaho at Maunlad na Negosyo, Kaagapay and PESO,” the PESO Congress seeks to develop an environment conducive to strengthening the PESO’s capacity to provide valuable contributions toward productive employment facilitation; creation of learning opportunities for drawing new insights for better employment services at the grassroots, and promotion of stronger camaraderie and cooperation among the PESOs. Also in photo are League of Provinces of the Philippines president Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr.; Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe; Manila City 1st Dist. Rep. Benjamin Asilo; Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz; Senator Juan Edgardo Angara; Davao City 1st Dist. Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles; Bulacan 4th Dist. Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica; PESO Managers Association of the Philippines, Inc. president Vissia Marie Aldon; DIWA Partylist Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar; and Pasay City Lone Dist. Rep. Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.

Malacañang photo by Lauro Montellano

Insights on election cheating...

PAGE A6 litical parties and the candidates themselves. Are there such virtuous creatures? Said the late US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, “Ninety per cent of the politicians give the other ten per cent a bad reputation.” And former Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev was more blunt: “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.”

And here’s what presidential aspirant Sen. Miriam DefensorSantiago had to say about her colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives when they were set to impeach Chief Justice Renato Corona for inaccuracies in his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth or SALN (literally translated from her colorful Tagalog): “My first point, if the Chief Justice loses here, that means that those who win are honest people because they have condemned him because he is corrupt. Therefore, assuming that these representatives – because we represent the people, isn’t that so, that’s why we’re elected officers, we’re supposed to represent our constituency – if we judge him guilty because he is crooked, that means we are honest. Now, if all of us are honest – many of us are honest – why is the Philippines often, if not all the time – why is the Philippines always ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the whole world?

“That you should answer. You

pretend to be clean. Now if our officials are really clean and the whole country is clean, why does transparency international always list us as one of the most corrupt countries in the world?

We’re glancing at each other. Who among us?

“That is my first point. Second, why don’t you stop pretending, like actors…there are certain politicians whom we know are using loopholes in their SALN. The law says that whatever your deposits are at the end of December, the end of the year, you declare how much money you have in the bank – the others, they withdraw their money in November or December so that when they file their SALN, there’s hardly any deposit or they just have a couple of thousands because the rest has been withdrawn. When January comes, they deposit the funds again. My countrymen, you be the witnesses, why isn’t that being looked into?

“Second, palusot – or the second thing they resort to in the SALN loophole – all their assets – real estate, bank account, other assets, they put in other people’s names – that is very, very widespread – so, they appear not to have any assets because these have been placed under other people’s names. If they can’t use their wives or children, because the law requires that those close to them should be investigated, they use distant relatives or even trusted friends. What a hypocritical accusation.

“That is the problem with this

country. We’re all for honest government and yet the world condemns us as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

That’s why it’s difficult to win in any international election – in any international campaign – because the Philippines, among others, has a reputation of being a corrupt country. Others think, if that country is corrupt nothing good will come out of it, nothing good will grow from it.

“Why, isn’t there any one of you who hasn’t cheated on his SALN? Give me another life – Lord, give me another life and I will investigate everyone, one by one, in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. We shall see – I will also investigate myself.

“There are so many loopholes in that SALN, why didn’t anyone say something about them before.

Why have you now suddenly become concerned about the loopholes? Well, if that is the case, then let us all just put our assets in dollars and – the purpose of the SALN will be perverted or corrupted.

That is true. But what about all the other loopholes? Why have you become angry over the loophole only now? Why not before? Because some of us have been using the loopholes – they just have not been impeached.”

Looks like, all we can do is pray for a clean, orderly and honest presidential election. Maybe His Holiness Pope Francis can canonize a patron saint for honest elections, in time for May 2016. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

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october 30-november 5, 2015

Filipino and Fil-Am designers bring diversity to LA Fashion Week

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by Christina M. Oriel and allysOn esCObar / aJPress For the fashion obsessed, New York, London, Paris and Milan are the places to watch for each season’s trends and styles, as the cities host “Fashion Week” events that highlight collections from established brands to emerging talent.

However, in recent years, Los Angeles has ventured into the mix as a hub of trendsetting fashion with its own set of Fashion Week events — even lasting for the en- tire month — aimed at bolstering the careers of such creatives.

This year, a handful of Filipino and Filipino-American designers took to the runway to showcase their respective lines; among them, Jenine Nerecina’s Cosmogyral, Veejay Floresca, Kristine Amarillo’s Tale For Esther, Joyce Penas Pilarsky and Pia Gladys Perey.

Finding a sartorial adventure with Cosmogyral The traveler, wanderer, adventurer, and wanderlust-these are the women whom the fashion brand Cosmogyral aims to connect with. With a unique collection designed for women of all ages and sizes, Cosmogyral (meaning “whirling around the universe”) is a fusion of dreams and reality, inspired by luxurydestination wear and Philippine culture.

The debut collection shown at LA Fashion Week 2015 is entitled Diaphanous, meaning “light, delicate, and translucent.”

At the showcase held Friday, Oct. 9th at LA’s historic Union Station, models walked the elegant runway wearing nudecolored, light and airy dresses made of Piña fabric, the same as in a traditional Philippine Barong Tagalog.

The designer is 25-year-old Jenine Nerecina, who was born in Cainta, Philippines and taught to sew by her grandmother at a very young age. She and her family relocated to Lancaster, California, where at a young age she bought her first basic sewing machine and was making clothes regularly.

After high school, pressured to pursue a career in nursing or astrophysics, Nerecina decided to take an entirely different route-creating her own fashion line.

Inspired by Philippine culture, Cosmogyral combines three elements: evening wear, nature, and the sensuality of lingerie. The goal of the brand is destination and resort-wear, as in something one would wear when traveling to an exotic, luxurious country.

The brand’s goal is to endorse contemporary garments that are hand-made in Los Angeles, exhibiting high-quality products that promote the lavish Los

Joyce Penas Pilarsky

Tale for Esther S/S 16

Angeles lifestyle.

“My design mantra is taking three different things and using it as inspiration, and that’s how you come up with a good story,” Nerecina told the Asian Journal. “I look at the things I love and that inspire me, and that’s how I find my aesthetic.”

Nerecina took fashion classes at Pasadena Community College, where she learned the basics of sewing, pattern-making, and other technical elements.

Realizing design was her true passion, she then transferred to Woodbury University in Burbank, California, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design to further her training and experience in the industry.

Cosmogyral was devised during Nerecina’s senior year at Woodbury, where she took a class that required her to draft a business plan for a theoretical brand of her own. After researching, designing, creating, and showcasing the thesis project in a one-woman fashion show, she decided to make her senior collection a new brand, promoting the line as her debut collection, Diaphanous.

“The design process, from research to development to illustration, draping fabric, and then making the garments, started back in the summer of 2014. The whole collection has grown from just six looks to 17, which were showcased at [LA] Fashion Week,” she said.

The favorite elements of her line are the “girly” embellishments in each silhouette, including the pleating and special Piña fabric she uses, ordered directly from the Philippines. “Pina is a sheer material, and it looks luxurious,” she remarked. “My whole collection is sheer, but you don’t think ‘sexy.’ I’m going for a nude, sensual look, definitely not conservative. My idea of ‘sexy’ is sensual, as in the sensuality of lingerie, without actually exposing.”

Cosmogyral is also inspired by elements of nature, as in the smallest details, from snake-skin and sheer, shimmering waterfalls, to the defined underlines of a mushroom, which she uses in dress-pleating.

“Find what inspires you,” she shared. “The tiny details of nature are always a good inspiration.”

On discovering her fashion role models, Nerecina said she simply does not want to be compared. “It’s hard to have your own style,” she said, noting prominent Filipino designers like Oliver Tolentino and Monique Lhullier. “But it’s always about standing on your own.”

Nerecina credits her

experience both in community college and in Woodbury’s design program for showing her the business side of being in fashion.

“As far as marketing, what I’ve learned is that nobody could market my brand better than me, since I created and know all about it,” the young designer said. “I would rather work 100 hours a week for myself, doing what I love, than 40 hours under somebody else telling me what to do. I would rather have everything under my own terms.”

She also shared about her journey getting into the LA Fashion Week 2015 showcase, which all started from submitting applications and having key connections through the Woodbury design program. As a young brand, the producer of Fashion Week decided to give her a sponsorship, allowing her to be a part of this year’s show.

Cosmogyral is only six months old, but is barely getting started as a Philippine-inspired fashion brand.

“My next goal is to travel with the brand and get into a showroom,” she said of her brand’s plans for the future. “But first, to have my own practical in-house studio, where clients can come in to see and try my designs. I can see my stuff being sold in specialty boutiques, not being super mass-produced.”

Looking at photos of her collection, she smiled. “I just want to keep creating stuff, to get celebrities to notice and wear my designs.”

Nerecina also shared her muse for Cosmogyral’s next collection: the 2010 Darren Aronofsky film, “The Black Swan,” with a darker, dramatic and romantic [black and wine-red] silhouette. “The concept is that every woman has a good girl/bad girl side. It’s really about fighting with yourself,” she said.

“Family and friends, even my boyfriend called me bold, a gogetter, especially when it comes to promoting [the brand]. I didn’t really see myself like that before this whole thing started,” she said.

“It’s not in our culture to be bold. In Tagalog, they say ‘walang hiya’--literally meaning ‘no shame.’

If somebody said that to you, for Filipinos it’s seen as a bad thing.

But we need to be taught that being bold and putting yourself out there is a good thing.”

Los Angeles Fashion Week Design Competition Up-and-coming designers from around the world came face-to-face on Saturday, Oct. 17 at “Design Warz,” a platform established by the Los Angeles Fashion Week Design Competition to give these

Jenine with models after her show Photo courtesy of Tiffany Gilbert

Jenine Nerecina/Cosmogyral

Diaphanous, the debut collection of Cosmogyral, at LAFW 2015.

PGP S/S 16

PGP S/S 16

Pia Gladys Perey Photos by Vivien Killilea of Getty Images

Veejay Floresca

Veejay Floresca’s collection at Design Warz

Photos by Emily Grunfeld

creatives exposure and visibility.

The event organized by Lola Alexander Events and sponsored

by Nickii Jean Magazine, selected several finalists to participate in the competition: Veejay Floresca, Joyce Penas Pilarsky, Tale For Esther, Megan Smith, Faduma Sidow, Rosee & Babee, Rhaya Ratavosi, Venice Delola, Nikki Kouture, LaRae Wilson, Merocki, Nrtfashions, and Azulant Akora.

Floresca closed the show along with Viktoria by Tina Summers & Brandi Jones and Ashanti Syeni Douglas.

Veejay Floresca on the modern woman Veejay Floresca, who won the fashion week design competition in 2014, headlined this year’s event with a Spring/Summer collection that reflects her idea of “the modern woman.”

Each of the looks — sewn and made from patterns, shapes and silhouettes all done by Floresca herself — was inspired by “Studio 54 meets kimonos and taekwondo uniforms.”

“I was fascinated about the effortless look mixed with glamour. I want to create a strong collection that embodies the modern woman,” Floresca remarked.

Floresca, who studied fashion Pilarsky’s winning look Photos courtesy of Joyce Pilarsky design and merchandising from De La Salle — College of Saint Benilde in Manila, went on to London to finish a course in bridal wear and California for a master’s degree. She also participated in Project Runway Philippines, the International Competition of Young Fashion Designers in Paris and was noted as “The Next Face of Avant Garde.”

Currently based in San Francisco, Floresca has been known for her elegant bridal gowns, despite not planning to Kristine Amarillo / Tale for Esther make wedding designs her main Photos by Ildiko Takata business. Apart from outfitting

brides, Floresca said she is still growing as a designer, and plans to continue developing her patterns and silhouettes.

Though fashion is often regarded as a cutthroat industry, Floresca had this to say to budding designers: “Be true to yourself, create something new, do not copy, and make sure to develop your own style.”

Tale For Esther’s timeless elegance Tale For Esther, an LA-based brand created by Kristine Amarillo, reflects on timeless elegance with a romantic flare, focusing on embellishments, meticulous details and fit.

Amarillo, a professional pattern maker who studied fashion design and business management at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, launched Tale for Esther in 2014; since then, she creates two collections a year of ready-to-wear and evening separates for “a polished woman who values quality and innovation.”

“I want to create pieces that are not trend driven, rather pieces that are versatile so women can wear them over and over,” Amarillo said, adding that Tale for Esther targets, “women [between] 25-40, who embrace their own uniqueness and self worth and women who fiercely love and live in equal measure.”

For the competition, Amarillo presented 16 looks — 20 pieces that ranged from special occasion separates to long dresses. The Tale for Esther show began with dark, somber tones, including an all-lace ensemble, complete with a long-sleeve blouse, calf-length skirt with fringe and ribbons laced at the cuffs.

“Everything is structured, tight fitting and suffocating. I wanted to recreate a romantic

Pleated dress at LAFW 2015, inspired by the inner core of a mushroom. Photos by Manny Llanura

version of a straight jacket, hence the ribbon ties at the cuffs and added lace for an elegant touch.

The collection progress into airy, flowy and lighter fabrics, from long sleeves to backless, off the shoulder and embroidered pieces. I played around with surface design by mixing a myriad of laces together, hand sewn on top of each other to create texture,” she shared.

Joyce Penas Pilarsky Representing the Philippines in the competition, Joyce Penas Pilarsky set out to boast the beauty of materials found in the country, such as Piña fabric and silk cocoon.

While creating her line, Pilarksy visited the National Museum of the Philippines to gather historical information about her heritage, as well as Mindanao and provinces like Lumban for materials. From there, she was encouraged to create pieces balancing the rich history with modern styles.

Her final look of the night — a wide, striped skirt with lace patterns atop a black long-sleeve blouse and shorts — garnered roaring applause and reactions from the crowd.

At that moment, Pilarsky said, she felt that she would be crowned the winner of the show.

And she was, earning a $2,000 prize and four-page spread in Nickii Jean Magazine.

“This competition was a gift from God. I always say that in all that you do, just do your best and leave God the rest,” she said.

Embracing femininity with Pia Gladys Perey At the tail end of the month, Manila-based designer Pia Gladys Perey held a fashion show for her eponymous line (PGP) on Friday, Oct. 23 at the Sofitel Hotel.

Guests were treated to a Continued on Page 3

october 30-november 5, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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First Fil-Am Bond villain fights with Daniel Craig

by Ruben

V. nepales Inquirer.net

LOS ANGELES—“No, I wasn’t careful with him (Daniel Craig),” declared Dave Bautista, the first Filipino-American James Bond villain about brawling with the actor in Sam Mendes’ Spectre that is probably among the most memorable fight scenes in 007 cinematic history. “We beat the hell out of each other, to be honest with you.”

“But I was a professional,” stressed the actor whose father is Filipino. Dressed in a tight turtleneck sweater that made his biceps look bigger than my two arms combined, Dave looked massive—a 6-foot-6-inch tall giant in a meeting room at the Corinthia Hotel in London.

Playing Hinx, Dave tussles with Daniel in several scenes but a knock-down-drag-out fight on a speeding train is spectacular. It left Daniel with an injured knee.

“Sam doesn’t like to use doubles very much so a lot of that was us,” explained the six-time World Wrestling Entertainment champion. “It turned out great because you can see that it’s actually us.”

“We were well-prepared for this fight scene on the train,” added the former pro mixed martial artist. “We rehearsed and rehearsed and we still managed to both get hurt.”

The train scene, one of Spectre’s thrilling set pieces, is reminiscent of an iconic fight between Bond (Sean Connery) and Red Grant (Robert Shaw) in 1963’s From Russia with Love.

“I didn’t remember that scene, never made the connection,” said the actor whose mother is of Greek descent. “I downloaded the movie (laughs) on iTunes.

I watched the scene and I can see where they would make the comparison.

Ahead of its time “What we’ve accomplished is a modern-day thing. That fight scene must have been way ahead of its time because it was not only very gritty but it was very violent.

It was well-done.

“We are proud of our fight scene because I think it will be one of those scenes that 30 years down the line, they’re going to be looking back and say that was way ahead of its time.”

On being the first Fil-Am actor in a major role in a Bond movie, Dave, who sports tattoos of the flags of the Philippines and Greece on his arm, admitted, “I say to people, ‘I’m very big in the Philippines.’ It’s very humbling because the Filipino people just embraced me like I was born and

raised there and I’m full Filipino.

That means a lot to me.”

The man who is Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy and in a coming sequel recalled his humble beginnings.

According to online reports, “His paternal grandfather served in the Philippine military, worked as a taxicab driver, barber and held other jobs to feed the family.”

“I was a poor kid,” said the Washington, DC native. “There was a lot of times when we didn’t even have food. My memory of that is something I still struggle with.

“Obviously that’s a common factor in the Philippines so I want to inspire people to not settle with the choices that they’re given that are right in front of them; to not to settle with living on that same block their whole lives and being limited to what amount of food that they’ll have, what type of job that they’ll have and how they’ll have to go out to struggle to actually have a dream.

“And don’t just have the dream—actually go out and pursue it. As long as you’re not afraid to fail, you can go out and accomplish more than you ever thought you could.”

“It is a cool thing,” Dave commented about being the first Fil-Am Bond villain. “I always say there are henchmen and then there are James Bond henchmen.

Completely different animals.

When I first got into film, I was always offered the role of strong guy No. 1 or right hand man No. 2. I was always offered henchman type roles. I turned them down because I just wanted nothing to do with them. I actually wanted to learn how to act.

“I was going to learn how to act playing a big muscle head who was just kicking open doors, shooting people in the face and not doing anything interesting,” he said with wry humor. “I’ve seen it a million times but with these (James Bond villain) characters, they’re just so memorable and iconic.

“It was very much an honor to even be considered. I did my audition and finally met with Sam. He was a little concerned whether I’d really at this point (in my career) be interested in this type of character and also with the very limited dialogue (laughs). I said, ‘Absolutely, I would be honored.’

“He’s very memorable, interesting, intriguing and mysterious so it’s a complete honor.”

The 46-year-old actor, who shares top billing with Robert de Niro and Jeffrey Dean Morgan in “Heist,” appeared even bigger than the last time we saw him

Filipino and Fil-Am designers bring...

From Page 2 sit-down dinner, as models clad in PGP creations strutted down aisles in between tables.

“We were aiming for a luxurious and elegant feel. We wanted to do away from the usual fashion shows and wanted it to be more experiential for our guests and bring something new, which is why we did a sit-down dinner,” Perey said.

Perey, whose ready-to-wear line is known for glamorous pieces with a romantic flair, has dressed celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, Gabrielle Union and many others.

Her latest Spring/Summer 2016 collection, entitled “Defying Gravity,” brought that familiar PGP feel with dresses, in colors like peach or light blue, lined with the classic Grecian-inspired drapes.

Yet, towards the middle of the show, models came out in more striking pieces, such as a glittering one-piece swimsuit in one instance or a jumpsuit that treads on flirty, yet graceful. “[The line is] combined with our newfound love for structured, but still feminine pieces made in neoprene,” she said.

Born and raised in Tagaytay, Philippines, Pia was exposed to fashion at an early age by watching her grandmother sew and make patterns. Though she did not receive formal fashion training, Perey worked at several fashion companies and opened her own factory that would manufacture clothing for other brands. She finally started her

own line in 2007 and debuted at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.

Unlike the stereotyped notion that high fashion is for certain type of woman, Perey said she designs pieces fit for women at any shape or size. Her dresses reflect the celebration of feminine curves through the body-hugging silhouettes, sharing that she is “mainly inspired by how resilient and versatile women are in every stage of her life.”

PGP is currently sold in parts of the Philippines, Australia, China, the Middle East, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and has plans to expand to other parts of the world, such as South Africa.

“We have also started some collaborations with some great brands from the Philippines, as well as a design and book collaboration Hollywood socialite Daphne Wayans,” she said.

Inspired by art, culture and lifestyle from the Philippines and beyond and matched with their innate creativity and dedication, Filipino and Filipino-American designers will continue to initiate trends and create fashion must-haves. Be it haute couture or commercial, avant-garde or defined, imagination or reality, these designers have weaved a dynamic prospect on fashion as they continue to make waves in LA and other capitals. *** **Special thanks to Lana Johnson of WJG Asia, Michelle Molina, Nickii Jean, and Coolside Entertainment

in Mexico City where “Spectre’s” thrilling opening sequence was shot. “I don’t think so,” he reacted.

Imposing character “When I first talked to Sam about this role, he described the character as being so large and imposing. I said, ‘Yeah, I can put on some weight for you if you want.’ He said, ‘Yeah, that’d be great.’

“I started lifting weights again and the designers came over to Washington, DC to do a fitting for me. I was telling them that by the time we get to the filming, I’m probably going to be 10 to 15 pounds heavier. They said, ‘No, if you do that, you’re going to kill us.’ Because they were having so many suits made for the fight scenes and everything.

“They had like 13 suits made for the train fight scene and if all of a sudden, I show up and I don’t fit in any of them, they’re going to start at square one.”

He volunteered how he grew into a hulk. “I have this physique for a reason,” Dave dished with a laugh. “I was such a socially awkward, introverted, shy kid that eventually I just found my comfort in exercise.

He revealed, “I was raised by a single mom who was a lesbian and my dad was nowhere in the picture so I wasn’t raised around

sports. I was raised on the streets.

My mom was trying to work to put food on the table.

“I was running on the streets, getting in trouble. When I was a teenager, my mother finally sent me to live with my father. I was in high school. Then one of the kids on the wrestling team said, ‘What do you think about coming out for the wrestling team?’ Because I was already muscular. I wasn’t jacked like I am now but I was muscular.

“I just went out and started beating the hell out of guys. I was just sticking guys just through brute strength and will. Then I found my way into the weight room. I started lifting weights. In my first year of wrestling, I was 185 pounds. In my second year, I was 220 pounds. After high school, the next thing you knew, I was 250 pounds.

“I just built up and it became a natural thing for me. I was very big, strong and muscular. The gym was the only place where I felt I wasn’t socially awkward and I wasn’t a misfit. I felt like I fit in.”

Delayed honeymoon Dave would have liked to spend his honeymoon with Sarah Jade in Hawaii and the Philippines. The couple tied the knot early this month. “My wife doesn’t like to travel,” he explained. “She gets really bad

Dave Bautista: “As long as you’re not afraid to fail, you can go out and accomplish more than you ever thought you could.”

Inquirer.net photo by Ruben V. Nepales

motion sickness. As soon as she got here (London) today, it broke my heart. She was crying and she said, ‘I got sick in the car on the way here with a bag of vomit (laughs).’ The honeymoon that we didn’t get to have—we’re going to do it now.

“I thought it would be great if we could go to Hawaii and then the Philippines. But when she

found out how long the trip was to Hawaii, she didn’t even want to go there anymore. We live in Florida so my best bet to get her out of the country is on a cruise boat or something like that. For some reason, she thinks she can deal with that. I may end up with a wife throwing up for seven days on a boat. But she’s willing to attempt it anyway.”

october 30-november 5, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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BBC calls ‘AlDub’ ‘social media phenomenon’ “A sociAl media phenomenon.”

This was how the British Broadcasting corporation (BBc) described the phenomenal tandem of actor Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza known as “Yaya Dub.” An article published by BBc and written by Heather chen discussed the popularity of “AlDub,” which has become an everyday trending topic on Twitter. “it is a surreal and wildly popular show which has smashed global social media records,” chen wrote.

Figures from Twitter Asia Pacific showed that 41 million tweets were posted using the hashtag #AlDubEBTamangPanahon from october 23 to october 25. chen mentioned how Eat Bulaga’s “Kalyeserye” has earned

the admiration of local and international celebrities.

“And it isn’t just the local fans. Us politicians and even alternative rock bands, have declared their love for the show and its young stars,” chen said.

The report quoted Filipino TV host and blogger Daphne oseñaPaez, saying that the “AlDub” love story “appealed to all sectors of Filipino society and was created by playing on a popular formula used in the Philippine entertainment industry.”

“Actors and actresses are often paired up so fans hope they end up together in real life. But what’s different about ‘AlDub’… is that it wasn’t just the creation of a TV network or movie production,” Paez was quoted as saying in the report.

BBc Filipino anchor Rico Hizon, who admitted to being a huge fan of the loveteam, said

that Richards and Mendoza “appear very down-to-earth.” “i believe that one big reason they are so popular is because the actors are very humble despite their massive success– they keep thanking fans as well as everyone who supports their work,” Hizon said in the report.

The report cited that Mendoza or Yaya Dub has now become the third fastestgrowing celebrity on Twitter, which places her alongside singers Taylor swift and Katy Perry.

After posting a recordbreaking 41 million tweets, Twitter described “AlDub” as a “global phenomenon.”

The tweet volume of #AlDubEBTamangPanahon has broken the 35.6 million tweets sent during the Brazil vs Germany World cup semi-final last July 8, 2014. (Inquirer.net)

PH HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION. The FilipinoAmerican Business Association of Glendale and Soroptimist International of The Verdugos (SITV) jointly hosted Philippine History Month Celebration at the Glendale YMCA Hall which was attended by more than 100

people, Consul Rea from the Philippine Consulate General, Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian and Council Members Paula DeVine and Laura Friedman.

There were arts and crafts displays, taste of Filipino food, presentations by the LA Rondalla, piano and songs by

Dennis Padilla gives up on surname battle with daughter Julia Barretto MANilA—Dennis Padilla said he is giving daughter Julia Barretto the freedom to use whatever surname she wants.

During the press conference for the upcoming movie Maria Labo, Dennis said he has withdrawn his Motion to intervene, which aimed to question Julia’s petition to change her family name from Baldivia to Barretto, last september.

Baldivia is Dennis’s real surname, while Barretto is the surname of Julia’s mother, Marjorie.

Earlier this year, Julia said she is withdrawing her petition to change her surname. However, according to Dennis, the ABs-cBN actress still hasn’t withdrawn the petition.

Dennis explained that one of the reasons why he gave up on his petition is Julia’s age.

“Kasi, number one, kahit manalo ako, kunyari manalo ako na dapat pa rin niyang gamitin ang family name ko, eh 18 na siya,

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Dennis Padilla on daughter Julia Barretto: “Yun siguro ang disadvantage ‘pag walang pera masyado ang tatay.”

eh. she can still remove it. Kasi karapatan na ng 18-year-old, dahil adult na siya, na magpalit ng family name,” he said.

He further said he filed the petition when Julia was still 16.

Dennis claimed he is not given the opportunity to reach out to his children with Marjorie.

“Hindi ko sila nahihiram saka hindi ko alam kung paano sila iri-reach out, hindi ko alam

kung paano ipapadala ang pera, hindi ko alam kung paano sila tatawagan, hindi ko alam kung paano sila ite-text,” he said.

“Actually, nagte-text ako at tumatawag pero walang reply.

And eventually, ‘yung hinapo ka ba, napagod,” Dennis added. “’Yun siguro ang disadvantage ‘pag walang pera masyado ang tatay,” Dennis also said. (Philstar. com)

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the Alejos, dances performed

by Malaya Dance Arts Group, Republiq Dance Studio, Philippine history, and a great fashion show of Filipiniana Designs by Lou Razon and Carl Andrada.

SITV President Edith Fuentes emceed and kept the program running on time.

october 30-november 5, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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Claudine Barretto defends self vs AlDub bashers: ‘Nagpapakatotoo lang’ Actress claudine Barretto has defended herself from bashers of the on-screen love team of Alden richards and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza after she expressed her admiration for the “AlDub” tandem.

Barretto was criticized by some netizens for posting on Instagram a photo of richards and Mendoza last saturday, Oct. 24 during Eat Bulaga’s “sa tamang Panahon” at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, with the caption “Love u Aldub! #aldubfan.”

Barretto’s bashers argued that she should not be publicly supporting a love team, which is a product of a noontime show airing in ABs-cBN’s rival network GMA-7. the actress recently returned to show business and starred in ABs-cBN projects, such as Maalaala Mo Kaya and the star cinema film Etiquette for Mistresses.

But Barretto said she was just being true to herself in

supporting AlDub, noting that even her kids learn a lot from the phenomenal tandem.

“Pasensya na po sa mga ayaw ng AlDub pero kanya kanya po tayo ng hinahangaan.

Napapasaya po ng AlDub ang mga anak ko, bilang magulang natutuwa ako na nato-touch na maganda ang natututunan ng mga anak ko sa kanila. Respeto na lang po sa desisyon ng bawat isa…

Nagpapakatotoo lang po. Peace,” Barretto said in the comments section of her post.

Barretto apologized to those who were offended by her post, but maintained that a true fan should not be afraid to profess love and admiration for their idols.

“Sa mga hindi fans ng AlDub sorry po kung nasaktan ko po kayo. Pero ang totoong fan ay di dapat matakot na ipaalam at ipaglaban ang mga iniidolo natin. Wala po akong masamang sinasabi tungkol sa iba. Natutuwa

‘One More Chance’ sequel release date, title revealed

by ChuCk

Smith Philstar.com

MANILA—the wait is over for fans of Popoy and Basha. star cinema finally revealed the release date of the sequel to their 2007 movie One More Chance. the John Lloyd cruz-Bea Alonzo starrer will open in theaters this November, star cinema announced during the screening of their movie Everyday I Love You on tuesday, Oct. 27. the sequel is titled A Second Chance.

It was announced earlier this year that One More Chance will get a sequel eight years after it premiered in theaters. the movie tells the story of Popoy (played by John Lloyd) and Basha (played by Bea), long-time

Claudine Barretto

lang po ako na pinasasaya nila ang mga anak ko. Wala po akong sinsadyang saktan kahit sino sa inyo. I’m sorry po pero respetuhin po natin ang isa’t isa,” she said.

Eat Bulaga’s sold-out show at the 55,000-seat arena drew P14 million in ticket sales and broke twitter records with 41 million tweets. (Inquirer.net)

The sequel to the 2007 movie “One More Chance” finally gets a release date. John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo will reprise their roles as Popoy and Basha.

lovers who go through a breakup only to end up with each other again.

A Second Chance will tell the story of Popoy and Basha as a

married couple. It will also serve as John Lloyd and Bea’s reunion movie; they last appeared on the big screen together in the 2012 hit movie The Mistress.

I remember the ‘Boy’

by Dolly

Anne CArvAJAl

Inquirer.net

I AM paying tribute to tito Boy Abunda who has been so kind to me all these years. It’s his natal day on Oct. 30.

Here’s what the stars say about the talk show host and talent manager: Vilma Santos He is such a hardworking person and competent host. even if he is a Noranian, he never

by JoyCe Jimenez said anything against me. I have Philstar.com tremendous respect for people MANILA—Niño Muhlach is proud to say that his son Alonzo like Kuya Boy, who are very was able to be on the top of the class despite being busy with his loving to their parents. showbiz career.

Martin Nievera Alonzo is currently working on two films: Viva Film’s Wang Family Boy is an original. there and the 2015 Metro Manila Film festival entry Beauty and the Besty is no one like him. His passion which stars Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre and James reid. for passion is unmatched and “I’m really here to look out kay Alonzo para ma-balance niya bankable. His dedication to his ‘yong school niya and ‘yong work niya,” said Niño in a recent event craft and his friends can only be where Alonzo was launched as the first endorser of Frabelle hotdog. upstaged by his dedication to “Kasi kahit ako noon gumagawa ng five movies never ako nag-stop sa his family. school ko.”

I have known Boy for almost “I still think puwede pa rin pagsabayin ang work at studies kung 34 years now and to call him ma-schedule pa rin ng maayos. Iba pa rin ang nakatapos,” he added. a friend is one of the greatest One way of making sure Alonzo has enough energy for school is blessings [from] God. monitoring his hours of work.

On the day I had my very According to Department of Labor and employment’s rule for first photo shoot at the famous employing children 15 years old and below, they should have a work roper’s studio, I was without a permit, not work more than 8 hours per day and not more than forty song on the radio and barely two hours a week. tV guestings to my name. In the Alonzo Muhlach is able to manage his work “Maganda na ngayon kasi mayro’n na talagang laws regarding middle of the shoot, I received a and studies with the close guidance of his child labor,” Niño said. “Hindi na nila kailangan paalalahanan ‘di tulad call I would never forget. It was parents, especially his dad Niño Muhlach. no’ng araw walang mga gano’n. Now they’re protected.” from an up-and-coming writer who changed my life forever.

It was Boy Abunda on the other end. He was fast to announce that he was not a stalker. He was talking a mile a minute and shared with me his many predictions, one of which was that he thought one day in the near future, I would become a big star. so he and I, to this day, through thick and thin, wait impatiently for that day!

Aiko Melendez My tito/Ninong Boy is such a good soul. When I was so down after my breakup with an ex-boyfriend, he kept calling to

How Alonzo Muhlach balances work and studies

Boy Abunda is admired by celebrities for being approachable and hardworking.

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto: He has always been respectful.

Aiko Melendez considers him “a good soul.”

check on me. When he heard me cry, he said he would take care of my detractors and answer questions for me.

Janice de Belen What is admirable about tito Boy is that he answers all the questions you ask him. He is a very open person, which makes him less-intimidating and more approachable.

Erik Santos When I was still a newbie, he told me to seize every opportunity and that we are only as good as our last performance. After a decade in the industry, I still strive to live by those words of wisdom. He

is not just a marketing genius but also a noble human being. everything he touches turns to gold.

Kim Atienza Boy is my kumpare. He is godfather to my eldest son Jose, who is now 13. He gave me advice on how to market myself well since I was in politics then.

He also gave me sound advice when I was new on tV. He told me never to be complacent and to work on my craft all the time.

I talked to him after his health scare last year. He told me to focus on more important things in life, relationships with people you love, and God.

Isabel Oli to take a ‘break’ from showbiz after giving birth

by JoyCe Jimenez Philstar.com

MANILA—Isabel Oli plans to take a “break” from showbiz after she gives birth in April next year.

“Years talaga, focus talaga (muna sa baby),” she replied when asked about taking a break after giving birth in an interview on tuesday, Oct. 27. “Guesting will still be there, mga raket. Magtaping parang hindi pa talaga kaya.”

Members of the press talked to Isabel at Max’s 70th anniversary celebration, the brand which she said kicked off her showbiz career. the actress admits she can’t give up work totally since she Isabel Oli is now on the third month of her pregnancy and plans to take a “break” from easily gets “bored” just staying at home, which she experienced showbiz after giving birth.

Philstar.com photo by Joyce Jimenez recently for a month.

“I was in bed rest for a month.

Kasi hindi namin alam na I was pregnant,” she recalled. “so nagtetaping pa ako, halos hindi na kami nagkikita. Hiking kami, run, may swimming pa ako. so parang nagka-blood sa tabi ng sac so kailangan mag-bed rest.”

For now, she’s doing tV guestings which was allowed by her doctor as long as she doesn’t stay up late or do strenuous activities.

Now that she’s on her third month of pregnancy, Isabel is picky with her food and prefers oatmeal and fruits. she’s thankful that his husband John Prats is supportive and patient of her pregnancy despite her cravings and mood swings.

Matteo Guidicelli says he wants to marry Sarah Geronimo

by ChuCk

Smith Philstar.com

MANILA—Matteo Guidicelli admitted wanting to settle down with girlfriend sarah Geronimo.

In an interview with ABs-cBN’s late night talk show Tonight with Boy Abunda recently, the 25-yearold actor was asked if sarah is the girl he wants to marry.

Matteo answered in the affirmative. the actor also said sarah is the person who can make him cry and the person he wants to see

everyday.

Matteo, who is set to have a solo concert next month, said he chose not to work with sarah so fans won’t accuse him of using the singer-actress for his own gain. “that’s why as much as possible, ayaw namin magkatrabaho. We don’t want our real lives in our work lives,” he said.

In a previous interview, Matteo said he does not want to involve sarah in his first solo concert for the same reason.

Matteo Guidicelli on Sarah Geronimo: “We don’t want our real lives in our work lives.”

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

Half a lifetime later and half a world away, I have forgotten much about the murdered american soldier. Buried in the mists of time, his story would have remained shelved, tucked away in my memory banks and promptly forgotten until I came across an account of that incident long ago on the internet.

Written by Virgilio lacaba, I read a long, detailed article, perhaps a reprint, on “Strange Occurrences at the UP” and like a flood, everything came rushing back as though it happened yesterday. Weeks after the session, I remember being interviewed for an article in a then popular weekly magazine, Mr. & Ms., by Neni Santa Romana Cruz, a well-known filipino writer who also happened to be the elder sister of a good friend from St. Scholastica’s College, the kind and gentle Chona Santa Romana, who incidentally and sadly, I learned much later, was herself a tragic victim of murder and domestic foul play, sometime in the late eighties. I had left the country for america by then and lost touch.

I do remember that during the interview for the article I have had to be careful in how the story is presented because I was living, working and studying in an academic environment, which by default should place reason and scientific explanation on everything that happens in the world. Paranormal phenomenon is an entirely different ball of wax that supposedly rational beings do not normally subscribe to, something that would raise skeptical brows.

Yet I have found that life is not entirely rational, a lot of things don’t make sense and we have only begun to chip away at the great mysteries of life that lay before us. I am thus convinced that quite possibly, I am just one of the multitudes the world over who believe that there are things in the universe that are far beyond the scope of reason and known science to explain and things that are far beyond human intelligence to comprehend fully.

Quite plainly, there are things in this world that cannot be defined, completely understood and pegged in a nice, neat box.

The curious case of this murdered american soldier reaching out from the grave is probably one of them. as a postcript decades later, lacaba updated the account

7 The curious case of Stephen C. Davis: alendar of Events C across America a ghost story october 30-november 5, 2015

www.asianjournal.com

“…Underneath the bone-chilling poltergeist tactics his restless soul employed to reach out from beyond the grave, he was no more than a lonely soul whose young life was cut down so suddenly and so tragically one dark moonless night. …” by verifying the information about Stephen Davies with the american Battle Monuments Commission (http: //www.abmc. gov/search/detailwwnew.php).

Something may have been lost in the spelling and translation during the sessions, for there were two entries for Stephen Davis (there was no e though in the Davis) — one was Stephen E. Davis, a US air force officer who was killed in Hawaii and whose remains were never recovered and a Stephen C. Davis. The latter was listed as Seaman, first Class, U.S. Navy, with Service # 3759920 and that he had entered the service in California.

The approximate date of death was December 15, 1945 in Manila, Philippines.

Davis earned a Purple Heart award posthumously. Just like the other Davis in Hawaii, there were no remains recovered. The name of Stephen C. Davis is inscribed in one of the hemicycles on the west side in the american Cemetery near forbes Park and what used to be fort Bonifacio, a military camp sold to private real estate developers during the nineteen nineties and now known as The fort in Global City.

There is absolutely no way to verify every minute detail of this cold murder case unless one is a tenacious private investigator with the mixed pedigree of a bloodhound and a bulldog. One thing that comes across clearly, at least to me, is that the ghost of Stephen C. Davis, whether real or conjured by hypnotic suggestion, didn’t seem to be obsessed with vengeance or justice although he did seem knowledgeable about his killer’s whereabouts.

Underneath the bone-chilling poltergeist tactics his restless soul employed to reach out from beyond the grave, he was no more than a lonely soul whose young life was cut down so suddenly and so tragically one dark moonless night. Stuck in a nebulous, nether world between the living and the world beyond, nothing seemed to

be as important to this murdered american soldier as being remembered. It didn’t matter even if the remembrance is by a motley crew of curious, total strangers.

With a sigh of relief over the realization that the spirit was neither malevolent nor malicious, Stephen C. Davis would probably have to deal with an incensed group of total strangers who would gladly take turns putting their hands around his poltergeist neck and choking him, if they could, for scaring them half to death while using the rest rooms.

The ghost simply wanted to call attention to his plight, to being stuck in limbo or trapped in a dimension that defies time and space. Scaring mortals was one heck of a way to do it.

If you remember the movie “Ghost” there was one such paranormal being who was practically forced into mentoring Patrick Swayze’s character in the ways of poltergeists. The movie character is a disembodied soul trapped in one dimension. He inhabited a New York subway because he was pushed on the path of a train and died. He was stuck and could not cross over to the other side because his time had not yet come. So he spends his time morosely bent on mischief scaring the living daylights out of subway commuters.

Because his approximate death anniversary is supposedly December 15, Stephen C. Davis is again reaching out from the grave one more time from another century, so that he may be remembered and included in prayers just once more until he reaches final closure and eternal rest. Do pray for him if you can.

If Stephen Davis’s story holds up, it is clear that to be forgotten as though one’s life didn’t matter is indeed tragic. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Duarte teams with the National League of Cities to offer optional water, sewer and in-home plumbing warranty DUaRTE—Duarte residents can now take advantage of three optional Service line Warranties for water, sewer and in home plumbing sponsored by the National league of Cities, Utility Service Partners (USP) and the City of Duarte. for either a monthly or annual cost, with no additional service fees or deductibles, the optional warranty programs provide homeowner’s protection against costly water, sewer and in home plumbing line repairs including broken/leaking lines, clogged toilets, etc. Service line Warranties of america use licensed contractors for all repairs who are familiar with local code and can ensure a timely response.

The warranties provide up to $4,000 per occurrence with no additional charges for either pre-existing conditions or a limit on how many incidents you can have in a 12-month period.

The Water line warranty is a monthly fee of $6.75 or a onetime fee of $76 for the year. The Sewer line Warranty is a monthly fee of $9.75 or a one-time fee of $112 for the year. The In-home Plumbing Warranty is a monthly fee of $6.50 or $73 annually. at a homeowners sole discretion, they may select to enroll by mail, Internet or by directly calling Utility Service Partners (USP). Once a homeowner is enrolled and a repair is needed, they may call the 24-hour hotline and speak with a claims representative. a USP approved contractor calls within one hour to schedule an onsite visit, which typically occurs within a 24-hour period. Most repairs are completed within one to two days of USP receiving a claim.

In addition to the benefits for homeowners, the City has elected to receive a royalty

from Service line Warranties of america. This program provides a small source of revenue for the City’s longstanding Recreation financial assistance Program designed to help low-income families and seniors utilize City recreation programs. The warranty program is offered at no cost to the City. for additional information on the various warranties, visit www.SlWofa. com The City of Duarte was incorporated on august 22, 1957.

With integrity and transparency, the City provides exemplary public services in a caring and fiscally responsible manner with a commitment to our community’s future. for more information visit www.accessduarte.com or call (626) 357-7931. follow the City of Duarte on facebook at facebook.com/duartecommunity; Twitter @CityofDuarte; Instagram @city_of_duarte and linkedIn.

Welcome to the City: Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Los Angeles WHETHER you have recently relocated or are a long time resident of the place you call home, Welcome to the City events can help you recapture your Bruin roots and spirit. Join fellow alumni for adventure and fun. Enjoy the ease of discovering your city in the company of new friends with a shared UCla history.

Celebrate Pilipino american History Month at this Welcome to the City event with fellow Bruins at the 24th annual festival of Philippine arts and Culture at Grand Park, the

largest, annual Pilipino american tradition in Southern California.

Bring family and join the UCla Pilipino alumni association at this festival that glorifies the culture, history and resiliency of the community. Be refreshed by the halo-halo, nourished by the lumpia, entertained by the performances, energized by the music, wowed by the artistry and dazzled by the happiness and goodwill realized when nuclear and Bruin families meet and unite.

Date/ Time: Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10am - 6pm. (Meet at

the UCla booth at 3pm for the group photo.) location: El Pueblo Historical Monument in downtown los angeles, 125 Paseo De la Plaza, los angeles, Ca 90012 Ticket cost: free RSVP by Nov. 6 for more information about the event, contact aris Tagle at atagle@alumni.ucla.edu. for more information about the festival of Philippine arts and Culture, check out http:// www.filamarts.org/fpac-about/ for last year’s schedule.

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS O C tO B E R 26 - N OV E M B E R 2

Asian World Film Festival in Los Angeles The Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) brings the best of a broad selection of Asian World cinema to Los Angeles from Oct. 26 - Nov. 2, 2015 in order to draw greater recognition to the region’s wealth of filmmakers, strengthening ties between the Asian and Hollywood film industries. With films from 50 countries across Asia, from Turkey to Japan to India and the Philippines, the AWFF focuses on cinema-lovers, especially fans of foreign and independent films. Screenings will be held at the ArcLight Cinemas and iPic Theater in Culver City, and VIP festival passes (including access to filmmakers lounge, professional panels, cocktail receptions, and screenings) are available. A special showing of Paul Soriano’s “Kid Kulafu,” the story of a young Manny Pacquiao, will also premiere on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 8pm at ArcLight.

For more information and ticketing prices, please visit http://www.asianworldfilmfest.org/.

O C tO B E R 3 1

HallowBack Halloween Dance Event This coming Halloween, come to the newest ultra-lounge located near Glendale’s Americana, the chic 103 LOUNGE (103 E. Broadway Ave., Glendale, CA, 91025, across Marshalls and Bloomingdale’s)! Brought to you by EMEX Events, ToneDef Music, Bounce Electronic Music & DJ School, with support from MISS PHILIPPINES USA, HALLOWBACK is a one-of-a-kind Halloween dance music/clubbing event. Featuring dance tunes from the mid 90’s until the year 2000 by DJs Mon Maramba and Josh Evangelista, and curated by Louie Ysmael together with Arnel Castillo, as well as local retro hero Ricky Fabre of ClubManila. Doors for this popular Halloween event will open at 9pm, so make sure you secure a spot on the dancefloor! 21+ only, with $10 entry fee. Reserved seating with bottle service and birthday specials/VIP areas available. Please email tonedefmusicph@gmail.com for more info.

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Calapan Central High School Reunion Please save the date for the 60th anniversary year of Calapan Central School in Oriental Mindoro.

Where: Oakland, CA When: November 1-3, 2015.

Contact: Luz Yu (luz_yu@yahoo.com)

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FPAC 24 - “Balik tanaw, Pananaw bukas” Save the date! The 24th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture (FPAC) will be celebrated on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at El Pueblo de Los Angeles (125 Paseo De La Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012). and will feature contemporary and traditional Filipino food, music, dance, crafts and culture. FPAC is the longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern California. This year’s theme for the City of Los Angeles’ Filipino American Event is “Balik tanaw, Pananaw bukas” a Tagalog phrase meaning “looking backward, looking forward, and celebrates the rich experiences of being Filipino American. As a community we honor the culture paved by our ancestors, and move forward with a grateful understanding of our Filipino American history. This is the spirit that keeps FPAC going. Please check www.filmarts.org for more event updates. For Sponsorship Inquiries please contact us at 213-380-3722; or info@ filamarts.org. For exhibitor (food and business) information, contact John Swing at jswing@ esipa.org. #FPAC24

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16th San Diego Asian Film Festival To celebrate its sweet 16th, the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) is proud to welcome and pay tribute to entertainment and film legends and pioneers during its 10-day film festival, from November 5 - 14, 2015. Presented by Pacific Arts Movement, the SDAFF is the largest showcase of Asian cinema on the West Coast, with more than 130 films and programs from 20 countries. This year, the SDAFF presents the West Coast premiere of documentary TYRUS, paying tribute and welcoming entertainment legend Tyrus Wong, a 105-year-old Chinese American artist who is best known for inspiring the artwork in Disney’s original classic Bambi. Other contemporary pioneers in entertainment such as Ken Jeong and Eugene Lee Yang will be present. The film festival will take place at the Ultrastar Mission Valley at Hazard Center (Main Theater & Box Office), 7510 Hazard Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92108. For all screenings at Ultrastar, tickets can be purchased at the Ultrastar Mission Valley box office (Member $9, General $12) starting October 30. Student/Military/Senior and Group discounts are available at the door. Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing Night tickets are $15 for General, $12 for Members. Limited All-Fest Passes are available for $250. For ticketing info, film program/gala awards night details, and a full schedule, please visit festival.sdaff.org or contact 619.400.5911 | info@pacarts.org.

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Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award for Excellence Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award For Excellence In Medicine, Education, Arts & Literature and The Youth When: Saturday, November 28, 2015, 1-6 pm Where: Astoria World Manor in Astoria, Queens, NY Hosted by: Knights of Rizal - New York For More Information, please contact: Atty. Ferdinand G. Suba, Esq., KCR Commander, Knights of Rizal - NY E-mail: SUBALAW@aol.com

D EC E M B E R 3

AAPA Awards Gala Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) will host The Achievement Awards & Graduation Gala, honoring prominent leaders who trailblaze and inspire others to become leaders, and celebrating the 2015 graduating class of AAPA Mentees. The theme is “Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunity.” The gala will take place on Thursday, Dec 3 from 5:30pm - 9:30pm, at the Hilton San Gabriel (225 West Valley Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91776). Expose your brand to the professional community who are your customers, clients, potential employees, entrepreneurs, corporate and community leaders. Your support will directly benefit the AAPA mentees in the program. To purchase a ticket or ad, the cost is $50 each (limited time only); full/half/quarter page ad sizes are available in full color. Please visit http://aapaawards. eventbrite.com/ for more details and to RSVP by Nov. 13. Please get involved by emailing lia. andika@aapamentoring.com.

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Santo Nino de Cebu Association Annual Dinner Dance The Santo Niño de Cebu Association of Southern California, Inc. will hold its ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER DANCE on December 5, 6pm - 12:00 midnight, at Almansor Court (700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801). For more details and reservations, please contact Helah (626) 215-2684, Gemma (909) 997-1026, Nelia (818) 425-9926, Joy (909) 228-0437 or Willo (818) 458-0779.

M AY 27-29, 2 0 1 6

PUP/PCC to hold 1st Global Reunion Attention all graduates of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Philippine College of Commerce: join us in our FIRST GLOBAL REUNION being organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association, USA Inc. scheduled on May 2729, 2016 (Memorial Day Weekend) at the New Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. We promise a weekend of fun-filled activities, of friendship and camaraderie as we reminisce our best memories during our high school and college days. There will be lots of entertainment, singing and dancing and photo opportunities with your classmates and friends.

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

october 30-november 5, 2015 www.asianjournal.com

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