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Volume 11 – Issue 21 • 16 Pages
MA R C H 9 - 1 5 , 2 0 1 8
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DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
US official: Threat from IS not over
THE United States on Thursday, March 1 warned that the fight against the Islamic State (IS) was far from over, even after the terror network’s defeat in the Iraq and Syria and the liberation of Marawi City from its sympathizNathan Sales, U.S. State Department counter-terrorism ers in the Philippines. coordinator Nathan Sales, U.S. State Department counter-terrorism coordinator, pointed to the IS presence in the Southeast Asia, the most visible example of which was the Maute terror group’s five-month siege of Marawi City, the country’s Islamic capital. “Fortunately, the Philippines were able to take back and liberate that territory
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Justice Dept. sues California over ‘sanctuary’ policies Trump administration claims three ‘sanctuary’ laws violate the Constitution
THE U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday, March 7 filed a lawsuit against the State of California and two high-ranking state officials over so-called “sanctuary” policies that it said unlawfully protect undocumented immigrants against deportation. The lawsuit called out three recentlypassed state laws that, according to the Trump administration, have hampered the federal government’s enforcement of immigration law. “California, we have a problem,” U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said at a gathering of law enforcement organizations in Sacramento. “The Department of Justice and the Trump administration are going to fight these unjust, unfair and
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Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
WEST PHILIPPINE SEA
Palace: President will die for PH territory Legal experts and academics have challenged the administration’s plan to undertake a joint exploration with MALACAÑANG on Wednesday, China in the West Philippine Sea, March 8 appealed to critics to unite which the President has likened to with the Duterte administration on its “co-ownership.” policy on the West Philippine Sea. The areas being considered for exPresidential spokesperson Harry ploration are in the West Philippine Roque said the critics were not the Sea, waters within the country’s 370only ones who had the Philippines’ kilometer exclusive economic zone best interest in mind. (EEZ) in the South China Sea. by LEILA
B. SALAVERRIA Inquirer.net
Appeal to critics “We appeal to the critics, we have to be united on this issue. Please do not claim to have a monopoly of upholding the national interest. Philippine President Duterte has been consistent that he will die for Philippine territory, but meanwhile he will not sacrifice even a single life for an issue that can be resolved on the basis of friendly relations,” Roque said in a
press briefing in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan province. According to him, Mr. Duterte maintains that the West Philippine Sea and the islands that the Philippines occupies and claims are parts of Palawan, save for Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which is part of Zambales province. “The President has said that he will not surrender any inch, even a single
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PH best country to invest in – report by AJPRESS THE Philippines is the top investment destination across the globe, according to a United States-based firm. In its recently released 2018 Best Countries report, U.S. News & World Report has named the Philippines as the “best country to invest in.” “In contrast to declining inflows of foreign direct investment, or FDI, to Southeast Asia as a whole, the Philippines continued to perform well, according to United Nations (UN) data,” the global firm said. According to the latest Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data, the Philippines’ net FDI inflows as of November last year amounted to $8.7 billion—which has already succeeded the $8-billion target for 2017. “In years to come, the country is expected to receive more FDI from within the region from powerhouses like China that are looking to utilize available labor in developing nations,” U.S. News & World Report further added. In a statement, the Philippine Department
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A GATHERING OF PRESIDENTS. President Rodrigo Duterte shares a light moment with former President and incumbent Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada, and former President and incumbent Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Arroyo on the sidelines of the meeting with local chief executives from Luzon at the Royce Hotel in Clark, Pampanga on Wednesday, March 7. Addressing all local government heads present, the Commander-in-Chief recapitulated his campaign vows that his administration is currently implementing. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal
House panel votes to impeach Sereno and Kit Belmonte of Quezon City voted otherwise. No one abstained. AFTER months of deliberaThe impeachment complaint tions, the House Committee against Sereno was filed by Lawon Justice found that there was yer Larry Gadon, who accused probable cause to impeach Chief her of culpable of violation of the Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Constitution, betrayal of public On Thursday, March 8, thirty trust, corruption, and other high eight members of the commit- crimes. tee voted that Sereno should be Gadon accused Sereno of misimpeached. Only representatives declaring her Statement of AsKaka Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands sets, Liabilities, and Net Worth
by AJPRESS
(SALN), bypassing the en banc, and delaying the benefits of retired Supreme Court personnel, among others. The committee is slated to present its report, which includes the Articles of Impeachment, on March 14. The House is expected to vote on Sereno’s impeachment in May, after the Congress’ two-month break. If the committee report got at
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Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
Philstar.com photo
Palace: State of calamity declaration will hasten Boracay rehab Duterte: ICC has no jurisdiction over me by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
Boracay attracts local and foreign tourists all year round.
PUTTING the island of Boracay under a state of calamity will hasten the world-famous tourist destination’s rehabilitation, according to Malacañang. Malacañang issued the statement after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced his plan to declare Boracay under a state of calamity amid environment issues hounding the island. “This is to hasten the rehabilitation of Boracay,” Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing on Wednesday, March 7. Malacañang also noted that Duterte’s order to clean up Boracay applies to other tourist destinations in the country. “The president’s words are clear, although his statements are for Boracay, it’s applicable to all other PNA photo by Joey Razon
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by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte remained confident that the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) proceedings against him will not prosper beyond the preliminary examination due to lack of jurisdiction. In a speech on Wednesday, March 7, Duterte insisted that he could not be tried over the controversies hounding his anti-illegal drugs campaign, saying that the ICC will “never, never, never” have power over him. “They want me haled before the ICC,” Duterte said. “I do not want to say this now, but they will never, never, never acquire jurisdiction over my person.” Last month, the ICC began its preliminary examination into his administration’s campaign against illegal drugs that reportedly re-
sulted in thousands of deaths of suspected drug personalities. The preliminary examination aims to determine if there is a basis to conduct a formal investigation against Duterte, based on criteria established by the Rome Statute. The ICC’s move stemmed from the communication filed by Filipino lawyer Jude Sabio in April last year. Sabio accused Duterte of committing crimes against humanity when the latter launched his bloody drug war. The ICC is the “court of last resort” that has jurisdiction over genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Malacañang, however, insisted that the drug war could not be considered as a crime against humanity because its “legitimate purpose” is to curb the prolifera-
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A march 9-15, 2018 • NEW YOrK aND NEW JErSEY aSIaN JOUrNaL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426
From the Front Page
Palace: President will die... PAGE A1 t inch, of Philippine territory to any foreigner,” Roque said. Mr. Duterte’s position, he said, is that the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has ruled that China cannot lay claim to “any waters of” the West Philippine Sea on the basis of historic title or on the basis of the so-called ninedash line—dashes on Chinese maps demarcating China’s claim to nearly all of the South China
Sea—and that the areas where China has built artificial islands are part of the Philippines’ EEZ. ‘Land territory’ But Mr. Duterte also holds that the reality is that the Philippines is facing an unresolved controversy concerning “land territory,” as the arbitral tribunal’s ruling concerns only the law of the sea. “So the issue of land territory remains disputed, that is why we still have to refer to it as the ‘dis-
PH best country to invest... PAGE A1 t of Finance (DoF) attributed the country’s rank to its young and hardworking workforce, an excellent inclusive growth momentum, an expanding middle class, politically stable environment, and strong and popular leadership. The DoF also took note of the country’s fiscal discipline, stable monetary policy, membership in ASEAN, an achievable infrastructure program, a strong anticorruption drive, and improved revenue collection.
Next to the Philippines, Indonesia ranked second among 80 countries included in the study, followed by Poland, Malaysia, and Singapore. Completing the top 10 best investment sites are Australia at 6th, followed by Spain, Thailand, India and Oman. U.S. News & World Report said it based its list of top countries to invest in on the following attributes: entrepreneurship, economic stability, favorable tax environment, innovation, skilled labor, technological expertise,
puted islands of the West Philippine Sea,’” Roque said, adding that the arbitral tribunal’s ruling did not cover the islands. The question of the islands would have to be resolved through negotiation and diplomacy, he said. “That is why the President has for the time being, pursued friendly relations with China in contrast to the antagonistic position taken by his predecessors,” he added. n dynamism, and corruption. Respondents include 6,000 participants who act as “decision makers in business around the globe.” The Philippines also ranked 16th in terms of adventure, 34th in terms of being open for business, and 37th in terms of quality of life. Overall, the Philippines ranked 49th of “Best Countries” across the globe. Switzerland, on the other hand, was named the best country overall. Coming in second was Canada, followed by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan. n
PH OLYMPIC OFFICIALS. President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, March 5, swore in new officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) during a simple ceremony in the Malacañang Palace. Among those who took their oaths were POC president Victorio Vargas and POC chairman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. Vargas clinched the presidency of the POC ending the reign of Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, who was at the helm of the committee since 2004. Malacañang photo
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Palace: State of calamity...
tourist destinations in the Philippines,” Roque said. “Start enforcing the laws, including the setback [requirement]. Demolish all the structures that violate the setback because the local government may be slapped with charges if they do not implement it as soon as possible,” he added. A day earlier, Duterte threatened to put Boracay—which he previously described as “cesspool” due to the island’s dysfunctional sewerage system—under a state of calamity terror, from military solutions if his six-month ultimatum to clean to law enforcement solutions, it up is not met. with three key tools in defeating terrorists, namely: terrorist designation, biometrics and PNRs. He said U.S. needed to supplement its military efforts to PAGE A1 t defeat IS with civilian measures least one-third vote of approval that could ensure the group’s from the House plenary, it will defeat. be forwarded to the Senate, sit“ISIS is an adaptive threat ting as the impeachment court. and we need to adapt along Two-thirds vote of Senate memwith it to keep our people safe,” bers is needed to effectively imSales said. peach Sereno. As for the Philippines, the US The camp of the chief justice, was looking at other types of meanwhile, said that they were partnerships to include border not surprised by the House pansecurity, improved information el’s decision. sharing and law enforcement Sereno’s spokesperson lawyer coordination.| Jojo Lacanilao also expressed “It is a vital interest of the US that their camp is “eagerly waitto make sure that a partner like ing” for the Senate trial to bethe Philippines is protected gin. against terrorist organizations “This is not the end of it all, and like the Maute group and the the burden of proving the case local ISIS network,” he said. is on the House, for the House (Jefferson Antiporda/ManilaT- to prove that the Chief Justice imes.net) should be removed. We believe
US official: Threat from IS... PAGE A1 t with the assistance of the U.S. and other in the international community,” said Sales in a telephonic press briefing on Thursday. The U.S. State Department and the Department of Treasury designated the Maute group as a “foreign terrorist organization” on Tuesday, barring Americans from dealing with them. Sales’ statement came Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely told The Manila Times in an interview the terrorists responsible for the Marawi attack were far from finished fighting and might be regrouping to strike again elsewhere. Sales declined to comment on the Australian envoy’s statement but noted that the IS’ Philippine sympathizers were one of the terror network’s most ambitious affiliates, and
were likely to regroup after the loss they had suffered. Sales said liberating Marawi city was not enough. Governments should address the conditions that could contribute to the rise of terrorist organizations in the Philippines and other countries, he said. “ISIS fighters, ISIS ideologues, ISIS recruiters are still active. Some are active in the Philippines, some are active in other countries and so the US and the State Department in particular are looking very closely in what we can do,” he added, using another acronym for IS. New tools vs terrorists Sales said it was important for the U.S. and its allies to be able to spot IS fighters as they cross international borders, through passenger name records (PNRs). The U.S. has moved into a new phase in the fight against
rest local government officials and resort owners if they refuse to cooperate or protested the ongoing investigation and efforts to rehabilitate Boracay. “If they refuse to cooperate and begin to protest—you were the ones responsible for the damage all these years, as well as the local officials who are all nonchalant of the problem there—I will arrest you all,” Duterte said. He further warned, “And if you put up a fight I will charge you for sedition, preventing government to do what is good for the Filipino people.” n
the Chief Justice is innocent and she can prove her innocence in the Senate,” he said. In a separate statement, Sereno claimed that the House Committee has denied her of her “right to confront and cross-examine the witnesses.” “And resource persons arraigned against me is nothing but blatantly unfair,” Sereno said in her speech during the 30th anniversary and 23rd national convention of the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA). The House committee had refused to allow Sereno’s lawyers to attend the hearings against her, insisting that the chief justice herself should show up. “As I must fight to have my
day at the Senate impeachment court, this is a fight for judicial independence, for the right of every member of the court to confront her accuser face-toface in a trial type proceeding,” Sereno added. Malacañang, meanwhile, lauded the House committee’s findings that there was a probable cause to impeach Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. “This is another evidence that the processes provided in our Constitution particularly the impeachment process which holds our high officials liable is working,” Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said. “So we are happy to see that our institution is working again,” he added. n
House panel votes to impeach...
Buenos Aires, Argentina and Lima, Peru and Machu Picchu May 21 to May 31, 2018 would go to pick it up himself. That was the news May 21 (Monday - Day 1) Los Angeles/Buenos Aires, Argentina (LA 601 agent Bergoglio phoned when he was elected as the Pope to cancel Newspaper delivery. LAXLIM 2130 -0750) Finally we will visit San Ignacio de Loyola church, the first adobe church and the most ancient one in May 22 (Tuesday - Day 2) Buenos Aires, it was built by the Jesuits in 1675 and Buenos Aires (LA 7901 0931 1556) Meet our tour escort, panoramic tours on the way to a declared Historic Monument in 1942. He assumed the position of Superior in this Order until he was elected restaurant for Lunch, at EL Porteno Restaurant, located overlooking the river in Puerto Madero then as the Pope. to Hotel. (D) Tango Show with dinner this evening. May 24 (Thursday - Day 4) Buenos Aires/Lujan Visit the Basilica of Lujan with Lunch Private Services May 23 (Wednesday – Day 3) Buenos Aires Half day city tour of Buenos Aires, will give us an idea with English Speaking Guide - Full Day (8hs 120 kms) about the Demographic,Architectural and Historic Depart from hotel toward the city of Lujan, situated 68 km. from the city of Buenos Aires. This locality, characterisitics of Buenos Aires. Sightseeing includes the Principal spots of the City, considered sacred, developed around the Sanctuary Like Plaza De Mayo,La Rosada,The Cathedral,Avenue of the Virgin of Lujan, and always a center of 9 of July, Theater Colon, Obelisco, National Congress, pilgrimages. Each year in October, there takes The Neighborhood of “La Boca” with its traditional and place an important pilgrimage of the young in the colorful “Ciminito Street”,Plaza San Martin, Recoleta direction of the monumental church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Lujan, which faces the Plaza Belgrano. Cemetery And the Gardens of Palermo. Afternoon tours recreates the life and work of Pope The actual cathedral, with gothic lines, began Francis,during this tour we will discover the real Jorge construction in 1889 but was concluded in 1937. Mario Bergoglio also known as Pope Francis. He has It’s an impressive architectural example as much always been focused on the simplicity of his way of for its facade as for its interior design. Aside from living .He was born in 1936 in the middle or lower appreciating the majestic cathedral, during the tour class neighborhood like Flores, son of italian worker, expect to visit the Historic Colonial Museum, located in the old church that contains a valuable collection his father was a railroader, a humble man. Our first stop is at the neo classical San Jose De of arms and uniforms, objects of art history, colonial Flores Church, where he used to pray as a teenager. silversmithing, indigineous and gaucho arts and the Nearby this Church we can find the house where the Museum of Transport that presents a vast collection of Pope and four siblings grew up with their Parents, carriages, airplanes and the first steam locomotive of the country, named “La Portena.” During the course Regina Maria Sivori and Mario Bergoglio. In this area we will also admire Maria Auxiliadora of the visit, there will be lunch at a local restaurant. Basilica and San Carlos Borromeo Church where the In the afternoon begin the return toward the city of Pope was baptized Christmas of 1936, here you can Buenos Aires and finally the hotel. (B,L,D) appreciate the font. In the 70th Anniversary of his baptism, the church hung a frame with the copy of May 25 (Friday - Day 5) AM departure Buenos the record of the parish book, where you can see his Aires to Lima, Peru (2428 EZELIM 0750 1050) sacramental record (you will be able to see it during Arrive in Lima. A transportation Service with a guide the evening mass). A curious thing about this church will pick us up from the airport and transfer us to is that Carlos Gardel frequented this church and was our Hotel Lunch, will be in a local restaurant, try the part of the choir at the beginning of the 20th century, delicious Pollo a la Brasa. After Lunch will start the tour en route to downtown. you can see a memorial plaque. The Image of Maria Auxiliadora is also important, for We will first go to the Birth house of San Martin De San Lorenzo because Lorenzo Massa was inspired Porres, currently an institution of Social Assistance to by the blue cape of the Virgin to design the team´s the underprivileged that bears his name. t-shirt. This t-shirt was worn by Los Forzosos del There is a small Museum dedicated to St Martin, the Almagro, the first name the team received. These chapel located in the room where he was born and colors have identified the club through history. Then then the dining room, where lunch is served free to the elderly.If you wish to bring any donations, it will be we continue to San Antonio Church. Heading downtown, the tour passes by the Jesuit very appreciated and welcome. College of El Salvador, where Bergoglio taught We will visit the Saint Rose of Lima Church. Visit Santo literature and psychology in the 1960s, and Salvador Domingo Convent ,where the first Peruvian Saints are University which he later oversaw. We will also pass Buried: Saint Martin De Porres and Saint Rose of by Santa Catalina church, which was the first women Lima. Dinner then return to the hotel. Monastery in Buenos Aires City and one of oldest and May 26 (Saturday - Day 6) Lima Fly to Cusco most prestigious convent. The tour ends at Plaza de Mayo where we will walk (LA 2043 LIMCUZ 1455-1612) around the area and see Buenos Aires Archbishopric After breakfast, guided tour of both the colonial and where Bergoglio lived until he was elected pope, the modern sections of Lima, City of Kings”. Colonial Metropolitan Cathedral, which looks more like a Lima includes a visit to the Main Square, located in the classical Greek temple than a typical Catholic church. heart of downtown to view the Government Palace, There, Bergoglio eventually presided as the City’s the Town Hall, The “Desamparados” Train Station ,the archbishop. Inside the imposing building there is the old streets with their vice royal mansions and Moorish tomb of the South American independence hero Jose style balconies, the Bishop Palace with its beautiful de San Martin. A new Museum will be set up in one of balconies and the Cathedral of Lima. (Its outstanding the halls to the left of the central nave of the temple, features are the choir stalls, the Churrigueresque the name will be “Jorge M. Bergoglio Cardinal” .The Chapel of the Immaculate, the main altar and a Christ exhibit will include personal and liturgical objects that made of carved ivory). Then walk towards the Aliaga he used during the archbishopric, like ornaments, House – viceregal house delivered by Francisco cassocks and a pastoral staff that the bishops wear Pizarro to one of his captains (Jeronimo de Aliaga) as a representation of their pastoral function. Here you when the city was established – a jewel of colonial will also find the ring that identified him as a cardinal, architecture currently inhabited by family members. Continue your tour by visiting San Francisco with he decided to give it away to the Cathedral. Then we will pass by Roverano Passage, the first one its convent (considered to be the most important in the City and where we find Romano Hairdresser’s, religious monument of Lima, built in 1542 in Baroque the one that the pope frequented during 20 years. A style and consecrated in 1673) and the museum short distance away we find the news agent’s where of colonial art, cloisters and catabumbs. Your drive he daily bought the newspaper, and on Sundays he through Lima will pass by several Colonial squares,
The president said he made the decision following a recommendation from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Section 3 of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 defines state of calamity as “a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or humaninduced hazard.” Duterte also threatened to ar-
churches and mansions, and then you will continue to the Modern Districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, for a glimpse of life in this huge city, as well as its beautiful parks, modern buildings and great ocean views. After lunch transfer to the Airport for the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the evening you will be transferred to local restaurant for Dinner show. Accommodation at Hilton Garden Inn – Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner May 27 (Sunday - Day 7) Lima - Cusco (Pls Schedule Sunday Mass) Early morning, transfer to Sunday Mass. Rest of the morning Free time. Take the remainder of the morning to nap or relax as you adjust to Cusco high altitude. In the afternoon your guided tour of the Inca Royal City of Cusco starts in the very impressionable Plaza de Armas, which is surrounded by a beautiful stone arcade. In the Plaza is the Cathedral, with outside façade in Renaissance style is in contrast to its Baroque and plateresque style of its interiors. The Convent of Santo Domingo was built above the most important Inca Temple, the Temple of the Sun, or Koricancha. Near the City of Cusco, you will visit the Inca Fortress Sacsayhuaman, made up of three gigantic terraces, superimposed in a zigzag form. Qenqo, was a religious centre formed by a singular flowering of calcareous rock. It has underground galleries and a semicircular amphitheater with a series of stone seats. Nearby is a Tambomachay, well known as Baths of the Incas, a place dedicated to the cult of the water, formed by aqueducts, channels. Stop at Pisac Market for a display of colorful native craftsmanship, enjoy Lunch in Urubamba and head for temple of the sun. Accommodation at Hilton Garden Inn – Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner May 28 (Sunday - Day 8) Cusco - Sacred Valley Your tour will start en route to the Sacred Valley, Where you will visit Awanakancha, a farm of South America camelids and showroom of textiles, where local families show the entire traditional process of weaving and making garments. You will then visit the Pisac citadel, a town shaped as a partridge, which is known for two reasons: for the craft market established between colonial buildings and for housing one of the most impressive complex of agricultural terraces of the valley. The market has scores of stands that exhibit and sell products manufactured by the residents of the area. You will then have lunch at the agreed restaurant and will arrive in Ollantaytambo, a typical example of the urban planning of the Incas, whose residents still live in accordance with their old traditions. Pachacutec (1438-1471) conquered the town, destroyed it and built a new one, absorbing it as part of his empire. The Ollantaytambo fortress is a huge archaeological complex which, although it bears the name of fortress, it was actually a tambo, a leisure city used to accommodate the delegations that traveled long distances. Without a doubt, it is one of the most monumental works of the Inca Empire. Accommodation at Casa Andina Private Collection Urubamba – Superior room. Meals included: Breakfast at the hotel, Lunch *Important – Tonight, please pack an overnight bag for your journey to Machu Picchu. Due to luggage restrictions aboard the trains to/from Machu Picchu, passengers may only take 1 small bag weighing no more than 5 kg (11 lbs.). The rest of your luggage will be taken to Cusco city and will be stored at your selected hotel. You will retrieve your luggage on May 30
Marian Pilgrimage France, Spain & Portugal Sept 8 to Sept 21 2018 Spiritual Director: Rev. John Duy Nguyen the sisters of charity of Nevers. St Gildard convent Sept 8 - (Saturday - Day 1) USA/PARIS Transatlantic flight from USA to Paris (CDG )Meals is her final resting place. After she was blessed with the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, serve on board. St. Bernadette retired in Nevers. She received her religious habit in 1866. Continue to Paray-Le-Monial Sept 9 - (Sunday - Day 2) Paris (CDG) Arrived Paris CDG, Then after we clear immigration for Dinner & Overnight (BB, D) and collect our Luggage,. you will proceed to your hotel and have mass and dinner. Overnight in Paris. Sept 13 - (Thursday - Day 6) Paray-Le-Monial (D) After Breakfast, you will tour Paray-Le-Monial. Your first stop is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and Sept 10 - (Monday - Day 3) Paris Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations here you will celebrate Holy Eucharist. Then you will in the world, also known as the City of Light. Full day tour and admire the Romanesque basilica and see touring with local guide, including visit of the Eiffel the Chapel of Apparitions. After the Basilica, you will tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Basilica of Sacre proceed to the Monastere e la Visitation. Visit the Coeur, The chapel of the Miraculous Medal in Rue de reliquary of Saint Margaret Mary of Alocoque at the Bac is the site of Marian Apparitions and contain the Chapel of Visitation. Still to see and visit after lunch reliquaries of St. Catherine Laboure and St. Louise De is the Park of the Chaplain and the Chapel of St. Marillac. The shrine of St. Vincent the Paul is within Colombiere. Dinner & Overnight (BB, D) walking distance, a few blocks from Rue De Bac, visit the chapel which houses the relic of St. Vincent the Sept 14 - (Friday - Day 7) Paray-Le-Monial / Lourdes Paul. Overnight in Paris (BB/D) After breakfast you will continue your pilgrimage to Lourdes. Lourdes, celebrating 160 Years of Sept 11 - (Tuesday - Day 4) Paris/Lisieux After breakfast, Full day in Lisieux, home of St apparitions of Blessed Virgin to Bernadette. Still one Therese, who at age 15, entered the convent and of the great pilgrimages shrines in the world, visited became Carmelite nun, she took the religious name by thousands of pilgrim’s. Arrive in Lourdes in the of St Therese of the child Jesus and the Holy face. late afternoon, orientation to the shrines and spends The spirituality of her little ways was not about some time in the sanctuary. Dinner & overnight. extraordinary things, but rather about doing simple (BB, D) things of life well and with extraordinary love. She believed and taught that “Everything is Grace”, God’s Sept 15 - (Saturday - Day 8) face and presence could be experienced in every Lourdes person and situation of our lives, if we just attend You will have early morning bath at the healing water with love and expectancy. She died at the age of 24 of Lourdes. Then return to the hotel for breakfast. believing that her life was really the beginning for There after attend Holy Mass at the Grotto. continue God, promising to spend her heaven doing good on the day with a walking tour of the shrines and earth, her promised” shower of Roses” began and places associated with the life of St. Bernadette. have become a torrent in the church ever since. Spend some time meditating on the passion of our Return to Paris, Dinner in a restaurant near the hotel. Lord through more than life size exotic way of the sacrament and prayers. Afternoon will be free time for Overnight in Lisieux (BB, D) private devotion. Dinner/overnight (BB, D) Sept 12 - (Wednesday - Day 5) Sept 16 - (Sunday - Day 9) Lisieux / Nevers / Paray-Le-Monial After Breakfast, Continue your drive to the Lourdes / Zaragoza picturesque Loire valley to Nevers, visit the convent After Breakfast, you’ll continue your drive towards of St. Gillard, where St. Bernadette’s incorrupt body Zaragoza, Spain. Visit the shrines of Our Lady of miraculously preserved since her death in 1879. Pillar, the 2nd most popular pilgrimages sites in At the conclusion of the eighteen apparitions of Spain. See the Magnificent altar in the Basilica, built the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, St. Bernadette lived on site where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to for 12 years as a member of the congregation of the apostles St. James, before her assumption into May 29 (Tuesday - Day 9) Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu After Breakfast Board the Vistadome train and travel through the sacred Valley of the Incas on the way to Aguas Calientes, then Hop on the Bus headed to the Citadel, explore Machu Picchu with a Guided tour and admire the seven Wonders of the World, enjoy exploring the sites. Upon arrival at Machu Picchu’s Aguas Calientes Station, you’ll meet your guide and will take a 30-minute shuttle-bus ride to Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”. The ruins are located in a lush jungle and are believed to have been built in the mid-15th century by Inca Pachacutec. Lost in history, it was not discovered until 1911 by the merican explorer Hiram Bingham. Enjoy a guided tour of the fabled ruins. Now Recognized as a member of the new 7 Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is a marvelous and famous citadel which combines the visual and spiritual force of magnificent natural scenery with the natural diversity of a historic sanctuary. Machu Picchu is recognized as a Cultural and Natural Patrimony of the World which rises to an altitude of 7,900 feet above sea level between the Huayna Picchu (young peak) and Machu Picchu (old peak). It lies within the spectacular framework provided by the exuberant vegetation of nearby jungle and the rugged landscape. The ruins are situated on the eastern slope of Machu Picchu Mountain in two separate areas – agricultural and
urban. The latter includes the civil sector (dwellings, canalizations) and the sacred sector (temples, mausoleums, squares, royal houses). Although the constructions show different levels of architecture, the religious buildings exhibits a high degree of perfection. The construction was generally in stone and the roofs were built of tree trunks and thatched with ichu or straw. The walls lean slightly inward to protect against earthquakes. Later, board the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch. Overnight at Casa Sel Sol boutique Hotel – Standard room. Meals include: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch and dinner.
heaven. Dinner/overnight Zaragoza (BB, D) Sept 17 - (Monday - Day 10) Zaragoza / Salamanca After breakfast you will embark on a trip to Salamanca. You will have a short stop and panoramic tour of Avila. Upon arrival in Salamanca, you will visit the Old Cathedral and tour the city. Dinner /overnight Salamanca (BB, D) Sept 18 - (Tuesday - Day 11) Salamanca / Fatima After Breakfast, you will spend the first half of the day touring Salamanca. You will visit the new cathedral with a short stop at Plaza Mayor for lunch. After lunch you will continue to Fatima, the famous Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Upon arrival you will have a short orientation tour of the Sanctuary. Attend the nightly Candlelight procession at the Shrine. Dinner and Overnight Fatima (BB, D) Sept 19 - (Wednesday - Day 12) Fatima Breakfast, then Visit the Museum dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary followed by Mass at the Apparitions chapel, Full day Guided tours includes the Shrines ground, visit of the tombs of Francisco and Jacinta in the Basilica, In Aljustrel and Valinhos, you see the two homes of the shepherds, site of Our Lady’s fourth apparitions. Stop at the Parish church where the seers were baptized, and the cemetery where Francisco and Jacinta were once buried. You will do the station of the Cross. We encourage everyone to spend some time in the Blessed Sacrament, which is open every day. Dinner/ overnight Fátima. (BB, D) Sept 20 - (Thursday - Day 13) Fatima / Lisbon After breakfast ,you will proceed to Lisbon with stops at Santarem to visit the church of the Holy Miracle containing the Glorious 13th century Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem .Then you will do a panoramic city tour of Lisbon, with a visit to the Basilica of St Anthony de Padua, St Jeronimo’s Monastery and the famous Belem Tower. Dinner/Overnight Lisbon (BB, D) Sept 21 - (Friday) Early AM transfer to Lisbon Airport for flight home to USA Full of wonderful memories of Our Pilgrimage
meters in the middle, on which they placed two large wooden boards. Thus, the Incas could isolate the city and protect themselves by removing them. Later take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, head to the train station and board the Vistadome train Ollantaytambo station. On arrival, you will be transferred to your selected hotel in Cusco city. Accommodation at Hilton Garden Inn – Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast, dinner at the hotel *Important – The visits to Huayna Picchu have a restricted access to 400 passengers per day – 200 at 7:00 a.m. and 200 at 10:00 a.m. This entrance is subject to availability and the guests have to choose and inform their preferred scheduled with time in advance. Guests’ information such as complete May 30 (Wednesday - Day 10) Machu Picchu name, passport number, nationality, date of birth and pre payment are required to purchase the to Cusco After having breakfast today, you will meet your guide entrance fee. Entrance fees to Huayana Picchu and at the lobby of the hotel and will enjoy a second visit Machu Picchu are non refundable/non endorsable. to Machu Picchu. You may climb the Wayna Picchu (entrance fee May 31, 2018 (Thursday - Day 11) End of the included), which means “Young Mountain” as opposed tour, flight schedule as below to Machu Picchu. Its ascent takes approximately an 6:10 am Transfer to airport to board your flight to Lima hour and its top attraction is the “Temple of the Moon”, Cusco - Lima- Lax (LA2054 CUZLIM 0840 1010) a complex of underground constructions probably Upon arrival, connect with your international flight used for the elite. You may finally go to the Inca Bridge, LAX ( LA600 LIMLAX 1220 1900) an amazing stone construction which served to enter Welcome Back home to USA or exit the citadel that has an empty space of several
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US official stresses rule of law amid combating drug menace by Dana
SioSon AJPress
THe rule of law must always serve as the “benchmark” in prosecuting suspected drug personalities, a United States official has reminded the Philippines, whose government is conducting an intensified campaign against illegal drugs. Upon his visit in Manila, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Undersecretary and Counterterrorism Coordinator David J. Glawe met with senior Philippine officials, including Philippine Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. In an interview with reporters on Friday, March 2, Glawe said he discussed with Aguirre a wide range of security issues, including the drug menace. “We did talk about the importance of the rule of law…The
benchmark of the U.S. law enforcement is the U.S. Constitution,” Glawe said. While acknowledging that the threats of narcotics must be addressed, the U.S. official emphasized that the rule of law must always be placed in the forefront of the anti-illegal drugs campaign. Glawe, also a former Houston police officer and special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), pointed out that simply “attacking the supply” side of the narcotics problem “without addressing the demand” portion of it would be a failed tack. “I understand the challenges [posed by] criminal organizations and narcotics trafficking. It’s very difficult. But the rule of law always has to be in place when enforcing the law,” he added. The U.S., a decades-long Phil-
ippine ally, is one of the countries that expressed concern over the thousands of alleged of extra-judicial killings and human rights abuses linked to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s “bloody” drug war. The U.S. official noted: “When we partner with other countries, we also partner in [the implementation of the] rule of law and the humane treatment of people, and that’s the benchmark of the U.S. law enforcement.” Glawe reiterated that the U.S. government is “absolutely 100 percent for the rule law.” “That means adhering to search warrants, arrest warrants and due process for people arrested,” he added. Apart from narcotics, the issues of human smuggling, child exploitation, and the global fight against terrorism were also discussed during the meeting. n
A
WILL IT BE READ? Children vaccinated with Dengvaxia write a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte during the dengue vaccine awareness caravan held on Sunday, March 4 in Valenzuela City. ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada
Pacquiao to fight next in Malaysia US urged to help over Dengvaxia controversy A lAWyeR representing several parents of alleged Dengvaxia victims has urged the Duterte administration to ask the United States to probe French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur for possible violation of American laws in relation to the administration of the anti-dengue vaccine to almost a million Filipino children. In a letter sent to executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and three other officials, lawyer ernesto Francisco Jr. said
by AJPress PHIlIPPIne boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has confirmed that his next fight will be held in Malaysia. In an interview with ABS-CBn, the 39-year-old boxer revealed that he’ll make a comeback in Malaysia this coming May or June. “Definitely, Malaysia is where we will fight,” said Pacquiao, who is also an elected senator. “If not May, this coming June, maybe third week of June, so the preparation will not conflict with my work.” The eight-division boxing world champion said those in Malaysia “appealed to have a fight there.” As for whom he’ll be up against, Pacquiao mentioned two names: two-division title holder lucas Mathysse and former two-division world champion Danny Garcia. “Dalawang boxers, we will announce pag na-finalize na kung sino (Two boxers, we will announce once finalized whom among them)…Mathysse or Danny Garcia,” he said. Pacquiao has not been in the ring since losing his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight title to Jeff Horn in a controversial match last July in Brisbane, Australia. Prior to Pacquiao’s recent revelation, there were talks about him fighting as an undercard in the WBO Welterweight title showdown between champion Horn and Terence Crawford this
Sen. Manny Pacquiao
Senate photo
April. Pacquiao, however, reportedly rejected it because he felt “insulted” by Top Rank’s offer to use him as a mere undercard. According to Pacquiao’s media chief Aquiles Zonio, the Filipino boxer’s decision to turn down the offer has nothing to do with a possible schedule conflict related to his Senate duties. “The Senate is on break from March 23 to May 14,” Zonio was quoted saying in a Spin PH report published March 1. “The main reason was he felt insulted by the decision of Arum to use him as undercard in the scheduled Crawford-Horn title fight in April,” Zonio added, referring to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. n
Justice Dept. sues California... PAGE A1 t unconstitutional policies that have been imposed on you.” The three laws the administration is challenging include SB 54, the all-encompassing “sanctuary state” law that restricted law enforcement from sharing information with federal agents that would lead to the capture and deportation of criminal undocumented immigrants. The other two laws are AB 450, which prohibits private employers from complying with immigration agents who conduct operations on worksites, and AB 103, which calls for regular inspections of detention facilities that hold immigrants who face deportation. The two top leaders that the lawsuit also named were California Governor Jerry Brown and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. At a Tuesday night press conference, Becerra asserted that, through the Tenth Amendment, states have the right to handle public safety in the ways they see fit. Calmly poised, Becerra assured Californians that the claims made in the lawsuit demonstrated “there’s nothing really new there that we weren’t already familiar with.” “We’re prepared to deal with this,” Becerra told reporters. “We believe we are in full compliance with the federal constitution and federal law.” As soon as the Trump administration announced the lawsuit, Brown brazenly fired back at Sessions, calling the move a “political stunt.’ “What Jeff Sessions said is simply not true and I call upon him to apologize to the people of California for bringing the mendacity of Washington to California,” Brown said at a joint press conference with Becerra on Wednesday, March 7. “This is basically going to war against the State of California, the engine of the American economy,” Brown added. “It’s not wise. It’s not right,
and it will not stand.” Brown also made accusations toward Sessions, who Brown said lied about the state’s immigration policies. Sessions has falsely claimed that Becerra called for an open border, protection for criminals and secession from the U.S. “We know the Trump administration is full of liars. They have pleaded guilty already to the special counsel,” Brown said, referencing the federal investigation on Russian collusion. earlier in his presidency, Trump signed an executive order that called to rescind federal grant funding to jurisdictions that reject cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities. The lawsuit comes weeks after the U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICe) conducted multiple raids across California. In the los Angeles area, more than 150 people were detained and in northern California, about 232 people were arrested in a massive 4-day sweep, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. State officials saw these massive raids as a response to the state’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration officials. Asian Americans Advancing Justice-California also condemned the lawsuit, calling it an “attack on California’s policies that protect our immigrant communities.” “Studies have shown that jurisdictions with sanctuary policies are safer and more economically prosperous than non-sanctuary jurisdictions. Immigrants help California thrive,” Advancing JusticeCA said in a statement. “The Trump administration has been obsessive in their attack and scapegoating of immigrants, fueled by hate, xenophobia, and racism. But the Constitution is clear: the federal government cannot commandeer California’s resources to carry out deportations.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJ Press)
Filipino children were inoculated with Dengvaxia at a time when even Sanofi’s own clinical trials showed that “there are serious questions on the efficacy and safety” of the vaccine. “This is to request your good offices to study and pursue legal remedies or actions available in the United States of America which the Philippine government may avail against Sanofi or Sanofi Pasteur in connection with the conduct of clinical trials on the
anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, then known as CyD-TVD,” Francisco said. “The Philippine government may request the United States government, specifically its Department of Justice or Attorney General, to conduct an investigation of Sanofi for possible violation of (U.S.) laws, including but not limited to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and federal statutes on health care,” he added.
The 12-page letter, a copy of which was sent to The Star late last week, was addressed to Medialdea, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Solicitor General Jose Calida. Francisco said he mentioned the FCPA “because of the admissions made by Philippine government officials that they received monetary compensation from Sanofi in connection with
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A march 9-15, 2018 • NEW YOrK aND NEW JErSEY aSIaN JOUrNaL
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Jordan Clarkson laments being unable to play for Gilas, recalls chess session with Pacquiao by Denison
Rey A. DAlupAng Philstar.com
FORMER REBELS VISIT AFP. A former female rebel and other civilian returnees tour the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) museum and theater at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday, March 6. The group, composed of 188 former New People’s Army (NPA) members and supporters from Mindanao, later proceeded to Malacañang for a dinner with President Rodrigo Duterte. PNA photo by Joey Razon
US urged to help over Dengvaxia... PAGE A3 t their official functions relative to the conduct of clinical trials of dengvaxia and the issuance of regulatory approvals.” He said the U.s. government would likely accommodate a request to investigate sanofi because the company has headquarters in Pennsylvania, its
shares listed in the new York stock exchange. Clinical trials on dengvaxia were also conducted in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the U.s. The company has claimed that the clinical development of the vaccine has complied with the standards set by the U.s. Food and drug administration and
U.s.-based foundations were involved in the development of the dengue vaccine. Francisco also claimed that the clinical trials on dengvaxia were “far from over” at the time sanofi sought and was granted regulatory approval for the vaccine. (Ding Cervantes, Alexis Romero/Philstar.com)
Cleveland’s Jordan Clarkson has donned two jerseys in his young nBa career. But when is he going to don the Philippines’? speaking to John Michael and Rafa Brito-Hernandez in the CavsHQ podcast, the Filipinoamerican guard hinted on his frustrations on not being able to sport the Gilas tricolors and his plans down the line. “It’s definitely you know, something I want to do,” he told BritoHernandez when asked about missing Gilas trainings and the chance to play for the Philippines in the international arena due to the nBa scheduling. “everything just kind of didn’t work out, FIBa rules and all that stuff,” he revealed with a sigh. In the same interview, Clarkson, now playing alongside leBron James and the Cavaliers, recalled his short vacation in the country that was highlighted with multiple workouts with Gilas and a visit at Manny Pacquiao’s residence. Clarkson, for one, couldn’t forget taking on the decorated boxer in the game of chess. “We played chess, man!” he shared enthusiastically. “For a long time in his house! I think we went through like two or three boxes of KFC. I’m just sitting there eating the whole time while playing.” “That’s why I stayed there so long. I was trying to beat him,” he remembered with a chuckle. “He whooped my tail off.”
Jordan Clarkson
Philstar.com photo
Clarkson, whose Filipino lineage could be traced to his mother annette’s roots in Pampanga, carries a Filipino passport, which he has had since his pre-teen years, according to the samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. He was in consideration for inclusion into the Gilas lineup since 2015, but FIBa rules have been rigorous for the young cager. The basketball governing body deemed
him ineligible to play as a Filipino for a shortage in documents supporting that he has obtained a Philippine passport before turning 16. He is only qualified to play as a naturalized Filipino — a slot that has been held by andray Blatche for quite some time. “Hopefully it comes out soon, you know, [that] I’d be able to suit up,” Clarkson offered with optimisim. n
USS Bonhomme Richard, part of Amphibious Squadron 11, is operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region as part of a regularly scheduled patrol and provides a rapid-response capability in the event of a regional contingeny or natural disaster. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Todd C. Behrman
US amphibious assault ship arrives in Manila by pAtRiciA louRDes Philstar.com
ViRAy
an amphibious assault ship of the U.s. navy is in Manila for a port visit and to participate in a community relations project. The crew of Uss Bonhomme Richard (lHd 6) are in Manila to enhance Philippines-U.s. ties and to experience Filipino culture, according to a release from the U.s. embassy. “Following exercise Cobra Gold, we’ve continued our shipboard training and patrol, and now we have the opportunity to experience liberty in Manila. I’m grateful for the chance to share the amazing culture of the Philippines with the crew during this port call,” Capt. larry McCullen, Bonhomme Richard commanding officer. said. The more than 2,500 sailors and Marines aboard Bonhomme Richard participated in the multinational exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand prior to the port visit in the Philippines. among the participants of Cobra Gold, which focused in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, were Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, south Korea, singapore and the U.s. In Manila, the crew members of Bonhomme Richard will pack food
and other supplies for distribution to those affected by the eruption of Mayon volcano in albay. lt. david Hammond, assistant command chaplain, said that they chose this community relations project in response to a current natural disaster that displaced an estimated 90,000 Filipinos. “although we’re unable to have personal interaction with the evacuees, we know that our work will reach them. We’re grateful for the invitation to play a small role in pitching in to help provide for others during a time of need,” Hammond said. Part of the amphibious squadron 11 of the U.s. navy, Bonhomme Richard operates in the Indo-asia-Pacific region as part of a regularly scheduled patrol. The ship is named after the frigate commanded by John Paul Jones, a naval commander during the american Revolutionary War. Just last week, los angeles-class attack submarine Uss Bremerton docked at subic Bay for a routine visit during its deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. The visit of Bremerton, a part of the U.s. 7th Fleet, demonstrates the commitment of the U.s. navy to regional stability and maritime security in the region, the U.s. embassy said. n
AFP/PNP HOUSING PROJECT. President Rodrigo Duterte leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Casa San Miguel at Brgy. San Agustin in Concepcion, Tarlac on Wednesday, March 7. Assisting the president are Concepcion Mayor Andres Lacson, National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairperson Eduardo Del Rosario. Malacañang photo by Rey Baniquet
Duterte: ICC has no jurisdiction...
PAGE A1 t
tion of illegal drugs. “nothing has changed. The president’s stance remains the same — that because the Philippine courts are able and willing, the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction,” Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said. “and secondly, in terms of merit, the war against drugs cannot be considered as crimes against humanity because it does not target just civilian population,
but it is also an official exercise of the police powers of the state and has a legitimate purpose – to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs,” he added. Roque further stressed that the Philippine government has not shown an unwillingness to prosecute erring officials. “Philippine courts are still open to trying the case,” he said. “so there‘s no inability or unwillingness. Presidents have no immunity from prosecution for life.” n
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Dateline PhiliPPines
A
PNP allays fears of terror threats in Metro Manila by aJPress
Infographic by Philstar.com
12 Filipinos return to Forbes 2018 Billionaires list by Rosette
Adel
Philstar.com
MANILA — Twelve Filipino business tycoons once again made it to the recently released Forbes magazine’s annual billionaires list. Ninety-three-year-old shopping mogul Henry Sy led the list with $20 billion net worth. He ranked 52nd in the world’s billionaires list. John Gokongwei followed Sy with $5.8 net worth from his diversified business while ports mag-
nate Enrique Razon Jr. was also among the top Filipino billionaires with $4.9 billion net worth. Gokongwei and Razon placed at the 305th and 404th rank in the international magazine’s roster, respectively. The Filipinos joined tech business founders, Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Bill Gates of Microsoft who topped the list with $112 billion and $90 billion, respectively. The list is dominated by tech and software founders, including Facebook’s Mark Zucker-
berg, American Movil’s Carlos Slim Helu, Oracle Corporation’s Larry Ellison, Bloomberg’s Michael Bloomberg, Google’s Larry Page, Alibaba’s Jack Ma, among others. Also among the top billionaires list are Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway and Amancio Ortega of Zara. Last year, 14 Filipinos made it to the billionaires list. However, this year, construction tycoon, David Consuji and fast food businessman, Edgar Sia, failed to land on the list this year. n
Poe: No way Duterte is involved in alleged 2016 poll fraud sioson AJPress
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has assured the public that the recent arrest of a Maute terrorist group subleader in Tondo, Manila should not be cause for alarm. In a radio interview on Tuesday, March 6, PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. John Bulalacao allayed fears of any impending terror attacks in Metro Manila, following the arrest of a Maute subleader last week. Bulalacao told the public that the PNP and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) are “in control of the situation.” “Pero yung kanyang pagpunta dito sa Manila (But his escape to Manila) should not be a cause for alarm for our citizens dahil ang ating (because our) Philippine National Police naman and [the] AFP are on our toes,” Bulalacao said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer. Maute sub-leader Nasser Lomondot alias “Muhamad Lomondo,” and his wife Raisalam Lomondot, were arrested at their clothing stall in Recto Avenue on Saturday, March 3. Bulalacao said that initial reports indicate that Lomondot solely came to Manila to seek refuge from the pressure of martial law in Mindanao. “And at the same time makapagpahinga dito dahil siguro doon sa naging experience niya na five months na gyera doon sa Marawi (to rest here probably because of his five-month experience of the war in Marawi),” he added. The Maute terrorist group was responsible for the fivemonths long attack in Marawi City that started on May 23 last year and led to hundreds of deaths, mostly of terrorists. PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday, March 5 said Lomondot has likely not intended “to create havoc” in Metro Manila but only to “lay low.” “Andito siya sa (He’s been here in) Manila since January this year not to create havoc but to seek refuge,” Dela Rosa told reporters in a briefing. The PNP chief continued: “Dahil nga naiipit siya sa Mindanao, ‘yung gulo ng Martial
Law sa Mindanao, kaya siya lumipad dito sa Manila para may lay low (He’s being pinned by the Martial Law in Mindanao, that’s why he fled to Manila to lay low).” Dela Rosa, however, did not dismiss the possibility of other Maute members staying in the nation’s capital, pointing out the fact that Lomondot was in
the area. In a separate statement, the AFP said it “may be possible” for the terrorists to stage attacks on certain urban areas. AFP Spokesman Brig. Gen. Bienvenido Datuin, Jr. noted that there still remnants of the Islamic State (IS)-affiliated groups in Marawi, which
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by dAnA
FOR Senator Grace Poe, it is hardly possible for Philippine President Rodrigo to be involved in the alleged irregularities during the 2016 elections. Poe, who also ran in the previous presidential elections expressed belief that there is no way Duterte could have manipulated the poll results—especially with the public’s clear overwhelming support to him. Poe made the assertion on Tuesday, March 6, after Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III bared “irregularities” that supposedly altered the results of the previous elections. “I’d also like to make a point here that I definitely lost the elections,” Poe said. “I know that for sure because of the overwhelming gap in the support the president had.” She added, “I also believe that since the president did not belong to the ruling coalition at that time time, he really had no means to manipulate the results of the elections.” But despite having a “clear winner” in the presidential race, Poe remarked that “other positions should not be looked into especially when the fight is very close.” She went on to say, “I think that is a worthy concern that we need to investigate further not just in the ranking in the senatorial slate but also to be able to prevent this from happening again in the future.”
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Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III delivers a privilege speech on Tuesday, March 6, where he talked about the alleged irregularities during the 2016 elections.
Sotto earlier presented data— which he supposedly acquired from a “concerned and impeccably reliable” source—showing the alleged “irregularities” that “altered” the 2016 poll results. “What I am about to present to you may or may not be gospel truth but very accurate information and if these allegations are serious enough and are proven to be true after due investigation, then we have a case of electoral sabotage for the conduct of the 2016 elections,” he said in a privilege speech. Sotto cited two alleged irregularities in the last elections: early transmission of votes and foreign access to election servers. On the alleged early transmission of vote, Sotto claimed that there was a “transmission activity” on May 8, 2016 until the following morning of May 9—which was still prior to the official conduct of the election.
Senate photo by Albert Calvelo
He noted that the Board of Canvassers should have convened starting at 3 p.m. of May 9, 2016. “In summary, there has been an alleged early transmission of votes by certain VCMs (voting counting machines) to the Municipal Board of Canvassers. These are only examples of the numerous early transmissions to different Municipal and Provincial Board of Canvassers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” Sotto said. He further pointed out: “The standard answer of Smartmatic would be that these transmissions are only ‘testing transmissions.’ These transmissions cannot be in any way be claimed as ‘testing transmissions’ because as far as I can remember, the last official testing was made on April, 23, 2016.” Sotto also claimed he and Poe were among those who received zero votes during the early trans-
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IR slaps Rappler with tax evasion by PAtRiciA louRdes Philstar.com
ViRAy
MANILA — The parent company of online news site Rappler and its president Maria Ressa are facing a tax evasion complaint before the Department of Justice. The Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday filed a criminal complaint against Rappler Holdings Corp., Ressa and treasurer James Bitanga for a perceived willful attempt to evade tax. The respondents are also accused of deliberately failing to supply correct and accurate information in the company’s annual income tax return in 2015. The BIR said that Rappler failed to file the income tax and value added tax that it has gained from Philippine Depositary Re-
ceipts transactions. Rappler Holdings Corp. purchased common shares amounting to P19.2 million on various dates, according to the BIR. The company also issued and sold PDRs worth P181.7 million to two foreign entities. “As a consequence of its acts and omissions, the aggregate tax liability of [Rappler] amounted to P133,841,305.75 broken down as follows IT — P91,320,481.08; and VAT — P42,520,824.67,” the BIR said in a release. Rappler violated Sections 253(d) and 256 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, the BIR said. The company’s accountant, Noel Baladiang of R.G. Manabat & Co., was also charged of violating the Tax Code for signing and certifying the financial state-
ments of Rappler despite the omission of the company’s actual taxable income. Rappler dealing with blows The tax complaint is the latest in a slew of cases against the news site critical of the Duterte administration. The Securities and Exchange Commission in January revoked the registration of Rappler and accused the company of violating constitutional restrictions on ownership and control of mass media entities. Rappler also faced a cyberlibel complaint over an investigative report. The case which was subsequently dismissed for going beyond the one-year prescriptive period for libel. Last month, Malacañang banned Rappler from its premises, citing the SEC decision. n
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A6 MARCH 9-15, 2018 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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FEATURES
OPINION
Quo warranto
IF the nation’s top officials can be booted out on a whim, it poses the risk of constant government destabilization. On purpose, framers of the Constitution made it difficult to unseat certain top officials. Impeachment is the only mode specified in the Constitution for kicking out the president, the heads of constitutional bodies as well as the chief justice.
Now the government’s top lawyers and detractors of Maria Lourdes Sereno are introducing a novel and simpler way of booting out the Chief Justice. The solicitor general himself filed yesterday a quo warranto petition challenging the validity of the appointment of Sereno as the nation’s chief magistrate, and asking the Supreme Court to void the appointment. Considering the unanimous vote of all the 13 justices who were present at the session last week when the Supreme Court compelled Sereno to go on indefinite leave, the SC might grant the petition. Quo warranto is defined as a legal action that requires a respondent to explain the warrant or basis for holding, claiming or exercising an office or franchise. Among the issues raised against Sereno by those questioning her fitness for her post are her failure to fully comply with the rules involving the annual filing of her official statement of
assets, liabilities and net worth. She also reportedly failed to meet the required score in a psychiatric examination administered in 2012 when she was appointed to the SC as an associate justice. Questions have also been raised about her tax payments, particularly in her work as government counsel in its case against the Philippine International Air Terminals Inc. These are issues that are best resolved in an impeachment trial at the Senate, which is the mode specified in the Constitution for ousting a chief justice. But the law is what the Supreme Court says it is. SC justices, a number of whom joined Sereno’s critics in wearing red yesterday at the high tribunal, must remember that they will be setting a precedent in ruling on the quo warranto petition. The Duterte administration, represented by the administration is going one step further, asking solicitor general, and its political allies are doing the SC to make the process easier. to Sereno what the Aquino administration did to Impeaching a chief justice is supposed to have her predecessor Renato Corona. But the current one main objective: to improve the administra-
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
tion of justice. In ruling on the quo warranto petition, the SC must see to it that its decision will not undermine an already weak justice system. (Philstar.com)
Trump does nothing about Russian meddling in US elections: What hold does Putin have on Trump?
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS WHAT hold does Russian President Vladimir Putin have on U.S. President Donald Trump that up to this day, despite U.S. intelligence reports and indictments against Russians, the hard-hitting, name-calling, and supposed defender of the United States against foreign adversaries has remained the number one guardian of Russia? During a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven on Tuesday, March 6, Trump said the Russians had “no impact [on] our votes [in 2016] whatsoever.” This, Trump also tweeted via his POTUS twitter handle stating:
.@POTUS: “The Russians had no impact on our votes whatsoever, but certainly there was meddling...You have to be really watching very closely. You don’t want your system of votes to be compromised in any way.” While Trump finally admitted that the Russians meddled in the election, the president said in response to questions of how the U.S. intends to deter Russian efforts in the upcoming election: “We’re doing a very deep study and coming out with strong suggestions in the 18 election,” and even the 2020 elections. The president said the U.S. will counteract whatever they [Russia] do very strongly, and even suggested that it’s “always good to have a paper back
up voting system” as a backup against cyber-interference and vowed to counteract any future influence “very strongly.” How could Trump make the conclusion that the Russians had no impact on the votes? Perhaps Russia did NOT manipulate the actual vote counts and tallies. Intelligence reports have proven that Russia spread fake news against Hillary Clinton, especially in the battleground states, and that would have helped Trump win votes. Of course, this is hard to measure, but that was what the Kremlin cyber warfare was all about. The Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee were quick to say the House investigation should end soon,
despite the Democrats’ counterargument that many areas of the issue regarding the collusion of Trump with Russia have yet to be investigated on. California Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, was quick to respond to Trump’s statements and tweets, saying on Twitter: “No, Mr. President. The FBI investigation began when it was discovered that the Russians had secret discussions with your foreign policy advisor about dissemination of stolen Clinton emails.” “And how can you criticize Obama for not doing more, when you do absolutely nothing?” Schiff went on to state on Twitter, as well as in interviews: “No
cabinet meeting devoted to protecting 2018 elections from foreign interference. Bipartisan sanctions to punish and deter Russian meddling sitting in your desk drawer for months. $120 million allocated by Congress to fight Russian propaganda unspent. This is dereliction of duty.” This claim has already been corroborated by Trump’s own National Security Agency Director Admiral Mike Rogers, who told the Senate Armed Services Committee: “I haven’t been granted any additional authorities, capacity, capability”. ”I need a policy decision that indicates there is specific direction to do that,” Rogers said. The president’s favorite cable news channel FOX News also
reported that $120 million to fight Russia meddling remains unused. The State Department has reportedly spent none of the $120 million allocated by Congress to counter foreign efforts to interfere in U.S. politics, Fox News said. This brings me back to my question: What hold does Putin have on Trump? That is what Special Counsel Robert Mueller is finding out. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https:// www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
The law must survive, with or without Sereno IN this season of Lent, the scene at the Opinion Supreme Court brings us back to the scene at Pontius Pilate’s court. The accused Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno bears no re- FRANCISCO TATAD semblance whatsoever to the pure and spotless victim before the procurator’s court. But nothing seems to distinguish the lynch mob there from the one at Sereno’s court. Both cry not for justice but for blood. Instead of pressing the impeachment complaint against Sereno in the House of Representatives, her enemies would like her to oust herself, fearing they could not convict her in a Senate impeachment court. Now Solicitor General Jose Calida would like the high court itself to oust her, on a “quo warranto” proceeding, for being allegedly unqualified to sit as chief justice from the very beginning. The basic proposition will not go uncontested. Regrettable start As a firm believer in the Constitution, I have some discomfort about Sereno being Chief Justice. For some reasons, I do not believe she should have been named to that position. Firstly, she was a newcomer to the court when then President B. S. Aquino 3rd physically bribed 19 senator-judges to convict and remove Chief Justice Renato Corona on a non-impeachable charge during his impeachment trial, and replace him with this novice. Secondly, she was among the youngest on the court, and naming her chief meant keeping her there for the next 20 years. That’s the equivalent of a life sentence against the court. Aquino set aside the long-honored tradition of seniority rule, without alleging any compelling circumstance such as exceptional merit. She never dazed nor dazzled any of her contemporaries nor any college of law students. She had no
pretension to being above average. Her entry as associate justice surprised many who thought they knew the limits of her competence; making her Chief Justice appeared unquestionably audacious and
capricious. The real culprit But as ill-conceived as her appointment was, Sereno was not the perpetrator of that mischief. The real offender was B. S. Aquino 3rd, the thoroughly incompetent and malevolent president. Sereno simply found herself in the position of the horse Incitatus, which the mad Caligula had wanted to name consul without at all consulting the beast. To the animal’s and the mad Emperor’s good fortune, the appointment was never consummated. Or so we learn, from the historian Suetonius. Sereno had no such luck. If her appointment was a crime, as Calida and others now seem to argue, the criminal is still at large. He has been publicly identified, and no process server can possibly say his address is unknown and cannot be located. He lives on Times Street, Quezon City, and lately he has been seen answering summonses from Congress. He has committed a number of unpunished crimes—-stamped Smartmatic’s indelible curse upon our electoral process; corrupted the two houses of Congress to ruin and remove a chief justice he could not manipulate; sent 44 of our bravest police commandos to their cruel, avoidable and undeserved death; put the lives of a million schoolchildren at risk by exposing them to an unsafe Dengvaxia vaccine which no other government in the world has dared to use. Like Caesar at the Senate But Aquino’s departure from the presidency appears to have freed him from
all accountability. So, everyone is focused solely on the embattled Chief Justice. After all her Supreme Court colleagues decided she should go on indefinite leave, and the best-intentioned press commentators joined the lynch mob’s shrill cry demanding her hasty exit, a young millennial asked me if the justices were not simply replicating the honorable act of the Roman senators each plunging a knife into the body of the hapless Caesar in the Roman Senate. As I indicated in the beginning, I find it hard to argue against this. My own experience in Sereno’s court makes it even harder for me to do so. Although I am not a member of the Philippine bar, I have been honored to make an oral argument before the court en banc at least twice. First, on the Reproductive Health Law, and second, on the “citizenship” of the senator and presidential candidate, Grace Poe Llamanzares. In both instances, I found Sereno’s reading of the Constitution disturbingly faulty, and her deportment as a magistrate in open court most disheartening. Sereno and the RH Law On the RH law, I argued that since Sec. 12 of Article II of the Constitution provides that the State is “the primary protector of conception” (i.e., ”the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception”), it can never and should never be the source and provider of “contraception.” Yet the RH law makes the state the primary provider of contraception. This the court pronounced “not unconstitutional.” Justice Reyes, now retired, wrote the ponencia, and Sereno concurred in it; it describes the RH law as a “population control” measure, but points out, most egregiously, that the Constitution does not prohibit “population control,” which is complete nonsense. The whole Sec. 12 of Article II is a blunt statement against population control, as is the whole of Article XV on
“The Family” an expanded declaration against it. During the orals, Sereno allowed herself to be heard soliloquizing in open court on her doubt about the power of the court, “an unelected chamber,” to nullify the act of Congress, signed into law by the Executive—two elective branches of government. She showed little appreciation of Chief Justice John Marshall’s famous declaration in Marbury v. Madison that it is the business of the court to say what the law is. The majority ruled the unconstitutional law “not unconstitutional” without refuting or referring, even in passing, to my core argument, which said the State cannot be the protector and the destroyer of conception (or child-bearing) at the same time. This is the famous principle of non-contradiction, which every beginner in the study of philosophy learns, that a thing cannot be and not be at the same time. Since the ruling failed to say anything about my objection, I filed a motion for reconsideration through my friend Alan Paguia of happy memory, saying I was not accorded due process, since my basic objection was never refuted at all. The court dismissed my motion by simply repeating what it had said before, without responding to my principal complaint. I asked some notable friends abroad, legal luminaries with long experience with such cases, how the court could so behave; they said the Court could not possibly acknowledge my objection without conceding my point. Sereno and Grace Poe On the Grace Poe Llamanzares case, Sereno argued more like a lawyer for the respondent rather than as an impartial Chief Justice. The ruling, written by Justice Perez, now retired, proclaims Mrs. Llamanzares as a “natural-born” Filipino citizen not on the basis of the Constitution and the facts under it, but on the basis of then Solicitor General Hilbay’s “statistical probabilities.” Grace Poe has
turned out to be one of the more sensible members of the present Senate, and would probably have made a less vulgar president without her citizenship issues. But some lawyers believe the Sereno court’s ruling may have to be revisited. With all the foregoing, some friends tell me I should support a “winning cause” for once and join those calling on Sereno to pack up. Everyday she is accused of a new crime, I am told, there’s no way she could possibly survive. That may well be. But for me it’s not a question of whether or not Sereno will survive; the question is whether or not the rule of law will survive. I don’t know how good a lawyer Calida is, but would he please answer one simple question? Supposing the court succeeds in ousting this Chief Justice, what happens to all the rulings that had been penned, or participated in, by the same? In particular, what happens to the ruling on the RH Law, and on Grace Poe’s citizenship? An impeachment complaint has been filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon against Sereno in the House; members of the high court have testified against her in the committee on justice. If there is a case against her, doesn’t the rule of law require that the House impeach her and transmit the case to the Senate forthwith? Otherwise, don’t we deserve some badly needed rest from our justices? Estrada’s case recalled In 2000, at the beginning of the Senate impeachment trial of then President Joseph Estrada, some Church personalities called on Erap to resign. At least eight senator-judges joined that call. Some well-meaning friends, aware of my close personal relationship with some hierarchs of the Church, asked me to join the call. I was the Senate Majority Leader at the time and my duty was to help manage the floor during the impeachment trial. I declined. My friends were shocked at my refusal. Why? PAGE A7
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A
Marcos camp: Comelec, Smartmatic China eyes marine park in South China Sea must answer questions on 2016 polls by PAtriCiA lourdes Philstar.com
by Audrey
MorAllo Philstar.com
MANILA — The Commission on Elections and its technology provider Smartmatic should answer questions on the integrity of the 2016 elections, the spokesperson of former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said. Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’ spokesman, also congratulated Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III for claiming in a privilege speech at the Senate that several national candidates benefitted from vote manipulation done by Smartmatic. “All the issues raised by Senator Sotto need to be investigated and all the questions he asked need to be answered by both Smartmatic and the COMELEC,” Rodriguez said in a statement. Marcos has an ongoing electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo. Rodriguez said that other “patriotic leaders and stakeholders” had already seen the extent of the so-called “conspiracy, interference and manipulation” of election results by Smartmatic and had begun to speak out. “We have never understood COMELEC’s insistence in again awarding Smartmatic despite the multitude transgressions attributed to it,” said Rodriguez, who claimed that “informed observers” he did not name had “evidence of massive cheating”
Former Sen. Marcos shows alleged evidence of irregularities of the ballots in the recent elections during a press conference in Manila on January 29. Philstar.com photo by Ben Nabong
in the 2016 polls, which saw Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel “Mar Roxas” II lose to Rodrigo Duterte. On Tuesday, Sotto also sought to ban Smartmatic from participating in the next national and local elections and called for an inquiry into supposed poll fraud facilitated by the company. Sotto said that a “highly reliable source” provided him with confidential information that supposedly showed that there was transmission of votes before the elections on May 9, 2016 and that the computers were remotely accessed from the US. The majority leader said he is concerned about the Comelec announcement regarding the
purchase of some 97,000 vote counting machines for Smartmatic for use in the elections next year. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the commission has already communicated with the office of Sotto regarding his claims of fraud. Jimenez said that the Comelec has asked for the documents that the majority leader presented in the Senate as he announced that the poll body would conduct its own probe. He said that conclusions could not be made based on Sotto’s allegations, which he said were “interpreted in a particular way, which is not the exclusive possible alternative.” n
Duterte wants MRT plunder raps vs Aquino men by ChristinA
Mendez
Philstar.com
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has asked government counsel Jose Calida to determine how officials of the previous administration, including former transportation secretaries Mar Roxas and Joseph Emilio Abaya, can be made accountable for the mess at the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3). “The President asked Solgen Calida to look further into this matter,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing yesterday, after Duterte tackled the matter during the 23rd Cabinet meeting Monday night. Duterte pushed for the need to make the former officers accountable for the current MRT-3 problems, which often add to the difficulties that commuters face, and for plunder. Apart from Roxas and Abaya, he also wanted former budget secretary Florencio Abad investigated. “I think we know already that it includes the former transportation secretary, that includes even Mr. Mar Roxas, it includes budget secretary Butch Abad, among others. This is for the award of the contract to a company with absolutely no track record,” Roque said, referring to the awarding of the maintenance contract to Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI). He described BURI as a company obligated to repair 26 coaches but was only able to deliver two. Aside from the maintenance problem, the Palace also wanted to look into the awarding of the wrong signaling system to BURI. While the charges remain unsolved, Roque said the President has ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to speed up the procurement of spare parts
needed for the rehabilitation of the MRT-3. He also revealed that Sumitomo Corp. is being tapped to become MRT-3’s maintenance provider again through an agreement with the Japanese government. “But in any case, that’s just part of the solution. Accountability is part of the solution. Government has taken steps, while it is currently operating the MRT, to procure much needed spare parts,” he added. The DOTr earlier filed a supplemental complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against the former transportation officials and several former Cabinet members in connection with the MRT-3 maintenance service contract. Sen. Grace Poe said pursuing new cases against the previous officials responsible for the deterioration of MRT-3 would go a long way in the search for accountability that the public is demanding. She said the cases should be filed against all those responsible and that these should be done with haste. While the cases would not solve the present MRT-3 problems, Poe believes that this would send a strong message to government officials that they would be held accountable for any shenanigans they commit and if they fail to perform their duties faithfully. The order of the President to file cases against the previous transportation officials, she added, should also prompt current officers to act swiftly unless they want to suffer the same fate. Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services, has conducted several hearings on the problems of the MRT-3. She said that based on what has been presented so far, the responsibility would even go back to the time of former secretary Abaya. n
VirAy
IN addition to their military facilities in the disputed South China Sea, Beijing is also proposing a national park in the region. Chinese-run newspaper Global Times reported that China’s top legislature said that a national park in the South China Sea would help preserve marine ecology in the region. Deng Xiaogang, a deputy of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), stressed the important of protecting resources, such as coral reefs in the area. China’s southern Hainan province would be qualified to build the country’s first national marine park and they could learn from the experience from the Great
Barrier Reef in Australia, Deng told Global Times. Wang Changren, another deputy of China’s NPC, said that countries in the region should reach a consensus on preserving marine ecology in the contested waters. “A national park in the region can improve people’s awareness of the region’s importance, and the South China Sea should be a textbook for marine protection in China,” Wang told Global Times. In September 2017, China released a plan to build 10 national parks that would focus on protection of pandas, rivers and forests by the end of 2020. None of these, however, included preserving marine life. Washington-based think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Ini-
Poe: No way Duterte... PAGE A5 t missions. On the allegation of foreign access to election servers, Sotto stated that there were “series of access before, during and after the election.” The senator claimed that “our election servers were allegedly accessed remotely and information gathered were copied and submitted to a server in the ama-
zon cloud services in the United States.” According him, a username “e360sync” allegedly made a “critical intrusion to a computer system” a day before the May 9, 2016 elections. He noted that e360 “is a server in amazonaws.com which is a cloud computing service located mainly in the United States,” and likewise “looks very similar to a
PAGE A6 t They could not understand. But it was simple enough. I said I was a senator-judge at the impeachment trial, and that I could not do or say anything to prejudge the case. “But you know Estrada is guilty, don’t you?” said one. “I’m sorry, I don’t,” I said. “But assuming I did, which unhappily is not the case, I can only judge him guilty, not on the basis of what I think I know, but on the basis of valid and compelling evidence brought against him before the court.” I lost some esteemed friends with that statement, especially after Estrada was ousted at EDSA following the prosecutors’ walkout in the Senate. In one important meeting of canon lawyers in the country, someone reportedly asked what should be done to this Catholic politician who was
supposed to show an example of unity with the clergy on the issue of the Estrada presidency, but took an independent stand instead. There was apparently a lot of passion behind this, but the visiting Doctor and Professor of Canon Law from Rome, after listening to all the relevant data, said the Catholic politician, namely myself, merely acted according to his conscience based on the correct objective moral principles. Some years later, I had to hear from the same friends that they had been wrong on this issue. I had to thank an old Indian friend who was the first one to remind me that we win some battles today only to lose them tomorrow, and we lose some battles today only to win them tomorrow. This thought could have some value to Sereno. (ManilaTimes. net)
software product of the Philippine election provider ‘Smartmatic.’” “To conclude the second issue, our election servers were allegedly accessed remotely and information gathered were copied and submitted to a server in the amazon cloud services in the United States,” Sotto said. Sotto called on the Senate to conduct a probe into his allegations, which he said could be considered a “case of electoral sabotage” if proven true. n
PNP allays fears of terror threats in Metro... PAGE A5 t “means that they are still terrorizing and may plan another attack.” Despite this, Datuin assured
that the military is keeping a “close watch” on the places where terrorists are likely to stage attacks. “We are closely guarding, monitoring all the metropolis
Apart from Roxas and Abaya, Duterte also wanted former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad investigated. Philstar.com photo
The law must survive...
tiative earlier released a report showing that the marine ecosystem of the South China Sea is seriously threatened by overfishing. This damage is also brought about by harmful fishing practices, large-scale clam harvesting and dredging for island construction. “Total fish stocks in the South China Sea have been depleted by 70-95 percent since the 1950s and catch rates have declined by 66-75 percent over the last 20 years,” the AMTI said in its Sept. 13, 2017 report. “The entire South China Sea fishery, which officially employs around 3.7 million people and helps feed hundreds of millions, is now in danger of collapse unless claimants act urgently to arrest the decline,” it said. n
)ROORZ XV RQ
and the urban areas to make sure that they will not be able to make their way in [the urban areas]insofar [as]their terroristic activities and plans are concerned,” Datuin said. n
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Ana Julaton: Fighting standards in the ring and cage by Rae ann VaRona / AJPress For many, combat sports may be described as being drenched machismo — blood, sweat, hard-hitting punches, and low-pitch announcer voices are all part of the image. But that description probably won’t fly for Fil-Am professional fighter Ana Bonifacio Julaton who is holding it down in the maledominated sports. Among other world titles, Julaton was the first to win the Women’s World Boxing organization (WBo) Super Bantamweight where she insisted she gets the same winning red belt instead of the pink one meant for female boxers. “The original belt for women was very gender profiled meaning the belt was much smaller and it was pink,” Julaton told the Asian Journal. She called the pioneering win surreal, but quickly highlighted the fact that women’s boxing has been around for a very long time yet continues to fail in getting the same acknowledgment men’s boxing has. “It’s been around for a very long time, but you’re telling me it’s not only until now that these organizations are starting to recognize women?” said Julaton. In the United States, the first women to have had the first “official” female boxing match were Nell Saunders and rose Harland at the New York Hills Theater in 1876 at which Saunders fought out Harland not for a trophy or belt, but for a silver butter dish. Having hit the mainstream, both men’s and women’s boxing were introduced to the olympics in 1904, but only men’s boxing got accepted leaving female boxers behind struggling to get the same recognition. It wasn’t until over a century later in 2009 did the Internation-
al olympic Committee vote to lift the ban on women’s boxing, having the women’s event debut in 2012 for the first time since the games began. For the three world titleholder who was an advocate for lifting the olympic ban, boxing wasn’t something she initially saw herself getting into. Having been a martial arts teacher, it was something she learned in order to teach. “It’s been a journey. It’s something we didn’t anticipate but it’s something that kind of organically happened,” said the 37-year-old fighter. At her first ever bout at the San Francisco Golden Gloves, where she competed after just a couple weeks of training, she took home the silver which encouraged her to see how far she would go. She went far, training under under big names like Freddie roach, Nonito Donaire Sr., roger Mayweather, and now Angelo reyes — all especially familiar to the Filipino boxing community. But Julaton doesn’t only throw punches. She also elbows, knees, kicks, wrestles, grapples, and pins her opponents down as one of the few boxers to also take on mixed martial arts where she sees big opportunities for female fighters. Double boxing and MMA pursuit It was a family thing, said Julaton, who has black belts in a number of martial art sports. one of her very first memories was learning basic martial arts moves from her dad. More formal training came as soon as her younger brother was potty trained. “It kind of just took off from there. It was something that I
loved right away,” she said as she recalled looking up to the few Asians in media like Bruce Lee and Dan Inosanto who worked with Lee and was also Filipino. “Just being able to see figures like that growing up as a child — it helped shape and hone me to what I am today,” said Julaton. While MMA as it’s known today is relatively new, women’s participation in MMA is even newer and Julaton sees the cage as untapped territory for female fighters and boxers such as herself. Julaton made her successful MMA debut for the oNE Championship organization in 2014 where she beat out Aya-Saeid Saber via technical knockout in the third round. That same year, she defeated Egypt’s Walaa Abbas at the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines. Now, she fights under American MMA organization Bellator which many see as being a rival to other American MMA organization Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). While other organizations require fighters to stay exclusive with them, Bellator allows Julaton to box while still pursuing MMA. “As a fighter, it’s nice to actually have direction and have control of my career versus getting locked up and kind of feeling like I’m getting lost in the shuffle with other organizations. There’s a lot more opportunity with this,” she said. The crossover between boxing and MMA is something that has been sprouting among mostly male fighters. Just last year, the big ticket fight between boxer Floyd Mayweather and MMA fighter Conor McGregor caused a frenzy as fans from both sports made bets on who would take the win. Mayweather just recently pulled out of negotiations for a rematch in the MMA cage. To spectators, the event might have looked like a simple crossover of two athletes, but as actual boxer-turned-
MMA fighters like Julaton would say, it doesn’t quite work that way. “It’s almost like trying to play football and basketball at the same time,” Julaton said. “They’re two completely different sports.” In boxing, you have the boxing shoes while in MMA, you fight barefoot. Getting accustomed to different glove weights is just another small difference fighters would have to master. Then there are the rules and tactics. But even those challenges aren’t at the top for Julaton. On added challenges on the most challenging experiences Julaton faced during her journey she said, “I would definitely say facing social issues” — referring to her experiences being not only a woman in the male-dominated sports, but a Filipina. “You have to be fierce,” said Julaton. “A lot of people are always sizing you up, they look at you like you’re new meat. It’s like wolves upon wolves. You have to have that dynamic within you in order for you to survive in training.” Like in many areas, women and women of color have experienced having to push extra hard to get their deserved recognition.
NBA Champion Ronny Turiaf was also present as one of her MMA coaches.
Photos courtesy of Ana Julaton’s coach, Angelo Reyes
This has true for Julaton who has often found her accomplishments overlooked. “I mean right now, what I think is very interesting is that they’ll highlight my opponent a lot more than they’ll talk about me,” said Julaton. Despite her world titles and having worked with some of the best names in the industry, Julaton has many times found herself cut short from being dubbed the “next big thing” while opponents with fewer accomplishments have. Her nickname — “The Hurricane” — for example, didn’t stem up from her quickness as others would say, although it would make sense. Instead it was created to help announcers and reporters remember how to pronounce her last name correctly after a well-known announcer butchered it despite having been in the industry for a long time. “I’ve been fighting for over 10 years and there’s a lot of these big media writers, especially in North America, and they’re being paid to be a reporter and they can’t get my name right?” said Julaton. “That’s the only reason why,” she added. “Because people don’t want to spend that little effort, it becomes too much work so to speak, for them to try and say someone’s name when you want to try to give them respect.” But fighting is what Julaton does, and she gives partial credit to her Filipino blood.
Photo by Lucas Noonan
“I’ll tell you what — I think fighting is all in our blood,” she said laughing. “It doesn’t necessarily have to come with lacing up some gloves — it’s through adversity. Time and time again, with all the stories, with all the struggles we have all experienced as people all throughout the world. You know, we work hard and we always fight through adversity.” Julaton’s latest fight on Friday, February 16 MMA against American fighter Heather Hardy — who followed Julaton’s footsteps into the MMA cage from boxing — was nothing short of unsparing competitiveness. The months leading up to the fight were hyped as the two threw threats and expletives at each other, as fighters typically do. NBA Champion ronny Turiaf was also present as one of her MMA coaches — he was also present at her debut fight in 2014. Hardy ended up taking a win, not through knockouts, but via unanimous decision in a fight that left many MMA fans unsatisfied. The two will next face each other in the boxing ring as part of the two-sport deal. But as Julaton said prior to the fight, as challenging as fighting is, it’s also the most fun. It’s everything else that is complicated. “This is something I want to explore, that I committed myself to — this is my career,” said Julaton.
Bernardo Bernardo: ‘It’s been a fabulous ride’ by Gibbs Cadiz Inquirer.net
The family of Bernardo Bernardo announced the actor-director’s passing on Thursday, March 8. Bernardo, 73, succumbed to tumor in the pancreas, which he himself revealed in January through a Facebook post. he was two years shy of celebrating 50 years in entertainment, as a multitalented, versatile and prolific performer who made a major mark across the various mediums of film, theater and television. In a 2014 interview in this paper with writer Pablo Tariman, he described his by-then four-decadelong career as a performer, especially as a theater artist, as a “fabulous ride… 44 years of treading the boards, as they say, if you’re lucky enough to land a job. But, mostly, before the advent of the Internet and smartphones, it was trade papers, phone calls, auditions— basically, pounding the pavement. As a theater lapel button states, most of the time, ‘Life is a constant audition.’” Bernardo was born in Santa Ana, Manila, on Jan. 28, 1945, and was a journalism graduate of the University of Santo Tomas in 1966,
even becoming editor of the UST Varsitarian. “I thought I was going to be the Philippines’ next great journalist,” he recalled. “You know how stupid and delusional one can be when you’re young. And then I saw my first professional theater production, a British Council-sponsored run of Robert Bolt’s ‘A Man for All Seasons’ at the Philamlife Theater. That’s when my life changed. I decided I wanted to be a stage actor.” Of his fascinating name, the actor-director said: “Bernardo Bernardo is my real name. I was supposed to be emmanuel Pedro Meliton Jr., but my father suprised my mother. I was called ‘Bernardo squared’ way before I knew the math.” A “triple threat” performer—he could sing, dance and act— Bernardo got his masteral degree in Theater at the University of Santa Barbara, California, in 1969, and had further training in acting in such institutions as the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Thereafter, he became a staple in the local theater scene,
appearing in both Filipino and english productions, straight plays, musicals, sarsuwelas and dinner theater. According to the 1994 edition of the CCP encyclopedia of Philippine Art, “he has performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in productions of the Batingaw Theater Guild, Playhouse Seventies, Fourth Wall Productions, Babaylan Theater Group, Zarzuela Foundation of the Philippines, Barangay Theater Guild, Teatro Pilipino, Bulwagang Gantimpala, and Tanghalang Pilipino. he has also appeared in numerous plays staged by Repertory Philippines from 1973 to 1989. he is best known for his performance in the dinner shows “The Rocky horror Show” as Frank N. Furter, 1983; and “The Boys in the Band,” as Bernie, 1977.” his other landmark roles would include Katy de la Cruz’s Tatay in the original production of the musical “Katy!”, directed by Nestor Torre for Musical Theater Philippines; and Takyong Bagting, a taong grasa, in “Bien Aligtad,” directed by Joel Lamangan for Bulwagang Gantimpala. Bernardo’s foray into film and
television was just as storied: he won an Urian Best Actor award in 1980 for his role as Manay in Ishmael Bernal’s “Manila By Night,” and another Urian, for Best Supporting Actor in 2016, for Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol.” On TV, he would appear in such long-running programs as “Flor de Luna,”“Vilma Tonight,”“Labs Ko Si Babes.” A generation of Filipino TV watchers came to know him as the flamboyant, cantankerous but kindhearted Steve Carpio in Dolphy’s beloved sitcom “home Along Da Riles” and its spin-off movies. It was after “home Along Da Riles” that Bernardo decided to migrate to California, staying there for 12 years. While in the U.S., he continued to perform and received acclaim for appearing in theater productions that focused on the Filipino migrant experience, among them “Alaskeros,” staged at Perseverance Theater; “Voyage,” about the lives of four generations of Filipinos in Alaska; and, especially, “The Romance of Magno Rubio,” which won a raft of nominations and awards from American critics and publications and toured Continued on Page 6 Bernardo Bernardo
Inquirer.net photo
Immigration Corner
Ice targeting those with DuI convictions
remove these criminal aliens for the safety of our city’s residents.” In the past, many people who were pulled over for driving As part of its “enforcement under the influence thought priorities,” Immigration and nothing of quickly pleading guilty Customs Enforcement (ICE) and perhaps attending some announced the recent arrest of courses. Many handled these DUI over two dozen people with DUI charges on their own. convictions in connection with Previous discussions about “Operation Secure Streets.” ICE “enforcement priorities” According to ICE’s press (meaning the people ICE should release, 24 of the people focus on deporting\removing), apprehended “have been convicted of violations concerning usually meant hardened criminals, terrorists, and others who were the operation of a motor vehicle truly threats to the safety and while under the influence of security of our citizens. Now, alcohol or drugs. Each was taken into custody and is currently being people with a minor DUI could be detained pending the completion arrested, detained, and processed of removal proceedings.” Only one for removal from the U.S. That is why it is so important of the individuals apprehended when being charged with any did not have a DUI-related crime to have a criminal attorney conviction. represent you, and if you are This operation (of targeting not a U.S. citizen, it would be people with DUI convictions) advisable to also have an was part of ICE’s commitment immigration attorney work with “to remove public safety threats from our communities.” ICE stated the criminal attorney, to advise on the possible immigration it “will continue to arrest and
Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
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consequences of any plea deal. Many times, a non-citizen (even a green card holder) pled guilty to some charge, only to later discover the plea made them deportable. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
Fil-Am composer, wife win their 2nd Academy Award KrISTEN Anderson-Lopez and robert Lopez have won their second Academy Award for best original song. The husband-and-wife duo picked up the honor Sunday, March 4, for “remember Me” from “Coco.” The pair also won best original song for “Let It Go” from “Frozen.” “Coco,” which tells the story of an aspiring young musician who accidentally enters the land of the dead, celebrates the Mexican holiday “Dia de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead). robert Lopez dedicated the win to his mother who passed away. His wife said she was happy to see their category include a number of female nominees. Their song beat out Mary Kristen Anderson-Lopez, from left, Katie Lopez, Annie Lopez, and Robert Lopez arrive at the J. Blige’s “Mighty river” from “Mudbound”; Common and Diane Oscars on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision Warren’s “Stand Up for Something” followed by a festive and colorful Singer and Golden Globefrom “Marshall”; Benj Pasek and performance featuring Grammywinning actor Gael Garcia Bernal Justin Paul’s “This Is Me” from “The winning r&B star Miguel and kicked off the performance Greatest Showman”; and Sufjan Natalia LaFourcade. (Inquirer.net Stevens’“Mystery of Love” from “Call of “remember Me” with a with reports from Associated Press) soft version of the song, later Me by Your Name.”
THE UPS AND DOWNS, AND THE BITTERSWEET ENDING OF A SPECIAL CASE ABOUT A SPECIAL SON WHO HAD AUTISM ON THIS SUNDAY’S “CITIZEN PINOY!” When Norma immigrated to the U.S., she had to leave behind their autistic son, Michael because he aged out. The separation broke her heart. Norma and husband Joy (left) went to three other attorneys who were unable to deliver results, until they decided to retain leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, who was finally able to bring Michael to the U.S., to be reunited with his parents. Watch the heartfelt journey of Michael and his family that led to a pleasant reunion, but with a painful ending, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
Hubris and the folly of youth Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAGlAyA LONG ago in the island of Crete, there lived a man named Daedalus, who was famed for his skills as an inventor. He worked for King Minos. Foremost among his many achievements was building the labyrinth in which the king kept the Minotaur, a fearsome, legendary beast who was half-man and half-bull that fed on human flesh. It was said that anyone who went into the labyrinth never came out of it again because of its complex, undecipherable winding walls and corridors. Daedalus was brilliant and this was a problem for the king. Although Daedalus had been giving the king great and loyal service all
“The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy” — Alfred North Whitehead his life, Minos was deeply insecure and feared that Daedalus who was wise, celebrated and ingenious would, one day challenge him to become king. As a preemptive move, Minos imprisoned Daedalus and his son, Icarus in a prison tower. The king underestimated Daedalus, for one dark night, father and son escaped from their prison tower. They found out however that it was well nigh impossible to escape the island with the paranoid King Minos sending out an all points bulletin to his mindless minions. Minos’ soldiers carefully searched every boat that left the island. Father and son took cover in a remote cave along the shore hidden from the watchful eyes of Minos’ soldiers while Daedalus
figured out a way to escape. Watching the seagulls for hours soaring and diving for food on the shore, Daedalus was struck with the idea of flight as an escape route. He caught one bird and studied the structure and form of its wings and after careful thought, decided to copy how a wing is made. He instructed Icarus to catch seagulls and pluck their feathers. When there were enough feathers, he sewed them together and used melted wax to bind the feathers on a wooden framework. He created the contraption so skillfully that they looked like a giant replica of a bird’s wings. He customized two pairs of wings for himself and for his son, careful to take each of Continued on Page 6
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On the PEP Front
People, Events, Places
Jerome Orillaza Robielos: Indefatigably chasing his elusive star
BoBBy T. yalong “Every man bears surreptitious pains which the world knows not… and oftentimes his silence is mistaken for taciturnity when it was merely reticence…for there are wounds that never show swelling but throb much more than those that bleed.” MUSIc aficionado Romy Orillaza Robielos, more prevalently addressed as Jerome, first saw the light of day on the 21st of July amid the verdant hills and sun-kissed fields of San Pablo city, a fast-booming southern metropolis in Laguna province popularly known as the “city of Seven Lakes.” The youngest among three boys born to Romulo Nuque Robielos and Belencita Esmilla Orillaza, Jerome believes that his nascence was sanctified by the deities of melodious composition for he loved music since the time he could remember. It won’t be surprising at all since his mom (who came from a musically inclined Esmilla family) plays the piano, his dad is a karaoke enthusiast, and his two elder brothers can both carry a tune. Displaying dexterity in understanding, reflecting good judgement and sound thought, and having the faculty of keen and skillful reasoning even at a tender age, Jerome had effortlessly established
The face of an achiever
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Bb. Pilipinas International Mariel de Leon
Philstar.com photo
As Mariel relinquishes Bb. crown: No regrets his scholarly demeanor from elementary to high school levels as class Valedictorian despite having been admitted to Grade 1 at barely 5 years old. childhood days were memorable for Jerome for those were when he experienced a well-off life being well-provided for and sufficiently sustained with all amenities and luxuries a young boy could ask for. His father’s flourishing business was more than enough to support their needs: his elder brothers were enrolled in exclusive Manila colleges while he, in a private school in San Pablo city. Despite living a luxurious lifestyle, the family maintained a simple social status… approachable and easy-to-deal with. They believe that luxury wasn’t necessarily something one was born into or need to accumulate. It was something that increased their
stand for what I believe is right.” Of course, her parents, Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong (who was with Mariel IN two weeks, Mariel de Leon during the contract-signing) are will relinquish her Bb. PilipinasInternational crown, looking back at known for being, well, “reserved” and not having been enmeshed in her reign without nary a tear. any controversy. Is the impression Asked how she grew up in correct that her parents cannot the past 12 months marked by control her (or put her in place)? controversies generated by her “I respect them as my parents being outspoken about issues who guide me all the way. But they and people in the news, Mariel are aware that I am my own person told Funfare in an exclusive and that it’s not good to fully control interview last Monday, March 5, your children...tell them what to say after she signed up as talent for Leo or do. I listen to what my parents say Dominguez’s LVD Management and I never argue with them or talk & consultancy Services, “It has back to them. It’s up to me how to been life-changing. I have become apply in my life what they are telling more confident and sure of myself…mentally, intellectually and me. They allow us to have our own mind and our own identity.” emotionally. Growing up, I was a Turning 25 on May 23, Mariel sheltered child. Being exposed to the world helped me grow up and made considers the Binibini as the turning point of her life. me stronger. I’m really thankful “That’s when my life really for that — including even the bad started. The Binibini changed my life experiences.” radically. It was the year when I really Such as what “bad started growing up.” experiences?” Did growing up include Laughing, Mariel said, “The breaking up with her boyfriend? controversies. I guess that I was “We still talk naman, we are able to handle them very well. competing in the Miss International still very close and we go out. The main thing with me now is that pageant (in Tokyo) made me a I don’t want to be serious with a better person. Now, I don’t have to relationship. I’m not that young, so I put up a front or a false face just to want to take every opportunity that please everyone. You just cannot please everyone; there will always be comes my way.” Even when she accepted the bashers who won’t agree with what offer to be coco Martin’s leading you say or do.” lady (along with another beauty So now, what we see is what queen, 2015 Miss International we get, right? Kylie Versoza), Mariel was then “not “Right! But now, I will have to quite sure” about following in the choose my battles wisely.” footsteps of her parents. No regrets about anything “But I guess I’m really serious that she said or she did, especially about it now,” confessed Mariel, on social media? “although I don’t think I can “In terms of what I stand for, my feelings about certain things and my duplicate my parents’ achievements. I still have a lot to learn about acting. opinion on issues…no regrets. But I could have been more careful in my I super-enjoyed doing ‘Panday.’ I used choice of words. In general, I really Continued on Page 5
by Ricky Lo
Jerome in black and white
Philstar.com
Jerome’s primary support group...his family
Jerome’s Mr. Pogi journey with host Ryan Agoncillo
comfort. Every member of the household was constantly reminded that their life encompassed more than the mere day-to-day existence and for that, their glorification of the Almighty was made even stronger. But fate had it that even some good things have to end and Jerome’s dad’s business wasn’t spared. Gradually, it suffered from a disheartening collapse until such time when they had to be parsimonious, penny-wise, and close-fisted, coupled with unforeseen sacrifice just to survive. “There was a point in my life when we have to connect the electric cord to my aunt’s house just so I could study at night… and the three of us had to squeeze ourselves in the living room to avail of the fresher air from an electric fan,” Jerome vividly recalled teary-eyed. “Even my daily visit to Jollibee and McDonald’s every after classes were cut off… we just went straight home after picking me up from Jerome’s emotional outlet is through his school. But I was already getting music
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accustomed to it. I might be young but I already understood the situation we were in…and it didn’t affect my academic standing at all,” he continued in an emotionally stuttering tone trying to hold back an emotional build-up. Jerome’s positive attitude and intense determination served him well. All his jilts and anxieties were deciphered to his penchant to music and it paid-off. The mounting emotional turmoil within him prolifically built a more solid foundation for his musical proclivity that eventually became a perfect escape from reality. His innate penchant for music more than made up for what he was short of. Motivated to seek greener pasture overseas, his parents tried their luck in the US but he chose to return to the Philippines to resume his studies at Ateneo de Manila and stayed with his elder brothers who fortuitously landed jobs. It was smooth-going for Jerome at Continued on Page 6
SERVICES
The larger-than-life Filipino designer who goes by the name Michael Cinco BY MONET
LU
HE is the talent behind that resplendent jewel-toned gown that Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach wore when she passed the crown to Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere, who also wore a scarlet red ombré couture gown in her final walk designed by the same amazing designer. One of his dresses was featured in the movie “Jupiter Ascending” starring Mila Kunis, and was famed for dressing Miss World 1994 Aishwarya Rai, Mariah Carey, and Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and country singer Carrie Underwood, to name just a few. So when Austrian singer and Swarovski heiress Victoria Swarovski needed a custom-made gown with a six-meter-long train encrusted with Swarovski crystals and laser-cut flowers, there’s no other name that she had in mind but the Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco. When he is not busy conquering the fashion world one gown at a time, he is inching his way to other ventures such as his first ever perfume called, Impalpable, which he launched in 2012; followed by his limited edition underwear collection for international brand Bench in 2015. While it seemed like he caught all the ‘lucky stars’, Cinco didn’t just luck out in the fashion industry. His fascination for glamourous women in classic Hollywood movies started when he was young. Cinco was born on August 27, 1971 in the province of Samar in the Philippines. It was noted on his website that “the impeccable elegance and sophistication of Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, Joan Crawford and Audrey Hepburn created an indelible impression on his formative design imagination.” “I pictured those fabulous heroines and imagined dressing them up in my creations. I chased after those visions...,” Cinco recalls. Cinco moved to Dubai where he got his first job and was instantly recognized for his fashion acumen. It was in 2002 when Cinco went to Paris and London to seek out more fashion inspiration. He studied at the prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design because of his fascination for London’s mix of
Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS FOR some people, to even think that the church could be persuaded to endorse porn or abortion is ridiculously absurd! The title is a satirical statement to highlight the stupidity of the suggestion that the Department of Health (DoH), the very guardian and sentinel of health of our country, should endorse vaping! The health experts call it ludicrous. I say it is idiotic. Vaping is the inhalation and exhalation of the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device, which is loaded with toxic chemicals. Since the use of cigarettes has declined in many countries, vaping, which is no less harmful, is being marketed as a substitute for smoking. Here are important statements I am reprinting from the email this column received from the disease prevention advocacy agency, HealthJustice: “It would be the height of absurdity for the Department of Health to endorse vaping. As far as the national and international scientific and medical community is concerned, vaping or the use of electronic cigarettes is not safe because these still emit toxic chemicals. And it is crucial that the public be informed about it,” said Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, board member of HealthJustice and former secretary of the DoH. According to Dr. Domilyn Villarreiz, Smoke-free Program Manager of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), studies show that “vaping involves the inhalation of nicotine at the same levels as cigarettes and can maintain nicotine addiction. It also increases one’s likelihood of developing cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Fetal and adolescent exposure to it has particularly adverse effects on brain development. These are just a few reasons why vaping must also be
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McDonald’s starts rollout of fresh beef quarter-pound burgers, cooked right when ordered, to US restaurants Rollout complete in approximately 3,500 restaurants as two new fresh beef signature crafted recipes soon to join menu
OAK BROOK, Ill. — On Tuesday, March 6, McDonald’s USA announced that fresh beef, cooked right when ordered, in all Quarter Pounder and Signature Crafted Recipe burgers is now available across approximately 3,500 restaurants in select markets and is on track for rollout to all participating restaurants in the contiguous was also featured as a designer old tradition and contemporary U.S. by early May*. and a judge in “China’s Next Top edginess. The following year, he The move to fresh beef returned to Dubai and established Model” in 2015. In November 2011, Cinco won quarter-pound burgers is the his own label Michael Cinco. the Breakthrough Designer award latest in McDonald’s food According to his website, journey to build a better from the WGSN Global Fashion Michael Cinco is best known for Awards held at Gotham Hall, New McDonald’s. It’s also one his fabulous couture gowns. His of the latest customer-led York, against top contenders. He innate creativity and masterful initiatives in the U.S. that techniques have catapulted him to won Best Designer award in builds on several other recent Grazia’s Style Awards 2016; the front ranks of fashion. He has milestones, including All Day People’s Choice Award at Dubai cultivated a dedicated following Breakfast, committing to only Fashion Week 2010; and was for the luxe and intricacy of his sourcing cage-free eggs by chosen as one of the top movers designs, with their fresh, elegant 2025 in the U.S. and serving in Dubai in the Ahlan Hot 100 in and detailed juxtapositions of chicken not treated with 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016. fabric and Swarovski crystals. Cinco just recently debuted his antibiotics important to human Cinco’s celebrity clients Autumn-Winter Collection 2016 at medicine**. include Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, “The switch to fresh beef the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Carrie quarter-pound burgers is the Week. He wowed audiences Underwood, Kylie Minogue, most significant change to Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, at Dubai Fashion Week, Miami our system and restaurant Ellie Goulding, Nicole Scherzinger, Fashion Week, LA Fashion Week, Singapore Fashion Week, Australia operations since All Day Fergie Ferguson, Dita Von Teese, Breakfast,” said McDonald’s USA Brandy, Ashanti, Chris Brown, Tyra Fashion Week, Philippine Fashion President Chris Kempczinski. Week and did shows in New York Banks, Naomi Campbell. Jennifer “Over the past two years, we and London. Lopez wore a crystallized Michael have been listening to our As a Filipino, I marvel every Cinco couture when she hosted customers and evolving our time I hear about fellow Filipinos American Music Awards in 2015. business to build a better getting recognized worldwide. Sofia Vergara wore a stunning McDonald’s. We are proud to Michael Cinco gown at the Golden It brings us so much pride and bring our customers a hotter honor. To Michael Cinco whose Globes 2013, who was voted Best and juicier quarter-pound larger-than-life success keeps Dressed by many TV shows and burger at the speed and piling up, I wish you all the luck magazines in the U.S. British pop convenience they expect from star Paloma Faith wore his couture (not that you need it) and may us.” dress at the MET Gala in New York. you continue to inspire more and In March 2017, McDonald’s more people by your creative He also appeared on the U.S. USA announced the switch genius. hit reality show “America’s Next Top Model,” Cycle 16 and All-Star *** Cycle 17 finale hosted by Tyra Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning Banks. He was also chosen as the celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of guest designer and guest judge Monet Salon salons across Southern California From Page 4 on the new reality show “Asia’s and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known to say I didn’t want to be in showbiz Next top Model,” in Singapore as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out but after ‘Panday,’ I’ve changed my and was highly endorsed by fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable mind. I was really taken care of Tyra Banks. He was also chosen marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder while doing ‘Panday,’ I learned new as guest designer and guest judge of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products things, and that opened my mind.” in the new reality show “Asia’s Next such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . Any limitations in her choice Top Model,” in Singapore, and was To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon. of roles? highly endorsed by Tyra Banks. He com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com “For sure, I won’t do any nudity. But I can wear bikinis which I already did during the Binibini. I’m open to doing kissing scenes but beyond that, well, I have to think hard about it.”
to fresh beef, cooked right when ordered, quarterpound burgers as a part of a broader commitment to bring customers more craveable and delicious food offerings. The 100% fresh beef quarter-pound burgers are now available in approximately 3,500 restaurants across a number of markets including: - Atlanta - Charlotte - Memphis - Miami - Nashville - Orlando - Raleigh - Salt Lake City Over the next month, the company will be rapidly completing the transition to fresh beef quarter-pound burgers, cooked right when ordered, in additional markets, including Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and more, with full rollout to participating restaurants by early May. The test markets in Dallas and Tulsa found customers love the hotter and juicier*** fresh beef quarter-pound burgers – the company saw a 90 percent customer satisfaction from customers who order the burgers, and 90 percent intent to repurchase. All McDonald’s fresh beef quarter-pound burgers use 100 percent beef with absolutely no fillers, additives or preservatives. Quarter-pound burgers include the Quarter Pounder, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Double
As Mariel relinquishes...
Vatican to endorse porn?
banned in all public places where smoking is also banned.” Aren’t we getting enough polluted and toxic air from our environment, and illnesses and deaths from smoking tobacco that we have to acquire another habit and harm our body even greater? When do we stop being masochistic and self-destructive? As for the “pushers” of vaping, I suspect that they are the same mindless and unconscionable sectors of our society, the greedy entrepreneurs and money-hungry politicians who supported and promoted the use of tobacco, who would again financially profit from the misery their fellowmen. Much like those who, historically, had pushed for tobacco use and also those now pushing to legalize recreational marijuana. Vaping a safer alterntive? Going from cigarette smoking to vaping is just like jumping out of a frying pan to the fire. It does not make sense. The only rational way to quit breathing in more toxic air from our present poisoncontaminated atmosphere is to stop inhaling from another source of toxic chemicals, like in vaping. This is just plain common sense. No doctorate degree needed to understand this. Just ask any child in the kindergarten. Electronic cigarettes and other vaping products would outsell tobacco in five years. Young people are especially attracted to this new mode of self-destruction and suicide. While the old generation of the 1600s (when tobacco was first introduced in Brazil and England) and up to early 1900s did not have the scientific information that tobacco was a factory of diseases and a killer of man, today’s youth, in this informational age, have tons of evidence-based data that vaping is no less health destructive and is equally deadly as smoking. Let’s review what smoking has done to people, which e-cigarettes and vaping would do, with equal impunity.
Smoking kills. It is that plain and simple. There is no more doubt today that tobacco (cigarette smoking) is the predominant cause of lung cancer, besides other malignancies and cardiovascular diseases that maim, kill men and women and hurt our society, especially our children. In the United States alone, almost half a million die each year from smoking-related illnesses. These are preventable deaths! Demographic studies have shown that smokers are about 10 times more prone to die premature deaths than nonsmokers. This unnecessary loss of lives is at an immense direct cost for non-smokers in terms of increased health risks from passive smoking, in higher health insurance premiums and taxes, not to mention personal and family tragedies in all shapes and forms. As we have alluded to in a previous column, secondhand smoke is even more dangerous, equally fatal. Tobacco use leads to four times as many deaths annually compared to all other drugs and alcohol abuse combined, ten times more than all automobile fatalities per year, twelve times more than deaths from AIDS, and much more than all the American military casualties (in all wars) in this century put together. That’s how dangerous and damaging tobacco is to the human body and to society as a whole. Today, lung cancer has become the main killer among men and women. Since women started “really” smoking in the 1950s, “because it was glamorized in ads by actresses and models as a sophisticated and fashionable habit,” lung cancer in females has increased at least six-fold, an alarming rate, with death rate comparable to that in males. Women also have added risks: osteoporosis, thrombophlebitis (vein inflammation and blood Continued on Page 6
All her parents advise Mariel is to be professional (and punctual, “Don’t make people wait”), be kind to the cast and especially the crew members, and to be prepared and ready with her lines before going to the set. She’s set to star in an indie film titled Latay as the ex-wife of Allen Dizon (with Lovi Poe as the current wife), to be produced by Baby Go’s BG Film with Ralston Jover as director. What’s her advice to
Calendar of Events across
Quarter Pounder and Signature Crafted Recipe burgers. New signature crafted recipe sandwiches McDonald’s also continues to innovate its Signature Crafted Recipe sandwiches, which feature premium ingredients and unique flavor combinations. Next month, McDonald’s will introduce another flavorful, premium sandwich – Garlic White Cheddar. The Signature Crafted Recipe sandwich is made with a fresh beef, quarterpound burger or chicken (Buttermilk Crispy Chicken or Artisan Grilled Chicken) and will be available at participating U.S. restaurants. • Garlic White Cheddar: A mouthwatering, savory combination of creamy garlic aioli and crispy garlic chips piled up with a juicy tomato slice, crisp iceberg lettuce and real white cheddar cheese. Freshly prepared on a fresh beef quarter-pound burger or your choice of chicken (Buttermilk Crispy Chicken or Artisan Grilled Chicken) on a toasted Artisan Roll. Other new Signature Crafted Recipes sandwiches are also expected to debut later this year. * Not available in Alaska, Hawaii or U.S. Territories. ** Farmers still use ionophores, a class of antibiotics that are not prescribed to people, to keep chickens healthy. *** Compared to prior ¼ lb. beef patty. (Advertising Supplement)
her Binibini successor? “Enjoy every moment and stay true to yourself. Take things slowly. Don’t fake yourself on social media because people can see and read through you. People will appreciate you more if you are genuine and true to your opinions and still respectful of other people.” And to her bashers? “Nothing really, because I think bashers are sad people. Only sad people are negative towards other people because if you are happy, you won’t bash other people.”
America
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Fil-Am Association of SCV’s fundraising event and inaugural ball in Valencia, CA The Fil-Am Association of Santa Clarita Valley (SCV), Inc. invites the community to a fundraising event and inaugural ball of the board of officers and trustees on Sunday, March 11 at 5 p.m. It will be held at the Hyatt Regency Valencia — 24500 Town Center Dr., Valencia, CA 91355. The Fil-Am Association of SCV, Inc. is a non-profit that engages in cultural, social, outreach and community service to approximately 8,000 Fil-Ams living in Santa Clarita Valley. This 2018 marks the associations 35th year in serving the community through its outreach and Fil-Am academic and cultural enhancement programs which include scholarship achievement awards, programs for the seniors, youth and single programs, as well as cultural events. For tickets, please contact Josie Maglalang at (661) 607-5665, Zeny Justiniano at (661) 645-0948, Emie Carrillo at (661) 877-2699, and Zony Gordon (661) 312-3422.
MARCH 14
Philippine American Bar Association’s 32nd installation & awards gala The Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) invites you to its 32nd Installation and Awards Gala on Wednesday, March 14 at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. This year’s Gala will feature keynote speaker California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu, a menu of Filipino flavors, and special performances. PABA will be PABA will be honoring Distinguished Leader Ben Hofileña, Jr. (20th Century Fox Film Senior Counsel), Trailblazer Ruthe Ashley (California LAW Executive Director Emeritus), and Community Champion Minh T. Nguyen (The Law Office of Minh T. Nguyen, ALC). During the gala, PABA also will formally unveil its new logo and website, both of which were developed by a Fil-Am-owned start-up and involve colors and designs deeply rooted in the cultural history of the Philippines. A cocktail reception and auction will begin at 6 p.m., while the dinner and program will begin at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets or a sponsorship, please visit: https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/paba/giftstore.jsp.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
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An Asian Journal Magazine
Hubris and the folly...
The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M A R c h 9, 20 1 8
From Page 3
Sam and Yassi, bring new meaning to ‘third wheel’ THE latest Yassi Pressman and Sam Milby-starrer shows much promise in delivering an original concept with its story going beyond the general definition of a “third wheel” in a relationship. While suggesting that one of its characters is never in a relationship, thus always the third wheel, Viva Films and The IdeaFirst Company’s “Pambansang Third Wheel” takes an unexpected turn early on in the movie. It is Pressman whom the title refers to as Trina, a receptionist turned copywriter in an advertising agency. A hopeless romantic, she firmly believes that every person is destined to meet “the one” with whom he or she will spend forever. This, despite being in her 30s and yet to find her true love. Moreover, she’s had her heart
Sam Milby, Yassi Pressman and Alonzo Muhlach
broken thrice, and has long accepted the awkward status of being third wheel to her dating friends. The movie finds her swearing she won’t fall for a guy until she’s sure he meets her standards. Enter Sam as Neo, an art director who is paired up with Trina in an advertising project. Beyond his good looks, Trina finds something in him that compels her to break down the wall she’s built to protect her heart. Neo admits that he has loved three women, but his revelation about having an eight-year-old son devastates Trina. To make matters worse, the boy’s mother still makes her presence felt. Now third-wheeling between Neo and his son, will Trina ever feel that she’s the only one? In explaining Pressman’s character, director Ivan Andrew Payawal said, “Gusto niya siya yung priority pero dahil in-accept niya itong lalaki na ito sa buhay niya, kailangan niyang mag-adjust.” Playing the role of Murphy, the attention-seeking son of Neo, is Alonzo Muhlach, while Monica, Neo’s exwife, is played by Sam Pinto. “Ang Pambansang Third Wheel” has already gained positive reactions from netizens because of its fresh storyline, not to mention the palpable screen attraction between its lead stars. It will be remembered that Viva first tried out the Pressman-Milby pairing in the 2016 dramedy “Camp Sawi.” Meanwhile, Milby is coming off the success of “Doble Kara,” an afternoon soap on ABS-CBN that ran for more than year, while Pressman is currently enjoying her role as Alyanna in ABS-CBN’s longest running tele serye “Ang Probinsyano.” (ManilaTimes.net)
Bernardo Bernardo: ‘It’s been...
From Page 2 Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. “My theater training and acting experience proved very helpful in my control of my body and voice in acting,” said Bernardo in the 2014 interview. “Hitting your marks, knowing cues, being aware of your key lights, movements… Continuity of action/emotion for close-up and angle changes were easy enough to learn. But the key lesson was to be natural, or to underplay.” In front of the camera, on the other hand, he learned—“take your pick: Patience. Stillness. Compromise. How to conserve energy. How to laugh off delays. How to sleep while seated and waiting for your next scene.” Bernardo’s last stage appearance was in Red Turnip Theater’s sci-fi drama “The Nether,” in March 2017, for which he was nominated for an Aliw Award for Best Actor in a Non-
Musical. (He was an Aliw awardee as best male performer in hotels and nightclubs in 1986.) Before “The Nether,” he played King Lear in 2015, in a Filipino translation of Shakespeare’s play by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera directed by Nonon Padilla and staged at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde. (Inquirer reviewer Cora Llamas hailed it as “a tour-de-force performance”.) Bernardo was 70 when he did Lear, and he called it his “comeback”: “I’m scratching my 70-year itch! It’s legacy time. Whatever experience and expertise that I can share, now’s the time to do it,” he said, adding, with typical Bernardo Bernardo humor: “I won’t be like [Repertory Philippines founder] Zenaida Amador na liliparan ka ng silya, or Ishmael Bernal na liliparan ka ng ashtray. Ako na lang siguro ang lilipad.”
He did get to teach formally— as head of the theater arts program of MINT (Meridian International) College in Taguig City. He also put up his own theater company, Studio Connections International, which he said aimed to “form alliances among performing arts companies in order to raise professional and artistic benchmarks in educational Philippine Theater.” “Theater acting is the closest one can get to living out the concept of reincarnation,” he pointed out to this paper. “With each new role, one gets reborn. You basically create a whole new human being’s life story until the final curtain falls. And, on top of the applause (the old addiction to acceptance and recognition), you get paid for it!” Bernardo’s wake is at St. Peter’s Chapel, Araneta Ave., Quezon City.
ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com. And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice. The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.
their individual body weights into consideration. But having wings was one thing, knowing how to use those wings to fly was another. So Daedalus strapped his wings and still taking his cue from the seagulls on how to soar, swoop, dive and glide, he proceeded to learn how to fly so that the wings felt like a seamless part of his arms and his body. He studied wind currents, the waters of the sea and the heat of the sun. Having gained the skill, he proceeded to teach his son patiently. At first, Icarus stumbled and fell and when he got past the first few fumbles, the youth learned quickly, his lithe, svelte form seemingly destined for flight. He learned to fly like a bird, swooping and diving, gliding and circling about, looking down below at the blue waters and their island prison, now a mere speck from above, and frolicking about overhead, chasing the seagulls and rolling in the clouds. Freedom was a heady drink. Icarus felt complete elation, knew the incredible lightness of being and tasted the sweet freedom of flight. Then came the day when Daedalus and Icarus were to fly out of Crete. The sun was up, and the wind was mild and Daedalus decided it was an auspicious day to make the great escape. Daedalus sat his son down and looked him in the eyes for serious pre-flight instructions knowing that once in the air, there would be little chance for communication. “Pay attention, Icarus. Stick close behind me and watch your altitude. Fly too low and the sea with its moisture will make your wings too heavy. Fly too high and the heat of the sun will melt
the wax in your wings. Take heed and stay close.” Icarus nodded agreement but he was far too excited and his mind was already in the sky. Daedalus took off flapping his wings faster and faster to get vertical lift-off and escape gravity. Icarus followed suit and took off shortly after. As they flew, the people on the ground in Crete watched in amazement wondering whether the winged creatures are the gods themselves flying. Icarus trailed his father closely at first, following his flight pattern and struggling to take heed of his father’s admonitions. But feeling an overwhelming sense of growing power in his ability to fly, reveling in his freedom and giving in to his impetuous, youthful nature, Icarus deviated a little at first, taking little swoops and side trips and catching up with his father who was intently flying on a steady speed and altitude. As Icarus swooped, dived and indulged frivolously in his aerial acrobatics, Icarus soon forgot his father’s words and flew higher and higher towards the noonday sun. Then the wax in his wings melted, the wooden framework broke apart and the feathers blew away. Wingless and panicking, Icarus plunged headlong like deadweight into the blue waters. Daedalus swooped down in hot pursuit to save his son but it was much too late. All he saw were a few feathers floating on the surface. Daedalus, with a heavy heart at the tragic loss of his beloved Icarus, managed to fly to Sicily. In his grief, Daedalus retired his wings, lost his love for life and never flew again. Over and over again through the generations, we see this
tendency of some of the young ones to “forget” the things they have been taught and allow hubris and folly to rule. Some throw away everything they have learned and painstakingly worked for in one impetuous decision or action. It is as if their overwhelming sense of freedom, newly-attained independence and sense of power goads them to “fly close to the sun.” Humility gets torpedoed and overweening pride rules. They feel they no longer need guidance from anyone. Sometimes a good scare or a tiny thorn of bad experience can be humbling and worth more than a lifetime of warnings, advice and admonitions to nudge prideful youth back to reality and on the straight and narrow. While we may think that this tendency of the youth today is unique to our times, we only have to look back several thousand years to know that the scenario may have changed, the cast of characters in every generation in every nation may be different, but the predilection for hubris and folly in some of the youth remains the same. We need to be reminded too that as adults, we were once just as young and just as foolish, perhaps even more so. But we were lucky and got a pass because life was magnanimous enough to let us get past this harrowing stage with barely a scratch and live long enough to see the cycle repeated in our children. And on and on until the sun dies, the cycle goes. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
Jerome Orillaza Robielos...
From Page 4 first but he was drawn by his innate aspiration to realize a lofty dream-- to invade the entertainment arena. He was certain he could make it. But he needed support financially and his family backing, not to mention, the right connection. Dwelling helplessly in his aloneness brought him down…defenselessly tossed into a seemingly abysmal depth that inevitably induced a sudden feeling of despondency and dejection…then self-doubt crept in and made him felt so unwanted. Solitude enveloped his mortality until depression eventually enslaved his being. “I was merely surviving on nothingness. I felt I was encased in a vacuum where nobody neither cared nor thought about me. I suffered from multiple occasions of self-pity until I started to deviate myself from people,” he shared. Persistent. Determined. Driven. Jerome tried to be aware of the power of his senses and believed that everything was merely temporary and soon would pass. He knew that very situation where he was in would empower a momentum that would build success. He trusted his senses that there could be a possibility for normalcy. A devout born-again Christian and firm believer in his church’s doctrine, Jerome found instant refuge and consolation when he surrendered himself and all his sorrows and woes to his Creator. “That was something miraculous! I discovered a different path to tread… a road that led me to a promising horizon. I felt being renewed and reborn,” he uttered sounding delightful. With transformed insight and envisioned scheme, Jerome was ready to tightly embrace the fascinating world of showbusiness aptly armed with an earnest dedication and indispensable courage his ultimate dream progressively saw the desired realization. Eat Bulaga’s Mr. Pogi segment readily opened doors for him. The Philippines’ longest running noontime variety show gave him the much-needed break that brought back his self-confidence and induced him to explore more avenues to proliferate his musical ingenuity. From there, Jerome expanded his wing span and soared high. He started to receive TV guestings, events and mall show performances, and even product endorsements. His league of social and media friends became bigger while simultaneously carving a niche and stamping a mark in the industry. This time Lady Luck favored him with great opportunities… both career-wise and academically.
Jerome Orillaza Robielos times three
But his budding career came to a sudden halt when he had to migrate back to NY to join his parents. Inherently equipped with an optimistic attitude, that inevitable decision failed to dampen his spirit. “All I have to do is finish my studies and pick-up my singing career from where I left,” he said devoid of remorse. Currently enrolled as al scholar at Borough of Manhattan Community College taking Health Information Technology, (he expects to graduate in May, 2019), Jerome still finds time in giving in to his passion via performing in various events and concerts during weekends whenever he’s free from his classes. Fresh from his brief vacation in Manila last January, Jerome gave his passion another fortuitous opportunity by performing in a couple of events and private shows that brought back his self-reliance to its peak and reclaimed a more heightened aspiration. For a better analysis of Jerome’s real persona let’s come closer and take some time to get to know Romy “Jerome” Orillaza Robielos upclose and personal: Asian Journal: (AJ) Could you still recall the first song you memorized and performed? Jerome Orillaza Robielos : (JOR) Aside from the Christian songs we regularly sang in church, I could still vividly remember that year when I was in Grade V when I performed Gary Valenciano’s “Warrior Is The Child” during Mr. & Miss Valentine’s search in school. I won the title! AJ: Who was the singer who influenced you the most? JOR: Easily, that would be Gary Valenciano. I loved his vocal style and infectious stage presence. AJ: Where do you think you excel and at what point are you weak? JOR: I can easily memorize a song and deliver its message effectually. But I have to be honest…vocally, I’m weak in
Vatican to endorse... From Page 5
clot formation), arthritis, infertility, cervical cancer, and menstrual irregularities. Pregnant smokers face miscarriages, stillbirths, lowbirth weight and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) babies. Almost 30,000 female lives are snuffed out every year as a result of smoking. Of the 4 billion cigaretterelated deaths in the world each
technique. One thing more, I never learned how to play any musical instrument although I was initially taught to play the piano but didn’t take it seriously. AJ: Professionally, when was your first ever performance with a talent fee? JOR: At the launching of Filio, an all-male band, at the Hard Rock Café… then at the SM Sky Dome. AJ: What do you consider the event that gave you a break? JOR: That would be Eat Bulaga’s “Mr. Pogi” 2012. I was with equally promising contenders Err Kevin Ilagan and Alwin Joseph Alba, who are now active with their own professions but we still perform together whenever we meet. AJ: How long does it take you to study a song? And what’s your favorite ditty? JOR: Maybe just 3 to 4 hours. First I try to grasp its very essence, then I study and familiarize myself with the melody, and later inject my own style. My favorite song? Well, “I Will Be There” by Gary V. AJ: What has been your biggest blunder? JOR: When I forgot the lyrics…but I just kept on singing and pretended nothing was wrong. AJ: What do you think is your edge over others? JOR: My past experiences that developed me into a better person and built my character as a good performing artist. AJ: What are your wildest dreams? JOR: To make it big in the industry, to have an album for world-wide release, and a recording contract to ensure my future. True enough, Jerome’s dreaming of lofty dreams will surely pave way to success and his vision isn’t far from being realized since he’s persistently armed with perseverance, dedication, and a fully honed talent. For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@ yahoo.com
Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University year, about half a billion are women. Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based It is now the top killer among in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of women. Today, one woman dies the American College of Surgeons, the from cigarette-related illness every Philippine College of Surgeons, and the three minutes! Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Shall we look the other way Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino and allow e-cigarette and vaping to replicate the pandemic of misery United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United and deaths with tobacco? States. For more data, visit philipSchua. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
An Asian Journal Magazine
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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY MARCH 9, 2018
An Asian Journal Magazine
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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY MARCH 9, 2018