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Volume 11 – Issue 37 • 16 Pages
JULY 6-12, 2018
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Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Drug war helped cut crime rate in Metro Manila - Police by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that the country’s peace and order situation has improved. It added that while there are incidents of killings, it would also be proper for the public to determine how far peace and order situation in the country has improved by looking at objective data. Philstar.com photo
ONE of the main factors for the 25 percent decline in Metro Manila’s crime rate in the first half of 2018 is the government’s war on drugs, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) cited. Metro crime incidence has been reduced under the government’s Oplan Tokhang, an anti-illegal drugs campaign spearheaded by the Philippine National Police (PNP), as stated by NCRPO. The campaign has seen 48,886 suspected drug users and pushers arrested; 1,590 neutralized; and 233,896 surrendered.
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OSG ANNIVERSARY. President Rodrigo R. Duterte witnesses the program proper during the 117th anniversary of the Office of the Solicitor General at Le Pavillon in Metropolitan Park, Pasay City. Joining the President on stage are Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Secretary Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. Malacañang photo by Karl Norman Alonzo
ConCom approves draft constitution
USA
by BERNADETTE
TAMAYO ManilaTimes.net
DATELINE Amid immigration debate, several Filipinos arrested by ICE
be no term extension for the president and the vice president. In fact, we are not even sure whether he will accept the position of a transitory president or the person who will preside in the transition to the federal government,” he said. The draft charter seeks to carve at least 18 federated regions corresponding to the 17 existing regions plus the Negros Island region. Puno said a plebiscite should be held next year, to give the public time to understand the new constitution. It should be a standalone plebiscite and not held simultaneously with the 2019 mid-term elections, “so that the people can focus on the merit of the proposed constitution,” he said.
THE 22-man Consultative Committee (ConCom) tasked to craft a new charter unanimously approved on Tuesday, July 3, the draft constitution of the proposed Federal Republic of the Philippines. The ConCom chairman, retired chief justice Reynato Puno, said the panel would present the draft charter shifting to a federal form of government to President Rodrigo Duterte on July 9 in Malacañang, ahead of the State of the Filipino green card holder Nation Address. detained for decade-old conviction Under the proposed new charter, the President’s term will end in 2022. “That’s it. It’s not MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Members of the Constitutional Committee who drafted the proposed WITH the current administration’s efforts open-ended,” Puno said. to tighten immigration enforcement in the federal constitution pose for a photo after voting on the draft charter at the Philippine “We specifically stated there that there will International Convention Center. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina u PAGE A2 United States, several reports are emerging that Filipinos have been part of recent sweeps conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). One such case is that of Cloyd Edralin, a Filipino green card holder and U.S. resident of 30 years, who was arrested by ICE earlier this month for a prior conviction he served by MOMAR G. VISAYA over a decade ago. AJPress As of this writing, the 47-year-old remains in detention and faces deportation. AMBASSADOR Claro Suarez u PAGE A3 Cristobal, a career diplomat with the rank of Chief of Mission I, took his post as Consul General of the Philippines in New York on June 30, 2018. His first official event was a meeting with the local media covering the community. At a free wheeling discussion that lasted for The liberal newspaper in an analysis of State Department data said the most affected were almost two hours, Consul General Muslim-majority countries, but the number of immigrant visas granted to people from the Philippines, Mexico, China, India, Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Consul General Claro Cristobal (center) stresses a point during his first Cristobal shared his story, along Pakistan and Afghanistan has also declined. Philstar.com photo meeting with the Fil-Am community media. Vice Consul Khrys Corpuz (left) with his hopes to engage the community at large. and Deputy Consul General Kerwin Tate also joined the meeting. FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
New Consul General Claro Cristobal meets the Fil-Am community media
US immigrant visas Palace: No culture of impunity in Philippines for Filipinos decline AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
PH Sen. Grace Poe spoke with Fil-Ams in Los Angeles about experiences living in the U.S. AJPress photo by Rae Ann Varona
Sen. Grace Poe speaks of ‘Global Filipinos’ during Los Angeles visit
PHILIPPINE Senator Grace Poe shared her experiences and thoughts on what it means to be a Filipino abroad during a recent visit to Los Angeles, California on Friday, June 30. “What we all went through is universal,” said Poe in Filipino, after warming up attendees with a few Filipino jokes in honor of late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago who like Poe was a 2016 Philippine presidential candidate and was known for her humor.
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by ALEXIS
ROMERO Philstar.com
MANILA — Despite the assassination of two mayors in a span of hours, Malacañang insisted on Wednesday, July 4, there is no culture of impunity in the country and instead blamed the killings on groups out to discredit President Duterte. “There is no culture of impunity in the Philippines as we do not condone any state-sponsored killing,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement. He said the Duterte administration upholds the rule of law and remains focused on “securing and restoring order in the community.” Some lawmakers, especially from the opposition, decried the killings, saying they reflected the breakdown of the rule of law. Tanauan City mayor Antonio Halili was shot dead Monday by an unidentified assassin
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from a grassy knoll more than 100 meters away from city hall grounds where he was leading a flag ceremony. The next day, mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija was also gunned down as he was leaving the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) office in Cabanatuan in his sport utility vehicle. Halili, who gained notoriety for parading lawbreakers as part of his shame campaign, was on the drug list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Bote was not on the list. “We continue to adhere to the rule of law and consider the recent killings of high-profile figures as an attempt to erode confidence in the President, whose main platform of governance rests on fighting
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by JOSE
KATIGBAK Philstar.com
WASHINGTON – The number of visas granted to people from countries that typically receive the largest number of immigrant visas from the U.S., including the Philippines, has declined and is on pace to drop 12 percent in U.S. President Donald Trump’s first two years in office, The Washington Post said. The liberal newspaper in an analysis of State Department data said the most affected were Muslim-majority countries, but the number of immigrant visas granted to people from the Philippines, Mexico, China, India,
Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Pakistan and Afghanistan has also declined. The flow of legal immigrants from Europe, however, has increased slightly. The analysis does not include temporary visas such as H-1B visas for skilled workers and H2B visas for seasonal workers or student visas. The Post report published last Tuesday comes on the heels of a public outcry against Trump’s efforts to discourage illegal immigration at the U.S.Mexico border, separating chil-
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july 6-12, 2018 • NEW yORK AND NEW jERSEy ASIAN jOuRNAl
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From the Front Page
Drug war helped cut crime... PAGE A1 “Evidently, the less number of drug addicts on the street equates to lesser criminal activities and criminal incidents,” the NCRPO said before explaining that drug abuse and addiction lead to crime because of the constant need to purchase substances. “To some extent, they are forced to steal, rob shops and innocent people on the streets, barge into homes, in worst cases have to assault, hurt and even kill their victims to get money to buy illegal drugs,” it added. The steady police presence in the streets, strict implementation of local ordinances and national laws as well as PNP’s information dissemination were also cited by the NCRPO as important measures to prevent crime and ensure public
safety. NCRPO further said that the continuing internal cleansing of the PNP also helped the drive against crime. “On the first day of the new ‘ISEND mo SMS/TEXT’ based system of the NCRPO, 31 messages or 21 percent were complaints against police scalawags. The feedback from the community shows that the NCRPO is on the right track with its priorities in fighting illegal drugs and internal cleansing,” it said. The increase in the salaries of police have also helped, according to NCRPO, since it has boosted the morale of the police force, especially those in the rank and file. Moreover, crime prevention has been greatly assisted by technology through CCTVs, GPS sys-
ConCom approves draft...
PAGE A1 22 signatories, 22 articles Former Senate president Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. opened the voting to approve the proposed draft charter shifting to federal form of government. After it was seconded by another panel member, Puno declared the draft constitution approved by the ConCom. The ConCom members then signed the proposed constitution one by one. The signatories were: Susan Ubalde-Ordinario, Arthur Aguilar, Eddie Alih, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, Antonio Arellano, Ali Pangalian Balindong, Virgilio Bautista, Ferdinand Bocobo, Reuben Canoy, Roan Libarios, Jose Martin Loon, Antonio Nachura, Randolph Parcasio, Bienvenido Reyes, Rex Robles, Rodolfo Robles, Victor de la Serna, Edmund Tayao, Julio Teehankee, Laurence Wacnang, Pimentel and Puno. The 78-page draft charter contains 22 articles, as follows: Article 1—National Territory; Article 2—Declaration of Principles and State Policies; Article 3—Bill of Rights; Article 4—Citizenship; Article 5—Suffrage and Political Rights; Article 6—People’s Initiative, Plebiscite and Referendum; Article 7—Legislative Department; Article 8—Executive Department; Article 9—Judicial Department; Article 10—Constitutional Commissions; Article
11—Federated Regions and Federated Regions of Bangsamoro and the Cordilleras; Article 12—Distribution of Powers of the Government; Article 13—Fiscal Powers and Financial Administration; Article 14—Accountability of Public Officers; Article 15—National Economy and Patrimony; Article 16—Social Justice; Article 17—Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports; Article 18—The Family; Article 19—National Security and Public Order; Article 20—General Provisions; Article 21—Amendments or Revisions; and Article 22—Transitory Provisions. Asked to comment on some fears that the ConCom was being used to sanitize Charter change, Puno said, “I do not think there is foundation to that fear. The committee has always acted independently. From day one until today, we have not received any specific instruction from the President.” He said the “heart” of the draft constitution is the allocation of powers between the federal government and the regional government, especially the division of taxation powers. “This is most important because it will spell the success or the failure of the federalism that we installed in our constitution. If the allocation of powers is wrong you can expect a failure on the part of the federal government that we established,” Puno added.
tems, tracking devices, and smart phones, among others. “With the advent of technology and social media, the accomplishments, plans and programs of Team-NCRPO have gained trust and confidence from the public. Netizens are even more cooperative and supportive in giving relevant information and reports,” it said. NCRPO Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar implored the public to trust and support the efforts of NCRPO, stating that they are always committed to “serve and protect.” “Magtulungan po tayo upang mapanatili ang kapayaan at kaayusan sa ating rehiyon (Let’s help each other in order to maintain the peace and order in our country),” he said. n DOWN WITH US-DUTERTE REGIME. Progressive youth organizations stage a protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Manila, to protest against Filipino-American friendship day on Wednesday, July 4.
Malacañang said on Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte would endorse to his allies in Congress the ConCom’s proposed charter, but would leave it to them to decide whether or not to adopt it. “I think the President, as chairman of PDP (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan)-Laban, the dominant party at the House, will transmit it to his party-mates and he will encourage his party mates to study it very closely and if possible to pattern the proposed revisions after what the commission has recommended,” Roque said in a news conference. “But ultimately it is members of Congress who will [decide]whether or not they will adopt the proposed revisions. In that sense, we can only persuade the party-mates of the President but we recognize that the decision ultimately will lie in the individual members of the House of Representatives and the Senate,” he added. Roque noted that Duterte allies hold the “supermajority” in the House. “I think, at least in the House, it will be very persuasive. We’re hoping to be equally persuasive in the Senate,” he said. The shift to a federal form of government, aimed at providing more autonomy and spurring faster development in the regions, was among the President’s campaign promises. n
ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan
New Consul General Claro Cristobal...
PAGE A1 This new assignment is his third time to be posted in New York. From 1990 to 1993, he worked as Third Secretary at the Philippine Mission to the United Nations and from 1993 to 1997 as a Consul at PCGNY. He returned to the Mission as a Minister from 2000 to 2002 and now he is back as the Consul General. “I have never received a warmer reception, it is like 105 degrees Fahrenheit in Central Park,” Cristobal said as he welcomed the press on July 3rd, when record temperature was recorded and the city was in the middle of a scorching heat wave. Before his current posting, he served as Director-General of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) beginning on 2 July 2015. He has also served as Philippine Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt from December 2011 to June 2015 and Consul General of the Philippines in Hong Kong from April 2009 to December 2011. He was also Minister and Consul General at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo from September 2002 to January 2007. In the Home Office, Con Gen Cristobal served as the Spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs from February 2007 to April 2009, Special Assistant at the Office of the Secretary from 1998 to 2000, Special Assistant at
the Office of the Undersecretary for Policy in the latter half of 1997, and Assistant Director at the Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs from 1988 to 1990. Before joining the Philippine foreign service, Mr. Cristobal was Professorial Lecturer in Economics at the De la Salle University Manila, Finance Manager at Cocomark, and Instructor in Social Sciences at the University of the Philippines. He was a Presidential Citation Awardee in 2009 and 2010 and a Gawad Mabini Awardee in 2007 and 2012. He graduated from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (cum laude) in 1974 and a Master’s degree in Economics in 1979 and completed all course requirements for a Ph.D. in economics also from the University of the Philippines. “[A career in foreign service] was not part of my dreams. I wanted to be a lawyer but I ended up teaching,” he shared when asked about his journey to becoming a diplomat. Then a friend asked him for help in reviewing for a Foreign Service Officer examination. To make a long story short, he ended up taking and passing the FSO exam. He was already in the private sector then but he wanted to see what the government had to offer. With a family and three sons,
plus mortgage payments and tuition fees for the kids, he decided it was not a sound decision so he lost his eligibility. Then the 1986 People Power revolution happened and in 1987, he received an invitation from the Department of Foreign Affairs giving him a last chance if he still wanted the job. He jumped at the opportunity because he was getting bored in his private sector job, which he took after working for five years in the academe. “I found a career that never got me bored,” Mr. Cristobal said. “Almost every 2 to 3 years, I get to do something different. This is my fourth in New York but I will be doing something very different from what I used to here.” “I didn’t prepare for this but it seems like my life has been leading up to it. It looks like serendipity, somebody up there was planning,” he added. With his experiences in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Egypt, Cristobal said he is looking forward to working and partnering with the community in order to serve their needs. “It is a must to engage the community and if that means attending events and meetings even during the weekends, then so be it, that’s the job,” he said. “If you want to have a deep engagement with the community, you have to be where they are.” n
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 6-12, 2018
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Amid immigration debate, several Filipinos...
DOH ANOMALY. Former health secretary Janette Garin (left), Heath Secretary Francisco Duque III and other officials take their oath before the start of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography inquiry on P8.1 billion barangay health stations project. ManilaTimes.net photo by Alexis Nueva España
US immigrant visas for Filipinos... PAGE A1 dren from their parents awaiting proceedings for removal or improper entry. Following the outcry, Trump signed an executive order last month that replaced the controversial measure with a policy of detaining entire families together with their children. Some public officials and immigration experts have expressed concerns that the administration’s approach on immigrant visas targets certain nationalities, discriminating those from poorer and non-white countries. Trump has consistently empha-
sized his intention to transform the U..S immigration system into one based on merit rather than family ties, which he has labeled as chain migration. The Post noted that during president Barack Obama’s eight years in office, immigrant visas surged to 617,752 – the highest level in decades. The surge occurred almost entirely in the last two years of the Obama presidency. It is unclear, The Post said, if part of the drop in immigrant visas reflected a declining interest in immigrating to the U.S. or a tightening of the vetting process. On another front of the immi-
Philippine Senator Grace Poe (middle) with members of CSI Professionals Inc. including VP Marge Ordiales (left) in Los Angeles on Friday, June 30. AJPress photo by Rae Ann Varona
Sen. Grace Poe speaks of ‘Global...
PAGE A1 She added, “Whether you’re here in the U.S., or you’re in the Philippines, we struggle everyday to provide for our families.” Hosting the event were employment advocating organizations Los Angeles County Filipino American Employee Association, CSI Professionals Inc., and SEIU Local 721. On moving to the US After studying at the University of the Philippines Manila, Poe and her husband moved to the U.S. in the 1990’s where she studied in Massachusetts’ Boston College and earned her degree in political science. Her husband, Neil Llamanzares, went to San Francisco and then Washington D.C. for undergraduate and later master’s studies. The two then went to live in Virginia for 12 years where Poe gave birth to her three kids. “As soon as we got here, my husband and I had to work very hard because we were determined to live our lives in this country without having to rely on our parents,” shared Poe who worked as a preschool teacher and part time as a scientific equipment salesperson — jobs she said gave her enough pay and flexibility to be around her family. Aside from experiencing economic differences, Poe spoke of the struggles of homesickness shared by many Filipinos living abroad. “It was exciting to be around new surroundings, but we missed our families and the Filipino culture that we had left behind,” said Poe, again eliciting laughs from attendees through the mentioning of Filipino personality traits — pointing with their lips, having a balikbayan box as another piece of luggage, collecting hotel items for souvenirs, and seeing a meal as incomplete if it didn’t have rice. Poe also reminisced on the days before internet when she and her husband would look for the cheapest calling cards in Filipino stores to stay in touch with their family back home in the Philippines, and how they would similarly search for the cheapest balikbayan box delivery company to send home sought after American goods. And then there were trips to Filipino markets for “Boy Bawang, patis, and sinigang mix” to give them a taste of home. “Kung ano ano pa ang comfort food (whatever else was comfort food),” said Poe. She added that having faith
and determination was what helped her family in starting a life in the U.S. “What saved us I guess was our faith and resilience — our determination,” said Poe. “I think Filipinos are resilient people and can easily adapt to new surroundings.” On responsibility Speaking of social responsibility, Poe encouraged Filipinos to be involved in bettering the Philippines, despite living elsewhere. “You’re all here today I’m sure not because you love the Philippines less, but because we have a responsibility also to better ourselves so that we can be a positive force to any community that we a part of, whether here or whether we choose to retire in the Philippines someday,” said Poe. She said that doing good in one’s community abroad was a good way of bringing pride to the Philippines. Stressing the importance of being respectful, she said, “It doesn’t matter who you are or who you dealt with. It’s important to disagree without being disagreeable.” “And it’s also important for you to set a good example,” she added. The adopted daughter of the King of Philippine movies, national artist and later 2004 presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., the senator said much of her inspiration to enter public service came from her father who was a big advocate of fighting poverty. After her father passed away in 2004, Poe returned back to the Philippines permanently to help her mother actress Susan Roces. Moving back, she said, opened her eyes again to the “harsh realities of Philippine society.” She decided to further her father’s mission and served as chair of the FPJ for President Movement which after his death continued advocacy for political and social programs, offering services like free legal advice and medical missions. “Even if my father was never officially a part of government, in his own personal capacity, he was able to help many of our country,” said Poe. Poe further encouraged Filipinos to exercise both support and criticism when needed, adding that she herself would support the president if whatever program he is pushing is right. “But I’m also a critic,” said Poe. “Especially when I feel that PAGE A4
gration debate, democratic activists alleged that the government was holding up the naturalization applications of eligible permanent residents or green card holders to prevent them from voting in this year’s midterm elections. Newly naturalized citizens generally vote for Democrats. The conservative The Washington Times said in a report last Tuesday that there was no evidence of a slowdown in processing naturalization applications. It estimated the pending cases at fewer than 730,000 as of the end of last year. n
PAGE A1 His 12-year-old daughter sobbed as she spoke to ralliers while standing on the Supreme Court steps in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, June 26. “My father loved his family. He appreciated the little things, even if it didn’t matter that much, “ said Michelle, the youngest child of Edralin. She said that she didn’t get to see her dad much due to his complicated work schedule. Edralin had reportedly recently started his new job as a machinist. “But the day I was gonna be able to see him when he got home from work, after I hadn’t seen him for two days, he got picked up by ICE and I couldn’t see him at all,” added the 12-year-old. Edralin, a resident of Highland Park, New Jersey, was arrested on the morning of June 4 as he was leaving to work. His wife Brandi DavidsonEdralin, a U.S. citizen, told local news that he was being held for a 2007 conviction in which he was found in possession of an airsoft gun at a traffic stop. Airsoft guns are considered to be replica or toy weapons which under federal law are not classified as firearms, but are in some states including New Jersey and are thus illegal without proper firearms licensing. Edralin had served his time and had even gotten his green card renewed more than five years after his conviction, a sign he and his family saw as meaning safety from deportation. “Out of nowhere for this to come up and for him to be held in detention while it is sorted out
is unconscionable,” his wife told local reporters. ICE said in a statement, “Cloyd Tolentino Edralin, a citizen and national of the Philippines, is removable based on his felony conviction for possession of a handgun. He is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.” In a rally held outside the Reformed Church of Highland Park a few days after his arrest, Pastor Seth Kaper-Dale, who called for the rally, said the ICE was punishing “people for past mistakes that have already been paid in full.” In front of the Supreme Court building Tuesday, Kaper-Dale again spoke in front of demonstrators. “We’ve been torturing kids in the interior of the country as well as on the border through detention of dads,” said Kaper-Dale, who is also a vocal immigrant advocate. Edralin’s arrest came during a five-day ICE sweep in New Jersey during which 90 others were arrested, according to the agency. ICE said arrests were targeted at at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and other immigration violators. Of the total 91 arrests, 77 percent were convicted criminals, and 70 percent had prior felony convictions. John Tsoukaris, field office director of Enforcement and Removal Operations in Newark commended the arrests, saying, “The remarkable results of our officers and law enforcement partners highlight ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety.” “This operation focuses on the
arrest of individuals convicted of serious crimes and are a threat to public safety. Because of the targeted efforts of these professional officers, there are 91 fewer criminals in our communities,” added Tsoukaris. Compared to the crimes committed that were shared by ICE, Edralin’s possession of an airsoft gun pales in comparison. Crimes mentioned included drug distribution and possession, money laundering, homicide, kidnapping, assault, and membership in the MS-13 gang. On the Supreme Court steps, Michelle described her experience of having her dad in detention, an experience she described as horrible. “The fact that I can only see him an hour when I am able to see him. It’s so horrible,” she said. “He’s a green card holder. Why was he picked up for something he did 11 years ago and was convicted for?,” said Michelle. “He did his time!” ICE detainment of Filipinos The arrest comes as the United States deals with toughening immigration policies and an increasing fear among both illegal and permanent U.S. residents across the nation. While deportation of legal residents isn’t new, the Trump administration has made it clear that low-level offenders may no longer be off the hook. On Jan. 25 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring that non-citizens who have been convicted of any criminal offense may be a PAGE A4
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july 6-12, 2018 • NEW yORK AND NEW jERSEy ASIAN jOuRNAl
Sen. Grace Poe speaks of ‘Global... PAGE A3 it is not just.” She said in Filipino, “It’s hard when you’re always mad. You need to be supportive too. But, there are many things in the Philippines that we know need to be fixed. Don’t lose your vigilance. It’s important for democracy.” Speaking specifically of Filipinos living in the U.S., she said its numbers had the ability of influencing the future of the Philippines. “The sheer number of Filipino-
Americans alone make us a force to be reckoned with,” said Poe, citing the U.S. Census Bureau’s population numbers gathered from the 2010 census. Fil-Ams are currently the largest Asian American population in California. In Los Angeles County alone, Filipinos account for 606,657 of its people. “Imagine how much is spent on clothes and groceries,” said Poe, adding that some of her favorites places to shop and eat are Ross Dress for Less, In-N-Out
Dateline USa
Burger, and a number of Filipino joints like Barrio Fiesta and Island Pacific. On Philippine future Often seen at senate hearings in cases such as last year’s University of Santo Tomas hazing death, and cases regarding extrajudicial killing investigations stemming from the current administration’s controversial antidrug campaign, Poe reminded that a lot of work was being done outside of hearings. Among the most recent efforts Poe has been involved in include the recently signed Balik Scientists Act which is expected to encourage Filipino professionals to come back to the Philippines, and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) which Poe pushed to include support for the country’s poor population. Poe emphasized the importance of the Philippines’ younger population in the country’s future, describing them as an “advantage.” “The median age is 23 years old,” said Poe. “In other countries, the median age is like 40 plus. Tayo bata (We are young.).” She gave the example of focusing on the first 1,000 days of children’s lives — providing parents with access to vitamins, supplements, and checkups during the children’s’ developmental years. “What kind of children are we going to have if they are hungry?,” she asked. Poe also touched on the opportunities of tourism, explaining that roughly six million tourists visit the Philippines annually, generating roughly five billion dollars. When compared to Thailand which gets around 26 million tourists a year and generating around 48 billion dollars, she said there’s room for improvement. “We’re an English speaking country. We’re an archipelago. We’re surrounded by beautiful beaches. Our countrymen are warm by nature. Why can’t we compete?” she asked. Ending her speech, Poe again encouraged Fil-Ams to do their part in improving the Philippines. “Like you, I’ve lived here,” said Poe. “And we still continue to love our country, so whatever you can do to contribute, you can go home, do community service work, medical missions, anything. I’m sure our kababayans will be very grateful.” (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)
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BASKETBALL BRAWL. Australia’s Daniel Kickert and Roger Pogoy of Gilas Pilipinas square off as Jayson Castro William (7) slips on the floor during the brawl that erupted during the third quarter of the game at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Monday, July 2. Australia won by forfeiture after FIBA officials pushed through with the game even if Gilas had only three players left — June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood and Baser Amer. Nine of the 12 Gilas players were ejected after the brawl. ManilaTimes.net photo
House rejects GOP compromise immigration bill by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
WITH the ongoing immigration debate in the United States, another bill seeking to address several immigration issues failed to push through this week. Despite President Donald Trump’s last-minute call to pass a compromise on immigration, the House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 27, rejected a GOP-led massive overhaul of the American immigration system. The bill failed with only 121 members voting for it and 301 members — including 112 Republicans — voting against it, highlighting the ongoing inefficacy of both chambers of Congress to resolve the problem with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which Trump arbitrarily terminated last year. The Border Security and Immigration Act was a collaboration among a tight-knit group of conservatives as a solution for the country’s long list of immigration problems. The measure applied many of Trump’s requests: create a new, merit-based visa program, allocate $25 billion for border security and the wall and establish a solution for recipients
of DACA, an Obama-era program that granted benefits for eligible undocumented youth. It also called for ending family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border by having children remain in the custody of the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) for longer than 20 days along with their parents, who were previously held in the custody of the Justice Department if they were being prosecuted. Specifically, this bill would funnel more money into family detention centers. “Once again, Republican leaders put a partisan immigration bill on the floor, and it failed overwhelmingly,” said Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Maryland), the House minority whip. “When will they realize that the path forward on immigration and asylum reform must be a bipartisan one?” Wednesday’s rejection — which came before the House’s week-long recess — adds to the long list of immigration proposals that failed to achieve majority support. Not a single immigration compromise bill has been able to pass through Congress after several attempts by both political parties. Even the president’s lastminute plea to pass this current bill wasn’t enough to garner the needed support.
“HOUSE REPUBLICANS SHOULD PASS THE STRONG BUT FAIR IMMIGRATION BILL, KNOWN AS GOODLATTE II, IN THEIR AFTERNOON VOTE TODAY, EVEN THOUGH THE DEMS WON’T LET IT PASS IN THE SENATE. PASSAGE WILL SHOW THAT WE WANT STRONG BORDERS & SECURITY WHILE DEMS WANT OPEN BORDERS = CRIME. WIN!” the president tweeted early Wednesday. This year, the Senate rejected a string of immigration measures and Democrats have promised support for legislation that provides a legislative solution for DACA and bolstering border security. But they have not been willing to support measures with Trump’s more strict demands, including limiting the avenues for legal immigration such as family reunification and the Diversity Visa Program. The country’s sweeping immigration problem will likely be the de facto political issue going into the midterm elections. Democrats are harnessing the legislative failures of the GOP on the immigration front to push for folks to vote blue to flip both chambers of Congress, which are currently Republican-majority. n
Palace: No culture of impunity... PAGE A1
crimes,” Roque said. In remarks before air force officials and personnel after Halili’s killing, President Duterte linked the mayor to the drug trade and said the latter was only using his shame campaign as a front. The late mayor’s daughter Angeline, however, denied his drug links and said the President might have been given wrong information. Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin, a member of the opposition, has accused Duterte of encouraging the killings, citing the President’s assurance that he would protect law enforcers and soldiers pursuing his war on illegal drugs. But Roque made it clear government forces could not be deterred from performing their duty of securing the people. “Our people have acknowledged the President as ‘the protector of people,’ as evidenced by surveys giving him high satisfaction, approval, trust and performance ratings,” the presidential spokesman said. Roque assured the public that the police are “sparing no effort” to find and capture the killers of the two mayors. The government, he emphasized, is also committed to bringing Halili’s killers to justice despite the President’s suspicion that the mayor was into the narcotics trade.
“Do not worry. No matter what you hear, if there are incidents of killings and violation of the right to life, it is the obligation of the state to do everything to investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators to strike fear in the hearts of killers,” Roque told radio station dzRH. “When you say suspicion, that means he is not really sure. But I assure the daughter of Mayor Halili that the government will do everything to investigate and determine who is behind the killing,” he said. Gun control Also voicing concern over the spate of killings was Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to come out with measures to control the movement of loose firearms. “When will this stop?” Lacson said. He stressed the burden is on the PNP to put in place stricter firearms control measures as there are too many people now carrying guns in every part of the country. “There is a proliferation of loose firearms. And not only loose firearms, every Tom, Dick and Harry (is carrying a gun),” he said. Back when he was still PNP chief, Lacson said he had vigorously pushed for stricter firearms control as he felt even then that too many people were carrying
guns outside their homes. But he said the public in general should play a significant role in eradicating loose firearms in the country. According to Lacson, the problem is that Filipinos have somehow grown accustomed to seeing or being with people walking around with guns. “This is just about the only country in Asia where any person can move around with a gun. We just assume immediately that these people are policemen. The assumption should be the opposite – that these people are probably criminals,” Lacson said. He said there should be a change in the attitude of Filipinos so that they would treat people carrying firearms as criminal elements. As far as Lacson is concerned, only members of the police and the military who are in uniform or agents in civilian clothes performing covert operations against criminal elements should be allowed to carry firearms. Lacson said he does not see yet a breakdown in peace and order, but “we could reach that point” if the PNP continues to be negligent. Sen. Gregorio Honasan agreed that the public should play a major role in addressing criminality by reporting suspicious figures or activities to the police in their respective communities. n
Amid immigration debate, several Filipinos... PAGE A3
priority for removal. According to ICE, a total of four Filipinos including Edralin were arrested in the New Jersey sweep. One Filipino mentioned by the agency was a 58-yearold who has convictions for DUI, child abuse, and domestic violence assault. In Southern California, two Filipinos were apprehended early this month in a three-day ICE sweep that took in a total of 162 people, according to the agency. Three other Filipinos were reportedly said to also have been apprehended by ICE between June 7 to 14. Lolita Andrada Lledo, associate director at the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) in Los Angeles, told the Asian Journal that while many Latinos get taken in, ethnic communities such as Filipinos
should be aware that ICE does look into groups. Recent Filipino apprehensions monitored by PWC included a caregiver who was arrested in Covina, and another from Panorama City who has been a U.S. resident for 17 years and whose wife said her husband was a victim of notary fraud in 1999. PWC is still monitoring the individual’s status. Another in May was of a Filipino who was arrested in Torrance. Both the Covina and Torrance residents chose self-deportation, while the one from Panorama City has gotten a lawyer. Lledo expects more sweeps to happen as ICE agents make efforts to reach quotas. But Lledo said that the best way to understand the issue and where one stands is to stay informed. PWC holds informa-
tion sessions and legal clinics for those that need guidance. She added that if someone were to be apprehended, their best bet would be to not sign anything and answer questions only in the presence of a lawyer. “If they don’t have a lawyer, they can contact us and we can probably look for a pro-bono lawyer if they are low income,” Lledo told the Asian Journal in an interview. But if deportation were to happen, Lledo said Filipinos must keep positive and make preparations such as obtaining a special power of attorney to take care of family affairs. In 2017, ICE deported 182 Philippine nationals, one down from the 183 deportation of Philippine nationals in 2016, according to agency statistics. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)
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Blantyre City, Malawi June 19, 2018
INC’s Lingap outreach drive reaches Africa anew, other areas planned Lingap sa Mamamayan, the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s free local and international outreach program, was successfully held in two African countries recently in what the homegrown church called its “continuing drive to actively, positively, and concretely affect the lives of people in depressed and needy communities all over the world.” The INC hosted outreach activities in Kibera and Kawangware in Nairobi, Kenya on June 23 and 24 after holding similar activities in Blantyre and Samama Vil. Mangochi in Malawi on June 19 and 20. Over 33,000 Lingap attendees were provided assistance. “We’re sweeping both Northern and Southern Africa as we reach out to INC members and non-members alike. We’ve always envisioned Lingap as a secular and non-partisan humanitarian campaign that benefits everyone,” stressed INC General Auditor Glicerio B. Santos Jr. “These latest activities in Kenya and Malawi build on earlier Lingap projects in South Africa and Lesotho. The INC has an established presence in 16 countries in the continent, and we are now formulating ways to reach out to other African countries,” Santos said. The INC has in the past conducted similar Lingap activities in several parts of the United States and Canada, Northern and Southern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and key areas in the Middle East including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. “We have been faithfully following the mandate given to us as a Church and the path laid out by INC Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo. We are very thankful for this unique opportunity to uplift the lives of people in our own small way,” added Santos. President Rodrigo Duterte at the beginning of the year appointed Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo as Special Envoy for Overseas Filipinos Concerns. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that Manalo was tapped because of the INC’s vast international network. “Malaking bagay, madami silang congregation. (They are a huge asset. They have many congregations.) He would be a great help to our effort to provide protection to our OFWs,” Bello said back in January. Santos revealed that the INC is in a position to conduct more Lingap projects in the coming months because of the funds raised by its Worldwide Walk Against Poverty, a charity walk held last May that drew
over one million people in Manila alone. The Worldwide Walk was conducted simultaneously in 358 sites across 44 different countries, shattering three Guinness world records: the largest charity walk in a single venue, with 238,171 INC members taking part in the event along Roxas Boulevard in Manila; the longest human sentence,
Samama Village, Mangochi District, Malawi June 20, 2018
Kawangware, Nairobi City, Kenya June 23, 2018
Ligi Ndogo Ground Kibera, Nairobi City, Kenya June 24, 2018
with 23,235 participants; and the largest picture mosaic, formed by 9,000 INC members. The INC’s Lingap sa Mamamayan program has been one of the INC’s key programs since Manalo took over the leadership of the church in 2009. It also set world records in 2015 during a historic “Aid to Humanity” event in Tondo, where the INC gave
away 17,000 new pairs of shoes and 200,000 clean pieces of used clothing. In 2012, a similar Lingap in Tondo also set world records for largest dental health check, the biggest number of blood pressure readings taken in eight hours, and for the most numerous blood glucose level (BGL) tests taken in one location. (Special Report from INC)
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JULY 6-12, 2018 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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FEATURES
O PINION Brazen attack
SEVERAL months ago, Mayor Antonio Halili got himself and his city of Tanauan in the news after he began parading around the city center’s streets drug suspects including several of those who had registered as drug personalities under Oplan Tokhang. Amid the concerns raised over human rights violations, Halili said he would not stop his “Walk of Shame.” As he was singing the national anthem together with other city personnel during the Monday morning flag ceremony at the city hall grounds, a shot rang out. Halili managed to take a few steps before slumping to the ground with a fatal gunshot to his chest. Probers said the shot was fired apparently from a clump of foliage several meters away. Because of the enemies Halili made as mayor, police must cast a wide net to pin down his killer. Halili came under fire for depriving drug personalities of due process and violating their rights as detainees. At the same time, however, President Duterte said that Halili himself was into illegal drug deals – a charge that was hurled against the mayor even when he was conducting his “Walk of Shame.” The brazen attack on a mayor, during a gathering at city hall where there are police and private
security guards, is an indictment of the peace and order situation in Tanauan, one of the big cities of Batangas. If the city’s chief executive couldn’t be safe, how much more ordinary folk? Brazenness has in fact characterized other killings in recent months, thanks to the ease by which guns are obtained in this country. Motorcycles also offer a convenient way of getting away quickly, with helmets ensuring anonymity even if an area is surrounded by closed-circuit television cameras. Combined with the general weakness at every step of the criminal justice system, it is easy to believe that in this country, one can get away with assassinating the mayor during Monday morning flag ceremony at city hall. Dispelling that belief is the challenge now faced by law enforcers. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
US and Philippines: Friends, partners, allies
Commentary
SUNG KIM,
U.S. AMBASSADOR
Philstar.com photo
TO THE PHILIPPINES
EVERY July 4, the United States and the Philippines celebrate Philippine-American Friendship Day and the United States celebrates our Independence Day. This gives me an opportunity to reflect on the U.S.Philippine bilateral relationship as well as my time here. Over the past 18 months I have been touched by the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people; I am honored to call so many Filipinos friends. Every day, it seems, I am gratified by the depth and breadth of the U..S-Philippine relationship. At the Embassy, we often talk about the United States and the Philippines being friends, partners and allies. And it seems this is a perfect time to highlight just how apt that description is. Friends The U.S.-Philippine friendship is built on shared sacrifices and shared values. It also is built on people-to-people ties, forged through education, exchanges, family connections and travel. There are more than 300,000 U.S. citizens living and traveling in the Philippines at any given time, and an estimated four mil-
lion U.S. citizens of Philippine ancestry. Nearly every person I have met has a family member in the United States. I also am constantly struck by our extensive, longstanding educational ties, which we have worked hard to continue building. In one important example, it was an honor to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the formation of the United States Educational Foundation in the Philippines earlier this year. Among its many contributions to our enduring friendship is the Philippine Fulbright program — the oldest continually running Fulbright Program in the world. That highly respected program has sent more than 3,200 Filipino scholars to the U.S. and brought more than 1,000 U.S. scholars to the Philippines. Among these are some of the Philippines’ highest achieving artists, scientists and public servants. Building on this success, the EducationUSA program has helped thousands of Filipino students study at U.S. colleges and universities. This year, EducationUSA held fairs for Philippine students in Manila and Cebu City, with 34 U.S. schools in attendance. As we think about friendship and family, we naturally want to protect the future generations. In one example, our friendship was reinforced when the U.S. joined
with the Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the 26th Annual National Youth Congress that successfully engaged young Filipinos to promote drug abuse prevention in May of this year. We partner with the DDB to fight the scourge of illicit drugs through community programs and drug demand reduction. In another example, five years ago, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) embarked on a project to detect, treat, cure, as well as prevent the spread of tuberculosis. Over the last decade, USAID provided over P4 billion to support the Philippines’ goal of eliminating TB by 2035. As a result, more Filipinos have access to state-of-the-art TB treatment and protection health services, which are curing more and more people. Partners The U.S.-Philippine partnership has made itself evident time and again throughout the years. That partnership has been particularly evident in addressing the challenges that followed the end of fighting in Marawi. Alumni of U.S. government exchanges from Mindanao were on the frontlines of humanitarian and psychosocial efforts to address the needs of people displaced by the fighting. Now, through the U.S. Embassy’s yearlong P18.5-million #ForMind-
anao campaign, U.S. exchange alumni are developing low-cost, high-impact projects to address the immediate needs of an estimated 13,500 out-of-school youth, university students, madrasa students and women in Mindanao, as well as tackling the root causes of conflict and violent extremism. USAID has also been incredibly active in Mindanao, quickly providing immediate and extensive humanitarian assistance that continues today, working with local government units and many Philippine government departments to provide life-saving services to internally displaced persons, including P730 million in emergency relief to help provide transitional shelter, water sanitation and hygiene and bolster other logistics requirements. The U.S. also remains one of the Philippines’ closest economic partners, exchanging more than P940 billion in goods last year. The United States is among the Philippines’ top four foreign investors: U.S. businesses have invested approximately P235 billion in the Philippines. The U.S. company Convergys is the largest single private employer in the Philippines. The largest exporter, Texas Instruments, is a U.S. company, and some of the largest taxpayers are also U.S. companies, such as Chevron. Economic partnership benefits
everyone. Allies The U.S.-Philippine alliance is perhaps most evident in our two militaries’ long tradition of shoulder-to-shoulder training and defense cooperation. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. military have longstanding ties going back to World War II, and this has contributed to regional security and stability throughout those many years. Every year the AFP and U.S. military train together, including in high-profile exercises like Balikatan and KAMANDAG. During these annual exercises, our two militaries build effective and ready forces capable of responding to security challenges by focusing on a variety of missions, including mutual defense, counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The Philippines is by far the largest recipient of U.S. military assistance in the region, supporting the AFP’s modernization goals through a variety of programs and initiatives. In the past few years the U.S. has delivered millions of dollars of planes, ships, armored vehicles and small arms to the Philippines. A few examples demonstrate the point. Earlier this year, the U.S. delivered a Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial System worth
P687 million to the Philippine Air Force (PAF), which will provide unmanned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to the AFP. Last month, the U.S. provided personal protective equipment worth P178 million to the Philippine Marine Special Operations Group, which will also protect AFP members in the southern Philippines and Mindanao. Last year, the United States donated two Cessna 208B air intelligence and surveillance aircraft to the AFP. Since then, the aircraft have enhanced the PAF’s counterterrorism capabilities and helped protect AFP members actively engaged in counterterrorism operations in the southern Philippines and Mindanao. These are only a few of the inexhaustible list of wonderful programs, initiatives and relationships that represent our two countries’ bond every day. I have been honored to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines for a year and a half. In that period, I am proud to say that we have built on more than 70 years of working constructively for the benefit of both our countries, and I expect that relationship to continue for decades to come. It is clear to me that our future is brightest when our two countries remain the closest of friends, partners and allies. (Philstar.com)
Foreign investments under Duterte total $16B, four times bigger than Aquino’s $4B
DESPITE the concerted misinformation, by the Yellow Cult here and the U.S. East Coast media, against President Duterte’s administration, foreign direct investments in his first 21 months in office (July 2016 to March 2018), totaled $16 billion. This is four times the $4 billion investments during a similar period (July 2010 to March 2012) under former President Benigno Aquino III. These data are from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, specifically from the data base in its website. The quarterly data shows a robust, consistent growth pattern (see graph), with the lowest level of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the first quarter of 2017, $1.5 billion, even bigger than the peak level during the Aquino administration of $1.4 billion in the third quarter of 2016. FDI for Duterte’s first full year in office, in 2017, amounted to $10 billion, according to the BSP data. Having been an economic reporter for most of my journalistic career, I was skeptical about this figure when the finance department issued a press release reporting this. I checked the figure at the BSP data base, month for month, which turned out to be accurate. As any long-time observer of Philippine economics will instantly realize, the $10-billion figure of FDI in our country’s economic history is an “off-the-charts” development, as annual FDI in the Philippines for decades has been only in the $2 billion level. To be fair to the past administration though, total FDI in 2016 started to rise in 2014 and 2015, reaching $8.3 billion in 2016, with more than half of this entering the country after Duterte took power. Whatever one’s political color, as Filipinos, we should be happy over these FDI flows, which is really an earth-shaking development. For the first time since the mid-1970s, there is a momentum in FDI flows: from about $3 billion average an-
“During the first half of 2017, nual 2012 and 2013, to $5.7 bilthere was a 90 percent year-onlion in 2014 and 2015, to $8.3 Commentary year drop in new investment billion in 2016, and $10 billion pledges from $1.45 billion to in 2017. The momentum ap$141 million. During Duterte’s pears to be continuing as the first year in office, South KoFDI for the first quarter of this rean investments plunged by 93 year totaled $3.6 billion, twice percent, while American investthe $2 billion in the first quarter RIGOBERTO TIGLAO ments dropped by 70 percent.” of 2017. Other than the data I have preI cannot underestimate the fact that such momentum in FDI inflows marked sented here that totally contradicts this writer’s the economic take-off of such now-developed claims, Heydarian doesn’t understand economic countries as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. reporting terms, as a finance department rebuttal of his article explained. We hope that the momentum is maintained. “Investment pledges” as reported by governOne reason that gives me optimism over our economy at present is that the distribution of FDIs ment are those which foreign investors register has changed for the better. For 2017, 13 percent with the Board of Investments and export proof FDIs went to manufacturing while another 16 cessing zones in order to claim fiscal incentives percent went to “electricity, gas, steam and air- such as tax holidays. I haven’t checked this parconditioning supplies” classification. In the past ticular data of Heydarian’s, but even if it is true, decade, it had been concentrated on financial and considering the data I have presented, it actually represents a positive development — that services and real estate. The BSP data totally belies the Yellow propa- foreign investors are coming in even without fisgandists’ claim of an economy going down under cal incentives. What is sad — although typical of Yellow proDuterte. One columnist in Business World, a newspaper pagandists — is that even when facts stare them which through layers of companies is controlled in the face, they refuse to admit their lies. In his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer by the Indonesian tycoon Anthoni Salim, even made a silly claim that “Duterte’s drama only yesterday, he claims in a boastful manner: “All gave investors reasons not to invest in the Philip- the figures and data used in my column were thoroughly fact-checked (anyone who writes for pines.” Pro-Aquino writer Richard Heydarian (“Aquino world-class publications should know this) and, injected morality into the heart of the Philippines’ crucially, are based on data provided by the Phillong-cynical politics,” he wrote in one article) in ippine government itself, namely the National a piece titled “More Duterte fallout on the Phil- Economic and Development Authority, Bangko ippine economy” in the Asian Nikkei Review Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and Philippine Statis— unfortunately for us distributed worldwide tics Authority.” It was quite obvious though that Hydarian, — claimed that foreign investors were shunning who boasts of being an accomplished academic, the country.
hadn’t checked his data on foreign investments from the institution that actually monitors these, the BSP. Heydarian either is so intellectually dishonest or just a plain ignoramus in the field of economic reporting when he tried to wiggle out of the false data he disseminated in an international venue by writing:” The DoF is correct to highlight the increase in ‘approved’ FDI recently, a record-high $10 billion in 2017 and growing by 44 percent in the first quarter of 2018. Yet, ‘pledges’ of investments are also an important indicator of business confidence in the country.” First of all, the DoF figures are from the BSP, and these are not “approved” FDI, but actual inflows as reported to the BSP by banks used by the foreign investors to remit their investments to the country. Secondly, “pledges” are, as any greenhorn economic reporter knows, not worth the paper of the press releases that report them. For every trip abroad that Aquino made, his PR would claim billions of dollars in pledges, but just a trickle of these came in. I wonder why Heydarian is so critical of the country at this time when a momentum is building up for an explosion of FDIs into the country, to the extent of spreading falsehoods intended to discourage gullible investors from coming into the Philippines? Is he Filipino, or a dual citizen, or even a triple citizen, the other nationality being Iranian? I’ve got to fact-check that. Heydarian at any rate should stick to his field of choice, international politics in which concepts are so fuzzy — “projections of power”, “multipolarity ” — that a careless researcher like him could get easily away with wrong conclusions. Even if not exact, economics is a bit more intellectually rigorous. (ManilaTimes.net)
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 6-12, 2018
Dateline PhiliPPines
A
DENR: Boracay Island no longer a Duterte to speak ‘straight from the heart’ in 3rd SONA cesspool, may reopen October 26 by Louise
Maureen Philstar.com
siMeon
MANILA — Just two months since its closure, top tourist destination Boracay Island is no longer a “cesspool” following intensified rehabilitation efforts to regain its status, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu maintained that Boracay is slowly recovering and the tag “cesspool” given by President Duterte is “no longer” applicable. “I am very definite on that and the White Beach is already clean,” Cimatu told reporters on the sidelines of DENR’s 31st anniversary. “We have all the daily and weekly monitoring results (on the water). It is now lower than the standard compared before when it was erratic. It is more steady now,” he added. Duterte issued Proclamation No. 475 placing Boracay under a state of calamity for six months because of the environmental issues hounding the island, including the lack of proper sewerage system. The six-month closure starting April 26 is expected to cost the economy some P1.9 billion and affect about 35,000 workers, according to officials. Despite its impact on the economy and employment, the temporary closure is supported by a majority or more than 60 percent of Filipinos, according to a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). While some are also requesting for a one-year closure with a 64 percent approval rating on the SWS survey, the DENR said it will stick to the plan and open the island on Oct. 26. “We are on target and we will really go with the target. We are only waiting for the finishing of the roads and implementing of all the decongestion in the area. We are almost there,” Cimatu said. Boracay tourist arrivals have been increasing by 15 percent annually, which eventually resulted in more waste and declining quality of water in the island. The water quality problem is one of the reasons why Boracay was placed under a state of calamity that led to the island’s tempo-
BORACAY CLEANUP. Local residents participate in a massive cleanup drive on Boracay Island as part of the 6-month rehabilitation program to bring back the tourist destination’s beauty. PNA photo by Alan Jay Jacalan
rary closure for six months. As the rehabilitation continues, the DENR has ordered that all hotels, resorts and similar establishments in stations 1 to 3 with 50 rooms and above should have their own sewage treatment plants (STPs). While those with 49 rooms and below are instructed to have a clustered STP or they may opt to have their own STPs. Establishments that fail to comply with the setting up of STPs will be issued notices of violation or cease and desist orders. Cimatu said resort owners can approach companies that offer to set up STPs per establishment, including financial packages and other forms of assistance. He also encouraged them to talk to Boracay’s water suppliers, Boracay Island Water Co. and Boracay Tubi Systems Inc., to explore the best approaches and solutions to their sewage and wastewater problems. Cimatu said decommissioning Boracay Water’s sewage pipeline is a must since it violates the 25 plus five-meter easement rule and no-build zone along the shoreline. Furthermore, the DENR has ordered both water companies to expand the capacity of their respective STPs to avoid the same problem once the island reopens in October. The total STP capacity of Boracay is only 12 million liters per day (MLD) but the wastewater to be treated is 15 MLD and more than 200 big establishments are still not connected to the sewer lines. Duterte also wants a committee to facilitate the land distribution in Boracay after the rehabilitation of the island has been completed.
He said land ownership issues would arise once the government is done with its clean-up of Boracay. “Now the problem is how to determine who owns what. That’s the problem now. So there has to be a committee to be fair to everybody. From the local government then from the origins of any title there,” he added. Duterte said the island of Boracay has never been open to any “commercial exploitation” and remains forestal and agricultural. He also noted no president has declared the tourist destination as a commercial area. “Let us determine first who owns the place. If there is any title, and if it gets to be muddy to really dwell into it and question everything, I leave it to the local government to decide or to the congressman,” the president said. Duterte also denied that he ordered the rehabilitation of Boracay so that gaming firms can build casinos in the island. “We do not have any interest on that. Do not ever believe this s***... they weave a lot of tales about giving it to big business,” the president said. Previous reports said Macaubased Galaxy Entertainment Group and Resorts World Manila are planning to build casinos in Boracay, which is visited by about two million tourists every year. Duterte maintained that cleaning Boracay is a “moral obligation” because the island is deemed the “crown jewel” of Philippine tourist destinations. “We are proud of it. So we have to clean it. We banner it throughout the world, ‘Go to Boracay,’ and it’s full of s***,” he added. n
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte would speak “straight from the heart” in his forthcoming State of the Nation Address, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday, July 5. This year, however, the president will not talk about his achievements as it would already be discussed in the month-long pre-SONA campaign at the Philippine International Convention Center. “I think there is still a speech writer but I think they want it to be a message straight from the heart of the president not hindered by the need to report on the different achievements,” Roque said in a press briefing. Roque added that the pre-SONA
briefings would give Duterte freedom to “say whatever he wants” on his actual annual address before the Congress. The president would have laid out his achievemnets before different clusters during his third SONA. Malacañang earlier announced that the pre-SONA forum would feature Cabinet clusters that will discuss their respective policies, programs and projects implemented during Duterte’s second year in office. “Each forum will include an open forum with select secretaries of each cluster. And will be live streamed in the Facebook pages of the PCOO and its attached agencies such as PTV and Radyo
Pilipinas,” Roque earlier said. The economic cluster and infrastructure cluster will report first on July 6 in a forum titled “Tatak ng Pag-Unlad.” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar will present the accomplishments and plans for their respective clusters in the forum. The second forum on July 11 will feature Interior Officer-inCharge Año, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and acting Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will talk in the third forum on July 18. (Philstar.com)
Robredo, CHR alarmed over killings, call for swift justice by HeLen
FLores, Janvic Mateo Philstar.com
MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Vice President Leni Robredo and other members of the opposition expressed alarm yesterday over the spate of killings in the country and called for swift justice for the victims. CHR executive director Jacqueline de Guia urged the government to “act with a greater sense of urgency in ensuring that every Filipino’s right to life is protected.” “More so that, aside from local officials, priests, media workers and common Filipinos have been subjects of violence, often leading to their deaths,” she added, citing the killings of Tanauan, Batangas mayor Antonio Halili and General Tinio, Nueva Ecija mayor Ferdinand Bote this week. The CHR has initiated its own fact-finding investigations into the deaths of Halili and Bote. “At this point, the demand to deliver swift justice by making perpetrators accountable rings louder than before, as the cycle of violence and culture of impunity continues to worsen,” De Guia said. Robredo, for her part, called on authorities to put a stop to the recent spate of killings of priests, loiterers and government officials as she urged Filipinos to unite against the “culture of violence” in the country. “It is alarming that some of our fellow citizens think that this
violence is common in our society now,” the Vice President said in Filipino. “I call on our authorities, especially the police, to intensify investigations into these crimes and immediately find ways to stop these seemingly successive killings,” she said. Apart from the local government officials, at least three priests were murdered since December last year – Mercelino Paez, Mark Anthony Ventura and Richmond Nilo. Last month, 25-year-old Genesis “Tisoy” Argoncillo was killed while in detention in Quezon City after he was arrested during an anti-tambay campaign of the Philippine National Police. Robredo said she is one with every Filipino who wants a country free of violence. “Let’s not allow the violence in our country to get worse. At this time, our united voice will be our weapon against this culture of violence and killing,” she said. According to reports, at least 10 mayors and four vice mayors were killed under the Duterte government. Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV appealed to Filipinos not to get used to or “grow numb” to the rising number of killings in the country that he said were apparently encouraged by the Duterte administration. “For every Filipino killed, be he a mayor, priest, or ‘tambay,’ our conscience as a nation is being
troubled,” Aquino said. “We never learn. Violence begets killings and suffering,” he said. Aquino earlier filed Senate Resolution 765 calling for an investigation on the killings of Paez, Ventura and Nilo as well as the attacks against other religious leaders of the country. “A public hearing can be a venue for us to evaluate the festering culture of violence in our country,” he said. Members of the independent opposition bloc in the House of Representatives also raised the specter of a so-called reversed Schindler’s List owing to the series of attacks on local chief executives allegedly involved in illegal drugs. As far as Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin is concerned, the license to kill had the imprimatur of no less than President Duterte himself, who made it crystal clear that nobody faces charges for as long as the killings would annihilate drug lords and drug users. He lamented that summary killings nowadays are considered acceptable if “done in pursuit of his anti-illegal drug policy and tagged in the so-called Duterte’s ‘reversed Schindler’s list’ where those in it are not for saving.” His colleagues in the so-called Magnificent 7 – Reps. Edcel Lagman of Albay, Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao province and Gary Alejano of party-list Magdalo – likewise condemned Duterte’s culture of violence and impunity. n
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Manny Mogato & Mariel Padilla: Getting to Know the Filipino 2018 Pulitzer Prize Winners by MoMar
When Manuel Mogato won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting earlier this year, he became the first Philippine-based journalist to do so after 75 years when Carlos P. Romulo won it way back in 1942. Mogato worked with his colleagues Clare Baldwin and Andrew R.C. Marshall and won the Pulitzer Prize (International Reporting) for their relentless reporting that exposed the brutal killing campaign behind Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. Mariel Padilla is a graduate student of journalism from Columbia University who worked in the past summer at the Cincinnati Enquirer where she worked on the opioid crisis in Cincinnati. The staff won for a riveting and insightful narrative and video documenting seven days of greater Cincinnati’s heroin epidemic, revealing how the deadly addiction has ravaged families and communities. Both Filipinos (one a veteran, the other a newbie) won for their work on two disparate drug issues—one on the drug war in the Philippines and the other on the opioid crisis in an Ohio town. This year, their paths crossed and found themselves belonging to the elite group of Pulitzer Prize winners. The Pulitzer Prize is the highest and most prestigious award in journalism, literature and music composition. Her story She was taking notes while her professor was talking. One of her friends was on her laptop watching the announcements as they were coming and she texted Padilla during class asking ‘Did you just win a Pulitzer?’ She replied with ‘I don’t know’ and her friend replied back and said that the Enquirer just did. “I was silently freaking out and I didn’t want to interrupt the class so I waited until the break to check it myself,” she shared. Padilla knew that the enquirer had won but she did not know if her name was attached to that win at all until her boss there texted her with ‘Congratulations! You’re a
G. Visaya/AJPress
Pulitzer winner.’ That was when she officially knew. Padilla worked at the Cincinnati Inquirer as an intern last summer. She was the breaking news intern so she did crime, courts and breaking news. This project was a full newsroom effort and there was one weekend during the summer where every single journalist in the newsroom went out and reported on the different angles of the opioid crisis that is especially prevalent in Cincinnati. “I was told to go to the jails every morning and look through the arrest lists and check which ones are related to the opioid epidemic,” she recalled. She would then take pictures of them and go back to the office where she created a database for all these information, which would then be shared with all the other journalists. The information she collated would end up being used in the writing process. Mariel also did some interviews and shadowed other journalists as they went out in the field. She got the internship while she was still in college and there were 7 to 10 up for that internship. Patty newberry, her professor and adviser and was one of the main reasons why she chose journalism. Padilla was initially an english major and didn’t think she wanted to be in journalism until she took newberry’s class in her junior year. “It was a local news reporting class and I was writing about local schools and board meetings and I remember thinking that my writing could help people in the community and that’s when I fell in love with journalism,” she said. That summer experience was Mariel’s first ever professional experience in a newsroom. The amount of things she learned was so much, she said. “I learned how newsrooms worked and how fast you have to go and write but the biggest thing I found in that newsroom was everyone’s dedication to the people and the community and I think that watching some of the senior reporters there and how they dealt with very sensitive issues was great to see in person and that really helped me how to become a better journalist,” she added. no one in the family works in the media. her dad is an engineer while her mom is a statistician. She has an older brother in med school and a younger brother in college studying math. “When I told my parents I wanted to do english, they were not happy. It took a lot of conversations about why I want to do what I love, which is reading and writing and learning,” she recalled. “They were kind of pushing me to think practically so I got another major in communications so I have a fall back and I can do PR or marketing and I think that calmed them down a little. They’ve been supportive but still nudging me about how to make money.” now, at 23 years old, she is already a Pulitzer Prize winner.
“I texted them while I was in class. They were the first people I told. My dad was just so excited, he told me later that he stopped his meeting and told his co-workers about the news. They’re very proud,” she shared. A few weeks after our interview, Padilla finished her 10-month program and became a member of the 2018 graduating class. Since she decided late in the game to get into journalism, she felt like she needed to do more school before she entered the workforce since she didn’t study it officially. “I knew I wanted to do it in new York, I’ve always loved new York. I applied to three new York schools and a Boston school and I got into Columbia,” she quipped. Just being around the amazing professors here, and the connections and events and mentorship. I am still in awe when a certain professor gets into a room because I know all the great work that they have done and that is amazing. Padilla recently accepted a sixmonth fellowship opportunity with Sheila Coronel for a project related to the Philippines. For her longterm plan, she said she has goals but nothing is set in stone. “I hope to keep pursuing journalism. I am in the data concentration here so I am trying to mix data and investigative skills with writing,” she explained. When she started the program last year, she was told to talk to someone about her interest in the data program. “They told me to talk with Sheila, she’s one of the deans. I walked in and I didn’t know who she was at all and halfway through our conversation, she asked, ‘Are you Filipina?’ and I said ‘Yeah’. She’s like, ‘Me too’ and I said ‘Cool’. We talked a little bit about her but I still had no idea about her and how big she was until I got home and I googled her,” she said, sounding embarrassed. Mogato’s way Last year, The New York Times won a Pulitzer for Breaking news Photography for “They Are Slaughtering Us Like Animals.” This year, Reuters (including Mogato) won a Pulitzer for International Reporting for “Duterte’s War: Inside the Bloody Crackdown in the Philippines.” Mogato, Reuters’ Manila-based veteran correspondent, shared honors with Clare Baldwin and Andrew R.C. Marshall. The citation reads: “For relentless reporting that exposed the brutal killing campaign behind Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s War on Drugs. Mr. Stephen J. Adler, Reuters editor-in-Chief said of the winning entry, it ”demonstrated how the police in the President’s ‘drug war’ have killed with impunity and consistently shielded from prosecution.” The 55-year-old journalist has built relationships with the community, local police and the various organizations he worked with throughout the more than three decades he has spent in the
Manuel Mogato
field. Over empanadas and coffee at a Cuban restaurant in midtown Manhattan, Mogato told some members of the Filipino American Press Club of new York his own back story, starting back in 1983 when he joined the Metro Manila news Bureau of the KBL party which was then busy preparing for the Interim Batasang Pambansa elections for the following year. he was then a newbie, a fresh mass communication graduate from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. After the elections, they were absorbed by People’s Journal where he worked the graveyard shift covering the police beat in the eastern Police District. he also worked as stringer and reporter with various agencies and publications such as Asahi Shimbun, Manila Times and Manila Chronicle. “Hindi pa nga nag si sink in eh,” Mogato said about his win, laughing heartily. The announcements were made at 3:00 pm in new York. It was 3:00 am in Manila and Mogato was sound asleep. he was awakened when his phone rang. “Ano kayang istorya? May lindol kaya? Tapos sabi sa akin ng editor ko, ‘I have good news for you. You won a Pulitzer Prize,” he shared. On the other end of the line, dead silence. Mogato said he froze and muttered an incredulous ‘Talaga?’ he wasn’t able to go back to sleep as the phone calls kept coming. his office told him last January that some of their works on Duterte’s drug war were submitted for consideration. he said he shrugged it off, knowing that the Pulitzer Prize was American centric. In 2003, he joined Reuters as a general assignment reporter. he has covered major political and
Mariel T. Padilla
security events in the country’s history, from the downfall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in a near bloodless “People Power” uprising in 1986 to the ouster of the another leader, Joseph estrada in 2001, to the meteoric rise of maverick southern mayor Rodrigo Duterte as president. he recalled one of the stories he remembered while he cultivated his relationship with his sources, including the military and police. It was 1985 and Marcos was still in power. It was a birthday party and they were having drinks with the police. he noticed a couple of men who were silent and were not talking. Around midnight, the police left with the two men. “After 30 minutes, tumawag yung mga pulis sa radio, may encounter daw. So kami naman, pumunta to cover. May dalawang tao nakabulagta sa kalye. Yung kainuman namin kanina,” he shared. “Sabi sa akin, ‘Huwag ka nang maingay. Isulat mo na lang, mga holdaper’.” he also remembers going to Davao in 1986 to cover Alsa Masa issues. President Duterte was just a vice mayor then. Two years later, he ran for mayor and won. “To survive Davao, kailangan matapang ka. Kaya siya kinatakutan. Yung formula niya, maraming namamatay na addicts, petty criminals. he saw that it was a good formula to control the city kasi natakot sa kanya lahat. Yung formula nay un, in-apply niya nung naging presidente siya,” he shared. “From July 2016 to December 2017 3,900 people were killed, ito yung mga nanlaban, killed by the police. Then 2,000 plus yung vigilante killings. Ito yung drug war. Bumagal na during the first four months of 2018, nasa 280 na lang, konti na,” Mogato added. One of their stories was
entitled Dead on Arrival. It was about sending in bodies of victims to the hospitals with one caveat, most if not all are dead. The Reuters investigation revealed that according to witnesses and family members, the drug suspects were executed and their bodies were removed from the crime scene. “Yung mga duktor nagugulat na lang. Siyempre sa autopsy makikita nila yung mga bullet wounds. Ang lalapit binaril, sa ulo, sa puso. Isa mga classic case niyan si Kian delos Santos,” he said. “Yung bata, naka slump, hawak hawak yung baril sa kanang kamay. Sabi ng nanay niya, kaliwete yung anak. At yung baril, hawak hawak pa. Kung totoong nanlaban siya, pag nangka encounter, yung baril titilapon yan, hindi mo hawak.” “Parang suntok sa buwan. Hindi ko talaga inasahan na mananalo kami,” he said.
Filipinos and Filipino-Americans who have won the Pulitzer Prize By MoMar
G. Visaya / AJPress
MAnUeL Mogato and Mariel Padilla join an elite group of Filipino and Filipino-Americans who have won the Pulitzer.
Alex Tizon with Eudocia Pulido
Inquirer.net photo
Mogato is the second Manila-based Filipino to win the prestigious award. Carlos Romulo won the 1942 Pulitzer Prize in Correspondence “for his observations and forecasts of Far eastern developments during a tour of the trouble centers from hong Kong to Batavia” at the outset of World War II. In the United States, a number of Filipino-Americans have gained recognition for their work in journalism. Byron Acohido bagged the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting on “The Seattle Times.” he covered the aerospace industry and won for his coverage of the aerospace industry, notably an exhaustive investigation of rudder control problems on the Boeing 737, which contributed to new FAA requirements for major improvements. Alex Tizon won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting on “The Seattle Times” with his colleagues. They won for their investigation
of widespread corruption and inequities in the federallysponsored housing program for native Americans, which inspired much-needed reforms. Tizon was the author of the viral “My Family’s Slave” published by The Atlantic in June 2017 after his death. Washington-based Cheryl Diaz Meyer won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking news Photography on “The Dallas Morning news” Cheryl Diaz Meyer Photo from cheryldiazmeyer.com with her team. They covered the war in Iraq with striking pictures of the conflict. Define American’s Jose Antonio Vargas won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking news Reporting on “The Washington Post” with his colleagues. They won for their exceptional, multifaceted coverage of the deadly shooting rampage at Virginia Tech, telling the developing story in print and online. The prize recognizes people who excel in newspaper, magazine and online journalism, as well as those who excel in literature and Carlos P. Romulo music competition. Photo courtesy of carlosromulo.org
Jose Antonio Vargas
AJPress file photo
Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
State Department revoking US passports of people who obtained citizenship through fraud
According to DOS, years ago, she entered the U.S. on a tourist visa under a different name. In a previous article, I wrote She married a U.S. citizen who about how the USCIS assembled petitioned her under her assumed a task force to start reviewing name. She was able to get a cases of people who may have green card and eventually U.S. obtained their green cards or U.S. citizenship under that assumed citizenship through fraud. They name. She later went to state would then take steps to revoke court and had her name legally their citizenship and have them changed back to her real, true removed/deported. This could name, and applied to DOS for include people who entered the new a passport under her new U.S. under an assumed name “legal” name, which was issued. and obtained a green card under Seven years later, DOS that assumed name. When filing sent her a letter, advising that for U.S. citizenship, they may DOS conducted a “subsequent have asked to have their name investigation” which uncovered “changed” to their real name and may have started petitioning their her true identity. Accordingly, because she made “false family. Or, they were in a fixed statements of material fact on marriage, or were sponsored by an employer, but never worked for her passport application,” her passport was being revoked. She that employer after getting their can no longer use or travel with green card. that passport. And DOS’s position The U.S. Department of is since she obtained her green State (DOS) is following a similar card through fraud, she was not policy. However, the DOS is entitled to the green card. If she is simply revoking the person’s U.S. not entitled to the green card, she passport, and the person has to is not entitled to U.S. citizenship. request a hearing in Washington In these times of strict DC to defend themselves against immigration enforcement, people the passport revocation. who obtained green cards or In one actual case, a Filipina received a letter from DOS in 2018, citizenship have to be especially cautious when applying for U.S. advising that her passport was citizenship, or if they are already revoked. (Thankfully, she was not U.S. citizens, petitioning family in the Philippines at the time, as members. Homeland Security she would not have been able as well as DOS are now going to return to the U.S., since her after those people and seeking passport was no longer valid.)
Inquirer.net
AI-AI delas Alas clarified that her recent social media post about being respectful of different religions was merely a “generic” reminder to everyone, and not directed at anyone in particular. On Instagram, she said she’s “proud to be Catholic” and pointed out that “insulting someone’s religion” was tantamount to “insulting something meaningful to them. Everyone must be conscious and respectful,”
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to either revoke citizenship or immediately revoking their U.S. passports. That is why it is important that if you have any issues with the way you obtained your green card, you should consult with an attorney, who can advise you of options or consequences. Don’t have a philosophy that because you “got away with it” in the past, you could never “be touched”. The U.S. government is now not only going after green card holders who obtained their green cards through fraud, but also against naturalized citizens. ***
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
From Page 3 HER “AMERICAN DREAM” SHATTERED WHEN HER CASE WAS DENIED AND HER TWO ATTORNEYS TOLD HER THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS JUST “HIDE.” Mariel (left) was devastated when her adjustment of status was denied after USCIS concluded she was out of status. Distraught and lost, especially after her first two lawyers’ only advice was to “hide,” Mariel decided to consult with “Attorney-of-Last-Hope” Michael J. Gurfinkel who sought reconsideration and was able to get Mariel her elusive green card in record (Advertising Supplement) time. Watch Mariel’s dream come true on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC.
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAGlAyA
[Select a handful of those things on your bucket list that have the highest chance of coming to fruition given your time frame. In tech speak, this means before your life’s she wrote. “You don’t have to energy goes into ‘low batt mode’ agree with other people’s beliefs, and life has run out of sockets to but you don’t need to disrespect plug into.] them.” Life is, indeed, “a moveable In an interview at a press feast” to borrow verbiage from conference for GMA 7’s new Hemingway. Travel makes it so. Do singing tilt, “The Clash,” Aiit while you can. Ai—who posted the message I ask friends at random what amid heated online discussions is on the top tier of their personal sparked by President Duterte’s bucket list. A consistent response controversial remark about God is that they want to travel — to being “stupid”—said it’s her duty see the world —whether the as a Papal awardee to defend her world as their oyster, is local or faith. global: just their city, their state, “One day, I woke up and saw the length and breadth of their that a lot of people are fighting native land, or the world at large. on Facebook; some were saying One friend said that she and Continued on Page 6 her family have been to 22 of the (Advertising Supplement)
Ai-Ai is a proud Catholic by AllAn PolicArPio
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An Asian Journal Magazine
The bucket list
The world is your oyster - Go travel (Sixth of a series)
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” –Marcel Proust states in the US and would very much like to go visit all 50 states. This is at the top of her bucket list. Another said that she would like to travel to Europe except she could not find the time while she is still working. There are those who list the Via Dolorosa in the Holy Land and would like to take the time to travel to pilgrimage sites: Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal, Medjugorje in Bosnia and other sites where the Blessed Mother has appeared to children. The Grand Canyon is a sight to behold. The Great Wall of China is a must-see. Hongkong rocks and Palawan beckons. Bali says hi. What’s up with Cambodia’s
Angkor Wat? Among the Japanese where the love of nature is deep, one of the more popular trips among the very hip, is to experience, at least once in their lifetimes, braving the freezing temperatures in the Arctic regions to witness first hand the dancing, mesmerizing northern lights, the Aurora Borealis. To them, it is a sort of spiritual experience. I’m a warmblooded creature so I’ll take their word for it and experience the northern lights vicariously. Then there are those who have been permanently bitten by the travel bug and have Continued on Page 5
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On the PEP Front
Of models, modeling, et al
People, Events, Places BoBBy T. yalong A wEll-structurEd face, a statuesque figure, and an ambitious drive are not sufficient factors to make one a model for modeling, per se, demands much more convoluted and tortuous prerequisites to make it big in this glamorously intriguing business. since the annual NY Fashion week is merely in the offing and the fashion thrill unhurriedly builds up in the air, I deemed it but just timely to deal about this subject which every fashion conscious individual would be more than delighted to read and get oriented. the accurate history of fashion remains obscure and ambiguously disclosed to this day even though the manners of dressing had existed right after the biblical paradise episode when “shame” came into awareness. According to chronological records fashion caught social attention in Europe, particularly in Paris, during the early 1800s and its influence was solely credited to an English man named charles
Dawn Zulueta with husband Anton Lagdameo
Dawn Zulueta, Anton Lagdameo keep love alive with words of appreciation by Cody Cepeda
Beka Makrakhidze in a street wear
Frederick worth (1825-1898), who, at the age tender age of 12 had already been familiar with colors, texture, and quality of textiles. Having been employed as an apprentice at swan & Edgar (london’s popularly textile store) proved invaluable for it taught him priceless knowledge about fine textiles and exposed him to the luxurious tastes of the privileged class. His aesthetic passion and
Filipino actor & wood carver Leandro Baldemor Miss Earth-USA Andreia Gibau clears the posed in an embroidered Barong ramp in a body-hugging gown
Upcoming male mannequin Beka Makrakhidze The Georgian model struts the runway in a in a BTY original Barong John Ablaza creation
The Father of Haute Couture Charles Frederick Worth and two of his early works
Photo from Instagram@dawnzulueta
innate creativity was even more developed when worth left his present job in1845 for a brief stint at silk merchants lewis & Allenby. In 1847, the renowned Gagelin magasin de nouveautés (at 83 rue richelieu) which specialized in the sale of fabrics, shawls, embroideries and laces to privileged clienteles, hired worth as a salesman. He quickly rose through the ranks and promoted to leading salesman in the shawls
and mantles department where he worked with a young Parisian named Marie Augustine Vernet. to say that worth was an ambitious man would be an understatement for he was indubitably not only ambitious but intelligent, ingenious, and competitive. As a salesman for Gagelin, worth experimented with different ways to present goods to potential customers. He would “save the best” for last and Continued on Page 6
Inquirer.net
dEsPItE being one of the most iconic actresses of her time, these days dawn Zulueta seems to be spending more of her time with her family than on the big screen. A glance at Zulueta’s Instagram account shows manifold pictures of her travels with her two young children, Jacobo and Ayisha, and husband, public servant Anton lagdameo. Zulueta and lagdameo tied the knot two decades ago back in december 1997 at the university club in Manhattan, New York city. such a long and prosperous marriage is bound to have some wondering how the two have managed to stay in love with each other all these years, but Zulueta proved that when it comes to a lasting marriage, that showing appreciation for your significant other may just be one of the nonnegotiables. Zulueta took to her Instagram account yesterday, July 4, to share a short but sweet message she wrote for her husband. she accompanied the post with a candid photo of the two of them holding each other close, with Zulueta’s arm around her husband’s neck. “You hold my hand when I am afraid, console me when I am sad, love & protect me…” wrote Zulueta. “I love you forever, @aflagdameo. thank you for always making me feel
like the luckiest woman in the world.” Zulueta said in the end, too, that sweet messages to one’s partner aren’t just reserved for special occasions. “Appreciation posts can’t wait until the next birthday or anniversary,” said Zulueta. It’s a truth that seemingly doesn’t get repeated enough. It’s undeniable that during Mother’s day, Father’s day, as well as Valentine’s day, a barrage of appreciation posts pervade social media accounts, with many expressing their appreciation for their loved ones. But these words of love, according to Zulueta, shouldn’t just be uttered during such occasions but whenever one gets the chance. lagdameo, a man of few words, replied to Zulueta’s post with, “love you darling.” On his end, lagdameo recently shared photos of their family enjoying their time in london. More than just a loving husband, lagdameo, too, is a doting father. “Enjoying london with my angels @dawnzulueta @ jacobolagdameo @ayishalagdameo,” wrote lagdameo. the pictures showed the family of four dressed fancily, with the gentlemen wearing suits and top hats. the family, too, took pictures with wax figures of Muhammad Ali and Michael Jackson, among others, at Madame tussauds and also smiled widely for the camera while inside the train.
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An Asian Journal Magazine
The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY J u lY 6 , 2 0 1 8
How rejection inspired Kyline’s rise to stardom
Karibal’ helped me a lot. Matagal akong nawalan ng trabaho‌ maybe two or three years. I had guestings One year ago, GMA 7’s “Kambal but these were not enough to help Karibalâ€? star Kyline Alcantara was me financially. When I transferred feeling down and discouraged, to GMA, I didn’t expect that people wondering why she wasn’t getting would appreciate me in ‘Kambal a regular acting project for almost Karibal’. I’m very happy po.â€? three years already. Kyline initially auditioned for a The 15-year-old (real name is smaller role, the young Jean Garcia, Kyline nicole Aquino Alcantara; not before she was made to audition for related to the Aquino political clan one of the main characters — the though, interestingly, her lola is also scheming Cheska, who comes in named Corazon Aquino) started between the BiGuel (Bianca Umali out as a child actress and showed and Miguel Tanfelix) love team. promise after being cast either It’s a role that has since grown Kyline Alcantara Philstar.com photo big and very important, and the as the mean girl or the younger version of the lead stars in soap As young as three years plot of the story had her eventually operas. old, Kyline was showing signs assuming triple characters Crisan/ However, Kyline found herself of someone who could be Cheska/Criselle. Her portrayal of all confined to guest appearances an artista someday. three has been earning praise from in her former network. She was “Sila (parents) po yung fans and pundits. thankful for these occasional nakapansin because dati may “Thank you (for the assignments, but for someone who salamin kami sa Bicol, tapos I’d be compliments) but for me, it’s didn’t exactly have the means in acting in front of the mirror. I’d really teamwork and kung life, it certainly wasn’t the most ideal be changing emotions, nagiging wala ang production, wala situation to be in. mataray ako, umiiyak ako, tumatawa ang artists, wala ang crew, di “Yun po yung time na pinalayas- ako.‘ Baliw ata yung anak ko.’ They naman magiging successful yung layas kami,â€? recalled Kyline to The thought, I was crazy (laughs). I was ‘Kambal Karibal,’â€? she said. “I read Star, referring also to a scene from three years old at that time. When the comments (online) because a “Magpakailanmanâ€? episode I was about six, nag-ki-critique ako I want to know their reactions that dramatized her life story. ng mga teleserye: Bakit wala siyang to what I show them (onscreen). It became a TV ratings winner luha? So, parang dun nila nalaman Yes, may compliments‌ May and Twitter trending topic the first na ah, may passion ito sa pagnagsasabi sa akin pero para hindi time it was aired. aartista. So, they pushed me to lumaki yung ulo ko, well, I’m not Said episode had a replay become an artista. The good thing avoiding them, but I try not to put recently due to a public demand. “It with (my parents), they didn’t stop them in my head.â€? was true po. (We got evicted from me from going after what I wanted And she just relishes home) not only once, but three to become.â€? the opportunity of being times because we couldn’t pay the Thus, when work became a kontrabida, with the legendary rent,â€? she added. particularly scarce a year ago, screen villain Bella Flores as her idol. From that episode, you can the articulate teen confessed, “Napanood ko po ang video niya sa glean as much that this petite, her voice turning softer, “Di alam isang website, and she said, ‘Walang bedimpled girl went through a lot. ng parents ko ‘to, pero sinasabi ko sa bida kung walang kontrabida.’ And Problematic family life (although her ‘yo, I became depressed po. Because she’s one of the queens of parents have since reconciled and this is my craft and I really want to all kontrabidas. I want to be a bidahappily accompanied her to this work‌ I got depressed because kontrabida na may pagka-action star. interview), financial struggles (they (I felt) nobody appreciated what That’s my dream!â€? would hitch rides on delivery trucks I was doing, nobody appreciated With her increasing popularity owned by a family friend from my hard work. Parang nakaka(she broke the million-mark in their hometown in Bicol going to depress naman talaya yun.â€? terms of Instagram followers Manila for auditions) and rejection. To cheer herself up, “I would since “Kambal Karibalâ€? with 1.4M), Or make that rejections, because watch videos — that’s how the Kyline feels the responsibility of she wasn’t good enough, talented Internet can help also — videos being someone looked up to and enough or pretty enough to make that are inspiring. And, of course, takes it seriously. She said she it in the entertainment biz, she was through the support of my parents can’t show anything negative to told. and I talk to God.â€? the public. “Because if I become “It’s all true. Hindi lang isang Then the “Kambal Karibalâ€? offer negative, someone na parang ni tao, madami pa. I had relatives came. GMA 7’s top-rating, lo-look up na, how much more‌ who would tell me these things. supernatural-themed primetime (they might think) yung idol ko I don’t know why, maybe they drama has been running for nine (ganun) so ako din. Yes, (I take it just didn’t have that much faith in months to date, extended several seriously, being seen as a role me po,â€? reflected Kyline. “But I didn’t times already and might — just model) especially among the youth use it (as a reason) to give up. I used might — last until the end of the because maraming tumatakbo sa it to become stronger as a person year. isip ng mga kabataan ngayon like and as an artista na din.â€? Kyline said, “‘Kambal Continued on Page 6 By Nathalie
tomada Philstar.com
FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS Madaba,Mt Nebo,Petra,Aqaba,Jordan
(Tiberias, Ceasarea, Haifa, Meggido,Magdala, Nazareth, Cana, Mt Carmel, Capernaum, Mt Beatitude, Jericho, Bethany, Mt.Tabor, Mount Zion, Mt. of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Qumran, Masada Dead Sea,Allenby Bridge, Madaba, Mt Nebo Petra, Aqaba Jordan)
Pilgrimage to Some of ITALY’s Highlights and Miracles of the Eucharist Nov 12, 2018 to Nov 22,2018 Spiritual Director REV.JOEL BUGAS
OCTOBER 18 to Nov 1, 2018 SPIRITUAL CHAPLAIN: REV. ANTONIO FLORES Oct 18, 2018 (Thur) Day 1 – Lax to Tel Aviv, Israel / +0Č’ 1) +1& Ć? &$%1 #/,* 1, "+ 2/&,+ +1"/+ 1&,+ ) &/-,/1Çž ") 3&3Çž 0/ ")Ç˝ Č› " )0 0"/3"! &+Č’Ć? &$%1Čœ Oct 19, 2018 (Fri) Day 2 – Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv/ Tiberias Ćž "/ 4" )" / **&$/ 1&,+ +! 201,*0Çž 4" 4&)) *""1 ,2/ ), ) $2&!"Çž 4%, 4&)) " 4&1% 20 !2/&+$ ,2/ 01 6 &+ ,)6 +!Ç˝ "+',6 1%" - +,/ *& 3&"4 ,# 1%" "!&1"// +" +Ç˝ " 4&)) 0-"+! ,2/ Ćœ /01 +&$%1 in Tiberias. Dinner and overnight (D). Beach Holy Eucharist Oct 20, 2018 (Sat) Day 3 – Tiberias/ Meggido/ Nazareth/ Cana/ Mt Tabor We will have short stop in Meggido and the Plains of We will have short stop in Meggido and the Plains of Armageddon, known in Hebrew as Meggido, a giant fortress and City built by King Solomon.
+ 1%" "4 "01 *"+1 ,,( ,# "3") 1&,+Çž &1 &0 /"#"//"! 0 1%" 0&1"0 ,# 1%" ČŠĆœ + ) 11)"Č‹Ç˝ /,* 1%"/"Çž 4" 4&)) ,+1&+2" ,2/ !/&3" &+1, Nazareth, where we will have Mass in the Church of the Annunciation ,the Cave of the Annunciation and and visit Joseph’s Work0%,- +! %"+ 4" 4&)) *,3" ,+ 1, + ,# )&)""Çž 4%"/" 2/ ,/! -"/#,/*"! &0 Ćœ /01 *&/ )"Çż % +$&+$ 4 1"/ &+1, 4&+" 1 1%" 4"!Č’ ding feast. We will invite couples to Bless their marriage vows,Con1&+2" 1, ,2+1 ,/ Çž0&1" ,# "020 / +0Ćœ $2/ 1&,+Ç˝ Ćž "/4 /!Çž 4" will head to Tiberias. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B/D). Oct 21, 2018 (Sun) Day 4 – Tiberias/Mount Beatitude/ Multiplication / Primacy/ Capernum/Boat Ride “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heavenâ€? Early AM departures to Mt. Beatitude Drive up to Mount Beatitudes, visit the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people., Eucharistic Celebration . "+',6 0 "+& , 1 /&!" /,00 1%" " ,# )&)"" 1, -"/+ 2*Çž %,*" ,# 2/ ,/! !2/&+$ %&0 *&+&01/6Ç˝ Ćž "/ 3&0&1&+$ 1%" 6+ $,$2" where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the ), 3"0 +! Ćœ 0%"0Ç˝ %"+ 1, 1%" %2/ % /&* 6 ,# 1 "1"/0Ç˝ Č› Çž Čœ Oct 22, 2018 (Mon) Day 5 – Magdala 2)) ! 6 /"1/" 1Çž , 20 4&)) + )2!" -/,$/ *0 0"! ,+ 1%" %&01,/&Č’ ) +! ")&$&,20 3 )2" ,# 1%" $! ) 0&1"0 More info coming up as we get closer to the dates Çž 0/ ") Č” Ç—Ç•Ç•Çž &0 ,3"/&"0 #/,* +"4 / % ",),$& ) !&$ are creating excitement in the area where Jesus began his ministry. The village is called Magdala (Migdal in Hebrew), and it’s the %,*" ,# /6 $! )"+"ǽȋ %" )&3"! %"/" +! 0%" *"1 "020 %"/" and she continued with Him. Yes, it’s that place The most important discovery in Magdala has been a synagogue dating back to the 1&*" ,# "020Ç˝ ,/!&+$ 1, / % ",),$&010Çž &1ȉ0 1%" Ćœ /01 ,+" !&0 ,3Č’ "/"! &+ 1%" )&)""Ç˝ Oct 23, 2018 (Tues) Day 6 – Jordan Valley/ Jericho/ Bethany/ Jerusalem Mass at the Church in Bethany Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" %" ! 1, "/& %,Çž 1%" ,)!"01 &+% &1"! &16 &+ 1%" 4,/)!Ç˝ &"4 1%" ,2+1 ,# "*-1 1&,+Çž 4%"/" "020 0-"+1 ǙǕ days fasting in the desert. We will visit the ancient ruins of the wall. We will continue to Bethany and will have mass to celebrate Holy 2 % /&01 1 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ 7 /20Ç˝ %"+ 4" 4&)) 3&0&1 1%" -Č’ 1&0* ) 0&1" &+ &3"/ ,/! +Ç˝ -,+ //&3 ) &+ ,2+1 ,-20 *" +&+$ Mount of the Watchmen/Sentinels, is a mountain in northeast Je/20 )"*Ç˝ +',6 1%" Ćœ /01 3&"4 ,# "/20 )"*Ç˝ Ćž "/ 1%" ! 6ȉ0 1,2/Çž 4" will check in at our hotel in Jerusalem (B/D) Oct 24, 2018 (Wed) Day 7 – Jerusalem (Old City)/ Via Dolorosa/ Mount Zion Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place ,# 0(2))Çž 4%& % &0 ))"! &+ 1%" " /"4 ,)$,1% ǽȋ Č› ,%+ Ç–ÇžÇżÇ–ÇœČœ We will enter the Old City of Jerusalem and will follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) and say the Station of the Cross to the holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, 3&0&1 ,)$,1% +! 1%" ,* ,# 2/ ,/!Ç˝ Ćž "/ * 00Çž 4" /"12/+ 1, the hotel for breakfast. Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) "+1"/ 1%" )! &16Çž 0&+$ %6*+ &+ 1%" Church of St. Anne and view the Pool of Bethesda. Then we will 3&0&1 1%" % -") ,# ) $")) 1&,+Çž &1%,01/ 1,0 Č›4%"/" 1%" 0,)!&"/0 -) 6"! 1%" *" ,# &+$0Čœ +! 1%" / % ,# 1%" ČŠ " ,*,Č‹Ç˝ Dinner/Overnight
Oct 25, 2018 (Thurs) Day 8 – Jerusalem Mass at the Holy Eucharist Church of St Peter in Gallicantu ČŠ %" ,/! " *" Ć? "0% +! !4")1 *,+$ 20ǽǽǽȋ Č› ,%+ Ç–ÇżÇ–Ç™Čœ " 4&)) 4 )( 1, 3&"4 1%" ,*" ,# 1%" , ( #/,* 1%" ,210&!"Çž +! visit the Western Wall,( Wailing Wall ) the only part of the Herodian Temple still standing and the most sacred place in the world for "40Ç˝ %"+Çž 4" 4&)) !/&3" 1, 1Ç˝ &,+Çž 1, 3&0&1 1%" --"/ ,,*Çž /"Č’ 3"/"! 0 1%" 0&1" ,# 1%" 01 2--"/Çž 1%"+ 02/3"6 1%" ,/*&1&,+ "6Çž +! 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ "1"/ &+ ))& +12Çž %" 0&1" 4%"/" "1"/ !"+&"! "020 1%/"" 1&*"0Ç˝ Ćž "/ 1%" ! 6ȉ0 1,2/Çž we will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Jerusalem (B, D) Oct 26, 2018 (Fri) Day 9 – Mount of Olives/ Gethsemane/ Bethlehem/ Jerusalem (New City)/ Ein Karem Mass at the Church of Nativity ČŠ *,2+1 &+ ,# ,!Çž /" "&3" *"Çž *,1%"/Çž 4&1% *6 %&)!ǽȋ Č› /,1,Č’ "3 +$")&2* ,# *"0 Ç—Ç—ÇżÇ˜Čœ " 4&)) //&3" 1 1%" ,2+1 ,# )&3"0Çž 1, "+',6 +,1%"/ 3&"4 ,# "/2Č’ salem, visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the ,*&+20 )"3&1 țȊ ,! 4"-1Č‹Čœ 0 + 12 /6Ç˝ "51Çž 4"ȉ)) 4 )( 1%" )* 2+! 6 , ! 1, 1%" /!"+ ,# "1%0"* +"Çž +! 3&0&1 1%" , ( ,# $,+6 +! 1%" %2/ % ,# )) 1&,+0Ç˝ + 1%" Ćž "/+,,+Çž 4"ȉ)) !/&3" to Bethlehem, a city whose name is recognized around the world. Ćž "/ ")" / 1&+$ 00 1 1%" %2/ % ,# 1&3&16Çž 4" 4&)) 0"" 1%" +$"/Č€ 3&0&1 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ 1%"/&+"Çž 1%" /,11, ,# 1Ç˝ "/,*" +! 1%" %"-%"/!0ȉ &")!0Ç˝ Then we will return to Jerusalem (New City), to view the Temple Model to see how it looked during the time of Jesus. Here, we will gain a better understanding between the old and new cities of "/20 )"*Ç˝ - +"51 &0 1/&- 1, &+ /"*Çž &/1%-) " ,# 1Ç˝ ,%+ the Baptist, to see the Visitation Church, where Mary proclaimed %"/ # *,20 ČŠ $+&Ćœ 1Č‹Ç˝ " 4&)) "+! ,2/ ! 6 6 /"12/+&+$ 1, ,2/ Hotel. (B/D) Oct 27, 2018 (Sat) Day 10 – Jerusalem/ Dead Sea/ Qumran/ Masada Mass at the Church of all Nations Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) ")" / 1" * 00 1 1%" %2/ % ,# )) 1&,+0 and then we will drive to Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Visit Qumran; see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada, visit Herod’s fortress and the Jew’s last 01/,+$%,)! $ &+01 1%" ,* +Ç˝ "12/+ 1, "/20 )"* #,/ !&++"/ and Overnight (B, D) Oct 28, 2018,(Sun) Day 11 – Jerusalem/ Allenby Bridge/ Madaba /Jordan/ Mt. Nebo/ Aqaba Mass at Mount Nebo On this day, we head to Allenby Bridge and cross into Jordan. We 4&)) $, 1, 1%" -1&0* ) &1" 1 "1% +6Çž 4%& % ,-" ,%+ 2)
3&0&1"! &+ Ç—Ç•Ç•Ç•Ç˝ %"+Çž &1ȉ0 ,+ 1, ,2+1 " ,Çž 4%"/" ,0"0 3&"4"! 1%" /,*&0"! +!Ç˝ 2/ +"51 01,- 4&)) " 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ ",/$" &+ ! Çž 4%& % %,010 1%" # *,20 *,0 & * - ,# 1%" ,)6 +!Ç˝ Then we will drive down to Aqaba. Overnight in Aqaba (B/D). Mov"+-& ( "0,/1 Ç” "0&!"+ "Ç˝ Oct 29, 2018 (Mon) Day 12 – Aqaba/Petra Mass at Stella Maris Church – Aqaba Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) ',2/+"6 1%/,2$% 1%" &.Çž 2+1&) 4" $"1 ,2/ Ćœ /01 $)&*-0" ,# 1%" % 7+"% Č› /" 02/6ČœÇ˝ %"+ 4&)) 4" 4 )( !,4+ 1, visit the Temple and view the many caves all around the Theater. At the end of the tour, we will drive back to Aqaba for overnight and !&++"/ Č› ČĄ ČœÇ˝ ,3"+-& ( "0,/1 Ç” "0&!"+ " Oct 30, 2018 (Tues) Day 13 – Aqaba/ Jerusalem We Cross the Jordanian Border to return to Jerusalem. Dinner/ Overnight Oct 31, 2018 (Wed) Day 14 – Jerusalem /Yad Vashem Museum/ TLV/ LAX Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) 3&0&1 1%" ! 0%"* 20"2*Çž&0 0/ ")ȉ0 ,Ć› & & ) *"*,/& ) 1, 1%" 3& 1&*0 ,# 1%" ,), 201Ç˝ 1 &0 !"!& 1"! to preserving the memory of the dead; honoring Jews who fought $ &+01 1%"&/ 7& ,--/"00,/0 +! "+1&)"0 4%, 0")Ć? "00)6 &!"! Jews in need; and researching the phenomenon of the Holocaust in particular and genocide in general, with the aim of avoiding 02 % "3"+10 &+ 1%" #212/"Ç˝ Ćž "/ 1%" "01"/+ ))Çž ! 0%"* &0 1%" 0" ,+!Č’*,01Č’3&0&1"! 0/ ")& 1,2/&01 0&1"Ç˝ "12/+ 1, 1%" %,1") #,/ )2+ % +! /") 5 1&,+ &+ -/"- / 1&,+ #,/ ,2/ /"12/+ Ć? &$%1 ( 1, 1%" Ćž "/ !&++"/ 4&)) " 1/ +0#"//"! 1, 1%" &/-,/1 #,/ ǖǿǕǕ * )&$%1 ,3 ǖǞǗǕǖÇ? Č› %2/0! 6Čœ
Day 1 – 12 Nov 2018 – (Mon) Day 2 – 13Nov 2018 – (Tues)
- USA - ROME - Rome -,+ ,2/ //&3 ) &+ ,*"Çž our Tour Escort will wel,*" 20 1, 1 )6Ç˝ ,*" &0 the heart, home and the spiritual capital of over one billion Catholics all ,3"/ 1%" 4,/)!Ç˝ Ćž "/ short panoramic orienta1&,+ ,# 1%&0 1"/+ ) &16 1, 20 ,* + 1%,)& 0Çž 4" 4&)) have our dinner and overnight rest at this great ancient City.
Č› Çž Čœ Day 3 – 14 Nov 2018 (Wed) – Rome / Papal Audience/ Rome
This morning before we continue with our tour, we will % 3" - ) 2!&"+ "Ç˝ %"+ Ćž "/Çž 4" 4&)) 3&0&1 1%" # Č’ *,20 ,)&0"2* +! 0"" 1%" ,/2*Çž 1%" /"3& ,2+1 &+ and the Pantheon, one of the best preserved ancient monuments in the world. Celebrate the Holy Eucharist at St Peter Basilica St Joseph Chapel .Short stop in Trevi ,2+1 &+Çž "#,/" %" !&+$ 1, ,2/ ,1")
Č› Çž Čœ Day 4 – 15 Nov 2018 (Thurs) – Rome / Basilicas We will visit the Vatican Museum this morning and the Sistine Chapel to admire the awesome masterpieces of Michaelangelo, +! "3"+ + &"+1 /""( +! ,Č’ man artists. the largest church &+ ,* + 1%,)& &0*Çž 1Ç˝ "1"/ȉ0 Basilica. Holy Eucharist at ST Mary ',/Çž ,)),4"! 6 3&0&1 ,# 1%" Č’ silica. We continue to visit the rest ,# 1%" * ',/ 0&)& 0 4&1%&+ 1%" 4 ))0 ,# ,*"Çž +! 1Ç˝ ,%+ 1"/Č’ an, St Paul Outside the Wall. We will also pray at the Scala Santa or the Holy Stairs. St. Helena transported the steps from Jerusalem; the same 01"-0 1% 1 %/&01 0 "+!"! 1, /" "&3" &) 1"ȉ0 2+'201 ,+Č’ demnation.
Č› Çž Čœ Day 5 – 16 Nov 2018 (Fri)–Rome /San Giovanni Rotondo Ç—Ç•Ç–Ç? &0 1%" Ç–Ç•Ç•1% ++&3"/0 /6 ,# 1%" 01&$Č’ matization of St Pio. Church Will have Monthly Pastoral Program of Activities for the whole year . + &,3 ++& ,1,+!,Çž 1%" %,*" ,# 1 Č’ !/" &, ,# &"1/") &+ #/,* Ç—Ç? 2)6Çž ǖǞǖǛ 2+Č’ 1&) %&0 !" 1% ,+ Ǘǘ "-1"* "/Çž ǖǞǛÇ?Ç˝ +',6 1%" !/&3" $,&+$ 1, + &,3 ++&Çž Ćž "/ 4" check in our Hotel. We visit the Shrines of St Padre Pio of Pietralcina as well as the places associated 4&1% %&* Çž 02 % 0 1%" %/&+" ,# 2/ !6 ,# / " 1% 1 contains his tomb. Here, we spend some time meditat&+$Çž 0"" %&0 /,,*Çž %&0 ,+#"00&,+ ) ,5 +! 1%" /2 &Ćœ 5 that gave him his supernatural Crucifying stigmata, Cel" / 1" ,)6 2 % /&01 Č› ,1") / + / !&0, Čœ
+ &,3 ++& ,1,+!, (BB,D) Day 6 – 17 Nov 2018 (Sat) – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO This Morning we visit the new and Modern Basilica of St Padre Pio, See his uncorrupt body .Celebrate Holy Eucharist Spend some time meditating in this awesomeBasilica.
Č› ,1") / + / !&0,Čœ Day 7–18 Nov2018 – (Sun) – San Giovanni Rotondo / Lanciano /Loreto Ç˝ " //&3" 1 + & +,Çž # *,20 #,/ 1%" &/ )" ,# the Eucharist. Near the Piazza Plebiscito, the Miracle is inside the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle. The mira)" 1,,( -) " !2/&+$ 1%" Ç?1% "+12/6 when a Basiline monk doubted the " ) /"0"+ " ,# ,2/ ,/! &+ 1%" 2 % /&01Ç˝ " #,2+! %&*Č’ 0")# %,)!&+$ 1%" %,01 1% 1 % ! % +$"! &+1, " ) )"0% +! 1%" &+" ,+ 1%" )1 / % ! % +$"! &+1, " ) ),,!Ç˝ We continue our pilgrimage to the great Marian shrine ,# ,/"1, 1, 0"" 1%" # *,20 0 /"! %,*" ,# 1%" *,01 ,)6 *&)6Çž "020Çž /6Çž +! ,0"-%Ç˝ &+ " ǖǗǞǙ 1%" %,)6 %,*" % 0 ""+ ), 1"! &+0&!" 1%" 0&)& ,# ,/"1,Ç˝ ")" / 1" ,)6 2 % /&01 &+ + & +, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN Assisi Day 8 –19 Nov 2018 – ( Mon) Loreto/ Assisi ,! 6 4" "5-),/" 1%" %&))1,- &/1%-) " ,# 1 / + &0 ,# 00&0&Ç˝ + 1%" /6-1 ,# 1 / + &0 0&)& )&"0 1%" 1,* ,# one of the most humble and beloved Saints of all times, 1Ç˝ / + &0 ,# 00&0&Çž ,)6 2 % /&01 1 1%" /6-1 ,# / + &0 "" 1%" 0&)& ,# 1 ) /"Çž 4&1% %"/ &+ ,//2-1 body, and the little Church of St. Damiano and its Cru&Ćœ 5 #/,* 4%& % "020 0-,(" 1, / + &0 ,21 %&0 *&0Č’ 0&,+ &+ ǖǗǕǛǿ ČŠ ,Çž / + &0Çž +! /" 2&)! *6 %,20"Çž 4%& % 0 6,2 0"" &0 # ))&+$ &+1, /2&+ǽȋ " 3&0&1 1%" 0&)& ,# 1Ç˝ Mary of the Angels, located in the lower plains of Assisi, and the place where the miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi 1,,( -) " &+ ǖǗǙǕǽ %" 0* )) %2/ % ,# 1%" ,/7&2+ ,Č’ ) &0 &+0&!" 1%" 0&)& &10")#Ç˝ ,-" ,+,/&20
$/ +1"!
a plenary indulgence for those entering this humble %2/ % ,+ 2$201 Ç–01 +! Ç—+! "3"/6 6" /Çž 4&1% ,+#"0Č’ sion, reception of the Eucharist and no attachment to venial sins. (BB,D) Day 9 – 20 Nov 2018 – (Tues) – Assisi / Siena / Florence We will spend half day in Siena. Begin in the old town center with a visit to the Basilica of San Domenico. Built &+ 1%" ǖǘ1% "+12/6Çž &1 &0 1/" 02/" %"01 ,# 1%" "+ &0Č’ sance art and dedicated to St Catherine of Siena. You will learn about the city’s history while admiring it’s cathedrals, Museum, and libraries .Also you will admire the famous piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s great *"!&"3 ) 0.2 /"0Ç˝ ,+1&+2" 1, ),/"+ "Ç˝ Č› Çž Čœ " 01 /1 4&1% $2&!"! 4 )(&+$ 1,2/ ,# ),/"+ "Çž 1%&0 # 0Č’ cinating city with its Piazza, the Cathedral of Santa Maria !") &,/"Çž &,11,ȉ0 ")) ,4"/Çž 1%" -1&01"/6 ,# 1Ç˝ ,%+ the Baptist. "01 ,# 1%" ! 6 #/"" Č› Çž Čœ Day 10 – 21 Nov 2018 (Wed) – Florence / Rome " 3" ),/"+ " /,2+! Ç— //&3"! ,*" )*,01 !&++"/ time (BB.D) Day 11 – 22 Nov 2018 (Thurs) – Rome / USA End of our wonderful Pilgrimage .
Please call QTS Tour and Travel NOW at 1 (714) 288-0800 or (714) 761-6280 1095 N Main St. Suite O, Orange, CA 92867
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An Asian Journal Magazine
The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY J u lY 6 , 2 0 1 8
The bucket list
tomorrow. There are mountains, deserts, coastlines, forests and The most basic of travel gear is camp grounds to explore. There From Page 3 are observatories, museums, a good pair of broken-in walking accumulated travel mileage to shoes. Your feet will love you for it. restaurants parks and trails to circle the moon and back. discover. The truth is, we are While you can travel alone, it A married couple I know only limited by our own sense is certainly much more fun and have made it a point to travel of adventure. There are so many safer, if you go with a traveling extensively and have visited more companion who shares your spirit places that can be explored than 50 countries thus far, making of fun. everywhere around the world but it a point to spend the Christmas If you are straddling the issue it is probably wise to start where holiday season in a different we are right now. of whether to travel or not and country every year. Or we can experience things you have at least 2 of the 3 basic They travel light (perhaps vicariously as we read about travel requirements, I say, GO FOR IT, the first rule of travel) and have adventures or watch travel shows while you can still walk on two become savvy on the art and or even surf virtually through the feet and have good eyesight and science of world travel: planning internet. in relatively good health. If this is in advance, budgeting, dealing But if life gives you the chance important to you, don’t hesitate. with foreign currency, being You can perhaps wangle the time, to physically travel and the spirit aware of the local culture, booking save the money or charge it to of adventure is in you, just do it. planes and trains and arranging Getting there is half the fun; being your credit card and pay it down transport, choosing hotels and there with all your senses engaged later. navigating their way in strange in the moment is the other half. But if one has serious health countries. Their experiences over The best thing about any challenges that require being the years can fill a travelogue kind of travel, local, domestic or close to a medical facility, it can but they go for the sheer love of international, is that it opens our be a bit tricky to pull this off adventurous travel, having gone eyes to the richness of our life as part of your bucket list. It is to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of here on earth. Yup, there is an still possible to travel even if the Incas in Peru and other exotic embarrassment of riches right wheelchair-bound or if one uses destinations. where we are. We just need to a walker or a cane, but the level There are 3 things required open our eyes and see and take it of difficulty for yourself and your for travel. These include health, all in. Travel widens our horizons companions will be a tad higher. time and money. You need to be and broadens our understanding Still, it may be worth a try. As in in relatively good health to have of human nature. We become any circumstance. the mind can the stamina for the rigors posed aware of people of every stripe, make a heaven of hell or a hell of by walking, hefting luggage, color and persuasion. Above heaven. prepping and being on your toes all, we learn to take nothing for A lot of people wait for for activities and the stresses that retirement age to do this because granted. come with travel. We come home appreciating there is available time and Particularly post 9/11, travel our awfully tiny place in the more often than not, there is has become so tiresome because expendable money for travel. The universe and realize how blessed of tight security measures to and fortunate we are to be part of problem in many cases, is that counter terrorism. The second all these. Don’t do it for show to when the time comes, there may factor, especially for those who are be health challenges to contend post on social media. still working for a living, is finding with If done in the right spirit, there the time to squeeze travel in the But who says one has to travel is something about travel that limited amount of vacation days. makes us more deeply thankful of far in order to check this off from The third factor is, of course, our bucket list? You can certainly just about everything in a quiet probably easier than the first two way. explore the wonders in your own — finding the money required Next week: Another idea to backyard or in your own neck of to fund travel. If still employed, consider for The Bucket List … the woods. then you can still make the money *** If you live in California, the to fund the trip. Depending on Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is possibilities for day trips and the destination and the duration SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. short trips are endless. Become chosen, travel can require very To send comments, e-mail monette. a tourist in your own backyard little money or a lot of it. and explore places like there is no maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
Anne Curtis and Dingdong Dantes in “Sid & Aya (Not a Love Story)”
Anne in Erik Matti’s action thriller, “Buybust”
Rapper Abra in multi-awarded indie “Respeto”
The Filipino Films to watch out for at the 2018 New York Asian Film Festival 2018 BuyBust, We Will Not Die Tonight make their world premiere
blockbusters such as “Jurassic World” and “Deadpool 2”. AJPress Villamor shared that she was invited to the NYAFF to screen The New York Asian Film her other movie “Meet Me in St. Festival is back for its Savage Gallen” but when the programmer Seventeenth edition and this year, saw Sid & Aya in Manila, he told a batch of Filipino films get the her they were going to invite the spotlight. These films to be shown at the film as well. “I was initially surprised, sabi NYAFF are “BuyBust” directed by erik Matti, “Neomanila” directed by ko, pang festival ba ito?”she asked. The festival organizers, who have Mikhail Red, “On the Job” directed by erik Matti, “Respeto” directed by all seen the screener, said yes. A Film and Audio Visual Treb Monteras II, “Sid & Aya (Not Communication graduate from a Love Story)” directed by Irene the University of the Philippines, Villamor, and “We Will Not Die Villamor started as a production Tonight” by Richard Somes. assistant, helping friends with Three of these films have their shoots and productions. “Sid already earned nominations, & Aya” is her third feature film after and received accolades from “Camp Sawi” and “Meet Me in St. prominent award-giving bodies Gallen”. in the Philippines, as well as other her love affair with film started countries – “Neomanila,”“On the way back in college at UP and she Job,” and “Respeto”. considers Joyce Bernal as one of “BuyBust,” an action-thriller will make its world premiere at the her mentors. She went in as one of festival, giving the world a first look her interns back in 2000. “Nag-umpisa talaga ako as at award winning filmmaker erik Matti’s hotly anticipated action film. utusan,” she said laughing. “From Richard Somes’ explosive genre OJT to PA to assistant director. I tried being a cinematographer piece, “We Will Not Die Tonight,” one time but I couldn’t carry the also had its world premiere at the camera. Mabigat! Then I decided said event last week. to write.” On the other hand, “Sid & Aya “Sid & Aya” is a character(Not A Love Story),” which has received positive reviews from film driven film and it is about a series of conversations between the critics all over the Philippines, will two main characters played by be making its New York premiere. Dingdong Dantes and Anne Curtis The film and its director Irene that drove this film. Villamor were praised for its non“I wanted to dwell more on conformity to conventions. The film is still showing in some their personal narratives, I wanted it to be introspective,” she said. Manila theaters. It went head on From writing screenplays against a number of hollywood
for Star Cinema in hits such as “Bakit hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo” and “everything About her”, Villamor went to become assistant director, something that she loved doing. Then came her big directorial break via “Camp Sawi,” although she has been primed for the post with her first co directorial job along with Antonette Jadaone in the film “Relax, It’s Just Pag-Ibig”. “All around the world, Filipino films continue to compete and be recognized by the most prestigious of film festivals and we are proud that NYAFF is doing its part in introducing Filipino Films — genre Filipino films especially — to the North American audience. We hope that this is the first step for more of our films to be recognized and distributed in that side of the world. We wish our delegates the best of luck,” said Chairperson and CeO Liza Diño. “We Will Not Die Tonight” and “Neomanila” were screened last week while the remaining four Filipino films will be screened next weekend at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) on 23rd Street. July 14 “On the Job” 12:30pm @ SVA 23rd St July 14 “Respeto” 7:30pm @ SVA 23rd St July 15 “Sid and Aya (Not A Love Story)” 3:30pm @ SVA 23rd St July 15 “Buy Bust” NYAFF’s Closing Film 7:30pm @ SVA 23rd St The 17th New York Asian Film Festival in New York City, USA runs from June 29, 2018 to July 15, 2018.
Erich Gonzales, star of Richard Somes’ “We Will Not Die Tonight”
Piolo Pascual in the acclaimed action drama, “On the Job”
By MoMar
G. Visaya
Of Models, Modeling... From Page 4 entice his customers in a manner that ensured a sale almost every time. To fully achieve the best of his creative designing skills, Worth persuaded Marie Vernet to model and showcase the shawls and other items to potential customers. Their symbiotic working relationship gradually developed into a romantic affair that made their jobs easier and inspiring. Marie inspired his creativity and that in 1850 he began designing simple dresses for her that were meant to show off the wares and the best materials of the store. his designs stood out from the bespoke clothing that was the norm at the time. They were perfectly tailored and elegant in their simplicity. As he had hoped, clients began to notice her dresses which led to increased sales for the company. As the special orders increased, Worth convinced his employers to establish a small dressmaking shop for him on the premises with Marie acting as his model. It was believed to be the first time that the sale of textiles and the art of dressmaking were operated side by side and the first time a man was the designer-dressmaker. Worth’s name slowly became a byword in the fashion scene while the company grew simultaneously with him. The man of the hour, Charles Frederick Worth, who would be later known as the Father of high Fashion and the Original Trendsetter and the world’s First Live Mannequin, Marie Vernet, tied the knot in 1851 that made their partnership even stronger. Around the same time, Gagelin Textile Company was sold and renamed Opigez & Chazelle. The firm decided to enter the Great exhibition of 1851 held in London’s Crystal Palace and included several of Worth’s embroidered silk dresses in their exhibit. Worth’s designs helped Opigez & Chazelle win a gold medal in the category of “upper clothing” that instantaneously expanded Worth’s following. In 1855, another of Worth’s designs was entered by Opigez & Chazelle in the exposition Universelle in Paris. As Worth’s star continued to climb he realized that he would have to leave Opigez & Chazelle and branch out on his own if he was to achieve the success he dreamed of. Worth had lofty aspirations — he was determined to not only change the way people thought about fashion, but change the art of fashion
itself. Being on his own in Paris gave Worth more freedom to create more elaborate and fresh ideas that won for him not only affluent clients but the members of the royalties that patronized his house of Worth like Queen Victoria, empresses Maria Alexandrovna, Marie Feodorovna and Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia, Queen Alexandra of england, empress elisabeth of Austria and Queen Alexandrine of Denmark; celebrities like Sarah Bernhardt, Lillie Langtry and Cora Pearl; and the women of America’s most famous families, including Mrs. J. P. Morgan, The Vanderbilts, The hewitts and The Astors. Not only a fashion innovator, a couturier to the royalties, and the Father of Modern Fashion Shows, Worth was also known to be the first designer to attach his personal label to every piece he made. The first fashion show To drumbeat sales, a logical promotion was conceptualized. In the 1800s, “fashion parades” (defile de mode) periodically took place in Paris couture salons. Fashion shows debut every season particularly the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. This is where the latest fashion trends are made. The two most influential fashion weeks are Paris Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week, which are both semiannual events… and not to forget the Milan, London, Sibiu and Berlin are of global importance, too. Tokyo and Manila cannot be far behind from staging their own Fashion Week. The first American fashion show likely took place in 1903 in the New York City store of the ehrlich Brothers. By 1910, large department stores such as Wanamaker’s in New York City and Philadelphia were also staging fashion shows. During the 1920s, retailers across the United States held more shows and that in the 1970s and 1980s, American designers began to hold their own fashion shows in private spaces apart from such retailers. The Council of Fashion Designers of America was created in response to these shows which were centralized in Bryant Park since 1993 until its recent transfer to the Lincoln Center. Fashion shows in the 21st century The traditional fashion show format was completely revolutionized in the 1960s, coinciding with the rise of ready-to-wear (Pret a porte) and the gradual decline in couture
clients. The discreet and relatively solemn couture showings were replaced by energetic presentations in unusual locations, with designers like Mary Quant and André Courrèges encouraging their models to abandon the traditional catwalk formation in order to embrace free-flowing movements. Some designers have attempted to modernize the style and presentation of fashion shows by integrating technological advances in experimental ways, such as including pre-recorded digital videos as backdrops. During New York Fashion Week in 2014, designer Ralph Lauren presented his new Polo line for Spring 2015 in a water-screen projection in Manhattan’s Central Park. Technological progress has also allowed a broader portion of the fashion industry’s followers to experience shows. In 2010, London Fashion Week was the first fashion week to allow viewing of its shows through live streaming. The rise of fashion models When a model scores an exclusive for a fashion label it means that they have been picked to walk for that particular designer only. This might launch his /her career, elevate status in the fashion industry and ‘guarantee’ him/her spots on the world’s best catwalks with an enviable paycheck. Plump and heavy were indemand during the renaissance as models for painters, model sizes had evolved as fashion trend progressed. Female models were standardized at least 16 to 21 / 5’9” to 6 ‘ with Bust of 32”-36,” waist of 22” to 26” and hips- 33” to 35.” Male aspirants should at least be 5’11” to 6’2” and fit in a suit size of 40” to 42” with lean body without too much muscle unless pursuing fitness modeling. Impressively, Aaron Frew was barely 5’7” while Kate Moss stands 5’6” yet they were given the opportunity to dominate the industry. Modeling could be a lucrative job with a staggering pay (if you’re on top) and a comfortably celebrated lifestyle. Some famous models that enjoy fame and fortune include Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima, Gigi hadid, hailey Baldwin, Bella hadid, Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Tyra Banks, heidi Klum, Kate Moss, and the Top 5 Supermodels Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, Linda evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Naomi Campbell. The 60s saw the rise of stick mannequin Twiggy but the current trend gave way to
Eula Valdez in “NeoManila”, a film directed by Mikhail Red
Ai-Ai is a proud... From Page 3 bad things about priests. And I was hurt seeing that … Let’s just respect one another,” Ai-Ai said. In October 2016, the comedienne formally received her Pro ecclesia et Pontifice medal, which is given by the Roman Catholic Church to lay people who have offered “distinguished service” to the religious institution. “When I was given the honor, I made a vow to defend the church. I have to fulfill my duties to God, and make sure I abide by his teachings,” she said. The 53-year-old celebrity likewise stressed that she can’t and won’t “judge anyone.” “That’s what my priest reminded me. I’m
the plus size models like Ashley Graham, Robyn Lawley, and Whitney Thompson, just to name a few. Male models entered the scene during the early 60s and since created such big names like David Gandy, Matthew Noszra, Rob evans, Sean O’Pry, Jon Ortajarena, and Miles McMillan although high paid male models had been ahead of them and gained prominence in mainstream showbusiness: Mark Vanderloo, Tyson Beckford, Noah Mills, Marcus Schenkenberg, Tyrese Gibson, Antonio Sabato, Jr. Shemar Moore, and Mark Wahlberg. Models and modeling are here to stay for as long as society demands trendy clothing commodities and the necessary accessories that mix and match with them. Photo credits: Posed by Beka Makrakhidze, excelsa De Jesus, Andreia Gibau, and Leandro Baldemor For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@yahoo.com.
a sinner, so I can’t judge. It’s all up to him,” said Ai-Ai, who wants to focus her energy on her show biz projects and responsibilities. In “The Clash,” which airs Saturdays and Sundays starting July 7, she will sit as a judge, together with singers Christian Bautista and Lani Misalucha. Though she’s not a full-fledged recording artist, she believes she’s well-equipped for the task, having judged other reality talent searches in the past. What is she looking for in an aspiring singer? “Vocal quality and stage presence. You need to have heart and passion, which can help you shine,” she said. “More importantly, you should have
star quality—that one thing that mesmerizes viewers and draws them to you like a magnet.” “I have seen some of the contestants, and it’s heartening to see them dreaming of building a career in the industry,” she added. And after winning international acting awards for her performance for the indie film “Area,” Ai-Ai is set to star in yet another heavy drama titled “School Service”—an entry in this year’s Cinemalaya film festival. Both movies are directed by her friend, Louie Ignacio. Teased if she feels she has a chance of winning best actress, AiAi said: “What’s important is that I give my best. If I don’t win an award, then I guess my best wasn’t good enough!”
How rejection inspired Kyline’s... From Page 5 suicide and things like that. Ako may mga ni-lo-look up din na sobrang positive nila. Gusto ko maging ganun.” In local showbiz, Kyline fangirls over actresses Julia Montes, Kaye Abad and Marian Rivera. Of fellow Kapuso Marian, she related seeing her for the first time when she was just an extra on the set of the primetime queen’s TV series Darna almost a decade ago. “The first time I saw her, I thought she was Barbie,” she said. “Now that we’re working together in ‘Sunday PinaSaya,’ binibigyan niya po ako ng advice like don’t get tired, ’wag mapagod, because I still have a long way to go. One time, I was interviewed on TV and she DM-ed (direct-messaged) me a screenshot of it. Then she told me, ‘Whenever you need my help, I’m just here.’” Kyline is turning 16 in September with a concert (yes, she can also sing and has struck a recording deal). her only wish is to
have more work. Kyline, who has signed a five-year contract with GMA Artist Center, said, “(I told my manager) I can manage myself, I can manage my health, I can support myself, bigyan lang ng bigyan niyo po ako ng work. Just give me more work and I won’t ever complain. Maybe I’ll just say, I’m sleepy, but I will still wake up for it!” If there are other youngsters who also want to pursue acting dreams, this is what she has to say: “If you love your work, you will really work hard on it even though there will be people telling you, hindi mo kaya yan, hindi mo maabot yan kaya tigil-tigilan mo na yan or mag-aral ka nalang. Well, yes, mag-aaral ako, I can multitask,” said Kyline, an eighth grader and scholar in a Christian School in Cainta. “So learn to multi-task, learn to be patient also, you need to wait because marami din gustong makaabot diyan sa pangarap na yan. But once you’ve reached it, treasure it, that’s what I’m doing right now.”
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 JulY 6, 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 JulY 6, 2018