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JULY 25-31, 2019

T H E F I L I P I N O –A M E R I C A N C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R

Volume 30 - No. 30 • 16 Pages

2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

PH gov’t to allow any foreign probe on drug slays – Palace by RALPH

VILLANUEVA ManilaTimes.net

MALACAÑANG on Monday, July 22, said the government was not stopping any investigation of the Duterte administration’s drug war, but insisted any move by any foreign group to probe was an “assault on the Philippines’ sovereignty.” The statement came as a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found that 3 in 5 Filipinos wanted the government to allow foreign groups to investigate the drug war Pictures of victims of alleged extrajudicial killings in President Duterte’s war on drugs are of President Rodrigo Duterte. In a news briefing, Palace displayed in this July 9 photo of a gathering of their relatives, two days before the UN Human Rights Council approved a resolution expressing concern over widespread human rights spokesman Salvador Panelo said violations in the Philippines and calling on the administration to allow UN rights representatives to visit the country. Inquirer.net photo

USA

DATELINE Suspension lifted on heavyweight boxer who kissed Fil-Am reporter during interview FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

CALIFORNIA boxing officials on Monday, July 22 lifted the suspension on Bulgarian heavyweight boxer Kubrat Pulev who kissed a Filipina American reporter on camera during a post-fight interview in March. Pulev, who was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), had paid the maximum $2,500 fine and completed a sexual harassment course. Through a unanimous vote, the Commission allowed Pulev to reapply for his license to fight again in California on the condition that any future offense would mean a lifetime ban on fights in North America. The suspension came after Pulev grabbed Fil-Am Vegas Sports Daily reporter Jenny “SuShe” Ravalo’s face last March, and kissed her during an interview following his win in Costa Mesa, California. Ravalo posted footage of the interview on-

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Int’l rights group asks PH gov’t to drop raps vs Robredo, 35 others HUMAN Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights watchdog, urged the Philippine government to withdraw the sedition complaint filed against Vice President Leni Robredo and 35 others over their alleged involvement to the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos. “Philippine authorities should drop cases for inciting sedition and other offenses against opposition politicians, religious leaders, and human rights advocates,” HRW said in a statement on Wednesday, July 24. This was after the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed sedition and other complaints against Robredo, lawyers, opposition members and other personalities over their alleged link to the six-part video series which tagged the family and allies of President Duterte to the illegal drugs trade.

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Jollibee invests $100 million to acquire Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

DUTERTE’s 4TH SONA. President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) at Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City on Monday, July 22. The president’s speech lasted for 93 minutes. Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi

Corruption, drugs, West PH Sea: highlights of Duterte’s 4th SONA

ing government agencies, and laid out the policies he wanted PHILIPPINE fast food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) to adopt for his remaining three on Wednesday, July 24, disclosed that it will be acquiring PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte years in office. United States-based The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) on Monday, July 22, delivered Here are the highlights of his through a $100 million investment. his fourth State of the Nation speech: The $100 million is JFC’s initial investment. Jollibee Address (SONA) that lasted for Illegal drugs Worldwide Pte Ltd, its Singapore-based subsidiary that an hour and 33 minutes. “It has been three years since owns Java Ventures, LLC. in the United States, will handle He arrived 55 minutes late at I took my oath of office, and it the purchase. the Batasang Pambansa Com- pains me to say that we have not According to Reuters, JFC will invest another $250 plex and started his speech at learned our lesson. The illegal million, for a total of $350 million in acquisition. exactly 5:15 p.m. After the initial drug problem persists,” Duterte “The acquisition of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be pleasantries, Duterte thanked said. To fight this “social menace,” u PAGE 2 his supporters, threatened errby RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Duterte pushed for the reimposition of the death penalty on crimes related to illegal drugs, as well as plunder. According to him, the help of local communities in the drug war is not enough to crush the drug trade. Corruption needs to be eliminated, as well. Corruption Duterte expressed his frustration over the unrelenting corruption pervading the gov-

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Pacquiao incurs blurry vision post-fight vs Thurman Duterte wants liquor ban, not midnight curfew, Palace clarifies by AJPRESS

FOLLOWING his win, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao experienced blurry vision during the post-fight press conference at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last Saturday, July 20, according to trainer Freddie Roach. Pacquiao, 40, faced the media after winning against 30-year-old American boxer Keith Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) in a 12-round battle for the WBA Super Welterweight title. Roach noted that the blurry vision could be an allergic reaction to the Vaseline that was used on the boxer’s face during the fight, around the eyes in particular.

“Last night was just weird a little bit. He was having problems seeing at the press conference and I think that he said he has or he might be allergic to Vaseline or something,” said Roach to Filipino reporters. He assured that they will “find out what’s causing that problem and go from there.” “Manny, he fought a great fight last night. He took a little too many hits, and maybe a little bit too much punishment,” Roach added. Despite Pacquiao taking 192 power punches from Thurman compared to the 113 that he landed on his opponent, the Filipino boxer still won by split decision for dealing

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Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao lands a punch during his bout against Keith “One Time” Thurman on Saturday, July 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The 40-year-old Filipino boxer won the WBA Super Welterweight title from the previously unbeaten Thurman. AJPress photo by Noel Ty

by AJPRESS MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, July 23, clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte was referring to a liquor ban during certain hours when he called for the closure of establishments by midnight. In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, Duterte asked Congress to pass a law requiring business establishments to

adopt a midnight curfew. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, for his part, clarified that Duterte only wants a ban on liquor consumption by midnight with his statement. “No. Liquor ban,” he told reporters when they asked if the president’s proposal covered all establishments. Panelo also noted that Duterte wanted to replicate the ordi-

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JUly 25-31, 2019 • lAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAl

From The FronT Page

Corruption, drugs, West PH Sea... PAGE 1

ernment, vowing that he will spend the remaining three years of his term to fight it. “Corruption continues and emasculates the courage we need to sustain our moral recovery initiatives,” he said. The president cited the massive fraud within the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Phil-

Health), conning the government of millions of pesos that could have been used to treat illnesses and save lives, and said he was “grossly disappointed.” To fix this, Duterte said he ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to arrest and cause the prosecution of those liable. He also appointed retired army general Ricardo “Dick”

Morales as the new PhilHealth president to prioritize ridding the agency of corruption. Duterte went on to say that he has identified the enemy who dumped the country into the quagmire it is currently in. “I have met the enemy faceto-face and sadly, the enemy is us. We are our own tormentors... We are our own demons; we are as rapacious predators preying on the helpless, the weak and the voiceless,” he said. “We find corruption everywhere in government with every malefactor watching his cohort’s back in blatant disregard of his oath when he assumed public office… No amount of euphemism can trivialize or normalize betrayal of public trust or any other criminal offense. It is an injury laced with insult. It is both a national embarrassment and a national shame,” he continued. According to Duterte, catharsis is needed to help stop corruption. “Catharsis is what we, individually and collectively, need to do today – not tomorrow but today. Self-purgation followed by the resolve to do what is right and proper, is good for the nation’s health,” he said. Duterte also acknowledged that he does not know when will corruption end. “Let me ask you: When will corruption end? Kailan ba talaga ‘to? Hanggang kailan (Until when)? Well, I don’t know. I’ve been in – with government for almost 35 years now. I am not singling out myself. It’s the entire gamut of our system,” he said. “Corruption exasperates. It frustrates. It is also exasperating that there are times when I think that perhaps it is blood that we need to cleanse and rinse away the dirt and the muck that stick to the flesh like leeches,” he added. Duterte also claimed that there are no sacred cows in his administration, saying he has fired or caused the resignation of more than 100 officials and appointees of government “without regard to relationship, friendship and alliance.” He vowed to take responsibility for the shortcomings of his administration and pursue pro-

LIGHT MOMENTS. President Rodrigo Duterte grants request of congressmen for a “selfie” after his 4th state of the nation address (SONA) at Batasang Pambansa on Monday, July 22. The President’s speech lasted for 93 minutes. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

PH gov’t to allow any foreign... PAGE 1

the government was not stopping foreign groups from investigating. He, however, maintained that the legal system in the country was sufficient to probe the drug crackdown. “We are not stopping [any probe.] Our reaction is, you cannot do that to us, because we are a sovereign state. Our [justice] system is running smoothly here,” Panelo said. He echoed Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin’s statement that the justice system in the country is “robust.” “We are already investigating it all. We are filing charges, but do not meddle with the state of affairs,” Panelo said. He said the premise of the survey was based on what critics of the government were raising against the drug war. “SWS. Who will they ask but the

people here in the Philippines? If they believe the criticisms of the opposition, then that is their premise,” Panelo said. According to him, the administration’s stand on barring the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) from investigating the drug war would not change. He said Duterte’s high trust and approval rating meant that Filipinos are satisfied with how the president is doing his job. The SWS poll found that of the 1,200 Filipinos surveyed, 60 percent agreed with the statement, “The government should not block the investigation of international groups, like the United Nations, into the killing by the Philippine police of so many drug suspects who supposedly fought back.” Only 15 percent disagreed,

while 25 percent were undecided. This amounted to a net agreement rating of +45, which the SWS considered as “very strong.” The survey was fielded weeks before the UNHRC approved a resolution calling for a review and a probe of the Duterte administration’s drug war. The resolution was backed by 18 of the 47 member countries, while 14 others opposed it and 15 abstained. Last week, Duterte said he would only face a Filipino court and “not a Caucasian” one. “And maybe they can reimpose death penalty then die in Filipino hands… I will not answer a Caucasian asking question, or white man there. You must be stupid. Who are you? I am a Filipino, we have our courts here. Why would you have to bring me somewhere else? I would not like that,” he added. n

Jollibee invests $100 million to acquire Coffee Bean and...

PAGE 1 Jollibee’s largest and most multinational so far with business presence in 27 countries,” said Jollibee Chairman Tony Tan Caktiong in a statement. “This will add 14 percent to [Jollibee’s] global system wide sales, 26 percent to its total store network, will bring international business’ contribution to 36 percent of worldwide sales, and will bring [Jollibee] closer to its vision to be one of the top 5 restaurant companies in the world in terms of market capitalization,” he added. According to Tan, their priority PAGE A5 is to accelerate the growth of The

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf brand particularly in Asia through brand development, marketing and franchise support system. As of December 2018, CBTL has 1,189 outlets spread across the United States, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Largest Asian restaurant company JFC was named the largest Asian restaurant company in 2013. And with 3,200 stores, including over 600 stores found in 13 countries overseas, its expansion still show no sign of stopping. In 2018, it acquired Mexican chain Tortas Frontera, which

serves pulled pork, chorizo and beef sandwiches with sides of guacamole and cilantro salsa; Tim Ho Wan, which is famous for its barbecue pork buns; and U.S. chain Smashburger, which serves burgers in 351 stores across U.S. Jollibee also created joint ventures with Panda Express and Vietnamese noodle soup chain PHO24 to bring their popular menus to the Philippines. Locally, JFC owns several wellloved brands like Greenwich, Chowking, Red Ribbon, ang Mang Inasal. It is also the official local franchise for Burger King. n

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At 40, Saturday’s bout marked Pacquiao’s 62nd win of his 71-fight professional career, making history as the oldest welterweight champion and the fifth-oldest boxer to win a world title in any division. AJPress photos by Noel Ty

Pacquiao incurs blurry vision post-fight... PAGE 1

much more damage. The judges scored the fight 115-112 (twice) and 113-114. Pacquiao knocked out Thurman in the first round and landed a left hook on Thurman’s body in the 10th round that stopped the American boxer’s momentum. “He’s very tough. He’s very young. I can say he’s heavyhanded, man. Not like my other opponents,” Pacquiao said, referring to Thurman. Pacquiao also said he is planning to sit out for the rest of the year out after his latest fight. He previously fought Adrien Broner in January for the WBA welterweight championship, but said his fight with Thurman was the best one this year, which may even give him the honor as ‘Fighter of the Year.’ The boxer turned senator plans to return to the boxing ring next year. He’ll be 41 years old then. “Ang sarap, no? (Feels good, right?)” he said. Due to his eyes, the boxer, who arrived back in Manila on Tuesday morning, was not able to attend Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, choosing to rest

instead upon his doctor’s advice. Saturday’s bout marked the Filipino boxer turned senator’s 62nd win out of 71 matches as a professional fighter, making history as the oldest welterweight champion and the fifth-oldest boxer to win a world title in any division. Senate Resolution 20 — a consolidation of various resolutions filed by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sens. Nancy Binay, Christopher Go, Richard Gordon and Bong Revilla — commended Pacquiao for his latest title and for bringing pride to Filipinos globally.

“The abilities and skills I have are given by God. I believe that ability, skill and responsibility has a purpose and that purpose is to inspire the Filipino people to rise above their limitations and overcome their circumstances,” Pacquiao said. “There are many who say that there won’t be another Manny Pacquiao. But I believe that we have many boxers who are just waiting for an opportunity, waiting for our help. It is high time for us to invest in our boxing talents who are loaded with potentials. The so-called diamond in the rough can just be around the corner.” n

Duterte wants liquor ban, not midnight curfew... PAGE 1 nance in Davao City wherein drinking liquor is only allowed until 1 a.m. After his SONA, the president admitted that the liquor ban may not be a “popular move.” “I do not think it is a popu-

lar move because it will affect adversely businesses that operate during nighttime. But for a small city like Davao, it seems that the people liked it. But in other countries, in other states, by 12 o’clock, everything is closed,” Duterte said in a press

briefing. “I was just suggesting... Congress to ponder on it and maybe sleep on it and if they want. But it can improve tremendously the quality of life. Stop drinking at almost 11, then you go home,” he added. n

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Pacquiao dares Mayweather to rematch after Instagram rant by Josef

Ramos ManilaTimes.net

NEWLY-crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super champion Manny Pacquiao called out retired undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a possible rematch after his long Instagram rant on Tuesday, July 23. Pacquiao, 40, responded to @ FloydMayweather’s post showing photos of their previous fights four years ago at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the eightdivision world champion lost via unanimous decision. “@FloydMayweather You come to my fight and then use my name in a post but I’m the one that is trying to stay relevant? If you want to be relevant again‌#MayPac2,â€? Pacquiao posted through his official Instagram account @MannyPacquiao also on Tuesday. Mayweather Jr., undefeated in 50 fights with 27 knockouts, was in attendance during Pacquiao’s fight against previously undefeated American Keith Thurman last Saturday, July 20 at the MGM Grand Arena. Pacquiao, who arrived in Manila on Tuesday morning, won by a split decision. Mayweather slammed critics on Instagram for attaching his name with Pacquiao, especially in fights. “I find it real ironic how every

Photo screengrabbed from Manny Pacquiao’s Twitter account.

time Pacquiao’s name is brought up in the media, my name is always attached to it,� Mayweather said in. “This man’s entire legacy and career has been built off its association with my name and it’s about time you all stop using my brand for clout chasing and clickbait and let that man’s name hold weight of its own.� The boxing community became interested in a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout 10 years ago, but was realized five years later after issues like purse sharing and allegations of Pacquiao using performance-enhancing drugs were resolved. “For years, all you heard was that “Floyd is afraid of Manny Pacquiao.� But what’s funny is when we finally fought, I won so easily that everyone had to eat

their words!� Despite Mayweather’s win over Pacquiao, the boxing community has sought for a rematch after Pacquiao was reported fighting with an injured right shoulder during the first bout. But after Mayweather’s win over Andre Berto in September 2015, he retired. Pacquiao had since undergone shoulder surgery after that bout. There were many events where Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr. Had met as fans hoped that one day the rematch will finally happen. But Mayweather Jr. expressed zero interest of any Pacquiao rematch in the future. He also added that the critics were just upset after he broke Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record and retired undefeated. n

Int’l rights group asks PH gov’t to drop raps... PAGE 1 HRW Asia Director Brad Adams said the complaint was an attempt to harass and silence the critics of President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. “The preposterous complaint against the vice president and the others is a transparent attempt to harass and silence critics of President Duterte’s bloody ‘drug war,’â€? Adams said in a statement. “Threatening criminal charges against the vice president, outspoken bishops, and rights lawyers suggest that Duterte’s egregious human rights record is catching up with him,â€? he Vice President Leni Robredo listens as President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his State of the Nation added. (Consuelo Marquez/ Address on Monday, July 22. Also in photo are former Presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Joseph Estrada. Inquirer) MalacaĂąang photo by Simeon Celi

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 25-31, 2019

National Asian group wins anew in $331-M verdict for struggling California homeowners by AJPress THE California Supreme Court denied review of a lower court ruling on Thursday, July 18, ordering the return of $331 million to a fund for struggling homeowners. Led by the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), a housing counseling organization, the case sought to restore money to the National Mortgage Special Deposit Fund, which was created to pay for housing counseling, legal assistance, and fraud prevention services for financially distressed homeowners. The state obtained this money as part of a 2012 national settlement with the nation’s five biggest banks for their fraudulent lending practices, which led to millions of people losing their homes due to mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures. At the height of the crisis, NAAC as a HUD-approved housing counseling agency was at the forefront assisting struggling homeowners to negotiate loan modifications and provide refinancing to help them keep their homes.

Instead of devoting the money to helping homeowners affected by the crisis, however, thenGovernor Jerry Brown illegally diverted the funds to plug budgetary shortfalls and to pay off existing state debt. NAAC with co-plaintiffs then sued the governor and state finance officials in 2014 to compel the return of the $331 million to the fund. Both the trial court and appellate court found the transfers to be illegal and ordered the immediate return of the funds to the fund. Brown rushed a budget trailer bill through the state legislature before stepping down in an attempt to circumvent the courts, and then appealed anew to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court remanded the case to the Court of Appeal, which found that the budget trailer bill could not work to retroactively cure the unlawful diversions. After years of litigation, the Supreme Court declined another review, making the lower court rulings final. Faith Bautista, NAAC presi-

dent and chief executive officer, celebrated the arduous victory. “We fought long and hard for the homeowners and I’m so happy that they will finally get the help they need,” she said, insisting that the fight is not yet over. “We won’t rest until the money is in the hands of those who really need it. If there’s one thing we learned throughout this difficult process, it’s that community groups must have the strongest say in allocating this money. We can’t trust that politicians will do what’s best for homeowners after they’ve tried at every turn to frustrate the will of the people and the courts.” NAAC, along with the community and faith-based and nonprofit leaders of the National Diversity Coalition (NDC), plans to hold a rally and press conference at the state capitol to ensure that the National Mortgage Special Deposit Fund gets immediately funded, and to make certain that community groups on the ground that regularly interact with struggling homeowners and distressed families will administer or at least provide strong oversight over the use of the funds. n

Suspension lifted on heavyweight boxer who kissed... PAGE 1 line and obtained high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred as her attorney. She added in a statement posted to Allred’s Facebook that Pulev again touched her inappropriately after the interview. “I did not encourage, nor consent, to Mr. Pulev grabbing my face, kissing me, or grabbing my backside. I was there at the event covering the match as a professional member of the press,” said Ravalo at a news conference following her interview with Pulev. Pulev responded to Ravalo’s accusations by saying that the two were friends and that he was so “elated” by his win that he gave her a kiss. His team further released their own video footage of Ravalo partying with his team after the fight. Pulev apologized to Ravalo before the Commission’s vote on Monday, and said that the kiss was “100%” his mistake.

Of his sexual harassment training, he added, “I learned I should have more respect for woman. Not only me, but all people should know this.” Ravalo told the Commission before the Monday meeting that she had been bullied online as a result of her speaking up, and even named Top Rank boxing promoter Bob Arum as being among those who dismissed her experience, reported the Associated Press. In a videoed interview last month, Arum said of Ravalo’s accusations, “I know what sexual harassment is — I really do — but that wasn’t sexual harrasment.” He added, “I’m very sympathetic to sexual harassment charges, if it’s real sexual harassment, not bullsh--.” Arum also said that Ravalo was acting like Pulev’s “semigirlfriend” before the fight, and was “fooling around” with Pulev

while he was in training — statements that Ravalo denied. In a letter to the CSAC before the Monday vote, Allred requested that the Commission sanction Arum for his statements and require Arum to attend the Monday meeting so that Ravalo could testify to the impact of Arum’s statements. Arum, who attended sexual harassment classes with Pulev and is licensed by the CSAC, did not attend the Monday meeting. “Where’s the evidence that [Arum] benefited from the class?” asked Allred, criticizing the Commission’s lack of discipline towards Arum. “I think the best evidence of Mr. Arum’s feelings are what he says on that video.” According to the Associated Press, Pulev also agreed to participate in a video campaign being considered by the CSAC about sexual harassment. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

Corruption, drugs, West PH Sea... PAGE 2

grams that would protect Filipinos as well as improve their quality of life. “We are now entering a period of consequences. The consequences of what we did and did not do but should have done during my first half of my term. I assume full responsibility for that. As president, I cannot pass the blame to anybody, so it’s on me,” Duterte said. “Though we cannot change the past, we will not squander the future. I will push harder in the pursuit of programs that we have started but always within the parameters of the law. I will not merely coast along or while away my time during the remaining years of my administration,” he added. Bills pushed Aside from the reinstitution of the death penalty, Duterte asked the Congress to: • Pass the bill establishing the Department of Water Resources and Water Regulatory Commission that would enact reforms in water management in the country; • Fast track the creation of the Department of Disaster Management that would focus solely on disaster and climate change resilience plans and programs; • Postpone barangay and SK elections to October 2022 “to rectify the truncated terms of sitting barangay officials;” • Enact a Magna Carta for Barangays that aims to declare barangay officials as regular government officials, and further empower barangays to improve their delivery of government services; • Establish a Department of Overseas Filipinos that would address concerns of Filipino workers abroad; • Pass TRAIN 2 or TRABAHO bill – that aims to reduce the corporate income tax rate to 20 percent, broaden the tax base, and rationalize tax incentives to businesses – as well as three remaining tax reform packages that seek to raise the excise tax on both alcohol and tobacco, reform the real property valuation system, and revise the taxes on capital income and financial services; • Pass a new Salary Standardization Law (SSL) that would raise the pay of government workers, including public school teachers and public hospital nurses; Duterte also requested the approval of the National Defense Act, Uniformed Separation and

Retirement Pension Bill, as well as the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Service improvements The president implored the government agencies to improve their services and ensure their responsiveness to people’s needs. He listed off the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Social Security System (SSS), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Land Registration Authority (LRA), and the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF or PAG-IBIG Fund) as the top five agencies that need improvements in their service delivery. “Simplify. Just like the others. You can do it electronically... I’ve been asking that from you since three years ago. ‘Pag hindi pa ninyo nagawa ‘yan ngayon, papatayin ko talaga kayo (If you still haven’t done that, I will kill you),” Duterte said. “Simplify and make your services responsive to – client-friendly. Your client is the Filipino, our employer – from where the money in our pockets come from, from our salaries,” he added. Duterte also thanked Executive Secretary Medialdea for his work on increasing the number of lines for Hotline 8888, making it more responsive to the public. Rehabilitations Duterte touted the successful rehabilitation of popular tourist spot Boracay Island after its sixmonth closure to the public. “We cleaned and rehabilitated the island and I allowed it to heal naturally. I am proud to say that it has been restored close to its original pristine state,” he said. His next focus is the rehabilitation of Manila Bay, which already started back on January 27, 2019. “Though we have a long way to go, we are encouraged by the test results of the waters near Padre Faura,” he said. “We will relocate informal settlers — I hope it can happen during my time — along the waterways and shut down establishments that continue to pollute and poison our waters,” Duterte added. West Philippine Sea (WPS) Earlier, Duterte said he will educate his critics about the WPS on his fourth SONA; however, his “lecture” was only reiterations of his previous statements before. According to him, the country is performing a “delicate bal-

ancing act” on the WPS issue to avoid conflict with China. “On the matter of the West Philippine Sea. The avoidance of conflict – armed conflict and protection of our territorial waters and natural resources compel us to perform a delicate balancing act,” Duterte said. He also said he is not ready to go to war with China. “A shooting war is grief and misery multiplier. War leaves widows and orphans in its wake. I am not ready or inclined to accept the occurrence of more destruction, more widows and more orphans, should war, even on a limited scale, breaks out,” he explained. The president said a bilateral discussion would prove to be fruitful than a squabble in public, which is why the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea between the two countries exists. Duterte repeated that he wanted to resolve the issue in a “peaceful way, mindful of the fact that it is our national pride and territorial integrity that are at stake.” He also insisted that he was only invoking traditional fishing rights when he granted the Chinese permission to fish in the Philippine exclusive economic zone. Critics have been quick to point out that such an act could be a ground for impeachment, as it violates the chief executive’s constitutional mandate to protect the country’s marine wealth in its EEZ. However, Duterte cited the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and said the Philippines can enter into fishing agreements with other countries. “Our ownership of the West Philippine Sea is internationally recognized. However, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the arbitral award in the case of (Philippines versus China) recognized instances where another state may utilize the resources found within the coastal states exclusive economic zone the arbitral ruling even state,” he said. In the end, Duterte maintained that the WPS belongs to the Philippines. “The West Philippine Sea is ours. There is no ifs and buts. It is ours. But we have been acting, along that legal truth and line. But we have to temper it with the times and the realities that we face today,” Duterte said. n

DUTERTE SUPPORTERS. Thousands of pro-Duterte supporters gather at the IBP Road, Batasan Hills, Quezon City to show support for the 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday, July 22. A solid government solution on housing woes is among the issues they hope to hear from the President. PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Latest “go back to your country” debate highlights the paradox of racism, xenophobia in America by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Sunday, July 14 tweeted that four congresswomen of color should “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came” before criticizing the way the country is currently being run. He followed up his tweet thread by accusing members of Congress who are unhappy with the way the country is being run of hating America and said they are “free to leave.” Three of the four female Democrats to which the president was referring — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts — were born in the United States, and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota was born in Somalia. In response to Trump’s tweets, Ocasio-Cortez at a press conference said, “We don’t leave things that we love, and when we love this country, what that means is that we propose solutions to fix it.” She added that the president “does not know how to defend his policies, so what he does is attack us personally, and that is what this is all about.” What followed was a days-long sociopolitical debate on racism which was brought to a head on Wednesday, July 17 when Trump

supporters at a rally for chanted “send her back!” when Trump mentioned the four congresswomen in a speech. The message of “go back to your country” and its many derivatives — which directed to certain immigrants as well as people of color regardless of their citizenship — has resurfaced throughout American history. Alan Kraut, a history professor at American University, told PBS this week that while Trump singling out the four congresswomen for their race was “ugly,” it isn’t anything new. Kraut said that the ideology behind the “go back to your country” remark is “one of the greatest paradoxes of American society. On the one hand we pride ourselves as being a nation of nations. And we glorify that and celebrate that in a variety of ways. And at the same time, this is the society that has passed the Chinese Exclusion Law.” The Chinese Exclusion Law, which Kraut referenced, was legislation passed in 1882 that banned Chinese laborers from emigrating to the U.S. This was a response to the perceived threat of the Chinese taking away employment from white laborers. The Chinese Exclusion Law was the first piece of legislation banning immigration from a specific ethnic group. Almost a half-century later, the U.S. passed the Immigration

Act of 1924 which prohibited immigration from Asia altogether and established quotas on the number of incoming immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere as a way of preserving “the ideal of U.S. homogeneity,” according to the Department of State’s Office of the Historian. The history of exclusion and hostility towards immigrants in the U.S. — a country founded by immigrants from Europe — helped foster a vague nativist ideology that posits that immigrants pose a danger to a nation and threaten the well-being of those who already live there. And that ideology manifests itself in nonviolent ways, e.g. verbal harassment and vandalism, but it may also translates to violence, as in the wave of beatings and stabbings of Filipino field workers by white laborers in Central California during the late 1920s to early 1930s. “It plays to the fear that somehow America is getting too full or that the mixing of ethnicities and races would somehow aggravate issues. It’s a potent phrase and part of its potency is its ambiguity,” Michael Cornfield, a rhetoric scholar at the George Washington University, told NPR this week. “When you use a phrase like this, you’re just asking people to forget about context and forget about policy choices and just get angry at people who don’t look or sound like you do.” n

6

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JULY 25-31, 2019 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

FEATURES

OPINION

Priorities in the second half

THIS time there was no “coup” at the House of Representatives, and Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano assumed the post of speaker with no turbulence on Monday, July 22. Vicente Sotto III also regained his post as Senate president without incident. So the two chambers of Congress should have no problem tackling in earnest the rather long list of legislative priorities that President Duterte laid out in his State of the Nation Address — his fourth, and the first as he enters the second half of his term. Some of the president’s priorities are expected to be contentious: the restoration of the death penalty for plunder and heinous crimes related to drugs; the revival of mandatory ROTC or Reserve Officers’ Training Corps for Grades 11 and 12. The rest of the measures require thorough spadework, notably the creation of new departments for overseas Filipino workers, disaster resilience, and water resources management. The President also wants to increase excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol and get the second phase of his tax reform program approved. He wants a new round of salary standardization for government workers, to include teachers and nurses, as well as a government “right-sizing” measure. The other priorities are the rewriting of the

National Defense Act and amendment of the Human Security Act, the modernization of fire protection services, the National Land Use Act and National Valuation of Property Act, the creation of a trust fund for the coconut levy and setting up of a national academy for sports. He wants the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections moved again, from May to October 2020, and the passage of the Magna Carta for Barangays. Apart from those bills, Malacañang expects the 18th Congress to pass within the year the General Appropriations Act for 2020. The four-month delay in the enactment of this year’s GAA has derailed the implementation of the President’s priority Build Build Build infrastructure program and slowed down economic growth for 2019. Three years is a short time in Philippine legislation, and there’s still a lot on the plate of the 18th Congress. With leadership conflicts out of the way for now, it should hit the ground running. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THIS just in — after 12 years of delivering the daily news from the studios of The Filipino Channel (TFC) in California, “Balitang America” will be taping its daily newscast from the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation headquarters in Manila, Philippines, joining other news bureaus like “Balitang Middle East” and “Balitang Europe.” While the daily news stories will still be gathered by its news correspondents from different parts of the United States, “Balitang America” will be anchored by news personalities from ABS-

Philstar.com photo

ABANGAN: What is Gel Santos Relos up to with the new changes at The Filipino Channel? CBN News Channel (ANC) in Manila beginning July 29, 2019. This means you will no longer watch me on the anchor’s chair daily as you used to in the past 12 years. This change in the organization will then help the news bureau in North America to expand its audience, reaching out to younger generations who are born and raised here, using new digital platform programs. Under the leadership of “Balitang America” (BA) Executive Producer Troy Espera, ABSCBN International and TFC have rolled out “TAYO” (a Filipino word that means “we” or “us”) - a new digital brand that offers fresh storytelling of uplifting and positive stories that make Filipinos in North America proud of

their rich heritage. “TAYO” features stories that are relevant to both FilipinoAmerican and Filipino-Canadian communities, serving to also unify news brand across the North America region. Our San Francisco Bay Area Correspondent Rommel Concara has also started working on a podcast, so Filipinos will get to know kababayans who have made a mark in the community. TFC will also continue to give platforms where kababayans in North America will have a chance to air out their opinion on issues that matter to us. Townhall meetings will still continue especially as Filipinos in North America exchange perspectives and information that will help the community in mak-

ing informed decisions as we make consequential decisions during elections and other civic exercises. HOWEVER, this change will also allow TFC in North America to expand and strengthen its reach and service to its core audience — our kababayans who immigrated to the United States, including the Lolos, Lolas, and other immediate members of the family who have been loyal viewers of the programs from the Philippines to keep them connected to the Motherland and ease away their homesickness. In my continued commitment to the Filipino American community, I am working with TFC on a new digital brand that will help Filipinos navigate their new life in the United States, empow-

ering YOU with information that will help you know, understand and adapt to your new way of life as immigrants, citizens and members of the workforce in the U.S. Equally important — this program will be like “family” to YOU — to which you can ask questions, air out concerns, exchange perspectives and opinions in matters that truly touch you and your families on a personal level. I will continue to serve you as a true Kapamilya — your “Ate”, “Tita” or simply your kapamilya “Gel”, who will strive to make you feel you are not alone as you start and adapt to your new life in the United States. ABANGAN: A podcast/teleradyo para po sa inyong lahat,

mga Kapamilya. And so if you have anything you want us to talk about in our teleradyo, information you need to help you in your day to day challenges in America, heartaches and pains and worries that keep you up at night, share them with me so we can address your concerns in our new teleradyo. Send your messages to: Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos. You may also email me: gelrelos@icloud.com. ABANGAN! Malapit na malapit na! *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

PH-US ties: Robust, Duterte’s pivot to China: Gains, challenges, promises Commentary vibrant & dynamic THE recently concluded eighth Bilateral Strategic Babe’s Dialogue (BSD) between Eye View the United States and the Philippines was a great success, with the conversations covering a wide spectrum of issues aimed at BABE ROMUALDEZ deepening the partnership even further in the areas of security and defense, as well as trade and investment. Discussions were also conducted on how both countries can enhance cooperation to combat transnational crimes such as human trafficking, terrorism and other mutual concerns. Co-leading the Philippine delegation were Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Ricky Manalo and Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano, while U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Randy Schriver co-led the American delegation. I was pleased to host a dinner for the delegates, most especially Assistant State Secretary David Stilwell who was on his first official trip to the Philippines. Secretary Stilwell’s appointment was overwhelmingly confirmed by the U.S. Senate last June — a very welcome development considering that the post has been unfilled for over two years. We were happy to see the guests in a relaxed and jovial mode, enjoying the special Filipino dishes prepared by Chef Jessie Sincioco. I expressed my gratitude to everyone present, among them Executive Secretary Salvador “Bingbong” Medialdea who took time to join us despite his busy schedule, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. who flew in from Hong Kong. The BSD is supposed to be an annual discussion but we skipped last year due to scheduling problems. We really have to commend Undersecretary Ricky Manalo who worked hard to put everything together, and Assistant Secretary Honey Isleta of the Office of American Affairs. The occasion also served as a farewell of sorts for U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim, who will be leaving for his next post in Indonesia. Many are saddened by the news because Ambassador Kim is very well-liked and well-respected because he has been doing such a great job in strengthening ties between the Philippines and the U.S. Most importantly, he is also liked by President Duterte — and that is really something else. While many want his tour of duty extended, many also accept that such is the diplomatic life. Many will miss him, and we can only hope that the next top diplomat to the Philippines will also be of the same caliber, having Ambassador Kim’s engaging and charismatic ways. ■

PRESIDENT Duterte’s foreign policy has been marked by relative distance from the West and expanded interaction with closer Asian neighbors. China, the first major power that he visited, looms large in this recalibration. He has LUCIO BLANCO PITLO III made four trips to China and three to Japan and Singapore; he has visited all Southeast Asian capitals, as well as India, South Korea and several Middle Eastern countries. But he has yet to visit a western country. Growing intraregional trade, migrant labor flows, a desire to manage disputes, and Western criticism of his domestic policies, notably his controversial war on drugs, have motivated his foreign trips. Mr. Duterte’s cultivation of friendly ties with Beijing has strong economic, security and strategic underpinnings. The rise of China and other regional powers is stirring geopolitical shifts with profound implications on the world. The fast-growing economies of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, are in the fault line of a major power rivalry between the traditional dominant power, the United States, and a rising challenger, China. In this context, overreliance on one power is unwise and can even be a liability when the rivalry intensifies. PH approach This may have prompted Mr. Duterte to rethink the Philippines’ approach to its big northern neighbor with which it has long-standing territorial and maritime disputes. One cannot choose one’s neighbors, but one can choose the relations one wants to have with them. Mr. Duterte made his choice. His approach to China has rested on managing disputes, building trust and confidence, and expanding economic ties. This approach recognizes that decades-old disputes cannot be easily resolved even with the landmark 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. For instance, while the ruling clarified maritime entitlements and the status of certain features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), it did not rule on questions of sovereign ownership over features in the sea. It even affirmed the traditional fishing rights of foreign nationals in certain areas of the Philippines’ western exclusive economic zone (e.g., Panatag Shoal). And while the ruling did narrow down areas

of maritime dispute by deciding that no feature in the semi-enclosed sea qualifies as an island eligible for extended maritime zones, the close proximity of certain features may still create possible overlaps, particularly if they would be deemed rocks or high-tide elevations entitled to a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea. Hence, while acknowledging the ruling’s value as leverage in dealing with Beijing, there is no substitute to establishing bilateral and regional mechanisms to manage disputes in the six-party flash point. The creation of a bilateral consultation mechanism, which has met four times since 2016, and its active participation in negotiations for a regional Code of Conduct (COC) represent Manila’s two-pronged approach in dealing with the WPS challenge. Caution, prudence Friendlier relations with China and with fellow Asean members enable the Philippines to fully harness its role as Asean-China country coordinator, putting it in a good position to seek the early adoption of an effective and binding COC. The establishment of hotline communications and adoption of a Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea constitute other regional mechanisms to address sea incidents. In the last meeting of Asean defense ministers in Thailand, member-countries reaffirmed the importance of Guidelines for Air Military Encounters and adopted Guidelines for Maritime Interaction. Playing down disputes is essential to stabilizing relations and expanding economic engagement. In 2016 and 2017, Mr. Duterte pardoned Vietnamese poachers caught near waters off northwestern Luzon, gave them provisions, and witnessed their sendoff. Manila is not alone in this. Other countries with unsettled maritime rows with China, like Vietnam and Malaysia, deemphasize the impact of such disputes in their overall ties. Caution and prudence guide the Philippines’ attitude toward sea incidents, such as what happened at Recto Bank on June 9. The act of leaving Filipino fishers in distress was condemned, a diplomatic protest was filed, a Vietnamese fishing vessel that came to the rescue was thanked, the fishermen and their families were given immediate relief, China’s explanation was

sought, and an investigation was concluded. A week after the incident, in a speech before the United Nations, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. called the act of abandoning Filipino fishers to the elements a “felony.” The matter was also brought to the attention of the International Maritime Organization in London. At the Asean Summit in Bangkok last month, Mr. Duterte raised the urgency of concluding a COC to prevent similar incidents from taking place in the future. At this point, Manila could convey the probe’s findings to Beijing and expect to hear the results of the latter’s own inquiry and the corresponding actions to be taken. Economic dividends While security concerns over Beijing’s increased presence and activities in the WPS remain, Mr. Duterte’s China policy has produced tremendous economic dividends for the Philippines. China became the Philippines’ largest trade partner in 2016 and largest export market and investor in 2018; it is expected to become the Philippines’ largest tourism market this year. Last year, China became the Philippines’ biggest banana export market—a distinction held by Japan for 30 years. Philippine fruit exports to China jumped by 50 percent in 2017. In fact, it is domestic constraints, such as inefficient production and difficulties in land acquisition, that are limiting Filipino growers and exporters from taking a larger bite of the China market. Last April, China became the Philippines’ top source of tourists — a position held by South Korea for six years. Meanwhile, delays in infrastructure projects are largely attributable to local factors, notably weak absorptive capacity, administrative bottlenecks and right-of-way issues. Partnership with China in the fields of poverty alleviation, renewable energy, manufacturing, skills training, e-commerce and fintech may hold promise. In sum, Mr. Duterte’s warm ties with Beijing reflect emerging regional responses to China’s rise. The desire to properly handle disputes so as not to affect overall ties is apparent. Although perceived threats may not be easily discounted, China is increasingly seen as a new partner with a transformative impact on the country. Balancing security and economic demands will shape the evolution of bilateral ties. That said, hard swings should be avoided to mitigate disruption and ensure continuity. (Inquirer.net)

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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Duterte likely to certify death penalty bill as urgent — Palace by AJPress MALACAñANG on Tuesday, July 23, said the passage of the death penalty bill is most likely to be certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte. According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, that was the reason why Duterte urged Congress to reinstate the death penalty on crimes related to illegal drugs, as well as plunder in his fourth state of the nation address (SONA) on Monday, July 22. “Given that he mentioned it in his SONA, most likely,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing when asked

whether Duterte would certify the death penalty bill as urgent. He also gave light as to why Duterte is insistent on reinstating the death penalty. “The president feels this is our biggest problem. One, is corruption; number two, is drugs, that’s why he wants it — hoping that it will mitigate the upsurge of this drug menace as well as the plunderous activities of the plunderers,” the spokesman explained. Panelo said Duterte may stick with lethal injection when asked about the president’s preference when it comes to execution methods. “If you’d ask him, he would prefer not to spend government funds

so…by hanging. But I think we’ll stick with the old method, lethal injection,” he said in Filipino. Before then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9346, which abolished death penalty and downgraded the maximum penalty for crimes to imprisonment of 40 years or life imprisonment in 2006, lethal injection was prescribed as a method of execution. The House of Representatives in 2017 approved House Bill 4727, a death penalty measure for heinous drug-related crimes. Panelo noted that Duterte may certify the death penalty bill as urgent, however, its passage will still depend on Congress. n

Another year for martial law in Mindanao likely by Dempsey

Reyes ManilaTimes.net

MARTIAL law in Mindanao may be extended again until the end of 2020 as National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Tuesday, July 23 pushed for the renewal of military rule. This loomed amid bombing incidents on the island, including those in Lamitan City, Basilan, last year allegedly carried out by a Moroccan; in Jolo, Sulu, that destroyed the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in January this year; and in Indanan, also in Sulu, where military headquarters were attacked. “I’ll go for [another] one year,” Esperon told reporters at the sidelines of the post-State of the Nation Address briefing in Quezon City. “But you know, let us see how we improve by December if needed. Will the people complain about martial law?” he asked.

Esperon also cited the problem the government has with the communist New People’s Army in the Davao Region, as well as the groups based in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. “We have no problems with the law-abiding citizens so we also must improve deployment of technical equipment,” he said. The military rule in Mindanao would lapse by the end of the year. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and high-ranking security officials last year recommended the extension of martial law on the island over the Lamitan incident and the still unsolved terrorism there. President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao in 2017 after the Islamic State-inspired Maute group besieged Marawi City, capital of Lanao del Sur. Even after finishing off the Maute

group, security officials still recommended the extension of martial law twice, a move that Congress approved. On Tuesday, Malacañang said the President would listen to the men on the ground regarding Esperon’s recommendation. In a news briefing, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte would consult the troops in the field because they have first-hand information about the military rule in Mindanao. Duterte signed Proclamation 216 on May 23, 2017, which declared martial law and suspended the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao for 60 days, in order to stabilize the situation in Marawi City after the Maute group tried to take over the city. Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, had said she wants martial law lifted in her city. (With reports from Ralph Villanueva/ManilaTimes.net)

Cyber libel trial opens for Maria Ressa by Ritchel

menDiola AJPress

THE Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46 on Tuesday, July 23 opened trial for the cyber libel case against Maria Ressa, the chief executive and executive editor of online news site Rappler. Known as a staunch critic against the current Duterte administration and a Time Magazine ‘Person of the Year’ in 2018, Ressa is currently out on bail but also faces tax and corporate fraud cases, as does Rappler. “The government hopes to intimidate us by siphoning both my personal time, our resources,” Ressa, who was not present in court, told Agence France-Presse. She added, “I won’t be intimidated. We continue to do our jobs. The mission of journalism has never been as important as it is today in the Philippines.” The prosecution presented two witnesses – bank manager Marcelino Malonzo and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) forensics chief Cristopher Paz. The case centers on a Rappler report from 2012 that linked businessman Wilfredo Keng to illegal activities such as human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa

Initially, the NBI dismissed Keng’s 2017 complaint because he failed to lodge his complaint within a year of the story’s publication. However, the bureau transmitted the complaint to the Department of Justice (DOJ) a week later. Former NBI cybercrime division chief Manuel Eduarte will be on the witness stand on July 30. The article in question was published months before the Cybercrime Law was enacted in 2012, but the prosecution argued that the article is considered new since Rappler updated it in 2014 to correct a typographical error. According to Ressa, this case of cyber libel “stretches the rule of law until it breaks.”

Inquirer.net photo

“How this is decided will have an impact on all Filipinos who post on Facebook – and of course, the quality of journalism in the digital age in the Philippines,” she added. Ressa’s libel case has drawn international attention, with press freedom advocates regarding it as government retaliation for her journalism. Prominent international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney recently joined the legal team representing Ressa and noted that the Filipina journalist’s case echoed a recurring theme in her line of work — where “journalists who expose abuses face arrest while those who commit the abuses do so with impunity.” n

Philippines-China meeting reaffirms commitment to work with ASEAN newly appointed Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui co-chaired the 22nd PhilippinesChina FMC in Manila. MANILA — The Philippines and Manalo and Luo discussed China convened on Tuesday, July functional cooperation in a wide 23 for the 22nd Foreign Ministry range of cooperation areas. These Consultations (FMC), as Manila include mutual collaboration reaffirmed its commitment to in enhancing bilateral two-way work closely with Association of trade, investment promotion, Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) infrastructure development, scimember-states and Beijing on ence and technology, renewable sustaining the steady progress of energy sources development and negotiations on a Code of Conduct assistance in the fields of agricul(COC) in the South China Sea. ture and fisheries. As country coordinator for Both sides also agreed to ASEAN and China dialogue restrengthen collaboration in delations until 2021, the Philipfense and law enforcement, parpines vowed to work closely with ticularly in combatting transnaASEAN member-states and China tional crimes, illegal narcotics and violent extremism and terrorism. In the area of people-to-people exchange, both sides committed to further increasing tourist arrivals and exchanges between cultural groups, academics and researchers, as well as youth and media groups. China will host the 23rd FMC at a mutually agreed date in 2020, when the Philippines and China will mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The visiting Chinese vice foreign minister also paid a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. before the Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for policy Enrique Manalo and newly appointed Chinese Vice FMC, wherein they exchanged Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui co-chaired on Tuesday, July 23 the 22nd Philippines-China FMC views on Philippines-China bilatin Manila. Philstar.com photo eral relations. n by pia lee-BRago Philstar.com

on initiatives that would further promote peace and prosperity in the region. “The Philippines reiterated its resolve to safeguard rule of law, peace, security and stability in the South China Sea,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. The FMC is an annual bilateral dialogue mechanism under which the Philippines and China review and chart the course of bilateral relations, discuss developments in practical cooperation initiatives and exchange views on regional and international issues and other matters of mutual concern. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for policy Enrique Manalo and

18TH CONGRESS. Senators of the 18th Congress pose for a souvenir photo during its opening on Monday, July 22. The Upper House elected Senator Vicente Sotto III as Senate President. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Cayetano’s speakership reign seen as short-lived by DJ

yap Inquirer.net

WHILE newly installed Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has prevailed over rival factions in the House of Representatives, including the Davao bloc led by President Duterte’s own children, his victory might be short-lived, an opposition lawmaker warned on Monday, July 22. After all, the 2022 presidential election is already on the minds of many House members, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said. ‘War of dominance’ “So for now, it appears one faction won over the other, but that is not to say that that faction will eventually be victorious come 2022,” he told the Inquirer. The Makabayan bloc leader predicted that a “war of dominance” would persist through the 15 months that Cayetano would serve as House leader under his term-sharing deal with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, who would take over for 21 months after that. More ‘bloody’ “In fact I think it will be more ‘bloody’ in the next three years because there will be more casualties as their interests can no longer be put in one place,”

he said. Such is the fractiousness of the coalition of the supermajority, whose only “common denominator” is the President, said Zarate, whose group joined the minority coalition. On Monday, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte nominated and voted for Cayetano as Speaker, giving up his attempts to sway the 300-strong chamber into supporting the Duterte coalition, a new alliance loosely composed of members of the regional Hugpong ng Pagbabago party and his own local Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod party. The younger Duterte said he and his sister, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, had opted to respect their father’s wishes. By most accounts, however, the President had personally stepped into the fray, warning the lawmakers he would skip his own State of the Nation Address unless they fell in line. Displeasure They did on Monday morning, and elected Cayetano as Speaker by a 266-28 vote, with two abstentions and a no-vote. But when he took the podium, Representative Duterte expressed his displeasure with the termsharing agreement. He noted that

a new Speaker must be elected after 15 months, hinting that a Velasco succession might not be a done deal. Velasco downplayed the comment, saying Duterte was “just reiterating his stand that he’s opposed to term-sharing.” But Velasco acknowledged that he was at the mercy of his colleagues on whether they would honor the deal. “At the end of the day, we really don’t know what will happen in 15 months. Of course, I leave it up to my colleagues,” he said. “So hopefully by the 15th month, as he said, he will step down, and then, like I said, we’ll still go back to an election for the next House Speaker,” Velasco said. Zarate said he doubted it would be so smooth: “Who can say nothing will happen within 15 months, especially as 2022 approaches?” “Take a look: Last year, Speaker [Pantaleon] Alvarez’s support was so solid, yet in two years he was ousted [by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo],” he recalled. “Now that there are so many factions trying to grab power, to be dominant, the Speaker’s position is very precarious,” Zarate said. n

July 25-31, 2019 • lAS VEGAS ASIAN JOuRNAl

Dateline PhiliPPines

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Hontiveros on Marcos as chair of Senate electoral reforms committee: ‘A bit surreal’ by Gabriel

Pabico Philstar.com

lalu

MANILA – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, July 24, said that it was “surreal” to see a member of the Marcos family, in particular Senator Imee Marcos, taking charge of the Senate’s electoral reforms committee. “It was a bit surreal coming from sa isang Martial Law baby […] given our Martial Law history and our largely unresolved history about the dictatorship,” Hontiveros said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel. However, she assured that she can work with Senator Marcos, daughter of late former President Ferdinand Marcos, on issues that

Various issues have plagued the more than two-decades rule of the late President Marcos. One of these was alleged electoral fraud during the 1978 parliamentary elections and the 1986 “snap” elections. Since Imee Marcos’ name was floated as chair of the said committee, people warned against a possible conflict of interest as her brother, former Senator Bongbong Sen. Risa Hontiveros Inquirer.net photo Marcos, had filed an electoral prothey would agree on. test against Vice President Leni “But again, I am prepared to Robredo in connection with the work with anyone where we have 2016 Vice Presidential race. common advocacies. For example Senate President Vicente Sotto with Senator Imee on the issue III has assured that there would against lowering the minimum age not be such issues as the bills to be of criminal responsibility,” Hontive- tackled by the committee would not ros explained. affect the electoral protest. n

Duterte to 3rd telco: Provide fast internet by alexis

romero Philstar.com

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has challenged the third telecommunications player to provide fast and reliable service as he assured the public that there was no corruption in the selection process. Duterte said Dito Telecommunity Corp., which was declared the new telco player last November, should just do its work according to the requirements of the government. “We also paved the way for the entry of third telecommunications provider. Do not worry about this. There is no corruption at all. I guarantee you, upon the grave of my father. I do not allow — I do not

talk to them,” Duterte said during his fourth State of the Nation Address last Monday. “I challenge this new player to fulfill its commitment to provide fast and reliable telecommunication services to our people, especially in the underserved areas,” he added. Duterte said Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan would lead efforts in ensuring that Dito would provide quality service. Two years ago, Duterte ordered agencies to facilitate the entry of a third telecommunications player to enhance the quality of services and strengthen competition in the sector. Mislatel, a consortium composed of Udenna Corp., its

subsidiary Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. and China Telecommunications Corp., was declared the new telecommunications player late last year. Udenna is owned by Dennis Uy, a Davao-based businessman and a major campaign donor of Duterte. Officials have claimed Uy’s relationship with Duterte did not influence the outcome of the bidding. Mislatel has rebranded as Dito Telecommunity Corp. to invite consumers to join the network. The consortium has vowed to invest P257 billion to increase basic internet speed to 55 mbps and cover 84 percent of the Philippine population over a five-year period. n

WORLD CLASS. The 20,000-seater Athletic Stadium of the New Clark City sports complex in Capas, Tarlac is almost ready for the 30th Southeast Asian Games. The Philippines is set to host the Games on November 30, 2019 to December 11, 2019. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

Bills on divorce, civil partnership, 5 yrs of separation as ground for annulment filed by Pathricia

ann Inquirer.net

roxas

MANILA — Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has filed a bill allowing five years of separation as another ground for nullifying a couple’s marriage, while former Speaker and Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez refiled his absolute divorce and civil partnership bills. House Bill No. 502 seeks to amend Title I, Chapter 3, of

Executive Order No. 209 or the “Family Code of the Philippines” by introducing Article 45-A which provides that a “marriage may also be annulled if the parties have been separated in fact for at least five years.” In his explanatory note, Barbers said HB 502 seeks to acknowledge a factual and existing marital condition for many Filipinos. “Without dwelling on the deeper reasons behind the separation, this bill offers a remedy without opening a Pandora’s box or a can of worms that are usually present during annulment proceedings,” he said. Barbers argued that five years of actual separation would make the couples estrange enough that a possible reconciliation is unlikely. Five years should have also made the parties “adjust and move on with their individual lives without further straining the relationship,” according to him. Divorce, civil partnership

Alvarez, meanwhile, has refiled his pet bills, Absolute Divorce Bill under House Bill No. 2263 and Civil Partnership Bill under House Bill No. 2264. HB 2263 seeks to provide spouses in “irremediably failed marriages” to secure an absolute divorce decree under limited grounds, to protect children from pain and stress resulting from their parents’ marital problems, and to grant divorced spouses to marry again. Under the proposed civil partnership measure, all benefits and protections granted to spouses in marriage under existing laws, administrative orders, court rulings, or those derived as a matter of public policy would also be enjoyed by civil partnership couples. “This bill… hereby proposes to allow couples to enter into a civil partnership, whether they are of the opposite or of the same sex,” Alvarez said. n

Lim, Faeldon may testify vs Trillanes by Ghio

onG Philstar.com

MANILA — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim or Bureau of Corrections Director Nicanor Faeldon may testify against their fellow ex-mutineer, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, in his rebellion case that a Makati City court revived last year. At the resumption of Trillanes’ trial on Monday, July 22. government prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ) told the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 that they would present either Lim or Faeldon as their witness during the next hearing on Oct. 7. Prosecutors, however, saw no need to summon the two through subpoena. “We would bring them here (to the court),” Assistant State Prosecutor Evee Eunice de Keyser told reporters after the hearing. Lim and Faeldon were both co-accused in the rebellion raps against Trillanes and several rogue Magdalo soldiers over the siege of the Manila Peninsula Hotel in November 2007, where they called for the ouster of then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Trillanes, Lim, Faeldon and other soldiers who joined the Manila Peninsula siege and the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003 were granted amnesty by former president Benigno Aquino III in 2011. However, President Duterte issued Proclamation 572 last year which invalidated Trillanes’ amnesty, as the latter allegedly did not file any application for it and did not admit guilt. The same proclamation, however, seemed to have not covered Lim, Faeldon and the other soldiers. The proclamation prompted the

DOJ to ask two Makati City courts to reopen the coup d’etat and rebellion cases against Trillanes and arrest him. Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda ruled last year that Trillanes did not apply for amnesty nor did he recant any statements that compromised his admission of guilt and ordered him arrested, thereby reopening the long-dismissed case. On the other hand, Branch 148, handling the senator’s coup d’etat case, denied the same DOJ request and invoked the “doctrine of immutability” on the dismissed case. Trillanes’ camp could still object to the presentation of Lim or Faeldon as prosecution witnesses following the court’s nod, De Keyser added. Reynaldo Robles, Trillanes’ lawyer, cautioned Lim and Faeldon on testifying, saying statements they would make before the court could also be used against them, being former mutineers also. “In the future, their cases might be revived and be used against them,” he told reporters, saying the inclusion of the two came as a surprise. Their inclusion as witnesses should have good grounds before the judge would allow them to testify, said Robles, explaining that the two were not among the list of witnesses that the DOJ initially presented. Trillanes, Lim and other Magdalo soldiers, walked out on Nov. 29, 2007, of their trial proceedings at the Makati Regional Trial Court for the 2003 Oakwood mutiny and proceeded to the Manila Peninsula Hotel. Trillanes surrendered after seven hours. He was subsequently charged with rebellion and imprisoned. n

‘7 foreign militants operating with Sayyaf, BIFF’ MANILA — At least seven foreign terrorists are operating with Abu Sayyaf bandits and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mindanao, according to a military official. Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command chief, said the seven foreign terrorists are “embedded” with local militants in Sulu, Maguindanao and Basilan, and involved in the training of local recruits on suicide bombing, among other terrorist acts. He refused to identify the terrorists as well as their nationalities. The Abu Sayyaf is operating in Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi while the BIFF is based in Central Mindanao and parts of Lanao. Sobejana said various intelligence units are also validating and monitoring the reported presence of 42 other foreign mili-

tants in Mindanao. Security analyst and international studies professor Rommel Banlaoi had earlier said militants from Arab countries, Pakistan and Bangladesh are operating with the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. Banlaoi said an Egyptian couple with links to the Islamic State (IS) is training Abu Sayyaf’s recruits as suicide bombers. An anti-terror official confirmed that a number of foreign jihadists are being coddled by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu. The suicide attackers who bombed the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo in January have been identified as Indonesian couple Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfa Handayani Salhe, the first suicide bombers in the Philippines. Indonesian authorities said the couple and their three children joined the IS in March 2016. (Jaime Laude/Philstar)

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 25-31, 2019

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July 25-31, 2019 • lAS VEGAS ASIAN JOuRNAl

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VEGAS&STYLE Journal

The 1st thing Jane did after clinching Darna role Bea swipes at Gerald with viral messages by Marinel

r. Cruz

Inquirer.net

JANE de Leon went into training immediately after she learned she would be the next Darna on the big screen. “She really needs it,” Star Cinema Adprom head Mico del Rosario told the Inquirer on Friday, July 19. “The role will be very physical.” “These days, she is into functional workout and learning how to do stunts,” Del Rosario added. “There will also be discussions about her role. She would have to study it very thoroughly with director Jerrold (Tarog).” Star Cinema, ABS-CBN’s film production arm, informed Jane of the good news on June 15, recalled Del Rosario. Over the weekend, the team conducted a casting call to search

for the actress who will play the young Narda, Darna’s alter-ego. Twenty-year-old Jane started appearing in ABS-CBN programs in 2016. She was last seen as Maggie, Jericho Rosales’ sister, in the defunct soap series “Halik.” On the big screen, she was in the cast of the Regal Films-produced teen flicks “Walwal” and “The Debutantes.” As to how big the film project would be, Del Rosario disclosed: “It will be huge, but then, I want to emphasize that the network’s objective is simple: It is to retell the story of Darna, and to introduce her to a new generation of viewers.” He also denied that ABS-CBN has been quickening production pace because its contract with the Ravelo family would expire

Jane de Leon

ABS-CBN photo

soon. “I can’t say up to when the contract will be, but it will definitely not end this year or in 2020,” he stressed. When asked for ABS-CBN’s reaction to comments by netizens that this particular “Darna” project was cursed, Del Rosario said: “The network doesn’t have any reaction to that. But on a personal level, it’s unfortunate na iniisipan nila ng ganun. Hopefully, things will finally push through now that we’ve found our Darna.” Del Rosario also pointed out that the network was grateful to Angel and Liza “because they gave so much of themselves to the project. We really saw their passion and dedication to it.” In 2014, it was announced that Angel Locsin would fly again— just like she did on TV in 2005—as the iconic superheroine, but this time, on the big screen. Erik Matti would helm the project. In October 2015, Angel tearfully admitted on television that she could no longer play the part because of her spine injury. Two months later, a teaser for “Mars Ravelo’s Darna” was released despite the news of Angel quitting. In 2017, Angel, who earlier promised to rejoin the production if her condition improved, said her doctor had advised her not to carry on with the project. Shortly after, Star Cinema announced that Liza Soberano would take Angel’s place. In August 2018, Liza confirmed that she suffered from a fractured finger while taping for the fantasyadventure series “Bagani.” Two months later, the network announced that director Erik had quit “Darna,” citing “creative differences” as among the reasons. Weeks after, the public was informed that Tarog took over the directorial post. Last April, Liza withdrew from “Darna,” citing her finger injury. A month later, Star Magic announced that there would be auditions for the role, which eventually landed on Jane’s lap.

Cherry Pie talks about ‘radical love’ by Boy

aBunda Philstar.com

IT was a shocking news when Cherry Pie Picache’s mother, Zenaida Sison, was reported dead due to a brutal killing in 2014. She spent the last five years healing from such tremendous pain and just recently, Cherry Pie did what can be perceived as an extraordinary act: Forgiving the man who killed her mother. The actress’ mom was found dead inside her house in Quezon City with their houseboy, Michael Flores, as the prime suspect. After a thorough investigation, Michael was eventually found guilty of robbery with homicide, and was sentenced to reclusion perpetua or imprisonment of up to 40 years in December, 2015. In her recent guesting in Tonight with Boy Abunda (TWBA), Cherry Pie shared how she was able to find forgiveness in her heart. She was even able to visit Michael and talk to him face-toface in the prison cell “God really took over,” she began. “By His grace, I was able to do it. While I was walking, while I was about to see him, hindi pa ko desidido… I mean desidido ako pero pinagdarasal ko sana magawa ko. I was really praying, ‘Please take over.’” “At hindi ako makapaniwala

Cherry Pie Picache

kasi dinalahan ko pa siya ng pasalubong. I could not believe that I could actually give bread to the person who killed my mother.” Getting involved with different organizations to give talks on forgiveness must have greatly helped her lessen the pain. “I’ve been giving talks (also) in parishes. Now, I’ve forgiven him wholeheartedly.” She was also able to look back at what happened and share to

BB reminds columnist to refer to her as a woman by niña

Guno Inquirer.net

BB Gandanghari took to Instagram to assert her gender identity as a woman after a columnist referred to her as “Rustom”. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, July 23, she reminded followers and columnist Ricky Lo about misgendering. She posted a screenshot of messages where Lo referred to her as “Rustom” and with the pronoun “him.” “Rustom” is the name BB was born with when she was assigned as male. When she announced in 2009 that she was transitioning to become a woman, she adopted her new legal name “BB Gandanghari”. Misgendering, as per information BB shared from the website Healthline, is when people “intentionally or unintentionally refer to a person, relate to a person, or use language to describe

a person that doesn’t align with their affirmed gender.” “With all due respect, Tito Ricky but I don’t think I can allow anyone to misgender me or even call me by my former name. My preferred pronoun is HER and SHE, and you may call me BB. or by my LEGAL name Binibini,” she said. Being transgender means being born with a gender identity different as to what was assigned at birth. Most transgender people choose to transition so that their bodies can be aligned with their gender identity. According to American LGBTQ+ organization GLAAD, trans persons find being associated with their birth name as a “tremendous source of anxiety.” In its tips for allies of trans persons, GLAAD advises to listen to a trans person before using his or her preferred pronoun. In case

by nika

roque ManilaTimes.net

ON Sunday, July 21, actress Bea Alonzo posted mysterious quotes on her Instagram account. She posted a black photo on her feed with the caption, “you can’t make the same mistake twice, the second time you make it, it’s not a mistake anymore, it’s a choice. Enough.” This was then followed by a post on Instagram Stories, which read “Something I learned about people… If they do it once, they’ll do it again.” Alonzo did not give names but has deleted photos with boyfriend Gerald Anderson. Following Alonzo’s posts, the names Gerald and Julia started trending on Twitter. Most recently, Anderson and Julia Barretto played love interests in the film “Between Maybes,” which received positive acclaim. Alonzo and Anderson began their short romance in 2010 which was rekindled in 2016. Rumors circulated in 2018 that the couple has broken up but Alonzo stated that she gave Anderson a second chance. Additionally, Barretto along with on- and off-screen boyfriend Joshua Garcia announced in an interview with ABS-CBN News in late June that they called it quits but remain best friends. In that same interview, Barretto was quick to dismiss the allegation that Anderson was the reason for the breakup. However, photos of Anderson

Bea Alonzo

and Barretto attending a party hosted by Rayver Cruz circulated online, beginning rumors that the two are now a couple. Due to the intense backlash, Barretto disabled comments on her Instagram account. On the other hand, Anderson has left the comments on his account open, where netizens continue to call

Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo

him a “cheater,” saying that he “does not deserve Bea,” and calling the actor a “f***boy.” Meanwhile, Julia’s mom, Marjorie Barretto said that she plans to file a suit against those who spread “damaging” stories against her daughter as the photos that circulated online were “harmless.”

Alden, Kathryn Bernardo share lessons learned from portraying OFWs by Jan

Milo severo Philstar.com

sa Hong Kong pero all over the world,” he said. “Given a chance to play the ALDEN Richards and Kathryn Bernardo shared the lessons they role that can define the OFWs all learned after playing overseas over the world is an honor already. Filipino workers (OFWs) for their Itong pelikula na ‘to pagpapakita upcoming movie, “Hello, Love, na rin kung gaano kakulay ang buhay ng mga kababayan natin Goodbye.” During the movie’s recent na nagtatrabagho abroad para press conference, Alden said film- sa pamilya nila dito sa Pilipinas,” ing the movie makes him realize Alden said. The “Eat Bulaga” TV host addthat the lives of OFWs are very ed that the film aims to send the inspirational. “What I’ve learned about this message that while OFWs have to movie is ‘yung mga OFWs so- live far from their family, they have brang inspirational ng buhay found a new one through their nila sa ibang bansa, hindi lang friends and workmates abroad.

Philstar.com photo

people how she was able to find peace and forgiveness in her heart through the documentary Radical Love recently aired on ABS-CBN’s Sunday’s Best. At present, Cherry Pie plans to continue visiting Michael “for Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards in a scene from their movie. (his) reformation, to restore and Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02 continue both our healing because it does not end there.” She said that it is a lot tougher for those who committed such by Maridol rañoa-BisMark crime to forget what happened Philstar.com PAGE 11 IF Andrea Brillantes had her way, she would join the cast of the upcoming Star Cinema movie “Darna.” “Kung darating ang blessing, hindi ko tatanggihan (if the blessing comes, I won’t turn it down),” the former child actress with 5.8 million Instagram followers said at the recent meet and greet for her latest endorsement, Brilliant Skin Essentials. But she knows it’s not yet time for her to join the cast. She’s still too young to do so. “I just turned 16,” she explained. Andrea would rather be happy for newbie Jane de Leon, the dark horse who landed in the plum role of Darna. Andrea, a Darna fan since childhood, thinks Jane is a good choice Andrea Brillantes because she’s a fresh face. “People have no expectations. I’m Andrea because “she has a different aura; you’ll say ‘wow’ whenever you super excited,” Andrea added. Brilliant Skin Essentials owner look at her.” Victoria also said that Glenda Victorio, for her part, has Andrea’s face is extraordinary. BB Gandanghari Although the company name, high expectations for the star of Photo from Instagram/@gandangharibb ABS-CBN’s popular series “Kade- Brilliant Skin, has nothing to do with Andrea’s surname, the the wrong pronoun is used, it is nang Ginto.” Victoria said she did not have lady entrepreneur said the teen advised to “apologize quickly and second thoughts about getting actress is also the choice of fransincerely.”

“We’re sending a beautiful message that of course there are struggles on being an OFW, kasi sa akin ang pumapasok kasi sa isip ko, mahirap ang trabaho, malayo sa pamilya, malungkot, pero ‘yung nagawa namin dito sa ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye,’ is something na pinakita namin ‘yung kabilang side na kung iiwan ng mga kababayan natin ‘yung mga pamilya nila, mayroon din silang nadiscover na bagong pamilya kung saan sila nagtatrabaho,” Alden said. “Yung mga roles na pinortray namin dito, I hope na magkaroon ng realization ‘yung mga kabataan kasi pabata na nang pabata ang mga OFWs ngayon,” he added. Kathryn admitted that working as an OFWs is not for the softhearted because it is not easy to spend your time away from your family. “Swerte ‘yung mga OFWs na nakuha ‘yung pamilya nila, na nakaipon na. Hindi siya para sa lahat kasi hindi siya madali. Dapat ‘pag pumunta ka do’n buo ‘yung loob mo na ‘OK gusto ko to at gagawin ko ‘to dahil gusto ko ‘to hindi lang dahil kailangan.’ Kasi ayaw mong at the end of the day sisihin mo na ‘pumunta kasi ako dahil kailangan nila e,’ pero ang ending malungkot ka. Ikaw naman ‘yung magsu-suffer, nakaipon ka pero di ka naman masaya. Kung buo ang loob mo at willing mo ‘pag daanan lahat ‘yon, may malaking prize na naghihintay talaga, pero hindi siya para sa lahat,” Kathryn explained.

Andrea: I’m too young to join ‘Darna’

Photo from Instagram/@blythe

chisees as product endorser. The new endorsement is a big help for Andrea, a self-confessed breadwinner, who admits she would rather focus on building a new house for her loved ones rather than having a romance with “Kadenang Ginto” love interest Seth Fedelin.

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Conclusion of 2 parts

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Romantic comedies and Cherry Pie talks about... that thing called love “Despite all aridity, LOVE, is as perennial as the grass” — From Desiderata

WE facebook and twitter all day long electronically creating, maintaining or killing off disposable internet relationships, that can defy space and time constraints, that can either bloom and thrive or take shallow roots and die in an instant. It doesn’t really matter. The next thing is just a click away. It remains to be seen what will come out of this relatively new phenomenon that is rewriting how this generation and the succeeding ones will find their mates that are right for them. There is no precedent, no formulas, no template, no books to copy from. The young ones may have to muddle through, make mistakes and come up with a new set of rules to write brand new stories to fire up and light their imaginations while holding steadfast in the belief written in “Desiderata” that despite “…all aridity, love, is as perennial as the grass …” Something happened in the middle of the last century to cause some kind of imbalance. Women became liberated from their traditional role after WWII. They joined the work force and learned to be independent. The roles of genders, and those in-between, are no longer as clear-cut as they once were. With post-war prosperity and abundance, came opportunity for women who decided from a wide range of choices that included college, career, family and the chance to be financially independent. This is not to say that the past was better, only that it was different and maybe, just a tad easier to figure out. The present times pose dilemmas that leave us scratching our heads. The rules of engagement between men and women need to be rewritten. Romantic comedies often glo-

rify the attraction of opposites. But it must be made clear in the interest of equal time, that the attraction of opposites is only one half of a truism. There’s a serious caveat emptor for all young men and women out there looking for a lifetime mate and seeking guidance from a higher power on how to best proceed. Here it is. Although opposites do indeed attract, it is the likes that stay together. The possibility of longer, happier lives exists in such a union. In an increasingly unstable, disintegrating world such as ours, such unions of like minds, bodies and spirits make a whole lot of difference. However, NEVER discount the power of chemistry. It is a real force wired into each one that draws one to the other. Deal with it. But in the end, it is the little things that you may have to look for to muddle through the choices and get past appearances. If you are a young woman, see how he treats his mother, his sisters and all the women in his family. If he shows kindness and is respectful of them, chances are, he will be kind to you and respect you as well. The same is true of young men. Look at how your intended treats her dad and all the men in the family. Look for kindness and generosity of spirit above all, old-fashioned traits that wear well. There are clear indicators and there are red flags. Watch for them. Do not let love or the stirrings of lust blind you totally. If faith and religion, commitment and fidelity are both important to you, the likelihood is there that

Health@Heart

Water safety warning

PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS SINCE water is life, it is best to remind ourselves regularly of waster safety guidelines. On average, city water is fairly safe to drink, according to US water standard. It is filtered, chlorinated and carefully monitored for bacteria, etc. However, tourists from other countries, and some local residents not used to drinking city water, may develop gastrointestinal problems from drinking city water. Modern medical science has proven the superiority of purified water as a “healthier drink” over city water. And clean water is essential to our health. We do not need alkaline or ionized water, unless we have an illness that requires them. Today, they are a common scam, victimizing the uninformed and gullible. What water is it not safe to drinks? Turbid water that smells and tastes bad is obviously not safe to drink, but clear water that smells normal and does not taste bad could still have contaminants and chemical solids that are harmful to one’s health. The safest habit is to drink purified water, one that is processed through an effective water filtration system, called reverse osmosis, and UV light exposure. We do not even need to drink mineral water since we get the needed minerals from our food. Distilled water, which is the purest H2O, is too expensive. Purified water is salt-free, bacteria/virus/protozoa-free, a most practical health choice, and cheaper too. What happens when one drinks tainted water? Depending on the type of bacteria, and how severe the contamination is, the symptoms may range from mild stomachache lasting a few hours to severe diarrhea (with or without vomiting) with varying degrees of dehydration, lasting days. If untreated, the more severe form of this gastroenteritis may be serious or even fatal, especially among children and the elderly. Why can’t some people tolerate city water? Bacteria is not the only thing that causes problems in the faucet (city) water people drink. There are also inorganic and organic chemicals that greatly affect the quality of water, its clarity and taste. Some of these chemical “solids” in faucet water bother some people. The adverse effect may be so subtle it may take years or even decades before it manifests itself. What are the common water contaminants? There are 3 categories of these contaminants: Inorganic (minerals, which may affect taste of water); Organic (from decaying plants, dirt, sediments, bacteria, amoeba and protozoa); and Syn-

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 25-31, 2019

thetic (urban, agricultural and industrial pollutants, such as PCB, DBCP, TCE and others, as well as chlorine and its by products, all of which contaminants could cause health problems). Where do bacterial contaminants come from? Bacterial contaminants obviously come from human feces and animal excreta, decaying plants, viruses and giardia cysts, that somehow reach the water supply, and which are resistant to chlorine. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes 129 toxic “priority pollutants” in water that pose the greatest health hazard. Where do chemical water pollutants come from? We, the people, are the culprits, the sources of these chemical pollutants. Gasoline, oil, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and over 100,000 other agricultural and industrial chemical compounds, eventually contaminate our rivers, lakes and oceans, our sources of water. They kill fish and other water life, and humans too. Human carelessness or callousness are the main causes of most of the pollution problems in our environment today. Is Chlorine totally safe? Chlorine, which is internationally accepted chemical to treat city water, is safe and effective to a great extent. However, chlorine could also combine with naturally occurring organic substances to form chlorinated hydrocarbons known as trihalomethanes (THMs), which are cancer-causing substances. However, the dose and manner used by city filtration programs around the country make water safe. In spite of this, I still recommend drinking bottled water or water that has undergone at least 5 to 6-stage filtration system. What are the chemical pose major health hazard? Lead, radon, sodium, nitrates, asbestos, carbon chemicals. Lead could lead to brain damage and seizures, especially in children. Radon causes about 40,000 lungcancer deaths every year. Excessive salt predisposes one to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disorders. Nitrates are dangerous to infants and they may also form nitrosamines that are potent carcinogens in the digestive tract. Asbestosis also causes cancer in the lining of the chest walls and lungs. Carbon Chemicals may also increase cancer risk. What are the other toxic metals in unfiltered water? These are heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, cadnium and lead. The sources of these pollutants are industrial chemicals and wastes. These are dumped to the rivers and lakes every minute of the day, poisoning our water supplies. What is hard water? This is water saturated with

these core beliefs will be a bond that will hold you in tough times. It may seem funny to you but the parents of your intended are more than likely a preview of how your fiancé or fiancée will turn out to be 2 or 3 decades from now. The past, as Shakespeare once said, is prologue. Take heed. There will be exceptions of course, but the mango does not fall far from the tree. You can prevent heartache by a balanced mix of heart and mind when choosing the love of your life. Sometimes, the heart is recalcitrant and makes a choice for you but know that a humble, grateful heart who asks for guidance particularly in the all too important decision of choosing a lifetime mate, in sincere, constant prayer that assaults heaven will not be spurned. If this is important to you and it should be, get down on your knees and beg for this grace. Time heals all wounds. But do take heart. Time also wounds all heels. Since God gave us free will, we are able to write parts of our own stories. If we were all writers, we have in front of us, a tabula rasa, a blank page, a cursor at the ready, steadily flashing, patiently waiting for your stories to spill, the remanufactured, recycled or better yet, the brand new, original stories of romantic comedies that beg to be written. The world, I am sure, would like to hear about yours. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

magnesium, calcium, and iron, and many other inorganic minerals. Water in deep wells, lakes, rivers, is hard water. As a rule, boiling water kills most of the bacteria but concentrates the inorganic minerals in it. This is why one sees “saltlike crystals” or sediments at the bottom of the pot used for boiling water. Many minerals still remain in the water after boiling. How does one check water at home? Today, there are TDS (Total dissolved solids) meters available. When one buys Zero Water filter canister or pitcher, a TDS meter comes with it. The complete system is not expensive ($30-$40). Zero water is a 5-stage filtration system. Example: The TDS reading for water in Las Vegas is about 418 (Zip code 89134, in Sun City, Summerlin). Zerowater filtered water reads “Zero” TDS level. Actually, government standard says: “It is excellent if the TDS is less than 300 mg/L. It is good if the TDS is between 300 to 600 mg/L. It is fair if the TDS is between 600 to 900 mg/L. Since Zero water filter also removes good minerals like fluoride. I do not recommend it for daily drinking, especially for children. Occasionally is fine where water is suspect. You can carry this tiny TDS meter with you when you travel. Which is the best water purification system? Water purification is now both a science and a technology. Researches in this field, including final post-purification analysis and testing procedures, substantiate the fact that regular faucet water (even boiled) is not the best water for people to drink, that purified water is a lot more superior and healthier to consume, and that Reverse Osmosis and UV light exposure is the most modern system that is safe and most effective. The 16-stage state-of-theart purification system, a United States technology using Automatic Regenerating Process (ARP), most superior when it comes to producing truly safe purified water for healthy drinking. In this day and age of polluted environment and health-consciousness, drinking purified water is no longer a luxury but an imperative health necessity for everyone. Sadly, many third world countries do not even have safe drinking water because of the pollution of rivers, lakes, and oceans. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail. com

PAGE 10 “because they are now in their right mind, they’re restored to their basic goodness and sanity. Kahit sila gusto nilang kalimutan na may nagawa silang ganun.” Her inner peace reflects at how Cherry Pie manages to continue living a happy, balanced life with her 17-year-old son Nio and spending some time with

her friends from showbiz. On and off-cam, she is close to Mylene Dizon, Agot Isidro, director Andoy Ranay and Angelica Panganiban. “We’ve been friends for a long time,” she said. “We’re always dreaming of being together and came up with a project — which is happening now.” Cherry Pie was pertaining to the digital series Call Me Tita,

Calendar of Events across

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the joint venture of Dreamscape and Heaven’s Best. It will soon come out on the ABS-CBN digital streaming platform iWant. Asked about her lovelife, Cherry Pie revealed, “I’m dating. I’ve been separated for nine years and so ang iniisip ko kasi by next year empty na because Nio will be off to college so parang it’s high time for me to go out naman.”

America

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40th annual Philippine Nurses Association of America National Convention in Atlanta, GA The Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) will have its 40th annual national convention from July 24 to 28 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA, hosted by the PNA-GA chapter. More information and details TBA. To learn about the PNA-GA, please visit: https://pnaga.wildapricot.org/.

J U LY 27-AU G U ST 1 0

Tagalog classes in Los Angeles This Filipino Language & Culture Pilot class is hosted by Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) and is organized by the Filipino Language Movement led by Ms. Ivy Daulo. This is the only community-based Filipino language & culture ADULT program in the City of Los Angeles in collaboration with the Filipino Language Movement. This is a 5-session program that starts July 13 to August 10, 2019. (*Schedule is subject to change based on the number of enrollees). Come and bring your entire family and learn Tagalog together! Student benefits include certificate of completion, handouts / workbook provided, learn with other peers (adults and youth are not mixed); family learning opportunity; taught by university Filipino language instructor and lifetime member of Council for Teaching Filipino; practical language learning tips & application each week Limited slots! Hurry and register now! Prices are for all 5 sessions: Individual Adult: $150 each for 5 sessions; bring a [artner: $250 for 5 sessions ($125 each adult); parent + child: $200 for 5 sessions ($150/parent + $50/child). We urge everyone to do the whole program so you can learn more but if it’s not possible to attend all 5 Saturdays, you can choose the dates you want to join us. $30 / session for adults or $10 / session for children. Payment methods: Cash, Check (payable to: SIPA), Venmo (SIPALA) and Credit/Debit Cards are accepted. Send check payments to: SIPA at 3200 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026. Please register by emailing Fidji Victoriano (fidji@sipacares.org) if paying outside of Eventbrite. SIPA is located 3200 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026. Limited free parking on surface lots along Robinson St. and Dillon St. Street parking is also available around the area. Please see posted signs for details.

AU G U ST 1 - 9

University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International Convention & Alaskan Cruise The University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International, Inc. (UPNAAI) will have its 40th convention on a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas. The theme will be “In the New Millennium - UPNAAI at 40: Evolving and Emerging Nursing Roles.” On Aug. 1. it will be UPNAAI Volunteers Service Day in Seattle, then 2-9 will be a cruise from Seattle, Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm & Dawes, Victoria, and back to Seattle. Convention Fee $100 for Alumni in addition to cruise pricing. No convention charge for friends and family members. Contact Hours will be provided for the educational conference. For more information/to register and view cruise rates, please visit https://www.upnaai.com/.

AU G U ST 2

Masskara Festival in Long Beach, CA The Long Beach Bacolod Association (LBBA) will be having its second annual Masskara Festival event in Long Beach, CA at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel on Friday, August 2 located at 4700 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach from 6 p.m. to midnight. As a sister city organization, dignitaries from both Bacolod, Philippines and Long Beach will be in attendance. The dinner ball will also feature live entertainment and Masskara dancing. For tickets please call Malou Mariano at (562) 335-2587.

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Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo in Carson, CA The second annual Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo is back on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4 at the SouthBay Pavilion in Carson, CA. The two-day event is Southern California’s largest B2B expo showcasing tourism, trade, and investment opportunities in the USA and Philippines. It will feature networking opportunities for business-to-business, business-to-government, and business-to-consumer. The event is powered by the Asian Journal and Balikbayan Magazine. For more information, please visit https://traveltradeconsumer.com/.

One Global Talent, Youth Singing Competition First Round in Carson, CA Prizes await the Kiddie Champion (6-12 years old) and Teen Champion (13-19 years old in a 3-round singing competition at the SouthBay Pavilion in Carson, California on August 3 and 4. The First Round is a critique and evaluation round with vocal coaches to prepare contestants for Round 2 Elimination on Oct 5, and December 7 Finals in North Hollywood. Pre-registration only, no walk-ins, to get a scheduled spot. Visit www.musicartsevents.com/one-global-talent. html for details, instructions, waivers and to register online. For questions, please email jean@ musicartsevents.com or text or call (818) 538-4033.

Filipino American Symphony Orchestra debuts at Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA Two combined choirs gloriously singing Freddie Mercury’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” with a full 73-piece orchestra and special numbers by talented youths are among the highlights in the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra’s (FASO) historic debut in the prestigious Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday, August 3, 7:00 p.m. Titled “A Summer Symphony with FASO,” the concert is a major event in the 11-year history of the orchestra, the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines which has become a vital Filipino-American cultural institution. Many of the featured performers are also making their debut on the famed Walt Disney Concert Hall stage, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets to the concert, sponsored by Bank of Hope, Dr. Noli and Mrs. Nena Zosa, Pacific Western Bank, QBE and UPAA, are available online at https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets/Visiting-Artists/filipinoamerican-symphony-orchestra/. Tickets are also available by phone at (323) 850-2000 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office on 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles 90012 (corner First Street). Window hours are from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday (closed Monday). With box office validation, patrons may park free for 30 minutes in the Walt Disney Concert Hall parking garage for box office transactions. More information about FASO is available at www.fasofoundation.org.

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‘Friends…Unplugged,’ a benefit concert in Los Angeles The Philippine Disaster Relief Organization (PeDRO), in partnership with the ABS-CBN Foundation International, presents ‘Friends…Unplugged,’ a benefit concert in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 22 at 3 p.m. at the Aratani Theater (244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). Artists included Becca Godinez, Morris Albert, Odette Quesada, Ner De Leon and Kevin Click. Additional artists to be announced. Tickets are $65 for lower orchestra, $45 for upper orchestra and $35 for Balcony.

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Liza gets welcome home surprise from How Arci got over cheating boyfriends Enrique, loved ones after surgery in US by Nathalie

by Niña

GuNo Inquirer.net

LIZA Soberano was given a warm welcome by her boyfriend, Enrique Gil, and her loved ones after arriving from the United States on Monday, July 22. The actress was in the U.S. for three months to receive treatment for her finger injury. Her right index finger required multiple operations, and complications such as a bone infection lengthened her stay abroad. Finally, Soberano is home, and her family and friends made sure she felt how much they missed

her with decor of gold and pink balloons and streamers. Petals and rustic lamps covered the floor in the entrance. The pictures show too that Soberano now has a black brace for her finger. In another picture, loved ones are seen holding up a streamer in pink letters that say, “Welcome home Hopie.” She also posed with a bouquet of sunflowers along with Gil in the middle of the beautiful setup made for her. While she was in California, Gil bridged their long-distance relationship by visiting her and accom- Liza Soberano Photo from Instagram/@lizasoberano panying her to tourist sites.

Cinemalaya entry, a blessing for Sunshine at 40 by Ricky

caldeRoN ManilaTimes.net

SUNSHINE Cruz is excited about her very first Cinemalaya project titled “Malamaya” where she is paired with Kapamilya hunk Enzo Pineda. “I am very thankful I was offered this project. There are many actresses out there whom they can offer this script but I am

Sunshine Cruz

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described as her most challenging role yet. Notwithstanding the sexy scenes she needed to do, Sunshine gave her full trust to her directors to guide her for an honest portrayal of a woman caught in the web of a May-December affair. “I gave my full trust to my directors. Since they are women, I knew they’d take good care of me when it comes to the intimate scenes I needed to do in the film,” said Sunshine. Sunshine plays a visual artist who reignites her lost passion with an aspiring photographer played by Enzo. Getting in the way of their romance is a potter played by Raymond Bagatsing. “I am excited to work with Enzo. He is new and it is also his first time to do intimate scenes in a movie. What is nice about Enzo is that he is very cooperative and he is willing to learn.” Asked on her chances of winning an award for her performance, she said that playing the role of Nora S. in “Malamaya” already makes her a winner. “That would be nice but winning an award is the least of my concern. The fact the producers chose me to play the lead role is an honor itself. Even if I don’t win an award, playing the lead in a Cinemalaya film makes me feel like a winner already,” she intoned. Produced by Spears Film, headed by Albert Almandralejo, “Malamaya” is co-produced by Cine Likha Productions and ALV Productions of Arnold Vegafria, Photo from Instagram/@sunshinecruz718 Sunshine’s talent manager.

fortunate it was given to me. I am blessed,” said Sunshine, adding that she immediately said yes upon learning the movie is an entry to Cinemalaya, the biggest and most prestigious independent film festival in the country. Two newbie female directors — Leilani Chavez and Danica Sta. Lucia — are calling the shots in “Malamaya” which Sunshine

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tomada Philstar.com

ARCI Muñoz revealed that she had not only once but twice experienced infidelity in a relationship. The 30-year-old actress confessed that she had three exes, two of whom she caught cheating on her. Without naming names, she further related that she discovered one ex was cheating because he got another girl pregnant. “Tapos na. Matagal na matagal na. because he got someone else pregnant. Nakabuntis po siya. Nalaman ko (na) buntis na yung girl. Baby na,” Arci told The Star and other reporters on the sidelines of the recent launch of Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) Year 3, wherein her film Open is one of the 10 official entries. A flagship program of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the filmfest runs on Sept. 13 to 19. When asked how it could have possibly happened under her nose, Arci explained that she’s not the type of girlfriend who guards a boyfriend like a hawk. “I’m not that kind of person. Why would I guard him, right? Of course, I have trust in that person. That’s why we’re in a relationship. Meaning to say, the foundation is trust, right? If you have trust in me, then I won’t destroy that trust. Once the trust is broken, it’s hard to fix it. It’s really hard — (once you destroy the) trust, love, respect,” she said. According to Arci, she got over her broken heart through faith. “I have strong faith in God. So, I believe that all that is happening in my life, there is a purpose.” It was done to her several times and when that cheating produced a child, she felt that the incident delivered the “ultimate” message “na ang tanga mo, ito nalang ang paraan para magising ka. So I said, ‘Thank you, Lord! You saved me from all that heartbreak and stress.’ After that, I felt so much better.” The topic cropped up during an interview about “Open,” which is topbilled by Arci with JC Santos, directed by Andoy Ranay, and co-produced by T-Rex Entertainment and Blacksheep. In the film, the seemingly perfect couple Rome (Arci) and Ethan (JC) feel that their relationship has gone stale. To save their 14

Arci Muñoz

years of togetherness, they mull the idea of going “open.” It’s something Ethan wants to do, and the only way Rome feels she can make her man stay. “Personally, in my opinion, it’s not workable. It doesn’t work! No relationship will work if you’re being shared with someone else. Di ba dapat, if you really wanna make your relationship work, because you’ve been together for 14 years, just like in the story, you treasure one another, each other? You’re gonna fix the relationship within the relationship,” Arci said. “(The film’s takeaway message is) to love each other. If you find something or someone special, hold on to that person, ’wag mo nang pakawalan, ’wag ka nang maghanap ng iba.” Arci shares some steamy scenes with her leading man JC, whom she described as “very professional” and who reminds her of close college buddies at the UP Theater Arts. For her, Open is her most daring film to date. What does Anton, her real-life love of two years, think of the

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Photo from Instagram/@ramonathornes

film’s concept? “Hindi niya alam, pati nanay ko. He doesn’t know as to what extent ang ginawa namin in the story. But he knows it’s about open relationships,” she said, adding her boyfriend has been very supportive of her artistic side. She also said they’ve never had major fights, only very minor ones over her tattoos and piercings, and her fangirling over BTS member Jimin. Meanwhile, the businessman boyfie is noticeably staying under the social-media radar and as non-showbiz as possible. “Ayaw po niya ng social media. Sinasabi niya, ‘wag mo nga akong isama sa mga showbiz shit hahaha! So, I said, okay,” she laughingly explained. “He’s just a very private person. There are people like that.” Arci readily admitted that she can picture him as husband material, but refused to answer if she feels the guy will propose marriage in the near future. “I don’t want to assume. I don’t want to pressure him,” she said.

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Filipina actress Princess Punzalan enters her second act Punzalan returns to the screen in critically acclaimed film “Yellow Rose” By Klarize Medenilla / AJPress THERE’S a scene in the 2019 coming-of-age indie film “Yellow Rose” where the titular character Rose (played by two-time Tony Award-nominee Eva Noblezada), a 17-year-old undocumented Filipina and aspiring country musician living in East Texas, looks in her bedroom mirror, dejected amid a creative rut. Her mother, Priscilla, played by Princess Punzalan, enters the bedroom and comforts young Rose and together they sing the Pilita Corrales song, “Dahil Sa Iyo.” “Yellow Rose,” written and directed by Filipina American filmmaker Diane Paragas, follows the trials and tribulations faced by Rose as Priscilla is detained by ICE and speaks to the very familiar plight of undocumented families in America. The film has become a darling success within the festival circuit, garnering the Grand Jury Award at three film festivals: the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, the Bentonville Film Festival and the CAAMFest37. Noblezada in her feature film debut also won the Special Jury Prize for Best Breakthrough Performance at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Punzalan’s performance as the hard-working undocumented mother doing her best to foster a gainful future for her young daughter mirrors experiences felt by families all over the country and the strength of the human

condition in the face of misfortune. “It was so timely,” Punzalan told the Asian Journal in a recent interview. “I wanted to do something that’s relevant and I believed in Diane because I saw how she conducted the auditions and just how she operates, and all the more I became interested in the role.” The tragedy of the film is the separation between mother and daughter and the honesty and authenticity behind Noblezada’s and Punzalan’s performances. In a scene where Priscilla is being taken away by ICE and Rose cries running towards her mother, the emotion exuding from the screen hits squarely in the heart of the viewer. “I really studied the script and tried to imagine and put myself in Priscilla’s shoes. I have a daughter so I tried to make it as real as possible for me and I just performed as I felt that, as a mother,” Punzalan said, praising Noblezada for her transparency and amiability. Punzalan’s role in “Yellow Rose” provides a vibrant introduction of the actress to a whole new audience, but to Filipinos, she is a well-loved gem who has been a staple of television and film for decades. Despite being born to legendary Philippine broadcast personalities Orly Punzalan and Helen Vela, Punzalan shares that her parents never forced her or her

With her latest role in “Yellow Rose,” also starring Eva Noblezada and Lea Salonga, Princess Punzalan hopes to continue to break out in acting in the United States.

Princess Punzalan as Priscilla in Diane Paragas’ “Yellow Rose”

siblings to pursue a future in show business. “[My mother] wasn’t encouraging us to get into the entertainment industry. But when I was 10 years old, her colleague, who was a radio broadcaster and had a TV show, asked her if they could use me as a replacement for the child actor who got sick,” Punzalan said. “So, my mom asked if I would like to [take the role], 10year-old me was just like, ‘Yeah!

Princess Punzalan stars as Priscilla, the mother of teenager Rose, played by Eva Noblezada. Priscilla’s character, an undocumented Filipina living in Texas, gets detained by immigration officials, leaving Rose on her own. Still courtesy of “Yellow Rose”

Why not?” The young Punzalan’s performance stunned producers and audiences, which led to more and more acting gigs. But as a child actor, Punzalan had “boundaries” set by Vela and was only allowed to act during summer and Christmas vacations to avoid distractions from studies. From then on, Punzalan made waves as a fixture on Philippine TV, becoming a co-host on the Sunday variety show “GMA Supershow”. But it wasn’t until the television drama anthology entitled “Princess” in 1987 that the young actress started to seriously hone in on her acting, playing different characters every week. “It was like free schooling for me, I learned a lot during that time, so it was fun because I wasn’t stuck with just one character. It was like I had a new challenge every week, and it was so much fun,” Punzalan shared. Punzalan would then spend the back half of the 1980s to the midaughts starring in popular series, like the sitcom “Family 3+1” in which she starred with her mother and “Mula sa Puso” on ABS-CBN, the latter for which she won the PMPC Star Award for Best Drama

AJPress photos by Noel Ty

Actress in 1998. After decades of success in Philippine media, Punzalan met husband Jason Field, an American, and in 2005 moved to the U.S. “When I got married and we moved to Michigan, I thought that I can’t pursue my acting career here, at least not right now, because if I was gonna pursue acting, I’d have to fly back and forth either to New York or LA and I thought that wouldn’t serve as a good foundation for the marriage,” she said. So when it came to finding work stateside, she thought back to her childhood career aspirations of becoming a doctor. But because of the laborious schooling required to become a doctor, Field suggested that she take up nursing instead. “It was challenging at first because I hadn’t been to school in a long time, and I was the oldest one in all my classes,” said Punzalan, who has been a registered nurse for five years. “But I had an advantage: when you go back to school and you’re older, you already know who you are, what you want and I took things way more seriously.” Simultaneous to achieving

her goals in nursing, Punzalan continued to go back to the Philippines ever so often to take on certain acting roles. But moving to the U.S. was a turning point for the actress who saw the nuanced ways in which American actors handle emotion versus the theatrical, almost histrionic way Philippine actors tend to portray characters. “The more I watched [American programs], I started to realize, ‘Oh, my god, my acting is way over the top and the way [American actors] convey emotions here is just way more subtle and more subdued,’” Punzalan said. “So I had to adjust, and even if I wasn’t acting, I would watch someone and think about how I would do that scene. And then I would observe Philippine acting and then think about how they would do that in America.” And Punzalan put those observations to good use, as seen in her performance in “Yellow Rose,” which showcased Punzalan like we haven’t seen her before. Her lifelike portrayal as a hard-working undocumented mother emanated so naturally and so effectively; there isn’t an ounce of excess in her performance, and she has the PAGE 14

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Fil-Am dancer Bailey Munoz advances How having a child with special needs changed Martin to ’So You Think You Can Dance’ top 20 by AllAn PolicArPio Inquirer.net

by Billy

De lA AJPress

cruz

FOLLOWING Filipina American dancer Hannahlei Cabanilla’s win on “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 15 (SYTYCD) last year, another Fil-Am talent is set to make a splash in the American dance contest’s ongoing 16th season. On its 7th episode, Filipino American dancer Bailey Munoz from Las Vegas, wowed the judges as he danced to “Beggin” by Four Seasons during the Academy Round of the competition. He received the golden ticket making him part of the top 20 hopefuls out of 64 contestants who will move on to the next round. Fellow Filipino American dancer John John Tarrayo failed to make the cut, however. Also known as “BailRok,” 19year-old Munoz is no stranger to the spotlight. In an interview with ABS-CBN News’ Bev Llorente, Bailrok gave the news crew a tour to his house in Las Vegas. He proudly showed his wall of fame, a collection of his childhood photos with A-list celebrities he has worked with and met through dancing. “When I toured with Bruno Mars, it was such an amazing experience. He is the coolest guy. He is a good person to look up to,” he shared. In 2010, then 9-year-old BailRok landed a spot on the semi-finals of “America’s Got Talent.” “I started at a very young age. It was such a blessing for me being on ‘America’s Got Talent’ when I was younger,” he told ABS-CBN News. “I’ve been lucky enough to perform with Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber. I got to dance with Beyoncé, Megan Trainor.” His other notables performances include an appearance in Chris Brown’s music video, in “Dancing with the Stars,” and at a New York Knicks’ game. As for his current journey on SYTYCD, BailRok hopes that his love and passion for dancing will help him through the tough competition ahead. He promised to give it his all as he considers getting the golden ticket not only a dream come true, but a chance of a lifetime as well. “Learning all the [different genres of] of dance is so hard because everything has a certain technique whether it be ballroom, ballet or contemporary. I’m just

HE wasn’t the best husband, but at the very least, Martin Nievera said, he could strive to be a better father. Having Santino, his 12-yearold son with former partner Katrina Ojeda, has been especially transformative for the balladeer. Because Santino is a child with special needs, Martin has had to redefine what his earlier notions of what being a parent entails. “He has really changed me a lot. I’m definitely more patient nowadays than I was with my elder sons (Robin and Ram, with Martin Nievera (left) with son Santino ex-wife, Pops Fernandez),” Martin told the Inquirer in a recent We’re no longer together, but interview, after renewing his we’re still friends. And because contract as the ambassador of of that, I find myself going to the Solaire Resort & Casino for two States a lot more often. Because of Santino’s condition, I feel like more years. Raising a child with special he needs to have that family atmoneeds presents a unique set of sphere,” he said. “The first thing challenges. But luckily, he feels he says when we are together is, he’s well-equipped to effectively ‘Look, we’re a family!’ His quips sting sometimes! So I try to be address some of those. “His special needs goes well really hands-on.” More present than ever Bailey “Bailrok” Munoz made it to the top 20 of “So You Think You Can Dance” season 16. with my specialties. If he wants to And now that Santino is in his Photos by Bev Llorente hear someone talking funny, I can give him that. If I need to be silly, preteens, Martin feels the need to I’m exactly that guy. If he needs be more present in his son’s life. “Perhaps this is God’s way of a cartoon character on the spot, I’m right there,” he related. “And saying that Katrina’s time is her time. But now that he’s becomI love every minute of it.” “He’s quick and knowledgeable ing a man and starting to have with gadgets. He knows his way young-man issues, I believe that on the internet… If I let him use this is my time to step in. We do my phone, for instance, he would a lot of things together. He has a return it to me with its settings different aura when he’s with me,” all changed,” Martin said of his he related. If he had his way—if he need youngest child. “He loves the microphone. Once he gets a hold not work as a performer in the of one, he wouldn’t let it go. He’s Philippines—Martin would gladly spend every single day with such a ham!” Santino resides with his mother Santino. But even then, the bond in Las Vegas. But while he and his between them, he said, is inexplison live thousands of miles apart, cably strong. “I don’t know what it is. I can’t Martin makes it a point to visit Bailrok with his parents, Fredie and Barbra, and younger sister Faither. and spend time with him as often say I’m the good guy, because I “I know how hard he works as he could. stepping in that mindset like if do scold and discipline him more I’m learning choreography of when he’s performing at some“All credit goes to the mom. than his mother does,” he said. contemporary, I have to pretend thing. Specifically for SYTYCD, that I am a contemporary dancer he’s spent months training. I besides just being a B-Boy,” Bail- know that this is something he is preparing for,” Barbra Munoz rok shared. “B-boying/girling” is a form shared. “During that audition, ducer Rey Cuerdo at a screening of hip-hop dancing which has I was not necessarily scared or PAGE 13 evolved into a highly demand- nervous, it’s a combination of talent of saying so much without for “Yellow Rose” in Carson, California hosted by the Apl.de.ap ing type of dance physically and both because I know he really saying much at all. Now based in the Los Angeles Foundation International. wanted it and worked so hard mentally. With the continued success of area, she is transitioning into beBehind BailRok’s success, and for it.” Next week, BailRok and the ing a hospice nurse which offers a “Yellow Rose,” Punzalan hopes to his SYTYCD journey, are his proud parents, Ferdie and Barbra Munoz, rest of the top 20 performers will more flexible schedule to allow to bring more acting experience to partner with SYTYCD “All-Stars” to act and be an attentive mother to the second act of her career. She and her younger sister Faithe. continues to lend her talents to her 5-year-old daughter Ellie. “We haven’t really digested compete for a spot in the top 10. Next month on Thursday, Au- Philippine projects, but Punzalan “So You Think You Can Dance” what he has experienced through dance,” Ferdie Munoz told ABS- airs on Fox on Monday nights at gust 15, Punzalan will participate hopes to land a television series in a Q&A with Paragas and pro- in the U.S. 8 p.m.. CBN News.

Inquirer.net photo

“So I don’t know how this bond came to be—this despite us being far apart most of the time. But I’m grateful for it.” This time, it’s Santino’s turn to stay in the country for some quality time with his father. The boy turned up at Solaire’s Waterside restaurant, where this conversation was taking place. Martin had warned us that Santino’s quite the hugger. True enough, he did greet us with one. “I try to bring him wherever I go,” Martin said. “I want to continue on getting to know him better.” Growing more empathetic Because of Santino, the 57year-old recording artist has grown to become more empathetic toward other parents who also have children with special needs. Although being a father to Santino is a joy, it isn’t without the occasional heartaches, which come mostly from encounters with people who lack sensitivity and understanding. One particular instance comes to his mind—Santino being rejected by a receptionist at a playschool in Las Vegas because he’s a “special child.”

Filipina actress Princess Punzalan... “With a television series, you can get really deep into the character on your own time. It’s also really nice to work with the same people all the time for a long time because you get to know people better, kind of like a family,” Punzalan shared. “I did so many television series in the Philippines and I really enjoyed it so I’m hoping in America I’ll be able to do that also.”

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