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AUGUST 16-22, 2018 Volume 29 - No. 30 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
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
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DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Wyoming officials refuse to return Balangiga bells WYOMING officials have refused to return the Balangiga bells to the Philippines as they are deemed “memorials” to the casualties of the Philippine-American War. In a statement, the all-Republican delegation comprising of U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, said, “These bells are memorials to American war dead and should not be transferred to the Philippines.” “We’ve received assurances that the bells will be returned to the Catholic Church and treated with the respect and honor they deserve,” U.S. Embassy press attache Trude Raizen said on Saturday, August 11, in a report from The Philippine Star. Raizen also emphasized the value of the bells for both Filipinos and Americans. “We are aware that the Bells of Balangiga have deep significance for a number of people, both in the United States and in the Philippines,” she added. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque even welcomed the announcement from the
Duterte’s preferred successor: Someone like Marcos, Escudero MANILA — Only a successor like former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr or Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, both defeated candidates for vice president, would make President Rodrigo Duterte leave office. Duterte made this statement during a dinner with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas on Tuesday,
August 14 after he again floated the possibility of resignation. Escudero, who ran alongside Sen. Grace Poe, conceded defeat in 2016 and is a member of the Senate majority. Marcos, meanwhile, is in the middle of an electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo, whom he has accused of cheating in 2016.
In a speech hinting at resignation in May, Duterte told government officials and congressional leaders: “Anyway I really want to resign from office. What is the latest count between Bongbong and (Robredo). Is she really the vice president?” Officials close to the president, including officials of the Presidential
by AJPRESS FORMER Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo denied all corruption allegations hurled at her regarding the 60 million-peso advertisement deal with PTV4 at a Senate hearing on Tuesday, August 14. “With confidence, I can say that there’s nothing illegal in the said contract,” Tulfo-Teo said. The former tourism secretary testified before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that the accusations against her were only meant to discredit her. “I have been defamed, maligned and worse, crucified by allegations of corruptions and competence, all made up to look as truth,” Tulfo-Teo said. In a report from the Inquirer, Teo said that she did not comment on any of the slanderous criticisms. “For quite some time, I have kept mum against all the incredible allegations,” she added.
Fil-Am community mourns the death of historian and author, Dawn Mabalon
Dawn Bohulano Mabalon Photo by Jeremy Keith Villaluz
Hawaii. She was an associate professor of history at San Francisco State University, specializing in Philippine and Filipino-American history, as well as race and ethnicity and food cultures. A third-generation Pinay, Mabalon was born and raised in Stockton, where her grandfathers settled in the 1920s. Stockton was home to the largest population of Filipinos outside of the Philippines from the 1920s to 1960s.
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Ex-tourism chief claims ‘nothing illegal’ in PTV deal
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THE FilipinoAmerican community across the United States is mourning the death of Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, a community leader, professor, author, historian and mentor. Mabalon, 46, died on Friday, August 10 while on a family vacation in Kauai,
Communications Operations Office, have also made references to alleged fraud in the 2016 elections. The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, is conducting a recount in pilot provinces Marcos identified in his poll protest. It is not the first time for the president
u PAGE A2 DISMISSAL ORDER. President Rodrigo Duterte signs the dismissal order of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Comptroller Hector Maraña at Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, August 14. Maraña’s dismissal stemmed from his alleged misuse of the P15-million worth of allowance for the cadets. Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo
NBA permits Jordan Clarkson to play in Asian Games Fil-Am point guard to join Team Philippines after delay in approval from the NBA by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
Jordan Clarkson dunks the ball during Gilas Pilipinas practice. Inquirer.net photo by Tristan Tamayo
THE NBA decided on Tuesday, August 14 that Jordan Clarkson of the Cleveland Cavaliers may play for the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games after previously ruling that NBA players couldn’t participate in the multi-sport event. Twenty-six-year-old Clarkson, who is part Filipino on his mother’s side, was granted a “special exception” to represent the Philippines
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SENATE INQUIRY. Senator Nancy Binay inquires about the Department of Tourism ad budget during the Senate Blue Ribbon hearing on the P60-million Department of Tourism ad placement on PTV4 on Tuesday, August 14. Senate photos
House clears former Pres. Aquino of Dengvaxia controversy DBM chief ensures by AJPRESS
Former President Benigno Aquino III answers a question during a press conference for the investigation of election offense complaints linked to the dengue vaccine program held at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila City on Thursday, March 15. Also in the photo is former Health Secretary Janette Garin. PNA photo by Joey Razon
AFTER months of hearings, two committees of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, August 15, cleared former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the issue regarding the 2016 dengue vaccination program and the use of the controversial vaccine Dengvaxia. The Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chaired by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel and the Committee on Health chaired by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan were the two panels that deliberated on the said issue. In a report from The Philippine Star, the two committees stated in a draft report that the dengue vaccination program was deemed as a
“judgment call on the part of the previous administration.” “The action of the administration at the time to implement a dengue vaccination program was unquestionable,” the report stated. The committees considered that the program was only intended to address the increasing number of those with dengue fever all over the country. They also emphasized the danger that the disease poses. “Indeed, the morbidity and mortality data at the time showed that dengue has become a worrisome monster killing hundreds of Filipino,” the committees reported. The panels also stated that the administration under President Rodrigo Duterte continued the
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pork free 2019 budget by AJPRESS DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno ensured on Tuesday, August 15, that no part of the proposed P3.76-trillion national budget will be allocated to pork finances. In a report from the Inquirer, the budget chief subdued the public’s fear that House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo might distribute pork funding to lawmakers in exchange for their loyalty. The Supreme Court struck down the pork barrel programs primarily the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the Countrywide Development Fund. In 2013, the judicial arm of the government declared these pork barrel programs unconstitutional. Diokno said at the Meet Inquirer Multimedia forum that the National Expenditure Program for next year will adhere to the Supreme Court’s decision.
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From The FronT Page
Ex-tourism chief claims ‘nothing illegal’... PAGE A1
During the hearing, the former tourism chief reiterated she was unaware that the show “Kilos Pronto” with the PTV-4 was produced by Ben Tulfo and cohosted by Erwin Tulfo. She claimed that the transactions involving her brothers’ government television program were valid. “It’s a government to govern-
ment contract within the executive department and all payments were paid directly to PTV-4,” Teo pointed out. The Commission on Audit earlier reported that DOT placed the deal in 2017, however it lacks documents validating its legality. During the hearing, Teo said “no” when Senator Risa Hontiveros asked if she personally believed that the money spent on
the ad deal must be returned. She stated that it might be difficult to return the money because it was already distributed to pay for the people who worked on the advertisement. However, she said that the decision would be on Ben Tulfo and PTV4’s terms. “But at the end the day, it’s still PTV-4 and my brother that will decide kung ibabalik ang pera kasi ang bayad naman po namin ay sa PTV-4 (if they are going to return the money because we paid to PTV-4),” she said. Gordon: Graft, but not plunder Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Richard Gordon believed that the Tulfo siblings might be charged with graft. He noted the conflict of interest evident in the said deal. “Dapat nahagip nila na (They should have seen that) there was (a) clear conflict of interest,” Gordon said. Gordon also doubted the possibility of plunder charges since the money was used for advertising. “I don’t think you can make a case for plunder,” the senator said. He also recognized that it was a “business” transaction in nature. However, he did not disregard the siblings’ family connection. “Nag negosyo sila, yun ang masama e. Yung negosyo mukhang nabigyan ng ayuda yung negosyo ng kapatid (They have a business. That business received a boost from the sibling),” Gordon pointed out. The senator also emphasized that the siblings’ prominence. He also stated that it could be grounds for corruption. “The Tulfos are not exactly invisible, they are very prominent so dapat nakita nila agad yun (they should have immediately seen that) and they should have protected themselves from that. That’s graft and corruption,” Gordon added. The committee chairman refused to believe Tulfo-Teo’s claim that she was unaware of the program. He said that they would still be held liable even if they return the money. However, Ben Tulfo is firm in his resolve that he would not return the money as he insisted there was nothing illegal about the contract. n
EQUALITY IN TRANSPORT INDUSTRY. Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros, together with Senator Grace Poe, on Wednesday, August 15 sign the commitment pledge for the #inFAIRness national campaign which promotes gender rights in the transport sector. Hontiveros, who opened the campaign at the Senate together with Poe, stated that the transport sector needs to be reformed such that women would be protected from harassment and discrimination. She added that the transport industry should ensure that women are paid competitively and given equal opportunities to advance and develop their full careers, enhance their talents and bring out their innovative skills. Senate photo by Joseph Vidal
Duterte’s preferred successor... PAGE A1 to praise the junior Marcos. ‘Frustration, not anger’ In his speech on Tuesday, the president stressed that he has had enough. “What is inside me is not really anger because there really isn’t anything you can do. It’s the frustration that I cannot comply with my promise number one—corruption,” Duterte said. The chief executive reiterated his doubts about Robredo’s competence to lead the country should
he step down. “I think deep in my heart, if you follow the succession and Robredo takes over, she can’t handle it. That’s my honest opinion. I wish it were someone in the likes of Escudero or Bongbong Marcos,” Duterte said. Earlier that evening, he rejected the idea of Robredo replacing him despite the constitutional provision that states that the vice president shall become the president in case of death, permanent disability, removal
from office or resignation of the president. On Wednesday, August 15, Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez responded: “He can keep the endorsement to himself, let’s just follow the Constitution.” Duterte has been supportive of the younger Marcos although the former senator was not his running mate in the 2016 elections. The Davao City mayor ran alongside Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, now Foreign Affairs secretary. (Philstar.com)
NBA permits Jordan Clarkson to play... PAGE A1 along with two Chinese NBA players, Zhou Qi of the Houston Rockets and Ding Yanyuhang of the Dallas Mavericks, in this year’s Asian Games, which will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia. In an agreement with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the NBA said that its players may partake in the Olympics, the FIBA Basketball World Cup the Continental Cup and other associated tournaments, but the Asian Games are not one of them. However, the NBA said in a statement that “due to lack of clear communication of that agreement between the NBA and the Chinese and Philippines Basketball Federations, and after further discussions with both Federations, the NBA has agreed to provide this one-time exception.” The NBA’s decision to allow Clarkson, who was on the Los
Angeles Lakers from 2014-2018, to play in the games is historic; since its origin in 1951, no NBA player has been allowed to participate. Since his college days, Clarkson has been eyed by the Philippine men’s national basketball team to recruit him. In 2015, Clarkson was invited to the Philippines to oversee training for the Gilas Pilipinas program, and he has maintained a close relationship with the global Filipino community. “The action of the NBA will no doubt cheer the hearts of Filipinos here and all over the world,” the Philippines’ national basketball federation said in a statement. Clarkson, who holds dual citizenship in the Philippines and the United States, expressed joy to the news that he would be representing his maternal grandmother’s native country. “PUSO! My heart is full of gratitude for everyone who helped make this happen. See you all
very soon!” Clarkson wrote on Facebook. Behind the Olympics, the Asian Games, often referred to as the Asiad, is the largest multi-sport event in the world. Held every four years, the Asian Games bring together athletes from all over Asia to compete in 51 sports spanning nearly 400 events. The Philippines basketball team initially withdrew from the Asian Games after 10 of its first-team players and two coaches received suspensions and fines following an on-court brawl with Australia at a qualifying game for the World Cup last month. However, the Office of President Rodrigo Duterte intervened and the withdrawal was later reversed. Clarkson will be one of 26 players on the Philippines’ basketball team, which will face off against China in the preliminary round of the tournament on Thursday, Aug. 16. The Asian Games will be held from Aug. 14 to Sept. 2. n
DBM chief ensures pork free...
PAGE A1 “I’m consistent here. Our budget is consistent with the Supreme Court decision,” he added. Pork barrel funds, according to the Supreme Court, violated the principle of separation of powers between the legislative and the executive department. Such funds permit lawmakers to come up with projects after the national budget is approved. Diokno assured that this time it would be different. Lawmakers now had to come up with projects before a national budget is passed. He also reiterated that it is different from the lump-sum allocations. The budget chief emphasized that the lawmakers now had to convince the department that the amount they request is rational. He said that one can get as much as P200-million “depending on whether you are hardworking and you are able to convince the
respective department to justify” the request for funding for their legislative district. Diokno also responded to the criticisms hurled at President Rodrigo Duterte. Many of the leader’s critics believed that pork barrel might return following Arroyo’s speakership wrestle with Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez. “President Duterte is not [Arroyo]. He is very strong in [his] anti-corruption [drive],” Diokno said. He also insisted that the budget will not be in any way similar to pork barrel. “These are projects that are supposed to benefit residents of those districts. They are not pork barrel. Call it [by] any other name, but not pork barrel,” he maintained. Diokno promised that the National Expenditure Program will abide by the constitution. He also
Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno
assured that he will not “do what they did.” “Coming to an election year,” he said, “that speaks volume of what we can do with the money. But I tell you we will not do what they did. We will stick by the rules.” n
House clears former Pres. Aquino... PAGE A1 vaccination program and even expanded it to Central Visayas. The two committees also noted that there was a rush in the acquisition of the vaccines. The dengue vaccination program, according to them, “disregarded existing laws, rules and regulations.” The two panels decided that the effectivity and safety of Dengvaxia remained “under review and study.” The Dengvaxia controversy started when a number of children who received dengue vaccines were reported dead. Several sectors believed that those children died because of Dengvaxia. As of April 2018, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 62 deaths. The committees have yet to conclude whether the government’s immunization program caused the fatalities. However, they noted that proper authorities are handling the situation. “There is no conclusive finding that Dengvaxia directly caused the death of inoculated patients.
Cases have been filed and are pending before various jurisdictions to settle the issue,” the report said. Sanofi, the drug’s manufacturer, continued to stand by the product’s efficacy and safety. The report cited that the World Health Organization (WHO) approved of the vaccine but pointed out that there were risks for sero-negative persons or those with no prior dengue infections. “Dengvaxia is believed to be effective only on person seropositive (with prior dengue), the committee said. The house panels recommended the filing of “administrative and criminal cases against government officials, employees, and private individuals” responsible for the procurement of the said vaccine. Among those with pending charges were the former president Aquino, former health secretary Janette Garin and former budget secretary Florencio Abad. The draft report did not fly by without objections. Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado and
Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bagao asked for a one-day delay in order to read it. They rescheduled the approval on Wednesday, August 15. 1.2 billion for Dengvaxia victims The committee on appropriations chairman and Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles urged the Senate to approve the 1.2 billion supplemental budget for victims of the dengue vaccination program. The House of Representatives passed the budget last June. “My appeal is for senators to approve it before we go on recess this weekend. The Department of Health (DOH) has started patient check-ups and fieldwork in communities where children were administered Dengvaxia vaccination, so they need this budget that is exclusively allocated for such purpose,” Nograles said. Nograles also said that part of the money would be used to seek all 900,000 children who went through the vaccination program to establish “baseline study and medical profile.” n
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PH Air Force receives P807-m monitoring system from US
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 16-22, 2018
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by AJPRESS THE United States gave the Philippine Air Force a Special Airborne Mission Installation and Response (SABIR) system worth P807 million on Tuesday, August 14, at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City. In a report from GMA News, Department of National Defense (DND) secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the surveillance system will cover the regions surrounding the country. “For patrolling the West Philippine Sea, the East Philippine Sea, Philippine Rise and Sulu Sea; this is actually what I was telling you a while ago about the gap in our surveillance capabilities. Now we have it,” Lorenzana said. SABIR is a “bolt-on, bolt off” avionics module that will serve as the Air Force’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system for the C-130 Hercules aircraft. In a report from Rappler, the U.S. government in a turnover ceremony donated the module that “upgrades the aircraft with advanced command and control, communications, computer, and surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities without sacrificing the aircraft’s primary function as a cargo plane.” United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim expressed the desires of the U.S. government to aid and support the country’s armed forces. “We have a long-standing partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we have great respect for the AFP so we wanna do our part as friend, partner, and
NEW SYSTEM. Philippine Air Force personnel check the newly installed Special Airborne Mission Installation and Response (Sabir) system to C-130 aircraft during the acceptance, blessing, and turnover of the Sabir system at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay on Tuesday, August 14. According to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the Sabir system given by the United States will increase the PAF’s capability to monitor the West Philippine Sea, Benham Rise and Sulu Sea. The Sabir system is worth P340 million. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina
allies to support the modernization efforts, in all sense particularly in the area of intelligence and reconnaissance, surveillance,” Kim said. The U.S. Embassy also noted that SABIR “will increase the Philippine military’s maritime domain awareness, airborne command and control, counter terrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) capabilities.” In a report from The Manila Times, the ambassador also noted several other uses of the SABIR system which includes countering illegal drugs in the country — the top priority of the Duterte administration. The SABIR system is part of
the U.S. government’s Maritime Security initiative for Southeast Asian nations. Air Force Spokesperson Major Aristides Galang Jr. said that it will be operated by the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing. Aside from SABIR, the U.S. government also donated other military equipment such as ScanEagle drones and Cessna planes to support the modernization program of the armed forces. Lorenzana stated that SABIR will be used once in a while only, but he cited other assets such as the aforementioned ScanEagle drones from U.S. and the TC planes from Japan that was donated to the Philippine Navy. ■
Wyoming officials refuse to return... PAGE A1 U.S. Embassy noting that he hopes it would happen but would still wait on the official word. Two of the bells of Balangiga are at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The third is with the United States Army in South Korea. A year ago, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodrigo Duterte has called for their return. “They are ours. They belong to the Philippines. They are part of our national heritage,” the president said.
The story behind Balangiga bells In 1901, the U.S. Army soldiers took the bells after an attack killed 48 American troops during the U.S. occupation of the Philippines. In retaliation, the U.S. ordered its troops to turn Samar into a “howling wilderness.” Over 2,500 Filipinos were killed during the attacks. The Philippines has been trying to have the bells returned even way back during Fidel Ramos’ administration. Years after, a petition for their return was revived in the wake of Typhoon
Yolanda in 2013. Samar was among the islands devastated by the super typhoon. In 2016, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point sent back a bell also taken in 1901 to the Saints Peter and Paul Church in Bauang, La Union, according to a report on Stars and Stripes, a newspaper for the U.S. military community. “Bells were routinely taken as souvenirs, but at times they were removed for a military purpose – to prevent them from being melted down to make weapons,” Stars and Stripes said. (AJPress)
NO PROVINCIAL BUSES ON EDSA. A lady enforcer of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) signals a bus to accelerate along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) corner North Road in Quezon City on Wednesday, August 15. The agency started its implementation of the provincial bus ban along the major thoroughfare during rush hour. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Fil-Am community mourns the death of historian... PAGE A1 She graduated from Edison High School and San Joaquin Delta College. Fresh out of college in 1999, she, along with Dillon Delvo, co-founded Little Manila Foundation to help save the last remaining buildings and residents of Stockton’s Little Manila. Mabalon went on to receive a master’s degree in Asian American studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in history from Stanford University. Following her childhood aspirations to become a writer, she authored two books about Filipino-American history: “Filipinos in Stockton” (2008) and “Little Manila Is in the Heart: The Making of the Filipina/o American Community in Stockton, California” (2013), which was born from her doctoral thesis at Stanford. The latter book — for which she received an honorable mention for the Frederick Jackson Turner Award by the Organization of American Historians — traced the growth of Stockton’s Fil-Am community, the formation of Little Manila and efforts to preserve it. Her writings were based on oral histories, archives, as well as stories from the generation of her father, Ernest Tirona Mabalon, who passed away at 79 while she was writing the book. Her paternal grandfather, Pablo “Ambo”
Mablaon, ran a popular Fil-Am diner, the Lafayette Lunch Counter, in the heart of Little Manila. In the introduction of her book, Dawn Mabalon wrote how she read “America Is in the Heart” in college and soon found out that the author Carlos Bulosan used her grandfather’s diner as his permanent address in Stockton. The diner was later demolished in 1999, prompting Mabalon to explore the community’s Dawn Mabalon on the cover of Asian Journal’s SF Magazine on history. Her maternal August 2, 2013. grandmother, Concepcion More- write.” no Bohulano, who was the counLast October, Mabalon retry’s first Filipina school teacher ceived a bronze replica of the also served as a source. Congressional Gold Medal in “They always said I was the lit- Washington, DC on behalf of her tle girl who wanted to be a writer. late father, who fought in World It took a lot of twists and turns War II. and it wasn’t exactly the way I Over the weekend, Stockton wanted it. I hope it honors them,” held its annual Barrio Fiesta event, Mabalon said in an interview with with the Little Manila Foundation The Record in 2013. “Their sac- and other community members rifices made it possible that their paying tribute to Mabalon. children and grandchildren could “Dawn had represented the do whatever they wanted to do. best of Stockton and she will be Their sacrifices meant I could missed very much,” Lange Luncreate a life to read, teach and u PAGE A4
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New report: 80 percent of Americans support a national paid family leave mandate Ethnic minorities draw in lower incomes on average compared to white families, national paid family leave would alleviate financial difficulties for families of color, report says by KlaRize
Medenilla AJPress
The United States of America is one of four countries in the world, and the only developed nation, that don’t have a federally mandated paid family leave (PFL) program. Some states like California, hawaii and New York have established their own programs for PFL, which allows working individuals to take paid time off for pregnancy and care for a newborn or to take care of a family member with a serious illness. establishing a national PFL program has been a political talking point, especially among Democrats and leftists who have pushed for a federally mandated PFL. And a majority of Americans agree, according to a new study from the National Partnership for Women and Families (NPFW) released on Thursday, Aug. 9. eight out of 10 Americans of all political leanings support a comprehensive national PFL policy that would cover all employed people (who comprise 84 percent of people). The survey also found that six out of 10 registered voters said they would endure “serious financial hardship” if they had to take a few months off of work for family or medical reasons without pay.
The report released by NPFW found that low-income families of color, in particular, would greatly benefit from a national PFL program. In times of need, people of color generally draw in less income; white families take home $140,500 in wealth on average while Latino and black families draw in $6,300 and $3,400 in wealth on average, respectively. “It’s clear that women and people of color need and will benefit from paid family and medical leave, but the policy details matter,” said Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership, in a statement released Thursday. “I am encouraged to see more and more policymakers across the political spectrum looking for ways to provide paid leave, which supports women, working families and the economy, but in order to be effective, any new policy must recognize the discriminatory, structural barriers that penalize people of color and especially women of color.” Ness added: “A poorly-designed paid leave program that does not place the needs of women of color at the forefront risks excluding the very people who may face the greatest barriers to taking leave.” Many lawmakers and advocates for a federal PFL program see the issue as economic injus-
tice and also as a form of racial injustice. While the economic plight of the black and Latino communities is well-known, there is very little attention given to Asian and Native American families, many of whom also face drastic income and wealth challenges. The NPWF acknowledges this in their report and cites the ways in which the Census Bureau tallies the Asian American community as “oversimplified,” which contributes to the notion that the Asian American community — which comprises of more than 200 different cultures and countless subcultures — is a singular demographic. “The lack of disaggregated data for Asians means that the economic status of people with ancestry from nearly 50 countries is oversimplified,” the report reads. “The Census Bureau’s broad category “Asian” masks the diversity of communities that fall under that label, and wealth and income inequality within the category is substantial and growing.” While the top 10 percent of Asian and Asian Americans generally make more money than the top percent of white Americans, the bottom 10 percent of Asians and Asian Americans have far less wealth than the bottom quintile of white Americans. n
Philippines with the U.S. Special Operations task force. Transfiguracion was selected for Special Forces training after returning from those two deployments and was assigned as engineer sergeant to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. he was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2018. Members of the U.S. Army’s Special Forces are also called Green Berets because of the distinctive military headgear they wear. Transfiguracion’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Unit Commendation,
Bronze Star, two Purple hearts, Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge, the Army Times reported. he was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class and awarded the Bronze Star, Purple heart and Meritorious Service Medal. According to reports, Transfiguracion was the fifth American military service member to be killed in Afghanistan this year. (Helen Flores/Philstar.com)
Fil-Am Army Green Beret dies in Afghanistan A FILIPINO-AMeRICAN member of the U.S. Army’s Green Berets has died from wounds sustained in an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion, 36, of Waikoloa, hawaii, sustained injuries while on combat patrol in helmand province in southern Afghanistan on Aug. 7, according to ABC News. Born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Transfiguracion enlisted in the hawaii National Guard in July 2001, serving as a motor transport operator. In 2008, the Green Beret was deployed to Afghanistan and the
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SENATE COMMENDS LITTLE LEAGUE. Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III on Wednesday, August 15 presents a copy of Senate Resolution 842, commending the members of the Tanauan Little League for being crowned as the 2018 Senior Softball World Series champions after defeating Texas District 9 Little League with a 7-0 win held at Bruce Layton Field in Lower Sussex, Delaware on August 6, 2018. Joining Sotto are (from left) Senators Sonny Angara and Joel Villanueva, who introduced the resolution. Also in photo are Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon. S enate photo by Jun David
Legal immigrants may be rejected permanent residency if they’ve used certain welfare programs About 3.8 million Asians and Pacific Islanders rely on forms of public benefit
by Rae
ann VaRona AJPress
The White house may go forth with a rule change that would give legal immigrants looking to gain permanent residency a much harder time if they have ever used certain popular welfare programs. The Trump administration has been reviewing the proposal that would curb permanent residency for months, and reports are saying the an official announcement of the policy may come soon. The move would be among the latest made by White house adviser Stephen Miller who has long been working to restrain legal immigration. And because the underlying law would remain the same, such a move would not require congressional approval. Currently, immigrants are allowed to have their residency status rejected if they are seen to be a financial burden to the U.S. government, or a “public charge” — a term that has been used in immigration law since the 1800s. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services defines a public charge as “an individual who is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for substance, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense.” But recent forms of the draft rule — though still being hashed out — include in its definition those who have used (or has had anyone in their household) use programs like children’s health insurance, food stamps, income tax credits, non-emergency uses of Medicaid, and even Affordable Care Act subsidies. News of the potential policy change first came out in February
by Reuters and Vox. In March, the Washington Post released a copy of the full draft proposal. Department of homeland Security officials responded by saying that while the proposal wasn’t final, the administration wanted to ensure “that foreign nationals seeking to enter or remain in the U.S. are self-sufficient,” in order to protect American taxpayers. But advocates now are emphasizing that the proposed changes are not yet final, and are encouraging families to continue using public benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps, and other energy, transportation, and housing programs. “The benefits families use now will not affect green card applicants because the public charge rule has not been finalized and it will be retroactive,” said Asian Americans Advancing Justice Los Angeles (Advancing Justice - LA) in a statement. Should the Trump administration release proposed changes to the public charge rule, there will be a period to submit comments about the rule before it is finalized. Legal immigrants of the U.S. The United States has more immigrants than any other country in the world with numbers climbing towards a new historic high after years of increase, according to nonpartisan fact tank Pew Research Center. In 2015, the number of foreignborn people in the U.S. reached a record 43.2 million. Today, immigrants make up for 13.4 percent of the total U.S. population — the highest it’s ever been since the 1890s. According to Pew Research, most immigrants are also in the U.S. legally. Based on 2015 numbers, that’s 76-percent of immigrants. Lawyers and advocates say
that if the policy were to be finalized, millions of legal immigrants would find themselves having to sacrifice some basic needs for themselves and their families. Take the quickly growing Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, for example. “About 3.8 million Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrants live in families that have relied on some form of public benefit to make ends meet,” heng Lam Foong, health Access Project Senior Policy Manager at Advancing Justice - Los Angeles, told the Asian Journal in an email. “The Trump Administration’s proposed public charge rules would force families to choose between meeting basic needs like putting food on the table or seeing a doctor and maintaining immigration status,” she added. Focused more on the policy’s effect on health care, experts are seeing it as a public health crisis. A recent study by The New England Journal of Medicine found that an estimated one million non citizens would potentially become uninsured as a result. “If this rule takes effect, it will most likely harm the health of millions of people and undo decades of work by providers nationwide to increase access to medical care for immigrants and their families,” reported the study. Currently health insurance programs like Medicaid, the Children’s health Insurance Program, or the Affordable Care Act are not considered for public charge purposes. Neither are housing benefits, child care services, emergency assistance, educational assistance, or job training programs among others. “Families should continue to use benefits as they need,” said Foong. n
Fil-Am community mourns the death of historian... PAGE A3 tao, a Little Manila Foundation board member, told The Record. “her research on the Filipino/a neighborhoods and community members in Stockton inspired scholars from around the world and put on the map in a positive way. There’s a lot of work to do to continue her legacy and highlight Stockton’s rich and diverse history.” As the news of her death spread, Mabalon’s colleagues and friends took to social media to express their grief and devastation. Some of them used the hashtag #DawnMabalonisinTheheart, in reference to her book “Little Manila is in the heart.” “This is a great loss for all of us, as she gave the world to her family, friends, and our community,” said Allyson Tintangco-Cubales, Mabalon’s fellow professor at San Francisco State University. Cubales, on behalf of Mabalon’s family also started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to cover her funeral and memorial costs. It has raised over $60,000 in two days. Dr. Kevin Nadal, Mabalon’s friend for 15 years and a fellow trustee of the Filipino American National historical Society (FANhS), shared, “Dr. Dawn Mabalon was a fierce Pinay scholar who positively impacted so many lives - from the students in her classes to the people who read her books to the community members who listened to her talks on Filipino American history.” he added, “As the National Scholar of FANhS, she was the gatekeeper of Filipino American history - the ‘go to’ manang/ate who seemed to know everything. her friends will miss her sharp wit, her infectious laughter, her vast knowledge on innumerable topics, and her passionate
loyalty for the people she cared about most. Our hearts are broken and the world will never be the same.” The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) worked with Mabalon and her collection of home movies as part of its “Memories to Light: Asian American home Movies” initiative. “Dawn’s knowledge of and connection to Filipino American history in Stockton made her a perfect participant in this project, and luckily, she had some home movies to contribute. The film, commissioned by CAAM and made by John Liau, talks about how Stockton was a hub for Filipino American labor activism, with many who worked in the farm fields. Folks like Carlos Bulosan and Larry Itliong came through Dawn’s grandfather’s Filipino restaurant in Stockton,” Jasmine Lee ehrhardt wrote in an article about Mabalon’s donated home movies. Fil-Am rapper Ruby Ibarra wrote in a post, “I will never forget when I first met her, the first thing she told me was, ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’ Since then, she showed me nothing but love and support, often coming out to any event that I was a part of.” Actor Tess Paras was emotional on her post and recalled the impact of Mabalon’s work and activism on many generations to come. “I encourage you to read the books she’s written and learn about the historical sites she’s helped preserve, the marginalized voices she amplified, and the Filipino American history presentation she was due to give at the U.S. Civil Rights Commission in Washington D.C. this very week. her legacy is widespread and undoubtedly everlasting,” Paras wrote. In his own post, labor leader
Gregory Cendana recalled a particular night after the FANhS conference in New York in 2016. “hundreds of us were on a boat cruise for the gala and towards the end of the night, the DJ started playing multiple 90s jams in a row. I was on the dance floor and turned to see Dawn taking pictures and encouraging me, ‘Are you about to get hyphy? Get it. Show them how it’s done.’ Little did she know that gave me the permission needed to break it down in my Barong Tagalog. It was a moment I felt so free,” Cendana wrote. he added, “ever since the moment I met Dawn, she spoke truth to power, lit up any room she was in with her smile and laughter and helped people live their best lives. May we do what we can to build on her legacy.” In an interview with the Asian Journal in 2013, she shared that it was her hope to reach out to other Filipinas/os around the world to tell their stories. “…Whether you arrived in 2010 or your great-grandparents came as sugar workers to hawaii in 1907, we are part of a long and proud history of Filipinas/os in America who have built this country with our sweat and our hard work and our brains. We are building Little Manilas all around the world just like the Manongs and Manangs did in the 1920s, and it is all part of this long and proud history of struggle and hope,” she told the Asian Journal. “Whether you’re in Daly City or Queens, Dubai, Rome, or Stockton, it’s important to learn where we all came from and the communities that pioneers built before us, and learn how they faced challenges, to learn how to solve the problems that our communities are facing today. (AJPress)
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Dateline PMorehiliPPines groups back economic managers
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on federalism government apprehensions
shift to federal form of govern- added. ment,” the groups said. Earlier, the seven business “Both the private and public g ro u p s s a i d t h e w o u l d - b e MANILA — Nineteen more sectors cannot be perceived as multi-level government under groups have expressed their lacking in resolve on the fis- a federal system is expected support for the economic man- cal front, seeing how financial to incur costs amounting to agers and joined the call to markets are so sensitive,” they PAGE A7 Congress to carefully consider the costs of moving to a federal system of government. The latest groups to join the call are Alyansa Agrikultura, Asia Pacific Real Estate Association, Bankers Association of the Philippines, Foundation for Economic Freedom, Institute of Corporate Directors, Investment House Association of the Philippines, Judicial Reform Initiative, National Real Estate Association, Organizations of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines and People Management Association of the Philippines. Other groups are the Philippine Constructors Association, Philippine Institute of Certified Atty. Kimberley Atty. Moonee Public Accountants, Philippine Schaefer Lee Women’s Economic Network, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc., Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines, Subdivision and Housing Developers Association, Tax Management with our flexible immigration assistance options Association of the Philippines, for green cards, fiance visas, immigrant visas, UP School of Economics Alumni Association and Women’s Busicitizenship, and waivers ness Council Philippines. Seven business groups –Cebu Business Club, Employers ConSchedule a free federation of the Philippines, consultation appointment at Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Makati Business ImmigrationNevada.com/Consultation-Appointment/ Club, Management Association or call (702) 844-6945 of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. – earlier issued a joint statement urging legislators to study the implications of the shift to federalism on the country’s finances. Learn more about your immigration options “At this time when financial markets in developing countries with our free immigration guides at are being roiled following the ImmigrationNevada.com/Free difficulties of Venezuela and Turkey, it is all the more imporAddress: 701 N. Green Valley Parkway, Ste 200 tant that all sectors are seen as solidly behind the call of our Henderson, NV 89074 economic managers for fiscal ImmigrationNevada.com prudence, more dialogues and a Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/groups/VisaCasePrep/ well-considered approach in the by LoueLLa
DesiDerio Philstar.com
STRANDED COMMUTERS. Hundreds of commuters along Marcos Highway in Antipolo City have a difficult time finding a ride on Tuesday, August 14. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Follow Constitution, VP camp says on Duterte’s succession remark by Gaea
Katreena Philstar.com
CabiCo
MANILA — The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo clapped back at President Rodrigo Duterte for once again expressing doubts about her competence to lead the country. This, after the chief executive floated the scenario of him stepping down from his post or being ousted by the military. “I am hesitant to suggest a constitutional succession. I have nothing against Robredo. She’s a lawyer. You have heard her talk. But I do not think she can improve on anything here,” Duterte, who is sworn to uphlod the Constitution, said Tuesday, August 14. He claimed that the vice president’s bailiwick, Naga City, has been a “hotbed of shabu.” He added he prefers a junta — a council or committee, sometimes composed of the military — to lead the country. In 2017, Duterte floated and then eventually abandoned the idea of declaring the creation of a “revolutionary government” where all positions in government would be considered vacant.
The supposed plan prompted criticism from opposition and activist groups who raised concerns that it would lead to the expansion of martial law or to one-man rule. The president later clarified that he would only set up a revolutionary government if “things go out of control” and the government is in danger of being overthrown violently. Robredo spokesman: What competence? Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesperson and a former Akbayan lawmaker, in response, turned the tables and questioned the competence of former and current officials of the Duterte administration. “The ‘competent’ people according to the president: [former] Tourism secretary who did nothing but engage in corruption, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council head who disappeared when there is flooding [and] National Food Authority chief whose rice supply has been depleted,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English. Gutierrez added: “He can keep the endorsement to himself, let’s
just follow the Constitution.” In a tweet, Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list) also said that Robredo is the rightful successor to the presidency “regardless of the competence and opinion of Duterte.” The 1987 Constitution states that in case of death, permanent disability, removal from office or resignation of the president, the vice president shall become the president and serve the unexpired term. Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now speaker of the House, became president in 2001 when President Joseph Estrada was considered to have resigned from office after days of protests. This is not the first time that President Duterte has hinted at leaving office — he has said it to promote the push for federalism and the passage of what is now known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law — nor is it the first time that he has cast doubt on the vice president’s competence. “I will not resign because it will make her president,” Duterte said in July, citing her supposed incompetence. n
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OPINION
This time, will it work?
FEATURES
TRAFFIC managers tried this several years ago: a ban on vehicles with only one occupant from certain thoroughfares. The idea was to encourage carpooling and reduce vehicle density in the traffic-choked streets of Metro Manila. This time, with even more vehicles and with public works projects under construction in several areas, the Metro Manila Council, composed of mayors of the mega city, is dusting off the driver-only scheme for implementation during rush hours along EDSA. Harried motorists and commuters may be willing to try anything to ease traffic along the busiest thoroughfare in Metro Manila. The mayors, however, should also consider points raised by opponents of the scheme. One is that it will have no impact on the wealthy who are either driven around by chauffeurs, or who can bring along their household employees in their cars. Another is that because of the heat, most private vehicles in this country are tinted, so how efficient can traffic enforcers be in implementing the ban? The first time the scheme was implemented, drivers used makeshift dummies and propped them up in the backseat. A senator has also raised concern about the emergence of paid car jockeys or passengers for hire, which could lead to criminal assaults. There is general agreement about the need to ease traffic congestion on EDSA, where an average of nearly 370,000 vehicles passed daily in
2017. Of that number, single-occupancy vehicles reportedly accounted for 60 to 70 percent. The Metro Manila Council wants to ban driver-only vehicles from the thoroughfare during weekdays from 7 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. A weeklong dry run starts on Aug. 15. While trying out the scheme, traffic managers should not lose focus on the most important aspect, which is effective law enforcement. Public buses in particular continue to linger too long at various stops throughout EDSA as they unload or wait for passengers, occupying several lanes and blocking intersections. Mayors must crack down on traffic enforcers who look the other way for a fee. The mayors can also meet with bus operators to put an end to the quota system, which compels drivers to wait forever at various stops to pack buses with as many passengers as possible, because their earnings depend on the number of passengers they pick up. Public support for measures such as the driver-only scheme comes easier if people see that other issues are being addressed to ease traffic gridlocks. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS MANY KABABAYANS who voted for President Donald Trump tell me that they support him because they believe in his fight against undocumented immigrants. These Filipinos lament that they followed the laws, waited in line, paid their dues and it would be unfair if those who entered and are staying in the United States illegally would bypass those still in line, steal American jobs, and partake in the benefits paid for by their hard earned money. They contend that so long as Filipinos have the “papeles” (papers), they have nothing to be afraid of because Trump supports legal immigration. Well, think again. Trump’s rhetoric and action before the election, the people he surrounds himself with, the advisers and aides he hired, and the news media he subscribes to and believes in could very well be indicators that he may not love you as much as you adore him. As the Trump administration rolls out its proposals to overhaul America’s broken immigration system, you now realize he is not just running after the undocumented immigrants but is gearing up to limit LEGAL immigration into the United States. Let me focus on two important issues
PeaceMaker FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. (Part 2 of 2)
TWO months earlier we had visited Tehran, and we raised the chances of perhaps an almost impossible dream: we said Allah could certainly bless a dream of centuries: a reunion of Islam’s great Sunni and Shiite populations, akin to Christianity’s Catholic and Protestant wings whose sometimes bloody conflicts raged for centuries in Europe but in God’s time, finally reached a settlement. As we had pointed out in an earlier column, the last bitter isolated battles between Catholic and Protestant partisans were in Northern Ireland but these had come to an end with the Good Friday Agreement, assisted by U.S. mediation, signed amidst great sighs of joy some two decades
Philstar.com photo
If you support Trump because of illegal immigration and think he will protect you because you came here with ‘papeles,’ think again for now. Earlier, Trump pushed to end family-based petition, the immigration policy implemented by past administrations — Republicans and Democrats — in honor of the long-held value that family members should live together and not be broken apart. Family-based petitions make “family reunification” possible, a benefit recently enjoyed by no less than the parents of First Lady Melania Trump. BUT Trump now refers to “family reunification” as “chain migration” and said during his January 2018 State of the Union Address: “The fourth and final pillar protects the nuclear family by ending chain migration. Under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives. Under our plan, we focus on the immediate family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children. This vital reform is necessary, not just for our economy, but for our security, and for the future of America.” This impacts a lot of Filipino families who rely on family members for support as they navigate their life here in America. Many lolos and lolas are the ones who take care of the young kids as the husband and wife both need to
work to pay for their bills. Some need ate and kuya to help out in taking care of their ailing and aging parents. Most kababayans also want to give their children a sense of extended family and have the grandparents, uncles, aunties, cousins around just like how we place value on family togetherness and traditions in the Philippines. These family members who are approved for immigration to the U.S. go through strict background checks to make sure they would not be a burden to society. They work or give domestic and moral support to their family who petitioned them. They also pay taxes and contribute to the coffers of the nation. BUT NO, if Trump would have it his way, family reunification is not important and family-based petitions should go. Another proposal by the Trump administration is to deny citizenship to green card holders — immigrants living legally in the U.S. who have ever used or whose household members have ever used Obamacare, children’s health insurance, food stamps and other benefits could be hindered from obtaining legal status in the U.S. Immigration lawyers and advocates and public health researchers point out that this move
“would be the biggest change to the legal immigration system in decades and estimate that more than 20 million immigrants could be affected,” including many Filipinos, particularly immigrants who are working double or even triple jobs that don’t pay enough to support their families. Also vulnerable will be families who have been victims of the deep recession caused by the greed of many capitalists and policymakers. Even those immigrants who sought public assistance for their American-born children will be at risk. These people have been paying taxes, contributing to Social Security and Medicare, and yet just because they were in the unfortunate situation of having to rely on public benefits as their lifeline, they are now deemed as “pabigat” and should therefore be denied citizenship and have their legal status and future in the United States be in limbo? Trump claims he is “the least racist of all people.” WHAT A LIE! He looks down on people of color. He demonizes and vilifies immigrants. He calls them obscene and derogatory labels, questions their intelligence, values, undermines their importance in the greatness and growth of this nation. He looks at them as security risks. He dis-
criminates against them. He is quick to attack immigrants, people of color and those who support them, but defends white people when they are the ones who cause violence and break the rules and laws of the land. He even appointed a lot of them to office just because they are white or rich, or because they speak great things about him and are loyal to him. Many of them have been in the news for corruption, undisclosed ties with foreign governments including our adversaries, and are facing charges. So what is in Trump’s heart? During his trip to England and in a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May, Trump warned European leaders that they “better watch themselves” because a wave of immigration is “changing the culture” of their countries. “I think it’s a very negative thing for Europe. I think it’s very negative,” Trump said. “And I know it’s politically not necessarily correct to say that, but I’ll say it and I’ll say it loud.” Trump is fighting diversity. Trump is threatened by the fact that America is not as white as it used to be, and seems to live in the delusion that they, the white people, are the ones who own America when in fact, they too are descendants of immigrants and
asylum seekers from Europe. Perhaps FOX News — the cable news channel Trump doesn’t call “fake news” because they think the same way — articulated what racist people have been thinking and feeling through Laura Ingraham. “In some parts of the country, it does seem like the America we know and love doesn’t exist anymore...Massive demographic changes have been foisted upon the American people,” Laura Ingraham said. “Much of this is related to both illegal and in some cases legal immigration that, of course, progressives love.” DO YOU SHARE THIS SENTIMENT, Kababayans? I hope you do not because the truth is, America is great because of its diversity. This means you and I — we people of color and we immigrants — make this country great through the richness of our heritage and the content of our character, and the values we hold dear. We make this country great through our vision, hard work, integrity. Never forget this TRUTH. *** 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
Victory in Cambodia polls and need for unity gov’t, 4 premiers unite in Nepal, middle class Filipinos in US ago on April 10, 1998. Iran leads the Muslim Shiite wing, supported by Iraq, Syria, the majority in Lebanon, and substantial groups in Yemen, the latter wracked today by civil war; while the Muslim Sunnis are at present actively led by the rich oil producers, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait; and by Jordan, Egypt and others. Tiny but big oil producer Qatar is restrained by the Saudi-led Gulf Arabs and Oman is Iran- inclined but quiet. On both sides of the Persian Gulf, Arab Gulf to the Arabs, there is a continuing state of unease, tension, and on occasion on the Syrian side, bloody battles, that are close, we hope not, to dangerously involving Israeli troops in larger warfare. After some work at home, we expect to visit Saudi Arabia,
where as we wrote earlier, in the old days we pioneered as prime contractors and not as labor suppliers, competing at the time with some of the better Europe and U.S. companies in the world, operating the port of Jeddah on the Red Sea and the port of Jubail on the Persian Gulf; drilled and discovered onshore oil in the Emirate of Ajman in the United Arab Emirates, the first Filipino drilling initiative with Arab partners overseas; pioneered in Kuwait and Iraq with highways and housing, until we were trapped by the Iraq-Iran war in Basrah, at the boundaries of Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and languished there in the early years of the Iraq-Iran war, when we were later finally able at great loss to repatriate more than 1,000 of our Filipino workers and management teams.
The Iraq-Iran war had caused us unimaginable crises and suffering. Our Filipino workers were not paid and there was constant wailing over the years and we were almost driven to bankruptcy from 1982 to 1990, when again the Second Gulf War broke out, as U.S. and Allied troops came to the rescue of Kuwait to oust Saddam Hussein’s invading Iraqis, and we had completely then lost some $40-million of our roadbuilding, transport and infrastructure equipment in the wars. Those were our most difficult years of tragedy and hell, after years of business success in the Arab world: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates, and in Libya in North Africa. We were finally able to fully pay our thousands of Filipino workers, middle managers and
executives after we won a hardfought, almost two years of legal battles in London and New York and collected payment from our insurers, the Lloyds of London and other U.S. insurance groups with hardly a little left for us, the shareholders. But nevertheless we were thankful to our international lawyers, the renowned White and Case of the U.S., perhaps the leading law firm in the world, which handled and won our case on a rare contingency basis, supported by the prestigious European investment bank, Lazard Brothers. From the start of our operations, we were the biggest overseas foreign exchange earners at the time for the Philippine Central Bank, that then C.B. Governor Gregorio Licaros flew to Jeddah to honor us with a visit to thank our thousands of Filipino work-
ers in the cities of Jeddah, Jubail, Riyadh, Yanbu, and Gizan. But our greatest joy as pioneers is that we were able to pave the way in succeeding years until today for the employment since 1975 of tens of millions of Filipinos in the Middle East and their movement later, across the Suez Canal, into the Mediterranean and into Europe as executives, skilled workers, engineers, teachers, doctors, and nurses. They are a successful sequel to the pioneering, intrepid Filipino workers who journeyed to and worked in the farmlands of Hawaii and California, and the fish canneries of Alaska more than 110 years ago, and who today number perhaps more than 3.5million and who have become executives or largely attained respected middle-class status in the United States of America. ■
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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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 16-22, 2018
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‘Filipino pilots ready to die for West Philippine Sea’ by Alexis
RomeRo Philstar.com
MANILA — Filipino pilots are ready to die asserting the country’s sovereignty, Malacañang said on Monday, August 13, after a Philippine plane flying near a Chinesebuilt artificial island in the West Philippine Sea defied warnings from the Chinese military. London-based British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) has released a video showing a Philippine military aircraft receiving warnings from the Chinese military. The Philippine aircraft, which appeared to be patrolling near China’s man-made islands, was asked to “leave immediately” or “bear the responsibility for all the HONORING FE DEL MUNDO. Eliza Bengzon (center), chairwoman of the Fe del Mundo Center Foundation, leads the unveiling ceremony of the consequences.” ‘Legacy Wall’ at the Fe del Mundo Medical Center in Quezon City, which pays tribute to the hospital’s revered founder. The warning was picked up by ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada a US military plane flying near the area, according to BBC. The Chinese military also demanded that the U.S. plane leave the area because China “has sovereignty over the Nansha (Spratly) Islands and adjacent waters.” MANILA — President Rodrigo were molested all of us,” he said. talk about you every day... I will Presidential spokesman Harry Duterte then mocked the end up a pastor also buy my own Roque said he has not received Duterte on Tuesday, August 14, broke anew his promise to refrain Church’s veneration of saints, plane,” the president said. information about the incident He also repeated his joke about from criticizing the Catholic Church, individuals who are considered hurling fresh tirades at the religious by Catholics as models of the establishing his own religious faith. He singled out St. Isidore, group Iglesia ni Rodrigo. group of majority of Filipinos. “Iglesia ni Rodrigo does not During the launching of an en- the patron of farmers who is very trepreneurship alliance in Malaca- popular in provinces that rely on limit anything. Do not believe in by JomAR CAnlAs hell. If you die you will be a piece ñang, Duterte reiterated that he agriculture. ManilaTimes.net “We are assigned in every pa- of carcass,” Duterte said. has his own concept of God. THe Supreme Court (SC) has Last June, Duterte stirred conHe then asked whether there rochial thing, there’s something. was a bishop in the audience, ‘Yours is San Isidro. Your saint.’ troversy for questioning Christian- set a new schedule on the oral which was composed of busi- And who is this s***? You know, ity’s creation account and saying arguments on a petition filed ness leaders, politicians and they were nomadic tribes at that that God must have been stupid seeking the nullification of the time. Nomadic. Who is this guy for allowing temptation to corrupt Philippine’s withdrawal from the diplomats. Rome Statute of the International “Is there any bishop here? I San Isidro that every town fiesta, his work. After meeting with his long- Criminal Court (ICC). want to kick your a**... and the we kill our cows, carabaos, just to In its Twitter account, the SC spend because it is the fiesta of time friend and Catholic Bishops priest,” the president said. Duterte then rehashed his San Isidro?” the president said, Conference of the Philippines said arguments will be heard allegations against the Church referring to town feasts in honor President Romulo Valles last on August 28 instead of August month, Duterte agreed to refrain 14. including its supposed failure to of the saint. The petitions were filed by SenDuterte then claimed that he from lambasting Catholicism. The account for the money it collected is no longer a Catholic and he president has also apologized for ators Francis Pangilinan, Franklin from the public. He also reiterated that he and is considering joining another his statements about God but Drilon, Paolo Benigno Aquino his classmates were molested by Christian sect. He then joked stressed that religious leaders 4th, Risa Hontiveros and Antonio an American priest in Ateneo de about religious leaders who have should avoid using the pulpit to Trillanes 4th, and the Philippine malign him. (Alexis Romero/Phil- Coalition for the International accumulated wealth. Davao. Criminal Court (PCICC). “When I get out of office, I will star.com) “We studied in Ateneo. We Named respondents were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, UN AmbasPAGE A5 the internationally recognized and dispassionate dialogues on sador Teodoro Locsin Jr. and this proposed shift in form of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel P72 billion up to P130 billion, prudent limit. The groups are of the view government, keeping in mind Salvador Panelo. based on preliminary estimates of the state think tank Philip- that such fiscal imbalance would its long-term impacts on future The two petitions argued that pine Institute for Development have dire consequences on the generations of Filipinos,” the the withdrawal violates the 1987 economy, as well as the govern- groups said. Studies. Constitution. The groups added they are The country’s fiscal deficit is ment’s push for infrastructure The PCICC said the executive estimated to reach 6.7 percent development, particularly the committed to do their part and Department cannot invalidate the of the gross domestic product, flagship Build, Build, Build work with both political and treaty since it can only be voided economic leaders to achieve in- by the Senate or the Supreme higher than the three percent program. “We encourage full, open clusive economic growth. n target of fiscal managers and Court.
Duterte threatens to kick bishops in latest rant against Catholic Church
London-based British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) has released a video showing a Philippine military aircraft receiving warnings from the Chinese military. Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas
but claimed that the refusal of the Philippine plane to heed the warning was “good news.” “Investigation will be conducted, but if the information is true, the good news is our pilots were unfazed. They were intimated but they were not intimidated. They continued flying because we have a territory there,” Roque said at a Palace press briefing. Asked about China’s claim that it has sovereignty over the Spratly group which it calls Nansha, Roque replied, “Well, the Philippine pilots
continued their flights. They disregarded that. They will not stop us. We will continue with our flights. We will assert our sovereignty. And if need be Filipino pilots will die for our sovereignty,” he added. Pressed on China’s threatening the Filipino pilot, Roque replied: “Tatanungin ko po kung totoo iyan. At kung totoo iyan itatanong ko iyong piloto kung minura niya (I will ask whether that’s true. And if it’s true I will ask the pilot if he cursed at the one giving the warning).” n
High court resets oral arguments on ICC case
More groups back economic managers on...
“entering into a treaty or international agreement requires participation of Congress, that is, through concurrence of at least 2/3 of all the members of the Senate,” the senators said. The ICC has heavily criticized
the Duterte administration’s drug campaign. In March, Locsin officially served notice to the UN through a one-page note verbale the government’s decision to withdraw from the Rome Statute. n
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Journal The pursuit of understanding health issues among AAPIs Is it all in the mind? Time By Rae
ann VaRona
Heart disease is among the top health concerns for the AAPI community, affecting some groups more than others. Inquirer.net photo
AJPress
THE growing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population in the U.S. is very diverse — encompassing a large number of unique ethnic identities with their own cultures, languages, and experiences. According to fact tank Pew Research Center, a whopping 20 million Asian Americans trace back to over 20 countries throughout East and Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. The 19 largest origin groups together account for 94 percent of the total Asian population in the U.S. Yet despite the population’s vast diversity, AAPIs often get lumped together into one homogeneous group which can be problematic as not all subgroups have the same experiences. Pew Research Center found, for example, that income inequality in the U.S. to be the greatest among Asians, displacing blacks as the most economically divided ethnic group in the nation. The same is true in the area of health as not all AAPIs experience health concerns in the exact same way. When the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics in 2016 came out with a study that reported Asian Americans doing better in health than the general population, experts took it as an opportunity to highlight the differences between AAPI subgroups. For example, while 16 percent of Asian Americans reported having suffered multiple chronic conditions, 24.1 percent of U.S. total did. But when AAPI subgroups were compared with each other, Filipinos reported suffering multiple chronic conditions at a much higher percentage than its Asian counterparts. Filipino-Americans were found to have reported suffering from multiple chronic conditions such as hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and coronary heart disease
to talk about mental health Unpacking the Filipino community’s rocky relationship with mental illness acceptance by KlaRize
Medenilla
AJPress
at rates higher than other AAPI subgroups. The Fil-Ams’ rate was about doubled that of the Chinese Americans. Just as it is in areas of economic level and education, AAPIs cannot be lumped into one category when discussing issues of health. But there are health issues that have been found to be of concern across all subgroups, despite affecting them differently. Cancer, heart disease, and stroke Cancer rates among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as a whole are generally lower compared to that of non-Hispanic whites, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH). But as one of the leading causes of death within the AAPI community, there are apparent disparities in the types of cancers. Compared to non-Hispanic whites, AAPI men are 40 percent less likely to have prostate cancer, but twice as likely to have stomach cancer, according to OMH. Similarly, despite being less likely to have breast cancer than white women, AAPI women were also twice as likely than white women
to have stomach cancer. AAPIs also have the highest occurrence of liver cancer of any racial group in the U.S. The National Cancer Institute found liver cancer to be prevalent in Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese populations with rates ranging from 1.7 to 11.3 times higher than white Americans. Vietnamese men had the highest rates. Heart disease is also among the top concerns for the AAPI community, affecting some groups more than others. While cancer was a leading cause of death among most AAPI female subgroups, heart disease was the leader among Asian Indian women, according to a study posted in the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Among men, Asian Indian men also saw heart disease as a leading cause of death. The same was found for Filipino and Japanese men. This, despite cancer showing as a leading cause of death for Asian males when looking at the group as a whole. The same study listed stroke as the third leading cause of death among almost every Asian subgroup.
Earlier this year, the American i Association found Asian Americans to be more likely than whites to experience a severe ischemic stroke, adding that the findings were a good first step in the direction of looking into subgroups. Other health issues While cancer, heart disease, and stroke usually claim the top three spots of health issues for AAPIs, many issues remain on the health radar for all subgroups. As the issues of mental health awareness gain traction in the U.S., so too has the issue been increasingly discussed in the AAPI community which has often considered the issue a stigma. The National Latino and Asian American Study found that Asian Americans were three times less likely to seek out mental health services than white Americans. Reasons for stigma have often stemmed from pressure to succeed or live up to the “model minority” stereotype, family obligations based on cultural values or traditions, and the problem of mental health concerns as simply being considered taboo among others. These issues, in addition to challenges with acPAGE B2
HISTORICALLY, the study of mental illness has often been referred to as “abnormal psychology.” But according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 4 people suffer from a mental or neurological disorder in their lifetime, making mental illness far more common than what is suggested by its name. First and foremost, mental illness is exactly that: an illness. Rather than an ailment or injury to the physical body, it’s a broad range of conditions that can affect mood, thinking, productivity, relationships and behavior. But when it comes to mental health, many of us don’t treat it as an illness that needs professional medical care because of the stigmas still associated with mental disorders. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 2.2 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) live with a diagnosable mental disorder. Although Asian Americans report fewer mental health concerns, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 18.9 percent of Asian American high school students report considering suicide compared to 15.5 white students; 10.8 percent of Asian American
high school students said they attempted suicide compared to 6.2 whites. Among Filipinos, like many other cultures, mental health a dicey topic that is often ignored or packed away for fear of indignity and embarrassment within their circles. Even as many Western cultures have rallied for more awareness of the gravity of mental health, the stigma surrounding mental illness among Filipinos persists. But just because it’s not being talked about doesn’t mean it’s not happening. A 2014 report from the Asian American Journal of Psychology found that 13.6 percent of Filipinos are diagnosed with depression, and the CDC found that Filipina mothers are more likely to have “acute depression” and young Filipinas are “more likely” to have suicidal ideations. So knowing all these facts and figures, it’s safe to say that mental health is an extremely important topic to discuss, without judgment, among the Filipino-American community. Whether it’s depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder or familial and relationship struggles, mental and emotional challenges are treatable and individuals with mental illness are able to continue to function in their everyday lives. PAGE B6
Mental illness is exactly that: an illness. Rather than an ailment or injury to the physical body, it’s a broad range of conditions that can affect mood, thinking, productivity, relationships and behavior. Inquirer.net photo
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Back-to-school basics: How to make healthy lunches for kids
Filipino vegetables and fruits pack many impressive nutrients.
Inquirer.net photo
Filling up with Filipino fruits and veggies by Rae
ann VaRona AJPress
Filipino food has, without a doubt, been heating up in the U.S. with Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike enjoying the burgeoning scene on both coasts. But while dishes like chicken adobo, sisig, lechon, and karekare can make mouths water, vegetables and fruits that Filipinos have for long enjoyed also deserve some spotlight as many of them pack many impressive nutrients. Below is a list of just some of the many fruits and veggies common in Filipino cooking, along with their health benefits: Ampalaya Also called bitter melon, ampalaya has many beneficial nutrients and has been considered by many cultures to be highly medicinal. Many tout its wonders in helping curb diseases like diabetes. Usually eaten in the philippines sauteed with egg, garlic, and tomatoes, the bitter vegetable is packed with vitamins C, A, E, B-1, B-2, B-3, and B-9. it also has a number of minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. Malunggay Commonly sauteed, baked in pan de sal, or added to soups, malunggay (or moringa) is believed to have more vitamin C than oranges, more iron potassium than bananas, and more iron than spinach.
Believed to help fight and prevent problems like diabetes and heart disease, the small-leafed vegetable has been gaining recognition in the U.S. and can be bought as capsules, powder, or as an ingredient in nutritional bars. Kamote Kamote (sweet potato) has long been a treat for Filipinos who enjoy it fried, boiled, baked on its own, or as an ingredient in pastries. in the U.S., sweet potatoes have too been hailed the healthier counterpart to the regular potato — replacing the latter in fries and chips among other potato dishes. Though sweet, kamote has a low glycemic index (when boiled), which means eating them won’t cause blood-sugar spikes. The manganese it contains further helps regulate blood sugar levels by helping the body metabolize carbohydrates. Kamote can also be great for the heart due to its B6 vitamins, high potassium content, and magnesium which plays a key role in how the body responds to stress. Pechay Common to dishes across Asia, pechay (also known as snow cabbage, Chinese chard or Chinese white cabbage) also provides a great amount of vitamins. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture national nutrient Database, just one cup of raw pechay has 20.5 milligrams of vitamin C, 60 grams of folate and 32.6 micrograms of vitamin K. in
other words, pechay is great for a number of things including our immune system, our bones, and even our cells. Alugbati Alugbati, or Malabar spinach, shares similarities with the common spinach found in markets in that it’s very rich in iron which helps the body produce healthy red blood cells. it is also high in vitamin B9, or folate, which is beneficial for healthy brain function by helping retain emotional and mental health. Another vitamin alugbati is rich in is vitamin A which helps maintain a healthy immune system and eye health. Talong Eggplant, or talong, is packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making it a very nutrientdense crop. Just one cup of a raw eggplant at only 20 calories has three grams of fiber, and is a good source of manganese, folate, potassium, and vitamins C and K. Eggplants are also particularly rich in anthocyanins, a pigment that acts as an antioxidant, and is responsible for its color. Guyabano labeled as soursop in most U.S. groceries, guyabano is not only delicious, but it’s also packed with a good amount of vitamin C and fiber. it’s also low calorie while having a high content of antioxidants which protect cells against the effects of free radicals and work in lowering chronic disease risks.
KiDS are heading back to school starting this week, and the task of packing their lunches falls on their parents again. As much as they want their children to eat healthier, the struggle of getting that balance — healthy but yummy, cheap and easy to prepare — seems to get harder. of course, we would like to have our kids to eat organic, but that tab runs a little higher on the budget most of the time. With the morning rush, time also is a problem — the easy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can only work for so long. Here are few tips on how to make healthy lunches for your kids — without breaking your budget, or your back: • Plan ahead. Make a list of all the food you think your kids would eat — fruit, vegetables, snacks and everything else — then cross out what you think would work for a healthier lunch. This way, you don’t have to wonder if your kids are actually going to eat what you have prepared for them. • Make a budget and stick to it. We tend to overbuy stuff and pull out goods from the shelves when we’re grocery shopping only to realize months later that we didn’t use what we bought. Shopping without a list is a sure way to bust your budget. it would also help if you do the buying alone — minus kids who will only try to trick you by dropping unhealthy snacks in the cart. Also, buying
There are many other ways of making sure your kids’ lunches will be something healthy and delicious. Inquirer.net photo
bulk will help you save a few bucks. • Plan for a taste test. if you want your kids to try a new fruit, snack or vegetable, then allot a day for them to taste what you are planning to prepare for their lunches. This way, you’d know what they like and will help them discover certain food that they actually like! • Make their lunches interesting. put lunches in colorful, funny or interesting lunchboxes. Throw in a note or a little mystery game that they can look forward to when they open their lunch. You are not only feeding your kids’ tummies, but also their minds! • Prep certain food in
advance. if you’re thinking about sending soups or cooked food for lunch, cook them in advance and put them in the freezer. put the date when you made it, just to make sure you know if they’re still good. Slice fruits and veggies two days before, and package them separately for easy pick up in the morning before they leave for school. There are many other ways of making sure your kids’ lunches will be something healthy and delicious. Communicating with your kids not only about their lunch but also their day in school is also important because it gives you an idea of what they actually do and need in terms of nutrition and support. (AJPress)
shared personal works that he said investigated migration and isolation, and were reminiscent of his experience moving from Baguio, philippines to the U.S. at the age of 5 with no knowledge of English. Among his early works was a performance installation called “6 altura” which resembled a garage and was featured at the University of California, irvine. Multimedia artists Domine, who works primarily with fabrics, showed pieces inspired by a recent trip to the philippines. one piece entitled “rinigirid ti igid” — meaning “frayed borders” in the Filipino ilocano dialect — was inspired by the fabrics used in Barong Tagalogs. He described his work as “inheritance” rather than “craft.” Domine is one of the artists to be showing at the Strands exhibit. Coming to the U.S at the age of 3 and learning English from her parents who themselves were not native speakers, interdisciplinary artist Mendoza shared works she said were inspired by Fil-Am readings and research. one of her latest shows called “Red, White and Brown” featured fun pieces that played with perception and space such as a large brown crayon that described its color as “American,” pieces of large papers mimicking lined notebook paper folded into waves
and a boat, and a coconut palm tree sitting inside a pink pastry box entitled “immigrant.” Artist Santarromana talked about his early days of using video as his art medium, initially making video diaries of his experiences growing up a Filipino immigrant in indiana and experiencing racism and alienation — things he said he was able to work through. Among his most well-received works was his “Telegarden” that featured a robotic arm centered in a plot of soil that would rotate to plant seeds and water them, and was controlled over the internet using a web browser. Also presenting art was studio artist and muralist Silva, whose work has been inspired by the “golden ages” of the philippines. Trained in the philippines’ most prestigious art institutions, Silva said he always tries to “Filipinize” his art. Among Silva’s most recognizable works among the Fil-Am community are his “Alab ng puso: My Heart’s Fire” mural, which was the first Fil-Am mural in the U.S. East Coast, the Western Historic Filipinotown Gateway featuring floral art inspired by ones found on the Barong Tagalog, and the famous “Filipino Americans: A Glorious History, A Golden legacy” mural in Historic Filipinotown’s Unidad park.
Filipino artists in Los Angeles share artwork at Philippine Consulate by Rae
ann VaRona
AJPress
Filipino artists came together on Friday, August 3 at the philippine Consulate in los Angeles, California to present some of their early and recent works, relating them to their experiences of immigrating to the U.S. from the philippines. The presentations came ahead of an upcoming exhibit called “philippines with Strands: Filipino and Filipino-American Contemporary Artists Encounter Textile,” which opens in the pinta*Dos philippine Art Gallery in San pedro next Saturday, August 18. Moderating the talk was curator and gallerist Edwin Ramoran, formerly of the Studio Museum in Harley, new York. Featured panelists were George Domantay, Cirilo Domine, Maryrose Mendoza, Joseph Santarromana, and Eliseo Art Silva. “The artists that we have here today have so much to offer. They provide us with a different outlook on life,” said Consul General Angelito S. Cruz, in his opening remarks. “We’ve got to take time out and enjoy the true meaning of life. Through the eyes of our artists, through their talents, we can show other people what it is to really live a beautiful life.” performance artist Domantay
Filipino artists (left to right) Maryrose Mendoza, Eliseo Art Silva, George Domantay, Cirilo Domine, and Joseph Santarromana at the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles on Friday, August 3. AJPress photo by Rae Ann Varona
The pursuit of understanding...
PAGE B1
cessing resources due to language barriers. The CDC found that in 2014, suicide was the ninth leading cause of death for aggregated Asian Americans, and the 10th for White Americans. Chronic hepatitis B has also been found to be experienced by many AApis. Despite being less five percent of the total U.S. population, AApis account for over 50 percent of nearly one million Americans living with chronic hepatitis B, according to the CDC. it adds that at least one-third of Asian Americans living in the state may not know they have chronic hepatitis B. And while the U.S. population deals with large numbers of those with diabetes and prediabetes, AApis too are looking to curb the risk of diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, AApis are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, compared to white Americans. Unlike other racial or ethnic groups, AApis do not have to be overweight to be at risk for diabetes. Furthermore, weight
Cancer rates among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as a whole are generally lower compared to that of non-Hispanic whites, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH). But as one of the leading causes of death within the AAPI community, there are apparent disparities in the types of cancers. Inquirer.net photo
gain poses a greater risk for diabetes among AApis compared to other ethnic groups. Importance of disaggregated data While the AApi community has been gaining some recognition as a growing population, it still struggles at times to move past the “model minority” myth, which pits the population as a whole
as achieving higher degrees of socioeconomic success and education than the average U.S. population. When it comes to health, more studies can be made and health experts and advocates hope that through these studies, more understanding of how AApi subgroups are affected by certain diseases can be achieved.
EntErtainmEnt
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‘Ang Probinsyano’ admits using Jericho’s tips on staying faithful Dantes family photos, apologizes by Boy
aBunDa Philstar.com
by Deni
Rose BeRnaRDo
Philstar.com
Producers of ABs-cBN’s longest-running primetime series “Ang Probinsyano� has issued an apology to GMA actors dingdong dantes and Marian rivera and their family for its use of their family pictures without prior permission. In an official statement released on Tuesday, August 14, the TV show explained that its producers were not aware that the contractor for creating the show’s props used the photos and that the show has “no intent to disrespect or offend� the dantes family. “The production team commissioned a third-party contractor to create the photo props used in the program. It was not aware that the original of the photographs used were those from Mr. dantes’ wedding and the baptism of his daughter,� the statement said. “To prevent a similar incident from happening in the future,� the producers assured that they are now investigating what happened. The wedding photo of ding-
Screenshot of Dingdong Dantes’ video reaction.
dong and wife Marian rivera was reportedly seen on the background of Alice dixson’s character in “Ang Probinsyano’s� August episode. Meanwhile, an edited version of their family photo was reportedly seen on the November episode. In the photo, the Kapuso couple’s faces were allegedly replaced by those of Joko diaz and Mickey Ferriols, but the face of their daughter Zia was retained. The show’s apology and statement came as a response to
Photo from Facebook/Dingdong Dantes
dantes’ Facebook post saying that he was “offended and deeply hurt� by the use of their family photos without permission. “I appreciate that you found artistic inspiration from the original photos. unfortunately, there is the inescapable consequence that legal and moral rights were violated here,� he said. dantes has shared a story on the show’s apology on his Facebook page, but without comment as of press time.
Kevin Kwan plans to cast more Filipinos in international projects
After Kris Aquino, is Heart next up in Hollywood? by MJ
MaRfoRi ManilaTimes.net
Los ANGeLes—It certainly looks like his bestselling novel “crazy rich Asians� opened so many doors for Kevin Kwan as he told In the Know he is now in the works with Amazon to create a series on more rich people from our continent. This exclusive interview took place on a fabulous turquoise carpet especially laid out for the premiere of novel’s movie adaptation in Hollywood last week. Kevin said, “This has been my new quest. To put us (Asians) in the spotlight!� More good news came our way when he went on to rave about the Filipino talent and his plans to cast more of them. “oh I’d love to cast more Filipinos! They are so talented and amazing that I want to show them to the rest of the world. I really want to do that and I hope
it happens.� Apparently, his new series for Amazon will revolve around Hong Kong society this time, sill with the aim to bridge the cultural gap between the east and the west via this jet-setting original. Moreover, with “crazy rich Asians’� initial success landing a whopping 100-percent review in rotten Tomatoes, and a 90-plus audience score, Kevin’s follow up books, “china rich Girlfriend� and “rich People Problem� are likely to get the greenlight for Hollywood movie version. It’s in these almost-in-the-bag projects that he hopes to cast more Filipinos. so get ready for a Pinoy invasion, Tinsletown! Asked when he’ll be announcing these exciting projects, Kevin said he’d be doing so “in about two weeks’ time,� and with our very own super sophisticate Heart evangelista, whom he hung out in Paris a couple of months ago.
The author Kris Aquino at the ‘Crazy Rich Asian’ gala premiere last week. ManilaTimes.net photo
does it mean that after Kris Aquino’s cameo in “crazy rich Asians�, Heart’s landing a Hollywood role too? We’ll find out soon!
“Lino-loko.� That’s how Jericho rosales casually referred to his character Lino in “Halik,� the ABs-cBN drama series he is starring in alongside sam Milby, Yam concepcion and Yen santos. “Halik� centers on marital relationship and, obviously, echo doesn’t need to look around for an inspiration. He lives and breathes as a married guy every single day of his life after having had tied the knot with model Kim Jones four years ago. What makes the character a bit complicated for echo is the disconcerting situation of the guy on the losing end of a relationship. “Halik� veers away from a typical story arched on infidelity with the guy being repeatedly regarded as the adulterous, polygamous, unfaithful figure, and therefore, audience sympathy goes to the female character. This time, it will highlight the man’s standpoint. “It’s the guy who shows the kind of (emotional) strength here and not the woman we often see in shows,� echo said of his character. “He shows a lot of struggle from within which is something I’m so interested in doing. “My character is trying his best to actually know the right thing to do and how to do it. The difficult part is trying to understand why my character is so hell-bent in doing the right thing when all options are there for him. He has a clear stance. He doesn’t want to do foolish things. He is so straight living that it causes him problems. The message of my character is that there’s nothing beautiful in life that can be achieved easily.� Aside from him being familiar in a situation of having a better half, the actor thinks it is still different from what his character goes through. Thus, he always initiates creative discussions, arguments at times, and healthy conversations on the set to go deeper into the lines and story sequences. What many people forget, echo shared, that sexy scenes are the toughest to complete — be they for films or TV dramas. “They forget that there are camera men, staff, audio men, continuity director, assistant director, monitors around, and, it’s hot and dirty.� The environment is another factor to consider, he stressed, and proceeded to recall how he and Yam felt too much discomfort
Jericho Rosales
while they were shooting a passionate scene in a place he called san Bartolome. “nanlalagkit na kami but we have to show that we are okay. It takes a lot to prepare and I respect my directors for mounting scenes like these that will not come out cheap, ugly or out of context. The hardest love scene that you will do is the kind that is not called for in the story na parang wala sa lugar and you’ll wonder why is it like this.� Besides, actors should truly display and let the people feel the emotion of love on screen. “I think you have to show that you really love someone and when you want to make love with someone, this (referring to his mind), should get excited first. so, if you have actually something in your head, it will be the context of your love and then the scene would come out easy to do.� Asked if he had been tempted to kiss someone other than his wife, echo enthused, “I am looking for different kinds of kiss from my one and only girl. of course, when I decided to get married, I made sure that I am tough enough (to resist temptations) but I realized later on that I’m not that strong because I become weak when I am in front of my wife.� Kim, he said,
ABS-CBN photo
doesn’t feel jealous even when she gets to watch some of his movies with love scenes. Truth is, his wife is having a good time “and I even translate them to her.� What are his top three tips on staying faithful to the wife? “It’s hard to give only three but I guess the first one is for a married person and it really depends on how long the marriage has been. Like us, we’ve been married for four years and I think it is us who should be given an advice and one of the best pieces of advice to me is do not forget the person you married. And remember the day you married because it will always gonna bring you joy and happiness. “The next is accept and embrace the person she has become no matter what, except of course not her about becoming evil. seriously, you have to embrace growth. People grow, don’t they? They do not stay in the same shape — physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually — so just embrace that. “Number three, for me, is you celebrate the milestones in your life. The things I mentioned are just some of the basic steps to stay long together but I’m sure there are a whole lot more.�
Pilgrimage to Some of ITALY’s Highlights and Miracles of the Eucharist 6SLULWXDO 'LUHFWRU 5(9 -2(/ %8*$6 ĹĄ 1RYHPEHU WR 1RYHPEHU 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 0RQ Ĺ&#x; 86$ 520( 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7XHV Ĺ&#x; 5RPH Upon our arrival in Rome, our Tour Escort will welcome us to Italy. Rome is the heart, home and the spiritual capital of over one billion Catholics all over the world. After a short panoramic orientation of this Eternal City to us Roman Catholics, we will have our dinner and overnight rest at this great ancient City. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY :HG Ĺ&#x; 5RPH 3DSDO $XGLHQFH 5RPH This morning before we continue with our tour, we will have a Papal Audience. Then after, we will visit the famous Coliseum and see the Forum, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, one of the best preserved ancient monuments in the world. Celebrate the Holy Eucharist at St Peter Basilica St Joseph Chapel .Short stop in Trevi Fountain, before heading to our Hotel. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME (BB,D)
'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7KXUV Ĺ&#x; 5RPH %DVLOLFDV We will visit the Vatican Museum this morning and the Sistine Chapel to admire the awesome masterpieces of Michaelangelo, and even ancient Greek and Roman artists. the largest church in Roman Catholicism, St. Peter’s Basilica. Holy Eucharist at ST Mary Major, Followed by visit of the Basilica. We continue to visit the rest of the major Basilicas within the walls of Rome, and St. John Lateran, St Paul Outside the Wall. We will also pray at the Scala Santa or the Holy Stairs. St. Helena transported the steps from Jerusalem; the same steps that Christ ascended to receive Pilate’s unjust condemnation. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY )UL Ĺ&#x; 5RPH 6DQ *LRYDQQL 5RWRQGR 2018 is the 100th Anniversary of the stigmatization of St Pio. Church Will have Monthly Pastoral Program of Activities for the whole year. San Giovanni Rotondo, the home of St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina from 28 July, 1916 until his death on 23 September, 1968. Enjoy the drive going to San Giovanni, after we check in our Hotel. vWe visit the Shrines of St Padre Pio of Pietralcina as well as the places associated with him, such as the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace that contains his tomb. Here, we spend some time meditating, see his room, his confessional box and the cruciďŹ x that gave him his supernatural Crucifying stigmata, Celebrate Holy Eucharist (Hotel Gran Paradiso) DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN San Giovanni Rotondo (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 6DW Ĺ&#x; 6$1 *,29$11, 52721'2 This Morning we visit the new and Modern Basilica of St Padre Pio, See his uncorrupt body. Celebrate Holy Eucharist Spend some time meditating in this awesome Basilica. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO (Hotel Gran Paradiso)
'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 6XQ Ĺ&#x; 6DQ *LRYDQQL 5RWRQGR /DQFLDQR /RUHWR MASS AND BREAKFAST. We arrive at Lanciano, famous for the Miracle of the Eucharist. Near the Piazza Plebiscito, the Miracle is inside the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle. The miracle took place during the 8th century when a Basiline monk doubted the Real Presence of our Lord in the Eucharist. He found himself holding the host that had changed into Real Flesh and the Wine on the altar had changed into Real Blood. We continue our pilgrimage to the great Marian shrine of Loreto to see the famous sacred home of the most Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Since 1294 the holy home has been located inside the Basilica of Loreto. Celebrate Holy Eucharist in Lanciano. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN Assisi. 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 0RQ Ĺ&#x; /RUHWR $VVLVL Today we explore the hilltop birthplace of St Francis of Assisi. In the Crypt of St Francis Basilica lies the tomb of one of the most humble and beloved Saints of all times, St. Francis of Assisi, Holy Eucharist at the Crypt of St. Francis See the Basilica of St Clare, with her incorrupt body, and the little Church of St. Damiano and its CruciďŹ x from which Jesus spoke to Francis about his mission in 1206: “Go, Francis, and rebuild my house, which as you see is falling into ruin.â€? We visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, located in the lower plains of Assisi, and the place where the miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi took place in 1240. The small Church of the Porziuncola is inside the Basilica itself. Pope Honorius III granted a plenary indulgence for those entering this humble Church on August 1st and 2nd every year, with Confession, reception of the Eucharist and no attachment to venial sins. (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7XHV Ĺ&#x; $VVLVL 6LHQD )ORUHQFH We will spend half day in Siena. Begin in the old town center with a visit to the Basilica of San Domenico. Built in the 13th century, it is a treasure chest of the Renaissance art and dedicated to St Catherine of Siena. You will learn about the city’s history while admiring it’s cathedrals, Museum, and libraries .Also you will admire the famous piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s great medieval squares. Continue to Florence. (BB,D) We start with a guided walking tour of Florence, this fascinating city with its Piazza, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of St. John the Baptist. Rest of the day free (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY :HG Ĺ&#x; )ORUHQFH 5RPH Leave Florence around 2PM Arrived Rome almost dinner time (BB.D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7KXUV Ĺ&#x; 5RPH 86$ End of our wonderful Pilgrimage
Please call QTS Tour and Travel NOW at 1 (714) 288-0800 or (714) 761-6280 1095 N Main St. Suite O, Orange, CA 92867
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B august 16-22, 2018 • Las VEgas asIaN JOuRNaL
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Joey to Winwyn: Use your head Julia Barretto ready to do daring scenes with Joshua Garcia by Ricky lo Philstar.com
Admitting that, yes, he’s a stage father, Joey marquez revealed to Funfare what his advice is to daughter teresita Ssen “Winwyn” marquez, where men are concerned. Winwyn has been going steady with mark Herras long before she won Reina Hispanoamericana last year, the first ever Filipina to bag the crown from the Latina-dominated pageant. “She has to be wise when it comes to choosing a partner for life,” said Joey, an expert on the subject of, ehem, “womanizing.” “it must be 70 percent using her head and 30 percent her heart. And she should not be too impulsive.” in “Unli Life,” Regal Entertainment’s entry in the second Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP, Aug. 15 to 21), father and daughter are starring in a movie for the first time together with Vhong navarro whom Winwyn remembered as a member of the dance group Streetboys that used to perform during dad Joey’s election campaigns. “i never imagined that i would be his leading lady,” gushed Winwyn. “i was calling him ‘Kuya’ but he stopped me kasi daw leading lady na niya ako ngayon. in soaps, i played kontrabida, so i welcome the chance of playing a bida and in my first movie pa.” directed by Jason Paul Laxamana (whose other PPP entry is Bakwit Boys), “Unli Life” is about Benedict (Vhong), a celebrity podcast dJ who is an overbearing and
controlling boyfriend to Victoria (Winwyn) who breaks up with him on the night he’s set to propose to her. the heartbroken Benedict retreats to a bar called turning Point where the bartender (Joey) offers him a drink that makes him go back in time with Victoria to correct his present life. “Winwyn has her own comedic style,” said Vhong, “and she’s always in character.” Winwyn regrets that she doesn’t have a single scene with her dad but he did give her comedic tips. “But in the story, our characters are connected,” explained Winwyn. “Our only chance to see each other was during the pictorial. We stay in the same house so when we have dinner, he asks me what scene i have done and to share with him what i did on set, etc. He just reminded me to have fun on set and not to over think. Humor just comes out naturally naman daw sa scene and dapat kausapin mga kasama sa eksena so it will work.” Like Joey, Winwyn’s mom, Alma moreno, always reminds her to keep her feet on the ground. “they always tell me that showbiz requires a lot of patience and understanding but when people tend to cross the line, that i should speak up but with respect pa rin.” Funfare asked all three what their favorite comedy films and who their favorite comedians are. • Joey: “Facifica Falayfay by the legendary dolphy. it’s so entertaining that i can’t stop laughing. my favorite comedian is dolphy.
by Jan
Milo SeveRo Philstar.com
In her first movie, Regal Entertainment’s Unli Life, 2017 Reina Hispanoamericana Teresita Ssen ‘Winwyn’ Marquez stars with Vhong Navarro and her dad Joey Marquez. Philstar.com photo
i look up to him. i’ve seen all his movies.” • Vhong: “tito dolphy and Jim Carrey kasi they are also good dancers and they’re good in drama.” • Winwyn: “Siempre i look up to my dad. Comedy is hard so you must be good in timing and mabilis ka mag-isip. my dad has this certain charm with people and he has a different kind of humor. not many actors can do that. He has been in showbiz for years and he has proven his versatility. And i really like his movies with my mom.”
KAPAmiLyA actress Julia Barretto said she is open to do more intimate scenes with love team partner and rumored boyfriend Joshua garcia in their new teleserye “ngayon at Kailanman.” during the recent press conference for the new teleserye, Julia said they are in the right age to do matured scenes. “i’m very open, wow! no, but you know, honestly, because i think we’re also above 20, we’re 21, turning 22, i also feel like it’s also healthy to be able to explore and take a little bit of risk. ‘Cause in reality naman talaga, when you fall in love, there are no limitations when you fall in love,” Julia said. the pair starred in blockbuster movies such as “Vince, Kath and James,” “Love you to the Stars and Back,” Unexpectedly yours” and “i Love you Hater.” “ngayon at Kailanman” is their first teleserye together. “i’m sure the Creatives are gonna do something about it. At saka i’m happy feeling ko, sa ‘ngayon at Kailanman,’ mas nagiging mature na ‘yung roles namin and we are adults na, so
Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia at the press con of their new soap opera, “Ngayon at Kailanman.” ABS-CBN photo
i’m very much open. i’m excited for the scenes that will challenge both Josh and i,” Julia said. A timeless story about the power of love, “ngayon at Kailanman” will begin in August 20.
No double for Erich Gonzales in action movie by Ricky
caldeRon ManilaTimes.net
“LiVE life to the fullest and do what makes you happy,” said Kapamilya actress Erich gonzales who outdid herself producing the badass action film “We Will not die tonight.” Erich said she did spend quite a fortune for this film directed by Richard Somes and was recently shown at the new york Asian Film Festival. “i just want to show that even girls can do tough action scenes that boys do,” said Erich who prepared hard and long for “We Will not die tonight”. Erich pushed herself to the limit, doing her own stunts and fight scenes without double. “i was amazed with the story that was presented to me by direk Richard Somes so i agreed to produce it myself,” said the Kapamilya actress who looks Some artworks of the Golden Touch collection. Inset photo shows Elizabeth Oropesa with forward to doing another action guest artist Arnel Danga. ManilaTimes.net photos film of same magnitude. Erich Gonzales goes all out action in ‘We Will Not Die Tonight.’ given the opportunity, Erich She was very proud to unveil Proceeds will go to the San “We Will not die tonight” is also one of the official entries her latest works, which will be on Lorenzo Ruiz Home for the Elderly also revealed that she is interview and up for sale at the hotel under the auspices of Little Sisters ested to write an action script and had a special preview at gate- to thy year’s Pista ng Pelikulang direct an action film as well. way Cinema last week. the film Pilipino. lobby until August 25. of the Poor. (ManilaTimes.net)
Elizabeth Oropesa and her golden exhibit VEtERAn actress Elizabeth Oropesa is more than just her long list of acting awards and recognitions as she officially launched her career as a visual artist with her exhibit “golden touch.” the show was unveiled on July 25 at midas Hotel along with guest artist Arnel danga. Friends from showbiz came in full force to support Oropesa in her latest endeavor, among them former Philippine President and incumbent City of manila mayor Joseph Estrada and Film development Council of the Philippines Chairman Liza diño-Seguerra. Oropesa had no formal training in drawing or painting but is truly blessed with a talent for the visual arts.
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the series also stars Rio Locsin, iza Calzado, Christian Vasquez, Alice dixson, ina Raymundo, dominic Ocha, tJ trinidad, Jameson Blake and Joao Constancia.
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 16-22, 2018
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ATTY. SARA CROSS & ERIC WELSH
Federal judge orders Smith’s to donate 3,168 gallons of the gov’t to accept new water to Southern Nevada charities Grocery store aims to alleviate water needs for applications for DACA local organizations and those in need
On Friday, August 3, 2018, Judge John D. Bates of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia issued an order, declaring that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) must be restored. President Trump attempted to terminate the program back in September 2017, but a broadbased coalition of academic and corporate entities (including the NAACP, Microsoft, and Princeton University) filed a lawsuit, challenging the rationale that the administration had used to justify the termination. The District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ordering the U.S. government to continue to process renewals and begin accepting first-time applications once again. Judge Bates had reached the same decision back in April, but he stayed his order for 90 days to give the government an opportunity to present him with any cogent reason to end DACA. The government failed to persuade the Judge, who found the government’s rationale to be “arbitrary and capricious.” If the government does not appeal, the ruling becomes final on August 23, 2018. Friday’s ruling by Judge Bates comes just as another DACA lawsuit is gearing up for a decision, one which opposes the DACA program and which was filed right after Judge Bates issued his original order in April 2018. This lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, by seven states: Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, and West Virginia. The seven states lawsuit argues that all DACA grants should be immediately rescinded because they are unlawful. In their complaint, the states argue that “the executive unilaterally conferred lawful presence and work authorization on otherwise unlawfully present aliens, and then the executive used that
lawful-presence ‘dispensation’ to unilaterally confer United States citizenship.” As a grant of DACA provides no direct path to U.S. citizenship or even LPR status, it remains to be seen how the DACA program has accomplished what this lawsuit alleges. Ultimately, this lawsuit seeks to block the government from issuing or renewing DACA grants, so as to force the program to phase out completely within two years. If successful, this lawsuit would strip over 124,000 Texans of their ability to work lawfully, go to school, or remain in the U.S. with their families. Such an action would severely disrupt countless communities and businesses, likely causing significant harm to local and state economies. Currently, the DACA program protects around 700,000 young people who would otherwise be deportable. President Obama created DACA in 2012 to provide some measure of relief to “dreamers,” the young people left unprotected after Congress had failed for almost two decades to pass the legendary “DREAM Act.” “Dreamers” are young people who grew up in America—attending school, obeying the rules, and behaving for all intents and purposes like any other American—but who cannot legalize their status because they were brought to the U.S. illegally, often when they were infants, unable to choose their lot in life. Once the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants an application for DACA, the recipient may remain in the U.S. and work lawfully for a period of two years, and that permission can be extended indefinitely by the DHS in two-year increments. The DACA recipient can obtain a social security number, and, in some states, a driver’s license, and may qualify for in-state resident status for college tuition. If DACA begins accepting new applications on August 23, 2018,
Your Immigration Solution
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA (Twelfth of a series) (1 of 2 parts) [Select a handful of those things in your bucket list that have the highest chance of coming to fruition given your time frame. In tech speak, this means before your life’s energy goes into ‘low batt mode’ and life has run out of sockets to plug into.] WHAT’S your game plan when you retire? The timing can be one of 3 ways: you yourself planned when it will happen; the government said it’s time you did; or circumstances beyond your control, like the onset of illness, finally put you out to pasture. Or are you one of those who have decided to keep on going and going simply doing what you do best beating the bushes, like the energizer bunny? There is tremendous life force in you that needs to be spent. You ignore your age and trust your instincts. You are powered by nothing but chutzpah and prayer, knowing deep down that you will simply wake up one day and decide this is as far as it goes. Enough is enough. Typically around your early sixties, retirement, as a stage of life, looms large staring at you
Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS CAN tubal ligation be reversed? Ligation of the fallopian tubes, performed for birth control, can be reversed to allow pregnancy to take place, depending on how long a segment of the tubes were cut in the original operation. If the segments removed are too long to precluded re-anastomosis (re-connection or bridging), then it can’t be done. The factors that will affect the success rate of pregnancy, following “reversal,” are: how old and healthy the patient is, the pregnancy history of the patient, whether the tubes were initially cut by a knife or electrocoagulation (the latter burns and injures the cut ends of the tubes and lessens the success rate), the experience and skill of the gynecologist in microsurgery, etc. The highest success rate (65 percent), according to Chief Ob-Gynecologist Anthony Gentile, M.D., Ph.D., of Munster, Indiana, “is with reversal of tubes ligated with the thin Hukla
any eligible applicant may apply, both those seeking a renewal and those applying for the first time. To be eligible, an applicant must: (1) have come to the U.S. before reaching his or her 16th birthday; (2) have been physically present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012; (3) have continuously resided in the U.S. since January 1, 2010 up until the present; (4) have entered the U.S. without inspection or was out of status on June 15, 2012; (5) be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012; and, (6) be currently enrolled in school or have previously obtained a graduation certificate, degree or GED. In addition to the general eligibility criteria, there are certain disqualifying factors that may affect eligibility, including the existence of a criminal record or a derogatory immigration history. The DHS recently issued policy guidance, directing the USCIS—the agency that decides applications like DACA—to refer an applicant to immigration court (deportation) if an application is denied and the applicant is out of status. For these reason, it is critically important for any person interested in applying for DACA or any other immigration benefit to consult with a knowledgeable immigration attorney before applying. *** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China. For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)
The bucket list Grazing in the grass
“...If life is like driving on the freeway, it is supposedly a time when you begin to downshift your gears, getting off the fast lane as you move to the middle lane and gradually slide to the farthest right lane to find your exit...” in the face. If life is like driving on the freeway, it is supposedly a time when you begin to downshift your gears, getting off the fast lane as you move to the middle lane and gradually sidle to the farthest right lane to find your exit. You head home to the gentle comforts of home sweet home knowing you never have to get up so early starting tomorrow to do the same darn thing you’ve been doing for decades. Freedom at last!!! Breaking the shackles of the workaday world feels wonderful. There is now time to do the things that you have always wanted to do and maybe flesh out those dreams that have been percolating quietly in the back burner. Now you have the time, adequate resources and, most importantly, the blessing of all blessings, you are still in the pink of health. Thank God, hallelujah!!! You have run the course with time left over to savor being alive.
You feel like doing cartwheels —that is—if your osteoporotic bones and stiff limbs will let you. Meh… Probably NOT! Ideally, you are ready for this stage of life. That is —if you have dotted your i’s and cross your t’s— as you render a full plate of life experiences, good and bad, while trying to balance home life and work life for many years… Of course, you can always go into denial and think and act young but your contrarian body will probably beg to differ at times yanking you back to face the reality of having logged a lot of miles on your one and only body. Suddenly you have to deal with aches and pains in places you never thought existed. It doesn’t help that your doctor reads gobbledygook sets of numbers about your blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, creatinin levels, blood pressure readings, A1C number, kidney PAGE B6
Queries from readers clip, and the lowest (less than 40 percent) with electrocautery.” Practically he same medical facts and limitations apply to vasectomy reversal, which can be done by a urologist to enable vasectomized men to be fertile again. Of course, pregnancy can be achieved without the use of the fallopian tubes, but using IVF (InVitro – “test tube”- Fertilization). Can appendicitis recur? No, once the appendix is removed properly, appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix) will not recur, because there is no more appendiceal tissue left to get inflamed. Sometimes, though, the patient may feel right lower quadrant abdominal discomfort similar to appendicitis pain days, or months, after appendectomy, but these pains could be due to post-operative adhesions or other causes brought on by other conditions. The prudent thing to do if pains recur is to visit the surgeon who performed the procedure. Why is it dangerous to shake babies? Shaking or jarring infants and babies could lead to broken bones and disruption of the
spinal cord in that area, leading to sudden death. The neck of infants and babies is quite limp, literally weak, and unstable, that jarring or shaking the baby often lead to fatal neck injury due to severe hyperextension of the neck and severing the cervical spinal cord at the base of the brain. When holding an infant or a child, the head and neck should always be supported as “one piece” with the hand holding the back of the head, the neck and the upper back, acting as a “brace” that prevents the heavy head from falling back. What to do when a child chokes? When a child, or even an adult, chokes, there is only about 4 minutes to act to save the victim. Sudden gasping for air and extreme anxiety during a meal or while the child has an object in the mouth are the telltale sign that should alert us to the possibility of foreign body as the cause of the problem. If the foreign body in the throat is accessible, it should be removed instantly. If the foreign body is not obvious, Heimlich Maneuver should be done immediately, PAGE B6
LAS VEGAS — Smith’s Food & Drug Stores wants to make sure the valley’s most vulnerable residents and animals stay hydrated in the midst of the Las Vegas heat. Smith’s Nevada grocery stores are donating a total of 3,168 gallons of water to Southern Nevada charitable organizations at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 16 at the Smith’s store located at 4600 E. Sunset Road. Organizations that will be picking up pallets of water include Three Square Food Bank, The Shade Tree, Salvation Army of Southern Nevada, Westcare, Nevada SPCA, Las Vegas Rescue Mission, and Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. “The excessive heat in Las Vegas affects all of us, but especially those who are struggling and liv-
ing on the street,” said Las Vegas Rescue Mission CEO Heather Engle. “Having water in stock is crucial to our organization during this heat wave to help keep our homeless community members hydrated. We greatly appreciate any assistance we receive from members of the community in this time of need.” Media is invited to come out to the donation site, where a Smith’s semi-truck loaded with the water will be parked and waiting for southern Nevada’s charitable organizations to pick up their free water. Interviews will be available with charitable organization and Smith’s representatives. “The Valley has been extremely hot this summer with a number of triple-digit days, and agencies are
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stretched thin trying to help those who are living without enough water. We hope this contribution will get them through the rest of the summer,” said Aubriana Martindale, division corporate affairs manager for Smith’s. Smith’s is a division of the Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR), one of the nation’s largest retail grocers, including 37 stores in southern Nevada. Smith’s visionary Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan is aimed at ending hunger in the communities Smith’s calls home, and eliminating waste across the company by 2025, in keeping with the company’s Purpose to Feed the Human SpiritTM. For more information, please visit www.smithsfoodanddrug. com.
America
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Philippine Chamber Singers-Los Angeles’ “Hibang sa Awit” at Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA Philippine Chamber Singers-Los Angeles (PCS-LA) invites you to a concert celebrating Original Pilipino Music, better known as OPM, at The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall on Friday, August 17 at 8 p.m. in “Hibang sa Awit” (Mad About Songs). “Hibang sa Awit” highlights the new modern classic Filipino music and the kundiman created by some of the most respected Filipino composers including Ryan Cayabyab, Willy Cruz, George Canseco, Ruben Federizon, and Robert Delgado to name a few. Very special friends including award winning jazz singer, Mon David; esteemed inspirational singer, Edward Granadosin; and a local/community gem, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Children’s Choir; will join PCS-LA as they infuse various musical styles into a treat for the whole family to hear. Tickets available at the box office or at www. musiccenter.org.
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LA County’s Center for Financial Empowerment hosts financial seminar The County of Los Angeles Center for Financial Empowerment (CFE), housed within the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, is proud to celebrate the launch of BankOn Los Angeles County, a program designed to connect residents to safe and affordable financial products, regardless of their immigration status. In honor of the launch, the CFE will host Summer Saturdays, a free event series that will connect Los Angeles County residents to checking accounts and financial empowerment resources. The public is invited to attend the free events at the following CFE community partner locations: Saturday, August 18, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Barrio Action Youth and Family Center (4927 Huntington Dr. #200, Los Angeles, CA 90032). The CFE and BankOn financial institution partners will help consumers understand the benefits of banking and start the process of opening a checking account. Attendees can also learn about credit, how to save for college and get first-time home buying tips at financial education workshops while enjoying free ice cream!
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4th annual Kultura Festival: Filipino-American Food & Arts Festival in Chicago Kultura Festival, the Midwest’s premier Filipino-American food and arts event, will be held this year on Sunday, August 19 at Logan Square’s Emporium Arcade Bar (2363 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kultura Festival is in its fourth year, and is produced by food media and events group, Filipino Kitchen. Carefully curated to appeal to those who personally identify with Filipino culture and the merely curious or uninitiated, Kultura Festival aims to highlight the best in Filipino-American food and arts in Chicago and the Midwest. Early bird tickets for general adult admission will go on sale at a discounted rate of $10 starting Monday, April 23. Only 100 discounted general admission adult tickets will be available for the Early Bird Special. Early bird tickets will be available for one week, or until supplies last. Early bird tickets to Kultura Festival for students, senior citizens, and children between six and 11 years of age will also be available for sale for $5. Children aged five or younger are admitted free at Kultura. To buy Early Bird Kultura Festival tickets, click https://ti.to/filipino-kitchen/kultura2018. Stay tuned for more details on chefs, performers and all things Kultura Festival Chicago! For more information, please visit www.kulturachicago.com.
AU G U ST 23
Performance Artists Talk with Daito Manabe and Mikiko in Los Angeles Top Japanese DJ, designer, producer, creative genius Daito Manabe of Rhizomatiks + top choreographer and founder of Elevenplay, Mikiko Mizuno will be speaking. Mikiko was featured in 2016 America’s Got Talent. It will take place on Thursday, August 23 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles (6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028) at 5F Salon space (located at Hollywood & Highland). For more information, please contact (800) 516-0565 or visit https://www.japanhouse.jp. Admission is free.
AU G U ST 25
Fil-Am of SCV holds annual cultural festival in Valencia, CA You are cordially invited to Fil-Am of SCV’s biggest event of the year, its annual FACE (Fil-Am Academic & Cultural Enhancement) Program’s Cultural Festival on Saturday, August 25! This year, the organization has partnered with the Santa Clarita Valley’s International Program. This year’s theme is “KULTURA PILIPINAS, Kasaysayan at Sayawan”, celebrating the history of Philippine cultural dances. The popular and inspiring Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts dancers will beautifully interpret the renditions of Philippine history and culture through the art of dance. The event begins at 5 p.m. at West Ranch HS Theater (26255 Valencia Blvd, Valencia CA 91381). $50 for VIP Seats / $25 General Admission. For tickets & sponsorship information, please call: Cecile Ocampo at (818) 439-9392; Zeny Justiniano at (661) 645-0948; Josie Maglalang at (661) 607-5665 or Zony Gordon at (661) 312-3422. This event will benefit Fil-Am of SCV’s Scholarship Program and SCVIP’s Sister City Program for Sariaya City, Philippines.
AU G U ST 25 -26
Grand Opening of JAPAN HOUSE in Los Angeles The public is invited on Saturday, Aug. 25 and Sunday, Aug. 26 to participate in tea ceremonies and ikebana floral arrangements, and see the Prototyping in Tokyo exhibition. Kids can take pictures and interact with Pepper, an adorable Japanese humanoid robot providing helpful information about JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles – roaming between the 2nd floor gallery and shop. He is capable of recognizing the principal human emotions and adapting his behavior to the mood of his interlocutor. He’ll make for the cutest robot selfie you’ve ever posted! Times are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Address is JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (located at Hollywood & Highland). For more information, please contact (800) 516-0565 or visit https://www.japanhouse.jp. Prototyping in Tokyo Exhibition: a Visual Story of Design Led Innovation at Japan House Los Angeles runs from Aug. 17th - October 10, 2018. Admission is free.
SEPTEMBER 16
Los Angeles Skyline Lions Club holds masquerade ball The Los Angeles Skyline Lions Club (District 4-L3) cordially invites guests to join the masquerade ball to celebrate its 15th anniversary of continued support to local and global communities, alongside the annual fall harvest festival and installation of new club officers. Please join the fun celebration on Sunday, September 16 at the Signature Banquet Hall, 11130 Balboa Blvd., Granada Hills, CA. Doors open at 4 p.m. For any inquiries, you may call PDG Sol “Sunshine” Santiago at (213) 500-1927. See you all there and be ready to unmask your night!
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Features
B august 16-22, 2018 • Las VEgas asIaN JOuRNaL
Is it all in the mind? Time to talk about... PAGE B1 There are a wide variety of professional mental health services available, and therapy and counseling are often the first steps people take when trying to handle the mental and emotional challenges they face. Filipina-American Lea Mendoza is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in Orange County, and she says that the goal of therapy is to help carefully sort out her clients’ lives and to redirect ways of thinking that are narrowly-tailored for each client’s unique needs. “It’s like a car tune up. You need an oil change because the oil gets gunky, but with the challenges of life, you forget about it,” Mendoza shared in a recent conversation with the Asian Journal. “It’s the same with healthy coping skills when life gets really tough, so you need a gentle reminder of those so you can go back to living your life comfortably.” Saving face within the community Within the Filipino community, the stigmatization of mental disorder correlates to fear of judgment from others. It’s not an open conversation Filipinos are wont to have with family and friends because, to admit that they or someone in their family is struggling mentally, would reflect badly on them, which often stops them from seeking professional help, according to Mendoza. “As Filipinos, we were taught and raised to keep a good face,” Mendoza shared. “Put on a good front and save face and no matter what, shut up and don’t tell anyone about any challenges going on because that’s a reflection of weakness.” She says, when it comes to Filipino parents with a child who is struggling, “it’s always about, ‘Oh, what are people going to think about me?’ but it’s never about, ‘Oh, my poor child, how can I help my child?’” Although the potential for shame as a barrier for seeking mental health services isn’t unique to Filipinos, it’s a pervasive reason that stops many Filipinos from seeking professional help for treatable mental illnesses. Relying solely on religion Another common reason why Filipinos don’t actively seek out mental health services is the fact that Filipinos are extremely religious. The “bahala na” mentality is pervasive among Filipinos who solely entrust their fates to prayer
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Sec. Mark Villar taps Robin Padilla to help promote ‘Build, Build, Build’ by Christina
3,945 kilometers of roads and 892 bridges. Additionally, it has rehabilitated 939 and strengthened 642 existing bridges, respectively.” For his part, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, who was also at the intimate press conference, enthusiastically noted that the marked increase in infrastructure spending is expected to create around one million direct and indirect jobs annually. “Build Build Build is [also equivalent to] Jobs Jobs Jobs, providing life to our nation. Unemployment has already decreased
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ManilaTimes.net
Infographic by Inquirer.net
and God, but Mendoza says that you can’t rely on religion without faith and you can’t have prayer without action. “If you’re just religious, especially in the Catholic faith, you’re just doing those rituals and up the ante when things aren’t going well, so for those people everything is about prayer, but I don’t think they really connect the dots between asking and doing,” Mendoza said. “Do something to make your life better. Do something to improve your health. You can pray to God asking Him for good health but you’re doing things that don’t improve your health. Mendoza acknowledges that faith, spirituality and prayer are important to many Filipinos, but depending on those sources to fix all of life’s problems won’t always help and, at that point, it might be time to take action and seek professional help. “It’s like drinking acid and asking God for a miracle and then getting angry that your insides are burning,” she said. “If it’s important for you to pray, then yes, pray, but you can’t rely on that.” Parental influence on children’s behavior Like many LMFTs, Mendoza sees many children and adolescent clients who were brought in by their parents who think there is something wrong with their child, which she a says “is a signal to all therapists that the children aren’t always the problem.” “It’s the environment. What are they taught? What kind of behaviors do they see? If a parent screams and yells, why do they expect their children not to do the same?” Mendoza says. But when is the right time to seek professional services? Mendoza says that parents should keep an eye on their children’s behavior,
and when things seem to be going awry, then they should have a gentle, judgment-free conversation with their children, who may have fear of reproach if they open up to their parents. “A person usually has a baseline for their functioning. Sometimes they dip in their functioning --- and everyone gets sad or nervous or anxious here and there --- but if it’s so significant that the symptoms are causing problems or difficulty at school, work or with friends, then that’s when they might consider professional help,” she said. It’s not easy to change societal attitudes about mental health overnight, but recognizing that things like depression, anxiety and trauma are illnesses rather than flaws in character is the first step to acceptance. Mental health, just like physical health, are the main pillars of overall wellness, and it’s something Filipinos should take seriously, especially if it applies to your children, Mendoza said. “If we’re so averse to the phrase mental health, why don’t we just change that to ‘total well-being?’” she suggested. “If your child is not thriving, it doesn’t matter what the issue is, doesn’t your heart go out to that child instead of saying, ‘tough it up and move on.’? Being tough isn’t necessarily helpful in every single scenario. There are children who bounce out of challenges right away, but there are those who need more help.” She added: “So look at your child without comparing them to others, and if you see they are having problems, have a conversation with them, and if you can’t figure it out, don’t put judgment on them. Ask for help because there are so many resources available now. There’s no shame in asking for help.”
ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com. And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice. The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.
A STAUNCH supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, actor Robin Padilla has just landed himself a whole new role: the face of the administration’s all-important “Build, Build, Build” program. No less than Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar delivered the news to the Entertainment press, saying, “Robin is volunteering and ako naman, sa lahat ng gustong tumulong sa amin, welcome lalo na kung si Robin Padilla dahil napaka-busy niya. And for him to spend time to help Build, Build, Build, eh napakalaking bagay at napakalaki po ng pasasalamat ko sa kanya.” Asked what exactly the action star can do for the project, Villar replied, “He can help us not just in promoting Build, Build, Build but also with the actual programs kasi he is very in touch [with people’s needs] especially sa Marawi. He is very on the ground so to speak, so we can consult him for future projects in Mindanao.” Best of all, the secretary noted that Padilla is waiving any sort of talent feel. Dubbed as one of the current government’s landmark projects, Build, Build, Build is a multi-billion dollar infrastructure plan that aims to construct more airports, railways, rapid transits and bridges among others to boost the country’s economy. Meanwhile, Villar also noted that boxing senator Manny Pacquiao has also expressed interest in helping the government bring the program closer to people especially since he chairman of the Senate’s Public Works Committee. Taking the opportunity to inform the public through widely read entertainment outlets regarding his department’s performance since the start of the President’s term, Villar continued, “The DPWH has built a total of Robin Padilla
PAGE B5
to 5.5 percent from 5.7 percent year-on-year and we expect this figure to shrink further,” Tugade added. The duo then imparted that a job fair will be held in relation to the Build, Build, Build program on August 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the SMX Convention Center. “Baka po hindi alam ng ating mga kababayan kung ano yung mga openings and opportunities sa Build, Build, Build kaya gusto naming i-connect yung mga naghahanap ng trabaho sa mga opportunities in infrastructure.”
The bucket list
and liver health and so forth. Your medical provider wants to submit you to mammogram and colonoscopy and all types of tests to find out if you are still of sound mind and sound body, purportedly so you can enjoy the rest of your remaining years. It’s something borrowed from the automotive industry: 100 K check, 200 K check to see if all your parts are still in working order and which parts need replacement. Okay, admittedly, these are not gobbledygook numbers but they indicate that this time around, you have no excuse to ignore the warning signs of your mortality. All it says is: SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT. OR ELSE you can go to the wide blue yonder flat on your back sooner rather than later. SIGH… But there is a serious reason why you hem and haw to put off all these gamut of tests. What if they find something? Oy vey! You’ve run the full course of life only to deal with another daunt-
ing challenge. Also, you ascribe to the belief that what you don’t know won’t hurt you. Or so it seems. I have heard of sad stories of people, who after just a few years of retirement, are diagnosed with aggressive stage 4 cancer or some form of serious illness and are left to deal with a very short lease on what is left of life. Of course, these stories are purely anecdotal and isolated but they do happen. You feel older and if you culled out the nuggets of wisdom from yours and other’s experiences, you’ve become even a little wiser perhaps. You have listened half-heartedly to those financial planners and even those persistent advance funeral planners who have been bugging you about the benefits of being prepared for the inevitable. You have taken pains to sock away a smidgen of moolah for a long time in your 401K or saved a few bucks by yourself and by your estimates (and provided you are sensible with a tight
fixed income), you will remain fiscally viable, without having to rely on a government dole-out, even if the unthinkable happens. You plan to exit this world with your dignity intact. You hope that a smattering of beautiful memories, yours as well as of those you leave behind, are indelibly marked in a few hearts and minds for a generation or two — strong enough to move them to bring you flowers on your gravesite long after you’re gone. If your life were to be compressed to a 60-second video, you hope that the awful parts were edited out and landed on the cutting room floor permanently deleted. The saddest thing about a life is to be forgotten as though you never lived. To be continued next week… Next week: Another idea to consider for The Bucket List … *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
Queries from readers
PAGE B5 without wasting time trying to decipher what the problem is. This is accomplished by going behind the victim, putting your arm around his upper abdominal area and applying repeated pressure against the abdomen towards you, like giving the victim a forceful bear hug. The idea is to press the stomach and let the air in the stomach push the foreign body upward and outward of the breathing pipe where the foreign body is lodged. In the case of a baby or small infant, put them on their tummy, with the face turned to one side, and put your hand underneath their upper abdomen and press against the stomach repeatedly until the foreign body jumps out of their throat. Another person, if available, should call for emergency medical help. If you are alone, do the Heimlich right away, as you shout at the top of your lungs for help. Can I take my friend’s blood pressure pill? No, absolutely not, unless your physician, after interviewing and examining you, recommends the same pill to control your high blood pressure. It is not only illegal for your friend to “prescribe and dispense” medications if he was not a licensed physician but also very dangerous for you. There are many types of high blood pressure pills. What is good for him may not be good or tolerated by you. Your friend’s good intention may backfire and do disservice to you by causing serious complications from taking the pills he
gives you or advises you to take without consulting with your physician. This caveat goes true with any and all medications, even as “simple” as aspirin. Are heartburns a form of heart attack? No, heartburn is a misnomer, misleading and confusing. It has nothing to do with the heart, so it is not a form of heart attack. Heartburns have been loosely used, even in medical circles, to denote stomach hyperacidity, gastric upset, or indigestion, especially following intake of spicy foods or drinking alcoholic beverages. Does exercise increase appetite? Contrary to popular belief or what we call “common sense,” exercise does not increase the appetite, more than what is normal for the person. As a matter of fact, regular exercise reduces appetite to a healthy level. This is a proven finding among those trying to lose weight, where exercise plays a vital role in the success of the regimen and the long term maintenance of healthier weight. Not exercising could lead to weight gain. Why are my toes are burning with severe itchiness? Obviously you have what we call Tinea Pedis (Athletes’ Foot) which is a form of fungus infection of the plantar aspect (bottom) of the feet and the toes. One of the latest medications very effective for this condition, which could drive people crazy with severe itchiness of the feet and toes, is terbinafine Hydrochoride cream or tablets.
Consult with your physician to help end your misery. Can one get fungus infection from mani- or pedicure? Yes, most definitely, and especially in the toes. The Tinea Pedis we talked about earlier can affect the fingernails, when a nail cutter and other instrument to remove cuticle are contaminated by the fungus in the toes or toenails of people with the infection. It is the responsibility of the beauty shops to prevent infection and the spread of infection among their customers. Washing the “instruments” and soaking them in recommended medical antiseptic solutions, or even in diluted form of chlorine use for laundry, can minimize, if not prevent contamination. Chlorine solution, for one, also kills the AIDS virus on contact. When beauty shops do not follow these safe and hygienic procedures, it behooves any of us customers to report them to the bureau of health or other appropriate governmental agency to protect the public. We must always be on our toes! *** 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
ENTERTAINMENT
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 16-22, 2018
B7
Eddie Garcia, Ai Ai delas win What Ogie, the music artist, wants Cinemalaya 2018 top acting honors to tick off his bucket list at age 50
AS expected, veteran actor Eddie Garcia won the Best Actor trophy for his role as the fragilelooking but beastly retired Colonel in the Martial Law-themed movie, “ML,” at the Cinemalaya 2018 Awards. The recognition night was held Sunday at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theater. It is the 89-year-old actordirector’s third win at the festival, first bagging a Cinemalaya Best Actor in 2005 for “ICU Bed #7,” then in 2012 for “Bwakaw,” which won him the same honors at the 7th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong. Proclaimed Best Actress was Ai Ai delas Alas for her role as the co-leader of a syndicate victimizing children in “School Service.” The film’s director, Louie Ignacio, accepted the trophy on her behalf as she was taping her variety show, “Sunday Piuasaya” for GMA Network. Ketchup Eusebio was declared Best Supporting Actor for his role as loving son in “Mamang.” And of course, the biggest winner of the evening was Therese Malvar who was nominated twice in the category as Best Supporting Actress. She won for both roles in “Distance” and School Service. A Cinemalaya insider privy to the deliberations told The Manila Times during the after-awards cocktail party that the foreign members of the jury were surprised to know that it was the same actress playing the roles in said movies. “Two roles. Two films. One actress,” host Cris Villonco told the audience and co-host Sandino Martin as Malvar finished giving her speech. Winning Best Director was first-time filmmaker Che Espiritu,
by ALLAN
POLICARPIO Inquirer.net
Ketchup Eusebio is Best Supporting Actor for ‘Mamang’
Eddie Garcia thanks Cinemalaya for his third Best Actor trophy for ‘ML’. ManilaTimes.net photos by Justine Ruth Bitancor
who also wrote the story, for “Pan De Salawal.” She revealed that her inspiration was a high school friend who chose to shorten her life because of aloneness. “Masaya ang mabuhay,” that’s the message of the fantasy film, according to her. Best Film was “Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon” directed by Carlo Enciso Catu, upsetting box-office leader and festival favorite “Liway,” which won the Audience Choice Award. “Kiko” won the Audience Choice Award for Short Features. Winners of the technical awards were as follows: Best Sound“Musmos Na Sumibol Sa Gitna Ng Digma;” Best Musical Score-“Pan De Salawal;” Best Production Design-Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon; Best Editing-ML. Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay-Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon; Best Screenplay, Shorts Features-“Sa Iyang Isla.” The Netpac (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Awards were given to “Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon” for Full-length and “Sa Iyang Isla” for Shorts.
Special Jury Awards winners were “Pan De Salawal” for Fulllength and “Si Astri Maka Si Tambulah” for Shorts. A Special Jury Commendation was handed to Liway. Children who starred in the entries were also given Special Jury Award for Acting – Kenken Nuyad as “Dakip in Liway” and as one of the kid beggars in School Service; JM Salvado in “Musmos Na Sumibol Sa Gitna Ng Digma”; and Miel Espinosa for “Pan De Salawal”. Other Shorts winners were “Jodilerks Dela Cruz, Employee Of The Month” as Best Film; Xeph Suarez, Best Director for Si Astri Maka Si Tambulah. Nespresso Awards were also given out: for Best Picture-“SLN;” “Braveheart,” 2nd Prize; and “Ako.” The international-winning Mandaluyong Children’s Choir sang the Cinemalaya theme song at the start of the ceremonies. Founder Antonio “Tonyboy” Conjuangco also graced the occasion along with CCP chairman Margie Moran-Floirendo and other festival and center officials. (ManilaTimes.net)
IN his 30 years in showbiz, Ogie Alcasid has written many hits and held sold-out concerts. He has starred in movies and built a formidable television career as a comedian. But there’s still an item on his bucket list that he has yet to fulfill—writing his own musical. Finally, this year, Ogie has begun working toward achieving that long-standing dream. At a recent press conference for his coming 30th anniversary concert, “OA,” he revealed that he’s currently in the process of writing a musical that would feature his enduring love songs, as well as some new material. “It has always been a plan of mine. And a lot of people had been actually approaching me with ideas and possible stories, but none of them came to fruition… I can’t tell you much yet, but we have been brainstorming and writing,” Ogie told the Inquirer. Challenge The creative process is proving to be quite a challenge, he admitted, but is nonetheless “very exciting.” “It’s hard to create the story and characters if we’re just basing them on the songs. So, we had to come up with a story first and then look for songs in my catalog that would be suitable. I also have to produce new music,” the singersongwriter related. He described the concept of the musical as “contemporary” with a dose of kilig. “We have been studying how musicals are done and found out that most of them takes at least three years to create and polish. While I want to finish the project
next year, I’m not rushing things,” said Ogie, whose latest movie, “Kuya Wes,” is an entry in this year’s Cinemalaya film festival. Luck Looking back at his career, Ogie said he still can’t believe he was able to achieve as much as he did. “It was clear to me from the beginning that I wanted to be an entertainer. I simply wanted to write songs and sing them in concerts… But I didn’t imagine I would be where I am right now,” said the 50-year-old music artist, who admitted that his longevity isn’t a product of talent alone. There’s also a good amount of luck involved. “I have managed to stay in the industry, not because I forced it, but because of God’s blessing—He put me in the right place at the right time,” he surmised. “And I never stopped learning and trying out new things. I’m still a student to this day.” While he’s primarily a musician, he also attributed a huge chunk of his success to his television work. Combination of things “It was a combination of a lot of things, really. I was lucky enough to be part of different television projects, which helped me become a household name. Television carried me through the years,” pointed out Ogie, who considers “Kailangan Kita” his best composition and Angelina—the whiny girl he played in a former “Bubble Gang” segment—his best comedy work. “‘Kailangan Kita’ was probably my best song… It also became the theme of a big film starring Aga Muhlach and Claudine Barretto,”
Ogie Alcasid
Inquirer.net photo
Ogie said. “And Angelina, well, the fact that a grown man is doing something like that is crazy.” Set to take place on Aug. 24 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, “OA” will be directed by Paolo Valenciano and feature the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of musical director Gerard Salonga. “For the opening, we will have a fiesta atmosphere with about 80 to 100 performers onstage. I want to celebrate everything Filipino,” he said. “I want that kind of flavor.” Aside from his guests Rey Valera, Michael V., Vice Ganda, Janno Gibbs, Yeng Constantino and Moira dela Torre, Ogie will be joined onstage by his children Leila, Sarah and Nate, as well as his wife Regine Velasquez. “I will perform ‘When I See You Smile’—a song composed for Leila when she was a baby—with my girls,” he said.
Christian Bables impresses Director Chito Roño by RICKY
CALDERON ManilaTimes.net
Chito Roño and Christian Bables
AWARD-WINNING filmmaker Chito Roño is impressed with Christian Bables, the lead actor of his latest movie called “Signal Rock.” “As a person, he is very good-natured and obedient. He is very focused with his work and doesn’t get distracted. I would say Christian’s performance in the movie is fabulous because you’d really believe that he is Intoy, the character that he is playing,” said direk Chito of Christian who had to pass an audition to get the prime role. “He may be a newcomer but he is really good. He has his own acting style that is not yet familiar with ManilaTimes.net photo the audience. If you watch him, you’d believe he is
really the character that he is portraying. He is not acting. He is the character,” he added. Direk Chito also saw Christian’s desire to do something else because he is new to the trade. “He is very open to doing challenging roles. Signal Rock is a big break for him. Seldom that a newcomer like him get the opportunity to play the lead in a big movie,” he said. The director also considers it a blessing to have a fresh talent in Christian play an important role in a film. “I am very happy with his work in the film. I have never seen him as an actor before so when he portrayed Intoy, I can feel the character in him. You can feel the pain, the angst in him,” the direc-
tor added. Christian plays the youngest son in the family but not able to finish college because the money meant for his studies was spent for his sister’s placement fee to work abroad. “‘Signal Rock’ is a family story. A family member who goes abroad is deemed important because she becomes the source of livelihood. That’s the kind of support they are able to give. But what the family fails to appreciate is that the one who is left behind is not useless because he is the one who helps binding the family together,” he explained of his movie’s message. Signal Rock is part of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
B8 AUGUST 16-22, 2018 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL
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Located in Montemaria, home to the ninth largest monument in the World—the shrine to Mother Mary,Tower of Peace.
A world-class township development located in Montemaria, Batangas City, the Philippines.
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INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
01 Development site is adjacent to the Statue of Virgin Mary. 02 5HVRUW VHWWLQJ ZLWK PDJQLĆ“FHQW YLHZ RI WKH ED\ 03 High-quality asset with world-class exterior and interior design. 04 Designed by award winning and internationally renowned Architecture and Design Firm, ARCH HAUS ASIA. 05 Montemaria is located on top of the Batangas Bay Peninsula facing the Verde Island Passage, reputed to be the U.N. recognized “Center of the Center of Marine Bio-Diversity of the World.â€?
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BUILDING 2 Clubhouse
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