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SEPTEMBER 6-12, 2018 Volume 29 - No. 34 • 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

Kavanaugh declines to answer views about abortion in second day of hearing

Duterte orders Trillanes’ arrest Makati RTC sets hearing, DOJ files hold departure order

The second round of questioning centered around Roe v. Wade and presidential self-pardons AFTER a raucous first day of Senate confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, senators interviewed the nominee in the second day of hearings on Wednesday, Sept. 5, about his views on a broad range of issues. The first day brought an onslaught of outrage and motions to delay the proceedings after a representative from the Bush White House Library released 42,000 official documents from Kavanaugh’s time at the White House under George W. Bush as a staff secretary and an associate of the White House Counsel. Democrats of the Senate Judiciary Committee for weeks have been requesting the release of these documents before the hearings for review and after Monday’s release of the documents, tried to adjourn and postpone the hearing to no avail. After a preliminary hearing that prompted protests and Democrats to try to disrupt the hearing for these unreleased documents,

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US veterans’ group approves Balangiga bells return THE American Legion, a worldwide organization of U.S. war veterans, approved during its national convention last week a resolution allowing the return of two Balangiga bells seized by American troops as war booty during the 1900s. In an email to The STAR, Guy Hilbero, executive officer of the 26th U.S. Cavalry of the Philippine Scouts Memorial Regiment, said the American Legion rescinded a 2016 resolution of the Wyoming Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), which sought to keep two of the bells at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The VFW resolution prevented the U.S. government from returning the bells taken from a church in Balangiga, Eastern Samar. “The Philippines is predominantly a Catholic nation where church bells play a very important role... as well as reflective of their national patrimony representing the very fabric of their cultural heritage and history... because the bells were bought and paid for the parishioners of San Lorenzo de Martir, to return the bells would be the honorable and right thing to do and result in national jubilation,“ the resolution stated.

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Presiding Judge Andres Bartolome Soriano set the hearing THE Makati Regional Trial despite the statements of state Court (RTC) on Wednesday, Sep- prosecutors deeming it unnecestember 5, scheduled the hearing sary. “Recall that there were previous on Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s commitment orders issued by this arrest for September 13. This follows the motion filed by Honorable Court in September the Department of Justice (DOJ) 2003 and on November 29, 2007. requesting for the issuance of Thus, this application for an alias an alias warrant of arrest and warrant of arrest no longer needs hold departure order against the a hearing,” the motion read. The court gave Trillanes five senator.

by AJPRESS

Sen. Antonio Trillanes and President Rodrigo Duterte Inquirer.net file photos

days to answer the motion, as reported by The Philippine Star. Several uniformed officers flocked the Senate on Tuesday, September 4, after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to arrest Trillanes, thus revoking his amnesty in 2011. Duterte claimed in Proclama-

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Duterte vows fight vs Hitler-like leaders by CATHERINE

VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to fight “insane leaders” who idolize German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler as he expressed hope that a tragedy like the Holocaust will not happen again. In his brief remarks during a solemn visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem on Monday, Duterte said the murder of six million Jews in Hitler’s Holocaust was an “insanity” and expressed hope that the world has learned from what he described as a “horrific and benighted period of human history.” “Me, I realized that war is insanity. And what happened here, in Europe especially under the Nazis. I could not imagine a country obey[ing]an insane leader. And I could not ever fathom the spectacle of a human being going into a killing spree, murdering old men, women, men, children, mothers,” he added. “I would like to say that we are one in saying that it [Holocaust] will not happen again and my country will be the first to voice [opposition to]such a massacre of a CREDENTIALS. President Rodrigo Duterte receives the credentials of Ambassador-Designate of the State of Israel to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz during a ceremony held at the Malacañan Palace on Aug. 31, 2018. Also in the photo is Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter race just because of hate,” the president said.

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Cayetano.

Presidential photo by Ace Morandante

$82.9-M in business deals inked DILG exec: Boracay can only between Philippines and Israel accommodate 55,000 per day by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

JERUSALEM — More than 20 private agreements and letters of intent worth $82.9 million were signed during President Rodrigo Duterte’s four-day visit here, an official said. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the deals and intent letters are expected to generate 790 jobs and are a reflection of investors’ optimism on the Philippines. Presidential Photo by Toto Lozano

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Duterte apologizes to Obama by RALPH

VILLANUEVA

by AJPRESS DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Operations Epimaco Densing III confirmed on Monday, September 3, that Boracay Island can only accommodate 55,000 people daily. Prior to its rehabilitation in April, the internationally-known resort island takes in an average of 70,000 people daily. This means that the 1,032-hectare island in Aklan welcomed 15,000 more individuals than it can possibly handle. “There was an average of 70,000 people on the

island per day, meaning there was a 15,000 overcapacity,” Densing said. The said figures were from DILG Secretary Eduardo Año who noted that the three-village island in Malay town has a carrying capacity of only 19,000 for tourists and 36,000 for residents and workers. The data was based on the study of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau and the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Densing clarified that the figures were only a draft and are still

had forgiven Obama. ManilaTimes.net “We understand each other, so if it is in your heart to forgive, you PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte forgive. I have forgiven you,” the has finally apologized to former president said. U.S. President Barack Obama for “I am forgiving you, just like calling him a “son of a whore” what I did to all my ex-girlfriends two years ago. when I was younger. I am forgivSpeaking before Filipinos in Is- ing you. I have forgiven them all,” rael, Duterte said his 2016 state- he added. ment was mere “talkatese,” imShortly after assuming power in plying that it was empty talk. 2016, Duterte hurled the Filipino “It would be appropriate to say expletive “p*******a” as he lashed at this time, Mr. Obama, you are out at Obama and the U.S. State now a civilian. I am sorry for ut- Department for criticizing his war tering those words. Know it was on illegal drugs. The expletive just plain talkatese. We have translates to “son of a whore” or learned our lessons very well,” “son of a bitch.” The tough-talking Duterte changed his tune during a meeting with the Filipino community Duterte said “I am a president of a sovereign here, adding that he had also “forgiven” Obama for criticizing the war on drugs. Duterte also said he Presidential photo u PAGE A2 BORACAY TOURISTS. Dozens of tourists walk along the shores of Boracay.

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PNA photo by Joey Razon


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september 6-12, 2018 • LAs VeGAs AsIAN JOUrNAL

$82.9M in business deals inked.. PAGE A1

“(The outlook is) very good. They are bullish. They know we’re growing fast, according to some investors we talked to. Some are actually in the Philippines,” Lopez told The STAR in a text message on Tuesday. The agreements cover investments in agriculture, military hardware, information technology, infrastructure, software sys-

tems, tourism and health as well as cooperation in trade, science, shipping, and marketing. The memoranda of agreement were signed by Century Properties Inc. and Globe Invest Ltd, which seek to enter into a joint venture on energy optimization, advanced agriculture and urban farming, prefabricated housing, water desalination and other real estate projects; Stone of Da-

From The FronT Page

vid Corp. and Gaia Automotive Industries Ltd., which aim to cooperate on the marketing and promotion of tactical vehicles; and Stone of David Corp. and MCTECH RF Technologies Ltd., which intend to collaborate on military and intelligence products and hardware. The memoranda of understanding were signed by the following companies: • Century Pacific Food, Inc. and Kvuzat Yavne on the distribution of canned tuna products for the Century brands within Israel and the Palestinian territories; • Integrated Computer Systems, Inc. and Verint Systems Ltd. on exploring opportunities for collaboration on security, intelligence data mining and information technology; • Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship Foundation Go Negosyo, Israel-Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines on joint programs related to the mentoring of entrepreneurs; • Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce on the exchange of information on the market and trade opportunities; • Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry- National Capital Region and Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce on the promotion and strengthening of trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation; • Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Eilat Port Company Ltd. on the promotion of an allwater route between Subic port and the Eilat port; • AMA Education System and HackerU on cooperation to develop cybersecurity-related certification courses in the Philippines; • Le Soleil Shipping Agencies, Inc. and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. on providing additional ships to meet the Philippines’ local and international shipping requirements; • Armscor Global Defense, Inc. and EMTAN Karmiel Ltd. on technology transfer that will enable Armscor to create a facility for the manufacturing of weapons; • KEREM IT Solutions and Carbyne Ltd. on promoting and selling their products; and • KEREM IT Solutions and Su-

RISING SONS. President Rodrigo Duterte visits the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force escort flotilla docked at Subic Bay. With him are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Japanese Ambassador to Manila Koji Haneda and Armed Forces chief Carlito Galvez. Photo by Andrea de la Cruz/Manilatimes.net

Duterte orders Trillanes’...

PAGE A1 tion No. 572 that the amnesty granted by former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino was void from the beginning since there was no application let alone an admission of guilt. “The grant of amnesty to former LTSG Antonio Trillanes IV under Proclamation No. 75 is declared void ab initio because he did not comply with the minimum requirements to qualify under the Amnesty Program,” the proclamation stated. Trillanes was behind the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny and the 2007 Peninsula Manila siege in Makati City. He was granted the amnesty according to Proclamation No. 50 signed in October 2010, which was then followed by Proclamation No. 75 signed in November 2010. Both proclamations granted amnesty to all those involved in the Oakwood mutiny, the marines stand-off and the Peninsula Manila incident. In January 2011, the former naval officer applied for the amnesty grant and was included among the list of officers who received such in the same month. The amnesty grant also underwent a concurrence with Congress. DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that a concurrence with Congress will not be necessary for this recent revocation to take effect. He emphasized that the PAGE A4 amnesty itself is void ab initio (from the beginning), according to a report by Rappler. Trillanes vows to face arrest, says he has nothing to fear The opposition senator responded the same day the proclamation was issued. Trillanes promised to face arrest should the order provide a legal basis to the revocation of his amnesty grant.

“Hindi ko iiwasan yan. Mr. Duterte, hindi ako takot sa iyo (I won’t evade that. Mr. Duterte, I’m not afraid of you),” Trillanes said. He also denied all claims that he would escape the charges and run away from all the accusations. “Hindi ako magtatago definitely. My lawyers are exhausting legal remedies (I will not go into hiding, definitely),” Trillanes promised. He vowed to abide by whatever the decision would result into. He added that despite the challenges he faces as Duterte’s critic, he would still continue on his role as a member of the opposition. “Kung dadating sa punto na kailangang pumunta, mag-walk in pa ako mismo. I will not resist arrest, I will not escape. Haharapin ko ito, lalo akong gaganahan [tumira]. ‘Di ako matatakot, ‘di ako aalis (If it would reach that point, I myself would walk in. I will not resist arrest, I will not escape. I will face this, this encourages me [to be more critical]. I won’t fear it, I won’t go away),” Trillanes stated. Trillanes also emphasized how the said incident manifested Duterte’s dictatorship. He used his impending arrest as an avenue to magnify the flaws in the current administration. “Itong pangyayari na ito, it should be clear to everyone na si Mr. Duterte ay isang diktador. Hindi siya rumerespeto sa institusyon kaya ganito tayo. Kung ‘yung mga ordinaryong tao pinapatay, ‘yung mga kritiko niya ikukulong, so ganyan ang kalakaran sa Pilipinas ngayon (With this incident, it should be clear to everyone that Mr. Duterte is a dictator. He doesn’t respect the institution, that’s why we’re at

Duterte apologizes to... PAGE A1 state and we have long ceased to be a colony. I do not have any master except the Filipino people, nobody but nobody. You must be respectful. Do not just throw questions. You son of a whore, I will swear at you,” he said in September 2016, referring to Obama.

A month after, he said Obama should “go to hell.” Just two weeks ago, during the 12th founding anniversary of the Eastern Mindanao Command, Duterte spoke out against Obama for “insulting” the Philippines rather than going through United Nations channels.

this point. If ordinary people are being killed, and his critics are being jailed, it shows how things are in the Philippines now),” the opposition senator added. Trillanes noted the ludicrosity of the revocation. He questioned the legality of the said proclamation. “Di puwedeng bawiin ang amnesty. Ano ba ‘yun? Tapos may double jeopardy. I was already subjected to that, nung nag-try ako and na-dismiss. Ano ngayon uulitin ‘yun? Ano ba ‘yan? Paturo nga sila sa law students? (The amnesty cannot be revoked. How can that be? Then there’s double jeopardy. I was already subjected to that when I was tried and [the case was] dismissed. What, now, we’re going to do it all over again? What’s that? They should let law students teach them),” Trillanes asked. “Itong amnesty is an act of Congress. Hindi siya masusupersede ng isang executive order (An amnesty is an act of Congress. It cannot be superseded by an executive order),” he added. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III decided not to let the officers arrest Trillanes to which the other senators agreed. “Technically, we are not preventing his arrest, we are merely following the Senate tradition of not allowing the arrest of a senator in our premises,” he explained. He said that they are merely following the tradition that no arrest be made on the premises. Other senators also noted that a warrant should also be issued before the arrest, as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “No arrests in the Senate premises unless the senator turns himself in. Outside is no longer our concern,” Sotto said. n

In contrast, Duterte has a cordial relationship with Obama’s successor, Donald Trump. Duterte and Trump even had a phone call last year, in which the Republican property mogul congratulated the former Davao City mayor for his anti-drug campaign. n

Duterte vows fight vs Hitler-like... PAGE A1 Despots and insane leaders, according to Duterte, “should be disposed of at the first instance.” “I hope that this will not happen again… We have learned so much along the years during the two wars. There is always a lesson to be learned and that despots and leaders who show insanity should be, well they should be disposed of at the first instance,” he said. About six million died during the Holocaust, the systematic killing of Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators. Duterte, the first Philippine president to set foot on the Holocaust Memorial, also paid tribute to the Jews who fell victims to Hitler’s pogrom by visiting the Hall of Names inside the Yad Vashem with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio “I would like to thank Israel, the government and the people for inviting us here to see for ourselves in visuals what we have read time and again in our history books,” he said. “We know the brutal and cruel journey of the Israelites. From one scattered generation, [they are]finally finding their place under the sun,” the president added. In the memorial’s guestbook, he urged nations to provide sanctuary to persecuted people. “Never again. May the world learn the lessons of this horrific and benighted period of human history,” the president said. “May the hearts of peoples around the world remain ever open. And may the minds of all men and women learn to work together toward providing a safe haven for all who are being per-

DUTERTE IN ISRAEL President Rodrigo Duterte, assisted by daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, leads the wreath-laying ceremony at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Center in Jerusalem, Israel, on Monday. Malacañang Photo

secuted,” he added. Duterte’s visit to Israel’s largest Holocaust memorial came two years after he drew condemnation from the Jewish community after he mentioned that he would be “happy to slaughter” some three million drug addicts, similar to what Hitler did to the Jews during World War 2. The president later apologized to the Jewish community, saying it was not his intention to derogate the memory of Jews slaughtered during that period. Israel views its ties with the Philippines as special as the latter provided refuge to around 1,300 Jews who escaped the Holocaust. The Philippines also cast a crucial vote for a United Nations resolution that led to the creation of the Jewish state. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his meeting with

Duterte on Monday, said Israel remembers the Philippines’ exceptional role of accepting Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. The Philippines, under thenPresident Manuel L. Quezon, reinforced the Commonwealth government’s open-door policy to accommodate the Jews who escaped from Europe between 1935 and 1941. In 1947, the Philippines, under the administration of then-President Manuel Roxas, cast the tiebreaking vote at the UN to separate Israel from Palestine. The two countries established diplomatic ties 10 years later. After the trip to the Jewish state, the president will also visit Jordan, where he is expected to sign agreements on labor, defense and foreign affairs. Duterte’s visits to Israel and Jordan are a first for a sitting Philippine president. n


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DATELINE USA

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 6-12, 2018

DOJ criticizes Harvard University over alleged discrimination of Asian Americans

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Groups including Asian Americans pledge support to the Ivy League university’s affirmative action policy

by RAE

ANN VARONA AJPress

THE U.S. Department of Justice this week came out against Harvard University’s admission practices by announcing its support of an anti-affirmative action group that sued the Ivy League university for allegedly discriminating against Asian American applicants in its admission policies. In a Statement of Interest filed in federal court Thursday, August 30, the Justice Department backed the Students for Fair Admissions group in claiming that Harvard University “has failed to show that it does not unlawfully discriminate against Asian Americans.” The lawsuit dates back to 2014 when Students for Fair Admissions sued the university for violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in programs that receive federal financial assistance. “No American should be denied admission to school because of their race. As a recipient of taxpayer dollars, Harvard has a responsibility to conduct its admissions policy without racial discrimination by using meaningful admissions criteria that meet lawful requirements,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He added that the case “is significant because the admissions policies at our colleges and universities are important and must be conducted lawfully.” Harvard, which moved to dismiss the suit, responded to the Justice Department’s statement and said that it was “deeply disappointed” in the government’s siding with the plaintiff, “recycling the same misleading and hollow arguments that prove nothing more than the emptiness of the case against Harvard.” “Harvard does not discriminate against applicants from any group, and will continue to vigorously defend the legal right of every college and university to consider race as one factor among many in college admissions, which the Supreme Court has consistently upheld for more than 40 years,” the university said. “Colleges and universities must have the freedom and flexibility to create the diverse communities that are vital to the learning experience of ev-

ery student, and Harvard is proud to stand with the many organizations and individuals who are filing briefs in support of this position today.” Among the arguments used against the university is its “personal rating” factor that anti-affirmative action groups say may be biased against Asian Americans. In its filing, the Justice Department called the scoring system “vague and elusory.” In its press release, it said that the university “scores Asian-American applicants lower on the personal rating than white applicants.” According to the university, the personal rating is meant to reflect on a “wide range of applicant information or applicant information, such as personal essays, which Harvard uses to understand the applicant’s full life story.” This, it added, includes where the student grew up, what opportunities or challenges they faced in their families or communities, and what “impact they might have both at Harvard and after they graduate, as citizens and leaders out in the world.” But as those against affirmative action got their nod of support from the U.S. government, a number of social scientists and scholars went on to pledge their support for Harvard. Groups pledge support for affirmative action Also on Thursday, over 500 social scientists and scholars filed their own briefs in support of Harvard’s admission policies. Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) in a press release said that the issues brought up by Students for Fair Admissions served to “further drive a wedge between Asian Americans and other communities of color.” “The reality is that racism and segregation continue to unfairly limit educational opportunities in K-12 for students of color,” said Nicole Ochi, supervising attorney at Advancing Justice - Los Angeles. “Race also shapes our life experience and is part of who we are and what we bring to the table. The consideration of race as one of many factors in holistic admissions recognizes those realities. That recognition should not be conflated with unlaw-

ful discrimination against Asian Americans.” She added: “The evidence is clear that Harvard’s constitutional consideration of race in a holistic admissions process benefits underrepresented minority students, including Asian Americans. As a civil rights organization that fights every day to end racism against Asian Americans and other people of color, we know that ending the inclusionary consideration of race will exacerbate, rather than ameliorate any problems with racial bias that Asian Americans experience.” Central to the case is the definition of “merit,” said Advancing Justice - LA, adding that flat numerical indicators like SAT scores and grade point averages are not colorblind measures of merit. “Research also confirms that the most promising students are not always the ones with the highest SAT scores or the best high school grades and that non-academic factors that predict success like grit, resourcefulness, creativity, and critical thinking are independent of (or even correlate negatively with) these traditional academic measures,” the group added. Adding to the support of Harvard were some of the university’s current students who are allowed to submit evidence and participate in oral argument. “America’s version of meritocracy is not race-blind,” said Jang Lee, a senior at the university. “Though the opposition says we should not be using race to decide our children’s destinies, race had already bound our destinies since birth.” Alex Zhang, a junior at Harvard, said he benefited from the university’s “holistic, race-conscious admissions policy.” “At Harvard, I have found a community of Asian Americans and other students of color that immeasurably contributed to my personal development. I think that Harvard still has a long way to go when it comes to race. Improving the racial climate for Asian Americans and supporting affirmative action programs are not mutually exclusive, they are complementary efforts to reduce racial bias,” he said. PAGE A4

File photo shows Brett Kavanaugh, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, after he was nominated by President Donald Trump for the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, July 9. The Senate Judiciary Committee began its first day of the hearings for Kavanaugh’s nomination on Tuesday, Sept. 4. Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen

Kavanaugh declines to answer views...

PAGE A1 committee chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) pushed back on the demands, saying in a CBS interview that Kavanaugh’s tenure at the Bush White House is “irrelevant to his being a judge.” The second day didn’t yield many explicit answers from the nominee, who tried to poise himself as a nonpartisan, openminded judge who solely bases his decisions on the law and understands the human impact of his decisions. “I don’t live in a bubble,” Kavanaugh, 53, told Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. “I base my decisions on the law, but I do so with an awareness of the facts and an awareness of the real-world consequences.” As previously reported by the Asian Journal, ranking committee member Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) pressed Kavanaugh --- a social conservative with connections to anti-choice organizations --- on the first day about his views on abortion and Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision legalizing abortion. Since Kavanaugh’s nomination in June, Democrats expressed concern over Kavanaugh’s views on abortion and whether or not he would overturn Roe; and, Republican Sens Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said that issue could affect their votes on Kavanaugh. Feinstein had mentioned the impact of Roe on women who were granted freedom to make their own choices for their reproductive health without government intrusion. On Wednesday,

Kavanaugh acknowledged the landmark ruling as “an importance precedent” referencing Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 case reaffirming Roe. Feinstein mentioned the hundreds of thousands of women who died from illegal abortions in the time before Roe. However, after Feinstein asked him if he thinks the case was correctly decided, he didn’t answer yes. “How you make a judgment on these issues is really important to our vote as to whether to support you or not because I don’t want to back on those death tolls,” Feinstein pressed. “I truly believe that women should be able to control their own reproductive systems.” Kavanaugh responded to Feinstein, “I understand your point of view on that,” but did not expand further. Last year, Kavanaugh dissented in an appeals court case Garza v. Hargan in which he opposed the ruling that allowed an undocumented immigrant teenager receive and abortion under federal care despite a Texas judge granting her permission to undergo the procedure. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked Kavanaugh about his reasoning behind his dissent, and Kavanaugh said that the teenager’s age was key in his ruling saying that “had she been an adult, she would have had a right to an abortion immediately.” Like the previous day, Kavanaugh emphasized his mission to honor the law of the land if confirmed as a justice, which prompted senators to inquire

about his views on whether or not Trump could be indicted. As FBI special counsel Robert Mueller and his team close in on the Trump campaign team in the investigation into Russian collusion in the 2016 election tampering, Washington lawmakers have been fighting to maintain that investigation amid the administration’s efforts to shut down the investigation. For the last few months, lawmakers and experts have been weighing the decision over whether or not a sitting president should be protected from criminal charges if found guilty of a felony. On Wednesday, Feinstein asked the nominee if a sitting president can be required to respond to a subpoena, Kavanaugh praised the Supreme Court decision that forced President Richard Nixon to release the Watergate tapes, but he did not answer Feinstein’s question. “I can’t give you an answer on that hypothetical question,” he said. Kavanaugh also did not explicitly answer Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy’s question about whether or not Trump has the “absolute right to pardon himself” if convicted by the Mueller investigation for colluding with Russia to tamper the 2016 presidential election. “I’m not going to answer,” Kavanaugh answered, again, calling the question “hypothetical,” to which Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) responded, “I hope for the sake of the country that remains a hypothetical question.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)


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Over past 20 years, the percentage of children with adhd nearly doubles by Rachel

Bluth Kaiser Health News

The number of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADhD) has reached more than 10 percent, a significant increase during the past 20 years, according to a study released Friday. The rise was most pronounced in minority groups, suggesting that better access to health insurance and mental health treatment through the Affordable Care Act might have played some role in the increase. The rate of diagnosis during that time period doubled in girls, although it was still much lower than in boys. Nietes and Palicte pose during Wednesday’s media workout at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles, CA. But the researchers say they Photos by Jhya Otamias/Philboxing.com found no evidence confirming frequent complaints that the condition is overdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. The U.S. has significantly more instances of ADhD than other developed countries, which reThRee division world champisearchers said has led some to on Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes and Aston think Americans are overdiag‘Mighty’ Palicte held a workout for nosing children. Dr. Wei Bao, the media on Wednesday, August the lead author of the study, said 29 at Freddie Roach’s Wildcard in an interview that a review of Gym in Los Angeles. studies around the world doesn’t The gathering was held ahead support that. of their clash for the vacant WBO ”I don’t think overdiagnosis is world super flyweight title fight in the main issue,” he said. the co-feature match on Superfly Nonetheless, those doubts 3 scheduled on September 8 at persist. Dr. Stephen hinshaw, The Forum in Inglewood, CA to who co-authored a 2014 book be broadcast on hBO. Filipinos called “The ADhD explosion: Nietes and Palicte are ranked No. Myths, Medication, Money, and 1 and No. 2 respectively by the Today’s Push for Performance,” WBO in the super flyweight divicompared ADhD to depression. sion. he said in an interview that neiheadlining the Superfly 3 event ther condition has unequivocal is former flyweight and super Donnie Nietes hits the speedball. biological markers, so it makes flyweight world champion Juan it hard to determine if a patient Francisco estrada who will go up ta. Also on the card is the match- and Puerto Rico’s McWilliams truly has the condition without against compatriot Felipe Orucu- up between Japanese Kazuto Ioka Arroyo. (Philboxing.com) lengthy psychological evaluations. Symptoms of ADhD can include inattention, fidgety behavior and impulsivity. “It’s probably not a true epidemic of ADhD,” said hinshaw, a professor of psychology at the University of California-Berkeley and a professor of psychiatry at UC-San Francisco. “It might be an epidemic of diagnosing it.” In interpreting their results, however, the study’s authors tied the higher numbers to better

Nietes, Palicte hold media workout at Wildcard Gym in La

understanding of the condition by doctors and the public, new standards for diagnosis and an increase in access to health insurance through the ACA. Because of the ACA, “some low-income families have improved access to services and referrals,” said Bao, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public health. The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, used data from the National health Interview Survey, an annual federal survey of about 35,000 households. It found a steady increase in diagnoses among children from about 6 percent of children between 1997 and 1998 to more than 10 percent between 2015 and 2016. Advances in medical technology also may have contributed to the increase, according to the research. Twenty years ago, preterm or low-weight babies had a harder time surviving. Those factors increase the risk of being diagnosed with ADhD. The study also suggests that fewer stigmas about mental health care in minority communities may also lead to more people receiving an ADhD diagnosis. In the late 1990s, 7.2 percent of non-hispanic white children, 4.7 percent of non-hispanic black children and 3.6 of hispanic children were diagnosed with ADhD, according to the study. By 2016, it was 12 percent of white kids, 12.8 percent of blacks and 6.1 percent of hispanics. Over the past several decades, hinshaw said, there’s been an expanded view of who can develop ADhD. It’s no longer viewed as a disease that affects only white middle-class boys, as eating disorders are no longer seen as afflicting only white middle-class girls. Still, he cautioned against overdiagnosing ADhD in communities where behavioral issues could be the result of social or environmental factors such as overcrowded classrooms. The study found rates of ADhD among girls rose from 3 to more

than 6 percent over the study period. It said that was partly a result of a change in how the condition is classified. For years, ADhD pertained to children who were hyperactive. But in recent years, the American Psychiatric Association added to its guide of mental health conditions that diagnosis should also include some children who are inattentive, Bao said. That raised the number of girls, he explained, because it seems they are more likely to be in that second subtype. “If we compare these two, you can easily imagine people will easily recognize hyperactivity,” he said. That rang true for Ruth hay, a 25-year-old student and cook from New York who now lives in Jerusalem. She was diagnosed with what was then called ADD the summer between second and third grade. hay said her hyperactive tendencies aren’t as “loud” as some people’s. She’s less likely to bounce around a room than she is to bounce in her chair, she said. Yet despite her early diagnosis, hay said, no one ever told her about other symptoms. For example, she said, she suffers from executive dysfunction, which leaves her feeling unable to accomplish tasks, no matter how much she wanted to or tried. “I grew up being called lazy in periods of time when I wasn’t,” hay said. “If you look at a list of all the various ADhD symptoms, I have all of them to one degree or another, but the only ones ever discussed with me was you might be less focused and more fidgety.” “I don’t know how my brain would be if I didn’t have it,” she added. “I don’t know if I’d still be me, but all it has been for me is a disability.” KHN’s coverage of children’s health care issues is supported in part by the Heising-Simons Foundation. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n

DOJ criticizes Harvard University over...

Nietes shows off his chiseled body.

Palicte flexes.

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PAGE A3 Another student Daniel Lu, also a junior, said “Asian Americans will never have a fair shot at life in America until racism is eradicated from this country. “We need affirmative action to help address this racism, but it is

far from enough,” he added. harvard University is among the world’s most selective universities. Of this year’s entering class of 1,962 applicants, roughly 23 percent were Asian American. The suit is currently pending

in a federal court in Boston, and the trial between Students for Fair Admissions and harvard University is slated to begin mid-October. The outcome is one experts say may affect the future of affirmative action in higher education. n

US veterans’ group approves Balangiga... PAGE A1

President Duterte called on the U.S. to return the Balangiga bells, saying items that form part of the national heritage of Filipinos should not be taken away from them. Dennis Wright, an officer of the VFW, said the resolution approved by the American Legion “clearly demonstrates” the support of the U.S. veteran community for the return of the bells. In a memorandum to the U.S. National Security Commission, American Legion officer Jeff Steele said the VFW also approved a resolution last July in favor of returning the bells to the Philippines. Last month, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis notified the U.S. Congress that the defense depart-

Philstar.com file photo

ment plans to return the bells to the Philippines, but the date has

yet to be determined. (Ding Cervantes/Philstar.com)

DILG exec: Boracay can only accommodate... PAGE A1 being finalized. The initial findings were discussed among the agencies in charge of Boracay’s rehabilitation and have yet to be officially presented to the public. Densing also enumerated the events responsible for the increase in tourist arrivals in the island. “LaBoracay,” the Labor Day and long weekend beach parties held in Boracay, once caused the influx of 67,000 tourists in a day. This number does not include the 32,500 residents recorded by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The aforementioned events could have garnered nearly 100,000 people

a day, thus accommodating around double of its carrying capacity, according to various estimates. Boracay Foundation Incorporated Business Group President Nenette Aguirre-Graf stated that in order to continuously rehabilitate the island, the planning of the new carrying capacity should involve residents and local business operators. “This needs a thorough planning involving native residents and business operators of the island because we will also be involved in the implementation,” Graf said. She suggested a stop to the hosting of “LaBoracay” festivities as they lead to a daily overcapac-

ity on the island. She advised the local government to provide residential provisions for Boracay workers on Malay mainland to decongest the tourist spot. They should regulate the entry of cruise vessels as they can transport between 2,000 and 4,000 tourists to the island, she continued. Due to the environmental degradation of the said resort island, President Rodrigo Duterte declared the Boracay waters a “cesspool” in February. he then directed the closure of the entire Boracay on April 26 to give way for a massive cleanup and rehabilitation. Boracay is expected to reopen to tourists in October this year. n

$82.9M in business deals inked... PAGE A2

perCom on promoting and selling their products. The letters of intent were submitted by the following: • Amdocs Philippines Ltd., which aims to expand operation in software development and support services; • TrueLogic Online Solutions, Inc., which is planning to expand operation in software systems development and support services; • Silver Shadow Advanced Security Systems and Rayo Illuminar Corp., which seek to explore

opportunities in manufacturing and refurbishment of small arms and ammunition; • MIMA TeCh, which aims to expand operations in agriculture and waste water and sewerage treatment projects; • Flyeast Philippines, which is planning to expand operations in tourism development; • FoodLab Capital, which is eyeing expansion of operations by building the FoodTech Acceleration Center within the Cagayan Special economic Zone and Freeport

• Assuta Medical Center and I-DeA Ventures Group, Inc. which is planning to expand operations in the Philippines by building a medical center within the Cagayan Special economic Zone and Freeport. The Philippine Red Cross and its Israeli counterpart Magen David Adom also signed a cooperation agreement on emergency medical services. The agreement is expected to improve PRC’s capacity to respond to emergency situations. n


LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 6-12, 2018

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Dateline PUnemployment hiliPPines rate down in July, but

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more Pinoys want additional work, income 60.6 percent a year ago. 900,000-1.1 million employment “An average of 1.17 million generation for 2018,” Pernia said. additional employment has been “With remarkable improvements, MANiLA, Philippines — The created so far in the first three the government should not let proportion of jobless filipinos rounds of the Labor force Survey. up on its efforts to continually declined in July, the govern- And this puts the government improve the employment situament’s statistics agency reported on track in meeting its target of tion in the country.” n Wednesday, although more people sought additional work and income during the month. Unemployment rate went down to 5.4 percent in July from 5.6 percent a year ago. Among the regions, ilocos Region (6.5 percent), Central Luzon (6.3 percent), CALABARZON (6.3 percent), Bicol Region (6.3 percent) and National Capital Region (6.1 percent) posted the highest unemployment rates, data showed. “The share of inactive youth remains a concern. The government must equip students with industry-relevant competencies as well as increase their opportunities for work experience. A stronger academe-industry Atty. Kimberley Atty. Moonee linkage should orient students Schaefer Lee better on career prospects,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary ernesto Pernia said in a statement. however, the quality of available jobs eroded as the proportion of those underemployed with our flexible immigration assistance options — or employed persons who are for green cards, fiance visas, immigrant visas, still looking for more work or loncitizenship, and waivers ger working hours — worsened to 17.2 percent in July from 16.5 percent. “in order to meet our employSchedule a free ment targets, government should consultation appointment at provide an environment that is conducive to creating more and ImmigrationNevada.com/Consultation-Appointment/ better jobs. it should prioritize or call (702) 844-6945 policies and programs that address the issues of unutilized youth, unemployed youth, underemployment, and vulnerable workers,” Pernia said. Meanwhile, employment rate in July inched up to 94.6 percent from 94.4 percent in the same Learn more about your immigration options month last year. inflation has been soaring with our free immigration guides at above the government’s 2-4 ImmigrationNevada.com/Free percent target range this year, prompting filipinos to look for Address: 701 N. Green Valley Parkway, Ste 200 better jobs and labor groups to seek wage hikes. Henderson, NV 89074 The country’s labor force parImmigrationNevada.com ticipation rate in July 2018 was Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/groups/VisaCasePrep/ estimated at 60.1 percent from by ian

TO THE MARKET. A man pushes a cart containing produce such as peppers, calamansi and onions for sale to the wet market. Photo by Roger Ranada/Manilatimes.net

De Castro tells Palace, Congress: Leave SC alone by Dona

Z. PaZZibugan Inquirer.net

Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro on Monday, September 3, called on Malacañang and Congress to “respect” the Supreme Court, warning them against interfering in the tribunal’s affairs. Speaking at her first flag ceremony at the Supreme Court since assuming office last week, De Castro also told critics who were unhappy with her appointment after the controversial ouster of her predecessor, Maria Lourdes Sereno, to leave the court alone. Sereno was ousted in June after the high court upheld the quo warranto case filed against her by Solicitor General Jose Calida on the grounds that she lacked integrity for not filing statements of assets, liabilities and net worth before her appointment as Chief Justice in 2012. 41-day term “The other members of the coequal and independent branches of the government should understand that based on our constitutional order, the decisions reached by the justices of the Supreme Court whether unanimously or by ma-

nicolas cigaral Philstar.com

We Help Future Americans Become Citizens

FLAG CEREMONY. Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro was joined by fellow justices and employees of the Supreme Court during flag ceremony last Monday, September 3. Photo by Marianne Bermudez/Inquirer.net

jority vote must be respected,” De Castro told her fellow justices and the court staff. She will serve as Chief Justice for only 41 days as she will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 on Oct. 8. “We should be left alone to decide the fate of this institution without interference,” she went on, adding that justices of the Supreme Court weigh the law and evidence carefully. “So we demand respect from the other members of the coequal and independent branches of the government,” she

said. De Castro said the high court had learned lessons from its “turbulent months,” alluding to Sereno’s impeachment hearings in the house of Representatives and her ouster. De Castro was the first of the five Supreme Court justices who testified against Sereno before the house committee on justice hearings on the impeachment complaint against her. “i would like to say that people outside would like to judge us from what they see from afar. PAGE A7


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SEPTEMBER 6-12, 2018 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

PH needs strategic plan for int’l sports competitions

FEATURES

NEWS that came in recently from Indonesia on the Philippine performance in the 18th Asian Games shows Team Philippines has fallen horribly short of its potential in the quadrennial games. been a standard sport for competition in the Asiad, and our players have harvested gold and other medals accordingly. The cancellation of billiards is particularly disappointing because a Filipino pool player, Carlo Biado, is the current world pool champion, ranked first in the world by the World Pool Association (WPA). Similarly, two Filipino female players are ranked among the top 10 women players in the world today. It may be recalled that it was under the overextended leadership of the POC by Peping Cojuangco when billiards was surreptitiously removed from the Asian Games. During his term he also placed a colorum group to take charge of the national sports association (NSA) for billiards. This dismal state of our sports affairs must not be allowed to continue. It is incumbent upon the POC and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to hold consultations and together come up with a strategic plan and program for the development of national sports. The fact that the country will host the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) next year should lend urgency to the design and implementation of such a development plan and program. It is not encouraging to know that Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has been designated chairman or the organization of the SEAG. The man has absolutely no experience or stand-

After two weeks of competition, the national team – with a new president at the helm of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Ricky Vargas –has only a handful of medals to show for our athletes’ efforts. Perhaps most distressing is the fact that our delegation could not perform fairly in the three sports where Filipinos have traditionally been most competitive – boxing, basketball and billiards, which happen also to be the most popular sports in the country. Our boxing delegation, in a sport that is headed by no less than Mr. Vargas, was totally shut out from the gold medal race, managing only to salvage a silver medal. Boxing has been perennially a sport where Filipino boxers have excelled, with the spectacular exploits modeled by Manny Pacquiao as an eightdivision world boxing champion. In basketball, the most popular sport in the country, the Philippine team was quickly eliminated when it encountered China and South Korea – our traditional basketball rivals every Asiad. This happened despite all the big to-do about getting a Filipino-American player in the NBA, Jordan Clarkson, to wear the Philippine colors. In billiards, which is traditionally a source of gold medals for the Philippines, the sport was inexplicably scratched from the games in Indonesia. This is absurd. For decades now, billiards has

Editorial

Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA IN death Sen. John McCain was honored by colleagues whom he disagreed with, even fought with and who considered him a disloyal maverick during his long tenure as a politician. Former Vice-President Joe Biden summed up the attitude of the usually partisan personalities who crossed John McCain’s life before brain cancer took it at age 81. Speaking at McCain’s internment in his home state of Arizona, Biden, opened up by declaring, “I am a Democrat…and I loved John McCain.” Special guests at the final rites for McCain were former President Barack Obama who trounced the senator, as Republican party standard bearer, in the 2008 presidential elections; former President George W. Bush, who defeated McCain in the 2000 presidential primary and whose campaign even resorted to such dirty tricks as spreading the baseless rumor that McCain had fathered a black child; and former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. Absent was President Donald Trump. He was not invited to

If true, this may be myopic thinking. He should focus his attention and priority on the 2019 SEAG and national sports development as a whole. He should see the entire challenge to national sports leadership. The nation needs to know that there are truly new leaders and new management at the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission. Without a new strategic vision and a new work program, we cannot expect change in the prospects of Philippine sports in international competition. (Manilatimes.net)

His loyalty to party ended where loyalty to country began McCain’s final rites. Trump’s absence was obvious at the various ceremonies honoring McCain. That included the one where he lay in state at the Capitol rotunda, a distinction reserved for the most outstanding and exemplary personages in the United States, such as Abraham Lincoln. McCain was only the 31st person to be honored with an official internment at the Capitol rotunda. Interestingly, this honor was decided on by the leaders of the Republican-controlled Senate and House of Representatives. The same leaders who were sorely disappointed with McCain when he cast the nay vote that doomed President Donald Trump’s and the GOP’s vow to repeal the controversial Democrat-passed Affordable Care Act (AKA Obamacare). In truth, if Trump had his way, the Capitol rotunda honors would have been denied McCain, just as Trump balked at flying the U.S. flag at half-mast during the entire period of McCain’s internment. It was only because of the uproar caused by Trump’s petty antagonism against a political critic (including a protest by members of the American Legion), that Trump relented and issued an executive order allowing due honors to be accorded to the late senator. The final days of McCain above-

ground must have virtually buried Trump in shame, as the entire country ignored the president of the United States while paying tribute to someone he considered an enemy. But political enmity was set aside during McCain’s internment. For one shining moment, America’s political leaders cast aside partisanship and extolled the maverick senator who valued loyalty to country over and above loyalty to his political party. With one voice, they conceded that McCain was a genuine hero and patriot. But what set him off in comparison to Trump was that McCain was also a person of grace and nobility, rather than pettiness, a trait that Trump has, unfortunately, shrouded himself with. During the blistering contest against Obama, one McCain supporter at a political rally had very unkind words to say about the African-American candidate that bordered on racism. McCain stopped the supporter and contradicted her, pointing out that Obama was a decent and respectable person and not the kind being portrayed. In contrast, throughout the campaign to choose the Republican standard bearer, the presidential contest itself against Hillary Clinton, and throughout Trump’s brief tenure as president, he has been

FVR’S enduring love for Ming WHEN one talks about enduring love, one love song easily comes to mind and it’s Crystal Gale’s “A Long and Lasting Love.” Here are some enchanting lines of Gale’s song: “A long and lasting love Not many people find it But those who do their whole life through Put their heart and soul behind it A long and lasting love Is what I’ve always dreamed of A special bond That goes beyond the changing of the seasons A long and lasting love Someone I can care for Someone to be there for the rest of my life A long and lasting love.” For former President Fidel V. Ramos (FVR or Eddie) and his wife of 65 years, former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Martinez Ramos (AMR), theirs is a union that has become enduring and

Inquirer.net photo

ing in sports. He is unknown to athletes and sports officials alike. This designation looks suspiciously designed as a boost for his future political plans. But politics should have no place in sports, if our sporting life must progress and become more competitive internationally. We have also heard that Mr. Vargas is mulling the withdrawal of Filipino boxers from international competition because of the flagrant unfair judging suffered by our boxers during the games in Indonesia. He says it’s time to do something about the continuing controversies in international amateur boxing.

Commentary

MELANDREW T. VELASCO long lasting just like Gale’s stirring song. Their love and marriage have withstood the test of time that FVR recently even devoted a five part series in his Sunday Manila Bulletin sermons to honor his wife and the legacy of Madam Ming. FVR’s columns featured the various facets of Ming Ramos as an understanding wife to a military officer who rose to become president as well as a doting mother to their five daughters Angel, Cristy, Chula, Jo and Margie and now as a loving grandmother to their seven grandchildren. In 2009, I was privileged to au-

thor a book on the life and times of the former first lady titled “Simply Ming,” which was FVR’s loving way and thoughtful gift in grateful appreciation of his wife. Just like FVR columns, “Simply Ming” recounts their friendship as classmates at UP High School and as neighbors at Padre Faura; Eddie’s courtship to Ming and how they fell in love; her ability to balance her time in raising their children and fulfil her duties as the wife of a decorated military officer, and, later as president. “Simply Ming” also featured her other traits and facets as a career professional and educator environmentalist, sports leader, musician, social worker and as a First Lady who was a woman full of substance. At the tail-end of the Ramos presidency, Madam Ming wrote a column titled “Beside Eddie,” and she shared, “Despite the fact that I am the First Lady now, I am still working for mostly the same reasons 45 years ago at the In-

the epitome of boorishness, pettiness, racism, self-delusion and falsehood, playing to the basest attitudes of his supporters. On the other hand, McCain never played to his base, often disappointing his party mates and refusing to toe the party line. As a congressman and six-term senator, McCain earned the moniker of “maverick” because he often bucked the Republican position on issues, and often reached over to the opposition Democrats to work on critical legislative initiatives. He worked with the late Senator Edward Kennedy on comprehensive immigration reform, voted against tax cuts for the rich (which Trump forced through in the name of tax reform), campaigned against dependency on fossil fuel, warned against global warming, and advocated campaign finance reform. While he was a known supporter and admirer of President Ronald Reagan, McCain, as a rookie congressman, spoke vigorously against Reagan’s plan to send US marines to Lebanon. The slaughter of hundreds of U.S. and allied soldiers in a terrorist attack on a Marine camp in Beirut proved McCain right, but it was a pyrrhic validation of his principled stand. For sure, McCain was not infallible. He was known to make poor judgments, such as choosing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his

running mate in the 2008 presidential campaign. Palin was a drag on the campaign and confirmed people’s negative perceptions of her afterwards. But McCain stood by his convictions, even if it wouldn’t have made sense to the less principled. As a soldier and a prisoner-ofwar in Vietnam, he endured five and a half years of torture and solitary confinement – and yet when he was offered an opportunity to be released, he declined because of the unwritten rule among POWs of first-in-first-out, meaning that those who had been confined ahead of McCain deserved to be released ahead of him, too. Trump disdained McCain. The feeling was obviously mutual. McCain refused to endorse Trump, the official Republican standard bearer in 2016, sunk Trump’s pet campaign vow to repeal Obamacare, and characterized Trump’s summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin as “one of the most disgraceful performances of an American president.” McCain was also the anti-thesis of Trump in other ways. McCain, whose father and paternal grandfather were both admirals, volunteered for active duty with the U.S. Navy at 17. He flew fighter jets, was shot down over Vietnam and was a POW for five and a half years.

On the other hand, Trump avoided being drafted into the military and avoided being sent to Vietnam five times by claiming a bone spur in his feet at one point and claiming college education four other times. A ridiculous comment by Trump about McCain was that the latter was not a hero because he was captured. According to Trump, heroes were not supposed to be taken prisoners. This prompted pundits to comment that Trump’s “heroism” was by sparing the U.S. armed forces of his cowardice. McCain’s passing may have been a sobering hiatus for professional politicians. And the soaring rhetoric that the speakers spoke during the internment ceremonies may have given Americans reason to hope that the divisiveness that has marked the Trump presidency can be healed. But it’s too early to tell. Politicians have this magical talent for putting on a noble mask when occasion demands, and especially during funerals. As a Tagalog pundit puts it, “Bihisan mo raw ang matsing ay matsing pa rin.” (You may dress up a monkey but it is still a monkey). The likes of Senator John McCain will be missed. (gregmacabenta@hotmail. com)

ternational School. However, the experience has been a wonderful one with its share of happy moments and trying moments. I am proud to say that the last six years have been a good family bonding experience for us. Certainly after the six-year stint, any other problem not national in scope that Eddie and I will encounter in the future will pale in comparison!” As for FVR’s appreciation of Madam Ming, here is a hearty and lovely letter he penned on Mother’s Day in 1995 which is reprinted below: “Dearest Ming, Happy Mother’ Day is too short a phrase, sometimes too impersonal and unoriginal especially between two people who have shared almost a lifetime together. Certainly we have more thoughts to share and express. We are at this moment separated by a continent, the Pacific Ocean and the U.S. continent –– and a thirteen-hour time difference –– not by official duties but by something more precious –– Margie’s college graduation in Atlanta, Georgia. I hope that

Margie will understand and forgive my absence during her commencement day, just as you and d’girls have been understanding of my career as a military man, cabinet member, jobless candidate, and now as president. This kind of separation is something not new to us, as my military duties have often taken me away from all of you. The responsibilities of the Presidency are certainly now more demanding of our personal time. We marvel at your never-ending patience, love and support –– manifested by the tireless work you have done to assure the children and me the warmth of home. You are my source of strength wherever I go and in everything I do. It is your comforting support (and that of d’girls and grandchildren) that has motivated me and guaranteed whatever successes we have enjoyed. It is to your credit that we have five wonderful and upright daughters. They have always been our great pride and joy. We are glad that when you had

to take on the role of father and driver during my absences, you made sure that they never forgot about me! Truly, being a mother and wife is difficult enough, but you have proven to be more. Not once did we see you falter. Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, how can we fully express the depth and breadth of our love and gratitude to you for giving everything a husband, father and family could ever want? With all our love, Eddie.” Straight from FVR’s heart, his Mother’s Day letter reflects the kind of relationship that they both shared in the many years being together. When asked what she considers her greatest achievement in life? Without batting an eyelash, Ming replied, “Sticking to Eddie Ramos through thick and thin all these years.” As FVR used to joke around, “According to Madam Ming, the longest word in the English dictionary is ‘I Do.’ But seriously, it’s one such commitment that I have always treasured for a lifetime.” PAGE A7

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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Dateline PhiliPPines

FVR’S enduring love for Ming

PAGE A6 Ming Ramos: Herstory and legacy If herstory will be it’s fair judge, the former first lady is one person who is confidently secure in her own right. On her own, AMR is an accomplished woman just like her husband. She was one of the most accomplished first Ladies our country has ever had. She is distinct in the sense that she remained a career woman and educator, sticking to her job at the International School Manila during and even after the Ramos presidency, becoming a national symbol of the working mother. It is a career to which has been adamantly and faithfully devoted through the years. Even in her role as conceivably the most powerful woman of the land, Ming managed to resist the temptation of basking in, and taking advantage of the vast powers inherent to the Office of the President. She took on the role of first lady with quiet dignity, propriety and simplicity. She rarely took the center stage and was known for not meddling in government affairs. Ming hails from a well-todo family in La Paz, Iloilo. Her parents were pioneers in their respective fields—her mother, Josefa Jara Martinez, was the country’s pioneer social worker and her father, Rufino Martinez, was the country’s first U.S. trained naval architect. Her own educational achievements bespeak her family’s status. Schooled in two of the finest universities in the United States, Ming was naturally inclined to follow her mother’s footsteps and became a pioneer in social work among soldiers and their families, and as a competitive sports leader in her time. Through the years, her unassuming, simple and quiet ways have remained her distinct trademarks among the many people she worked with and whose lives she touched along the way. From her service-oriented family background also sprung the virtues of modesty and “stickto-tiveness.” Hence, it comes as no surprise that as a military officer’s wide, she had driven her children and herself to schooled and work. According to Ming, life with a man in uniform was never easy. “You have to be always be patient and understanding. You must also be supportive to you

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 6-12, 2018

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SBP thanks ‘stronger’ communication with NBA for Clarkson PH stint by Bong Lozada Inquirer.net

Former president Fidel V. Ramos and former first lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos. Video screen grab from YouTube

husband while, at the same time learning to be strong and self-reliant as mother to your children,” shares Ming about her life with Eddie. She likewise promoted social graces among cadets and wives of military personnel, livelihood projects, and care for wounded soldiers, in support of a husband who was steadily climbing the military ladder. With Eddie assigned to various places in the Philippines and abroad, Ming literally became mother and father to their children. She and their five daughters had to come to terms with the long absence of Eddie when he was on field duty. Ming and their five daughters were trained to keep a low profile, even during martial law period when military might was at its peak. Already a career professional at the International School, Ming took on a part time job as travel agent, while continuing to dabble in other livelihood activities to augment the meager family income. The same values of honesty, hard work, patience, independence, and self reliance, she has passed on to her five daughters. Coming from a family that loved music, she is a gifted musician, trained to play the piano as a girl. As first lady, she used her musical talents in joining concerts that raise funds for charitable project including the development of Philippine contemporary music. As a sportswoman, she has always loved and promoted sports, particularly badminton and swimming at which she was national champion. Another endearing facet is her being an environmentalist at heart. Ming is gifted with green

thumb. She loves plants, flowers, trees and gardening. In both her public and private endeavors, she has positively contributed to the restoration and upkeep of the environment. To this day, Ming remains an icon among green advocates. She will always be remembered for her environmental efforts under the “Clean and Green Foundation” and the “Piso-Parasa-Pasig” campaign to revive the dying Pasig River. If there is one legacy that Ming Ramos has left to the Filipino people, it is bringing the urgency of the environmental care to the consciousness of Filipinos. And she did these before “climate change” and “green energy” became global concerns. Eventually, she expanded on that role, organizing the Helping Foundation in support of an ambitious project of the Ramos government to clean up the Smokey Mountain garbage dumpsite. The Ramos administration managed to convert the most notorious symbol of abject poverty in the Philippines, Smokey Mountain, into a decent residential area combined with a modern international container port. With the support of many helping hands, Ming established a livelihood development center in the main relocation site in Tondo for former scavengers, proving that “teaching a man how to fish” instead of “giving him fish,” perfectly works. Indeed, Ming Ramos has enshrined herself as a woman who has carved her own niche and whose legacy as a wife, mother, career professional and educator, environmentalist, sports leaders, musician, social worker, and first lady, will stand out for many generations to come. n

JORdAn Clarkson’s stint in the nBA may just be the first of many international tours of duty for the Filipino-American swingman. It took a lot of convincing from Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas but the organization came through in time for the nBA to allow the Cleveland Cavalier to join the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. And SBP president Al Panlilio personally thanked nBA deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum for the help the league gave the Philippine basketball scene. “Our wish of having Jordan Clarkson play for the Philippine team has become a reality in the Asian Games and SBP’s desire is to have him play in future competitions during the nBA break,” said Panlilio in a statement. “With a stronger communication line and relationship with Mark Tatum and the nBA, I am confident that it can happen again.” Clarkson has been the apple of

SBP president Al Panlilio and NBA Mark Tatum meet after the NBA allowed Cleveland Cavalier to join the Philippines for the 2018 Asian Games. Inquirer.net contribted photo

the SBP’s eye since he became a rookie in the nBA with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014, but has faced difficulties after difficulties before he could get to don the Philippine jersey.

In his first stint, Clarkson impressed and led the Philippines to a fifth-place finish in the Asian Games, the best result for the country since 2002 when it placed fourth. n

De Castro tells Palace, Congress: Leave... PAGE A5 But it is us the justices and the employees and officials of the court who know what is happening inside the Supreme Court,” she declared, to applause from court personnel. “And we should be left alone to decide for ourselves,” she added, to louder cheers and applause. de Castro has denied that President duterte appointed her as a reward for Sereno’s ouster. She is the second most senior member of the court next to Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, but the most senior among the three justices endorsed by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to Mr. duterte. Carpio declined the nomination to the JBC. Sereno was the most junior member of the court when then President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed her Chief Justice in 2012. In an apparent dig at her predecessor who had been accused by other justices of acting unilaterally, de Castro said she would restore collegiality in the court.

“no one can claim superiority over the others and we decide cases… with one vote each,” she said. Court employees and some justices, including de Castro,

turned out in blue for the flag ceremony. According to the employees’ union, the color symbolized the “return of peace” in the judiciary. (With a report from Tetch Torres-Tupas)


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Why Sharon gives ‘full approval’ to KC’s new beau Iza Calzado in the thick of wedding preparations by mariNel

by Nathalie

tomada Philstar.com

Sharon Cuneta is “so happy” that her daughter KC Concepcion has found love again. The 33-year-old KC recently went Instagram official with her French beau named Pierre-Emmanuel Plassart — a rekindled relationship that the Megastar witnessed from the very start. Sharon was (technically) the first one to meet the 36-year-old filmmaker-businessman when she accompanied her daughter to the U.S. way back in 2011. KC, as the country’s ambassador for the Un World Food Programme, was then invited to a high-profile hollywood event hosted by the former U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton. “We met — this is nice — he was with his mom, KC was with me. We went to (former) President Clinton’s 65th birthday party and fundraising event for his foundation. and among all the tables — Barbra Streisand was there, Jane Fonda was there — we were stuck in one table. God put us in one table, along with a wealthy couple (from) Beijing,” Sharon recalled to The STAR in an interview last aug. 31. “Then later on, Pierre stands up — and this is what I’ve always expected also even with my own suitors when I was younger — and introduces himself to me, ‘I’m with my mother, my name is Pierre Plassart and I’m from France.’ oh, I said, ‘This is my daughter. She finished school in Paris.’ Mamaya nag-uusap na sila. That’s how they started.” according to his bio on the movie database IMDB.com, Pierre is a writer and director who began his career in photography, specializing in jewelry and fashion in Paris. he has a film degree from the art Center College of Design in California and his works have figured in film festivals in the U.S. and Europe, his profile further read. Sharon confirmed that this is her eldest daughter’s second shot at romance with Pierre. he has al-

r. Cruz

Inquirer.net

Sharon Cuneta to eldest daughter KC Concepcion: Don’t waste second chance at love. Photo from KC Concepcion’s Instagram

ready been in the Philippines and met everyone back in 2012. “he came for all the family to meet him. So, all the Pangilinans have met him. My mother (the late Elaine Cuneta) and I fell in love with him. he is a very humble, decent person. he’s a real gentleman in every sense of the word, you know, old-school gentleman,” she said. “We even went to Japan and Thailand together with (KC) but I don’t know what happened. Then apparently (they got back together). That’s life! hahaha! I am so happy for her.” In separate Instagram posts last week, KC and Pierre uploaded sweet couple photos as they celebrated the birthday of the latter in his home country. Pierre captioned his photo “Mon Coeur” which meant “my heart” in English. KC was all praises for her boyfriend as well in her post, drawing reactions from her father Gabby Concepcion (“Congrats. In love baby ko.”) and stepfather Sen. Kiko Pangilinan (“Godspeed! Love will withstand all, will conquer all.”). Sharon reposted KC’s photo

I’M a bride-deadma,” declared actress Iza Calzado, who is set to marry British entrepreneur Ben Wintle this year. “I’m never a bridezilla. Wala kasi akong paki,” she explained, referring to a woman whose behavior in planning her wedding is considered obsessive and demanding. “I’m a crammer, so is Ben. It’s actually becoming a liability for me.” She admitted to feeling “slightly stressed” about the preparations. “I just realized that there are so many requirements that have to be submitted. I hate that! I kept saying it would be a lot better if we just eloped and simply surprised everyone with the news that we’re already married, but I can’t do that. This is really for my father.” Iza’s dad is the late actor, director and choreographer Lito Calzado. She did say that she has already managed to finish her list of bridesmaids, and that the dresses

with a message that said the reconciliation has her “full approval” and that her daughter should not waste the “second chance with your prince” otherwise “you will never forgive yourself.” To recall, KC also ended a longterm relationship early this year with former azkals team captain aly Borromeo. her heartbreak even partly inspired her own line of fine jewelry, avec Moi by Kristina. Sharon, meanwhile, is celebrating the 40th year of her storied showbiz career with her biggest concert yet, titled “My 40 Years,” Sharon, at the araneta Coliseum on Sept. 28. When asked if there’s anything she regrets in the last four decades, Sharon — who had her first hit song “Mr. DJ” at the tender age of 12 — said there’s none, career-wise, but “I would have changed some things in my personal life.” “obviously,” the actress-TV host added, “not get married so early because you may be ready, but your partner may not be or vice-versa.” Last February, in a viral Face- Alden Richards plans to take up voice lessons Inquirer.net photo PAGE B2 again.

they will be wearing are now being made. Iza, however, refused to reveal the venue of the wedding. “Let’s just say it’s on planet Earth,” she quipped, adding that only a select few would be invited to attend the ceremony. “We can’t accommodate [everybody]. We might do a Manila party because it’s really not possible. The place is very small. I don’t want guests to sleep in the middle of the sea. Unless, they all have yachts that they could make us borrow.” The bride-to-be admitted: “It feels exciting because it’s not just a role anymore. It’s the real thing.” Iza, 36, wants to have “one child, for now.” She added: “Yes, I’ve committed myself to getting pregnant once. I can’t commit to anything beyond that just yet. We can probably start trying to make one [baby], two or three months before the teleserye ends. The clock is ticking, guys! Tick! Tock!” She was referring to the drama Iza Calzado (right) will marry fiancé Ben Wintle this year. Inquirer.net photo PAGE B4

Alden to perform ‘buwis-buhay’ stunts in his Sept. 21 show by allaN

PoliCarPio Inquirer.net

If he were to rate his singing from one to 10, alden richards would give it a 4.5—maybe a 4.7, if he’s being generous. his voice isn’t exactly something to write home about, he admitted. he’d like to think, however, that he effectively injects lambing into his songs, which makes them endearing enough to his fans. “When I cover songs like ‘God Gave Me You’ or ‘I Will Be here,’ I believe there’s a certain warmth to it, because I always sing from the heart. My voice isn’t that good, but sometimes it’s about what the crowd feels from you,” he told reporters at a recent press con for his upcoming concert, “adrenaline rush.” “I perform with an aim to en-

tertain and make people happy,” added the 26-year-old heartthrob, who also pointed out that, as an actor, he’s also “very sensitive” emotionally. “Words and melodies affect me, which translates [to my singing],” he said. “It also depends on your emotional state. If you’re feeling extra motivated or inspired, then it’s easier to perform… people will see that.” But that doesn’t mean he has no desire to improve. he has taken up voice lessons in the past and plans to do it again in preparation for his second solo major concert on Sept. 21 at the Kia Theatre. “I’ve worked with a voice teacher before,” he related. “he taught me different techniques.” as if singing well isn’t hard enough, alden plans to do it while PAGE B2


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Inspiring stories, sans the drama

Remember Lilet?

CHilDrEn of the late ‘80s and through the ‘90s will surely remember singer lilet. Yes she was the philippines’ representative to the worldwide ad campaign of Coca-Cola dubbed “Tomorrow’s Future,” where she sang the famous line, “We are the future of the world, we are the hope of our nation…” amid a multi-racial crowd in a liverpool Stadium. That was in 1987. Well, lilet is back on TV, now 44 years old, and portraying a pivotal role in GMA network’s, new afternoon series “My Special Tatay,” with the talented Ken Chan in the lead. A story about an autistic young man who becomes a father, lilet portrays Chan’s strong-willed single mother who will do anything for her special child. Also a product of the late German Moreno’s “That’s Entertain-

ment” youth variety show, lilet cut several hit records throughout her singing career, the most famous of which is the ever familiar tune “Kaibigan lang pala.” She later crossed over to songwriting, winning the “A Song of praise” contest for her song, “You Are lord of All.” Her acting experience included youth oriented movies like “Aso’t pusa,” “Estudyante Blues,” “Dear Diary” and pik pak Boom; while she has also recently appeared in GMA network dramas “Forevermore,” “langit lupa” and “A love to last.” My Special Tatay premieres today, and also stars Jestoni Alarcon, Teresa loyzaga, Carmen Soriano and Candy pangilinan, among others. it is directed by lA Madridejos who is also behind the ongoing hit series “onanay.” Lilet (Manilatimes.net)

‘The Helper’ highlights the value of Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong

by arlo

CuStodio ManilaTimes.net

ManilaTimes.net photo

Why Sharon gives ‘full approval’ to KC’s new beau PAGE B1 book thread, Sharon told inquiring netizens that contrary to “common perception,” she had already secretly wed Gabby in civil rites in July 1984 before getting pregnant with KC at 19 years old. Her love life prior to

marriage to Sen. Kiko is practically an open book. “i was really, mostly a princess, so i was Snow White, i was Cinderella, and everybody was a prince Charming. Unfortunately... it’s not naman bad people i ended up with. not all. Hahaha!” she

KC with French boyfriend Pierre-Emmanuel Plassart Photo from KC Concepcion’s Instagram

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joked then added, “Sometimes, it just didn’t work out and if i had pushed it, it might not have worked out naman lalo in the end. Better like that because you don’t see the real character of a person unless you’re boyfriend and girlfriend eh. You always see the best foot forward if you stay in the ligaw stage only.” Asked about her love advice to KC and her two younger daughters Frankie and Miel, she said it’s the same advice she got from her own mother. “Collect and collect and then select. Don’t fall for the first, you know, and give it all. Just pick the best one. You never know, you say yes today but tomorrow there’s someone pala really meant for you. iba kasi noong araw din, ’pag nag-bo-boyfriend ka, di naman yung go, go, go, everything, hahaha!” There’s one thing new in her pieces of advice though, Sharon noted. “i used to say all the time that you choose the person you can live with over the person you can’t live without. now that i’m older, it should be a combination or just go for the other because if you can’t live without someone you’ll always be able to forgive. if you are forcing yourself to live with somebody just because you get along... you don’t want to live without passion, those nice moments that keep that fire burning. it has to be somewhere in the middle but hopefully, my daughters won’t have to choose.”

Filipino domestic helpers started working in Hong Kong in the 1970s, decades before the British handover in 1997. They were employed by English-speaking expatriate families under a law that permitted two years of service at a time for minimum wage, seeing a spike in the number of Filipinos flocking to the colony through to the ‘80s. As the Filipino community grew in Hong Kong, they started converging every Sunday on their day off for weekly fellowships akin to fiestas, and do so to this very day. Through the years, many films and documentaries had been produced about Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong, including the multi-awarded “Sunday Beauty Queen” from TBA Studios (2016 Metro Manila Film Festival Best picture and 2017 Entertainment Editors’ Choice [Eddys] for Best Documentary). This docu-movie particularly became a success because it gave a more positive perspective into the lives of domestic helpers in Hong Kong, those treated like family by their employers, rather than the tragic stories most oFW movies that horrify viewers. last year, British director Joanna Bowers finished her own documentary-advocacy movie, similar to the positive take of “Sunday Beauty Queen.” produced with compatriots Tony Verb, Josie Mitchell, Tom Mitchell and nicole Chamberlin, it is titled, “The Helper.” “When i first moved to Hong Kong i was struck by how on a Sunday there were so many thousands of women sitting on temporary cardboard shelters all over the central district. These women are well put together and having fun. They don’t look homeless despite their cardboard situation,” Bowers began in this exclusive online interview with The Manila Times. “Quickly i learned they were migrant domestic workers from the philippines and indonesia who can’t afford to integrate into life in Hong Kong with the rest of society on their one day off, and

British director Joanna Bowers with daughter Jemima and her Filipino helper, Janai

need some place to relax and catch up with their friends. i was immediately fascinated by this population and knew that these women would have some incredible stories to tell and i wasn’t wrong,” she continued. A mother herself, the British filmmaker became more intrigued by the fact that most of the women there were mothers too who had to sacrifice working abroad so their children can go to school and live a better life. “We aimed to create a shift in perception of migrant workers with the film, to humanize them as the valuable members of the society that they are, and as a result of that improve how they are treated within the society at large. But the goal was also to create an honest portrayal of their lives without placing any judgment,” she explained. As such, the docu shows how Hong Kong children view domestic helpers as their second mothers—the person responsible for everything they need from food, clothing, even school assignments at times. Female Chinese executives affirm the contribution of domestic helpers, saying, “We won’t be able to do our corporate duties if they are not there at home taking care of our children and our household.” Considered a highlight of the documentary is the performance of the Unsung Heroes choir, a group of 50 Filipino domestic helpers who have performed at Hong Kong’s annual music festival, Clockenflap. Some members are the featured subjects of

Bowers. Their choir’s trademark song, “i Wish i Could Kiss You Goodnight” is an emotional rendition of the sadness mothers feel at being separated from their children while taking care of their wards. Bowers revealed that her resolve to do the film was inspired in many ways by her Filipino helper, Janai. “She grew up in the philippines while her mom was away working here in Hong Kong as a domestic helper. Her stories have given me a huge insight into just how complex life is for these families. She’s saving to return home to earn her master’s degree, so she can have a career and hopefully make her mom’s incredible sacrifice worthwhile. i really respect that.” “The Helper” had its world premiere on Mother’s Day in May 2017 at the Asia Society Hong Kong. its commercial run started in october 2017 and had a record sold-out 11-week showing in Hong Kong cinemas. Filipino Consul General Antonio Morales met with Bowers more than a month ago in July and agreed that the film will draw an audience of 220,000 Filipinos living in Hong Kong, including government officials and the consular corps. They also looked into showing it in the philippines. While a local showing is still being determined for “The Helper,” the 106-minute film has been made available on videos on demand (VoD) aboard Cathay pacific flights, and is also available on DVD, Bluray and VoD, and iVoD distribution platforms internationally. She is further considering the submission of the “The Helper” to international film festivals and alongside, launched a campaign on the movie’s Facebook page called “Thanks A Million.” “The goal is to collect one million ‘thank you’s’ for migrant domestic workers around the world. They can be from an employer or ward of a domestic worker, but also the family members of a domestic worker who appreciate the sacrifice that they have made in order to improve their lives,” The documentary features several members of the all-Filipina Unsung Heroes Choir in Hong she ended. Kong comprised of OFWs

Photos from Manilatimes.net

Robi Domingo opens up about anxiety attacks by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KApAMilYA TV host robi Domingo professed to experiencing anxiety attacks last year after questioning himself if he is good enough. in an interview with the media after the press conference of his new reality contest “The Kids’ Choice,” in which he is the host, robi said he only used the word “anxiety” and not depression because it has levels. “nagkaroon ako ng konting anxiety attacks kasi kinukwestiyon mo yung sarili mo eh. panget ba ko? Kapalit-palit ba ko? Hindi na ko ginagamit ng ABS-CBn. Then finally dumating ‘yung ‘Star Hunt’ at itong ‘Kids’ Choice’,” the former “pinoy Big Brother” housemate said. “Hindi naman tamang gamitin ‘yung depression, sadness. Anxiety attacks minsan dun ‘yung may levels ‘yan eh. last year na-expe-

rience ko. Hindi po siya biro kasi ang dami ko pong pinagdaanan. pero ang problema dapat dinadaanan lang ‘yan,” he added. The “MYX” VJ and “ASAp” host also said that his anxiety attacks may have began from his breakup with another Kapamilya host, Gretchen Ho. “Maybe because of the break up, maybe because you question yourself. Hindi ko alam kung san ako pupunta tapos nakita ko pa ‘yung mga classmate ko dati na nasa college graduated na bilang doctor, tapos ako wala akong trabaho noong mga time na ‘yun kaya ang sabi ko, ‘Ano ba nangyayari sa buhay ko?’” he said. He continued that he is still lucky to have a strong support system to transform his negative energies into positive ones. “luckily, i have my friends who helped me. They channeled negative energies into businesses. nandoon ‘yung kapatid ko,’ yung

TV host Robi Domingo

ABS-CBN photo

pamilya ko, at the end of the day para sa akin it’s a choice that you had to make and ‘yun nga ‘yung choice ko ay maging maligaya,” robi said.

Alden to perform ‘buwis-buhay’ stunts in his... PAGE B1 dancing, and doing physically taxing numbers and stunts. Biggest challenge “That’s the biggest challenge for me, singing while pulling off choreographed moves—you need to have endurance for that. i have nothing but respect for those who can do these things flawlessly,” he said, adding that he’s thankful that his director, GB Sampedro, has allowed him to get involved in putting the concert together, which includes song selection. “i have to be knowledgeable, too… i need to carefully pick songs that are within my range and i can perform well,” he added. While Alden’s previous show, “Upsurge,” was water-themed, “Adrenaline rush’s” concept will

revolve around air. Can the fans expect high-flying productions or stunts? He doesn’t want to give away too much, but he assured that he’s coming up with something buwis-buhay. “There will be production numbers that will be done offstage; things that will require safety measures; things that rely on precision and timing. We will be maximizing the entire venue,” Alden related. “We will be rehearsing and training hard.” Teased if he would be showing a little skin, since his role in the fantasy-drama series “Victor Magtanggol” requires him to be in good shape, Alden quipped that he’s “open to doing different things.” in any case, should he be required to do so, he’s “physically ready.” So far, the roster of special

guests includes regine Velasquez, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Ex Battalion, rodjun Cruz and one Up. What about Maine Mendoza? “That’s always a possibility,” he said. Alden is also set to release his new album, “Until i See You Again,” on the night of the concert. “Majority of the songs are original. The taste of listeners is ever-changing, so we have to come up with opM songs that are different, but still very me,” he said. While he’s no professional singer, three of his past albums sold well and achieved certifications: “Alden richards” went platinum (15,000+ copies sold), “Say it Again” turned gold (7,500+), and “Wish i May” reached diamond (150,000).


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JC Bonnin: Forever â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bagetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Bayani

San Diego Inquirer.net

For those who grew up in the neon-drenched â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s, JC Bonnin was the dream boy to beatâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the mestizo kid who could unleash a mean flying kick. on the small screen, he was cast as the suave suitor of Janice de Belen in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flordeluna,â&#x20AC;? while on the big screen, he played the annoying admirer of Sharon Cuneta in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cross My Heart,â&#x20AC;? before hitting the big-time as one of the heartthrobs of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bagetsâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;along with William Martinez, raymond Lauchengco, Herbert Bautista and Aga Muhlach. Becoming an actor was a no-brainer since his last name was Bonnin, after all. (original â&#x20AC;&#x153;Palosâ&#x20AC;? Bernard Bonnin was an uncle, which makes beauty queen Charlene Gonzalez his cousin.) By his own admission, he was a born performer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been drawn to acting in school plays. It was the most natural thing for me to do,â&#x20AC;? JC, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now based in California, told the Inquirer via e-mail. Still, he had a rather discouraging baptism of fire in the biz, when he tried out for the role of Monty in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flordeluna.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I walked into the studio and saw that there was a long line of teenagers auditioning for the same part,â&#x20AC;? he recounted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was suddenly handed a script and told to memorize my lines because I was next.â&#x20AC;? He was a nervous wreck. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When the camera started rolling, I actually forgot my name Monty as I introduced myself to Flor!â&#x20AC;? Janice looked back: â&#x20AC;&#x153;He always took his skateboard to work and would always show off his skateboarding tricks.â&#x20AC;? By the time he bagged the role of Jayson opposite Sharon in 1982â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cross My Heart,â&#x20AC;? he had

JC and family.

already gotten into the swing of things. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was one of the most enjoyable moments â&#x20AC;Ś because I had a big crush on Sharon,â&#x20AC;? he reminisced. once, Sharon wrote JC a letter, saying, that he was â&#x20AC;&#x153;too young for her (laughs)! And when I (the actor) reached 18, I could think about it again.â&#x20AC;? Filming Maryo J. delos reyesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bagetsâ&#x20AC;? in 1984 was another high point. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It all started with the workshops under Direk Maryo and there we developed camaraderie. That was why the shoot was literally like playing. It was not work, but a lot of fun. I think that was why it became such a hit â&#x20AC;Ś the vibe was genuine and real behind the scenes.â&#x20AC;? He described his relationship with Direk Maryo as â&#x20AC;&#x153;authentic.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;He would get so frustrated with me â&#x20AC;Ś he would throw the script to the ground and dare me to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;go ahead and direct the film!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? But then, Direk Maryo couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stay mad at the charming teener. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He would calm down later, and we would be back on good terms again. I think I pushed his buttons more than anybody else in the cast! I do miss him and care about him. May his soul rest in peace.â&#x20AC;? Among his costars, he was closest to Aga. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We would hang out after filming. He would come to my house at 2 a.m., and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d show up at his place at random hours, too. But, when we all got together, we always had a good laugh!â&#x20AC;? Alas, since they are time zones apart, he seldom gets to chat with his â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bagetsâ&#x20AC;? barkada these days. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My world has changed. I get a few Facebook messages here and there, from the girls like Yayo Aguila and Eula Valdes.â&#x20AC;? Since his last big-screen appearance in 1986 (for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ninja

Photos from JC Bonnin

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ SEptEmbER 6-12, 2018

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Hotdog band founder/vocalist dead at 65 rENE Garcia, the iconic voice behind original Pilipino Music (oPM) hits of Hotdog band â&#x20AC;&#x153;Manila,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Annie Batungbakal,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Panaginip,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bongga Ka, Dayâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beh, Buti Ngaâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ikaw Ang Miss Universe Ng Buhay Ko,â&#x20AC;? among others, died on Sunday due to cardiac arrest. He was 65. Besides being the male lead vocalist of the band, Garcia was also Hotdogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead guitarist. He formed the band with his brother, Dennis, then joined by Ella del rosario on lead vocals. They performed at the very first Miss Universe pageant held in JC Bonnin in the U.S. Manila in 1974. Kidsâ&#x20AC;?), he has rarely been in Hotdogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s songs, then known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Manila Sound,â&#x20AC;? the public eyeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;except when he paved the way for oPM to gain a wider reach and briefly came out on television as appreciation among Filipinos, who were very much a pastor. into foreign music at the time. He has been living abroad Garciaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body lies in state at the Agoncillo Rene Garcia was the voice behind the top â&#x20AC;&#x2122;70s bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic hits like for almost two decadesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in the Chapel, Manila Memorial Chapels, Sucat, Para- â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Manila,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bongga Ka, Dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Annie Batungbakal,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; among others. United Kingdom for 12 years Ăąaque. Photo from Facebook before relocating, in 2011, to the United States, where he now works in the health-care industry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am a hospice chaplain and spiritual counselor. I provide grief support, clinical counseling and also work as a bereavement coby Jan Milo Severo ordinator â&#x20AC;Ś for grieving families Philstar.com and individuals.â&#x20AC;? He has eight kids: Lorenzo 22; SINGEr-ACTor Xian Lim Austin, 21; Patrick, 20; Bell, 16; announced on his Instagram acNiko, 14; Michaela, 13; Maggie, count that he will be returning 10; and oliver 2. as host for beauty pageant Miss Yup, his kids know about his Grand International to be held in past as a matinee idol and â&#x20AC;&#x153;they Myanmar on october 25. always have a good laugh about â&#x20AC;&#x153;Excited to announce that it.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;one of my sons had no idea Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be hosting Miss Grand Inhow big a celebrity I was during ternational 2018,â&#x20AC;? he said in my time, until he got surrounded the post. by a group of Filipinos at a coffee Last year, he hosted the same shop,â&#x20AC;? JC related. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When they pageant with Miss Grand Interdiscovered that he was my son, national 2016 first runner-up they all got excited and wanted Nicole Cordoves. to have a picture with me.â&#x20AC;? Lim has also debuted his first With wife rachel, he has found film as a director for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tabon,â&#x20AC;? a a small piece of paradise in film how a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s belief in reality Southern California. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always is tested when suspects are acwanted to live by the ocean and cused of a crime they believe to Xian Lim (center) with fellow â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celebrity Car Warsâ&#x20AC;? contender Diego Loyzaga at History Philstar.com photo by EC Toledo I feel thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more freedom and not have committed. The film is Channelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent History Con in Manila. independence in the U.S. than among the 10 full-length finalists competition with cars involved. for his basketball team, Mandaany other place in the world.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Walang akong preparation. luyong El Tigre. that will compete for the 2019 But still, he misses the Philip- Cinemalaya Philippine Indepen- It is more of, I ask, sabi ko â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ano â&#x20AC;&#x153;Para sa akin, malaking pasapines, especially â&#x20AC;&#x153;my old friends, dent Film Festival ba pwede nating gawin kasi sabi salamat lang talaga sa coaching cousins and show biz!â&#x20AC;? Will he Despite his many showbiz ko â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;di naman ako masyadong staff dahil for me, tinanggap nila ever consider staging a come- commitments, Maharlika Pilipi- magaling dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;yan.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sabi nila: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;No, ko ng buong puso eh. They are back? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gotten a good nas Basketball League (MPBL) just come as yourself. Just be very patient sa akin. I found my offer yet. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll cross that bridge games where he is a basketball yourself. So dire-diretso na siya,â&#x20AC;? passion here.â&#x20AC;? when I get there.â&#x20AC;? He also looks forward to meet player, and participation as Phil- he said. As of now, his career and ippine representative to History Xian represents the Philip- his friend Gerald Anderson in the family keep him on his toes. Channelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celebrity Car Wars,â&#x20AC;? pines with actor Diego Loyzaga, hard court since Gerald is part of once in a while, he churns out Xian said he always has time for but they are not partners in the MPBLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marikina Shoemakers. YouTube videos, â&#x20AC;&#x153;to speak about rumored girlfriend Kim Chiu. contest. Xian, nonetheless, said Xian is also doing a movie my faith.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Siyempre. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pag gusto may he is proud to carry the Philip- after starring with Sarah GeronHe has very simple dreams paraan. There is always time of a pine flag in the competition. imo and James reid in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Miss in life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My future plan is to get lot of things,â&#x20AC;? Xian told Philstar. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel proud and I just want Granny.â&#x20AC;? rich! I am very interested in the com during a recent History them to see this show because â&#x20AC;&#x153;Masaya sila katrabaho. Nung world of investments. one day, I Con event held in World Trade there are people from Thailand, una â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;di ko alam kung san ako would like to purchase my dream Center. Malaysia, Singapore, so you get lulugar, pero nung tumagal nahome and live a comfortable life Although he is a car enthu- to see how different personalities man, masaya sila kasama eh, mawith all my children and be there siast, Xian admitted that his and countries collide,â&#x20AC;? he said. saya sila kakwentuhan. Si James for them, and have a strong and knowledge in cars is limited and Apart from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celebrity Car cool siya eh. Si Sarah sobrang loving family.â&#x20AC;? this is the first time he joined a Wars,â&#x20AC;? Xian is busy suiting up kalog,â&#x20AC;? he said.

From â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Miss Grannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Miss Grand Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;: Xian Lim returns as pageant host

Pilgrimage to Some of ITALYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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. Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Pilateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go, Francis, and rebuild my house, which as you see is falling into ruin.â&#x20AC;? 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; $VVLVL 6LHQD )ORUHQFH We will spend half day in Siena. Begin in the old town center with a visit to the Basilica of San Domenico. Built in the 13th century, it is a treasure chest of the Renaissance art and dedicated to St Catherine of Siena. You will learn about the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history while admiring itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cathedrals, Museum, and libraries .Also you will admire the famous piazza del Campo, one of Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great medieval squares. Continue to Florence. (BB,D) We start with a guided walking tour of Florence, this fascinating city with its Piazza, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giottoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of St. John the Baptist. Rest of the day free (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY :HG Ĺ&#x; )ORUHQFH 5RPH Leave Florence around 2PM Arrived Rome almost dinner time (BB.D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7KXUV Ĺ&#x; 5RPH 86$ End of our wonderful Pilgrimage

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The ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ of the Korina Sanchez draws flak for remark on K-pop fans Beautiful Life celebration by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

By Monet

Lu

There’s a lot of hype around this book-turned-movie, “Crazy rich Asians” by Kevin Kwan and I can understand why. First of all, it’s a rom-com flick, plus the characters are just so relatable! As Asians, among the qualities I think we have in common are our resilience and our insatiable need to prove ourselves. And for most of us, that’s exactly what motivates us to persevere and succeed. There’s a wide majority of successful Filipinos all over the world and a lot of them are making waves here in the U.s. Our kababayans’ countless success stories are actually what made me build and establish recognition events for the Filipino-American community. A passion project that I’ve been able to sustain for the past 30 years – all thanks to everyone who supported “reflections by Monet” throughout the years. The first reflections Awards Gala was held in collaboration with my good friend’s birthday – actress and former Miss World 2nd Princess – Ms. ruffa Gutierrez. It was held at CBs studios and was well-attended by renowned entrepreneurs, fashion designers and local celebrities. It was later moved to the Metropol Banquet. A couple of years later, the “reflections presents The Beautiful Life Celebration” was born. The Beautiful Life Celebration is an awarding event in honor of our Kababayans who have displayed unparalleled outlook in life. It is held annually in commemoration of honorable individuals and organizations in the Filipino-American community. It is a glamorous and prestigious event that features the remarkable Fil-Am men and women who have exemplified relentless dedication to their craft. While not all of them are “crazy rich,” but all of them are crazy-rich-in-love with their family, profession, and in giving back to the community which basically makes them the ‘richest people on earth.’ Through the years, the program has recognized a num-

ber of worthy individuals and couples. The event serves as a platform connecting the people of the community; wherein they can share their visions and experiences and uplift one another in the process. It recognizes the extraordinary work and life of our fellow Filipinos in their chosen field of endeavor. It celebrates the choices they made, the lives they lead and the legacy they have imparted to the community. Our most memorable gains with the Beautiful Life Celebration was when we raised $5,000 to donate to the victims of typhoon “Yolanda” in the Philippines. And that, by far, is the most beautiful way we’ve celebrated life. TBLC (The Beautiful Life Celebration) has awarded celebrities namely Melanie Marquez, richard Gomez, Aga Mulach, Dawn Zulueta, Gretchen Barretto, Lorna Tolentino, sheryll Cruz, Christopher de Leon, hilda Koronel, Janine Tugonon, and Matt ranillo III, among others. Filipino-owned businesses such as rustans have supported this event, as well as fashion designers namely Louie Mamenggo, randy Ortiz, renee salud and Fanny serrano. In 2015, we have awarded Filipino entrepreneurs such as skincare expert and owner of O skin Medspa, Olivia-Quido-Co, who was awarded as Woman of the

ANNOUNCEMENT

KAPAMILYA TV host Korina sanchez is in the hot seat again after netizens criticized her statement regarding the concert of Korean group Wanna One. In a now deleted Facebook post screenshot by K-pop fans, Korina said Filipino Korean pop (K-pop) fans spend a lot of money for lyrics they did not understand. “The kids went gaga over Wanna One tonight, and imagine P13,000 tickets and kids get their parents to spend for songs the lyrics of which hindi naman naiintindihan ng Pinoy!” she wrote. “The phenom is worldwide. It’s the look, I think! All Kpop concerts I’ve been to are filled with screaming kids na nilalagnat! Basta, malaki ang contribution ng Pilipinas sa ekonomiya ng Korea,” she added. Netizens turned to Twitter to express their dismay over the “rated K” host. “Your show literally uses KPOP Year. We’ve also crowned health for views you attend concerts for and beauty guru, Dr. Tess Mau- what? For promotion and you ricio as one of our Queens of the have the audacity to talk shit about Philippines. Prominent men and them when your show is literally women in different fields have only breathing now just bcos you also been recognized such as use KPOP,” a netizen wrote. Jefferson Lim of Island Pacific, Another netizen explained Imee Ong-Maghanoy of Image that they love Korean groups for spa, Lou Baron, Filbert Kung, their talent and how they treated and many others. their fans. And now on its 30th year, the most awaited awards ball is happening once again. The reflections by Monet presents the Beautiful Life Celebration Awards Ball, which will be held on October 6, 2018 at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello. This year’s theme is pink and black for a fresher, yet bolder look. It has always been an honor for me to commend such amazing Asian Americans who are richly blessed with talent, determination and beautiful lives that are worth celebrating. For me, they are the real crazy rich Asians! ***

Korina Sanchez

Philstar.com photo

“Korina sanchez being dumb. It’s not about the visuals, it’s the talent. If you can’t recognize talent, then shut the fck up because these artists saved a lot of fans from their inner demons. They might be celebrity figures but they sure know how to make their fans happy,” the netizen wrote. “With all due respect to you madam korina sanchez, you’ve been in that business for decades, you should have known how to

choose your words by now! I may be too old to be a kpop fan, and yes i admit i do not understand what they are saying in their songs but i make an effort,” another netizen wrote. recently, Korina was also trending on social media after she replied “Annyeonghaseyo,” when Momoland told her “Maganda ka” in an episode of her show. “Annyeonghaseyo” means “hi” or “hello” in Korean.

Iza Calzado in the thick of wedding... PAGE B1

series “Ngayon at Kailanman,” which is now airing weekdays on ABs-CBN. The series also features Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia, Alice Dixson, Ina raymundo and Jameson Blake. “The project was pitched to me in November 2017. I thought it would be finished by this time,” Iza shared with reporters. she added that Ben does not mind that she is still working now. “his restrictions lie more in the working hours that I have versus the kind of projects I’m making. It’s more like he doesn’t want me to stay up late anymore.” Iza was last seen on TV in the drama series “A Love to Last” with Bea Alonzo and Ian Veneracion. “It’s still good that I got a breather because this didn’t come right after ‘A Love to Last.’ I’m now excited to go back to work. Aside from Julia, I’ll be working with the rest of the cast for the first time,” she said. Iza noted that Julia “is becoming a much better actress. I’m proud of her. I love that she gives me full trust. We work well together on- and off-cam. There’s always good banter between us.”

Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

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Your Immigration Solution ATTY. DEVIN CONNOLLY IT is nearly a universal dream to be happily married. To be with the person that you consider to be your soul mate, the person with whom you can share life’s joys and happy moments. Though this dream is not limited to U.S. citizens, what is limited to U.S. citizens is the ability to file a petition for their fiancé(e) to join them in the U.S. This ability is extremely important because, as anybody who has been in a long-distance relationship can tell you, telephone calls and text messages are just not the same as seeing your significant other on a daily basis. It is commonly known that both U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can petition for their spouses to join them in the U.S. But if there is not a legal marriage between the parties, then green card holders are unable to petition their significant other. And no, neither the duration of the relationship nor the strength of the commitment are relevant. Only U.S. citizens may file petitions for a fiancé(e)! This petition is filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Once approved, it may lead to the issuance of a fiancé(e) visa, commonly referred to as a K-1 visa. There are several requirements that must be met by the U.S. citizen petitioner and his or her fiancé(e). The U.S. citizen petitioner and his or her fiancé(e) must intend to marry within 90 days of the foreign national’s entry to the U.S. This intention must be sincere; it is not permissible for a person to enter the

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA (Thirteenth of a series) [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.] YOU have become a collector over the years. Memories, good and bad, you have them, by the bucketful, stacked in yellowing photographs in frayed and tattered albums. You used to dutifully collect them, way back when printed photos were the norm. But now you have them in your phones, in your computers, in USB drives and external hard drives in gigabytes of digital images. Somehow you long for the printed ones. These are important specially when the neurons in our brains begin to malfunction as a natural order of aging. These will become mental crutches as our memories fade. We became collectors of stuff as well. Admit it. There’s the spirit of a pack rat lurking in most of us. We load ourselves with stuff. Society encourages us. Witness the success of Costco and those

Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS WHAT is Lacobacillus acidophilus? L. acidophilus is the most popularly used probiotic or “friendly bacteria.” They live in the intestines and vagina and prevent the entrance and proliferation of disease-causing organisms, thus protecting the individual. Are there other friendly bacteria in the body? Yes. Actually there are several trillion friendly bacteria (over 400 species) in the human gastrointestinal tract. Literally, we carry about four pounds (1.8 kilos) of microbacteria in our guts. A healthy predominance of the good bacteria over the bad bacteria spells well-being for the person. If the bad or pathogenic bacteria “outnumber” the friendly ones, ill health occurs. How does L. acidophilus do it? There are a variety of mechanisms through which L. acidophilus accomplish its good job. Example: the breakdown of food by this probiotic results in the production of lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide and a few other by-products that create a hostile environment for the bad bacteria. Lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose (milk sugar) into simple sugars, for proper digestion and absorption, is produced by L. acidophilus

Filing a fiancé(e) petition U.S. simply to decide whether they actually want to marry their petitioner. There also must not be any legal impediments to marriage. This requires that any and all prior marriages have been legally terminated through divorce, death or annulment. In addition, the U.S. citizen petitioner and his or her fiancé(e) must have met, in person, at least once in the two-year period preceding the filing of the petition. There are exceptions to this requirement if an in-person meeting would violate strict and long-established customs of either party’s foreign culture or social practice, or if the in-person meeting requirement would result in extreme hardship to the U.S. citizen petitioner. The mere inconvenience to have to travel to a foreign country, or to take time off from work or purchase an expensive airline ticket will not qualify you for an exception to the in-person meeting requirement. After the USCIS approves the petition, the foreign national must then apply for their fiancé(e) visa. In addition to their application and the required supporting documents, they will be required to appear for a personal interview at the U.S. Embassy in their home country. At this interview they will be questioned extensively by a Consular Officer who must be convinced that the relationship is not one that has been entered into solely to obtain immigration benefits. The Consular Officer will also want to see physical evidence of the true, actual relationship. The inability to submit sufficient proof or correctly answer questions may lead the Consular Officer to deny the application for a fiancé(e) visa if they believe that the application was being submitted solely as a way of entering the U.S.

Following the foreign national’s entry into the U.S., they must marry their petitioner within 90 days of entry. It does not matter if this marriage is before many friends and family members or a small civil ceremony, so long as it occurs within 90 days of entry to the U.S. After this timely marriage, the foreign national may then proceed to file an application for a green card. Yes, that entails more applications, more documents, and likely a second interview, but the process should hopefully be more enjoyable since now you are able to go through it while living in the same house as your beloved spouse. Finally, a fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen may also be eligible to bring their children with them to the U.S. The children will only be allowed to enter the U.S. if they are unmarried and under 21-years-old. Immigrating to the U.S. with a fiancé(e) visa can be complex. There are some unique aspects to K-1 visas about which many people are unfortunately not aware. Be sure to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney so that you can be reunited with your significant other as soon as possible. *** 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 Divest early

“...You won’t need a U-Haul truck when you pass. Jesus did say it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle...” warehouses. We buy as much or more than we really need or, in many cases, can really afford to pay in cash. So we have far more stuff than we need: clothes, shoes, furniture, linen, décor, technology, gizmos and gadgets and collectibles of all sorts like baseball cards, guns, antiques, books, kitchen ware, cars and whatever else one thinks is valuable to collect. So our apartments, homes and garages are bursting at the seams that we even feel the need to rent public storage spaces. Here’s a thought that may well be worth considering as we try to TRAVEL LIGHT during this segment of our life’s journey. We have been taught to invest early in real estate or in financial instruments so we can reap the benefits of investments over time in our retirement years. This is wise counsel for all and it pays to take heed. Keep resources liquid. But when it comes to stuff, you become a contrarian and do the reverse instead.

DIVEST EARLY. Earmark those special high quality items that you have enjoyed but have no use for anymore and carefully consider giving to people in your immediate or even far-flung orbit who might appreciate it and use it and perhaps even remember you from time to time. It might be that dainty English porcelain teacup set you bought in an antique shop on a whim that you have on display for decades in your china cabinet. Give it to someone who enjoys taking tea. Or it could be a piece of antique heirloom jewelry that you can give to an appreciative relative or friend or just an acquaintance. Or how about giving away piece by piece your collection of designer bags hidden away in your closet, forgotten and unused? Okay, here’s the key. Divest wisely and choose recipients well. Give it to someone who can and will use it and not stash it away forgotten once more. In short, PAGE B6

Lacto A: Friendly bacteria too. Those with lactose intolerance or lactase deficiency may be helped by L. acidophilus. Who develops lactase deficiency? While it is possible that some people could be born with lactase deficiency state, most of those with lactose intolerance (lactase deficiency) develop the condition secondary to lifestyle. People who, during childhood, do not drink milk or do not eat dairy products regularly, acquire lactase deficiency. Lack of this enzyme prevents milk and dairy products (cheese, ice cream, even beans) from being digested and absorbed and properly. This leads to what is known as lactose intolerance, where the milk sugar (lactose) is not effectively broken down to simple sugars, a process needed for proper digestion. How prevalent is lactase deficiency? To some degree or another lactase deficiency is found in 75 percent of adults worldwide. Among Chinese, it is 100 percent. Twenty five percent of the U.S. population has some degree of lactose intolerance. About 90 percent of Asian-Americans, 80 percent of Afro-Americans, 53 percent of Mexican-Americans, about 80 percent of NativeAmericans (American Indians), and 15 percent of Caucasians suffer from lactose intolerance of varying degrees. The incidence for southern Italians and Ashkenari Jews, 70 percent. A high prevalence is also reported

among the majority of Meditarranean Arabs. Exception includes northwest Europeans, where the incidence is below said to be 20 percent. It has been postulated that those with lactose-intolerance also have a higher risk of stroke, colon cancer, hypertension, osteoporosis. Whether decreased calcium intake (as a result of lactase deficiency) is a predisposing factor in the development of these diseases is still not known. What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance? Diarrhea and abdominal discomfort/distention, nausea, bloating, passing a lot of flatus, intestinal cramps following ingestion of lactose-containing food items, like ice cream, cheese, even salad or beans. Children who have lactase deficiency will fail to gain weight. The symptoms of lactose intolerance could be mild to severe, depending on the degree of lactase deficiency. Are there pills for those with lactose intolerance? Yes. One popular brand in the U.S. is Lactaid, an over-thecounter medication that has really been effective for those individuals with lactase deficiency. Taking this pill allows them to drink milk and eat dairy products in moderation. For children, pretreated milk (where commercially prepared lactase has been used to predigest the lactose) are available, labeled as lactose-free milk. For infants, PAGE B6

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 6-12, 2018

Calendar of Events across

B5

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS S E P T E M B E R 4 -27

SIPA hosts 8-session Entrepreneur Training Program (ETP) in Los Angeles The Entrepreneur Training Program (ETP) is an 8-session skills building training program designed for startup entrepreneurs covering the A to Z of starting and running a successful business. This is open to all! If you want to start your own business and don’t know where to start or how to start, this program was made FOR YOU! Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to learn from the experts and from business owners themselves on how to build the business of your dreams! Program details: One time fee of $100 covers food and beverage and training materials for all 8 sessions; 5 FREE slots are available for College/University students and low income families; FREE Parking on site. Parking lot is accessed on Robinson St.; Includes FREE one-on-one business counseling with SIPA’s counselor, Fidji Victoriano; and you will receive a Completion Certificate at the end of the program. The eight sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the whole month of September 2018: September 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 and 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Program will be held at the SIPA Multipurpose room at 3200 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (through Robinson St. entrance). For any questions or to register in person, please contact Fidji Victoriano at (424) 235-5011 or e-mail at fvictoriano@esipa.org. This program is brought by Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) in collaboration with the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Hollywood (FACCHO) and the support of Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (APISBP) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

SEPTEMBER 8

Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater LA hosts photoshop training “Adobe Photoshop Training” on Saturday, September 8 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. is a crash course for beginners to intermediate hosted by the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACC-GLA). It will be held at BFG Boardroom (5121 Van Nuys Blvd), with instructor Peter Galace. Call to reserve your seat ($100) with Angelo Varsobia (818) 6469453 or Mary Trinidad at (661) 713-0014. Participants should bring their own computers, download a free version of Photoshop (https://bit.ly/2NYPbLW), and bring one USB thumb drive.

S E P T E M B E R 1 3 -1 9

Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebration for MVGFC ’68 in Las Vegas CLECSN (now MVGFC) class of ’68 in Cabanatuan City, Philippines will have its golden jubilee anniversary celebration in Las Vegas, Nevada from Thursday, Sept. 13 to Wednesday, Sept. 19. For more information, please contact Eddie C. Talusan at (415) 583-1300 or Cindy Frando Reyes at (949) 705 - 9324.

SEPTEMBER 15

Penafrancia Fiesta event in San Leandro, California In honor of the feast of Our Lady of Penafrañcia, a day of celebration will be held on Saturday, September 15 in San Leandro, California. It will begin at 9 a.m. with a 9th day rosary and novena prayer, followed by the Holy Mass at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church (2500 Bermuda Ave., San Leandro, CA 94577). At 11:30 a.m., the land & fluvial processions will happen from the church to Marina Park Lagoon. From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a picnic, entertainment, games and vigil mass at Marina Park (14001 Monarch Bay Dr., San Leandro, CA 94577).

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!

S E P T E M B E R 22

Sto. Tomas Batangas Association of Southern California to celebrate 36th anniversary The Sto. Tomas Batangas Association of Southern California will celebrate its 36th anniversary & coronation Night on Saturday, September 22 at the Los Serranos Country Club (15656 Yorba Ave. Chino Hills, CA 91709). Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For attendance, please call Willie Manacsa at (818) 400-7391, Offie Villanueva at (626) 9608407), Mylee Moncada at (818) 322-9429, Rosalie Nasu at (909)631-9356 or Rosie Sancianco at (951)898-7628.

S E P T E M B E R 23 -26

Tau Alpha Grand Reunion in Las Vegas Tau Alphans everywhere, join D’Argos Adventure in Las Vegas on September 23-26, 2018. Experience O’le Las Vegas, the Birthplace of the Mob. Most of the four-day event will be held at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino on Fremont St. The “Meet & Greet” á la Western style, will be on Sunday, September 23; followed by a Family Picnic on Monday, September 24 at the Madeira Canyon Park in Henderson; a subsequent Nightcap in the Golden Nugget on the evening of September 24; D’Fabulous 50s Nostalgia Dinner-Dance will be in the Golden Nugget and the Gala Dinner/Fraternity Ball will be on Wednesday, September 26 at the Golden Nugget, Bel Air Rooms. There will be a privately hosted Bon Voyage Brunch on September 27. Tau Alpha is the 3rd oldest fraternity in the University of the Philippines. Chartered in 1932 as the College of Engineering Fraternity. Contact Art F. Jorge, chairman of the 2018 Tau Alpha Grand Reunion, at artnmyr@yahoo.com.

S E P T E M B E R 26

United Architects of the Philippines - Southern California chapter hosts UAP president in Monterey Park, CA The United Architects of the Philippines - Southern California Chapter, Inc. (UAPSOCAL) a chartered member by the UAP, the only accredited architectural professional organization recognized by Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) of the Philippines, will host the national president of UAP who will be in Los Angeles in connection with the induction of the incoming chapter officers and new members on Wednesday, September 26 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Monterey Hill Steak Restaurant (3700 W. Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park, CA 9175). Interested UAP corporate members, Filipino-American architects, designers, and allied professionals are welcome to attend the event and join the prestigious organization. For more information please contact Jun Joaquin at (323) 675-5042 / (323) 907-3050 or email at uapsocalchapter@gmail.com.

OCTOBER O C TO B E R 7

Serenata Filipina Ver. 2 at LA’s Ford Amphitheatre “Serenata Filipina Ver. 2” is the only Filipino music concert at the famed Ford Theatres’ Summer Season. Features female OPM stalwarts: jazz diva Louie Reyes, vocal powerhouse Annie Nepomuceno, hitmaker Odette Quesada and many more, backed by a live band. Part of the proceeds benefits Philippine Patrons of the Arts USA, and other community partners. Grounds open for picnicking at 4:30 p.m., show is at 6:30pm. Tickets are $100 VIP, $70, $55, $40 and $35 for students. Buy online at www.fordtheatres.org or by calling the box office at (323) 4613673.

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


Features

B september 6-12, 2018 • LAs VeGAs AsIAN JOUrNAL

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From insurance to paluwagan: WGU offers $750,000 in scholarships Bianca Gonzalez’s vlog answers Filipinos’ for adults going back to school common questions on saving money Online, competency-based university to award 375 scholarships for students who enroll by September 30

TO help make going back to school and earning a college degree a reality for busy adults, Western Governors University (WGU) will award $750,000 in scholarships to aspiring students who apply to WGU by September 30, 2018. The Back to School Scholarship, WGU’s largest scholarship offering to date, is valued at up to $2,000 per student, and is open to new students in any of the more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered at WGU – programs in business, information technology, education, and health professions, including nursing. To learn more about WGU’s Back to School Scholarship, or to apply, visit https://www.wgu. edu/financial-aid-tuition/scholarships/general/back-to-school. html

The scholarships will be applied at the rate of $500 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. While multiple scholarships will be awarded, this is a competitive program, and scholarships will be granted based on a candidate’s academic record, financial need, readiness for online study, and current competency, as well as other considerations. “After working for three years as a teaching assistant, I knew I wanted to go to back to school to earn my bachelor’s degree so that I could make an even bigger difference in the lives of my students,” said recent WGU graduate Nicole Ibarra-Vogel. “Just last week, I entered my own classroom as a first-year kindergarten resource teacher, and I couldn’t be more excited about teaching and working with

these kids.” Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, WGU’s competency-based education allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. Students complete their programs by studying on schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrate that they have mastered subject matter. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. While WGU’s degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their progress, saving both time and money.

Carlo Aquino still keeps mementos of ex-GF Angelica Panganiban by Clarizel

G. abanilla

Inquirer.net

WHEN a relationship ends, some people return gifts while others burn stuff to erase bitter and painful memories, but acclaimed actor Carlo Aquino said he still keeps some of the good old throwback stuff that reminds him of his six-year relationship with Angelica Panganiban. “Meron akong mga ano iyong mga binigay niya sakin na mga CD, mga photos meron siyang binigay sakin na video hindi ko makita inis na inis ako (She gave me CDs, photos and a video that I can’t find anymore),” he said Wednesday, September 5, during the press conference for their reunion movie “Exes Baggage.” “Yung nakita ko lang yung mga photos namin saka mga diary niya hindi niya alam na naitago ko yun eh (I found the photos, her diaries. I kept those),” he added. He even teased Panganiban that he would let fans take a sneak peek through Instagram

by niña

Guno

Inquirer.net

BIANCA Gonzalez’s recent vlog about how to save money has spurred several questions, inspiring a new video where guest FQ Mom or Rose Fres Fausto offer more financial advice in simple terms. Fausto, a former investment banker, runs a blog where she provides advice on improving one’s “Financial Intelligence Quotient” or “FQ.” The questions range from asking about being obligated to give money to one’s family to joining a paluwagan scheme. The first question was how salary should be divided for saving. She recommended 20 percent for savings, 10 percent for tithing, if applicable, and 70 percent for one’s expenses. Fausto emphasized that the percentage of needs must be higher than wants. As a guide, she used the term delayed gratification, where you resist an immediate reward to wait for a future reward. A tip she gave for delaying the purchase of a luxury item is asking yourself if you can afford 10 pieces of it, and only buying one if the answer is yes. The second question tackled getting insurance. For Fausto, it isn’t necessary if you don’t have dependents. If you will avail of insurance, she advised asking an insurance agent the amount of coverage

Bianca Gonzalez

Inquirer.net photo

for the dependents. She also recommended that the minimum amount to put into insurance should be 20 percent of one’s salary in a year. Fausto said because insurance now has a “combo” of insurance and investment, availing of insurance has become more expensive. She noted that one can ask an agent if the two could be separated so they can pay less. A common question, according to Gonzalez, was joining a paluwagan scheme. Paluwagan is known in the Philippines as a system where a group of friends

or colleagues pool a fixed amount of money together and each member takes turns in receiving a scheduled payment. Fausto noted that it has the advantage of the discipline in saving money and getting a share in the earnings. She said you have to ensure that the terms and conditions are fully understood and that you aren’t the only one giving loans. Perhaps the question that hit closest to home was one about the obligation of giving money to the family, and being labeled as “madamot” or stingy if you do not. Fausto said giving money should have a definite time frame so that you have the chance to save for yourself too. She noted that even if your salary is high now, anything can happen in the future. She recommended having a discussion with your parents about until when the money will be needed. As an example that anyone can save, she said her kasambahay or house helps have their own emergency fund and retirement fund and that she has discussed financial management with them. Fausto explained that it helps empower them because if their family members ask for money, they can get it from their own emergency fund. As for the retirement fund, she said they were not allowed to touch it and as an incentive to save, they match the savings their helpers make to it.

Nadine Lustre reacts to Daniel Padilla’s description of her on ‘GGV’ by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino

stories, but the actress stopped him, also in jest. Aquino and Panganiban were two of the most famous teen stars from the late ’90s to early 2000s. They had been together for six years when they decided to call it quits. They remained

Photo form instagram.com/@ iamangelicap

close, however, through the years. Now, they’re reunited through a film that tackles situations of real-life couples. The two, however, said they are not closing doors on the possibility of getting back together.

KAPAMILYA actress Nadine Lustre is happy that Daniel Padilla recognizes her personality and that she just wants to be true to herself. During Daniel’s recent appearance as a guest in an episode of “Gandang Gabi Vice,” he described Nadine as “rock and roll and fearless girl.” In an interview with Philstar. com during her shoot as new Skechers endorser, Nadine said that she has been pushing for her real self from the very beginning. “I’m really happy that other artists, Daniel recognized it as well, from the very beginning

that’s what I’m really pushing as an artist naman talaga. I want to be myself lang, I want to be true to myself, ako ‘yung no BS kind of girl, so whatever is in my mind, I speak about it. Sinasabi ko talaga. If I know mayroong something wrong, I’m really gonna say something about it,” Nadine said. Nadine is also open to do a big movie with other popular love teams in the country today, including with Daniel of the love team KathNiel. “Of course, it’s a big collaboration definitely, and I know everyone wants to work with each other, so it’s gonna be a good project when it happens,” Nadine Lustre she said.

Philstar.com photo

The bucket list

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.

PAGE B5 filter out those whom you know have too much of everything and will likely shrug off the value of your gift. In short, don’t give to ingrates and spoiled brats. It is a hit and miss but you will eventually develop the instinct to find the deserving ones. It is a way of paying forward for all the blessings we have received even if sometimes we didn’t deserve any of it. The pay-

back is that you get to see the smiles and the genuine appreciation from the recipients while you are still around. The circle of use for that special item begins to have a ripple effect of good over time. In divesting ourselves of it, we clear the space it once occupied as the blessing of that special item moves to another. We will feel lighter too. Guaranteed. There is beauty and poetry in an

empty space. Our space is limited and so is our time on earth. How we use these can define the remaining segment of our life’s journey. 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

Lacto A: Friendly bacteria PAGE B5 strict glucose-galactose-free diet is a must, and where fructose becomes the main carbohydrate. For those people on lactose-free diet because they have lactose intolerance, calcium supplementation is highly recommended. Some of the non-diary sources of calcium include green leafy vegetables, fish (especially salmon, tuna and sardines, where the bones are soft and edible), Brussels sprouts, tofu, and broccoli. What are the claims about Lactobacillus? The major claims include the assertions that L. acidophilus lowers cholesterol, boosts the immune system, maintains a healthy flora in the digestive tract, and that it prevents cancer. While there are some probably positive preliminary studies on the first three claims, the last one has yet to be proven. Currently there is no scientific support for the claim that L. acidophilus prevents cancer, or that it is safe to take this substance regularly. Is it effective for bacterial vaginal infection, diarrhea? L. acidophilus, when taken by mouth (like yogurt) or as a vaginal douche, tablet or suppository, has been proven effective in treating vaginal infections caused by bacteria. For chronic or recurrent diarrhea, this “friendly bacteria” may be of some help but further clinical studies are needed to determine the safe and effective dosage. How about for other illnesses? L. acidophilus has also been tried in dozens of other conditions, like Acne, AIDS, cancer, canker sores, constipation, cardiovascular illnesses, Cohn’s disease, heartburn, hives, indiges-

tion, infections, stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, urinary tract infection, thrush, asthma, and many others. The studies done on some of them were flawed and scientifically not significant and worthless. There is no medically validated study to date that proves L. acidophilus is effective in any of those conditions listed above, or any other illnesses, except for the bacterial vaginal infection and some form of diarrheas. Is L. acidophilus safe? As aptly reported by Natural Standard in cooperation with Harvard Medical School, “there is limited scientific evidence about the safety and effectiveness of L. acidophilus in humans”. Interactions with other drugs or herbs have not been adequately studied. Some people with weak immune system may be at risk of acquiring serious infections when taking L. acidophilus. The naturally occurring lactobacillus acidophilus in our intestines is a friendly bacteria, but the commercially manufactured and sold preparations are the ones that need further clinical evaluation in humans before it is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Before taking any lactobacillus preparation, consult with your physician. Is eating yogurt safe? Yes, safer and healthier than taking L. acidophilus, or eating ice cream, cakes or drinking pop beverages (the cola and non-cola drinks) that are full of sugars, loaded with carbohydrate that leads to weight gain fast. Yogurt, also spelled yogourt or yoghurt, is a semi-solid fermented milk product which originated in Bulgaria centuries ago. In the U.S. the starter culture for the produc-

tion of most yogurt is a symbiotic blend of Streptococcus salivaris subsp. thermophilus (ST) and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus (LB). This produces the best, most stable and safest combination. Eating yogurt daily has been proven for centuries to be safe and healthy. Since yogurt contains the enzyme lactase, it is easily tolerated by lactose intolerant people. Other food items easier to tolerate are cheeses (swiss, cheddar, Colby). However, with the commercially prepared lactobacillus “potions for a host of diseases,” more scientific studies need to be done to prove its effectiveness, the proper dosage, interaction with other medications, side-effects on the brain, liver, kidneys and other organs, complications, and, most especially, the safety of the therapeutic use of the available preparations of L. acidophilus. For use in some forms of diarrhea and urinary tract or vaginal infections L. acidophilus appears to be effective, and harmless as an occasional beverage, but let’s wait for the final verdict from the scientific community. Dieters around the globe consume yogurt with passion. It also comes in various flavors today. *** 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


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B8 SEPTEMBER 6-12, 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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Located in Montemaria, home to the ninth largest monument in the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the shrine to Mother Mary,Tower of Peace.

A world-class township development located in Montemaria, Batangas City, the Philippines.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;For your retirement, family vacation, pilgrimage, and investment...for generations.â&#x20AC;?

THE TOTAL LAND AREA OF THE MONTEMARIA DEVELOPMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 130 HECTARES WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING TOWNSHIP* PROJECTS: 01 Condominiums, hotels, and resorts 02 Commercial developments such as a shopping center which includes restaurants and cafes 03 Golf Course and Water Park 04 Spa and Wellness Centers 05 Marina and Fishermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wharf 06 Housing, residential subdivision, and retirement village 6XEMHFW WR Ć&#x201C;QDO GHYHORSPHQW SODQ TOTAL LAND AREA 2.1 Hectares

INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

01 Development site is adjacent to the Statue of Virgin Mary. 02 5HVRUW VHWWLQJ ZLWK PDJQLĆ&#x201C;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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Center of the Center of Marine Bio-Diversity of the World.â&#x20AC;?

DATE OF COMPLETION Second Quarter of 2020 TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS PHASE 1 866 Units BUILDING 1 164 units

BUILDING 2 Clubhouse

Lombard By The Bay is a joint venture development project between 3UHPLHU $VLD 3DFLĆ&#x201C;F 5HDO (VWDWH DQG Development Corp.and Omnicor ,QGXVWULDO (VWDWH 5HDOW\ &HQWHU ,QF

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT SUSAN K. GROSS-NIEDERMEYER AT (480) 227-7782 SUSAN@SUSANGROSSREALTOR.COM I SUSAN.GROSS@PREMIERASIAPACIFIC.COM I LOMBARDBYTHEBAY.COM


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