We’ve got you covered from Hollywood to Broadway... and Online!
DEC EMBER 21-27, 2018 Volume 12 - No. 9 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Duterte to Tagle: When did I threaten you? by ALEXIS
ROMERO Philstar.com
MANILA — Malacañang claimed he did not feel alluded to by the prelate’s remarks but President Rodrigo Duterte has reacted harshly to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle’s reminder that power should not be used to bully people. Without naming names, Tagle said in a homily last Sunday, December 16, that power should not be used to disrespect or coerce “Do not bully anyone. Do not use your power to disrespect others. Do not use your power to other people. The prelate also coerce others,” Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said in his homily on Sunday, December 16. Philstar.com photo
USA
DATELINE Calif. Gov. Brown appoints 2 Fil-Am Superior Court judges FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown Jr. appointed 13 California superior court judges, including two Filipino-Americans. The appointments include one in Alameda County; one in Contra Costa County; three in Los Angeles County; one in Riverside County; two in Sacramento County; three in San Diego County; one in Santa Clara County; and one in Solano County. Two Filipino American women were named to the bench: Rohanee Zapanta, 42, of San Diego, will be a judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. Zapanta has served as a deputy public defender at the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office since 2005. She was an associate at the Law Offices of Bay Bulaon in 2005 and at the Price Law Group from 2003 to 2004.
u PAGE A4
Filipino priest suspended over upsetting homily for teen who killed himself A FILIPINO priest in Michigan has been suspended by the Archdiocese of Detroit from speaking at funerals after he upset the family of a teenager who killed himself by including in the homily, questions of whether those who die by suicide can be forgiven by God. Father Don LaCuesta of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Temperance, Michigan presided over the Saturday, December 8, funeral for Maison Hullibarger, 18, who passed away just days before on Tuesday, December 4. Rather than celebrating the life of the teenager who was a criminal justice student at the University of Toledo, an athlete, son, and brother to five siblings, LaCuesta focused more on the issue of suicide, according to the teenager’s father. The word “suicide” was mentioned by LaCuesta a total of six times during the homily. This, despite the parents having met with LaCuesta prior to the funeral to discuss what they wanted in the homily. LaCuesta even took notes, they said. In a copy of the homily released by the archdiocese on Monday, December 17, LaCuesta said, “If we Christians are right in believing that
u PAGE A4
u PAGE A2
COURTESY CALL. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray poses with President Rodrigo Duterte during her courtesy call at the Villamor Airbase, Pasay City on Thursday, December 20. Gray flew to New York City on Thursday to fulfill her duties as the new Miss Universe. She will return to the country early next year for her grand homecoming. Photo courtesy of Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo
Ambassador Kim: US not to Miss Universe Catriona Gray receives messages of praise blame for China militarization by NATHALIE
by CET
DEMATERA Philstar.com
ROBLES
AJPress
MANILA — Like lava that inspired by PATRICIA LOURDES VIRAY UNITED States her dress, messages of congratulaPhilstar.com Ambassador to the tions and praises for Catriona Gray Philippines Sung flowed from all over the country. Kim on Tuesday, DeIn her mother’s home province of cember 18, answered Albay, a hero’s welcome awaits the back at President Robeauty queen. drigo Duterte’s com“Truly an Albayana, she was the ment stating that the most prepared candidate ever – if United States did not you prepare to fight calamities, the do anything about more you are prepared for victory,” China’s militarizaAlbay Rep. Joey Salceda posted in tion of the West Philhis Facebook account. ippine Sea. Gray’s mother Normita Ragas “I’m not sure if it’s Magnayon is from Oas town. really fair to point a Salceda said Catriona is “regal as finger at the United Beneficiaries of Young Focus, a charity group in Tondo, Manila that provides free education Mayon is majestic. She is beautiful, States ‘cause we’re for out-of-school youth where newly crowned Miss Universe Catriona Gray is a volunteer, truly Daragang Magayon.” not doing anything. flash Gray’s photos on Tuesday, December 18 to congratulate her on her victory. United States Ambassador to the Philippines u PAGE A2 It’s China that’s takPhilstar.com photo by Edd Gumban Sung Kim Inquirer.net photo ing aggressive unilateral actions in the disputed area,” Kim told ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC)’s “Beyond Politics.” The president has earlier asked Washington why it failed to block the reclamation activities done by Beijing in the said territory. “Our basic approach or position on the South China Sea situation really hasn’t changed. I think we have been mised the reputation of the enby NATHALIE ROBLES AJPress consistent that we call on all claimant countries to refrain tire UN system. from aggressive unilateral actions,” the ambassador ex“The recent call of United MALACANANG responded to Nations Special Rapporteur plained as reported by The Philippine Star. the statement of the United Na- (UNSR) Michel Forst not only “And we will do all we can to make sure that internations Special Rapporteur Michel is reckless but irresponsible as tional rights and principles are protected,” the diplomat Forst on Tuesday, December well for it not only demeans the added. 18, claiming that the report is integrity of the UNSR system This year alone, China has deployed several equip“reckless and irresponsible” for but the entire UN mechanism ment including anti-cruise ship missiles and surface-tourging the government to stop itself,” Panelo said. air missiles, which can reach as far as 295 nautical miles the stigma against human rights of the reefs and 160 nautical miles, respectively. They “We are fed up with this pracdefenders. also have electronic jamming equipment on its artificial tice of using the UN as a platAccording to The Philippine form to parrot baseless critiislands in the South China Sea, part of which is the West Daily Inquirer, Presidential cisms of local interest groups Philippine Sea. spokesperson Salvador Panelo who are supported by resentful “China has obviously taken unilateral measures. They said that the report the Special politicians belonging to the ophad indicated that they will refrain from militarization, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo Rapporteur released compro-
Palace calls UN expert’s report ‘reckless and irresponsible’
u PAGE A4
u PAGE A2
Inquirer.net photo
Duterte thanks US for returning Balangiga bells by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
AFTER 117 years in the United States’ possession, the Balangiga bells made their way home to Balangiga, Eastern Samar. President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, December 15, witnessed the turnover of the Transfer Certificate of the Balangiga Bells from U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission John Law to Philippine Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin President Rodrigo Duterte kisses one of the Balangiga Bells after witnessing the Lorenzana. The president, then, official handover of its Transfer Certificate at the Balangiga Auditorium in Eastern personally led the handover cerSamar on Saturday, December 15. Malacañang photo by Simeon Celiacs emony of the historic bells to the
people of Balangiga. He also handed the certificate of transfer to Balangiga Mayor Randy Graza. Duterte, in his speech, thanked the U.S. government for the return of the century-old war artifacts. He also said that the return of the bells was possible due to “several efforts made by both Americans and the Philippines” and that no one should take credit for the return of the bells, not even him, because it was the voice of the Filipino people especially the people of Balangiga, that convinced the
U.S. to return them. “Let me be very clear on this: There are some who are front loaders and pedantic in the government. The bells are returned and it was really because of the fervent prayers of the entire Filipino nation,” Duterte said. “But nobody can claim a singular credit for the generous act of the Americans. The bells are returned. The credit goes to the American people and to the Filipino people. Period,” he added. ‘Vibrant’ U.S.-Philippines rela-
u PAGE A3