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US denies Goldberg-led plot to oust PH president by ERIC

ANTHONY LICAS AJPress

AMERICAN officials deny reports published on Tuesday, December 27, claiming that outgoing envoy to the Philippines, Philip Goldberg, submitted a blueprint to the U.S. State Department for the ouster of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The Manila Times cited a document provided by a “highly placed”unnamed source that attributed Goldberg calling for a regime change in Malacanang. “These allegations of a blueprint are false,” wrote Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Russel

DATELINE

in a statement issued on Tuesday. “No such blueprint exists.” The American diplomat’s alleged statements note the challenge associated with unseating a democratically-elected president with strong approval ratings in his own country. However, according to the source, Goldberg outlined a number of steps that he said might bring Duterte “to his knees and eventually remove him from office,” within a year and a half. These feature proposals to place political and economic pressure on Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to reduce trade with the Philippines. He allegedly also suggested

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

US senators slam Duterte’s drug war, question aid to PH

isolating Manila from its partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by offering future military assistance to all the organization’s members except the Philippines. Other recommendations include stirring dissatisfaction over the president’s largely unfulfilled campaign promises to end poverty while highlighting the contributions of U.S. foreign aid and empowering Duterte’s political opposition in the Philippines. “The United States respects the sovereignty of the Philippines and the democratic choices made by the Philippine people,” Russel said in Tuesday’s CIVIL MOMENT. In this July 19 file photo, President Rodrigo Duterte meets outgoing US Ambassador Philip Goldberg in Malacañang Palace. American officials have denied reports that Goldberg has submitted a blueprint to the U.S. State Department for the ouster of Duterte. PAGE A2 Malacañang photo

Pacquiao included in Forbes’ MVPs in 2016 boxing list by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

FILIPINO boxing champion and Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has been ranked fourth on Forbes’ list of boxing’s “Most Valuable Players” in 2016. “When Pacquiao is in an active participant in the sport, it’s a good thing for boxing. He’s a senator in the Philippines but he made time to fight Jessie Vargas in November, made at least $4 million and looked quite good while winning,” Josh Katzowitz, the author of the article, wrote.

THREE American senators have expressed their “grave concern” over the alleged extrajudicial killings and human rights violations associated with the Philippine government’s war against illegal Sen. Manny Pacquiao AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal drugs. In a letter dated December 22, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.) wrote to U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary William R. Brownfield, describing President Rodrigo Duterte’s fight as a “campaign of mass atrocities.” The senators also cited Duterte’s recent by DANA SIOSON 120 kph with 180 kph at its peak, admission that he personally killed drug AJPress causing floods, landslides, and powpersonalities when he was still the mayor TYPHOON Nina (international er outrages as it moves westward toof Davao City. “If substantiated, these actions constitute name: Nock-ten) battered the north- wards the South China sea. National Disaster Risk Reduca gross violation of human rights. Rather ern Philippines over the weekend, than address the systematic problems re- leaving at least six people dead as it tion and Management Council wreaked havoc over the Bicol Penin- (NDRRMC) Undersecretary Ricardo PAGE A4 sula on Christmas Day. Jalad said a total of 77,560 families The typhoon made its first land- or around 380,000 individuals from fall in the province of Catanduanes, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and with gust power of 235 kilometers Central Visayas were forced to leave per hour (kph) on Christmas Day, their homes on Christmas and spend December 25. It sustained winds of PAGE A2

Last April, after winning a 12-round unanimous decision against Timothy Bradley Jr., Pacquiao announced that he would be retiring from boxing to focus on his political career. The following month, he was elected as one of the Philippines’ senators. Pacquiao’s long-time boxing promoter, Bob Arum, later announced in August that Pacquiao would be matched against Vargas for his comeback fight. During their match at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas last

October 5, Pacquiao dominated the Mexican-American boxer, reclaiming his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title. “It’s unclear what his next move will be, but a fight vs. Terence Crawford would be one of the boxing’s most exciting matchups of 2017,” Katzowitz said. Before his match against Vargas, Arum said that if Pacquiao succeeds in his return fight in November, he’ll most likely have two PAGE A3

Typhoon Nina onslaught Critics berate Robredo for US trip amid typhoon in PH kills at least six in PH

People of color and the poor will be hardest hit by ACA repeal

PRESIDENT-elect Donald Trump’s threat to repeal and replace Obamacare is bad news for millions of Americans, but the poor and people of color are going to be hit hardest, say health care advocates. “The winners and losers from repealing Obamacare will depend crucially on the details of whatever replacement plan materializes,” said Larry Levitt, senior vice president for special initiatives at the Kaiser Family Foundation during a webinar Dec. 19. “ Based on what those replacement plans look like so far, it seems that the poor and people with pre-existing medical conditions could end up worse off.” Approximately 20 million people have gotten coverage since the launch of Obamacare. Trump has yet to reveal details of what PAGE A2

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

SOME critics have condemned Vice President Leni Robredo for taking a holiday break in the United States while Typhoon “Nina” (international name: Nock-Ten) wreaked havoc in the Philippines over the weekend. Blogger “Thinking Pinoy,” a staunch supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, criticized the vice president for leaving the country before the upcoming calamity, accusing her of abanPAGE A2

Vice Pres. Leni Robredo

Sotto: Congress to deliberate ethics case against De Lima in January by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

SCENE OF DESTRUCTION. A woman shares a cup of hot coffee with her husband amid the ruins of their house a day after Typhoon “Nina” struck their village in Bato, Catanduanes province. Authorities reported at least seven deaths in the strongest typhoon to hit Bicol in 10 years. Inquirer.net photo by Fernan Gianan

SENATE Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Wednesday, December 28, that he is planning to draft a resolution on the ethics complaint filed against Senator Leila De Lima, adding that the Senate Committee on Ethics will conduct its deliberation on the case in January. “I plan to draft a resolution and have the members review it and agree if we will call for a full PAGE A2 Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III

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US denies Goldberg-led plot... PAGE A1 statement. He went on to shrug off accusations that American officials and institutions might attempt to ostracize the Philippines from its neighbors in the South Pacific. Russel also referenced ongoing U.S. humanitarian and military support as evidence of his country’s commitment to its historic ally’s success. In recent months, Duterte has sought to diminish the Philippines’ involvement with the U.S. military with the intention of improving ties with China and Russia, according to prior reports from the Asian Journal and other sources. On December 12, MalacaĂąang representatives announced they would prohibit the launch of American air and naval patrols from the Philippines meant to challenge Chinese claims to sovereignty over the South China Sea. A few days later, Duterte promised the eventual repeal or abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) while speaking to reporters shortly after landing in Davao on December 17. The Philippines’ diplomatic shift away from the U.S. came partly in light of repeated criticism voiced by President Barack Obama and White House representatives, including Goldberg. “[Duterte’s] views are shaped not by ideology or personal am-

bitions, but by old-fashioned nationalism where he holds the United States accountable for the Philippines’ current state of poverty and dependency,� Goldberg is quoted to have said according to the document referenced by the Manila Times on Tuesday. Before Duterte won the presidency — largely on a promise to eradicate the trade illicit drugs in the Philippines — U.S. officials and human rights watchdogs had raised alarm over the former Davao mayor’s alleged connection to vigilante death squads. Goldberg, on Tuesday, also denied formulating a plot to eject Duterte from power. “No. Those kinds of statements are not correct, not true,� Goldberg told the Inquirer at the the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Health Forum in Pasay City. He went on to say that “we respect democracy in the Philippines.� An exchange involving Duterte and Goldberg became the subject of controversy when the Philippine president called the American diplomat a “gay son of a bitch� during a speech in August. “I was annoyed at [Goldberg], for interfering in the elections, giving statements here and there,� said Duterte, referring to the Philippines’ presidential race earlier this year. “He wasn’t supposed to do that.�

Officials in MalacaĂąang say they are unable to confirm or deny the existence of Goldberg’s alleged blueprint of recommendations. So long as the source of the document referenced by Tuesday’s report remains anonymous, the statement credited to Goldberg “remains part and parcel of a larger conspiracy theory,â€? according to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. He went on to note that the current Ambassador to the Philippines’ assignment is coming to a close. Andanar said he expected the Goldberg’s successor, former special U.S. Envoy to North Korea, Sung Kim, to be a more “empatheticâ€? liaison between Malacanang and the White House. Philippine House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has called for an official probe into Goldberg’s alleged statements. However, other members of the Duterte administration dismissed the likelihood of the president’s ouster. “The president continues to enjoy the trust of the people, and the people on the ground apparently appreciate what he’s doing,â€? Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters during a press briefing. He added that “whoever attempts [the ouster] will find it difficult.â€?

STATE OF CALAMITY. Aerial photo shows a flooded highway after typhoon ‘Nina’ made landfall in Polangui, Albay on Tuesday, December 26. Nina, which made landfall on the eastern island province of catanduanes on December 25, caused the deaths of at least seven people, displaced more than 380,000, and grounded more than 300 flights. ManilaTimes.net photo

Typhoon Nina onslaught kills... PAGE A1 the holiday in evacuation centers and other safety shelters. At the same time, more than 120,000 holiday travelers were also stranded as several flights were delayed or rescheduled and sea travel were cancelled. The provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur were also placed under a “state of calamity.� Due to Christmas being one of the biggest and most celebrated holidays in Philippines, authorities said it was very difficult to convince people to leave their homes and evacuate. In Camarines Sur, the government even offered lechon

(roasted pig) in evacuation centers to draw the people’s attention. “I know it is Christmas, and is somewhat sunny right now but this is a legit typhoon. [Please] evacuate, magpapalechon tayo sa mga evacuation [center] (we will have lechon at evacuation centers),� Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Villafuerte said in his Twitter account. On Monday, December 26, roll-on, roll-off (RORO) ship M/ V Starlite Atlantic sank off Batangas Bay between 10:20 and 11:30 a.m. The Starlite management said no passengers or cargo

were on board when the ship sank “since it was sheltered in preparation for Typhoon Nina.� Fifteen crew members have been rescued. However, 19 remained missing. By late Monday afternoon, the typhoon had weakened to a wind of 180 kilometers per hour, heading west towards the South China Sea, according to government weather forecaster Gener Quitlong. The typhoon is expected to be outside the Philippines’ area of responsibility, 230 kilometers northwest of Pag-asa Island in Palawan, by Wednesday afternoon, December 28.

Critics berate Robredo for US trip...

Senators Leila De Lima and Vicente Sotto III during a Senate session.

Sotto: Congress to deliberate ethics...

PAGE A1 blown inquiry right away,� Sotto told Inquirer. Sotto, who also acts as the committee’s chair, said he wanted the committee to act immediately on the complaint to be “fair to all sides.� Early this month, complaint was submitted against De Lima for her “unethical conduct� when she told her former driver Ronnie Dayan to skip the House of Representatives’ hearings on the

alleged drug proliferation at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP). The 12-page complaint, which was filed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, House Majority Leader Rodolfo FariĂąas, and Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali, said that De Lima violated Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code or the disobedience for summons. “As an incumbent Senator, former Secretary of Justice and a lawyer, advising and inducing

Mr. Dayan to hide and not to attend and/or appear in the House inquiry for which she was duly summoned, is tantamount to restraining or inducing disobedience to a summon issued by Congress, of which she is a sitting member, in violation of Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code,� the complaint read. De Lima earlier argued that her advice to Dayan was not an obstruction of justice, but rather, an “obstruction of persecution.� “Kung hindi rin naging ganun ang actuation ni Senator De Lima baka hindi rin namin finile ito pero parang ang nangyari hinamon nya talaga ang House e (If it had not been Senator De Lima’s actuation, we would not file this but it seems like she is really challenging the House). So this is ultimately the decision of the House leadership to pursue the matter including the filing of an ethics complaint,� Umali previously told reporters. According to the respondents, De Lima also committed an “unparliamentary act� after calling the committee a “kangaroo court.� “Wherefore, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this honorable committee that after due hearing, respondent Senator Leila De Lima be disciplined in accordance with the rules of the Senate of the Philippines. Other reliefs, just and equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for,� the complaint further read.

PAGE A1 doning her fellow Filipinos. “In 2015, Leni Robredo herself said, ‘It is very important for local folks to see their government officials during and right after a disaster.’ And where was she while Nina was pummeling her hometown in Bicol? In the United States,� the post read. Thinking Pinoy hit the vice president for still deciding to leave the country for her U.S. vacation “despite all that’s happening.� “Millions of poor Filipinos’ lives are at risk, while the country’s vice president is too busy having White Christmas,� it added. At the same time, blogger Mocha Uson, another staunch Duterte supporter, lambasted the vice president for her absence during the calamity. “Sabi naman ng iba hindi naman daw siya [Robredo] kailangan personal na pumunta sa Bicol para tumulong sa nasalanta ng bagyo. Kung ganun naman po pala madam Leni, wag na lang po kayong bumalik. Diyan na lang kayo sa Amerika at mag chat na lang kayo ng mga tao mo para sa mga trabahong gagawin niyo

(Others said that she doesn’t need to be personally in Bicol to help the typhoon victims. If that’s the case, madam Leni, just don’t go back. Just stay in America and chat your staff regarding your works),� her post read. Over the weekend, Typhoon Nina battered the Philippines, particularly the Bicol region, forcing 380,000 people to spend their Christmas at evacuation centers and other safety shelters. Following the criticisms, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said on Monday, December 26, that Robredo has been helping with the relief operations for typhoon victims of while she was in the U.S. “Vice President Leni Robredo has been monitoring and directing the Office of the Vice President to work with regional officials and agencies in setting up local relief centers for immediate emergency response on the ground,� Robredo’s spokesperson, Georgina Hernandez, said in a statement. According to Hernandez, a team from the OVP has been dispatched to the affected areas to assist in the relief operations,

which was tagged as “Task Force Tindong Bicol.� “While we have faith in the resilience of our people, we still call on the Filipino public to help out in the on going relief efforts of all agencies and private sector partners to alleviate suffering in typhoon-hit areas during this very special time of the year,� Hernandez added. The spokesperson also pointed out that vice president’s vacation has been planned more than a year ago. “She will be going home to Naga as soon as she arrives,� Hernandez added. On the other hand, Robredo, who hails from Naga City — which is located at the heart of the Bicol region — said that her office is “willing to assist in the preparation of requests for assistance from national government agencies.� “We hope to shift from relief to rehabilitation soon as more and more families are returning to their houses. Been receiving a lot of reports of damaged school buildings and houses. Damage to agricultural crops has also been extensive,� Robredo said through her social media accounts.

People of color and the poor will be... PAGE A1 he plans to do to the 2010 Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, other than to say that he intends to dismantle it soon after he takes office. It’s likely that some parts of it will be left untouched – like the pre-existing condition provision – and replacement could be delayed by a couple of years. The webinar was organized by the non-profit California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), to give journalists an overview of what California, the state that took the lead in implementing some of the key provisions of Obamacare, could face if Trump makes good on his threat. Among those provisions were

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expanding Medi-Cal (California’s name for Medicaid) and setting up a health insurance marketplace for people to purchase federally subsidized coverage best suited to their budget, said Amy Adams, CHCF’s senior program officer. Additionally, even before the ACA became law, the state banned the prevalent practice of gender-based premium cost variations – younger women were paying more than men. As a result of its robust implementation, the state’s uninsured rate for residents under 65 fell by nearly half, from 22 percent in 2009 to 9.5 percent in 2015, according to a California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). More low-income people who historically were shut out of health insurance were able to gain coverage, as were people in minority communities. The survey showed that uninsured rates fell by nearly 7 percent among Asian Americans and African Americans, and 6.5 percent among Latinos. More than 10 percent of the populations in the counties of Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare got coverage, according to a just-released UC Berkeley Labor Center study. A repeal would mean that California would lose around $20 billion in annual federal funding for Medi-Cal expansion and Covered California subsidies, making it virtually impossible for it to continue offering those programs. “It is a very large amount of money and would be difficult for the state to generate a comparable amount of revenue,� to

go it alone, pointed out Adams. “It would be difficult for any individual state to try to raise the money required and provide benefits comparable to the ACA,� Levitt said. “That would put the state significantly at odds with other states in terms of tax rates and public benefits.� But critics of the ACA say that one of the least popular provisions of the law – forcing individuals to have health insurance and companies to cover their employees or face a penalty – would be eliminated with a repeal. An estimated $1.3 billion would be lost in eliminated penalties. One idea Trump’s advisory team has been floating is to allow insurance carriers to sell insurance across state borders, something some insurers already do. That could come with its own set of problems, Levitt said, because it could drive people to states where the insurance industry is less regulated. He said California has been able to rein in its providers to some degree because of “its stringent regulations.� Levitt pointed out that the safety net provided by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), clinics that provide health care to underserved communities, would weaken if the ACA were repealed. Those unable to retain their insurance coverage would likely flock to FQHCs, putting an extra burden on them. “There are a lot of moving pieces,� at this time, Levitt said. “No doubt that people are split on the ACA,� he said. “But ACA is status quo.� (Viji Sundaram/ New America Media)

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 29, 2016-JANUARY 4, 2017

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Obama on election: I could’ve won again by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

SWEPT ASHORE. The MV Shuttle Roro 5 rests by the shore after being swept by Typhoon Nina off Mabini in Batangas on Monday, Dec. 26. After forcing thousands to have Noche Buena in cramped evacuation centers on Christmas, Typhoon Nina (international name Nock-Ten) continued to pummel southern Luzon and eastern Visayas, making eight landfalls within 24 hours before leaving landmass at mid-afternoon and a trail of destruction in its wake. Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

Report: Wealth gap widens among Asian Americans by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

THE common myth surrounding the economic status of Asian Americans is that they generally fare better than most ethnic groups, and very basic statistics support that notion. According to a 2016 report from Pew Research Center, Asian American men and women earn more than white, black and Hispanic American men and women, respectively, in hourly jobs. The average household wealth of Asian Americans is also on the rise, and will soon be comparable to white households. However, what isn’t considered in the model minority myth — the notion that all Asian Americans represent success — is that the Asian American experience varies greatly. A new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) focused on this phenomenon and found that the wealth inequality among Asians is greater than the wealth disparity among white American households. Using government data, the researchers explored the increasing wealth gap between

poor and rich Asian Americans, comparing the results to those of white Americans. Asian households at the bottom one-fifth have an average net worth of $9,319 from 2010 to 2013. In comparison, median Asian households averaged a $132,653 net worth, and the net worth of the highest-earning households — the 90th percentile Asians — was at about $1.4 million in the same four-year period. “Moreover, the gap between wealthy and non-wealthy Asian Americans has widened,” the report read. “Asian Americans also have fewer retirement benefits than whites and are more indebted than whites, creating a potentially precarious situation when stock and housing prices fall. The bottom line is that wealth inequality across American families deserves policy attention. This is especially true for Asian Americans in the bottom half of the income distribution.” Factors that contribute to wealth inequality — and why many Asian American households are facing drawbacks in financial succession — increasing home mortgages, lower home

ownership and student and car loan hikes. “Wealth inequality among Asian Americans has also grown faster for the past two decades than it has for whites. In part, this rise in wealth inequality can be traced back to greater indebtedness and faster rising debt, especially installment loans for student debt and car purchases,” the report read. “The faster rise in inequality among Asian Americans than among whites in particular suggests that Asian American inequality results from factors other than just age and education” CAP pointed out that the mean net worth of white households and Asian households is about the same ($680,000, according to CAP’s findings) which creates the illusion that Asian Americans are doing just as well as whites. But what that statistic fails to recognize is that there are stark differences among cultures within the Asian American community. Folks that hail from Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia — who make up about 45 percent of the Asian population in the U.S. — aren’t doing as well as other Asian ethnic groups. PAGE A4

forts of the Democratic Party to garner support for its candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but acknowledged that it could have expanded its ground game. “See, I think the issue was less that Democrats have somehow abandoned the white working class. I think that’s nonsense. Look, the Affordable Care Act benefits a huge number of Trump voters,” Obama said. “The problem is, is that we’re not there on the ground communicating not only the dry policy aspects of this, but that we care about these communities, that we’re bleeding for these communities.” “It means caring about local races, state boards or school boards and city councils and state legislative races and not thinking that somehow, just a great set of progressive policies that we present to the New York Times editorial board will win the day,” the president added. Obama also gave insight into his post-presidential plans which includes a massive effort to mobilize the Democratic Party. He said he plans to develop young,

emerging Democratic leaders — including politicians, communication practitioners and campaign organizers — who can rally behind the party and garner more support. Moreover, he said that he will carry out his “duties and obligations” as a private citizen and continue to voice his opinions and weigh in on crucial issues during the Trump administration as he did while campaigning for Clinton. But before he does any of that, Obama said that he plans to adopt a lower profile and spend quiet time with his family and writing a book about his historic era in office. After eight years, Obama admitted sentiment when thinking about his run as president, expressing that leaving the White House felt “like the band is breaking up.” “I have to be quiet for a while,” Obama said. “And I don’t mean politically, I mean internally. I have to still myself. You have to get back in tune with your center and process what’s happened before you make a bunch of good decisions.”

PRESIDENT Barack Obama said that given his progressive platform and eagerness to bring his promised change to the nation, he could have “won again” if he ran for a third term. “I am confident in this vision because I’m confident that if I had run again and articulated it, I think I could’ve mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it,” the president told his former senior adviser David Axelrod in an interview for his podcast “The Axe Files” on Monday, December 26. For Obama to run again, however, violates the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” But Obama asserted that he believes that his eight-year legacy brought change to the nation and that many Americans would have re-elected him on that platform, if given the chance. “I know that in conversations that I’ve had with people around the country, even some people who disagreed with me, they would say the vision, the direction that you point towards is the right one,” Obama said. In response, President-elect Donald Trump — a long time attacker of Obama and his policies — once again took to Twitter to express his dissent to the president’s hypothetical statements. “President Obama said he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! — jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc,” the president-elect tweeted on Monday. In the interview, Obama also A snowman peeks into the Oval Office as President Barack Obama signs end-of-the-year bills shared his analysis of the elec- last Dec. 16. Staff moved four snowmen that were decorating the Rose Garden just outside tion in regards to Trump’s his- several Oval Office windows to greet the President when he arrived in the office. White House photo by Pete Souza toric upset. He defended the ef-

Pacquiao included in Forbes’ MVPs...

PAGE A1 more major matches in 2017. According to Arum, Pacquiao could be pitted against WBC junior welterweight titleholder Terence Crawford, and even have a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., but so far, no final decision has been made. Early this week, Arum told boxingscene.com’s Steve Kim that he needs to receive Pacquiao’s Senate schedule before finalizing the senator-boxer’s first boxing match in 2017.“

The truth is it (Pacquiao’s next bout) would be sometime before the end of June. Now exactly when that will be, I can’t rely on anybody except going over there and meeting with the president of the senate and determine what the schedule is for the Senate,” Arum explained. “His first job is as a senator and I can’t influence when they have recesses,” he added. Topping the Forbes’ MVPs list were both Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev, followed by Canelo

Alvarez (2nd) and Gennady Golovkin (3rd). Next to Pacquiao in the rankings were Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (5th), Keith Thurman (6th), Anthony Joshua (7th), Vasyl Lomachenko (8th), Joe Smith (9th), and Terence Crawford (10th). Katzowitz, author of the article said he based the rankings on his “own unscientific calculation of those who ‘helped grow the sport’ while also ‘helping his own bank account.’”

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China gifts $14.4-M in weapons to PH Former AAPI outreach director of by Eric

Anthony LicAs AJPress

ChINeSe Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua offered over $14 million worth of weapons and equipment at no cost to the Philippine government on Monday, December 19 for use in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana also said that Beijing is prepared to extend as much as $500 million in soft loans to Manila for additional equipment during a press briefing on Tuesday, December 20. “We might get some small arms, fast boats and night vision goggles because $14.4 million is not that much,” Lorenzana told reporters on Tuesday. “We will finalize the deal before the end of the year.” The aid illustrates a warming of ties between the Philippines and China, which had been strained over competing territorial claims at Scarborough Shoal and other sites in the South China sea. Duterte suggested that Beijing and Manila work together to develop and cultivate currently contested natural assets during a speech to government employees on Monday. he and Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. reiterated the Philippine government’s reluctance to provoke an armed confrontation with southeast Asia’s largest military and economic power. They also said they had no immediate plans to challenge Chinese maritime assertions. “This we will continue to do for the foreseeable future, until such time that we achieve a trust level that will allow us to discuss the more sensitive issues in our bilateral relations,” said Yasay in

a statement on Monday. In spite of a diplomatic pivot toward China, administration officials say they still stand by the legitimacy of a ruling from the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) that largely sides with the Philippines in territorial disputes. The United States has expressed support for the PCA’s authority. however, criticism from American officials and policy makers regarding possible human rights abuses occurring amidst the Philippines’ crackdown on illegal drugs have driven a wedge between Manila and Washington. In late October, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) moved to block the sale of 26,000 rifles to the Philippine National Police (PNP), citing humanitarian concerns. In response, Duterte announced the cancellation of the arms deal during a televised speech on Monday, November 1. Manila has announced a number of policy decisions this year that would end cooperative arrangements between the Philippine and U.S. militaries. On Monday, December 12, Malacañang representatives announced they would prohibit the launch of American freedom of navigation patrols from bases in the Philippines. The air and naval missions have elicited condemnation from China, which views them as a challenge to their claims to Sovereignty over the South China Sea. Duterte told reporters that American forces should prepare to leave the Philippines and promised the eventual repeal or abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) shortly after landing in Davao on Saturday, December 17. The bi-

lateral deal provides legal status to U.S. soldiers stationed in the Philippines and gives American military courts jurisdiction over crimes they commit while they are there. Prior allegations from the Philippine government accusing Chinese nationals of playing a significant role in the island nation’s illicit drug trade had drawn dismay from officials in China. however, China has emerged as a substantial sponsor of the Philippines’ nationwide crackdown on crime. In addition, a chinese businessman with an estimated net worth of $3.9 billion, huang Rulun, funded the construction of a large drug rehabilitation center at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva ecija earlier this year, according to Reuters and other sources. The facility opened its doors on Tuesday, November 9 and is capable of treating 10,000 patients. Those who would prefer to see Duterte take a more assertive stance in the country’s territorial disputes have expressed trepidation in the face of growing cooperation between Manila and Beijing. “Now, we seem to be on a track to relinquish those gains that have been made to benefit our people,” Albert Del Rosario, the foreign secretary under former president Benigno Aquino III, said in a statement on Monday. The diplomat who presented the Philippines’ case to the PCA in 2014 added that “we appear to be well on the way to placing the country’s future in the hands of our northern neighbor who… is now effectively demeaning our stand for upholding the rule of law…”

Report: Wealth gap widens among... PAGE A3 “The problem is that ‘Asian American’ doesn’t hold together as a category,” Philip Cohen, a sociology professor at the University of Maryland, told the Washington Post. “The group is too diverse. It doesn’t really make sense to compare recent Chinese, Korean or Pakistani immigrants who are working in tech and engineering jobs to people who came as refugees in the 1980s and their workingclass descendants.”

Although Asian Americans are the fastest-growing demographic in the United States, they are still a relatively small group. According to the Census Bureau, Asian Americans only comprise about 5-6 percent of the American population so the researcher’s findings may not be wholly accurate. The researchers acknowledge that the data is “statistically significant” enough to make conclusions about the 10 percent level. A significant takeaway

from the report seems to be the increasing financial success of the richest Asian Americans; although the report finds the wealth gap increasing, there isn’t sufficient evidence to say that poorer Asian Americans are significantly getting poorer. The report utilized the data and findings from triennial surveys from the Federal Reserve, which gather samples of several thousand Americans nationwide, including a few hundred Asian Americans.

Clinton campaign named NaFFAA’s national executive director The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) has announced that Jason Tengco will be its new executive director. Tengco will be responsible for co-managing NaFFAA’s National Chairman’s Council with a strong emphasis on national programs, strategic partnerships, legislation, government affairs and national development. he will report directly to Brendan Flores, current national chair of the organization, and work in close collaboration with Kelly Ilagan, current national operat-

ing officer and members of the board. Over the past decade, Jason has worked for a presidential campaign, the White house, Obama administration, Congress, and numerous non-profit and campus organizations. In 2016, Jason served as the National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Outreach Director for hillary for America. Previously, Jason worked for the White house Initiative on AAPIs from 2012 to 2016, where he was appointed as deputy director in 2015. During his tenure, Jason

Jason Tengco

organized the first-ever White house Celebration of Filipino American history Month, managed the White house Summit on AAPIs, and led the Initiative’s national AAPI community engagement. Throughout his career, Jason has participated in fellowships with the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies in the office of Congressman Mike honda, New Leaders Council, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Center for Progressive Leadership, and Public Policy and International Affairs Program. In 2014, Jason was selected as one of ten delegates to the Philippine embassy’s Filipino American Youth Leadership Program (FYLPro), a weeklong immersion in the Philippines. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jason graduated from UCLA with honors with a B.A. in political sScience. At UCLA, Jason was heavily involved with Samahang Pilipino and received the Outstanding Pinoy Leadership Award. “Jason is an incredibly wellbalanced leader with a can-do attitude and a dedication to public service. he has come highly recommended by many. I am ecstatic to have him as a part of the executive board and look forward to partnering with him. I know that Kelly and Jason will be extremely effective within their own roles as well as in their partnership together,” added Brendan Flores, current National Chair of NaFFAA.

US senators slam Duterte’s drug war... PAGE A1

lated to the country’s drug crisis, invest in treatment programs, or approach the epidemic with an emphasis on the health and wellbeing of the Philippine people, President Duterte has instead pledged to kill another 20,000 to 30,000 people, many simply because they suffer from a drug use disorder,” the letter read. They also referred the Philippine anti-drug movement, Project Tokhang, as a “campaign of mass atrocities” that is “thinly disguised as a response to public health emergency.”

The senators then stressed that drug addiction is “not a moral failing but rather a chronic disease.” At the same time, they also questioned the “legalities and appropriateness of the $32 million” funds from U.S. dedicated to the “training and other law enforcement assistance” for security forces in the Philippines. Citing the Leahy Law, they asked the State Department to ensure that “none of our foreign assistance money dedicated to law enforcement activities is being used to support extrajudicial killings or other human rights vi-

olations of Duterte’s campaign.” The letter’s authors said “the recipients of our financial assistance must align with our values and ideals, including respect for human rights and the rule of law.” In response, Duterte on Tuesday, December 27, lashed at the U.S. once again, claiming that the U.S. is only good in criticizing. Duterte said the US never really extended their help in addressing drug problems, adding that it has only been focusing on the supposed extrajudicial killings. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

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D ateline PhiliPPines PNP chief vows to cleanse

A

police force in 2017

press conference in Camp Crame on Tuesday, December 27. According to Dela Rosa, a forPhiliPPine national Police mer PnP chief even pointed out (PnP) Chief Director General the matter to him. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa vowed “May pumupuna pa nga sa for an internal cleansing in 2017, akin na dating chief PnP na warning scalawag officers within nagsabi na ‘Diyan ka nag-kuthe police organization. kulang. Masyado ka nakatutok “Marami pa kaming dapat sa labas, dun sa mga kriminal linisin. iyan ang i-expect n’yo sa sa labas. nakalimutan mo yung 2017 (We still have a lot of things mga kriminal sa loob ng organto clean. That’s what you have isasyon (Actually a former PNP to expect in 2017). More heads chief pointed out that matter will roll sa mga scalawag na pu- and told me that ‘that’s where lis (police),” Dela Rosa said in a you lack. You focus too much on by Dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa

the criminals outside. You forgot that there were also criminals within the organization),” Dela Rosa said, later revealing the former PnP chief’s identity as Senator Panfillo lacson. According to Dela Rosa, lacson urged him to “give attention or equal importance, if not more importance” to policemen linked to illegal drug trade, who could also be possibly involved in the rising extrajudicial killings in the country. “Dito sa loob, marami pa. Meron pa kaming dapat lilinisin. Meron pa ring na-involve talaga sa krimen na mga pulis (Internally, there’s still a lot to clean. There were still police who get involved in crimes),” he admitted. Dela Rosa said that lacson is his number one adviser, adding that he didn’t felt disrespected at the former PnP chief’s comment. “i consider him as my number one adviser. That (advice) was very constructive on my part. Forte niya yung discipline, takot nga yung mga pulis noong time niya (Lacson’s forte is discipline, the police were scared of him during his time as the PNP chief),” he said, adding that all former PnP chiefs were his advisers.

M. SioSon

AJPress

A FiliPino woman was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment on Monday, December 26 after a Kuwaiti court convicted her for joining the islamic State (iS) group and plotting attacks in the country. The court, whose ruling is not yet final, also ordered that she would be deported back in the Philippines after serving her term. According to reports, the woman was arrested last August after being accused of joining the jihadist group through its affiliate in libya. The Kuwaiti interior Ministry earlier disclosed that the au-

thorities monitoring her email accounts found messages of her pledging allegiance to the group. “She confessed she was ready to carry out any terrorist attack once circumstances and means were ripe in order to undermine security and stability in Kuwait, as well as ignite sedition,” Kuwait news Agency previously reported, citing the ministry. The ministry also said that the woman told her interrogators that she was a member of iS and that her husband was also an active fighter for the group in libya. Born in 1984, the woman— whose identity has not been revealed—arrived in Kuwait from the Philippines last June to work as a domestic helper.

Arroyo acquitted of Malampaya scam charges by Dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

FoRMeR Philippine president and now Pampanga representative and house Deputy Speaker, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has been cleared from plunder and graft charges filed against her in connection with the P900-million Malampaya Fund scam. on Tuesday, December 27, the office of the ombudsman said that it has dismissed the charges against Arroyo due to insufficient evidence. The criminal charges against former executive Secretary eduardo R. ermita, former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) chief administrative officer Dominador Sison Jr., and cashier nilda Baui were also junked. “There was no nexus to the alleged commission of the crime of plunder, malversation of public funds through falsification of documents, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said. Also cleared were hector Ang, Delfin Agcaoili Jr., Jesus Castillo, erwin Dangwa, Cecilia Caballero, Corazon Dizon, Cynthia Dequiña, A Filipino woman was sentenced to 10 years of lilian español, Flordeliz Gaimprisonment on Monday, December 26 after lido, Roselle King, William lim, a Kuwaiti court convicted her for joining the Mark oliveros, liza Maclang Islamic State (IS) group and plotting attacks ong, Francis Palmones Jr., lorna in the country. Philstar.com photo Ramirez, Genevieve Uy, editha

IS-linked Filipina imprisoned in Kuwait by Dana

SHABU LAB IN SAN JUAN. Agents and chemists of the National Bureau of Investigation make an inventory of chemicals and paraphernalia for making shabu at an apartment on Wilson Street in San Juan. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Talaboc, edgar Valdez, Rodolfo Plaza, and Rene Villa. “Complainants failed to prove that they conspired with their corespondents in the illegal diversion of the P900-million Malampaya Fund or that they deviated from the regular procedure,” the joint resolution read, dated December 19. on the other hand, the ombudsman approved the filing of two counts of plunder, 97 counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and 97 counts of Malversation Through Falsification of Public Documents against alleged “pork barrel mastermind” Janet lim-napoles and 24 other individuals. According to the resolution, the P900-million Malampaya Fund allocated by the Department of Budget & Management (DBM) to the DAR in 2009 was “malversed through a complex and well-orchestrated scheme, which diverted the funds to the possession and control of napoles and her cohorts via bogus [nongovernment organizations (nGo)] selected to implement ghost or inexistent projects.” Also indicted for their supposed participation in the scam were former DBM Secretary Rolando Aureo G. Andaya, Jr.; former DBM Undersecretary Mario l. Relampagos; former DAR Secretary nasser C. Pangandaman;

Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

former DAR Undersecretary narciso B. nieto; former DAR Directors Teresita l. Panlilio; DAR Chief Administrative officer Ronald J. Venancio; former Chief Accountant Angelita V. Cacananta; and Ruby C. Tuason. According to the result of the ombudsman’s investigation, Andaya made a request to the office of the President to use the Malampaya fund in assisting the areas devastated by typhoons ondoy and Pepeng in 2009. in the same year, Arroyo signed the executive order (eo) no. 848 that allowed the use of the Malampaya fund outside the energy sector, creating chances for the allocation of sources to ghost projects and ghost beneficiaries.

A

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December 29, 2016-january 4, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIan jOurnaL

OpiniOn

Murder in Catanduanes

Features

In every administration since the collapse of the Marcos dictatorship, journalists continued to be killed in the Philippines in connection with their work. The situation appears to be unchanged in the current administration. Last Dec. 19, Catanduanes News Now publisher Larry Que became the first journalist to be murdered under the Duterte administration. A man on a motorcycle shot Que in the head as he was entering a building housing his insurance office in Virac, Catanduanes. Que died the next day in a hospital. The attack was staged after he wrote a column blaming local government officials for negligence after police uncovered what was described as the biggest shabu laboratory found so far in the country. Que wrote that the police raid brought shame to Catanduanes. Press groups have expressed concern for the safety of broadcaster Jinky Tabor, who agreed to serve as media witness during the raid on the shabu laboratory and who has also received death threats. The massacre of 32 media workers in Maguindanao in November 2009, attributed to a local warlord clan that wanted to thwart a challenge to its political stranglehold on the province, was just the worst attack on journalists in this country. The enormity of that atrocity did not put an end to the killing of media workers. As in other crimes, the killings persist because

of the idea that people can get away with murdering bearers of bad news and those who dare to express critical opinion. Since 1992, the USbased Committee to Protect Journalists has confirmed 77 work-related fatal attacks on journalists in the Philippines. The ongoing war on illegal drugs has made it easier to commit murder and pass off the killing as drug-related. Last month gunmen left a cardboard placard with the now familiar message, “Wag nyo akung tularan drug posher ako (sic)” on what they thought was the corpse of Pangasinan journalist Virgilio Maganes. Fortunately the journalist survived to tell the tale. Another journalist, Jan Estanio of Radio Mindanao Network’s dxRS in Surigao City, also survived being shot together with his 12-year-old son on the day of President Duterte’s inaugural. The failure to apprehend perpetrators has bred impunity, inviting more attacks. The President has set up a task force “on violations of the right to life, liberty and security” of media members. Solving the murder of Larry Que would send a strong message that the task force means business. (Philstar.com)

Guest Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Goodbye, 2016. Welcome, 2017! I hAVE read a lot of posts on social media bidding 2016 goodbye in the context of “good riddance” to all the challenges, losses, disappointments the year that is about to end has brought on both the personal and collective levels Indeed, it is hard to fathom how our loving God would subject us to hardship and heartaches when he promises us that “All things work together for the good (Romans 8:28)” to those who love and have faith in him. But when the dust settles and our eyes are not blinded by tears, we realize how God shows us his love and mercy even during moments when we feel lost, abandoned, and forgotten. Going back to the verse I quoted above unlocks the answer to the question many people in pain or mourning ask — “Why did God allow this to happen?” Romans 8:28 says EVERYThING works TOGEThER for the good, and as my favorite pastor Joel Osteen pointed out in one of his messages: having faith in God’s promise requires us to look at everything that happens in our life — both the good and the bad — together, because they all work in concert so we may end in “All is well.” Truly, if we only focus on a mistake, heartache, disappointment, or a loss, it is hard to fathom what good will come out of it. But know in faith that ev-

erything happens for a reason, and that someday we will real- The Fil-Am ize how this “set back” is actually being used by God to set us Perspective up for something bigger and brighter as we fulfill our mission in life. The good news is as we feel like we are walking in the val- geL SantoS-ReLoS ley of despair, our Lord gives us all the the grace and strength we need to get us through the valley, with the help of friends and family who become our angels; through blessings and circumstances that remind us that he is still in control and working behind the scenes to help us do things we cannot do on our own. As he helps us walk through the valley, God is preparing us by flexing our spiritual muscles so we may be ready to fulfill what he has tasked us to do with our lives. At the core of what God is asking from us is FAITh. We have to believe before we see, instead of wanting to see before we believe. It is in working hard within us to keep our peace knowing that God will never forsake us, and what could be a better way to show our FAITh than by being at peace, praising God and not letting anything steal our joy

away even and especially during the toughest most challenging moments of our life? To me, this is the hardest part of being a Christian, but I realize this is what true faith is all about. As we say goodbye to 2016, let us count not only the losses, heartaches, and disappointments but also those blessings we have received from God in the past year. Let us see through the lens of our teary eyes, the times he has spared us and our loved ones from sickness, accident, or a heavier cross to carry. Let us remember the lessons the year has brought us, blow a kiss to the pain, and look forward to a better brighter year in 2017. Whatever happened in 2016 will lead us to “All is well” in 2017 and the many years to come. We just have to believe it in our hearts. We just have to plant that seed of faith in our hearts, nurture it with positive thoughts focusing on the good things we pray to God about, and believe that the answer is on the way — in God’s perfect timing. Proverbs 16:3 says, ”Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Osteen wrote:

When you commit something to the Lord, it means you place everything about it in his hands. It means you trust him with the process and with the end result. It also means that you are willing to lay it down and let it go if you sense him speaking to your heart, “This isn’t the right thing for you right now.” Maybe you don’t have any specific goals or plans for the new year yet. Maybe you’ve had some circumstances that have thrown you off course or you’ve felt overwhelmed by life. Your part is to commit each day to him and let him lead you moment by moment. Let me end with this message my late Daddy would always remind me: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.And the peace of God, surpassing all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phillippians 4:6,7) hAPPY NEW YEAR! *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of the Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos.

Justice—Philippine style Business Matters DaviD L. BaLangue ExTRAJUDICIAL killings (EJKs) in the Philippines have raised concerns among Filipinos—the latest Social Weather Stations survey showed 8 of every 10 Filipinos are concerned that they or someone they know could be the next EJK victim. And with President Duterte repeatedly proclaiming that the war on drugs will continue, these killings will certainly go unabated. And except for a very few, the victims come from the poor sector. While the majority of Filipinos still support the President in his drug war, a growing number is becoming more loud in insisting that due process be observed. It may be noted though that the President himself has admitted that during his stint as state prosecutor in Davao City, due process did not work because of corruption in the police and the judiciary. The logical move then is to first fix the broken judicial system. This avenue is, however, not being pursued by the President. The present attempts to restore capital punishment, coupled with the President’s pledge to have five to six executions every day will make the situation of the poor even worse. While the poor face harsh

consequences, including death (extrajudicial or otherwise), for running afoul with the law, it is totally different with the rich and the politically well-connected. Take the bizarre high-profile corruption cases (to which congressional hearings kept us glued via TV) that filled us with so much disgust and anger after revelations of the blatant corrupt activities in high places. Those hearings clearly established that crimes were committed; they also showed strong evidence of guilt on the part of the “suspects.” We had hoped there would be prompt prosecutions and just decisions. Boy, were we so dead wrong! Not only were cases not filed yet; where they have been filed, the trial is taking so long; and where they have been resolved, most of the accused, except for some “small fry,” have been freed or acquitted! This again shows clearly that the judicial process does not work: Perpetrators are acquitted as if no crime were committed? Is it because of the brilliance of defense lawyers; or is it the fault (intentional or otherwise) of prosecutors, because the judges are compromised; or is it a combination of any of the above? Look at the long list of these corruption cases: Among them, those filed against former president Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies; the Industrias Metalúrgicas Pescarmona (Impsa) bribery scandal; the “hello Garci” tapes; the NBN-ZTE contract; the fertil-

izer fund scam; the PDAF kickbacks; and so on. After years of court proceedings, the accused principals were acquitted. But did the acquittals come because the accused were found innocent of the charges, or the evidence presented was not enough to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt? What about the poor who cannot afford an expensive and brilliant lawyer who has the ability to exploit strict rules of evidence to defend them and get them acquitted? As if these were not enough, the Supreme Court affirmed that Marcos may be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, notwithstanding previous decisions it and the US courts rendered, finding the dictator guilty of human rights violations and of amassing unexplained wealth. Clearly, our judicial system needs to be fixed—or perhaps our values are gravely misplaced. President Duterte has repeatedly said he will stop the drug menace and eradicate corruption. While his war on drugs is very “obvious,” the same cannot be said of his anticorruption drive. In the recent Jack Lam P50-million bribery scandal, the President sacked the two Bureau of Immigration officials involved; they happen to be his frat brods—to show the country that he is sincere in fighting corruption. But shouldn’t criminal cases be filed against all those involved? hopefully, they will be pros-

Inquirer.net photos

ecuted immediately and within six months, if found guilty, imprisoned. The country awaits.

*** David L. Balangue (davidlbalangue@ yahoo.com.ph) is chair of the Coalition

Against Corruption, the Philippine Center for Population and Development, and the National Movement for Free Elections.

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

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • DEcEmbER 29, 2016-JANUARy 4, 2017

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Japan PM Abe to visit Manila, Davao

FOR A SUMPTUOUS FEAST. A man roasts pigs at a store in La Loma, Quezon City on Christmas eve. Roasted pig, or lechon, is a regular fare during festivities, especially Christmas. ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

PNP: Murders up by 18% in 6 months by CeCille

Suerte Philstar.com

Felipe

MANILA – While common crimes like robbery and rape have decreased since the start of the Duterte administration in July, incidents of murder have increased by 18 percent from the same period last year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Tuesday, Dec. 27. PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa admitted that murder incidents have gone up as the government intensified its campaign against illegal drugs. “We admit that while the general picture of crime is going down, murder increased. All others went down especially rape, crimes against property, robbery, riding in tandem – they all went down, but murder rose,� Dela Rosa said in mostly Filipino in a press briefing at the PNP

national headquarters at Camp Crame. But he said there should be distinction between deaths of innocent people and those of drug offenders. “In the past, many of those killed were innocent victims of drug-crazed people, but now the dead were drug personalities. That’s the very big difference,� he said. “I hope that difference is highlighted – between the innocent and the drug personalities.� The PNP also said he has ordered a thorough investigation into unexplained killings, also called death under inquiry or DUI. “They’re human beings, and their deaths deserve to be investigated,� he said in Filipino. Director Augusto Marquez, chief of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Man-

agement (DIDM), said they are now checking cases of DUI in different regions. “There was a big effect of double barrel operations because at the start of the operations on July 1, the average incidents of crime went down to about 49.8 percent, all crimes except one – murder, which rose by about 18 percent but all the rest went down by as low as 50 percent,� Marquez said at the same briefing. “This is unprecedented because the very first time in the PNP that we had this kind of decrease in crime statistics was probably during the declaration of martial law,� he noted. Even before the start of the Duterte administration, the PNP had been seeing continuous decline in crime statistics, which it attributed to Oplan Lambat Sibat.

No EJKs reported in Metro on Christmas TOKHANG took a break. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) did not receive any report of drug-related killings, either because of legitimate police operations or extrajudicial killings, a check by The Manila Times in the afternoon of Christmas Day showed. This was despite the red alert status ordered by NCRPO Director Oscar Albayalde, which meant that no policemen were

allowed to go on leave for the holidays. Two cities that have seen a significant number of deaths in the drug war—Quezon City and Caloocan—were quiet this time, as there were no reports of hired killers shooting drug suspects. Legitimate police operations have claimed the lives of 2,150 people, according to the data from the Philippine National Police. Those killed by unknown

assailants reached 4,049. The last big-time drug raid in Metro Manila took place on December 23 in San Juan, where P3.35 billion worth of shabu were confiscated by the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority and San Juan City police. Three Chinese and three Filipinos were arrested during the operation. (ManilaTimes.net)

Zika cases reach 52

HEALTH Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said on Wednesday, Dec. 28 the number of Zika cases in the country has reached 52, with the latest case involving a pregnant woman from Quezon City. The woman from Quezon City is the fourth pregnant female to contract the Zika virus in the country. One from the four women infected with the Zika virus, a 16-year-old from Las PiĂąas, gave birth to a healthy baby this month. Ubial said the Department of

Health (DOH) will continue to monitor the health of the pregnant women who contracted the Zika virus. Enrique Tayag, who heads the DOH-Bureau of Local Health Development, said earlier manifestations of abnormalities in children born from Zika-infected mothers can be seen as late as two years of age. Zika is a disease that can be transmitted by mosquito bites. Cases in Brazil show a link between the disease to micro-

cephaly cases in children born from mothers infected by the Zika virus. The DOH believes the risk is higher for pregnant women who contracted the disease during the first trimester of their pregnancies. However, some reports from Brazil show children born with microcephaly had mothers who also contracted Zika during the late stages of their pregnancies. (Micah Yvana M. Vardeleon/ManilaTimes.net)

human activities. The phenomenon has been blamed for natural disasters and drastic weather changes. Last April, more than 150 countries inked the historic Paris climate deal that seeks to limit global warming “well below� two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. World leaders have also vowed to work to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Philippines, one of the countries prone to cyclones, has yet to ratify the agreement. During the term of president Benigno Aquino III, the government committed to cut carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030 – even if the Philippines is not a major emitter. Duterte initially said he would not honor the deal because it could stunt the country’s devel-

opment. He also criticized the developed nations for imposing emission caps on developing countries like the Philippines, adding that these nations were the ones that caused massive pollution during the Industrial Age. “The reason why I did not agree to it was simply there was no sanctions,â€? the President said, referring to countries that cannot fulfill their commitments. He also said that the agreement did not specify where the climate fund would come from. “It was not because I really did not want to sign it but it was lopsided in favor of the powerful ones,â€? he said. “So I’m inviting everybody, including Japan. Naturally, the development of foreigners is always through machines‌ So we would need a little bit of elbow room to move.â€?

President yet to sign Paris climate deal by AlexiS romero Philstar.com

MANILA – Was President Duterte pressured to honor the Paris climate deal? It has been more than a month since the Chief Executive announced he is signing the climate agreement but he still continues to have reservations over it. Duterte revealed that non-government organizations (NGOs) “who are more intelligent than the Presidentâ€? were among those who persuaded him to support the deal. “I don’t know‌ I just signed it because of the NGOs. You know, the NGOs in the Philippines are brighter than the President. So, fine, I just signed it,â€? the President said in Filipino during his visit to typhoon victims in Camarines Sur. Climate change has been linked to carbon emissions caused by

China committed to peaceful resolution of sea row by rAinier AllAn rondA Philstar.com

MANILA – China remains committed to the peaceful resolution of its territorial disputes with other countries in the South China Sea despite its reported deployment of weapons in its artificial islands. Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying defended the deployment of weapons, saying it is within China’s right as a sovereign nation to undertake such action. “China holds a consistent and clear position on the South China Sea issue. While firmly upholding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China is committed to peacefully resolving relevant disputes with countries directly concerned through negotiation and consulta-

tion, and maintaining peace and stability of the South China Sea together with ASEAN countries,� Hua said. She was reacting to report by a US think tank that China has weaponized the artificial islands. “Regarding the US think-tank’s issuing of a report under the prevailing circumstances, China has elaborated on its position on many occasions. It is worth noting that it is China’s right as a sovereign state under the international law to conduct construction or deploy necessary homeland defense facilities on relevant islands and reefs, whether or not China is doing this,� Hua said. “It is hoped that relevant parties would approach this in an objective and reasonable way and not read too much into it,�

she added. She also cited improving relations with the Philippines with President Durterte’s easing on rhetoric against China’s activities in disputed waters. “China and the Philippines have worked together to turn around the bilateral relationship, return to the right track of addressing disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultation, and commit themselves to moving forward friendly and pragmatic cooperation across the board,� she said. “This meets the common interests of the two countries and two peoples, lives up to the shared expectation of regional countries and contributes to peace and stability in the South China Sea,� Hua pointed out.

MANILA — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit the Philippines on January 12 and 13, the first head of state to visit the country under the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. confirmed on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Of the many countries Duterte has visited since he became president, Japan is the first to return the gesture. Yasay said Abe’s visit reciprocates Duterte’s own successful trip to Japan last October. Aside from a swing to member countries of Association of Southeast Asian Nations — the customary tour that every new Philippine president undertakes — Duterte also visited China, Japan, New Zealand and Peru, where he attended Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. “Prime Minister Abe has indicated that the best day for him to come will be on the 12th and 13th of January and we’ll be preparing for this,� Yasay told VERA Files. “What would be significant about this visit would be that he would like to go to Davao,� Yasay added. “You see, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida was the first foreign minister that visited

Davao under President Duterte. I have yet to know of any foreign minister who has visited Davao, for that matter.� Kishida made a courtesy call on Duterte in Davao on August 11 and announced Japan’s offer of a $2.4-billion loan package to build a new railway in the Philippines aimed at easing Manila’s notorious gridlock. Japan also offered to support a similar project in Mindanao. Yasay said Japan has been very active in helping the Mindanao peace process, and is the country’s biggest source of Official Development Assistance. Yasay noted significant Japanese assistance in beefing up Philippine’s capacity building measures in maritime security and in the fight against terrorism. Japan is also keen on supporting the Philippines’ anti-drug campaign, and is interested in extending assistance to ASEAN in the fight against drugs to make ASEAN a drug-free region. “Japan might want to look at how they can contribute in building a rehabilitation center in the country. So he will be visiting Davao, he will be coming to Manila

Japan Prime Minister Abe will be the first head of state to visit during the Duterte administration. Philstar.com photo by Jonathan Asuncion

we will have activities here for him and we will also have activities for him in Davao,� Yasay said. Early this month, Katsuyuki Kawai, special adviser to the Prime Minister, met with Duterte in Manila to discuss possible assistance to help implement the war against drugs in the Philippines. This consultation followed Abe’s announcement during Duterte’s visit to Japan that he would provide assistance in combating drug-related crimes in the Philippines. (Philstar.com)

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December 29, 2016-january 4, 2017 • LaS VeGaS aSIan jOurnaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 29, 2016-JANUARy 4, 2017

VEGAS&STYLE

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Journal

Financial goals for the New Year Among the top resolutions people make when the new year comes around is getting their finances on the right track. The promise of new beginnings and the burden of self-improvement help people look back to a year’s worth of regrets. Aside from spending more time with family or trying to be healthy, we all certainly have our fair share of vices especially when it comes to money. However, like most resolutions, financially-themed promises for improvement hardly get achieved. About 45 percent of people make new Year’s resolutions and only 8 percent get to achieve their goals. This means that this does not bode well for hopes of improved money management. Still, these low odds should not deter one from improving financial habits. Here are some tips to make 2017 a great year for your wallet: 1. Pay bills immediately. Everyone has monthly obligations such as insurance, utilities, retirement fund, credit cards, etc. Take care of these obligations immediately after receiving your paycheck, before allowing yourself to spend on any indulgence or luxury. This strategy will help you get a better sense of what you can really afford

— and what you can’t. 2. Repay your credit card debt (at least 20 percent). According to WalletHub, an average household with credit card debt will owe approximately $8,400 by the end of 2016. So getting a zero percent balance transfer credit card plus a well-crafted payment plan will help a person save hundreds on finance charges. It understandable that a bigger amount will be difficult to pay off in one swoop, so it is recommended that you start smaller, by making a plan to transfer and pay off 20 percent of what you owe over the course of 2017.

3. Review your credit report and sign up for credit monitoring. It is easy to get free credit scores today, thanks to websites and banks that provide the service. However, knowing your score is just a start. According to a survey by the Federal Trade Commission, one in four people have a credit report containing an error that could affect their credit score. Reviewing your credit report thoroughly can help you spot signs of fraud before they get out of hand. Aside from checking your credit report, you can also keep tabs PAGE B3

Fitness and health advice from health & wellness coaches by LesLey

Camara and Thea Fernandez

AS the popular holiday song goes “So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over; a new one just begun.” The start of the year is an exciting time where self-introspection of the previous year reveals selfrenovation in the upcoming year. We ask ourselves: what can we do better this year than last year? A recent poll in the United States shows that the top three new Years resolution themes revolve around improving health, PAGE B3

Lesley Camara

Thea Fernandez

Source: Statisticbrain.com

Infographics by AJPress

B DECEMBER 29, 2016-januaRy 4, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOuRnaL

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The Fil-Am Men of Broadway’s Aladdin Their Journey to Broadway, holiday feasts and Filipino bonding through food

happen before – particularly in Asian-centric shows such as “Miss Saigon,” “The King IT is rare to see a show on and I,” “Flower Drum Song,” Broadway with a Filipino-Ameri- “Allegiance,” and of course, offcan cast member, tougher to see Broadway hit “Here Lies Love.” a couple, and almost impossible Aladdin on Broadway, proto see three or four. But five cast duced by Disney, boasts of a members sharing the same eth- diverse cast of 36 that includes nic background? five Fil-Am men, including Adam Although we’ve seen that Jacobs as Aladdin himself, Don By MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

Darryl Rivera as the scene-stealing Iago and Joshua de la Cruz, Bobby Pestka and Angelo Soriano who are all members of the company. The musical, adapted from the Disney film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One Nights”, is now on its third year on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on 42nd Street. It opened to critical acclaim on March 20, 2014 and quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years. For lead star Adam Jacobs, working with the cast is a hoot and asked to describe the working dynamic with his fellow FilAms, he remarked, “I love working with them, I love them all!” “They’re fun, great guys. It is so great to be working with all of them. I feel very proud that so many Filipino-Americans are in the show and being represented on the stage,” he added. Adam has had his wish granted to be playing Aladdin on Broadway. The actor made his Broadway debut as Marius in “Les Miserables.” He was part of the 2006 cast that also include Ali Ewoldt, Lea Salonga and Rona Figueroa. He also played Simba on “The Lion King.” “It is a testament to the talent of a lot of Filipino Americans, you know. It’s not just a stereotype that we’re really good singers, we are good story-tellers, too and it is great that we are getting recognized for that,” he explained. A father of twin boys Jack and Alex, Adam is looking forward to the Christmas holidays.

Arabian Nights

“We tend to go to my wife’s family. It is going to be crazy this year, my boys are turning three in January and they’re expecting trains and cars and it is going to be crazy just to make sure they don’t pull the tree down,” he said laughing. For funnyman Don Darryl Rivera, coming to work every day is a blessing he is thankful for, along with the fact that he gets to work with cast members, some of whom are Fil-Ams like him. “They’re all incredible. What’s awesome is that we all have similar experiences growing up as Filipino-American kids so we get to share those experiences together and we can identify each other in ourselves. We eat out, we’ve been to Lumpia Shack and Maharlika,” Don Darryl shared. The recent Christmas makes Don Darryl a little sentimental of his Christmases past, particularly those he spent in their old home in Seattle when he was growing up. You see, he comes from a particularly large family so as a kid, he looked forward to the family gatherings and the presents that came along with them. “One of my uncles has ten kids so I have many first cousins in the family. We would put the Christmas tree on the corner of our living room and since Christmas is usually in our home, the presents would literally be filling the entire room,” he said. “My sister Daisy and I and our cousins would each get a garbage bag and we would all fill it with our presents. It was always a big celebration back home.” And what’s a Filipino gather-

Bobby Pestka, Joshua Dela Cruz and Angelo Soriano are among the five Fil-Am cast members of Aladdin on Broadway. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

ing without food, right? At the salad. Rivera household, there was But there is one dish that always lechon, roast beef, pan- symbolizes Christmas for Don cit, lumpia, queso de bola and Darryl. “Eating champorado, specially with the stick fish. My mom would serve that Christmas morning, with the evaporated milk and sugar. That’s a big trigger for me, along with Filipino hot chocolate,” he said laughing. Now a family man himself – he and his wife Kate are proud parents to 11-month-old Eloise – Don Darryl plans to retain many of the Christmas traditions he grew up having, along with new ones he hopes to make. We also had a chance to talk to Joshua, Angelo and Bobby and we discussed their respective journeys and how is it like to live a life of a Broadway actor. Let’s get to know them one Photo by Deen Van Meer PAGE B7

why ORGANIC? Organic products meet stringent standards Healthier for you & kids Organic food tastes better Organic farming respects natural resources Avoids pesticides & are artificial-fertilizer-free Non-GMO, no synthetic pesticides, no growth-promoting antibiotics There are many, many more reasons to go Organic. But in short: You’ll leave the world a better place than when you found it

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Thumbs-up for ‘Seklusyon’ from ‘Hollywood Reporter’ by Tessa

Mauricioa-arriola ManilaTimes.net

Erik Santos, Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez and Angeline Quinto

Star Magic artists dominate the year’s local, digital concert scene GRAND or intimate, Star Magic artists dominated the concert stage with their successful shows in 2016. Kim Chiu marked her 10th anniversary in the business through “Chinita Princess The FUNtasy Concert” in April at the Kia Theater. Two months later, her screen partner Xian Lim staged his aptly titled first solo show “A Date With Xian” also at the Kia Theater on July 9. Jona marked her entrance at the Kapamilya Network with “Queen Of The Night: Jona,” which had her performing alongside Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and Jed Madela at same venue on November 25. Moreover, hunky Fil-Italian actor Matteo Guidicelli staged his first-ever concert in his hometown Cebu touted as “#MatteoMadeinCebu” to mark his 10th year in the business. Hashtags member Ronnie Alonte ended the year with a bang, not only because of his Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Vince & Kath & James” but because he staged his first solo concert titled “Kilig King” at the Kia Theater on December 17. Apart from the solo concerts, first-time group performances also shone in 2016. There’s the Valentine concert “Royals” at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 13 headlined by Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid along with teleserye theme songs king and queen Erik Santos and Angeline Quinto. Earlier this month, Quinto came back to the concert stage, this time with her other co-singers

KZ Tandingan, Yeng Constantino and Kyla for the sold out “Divas: Live In Manila” at the Araneta Coliseum. “It’s Showtime’s” kilig ambassadors Hashtags composed of Zeus Colins, Ronnie Alonte, McCoy de Leon, Tom Doromal, Jon Lucas, Luke Conde, Paulo Angeles, Nikko Natividad, Jameson Blake, Jimboy Martin and Ryle Tan took the stage by storm with “Hashtags: The Roadtrip Concert” at the jampacked Kia Theater on September 24. Experienced Star Magic concert performers also took the stage this year. There’s “The Voice Kids Season 1” first runner-up Darren Espanto who filled the Kia Theater to the brim back in June for his major concert “D Total Experience” together with guests Maja Salvador, Iñigo Pascual, Ylona Garcia, Jed Madela and the G-Force. Dance Princess Maja Salvador, on the other hand, staged her third major concert titled “Only Maja” on November 12 at the Music Museum. Her friends Enchong Dee, Piolo Pascual, Paulo Avelino, Kakai Bautista and the Hashtags were among her guests. Star Magic artists didn’t only dominate the traditional concert scene, they have also participated pioneering digital concert arena spearheaded by the ABS-CBN online music portal One Music PH. Pop-rock princess Yeng Constantino served as the digital concert scene’s opening performer, who marked her 10 years in the business with “Yeng Constantino: Salamat Sa 10 Taon,” followed

Matteo Guidicelli

Jona

by former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Ylona Garcia with My Name Is Ylona Garcia. Darren Espanto followed suit with “The Other Side Of Darren,” which marked his second show for the year. Finally, there came the best friends Loisa Andalio, Maris Racal, Sue Ramirez and Kristel Fulgar, who formed part of the digital concert titled Double Hearts. (ManilaTimes.net)

Financial goals for the New Year PAGE B1

by signing up for a 24/7 credit monitoring. This service will enable you to receive notifications if there is an important change to your credit report. 4. Plan for a realistic budget — and stick to it. According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, Americans are going to end 2016 with an $80 billion credit card debt. That’s not a surprise considering that only 40 percent of adults have a budget. This is why there is a need to look over what we make and how to spend it. The first step is to look at

past bills and make a list of all recurring expenses. Rank them according to importance, putting real necessities, such as housing, food and health care on top. Then, see what you need to cut out from the bottom list to make sure that your pay exceeds what you plan to spend. Finally, keep track of this list and how you spend every month to make sure you’re abiding by your budget. 5. The possibility of looking for a better job. We want to spend less and save more that sometimes we overlook what could be wrong: How much we actually earn. Finding a better-

paying job may not seem to be the better answer as trading up a longtime career for a new one isn’t easy. However, considering a new job with higher wages and/or moving to an area with a lower cost of living can outweigh all other financial maneuverings. Another suggestion is going back to school to acquire skills that can add to your earning potential. As expected, this needs a little more thinking and planning. The thought of changing jobs and/or moving to a new area may be a little daunting, but change is good — and changing for a better year financially is better. (AJPress)

Fitness and health advice from... PAGE B1

increasing wealth, and jumping at the opportunity to try something new. Though many people set New Year goals, a 2015 study shows that only 8 percent of the U.S. population who made resolutions, met them. Though there are TONS of valuable tips out there to help individuals get a jumpstart on their goals, here are a few to apply immediately: Get fit and STAY fit in the New Year! There are DIETS, and then there are LIFESTYLES. Diets are temporary, but lifestyles, are pretty permanent. If what you want in 2017 is an OPTIMALLY healthy body, the numbers on your scale – while they are important – aren’t enough to give you a comprehensive report. Set specific goals with a clear purpose and have an accountability partner. “Lose weight and eat healthier foods” is NOT enough. But “I want to lose 30 pounds in four months so that I can lower my blood pressure and my doctor can taper off my medications” is GREAT. When you figure out WHY you are doing something, share it with an “accountability partner,” a friend that you trust and will push you in the moments you want to quit. We suggest picking someone who is in the position you want to be in (more fit, more active, etc.) because you will feel the need to keep up. Remember, we will always give up on our own goals but when someone knows about it and is doing it WITH you, it’s a bit harder to quit. Additionally, choose a physical activity you love to do and enjoy doing it on a regular basis. It does

not have to be the same activity, but what gives you joy should motivate you to act on it. As an added bonus, research shows that physical activity and weightloss programs are more fun and effective if done with a partner or in a group. With that said, grab a friend, relative or significant other and enjoy getting fit together! Plan ahead for obstacles… also known as a social life and family gatherings! As Filipinos, our culture revolves around family and social gatherings where, often times, there is WAY too much food to eat for the amount of people invited. But did you know, studies show cravings typically only last five to 10 minutes? So if you know ahead of time you will be at a social gathering where your “forbidden fruit” will be, try doing these things: - Fill up on healthy, lean proteins and high fiber foods before even leaving home! Greek yogurt, fish, deli meats, leafy greens and grilled vegetables are all great choices! - To control portions, grab a small plate. This will force you to automatically portion control your food choices so as not to “over eat” on your first round at the Filipino party buffet. - Sit far away from the food and desserts. Once you grab a plate, you can easily avoid getting up for another round by simply positioning your seat a fair walking distance from the food selection. Though this requires much selfcontrol – in Thea’s experience, it has worked in that she’d rather stay at her seat catching up with a relative than walking another 10, 20, 50 feet back to the buffet

table for more food. - Limit those Filipino desserts – although it’s hard! Added sugar is one of the leading causes of metabolic diseases such as diabetes. A rule of thumb: everything in moderation and just eat your favorite. Give yourself a limit on how many sweets you’ll consume at a Filipino party and your starting point can be less than your average amount of sweets consumed. For example, if there are seven different dessert options, start by trying three small portions of the desserts or even better, just stick to your favorite dessert – promise, it won’t hurt you! These small yet simple changes will allow you to become conscious of what you are eating and how much. With this increased awareness of food consumption, those “after holiday pounds” will be kept off. About the authors: Lesley Camara is a Manila born, young entrepreneur and UCLA graduate. After her father passed away before her freshman year of high school, she made it her life’s purpose to help families stay healthy and whole. It would not be under her watch that a friend loses a loved one because of something preventable. Through her unique network of connections, she has had the opportunity to study several leaders in their field, including health. For years she has studied and tried holistic approaches to mind-body health, and loved it. Through her current profession, she has impacted and transformed thousands of lives. She has gone through her own transformation, losing 47 pounds PAGE B6

MULTI-AWARDED director Erik Matti led one final press conference for his Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Seklusyon” with very good news to share with the public. The horror-thriller, which held its world premiere at the very first International Film Festival and Awards Macao (IFFAM), earned a rave review from top USbased entertainment publication, The Hollywood Reporter. To quote from the article of critic Clarence Tsui on December 14, Matti’s latest masterpiece was described as “a grainy, gory parable about the triumph of evil.” Elaborating, Tsui wrote: “Set mostly within the confines of a rickety house in the middle of nowhere, the film provides chilling bursts of outright shock and sepia-tinged, creepy atmospherics. Unflinching in its darkness, it spirals toward an all-out horrifying climax—and boasts a disturbing coda which, like in ‘The Omen’ or ‘Infernal Affairs’ could be considered a social allegory about how good doesn’t necessarily defeat evil.” Matti along with cinematographer Neil Derrick Bion and Ericson Navarro were particularly noted in the review for “infusing the widescreen imagery with grainy textures reminiscent of the scary movies from the celluloid era [as they manage]to establish a sufficiently eerie ambience for the evil spirits to wreak havoc in.” The article finally declared, “Seclusion drips with a ferocity about how false messiahs manipulate meek minds who, as the film’s finale suggests, then propel even more malicious pretenders onto the pedestals of power. The film is Matti’s call for an awakening, and it certainly stirs with spinetingling moments aplenty.” My kind of horror Naturally, Matti was very pleased over the Hollywood Reporter’s stamp of approval of “Seklusyon”, and humbly credited his young cast, comprised of Ronnie Alonte, Dominic Roque, and newcomers John Vic de Guzman and J.R. Versales for their compelling performances as four young deacons sent to a seclusion house before their ordination as priests. He also shone the spotlight on

Phoebe Walker who plays a mysterious nun who joins the deacons in seclusion, and an apparent new favorite of the director, 8-year old Rhed Bustamante who portrays a young girl with miraculous healing powers. “They all delivered wonderfully, but Rhed, everyone should watch out for her,” Matti enthused. Speaking with The Manila Times, Matti, related that Seklusyon is “his kind of horror movie,” in that it is a digression from the “kill-a-minute” kind of horror that has prevailed in the big screen as of late.” “For me, a good horror isn’t just visual but it also has to scare the viewer physchologically,” he explained. “This being a period film [set in the 1940s], we also had a substantial budget of P18-million for the production alone, but in saying that, we have none of the CGI-technology used nowadays in horror flicks. Kasi, my kind of horror is one that has the following elements: May gulat, kaba at tindig-balahibo.” Within the rules Meanwhile, Matti, who had just returned from the Macao film festival chuckled when asked if he foresees any complication in “Seklusyon’s” chances of winning Best Picture at the 2016 MMFF following its world premiere outside the Philippines.

It will be remembered that it was Matti’s 2015 entry “Honor Thy Father,” starring John Lloyd Cruz, which ignited a Congressional hearing and the series of changes now in place in the MMFF since he had won Best Director for the movie but complained why the film was disqualified for Best Picture. “For the record, the rules have changed,” the director acknowledged. “Unlike before, a movie which previously held its premiere in another film festival is eligible for all awards in the MMFF once selected as a finalist. So we’re OK.” “Seklusyon” held its world premiere on December 11 at UA Galaxy Cinema in Macao, with Matti present, along with his partner producer for Reality Entertainment, Dondon Monteverde, and cast members Neil Ryan Sese, Dominic Roque and PAGE B4

B DECEMBER 29, 2016-januaRy 4, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOuRnaL

EntErtainmEnt

Liza Diño has big plans for the industry by Boy

aBunda Philstar.com

ANOtHer golden age of Philippine cinema is here. Our filmmakers are winning in international film festivals. Lav Diaz bagged the Silver Bear in Berlin for “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis.” He won the Golden Lion for “Ang Babaeng Humayo.” His other film, “Ang Araw Bago Ang Wakas,” got the Principal Prize at the International Short filmfest in Oberhausen, Germany and Best feature at the tabor filmfest in Croatia. Jaclyn Jose is the first filipina to win Best Actress honors in Cannes (for “Ma’rosa”). Cannes Best Director Brillante Mendoza’s film may have not been shortlisted in the Oscars’ Best foreign Language film category, but it was reviewed in Variety and The Guardian. the film Development Council of the Philippines (fDCP) under its chair Liza Diño is striking while the proverbial iron is hot. Since she assumed office months ago, the hardworking Liza has lived out of a suitcase, promoting filipino films not only in the country, but abroad. Liza’s travel assistance program for filmmakers who join international festivals spares these talented people from the agony of begging for airfare and money for accommodations abroad. Speaking of financial help, fDCP helped bankroll “Ma’rosa’s” bid for a nomination in the Oscars’ Best foreign Language film Category (it didn’t make it to the shortlist, though). the momentum has become too strong to let go of. Next year will be even more hectic and exciting. Up high on Liza’s to-do list is a three-day film congress in October that promises to make the Philippines a motion picture hub in Asia. It will expose filipino indie filmmakers to experts in marketing and distributing films around the world. “there are so many projects

Another X Factor win for judge Nicole Scherzinger by Leah

C. SaLterio Philstar.com

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) under its chair Liza Diño is striking while the proverbial iron is hot.

and grants filmmakers can access to fund their projects,” says Liza. for her — and the film industry — it’s the more, the merrier. It’s also the more, the merrier for filmmakers who dream of having a good venue where their creativity and hard work can be shown without the risk of being pulled out after the first few days of exhibition. the good news is that fDCP has partnered with SM cinemas to show these films nationwide. fDCP will provide the movies to be screened in eight SM cinemas. Indie films to be shown in SM cinemas will enjoy a wider audience, and longer exposure where it matters most — the mall most families go to. You don’t have to go to Manila anymore to watch your favorite indie. It will be shown in the provincial SM Mall nearest you. fDCP is going to remote places that deserve all the help it can get. Compostela Valley, for instance, has been holding an indie film exhibition at the town plaza for four years now. this breeding ground of local talent has even won a citation for responsible tourism, Community-Based Category. It’s about time the place gets

its own movie theater, or cinematheque. the same is true for Antique, which will also have its cinematheque, as soon as construction on the building is done. “We’re working on an P8M budget,” explains Liza. thanks to Sen. Loren Legarda, that budget even grew bigger to cover the construction of three cinematheques. fDCP is also teaming up with the University of the Philippines (UP) film Institute to come up with a teaching manual, online workshops, and others on film. Liza and company are sponsoring inter-collegiate filmfests nationwide to help young, budding filmmakers from universities nationwide. If plans push through, these students will go to Subic for their research. fDCP will convert part of SBMA’s (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, which Liza’s dad, Martin Diño heads) vast facilities into a film archive. And just so filmmakers can come up with more outputs this year, Liza is working on a proposal that would include the film industry in the government’s investment priority plan. It will entitle films to get tax rebates from government. Liza has big plans and she needs, and deserves our full support.

After four years of being a judge in “X factor UK,” Nicole Scherzinger proudly nailed her second winning talent with Matt terry, the ultimate big winner of the 13th edition of the British music competition. the 23-year-old Matt sang his winning single, “When Christmas Comes Around,” an original song written by ed Sheeran. Matt was the last talent mentored by Nicole, who handled the boys, assisted by Calvin Harris. first to get eliminated among Nicole’s talents this season was Nicole with talent Matt Terry, the ultimate big winner of the 13th edition of X Factor UK. freddy Parker, who left on the second week, followed by ryan of the competition. Louis coached Silverman. Lawrie, who made his exit on the the groups, assisted by fleur east Special guest in the finale seventh week. Nicole’s first win- and Alesha Dixon. was girl group Little Mix that Meanwhile, long-time judge rendered a medley that included ning talent was pop-rock artist James Arthur, who won “X factor and program creator, Simon touch, the latest single from the Cowell, who mentored the girls, band’s fourth studio album, Glory UK” Season 9 in 2012. Matt’s closest contender for was the first to lose all his talents Days. the group’s performance Season 13 was 29-year-old Saara — Sam Lavery, Gifty Louise, em- featured a brief appearance from Aalto, a singer-actress from fin- ily Middlemas — a week before Charlie Puth. Another guest, land, who was mentored by tV the finals. Simon was assisted by Kylie Minogue, sang the upbeat host and rock royalty Sharon Os- erstwhile Spice Girls members everybody’s free to feel Good, bourne. the latter was in charge Mel B and emma Bunton. a cut from her Kylie Christmas: Simon had indeed been tamed Snow Queen edition, released last of the over 25 talents, assisted by in judging and criticizing talents, November. robbie Williams. Saara came in second to Matt after being a first-time dad in his Last season’s winner was 17in the finals. A day before, how- mid-50s. In one of the earlier epi- year-old Louisa Johnson, menever, Matt even landed in the Bot- sodes of “X factor UK,” Simon’s tored by new judge rita Ora. tom two, with 5 After Midnight, adorable, two-year-old son, eric, Louisa was the youngest chambut Matt was saved by the public’s was seen visiting him on the audi- pion of “X factor UK” and her votes. the 5 After Midnight talent tion set, accompanied by the boy’s debut single, forever Young, was of Louis Walsh was knocked out mom and Simon’s partner, Lauren also released.

Georgina Wilson welcomes ‘Baby Burnand’ on Christmas Day

EMPLOYMENT

were also honored at IffAM with the Crouching tigers festival award for best pitch for their upcoming film project, Pintakasi. the award came with a cash prize of $10,000 that will go a long way in funding the film that will be headlined by sought after leading men Piolo Pascual and

by roSette

adeL

Philstar.com

Dingdong Dantes. “Pintakasi is inspired by the infamous Mamasapano tragedy that resulted in the deaths of 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action force while battling rebel forces during a mission to pursue Malaysian terrorists,” concluded Matti. Georgina Wilson

ON Christmas Day, model-host Georgina Wilson-Burnand posted a photo of her newborn son for the first time. It-girl Georgina, former host of “Asia’s Next top Model,” reportedly gave birth to her healthy baby boy on December 14. this was also posted by a fan account on Instagram. G e o rg i n a w e l c o m e d h e r first-born in an Instagram post where her husband, Arthur Burnand, was shown carrying his son. the model-host said baby Burnand is a “Christmas

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

Thumbs-up for ‘Seklusyon’ from... PAGE B3 Phoebe Walker. the film was the lone Philippine entry in the festival’s noncompetition “Hidden Dragons” section representing the latest trends in contemporary Asian genre cinema. In addition to the film’s world premiere, Matti and Monteverde

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

SERVICES

miracle.” She used the hashtag “Baby Burnand” in all her pregnancy-related posts. the couple, however, has not disclosed the name of their child. the model-host also revealed the sex of her first-born last December 3 through an Instagram video of her ultrasound. Georgina admitted she was expecting a baby late August, four months into her pregnancy. Her announcement was made just three months after she married Burnand, a British Hong Kong-based executive with Swire Properties, in May.

B DECEMBER 29, 2016-januaRy 4, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOuRnaL

EntErtainmEnt

Liza Diño has big plans for the industry by Boy

aBunda Philstar.com

ANOtHer golden age of Philippine cinema is here. Our filmmakers are winning in international film festivals. Lav Diaz bagged the Silver Bear in Berlin for “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis.” He won the Golden Lion for “Ang Babaeng Humayo.” His other film, “Ang Araw Bago Ang Wakas,” got the Principal Prize at the International Short filmfest in Oberhausen, Germany and Best feature at the tabor filmfest in Croatia. Jaclyn Jose is the first filipina to win Best Actress honors in Cannes (for “Ma’rosa”). Cannes Best Director Brillante Mendoza’s film may have not been shortlisted in the Oscars’ Best foreign Language film category, but it was reviewed in Variety and The Guardian. the film Development Council of the Philippines (fDCP) under its chair Liza Diño is striking while the proverbial iron is hot. Since she assumed office months ago, the hardworking Liza has lived out of a suitcase, promoting filipino films not only in the country, but abroad. Liza’s travel assistance program for filmmakers who join international festivals spares these talented people from the agony of begging for airfare and money for accommodations abroad. Speaking of financial help, fDCP helped bankroll “Ma’rosa’s” bid for a nomination in the Oscars’ Best foreign Language film Category (it didn’t make it to the shortlist, though). the momentum has become too strong to let go of. Next year will be even more hectic and exciting. Up high on Liza’s to-do list is a three-day film congress in October that promises to make the Philippines a motion picture hub in Asia. It will expose filipino indie filmmakers to experts in marketing and distributing films around the world. “there are so many projects

Another X Factor win for judge Nicole Scherzinger by Leah

C. SaLterio Philstar.com

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) under its chair Liza Diño is striking while the proverbial iron is hot.

and grants filmmakers can access to fund their projects,” says Liza. for her — and the film industry — it’s the more, the merrier. It’s also the more, the merrier for filmmakers who dream of having a good venue where their creativity and hard work can be shown without the risk of being pulled out after the first few days of exhibition. the good news is that fDCP has partnered with SM cinemas to show these films nationwide. fDCP will provide the movies to be screened in eight SM cinemas. Indie films to be shown in SM cinemas will enjoy a wider audience, and longer exposure where it matters most — the mall most families go to. You don’t have to go to Manila anymore to watch your favorite indie. It will be shown in the provincial SM Mall nearest you. fDCP is going to remote places that deserve all the help it can get. Compostela Valley, for instance, has been holding an indie film exhibition at the town plaza for four years now. this breeding ground of local talent has even won a citation for responsible tourism, Community-Based Category. It’s about time the place gets

its own movie theater, or cinematheque. the same is true for Antique, which will also have its cinematheque, as soon as construction on the building is done. “We’re working on an P8M budget,” explains Liza. thanks to Sen. Loren Legarda, that budget even grew bigger to cover the construction of three cinematheques. fDCP is also teaming up with the University of the Philippines (UP) film Institute to come up with a teaching manual, online workshops, and others on film. Liza and company are sponsoring inter-collegiate filmfests nationwide to help young, budding filmmakers from universities nationwide. If plans push through, these students will go to Subic for their research. fDCP will convert part of SBMA’s (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, which Liza’s dad, Martin Diño heads) vast facilities into a film archive. And just so filmmakers can come up with more outputs this year, Liza is working on a proposal that would include the film industry in the government’s investment priority plan. It will entitle films to get tax rebates from government. Liza has big plans and she needs, and deserves our full support.

After four years of being a judge in “X factor UK,” Nicole Scherzinger proudly nailed her second winning talent with Matt terry, the ultimate big winner of the 13th edition of the British music competition. the 23-year-old Matt sang his winning single, “When Christmas Comes Around,” an original song written by ed Sheeran. Matt was the last talent mentored by Nicole, who handled the boys, assisted by Calvin Harris. first to get eliminated among Nicole’s talents this season was Nicole with talent Matt Terry, the ultimate big winner of the 13th edition of X Factor UK. freddy Parker, who left on the second week, followed by ryan of the competition. Louis coached Silverman. Lawrie, who made his exit on the the groups, assisted by fleur east Special guest in the finale seventh week. Nicole’s first win- and Alesha Dixon. was girl group Little Mix that Meanwhile, long-time judge rendered a medley that included ning talent was pop-rock artist James Arthur, who won “X factor and program creator, Simon touch, the latest single from the Cowell, who mentored the girls, band’s fourth studio album, Glory UK” Season 9 in 2012. Matt’s closest contender for was the first to lose all his talents Days. the group’s performance Season 13 was 29-year-old Saara — Sam Lavery, Gifty Louise, em- featured a brief appearance from Aalto, a singer-actress from fin- ily Middlemas — a week before Charlie Puth. Another guest, land, who was mentored by tV the finals. Simon was assisted by Kylie Minogue, sang the upbeat host and rock royalty Sharon Os- erstwhile Spice Girls members everybody’s free to feel Good, bourne. the latter was in charge Mel B and emma Bunton. a cut from her Kylie Christmas: Simon had indeed been tamed Snow Queen edition, released last of the over 25 talents, assisted by in judging and criticizing talents, November. robbie Williams. Saara came in second to Matt after being a first-time dad in his Last season’s winner was 17in the finals. A day before, how- mid-50s. In one of the earlier epi- year-old Louisa Johnson, menever, Matt even landed in the Bot- sodes of “X factor UK,” Simon’s tored by new judge rita Ora. tom two, with 5 After Midnight, adorable, two-year-old son, eric, Louisa was the youngest chambut Matt was saved by the public’s was seen visiting him on the audi- pion of “X factor UK” and her votes. the 5 After Midnight talent tion set, accompanied by the boy’s debut single, forever Young, was of Louis Walsh was knocked out mom and Simon’s partner, Lauren also released.

Georgina Wilson welcomes ‘Baby Burnand’ on Christmas Day

EMPLOYMENT

were also honored at IffAM with the Crouching tigers festival award for best pitch for their upcoming film project, Pintakasi. the award came with a cash prize of $10,000 that will go a long way in funding the film that will be headlined by sought after leading men Piolo Pascual and

by roSette

adeL

Philstar.com

Dingdong Dantes. “Pintakasi is inspired by the infamous Mamasapano tragedy that resulted in the deaths of 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action force while battling rebel forces during a mission to pursue Malaysian terrorists,” concluded Matti. Georgina Wilson

ON Christmas Day, model-host Georgina Wilson-Burnand posted a photo of her newborn son for the first time. It-girl Georgina, former host of “Asia’s Next top Model,” reportedly gave birth to her healthy baby boy on December 14. this was also posted by a fan account on Instagram. G e o rg i n a w e l c o m e d h e r first-born in an Instagram post where her husband, Arthur Burnand, was shown carrying his son. the model-host said baby Burnand is a “Christmas

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

Thumbs-up for ‘Seklusyon’ from... PAGE B3 Phoebe Walker. the film was the lone Philippine entry in the festival’s noncompetition “Hidden Dragons” section representing the latest trends in contemporary Asian genre cinema. In addition to the film’s world premiere, Matti and Monteverde

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

SERVICES

miracle.” She used the hashtag “Baby Burnand” in all her pregnancy-related posts. the couple, however, has not disclosed the name of their child. the model-host also revealed the sex of her first-born last December 3 through an Instagram video of her ultrasound. Georgina admitted she was expecting a baby late August, four months into her pregnancy. Her announcement was made just three months after she married Burnand, a British Hong Kong-based executive with Swire Properties, in May.

B DECEMBER 29, 2016-januaRy 4, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOuRnaL

Features

Panic mode

Immigration Corner Atty. MAriA ritA reyes-stuby And bernAdette bretAnA EvEn if every immigration attorney has a crystal ball and is able to read ‘mumbo jumbo’ or perform magic, they are unable to forecast the future for undocumented aliens (imagine the potential clients). Unpredictability or ‘flip flops’ is becoming the name of the game called politics. More than a month after the presidential elections, people are weary and wary. Among the 11 million undocumented aliens, being fearful is an understatement. The president-elect promised during his campaign that his first task upon assuming office is to rescind President Obama’s executive actions and orders (E.O.). One of the first in line is “DACA” - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. DACA gave almost 700,000 undocumented aliens who were brought into this country when they were still children by their parents, a chance to stay and work in the US provided they have enrolled and/ or graduated from U.S. schools, without criminal records, and have continuously been present in the country. DACA allowed them to: (a) have their possible deportation deferred because of their lack of legal immigration status; and (b) work by granting them work permits. The promise made during the campaign was to deport all illegals and if you are true to your words, you must keep that promise. Calls kept pouring in a week af-

ter november 8. Concerns of being randomly picked up and sent home by immigration authorities, some from legitimate green card holders and naturalized citizens who have no reason to panic. Based on false, unverified news, of course from social media. It is important for the public to know that it is Congress which has “plenary power” to pass immigration laws. Laws that are already in place such as who can become lawful permanent residents (LPR) or be naturalized as U.S. citizens cannot be altered or violated by a presidential or executive order (E.O.). As long as the rules and regulations have been followed in obtaining these benefits, there is nothing to panic about. However, immigration benefits, borne out of an E.O. issued by the president do not enjoy the same stability. The president, as the chief executive tasked with implementing the laws, to a certain extent, has authority to issue executive actions or orders, within the bounds of the law already passed by Congress. This is why presidents would rather have Congress pass the law than issue an executive order. For instance, DACA was an offshoot of the failed attempt to convince Congress to pass the ‘Dreamers’ Act’ that would have provided immigration benefits similar to DACA, thereby paving the way to obtaining U.S. citizenship. But the ‘Dreamers’ Act’ failed to pass. Since the grant of DACA benefits is a creation of an executive action, it is subject to repeal by the next president. So, if it is repealed, what happens to the work permit previously issued? Rules and regulations

dictate, you will lose it. What’s next? Unfortunately, your guess is as good as mine. The more pressing concern for DACA recipients is the threat of deportation for simply being undocumented. Applicants were required to list all of their residential addresses from the moment of entry in the U. S. They were able to obtain driving licenses or I.D.’s. Obviously, finding them is easier than finding those who never filled up an application form. Another ironical immigration consequence. We find comfort in the thought that theoretical possibilities are different from reality. Or that campaign promises are just words. DHS has budgetary constraints and has to prioritize. The president-elect has been saying that criminals, drug addicts and dealers are on the top of his list (a very long one). Does anybody really have the facts on the number of undocumented aliens? This country and its people are resilient and have adapted to changes since 1776 when it opened its doors to immigrants without restrictions (“open door policy”). They are its backbone and will continue to be, immigration is its identity. *** Maria Rita Reyes-Stuby is a licensed attorney in Michigan. She is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Law. She specializes in immigration and practices in Las Vegas, Michigan, California and other states. Bernadette Bretana, a graduate of the Ateneo Law School and Ms. Stuby are licensed attorneys in the Philippines. Please call @702-403-4704 or email her at stubylaw@aol.com or go to www.mrstubylaw.com for any questions on this article.

Fitness and health advice from...

PAGE B3

(still counting) and has kept it off. While she is still a work in progress, she takes every opportunity to celebrate every success. Most especially the success of those around her! Thea Fernandez, MPH, CHES is a Certified Health Education Specialist and health entrepreneur who has a passion for helping people improve their health through lifestyle changes after losing her father to a preventable disease at the age of 16. As a first generation Filipina-American who grew up on the island of O’ahu, she made it her mission to study,

practice and teach Healthy living by later moving to Los Angeles to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies and later a Master’s Degree in Public Health, both from the University of Southern California (USC). Thea enthusiastically practices her public health work full-time serving as the Education Lead for UCLA’s Outpatient Comprehensive Care Coordinator Team by day; and part-time, as a licensed Zumba instructor, teaching 6 full classes per week at the Anderson Munger Family YMCA in Koreatown as well as the Ketchum YMCA in

Downtown LA by night. She also had the opportunity to showcase health and fitness tips on LA-18’s show, Kababayan Today hosted by Giselle Tongi. Despite her busy schedule, her most fulfilling work as a health coach has allowed her to promote health and wellness by combining the importance of physical activity, proper nutrition, and mind-body balance. With these wellness principles, she has helped many in Los Angeles and Hawaii achieve optimal health and is looking forward to motivate and inspire more people to do the same in the new year and beyond!

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (WE are coming full circle once again. The pendulum has swung. We are turning a new page. We truly hope we are not here just to mark time but to truly live the full measure of the life we were meant to have from one season to the next. Here’s my prayer for all: May the next chapter of our individual life stories in the coming year include the grace of discernment to finally figure out our life’s purpose and the courage to fulfill it.) A circle is perhaps the perfect geometric structure there is. Although some would claim the triangle or a square to be better structures because of their stable nature, the circle and all its derivatives — the orb, the sphere, the globe and every structure on earth and in the universe with a core, circumference and radii emanating from the core — can teach and even help us to understand much about nature, about ourselves and human life and its cycles and seasons, from the most profound to the most mundane levels. From the micro to the macro levels, every creative urge on every level, in the intellectual and the physical realms, begins as a thought and if tenaciously pursued and fleshed out by one’s strength of will, proceeds from concept to completion as a circle. Even in the mundane reality of living an ordinary life from day to day, circles and cycles mark the patterns of our lives, from sunrise to sunset. note nature’s seasons and cycles of birth and death, of sleep and wakefulness, of ebb and flow, of the waxing and waning of the moon and of the quarter million year rotation of the solar system around the core of our home galaxy, the Milky Way and in the grandest of levels, the movement of a nearly infinite number of galaxies in the universe, the edge of which only the Creator knows. On the minutest level, the astounding movement of electrons around a nucleus and the wondrous flow of the human bloodstream to and from the heart are cyclical. As science has found out, blockages, either man-made or natural to the flow or movement in the

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Like riding a bicycle: Circles, cycles and movement “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” - Albert Eistein processes existing in nature at all levels, can create anomalies, abnormalities and mutations, resulting in pain and illnesses in the human body and if uncorrected, result in diseases, debilitation and ultimately, death. This presents a strong argument for regular exercise and consistent movement in our daily lives at any age. Movement pumps the blood flow in the neurons of our brain and in the capillaries in our extremities to and from the heart. The action in turn, strengthens the muscles of the heart and maintains blood pressure at healthy levels. nature moves in cycles. While the earth’s atmospheric cloak adheres to the surface because of the gravitational pull of the earth’s mass, the hydrologic cycle will continue to maintain our seas and give us rain to sustain all planetary life — that is, for the time being —unless something unforeseen and catastrophic, like a rogue asteroid with the earth’s name on it as its target, upsets and upends this delicate and rare homeostatic balance. If and when that happens, as scientists theorized is the reason dinosaurs were wiped out 65 million years ago, it would be a complete cycle. It would be ADIOS to human life as we know it. Fortunately, such occurrences happen in geologic time, in millions of years. The prophets of doom heralding climate change, backed by some pseudo scientists) include themes of global cooling or global warming (take your pick). For a number of years, they have been trying to scare the living daylights of present day earth inhabitants with stark doomsday scenarios. Someone claimed with arrogant certainty a few years back that because of global warming the polar ice caps would be completely gone by now. The seas will rise and cities along the coast will be plunged in chaos. Guess what? The ice caps are still there and the polar vortex of the past year which brought one of the most severe and bitter

winter seasons in memory belie such claims. The fact remains there is no predicting the weather or for that matter, the end of the world with absolute certainty and infallibility. Climate is part of science that is still evolving. There is nothing settled about it. We can track its patterns and draw some educated guesses so we can prepare for catastrophic disturbances to mitigate destruction. The world is a sphere and there is still so much about our planet that needs to be discovered. Who knows when the next Krakatoa or vesuvius will erupt and spit out so much sulfur to envelop the world for years that temperatures drop significantly because sunlight is blocked. It has happened before with Mount Pinatubo and other volcanoes along the Ring of Fire through the centuries. The only thing certain is that volcanic eruptions will happen again. We just don’t know when. Who knows when the Big One for California will happen? It is not a matter of if but when. That is a given. The last big one in San Francisco was over a hundred years ago and scientists say California is due for the next big one. Who knows when the next Katrina will come and wreak havoc? Who knows the direct path tornadoes will take? All we know is that there are things that humans can predict with some degree of accuracy but on the whole, there are things that are random and beyond the realms of prediction. One thing that is becoming clear is that nature has become part of a global political agenda. I consider such thought manipulations suspect. When nature is being used by groups to advance dubious political motives so that laws can be enacted that will essentially line the pockets of certain economic interests and thus ensure political power, it is time to tune out of the madness and see it for what it is. We need to maintain equilibrium in the face of untruths. PAGE B7

Get the best price for your valuables at Nevada Coin Mart WITH tons of places to choose from to bring your old jewelry, there’s only one place in Las vegas that will pay the best amount for these valuables. At nevada Coin Mart, customers can rest assured that they will be properly compensated for the precious stones and metals they bring in. neil Sackmary, the owner of the store, is a graduate gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) with more than 20 years of experience in buying these items. “When it comes to myself, this is my passion. This is what I went to school for,” Sackmary said. GIA is the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, colored stones and pearls. It was established in 1931 and strives to protect the jewelry and gem buying public by setting quality standards worldwide. As a certified GIA specialist, Sackmary points out that simply because a business that purchases these stones has been around for decades, that does not make it an expert source. This is a particularly important fact for members of the Asian American community to note. “In the Asian community, people don’t buy cheap stones. They always spend really good money and when they do, they want to sell them for good money and they want someone who’s an expert. You don’t want to take it to someone who says they’re in the business for 35 years. That does not make them an expert,” Sackmary said. nevada Coin Mart purchases

Neil Sackmary

a wide variety of items, including coins, bullion, diamonds, jewelry, gold, silver and watches, at premium prices. At the shop, Sackmary has the latest technology, including a $9,000 diamond microscope and $30,000 X-ray spectrometer, which allows him to thoroughly examine how much the metals and stones customers bring in are worth. “Most people want to rip off customers because they don’t care. They look at them and say, ‘Well, if I can, I’ll take advantage. I’m never going to see you again’,” Sackmary said. That’s not what happens at nevada Coin Mart. In one instance, Sackmary paid a customer $1,510 for two rings that were quoted for $150 at a competitor store. It’s because of its transparency and fairness to those who walk into nevada Coin Mart that about 70 percent of its clients are repeat customers who come back for the value they receive for their items. The business takes it a step further by providing security guards who are former police of-

ficers and 47 cameras to monitor the entire building. visitors can also request to have a guard walk them in and out of the building free of charge. Sackmary and his wife have been in the business of buying jewelry and other metals for many years and have been online selling costume jewelry for about 15 years. They are also present every day the shop is open, which is located on the corner of Jones Boulevard and Flamingo Road. In addition to putting their customers’ interests first, the Sackmarys are active community members who have participated in charity event Operation FireHEAT and are founding sponsors for the Anthem Women’s Club. nevada Coin Mart was established in 1971 and is licensed by Clark County to legally purchase jewelry from the general public. Nevada Coin Mart 4065 S Jones Blvd. Las vegas, nv 89103 Phone: (702) 776-7061 Hours: Monday through Sunday, 9am to 5 pm Advertising Supplement

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Medical myths and facts

course; (2) withdrawal is done before ejaculation; (3) coitus is done during the “safe” period; (4) sex is done during menses; (5) the woman did not have orgasm during sex; (6) the lovers drink wine before sex; (7) aspirin is inserted into the vagina as contraceptive; (8) the woman is on top during the act; (9) the man uses any plastic wrap in the absence of, and in lieu of, a condom; (10) the man already had sex with another woman, or had masturbated, an hour or so earlier; (11) oral sex preceded normal intercourse; and (12) the

woman douches immediately after sex. These are all myths and cannot be relied upon to prevent pregnancy. Only total abstinence or use of an intact condom, or use of prescribed birth control pills under medical supervision, can prevent pregnancy. Inhalants are deadly Statistics in the United States reveal that about half a million people, between 12-17, die annually from Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. The deadly inhalants included glue, spray paint and markers. The report showed that age 12 is when most children start to experiment on chemicals

and drugs. March 16-22 has been declared in the US as National Inhalant and Poison Awareness Week. *** 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. For more data, visit philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Like riding a bicycle: Circles, cycles... PAGE B6 When it comes to nature, what will be, will be. Its cycles are dictated by something much more powerful than any human mind can conjure. Earth’s 23.5 degree tilt which dictates earth’s seasons as it spins like a wobbly top along its orbit around the sun, which in turn orbits the center of the Milky Way readjusts and is tweaked according to some cosmic cycle. In a way, the life of our living, breathing planet is reflective of human life from birth to death. The human story is cyclical. Every civilization goes through periods of beginnings, progress, full flowering, decay, stagnation and

ultimately, death. Planet earth will die too along with the sun, one day, the human race and all living carbon-based creatures will be gone by then. As a historical footnote, there are clear indications the American story, as a result of its increasing divisiveness and seismic shifts in its values and national psyche, has has gone through a protracted period of decay and stagnation phase of its cycle. For three decades, America may have lost its way as it drifted away from its core Christian values made manifest through its decadent culture. This may have played out already. By God’s grace and mir-

acle for millions who bent down their knees and prayed fervently and asked for divine intervention, a new beginning is sprouting. The promise of resurgence to new life and an era of hope and worthwhile accomplishments is dawning. HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS 2017 TO ALL!!! “Life,” according to Einstein, “is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

The Fil-Am Men of Broadway’s Aladdin

PAGE B2 by one. Joshua de la Cruz Aladdin is Joshua’s Broadway debut. He was previously seen at the Public Theatre doing Here Lies Love. Prior to that, he did Merrily We Roll Along at the New York City Encores! and The King and I at Kana City Starlight. He has a BFA from Montclair State University. On making his Broadway debut with Aladdin: It was Amazing. It is essentially like Zorro for kids and growing up, it is one of my favorite Disney movies of all time. To be able to do this show and make my Broadway debut with this musical is amazing. I also had knee surgery about two months before we opened on Broadway so I missed opening night. I came to the show two days later, did my ensemble check and then a week later with all my music rehearsal, I went on as Aladdin for the entire weekend. To do my Broadway debut and a week later do the title role, my mind was blown. I couldn’t have thought of a better way to make it happen. Just ripped the band-aid off and have that experience with this family is just amazing. On having to work with fellow Filipino-Americans: It’s a huge family backstage and we all love to eat. If ever there’s a gathering, we know that there will always be lots of food. Fondest memories of Christmases past: One of my fondest memories is going around and caroling, with my sealed old coffee can with dry rice inside as my shaker. We would sing Ang Pasko ay Sumapit and we would receive all these loose change which we end up spending on snacks. We would celebrate all the way to the new year and having all those firecrackers and being really loud and eating a lot of food. Family lineage: Ilocano and Bicolano What is one Filipino dish that triggers good memories of Christmas for you? Lechon kawali, pork rib adobo and garlic fried rice Angelo Soriano (swing, understudy for Omar and Iago) Aladdin is also Angelo’s Broadway debut. He did the national tour of Flashdance: The Musical and among his Disney credits are Red Car Trolley News Boys

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Vhong Navarro feels lucky in reprising ‘Mang Kepweng’ by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

VHONG Navarro has undoubtedly gone a long way since his Streetboys days. Aside from dancing, Navarro has also proven his mettle in recording and acting. His screen characterizations have spelled huge success at the tills, endearing him to the viewing public. Now, Navarro has another ace up on his sleeves as he reprises Mang Kepweng, a classic role popularized by the late comedy great Chiquito. Titled “Mang Kepweng Returns,” this project is under the helm of director GB Sampedro and screenwriter Volta Delos Santos. It is poised as a grand opening salvo for local films in 2017. “I am very lucky to do this film. I know there are many of us who wanted to portray the characters of Papang [Chiquito]. I am also thankful to my producers because they have chosen me of all the comedians in the country,” Navarro told the press during the movie’s launch on December 21. Mang Kepweng was one of Chiquito’s most unforgettable screen roles. After its original showing in 1976, it had three sequels in 1977, 1979 and 1981 as proof of its commercial viability. “I wasn’t able to work with him but I researched the way he acted onscreen on YouTube. I want to give justice to the character he played,” Navarro intimated. The makers assured that this comedy-fantasy-adventure-horror offering is only loosely based on the past Mang Kepweng films. According to them, they only took parts and patterns of the former Mang Kepweng movies but have put in an all-new story. “I studied the first film. We made sure that the treatment we

use here is suitable and appropriate with the new generation today. It’s like we are introducing the old character to the millennials who don’t know about the film and the late Chiquito. Of course, we also have the effort to make this film visually beautiful like the effects that we have put it in,” shared Sampedro. In the movie, Navarro plays the role of Kiefer, a normal guy who leads a quiet life until he starts experiencing bizarre happenings—seeing ghosts and evil spirits. His mother is then forced to reveal that he is the son of the late traditional healer, Mang Kepweng. Determined to know more about his roots, he travels to the province and gets to know his half-brother, a successful doctor who cannot cure the mysterious illness of his wife. His brother then reveals that their late father left a scarf that manifests a healing power when worn by “the chosen one.” And after the death of Tatay Kepweng, the chosen one is Kiefer. Viewers witness many of Kiefer’s adventures such as entering a magical world—where he gets a better understanding of his newfound healing power—and his epic fight with his nemesis. A supposed entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), Navarro and his team now consider their non-inclusion in the festival a blessing. “We were sad because we were not included in the eight official entries, but then we are still happy because Mang Kepweng will be the first local film shown in 2017, plus it falls on my birthday which is January 4. This is the best gift not just for me but also for the staff and crew,” Navarro said, adding that he is still hopeful Mang Kepweng will be as successful as his past movies.

Calendar of Events across

Vhong Navarro

Aside from Mang Kepweng, Navarro also hopes to breathe life to Asiong Aksaya and Mister Wong—iconic roles likewise popularized by Chiquito. “I am sideswiping this idea to my producers, telling them, ‘If ever you wanted to do other films of Chiquito, I am still here’,” Navarro jested. Lending support to Navarro is an array of established and talented stars such as Jaclyn Jose, Kim Domingo, Pen Medina, Sunshine Cruz, James Blanco, Louise Delos Reyes, Jackie Rice, Valeen Montenegro, Jhong Hilario and Juancho Triviño. Making special appearances are Lotlot De Leon, Matet De Leon, Ahron Villena, Shalala, Ryan Bang, Helga Krapf, Luz Fernandez, and Odette Khan. “It’s so good to make a movie whenever my producers are independent because they have the power to put together actors from rival networks. That is why we offer this very special and unique film for the viewers featuring actors and actresses from GMA and ABS-CBN in one film. This is our treat for them this coming New Year,” Navarro finally noted.

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 D EC E M B E R 22-23 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS D EC E M B E R 2 1

Adam Jacobs being interviewed by GMA Pinoy TV’s Grace Labaguis.

(Disneyland AGVA), Christmas Day Parade with Justin Bieber (on ABC) and Debby Ryan and Disney’s Shake it Up! On making his Broadway debut with Aladdin: I made my Broadway debut a week and a half after I signed in. As a swing in Aladdin, I am in charge of knowing 14 different roles in the show – 12 male ensemble roles and two understudies. I was learning my first ensemble track on the first week and on the second week, we found out that one of our guys was injured so I had to learn his track in two days and so I went on my Broadway debut last minute, after learning that track in two and a half days. It was fun, I did it, the rehearsals worked, nine days after I got hired. It was awesome. On having to work with fellow Filipino-Americans: We have that camaraderie, we break bread and talk together. It is wonderful. We also go on little adventures sometimes. A little while ago, a bunch of us Filipinos went downtown to go find a Filipino restaurant – we’ve made that a habit to look for cool Filipino cuisine in Manhattan. We found Lumpia Shack, Jeepney and Maharlika. I’m a big fan of Grill 21 on East 21st St., it is old school and delicious. Fondest memories of Christmases past: When we first immigrated here it was just my sisters, my parents, my lola and my aunt and my cousins. We have our entire family in the Philippines. My parents come from large families and more cousins. Some of them also were able to come here and we had a huge gathering. I always end up gaining ten pounds durDon Darryl Rivera giving us a backstage tour of Aladdin’s home, the ing the holiday season because New Amsterdam Theatre along 42nd Street. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya that’s when our

Photo by Boyet Loverita

families would hang around and there’d be plenty of food. Family lineage: Mom was from Leyte, Dad from Manila What is one Filipino dish that triggers good memories of Christmas for you? Lechon manok with Mang Tomas Bobby Pestka (ensemble) Bobby has appeared on Broadway in The King and I in Lincoln Center’s The King and I, Bombay Dreams and Flower Drum Song. Among his film credits are The Producers and Across the Universe. A graduate of Point Park University, Bobby also did the national tour of Roundabout’s Anything Goes, and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular in NYC. How did you get involved with the show? It goes all the way back in 2011 when Disney decided to see if the musical would work. They produced it first in Seattle with the 5th Avenue Theater and did it there for three months. It was mostly in previews and we only had about a week or two to run. We didn’t know anything else, as far as we knew, it was done. We waited around and at that point, we had to go on with our lives. I went on tour and then later my agent informed me that the show will be done in Toronto. He was also told to hold on since they were auditioning different people. They called eventually and asked if I wanted to be a part of the Toronto cast and eventually Broadway. On having to work with fellow Filipino-Americans: Somehow, some of us have worked together previously and we know how special it is. Fondest memories of Christmases past: I grew up as the youngest in the family so it was always my job to decorate the house and the tree. I would gather empty boxes and wrap them so I can place them under the tree. Family lineage: Mom was from Cebu What is one Filipino dish that triggers good memories of Christmas for you? I go to Woodside in Queens for my Filipino food fix. Ihawan serves great barbecue, lumpia and pancit. All the basics for me.

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4th Annual Rizal Day in Carson and 120th Martyrdom Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal Let us honor our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. on Thursday, December 29, through a wreath-laying ceremony in the City of Carson – home to the very first full size statue of Dr. Jose Rizal in Southern California. Unveiled in 2012, the 8 feet bronze statue (on top of a 7-foot granite pedestal) is the first and only monument to be installed in the International Sculpture Garden of the City of Carson. The 4th Annual Rizal Day in Carson and Commemoration of the 120th Martyrdom Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal is organized by the Philippine Consulate General – Los Angeles, Dr. Jose P. Rizal Monument Movement, Kalayaan Inc., Knights of Rizal, in collaboration with the City of Carson. Light refreshments will be available at 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. This one-hour program promptly starts at 9:00 a.m. The ceremony will be held at Carson International Sculpture Garden at 801 E. Carson Street, Carson, CA 90745. For more information, please call: Councilmember Elito M. Santarina (310)952-1713; Riezl Pe Benito (310)952-1743; Chito Mandap (626) 823-8752; Wilma Bautista (213) 637-3031.

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Grand Park + The Music Center in Los Angeles host New Year’s Eve celebration Los Angeles will put its mark on New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world as Angelenos join together with friends and family to share their hopes, dreams and resolutions for 2017 at the fourth annual Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A. The West Coast’s flagship New Year’s celebration will feature three stages with live music, DJs and dancing throughout the night; large scale inflatable art; and 3D digital video mapping on City Hall along with an integrated light show to count down to the new year in true L.A. style. The free family-friendly event, which attracts thousands from all over Southern California and beyond, reinforces Downtown Los Angeles as a destination for a grand-scale New Year’s Eve experience. Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A. takes place from 8:00 p.m. on December 31, 2016 to 1:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day, and will cover 90 acres from The Music Center Plaza to City Hall (Hope Street to Spring Street) and from Temple Street to 2nd Street. More than 50,000 people are expected to attend. For more information about Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A., visit grandparkla.org/nyela or musiccenter. org/nyela.

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Historic Filipinotown Scavenger Hunt Explore the cultural gems of HiFi (Historic Filipinotown) by joining the 2nd HiFi Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser on Saturday, January 28 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m! Meet Filipino-specific challenges (from a Balut eating contest to dancing Tinikling to a hip hop beat!). You may find yourself meeting a little-known community hero, tasting a Filipino food challenge or receiving your very own Filipino nickname! You will be having a blast while building your bayanihan spirit by asking your friends and family and even your Facebook fans to donate money to sponsor your Team to take this challenge. You and your team choose your own fundraising goal! Funds raised by this event will go to the programs and services of 2 HiFi community organizations, Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI) to provide vital services to families, workers and seniors in our community. Services include free or low-cost citizenship application assistance, human trafficking survivor support, civic engagement, wage theft claims assistance, cultural programs and more! Have fun, Discover Historic Filipinotown win prizes and support your community while doing it! Go to www.pwcsc.org/HiddenHiFi to sign up now. PWC is located at 153 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026.

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