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Volume 27 - no. 25 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
june 23-29, 2016
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Duterte: ‘Zero tolerance’ on drugs and crime PH sees rise in drug killings ahead of incoming admin by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
following the weekend’s drug-related killings, incoming President rodrigo Duterte warned Philippine mayors who are connected to illegal drug networks that he “will catch up” to them. At an economic forum in Davao City on tuesday, June 21, he mentioned 32 mayors he suspects are involved in the illegal drug trade. though he did not mention any names, he said that these mayors recently won PAGE A2 President-elect Rodrigo Duterte
Philstar.com photo
NAVAL DRILLS. Two US Navy carrier strike groups commenced defense exercises in the Philippine Sea on Saturday, June 18. The strike groups of two of the world’s strongest warships, USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), coordinated dual carrier flight operations and conducted defense drills, sea surveillance, replenishments at sea, defensive air combat training, long range strikes and coordinated maneuvers, among others, the US Navy 7th Fleet said. Navy photo by MC3 Nathan Burke
ISIS releases first US: Arbitral court ruling won’t ease sea tensions propaganda video DATELINE USA Filipino man arrested for for Philippines by JaiMe laude and
Pia lee-Brago
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
burglaries in Las Vegas
A filiPino man was arrested on wednesday, June 15 on suspicion of committing more than a dozen burglaries within a six-month period in las Vegas. las Vegas metro Police accuse Bernardino santiago, 41, of a string of thefts at 17 restaurants that began in January, just six months after he had been released from prison. “it was a lot of places; he was busy,” said lVmPD detective Brad feiss in a video released by the department to Youtube. “he told us he would hit every other night, if not sometimes twice a night.” A man resembling the suspect was
Philstar.com
by
CaMille diola Philstar.com
mAnilA —the so-called islamic state, or isis, released a video early on wednesday, June 22 in an attempt to recruit radical fighters in the Philippines and neighboring countries. rita Katz, director of site intelligence group tracking the activities of isis, said the video targeting the Philippines was in five languages: Arabic, english, filipino, indonesian and malay. screenshots of the video taken by the agency show filipino, indonesian and malaysian fighters urging their PAGE A2
PAGE A3
Advocates expect favorable Supreme Court ruling on immigration policies immigrAtion activists expect to hear a ruling in favor of policies meant to protect millions of undocumented residents before the supreme Court’s term ends this month. however, they say more work will need to be done to enact comprehensive immigration reform. of immediate concern are the Deferred Action for Parents of Us Citizens and lawful Permanent residents (DAPA) program and expansions to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, both proposed by President Barack obama in 2014. the programs could protect up to 4 million people in the Us from deportation and provide work authorization for three years on a renewable basis. the policies at issue are “temporary, but essential so that people can remain with their families here,” said marielena hincapié, executive director of the national immigration law Center (nilC), during a panel discussion hosted by the Center for American Progress Action fund (CAPAf) PAGE A3
In this image taken by an Iraqi Counterterrorism Service photographer on Sunday, June 19, 2016, soldiers pose with an Islamic State militant flag in Fallujah, Iraq after forces re-took the city center after two years of IS control. Thousands of civilians are fleeing Fallujah after the city was declared liberated from the Islamic State group, the United Nations said, while an Iraqi commander reported fierce clashes as elite counterterrorism forces pushed to clear out the remaining Photo courtesy of Iraq Counterterrorism Service militants.
mAnilA—A favorable decision by an international arbitral court on manila’s maritime case against Beijing is no guarantee of an easing of tensions in the south China sea, a senior Us official said on wednesday, June 22. tension is likely to persist in the region, the official said, even if the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the hague rules in favor of manila, as China has made it clear it would not honor a verdict repudiating its expansive claim in the south China sea. reports quoting sources said China is even planning to set aside the United nations Convention on the law of the sea (UnClos). the same official, who declined to be named, also said China is using its fishing fleets with armed escorts to bolster maritime claims in disputed territory. But the official, in a teleconference in manila with journalists from Vietnam, thailand, indonesia and Beijing, said the Us is not taking sides on the issue. “we are expecting a ruling in the next several weeks in the arbitration case that’s been brought by the Philippines with respect to maritime entitlement in the south China sea… south China sea is an important maritime space for the international community. Asia is the
Reports quoting sources said China is planning to set aside the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
most populous and economically dynamic region in the world and as such, south China sea a global significance,” the senior Us state Department official said. As such, the state department official said the Us will sustain its role in ensuring regional peace by continuously enforcing freedom of navigation and overflight operations over the south China sea and east China sea regions. there were reports the Un court is handing down its verdict either before the end of the month or in early July. the Us has deployed two of its carrier strike groups to the Philippine sea ahead of the verdict.
“our freedom of navigation program globally is in that demonstrating that the Us will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever the laws allow. so in that sense, i think that it has been successful in demonstrating in east Asia that that we will continue to uphold that policy,” the Us official said while calling on China to refrain from making provocative actions. the arbitration case presents a good opportunity to go back to principles and to attempt to steer the conversation about the south China sea issue, the official said. solid backing the official added that the PhilipPAGE A2
Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach takes public Duterte to Amb. Goldberg: HIV test, encourages global HIV testing Are you with us or not? by MoMar
g. Visaya
by nestor
Corrales Inquirer.net
AJPress
new YorK—miss Universe Pia wurtzbach took time off her busy schedule to take a public hiV test at new York City’s Apicha Community health Center monday, June 20 to get the word out and encourage others to get tested and know their status. “over one million people in the United states are living with hiV and this number continues to increase each year by 50,000. one in eight people who have hiV don’t even know it yet because they don’t get themselves tested and because of that, they are not getting the right kind of care and treatment that they deserve and should have,” miss wurtzbach said. the public test took place in advance of PAGE A4
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
DAVAo CitY—“Are you with us or are you not with us?” that was the question raised by President-elect rodrigo Duterte to Us Ambassador Philip goldberg during the envoy’s courtesy visit on June 13 here, he revealed on tuesday, June 21. speaking before business executives at the smX Convention Center, Duterte disclosed that he has asked goldberg about this concern amid our maritime dispute with China. “Because i told goldberg, are you with us or are you not with
us?,” he said, adding that he was ready to claim the west Philippine sea once the United nation’s tribunal favored the Philippine diplomatic protest. Duterte mentioned the 1952 mutual Defense Agreement between the Philippine government and the United states “desiring to declare publicly and formally their sense of unity and their common determination to defend themselves against external armed attack.” this was agreed upon “so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that either of them stands alone in the Pacific area.” PAGE A2
A
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June 23-29, 2016 • LAS VeGAS ASIAn JOuRnAL
From The FronT Page
Duterte: ‘Zero tolerance’... PAGE A1 because of “drug money.� “The youth are affected,� said Duterte in his hour-long speech. “You have crossed the red line... if [we] do not do something with the situation, seven years from now this country will become [entangled in] narco politics.� “Watch out. As long as I’m in government, I will not allow it,� Duterte added. The former Davao mayor plans to revamp the Philippine National Police (PNP) with his tough anticrime approach in mind. He said he will handpick “a company of policemen� whom he will give “special assignments.� Placing particular emphasis on the Philippine youth’s impact, Duterte promised that once his plans are put into action, with enough time, “the children will have the streets back to them.� “I have zero tolerance on drugs and criminality,� Duterte said. “I would never preside over the affairs of the country with a corrupt police and drugs abound destroying the lives of Filipinos.� “Corruption must stop now,� he declared. “[I really hate] corruption. It makes me sick.� Duterte also responded to criticism he received from Chito Gascon, chairman of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, who denounced Duterte’s “deadly methods.� Duterte, who has been panned for his anti-crime tactics, said he would just ignore Gascon. “If you know Gascon or if he is your friend, tell him I won’t follow him,� he said, adding that his administration may refuse any subpoenas issued by any investigating body, including the Office of the Ombudsman. “You tell the Ombudsman to, instead, send the subpoena to Duterte,� he added. Surge in drug-related killings Police killed 11 presumed drug dealers over the weekend, acting on the promise of Duterte’s
campaign to eradicate crime in the country. Drug dealers were killed during undercover sting operations based in Manila, Laguna, Bulacan, Rizal, Bohol and Cebu, according to Philippine media reports on the morning of Monday, June 20. Many of those killed had “resisted arrest,â€? according to police reports. “There was a shootout between undercover police officers and drug peddlers when the men sensed they had sold PHP500 ($10.80) worth of drugs to policemen,â€? Adriano Enong, Rizal police chief told the media. This weekend’s toll adds to the surge of drug-related killings that have occurred since Duterte won the presidential seat on May 9. There have been more than 40 suspects killed since then in comparison to the 39 who were killed in the previous four months. There has been speculation that suggests that police involved in the drug trade are carrying out killings of individuals who are likely to implicate them as soon as Duterte officially takes office on June 30. However, Ronald dela Rosa, Duterte’s choice for police chief of the Philippines, said in a radio interview that he would be able to determine if the “people were killed in rub-outs.â€? Incoming Interior Secretary Ismael SueĂąo said that Duterte’s promise to address the crime within the six months is achievable, but it may not be completely eradicated. “No, I don’t think we can eradicate 100 percent but we can do a considerable decrease,â€? SueĂąo said, according to Philstar. When asked about the possible human rights violations, SueĂąo asserted that the incoming president “follows the rule of law.â€? “He does not want to see many people being killed. He prefers dialogue,â€? he said. Duterte’s tough on crime approach was pivotal to his victory
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at the polls, but not everyone agrees with the incoming president’s staunch position on brute force against criminals. Catholic bishops “disturbed� The Philippine Catholic Bishops Conference responded to the killings and Duterte’s pledge on violence, noting they are “disturbed� by the recent killings as well as the rise of “vigilantism� in a statement released on June 20. The bishops’ conference, headed by Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan Socrates B. Villegas, called for an “appeal to humanity� and said that outright filling “is not morally justified.� “We must fight criminality but the impunity with which offenders of the law carry on with their criminal activity also points out flaws in our criminal justice system,� the bishops said in the statement. “We beg our prosecutors and judges to remain firm in their consecration to justice, for there is no greater insult to the Creator than to use the gifts of intelligence, discernment and one’s success at legal studies for ends contrary to builds the Body of Christ and contributes the building of the Kingdom of God,� the statement read. On Tuesday, June 21 an anticrime and corruption advocacy group called Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption denounced the killings, noting that the number of killed suspects over the weekend was “alarming�, according to GMA News. Spokesman for the group Arsenio Evangelista told radio station dzBB that law enforcement should keep suspects that are lower-ranked in the cartels alive to gain information about their leaders. “[Law enforcement officials] seem to want to cut off the [drug] trail...It’s saddening...What we want to really know is the head [of the networks]...from local government units to the law enforcers,� Evangelista said.
MORE CONVENTION. Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim (left of Pres.-elect Rodrigo Duterte) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Datu Abul Khayr Alonto (right of Duterte) shake hands. The two largest Moro groups in the country will craft a new proposal that will grant greater autonomy to Bangsamoro hoping this will finally lead to a lasting peace in strife-torn Mindanao. The “Moro convention� will allow stakeholders to provide inputs on the proposal, which will refine the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
ISIS releases first propaganda... PAGE A1 countrymen to join their ranks in Syria. But for those who could not reach the Middle East, the group also gave them an alternative. “If you can’t get to Syria, ‘join the muhajideen in the Philippines’,� the terror network said, as quoted by Katz on her Twitter account. Describing the content of the video, deep web monitor Vocativ said the ISIS has appointed a leader in the Philippines by the name of Abdallah al-Filipini, a representative of the self-dubbed caliphate. The release of the video did not surprise Katz, who noted that the Islamic State has also released an infographic claiming the presence of its network in the Philippines. In the graphic released earlier this month, ISIS claimed to have 10 fighting battalions in five different locations in the country. It also claimed that ISIS followers mostly in Basilan have killed 289 people since April 2015.
Security officials in the Philippines denied the presence of ISIS fighters in the Philippines, but noted that several radical groups such as the Abu Sayyaf have pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Islamic State’s self-appointed caliph. Last week, the Abu Sayyaf beheaded its second Canadian hostage, Robert Hall, after its demands for ransom were not met by the Philippines and Canadian governments. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, American President Barack Obama and President Benigno Aquino III condemned the execution of Hall, but insisted that ransom will not be settled with extremist groups. Security forces have intensified operations against the Abu Sayyaf following the beheading. On Tuesday afternoon, three Abu Sayyaf fighters were killed while 16 soldiers were hurt in a clash in Sulu. US Attorney General Loretta
Lynch said Tuesday that countering jihadist propaganda continues to be a challenge for the government. “How do we break that chain? How do we counter this extremist ideology that’s online, knowing that the internet has to remain free and open? What can we get out there that’s a counter-message to that?� she said in an interview with the Associated Press. Her statement came amid investigations of a recent massacre on a nightclub in Orlando by a gunman allegedly inspired by the ISIS. Meanwhile, air strikes in Syria targeted the Islamic State’s de facto capital of Raqqa on Wednesday, killing at least 18 civilians, including two children, according to activists. The barrage, blamed on the Russian and Syrian air force, came as government forces sought to recover from losses suffered in a stalled offensive on the extremist-held city. (With reports from Associated Press)
Duterte to Amb. Goldberg: Are you with us... PAGE A1 But the incoming President said the agreement is somewhat vague. “I’ll give you an example. The law of the sea of nations gives us the exclusive right over 200 nauti-
cal miles. If I go there using that privilege of mine, would that be an attack against China or an offense against China?� he said. He reiterated his earlier pronouncements that the Philippines would not go to war with China.
US: Arbitral court ruling won’t... PAGE A1 pines will have the solid backing of the international community in exploring ways of convincing Beijing to abide by the court ruling. “I would say that our security commitment to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) is ironclad. We take anything that concerns Philippine security very seriously and we will be working with all our partners
in the region to analyze the ruling and to respond to anything that may happen after that,� the US official said. The official also expressed concern over China’s tactics of sending Coast Guard ships to escort its fleet of fishing vessels in disputed waters. “It’s a disturbing trend to see Chinese fishing vessels accompanied by its Coast Guard vessel to assert
“I will not go to war because of the Scarborough Shoal lang,� he said. The Scarborough shoal is one of the disputed areas over the gas-rich West Philippine Sea. Duterte said he would wait for
the decision of the United Nations International Tribunal on the Law of the Seas (itlos) before finalizing the government’s move. “I’ve repeatedly said we will wait for the arbitral judgement. Then I will decide,� he said.
a claim that is not legitimate,� the official said. The comments came after Indonesian warships fired warning shots and detained a Chinese-flagged fishing boat and seven crew near the Natuna Islands in the South China Sea last week, in actions slammed by Beijing. Unlike several other countries in the region, Indonesia has no overlapping claims with China to islets or reefs in the sea, but Beijing’s claim to fishing rights near the Natunas appears to overlap with Jakarta’s exclusive economic zone. Last week’s incident was only the latest in a series of skirmishes between the two countries since Jakarta launched a crackdown on illegal fishing in 2014. In March, Chinese coast uards rammed a Chinese boat detained near the Natunas and helped it escape as the Indonesians towed the vessel to shore. And last month, the Indonesian navy opened fire on a Chinese trawler near the islands and seized the vessel. Following last week’s confrontation, the commander of the Indonesian navy’s western fleet said the fishing vessel incursions were “structured,� indicating Beijing had “given its blessing.� “China protested because it thinks this area is theirs,� commander Achmad Taufiqoerrochman told reporters. “Actually the (fish) stealing is just a ruse to stake its claim,� he added. China has undertaken land reclamation works in the Spratly Islands, one of the South China Sea’s main archipelagoes which are also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan. Beijing praises ally China, meanwhile, praised its ASEAN ally Cambodia for siding with Beijing on the South China Sea row. “We highly commend and appreciate Prime Minister Hun Sen’s remarks at the commencement of Cambodia’s academy of governance,� Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press conference in Beijing. The Cambodian leader has voiced his country’s rejection of arbitration as means of settling the maritime dispute. Chinese pressure was blamed for ASEAN’S retraction of a statement sounding alarm over Beijing’s island building in the South China Sea. The original document, released
by ASEAN member Malaysia and described as a joint statement from the bloc, warned that developments in the hotly contested South China Sea could “undermine peace, security and stability.� “China will not accept any solution imposed upon it nor any unilateral resort to a third party dispute settlement procedure,� Hua said. “China remains committed to resolving relevant disputes through negotiation with sovereign states directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with international law,� she said. The Chinese foreign ministry also accused the Western media of turning a “blind eye� to the support by nations for Beijing’s position. “It is no news to us that some western media sometimes call white black. But we know now that they also have problems with doing simple math,� Hua said, referring to media reports that only eight countries back China’s position. China’s top newspaper, for its part, has strongly criticized the US deployment of carriers to international waters near the Philippines. The US carriers John C. Stennis and Ronald Reagan began joint operations in seas east of the Philippines at the weekend in a show of strength. “The US picked the wrong target in playing this trick on China,� the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, said in a commentary. It was published under the pen name “Zhong Sheng,� a Chineselanguage homonym for the phrase “voice of China� that is often used to express the paper’s views on foreign policy. “Behind this misjudgment is Washington’s anxiety and arrogance, and it is the true expression of its hegemonic nature,� the paper added. The US Navy chief said on Monday the deployment was a signal of the US commitment to regional security, adding that he hoped it would deter any attempts to destabilize the region. The US Pacific Command (PACOM) said the carriers started their dual operations on Saturday, including air defense drills, sea surveillance, defensive air combat training and long-range strikes. PACOM said the US last conducted a dual carrier operation in the Western Pacific in 2014. Two carriers operated in the South China Sea and East China Sea in 2012. (With reports from AP)
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Dateline USa
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 23-29, 2016
A
Fil-Ams bid farewell to outgoing Amb. Cuisia
SAN FRANCISCO—Members of the Filipino community bid a warm goodbye to outgoing Philippine Ambassador to the US Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. at a farewell reception for him June 20 at the Kalayaan Hall, Philippince Center here. A similar farewell last week feted the popular Cuisia in Washington, DC, where he reportedly has been dubbed a “rock star” by colleagues in the international diplomatic corps and by “Philippinists” in the US capital. Consul General in San Fran- Filipino Americans listening to Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia at the farewell reception for him cisco Henry S. Bensurto called at the Philippine Consulate. Cuisia the “hardest working Philippine ambassador to the US” in memory. The envoy reportedly visited Filipino comQUAKE DRILL. Members of the Bureau of Fire and Protection in Makati City use a high ladder to simulate a rescue operation in case the munities in 44 states while “Big One” strikes. Thousands participated on Wednesday, June 22 in the nationwide earthquake drill, an exercise that aims to teach what to do when a powerful quake hits Metro Manila. Camp Aguinaldo, the military’s main headquarters located in Quezon City, served as the ceremonial venue and the national command post. Inquirer.net photo by Yuji Vincent Gonzales
Advocates expect favorable Supreme Court... PAGE A1 on Monday, June 20. According to a report from the Migration Policy Institute, of the 10 million people who live in a household with at least one DAPA eligible person, 4.3 million are children under the age of 18. Thirty-seven percent of undocumented immigrants in the country are parents of minors who are US citizens, according to data from the Pew Research Center. Hincapié said the programs put forth by the president would help those children “focus on school and not worry about their parents being taken away.” The programs’ opponents challenge the president’s authority to act on immigration without congressional approval. They say the policy changes may directly impact their states and need to be vetted through the legislature. On February 16, 2015, 26 states, led by Texas, filed an injunction blocking the president’s orders. The decision from US District Judge Andrew Hanen of Texas came just two days ahead of the DAPA program’s scheduled debut. The lawsuit does not affect the current form of the DACA program, which has been in effect since 2012. The federal government appealed Hanen’s ruling. Now the case has moved to the Supreme Court which will have the final say on the matter. The eight current Justices may vote to either
uphold the lower court’s decision, or overrule it and clear the way for the implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA. A 4-4 split, possible due to a vacant ninth seat, would also keep the injunction in place. Hincapié said the NILC is prepared to refile the case in the event of a tie. “Legal scholars across the country believe the president acted with full legal authority,” said Hincapié. At a session of oral arguments reported in April by National Public Radio, U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli suggested that the states filing the suit have no legal standing for complaint because the administration’s plans do not cause the plaintiffs actual harm. The administration also contends that matters of immigration are in the realm of federal jurisdiction and beyond state authority. Members of Monday’s panel were confident the Supreme Court would allow DAPA and expanded DACA to go into effect. However, they said the two programs are only the initial steps in reforming policies that have not kept up with America’s demographic realities. “If my family came to the US today we wouldn’t be able to [stay],” said Hincapie, whose parents migrated legally to America from Colombia. Panelists said those who shirk the stigma associated with their undocumented status and testify
to their experiences are critical to immigration reform efforts. Thousands of immigrants from the 26 states in the lawsuit made their presence known in the capital as the Supreme Court conducted oral arguments on the case, according to Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer Prizewinning Filipino-American journalist and founder of the nonprofit, Define American. His organization encourages undocumented immigrants like himself to “come out” regarding their residency status in order to challenge prevailing stereotypes held against them. “They say we are a drain to society but…we pay billions of dollars in taxes,” said Vargas during Monday’s discussion. He said many undocumented residents make many contributions and go unnoticed in society as people’s friends, neighbors, and co-workers. However, Vargas admitted that undocumented immigrants still take on risks by being open about their status. President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice -- AAJC (AAAJAAJC), Mee Moua, told the panel that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) feel particularly apprehensive toward the topic of immigration reform. Only 1 in 4 of the 15,000 Filipinos eligible for the DACA program actually applies, according to the International Business Times. Ten percent of candi-
Early in the day, Ambassador Cuisia was hosted by the World Affairs Council at a luncheon. He is seen here with Susan Siskel, executive VP and COO of Asia Foundation. Inquirer.net photo by Esther Chavez
seeking trade resources for the Philippines. Cuisia, Bensurto said, was the day-to-day face of Philippine inAmbassador Jose Luis Cuisia Jr. bidding terests in the US Congress where goodbye to the Filipino community in the the envoy would go “office by San Francisco Bay Area. Behind him is Deputy (congressional) office to explain Consul Jaime Ramon Ascalon and to his left the Philippines’ views on key isis Consul General Henry S. Bensurto Jr. sues. “That’s what it takes to win Inquirer.net photos by Rodel Rodis allies for the Philippines” among
Filipino man arrested...
US lawmakers, he said. “Next to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Ambassador Cuisia was responsible for making the US more active in the West Philippine Sea issue,” said Bensurto, the country’s foremost legal expert on the territorial conflict with China. (Inquirer.net)
PAGE A1 caught on security footage attempting to crack open a safe and carrying stolen equipment out of a smashed window pane in a video released by LVMPD. The thief would also break through doors and climb up to rooftops to gain access to
money and equipment, according to sources for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Feiss said the suspect would spend his loot on gambling and drugs. “I think he would have kept going until he got caught,” said Feiss, who thanked patrol officers for work that helped detec-
tives connect Santiago to the burglaries. Santiago is currently detained at the Clark County Detention Center. He is charged with violating parole and possession of stolen property, drugs, and burglary tools. If convicted on all charges, he could face as many as 10 years in Nevada State Prison. (Eric Anthony Licas/AJPress)
dates for protected status are Asian, yet immigration reform is often framed by the media as an exclusively Latino issue, according to Moua. She said that characterization relegates Asians to the periphery of the debate and discourages them from speaking out. According to Moua, AAPIs perceive that “there’s not a political space to protect people who come out.”
The pending Supreme Court decision, as well as comments from presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, have cast doubt on the future of DAPA and expanded DACA. Moua said that uncertainty contributes to the reluctance of members of the AAPI community to publicly weigh in on the immigration debate. “One candidate has said he would undo these programs,”
said Vargas. “We still have more work to do.” Anti-immigrant rhetoric from Trump has earned him widespread disdain amongst minority communities. However, Moua says an effort must be made to translate that aversion into real political action. According to polls from AAAJ-AAJC, 62 percent of Asian Americans said they were yet PAGE A4
A
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June 23-29, 2016 • LAS VeGAS ASIAn JOuRnAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678
Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach takes public...
PAGE A1
WALK OF SHAME. Inspired by the “Walk of Shame� gimmick employed by some local chief executives, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Tuesday, June 21 paraded masked men wearing the faces of President Benigno Aquino III and his Cabinet members. Former party-list representative Mong Palatino, chairman of Bayan NCR, said the protest is a reminder to the people that the Aquino administration’s “sins� should not be forgotten. Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez
US, PH launch guidelines to protect migrants THE Philippines and the United States recently led the launch of the “Global Guidelines to Protect Migrants in Countries Experiencing Conflict or Natural Disaster.� The project, initiated by the two countries, was under the Migrants in Countries in Crisis (MICIC), according to a statement from the US Department of State. The Philippines and the US recognized that no country is
immune to conflict or natural disaster which led to the conception of the guidelines. The publication of the guidelines was a result of two years of consultations with governments across the world and among private sector employees, civil society, diaspora and migrant organizations. The guidelines seek to promote saving lives and calls in migrants to get assistance in
emergencies without discrimination. They also promote fostering respect for human rights of migrants regardless of their immigration status. Earlier this week, the Philippines and the US formally launched the guidelines at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The guidelines will also be launched in Geneva, Switzerland on June 28. (By Patricia Lourdes Viray / Philstar.com)
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to be engaged by representatives of the Democratic party, while 74 percent are yet to hear from Republicans. Participants in Monday’s discussion hoped to build motivation amongst all ethnic groups ahead of the November elections. “Hate mongering from the right cannot be the sole strategy of the left,� said Moua. The 2016 presidential race is especially critical because of the empty seat on the Supreme Court left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. (By Eric Licas Anthony / AJPress)
National HIV Testing Day on Monday, June 27 when special testing events will be held around the United States. “It is vital to get tested at least once in your lifetime. The risk is in not knowing,� the reigning Miss Universe added. Ending the stigma associated with testing that exists in many parts of the world is critical to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic as it is estimated that 17.1 million of the 36.9 million people living with HIV worldwide do not know they are infected. “The most important thing about getting an HIV test today is to destigmatize the whole idea of knowing your HIV status,� said Therese Rodriguez, Apicha’s CEO. “She will hopefully inspire more people to have the courage to get themselves tested.� Rodriguez explained that knowing one’s status is crucial in the process of getting the necessary help one needs. In New York, HIV tests are provided for free by health care centers such as Apicha, which specializes in care for the LGBT community. In other states and centers, there is a sliding scale in terms of the cost of the test. “Every government should invest in it (HIV testing) because it is more expensive to cure people rather than to prevent it,� Rodriguez said. “We are going to continue our educational work and bring resources to the issue of HIV and AIDS. The stigma has to be on the forefront of our struggle and those are the only ways for us to end the epidemic,� she added. HIV Awareness in the Philippines Upon her arrival, Miss Universe went to a pre-test counseling with a community health educator from the center. Shortly thereafter, she was given the latest form of test, which can detect a new infection within four weeks of transmission. And instead of waiting for weeks or days, the results were available a few minutes after the test was conducted. “I volunteered to be tested because I didn’t know my status. I’m curious about the statistics in the Philippines and globally and
Miss Universe getting her HIV test at Apicha, a health care center that caters to the LGBT community in New York. AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
now, six months into my reign, I realized that I had to get myself tested,� Wurtzbach told us after the test. “We’re all at risk, we’re all the same. But that risk will be reduced if you get yourself tested. It is very important.� She also lamented about the alarming rate of HIV infections in the Philippines. According to the UNICEF, the prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the Philippines is growing at an alarming rate and the country is one of only seven countries globally where the number of new HIV cases has increased by over 25 per cent from 2001 to 2009. New infections are largely concentrated among key populations with specific risk behaviors, such as unprotected male-to-male sex, transactional sex and intravenous drug use. “It makes me wonder why they are not talking about it. I can’t really blame it on just one thing. Saan ba tayo nagkulang? Where are we going wrong? Why is this happening to us?,� she said. Data from the Philippine Department of Health’s Epidemiol-
ogy Bureau reveal that the number of individuals with HIV newly diagnosed per day rose to 22 in 2015, from just one in 2008, four in 2010, nine in 2012 and 17 in 2014. Health Secretary Janette Garin projected a sharper increase in the number of HIV cases in the Philippines in the next seven years. “If we do not slow down our HIV epidemic, if we do not invest in preventing new HIV infections, the number of people living with HIV will reach 133,000 by 2022,� she said at the HIV Partners’ Forum Summit in Manila, according to Philippine Star. Wurtzbach then said it is about lack of education on the issue. “People don’t know about HIV and AIDS. They do not know where to get themselves tested. They don’t know how they can acquire it. They don’t know that when they share needles, that’s a way of transferring HIV,� she elaborated. “I think and I hope that with our new administration, we can put some light into HIV. Let’s not forget about it. I don’t want to put it in the shadow.�
Rep. Dina Titus recently embarked on an official trip across Asia where she met Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar’s president, Htin Kyaw. The meeting came less than three months after Myanmar’s Parliament approved Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi as the “state counselor.� Under the country’s constitution, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi cannot become president because she has children who were born in the UK. Despite the titles, it is clear that she is the de facto leader of the country. The Congresswoman was honored and dignified to have met such an advocate for global democracy.
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D ateline PhiliPPines Convicted drug lords deny plot to kill Duterte
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Palace, Binay pay tribute to Maceda
by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com
Viray
MANILA—High-profile convicted drug lords detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City denied on Tuesday, June 21 that they have a plot to kill President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. According to a report from The Star, members of the “Bilibid 19� asked for an investigation into the alleged plot to kill the incoming
president. The 19 high-value inmates from the NBP said that the allegation might be used to “silence� them. Incoming Philippine National Police Chief Supt. Ronald dela Rosa earlier revealed that drug lords detained in the NBP are raising funds to counter the P5 million offer of Duterte for killers of drug lords. Dela Rosa claimed that there is a plot to make him and Duterte
as the target of the inmates. He added that the bounties were raised from P10 million to P50 million. The incoming PNP chief, however, challenged the drug lords to a “war.� “Bring it on, really. Bring it on. O, mas malaki P50 million. Okay, you come. Bring it on anytime — any time of the day, any place,� Dela Rosa said in an interview with ANC’s Headstart.
Pacquiao declares support for Duterte during oath-taking by rosette
adeL
Philstar.com
MANILA—The world boxing champion and now incoming Sen. Emmanuel “Mannyâ€? Pacquiao on Wednesday, June 22 took his oath of office at the Sarangani Provincial Gymnasium, Sarangani province. During his oath, Pacquiao, who said he is not only representing locals of Sarangani but also the Mindanaoans, declared his support to fellow Mindanaoan, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte was also present to witness the ceremony. “This is a different fight now but I know I am not alone‌ I will not do it alone. We will tap all the available resources. We will utilize all the networks and maximize all partnership. This afternoon, I declare my wholehearted support to our president Rodrigo Roa Duterte,â€? Pacquiao said in his televised oathtaking. Pacquiao also urged the public to support Duterte. Pacquiao also said that as he takes his journey to the Senate,
he will uphold his asset “common sense� to do what’s right for the good of the public. “As champions, we are solution providers. As solution providers, we will uphold the common sense. Common sense is sound judgment and right action in practical matters,� the neophyte senator said Meanwhile, Duterte who also delivered a speech in Pacquiao’s oath-taking and recognized his
“years of friendship� with the senator. He said Pacquiao urged him to run last year but he declined. Pacquiao ran under the United Nationalist Alliance and supported Duterte’s rival Vice President Jejomar Binay. Duterte, however, continued to support Pacquiao’s senatorial bid and even endorsed him during his miting de avance, even if the latter was not on his senatorial slate.
by rosette
adeL
Philstar.com
MANILA—MalacaĂąang on Tuesday, June 21 offered condolences the family of former Senate President Ernesto Maceda. “We extend our condolences to his bereaved family and join his bereaved family in fervent prayers for his eternal repose,â€? Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement. Coloma said Maceda distinguished himself as a “legislator, Cabinet member and ambassador through more than five decades of dedicated public service.â€? Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay said he was “deeply saddened by the death of Maceda.â€? He recognized the late senator’s service to the nation. “Manong Ernie served the nation in various capacities and lived through historic moments in our nation’s history, mostly as
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an active participant but never as a spectator. Manong Ernie will be sorely missed by his family, his friends in government and politics, and those who valued and appreciated his work for the nation,� Binay said in a statement. 81-year-old Maceda passed away on Monday evening due to Former Senate President Ernesto Maceda died multiple organ failure. due to health complications.
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OpiniOn
Shootout
Features
THERE has seemingly been a string of criminal incidents where police officers have instantly shot suspected drug peddlers and pushers upon encounter. Is change really coming to address criminality and the growing illegal drug trade in the Philippines? Or is this a ploy to clean up their ranks? It is unpleasant to see officers you expect to uphold the law and apprehend criminals, as the same people the citizenry should be afraid of. It is a betrayal of trust and a degradation of peace and security. They are after all, in-charge of ensuring the public’s safety and purging misfits from the streets. Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte has continuously warned that he will be aggressive in addressing criminality in the country. He even insists on the return of the death penalty and the public hanging of convicted criminals. Duterte wants capital punishment for criminals convicted in illegal drugs, gun-for-hire syndicates and those who commit “heinous crimes” like rapists, robbers or car thieves who kill their victims. Since the elections in May, there have been 34 alleged drug pushers killed in a supposed shootout with law enforcers. The Catholic Church has commended the authorities in their strong anticrime crusade. However, it said that vigilante-style murders
may also be on the rise as it expressed disapproval of bounties for criminals. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Pres. and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas reminded authorities that “to kill a suspect outright, no matter how much surveillance work may have antecedently been done on the suspect, is not morally justified.” “We understand the difficulties that law-enforcers face, the daily risk to life and limb, but not only civil society but also the Church counts on them for the flourishing of a society where all enjoy the blessings of a regime under laws that are just and institutions that are fair,” Villegas said. There was never a better time to call this world a civilized society. Because of various national and international laws existing, we are bound to live decently, based on respect for the sanctity of the string of recent crimes reported still leaves life, democracy and human rights. An intensified law enforcement may only serve anyone vulnerable. The situation calls for strong and effective civilas a deterrent against crimes, to lessen opportunities for criminal elements. But the severity of ian oversight of the police. Going on an all-out
Editorial
ManilaTimes.net photo
war against crime is beyond the power of the government alone. This campaign can only be deemed successful with the engagement of the public. (AJPress)
Game on for the presumptive nominees: Clinton beats Trump in new poll and in fundraising IT may be less than a month away from the Republican and Democratic National Conven- The Fil-Am tions, but the respective pre- Perspective sumptive nominees for parties -- Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton — have sharpened their attacks against each other. Polls suggest that Hill- Gel SantoS-ReloS ary Clinton is winning in the match-up this early. According to a CNN/ORC poll released on June 21, Clinton tops Trump by a 47 percent to 42 percent margin in the race to the White House, with just percent 22 of registered voters saying their minds could change between now and November. Even with added candidates in the mix, Trump continues to be in a weaker position compared to Clinton. The same poll reveals that when Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party and Jill Stein of the Green Party are included in the list of options, Clinton holds the lead at 42 percent, Trump 38 percent, Johnson 9 percent and Stein 7 percent. The CNN/ORC poll shows Former State Sec. Clinton holding an edge over Trump on foreign policy, immigration, and trade. On the other hand, the respondents to the poll Trump is deemed to be stronger than Clinton on the economy and the fight against terrorism. Despite the aforementioned opinions of regis-
tered voters on key issues, however, it seems Trump has much work to do to win the presidency. The poll reveals a majority say they ultimately expect Clinton to prevail in November: 55 percent say they think Clinton will win the presidency, only 38 percent think Trump will. But public opinion isn’t just the hurdle he needs to surmount. Money is very important to run an effective and strong campaign nationwide heading into the November general elections, and Trump is also way behind Clinton in this race. According to NBC news, Clinton has outraised Trump 9-1. The Democratic presumptive nominee started off the month of June with $42 million cash-on-hand, while the Republican presumptive nominee has only $1.3 million. In a dramatic effort to infuse new energy to his campaign to be more competitive in a broader electorate come November -- Trump just fired Corey Lewandowski, his campaign manager who helped him win Republican presidential nominating contests. Trump’s critics and political opponents say the dilemma is not just his staff nor money. They contend that the real problem is the candidate himself — Donald Trump. Of course, many Filipinos in America believe in
Hillary Clinton
Donald Trump
Trump and his campaign promises. But does he really have the chance to win the votes of a broader electorate in America? What must he do to win the race to the White House? ***
Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos
Six years not that long
WHEN talking of building infrastruc- Demand ture or seeing the results of development and Supply programs, the six years of a presidential term is not that long. It is over too soon. Because every Boo ChanCo new administration wants to start from scratch, a president realizes too late he or she has little to show for the six years in power. The one big attraction of Mr. Duterte is his statement during the campaign that he doesn’t mind borrowing good projects and ideas from the previous administrations. Sanay naman daw siyang kumopya nung estudyante siya. Hopefully, his Cabinet members bear this in mind when they start working on projects left over from previous administrations. The one big fault of the Aquino watch is P-Noy’s reluctance to have anything to do with Arroyo projects even if there are already significant sunk costs or ongoing contracts. Sure, for the obviously anomalous contracts, the new administration must do what it must do for good governance. But ordering new feasibility studies on top of dozens of feasibility studies on the same project would be a foolish waste of time, money and other public resources. One of the first things the new regime must do is take an inventory of pending projects and note in what stages these projects are. Then, establish new timelines for decision making and implementation with firm delivery dates. Unless this is done, they will find out the bureaucracy is good in pretending to be
busy even if they have no idea or intention to deliver anything soon. Take the DOTC. The new Manila airport had been talked about and studied a lot for decades. JICA was asked last year by DOTC to prepare a new study, again. It is time to make decisions because: • We need an airport to cover Manila and south of Manila to replace or supplement NAIA. Our main industrial zones are in Calabarzon. Clark is too far specially for those exporting or getting raw materials by air daily or just in time inventory systems. There had been so many studies on where to locate the new Manila international airport. Sites in and along Laguna de Bay (Talim Island, Taguig shoreline, Bulacan) as well as Sangley and even Lipa have been mentioned and studied. The first decision the Duterte administration should do within the next three months is where to locate this airport. Everything starts with this decision. General Aviation cannot be relocated to Sangley as planned if Sangley will be selected as the site of the new Manila International Airport. • We also need to develop Clark to serve provinces north of Manila and incidentally, supplement NAIA while the new one is being developed. Clark needs a decent terminal to handle increased international traffic. Clark needs a second runway because the current second runway is designed for fighter jets and not in compliance with ICAO separation rules for commercial jets.
With Clark Green City, the Ayala township development in Porac and increased importance of the Subic port, the Clark airport will be busier before we realize it. Clark will need a fast train to Metro Manila and the only ROW available is the PNR ROW that is now programmed for a slow commuter train from Caloocan to Malolos. Indeed, this proposal of Japan needs to be re-evaluated to fit Clark’s need for a fast train and we should do this re-evaluation and make a decision fast. In the meantime, the new administration should proceed with the stalled public bidding for what a PPP Center press release called the “P74.56-billion ($1.65 billion) NAIA Development project seen to transform the Philippines’ main international gateway into a world-class modern airport facility. The winning bidder of the airport project will upgrade the existing NAIA terminals to increase capacity. “The concessionaire will also handle the operations and maintenance covering both landside and airside aspects — except air traffic services — to increase operational efficiency and improve quality of services.” The lesson in Cebu Mactan tells us private management of airports will serve the public interest. There is also a pending public bidding for the operations and maintenance of a number of domestic airports (Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro). Everything was ready for the public bidding and the potential bidders have done their computations. But DOTC held the bidding back. USec. Timmy Limcaoco claims they
are waiting for legal opinions from the Solicitor General and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel as if DOTC didn’t have enough lawyers. On the train system, the earlier agreement was for the Tutuban to Bicol line to subsidize the commuter line, but this was changed to bid out the two as separate projects. That effectively kills the commuter line. Worse, Abaya’s DOTC wants to run the operations as if government has what it takes to run a train system well. The MRT-3 experience proves otherwise. Decisions should be made on this rehab plan quickly so work can get going. The other urgent projects that need more attention are the two NLEX-SLEX connector roads. The two connector roads will greatly relieve congestion, taking as much as 50 percent of traffic load on EDSA and C5. The slow moving trucks will take the MPIC one which connects to the piers. The connector roads may help make the Clark airport temporarily a bearable alternative to NAIA. Indeed, the Duterte administration should get a complete briefing from the PPP Center and ask for a list of already approved projects ready for bidding. I understand the PPP staff is already frustrated with the seeming lack of interest of implementing agencies in carrying out vetted projects. What DOTC needs is one good project manager. I am confident Sec. Tugade will be decisive, based on the meetings I have had with him. Unlike Abaya and Mar Roxas, Tugade is a self-made man who grew up from poverty to become a success in the logistics business.
I noticed in our meetings, which included representatives from the business sector and some government agencies, that Tugade is anxious to fix problems quickly. He wants timelines of deliverables, something the current DOTC officials have ignored. Tugade, with his experience in the logistics industry, knows the necessity of having and meeting deadlines. The infrastructure Cabinet members of Mr. Duterte should remember they do not have the luxury of time. People expect solutions but will understand if they can see something is being done. I am happy to note that in the case of Mr. Tugade, he started working the day after his name was announced by Mr. Duterte as the new Transportation Secretary. I know he has been educating himself quite extensively over the last few weeks. But because he is a senior citizen, I only hope his health is up to the punishing physical challenge. Tugade should brush off the lethargy of the bureaucracy he is inheriting from Jun Abaya. Not everyone will be happy with the decisions he will make but the important thing is that within the next three months, he has made most of the key decisions that are necessary. We simply cannot debate forever where to put the new airport, how to build the new railways and how to decongest EDSA. President-elect Duterte should implement the projects the Aquino administration was too afraid to get started. *** Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is bchanco@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco.
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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Mar Roxas submits truckload of SOCE files MANILA—After two weeks of delay, the camp of losing president candidate Manuel Roxas II on Wednesday, June 22 turned over his Statement on Contributions and Expenses (SOCE) to the Commission on Elections, showing P478 million in total campaign expenses. Akbayan party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez, spokesperson for the LP-lead administration coalition during the campaign, submitted Roxas’ SOCE with 50 boxes of supporting documents mounted on a truck parked in front of the Comelec building in Intramuros, Manila. Gutierrez said Roxas’s biggest contributor was his mother, Judy Roxas, who handed him P90 million. His uncle, Araneta Group CEO Jorge Araneta, meanwhile, contributed P70 million while Maria Fores gave P60 million. While Roxas himself shelled out P18 million, his aunt Ruby donated P10 million. His cousin, celebrated chef Margarita Fores,
Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas is the second-highest spender among the 2016 presidential candidates with P487 million in poll expenditures.
gave P7 million. Gutierrez said 83 percent of Roxas’s campaign expenditure went to television advertisements. Roxas and his colleagues in the Liberal Party on June 16 asked the Comelec to extend the original June 8 deadline to submit the SOCE to June 30.
The en banc decision to grant the motion prompted the resignation of Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim from the poll body’s campaign finance office on Tuesday. He had recommended against accepting the late submissions. (Camille Diola/Philstar.com)
ABS-CBN’s Lopez accepts DENR post by Janvic
Mateo Philstar.com
MANILA—Anti-mining advocate Gina Lopez has accepted the offer of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte to be the next secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). “After much introspection, I decided to accept it,” Lopez said. “I was surprised (because) I am not the usual choice. My stand on environment protection is clear,” she added. Lopez was attending the presentation of awards for Excellence in Educational Transformation at the ABS-CBN compound when she abruptly left the venue to answer a phone call from Duterte. “I just talked with him a few minutes ago,” she told reporters after her conversation with Duterte. “I told him, sir, I just want you to know that I considered your proposal, I am deeply honored. It’s such a controversial decision, but you decided to trust me... I give you my firm commitment that I will do everything I can,” Lopez added. Lopez chairs ABS-CBN’s charitable arm Lingkod Bayan Foundation and Pasig River Rehabilitation Council. She said she was not expecting Duterte’s offer for the DENR post when she met with him on Monday in Davao City. A staunch anti-mining advocate,
Lopez said she would seek a dialogue with mining companies upon her assumption as environment secretary. She said she would address climate change and air pollution as well as dynamite fishing and illegal logging. “The first thing I want to do is clean the ranks of DENR. Those who are accepting bribes, your days are over,” she said. The appointment of Lopez to the DENR came weeks after Duterte stressed the need for someone who can help him address the destruction of the environment caused by mining. Duterte’s aide, outgoing Maribojoc, Bohol Mayor Jun Evasco, expressed his interest to head the agency. Evasco was a former member of the New People’s Army before he became chief of staff of Duterte. Evasco will serve as secretary to the Cabinet of the incoming administration. Duterte warns mining firms Duterte said Lopez, whom he described as “ardent for responsible mining,” met him Monday to talk about the impact of mining in some areas. Duterte said mining companies should plant trees and wash away the chemicals they leave behind to avoid destroying the environment.
Gina Lopez
“If you don’t do it, I will cancel the permit,” he said. Duterte said there would be a comprehensive review of all mining concessions to ensure that such activities would not be harmful to the environment. “If you are into it, be sure you have enough resources or I’ll require you to go to Canada and Australia to learn how to mine precious metals,” the incoming president said. “When you’re spoiling the land, I’ll cancel it (permit) without hesitation. That’s the bottom line,” he added. Duterte clarified that he is not against mining but companies “have to do it right” because the precious metals belong to the Filipino people. “If you cannot do it right, then get out,” he said.
FAMILY CAREGIVERS, JOIN GENERAL TONY TAGUBA JUNE 29 & 30 500,000 Nevadans serve as family caregivers, providing assistance to an older parent or other loved one with the tasks of daily living. AARP Nevada, the Asian Community Development Center (ACDC) and Rising Asian Pacific Americans Coalition for Diversity (RAPACD) are pleased to welcome Major General Antonio “Tony” Taguba—one of the nation’s foremost advocates for caregivers and veterans— to Las Vegas for two special community events: Wednesday, June 29 at 6:00 p.m. | Hong Kong Garden 5300 Spring Mountain Road Thursday, June 30 at 10:00 a.m. | RAPACD Cultural Center 3339 W. Washington Avenue, inside historic Lorenzi Park Free refreshments will be provided.
Seating is limited for these special events. Register today at aarp.org/nv or call 1-877-926-8300.
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 23-29, 2016
VEGAS&STYLE Journal
LIKE THE BELOVED BLUE TANG IN ‘FINDING DORY’
Pixar artist Paul Abadilla and his journey back home by Christina
alpad ManilaTimes.net
In the movie “Finding Dory,” Dory—the blue tang who suffers from short term memory gap— suddenly finds herself longing for her family. As a result, she leaves behind the comfort of a familiar environment and sets on a journey to find them. In real life, Filipino-American Pixar Studio sketch artist Paul Abadilla—who helped the huge team of animators and illustrators complete the sequel to “Finding nemo”—also found himself longing for his homeland, thus his excitement over his current visit to Manila. “Like Dory who is in search of her roots, where she and her family came from, I similarly feel like I’m rediscovering tastes, sights, smells, the warm temperature and the weather here which I love. It’s getting that familiar feeling back. It feels so good to me and I feel right at home. I love it!” Abadilla enthused to The Manila Times. But unlike Dory who cannot remember his childhood, Abadilla vividly recall his humble beginnings in the Philippines. Speaking in front of students and the media to promote his studio’s latest movie at Makati Diamond Residences last week, Abadilla shared he grew up in his family’s home in Alabang and his paternal grandmother’s apartment in Pandacan until they migrated to the United States of America when he was just seven years old. He also remembers how he
loved to draw and sketch even in his formative years and how the absence of toys helped him develop his hobby. “I always loved to draw. I think I learned how to as soon as I was able to hold a pencil,” he laughed. “Also, I didn’t have much toys and that’s when I turned to my school supplies, which were really just there. I think, I drew naturally because of that.” From viewer Under the sea: Pixar set artist Paul Abadilla was in Manila to answer to creator media questions on Finding Dory and hold an animation workshop in L i k e m o s t Makati. Philstar.com photo by Jun Mendoza children who Abadilla specifically cited grew up before the prevalence of smartphones and handheld watching Disney’s “Tarzan” and gadgets, Abadilla had been fix- “Alladin” as the definitive moated with cartoons. It wasn’t long ment that he wanted to work in until he realized that he wanted to animation. “I saw a possible path and make a career out of it. “I watched a lot of cartoons career in animation—being someand Disney movies when I was a how involved in animation, in kid. During that time, I thought some shape or form was, to me, that cartoons really existed like a dream job. With that in mind, I in real life,” the 32-year old artist knew I wanted to pursue that,” he wholeheartedly shared. shared. When he came of age, and with “It wasn’t until high school when I admitted that, ‘OK it took his parents’ full support, Abadilla a team of artists to create these decided to pursue Bachelor of films and cartoons’,” he contin- Fine Arts in Animation/Illustration at the San Jose State University in ued, laughing at himself. California. Then came the time when he had to take on an internship program as part of his course requirement. Having been a fan all his life, he knew where to apply right away. “When I saw films like ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Finding nemo,’ I knew there was something about Pixar Animation Studios, and I knew I wanted to work for them,” Abadilla narrated. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm PAGE B4
for
$5
Mix and Match the classics.
Big Mac® Quarter Pounder®* with Cheese Filet-O-Fish®
10 Pc. Chicken McNuggets®
Price of single item posted on menuboard. *Weight before cooking 4.25oz. ©2016 McDonald’s
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EntErtainmEnt
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JaDine to be featured in international teen magazine by AlixAndrA
CAole Philstar.com
VilA
JaDine fans rejoice! James Reid and nadine Lustre are #flyinghigh and landing on the pages of a widely recognized international magazine—Teen Vogue. according to reports, the onscreen turned real-life couple will be featured in their US edition and the interview was done during the Washington D.C. leg of their World Tour dubbed as “JaDine high On Love.” The reports were confirmed by the official account of JaDine’s publicist on instagram. The photo features a screenshot of an email asking if the publicists can provide free passes to see one of JaDine’s concerts and to have an exclusive interview with the Team Real. Viva artist agency which handles the celebrity couple also
James Reid and Nadine Lustre recently made their first movie as couple, “This Time.”
shared a snap taken during the magazine. interview. James Reid and nadine Lustre no word yet whether when the recently made their first movie as interview will be published on the couple, “This Time.”
John Lloyd Cruz, LJ Reyes win big at 39th Gawad Urian by
JoyCe Jimenez Philstar.com
JOhn Lloyd Cruz and LJ Reyes won the best actor and actress awards at the 39th Gawad Urian. The announcement came on Wednesday, June 22 at the Kia Theater. John Lloyd won the honor for the film “honor Thy Father,” while LJ Reyes won best actress for the film “anino sa Likod ng Buwan.” “i came here tonight as an actor that can honor and celebrate my pure love for cinema,” John Lloyd said in his acceptance speech. For best director, it was Jerrold Tarog who bagged the award for the film “heneral Luna.” While the film “Taklub” by Centerstage Pro-
Here are the winners of the 39th Gawad Urian.
ductions won as best picture. The best supporting actor and best supporting actress went to Bernardo Bernardo for the film “imbisibol” and ana abad Santos for the film “apocalypse Child” respectively. Below is the complete list of winners of the 39th Gawad Urian. Best Picture: “Taklub” Best Actress: LJ Reyes (“anino sa Likod ng Buwan”) Best Actor: John Lloyd Cruz (“honor Thy Father”) Best Supporting Actor: Bernardo Bernardo (“imbisibol”) Best Supporting Actress: ana abad Santos (“apocalypse Child”)
Best Director: Jerrold Tarog (“heneral Luna”) Best Editing: Jerrold Tarog (“heneral Luna”) Best Music: Jake abella (“aRi: My Life with a King”) Best Sound: Mikko Quizon (“heneral Luna”) Best Production Design: Ben Payumo (“Water Lemon”) Best Screenplay: Robby Tantingco (“ari: My Life with a King”) Best Cinematography: Pong ignacio (“heneral Luna”) Best Short Film: “Wawa” Best Documentary Film: “The Crescent Rising” Natatanging Gawad Urian award: Romy Vitug
Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Toledo IV
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 23-29, 2016
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WGU Nevada announces new One last dance: My deepest sympathies to the victims of Orlando massacre scholarships for business programs By Monet
Online, competency-based university will grant scholarships to undergraduate students enrolling in College of Business
Lu
It would have been like any other Sunday morning on June 12 -- one where I wake up knowing that life is good and that everything is exactly how it should be. Only, it wasn’t. Because that morning, evil took over and life will never be the same again. I say this with a broken and grieving heart, and I say it thinking about the bereaved families of victims of the worst mass shooting in American history. this pain will be in my heart forever. that Saturday night at the Pulse nightclub was supposed to be a special night for Latinos in Orlando, Florida. It was their Latino-themed night. I heard Puerto Rican drag queen Kenya Michaels was set to be one of the guests (former Ru Paul’s Drag Race contestant Yara Sofia later reported that Michaels made it out safely). I’ve never been to this club but I know how exciting a themed night is, especially the ones dedicated to Latinos, whose culture resembles mine. I am sure there were a lot of dancing and fun times. Surrounded by families and friends in a place where they ‘believed’ they are free of judging eyes and hatred. I bet they felt safe just being themselves, but they didn’t know. they didn’t know that was their last dance. Officials confirmed that 49 people were dead and 53 wounded after gunman wielding an assaulttype rifle and a handgun opened fire inside Pulse. I was shocked beyond belief. How could this happen? How can such evil exist? Days passed and it became evident that I am just one out of thousands of people asking the same questions. then there were stories of survivors painfully recalling that fateful night. they describe every horrifying detail that, I can just assume, would haunt them for eternity. “I look over, and he shoots the girl next to me. And I’m just there laying down and I’m thinking ‘I’m next, I’m dead.’ So I don’t know how, but by the glory of God, he shoots toward my head but it hits my hand, and then he shoots me again and it hits the side of my hip. I had no reaction. I was just prepared to just stay there laying down so he
EMPLOYMENT
LAS VEGAS — (June 15, 2016) Nonprofit, online WGU Nevada is now offering a new scholarship program for new students enrolling in any of its undergraduate degree programs in its College of Business. Applications are now being accepted for the Excellence in Business Scholarship, which provides up to $3,000 ($600 per six-month term, up to five terms). In addition, the $65 university application fee will be waived for those applying for the scholarship atnevada.wgu. edu/excellenceinbusiness by August 31, 2016. to be eligible, scholarship ap-
plicants must be officially admitted into one of WGU Nevada’s undergraduate business degree programs, complete the scholarship application, and be interviewed by a WGU scholarship counselor. While WGU Nevada will award multiple scholarships, recipients will be selected based on their academic records, financial need, and readiness for online study at WGU Nevada. WGU Nevada uses an innovative approach called competency-based education, which measures learning rather than time spent in class. Competency-based education is
a good fit for working business professionals because it allows them to study and learn at their own pace and advance as soon as they have mastered course materials. Students have 24/7 access to their course materials, and faculty members provide one-on-one support. terms are six months long, and students pay a flat rate of $3,000 per term for most programs, regardless of the number of courses completed. Because WGU Nevada programs are self-paced, many students are able to accelerate their studies, finishing their degree PAGE B6
Pixar artist Paul Abadilla and his journey...
PAGE B1 The victims of the Orlando massacre
won’t know that I’m alive,” Angel Colon, one of the survivors told the press. Officials and public figures from across the world have expressed condemnation and shock over the tragedy. the outpouring of sympathies from all over the world was reassuring. Outside Los Angeles’ City Hall on Monday evening, June 13, Lady Gaga stood in solidarity alongside the grieving LGBt community she has long supported, delivering a tearful speech: “We mourn the tragic loss of these innocent, beautiful people. Let’s all today pledge an allegiance of love to them and to their families who are suffering so deeply. they are sons and daughters. they were fathers and mothers. they are all our brothers and our sisters. But tonight I will not allow my anger and outrage over this attack to overshadow our need to honor those who are grieving truly for their lost ones; lost members of the LGBt community,” Gaga said, then read aloud the names of each victim. Nick Jonas was also one of the thousands to pay his respects to the Orlando, Florida shooting at a vigil in NYC on Monday, June 13. the singer opened up about attending and speaking at the tribute during a radio interview with Elvis Duran. He said, “I am so humbled, and I think more than anything I just want to speak from the heart and say that I woke up yesterday to the news and like all of you, my heart broke.”
the vigil was held at the historic Stonewall Inn, a bar that helped launch the gay civil rights movement in 1969. Supporters flooded the streets and held rainbow flags in solidarity with the LGBt community. Numerous reports and speculations kept pouring in regarding the motive of the suspect but I have but one thing to say: whether it is a terrorist attack or a hate crime against the LGBt community, I hope that we all remember that countless lives have been lost and ruined. this is not the time to categorize people. they are humans just like everybody else and they deserve justice and respect that they have long been fighting for. I hope the government will do everything in their power to do the right thing. I feel sorry for their families and friends. I can only wish that they will find peace through all of this. to the families and friends of the victims, I sincerely send my deepest sympathies. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com
EMPLOYMENT
FOR RENT
wasn’t reciprocated back then and he sadly got a rejection letter following his application. the young artist-in-the-making was not disheartened, though, and fixed his eyes on Disney Animation Studios. He eventually bagged the training he needed. A year later, Abadilla reapplied at Pixar and—because dreams do come true—was finally accepted as a trainee. Now if his life were a movie, this would be the part where the protagonist would have hurdled the story’s conflict, allowing the audience to breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that the resolution is just about to happen. And yes, Abadilla gets to complete his training with flying colors, graduate summa cum laude from his university, and ultimately, a week later, start his actual work for Pixar. But, since real life is doesn’t necessarily have a movie’s five main parts, the promising Fil-American finds himself starting over again, facing conflicts, climaxes—sometimes anti-climaxes—denouements, and unexpected conclusions even at his dream job. Challenge, fulfillment At Pixar—which by the way employs a lot of Filipinos, who call themselves ‘PixNoys’ or Pinoy Pixarians—Abadilla is hard at work as a sketch artist. “I am primarily a set designer so I’m responsible for designing the environments you see in our movies. My work specifically in-
volves set, color and shading, and lighting designs,” he explained. Working for the company for eight years now, Abadilla has been credited for the doing the set design in the 2008 feature animation “Brave,” his first movie; character shading design in 2013’s “Monsters University;” and color scripting in Pixar’s first indie movie “the Blue Umbrella” and first tV special “toy Story of terror.” He also did the color script of Lava, an “appetizer” shown in cinemas right before the actual screening of the 2015 movie “Inside Out,” which he also worked on. Abadilla shared that it is challenging to be in an industry where a week or a month’s worth of hard work in creating a scene can easily be reduced to mere seconds or a few frames in the final movie. “Worse,” the effort could end up in the chopping block. these “rejections,” however, are all part of the job, telling his awe-struck audience, most of whom also aspire to enter the world of animation, that they must learn how to be resilient in order to survive. “the challenge is to be resilient and to be adaptive to change. that’s a huge part of what we do at Pixar. We are encouraged to fail early and to fail often so that we can get to the good stuff as soon as we can,” the sketch artist said. If one can get past that, the fulfillment is all worth it. Outside his talk, Abadilla told The Manila Times how he first felt,
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and actually continues to feel so, whenever he sees his handiwork on the big screen. “Sometimes you are so zoomed in to the making of the movie and then all of a sudden time passes and then you see it as a whole. When that eventually happens to me, I am always in awe of the final product because everybody has brought their best into making the movie. I’m always thinking how a bunch of crazy people can make something look so beautiful. And even though I’m part of it, it’s still all magical to me, and I still find myself wondering, ‘How did they do that?’ It’s genuine excitement and amazement I feel in our every project.” Finally, Abadilla said that, as designers, their fulfillment lies in bringing the audience into a seemingly real world, just like how he felt during his childhood. “What’s key for us as we as do the research and exploration designs is to make sure our audience believes that they are in this world,” Abadilla enthused. As his latest work opens during his homecoming to the Philippines, the artist is generously taking time out of being with family and friends to share his experiences with young Filipinos. He believes that if he can do it, so can many others for he knows he comes from a talented race. And so, as Paul Abadilla finds home again, he hasn’t come empty handed. He brings with him the magic of making dreams come true.
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Your Immigration Solution atty. NaNCy Miller One of the worst moments in an immigrant’s life is when he receives a notice to Appear in Immigration court. All his hopes and dreams for a life in this country flash before his eyes. As they begin to fade away he asks himself “Is this the end of my life in America?” “What do I do now?” The answer to the first question may very well depend on how he answers the second. An alien receives a notice to Appear because Immigration & Customs enforcement (the prosecutorial arm of the Department of Homeland Security) has decided that the person should be removed from the United States. There are many reasons for such action. Maybe the alien
Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THe glutathione craze seems to have spread to various countries, including the Philippines, inspired mostly by women’s desire for a fairer complexion and people’s quest for the fountain of health and youth. Knowing that any substance or drug we use, including “simple” aspirin, is associated with possible adverse side-effects, the concern about the safety of long-term use of glutathione comes into question. What is glutathione? Popularly known as GSH (and nicknamed Glute), this substance is a protein (a tripeptide) made up of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine. It is normally produced by our bodies and found inside every cell, including the cells of the immune system. GSH is a detoxifying agent, an essential scavenger and neutralizer of the bad free oxygen radicals and peroxides that destroy cells. Our body glutathione is really a potent (“Master”) antioxidant that enables the cells to maintain intracellular health and also helps repair damaged DnA.
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 23-29, 2016
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Why do you need a lawyer in immigration court? has stayed longer than his nonimmigrant visa allowed. Maybe he has entered the United States without any visa at all. Maybe he misrepresented some material fact in order to obtain either a non-immigrant visa or a green card. Maybe he is a green card holder who has committed a crime. These and other reasons can result in a person being placed in removal proceedings. At that point, it can feel like the full force of the United States government is directed toward seeing to it that the person is forced to leave the U.S. An alien who feels that way is not far from wrong. The full prosecutorial arm of the Department of Homeland Security (in the form of an assistant chief counsel) is focused on removing that person. The immigration judge, who answers to the Attorney General and the Chief Immigration Judge in the
Department of Justice, is there to judge the evidence placed before him. He cannot find evidence. He cannot prepare or present a case. A well-presented case by an assistant chief counsel of ICe must be met by an equally-well or better prepared case by the alien or his representative. It takes someone knowledgeable in immigration law to determine if the alien is eligible for any relief that will stop deportation from happening. However, that is just the beginning. Just because a person may be eligible for relief does not mean he will get it. It is necessary to present sufficient documentary evidence and oral testimony to convince the immigration judge that the immigrant is eligible for that relief. That evidence must clearly convince the judge that the person meets all the elements for the relief he wants. Once he
Glutathione update Which foods contain glutathione? This substance is found in fresh fruits, vegetables, walnuts, fish, and freshly prepared meats. Dr. Dean Jones, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and director of nutritional health sciences at emory University, stated that people who eat well probably have enough glutathione from their diet. Under normal situations and in general, there is really no need for any glutathione or any other food supplement. What conditions can lower GSH? Low levels or deficiency of glutathione have been seen in people with diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, low sperm count, cataract, among smokers, and those with cancer. However, most of these individuals, except those who are unable to eat properly and are emaciated because of their illness, will still not have glutathione deficiency. Who should take glutathione? Scientifically speaking, only those with proven glutathione deficiency by blood tests should receive glutathione supplement. Oral glutathione pills are destroyed by gastric juices in the stomach and are not absorbed. Hence, the pill form of glutathione is useless. However, there is
some evidence in newer studies that seems to suggest otherwise. This substance can also be given by intravenous injection. It also comes in an aerosol nasal spray, but its effectiveness and the practicality of its application in adequately boosting the blood level of glutathione for those with deficiency are still uncertain. Liposomal encapsulation Technology (LeT) allows encapsulated medication to slip through the stomach and into the small intestine for effective absorption but it is an expensive option. What happens if GSH is used by healthy persons? Healthy people, with no evidence of deficiency of glutathione, as we intimated earlier, do not need glutathione supplement. The glutathione-derived from food will, as a rule, be enough for them to maintain healthy cells, unless they abuse themselves by smoking, excessive alcohol intake, using illegal drugs, etc. When healthy individuals use glutathione anyway, intravenously or by nasal aerosol, their body will not have any added protection or benefit. They will just be wasting money and subjecting themselves to yet undefined potential health risks associated with long-term use of the exogenous (laboratory-
has presented all the evidence to support statutory eligibility, he must convince the judge that she should exercise her discretion to grant the relief. In other words, he must present more evidence to show the judge why, despite having overstayed or lied or committed a crime, he should be given the benefit of the doubt and a second chance at a life in America. A recent article appearing in a large metropolitan newspaper cited statistics that showed quite clearly that the majority of cases in immigration court are denied. The statistics also clearly showed that aliens who were represented by competent counsel fared far better than those who attempted to represent themselves. In fact, the article said that aliens who were represented by lawyers were five times more likely to be granted relief. The reasons for this are ob-
vious. In addition to knowing what elements have to be met, a knowledgeable attorney also knows the most effective way to present that evidence. She knows the most persuasive evidence to prove extreme or exceptional and extremely unusual hardship. She knows how to present evidence of rehabilitation or good moral character. She is familiar with what is necessary to show that the alien will be persecuted in his home country. She knows how to present negative as well as positive facts. And if negative facts are out there, they must be dealt with. They must be presented by the alien in the least harmful manner before the government presents them in the way likely to cause the greatest damage. All of these hurdles must be met if an immigrant is going to be able to remain in the United States.
At first thought, it may be tempting to try to save money and represent oneself in immigration court. However, the price of losing the case is much higher than a reasonable attorney’s fee. Don’t place your life and future in the hands of inexperience. Place those precious assets in the hands of an experienced and knowledgeable immigration lawyer. Your future depends on it. ***
produced) glutathione. Is GSH whitening skin cream safe? In the market today, there are dozens of bleaching or whitening products for the skin. One of them is glutathione facial cream/lotion, and the others are facial soaps with glutathione as a bleaching/whitening agent. While any substance applied to the skin is absorbed by the body into the bloodstream (like dermal medication patches), we have not found any information on the adverse side-effects of GSH in these cosmetics for the skin. People allergic to milk protein and organ transplant patients are advised against using any form of glutathione. How does GSH whiten the skin? One side effect of topically (locally) applied glutathione as a cosmetic is that it slows down the production of melanin (a protein manufactured by melanocytes in our skin that gives the skin the brown color). As a result, there will be less melanin pigment and the skin becomes whiter. While this particular side effect of topical glutathione on the complexion is good, factual information is not available for the safety of chronic use of glutathione, even as a skin bleaching agent. Does GSH cure autism, Parkinson or cancer?
Commercial ads claim glutathione is effective in the treatment and cure of autism, Alzheimer’s, male infertility, Parkinson, and even cancer. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims. Some people consider GSH and the other cure-all “food supplements” as scams and the snake oils of the present. Does GSH have any role in cancer therapy? There is no scientific evidence that glutathione prevents, cures, or aggravates any form of cancer. In one study, women with ovarian cancer were intravenously given glutathione while undergoing chemotherapy and “not only had fewer side effects from the chemotherapy but also had better overall survival rates.” Are drug makers liable for bad effects of their products? Unless it can be proven that the drug manufacturer had lied to or hid vital safety information from the US Food and Drug Administration when it applied for the drug approval and patent, or neglected to appropriately apprise the FDA of any life- or health-threatening complications caused by the drug after its wide circulation and clinical use, the manufacturer, in general, cannot be held legally liable for the side-effects of its product. As long as the company acted in earnest, in good faith,
and had complied with all the rules, regulations, and stringent criteria of the FDA, it is may not be held liable. This is especially true when the manufacturer voluntarily withdraws the drug from the market upon discovery of the danger. In reality, though, more often than not, the issue becomes convoluted and much more complex, as greedy ambulance chasers come to the picture. This is especially common in large cities in the United States, where lawyers advertise on giant billboards and on TV commercials egging people on to sue healthcare providers for drug or surgical complications, “totally free legal service if you lose.” A time-honored sage advice perhaps older than civilization itself: Caveat emptor! Let the buyer beware! Please visit philipSchua.com email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
Reeves, Miller, Zhang & Diza Law Corporation’s offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)
*** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com
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Features
99 Ranch Alhambra unveils new Seafood Department with ‘Asian Food Festival’ TO celebrate the opening of the new Seafood Department in 99 Ranch Market’s Alhambra location, the store held an “Asian Food Festival” on June 11 and 12. The new Seafood Department itself “not only provides fresh seafood, but also allows customers to choose fish, lobsters, crabs, and other live seafood right in front of the aquarium,” according to a press release. Additionally, the store’s Asian kitchen allows for customers to purchase prepared Asian cuisine. The festival hosted a balloon artist who created animal balloons, a photo booth where participants could win goodie bags, and a giveaway for two boxes with a year of free Mandarin TV service from Damai. The event also included a demonstration by celebrity chef, Ray Shao. Shao’s recipes can be found below. The store itself intends to provide shoppers with “ethnic grocer- “competitive prices” with a “pleasies reminding [them of] the taste ant shopping experience”, 99 of [their] hometown” and “freshly Ranch wrote in a press release. The Alhambra location is locatpicked fruits and vegetables” at
• Fresh Lobster • Dry Fried Noodles Seasoning • Butter
• Onion • Salt • Chicken Powder • Potato Starch
Coral Shrimp in Two Styles IngredIents: • 2 lbs. Coral Shrimp • Crispy Rice • Vermicelli • Salted Yolk • Sliced Shallots • Sliced Ginger • Deep-Fried Mashed Garlic Seasoning • Shaoxing Rice Wine • White Pepper • Corn Starch • White Sugar • Chicken Powder • Sweet Soy Sauce
shrImp Body: Coral shrImp and CrIspy rICe Covered wIth salted egg yolk 1. Remove shrimp heads, cut off tails and clean. 2. Cut back of shrimp and dip into salt, shaoxing rice wine,
ed at 345 E. Main Street, Alhambra, CA 91801 and is open Monday to Sunday from 9 AM to 10 PM. (AJPress)
Dry Fried Noodles with Butter Lobster IngredIents:
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1. Cut and clean lobster. 2. Add Shaoxing rice wine, coat with potato starch and deep fry. 3. Cook dry fried noodles in boiling water, drain. 4. Add lobster and cook.
white pepper and egg yolk. Coat shrimp with cornstarch and deep fry in half of the oil. 3. Cook salted yolk in butter
with white sugar and chicken powder, place over shrimps. 4. Deep fry crispy rice and mix with shrimps.
shrImp head: steamed vermICellI wIth deep-FrIed mashed garlIC 1. Place shrimp heads and fried mashed garlic over vermicelli. Add Shaoxing rice
wine, salt and chicken powder. Steam for 5 minutes. 2. Add sweet soy sauce,
sliced shallot and sliced ginger. Pour hot oil onto shrimp head.
Broiled Fish with Sichuan Pepper Sauce IngredIents:
• Fresh Fish • Bell Pepper (Section) • Sprouts • Chinese Celery • Chicken Broth
Seasoning • Salt • White Pepper • Egg White • Potato Starch • Sichuan Pepper
1. Slice fish. Dip in proper amount of salt, white pepper,
egg white and potato starch. 2. Boil sprouts and chinese celery, place into bowl. Boil fish, place on top of vegetables. 2. Warm chicken broth and pour over fish. 3. Heat sichuan pepper oil. Stir-fry bell pepper and sichuan pepper. Place over fish.
Summerlin hosts the valley’s largest 4th of July parade More than 35,000 expected to attend
The entire Las Vegas valley is invited to celebrate Independence Day at the 22nd annual Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade, Southern Nevada’s largest and most colorful Fourth of July parade. This year, Senator Dean Heller and Lt. Governor Mark Hutchison will kick off the procession. Parade grand marshals are Brigadier General Jeannie M. Leavitt, 57th Wing Commander, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and Chief Master Sergeant Shawn L. Drinkard, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 57th Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the parade. The parade features more than 70 entries, including traditional floats, Macy’s-style giant inflatable balloons, American military heroes, bands, musical groups and a variety of kids’ favorite storybook and cartoon characters. More than 2,500 people are participating in the parade and more than 500 volunteers from dozens of local schools and community groups are assisting with parade operations. This year, several new entries are added to the parade roster, including “Avengers: America’s Mighty Heroes,” “The Fourth Awakens—Tribute to Star Wars,” “Pac Man Fever,” “Dream Big with the Princesses” and “Ferris Bueller’s Independence Day Off.” More than 16,000 cubic feet of helium will be used for more than 25 giant inflatables.
Returning to the parade include fan favorites “Aladdin’s Magic Carpet” float featuring characters riding a flying carpet; “The Greatest Generation” push-float; “Frozen Fun” float complete with live characters and snow; “Monsters University” push-float; Neon City Garrison Star Wars costuming club; Danza Del Carrizo Native American performing group; the Palo Verde and Spring Valley High School marching bands; and “A Salute to the Military” float featuring service men and women from Nellis Air Force Base. Members of the American Legion, Marine Corps League and the Military Order of the Purple Heart will also participate in the festivities. The parade is organized by The Summerlin Council, the non-profit arm of the Summerlin Community Association dedicated to the social, educational and recreational enrichment of residents. The parade is open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to arrive early, bring water and wear sunscreen. Title Sponsor is The Howard Hughes Corporation/Summerlin. Premier Sponsor is QI Security Services. Major sponsors include Children’s Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital; Station Casinos; City of Las Vegas Parks and Recreation; Realty One Group; Design Works Custom Painting, Inc.; Par 3 Landscape and Maintenance; Southwest Medical; The Alexander Dawson School; and Downtown Summerlin.
WGU Nevada announces new... PAGE B4
sooner, which saves them both time and money. As a result, the average time to complete a bachelor’s degree at WGU Nevada is less than three years. WGU Nevada WGU Nevada is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Nevadans’ access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Nevada and nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Nevada is open to all qualified Nevada residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K–12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commis-
sion on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). WGU’s Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and its nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)*. In addition to WGU Nevada, there are five other WGU statebased, state-endorsed universities: WGU Indiana, established in June 2010; WGU Washington, established in April 2011; WGU Texas, established in August 2011; WGU Missouri, established in February 2013; and WGU Tennessee, established in July 2013. For more information, visit the WGU Nevada website, nevada.wgu.edu, or call 877-214-7005. *Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington, DC 20036, 202-8776791).
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 23-29, 2016
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B june 23-29, 2016 • LAS VeGAS ASIAn jOuRnAL
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