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Duterte ready to ‘give all’ to Fil-Am tapped to head civil division Trump except military alliance DATELINE
USA
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
of Justice Dept.
PresIDeNt Donald trump is eyeing a filipino-American attorney to lead the civil division of the Department of Justice (DoJ), according to various reports. If confirmed by the senate, george Conway — who is the husband of senior White house counselor Kellyanne Conway — would be tasked with defending the administration in its legal battles, including the controversial travel ban, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal. the president’s revised travel ban against six predominantly muslim nations has been blocked by federal judges in hawaii and maryland earlier this month. on friday, march 17, the DoJ filed papers in federal court in maryland in an effort PAGE A3
PH assures the US of friendship, cooperation by Dana
SioSon AJPress
PhILIPPINe President rodrigo Duterte expressed his openness to enhance the country’s relationship with the United states amid the seemingly tense ties caused by human rights
concerns in connection with his controversial war against drugs. Duterte, who has been highly critical of former U.s. President Barack obama, said that he is “okay” with his new counterpart, President Donald trump. “President trump and I are okay and
I can assure him also of our friendship basted obama and his administration and cooperation. We have no problem for condemning the government’s there,” Duterte told the filipino com- campaign against illegal drugs and munity in Naypyidaw during his state the alleged human rights violations. visit to myanmar on sunday, march since Duterte took office, the Phil19. ippine National Police (PNP) has rethe Philippine leader, who took of- corded nearly 8,000 deaths, which fice in July last year, constantly lamPAGE A2
PH House Speaker mulls impeachment case against Robredo
PH loses millions in US, EU grants, trade agreements over human rights issues the accusations of human rights violations may have cost the Philippines to lose millionsworth of grants from the United states and trade agreements with the european Union, the Philippine Department of Interior and Local government (DILg) said on tuesday, march 21. In December last year, the millennium Challenge Corporation (mCC), a U.s. poverty reduction agency, said that it has “deferred a vote on the re-selection of the Philippines for compact development, subject to a further review of concerns around rule of law and civil liberties.” After a $434 million package in 2011, mCC said it withheld its second aid due to “significant concerns around rule of law and civil liberties.” “the United states has not renewed its millenPAGE A3
by Dana
SioSon AJPress
VICe President Leni robredo could be removed from her post for allegedly undermining President rodrigo Duterte’s administration before the international community, according to house of representatives speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. PAGE A2
STATE VISIT. President Duterte and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha taste an array of local fruits during a state dinner at the Government House in Bangkok on Tuesday, March 21. Leaders of the Philippines and Thailand have vowed to strengthen defense and economic cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to work together to address common concerns. Malacañang photo
Members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) led by founding chairman Dante Jimenez flash the thumbs down sign on Vice President Leni Robredo. ManilTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr.
Forbes: Henry Sy richest Filipino, Palace chides NY Times report for Bill Gates world’s top billionaire ‘well-paid hack job’ report on Duterte by AJPress
wealthiest individuals in the Philippines. sy and his family had a net sm Investments Corporation founder henry sy topped the worth of $12.7 billion, ranking 2017 ranking of American busi- 94th worldwide in the magazine’s ness magazine forbes’ list of the 2017 Billionaires List published
by Dana
SioSon
on monday, march 20. AJPress Coming second in the PhilipmALACAñANg on Wednespine ranking is Jg summit holdings’ John gokongwei Jr. with a day, march 22 criticized the New net worth of $5.8 billion, followed York Times (NYT) for what it PAGE A3 described a “cynical and unfair” report about Philippine President rodrigo Duterte. In its article entitled “Becoming Duterte: the making of a Philippine strongman,” the NYT recounted Duterte’s life from his early childhood to his more than
two decades term as Davao City’s mayor, and later as the country’s president. “President rodrigo Duterte relishes the image of killer-savior. he boasts of killing criminals with his own hand. on occasion, he calls for mass murder,” read the NYT report, authored by richard Paddock. In his piece, Paddock described Duterte as a “child of privilege PAGE A4 Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella
Demand for PH office spaces remain strong amid Trump’s protectionist policies Property consulting firm JLL reports BPO industry drive market by Dana
SioSon AJPress
There were three more Filipinos on Forbes’ billionaire’s list this year than last year.
the demand for office spaces in the Philippines will continue to grow despite uncertainties in the business process outsourcing (BPo) sector likely caused by United states President Donald trump’s protectionist stance, according to property consulting firm Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL). During the Asia Ceo executive Philstar.com photo by RP Ocampo
forum on tuesday, march 21, JLL’s Asia-Pacific Ceo Anthony Couse said that the BPo industry were still the main drivers of office rentals in the Philippines, notwithstanding trump’s pronouncements to restrict the outsourcing of products and services to generate more jobs for Americans. “Demand side for office remains very strong. Particularly here in manila, the BPo industry
continues to drive the office market,” manila times quoted Couse in its report. Couse projected that the Philippines will continue to experience strong demand for its office inventory for the next three years, citing the country’s ability to weather global headwinds. taking note that the Philippines is the second fastest growing PAGE A3
A
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march 23-29, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOUrNaL
From The FronT Page
Duterte ready to ‘give all’ to... PAGE A1 were committed by legitimate police operations and vigilante killings. Washington, under the leadership of Obama, repeatedly urged the Philippine president to stop the killings. In response, Duterte hit Washington for being a “hypocrite,� citing the supposed human rights violations in the United
States. MalacaĂąang, likewise, repeatedly stressed that the extrajudicial killings are not statesanctioned but rather, conducted by vigilante suspects trying to ride the drug war. However, unlike Obama, Duterte noted that Trump, who took office in January this year, supports his anti-illegal drugs campaign. “For the previous president,
I was evil. The crazy man was planning to jail me. This other one, he says, ‘You’re right,’� Duterte said, referring to Obama and Trump, respectively. The Philippine president also said that he is ready to “give all, whatever it is� under the Trump administration, with the exemption of military alliances. “Short of, I said, the military alliances, I don’t like that. We can’t handle those,� Duterte remarked. During a media interview in Burma, Duterte described Trump as a “realist.� “He (Trump) is a guy who knows what is real, what is not, and he does not engage in theories. And even in the matter of human rights, he takes into account everything,� Duterte said. He added, “I think we’re headed for something that is very... an understanding platform for both countries.� Hitting his international critics anew, Duterte lambasted the United States and the European Union (EU) for “trying to be dictator(s)� by “imposing their culture and their beliefs.� “You know, you are trying to be a dictator. You dictate upon nations what, how, and what you believe in,� Duterte said. “That is why they worry about the human rights even if it is not a citizen of their country and PAGE A4
DUTERTE MEETS SUU KYI. President Rodrigo Duterte meets Myanmar’s de facto leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, on Monday, March 20. Speaking before the Filipino community in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, Duterte said he was “okayâ€? with Trump and was eyeing a better working relationship with his US counterpart. MalacaĂąang photo
PH House Speaker mulls impeachment... PAGE A1 In an interview with CNN, Alvarez revealed that he is studying the possibility of filing an impeachment complaint against Robredo for possible “betrayal of public trust� after condemning the Duterte administration in a video she sent to the United Nations (UN).
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“In my opinion, there is a betrayal of trust. In my entire life, this is the first time I have seen a top government official smear the country’s reputation before the international community,â€? Alvarez said in mixed Filipino on Friday, March 17. “What would be the effect, economically?â€? In a video message uploaded on Monday, March 13, Robredo emphasized that the thousands of killings and human rights abuses allegedly tied to the Philippine government’s brutal war against illegal drugs have left Filipinos feeling “hopelessâ€? and “helpless.â€? According to her, Filipinos were beaten up for requesting search warrants, and poor people were “rounded up in places like basketball courts, women separated from men, those with tattoos asked to stand in the corner, their belongings searched.â€? Robredo also mentioned the supposed “exchange of headâ€? or “palit-uloâ€? scheme, in which she said “the wife, husband or relative in a so-called drug list will be taken if the person himself could not be found.â€? MalacaĂąang said that Robredo “gravely misunderstoodâ€? the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) so-called “exchange of headâ€? scheme, later clarifying
that it actually “refers to a commitment of a drug suspect to provide assistance in the arrest of a ‘bigger fish’ in the illegal drug syndicate, whether an up-line/ superior/supplier of the arrested suspect, in exchange for lighter charges.â€? “I am studying it (the impeachment case against Robredo). If in my research, I can find sufficient evidence to prosecute, we have to see if it can stand trial before the Senate,â€? the House speaker said. Alvarez also claimed that Robredo “definitelyâ€? played a “direct handâ€? in the recent impeachment bid against Duterte. “It was very clear. We can see that she even sent a tape to the United Nations regarding her complaints here in the Philippines,â€? he said. On March 16, Magdalo Partylist Rep Gary Alejano filed the first impeachment complaint against Duterte before the House of Representatives, accusing the president of culpably violating the Constitution, engaging in bribery, betraying public trust, committing graft and corruption, and other high crimes. MalacaĂąang said that the UN video message lambasting the government’s war on drugs PAGE A4
Karagdagang impormasyon sa Filipino (Tagalog) ay makikita rin sa website ng North Las Vegas www.cityofnorthlasvegas.com/departments/city_clerk/elections.php
NOTICE OF EARLY VOTING FOR THE 2017 MUNICIPAL PRIMARY ELECTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that early voting for the April 4, 2017 City of North Las Vegas, Nevada Primary will begin at 9:00 AM on Saturday, March 18, 2017 and will close on Friday, March 31, 2017 at 5:00 PM as noted in time tables below and at the following locations. Any registered voter residing in the City of North Las Vegas wanting to vote early must do so at an Early Voting Site located within the City’s boundaries.
CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS EARLY VOTING SITES OPEN THROUGHOUT THE 2-WEEK PERIOD Date
Time
Saturday and Sunday, March 18th and 19th
CLOSED
Monday through Thursday, March 20th – 23rd
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, March 24th – 26th
CLOSED
Monday through Thursday, March 27th – 30th
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday, March 18
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday, March 19th
CLOSED
th
Monday through 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Thursday, March 20th – March 23rd Friday and Saturday, March 24th – March 25th
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday, March 26th
CLOSED
Monday through 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Thursday, March 27th – March 30th Friday, March 31
North Las Vegas City Hall 2250 Las Vegas Blvd North
CLOSED
Friday, March 31st
st
Location
Aliante Library 2400 W. Deer Springs Way (@ North Aliante Parkway)
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS NEIGHBORHOOD EARLY VOTING SITES Date
Time
Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM March 18th – March 19th
Location Deer Springs Town Center (Trailer in Parking Lot) N. 5th St./Deer Springs Way
Monday, March 20th
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun City Aliante 7390 Aliante Pkwy
Tuesday, March 21st
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Neighborhood Recreation Center 1638 N Bruce St
Wednesday, March 22nd 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Silver Mesa Recreation Ctr. 4025 Allen Ln
Thursday and Friday, March 23rd – March 24th 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Lowe’s (Trailer in Parking Lot) Craig/Losee
Saturday and Sunday, March 25th – March 26th 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Albertsons Ann/Simmons 3010 W Ann Rd
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
College of Southern Nevada (CSN) NLV 3200 E Cheyenne Ave
Tuesday and Wednesday, March 28th – March 29th 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
SkyView Recreation Ctr. YMCA 3050 E Centennial Pkwy
Monday, March 27th
Thursday, March 30th
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Alexander Library 1755 W Alexander Rd
Friday, March 31st
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Alexander Library 1755 W Alexander Rd
VOTING BY MAIL: Any registered voter residing in the City of North Las Vegas may choose to vote by mail. A written request for a mail EDOORW PXVW EH UHFHLYHG E\ S P RQ 0DUFK LQ WKH RIÂżFH RI WKH &ODUN &RXQW\ 5HJLVWUDU RI 9RWHUV DW WKH following address to vote by mail for this Primary Election: Clark County Election Center 965 Trade Drive, Suite A North Las Vegas, NV 89030 )RU DGGLWLRQDO LQIRUPDWLRQ SOHDVH FRQWDFW WKH 1RUWK /DV 9HJDV &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂżFH DW RU WKH &ODUN &RXQW\ (OHFWLRQ 'HSDUWPHQW DW Dated: March 9, 16, and 23, 2017 &DWKHULQH $ 5D\QRU 00& City Clerk City of North Las Vegas 3XEOLVK /9 $VLDQ -RXUQDO 0DUFK DQG
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 23-29, 2017
Demand for PH office spaces remain strong... Forbes: Henry Sy richest Filipino...
PAGE A1 economy in Asia, Couse said that the Philippines also offers a “cost advantage.” “Foreign investors that are already here in the Philippines or in Asia Pacific are already comfortable. They are not concerned about [Trump’s protectionist policies],” he added. Despite the positive projection, Couse advised real estate investors to “diversify risks.” “You cannot rely on one sector. We maintain the BPO industry will continue to grow but we need to diversify,” Couse noted, citing unconventional asset classes such as different infrastructure projects. Last month, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said that Trump’s protectionist stance will unlikely cause American companies to change its business operations in the Philippines. Kim took note that the Philippines offers “very very capable, smart employees, English fluency (and) reasonable labor costs.”
A
PAGE A1
by Philippine Airlines and Asia Brewery’s taipan Lucio Tan ($3.7 billion), George Ty ($3.5 billion), and Enrique Razon Jr. ($3.4 billion). Worldwide, Gokongwei ranked 250th, Tan 501st, Ty 544th, and Razon 564th. Completing the list of Filipino billionaires were Tony Tan Caktiong ($3.4 billion), David Consunji ($3.1 billion), Andrew Tan ($2.5 billion), Robert Coyiuto Jr. ($1.5 billion), former Sen. Manny Villar ($1.5 billion), Ramon Ang ($1.4 billion), Eduardo Cojuangco CEO FORUM. Anthony Couse (left) speaks during the Asia CEO Executive Forum held on Tuesday ($1.2 billion), Roberto Ongpin in Pasay City. With him were JLL Regional Director Sheila Lobrien, JLL chairman Lindsey Orr, ($1.1 billion) and Edgar Sia ($1 Asia Pacific Managing Director Chris Fossick and Richard Mills, the moderator. billion). ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada On the other hand, Microsoft’s “We will not see any dramatic certainties caused by Trump’s Bill Gates remained the world’s richest man for four consecuchanges to U.S. companies’ BPO policies. IT-Business Processing Asso- tive years, dominating the list operations in the Philippines,” he ciation of the Philippines (iBPAP) 18 times over the past 23 years. affirmed. According to economists, the also projected that the BPO sec- According to Forbes, his fortune BPO sector will likely provide tor will generate $40 billion in increased to $86 billion from $75 more foreign revenue than re- revenues, and 7.6 million jobs in billion last year. Claiming the second slot for the mittances this year despite un- the country by 2022. world’s top billionaire list is Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett ($75.6 billion). He was followed by Jeff Bezos ($72.8 billion) of In a joint resolution adopted last government’s brutal war against Amazon.com. week, the EU Parliament said it illegal drugs in recorded message Adding $27.6 billion to his for“strongly condemns” the alleged to the United Nations (UN). tune, Forbes said Bezos had “the In a video uploaded on March best year of any person on the summary killings in connection to Duterte’s drug war. It also 13, the vice president emphasized planet.” Bezos was included top expressed “grave concern over that the thousands of killings and three world ranking for the first credible reports to the effect that human rights abuses allegedly tied time, moving up from number the Philippine police force is falsify- to the drug war have left Filipinos five last year. ing evidence to justify extrajudicial feeling “hopeless” and “helpless.” Amancio Ortega of fashion According to her, Filipinos were chain Zara came in fourth $71.3 killings.” Likewise, the parliament called beaten up for requesting search billion. Facebook founder Mark on the Philippine government to warrants, and poor people were Zuckerberg ($56 billion) climbed “immediately carry out impartial “rounded up in places like basket- to number five. and meaningful investigations into ball courts, women separated from “It was a record year for the these extrajudicial killings and to men, those with tattoos asked to richest people on earth, as the prosecute and bring all perpetra- stand in the corner, their belong- number of billionaires jumped ings searched.” tors to justice.” 13 percent to 2,043 from 1,810 Robredo also mentioned the “Our government is now accused of violating human rights,” supposed “exchange of head” or Sueno said. “So we stand to lose in “palit-ulo” scheme, in which she said, “the wife, husband or relative this 27 trade agreements.” More than 8,000 individuals in a so-called drug list will be taken PAGE A1 have been reportedly killed since if the person himself could not be to reinstate the freeze on immiDuterte launched the campaign found.” grant and visitor arrivals from the However, Malacañang and the countries in question. The Trump when he took office last July. His administration has repeatedly Philippine National Police (PNP) administration has argued that the denied that the killings were state- were quick to dismiss Robredo’s executive order would help nationdefinition of the “exchange of al security, while opponents say it sanctioned. Suenos said: “We stand to lose head” scheme, clarifying that it is anti-Muslim. many things. This is the conse- actually refers to a practice wherein A partner in the litigation dequence of what they are doing to arrested drug pushers can reveal partment of law firm Wachtell, their supplier or higher drug lords Lipton, Rosen & Katz since 1994, the president.” “This is being propagated by in exchange for being charged with Conway has worked on numermany sectors in the government a lighter offense. ous high-profile cases in federal For his part, Sueno said that “it and state courts across the United and recently by VP,” he added, referring to Philippine Vice President would help if Vice President Robre- States. do presents to us solid proof about Leni Robredo. In the 1990s, he was part of the Last week, Robredo decried the this so-called ‘Palit Ulo’ scheme team representing Paula Jones, killings and human rights abuses so we can act on it immediately.” an Arkansas state employee who associated with the Philippine (Dana Sioson/AJPress) filed a sexual harassment lawsuit
PH loses millions in US, EU grants, trade... PAGE A1 nium Challenge Corporation grant to the Philippines expiring in May this year because of alleged human rights violations,” Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno told reporters in a sideline interview during the 15th meeting of the Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMR) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). After the completion of the first grant, the MCC’s new program was supposed to also run for five years and be implemented until 2022 under Duterte’s term. But over the past few months, the U.S. has criticized Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody crackdown on illegal drugs. The corporation’s website states that countries can only qualify if they “demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, investments in its people, and economic freedom.” Additionally, Sueno warned that the 27 trade agreements with the European Union might be hurt as well, mentioning that some European countries threatened to impose taxes on Philippine products. “This will make our farmers suffer because this will be charged to them by European countries as a sanction to the Philippines. Many countries in Europe are importing products from the country,” Sueno pointed out.
Inforgraphic by Philstar.com
last year, the first time ever that Forbes has pinned down more than 2,000 ten-figure-fortunes,” the article read. According to Forbes, the collective net worth of billionaires around the globe rose by 18 percent, amounting to $7.67 trillion, which it said is also a record. “The change in the number of billionaires — up 233 since the 2016 list — was the biggest in the 31 years that Forbes has
been tracking billionaires globally. Gainers since last year’s list outnumbered losers by more than three to one,” it further read. Forbes said that Southeast Asia was home to the most billionaires, amounting to 720. The United States, meanwhile, had the most number of billionaires compared to other nations, totaling 565. Next are China (319 billionaires), Germany (114), and India (101).
Fil-Am tapped to head civil division... against then-President Bill Clinton, ABC News reported. Conway helped write the Supreme Court brief that established a legal precedent for a sitting president to be sued in civil court. The Republican lawyer has also represented a handful of corporate clients, including Philip Morris and the National Football League. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School, where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. In 1987 and 1988, he served as a law clerk to Circuit Judge Ralph K. Winter, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Conway was previously ru-
mored to be the president’s choice for solicitor general of the DOJ, however, Noel J. Francisco — who is also of Filipino descent — was picked instead. Should Conway and Francisco be confirmed for their respective posts, they join several Fil-Ams serving in the Trump administration, including Joyce Yamat Meyer (deputy assistant to the president and House Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs), Kelly Ilagan (deputy associate director for presidential personnel), and Ninio Fetalvo (White House assistant press secretary), as the Asian Journal reported. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)
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California’s Fil-Am chief justice calls for end to immigration arrests at courthouses by Christina
M. Oriel
AJPress
THE chief justice of California’s Supreme Court is urging the administration of President Donald Trump to cease arresting undocumented immigrations at the state’s courthouses. In a letter addressed to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on Thursday, March 16, Chief Justice Tani CantilSakauye wrote how “deeply concerned” she was following various reports in which federal agents would “appear to be stalking” undocumented immigrants at courthouses before detaining them. “Courthouses should not be used as bait in the necessary enforcement of our country’s immigration laws,” CantilSakauye said, noting how courthouses are supposed to be safe spaces for individuals to seek justice. While she did not elaborate on specific cases, she said “the vast majority of [undocumented immigrants] pose no risk to public safety” and called the policies to wait at courthouses and make arrests “neither safe nor fair.” She suggested that these actions would have an “impact on public trust and confidence in our state court system if the
public feels that our state institutions are being used to facilitate other goals and objectives, no matter how expedient they may be.” “They not only compromise our core value of fairness but they undermine the judiciary’s ability to provide equal access to justice,” the letter continued. “I respectfully request that you refrain from this sort of enforcement in California’s courthouses.” Apart from California, similar arrests at courthouses have been reportedly made in Oregon and Texas, as part of the crackdown on immigration since Trump took office in January. One of his early executive orders was to prioritize removing deportable immigrants who have been convicted of any criminal offense. In a report by the Sacramento Bee, Cathal Conneely, a public information officer for the Judicial Council of California, said the letter from California’s chief justice comes after other judges, private attorneys and Legal Aid lawyers shared some instances with her. “The chief justice is not in any way questioning the right or authority of the U.S. attorney general or the Department of Homeland Security to do what they’re doing, she’s just raising concern with the judicial
branch of California that this is taking place within courthouses and courtrooms,” Conneely told the newspaper. ICE observes “sensitive locations,” wherein agents do not implement enforcement actions at places schools or churches. However, courthouses and courtrooms are not covered. “While ICE does arrest targets at courthouses, generally it’s only after investigating officers have exhausted other options,” Virginia Kice, an agency spokeswoman said in a statement. Earlier this week, the White House requested that Congress provide an additional $3 billion in 2017 to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to hire more border patrol agents and ICE law enforcement personnel, increase detention and deportation forces, and plan the construction of the wall between the U.S.-Mexico border. Community organizations and immigration advocates are also ramping up their efforts to ensure that immigrant communities are aware of their rights should they be stopped by an ICE agent, whether at home, at the workplace or in public. Some of the protections include the rights to remain silent, demand a search warrant, and refusal to sign or show any documents without a lawyer.
Duterte ready to... BOULDER CITY 2017 MUNICIPAL PRIMARY ELECTION EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE March 22 (Wednesday) through March 25 (Saturday) VOTING IS EASY! Boulder City voters may vote early at City Hall CITY OF BOULDER CITY CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 401 California Avenue, Boulder City, Nevada Wednesday & Thursday
March 22 & 23, 2017
7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday & Saturday
March 24 & 25, 2017
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PAGE A2 dito, what is very sad is they believe in the propaganda.” In a joint resolution adopted last week, the EU Parliament said it “strongly condemns” the alleged summary killings in connection to Duterte’s drug war. It also expressed “grave concern over credible reports to the effect that the Philippine police force is falsifying evidence to justify extrajudicial killings.” It called on the Philippine government to “immediately carry out impartial and meaningful investigations into these extrajudicial killings and to prosecute and bring all perpetrators to justice.”
EMPOWERING WOMEN. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar cites the need to empower our women by providing them economic empowerment through livelihood programs. In this way, she said our women can help address the needs of the family and help educate their children. The senator was the guest speaker in the 5th Anniversary celebration of the Women’s Rights Movement of the Philippines (WRMP) and Advancing Women’s Right in Action Association, INC. (AWRIA) and Induction of its Officers for 2015-2017 at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan. Senate photo
Palace chides NY Times for ‘well-paid hack... PAGE A1 turned populist politician” and “an anti-drug crusader who has struggled with drug abuse.” “Obsessed with death, he has turned his violent vision into national policy,” Paddock wrote. “First as a mayor, now as president of the Philippines, he has encouraged the police and vigilantes to kill thousands of people with impunity.” Commenting on the article, Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement that the NYT’s article seems like a “well-paid hack job for well-heeled clients with shady motives.”
“NYT cynically and unfairly narrates the president’s rise to power in the context of violence,” Abella claimed. He also stressed that Duterte “does not engage in western liberal niceties to promote his agenda, to rebuild a nation with compromised internal structures.” “[Duterte] is a rough-hewn outsider who vowed to ‘reduce poverty; restore trust in the government by addressing crime, corruption and illegal drugs; and reinforce peace agreements,” Abella said. Taking note that Davao City is “hailed as one of the safest cities in the world,” Abella likewise
accused the NYT of deliberately failing to mention the many initiatives the president made when he was mayor. Abella then cited Duterte’s achievements while leading the city, such as his anti-smoking and midnight alcohol ban, the establishment of an emergency response center, and health and education assistance, among others. “One gets the feeling NYT is not interested in presenting the whole truth, only that with which they can bully those who attempt an independent foreign policy,” the spokesperson added.
PH House Speaker mulls impeachment... PAGE A2 and the filing of an impeachment complaint against Duterte “seems too neat to be written off as mere coincidence.” On Monday, March 20, Atty. Oliver Lozano and Melchor Chavez wrote a letter to Alvarez asking him to endorse their impeachment complaint against Robredo. Lozano previously filed a series of impeachment complaints against former Presidents Gloria Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III. Chavez is a member of Marcos’ political party Kilusang Bagong Lipunan. Describing Robredo as a “termite of the government,” they said that the vice president “betrayed the people by sham-
ing the nation with her dishonest message to the United Nations.” “The respondent is duty bound to act within the framework of the Constitution but her acts of dishonesty and moral bankruptcy breached the bounds of the fundamental law,” the complaint read. Robredo ready to face raps In response, the vice president’s camp said that Robredo is ready to face possible impeachment complaints against her. Robredo’s Spokesperson Georgina Hernandez also maintained that Alvarez’s accusations have “no clear basis” and advised the House speaker to be “more responsible” in his statements. Alejano described Alvarez’s al-
legations as “preposterous” and denied Robredo’s involvement in the case to unseat the president. Likewise, Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque said that the complainants need to show more solid evidence if they want the impeachment case against Robredo to proceed. “The administration has the numbers to impeach Vice President Robredo. But having said this, I would also like to point out that the words of the Vice President are insufficient by themselves to prove betrayal of public trust,” Roque said. Roque added that Duterte’s impeachment case is “bound to fail,” as he believes “more case building is needed for it to prosper, particularly on extralegal killings.”
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 23-29, 2017
(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Dateline PhiliPPines
PNP chief admits ‘palit ulo’ scheme but denies Robredo’s definition by Dana
SioSon AJPress
WHILE the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed the existence of the so-called “palitulo� (exchange of head) scheme in the government’s war against illegal drugs, Police Chief General Ronald “Bato� Dela Rosa insisted that it was far different from Vice President Leni Robredo’s definition. During a press briefing on Monday, March 20, Dela Rosa clarified that PNP’s “exchange of head� refers to a practice wherein arrested drug pushers can reveal their supplier or higher drug lords in exchange of being charged with a lighter offense. “Instead of Section 5, the suspect’s violation would be of Section 11, which is a lighter offense. But you have to name your source,� Dela Rosa explained, referring to the Republic Act no. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. R.A. 9165 Section 5 refers to the “Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals.� Section 11, meanwhile, refers to “Possession of Dangerous Drugs,� which is a lighter offense. Last week, Robredo decried the killings and human rights abuses in the Philippine government’s brutal war against illegal drugs in recorded message to the United Nations (UN). In the video uploaded on March 13, Robredo defined the alleged “exchange of head� as a police scheme in which “the wife, husband or relative in a so-called drug list will be taken if the person himself could not be found.� But Dela Rosa, for his part, vehemently denied the vice president’s version. He then challenged the vice president: “Show me that cop and I’ll punch his face in front of you. I will beat that cop. Show him to me if that scheme really happened. I won’t let them get
PNP Chief General Ronald De La Rosa.
away with such practices.â€? MalacaĂąang previously said in a statement that Robredo “gravely misunderstoodâ€? the PNP’s “exchange of headâ€? scheme. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella took note that while the vice president has the right to speak freely on matters of public concern, she also “has the responsibility to be careful with her statements especially avoiding unfounded allegations from questionable sources.â€? Echoing Abella, Presidential Legal Adviser Salvador Panelo described Robredo’s online video message as “misleading and consists of bare assertions that are not based on evidence.â€? But Robredo insisted that her statement is “very factualâ€? and came from stories sent to the Office of the Vice President. “In fact, we tried to ask data from the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) and the PNP. But we didn’t get any response. So we didn’t know where to go and the people were asking our office for help and protection. We can’t stand by and not act on it,â€? she said. In response, Dela Rosa claimed that he didn’t receive any letters from the vice president.
Philippine Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol and his counterpart Myanmar Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr. Aung Thu, with Duterte and Htin Kyaw as witnesses. In his toast remarks at the official dinner, Duterte said that the Philippines and Myanmar should use its “friendship as a solid base for our fulcrum of collaboration that transformed challenges into opportunities.â€? “As developing countries, we face similar and complex problems. We must not be afraid to confront them head on,â€? he added. He noted that Philippine companies will “remain keenly interested in the development potentials of Myanmar.â€? Likewise, in terms of defense and security, Duterte said that both countries “must work closer to address the threats of terrorism and violent extremism that undermine the eco-
by aJPreSS
EARLIER this week, President Rodrigo Duterte flew to Myanmar and Thailand in an effort to enhance the Philippines’ relationships with the two Southeast Asian nations. Philippine Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Charles said that Duterte’s official visits to Myanmar and Thailand were part of his ‘introductory’ trips to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. On Monday, March 20, Myanmar President Htin Kyaw welcomed Duterte at the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw, where they had a bilateral discussion together with their respective officials. After the meeting, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which aims to strengthen both countries’ food security and agriculture cooperation. The MOU was signed by
Edwin Bacasma / Inquirer.net file photo
in the Philippines “to marry Conde added. He then urged the Philippine the person they love and would government to consider to legalHOUSE Speaker Pantaleon strengthen everyone’s rights.â€? “From a human rights per- izing same-sex marriage, and Alvarez reaffirmed on Tuesday, March 21, that he would still spective, broadening civil mar- join the United States, South Afpush for the legalization of same- riage to couples of the same sex rica, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, sex unions despite Philippine demonstrates respect for the Uruguay, New Zealand, NetherPresident Rodrigo Duterte’s re- fundamental rights of equality lands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and nondiscrimination. It should Sweden, and Ireland in enshrinjection of same sex marriage. Alvarez, however, clarified be enshrined in Philippine law,â€? ing marriage equality. that the bill will only tackle “civil LEGAL NOTICE OF EARLY VOTING unions,â€? and not union through CITY OF HENDERSON 2017 MUNICIPAL PRIMARY ELECTION “marriage.â€? While the date has yet been NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that registered voters may vote early in the City of Henderson Municipal Primary Election scheduled for April 4, 2017, on the following dates specified, Alvarez told Inquirer and times listed below: that the bill will be filed “as soon as we finish the draft.â€? EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS 2SHQ 0DUFK ZLWK YDULRXV KRXUV Earlier this week, Duterte said that Philippines — which is preGALLERIA AT SUNSET dominantly Catholic — cannot leLower Level, Kohl’s Court galize same-sex marriage, unlike : 6XQVHW 5RDG 0RQGD\ 6DWXUGD\ D P S P other Western countries. 6XQGD\ D P S P “There’s no gender, because you can be or she... that’s their HENDERSON CITY HALL 2IÂżFH RI WKH &LW\ &OHUN culture. That’s only for them. 6 :DWHU 6WUHHW VW )ORRU That can’t be applied to us, we’re 0RQGD\ 7KXUVGD\ D P S P Catholics,â€? Duterte told the Fili)ULGD\ 6XQGD\ &/26(' pino community in Naypyidaw OPEN DAILY during his state visit to Myanmar D P S P DW YDULRXV ORFDWLRQV on Sunday, March 19. Duterte then added, “And there Saturday, March 18 Albertsons, 190 N. Boulder Highway is the Civil Code, which is you can only marry a woman for men, and Sunday, March 19 for woman to marry a man. That’s 9RQV ( +RUL]RQ 5LGJH 3DUNZD\ the law in the Philippines.â€? Monday, March 20 While he stressed that a person 6XQ &LW\ 0DF'RQDOG 5DQFK : +RUL]RQ 5LGJH 3DUNZD\ has “to stick to where God placed you,â€? Duterte, however, claimed Tuesday, March 21 that he has nothing against the Albertsons, 201 S. Stephanie Street lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgenWednesday, March 22 der (LGBT) community. 6LOYHU 6SULQJV 5HFUHDWLRQ &HQWHU 6LOYHU 6SULQJV 3DUNZD\ He then took note that his Thursday, March 23 & Friday, March 24 cousin and two other brothersSolera at Anthem Community Center, 2401 Somersworth Drive in-law are gay. Duterte made the comment afSaturday, March 25 ter lambasting the international 9RQV ( :LQGPLOO 3DUNZD\ critics of his administration’s Sunday, March 26 war against illegal drugs, as well $OEHUWVRQV &ROOHJH 'ULYH as the proposals to reinstate the Monday, March 27 death penalty and lowering crim3DVHR 9HUGH /LEUDU\ 6 *UHHQ 9DOOH\ 3DUNZD\ inal liability in the Philippines. In his speech, he also slammed Tuesday, March 28 the United States and the Euro*UHHQ 9DOOH\ /LEUDU\ 1 *UHHQ 9DOOH\ 3DUNZD\ pean Union (EU) for “trying to be Wednesday, March 29 & Thursday, March 30 dictator(s)â€? by “imposing their 6XQ &LW\ $QWKHP &HQWHU +DPSWRQ 5RDG culture and their beliefsâ€? onto Friday, March 31 the Philippines. +HULWDJH 3DUN 6HQLRU )DFLOLW\ 6 5DFHWUDFN 5RDG Following Duterte’s remarks, international watchdog Human For additional information or questions, please visit www.VoteHendersonNV.com or Rights Watch (HRW) said that FRQWDFW WKH 2IÂżFH RI +HQGHUVRQ &LW\ &OHUN DW RU WKH &ODUN &RXQW\ (OHFWLRQ such pronouncement “jeopar- 'HSDUWPHQW DW 927( dizes the fundamental rights of 'DWHG WKLV WK GD\ RI 0DUFK LGBT partners and families.â€? In a statement on Tuesday, March 21, HRW’s Carlos Conde _______________________________________________ MERCADANTE, MMC, CITY CLERK said allowing same-sex marriage SABRINA sabrina.mercadante@cityofhenderson.com would enable gays and lesbians by aJPreSS
PH expands cooperation with Myanmar, Thailand
Robredo recently released a video message in which she emphasized how the government’s brutal war against illegal drugs had left Filipinos feeling “hopelessâ€? and “helpless.â€? Since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte launched the campaign when he took office in July of last year, more than 8,000 people have reportedly been killed. “You cannot kill addicts and declare the problem solved‌ We must all demand greater transparency in the government’s war on drugs because this is a major, publicly-funded campaign,â€? the vice president remarked. Robredo pointed out that people have been beaten up for requesting search warrants, while poor people were likewise “rounded up in places like basketball courts, women separated from men, those with tattoos asked to stand in the corner, their belongings searched.â€? House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez recently warned that Robredo’s video, which allegedly undermines the Duterte’s administration before the international community, may amount to the “betrayal of public trustâ€? that could be used as grounds for filing an impeachment case against her.
Alvarez to still push civil union bill amid Duterte’s opposition to same-sex marriage
A
nomic progress we have so far achieved.� He then thanked Myanmar for its timely assistance when the Philippines was hit by natural disasters, citing typhoon “Pablo,� super typhoon “Yolanda,� and the earthquake in Bohol. On the other hand, Htin Kyaw said that Myanmar “has always attached great importance� to its relations with the Philippines. Htin Kyaw also affirmed that Myanmar will “support and fully cooperate with the Philippines’ efforts towards the successful stewardship of ASEAN this year.� “Myanmar looks forward to working closely with the Philippines and other member states to accelerate our efforts in the ASEAN community building process and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN in 2017 with innovative and forward-looking initiaPAGE A7
LUNGSOD NG LAS VEGAS ABISO PARA SA MAAGANG PAGBOBOTO 2017-PANGUNAHI’NG HALALAN PANG-MUNISIPAL
Ang abiso’ng ito ay nag-bibigay kaalaman na ang maagang pagboto para sa Pangunahi’ng Halalan Pang-munisipal sa Lungsod ng Las Vegas ay gaganapin sa Ika-4 ng Abril 2017.
PAMANTAYAN NANG PANINIRAHAN Ang lahat ng mga rehistrado’ng botante sa Lungsod ng Las Vegas ay maaari’ng bumoto sa halala’ng ito. Hindi ka maaaring bumoto sa munisipal na halalan kung ikaw ay isang rehistrado’ng botante sa lugar na hindi sakop ng korporasyon sa Lalawigan ng Clark.
PAGBOTO SA PAMAMAGITAN NG KOREO Sino ma’ng karapat-dapat na botante sa halala’ng ito ay maaari’ng piliin ang bumoto sa pamamagitan ng koreo. Ang mga nakasulat na kahilingan ay dapat matanggap sa ika-5 ng hapon sa Marso 28, 2017. Maaari’ng hilingin ang balota sa koreo mula sa Kagawaran ng Halalan ng Lalawigan ng Clark sa 702-455-8683 o online sa www.clarkcountynv.gov/election. Kung nakatanggap ka ng balota sa pamamagitan ng koreo, maaari mo’ng isauli ang iyong balota saan ma’ng lugar nang Maagang Botohan o maaari ka’ng bumoto nang personal. MADALI ANG BUMOTO! Ang mga botante sa Las Vegas ay maaari’ng bumoto sa isa sa kahit saa’ng maginhawa’ng lugar nang maaga’ng botohan na nakalista sa ibaba o sa Araw ng Halalan sa isa sa mga bago’ng Sentro nang Botohan, na pumalit sa mga kinaugalia’ng lugar nang botohan para sa Munisipal na Halalan.
LUNGSOD NG LAS VEGAS 2017 PANGUNAHI’NG HALALAN MAAGA’NG PAGBOTO MGA KAPITBAHAYA’NG LUGAR PARA SA LAHAT NG MGA BOTANTE SA DISTRITO
Las Vegas City Hall, 495 South Main Street
Ika-20 ng Marso – Ika-30 ng Marso Lunes – Biyernes 7:30 n.u. - 5:30 n.h. Biyernes – Linggo SARADO
Meadows Mall, 4300 Meadows Lane
Ika-18 ng Marso – Ika-31 ng Marso Araw-araw simula sa 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
Ang mga Lugar ay bukas lamang sa mga nakatakdang araw at oras na nakalista sa ibaba PETSA / LUGAR Ika-18 ng MARSO, SABADO Albertsons Mountain Shadows Community Center Ika-19 ng MARSO, LINGGO Albertsons Mountain Shadows Community Center Ika-20 ng MARSO, LUNES Albertsons Cardenas Ika-21 ng MARSO, MARTES Albertsons Veterans Memorial Ika-22 ng MARSO, MIYERKULES Albertsons Veterans Memorial Ika-23 ng MARSO,HUWEBES Mountain Crest Community Center Veterans Memorial Ika-24 ng MARSO, BIYERNES Mountain Crest Community Center Rainbow Library Ika-25 ng MARSO, SABADO Sahara West Library Skye Center at Skye Canyon Ika-26 ng MARSO, LINGGO Sahara West Library Skye Center at Skye Canyon Ika-27 ng MARSO, LUNES Doolittle Community Center Albertsons Ika-28 ng MARSO, MARTES Doolittle Community Center Albertsons Ika-29 ng MARSO, MIYERKULES Westminster Church Centennial Center Treyler Ika-30 ng MARSO, HUWEBES East Las Vegas Community Center Centennial Center Treyler Ika-31 ng MARSO, BIYERNES East Las Vegas Community Center Centennial Center Treyler
KINAROROONAN PINAGSALIKUPAN NA DAAN
ORAS
Craig/Decatur 9107 Del Web Boulevard
9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
Craig/Decatur 9107 Del Web Boulevard
9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
Craig/Decatur Bonanza/Lamb
9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
Farm/Durango 101 South Pavilion
9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
Farm / Durango 101 South Pavilion
9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
4701 North Durango Drive 101 South Pavilion
9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
4701 North Durango Drive Cheyenne/Buffalo
9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
9600 W. Sahara Avenue 10111 W. Skye Canyon Park Drive
10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
9600 W. Sahara Avenue 10111 W. Skye Canyon Park Drive
10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g. 10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.
1950 North J Street Buffalo/Vegas
9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
1950 North J Street Buffalo/Vegas
9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
4601 West Lake Mead Boulevard West Tropical Parkway/Centennial Center Boulevard – Near Home Depot
9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.
250 North Eastern Avenue West Tropical Parkway/Centennial Center Boulevard – Near Home Depot
9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.
250 North Eastern Avenue West Tropical Parkway/Centennial Center Boulevard – Near Home Depot
9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.
10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.
10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.
10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.
Para sa karagdaga’ng kaalaman bisitahin ang lungsod on line sa www.lasvegasnevada.gov/elections o Tumawag sa Tanggapan ng Kawani ng Lungsod sa 702-229-6311
A
http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678
march 23-29, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOUrNaL
OpiniOn
Trading barbs
Features
DESPITE a recent cordial encounter during the commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy Salaknib Class of 2017 in Baguio City last March 12, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Vice Pres. Leni Robredo find themselves at odds once again over the interests of the country. On one side is the president who remains unshaken despite receiving a constant barrage of censure over his aggressive campaign against drugs and criminality. While he continues to vehemently fight the drug crisis and criminality in the country, many still refuse to see its success. Duterte knows it—that waging a punitive war on drugs has consequences. He even warned that his war on drugs will be bloody. For his critics, the staggering numbers of people who have been killed during police operations and through extrajudicial killings cannot hide the growing level of violence and impunity in the country. It generates human rights abuses such as abusive and inhumane punishments. And as the number grows, so does the fear of the populace for their own lives. On the other side is the vice president, a former volunteer labor and human rights lawyer, who believes that the current war on drugs compromises human rights in the country. Robredo insists that the bigger war the government must face is against poverty. During the annual meeting of the 60th United
Nations (UN) Commission on Narcotic Drugs last March 16, a controversial six-minute video message by Robredo was aired. Through the video, Robredo brought the world’s attention to the troubles in Duterte’s drug war, which she alleged has resulted in 7,000 people who died in summary executions, and flagrant human rights violations. “We are heartened that the issue of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines today is being discussed in an event such as this. To know that the international community’s eyes are on us and to feel that human rights advocates are watching over our country gives us comfort, courage and hope,” she said. Coincidentally, an impeachment complaint against the president was filed on the same day that Robredo’s video message to the UN was released. Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano filed the complaint about Duterte’s alleged betrayal of public trust and corruption. Duterte has ruled out the Robredo is involved in any destabilization attempt against his government. However, his allies believe that the vice
Editorial
ManilaTimes.net photo
president is being used as a “political animal.” “The release of her (Robredo’s) UN video message lambasting the administration’s war on drugs before an international audience and the filing of an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives which happened on the same day, seems too neat to be written off as mere coincidence,” Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. Robredo might soon be facing impeachment of her own. House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he is planning an impeachment complaint against Robredo for allegedly betraying the public’s trust.
He accused the vice president that Robredo’s “inaccurate” video message to the UN has put the Philippines in a bad light and may result in serious economic consequences. While political mudslinging may seem typical in a democratic setting, the constant bickering attracts scaremongers, ones who are pushing into this emotionally polarized atmosphere to convince people on their side rather than ignite political aspirations and ideals. If this narrative continues, the ones who will lose are the Filipinos. (AJPress)
Pres. Trump lied to the American people and to the world Faces investigation on possible collusion with Russia
PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump lied. He lied to the American people. He lied to the world. And he is not owning up to it. He is not apologizing about it. In four rants on Twitter in the early morning of March 4, Trump accused President Barack Obama of a grave impeachable offense, claiming his predecessor wiretapped him in Trump Towers during the 2016 presidential election. Trump offered no evidence, pretty much like how he lied about his other “conspiracy theories” that Pres. Obama was not born in Hawaii but in Kenya and was therefore not eligible to be president of the United States. He lied about the 3 million “illegal” voters whom he said made him lose the popular vote to his political opponent, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. He lied about President Obama and his people being the ones orchestrating all the protest rallies against him and his policies, as well as leaks about his administration. And the list of lies and conspiracy theories went on and on, with Trump labeling people, institutions, media organizations that do not support his narrative and are critical of him and his policies as “fake news.” Pressed for evidence from the bipartisan intelligence committees in Congress, Trump then fabricated more lies on a global level, implicating one major ally. Trump alleged that the British spies surveilled him on behalf of Obama.
TWO of the most common expressions Street that I hear from the tricycle drivers in our Talk neighborhood in Parañaque are: “Lumilipas din ang kahihiyan!” (Shame passes!) and, “Nakakain ba ang GreG B. MacaBenta dangal?” (Can you eat honor?). These expressions reflect a very cynical attitude that is probably understandable if one were to consider the harsh lives that the drivers have to contend with — lives that they characterize as “Isang kahit, isang tuka!” (Literally: like a chicken scratching the ground and pecking at whatever food it finds). Unfortunately, this attitude seems to be common among people who are well-to-do, especially those who are in positions of power; folks who ought to be role models of honor and integrity. It makes you wonder if they care about how their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will feel about being told that their forebears were hustlers, liars or thieves. Or are they resigned to the fact that their descendants and successors will be as cynical or as unscrupulous as they? Or, maybe, they think that people will forget. Lilipas din ang kahihiyan. Recently, local and international media gave us a generous serving of news about two very prominent individuals who lost their high positions in government because they were careless with their honor and integrity: in the Philip-
Trump’s administration alleged Pres. Obama bypassed the The Fil-Am U.S. intelligence agencies so that there would be no U.S. footprint Perspective in the scheming act. This was an accusation that the British spy agency denied, saying this is against the law and the agreement among the allies Gel SantoS-reloS sharing intelligence information. The United States is part of the “Five Eyes,” an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. These are the allies that help us in our fight against terrorism and other threats to our democracy and the security of the Free World. Trump held on to this false narrative until his own Department of Justice exposed his lies when FBI director James Comey, along with the officials of the National Security Agency, told the bipartisan intelligence committee in Congress that they found no evidence that Obama wiretapped and surveilled then President-elect Trump before, during and after the election. It never happened. From the testimony of Comey, we also found out that since July 2016, the FBI has actually been investigating if the Trump campaign had been in collusion with Russia to meddle in the U.S. presidential election last year. There had been numerous reports of Trump’s people’s secret meetings with the Russian envoy
and other officials, even visits to Russia. Trump’s national security adviser Mike Flynn was forced to resign after being exposed to have lied about his meetings with the Russian Ambassador. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who he later appointed to be senior adviser, was reportedly with Flynn. Trump’s surrogate during election who he appointed to be his Justice secretary even lied under oath about his secret meetings with the Russian ambassador. Questions begged to be answered: Did Russia meddle in our sacred U.S. election to help Trump win? Were there talks about Trump easing sanctions that Obama imposed on Russia for hacking into our computers to spread fake news and propaganda to destroy Hillary Clinton and help Trump win? Could there be other tit-for-tat relationships politically and financially between Trump and Putin? Whatever your political color may be, this issue goes beyond partisan politics because Russia, an adversary of the United States and the free world, has been strategically taking all of these illegal acts to hack into the cyber accounts of the United States and European countries to interfere in their elections, cause destabilization in the free world – just as how Russian leader Vladimir Putin reportedly wanted to push his own agenda to re-estab-
lish the Russian Empire. During the House Intelligence Committee hearing, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) expertly connected the dots between Trump’s campaign and Russia. Schiff clearly presented the timeline of events that linked Trump campaign officials, such as former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn and former campaign manager Paul Manafort, to Russian government officials. In his statement, Schiff made the conclusion that these webs of contact between Trump’s camp and Russian officials could be a coincidence — but he said that there’s enough smoke to demand a thorough investigation. “Is it possible that all of these events and reports are completely unrelated, and nothing more than an entirely unhappy coincidence? Yes, it is possible,” Schiff said. “But it is also possible, maybe more than possible, that they are not coincidental, not disconnected and not unrelated, and that the Russians used the same techniques to corrupt U.S. persons that they have employed in Europe and elsewhere. We simply don’t know, not yet, and we owe it to the country to find out.” *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos
Do honor and integrity still count?
pines, President Rodrigo Duterte’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Perfecto Yasay, Jr., and in the United States, President Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn (U.S. Army, Lt. Gen., retired). Much can also be said about Duterte and Trump in terms of dealing with “alternative facts,” but that is a topic that we have already written about in the past. The falls of Yasay and Flynn are ironic because they both had relatively honorable and impressive careers and they could have exited public service with their families flushed with welldeserved pride. Sadly, both were exposed as having lied or played loosely with the truth and both had to suffer the consequences. Yasay was rejected by the Commission on Appointments and has had to vacate his post as the Philippines’ top diplomat. Duterte, famous for standing by his people, right or wrong, could do nothing. Flynn was asked to resign by Trump, serving only 24 days in his highly sensitive job. Unfortunately for Yasay and Flynn, the saying “lumilipas din ang kahihiyan” may no longer apply in this digital age, where things printed or posted about a person can be unearthed and accessed through many generations. In other words, if one’s great grandchild were to Google the background of Yasay or Flynn, for purposes of a
school report on the family’s proud ancestry, the poor kid would be disheartened and embarrassed by what the digital postings will reveal. To give an example of what one can find out about a prominent individual through a digital search, the following was written on March 10, 2000 by the late Philippine Star columnist and former Press Secretary (under Pres. Cory Aquino), Teodoro “Teddy Man” Benigno. This was in connection with the celebrated BW Resources stock market scandal that triggered the impeachment of President Joseph “Erap” Estrada: “On the surface, it looks like a simple, even superficial personality feud between the president and Securities and Exchange commissioner Perfecto Yasay, Jr. The president wants his way with the SEC and since several weeks back has reportedly phoned Yasay five times to do him, Erap, a favor...Well, Yasay didn’t get the message, and — horror of horrors — denied to carry out the president’s ‘instructions...’ “But regardless of what happens to Mr. Perfecto Yasay (suspension, bootout, sabotage charges), there’s no way they can sweep up the PSE and BW Resources debris and log them down river. Know what? Things are beginning to look like the start-up of a Philippine version of Watergate, threatening to bring down Erap and all the president’s men. They can call Yasay anything they want but the SEC chairman is the smoking gun or has the smoking gun. “Mr. Yasay did what no one in the
present administration has ever done — stare the president eyeball to eyeball. He blew the whistle on the president….” And here’s what Wikipedia says about Yasay’s courageous act: “Yasay was among those who testified in the impeachment trial against President Joseph Estrada on charges of corruption. The probe led to the ouster of Estrada, known as EDSA People Power II in 2001.” Yasay was so lionized in the wake of Estrada’s impeachment and subsequent ejection from the presidency that the former SEC chairman was considered fit for higher office. Yasay ran for senator in the 2001 elections and for vice-president in 2010. He lost in both polls, but one cannot belittle the high regard that his party mates had for him. Yasay could have chosen to ride into the sunset, enjoying his glory, but he preferred, instead, to accept the position of secretary of foreign affairs. In the process, he opted to lie under oath on the matter of his former U.S. citizenship. He could simply have told the truth: Yes, I was a U.S. citizen but I renounced that citizenship before my appointment as secretary of foreign affairs. But Yasay chose to lie and by lying, other questionable acts were also unearthed. Did he accept the chairmanship of the Securities and Exchange Commission and did he run for public office even while he was a U.S. citizen? Worse yet, did he fail to recover his Philippine citizenship before he ac-
cepted the appointment to the Department of Foreign Affairs? If not, does that make him stateless? The former National Security Adviser of Trump found himself in the same sticky situation as Yasay. He had served in the U.S. army intelligence service for years, moving up in rank to Lieutenant General, and serving as commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, chairman of the Military Intelligence Board, Assistant Director of National Intelligence and Senior Intelligence Officer for the Joint Operations Command. He had problems with managerial competence and had a tendency to play loosely with facts (behind his back, subordinates derisively described them as Flynn Facts), but he was, otherwise, a highly-regarded military man. And after his retirement, he became one of Trump’s closest confidants and a dependable aide during the presidential campaign. But Flynn was caught telling a lie — to Vice President Mike Pence, no less — and he compounded his lies with other lies. He denied having spoken to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kisiyak in December 2016, but was forced to take back his denial after U.S. intelligence officials showed him evidence that he had, in fact, had a discussion with Kisiyak. Flynn’s consultancy firm also had the government of Turkey as a client, making him a “foreign agent,” but he did not officially register that fact — a requirement of U.S. law — even while he had acceptPAGE A7
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Shahani: Senator, diplomat, educator by Jess
Diaz anD Paolo RomeRo Philstar.com
CONDOMS IN CROWDED CELLS. Quezon City jail officials distribute condoms to inmates to prevent the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, the sexually transmitted virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS. Three inmates have tested positive for HIV. One of the three has died while another is out on bail. Xavier Solda, spokesman of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, said they could only plead with inmates to submit to HIV tests, thus the need to distribute condoms. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez
PH expands cooperation with Myanmar... PAGE A5 tives,� he added. On the same day, Duterte also met with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and presented her a symbolic check of $300,000 (P15 million) for humanitarian assistance to the marginalized Rohingya Muslim people along Burma’s Rakhine region. For her part, Suu Kyi thanked the Philippines for its donation. “The thoughtful gesture of the government of the Republic of the Philippines reflects the ASEAN solidarity and family spirit as well as the traditional bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries,� she said through a letter of appreciation. PH, Thailand forge three deals After his visit to Myanmar, Duterte flew to Thailand and
arrived in Bangkok on Monday evening. On Tuesday, March 21, Philippine and Thai officials signed three agreements in the fields of science and technology, tourism, and agriculture – with Duterte and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as witnesses. Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo and Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanannavrangkul signed a deal wherein the the two countries agreed “to explore ways to further enhance tourism cooperation, including identifying specific activities to pursue this such as the promotion of joint tourist destinations.â€? Secretary of Science and Technology Fortunato de la PeĂąa and Thailand’s Science and Technology Minis-
ter Atchaka Sibunruang also signed a document which aims to “promote exchanges of joint academic research and development, scientists and specialists, technical documentation and information, and the arrangement of bilateral conferences among other activities.� Another agreement was signed by Philippine Carabao Center Executive Director Arnel Del Barrio and Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Dir. Gen. Apai Suttisunk. Through the deal, both the Philippines and Thailand “agreed to further promote cooperation and exchange of best practices in irrigation, artificial rain, livestock and fisheries and the application of technology for sustainable soil and water conservation.�
Do honor and integrity... PAGE A6 ed his appointment as National Security Adviser (he only complied with the law, after he had been fired). Questions remain unanswered about the relations of the camp of Trump with the Russians. Flynn’s firing may only be the tip of what the Washington Post’s Carl Bernstein feels is a cover-up. Bernstein is familiar with White House cover-ups. He and fellow
Post reporter Bob Woodward exposed the Watergate scandal that forced the resignation of President Richard Nixon. The difference between Michael Flynn and Perfect Yasay, Jr. is this: Flynn may not end up like the old soldier who just fades away, but like the old fisherman who “just stinks that way.� That is the cruel fate of American public figures who are disgraced.
But not so in the Philippines. Yasay can still recover and pursue his public service or political career. Because in our town, kung ang kahihiyan hindi man lumipas (if shame doesn’t pass), folks tend to be immune to it, anyway — and maybe, the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, too. Indeed, maybe, honor and integrity no longer count. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)
MANILA - Former senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani on Monday, March 20 died of stage four colon cancer. She was 87. Shahani died at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City, where she had been confined for a month, her daughter Lila said. Shahani, younger sister of former president Fidel Ramos, was supposed to undergo chemotherapy but succumbed to pneumonia and other infections. She was a multi-faceted public servant. She was a diplomat, lawmaker, educator and women’s rights advocate. Prior to her election as senator, Shahani had a wide and notable record of government service, which included her being chair of the National Commission on the Role of the Filipino Women in 1987 and ambassador to Australia (1978-1980) and the Socialist Republic of Romania (1975-1980). She was also among the highest-ranking women at the United Nations, serving as assistant secretary general for social development and humanitarian affairs from 1981 to 1986. She co-authored the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, was chair of the UN Commission on Women and secretary general of both the Third UN Conference on Women and Seventh Congress on Crime Prevention and Treatment of Offenders in 1985. Shahani once lamented that at the time she was in the arena of diplomacy, “it was a man’s world� and that it was tough for a woman to be a diplomat. While serving in the UN at a time when advocating for women’s rights was not yet in vogue, she pushed hard for issues such as equal rights between men and women. Her experience in international affairs helped her become an effective member of the Senate. Among the pieces of legislation she authored were the Shahani Law, which deals with gender discrimination; the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, which expanded the definition of rape; and a law requiring local government units to allocate five percent of their annual budget for gender equality and development. Shahani served as senator for two terms, from 1987 to 1998. She
held the post of Senate president protempore and chaired various committees, including the committee on foreign affairs and committee on education. She was also a member of the Commission on Appointments. In June 2015, the House of Representatives, under then Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., passed Resolution 2007 to honor Shahani. The resolution cited her as a “distinguished diplomat, educator and senator.�
That same month, the Senate also honored its former stalwart under Resolution 1396 authored by Sen. Loren Legarda. Shahani was also an educator. She was dean of the graduate school of Lyceum of the Philippines University and dean of the college of international, humanitarian and development studies of Miriam College. She taught various subjects, including English literature, French, Spanish, comparative literature, humanities and social psychology.
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Will any of these girls fly as the next Darna? (L-R) Liza Soberano, Maja Salvador, NAdine Lustre, Arci Muñoz and Pia Wurtzbach
Angel Locsin no longer playing Darna by arlo
CustodIo ManilaTimes.net
Fans, followers, angel Locsin herself and her home studio were hopeful that after getting treatment for her back injury, she could still play the iconic heroine in the beloved Mars Ravelo classic. In 2016, Locsin and her home network, aBs-CBn revealed that a disc bulge in her spine had been detected during the actress’ training for star Cinema’s upcoming big screen adaptaion of Darna. The management agreed for Locsin to undergo treatment and return to her training once she has fully recovered. However, in her comeback, Locsin still experienced back pains, prompting the actress and the management to mutually call off the project. aBs-CBn Integrated Corporate Communications head Kane Errol Choa explained the surrounding circumstances of Locsin’s pullout of the role in an official statement sent to The Manila Times. “aBs-CBn, star Cinema, and angel Locsin have mutually arrived at a final decision that she will no longer pursue the ‘Darna’ movie due to her medical situation,” Choa said. “We gave angel our full support during and after her treatment in the hopes that she would portray the iconic Filipino heroine… Unfortunately, angel experienced back pain twice during training, prompting her doctor to advise her not to participate in strenuous activities to avoid permanent damage on her spine,” he further explained. “We would have loved to see angel fly again as Darna and take
our hats off to her for the gargantuan efforts she has put in for the project,” the network executive continued. “We wish her well as she will begin working on other projects, like a special role in La Luna sangre with John Lloyd Cruz, a movie with James Reid, a movie with Coco Martin and a teleserye,” concluded Choa. It could be remembered that Locsin played the popular flying heroine on GMa in 2005 before her transfer to aBs-CBn. Darna, which debuted as a newspaper comics strip on January 16, 1939, first made a crossover into film in 1951 starring Rosa Del Rosario produced and directed by Fernando Poe sr. With four Darna movies under her name, Vilma santos has been considered as the most popular actress to play the heroine. Lorna Tolentino also flew as Darna in a TV series while anjanette abayari and nanette Medved both essayed the role on the big screen under Viva Films. The latest to play the role was Marian Rivera through a GMa teleserye in 2009. Search for new Darna Even before the formal announcement of Locsin’s pullout, fans had already been choosing who could next fill in the shoes and the costume. among those touted to best essay the role are Liza soberano, Maja salvador, nadine Lustre, Kathryn Bernardo, sarah Geronimo, Julia Barretto and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. In a Facebook survey made by aBs-CBn PR manager aaron Domingo on Tuesday, aside from the names already mentioned, fans are also pitching for anne Curtis,
TOP Filipino fashion designer Francis Libiran, who has been dressing celebrities and brides alike, got his own happy ending as he exchanged ‘I do’s’ with businessman Christian Mark Jacobs in Boracay on Friday, March 17. In their matching impeccable suits, the new husband-and-husband shared their milestone with relatives and close friends including Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa, actor Robin Padilla and actress Kaye abad. (ManilaTimes.net)
Photo from Francis Libiran’s Instagram account
Elha Nympha takes the world by storm ‘Little Big Shots’ segment viewed 54 million times by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net
Angel Locsin as Darna
arci Muñoz and Ellen adarna. One commenter even suggested a new face in the person of Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina. Whoever that new actress maybe, Locsin, in an interview with aBs-CBn’s MJ Felipe, said she will be supporting her. “I’m very excited for her and I’m already supporting her 100percent. sana ay suportahan din natin. Kung gaano ninyo ako sinuportahan ay ibigay natin sa kanya kasi naniniwala talaga ako sa kanya,” she averred. “I can’t wait for aBs-CBn to announce the new Darna. I think matutuwa ang lahat. May pinipili sila, pero wala pang final. May bet ako at tingin ko siya [ang]mapipili. I can teach her, I can guide her,” Locsin happily expressed.
anOTHER Filipino talent is taking the world by storm in the person of “The Voice Kids season 2” grand champion Elha nympha. Her appearance on Us TV via “Little Big shots” is hailed as a door opener for the new crop of singers from the Philippines. Produced and hosted by steve Harvey and co-produced by Ellen DeGeneres, the show features “the world’s most talented and extraordinary kids.” Twelve-year-old nympha flew to Los angeles with her family for the show’s taping last year. In an interview with Harvey, she shared her life story as a former banana cue vendor who sang for her customers. Her performance of sia’s hit “Chandelier” commanded a standing ovation from the audience, earning praises as one of the “great young voices in the world” with the demonstration of her vocal chords to full capacity in the very challenging repertoire. Prior to the showing of Elha’s episode on March 6 on Diva asia cable channel, Harvey—due to the demand after she was shown in a teaser—posted her performance on his Facebook page where it began circulating online. as of press time, the video gar-
nered more than 54 million views and shared 802,081 times. Indeed, the former banana cue vendor did not only capture the hearts of the crowd during her performance but also social media users around the world. “This young lady has been touched by an angel. Her voice is so angelic it brought tears to my eyes. Baby stay focused, trust God and your blessings will flow. so amazing,” Facebook user Pamela Long commented. “she is phenomenal! I hope she is introduced to the right people that will guide her to a fulfilling career. What a treat to listen to her!” Peter n Jackie ayala said. Kimberly Youngblood wrote, “Gave me goosebumps and brought me to tears, absolutely beautiful, better than sia. someone needs to sign this girl up for a record deal.” “not only did she give me chills but brought me to tears. Oh that voice, that voice is straight from the soul, she is not just singing. Beautiful girl with a beautiful voice!” Christina Cloud posted. Meanwhile, “Chandelier” original singer sia noticed and shared the video on Twitter with a caption, “Incredible.” The “Voice Us” host Carson Daly, on the other hand, wrote his amazement on Twitter and said, “Wow! @IamsteveHarvey jeal-
Ella Nympha
ous” as he attached the video of nympha performing. During the press preview of her appearance on the program, nympha shared that it was a surprise and at the time honored to be invited to perform in such big show. “I was nervous at first but I really don’t want to let my fellow Filipinos down so I really gave my all during the performance,” nympha said. “I was just worried at first. I was thinking, ‘What if they do not clap?’ I am used to performing here in the Philippines. But it was my first time in the United states, and I did not know how the people there would react. I was nervous about that,” PAGE B3
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Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City Catholic Diocese: Bringing the church to the people By Christina
M. Oriel
AJPress
On a recent morning in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bishop Oscar Azarcon Solis reflected on the change of weather. The sun was out as temperatures rose to the mid-70s — a stark contrast to the week prior when he was welcomed into his new home with inches of snow. “That’s what makes Utah very interesting for people to come: you keep on guessing,” Solis remarked during an interview with the Asian Journal. The 63-year-old native of nueva Ecija, Philippines made history on March 7 when he was formally installed as the 10th Roman Catholic bishop of the Salt Lake City diocese. With this position — to which he was appointed to by Pope Francis in January — Solis is the first Filipino to lead such a large congregation of Catholics in the United States. The ceremony earlier this month followed ancient rites, including a formal reception and knocking of the doors, and the celebration of the Solemn Mass and Rite of Canonical Possession. Both were held at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in the Utah capital and were witnessed by nearly a thousand individuals, including a whole host of special guests like Archbishop José Palma of Cebu and Hon. Salvador Medialdea, executive secretary of the president of the Philippines. “Firsthand, I experienced the warm hospitality of the people of Utah…So embracing, so warm, so welcoming, very hospitable. I have so many adjectives that I can use to describe it,” Solis shared. Despite this momentous role that Filipino and Filipino-American Catholics — hundreds of them from across the country and overseas traveled to Salt Lake City to witness the bishop’s installment — have hailed, Solis said being a Filipino immigrant is simply a sidebar to his ministry work. “I really don’t dwell on that, being Filipino and the historical element of being appointed as bishop here in Salt Lake City,” he said. “I consider myself as a priest and a bishop for everyone. It just so happens that I am a Filipino by
birth and a Filipino American by citizenship.” “But in essence, I am just a regular, ordinary priest and Catholic bishop,” he continued. “I represent the universal Catholic Church that serves not only the Filipinos, but everybody.” The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, which covers the entire state of Utah, is home to over 300,000 Catholics, 48 parishes, 19 missions and 16 Catholic schools. (About 15,000 of those Catholics identify as Asian American and Pacific Islander, a majority of whom are Filipino, the diocese said.) In his homily during the installation Mass, he laid out his mission “to teach, to govern and to sanctify.” “Working to build an inclusive community of faith in a rich multicultural setting like Utah is both a challenge and an opportunity. The attitude and perspective with which we approach our reality colors the outcome of our ministry,” he told the audience. He added that during his time in Utah, he would continue the agenda of his predecessors to “bring the Church to the people.” “As I have told my brother bishops, it is quite frightening to follow these ‘big dogs.’ And as I look up to them, I could not help but think of myself as a little puppy. And the sad part about it, I said, is that I am a little puppy and a mixed breed,” he mused during his message. “These men, my predecessors, were all dedicated leaders of our faith, who carried out their episcopal ministry with great zeal and enthusiasm, and who worked collaboratively with leaders of other faith denominations.” The Deseret State is known for having a population that predominately belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, even with the relatively small number of Catholics in comparison to the over 2 million Mormons in the state, Solis said he is looking forward to engaging with other faiths. “The Catholic Church in Utah has a longstanding, wonderful partnership between the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as other interfaith and interreligious
Bishop Oscar A. Solis presents the apostolic mandate naming him Salt Lake City’s bishop during his installation Mass March 7 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City. Bishop Solis, 63, a native of San Jose City, Philippines, had been an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles since 2004 when he was named to head the statewide Utah diocese Jan. 10.
Bishop Oscar A. Solis, taking in the cathedra at the Cathedral of the Madeleine March 7, becomes the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Fellow bishops congratulate him as he becomes the first Filipino to lead a U.S. diocese. Photos by J.D. Long-Garcia/Angelus News
groups. We have an ecumenical group here in Salt Lake City and I heard they meet regularly,” he said. Becoming Bishop Solis — who was born in San Jose, nueva Ecija — attended the Christ the King Seminary of the Society of the Divine Word, Tagaytay City, to study philosophy and the Pontifical Royal Seminary at the University of Saint Thomas in Manila for his theological studies. He was ordained a priest in 1979 for the Diocese of Cabanatuan and served as chaplain to a number of organizations, as Prefect of Seminary Studies and as Diocesan Vocations Director, according to the Catholic Church. He emigrated to the United States in 1984 and was a Paro-
chial Vicar in the Archdiocese of newark, new Jersey until 1988. He then moved to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, in 1992, where he served in four different parishes. Pope John Paul II appointed Solis as the auxiliary bishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles in late 2003, and it was made official during a ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown LA the following year. It was a historic moment as well, for he became the first Filipino to be installed as a bishop in the U.S. He was later promoted to auxiliary bishop of the San Pedro Pastoral District in 2009. For the past seven years, Solis has been responsible for overseeing 67 parishes and eight Catholic high
schools in Los Angeles and Long Beach. He has also been the episcopal advisor for the national Association of Filipino Priests since 2011. Beloved and embraced by the greater LA Catholic community for his quick wit and humor, Solis said his personality stems from the “joy of sharing [his] faith with others.” This charisma is what he will continue to grace his new environment with. “I want them to feel excited about it because it is exciting for me to have this opportunity and share the presence of Christ in my life and the love that I have experienced and the love that God has bestowed upon me all my life. It’s a simple message that God is love, God is good and he loves us all,” he said. “Joy is contagious — that’s why I always smile and bring the joy of the Gospel to everyone…When you have God in your life, you don’t need all of those [material] things…That’s what the Gospel of God is all about.” As previously written in the Asian Journal during a MDWK Magazine feature in 2011, Solis shared that he questioned if he was truly meant to dedicate his life to being a priest. But he eventually knew it was his destined path and is committed to helping others consider ministry work. While stationed in Utah, one of the demands he will be address-
Photo courtesy of Fr. Albert Avenido
ing is how to encourage more individuals to become priests or nuns. “…As the population grows, that means the Catholic population is growing as well. We need more ministers in order to make themselves available to give service to people, to bring the Church to the people. That’s our main goal, really, trying to bring the Church where the people are, instead of waiting for the people to come to the Church,” he said. Given the political climate and divisiveness in the country right now, Solis said the Church “sets the example of inclusivity” and can be a safe space for individuals. “In fact, we welcome...all, even the strangers among us,” he reflected. “That is the basic principle of what the church stands for: it is open, inclusive, hospitable and welcoming, especially to those who are in need.” “That is why it’s not surprising that the Church stands in support of refugees, people living in poverty, the homeless, people suffering from addictions [of] drugs. It’s a normal thing for the Church to stand in support and on behalf of those people who need our love and compassion so they may be able to uphold their innate human dignity as human beings, as members of our faith community and as members of God’s family.”
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Aiko Melendez gets raves for ‘Wildflower’ role Glad body shaming has stopped by Maan
D’asis PaMaran ManilaTimes.net
During “Tawag ng Tanghalan” grand finals, Vice Ganda changed costumes every commercial break.
Vice Ganda justifies extravagant outfits by
Deni rose BernarDo Philstar.com
NOONtiME show “it’s Showtime” is not complete without Vice Ganda, especially his outfits. “’Di totoo ‘yan! Ang totoo po n’yan, aalis po ako!” joked the comedian when asked to comment if it is true that “it’s Showtime” is not the same whenever he is away to do tours abroad. “A c t u a l l y, k a y a a k o h i nahanap-hanap kasi ako ang nagpapapakla. Nawawalan ng konting pakla ‘pag wala ako.” he is, in fact, one of the most abused among the show’s hosts, he said. “Nabababoy ako sa programa…Ako po talaga ang pinakakawawa kung makikita n’yo lang ang ginagawa nila sa’kin backstage – tinatapunan, sinasalaula…” Besides his jokes, “it’s Showtime” fans always watch out for his and his co-host Anne Curtis’ #OotD (outfit of the day) showdown. During the grand finals of the show’s singing contest, “tawag ng tanghalan,” Vice and Anne changed costumes every commercial break. he did not deny that his clothes are quite expensive and ostentatious. “Kasama sa marami kong interes ang damit,” he said during the recent press conference for “tawag ng tanghalan.” “Sa sobrang mahal, ‘yung iba, tinatago ko, ‘yung iba, ninanakaw na lang din!” shared the star, who gives away some of his clothes to his fans and gay friends. it makes him proud, he said, to see his friends wear his gowns. “Siguro ganun talaga ‘pag de-
prived ka nung bata ka,” he said, recalling how he used to windowshop in Avenida and in malls with his grandfather. “Naglalaway lang ako kasi walang wala ako kasi wala talagang pera mga magulang ko noon. Kaya noong nagkaroon na ako ng pagkakataon, ang gusto ko, ibigay sa sarili ko.” Sometimes, he shoots a movie before “it’s Showtime.” if he has no movie, he plays badminton or “raket at rampa sa gabi!” “Gusto ko, busy ako pero gusto ko na-eenjoy ‘yung kinikita ko at gusto ko rin makasama pamilya at mga kaibigan ko. Gusto ko, busy ako but living my life. Sobrang balanse ang buhay ko!” he touted.
he also justified he changed hairstyle not because he is broken-hearted. “i’m not brokenhearted. i’m actually in a happy place!” his co-host, Ryan Bang, said Vice confides everything about his love life only to him. “Last week, we met cute foreigners!” Ryan shared. “Lahat ng alam ko (sa showbiz) natutunan ko kay Vice – pag-aalaga sa sarili, pagmamahal sa sarili muna, pati pa’no magbayad ng bayarin.” “Vice is kuripot!” exclaimed Vice’s fellow host, Jugs Jugueta. Vice quickly defended himself again: “Sa hashtags, ‘di ako kuripot!”
With a more active career in showbiz and a healthier lifestyle, Aiko Melendez believes she is in a much happier place nowadays. Melendez is currently getting raves for her performance in the ABS-CBN teleserye “Wildflower” as Governor Emilia Ardiente-torillo. As the antagonist to Maja Salvador’s character, her role has made her reconsider getting back into local politics again. She was Quezon City councilor for nine years. the actress was earlier named as 2017’s Gawad tanglaw Best Supporting Actress for the indie film “iadya Mo Kami.” in 2015, Melendez was proclaimed Best Actress in A Foreign Language Film at the international Filmmakers Festival of World Cinema in London for the movie Asintado. Looking lighter onscreen and in person, Melendez said she had to change her lifestyle to gain back her confidence. She was 250 pounds at her biggest, a far cry from her “Underage too” days when she donned bikini alongside other Regal Babies in the ‘90s. Consequently, Melendez became the subject of online bashing about her weight. “tinatawag na akong aparador. My only thought at the time was, at least magandang aparador ako,” she laughingly related to The Manila Times. “i got fat when i gave birth. When i had problems with my love life, i got fat. When i fall in love, i get fat. i decided that this cycle has got to stop,” she disclosed.
the 41-year-old actress started working out, and went on a diet. After losing unwanted pounds, however, she felt that it was not enough – the flab and folds were still there. “Arnell ignacio is a friend and i was so impressed with his abs. i asked him how he got them, especially at his age. he told me about Dr. Claudine Roura of Contours Advanced Face and Body Sculpting institute,” Melendez shared. “Pangarap ko talaga magkaabs. i have had body issues even before, because my legs were always big. i used to be into swimming and was even part of the Philippine team,” she continued. She had to undergo several treatments within a few months –Vaser 4D tummy tuck, followed by a Vaser Lipo of her arms and legs. “i would work out hardcore, even lifting 300-pound tires as part of my routine. i felt really strong, but my arms were not getting into shape,” the actress recalled. After the procedure, she was able to post photos of her wearing a tube. By December 2016, she posted a beach photo of her wearing a bikini. “Nag-trending siya. i never thought i would trend again, and i especially never thought that it would be a bikini photo of me that would trend,” she smiled. Replying on the bashing and comments about why she chose to post a photo like that, “this is my body, this is my instagram, if you want, you can unfollow me, it’s as simple as that. Posting that picture was not to show off, but
Aiko Melendez
to inspire. So, when i read those comments, i chose to ignore them,” she retorted. She also plans to write a book in the future, to talk about her weight-loss journey. She spilled what motivates her to keep fit. “i just Google myself and look at my old photos. i also have this picture of me at my biggest in my room and i see it as soon as i wake up. it gets me going,” she laughed. the photo was taken at 210 pounds. She has lost 52 pounds since. “My promise to myself is that if i ever get into a relationship again —and i have been praying for this for a long time—i will take care of myself more. i owe it to myself,” Melendez happily ended.
Elha Nympha takes the world by storm PAGE B1 she shared. Obviously, it was not how she expected it. She said her worries faded right after she was given standing ovation. harvey even exclaimed, “this girl can sing!” while cheering beside her. When asked how she prepared for the show, she shared, “i made sure my voice was in good condition, just in case they make me perform a demanding song, like Mariah Carey’s ‘Emotions.’ i also practiced my English diction.” According to her, pursuing an
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international career and doing shows in other countries are two of her dreams. “Being in this show is a great opportunity. this is a way for me to be known and hopefully book more shows, and achieve what i want to accomplish. i also hope i can make it to Ellen DeGeneres’ show,” Nympha said. the young belter’s recording career indeed changed since she won “the Voice Kids Philippines Season 2” but she assured the media that she balances her studies and work as she goes to a
regular school. “i make sure that i do my homework right away, so i would have enough time to rehearse or do other projects,” she asserted. Asked for her advice to aspiring singers, “Just do what you love, keep practicing and be yourself. Do not be afraid to go for it. if you have God-given talent, do not waste it.” Nympha also guested at the finals of “the Voice Kids indonesia” in December. She is currently a mainstay of ABS-CBN’s Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids.
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Welcoming the spring season — the Filipino way By Monet
Lu
Having four seasons in a year is an idea that is quite foreign to Filipinos who grew up in the Philippines. Back there, we only have the dry (summer) and wet (rainy) seasons. Then there are those, like me, who migrated outside the Philippines to a place that has more than two seasons. This change also requires a change of wardrobe, food, scenery, and pastimes. So how does the typical “Pinoy” deal with the changing of the season? Food Filipinos love to eat and foreigners know that about us. One of the running jokes about Filipinos is: “Wherever there’s food, that is where the Filipinos are.” now that is good if they meant that we cook great food; otherwise, it could mean that we’re known as gluttons. Either way, food is a just at the core of every Filipino. and a food-loving Filipino has adapted the ability to adjust his or her palate according to the season. Spring season calls for a parade of spring rolls. and by that, i meant spring rolls of different varieties such as Lumpiang Shanghai (pork spring rolls), Lumpiang Sariwa or Lumpiang Ubod (bamboo shoots spring rolls) and Lumpiang gulay or Lumpiang Toge (bean sprouts spring rolls) are the best sellers in a company potluck or spring banquet. and because we just love to dip everything in sauce, we even have the appropriate sauce for each of spring rolls. Sweet and sour chili sauce, peanut sauce, and of course, lumpiang toge’s faithful partner: sukang puti (white vinegar). Spring is also a great time to check out the newest Filipino restaurants or asian fusion cafes that invaded Southern California. You can also venture further south to San Diego and i bet you will the aroma of inihaw na liempo (grilled pork belly) would lead you to a Filipino restaurant or a park filled with Filipinos with picnic baskets filled with Filipino
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delicacies. Filipino food is just everywhere and i credit that to the talented cooks and chefs who make Los angeles such a delicious place to live. Fashion Spring is the second season of the year. and second to adjusting this season’s menu is switching clothes. This is the time where thermal jackets and winter boots are stored away. Unless you have a perfectly good reason for wearing that fur coat, it should be in the closet. The “petite” pinays like to don flowery sundresses, spring colored jumpsuits, or some cute separates like a good statement skirt with comfortable and flattering cotton top. Pair this look with an accent pump and minimal accessories, and they swing their way to spring! For the men, skinny jeans are not as cool as they were before but still is a known staple in any man’s wardrobe. it’s the season to loosen up a bit, so straight cut cool print chino pants is a great alternative to tight and dark jeans. Pair these up with a lightweight cardigan and a statement eyewear and you’re off to great spring. Places One of the best things about this season is the blooming of flowers and fruit trees. This is also one of the things about spring that we, Filipinos, can relate to. and it’s not because we have the spring season but because planting and harvesting is a way of life to us. We harvest vegetables and fruits, and plant more tropical plants that our gardens could handle. This season means a picnic at
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the park, checking out a botanical garden and Knott’s Berry Farm, you know, the stuff that you do while you bond over food and wear your flowery and light cotton shirts. Forget about hibernating in your pajamas or walking around your house wearing thermal socks -- that is so last winter! go out there and watch the cherry blossoms and tulips, open the windows and enjoy the warm sun. as this new season unfolds, we should make the most of it by welcoming spring in all its glory. i do that by thinking of spring as the snow finally melting, trees blooming, and the streets looking lively and green again! For most people, spring is a time of change. Thoughts of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and hope come to us when we wake up from a cold winter night to a warm spring morning. Oh, Spring, you bring so many beautiful things. and as Filipinos fondly say – and let me say it with cheers to a spring season full of hope: “Mabuhay!” *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 23-29, 2017
Working in the US with an H-1B visa Calendar of Events across
Your Immigration Solution
Atty. Devin Connolly & nAnCy Miller President trump has made a lot of statements regarding immigration reform. His comments about building a wall on the U.s.’ southern border have probably grabbed the most headlines, but he has also spoken about revamping the current H-1B program, which allows a foreign national to work in a “specialty occupation” in the U.s. it is unclear what, if any, changes will be made to the H-1B program. thus, for now, we are all operating under the H-1B program that we have known for many years. And now is the time to start processing your H-1B. the U.s. Citizenship and immigration service (UsCis) will begin accepting H-1B petitions on April 1, 2017. it is vitally important for an employer to file the petition exactly on April 1st. if not, as discussed below, you are risking the H-1B cap being met before you even submit your petition. As stated above, the H-1B program allows U.s. employers to hire foreign workers to work in “specialty occupations.” A “specialty occupation” is an occupation that requires the theoretical or practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge. More commonly, a “specialty occupation” is an occupation that typically requires a Bachelor’s degree for entry into the field. examples of “specialty occupation” include teachers, engineers, accountants, computer programmers and scientists. As you can see, only a small percentage of occupations will actually qualify for an H-1B visa; it must
Health@Heart PhiliP S. ChuA, MD, FACS, FPCS i wrote an article back in 1998 about Viagra, a headliner around the world then when it was first introduced that year. two decades next year, Viagra and its competitors, Cialis and Levitra, still arouse interest globally. sildenafil (Viagra), the wonder pill for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ed) in men, was approved by the Us Food and drug Administration in March 27, 1998, and sold like hot cakes that same year. More than $400 million worth was sold in the first quarter, 10,000 prescriptions a day. this blue pill was found to be very effective and safe. it boosts marriages and relationships. the surgical procedures for ed dropped dramatically since this pill was introduced. then came the competitors! Vardenafil (Levitra) was approved in september 2003, and on no-
be an occupation that requires a significant amount of training and education to perform. the H-1B petition must be filed by an employer. the employer must demonstrate both that the position qualifies as a “specialty occupation” and also that the foreign national is qualified for the occupation. the foreign national must have previously earned a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. it is acceptable for the Bachelor’s degree to have been awarded in a foreign country, so long as the employer can demonstrate that it is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree awarded by a college or university in the U.s. Alternatively, if the foreign national has not yet earned a Bachelor’s degree, it is possible for their experience to qualify them for the position. the employer must also show that the Bachelor’s degree was awarded in a subject that is related to occupation. For example, the position of “Accountant” is typically considered a “specialty occupation,” but a foreign national would not be qualified for such a position on the basis of their Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. this type of degree is not sufficiently related to the occupation. if the foreign national’s degree is not in a related subject and they are relying on professional experience to be qualified for the position, three years of professional experience is considered equivalent to one year of college of university education. Assuming we have a “specialty occupation” and a qualified foreign national, we must be concerned with the H-1B cap of 65,000 new H-1B visas per year. there are also an additional 20,000 visas available for foreign nationals who have earned a Master’s degree or higher from a university in the U.s. the trend in
recent years has been for significantly more than 65,000 petitions to be submitted. due to this high demand of H-1B visas, it is crucial that the petition is filed on April 1, 2017. submitting it after that date may cause your petition to be rejected entirely simply because the cap may have already been met. Unfortunately submitting your petition on April 1st does not guarantee you that it will be accepted. if the UsCis receives more than the allotted amount, they will conduct what is referred to as the “H-1B lottery.” this lottery will allow the UsCis to select a sufficient amount of petitions to be reviewed and those not selected will have their petition and filing fees returned to them. it would clearly be disappointing to not be selected in the H-1B lottery, but you still must timely file for you petition to even be included in the lottery. it is certainly time to start preparing H-1B petitions. the first day you can file will be here very soon, and the failure to timely file can doom your chances of being granted the opportunity to lawfully work in the U.s. do not let that happen to you – contact an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who is dedicated solely to the practice of immigration law so that they can assist you with an H-1B petition. ***
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)
The three sex pills vember 21, 2003, tadalafil (Cialis) was launched. to this day, these 3 pills for ed are the most popular, dominant, and effective regimen in the management of erectile dysfunction and they have been found to also be very useful in enhancing erection even among those without ed. More than 20 percent of failed marriages and broken relationships are due to erectile dysfunction. while their mode of action are basically the same: they are a class of drugs called Pde-5 inhibitors. they block an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5, boosting a chemical in our body called nitric oxide, which relaxes muscles in the penis and open up veins, allowing more blood to enter and fill-up the veins of the penis, causing engorgement and maintaining erection. Original research: Serendipity the original laboratory studies on these Pe-5 inhibitors centered on their vasodilator effects as potential drug in the management of coronary heart disease and
high blood pressure. However, the researchers noted that the experimental male mice given the Pde-5 inhibitor developed erection and were chasing the female mice. this serendipity discovery that the side-effect of the Pde-5 inhibitor was even a greater and more welcome discovery than the original intention of developing a new vasodilator for cardiovascular diseases. the side-effect (erection) in this case far outweighed the “original intent” for the use of the drug. this is one incident where the side-effect is more useful and beneficial. Other uses these pills for ed (Pde-5 inhibitors) are also prescribed for other medical conditions, like heart attack, pulmonary hypertension (even among children), pre-eclampsia, Crohn’s disease, and infertility. Aphrodisiac? some think Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra are aphrodisiacs. no, they are not, because none of them increases libido (sexual desire). PAGE B6
How to build a house of bricks Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette ADevA MAglAyA (2nd of 3 parts)
… i AM certain there are countless other pointers hundreds of thousands can add to the growing pool of knowledge that hopefully, translates to wisdom in this continuing saga of human life. in the interest of brevity i’ll cull out only 15 bite-size pointers. the first 5 tips came out in last week’s issue. Here’s the second installment of 5 more tips. 6. simplify. simplify. simplify. Know the difference between needs and wants. Use the Pareto principle in pinpointing the vital few (20%) and trivial many (80%). when you let your wants overrule your life, you will end up trading your time and therefore, your life away to get those material things you thought will make you happy. For those of us with big egos who cannot resist the urge to impress others with the latest gizmos, this can be a serious problem. stuff is just stuff. if we don’t watch it, we can clutter up our lives with junk. Browsing leads to buying. there is a back end to each item we acquire as personal property. After its use, we MUst CHoose AnY oF tHese oPtions: tHrow, donAte, seLL, destroY or KeeP them. Keeping a great chunk of stuff we acquire over a lifetime can make pack rats out of us and deprive us of breathing space. empty space can be beautiful because it presents possibilities. the truth is, life’s journey is easier when we travel light. 7. Go LeGit. refuse to live in the shadows. now more than
ever before, take heed of this tip. if you’re illegal, exhaust every available avenue open to you to go legit. the gates have cracked open and were kept open to serve the liberal agenda of flooding the country with potential voters. Life is tough enough without you having to look over your shoulders and feeling edgy all the time fearing you’ll be put on the next plane back to the home country. surely you didn’t go through all that trouble just to live a short, harried, hapless life. After 9/11 and the dangers of soulless terrorism, whether we accept it or not, a new world order patently intolerant of immigration as a concept and way of life, is now firmly in place and “the times” — to quote Bob dylan — “they are a-changin.” the political axis has shifted and the times call for affluent countries to build walls and constrain the movement of people in the face of perceived real or conjured imminent threat. economic migrants will be hit the hardest. terrorism has reared its ugly head and the first casualty is the fluidity and movement of people. Get legal and go the whole nine yards towards American citizenship. shop, ask around and get the best legal representation you can get if you have to. not all immigration lawyers are cut from the same cloth. Choose wisely. inspect track records. 8. Get physical. Make diet and exercise a regular part of your life. we maintain our cars and use high-grade fuel to get great performance from a machine to get us from Point A to Point B. our magnificent bodies, the crowning glory of God’s Creation, deserve no less. if we expect to run the full course set before us and barring unforeseen twists of fate, like being run over by a truck, struck by lightning or hit by a meteorite, we
can look forward to a long stretch of happy, productive, relatively healthy years ahead. 9. Admit you’re no superhero. don’t take on more than you can handle. American life is demanding. we are all required to multitask at work and at home — to do too many things all at once —it’s enough to drive us to the edge of insanity. one technique to help us maintain our mental health and take off the pressure when we feel overwhelmed is to say no. Know your strengths and respect your limits and know when you’re spreading yourself too thinly. 10. A fool and his money are soon parted. Have this truism tattooed on the hand that keeps wielding the plastic, aka credit/debit cards, until it hits home — just until you learn fiscal responsibility and mind your financial health. the great financial industry that runs and oils America has your number and gauges the kind of risk you are based on your track record of fiscal responsibility reflected in that all too important number called the FiCo score. this is the metric reflective of how you deal with money and your financial obligations. the gold standard is 850 and above. Cash remains king but a good credit history is queen. Mess with this metric and you will pay a painful price that hits your pocketbook even more when you have to buy big ticket items. take care that in the first few years and for the rest of your life, you guard your credit history with the tenacity of a pit bull. (Next week: The third and final installment of 15 Tips: How to Build a House of Bricks) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
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Gathering of Fil-Am women authors in San Pedro, CA Philippine Expressions Bookshop cordially invites the public to “Pinay Gathering 2017,” a celebration of Women’s History Month honoring Filipino-American women authors of Southern California. It will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 25. From 2 to 3 p.m., there will be networking and a Filipino merienda / high tea buffet. Afterward, there will be book talks and book signings with the various Filipina authors. The Pinay authors present will be: Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko — author, “Forty Years of Writing in America”; Myrna J. de la Paz — author, “Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella”; Cecilia Manguerra Brainard — author, “Magdalena: A Novel”; Carina Monica Montoya — author, “Los Angeles Historic Filipinotown”; Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier — author, “Filipinotown: Voices from Los Angeles”; Carmen F. Davino — author, “Of Love and Virtue. A Young Adult Novel”; Roselyn Estepa Ibáñez — author, “Filipinos in Carson and the South Bay”; Herminia Meñez-Coben — author, “Explorations in Philippine Folklore”; Leslie V. Ryan — author, “I am Flippish: A Juvenile Book”; and Lucy Urgello Miller — author, “Glimpses of Old Cebu”. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 514-9139 or email linda@philbooks.us. There will be limited seating and the deadline for ticket purchase is March 20. This literary soirée is also open to male guests. Philippine Expressions Bookshop is located at 479 West Sixth Street, Suite 105, San Pedro, CA 90731. Street parking or public parking on 7th street are available.
National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Region 10 Empowerment Conference in San Diego, CA Empowerment Conference in San Diego, CA You are cordially invited to the “RISE UP” Regional Empowerment Conference of National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), sponsored by AARP Real Possibilities on Saturday, March 25. Registration is $40 per person, which can be done online or at the door. The conference will be held at Clarion Hotel National City, 700 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950. To register online, please visit http://www.NaFFAASDEmpowermentconference.eventbrite.com.
Golf tournament for a cause in Escondido, CA St. Joseph College (Olongapo City)’s High School Class of 1987 will be holding a golf tournament for a cause at the Vineyard at Escondido Golf Club on Saturday, March 25. It is $109/person to register, which includes rounds of golf and a BBQ buffet. Registration is at 11:30 a.m., with shotgun at 1 p.m. and dinner and prizes at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Gemma Gutierrez Hornilla at (949) 861-1732 or Miguel Uson at (760) 715-8216. The Vineyard at Escondido Golf Club is located at 925 San Pasqual Rd., Escondido, CA 92025.
The Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups’ Lenten retreat in Pomona, CA Please join the The Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups for its Lenten retreat on Saturday, March 25 at St. Joseph Church Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a liturgy at 5 p.m. The theme is “Growing in Faith,” as it is a time to renew and energize one’s faith. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. St. Joseph Church is located at 1700 Holt Avenue, Pomona, CA. For more information, please contact Tess Domingo at (909) 8552208 or Carol Evangelista at (909) 969-3316.
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Filipino Cursillos’ Kalbaryo show in Woodland Hills, CA The Filipino Cursillos in Christianity of Los Angeles, CA (FCIC-LA) will present a Kalbaryo (Lenten) show about the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus on Sunday, March 26. It will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Mel’s Parish Center, 20870 Ventura Boulevard Woodland Hills, CA 91364. For further information, please contact any of the following: Tess Tan Torres at (213) 249-1507; Agnes Golingay at (818) 599-8401; Len Balino at (310) 203-3639; Genie Bagsic at (858) 472-9338; or Oddie Sabas at (760) 670-5868.
mARch 30
Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce Tri-County ‘General Assembly and Mixer’ in Covina, CA The Officers and Board Directors of the newly-established Chamber of Commerce, interacting with Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, invite the community to a ‘General Assembly and Mixer’ on Thursday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m., at RE/MAX MASTERS REALTY office at 475 E. Badillo, Covina, CA 91723. Meet Merwynn Montenegro, President, and the Officers and Board Directors, along with their advisers Noel S.V. Omega, guest speaker, and Mary Ann Omega, both officers of the FilAm Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles. You will have the opportunity to make business connections and build relationships. Special guest is West Covina Councilmember and former Mayor James Toma. Atty. Abraham Lim will deliver the opening remarks and PNB Remittance Center Inc. President and CEO Ricky Villacisneros will close the Assembly, but not before guests have scored winsome door prizes. For information, contact Secretary Ed Cansino (909) 263-7297 or Email edcansino53@gmail.com; Asst. Sec. Grace Vaughn (951) 261-0601; or 1st VP Elen Yuhico (909) 636-6271.
APRIL 8
Filipino Cursillos’ Kalbaryo show in San Diego, CA The Filipino Cursillos in Christianity of Los Angeles, CA (FCIC-LA) will present a Kalbaryo (Lenten) show about the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus on Saturday, April 8. It will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Pala Mission Church, San Juan Diego Center at 3015 Pala Mission Rd., Pala, CA 92059. For further information, please contact any of the following: Tess Tan Torres at (213) 249-1507; Agnes Golingay at (818) 599-8401; Len Balino at (310) 203-3639; Genie Bagsic at (858) 472-9338; or Oddie Sabas at (760) 670-5868.
APRIL 14
Greenlining Institute Economic Summit in Oakland, CA On Friday, April 14, the Greenlining Institute’s 24th annual Economic Summit will boldly tackle local and national controversies as it focuses on the theme, “Racial Justice on the Frontlines.” With Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza moderating the opening discussion, community activists, political and business leaders will take on such challenging issues as gentrification, tech diversity (or the lack thereof), possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the impending arrival of Uber in downtown Oakland. It will be held at Oakland Marriott City Center at 1001 Broadway, Oakland, California. Registration opens 8 a.m., program starts at 8:30 and runs to 5:45 p.m. For more information, please visit www. greenlining.org.
APRIL 15
“A Musical Odyssey” in Cerritos, CA Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Inc. and DreamAgeGroup presents Rudolf Paleaz Golez, an internationally acclaimed Filipino virtuoso pianist in “A Musical Odyssey” on Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Other local singing talents will be present at the concert, such as recording artist Sean Collado, aspiring actress and singer Sheila Tejada, Sabrina Oxciano and Samantha Murray. Ticket prices are $35, $65 and $100. Proceeds of this performance will go toward the Pangansian Brotherhood-USA’s scholarship funds, which helps academically successful seniors who are college-bound in both the greater Los Angeles area and the Philippines. The performance will be at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts’ Sierra Room at 12700 Center Court Drive South, Cerritos, California 90703. Interested parties may contact project managers Dan E. Nino at (562) 921-5116 or denino1951@gmail.com; E. Mendoza at (623) 341-6247 or thedreamagegroup@gmail.com; Lino F. Caringal, Jr. at (714) 808-2642 or linojr.caringal@gmail.com; Bong Soriano at (909) 851-1493 or believe1156@gmail.com; Neil Estrada at (562) 301-9972 or bluezero2sixty@yahoo.com; or Feliz Lopez at (562) 572-2301 or fblopezinsurance@msn. com.
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B march 23-29, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOUrNaL
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WGU Nevada announces Women’s Chamber of Commerce leadership scholarships in honor of National Women’s History Month
Three’s a crowd: Jameson Blake, Khalil Ramos, and Ethan Salvador star in Petersen Vargas’s “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten.”
They’re too cool for you
by Gaby
Gloria Philstar.com
UNDEr the scorching heat of the noontime sun, actors Ethan Salvador and Khalil ramos are setting a piece of newspaper on fire. From an angle, they look like typical high school miscreants who are always in the mood to do something random and dangerous. There’s a sense of intimacy to the whole scene. But when director Petersen Vargas yells cut, they all start goofing off. This is the dynamic the young actors have with their director as they film a bonus clip for “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten,” Petersen’s debut film about a friendless underachiever whose life changes when he meets half-American brothers. The film’s promos are all about never forgetting your “first” (whatever it may be) — something very fitting for both Khalil and Ethan, along with their co-star Jameson Blake (whom we shot on a separate day). The three actors celebrated their own firsts with “2 Cool.” It’s Ethan and Jameson’s first foray into acting, and it’s Khalil’s first time as the lead. Watching the Khalil and Ethan get into character as Felix and Magnus, respectively, you can see why they like to say that making the film was a collaborative process. Petersen’s direction sounds more like a conversation among friends, which owes mostly to the fact that he and his cast all from the same age group and all have a lot to learn. “It helped that a lot of us were still new to it,” says Petersen. “Instead of nangangapa nang isa lang, we (were) always trying to help each other. It matters that the actors are young because they’re so game with everything.” Young STAr got to sit down with the boys of “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten” to
talk about working on the film and where they are headed next. Jameson Blake, 19, @hashtag_ jameson In “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten,” Jameson Blake plays Maxim, the troubled younger brother of Ethan Salvador’s Magnus. The role earned him a Best Supporting Actor award at the Cinema One Originals Festival, but prior to working on the film, most of his experience in front of the camera was from his reality TV stint in the “PBB” house and as part of Hashtags, “It’s Showtime’s” all-male dance group. “Ever since nag-start ako sa Hashtags, sa boy group, gusto ko maging performer,” he says. “Acting wasn’t really my thing.” It was only after filming “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten” that he realized that he wanted to act. It was challenging to do the risky and crucial scenes, as Jameson confesses that he’s naturally shy. “I’m a really shy person, and bigla I have to play this character who’s rude and a psychopath. Napansin ko din na I can pull off playing a character as long as I study it well.” Studying paid off, and he says that winning the award motivated him to do more. “Nung nakuha ko yung award na iyon, sa Best Supporting Actor, dun ko lang nalaman na ang sarap palang umarte,” he says. Working on “2 Cool” opened up a lot of doors for Jameson, and now he’s currently busy with taping “It’s Showtime” and the primetime teleserye, “Dear Heart.” Khalil Ramos, 21, @thekhalilramos “Na Young STAr na din ako,” says an excited Khalil ramos, who plays Felix in the film. The actor is referencing “I’m Drunk, I Love You,” JP Habac’s new romcom starring Paulo Avelino and Maja Salvador. The scene he’s talk-
LAS VEGAS – In honor of National Women’s History Month in March, WGU Nevada is taking more steps to make convenient and affordable education easily accessible to women who wish to further their careers. Whether in business, IT, healthcare or teaching, the online, nonprofit university is helping women achieve their higher education goals through its Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Nevada Leadership Scholarship program. Applications are now being accepted for the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Nevada Leadership Scholarship, which provides up to $2,500 ($625 per term, up to four terms) to women who are ready to ramp up their careers, break through the glass ceiling, and share what they have to offer in the workplace. Applicants – who must be Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Nevada members - will be asked to demonstrate their desire to achieve a leadership role and how a degree in any of WGU Nevada’s programs fits in with that goal. The application deadline is May 30, 2017. The link is:http://nevada. wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/ scholarships/womens_chamber_leadership# To be eligible, scholarship applicants must be officially admitted into one of WGU Nevada’s undergraduate or graduate 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. “We need more women, not only at the table, but sitting at the head. It’s good for business, good for the economy, and good for all of us as a culture,” said Dr. Spencer Stewart, WGU Nevada
ing about features the leads (as film students) discussing being featured in Young STAr. Most know Khalil as an actor (you might remember him from “Honor Thy Father,” “Kid Kulafu” and “She’s Dating the Gangster”) and singer (he was a “Pilipinas Got Talent” finalist in 2011), but few know that he’s interested in work behind the camera as well. Being a part of Kid Kulafu with director Paul Soriano was the turning point in his career. “It’s the first movie that showed me the creative and artistic side of telling a story,” says Khalil. Since then, he’s been working to get to know all sides of the industry. Khalil talks about how he got to where he is slowly and deliberately, saying that the experience working with legendary actors like John Lloyd Cruz and directors like Erik Matti got him interested in filmmaking. recently, he’s been working behind the scenes — co-owning a production house called Limitless Productions alongside his two closest friends. When he’s not taping, he’s mainly in charge of setting up accounts and coordinating with clients (the biggest of which is Philippine Airlines), and he also takes on the roles of assistant director and executive producer. Balancing everything is tiring, but for Khalil, it’s all about having the right mindset and taking advantage of every opportunity that he gets. For now, he’s focused on learning about the industry and listening to different people in it. “It’s really about the movement towards the future, the resurgence of Philippine film, Philippine cinema,” he says. “The information that I absorbed by Patricia lourdes Viray is kind of a much bigger thing. It’s Philstar.com my understanding of the current situation of the industry. Once I CANADIAN singer Shawn do completely understand it, that’s Mendes kicked off his “Illumiwhen I get to innovate.” nate” album world tour in Manila PAGE B7 last Saturday. It was Shawn’s first time to visit the Philippines. Prior to his show at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, the Canadian pop star visited tourist destination in the country. Shawn opened his Manila show with an acoustic version of “Something Big,” one of the hits from his first album, “Handwritten.” A jampacked arena sang along with Shawn as he sang songs from his second album, including “ruin,” “Mercy,” “Treat You Better,” “Three Empty Words,” and “Patience.” The Canadian singer also performed a medley of the songs from his first album - “I Don’t Even Know Your Name,” “Aftertaste,” and “Kid in Love.”
ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.
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chancellor. “That’s why WGU Nevada and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Nevada have created the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Nevada Leadership Scholarship.” “In a competitive business environment, high-qualified women are critical to success. In order to gain a competitive advantage, many boardroom leaders are recognizing the need to leverage the opportunities that a women offers and to challenge existing paradigms about leadership potential,” said Women’s Chamber of Commerce President & CEO June L. Beland. “With women making up almost half of the workforce and over 80 percent of the consumer market, it is no surprise that they can play a key role in influencing their companies’ bottom line. A better balance of women in top leadership positions will help to create a more diverse team of leaders with different perspectives, helping to generate new ideas. I am honored to be part of the creation of the ‘Women’s Chamber Leadership Scholarship’ with WGU.” WGU Nevada uses an innovative approach called competencybased 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 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 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 Commission 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, www. nevada.wgu.edu, or call 877214-7005. *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, 202-877-6791).
Shawn Mendes illuminates Manila crowd
Shawn Mendes performed his hit songs from his two albums “Handwritten” and “Illuminate” during the Manila leg of his world tour. Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Toledo IV
As the show drew to a close, Shawn sat down at the piano and sang “Life of the Party” and “Stitches.” “Thank you, Manila. I’ll come back soon,” Shawn told his Fili-
pino fans as he exited the stage. Shawn is headlining his first all-arena tour. He will perform next in Japan before heading to Europe for 21 shows and North America for 29 shows.
The three sex pills PAGE B5 These 3 only enhance erection and sustain it for a successful sex. When taken, the man develops a sense of certainty, security, and confidence, which could incidentally increase the desire in both partners. Indications for use Those who could benefit from any of these 3 PDE-5 inhibitors are those who are unable to initiate and maintain erection for a successful intercourse, regardless of age, including those in their 20s, where stress and psychological condition negatively impact their sex life. One does not have to have a full-blown erectile dysfunction to benefit from these pills, since they have been found effective and save since they were introduced almost 20 years ago. ED Stats Cleveland Clinic reports that 52 percent of men have erectile dysfunction, “affecting 40 percent of men age 40, and 70 percent of men age 70.” Men who are on high blood pressure pills, betablockers, etc., have an increased risk of developing ED. Urology Care Foundation says 30 million of American males have occasional (mild to moderate) problem getting or keeping an erection. Similarities These three drugs for ED belong to one class of medication and have similar pharmacologic action: PDE-5 inhibitors. All three react with nitrates (heart medications that opens up arteries), which could cause drop in blood pressure and shock, even death. Those on nitrates MUST not take any of these drug for ED. These three are in oral form and there is no generic version of this ED drug yet, and is taken about 30 before
anticipated sex. Any of these 3 needs medical consultation prior to use to rule out any contraindication and danger, since each individual reacts differently to medications. A prescription is needed to purchase pills for ED. They all cost about the same. Their safety records are also similar. Differences While their action, use, and efficacy are basically the same, there are difference among these three pills for ED. Viagra and Levitra stay in the blood stream for about 4-6 hours; Cialis, 17-18 hours, longer lasting. Other differences are in their side-effects. Side-effects The following side-effects are common among all three: stuffy nose, headache, upset stomach, priapism (erection, painful, that persists), sudden cardiac arrest, death (which are very rare). The differences: temporary change in vision and flushing are more in Viagra and Levitra. Backpain and muscle aches are more with Cialis. Alcoholic beverage reacts more with Cialis, leading to dizziness, less with Viagra and Levitra. But, as Shakespeare wrote: “Alcohol increases the desire but diminishes the performance.” Warning Any of these three drugs for ED dangerously reacts with nitrates, medications that dilate (open up) coronary arteries used in the management of coronary heart disease. A person on a nitrate medication (like nitroglycerin, isordil, imdur, peritrate, nitrostat, nitroderm, nitrolingual, nitrobid, etc.) must NEVEr take any of these three pills for ED, because the combination will lead to severe drop in blood pressure, shock, and possibly death. Consult
your physician if erection does not subside in 4 hours, a condition called priapism, where the penis is so engorged causing pain, one that needs urgent medical care. Deaths The reported deaths associated with the use of any of these three pills for ED were suspected to be due to the inadvertent concomitant use of nitrates. New studies have shown that these PDE-5 inhibitors could also increase platelet clumping in diseased coronary arteries causing blood clots, and heart attack in some individuals. “It’s reassuring that ... in general, for most patients, even those with existing coronary [heart] disease ... resuming sexual activity is very unlikely to trigger a [coronary] event,” according to Murray A. Mittleman, MD, researcher and cardiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. All evidence-based clinical information around the world today show that these three PDE-5 inhibitors are efficacious and safe, when used according to standard medical recommendation and under the supervision of an attending physician. *** 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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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 23-29, 2017
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Ronnie Alonte proud of friendship with Vice Ganda Piolo Pascual: ‘I’m no stage dad’ by MJ
Marfori ManilaTimes.net
SINcE his Metro Manila Film Festival debut as a lead actor in the horror flick Seklusyon in December, budding matinee idol Ronnie Alonte is no longer affected by bashers and finds his trolls envious of his fast-track achievements, especially in his home network ABS-cBN. In the know caught up with the actor at his latest gig for the clothing brand Penshoppe, and his new cool crew called #clubPenshoppePh, who exclaimed, “Inggit! kasi may kanya kanya din silang sinusuportahan na artista at wala akong pakialam sa bashers. Ni-li-like ko ang post nila; in-I-I love you ko sila. Minsan nga nagseselos na fans ko kung bakit yung bashers pinapansin ko.” Meanwhile, since January, photos have been circulating online of
far from denying the posts, and in fact, is even proud that he is close to Vice Ganda and his co-hosts in Showtime as well. Ronnie looks up to them as his mentors in showbiz and he confides his career woes to the showbiz “seniors.” he reflected and further said it is good he is constantly being noticed by bashers, “Yung mga bashers mema (may masabi) eh, grabe nila i-judge yung mga bakla, yung mga bi-sexual o bading. once na kasama nila partner nila kaagad may something kagad pero si Vice o makeup artist may malisya agad pero hindi naman natin ma-e-explain sa bashers.” he also denied that he has a relationship with Vice Ganda, “Napaka-bait na tao ni Vice. Ronnie Alonte Sobrang ok kami sa lahat ng nathe young actor’s closeness to co- kakasalamuha ko na same ni Vice. median Vice Ganda, particularly Sobrang ok lahat. Mabait ako sa those wherein both are sweet and kanya—wala kaming relasyon at playful to one another. Ronnie is magkaibigan kami.”
rose Bernardo Philstar.com
FRoM 24, actress Isabel oliPrats’ waistline ballooned to 35 inches when she gave birth to her first child with actor John Prats. But barely a year after gaining weight, Isabel got her pre-baby body back. how did she do it? “Gradual workout, light weightlifting, cardio, boxing, jogging, running at least 3k,” Isabel enumerated the ways on how she lost her postpartum weight in an interview during the recent launch of Japanese appliances maker Zojirushi. Three months after giving birth via vaginal delivery, the actress started brisk walking. her aim, she said, is to obey her obstetrician-gynecologist’s advice to get back to her old shape the closest she can, not necessarily her old waistline. “The toning part, ‘yun talaga ang mahirap,” she admitted. “When I was still pregnant, I was in bed rest for a month kasi grabe workout ko before.” John, according to her, has been instrumental in her losing weight. The actor has not only become her exercise partner, but also her shopping buddy. “John shopped for me so I will not go sad. he told me, ‘Because the moment you get sad, you will get depressed, you will no longer workout.’ he knows me
ranoa-BisMark Philstar.com
Shock and awe are the twin emotions Piolo Pascual felt when fatherhood made a surprise appearance in his life. “My son Inigo (aged 19) was already here in the Philippines when I arrived from the US,” he recalls. A thousand and one questions were swirling in his mind, mainly about how it is to raise a son. After all, Piolo was not around when Inigo was born. The actor did not see his son make the transition from childhood to adolescence. The sight of a teenage boy looking at him with curious, wary eyes, was so sudden for Piolo. But he knew he had no choice but to make up for lost time. “one day, I realized my son really looks like me,” he revealed in a blog con for his upcoming project, “Northern Lights: A Journey to Love” (produced by Regal Entertainment, Star cinema and Spring Films). So, he accepted his flesh and blood – warts and all. Piolo was not afraid to lose fans who idolized him for his matinee idol image. Nor did he fear changing his priorities because of this new addition in his life. All he knew is that here is someone who has a right to be loved. his son needs his time and attention, and busy Piolo admits feeling guilty he cannot give enough. All these make him the right actor to play a desolate single dad looking for his direction in life in “Northern Lights.” Celebrity couple John Prats and Isabel Oli-Prats with their daughter, Lilly Feather. “charlie (his character) is based so well,” Isabel recalled, happy s’yang sweet.” in Alaska (where one can see the She would like to think that she Northern Lights). his ex-girlthat she is able to fit in her old is a cool mom, but John said she clothes again. She and John are into healthy is more of a disciplinarian. “Motherhood requires patience meals prepared for them by a supplier, while their daughter is now in everything kasi totally bago tamore into porridge. “No sweets, laga sa’kin eh…Ngayon na mom PAGE B6 no junk foods. Medyo mahirap na ko, iba na ‘yung tingin ko sa Ethan Salvador, 19, @ethan_ talaga, pero once in a while, may work…Ngayon, work na talaga, salvador chocolates talaga on the side and wala nang chika-chika. Grabe na As a Filipino growing up in the ‘yung discipline ngayon,” shared Las Vegas, Ethan Salvador wasn’t cakes,” Isabel said. John, she noted, has been an the star, who has moved to ABS- really exposed to the acting life. cBN from GMA and is now work- “Growing up, I always knew that amazing husband and father. “Si John, kahit walang tulog ing on a project. (my dad) was an actor. All of my Though she got her sexy back, titos and titas were like, ‘You ‘yan, diretso na agad ‘yan kay Lilly (their daughter), naglalaro she confided that she still has not should go to the Philippines na na sila agad. kahit tulog na, ka- returned to her ideal bikini body lang. Your dad’s an artista’,” he kausapin n’ya or he’ll pray for her. in time for summer. Nonetheless, says. Ethan admits that, back then, Laging ganyan ‘yan si John. And Isabel totally embraces mother- he didn’t think going in that direcafter that, he’ll pray for me,” she hood – and yes, even the body that tion would be the best idea. But comes with it. enthused. as he got older, he suddenly got “I’m not shy with my stretch- tired of the daily grind of going to According to her, John changed marks,” she declared. “Ang sabi school, going to work, and going since becoming a dad. “Yes, he did. kung sweet s’ya ko sa sarili ko, ‘Bahala na kung home every day. before, ngayon times 10. Sobra my bilbil ka. Flaunt it!’” At that time in his life, there was
How John Prats helps Isabel Oli-Prats reach #FitnessGoals by deni
by Maridol
Piolo Pascual with son Iñigo
friend, his son’s mom, suddenly calls up to say the boy needs to live with him,” relates Piolo. The mom found a new love, and for some reason, cannot keep the boy anymore. charlie felt the same mixed emotions Piolo knew so well the first time he saw Inigo. And so the story is about healing, forgiveness, and love for family. In some ways, Piolo can identify with the boy Raikko Mateo is playing in the movie. Like Raikko’s character, Piolo comes from a broken home. But he realized all is not lost because “I have a mom and dad.” It was hard for him to accept reality, but he was content having both parents while growing up. This is why Piolo cannot take men who walk away from their paternal duties. “They’re not real men. Whether the child was planned or unplanned, the kid deserves a parent who loves him or her.” Fatherhood, Piolo goes on, demands selflessness. on the other
hand, children whose dad or mom suddenly shows up and tries to reach out to them, need help. Piolo offers them this piece of advice: “Love your parents. only then will you know how to forgive and heal. Life becomes such a waste if you spend it carrying emotional baggage.” Piolo has since let go of the emotional baggage he carried the first time he came face to face with Inigo. And the showbiz newbie can always count on Piolo for support. The actor-producer even bankrolled a movie for Inigo. Piolo is the first to applaud his son’s efforts in creating a niche for himself as an actor and musician. But Piolo will never be a stage dad. “I want him to focus on his studies. But I won’t spoon-feed and dictate on him. he’s his own man. he must discover his own passion and direction in life.” In letting his son be, Piolo is proving he has what it takes to be a good dad.
They’re too cool for... greater room to make mistakes and take risks. “This is the time for you to experience things and do things out of the ordinary and just to put yourself out there, get out of your comfort zone. So I kept that in mind, and I quit school and put all my focus into what I really wanted to do.” So when his dad, former Regal Films actor Emil Sandoval, reached out to him when he was 16, he considered the possibility. “I wasn’t sure if that would be the best route for me ‘cause I didn’t know if (my dad and I) would meld,” he recalls. “That was the only thing that was kind of preventing me, but it took me four years and I said, ‘You know
what, why not?’” Since he needed to work on his Tagalog, it took a while before his career started picking up. After six months of meetings and auditions, he got his hands on the “2 cool” script. So he did an audition and got the part of Magnus, which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the cinema one originals Festival. Right now, the fitness buff (he took a semester of college studying physical therapy before moving to the Philippines) and Parkour enthusiast aspires to take on a variety of roles, but his ultimate goal would be to become an action star.
B march 23-29, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOUrNaL
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