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from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
Filipino faces murder, burglary charges in Las Vegas shooting A fILIPINo man was arrested for a deadly shooting inside a public bus on the Las Vegas strip on saturday, march 25. rolando Bueno Cardenas faces charges of open murder with use of a firearm, attempted murder with Rolando Bueno Cardenas was use of a firearm, arrested on Saturday, March 25 for shooting at passengers inside burglary while in a public bus on the Las Vegas possession of a Strip. The incident left one man firearm, and disdead and another hospitalized charging a gun with nonlife-threatening injuries. within a vehicle, Photo courtesy of the Las Vegas the Las Vegas metMetropolitan Police Department ropolitan Police Department (LVmPD) announced on sunday. the 55-year-old filipino peacefully surrendered to police after a nearly four-hour standoff that left one male dead and another injured. he had been sitting toward the back on the second floor of the double-decker bus before he began opening fire from a handgun around 11 a.m. the bus had come to a stop on Las
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Duterte confronts US over past ‘inaction’ in sea row China assures commitment to code of conduct
by Dana
SioSon AJPress
PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, march 29, disclosed that he confronted United states Ambassador to the Philippines sung Kim over Washington’s supposed ‘inaction’ when China began its building activities in the south China sea years ago. Duterte said he told Kim that the U.s. should have sent its Navy ships and stopped China from building man-
made structures along the contested waters “had America really wanted to avoid trouble early on.” “Why did you not send the Armada and the seventh fleet which is stationed in the Pacific to just make a U-turn and go there and tell them right on their face ‘stop it’ because there is another set of the law which says you cannot build man-made structure there?,” Duterte recounted telling Kim in his speech during the People’s Day in ori-
ental mindoro. According to him, Kim responded by saying that he was not yet an envoy to the Philippines when China began its constructions, adding that he was assigned in North Korea during that time. Last week, Duterte said the U.s. could have “cut the problem in the bud” had it taken decisive action in the disputed the south China sea a few years ago. he then accused Washington of waiting “for the problem to ripen into an inter-
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PNP: Crime rate lower under current admin by AJPress reCeNt statistics from the Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed that the crime rate in the country has significantly decreased under the administration of President rodrigo Duterte. According to the data from PNP Directorate for Investigative and Detective management (DIDm), recorded crimes from July 1, 2016 until march 24, 2017 — which include murder, homicide, robbery, theft, carnapping, and physical injuries — reached an estimated 78,900. the figure is lower compared to the 158,900 cases recorded from July 1, 2015 until June 30, 2016 under the previous administration of former President Benigno Aquino III. “the reduction of carnapping, theft, and robbery is huge. have you heard of a violent carnapping lately? In the past, reports of this would always be on tV on
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Trump admin warns anew that sanctuary cities could lose federal funding stAtes and cities that continue to shield undocumented immigrants and refuse to abide by federal immigration laws may face the risk of losing federal funding, the trump administration said. During an announcement at the White house on monday, march 27, Attorney General Jeff sessions urged the so-called sanctuary jurisdictions to “consider carefully the harm they are doing to their citizens” by resisting federal immigration enforcement. “such policies make their cities and states less safe — public safety, as well as national security, are at stake — and put them at risk of losing federal dollars,” he said. the attorney general added that if these sanctuary jurisdictions had not protected criminal undocumented immigrants, “countless Americans would be alive today and countless loved ones would not be grieving today.” About $4.1 billion in law enforcement grants will be allocated through the Department of Justice this year. In order to receive a
national issue.” Despite this, manila and Washington assured that both countries enjoy a strong partnership and friendship. According to Philippine Presidential spokesman ernesto Abella, Duterte told Kim during their meeting earlier on monday in Davao City that the relationship between the Philippines and the U.s. “at the bilateral level remain[s] strong,” adding that “there is readiness
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MEETING WITH DUTERTE. Cooperation in counterterrorism and intelligence highlighted President Rodrigo Duterte’s meeting with U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim on Monday, March 27 at the Malacañang of the South in Barangay Panacan. Kim arrived on the eve of the President’s birthday on the same afternoon Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua paid Duterte a visit. Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante
Palace slams NY Times for ‘obvious demolition work’ against Duterte by Dana
SioSon AJPress
mALACAÑANG has accused U.s.-based publication The New York Times (NYt) of “demolition work” against President rodrigo Duterte, following its series of reports on the Philippine government’s controversial war against illegal drugs. Citing the recent pieces, Philippine Presidential spokesperson ernesto Abella on mon-
day, march 27 condemned the NYt and alleged that it is trying “to stir global outrage in a nation that welcomes its newfound peace and order.” Last week, the publication published the following: a news feature, which Abella said narrates Duterte’s “rise to power under the context of violence”; an editorial, with jailed mutineer Gary Alejano and lawyer Jude sabio “mouthing unsubstantiated
claims” against the president; and a documentary “zeroing in on the vigilante deaths that occurred under the present administration.” Abella then took note that with such reports, “one can only conclude that certain personalities and politicians have mounted a well-funded campaign utilizing hack writers and their ilk in their bid to oust PrrD.”
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Judy Taguiwalo (left) defended DSWD Assistant Secretary Lorraine Badoy (right) after the latter sarcastically said on Facebook that the European Union should just engage in child pornography since this is what it is good at. Taguiwalo said Badoy’s post was taken out of context and was blown out of proportion. Photo from Judy Taguiwalo’s Facebook account
EU hits back at DSWD To fight Jeff Horn or not: Arum gives Pacquiao an ultimatum exec’s sarcasm: Child porn is a serious issue u PAGE A2
by Dana
SioSon AJPress
Top Rank Bob Arum with Sen. Manny Pacquiao AJPress file photo by Robert Macabagdal
toP rank chief executive Bob Arum has given filipino boxing champion manny “Pacman” Pacquiao a deadline to decide whether he wants to have a match against Australian Jeff horn in Brisbane this coming July 2. “they have to make a decision by Wednesday, march 29, (march 30, thursday in manila),” Arum said, as quoted by Manila Bulletin in its report. Pointing out that the Australian government, who is backing up the
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match, won’t be able to keep the money on the table forever, Arum insisted that Pacquiao has to make his final decision. Arum has been endorsing Pacquiao’s match against undefeated horn this coming April 23 at the suncorp stadium. his proposal, however, was put on hold as the possibility of a match against Britain’s Amir Khan this coming may in the United Arab emirates (UAe) was explored. After the proposed UAe fight against
ChILD pornography is a very serious issue that should be addressed properly and responsibly, the european Union (eU) said in response to a recent controversial facebook post made by an official from the Philippine Department of social Welfare and Development (DsWD). “the issue of child pornography is extremely serious and a grave crime. It should be addressed in a serious and responsible manner,” eU Ambassador to the Philippines franz Jessen said in a statement on tuesday,
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by Dana
SioSon AJPress
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From The FronT Page
Duterte confronts US over past... PAGE A1
to discuss more matters of mutual interest with the U.S.� Abella said Kim also assured Duterte that the U.S. “understands the security concerns of the Philippines� and is “ready to provide more military equipment, assistance and training.� “They agreed that the PH and the U.S. have mutual interests and shared values. Both stressed that these fruitful engagements and discussions are very important in ensuring that both states are on the same page,� Abella related. On the other hand, the U.S. Embassy in Manila described Duterte and Kim’s meeting as “friendly� and “productive.� In a statement on Tuesday, the Embassy said the two officials “discussed the extensive bilateral partnership over the years as well as cooperation on counterterrorism, child protection, piracy, and economic development in Mindanao.� ‘Bilateral mechanism’ Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua assured Beijing’s cooperation with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) towards a ‘bilateral mechanism’ and code of conduct in the South China Sea. “Through this bilateral mechanism, mutual trust and maritime cooperation will be forged and
misunderstandings will be avoided,� Abella added. According to him, Zhao assured Duterte of China’s commitment during a meeting in Davao City. Based on a “nine-dash-line,� China has claimed sovereignty on almost all of the South China Sea, resulting in territorial conflicts
with its neighboring countries including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam. To address the tensions the ASEAN, with Philippines as its chair this year, has been fast-tracking the framework of a code of conduct to ease the maritime conflicts in the South China Sea.
EARTH HOUR. A man sits before the famous globe in front of the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. The mall was the center of activity of the country’s observance of the 10th ‘Earth Hour’ on Saturday, March 25, during which establishments and homes switched off electricity from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to draw attention to climate change.
Palace slams NY Times for ‘obvious... PAGE A1
The Philippines and China have agreed to set up a mechanism on how to “properly handleâ€? maritime disputes and representatives from both countries will meet in May to craft a bilateral scheme, MalacaĂąang said on Tuesday, March 28. Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua and President Rodrigo Duterte discussed the issue during a meeting in Davao City on Monday, March 27. MalacaĂąang photo
PNP: Crime rate lower under current...
PAGE A1 prime time news. Now, you won’t see or hear about it,� Police Director Augusto Marquez, who heads the DIDM, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Using the same timeline, the PNP has recorded 9,200 murder cases, 2,400 homicide cases, 66,500 theft cases, 27,300 robbery incidents, and 12,950 carnapping cases during the Aquino administration. These were relatively higher compared to figures during Duterte’s first eight months: 8,500 murder cases, 1,600 homicide cases, 27,500 theft cases, 12,300 robbery incidents, and 4,800 carnapping cases. Marquez also clarified that of the reported 7,000 killings in the drug war, only over 1,400 cases were actually related to the campaign while the remaining cases were homicides or still under investigation. Likewise, PNP chief Direc-
tor General Ronald Dela Rosa discouraged various sectors, particularly the media, of using “extrajudicial killings� as the term to refer to “homicide incidents.� “Some sectors want to make it appear that the killings are (state)-sponsored when in fact we deny in the highest possible terms the claim,� Dela Rosa said. “I myself can’t stomach that I will give the order to kill a person.� Karapatan, an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, said that the PNP should “stop giving illusory statements that everything is fine and people are living well.� “To say that there are no extra-judicial killings in the country, whether perpetrated through counter-insurgency programs or through the war on drugs, is covering up State accountability when its official policies sanctioned the sufferings of the poor majority of Filipino people,�
Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said in a statement. Palabay also branded the PNP’s recent claim that there have been no extrajudicial killings in the country as an “outright lie� wielded by those “who think that press statements and powerpoint presentations are sufficient excuses to rid them of the responsibility for the series of killings.� She then encouraged journalists “to report on the increasing number of political killings, illegal arrests, bombing of communities and other human rights abuses of State actors, in relation to the counter-insurgency program and all-out-war of the Duterte regime and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines).� “We encourage the media to look deeper into the context of the dire lack of public housing, land, secure jobs and living wages, and transgressions on national sovereignty,� Palabay added. n
Filipino faces murder, burglary charges in... PAGE A1 Vegas Boulevard in front of the Cosmopolitan Hotel to unload passengers. The deceased victim has been identified as 57-year-old Gary Breitling of Sidney, Montana, who died at a nearby hospital, various reports show. The other victim, who was shot in the stomach, has not been identified. He remains hospitalized but is ex-
pected to survive. Cardenas proceeded to barricade himself inside the bus, leading the LVMPD to call in crisis negotiators and a SWAT team to help. No gunfire was exchanged with police. During the standoff, the usually bustling tourist destination had been closed off, while people were advised to stay inside other hotel-casino properties nearby.
“He was on the bus. He was shooting people on the bus. He was just contained to that location. He never exited the bus,� Clark County Assistant Sheriff Tom Roberts told reporters. The gunman began shooting “for no apparent reason,� police said. An article by the Las Vegas Review-Journal said that Cardenas told police that he meant to threaten a “large male� sitting next to him. He supposedly intended to fire into the back of a seat, but instead hit the two men as they exited the bus. According to the arrest report, the suspect “felt bad about what happened and reiterated that all he wanted to do was scare the large male.� Cardenas, who moved to Las Vegas from Hawaii in 2008, is said to have been a transient with no prior criminal history. He is currently being held at the Clark County Detention Center and had a hearing on Monday, March 27. Saturday’s shooting is the 35th homicide investigated by the police department this year. Hours before, masked robbers used sledgehammers to break into the Rolex store at the Bellagio Resort & Casino and stole several items. No injuries were reported and police say the two incidents are not related. (By AJPress with reports from Bev Llorente / ABS-CBN News North America Bureau)
Despite this, MalacaĂąang affirmed that the Duterte administration “will not be deterred in fulfilling its promise of building a progressive and inclusive nation free from drugs, crimes and corruption.â€? The spokesperson also said that the reporting comes “in the face of the very high approvalâ€? of the president. In January, a Pulse Asia survey found that Duterte’s trust and approval ratings reached 83 percent. In an earlier statement, Abella criticized the NYT’s recent news feature article about Duterte, describing it as a “cynical and unfair report.â€? “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,â€? he said, adding that the piece seems like a “well-paid hack job for well-heeled clients with shady motives.â€? One article, entitled “Becoming Duterte: The Making of a Philippine Strongman,â€? follows 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,â€? the NYT report, authored by Richard Paddock, read. The article went on to describe
Duterte as a “child of privilege 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.� Meanwhile, in an editorial published on Thursday, March 24, the NYT called on the trading partners of the Philippines to make Duterte “accountable� for the alleged deaths and human rights abuses in his war on drugs. “The EU (European Union) has proposed hitting his government where it may hurt the most -- by imposing tariffs on Philippine goods. Other democratic trading partners should do the same,� NYT said in its editorial, titled “Accountability for Duterte.� The Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier revealed that some European countries threatened to impose taxes on Philippine products due to the drug war. “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,� Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said. “Our government is now accused of violating human rights so we stand to lose in this 27 trade agreements.�
Various reports claim that more than 7,000 individuals were killed either during legitimate police operations or by unknown vigilante suspects since Duterte launched the campaign last July 2016, earning condemnation from different local and international human rights groups. The Philippine National Police (PNP) reiterated that only about 1,400 cases were related to the government’s campaign while the remaining numbers were homicides or deaths under investigation. The NYT also encouraged the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council to conduct a “thorough, independent investigation into the killings under Mr. Duterte’s watch.� The country’s Department of Tourism (DOT) and the PNP have both called on the media to “tone down� reports of the drug war and the extrajudicial killings as the negative reports have made it harder to attract foreigners. Earlier in March, the first impeachment complaint against the president was filed by Magdalo Party-list Rep Gary Alejano, who claims that the latter is guilty of culpably violating the Constitution, engaging in bribery, betraying public trust, committing graft and corruption, and other high crimes. In his 16-page complaint, Alejano cited Duterte’s alleged links to the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), the massive killings in his war against illegal drugs, and his alleged undeclared wealth worth nearly P2.2 million. n
Trump admin warns anew that sanctuary cities could... PAGE A1 portion of that funding, cities and states must comply and share citizenship and immigration status if requested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Sessions said. The attorney general, however, did not offer any new policies with regard to how the administration would handle the defiant areas. “The American people want and deserve a lawful system of immigration that keeps us safe, and one that serves national interests,� Sessions said. “This expectation is reasonable, just, and our government has the duty to meet it and we will meet it.� In late January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that called for the stripping of federal funds for areas that do not cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies and do not hand over undocumented immigrants who are subject to deportation. Those who do not comply “are not eligible to receive federal grants, except as deemed necessary for law enforcement purposes by the Attorney General or the Secretary,� the order read. It also called for the Department of Homeland Security
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(DHS) to issue a “Weekly Detainer Outcome Report� that highlights crimes committed by undocumented immigrants and a list of jurisdictions that choose not to cooperate with ICE’s detainers or requests for notification. Last week, the department released its first report, which found that Clark County in Nevada had the highest number of declined detainer requests at 51. It also showed that 206 out of 3,083 detention requests were declined by local law enforcement across the country. The requests call for local law enforcement to hold individuals who could be deportable for an extra 48 hours after they are jailed for their arrests so they can be picked up by ICE agents. “Our goal is to build cooperative, respectful relationships with our law enforcement partners. We will continue collaborating with them to help ensure that illegal aliens who may pose a threat to our communities are not released onto the streets to potentially harm individuals living within our communities,� Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan said in a statement. Cities and towns across the United States, including Los Angeles and New York, have made
it clear that they would continued to defy the administration’s moves. On Monday, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti reiterated that he would fight any attempts to take away federal funding. “Slashing funds for first-responders, for our port and airport, for counterterrorism, crimefighting and community-building serves no one — not this city, not the federal government, not the American people,� he said, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. He added that he would work closely with members of Congress “to make sure that Los Angeles does not go without federal resources that help protect millions of people every day.� Last week, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed a brief in support of a Santa Clara County lawsuit against the president’s executive order on sanctuary cities. “California has a sovereign right and responsibility to protect the safety and the constitutional rights of its residents, and that is what we will continue to do,� he said, arguing that the threat to take away state and local resources “raises serious constitutional questions and threatens the safety of our communities.� (AJPress)
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 30-ApRIL 5, 2017
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Fate of DACA still uncertain despite immigration crackdown by Christina
M. Oriel
AJPress
AMID reports of increased deportations under the Trump administration, beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program continue to be concerned about their statuses in the United States. DACA, an executive order that was signed by former President Barack Obama in 2012, granted undocumented youth — also known as DREAMers — a renewable two-year work permit. Over 750,000 individuals have been spared from deportation. As of this writing, President Donald Trump and his administration have not addressed the future of DACA. However, many immigrant communities are on edge as the signature program could be rescinded at any time, as it was one of Trump’s promises when he was campaigning. Mariam Kelly, senior immigration attorney and DACA program CADRES IN CUBAO. Young members of the Communist Party of the Philippines stage a lightning rally in Cubao, Quezon City to mark the supervisor at Community Legal 48th anniversary of the New People’s Army and urge others to join their ranks. The communist insurgency in the Philippines, which Services in East Palo Alto, Califorbegan in 1968, is one of the longest running in the world and has claimed an estimated 30,000 lives, according to the military. nia, advised communities to unManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan derstand that the program is still in a wait-and-see mode. “That is something we really want to communicate to anybody who has DACA...and is looking Meanwhile, Horn told Cou- I thought.’’ PAGE A1 Dubbed as “The Hornet,” to renew, it’s really important to rier Mail that he was “extremely Khan dropped, Arum began to frustrated’’ by the drawn-out Horn has a record of 16-0-1 and know that to date there has been no change to the program at all,” rework his original offer. process of his possible match 11 KOs. Pacquiao, with a record of 59- Kelly told reporters during a press “If we can’t get a fight for him against Pacquiao. this July, we’ll look at Novem“I’m training for it but not 6-2 win-loss-draw, won his last call on Thursday, March 23. “Howber,” Manila Bulletin quoted training super hard yet because match via unanimous decision ever, we do know that some kind Arum in its report. “Unless it’s a Manny still hasn’t signed,” and defended his WBO welter- of change will be coming.” Though a lot of DACA recipients big fight, we are looking at Man- Horn said. “It’s a waiting game weight title against Jessie Varwonder if they could be deported ny fighting outside the U.S.” and it’s taking a lot longer than gas last year. n should the program get canceled, Kelly reminded them that they have
To fight Jeff Horn or not: Arum gives...
EU hits back at DSWD exec’s sarcasm... PAGE A1 March 28. Jessen made the remarks following Social Welfare Assistant Secretary Lorraine Badoy’s seemingly unsolicited and sarcastic advice that the EU should just engage in child pornography instead of criticizing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. In a Facebook post dated March 26, Badoy wrote: “Iyong mga taga-EU, mag-online child porn muna kayo. D’yan naman kayo magaling e (Those in the EU, just engage in online child pornography. Since that’s what you are good at).” The EU Parliament has been critical of Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, condemning the alleged summary killings
and human rights violation. The bloc also expressed “grave concern over credible reports to the effect that the Philippine police force is falsifying evidence to justify extrajudicial killings.” Apparently, Badoy also blasted Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of Duterte’s staunchest critics: “In the meantime, learn a craft. Mag-gantsilyo club muna kayo (Join a knitting club), Trillanes, Leni, etc. Bake ng red velvet cupcakes.” Defending Badoy, DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said in a separate statement that the issue “has been twisted out of context and sensationalized.” According to Taguiwalo, Badoy’s statement “was obviously sarcastic and under no circumstances was she advocating child
pornography or making light of it.” “To what purpose, we do not know; but what is evident is that this is being blown out of proportion,” the secretary said. Pointing out that Badoy “loves children and cares about their welfare,” Taguiwalo said “it is unfair that her personal character is being questioned because of one sarcastic sentence she wrote in her own social networking page.” Recognizing the risks of being “misinterpreted,” Taguiwalo acknowledged that government officials “should be more circumspect and careful about what we post on social media.” “All of us in the DSWD executive committee and even our staff will take lessons from this incident,” she added. n
certain protections and rights. “One thing to note for those who are in fear of deportation is that so long as a DACA holder has not been deported before, they have the right — the same as every other person who is present here without immigration status lawfully — to go before an immigration judge, to fight their case [and] contract a lawyer who can help them in representing them for some other form of relief,” she said. Another possibility is whether the program would be replaced with legislation that would be more permanent. Given that there are so many unknowns surrounding DACA, organizations represented on the call encouraged those looking to apply or renew for the relief to seek legal advice from a qualified and licensed attorney. “We want to make sure that everybody has a detailed, in-depth consultation with an immigration attorney in order to assess whether they should apply for DACA for the first time or apply for renewal,” Kelly said, adding that each client will be handled on a case-by-case basis. However, organizations like the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Community Legal Services and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles (Advancing Justice-LA) have put new applications for DACA on hold since they are unsure how the information of the undocumented youth would be used. Depending on the advice of an attorney, those who were already granted DACA could seek renewal because their information is in the
system. “When it comes to risks, people who have DACA already are already known to immigration, their names are in the database of DACA recipients, so we have found they are at less risk of any kind of activity against them…so doing a renewal would not really change anything so long as there hasn’t been any change in circumstance of that particular client,” Kelly explained. A legal screening could also point these immigrants to other options, such as special immigration juvenile status or family-based petitions. For the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, Advancing Justice-LA staff attorney Martha Ruch said there are a lot of questions and concerns about who qualifies as undocumented. Those who overstayed their visa are also considered undocumented, similar to those who came to the U.S. without legal papers. Ruch added that AAPI citizens and legal permanent residents are worried as well how they would be affected by the Trump administration’s actions. “The short answer is that citizens are generally not going to be affected by this. Citizens are not deportable, including naturalized citizens. But legal immigrants may want to consult with an immigration attorney or licensed practitioner to discuss whether criminal issues or potential international travel may be a problem for them,” she said. Speakers participating in Thursday’s briefing also urged individu-
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Analyst: Trump in Manila could do more harm than good by PatriCia lOurdes-Viray Philstar.com
THE attendance of United States President Donald Trump on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila on November might do more harm than good, an analyst said. Aaron Connelly, a research fellow in the East Asia Program at the Lowy Institute for International Policy, said that it would be difficult to imagine Trump listening to a plenary session that might last until four hours. “It is difficult to imagine Trump patiently listening to the General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party hold forth on sustainable development, or responding in a constructive manner should Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte blast century-old U.S. human rights abuses, as he did last year,” Connelly said in his article titled “Don’t waste time trying to get Trump to Manila.” Connelly noted that it is unclear whether Trump will attend the summits as he is not fond of spending more than a couple days on the road. The APEC and ASEAN summits are scheduled back-to-back in November and would require at least six days, including flights to and from the region. Trump may take interest in the APEC Forum’s economic orientation but the ASEAN Summit will cover issues of less interest to him, Connelly said. The ASEAN Summit is expected
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President Donald Trump
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House leaders ‘came up short’ in effort to kill Obamacare DESPITE days of intense negotiations and last-minute concessions to win over wavering GOP conservatives and moderates, House Republican leaders on Friday, March 24 failed to secure enough support to pass their plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the bill from consideration after he rushed to the White House to tell President Donald Trump that there weren’t the 216 votes necessary for passage. “We came really close today, but we came up short,” he told reporters at a hastily called news conference. When pressed about what happens to the federal health law, he added, “We’re going to be living with Obamacare for the foreseeable future.” Ryan originally had hoped to hold a floor vote on the measure Thursday — timed to coincide with the seventh anniversary of the ACA — but decided to delay that effort because GOP leaders didn’t have enough “yes” votes. The House had been in session Friday while members debated parts of the bill. The legislation was damaged by a variety of issues raised by competing factions of the party. Many members were spooked by reports by the Congressional Budget Office showing that the bill would lead eventually to 24 million people losing insurance, while some moderate Republicans worried that ending the ACA’s Medicaid expansion would hurt low-income Americans. At the same time, conservatives, especially the hard-right House Freedom Caucus that often has needled party leaders, complained that the bill kept too much of the ACA structure in place. They wanted a straight repeal of Obamacare, but party leaders said that couldn’t pass the Senate, where Republicans don’t have enough votes to stop a filibuster. So they chose to use a complicated legislative strategy called budget reconciliation that would allow them to repeal only parts of the ACA that affect federal spending. The decision came after a chaotic week of negotiations, as party leaders sought to woo more conservatives. Trump personally
House Speaker Paul Ryan
lobbied 120 members through personal meetings or phone calls, according to a count provided Friday by his spokesman, Sean Spicer. “The president and the team here have left everything on the field,” Spicer said. On Thursday evening, Trump dispatched Office of Management and Development Director Mick Mulvaney to tell his former House GOP colleagues that the president wanted a vote on Friday. It was time to move on to other priorities, including tax reform, he told House Republicans. “He said the president needs this, the president has said he wants a vote tomorrow, up or down. If for any reason it goes down, we’re just going to move forward with additional parts of his agenda. This is our moment in time,” Rep. Chris Collins (RN.Y.), a loyal Trump ally, told reporters late Thursday. “If it doesn’t pass, we’re moving beyond health care...We are done negotiating.” Trump’s edict clearly irked some lawmakers, including the Freedom Caucus chairman, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C), whose group of more than two dozen members represented the strongest bloc against the measure. “Anytime you don’t have 216 votes, negotiations are not totally over,” he told reporters who had surrounded him in a Capitol basement hallway as he headed in to the party’s caucus meeting. Shortly before Ryan’s press conference, Trump called Wash-
ington Post reporter Robert Costa to say they were pulling the bill back from consideration. Costa said the president seemed at ease with the decision and did not blame Ryan for the defeat. Trump, Ryan and other GOP lawmakers tweaked their initial package in a variety of ways to win over both conservatives and moderates. But every time one change was made to win votes in one camp, it repelled support in another. The White House on Thursday, March 23 accepted conservatives’ demands that the legislation strip federal guarantees of essential health benefits in insurance policies. But that was another problem for moderates, and Democrats suggested the provision would not survive in the Senate. Republican moderates in the House — as well as the Senate — objected to the bill’s provisions that would shift Medicaid from an open-ended entitlement to a set amount of funding for states that would also give governors and state lawmakers more flexibility over the program. Moderates also were concerned that the package’s tax credits would not be generous enough to help older Americans — who could be charged five times more for coverage than their younger counterparts — afford coverage. The House package also lost the support of key GOP allies, including the Club for Growth and Heritage Action. Physician, patient and hospital groups also opposed it. It’s not clear what will happen next to the Republican effort to overturn or modify Obamacare. But White House officials told members Thursday that if they couldn’t pass the legislation, the president wanted to turn to other priorities, including tax reform. “The president understands this is it,” Spicer said. “We had this opportunity to — to change the trajectory of health care, to help improve — put a health care system in place and to end the nightmare that Republicans have campaigned on called Obamacare.” This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. (By Mary Agnes Carey / California Healthline)
TIME CAPSULE. President Rodrigo Duterte (center) and Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri bury the time capsule during groundbreaking ceremonies for a P700-million drug rehabilitation center in Malaybalay, Bukidnon on Saturday, March 25. Also present were Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua. Malacañang photo
Fate of DACA still uncertain despite immigration... PAGE A3 als to know their rights should they be confronted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. “Whether they are U.S. citizens or undocumented or permanent residents or on some kind of visa, these are rights that are available to everyone solely by virtue of being on U.S. soil,” Kelly said. Some of these rights include asking for a search warrant, due process, and access to an attorney. “The reason why we’re em-
phasizing know your rights at this time is because increased immigration enforcement means that ordinary people are perhaps going to be subject to questioning about their country of origin [or] their legal status,” Ruch said. She went on to say that undocumented immigrants should also make a general plan for their families and workplaces in case they are detained. The details that should be included are emergency contacts, who would take care of their children or elderly in the
home, and where to go to help, among others. “From an advocacy standpoint, it’s really important for DREAMers and other segments of the undocumented population to remain visible and to remain strong and to not bow down to the fear and pressure,” Kelly said. “The only reason that DACA happened in the first place was from the response of the amazing organizing of the students, the DREAMer movement trying to get something passed for themselves.” n
Analyst: Trump in Manila could do more harm than... PAGE A3 to tackle regional diplomatic architecture and the Chinese challenge to the rules-based order in the region. “Trump could skip much of the plenary (leaders do occasionally duck out to take bathroom breaks or hold the odd bilateral) but not without offending his hosts and indicating the very lack of engagement we’d hoped to avoid,” Connelly said. Connelly noted that plenary sessions of the summits have tested the patience of former U.S. President Barck Obama but he understood the importance of demonstrating his willingness to listen to the concerns of Southeast Asian leaders.
The Obama administration’s Asia pivot gave assurance to ASEAN countries that the U.S. will back them despite pressure from China. “If Trump were to skip the summits, some diplomats and analysts would probably conclude that U.S. commitment to the region had diminished, and Trump would miss an opportunity to put a face with a country in a way that might be helpful in a future crisis,” Connelly said. The new U.S. president’s absence, however, would reduce the chances “that an errant early morning tweet by Trump would throw the day’s sessions into chaos.” Sending U.S. Vice President
Mike Pence or U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson instead would lessen such risk, Connelly said. The U.S. also has other ways of signaling its commitment to the region such as negotiation of new economic arrangements, attendance of Cabinet officials at key ministerial meetings in the region, continued funding of governance problems and increased naval presence. Last January, President Rodrigo Duterte sent an invitation to Trump to attend the ASEAN summit that will be held in the country. Trump, however, has not yet committed to visiting the Philippines for the ASEAN summit in November. n
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D ateline PhiliPPines Duterte assures Robredo impeachment UN calls on Congress leaders to reject complaint against her won’t prosper by Julliane love
SioSon AJPress
Inquirer.net
President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo show no signs of animosity as they exchange pleasantries while seated next to each other during the commencement exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy on Friday, March 24, 2017. Photo by Marianne Bermudez / Philippine Daily Inquirer
alam ko naman,” she said. (I said, Mr. President, I hope you believe me that I’m not the one behind the impeachment against you. His answer to me was: I know.) Duterte’s allies are preparing an impeachment complaint against her for expressing opposition against Duterte’s bloody drug war before the international community, saying this falls under the violation of the Constitution for betraying public trust. Duterte has, however, defended Robredo from her critics, saying he believes that the Vice President has no hand in the alleged destablization plot against him. Critics of the President also filed an impeachment complaint against him. Dinner invitation Robredo also confirmed that Duterte invited her and her children to have dinner with him.
“Noong nagpapaalam na ako pauwi, sinabi niya sa akin na, bakit hindi tayo mag-dinner? Isama mo iyong mga anak mo, sama ko din iyong pamilya ko,” she recalled. (When I said goodbye, he told me, why don’t we have dinner? Bring your children, I’ll also bring my family.) Robredo then told Duterte: “Sige po. Sabihin niyo na lang po kung kailan.” (Okay. Just tell me when it will be.) After their brief conversation, Robredo said Duterte called Special Assistant to the President Bong Go and instructed him to schedule the dinner. Although there’s no date yet, Robredo said they might meet when the President returns to Manila. Duterte is currently in his home province in Davao to celebrate his birthday.
Duterte leads online poll for Time’s most influential by llaneSca
Panti
ManilaTimes
DESPITE international criticism, President Rodrigo Duterte is leading early in the online poll for Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2017. Duterte ranked first with four percent of the online votes, beating Pope Francis whom he cursed in the campaign trail for creating a traffic mess during his 2015 visit to the Philippines. The Pope got three percent. Duterte is also beating Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who each got two percent of the votes. Also high on the vote tally are Microsoft founder Bill Gates, former U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, American gymnast Simone Biles, Women’s March organizers Linda Sarsour, Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez, and Bob Bland; Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, tennis star Serena Williams, celebrity Oprah Winfrey, Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling, actresses Emma Watson and Viola Davis, Olympic athlete Usain Bolt, U.S. Supreme Court
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and business magnate Elon Musk. The Time poll comes on the heels of the New York Times article titled “Duterte: The Making of a Strongman” that tackled Duterte’s supposed appetite for violence, which Malacañang has dismissed as a “hack job.” Duterte won the presidency in the May 2016 polls with 16 million votes despite joining the race two months late, overwhelming his closest rivals Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd and Sen. Grace Poe by seven million votes. But for the Time 100, the popular vote is not the clincher because Time magazine’s editors will choose who gets in the final list. Voting will close on April 16, 11:59 p.m., U.S. Eastern time. The Time 100 list will be unveiled on April 20. Duterte promised to eradicate the illegal drug trade and corruption in three to six months after assuming the presidency on June 30, 2016, but has since backtracked. Duterte has said the fight against illegal drugs, corruption and other crimes will continue until the end of his term in June 2022, claiming he didn’t know the
magnitude of the problems until he became President. The President, a former mayor of Davao City, nevertheless remains popular, particularly in the National Capital Region. A Pulse Asia survey over the weekend showed that 82 percent of Metro Manila residents feel safer as a result of the administration’s bloody war on drugs. “We are pleased with the latest Pulse Asia survey showing that more than 8 out of 10 residents of Metro Manila now feel safer in the streets as a result of the government’s drive against illegal drugs. The administration’s drug war is well-received by the people on the ground in sharp contrast to the gloom and hopelessness depicted by the President’s critics,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. “This favorable public sentiment gives us strong impetus to surge ahead in our anti-drug campaign and hope that we continually get the cooperation of the community, and even support of the clergy, especially in the implementation of a rehabilitation program for Tokhang surrenderers,” Abella added, referring to the police’s anti-drug campaign.
Australia: IS may declare caliphate in Mindanao by auDrey
Morallo Philstar.com
MANILA — Australia warned over the weekend that the so-called Islamic State (IS) might declare an Islamic caliphate in Mindanao as the group is already being pushed out of the Middle East. Speaking to Sky News Australia, Julie Bishop, the country’s foreign minister, said that Canberra was concerned about IS fighters returning from the Middle East back to their home countries in Southeast
less than 2 percent. abuse, exploitation and violence She argued that such move must be addressed first. We need “will only condemn and damage to invest in the full implementaTHE United Nations (UN) has the children for life instead of giv- tion of the Juvenile Justice Law, sent a letter to the leaders of the ing them a chance to reform.” which is a much commended law. Philippine Congress, urging them “The underlying and structural Then there should be support for to not lower the minimum age factors that bring about child PAGE A7 of criminal responsibility in the country. In a letter sent to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez Jr. last January, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (VAC) Marta Santos Pais said that the move to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility would only further expose children to violence in prison facilities. She argued that lowering the )VHYK *LY[PMPLK 0U[LYUHS 4LKPJPUL age of criminal responsibility and punitive criminal justice to youth offenses will have negative consequences. Among the effects she cited include: risks of being used in criminal activities at increasingly younger ages; compromising completion of education and access to opportunities for vocational skills; and stigmatizing them as criminals and exposing them to further violence, neglect and social exclusion. “The human brain is not fully developed in its capacity for cognitive functioning and emotional control until well into the period of young adulthood,” Pais said. She argued that exposing children to toxic stress or violent environments—such as in prisons— 4VUKH` [V -YPKH` -YVT ! HT [V ! WT “will have irreversible damage to >HSR 0UZ >LSJVTL their brain architecture and create high long-term financial costs for families and the government.” 6U :P[L :LY]PJLZ! Likewise, she added that the t 7YL]LU[H[P]L *HYL move would only lead them to further commit crimes. r 3HIVYH[VY` :LY]PJLZ In a statement, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander said that “punishing and ;V 7YL YLNPZ[LY HUK (JJLZZ incarcerating children is not go@V\Y /LHS[O 0UMVYTH[PVU ing to have any impact on crime reduction.” .V ;V 6\Y 7H[PLU[ 7VY[HS “Why penalize children who ^^^ *HSKLYVU4LK JVT are themselves victims and do not have the maturity to discern right from wrong?” Sylwander said, > *OHYSLZ[VU )S]K - 3HZ =LNHZ 5= pointing out that the percentage : =HSSL` =PL^ :[L 3HZ =LNHZ 5= of children involved in crime is by Dana
De JeSuS
THE last time President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo met, Duterte told Robredo that he will not allow the impeachment complaint against her to prosper. Robredo on Tuesday, March 28 recalled her conversation with the President when they met at the commencement exercises for the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) “Masidlak” Class of 2017 last Friday. “Iyong pagdating niya pa lang, sinalubong ko siya sa stage. Ang una niya sa akin sinabi na hindi niya papayagan iyong impeachment, iyon ang naalala kong sinabi niya. Sabi niya hindi pa nga one year after the elections, magtrabaho muna tayo,” Robredo said in an ambush interview at St. Paul University in Quezon City. (When he arrived, I met him at the stage. The first thing he said to me was he won’t allow the impeachment, that’s what I remember him saying. He said not even a year has passed after the elections, let’s work first.) Robredo, in turn, thanked Duterte. She also assured the President that she has nothing to do with the impeachment raps against the latter. “Sabi ko, Mr. President, sana po maniwala kayo sa akin na hindi naman po ako behind doon sa impeachment din laban sa iyo. Tapos iyong sagot niya sa akin,
lowering of criminal liability in PH
Asia, including the Philippines. Bishop, who has just returned from the United States for talks with countries about eradicating IS, said that around 600 Southeast Asian fighters were monitored to have been on their way home after fighting for IS in the Middle East. “So there’s concern that ISIS may well seek to declare a caliphate, an Islamic caliphate in southern Philippines,” she said. Bishop said that Australia had relayed its concern to President Rodrigo Duterte when she visited
the Philippines recently. “I was in the Philippines recently. I met with President Duterte. We spoke about the reemergence of some of these terrorist networks particularly the southern Philippines,” the foreign minister said. Bishop said that a local terrorist group, the Abu Sayyaf, had established links with IS in the Middle East following the declaration of senior Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon as emir or leader in Mindanao. PAGE A7
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Critical time
Millions of people turned the lights off for at least an hour in some of the world’s most famous cities on Saturday, March 25, as they joined the global initiative to raise awareness and take action against climate change. Now in its 10th year, the Earth Hour called for the world to collectively act together to protect the planet. More than 170 countries and territories joined the biggest Earth Hour event to date, which aimed to focus attention on people-driven solutions to building a bright, sustainable future. “Each light turned off or profile picture changed represents an individual who has made the switch from being a passive bystander to someone eager to be a part of the solution...” said Sid Das, executive director of Earth Hour Global. The United Nations led the event in the U.S. as it dimmed the lights at its iconic headquarters in New York. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Climate change continues to imperil lives and livelihoods around the world. From the darkness, we can create a sustainable and inclusive world for all” In the Philippines, this year’s observance of Earth Hour is a milestone as it comes after President Rodrigo Duterte’s ratification of the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The country has been actively participating in Earth Hour since 2008 and has topped global participation records from 2009 to 2012 – earning it the title Earth Hour Hero Country. “The Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, but has a very small climate footprint. However, this should not
prevent the country from achieving economic development while adopting lifestyles, systems and measures that can slow down climate change,” Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said. According to Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and UN Global Champion for Resilience, the Paris Agreement would allow the country access to the Green Climate Fund, which will allow developed countries that are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases (GHG) to aid vulnerable, low-emitting nations like the Philippines. Every year, the world experiences weather-related disasters that cause significant loss of life, and economic and social development setbacks. The planet is exhausted and the world stands witness to the devastating effects of climate change. This dreaded phenomenon has brought signals of unimaginable changes such as increasing trends in change of temperature, sea level rise and extreme climate events. These manifestations have brought floods, droughts, forest fires, and an increase in tropical cyclones—all amounting to billions. For now, the world is not forced to take drastic measures to let the Earth survive. Natural hazards are normal. But hazards become disasters when people’s lives and livelihoods are swept away. When this happens, poor countries are the ones that suffer most—even though they are the least
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
responsible for such disasters. As experts warned and as the warming continues, the effects are sure to become more catastrophic. There are no exact ways to stop the impending consequences climate change has brought, but this is an endeavor every human be-
ing will have to surpass. While we can’t undo the damages done, we are still capable of decelerating the rate of the effects of climate change and produce a desirable future for the planet altogether. Everyone is simply responsible. (AJPress)
Trump, Republicans in Congress give companies that steal their workers’ wages a gift AS the news gets inundated with headlines about the failed Trumpcare The Fil-Am and the ongoing muddled investigation on the alleged collusion between Perspective the Trump campaign and Russia, President Donald Trump signed a bill into law that will end Obama-era regulation that protects ordinary folks from unscrupulous employers from abusing Gel SantoS-ReloS and neglecting them. Under the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Rule, companies who have outrageously been stealing hard earned money from their employees by not paying them the right wages, and companies who do not follow safety laws at the expense of their workers, would lose their government contracts if they did not comply with labor laws. Unfortunately, Trump and the Republicans in Con-
gress do not believe in this, and side with businesses who say these regulations are excessive and are job killers. They argue that the Obama rule was too punitive and unfair to businesses. When Trump signed this bill into law, he made sure that the regulation would not only die, but also that no similar regulation could be imposed by the Labor Department again. Who are the real winners here? Is this law good for American workers or the millionaires and billionaires and greedy businessmen? *** 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.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
The Philippines a target and Did Cayetano lose and then victim of clickbait journalism? reacquire Philippine citizenship? IN 1898, at the birth of the Philippine republic, the United States press oppressed the new nation with its newly minted “yellow journalism.” One hundred nineteen years later, the US press is using on the Philippines today its newfangled weapon of “clickbait journalism.” The office of the historian of the US Department of State filed this report on the events of 1895-98: “During the heyday of yellow journalism in the late 19th century, it was one of many factors that helped push the United States and Spain into war in Cuba and the Philippines, leading to the acquisition of overseas territory by the United States… “The battle between Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World and Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal for greater market share gave rise to the term “yellow journalism.” “Once the term had been coined, it extended to the sensationalist style employed by the two publishers in their profit-driven coverage of world events… “Yellow journalism is significant to the history of US foreign relations in that its centrality to the history of the Spanish-American War shows that the press had the power to capture the attention of a large readership and to influence public reaction to international events. The dramatic style of yellow journalism contributed to creating public support for the Spanish-American War, a war that would ultimately expand the global reach of the United States.” Flash forward to the present day. The US press is waving at
Opinion
Yen Makabenta the Philippines the weapon of “clickbait journalism.” In the age of the Internet, US journalism has the impudence to demand that the Philippine republic bend its policies to its wishes. “Release Sen. Leila de lima,” declared the New York Times. Most Filipinos are unmoved. They like the thought that DU30 has an unusual vocabulary for rebuff. Clickbait to stop falling revenues In contemporary journalism, the term “clickbait journalism” is more recent than “fake news” and “post-truth politics,” which were crowned as words of the year by the Oxford Dictionary in recent years. Economics was the driver of yellow journalism in the 19th century. Economics is similarly driving clickbait journalism in the 21st century. Clickbait is the offshoot of the frantic effort of media organizations (particularly print media) to find an availing response to the devastation wrought by the Internet on advertising revenues, readerships, and bottom lines. According to Wikipedia, “Clickbait is a pejorative term describing web content that is aimed at gen-
erating online advertising revenue, especially at the expense of quality or accuracy, relying on sensationalist headlines or eye-catching thumbnail pictures to attract click-throughs and to encourage forwarding of the material over online social networks. Clickbait headlines typically aim to exploit the ‘curiosity gap’, providing just enough information to make readers curious, but not enough to satisfy their curiosity without clicking through to the linked content.” The practice and methods of clickbait were developed because of the interest of advertisers and media buyers in the volume or number of clicks generated by certain stories and news analyses; it was thought that clicks were the virtual equivalent of readers, though clicks do not necessarily mean that the stories/ opinions are read. The sensational writing, headlining and angling of stories are designed to induce the reader to click to the story or message. From here, it’s a short leap of imagination to see that communication strategists and public relations practitioners would develop clickbait strategies in their communication campaigns. Although clickbait was first started by social media, mainstream media quickly caught on and realized the potential of clickbait journalism to generate more readers and stem falling revenues. Soon every mainstream media had its own digital site and edition. In combination with fake news, clickbait journalism was potent. PAGE A7
IN a stout rebuttal of assertions made in a Philippine Daily Inquir- Street er column by Filipino-American lawyer, Rodel Rodis, concerning Talk the US citizenship of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and his subsequent renunciation of it, the following news item came out: “Senator Alan Peter Cayetano GReG b. Macabenta on Thursday blasted an opinion piece questioning his citizenship, calling it ‘fake news’ and a ‘well disguised malicious article.’ “Cayetano took to Facebook his response to the column published by The Philippine Daily Inquirer, saying he acquired both Philippine and American citizenship at birth since he was born to a Filipino father, Renato Cayetano and an American mother, Sandra Schramm. “‘By law, by both the Philippine Constitution and US Constitution, I was both an American and am a Filipino nung time na pinanganak. At sabi nga po sa ibang court cases, hindi kasalanan ng bata yun,’ he said in a Facebook video. “In a separate post, Cayetano said he gave up his American citizenship even before he took the bar exams and ran for Congress.” Indeed, the good senator is right in saying that he had both Filipino and American citizenship at birth. However, Cayetano’s assertion that “by both the Philippine Constitution and US Constitution, (he) was both an American and..a Filipino” is not entirely accurate. What is accurate is that, under the Philippine Constitution, Cayetano was a natural-born Filipino citizen because of his Filipino father. And under the US Constitution he was entitled to US citizenship because of his American mother. But, at the time of his birth on October 28, 1970, dual citizenship was not yet recognized in the Philippines, as applied to Filipino citizens. Cayetano had to subsequently elect one citizenship over the other. Apparently Cayetano chose US citizenship. About this, Rodis wrote: “In his Comelec protest action against Cayetano, former Pateros Mayor Jose Capco, Jr, produced documentation from official government records
showing that on January 23, 1985, Alan Peter Cayetano personally applied for and obtained an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) asserting that he was an American citizen. As Atty. Capco pointed out, the law required Cayetano to personally apply for this ACR and he dutifully complied.” There is no denying that Cayetano elected to become a US citizen. There is also no denying that he renounced his US citizenship. The issue that Rodis has raised is whether or not Cayetano was still a US citizen when he ran for public office. With due respect to Cayetano’s noble desire to be of service to the country of his birth, there’s another crucial issue: Was Cayetano a Filipino citizen when he ran for public office? In a paper entitled “Philippine citizenship, dual citizenship, and dual allegiance: An evaluation of RA 9225, the Dual Citizenship Law,” lawyer James Benedict Panopio wrote: “The Dual Citizenship Law also amended the old citizenship law, Commonwealth Act No. 63, which provides that acquisition of foreign citizenship is a ground for the loss of Philippine citizenship.” Did Cayetano lose his Philippine citizenship when he elected US citizenship? He apparently did. CA 63 enumerated the following, among the reasons for such a loss: 1. By naturalization in a foreign country 2. By express renunciation of citizenship 3. By subscribing to an oath of allegiance to support the constitution of a foreign country upon attaining twenty-one years of age or more. Note that Cayetano could have retained his Philippine citizenship, even after electing US citizenship, with the passage of RA 9225, The Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003 – also known as the Dual Citizenship Law. This law, approved on August 29, 2003, states: “Section 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State that all Philippine citizens of another country shall be deemed not to PAGE A7
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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UN calls on Congress leaders to reject... PAGE A5 parenting programmes to deter at-risk children from committing crimes,� she added. A bill seeking to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility in the country from 15 to 9
years old was previously filed by Alvarez and Rep. Fredenil Castro. While Alvarez and Castro acknowledged that protecting the youth was “laudable,� they argued that it has opposite effects. “The pampering of youthful
PAGE A5 “The Abu Sayyaf group, a particularly dangerous terrorist group. Their leader, Hapilon, has recently been declared an emir by ISIS in the Middle East, an emir, a leader in southern Philippines,� she said. She said Australian security and intelligence agencies were working closely with their counterparts in the Philippines, Indonesia and Ma-
laysia to coordinate efforts to rid the region of the threat of terrorism. Bishop said the attack in London last week demonstrated the limits of what government authorities and surveillance could do to stop “selfradicalized� individuals. “It’s this idea that an individual can take a vehicle and use it as a weapon to kill innocent people, to kill civilians, that is so deeply
Dateline PhiliPPines
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 30-ApRIL 5, 2017
A
Palace: Duterte, Misuari meeting cordial
offenders knowing they can get by Alexis RomeRo away with it. Worse, adult crimiPhilstar.com nals individually, or in organized MANILA - President Duterte cabals knowingly and purposely make use of youth below 15 years and Moro National Liberation of age to commit crimes,â€? Alva- Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari discussed on Monday, March rez and Castro’s bill read. 27 ways to achieve peace in Mindanao in a meeting described as “warmâ€? and “cordial.â€? Presidential spokesman Ertroubling,â€? she said. nesto Abella could not provide Bishop was referring to the details about the closed-door recent terrorist attack in Lon- meeting of Duterte and Misuari don involving an individual who in Davao City, merely saying that plowed an SUV into crowds on the discussions were about the Westminster bridge before stab- situation in Mindanao. bing to death a police officer at the “(It) was a close-in meeting so... entrance to the British parliament, Basically, it was a reaffirmation of leaving four people dead. The the importance of securing just assailant was later shot dead by and lasting peace and developpolice officers. ment for Mindanao. It was warm, cordial, positive,â€? Abella said. Abella could not say whether the two talked about measures seeking to establish a federal lately emerged a backlash government in the country and against clickbait journalism. The proposed changes to the Autonomodus operandi of clickbait has been exposed by alert media critics and fact-checkers in the US and UK. In a revealing critique of clickbait journalism by the Interna- PAGE A6 tional Business Times, Mother have lost their Philippine citizenJones magazine reported that IBT ship under the conditions of this journalists are subject to constant Act. Now, having lost his Philippine demand to produce clickbait; one former employee reportedly com- citizenship, Cayetano would have plained that management issued had to undergo a formal process “impossibleâ€? demands, including if he wanted to reacquire Philipa minimum of 10,000 hits per ar- pine citizenship. This, interestticle, and fired those who couldn’t ingly, is where his case and that deliver. Of 432 articles published of former Foreign Affairs Secreby IBT Japan in a certain time in- tary Perfecto Yasay, Jr. appear to terval, 302 were reportedly cre- be the same. A February 27, 2017 Philipated by copying sentences from Japanese media and combining pine Daily Inquirer story by Juliet them, “collage-style,â€? to create Labog-Javellana entitled, “Yasay: American, Filipino or stateless?â€? stories that seemed new. Similarly, IBT employees told stated: “A lawmaker privy to the perThe Guardian in 2014 that at times they seemed to operate more as tinent documents said that after “content farmsâ€? demanding high- Yasay lost his Filipino citizenvolume output than a source of ship in 1986, he has apparently quality journalism. At least two not reacquired it as mandated by journalists were allegedly threat- Philippine laws‌The dual citiened with firing unless traffic to zenship law requires filing a petition for retention/reacquisition their articles increased sharply. Katherine Viner, editor in chief of Philippine citizenship in the at the The Guardian, declared that Bureau of Immigration and tak“chasing down cheap clicks at the ing an oath of allegiance to the expense of accuracy and veracityâ€? Philippines.â€? In the case of Labo, Jr. vs undermines the value of journalComelec, the Supreme Court ism and truth. Others have concluded that held: “Philippine citizenship is clickbait could be the death of not a cheap commodity that can be easily recovered after its rejournalism. Alarmed by the trend, Facebook nunciation. It may be restored and Google have taken measures only after the returning renegade to reduce the impact of clickbait makes a formal act of re-dedicaon their social network and inter- tion to the country he has abnet service. (yenmakabenta@ya- jured and he solemnly affirms once again his total and excluhoo.com)
Australia: IS may declare caliphate...
The Philippines a target and victim... PAGE A6 Distorted view of the Philippines Over the past eight months, I have diligently gathered in my files the many reports and analyses of Philippine developments by Western media. I can honestly say that I have read and reviewed them all. It amazes me that what many Filipinos perceive as a time of hope (a chance) for our country, is casually dismissed without thorough analysis by Western media as a national disaster. Thus, I have concluded that the Philippines and President Duterte have been both targets and victims of clickbait journalism. As our new government has struggled to cope with the challenge of governing a nation of over 100 million, there has been a counterpart movement—loosely composed of opposition groups, international media and international organizations—that has sought to control the narrative and eventually tried to bring the nation down. It is not coincidental that the publication of multiple stories on the Philippine drug war and President Duterte’s bold policies, has happened alongside criticisms leveled at our new government by the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and international human rights organizations. It is not accidental that they all use the same numbers, level the same charge, and make the same demands from the Philippine government. The entire communications effort is organized, directed and managed. And it’s mostly taking place in and from New York City, where a large international com-
munity of journalists, communicators and experts are based, and the whole community of nations can be reached. Ms Loida Nicolas-Lewis and her group of Filipino propagandists operate from NYC. Together they work on US media and the UN; they have turned the New York Times, the Washington Post, the International Business Times, Time magazine, the New Yorker, the Atlantic and other publications into complaisant channels for critical pieces of what is happening in the Philippines. From this perspective, the New York Times’ recent analysis, “Becoming Duterte: The making of a Philippine strongman� and Time’s earlier report, “Night falls on the Philippines� have the same DNA. It seems unbelievable that such prestigious publications would allow themselves to be used for dishonest journalism. They all fell for the line that Duterte has perpetrated over 7,000 extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in his murderous war on drugs. In a way, Duterte was (is) a dream subject for clickbait journalism. He is outrageous, out-of-control, and uncouth, and the more outrageous he is, the more clicks he will generate. This is the reason why international media have eagerly given him space. The wonder is why they never bothered to report on Duterte and the Philippines properly through serious fact-finding, investigation and fact-checking. They remain as blind and clueless as the UN and the human rights lobby. Backlash against clickbait Not surprisingly, there has
HUG OF PEACE. President Rodrigo Duterte hugs Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari in Davao City on Tuesday, March 28. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to bring “just and lastingâ€? peace in Mindanao. MalacaĂąang photo
mous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Misuari founded the MNLF in 1972 to advocate the establishment of an independent Moro state in Mindanao. The group and the Philippine government signed the Tripoli Agreement in 1976 which paved way for the creation
of the ARMM two decades later. Misuari, who was accused of being the mastermind of the bloody Zamboanga siege in 2013, met with Duterte in MalacaĂąang last November after the court suspended the implementation of an arrest warrant against him.
Did Cayetano lose and then reacquire... sive loyalty to the Republic of the Philippines.� In other words, to reacquire his Philippine citizenship, after renouncing his US citizenship, Cayetano would have had to comply with the provisions of RA 9225: “Section 3. Retention of Philippine Citizenship - Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, natural-born citizens by reason of their naturalization as citizens of a foreign country are hereby deemed to have reacquired Philippine citizenship upon taking the following oath of allegiance to the Republic: “I _____________________, solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and obey the laws and legal orders promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the Philippines; and I hereby declare that I recognize and accept the supreme authority of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; and that I imposed this obligation upon myself voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion.� If Cayetano did not comply with the above requirements, then he and former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Perfect Yasay may have the same problem. In sum, I think the following questions are relevant:
1. Did Cayetano lose his Philippine citizenship upon electing to become a US citizen? The provisions of CA 93 indicate that he did. 2. Did Cayetano formally reacquire his Philippine citizenship as required by law? That is a question that Cayetano should answer – or something that can be determined by simply going through the records of the Bureau of Immigration. We do not want to speculate on what the BI records will reveal or what Cayetano’s response will be (hopefully not another complaint about “fake news� and “a well disguised malicious article). But the implications could raise questions about the legitimacy of his election to the Senate, not to mention his candidacy for vicepresident and his election to the House of Representatives, years back. It is said that when you open a Pandora’s Box, you never know what unwelcome things will emerge from it. For instance, if Alan Peter Cayetano, born to an American mother, subsequently elected to become a US citizen and then renounced that citizenship, what about former Senator and now Taguig Congresswoman Pia Cayetano and other Cayetano siblings who may have occupied elected office?  (gregmacabenta@hotmail. com).
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VEGAS&STYLE
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Journal
A PinAy gAthering:
Celebrating Women’s History Month through Fil-Am women writers and their books By HeatHer
Domingo
AJPress
To honor Women’s History Month, a Pinay gathering was celebrated at the Philippine Expressions Bookshop in San Pedro, California on Saturday, March 25. With about 50 guests in attendance, eight different authors participated in the event, sharing their journeys as Filipino-American women and authors, and the value of their books. Although this bookshop was established in 1984, this event — hosted by co-owner Linda Nietes-Little — is part of over three decades of ongoing community outreach programs to promote books written by Filipino and Fil-Am authors in English and Tagalog for all ages. Philippine Expressions seeks to inspire Americans of Filipino heritage who want to discover their roots. Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier, editor of the anthology “Filipinotown: Voices from Los Angeles” featuring 40 contributors, spoke of growing up in the Historic Filipinotown neighborhood of Los Angeles, where her strong paternal genes from her Swedish father forced her to stand out in the neighborhood. Though she says she does not capture the look of a traditional Filipina and was not born in the Philippines, her heart remains close to her mother’s heritage. Bonnivier spoke fondly of her mother who is “not five feet tall or 100 pounds,” but a gentle, sweet, and tender woman. Capturing daily life in the decades of the 1900s, Bonnivier shares the exciting daily adventures in “Little Manila,” as well as the political struggles Fil-Ams had to endure with the swaying government decisions. The cover of her
Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla give life to Mia and Ely who would start their lives again in Spain in the film “Barcelona: A Love Untold.”
Parting ways? Kathryn speaks up on KathNiel relationship status by Deni
Rose BeRnaRDo
Philstar.com
Roselyn Estepa Ibáñez, Herminia Meñez-Coben, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Linda Nietes-Little, Lucy Urgello Miller, Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier, Carmen F. Davino, and Leslie Ryan receive certificates of recognition.
RUMoR has it that for career growth, Daniel Padilla’s camp allegedly asked ABS-CBN to have him paired with fellow singer-actor Sarah Geronimo. The suspicion that Daniel is slowly drifting away from his love team with Kathryn Bernardo has been growing stronger as Daniel
had been recently seen more and more frequently with Sarah, singing a duet or hosting with her in the Sunday variety show “ASAP.” Daniel also expressed his desire to do a movie with Sarah. Is this the beginning of the end for Team Kathniel? When asked what she feels about Daniel filming with Sarah, PAGE B2
Miss World Megan Young to penetrate Hollywood, Europe entertainment Philippine Expressions Bookshop co-owner Linda Nietes-Little
book displays artist Eliseo Silva’s famous mural depicting Fil-Am history, which can be found in Unidad Park along Beverly Boulevard. Herminia Menez Coben, author of “Verbal Arts in Philippine Indigenous Communities: Poetics, Society, and History” and “Explorations in Philippine Folklore,” was the first Filipino graduate of University of Penn-
MEGAN Young, accompanied by her manager, recently flew to New York City and signed a fiveyear talent agency contract with Innovative Artists Agency. The contract assures the beauBooks written by Fil-Am women showcased at an event on Saturday, March 25 at the Philippine Expressions Bookshop in San Pedro California. AJPress photos by Noel Ty ty queen-actress-host of career growth, training, guidance, as sylvania’s Folklore and Folklife “of Love and Virtue,” is a com- well as promising opportunities department. With a humble ing-of-age novel set in the Phil- and challenging projects to fursense of humor, she said that ippines in the 1970s, teaching ther hone her acting prowess on despite her book being published young adults to learn to rely on television or the silver screen. Young’s manager, Arnold in 1996, she is surprised to know one another and achieve love it is still being widely used and through a deep respect in self and Vegafria, who now holds the is even “published as an eBook in others. She hopes it teaches franchise of Miss World as well now, whatever that means,” she young adults to wisely mesh East as Mr. World in the Philippines laughed. Her book is an analysis and West cultures, but to be also after Cory Quirino gave up the of indigenous cultures of the rooted in traditional values of responsibility, is ecstatic about this development. hope and faith. northern Luzon region. PAGE B3 Carmen Davino said her book, PAGE B6
Miss World 2013 Megan Young
B march 30-april 5, 2017 • laS VEGaS aSiaN JOUrNal
Features
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Filipina-American achievers honored at Women’s Month event in New York By MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
In commemoration of International Women’s Month, the Philippine Consulate General in new York gathered the community to observe, commemorate and celebrate four distinguished Filipina-American achievers who have carved a name in their respective fields of endeavor. Consul General Tess Dizon-De Vega praised these inspirational women leaders – Analisa Leonor Balares, Ali Ewoldt, Elaine Quijano and Maria Torres-Springer – and thanked them for sharing their personal narratives as they talked about the struggles and challenges they had to face in their own careers. “We are privileged to hear some of their stories and aspirations this evening. These are the narratives that help to define women, the direction through which women’s advocacy must traverse,” the consul general said. “[I hope they] inspire future
generation of women and girls to stake a claim and to have a foothold in the world.” “To be in the presence of so many Filipino women leaders in different sectors and industries, everyone blazing their own trail, and I think that really exemplifies what is best in the Filipino-American community,” said Maria Torres-Springer, one of the honorees. Analisa Balares is CEO and founder of Womensphere, an organization that seeks to empower a billion women and girls between now and 2030. She started making a mark when she was still in high school back in the Philippines, becoming active in her community at a young age and joining youth development programs in school. She is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, UBS Global Visionary, a nASA Datanaut, and a former financial analyst before she delved into nonprofit work with Womensphere.
Consul General De Vega with Elaine Quijano and Ali Ewoldt
Broadway star Ali Ewoldt sings Somewhere from the musical West Side Story. AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya
Ali Ewoldt made history last year when she got her dream role of playing Christine Daae in the longest-running show on Broadway today, Phantom of the Opera. By doing so, she became the first woman of color to portray the role. A psychology degree holder from Yale, Ali helps elevate the presence of Asian Americans and Filipino Americans in theater here in new York. CBSn anchor and correspondent Elaine Quijano also made history last year, when she broke the glass ceiling in broadcast news when she was tapped to The Distinguished Women 2017 sharing their stories with the audience at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center. moderate the nationally televised AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya 2016 US Vice Presidential debate between Mike Pence and Tim Kaine, becoming the first AsianAmerican and the youngest media personality to do so. new York CIty Housing Commissioner Maria Torres Springer is currently the highest-ranking Filipino-American in new York City government. Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed her in 2014 as commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services and became the president and CEO of the new York Economic Development Corporation before getting appointed to the Housing and Preservation and Development. “Maria does everyone proud not only by bringing her expertise and her experience to various portfolios in the new York City government but more importantly, she does so with a strong sense of empathy for the many underserved communities and sectors here in the city,” Consul General De Vega said. Common Thread “I draw strength and power from my own roots and from the stories of my grandmothers and my mother, who quit school when she was 14 to become a domestic helper in Metro Manila to be able to send her younger sisters to school,” Balares shared as she talked about many untold stories of Filipinos and the sacrifices they make in order to make the lives of their families better. She added that when faced with a challenge, she pauses and thinks of the sacrifices that her own parents made along with the things they had to give up so that she and her brother could have The evening’s honorees receiving their plaques and tokens of appreciation from Consul General Tess Dizon-De Vega the privileges they had. Quijano, on her part talked about being the daughter of immigrants and echoed Analisa’s story. “It was interesting to listen to Analisa because there’s so many parallels. When I think about the things that motivate me, things that inspire me, I think about my mother,” she said. Her mother is the daughter of a seamstress and at a young age, she was told not to pursue school because she would end up as a seamstress anyway. Her brothers sacrificed their own education so she could pursue her dream. At the age of 26, her mother earned her accounting degree, which became her key to immigrate to the United States. “That decision by her changed the course of my family’s life and because of her stubborn, Batanguena streak that didn’t allow her to see herself as limited. This is something that I think about a lot,” Quijano said. Ali Ewoldt talked about her Filipina mother, who came to the United States when she was 18 years old and how they sup-
ported her dream to perform at a young age, driving her to singing and dancing classes while working full-time jobs. Aside from talking about the challenges for Filipino-Americans and Asian-Americans to breakthrough in theater, Ewoldt narrated how one should never give up even after successive disappointments and that it took her almost a decade of auditioning for the role of Christine. Women’s History Month Women’s History Month is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society, and for the past few years, the Philippine Consulate General has been honoring distinguished women in their various fields with a simple event at the Philippine Center. This year, other highlights of the program included the presentation of a Proclamation for Women’s History Month to Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega by Ms. nika Milburn, Assistant Director for Constituencies, Women, and African-American
Affairs of the Office of new York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Other special guests included the Honorable Patricia Cox, former Premier of Bermuda and Honorable Patrice Minors, former Minister of the Economy, Trade and Industry of Bermuda. In her remarks, Consul General Dizon-De Vega thanked all the honorees for sharing their narratives, for giving voice to the struggles, challenges, and the ways women have faced all these squarely and positively. She also called on Filipina-American women to play a more active role in various platforms and organizations to enable women shape their own history. The audience had the opportunity to have an interactive session with the honorees with discussion questions ranging from professional challenges, growing up Filipino in the US, future goals, and urgent issues such as violence against women. The 2017 Evening with Distinguished Women is part of the Philippine Consulate’s monthlong commemoration of International Women’s Month.
Parting ways? Kathryn speaks up... PAGE B1 Kathryn said: “Ako rin, gusto ko maka-work si Ate (Sarah) kasi fan ako ni Miss Sarah Geronimo. At kung magkaroon man sila ng project together in the future with or without me, i-support na lang natin kasi gusto n’ya ‘yun and para magbigay din tayo ng ibang opportunity dahil cute din naman din if ever mangyari at big fan din ako ni Ate Sarah.” During her recent launch as beauty brand endorser of Pond’s, Kathryn denied that she feels intimidated by the rumors, which is why she has been exercising harder and getting sexier and hotter. “Puro training kasi kailangan namin maging ready physically. ‘Di ko pwede sabihin kung anong tine-train namin, pero bago s’ya sa’kin, so kailangan kong aralin and nakaka-excite kasi habang nag-te-train ka, sinasabi na talaga nila kung para saan ‘yun,” she explained on how she has been preparing for an upcoming TV series with Daniel, “La Luna Sangre.” She, however, admitted in an interview withPhilstar.com that she has been dieting and taking dancing lessons. “nagwo-workout ako para makain ko lahat ng gusto ko!” she quickly dismissed. In a press conference for Star
#TeamKathniel: Kath and Daniel celebrating the actress’ recent birthday in Palawan. Screenshot from Kathryn Bernardo’s Instagram
Magic Ball’s 25th anniversary, Daniel was asked about the real score between him and Kathryn, to which he said: “Alam n’yo na ‘yun!” What does Kathryn feel about this? “Eh ‘di alam n’yo na ‘yun! Paano ba dapat mag-react? Eh ‘di tanungin n’yo na lang ulit s’ya!” the actress told reporters. If Daniel wishes to team up with Sarah, Kathryn said she also
has her own wish list for next leading men, including John Lloyd Cruz, Piolo Pascual and Jericho Rosales. “I’m very open kung sino ‘yung ipe-pair basta ‘yung maga-guide ako at marami akong matututunan sa tao na ‘yun,” Kathryn said. Her wish to spend her 21st birthday in a beach with Daniel came true. Last March 26, Kathryn posted her sweet photos with Daniel in Palawan.
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A Pinay gathering: Celebrating Women’s... PAGE B1 Davino was a columnist for the Philippine Times and taught at the International School of Manila. She received her doctorate from the University of Santo Tomas (UST). When she came to the United States, she attended the California State University of Northridge to continue her passion for teaching, and retired from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). During her free time, she writes music, plays the piano and spends time with her grandchildren, teaching them music and painting. Roselyn Estepa Ibanez, the co-author of “Filipinos in Carson and the South Bay,” said her book highlights local heroes such as Helen Agcaoili Summers Brown (who founded the Filipino American Library in 1985) and Bobby Balcena of San Pedro (the first Filipino to play in Major League Baseball in 1956). Ibanez is also a public servant, working with the LA City Housing Council to focus on combating the issue of homelessness. A proud Carson resident, she explained to the audience that the city is politically active and calls for more Fil-Ams to be more engaged. “Our history needs to be told and our stories need to be written,” she stressed. “Magdalena,” a novel by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, reveals the journey of three generations of women during the PhilippineAmerican War, World War II, and Vietnam War. “Magdalena” was picked up by UST in a Tagalog edition as well. She is now the author and writer of 20 different books. Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, author of “Forty Years Writing in America,” has lived in the U.S. for 54 years. A graduate of the University of the Philippines, she also became the first female reporter for the Philippine Times. Here in the States, she was also a professor at the University of Southern California (USC) and the managing editor of the university’s scholarly journal, Sociology and Social Research. Leslie V. Ryan, author of “I am Flippish,” was inspired to write a children’s book when she overheard another mom tell her son that he wasn’t Irish. Because her son did not look traditionally Filipino, she wanted her son to understand why he is the way he is and where he “comes from.” Ryan noticed that there were only a few books written for chil-
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 30-ApRIL 5, 2017
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Life and leadership lessons from Charo Santos-Concio by Bong
R. osoRio Philstar.com
Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier reads excerpts of her book, “Filipinotown: Voices from Los Angeles.”
Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko shares her book, “Forty Years of Writing in America.” AJPress photos by Noel Ty
dren explaining multiculturalism. She proudly exclaimed, “We are all made up of the best parts of our parents.” She wants her son — and all children — to know that they can equally express gratitude in the varying cultures their parents come from. She says her book hopes to teach tolerance, love, kindness, and acceptance. Lastly, Lucy Urgello Miller, who was born and raised in Cebu, shared her book, “Glimpses of Old Cebu.” A postcard collector, her passion started when she saw a postcard of a carabao pulling a native sled, a technique she said her grandparents used to talk about. Although she heard the stories of how they lived, these postcards made those stories alive, giving her a “window to my grandparents’ world.” One day, she put up her postcards in Ayala Mall and now proudly owns the biggest postcard collection from Cebu in the world. After each author spoke, a group discussion emerged with the audience. With an intimate setting, guests were able to network amongst themselves. “It’s great to see these women
come together to speak of their passions and remind us of the strong Pinays we have. I am thinking about doing my own writing and this has helped me a lot,” said Shalimar Verador, one of the guests. Dr. Ronald Buenaventura, one of the few male audience members, shared his story of how he encourages young women to partake in their culture. He said that during his time off he trains young women to do Garimot Arnis Training, a type of Filipino martial arts. He does this to “give the kids a sense of family outside their normal school groups, so they understand what it’s truly like to themselves with other Filipinos.” While the Pinay gathering celebrated these successful women writers, it also called for young Fil-Ams to keep the fire burning in their hearts and represent who they are in a bright and honest way. The authors and audience members developed a close bond stressing the value of living a humble and honorable way of life through giving back to the community – to the people who brought us to where we are now.
“MAALAALA Mo Kaya (Remember When?),” or “MMK,” for short the longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television hosted by Charo Santos-Concio — daughter, sister, wife, mother, artist, author, beauty queen, boss, and leader. She’s the former president and CEO of ABS-CBN Corporation and is now chief content officer of the network and a product endorser on the side. “MMK” mirrors real life, which is not all happy and joyful. There is a dark side to it that the program has to pragmatically show. At the end of it, what is passed on to its audience is how one can triumph over adversaries and wickedness. “In My Journey: The Story of an Unexpected Leader,” a comprehensive account of Charo’s personal and professional life, “MMK” is used as a device to summarize lessons—both cheery and dark—that the reader needs to remember in each chapter of the 10-chapter book. As I read it, these fascinating stories flashed back to tales Charo shared with me as ABS-CBN’s chief communications officer during informal conversations or media interviews. All these are given more interesting details in the tome. • Keep in touch with your roots. Charo is a movie fan and will always remain one. During her teenage years, her dream was just to enter the premises of ABS-CBN. During summer school break, she would come to Manila from her hometown in Mindoro and line up at the gate on Sgt. Esguerra. As a senior mass communications student at St. Paul College, she did her practicum in the same compound she wanted so much to enter. During martial law, she worked there as a production assistant in the long-running sitcom “John En Marsha.” That was when she met comedy king Dolphy and became part of many other TV shows. • Learn from great mentors. Geny “Kapitan” Lopez tops Charo’s list of excellent mentors and personal influencers. He taught her a lot about people skills. She considers film director Mike de Leon her first teacher in production. When she was starting in the movies, he often invited her
Charo Santos-Concio
to watch post-production work to learn the basics of editing. Lily Monteverde, better known as “Mother Lily,” tutored her on the business aspect of movie production. Everything she knows about television she absorbed from Freddie Garcia, Gabby Lopez, Jake Almeda-Lopez and Rolly Cruz. But of course, her greatest mentor is her spouse, Cesar Concio, who to this day remains her pillar of strength. • Pursue your dreams. Cesar witnessed all her hard work and perseverance. Thus, the doting husband feels that all her achievements are well-deserved rewards. His support has been unconditional. He often tells Charo, “Before you are a wife or mother, Charo, you are a person. You should pursue your dreams.” • Exercise diligence and hard work. This lady boss is a very hard worker. Working 16-hour days is not unusual. She has always been like that, particularly when there’s urgent business to get done. She also reports early when warranted. She’s hands-on in production, work, and she can go for three days with very little sleep. • Deal sensitively with people. As a woman, Charo has certain built-in strengths. She doesn’t work with set formulas, and instinctively realizes she’s dealing with human beings. Talents, for instance, go through different phases of maturity at different times. As such, she has to be sensitive to each one’s growing-up
phases, struggles, frustrations, dreams, pains, insecurities. • Acquiring knowledge never stops. In 2007, she went to Harvard for the Advance Management Program in preparation for her appointment as president. The two-month course gave her a bird’s-eye view of management tools that an executive needs to manage a big organization: leadership, marketing, information, and negotiations. Her background is content production but she knows her projects well, and the revenues, profits and losses they bring. • Respect your audience. Charo lives and breathes the Kapamilya network’s mission: “In the service of the Filipino worldwide.” When she talks to producers, directors, writers and talents, she often tells them, “If, for one moment, you made the desperate and the hopeless find meaning in life despite their difficulties, you have served your audience well. If you are able to make a person look inside herself through the story of a mother who rises above all obstacles for the love of her children, then you have touched their lives, and that’s service, too.” • There’s no room for mediocrity. Excellence is Charo’s currency of success. She’s a disciplinarian. She exacts excellence and she gives out tough love. She delivers her piece in a calm way, but says it with impact and conviction. And she finds out later PAGE B7
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Lea and Rachelle Ann still reaping the fruits of ‘Miss Saigon’ by BaBy
a. Gil
no matter what race a role might traditionally call It was a for. Of course, wonderful surCameron was prise. I mean also most opening the helpful in this Sunday magaregard casting zine of the New most of the York Times Kim’s either and finding an as Fantine or article about Eponine in “Miss Saigon” “Les Miserawith quotes and blés” which reminiscences is set in Paris from the Filiwith French pino cast memcharacters. bers among the doors those promiof Broadway nently featured. are now open the revival for Jon Jon, of the musical created by Lea Salonga (left) and Rachelle Ann Go are two of the Filipino talents who have graced the Eva and Kevin. Rachelle Ann Claude-Michel Cameron Mackintosh musical. in true “Miss Schönberg and Alain Boublil, opened at the Broadway theater Saigon” fashion had already finished her run as Fantine in “Les Miz.” She is set to hang up her last March 23 to excellent reviews. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, “Miss Sai- bar girl togs as Gigi later this year to move into gon” was the first musical to feature a lot of Asian bonnets and petticoats and hip-hop sounds while actors. While a few were cast in musicals like romancing an American founding father. She is “the King and I,” “Pacific Overtures” and “Flower playing Eliza Schuyler in the West End production Drum Song” in the past, the usual practice then of the blockbuster hip-hop musical “Hamilton.” was to have Caucasians made up as Asians to play Nobody is wondering anymore why an Asian is playing the part. the major roles. As for Lea, who helped pave the way, she But then “Miss Saigon” came along and the casting of British actor Jonathan Pryce as the is back home singing in concerts and coaching Vietnamese pimp called the Engineer drew a lot contestants in “the Voice.” Occasionally, that is of flak from Asians in the U.S. Jonathan gave an when a good role comes along, she takes to the excellent performance and even won tony and Ol- stage again. Last week saw her in the final shows ivier awards but from that time on, an Asian actor, of the tony-winning musical Fun Home, which Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese or Filipino, etc. has turned out to be an extraordinary experience for everybody. always played the part. Originally a graphic novel, Fun Home was I do not think that it was a decision that caused sleepless nights for Cameron. By that time, he had written by Alison Bechdel. It is about a girl’s recalready been to the Philippines and discovered the ollections of life with her parents, particularly that only 18-year-old marvel that was Lea Salonga. He of her father, who was a high school teacher and knew there would be a lot of Engineers and Kims funeral parlor owner who liked the company of to-go in Manila. In fact, given what was termed young men. It raised a question about our parents “an embarrassment of talents” in this country, that we may have thought about but dismissed Miss Saigon and other musicals can be performed as unnecessary. they are the two people we are anywhere with an all or at the very least almost supposed to be closest to but it turns out also the ones we do not know at all. all-Filipino cast. A daring choice by director Bobby Garcia, this was what happened in London with the “Miss Saigon” revival in 2014 with Jon Jon Brio- who by the way, was also part of the original nes, who was in the chorus of the original produc- “Miss Saigon,” “Fun Home” was presented with tion in 1991, as the Engineer; 18-year-old Filipina well-paced precision in an intermission less one from New York Eva Noblezada as Kim; and local hundred minutes. It was studded with superb persinging champion Rachelle Ann Go as Gigi. they formances from a cast that left audiences stunned have all been cast in the Broadway revival. In and gasping. How does one cope with such stark fact, the producers have even upped the Filipino honesty? Lea played the mother Helen, a pitiful figure quotient in the show by casting another Filipino, of pent-up resentment. It is another crowning Kevin Ilaw as thuy. Cameron’s discovery of Lea was the start but achievement, one that confirms what a remarkI think the even bigger discovery was that Lea able talent she has matured into. there will be could not only sing, she was also pretty and a more roles to come and we will feel proud every good actress. She delivered the goods. And that is time of her and all the other talents she helped what Pinoys who followed in her wake, have been bring into the fold. And we will always remember, doing since then, proving themselves true actors, it all started with “Miss Saigon.” Philstar.com
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The all-female pop and R&B group is composed of Dinah Jane, Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei and Lauren Jauregui.
Fifth Harmony to Filipino fans: Expect a lot of fun! by Edmund
SilvEStrE Philstar.com
WItH its multitude of Filipino fans all pumped up to finally see in the flesh the world’s hottest allfemale pop and R&B group Fifth Harmony in its upcoming April 5 concert at the Mall of Asia Arena, the fab American quartet is equally ecstatic to “meet and connect on a personal level” with its Pinoy followers. “You guys in the Philippines are so amazing when it comes to music, you are so talented,” declared member Dinah Jane Hansen, who talked to the StAR in a phone interview for the group’s ongoing 7/27 tour currently hitting Asia, with special guest Filharmonic, an all-male Fil-Am crooners from Los Angeles. “I know that your food is great, that’s also No. 1,” continued the 19-year-old Dinah, a native of Santa Ana, California, “We’re going to eat a lot on our first night there. I know that people there are so loving and so down to earth so I just can’t wait to see and meet the people there and experience it for myself. It’s gonna be great and I will tell them ‘mahal kita.’” the globally successful 7/27 tour kicked off in the summer of 2016 giving fans across the world a chance to experience the exceptional live performance of the group’s multiplatinum summer anthem Work from Home, along with the platinum single All in My Head (Flex) and that’s My Girl, among others.
Dinah said the pop powerhouse group — also composed of Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei and Lauren Jauregui — is committed to give the Filipino Harmonizers an intense music experience they will never forget. “You can expect a lot of fun,” assured Dinah. “Feel free to sing with us, scream, jump, dance... do whatever you want to live in the moment. It’s gonna be a lot of fun. We just can’t wait to come there.” Despite last year’s departure of member Camila Cabello, Fifth Harmony continues to slay the hit charts as it reaps one music award after another. Early this year, the four girls bagged the People’s Choice Favorite Group award, which they have won two years in a row and got stellar reviews for their performance at the awards night. Writes Sasha Geffen of MtV News: “For its first-ever performance without Camila Cabello, Fifth Harmony took on Work From Home without missing a beat. Even though Camila used to sing the song’s first line, the remaining four members of the group came up with a creative workaround at People’s Choice Awards. they all harmonized on the lyric — and then paused for dramatic effect, as you do when you’re bouncing back from the sudden departure of a member. turns out these four can harmonize just fine on their own.” Asked about the group’s enor-
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mous success and staying power since winning the second season of the X-Factor USA in 2012, Dinah said the girls never rest on their laurels. “We hardly rest because we’ve been working a lot on our albums and concerts,” she said. “We’ve been fully involved in making our music and to be personally involved is what we really asked for. “We are so grateful we are given the chance and the freedom to do what we want, what we want to create, what’s on our mind, and that’s honestly what we asked for in the beginning of our career,” Dinah added. Fifth Harmony has sold millions of albums worldwide plus over seven million digital songs and earned close to two billion ondemand streams in the US alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan. the group boasts over eight million followers on Instagram, nearly four million on twitter and close to eight million fans on Facebook. Corina Rose Mance, an engineering student at the technological University of the Philippines, said she has saved enough money, along with some friends, to catch the concert as a reward for her hard work in school. “I know all their songs since their debut single Miss Movin’ On,” Corina told the StAR. “I love them because they are not only talented and beautiful, they’re also feisty and empowered. And their music is superb.”
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Features
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 30-ApRIL 5, 2017
The importance of an immigration attorney Calendar of Events across
Your Immigration Solution
Atty. Devin Connolly & nAnCy Miller There are countless numbers of people who dream about lawfully living and working in the United States. Making this dream a reality is a possibility for many of them, but only if they are able to successfully navigate the United States’ confusing and complex immigration laws. Given the incredible importance placed on being granted permanent resident status (green card) or U.S. citizenship, it is surprising how many people attempt to achieve their immigration goals without the assistance of an experienced attorney that specializes in immigration law. It is true that some do succeed, but many others fail. And this failure may lead to their ultimate nightmare – being deported. A person that is presently living in the United States must file their request for immigration benefits with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). however, do not think that the process merely requires the completion of a simple form. First, the forms are not always easy to understand. Many of the forms contain complicated questions that require a person to understand terms and language which have a precise meaning unique to immigration law. This meaning may differ from what many people expect it to be. Thus, a person may deprive themselves of lawfully residing in the United States simply because they did not understand the question they were being asked. More important than the forms though
Health@Heart PhiliP S. ChuA, MD, FACS, FPCS eArLIer this March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that “nine deaths and hundreds of cases of a rare cancer have been linked with breast implants.” The malignancy here is not breast cancer but an immune system cancer known as anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). The cancer nurtures itself in the breast, notably in the scar tissue around the foreign body implant. Fortunately, in most cases this is treatable. The implant-cancer link was noted in 2011. As of February 2017, the FDA has recorded 359 cases of ALCL linked to breast implants. The New York Times reported that “the disease is most likely to occur with textured implants that have a pebbly surface rather than a smooth surface…and of the 359 reported cases, there was information about the implant surface in 231. Of those, 203 patients had textured implants and 28 had smooth implants….Whether the implants contained silicone gel or saline appeared much less important than surface texture in disease risk.” The number of this ALCL cases worldwide is not known.
is that an applicant should carefully review their eligibility for the requested benefit before submitting any application to the USCIS. This assessment requires a review of many things, including dates of entries and exits from the U.S., type of visa (if any) held at entry to the U.S., the immigration status and history of the applicant and their family members, etc. The failure to make this assessment before submitting the application may lead to something much worse than a denial – it may lead to being deported, perhaps within a matter of hours. After eligibility is established, the applicant must submit a welldocumented request for an immigration benefit. The submission of sufficient documentary evidence, ranging from a birth or marriage certificate to complex medical records, is vital since it is the applicant who has the burden of proving that they are eligible for the requested benefit. Since it is the applicant who must prove admissibility, they should do everything they can to maximize their chances of being granted the requested benefit by submitting evidence that is thorough and persuasive. It is clear that an assessment of eligibility is important, as are properly completed forms and sufficient supporting documents, but perhaps the most important reason to retain an experienced immigration attorney is to be adequately represented at your personal interview before a USCIS officer. A decision on the application will frequently be made based off statements made by the applicant during their interview. These interviews can be stressful, nerve-wracking experiences, but the aspiring immigrant needs to do everything possible to ensure their personal interview is successful. That is not always easy though. It may be the applicant’s first time attending a personal
interview for an immigration benefit with the USCIS, and they are likely to be questioned by an experienced USCIS officer who has conducted many of these types of interviews. In addition, the USCIS officer may aggressively question the applicant, they may pressure them to answer questions to which they do not know the answers, and they may also allow the applicant to make statements that are harmful to their case. Saying the wrong thing during an interview can make it significantly more difficult to ever lawfully reside in the U.S. And while the applicant may later realize they misspoke or that they did not actually understand the questions they were being asked, it may too late to fix the problems created. The application may already be denied and the Department of homeland Security may have already begun the process of deporting them to their native country. As you can see, the personal interview is extremely important. In conclusion, it is always advisable for immigrants to retain the services of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who is dedicated solely to the practice of immigration law. hiring the right attorney may be the difference between obtaining a green card and being deported. It is therefore one of the most significant decisions that a person will make in their lifetime. ***
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were about 290,000 women in the United States in 2016 who had implants for breast enlargement and 109,000 received implants for reconstruction after breast cancer surgery. Any pain, lumps, fluid accumulation or swelling of the breast after an implant, no matter when surgery was done need to be evaluated by the surgeon. To prevent blindness A retrospective study published in the JAMA Ophthalmology found that many children and adolescents with diabetes are not being screened in a timely fashion for diabetic retinopathy, a common cause of blindness among diabetics. Diabetic retinopathy is a dangerous complication of diabetes, which causes blood vessels in the eyes to leak, causing distortion of vision and can eventually lead to blindness. In early stages, this disease of the retina may not have symptoms. The American Academy of Ophthalmology strongly recommends retinopathy screening be performed five years after a diagnosis of type 1 (Juvenile) diabetes is confirmed to reduce the risk of blindness. For those with type 2 diabetes, common among adults, screening is done at the time diagnosis is made, not later. Diabetics and parents/guardians of diabetic children are ad-
vised to confer with their attending physician about this retinal screening. Dangers of body art Body Art is a popular fad especially among adolescents and young adults, which includes tattooing or body part piercing. The tattoos are usually on the chest, arms, belly, butts, ankles, or on just about any area of the body. They come in different shapes, design, color and various objects, like a girl, snake, flag, heart, words of protest or love messages. It is estimated that 10 percent to 25 percent of young adults (25 and under) have at least one tattoo. A survey in one university involving 454 students (236 females and 218 males), which was 14 percent of the total enrollment, revealed that 23 percent (106) of them had one to three tattoos. This could well mirror the prevalence in other schools and universities in the country, perhaps higher in big cities, compared to the conservative communities. The most popular sites were the back among women and the arms and hands among men. One hundred twenty-nine (51 percent) of those surveyed had a least one body piercing, 90 percent of men having had ears pierced, and 54 percent of the females had pierced navel, 49 percent on the ears and 27 percent on the tongue. Some of both the males and females PAGE B6
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)
Breast implants and cancer
How to build a house of bricks Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette ADevA MAglAyA (3rd of 3 parts)
This is the third and final installment of the 15 Tips on How to Build A House of Bricks Series. 11. Pray without ceasing to the God of your being. realize that when you do, you will never be alone. The single, most important foundation of any life begins with the realization that by yourself alone, without help, you can do nothing of real meaning and lasting value. No obstacle is too big, no situation too difficult, or setback too overwhelming that cannot be helped by constant, heartfelt prayer and a foundation of faith so strong, it can move mountains. In the physical world, gravity holds everything together. In the spiritual world, where transitional human life is ultimately headed, prayer is the most powerful force there is. 12. Bring it all together. Once your circumstances become stable and you are able to choose the type of work you love to do and more importantly, that which makes you happy — GO FOr IT. The shift will be uncomfortable and unnerving at first. Seek the path that makes use of the
abilities and the talents that you were born with. Listen to what your whole being says you were meant to do and enter that rare, enviable state of being that finally feels like coming home. 13. rein in the spirit of the crab. Put a number of live crabs in a basket and witness how crabs behave. Any crab successful enough to rise above the heads of the other crabs to escape the confines of the basket will be pulled down by the pincer claws of the other crabs underfoot. The crab mentality is nothing more than envy in disguise— alive and well in human nature. Lest you think the Severe Acute Crab Syndrome (SACS) — a name I coined for this social phenomenon — is endemic or unique only to a specific community, take heart, for we’re not alone. Other immigrant communities report the same thing. To counteract this, try and be happy for others (even if it kills you). 14. Strive to learn any way you can. Learning is a lifelong process of adaptation. To copy Yoda’s transposed way of making a point, “Adapt, you must. Or die early, you will.” The dodo bird of the Galapagos never learned to adapt, never learned to defend itself against predators and became extinct. It’s been said that the human mind is like a cup with a hole at the bottom. You just have to keep trying to fill that bottomless cup. But be warned: intelligence alone is sorely inadequate.
The whole person’s mind and heart must evolve. Of the two, the heart should lead. A good heart has a wisdom all its own. Blaise Pascal, a noted French philosopher noted: “The heart has its reasons that reason does not know.” Draw from the strength of one’s native culture and weave it into the new one. The hybrid is often better suited to the new environment. Yet, we must never lose sight of the fact that in the end, all learning means nothing if we never learn how to love. 15. See the big picture. Between birth and death is life. how you live your life is up to you. Many of the wisest men who have pondered the meaning and the purpose of life over thousands of years, have defined life according to their own perceptions and circumstances. In the end, if you are in full control of all your faculties as an average human being, you and you alone define your own life with the set of gifts, talents and the circumstances that life gives you. remember what someone wise wrote so succinctly long ago about the essence of any worthwhile life and that is — TO LIVe WeLL, LAUGh OFTeN AND LOVe MUCh. May the house of bricks you build allow you to do all that. *** 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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Fashion Arts Autism Benefits The Philippine COnsulate General New York and the Autism Heart foundation present Fashion Arts Autism Benefits Foundation Fashion For Hope at 7pm on Friday, april 7 at the Kalayaan Hall, Philippine Center (located at 556 Fifth Avenue, New york City, NY 10036). Fashion For Hope marks the first anniversary of a joint collaboration that promotes an innovative art therapy program and fashion project that make a difference in the live of children and youth with autism spectrum disorders. The FAAB Project empowers these individuals to courageously overcome such challenges by promoting healthy self-expression, building essential life skills and providing inclusive opportunities in the creative arts. The entire FAAB Project also includes an educational art therapy program and a series of fashion shows and workshops where students produce original works of arts on canvases made of piña (pineapple) cloth. This event features the incredible artworks created by FAAB Projhect artists rendered into unique fashion designs by famous Filipino designers Anthony Cruz Legarda and Patis Tesoro. For more information, please visit www.eventbrite.com.
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) 2033639; 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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CAUSE’s annual gala in Los Angeles Join Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) for its annual gala on Thursday, April 20. It will be held at LA Hotel’s California Ballroom at 333 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a VIP reception. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact kim@causeusa.org or visit www.causeusa.org.
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Fundraising event to benefit the first-ever Filipino American Heritage and Arts Museum in Las Vegas The Filipino American Heritage and Arts Museum (FAHAM) will host “Heritage Celebration - Filipinos Landing in California,” a fundraising event on Friday, April 21, starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Dallas Ballroom of Texas Station Hotel and Casino. Festivities include a buffet dinner, arts exhibits, vendor booths, cultural entertainment a native fashion show, a Philippine history presentation, and dance performances. The cultural entertainment will be provided by the FAHAM Cultural Dance Group, Heart of Polynesia, Gina Kim Korean Dance Group, Filipiniana Dance Company of Las Vegas, Sophia Ramos, Sharon Tanyag, and DJ Mike. Emcees will be Amie and Leo Belmonte. The donation is $50 / person. Attire is formal. FAHAM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is currently America’s first Filipino American Museum, Archives, Legacy, Culture, Innovation Research Center, and Library Garden founded in Delaware by Mrs. Ditta Camomot, M.Ed., M.A. Its holdings are artifacts, ethological materials, and ecclesiastical, historical, arts and ephemera collections, as well as environmental projects. Texas Station is located at 2101 Texas Star Ln, North Las Vegas, NV 89032. For tickets and more information, please contact Salve Edelman at (702) 418-8968.
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12th annual Sikad ng Bayan bike ride in Anaheim Hills, CA The Sikad ng Bayan (Cycling for the Nation) is an annual bike ride that raises funds to build preschools for less fortunate communities at Gawad Kalinga (GK) villages in the Philippines. It is a non-competitive ride that will be held on Saturday, April 29, where cyclists traverse the Orange and Los Angeles counties. And in true Filipino fashion, this fun ride culminates in a Pinoy-style luncheon where cyclists can get together and know more about Sikad. It will be held at the Yorba Regional Park (7600 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807). For more information or to register please visit www.sikad.org or call Rey D. at (562) 964-1445 or Robbie V. at (949) 351-8344.
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Filipino Cultural School to host “Sari-Sari Talent Show 2017” in Cerritos, CA Filipino Cultural School (FCS) will host its 2nd annual Sari Sari: Talent Show Fundraiser on Sunday, April 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Josephine’s Cerritos (11305 183rd St, Cerritos, CA 90703). Filipino Cultural School, based in Cerritos, CA and other neighboring cities, is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization geared to the preservation and promotion of the Philippine heritage and culture. FCS has and continues to be open to all. Filipinos and non-Filipinos who are interested in Philippine culture are invited to attend. “Sari-Sari” is a Tagalog word for “variety,” and in this talent show, FCS aims to celebrate the diverse talents of our community members in forms of singing, dancing, spoken words, etc., along with some great Filipino food from the restaurant. Pre-sale tickets are $10 for ages 13 years old and above, and $5 for ages 12 years old and under. Door prices will be $15 for ages 13 years old and above, and still $5 for ages 12 years old and under (ticket prices do not include food). The raised funds for the event will go towards helping cover for the cost of venue, insurance, and materials for the FCS Summer Program. For information on how to purchase a ticket and also sign-up to perform in the show, please visit the website http://filipinoculturalschool.org. For any inquiries, feel free to contact FCS at filipinoculturalschool@ gmail.com.
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Annabelle Rama back to managing talents A chat with The Beautiful Life’s 2017 Award of Distinction Awardee: Mrs. Corazon Rosete by Ricky Lo Philstar.com
UNTIL a few years ago when she quit the stressful job, Annabelle Rama was managing more than two dozen stars that included established ones and wannabes (some of them didn’t make it). “Ang babait nila kapag mga bago,” said Annabelle without mincing words. “Kapag sumisikat na, lumalabas na ang mga sungay. Mga walang utang na loob.” So she decided to focus on managing her children (Ruffa, Richard, Raymond and the rest) especially when the family signed up with E! Channel for the reality-TV show It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez (ITGTBAG) which is now on its (if memory serves) fifth season, on extended run due to televiewers’ demand. Aired around Asia, the show catches the Gutierrezes at their unguarded moments such as when Annabelle and Ruffa were having a fight over Ruffa’s foreigner boyfriend (of whom Annabelle disapproves). “But Ruffa and I are ‘peace’ at the moment,” Annabelle clarified during a recent presscon in which she introduced new Viva Artists Agency (VAA) talent Kara Mitzi whom she’s managing. “She’s the reason why I decided to resume managing talents. May potential siya, eh.” If Kara looks familiar, it’s because she’s the 2017 calendar girl of a top liquor brand.
By Monet
What brings Annabelle Rama back to managing talents is newcomer Kara Mitzi, Calendar Girl of a top liquor brand, in whom Annabelle sees ‘great potential.
Like Annabelle, Kara is brutally frank. Asked how she compared with Ellen Adarna, Kara told the movie writers, “I am more sexy. Besides, every part of me is original.” “Besides,” added Annabelle, “Kara can sing, dance and act.” on April 8 at the Music Museum, Kara will headline the 56K concert with Michael Pangilinan, with the special participation of Vice Ganda. From Annabelle, we learned that Kara was born in the Philippines but raised in Sydney, Australia. Her mom is FilipinoJapanese, while her dad is part Filipino, Spanish and Greek, hence her very foreign-sounding last name. She got more than her family name from her dad. “I was born into a family of musicians on my
dad’s side,” Kara said. “I started singing and dancing when I was around three years old.” Kara had her first taste of showbiz in 2010 when she did some TV commercials, print ads and TV guestings. But she quit after one year to finish her studies and help in the family business. Since she belongs to the same agency, Kara will surely realize her dream of working with VAA artists like Sarah Geronimo, James Reid and Nadine Lustre. Incidentally, the day after the presscon, Annabelle flew to Switzerland to join husband Eddie Gutierrez and the rest of the family for the shoot of ITGTBAG’s new season. Son Richard and girlfriend Sarah Lahbati (who was raised in Switzerland), with their son Zion, went ahead of the family.
Megan Young to penetrate Hollywood... PAGE B1 “With Megan’s talent and this company’s stewardship, we are optimistic that she will soon penetrate Hollywood, the rest of the United States, and maybe Europe as well,” he said. In his post on Instagram during the contract signing, Vegafria congratulated Young for signing up with Innovative Artists Agency, “launching her bid for international stardom as she secures her rightful place as the Philippines’ pride in the annals of Hollywood and the bustling American showbiz industry.” He said further, “With her partnership with the New Yorkbased agency, she will be assured of her career growth, training, guidance as well as promising opportunities and challenging projects to flaunt her acting prowess on television and the
silver screen.” He ended by wishing the most popular Miss World, “May you continue to remain grounded and humble as you move close towards clinching your Hollywood dream!” Innovative Artists was established in 1982. It has offices in New York and Los Angeles and since expanded into the areas of voice over, commercials, beauty, comedy and hosting, and speakers—always affirming the company’s initial vision of aggressive service from highly experienced agents in an intimate setting. Among its current talents are Amanda Seyfried and Ashley Greene. Young started in showbiz as part of GMA Network’s talent reality search, “StarStruck” Season 2 as Top 6 in 2004. She transferred to ABS-CBN in 2007,
following her sister Lauren. She joined Miss World Philippines in 2013 and became the most awarded candidate, winning the title and honor to represent the country in the largest beauty pageant in the world in Bali, Indonesia. She became the first Filipina to win the blue crown since the pageant started in 1951. She hosted Miss World in 2014 before bequeathing her crown to Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss. She has also been co-hosting Miss World and Mr. World for three years. Not too long ago, Young confirmed fellow Kapuso talent Mikael Daez’s revelation that they have been a couple since 2010, an open secret, she said, but felt relieved that people understood and have accepted their status. (ManilaTimes.net)
Lu
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” - Confucius NoT many of us can say we have found what Confucius would have described as “a perfect job.” Most people hold their jobs because they need to make ends meet; but can they honestly say that they love doing what they’re doing? Not very often and it’s because it is not their calling. Today, we will be talking about a woman who may be the most dedicated person I have ever known. She’s served in the nursing department for 47 years. Now retired, this amazing person tells us what it’s like to ‘choose a job you love and never have to work a day…’ Meet Mrs. Corazon Rosete: The Beautiful Life Celebration 2017 Awardee of Distinction in the field of Nursing Services. Question: So, 46 years. What was it like to love a job for 46 years? Cora: First, let me start with the facts: I am a registered nurse and I just retired, after 46 years of service at Kaiser Permanente. I started as a head nurse at a community hospital in Hollywood. That was my first job when I arrived in the U.S. in 1968. After that, I transferred to Kaiser in 1970, where they trained me to be to be a critical nurse for three months: one month for intensive care (ICU), another for critical care (CCU) then one month in open heart unit. They asked me to choose my specialty and I wanted to choose the open heart unit at the time but due to the shortage of successful open heart cases, they couldn’t train for that specialty. Instead, they transferred me to the coronary or intensive care unit, which is a combination of critical care patient, respiratory, medical and surgical. That was my life for over four decades and I loved every single day of it. My only prayer every day was that I wouldn’t make a mistake that would kill a patient. It was not an easy job, I admit. In my first few months of working, I did not own a car so I took the bus to work and my sister would pick me up at midnight. I loved being a nurse because I learned a lot, the salary was stable that it allowed me to support my
family back in the Philippines, and I felt like a doctor! ICU nurses are trained to do their best when there’s a “code blue” in the event that the doctor is not around, it is our job to try and save the patient in the best way possible, the best way we can. Q: What would you say most motivates you to do what you do? Cora: Initially, my goal was to provide for my family and to help support my sisters too. We were not rich and my father would always remind me to love my job-whatever it may be. Secondly, I feel fulfilled in caring for emergency or ICU-patients. As a matter of fact, I helped save quite a few patients who suffered from heart attack. Being somehow responsible for the life of my patients kept me motivated, from caring for a newborn to a senior patient. I am overjoyed whenever I check a patient out of the critical care unit. The best part of my day is when my patients actually say, “I remember you, you took care of me when I was in ICU.” Q. Who do you consider your greatest influence? Cora: My Dad. He is a very religious man and what he may have lacked in his ability to earn for us (when he quit his job), he makes up for being so domesticated. He would do laundry, clean the house; he would pick up my dirty uniform at the dorm every Saturday, wash and iron it, then he would bring it back to me on Sunday so I have something clean to wear the next day. He would always tell me to think positive. Q: What was your childhood like?
Cora: I grew up in the Philippines and like I said, we were very poor. There were 22 of us in the house because my father took in my cousins from the province so they could go to school in Manila. We would only get to eat spam and corned beef when it was a special occasion. And that was shared among all 22 of us. In ordinary days, we’d eat galunggong. It’s one galunggong per person. And it’s cooked in many different ways – sautéed, fried, stewed, name it! When my Dad got ill, he had to quit his job. Since my mom didn’t work also, it was my sister who worked and supported us. I have six siblings. When my other sibling finished school, she supported the next one, then the next one supported the next sibling and the pattern continued until all of us graduated to get good jobs. Q: For you, what is “A Beautiful Life?” Cora: A Beautiful Life is having a job that gives you the capability to give back. Also, a beautiful life is being blessed with a wonderful husband. God gave me a husband who loved me dearly. *** 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
Luis Manzano and his healthy lifestyle by iza igLesias ManilaTimes.net
ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com. And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice. The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.
Luis Manzano
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CoMING from showbiz royalty, Luis Manzano—son of Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos and actor Edu Manzano—has managed to successfully carve a name for himself in the entertainment industry, both on the big and small screen. As a versatile actor, he has appeared in a string of box-office hits straddling both comedy and drama such as “In My Life,” “Petrang Kabayo,” “Moron 5” And “The Crying Lady,” and “This Guy’s In Love With U Mare!” In the television realm where he’s a highly talented host of toprating TV game shows, his wit,
sense of humor, and instant rapport with contestants and the audience cannot be denied, earning him awards and legions of loyal fans and followers from shows such as “The Voice,” “Pilipinas Got Talent,” “Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal,” “Minute To Win It,” and “Family Feud.” Noticeably, with his chiseled abs and over-all robust physique, Manzano is a fitness buff. With these fun and wholesome attributes and more, Manzano is truly a perfect fit as he got tapped to be the latest endorser of Century Corned Tuna. During the press launch, Manzano said that despite his busy PAGE B7
Breast implants and cancer
had pierced nipples, eyebrows and genitalia. Complications of body art include infection of the tattooed or pierced skin, transmission of hepatitis B and C, and HIV (AIDS). Allergic reactions, besides pain, swelling and bleeding, are potential complications of tattooing or body piercing. Keloid and scar formation is another. Infection is common because the needle and instruments used for tattooing or body piercing are mostly not medically sterile. A significant number of patients with hepatitis subsequently develop hepatoma, cancer of the liver, which is deadly. Botox Clostridium botulinum is a bacteria, whose toxin produces muscle paralysis among the victims of botulism food poisoning. Advances in medical technology have made it possible for physicians, usually plastic surgeons, to use the botulinum toxin (botox) as a shot in the face to induce transient and localized paralysis in the facial muscles to smoothen out wrinkles between the eyebrows, for frown lines and furrowed brows. The cosmetic effect has been impressive, but this is temporary. Besides this, botox shot has also been found to stave off migraine headaches among individuals who are resistant to conventional therapy. There are much more uses of this “good”
toxin in clinical medicine today. Colonoscopy saves lives Colonoscopy is a procedure where a flexible endoscope (malleable tube like a telescope), equipped with fiberoptic lighting and (video CCD) camera, is passed through the anus, to view and examine the inner walls of the colon (large bowels) and distal part of the small bowels for any abnormality, like bleeding, ulcers, or the presence of benign poly(s), or cancer. Thru the colonoscope, excision of polyps, or biopsies may also be performed for a definitive microscopic tissue diagnosis. A sigmoidoscope is another scope that examines the final two feet of the colon, while the colonoscope examines the rest of the entire colon which is about four to five feet long. Many times it is done in conjunction with colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer is the thirdmost common cancer in humans, topped only by cancer of the lungs and female breasts. More than 150,000 people in the United States each year discover they have cancer of the colon or rectum, and approximately 46,000 will die from it this year alone. The incidence starts to rise at the age 40 and the peak is between ages 60 to 75. Colon cancer is more common in women and cancer of the rectum among men. About 5 percent of the patients have both (synchronous cancer). It appears that meat eaters have a higher risk for the development
of colorectal cancer. This malignancy is found more prevalent in populations whose diet is low in fiber and high in animal proteins, fats, and refined carbohydrates. The incidence of colorectal cancer is indeed high among those who eat red meat (pork, beef, etc) compared to those who eat high fiber diets (vegetables, fruits, wheat, bran, etc) and fish. The other predisposing factors include chronic ulcerative colitis, granulomatous colitis, and familial polyposis. The older the person is, the higher the risk. Smoking and alcohol abuse increase the risk for cancer in general. Everyone 50 years old and older should have an annual fecal occult blood test (FoBT), a rectal digital exam, and a prophylactic colonoscopy every three to five years. Those with a strong family history of cancer should have the examinations more frequently in accordance with the physician’s determination. *** 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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Kean Cipriano plans to finish college by Deni
Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com
LIKE the many graduates marching to collect their diplomas this time of the year, actor and rock star Kean Cipriano also hopes one day, to bring home a college diploma for his wife, actress Chynna Ortaleza and their daughter Stellar. Kean and Chynna both took college courses at the University of Santo Tomas. He also attended the Entrepreneurs School of Asia with a degree in business administration. In an interview with Philstar. com during the launch of eyewear brand Ray-Ban’s spring-summer collection, Kean narrated that he took up Commerce for a year, then a course in Conservatory of Music for another semester. He left school as his band Callalily got entangled with gigs. He has done over 10 movies, including “Praybeyt Benjamin,” said to be the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time, together with comedian Vice Ganda.
Kean Cipriano
This year, Kean anticipates the showing of his latest movie “Bar Boys” together with Carlo Aquino, Enzo Pineda and Rocco Nacino. “Bar Boys” he said, is about law students, their friendship and their struggles in getting through law school. Unfortunately, in the movie, Kean is the only one who is not in the law school because as the story goes, he is the one who flunked in the entrance exam. He admitted that in real life, he has also failed in a subject while
studying Commerce. How did he deal with it? “I just moved on and transferred to another course,” he said. Due to his tight showbiz schedule, he is not going back to school anytime soon. “But I’d love to. I wish I have the time.” If he were to return to school, he wishes to take up Advertising. He clarified that he is going back to college not just for his daughter. “It’s been a lifelong dream to have a diploma, to finish a course,” he noted. “Pero meron din akong dreams of directing my full-length film. Actually, meron na akong scripts,” announced the actor, who finished a film course in Mowelfund. His desire to become a director sparked when he played a director in his first movie “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank” with Eugene Domingo. He is aware that the youth look up to him as an example, so, besides chasing their dreams, he encourages them to finish their studies.
that people respond well to her style and they toe the line. You can get angry with her while she dispenses it, but you would surely learn from it. • Immerse yourself in all platforms. Charo is deeply rooted in entertainment, but immersed herself in the operations of other units even before she was appointed president of ABS-CBN. She keeps abreast of emerging technology, taps new blood in this area, and conducts skills and competence training for her people. She is leading not just Channel 2 but all platforms under ABS-CBN: publishing, interactive, cable, cinema, radio, global TV, records. With convergence and the world going digital, she goes with the flow. News operation is an area that she became familiar with by immersing herself in that aspect and getting to know it really well. • Find and share your story. Without exception, no matter who you are or where you come from, you have to find your own narrative and tell it to the world so you may discover your sense of purpose. Charo shares her stories and experiences, and these give her a full view of her strengths, what she does and why she does it.
• Face fear head-on. Charo never allows fear of failure to stand in the way of seeing opportunities. She takes her chance, believing that she will only know what possibilities are available if she tries. • Find your greatness. The best tool to find the leader in you is your heart. In Charo’s charmed life, wonderful opportunities and unexpected difficulties were thrown her way. Several times the path she thought was meant for her took a different turn, but each turn revealed a reason for being that propelled her forward. • See possibilities in difficulties. This is a very powerful leadership skill. It separates the visionaries from mere followers. Charo believes that it takes a high degree of self-mastery not to give in to your anxiety when everyone else around you offers only doubts. In difficult situations, Charo has learned to embrace that there is a solution just waiting for her to find it. This certainty has allowed her to find her way out of many impossible situations. • Exercise leadership in oneon-one situations. This is a challenge that inspires huge aspirations and tests your character as a leader. Charo manifests this hallmark of leadership by giving tough love, being present with a person
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How Derrick Monasterio stays athletic in showbiz
IN 2010, Derrick Monasterio found himself portraying Rick Montano in the now defunct GMA youth-oriented series, Tween Hearts. “I tagged along while my mom (actress Tina Monasterio) was doing a show, when my manager saw me and asked me to do a photo shoot so he could submit the photos to GMA. At that time, they were looking to cast one more guy for a show they were about to launch,” he recalled. Proving that he inherited his mother’s talent, charisma and persistence in working hard, he clinched the role. His ardent wish, though, was to become a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) star. It’s easy to see why – standing six feet tall with a build that can rival that of professional athletes, he has the traits of a cager playing for big leagues. “I really wanted to be a professional basketball player,” Monasterio candidly shared in an interview during his Blackwater photoshoot where he is the newest endorser. Taking a leap into showbiz was something to be grateful for – Tween Hearts catapulted him to bolster confidence and being to fame. It led him to win Best daring to hold them accountable Male New TV Personality at the for what they do. She has the gift 25th Philippine Movie Press Club of listening and listening well, of Awards for TV and be nominated dealing with conflicts, of check- as New Male Recording Artist of ing issues and emotions, and of empowering people. • Usher in periods of grace and growth. A personal or corporate crisis of identity can bring PAGE B6 blessings and development. If you schedule, he still manages to find allow yourself to slow down, take time to engage in vigorous physistock, and discover which of your cal exercise or training to keep old ways are no longer working, him in good shape. “I try to make time for it. It’s you might discover a whole new way of being that liberates your not very easy because I am very innate endowments and leads you blessed, I have a very busy schedto a higher purpose. A traumatic ule so it’s fortunate if I get to work experience, a perceived failure, or out maybe four times a week. If I just arriving at midlife can trigger have a late call, I’ll go in the mornthe crisis. When it happens, allow ing and then when I finish early, yourself the time, space and sup- I’ll go straight to the gym so it’s something to put an effort to it,” port to gain from it. • Challenge the mind and Manzano told the media. “If you want to be fit, if you capture the heart. You can be a transformative leader by compas- want to get in shape—you need sionately paying attention, then to get ready, find ways, and evmoving forward with a genuine erything will fall into place,” he wish to make changes that ul- added. Describing himself as a body timately make people and the weight type of guy, the 35-year-old organization better. “My Journey: The Story of an actor-host shared he continues to Unexpected Leader” provides do the sport he loves. “For the longest time I’ve been these “MMK” moments and key takeaways culled from Charo’s doing MMA (mixed martial arts). happy, colorful, challenging, re- I also make it a point to do Muay Thai or Thai boxing, a striking art warding and awesome life.
Life and leadership lessons from Charo...
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the Year at the 60th Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (Famas). He also earned nominations at the Entertainment Press Society (EnPress) Golden Awards under the Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actor both for television and the movies for The Road. After playing mostly supporting roles, 2016 saw him lead his own hit show, Tsuperhero. While he enjoys the challenge of acting, he maintains his natural athleticism and love for basketball. A self-confessed “super human,” he admits that he doesn’t tire easily. “Even at 1 a.m. after taping, or during my rest days, I play basketball,” he revealed. “I go to the gym every other day, and I spend about one-anda-half hours doing workouts that vary from weightlifting to crossfit. But my personal favorites are cardio like burpees and jumping jacks or body weight training,” he added. Both sports and showbiz demand that he be physically fit, well-groomed, and polished. Being the new face of the brand that caters to men’s personal grooming needs, he stresses the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene. “My daily routine is taking shower in the morning and another at night, and putting ice cube
Luis Manzano and his healthy...
that uses the eight limbs for punching, kicking, elbowing and kneeing, and also Jiu Jitsu,” he said. “Although I also swim and run, those are for reflex training,” he noted. Also considered funny man, he is definitely one of the good-looking TV personalities around, but does not wallow in the distinction. With 1.7 million followers on Instagram, most of Manzano’s posts are self-deprecating jokes, funny photos and viral videos. Some of his followers don’t appreciate that kind of content in their feed, and would comment how arrogant he is. “People follow me on Instagram, there I do a lot of my pogi ako jokes but I am the number one believer that I am not handsome. I’m not like any other leading men at ABS-CBN. That for me is sarcasm and self-deprecating humor,” Manzano explained. “It’s just unbelievable that there are people who believe that
Derrick Monasterio
on my face to close my pores,” he shared about his regimen. Whether he’s portraying a role or playing basketball, the actor is always grateful for the support he gets. “This is such a milestone for me because the campaign is to really build up their endorsers. I know I am in good hands with them,” he said. Like his dual personality as an actor and athlete, the masculine brand also offers fragrances that target his different lifestyles, keeping him smelling good all the time. “While playing or working out, I prefer Sports, but when I’m at tapings or attending events I always go for Classic,” Monasterio averred. (ManilaTimes.net)
I am really guwapong guwapo sa sarili. I will be the first one to say I have a long chin, I know my flaws. I’m not like Piolo Pascual-handsome. I make fun of myself and it’s kind of funny that some people take it seriously. It just happened that I am naughty—I am not saying I am funny. There is a big difference,” he pointed out. Despite all that, he still thanked those people who took notice of how he looked happy and how he is in good shape. “When you’re inspired, that’s what people see and feel, so thank you,” he shared. With summer coming, Manzano updated that he and girlfriend Jessy Mendiola will go to places they had already planned, including the beaches. “The place will still be a secret but we’re definitely going to the beach. We make time, we’re both busy but we have to put in that extra effort to spend time with each other,” he ended.
B march 30-april 5, 2017 • laS VEGaS aSiaN JOUrNal
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