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Duterte considering nationwide martial law by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, May 24 warned that he might expand the implementation of martial law nationwide if threats from the the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group persists. In a press conference upon his arrival from Russia, Duterte initially hinted that he might extend the military rule in Visayas, and later, in Luzon. “I may decide to expand the area Armored personnel carriers are deployed in a ďŹ reďŹ ght with Maute and Abu Sayyaf bandits in to include the Visayas because it is Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday, May 23. President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial just a walking distance actually. law in Mindanao on Tuesday night in response to clashes in Marawi City. Photo by Mohammad Manshawi
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DATELINE Fugitive Filipino ex-car dealer gets 10 years, $30-M fine for huge 1980s bank fraud
President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow prior to his return to the Philippines on Wednesday, May 24. President Duterte on Tuesday, May 23 decided to skip his scheduled engagements and cut short his ofďŹ cial visit to the Russian Federation immediately after declaring a state of Martial Law in Mindanao due to the terror crisis that gripped Marawi City. MalacaĂąang photo
PH, Russia embark on ‘new chapter’ of partnership
Before leaving for the Philippines, Duterte, however, managed to have a short rendezvous “RUSSIA is a true friend.� with his “favorite hero� at the This is what Philippine Presi- Kremlin. dent Rodrigo said upon his return During the two leaders’ meetto the country on Wednesday, ing, Duterte reiterated the PhilIn his previous phone conversation with his Philippines counterpart, Pres. May 24, from his official visit to ippine government’s intention to Donald Trump complimented Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for doing Moscow. strengthen its relationship with an “unbelievable� and “great� job on his campaign against illegal drugs. Duterte was originally sched- Russia. White House photo uled to meet Russian President “Please consider us as a good Vladimir Putin, on Thursday May friend. I came to visit your place LOS ANGELES 25 but cut short his state visit af- and it’s to establish stronger biA Filipino who ran ter declaring martial law in Mind- lateral relations. I [came] to seek one of the largest anao in the wake of a confronta- your friendship and to trade, automobile dealertion between government troops establish trade and commerce ships in the United and Islamic State (IS)-linked local with your country,� Duterte told States before fleemilitants. Putin. ing the country 29 years ago was sentenced May 17 to 120 months in federal prison in a by DANA SIOSON bank fraud scheme AJPress that caused more UNITED States President Donald Trump complimentthan $64 million in losses to banks, ed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for doing an one of which col- “unbelievable� and “great� job on his campaign against illegal drugs, according to a leaked transcript of the two Eminiano “Jun� Reodica Jr. once lapsed as a result of dren, and injured more than 50. by AJPRESS ran the third largest car dealership the losses suffered leaders’ phone conversation last month. In a statement on Tuesday, The full transcript, which was first obtained by The in the United States. in the scam. May 23, PNP spokesperson Chief THE Philippine National Po“United States Washington Post and The Intercept, apparently re- lice (PNP) is urging “early coor- Superintendent Dionardo Carlos District Judge S. James Otero handed down vealed the conversation between Duterte and Trump dination� with the organizers of stressed the importance of coorthe sentence to Eminiano “Jun� Reodica Jr., 72, that occurred during the closing of the 30th Association the upcoming Manila concert of dination between the local police saying that Reodica’s scheme to defraud was of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila American singer-actress Ariana and event organizers to secure on April 29. the safety of the event. u PAGE A4 “I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hear- Grande in August. “The organizer/s of the Ariana The PNP’s call came in the ing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem,� Trump Grande concert must involve the wake of a deadly explosion durtold Duterte during their conversation. local PNP unit so that appropriHe went on to say, “Many countries have the prob- ing Grande’s concert on Monday ate security arrangements and night, May 22 in Manchester, lem, we have a problem, but what a great job you are United Kingdom that reportedly assistance can be extended to u PAGE A2 killed 22 people, including chil- ensure the safety of the concertby DANA
SIOSON AJPress
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Trump praises Duterte’s drug war, says Obama didn’t understand Leaked transcript reveals phone call between leaders
The Philippine leader also asked his Russian counterpart for a soft loan to procure military equipments. “I am sorry if I am in a hurry but I need to buy, if you can grant me a soft loan, we’ll [use] the money and pay it right away because the arms that we ordered from America [were] cancelled,� Duterte said. Last year, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, threatened to oppose the arms deal between Manila and Washington amid concerns over the
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PNP seeks security coordination with Ariana Grande’s Manila concert organizers 22 killed, over 50 injured at pop singer’s show in Manchester, UK
Pulitzer Prize-winning Fil-Am writer’s final story sparks debate
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Pacquiao goes easy on sparmates; Roach unimpressed
“My Family’s Slave� shares one Filipino family’s relationship with domestic help WHEN The Atlantic published Alex Tizon’s “My Family’s Slave�, the deeply moving, personal story received international attention for capturing the life of a woman who loved and cared for him and his family. Tizon tells the story of Eudocia Tomas Pulido, whom he and his family called ‘Lola’ growing up. Pulido spent her whole adult life as the Tizon’s family’s “slave�, a woman who gave up her life to serve them. The author details his parents’ cruel treatment of the woman who essentially raised
goers,� Carlos said. The 23-year-old pop star’s “Dangerous Woman� tour is set this coming August 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. “The PNP has the security templates in handling international events. Necessary adjustments may be taken based on current and existing condition or environment,� Carlos said. “What is important is the early coordination of the event orga-
by
DINO MARAGAY Philstar.com
MANILA – Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday, May 23 laced up his gloves for his second day of sparring, but it was hardly a session to remember. Pacquiao, who will defend his WBO welterweight title against Australian Jeff Horn on July 2, went a total of five rounds against a couple of local fighters at the Elorde Gym inside the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. Under the watchful eye of trainer Freddie Roach and in front of a decent crowd, Manny Pacquiao Under the watchful eye of trainer Fredlaced up his gloves for his second day of sparring, but it was hardly a session to remember.
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die Roach and in front of a decent crowd— the session was open to public—Pacquiao went to work against lightweight Leonardo Doronio and super lightweight Sonney Katiandagho. But Pacquiao was far from the deadly fighter he’s long been known for. Journeyman Doronio (15-14, with 10 KOs) first sparred with Pacquiao for two rounds, giving a good account of himself by tagging the Filipino icon with straights and hooks. Still, he left the ring gasping for air.
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Duterte considering nationwide... PAGE A1 And because of the many islands, they can always escape there and begin another terroristic activity,� Duterte said. He went on to say, “If I think that the IS has already taken foothold also in Luzon, and terrorism is not really far behind, I might declare martial law throughout the country to protect the people.� On Tuesday evening, May 23, Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao in the wake of a confrontation between government troops and local militants in Marawi City. The clash reportedly erupted around 2 p.m. on the same day when the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted a joint operation in barangay Basak
visit to Moscow short to personally oversee government operations. “The hardest thing to deal with would be the arrival of IS in our country and it has come to pass, that there is really war going on,â€? Duterte said. “Government must put an end to this. I cannot gamble with IS because they are everywhere and you know what is happening or you must be very aware of what is happening in the Middle East,â€? he added. Duterte warned that he will be “harshâ€? in the implementation of martial law, noting that it “will not be differentâ€? from the military rule imposed by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. According to the president, the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus will be suspended under the martial law. The Chief Executive also warned: “Remember that this is not intended for the law-abiding citizens. We are the least of your worry. But if you confront government and my orders are one: to enforce the law. And anyone caught possessing a gun and confronting us with violence, my orders are shoot to kill.â€? He went on to say, “I will not hesitate to do it. My human rights is different. It is an institutional theory which we will reserve and observe.â€? “But anyone now holding a gun, confronting government with violence, my orders are spare no one. Let us solve the problem of Mindanao once and for all,â€? Duterte further added. Despite this, Duterte assured that he will not tolerate abuses. “Congress is functioning. The courts are open for citizens to seek their grievance,â€? he said. While MalacaĂąang initially announced that the military rule in Mindanao will last for only about 60 days, Duterte warned that it could be extended for a year. “How long? Well, if it would take EXODUS. Photos show residents fleeing Marawi City in Mindanao by road and sea, and a year to do it then we’ll do it. If it’s strict security checkpoints on the highway going to Iligan City. President Rodrigo Duterte imposed military rule in mindanao on Tuesday, May 23 and said on Wednesday, May 24 he over in a month I’d be happy,â€? he said. might expand it to Luzon and the Visayas if terrorist attacks spill over. In a statement, the Department Contributed photos of Foreign Affairs (DFA) affirmed that the government is “in full controlâ€? of the crisis in Mindanao. The DFA stressed that it is “necessaryâ€? to declare martial law in Mindanao to “suppress lawless violence and rebellion and for public safety.â€? “The Philippine government is in full control, and fully BOULDER CITY aware that the Maute Group / 2017 MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION ISIS groups have the capability (although limited) to disturb EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE the peace; they have shown no May 31 (Wednesday) through June 3 (Saturday) hesitation in causing havoc, taking innocent lives and destroying VOTING IS EASY! Boulder City voters may vote early at City Hall property,â€? it said. Section 18, Article VII of the CITY OF BOULDER CITY 1987 Constitution states that the CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS president of the Philippines may 401 California Avenue, Boulder City, Nevada place the country under martial law in case of invasion or rebelWednesday & Thursday May 31 & June 1, 2017 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. lion for not exceeding than 60 days; and that the president may Friday & Saturday June 2 & 3, 2017 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus within 48 hours Publish LVRJ May 19 and 26, 2017 from the proclamation of martial Publish Boulder City Review May 18 and 25, 2017 Publish Asian Journal May 18 and 25, 2017 law. n Malutlut to capture Isnilon Hapilon, who is believed to be the head of IS in Southeast Asia. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana identified the militants as members of the Maute group, which is believed to have pledged allegiance to IS in 2015. Lorenzana confirmed that the militants have occupied several establishments in Marawi City, including Amai Pakpak Medical Center, Marawi’s city hall, and the city jail. He also confirmed reports that several other facilities, such as St. Mary’s Church, Ninoy Aquino School, and Dansalan College, were burned down by the Maute group. The developments prompted Duterte to cut his four-day official
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BRIGADA ESKWELA 2017. Senator Sonny Angara and his staff joined parents, teachers and volunteers in the classroom clean-up and preparation drive at various public schools nationwide in time for the opening of classes this June. An advocate of educational reform, Senator Angara has made it an annual commitment to participate in the annual DepEd-led Brigada Eskwela. Senate photo
Trump praises Duterte’s drug war... PAGE A1 doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that.� In response, Duterte thanked Trump for his comment, adding, “This is the scourge of my nation now and I have to do something to preserve the Filipino nation.� Duterte’s drug war has been in international news and gained continuous criticisms from rights group for its alleged spate of summary killings and human rights violations since he took presidency and launched the campaign in June last year. The decades-long relationship between the Philippines and the United States also appeared to be strained due to drug war criticisms—with Duterte constantly bursting into profanity-laced comments against Washington for its supposed interference in the government’s crackdown on illegal drugs. Some analysts, however, claimed that Duterte began to soften his stance with the U.S. after Trump’s presidential victory. Trump assumed office earlier in January this year. During their phone conversation, Trump was quoted as saying that unlike him, his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, did not understand the scale of the drug problem in the Philippines. “I understand that and fully understand that and I think we had a previous President who did not understand that, but I understand that and we have spoken about this before,� Trump told Duterte. Trump also repeatedly invited Duterte to his office. “If you want to come to the Oval office, I will love to have you in Oval Office. Anytime you want to come,� the U.S. leader told Duterte.
Trump further added, “I will be in the Philippines in November, but anytime if you are in [Washington] DC or anywhere, come see me in the Oval office‌ Work it out with your staff. Seriously, if you want to come over, just let us know.â€? The two leaders are expected to meet at the upcoming ASEAN Summit in November 2017. In the same conversation, both leaders tagged North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a “madman.â€? “Every generation has a mad man — in our generation is Kim Jung Un — you are dealing with a very delicate problem,â€? Duterte said. Trump, at one point, also remarked, “We can’t let a madman with nuclear weapons on the loose like that. We have a lot of firepower, more than he has, times 20 — but we don’t want to use it.â€? In the transcript, Trump asked Duterte for his opinion whether the North Korean leader is “stable or not stable,â€? to which the latter replied: “He is not stable, Mr. President, as he keeps on smiling when he explodes a rocket.â€? The Philippine leader went on to say, “He (Kim Jung Un) is playing with his bombs, his toys and from the looks of it, his mind is not working well and he might just go crazy one moment.â€? Duterte also underscored China’s “important roleâ€? in intervening North Korea’s continuous nuclear activities in the Korean Peninsula that alarm its neighboring countries. Agreeing, Trump responded, “I hope China solves the problem. They really have the means because a great degree of their stuff come through China. They are doing certain things, like not accepting calls. But if China doesn’t do it,
we will do it.� The White House has yet to issue statements in connection with the leaked transcript. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on the other hand, refused to comment and instead appealed to the public for a “sense of responsibility and patriotism.� “Under Philippine law, there is criminal and civil liability attached to the hacking, unauthorized disclosure and use of illegally or inadvertently-obtained confidential government documents,� the DFA said in a statement. “While we value the need for transparency and the people’s right to information, release of certain pieces of information, whether accurate or inaccurate, can affect national security and regional peace and stability,� it added. “As such, we appeal to the sense of responsibility and patriotism of all concerned.� The DFA also affirmed that Duterte and Trump “have a good and warm working relationship,� expressing confidence that “it will continue to be nurtured towards a positive direction for the benefit of the longstanding partnership.� It also reiterated the Philippine government’s “support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and encourage the parties to continuously engage in peaceful dialogue.� A New York Times report claims that a certain senior administration official in Washington confirmed that the transcript was an “accurate representation of the call� between the two leaders. Most of what the two presidents discussed, however, was already openly disclosed by the Philippine leader in his previous interviews and speeches. n
PH, Russia embark on ‘new chapter’ of partnership PAGE A1 alleged human rights violations in connection with the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war. Prior to his departure on Monday, May 22, Duterte disclosed that he wanted to secure deals for Russian precision-guided bombs
that could be used against IS-inspired terrorist groups during his visit. Although Putin did not immediately gave a specific response to Duterte’s request, the Russian leader said that their governments “have very many promising and interesting areas of cooperation, including on energy machine building, transport and infrastructure.� “And I think we can cooperate in many different technical spheres,� Putin added. Putin also expressed sympathies over the terror crisis in Mindanao. “At the outset of our conversation, I would express our condolences over the loss of lives of your people because of a horrible terrorist attack,� he said. He further added, “And let me express hope that the conflict that you have just mentioned will be resolved as soon as possible and with minimal losses and casualties.� Likewise, the Russian leader affirmed that the signing of bilateral agreements will still push through, with Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano representing Duterte. Earlier in his pre-departure speech, Duterte stressed that Russia “must cease to be at the mar-
gins of Philippine diplomacy.� “Over-dependence on traditional partners has limited our room to maneuver in a very dynamic international arena. This is a strategic oversight that has led to many missed opportunities for our country. I am determined to correct this,� he said. Pointing out that “there are opportunities that cannot be ignored,� Duterte said that Russia is a country that the Philippines “must� work with. “There is much room to develop mutually beneficial cooperation. There are many opportunities that need to be explored. Now we can work together to open those doors even wider,� he said. Last year, Duterte announced the Philippines’ “separation� with the United States, its decadeslong ally, in favor of a closer shift toward Russia and China as part of asserting the country’s’ independent foreign policy. Stressing the level of importance his administration “places on the writing of a new chapter of Philippines–Russia relationship,� Duterte said this week’s “landmark trip� to Moscow underscores the Philippines’ “firm resolve� to “broaden the horizons of friendship and cooperation with other nations.� n
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Pulitzer Prize-winning Fil-Am writer’s final.. PAGE A1 him and his four other siblings. He goes back and forth describing what he saw growing up and taking Pulido’s ashes back to her birthplace, Mayantoc, Philippines. Throughout the piece, Tizon describes the guilt and shame he carried his whole life for not stopping his parents’ treatment of Pulido, which greatly affected his growth from child to adult. “To our American neighbors, we were model immigrants, a poster family. They told us so,” Tizon writes. “My father had a law degree, my mother was on her way to becoming a doctor, and my siblings and I got good grades and always said “please” and “thank you.” We never talked about Lola. Our secret went to the core of who we were and, at least for us kids, who we wanted to be.” “My Family’s Slave” marks the last published story by Tizon, who passed away at the age of 57 last March from natural causes. According to Tizon’s wife, Melissa Quiason, “My Family’s Slave” took the seasoned journalist six wearisome years to make, but was a story he was determined to tell.
Author and investigative journalist Alex Tizon Image: Website/University of Oregon, School of Journalism and Communication
“This was his ultimate story,” Quiason said, as quoted by Inquirer. Pulido died from a heart attack in 2011 at the age of 86. Tizon is quoted in her obituary in the Seattle Times, not detailing the decades of abuse she endured, but rather celebrating the qualities that made her his “Lola.” “Growing up with Lola taught me that not calling attention to yourself was a perfectly fine and
The magazine cover of The Atlantic’s June 2017 issue with the controversial cover story “My Family’s Slave.”
honorable way to live. She was never angst-ridden and never felt entitled to anything, including happiness. I think that’s one reason she was one of the most peaceful people I’ve ever known,” he said. The story struck a chord with many Filipino readers, who are familiar with the family-domestic help dynamic, but it also received backlash from readers who were shocked at the treatment of Pulido. Furthermore, many readers were outraged at Tizon’s lack of intervention on the abuse inflicted on the woman who cared for him her whole life. One reader pointed that lack of effort out, saying that, “The author aided and abetted in slavery. His pathetic efforts to ease her situation in the last few years of her life were not enough.” Upon receiving international attention, The Atlantic magazine staff acknowledged the praise as well as the backlash. “Alex did not know that we would be putting his piece on the cover of this issue; he died the day we made that decision, before we had a chance to tell him,” The Atlantic editor-inchief Jeffrey Goldberg wrote in an editor’s note. “His death, quite obviously, could have derailed publication of what turned out to be his final story, but his family, led by Melissa and his siblings, worked with us during this uniquely trying time to make publication possible However, as Philippine-based Scout Magazine puts it, the international outrage stems from “a place where they don’t fully understand the culture the story is set in,” including the fact that domestic help is deeply embedded in the culture and that many maids and servants work willingly for the families. Tizon celebrated a fruitful career as a journalist, serving as reporter for the Seattle Times and Seattle Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times. In 1997, he won a Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting for a five-part series on fraudulent activity in the Federal Indian Housing Program. He is also the author of the award-winning “Big Little Man: In Search of My Asian Self,” an examination of his experience as a first-generation immigrant and what life is like in the U.S. as an Asian man. Tizon is survived by his wife and their two daughters. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 25-31, 2017
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Cortez Masto hosts second mentorship initiative meeting with AAPI staffers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted her second Cafecito con Catherine as part of her mentorship series to discuss challenges faced by minority Congressional staffers in an effort to improve and help advance their career opportunities. In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Cortez Masto met with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) congressional female staffers to hear their perspective and talk about their
ideas. In March, Cortez Masto met with Latina Senate staffers to highlight the need for succession planning by partnering with organizations to ensure women and students of color have access to internship and employment opportunities in Congress. “Minorities continue to be disproportionately represented in all areas of government and we need to openly talk about how we can open more doors,” Cortez Masto said. “There’s no better way than speaking directly to Congres-
sional staffers and hearing about the unique challenges they face as they navigate their careers. I was pleased to hear from Asian American and Pacific Islander staffers and their ideas on how we can improve Congress’s diversity issues. As one of the fastest growing minority group in the country, there is still a terrible lack of representation among AAPIs in government and we must take an active role in making sure our government is as diverse as the people it represents.”
Pacquiao goes easy on sparmates... PAGE A1 “Two rounds? Parang lumaban ako nang 12 rounds pag siya ang ka-sparring ko eh,” Doronio told Philstar.com afterward. Katiandagho (11-2, with 6 KOs), who like Pacquiao hails from General Santos City, then took over from Doronio for an additional three rounds. Like Doronio, the 24-year-old fighter nicknamed “Pinoy (Thomas) Hearns” also had his moments, even besting Pacquiao in some exchanges. Throughout the five-round session, Pacquiao was contented to bobbing and weaving while occasionally slipping in a jab or a straight. He never dominated the exchanges, and sometimes
appeared to let himself get hit. Even Katiandagho—overwhelmed by the fact that he was tapped to spar with one of the greatest boxers of his generation—noticed it, thinking that Pacquiao went easy on them. “Tingin ko pinagbibigyan lang ako ni Boss Manny,” he said, at the same time praising his employer for still having it. “Yung speed hindi nagbabago, yung galaw niya,” added Katiandagho. On a dull day, Pacquiao still impressed his starstruck sparring partners. But it wasn’t the case for Roach, who called the five-round session an eyesore. “His second day of sparring
today is maybe the worst I’ve ever seen so far. His timing is really really off,” Roach told Filipino scribes after Pacquiao wrapped up his workout. Pacquiao’s longtime trainer then said they’re “way behind” the training schedule, and it showed in his ward’s sluggishness in sparring. Nevertheless, Roach isn’t pushing the panic button, knowing they still have enough time for Pacquiao to shed rust and reach peak form. “It [Pacquiao hitting peak form] is not gonna happen overnight. It’s gonna be a process,” added Roach, who also said he’s mulling to bring in more guys to spar with Pacquiao.
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EU defends grants, seeks Philippines’ PH reaffirms commitment to peoplecentered ASEAN at ‘ASEAN Matters for clarification on aid rejection by AJPress THE European Union’s (EU) ambassador to the Philippines said he will seek clarification from the Duterte administration regarding its recent decision to reject assistance from the EU. Last week, the Philippine government announced that it has stopped accepting aid
“with conditions” from the EU as part of affirming its foreign independence policy. According to Malacañang, the government will refuse new EU grants that have the potential of affecting the “internal policies” of the country, as recommended by the Department of Finance (DOF) and approved by President Rodrigo Duterte. Spokesperson Ernesto Abella disclosed that the DOF made the
recommendation after the EU “recently” offered a conditional grant that seemingly meddles in the country’s internal affairs. In defense, Ambassador Franz Jessen maintained that the EU grants are not meant to change the system of the recipient countries but, rather, to promote their development. “It’s not a question of trying to change the system but trying to work hand-in-hand with governments around the world to make sure that the countries in need develop in the best possible way,” Jessen said on Tuesday, May 23. Next week, the top diplomat he will meet with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and seek clarifications from him regarding the matter. “We have to get clarification on what exactly it is that they’re referring to,” Jessen said, adding “We have to listen to what he (Cayetano) has to say, this is a dialogue and we talking and take issues step by step.” Presently, Jessen confirmed that the EU is “not withdrawing any amount” and remains “in contact with the government on how best to work on our development assistance.” While admitting that the EU has a “standard set of conditions” on all of its development assistance, Jessen said those are meant to prevent any form of anomaly or corruption. “In every project, you have specifications, if we support the health sector then the money should go to the health sector, not to another department,” Jessen explained. Last year, Duterte dared the EU, along with the United States and other critics, to pull out their assistance from the Philippines amid their criticisms against his administration’s drug war, and the alleged human rights violations and summary killings related to the campaign. The ambassador, however, said that that the human rights issues are unrelated to the development assistance that the EU gives. Jessen went on to say, “We have a political dialogue with the Philippines and there, we raise all sorts of issues and that’s not directly related to our development cooperation.”
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America/America Matters for ASEAN’ launch WASHINGTON, D.C. — “While ASEAN celebrates its 50th Founding Anniversary, we also look at the milestone we have reached with the 40th Anniversary of its Partnership with the United States. It is an open and strategic partnership that aims to forge a common path towards a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Asia-Pacific region,” remarked Mr. Patrick Chuasoto, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Philippine Embassy, at the launch of ASEAN Matters for America/ America Matters for ASEAN on Tuesday, May 16 at the Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. ASEAN Matters for America/ America Matters for ASEAN is a publication and web resource “for credible and nonpartisan information, graphics, analysis, and news at the national, state, and local level on U.S.-Southeast Asia interactions.” It is a joint project by the East-West Center, U.S.-ASEAN Business Council and ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. The publication offers information on the flow of trade and investments, and travel and
tourism between ASEAN and the U.S. It also highlights the vibrant people-to-people ties between the two sides, as evidenced by the large number of ASEANAmericans in the U.S., educational exchanges, and sister partnerships. The Philippines, as Chair of ASEAN for 2017, seeks to enhance and leverage ASEAN’s relationship with the US in pursuit of the six thematic priorities that currently guide its Chairmanship. “These themes frame the substantial issues that we wish to address—putting the interests of the peoples of ASEAN at the center of its work; high quality of life; enhancing an environment that is conducive to business; prioritizing health and improved nutrition; promoting peaceful co-existence; advancing work on maritime security; highlighting connectivity and innovation; building a disasterresilient region; and strengthening ASEAN’s work and standing in the international arena,” said Mr. Chuasoto.
“The Philippines is fully committed to developing a peoplecentered ASEAN. Thus, we attach great importance to socio-cultural and educational exchanges among the peoples of ASEAN and the United States that support this goal,” he added. Mr. Chuasoto further stressed this point by citing the fact that of all ASEAN countries, the Philippines has the most sister city relationships with the United States at 61. There is presently 92 sister cities and sister state or sister county connections between ASEAN countries and the US. In his remarks, Mr. Chuasoto also highlighted the progress that the Philippines has made as ASEAN Chair, such as consolidating the members’ consensus in combating violent extremism, attaining maritime security and cooperation, and pursuing an innovation-led growth agenda. ASEAN Matters for America/ America Matters for ASEAN is available for download at http:// www. asiamattersforamerica. org/ asean.
Celebs condemn blast at Ariana Grande’s concert by Christina
alpad ManilaTimes.net
AFTER Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry’s heartfelt messages for the blast victims during Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester Arena, UK, more celebrities offered their condolences and expressed condemnation via social media. Miley Cyrus, Grande’s good friend, shared her photo with the singer on her Instagram account @mileycyrus and captioned it: “Wishing I could give my friend @arianagrande a great big hug right now… love love love you …. so sorry you had to be a part of such a tragic event! my most sincere condolences to anyone and everyone affected by this horrific attack! all I can do is send as much hope and peace your way! This must end! No more war. No more innocent lives taken.”
Singers Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, also sent their sentiments to the victims via Twitter. “Tearing up imagining innocent concert goers losing their lives. Praying for everyone and all #arianators [moniker for Grande’s fans],” posted @ddlovato. “My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected in Manchester,” @selenagomez wrote. Former One Direction member and now solo artist Harry Styles (@Harry_Styles) expressed his emotions over the terror attack in his country: “I’m heartbroken over what happened in Manchester tonight. Sending love to everyone involved. H.” From young artists to icons, showbiz celebrities from around the globe united in expressing their sympathy and sadness over the shocking turn of events. “I am truly so sorry about what has happened in Manchester
tonight. Unthinkable events. All my love to the families affected,” tweeted 18-year-old singer Shawn Mendes. “My prayers go out to people of Manchester…had special times there from youth & beyond,” 71year-old Cher recalled. Meanwhile, other stars strongly condemned the terror attack. Bruno Mars, via Twitter account @BrunoMars, said: “No words can describe how I feel about what happened in Manchester. I don’t wanna believe that the world we live in could be so cruel.” English actor Sam Claflin seconded, “My thoughts are with Manchester… Come on now – what is happening to this world? This can’t be the new normal.” The “Breakfree” pop star is set to go on her “Dangerous Woman World Tour” in Manila on August 21.
PNP seeks security coordination with...
PAGE A1
nizers with the PNP,” he added. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), meanwhile, confirmed that no Filipinos were hurt in the incident. “We have not yet received reports of Filipinos who were injured or who were among the casualties. But we are closely monitoring the situation. Our prayers go to those who were affected,” Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar told CNN Philippines. In a statement, Malacañang sent condolences to the victims of the incident. “We are in solidarity with the United Kingdom in addressing and combating violent extremism,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said. For her part, Grande lamented the tragedy that occurred during her concert. In a Twitter post hours after the explosion, Grande, who was unharmed, said she is “broken” by the incident. “From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry,” she wrote. The pop singer has reportedly suspended her tour indefinitely.
Ariana Grande performs during the Manila leg of “The Honeymoon Tour” held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday, August 23, 2015. Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Christopher Toledo IV
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said authorities are now working on for a “fast-moving investigation” on the incident. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but this has not been verified. Hopkins, however, confirmed that the attacker — identified as 22-year-old Salman Abedi — died during the blast. “We have been treating this
as a terrorist incident and we believe, at this stage, the attack last night was conducted by one man. The priority is to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network,” Hopkins said. “The attacker, I can confirm, died at the arena. We believe the attacker was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated causing this atrocity,” he added.
Fugitive Filipino ex-car dealer gets 10 years... PAGE A1 “extremely serious” and caused “much disruption, much heartache” to “too many victims to count.” In addition to being sentenced to 10 years in prison, Reodica was ordered to pay $29.7 million restitution. Judge Otero said defendant preyed upon members of the Filipino community as well as numerous federally insured financial institutions in perpetrating the scam that resulted in total losses to both individuals and financial institutions of over $90 million. Reodica, fled the United States in 1988, but he has been in federal custody ever since he was arrested in late 2012 at Los Angeles International Airport during a layover while traveling from Australia to Canada. On the day before he was set to go on trial in October 2015, Reodica pleaded guilty to 26 counts of bank fraud and making false statements to financial institutions. From 1984 through 1988, the fraud scheme victimized at least five banks – Union Bank, First Los Angeles Bank, Manilabank, First Central Bank and Imperial Savings. “The scale of the fraud is virtually unparalleled,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum. “Notably, Imperial subsequently failed and went into re-
ceivership with the FDIC based on the losses sustained as the result of defendant’s fraud.” Reodica was the president of the Glendora-based Grand Wilshire Group (GWG) of Companies, which operated about two dozen car dealerships, including Grand Chevrolet in Glendora. “Over time, GWG became the second-largest Chevrolet dealership in the United States and the third largest car dealership in the United States,” prosecutors wrote in court documents. “Due to the apparent success of GWG, [then-California] Governor [George] Deukmejian appointed defendant to the board of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and later ousted him from the board when his fraud was discovered.” GWG had credit agreements with the victim financial institutions under which GWG pledged car contracts as collateral on lines of credit. The agreements required GWG to collect car loan payments from its customers and provide those funds to the financial institutions. Reodica admitted that he would promise the same car contract as collateral to two different banks at the same time. In order to accomplish this part of his scheme, Reodica directed employees to forge customer signatures on car contracts that were then promised
to a second bank. As another part of his scheme, Reodica also repossessed and resold cars without telling the banks. Reodica also admitted concealing from the banks that customers were delinquent on their car loans. In some cases, when the overall delinquency rate exceeded a level acceptable to a bank, Reodica used GWG funds to make car payments, which allowed him to continue using those delinquent contracts as collateral. Reodica also made his employees sign for car loans for cars that they were not really buying so that Reodica could increase the lines of credit he obtained from the banks. As a result of Reodica’s fraud scheme, the Grand Wilshire Group and Grand Chevrolet collapsed into bankruptcy in August 1988, which is when Reodica fled to his native Philippines. When special agents with the FBI arrested him at LAX in November 2012, Reodica was traveling under an Australian passport in the name of “Roberto Coscolluela.” While living in Australia under the name of Coscolluela, he ran a tax preparation and insurance business. Reodica’s activities in these businesses have resulted in allegations of a $7 million fraud in Australia causing him to be dubbed “Brisbane’s Bernie Madoff,” according to government sentencing papers. (Inquirer.net)
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mAy 25-31, 2017
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D ateline PhiliPPines Ex-DFA chief urges filing of protest, US
A
joint patrols to counter China war threat by Dana
SiOSOn AJPress
THE Duterte administration should immediately prepare for a so-called “dual response� to counter China’s supposed recent war threat, former Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said on Monday, May 22. Last week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte bared that Chinese President Xi Jinping had threatened war if Manila insists on its plan to conduct a Reed Bank oil exploration and “forces the issue� of last year’s arbitral ruling. The Reed Bank, also called “Recto Bank,� is internationally recognized as part of the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is located in the South China Sea. China, however, claims it as part of its territory. Last July, an arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, finding that China’s historic nine-dash line, which claimed almost all the South China Sea, has no historic and legal basis. In a recent speech, Duterte recalled telling Xi during their meeting in Beijing: “We intend to drill
Former Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario
oil there, if it’s yours, well, that’s your view, but my view is, I can drill the oil, if there is some inside the bowels of the earth because it is ours.� “His response to me, ‘we’re friends, we don’t want to quarrel with you, we want to maintain the presence of warm relationship, but if you force the issue, we’ll go to war,� the president added. Following Duterte’s statements, Del Rosario urged Manila to respond to Beijing’s alleged threat of war by heeding the advice of Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to file a protest before the United Nations
(UN). “We can expect that the responsible community of nations would be supportive of such a diplomatic action by the Philippine government,� Del Rosario said, stressing that that the use and threats of force are “serious violations� of the UN Charter and that the protest is in the Philippines’ “national interest.� As part of the “dual response,� Del Rosario also urged the government to revisit the joint patrolling of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with the United States and other allies. PAGE A7
Diokno: Mindanao martial law could be good for economy by Julian
OcampO Philstar.com
MANILA — The declaration of martial law in Mindanao could be “positive� to the country’s economic growth if it will improve the peace and order situation in the island, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said. “The president promised a better, safer, fairer, richer and more beautiful Philippines. He believes peace and order is a precondition to growth,� he said in a text message on Wednesday, May 24. “If, by declaring martial law in Mindanao, he improves the likelihood that peace in Mindanao would be achieved, then it is a positive move,� Diokno added. Diokno chairs the inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee, which sets the government’s macroeconomic
targets. While on official trip in Russia, President Rodrigo Duterte imposed military rule over Mindanao amid clashes between government forces and local terrorist group Maute. The declaration, which was made despite the military saying the situation had “stabilized� an hour later, will be in effect for 60 days if Congress does not vote to revoke it or if the Supreme Court does not issue an order overturning it within a month. For that to happen, a citizen must file a petition questioning the justifications for martial law. While other economic managers did not respond to queries, Diokno said disruption of business in Mindanao is unlikely to affect the country’s over-all economic performance.
Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno
The declaration is “limited in coverage,� he said, and only includes Mindanao, which, he said, “contributes less than 20 percent� to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). PAGE A7
LUNGSOD NG LAS VEGAS ABISO PARA SA MAAGANG PAGBOBOTO 2017-PANGKALAHATANG HALALAN PANG-MUNISIPAL Ang abiso’ng ito ay nag-bibigay kaalaman na ang maagang pagboto para sa Pangkalahatang Halalan Pang-munisipal sa Lungsod ng Las Vegas ay gaganapin sa Ika-13 ng Hunyo 2017.
FREEDOM FOR LEILA. Opposition congressmen led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman greet journalists outside the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame in Quezon City, after visiting Sen. Leila de Lima, who is detained on what she describes as trumped-up illegal drug charges. In photo from (L-R) Capiz Rep. Emmanuel Billones, Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza, Lagman, Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat, an unidentified aide, and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano. ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan
IPU members in PH to check detained De Lima by AJPress MEMBERS of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) have arrived in the Philippines this week to examine the condition of Senator Leila De Lima, who is currently being detained over drug-related charges. The IPU Committee on Human Rights met with Philippine Senate President Aquilino “Koko� Pimentel III on Monday, May 22, and is scheduled to visit De Lima on Wednesday, May 24. “We are here on behalf of the IPU, the Inter-Parliamentary Union human rights committee, to see and assess the situation of detention of Senator Leila de Lima,� Fawzia Koofi, president of IPU human rights, told reporters after their meeting. According to Koofi, the IPU committee members will also meet with Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and other “relevant� officials on Tuesday, May 23 to get “first-hand information� about De Lima’s case. De Lima, who is notably among the fiercest critics of Philippine President Duterte, was arrested last February for allegedly violating the Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 20. She was accused of profiting from the illegal drug trade at New Bilibid Prison (NBP) when she was the justice secretary. “The IPU, as a body, expressed concern [on] human rights violation of a member of the Senate in the Philippines, which is Senator Leila de Lima, that’s why the assembly decided to have a mission to the Philippines,� Koofi added. Earlier in April, the IPU adopted a resolution “calling for a mission to the Philippines where it is deeply concerned over the detention of Senator Leila de Lima and the accusations that she was involved in drug trafficking.� The union took note that the senator led a series of investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings when Duterte was then the mayor of Davao City and again, as president, when he started to wage the war against illegal drugs last year. Emphasizing that De Lima has been a vocal opponent of Duterte, the IPU also said that there is serious reason to believe the senator has been “targeted due to her outspoken criticism of the impact of the current government’s policies on human rights in the Philippines.�
Pimentel, who invited the IPU to visit the country during its 136th Assembly in Dhaka, Bangladesh last month, said the group only thanked him during their recent meeting for “inviting� them over. He said they discussed “nothing� about De Lima’s case. “They are the ones concerned with Senator de lima...they are here for a fact-finding mission. Let them do their job,� Pimentel added. Established in 1889, IPU aims to “promote democracy, equality, human rights, development and peace.� The Philippines is among its 171 member parliament. ‘Thinner, paler’ De Lima Also on Monday, members of the House of Representatives minority bloc visited a seemingly “thinner� and “paler� De Lima in her detention cell at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center inside Camp Crame. “Parang pumayat siya nang kaunti, medyo parang maputla siya ‘yun ang napansin ko (I noticed she lost weight and looked pale),� Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice told reporters when asked about De Lima’s condition. PAGE A7
Karagdagang impormasyon sa Filipino (Tagalog) ay makikita rin sa website ng North Las Vegas www.cityofnorthlasvegas.com/departments/city_clerk/elections.php
PAMANTAYAN NANG PANINIRAHAN Ang lahat ng mga rehistrado’ng botante sa Lungsod ng Las Vegas ay maaari’ng bumoto sa halala’ng ito. Hindi ka maaaring bumoto sa munisipal na halalan kung ikaw ay isang rehistrado’ng botante sa lugar na hindi sakop ng korporasyon sa Lalawigan ng Clark. PAGBOTO SA PAMAMAGITAN NG KOREO Sino ma’ng karapat-dapat na botante sa halala’ng ito ay maaari’ng piliin ang bumoto sa pamamagitan ng koreo. Ang mga nakasulat na kahilingan ay dapat matanggap sa ika-5 ng hapon sa Hunyo 6, 2017. Maaari’ng hilingin ang balota sa koreo mula sa Kagawaran ng Halalan ng Lalawigan ng Clark sa 702-455-8683 o online sa www.clarkcountynv.gov/election. Kung nakatanggap ka ng balota sa pamamagitan ng koreo, maaari mo’ng isauli ang iyong balota sa saan ma’ng lugar nang Maagang Botohan o maaari ka’ng bumoto nang personal. MADALI ANG BUMOTO! Ang mga botante sa Las Vegas ay maaari’ng bumoto sa isa sa kahit saa’ng maginhawa’ng lugar nang maaga’ng botohan na nakalista sa ibaba o sa Araw ng Halalan sa isa sa mga bago’ng Sentro nang Botohan, na pumalit sa mga kinaugalia’ng lugar nang botohan para sa Munisipal na Halalan. LUNGSOD NG LAS VEGAS 2017 PANGKALAHATANG HALALAN MAAGA’NG PAGBOTO MGA KAPITBAHAYA’NG LUGAR PARA SA LAHAT NG MGA BOTANTE SA DISTRITO
Las Vegas City Hall, 495 South Main Street
Meadows Mall, 4300 Meadows Lane
Ika-30 ng Mayo – Ika-8 ng Hunyo Lunes – Biyernes 7:30 n.u. - 5:30 n.h. Biyernes – Linggo SARADO Ika-27 ng Mayo – Ika-9 ng Hunyo Araw-araw simula sa 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
Monday, May 29
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Friday, June 9th
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Saturday, May 27th
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Sunday, May 28th
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Friday, June 2nd
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Saturday, June 3rd
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday, June 4th
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Craig/Decatur 9600 W. Sahara Avenue
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Farm / Durango 101 South Pavilion
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4701 North Durango Drive 101 South Pavilion
9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Ika-2 ng HUNYO, BIYERNES Mountain Crest Community Center Rainbow Library
Monday – Thursday June 5th – June 8th
4701 North Durango Drive Cheyenne/Buffalo
9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.
Friday, June 9th
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Ika-3 ng HUNYO, SABADO Mountain Shadows Community Center Skye Center at Skye Canyon
9107 Del Web Boulevard 10111 W. Skye Canyon Park Drive
10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g. 10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.
Ika-4 ng HUNYO, LINGGO Mountain Shadows Community Center Skye Center at Skye Canyon
9107 Del Web Boulevard 10111 W. Skye Canyon Park Drive
10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g. 10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.
Ika-5 ng HUNYO, LUNES Doolittle Community Center Albertsons
1950 North J Street Buffalo/Vegas
9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
Ika-6 ng HUNYO, MARTES Doolittle Community Center Albertsons
1950 North J Street Buffalo/Vegas
9:00 n.u. - 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. - 6:00 n.g.
Ika-7 ng HUNYO, MIYERKULES Westminster Church Centennial Center Treyler Ika-8 ng HUNYO, HUWEBES East Las Vegas Community Center Centennial Center Treyler Ika-9 ng HUNYO, BIYERNES East Las Vegas Community Center Centennial Center Treyler
4601 West Lake Mead Boulevard West Tropical Parkway/Centennial Center Boulevard – Near Home Depot 250 North Eastern Avenue West Tropical Parkway/Centennial Center Boulevard – Near Home Depot 250 North Eastern Avenue West Tropical Parkway/Centennial Center Boulevard – Near Home Depot
9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g. 9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.
10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.
Para sa karagdaga’ng kaalaman bisitahin ang lungsod on line sa www.lasvegasnevada.gov/elections o Tumawag sa Tanggapan ng Kawani ng Lungsod sa 702-229-6311
Aliante Library 2400 W. Deer Springs Way (@ North Aliante Parkway)
Silver Mesa Recreation Center 4025 Allen Lane $OOHQ /Q $OH[DQGHU 5G
CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS NEIGHBORHOOD EARLY VOTING SITES Date
Time
Location
Monday – Tuesday, May 29th – May 30th
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun City Aliante Community Center 7390 Aliante Parkway $OLDQWH 3NZ\ (ONKRUQ 5G
Friday – Sunday, June 2nd – June 4th
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Albertsons : $QQ 5G $QQ 5G 6LPPRQV 6W
Wednesday – Friday, June 7th – June 9th
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Grace Point Church : $QQ 5G $QQ 5G $OOHQ /Q
VOTING BY MAIL: Any registered voter residing in the City of North Las Vegas may choose to vote by mail. A written request for a mail ballot must be received by 5:00 S P RQ -XQH LQ WKH RIÂżFH RI WKH &ODUN &RXQW\ 5HJLVWUDU RI 9RWHUV DW WKH IROORZLQJ DGGUHVV WR YRWH E\ PDLO IRU WKLV *HQHUDO (OHFWLRQ &ODUN &RXQW\ (OHFWLRQ &HQWHU 965 Trade Drive, Suite A North Las Vegas, NV 89030
10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g. 9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h.
Location
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday, May 28th
&/26('
9:00 n.u. to 5:00 n.h. 10:00 n.u. to 6:00 n.g.
Ika-31 ng MAYO, MIYERKULES Albertsons Veterans Memorial
Saturday, May 27
Sunday, June 4th
Craig/Decatur 9600 W. Sahara Avenue
Farm/Durango 101 South Pavilion
Time th
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Ika-27 ng MAYO, SABADO Albertsons Sahara West Library
Ika-30 ng MAYO, MARTES Albertsons Veterans Memorial
Date
Friday and Saturday, June 2nd – June 3rd
ORAS
Craig/Decatur Bonanza/Lamb
CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS EARLY VOTING SITES OPEN THROUGHOUT THE 2-WEEK PERIOD
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
KINAROROONAN / PINAGSALIKUPAN NA DAAN
Ika-29 ng MAYO, LUNES Albertsons Cardenas
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that early voting for the June 13, 2017 City of North Las Vegas, Nevada General will begin at 9:00 AM on Saturday, May 27, 2017 and will close on Friday, June 9, 2017 at 5:00 PM as noted in time tables below and at the following locations. Any registered voter residing in the City of North Las Vegas wanting to vote early must do so at an Early Voting Site located within the City’s boundaries.
Tuesday – Thursday, May 30th – June 1st
Ang mga Lugar ay bukas lamang sa mga nakatakdang araw at oras na nakalista sa ibaba PETSA / LUGAR
NOTICE OF EARLY VOTING FOR THE 2017 MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION WARD 3 VOTERS ONLY
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Publish LV Asian Journal: May 18, 25, and June 1, 2017
A6
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MAY 25-31, 2017 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL
OPINION
High alert
FEATURES
THE Philippines extends its condolences to the victims’ families and voiced solidarity with Britain in the fight against extremism following the deadly terror attack in Manchester, United Kingdom that left 22 people—including children—dead and 50 injured. “We are in solidarity with the United Kingdom in addressing and combating violent extremism,” Philippine Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said. A suicide bomber reportedly carried out the attack as fans were streaming out of Manchester Arena after American pop singer Ariana Grande’s concert on Monday, May 22. In Manila, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is closely coordinating with organizers of the concert tour of Grande set on August 21 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City. While there is no specific terror threat for the pop star’s Manila stop, the PNP is initiating involvement in the event’s security so that appropriate security arrangements and assistance can be extended to ensure the safety of concertgoers. Meanwhile on Tuesday, May 23, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, who’s in Moscow for a four-day state visit to Russia, cut his trip short after declaring martial law in Mindanao. The decision came amidst attacks perpetrated by Islamic State (IS)-backed Maute group in Marawi City. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reported that government forces clashed with Maute fighters in Marawi City. The fighting left two policemen and a soldier dead and injured several others, ac-
cording to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The siege reportedly began hen police and troops raided a house where Isnilon Hapilon, a leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group and the subject of a U.S. State Department bounty of $5 million, was believed to be hiding. Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano will stay behind in Russia to sign several agreements. The Philippine government has valiantly dealt with armed conflicts since the 1960s. While it succeeded in diminishing the numbers of these groups, coercion continues to this day. Major fronts have long fought for communist insurgency in the Mindanao region, leaving national reconciliation as still an ultimate goal for its government. The prevailing discord in Mindanao stems from what Moros believe as historical and continuing injustice committed against them, resulting in a majority-minority relationship that manifests itself in underdevelopment and dispossession in Muslim areas. While there is a lack of a comprehensive data on the total number of people affected and resources lost or destroyed as a result of these conflicts, reported estimates have been disturbing. Aside from being saddled with armed internal security threats,
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
restoring peace in the country—especially in Mindanao—is also hampered by apparent economic and social problems. In this ever-changing and turbulent world, it’s easier for some people to aggregate power, to instigate war than to commit to peace and compromise. People behind such terror attacks must be reminded that it took millions of lives, thousands of years and
hundreds of wars to achieve global order. Peace may be attained when there is cultural integrity, respect for differences, protection of human rights, good governance, sustainable development and delivery of basic social services. The list may still go on, and these measures will require more than just valiant efforts from the government and its people. (AJPress)
Rediscovering and strengthening our faith through the Marian Shrine Pilgrimage Tour I WAS out of the country for close to The Fil-Am a month to join my husband as he ful- Perspective filled a promise: to take his parents to the faith-based Marian Pilgrimage Tour in Europe. This was my GEL SANTOS-RELOS husband’s way of honoring his parents who are celebrating their birthdays this May as octogenarians. They have devoted their lives to serving the church back in the Philippines since their retirement. The pilgrimage tour would be the perfect gift to his parents. Through the help of my dear friend Mr. Johnny Francisco of Mango Tours, we joined the pilgrimage tour. This pilgrimage has been very significant this year as the Catholic Christians celebrate the 100th year of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s apparition in Fatima, Portugal. Being part of the tour group has eased up all the concerns and stresses that go with preparing for all the details of our trip’s itinerary, especially when you are traveling with seniors. There were about 45 of us in the group that met up in Lisbon, Portugal. Lo, and behold! More than a third of the group were Filipinos — and as our tour director said, indeed, Filipinos are among the top travelers on faith-
Commentary
RIGOBERTO D. TIGLAO TO understand quickly what the issue is about the Duterte government’s move to reject European Union (EU) grants that are laden with conditions, which would allow it to interfere with our sovereignty, here’s an analogy. (Note: the rejection currently involves grants only, not loans.) A tycoon’s philanthropic (of course tax-deductible) foundation offers you a grant of P50,000 (yes, that small, which is proportionate to the amount of EU grants to the size of our economy) which you are told you can use to renovate your house. [deleted Lucio Co—too distracting] However, the tycoon’s bureaucrat handling the grant tells you that if you accept the money, he can come into your house anytime and lecture you how to run your household which you must accept and implement. Would you accept the grant? I don’t think so. Unless you’re so poor P50,000 is a boon. But then you wouldn’t have a house to renovate. In the case of EU grants, these
based tours. In fact, many Filipinos would choose to go to Rome, the Holy Land, Fatima, Lourdes, etc if they could only travel abroad once in their life — a testament to the commitment of our kababayans to grow in faith and devotion to God. Aboard an air-conditioned coach with picture windows, WiFi and USB charger in every seat, our 12-day sojourn took us to Portugal, France and Spain where we visited Marian shrines, places of worship, churches, pilgrimage destinations and had good city and cultural tours of the places we visited. My husband and I extended our trip to take my in-laws visit the Vatican and see Pope Francis in person in Rome. After visits to churches in Lisbon, we headed north and made a quick stop to Santarem, Portugal to visit the Church of the Eucharistic Holy Miracle. In the evening, we arrived in Fatima, where we stayed for two nights. We visited the shrine made famous by the Virgin Mary’s appearance in 1917 to three shepherd children, which culminated in the revelation of the Three Secrets of Fatima. We joined pilgrims from different parts of the world for Rosary and candlelight procession at the Our Lady of Fatima Basilica.
After Fatima, we had a short stop in Braga, described as one of the oldest Christian cities in the world, and nicknamed “Portuguese Rome.” We visited the Bom Jesus Do Monte Sanctuary, an important pilgrimage site where many devout Catholics have reportedly walked the “Stations of the Cross” for purposes of reflection and penance since 1811. From Braga, we headed North to Santiago de Compostela, which we learned to be one of the top pilgrimage destinations since the Middle Ages. Pilgrims come from different parts of the world and take different routes starting from France, Madrid, Portugal, etc., doing the Camino walk, which may take up to three weeks, with all routes leading to St. James Cathedral. We attended the Pilgrims Mass in the Cathedral, which houses the remains of the apostle St. James beneath the High Altar. The highlight for me was the famous Botafumeiro — the giant swinging metal thurible that burns incense to bless the pilgrims. After our two-night stop in Santiago de Compostela and having watched “The Way” on the bus—the movie was written and directed by Emilio Esteves, starring his father Martin Sheen about a father’s pilgrimage in the “Camino de Santiago—I vowed to walk this pilgrimage with my husband in the near future. We made a one night stop in Burgos,
the historic capital of Old Castille. We visited, prayed, and had mass at the magnificent Burgos Cathedral. En route to Lourdes, France we passed by the beautiful landscape of Northern Spain, including the alps of the south—the Pyrenees Mountains. We stopped in Cabreira, a medieval town on top of a mountain and it snowed in April! The old church and the quaint town was like frozen in time. Thereafter we visited the 17th-century Sanctuary of Loyola, built in honor of San Ignacio de Loyola, founder of the Jesuit religious order. St. Ignatius was born to a rich and noble family and was a knight himself. His neardeath experience made him give up his knight’s sword and lavish lifestyle, and embarked on a pilgrimage himself and offered his life in service to God. Our next stop was Lourdes in France where we stayed for two nights. Lourdes is another popular pilgrimage site for Catholics because this was where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette. We went to mass, joined the nightly Rosary and procession, and prayed in the famous Grotto, where the holy water springs from the mountain. It was a very touching and uplifting experience. We also visited the birthplace and home of St. Bernadette. En route back to Spain, we made a stop in Carcassonne, near the FrancePain border. The Fortified Citadel
brought us back to the Middle Ages with all the ramparts, castle walls and drawbridges. Oh, how we enjoyed traditional French food for lunch al fresco in the courtyard! The last leg of the tour was Barcelona, Spain where we stayed for three nights. We enjoyed the city tour, visited Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, and went up to the pilgrimage site of Montserrat, situated more than 4000 feet above sea level in a picturesque mountain range, said to be composed of striking pink conglomerate sedimentary rocks. Montserrat is the site of the Benedictine Abbey that hosts the Black Virgin. This place is a beautiful serene place where pilgrims walk to, pray, hear mass, reflect. (Montserrat was St. Ignatius’ pilgrimage destination) After our Marian Shrine Pilgrimage tour and the side trip to Rome, I thought we gave a gift to my in-laws. It turned out that in doing so, we also gave a gift to ourselves because of how we have grown in faith, love and dedication to God. I pray you will be blessed with the same experience too. God be with us all. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos
Rejection of EU grants with conditions a historic break from the past have had provisions, which past regimes ignored: ‘The [European] Commission may suspend this financing agreement if the beneficiary breaches an obligation relating to respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, and in serious cases of corruption.” While that may seem innocuous, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez to his credit interpreted this, correctly I think, to be interference in our Republic’s domestic affairs, an intrusion into our very sovereignty. What criteria, or what body would determine, that the country has no respect for human rights? The quantity of Western media and Human RightsWatch reports alleging human rights violations? Claims by the UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial killings such as Agnes Callamard? Would the EU one day decide that capital punishment is a violation of human rights? Would it pontificate that abortion at all stages of a fetus’ life is the human right of a woman? What criteria would it use to judge an instance as a “serious case of corruption”? In default “If the EU believes that the claims on human rights viola-
tions by this administration’s critics are true, then effectively, we will already be in default under the agreement,”a ranking finance department official explained. “A default on such a basis could further create unnecessary political noise and affect investor sentiment and overall confidence in our government,” he pointed out. He added: “This EU-specific provision is unusual in our grant documentations. Other donor countries and institutions do not have such provisions in their grants.” Duterte’s critics, and especially the Yellow Cult, would almost certainly claim this administration simply has become too defensive or sensitive over human rights criticisms in the wake of his war against illegal drugs. Still though, the inappropriateness of such EU grant conditions could be emphasized using a different analogy. If you applied to borrow money from a bank to buy a car, would you agree to a loan condition that it is suspended if ever you’re issued a traffic ticket? However, there is a far-reaching aspect to the Duterte administration’s junking of such EU grants, that make the 250 million
euros in EU grants we will be giving up worth the cost. From the perspective of our country’s modern history, the Duterte administration’s move to reject EU grants that are laden with conditions that interfere with our sovereignty is a historic break from our sorry past, and a strengthening our sovereignty. Biggest ever grant Right at the emergence of an independent Philippines was the biggest ever grant by a foreign nation to our country, which however carried one of the the worst conditions ever imposed on a sovereign republic. This was through the infamous Bell Trade Act passed by the US Congress on July 2, 1946, two days after the Americans let us be an independent state. As a condition for the $800 million grant we needed to rehabilitate our war-ravaged economy, the US required us, using the euphemism “parity rights,” to amend our Constitution to allow US companies to own public utilities and to exploit our natural resources as well as to take in American products duty-free While most of our pro-American elite—the same crowd who are aghast over Duterte’s move on the EU grants—still find noth-
ing wrong with the Bell Trade Act, it opened up our young economy to powerful US monopoly capitalists that dominated our consumer industries, stunting the development of local industries and pillaging our natural resources. A still-to-be-written economic history is the huge contribution of US mining companies to building up Fort Knox’s inventory of gold by mining and shipping out all of the gold in our country. The Philippine elite—except for a few nationalist industrialists—profited immensely from their collaboration with US companies and as traders for US imports. The elite has managed to disseminate their justification for such American economic dominance so much so that such ideology is taken for economic rationality. Such ideology in this day and age is called “globalization”. The long-term impact really of US “Parity Rights” is that most Filipinos have lost the sense of nationalism. Among many other things, they have become blind to or accepting of the fact that an Indonesian magnate, Anthoni Salim, has violated our Constitution by owning the biggest public utility firms like PLDT and Meralco
as well as most expressways. An Indonesian tycoon, quite amazingly, has gotten parity rights for himself, which Americans got in 1946 only with the twin bribes: our nation’s independence and $800 million. Salim offered nothing. Underdeveloped and crisisprone The kind of economic structure that was the result of parity rights—in which industrialization was blocked because of the massive imports of US goods and through which capital was drained out of the country by US mining companies— kept us underdeveloped and prone to crisis. As a result, we became addicted to loans with conditions purportedly intended to shore up our economy, mainly from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which had conditions that intruded into our sovereignty as much as the Bell Trade Act did. We have had 23 such IMF loans, from 1962 to 1998, the so-called standby arrangement or extended facility loans, making us one of two countries in the world with the most number of such arrangements, the other one being Haiti. By comparison, PAGE A7
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mAy 25-31, 2017
Ombudsman blocks Napoles’ bail petition IPU members in PH to check detained... by ElizabEth
MarcElo
Philstar.com
MANILA - The Office of the Ombudsman has insisted that alleged pork scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles must remain in detention for her supposed involvement in the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of former senator Juan Ponce Enrile. In a 34-page opposition paper dated May 18, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) said it presented sufficient evidence to warrant the continued detention of Napoles as Enrile’s co-accused in a multibillion-peso plunder case. Meanwhile, the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) said it has no transaction records of pork barrel scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy,
his brother Arthur and their mother Gertrudes from 2006 to 2010. The UCPB recently submitted a manifestation to the Sandiganbayan’s First Division in response to a request of former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. to subpoena the bank records of Luy and other pork scam whistle-blowers Marina Sula and Merlina Suùas. Aside from the UCBP, Revilla sought the whistle-blowers’ bank records at Metrobank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Banco de Oro, Metrobank Card Corp., CitiBank, Land Bank of the Philippines and Philippine Savings Bank. The other banks have yet to file their comments on Revilla’s request made in preparation for the start of trial of his plunder case on June 1. The OSP submitted its opposition
paper after Napoles, in November 2016, filed a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the Sandiganbayan’s twin resolutions denying her petition for bail. “The Sandiganbayan ruled that the evidence presented during the bail hearings established conspiracy among the accused. Napoles failed to prove that the anti-graft court committed grave abuse of discretion when it issued the assailed resolutions,� the prosecution said. Last week, Napoles was transferred from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City to Camp Bagong Diwa, after the Court of Appeals (CA) acquitted her in connection with a serious illegal detention case filed by Luy.
Ex-DFA chief urges filing of protest... PAGE A5 The former top diplomat called on Manila to “pursue a defensive posture� by revisiting the joint patrol strategy of the West Philippine Sea. He also added that joint patrols with U.S. troops would “effectively posture� Manila’s “security guarantee agreement,� highlighting the two countries’ treaty alliance. “The joint patrol of our EEZ with the U.S. and possibly other partners would be a combined strategic and tactical move for the Philippine government in defending our national interest and territorial integrity,� Del Rosario said. On the other hand, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Alan Peter Cayetano refused to confirm or deny reports of China’s alleged war threat. “It is but natural when you talk about peace and when you talk about conflict the word war may come up, may or may not come up, so I’m not confirming or de-
nying,� Cayetano said in a media briefing. While refusing to provide more details about the exchange, he affirmed that there “there was no language or even tone that would lead any of the two presidents to believe that there was disrespect for them, or their country.� The top diplomat also insisted that the word “war� should be put into context, remarking that the talk’s “focus is on avoiding war as opposed to conflict.� Likewise, Cayetano affirmed Duterte’s commitment to asserting the country’s territory. “He (Duterte) has told us many many times that he is committed to protecting our territorial integrity. He will protect every single inch of our territory but trust him on how he will do it, how he will approach it and the strategy,� Cayetano said. Benham Rise renamed In an apparent bid to assert the country’s territorial claims,
Duterte recently signed an executive order (EO) that officially renamed Benham Rise to “Philippine Rise.� “All departments, subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities of the government shall henceforth use and employ the name ‘Philippine Rise’ in all official documents in referring to the undersea feature,� EO 25 read. Last month, Duterte revealed his plans to rename the area amid reports that Chinese ships were spotted near it. Located along the Pacific Ocean 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of Isabela, the Philippine Rise is believed to be rich in mineral and gas deposits with Manila as its only claimant. The UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in 2012 approved the submission of Manila in 2009, acknowledging that the region falls within the continental shelf of the Philippines.
Rejection of EU grants with conditions... PAGE A6 how many such facilities have Indonesia and Thailand had, the only two other countries in Asia that got that type of IMF loans? Indonesia had 11, Thailand just two. These IMF loans had zero interest rates but had such huge conditions, such as the lowering of our tariff rates, privatization of public utilities, loosening restrictions on foreign investments, stopping subsidies for the poor. If those conditions sound good,
it’s because of the elite’s brainwashing. Such unrestricted and swift opening up of the economy to advanced nations’ monopoly firms—which Japan, South Korea, or Singapore did only when they were already developed— explains much of our underdevelopment now. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Asian countries which didn’t have such loans with conditions that required them to open up the economy swiftly retained their sovereignty in their
economic policies, and managed their economies to develop their own industries. Even Indonesia and Thailand which had availed of loans with conditions—but fewer—are now more developed than we are. We may lose hundreds of millions of euros by rejecting EU grants. Such a move however puts us on the path of independent nationhood, which rich countries have proven to be the key to prosperity. (ManilaTimes. net)
PAGE A5 Other members of the group who visited De Lima include Minority leader Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Capiz Rep. Emmanuel Billones, Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, and Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin. During a what he described as a “very light� conversation, Erice disclosed that they talked about De Lima’s bid to attend Senate sessions when they visited her. Stressing that the senator has not been convicted yet and is still presumed innocent, Erice said the court should at least allow her to occasionally attend sessions whenever there are votings or discussions on important issues. “Kasi mahalaga din na mairepresent ni Senator De Lima ‘yung constituency niya, being a duly elected senator (Because it is important for Senator De Lima to represent her constituency as a duly elected senator),� Erice explained. Alejano also said they discussed “current issues� with
Diokno: Mindanao martial law... PAGE A5 The 60-day martial law will run until July and will inevitably impact on the second and third quarter GDP prints. GDP, which is the sum of all products and services created in an economy, grew 6.4 percent in the first quarter, below market expectations, and marked the slowest since 2015. At the same time, Diokno reiterated that the public should not worry since the martial law provision under the 1987 Constitution “has many restrictions� not present in the 1973 Charter. Duterte’s proclamation has renewed fears of authoritarianism that marked the martial law era under ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled from 1965 to 1986. “It is limited to 60 days and subject to recall by Congress voting jointly...,� Diokno said. Duterte’s political party PDPLaban holds a supermajority at the House of Representatives, possibly outnumbering a 24member Senate. The Senate is led by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, who is also president of PDP-Laban.
De Lima, citing in particular Duterte’s seemingly soft stance against China’s reportedly war threat and his administration’s rejection of aid from European Union (EU). Earlier, Duterte claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping warned him about the possibility of war if the Philippines conducted an oil exploration in the disputed South China Sea. The Duterte administration also recently announced that it stopped accepting EU grants “with conditions� that affects the
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“autonomy of the country.� De Lima, for her part, thanked the House opposition bloc for visiting and supporting her. “These lawmakers are the genuine and functioning minority in the House of Representatives,� De Lima said in a handwritten letter. She went on to say, “In this time of darkness and flagrant violations of human rights that besiege our nation today, it is really an honor to be fighting with them for truth, justice, and democracy.�
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may 25-31, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOURNaL
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mAy 25-31, 2017
VEGAS&STYLE
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Liza Soberano is ready to take off as Darna by riCky lO Philstar.com
Shanna Mendiola: Emmy Award-winning meteorologist on hard work and success By Christina
Oriel
watching Al Roker on the “Todayâ€? show daily during her social studWhile most individuals are ies class. little did she know that deep in their slumber at 2 a.m., she would later pursue meteorolShanna Mendiola’s day is already ogy as well — and even fill in for beginning. Roker during the 2016 Christmas By 2:30 a.m., like clockwork, season. she arrives at NBC4 Southern “i watched him every day as California, where she has been a kid. i got to work for him. how the meteorologist for the weekday exciting is that? i feel very, very morning newscast, “Today in lA,â€? blessed to have done it, and to be since March. the first Asian American to have done it as well — that’s history,â€? she remarked. Similar to many Filipino Americans, her mother pushed her toward a career in nursing, as “she thought that was a really good way‌to make a living one day and to follow in her footsteps.â€? “it really wasn’t something i wanted to do because i knew that i didn’t like blood and i didn’t like needles, but i really did like science,â€? Mendiola added. When she was 12, her mother brought her to a ‘Take Your Daughter to Work Day’ to further convince her into becoming a nurse. The keynote speaker, who was a NBC4 Today in LA Team including Meteorologist Mendiola; Co-Anchor Whit Johnson, Co-Anchor news anchor, showed a video of Daniella Guzman; Traffic Anchor Holly Hannula Photos courtesy of NBC4 Southern California PAGE B2 AJPress
And for the next five hours, it’s nonstop as she prepares then goes on air from 4:30 to 7 a.m. “it’s the adrenaline because i really love what i do,� Mendiola remarked in a recent interview with the Asian Journal, also joking about the power of coffee to keep her energized. “i think that helps me get through the show.� Growing up, the emmy Awardwinning meteorologist recalls
UNleSS there are last-minute changes (‘And no doubt there won’t be,’ according to Funfare’s Very Deep Penetration Agent/VDPA), the final‌and perfect!...choice as the new Darna is liza Soberano. This piece of ‘breaking news’ should put a period to the prolonged guessing game who the next flying woman would be, with names such as Kathryn Bernardo, Jessy Mendiola, Nadine lustre, Pia Wurtzbach and even Sarah Geronimo thrown into the tambiolo. ‘The Kapamilya actress is now undergoing intense training,’ added the VDPA. ‘The training is being done in a secret place so that there won’t be any ‘leak’.’ To get an idea how liza would look at Darna, Funfare requested our artist to super-impose her pretty face on the Darna-clad body of Angel locsin, one of the actresses who have played the legendary heroine (the last having been Marian Rivera). Doesn’t liza look the perfect modern-day Darna?
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B may 25-31, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOURNaL
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Fil-Am designer on designing Filipino designer’s dress saved Nicki Minaj from Billboard wardrobe malfunction gowns at Miss USA 2017 by
C. Mendez Legaspi Philstar.com
“I belIeve every woman should be celebrated in a beautiful gown!” That is the long-standing philosophy of Joey Galon, who created two memorable gowns at the recent Miss USA 2017 pageant. One is a red dupioni silk and Swarovski crystals-encrusted gown for Miss Alaska Alyssa london and an orange silk chiffon and Swarovski crystal gown with custom-designed matching earrings for Miss Hawaii Julie Kuo. In what has become a national predilection, we try to find a Filipino connection to anything happening in the international scene. At the onset of the prestigious competition, we thought we found it in Miss North Dakota, Raquel Wellentin, who was born in the Philippines. but when she did not make it to the Top 10, we thought we lost a reason to cheer someone on, unlike last year when Miss Hawaii Chelsea Hardin, a half-Filipina, almost won the crown eventually snatched by Miss District of Columbia Deshauna barber. but then, stories started to emerge after the preliminary rounds that there was indeed something Filipino taking the spotlight onstage at the Mandalay bay hotel in las vegas. And it is not a stretch to claim this outstanding talent as one of our own, as Joey Galon unabashedly hashtags himself a #filamfashiondesigner. Through a bio sent by my cousin Gilda Stiefel, who met Galon when she won the Mrs. American Pinoy 2015 title, I learned that the fashion designer-cum-pageant coach was born in San Francisco. His father was from bohol while his mother hails from Cebu. He went to Hillsdale High School (where he was recently inducted to the alumni hall of fame), earned his bachelor of Arts in Fashion and Textile Design from San Francisco State, studied business management at San Diego State and opened his Joey Galon, Atelier in los Angeles. No stranger to television, you can find Galon as a fashion correspondent on Fox 5 Tv and a reality Tv personality on lifetime Network’s “24 Hour Catwalk,” TlC Network’s “vegas brides” and on NUvOtv’s “Model la-
by
deni Rose BeRnaRdo Philstar.com
lAS veGAS — After an explosive opening performance for billboard Music Awards 2017 Monday, May 22, Nicki Minaj’sallblack, studded latex costume ripped off, exposing her private parts but unknown to the public, the rapper revealed in a Twitter post. Good thing, the pop star had a backup: an all-black, feathery outfit courtesy of Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco. Nicki’s Michael Cinco dress, which she paired with knee-high gladiator boots, took center stage Joey Galon’s designs for Miss Alaska and Miss Hawaii as she accompanied her good friend, Drake, pick up his Top Artist Award, making him win a record 13 awards and beating Adele with the most billboard Music Award trophies. early this month, Nicki made headlines when she announced she would shoulder her fans’ Rapper Nicki Minaj wearing a Michael Cinco creation at the Billboard Music Awards 2017. school costs if they were to show her their perfect marks. After Scherzinger, Fergie Ferguson, as “best Dressed” by many magareceiving screenshots of grades ellie Goulding, Dita von Teese, zines and Tv shows when she from some fans, she agreed to pay Chris brown, Tyra banks, Naomi walked in the Golden Globes 2013 the fans’ student loans and book Campbell, brandy and Ashanti. red carpet in a Cinco creation. Michael also designed coscosts. She then vowed to repeat british pop star Paloma Faith the contest after a month or two. wore Michael’s couture dress at tumes for Mila Kunis’ sci-fi hit, Apart from Minaj, Michael has the Metropolitan Museum Gala “Jupiter Ascending.” last weekend, bollywood star Aishwarya dressed up other A-list stars like in New York. Galon handing the gowns to Miss Alaska and Miss Hawaii. In 2015, lopez wore a crystal- Rai bachchan turned heads when Rihanna, lady Gaga, beyonce, tina,” with an upcoming show to onstage but he also created the Jennifer lopez, Kylie Minogue, lized Michael Cinco opus as host she walked on the Cannes Film release, “veganista,” as a fashion gown worn by Deshauna during britney Spears, Carrie Under- of the American Music Awards. Festival 2017 red carpet in a blue makeover expert on the las vegas her pre-turnover interview by host wood, Christina Aguilera, Nicole likewise, Sofia vergara was voted Michael Cinco ball gown. Juliana Hough. He gushed: “Miss strip. His creations have been show- USA 2016, Deshauna barber wore cased at lA Fashion Week, editori- my purple floral gown on the inals and Tv shows, and pageants ternationally televised Miss USA CANNeS — The 70th Cannes Film Festival opened last at all levels (state, Miss USA, Miss pageant stage. She blessed my weekend with a grand red carpet welcome for film stars America, Mrs. Universe, Miss Asia gown and me with her!” all over the world. Of her unique gown, which she USA, Mr. International). One of “the biggest, most dramatic looks” on the red “I prayed and wished and sashayed again as one of the Top carpet, according to fashion magazine Vogue, is bollywood dreamed to one day have my 10, Miss Alaska Alyssa london star Aishwarya Rai bachchan’s blue princess gown by gown on the stage at Miss USA. wrote on her Fb page: “by wearDubai-based Filipino fashion designer Michael Cinco. Seeing it tonight on Tv for the ing a gown with this design work, Aastha Sharma, bachchan’s stylist, told Vogue India in preliminary competition at MISS I felt I had the strength of my anan interview that he chose Cinco’s piece when he saw the USA is so surreal. I’m speechless, cestors and my whole community designer’s collection last March. According to him, when I’m grateful & I’m so so so so behind me on stage. Also, in doing Aishwarya tried the gown on, “it was a perfect match.” blessed. Prayer works!” he posted so, I am blending tradition with The gown is so big, it has its own room, said Sharmodernity, showcasing the vitality on social media. ma. “Miss Nevada USA 2015, brit- of our indigenous cultures today. besides Aishwarya, Michael has dressed up other A-list tany McGowan, in a silver, plati- Thank you Joey Galon, Atelier for celebrities like beyonce, britney Spears, lady Gaga, Jennum, (over 2000) hand-applied honoring my culture and vision for nifer lopez, Rihanna, Kylie Minogue, Christina Aguilera, encrusted Swarovski crystal gown my gown. I am the cultural ambasNicole Scherzinger, ellie Goulding, Fergie Ferguson, Carwith platinum silver dupioni silk sador for my tribe appointed by rie Underwood, Dita von Teese, Chris brown, Tyra banks, edwardian train,” Galon added Sealaska Heritage and this is what brandy, Ashanti, Naomi Campbell and most recently, Nicki in a post on his Facebook page I envisioned to show the beauty Minaj at the 2017 billboard Music Awards. in 2015 of his first foray into the and vitality of our art and culture. At her third day at Cannes this year, Aishwarya wore national pageant and fashion I am very proud of making this the creation of another celebrity Filipino designer, Mark statement through this gown, it scene. bumgarner, who famously collaborated with Filipino acIn 2017, Galon not only had will always be a treasured moment two gowns worn by contestants and memory.” Photo from Michael Cinco’s Instagram account tress Heart evangelista for a collection. (Philstar.com)
Bollywood star wears Filipino designers on Cannes red carpet
Shanna Mendiola: NBC4’s Emmy Award... PAGE B1
the newsroom that she worked in and the various positions available, including a meteorologist. “back in the day, I really didn’t think about it but I looked at my mom and said, ‘Is that something I can do?’ She was like, ‘Well, I’d really want you to be a nurse, but if it’s something you want to do, then it’s science. I think you could be OK,’” Mendiola said. She continued “being really good at science” and went on to San Francisco State University, where she received a bachelor of arts degree in radio and television. She subsequently completed a meteorology certificate at Mississippi State University. before moving to NbC4 in 2014, she worked for Tv stations in Denver, San Francisco, and Oregon. “Part of the job is moving around the country from little markets and working your way up. I had to leave home in order to do that and it was hard on the family because being Filipino American, everyone wants to be together…” she said. “It was difficult for me to do that for a while because I’d be away from my family and I couldn’t see them as much.” each market has nurtured her skills as a weather forecaster and has given her a host of experiences covering extreme conditions, from floods to hurricanes. “I remember one time I was able to see the development of a tornado [in Colorado]…It was scary and my mom was like, ‘Don’t do that again.’ I think seeing that helped me with what I’m doing now here in lA,” she recalled. A big misconception about meteorologists is that they simply
Pictured with Dylan Dreyer (left) and Al Roker (right), Mendiola filled in for Roker on the TODAY Show during the Christmas holiday in 2016. Photo courtesy of Mendiola’s instagram page
Mendiola in studio reporting with the Augmented Reality tool
Mendiola talks to students about meteorology as part of the “NBC4 Weather Day” at Angel’s Stadium in Anaheim Photos courtesy of NBC4 Southern California
have to “talk, smile, and be pretty,” she said. However, their work requires analyzing weather patterns and utilizing technology in order to narrate a story for the newscast. “My day starts the day before with planning and getting a good night’s rest, but before that, studying all the computer models,” she shared. “Meteorologists do a lot of work. I studied in school to learn how to read these computer models to tell us the weather patterns and what’s going to happen, and then keep up to date with the news because that relates to weather and telling people what to be prepared for as well.” Given that information for the upcoming day, she mentally forms a script about how to tell the weather story. At her current station, Mendiola takes her segment a step further and gets to integrate tools, such as the NbC4x4Caster (a high-tech Jeep that allows them to produce stationary and mobile weather reporters), the StormRanger 4 (a mobile Doppler weather radar truck that can gather in real-time weather and meteorological information), and augmented reality to enhance the weather stories. These investments are what set NbC4’s broadcast apart from others and help her “tell the story differently,” she said, as the team
can go live from any neighborhood and track the rain directly, for instance. “I like to be at the forefront of things and being able to tell people about it, so it’s really awesome that I’m part of this team at NbC4,” she said. “We’re the first to let you know about your weather, even though there’s this [notion] that Southern California doesn’t have a lot of weather going on.” With summer approaching in the coming weeks, Mendiola emphasized the importance of making sure homes are not at fire risk, as well as staying cool, drinking water, and of course, watching the daily forecast. As for those who want to pursue a career in media, she has this to share: “Filipino or not, I hope that me being on this platform, it shows that you can do anything you really put your mind to. It takes a lot of work but if you continue to work hard for it, you’ll get there.” “I think no matter what you want to do, whether or not it’s television or news, something important — and something I apply every day — is to stay humble because it really puts you in the right mindset for what you’re doing in life. You don’t let your ego get to you and it helps to be grounded and keeps you focused on what’s important.”
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Joreen Bautista ready to play Kim in ‘Miss Saigon’ Robin Padilla wants to be a hands-on lolo by leah
C. salterIo Philstar.com
When 17-year-old Joreen Bautista initially auditioned for the award-winning musical, Miss Saigon, she only tried her luck to gain “certain exposure.” Little did she know she was in for a chance-of-a-lifetime stage experience. “I saw the post of the ‘Miss Saigon’ auditions in Manila in social media and was at first only thinking of giving it a shot,” Joreen recalls. “I was busy at the same time then. I remember tweeting, ‘To audition for ‘Miss Saigon’ or not.’ A lot of people replied, ‘Go for it.’ “I thought about it and knew it would give me such an experience to sing for the great directors. So I thought, ‘Why not just do it?’ I knew it didn’t have to be very serious anyway. Whether or not I got called or got in, it’s always a plus for exposure. So I did. I auditioned.” She sang Sun and Moon and Kim’s heart-wrenching, solo number, “I’d Give My Life for You,” a song for Kim’s son, Tam. “There were around 20 of us who auditioned, I was the only one who got a call back,” Joreen shares. A few more callbacks followed, then, Joreen learned she made it to the final auditions. A month later, she received an e-mail from “Miss Saigon” casting director, Paul Wooler, who told her she has been kept into consideration as understudy for Kim. Last December, she received another e-mail that formally offered her the part of Kim’s alternate. When Joreen learned that she passed the auditions and was offered Kim’s alternate, she had mixed emotions. “My hands were shaking,” she offers. “I was very excited and nervous at the same time. I was so overjoyed and was really thankful this wonderful opportunity opened for me.” Other Filipinos in the main cast of “Miss Saigon” include Red Concepcion, who will play
Joreen Bautista: I loved acting because you could be anyone.
The engineer and GMA 7 talent Gerald Santos, who will essay the role of Thuy. When she was in fourth grade, Joreen watched excerpts of Miss Saigon staged in her school. She has yet to see the full production live onstage. “I’m 17, just like Kim. I was told Act 2 will be a bit more challenging, where Kim starts being stronger and more experienced. I have to be able to feel emotions I had never felt before. I have to give a sense of truth to what’s happening in the show and feel as if I really am the character.” Joreen left first week of May for the UK, where she is set to start rehearsals for Miss Saigon, her first major production. The musical opens July 1 at the Curve Leicester Theater. After the UK run, Joreen will also join the cast in Dublin, Ireland. “I do not know yet about what to really expect about performing in the international stage for ‘Miss Saigon,’” Joreen says. “But I do believe this will bring me so much learning and experience, that such opportunity is not
opened to everyone. So as early as now, I am already thankful.” Joreen is thrilled she has met Lea Salonga, who originated the role of Kim in the UK and went on to make a name for herself in the international stage. “Lea’s biggest advice to me was to be able to have a talk with my leading man to make agreements and set boundaries, knowing what it takes to play Kim.” This greenhorn is understandably hesitant to do kissing scenes, since it is obviously something she is not used to doing. “From the beginning, we (my family and friends) all knew what it takes and what one will have to be going through in playing the role of Kim,” Joreen states. “Knowing Kim is only a role and it doesn’t mean it will be who I am, they are still very supportive.” She looks up to Lea Salonga, Rachelle Ann Go and Sierra Boggess. She also feels privileged to have had the chance to talk to Carla Laforteza, Isay Alvarez, Audie Gemora and director Bobby Garcia, “whose words have been of really big help in preparing for this big journey.” A talent of Rank One Productions, with David Cosico as her manager, Joreen developed early interest in music and the performing arts. She has always loved musicals, particularly “Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserablés” and lately, “Miss Saigon.” “I loved acting because you could be anyone,” Joreen says. “Performing onstage really has been one of my dreams since I was young. It is overwhelming to think what has been given to me is so much bigger than I thought.” After “Miss Saigon,” Joreen wants to finish her studies. She will go to college and plans to take up interior design, music or business, her interests and strengths. “But if God opens another door for me and it comes a bit earlier, then I will have to weigh things first.”
Marian Rivera’s Spanish holiday by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net
GMA network’s Prime Time Queen Marian Rivera was glowing with excitement when she sat down to talk about her summer holiday early this May in europe with husband Dingdong Dantes and daughter Zia. Besides attending the wedding of a good friend, the highlight of their vacation was the family’s visit to Rivera’s father, Francisco Javier Alonso, in Spain where she was born. There she also met anew with her extended family. It has been more than two years since the father and daughter were together when he attended what showbiz had dubbed “The Royal Wedding” between Prime Time King and Queen, Dantes and Rivera. As such, it was the first time 18-month-old Zia met her maternal grandfather. “Iba talaga ang lukso ng dugo, ano? Totoo pala yun. Zia never met Papa [Javier] before but when they did, it seemed like they had always known each other,” said the genuinely happy actress as she buckled down to work at the press conference for her latest TV show, “Tadhana.” “Zia is such a sweet girl. When you ask her, “What is the name of your lolo?” She’ll say “Avi.” She knows his name. It was really a heartwarming treat to see them together,” she added. According to Rivera, since Zia is her father’s first grandchild, the pair were inseparable during their entire stay. “We bonded in Seville. We’d just walk around the entire time. Papa was the one carrying Zia. And I remember ang pang-uto niya kay Zia, bibili sila ng ice
The Prime Time King and Queen Dingdong and Marian with daughter Zia.
cream because she really loves ice cream,” she added dotingly. During the short visit, Rivera also finally met her half-siblings for the first time. “It was nice. I met my little siblings who can already pass for Zia’s siblings. The two girls were aged 12 and eight, and then the boy is just six years old.” “I cried a little when we said our goodbyes,” she confessed. “Sabi nga ng papa ko, ilang taon na naman kaya kami bago magkikita.” Meanwhile, Rivera was also game to answer the question if she and Dantes were able to sneak some alone time during their jampacked trip. She chuckled and said, “We had lot of time but then when you have your
Marian Rivera with father Francisco Javier Alfonso in Spain
baby with you, that’s not going to be your priority. Our focus was on the entire family—for Zia to meet my father and also attend my friend’s wedding” The friend’s wedding is that of stylist and magazine editor Pam Quiñones’ in Italy where she wed boyfriend Chris Allison. It was well attended not just by the Danteses but also many celebrities, including fellow showbiz couple Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo. “hiniram nila si Zia. Sabi ni Ate Judy Ann, “O sige na Dong, Yan, mag gala muna kayo, akin na muna si Zia.’ I told her, “Ayoko, kayo na lang dalawa para may time kayo. nakakatuwa talaga yung dalawang mag-asawa na yun, sobrang down to earth,” Rivera shared. According to her, whenever Santos held Zia, she said she missed her youngest daughter Luna. The Agoncillos’ trip to Italy was their first time they were able to travel with the Danteses without having to work. “Sabi nga niya mag-get together daw kami kasi, yung personality ni Luna and ni Zia iisa lang. I told her we’d love that,” she said. With all of the family pictures the Dantes couple shared in their social media accounts, many were inspired by their togetherness, bringing up the hashtag “family goals” among their fans. To this, Rivera said, “What is more important is not what they see in the picture. It’s about the story behind them—the fun memories we make whenever we’re together. We post all those picture because we just wanted to share them with the people who have always been there for us and supporting us. We’re just grateful to them and if seeing our family moments make them happy, then we’re also happy to do it.” Rivera ended.
by MJ
MarforI ManilaTimes.net
IT is only a matter of time until Kylie Padilla gives birth to her first born with fiancé Aljur Abrenica. her due date is in July, and grandfather-to-be Robin Padilla is being there for his daughter every step of the way. The 47-year-old actor proudly shared with In The Know his excitement at a sidelines chat during his Moneygram event in Solaire last week. “Lalo na sa edad ko… Doon nga sa anak ko tuwang tuwa ako eh, lalo na siguro sa apo ko! Kasi dumating iyan sa panahon na nasa prime ka pa at napakasarap na may dala ka sa magkabila.” Thanks to Robin’s wife Mariel Rodriguez, Kylie is getting through her pregnancy quite easily. Mariel is guiding Kylie on how to be a first-time mom. “Sila ni Mariel magkausap mula umaga hanggang gabi, araw-araw iyan!” he enthused. On another note, the action star also expressed his concern over his good friend and Megastar Sharon Cuneta’s sud-
Kylie Padilla
den solo trip abroad because of exhaustion and personal troubles. “Susundan ko sana siya eh, kung europe iyon, bawal kasi ako sa Amerika, pero nasabi ko na sa kanya ang mga gusto ko sabihin at alam na niya iyon.” he shared.
B may 25-31, 2017 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOURNaL
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Movie director Gil Portes passes away AWARD-winning director Gil Portes passed away on Wednesday. Screenwriter-director Senedy Que broke the news on Facebook adding that Portes’ long-time assistant and friend Arman Reyes and fellow director Mel Chionglo were at an undisclosed morgue to identify his body. “He was found dead in the
place he was staying at. No autopsy yet,” Que clarified in his post. Po r t e s ’ l a t e s t o p u s w a s “Moonlight over Baler” starring Elizabeth oropesa, Ellen Adarna, Sophie Albert and Vin Abrenica. The movie’s writer, former entertainment editor Eric Ramos told The Manila PAGE B6 Gil Portes
Circus features abused women as performers by
Deni rose BernarDo Philstar.com
The beautiful winged creatures of ‘Mulawin vs. Ravena’ by Tessa
Mauricioa-arriola ManilaTimes.net
“No other time could be perfect in mounting a sequel to GMA Network’s ground breaking fantasy series “Mulawin” than now,” declared the show’s creator, writer and co-director, Don Michael Perez. He was emotional as he stood beside his co-director Dominic Zapata and a talented cast of bignamed stars that make up 2017’s “Mulawin vs. Ravena.” “It was in 2004 when Direk Dominic and I were still starting out—he was already a director and I was a writer. While we were doing Mulawin, alam namin na we were doing something important, but we didn’t think that it was going to be this major,” Perez continued. “So we worked on this project for about two years—2004 lumabas ‘yung unang Mulawin series, and then we did the movie noong 2005. Doon sa dalawang taon na ‘yon, ‘yon ang naging buhay namin. “Twelve years later, GMA assembled the best cast and production team. Nag-advance na din ‘yung technology, nag-advance na ‘yung paggawa ng TV shows. And I would say that this is the perfect time for Mulawin vs. Ravena to fly high.” It was easy to understand why Perez was overwhelmed by the fruition of his dream sequel for Mulawin. A sneak peek was shown
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on a high definition screen that was breathtaking in special effects, elaborate costumes, and the cast’s dedicated acting. And with the likes of Dennis Trillo, Heart Evangelista, Lovi Poe, Carla Abellana and Regine Velasquez at the frontline of the story, what more can he and his co-director ask for? The plot Following previous events, Aguiluz and Alwina, the saviors of the human and Mulawin race, successfully defeated the Ravena tribe in their quest to annihilate the human race. In Mulawin vs. Ravena, the sequel will continue the fight between good and evil as both tribes strive to defeat each other. Dennis Trillo returns as Gabriel who embraces his fate as a Ravena and now king of Halconia. With a new ruler, the Ravena tribe strengthens its forces. While no major battles spawn among the Mulawins and Ravenas over the years, some believe that this is merely the calm before the storm and that war is imminent. Goddesses Joining the powerhouse ensemble are Lovi Poe as Magindara, the goddess of the sea and daughter of Sandawa; Carla Abellana as Aviona, one of the most respected and well-loved Mulawin; and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid in her first fulllength telefantasya as Sandawa, the immortal goddess of nature and keeper of Mt. Apo.
Adding glimmer to the show in a very special role is Heart Evangelista-Escudero as Alwina, saviour of the Mulawin and humans. 30-strong Close to a 30-strong cast bring “Mulawin vs. Ravena” to life, Tom Rodriguez as Rodrigo, a human who falls in love with and marries Aviona; Ariel Rivera as Panabon, representative of the Tabon or Mulawin half-bloods. The network’s hottest young stars have also been given the honor to revive the iconic series, namely Bea Binene as Anya, the half-blood daughter of Aviona; Derrick Monasterio as Almiro, the noble son of Aguiluz and Alwina destined to be the ruler of Avila; Kiko Estrada as Rafael, Almiro’s best friend turned mortal enemy; Bianca Umali as Lawiswis, a beautiful young Avian and the love of Pagaspas’ life; and Miguel Tanfelix as Pagaspas, a former owl that transitioned into a Mulawin. Completing the star-studded cast are the mortals: Angelu De Leon as Lourdes, Bobby Andrews as Dionisio, Joko Diaz as Antonio, Martin del Rosario as Aramis, Charee Pineda as Savanna, and Nova Villa as Lola Elo; the Mulawin: Roi Vinzon as Daragit, Valerie Concepcion as Tuka, JC Tiuseco as Tangos, David Licauco as Malik; and the Ravena: Chynna ortaleza as Reyna Rashana, Dion Ignacio as Siklab, Winwyn Marquez as Ribay, and TJ Trinidad as Greco. (ManilaTimes.net)
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oN May 29, Filipino actress KC Concepcion will join “France Got Talent” 2016 third place finalist Alienette Coldfire, French actress ouazani, a Cirque du Soleil acrobat and the former abused women performers of Cameleon in a fund-raising circus for the benefit of young Filipino girls who have suffered abuse. In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Cameleon, a FrenchFilipino non-government organization (NGo) providing protection and rehabilitation to young Filipino girls who have suffered abuse, SM Mall of Asia with support from SM Cares, and the Zonta Club of Makati Ayala, present “Metamorphosis,” a circus show to be held at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. open to the public and donors, “Metamorphosis” features nine foreign circus artists coming from France and Canada. They will perform different acts like cyr ring, aerial ring, aerial silk, Chinese pole, hand to hand, acrobatics, tight wire, and Hula hoop. The lady beneficiaries of Cameleon will join the show to present their talent in contortion, diabolo and unicycle. Luc Richard (stage director) and Patrick Mattioni (circus teacher) will create and organize the circus show. The show will be hosted by celebrity advocate KC Concepcion. “Metamorphosis” will also showcase how circus can be a tool for therapy and professional integration. Since the visit of the French Zanzibar Circus in 2004, circus has been fully integrated into the rehabilitation program of Cameleon, thanks to strong partnerships with the French National Circus School (ENACR) and worldwide circus companies from Peru, Canada, and Cambodia. Circus is part of the girls’ therapy as it allows them to come out
Filipino actress and Cameleon ambassador KC Concepcion, “France Got Talent” 2016 third place finalist Alienette Coldfire, and French actress Ouazani, who performs aerial silk, will be starring in a circus show to be headlined by foreign acts and local performers under the care of Cameleon, an NGO that uplifts abused girls’ lives through circus.
their shells, feel well, trust others, have fun, and to build a positive image of themselves, Laurence Ligier said in a recent press conference for the show. Ligier founded Cameleon in Iloilo 20 years ago to work with parents and families to help beneficiaries become independent. Circus, according to her, has been an effective therapeutic tool in helping abused girls to build self-confidence as it is a mix of theater and sports. Through the help of ENACR, a training gym in Iloilo has trained over 100 girls in the last 15 years. Fifteen of these former abused girls have become professional trainers. Ligier said some girls are performing in schools and in SM Iloilo, and they are using circus as a professional and advocacy tool since before every performance, they give a talk about children’s rights and how to prevent abuse. So far, Cameleon has helped over 7,000 beneficiaries, but Ligier admitted that the NGo constantly needs funds as it takes five to 10 years to help a girl legally, physically, and emotionally,
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among others. She reported that sometimes, up to four sisters in a family, aged five to 18, are abused. Some of the victims are overseas Filipino workers’ children left behind by their parents in the Philippines. If left without help, an abused child ends up in prostitution or in jail, Ligier said. “Circus helps girls to release their tension. It is therapeutic to girls who have been victims of sexual and physical abuse. It helps them develop team work, unity, and individual skills,” attested Shaline Gamala, a Cameleon beneficiary who now has a master’s in English. SM senior vice president for marketing and communications Millie Dizon said Cameleon is close to SM’s heart as Iloilo, where the NGo started, is also one of the first sites where SM opened a mall. “SM’s hosting of ‘Metamorphosis’ gives another side to malling, which is giving back and making a difference,” said Dizon, who believes that for many young victims of abuse, “circus is a form of healing.”
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Your Immigration Solution ATTY. DEVIN CONNOLLY & NANCY MILLER THE death of a close family member is obviously a very difficult time in a person’s life. This is even more true when the death results in both the loss of a beloved family member and the loss of the potential to become a permanent resident status in the U.S. (Green card). Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an approved visa petition is automatically revoked when the petitioner dies before the beneficiary is issued a green card. The law is harsh but not absolute. A person may still be able to get their green card despite the petitioner’s death. Section 204(l) of the INA allows people to still be granted their green cards if they are able to demonstrate that they meet certain eligibility criteria as stated in the INA. In order to qualify under Section 204(l) of the INA, the immigrant beneficiary must have resided in the United States at the time of the petitioner’s death and must continue to reside in the U.S. Prior to this important change, only certain widows and widowers who were petitioned by their U.S. citizen spouse were granted the opportunity to obtain permanent resident status after the death of the petitioner. The first issue that must be resolved surrounds the definition of “residence.” As stated above, the beneficiary of the visa petition must actually reside in the U.S. at the time of their family member’s death. They will not be eligible under INA 204(l) simply by being physically present in the U.S. on the exact day that their relative passed away. Rather, it is required that they maintained a residence in the U.S. at the time of the petitioner’s death. However, it is not required that they were physically present in the U.S. on the date of death. Thus, an im-
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA
FEATURES
Permanent residence still possible after petitioner’s death migrant beneficiary may still be eligible for adjustment of status if they were actually abroad when the petitioner died, so long as they can establish that they were actually residing in the U.S. at the time of the petitioner’s death. It is also important to note that the law does not require that they have lawful status in the U.S. at the time of death. There are also other requirements that must be established in addition to residence. These including demonstrating that the beneficiary deserves a favorable exercise of discretion and that they have an acceptable substitute sponsor. Finally, Section 204(l) of the INA may also provide immigration benefits for more people than just the beneficiary named on the petition. It may also allow the named beneficiary’s spouse and children to be granted permanent resident status. In some instances, the deceased family member was also the only or primary qualifying relative for a needed waiver of a ground of inadmissibility. Section 204(l) allows the beneficiary to continue to pursue the waiver with the deceased family member as the qualifying relative. Section 204(l) of the INA is clearly greatly beneficial to many people. Unfortunately, though, not everyone qualifies. For those beneficiaries who are not eligible to apply for adjustment of status under INA 204(l), they still have the opportunity to apply for “Humanitarian Reinstatement.” As stated earlier, the underlying petition is automatically revoked upon the death of the petitioner. However, “Humanitarian Reinstatement” provides hope for those family members living abroad that waited patiently for their immigrant visa petition to become current. A request for “Humanitarian Reinstatement” is a request that the petition
be reinstated on humanitarian grounds. If the request is granted, the beneficiary, and potentially his or her spouse and children, will be permitted to continue with the Immigrant Visa process and reunite with their remaining family members in the United States. The United States Department of State’s Foreign Affairs Manual provides a list of factors the USCIS should consider in evaluating requests for reinstatements. These factors include, but are not limited to, whether there will be a disruption of an established family unit; any potential hardship to U.S. citizen or lawful permanent residents; if the beneficiary is elderly, has strong family ties to the U.S., or is in poor health with no home to go to, and whether there was an undue delay in the processing of the petition. The death of a loved one can devastate a family. And, for some prospective immigrants, the death may also threaten to further tear apart the family unit. But it is important to remember that immigrating to the U.S. may still be possible despite the death of your close family member. Anyone who has lost a petitioning family member prior to obtaining their green card should consult a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney to find out whether they can still obtain lawful permanent residence. *** 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)
Log off and enjoy your hot chocolate “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything... They just make the best of everything that they have.” -Author Unknown
ONCE more with feeling …… I am doubling down and taking my own piece of advice. Unless absolutely necessary, I intend to be logged off for longer periods of time. How else can I SAVOR THE MOMENT except by living real life in real time with as fewer hours as possible spent on the internet? Plus my eyes are getting fried with too much screen time. Communication has become efficient, almost done by rote, and sometimes borders on the cold and impersonal. I still don’t enjoy being part of a global network to be used for someone’s purpose or agenda. I REFUSE TO BE A PRODUCT TRADED ON WALL STREET. Yes, I am kicking and screaming. There’s a stubborn part of me that rebels and chafes at becoming part of a statistic. I resent being used for the purpose of advancing some corporate agenda. There are companies who mine data from social networking sites and the gigantic hoard of public information mega databases. These are then sold to interested
parties as valuable psychographic information. Companies package, repackage and sell personal information with the sole purpose of manipulating the mass behavior of citizens in a free society. It stinks to high heaven when the powers that be use information for social engineering and political purposes such as skewing election results. With blatant, unlawful NSA snooping on anything electronic by any citizen these days, can the Gestapo thought police be far behind? I doubt if my opinions on a twitter account holds any gravitas to twitterverse users. Saying something by tweeting on anything can and will be held against you. A screen grab of your comment makes it permanent. Why give anyone any ammo? The number of users following you is
Health@Heart
Facts about coconut water
supposed to be an indication of your fan base. Few things on the net, particularly regarding the ego, are real however. I heard some enterprising company lets you claim thousands of fake twitter followers who purportedly follow your tweets. That goes for a fee, of course. The internet has become the de facto hothouse for growing gigantic egos. We’ve all become easy targets for privacy intruders. Nothing seems sacred or private anymore. There’s more than enough out there in the public records to fill a dossier on anyone with an SSN or a pulse. We are living in the throes of the Information Age and the currencies being traded are bits and bytes of information. It’s like living in glass houses these days. There’s too much naked transparency. PAGE B6
PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS COCONUT water (buko juice) is a popular drink in Asia and South America. The top ten countries on the list of world-leading coconut producers according to volume are: Indonesia, Philippines, India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Mexico, Thailand, and Malaysia. The Philippines export more than $1 billion worth of coconuts to the United States alone. What actually is coconut water? Coconut water is the clear liquid inside coconuts which, in early development, “serves as a suspension for the endosperm of the coconut during its nuclear phase” of growth. The endosperm matures into “cellular phase and deposits into the rink of the coconut meat.” The coconut water and the soft meat of young coconut is a delicacy, popular among locals and tourists in those tropical countries and others where coconuts thrive. They are sold fresh on the street by vendors with machetes who cut a hole at the top for drinking, with or without a straw. They are also available bottled, soft-packed, and canned, usually consumed chilled. What are the other coconut products? Besides its water and meat, other coconuts products include
copra, coconut oil and coconut milk (gata) for cooking and for cosmetics, palm sugar, flower syrup, butter, desiccated coconut, powdered sugar, jelly, cream, kefir (probiotic), flour, vinegar, nata de coco fruit jelly, etc. Indeed, coconut is a versatile fruit, nut, and seed, all in one. Can it reverse Alzheimer’s? The popular claim that coconut oil products can reverse Alzheimer’s disease is baseless and unfounded. There is no scientific evidence to this effect. The same is true with the other medicinal claims for other illnesses, like depression, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, allergies, As a matter of fact, there is a controversy that coconut oil and products can be detrimental to the consumer’s blood cholesterol/lipids levels and cardiovascular health, if consumed regularly. Fresh uncontaminated
coconut water is deemed acceptable and safe. Scientifically, the use of coconut oil for hair, skin, and lips, as conditioner-moisturizer has been proven to be of good cosmetic value. What are the nutritional values of coconut water? Coconut water is 95 percent water and 100 ml provides only 19 calories, 4 percent carbohydrates, under 1 percent protein and fat. It does not contain any vitamin or dietary minerals of any significant value. Unless contaminated by a handler, fresh coconut water is sterile, free of microbes. While this has been marketed as “natural energy drink or sport drink,” claiming it has significant electrolyte content, this is not true. The potassium, magnesium, calcium and sodium in unprocessed coconut water per 100 ml PAGE B7
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 25-31, 2017
Calendar of Events across
B5
America
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS M AY 26
AMBOY presents lechon festival in LA AMBOY presents a Lechon festival on Friday, May 26 where six different chefs will compete and be given the chance to show their version of our beloved lechon. All attendees and judges will get the chance to taste each chef’s representation and get to vote for the best version of lechon in Los Angeles based on flavor, originality, plating and crunchiness. VIP guests and judges will have additional courses made by each chef competing for the grand prizes. It is $75 for VIP (entrance at 6 p.m.) and $50 for GA (entrance at 7 p.m.). It will be held at the second floor of Far East Plaza (727 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012). To book online, please visit www.universe.com/amboylechonfestival or email eatatamboy@ gmail.com for any inquiries.
M AY 28
Global gathering of Bulacan High School and Marcelo H. del Pilar High School in Rosemead, CA Graduates of Bulacan High School and Marcelo H. del Pilar High School of Malolos, Bulacan will hold their first ever global gathering on Sunday, May 28 at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Rosemead, California. Please call up any of the following for more details: Rosario “Charito” Aldaba Gabriel (Class ‘66), Tel. No. (818)-982-1165; Lourdes Ople Smith (Class ’64) Tel. No. (310)-662-1948; Gerry “German” Torres, Jr. (Class ’66) Tel. No. (818)-646-3286. You can also visit the website at www.mhpnhs-maa.com.
Filipino Medical Program hosts community health screening in Jersey City, NJ Holy Name Medical Center’s Filipino Medical Program will have a health screening from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 28 at the Santacruzan Festival at St. Mary’s Church on 254 2nd St, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302. For more information, please call the FMP at (201) 833-3355 or email lavarro@holyname.org.
JUNE 3
5th annual Kalayaan Parade in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown The 5th Kalayaan Parade in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown will be held on Saturday, June 3, beginning at 9 a.m. to celebrate the 119th Philippine Independence Day. LA Councilmember Mitch O’ Farrell of District 13 will be the guest speaker of the program. The assembly area is in front of the Silverlake Medical Center (SLMC) at Temple Street at 8:00 a.m. The parade starts at 9:00 a.m. and will end at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) compound. For more information please call Art at (213) 318-9065 or visit www.jfavusa.org.
Kalayaan Incorporated’s Philippine Independence Gala Night in Garden Grove, CA Kalayaan Incorporated Southern California, with the cooperation of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, invites you to its Gala Night in commemoration of the 119th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on Saturday, June 3. It will be held at the Hyatt Regency Orange County (11999 Harbor Blvd. Garden Grove, California 92840). Doors open at 5 p.m. with the program beginning at 6:15 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. It is $75 / per ticket (pre-paid). Attire is formal/barong/Filipinana. For more information, please visit https://www.kalayaanincorporatedsocal.com/.
Pista sa Nayon in Vallejo, CA Come and experience the celebration of Philippine Independence Day in Vallejo, California on Saturday, June 3. It will be held at the Vallejo Waterfront from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festivities will kick-off with a grand parade beginning at the corner of Marin Street and Capitol Street in Vallejo. Then they will continue with non-stop entertainment and ending on two stages at the renowned Vallejo Waterfront. This annual event is one of Vallejo’s largest FREE outdoor festivals that draws crowds wanting to sample Philippine cuisine, soak up Filipino hospitality and enjoy entertainment that crosses all ages, cultures and ethnicities. This year’s entertainment — presented by GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV — will be Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera and Kuh Ledesma, among others. Come and experience the Philippine culture firsthand & bring the whole family! Pista sa Nayon is the highlight of the City of Vallejo’s Philippine Cultural Month celebrated throughout the month of June. Vallejo Pista Sa Nayon will be held at 301 Mare Island Way, Vallejo, California 94590. For more information, please visit http://www.vallejopistasanayon.com/.
Walk for Mom in Teaneck, NJ The Filipino Medical Program invites members of the Filipino-American community to Holy Name Medical Center’s Walk for Mom, a breast cancer awareness walkathon on Saturday, June 3. Participate in a fun-filled celebration including music, snacks, prizes, FREE T-shirts and other exciting events. It will be held at 718 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ (south parking lot), with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. The walk begins at 10:30 a.m. and is 1.5 miles. Suggested donation is $10. Proceeds fund free mammogram screenings for up to 100 women. For more information, please call (201) 833-3336 or email walkformom@ holyname.org.
JUNE 10
119th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day in Carson, CA The Philippine Independence Day Foundation, Inc. (PIDF), in conjunction with the City of Carson, GMA Life TV, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA News TV, and Tesoro, will celebrate the 119th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day at the Carson Veterans Park (22400 Moneta Street, Carson, CA 90745) on Saturday, June 10. Thousands of people are expected to enjoy the non-stop, day-long event that will be jam-packed with entertainment and activities featuring the rich, beautiful, and spirited Filipino heritage. The eventful day kicks off with a flag raising ceremony at 7:30 a.m., followed by an ecumenical service and a community mass. The parade — to be headed by 119th Philippine Independence Grand Marshal, Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz of the Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles, and to be participated in by a multitude of community organizations and associations from all across Southern California — will be at about 10:00 a.m. This will be followed by the daylong program featuring talented performers from across the South Bay, Southern California, and beyond! The program will be headlined by none other than GMA Network Kapuso’s Primetime Queen Marian Rivera and Primetime King Dingdong Dantes! In addition to the live entertainment, cultural center, food booths, exhibits, vendors, PWC’s Jeepney, chess tournament, and children’s area, there will also be a bone marrow drive for Fil-Am LAPD Officer Matthew Medina. This event would not possible without the leadership of Councilmember Elito M. Santarina, the hard work of our dedicated PIDF Trustees and volunteers, and of course the generosity of our sponsors; Tesoro Refining and Marketing LLC, Waste Management, Carson Companies, KL Fenix, Watson Land, Community Dynamics, IBEW Local 11 &NECA Los Angeles, Nationwide Environmental Services, Brea Canon Oil Co., Inc., Leelin Bakery & Cafe, and Kellogg Garden Products. For more information or any questions, please email pidf.info@gmail.com.
Los Angeles County Filipino American Employees’ Association hosts Philippine Independence Day celebration in Pasadena, CA The Los Angeles County Filipino American Employees’ Association (LACFAEA) will spearhead the celebration of the 119th Anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 10, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight at Hilton Pasadena International Ballroom located at 168 South Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101. LACFAEA represents approximately 10,000 Filipino-American employees in the classified service of the Los Angeles County who belong to more or less than 300,000 working families in various Filipino communities. Everyone is cordially invited to the celebration of this historic occasion. This event will showcase the cultural heritage and rich customs and traditions of the Philippines through its native songs and dances. A renowned and recording artist singer Christine Love will provide the music. If you need more information, please call President Tony Mendoza at (323) 257-4521 or (323) 618-5401 or email at ireneqmendoza@ yahoo.com or to Mr. Rene I. Galano, first vice president at (213) 922-8113 and Mr. Edwin Martinez, second vice president at (818) 438-6517.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
FEATURES
B6 MAY 25-31, 2017 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL
The Beautiful Life 2017’s Red and Black Awards Gala: A grand success THE night of April 29 will always be remembered as the most glamorous Fil-Am gathering of the year. Filipino-Americans from different circles congregated to celebrate cultural heritage and living beautiful and inspiring lives. The prestigious event was held at the LA Hotel in downtown. Monet Lu, founder of The Beautiful Life Celebration, was in high spirits as he welcomed the distinct men and women of various fields, the new Queen of Queens, as well as former awardees with their guests. Like his other recognition p ro g ra m s , n a m e l y, R e f l e c tions and Uliran Awards, the said event created buzz across Filipino-American groups, especially the elites and celebrities. Speaking of celebrities, celebrity balladeer Ryan Gallagher starred as the master of ceremonies, who also charmed the crowd once again with a song performance. He was joined by 2008 Ms. Asia-USA Karen Borja-Nichols as his co-host. Though it was their second time as co-emcees for The Beautiful Life, their chemistry is always a treat for the audience. And while their witty exchange was a hit, it was the “dancing segment” that got the ball rolling. As resident and sound engineer Randy Trinidad masterfully played every beat, the guests did not dither about busting their moves on the dance floor – that lasted for almost an hour and continued after the program. Former Awardee for Real Estate, Loida Atienza, gave the opening remarks followed by an opening prayer led by 2015 The Beautiful Life Woman of the Year, Olivia-Quido-Co. The most awaited coronation of the new Queen of Queens was done at the beginning. Giselle Joves (Queen of the Philippines — Globe), Aida Jugo (Queen of Philippines — International) Lourdes Garcia (Queen of Philippines — Universe), and Camille Agbayani (Queen of Philippines — World) had their first walk as
Photos courtesy of Celia Abuel
the new Queen of Queens before they sat on their respective ‘thrones’ The awarding of the men and women of distinction followed shortly. The following awardees gave a short speech to acknowledge their commendation: Dot Nesst (Woman of Distinction in Music and Ministry Work), Ed Rame (Award of Distinction as a Florist and Events Specialist), Raymond Lo – (Award of Distinction for Journalistic Excellence in Socioeconomic & Entertainment), Djhoanna “Giji” Garcia (Woman of Distinction in the field of Music & Entertainment), Charina Vergara (Woman of Distinction in the field of Marketing), Sonia Bermejo (Award of Distinction as a Magazine Publisher), Joel Estrada Joves (Award of Distinction as a Real Estate Design Consultant and Developer), Imee Ong – Maghanoy (Woman of Distinction in Beauty and Aesthetics) and Filbert Diego Kung (Man of Distinction in the field of Photography) This year’s outstanding couples of the year were Reynaldo and
Nora Diego, Geraldine and Prinze Scott, and Drs. Rene and Dra. Che Calugcugan, who received the Man and Woman of Distinction in the field of Dentistry Award. Special awards were also given out. Lina Navarro was this year’s Mother of the Year, while Corazon Rosete was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. Filipino Film and Theater Actor Mat Ranillo III received the Award of Excellence as an Actor. The Filipino-American community has an extraordinary connection that transcends age, status and profession. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and promote that connection. It was a night filled with life and laughter, a success like no other. As such, The Beautiful Life Committee would like to thank the following sponsors: Weichert Realtors, L&A Escrow, L.A. Financial Management & Services, Rupert Law Group, Image Body Spa and Image Spa MD, Ed Rame Flower Arrangement, Fiesta Fast Food and O Skincare.
Movie director Gil Portes passes...
PAGE B4
Times via chat, that Portes was 71 years old at the time of his death. The noted director is a Journalism graduate from the Uni-
versity of Santo Tomas and received a Master’s Degree in Theater from Brooklyn College, New York. He is best remembered for the movies “Mga Munting Ti-
nig” starring Alessandra de Rossi, “Saranggola” and the Nora Aunor classics “’Merika” and “Andrea, Paano Ba Ang Maging Isang Ina?” (Arlo Custodio/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.
http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678
‘Timeless: An Opera, Pop & Broadway Concert’ on June 22 LOCAL Vegas Unlimited TV www.vegasunlimited.tv (aired on The CW channel) invites you to “Timeless” An Opera, Pop & Broadway Concert sponsored by NDGSCAA- East Coast & USA Chapter to be performed by Filipino- American Tenor, Allan Palacios-Chan and local Las Vegas TV Personality, Rane Rose on June 22, 2017, 7-9pm. For tickets sales, please contact Prima Guipo- Hower at primahower@ gmail.com or purchase online at: www.ranerose.com/shop/eventstickets. Dubbed a “standout” performer by Seen and Heard Internationally, “bringing musicality plus an attractive and flexible leggiero sound to his assignment,” Philippine-born American tenor Allan Palacios Chan has earned a reputation for performing a wide range of repertoire with absolute commitment to communication and artistry. He recently performed at the hallowed stage of Carnegie Hall, New York City. This summer, Allan will perform with the Berlin Opera Academy in Berlin, Germany where he will sing the roles of Rinuccio in Puccini’s opera Gianni Schichi, and Don Basilio in Mozart’s opera Le Nozze di Figaro. A few past performances include: William Shakespeare in the world premiere of Phillip Hagemann’s The Dark Lady of the Sonnets; Nanki-poo, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado, Washington Savoyards; Damon, Handel’s Acis and Galatea, Cincinnati Chamber Opera; Mortgage Broker, The Bubble, NanoWorks Opera; Acis, Handel’s Acis and Galatea, New Dominion Chorale; Lurcanio, Handel’s Ariodante, Cincinnati Chamber Opera. Mr. Chan also maintains an active concert schedule, performing solo concerts and oratorios in churches and Cathedrals all over Cincinnati and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He recently performed the role of Petrus in the U.S. premiere of Telemann’s Brockes-Passion with Collegium Cincinnati, and a Sacred Song Concert at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, VA as part of their Cathedral Concert Series. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Music with a Minor in Theater (magna cum laude) from George Mason University and a Masters in Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Mr. Chan has been a Corbett Foundation Young Artist with Cincinnati Opera for four consecutive seasons and was a voice fellow at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California for two consecutive seasons where he studied with world-renowned artists such as mezzo soprano Marilyn Horne, Martin Katz, and Warren Jones. This past summer at the Music Academy he sang the role of Jake in the West Coast premiere of Matthew Aucoin’s opera entitled Second Nature. His musical interests span beyond opera, performing Kundiman (Filipino Art song) and various anthems for official events of the Philippine Embassy of Washington D.C. He recently sang the
Allan Palacios Chan
Rane Rose
Philippine National Anthem for Manny Pacquiao’s last fight in Las Vegas with Timothy Bradley, Jr. Mr. Chan is currently finishing his Doctorate in Musical Arts degree in voice performance at the University of Cincinnati, CollegeConservatory of Music and plans on continuing his singing career in the U.S. and abroad. Allan and Rane Rose plan to collaborate on a recording of TIMELESS An Opera, Pop and Broadway CD. Stay tuned. To learn more about Allan, please visit: www.allanpalacioschan. com Rane Rose, voted as Las Vegas’ Top 100 Women of Influence by MYVEGAS Magazine (third year in a row and on this year’s magazine cover!) is also the main TV Host and Co-Creator of Vegas Unlimited TV aired on The CW channel. Her interview with Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman in VU TV business and politics segment was and still is an informative overview of the ongoing revitalization projects in Downtown Las Vegas. Rane Rose was also an anchor and cohost for a Sunday morning news show aired on local Las Vegas TV station and co-hosted a familyoriented cultural and performing arts television show. Growing up as an only child to very supportive parents in the Philippines, Rane Rose has always been interested in music, dance and acting. At an early age, she entered and won many singing competitions encouraged by her Mom who saw her potential even then. She was a member of a musical theater group which performed many theatrical and broadway production shows and was categorized as a soprano. Rane Rose holds a bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting and a master’s in Mass Communication specializing in Communication Research. She was introduced to off cam posts at a local TV station right after college. However, this was short-lived because she was more interested in corporate man-
agement. Rane Rose has taken on various leadership roles for more than 10 years specializing in improving and standardizing operating practices in training, leadership development and quality services for an organization. She had trained, managed and mentored hundreds of employees in the US and overseas. Rane Rose holds a black belt certification in six-sigma and is currently completing her master lean six-sigma black belt certification. She is a Managing Partner of a BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) firm. Rane Rose represented and endorsed a couple of cosmetic brands and clothing line including L’Core Paris and Daily Blues Clothing both located inside Mandalay Bay Shoppes and is one of the “favorites” of local fashion designers to wear their line for editorial and other promo shoots. She graced the front cover and feature of fashion magazines and was the first cover model of AVANT GARDE Magazine, Las Vegas issue. Rane Rose is also the front-page cover model of Parlay Magazine’s October issue. Events and promotions lasted the entire month and sales proceeds went to a chosen local charity, Fashion Artists Guild Inc. Rane Rose launched her lifestyle brand, The Collection: Rosene Organic Soap, Fashion Sunnies and Fashion Lashes in 2013 and on the same year, launched her debut original single and music video, “If You Love Me”. She recently promoted her record release and listening party of her new album, “Everything” by Rane Rose and her Christmas album, “Merry Christmas Darling” was part of Rumi Awards 2016 held in Scottish Rite Center, San Francisco Bay area. Rane’s single and music album are all available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, GooglePlay and all major music distribution. Her third album is now in the works! To learn more about Rane Rose, please check out her website: www.ranerose.com
Log off and enjoy your hot... PAGE B5 As an ordinary, private individual, I am downright resentful. Celebrity is now a curse rather than a blessing. Witness the public meltdown of Hollywood celebrities whose lives more often than not, serve as cautionary tales. Because obscurity is becoming rare these days, it has become all the more precious. No wonder our sense of mystery and awe at anything in this life is fast eroding. I regard social networking with a bit of trepidation and suspicion. And frankly, who’s got the time? I am probably one of a vanishing breed, always itching to get out of the virtual world and into the real world of doing things in private, without fanfare: creating, fixing, cooking, gardening, making memories and connecting personally and laughing until my sides are nearly split. By choice, I am generally offline and often unwired on the weekends these days. My personal motto: LOG OFF AND LIVE. There’s so much living yet to do: so many recipes to try, seeds to plant, topiaries to shape, weeds to pull, walls and blank canvasses to paint, places to see, photos to shoot, plays to watch, games to play, puzzles to solve and mysteries to unravel, books to read, people to meet, goals to achieve, skills to learn and courses to take, stuff to give away, stories to write, naps to take and a thousand and one more things to feel, see, touch, taste, hear and soak in before the end game. With all that’s in the past, life still feels like a tabula rasa —lots of
living to do, so little time. Sigh. I am picking and choosing from the constant flow of messages in my inbox, only this one below. Some of these forwarded messages are for laughs, others inform while some can make you think harder or even move you to take action. Pet peeves are those that are pure drivel and chain emails with a punitive clause, like a curse of bad luck, if you fail to forward. For malevolent messages and all the rest of the junk from scammers promising riches, simplify your cyberlife and hit DELETE. DO NOT ENGAGE. Better yet, mark them as SPAM. Sometimes a golden nugget comes through that deserves to be amplified. So simple, it hits you right between the eyes. I searched for the author’s name but like many other pieces flung by anonymous, creative beings in Cyberville, authorship is largely unknown and unclaimed. To the originator of this metaphor then, whoever you are and wherever you may be, please accept a profound THANK YOU, from the rest of us. Here it is. THE HOT CHOCOLATE STORY A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of
cups-porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -- telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: ‘Notice that all the nice looking; expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you’re drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other’s cups. Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate we have. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything… They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. But first, LOG OFF. *** 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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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mAy 25-31, 2017
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Four City of Las Vegas pools open Jestoni Alarcon: Balancing work for summer season this weekend & family through the years All city pools will open by June 12 for fun, swimming lessons and aquatic sports
Carlos l. Martinez & Darrio J. Hall Family Pool at Gary reese Freedom Park, Garside Pool, Pavilion Center Pool and Municipal Pool will open Memorial Day weekend and the following weekend, before opening full time for the summer season June 11. at the pool at Gary reese Freedom Park and Pavilion Center Pool, hours will be noon to 5 p.m. May 27-29 and June 3, 4 and 11; Garside Pool will be open those same days noon to 4 p.m. Pavilion Center Pool will be open the holiday weekend from noon to 5 p.m. saturday and 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday and Monday for all-ages swimming. For the holiday weekend, Municipal Pool will be closed Friday-sunday for a swim meet, opening 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday. From 4 to 7 p.m. May 29, Municipal Pool will offer limited lanes for adults-only lap swim. summer pool hours will be: • Carlos l. Martinez & Darrio J. Hall Family Pool at Gary reese Freedom Park, 889 N. Pecos road, 702-229-1755 – May 27, the pool at Gary reese Freedom Park will host a special afternoon event. Everyone is invited to Fiesta Day from noon to 2 p.m. Entry and swimming are free, with free hot dogs to the first 250 guests. additional food and beverages will be available for purchase. latin music will enliven the celebration. June 11-aug. 13, this pool will be open for recreational swim Monday-Friday noon-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m., and saturday-sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The pool also will be open aug.
19-20, aug. 26-27 and sept. 2-4, noon to 5 p.m. • Garside Pool, 250 s. Torrey Pines Drive, 702-229-6393 – Garside will be open daily for recreational swimming June 11aug. 13, with Monday-Friday hours noon-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m., as well as saturday and sunday, noon-5 p.m. The pool also will be open aug. 19-20, aug. 26-27 and sept. 2-4, noon to 5 p.m. • Municipal Pool will be open for recreational swimming May 29-sept. 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as noon to 6 p.m. saturday and sunday. From 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, there are limited lanes for adults-only lap swim. • Pavilion Center Pool, 101 s. Pavilion Center Drive, 702-229-1488 – recreational swim open June 12-aug. 13, Monday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.; saturday-sunday noon to 5 p.m. limited adult lap swim is open Monday-Friday 5 a.m.-noon and 4-7 p.m., and saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon. • Baker Pool, 1100 E. st. louis ave. 702-229-1532 – June 12-aug. 12; Monday-Friday 3 to 7 p.m., saturdays 2 to 6 p.m. • Doolittle Pool, 1950 N. J st., 702-229-6398 – June 12-aug. 12, Monday-saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. all city pools will be closed June 10 for annual summer in-service training. Go online for a listing of planned pool summer special events (pages 8-9). Daily fees at all pools are $2 for ages 4-17; $3 for ages 18-49;
$2 for ages 50+; and free for ages 0-3. all-summer pool passes, valid Memorial Day weekend through labor Day, also are available for purchase. Pass prices are $40 for a child under 18 years old or a senior age 50+; $120 for a family* of up to 6 people, and $75 for an adult age 18-49. *only immediate family members allowed, up to a maximum of six; must be registered on the pass. Passes good for open swim at each of our six swimming pool venues, valid Memorial Day through labor Day. Each pool will offer private, semi-private and small group swimming lessons. Private lessons are $125, semi-private lessons (two-three students) are $65, and group lessons (four or more students) are $25-$30 ($5 at select pools), for five or six 45-minute lessons. swim lesson sessions begin the week of June 12 at most pools. Each pool also will offer novice competitive swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water polo teams for ages 7-17 for only $35 for the entire nine-week summer pool season. registration for swimming lessons and team participation is open until full. see all the information online at www. lasvegasparksandrec.com (click on “aquatics” or “Beyond the Neon Guide” for details). For more information, call 702-229-PlaY or the Municipal Pool at 702-229-6309. Financial assistance is available for qualified families. ask for a financial assistance application at the pool.
lIkE good wines, the matinee idols of our youth seem to get better as they mature. Two examples are Edu Manzano who, at 60, still maintains a trim figure and mestizo good looks; and Jestoni alarcon, who looks even better now at 53 (his birthday is on May 29). The latter currently stars on kapuso Network’s series “D’ originals” as lando Magpayo, husband of Josie (Jaclyn Jose) and lover of his social climbing secretary Yvette (katrina Halili). Jestoni has been in show business for 33 years. His first big screen role was in the 1985 movie Naked Paradise but it was his role as robertito in the 1986 horror classic Huwag Mong Buhayin ang Bangkaythat caught the attention of moviegoers. Jestoni went on to star in a string of sexy films before graduating to drama and action flicks. The small screen beckoned and soon he was also starring in drama soap operas and fantaseryes. He credits his longevity in the fickle showbiz world to his professionalism — but not before joking that it could partly be because
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Jestoni Alarcon (with wife) is on his second term as a provincial board member of Rizal.
of his good looks. “I guess yung pagiging professional ko sa trabaho. kailangan marunong ka rin makibagay sa mga sitwasyon.” Jestoni is also thankful for the producers and entertainment press who supported him then and continue to support him now. It also helps that after the long hours of shooting and his other job as a provincial board member (his second term) of rizal, he has a family to come home to. His wife lizette and children are his pride and joy. His kids are okay with having a celebrity father. He and his wife
raise them as normally as possible. Despite his busy schedule, Jestoni makes time for his family. a few weeks ago, they headed for Baguio for a short vacation. asked what other roles he would like to portray, Jestoni said he was open to all possible roles. “Wala naman na akong inaambisyon na roles pa kasi para sa akin, every role is a challenge so gusto kong gawin yun. like my role in D’ originals, gusto kong gawin ito kasi hindi pa ako nakakagawa ng ganitong type of comedy-romance.”
Facts about coconut water
are insignificant and not balanced. The health benefit claims, that it is antiviral, that it lowers cholesterol and regulates blood sugar, are false, and the Us Food and Drug administration has warned producers against misleading marketing. Various firms have faced class action lawsuits over false advertisements that coconut water was “super-hydrating,” nutrientpacked,” and “mega-electrolyte” source. The suit was settled with a Us$10 Million award in april 2012. Was coconut water used as IV fluids? During World War II, coconut water was used as intravenous fluids for rehydration when medical fluids was not available during emergencies. It is actually not similar in composition as our plasma. Intravenous coconut water is not accepted as within safe standard of care today and must not be performed at all as it would be malpractice. Drinking it occasionally is the safer way to take
coconut water. Is excessive consumption safe? No, drinking a large amount of coconut water is unsafe. as a matter of fact, coconut water is used in southern districts of Tamil Nadu, India, for senicide of the elderly, a traditional accepted practice performed by family members called thalaikoothal, an involuntary euthanasia for those incapacitated and seriously ill, where “the elderly is made to drink an excessive amount of coconut water, eventually resulting in fever and death.” Besides pulmonary (excess water in the lungs, as in drowning) due to fluid overload, the exact mechanism causing the demise is not clear. Are coconut food products healthy for us? olive oil is preferred over coconut oil for cooking and overall use. The virgin variety of each is considered better than their regular form. While olive oil is universally recommended as a healthy oil, there is a lot of controversy about coconut oil because
of its high saturated fat content (albeit from non-meat source). The use of virgin coconut oil in cosmetics (skin moisturizer and hair conditioner-shiner, lip balms, etc.) has been proven beneficial, but not as a food or as a cooking ingredient for DaIlY consumption. advocates, including some physicians, think differently. While the controversy lingers, occasional indulgences and in moderation are safe. For many, the great unique appetizing taste of coconut milk (gata) in main courses (red meat/ chicken/vegetables) and in desserts is hard to resist. I confess, I am one of them. *** 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
B8 MAY 25-31, 2017 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678