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DFA chief: Obama sees better The future of DACA under the Trump PH-US relations under Trump administration DATELINE
USA
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
by Dana
SioSon AJPress
one of President-elect donald trump’s campaign promises was a strict crackdown on immigration to the United states. in that promise, he expressed commitment to ending many of President Barack obama’s immigration policies, including the deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (dACA), which was introduced in 2012. holding his first press conference since the election, obama urged the new president-elect to think twice before getting rid of dACA because of the benefits it’s
U.s. President Barack obama is optimistic about a “better and stronger” relationship between the Philippines and the United states under the incoming trump administration, according
to Philippine foreign Affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. Yasay said obama told him during the Asia-Pacific economic Cooperation (APeC) last week that U.s. Presidentelect donald trump and Philippine President rodrigo duterte’s seemingly similar “temperament” could play a
great factor in boosting the two countries’ relationship. According to the foreign secretary, he had the chance to meet and talk with obama during the leaders’ gala dinner and picture-taking for the traditional APeC family photo. Yasay represented duterte, who was unable to attend the
Ramos on ‘sneaky’ Marcos burial: An ‘insult’ to veterans
PAGE A3
by Dana
SioSon AJPress
Group hails growing civic participation of Fil-Ams WAshinGton, d.C. -- As evidenced by the last election cycle, higher voter registration rates and fil-Ams running for public office are among positive indicators of engagement in the electoral process. “While the 2016 election results may be delightful to some and disappointing to others, we are nonetheless heartened by the growing participation of filipino Americans who exercised their democratic right to choose the person who will lead our country in the next four years,” said naffAA national Chairman Brendan flores. “We are also encouraged by the number of filipino PAGE A3
events due to jetlag. “he (obama) told me he is expecting a better and stronger relationship between the Philippines and the United states under the new administration of President-elect trump because they seem to have the same kind of temperaPAGE A2
NO SHOW. Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. (second row, fourth from left) represents President Rodrigo Duterte at a photo of leaders taken on the second day of the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru on Sunday, November 20. Among the others present were President Barack Obama, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The leaders had traditional Peruvian shawls draped over their shoulders. Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez
former President fidel ramos on monday, november 21, expressed his dismay over late President ferdinand marcos’s unannounced funeral last week. despite the public outcry of martial law victims and their families, marcos was buried “in secrecy” and with military honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ cemetery) on friday, november 18, in taguig City. “i felt very bad especially Former President Fidel Ramos for the veterans as well as the members of the AfP, retirees and other active members of PnP which i commanded sometime ago as well as the Philippine Coast PAGE A2
Dayan admits delivering drug Pres. Duterte becomes money from Kerwin to De Lima ‘fast friends’ with Putin by Dana
SioSon
AJPress
ronnie dayan, former driver and supposed bagman of senator Leila de Lima, confessed on tuesday, november 22, that he previously collected drug money for the senator from alleged drug lord Kerwin espinosa. dayan was earlier accused by Philippine President rodrigo duterte of collecting national Bilibid Prison (nBP) drug trade PNP chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Ronnie Dayan will be a “friendly witness” PAGE A2 in the congressional hearing. PNP photo
by Dana
SioSon AJPress
PhiLiPPine President rodrigo duterte finally met his ‘hero’ and ‘idol’ russian President Vladimir Putin during the sidelines of Asia-Pacific economic Cooperation (APeC) summit in Lima, Peru last week. duterte, who also had bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping before meeting Putin, said he became ‘fast friends’ with the country leaders of russia and China. “You know, we have become fast friends, President Putin and President Xi Jinping,” duterte told reporters on monday, november 21, narrat- The first meeting between President Duterte and his Russian counterpart Vladimir
PH, US military chiefs say ties remain robust by
TereSa Cerojano Philstar.com
mAniLA — the chiefs of the Philippine armed forces and the United states Pacific Command said tuesday the two countries’ military ties remain robust, with both sides committed to their alliance and cooperation on maritime security, counterterrorism and humanitarian aid. the upbeat statement issued at the end of a mutual defense Board and security engagement Board meeting came after threats by Philippine President rodrigo duterte to reduce military cooperation with Washington and expand security ties with China and russia. Adm. harry B. harris Jr., head of the U.s. Pacific Command, co-chaired the meeting with Gen. ricardo r. Visaya, the Philippine armed forces
chief. harris said last week in Washington that there’s been no change so far in U.s.-Philippine military cooperation but that there could be a “re-scoping” of some big joint exercises in 2017. the Philippines and the U.s. are longstanding allies who signed a mutual defense treaty in 1951. “the successful completion of the mdB-seB ensures continued, robust relations between the U.s. and Philippine militaries,” the statement said. “this highlights the enduring commitment of both countries to the U.s.-Philippine alliance.” it said they look forward to continued cooperation in areas central to both countries’ national and security interests, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counPAGE A2
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Putin in Lima, Peru turned out “good” as both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral Robinson Niñal Jr./Presidential Photo
PAGE A2 ties.
U.S. Admiral Harry Harris (right) U.S. Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, poses with Philippine Armed Forces Chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya for a photo following their annual Mutual Defense Board meeting at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday, Nov. 22. The annual meeting came at a time when Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the scaling down joint military exercises and other activities between the two countries.
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DFA chief: Obama sees better... PAGE A1 ment. And I replied with ‘I hope so’,� Yasay said. The decades-long relationship between the Philippines and the United States has been put into question in the past few months, following Duterte’s continuous anti-U.S. remarks for the latter’s alleged interference in the Philippine government’s crackdown on illegal drugs During the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Laos last September, Obama also scrapped his scheduled meeting with Duterte after reports indicated that the Philippine leader called him a “son of a b*tch.� Although Duterte and Obama both attended the APEC summit in Peru, no bilateral talks were conducted between the two leaders. “But he (Obama) was really saying something that, to my mind, was forward looking. Perhaps he saw that our relationship has been strained only with the leaders involved. But with Trump, maybe he is more optimistic,� Yasay said.
This year’s APEC summit was Duterte’s first and Obama’s last. Trump, who won the U.S. presidential election this month against Hillary Clinton, is set to assume office in January next year. “We wanted to convey the message to America that our relationship can be stronger if there will be reevaluation and re-adjustments of our relationship where this time, dependency will not be allowed. That is more fundamental,� Yasay said. At the same time, in a statement issued at the conclusion Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) on Tuesday, November 22, both the Philippines’ and the United States’ military chiefs assured the public that the military ties between the two countries remain robust amid Duterte’s pronouncements of scrapping joint drills with foreign troops. “The successful completion of the MDB-SEB ensures continued, robust relations between the U.S. and Philippine militaries,� the statement said.
The MDB-SEB was chaired by Philippine Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya and Head of the U.S. Pacific Command Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. “This highlights the enduring commitment of both countries to the U.S.-Philippine alliance,� it added. Harris previously said that no change has been finalized between the United States’ military cooperation with the Philippines. However, he noted that it’s possible to have “re-scoping� of some joint exercises in 2017. Earlier this month, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced that some bilateral military drills between the Philippines and U.S. were eyed to be stopped, including the Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) exercises, and the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) drills. The annual joint Balikatan exercise and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) will continue, as approved by Duterte, Lorenzana added.
Pres. Duterte becomes ‘fast friends’ with...
PAGE A1 ing his experience at the summit. The Philippine president went on to say, “It was like we have known each other for a long time and even [by] the way we pat each other’s hand in a handshake.â€? During his long-awaited meeting with Putin, Duterte chided the United States and other Western nations for their supposed hypocrisy and bullying of smaller countries. “Of late, I see a lot of these western nations bullying small nations. And not only that, they are into so much hypocrisy‌ They seem to start a war but are afraid to go to war. That is what’s wrong with America and the others,â€? Duterte told Putin. Asked about the Russian leader’s response regarding Duterte’s anti-Western remarks, Philippine National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Putin replied, “Our assessments coincide in many respects.â€? Putin also expressed his appreciation for the chance to
speak with Duterte and talk about developing the bilateral relationship between Philippines and Russia. “Well, you have been able to do a lot in a short period of time in terms of developing all round partnership between our countries and with respect to promoting greater trust and confidence between us,� Putin said. Meanwhile, Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said Russia committed to boosting its imports from the Philippines to about $2.5 billion from its current $46-million worth of purchases. According to Lopez, the imports would possibly be more on agricultural products like fruits. “We can only look up, I mean, there is nowhere to go but up because it’s really a relationship that offers a lot of opportunities because there was almost nothing before when it comes to trade and investment with Russia,� Lopez said. The trade secretary also said that Russia offered their coop-
eration in areas such as energy, infrastructure, industrial engineering, agriculture, tourism, education, law enforcement, and counterterrorism. Chinese President Xi also praised Duterte’s visit to China last month, which resulted in a significant improvement in the relationship between the two countries. Duterte, on his part, extended Xi an invitation to visit the Philippines, thanking Beijing for its “warm hospitality and excellent arrangements� when he previously visited China last month. “And as I have given you my word, we will cooperate with you. And I said, with my thrust of an independent foreign policy, we will find ourselves mutually agreeing on so many things and align our foreign policy towards the development of Asia, strengthening of ties among countries in the region, with China leading the way in the economic development,� Duterte told Xi during their bilateral meeting at the APEC sidelines.
PH, US military chiefs say ties...
PAGE A1 terterrorism, cybersecurity and maritime security. The Philippine defense department earlier said it wants the number of drills reduced from the current 13 to about six or seven and for training to be re-focused on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and counterterrorism. The department also wants to scrap two naval exercises that include territorial defense
training. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana presented the proposal to Duterte earlier this month. Officials said the proposal was to be presented to the Americans during Tuesday’s board meeting for concurrence. Padilla said the two sides discussed the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which seeks to establish U.S. military facilities inside Philippine
military camps for prepositioning of troops and assets. But he did not elaborate on that or the reduction in exercises, saying more details may be available when the minutes of the meeting are released. Duterte earlier said he wants a review of the 2014 agreement, but Lorenzana later said the Duterte administration would implement previous agreements with the Americans, including that pact.
NO LONGER KEYBOARD WARRIORS. Millennials were among the strongest voices against the surprise burial of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, leading rallyists at the EDSA People Power Monument on Friday, Nov. 18. ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan
Ramos on ‘sneaky’ Marcos burial: An ‘insult’... PAGE A1 Guard,� Ramos said. He also called the burial an act of “insult� to the “sacrifices of our Armed Forces, PNP (Philippine National Police), Coast Guard, veterans – retired and active.� Marcos, who was ousted during the 1986 EDSA Revolution, died of kidney, heart and lung ailments in 1989 while he was in exile in Hawaii. Ramos allowed the late strongman’s remains to return to the Philippines during his administration in 1992, along with the following conditions: first, Marcos’s body would be brought directly to Laoag Airport in Ilocos Norte without passing through Manila; second, Marcos would be buried in his family mausoleum in Batac upon arrival; and third, there would be no “pomp and protocol and extravaganzas� during the funeral. This agreement was signed former First Lady Imelda Marcos and former Interior Secre-
tary Rafael Alunan on August 20, 1992. Since then, the late dictator’s remains have been frozen in a glass coffin in his hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte. In August of this year, President Rodrigo Duterte later gave the go-signal to bury the late dictator at the Heroes’ Cemetery, living up to his campaign promise that he would let the event happen to “unite� and “heal� the nation. After two months of hearings, the Supreme Court ruled that Marcos can be buried at the cemetery in November, dismissing all the petitions against the burial, which were mostly filed by victims of torture during the martial law period. According to the court, the burial does not violate the Philippine Constitution. Ramos said that Marcos’ funeral at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is a “step backward� for President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. “You must understand, that
is just a happening in a series of happenings. The scheme of the Marcos family with the connivance of some elements of Armed Forces including the national police — some only, not everybody — is a step backwards for this administration in the sense that they are losing support, they are losing friends,� Ramos said. He also suggested that the police and military personnel involved in Marcos’s burial be probed or booted out of the office because “they were disloyal to the service for failing to inform their immediate commanding officers.� “Bakit nagawa yung sneak burial (How did the sneak burial happened) without you media knowing about it? There was advanced planning. Call it connivance led by the Marcos family together with some local police and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) official. I said local because the commanders did not know,� Ramos said.
Dayan admits delivering drug money... PAGE A1 money for De Lima’s 2016 senatorial bid. He was also accused by Duterte of having an illicit relationship with the senator, which both De Lima and Dayan recently professed to be true. Although Dayan denied that he received drug money from other drug lords, he admitted that he delivered money for De Lima from Kerwin several times. “Wala akong tinatanggap
na drug money sa mga drug lord. Kay Kerwin meron. Meron akong natatanggap para kay senadora (I don’t receive drug money from drug lords. From Kerwin, yes. I received some from him that are for senator),â€? Dayan said. According to him, about five transactions occurred in 2014 when De Lima was still the justice secretary. He, however, said he cannot recall the total of drug money he collected from Kerwin. “Hindi ko po binibilang magkano ang binibigay sa akin, pag inabot lang nilalagay ko sa sasakyan‌ Yun ang utos ni ma’am kaya susunod lang ako sa utos ni ma’am. Secretary pa siya (I never count how much were given to me, I immediately put it inside the car‌ I just follow her command. She was still the secretary then),â€? Dayan said. De Lima, on her part, reiterated that she did not receive any amount from Kerwin Espinosa. Senator Manny Pacquiao earlier disclosed that according to Kerwin, De Lima received about P8 million from the latter. “I have not received a single centavo from Kerwin Espinosa whether directly or indirectly in any instance in the same manner that I have not received a single centavo,â€? the senator said in a separate conference. Dayan went missing since the issue of De Lima’s alleged involvement in NBP drug trades
erupted. Due to failure of appearance on previous NBP drug trade hearings despite the repeated summons from the House of Representatives, a warrant of arrest has been issued against Dayan. Dayan was arrested in San Juan, La Union on Tuesday, November 22 and was taken under the custody of La Union provincial police office before being transferred on the same day at Camp Crame, in Quezon City. While in hiding, Dayan said he had never been in contact with De Lima despite efforts to get in touch with the senator. “Ni isang text wala ako nareceive sa kanya... actually pinatext ko sa anak ko na humingi ka ng financial (help) kasi halos di na ako makakain, hindi siya nirereplyan (I didn’t even receive a single text from her‌ actually I asked my child to send her a text message asking for financial help because I can hardly eat but there was no reply),â€? according to Dayan. Dayan also refused to acknowledged the allegations that he was an illegal drug user. “Never ako nag-take ng drugs, never ako nagbenta ng drugs. Talagang ayaw ko yang drugs na ‘yan. ‘Yung pagkakadawit sa akin sa drugs, gawa-gawa lang nila ‘yon (I am neither a drug user or drug seller. I really dislike drugs. My name being linked up with drugs were all just made up),â€? he stressed.
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Dateline USa
Group hails growing civic participation...
PAGE A1 Americans who ran for public office in local and state elections. This is what community empowerment is all about, and they proudly demonstrated these aspirations on November 8.” NaFFAA’s FilAmVote program was notably successful in San Diego, California, where voter registration rates increased by 15 percent. “We estimate a 10 percent increase nationwide, thanks to the tremendous voter outreach conducted by our NaFFAA members across the country,” said FilAmVote National Coordinator Juanito Amor. “Voter turnout was also high among Asian Americans as a whole, as indicated by early CNN exit polling, but we don’t know just yet the share of votes casted nationally by Filipino Americans. I appreciate the tireless efforts of the many Filipino American groups to register voters, educate them about the issues and get them to the polls.” In acknowledging the outcome of the election, Flores stated that he is heartened by President-elect Donald Trump’s assurance that he will be president for all Americans. “We wish him well as he takes on this challenging task,” Flores said. “Fear, hate and bigotry dominated the political rhetoric of the presidential campaign. We hope that he will indeed, ‘bind the wounds of division’ so we can all ‘come together as one united people’ regardless of partisan differences. “NaFFAA stands ready to work with the new administration under President-elect Donald Trump to ensure that the voices of the millions of Filipino-Americans across the United States are heard. We call on the new administration to fulfill their promises in empowering all Americans through education, creating safe communities, providing equal justice and representation under the law, creating uplifting policies for better job creation and helping businesses, and by giving recognition and respect to all Veterans.” An inclusive America “Hillary Clinton and her supporters are to be commended as well for their determined efforts and for the causes they championed,” Flores asserted. “Her long public service record is truly remarkable and we owe her an enormous debt of gratitude for her selfless dedication. We are also inspired by her call to build an America that is ‘hopeful, inclusive
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Filipina dies in fatal Times Square subway push MTA official says platform barriers have to be installed by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
Youth volunteers spurred NaFFAA’s FilAmVote program in Denver, Colorado. Photos courtesy of NaFFAA Communications
and big-hearted,’ one that is fair to people of all races and religions, for immigrants, for LGBT people and people with disabilities.” The plight of veterans, the men and women who served in the military, was also one of Clinton’s concerns when she was a U.S. senator and that of Trump when he was running for president. “Our Filipino World War II veterans have yet to be recognized for their service and sacrifice, an emotional issue that widely resonated with voters,” Flores noted. “Fairness and justice demand the passage of the Congressional Gold Medal bill which is pending in Congress. We call on House Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to act now and get this legislation passed this year.” This measure was approved by the Senate in July and enlisted 310 cosponsors in the House. NaFFAA members across the country engaged their senators and U.S. representatives, through emails, personal visits and tweets in securing their support. Empowerment aspirations “To the Filipino Americans who ran for elective office or reelection to their current positions, our community owes you its deepest appreciation for your dedication to public service,” Flores added. “We congratulate all the candidates who succeeded, and we commend those who tried but fell short. Your efforts to represent us and give voice to our issues are inspiring examples of leadership. They are integral to our empowerment.” The following are the candidates who ran for various offices across the country: Rob Bonta, the first Filipino to
serve in the California legislature, was reelected to a second term as the assemblymember for district 18 in Alameda County. In Hercules, Calif. Andrew Gabriel, a 23-year-old law student, won a seat at the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Board, while newcomer Roland Esquivias won and placed second in the three open seats on the Hercules city council. In Vallejo, Calif., Bob Sampayan won as Mayor. A retired police officer, he has served in the city council since 2011. Hermie Sunga and Rozzana Verder Aliga were elected city councilmembers while Ruscal Cayangyang won a seat on the school board. Mae C. Torlakson put up a good fight but lost the Dist. 14 assembly contest for the Contra Costa and Vallejo area. In Daly City, Juslyn Manalo, a former community service worker who fought for the rights of Fil-Am veterans, became the first Filipina to win a council seat in San Mateo County’s largest city. Former Daly City Mayor Mike Guingona lost his bid, however, for northern San Mateo supervisor. In their bid for elective posts, success eluded Marjan Philhour, a Filipina-Iranian candidate for San Francisco Dist. 1 supervisor; Magdalena de Guzman, for San Francisco District 11 supervisor; former Hercules mayor Ed Manuel, for Concord city council; Council member Jim Navarro, for Union City mayor; Tony Daysog, for Alameda City Council, Evelyn Centeno, for the Martinez Unified School district, and incumbent Zachary Mallet, who lost his reelection to the Bart board district 7. In Bergenfied, New Jersey, busiPAGE A4
CONNIE Watton, a 49-yearold woman died after she was pushed in front of an oncoming 1 train at the 42nd Street-Times Square station last week, according to eyewitness sources and authorities. Police arrested Melanie Liverpool-Turner after she pushed Watton in front of an oncoming train. Witnesses told police that she was “calmly trying to walk out of the station”. Watton, an Astoria, Queens resident and an immigrant from the Philippines, had spent decades working as a housekeeper, cook and caretaker for billionaire Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman’s family, according to the New York Post. “It’s a very sad day for my family. One of the best people in the world, Connie Watton, was murdered yesterday,” Teddy Schwarzman, Stephen’s son, wrote in a Facebook post cited by the Post. “Connie came to America legally from the Philippines when she was 18 years old, became an US citizen, and has had one job for her entire short life - working
in my family’s home as a housekeeper, friend and surrogate mother for the past thirty years,” Teddy wrote. Schwarzman’s daughter, Zibby Schwarzman, said the victim, Watton, worked for Schwarzman and his family for 30 years. Schwarzman was quoted by the Post as saying the family was “really sad and shocked” by Watton’s unprovoked murder. “She was part of every holiday. She was just a part of every piece of life since I was nine years old,” she said. “It’s horrifying,” she was quoted as saying. “I almost threw up on the street. It’s murder. She was murdered.” According to the Daily News, there were 50 people who were killed by trains in 2015. This year, Watton is the 44th fatality. Two days after Watton was pushed to her death, a man killed himself after he jumped in front of a train at the same Times Square station. Because of these – and the recent incidents of people being pushed or fatally jumping from platforms to their deaths – some MTA officials are reportedly reconsidering barriers and technology to prevent further incidents
Connie Watton
Facebook photo
from happening in the future. “We’re all still resonating from the murder that was committed on the subway and the suicides that are, seem to be, becoming a regular part of the news,” said Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member David Jones. “It won’t eliminate all that, but clearly, as my daughter rides the train, I think many parents, young people of all ages, would be reassured with some protective devices, particularly at the overcrowded stations.”
The future of DACA under the Trump... PAGE A1 delivered to its recipients, who “for all practical purposes are American kids.” “These are kids who were brought here by their parents. They did nothing wrong. They’ve gone to school. They have pledged allegiance to the flag. Some of them have joined the military. They’ve enrolled in school. By definition, if they’re part of this program, they are solid, wonderful young people of good character,” Obama said on Monday, November 14. “And it is my strong belief that the majority of the American people would not want to see suddenly those kids have to start hiding again. And that’s something that I will encourage the president-elect to look at,” he added. Under DACA, undocumented youth – who meet several guidelines – are granted certain privileges previously unavailable to undocumented immigrants including a renewable two-year work permit and exemption
from deportation. Nearly 742,000 undocumented youth – with 8,000 Filipinos – are currently enrolled in the program, with one-third living in California, according to data from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The specific benefits vary from state to state; California, for example, also grants DACA recipients access to driver’s licenses in addition to work authorization and deportation protection. To add to the uncertainty of DACA’s future, Tiffany Panlilio, a DACA legal advocate at legal and civil rights organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice - LA), said that many DACA recipients are fearing work termination due to backlogging at USCIS. Because of the uncertainty of the program, Advancing Justice - LA has temporarily halted the processing of DACA applications and renewals. The organization has also encouraged
DACA prospects to not go forth with applying and spending the $465 fee until there’s confirmation from Washington. “The attitude in the last few weeks has completely changed,” Panlilio told the Asian Journal, adding the rush of fearful clients inquiring about the next steps to take to protect their rights. Panlilio said that although the future of the program is uncertain, Advancing Justice LA is offering free immigration screenings to see if recipients are eligible for other programs like family-based petitions, asylum and U-Visas, among others. “DACA has opened up the gates for so many opportunities here in California,” Panlilio said. “We have a lot of Filipino clients who have used to DACA to complete nursing school and have since become nurses. They’ve also become doctors and lawyers. So it’s complete change, and they’re not going to take this down without a fight to maintain their dreams in the PAGE A4
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Promoter says fans will still buy Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 Group hails growing civic participation... by Dino
Maragay
Philstar.com
REGARDLESS of what boxing fans think about another fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, they will still end up watching it. This is the belief of veteran boxing promoter Richard Schaefer, who was once at the helm of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and is known to have close ties with Mayweather. In a report by Phil D. Jay of World Boxing News, Schaefer said a rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao would still do well financially, though not necessarily better than their first clash in May 2015. “As much everyone is complaining about a potential Mayweather versus Pacquiao II, let’s face it. We would all buy it,” said Schaefer, who has set up his own
promotional company, Ringstar Promotions. While a commercial success, the first encounter between the two superstars was a critical failure, with Mayweather contented to just box his way to a unanimous decision victory over Pacquiao, who was later revealed to have fought on an injured shoulder. The fight definitely did not live up to the hype, but it smashed pay-per-view records with at least 4 million units sold and over $400 million in revenue. It also netted Mayweather and Pacquiao careerhigh paydays, something they won’t ever earn again fighting other opponents. Schaefer, for his part, insisted that a rematch is the best option for both fighters, financially wise. “Even if the fight (rematch) would do half of what the first fight did, it still would be the sec-
ond largest boxing event in history from a financial standpoint,” he said. “I tend to think that it would do much more than half of the first fight though and would still make both fighters a lot of money,” added Schaefer. Mayweather, who is retired from the sport, fueled speculations about returning to again face Pacquiao when he showed up at ringside during the Filipino icon’s fight against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas. But the American was quick to temper expectations, saying he just took his daughter to see the fight, where Pacquiao crowned himself the WBO welterweight champion after dominating Vargas. Pacquiao, meanwhile, said he’s open to another shot at the undefeated Mayweather if the fans want it.
US teacher convicted for sex with PH girls, kiddie porn SANTA ANA, California—A former Southern California teacher has been convicted of child exploitation after prosecutors said he traveled to the Philippines to have sex with young girls and videotaped the encounters. The United States Attorney’s Office says 65-year-old Robert
Ruben Ornelas was found guilty on Thursday on seven counts including producing child pornography. The former Orange County teacher will be sentenced on Feb. 27, 2017, when he faces a total of 190 years in federal prison. Authorities said that after at
least three trips to the Philippines beginning in 2006, Ornelas brought video images of the sexual encounters back to the United States. Ornelas worked as a teacher in the Santa Ana Unified School District from 1992 to 2003, and coached a local girls’ softball team. (Inquirer.net)
The future of DACA under the Trump... PAGE A3
United States.” Panlilio added: “I think one of the things that’s giving the community hope are organizations like ourselves which have agreed to have their back and support them. So right now, I think we’re all passed the mourning part, and I think we’re all ready to fight for their rights.” Apart from the benefits in the legislation, DACA has boosted the morale among undocumented immigrants, according to Anthony Ng, an immigrant rights and policy expert at Advancing Justice - LA. Ng – who is a DACA recipient himself – said that DACA provides far more opportunities for undocumented youth than ever before. “I think it’s valid to be fearful for your future, but the one thing I’m telling myself and other folks that I know who have DACA is to not lose hope. This fear shouldn’t let us stop fighting for our rights, and I think, in
this moment, the community has our back,” Ng said, adding that the community includes, not just immigrants, but all Americans who believe in “people’s humanity and equal rights.” DACA also provides a significant economic benefit to the program, Ng said. Because of the work authorization feature, DACA has allowed for individuals and families to improve their household incomes and prepare them for greater employment opportunities. “I think we really need to look at our elected officials to champion our communities by holding the line to Washington, D.C.,” Ng added. “I think it’s helpful to see mayors to affirm DACA in their cities and communities, whether it’s in a social or economic way. It really affirms that DACA impacts the community that we live in.” California lawmakers have already begun campaigning for immigrant rights, like Rep.
Judy Chu who on Tuesday, November 15 urged the Obama administration to “protect” the undocumented youth from the proposed policies of the incoming presidential administration. “These children and families provided extensive amounts of sensitive information to their government, including fingerprints and relatives’ home addresses, with the understanding that it would not be used against them. We promised them security,” Chu said in a statement. “Now they are facing a nightmare. When we asked immigrants to come out of the shadows, we never imagined the election of a candidate who ran on a policy of mass deportation.” A study released last week by the Center for American Progress estimated that removing the DACA program could potentially cost “wipe away at least” $433.4 billion from the U.S. economy. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
PAGE A3 nessman and community leader Salvador “Buddy” Deauna won a city council seat. A farmer’s son from Camarines Norte, Deauna is the eldest of 16 children. This is his first time to enter the political arena. Jonathan Wong didn’t quite make it to become mayor of Mahwah, New Jersey. Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes won re-election to the post he was elected to in 2012. Reyes is the first ethnic minority to become the Attorney General of Utah and hold statewide office in Utah. He sat on the Asian Pacific American (APA) Advisory Committee for the Trump campaign. Torlakson summed up best these electoral aspirations: “Together, we fought for our working families, for our children, and for our environment-- and, I am deeply proud of that fight. I may have lost the race to represent Assembly District 14, but I have not lost my drive to fight for the people of Contra Costa and Solano Counties. I will continue to work to improve the lives of our community members, and I am grateful that you gave me this opportunity.” Moving forward Two prominent Filipino Americans who have served in state legislatures are encouraged by the showing at the polls and the number of candidates from the community who threw their hats in the ring. They urge the Filipino American community to continue to be energized by the electoral process. Republican Delegate Ron Villanueva of the 21st District of Virginia and a member of Trump’s APA advisory committee said, “we have a lot of work ahead to advance our communities and make America great again, like fixing a broken immigration system, sustaining jobs here in America, restoring our prominence in the international community and having government work for us instead of against us. America is great because of its people, so let’s all unite, work hard and move our country forward.” Villanueva was elected to the Virginia state assembly in 2009. In her ninth year as a delegate to the Maryland Assembly, Democrat Kris Valderrama calls on the community to welcome President-elect Trump’s vow to be “president for all Americans,” but to also be “vigilant in protecting our civil and religious rights. I am deeply concerned by some of the hateful and frightening things he said about Filipinos during his
FilAmVote National Director Juanito Amor and NaFFAA Region 10 leaders Myrna TF Reyes and Aurora Cudal (right) led NaFFAA’s nationwide voter registration, voter education and get-out-the-vote campaign.
campaign, particularly his plan to ban Filipino immigration to the United States, along with those from most Arab countries, which he considers a threat to national security. Such an action would ignore the many contributions that our community has made over the last century.” Valderrama also thanked President Barack Obama for his leadership in the last eight years, which he assumed “with grace, humility and with a touch of humor,” and for enacting the Filipino WWII Veterans Parole Program, which allows the families of certain WWII veterans to come to the United States and be united with their loved ones during their last years. Voter outreach During the election season, NaFFAA encouraged the active participation of Fil-Am millennials in voter registration and outreach. NaFFAA’s Capital Region partnered with APIA Vote and deployed more than half a dozen students from area colleges to make phone calls, reaching 26,000 voters in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia region. “It’s my second year phone banking,” said JC Videna, a graduate of George Mason University. “It’s a civic responsibility for me as a Filipino-American to encourage people to vote. We are already marginalized in terms of numbers, but we do not want to further marginalize ourselves by failing to turn out at the polls. Every great change in the world has started with leadership, and in this country, that leadership is voted on. I did my part, and I hope others did the same.” John Victoria, a former US Navy Academy student, added, “The most fulfilling part about the entire experience was being on the frontlines as a direct touchpoint
to our community. I am confident that our phone calls and voicemails may have been tipping points for some members of our community who had been on the fence about voting, or who may have felt their vote and their voice did not matter.” For Victoria, the most important lesson was being able to connect with Filipino American voters, regardless of their party affiliation, so their voices can be heard. “Low voter turnout makes it easy for elected officials to discount what we have to say because why should they care about the issues we voice in our community if we won’t affect election results?” Challenges ahead NaFFAA’s mission of community empowerment was put to the test in the last few months, and it will be tested again in November next year when voters elect their governors in New Jersey and Virginia. There’s also the mid-term elections in 2018 when House and Senate candidates vie for electoral support. “Off-year elections are a great way to maintain [the] momentum of voter turnout from the presidential election,” Flores said. “It would remind elected officials that we will remain engaged in shaping our government at all levels and at all times, and that we will continue to hold them accountable for their campaign promises. Let us lead in safeguarding our civil rights, protecting vulnerable communities from hate crimes and unfair treatment, encouraging diversity, inclusion, partnership and collaboration to help rebuild America and its future.” “Our resilience as a community, as borne out in our history of struggle and resistance, will see us through as we face tomorrow’s challenges.”
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A
D ateline PhiliPPines The Philippines is fastest- UN alarmed over proposed Philippine growing economy in Asia
law to lower criminal age to 9 years old by Dana
SioSon AJPress
Hits 7.1% in third quarter of 2016
by Dana
M. SioSon
AJPress
THE Philippines’ economy rose up to 7.1 percent in the third quarter of 2016, outperforming other Asian countries’ economic growth during the same period, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Contrary to the previous projections from different analysts that the Philippines’ economy would slow down under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, the country’s economic growth is now ranked as the fastest in Asia. “We are the fastest-growing among major Asian emerging economies that have already released data for the quarter,” NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said in a statement
issued on Thursday, November 17. Following the Philippines, China’s economy grew by 6.7 percent, Vietnam by 6.4 percent, Indonesia by 5.0 percent, and Malaysia by 4.3 percent. The data for India, however, was not yet released. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Philippines’ 7.1 percent gross domestic product (GDP) increase is higher compared to last year’s 6.2 percent during the same quarter. It is also higher than the previous quarter’s 7 percent. “This cements our chance of achieving our target of 6.0 to 7.0 percent for the whole of 2016. This growth is above the median market expectation of 6.8 percent,” Edillon said. According to Edillon, among the factors that contributed to
the country’s growth include the sustainability of public and private sector investments. She added that private consumption and external demand also grew significantly this quarter. The agriculture sector of the country, on the other hand, improved by 2.9 percent, recovering on the five consecutive quarters of decline brought by a prolonged drought caused by the El Nino phenomenon. The services and public administration, however, relaxed to 6.9 percent and 3.7 percent respectively. “All things considered, our economy’s strong growth in the third quarter is a very good sign of things to come. Together with a low inflation environment, a sustained strong growth bodes well for continued poverty reduction this year,” Edillon said.
THE United Nations (UN) expressed its concern over bills that propose lowering the age of criminal liability in the Philippines from 15 to 9 years old. President Rodrigo Duterte, who backs the proposal on lowering the age of criminal liability, originally wanted it to go down to 12 years old. Several senators, however, proposed lowering it to 9 years old. “Jail is no place for a child. It is alarming for children to be institutionalised (sent to a penal institution),” the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a position paper sent to Agence France-Presse on Monday, November 21. “It will be retrogression on the part of the Philippine government.”
Robredo worried over alleged VP vote recount by Helen
FloreS Philstar.com
MANILA – The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday, Nov. 21 expressed alarm over the alleged plan to recount the votes in the May 9 elections without the consent of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET). Robredo’s spokesperson Georgina Hernandez expressed concern after receiving a text message from a “trusted source” saying that “early next year, we have a new VP.” Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. filed last June an electoral protest against Robredo, who won in the May elections by a slim margin of 263,473 votes. Based on the text message, Hernandez said the alleged recount of ballots from four to five provinces will start later this month and end in December. “The objective is to steal the vice presidency from VP Leni,” Hernandez said in a statement. Hernandez echoed Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV’s statement on Saturday that the possibil-
The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday expressed alarm over the alleged plan to recount the votes in the May 9 elections without the consent of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).
ity of Marcos “stealing” the vice presidency may not be farfetched following the secret burial of his father at the Libingan ng mg Bayani last Friday, Nov. 18. “This fear and grave concern are exacerbated by the way the Marcoses sneaked the burial of the dictator from the Filipino public,” Hernandez said. “To get what they desperately want, they have resorted to impunity and complete disregard for the T:5.69” rule of law,” she said referring to the Marcoses.
Hernandez called on Filipinos to be more vigilant “about any extralegal movements during this dark time in our history.” She, however, expressed confidence that the PET, composed of Supreme Court justices, will decide “based on truth.” The Marcos camp wants to nullify the election results in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Basilan where alleged discrepancies were noted. The Marcos camp also wants a recount in 22 provinces and five cities.
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According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a minimum age of criminal responsibility below the age of 12 years is considered by the committee ‘internationally unacceptable.’ “If children who have been exploited by criminal syndicates are penalized instead of the adults who had abused them, we fail to uphold the rights and wellbeing of children. If we fail to understand the underlying reasons why they commit crimes, we fail children,” UNICEF previously said in a statement. The organization explained that imprisoning children “further stigmatizes them as criminals and creates an environment that triggers repeat offense, often extending to adulthood. “Children, especially the most marginalized and at risk, must
be treated with a sense of dignity and self-worth,” UNICEF added. Among the bills that sought to revert the criminal liability back to 9 years old include the “Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility Act” filed by House Speaker Bebot Alvarez and Representative Fredenil Castro. Although Alvarez and Castro acknowledged that the intent of Pangilinan’s bill to protect the youth was “laudable,” they argued that R.A. 9344 or the Juvenile Delinquency Act of 2006 “pampers” the young offenders. “Its effects have had the opposite effects: The pampering of youthful offenders knowing they can get away with it. Worse, adult criminals individually, or in organized cabals knowingly and purposely make use of youth below 15 years of age to commit crimes,” Alvarez and Castro’s bill read.
A
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WHEN news broke out on Friday, November 18 that former Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos has interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery), it lit a fire. Public opposition is at high as more people mounting protests and unfurling banners saying that the former president “is no hero.” For some, the LNMB hold’s the nation’s esteem and reverence for those who have fought for freedom and democracy. The tyrant deposed by the People Power Revolution does not deserve such honor. For them, the burial was a slap in the face the country’s beloved democracy, and of the human rights victims during the martial law period. Today, various groups and organizations are marshaling support for rallies to denounce the notoriously callous decision by the Supreme Court allowing Marcos’s burial at LNMB. The decision was still subject to a motion for reconsideration. Voting 9-5 last November 8, the high court put an end to the issue, dismissing the petition filed by human rights groups, and victims during the martial law from 1972 to 1981. Marcos died in exile in Hawaii in 1989, three years after the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution toppled his twodecade rule. Albay Representative Edcel Lagman has pled the high court to order the exhumation of the remains of Marcos, saying that his burial was
“premature, precipitate and irregular” on the basis that the decision allowing the burial “has not attained finality and was not executory.” “The exhumation is imperative in order not to render moot and academic the petitioners’ forthcoming and seasonable motion/s for reconsideration, the resolution of which had been preempted by the precipitate burial in the wake of nationwide protests and cogent commentaries against the subject Decision of the [SC],” Lagman’s motion read. Former Senator Bongbong Marcos has called for unity amidst the growing clamor to exhume his father remains. “This was in keeping with his idea that he was but a soldier doing his duty, a citizen serving his country. We have waited 27 years to fulfill that wish that he left us with. But we are here today and we are able to grant him that wish,” the former senator said. Pres. Rodrigo Duterte stood by his decision to allow the internment of the former president at LNMB. “I have only two answers: He (Marcos) was a president, he was a soldier. His name appears on
Editorial
ManilaTimes.net photo
the record, it was recognized,” Duterte said. And for those refuse to move on from this, the president has this to say: “You just have to live with your grief and that grief is hate.” Because there have been an alleged high number of atrocities done under Marcos’s regime,
this issue will remain hounded by higher public opposition. In this charged atmosphere, the government should find a solution to address this contentious issue and provide a ground for peaceful resolution of political conflicts. (AJPress)
A big majority of Filipinos in America don’t agree that Marcos’s burial at LNMB will heal the nation ultimate sacriTHE remains of the fice in offering deposed dictator Fer- The Fil-Am their lives for the dinand Marcos was country. schemingly buried in Perspective Marcos, on the the Libingan ng mga other hand, had Bayani (LNMB) last been deposed Friday, despite a movia the People tion for reconsideration Power Revolupending in the Supreme Gel SantoS-ReloS tion in 1986, as Court. The highest court of the land de- the Filipinos’ way of putting an end to cided in favor of President Rodrigo all the corruption and human rights Duterte’s decision to allow the burial violations he and his administration of Marcos in the National Heroes’ committed while in power. Burying Cemetery, contending that Marcos Marcos in the Libingan, they conwas a former president, soldier, legis- tend, was a desperate deplorable atlator who, by law, deserved to be laid tempt to rewrite history. Anti-Marcos protesters even asked to rest in the Libingan. Duterte said people should accept this, forgive, so the Supreme Court to allow the rethe country can unite and move for- mains of the late dictator to be exhumed; some warned that they would ward and unite. Once the news about the burial do so on their own nevertheless in spread, Filipinos protested in differ- the name of justice for those who had ent parts of the world, denouncing been victims of the Marcos dictatorthe burial. They said this is an insult ship. Filipinos in America, even among to the real heroes who have paid the
some who voted for Duterte, had been vocal about Marcos’s burial in the Libingan. The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” asked its viewers in an online poll: Do you agree that Marcos’es hero’s burial will start to heal the division among Filipinos? Only 24 percent said YES. They said this will finally bring this issue to rest. An overwhelming majority — 76 percent — said NO. They contended that wounds have been cut too deep when it comes to the Marcoses. They said the former dictator’s hero’s burial is an issue that will be argued for generations to come. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
Will a Heroes’ Cemetery make a hero of Marcos? THOSE who are outraged by the Supreme Court decision to allow the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani may take heart in this old folk proverb: “Ang matsing kahit bihisan, matsing pa rin!” (A monkey, even if dressed up, is still a monkey). Internment in a cemetery for heroes does not a hero make. Emilio Aguinaldo is buried on the grounds of his historic mansion in Kawit, Cavite. Manuel Quezon’s remains lie in the Quezon Memorial in Quezon City. And Jose Rizal’s final resting place is beneath the Rizal monument at the Luneta. These are all hallowed grounds. The heroes who are interred there make them so. Nobody is sure where the remains of Andres Bonifacio are. There are doubts that they are in the Bonifacio monument in Grace Park. But he is honored, nonetheless. Was it Marcos’s dying wish that he be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani? Was it, perhaps, to ensure that his memory would be associated with heroism? Did he have doubts that this would be the case? Marcos had a penchant for appearances. He made sure he would be hailed as the most bemedalled soldier in World War II, never mind that that some – or many – of the medals were reportedly fake. It should, therefore, be no surprise that the Marcos clan would also like to make sure that he would be recognized as a hero – at least, by association with the Libingan ng mga Bayani. In contrast, Rizal had no such megalomaniacal illusions. A December 2013 article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer by Dr. Pablo S. Trillana III reveals that, before Rizal’s execution, he left a note (originally in Spanish) that stated: “Dear parents, brother, sisters: Give thanks to God who has kept me tranquil, before my death…. Bury me in the earth, put a stone on top, and a cross. My name, the date of my birth, and that of my death. Nothing more. If later you wish to surround my grave with a fence, you can do it. No anniversary celebrations! I prefer Paang Bundok.” Paang Bundok would later come to be known as the Manila North Cemetery where, incidentally,
Presidents Ramon Magsaysay, Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Street Roxas are buried. But Rizal’s wish would not be followed. Talk After his execution, his captors buried him secretly, without a coffin, in an unmarked grave in an obscure cemetery in Paco, GReG B. MacaBenta which is now Paco Park. It took the determined efforts of Rizal’s sisters for the grave to be found. Fearing desecration by Rizal’s enemies, the sisters had a marker placed with Rizal’s name engraved in reverse: RPJ. It was not until after the battle of Manila Bay, where the US ostensibly vanquished the Spanish armada, that Rizal’s family managed to have his remains exhumed, placed in an urn, and kept in a sister’s house in Binondo, there to stay for 14 years. In 1912, Rizal’s remains were finally placed at the Rizal Monument, where honor guards are posted 24 hours a day. Who knows? President Rodrigo Duterte may want to do the same to Marcos’s tomb at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. I hope he realizes, though, that honor guards do not a hero make. Having said that, however, those who consider Marcos the antithesis of a hero should face two harsh realities: Firstly, the Marcos family and thousands—maybe millions—of Ilocanos are firm in their belief that he was a hero. Secondly, the Marcoses have been more zealous in extolling that “heroism” than those who consider him a villain, a murderer and a thief. The fact alone that Senator Bongbong Marcos nearly won the vice presidency in the last elections should tell us that the story of Marcos’s villainy has been lost among the post-martial law generation. Who is to blame for that? The Marcoses who have unflinchingly, unwaveringly and unceasingly honored his memory? Or the civil society stalwarts, the martial law victims and the media who have presumed that their occasional cries of “Never again!” would remain
meaningful and relevant to each new generation of Filipinos? The Nazis may have immortalized the maxim that “a lie repeated often enough will be taken for the truth.” But those who went through two decades of Marcos misrule, but have begun to take for granted the significance of EDSA One epitomize the opposite dictum, “The truth, if not told often enough, will be taken for a lie.” This is one reason, among several, why many of those who marched in the People Power Revolt have since been defined by detractors as “belonging to the yellow horde” – a revision of the oncenoble symbolism of that color. I have read the official statement of De la Salle Philippines calling the Supreme Court decision on the burial of Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani “an ominous development” that “reflects the weakness of our democracy to exact accountability from leaders who abused and are abusing power.” The statement continues: “We, therefore, call on all our Lasallian teachers and partners to strengthen all their educational and community engagement efforts and programs towards a deepening of our people’s appreciation for democracy and human rights. Let us join with likeminded groups to create more robust advocacy on these issues,” Is this the first time that De la Salle has resolved to make this move or has it always been the case in the aftermath of EDSA One? I mean no disrespect for De la Salle, where I once taught Advertising Management and of which my eldest son is an alumnus, but my impression is that our people and well-meaning institutions are reactive, protesting perceived acts of injustice only when they are about to be perpetrated and going back to business as usual when the threat subsides. I am, frankly, puzzled why, it was only after the February 2016 commemoration of the People Power Revolution – the 30th year, no less – that the Philippine government - led by President Be-
nigno S, Aquino III, no less—began to look for a “permanent venue” for a People Power museum, to ensure that the horrors of martial law would not be forgotten by the forthcoming generations. The “experiential museum” installed at Camp Aguinaldo was described in one news report as a “pop-up” affair—in other words, temporary. Shouldn’t Presidents Cory Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos have thought about it, having been principal players in that historic event? Ramos did a much better job creating awareness of the first centennial of the declaration of Philippine independence in Kawit, Cavite, although even that ended up with only the Aguinaldo mansion as a permanent memorial to that historic event. Shouldn’t the son of Cory and Ninoy Aquino, as president of the Philippines, not have taken the “Imeldific” steps to memorialize that instance in Philippine history when the world regarded our country with awe and admiration? I use the term “Imeldific” because former First Lady. Imelda Romualdez Marcos is the only one I can think of who had the creativity and the zeal to build imposing structures, like the Philippine International Convention Center, the Folk Arts Theater and the Cultural Center of the Philippines to project her vision of a culturally rich and resurgent Philippines—never mind that the substance was like the façade of a Hollywood set. Now, here we are again, making loud noises over an injustice perpetrated by none other than the Supreme Court. But making loud noises is all that can be done for the next six years under Duterte, whose grand idea it was to have Marcos buried as a hero. But six years are not a long time. Enough time to plan on perpetuating the memory of martial law and Marcos rule with a structure that will last for generations – much like the Holocaust memorials of Israel. Enough time to be proactive. Not reactive. And this time, let it not be just Ferdinand Marcos depicted as the villain in that permanent memorial. The nine Supreme Court justices who handed down the decision deserve a place in that Hall of Shame. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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Journal Director & filmmaker Jon Jon Augustavo on his Janella Salvador delivers artistic purpose and discovering his Filipino heritage positive message of ‘Moana’ by Christina
M. Oriel
AJPress
On a recent afternoon, awardwinning director and filmmaker Jon Jon Augustavo visited Unidad Park in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown neighborhood, which houses the largest Filipino-American mural in the country. Surveying the work of art before him, Augustavo pointed to prominent Filipino and Fil-Am figures across various decades—those he’s seen or read about in the news or history books. Augustavo—whose mother is Filipina—grew up in Seattle and didn’t really know much about his Filipino heritage, other than it physically made him look different from his peers. “It makes you wonder about who you are and where you fit in,” he told the Asian Journal. “My past is littered with me trying to find where I fit in.”
Enjoying halo halo
Over the past few years, especially since moving to Los Angeles, he has made more of an effort to identify and learn more about the Fil-Am culture. “It’s important that I know about the side that makes me look different and to be proud of it. I say I am Filipino American, even though
Director and filmmaker Jon Jon Augustavo
AJPress photos by Noel Ty
I’m not sure culturally what that means. I’m not afraid to say it. But, I’d love to learn more about the cultural side,” he said. “Someone will say, ‘do you like this food?’ but I’ve never had it because I didn’t grow up with that. I grew up with a mother who was told to be an American.” Artistic purpose With parents who are artists in their own right, Augustavo showed creative promise and drifted towards drawing, painting, and sculpting at an early age. Then, he began exploring the world of filming and editing when he received his first camera as a teenager. Guided by this hobby, he graduated from Washington State University’s Murrow College of Communication and landed his first job in writing and producing news at a station in San Diego. However, he was dissatisfied with this career path and played around with being behind the camera by making amateur music videos for friends in Seattle. He eventually enrolled in a graduate film program at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. “My friends were rappers and musicians and it seemed like something I could be good at. From there, I went to school for film and now I do it for a living. I
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started making shorts and commercials. My hobby became my job,” Augustavo said. One of Augustavo’s most notable creations is the music video for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop,” a hip-hop song that topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2013. That same year, Augustavo also went on to collaborate with the rapper and producer duo on videos for “Can’t Hold Us” and “Same Love.” The three videos were nominated for six MTV Video Music Awards. “Can’t Hold Us” won Best Cinematography and Best Hip Hop Video, while “Same Love” won Best Video with a Social Message. “Can’t Hold Us” was also nominated for Best Music Video at the 2014 Grammy Awards. “When I worked with Macklemore, it still felt like I was playing around. I was still in film school and we were buddies. ‘Thrift Shop’ was made with just friends. We had high school kids helping me. It was still the environment of film school, so I don’t consider that a professional job even though it was the biggest thing I’ve ever done,” Augustavo reflected. Though working with Macklemore helped ignite his career as a director, Augustavo considers “Make A Little Room” for R&B PAGE B3
WALT Disney Studios Southeast Asia has chosen fast-rising star Janella Salvador to sing and appear in the music video of “How Far I’ll Go,” the lead song from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 56th animated feature “Moana.” The music video of Salvador’s cover version was launched simultaneously on Disney Channel and Disney Philippines’s social media accounts on Friday, nov. 18. “How Far I’ll Go” is one of seven original songs from the Moana soundtrack and is written by the Tony Award-winning Hamilton composer Lin-Manuel Miranda. The inspirational song boasts a soaring chorus and lyrics that echo the film’s plot of a young woman who leaves her South Pacific island to restore her people’s ancient role as master voyagers. The Philippines localized music video aims to deliver the inspirational and positive message of Moana, which is to have courage, determination and compassion,
Janella Salvador
while keeping a sense of adventure and a never-say-die attitude. Salvador is one of five singers from Southeast Asia, namely Maudy Ayunda from Indonesia, Ayda Jebat from Malaysia, Myra Molloy from Thailand and Minh nhu from Vietnam, who were selected to cover the song in each of their local languages. (ManilaTimes.net)
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Jona’s first 8 months as a Jodi Sta. Maria fails Emmy bid Kapamilya ‘very colorful’ by Bot
Glorioso Philstar.com
SiNCE Jona stepped inside the premises of aBS-CBN as one of the newest addition to its stable of talents, her timetable has always been packed with various singing engagements and show guestings. No wonder, it took eight months before Jona finally found time to formally sign the two-year recording contract with the Kapamilya Network music arm, Star music, and management deal with Star magic. The contract signing was held last Nov. 14 with Star music head Roxy liquigan, audio content head Jonathan manalo, manager arlene meyer and Star magic handler love Capulong. Her formal introduction as a Kapamilya, by the way, was done through her singing the theme song of the Kapamilya soap “We Will Survive.” “Very colorful. There were lots of things that i did for the first time,” said Jona as she described her first eight months as part of the aBS-CBN family during the press conference after the contract signing. “There were many firsts, for me, here like i did a cover as theme song (of a TV soap), first time on ‘aSap’ stage, first TFC (event) with ma’am Charo (Santos-Concio) in Spain. i was also able to do a Star Cinema theme song for Kathryn
Kapamilya actress Jodi Sta. maria failed to win at the 44th international Emmy awards at the Hilton New york Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Sta. maria was nominated for Best performance by an actress for her role as the vengeful amor powers in aBS-CBN’s soap opera “pangako sa ‘yo.” She was knocked off by German star Christiane paul for her role in “Unterm Radar.” also, another aBS-CBN classic fell short in claiming victory at the prestigious event. The aBS-CBN series “Bridges of love,” which starred Jericho Rosales, maja Salvador and paulo avelino, bowed down to Brazilian drama series “Verdades Secretas.” For the best performance category, the Kapamilya actress competed with other internationally acclaimed stars including the UK’s Judi Dench for “Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot,” Brazil’s Grazi massafera for “Verdades Secretas” Jona is set to do an all-out performance on Nov. 25 via her first solo concert as a Kapamilya and paul, who won the category. “Bridges of love” and “Verdades artist titled Queen of the Night: Jona at the Kia Theatre. Secretas” were nominated togeth(Bernardo) and Daniel (padilla) plans for the singer are already in er with the Canadian series “30 movie. it’s also my first time to join the drawing board. if Roxy is not ‘aSap live’ in New york, had my mistaken, Jona is estimated to be first duet with Gary Valenciano and busy as a bee until the next four or my first time to join (as interpreter) five years. This led one member of in the songwriting contest ‘Himig the entertainment press to tease Jona that, if and when that hapHandog 2016.’” “ENCaNTaDia” star Gabbi GarThus, Jona couldn’t contain her pens, it only means that Jona has cia excitedly revealed the details of happiness when Roxy revealed to sign an extension of contract. her 18th birthday celebration on that more projects are about to The 27-year-old power belter December 6, which will reflect land on her lap since Star music’s gently nodded with a sweet smile touches of her popular telefantasya plastered on her face. part of her character, Sang’gre alena. two-year contract, Jona shared, She revealed at an interview on is the release of her new album Thursday she is set to wear three which will come out very soon. different gowns by high fashion Jona continued, “That’s why i’m designer mark Bumgarner, which very happy and i felt i have become will carry the colors of alena in more inspired to do my work here green, gray and gold. in aBS,” Jona added. “So parang “Even with these touches from nag-umpisa na po talaga lahat ng Encantadia though, the designs pangyayari na rito.” will still be minimalist,” she shared. But this is not to say that Jona was dissatisfied with her 10-year stay in Gma. in fact, she is grateful for all the wonderful experiences she had with the Kapuso network. “i admit it crossed my mind the thought of, ‘What if i transferred early on in my career?’ But i have no regrets about everything that happened in my 10 years of stay at Gma because i learned a lot whether about performing on stage or my attitude towards work. They taught me well at nadala ko po dito lahat yun that’s why i am so thankful sa lahat ng pinagdaanan ko sa Gma,” stressed Jona who bid Gma goodbye without a PAGE B3 Gabbi Garcia
Vies” and the Brazilian telenovela “a Regra do Jogo.” Styled by patricia Coronado, lala Flores and Jay Wee, Sta. maria, 34, was resplendent in a white long gown designed by mark Bumgarner. in an inspiring instagram post on Tuesday, Sta. maria thanked her Filipino supporters for praying and cheering for her. She also shared in her post that being nominated for the international Emmy awards was a “memorable experience” for an actress like her. “attending and being nominated at the 44th international Emmy awards is a memorable experience. making new friends, sharing a glimpse of the Filipino hospitality to my fellow nominees, proudly speaking about the beauty of the philippines and representing the country to 15 nations made it more meaningful and special,” Sta. maria said. aside from Filipino pride, she firmly believes that Filipinos’ craft in the performing arts can reach international heights. “i believe we are ready for the global scene.
Jodi Sta. Maria
The international stage is opening up and there are opportunities to showcase our talents worldwide,” she captioned her post. (Gianna Francesca Catolico/Inquirer.net)
Gabbi Garcia comes of age “ayaw ko ng masyadong traditional. i’ll also have the usual 18 roses but not strictly going by the rules. i just want to spend a fun night with all the special people in my life.” Gabbi confirmed that her onscreen partner Ruru madrid will be her 17th dance as she is specially saving her 18th dance with her dad. “Of course Ruru will be part of my debut; we’re together almost every day and i won’t deny na may extra care siya sa akin, pero hang-
gang dun muna.” it will be remembered that the Gma artist Center’s teen princess stepped into the limelight as a sweet girl who brought her fresh charm and grace on screen. From portraying teenybopper roles alongside madrid, she transformed herself into a fierce and sophisticated actress for Encantadia. in barely three years, she has made a name in the industry by being herself-bubbly and fun, yet sultry and refined. Grateful for her showbiz success, Garcia is looking forward to celebrating her debut with those who have helped her find her place in the sun, where she shines just as bright. “i want it to be a night where all my loved ones are present,” she continued. “i’ve always dreamed of having a grand debut but what we’ve put together exceeds my expectations. it’s special because it’s a look back to what i’ve accomplished in the past years, so it’s just right to celebrate it with the special people in my life. Garcia’s 18th birthday #SincerelyGabbi will be shown at a later date on Gma Network. (ManilaTimes.net)
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Director & filmmaker Jon Jon Augustavo... Michael Pangilinan hooked on R&B PAGE B1
artist Jarvis his first “professional” video since it was for Capitol Records and had a bigger budget. “This thing for Capitol was different. I had no friends on the job, everyone was professional and had that jaded professional attitude. I was this young director and no one gave me any respect. The label was very disrespectful. It was a very tough experience, but I needed that,” he said. “I grew up very quick from that one job. That was a tough video. The other day I was just reflecting on it with a friend, who was my one friend on the job. We walked away from it like, ‘Do we want to do this anymore?’” In nearly four years, he has worked with chart-topping artists, such as Shawn Mendes for several videos, including breakout hit “Stitches,” and Mike Posner for “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” (SeeB Remix). Augustavo’s artistic style of turning a song into a narrative has since progressed, as well. He counts director Spike Jonze as one of his role models. “I think narcissistically or selfishly I look up to him because he started in the same place as me. He was kind of viewed as this young whippersnapper type and didn’t have a lot of depth to him because he was making these cool, funky videos. The guy’s making these very emotional, heartfelt films that are winning Academy Awards, [while simultaneously] making commercials to dramatize a lamp sitting on the sidewalk. Originally he didn’t get respect because he was making crazy videos, but he was using that to try things out… It’s cool to see that a guy like that, who started similarly to me, is now a very respected, A-level director for film and commercials,” Augustavo said. These days, Augustavo said he will only accept music video gigs that give him the creative freedom and confidence from the artist to execute his ideas. “I used to just do really pretty shots and make the artist look good. I almost never use the artist anymore, just because I gravitate more towards film now and am trying to make movies. The last couple of years I’ve only done narrative. You can’t really do commercials if you don’t do narrative already because they want you to tell a story in 30 seconds, but in videos, that’s not necessary. Like 5 percent of videos are stories. They say ‘you don’t want that,’ but those
are the videos you remember. Over the last three and a half years of videos, I’ve become more of just a narrative director. I have moved away from performance and style, which have been great. When I do videos, they’re definitely more of my video than the artist’s video. That’s the trust they give you when they hand it over to you,” the director said. Despite his success as a music video director, Augustavo’s focus is shifting more toward making films. One way he is continuing to develop his craft is by constantly creating videos, even daily, consuming art and asking for feedback from fellow creatives. “I’m still an infant as a director; I’ve been doing it for three years. The only way to get good at this is to always be making and always consuming film and art. Before I was a professionally doing it, I was always trying to make things. It takes something in you just to always be creating or writing. I have so many scripts I’ve written that no one has read. It’s just that I had an idea, it’s like talking to you. I have an idea and I need to get it out. You need that exercise to get better and think of another idea. You also have to know what’s out there. Watch everything, good or bad,” he shared. “I’m very lucky to have some very talented people whose work I can look at and talk to. They help me be better, they ask questions, they push you. There’s few that I trust a lot, but I do have friends that are in a similar field as me that I can trust to push me. Their questions aren’t to hurt you. They’ll read your script and say, ‘Why is it this way? What is this? It doesn’t work for me,’ because I trust them. they’re not saying it to cut your legs out, they want it to be better. They inspire me just as much as anything else.” In the latter part of this year, he has worked on two short films and shot videos in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Detroit, New Jersey and New Orleans “that show emotion and a different side of the United States, not just stereotypes,” he said. “Honestly, the biggest dream in my life is to do a feature film. I think I set out to do that. That’s my goal in life. I love music videos, but it’s never going to fully be your project — as much as I make it that. As much as you can, you can’t fully put yourself into it because there are people making sure it speaks to the song,” he shared. “With a film,
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it’s the closest it can be to your own voice the director or artist. My goal has always been to make a film that speaks to who I am as a person, director, artist or whatever it is. My main goal, main dream is to do that. And to have someone allow me to make what I think is right with the story I want to tell.” On visiting the Philippines One of his plans in the coming months is to visit the Philippines to scout locations for a film idea he has been developing a script for. He also intends for this trip to be a learning experience about where his mother’s side of the family hails from. “I come from a family that is stereotypically not Filipino. I have my mom and one auntie, who has one daughter. My grandparents have passed away, we don’t know our family in the Philippines or how to connect with them. I grew up 0 percent Filipino. People would ask me, ‘What are you? Where are you from?” he said. Since he didn’t grow up idolizing a particular figure who looked like him, he hopes he can break stereotypes on Asian American males and be an inspiration for future Fil-Ams who want to make it in the entertainment industry too. “I don’t think it’s going to change overnight, but the more people are proud of their roots, it will help the next generation be proud of it too. It’s not like you have to stand on a soapbox and say it, but at least feel more comfortable in your skin. It’s very difficult growing up, especially where I did, to be proud and comfortable that I am how I am,” he said.
THeRe’S something about R&B that makes recording artist Michael Pangilinan feel like singing forever. The singer-composer just can’t pinpoint what it is. All he knows is that he’s hooked to Luke Mejares and Duncan Ramos’ R&B style. Michael has adopted R&B (along with pop) and made it his own in “Tayo Na Lang,” which opens his second album (Star Records). Followers of ABSCBN’s teleserye “Magpahanggang Wakas” will recognize the album’s carrier single, “Hanggang Kailan,” and its soul R&B feel. “The melody stops, then returns somewhere in the middle,” Michael describes “Hanggang Kailan.” Michael, who placed second runner-up in last year’s “Your Face Sounds Familiar,” also did a cover of Bread’s “everything I Own” in his eponymous album, but made sure his version is different from the David Gates hit song. The song, which Gates dedicated to his late father, struck a chord in Michael, whose love for his family inspired him to write the track “Tanging Ligaya Ko.” After all, Michael owes his artistry to mom and dad. Michael can sing and play the guitar without taking up formal lessons because his parents are into music. “My dad (a businessman) would have been a singer had my grandfather allowed him,” Michael
Michael plans to come up with a third album, filled with his own version of songs for female artists.
recalls. His mom is so at home with the karaoke, relatives love to hear her sing in family gatherings. Michael made sure he never forgets to respect his parents when he endured the pain of having a biblical verse about honoring mom and dad permanently tattooed on his arm. Michael chose Matthew 15:4 because he believes in what it says about honoring one’s father and mother. “‘Whoever curses his father or mother shall die,” he quotes one of his favorite lines. It’s but appropriate that Michael tattooed his birth date — Nov. 26 — beside the biblical verse. In doing so, Michael is honoring the people he owes his life to. These reminders of who he is and who he can be could become
even more interesting, as Michael moves from one milestone to the next in his journey as an artist. For instance, Michael plans to come up with a third album, filled with his own version of songs for female artists. Michael’s dreams aren’t confined to singing, however. He also wants to inspire others to stay fit and show the well-developed abs and toned muscles he worked hard for by gracing the cover of a leading women’s magazine. Michael aims high, but vows to keep his feet on the ground. “I won’t ever change,” he promises the press during his album launch. Michael’s many showbiz friends, who know that behind that easy laughter is a man dead serious about his craft — are hanging on to his every word.
Jona’s first 8 months as a Kapamilya...
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heavy heart. Besides, Roxy said that Jona’s transfer was smooth. “Before we got her, someone told me that she no longer had a binding contract with GMA for quite some time at ako naman, I really love her kasi magaling talaga siya. And even sina Jolina (Magdangal) and Kyla moved here without any problems so we took Jona in.” Asked what makes Jona different from other Star Music artists, Roxy said he finds her vocal talent excellent, adding, “We’re sacred fans of Jona since she started in the other station and during our first meeting here at ABS, we checked her music video and she performed live before us. She didn’t disappoint; malinis kumanta
so yun ang difference. She’s effortless and her showmanship is very impressive.” For his part, Jonathan said Jona is consistent, performance-wise. “There are singers who excel in song recordings and there are some who do better in live acts but Jona is one of the few singers who delivers well in both song recording and live performance. Kung ano yung tunog n’ya sa pag-record ng song, ganun din kapag live. Her vocal range is so wide she can easily carry high and low notes.” Hearing such heartening comments from record label execs all the more made Jona eager to show her best. “When I was just starting here, I’ve observed how competitive ev-
ery artist here to his craft so it is really a must to excel in your chosen path. It’s good to relax sometimes but when it comes to work you have to give your best shot.” That’s why Jona is prepping up for her first solo concert as a Kapamilya, titled “Queen of the Night: Jona,” on Nov. 25 at the Kia Theatre. Join her as she is set to rock the stage and do impressive song-and-dance numbers with guests Jed Madela, Daryl Ong and Regine Velasquez. “Of course, I’d still be doing what the audience expects from me only this time I will perform in a bigger venue. There are production numbers that I cannot reveal yet so you have to watch Queen of the Night to find out,” she ended.
B November 24-30, 2016 • LAS veGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL
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2016 MMFF minus Wenn Deramas Maine Mendoza stars in ‘Enteng 10’ by EdGar
by Kristy
o. Cruz
WiTHOUT director Wenn Deramas, the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), will the annual event be the same? The television/film writer/helmer widely known as the Blockbuster Director who passed on at 49 early this year from cardiac arrest will be out. in the year that MMFF is curiously undergoing a direction-changing “#Reelvolution,” Wenn will not be at the turnaround year. Wenn entered MMFF with aiai delas alas’ iconic starrer “ang Tanging ina Mo” series. Wenn owns three slots in the 2015 List of Highest-Grossing Films (Local and Foreign) in the Philippines with his MMFF films “Beauty and the Bestie” (Yes, it is 2015 MMFF highest estimated grossing film with P526M) at rank no. 3, “The amazing Praybet Benjamin” with P456M at rank no. 5 and “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy” with P436M at rank no. 7. all were MMFF entries, the other Philipines-made film is Cathy Garcia-Molina’s “a Second Chance” with P446M at rank no. 5. “iron Man 3” with P626M and “The avengers” with P601M hold ranks no. 1 and 2 in that order. Wenn is the highest-grossing
Wenn with Coco Martin, writer Mel Mendoza-del Rosario and Vice Ganda during the victory party of “Beauty and the Bestie.”
Filipino helmer as of 2015 and topped MMFF grosses in the last four years (with “Sisterakas” at P393M) as director, from 2012 to 2015. Known for his own brand camp comedy, Wenn selected top crowd drawers for headliners, among them ai-ai, Vice Ganda and Kris aquino with a complement unswerving support cast. He made them act out fresh narratives to bring captured viewers reeling and rolling with laughter. ai-ai and Vice with the working title Sampung Gamol will be back, with Vice and Coco Martin as lead actors in that order. although they never launched their dream full-length feature, eugene Domingo will be present with “ang Babae sa Septic Tank
2.” This is assuming, for sure, their entries are picked as official entries. The kind of commercialism that Wenn and the perennial top grossers represented is precisely the reason the 2016 MMFF executive Committee opted to adapt global film festival standards of finished entries, quality films and open category. if this is achieved, who knows if Wenn’s absence will open doors for a different kind of comedy. But the most daring challenge is to exceed his boxoffice record. But Christmas without MMFF as much-anticipated by children and families to celebrate it with is a dire and disgusting prospect.
Solenn and hubby to spend Christmas apart by MJ
Marfori ManilaTimes.net
WHiLe almost everyone is looking forward to spend time with loved ones this season, Solenn Heussaff and her argentinian husband nico Bolzico will be spending their first Christmas as a married couple away from each other. This good looking twosome tied the knot with a beautiful wedding just this May, but nonetheless decided to spend the break apart. Solenn needs to stay in Manila to continue taping for GMa network’s encantadia, while her husband always goes to argentina for a month every Christmas to be with family. Given her tight schedule, Solenn will only have four days off in December, which is just enough time go to Palawan with her sister and parents. ever the cool chick, the actress, singer and recording artist told in The
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Know, “Oh well, wala kaming magagawa. OK lang naman because i’m working, and we’ll have many Christmases until we die!” she added laughing. Solenn is proud of nico who became an instant social media celebrity after he posted videos of her in her most unguarded moments. nico now has more than 166,000 followers on instagram, thanks to the secret videos he takes of his beautiful wife while she dances in front of the mirror and when she wakes up. nico even makes up witty hashtags, and calls Solenn “wifezilla” because of how she trains him to be tidy at home. Solenn says their relationship works because they do not meddle with each other’s lives. She doesn’t want nico to get into showbiz, and neither does she get involved in his agribusiness, “para marami pa kami mapag-usapan.”
Solenn Heussaff and her Argentinian husband Nico Bolzico.
asked about their plans to have kids, Solenn is looking at 2018 as the year they’ll start “trying.”
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Maine Mendoza said the “alDub” fans will surely love the upcoming film “enteng Kabisite 10 and the abangers,” where she and alden Richards will star soon. This would be her second time to star in a film with Vic Sotto, following last year’s “My Bebe Love #KiligPaMore” which was one of the Metro Manila Film Festival finalists. “enteng Kabisote 10 and the abangers” was supposed to be an entry for this year’s MMFF, only it wasn’t included in the eight final films. Despite the many blessings that came her way, including one of her firsts endorsements, the CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino, everything still feels surreal for the Kapuso star. “i think it would take me a long time to get used to everything,” she
“Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers” was supposed to be an entry for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.
said about her success. it’s safe to say that i am still in the now that more projects are be- process of familiarizing.” ing offered to her and her leading “i still have a lot to learn,” she man alden, Maine admits “i think concluded.
Sitti mixes old with the new by Bot
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PeOPLe are used to seeing Sitti dressed in an elegant number every time she performs and hearing her cool vocals that make you want to relax and sip wine. This time, however — specifically on nov. 25 and 26 — she will combine the classic bossa nova with modern electronic dance music (eDM) and allow the audience to see Sitti grooving to a dance-friendly sound via her concert,electroSiTTi, at the Music Museum. The two-night concert has two parts. The first part is devoted to bossa nova tunes and then the second part is peppered with dance-infectious beats with Sitti performing eDM covers and her original compositions Bid Your Love and Tangled. She will be joined onstage by guests Jason Dy, Looney, DJ Silverfilter and the UST Percussion ensemble. “With Bid Your Love, we’re very hopeful because it’s a new material and those who have already heard the song said it’s refreshing. We don’t expect you to sing that kind of music but it’s good to the ears,” relates Sitti who is looking forward to share the song under the title Refreshing (in her new album to be released soon). So expect Sitti to do some footwork while singing on stage during the second half of the show. She shares that the idea of combining
two music genres came to mind while planning for a show to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of her debut album Café Bossa. Her friend, electronic music producer DJ Silverfilter, advised her to create something new and suggested to go with eDM which appeals most to millennials. “it’s exciting and at the same time challenging to do something that you are not known for,” says Sitti. “i am familiar with it since i also go to parties or sometimes with friends just dancing in our living room, and also, while i’m driving i like listening to something na medyo mapapa-yugyug ka.” norwegian singer and songwriter astrid S is among the eDM artists she listens to these days in order to totally get the feel of the electronic sound. “Her voice is so cool and chill. But please pardon my dancing because even my friends can’t stand seeing me dance, hahaha.” Kidding aside, Sitti is bent on fitting into the young market. even her music label MCa Music broached to her the idea of coming out with an album that has electronic music. it will also be titled electroSiTTi. “Of course, may konting apprehension (about doing eDM) because there are purists (fans) but this is not a career change, it is just dependent on doing music that is very popular right now and to be able to reintroduce myself to
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the younger market.” Besides, it is not the first time that she is getting out of her comfort zone. She had tried other music genres in the past “and this one is just an exploratory project. i’m in the position that anything can be combined whatever elements (of music) are there to create a new one and i think music is all harmony.” nevertheless, her get-up complements the music that she will play. “Definitely, i won’t go floral, hahaha. Perhaps, there’s pant suit or something tight so definitely there are costume and visual changes but very different from Lady Gaga or Sia. You can still see the Sitti (mark) only bolder in style.”
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Your Immigration Solution Atty. NANcy Miller Have you ever considered that america’s most famous icon is an immigrant? That’s right! The Statue of Liberty was “born” in France and brought to america by ship. The quintessential symbol of american liberty and freedom, Lady Liberty herself, is an “immigrant”. as the late Senator Ted Kennedy said “Immigration is the story of american History. Over the centuries, immigrants came to america from every part of the globe and made the american dream. They created a nation that is the envy of the world.” “They came to a land that offers freedom and opportunity to those willing to do their part.” and do their part, they have! Immigrants have contributed to and enriched every aspect of american life. They built our cities, our railroads and highways. They cultivated
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond
Health@Heart PhiliP S. chuA, MD, FAcS, FPcS What is an allergy? an allergy is a condition where the body overreacts following “contact” with an allergen (dust, molds, pollen, flower, dander, fur, animal protein from hair, perfume, cosmetics, medications---applied to skin or swallowed---food or drink, etc.). Symptoms could be as trivial as sneezing or as serious as sudden inability to breathe, shock and death. What is the incidence of allergies? about 10 percent of people have some form of allergies or another. So, almost 10 million Filipinos suffer from this malady. Luckily, most of the allergies people have are mild. If repeated exposures to the same allergen, at the same high dose, are allowed to occur, the symptoms could become more severe. What triggers the symptoms? allergic reaction is triggered, and symptoms develop, when the body’s immune system detects the presence of an allergen. This automatic protective response is aimed at warding off any adverse effects of the “culprit substance” on the body by producing antibodies and mobilizing the “immune soldiers into the battlefield to fight the invading foreign” substance. This is a natural part of the defense mechanism of our body. What are the symptoms of allergies? From the mild symptoms to the life-threatening ones, they could be one or a combination of the following: sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, red, itchy watery eyes, skin rashes or hives, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia (fast heart beat), dyspnea (difficulty breathing), wheezing, hypotension (drop in blood pressure), cardiac arrest (stoppage of heart beat), and death. While the last 3 situations are not common, they
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For immigrants’ contributions to America: A thank you! our farmlands. They fought to defend their adopted home in every branch of the U.S. military. and, they even gave us Thanksgiving, the quintessential american holiday. The first recorded Thanksgiving ceremony took place on September 8, 1565 when 600 Spanish settlers landed in what is now St. augustine, Florida and immediately held a Mass of Thanksgiving for their safe delivery to the New World. The Mass was followed by a feast and celebration. a Spanish expedition party rested and conducted a mass at San elizario (near el Paso, Texas) in celebration of thanksgiving on april 30, 1598. On December 4, 1619, 38 english settlers arrived at Berkeley Hundred, which is about 20 miles north of Jamestown, virginia. The group’s charter required that the day of arrival be observed yearly as a day of thanksgiving to G-d. The modern Thanksgiving holiday is associated with a 1621 celebration at the Plymouth Plantation where the Pilgrims held
a feast after a successful growing season. Sqauanto, a Native american who served as an interpreter for the english-speaking colony had taught the Pilgrims how to catch eel and grow corn. The Pilgrims set aside a day to celebrate immediately after their first harvest. That Thanksgiving feast lasted for three days and provided enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Native americans. It consisted of fowl, venison, lobster, clams, berries, fruit, pumpkin, squash and turkey. Since that time, a Thanksgiving Day has been proclaimed and celebrated periodically throughout our nationhood. However, the date was not officially set as the fourth Thursday of November until 1942. Regardless of where the immigrants came from and no matter when they arrived, they shared something in common with each other and with those who come to our shores today. They all wanted a better life for themselves and their families. They were also willing to work
A grateful, humble heart “Gratitude is the heart’s memory.”
— French Proverb
MoNette ADevA MAglAyA aBOUT 400 years ago, the first Pilgrims who settled in the New World celebrated Thanksgiving Day after their first harvest in 1621. With prayerful thanks in front of the food they harvested from the soil and feasting with Native americans as honored guests, this tradition, has been preserved through much of american history by presidential proclamations beginning with George Washington and lives on to this day. Washington proclaimed, “It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.” This first batch of immigrants was particularly grateful to Squanto, the Native american and former British slave who, not only acted as interpreter but also taught them the ropes on how to live off and with nature, teaching them how to fish, plant corn and generally survive the harsh conditions of the new land. There is strong reason and evidence to believe that without Squanto’s help, this group may not have survived the rigors of living in a harsh environment. For many ordinary people living mundane lives, Thanksgiving Day has become, not only as a tradition we go through the motions year after year, but something
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEmbER 24-30, 2016
that gives crystal-clear meaning and purpose to our endeavors of facing increasingly challenging seasons year after year. Thanksgiving Day is widely observed by many in the US, as a day for family and friends to gather together in front of specially prepared food and with a prayerful attitude of thanksgiving to God, for the graces bestowed on each one. at the very least, for the bored and blasé, it is a most welcome 4-day break from the workaday world we live in. The squeeze on the byways is on specially now that gas prices are lower than usual. expect the sky routes, roads and railways to be clogged with millions of travelers wanting to be with family on this special day. For many millions more, it is a special day to simply stay put within our homes, make a run for provisions at the corner supermarket, stuff a turkey or buy a spiraled ham and enjoy the blessings of hearth and home. Some big nationwide stores are bucking the previously held sacrosanct tradition of being close during Thanksgiving Day and opening their doors wide for business as usual. But one store published a message as some kind of rebuke to these megaretailers saying to the effect that they make enough during the rest of the year so they can be close on Thanksgiving Day to allow their workers to spend time
with their families. Touche. Today, many in the immigrant population accept and relish this tradition of giving thanks to God for blessing a country that has been heaped with so much abundance, its cornucopia still filled to the brim, despite the many challenges it has faced for a protracted period of time. The immigrant whose head is screwed on tight and whose heart is in the right place can appreciate a bit more the significance of giving thanks to God for a country he has adopted to be his own, no matter the struggle and the rigors he has had to go through and which in turn, has accepted him to be a part of. Thanksgiving is a time to forget our petty concerns, tune out of the noise, confusion and melee that try our souls, and take absolute joy in the moment of just being alive. and if you are one of the lucky ones, Thanksgiving Day is a time to simply take quiet, humble joy in being blessed with the gift of one thing more, without which, hell has your soul in a stranglehold. This free gift is nothing more than the gift of a grateful, humble heart. HaPPY THaNKSGIvING TO aLL!!! *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
Allergies 101 are nonetheless very significant and still far too many, especially because these are preventable disasters. have there been deaths from exposure to animal hair? Yes, and two such sad and tragic deaths happened to my godson and, in a separate incident, to a friend’s daughter (both in their twenties), who died within an hour after exposure to horses in a barn. how about fatal allergy to MSG? a classmate of mine, a chest surgeon from California, was attending a meeting in Nice, France, a few years ago, when he and his wife decided to eat oriental food, after a week of French cuisine. Inspite of their instruction to the waiter to make sure the chef did not add MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate, a flavor enhancer) to the food they ordered because he was allergic to it, somehow MSG was used anyway. after ingesting a mouthful, my friend became very short of breath, collapsed, and died a couple of hours later from anaphylactic shock. What is Chinese Food Syndrome? Monosodium Glutamate has been used for years as a food enhancer in many recipes in restaurant or at home. People who are sensitive to MSG (whose food has a lot of MSG) may experience mild and transient warmth and flushing in the face and the rest of the body, some with mild chest tightness that goes away in a few minutes. Since many Chinese recipes call for the use of MSG, this reaction has been termed “Chinese Food Syndrome.” This is actually not an allergy, but there are some people to are really allergic to MSG. What is anaphylactic shock? This is a violent allergic reaction, which results in massive swelling and rapid closure of the air passages, precipitous drop in blood pressure, and death by suffocation. In some cases, bee stings have caused anaphylactic shock.
how common is food allergy? Medical reports have shown that about 2% (two out of a hundred) of adults and about 8% of children have true food allergies. Food allergy is not the same as food intolerance (like stomach aches following ingestion of milk for those with deficiency of lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose--milk and milk products). Food intolerance is due to body metabolism and does not involve the immune system. Some people are allergic to shellfish, peanuts, a few to chicken. Cow’s milk, soy, wheat and eggs are common cause of allergies in children. In some cases, children outgrow their allergies, but early peanut allergy can be for life, although new strategy using desensitization is now being used to treat them. What are the signs of an allergic reaction? Sneezing, skin rashes or hives, runny nose, swelling of the lips or tongue, stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, wheezing, and in more severe cases, anaphylactic shock as described above. how about allergies to food additives? adverse allergic reactions to some food additives have been reported. among some of them are aspartame (as in equal, a sweetener), MSG, FD&C Yellow No. 5 (a food color also known as tartrazine), and sulfites (sulfur-based preservatives). Following controlled studies in aspartame, the FDa determined it is not an allergen, and that aspartame is safe. Pregnant women with high level of phenylalanine in the blood, some people with a genetic disease called PKU (phenylketonuria), and those with advance liver disease have a problem with aspartame because these people do not metabolize the amino acid called phenylalanine, which is a component of aspartame. High levels of phenylalanine in the body can cause brain damage. are sulfite preservatives allergens? Yes, sulfites, which are antioxidants used to prevent or reduce PAGE B6
hard to get that better life. and, they were profoundly grateful to the country that gave them the opportunity for betterment. That is all still true. It is also still true that the country that benefitted so much from the early immigrants continues to benefit from those who come to our shores today. They bring energy and skill that enrich the lives of those with whom they come in contact. They start businesses and create jobs. They provide wonderful examples of family devotion by the sacrifices they make to unite their families here and support their loved ones back home. at RMZD, we know how important families are. We recognize how much america owes to
each person who has brought a unique contribution to this country. and we continue to strive to obtain justice and fairness for them. Fairness and justice means granting lawful status to those who devote their life and energy to make and keep this country great. It is fulfilling the promise of Lady Liberty who lifts her light of liberty beside the golden door. Since 1947, each year for Thanksgiving the President of the United States has pardoned a live turkey to allow it to live out its days in peace. Surely a country that has compassion for its turkeys can show compassion for its people. We hope that the Incoming President and First Lady and the members of Con-
gress will remember that they are either immigrants or descendants of immigrants and will treat the immigrant community with the respect and dignity that they received when they got here. From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving! *** 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)
Our Lady of Victory Church: Parish Mission December 2-4, 2016 at 1575 Windmill Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89123 Tel: (702) 361-6510 4: Mercy of God Friday, deCeMber 2 – FirSt Friday 12:00 p.m.- Potluck 5:15 p.m. - Confessions 1:00 p.m. - Sermon 5: Devotion to Mary; 5:45 p.m. - Opening Ceremony Devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help 6:00 p.m. - Mass with Sermon 1: Salvation 2:00 p.m. General Confessions 7:00 p.m.- Commandments 1-3; Sermon 2: Confession Sunday, deCeMber 4 – SeCond SunSaturday, deCeMber 3 – FirSt day oF advent Saturday 7:00 a.m.- Confessions 7:30 a.m.- Confessions 7:30 a.m.- Mass with Sermon 6: Resolu8:00 a.m. - Mass with Sermon 3: Hell; foltions lowed by half an hour for breakfast 9:00 a.m. - Confessions 9:30 a.m.- Commandments 4-6&9 10:00 a.m.- Sung Mass with Sermon 6: 10:00 a.m.- Rosary andGeneral ConfesResolutions;Benediction and Closing Ceremony sions 11:00 a.m.- Commandments 7- 8; Sermon of Mission
Calendar of Events across
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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 D EC E m b E R 3
FASO’s Christmas Concert in Glendale, CA The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines, as it presents “A Christmas Concert” on Saturday, December 3, 6:00 p.m. at the John Wayne Performing Arts Center in Glendale, California. FASO will play Christmas carols, accompanied by the voices of various choir groups. John Wayne Performing Arts Center is located at 1440 E. Broadway, Glendale, California 91205. For tickets, call Andy Tecson (323) 467-5096; Bob Shroder (818) 395-8936; and Arlene Ferrolino (213) 248-9850. Tickets are also available athttp://fasochristmas.eventbrite.com/. Tickets are at $25, $45 and $75. More information at www.fasofoundation.org.
D EC E m b E R 4
Aurora Inter-organizational Alliance-USA celebrates 8th anniversary in Granada Hills, CA Aurora Inter-organizational Alliance-USA announces its 8th anniversary celebration on Saturday, December 10 in Granada Hills, CA. It is an annual gathering of immigrants from the Aurora province’s 8 towns, aiming to further strengthen the camaraderie and spirit of the members. This year’s celebration hopes to gather 100 members and guests, who will be treated with traditional Filipino dishes as well as entertainment amid the sounds of Christmas carols. The night will be capped by the election of new officers for the new year. The event will be held at the Granada Hills Pavilion at 11128 Balboa Blvd., Granada Hills, CA 91344 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, please contact Atty Al Nabor at (951) 818-8172 or Luchie Cuento at (818) 300-3212.
D EC E m b E R 5
AAPA Graduation Gala
Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) cordially invites you to the Graduation Gala on Monday, December 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Celebrate with AAPA mentor and mentees and learn about the organization’s impact in the community. Mr. Anthony Hong, vice president of clinical research and development of Johnson & Johnson Cardiovascular & Specialty Solutions will be the keynote speaker of the night. It will be held at DoubleTree by Hilton - Rosemead at 888 Montebello Blvd., Rosemead, CA 91770. The event is business casual/cocktail attire and is open to everyone. Complimentary for mentors and mentees. Guests at $25. Please RSVP and purchase tickets by November 28 at www.aapa. abcptsa.org.
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Filipino American Chamber of Commerce - SouthBay Los Angeles Area (FACC-SLAA)’s Business & Professionals Networking Mixer Come celebrate the holidays with FACC-SLAA, and meet other driven Filipino/FilAm businesspersons and professionals in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. It will be at Wednesday, December 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the SOL Venue, 313 E Carson St., Carson, CA 90745. Tickets for FACC-SLAA members are free with pre-registration, $5 at the door. For non-members, $10 for pre-registration and $20 at the door. *Please bring presents ($20 minimum) for the gift exchange, and plenty of holiday cheer! For more information, please email facc.slaa@gmail.com.
D EC E m b E R 1 1
Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater LA (FACC-GLA)’s 15th year anniversary The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater LA (FACC-GLA) is celebrating its 15th year anniversary by recognizing businesses and community partners and installing officers and board members on Sunday, December 11 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. The event will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Westside at 6333 Bristol Parkway, Culver City, CA 90230. The cost to attend is $50 and formal attire is required. Please make your check payable to FPACC Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the educational scholarship funds and to help the underprivileged children in the Philippines. For any inquiries, please email info.faccgla@gmail.com.
D EC E m b E R 1 7-1 8
Consular outreach mission in Miami, Florida The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., in cooperation with the Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc. - Central Florida Chapter, the Filipino-American Association of Pensacola, Inc., and the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Miami, is pleased to announce that it will conduct a consular outreach mission in Pensacola on Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Services offered include: Philippine passport applications; legalization of documents (acknowledgment, authentication, etc.); and receipt of reports of birth, marriage and death. No applications for dual citizenship will be accepted at this time, as oaths of allegiance must be administered by the Philippine Consul General or Consul. For an appointment, please email consular@philippineusa.org and copy furnish honcon.miami@gmail.com. The Philippine Honorary Consulate in Miami is located at 12/F 1200 Brickell Ave., Miami, Florida 33131.
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Get the best price for your valuables at Nevada Coin Mart WITH tons of places to choose from to bring your old jewelry, there’s only one place in Las vegas that will pay the best amount for these valuables. At Nevada Coin Mart, customers can rest assured that they will be properly compensated for the precious stones and metals they bring in. Neil Sackmary, the owner of the store, is a graduate gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) with more than 20 years of experience in buying these items. “When it comes to myself, this is my passion. This is what I went to school for,” Sackmary said. GIA is the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, colored stones and pearls. It was established in 1931 and strives to protect the jewelry and gem buying public by setting quality standards worldwide. As a certified GIA specialist, Sackmary points out that simply because a business that purchases these stones has been around for decades, that does not make it an expert source. This is a particularly important fact for members of the Asian American community to note. “In the Asian community, people don’t buy cheap stones. They always spend really good money and when they do, they want to sell them for good money and they want someone who’s an expert. you don’t want to take it to someone who says they’re in the business for 35 years. That does not make them an expert,” Sackmary said. Nevada Coin Mart purchases
Vina Lelim Nacionales: A beauty queen with a golden heart By Monet
Neil Sackmary
a wide variety of items, including coins, bullion, diamonds, jewelry, gold, silver and watches, at premium prices. At the shop, Sackmary has the latest technology, including a $9,000 diamond microscope and $30,000 X-ray spectrometer, which allows him to thoroughly examine how much the metals and stones customers bring in are worth. “Most people want to rip off customers because they don’t care. They look at them and say, ‘Well, if I can, I’ll take advantage. I’m never going to see you again’,” Sackmary said. That’s not what happens at Nevada Coin Mart. In one instance, Sackmary paid a customer $1,510 for two rings that were quoted for $150 at a competitor store. It’s because of its transparency and fairness to those who walk into Nevada Coin Mart that about 70 percent of its clients are repeat customers who come back for the value they receive for their items. The business takes it a step further by providing security guards who are former police of-
ficers and 47 cameras to monitor the entire building. visitors can also request to have a guard walk them in and out of the building free of charge. Sackmary and his wife have been in the business of buying jewelry and other metals for many years and have been online selling costume jewelry for about 15 years. They are also present every day the shop is open, which is located on the corner of Jones boulevard and Flamingo road. In addition to putting their customers’ interests first, the Sackmarys are active community members who have participated in charity event operation FireHEAT and are founding sponsors for the Anthem Women’s Club. Nevada Coin Mart was established in 1971 and is licensed by Clark County to legally purchase jewelry from the general public. Nevada Coin Mart 4065 S Jones blvd. Las vegas, Nv 89103 Phone: (702) 776-7061 Hours: Monday through Sunday, 9am to 5 pm Advertising Supplement
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EvErybody has a story. Each story bears a fascinating reason that explains why the characters are the way they are. I’ve always believed in how our past could mold our present. It doesn’t define our future, but it sure does help us become what we are now. I love hearing stories with a rags-to-riches, Cinderella plot. Whenever I think of them, one particular story sticks out – and it is my dear friend vina’s life story. vina Lelim-Nacionales is the CEo of Nacionales & Associates, which was founded in 1998. but even before becoming a CEo, vina’s entrepreneurial skills and survival instincts were already evident as a teenager. being the second of seven siblings, vina took it upon herself to help feed her family by selling bread and rice. Her father was a farmer while her my mother was a street vendor. In order for her to finish school, she worked in a sewing company as a secretary and bookkeeper. Her hard work paid off when she earned her bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Iloilo in the Philippines. despite their hard life, vina grew more ambitious and driven. She came to America with just $10 in her wallet and took on odd jobs to get by. Life took a different turn for vina when she worked for Mrs. Sara Freeman, wife of the former mayor of beverly Hills, as her private nurse. Soon after, she took Mrs. Freeman into her home (which she later converted into a board and care facility) and took care of her for 12 years. Within a few years, she became a successful entrepreneur, a licensed state administrator for a residential care facility and a licensed certified nurse of the State of California. She’s also a realtor and a philanthropist. She received several recognitions as a community leader including, Word of Life Giving Ministries Awardee 2012, National Association of Senior Care Awardee 2011, and Excellence in Health Care Services Awardee 2014. She was also recognized by L.A. City Mayor Eric Garcetti, and City of Carson Mayor Jim dear. As most people know, vina is a beauty queen. To name a few accolades, she won Mrs. Asia Classic International 2015, Mrs. Asia Classic International
Charity Queen 2015, Mrs. Asia Classic International Popularity Queen 2015 and Mrs. Asia Classic International of Goodwill 2015 – all these titles she won when she represented the Philippines in a beauty pageant in Malaysia. Just last year, she was crowned “Queen of the Philippines – World” by The beautiful Life Celebration held at the omni Hotel. I caught up with vina some a few days ago and as always, she wears a welcoming smile on her face like the beauty queen that she is. I asked her if she has other plans in the future that she wishes to pursue since it sure looks like she is ready to take on the world. “I think I’ve done everything already. Working since the age of 17 makes you want to just spend more time traveling and enjoying the years ahead. It’s the one thing I don’t have time for, but wish to do especially now that I just turned 70, “she answered. It was vina’s birthday a few weeks ago. A party was thrown in her honor and it’s so unfortunate that I didn’t make it that evening because I was feeling under the weather. “I see myself retiring soon but I still want to do community service, “vina added. Aside from being awarded as an outstanding mother and businesswoman, she has also received the outstanding community leader award, and was
given a plaque of appreciation and recognition by the FAPPCA (Filipino American Press Club of California) for her continuous support and service to the Filipino-American community. With all these achievements, I asked my friend who her greatest influences in life are. “I think one of them is Trump,” she kidded. “but seriously, I admire oprah and how her life turned out. She inspires me.” vina has two children and five grandchildren. Her son Harry is a director of nursing in a large hospital, and is married to violeta dasal who is also a nurse. They have three daughters: Cailin, Samantha and rylee Paige. vina’s daughter riza, is a nurse supervisor in a rehab health care and skilled nursing facility, is married to Michael Stanley ruiz, an MdS Nurse in a skilled facility. They have two kids, Michael Justin ‘MJ’ and Alaiza. ***
Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon. com or email him at monetsalon@ aol.com
Scott Nelson joins Palace Station as General Manager 30-year gaming veteran brings Asian market expertise to the property LAS vEGAS – Scott Nelson has been named vice president and general manager of Palace Station. With 30 years in the gaming industry, Nelson worked for 26 years in Las vegas and four years in denver. In his long career, Nelson previously worked with gaming properties, including the Gold Coast, which focused on Asian marketing and locals gaming – a perfect fit for Station Casinos and Palace Station. The property, in close proximity to Las vegas’ Chinatown, caters to Chinese guests and offers specialty gaming options for the market. Palace Station offers the first permanent Las vegas EZ baccarat branded pits, in support of making our Chinese guests feel welcome. Here, lotus leaves adorn the ceiling and the central pit tables feature the bright orange color and EZ baccarat brand logos. Palace also offers the most EZ baccarat games in the city. The casino also features LT baccarat, video baccarat, for those who feel they want
a more technological experience than a traditional baccarat table. There’s also Pai Gow tables, dealers who speak a variety of Asian languages and dedicated casino hosts. Palace Station is also the only Las vegas casino to offer Show Pai, a hybrid of Pai Gow and baccarat with a bonus wager of up to 80 to 1. For those guests who get hungry while playing at Palace Station, there’s Food Express, which serves traditional Chinese food and offers tableside dining at the Chinese-themed table games pits from 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Nelson’s Asian marketing and gaming expertise is truly an asset to the property at 2411 W. Sahara Ave. Throughout his career, Nelson worked his way up through the ranks in gaming, having been employed in positions including casino manager, hotel director, director of marketing and director of casino operations. He’s also worked proactively with the Asian Chamber of Commerce in Las vegas and denver. Nelson has
Scott Nelson
held board seats on the Colorado Gaming Association, The City of blackhawk and even worked as the vice president of finance for the boy Scouts of America, denver Chapter before relocating back to Las vegas. Palace Station, the original Las vegas locals’ casino in Southern Nevada, is located at 2411 W. Sahara Ave. opened by Frank Fertitta, Jr. as “The Casino” on July 1, 1976 and later named bingo Palace before becoming Palace Station, the property offers more than 1,000 hotel rooms and suites, meeting and event space, more than 1,700 slot and video poker machines and a selection of restaurants. For more information visit Palace Station at www. palacestation.sclv.com.
Allergies 101 Fax résumé to:
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PAGE B5 discoloration of light colored fruits and vegetables and also to inhibit the growth of bacteria in fermented foods, like wine, are allergens. Although majority of people do not have problems with sulfites, those sensitive to them, especially those with asthma, can develop mild to life-threatening symptoms. Does maternal smoking cause allergies in children? Cigarette smoking during pregnancy has been shown to increase the incidence of allergies among the newborns. rarely, specific allergies can be “inherited” from the parents. Studies have confirmed the assessment that avoidance by the mother of food allergens may reduce the
incidence of some food allergies in infants and young children. What is the best treatment regimen for allergies? As with any medical condition or illness, prevention is the key. Avoidance of all known allergens is the best regimen in dealing with allergies and asthmatic attacks. Those who have food or drug allergies must read all ingredient labels and be extra cautious before ingesting anything. Fortunately, severe allergic reactions are not very common. Those with more than mild to severe form of allergies must be trained by a physician on the life-saving technique of self-injection of 0.1 ml (one tenth of a cc) epinephrine (adrenalin) subcutaneously (under the skin)
when symptoms first begin to manifest following exposure to known allergens. In this dire situation, every minute counts, and 5 or 10 minutes may spell the difference between life and death. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com
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