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Volume 9 – Issue 52 • 16 Pages
S E P T E MBE R 2 3 - 2 9 , 2 0 1 6 Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
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Sec. Yasay engages Fil-Am community at town hall meeting Presidential spokesperson, other cabinet secretaries also in New York
by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Yasay with Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. at the town hall meeting with the Filipino community held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 21. AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
DATELINE
USA
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
Number of Asian American voters more than doubles
WAshINGtoN, DC — the number of identified registered Asian Americans more than doubled from 3.2 to 7.2 million after the most extensive ethnicity modeling was provided by the AAPI Victory fund in partnership with VeDA Data solutions. “our biggest national databases are missing crucial details and do not provide a clear picture of voters,” said shekar Narasimhan, chairman and founder of the AAPI Victory fund. “When voter files list ‘unknown,’ it becomes challenging to engage with voters on issues that will resonate with them. this data will allow us to meet our goal of increased engagement with the growing Asian American community,” he added. “micro-targeting at this level changes the outcome of elections. the system can more
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24-year-old Filipina’s unexplained death spurs homicide investigation
the unexplained death of a 24-year-old filipina from La Puente, California, which occurred sometime during the weekend of saturday, september 17, has drawn the suspicion of homicide detectives. Nursing student Cassandra salvador returned home from work on saturday evening and was found unresponsive when her parents attempted to wake her the next morning, according to KCAL9 News. Police officers who arrived at her house on the 13200 block of east Gyna Lane on sunday, september 18, sometime after 9 a.m. pronounced the woman dead at the scene. salvador was reportedly in good health. Investigators are still unsure whether or not foul play was a factor. “It doesn’t look natural, so we’re going to
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NeW YorK – Department of foreign Affairs secretary Perfecto r. Yasay, Jr. met with a packed crowd of filipino-American community leaders and members for a town hall-type meeting at the Philippine Consulate General’s Kalayaan hall on Wednesday, sept. 21. the meeting was meant to discuss the Philippines’ interna-
tional policy commitments and foreign policy directions as well as how it relates to the global filipino diaspora. sec. Yasay arrived in the United states last week and in Washington, DC, he met with officials to promote Philippine-Us bilateral relations. he also met with state Department secretary John Kerry to discuss Philippine relations with one of its closest allies. he also met with about a hun-
dred members of the filipino community in the nation’s capital at a program called talakayan sa Pasuguan where he, along with Charges d’Affaires Patrick Chuasoto responded to questions from the audience. the former chairman of the securities and exchange Commission lived in New York in the late 70s and early 80s and was active in the fil-Am community then while worked as a litiga-
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DUTERTE PLOT BEING Amb. Yparraguirre Palace: Oust Duterte drive OUST HATCHED IN NEW YORK? denies maid’s hatched in New York Yasay denies abuse charges he is source of Andanar info by GioVanni
nilles
Philstar.com
by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
NeW YorK – Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre has denied abusing her former maid, 59-year-old milagros Braza, who filed a complaint of maltreatment against the ambassador. According to reports, Department of foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said they were looking into the allegations made by Braza against Yparraguirre, the Philippine permanent representative to the United Nations. Yparraguirre said Braza was considered and treated as a part of the family as she had worked as house staff with family members for a total of almost 15 years, including as service staff for 5 years in the official residence of the ambassador who was assigned in Vienna from June 2000 to April 2015 and in New York for almost a year.
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mANILA — some filipinoAmericans in New York are hatching a plan to oust President Duterte by January 2017, Communications secretary martin Andanar claimed on thursday, sept. 22. he said a Cabinet member, who is in New York and whom he refused to identify, was told of the plan by another fil-Am who attended the same function. foreign Affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. and presidential spokesperson ernesto Abella are both in New York. “I was just talking to somebody in New York now who is also a member of the Cabinet – I won’t mention his name. But he also heard of the fil-Ams in New York who are planning. they are hatching a plan to oust the Presi-
by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
Secretary Martin Andanar
dent by January 2017. there is this kind of report,” Andanar said on radio dzrh. he added that he even asked the official if he has evidence to prove it or if this is another hearsay. “there are stories, there are
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“I Do not know whether those reports are true, I deny having said those things and I am sure sec. ernie Abella would not say those things,” said DfA secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr. when asked at the town hall meeting with the filipino-American community in New York Wednesday, sept. 21 if he knew about the alleged plot to oust President Duterte from power. Presidential Communications secretary martin Andanar said on monday that they have a list of filipino-Americans in New York who are planning to oust President Duterte from power come January 2017. Andanar didn’t name his source but he
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De Lima: I am Sec. Pernia: Duterte Administration’s Economic no longer safe Agenda will target more inclusive growth by rosette
adel
Philstar.com
mANILA — sen. Leila De Lima on thursday, sept. 22, expressed worry over her safety after being the subject of the recent inquiries held by the house of representatives’ Committee on Justice linking her to the alleged New Bilibid Prison drug trade. “I’m now a subject of persecution and I am no longer safe, I don’t feel safe. the truth is, I’m not safe,” an emotional De Lima said in a televised press conference at the senate. De Lima doubted if she could rely on the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and Armed forces of the Philippines to give her security, saying she does
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by MoMar
G. Visaya
AJPress
soCIoeCoNomIC Planning secretary ernesto Pernia met with members of the community tuesday, sept. 20 in an informal round-table meeting to discuss the Duterte administration’s economic agenda. “We have had high economic growth for the past six years averaging 6.2% from 2010 to 2015, resulting in credit upgrades from moody’s, fitch and standard and Poor’s,” Pernia said. “the Aquino administration was responsible for this good macro-economic performance. New administrations tend to criticize the previous administration. Not us, because we credit the previous administration’s economic policies that resulted in a sharp upward growth trajectory,” he added. the country’s GDP grew 6.8 percent in the Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia - in photo here with Consul General Mario L. De first quarter of 2016 and 7.0 percent in the sec- Leon, Jr. - explains that the Philippines with its second quarter GDP growth of 7.0 percent makes
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it the fastest-growing economy in Asia.
AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
A2 SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Sec. Yasay engages Fil-Am community… PAGE A1 t
tives. Our people in general did not listen to the words that he said, did not listen to the expletives that he uttered, but listened to the message of hope and change that he had offered,” the secretary added, his pronouncements punctuated with loud applause from members of the audience who wore shirts printed with “Du30”. The secretary also talked about the issue of West Philippine Sea and how the Philippines looks at its relations with China. On the president’s “colorful personality”, Yasay said he does not need to defend the president in front of the international community. “President Duterte is a unique person. He oftentimes uses expletives, but I do not have to explain what Mr. Duterte means when he says those words other than to say that these are always uttered in anger, frustration and disappointment and these are not directed at any personality,” Yasay added. At the community meeting in Washington, DC, Yasay said he has grown accustomed to hearing Duterte say “Putang ina” because he has been hearing him say those words even when they were just roommates at the YMCA in Manila decades ago when they were pursuing higher education. It even came to a point where Yasay said he felt that Duterte says those words as a “term of endearment”. “Public policy is clear, when the president says we will have no joint patrol in the area of DFA Secretary Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr. delivers his speech at the Town Hall meeting with the South China Sea, he only means Filipino community held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York on Wednesday, that that area is still international tor in many corporate, civil and criminal cases during this time. “I come here as a balikbayan, having practiced law in New York state in various federal, appellate and district courts in the United States,” Yasay said, recalling his life during the 80s. “It brings me immense joy to see the tremendous upliftment of Filipino Americans in the United States. It is encouraging to see a growing number of kababayans who are taking positions of leadership in government.” The foreign affairs secretary talked about elected Filipinos in the Northeast, including four council members in various cities and towns in New Jersey and a mayor in Pennsylvania who was elected in 2012. Yasay then segued to the ongoing presidential campaign and asked who the audience was voting for. “Being the second largest Asian community in the United States, our numbers matter and
Sept. 21.
we can make a difference in US elections. With 10% of the four million Filipinos living in the United States northeast, your unified vote will be in a position to influence policy issues that are of interest to the Philippines,” Yasay said. Community Dialogue The secretary then fielded questions from the local FilAm media and the community. Among the hot topics discussed were the administration’s war on drugs, extrajudicial killings, foreign policy and even destabilization plot rumors. “We have now for the first time a president who has shown us the political will to ensure that the fight against corruption will succeed,” Yasay said, responding to a question on the Duterte’s campaign promise of eradicating corruption in the government. “He displayed without any hypocrisy his strengths and weaknesses. The people loved him for who he is. He never minced words, including using exple-
AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya
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Yasay denies he is source of…
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said his information came from a cabinet secretary who is currently in New York. He told radio station DZRH, “I was just talking to somebody in New York now who is also a member of the Cabinet – I won’t mention his name. But he also heard of the Fil-Ams in New York who are planning. They are hatching a plan to oust the President by January 2017. There is this kind of report.” “I’m glad you asked that be-
cause I heard about it, too,” Sec. Yasay said, addressing the Asian Journal. “The information allegedly came from two Cabinet secretaries who are now presently in the United States, particularly in New York, and these cabinet secretaries are Secretary Yasay and Secretary Abella, who is right in front of me.” Yasay expounded that while he heard about the Oust Duterte Movement from Manila, “the rumors about the assassination at-
tempt certainly to me is a part of a bigger conspiracy to discredit our president.” According to the Manila Bulletin, operatives of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) arrested a veterinarian last month in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City on charges of arms smuggling after retrieving from him a balikbayan box containing weapon parts shipped from the United States worth P4.5 million. ■
SAFE WITH GRANDPA. President Rodrigo Duterte talks to his grandson Stingray during the wedding of Waldo and Regine Carpio at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. The President and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales were the principal sponsors in the wedding. Waldo is a brother of Manases Carpio, the husband of Davao Mayor Sara Duterte. ManilaTimes.net photo
Palace: Oust Duterte drive hatched in…
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speculations. But at the same, the surveys will show otherwise because Filipinos in the Philippines are like what you said – more than 90 percent support our President. But then again, if you have all of this news going around internationally, it does not help,” Andanar said. He said any destabilization initiative would not help the government, considering that Duterte is also being criticized for the extrajudicial killings brought about by the anti-illegal drugs campaign. “We are not doing well when it comes to media exposure,” Andanar said in Filipino. Although the oust Duterte plan is unverified, Andanar said he has cautioned the official to check on it since that kind of story is not to be dismissed as a joke. “It’s really about the evidence that you have, isn’t it? (If there is) you let me know (because) it is the concern for the government and it should be a concern for the nation because it’s a destabilization talk,” Andanar said. “We will never condone any unlawful killings,” he said in reaction to a European Union statement criticizing the manner the war on drugs was being conducted. Earlier, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano talked of a Plan B of the Liberal Party that supposedly in-
tended to oust Duterte and install Vice President Leni Robredo as the new president. He said it centers on discrediting the Duterte administration especially in relation to the number of killings that has reached more than 3,000 in the war against illegal drugs. Robredo and the LP described Cayetano’s disclosures as “farfetched.” Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque had warned about the possible plot of the United States to unseat Duterte. Roque cited Duterte’s scathing remarks against US President Barack Obama before they met in the ASEAN summit in Laos early this month, and the “coincidence” of a purported witness pinning down Duterte over alleged summary killings. “The Senate testimony came immediately after the President confirmed he wanted to pursue an independent foreign policy,” Roque observed, referring to Sen. Leila de Lima’s witness, alleged self-confessed Davao death squad member Edgar Matobato. “It is too much of a coincidence that the testimony intended to pave the way for his ouster came immediately after President Duterte declared his independent stance,” said Roque. Another factor Roque raised
was the background of US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, who has not yet been replaced despite Duterte’s bias against him when he criticized him over the rapeslay of a female Australian missionary in the Davao jail 1988, which was made during the campaign period. “Remember that US Ambassador Goldberg was kicked out of Bolivia for stirring a coup,” Roque disclosed, noting that “Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled Goldberg out of the country in 2008.” The Bolivian government likewise declared Goldberg “persona non grata for conspiring against democracy and seeking the division of Bolivia.” The US State Department and the US-based Human Rights Watch have expressed grave concern over the spate of extrajudicial killings in the nearly three-monthold Duterte administration. Both said an inquiry is necessary to determine if human rights of innocent persons have been violated, and they also commended the investigation conducted by De Lima, chairperson of the Senate committee on human rights. DFA appeals to Europe The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urged the European
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From the Front Page
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016
Palace: Oust Duterte drive hatched in…
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CALL TO END ‘ENDO.’ On Monday, Sept. 19, Senator Joel Villanueva has expressed his support to the call of labor groups to end contractualization and outsourcing, and ensure security of tenure. Under the scorching heat, Senator Villanueva talked with the leaders of Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA), the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), Partido Manggagawa and other labor groups to discuss their plight. Senate photo
Sec. Yasay engages Fil-Am community… PAGE A2 t
waters and anybody can patrol the area. The United States can patrol that area, China can patrol that area,” he emphasized. Presidential Spokesperson While in New York for the UN General Assembly, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella got acquainted with the FilipinoAmerican members of the media at a meet and greet session and informal forum at the Boardroom of the Philippine Center last Monday, Sept. 19, hosted by the Consul General Mario De Leon. Also present were Charge D’affaires Patrick Chuasoto from The Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz and about a dozen Fil-Am press practitioners. Spokesman Abella started his message by describing the President’s three-pronged approach to fulfill his vision of a better Philippines: 1) reduce poverty by 26%; 2) address and eliminate
crime, corruption and drugs; 3) bring final and lasting peace in the country (by negotiating to CPP-NPA, NDF, MNLF). He related how the President’s actions come from a very personal standpoint, and always works towards the good of the people, a trait that he has developed from being a Mayor of Davao for more than 20 years. He quoted the President’s statement during his inaugural speech, “What I promise you is a comfortable life.” Several issues came up during the dialogue, including human rights, the image of the Philippines in the international stage, the Presidents’ strengths and weaknesses. When asked about his role in defending the Presidents’ statements, he quipped, “I don’t try to defend him. My job is to make his intentions clear. I try to bring in the larger picture.” He added of the President’s messaging, “His narrative is consistent. He talks
De Lima: I am no longer…
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not have a choice. “They’re violating my rights — security, right to privacy,” she added. During the first day of the House Committee on Justice’s probe, De Lima’s mobile number and home address were disclosed by some of the witnesses. De Lima cried foul against the public disclosuresaying she has been receiving threats since. De Lima showed some of the 2,000 text messages of harassment and name-calling that she said were sent by fanatics and trolls of President Rodrigo Duterte. Some solons however defended the public disclosure of her number and address saying these were part of the testimonies. The senator was also reported to be absent in the Senate session on Wednesday since she was looking for a new house. Asked if she already found a house replacement, De Lima refused to disclose any information as it might further expose her to danger. However, she said she is now in a temporary home, stressing that her and her neighbor’s safety were compromised. “I have to temporarily leave my house. I’m now in a temporary place of abode,” De Lima said. “And hindi lang ako apektado because I live in a subdivision, so kahit may guards apektado ‘yung buong subdivision so they’re now taking extra steps, extra security measures. So, that’s an
Senator Leila de Lima
added burden on the subdivision na nadadamay lang sila because of me,” she lamented. Due to this, De Lima said she is mulling on filing charges against those involved in the public disclosure of her mobile number and home address. She, however, said she has yet to focus and attend to personal matters as there are other pressing matters. “Yeah, I’m contemplating on this. If fact, sa dami kasing nangyayari ngayon and then itong ginagawa sa akin na panggigipit araw-araw tumitindi yung panggigipit sakin, I hardly have time and energy anymore to be thinking about myself and to be thinking about my next moves but certainly I’m mulling over several legal actions,” she confirmed, adding that these charges include the writ of amparo and habeas data. n
Sec. Pernia: Duterte …
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ond quarter and remains one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia. The average growth rate of 6.2 percent in the last six years has been the highest since the 1970s. However, despite the high growth rate, the Philippines still has the highest poverty incidence in the Asean region at 26.2 percent as of 2014. Myanmar (25.6%) and Laos (23.2%) are the two other Asean countries with more than 20 percent poverty incidence rates. The Duterte administration has come up with a 0 to 10 point socioeconomic agenda designed to address this quandary. “We have an impatient president, he wants action agad. He is results-oriented. He demands action and speed in the delivery of results,” Pernia said. In order to provide a significantly better investment climate for potential investors, the government is ramping up its programs on peace and order, massive infrastructure upgrades, cut red tape and ease constitutional restrictions on foreign direct investments. To respond to the uneven growth among the cities and regions, Pernia said that the ad-
ministration hopes to push for regional and rural development in order to come up with more pro-poor economic growth and building up socio-economic resiliency. “We have just recently approved nine infrastructure projects covering the first two months of the Duterte administration, a record speed in terms of project approval,” Pernia said. Plans are also in place, from raising farm productivity to ensuring full, rapid and sustained implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law to promoting science and technology and creative arts for self-sustaining inclusive growth and increasing the country’s participation in the global knowledge economy. Sec. Pernia also discussed the Philippine Development Plan for 2017 to 2022, currently being crafted with the administration laying down the foundation for inclusive growth looking at a more long-term plan. “This is our plan for the next generation of Filipinos and we can start by achieving 6.5 to 7.5% growth in 2017 and stabilizing with a growth rate of 7 to 8% from 2018 to 2022,” Pernia said. n
about the common good.” He recognized the contribution of overseas Filipinos through their remittances, thereby extending economic support, but also appealed to promote patriotic support. The Spokesperson urged the media to present a positive image of the Philippines. “Makiisa. Be patriotic. Do not be adversarial; be critical but be constructive.” n
A
Parliament to obtain official data on the Philippine situation and the intensified anti-crime and anti-illegal drugs campaign for the sake of “fair” and “accurate” representation. The DFA said the European Union is an important partner of the Philippines and the group’s role in the region is also becoming more prominent, especially for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and various regional and international issues. The European Parliament condemned on Thursday the current wave of extrajudicial executions and killings in the Philippines and urged the government to put an end to this. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) expressed concern over the “extraordinarily high numbers killed during police operations in the context of an intensified anti-crime and anti-drug campaign.” “The European Parliament is the only directly elected institution among the EU institutions, representing the democratic ideals of the EU,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.
“In the same spirit, we urge the members of the EU Parliament to obtain official data as to what is happening in the Philippines, for the sake of fair and accurate representation,” he said. Jose said the Philippines welcomes the sharing of best practices of the EU in order to combat illegal drugs in the Philippines. He assured the international community that the Philippine government remains firmly committed to upholding the international conventions on human rights, labor rights, good governance and the protection of the environment. During the Parliament Debate in Brussels on Thursday, the MEPs noted that drug trafficking and drug abuse in the Philippines remain a serious national and international concern. The MEPs understood that millions of people are hurt by the high level of drug addiction and its consequences in the country, but expressed alarm at a Philippine National Police (PNP) report that a thousand suspected drug pushers and users were killed and more than 15,000 arrested from July 1 to Sept. 4, 2016.
“MEPs urge the Philippines government to put an end to the current wave of extrajudicial executions and killings, launch an ‘immediate investigation’ into them and adopt specific, comprehensive policies and programs, in full compliance with national and international obligations and respect for human rights,” according to a statement released following the debate. The European Parliament is an important forum for political debate and decision-making at the EU level. The MEPs are directly elected by voters in all member-states to represent the people’s interests with regard to EU lawmaking and to make sure other EU institutions are working democratically. The parliament is made up of 751 members elected in the 28 member-states of the enlarged EU. It sees its role not only in promoting democratic decisionmaking in Europe but also in supporting the fight for democracy, human rights, freedom of speech and fair elections across the globe. (With reports from Pia Lee-Brago, Delon Porcalla, Christina Mendez)
24-year-old Filipina’s unexplained death spurs…
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treat it as a homicide until we determine it’s otherwise “ LA County Sheriff’s Lt. John Corina told local station NBC 4. There were no signs of gunshot or stab wounds, but police say strangulation or drug overdose are still possibilities, according to reporters for
KCAL9. Fred Padrone, a family member who said he had known the deceased since she had emigrated from the Philippines, described Salvador as “very lovely, funny. She was a very nice kid.” She had a boyfriend, who is cooperating with police.
Investigators are currently going over footage taken from the surveillance systems of nearby homes. Anyone who might have information that might benefit their investigation is encouraged to call the LA County Sheriff’s Department’s homicide detectives at (323) 890-5500. (Eric Anthony Licas / AJPress)
A SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
Dateline USa
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TIME illustrates dark side of the PH drug war Locsin named envoy to UN by KlaRize
medenilla AJPress
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s violent crackdown on the illegal drug trade has received international attention since his entrance into office on June 30. The latest probe comes from the Asia edition of the renowned TIME magazine which examines the toll of Duterte’s campaign and his vow to eliminate illegal drugs from the country. The cover — which reads “Night falls on the Philippines: The tragic cost of President Duterte’s war on drugs — features a striking image of the dead body of a suspected drug dealer. The article, written by Rishi Iyengar, discusses the administration’s illegal drug crackdown, pointing out Duterte’s unconventional leadership style that borders on “authoritarian.” Iyengar doesn’t shy away from capturing the human toll of the carnage that has killed more than 3,000 Filipinos, half of which were killed by vigilantes. Iyengar includes the thoughts of those that support Duterte’s call, including one man from Cebu who trusts Duterte to “straighten out” the drug dealers. On the other hand, Iyengar includes the criticisms of those who distrust Duterte’s policies, like Philippine Senator Leila de Lima who sees the current climate of the government as a “slippery slope toward tyranny.” The human rights concerns of the escalated killings have also become a top international concern, for which Duterte has received much criticism. Iyengar also takes a streetlevel view of the drug war, implementing personal stories from those directly affected by the crackdown. “The poor in the barangays — as the smallest units of municipal organization in the Philippines are called — pay the highest price,” Iyengar wrote. “In these impoverished communities, children play beside open sewers, families often share one room, and, for a few people, shabu (methamphetamine) is an open escape — both psychologically and financially.” This isn’t the first time that TIME has highlighted Duterte and his controversial drug policies. The president also graced the cover of the magazine’s May 23 issue in which they dub him “The Punisher.” More time required
by ChRistine
avendaño Inquirer.net
Employees of a funeral parlor carry the dead body of one of three suspects killed in a buy-bust in Santa Cruz, Manila. ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr.
On Sunday, September 18, Duterte announced that he would need more time to fulfill his promise to eradicate illegal drugs from the Philippines. Despite previously saying he’ll continue the raids “until the last pusher is out of the streets” the president indicated that he need-
ed up to six months. “That self-imposed time of three to six months, well, I did not realize how severe and how serious the problem of drug menace [is] in this republic until I became President,” Duterte said. He reportedly added: “The problem is… I can’t kill them all.” n
Aurora Moynihan (right) with her sister Maritoni Fernandez, a well-known actress in the Philippines.
Bristish aristocrat’s daughter shot dead in PH Victim is actress Maritoni Fernandez’s sister by RobeRtzon
RamiRez
Philstar.com
MANILA - A woman who allegedly supplied illegal drugs to celebrities was shot dead in Quezon City before dawn on Saturday, Sept. 10. Ma. Aurora Moynihan, 45, of Ecology Village in Makati City, was found dead shortly after she was dumped at the corner of Temple Drive and Giraffe street in Barangay Ugong Norte, said Police Officer 3 Anthony Tejerero, case investigator. Moynihan is a sister of actress Maritoni Fernandez, said Quezon City Police District (QCPD)
director Senior Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar. Moynihan is the daughter of the third Baron Moynihan, a runaway British lord. Witnesses told police they heard five gunshots from a sport utility vehicle – with Moynihan inside – a few minutes before she was dumped, Tejerero said. The witnesses said the vehicle sped away, heading toward White Plains Avenue, leaving the victim behind. Moynihan was found with a placard that read “pusher ng mga celebrities kasunod na kayo (pusher to the celebrities you are next).” n
TEODORO “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr. has been appointed as the Philippines’ permanent representative to the United Nations, a job he takes on that will require more than the acerbic and witty charm he has wielded as lawyer, politician and journalist because of President Duterte’s avowed disdain of the New York-based institution. Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Sunday said the 67-year-old Locsin told him on Saturday night he had accepted the post as the Philippines’ top diplomat in the United Nations offered to him during a meeting with Mr. Duterte at Bahay Pangarap, the President’s official residence, in Malacañang. The UN post is currently occupied by Lourdes Yparraguirre, a career official at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Yparraguirre has been in the news lately after a migrant workers advocacy group asked the DFA to send a team to the Philippine mission in New York City to look into the alleged abusive behavior of the Philippine ambassador toward her household staff. The appointment of a new Philippine representative to the United Nations comes amid Mr. Duterte’s verbal feuds with UN officials, who have expressed concern over the increasing number of alleged drug suspects being killed in the country as a result of the Chief Executive’s war on illegal drugs. Mr. Duterte has slammed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his special rapporteurs on human rights. He has also threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the United Nations.
Teodoro Locsin Jr.
Media, politics Locsin currently hosts shows for the ABS-CBN News Channel and writes a column for Business Mirror. He was elected Makati City representative for three terms from 2001 to 2010. During the 14th Congress, Locsin chaired the House of Representatives’ committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, which conducted an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the country’s first automated elections in 2010. In 2012, he was among the nominees for Chief Justice following the impeachment trial and conviction of the late Renato Corona for alleged dishonesty in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth. In 2009, he
Inquirer.net photo
was among the dozens of aspirants considered for the vacancies on the high court. Locsin earned his law degree from Ateneo de Manila University and a masters in law from Harvard University. He served as presidential spokesperson, legal counsel and speech writer for the late President Corazon C. Aquino. From 1977 to 1982, he was an associate at Angara, Abello, Concepcion, Regala and Cruz Law offices. He has been executive editor of the renowned Philippines Free Press, publisher of the now defunct Daily Globe and publisher and editor in chief of the Today newspaper, which was acquired by the Manila Standard in 2005. n
Amb. Yparraguirre denies maid’s abuse…
be requested to temporarily vacate the room if several guest relatives stay in the official residence. And this happened once on December 25, 2015. Braza wrote an email to then DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario, detailing her situation that started when she joined the ambassador in June 2015. The two-page affidavit detailed how Braza was lent to the ambassador’s relatives without extra payment. She was reportedly made to work for Yparraguirre’s niece in New Jersey from October 25 to 29, 2015 and she continued working despite having a fever. During Thanksgiving week, Braza claimed she was also lent out to another relative in New York. Yparraguirre, in her statement obtained by the Asian Journal, denied this allegation that she was lending Braza to her relatives. Yparraguirre said that she, accompanied by Braza, went to visit her niece in Morristown, New Jersey during a 3-day weekend after the latter gave birth prematurely and they helped prepare the baby’s room. On another occasion, the Ambassador requested Braza to go to her niece in Manhattan to help attend to her three (3) young boys (while one of her two (2) nannies was away for a few hours to run errands) and two (2) nephews (whose Mom was rushed to the hospital). Aside from Braza, there were three other adults watching over 5 boys for 5 hours. Because she was tired of doing the household chores during the holidays and she didn’t want to
sleep on an airbed in the living room, Braza reportedly asked Yparraguirre if she could find a cheap hotel where she would stay for the night. “Lantang-lanta na po sa pagod ang katawan ko, hindi pa ako makatulog sa sala dahil dinadaan-daanan ako ng mga tao,” Braza said. Braza claimed that her statement angered Yparraguirre and she began to shout at her and asked her to leave immediately. “Habang nagliligpit po ako ng mga gamit ko, sinabihan niya ako na tinawagan niya isang colleague niya na papupuntahin ang pulis sa bahay kaya sobrang takot ko, tumawag po ako ng 911,” she added. “Tapos sinabihan pa po niya ako na within 30 minutes, dapat makalabas na ako sa bahay, ayaw na daw po niya makita pagmumukha ko,” Police officers arrived at the scene and asked the ambassador if she had a housekeeper. Although under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations the official residence is inviolable, Ambassador Yparraguirre allowed the police officers to enter the residence and talk to Braza and they told her that if she did not want anymore to work for the ambassador, then she should leave. Yparraguirre told the police officers that Braza can leave anytime. Fearing for her own safety and security of the official residence and personal property after the guests left to watch a Broadway play, Yparraguirre told Braza that she can leave that same night after asking Braza to call up her relatives in Queens and in New Jersey to pick her up from the official residence. Braza left with her personal belongings and her official and regular Philippine passports, Immigration/G5 visa documents, US Social Security Card, Aetna Medical/health Insurance Card, Bank of America ATM Card, and her Philippine Social Security System Card. On the first working day of January 2016, the Ambassador Yparraguirre’s executive assistant informed Braza that she will be provided with return plane tickets for Manila and assisted at the JFK airport on her departure. n
strategy & operations. “Our goal is to ensure that all eligible Asian American voters are registered and exercise their right to vote in this critical election.” The Asian American electorate is the fastest growing demographic group. The primary tool used by unions, progressive groups and even the national parties to target and engage voters — the national databases known as “voter files” — fail to capture a critical data point for our community — ethnicity. At the state level, AAPI Victory Fund was able to model ethnicity for: – Over 250,000 in Virginia – Almost 200,000 in Georgia – Over 160,000 in Ohio – Nearly 100,000 in North Carolina – Over 70,000 in Nevada
“VEDA’s machine learningbacked models use thousands of inputs, including individual-level, household-level, neighborhoodlevel and regional-level data on demographics, consumer behavior, political interests and U.S. Census data, enabling us to understand the subtle differences between cultures and help the AAPI Victory Fund reach out to members of their community,” said Meghan Gaffney Buck, founder and CEO of VEDA Data Solutions. “Our patent-pending technologies help organizations like the AAPI Victory Fund to find fast and accurate ways to better connect with individuals and to use data to gain better insights about their constituencies or their customers,” she added. (Inquirer.net)
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Braza’s contract of employment was “terminated for cause” on December 31, 2015 and Yparraguirre had executed and submitted to the DFA on February 5, 2016 a sworn statement denying Braza’s allegations. Susan Ople, president of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, broke the news at a media forum on Saturday, Sept. 17 that Milagros Braza has filed a complaint with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) against her former employer, Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre. Accoding to GMA News, Ople said the complaint was filed as Braza was still affected by the verbal abuse she allegedly suffered from Yparraguirre. “Dalawa yung gusto niya: yung una, gusto niya talaga mapursue yung case kasi hanggang ngayon, hindi niya makalimutan yung nagawa sa kanya,” Ople explained. “Milagros was also with the ambassador in Vienna. Doon pa lang, meron nang kakaibang nangyayari sa kanya. [But] her sworn affidavit focused mainly on what happened to her while in the US. Ang gusto lang niya, I guess, to hold accountable yung kanyang employer.” In her statement, Ambassador Yparraguirre repudiates in the strongest terms the accusations against her by Ms. Braza as misleading, blown out of proportion and definitely untrue. In accordance with US laws, Braza was paid a monthly salary of $2,000 with medical/health insurance, free board and lodging and paid vacation leave while she worked as a service staff in the official residence of the ambassador in New York. According to Yparraguirre’s statement, Braza was assigned in the three-bedroom residence “a room with a bay window with a good view of the East River and the New York skyline, and adorned with paintings and pretty wall paper. The room is provided with a 42” television, a computer desk with executive chair, airconditioning and heater, and a toilet and bath with a jet massage shower.” Upon her arrival at the official residence, Ambassador Yparraguirre advised her that she might
Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre
Number of Asian American voters more than…
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effectively target, research and communicate with over 7.2 million Asian American voters, including 1.4 million potential new voters,” explained Narasimha. Through data modeling, more than 7.2 million Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, South Asian and Vietnamese Americans were identified nationally, including over 1.4 million potential new voters. Prior to this model, organizations had ethnicity information on fewer than 3.2 million of the 18.5 million Asian Americans in the United States. “Increased naturalization rates and increased civic engagement have resulted in an unprecedented growth of new Asian American voters,” said Varun Nikore, AAPI Victory Fund vice chair of
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DATELINE USA
SEPTEMBER SHOWERS. A boy living near the Golden Mosque in Quiapo enjoys an instant shower from recent overcast skies. Two typhoons early this week skipped Metro Manila but carried with them gusty winds and rain showers. Inquirer.net photo by Jilson Seckler Tiu
10 young Fil-Am leaders chosen for PH immersion trip
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two engineers, two lawyers, two marketing and communications professionals, a Broadway producer, an educator, a transportation infrastructure specialist, and a culinary enthusiast, form the fifth batch of young Filipino-American leaders who will embark on an immersion trip to the Philippines to meet with influential Filipino personalities and deepen their understanding of issues affecting their country of heritage. Now on its fifth year, the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) continues to give highperforming, next-generation Filipino-Americans the opportunity to reconnect with their roots and engage with government leaders, business executives, cultural experts, social entrepreneurs, and innovators in different fields in the Philippines. The following are the 2016 FYLPRO delegates: Noel Aglubat (New York), a civil engineer at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at the New York Regional Office; Tiffa-
ny Batac (Washington, DC), manager of the asset management service area at WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff; Joanne Boston (Daly City, California), an oncology reimbursement specialist at a private practice in San Francisco and vice president of the Filipino Food Movement; Mark Calaguas (Chicago), a staff attorney at the Chicago office of McDermott Will & Emery LLP, where is a member of the discovery practice group; Brandon Dela Cruz (Honolulu), director of marketing for the international, Hawaii-based restaurant chain L&L Hawaiian Barbecue; Elizabeth Frilles (Honolulu), educator; Christopher Lapinig (Los Angeles), Asian Americans Advancing JusticeLA’s Skadden Fellow in the Impact Litigation Unit; Maria Teresa Quintans (Tamuning, Guam), a special assistant at the Office of the Governor of Guam, where she focuses on the Lieutenant Governor’s public relations, marketing, events and social media; Donny Rojo (Seattle), integrated product leader of innovation and de-
velopment at Philips; and Jhett Tolentino (New York), three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer. Minister Patrick Chuasoto, the Embassy’s Chargé d’Affairés ad interim and chair of the FYLPRO Selection Committee, noted the high caliber crop of applicants to the 2016 edition of FYLPRO. “The application process has been highly competitive this year and we are proud of the ten delegates who made the final cut. They have enormous leadership potential, and all have exhibited the will to be involved not only in shaping the future of the Filipino-American community but also in contributing to Philippine development,” said Minister Chuasoto. The 2016 FYLPRO immersion trip, which will be held on November 23 to December 2, 2016, is a joint undertaking by the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States, the Ayala Foundation, Inc. and the Filipino Young Leaders Program Organization. ■
Duterte invites UN, EU to probe PH killings Probers challenged to debate on rights
ROMERO Philstar.com
MANILA — Come on over, let’s have a debate. President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, Sept. 22 continued his word war with international bodies as he challenged the United Nations and the European Union to come to the Philippines for a debate on human rights and extrajudicial killings. “I’m inviting the United Nations (secretary-general) Ban Ki…what’s the name of that devil again? Ban Ki-moon, Ban Ki-sun. I am inviting the EU. Send the best player of your town. Even the rapporteurs, come to the Philippines,” the President said during the inauguration of a power plant in Misamis Oriental. “I’ll write them a letter to invite them for an investigation but in keeping with the time-honored principle of the right to be heard, after they ask me questions, I’ll ask them one by one,” he added. Duterte said he asked Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to draft the letter of invitation to the UN and the EU. Duterte also said he would ask
the UN special rapporteur the name of his supposed first victim, the reason for the killing, time of execution and how it was done. “(It will be an) open forum. You can use the Senate, Folk Arts Theater, everybody will be invited,” the Chief Executive said. “Manood kayo. Tingnan niyo kung paano ko lampasuhin iyang mga yawang ’yan (You watch. See how I demolish these devils),” the President said. Duterte maintained security forces were not behind the torture and extralegal killings of drug personalities. “I asked the police to go after them and if they present a violent resistance, kill them. With those words, many were killed but they were the ones who fought,” Duterte said. “With regard to those who were killed with their hands tied, those were the handiwork of co-conspirators in the drug trade,” the President added, noting that he had urged drug personalities to report their companions to authorities. Duterte also lambasted the US and Europe anew for lecturing about human rights despite their past atrocities.
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Bilibid inmates: ‘We raised money for campaign’ by CATHERINE
S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net
GANG leaders at the New Bilibid Prison claimed to have raised campaign funds for Sen. Leila de Lima on the second day of a House inquiry into the illegal drug trade at the national penitentiary, but none were able to confirm that money went straight to the lawmaker. Instead, convicts Noel Martinez, Jaime Patcho and Jojo Baligad said they transacted directly with the feared “Commando” gang chieftain Jaybee Sebastian, who they claimed collected the money for de Lima when she was Justice secretary in the previous Aquino administration. The three, accompanied by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd, appeared before the House justice committee on Wednesday, Sept. 21, following the testimonies on Tuesday of inmates Herbert Colanggo and Rodolfo Magleo as well as de Lima’s former subordinates at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Rafael Ragos and Jovencio Ablen Jr. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, Colanggco and Magleo claimed they paid de Lima to let them run “sin citytype” businesses at the Bilibid in Muntinlupa City, but through one of her security aides, Presidential Security Group member Joenel Sanchez. Ragos and Ablen claimed to have delivered money to de Lima
Gang leaders at the New Bilibid Prison testify against Sen. De Lima on the second day of a House inquiry on Wednesday, Sept. 22.
in her Parañaque City home in 2012 in separate sworn affidavits, highlights of which were published by The Manila Times on Tuesday. Jaybee’s words are ‘the law’ On Wednesday, Sebastian and his alleged close ties to de Lima became the object of lawmakers’ scrutiny. Martinez, leader of a 2,200member Bilibid pack called the “Genuine Ilocano Group,” claimed Sebastian asked him in 2013 to raise drug money for de Lima’s Senate bid, an instruction that Sebastian also allegedly gave to Patcho and Baligad. “Jaybee talked to me, asked for my help to sell drugs to fund the campaign of Secretary de
Lima. Jaybee is our leader. He is in Secretary de Lima’s inner circle. His words are the law,” Martinez said in Filipino when quizzed by Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque. Sebastian, Martinez claimed, also revealed a plan to centralize drug operations inside the prison through alliances with gang leaders. “We were able to transact 200 kilos of drugs from 2013 to October 2014 … at that time, my relationship with Jaybee turned cold. I have remitted the money [raised]to Sebastian,” Martinez added. Martinez claimed that he, along with other gang leaders,
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A5
HUD issues new guidelines for people with limited English proficiency THE U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Thursday, Sept. 15 issued “Limited English Proficiency” (LEP) guidance that addresses how the Fair Housing Act (FHA) would apply to claims of housing discrimination brought by people because they do not speak, read, or write English proficiently. More than 25 million people in the United States do not communicate proficiently in English. The FHA prohibits both intentional housing discrimination and housing practices that have an unjustified discriminatory effect. People with limited English proficiency are not a protected class under the act. However, the act prohibits discrimination on seven protected bases, including national origin, which is closely linked to the ability to communicate proficiently in English. Housing providers are therefore prohibited from using limited English proficiency selectively or as an excuse for intentional housing discrimination. The law also prohibits landlords from using limited English proficiency in a way that causes an unjustified discriminatory effect. “Having a limited ability to speak English should never be a reason to be denied a home,” said Gustavo Velasquez, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair
Housing and Equal Opportunity in a statement. “Every family that calls this nation home has the same rights when it comes to renting or buying a home, regardless of where they come from or language they speak.” Nearly 9 percent of the U.S. population is limited in English proficiency. Approximately 16,350,000 (or 65 percent) of these individuals speak Spanish, while 1,660,000 (7 percent) speak Chinese, 850,000 (3 percent) speak Vietnamese, 620,000 (2 percent) speak Korean and 530,000 (2 percent) speak Tagalog. Housing decisions that are based on limited English proficiency may have a greater impact on these and other groups because of their nationality. The guidance addresses how various legal approaches, such as discriminatory effects and disparate treatment, apply in FHA cases in which a housing-related decision — such as a landlord’s refusal to rent or renew a lease — involves a person’s limited ability to speak, read, write, or understand English. Discriminatory practices, for example, could include applying a language-related requirement to people of certain races or nationalities; posting advertisements that contain blanket statements, such as “all tenants must speak English;” or immediately turning away applicants who are
not fluent in English. Targeting racial or national origin groups for scams related to housing also constitutes intentional discrimination. A housing provider also violates the FHA when the provider’s policies or practices have an unjustified discriminatory effect, even when the provider had not intended to discriminate. Determining whether a practice has a discriminatory effect involves a three-step legal evaluation of the statistical evidence of a discriminatory effect; whether the housing provider’s policy or practice is necessary to achieve a substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest; and, if so, whether there is a less discriminatory alternative policy or practice. In addition to the new LEP guidance, which is limited to the FHA, HUD published a “Notice of Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons” in 2007. Any person who believes he or she has experienced discrimination may file a complaint by contacting HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to www. hud.gov/fairhousing. ■
Filipina mom kills infant in murder-suicide Case baffles neighbors and police in Long Beach
by ERIC
ANTHONY LICAS AJPress
NEIGHBORS and police in Long Beach are wondering what drove a 36-year-old Filipina to stab her infant son to death before turning the knife on herself sometime before 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13. Ken Ventanilla returned to his home on the 1500 block of Park Avenue to discover the lifeless bodies of his wife, Charlene, and their 8-week-old son, Shane, apparently following what investigators have labeled a murdersuicide. Officers dispatched to the The President slammed US residence found that both subPresident Barack Obama for his jects had suffered multiple stab supposed failure to stop the killing of African-Americans. He also chided the US for using weapons of mass destruction as an excuse to invade Iraq. Duterte criticized European nations for allegedly oppressing Arabs and Muslims, calling the Middle East “a destroyed part of the planet.” He also assailed the EU for “pretending to be imbued with humanity” while closing its doors to migrants. “Now, the EU is issuing warnings on killing criminals. I told them ‘f**k you.’ Why are you threatening me?” Duterte said. “Even the rapporteur of the (UN), why are you complaining so much about me threatening the criminals of the drug syndicates if you consider the fact that we have now three million and 700,000 drug addicts?” he added. Duterte said the issue of extrajudicial killings had been used by his political rivals to discredit him. The President maintained he did not have links to the socalled Davao death squad, the
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wounds to the upper body, according to a preliminary statement from Long Beach Police. Mother and son were pronounced dead at the scene by the fire department. The Ventanillas appeared to have a healthy and happy life, according to a neighbor of the family speaking anonymously. “They had friends over,” she told the Orange County Register. “They had barbecues up there. Just a happy couple.” She added that the newly widowed father was seen crying and struggling to maintain his composure as he was interviewed by police. On Tuesday, investigators and forensics technicians gathered
statements from other people living nearby and collected about six large bags of evidence before departing from the site of the crime at about 2 p.m., according to the OC Register. As officers were leaving, a small group of people was seen across the street from the family’s home huddled in a circle with their heads lowered. The Ventanillas have another son, who is 2 years old. Anyone with information that might help the Ventanillas and law enforcement better understand why such a tragedy took place is encouraged to contact detectives of the Long Beach Police Department at (562) 5707244. ■
A6 SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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FEATURES
OPINION
Denouncement
OVER the past three months, more than 3,000 suspected drug dealers and traffickers have been killed amidst the Philippine government’s current bloody war against drugs. More than 600,00 others— mostly drug users—have surrendered to authorities for fear that they might be next on the “Kill List.” Officials said there are about 3.7 million drug addicts in the country, a figure that they said reflects a problem of “epidemic proportions.” “I didn’t realize how severe and how serious the problem of drug menace in this republic (was) until I became president,” President Rodrigo Duterte said. Shocked by the extent of the drug menace in the country, Duterte pleaded for six more months to fulfill his earlier promise to end the drug problem and criminality in the country. Of this staggering death toll, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has only accounted for 1,167 deaths after 18,814 operations from July 1 to September 20. The others—alleged to be involved also in drug-related crimes—were killed in summary executions by vigilantes. To strengthen the accountability of law enforcers and to institute corrective legislative measures to ensure full respect for basic human rights, Sen. Leila De Lima filed Senate Resolution 9 to seek an inquiry into the rising number of extrajudicial killings and summary executions of suspected criminals. “Extrajudicial or summary killing is homicide. Carried out premeditatedly and in conspiracy with other public authorities, it becomes mass murder, which, if left unabated and unchecked, can esca-
late into a crime against humanity under international law,” De Lima said in her resolution. During a Senate hearing last week, a witness who claimed to be a former member of the vigilante Davao Death Squad, accused then-Davao City Mayor Duterte of ordering his criminals and enemies killed. Edgar Matobato also revealed that Duterte ordered to ambush De Lima in 2009, when the latter was still the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights. Because of her apparent opposition to the current administration and, De Lima has stumbled upon a legal quagmire of acrimony and fingerpointing. On Monday, Sept. 19, De Lima accused by fellow Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano of “destroying the integrity and reputation” of the Senate by being supposedly biased against Duterte. She was then ousted as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which is investigating the extrajudicial killings of suspected drug criminals. In her privilege speech on Tuesday, Sept. 20, De Lima defended herself and maintained that she was only doing her job as a senator. “Mr. President, I am not the problem. I am not the one giving a bad image to this country before
Editorial
ManilaTimes.net photo
the international media, contrary to the accusation and belief of Senator Cayetano. The problem of this country and this administration is the extra-judicial killing of more than 3,000 of our countrymen in the past three months, or more than a thousand per month,” De Lima said. No matter what side Filipinos are on, they must not miss the point. There are more than 2,000 unaccounted deaths since the recent drug war was
launched. There were lives that were wasted and were deprived of their human rights only because of their alleged connection with drugs. Though it may also seem as a continuous argument, this political travail will contribute to a to a more forthright national consciousness. Every riveting detail that will be exposed for the public to absorb will bring Filipinos to a level political sophistication. (AJPress)
De Lima should have inhibited herself in Senate Justice Committee probe SENATOR Leila de Lima should not have been ousted, but instead, should have inhibited herself from being chairman of the Senate Justice Committee even before any hearing started. After all, she has also been accused of being part of the drug syndicate while she was still justice secretary during Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s term. This writer presents this opinion not because of what the pro-Duterte senators who voted to strip De Lima of that power, which she allegedly used to smear President Rodrigo Duterte’s name and leadership. De Lima should have inhibited herself from presiding over any hearings and investigations in the Senate Justice Committee because of delicadeza. Even before the presentation of the star witness Edgar Matobato — a self-confessed hitman who testified last week that Duterte ordered death squad killings when the latter was still Davao mayor — there were already doubts about De Lima’s impartiality in presiding over drug-related cases in the Senate. Especially so, since she
But this writer believes the could be the subject of the invesintegrity of the Senate should tigation because of her alleged supersede De Lima’s right to involvement in the drug cartels The Fil-Am be chairman, if only to keep the inside New Bilibid Prison while Perspective Filipino people’s faith in it as an she was DOJ chief. august body investigating these De Lima’s inhibiting herself in cases. This would even earn the presiding over these cases would respect of doubters who think not mean she was guilty of the acshe is already guilty. cusations fired against her by no GEL SANTOS-RELOS HOWEVER, on the flip side less than Pres. Duterte himself, as she had been among the most outspoken critics of this issue, critics of the Duterte administraof the president. She was, after all, the one who tion believe this move of “demoting” De Lima initiated the probe into Duterte’s savage cam- could have just robbed the Senate of its indepaign to kill drug users and drug dealers with pendence in objectively hearing cases against Duterte’s alleged human rights violations in his little, if any, due process. De Lima should be presumed innocent un- war against drugs. An international human rights group already til proven guilty in court, a principle stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights spoke out against the ouster of Lima. As ABS-CBN News reported, New York— which she has been fighting for on behalf of those 3,000+ people who could have been killed based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the without due process and in violation of the rule Senate should seek de Lima’s reinstatement as chair of the committee on Justice and Huof law.
man Rights. “The Senate vote to remove the chair of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights is a craven attempt to derail accountability for the appalling death toll from President Duterte’s abusive ‘war on drugs,’” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at HRW. Kine contended that the Senate “is imperiling the Philippine public by covering up allegations of state-sanctioned murder rather than exposing them.” THE BOTTOM LINE IS: the truth should come out of the hearings for the good of the Filipino people. Should De Lima be reinstated as chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights? ***
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
Why is the Philippine government trying to destabilize itself?
BETWEEN Sen. Leila de Lima’s ouster Opinion as chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which is investigating extrajudicial drug killings, and Commu- FRANCISCO TATAD nications Secretary Martin Andanar’s revelation that some Filipino-Americans in New York are planning to oust President Rodrigo Duterte by January next year, we have reason to believe that political instability has scored a big win. De Lima’s ouster is unprecedented, so is Andanar’s extraordinary announcement. Last week, the Senate successfully aborted what threatened to be a bar room brawl between Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes 4th at the committee hearing on the drug killings. After the committee chair De Lima called her surprise witness to testify and Edgar Matobato, who claimed to be a former member of the Davao Death Squad, began talking of the alleged killings which DU30 had supposedly ordered when he was still mayor of Davao City, Cayetano questioned de Lima’s motive in calling the witness and also his credibility. Trillanes tried to bamboozle Cayetano, saying he was not a member of the committee and had already taken more time than necessary. Trillanes apparently forgot that the Rules of the Senate do not bar non-committee members from participating in committee hearings; the only thing they may not do is sign the committee report. In any case, fisticuffs or anything similar, which appeared imminent, were averted when Cayetano, who had been seated next to Trilllanes, moved away. De Lima ousted as committee chair In an obvious effort to counter the ef-
fects of the Matobato allegations, DU30’s supporters in the House of Representatives moved to fast-track their own inquiry into allegations that de Lima had been coddling drug lords in the New Bilibid Prisons while she was President B. S. Aquino 3rd’s Justice secretary. Current Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre was reported to have promised full immunity to all Bilibid inmates who would testify against de Lima. But the prospect of de Lima continuing the Senate inquiry while DU30’s protectors in the House pounce on her for her alleged drug dealing while she was still Justice secretary quickly vanished on Monday after the Senate acted on a motion by world boxing champion-Senator Manny Pacquiao, who is also from Mindanao, to reorganize the Justice committee, and named Richard Gordon chairman in lieu of de Lima. This has not happened before. Something similar but not quite the same The closest to this incident was what happened in the Senate in 1994. In the run-up to the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, where the Senate was expected to nominate one of its members to be part of the Philippine delegation, the Senate had a change of leadership during which committee chairmanships were distributed among the senators. There were three woman senators at the time, but not one of them wanted to chair the Committee on Women. Neither did the lone male senator whom the press and the gender feminists called “honorary woman” want the chair. So the committee ended without any chair. In order to allow the committee to function, the Senate President asked
me, who was the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Senate Majority Leader, to temporarily take over Women. Under the Rules of the Senate, the Rules Committee chair and Majority Leader is a member of all the committees and may not chair any of them. But because of the existing exigency, we had to suspend the Rules. I did not believe in contraception, abortion or divorce and, like St. Pope John Paul II, was labelled by the feminists as a “woman hater.” So I was the wrong person to chair Women. So as soon as I accepted the chairmanship, a group of feminists demanded that I give it up at once. They obviously feared that if I stayed, I would end up going to Cairo to represent Women, but since my views were diametrically opposed to theirs, I would be working against their cause. Pickets erupted in some universities and around the Senate premises. I refused to yield to the pressure, saying I did not ask for the committee and took it only at the behest of the Senate President, because none of the woman senators would take it. It was a matter of principle. Unable to make me budge, they moved to reorganize the entire Senate by deposing the Senate President. Once that was done, they moved to change all the committee chairmanships, and finally installed a woman-senator as chair of Women. In the present instance, Sen. Koko Pimentel remains Senate president; only de Lima has been replaced from her committee, of which she remains a member. What happens to the inquiry? Does this mean the end of the committee inquiry? Not necessarily. DU30 finally broke his silence on the Matobato testimony on Monday, and dismissed it as “all lies.” With DU30 saying he needs another six months to wrap up his controversial war on drugs, the few re-
maining independent-minded senators might insist on keeping a tight watch on the conduct of the “war.” Gordon’s style may be completely different from de Lima’s, but he is no DU30 sycophant and may be expected to be non-partisan. Gordon says he has been misquoted in his reported proposal that Congress allow DU30 to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus to go after drug suspects. Under the Constitution, the President may suspend the privilege in case of invasion and rebellion, and when the public safety requires it. The senator has promised to send me a full clarification of his position, it must be in transit. No one expects de Lima to fold up just because she had lost her chairmanship, and is now at the receiving end in a House inquiry run by DU30’s supporters. “The fight is far from over,” she declares. She appears determined to pursue the Matobato allegations, by filing a separate resolution calling for an investigation of the alleged DDS killings during DU30’s mayorship of Davao, before the start of the ongoing anti-narcotics war, which has already killed close to 3,000 drug dealers. The bad and the good from the Senate action De Lima’s ouster is a clear political victory for DU30, but one which could embitter his critics around the world. The next round of editorial comments from TIME, The New York Times, The Economist, The Guardian and the rest of the lot can be expected to be a severe chastisement of DU30’s defenders. But in a sense, this development saves the Senate from committing the same mistake it committed against then-President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in 2000. At the time, Senate Majority Leader Teofisto Guingona delivered his “I accuse” speech against Estrada on the
floor of the Senate, with a request that it be referred to the blue ribbon committee. As Senate Majority Leader, I referred the speech to the committee, chaired by Aquilino Pimentel Jr., as a matter of course. Under the Rules of the Senate, the members of the committee should meet to decide what action to take on anything that has been referred to it. But instead of convening the committee, the chairman decided on his own to investigate the charges and quickly scheduled the first hearing. I went to the hearing to point out to the chair that under the doctrine of separation of powers and checks and balances, the Congress had no power to investigate a sitting President unless he had been impeached by the House and was already under investigation by the Senate. My plea fell on deaf ears, and when I raised the issue at the plenary session, I found myself alone, except for Miriam Defensor-Santiago supporting my position. Everybody else wanted to investigate the President. In fact, Sen. Rene Cayetano, who was chairman of the justice committee, which had nothing to do with the issue at hand, decided on his own to co-chair the hearing with Pimentel, without the Senate instructing his committee, through any motion from me, to be part of the hearing. A similar situation appears to have arisen in the case of the Matobato allegations. Although the alleged death squad killings were reportedly ordered by the mayor of Davao so many years ago, that mayor is now the President of the Philippines, and he may not be investigated by Congress outside of an impeachment proceeding. He may also not be criminally charged in court, unless he has been removed in an impeachment trial. In that sense, de Lima’s loss of her chairmanship and the possible archiving of the Matobato accusations,
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Bilibid inmates: ‘We raised money for…
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personally met de Lima in January 2013 through Sebastian. Sebastian, who has refused to testify before the House, was said to have been used by de Lima as a mole in a bid to rid the Bilibid of drug syndicates. “Even [prison]employees follow him (Sebastian). Who are we to defy him when he was the one in power?” Martinez said. ‘Very influential’ Patcho, head of the “Batman” gang, said he was convinced that Sebastian was raising funds for de Lima’s election campaign because she paid a visit to Sebastian’s luxurious Bilibid cell at least twice. Patcho also claimed he referred a person to Sebastian who received five kilos of drugs worth P4.35 million from the Commando leader. The payment was remitted to a bank account whose number was provided by Sebastian, he said. Patcho admitted that Sebastian never introduced him to de Lima. “I wasn’t introduced by Jaybee to de Lima, but I know that he (Jaybee) is very influential to de
Lima because there are a lot of inmates and yet she is only talking to Jaybee,” Patcho said. Murder convict Jojo Baligad, a “Batang City Jail” member, claimed he remitted a total of P3.8 million not just to de Lima but also to other former officials of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) from January 2013 to September 2014. In 2014 alone, inmate Herbert Colanggo thrice asked him for P500,000, to be remitted allegedly to de Lima, Baligad claimed. Despite the payoffs, Baligad said, de Lima ordered his transfer along with other inmates like Colanggo in the so-called “Bilibid 19” group to the NBI Detention Center in Manila that had tighter security. “Based on what I have heard, Secretary de Lima ordered our transfer [out of Bilibid]because Jaybee gave her the list of our names,” Baligad said. Former BuCor Director Franklin Bucayu got P1.7 million, while Rafael Ragos, then BuCor officer in charge, received P600,000, Baligad claimed. All witnesses were granted immunity from suit with the approval
of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. The House justice committee also moved to subpoena Sebastian, whose Bilibid exploits were the subject of a Discovery Channel documentary shown at the House on Tuesday. PSG probing Joenel On Wednesday, the Presidential Security Group (PSG) said de Lima’s alleged bagman and former security aide Joenel Sanchez, a sergeant, had been placed under investigation and restricted to barracks. “Upon hearing [of]his [involvement in]the House inquiry regarding Senator de Lima, the command immediately conducted investigation effective 18 September 2016,” PSG spokesman Lt. Col. Michael Aquino said in a news conference. Sanchez is a member of the PSG who was recently assigned to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Aquino said. Sanchez was detailed to de Lima when she was Justice secretary. Aquino said the PSG was willing to present Sanchez at the House inquiry. The PSG spokesman refused to disclose other details of their investigation. n
Why is the Philippine government… PAGE A6 t
unpalatable as they may seem, have a positive effect in upholding the separation of powers. The govt’s main problem DU30’s main problem is no longer De Lima but his own government’s careless announcements that there is an active plot to remove him from office or to kill him. Between PNP chief Bato de la Rosa’s announcement that the drug lords are out to kill him, and Martin Andanar’s revelation that some Filipino-Americans are planning to oust him, plus DU30’s own intimations about his own mortality, we get the feeling that there is a conscious and deliberate effort on the part of the DU30 government to destabilize itself. Why is this happening? The risk of assassination is part of the territory, but being removed after less than three months in office seems completely unprecedented, unless he has started frothing at the mouth and climbing walls and has been certified by majority of his Cabinet as being unfit to discharge his duties. Not everyone is enamored of DU30, but everyone seems scared of the alternative if he disappears. One remembers the story of the monarch who ruled with an iron hand and caused great suffering among his people. Yet he went around wining and wenching in the evenings without regard to his personal safety. Asked if he did not fear for his life, he said, there was no one in his kingdom mad enough to kill him in order to install his brother who was a complete nut. The alternative to DU30 A similar situation arose during the most trying days of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when the former President Corazon Arroyo led a group
of bishops to ask her to remove herself from Malacanang. Not a few people seemed to favor GMA’s removal, but not even those who hated her could not imagine the country under a President Noli de Castro, her constitutional successor. Even de Castro himself seemed to share the same sentiment–he rejected all suggestions that he run for President in 2010. We probably have a worse problem. Those who are mortified every time they hear all sorts of expletives from DU30 just cannot imagine themselves being led by a President Leni Robredo, whose “election” as Vice President is not believed by many and officially protested by former Sen. Bongbong Marcos, and who has managed to say all sorts of inanities on important national issues. In Memoriam. Archbishop Emeritus Carmelo Morelos, D.D., bishop of Butuan for 27 years, archbishop of Zamboanga for 12, and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for four, who died in the peace of Christ last Saturday, will be interred at the Zamboanga Cathedral, after a solemn funeral Mass officiated by his brethren in the episcopate and clergy this morning. Born on December 11, 1930, he was ordained as a priest at 24, and as bishop at 37, one of the youngest (if not indeed the youngest) among bishops. He was a kind, cheerful and holy priest who loved the poor and God’s faithful. He spent his last days in the care and friendship of his successor Archbishop Romulo de la Cruz, who asked him to transfer from his retirement home in Butuan to the Cathedral, which he had built as Archbishop. I ask the gentle reader to remember him in their prayers. Thank you very much. (fstatad@gmail.com)
COASTAL CLEAN-UP. Employees of the natural resources department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao clears a beach in Datu Odin, Maguindanao from wastes. Philstar.com photo by John Unson
Duterte invites UN, EU to probe PH…
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vigilante group accused of executing several criminals while he was mayor of Davao City. Other foreign critics can come too Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar also said foreign critics of the administration could come to the Philippines and observe whatever was being done in the campaign against illegal drugs. “Oo. Kaya naman. Kung sinong mga kritiko, ‘di lumabas tayo kahit saan…sasamahan ko kahit sino. New York Times, New Yorker, sino pa…lalo na ’yung foreign media (Yes, we can. Whoever are those critics, we can go anywhere… I will accompany whoever they are. New York Times, New Yorker, who else…especially the foreign media),” Andanar said in a press briefing in Malacañang. He said he was previously a police beat reporter who would know the peaceful and the troubled places in Metro Manila. Andanar added he asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to accompany all foreign media representatives who contacted his office and expose them to places where the illegal drug trade was reportedly rampant. Foreign engagement The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also cited the need to explain to the international community the drug situation in the
Philippines and the measures being undertaken by the government to address the problem. DFA spokesman Charles Jose said it was important to engage with and present to the international community, including the UN and the EU, the Philippine narrative. He added Duterte won in the last elections by promising to end criminality in the country. “It should also be emphasized that we don’t condone these socalled extrajudicial killings and that President Duterte is having them investigated,” Jose said. “That should be a continuing process, our embassies should explain to their host governments and explain what really is happening here,” he said. In the campaign against illegal drugs, Jose stressed that the government was strictly adhering to the established human rights principles and the rule of law. The UN and the EU have raised concerns over Duterte’s brutal war on illegal drugs, which has so far claimed the lives of over 3,000 suspected drug offenders. The UN has criticized the President for his supposed lack of understanding of human rights institutions and principles, while the European Parliament asked Duterte to investigate and to put an end to the “current wave of extrajudicial executions and killings.” Duterte, who once threatened to pull the Philippines out of the UN but later on dismissed
his statement as a joke, said he would not obey “unreasonable mandates.” On Wednesday, the EU refused to comment on Duterte’s recent statement ridiculing the regional bloc. The EU and the Philippines enjoy good relations but the EU said it would continue to discuss this issue of extrajudicial killings and human rights among many others in the bilateral contacts with the authorities. For the period from July 1 to Sept. 17, the PNP reported conducting a total of 18,382 operations where 1,138 were killed after allegedly putting up a fight. The PNP also reported the arrest of 17,319 people and the surrender of 714,217. Last week, Duterte asked for another six months to get rid of the drug menace, saying he was not aware of the gravity of the illegal drug problem until people surrendered and after intelligence reports were submitted to him. The reports contained names of politicians, policemen, judges and other individuals allegedly involved in the illicit drug trade in the country. At the Senate, there is an ongoing inquiry into extrajudicial killings while the House of Representatives is investigating the reported drug trade and other irregularities inside the New Bilibid Prison while Sen. Leila de Lima was justice secretary. De Lima initiated the hearings on extrajudicial killings at the Senate. n
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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY S E p T E m b E R 23, 20 1 6
ALOYSIUS | DELA EVA | KENNETH BARLIS
Different Journeys, Same Destination by MoMar
Just like that, New York City Fashion Week is over. Along with it, the many side events, performances and shows that celebrate the city as one of the world’s top fashion destinations. And for every aspiring and
Joseph Aloysius Montelibano
is the pina or the delicate handwoven pineapple fiber. the designer behind Aloysius, emerging designer, there is that Joseph Montelibano, got his dream to stage a show during inspiration for his s/s 2017 collection NYFW. by the romanticized era of the three Filipino designers from country’s national hero, Jose Rizal. a diverse background found the 20-piece collection highlighted themselves in New York last week artisanal pieces of separates, cocktail to celebrate their collections and dresses and ethereal evening and showcase to the world their talent. wedding gowns. Here are their stories. With timeless silhouettes and Calado: From Batangas to rich yet refined embellishments, New York the Aloysius collection can best be Aloysius, an accessible Filipino luxury brand, showcased the ‘calado’ described as simple and elegant. It lace through a runway presentation is in the simplicity and cleanliness at the Philippine Consulate General of the designs that get highlighted with fabric like pina. in time for the recently-concluded “I’m so happy and relieved,” New York Fashion Week. Joseph exclaimed moments Calado is the almost-lost art of after the show. “I’m so grateful to hand embroidery technique that is centuries-old and practiced usually everyone that showed up and I am just so overwhelmed right now.” in rural towns. the fabric of choice
G. Visaya/AJPress
Joseph Montelibano focused his recent collection on the piña fabric with calado lace embroidery.
Ninja Evangelista
With a background in fabric, Joseph said he makes sure that he gets to have fun with it without sacrificing the tradition and the heritage. From the beadwork to the hand embroidery to making sure that the different characters of the pina fabric are shown – Joseph went into the minutest details as he prepared for the collection. “It’s a great fabric but it is sad that the calado embroidery is dying so this is the perfect moment for me to do this,” Joseph told the Asian Journal. Calado lace embroidery is a dying art form in the native heritage town of taal, Batangas in the Philippines. Aloysius has taken the initiative to revive and reinvigorate it by raising funds to include calado hand embroidery elective subjects in public schools nationwide and produce workshops for private sectors worldwide. It was happenstance. Joseph was looking for a material that he could sink his teeth into and someone suggested that he look at taal, Batangas. “Last year, I did tinalak. this year, I wanted to do something different. I wanted it to be appealing and streamlined like New Yorkers. so I went to taal and immersed with the hand AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya embroiderers and the inspiration and artistic vision just flowed,” he shared. “My vision about Dr. Jose Rizal and the calado embroidery just clicked and I said, that’s what I was going to do.” the same collection will also be showcased at the upcoming International Bridal show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Asked about his dream for this collection, the designer paused and gave a thoughtful remark. “I wish that other designers around the world would pick this up and consider this fabric. that is the whole thrust of this collection. It’s not just about me as a designer,” he said. Ninja: Born in Vienna, now London-based Folks, meet 31-year-old Ninja (pronounced in Vienna as Nina) Evangelista, an emerging Filipina accessories designer in London. Born to Filipino parents in Vienna, Ninja grew up in Austria but for the past six years, she has been calling London home.
A passionate traveller, Ninja gets her inspiration from the places she visits and people she meets along the way. she is also inspired by art and architecture, along with the every day scenery she gets to experience in every country she gets to visit. Ninja has designed different bags for ladies, some they can use during the day and some during the evening. Her bags she said are the perfect accompaniment to every woman, whether she is out working or on a date or travelling the world. “It is a huge honor for us to be invited here. they only asked twelve emerging designers from all over the world to showcase here,” Ninja said. “New York is huge and I’ve always been inspired by the city’s people, culture and art, everything.” “New York women are always fashionable so I’d like them to take a look at our pieces and hopefully, something catches their eye,” she remarked. Ninja’s brand Dela Eva is now one year old. Dela is from her mother’s last name Dela Cruz and Eva is from her father’s last name Evangelista. Both her parents come from the province of Bulacan and they moved to Austria more than 30 years ago. they now call New Jersey home. Working at an airline afforded her to travel the world at such a young age and once she felt she has gained enough experience, she decided to focus on what she really wanted: to become a designer. “somehow I had always known that I’d be in fashion, I didn’t know then how but through the years, the dream began to take shape,” she said. Ninja’s bags can be considered as conversation pieces, and to say that her bags are not ordinary would be an understatement. Each one of her bags is unique in terms of design and there’s always a special detail added to it. Like the Pursa line with the bucket-bags’ unique opening and shape, or the handbags with loops on their handles. In fact, it has become a signature Dela Eva look – that combination of handbag or any of her accessories with an element of women’s wear. she has a belt that can be worn and it would like there is an attached flowing skirt, or a veil, similar to what Filipino women wear when they go to church decades ago. And since inspiration comes wherever she is, Ninja makes sure
AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya
that she has her sketchbook ready. she admits she already has the design in her head and sometimes it’s just a matter of putting those ideas into paper. “I am proud to say that we are totally hand-made in the united Kingdom and Italy,” Ninja said. “We work with highly-trained artisans in Milano and London, using materials from Paris, Vienna, Milan and I’m trying to get some materials from the Philippines as well like silk and lace.” Kenneth Barlis: From Zamboanga to USA the Art Hearts Fashion show at the recently concluded New York Fashion Week has become a leading platform for designers and artists to showcase their collections in a contemporary fashion week setting. Continued on Page 6
Kenneth Barlis
Photos courtesy of Kenneth Barlis
Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ PeoPle are justifiably concerned, anxious, and even terrified over Donald Trump’s proposed plan to deport the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. However, let’s remember that the executive branch does NoT pass laws, nor is the president in charge of funding or the budget. Those powers, duties, and functions belong to Congress, as the legislative branch of the Government. So let’s say Trump proposes the massive deportation. He would need to have both the House and Senate pass a law, which he can sign. (After all, Donald Trump is against “executive action”, and so he would likely act based only on a law proposed and passed by Congress.) Congress has the ability to oppose or even block various proposed pieces of legislation. If you recall, a few years ago, Pres. obama, along with a coalition of Democrat and
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Part 1 of 2 parts)
oN a visit to my father’s grave site on a quiet, lush, manicured patch of Forest lawn Glendale, my husband, daughter and I trudged along several tombstones of husbands and wives who lived in the 1850’s and died just before the mid-1900’s buried side by side. My daughter noted the pattern in the headstones of a generation ago. I commented that it is getting harder to find such longevity of devotion these days among younger married couples of the current generation. Call this the Age of Distraction for the “Selfies” generation. It seems we love ourselves far too much to the exclusion of others. Perhaps it is because society as a whole, is engaged in far too many distractions and mired in too much self-absorption. Social media enables and encour-
Congress could always block Trump’s immigration plan Republican lawmakers, proposed comprehensive immigration reform, which passed in the Senate. However, the House blocked that legislation, and would not even bring it up for a vote. As a result, that piece of legislation, urged by the president, went nowhere. So, if Trump proposes a piece of legislation, the House or Senate could always block it, or Senators could “filibuster,” which would also result in the proposed legislation going nowhere. Congress is also in charge of the budget and funding. There are estimates it would cost over $400 billion to deport the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants. This might include the cost of building new courtrooms, hiring new judges and their staff, building more detention facilities, transportation for the mass deportation, etc. Congress may not be willing to spend that amount of money for such an unnecessary endeavor. If Trump can’t get the money to carry out his plan, the plan would go
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nowhere. While Trump talks tough about immigration, he must take a step back and consider the practicalities (or impracticalities) of his plan, and we must always remember Congress could always block his attempts or refuse to fund it. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
Two magical words “…And I think about those people who mean so much to me And for so many years have made me so very happy And I count the times I have forgotten to say “thank you” And just how much I love them.”
— “Sometimes”, Richard & Karen Carpenter
ages a popular culture that fosters self-love to the worrisome point of extreme narcissism. It has become a struggle for many couples just to stay together. one might argue that the generations before us didn’t have the same challenges that we are having. True. It may have been a far simpler time compared to the complexities we are all faced with. And yet they leave behind lessons of love that result in devotion and fidelity. Surely, we can learn a lot about nurturing human relations from those who have gone before us. This I have learned from an older generation at an early age. of all the powerful words in the english language, the words “Thank you” are
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like magic wands in helping transform human relationships, marriage in particular, happier. Not perfect … just happier. You don’t even have to say the words. You can acknowledge anything good done for you by your partner by a sweet gesture, a nod, a smile, a touch or anything else that works for you that says “thank you.” In short, don’t take your partner for granted. Whether you’ve been together 50 days or 50 years, those words never get old. If you want that most powerful emotion called love to live on, treat your partner like a gardener takes care of a plant. Most plants cannot survive without water, light, soil and other optimum conditions kept at a
GET THE CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS ANSWERED IMMEDIATELY WHEN ‘CITIZEN PINOY’ GOES LIVE ON SEPTEMBER 25! Kapamilya, we are excited to bring you yet another LIVE telecast of your favorite immigration program – CITIZEN PINOY. Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel is “excited about being able to answer your questions in real time.” Viewers are already encouraged to send in questions at www.facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw. The live telecast of “Citizen Pinoy” – will be seen on September 25, Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (EST/PST) on TFC.
consistent basis. The human heart is like that. It grows strong and beautiful with constant, devoted care. Saying “thank you” to your partner in life as often as you can, simply means you appreciate him. You are validating his worth as a person. Perhaps, being appreciated and shown respect, is next on the list of the most basic needs of a human being after the needs of food, clothing and shelter are met. The words may not come naturally to you and your partner may be stunned at first but go ahead. Give it a try and say “thank you.” Say it like you mean it. look for the small gestures such as giving you a cup of coffee, opening your car door, doing housework, cleaning your car or filling up your gas tank. Just don’t take what he does for you as a given. or how about taking the initiative yourself? If you do it long enough and often enough, he just might mirror your behavior. What goes around comes around. If he brings home the paycheck that pays for your family life, then treat him like a king. often, the goodhearted partner will treat you
like his queen. There are exceptions, of course. It is only the jerks and the jackasses who abuse their positions of strength. That holds true for both sexes. If there is constant, sincere appreciation shifting back and forth between partners, you are, in effect, cementing a foundation for a relationship that would be tough to crack even if a threat to your marriage, like a pretty, young vixen with mile-long legs comes along making a play for your partner. likewise, a smooth talking, slick Pepe le Pew character with washboard abs would smell more like Brad’s sweaty armpit and would have no chance with a woman who already has a man at home she can canoodle with. The same is true for men. Paul Newman simply explained why he remained faithful to Joanne Woodward, “Why fool around with hamburger when you have steak at home?” What is good for the gander is good for the goose. There may be scores of women out there right now who feel neglected by their spouses. Maybe there’s another woman or man waiting in the wings.
But more often than not during this Age of Distraction, the disaffection is rooted in self-absorption. And there lies the problem. Women need, want and crave appreciation just as much as men, if not more. Self-love takes many forms — whether it is playing video games or social networking on FB, Twitter or Instagram or some such platform on the internet for hours on end; binge drinking; gambling; watching or playing golf or any other sport; vain, self-obsession as a health nut or on becoming an Adonis body-building hunk or going to the deep end of things, deviant sex and pornography. With few exceptions, obsession is unhealthy not only for the obsessed but also for those who live within his or her immediate orbit. excessive time spent on these obsessions is time stolen from nurturing the love relationship. Watch out for these modern-day distractions and addictions that are just too many to list. Admit them if you have them and break the bonds with firm resolve. If you want true love and happiness, Continued on Page 5
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An Asian Journal Magazine
Tom Rodriguez is a self-confessed nerd
The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY S E P T E M B E R 23, 20 1 6
BY MONET
LU
I HAVE always been a fan of our indie films. So many of our great actors and actresses started out with playing lead roles in such an interesting movie genre. There’s something raw about these types of films and in one way or another, it separates the real actors from those who are just popular for reasons totally unrelated to good acting. I find it unsurprising—rather, much anticipated—that a Filipino-produced-and-directed film would win the top prize in an international film festival. And not to mention, it stars one of the finest actresses of all time, Ms. Charo Santos-Concio. “Ang Babeng Humayo” (“The Woman Who Left”) is a story about a schoolteacher’s attempt to lead a normal life after spending her 30-year imprisonment for a murder she didn’t commit. The irony plays as she also plots the murder of the man who framed her while she tries to tackle life outside the prison cell. Talk about normal life, right? Released after someone else confesses to the crime, Horacia (the main character) finds out that her husband died, and her daughter had moved out and her son had gone missing. The big twist unravels when she learned that a former lover had set her up to be jailed. Horacia is played by ABSCBN Chief Content Officer Charo Santos in her first film foray in nearly two decades. In an online article, the actressturned-executive revealed why she accepted the role after a considerably noticeable hiatus from starring in movies. “I really wanted to work with this director … I wanted to understand the aesthetics behind his cinema, why he produces
EMPLOYMENT
by CHRISTINA
ALPAD ManilaTimes.net
Director Lav Diaz’s ‘Ang Babaeng Humayo’ wins top prize at the 73rd Venice Film Festival
long-running films,” Concio, the former president and chief executive officer of ABS-CBN Corp., told Reuters. “He doesn’t manipulate the audience, he doesn’t manipulate the characters, he allows the characters to go through the journey and to feel the journey,” she added. “Ang Babaeng Humayo” won the golden lion, the top prize at the 73rd Venice Film Festival in Italy. The prize is awarded by an eight-member jury of filmmakers and actors, headed this year by British film and stage director Sam Mendes. The film runs for about 228 minutes (nearly four hours) and is the 19th film of the 57-year-old director. It also won Best Foreign Language Film at the Sorriso Diverso Venezia 2016 Awards, one of the collateral awards handed out before the festival’s major honors. Produced by Cinema One Originals and Sine Olivia Pilipinas, “Ang Babaeng Humayo,” also
features performances from John Lloyd Cruz, who walked beside Santos on the red carpet. Twenty U.S. and international movies featuring top Hollywood talent and auteur directors were in competition at the world’s oldest film festival, in its 73rd outing this year. The event is seen as a launching pad for the industry’s award season. The Best Director award was shared by Russia’s Andrei Konchalovsky for the Holocaust drama “Rai” (“Paradise”) and Mexico’s Amat Escalante for “La Region Salvaje” (“The Untamed”). Commenting on Escalante’s drama, which opens with a naked woman being pleasured by a tentacled creature, jury member and Venezuelan director Lorenzo Vigas said the movie affected all the judges emotionally. American actress Emma Stone took the Best Actress prize for her role in the musical “La La Land” and Argentine actor Oscar Martinez was named Best Continued on Page 5
EMPLOYMENT
IF you are the lead of a prime time drama with a heavy role that requires intense emotions; and host a once-a-week competition of fast-paced trending video uploads, one would assume that free time automatically equates to rest. But for Tom Rodriguez, who currently stars across Lovi Poe in the prime time drama series “Someone to Watch Over Me” and host of online video competition #Like, down time means “me time” pursuing his far from heartthrobtype interests. The nerd Rodriguez is a self-confessed nerd. In an interview to promote #Like, the actor-host proudly talked about his current book collection, which, mind you, is not comprised of best sellers. Instead, his shelves are filled with books on science, math and computer engineering for topics. “That’s because I believe learning should never stop,” he said of his choices. Revealing that his love for books started at home, Rodriguez shared, “My father was a supply officer [in the US Navy]of a ship, so when one of their ships was decommissioned, he had the chance to take home all the books of the ship’s library when he could have just thrown them. So yes, I think the hobby of reading, and reading different genres, started there.” His father also taught the would-be television star to be handy in fixing almost every machine he could get his hands on—including computers. “I do upgrades of my computers myself,” he added. Given his experience, Rodriguez hopes that parents today keep encouraging their children to veer away from their gadgets and spend time reading books on science and technology “because that’s where the world is headed now.” The geek Besides academic readings, the actor-host revealed that he is a total geek, or a person who is passionate with any work of pop culture. In his case, Rodriguez grew up
Tom Rodriguez with girlfriend Carla Abellana got to meet Filipino Marvel comic artist Whilce Portacio during the last Asia Pop Comic Con.
loving comics alongside his serious books. “I’ve always loved comic books because that’s where I get my inspiration for my sketches, which is another passion of mine.” He has attended the worldfamous San Diego Comic Con annually since 2003. Lucky for him, every comic fan’s anticipated event found its way to the Philippines in 2015, which saw a second installment through the Asia Pop Comic Con just this August. Rodriguez was able to attend the consecutive comic cons in Manila and credits her girlfriend, actress Carla Abellana for being the one to remember the dates of the events and get him tickets. In the last Asia Pop Comic Con, Rodriguez was star struck to meet Filipino Whilce Portacio, the former Marvel comic artist who created the famous character of Bishop. “Did you know that he went to the States in 1980, worked for Marvel, created Bishop, and went with other colleagues to establish their own [artists’] group? Sir Whilce also paved the way for other artists to work for big wigs such as Marvel, DC and other comic houses without leaving the country,” he shared. He considers Portacio a hero as well for growing up in the US as an immigrant he found solace in reading comics that has characters
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close to his heart. “I loved Stone, he is Portacio’s character who’s a stuntman with an emblem and who fights Philippine mythical creatures like tikbalang and duwende,” Rodriguez said. He also floated above the clouds when he met Millie Brown of Stranger Things, a show he considers to be a well created in every aspect. And just like his geek side, the nerdy Rodriguez has also applied his love for comics in his daily environment. He is in the process of making animated sequences for his soap opera with Poe. An activity he does in between takes and which he has taken upon himself, Rodriguez showed The Manila Times his pet project in its initial stage. “I used an application called Rough Animator to show the story of TJ and Joanna during the key points in their life like courtship, wedding, and so on,” he flipped through his sketch book. Asked if he still finds time to recuperate from his demanding showbiz schedule, while seeing to his unique interests, Rodriguez, like a true geek-slash-nerd who happens to be good-looking and well-mannered, simply smiled and said, “I really can’t complain. These things make my brain active.”
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An Asian Journal Magazine
The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY S E P T E M B E R 23, 20 1 6
Ryan Cayabyab on US Concert Tour in October The Maestro performs with his mentored vocal group, The Ryan Cayabyab Singers RYAN Cayabyab, one of the purveryors of Original Pilipino music, if not the originator of OPM, is coming for a longawaited concert tour which brings the Maestro and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers to New Jersey, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Philippine Madrigal Singers Honolulu. The prolific composer, arranger and music director, reknown for his hit songs, does not only THE Philippine Madrigal has been acknowledged by the gather accolades for himself. To Singers recently concluded its festival director to have played those close to him know him 2016 Concert tour with a string of a major role in the promotion of as an inspiring educator who continuously mentors aspiring acclaimed performances around the festival, adding prestige to its musicians. His works, produced at Europe from June to September. colorful history. almost breakneck speed, make up The Madz serenaded The highlight of the tour, a vast catalog that represents the members of the local and however, happened during Filipino, in culture and psyche. diplomatic corps, headed by the Concorso 64th Polifonico Beloved for his songs with Honorary Consul General Prof. Internazionale di Guido d’ Arezzo, distinctive melodies, Maestro Dr. Gehrard Zeidler, during the when the Philippine Madrigal Ryan was the first to be honored Philippine Independence Day Singers, under Artistic Director in the TV show ASAP’s Songwriter celebration held at the Philippine and Choirmaster, Mark Anthony Series. The master orchestrator consulate in Stuttgart, Germany Carpio, was conferred the coveted gave us the karaoke staples “Tuwing Umuulan” and “Kahit Ika’y last June 11. They also had Gran Premio last Aug. 27. The Panaginip Lang” by Basil Valdez, a short performance for the Madz also took 1st prize trophies “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” Filipino community at the Dom in different categories, one by Hajji Alejandro, “Paraiso,” and St. Eberhand in Munich. second place finish, the Listening “Kailan” by Smokey Mountain, to In Poland, they headlined Committee’s Prize in the Folk name a few. the International Festival of Song Category, and the Listening His works for the stage are as the Organ and Chamber Music and Public’s Choice in the Pop varied and impressive. His opera Artistic Director and Choirmaster, Mark “Spoliarium,” about Filipino painter in Kamien, Pomorski and the Song Category. Anthony Carpio International Choir Festivals in One of the group’s awardJuan Luna was staged in New York title twice before in 1997 and Szczecin, Miedzyzdroje and in winning performances in last year. Kuh Ledesma’s first hit 2007. Murowana, Goslina. this competition was the “Magbalik Ka Na, Mahal” was culled from his ballet-musical Rama Hari. This October 13, 2016, the The Madz opened the 62nd Monographic Category, where it Maestro Ryan’s partnership edition of the International featured three works by one of its world renowned Philippine with Celeste Legaspi, a popular Madrigal Singers, under the Habaneras and Polyphony members, Ily Matthew Maniano. concert artist in the 80-90’s resulted direction of Choirmaster Mark Contest of Torrevieja, Spain with With this, the Mads earned in royal command performances, Anthony Carpio, return to a short program of mixed songs. one of the only six berths for the sold out concerts and concept NYC with their recent win of The performance was highly 2017 European Grand Prix for top prizes from the 64th Guido anticipated and well received Choral Singing, a battle of the D’Arezzo International Choral by the local community and champions of Europe’s six top Competition in Arezzo, Italy. This the choirs participating in the choral competitions, which will competition. It will be recalled be held next year in Tolosa, Spain. victory makes them eligible to that the Madz swept all the The choir holds the distinction of compete next year in Tolosa, Spain for their 3rd entry in the top prizes when it joined the being the first choir in the world European Choral Grand Prix. competition in 2004. The Madz to win the European Grand Prix
Philippine Madrigal Singers in NYC this October 13
albums like “Koleksiyon” with reinterpreted kundiman. But more importantly, they produced much restaged musical “Katy!”, and “Larawan,” which has been turned into a film, which is in its final stages of production. With a multitude of film scores under his belt, including “Hello Joe, Goodbye” from a Rosanna Roces movie, Maestro Ryan continues to break ground. His score for the highly anticipated film “Ignacio De Loyola” was performed by a live orchestra at its premier. The score is now available in iTunes. At 62, Maestro Ryan shows no signs of slowing down. Even while nursing a cold, he was able to complete a commissioned symphonic piece, and record with with a live orchestra. He continues his advocacy for Original Pilipino Music though mentoring the ongoing Elements Songwriting Camp, PhilPop Songwriting Competiton and Akapela Open. All his activities are headquartered at The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab, which has been operating since 1988. The school is often where he rehearses his artists and shows, and holds auditions for singing groups he had directed and written for, such as 14k and Smokey Mountain. He established the Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) in 2007, soon after the end of The San Miguel Performing Arts Foundation, of which he was Executive and Artistic Director. In the fashion of his other projects, Maestro Ryan recorded extensively
with the San Miguel Orchestra “Great Filipino Love Songs,” and with the San Miguel Master Chorale “Pasko I & II.” Maestro Ryan debuts RCS’ 3rd album “Sa Panaginip Lang” on this US tour. The group performs his beloved hits and new songs cowritten with the members. A highly anticipated album, celebrity wellwishers took to Youtube to extend their greetings at the launch. Los Angeles will get to enjoy Maestro Ryan’s work, as he accompanies RCS in a song and dance program that celebrates 100 years of song. The concert is on October 23 at the Plaza Del Sol Performance Hall of the Valley Performing Arts Center at CSU-Northridge. Tickets are available at ww.ticketmaster.com for $75, $60, $45. Student discount of 50% off are available at the VPAC Box Office.
NYU School of Medicine’s Center for the Study of Asian American Health with co-host AARP presents Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Health Conference NEW YORKThe Center for the Study of Asian American Health at NYU School of Medicine’s Department of Population Health will hold its 8th Biennial Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Health Conference, co-hosted by AARP, called “Aging Together, Bridging Generations” on Monday, September 26th, 2016. As the older population in the United States rapidly grows and becomes more racially and ethnically diverse, the goals of the conference are to bring together diverse stakeholders from across the country to discuss and prioritize healthy aging in our Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander communities. “Given these projected demographic shifts we are very excited to co-host our 8th biennial AA and NHPI health conference on healthy aging with AARP,” said Simona C. Kwon, DrPH, MPH, assistant professor and director of the Center for the Study of Asian American Health at NYU School of Medicine’s Department of Population Health.
“It is our hope that the conference will foster opportunities to identify, share, and pursue innovative, collaborative research to implement healthy aging strategies to optimize the health of the growing population of AA and NHPI older adults.” The event features 27 speakers from health, communitybased organizations, nonprofit groups, academic institutions and governmental agencies across the country including: • Jeanette Takamura, dean of the Columbia University School of Social Work, and former Assistant Secretary of Aging for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who will provide opening remarks about nationally elevating healthy aging • Richard Lui, NBC & MSNBC Anchor & Maj. Gen. Tony Taguba, AARP Community Ambassador, who will share firsthand experiences on the importance of caregivers and their families • Charlotte Yeh, AARP Services, Inc. chief medical officer, who will provide a vision on how we can reframe aging to promote better
health Topics that will be covered include • Prioritizing Meaningful Data for Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders • Social Isolation in Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Communities • Culture-Centered Approaches to Dementia • Caregiving in the Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Communities • Improving Health at the Community Level: CommunityBased Innovative Approaches and Promising Practices “The Aging Together conference is a unique event that provides a forum for community-based organizations, hospitals, academic institutions, and nonprofits to engage and collaborate on issues affecting Asian American older adults and their families,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP vice president of multicultural leadership, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy.
Two magical words
From Page 3 strive for balance and moderation. In all cases of neglect, love is left to wither and die. Women who feel neglected, if driven to their limits, may throw all caution to the wind and look for love from the first opportunistic guy that comes along ready to engage in mild flirtation, an occasional dalliance or a full blown affair and gives them the attention and validation they crave. Such women can make disastrous, life-changing decisions that cause not only per-
sonal damage but also leave behind in the wake of a messy split, massive psychological, irreversible damage to children and other people involved in the couple’s life. Say “thank you” and mean it. Don’t just do it out of habit. Cut off the cellphone “umbilical cord” and make eye contact. Open your eyes and see the good in your partner. Wisdom, as they say, is knowing what to overlook. Rein in that critical sharp tongue. The tongue is a small yet powerful
muscle that can lash out capable of slashing and burning a relationship forever. The effect is amplified a million times when you write it down or use the web to vent your fury. When you document your anger on paper and more frequently these days online, you have entered “scorched earth” territory. There is little chance of ever going back. (To be continued) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, email monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
Director Lav Diaz’s ‘Ang Babaeng Humayo’... From Page 4 Actor for his performance in the comedy-drama “El Ciudadano Ilustre” (“The Distinguished Citizen”). German actress Paula Beer received the Marcello Mastroianni Award acknowledging an emerging performer, for her role in postwar drama “Frantz.” In an article released a few days ago, director Lav Diaz described “Ang Babaeng Humayo” (“The Woman Who
Left”) as a testimony to the struggles of the Philippines after centuries of colonial rule. “This is for my country, for the Filipino people, for our struggle, for the struggle of humanity,” the 57-year-old said as he accepted the Golden Lion award for his black-and-white movie. Congratulations Direk Lav, and to the cast and crew, you are all amazing. Once again, we (Filipinos) have proven that real talent
shines even in a global capacity. *** 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
Calendar of Events across
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PASCPA-Los Angeles dinner dance event Philippine American Society of Certified Public Accountants (PASCPA) is celebrating 30 years of promoting excellence for the future leaders! Join PASCPA on Saturday, Sept. 24 as it installs officers & board members and inducts new members of the organization. Networking will begin at 4:30 until 6:15 p.m. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at Pickwick Gardens, 1001 Riverside Dr., Burbank, CA 91506. Attire is formal and there will be no host bar. A donation of $65 is required. For more information, please visit http://pascpa.org/.
8th Regional Celebration of the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz The Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Region invites everyone to the 8th Regional Celebration of the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the First Filipino Saint. Festivities will be on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at this year’s host parish, Holy Family Church - Glendale (209 East Lomita Avenue, Glendale CA 91205). Procession starts at 4:30 PM , then Mass at 5:30 PM with Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, as Principal Celebrant. Reception , fellowship and program will immediately follow at the Holy Family Grade School Auditorium across the church. For more information, please contact Ping Bayani at(913) 558-4332 or bayani0950@yahoo.com.
Annual celebration of Sr.San Miguel Archangel The Association of Iligan City & Lanao del Norte of Southern California (AICLNSC) invites everyone, Iliganons, Lanaons and friends to come and celebrate the annual celebration in honor of Senior San Miguel de Archangel, Patron of Iligan City. The Diyandi 2016 Fiesta Celebration will be at Carson Park, 21411 South Orrick St., Carson, CA 90745 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be a Holy Mass at 11:00 a.m. and followed by Sinulog/ Procession at 11:30 a.m. On September 24, 2016, a Dinner Dance/Induction of new set of Officers 2016-2018 to be held at St. Philomena Parish Hall, 21900 South Main St., Carson, CA 90745 from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. For details, please call Lenard Castillo (310) 8869374 or Edna Cabreros (562) 316-9541.
S E P T E M B E R 25
Virgen de los Remedios Festivities at the Los Angeles Cathedral Thousands of Marian devotees all over Los Angeles will gather at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels for the Diamond Jubilee of Virgen de los Remedios Canonical Coronation on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 3:30 p.m. The Glendale High School Band, conducted by Grammy nominee Amy Rangel, will lead the afternoon procession participated by both Filipinos and Latinos in their traditional costumes. This will be followed by a Solemn High Mass with the joint choirs of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, St. Columban, Couples for Christ and the award winning Immaculate Heart of Mary Children’s Choir accompanied by musical artists from the Filipino American community. Everyone is invited to come and bring their Marian images. Organizations are asked to bring their banners for the procession to begin at the Cathedral Plaza. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is located at 555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2707.
S E P T E M B E R 29
Bataan Legacy Historical Society multimedia presentation Bataan Legacy Historical Society, a non-profit educational 501(c)(3) organization, will hold a multimedia presentation at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, please visit www.bataanlegacy.org.
O C TO B E R 8 If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
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An Asian Journal Magazine
The Filipino School of New York & New Jersey
The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY S E p T E m b E R 23, 20 1 6
PIDCI elections on Oct. 1 Dr. Prospero A. Lim Candidate for President 2016-2017
Anthony Bautista Rose Richman Levy Tejada Candidate for Board of Candidate for Board of Candidate for Board of Directors 2016-2018 Directors 2016-2018 Directors 2016-2018
THE Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) elections for President and seven members of the Board of Directors are scheduled at the Philippine Center at 556 Fifth Avenue, between 45th and 46th Streets, in Manhattan, New York 10036-5002 on Saturday, October 1, 2016 from 12:00 pm to 6 pm. The PIDCI Committee on Elections 2016 headed by Board Director Raul S. Estrellado has reviewed the Certificates of Candidacy that have been
received and is pleased to announce that: Lone candidate for reelection as President is Dr. Prospero A. Lim. There are four (4) candidates who are vying for seven (7) seats that are being vacated on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors candidates are: Anthony Bautista, Rose Richman, Nonoy Rafael and Levy Tejada. The PIDCI plans, organizes, produces, executes, manages,
Nonoy Rafael Candidate for Board of Directors 2016-2018
directs and presents the annual commemoration of Philippine Independence in New York City. This includes the Independence Day Parade, Street Fair and Cultural Festival, the Mrs. Kalayaan and Diwa Ng Kalayaan Pageants, the PIDCI Grand Marshal Gala and the Philippine Independence Ball. The PIDCI member organizations are highly encouraged to exercise their right to vote on election day. – October 1, 2016
Spotted: Drew Barrymore Visits a Department Store in Manila By Jacqueline
Inquirer.net
arias
DREW Barrymore is apparently in Manila and she was just spotted in a department store in Makati. According to her Instagram
NEW YORK, NY – The Filipino School of New York & New Jersey proudly announces the newest addition of instructors to its growing organization. Beginning this fall 2016, the school welcomes Christine Ucker, Joelle Eliza Lingat, Joffin-Mari Baril Motykova, Maria Teresa Deauna and Kristal Aliyas. They will be teaching among three locations: Manhattan, NY; Jersey City, NJ; and Bergen County, NJ.
post, Drew is here for a branding trip for her cruelty-free makeup brand FLOWER Beauty. She’s seen exploring the beauty section of SM Makati. Maybe she’s thinking of bringing FLOWER to the Philippines soon and we sure
hope so! Before flying to Manila, Drew was in Hong Kong where she attended a few meetings for FLOWER. She also strolled around the city and visited the Man Mo Temple.
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HIRING Asian Journal Publications is now looking for:
Customer Sales and Service Representative Fax résumé to:
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Christine Ucker
Christine Ucker Christine Ucker (nee Fuentes) is a lifelong Rockland County resident where she still lives with her husband and two children. She attended College of Mount Saint Vincent as a Corazon Acquino Full Tuition Scholarship Recipient and graduated with a B.S. in Nursing and a B.S. in Allied Health Sciences. She is currently a school R.N. for Cherry Lane Elementary School in Suffern, NY. Christine is a former member of the Filipiniana Dance Company of Rockland [a former division of the Filipino Association of Rockland (F.A.R.)]. She has choreographed Filipino dances for C.M.S.V., Liga Filipina of S.U.N.Y. Albany, St. Paul and St. Anthony Parishes in Rockland, and
Joelle Eliza M. Lingat
Clarkstown North High School. She especially enjoys fusing traditional steps/rhythms with modern music to help younger dancers to more easily relate to and appreciate the movements. Joelle Eliza M. Lingat Joelle Eliza M. Lingat, a Jersey City native, graduated with Honors from Oberlin College in 2014 with majors in Environmental Studies and Comparative American Studies, a minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, and a concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies. Currently, she is a 3L at CUNY School of Law where she hopes to one day become a people’s lawyer. As a law student, she serves as the Student National Vice President of the National Lawyers Guild, the oldest progressive bar association in the U.S. She is also the Secretary General of Anakbayan-USA, a national youth and student organization working to educate, organize, and mobilize the community to address important issues that affect Filipinos in the U.S. and in order to achieve genuine freedom and democracy in the Philippines. In addition, Joelle has a background and passion for dance. At five-years-old, she trained with the Jersey City Dance Academy and took ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, hip-hop, lyrical, and modern classes throughout high school and was awarded a half scholarship in 2005 and a full scholarship in 2007. Joelle continued to dance throughout college as a part of And What!?, and all-female hip-hop dance troupe, and as a part of senior pieces. She learned traditional Filipino dances through her church’s Santacruzan festivals and other Filipino events throughout the year. Joelle also served as Editor-inChief of the literary magazine in college and wrote for the school paper. She is also a published poet and photographer, winning several writing competitions throughout high school and college, including the Scholastic Young Artists and Writers award. She has returned home to the Philippines several times with Kapit Bisig Kabataan Network’s relief and rebuild missions. She is honored to serve the community and share the legacy of our people through
dance, literature, and language with the Filipino School of New York & New Jersey. When not studying or dancing in the streets, she enjoys comic books, slow jams, and the breeze of the Pacific Ocean.
Joffin-mari baril motykova
Joffin-Mari Baril Motykova Born and raised in the land of buko pie and natural hot springs, Joffin-Mari comes from a long line of educators. She finished her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts Major in Writing from the University of the Philippines-Los Banos, and her Master of Science degree in Education Media Design and Technology from Full Sail University. This September marks Joffin’s 19th year of teaching. At an early age, Joffin has enjoyed listening to stories from her grandparents. These stories fueled her interest and
Kristal Aliyas
passion in reading Philippine and international mythology & folklore. Joffin lives with her husband in Closter, New Jersey. Kristal Aliyas Kristal Aliyas has taught within the New York City public school system as an elementary Continued on Page 7
Different Journeys... From Page 2 This year, Kenneth Barlis, a 27year-old Filipino-American designer from San Diego made his debut in New York. “Parang nangangapa pa ako in the beginning because I haven’t done anything in New York yet pero I just treated it like my other shows. It was a great experience. Every designer wants to showcase at New York Fashion Week,” Barlis said. Barlis brought his collection, which he said had a fairy tale base. It’s a little like his own story and how he got his designs on the runway. He said that in every show, he wants to tell a story. That night, it was his story, his family’s story, that he wanted to share. “There’s a lot of colors, textures and patterns in my collections,” he said, sharing that as a Biology major in college, he was fascinated by the shapes and designs of things like bacteria. As a designer, he successfully translates these abstractions into eye-catching and visually appealing designs. While he used to do a lot of “unwearable” pieces or what he jokingly called “couture-couturean” Kenneth decided to focus this collection on wearable pieces. By translating the couture into a wearable version, Kenneth said he prioritized the texture, details and cuts as he made sure girls and women can wear what he designed. “Being a young designer, I am taking that risk of telling my story to the people and showing my uniqueness as a Filipino,” he shared. Growing up in Mindanao, particularly in Zamboanga where there is a lot of Muslim influence, Kenneth grew up looking at bold colors and patterns. He moved to the United States when he was 14 years old. “Every season for me brings lessons and every show is different. What taught me to go the next level is to just continue doing what I do but learning in a way how to adjust to the audience and make my pieces more relatable to them,” Kenneth said. Kenneth’s S/S 2017 40-piece collection is a family affair for
him since his family came out to support him all throughout the collection – from concept to execution, all of which took almost four months. The people behind Art Hearts Fashion have been inviting Kenneth for the past two to three years to join them and back then,
he felt that he wasn’t ready yet. “I didn’t want to say yes immediately even if I thought I wasn’t ready. The opportunity was there but I didn’t want to ruin it. Nagpahinog muna ako a little bit to develop myself more as a designer,” he shared. “This year, I knew I was ready.”
Jericho Rosales, Arci Muñoz team up for a unique love story by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net
ABS-CBN Network talent and sexy actress Arci Muñoz and Asian Drama King Jericho Rosales are teaming up for the first time in the series “Magpahanggang Wakas.” By just looking at the program’s teaser, this prime time fare looks more daring that the crop of dramas o weeknights with the pair sharing both romantic and daring moments by the sea. At “Magpahanggang Wakas” grand launch, prime time’s hot new tandem talked about taping their intimate scenes in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Bicol. Granted they had never worked together before, Rosales admitted there were awkward moments between himself and Muñoz on location, especially when doing their sensual takes. “Me and Arci just kind of laughed it off. Of course, we were really awkward then because this is our first time in a project together,” the dramatic actor, whose hit soap operas on ABS-CBN have made the rounds of several Asian countries. “We just met then we went straight to Caramoan and faced the cameras. We were only getting around to feel comfortable with each other but we were immediately asked to do those sexy scenes!” He added, “So yes, it was awkward but we pulled it off. The two of us bonded together in Caramoan. We talked and share ideas about the show. We lingered
at the hotel’s lobby to talk and exchange ideas, which was the best we could at the time to prepare ourselves for the next day of shoots.” Muñoz for her part said that awkward as they were, she doesn’t mind going sexy again for Magpahanggang Wakas especially since she became known for her daring character in Pasion de Amor. “We were in an island so that’s what we had to do right,” she stated a fact, referring to the sizzling Caramoan takes. “Every time my character or the story needs me to be daring, I just do it, and there’s no malice, especially because I know the production is taking care of me and more importantly because I know my limitations,” she explained. Asked if he needed “self-control” in intimate scenes with Muñoz body of a goddess, a smiling Rosales shared, “Of course, for both of us as actors, when we’re doing scenes, you feel the love, and you feel the excitement. When you play a character like that, there’s no need to control yourself. If you’re in the scene, you’re in the scene. “The only difficult part was that we had to show we were crazy in love with each other when we’d only met that day. That’s why it’s good that we were able to trust each other quickly, because that’s so important for actors when they do love scenes.” Rosales, who is two years into his marriage with model Kim Jones, went on to say that their respective partners have no reason to be jealous over how close he and
The Filipino School of New York... From Page 6 classroom teacher since 2003. She also taught the Filipino language to undergraduate students at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. In 2000, Kristal was a Fulbright Scholar with the Advanced Filipino Abroad Program where she participated in an intensive study of the Filipino language. She holds degrees in Environmental Studies and Childhood Education. Her interests include health and fitness, community service, and singing. She is thrilled to be part of the Filipino School of New York & New Jersey and looks forward to growing as both a teacher and learner.
Maria Teresa Deauna
Maria Teresa Deauna Maria Teresa Deauna was born and raised in Las Pinas City, Philippines. She now lives in Hackensack, NJ with her husband
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Aljur Abrenica learns more about his craft by ChrIstIna
alpad ManilaTimes.net
Jericho Rosales and arci Muñoz
Muñoz have to be on screen. Their significant others are mature and sensible to know that work is work. “Working with Arci gave us the opportunity to be friends. It’s good to things in common with the person you work with. With my wife Kim, she will even scold me if she knew I was half-baked in doing my work. She’s that type. Arci and I are both in a relationship and I know her boyfriend so everything’s fine,” Rosales said. The 27-year-old Muñoz is going out with Badi del Rosario, a son of Brunei Prince Jefri Bolkiah and lead vocalist of rock band Mr. Bones and The Boneyard Circus. “With my work, Badi doesn’t intervene at all. He knows it’s my job, and yes, he and Echo are friends that’s why he doesn’t get jealous. He’s very supportive,” the leading and two teenage children. She graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in nursing but later realized that her calling was to be a teacher. Maria was a Montessori trained teacher in the Philippines where she taught for 8 years. She has been teaching Filipino cultural dances to children and adults since 2010 and her group has performed in various Filipino, school and church events the latest of which was at the 4th annual Filipino American Festival, Inc. The love for dancing never left her mind ever since she was a little girl. That is why you’ll always see her on the dance floor whenever there is line dancing in every Filipino gathering. 2016 Fall Programs
WHAT the public mostly sees is his brawny physique, which earned this talent search winner the title “Ultimate Hunk” for Starstruck in 2006. Over the years, his chiseled body also became his ticket to attract excited female fans via the annual Cosmo Bachelor Bash and his inclusion in the “sexiest men” polls several times. lady added. But during his press conference Clearly getting along well, the for the upcoming commercial run of pair were generous with praises for “Ang Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano one another. Puli” (“The Agony and the Fury “Echo is really a great actor, of Hermano Puli”), Aljur Abrenica and because of that I work harder chose to reveal his vulnerability, to sharpen my acting skills. For me, most especially when it comes to he is the humblest artist I’ve had a criticisms. chance to work with so far. He will The 26-year-old actor admitted really greet everyone on the set he is not oblivious to critics’ takes on despite his stature, and he is very his performance. As he continued professional,” Muñoz said. to pursue TV and movie projects, “Arci is one of the best sometimes lucky to play the lead, he leading ladies I’ve worked with— quietly chose to absorb disapprovals promise,” Rosales rejoined. “She’s not only of showbiz insiders but fans like a chameleon. In Camp Sawi as well. [from Regal Films]she was very “The criticisms really hurt. I good in her role, but in this show, questioned myself [if I should carry she gives off a very different kind on]. I went through different stages of acting. She always gets her of sadness until I fell into depression,” character on point and she really Abrenica elaborated. puts so much effort in everything Like any human being constantly she does.” on the receiving end of negative feedback, Abrenica allowed himself This September, The Filipino to wallow in misery but realized he School of New York & New Jersey had a choice. will be offering several of their “I woke up one day and decided signature programs at three I should deal with it. I took a break locations. These programs include and traveled—basically devoted a the 5-Week Adult Conversational lot time just to analyze my acting Filipino, Levels 1 and 2; 10-Week problem,” he continued. Sayawan Na! Philippine Folk After undergoing denial, anger, Dance Program; and the 10-Week bargaining, and more depression, Children’s Filipino Language and Abrenica reached the acceptance Cultural Program. More details for stage and became fully aware that each program can be found on he lacked the knowledge and skills the organization’s website: www. in acting. filschool-nynj.org The 10-Week He took it upon himself to study Children’s Filipino Language and the history of film, the evolution of Cultural Program in Jersey City, NJ the acting industry, and learn about will be in partnership with PAFCOM the lives of important personalities (Philippine American Friendship by watching endless biographies, Committee, Inc.) which is under among others. In the process, he the leadership of Ms. Ledy Almadin, was especially inspired by the story President. of American actor, film director and
Aljur Abrenica
activist Marlon Brando, Jr. whom he now considers his hero. “By learning how these artists became actors, I was able to deepen my understanding of the acting process. And apparently, I was surprised that some of them had gone through what I have just experienced,” Abrenica related. It was a eureka moment that encouraged him to return to acting. As fate would have it, Abrenica serendipitously came across the movie “Hermano Puli” at this crossroads in his life and got the titular role. He gives life to historical figure Apolinario de la Cruz who founded the Cofradia de San Jose religious brotherhood in Tayabas (now Quezon) in 1831. Now armed with more knowledge and inspiration—from his experience in doing independent films in between—Abrenica is more confident and proud to present the movie directed by Gil Portes. “I am totally happy with the result of our hard work. Of course, as an actor, I did my best but more than that, what we truly hope is for the present audience to meet Hermano Puli and for the people to give him due acknowledgement,” he said. When asked for his takeaway from the experience, Abrenica said that besides learning more about his craft, he also felt that there were people who were genuinely concerned about him. “And for that I am very thankful. Thankful for every one surrounding me, those who guided me—from my directors to my friends,” he concluded.
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