New York & New Jersey -- April 8 -- 14, 2016

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Volume 10 – Issue 15 • 16 Pages

APRIL 8-14, 2016 Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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New York, California minimum wage set to increase to $15 per hour by momar and

G. Visaya aGnes ConsTanTe AJPress

NeW YorK Governor Andrew Cuomo and California Governor Jerry Brown both signed a law monday, April 4, which will gradually increase the minimum wage in both states from the current rate of $9 in New York to $15 by the end of 2018 for many businesses in New York City. Brown and Cuomo made history when they signed their respective states’ legislation making California and New York the

only two states in the nation to set its minimum wage to $15 per hour. “this is about economic justice,” Brown said prior to signing the bill at the ronald reagan state Building in Downtown Los Angeles, according to the Associated Press. “It’s about people. It’s about creating a little, tiny, amount of balance in a system that every day becomes more unbalanced.” Under the plan, California’s hourly minimum is scheduled to rise from the current $10 to $10.50 on Jan. 1, 2017 for busi-

nesses with more than 25 employees, $11 in 2018, and an additional $1 per year after until 2022. Businesses with 25 or fewer employees have an extra year to comply. the law also allows the governor to temporarily pause the hike depending on economic conditions and budget deficits. In New York, Gov. Cuomo invoked his late father’s calls for economic justice as he signed the law that will gradually raise New York’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. he was accompanied on

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USA

ConsTanTe AJPress

As manny Pacquiao nears what he has said will be his final bout in the ring, the boxing champion says he plans to donate a portion of his guaranteed $20 million earnings to the Philippines to help his countrymen build houses and make other improvements so they can

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

A WeeK after Democratic presidential candidates hillary Clinton and Bernie sanders made campaign stops in Los Angeles, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Ceo Amy Dacey visited the city to lay the groundwork to expand the party’s base and meet with Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters, who comprise a crucial electorate in coming elections. At a roundtable discussion with reporters on tuesday, march 29, Dacey remarked that she is confident that a Democrat will win the presidency this November. “[Donald trump] isn’t just talking over the republican Party — he is the republican Party. that just shows to us how much we have at stake,” Dacey said. “I think the choice before us is clearer than ever. We, throughout this campaign, have had both our candidates, Bernie sanders and hillary Clinton, who have shown that they

Pacquiao, Bradley make grand arrivals in Las Vegas before big fight by aGnes

DATELINE DNC CEO emphasizes importance of AAPI vote Confident Democrat will win presidency

FINAL FIGHT. Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley pose for photographers during the final press conference for their upcoming fight at the David Copperfield Theatre in the MGM Grand Las Vegas on Wednesday, April 6. The two fighters will face each other for the third time at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, April 9. Pacquiao is expected to retire and focus on his political career in the Philippines after the fight. Photo by JP Yim

Presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe

emerge from poverty. “I’m not keeping that [purse money alone],” Pacquiao (57-62, 38 knockouts) said, according to the Los Angeles times. “I will help…that’s the commandment of God.” At the final press conference before the match in saturday, April 8, his opponent, timothy Bradley, whom he has faced in the ring twice before, said he plans on

launches It’s final: SC says Sy-Coson, Gokongwei-Pe among PH Asia’s powerful biz women - Forbes world’s first Poe can run mass dengue

“shaking things up across diverse industries” in its 5th annual Inquirer.net “Asia’s Power Businesswomen” BAGUIo CItY — It’s final: sen. Grace Poe can run for the sm Group’s teresita list. President. sy-Coson and robinsons retail the list, which is available on removing the legal impediment to Poe’s candidacy, holdings Inc. chief robina Go- www.forbes.com/asia-women as the supreme Court on tuesday, April 5, decided with fi- kongwei-Pe landed on forbes well as in the latest issue of forbes nality to allow the senator to seek the land’s highest post, magazine’s 2016 list of 50 most Asia, acknowledges the inroads throwing out reconsideration pleas that the Commission powerful businesswomen in women are making in the busion elections (Comelec) and critics had filed to push for Asia. ness world, the magazine said. her disqualification. In a press statement on thurs- Women from 14 countries were During its first summer en banc session here this year, day, April 7, forbes magazine represented in this latest list. the high court junked all three motions for reconsid- said it recognized powerful busi“to qualify, candidates have to u PAGE A2 nesswomen in Asia who were u PAGE A3 by Tarra

Quismundo

by doris

dumlao-abadilla Inquirer.net

Apl.de.ap honored Activists protest in LA, for work combating demanding justice for blindness in Kidapawan farmers Filipino babies

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Photo by Edwin Bacasmas

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Los ANGeLes — A methodist Church pastor, a Latino human rights advocate and more than 50 other community activists held a rally in front of the Philippine Consulate here on saturday, April 2 to condemn the bloody dispersal of farmers seeking relief from the drought in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato. roy Padilla, a pastor at rosewood United methodist Church (UmC) in Los Angeles who spoke at the rally, praised the UmC in Kidapawan for supporting and providing sanctuary for the farmers, saying the church “helped people take a stand in their faith and in their love for others.” “this should be done by everyone who believes that justice can be achieved by serving those in need,” said Padilla. “(the farmers) only wanted a better life.”

throwing punches at Pacquiao’s head and body. however, he also took the opportunity to endorse Pacquiao for the Philippine senate. “he’s a man of his word, the right man for the job,” Bradley (33-1-1, 13 knockouts) said at the final press conference on Wednesday, April 6. “... to me, he’s the only one who is going to

by ChrisTina

m. oriel

AJPress

AsIDe from his musical accomplishments (from L-R): Robbie Fabian; Mel Avanzado, Esq.; Fritz Friedman; Ted Benito; Apl.de.ap; Audie Vergara; with Grammy award-winning group the Dr. Thomas Lee, CHLA; Michael Sampiano, CHLA; Sonia Delen. Photos courtesy of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Black eyed Peas, Apl.de.ap is making his mark in the world by preventing premature filipino babies from going blind. through the Apl.de.ap foundation International’s Campaign for filipino Children, the Black eyed Peas member has partnered with the Vision Center at Children’s hospital Los Angeles (ChLA) to help treat and diagnose premature filipino babies who develop retinopathy of prematurity (roP). roP is a rare eye condition that causes abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina from excessive oxygenation. If not tended to Dr. Thomas Lee of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Apl.de.ap with his spot on the hospital’s celebrity

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(CHLA) with Apl.de.ap

charity wall

vaccination by ian JamoTillo AJPress

the Philippines began rolling out the world’s first mass dengue vaccine named “Dengvaxia” last monday, April 4. About seven hundred children, ages 9-10 at a public school in marikina were the first to receive the dengue vaccine. Dengue or Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease transmitted by certain species of mosquito of the Aedes type, most prominently Aedes Aegypti. symptoms usually begin three days after the infection and include high fever, vomiting, skin rash, and muscle or joint pain. the Philippines is one of the countries with the highest cases of dengue fever with 200,000 last year resulting to 600 deaths. About 20,000 cases had been reported this year until february 20. “We are the first country to introduce, adopt and implement the first-ever dengue vaccine through the public health system and under public school settings,” said Philippine health secretary Janette Garin. Developed by the french pharmaceutical company sanofi Pasteur, Dengvaxia was approved last December 2015 in the Philippines and was launched for use in individuals aged 9 to 45. It is

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A APRIL 8-14, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

From the Front Page

New York, California minimum wage set…

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BEAT THE HEAT. Filipino children use an inflatable pool to cool off from the summer heat. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned on Thursday that 2016 could be one of the country’s warmest years — with daily maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao or Cagayan area. Inquirer.net photo

It’s final: SC says Poe…

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eration against the high court’s March 8 ruling that had upheld Poe’s qualification as a presidential candidate, a court source told the Inquirer. The separate pleas, filed by the Comelec, a joint appeal by former Government Service Insurance System chief legal counsel Estrella Elamparo, former University of the East law dean Amado Valdez, former Sen. Francisco “Kit” Tatad, De La Salle University professor Antonio Contreras, and third one filed solely by Valdez, were all thrown out. Court spokesperson Theodore Te announced in his press briefing Tuesday that the court would make an official announcement on the motions on April 9, exactly a month before the May balloting. The court is also expected to release separate opinions that the justices will write on the final ruling by that time. However, Te did not disclose details of the decision. Poe’s critics and legal experts have been calling for a speedy resolution of the case, given the consequences on the electoral process. Tuesday’s ruling permanently voided Comelec’s resolutions that canceled the certificate of candidacy (COC) filed by Poe, who has been consistently top-

ping preelection surveys. While details of the ruling have yet to be released, the denial of the motions for reconsideration meant the high court had opted to uphold the majority decision, which said the Comelec had committed grave abuse of discretion in canceling Poe’s COC. It has yet to be clear whether the justices held a revote on the merits of the case, particularly the thorny citizenship and residency questions that had hung over Poe’s candidacy. In the March 8 landmark ruling penned by Associate Justice Jose Perez, the court said Poe “is a qualified candidate for President in the May 9 elections,” as she is natural-born and met the 10-year residency requirement for presidential candidates. The court ruled that Poe, while a foundling of unknown parentage, was natural-born, as the 1935 Constitution had intended to include abandoned babies under this class of citizens despite the lack of an explicit provision on such inclusion. Born in 1968, Poe is covered by the prewar Constitution. The court also ruled that Poe, who became an American citizen in 2001 but reacquired her Philippine citizenship in 2006 and then renounced her US alle-

giance in 2010, had satisfied the 10-year minimum for the domicile of a presidential candidate, saying the reckoning date of her return to the Philippines should be May 24, 2005. Poe had returned to the Philippines on that day, fully intent at reestablishing domicile in the Philippines and uprooting her family from the United States, the court ruled. Poe’s critics contended that Poe may not be considered a natural-born citizen, and that she fell short of the residency requirement, having declared in her 2012 COC for senator that she reestablished domicile in the Philippines only in June 2006. The respondents also cited the lack of a clear majority in the high court ruling, given separate votes on the citizenship and residency issues. While the court voted 9-6 to cite Comelec in grave abuse of discretion, seven justices voted to declare that Poe is naturalborn, five dissented, and three did not take part. The court also voted separately on the residency question, with seven in favor and six against affirming that Poe had satisfied the residency requirement. Only a majority vote—or eight out of the 15 high court magistrates—makes a ruling a legal precedent, the respondents had asserted. n

stage by Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton. According to NBC, Cuomo told a crowd of hundreds of cheering union workers after the bill signing that his father was “looking down on us today” and smiling. “He is proud of the example that his state has set to the people of this country,” he told a cheering crowd of maintenance, health care, transit, hotel and construction workers. “Proud to sign into law $15 statewide minimum wage and the strongest paid family leave policy in the nation,” Gov. Cuomo tweeted after he signed the bill at a labor rally in New York City. New York State AFL-CIO president Mario Cilento commended Cuomo for signing the bill. “Three million working people in New York State will see their wages go up due to the $15 per hour minimum wage making New York the first state in the country to reach that landmark. Raising the minimum wage is long overdue and is a step in the right direction toward addressing poverty and income inequality. This meaningful wage will allow hard-working men and women the opportunity to better support themselves and their families, and enjoy a standard of living and quality of life they can be proud of,” Cilento said in a

statement. Under the law, the timing and scope of the minimum wage increase depends on which county in New York State an employee works, and the size of the business. For employees in New York City who are employed by a company that has 11 or more employees, the minimum wage will increase to $11 per hour at the end of 2016, $13 at the end of 2017, and $15 per hour at the end of 2018. However, for employees in New York City who are employed by a company with 10 or fewer employees, the minimum wage increases are smaller and are implemented over a longer time period, with the minimum wage rising to $10.50 at the end of 2016, $12 at the end of 2017, $13.50 at the end of 2018, and $15 at the end of 2019. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who approved in 2015 an ordinance to boost Los Angeles’ minimum hourly wage to $15 by 2020, touted the legislation on Monday. “Today California leads the nation once again, passing a historic minimum wage increase that will help lift millions of hardworking men and women out of poverty,” he said in a statement. For many Filipino workers, the passage of the law is a victory. Joanna Concepcion, execu-

tive director of Filipino Migrant Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to organizing and mobilizing low-income and workingclass Filipinos in Southern California, said the group welcomes the passage of laws that would boost the incomes of struggling, hard-working families. “Many Filipino immigrants in Southern California work multiple jobs in order to place food on the table, pay for health care and other basic necessities on top of supporting family members in the Philippines,” Concepcion told the Asian Journal. “We have seen the detrimental effects this can cause to the health and wellbeing of many Filipino families and children facing economic hardship.” In the Asian community, one business organization says that the wage is expected to hurt for small business owners, particularly in the short run. “Going from $10 to $15, that 50 percent [increase] for a company or small business [is] a big difference,” said Dennis Huang, executive director of the Asian Business Association, a non-profit organization representing Asian American business owners. One good aspect of the legislation, Huang said, is that the wage increase is mandated statewide, rather than varying in different

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PH launches world’s first mass dengue…

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estimated that it will cost about 18,000 pesos to treat each dengue patient and the Philippine government will spend3.5 billion pesos ($76 million) to administer the free vaccines. A clinical test performed by the New England Journal of Medicine states that the vaccine reduces the risk of contracting dengue by 65.6 percent, thus preventing hospitalizations by 80 percent. The World Health Organization (WHO) was in full support for the use of Dengvaxia in the Philippines. “It is the prerogative of a country to license the product (and) determine its use based on the internal scientific appraisal of the clinical research that is underpinning the product,” WHO country representative Gundo Weller said. Health Undersecretary Vicente

DENGUE VACCINATION. A pupil from Parang Elementary School in Marikina receives an antidengue vaccine from a Department of Health worker at the start of the nationwide dengue vaccination program in schools on Monday, April 5. Inset shows vials of the vaccine. Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman

Belizario told the press that only 27 were reported to develop side effects, proving it was an effective

vaccine in contrast to the safety concerns raised by several public health advocates. n

From the Front Page

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 8-14, 2016

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Sy-Coson, Gokongwei-Pe among Asia’s powerful…

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LEGACY BELT. The WBO Welterweight championship “legacy” belt is shown at the final press conference in MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 6. Pacquiao and Bradley are set to fight on Saturday, April 9. Inquirer.net photo by Rem Zamora

Pacquiao, Bradley make grand arrivals…

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do right by the Philippines.” Both boxers also addressed the fight, with Pacquiao asking that people tune in. “I believe it’s more action compared to the last two fights that we had because of his new coach, Teddy. He did a good job for Bradley and we saw that in his last fight. He’s adding more strategy and techniques for Bradley and that makes more action in the ring,” he said. Bradley told media that the match, for him, is about legacy. “I’m getting at third crack at it. I’m ready and if I’m going to win this fight, it’s now. I’m ready for everything. More than any other

fight I’ve ever been in. If I’m going to beat Manny Pacquiao, it’s now. This is my last opportunity and I’m ready for it,” the boxer said. The trainers of both champions also expressed confidence in their fighters, with Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, saying Pacquiao is in great shape. “He’s looking really, really good,” Roach said. Teddy Atlas, Bradley’s trainer, said his fighter is up against one of the best in the last 10 years with what he called a God-given blessing of speed and power. “And the good news is we know exactly what we’re facing, and that I happen to have the privilege of training a fighter who has also

Apl.de.ap honored for work… PAGE A1 t

within 48 hours of birth, it could lead to blindness. Last fall, the foundation delivered its first RetCams (retinal imaging systems to screen for ROP) to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao. For these efforts, CHLA recently honored Apl with a spotlight on the hospital’s celebrity charity wall, becoming the first Filipino to be recognized. “[This issue] is close to my heart because I myself am legally blind. I know the difficulties of growing in the Philippines and with sight [problems], it is 10 times harder,” Apl said during the unveiling of his spot on the wall on Thursday, March 24. “It’s a privilege, it’s an honor to be part of this mission, and I feel like it’s only the beginning of this partnership.” Apl.de.ap (whose real name is Allan Pineda Lindo) was raised in Angeles, Pampanga, before he was adopted and moved to Los Angeles to receive treatment for nystagmus, a condition that causes involuntary rapid eye movement. On top of having vibrating eyeballs, Apl is nearsighted and legally blind, which all contributed to hindrances to learning and self-esteem and confidence issues growing up. Sonia Delen, chair of the

Campaign for Filipino Children, shared the impact of delivering the RetCam to the Philippines. “There [were] only four existing RetCams in the Philippines prior to the equipment we brought to Davao. It’s the fifth RetCam in the Philippines, for a population of 120 million,” Delen said. “There are at least 34 RetCams in California alone.” Dr. Thomas Lee, division chief for the Vision Center at CHLA, added that the foundation has partnered with the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology to train doctors to diagnose and treat ROP. So far over 60 doctors have undergone training. “What makes this program so wonderful is that we’re going to leverage technology. All the technology that we have on our phones — the cameras and the video — can actually go into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU),” Lee explained. “Once that RetCam is in the NICU, the doctors can treat and diagnose those children appropriately and what’s wonderful is that they can be taught remotely from doctors and experts in Manila, who can then see the training of other Filipino doctors in cities like Davao.” About 30 percent of premature babies in the Philippines

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been born with great God-given abilities and also fights with great pride and will for his family, and [will] be remembered in history as a special fighter and a special person,” Atlas said. “Nothing else can be done. We’ve done everything.... I feel as confident as you can humanly feel in such a tough business when you’re getting into the ring and you’re responsible for a fighter fighting someone [as] dynamic as Manny Pacquiao...” he added. Pacquiao vs. Bradley III will air Saturday, April 9, 6pm PST/9pm EST via HBO pay-per-view. n

be active in the upper echelons of business in Asia, wield significant power and have access to robust financial resources,” the magazine said. Sy-Coson, 65, led the growth of Sy family-led Banco de Oro Unibank from a niche player to the largest lender in the country. Among second generation Sys, she is also believed to be the most likely to succeed patriarch Henry Sy Sr. as the captain of the ship. She is the country’s constant representative to this list. Gokongwei-Pe, 54, has joined the list for the first time. She leads multi-format retailer RRHI, one of the country’s second largest retailers which benefit from growing consumer affluence in the country. China and Hong Kong dominated the latest list with 14 women, followed by India with eight, Thailand with five and Japan with four. Singapore, Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam each

have three. South Korea and the Philippines each have two while Macau, Taiwan and New Zealand have one each. The magazine said that despite China’s slowdown, a core group of this year’s listees was creating wealth in the country’s manufacturing sector. They include Ma Xiuhui, cofounder and CEO of Opple Lighting, a company that started out making traditional bulbs and whose LED lighting now illuminates homes around the world; and, Mou Jinxiang, cofounder and chair of Lianhe Chemical Technology, which sells specialty chemicals to giants such as Dow Chemical and BASF. With a 30.5 percent stake in the company, Mou is also a member of the Forbes China Rich list with an estimated net worth of $960 million. From India, Nita Ambani, director of Reliance Industries and chair of Reliance Foundation, debuted on this year’s list. She is also the wife of billionaire Mukesh

Ambani. “Her rising profile in the Reliance empire is unusual and earns her a spot in this year’s ranking,” the magazine said. Chanda Kochhar, a five-time listee, helms ICICI Bank, the country’s largest private-sector lender. Others women honored for their achievements includes: Wendy Sui Cheng Yap, cofounder, president director and CEO of Indonesia’s Nippon Indosari; Yuwadee Chirathivat, CEO of Thailand’s Central Department Store Group; Arundhati Bhattacharya, chair and managing director of State Bank of India; Ho Ching, executive director and CEO of Singapore’s Temasek; Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, CEO and managing director of Australia’s Mirvac; Lee Boo-jin, president and CEO of South Korea’s Hotel Shilla; Pollyanna Chu, CEO of Hong Kong’s Kingston Financial Group; and Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, cofounder and chair of Vietnam’s Sovico Holdings. n

DNC CEO emphasizes importance of AAPI…

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have the right priorities. Whether you’ve seen them at debates or out on the trail, the discourse between them, with the voters they’ve reached out to, has been incredible.” While Dacey did not hint at whether Sanders or Clinton would be the party’s nominee, she said that they have both “run campaigns worthy of the office.” “I’m confident that one of them will be the 45th President of the

United States, but I’m not underestimating the amount of work that’s going to take,” she added. Dacey also took a slam at the “divisive politics” of the Republican Party. “You’re watching the debates on the Republican side and I’m working harder the next day because it’s just unbelievable what you see,” she said, describing some of the Democratic Party’s work to reach out to more millennial voters and devote resources

to various communities. Despite the two Democratic candidates sparring over different views on the campaign trail, Dacey said she expects that supporters of either candidate will come together once a nominee is selected. With four months until Philadelphia, a contested DNC convention is not expected, unlike what many predict may happen in Cleveland at the RNC conven-

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A APRIL 8-14, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

SCOTUS upholds law counting total population in voting districts by Agnes

ConstAnte AJPress

THE Supreme Court on Monday, April 4, unanimously upheld that the traditional method in which voting districts are created – based on total population – is constitutional. The lawsuit that challenged the rule was brought on behalf of Sue Evenwel, a Republican county official from East Texas who claimed that the way individuals are counted when drawing districts was “diluting” votes of citizens like herself. Conservatives wanted districts to be based only on voting-age populations. “As history, precedent, and practice demonstrate, it is plainly permissible for jurisdictions to measure equalization by the total population of state and local legislative districts,” wrote Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the majority decision. Had the high court ruled otherwise in the case (Evenwel vs. Abott), power would have been shifted to Republican, rural districts, and away from Democratic urban areas, Richard Hasen, an expert in election law at UC Irvine Law School, told the Associated Press. It would have also eliminated many representatives from areas surrounding Los Angeles and Houston where many

are immigrants who aren’t citizens. The decision comes as a victory for the Asian Americans, who constitute about 6 percent of the population in the United States, according to a 2011 report by the Pew Research Center. “We are pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court agrees that in our democracy, elected officials do not only represent the people who voted for them or the people who are eligible to vote, but everyone in the community, including children and other notyet-eligible voters,” Mee Moua, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, said in a statement. “Particularly in this election year, the ruling is a timely reminder that those who cannot or do not vote are still impacted by government: they attend public schools and universities, walk and drive on public roads, and depend on so many more government services. This is a huge win for our democracy and today’s decision ensures that all members of society are represented by our government.” Stewart Kwoh, president and executive director of Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, noted in a statement that 20 percent of Asian Americans in California – or nearly 1.2 million children and adults – are not yet US citizens.

“Had the Supreme Court ruled that district lines need to be drawn based only on eligible voters, 2.3 million Asian Americans in California would have been discounted, including immigrants and youth who are not able to vote,” he said. Edward Blum, the conservative activist who launched the suit, said he was “disappointed that the justices were unwilling to reestablish the original principle of one person, one vote for the citizens of Texas and elsewhere. But the issue of voter equality in the United States is not going to go away,” the Los Angeles Times reported. The top court, however, did not vote on whether it would be constitutional for states to adopt such a rule if it chooses to do so. The Obama administration argued such a move would be unconstitutional. “Whether a state is permitted to use some measure other than total population is an important and sensitive question that we can consider if and when we have before us a state districting plan that, unlike the current Texas plan, uses something other than total population as the basis for equalizing the size of districts,” said Justice Samuel Alito, who concurred with the decision but wrote a separate opinion. n

Dateline USa

Activists gather in front of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles to condemn the bloody dispersal of farmers seeking relief from the drought in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato. Photo by Kayden Riambon

Activists protest in LA, demanding justice for…

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The farmers sought government help for drought-stricken communities affected by El Niño. They formed a human barricade blocking the national highway to dramatize their call for relief, such as rice subsidies. Two were killed and many others were wounded after police forces opened fire at the farmers, many of them from the Lumad tribes, and their supporters on April 1. Some of the farmers took refuge at a United Methodist Church compound and have remained there as of press time. Padilla said the government that was supposed to help the farmers “became the oppresweapons program. sors.” At the Summit on 1 April, Secretary Montejo “As Central Americans and called for stronger international cooperation and Latinos in the United States, we partnership in ensuring that terrorists do not get denounce all acts of violence hold of weapons of mass destruction. “Domestic frameworks can be further augmented through international cooperation, both at regional and international levels, such as in the UN, APEC and ASEAN. We underscore the importance of the PAGE A3 t regular exchange of information among countries tion should no presidential canas a vital tool to thwart terrorist objectives.” didate win a majority of the delThe Summit adopted a Joint Communique that egates. will advance tangible improvements in nuclear se“I’m fully confident that we’ll curity behavior and strengthen the global nuclear go through this process — that security architecture. It also endorsed the Action we’ll have a presumptive nomiPlans for five key international organizations and nee going into the convention. institutions namely: International Atomic Energy Our convention is literally going Agency, United Nations, INTERPOL, Global Initia- to be about bringing everybody tive to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, and Global Part- together, having conversations, nership Against the Spread of Weapons and Mate- holding trainings,” Dacey told rials of Mass Destruction. The Action Plans reflect reporters. “We want to have outthe intent of countries, in their roles as members of reach at the convention. It’s a these organizations, to strengthen their contribu- substantive, inclusive process so tions to nuclear security. n that when we leave Philly, you’ll see a stark contrast from the week before in Cleveland, where I do think it could potentially be in disarray.” The DNC’s CEO went on to say that her party is focusing on issues that voters care about, especially those relevant to AAPI communities. Among those issues Dacey mentioned were the Affordable Care Act, equal pay and comprehensive immigration form. “We saw a record turnout from the Asian American community and support of President Obama in the 2012 election cycle. We’ve also seen that 4.5 million Asian Americans were registered to vote in 2012, so I do think they have a strong voice in this election. I do think that the issues we’re talking about are issues they care about,” she said, adding that various party programs are geared specifically toward

PH calls for international cooperation and partnership in nuclear security WASHINGTON, D.C. — Philippine Secretary of Science and Technology Mario G. Montejo led the Philippine delegation to the final Nuclear Security Summit (NSS 2016) hosted by United States President Barack Obama from March 31 to April 1. The Summit was attended by 52 Head of States and Ministers including Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chinese President Xi Jinping, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal. Secretary Montejo was joined by Ambassador Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson, Philippine Sherpa and Resident Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency; Dr. Soledad Castañeda of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute; Assistant Secretary Raymund Jose Quilop of the Department of National Defense; and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs. At the dinner hosted by President Obama at the White House on 31 March, Secretary Montejo called for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. He also called on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to adhere to relevant UN Security Council resolutions and to cease its nuclear

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(against those) demanding their basic human rights such as food, land and water,” said Nancy Zuniga, a Los Angeles-based community organizer for the Human Rights Alliance for Child Refugees and Families, who also spoke at the rally. “What we just saw is a government that would rather kill its people and let them starve than let them stand up for their rights,” said Romeo Hebron, Southern California regional coordinator of BAYAN USA. “We have to demand that the people get their needs met, that they can feed their families.” Terrie Cervas, secretary general of GABRIELA USA, described the dispersal as “horrendous and despicable.” Among those violently dispersed on April 1 was Bangsamoro activist Bai Ali Indayla, the

keynote speaker at the GABRIELA USA’s National Congress in New York two weeks ago. Nap Pempeña, vice chairperson of AnakbayanUSA, said it was ironic that farmers in the Philippines, one of the world’s largest producers of rice, end up not having enough rice to feed their families. “They face hunger, abject poverty and landlessness,” said Pempeña, who lambasted land grabbing by foreign multinational corporations and called for a genuine agrarian land reform. Meanwhile, two other LAbased organizations, Alliance Philippines and Bantay PilipinasUSA, released a statement condemning the incident. “We stand with the oppressed farmers in Mindanao,” said Art Garcia of Alliance Philippines. (Nimfa U. Rueda/Inquirer.net)

DNC CEO emphasizes importance of AAPI… AAPI voters and figuring out how AAPIs acquire information and become civically engaged. Fritz Friedman, a Filipino American who is part of the credentials committee for the DNC’s upcoming convention, lauded the Democratic Party’s outreach to the Filipino-American community in particular. “A lot of the issues that Amy mentioned are core to the lives of Filipinos and Filipino Americans, specifically immigration and health care. Also the fact, I find personally, the Democratic Party is much more inclusive than the Republican Party. They understand the issues that are relevant to minority groups, like the Filipino-Americans,” Friedman told the Asian Journal. Friedman added that the values of the Filipino-American community align with the Democratic Party, and that should guide voters come November. “The bayanihan spirit — we are a community, the Democratic Party is a community. Filipinos and Filipino Americans take care of family and friends, as does the Democratic Party,” he said. “I think those base, core things are really are one of the important reasons why the goals of the Democratic Party align with the goals of Filipino Americans.” Even with the party’s confidence, Dacey said there is more

work to be done in the coming months. “It’s going to be a tough general election. I think anybody discounting it because they’re seeing what’s happening on the Republican side, is making a mistake,” she said. Following the roundtable, Dacey attended a fundraiser with AAPI supporters — which was co-hosted by actor George Takei and attended by elected leaders, such as Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Ted Lieu and Rep. Mark Takano — and spoke at the Advancing Justice conference co-hosted by the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation and Asian Americans Advancing Justice. “[We’re] trying to make sure the [AAPI] community knows that there’s a home for them in the Democratic Party and that they’ll turn out and vote for Democrats in the fall,” she said. Both Democrats and Republicans have continued to reach out to AAPI voters, an electorate considered to double by 2040, reaching 12.2 million, according to a 2015 report from the UCLA Center for the Study of Inequality and Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. Leading up to California’s primary on June 7, both Clinton and Sanders are expected to continue campaigning in the state, where 475 delegate are at stake. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)

New York, California minimum wage set… PAGE A2 t

cities. However, he said he expects that the price of goods for business owners will increase to cover the higher wages, noting that businesses compete on these prices. Huang added that higher wages also equate to increased worker’s compensation, which is an additional expense for businesses. As for the six years businesses are given to pay employees $15 per hour, Huang said it would have been better if companies had more time to meet the wage requirement. “I think its a good idea to space it out, but I do think it’s a little bit tighter for small businesses. It takes a little time for them to adjust for this,” he said. Other business owners, like financial adviser Cynthia Tan, whose firm is based in Los Angeles, welcomed the new legislation. “I’m a believer in increasing the minimum wage. I believe in providing benefits. If you take care of your employees they will take care of you,” Tan said. As a financial adviser, Tan works with business owners to reduce their taxes. She said that although payroll taxes rise along with higher wages, businesses are able to write it off on their taxes. “One of the ways of [reducing taxes] is to increase payroll. The bottom line is, when I talk to different business owners, ultimately the question is: Who do you want to pay? Uncle Sam? Or would you rather give benefits to the employees?” she said.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and California Governor Jerry Brown.

In the state legislature, Filipino-American Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) who supported the move, said the legislation would have a positive effect on Californians living in poverty and on Filipinos residing in the state. “For small businesses, when minimum wage earners get more money in their pockets, they’ll be taking that money and spending it in the economy, at retail stores

and at Filipino-owned businesses. It will be good for businesses. But overall, it’s more productivity for these workers and employers. It’s healthier employees. These are all good things that small business owners should want. The positive outcomes that studies show far outweigh any negative ones. It’s a win-win for the state of California,” Bonta told the Asian Journal. n

Apl.de.ap honored for work…

PAGE A3 t

develop ROP each year, but by training at least six to 20 medical practitioners in each of the four partner hospitals the foundation has identified, 4,380 premature babies can be saved from the impairment, Lee told the Asian Journal. Apl.de.ap Foundation International Executive Director Ted Benito and members of the foundation’s executive committee, Mel Avanzado, Robbie Fa-

bian, Fritz Friedman and Audie Vergara were also present at the ceremony. The foundation is on track to provide RetCams to hospitals in Iloilo and Pampanga later this year. “[I]n the poverty stricken areas where our kababayans can’t afford to get diagnosed or have their eyes checked, this is definitely very important, especially in the outskirts of the Philippines…,”Apl said. n

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Court junks Pemberton’s appeal, reduces jail sentence to 10 years by Ian JamotIllo AJPress

left the motel and the staff found Laude’s naked body near the toilet bowl. Autopsy revealed that “asphyxiation by drowning” was the cause of death. Harry Roque, the private lawyer of Laude’s family stated, “we are happy that Pemberton’s Motion for Reconsideration was not fully granted, and we are happy that the decision remains – that Pemberton is guilty of killing Laude.” Although the Laude family was relieved after the court denied Pemberton’s appeal, they did not welcome the reduction of his sentence. “We are not pleased with the lighter penalty granted,” Roque said as he stressed that the penalty of six to 10 years still disqualifies Pemberton from seeking parole. Judge Roline Jines-Jabalde of the Olongapo RTC Branch 74 said that Pemberton’s jail sentence should be lowered by two years due to mitigating circumstances of passion and intoxica-

THE Olongapo Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Monday, April 4, dismissed the petition for bail and motion for reconsideration of convicted US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton for the death of Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude. The dismissal, however, led the court to reduce his sentence from 12 to 10 years in prison. “Wherefore in view of the foregoing, the Partial Motion for Joseph Scott Pemberton Reconsideration of the decision promulgated on 01 December tion, according to reports. 2015 and the Motion to be Ad“The accused shall suffer six mitted Bail pending motion for years to 10 years in prison with reconsideration are DENIED for full credit for the period of his lack of merit,” a portion of RTC preventive imprisonment pursuMISS U STAMPS. You can now own a piece of Miss Universe history. The Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) on Thursday, April 7 announced Branch 74’s decision reads. ant to Article 29 of the Revised that it would release this month limited edition commemorative stamps featuring Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. The stamps, which The murder occurred last OcPenal Code,” the ruling read. show Wurtzbach’s winning moment in the pageant in her royal blue Albert Andrada gown, will feature a special embellishment called tober 11, 2014, when Laude met The court originally ordered “tactile glittery texture embossed” to “enhance the important look and feel of the stamps.” Pemberton, a US Marine from Pemberton’s detention at the Boston, Massachusetts, at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa Ambyanz disco bar in Olongapo. City after a ruling on March 29, Thirty minutes after checking in affirming the decision to convict at Celzone Lodge, Pemberton him of homicide. n dent of the European Chamber top international brands and the by amy R. Remo of Commerce in the Philippines creation of tourism destinations Inquirer.net (ECCP). that meet visitor expectations are THE Philippine tourism indusSpeaking at the European also decisive factors in the suctry continued to lag behind its Union-Philippines Business cess of Philippine tourism,” Taus by Rosette adel peers in the region as its develop- Network forum yesterday, Taus explained. Philstar.com ment is being hampered largely pointed out that international “If the country (were) to beby the lack of infrastructure, inad- tourist arrivals in Thailand, for come a desirable tourism destinaMANILA—Sen. Joseph Vicequate access for foreign tourists instance, reached nearly 25 mil- tion especially for high spending tor “JV” Ejercito, Ejercito on to reach the country and the rela- lion in 2014, while Singapore visitors, it needs to facilitate in- Thursday, April 7 personally tively high cost of getting here. had some 15 million visitors. In ternational investments in infra- posted a P30,000 bail, a day after “There is no doubt that the contrast, the Philippines attract- structure and facilities that better the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division Philippines can become a tour- ed only 5 million international match visitors’ expectations,” he issued a warrant against him for ism destination. The Philippines tourists for the same period. added. graft charges. has unbounded potential to de“There are concrete reasons Taus also cited the need for Ejercito, accompanied by his velop tourism as a leading con- why despite the substantial the Department of Tourism to legal counsel Sigfrid Fortun, posttributor to the economy. This growth, the Philippines contin- map out specific sectors in the ed a bail bond in cash around 9 sector is recognized as a driver of ues to lag behind regional peers tourism industry that hold the a.m. as indicated in the Sandigansustainable and inclusive growth in attracting (a bigger) share in biggest potential, whether it’s in bayan Cashier’s Section check. as it opens up unlimited opportu- the growing tourism pie. The ecotourism, medical, cruise or Last March 30, the Office of nities for new business ventures lack of quality infrastructure, high-end tourism. A clear direc- the Ombudsman filed graft and for both domestic and foreign in- both hard and soft, is often cited tion in the Philippine strategy technical malversation charges vestors. But comparative figures as a major bottleneck to tourism would also create a clearer pic- against Ejercito before the Sandi- Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito posted bail of P30,000 for graft charges. showed that there is much to be development. The ease and cost ture for potential investors as to ganbayan. Fourteen other former of the Special Prosecutor then mualdo Delos Santos, city budget done in Philippine tourism indus- of getting to the Philippines by what and in where it made sense San Juan City officials also face recommended a bail bond of officer Lorenza Ching and city entry,” said Guenter Taus, presi- foreign visitors, the presence of to invest, he added. n charges of technical malversation P30,000 for graft and another gineer Danilo Mercado. for the illegal use of public funds P6,000 for the illegal use of public The anti-graft court earlier or property. funds or technical malversation. issued a hold departure order The charge arose from an alThe warrant of arrest was is- against Ejercito, Dacalos, Delos leged anomalous purchase of sued on Wednesday against Santos, Ching and Mercado. terested country. by PRInz P. magtulIs high-powered firearms for San Ejercito and five other former ofMeanwhile, Ejercito said he Henares sits as vice-chair of Juan City in 2008 when EjerciPhilstar.com ficials namely city administrator thinks local politics is involved in the multilateral group drafting the to was still a mayor. Ranulfo Dacalos, treasurer Rosa- the graft charges he is facing betreaty on Base Erosion and Profit MANILA—The so-called PanaThe Ombudsman’s Office linda Marasigan, city attorney Ro- fore the Sandiganbayan. n Sharing (BEPS), which would give ma Papers can serve as guide to governments more power to tax the Bureau of Internal Revenue cross-border and online transac(BIR) in its tax investigations, the tions. agency’s chief said. The Tax Management Associa“I have not read the Panama Pation of the Philippines (TMAP), the pers yet, but if ever, it is a guide for industry group of tax practitioners, the BIR where to look to determine said earlier a BEPS treaty could if there is any tax liability or not,” help track down wealth in tax haCommissioner Kim Henares told vens once implemented. The Star. TMAP president Benedict TuWhile there have been no Filigonon batted for lower income pinos named in the “Panama papers” contrary to earlier reports, “I have not read the Panama Papers yet, but if taxes supposedly to deter people the International Consortium of ever, it is a guide for the BIR where to look to and companies from hiding their Investigative Journalism (ICIJ) determine if there is any tax liability or not,” earnings abroad. “Lowering personal income is expected to release details in Commissioner Kim Henares told The Star. Philstar.com photo tax rates in the Philippines may the coming days regarding personalities and institutions that Anti-Money Laundering Council encourage Filipinos to voluntarily have moved their wealth to tax has yet to complete its own probe. report their foreign income... or Nestor Espenilla Jr., deputy transfer their legitimate investhavens. In 2013, ICIJ released a sepa- governor of the Bangko Sentral ng ments abroad to the Philippines,” rate investigation into offshore Pilipinas, said banks are required he said in a text message last MonAtty. Rio Guerrero Atty. Tsui Yee holdings, including those of Ilocos to have “enhanced” know-your- day. But Henares rejected this. “I Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, her three customer (KYC) regulations when think if it is just lowering tax rates, sons, and Sen. Joseph Victor Ejer- dealing with shell companies. These entities, according to mathematically, it will result in cito. “PUBLIC “CONTRIBUTIONS “BEST LAWYERS Henares said the Panama Pa- the ICIJ, acted as “shadow com- lower tax collection,” she said. SERVICE AND TO EXCELLENCE “I believe the basic complaint pers provide another reason for panies” for personalities such as NATIONAL AWARD” POLITICS AWARD” AWARD” of people is that the compensation Russian President Vladimir Putin the Philippines to revisit its laws NAPABA TOFANY on bank secrecy and anti-money and Chinese President Xi Jinping income earners are paying more FANHS than the businessmen and the to hide their wealth from tax aulaundering. rich. Therefore, lowering tax rate Current laws, she said, include thorities. “This means more than the nor- will not answer this,” she added. tax breaks that are “available to the Meanwhile, Ejercito said his bemal KYC for both the entity and rich to avoid payment of taxes.” Trust Our Award-Winning Attorneys to Win “We should lift the bank secrecy the beneficial owner, upon ac- ing accused of keeping offshore Your Immigration Case — We Are New York’s Premier law for tax purposes to make sure count opening,” Espenilla said in a holdings was a “rehashed issue” Immigration Law Firm Helping Our Kababayans. dredged up by his political enseparate text message. there is a way for the BIR to moni“After account opening, trans- emies. tor people to comply with their “It always crops up during the tax liabilities, make tax evasion a actions of high-risk customers predicate crime for money laun- such as these entities are subject election period,” he said, referring dering and rationalize fiscal incen- to constant monitoring by banks to the ICIJ report. “I don’t deny that (ICIJ report). for unusual activities,” he added. tives,” she said. On the government side, Hena- Before I became a politician, I was The global report, which has sparked investigations by govern- res reiterated the importance of a businessman first and that was ments from Europe to Asia, comes exchange of information among 20 years ago – that is outside poliat a time when the Philippines is different jurisdictions, which natu- tics,” he said. Ejercito said he found it baffling trying to deal with its own money rally fear getting blacklisted and that of the 500 individuals found laundering case involving $81 mil- thus are likely to be cooperative. Currently, none of the 132 with suspicions offshore accounts, lion. Hackers – allegedly Chinese members of the Global Forum on only he and members of the Mar– stole the amount from the Ban- Transparency and Exchange of cos family were mentioned in the gladesh Bank account in the US Information is on the blacklist, al- ICIJ report. He claimed a political foe who is though countries are in different Federal Reserve. The money ended up in spuri- stages of implementing automatic a “mining magnate” could be behind the release of the report. ous accounts in the Rizal Com- information exchange. “They have their own law firms, The Philippines, through Remercial Banking Corp. and later in public Act 10021 of 2010, allows PR firms... so if they want to decasinos in Manila. Senate hearings on the case re- tax information exchange, but molish us they can,” he said. (With sumed on Tuesday, April 5. The only with prior request from an in- Non Alquitran)

PH tourism still lags behind regional peers

JV Ejercito posts bail for graft charges

BIR: Panama Papers could prompt tax probe

Ang Pangarap Niyo Ay Pangarap Namin.

Kim Wong returns another P38.28 million—including 2 fake P500 bills Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Julia Bacay-Abad confirmed that they CASINO junket operator Kim found two counterfeit bills during Wong, through his lawyers, on the two-hour long counting that Monday, April 4, returned an- started at 11am and ended 1pm. other P38.28 million in stolen Bacay-Abad and Wong’s lawmoney from Bangladesh’s cen- yer Victor Fernandez said Atty. tral bank, but the turnover was Inocencio Ferrer Jr., had to shell hit a slight snag when authori- out P1,000 to replace the fake ties found two fake P500 bills banknotes. amid the mountains of cash. All P38.28 million were in deby Ben

o. de VeRa Inquirer.net

nominations of P500 and P1,000, Bacay-Abad said. The P38.28 million “represented the funds abandoned by Gao Shuhua in Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co. Ltd. and/or Midas Casino,” Fernandez said. The lawyer said it would take 15-30 days to raise some more funds before Wong could return another P450 million that was earlier borrowed by Gao. n

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Features

E-politics

DESPITE the generally slow Internet connection and only half of its population having access to the World Wide Web, the Philippines has been tagged as a social media haven by digital experts. Filipinos are adoptive to new technologies. According to a survey by Wave 7, Filipinos are the most social people online. The poll found that Filipinos spend 53 hours socializing in a week, 11 hours more than the global average of 42 hours. This was made apparent when Makati City was named the “selfiest” city in the world in 2014. According to research by Time Magazine, Makati City registered an average of 258 selfies or self-portrait photographs per 100,000 people over the course of seven days. Other Philippine cities also made the top 100 list, including Cebu City (9), Quezon City (59) at Iloilo City (72). In lieu of its 10th anniversary, popular social media application Twitter named five of the most significant world record achievements set by its users. The phenomenal love team of Alden Richards and Maine “Yaya Dub Mendoza,” more popularly known as “AlDub” from “Eat Bulaga!” made the list and was cited by the Guiness World Records. “#AlDubEBTamangPanahon,” was as “The Most used hashtag in 24 hours on Twitter” with 40,706,392 uses from October 24-25, 2015. With the onset of the Philippine national elections, social media is expected to play a major role in taking the country’s electoral process to another level. In an era when the Filipinos’ time and attention are increasingly invested toward various social media platforms, political aspirants are now using the In-

ternet to mobilize people to vote for them. While the correlation between social media and the election has yet to be determined, the impact of social media has surely motivated politicians to become more creative in their campaign tactics to capture the attention of the voting public effectively. Based on online popularity in social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago is at the top among presidential aspirants with 3,205,407 (Facebook) and 2,094,618 (Twitter) followers. Vice President Jejomar Binay is second with 1,802,535 (Facebook) and 271,111 (Twitter) followers. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is third with 1,176,664 (Facebook) and 13,230 (Twitter) followers. Former Interior Sec. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II is fourth with 1,138,162 (Facebook) and 547,449 (Twitter) followers. Ironically, Senator Grace Poe, who is consistently leading in the surveys, is at the last place with 737,711 (Facebook) and 58,154 (Twitter) followers. While these numbers are small compared to the 54.4 million registered voters for the May elections, through social media, politicians are able to reach a wider set of audience with just a click away. “What will define if the candidate will win or not is the message the candidate has for the campaign. Social media is a channel that will allow them to

Editorial

ManlaTimes.net photo

reach more people, to mobilize their fans and volunteers to be able to act,” Carlo Ople, Managing Partner and Director of digital advertising agency DM9 Digit said. For Cristina Montiel, a political psychologist, honesty is the best way for the candidates to win the hearts of the voters. She also added that the effectiveness and reach of the message of the candidate would determine whether the message or a candidate’s propaganda would go viral.

“Honesty is the best policy in social media. When you address issues that’s when people will understand where you are coming from.” Montiel said. Regardless of who wins the most likes, or who becomes the most trending, social media is not only a welcome development to the country’s traditional politics. It offers politicians, and the civically engaged citizens with a virtual arena to easily and conveniently establish a rapport that is beneficial to the country’s democratic process. (AJPress)

Wisconsin primary: Game changer in US politics? HILLARY CLINTON and DONALD TRUMP—they are the front- The Fil-Am runners in the Democratic and Republican races, respectively. Perspective But the voters in Wisconsin delivered a divergent verdict in their primary elections last Tuesday, April 5, favoring Vermont Sen. Gel SantoS-reloS Bernie Sanders and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Let us discuss how crucial the Wisconsin primary may be as each party chooses its nominee for president. Republican Party Leading up to the Wisconsin primary, Donald Trump experienced perhaps the most challenging weeks of his campaign. The Republican Party establishment has been openly trying to stop his momentum, and some GOP elites have given full support to Ted Cruz. Trump has been criticized after he said in an interview that women who have had an abortion -- when it is illegal -- will have to be punished. This statement is incongruous to the GOP’s position that women are victims in this situation, and that the medical practitioners shall be the ones who will have to be punished for performing the abortion. Trump changed his position three times in a span of three hours, raising doubts about his policies. Trump was also hit hard for his foreign policy

position when he said countries like Japan or South Korea should be allowed to build nukes to protect their own security, a policy that negates the goal of the international community to make the world safer by aiming to make it nuke-free. Cruz’s victory in Wisconsin, makes it harder for Trump to get the magical 1,237 delegate number he needs before the Republican National Convention in July. If Trump does not reach 1,237, he may have to hurdle a contested convention, where the party will implement rules that may nominate another candidate, despite him winning the most number of states. Democratic Party Bernie Sanders’s victory in Wisconsin is his seventh win in the past eight primary contests over front-runner Hillary Clinton. This victory may continue to give Sanders the momentum to win in the delegate-rich state of New York on April 19, which may snowball to California and other states. Sanders was born in Brooklyn, New York, but Hillary Clinton has made New York her adoptive state. She owns a home there and has served as senator before she was appointed Secretary of State by President Barack Obama. Through Clinton has kept the lead over Sanders in New York, such lead has been diminishing, and

may turn the table toward a Sanders victory. Political analysts say if Sanders continues to win in the remaining states with at least 60 percent, he may have the chance to overtake Clinton’s delegate lead and reach the 2,383 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. If Sanders falls short of the majority vote, he may still potentially prevent Clinton from getting the magic number 2,383, which means Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton they both go to a contested convention. Part of Clinton’s lead in the delegate math is the heavy support she has been getting from superdelegates (party-elected officials, not ordinary voters). Bernie Sanders’s strategy is to convince these superdelegates to shift their votes to him if the voters of states they represent choose Sanders

as their nominee. ABANGAN!

***

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

Should we worry about a terrorist attack? FOLLOWING the March 22 bombings Street in Brussels, Belgium, spokesmen of the Phil- Talk ippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines immediately issued offi- GreG B. MacaBenta cial statements to the effect that there were “no validated terrorist threats in Metro Manila.” One of the major dailies promptly ran the headline, “No terror threats in Metro, says PNP,” and described the statement of the authorities as an “assurance.” In fact, there was no such assurance of the absence of a terrorist threat—simply the absence of reliable information about such an eventuality. The only assurance given by the PNP was that its “security forces and the intelligence network are continuously monitoring and doing their jobs.” That is the best we can expect from them. To those who scoff at the capabilities of our Philippine intelligence infrastructure, it helps to know that the quiet, unassuming clerk in your local city hall or barangay or the friendly assistant in that Philippine consulate abroad may, in fact, be an imbedded intelligence operative. These folks may be taking note of any suspicious meetings or conversations you are engaged in. I am told that the days of Marcosian disappearances are over and that the likelihood of being picked up for subversive activities is remote—unless you live in the rural ar-

eas or are a very high profile activist. But please, don’t take my word for it. Rodel Rodis, a lawyer friend in the San Francisco Bay Area and a vocal critic of abuses in past Philippine administrations, related an intriguing incident in a posting on social media. Someone had gone up to Rodel claiming to be a former intelligence agent assigned to tail Rodel and to find an opportunity to do him harm. According to Rodel, he didn’t think the fellow was worth taking seriously—until he read the man’s name in US media. The fellow was being deported for “human rights violations” as a Philippine undercover operative. The man had been telling the truth! Indeed, I wouldn’t underestimate the capabilities of our intelligence community. When the PNP and the AFP say that their agents are on the job, that’s a better reassurance than when you drive up to the parking area of a mall in Metro Manila and the security guards go around your vehicle with a mirror attached to a pole, ostensibly checking its underbody for a hidden bomb. A determined terrorist with a whole armory of explosives would get past those security guards undetected. So, how serious is the “terrorist threat” in the Philippines and in places like Metro Manila, in the wake of bombings in Paris, Brussels and other major cities?

For a US resident and a frequent traveler like me, quite frankly, it is as serious as the threat in any big city in America. Perhaps, the only difference is that the intelligence community in America may be much better trained and concededly much better equipped to monitor suspicious activities among red-flagged foreigners, as well as permanent residents and citizens with “unusual backgrounds.” I use the term “unusual” for lack of a more precise understanding of what the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security consider a red flag among the millions who populate the USA. My own impression, however, is that the kind of near-seditious statements routinely made by local politicians, columnists and social media pundits that go in one ear and out the other of Philippine authorities, would raise serious concerns in the US. We have such an unbridled mass communications environment in the Philippines that the line between freedom of speech and licentiousness is often breached. If you ask me, as a media person, I prefer the Philippine situation over the Big Brother monitoring in the US. A freer press, in spite of abuses, is preferable to the feeling that your every movement and every statement, your every email and every mobile phone call is being closely watched. This is not to say that this is exactly what is happening in the US. But the possibility that it is, in fact, happening, already serves as a deterrent. It is pretty much the

feeling you get when you encounter a full stop sign in the middle of nowhere in California. For some uncanny reason, when you choose to disregard the stop sign, a highway patrol officer suddenly appears. Believe me, it often happens. And yet, in spite of such a high-tech intelligence environment, recent events in the US have shown that there is no airtight guarantee against a terrorist attack. The threat is not simply from foreign travelers with evil intent but also from home-grown “sleepers” who might suddenly be activated by their handlers and transformed into suicide bombers. It is easy to say that the bombing at the Boston Marathon in April 2013 and the December 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California happened because of a “lapse in intelligence,” but the harsh truth is that there is no failsafe protection against individuals who are prepared to give up their lives in the course of murdering innocent people. If you are the kind who worries about these things, Google will tell you that “In the period from 2000 to 2007 (terrorist) attacks killed nearly 400 Filipino civilians and injured well over 1500 more, more casualties than caused by bombings and other attacks in Indonesia, Morocco, Spain, Turkey, or Britain during the same period.” That would make the Philippines a “high risk” country. However, I am not aware of any new advisory issued to US citizens by the US embassy about travel to the Philippines, aside from one released in December last year. That ad-

visory was about visiting critical areas in Mindanao. The same warnings have been given by the British and Australian governments to their nationals. I frankly have no worries about traveling to Manila and even to Mindanao, in spite of media reports of ISIS recruitment and training activities. Of course, there is always the possibility of stray bullets or shrapnel unexpectedly coming my way, but, where I live near the city of Richmond in the San Francisco Bay Area, the possibility of getting caught in a crossfire between gang members is just as real – or just as remote. I recall how my family worried about my planned trip to the Atlanta Olympics in July 1996, the day after a radical exploded a bomb at the Centennial Olympic Park, killing one person and injuring 111. I told my wife that after the bombing, the Olympic premises would be the safest place in America. In sum, in a world where terrorism has become a daily threat, life must go on. Just cooperate with the strict airport security personnel, play along with the earnest efforts of the security guards at the malls and watch your language when you notice that quiet, unassuming clerk in city hall or at the Philippine consulate casting furtive glances at you. And, remember, vigilance and its corresponding inconveniences are the price we must pay for our security. This may sound like a joke, but at any airport, I would think twice about saying “Hi” to my son-in-law. His name is Jack. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A P R I L 8 , 20 1 6

When Brother and SiSter Both PurSue a Career in MuSiC by MoMar G. Visaya/AJPress The brother is slowly making a name for himself on Broadway, starring as a principal cast member of The King and I at the Lincoln Center. The sister is a junior college student in Boston studying music and perfecting her craft. The siblings shared the stage recently and performed a rousing duet. It was Kristine - the sister’s first solo show at the famed Feinsten’s/54 Below, a cabaret and restaurant located in the basement of Studio 54 in the heart of New York’s Theater District. “I’m relieved, it’s so nice to have done it,” Kristin Corpuz told us a few moments after she finished her set. She was then currently in the middle of her midterms at Berklee College of Music where she is currently a junior double majoring in Music Business/Management and Professional Music with concentrations on performance and song-writing. her parents Jay and Virginia had to drive her and the band back to Boston that same night where she had a few home work to finish, plus a class to catch at 9:00 the following morning. “That is my commitment,” she said. “I had a lot of fun, it was such an experience and I’m so glad it finally happened.” her brother Jon Viktor Corpuz, currently playing Prince Chulalongkorn in The King and I had a show on the same stage last year dubbed ‘Confessions of a Teenage Drama King’. he invited his dear sister to join him in the

John Viktor and Kristin Corpuz

show and the booking agent for 54 Below saw her performance and suggested that she had do it as well, if she was up for it. Not wanting to say no to an opportunity, she said yes. Initially, she was scheduled for an 11:30 p.m. show, but the 9:30 show cancelled so she was asked if it was ok for her to be moved to 9:30 p,m. “I was ecstatic!” she exclaimed. Who wouldn’t? It’s not every day that one gets invited to sing at 54 Below, which has become a place where Broadway legends like Patti Lupone and Bebe Neuwirth have performed. Lea Salonga has

Kristin has been performing with her band since August 2015.

a scheduled one week run there this April. So prep work happened next, including song selection and coming up with the final lineup, and the result was the show Kristin dreamt about doing. Kristin has been performing with her band since August 2015. They went through the original songs she has composed and arranged them because they were initially just acoustic demos. They then looked around campus in the metro Boston area to find a rehearsal spot. They did the first incarnation of the show in Berklee a few weeks before the 54 Below show. First solo show in new York “It feels so unreal, Jon and I doing this here in New York,” she excitedly told us, trying to contain her giddiness. Jon and Kristin shared the stage and performed a duet, something that they have been doing since they were kids. “I am so proud of my sister tonight, I can’t even describe it. It’s so good to see her on a New York stage killing it, it’s so amazing,” Jon Viktor, the supportive brother said. The Corpuz siblings were exposed to music at an early age, thanks to their parents who encouraged them to discover their artistic sides. “We started at a very young age. Our parents joke that we started to sing before we could even talk. There are home videos of me banging the piano when I couldn’t even walk yet. We have

Photos from Kristin Corpuz.com

I on Staten Island, and did the off-Broadway Midsummer Night’s Dream. Kristin on the other hand has been at Berklee concentrating on how to be a better performer, singer, writer, and learning the industry side of music. “The music business program of Berklee has taught me so much,” she quipped. american idol experience Kristin auditioned for American Idol Season 11, the year that Philip Philips won. “Fun fact, he and I auditioned in the same city and we sat next to each other AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya in the entire audition process,” she said smiling. an older sister who lives in Tampa, There are three rounds before she loves singing too. We all you actually get to the celebrity showed interest in music at a very judges so they ended up next to young age,” she recalled. each other the whole time and From church choirs to dance because of that, they got to know classes to school and community each other a little bit. singing competitions, they did it It was her second time to all. “I had piano lessons, Jon had audition that year. The year before, violin lessons and we sang in the she was 15, was the first year they church choir together,” she said. allowed 15 year olds to audition “We grew up performing at the for the show. She made it to the FilFest in Tampa.” celebrity judges round but she “My parents told us when didn’t make it to the hollywood we were growing up that music round. “I was devastated,” she was a hobby, we had no idea admitted. “I wanted to try again it was going to be our life. We the following year. If I make it, then did community theater and we I make it, if I don’t, then it isn’t the enjoyed it. Come high school, we path for me. So I did, and made it found out that we really couldn’t to the hollywood round where I stop thinking about the arts, met a lot of awesome people. I got singing, dancing and theater,” cut the first round of hollywood Kristin added. Week but it was totally okay. I got Jon and Kristin then both the experience of sitting there and transferred to the high School waiting with all the cameras and of Performing Arts in Tampa and the lights. I got to see J. Lo looking there was no turning back from all pretty; it was a really cool there. experience and a lot for a 16 year “Our parents said that if we old to absorb.” went to that high school, we had If there was something to be sure. We really prepared she learned from the entire ourselves to have a career in the experience, it was the fact that industry,” she said. she felt she definitely grew thicker Jon spent a summer in New skin. York while Kristine was in her “It’s hard having people tell senior year in high school. he you ‘No!’ and growing up, I always ended up getting an agent and a felt that I was like a big fish in a manager after that summer. Kristin small pond. I wanted to see what decided that she wanted to go to was outside Tampa and when I music school and Berklee was her did, I realized that there’s a million top choice although she had no other people out there who idea what she was getting herself are just as talented if not more in to. talented than you. You just have to Jon ended up landing the find that thing that sets you apart,” regional staging of The King and Kristin said, looking back at the

years she spent developing and working on her craft. “When I went to American Idol, they said they liked the tone of my voice. So I started to build on that and finding songs and writing songs that highlighted it, emphasized that quality a little bit more,” she related. “I love singing, I enjoy it so much. The loss I experienced in American Idol didn’t dampen my interest at all. I have a deep love for it.” her music Kristin’s music can best be described as pop with a lot of R&B and Motown and musical theater influences. “My parents made me listen to Michael Jackson and Whitney houston growing up so you can hear that in the way my brother and I sing,” she said. Asked about what she hopes to achieve in the industry, she remarked confidently, “I want to see the world, I want to be big enough where I can tour and go all over the world. I want to travel. I’ve been to the Philippines, and it’s awesome. I want to see more.” Just like her brother, Kristin loves Broadway so much. “Community theater was a huge part of my experience growing up. Theater was my first love, that was how I first got up on stage. It has a special place in my heart, Broadway has a special place in my heart,” she said. She is looking forward to the day when she can bring her passion for music to the Broadway stage and she is emboldened by the fact that there are more contemporary writers now writing musicals like Sara Bareilles. “Now, you see the pop music world colliding with musical theater and I think that is so cool. That gives opportunities for people like me who don’t necessarily have that theater voice but have a passion for it. I danced, I acted, I did those things growing up and I feel a deep connection to it and it’s sad that I can’t do it through pop music. I do hope that at some point I could do theater again. I’m not entirely sure when,” she said wistfully.

Jon Viktor Corpuz as Prince Chulalongkorn in the production of the “King and I.”

Photos by Paul Kolnik

Hailee Steinfeld feels ‘at home’ in PH enchong Dee steps out of comfort hAILee Steinfeld has found a home in the Philippines. Aside from the warm welcome of her fans, she feels the pull of her Filipino ancestral blood. She has Filipino grand fathers, with her great grandfather came from Bohol. This is the first time that the “Pitch Perfect 2” star visited in the Philippines. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. “The Philippines has been a topic of conversation in my family for years, so it’s incredible that it’s my music that finally brought me here,” she said in an interview in “Tonight with Boy Abunda” aired on Wednesday, April 4. “I’m so far away from home but I feel at home because of that,” she added. The 19-year-old singer-actress is one of the international celebrities that the youth look up to, but hailee doesn’t feel the pressure. “I think my fans are very loyal to me and are very much like myself. So I don’t know if I feel so much pressure, I do feel a lot of love and support,” she explained. She’s also glad that she was able to communicate with people through her music, something she said she couldn’t do through her films. “To have that power so to speak is so incredible. It’s amazing to me that there are people who care and really listen,” she said. (Joyce Jimenez/Philstar.com)

zone for a chance to fulfil dream

ABS-CBN heartthrob enchong Dee beamed with pride as he talked about his first official indie film “Lila.” Directed by Gino Santos, the psychological-thriller is one of the five entries at the second Sinag Maynila film festival this month. Dee said that when he heard the name of the eminent director Brillante Mendoza, he said yes to the project right away. “I said ‘Okay, game! Whatever the story is, whatever the movie is,” he told reporters at the festival’s media launch on Tuesday, April 5. In “Lila,” Dee plays the cousin of Jess, the troubled main character portrayed by actress Janine Gutierrez from rival TV station GMA. “Piling-pili ‘yung mga projects ko na gustong gawin..nu’ng una Aside from the warm welcome of her fans, Hailee Steinfeld feels sabi ko duguan ‘to and then I “at home” in the Philippines because of her Filipino ancestry. Inquirer.net photo realized na ang ganda ng kwento,”

he said. This, however is not Dee’s first foray into doing a horror film. In 2012, he starred in “The Strangers,” a Metro Manila Film Festival entry. One of the reasons he accepted to doing “Lila” was because he wants to fulfil one of his dreams as an actor. he recognized the necessity of having that deep acting repertoire the independent cinema requires. “Mas wide ‘yung kailangan mong pag-aralan, ‘yung kailangan mong matutunan; mas wide ‘yung dapat mong i-offer kasi ang laki nu’ng ginagalawan mong storya.” he also related how fun his experience was because of the youthful work environment. “Not only is the director young but also the production members…mas madali ‘yung paggawa ng pelikula (making the film is easier).” (Inquirer.net)

Enchong Dee

An Asian Journal

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ MANY people may be guilty of attempted “alien smuggling” and not even realize it. They may also be totally unaware of the harsh or drastic consequences to themselves and the rest of their family if they are caught. A person could be committing alien smuggling by claiming a grandchild or “given” child (whom they raised since birth), is their biological child when applying for a US visa. The law defines alien smugglers as: “Any alien who at any time knowingly has encouraged, induced, assisted, abetted, or aided any other alien to enter or to try to enter the United States in violation of law . . .” Some people have the misconception that smugglers are only those people who are paid to sneak people into the US across the borders, in boats, etc. This is not true. A person can be guilty of alien smuggling, even if he is just attempting to bring in his own family member! Some examples of alien smuggling would include: An aunt who buys a fake birth certificate from Recto Street, making her the “biological mother” of her niece or nephew. She then tries to petition that niece or nephew as her own child. A grandmother files a fake birth certificate, making her the “biological mother” of her grandchild, but she never formally or legally adopted the child. A woman is “given” a child, and, at the time of the child’s birth, she is “timely registered” as the biological mother. She raises the child since birth and considers the child “her own,” but never bothered legally adopting the child before the child’s 16th birthday. She then petitions

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A p R i l 8 , 20 1 6

Lifetime ban for ‘alien smuggling’ for including a ‘given’ child the child as her own child, or includes that child as a derivative beneficiary under a petition filed on the “mother’s” behalf. This is also alien smuggling. Most times, the Embassy will suggest DNA testing. Sometimes, a person who has been petitioned by a family member, such as a brother or a sister, includes a kumpadre’s child among his derivative beneficiaries, by claiming that child as his own. (When a person is petitioned by certain family members, the person’s spouse and minor children could be included for green cards, as derivative beneficiaries, when the priority date on his petition becomes current.) People try to “add on” children to enable the kumpadre’s child to get a green card, as a favor to the kumpadre. The Embassy takes a very strict position when it comes to alien smuggling. They believe that people who are entitled to visas, should get visas. But, people who are not entitled to visas, should not get visas. When the Embassy finds out somebody is attempting to sneak a relative or other person into the US by claiming they are the biological child, the Embassy denies a visa not only to the person being smuggled, but also to the person under petition. This could also affect the rest of the family under that petition. No one gets a visa. In one case, a mother had been petitioned by her US citizen daughter. The mother tried to list her nephew as a biological child in her biographic data. The Embassy found out and considered this to be alien smuggling and denied a visa to the citizen’s

mother, because she attempted to smuggle an alien. So, by attempting to list her nephew, the woman lost her own visa. Alien smuggling could even result in a lifetime ban from entering the US. If you have already submitted paperwork to the USCIS or Embassy improperly listing or including ineligible persons (i.e. nephew, grandchild, given child who was never legally adopted, etc.), I would strongly recommend you seek the advice of a reputable attorney who could analyze your situation and, hopefully, straighten things out, before it’s too late. The stakes are high. Don’t have the attitude that, “I’ll just give it a try. If the Embassy catches me, the worst that can happen is that the person I’m helping won’t get the visa, but I’ll still get my visa.” That is not the case. If you are caught, you could also lose your own eligibility for a visa! *** 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 re-enactments) 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 attorney-client 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)

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Magazine

FAKE TOURIST VISA RESULTED IN BEING SENT BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES AND LATER JEOPARDIZED HIS IMMIGRANT VISA DUE TO FRAUD– ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY.” Johnnatan (second from left) got a tourist visa through a newspaper ad that advertised “NonAppearance” visas for $2500. He entered the US in 2002 without any problems, but when he returned in 2003, he was held at the airport and sent back to the Philippines, after US Customs and Border Protection accused him of using a fake or counterfeit tourist visa. That meant a possible lifetime ban. Years later, his mother’s petition became current, and he was afraid how his fake visa would affect his and his daughter’s chances of immigrating to the US. Watch how a family was able to overcome a fraud charge and be reunited, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy – this Sunday April 10 at 6:15pm (PST) on TFC.

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA WE all have known of friends, family and complete strangers who passed away quite unexpectedly over the course of our lifetimes. There seemed to be no warning signs. All the deep, dark emotions of shock, grief, denial and finally, calming, quiet acceptance must have washed over those left behind like a devastating tsunami wave as they come to grips with the finality of death. No one is exempt. Death does come like a thief in the night. And in many life stories, mercifully so … They were there one moment, living, breathing, smiling and so full of life. In the blink of an eye, they were gone. And just like that, it was over. It leaves one with a profound

Retooling coping techniques 101 I’ve used up all my sick days, so I’m calling in dead.

— Graffiti

sense of mortality – that final end game. We derive comfort in knowing that those we know of and care about may have lived good lives and are now free of all the pain and strains of human bondage. Death, after all, makes it possible to finally come home. And yet, while we are alive and kicking, most of us who are aware of our own mortality must strive to make the most of our lives. We try to make each day count. We try to live purposeful lives as best we can. But it is not always easy. It seems we are always at the throes of uncertain times. Can anyone

remember a time that was not uncertain? Most of the things that weigh us down or at the very least, ruffle our feathers, will come from within us, from our own heads and hearts, as we process the external world from one day to the next. Oftentimes, our bodies simply follow the lead. If we recognize this mind-body-spirit dynamic, perhaps we can retool the coping skills we need to adapt to tough, troubling times and still come out whole. The mind-body-spirit connection is real. How often have Continued on Page 5

An Asian Journal

Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A p R i l 8 , 20 1 6

On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places BoBBy T. yalong

Maleyna Lomibao paints faces and coifs paramount in town

Maleyna with the love of her life, Alex.

artists in New York City whose name is as unique as her exotic beauty, Maleyna lomibao. the youngest among the four children of Jose and Sylvia tandoc, young Maleyna has since dreamed to be a beauty queen but opted to finish Computer Science in 2003 from the lyceum of the Philippines due to the wide demands of the course or easy employment once armed with a ComSci diploma. But it seemed she was not really cut for it since her heart dictated course leaning toward fashion and beauty culture. the inherent ingenuity from within her tried to burst out in protest. After giving it some thought and total analysis, Maleyna decided to try her luck overseas, in los Angeles, to be exact. She could be independent and adventurous, highly intuitive, extremely enthusiastic over new discoveries, and adaptable to any given situation… being a typical Piscean (born on March 19). her career prospect took top priority. Being innately imaginative and ingeniously creative, it was easy for her to lean toward the direction of beauty and fashion. living up to the very essence of her name Maleyna, which happens to be a very unique first name which truest essence that has the potential to attain power and authority, skilled and efficient while enjoying rivalry, the alluring beauty enhancer with that incredible Midas touch consistently adheres to her life’s principle: “Work hard, dominate the workplace, conquer every barrier, and hold success in the palm of my hand.” And instantly her name became synonymous with impeccable make-up and beautifully enhanced face. Dedicated and focused, Maleyna never allowed negativities to cross her way and so was false hope. She could only expect the best from what she does since she puts her whole heart and soul into it to attain perfection. Serendipitously

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Although the art of applying make-up goes back at least 6,000 years, still at the current times, the ever increasing demand for skillfully trained cosmetologists continues to dominate society’s needs especially movie productions, theaters, and beauty salons. More than any other profession, the make-up industry is generally dominated by gay men, and the women consistently remain their biggest threat and in strong competition with the former.

Filipino beauty experts, for one, never allow their global competitors pull their pulleys to the top and be left down the drain. In their innately creative ways, despite of the scarcity of financial investments, they could consistently keep abreast with what’s the latest and trendy from out of the limited resources on hand. truly, Filipinos are a creative lot and indubitably innovative. From Dagupan City, a progressive metropolitan in Pangasinan province (north of Manila) hails a well-skilled and one of the most in-demand make-up

FOR SALE

meeting artists’ reps, fashion photographers, models and modeling agents and attending industry-relevant social gatherings gave Maleyna the essential connections that enabled her to widen her data base and stay long-lasting in the cutthroat business of make-up artistry. She exactly knows who and how to stay connected with potential contacts without obviously showing her downplayed ferociousness and reserved assertiveness. Maleyna, being cautious and a skillfullyhoned career person, has learned the ropes of the trade and how to keep them wanting for and coming back to her. In a recent interview set amid the strident sounds of the queuing crowd over a coffee shop counter in midtown Manhattan, Maleyna candidly responded to my every query and voluntarily revealed even the most surreptitious personal facts about her…some of which I deemed better left unprinted to keep the readers in cavernous thought and palpable scrutiny. Donned in a black knitted top over skinny jeans faultlessly matched with a wide-collared coat (since the unpredictable spring temp registered in the 30s that tuesday afternoon), Maleyna’s long dark hair simply falls in a slapdash fashion every time she tilts her head or with just a wisp of thin air…which she unmindfully finger-combed caressingly and at times merely left unattended. Interesting facts about her sole journey covered most of our comfy tete-a-tete over sips of hot caramelized honey latte. here are a few attention-grabbing excerpts from her answers, personal points of view, and sanitized opinions deciphered straight from my close encounter with New York’s latest toast in make-up trends, Maleyna lomibao. Bobby T. Yalong (BTY): What was actually your childhood obsession? Maleyna lumibao (Ml): Since my youth, I really wanted to be

Maleyna after doing Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach’s hair and make-up.

Maleyna Lumibao, the make-up artist with the Midas touch.

a beauty queen. I don’t know but it had been an obsession since. I would (secretly) wear my sisters’ clothes and shoes and my mom’s make-up. If other girls my age would want to play with dolls, I loved the feel of make-up on my face and the stirring thrill from balancing my steps with my sister’s high-heeled shoes. there was an unexplained fascination when wearing oversized clothes that served as long gowns on me. BTY: Did you achieve your magnificent obsession of being a beauty queen? Ml: hahahaha…! Very Much! I joined my first ever big pageant in los Angeles in 2009 and took home the Miss West hollywood title. that motivated and inspired me to join other contests and lady luck seemed to be constantly by my side. In 2010, I grabbed twin titles: Miss Supermodel in San Francisco and Miss uSA in l.A. And in 2011, another double victory: Queen of the universe and Miss galaxy Empress. BTY: When did you start being a professional make-up artist? Ml: It took me a long process

SERVICES

Crowned Queen of the Universe, Maleyna waves to her supporters.

to be what I really wanted…to be the best make-up artist in the field! I studied extensively, underwent tutelage, rigid training, apprenticed at the popular Vanity salon in hollywood, and even spent another two years to master hair dressing and grooming. In 2009, I was already operating my own beauty salon in l.A. BTY: Knowing that there’s a stiff competition in the beauty business in Los Angeles, how did you fare being a newbie? Ml: It was a huge challenge… I just couldn’t deny. But the excellent quality of my creativity, aside from the fact that I am one effectual endorser, was more than enough to advertise my business and soon enough, I gained a good number of clientele and started to carve my own niche and name in the area. BTY: If not this career, what could have been your other option? Continued on Page 5

Powerful lessons from China’s richest man

The Kite Runner

making process, innovated the business model and became a successful chain business.� Wang disputes the idea that only high-tech companies can lead the way forward -- “No matter whether you are in a traditional or an emerging industry, as long as you’re capable of innovating the existing business model, you can reap super profits.� (To be continued next week) ***

Prof. EnriquE M. Soriano (Part 1 of 2) LAST week was a relatively tough but gratifying week for my family as we were practically living in a suitcase for 6 nights while traversing Osaka, Manila and Hong kong. My Family Business coaching work in Japan and a speaking engagement in Hong Kong to celebrate Julie’s Bakeshop’s 35th Anniversary were the highlights of the twin overseas trips. While in Hong kong which is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, I decided to research on the success lessons of Wang Jianlin, China’s newly minted Richest Billionaire with a fortune of $40.7 Billion. Wang is almost 4X richer than our local taipan, mall king Henry Sy. In a Business Insider report, Wang Jianlin, a former People’s Liberation Army soldier who is now a real estate mogul and the world’s largest cinema chain operator, is the richest person in China and he’s caught in a riches race with Hong Kong business magnate LiKaShing to become the wealthiest man in Asia. Wang, born in Sichuan Province in 1954 just after the Communist revolution, spent the first few decades of his life in anything but luxury. In 1970, Wang entered the military, where he remained until 1986 when he took a city government job in the city of Dalian in Liaoning Province. Wang became chairman of Wanda in 1989 at age 35. His fortune more than doubled following successful public offerings of his real estate firm Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties, which has 125 shopping plazas and 68 five-star hotels, and Wanda Cinema Line, one of China’s largest movie theatre chains. According to a Forbes Magazine report, Wang bought 20 percent of Spanish soccer team Atletico Madrid and purchased the US organizer of Ironman Triathlons for $650 million. Wang’s Dalian Wanda Group purchased US movie theatre chain AMC Entertainment

Prof. Soriano is an ASEAN Family Business Advisor, Book Author, Executive Director of ASEAN-based Consulting group, Wong + Bernstein Advisory and former Chair of the Marketing Cluster of the ATENEO Graduate School of Business. He is back in Manila after a 2 week coaching work and book launch in the US where he shared his second book “Ensuring Your Family Business Legacy� to Asian and American Family Business owners. Get Prof Soriano’s book by calling Marianne at +639255224713 or email her at mrevilla@wongadvisory.com. Prof Soriano’s business articles can also be accessed at www. Faminbusiness.com. Wang Jianlin, China’s newly minted Richest Billionaire with a fortune of $40.7 billion

Holdings for $2.6 billion in 2012 and took it public in December 2013. His Wanda Group teamed up with the Auchan Group to invest 3 billion euros, or $3.3 billion, in a business and entertainment center in Paris. The project will be the largest ever in France by a China company, and will include an indoor and outdoor theme park, stage show, hotels, and business and conference centers. The French investment is part of an aggressive push by 60-year-old Wang to move Wanda beyond its roots in China’s real estate business. The company has in recent years expanded into entertainment, particularly film and sports, and committed billions of dollars to overseas investments. The project in France will be located next to the Charles de Gaulle Airport, about 10 kilometers from downtown Paris. Some 14,000 jobs will be created once the facility begins operation. Wang’s recent book, a compilation of public speeches entitled “The Wanda Way,� claims to give an inside look into his managerial philosophy and the values that turned his company into a giant conglomerate with big

global ambitions. Here are some nuggets of advice from Wang as detailed by Sophia Yan in a CNN report: 1. Get tough in the army Wang joined the Chinese military as a teenager in 1970. His gruelling training involved epic marches that took the soldiers through “kneedeep stretches of snow.� He recalls, “We were deprived of everything. In the snow, we had to dig our own hole to spend the night. Anyone who faltered could forget about being chosen to move up that year, or earning your Exemplary Fighter award.� This experience built his “teethgritting spirit and a desire to fight until the end,� he says. Wang suggests there’s a direct relationship between a military background and success, pointing out that many top Chinese entrepreneurs previously served in the military. 2. Differentiate and innovate, like Starbucks “The first key is to understand how you can differentiate yourself from others and be innovative,� Wang said. “For instance, everyone knows how to sell coffee, but Starbucks redesigned the coffee-

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Maleyna Lomibao paints faces... From Page 4 ML: Definitely, a doctor like my mom. She actually convinced me to follow her footsteps but the incessant call of the glitz and glam of the entertainment world was irresistibleâ&#x20AC;Ś and I easily surrendered. But I have no regrets whatsoeverâ&#x20AC;Ś I just couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t imagine myself in a different career other than this. BTY: What made you leave L.A. and re-start a career here in NYC? ML: I made a wrong move but it was a lesson hardly learned. I followed my boyfriend who runs his business in the city. His scheduled visits in L.A. seemed insufficient that only left us longing for each other more, so we both decided to sell my shop and lived together. But the things we envisioned didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work as planned

and our relationship went kaputâ&#x20AC;Ś however, we still tried to maintain our friendship. BTY: So, what keeps you going in this chaotic and tumultuous surrounding? ML: I am doing well. My connections are getting broader and business is ok. Although I still aspire for bigger opportunities like to be in contract with a big celebrity or a popular television network. There was once an offer but I did not bite it. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be tied down for two years with a fee I could easily earn in months or in a year. BTY: Other than this career, what other skills could you offer? ML: I am a professional beach volley ball playerâ&#x20AC;Śyes, I travel with a group for possible matches. BTY: By the way, which big

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Retooling coping techniques... From Page 3 we heard of this about stress? It is not what we eat but what is eating us. Stress is a silent killer. It is not unusual to read or hear about people in the prime of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; sixty, fifty, forty and even thirty year old men and women who drop down dead without warning because of strokes or massive brain aneurysmsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reaction to unrelenting stress that typically characterize modern life. There are increasing numbers of horrific news accounts of ordinary people who felt they have reached the end of their ropes. Driven by severe depression and complicated by addictive drug intake, many end up killing themselves. Sadly, there are increasing numbers who murder their families in one fell swoop before killing themselves. Whatever the circumstance, murder is never the answer. There are a few simple stressbusting techniques we can adapt and perhaps, give us a few more good years out of life. Become a presentist. Learn to focus on the present to savor the joy of the moment. Regretting the past

and worrying about the future only increases stress. For as long as we are alive, stress is like a chisel that is meant to shape our characters as real human beings. The most adjusted people have learned to deal with their own stresses. When life becomes too stressful, find a quiet place to pray and meditate. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was stressed too and He would always find a place to be by himself and pray, specially when he has ministered to the crowds, teaching them, healing them and feeding them by the thousands. He would slip away and pray with a few of his apostles. As a Godman, he needed to recharge his internal batteries with prayer and meditation. And so should we. The best times are in the early morning hours when no one is stirringâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not even the mouse. Hie off to a quiet corner and get your bearings straight for the day. Listen to the silence as it quiets your mind. Imagine your mind as a blank computer screen with your stresses in teeny tiny bundles which you then drag and drop into a mental trash bin and emptying it out into

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the netherworld of cyberspace. Poof â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all gone! It is astonishing what this quiet half hour can do for us in the quality of our physical and spiritual life each day. Take a break in the middle of a workday. Eat a light, balanced lunch â&#x20AC;&#x201D; without hurrying, preferably with good company you enjoy. Slow down deliberately. Find the humor in situations and laugh often. Laughter and exercise produce endorphins in our brain that make us happy and healthy. Once in a while, try taking a nap during lunch breaks instead of eating. Machines need to power down. And so do we. Downtime is just as important in recharging oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s batteries. Hold your calls. Carpe diem! Be ready to admit it when you need help. At the root of the most serious problems is foolish, foolish pride â&#x20AC;&#x201D; hubristic pride, being the worst of them all. The fallen angels had this kind of pride. The ego will prevent us from asking for help â&#x20AC;&#x201D; effectively dragging us to a whirlpool of denial until stresses and problems have us on a stranglehold.

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Prisoners of War Day at the Filipino Veterans Education Center All WWII veterans and families, please join us as we commemorate the historic 74thanniversary of Prisoners of War Day and the Fall of Bataan, the Day of Valor, on Saturday, April 9th. In the spirit of reconciliation, friendship and international cooperation, let us leave the past behind us as we move forward with joined hands to attain peace for all mankind. The formal Commemoration and remembrance ceremony will start at 2:00pm in the Filipino Veterans Education Center, at the War Memorial Performing Arts Veterans Building (401 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA 94102). This event is open to the public. Please RSVP RudyAsercion@gmail.com; naffaasf@gmail.com. Tel: 415 564 6262.

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Chino Hills Multicultural Festival Inspired by last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successful celebration of the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diversity, the Rotary Club of Greater Chino Hills Foundation will host its second Multicultural Festival on Saturday, April 23, from 3 to 9 pm, at the Chino Hills Community Center (14250 Peyton Drive, Chino Hills, CA 91709). Admission is free. There will be food booths, live entertainment, music, dance and performances by an array of participants. Sponsorship and advertisement packages are available for non-profit organizations to fundraise, and for businesses interested in market their products and services. For more information, contact rotary.chinohills@gmail.com or visit www.chinohillsrotaryclub.org. Contact: Ted Alvarez (909) 456-0359, tedalvarez@verizon.net; Tessie Lightholder (909) 576-4152,tessielightholder@gmail.com, or Ginny Mondonedo (951) 212-4624, vmondonedo55@gmail.com.

APRIL 30

COSC celebrates 27th Anniversary The Candonians of Southern California (COSC), under the leadership of their newly elected president, Mrs. Elizabeth Gacula Singh, will celebrate their 27th Anniversary on April 30 at the Doubletree Hotel-Monrovia (924 W. Huntington Dr., Monrovia). Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For questions and those interested, please email thecandoniansofsocal@gmail.com.

APRIL â&#x20AC;&#x201D; SEPTEMBER

Pilgrimages to Eastern Europe, Mexico and India Amazing Pilgrimages for the Jubilee Year of Mercy! All are welcome to join Fr. Joe Joseph of Holy Trinity Church for the spiritual and fun-filled experiences of EASTERN EUROPE (April 17- 30): Poland, Czech., Austria, Hungary, Medjugorje; COLONIAL MEXICO/ OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (June 20 - 27): Mexico City, Theotihuacan, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Ocotlan, Xochimilco, Guanajuato, San Miguel De Allende, Guadalajara, San Juan De Los Lagos, Cristo Rey, Zapopan, Tonala; and INDIA (September 15 - 29): Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kerala. For more pilgrimage information and detailed flyers, please contact Bernadette at bcorp1114@hotmail.com OR call 323-344-1548 & 323-547-6618.

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CARING FOR OUR HeROeS

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Us-based Pinoys presented with options for livelihood and development WASHINGTON, DC — In line with the economic diplomacy strategy of the Philippine embassy that aims to diversify stakeholder profile in the Philippine economy, the Philippine Overseas Labor and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Offices (POLOOWWA) in Washington, D.C. conducted the first-ever seminar on Options for Livelihood and Development for overseas Filipinos on last Thursday, March 31 at the embassy’s Romulo Hall. Commercial Counselor Raymond Batac shared the presentation from the Philippine Franchise Authority (PFA) that gave an overview on franchising, including the benefits to and obligations of both franchisor and franchisee. “The primary advantage of a franchise is that it draws from the brand strength and business model of an already established enterprise. However, these factors also create responsibilities for the franchisee, particularly in meeting standards of quality and preserving the reputation of the business,” he explained to the participants. Dr. Josyline Javelosa, Philippine Agricultural Attaché for the Americas, presented investment opportunities in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors, ranging from the more traditional activities of rice and crop farming and fishing, to the increasingly lucrative agri-tourism and organic farming businesses. “Agriculture remains a top driver of the Philippine economy. Innovations in technology and services are changing the face of agriculture in the Philippines, and more and more avenues are being opened to those interested in entering the sector,” Dr. Javelosa said. The embassy’s economic Officer, Minister Jose Victor ChanGonzaga, assured the participants of the embassy’s willingness to

Learn about caregiving resources for seniors & veterans and the legacy of WWII in the Philippines Special guest Major General (Ret.) Antonio Taguba

THe Bataan Legacy Historical Society, in collaboration with AARP CA, the Filipino American Communities/Veterans Associations of Union City, Daly City, Vallejo and Sacramento, is proud to present CARING FOR OUR HeROeS, a series of caregiving eventswith AARP Community Ambassador Major General (Ret) Antonio “Tony” Taguba. Major General Taguba will speak about Caregiving and Veterans issues as well as the Filipino Veterans Recognition and education Project. These events are free and open to the public. Light Refreshments will be served on each occasion. WHEN: • Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 2PM at Union City, City Hall Council Chambers, 34009 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City, CA 94587 • Sunday, April 17, 2016 at Shown in the photo is Philippine Agricultural Commercial Counselor Raymond Batac shared 1PM at Holy Child & St. Martin’s Attache for the Americas, Dr. Josyline Javelosa, presenting investment opportunities in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors.

provide advice and appropriate referrals to US-based Filipinos who are looking into establishing businesses in the Philippines. “We want you to be a part of the Philippine story. All of us in the embassy, including our colleagues in the Commercial, Agriculture and Labor offices, will be more than happy to start a dialogue with you to review the full range of options that are currently available to our more enterprising kababayans in the US,” Minister Chan Gonzaga stated. This was appreciated by the participants, many of whom are mainly employed by foreign embassies and business owners in the US. “This seminar presented some viable options for OFWs in the US who would like to contribute to the economic growth of the Philippines. Apart from the knowledge itself, the network of government offices that are willing to assist potential investors in the franchising and

Philippine Franchise Authority’s presentation on franchising during the first-ever seminar on Options for Livelihood Development for overseas Filipinos held at the Philippine Embassy on March 31.

agribusiness sectors is a highly useful resource for us. Specifically as a teachers’ organization participating in the seminar, we also find this to be in line with our ‘Teacherpreneurship’ project in which we are encouraging our fellow Filipino teachers to venture in business back home,” said Ms. Malou Cadacio, Public Relations Officer of the United Federation of Fil-Am educators-Maryland. Welfare Officer and Acting Labor Attaché Petrona Bergado pledged to continue with the program. “Part of the Government’s service to the OFWs is helping them secure a better future for themselves and their families. entrepreneurship not only achieves this but also induces a multiplier effect on the national economy. Investments by our OFWs can create more jobs at home and make economic growth truly inclusive,” Ms. Bergado concluded.

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episcopal Church, 777 Southgate Avenue, Daly City, CA 94015 • Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 5PM at Vallejo Veterans Memorial Building, 420 Admiral Callaghan Lane, Vallejo, CA 94591 • Monday, April 18, 2016 at 6:30PM at Filipino American Veterans Memorial Hall, American Legion Post 604, 8831 Gerber Road, Sacramento, California 95828 [UPDATeD] AARP Community Ambassador Major General Taguba will discuss the challenges facing caregivers around the country. These events will provide opportunities for caregivers and veterans to learn about local resources and organizations that can help them take care of their loved ones and themselves. Major General Taguba will also speak about the Filipino Veterans Recognition and education Project, which aims to educate the public about the Filipino soldiers

who fought during WWII and to seek recognition of their sacrifices through the Congressional Gold Medal Award. Cecilia Gaerlan, executive Director of Bataan Legacy Historical Society, will speak about her organization’s work with the California Department of education to implement California Legislation AB199, which aims to include the role of the WWII Filipino soldiers in the history/social sciences curriculum framework for Grade 10 and 11 in California. For more information for each event, please contact: • Jim Navarro (Union City) at jimnavarro6@gmail.com • Rev. Leonard Oakes (Daly City) at revleonardoakes@gmail. com • Nestor Aliga (Vallejo) at nestor.aliga@comcast.net • Richard Weitzenberg (Sacramento) at richard@ weitzenberg.org

Ph investments in people take centerstage at La salle University Lecture PHILADeLPHIA, PA — “The Philippine growth narrative is not only one of good governance, competitiveness, and productivity, but also of a development that is centered on people. And investing in people likewise means investing in their healthcare and well-being.” These were the main themes of the Keynote Speech delivered by Minister Jose Victor V. ChanGonzaga, the Philippine embassy’s economic Officer, on behalf of Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. at the Diplomat in Residence Program of La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania last Thursday, March 31. During his presentation, Minister Chan-Gonzaga described the economic transformation of the Philippines, which is due largely to the good governance program implemented by President Aquino and the economic reforms undertaken by his Administration. “It is undeniable that the Aquino Administration’s good governance agenda is indeed bearing fruit. And the confidence of investors and our robust economic partnerships with key economies, such as the United States, constitute the solid foundations upon which our economic managers continue to promote the Philippines as fully open for business,” the embassy official said. However, he noted that aside from focusing on exceptional economic performance, inclusive

growth also became a paramount objective of Philippine national economic policy. He further explained how the government devoted much of the resources generated from the economic boom and savings from corruption to investing in the Filipino people. From 2010 to 2015, the social welfare and development budget increased seven-fold, the education budget doubled, and the Technical education and Skills Development Authority’s (TeSDA) budget increased by 84%. Investing in the Philippines’ healthcare system is also a vital element in the government’s effort to make growth more inclusive for the Aquino administration. “President Aquino and his economic managers, in pursuing inclusive growth and investing in the Filipino, empowered our people to become greater participants and stakeholders in growing the Philippine economy,” Minister Chan-Gonzaga emphasized. Minister Chan-Gonzaga represented the Ambassador, who was selected as the featured speaker of the Diplomat in Residence Program, which has been running at La Salle University for over twenty years. The Program provides an opportunity for foreign diplomats based in the United States to speak to the students and faculty of the University either on general topics about the countries they represent or on specific issues. The embassy’s presentation was part of a series of panels

and lectures that the University organized around the theme Development and Public Health in the Philippines. The week’s discussions included a presentation on the Barnabite Fathers’ Heart to Heart Project of providing mobile clinics to the Archdiocese of Manila. The Philippine program started on 29 March with a panel on development and public health, featuring La Salle University faculty from the Departments of economics and Nursing; and Fr. Robert Kosek of the Barnabite Fathers who is in charge of the Manila clinic project. The Program was cosponsored by the University Office of Mission, Religion Department and Philosophy Department. La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Named for St. JeanBaptiste de La Salle, the university was founded in 1863 In a statement issued after the presentation, Ambassador Cuisia expressed satisfaction with the interest of the participants in the Philippines, and on the issues of public health and development. “The interest in the Philippines of the faculty and students of La Salle also clearly reaffirm the vitality of the PhilippineAmerican relationship, the 70th year anniversary of which we celebrate this year, and we hope this friendship will only deepen and strengthen in the years ahead,” Ambassador Cuisia said.

Retooling coping techniques... From Page 3 It takes courage and humility to finally admit that we need help. When we get down on our knees and humbly ask for the grace and the strength to finally snap out of it, seek help as soon as possible. It can be our spouse, a friend, a professional or someone we can trust to help us sort out our problems and support us in doing something constructive about them. Deep emotional or psychological problems are the worst burdens for they can weigh us down and seriously threaten our entire wellbeing and also affect the lives of those whom we care about. Unload the burden of a heavy heart. Allow time to mend and heal a broken heart or it will bury us six feet deep. Know thyself. Gauge what we can and cannot do, both in our personal and professional life. Do not set unrealistic pie in the sky goals. We can choke ourselves to death when we bite more than we can chew. Resist overextending

ourselves. The mortgage crisis is caused by millions of borrowers overextending themselves and the financial titans allowing such foolishness to go unchecked. each human being is created for a specific purpose in life. He who finds his purpose early enough and fulfills it saves himself from unnecessary and unwanted frustrations and crushing disappointments. Filter the messages that bombard us daily. The constant barrage of messages and suggestions from songs, news, features and advertisements from the media and the internet is designed to make us feel inadequate so that each one of us as a consumer will buy a product or service. We can listen, if we have to, but we must always think for ourselves. Give no one the power to even suggest we are unworthy or inadequate as human beings who need to buy something in order to feel whole. Media and the internet

Maleyna Lomibao paints faces... From Page 5 names’ faces had your hands laid on or touched? ML: Well, some Filipino celebrities that visited L.A. I used to do Brandy, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Scherzinger, and lately, Miss Universe 2016 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. BTY. What do you think sets you apart from your contemporaries? ML: Well, I guess, aside from being satisfied with my work, my clients would often compliment that I am quiet…not the garrulous type. They even mistook my silence for being too serious or

serve a purpose—for good or ill. Together, they are a potent force and we will all do well to keep it at bay. Use self-editing filters, because media agenda-driven messages have the most awesome power to influence thought, feelings, self-image and behavior. There is always the MUTe OR OFF button. We are still the BOSS. Knowing what we can do within our own set of circumstances will save us a lot of angst from wanting to do that which is beyond our capacities. When we begin to relax and ReFUSe to be driven by the ego, it is uncanny how life permits us to naturally flow into that glowingly wonderful state of peace and contentment, where our abilities fit with WHAT We WANT TO DO AND more importantly, WHAT We HOPe TO Be, like a hand in glove. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

inspiration! BTY: Any future plans? engrossed with what I do but ML: This early, I’m considering that is really what I am. I hate the to permanently establish my “palengkera” attitude (wild and career here… maybe operate a chatty like an uneducated vendor) high-end complete service beauty especially in the workplace. salon, create my own make-up BTY: Currently, is there a brand, introduce a new scent special someone who inspires bearing my name, and hopefully, and gives you reason for living? with the guy that will not only ML: The pain from my past inspire me but will be around to jilted moments had been nursed… support a burgeoning business. and yes, there’s somebody who Beauty, they say, is a fragile now filled the emptiness in gift that fades away but the truest me. He’s from Belarus and with essence of it remains unaltered the traits I have always dreamt beneath… for there’s no cosmetic about…tall, good-looking, very for beauty like happiness and generous and thoughtful. After contentment. a hard day’s work, I have all the For comments and motivations to go home and enjoy suggestions, please email to: the rest of the day. He’s a perfect gemini0646@yahoo.com.

Diving boom in Southeast Asia Coral Triangle predicted as PH joins the 2016 Beneath The Sea Travel Show SecaucuS, New Jersey—In an event where the Philippines was referred to as the “apex of the South east asian coral triangle,” the Philippine consulate General and the Department of Tourism New York (PDOT) participated at the 2016 Beneath the Sea Travel Show which was held at the Meadowlands exposition center in Secaucus, NJ, to promote internationally-acclaimed dive and aquatic spots in the Philippines. On hand at the PDOT booth were consul Felipe carino, director of the economic section, and Mr. Wendell Gaa; Ms. Mitchell Dy, PDOT Officer-in-charge; Ms. Wen Sorioso, Senior Tourism Operations Officer for the Dive-Market Development Group of the PDOT office in Manila; Ms. Michelle Narvaez, area Manager, and Ms. charisse Rodriguez, Sales agent of Philippine airlines (PaL); and representatives from the dive resorts Discovery Fleet, atlantis, and azure Dive and Yoga Resort. The activity at the Philippine booth was bolstered by Ms. Lynn Funkhouser, an internationally renowned published photographer, environmental activist, author, lecturer and promoter in Philippine dive travel. Named Diver of the Year in 2014, her photos have appeared in such prestigious media publications as Time, Newsweek and National Geographic, usually in articles covering environmental matters. Since 1976, she has been diving and photographing marine life in the Philippines every two months a year. Having been to over 260 islands in the country, she has become a seasoned expert on Philippine sea diving and often collaborates with the PDOT in promoting diving destinations in the Philippines to the international market. Her photos are used at the booths of many international diving expos, where she also leads out on presentations on the Philippine

sea diving. She has been inducted into the inaugural Women Divers Hall of Fame in 2000 and into the Society of Women Geographers in 2008, where among her fellow honorees include famed aviator amelia earhart, anthropologist Margaret Mead and chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall. In a few weeks, she will be personally accompanying photographers/ divers from National Geographic to various aquatic locations in the Philippines to take photographs for an upcoming magazine issue. a 10 x 40 exhibition booth for the Philippines displayed a large map pinpointing diving destinations in the country along with a video illustrating to guests the beauty of Philippine diving spots. Several pictures taken by highly-acclaimed scuba diver/ photographers showing various sea regions of the country were displayed at the travel show, which is considered to be the largest consumer scuba and diving travel show in North america. Visitors to the Philippine booth, which was among the most popular at the event, were treated to a taste of the Philippines and were given Philippine tourism bags containing books and brochures on diving and snorkeling sites in the Philippines, such as Dumaguete, Panglao, Bohol, cebu, anilao, Verde Island, apo Reef, coron, and Puerto Galera. Visitors were given raffle prize tickets, and two door prize winners at the end of the travel show were awarded round-trip airfare tickets to the Philippines courtesy of Philippine airlines. exhibit booths which heavily promoted dive tour packages in the Philippines were the Marco Vincent Dive Resort in White Beach, Puerto Galera, which was right next to the PDOT booth, along with World of Diving, atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboards, Pacific Dive and Travel, Inc., South Pacific Island Travel,

Luis Manzano focuses on the positive

Luis Manzano is tapped to host “Family Feud,” the latest game show on ABS-CBN that is set to premiere on April 9. by Bot

Glorioso Philstar.com

aired on the rival network. asked who between them DeSPITe his breakup with angel is the better host, Luis replied, “I will always concede that when it Locsin months ago, Luis Manzano still has the same sunny disposition comes to hosting, I will forever bow down to my dad as a game when the entertainment press show host. even if I won an recently caught up with him after award, I would never imagine the grand presscon for the latest aBS-cBN game show “Family Feud” or feel that I am a better host that he will be hosting on weekends than my dad. anytime of the day, I will always say that my dad beginning april 9. will always be the better host That’s why some quarters compared to myself.” can’t help but surmise that his Nonetheless, Luis has more split-up with angel for the second than proven his worth in the time didn’t affect him at all. There number of game shows he were even some who deliberately successfully handled. resorted to bashing the actor-host “When Family Feud was offered on social media. to me, I got really excited because, Obviously puzzled by the for example, when I did Minute to negative reaction, Luis quipped, Win It and Deal or No Deal parang “Is there a requirement to show the approach was very repetitive that one is affected? Kelangan ba since there’s one particular formula nakikita sa aSaP (the Kapamilya for both shows. But in Family Feud, Sunday afternoon show) na hindi ako makasalita? O yung nangingilid every answer is different so there’s always a new punchline waiting; ang luha, na sa sobrang lungkot ko pataas na yung luha ko? O yung mas madaling mangulit. Kumbaga, every answer is a new punchline nag-wa-walling ako ng pataas? People looking for good will always for me. Do I need to change my personality? I don’t think so because find good and people looking I believe there is something in for negativity will always find my personality working (to my negativity.” advantage).” Luis added that he and angel Hosting, Luis admitted, has are friends. “at this point we’re taught him to listen more which is friends, I don‘t want to add color basta magkaibigan kami. Let’s leave something he never thought is also an important part of being a host it at that.” when he was just starting in the biz. But looking back at what “Hosting is not just about happened to his love affair with talking, real hosting is about angel, Luis admitted that he has listening; it’s about feeling kung learned to live life. “Life is too short not to be lived ano ang sagot ng kinakausap mo. Siguro yun ang kulang ko when I and I think that what’s happened started from MYX na salita lang ako with every relationship. ’Yung ng salita at okey na basta masabi iniisip ng tao na dapat malungkot mo ang spiels mo. But afterwards ka, hindi eh, mahal ko ang buhay you will realize that hosting is about ko. Do I have to crawl when I go to listening, so you have to learn and work? No, you have to learn to live it’s a long process. life.” “I’m still learning and I still have No wonder, Luis is once again tapped to host a game show where a long way to go. I have observed he will be interacting with people of that when you are a host, your world is becoming bigger because varied personalities. “Family Feud” you get to interact with lots of requires Luis to ooze with energy, people. For me, dun nabago ang wit and enthusiasm. His dad, edu personality ko na to be more Manzano, also hosted the same game show in 2011 which was then considerate and to listen more.”

Mr. Michel Gilbert leads the program panel “Dumaguete: From Nudibranchs to Whale Sharks” at the Essex Room of the Holiday Inn Hotel. About 20-30 guests attended the panel.

Scuba Travel Ventures, Quest Dive adventures, ultimate Dive Travel, and Island & cruise adventures Inc. The event also featured several conference and panel programs which gave the audience to interact with resource persons who imparted their personal experience and insights from their trips. In all, eight presentations were given on Philippine dive sites at the nearby Holiday Inn Hotel, namely “Dumaguete: From Nudibranchs to Whale Sharks” and “Puerto Galera: 100 Hours Below The Surface,” by Mr. Michel Gilbert and Ms. Danielle alary; “Bethlehem In the Bohol Sea” and “Diving Paradise: Dawn of the Muck Monsters,” by Paul cater Deaton; “Diving Six Islands,” by John ares and anita Georgeares; “Incredible critters of Verde Passage” by Jim and Pat Stayer;

“Diving Paradise: The PhilippinesThe apex of the coral triangle,” by Lynn Funkhouser; and “Diving Paradise: The Philippine expedition 2015 Lak-Bay Pilipinas,” by Tony Gramer. The presentations were well attended, with approximately 20-30 attendees for each panel. The aquatic and diving destinations market worldwide has enjoyed strong growth in recent years and the Philippines is wellpositioned to capture a significant segment of the market with its unique blend of aquatic and marine beauty and wildlife that attract underwater photographers and adventurers alike. The Philippine Department of Tourism is highly supportive of the diving industry and is focused on enhancing promotion and marketing activities in the North american market.

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The New York Consulate General led by Consul Felipe Carino (3rd from right) and the New York Department of Tourism (PDOT-NY) led by Officer-in-Charge Mitchell Dy-Vera (4th from right) promote Philippine diving destinations at the PDOT booth during the 2016 Beneath the Sea Travel Show at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ.

Ms. Lynn Funkhouser (center), an internationally renowned photographer and environmentalist, confers with Consul Carino (right) and Ms. Wen Sorioso of the PDOT office in Manila at the Philippine booth. Ms. Funkhouser has been a strong promoter of Philippine dive sites since 1976. She was named Diver of the Year in 2014 and has had her photos published in National Geographic.

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY ApRil 8, 2016