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Volume10 – Issue 13 • 16 Pages
DE C E MBE R 2 3 - 2 9 , 2 0 1 6 Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
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Palace: ���e��e ��ll�� �e�e �le���� by LeiLa
B. SaLaverria Inquirer.net
2017 BUDGET. President Duterte on Thursday, Dec. 22 signed into law next year’s P3.35 trillion budget as he vowed to ensure that state funds would benefit the poor and vulnerable sectors. In his speech, Duterte said the 2017 national budget is the “embodiment of Filipinos’ clamor for change.” He said the first ever budget of his administration would be “pro-people, pro-investment, pro-growth and pro-development.” Philstar.com photo by Alexis Romero
USA
DATELINE Obama signs bill awarding Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino World War II vets
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US State Department updates travel warning to southern Philippines the United states state Department has renewed a travel advisory urging Americans to avoid parts of the Philippines and malaysia in light of ongoing terrorist activities targeting travelers in the south sulu sea. the announcement on tuesday, December 20 replaces a prior warning issued on April 21 in response to kidnappings and other crimes perpetrated by militias based in and around the southern Philippines. the advisory outlines an area south of Palawan and Zamboanga City and bordered by the northwest coast of malaysia and the sulu Archipelago as a hotbed of insurgent violence. the state Department also recommends “extreme caution” when traveling through western mindanao, where at least 13 separate abductions have occurred since January. “there have been no reports of U.s. citizens in mindanao targeted specifically for their nationality,” the advisory issued by the
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were part of “legitimate police action.” “Let me just remind one and all, that the incident referred to by the President was actually already covered by [the] media and it was legitimate police action and that the UN commissioner is free to express his views regarding that matter,” Abella said. “It’s already been under scrutiny in the past, but it has already been addressed as far as we know,” he added. Abella also said Zeid’s comments were nothing more than “his opinion.” Presidential Communications secretary martin Andanar, speaking in a radio interview, said mr. Duterte had been investigated when he was mayor and no evidence had been found link-
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Duterte: ‘US a land of hypocrisy’ PNP chief seeks
forgiveness for drug war deaths
by Dana
SioSon AJPress
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
PresIDeNt Barack obama has signed into law a bill recognizing the sacrifices and contributions of over 260,000 filipinos and filipino Americans who fought alongside allied forces during World War II. the legislation approved on thursday, December 15 awards the Congressional Gold medal—the nation’s highest civilian honor—to veterans whose service had been largely dismissed by prior acts of Congress. “the filipino veterans of World War II overcame many challenges in their fight for compensation, family reunification, and verification of wartime service,” said senator mazie hirono (D-hI), one of the lead sponsors of the legislation, in a statement published on thursday. the rescission Act of 1946 barred filipino soldiers from receiving veterans’ benefits awarded by measures enacted by the U.s. government after the end of WWII. It also officially labeled their contributions as inactive
PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte’s killing people when he was mayor of Davao City was part of “legitimate police action” and had already been investigated, malacañang said on Wednesday, Dec. 21 following a call from the United Nations human rights chief to investigate mr. Duterte for murder. UN high Commissioner for human rights Zeid ra’ad Al hussein issued a statement on tuesday urging Philippine authorities to “demonstrate their commitment to upholding the rule of law and their independence from the executive by launching a murder investigation.” mr. Duterte said last week that when he was mayor of Davao
City, where he served three terms between 1988 and 2016, he patrolled the streets on a big motorbike and “personally killed” people to set an example for police. he made the comments in a speech to businessmen in malacañang as he discussed his brutal war on drugs, which has seen police and unknown assailants kill about 6,000 people since he became President on June 30. “the killings committed by mr. Duterte, by his own admission, at a time when he was a mayor, clearly constitute murder,” Zeid said. Asked by reporters on Wednesday what action the government would take, presidential spokesperson ernesto Abella said the killings referred to by mr. Duterte
PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte on monday, December 19, hit the United states anew, calling it a “land of hypocrisy” for its criticism of the Philippine government’s deadly crackdown on illegal drugs. for the past previous months since Duterte took office, the United states has reiterated several times its concern over the alleged spate of extrajudicial killings related to the Philippine government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs. records from the Philippine National Police (PNP) show that around 6,000 people have been killed in the campaign from July 1 to December 12—with 2,000 people slain during legitimate police operations while the remaining 4,000
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by Dana
SioSon AJPress
President Rodrigo Duterte
Electoral College Despite challenges, Asian-owned officially declares small businesses in NYC grow Trump presidency NYC’S ECONOMIC ENGINE
by MoMar
G. viSaya
AJPress
NeW YorK — the Asian American federation released its latest report, NYC’s economic engine: Contributions and Challenges of Asian small Businesses, at a half-day conference recently, saying that Asian-owned small businesses in New York City are one of the city’s important economic engines. According to the report, the number of Asian-owned businesses in New York City grew faster than the
overall number of businesses from 2002-2012, with Asianowned businesses accounting for 31 percent of net new businesses during that time period. “Asian small businesses have increasingly become a vital economic force in New York City, and this report finally provides the numbers to prove that our city depends on Asian entrepreneurs to sustain its economic activity and employment rate,” said Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director of the federation. “for that reason,
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by KLarize
MeDeniLLa AJPress
PresIDeNt-elect Donald trump on monday, December 19, has received the necessary 270 votes in the electoral College, officially securing the presidency. each state’s electors convened in their respective states to officially cast their ballots. When all the votes were counted, trump received 304, while Democratic presidential candidate hillary Clinton received 227. When the initial votes came in on
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DAYs before Christmas, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General ronald “Bato” Dela rosa asked the public for their prayers and forgiveness for deaths related to the Philippine government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs. speaking before police officers and their families on PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa monday, December 19, Dela rosa also asked for their tolerance and understanding if the killings continue. “I would like to ask everyone, ang hinihingi kong gift sa iyo ay pagdasal niyo kami, ang inyong mahal sa buhay, ang inyong kapulisan, na sana patawarin kami ni Lord dahil dito sa mga namamatay sa war on drugs (the gift i’m asking for is that you pray for us, for your loved ones, for the police force, that the Lord forgive us for those who were killed in the war on drugs),” Dela rosa said during the opening of PNP’s Christmas party for Camp Crame-based officers and their family in Quezon City. since President rodrigo Duterte took office, records from the PNP show that around 6,000
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James Taylor cancels Manila concert due to PH drug, political issues by Dana
SioSon AJPress
AWArD-winning American singer-songwriter James taylor announced his decision to cancel his upcoming concert in manila next year due to the reported extrajudicial killings related to the Philippine administration’s war on drugs. on his facebook and twitter accounts, taylor said that he has to make a “political stand.” “It saddens me to cancel our concert there. I don’t think of my music as being particularly poTaylor said his music is not political, but that “sometimes one is litical but sometimes one is called upon to make a political stand,” he called upon to make a political stand.”
wrote. taylor’s concert in manila, scheduled in february 2017, was supposed to be the last leg of his Asia-Pacific tour. In his post, taylor said that “for a sovereign nation to prosecute and punish, under the law, those responsible for the illegal trade in drugs is, of course, understandable, even commendable.” “[B]ut recent reports from the Philippines of summary executions of suspected offenders without trial or judicial process are deeply concerning and unacceptable to anyone who loves the rule of law,” he remarked. he then apologized to the fili-
pinos for “any inconvenience or disappointment” his decision may have caused. taylor, however, clarified that his performances in hong Kong, singapore, Australia and New Zealand will push through. following the announcement of concert cancellation in the Philippines, magdalo representative Gary Alejano said in a statement that the artist’s remark “only shows international perception about our country particularly on the war against drugs.” “the rising deaths are alarming and cannot be denied. this perception is also shared at home
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A DECEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426
From the Front Page
Palace: Duterte kills were…
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ing him to extrajudicial killings in Davao. “Sen. [Leila] de Lima herself said that when she was still chairman of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR),” Andanar said. He was referring to the CHR investigation of extrajudicial killings in Davao in 2009. Andanar said that while Zeid had a duty to look into human rights violations, he should follow “proper protocol” instead of just relying on news reports. “[T]he proper protocol is to go through the Department of Foreign Affairs, they could ask questions,” he said. PH legal system Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Zeid was apparently not CHRISTMAS RUSH. Shoppers hunt for bargain items at the Divisoria market in Manila on Saturday, Dec. 17, a week before gift-giving on knowledgeable about the PhilipChristmas Eve. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan pine legal system. “Forgive them for they do not know our internal procedures and processes here,” Pimentel said in a text message. PAGE A1 t Earlier this week, the MCC, a the country on the extrajudicial “[O]ur President enjoys immuwere killed in extrajudicial or U.S. poverty reduction agency, killings linked to the drug war, nity from suit during his term,” vigilante-style killings, most re- said that it has “deferred a vote according to Ramon Casiple, Lacson said, also in a text mesportedly conducted by unknown on the re-selection of the Philip- a political science professor at sage. “[N]o matter how many suspects. pines for compact development, the University of the Philippines “America is a land of hypoc- subject to a further review of (UP). Last August, Callamard lamrisy. There are 40,000 Americans concerns around rule of law and basted Duterte for reportedly killed every year, drug-related,” civil liberties.” Duterte said in a speech before a After a $434-million package giving the Filipino people the PAGE A1 t group of exemplary government in 2011, MCC said it has withheld “license to kill” drug suspects in Election Day on November 8, employees. its second aid due to “significant the country. Trump had won 306 electoral This has prompted the presi- votes while Clinton won 232. At the same time, the presi- concerns around rule of law and dent to invite her to come to dent also reiterated that the civil liberties.” In Texas, there were 10 eleccountry could survive even withOn the other hand, the coun- the Philippines and investigate. tors who ended up voting for a out the help of the U.S., follow- try could lose more foreign as- However, her visit comes with candidate other than who they ing the Millennium Challenge sistance if Duterte continues the following conditions: she were expected to vote for: eight Corporation’s (MCC) decision to to impose conditions on Agnes should have a public debate with who were supposed to vote for reportedly withhold its $434-mil- Callamard, a United Nations Duterte, who in turn should be Clinton and two were supposed lion financial assistance to the (UN) special rapporteur seeking able to ask the UN special rap- to vote for Trump. Philippines. to conduct an investigation in porteur his own questions, and As expected, all 55 electors she should take an oath to “con- from California, a staunch blue firm her intention to be truthful.” state, voted for Clinton. Callamard, however, said in a In a ceremony in the state statement that these conditions Assembly chambers, the elecsakay sa ating war on drugs, set by the Philippines were “in- tors cast their votes. The mood PAGE A1 t people have been killed from July maraming sumabay. ‘Yan dapat consistent with the Special Rap- around the chambers was “mut1 to December 12 in relation to the ang ma-address natin and we are porteur Code of Conduct and ed, even a bit glum”, as reported government’s policy on narcotics. working on that (This means that Terms of Reference for country by the Los Angeles Times. The crackdown was Duterte’s there are many who rode on our visits.” “Today’s solemnity and forCasiple noted that former Pres- mality reminds us that in our main campaign promise during war on drugs; many went along at the same time. That’s what we ident Ferdinand Marcos blocked nation, American greatness and the presidential election. a UN fact-finding investigation in American independence, rests Dela Rosa, however, reiterated need to address),” he added. The PNP chief also noted that relation to the assassination of on a foundation of law,” Assemthat of the 6,000 recorded deaths, only over 2,000 were killed in po- although Duterte hates seeing former senator Benigno Aquino blyman Ken Cooley (D-Cordova), lice operations while the remain- his fellow countrymen dying, the Jr. in 1983, which resulted in the who lead the ceremony, said in ing were “deaths under investiga- president “loves peace-loving cutting of some foreign aid and the chambers. Filipinos so much” that he would the downgrading of the Philiption” or vigilante-style killings. Flaw in the system? “Meaning, maraming nakiu PAGE A5 pines’ credit ratings. n Although Trump won more
Duterte: ‘US a land of…
President Rodrigo Duterte salutes the troops during the 81st anniversary of the Armed Forces at Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday, December 21, 2016. Inquirer.net photo / Grig C. Montegrande
times a person in our country admits having committed murder, as long as there is no other evidence to corroborate his extrajudicial confession, the case cannot stand in any court of law.” Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III asked why Zeid was urging an investigation only now when Mr. Duterte had been talking about the Davao killings
since the campaign for May’s presidential election. Mr. Duterte’s chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, said in a radio interview that the only use for any investigation of Mr. Duterte for murder was to destroy his name. He said that as President, Mr. Duterte is immune from suit. Panelo said Mr. Duterte’s critics were people who did not clearly understand what the President was saying. UN rapporteur inquiry Zeid’s call for an investigation of Mr. Duterte comes as the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings is grappling with the government over the terms of her proposed inquiry into the killings of thousands of drug suspects in the Philippines. The government has invited special rapporteur Agnes Callamard to look into the killings, but Mr. Duterte has set conditions for the inquiry, including a public debate in which Callamard would be under oath and where he could question her on the “authenticity” of her findings. (With reports from Christine O. Avendaño)
Electoral College officially declares Trump…
PNP chief seeks forgiveness…
President-elect Donald Trump
electoral votes, he still trails Clinton in the popular vote (individual vote) by about 3 million votes as of press time, which raised concerns over the validity of the Electoral College. Lawmakers — including Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and former Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-
Vt.) — have proposed eliminating the Electoral College entirely and rely on the popular vote to select a president. “If the Electoral College had selected any other person than Trump, then I would’ve believed it had proven its value as a safeguard to protect American citizens from someone unfit to lead us as our President,” New Yorkbased Filipino-American activist Steven Raga told the Asian Journal in an email. “And even though it does not necessarily mean the current system in place could not do so in the future, the results from yesterday’s vote leaves me unconfident in utilizing the Electoral College for future elections and am open to its possible dissolution,” Raga added. Singing a similar tune to those who fear a Trump presidency, Raga added that the system did not work in the interests of the American majority. Of the upcoming administration, Raga
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(212) 655-5426 • http://www.asianjournal.com
From the Front Page
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 23-29, 2016
Despite challenges, Asian-owned small…
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NETTED. Chief Superintendent Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Bicol police director, said the drugs could be part of at least three tons of cocaine reportedly dumped off the coast of Samar in 2009 or a shabu laboratory dismantled in Catanduanes recently.
Philstar.com photo by Jorge Hallare
Electoral College officially declares Trump…
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envisioned an apocalyptic future with lesser opportunities for “people of color, women, and those of certain religious backgrounds.” Despite wide disapproval of the results, Trump’s camp still believes it won the election fair and square, and celebrated the reality television star’s incoming administration. Trump’s running mate Vice President-elect Mike Pence tweeted in response to the results, congratulating his partner’s win. “Congratulations to @RealDonaldTrump; officially elected President of the United States today by the Electoral College!,” he tweeted just after the results were in, adding that he is “honored” and “humbled” to become the country’s next vice president. The Republican National Committee (RNC) also celebrated its candidate’s win and a Republican leadership in the White House. “This historic election is now officially over and I look forward to President-elect Trump taking the oath of office in January,” RNC Co-Chair Sharon Day said in a statement released on Monday. “Our unified Republican government will hit the ground running next year so we can deliver real change and make America great again.” Day added: “For the good of the country, Democrats must stop their cynical attempts to undermine the legitimacy of this
election, which Donald Trump won decisively in the Electoral College with more votes than any Republican since 1988.” Bipartisan support for Russian hack probe Back in October, the government announced that it was “confident” that Russia was responsible for a hack of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which resulted in the release of thousands of emails. Those emails revealed damaging information about the Democratic Party as well as its presidential nominee, Clinton. In a turn of events, the CIA revealed earlier this month that the Russian hacks were orchestrated to sway the election in Trump’s favor, mainly by producing and distributing “fake news” aimed to defame Clinton. Although the RNC finds the allegations nonsensical, the proposed investigation on the hack has received resounding support from Democrats and Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). This is the sign of a possible unraveling of the world order that was established after World War II, which has made one of the most peaceful periods in the history of the world,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said on CNN on Sunday, December 18. “We’re starting to see the strains and the unraveling of it, and that is because of the absolute failure of American leadership.” “This is serious business,” the
President Barack Obama
Obama signs bill awarding…
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service, according to the Filipino American National Historical Society. In 2009, a portion of the federal economic stimulus package gave surviving Filipino veterans a one-time lump sum of $15,000 for citizens and $9,000 for noncitizens. “After enduring 75 years of injustice and humiliation, our Filipino World War II veterans regained their honor and dignity,” Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret.), the chairman of the Filipino Veterans Recognition Project (FilVetREP), said in a statement released on Thursday. Decades after their service ended, fewer than 18,000 Filipino veterans are still alive to personally celebrate the acknowledgment of their sacrifices. “…[T]his recognition is a testament to each and every one of our Filipino WWII veterans who earned and deserve their place amongst our greatest generation,” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) said in a statement. “To our Filipino veterans, their families, and all who worked so hard to make today a reality, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.” The pair of companion bills submitted to Congress in June of 2015 and eventually signed into law on Thursday was introduced by Hirono in the Senate and Gabbard in the House of Representatives. The Senate version won unanimous approval on Wednesday, July 13. Its counterpart passed in the House on Wednesday, November 30. “We welcome this terrific news and extend our appreciation anew
to all the advocates and supporters of the bill at the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate,” said Minister Patrick Chuasoto, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, in a statement. “This gold medal is a fitting tribute to our veterans’ sacrifice, courage, and strength. From ordinary civilians to defenders of free nations, these men and women deserve our deepest respect and gratitude.” Another bill resubmitted to Congress in May, the Filipino Veterans Fairness Act, would officially recognize the active service of those Filipinos who took part in allied military operations. It would also give them full access to programs and benefits administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Both Gabbard and Hirono said they would work with FilVetREP to organize Congressional Gold Medal ceremonies. The signing of this bill comes after a series of actions earlier this year to give some recognition and benefits to the Filipino veterans. The California State Board of Education recently approved curriculum changes of the state’s high schools to incorporate more information about Filipinos’ roles in the war in Grade 11 U.S. History lesson plans. In the summer, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rolled out a new family-based immigration program for Filipino WWII veterans and their families called the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program. (Eric Anthony icas/AJPress)
2008 Republican presidential nominee added. “If they’re able to harm the electoral process, they may destroy democracy, which is based on free and fair elections.” At the meeting of the electors on Monday, after the votes were collected, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) urged the investigation into the alleged hack. “I move that as an Electoral College, we do not normalize this election. We do not accept Russian interference in our election,” Pelosi announced, the electors applauding in agreement. n
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we owe it to our small business owners to provide them with the necessary access to in-language information and training that will help them succeed and thrive in this city.” Also among the findings was that Asian-owned firms were more likely to be in the services sectors with lower wages overall. Asian-owned businesses were concentrated in service sectors, including taxi and limousine services, retail, personal care services including beauty and nail salons, food services, and construction. While Chinese-owned businesses accounted for almost half of all Asian-owned businesses, the largest growth in the number of businesses occurred among Japanese- and Other Asian-owned businesses, with Bangladeshi and Pakistani owners making up the bulk of Other Asian business owners. Among all Asian-owned businesses, Chinese-owned businesses accounted for almost half, at 46 percent, followed by Indian (21 percent), Korean (11 percent), Japanese
and Filipino (4 percent each). The report also said that selfemployment may be the option some Asian workers take because they are shut out of the mainstream job market due to language skills or citizenship status. “Asian-owned small businesses were borne out of necessity,” said Howard Shih, research and policy director of the Federation. “Yet, despite being shut out of mainstream jobs due to limited English proficiency and/or citizenship status, Asian New Yorkers have found a way to shape the very fabric of this city’s economy. With real investment in their education and training, we are certain to see a great return on our investment in the long term.” More than half of self-employed Asians had limited English proficiency and were more likely to be non-citizens. Pakistanis were most likely to be self-employed, followed by Koreans, Japanese and Bangladeshis, according to said report. Recommendations AAF made the following rec-
ommendations to the City to better support Asian-owned small businesses: • Address the growth and diversity among Asian small businesses. Tackle the diversity of languages spoken in the city and build comprehensive and robust assistance programs that reach all of the potential entrepreneurs in the Asian community. • Improve awareness of existing programs that help Asianowned businesses comply with rules and regulations by creating a single point of contact for Asian owners and by working with chambers of commerce and business associations to provide relevant education to small businesses. • Create new programs or enhance existing ones that support the expansion of small businesses. • Develop training programs that improve the skills of small business workers, such as English classes that address workplace needs and workforce training programs that are closely aligned with small business needs. n
US State Department updates travel warning… PAGE A1 t
State Department said. “However, general threats to U.S. citizens and other foreigners throughout Mindanao remain a concern.” The presence of a number of militant organizations in the region that fund their operations by collecting ransom money continues to pose a considerable threat to the safety of foreigners, according to the advisory.
Several other countries, including Germany and Canada, have also officially recommended that their citizens avoid traveling near the South Sulu Sea. Recently, representatives of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) claimed responsibility for kidnapping Jurgen Kantner, a German national who had been sailing on a yacht off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia. His boat was discovered by resi-
dents of Laparan Island in Mindanao on Sunday, November 6. The body of a woman matching the description of Kantner’s travel companion, Sabina Wetch, was found on board, according to CNN and other sources. In April, kidnappers beheaded John Ridsdel, the second of two Canadians killed by the ASG following their abduction from a Sa-
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Dateline USa
A DECEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426
New hate incident reporting website for AAPIs launched
PASKUHAN. Despite rainshowers, students gaze at fireworks marking the end of the yearly ‘Paskuhan’ celebrations of the University of Santo Tomas. ManilaTimes.net photo by Deejae Dumlao
Dureza on Duterte: Don’t take him by his word... by Dana
SioSon
AJPress
Secretary Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, tried to explain ‘Duterte Enigma’ to the Filipino community in New York during his recent visit “so that you will understand a little bit our new President, the way he runs things and says things.” He spoke first before more than 150 attendees of the Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado and then met with the Fil-Am media and various community leaders, including some protesters, at a lunch forum the following day. The enigma that he spoke of was based on his personal knowledge and understanding of the President’s character and strategic thinking. Dureza and Duterte go way back, in fact, they met when they were in high school. Duterte, after being expelled from Ateneo de Davao High School, transferred to the high school where Dureza was a student. He describes the president as “unconventional and unorthodox”. “Don’t take him by his word. He is a very colorful person. He exaggerates and says things with a poker face. Every time he speaks in public, hindi yan mag-smile kahit may joke. Akala mo, seryoso. Wait until it rolls out in reality,” Dureza said. “My advice sa mga nabibigla sa kanya dahil may mga outbursts
siya, iba kasi siya sa mga dating president. Iba ito,” said Dureza, who has worked with previous presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Arroyo. With Arroyo, he said they would sit and rehearse before major interviews just so the talking points are discussed accordingly. Sometimes, even Cabinet officials concerned were present to correct the President and make the responses precise and right. “Itong president natin, iba. Karamihan, usually kami, naguusap. Minamasahe na lang naming kung ano ang sinasabi niya sa public,” Dureza shared. “But that’s his way and I will always caution everyone. Kapag may sabihin kasi siya, don’t ask us Cabinet members to interpret.” Dureza recalled a situation where President Duterte said that God talked to him and reportedly said ‘Maghinto ka nang magmura kung hindi, i-crash ko ang eroplano’ so he agreed not to swear anymore. Newspapers the following morning used the story as a headline. A few days later, Duterte began cursing again so he was confronted. “The president told them, ‘Kayo pala ang buang, bakit naniniwala kayo? Joke yun, pambihira naman kayo, you take me seriously’,” Dureza said. Discussion moved to US-Philippine relations under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
“His angst against the US really stemmed out from mga personal incidents siya, and of course with President Obama, may mga personal experience siya na nakakaprovoke din sa kanya siguro,” he shared. ‘But everyone saw how he warmed up to President-elect Trump.’ They were in Kuala Lumpur then, meeting with the Filipino community, when they got first word that Donald Trump was leading in the count. “In spite of his very maanghang statements against President Obama, he welcomed with warm words your new President-elect Donald Trump and he said, ‘Congratulations, Mr. Trump. I like you, we have the same kind of a mouth’,” Dureza said laughing. Operation Tokhang Dureza said they could not imagine that the drug problem in the Philippines has reached this depth and that almost a million users have come out voluntarily. ““It is very necessary that we create a climate of fear to address those who are involved in criminality. The drug users were threatened. This means that Operation Tokhang worked,” he said. Tokhang is a portmanteau of two Visayan words – toktok, which means to knock and hangyo, which means to ask or request. Police in every barangay know who the pushers and users are. They will knock on doors and
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OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, a national organization of community advocates dedicated to improving the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) launched its new Hate Incident Reporting Website last week. The AAPI Hate Crimes Reporting Website, which can be found at aapihatecrimes.org, will help maintain a database of incidents of hate against the AAPI community. This new web tool features a form where victims and advocates can report hate incidents that will be tracked by the OCA National Center. Though users should always report any hate crimes to the law enforcement first, the data tracked from this project will help expose hate incidents and inform community responses.
“After Vincent Chin was murdered in a hate crime in 1982, he could have been easily forgotten. Instead, the Asian American community came together to demand justice and our community emerged stronger than ever,” said Leslie Moe-Kaiser, OCA National President. “Similar to the time preceding Vincent’s murder, we are now living in a time when we must choose between doing nothing or fighting back. In just the past few days we have seen a Korean Church vandalized with Nazi symbols, a noose hung in a Southeast Asian youth center, and ‘build that wall’ written on a receipt for a Filipina American waitress. These intolerable acts cannot be allowed to continue. We must show that our community will fight for fair and
equal treatment for all,” MoeKaiser added. The launch for the reporting tool took place during a national call that brought together community leaders from around the country. OCA chapters discussed the importance of tracking hate incidents and strategies they use to fight hate in their local communities. Speakers on the call included: Bill Lann Lee, former Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, and OCA chapter leaders David Fung, Greg Jung, Linda Ng, Aryani Ong, and Elizabeth OuYang. Aryani Ong opened the call by discussing the background of policy on hate crimes and how OCA chapters and local organizations could get involved. Bill Lann Lee expanded by sharing his own experiences working
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Potential Pacquiao foe Crawford says he’s the best fighter of 2016 by Dino
Maragay Philstar.com
WBC and WBO super lightweight champion Terence Crawford claims he is the best fighter of the year. The 29-year-old rising star took to Twitter to express his desire to be named the 2016 Fighter of the Year. Crawford (30-0, with 20 KOs) is banking on three impressive wins this year. He opened 2016 by stopping Henry Lundy in five rounds in
their February fight. He followed that up by outpointing Viktor Postol, a former sparring partner of Manny Pacquiao, in July. But the Omaha, Nebraska-based fighter’s best performance came just this month when he knocked John Molina Jr. out after eight onesided rounds. He later called out Pacquiao for a fight sometime next year. Crawford’s amazing year, however, took a minor setback when he was sentenced to 90 days in jail for his involvement in an alterca-
tion at a car repair shop in April. His conviction came just five days after he defeated Molina. The boxer was freed on a $10,000 bail later that same day. Crawford is one of two Top Rank young stars being groomed to face Pacquiao, who plans to fight twice next year. Ukrainian sensation Vasyl Lomachenko can likewise get a crack at the Filipino icon. Pacquiao has yet to name an opponent for his first fight of 2017. n
James Taylor cancels Manila concert… PAGE A1 t
as 8 out of 10 Filipinos in one of the surveys are worried that they or their friends will fall victims to EJK (extrajudicial killings),” Alejano added. Since President Rodrigo Duterte took office, records from the Philippine National Police (PNP) show that around 6,000 people have been killed in the campaign from July 1 to December 12. Of that number, 2,000 people were slain during legitimate police operations while the remaining 4,000 were killed in extrajudicial or vigilante-style
killings, most reportedly conducted by unknown suspects. The war on drugs, which has been among Duterte’s main campaign promises during the presidential election last May, has earned the administration condemnation from both local and international human rights groups, such as the United Nations (UN) and Amnesty International (AI). The PNP, on its part, said in a statement that it respects Taylor’s decision. “The PNP respects the artist’s decision. However, we cannot fault him for basing such deci-
sion on incorrect information about our country’s peace and order situation,” PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos told reporters. Carlos said that coming to the Philippines will be “a firsthand opportunity to prove for himself that there is no alarming EJKs (extrajudicial killings) happening in the country.” “At the end of the day, it is a loss for him to experience the warmth and hospitality of the music-loving Filipino audience and also earn his purse from the concert,” Carlos added. n
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Women doctors may be better for patients’ health by Shefali luthra Kaiser Health News
READY FOR REVELRY. Children toot horns at a warehouse in Manila. The horns await delivery to retailers ahead of the holidays. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan
US senator: China had no right to seize drone by Patricia lourdeS Philstar.com
Viray
MANILA, Philippines — The seizure of an unmanned United States oceanographic vessel in international waters shows China’s flagrant violation of the freedom of the seas, an American senator said. “China had no right to seize this vehicle. And the United States must not stand for such outrageous conduct,” US Sen. John McCain said in a statement. Such behavior from China fits a pattern of destabilizing behavior including bullying its neighbors and militarizing the disputed South China Sea, the senator said.
The American senator warned that this behavior will continue unless met with a strong response from the US. “Freedom of the seas and the principles of the rules-based order are not self-enforcing. American leadership is required in their defense. But that leadership has been sorely lacking,” McCain said. McCain added that instead of promoting a “peaceful rise,” China has been demonstrating its willingness to use intimidation and coercion to disrupt the rulesbased order in the Asia-Pacific region. “As I have said repeatedly, we must adapt U.S. policy and strategy to reflect this reality and ensure
we have the necessary military forces, capabilities, and posture in the region to deter, and if necessary, defeat aggression,” the senator said. The Chinese government said that it will give back the underwater glider after securing an “understanding” with the US government. Last Thursday, the Chinese navy seized the drone, which was being operated by civilian contractors to conduct oceanic research. The US government filed a formal diplomatic complaint and demanded the drone back. However, US President-elect Donald Trump said that the Chinese government can keep it. n
US approves sale of 2 search radars to PH
However, before it is concluded, the sale as a matter of policy has to go through and is still subject to MANILA, Philippines — The US Congress’ approval. Philippine Navy (PN)’s maritime “We thank the US for their gendomain awareness capabilities are erosity,” Lorenzana, who is acgetting a much needed push with companying President Duterte in Washington’s approval of a pro- his official visit to Singapore, said posed foreign military sale to the in a text message to defense rePhilippines of two ship-borne air porters. search radars for $25 million. If the sale materializes, the two Defense Secretary Delfin air search radars will be installed Lorenzana lauded the US approval on two Hamilton-class cutters, to sell to the Philippines the AN/ three of which have been acquired SPS-77 Sea Giraffe 3D Air Search by the Navy from the United States Radars that also include related Coast Guard (USCG), the United equipment, support and training. States-based Defense Security Coby Jaime laude Philstar.com
operation Agency (SCA) said. “The Philippines seeks to increase its Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) capabilities in order to improve monitoring of its vast territorial seas and exclusive economic zones (EEZ),” the SCA said. SCA, which delivered the required clarification notifying US Congress of this possible sale on Dec. 12, pointed out that an effective Philippine MDA capability strengthens its self-defense capabilities and supports regional stability and US national interests. n
Dureza on Duterte... PAGE A4 t ask if a person who lives there is a drug user or not. If they are drug users, they will be asked to visit the police station so they can get their statement and then they can be scheduled for rehab. The president reportedly keeps on making the threats publicly because his intention is to surface more. He has a long list that includes elected officials like mayors, governors, congressmen. “Sabi niya, apat na milyon ang estimate niya eh. Isang milyon pa lang ang nag-surface. Maraming namamatay that we know are related doon sa mga sindikato. Pag may nahuli ka kasi, sigurado sina-
that population’s subgroup. “Those who are afraid are those who are involved. If you are not sabi niya kung sino ang binibil- involved at all, have no fear. Bakit han niya at kung sino ang bine- matakot kayo,” he asked. “Kung bentahan niya. Yung binilhan na mag-react kayo, baka may kasalamalalaki, they tell them to elimi- nan kayo or may itinatago kayo.” nate those who are in between to He also said that they have avoid being pointed to,” Dureza reports of barangays in Manila explained. telling them that day to day lives “He uses a language na kapag have become better in their comdrug user ka, matatakot kang ta- munities because drug addicts laga. The Senate conducted an have been eliminated, making it investigation and they came out safer for residents to walk on the with a finding that there is no streets even at nights without fear state-sponsored extra-judicial kill- of being mugged or raped. ing in the country,” he added. “Hopefully, we’ll have a better Dureza cited the phrase “dog Philippines. Hindi man ma clean whistle politics” which means up yan – I’m sure hindi yan ma that a message sometimes is de- clean up – pero at least na-adlivered to the general population dress yung extent ng damage,” but it has a different meaning to he said. n
WHEN a patient goes to the best hospital, he or she usually hopes for a doctor who is knowledgeable and experienced. Something else to wish for? A woman physician. That’s because female doctors may on average be better than their male counterparts at treating patients in the hospital and keeping them healthy longterm, according to findings published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine. The study, conducted by a team of researchers at Harvard, examined a random sample of Medicare patients hospitalized between January 2011 and December 2014 treated by general internists. Overall, the researchers scrutinized more than 1.5 million hospitalizations, controlling for differences in hospitals and patient cases. Their conclusion: Patients who saw a female doctor were less likely to die within 30 days of leaving the hospital. They were also less likely to get readmitted within a one-month span of their initial discharge. “Women physicians are more likely to do evidence-based medicine, and follow clinical guidelines,” noted Ashish Jha, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and one of the study’s co-authors. “They are more likely to communicate in a way patients report is more effective.” And those tendencies, it seems, result in healthier patients. To be sure, there’s a longheld notion that patients often consider gender when choosing a doctor. But this is the first to suggest that, for patients of all identities, female physicians may be more effective. The findings come as hospitals are increasingly pressed to figure out ways to keep patients
healthier, and for longer. The 2010 health law restructured how they get paid so that they’re rewarded for patients’ long-term health, and penalized when patients get readmitted. And while the Trump administration has vowed to repeal the law, analysts say many of those payment reforms — which enjoy bipartisan support — are expected to stick around. With such incentives in play, hospitals may now see more value in female doctors — who, research has found, are consistently paid less than their male counterparts and less likely to get promoted. “Understanding characteristics that are somehow associated with higher quality of care, and lower cost, is important in this era,” said Yusuke Tsugawa, a physician and research associate at Harvard’s school of public health, and the study’s lead author. Hospitals, trying to improve their bottom lines, “might look at their female doctors slightly differently — as a more valuable professional in the team.” Put another way: Paying female doctors less than men isn’t just unfair, Jha said. It’s actually inefficient. “There’s a little craziness around it,” he said. “The people who seem to provide somewhat better care are the ones who are getting paid less. I think that makes very little sense.” That’s the idea behind an oped published in in conjunction with the study. It argues that the paper’s findings suggest hospitals serious about improving patient health should invest in improving female salaries and other benefits, so that they’re comparable with those of male doctors. Still, it’s unclear why this difference emerges, or even how meaningful it might be. The study’s conclusions suggest women are better about communication and following rules
New hate incident reporting… PAGE A4 t
on hate crimes as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. He emphasized that tracking and exposing hate incidents were important because ignoring them could lead to more serious hate crimes. The OCA – Sacramento chapter shared their experiences working with local law
enforcement, as well as crossculturally with other community based organizations, to solve community crime issues. The OCA – New York chapter shared their work with students through the hate crimes art project, which draws attention to hate crimes and encourages law enforcement to elevate these issues. n
in terms of how they practice medicine. But that’s all conjecture, noted Anna Parks, an internal medicine resident at the University of California-San Francisco and the op-ed’s principal author. “It’s pretty speculative right now to say what women are doing better than men,” she said. “We need to gather more data on this, so instead of going off of stereotypes, we have hard evidence.” That said, generalizing the findings gets tricky. The paper only looks at Medicare patients, who are older, and it only focuses on the inpatient setting. Jha said he thinks the hospital-based findings would likely hold if expanded to other age groups. But that’s not necessarily true for other kinds of medicine. The researchers are now examining whether physician gender may relate to surgical outcomes. It’s also unclear whether outpatient cases — for instance, patients seeing a regular doctor to manage a chronic condition — may yield a different result. In hospitals, patients don’t get to choose their doctors, Jha noted, whereas they might pick a surgeon or a primary care doctor. Others note that much more research is necessary before physician gender should be factored into the quality equation. The differences between male and female doctors may not hold under additional examination, suggested Mark Friedberg, a senior natural scientist at the RAND Corp., a non-profit think tank. He was not involved with the study. Other factors, such as a doctor’s age or educational experience, may matter more. “It would be a mistake to change anything in public policy on the basis of these results, or to advise patients to change their behavior based on this information alone,” he said. If the findings hold, they point to a way health care can become more efficient and safer for consumers. “What this should do is to prompt us to look at these specific behaviors these female physicians are practicing,” Parks said. “Those are behaviors we should be inculcating in all physicians.” This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation. n
US State Department updates travel warning…
PAGE A3 t
mal Island resort. He and fellow Canadian, Robert Hall, along with Marites Flor of the Philippines and Kjartan Sekkingstad of Norway, were taken hostage on Monday, September 21, 2015. Hall was executed in June of last year. Flor was released several days after Ridsdel’s death as a gesture of goodwill to the administration of then recently elected Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, according to the Philstar. After being held captive for nearly a year, Sekkingstad was freed on Saturday, September 17. Philippine authorities had initially suggested that as much as P100 million had been raised by private sources to pay for Sekkingstad’s freedom. However,
President Rodrigo Duterte told reporters during a press conference on Thursday, August 25, that the Philippine government had paid P50 million to the ASG ahead of the Norwegian’s release. The ASG has collected more than P350 million ($7 million) in ransom this year, according to confidential documents cited by the Associated Press in October. The largest single payment happened in January for the release of 14 sailors who had been kidnapped while transporting cargo through the South Sulu Sea. “The ASG shifted in targeting vulnerable foreign-flagged tugboats and their crew due to the focused military operations against the group,” read a portion of the government report, according to
the AP. The abduction of shipping crews from Indonesia, Malaysia and elsewhere has put international pressure on the Philippine government to bring an end to ASG kidnappings. Duterte has ramped up military operations in western Mindanao and Sulu this year with the hopes of stamping out the rebel organization. Domestically, Philippine security forces have been on heightened alert following a bombing that took place in Davao on Saturday, September 3. The incident was attributed to Maute, a group that has pledged solidarity with the Islamic State, and drove Duterte to declare “a state of national emergency.” (Eric Anthony Licas / AJPress)
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PNP chief seeks forgiveness for drug war…
PAGE A2 t
rather have the government kill drug personalities to save innocent people. Even with the international and local criticism, the government will not back down from its anti-illegal drugs campaign. “Prangkahan tayo (Let’s be frank). While I am begging for forgiveness for what is happening right now, I am also begging your indulgence to please understand if the killings will continue, but we will not stop our war on drugs,” he said. He then added, “Hangga’t nandyan ‘yung problema (While the problem exists), we will continue confronting that problem. Hindi po mahihinto ito (This will not stop). We cannot guarantee you na walang mamamatay dahil (that nobody will die because) in every action, there is a corresponding reaction.” Meanwhile, the latest survey from Social Weather Stations (SWS) – conducted from December 3 to 6 – showed that 8 out of 10 Filipinos were worried
that they, or someone they know, might fall victim to extrajudicial killings in connection with the administration’s war on drugs. Despite the worry, the same survey also revealed that Duterte garnered a “very good” net satisfaction rating. According to the poll, Duterte scored a +63 net satisfaction, just a one point down compared to the previous survey conducted last September. UN: Duterte killings ‘constitute murder’ Following Duterte’s earlier confession that he had ‘personally’ killed drug suspects before, the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday, December 20, asked the Philippine authorities to probe the president for his claims. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (CHR) Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called on Philippine authorities to “demonstrate their commitment to upholding the rule of law and their independence from the executive by launching a murder investigation.” “Such acts directly contravene
the rights enshrined in Article III of the Philippine Constitution. The killings described by President Duterte also violate international law, including the right to life, freedom from violence and force, due process and fair trial, equal protection before the law, and innocence until proven guilty. As a government official, if he encouraged others to follow his example, he may also have committed incitement to violence,” Al Hussein said. He pointed out that it’s “unthinkable for any functioning judicial system not to launch investigative and judicial proceedings when someone has openly admitted being a killer.” Last week, Duterte claimed that he had killed drug suspects when he was still the mayor of Davao City. “I know it because—I am not trying to pull my own chair—in Davao I used to do it personally. Just to show to the [policemen] that if I can do it, why can’t you?” Duterte said in a speech on Monday night, December 12, in Malacañang. n
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A DECEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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Features
Desensitization
DESPITE efforts by President Rodrigo Duterte to vociferously fight the drug crisis in the country, many still refuse to see its success. Whether they are guilty or not, the staggering numbers of people who have been killed cannot hide the growing level of violence and impunity in the country. The gruesome photographs of blood-soaked corpses of alleged drugs suspects are constantly shown with headlines in various media outlets almost every day. This shows how there is a level of desensitization to the violence among a certain segment of the population. But waging a punitive war on drugs also has consequences. It generates human rights abuses such as abusive and inhumane punishments. And as the number grows, so does the fear of the populace for their own lives. While Duterte and his hard stance on drugs received high approval ratings, a majority of Filipinos are worried that they or anyone they know would fall victim to such killings. The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed that 8 out of 10 adult Filipinos or 78 percent of 1,500 respondents fear getting killed in the drug war. The poll, conducted from Dec. 3 -6, also showed that 39 percent of the respondents consider the issue of extrajudicial killings as “very serious.” For 71 percent of the respondents, it
is “very important” that drug suspects are caught alive. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has asked the public for indulgence after admitting that the killings might continue. He vowed that the police will be relentless in its war on drugs. “Andyan na tayo. Kung merong mamamatay dyan, pasensya na po dahil hindi kami humihinto sa aming trabaho. Hangga’t nandyan ‘yung problema, we will continue confronting that problem. Hindi po mahihinto ito. We cannot guarantee you na walang mamamatay dahil in every action, there is a corresponding reaction. (We’re already here. If there are people killed, forgive us because we won’t stop doing our job. While the problem persists, we will continue confronting that problem. This will not stop. We cannot guarantee you that there will be no more deaths because in every actions, there is a corresponding reaction,)” the police chief said. Dela Rosa earlier has asked for forgiveness from the public on behalf of the police and the government for the killings. Dela Rosa asked
Editorial
ManilaTimes.net photo
the public to pray for the 160,000-member police force so God would forgive them for killing people. This brutal anti-drug crackdown is painstaking and often thankless. Perhaps what it needs
is to re-assess the problem and propose policy recommendations for a radically different approach—one that will not inflict fear among the citizenry but ignite civic participation instead. (AJPress)
The beginnings of our Christmas tradition CHRISTMAS is my favorite season of the year because it just makes us look at what matters most in our life, be thankful for them, and yearn to spread the joy and love with others. A fitting prelude to New Year, Christmas also serves as a good time to look back to the year that was, as we look forward to the year ahead. For us Christians, the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus, who taught us how to live the life of faith, love, charity and service that he exemplified in His own life. The “belen” and “simbang gabi” are the best illustrations of the real meaning of Christmas for many kababayans. Christmas is also a feast that we share among family, friends, and the community, enjoying traditional food like jamon, queso de bola, kakanin, and the usual fiesta fare featuring Filipino food like embutido, menudo, morcon, lechon, buko salad, potato salad, leche flan, ube halaya, and many more. As early as September, Filipinos start working on building that Christmas spirit by playing Christmas songs, decorating the house with a parol and Christmas tree. Christmas is also the time of the year when we all feel generous and giving to make the dreams of our loved ones come true. We shop for gifts for the people we love, both here and back home. For most of us, it means sending balikbayan boxes as early as October to make sure our families back home will get what they wished for, especially if they have been nice rather than naughty to make it to Santa
MANY of us ordinary folks have our heroes. Mine is Jose de Venecia From The Jr. I write this tribute six Stands days before he turns 80 on Saturday, the 26th day of December 2016. Domini m. toRRevillaS I imagine that on Monday, the Vera-Perez Gardens in San Juan City will be filled to the rafters to celebrate JDV’s natal day. For sure his guests will include foreign dignitaries from many parts of the world, who, ironically, hold him up as a prophet while to my mind, he seems half-forgotten in his own country. JDV is best remembered as the only Speaker of the House of Representatives for five terms, or 12 years – in the 9th (1992-1955), 10th (1995-1998), 12th (2001-2004), 13th (2004-2008), and 14th (2008) Philippine Congress. He was president of the dominant party, LAKAS-CMD, and ran for president in the 1998 election but lost to then Vice President Joseph Estrada (who would early in his term be ousted from the presidency), finishing second in a field of 11 candidates. He was one of the 1974 TOYM awardees. No longer involved in domestic politics, De Venecia has reached out to promote peace among leaders of other countries. He has assumed the role of statesman, respected and held in awe by heads of state. He is founding chairman and founding president of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International (CAPDI).
Clause’s list. But when and how did this cel- The Fil-Am ebration start around the world? Here is how the History Channel Perspective explained it: The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the ar- Gel SantoS-ReloS rival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight. In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year. The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking. In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terri-
fied of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside. In Rome, where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, slaves would become masters. Peasants were in command of the city. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could join in the fun. Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year. In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his
birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger. By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. MALIGAYANG PASKO SA INYONG LAHAT! . *** 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
Joe de V, my hero
ICAPP is composed of more than 300 ruling and opposition political parties in 52 Asian countries, while CAPDI is a joint political-civil society organization
in the Asia Pacific. According to De Venecia, ICAPP is a forum of political parties of Asia-Oceanian countries, which was launched in Manila Philippines in September 2000. The objectives of the conference are to promote exchanges and cooperation between political parties from different countries in the area and with various ideologies; to enhance mutual understanding and trust among Asian countries; to promote Asia’s regional cooperation through the unique role and channel of political parties; and to create an environment for sustained peace and shared programs of development.” On Feb. 15, 2016, some 150 parliamentarians, representing more than 40 nations, signed a resolution to form the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP). This event took place in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea at an International Leadership Conference. Since the inauguration of IAPP in Seoul in February, regional chapters of IAPP have been launched in the AsianPacific, East African, West African, European, Central American and South American regions. A North American IAPP chapter was launched at an international leadership conference in Wash-
ington, D.C. last month. De Venecia, with his amiable personality and remarkable intelligence, was elected president and chairman of IAPP. Among the distinguished participants in the conference were IAPP co-chair Dan Burton, former Nepal Premier Madhaw Nepal, first black woman elected to the Parliament of Canada, Rep. Jean Augustine, UPF President Thomas Walsh and Washington Times chair and publisher Thomas McDevitt. In the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, JDV asked governments and parliaments “to combine forces to tackle the almost incredible but all too real problem of the richest one percent (1 percent) or 80 of the world’s richest individuals owning sixty percent (60 percent of the wealth of the world, or the same amount shared by 3.5 billion who occupy the bottom half of the world’s income scale.” In the Philippines, the income and social gap is so great that like Disraeli’s Britain in the 1840s, the rich and the poor among us have become virtually ‘two nations’.” In 2011, the richest Philippine families accounted for 76 percent of our country’s gross national income. The two riches families alone together held 6 percent of our entire economy.” He said, “The two nations situation, the incredibly huge gap between the rich and the poor, still exists in many countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa and a number of cities in Europe and North America.” He pointed out that in IAPP “We observe that inequality is an unavoidable
result of market operations. Inequality is the price of capitalist dynamism. Left to itself, rapid economic growth accelerates income inequality.” But inequality, though unavoidable, De Venecia pointed out, “can be mitigated, made less painful—by government activities and parliamentary action. And it is right that the states and parliaments should do so—because eco- Jose de Venecia nomic insecurity, if left to itself, will steadily erode the social order and eventually generate a backlash against the economic system as a whole.” He submitted that “the merging and exiting governments today, in search of new platforms, systems, and structures of government might consider a synthesis of the best of socialism and capitalism.” He pointed out that since Presidentelect Donald Trump’s electoral victory, “we have already noticed the beginnings of significant improvement in the deteriorating US-Russian relations and better chemistry between Philippine President Duterte and Mr. Trump (who) begins to assume office only on January 21, next year.” De Venecia pointed out that the U.S. “has been the fulcrum of the regional
power balance since the end of World War I and Pax Americana has given the Philippines and the East Asian states the breathing spell to put their houses in order, as it is the American market that has enabled them to expand their economies at the world’s fastest rate during this last half-century.” Let’s go to JDV’s roots. He was born in Dagupan City on Dec. 26, 1936, to Judge Jose R. de Venecia Sr., and Casimira Villamil Claveria. He graduated with a bachelor of science in journalism at the Ateneo de Manila in 1955. Before he entered politics, JDV was in business, pioneering overseas contract work for Filipinos as one of the first Philippine prime contractors in the Middle East and North Africa in the mid-1970s. Records show that he hired 51,000 Filipinos for his companies and engaged in port operations in Saudi Arabia, agriculture in Africa, and mass housing and oil exploration in the United Arab Emirates. His Middle East engagements led to the employment of millions of Filipinos. He conceived and implemented the historic dollar-remittance program for overseas Filipino workers. His entry into politics began with his election as congressman of the 2nd Dis-
u PAGE A7
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 23-29, 2016
Dateline PhiliPPines
A
2016 remittances projected Witnesses in Pasig teen’s slay to reach ‘all-time high’ of $28B heard gunman say: ‘It’s not him’ by Dana
SioSon
AJPress
THE overseas Filipino workers (OFW) remittances are forecasted to reach an all-time high of $28 in 2016, as reported by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). According to OWWA Chief Hans Cacdac, the Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) also announced during the OWWA board meeting on Tuesday, December 20 that there was an increase in the remittances of OFWs during the 3rd quarter of 2016.
“I heard $24-B as of the 3rd quarter and we are expected to hit $28-B at the end of the year which is an all-time high,” Cacdac said in a press conference on Wednesday, December 21. Cacdac attributed the increase in remittances mostly to the money sent by Filipinos who were based in the Middle East and the United States. “Kasi kung titingnan niyo ang BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) data, makikita doon, matetrace doon, kung kaninong bangko ipinadala at usually nauuwi yun sa Middle East and then yung mga Filipino din natin, kababayan
natin, sa United States (Because if you look at the BSP data, you can trace the bank and usually it lead to the Middle East and to our fellow Filipinos in the US),” he noted. On the other hand, the yearend remittances in 2015 have reached to $25.6 billion, as previously revealed by the BSP. At the same time, Cacdac said that around 100,000 to 150,000 Filipino workers were expected to return to the Philippines during the Christmas season. The rate is the usual figure for returning Filipinos this time of year. n
SolGen gives De Lima Bar exam result dare: One with lower score quits by TeTch
TorreS-TupaS Inquirer.net
FOR saying he has an “empty skull,” Solicitor-General Jose Calida on Wednesday, Dec. 21 dared Senator Leila De Lima to show her Bar examination score in Criminal Law and whoever has the lower score should resign. “I hereby put a challenge to De Lima. She accused me that I have an empty skull. She was former Secretary of Justice, I challenge her to reveal her grade in Criminal Law during the Bar exams,” Calida said. “If her grade is higher than mine, then I will resign as Solicitor-General. But if my grade is higher than hers, she should resign as senator of the Philippines,” Calida added. Aside from saying that he has an empty skull, De Lima called Calida a “sycophant” after he labeled her as “Public Enemy Number 1” for deploring the unabated extrajudicial killings (EJKs) of suspected drug dealers and users. “She accused me of calling enemies names (but) that is an appropriate epithet for her. The proliferation of drugs is the primary concern of our country and the main policy of the Duterte administration is to suppress drugs. But since she was responsible for the proliferation of drugs in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), then
Solicitor-General Jose Calida
she is public enemy number one,” Calida said adding that his new epithet for her is the “diva of drugs” in the country. Calida passed the 1973 Bar examination with a perfect score in Criminal Law. De Lima, on the other hand, ranked 8th in the 1985 Bar examination. Calida appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) as Tribune of the People, representing the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala, former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
Inquirer.net photo
deputy directors. Calida’s appearance was opposed by De Lima’s lawyer Atty. Filibon Tacardon. He said there may rise a conflict in the event the cases reach the courts. But the DOJ panel led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong said what is important in the preliminary investigation stage is that the complainant is present in the proceedings and ably represented by counsel regardless of whether it is the Office of the Solicitor General or private lawyers. n
by JoDee
a. agoncillo Inquirer.net
THE teachers, classmates and neighbors of Emmanuel Lorica cry for justice as they dispute what the police have said about the 17-year-old student who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at an evacuation center in Pasig City earlier this month. They have offered prayers for the young man, who witnesses to the attack said was a victim of mistaken identity because his shooter was heard saying “Hindi ito (It’s not him),” right after putting a bullet in his head. The 10th grader, a city government scholar who belonged to a star section at Eusebio High School (EHS), was killed while asleep next to his girlfriend on Dec. 6 inside one of the tents sheltering 15 families displaced by a fire in Barangay Rosario’s Tramo area. In an interview with Inquirer on Monday, Lorica’s guidance teacher Mildred Manubag said the school community remains in mourning as students talk about the incident on social media particularly to belie the victim’s alleged links to the drug trade. A report by the Pasig police said Lorica was included in the barangay watch list as user/pusher. Barangay Rosario chair Aquilino dela Cruz said the slain student was not on the local drug watch list, but a separate investigation he conducted had the same findings about Lorica being a “runner” for a drug dealer. But Manubag maintained: “He was a very bright and sweet child. He was even part of the city scholarship program. He was clean. He was not involved in any trouble since he started studying here. He did not look like an addict and he was not a courier in school.” Lorica was one of the recipients of the Bobby C. Eusebio (BCA) scholarship, a program named after the incumbent Pasig mayor. On Dec. 12, his schoolmates and teachers offered prayers for Lorica, whose remains were brought to his hometown in the Bicol region. Lorica’s mother
PAGE A6 t
Emmanuel Lorica
Joe de V, my…
trict of Pangasinan (1969 to 1972). In the first free election after the anti-Marcos EDSA Revolution, he was elected congressman in 1987. He was reelected in 1992 and joined the newly created party Lakas Tao of President Fidel Ramos. He initiated the move to unite the National Union of Christian Democrats—a cluster of the Progressive Party of the Philippines and the Union of Muslim Democrats—with Lakas Tao to make it a dominant party. In the same year, he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. He created the “Rainbow Coalition,” converging political parties that include the LDP, NPC, Lakas NUCD, and other minor parties to make a solid majority in the House. He was reelected congressman and speaker in 1995. Again, he ran and won as congressman of the 4th District of Pangasinan, and
Inquirer.net contributed photo
was in Dubai and his auntie served as his guardian, Manubag added. His girlfriend, a fellow EHS student, remained inconsolable and had missed class for days. “Isn’t it enough that we lost our homes to the fire? Why (Lorica)? We were not doing anything wrong. You were a good man; you didn’t have enemies. Why would people kill someone so defenseless? He was just sleeping!” the girl said in a Facebook post. “You could have just kicked him to wake him up and asked him questions,” she said, in a message addressed to the killer. “What did you do to him? You don’t know him. Just because your asset told you he was the target, you kill him just like that? He had dreams.” According to witnesses, about eight unfamiliar men arrived at the evacuation site, appearing to be searching for someone. One of them, who would turn out to be the gunman, peered into some tents before finding the one occupied by Loric The teenager was lying on his back, with a towel covering his face, when he was shot in the head, one witness told the Inquirer. When the shooter removed the towel, he was heard saying: “Hindi ito.” The gunman and his seven lookouts then pulled out of the area, fleeing on motorbikes. n
was in his fifth term when he lost the speakership. As President Ramos’ peace envoy, he reached out to secessionist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the RAM-SFP-YOU military rebels, and the Communist Party of the Philippines. He met Libyan President Moammar Qadafi and MNLF Chair Nur Misuari that resulted in forging a peace agreement in Tripoli in 1976. His persuasion of Misuari to accept autonomy led to the signing of the peace pact on September 2, 1996. He met military rebels, and Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni in the Netherlands, and Hashim Salamat, MILF chair, in Mindanao. As the year draws to a close, we say hello, happy birthday to my good friend JDV. In today’s parlance, my BFF. *** Email: dominitorrevillas@gmail.com
A DECEMBER 23-29, 2016 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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An Asian Journal Magazine
The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY D Ec E m b E R 23, 20 1 6
The Fil-Am Men of Broadway’s Aladdin Their Journey to Broadway, Christmas Feasts and Filipino Bonding Through Food by MoMar
G. Visaya/AJPress
IT is rare to see a show on Broadway with a Filipino-American cast member, tougher to see a couple, and almost impossible to see three or four. But five cast members sharing the same ethnic background? Although we’ve seen that happen before – particularly in Asian-centric shows such as Miss Saigon, The King and I, Flower Drum Song, Allegiance, and of course, offBroadway hit Here Lies Love. Aladdin on Broadway, produced by Disney, boasts of a diverse cast of 36 that includes five Fil-Am men, including Adam Jacobs as Aladdin himself, Don Darryl Rivera as the scene-stealing Iago and Joshua de la Cruz, Bobby Pestka and Angelo Soriano who are all members of the company. The musical, adapted from the Disney film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One Nights”, is now on its third year on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on 42nd Street. It opened to critical acclaim on March 20, 2014 and quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years. For lead star Adam Jacobs, working with the cast is a hoot and asked to describe the working dynamic with his fellow Fil-Ams, he remarked, “I love working with them, I love them all!” “They’re fun, great guys. It is so great to be working with all of them. I feel very proud that so many Filipino-Americans are in the show and being represented on the stage,” he added. Adam has had his wish granted to be playing Aladdin on Broadway. The actor made his Broadway debut as Marius in Les Miserables. He was part of the 2006 cast that also include Ali Ewoldt, Lea Salonga and Rona Figueroa. He also played Simba on The Lion King. “It is a testament to the talent of a lot of Filipino Americans, you know. It’s not just a stereotype that we’re really good singers, we are good story-tellers, too and it is great that we are getting recognized for
that,” he explained. A father of twin boys Jack and Alex, Adam is looking forward to the Christmas holidays. “We tend to go to my wife’s family. It is going to be crazy this year, my boys are turning three in January and they’re expecting trains and cars and it is going to be crazy just to make sure they don’t pull the tree down,” he said laughing. For funnyman Don Darryl Rivera, coming to work every day is a blessing he is thankful for, along with the fact that he gets to work with cast members, some of whom are Fil-Ams like him. “They’re all incredible. What’s awesome is that we all have similar experiences growing up as FilipinoAmerican kids so we get to share those experiences together and we can identify each other in ourselves. We eat out, we’ve been to Lumpia Shack and Maharlika,” Don Darryl shared. The coming Christmas makes Don Darryl a little sentimental of his Christmases past, particularly those he spent in their old home in Seattle when he was growing up. You see, he comes from a particularly large family so as a kid, he looked forward to the family gatherings and the presents that came along with them. “One of my uncles has ten kids so I have many first cousins in the family. We would put the Christmas tree on the corner of our living room and since Christmas is usually in our home, the presents would literally be filling the entire room,” he said. “My sister Daisy and I and our cousins would each get a garbage bag and we would all fill it with our presents. It was always a big celebration back home.” And what’s a Filipino gathering without food, right? At the Rivera household, there was always lechon, roast beef, pancit, lumpia, queso de bola and salad. But there is one dish that symbolizes Christmas for Don Darryl. “Eating champorado, specially with the stick fish. My mom would
Bobby Pestka, Joshua Dela Cruz and Angelo Soriano are among the five Fil-Am cast members of Aladdin on Broadway. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya
Adam Jacobs being interviewed by GMA Pinoy TV’s Grace Labaguis. Photo by Boyet Loverita
serve that Christmas morning, with the evaporated milk and sugar. That’s a big trigger for me, along with Filipino hot chocolate,” he said laughing. Now a family man himself – he and his wife Kate are proud parents to 11-month-old Eloise – Don Darryl plans to retain many of the Christmas traditions he grew up having, along with new ones he hopes to make. We also had a chance to talk to Joshua, Angelo and Bobby and we discussed their respective journeys and how is it like to live a life of a Broadway actor. Let’s get to know them one by one. Joshua de la Cruz Aladdin is Joshua’s Broadway debut. He was previously seen at the Public Theatre doing Here Lies Love. Prior to that, he did Merrily We Roll Along at the New York City Encores! and The King and I at Kana City Starlight. He has a BFA from Montclair State University. On making his Broadway debut with Aladdin: It was Amazing. It is essentially like Zorro for kids and growing up, it is one of my favorite Disney movies of all time. To be able to do this show and make my Broadway debut with this musical is amazing. I also had knee surgery about two months before we opened on Broadway so I missed opening night. I came to the show two days later, did my ensemble check and then a week later with all my music rehearsal, I went on as Aladdin for the entire weekend. To do my Broadway debut and a week later do the title role, my mind was blown. I couldn’t have thought of a better way to make it happen. Just ripped the band-aid off and have that experience with this family is just amazing. On having to work with fellow Filipino-Americans: It’s a huge family backstage and we all love to eat. If ever there’s a
gathering, we know that there will always be lots of food. Fondest memories of Christmases past: One of my fondest memories is going around and caroling, with my sealed old coffee can with dry rice inside as my shaker. We would Don Darryl Rivera giving us a backstage tour of Aladdin’s home, the New Amsterdam Theatre along 42nd Street. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya sing Ang Pasko ay Sumapit and we would receive all these loose Anything Goes, and The Radio City change which we end up spending wonderful. Christmas Spectacular in NYC. We also go on little adventures on snacks. We would celebrate all How did you get involved with the way to the new year and having sometimes. A little while ago, the show? a bunch of us Filipinos went all those firecrackers and being It goes all the way back in really loud and eating a lot of food. downtown to go find a Filipino 2011 when Disney decided to see restaurant – we’ve made that a Family lineage: if the musical would work. They habit to look for cool Filipino cuisine Ilocano and Bicolano produced it first in Seattle with the in Manhattan. We found Lumpia What is one Filipino dish 5th Avenue Theater and did it there Shack, Jeepney and Maharlika. that triggers good memories of for three months. It was mostly in I’m a big fan of Grill 21 on Christmas for you? previews and we only had about a East 21st St., it is old school and Lechon kawali, pork rib adobo week or two to run. delicious. and garlic fried rice We didn’t know anything else, Fondest memories of as far as we knew, it was done. We Christmases past: Angelo Soriano (swing, waited around and at that point, we When we first immigrated understudy for Omar and Iago) had to go on with our lives. I went here it was just my sisters, my Aladdin is also Angelo’s on tour and then later my agent parents, my lola and my aunt and Broadway debut. He did the informed me that the show will be my cousins. We have our entire national tour of Flashdance: The family in the Philippines. My parents done in Toronto. He was also told to Musical and among his Disney hold on since they were auditioning come from large families and more credits are Red Car Trolley News different people. Boys (Disneyland AGVA), Christmas cousins. Some of them also were They called eventually and able to come here and we had a Day Parade with Justin Bieber (on asked if I wanted to be a part of ABC) and Debby Ryan and Disney’s huge gathering. the Toronto cast and eventually I always end up gaining ten Shake it Up! Broadway. pounds during the holiday season On making his Broadway On having to work with fellow because that’s when our families debut with Aladdin: Filipino-Americans: would hang around and there’d be I made my Broadway debut a Somehow, some of us have week and a half after I signed in. As plenty of food. worked together previously and we Family lineage: a swing in Aladdin, I am in charge know how special it is. Mom was from Leyte, Dad from of knowing 14 different roles in the Fondest memories of show – 12 male ensemble roles and Manila Christmases past: What is one Filipino dish two understudies. I was learning I grew up as the youngest in my first ensemble track on the first that triggers good memories of the family so it was always my job Christmas for you? week and on the second week, we to decorate the house and the tree. Lechon manok with Mang found out that one of our guys was I would gather empty boxes and Tomas injured so I had to learn his track wrap them so I can place them in two days and so I went on my under the tree. Bobby Pestka (ensemble) Broadway debut last minute, after Family lineage: Bobby has appeared on learning that track in two and a half Mom was from Cebu Broadway in The King and I in days. What is one Filipino dish It was fun, I did it, the rehearsals Lincoln Center’s The King and I, that triggers good memories of Bombay Dreams and Flower Drum worked, nine days after I got hired. Christmas for you? Song. Among his film credits are It was awesome. I go to Woodside in Queens for On having to work with fellow The Producers and Across the my Filipino food fix. Ihawan serves Universe. A graduate of Point Park Filipino-Americans: great barbecue, lumpia and pancit. University, Bobby also did the We have that camaraderie, we national tour of Roundabout’s break bread and talk together. It is All the basics for me.
Arabian Nights
Photo by Deen Van Meer
Pinoy celebs share their Christmas plans by Lhar santiaGo ManilaTimes.net
IT’S the time of the year when everyone is excitedly busy preparing to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas truly brings a different feel—an unexplainable exhilaration that envelops one and all. The stars feel it too as they join the rest of the world celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Savior. And like us, they also have their plans for this very special day. Superstar Nora Aunor will just be at home on December 25. “There will be lots of food at home,”
she volunteereed. “My house will be open for friends and family. I’m going to cook at kung sino makaalala, pumunta na lang sa bahay. I also invited my co-stars in Kabisera. I have grown close to them, especially my producer RJ Agustin who also acts in the movie as one of my sons.” Alden Richards, Kristoffer Martin and Derrick Monasterio have also made their plans for Christmas. The three GMA Network heartthrobs have been friends since their “Tween Hearts” days, and are now busy with their respective projects. Alden is starting his series
“Destined To Be Yours” with Maine Mendoza. Derrick is riding high with his top-rating weekly fantasy-comedy series “Tsuperhero,” and Kristoffer is back with love teammate Joyce Ching for GMA Afternoon Prime’s “Hahamakin Ang Lahat.” Whenever these three Kapuso leading men see each other, guesting in a show usually, it’s never-ending bonding for them. Alden, Derrick and Kristoffer are all staying home for Christmas. Alden is excited because this will be his first Christmas in his new home in Laguna. Derrick will take
the opportunity to bond with his mom, his sisters and his nieces and nephews. Finally for Kristoffer, it’s been a tradition for him and his family to spend Christmas at their house in Olongapo. They have agreed to do one thing on Christmas, though—they will cook. Alden plans to grill steak for his family, and Derrick will cook his now signature pasta dish, while Kristoffer will cook prawns in peanut sauce. Even Rhian Ramos is set to invade the kitchen this Christmas. Despite her busy schedule Continued on Page 7 Alden Richards
Nora Aunor
Immigration Corner
Legal status: a wonderful Christmas gift for your family
from their family members for many years, because they have not done anything about their immigration situation. Yet if you AN important part of ask the family members back Christmas is buying gifts for home, they probably believe that loved ones. Filipinos are busy nothing that could be bought in filling their balikbayan boxes any store would mean as much as with pasalubong, to send to the family being together. their families “back home.” The If you have not yet done pasalubong may consist of anything about your immigration clothes, food items, electronics, or situation, and are spending yet other useful items, given as a way another lonely Christmas in the of “sharing one’s blessings.” U.S., maybe now is the right time However, many Filipinos forget to switch your spending priorities about what could be the most – from the usual balikbayan box important “gift” for their family items to the real gift a family members: legalizing their status, wants – being together in the or finding a way for their family U.S. Or at least make a New Year’s members to immigrate to the U.S. resolution to finally take steps to and be reunited, under the same either legalize your status and/or roof, not only during Christmas, bring your family to America. but all year round. I know that On behalf of myself and my some people have been separated law office, Maligayang Pasko sa
Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAGlAyA JOSHUA was excited with his new job at the inn. It sure beats having to herd sheep this time of the year when the cold nights chilled his bones on the hillside pasture where he tended his family’s small herd of sheep and cattle. The job fell to his younger brother this time. Jacob, the owner of the inn was his father’s friend who had asked if Joshua could help him mind the inn for a little while as he and his wife will be going on a long journey. Jacob liked and trusted Joshua like the son he never had. The young man was a good worker and a natural who quickly picked up the ropes of the business. Not long after, Jacob and his wife left for their journey to the town north of the country where they were born many miles away to comply with the Roman emperor Augustus’ decree that everyone be counted for the census. Few, if any, in Israel dared disobey the mighty Roman Empire. The inn was busy. People for miles around were on the
inyong lahat!
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***
Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
A Christmas story: The innkeeper’s untold tale ‘As he told the story of that wondrous night to Luke, Joshua carefully removed himself from the narrative. It was to be between him and God alone.” move going back to their own hometowns. The brisk business brought by overnight travellers in their otherwise sleepy town tired him out. Yet, he felt pretty proud of himself of the work he was doing. Today, just before sundown, he had filled the 12 modestly furnished rooms with tired and hungry travellers. He thought of meeting up with his shepherd friends in the pasture once he had turned over the inn’s affairs to the night attendant. He had heard his shepherd friends on night watch talk about an unusually bright star that has been moving in the heavens for many nights now. They said it was a spectacle to behold and he wanted to see it for himself. The rumor buzzing around town was that the soothsayers in King Herod’s palace studying the unusual heavenly display were cowering in fear, loathe to tell the
An Asian Journal
king the meaning of the unusual star. Eventually, they had to tell the king for nothing escapes him. Herod did not suffer fools gladly. The prophecy will come to pass. The king to rule all kings was to be born very soon within the kingdom. It was no wonder King Herod was in a vicious mood. Joshua thought the ruthless king would remove all threats to his kingship by all means fair or foul. It was bad enough he had to bow to the superior might of the Roman conquerors who had allowed him to be king within his territory. Just as Joshua was about to lock up for the night, a couple came in. The man, visibly tired and leaning on his staff with one hand, was supporting the woman who was heavy with child with his other hand. The woman looked to be in some pain. Still, Joshua Continued on Page 7
SHE TRIED TO COMPLY, BUT HER CASE WAS DENIED… A MOTHER’S DESPAIR AND AN ATTORNEY’S RESCUE ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF CITIZEN PINOY! Rowena and Mike came to the US in 2010 to build a better life. Rowena was sponsored as a teacher. As she was filing her third extension for her H1-B visa in 2016, the shocking news hit her. She was denied! Then her adjustment (green card) application was denied because, according to the USCIS, she worked a mere 14 days without the necessary DHS authorization. Three lawyers tried handling her case, to no avail, and her family was urging her to “give up” and return to the Philippines. She finally decided to consult with “the attorney of last hope,” Atty. MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL, in a last-ditch effort to be able to provide a better life for her children. Watch how Atty. Gurfinkel was able to solve the problem in a record 43 days, turning a disastrous denial into green cards for the entire family, on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Christmas Day at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.
The story of an early Christmas ‘Miracle’ this Christmas Day – on ‘Citizen Pinoy’ ROWENA and Mike came to the U.S. in 2010, after she was sponsored by her employer with an H-1B working visa. While Rowena struggled with the pain of leaving their two children behind, she knew her difficulties would eventually be rewarded with a better future for her family. The two children later joined them with H-4 visas, and Rowena did everything in her power to fully comply with U.S. immigration laws. While her labor certification (green card) case was being processed, she dutifully renewed her H-1B visa. However, on the third renewal, something went amiss: the renewal was denied. Her
attorney decided not to appeal, as her labor certification case was close to completion. But another disaster happened: her adjustment (green card) application was also denied because USCIS said because of the H-1B denial, she worked 14 days without proper DHS work authorization! Despite going to three different lawyers, spending lots of money on attorneys’ fees to salvage her case, and all the heartache and stress, no one could help her. Rowena was desperate. Her family was urging her to give up and return to the Philippines. But she wanted her children to have a better life with all the
opportunities the US offered. She finally consulted with leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel. Despite the complexity of the case, and the denials, the family was very optimistic their 4th attorney was truly “the attorney of last hope.” And true enough, Atty. Gurfinkel delivered within a record 43 days, getting green cards for the entire family, and securing a bettera future for Rowena’s children. Watch this early Christmas miracle on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” –– on Sunday 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers). (Advertising Supplement)
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On the PEP Front
People, Events, Places
John Ablaza’s fashion-for-a-cause takes a noteworthy leap
BoBBy T. yalong Fashion connoisseurs and those who have been in the field for the longest span of time believed that fashion takes two: style and wearability. Even globally patronized big name designers embraced the modish dictum brought about by the meticulous clamor of their avid clientele just to sustain assured stability in the international market. But for international Filipino fashion designer John ablaza, his designs defy the norm and seize to be more than just being trendy and wearable… his innovative forethought ruthlessly transcends further than just the ramp and the glossy pages of fashion magazines. he single-handedly treaded a different path other equally innovative designers in his league feared to trample upon or even attempted to undertake. John ascended to fame via his use of various sustainable and indigenous rawl materials and incorporated them in his couture creations --- his clever idea of introducing Philippine culture and arts to the fashion world. his detractors had even the notion that ablaza was ambitious… biting more than what he could chew and swallow but his innate
John Ablaza takes a bow with Samantha N Tshuma and Michael Galante
EMPLOYMENT
Ablaza meticulously replicates Dr. Jose Rizal’s original sleep wear
Don Jaime and Doña Bea Zobel De Ayala scrutinize Ablaza’s coffee tablebook RAMP DIVA FILIPINA. Photos courtesy of John Ablaza’s Facebook Page
ingenuity and stylish foresight proved them wrong. he’s featly armed with an unflinching fortitude to make it big in the international fashion scene in his own way…and he did! after having successfully invaded the key-cities of the Philippines, John dauntlessly captured the unanimous admiration of London, Bahrain, australia, Canada, and asian fashion capitals like hong-Kong and singapore. The indefatigable fashion guru found no time sitting on his laurels after receiving a multiplicity of plaudits and recognitions for his exceptionally unique world-class
fashion creations. The vociferous ovations he was accorded with only stirred and motivated him to deliver much better and the heartwarming accolades persistently stimulated his persevering ways to conscientiously explore and produce more quality goods. “For me, my art is something different from what my contemporaries do. My couture creations are not just for fashion shows…they’re conceptualized, designed, and constructed with a purpose--- to be integrated with the rich culture of my country for world-wide acknowledgement,” the low-key couturier uttered with
Samantha Tshuma, Miss Zimbabwe Tourism 2015, wears an embroidered top and netted skirt by Ablaza.
Madame Mithi Aquino Thomas treads the ramp in another Ablaza ethnic-inspired formal.
EMPLOYMENT
Fil-Am actor Michael Galante models a John Ablaza replica of Dr. Jose Rizal’s McFrlain winter coat
Filipino Eco-designer John C. Ablaza in black and white
John Ablaza frolics in the first snowfall in New York City
restrained self-pride. ablaza’s frame of creativity is predominantly inspired and fundamentally influenced by iberian culture. Like the old European region exploited by modern-day society, far-flung regions in the Philippines are the primary sources of ablaza’s indigenous (organic) materials, artifacts, and natural woven fabrics he used in his exquisitely crafted gowns. in his incessant desire to bring to the fore exceptionally rare materials that were often overlooked and considered unacceptable in the current civilization, ablaza scrupulously paved the way for the rediscovery of such while simultaneously generating sustenance and livelihood for the ethnic tribes of Mindoro, Baguio, Mindanao, and other tribal minorities. “These are one of the hardest working people that the government failed to give assistance. They are persevering and easy to train…especially the Mangyans of Mindoro and the artisans from Cebu. Despite of the fact that they’re unschooled and lacked up-to-date technical training,
they still deliver the best products that could easily put to shame skilled ones. There‘s actually a huge promising future for the Mangyan tribe’s artistry plus the fact that what they produce are rare,” John said. “The paucity of meticulously and intricately handcrafted pieces made from indigenous unprocessed resources easily earned acceptance from fashion connoisseurs and critics. They couldn’t believe that they (the gown materials and accessories) were made from abaca, buntal, wood beads, shells, cocowood, and other sources inconceivable to make,” he added with authority. The inspiring philanthropic endeavor of John ablaza has efficiently added more than just style and glamour to his every creation while promoting a good cause benefitting our less fortunate kababayans. ablaza’s fashion sense has served a much larger purpose other than just earning money selling his clothes. a genuine commitment is heartedly attached in every piece he makes that helps someone in need. in his innate capacity in providing the Mangyan tribes with sustainable livelihood, John doesn’t
want to feed them for a day or two but dexterously train them how to generate substantial income that could put a roof over their heads and support their families. “i believe in an ancient Chinese proverb: ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day…but teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ My advocacy is to share what i have been blessed with but not to the extent of spoonfeeding them. With proper training their creative skills are developed while giving them that feeling of recognition and belongingness,” he said, explaining the rationale in his continual partnership with the tribal minority. John ablaza’s career wasn’t limited to just designing ostentatiously fabulous garments. his being an archetypal arian (he was born on april 4) easily makes him noted for his creativity, vigor, and taking quick action on matters delegated to him. The constant inner drive pushed him to instantly get down to business once the Philippine national Centennial Commission sought after his creative expertise to recreate the national hero’s personal garments Continued on Page 6
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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY D Ec E m b E R 23, 20 1 6
Billy and Coleen set to take relationship to the next level Looks like noontime show “It’s showtime” is ending the year with a bang as two more of its hosts got engaged. Celebrity couple Coleen Garcia and Billy Crawford, tagged by netizens as “BiCol,” will walk the aisle after Billy popped the question on Tuesday evening, Dec. 20. Director Gino santos, who worked with Coleen in various projects, such as on independent film “#Y,” steamy drama movie “Ex With Benefits” and romance flick “Love me tomorrow,” shared the news on Instagram and sent his congratulatory message to the newly engaged couple. The director was also able to capture Billy’s proposal as well as Coleen’s engagement ring. The two have a ten-year age gap and have been together for almost three years now. He said Billy prepared for the engagement for more than a year. The “It’s showtime” couple’s
“It’s Showtime” alumni Coleen Garcia and Billy Crawford just got engaged.
engagement came after their colleague Anne Curtis made headlines after she and fiancé Erwan Heussaff recently announced their engagement during a trip to the United states in November. Coleen left the noontime show in January to focus on her other projects while Billy remained to be one of the show’s hosts. The actress,
however, denied that she will marry Billy this year. In April 2016, Billy said he got the blessing of Coleen’s father for the proposal. The actress, meanwhile, said there’s no rush to getting married. The couple has not released any official statement on their engagement yet. (Philstar.com)
Julia Barretto on becoming a serious actress By Gabbie
TaTad Philstar.com
“I DoN’T want people to think that I keep getting things because of my last name, because it’s really not that,” says Julia Barretto. With fire in her eyes and a certain surge of defiance she adds, “They think it’s so much easier for me to get jobs. It’s not. You can see it in my career that your last name will not get you places; it’s your performance, it’s the way you deliver that’s going to take you places.” What Barretto means when she speaks so candidly is the fact that her career trajectory has not been simple and straightforward. At the tender age of 19, Barretto already faced an uphill climb in the industry, with the simple matter of her last name. It’s not just belonging to a clan of women who’ve left indelible marks on the industry, but having a face that echoes some of their best features. To many, she is the ghost of the Barrettos’ past, making it more difficult to get away from her largerthan-life relations. “When I work, I really give 100 percent. But the credit always goes to my last name
“I just want to be appreciated and recognized as Julia. Julia who gave it her all, and Julia who earned this project because she did well — not because she’s a Barretto,” the young actress says. Philstar.com photo by Shaira Luna
still; it’s as if I didn’t put hard work into it. so one day, I just want to be appreciated and recognized as Julia. Julia who gave it her all, and Julia who earned this project because she did well — not because she’s a Barretto.” Aside from constant comparisons to her famous kin, Barretto also has to deal with being sized up against her peers. Her contemporaries include kathryn Bernardo and Liza soberano, who
she is also consistently weighed against. she finds herself up for many similar roles, then being slammed with unkind headlines about her career not exactly taking off or being left in the dust by the other girls. Barretto considers herself quite guarded and very careful about what she says, which one can tell straight off the bat when interviewing her, but in this case, she speaks frankly. “I’m so tired. I don’t want to deal with it anymore. I tell myself, ‘Get over it, stop looking at other people and look inside yourself. Everyone is so different, stop wasting your time comparing yourself to other people and being pressured by them.’” Barretto pauses thoughtfully. “I have this understanding and belief that it’s destiny. You can’t compare yourself to other people. Their path and your path are very different and you’re not going to end up in the same place as everybody. You have to focus on your path, because if you focus on what’s meant for other girls, you’re going to end up just like everybody else. That’s not what you want. You want to make something of yourself.”
An Asian Journal
99 Ranch Market spreads its wings to Edison, New Jersey
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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY D Ec E m b E R 23, 20 1 6
Consulate general, tourism office, and travel sector partners hold yearend appreciation event neW YoRk, nY – on a night recognizing tourism milestones in honor of new York and new Jersey based travel agents, air carriers, and partners who helped boost tourism to the Philippines in 2016, consul General Ma. theresa Dizon-De Vega joined Philippine Department of tourism new York (PDot nY) oIc Zeny Pallugna and Gateway travel tours (Gtt), represented by Managing Director eliza chung and Sales Manager Rowena Lipa, in welcoming 80 guests to a year-end holiday party held at evergreen Restaurant in new York city last December 19. also present were Mr. Manny Ilagan of Majestic Vacation, one of PDotnY’s tour operator partners and consul Felipe cariño, head of the consulate’s economic Section. In her remarks, consul General Dizon-De Vega said that the Philippine economy is among the brightest spots in the asian region,registering a growth rate of 7.1% in the third quarter this year, the highest in asia, and is poised to surpass the tourism goal of 6 million arrivals in 2016 after posting double digit growth compared to the same period last year. the Duterte administration has embarked on significant investments in infrastructure like roads, airports, and sea ports that is expected to provide convenience for more travelers, thus boosting domestic and international tourism and dispersing economic growth
Philippine Airlines Manager Michelle Narvaex and Charisse Arboleda present a round-trip air ticket to the Philippines to a lucky winner during the raffle draw.
to the provinces and sub-cities, she added. Dot Representative Zeny Pallugna noted the importance of growing partnerships between PDot and travel operators, associations, air carriers, and agents that is helping push the Philippines as a destination among travel-savvy asian americans who are traveling to asia for sight-seeing, shopping, and other travel experiences. the Philippines remains a sought after destination, attracting people from different parts of the world because of its pristine beaches and islands – three of which, Boracay (#1), Palawan (#2), and cebu (#5) were recognized in conde nast traveler’s List of 2016 Best Islands in World – as well as its scenic dive spots and aqua sports and local food and attractions, she added.
the country’s flag carrier, Philippine airlines, represented by its country Manager Michelle narvaez and charisse arboleda as well as representatives from airline partners such as korean air, asiana, Delta, Qatar airways, eva air, china Southern, and china airlines graced the occasion and gave away several round trip tickets to the Philippines, the US, and europe as raffle prizes to lucky travel agents that night. the PDot nY is intensifying its campaign to boost tourism to the Philippines among mainstream americans. a key factor is supporting and entering into collaborative partnerships with airlines and travel operators and agents to push for the Philippines as a top destination by creating attractive and reasonable travel packages to asia and the Philippines.
99 Ranch MaRket is a leading asian american supermarket chain that has been around for over 30 years, serving thousands of consumers from adventurous food seekers to busy parents and households. headquartered in Buena Park, california, 99 Ranch Market proudly operates over 42 stores on the West coast and in nevada and texas. the supermarket chain was founded in 1984 in Westminster, california by Mr. Roger chen, who noticed a lack of local chinese specialty merchandises and home style foods native to taiwan and china. Mr. chen’s desire to bring a taste of home to the United States has led to the success and rapid growth of 99 Ranch Market today, where the market is an attractive and bustling stop for countless overseas immigrants and culinary enthusiasts alike, all who want a taste of quality food from the asian countries. 99 Ranch Market has prided itself on being a “window to the best of asian and international cuisine,” and the company has made strides towards that goal by creating a more international supermarket to suit american and asian palates alike, with hundreds of thousands of mainstream and specialty products in store. By the end of 2016, 99 Ranch Market will have 33 stores in california, 2 in Washington State, 2 in nevada, and 5 in texas, making 99 Ranch Market the largest growing asian american supermarket chain in the United States! as consumer demand for unique specialty foods grows and immigrant patterns migrate across the country, 99 Ranch Market is proud to announce the business development on the east coast,
Health@Heart
Consul General Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivers her welcome remarks by thanking tour operators and agents, composed mainly of Filipinos, for pushing travel to Philippines in 2016.
PDOT’s Zeny Pallugna provides a snapshot of the travel to the Philippines.
Calendar of Events across
America
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS D EC E M B E R 23
Simbang Gabi at St. Brendan Church in Los Angeles Everyone is invited to Simbang Gabi at St. Brendan Church in Los Angeles at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 23. The church is located at 310 S. Van Ness Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90020. For more information, please call (323) 936-4656.
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4th Annual Rizal Day in Carson and 120th Martyrdom Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal Let us honor our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. on Thursday, December 29, through a wreath-laying ceremony in the City of Carson – home to the very first full size statue of Dr. Jose Rizal in Southern California. Unveiled in 2012, the 8 feet bronze statue (on top of a 7-foot granite pedestal) is the first and only monument to be installed in the International Sculpture Garden of the City of Carson. The 4th Annual Rizal Day in Carson and Commemoration of the 120th Martyrdom Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal is organized by the Philippine Consulate General – Los Angeles, Dr. Jose P. Rizal Monument Movement, Kalayaan Inc., Knights of Rizal, in collaboration with the City of Carson. Light refreshments will be available at 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. This one-hour program promptly starts at 9:00 a.m. The ceremony will be held at Carson International Sculpture Garden at 801 E. Carson Street, Carson, CA 90745. For more information, please call: Councilmember Elito M. Santarina (310)952-1713; Riezl Pe Benito (310)952-1743; Chito Mandap (626) 823-8752; Wilma Bautista (213) 637-3031.
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Grand Park + The Music Center in Los Angeles host New Year’s Eve celebration Los Angeles will put its mark on New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world as Angelenos join together with friends and family to share their hopes, dreams and resolutions for 2017 at the fourth annual Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A. The West Coast’s flagship New Year’s celebration will feature three stages with live music, DJs and dancing throughout the night; large scale inflatable art; and 3D digital video mapping on City Hall along with an integrated light show to count down to the new year in true L.A. style. The free family-friendly event, which attracts thousands from all over Southern California and beyond, reinforces Downtown Los Angeles as a destination for a grand-scale New Year’s Eve experience. Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A. takes place from 8:00 p.m. on December 31, 2016 to 1:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day, and will cover 90 acres from The Music Center Plaza to City Hall (Hope Street to Spring Street) and from Temple Street to 2nd Street. More than 50,000 people are expected to attend. For more information about Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A., visit grandparkla.org/nyela or musiccenter. org/nyela.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS aS the happiest season of the year, religious and secular, comes around, we present some interesting facts about christmas. the Philippines, most likely the country with the greatest christmas spirit, celebrates christmas the longest and most festive, starting from September where the streets, stores, and some homes, are already decorated in preparation for christmas. of the 102,250,133 population of the Philippines, there are about 90 percent christians, 80 percent of them catholics. the tradition is from the influence of the Spanish colonial years, from the 16th to the 19th century. about 30-35 million real christmas trees are sold annually in the United States. there are 21,000
with the opening of the flagship store in new Jersey in 2017. the first new Jersey store for 99 Ranch Market will be open in the city of edison. Located on US 1 avenue, the new store is set inside the Wick Shopping Plaza, which is convenient to find, yet full of eateries and retail shops. a fully redesigned interior for 99 Ranch Market edison provides 60,000 square feet of comfortable grocery shopping, where the freshest produce, meat, seafood, and hottest imported snacks, sauces, and specialty goods will be available daily. a bakery will be open to provide freshly baked breads, pastries, and cakes to make every day shopping trip a special occasion. not to be overlooked, a gourmet asian hot deli will also be in-store, serving asian delicacies such as roast ducks, barbequed items and cantonese style dim sum, ensuring a real taste of the authentic asian food! Stellar customer service is always a priority at 99 Ranch Market, and each store location is proud to provide a customer oriented shopping environment. the edison store will be no
exception, with friendly and helpful in-store staff prompt and at attention for all customers’ needs. to top it all off, 99 Ranch Market’s aggressive competitive pricing and fast integration of ever-evolving technology will help propel the shopping and check out process to be even more convenient than ever for customers. Be sure to join 99 Ranch Market in celebrating the grand opening of the edison store in new Jersey; the grand opening date is to be announced in the local media shortly. 200 free gifts will be given to the first 200 customers on the grand opening day! as the wind blows towards the east, 99 Ranch Market anticipates serving edison as well as many cities and communities of the east coast in the future to come. For the latest information on the edison store grand opening, please refer to major newspapers and media advertisements or visit http://www.99ranch.com. 99 Ranch Market edison Store is located at 561 US 1, edison, nJ 08817 (Advertising Supplement)
All about Christmas christmas tree growers in the United States, and trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold. obviously, hundreds of millions are sold around the world. not to mention the artificial trees. Did you know that between 1659 to 1681, the celebration of christmas was illegal in Boston, USa and law-breakers were fined 5 shillings (about 27? US dollars), a lot of money then. christmas is celebrated today in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches 13 days after the 25th, popularly known as the epiphany or three kings Day, the day the three wise men found Jesus in the manger. christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucous in the Middle ages, much like today’s Mardi Gras parties, except that they were destructive, “free from arrests during the season.” Definitely pagan rituals. christmas legally became a federal holiday in the United States
on June 26, 1870. there were 69,470,686 registered catholics in the United States (22 percent of the U.S. population) as of 2015. the 2016 U.S. population is 324,118,787. kris kringle in the early United States was changed by Dutch settlers in america to “Sinterklass,” (we now know as Santa claus), actually from St. nicholas, who was generous with gifts to a lot of people before he died. St nick was born in Patara (asia Minor) and went to Myra (now Demre in turkey), where he became a bishop. he died on the 6th of December between a.D. 326 and 341. In 1828, Joel R. Poinsett, an american minister to Mexico brought home the red and green plant from Mexico. that festive plant we know today as Poinsettia. as a gimmick to attract customers to Montgomery Ward department stores, writer Robert L. May invented “Rudolph, the most Continued on Page 7
John Ablaza’s fashion-for-a-cause...
From Page 4 and accessories for a travelling museum. “It was a gargantuan task but the prestige and honor that went with it was as enormous. Imagine I had to replicate eight different suits (from his travel suits to his execution wardrobe) where I painstakingly chose the nearestto-the-novel fabrics and tailored them as original as possible. and what made the course of action so pressuring and stressful was the day-to-day documentation of the entire process…from designing, cutting, sewing, and finishing. But no complaint… I truly felt privileged to have been singled out from among the numerous designers around,” he related with a tone of conceit. appropriately advertised as: “awakening Filipino patriotism and inspiring generation of heroes through a traveling Museum, Documentary, and Forum…, the Jose Rizal traveling Museum has journeyed far and wide. after its remarkable exposures nationwide and in asian key-cities, the traveling museum opened overseas for public viewing: from arizona State University in Phoenix, arizona to europe (London, Belgium, Switzerland), canada, and other countries. Indeed, ablaza has also journeyed distantly and extensively. For a backgrounder I asked John ablaza series of question that could effectually establish his standing in the fashion industry and his inevitable plight as an eco-couture fashion designer. Asian Journal (AJ): Why did you choose to be a fashion designer other than any field of interest?
John ablaza (Ja): I was already interested in artsy and crafty stuffs even as a child. My grandmother was into sampaguita garland business and I used to help her from gathering flowers, sewing them into garlands, and selling. then during free time, I would sketch and copy figures from fashion magazines and calendars…until such time when I grew up and realized I was leaning towards fashion designing. My family was supportive of my inclination. I formally took illustration classes from Premiere School of Fashion & arts… but I finished horticulture from Dela Salle araneta. AJ: Would you remember your first ever professional work as a fashion designer? Ja: It was a wedding entourage. there was hesitation and tension at first but my driven dedication to my career expunged all fears and fortified my vision. excitement enveloped my whole being when I saw my creations during the wedding ceremony. the feeling was ecstatic especially when I received commendation for my work. I would like to think that I was already made! AJ: What sort of style do people usually relate you to? Ja: even from my early years as a fashion designer I was already into the use of natural fabric and my style was purely of Filipino artistry. now, after years of being associated with natural materials and beads, they now label me as an eco-Designer. AJ: How long have you been in the industry? Ja: Well, I will be celebrating my three decades in the fashion business next year…and I think I still
have to deliver more…there are still great ideas crowding on my mind! AJ: When, for you, was the Golden Years of fashion in the Philippines? Ja: I would say, during the years when the former First Lady Imelda Marcos was at the helm of the fashion industry. the Philippine terno saw the best years of its exposure and senior fashion designers then were very much involved in the promotion of Philippine-styled gowns and Barong tagalog. AJ: In your 30 years as a fashion designer, what would you consider your biggest achievements? Ja: oh, a lot! aside from my successful fashion shows, with special mention of the launching of my Bowtie collection in arizona in 2014 and my latest new York city fashion show that was made possible through the munificence of Madam Mithi aquino thomas, wife of the US ambassador to Zimbabwe, that showcased talents and materials from Zimbabwe. I should also say the Jose Rizal traveling Museum sponsored by the Philippine national centennial commission and the launching of my 100-page coffee table book ‘Ramp Diva: Filipina’ which featured high fashion Filipina models from the 70s to 2000. But my advocacy of promoting natural Philippine fabrics and selflessly sharing what I know to deserving potential designers and craftsmen tops the list among my numerous achievements. For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@ yahoo.com.
Pinoy celebs share...
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From Page 2 promoting her MMFF movie “Saving Sally,” Rhian is really determined on making good her promise to her family to cook their Christmas feast. “Dati nagpapabili lang ako ng food but this time, I will do the cooking. I’ve learned a lot from our cooking show Taste Buddies. I’ll start with appetizers muna because those are the ones that are easy,” Rhian beamed. Meanwhile, brother and sister Sanya Lopez and Jak Roberto will go home to their ancestral home in Bulacan. It’s been a family tradition that every Christmas, they go home to their nearby province to be with their grandparents and other relatives. “But this time will be a little different. Since Sanya and I are both earning, we’re giving more gifts. We always look forward to Christmas because we always have a grand time bonding with our cousins,” said Jak. This is the first Christmas that Jennylyn Mercado is celebrating without her Mommy Lydia who passed away in November. The Kapuso Ultimate Star said it will be a sad Christmas for her but that doesn’t mean she will not celebrate. “We will celebrate it the way we celebrated it when Mama was still with us. I grew up celebrating Christmas with lots of food and gifts. I want to continue the tradition that Mama started and that’s how I want to pass it on to Jazz,” Jen enthused. Last year, Jen cooked almost all the dishes for Noche Buena but this year, she will let her helpers do the cooking with her supervision. “First time kong ginawa yung magluto ng maraming putahe for Christmas. I don’t want to do it again. It’s so
Sunshine Dizon
A Christmas story: The innkeeper’s... From Page 3
Rhian Ramos
tiring. But I will be the one to list down all the food that will be cooked. Siyempre kasama na do’n lahat ng food that my son Jazz loves.” “Ika-6 Na Utos” leading man Gabby Concepcion has already left for the States to join his family in celebrating the holidays. Despite his busy schedule doing two shows, as he is also part of “Tsuperhero,” Gabby and his family had long planned their Christmas bonding in San Francisco. He will have to be away from them just for a little bit because Gabby has a concert somewhere in California before New Year. He will be back in Manila first week of January too to resume taping for his shows. Also an “Ika-6 na Utos” star, Sunshine Dizon will play Santa Claus to her two children, a role her estranged husband used to do. It’s her first time to play St. Nick for her kids and they’re gifts are all ready under the tree, which they can’t wait to open. Of course, the actress will also celebrate Christmas with her Mommy Dorothy who has always been there for Shine and the children. The superb villain in “Ika-6 Na Utos,” Ryza Cenon, will be a Good Samaritan this Christmas as she has been doing ever since entering show business. Every Christmas Eve, she cooks food, packs them in individual servings, and in the evening, before 12 midnight strikes, she takes to the streets to share her blessings with the homeless. “It’s only once a year that we celebrate Christmas. I believe one of the best ways to celebrate the birth of the Savior is by sharing our blessings. Since I live alone, I’ve decided to do this every Christmas.” Ryza will have some help though distributing Noche Buena this year because her sister is coming home from abroad. And of course on Christmas Day, she may just get a surprise visit from boyfriend Cholo Barretto.
All about Christmas From Page 6
famous reindeer of all,” in 1939, with a poem about reindeers. The famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting tradition was started in 1931. The Christmas tree tradition actually started by Germany in the 16th century when Christians decorated pine trees in their homes as a part of the Christmas season. The Vikings in Scandinavia considered evergreens as special plant of the sun god, Balder. Ever heard of Christmas Disease? Christmas Diseases has nothing to do with the Christmas season. Christmas Disease is a blood disease, also known as Hemophilia B or factor IX hemophilia. It is a hereditary bleeding disorder due to deficiency in coagulation factor IX. This condition is X-linked recessive inheritance, affecting only males, and occurs in 1 in 100,000 male births. This illness causes spontaneous bleeding in the joints. What is Christmas Blues? Christmas Blues is a form of mild depression (called Seasonal Affective Disorders, or SAD for short) that happens to some of us, normal and healthy people, during the Christmas season or other festive family occasions. Empty nest syndrome, where the grown up or married children have left home, creating an empty and lonely feeling in the parents, especially the mothers, is one such type of emotion that is magnified by family occasions like Christmas, New Year, birthdays, etc. Frequent visits from the children or family reunions during the holidays minimize these “blues” and provide a sense of parental security and happiness, especially among the elderly parents. The other common cause of this extreme sadness is poor financial situation in life, where selfpity, panic, a sense of hopelessness and helplessness prevail especially on a holiday like Christmas. How long could food be left safely at room temperature? Different types of food have different “spoilage time.” Fresh fish, processed meat, cream-filled pastries, custards, fruits salads, noodles (pancit), food cooked with tomatoes provide good media for bacterial growth after more than 6 hours of exposure to room temperature, depending on how warm the ambient temperature is. Common food contaminants are Staphylococcus Aureus, E. Coli, and Amoeba, and water contaminants are (non-typhoidal) Salmonella and Shigella. Staphylococcal Food Poisoning is due to the enterotoxins produced by the Staph bacteria. Some dishes, like adobo or paksiw could last for even a week in room temperature without spoiling, unless
contaminated by handlers. The prudent thing to do is to refrigerate the left overs as soon as the meal is completed. Those who do not have a refrigerator should not cover the food airtight, since this will not allow the food “to breathe” and would tend to increase the heat and pressure, leading to a much shorter “spoilage time.” If using a plastic wrap, poke a few holes on it to allow for a better ventilation. Keep the food in the refrigerator, an ice box, or in the coldest part of the house, and eat it within 24 hours. What is Chinese Food Syndrome? This condition could sometimes mimic a heart attack. It causes chest pains, facial pressure, and burning sensations throughout the body, sometimes with dizziness or fainting. This phenomenon is a pharmacologic reaction to monosodium glutamate (MSG or betsin), a popular white powder food seasoning used in cooking. The symptoms are not really due to an allergic reaction and is dose-related. Most people are not bothered by MSG, but some react to it more severely. Although death is very rare with this syndrome, a surgeon classmate of mine, who was attending a meeting in Nice, France, several years ago, had so violent a reaction after ingesting Chinese food with monosodium glutamate that he expired within an hour thereafter. Those who develop any of the four symptoms enumerated above after eating food cooked with MSG should clearly request chefs or cooks in restaurants, at home, or anywhere else, not to use MSG in preparing their food. Because of this syndrome, most Chinese (and other) restaurants today no longer use MSG. If in doubt, ask the manager or waiters, and instruct them accordingly. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, let us remember His teachings and embrace our suffering fellowmen with compassion and care during this sacred season of sharing. That is the best gift we can give ourselves. Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with love, good health, joy, peace, prosperity, and a long life to enjoy them. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY d Ec E m b E R 23, 20 1 6
noted the stately calm, grace and beauty about her. There was this mysterious glow. The man asked Joshua for a room and told him his wife was about to give birth. Alas, the last room has been let and Joshua told him so. Joshua glanced at the woman and his heart was filled with pity. He thought quickly of his own home for them to stay for the night but it was some distance away. He had to think and act quickly. It looks like the woman was about to give birth at any moment. Joshua had seen to his own mother at childbirth. He had helped his own father deliver some of his brothers himself. “Maybe, I have something for you. It’s not much but it would get you through this cold night at least,” he told the couple. “Come with me.” Joshua gathered some blankets and sheets quickly. He gave instructions to his attendant to heat water. He then gathered food and other provisions. He moved in haste leading the couple to an empty stable a few yards at the back of the inn. Earlier in the day before the sun was up, he took to clearing the stable himself. He didn’t know why he did it. But now he was glad he did so. He thought the squalid
stable with its walls and roof can shield this poor couple from the cold night as the woman delivers her child. Joshua gave the man the blankets and clean sheets, the warm water and some extra oil for the lamp to burn through the night. He set a makeshift table for the bread, fish and wine and lit the lamp in one corner. He moved quickly as he helped the man make his wife comfortable. He could see the woman’s face etched in pain for the birth pangs seem to be stronger now. Beads of sweat lined the woman’s brow. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to meet up with his friends tonight. Somehow he knew his place was right here where he was needed for the long night ahead. Just before he went back to the inn to fetch a few more things, he said to them, “I’m Joshua. Let me know if you need anything else.” The man replied, “I’m Joseph and this is Mary. Thank you. You have done more than you can possibly know. The Lord’s light burns bright in you.” Mary looked up at Joshua and smiled through her pain. For as long as he lived, Joshua will never forget that smile. Mary’s child was born that night. Joshua could not remember
struck a friendship with a man called Luke, a physician who was a regular guest at the inn. He observed that the thoughtful, quiet Luke was a night more filled with wonder, mystery and myriad points of light. always writing in rolls of papyrus in his room. It was a night like no other. Not wanting to keep the Joshua’s entire being was engulfed with the mystery happening before wonders of that night to be forgotten when he passed, Joshua his very eyes. He remembered told the story to Luke. As he told the Mary wrapping her child gently in story of that wondrous night, Joshua swaddling clothes and placing the carefully removed himself from the child in a manger. The child was narrative. It was to be between him bathed in light. The whole stable was filled with warmth. Soft, sweet and God alone. Joshua’s life was never the same music seem to emanate from a choir of angels above the stable and again. The light of that bright night a sweet heavenly fragrance wafted burned in his soul forever. He could not have known at the time he through the air. Joshua’s shepherd friends came was witness to the unfolding of the greatest mystery on earth. to visit the child. How could they *** have known? His friends told him HAVE A VERY MERRY that an angel told them about the CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY READERS!!! good news. They were led to the Here’s my Christmas prayer to stable where they found the child. one and all. Filled with awe, they knelt May everyday of your life be before the child who was to be Christmas Day. May Christmas fill king. Later on that night, three your hearts and homes with the men garbed in royal splendor and myriad points of light, love and joy! bearing gifts of gold, frankincense May we always remember God and myrrh travelling from afar, came to pay the child homage. They showed His love for us when Jesus Christ was born and lived among us had been following the bright star more than two thousand years ago hovering about the heavens for so those of us who believe may have many nights leading them to that eternal life. dusty town called Bethlehem. *** Many years later in his old age, the memory of that night Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian still stayed with Joshua. He had Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, eremained the innkeeper. He had mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY dEcEmbER 23, 2016