New york:new jersey march 17 23, 2017

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Volume10 – Issue 25 • 16 Pages

MA R C H 1 7 - 2 3 , 2 0 1 7

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Palace: Impeachment rap meant to discredit Duterte administration Malacañang insists president didn’t commit any impeachable offense by neStor

CorraleS

Inquirer.net

the impeachment complaint against President rodrigo Duterte is part of the destabilization plot against the Chief executive, malacañang said thursday, march 16. Questioning the timing of the filing, Presidential spokesperson ernesto Abella said the complaint filed by magdalo Party-list rep. Gary Alejano was merely trying to “discredit the administration.” “It does seem like part of

larger scheme of things. It just seems dramatic because everything is so well-coordinated at this stage,” Abella said in a Palace briefing. “Well, it just seems rather dramatic that everything seems to be so coordinated at this stage with acts of trying to discredit the administration and trying to throw doubt,” he added. the Palace official said Duterte did not commit any impeachable offense. “first and foremost no treason, betrayal of trust, bribery, graft and corruption, high crime and

culpable violation of the Constitution has been committed. We reiterate that so called extrajudicial (killings) are not state-sponsored and the President has made sure that he will not turn a blind eye to all uniformed personnel who violate and abuse their power,” he said. “No one is truly above the law, not even the President, but the administration upholds due process and is ready for the consequences of his actions and takes consideration above all the interest of the filipino people,” he added. n

DINNER WITH DUTERTE. President Rodrigo Duterte shares an “intimate” dinner with 15 members of the Senate majority block. It was an informal, “purely socials” gathering but Duterte somehow managed to make a “subtle” push for the death penalty when he met with 15 senators Tuesday night. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and another senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the issue was mentioned in passing by the President. Photo from Sen. JV Ejercito’s Instagram account

Cayetano likely to Orgies in Manila, lavish perks not replace Yasay as mark US Navy bribery scandal DATELINE USA Filipinos advised foreign affairs chief from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

to remain vigilant of imposter scams

CoNsUmers in the United states lost a whopping $744 million to scams in 2016, according to the latest federal trade Commission (ftC) report. that number could go up this year, especially considering what’s happening in the news with the executive orders on immigration and proposed legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). “fraud tends to follow the headlines. What’s in the headlines is something that is likely to be transformed into some kind of a fraud,” monica Vaca, acting associate director of the ftC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, told reporters during a recent press call.

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

seNAtor Alan Peter Cayetano is reportedly not going to replace Perfecto Yasay Jr. as the new Philippine Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) secretary. President rodrigo Duterte previously offered the DfA chief post to Cayetano, who was also his running mate in the national election last may. he appointed foreign Undersecretary for Policy enrique manalo as the acting foreign secretary after the Commission on Appointments’ (CA) rejected Yasay’s nomination for the post. When asked about the foreign secretary post, the president said on monday, march 13 that the issue has yet to be discussed. “Nothing, we haven’t talked about it. But, you know, senator Cayetano is a very brilliant man. he would be needed by the senate. Don’t discount him,” Duterte told reporters in mixed filipino.

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allegedly carried out by the Navy’s highest-ranking officers,” Acting U.s. Attorney Alana A NeW indictment unsealed robinson said in a statement. in san Diego, California on the indictment claims that tuesday, march 14, added nine the defendants helped former high-ranking U.s. Navy offi- Glenn Defense marine Asia cials, including retired Admiral (GDmA) chief executive LeonBruce Loveless, in connection ard Glenn francis, also nickwith the so-called “fat Leon- named as “fat Leonard,” to pull ard” bribery scandal. off a colossal fraud that cost the the latest federal indictment U.s. government tens of milcharged Loveless, four retired lions of dollars by overcharging Navy captains, a marine colo- food, water, fuel and other supnel and three others of taking plies. bribes – in the forms of sex parthe Navy officers were facing ties with prostitutes, extrava- cases of bribery, conspiracy to gant dinners, and luxury travel commit bribery, honest services – in exchange for trading mili- fraud and obstruction of justice tary secrets. and making false statements to “this is a fleecing and be- federal investigators when contrayal of the United states Navy fronted about their actions. in epic proportions, and it was “the alleged conduct

Deciphering the CBO estimates on the GOP health bill

by AJPress

24 million more people to be without insurance in a decade

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‘Madam Secretary’ airs controversial episode despite PH Embassy protest

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the Congressional Budget office is out with its estimate of the effect that the republican health bill, “the American health Care Act,” would have on the nation’s health care system and how much it would cost the federal government. the GoP plan is designed to partially repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act passed during the obama administration. Here are some of the CBO highlights: —$337 billion reduction in the deficit. that’s CBo’s estimate over the next decade. that takes into account both decreased government spending in the form of less help to

amounts to a staggering degree of corruption by the most prominent leaders of the seventh fleet – the largest fleet in the U.s. Navy – actively worked together as a team to trade secrets for sex, serving the interests of a greedy foreign defense contractor, and not those of their own country,” robinson added. the indictment mentioned two Philippine hotels as the settings for the wild sex parties, citing manila hotel’s macArthur suite and shangri-La hotel. It said that francis hosted and paid for a lavish party and the services of prostitutes in the macArthur suite of the manila hotel, during a port call to the Philippines by the Uss Blue

WOMEN’S MONTH. The 2017 Distinguished Women honorees (from left) Maria Torres-Springer, former president and CEO of NYC EDC and now the Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development; Womensphere CEO and Founder Analisa Leonor Balares; Ali Ewoldt, Broadway artist and first Asian American Christine Daae of Phantom of the Opera and CBS News anchor and correspondent Elaine Quijano, with Consul General Tess Dizon de Vega moderating the panel. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

DesPIte the protest by the Philippine embassy in Washington, CBs Corporation still aired the latest episode of American television series “madam secretary” on sunday, march 12. the Philippine embassy earlier called on CBs to take “necessary corrective actions,” following a “highly negative depiction” of a supposed Philippine president on the American tV series. Based on its trailer, the season 3, episode 15 of “madam secretary” showed fictional Philippine President Datu Andrada (played by Joel de la fuente) clad in a barong and is seen to be making sexual advances toward the lead character, U.s. secretary of state elizabeth mcCord (played

by téa Leoni), during a private meeting to discuss an Asia-Pacific territory treaty. In response to the inappropriate move, mcCord reflexively punches Andrada in the face and bloodies his nose. she then tells her husband (played by tim Daly), “I clobbered a world leader instead of saving a major regional agreement.”

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A MARCH 17-23, 2017 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From the Front Page

Cayetano likely to not replace Yasay as…

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While a final decision about the role has yet to be made, Duterte noted that the DFA can be headed by an acting secretary in the meantime. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella echoed that, saying Manalo will continue to hold the position. Sought for comments, Cayetano remarked on Tuesday, March 15 that he is willing to wait for Duterte’s final decision. “The preference of the president during the campaign was for me to join the Cabinet. Now the need changes, we have bills that we want to be passed in the Senate, so I’m helping out,” Cayetano said. Reiterating that the call is up to Duterte, the senator added: “So I told him, ‘Boss, don’t decide yet. Later on, sometime in April and May, whatever your needs will be at that time, I’ll follow you.’ I’m dedicated to helping ensure the success of the administration.” PROBING ROAD ACCIDENTS. Senator Grace Poe (2nd from left), chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, listen to Senate Majority “It’s a few months away. Duterte’s often asked Leader Tito Sotto (left) during an inquiry into the accident that claimed the lives of 15 students from Bestlink College of the Philippines me, but I toss the question back to him. I tell him, last February 20, 2017. According to initial investigation, the students were en-route to a medical and survival training for their National ‘Don’t give me a choice. Be the one to tell me Service Training Program in Tanay, Rizal, when the bus lost its brakes while traversing a curved highway before hitting an electrical post where I can help,’” Cayetano said. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and a tree. Also in photo are, from right, Senators Migz Zubiri and JV Ejercito. Senate photo by Albert Calvelo On March 8, the CA foreign affairs committee unanimously voted to reject Yasay’s ad interim government had rendered him “not qualified to appointment for “not telling the truth” and for become a U.S. citizen” in January 1987. “not being forthright in the question and answer But at the second hearing, Yasay admitted portion of the two hearings.” that he became a U.S. citizen in 1986. He exPAGE A1 t ing another tweet that links to a “tracks and mirrors current During the first confirmation hearing on Febru- plained that he said his U.S. citizenship was Entitled “Break in Diploma- Mashable news article entitled, events.” ary 22, Yasay denied that he became a U.S. citi- null and void because the U.S. Immigration and “It is, therefore, inevitable that zen when asked by Occidental Mindoro Rep. Jose- Nationality Act “provides that anyone who has cy,” the prompted backlash from “People are furious that ‘Madam Filipino officials and supporters Secretary’ will feature a lecher- its depiction of world leaders will phine Ramirez-Sato about his citizenship. preconceived intent to abandon his residency have an impact on how its audiof President Rodrigo Duterte. ous Filipino president.” Under oath, Yasay also claimed that he “never at the time of application is disqualified to that Earlier on March 6, the Phil- ence views the real personages held any American passport,” saying that the U.S. grant.” n In a later scene in the episode, Andrada is seen wearing a plaid ippine Embassy said that the and the countries they reprepolo shirt, drawing a strong con- “highly negative portrayal” of sent,” the statement added. Asked if Duterte found the nection to the piece of clothing the Filipino president not only insulting, Philippine casts doubt on the respectabil- trailer commonly worn by Duterte. While CBS has yet to issue any ity of the Office of the Philippine Presidential Spokesman Ernesto warning communities to be and fees for each one. Failure to statements as of this writing, Le- President but also “denigrates Abella said: “Well, they engage PAGE A1 t Vaca is urging consumers to wary of individuals who pre- display these signs should be an oni wrote on her Twitter account: the way our nation navigates for- in something that they would like to — It’s their business. It’s their stay updated with the news “for tend to be “immigration con- indicator to customers not to do “Funny, I had someone else in eign affairs.” Though the show is a work craft. You cannot deny them their a clue on where we might see sultants,” who often defraud business with this individual. mind… #relaxduerte (sic).” consumers by charging fees for fraudsters hitting next.” “Even if they are registered In her post, Leoni was quot- of fiction, the embassy said it craft. Their taste, perhaps.” n From last year, out of the 1.3 illegal or misleading services. and bonded, that only means Some examples include that they can provide only non-legal million fraud reports the FTC received, debt collection topped they claim to have inside con- advice type of services. They can with immigration complete forms, translate docuthe complaint list. It was fol- nections imposing, for the first time, a lowed by imposter scams and agencies or encourage consum- ments and submit the package that year under current law.” PAGE A1 t —15 to 20 percent increase in cap on federal contributions to identity theft. 77 percent of the ers to lie on their applications, to the United States Citizenship individuals to purchase insurance and Immigration Services (USand lower payments to states for 2018 premiums, but relief would the program for those with low individuals who reported their according to the department. Rigoberto Reyes, chief of in- CIS), but they may not tell the fraud experiences said they the Medicaid program. It also in- follow. Monthly costs for insur- incomes. —14 million fewer Medicaid were contacted by phone, while vestigations at the DCBA, told customer whether they qualify cludes decreased revenues from ance would go up at first, due to the repeal of the taxes imposed the elimination of the require- enrollees by 2026. That’s 17 per- 8 percent were by email and 3 the Asian Journal that if im- [for citizenship], how they will migrants — whether a legal qualify and what to do to qualby the ACA to pay for the new ment for most people to have in- cent fewer than projected under percent were by mail. permanent resident or undocu- ify — that only an attorney or Red flags surance or else pay a tax penalty. current law. The projection inbenefits. The scammers would usu- mented — are seeking advice Board of Immigration Appeals—24 million more people with- After 2018, CBO estimates that cludes people who are currently out insurance in a decade. The average premiums would actu- eligible and would lose coverage, ally con their victims into send- from an individual, they should certified non-profit organizafederal budget experts estimate ally drop by 10 percent by 2026 as well as people who might have ing money via wire transfer, as verify if he or she is actually a tion can do,” Reyes said. He added that the immigration that people will lose insurance compared to current law. That become eligible if more states, as evidenced by 58 percent of the licensed attorney. If not an attorney, he or she consultant must give customers and that drop will begin quickly. is because the lower prices for expected, expanded coverage cases. On average, consumers must be registered and bonded a written contract in English/ In 2018, they say 14 million more younger people would encourage under the ACA. CBO projects lost $450. “If someone is telling you to with the California Secretary of their native language (i.e. Tagapeople would join the ranks of more to sign up. By contrast, the that is unlikely to happen now. —95 percent of people who wire money, it should be a big State to offer any immigration- log) and a receipt that states how the uninsured. It would reach the law would “substantially [raise] related services and must have much was paid, the date and the are getting Medicaid through red flag,” Vaca said. 24 million by 2026, when “an es- premiums for older people.” In Los Angeles County, the visible signs in the office that consultant’s signature. The con—$880 billion drop in federal the health law’s expansion would timated 52 million people would be uninsured, compared with 28 Medicaid spending over the de- lose that enhanced federal fund- Department of Consumer and show his or her name and bond sultant shouldn’t keep original million who would lack insurance cade. That comes primarily by u PAGE A3 u PAGE A3 Business Affairs (DCBA) is also number and a list of services

‘Madam Secretary’ airs controversial…

Filipinos advised to remain vigilant of…

Deciphering the CBO estimates on the…

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From the Front Page

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 17-23, 2017

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Orgies in Manila, lavish perks…

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Ridge in 2007. The Navy officers also allegedly even used historic MacArthur memorabilia in their sex acts. In 2008, it said Francis hosted a “raging multi-day party, with a rotating carousel of prostitutes in attendance, during which the conspirators drank all of the Dom Perignon available” at the Shangri-La hotel in 2008.

Following the release of the indictment, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan called on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to kick-out the U.S. troops out of the country. “U.S. troops are bad news for the Philippines. They have no qualms violating domestic laws. Duterte must act now and kick U.S. troops out of the Philippines,” Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes told Philstar.

According to Reyes, the recent “debauchery and other foul acts” in the scandal should “raise alarm bells for the Philippine government.” Reyes said that the Philippines should also scrap its military agreements and war exercises with the United States, citing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). n

DUNKING THE CADETS. The Philippine Military Academy Cadet Corps follows a ritual called “dunking,” by soaping 167 members of graduating Salaknib Class of 2017 and then throwing them into a pool of water, March 11, 2017. This class has set a milestone for having 8 female cadets among its top ten cadets. Inquirer.net photo by EV Espiritu

DFA: No policy allowing Chinese research in Benham Rise by Audrey

MorAllo

Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines does not yet have a policy allowing China to conduct research in Benham Rise, the acting Foreign Affairs secretary said Thursday. “We have no policy on that. There are ships through the area exercising freedom of navigation. But the fact that this is within the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Philippines any ship would have to get permission from the Philippines if they wish to undertake research,” Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said. Manalo, asked if there was such permission given to Chinese vessels spotted in the re-

gion, responded: “I’m not aware of anything along the line you said.” This, despite President Rodrigo Duterte saying earlier this week that China had given advance notice that its ships would be in the waters off the coast of northeastern Luzon. “We previously agreed that they can, research ship naman ’yung ano…we do not want to pick a fight,” Duterte said Monday. The chief executive said that he did not see the reported presence of these Chinese ships in the region as an incursion into the country’s waters. “We were advised way ahead but we have the right to ask ‘how are things going? What is your purpose?” he said in a briefing at the Pal-

In this photo released on Mar. 14, 2017, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, vice chair of the House national defense committee, points to the area on the map around Benham Rise, an undersea plateau which expanded the Philippines’ baseline in a 2012 United Nations award.

Filipinos advised to remain… PAGE A2 t

copies of documents like a birth certificate or a marriage license because if his or her office closes down, it would be difficult to get those back. “Anytime someone guarantees you an outcome for your case, you know that they are either lying or they’re exaggerating,” he said. “It’s not just thousands of dollars you’re at risk of losing. The big problem is that if someone opens a petition for a benefit they don’t qualify for, it’s going to be denied and it’s going to end up most likely with a deportation order. Once you’re in that process, you can’t back out of that.” Reporting cases If individuals believe they may have been victims of a scam, the FTC and LA County DCBA are encouraging them to report to appropriate agencies as these testimonies will assist in building cases. Reyes said that these reports would help the department compile a thorough list of “bad actors” that are targeting various groups, like Filipinos. “We would welcome calls from the Filipino community and would like Filipinos to know we are available. The sooner they call, the better,” he said. These resources can provide an educational benefit for others so that they know what to watch out for, as well as what to do if they suspect they are being duped. “Chances are that we may already have an investigation on a certain business and victims are extremely helpful to make sure they don’t defraud more people,” Reyes explained, adding that the department is

currently investigating a business that had a lot of Filipino clients. Vaca also noted that penalties for these scammers can be severe, ranging from prison time to requirements to pay back the money lost. “When the Federal Trade Commission enforces the law, we always seek first an order to get money back for the people who have been victimized and we always seek an injunction, which means a court order requiring the person or the company to stop engaging in deceptive practices,” she said. The protection agency also seeks court orders that impose a ban on a particular type of conducting business. Despite the fear that is being perpetuated in various immigrant communities, Reyes said that undocumented immigrants especially should not be scared to reach out to the DCBA for assistance, whether where to look for a certified attorney or how to recoup their lost money. “Immigration status is something we certainly do not take into account. We will never share that information with any immigration agency,” he said. “We want them to be calm and really research and investigate their situations and get the right help before they make a decision that could make matters worse. Be prepared but don’t overreact.” The Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs can be reached at (800) 593-8222. The Federal Trade Commission can receive complaints at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov. (By Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)

Deciphering the CBO…

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ing. The CBO estimates that only 5 percent of enrollees in the expansion program would remain eligible for the higher federal payments by 2024 since the bill would phase out those payments to states as patients cycle in and out of eligibility. —15 percent of Planned Parenthood clinic patients would “lose access to care.” These

patients generally live in areas without other sources of medical care for low-income people. The Republican bill would cut out Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood for a year. (By Julie Rovner / California Healthline) This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

ace. He also scoffed at concerns over the presence of China’s ship in waters in Benham Rise, saying these were “exaggerated.” Duterte’s statement agreed with the statement of China’s Foreign Ministry and contradicted the opinion of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who expressed his concern over the activities of the Chinese vessels. “The very concerning thing is they have several service ships Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said that recent revelations involving US Navy officers and officials who engaged in prostitution and plying this area, staying in one lavish parties hosted in Manila by a Malaysian businessman should prod President Duterte to make true his promise to kick US troops out of

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Philippine soil.

Photo courtesy of Bayan Muna

A MARCH 17-23, 2017 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

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

USCIS will accept H-1B petitions for fiscal year 2018 beginning April 3

PACMAN MEETS MISS EARTH WINNERS. Senator Manny Pacquiao hands over signed boxing gloves as souvenirs to Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong (left) and Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin (middle) during their courtesy call at the Senate on Tuesday, March 14, 2017. Ong represented the Philippines in the same beauty pageant, while Espin represented Ecuador. Senate photo by Romeo Bugante

DFA: No policy allowing Chinese… PAGE A3 t

area sometimes for a month as if doing nothing. But we believe they are actually surveying the seabed,” who ordered the Philippine Navy to drive away Chinese ships in the area. China has acknowledged that its ships had passed through the area but said that the ships did not untertake any surveying of the area. “China welcomes and appreciates President Duterte’s comments. Just as what President Duterte has said, China and the Philippines have conducted communication on the issue, friendly exchanged ideas, clarified facts and handled it properly,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Tuesday. DFA: No reports of seismic surveys by China Manalo also told reporters that the DFA has not received any reports that Chinese vessels were conducting seismic surveys and studies in the waters. “We’ve not [received] reports to that effect and we are in touch with the agencies concerned who are also monitoring. I’m not aware of any reports that specific,” he said when asked about the matter.

Manalo could not directly say, however, whether the DFA had been informed that Chinese ships would be passing through the area as Duterte said. “I’m not in position to answer that type of question,” Manalo, who was only appointed this month after Perfecto Yasay failed to secure confirmation of his appointment at the Commission on Appointments, said. Manalo added that the country has already sent a note verbal to Beijing because of the reports it received. “If there’s a reported movement, we would, of course, send a note verbale to seek information,” he said. Upon being pressed to answer if the sending of the note verbale was an indication of DFA lack of awareness of Chinese presence in Benham Rise, Manalo said that he did not know because many dates were involved. Manalo emphasized in the press conference attended by many career officials of the DFA that Duterte had given instructions for the Philippine Navy to increase its patrols of the waters. Manalo also refused to directly answer the question on whether the Philippines should

be concerned by these latest Chinese incursions into Philippine waters. “It is in our interest and in our duty that other countries observe those rights as stated in the UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea). There is the right of innocent passage and we are not questioning that. But, certainly, any part that is within our sovereign rights is something that we should be prepared to monitor and if necessary protect,” he said. Manalo also underlined that the Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the area had also been recognized by China through its foreign ministry. “What I’m definitely sure is China has reaffirmed that the Philippines has sovereign rights over Benham Rise area,” he said. “They just reaffirmed that the Philippines had sovereign rights over the Benham Rise.” Manalo also refused to divulge the contents of the verbal note that the Philippines sent. He simply said that the country sent this note to seek clarification from China on the reported Chinese presence in Benham Rise. n

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2018 cap on April 3, 2017. All cap-subject H-1B petitions filed before April 3, 2017, for the FY 2018 cap will be rejected. The H-1B program allows companies in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent. H-1B specialty occupations may include fields such as science, engineering andinformation technology. Congress set a cap of 65,000 H-1B visas per fiscal year. An advanced degree exemption from the H-1B cap is available for 20,000 beneficiaries who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher. The agency will monitor

the number of petitions received and notify the public when the H1B cap has been met.  USCIS recently announced a temporary suspension of premium processing for all H-1B petitions starting April 3 for up to six months. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, for a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker which requests the H-1B nonimmigrant classification. While premium processing is suspended any Form I-907 filed with an H-1B petition will be rejected. If the petitioner submits one combined check for both the Form I-907 and Form I-129 H-1B fees, both formswill be rejected. H-1B petitioners must follow all statutory and regulatory requirements as they prepare petitions to avoid delays in processing and possible requests for evidence.

The filing fee for Form I-129 has increased to $460, and petitioners no longer have 14 days to correct a dishonored payment. If any fee payments are not honored by the bank or financial institution, USCIS will reject the entire H-1B petition without the option for the petitioner to correct it. Form M-735, Optional Checklist for Form I-129 H-1B Filings (PDF, 278 KB), provides detailed information on how to complete and submit an FY 2018 H-1B petition. For more information on the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program and current Form I-129 processing times, visit the H-1B FY 2018 Cap Season Web page or call the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 or 800-767-1833 (TDD for the hearing impaired). To subscribe to the H-1B Cap Season email updates go to the H1B FY 2018 Cap Season Web page. n

Report: New US immigration rules put remittances at risk by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Stricter border and immigration policies adopted by US President Donald Trump could cut remittance flows to the Philippines, according to investment banking giant Credit Suisse. In a report titled “Asia: US Immigration – Tighter border, lower remittances,” Credit Suisse said the Philippines would experience the second biggest reduction in remittance flows next to Vietnam as the new US administration takes steps to tighten border and immigration policies. As a result, the investment bank said the tighter border controls in the US could cut remittance flows to the Philippines equivalent to 0.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) next to Vietnam’s 0.4 percent of GDP but higher than India’s 0.1 percent of GDP. The main economic impact of tighter border controls in the US on Asia would likely come from weaker remittance inflows due a decline in the number of Asian workers in the US. “The remittance shocks could also prove permanent, resulting in slower remittance growth in

the future. Other Asian economies are much less exposed due to their low share of remittance in GDP,” Credit Suisse said. It warned the shock could add to existing downside risks to current account positions in these economies, exposing them to shocks that generate capital outflows. “We see this risk particularly pronounced in the Philippines and Vietnam – the former could see its current account surplus disappear. In addition, while the overall impact on the economy may be manageable, segments such as private consumption and property are likely to be affected by the decline in remittance more than others,” it added. The Philippines and Vietnam would see current account balances swing from surplus to deficits. “Shocks to remittance could therefore leave these currencies more exposed to capital flow fluctuations,” Credit Suisse said. The investment bank sees the country’s current account surplus declining further to $2.7 billion this year from $4 billion last year after hitting $7.7 billion in 2015. Furthermore, the decline in incomes remitted to family members back home could result in weaker consumption and prop-

erty purchases thus weakening the GDP growth. The investment bank said weaker remittances pose material risk to GDP growth as money sent home from the US to the Philippines account for three percent of GDP. However, Credit Suisse is confident the Philippines would remain resilient despite the shock as a result of the tighter border and immigration policies in the US just like what happened during the recent oil price downturn that affected several countries in the Middle East. “One caveat is that we have not taken into account a potential shift in Filipino overseas workers from the US to other countries in our analysis. We note the Philippines’ remittances have been historically very resilient to negative shocks,” the investment bank said. Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed cash remittances went up five percent to a record high of $26.9 billion last year from $25.61 billion in 2015 due to the steady demand for skilled Filipino workers abroad. Cash remittances from about 12 million overseas Filipinos account for about 10 percent of the country’s GDP. n

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US, PH join forces to conserve wildlife and biodiversity THE US government, through the US Embassy in the Philippines’ United States Agency for International Development (USAID), partnered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to launch a new biodiversity conservation project to help protect and manage the Philippines’ diverse habitats and species. US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim joined DENR Secretary Gina Lopez to inaugurate the five-year, P1.2-billion project. Protect Wildlife will address biodiversity loss and illegal wildlife trade in some of the richest yet most vulnerable ecosystems in the Philippines. It will also focus on improving the food, water, livelihood, and ecotourism that can be derived from these ecosystems. “Natural resources and biodiversity play an important part in the Philippines’ economy. This is why the US government, through USAID, has been working with national and local governments, the private sector, civil society,

and individual communities to strengthen natural and environmental resource management in the country,” Ambassador Kim said. The project will use a comprehensive strategy that combines technical assistance for government and civil society partners, partnerships for conservation financing, behavior change campaigns and social marketing, science and technology, and environmental law enforcement. This holistic approach promotes partnership and action among environmental stakeholders and empowers those best positioned to address biodiversity loss and the illegal wildlife trade. “The project will demonstrate that protecting and managing the Philippines’ diverse habitats and species lead to improved quality of life and community-level, sustainable development,” Ambassador Kim added. The project also supports the DENR’s commitment to deliver people-centric programs that support sustainable and inclu-

sive growth. USAID’s Protect Wildlife will commence in Palawan, Zamboanga City, and Tawi-Tawi, which host some of the most biodiverse habitats and unique species in the Philippines. These provinces are also exposed to various human-induced threats, such as poaching and trafficking of wildlife, destructive fishing practices, and loss of habitats from widespread conversion of forests, wetlands, and mangroves to settlements and agricultural lands. The project complements other US government-funded projects with the DENR. Collectively, the suite of projects furthers USAID’s mission to promote biodiversity conservation in an inclusive and sustainable way. Protect Wildlife is the first USAID initiative in the Philippines to align with the US government’s newly signed Eliminate, Neutralize and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016, which addresses the global illegal wildlife trade. (ManilaTimes.net)

“I heard the traffic has gotten 10 times worse? Is that even possible?” Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra shares a light moment with Filipino writers in a video conference call Tuesday night, March 14.

Heat’s Spoelstra treasures roots with NBA Filipino Heritage Week by DenisOn

rey a. Dalupang Philstar.com

THE love between the NBA and Filipinos has grown so much, and Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra can attest to that. Speaking to Filipino writers via a Cisco teleconference on Tuesday night, the Filipino-American looked back at the humble beginnings of the basketball league in the country. “I think about our first trip in the Philippines seven, eight years ago ... the offices over there were smaller. The vision hadn’t been put together yet,” he recalled. “But now, I love looking at the list every summer to see which players are going over there, what camps are going on.” “You think about how much ground and things have changed in the NBA. But to be able to be

recognized at a night like this is pretty special,” added the champion coach, who traces his roots to Laguna. Spoelstra’s Heat--which had been scorching the league with wins recently--will partake in the NBA’s celebration of the Filipino Heritage Week. The Miamibased club has won 21 of its last 26 assignments. “To be honored in a night in the NBA?” he raised. “At first I thought it was just going to be with (the Heat). And then I found out Golden State (Warriors) were involved, I found out it’s going to be honored around the [league].” “I have goosebumps thinking about it,” Spoelstra noted. Spoelstra is the first NBA coach with Filipino descent to championship. With the help of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and

Dwyane Wade, he went on to win back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. But despite his historic feat, like a true Filipino, Spoelstra said he loves engaging with his roots. “My heritage is really important to me and my family,” he said. “I’m proud being a Filipino. To be able to be recognized around the NBA, it’s a special thing.” The NBA Filipino Heritage Week will highlight games of the Heat and the Warriors--whose fan base comprise Filipinos both here and abroad--from March 16-19. NBA champion Glen Rice, who had stints with Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers, will be gracing the events that will include an NBA Cares stop and a viewing party over the weekend. n

AAPI Equal Pay Day highlights wage disparity among women by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

ASIAN American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) comprise the fastest-growing demographic in the United States and are widely believed to have achieved professional and educational success at higher rates compared to other minority groups. However, a closer look at the over 50 AAPI ethnic groups who speak more than 100 different languages show proves the “model minority” myth wrong. Aggregated data often fails to capture the economic challenges that subpopulations within the AAPI community face. On Tuesday, March 7, AAPI Equal Pay Day was observed to highlight that an AAPI woman gets roughly 85 cents for every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man earns. That means, it takes over two additional months for them to be paid what a white man earned the previous year, according to recent data compiled by the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF). A report from the NAPAWF, shows that the estimated annual income for Filipino women is $49,000, compared to $45,000 for Filipino men and $55,000 for white, non-Hispanic men. Moreover, southeast AAPI women have some of the highest wage gaps compared to other racial and ethnic groups. The

gap also increases as women get older — according to the National Women’s Law Center, AAPI women aged 45-64 years old make 68 cents on average to each dollar earned by a white man. Those who are 65 years or older make 53 cents. “It’s important to note that educational level varies very much within the community,” Shilpa Phadke, senior director of the women’s initiative at the Center for American Progress (CAP) told the Asian Journal. “When you consider those who hold a bachelor’s degree, the wage gap really widens. Asian American women might make 85 cents compared to white, non-Hispanic men, but that higher education pays off more for white men than it does for Asian American women. That wage gap widens as these women get older.” She added that it’s important for policymakers to understand the details of the data in order to understand “Filipino women, Vietnamese women or Korean women and the types of occupations that they may hold that may have a wider wage gap.” In an article on the website, The Establishment, NAPAWF policy associate Aliya Khan wrote that the wage inequality within the AAPI community can be an uncomfortable topic of discussion. “It forces people to acknowledge areas of privilege, and it

forces us to chip away at the myth that all members of the AAPI community have the same access to opportunities,” Khan wrote of the wealthier AAPIs. However, for those who are not as wealthy, “discussing financial hardship can cause feelings of vulnerability— as if you are not living up to the standards and expectations outlined by family, friends, your community, and your dominant culture,” she added. “The silence within our community makes it hard to shed light on the lived reality of so many AAPI people.” Advocates for equal pay for AAPI women recommend that federal legislation be passed aimed directly at reducing the pay inequity (i.e. the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Pay Equity for All Act) and supporting caregivers. Moreover, they suggest that federal agencies collect and report disaggregated data among the various AAPI groups, as well as transgender and gender-nonconforming communities, to provide a more accurate portrayal of the income disparities. “On the data piece, we should really demand on the federal and state level that they collect as much data on AAPI communities as possible. Second is enforcement to make sure the federal government is enforcing claims around equal pay as much as they can and that the programs are not gutted,” Phadke said. n

Overseas Voter registration sets new record

THE Department of Foreign Affairs-Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) announced Wednesday, March 15, that the 2016-2018 overseas voter (OV) registration that commenced on December 1, 2016 and will end on September 30, 2018, has set a new record for first quarter performance, garnering a total of 67,497 new OV registrants for purposes of the 2019 elections. It has surpassed the numbers of the first three months of 20142015 OV registration with a total of 64,074 new OV registrants and the previous record of 64,917 that was set in 2009. The overseas voter registration in preparation for the 2016 elections netted a cumulative total of 1,376,067 active registered overseas voters. The 826,881 new registrants for the 2016 elections, was more than a 100 percent increase over the 398,554 new registrants for the 2013 elections. Of the almost 1.4 mil-

lion registered overseas voters, 590,440 were in the Middle East and Africa, 334,215 in the Asia Pacific, 263,316 in the Americas, 138,757 in Europe, and 49,339 were Seabased. The attainable target for this registration period is 1.1 million OV registrants, which would net a cumulative total of 2,130,000 active registered voters for the coming national elections. “This new milestone can be mostly attributed to the hardwork and dedication of the men and women of our Foreign Service who are aggressively campaigning to encourage more overseas Filipinos to participate in this on-going electoral exercise. Our media partners and other OV stakeholders are also playing a vital role in disseminating overseas voting awareness among our kababayans abroad,” said Undersecretary Ariel Y. Abadilla, who is concurrently Chairman of DFA-OVS.

“There are still plenty of overseas Filipinos that have yet to register and vote so it’s the duty of DFA-OVS along with the Foreign Service Post’s to encourage them to register and vote because this coming midterm elections is important specially if constitutional amendment bill will be approved by the Philippine Congress,” OVS Chair Abadilla added. All Filipino citizens who expect to be abroad from April 13 to May 13, 2019 during the overseas voting period for the 2019 Elections, at least 18 years old on May 13, 2019, and not otherwise disqualified by law, may register as an overseas voter, at all Philippine Foreign Service Posts including the three (3) Manila Economic and Cultural Offices (MECO) in Taiwan and Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Al-Khobar (for an updated list please go to www.dfa-oavs.gov.ph or www. comelec.gov.ph). Register and vote! (DFA)

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com. And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice. The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.

A MARCH 17-23, 2017 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Features

Trespassing

BILATERAL ties between the Philippines and China have begun to warm up as soon as President Rodrigo Duterte stepped into office. Following his early anti-American outbursts, Duterte vowed to carry out an independent foreign policy, one that seeks to distance Manila from Washington, but makes overtures toward Beijing. True enough, Chinese investors are lining up to explore business opportunities in the Philippines, with new projects worth at least $10 billion expected to be infused in the country’s aviation, oil downstream, renewable energy, iron and steel, and shipbuilding/ship repair industries. While the bilateral relations are blossoming, a cloud on the horizon appears as a reported incursion of Chinese vessels in the Benham Rise, a 13-million hectare mineral-rich undersea region east of Luzon. Beijing maintained that it was only “exercising navigation freedoms and the right to innocent passage.” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang also said that the Philippines cannot declare Benham Rise as part of its territory despite a 2012-ruling declaring that the resources-rich waters as part of the Philippine territory. Duterte then revealed that he knew that China would be sending survey ships to Benham Rise. The president remains confident that China will not build facilities on Benham Rise the same way that they did with the features in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The recent incursion is a reminder that another international court exists, where the ruling favors the Philippines’ maritime case against China over its expansive claim in the disputed water of the South China Sea. The Philippines has pleaded its case to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), an intergovernmental organiza-

tion created through the directive of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea and established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), signed at Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Dec. 10, 1982. The two countries have competing claims to some parts of the South China Sea. China claims the largest swathe of the strategic water, which is believed to have significant oil and gas deposits. It has continuously rejected other nations’ claim (including Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei) on the South China Sea. It has also been busy militarizing the strategic waters in the last few years through the creation of new outposts by piling sand atop reefs and atolls, and then adding buildings, ports and airstrips big enough to handle bombers and fighter jets. Despite continuous calls from the international community to halt the construction, China remained adamant over its assertion to the South West Philippine (South China) Sea. It maintained that its military activities are consistent with its position that the construction of artificial islands was designed to provide public service to the region by helping ships and fishermen and disaster relief efforts. Admitting that the Philippines is militarily outmatched by China, Duterte is bent on discussing and resolving the issues in the South China Sea through dialogue. Let’s hope that this renewed partnership with China will facilitate regional integration and create dynamic and stable domestic economies—benefitting the needs of both their people. (AJPress)

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

Robredo lies to world, shames the nation and herself in UN message Commentary

RigobeRto D. tiglao I WAS shocked at Vice President Leni Robredo’s video message sent to the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs, which was played at its 60th meeting. Either this lady is so naïve, or so stupid, that she doesn’t really know the gravity of her message, which I suspect she doesn’t, since she was reading the message, obviously done by a Liberal Party writer, as fast as she could. She even had the kind of facial expression with a smile that VIPs have when they send congratulatory messages to some group on their celebration – while she was talking of thousands of Filipinos killed. Or she has been totally deluded by the narrative of the Yellow Cult desperate to get foreign help to overthrow President Duterte. Whichever is the case, Robredo shames the nation by portraying the Philippines as a failed state like Somalia, Eritrea or Liberia where the rule of law has totally broken down, and where the streets are littered with the corpses of the innocent killed by the police. She shames herself as she makes allegations against her own government, based on patently false data. I found it astonishing that as she spoke she even had the official seal of the Vice President and the Republic. But she was really speaking not as the Vice President but probably as the last of the Yellow Cult leaders. We should all be outraged over Robredo’s message, and Congress must issue a resolution condemning her, and transmitting this to the UN body. Our ambassador to the UN must protest why the body allowed (if indeed it did, since as of press time I cannot confirm if her video message was played or not) at their meeting such an unfair and biased picture of the country’s campaign against drugs. Isn’t it protocol for such international bodies to play only official messages from countries’ official representatives?

Robredo smiling as she claims to a UN body that thousands of Filipinos have been summarily executed in Duterte’s anti-drug war. (Screen grab from the video message sent to the UN posted on her official website.)

Robredo’s claims Let’s take up point by point Robredo’s claims in her video. “We are now looking at some very grim statistics: since July last year, more than 7,000 people have been killed in summary executions,” Robredo claimed. This number is false, a fake news. This 7,000 figure as the total number of extra-judicial killings that Robredo has disseminated to the world is one maliciously fabricated by a low-level biased or incompetent researcher, and posted by the yellow and lazy editors of the rappler.com newsite on March 13, 2017. This number has been repeated again and again by the Yellow Cult, and even by uninformed media abroad. Rappler even has misled readers by claiming that the “numbers are based on data” from the Philippine National Police. The number is the sum of the 2,555 which the PNP Directorate for Operations reported as those killed in anti-illegal drugs operations from July 1 to January 24 and the 4,525 total murder cases in the country. The PNP data of course does not distinguish whether these murder cases are police and vigilante killings of those involved in illegal drugs, road-rage murders, or even crimes of passion. Because of rappler.com people’s odium against Duterte

though, all murders that occurred since he took power in July 1 last year were due to his anti-illegal drugs war. I will discuss in detail this grand lie of rappler.com in a future column. Suffice it to point out now that a more realistic figure would be one based on “The Kill List” of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, hardly a pro-Duterte newspaper. To their credit as rigorous journalists, the paper listed, based on police blotters and the dispatches of their police reporters, killings related to the anti-drug war, from July 1 to Feb. 16, when government officially halted, temporarily, its campaign. “The Kill List” (last update of which was on February 16) reported 2,166 killed in the antidrug war. This includes those killed in police operations as well as by “unknown hitmen”. It does not explain though the criteria by which it listed a person killed by “unknown hitmen” as due to the anti-drug campaign. Indeed, the police has uncovered several instances in which those killed with anti-drug placards pinned on them, actually were executed by criminal, rival gangs themselves. The 2,166 figure is obviously so different, three times smaller than the 7,000 figure Robredo told the UN body, which would drastically change an assessment of Duterte’s anti-drug war.

‘People told…some told’ Robredo said in her message to the UN body: “People are told they do not have any right to demand search warrants as they are squatters… Residents are rounded up, women separated from men and those with tattoos have their belongings searched. People are told they don’t have any right to demand search warrants since they are squatters… Some have told us that when there’s a crime they normally go to the police. Now they don’t know where to turn. Our people feel both hopeless and helpless.” But Robredo doesn’t present any iota of evidence for her claims, not even a single instance of the human rights violations she alleges, not even newspaper reports on these; nor does she refer to any report detailing her accusations. “People told… some have told… they…our people…” Are these real people, or are these just Liberal Party propagandists? It gets worse though. Robredo in her message to the UN body made it appear that the rule of law in our country has so totally broken down that victims of human rights violations are given no recourse: “Around 500 cases have been filed at the Commission on Human Rights, recommended to the Department of Justice for

the filing of cases. So far, seven months into the administration’s drug war, no information has been filed,” she claimed. This is a lie. I was told by insiders that there are no such “500 cases” filed regarding human rights violations in the course of Duterte’s administration at the commission, which continues to be led by Robredo’s Liberal Party colleague Jose Gascon. This is simply because the commission has never even bothered to list and count such complaints. The 500 figure is clearly one pulled out of the air by Robredo’s speech writer. Not a case filed But even if there were such cases filed, I was told, the CHR has not filed at the justice department a single case of human rights violations against the police related to the anti-drug war. “CHR attorneys appear on television complaining about this and that, but they haven’t even filed a single case,” a source said. If no charges have been filed against the police and the Duterte administration, it is the fault of the CHR, led by Robredo’s comrade, a Liberal Party official. There have been three complaints of extra-judicial killings related to the anti-drug war under Duterte’s watch, none though because of the CHR’s efforts. Robredo even shockingly draws from some mafia novel by claiming that the police have had a policy of arresting a suspect’s wife or other relatives if he can’t be found, even calling it, in her attempt to get her lie to land on sensationalist tabloid front pages, the “palit-ulo scheme”. If there were really such a scheme, anti-Duterte newspapers like the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Star as well as the dozens of tabloids hungry for sensationalist scoops would have reported it long ago. But they haven’t. An administration spokesman, however, claimed that Robredo must have mistaken it for a police practice of letting an arrested suspect go free, or accused only of lighter charges, in exchange for squealing on a suspect in the higher rungs of the drug syndicates. There has been no unprincipled and noisy, or even bliss-

fully imbecilic Vice President as Robredo who has been demonizing an incumbent President, and portraying the country as such a horrible place. Resign as VP Leading opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr. was told in 1968 by his scheming Liberal Party colleagues that there were reports of two dozen Muslim trainees summarily executed by their Army superiors in Corregidor, which they had even dubbed to sensationalize it as the “Jabidah Massacre”, Aquino however investigated the claim himself, and even went to Jolo where he found the alleged victims alive and kicking, astonished at the “massacre reports”. Even on exile in the US, Aquino didn’t portray the Philippines as having become a horrible place under Marcos, but focused on the country’s need for democracy. Neither did his widow Cory try to portray Marcos as a cold-blooded killer. Then Vice President Gloria Arroyo, even after she resigned from President Estrada’s Cabinet in October 2000, wasn’t vitriolic at all in criticizing him, and openly asked for his resignation only after it was clear that he had lost the people’s mandate. Those opposing Duterte’s regime have all the right to accuse him of this or that, even on just the flimsiest basis. But Robredo can’t as Vice President, since when she does that, she is representing the people, and I’m sure most Filipinos do not support her hate of Duterte. If she thinks she is morally required to protest, then she should do real work in gathering real data r to back her allegations, rather than rely on fake news by such biased outfits as rappler.com. If she wants to continue ranting against Duterte, she has to resign as Vice President, and send the messages like that she sent to the UN as one by a Liberal Party official. If this is the kind of leader the Liberal Party thinks they can impose on this nation, they should give up all hope and should dissolve the party immediately, so its ambitious members can pursue their dreams using the vehicle of other more credible parties. (ManilaTimes.net)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

A

DFA puts on hold renewal of Yasay’s PH passport by eLLen

tordesiLLas Manilatimes.net

THE Department of Foreign Affairs has put on hold the application of former Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. for renewal of his Philippine passport pending resolution of questions surrounding his citizenship by “competent authorities.” Yasay filed the application on March 9, a day after the 15member Commission on Appointments rejected his appointment as head of the country’s foreign service for lying about his American citizenship. “At this writing, we have received instructions from Acting Secretary (Enrique) Manalo to suspend or hold in abeyance the issuance of the passport to former Secretary Yasay pending resolution of the legal question by competent authorities,” Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Frank R. Cimafranca said. Asked about the DFA’s move,Yasay said, “I don’t know about that. They did not inform me.” He declined further comment.

Sources close to Yasay said the former secretary’s Philippine passport issued in 2013 is valid up to mid-2018. He applied for Express Processing (seven working days) and paid P1,200. The DFA’s Office of Consular Affairs said the only requirement for renewal of an e-passport is the current passport. “The question or determination of Secretary Yasay’s citizenship properly belongs to a court of competent jurisdiction in the Philippines. In the absence of that legal determination, he has in his favor the presumption of regularity with respect to the issuance of his current passport,” Cimafranca said, He said the Office of Consular Affairs has sought the opinion of the DFA’s legal office on Yasay’s application. President Rodrigo Duterte named Yasay foreign secretary immediately after the May 2016 elections even as he also said he had offered the position to his running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. Cayetano, who lost in the vice

presidential race, was at the time covered by the one-year election ban on candidates being appointed to executive positions. Duterte and Yasay’s friendship dates back to their law school days when they were roommates at the YMCA dormitory in Manila. Duterte was then taking up law at San Beda College and Yasay at the University of the Philippines. Yasay had denied speculations about his US citizenship. Media investigations, however revealed that he was granted citizenship by the United States government on Nov. 24, 1986. He officially renounced his US citizenship at the U.S. Embassy in Manila on June 26, 2016, two days before he assumed the position of Philippine foreign secretary. On March 8, the Commission on Appointments unanimously rejected Yasay’s nomination, the first of Duterte’s appointees to suffer such a fate. Manalo, a career foreign service officer, was appointed acting foreign secretary.

Senate votes to ratify Paris climate pact by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

MANILA — The Senate on Tuesday, March 14 unanimously voted to concur with the ratification of the historic Paris Agreement, strengthening the country’s role in climate talks. Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Instrument of Accession for the Paris climate deal, which calls for the reduction of carbon emissions that have been blamed for climate change and extreme weather conditions. Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, thanked her colleagues for supporting the ratification of the Paris Agreement. “The Paris Agreement is a testament of solidarity and a call for global climate action. It shows that developing nations and the developed countries could pursue climate action and uphold climate justice together,” Legarda said in a statement.

The accession to the climate deal will allow the country to exercise governance, oversight, leadership and decision-making in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. “The Paris Agreement is an embodiment of a legacy. This will go down in history as one of our shining achievements. The 17th Congress, under the Duterte Administration, can be regarded as the legislative assembly that championed climate action, environmental protection, and sustainable development,” Legarda said. The Embassy of France in the Philippines has congratulated the country for the ratification of the climate deal. The Philippines joins 133 other parties to the Paris Agreement, which represents more than 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. “The ratification of the Paris Agreement, which coincides with the 70th year anniversary of French-Philippine diplomatic

Sen. Loren Legarda

relations, opens new perspectives for our two countries to develop and implement sustainable solutions towards a greener, more sustainable future for our planet,” the French Embassy said in a statement. In 2015, members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change crafted the climate deal which seeks to limit the increase in the global average temperature to below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Philippine vowed to reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030.

TEMPORARY FREEDOM. Senator Leila de Lima clutches flowers as she leaves the Quezon City court on Monday, March. 13. De Lima refused to enter a plea when she was arraigned in a case accusing her of ignoring an inquiry of the House of Representatives on the supposed drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison, and dissuading her former lover and bodyguard from testifying before it. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Senate urged to probe Cesar Montano MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Nancy Binay has called on the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to conduct an inquiry into the alleged irregularities and indiscretions committed by actor Cesar Montano in his capacity as chief operating officer of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB). Senate Resolution 326 filed by Binay on Tuesday, March 14, noted that Congress is accountable on reviewing laws on graft and corruption and should ensure that malfeasance, misfeasance and charges of graft and corruption in government are immediately addressed. Binay cited the need to look into the allegations against Montano since it involves the alleged misuse of public funds by his office. The Presidential Action Center received a letter from employees of the TPB regarding their concerns and complaints against Montano. A total of 24 issues were raised against Montano, including his competence and indiscretion in the use of the TPB’s funds.

Cesar Montano

TPB employees said Montano entered into multimillion-peso deals, including a concert held last Jan. 18 which cost the agency P11.2 million, where he performed as guest singer with his nieces. TPB employees alleged that Montano hired his own staff, including a stuntman, gardener,

personal assistant, family friend and relatives whose salaries range from P14,000 to P48,000 per month. They also complained that Montano paid P16.5 million to a production company for a proDuterte rally at Rizal Park last Feb. 25. According to the TPB employees, Montano demanded reimbursements of expenses for his vacations and other supposed official business trips. “As a public interest, the transparency of the transactions should be disclosed to satisfy the public’s constitutional right to information,” Binay said in her resolution. TPB employees also complained that during meetings with the TPB Management Committee and board meetings, Montano’s “level of retention and absorption is very low.” “He has difficulty understanding presentations, flow charts and figures. Instead he wants visuals. He would leave the meetings even if not adjourned,” their letter read. (Philstar.com)

A MARCH 17-23, 2017 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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

MARCH 17-23, 2017

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Dr. Amado Gabriel Esteban: Promoting participation in higher education and lifelong learning By Christina

M. oriel /aJpress

BY this summer, Chicago’s DePaul University will welcome its new president, Dr. Amado Gabriel esteban. the filipino academic leader will become the first nonordained president in DePaul’s 119-year history — considered the largest Catholic university in the United States — when he assumes office on July 1. the new post shouldn’t be too much of a leap for esteban, who has held the same position at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey since 2011, where he has overseen the development of new schools, ensured that the institution has stayed financially robust, and promoted its academic profile. In a recent interview with the Asian Journal since his appointment was announced, esteban shared his vision and goals for DePaul and why learning is a lifelong pursuit. Journey to higher education esteban, who was born and raised in Quezon City, Philippines, never intended to pursue a career in higher education. Growing up — and it’s a familiar scenario for many filipinos — he thought he would follow his father’s footsteps as a doctor. the draw to teaching must have come from seeing the elder esteban spend the latter part of his life as a professor at University of the Philippines (UP) School of Medicine. esteban went on to earn a bachelor of science in mathematics and an MBA from UP, where he met Josephine King, who would become his wife. He was the first Philippine recipient of the fujitsu Asian Scholarship, which brought him to Chaminade University in Hawaii for a master’s degree in Japanese business studies. He returned to the Philippines for a few years to work in the private sector at a bank and then in consumer goods at San Miguel Corp. “When you grow up in the Philippines, everyone at some point hopes that they’re given an opportunity to study overseas, whether it be in Japan, the UK, or the U.S.,” he told the Asian Journal, adding that scholarships and fellowships helped him and his wife study abroad. the estebans migrated

to the United States, where Josephine obtained her MBA from the University of California, riverside, while he was working toward a doctorate in business administration at the University of California, Irvine. “We’ve been blessed, being at the right place at the right time, having people who mentored us throughout my academic career who made sure I gave 150 percent effort in everything I do,” he said. “It paid off in the long haul.” After completing his doctorate program, esteban was hired as a marketing professor at the University of Houston-Victoria in texas. He planned to work in academe for five years at most before returning to the private sector. However, opportunities at various institutions across the country arose. the esteban family then moved to Arkansas, where he was a professor and associate vice president of academic affairs at Arkansas tech. eventually, he transferred to the University of Central Arkansas, also as a professor, before being named the dean of the College of Business. “When I was asked to become an administrator was when I thought that maybe this was the career path that’s being unveiled to me, so to speak,” he said, adding “so that’s the path I ended up taking.” President of Seton Hall University He was once again uprooted and settled in New Jersey in 2007 when he became a provost at Seton Hall University, the oldest roman Catholic diocesan university in the country and one of the largest. He was appointed interim president in late 2010, a capacity he served for six months before being formally named president. He became the first lay person to lead the Catholic university — which has a population of 10,000 students, over 900 faculty members and 1,800 employees — after its board of trustees created an exception that presidents must be priests. esteban reflected on Seton Hall’s growth over the past seven years, as well as the changes he’s seen in himself as a leader and

Esteban is photographed in the Cortelyou Commons on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus Photo courtesy of DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief

Photo courtesy of DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief

Esteban’s presidential investiture on Octobeer 14, 2011.

educator. A lot of his time as president, he said, was spent listening to the voices on campus, whether they’re students, faculty or staff administrators in order to create a “vision for [what] the institution could look like in 10-15 years.” As for accomplishments under his tenure that he’s particularly proud of, esteban listed a few, yet humbly acknowledged that they were not solely his own doing. “In terms of contributions, it’s actually a group effort so it’s hard to point to one thing because we’ve accomplished a lot as a university. for example, if you look at the academic profile of our students, since I was asked to oversee enrollment management in 2009, our SAt scores have gone up over 100 points and 35 percent of our freshmen are in the top 10 percent of their [graduating] class,” he boasted, adding that the student population has become more diverse in terms of ethnicity and also admission to firstgeneration students. In 2015, Seton Hall unveiled the new College of Communication and the Arts. It also developed a new health and medical sciences campus, which was done in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health, that will house the School of Medicine and the College of Nursing and School of Health and Medical Sciences. In 2018, the university will welcome the first class at the medical school. further, the university invested nearly $150 million in campus infrastructure in the last five years, resulting in “zero deferred maintenance,” he said. (the deferred maintenance had reached $36 million in his first few years with the university.) In a recent release, it boasted that fundraising has reached alltime highs, with $40 million raised in the last year and a half alone. “there are a lot of those tangible things, but to me, the biggest change has been in the culture on campus and the perception outside the university. Seton Hall has always been a great national university and now more people are hearing about that story and internally, I think there’s been a shift in the culture because we’ve been able to do a lot of things in the midst of the recession,” esteban said.

Selected to lead the search to find the 12th president for DePaul was a fivemonth, international process, following the resignation of rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider last summer, who had been head of the university since 2004. In early february of this year, the university’s board of trustees voted unanimously in favor of the 55-year-old filipino, regarding him as someone who aligns with the core principles of the Catholic institution. He was formally announced as the next president on february 16. “What appealed to me were Saint Vincent [DePaul], the saint of charity, and the university’s mission to help the poor, marginalized and immigrant populations, which are some things very near and dear to our hearts,” esteban shared. Part of the motivation of moving to the Windy City is to be closer to his only child, Ysabella, an alumna of Seton Hall who is a medical resident at the University of Chicago. “It’s very a humbling experience that I’ve been selected. My wife and I were just overwhelmed by the reception we received at DePaul when we were introduced,” esteban shared, referring to a special welcoming ceremony on the Chicago campus he attended last week. “But, there’s a tinge of sadness because Seton Hall has been home for 10 years.” He said he hopes to be remembered at Seton Hall as a “collaborative decision maker” who listened and considered all sides. “to me, what is fascinating is the number of individuals I’ve met, like alumni of Seton Hall for example, who start off by saying ‘If not for Seton Hall, I wouldn’t have been able to go to college.’ that shows you the power of education — how higher ed can transform the lives of individuals,” he said. As with starting any other job, “it’s about setting priorities” and getting a feel of the culture of the unfamiliar environment through listening and talking to the different members of the university. He intends to bring that type of leadership and way of handling academic affairs to DePaul. “every place I’ve been to, I’ve told people to learn to set their

Esteban with his wife Josephine.

Esteban with Ban Ki-Moon at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations World Leaders Forum. Photos courtesy of Seton Hall University

priorities. I tell students to find out what theirs are — whether it’s family, friends, Church or your faith, try to live by them. It also means finding your passion. that would make your life a whole lot easier. As a leader, one thing you’ll find about me is that I will listen, I will ask questions and encourage people to give me feedback,” he said. “But at the end of the day, someone has to make a decision. If that’s me who has to make a decision, then I’ll explain why. I also understand that as you move up the hierarchy, at some point, it’s going to be me that has to make the final call and the willingness to do that is important.” As of this writing, esteban’s replacement at Seton Hall has yet to be named, but he notes that the university has been on a roll in terms of achieving its some of the goals he outlined early in the presidency. He intends to close out this current school year with helping the transition process and making sure the pending projects are on course for completion. Diversity in higher education esteban is currently one of three filipinos serving as a president of an American higher education institution, alongside Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw of St. John’s University in New York and Lori Adrian of Coastline Community College, which has campuses in Orange County, California. A 2013 study by the American Council on education found that Asian Americans comprised only 1.4 percent of presidents at fouryear institutions and 2.2 percent of other senior-level administrators. He has been a champion for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) representation in education, through his work as founding board member and vice chairman of the AAPI Association of Colleges and Universities — which advocates on behalf of minorityserving institutions that have a significant population of AAPI students — and a board member of the AAPI research in education Commission and the Asian Pacific

Americans in Higher education. though esteban said he would like to see more filipinos and filipino Americans ascend the ranks of academia, he reminded that they must possess the passion to take on such leadership roles. “As you move up in higher education,” he said, “one realizes that these are 24/7 jobs. You have to have a willingness to serve. You basically put everyone else ahead of yourself. But it can also be very rewarding to be able to have the impact on the lives of the people you serve.” even if esteban never saw himself in higher education before, he now says that this is the field he will continue to be in until he retires. “If at some point it’s time for me to move on, then I’ll just go back and teach full-time, which would be a great way to complete by academic career,” he said. With debates surrounding the rising costs of higher education and billions of dollars in student debt here, he said that affordability must be a goal governments and academic institution must work toward. “there are individual benefits of a college education, but I think those are outweighed by the benefits to society as a whole,” he said. “I think governments — state and federal — have to step up to the plate. In higher ed, we have to do our fair share of making sure that the costs incurred are consistent with what we’re trying to achieve.” However, even if pursuing higher education is not for everyone, esteban emphasized that the spark for learning must be kept burning. “for our entire lives, we should spend learning, whether it’s formal or informal. We have to try continually to enrich ourselves through learning different and new things,” he said. “the world is becoming more and more competitive and I think it’s up to us to make sure that we continue to be competitive in our work. I know it can be difficult at times, but it’s something we should do.”

Iza Calzado talks about her World’s sexiest math teacher Osaka Festival winning role Pietro Boselli enjoys PH experience by lhar santiago

by Christina alpad

ManilaTimes.net

ManilaTimes.net

After bringing pride to the country with her Yakushi Pearl Award or Best Performer Award from the prestigious 2017 Osaka Asian film festival on Saturday, March 11, Iza Calzado is still on cloud nine. On her Instagram account @missizacalzado, the ABS-CBN actress shared why the Jerold tarrog-helmed movie was both special and challenging for her. “I wanted to work on it because I wanted to do something out of the box. I auditioned for it, got the part and then went on a roller coaster ride for a month last May 2016,” Calzado wrote. In the psychological thriller “Bliss,” Calzado plays Jane Ciego, an actress in her 30s who decided to produce her own film to win some respect in the industry where she

started as a child. However, things get awry when she gets injured on set and suddenly starts to hear

“He’S perfect!” exclaimed one blogger upon seeing Pietro Boselli, dubbed the “World’s Sexiest Math teacher” upon seeing the man in the flesh at the press conference tendered for the British-Italian model and school instructor by Bench. the hunk was in town to endorse the proudly filipino brand, which had a series of fashion shows over the week. Dressed casually with in a gray round neck shirt, with the word Manila printed across the front chest, and a pair of black jogger’s, Pietro stole the show as he flashed his dreamy smile on stage. Some female members of the press, in fact, tried managed to let out muffled shrieks. Gorgeous is an understatement to describe Pietro’s looks. He is oozing with sex appeal, but also looks so nice and pleasant. His body strange sounds. She soon finds bulges with well-toned muscles herself in a company of people Continued on Page 7 in the right places, and his smile

doesn’t leave his lips. effortlessly charming, he is the kind of boy any girl would be proud to bring home to mama. Judging from how he answered questions, Pietro is a natural, and not the type who will try hard to impress. He made the press feel he was enjoying everything, and he doesn’t fake it. When he said he has fallen in love with the Philippines,

‘World’s Sexiest Math Teacher’ Pietro Boselli and Ben Chan.

one could feel he really meant it. “I already feel like this is my home. It’s the Pearl of the Orient as many people say. I’ve been to Asia only twice before—only China and India. It’s good to be in the Pearl of the Orient, it feels prestigious. I really want to stay longer here and Continued on Page 7

Immigration Corner

The April 2017 priority dates

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. Beginning last October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card. ***

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

May 1, 2006

January 15, 2006

First Preference

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

Second Preference

(2A) Spouse and minor children (below November 22, 21 years old) of green 2015 card holder

June 8, 2015

(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holder

February 1, 2007

June 15, 2006

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

January 1, 1995

September 15, 1994

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

April 1, 1994

September 8, 1993

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Application Filing Date

Second Preference

Advanced Degree (Masters)

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

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,

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M A R c h 1 7, 20 1 7

The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY:

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

An Asian Journal Magazine

Visa Issuance Date

Current

Current

September 1, 2013

September 15, 2012

September 1, 2013

September 15, 2012

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)

Vina Morales welcomes Piolo Pascual as brother-in-law by Maridol ranoa-BisMark Philstar.com

PIOlO Pascual and Shaina Magdayao have nothing to fear from the latter’s big sister, Vina Morales, should they finally confirm their reported relationship. Vina likes Piolo, whom she fondly calls “Papa P.” “He’s a very good person. He has a good heart. He and his family are very nice to Shaina. If he’ll become my brother-in-law, Continued on Page 6 Piolo Pascual that he has been exclusive dating Shaina Magdayao for five years now.

WHAT TO DO WHEN IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) KNOCKS AT YOUR DOOR, ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Many people are terrified and uncertain about their future in the U.S. because of President Trump’s “enforcement priorities”, and whether they may be targeted for removal/deportation. Leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel ICHAEL provides useful tips and guidance on what you need to know and what to do when ICE comes to your home or work, on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC.

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAGlAyA (First of 3 parts)

(Note: I am reprising a series of how-to articles originally written more than a decade ago and tweaked for today’s readers. I believe, these still hold true now as they did back then many people including myself.) Remember the story of the three little pigs? Everyone does. But we relegate the story to children’s lit and condescendingly forget that these cute little porkers bring home an important point about the choices we make when we embark on building something worthwhile — like choosing the foundation on which we live our lives. The first pig built his house of straw and the second one built his house of sticks and went partying

How to build a house of bricks till the cows came home. Enter the big bad wolf. Hankering for crispy chicharrones, he came down huffing and puffing and blowing both houses down in a snap, much to the utter dismay of the two hapless, lazy porkers. Running for their lives with their curled, tiny tails and the hair on their chinny, chin chin a-quivering, they dashed over to safety, straight to the house of their other stolid, somewhat stodgy brother pig who had built his house methodically, meticulously, slowly, brick by solid brick. Enter the big bad wolf again, now crazed with the thought of wolfing down not one but three pigs. He does his blustery huffing and puffing… well… you know how the story ended (that is, unless Disney produces a blockbuster sequel with their spin on the ending.) Any structural engineer will agree with the third porker and

allude to the biblical reference about a house built on a rock and the wind and rain could not prevail upon it. He will tell you that solid foundation work taking stress points into account is basic in building anything of value that’s meant to last. The same is true in living one’s life. I am certain there are countless other pointers hundreds of thousands can add to the growing pool of knowledge that hopefully, translates to wisdom in this continuing saga of human life. In the interest of brevity I’ll cull out only 15 bite-size pointers. 1. Get your ducks in a row. Set your priorities. Align your time, decisions, actions and resource allocation according to your set of personal priorities: health, happiness, family, peace, wellbeing, wealth, time, fame, recognition, and applause. There’s a whole menu to choose from. You choose what’s important and Continued on Page 6

An Asian Journal Magazine

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On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places

PACCAL recognizes women‘s impact and empowered status in today’s society PACCAL 2017 Influential Women

PACCAL 2017 WHM Achievers

BoBBy T. yalong WomEn have strategically used and relentlessly conceived various methods and schemes to break barriers and untiringly promote gender equality that they may stand at par with their male counterparts. Through the years history has Joyce Watterman Helen Castillo remarkably generated an immense and hopes dwindle… but were able number of empowered women to rise and resume the challenge. who were capable of changing the They say men’s existence is easily world’s social, industrial, political, felt and their roles are predictable and educational landscape where but women constantly create they competently dominated encouraging challenges while the areas with their notable sustaining precise strength and contributions and significant empowerment in myriad ways. achievements. Women have not only painstakingly more women are climbing acquired every man’s asset and up the ladder giving men a run facet while they (also) masterfully for their status and consistently penetrated the world where men accumulating unprecedented initially dwell and dominated. accomplishments while Despite the paucity of simultaneously exhibiting enormously successful and revered domination and headship in key players deserving to be various fields of endeavor. They recognized as unfailingly influential are unquestionably independent, in many ways, PACCAL’s Screening gutsy, and focused while being Committee, after a deliberate competent and career-oriented. scrutiny of equally commendable Their unremitting determination to nominees, finally named three succeed is a stark contrast to men’s most revered community figures dawdling progress that put their equiponderant achievements at par that excelled and met the criteria. and sometimes even above with the Three women garnered the highest nods that entitled them to be in the latter’s. most coveted roster of Influential To give women the full Women…and they are: recognition they truly deserve, Councilwoman-at-Large Joyce the month of march was fittingly earmarked as International Women’s Watterman Helen Castillo History month. In this regard, the ollie C. David Pan American Concerned Citizens’ Incidentally, this year’s Action League, Inc. (PACCAL) crop of Women Achievers was never fails to distinguish and superfluously interesting since honor outstanding women in the we selected a good number community if only to demonstrate its perpetual support to the revered of justifiably stupendous and deserving awardees as follows: legacy of the great women leaders Jocelyn Aligarbes – Excellence and duly identify the unparalleled achievements of today’s female high in nursing Profession Fe Arenasa – Excellence in the fliers. PACCAL does not only duplicate Teaching Profession Rowena Cayetano - Excellence successful events that manifested its worth-praising advocacy in the past in Physical Fitness Elsa mole Lambert - Excellence but more so to empower the status of womanhood in our current socio- in Community Service Dr. nerissa malabanan economic setting. Excellence in Pediatrics In today’s ever-changing Loren martinez - Excellence in world, a great number of women’s aspirations take various forms while Private Enterprise Paula morandarte - Excellence other’s lofty dreams sometimes fail

in Photography maria Pilar monje - Excellence in Accountancy michelle Semana - Vocal Excellence Sheena Zamora - Terpsichorean Competency Virginia Cu – Honorary Retired Pedagogue Bella Estasnislao - Senior Citizen of the Year Despite winter storm Stella’s excessive pounding and hammering of the northeast last Tuesday, march 14, with intensifying winds and record-high snowfall that inevitably led to major travel disruptions and business closures, the aftermath failed to dampen the high spirits and morale of people involved in PACCAL’s annual event aimed to celebrate the International Women’s History month. on Saturday, march 18, 2017, all avenues lead to Ramada Plaza Hotel, PACCAL’s official formal function venue, along 160 Frontage Road, newark, nJ. The green-motif occasion that recognizes women’s valuable achievements has former PACCAL Achiever awardee menchu De Luna Sanchez as this year’s Honorary Chair while prominent social-civic leader and popular event host Ria Serrano takes the chairmanship with Susan Liguori as co-chair. Current PACCAL president Ramona S. Gapasin gets so ecstatic and overwrought with her initial major event after having assumed the organization’s top post. Her infectiously vigorous leadership keeps her followers equally dynamic and consistently on-thetrail. Though women were regarded before as the “fairer sex” they never ceased to take courage and remained focus to be in the

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Olivia David

Jocelyn Aligarbes

Fe Arenasa

Rowena Cayetano

Excellence in Education

Excellence in Physical Fitness

Elsa Mole Lambert

Dr. Nerissa Malabanan

Loren Martinez

Excellence in Community Service

Excellence in Pediatrics

Excellence in Private Enterprise

Paula Morandarte

Michelle Semana

Maria Pilar Monje

Excellence in Photography

Vocal Excellence

Excellence in Accountancy

Sheena Zamora

Virginia Cu

Bella Estanislao

Terpsichorean Competency

Honorary Retired Pedagogue

Senior Citizen of the Year

league of their male counterparts while being guided by a powerful quotation: “Do not follow where the path may lead…Go instead where

there’s no path and leave a trail!” Indubitably, empowered women are here to stay…and more of their tribe is predetermined to

Excellence in Nursing Profession

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

greatness. For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@ yahoo.com

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An Asian Journal Magazine

Famous celebrity hairstyles of all time BY MONET

LU

HAIR serves not only a protective function but also an ornamental function for every person. As I look back on my career in the aesthetic business, there were icons who have stood out and personified the beauty and style of their era. These women were considered beautiful because of their hairstyles that completed their look. Their hair was their crowning glory – by just saying these women’s names, you not only think of their face but also of their manes. Their hairstyles inspired their generation, as evidenced by the millions of women who flocked to the salons and requested to look like them. Here are some of the famous and iconic personalities and their haircuts. Audrey Hepburn Type Audrey Hepburn’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” hair into Google and you’ll get over 371,000 results and most of those happen to be hair tutorials. It seems we can’t get enough of Hepburn’s sophisticated (and let’s face it) high maintenance up-do. While times have moved on and the general feeling right now is for a more relaxed approach to hair, Hepburn’s twist will forever be relevant and never more so than during wedding season. Marilyn Monroe As the original bottle blonde, Marilyn Monroe (formerly Norma Jean) came to single-handedly represent what it meant to look sexy in 1950s Hollywood. While her blonde fluctuated over the years, Monroe first tested the waters in 1946 in Frank and Joseph salon in LA and she didn’t look back. Twiggy’s 60s look This short, boyish hairdo became one of the defining looks of Mod culture and fashion in

Health@Heart

Lady Diana

the period. Her signature cut has been reinvented on the red carpet by celebrities including Halle Berry, Michelle Williams and Emma Watson. Farrah Fawcett Farrah Fawcett’s hair quite possibly started the featheredhair revolution when she was seen kicking butt on “Charlie’s Angels” in the 70s. People will forever talk about Farrah Fawcett’s hair. It was so feminine and carefree. Lady Diana There’s no denying the influence that she had on women’s hair. I don’t think you can describe the impact Diana’s hair had on a generation of young women. In fact, people are still copying that look today. Madonna Madonna had many looks during the 80s. One of her most iconic looks was the wavy hair with highlights. Girls went to the salons in droves to get the “poodle” looking perm, so that their hair can be wavy too. They pulled it up in bows like she did to copy her look in the Borderline video.

Victoria Beckham

Jennifer Aniston Though she now wears her hair long and straight, Aniston is famous for “The Rachel,” a medium-length layered look named after the character she played on the hit sitcom “Friends.” It is still one of the most requested styles up to now Victoria Beckham The former Spice Girl is known for her A-line bob, as it is layered at the back. It is originally from the shape of the face but has many variations, including the dramatic “buzzcut bob” where it is shoulder-length at the front and a crew-cut at the back. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

Social life impacts health

of ill-health, or even kill himself/ herself, compared to another lonely individual who has a ton of family PHILIP S. CHUA, and friends providing him/her love, MD, FACS, FPCS friendship, inspiration, and moral support. A sense of belonging keeps YOU and I are social animals. Our two-legged and four-legged friends us, humans, connected with our fellowmen, within our own circle, are also “social” creatures. They are our community, conferring upon usually in pairs or in herds. Like us, our being the reward of acceptance, humans, these animals apparently a gratifying inner satisfaction that also value, long for, and enjoy we are “in,” and “one of them,” akin companionship. The loners among to being a member of a club or a them usually do not survive long. Most obviously, social life, a sense of fraternity/sorority or a party. This sense of belonging is fundamental belonging, a comfortable feeling of security in number, a natural mental for our emotional and physical wellbeing, a powerful prescription that sense of community, is essential to effectively enables each of us to health, mental and otherwise. cope with the sometimes unfriendly That social nature starts the and harsh environment and social day we are born, in the arms of our order. mother, nurtured in the crib, and Attitude and social skills developed into a complete positive Our social skills, which are vital mental state through interactions to our acceptance as a member with both our parents, siblings, of a group or community, are grandparents, and friends. All developed or impeded by our this enables us to develop lasting attitude, which, like social prowess, relationships and a rewarding also significantly impacts our life mental health, which affect and and our health. Both are preinfluence all other lives we touch. requisites to health, happiness and Human beings’ capacity to inner peace in each of us human live a stable and happy life and our survival as a species heavily depend beings. Show me a man with an on our social skills, attitude, and attitude and I will show you social behavior. one abandoned by his friends The history of man on earth shows that cavemen started forming and scorned by strangers he irritated and riled. A good attitude small groups, literally for security compliments and boosts our social and for survival against the harsh skills and acceptability to “belong.” and unforgiving environment, and Here are some quotes of vicious attacks from animals preying on them. That dependency on each wisdom I have come across other is still very evident even today, which are inspiring philosophical parachutes in life for those who, in this modern, technologically like many of us, sometimes find advanced society of ours. Indeed, themselves falling towards the pit no man is an island, and a loner is, comparatively, at a much graver risk of discouragement and despair. With the proper attitude, these sage of ill-health and attrition. proverbs lift our spirit by allowing Like our need for proper us to view and accept the trials and nutrition and shelter, humans also tribulations in this world in their need that sense of belonging, most positive and best light. Indeed, within the family, among friends, all of us need a psychological boost, in a community, in society, and in an inspiration, every now and then. the world at large. This supportHere are some that inspire and group structures and interactions, guide me: emotional, recreational, even Anthony J. D’Angelo, in The informational, are vital to people’s College Blue Book, said “Wherever health and life. The last one has led you go, no matter what the to the popularity and proliferation weather, always bring your own of social media. This modernsunshine.” To quote Oscar Wilde, “If day phenomenon is a tangible you don’t get everything you want, testimony to the value of social behavior as a natural need of homo think of the things you don’t get that you don’t want.” sapiens. Voltaire expressed it beautifully A lonely person, alone, without when he stated, “Life is like a friends, is doomed to be more shipwreck, but we must not depressed and more likely to die

forget to sing in the lifeboats.” An ancient Persian saying puts a great perspective on our daily aches and pains in life, “I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet.” And as some of us may curse some bad days we encounter and wish they never came. Cavett Robert offers these poignant words: “If you don’t think every day is a good day, just try missing one.” Indeed, every day is a good day, although others are better, and others not as good. But each day is a gift. Not waking up to another day is a deadly waste, but not appreciating another day as we open our eyes each morning in our journey through life is a tragedy. How each of us greets the day depends greatly on our attitude. Indeed, attitude impacts our health, our life, and our everyday happiness and success. A person with a chip on his shoulder, with a negative attitude or pessimistic view of life, will obviously be miserable most of the time. And the opposite is true, as Annette Goodheart brilliantly points out: “Just because you’re miserable doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life.” Happiness is basically an attitude. Gaining inner peace is an attitude. We have that Godgiven power to feel what we want to feel. And we can even psyche ourselves. I do. Our attitude and social behavior play an important role here. In a world where global peace is still a dream, a world beset with an economic crisis, with terrorism, with greed and corruption, with energy, food and water shortage, global warming and its devastating sideeffects on typhoons, earthquakes and flooding, a good social skills and attitude, in the midst of all these disasters, are one of our best weapons against helplessness, despair and depression. They indeed impact our health and life. With all these complex problems confronting us, we often find ourselves in the gutter of hopelessness, wherefrom, Oscar Wilde suggests, we can look up at the heavens and “see the stars.” Indeed, a positive attitude, a happy outlook in life, especially these days, can help us tremendously in conquering our fears, insecurities, and dilemmas. Without total surrender, when we sometimes lose Continued on Page 6

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M A R C H 1 7, 20 1 7

Top Model of the World Inc., Slimmers World International Philippines ink partnership TOP Model Of The World Inc. (TMWI) and Slimmers World International Philippines (SWI) recently signed the agreement formalizing the Launch of Top Model of the World Philippines 2017 (TMWP 2017). The agreement signals for the cooperation between TMWI and SWI to the launch of the TMWP 2017 jointly with Miss Bikini Philippines 2017 in Metro Manila. According to Miss Shyla Marquez, Marketing Manager of Slimmers World International Philippines, the search and screening has started in various key cities and regions of the Philippines. The TMWP organization announced that the Filipino Communities are expected to field participants among their accredited overseaspartner organizations. The events will begin on May 2 to start with the Press Presentation. The Finals is scheduled May 12. Last year winner’s of the Top Model of the World Philippines 2016 was won by the delegate representing the Filipino Communities of Southern California. She was sponsored by the Asian Journal Publications, Inc. and Pageantry Global, Inc. The 1st Runner-Up represented the Filipino Communities of Canada and was sponsored by International Professional Entertainment Network (IPEN) of

(L-R) Caroline C. De Venecia, President of TMWI, Shyla Marquez representing SWI Philippines, and Christina C. De Venecia, Treasurer of TMWI.

Toronto Last year’s 2016 Finals of the Top Model of the World Philippines was held in Melbourne, Australia and managed by Face Australia Promotions Management organization - the partner organization of TMWP in

Calendar of Events across

Australia. Already confirmed to join in this year’s event are delegates presenting West Australia, Melbourne, Canada, the East Coast and the West Coast of the USA. The locals are expected to put up a good fight and surprises are in-store.

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 MARCH 18

Free vision screenings & walk for sight in San Fernando, CA On Saturday, March 18, the Lions Club event Lions Eyes Across America will be having free vision screenings and a “Walk For Sight” at San Fernando Recreation Park (208 Park Ave, San Fernando, CA 91340). Registration is at 9 a.m. and the walk starts at 10 a.m. Donate your old eyeglasses and hearing aids. Gather family and friends to support low vision resources throughout Los Angeles. The $15 registration includes a 2017 Lion Eyes T-Shirt. Contact Vangie Tabberrah at (818) 399-7965 or csvangie.tabb@gmail.com.

FASO’s “Swing the Night Away” in Glendale, CA Swing the night away with Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) on Saturday, March 18 at the Glendale Hilton! Bring your dancing shoes for an evening of swing, two-step, rumba, cha-cha, tango and waltz! Dance Instructors will be available on the floor. You can feel free to sit back, relax and enjoy the music! No host cocktails at 6:00 p.m, with dinner at 7:00 p.m. Tickets (dinner included) are $125. You can also contact Arlene Ferrolino (213) 248-9850, Bob Shroder (818) 395-8936 or JL Garcia (310) 936-2988 for tickets and sponsorship opportunities information. FASO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Proceeds will be used to sustain the orchestra, and to fund its education and outreach programs. More information is available on the FASO website at http://www.fasofoundation.org.

M A R C H 1 8 -1 9

Consular outreach mission in Dallas, TX A team from the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles will conduct a Consular Outreach Mission in Dallas, Texas on March 18 and 19. It will be held at Dallas Events Center (4343 Sigma Rd., Suite #600, Farmers Branch, TX 75244) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Please email outreach.dallas@gmail.com (attn: Dallas, TX Outreach) with submissions and applications; incomplete forms will not be processed. All applications must be received no later than March 10. No walk-in applicants will be accepted. The following consular services will be rendered: renewal and/or first-time applications for electronic passport ($60 processing fee + $24 mailing fee). New passports will be released to the applicant by mail twelve (12) weeks from March 22, 2017. No lost passport applications will be accepted; Applications for the retention and re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship pursuant to the Dual Citizenship Law ($50 processing fee). Oath taking will be scheduled on the same day for qualified applicants. Applicants are advised to wear appropriate clothing for the occasion; Applications for report of marriage & birth ($25 processing fee + $7 mailing fee); and registration for overseas voting for the 2019 national elections for senators and party list representatives. Fees must be paid in person at the scheduled appointment. Only cash, postal money order or cashier’s checks are accepted. Personal checks will not be accepted. For more information, please visit http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/. A final list of all applicants will confirmed appointment schedules will be posted on the website by March 15.

M A R C H 25

National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Region 10 Empowerment Conference in San Diego, CA You are cordially invited to the “RISE UP” Regional Empowerment Conference of National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), sponsored by AARP Real Possibilities on Saturday, March 25. Registration is $40 per person, which can be done online or at the door. The conference will be held at Clarion Hotel National City, 700 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950. To register online, please visit http://www.NaFFAASDEmpowermentconference.eventbrite.com.

Golf tournament for a cause in Escondido, CA St. Joseph College (Olongapo City)’s High School Class of 1987 will be holding a golf tournament for a cause at the Vineyard at Escondido Golf Club on Saturday, March 25. It is $109/person to register, which includes rounds of golf and a BBQ buffet. Registration is at 11:30 a.m., with shotgun at 1 p.m. and dinner and prizes at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Gemma Gutierrez Hornilla at (949) 861-1732 or Miguel Uson at (760) 7158216. The Vineyard at Escondido Golf Club is located at 925 San Pasqual Rd., Escondido, CA 92025.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

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An Asian Journal Magazine

Tribeca Film Institute awards Fil-Am filmmaker $10-K grant FAHSI to host a Human Services Day on March 25 The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M A R c h 1 7, 20 1 7

Keynote speaker from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

New York, NY --- March 16, 2017. The Filipino American Human Services, Inc. (FAHSI), in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General, is sponsoring a Human Services Day on Saturday, March 25, 2017, from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm at the Philippine Center, 556 Fifth Avenue, NYC. This inaugural event will provide community members with key information on access to free services from major human services agencies representing women, the youth, the elderly, those needing health services, and the undocumented. The keynote speaker will be Fran Barrett, the Interagency Coordinator for Nonprofits in Governor Cuomo’s office. Another guest speaker is Jo-Ann Yoo, executive Director of the Asian American Federation. The program will also feature two panel discussions composed of leaders from successful NYC human service agencies. Among the panelists are representatives from the following agencies

who will present their programs and services -- womenrising on Domestic Violence services; Goddard riverside on College Access programs; University Settlement on early Childhood and Youth programs; Asian Health Services at Holy Name Medical Center on Health services for Filipino Americans; APICHA on health, LGBTQ and supplemental support; the New York Immigration Coalition on immigration; elmcor on senior services, and New American Leaders Project on civic engagement. The audience will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists following the presentations. Helpful brochures and materials will also be available. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. Consul General Tess de Vega noted that: ”The Philippine Consulate General is pleased to collaborate with FAHSI on this new initiative which aims to raise awareness of the different services available to

Social life impacts...

From Page 5 or fail, we should remind ourselves to get up and fight even harder. After all, “defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it,” as Joe Clark states. To this, I will add my own: “No one can succeed in life who does not have the courage to fail”; and, “The greatest risk in life is in not taking any risk at all.” Someone said, “You cannot adjust the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sail.” Very true, indeed. Simple words of wisdom that could make our day, if not our life. But, of course, we should not simply leave everything to God. we must do our share. He promises to help those who help themselves. while we cannot cure the cancer of poverty in our country, we, as individuals, who are more blessed,

can at least open our heart to help the homeless and the hungry, and gain that sense of satisfaction and inner peace. As I have stated a few times in the past, let us not wait for surgery to open our heart. Let our social behavior and good attitude and compassion for our fellowmen reign. As I live my life each day, I remind myself of an ancient proverb that says, “To everyone is given the key to heaven; the same key opens the gates to hell.” It’s indeed a matter of personal choice. And that choice inevitably depends on our attitude in life. Some people believe their fate is predestined, and that they can’t do anything about it. others, inspired by good attitude and a positive social frame of mind, design, create, and charter their own destiny.

the most underserved sectors of our community - in this way we hope to provide a venue for greater community empowerment and service.” FAHSI co-founder and Board Member Dr. Jean raymundo Lobell, chair of the Human Services Day and Chief Program officer at Cre Consulting remarked: “our community would benefit from having information and access to the free programs and services that major human service agencies provide with great success to vulnerable community members.” The current Board Members of FAHSI are Zultan Bermudez, Board Chair; Joseph Barretto, Vice-Chair; Laura Lopez, Secretary; Jason Cardinez, esq., Treasurer; Aleli Alvarez, Cora Custodio, emerson ea, Mia Fernandez. Jean Lobell, reuben Seguritan, esq., Jaena Valles, Board Members. For more information, contact Joseph Barretto at joseph@fahsi.org or Laura Lopez at laura817ny@earthlink.net. Finally, I strongly believe that leaving this world after this life is not a tragedy. Dying without significance, without making a difference, without leaving behind a good legacy as a social being, is. Let’s all develop good social skills and a positive attitude to help us enjoy life. It’s a potent prescription for health and happiness. *** 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

New York – Dean Colin Marcial, 28, a Filipino-American filmmaker born in Manila, Philippines and raised in New York, was named a 2017 All Access Grantee by the prestigious Tribeca Film Institute (TFI). TFI was founded by actor robert De Niro, Jane rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks His feature film screenplay, “The Green Guerillas”, which chronicles the rise and fall of an ecoterrorist group over an explosive decade in the Philippines, will receive year- round support from TFI and will be presented at the Tribeca Film Festival which runs from 19-30 April 2017 in New York City. Marcia shared with the Philippine Consulate General in New York his reaction to the award: “writing always feels like shouting into a void,” he says. “It’s nice to know that sometimes it shouts back. I’m incredibly grateful for Tribeca’s support – I actually volunteered there my senior year in high school. To be a grantee ten years later leaves me speechless.” The Philippine Consulate General through Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega extended congratulations to Marcia and expressed its support for his

Filipino-American Filmmaker Dean Colin Marcial, 2017 Tribeca All Access Grantee of the Tribeca Film Institute. Photo by Dean Colin Marcial

projects as part of its commitment to help promote and elevate awareness of Filipino and FilipinoAmerican filmmakers and films. Marcial is producing the film with Manila-based Tuko Film Productions/Buchi Boy entertainment/Artikulo Uno Productions the team behind acclaimed films such as “Heneral Luna”, “Sunday Beauty Queen”, and “I’m Drunk, I Love You” and New York- based Tandem Pictures (“The eyes of My Mother”, “The

How to build a house... From Page 3 what’s not. without an internal value system and a firm sense of direction, you’re more than likely to be distracted by the many pitfalls along the way. Consider technology and its spawn, social media, as a double-edged sword. It can either help or hinder, depending on how you use it. As a tool, it is awesome but become obsessed with it and you’re a goner. FoCUSeD MINDFULNeSS is the antidote to all distractions. 2. Ask for help. Fold that ego to the size of a postage stamp. There is help out there. Use it. we need others to help us on the first get-go during the first years of scrambling, scraping and just getting our bearings straight. Don’t be too proud to ask and seek out only those who mean well. Don’t forget to say thanks and show appreciation to those who have helped you every step of the way. There is a place in Hades for the grossly ungrateful. 3. open your mind. Be

informed. observe the patterns of human behavior and the seasonal patterns of life. we are living in the throes of the Age of TMI (Too Much Information). The challenge is in sorting out the essentials from the ton of crud out there particularly on the internet. But above all, fear not the predictions of doom and gloom. If TV or social media are your constant companions, you will become a fearful, paranoid nutcase. The cycles of boom and bust, recession and bumper crop years happen over and over again with the regularity of night and day. More often than not, life is a roller coaster ride, with its thrills and spills. enjoy it. Learn to live and move with the seasons. As ecclesiastes reminds us, “everything passes.” 4. Slow down. Pace yourself. There is a learning curve that most of us will have to go through. There are a select few who can hit the ground running but for mere mortals, like you and me, we have

Sleepwalker”). Marcial’s previous short film “Manila Death Squad” starring Sid Lucero and Annicka Dolonius is in post-production and was screened as a work-inprogress at the 10th Borscht Film Festival. He is also the co-founder of Calavera USA, an awardwinning production company whose credits include “All That I Am”, “Fishtail”, and “Yearbook”. His first film “The God Phone” won Best world Short at the 2012 Little rock Film Festival.

to take a step at a time, at least in the beginning stages. Small mistakes and errors in decisionmaking are rectifiable; the big ones on the things that truly matter, will set us back years. 5. In going for the brass ring, know the price you have to pay to get it. even with America on a major slump these days, conditions will improve and make it possible for ordinary people with extraordinary dreams to realize them. But you have to be willing to pay the price. And no, you can’t cheat. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. There is no free lunch. You may be achieving your goal of a whopping six figure income that allows you the material status you seek, but see what the price of putting in 16 hour shifts or taking on double or triple jobs is doing to your own health, your family, your marriage and your sanity. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Vina Morales welcomes Piolo Pascual...

From Page 3

I’ll welcome it,” she said at the launch of her 30th anniversary album (Star Music), “Vina XXX.” But big sis herself seems clueless about the real score between Piolo and Shaina. Vina’s kid sister hasn’t shared stories about her love life, even to her “ate.” Not that Vina does not want to find out. She tried, but failed. “My sister is very quiet,“ remarked Vina All Vina knows is what most showbiz observers have seen, especially in that intimate dance video between Piolo and Shaina at the Star Magic Ball last october. one look at the viral video, and one will think that the kapamilya stars have eyes only for each other. Again, Vina refuses to jump into conclusions and prefers broad statements instead. Yes, Piolo and Shaina show “a big respect for each other.” Yes, they get along and are always there for each other. But Vina insisted, “I don’t know what they have between them.” Like any sister, Vina supports Shaina in anything she does, including her choice of a boyfriend, for as long as she is happy. In fact, this early, Vina is offering the track “To Live For each other,” composed by lawyer Loreto C. Ata, to Piolo and Shaina as a wedding song. As it turns out, the song was originally cut out for a wedding. Its composer wrote it as a gift to her daughter, who shed tears upon hearing the love song her mom wanted to hear at her (the daughter’s) wedding. Vina herself will love hearing the song if and when she ties the knot with French boyfriend Marc Lambert. “In God’s time,” the singeractress said when asked if she and Marc plan of getting into the altar. She singled out the bouncy “eres Mio (You are Mine)” as her

Singer-actress Vina Morales celebrates her 30 years in the business.

song for Marc and her sevenyear-old daughter, Ceana. The girl proves she inherited her mom’s talent as she duets with Vina in “Pag-Ibig na walang Hangganan.” The album and her full-blown romance are signs that Vina has moved on from the problems of 2016, which saw her filing kidnapping charges against former boyfriend Cedric Lee for allegedly using force to detain Ceana. “I believe we can get over all our problems if we don’t give up. one thing I learned in my 30 years in showbiz is I don’t have to address all the controversies and the bad things said against me. Silence is the best revenge,” said Morales. Silence, however, does not mean she will not fight back. Vina would rather “go through the proper way” – the court of law. She has not lashed out on

her detractors at the height of controversy with Cedric. She held her head high, convinced that she did not step on other people’s toes. Her quiet dignity shows an inner strength and a mother’s determination to fight for her only child. It is this grit that tells Vina to love herself – to take care of her looks and health – despite the trials. “I won’t have projects had I allowed myself to grow fat. I love myself, so I took care of myself. That’s where I get my confidence,” she beamed. As you watch her sing and sway to the beat of “eres Mio,” you cannot help but agree. Here is a woman who knows what she wants, and gives her all to get it. No wonder she has lasted 30 years in a business that has not been as kind to lesser mortals.

Anthony Semerad: How to be a hottie PASSIoN and dedication are the key components to his perfectly bemuscled body, according to professional basketball player, model and tV host Anthony Semerad. Jaws literally dropped when the six-foot-four-inch power forward of the PBA’s GlobalPort Batang Pier walked into the ballroom of the fairmont Hotel in Makati a few nights ago. He was an awesomely towering sight clad in a pair of jeans and a black undershirt, which showed off sculpted biceps straight out of a book on anatomy. “I train almost every day, with three to four hours of team practice,” he simply said, unaffected by looking like the Greek Doryphoros. “Basketball is my passion and if there’s something you do that you really enjoy, you do everything for it.” Semerad, along with his twin brother David [who plays for competing team San Miguel Beermen], was launched as endorsers of a range of sports nutrition supplements under the brand euphoria Maxx from Bargn farmaceutical Phils. Co. He related

Just like everyone else, professional basketball player, model and TV host Anthony Semerad says it takes work to stay in tip top shape.

he agreed to the endorsement because, as a current student of Health Medicine majoring in Sports Nutrition, he carefully looked into the product and capably decided it was something he needed as an athlete. Careful about any supplement he takes, Semerad said he first makes sure the product is not a steroid, has no harmful side effects,

Iza Calzado talks about... From Page 2 who seemingly want to harm her. Calzado further talked about the demands of her role in her post. “I got sick twice while filming because the role was very physically and emotionally demanding, especially when you’re on set for almost 24 hours. It was challenging but fun, thanks to the whole team behind it.” Yet in another post, the social

media darling also talked about the Land of the rising Sun to be a special place for her parents, making her win in osaka more meaningful. “Japan is a special place for our family. My father [the late choreographer and director Lito Calzado]had a business in the 70s-80s-90s which sent filipino entertainers to Japan. Both my parents spoke fluent Japanese,

and finally made from quality ingredients. “As athletes, we need extra energy all the time. And when this supplement came into my life, I found a way to power up before a game or before going to the gym in a safe and healthy way,” he shared. Putting showbiz aside to concentrate on the PBA and his distance learning studies with an Australian university, Semerad said his goal is to eventually open a wellness center, not necessarily geared at bulking up like him, but simply to help people live the wise old adage of “prevention rather than cure.” Asked if he has a message for the fans he gained while doing tV5’s weekly dance show “Celebrity Dance Battle” in 2014, and the ABS-CBN reality show “Pinoy Big Brother: Unlimited” in 2011, he replied, “the problem is my time management, being an athlete, not having enough rest [if I go into showbiz]. But, definitely, I would like to have some type of healthy tV show—something to do with healthy lifestyle. that’s my goal one day.” even my brother had a brief stint DJing in some clubs in Japan. osaka was one of the places they frequented and my mom studied Japanese language there,” Calzado wrote. Also starring Ian Veneracion and tJ trinidad, Adrienne Vergara, and Michael de Mesa, “Bliss” was one of the three filipino films that competed in the 12th edition of the osaka Asian film fest. the other two were Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s “Kita Kita” and Borgy torre’s “tisay.”

World’s sexiest math teacher... From Page 2 explore. I want to see more of the country. I would like to see more of Manila, to begin with, and some of the islands. I’d like to see the beach, I’d like to see the nature, the different culture of the country,” Pietro related. He also said that one of the reasons why he fell in love with the Philippines is because of the people. from the very moment he set foot in the country, he started experiencing the incomparable

hospitality of filipinos that makes any guest feel important. “filipinos are so warm. everywhere I go, all the people I meet are so welcoming, I feel like I’ve been staying here for 20 years! they have a way of making you feel comfortable as if they’ve known you for a very long time,” After obtaining his Ph.D on Biomedical engineering in 2017, the brains and brawn decided to spend more time traveling. As such, it was the right time when the endorsement offer from Bench

came. Because he is not under any agency or manager for his modeling career, it didn’t take long before his deal with the filipino clothing brand was sealed. “I am so thankful to Bench for bringing me to the Philippines. I really enjoy it here as much as I enjoy wearing Bench because it really fits my style. I am also very comfortable with Bench Body. I love it. I mean, obviously, I work hard on my body. I love showing it, so, you know, Bench Body fits me pretty well,” he averred.

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An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asi a n Jour na l N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M A R c h 1 7, 2 0 1 7

Pia Wurtzbach has high hopes for showbiz return by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

After passing on the crown more than a month ago, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach happily shared on Women’s Day that that opportunities are continuously coming her way. Currently signed under talent management company IMG, whose headquarters are in New York, Wurtzbach was first a talent of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic prior to joining beauty pageants. Without giving further details, the beauty queen said she has high hopes to return to her first love in acting. “there are offers to go back to showbiz and I’m glad because I’ve always imagined myself going back to that anyway. So for now we’re still planning things but let’s see how it goes. So far everything is looking very promising,”Wurtzbach told members of the press at her Downy Parfum endorsement event on March 8. “I think I can do both acting and hosting. I would love to explore my acting skills again because it’s been a while since I’ve done so,” she added. According to Wurtzbach, she is still adjusting to post-Miss Universe life but nevertheless keeps herself busy with her advocacies, which are raising awareness for HIV, women empowerment and charities. “right now though, slowly but surely, I’m moving to a new house. I’m still adjusting with the afterlife of Miss Universe but I will get there. I am just slowly unpacking my stuff— it’s 20 boxes!,”Wurtzbach shared. “I still have my advocacies, and there are those reaching out to me to ask for appearances. for me I can still do those with the use of social media for example, or attend or go to school and talk about them. With my management—IMG and Jonas Gaffud of Mercator, we accept [these offers]and we’re open to them. We don’t charge for them because they’re something that I like to do,” she added.

With all the clothes she wore during her reign as Miss Universe, Wurtzbach is planning to sell much of them and donate the proceeds to her hometown, Cagayan De oro (CDo), which had been ravaged by flash floods in January. “the clothes that I wore in Miss Universe, I collected them and put everything in boxes and sent them here to the Philippines, because I’m actually planning on doing like a garage sale or an auction. then for each garment, I’m going to label which event I wore it as Miss Universe, and I’ll give back all the proceeds to the Cagayan de oro because I never had a chance to do a homecoming there. It will be my way of giving back,” she added. Wurtzbach meanwhile kept calm when asked about her reaction to people who bash her and her boyfriend, filipino-Swiss race car driver Marlon Stockinger, on social media. the couple has been dating since September 2016. “I don’t really understand why people would have to say anything bad to us because I think we’re just a reflection of any other couple out there. We’re happy. Being a beauty queen or Miss Universe was never a distraction to me because I am always dedicated to my job and I still am. the same goes with him, so we’re just pushing each other to be the best we can be,” Wurtzbach said. In describing Stockinger, she said, “He is sweet. He is sweeter than me actually.” All the same, Wurtzbach said she does not see herself settling down any time soon. “We haven’t talk about getting married. I’m not thinking about it as well. I’m very career-driven and my focus right now is work. I have many things to achieve yet and I’m still young,” she related. the 27-year-old also reacted to speculations that her boyfriend already has children. “I actually never heard about it. Are you sure it’s the same Marlon? I don’t know anything about that,”

Pia Wurtzbach

she said. She then requested for the public, especially media to double check the facts, before fuelling such stories. “People have to be careful with what they say also because if it doesn’t turn out to be true, then the credibility of the media would be…,” she trailed off. “All I’m saying is that we just have to check the facts first.” It does seem like everything is still rosy for Wurtzbach even if she no longer has the Miss Universe crown. But when asked if there is anything she wishes for at the moment, the goddess all too humanly shared, “I wish I can eat a lot without getting fat.” “But aside from that it’s good to know that I am able to take care of my family [with what I do] because I’m the breadwinner. I guess my worry now aside from making sure that I am stable, is making sure that my sister and my niece are okay, and that my mom is healthy. So it’s really just going back to what I usually do—taking care of my family.”

An Asian Journal Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY MARch 17, 2017