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Ex-Davao Death Squad leader: Pres. Duterte ordered killings Philippine Senate to reopen investigation by Dana

SioSon AJPress

WHILE mayor of Davao City, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a “death squad” to carry out killings or other criminal acts in exchange for money, a former policeman revealed this week. Alleged Davao Death Squad (DDS) leader and retired SPO3 Arturo Lascañas confessed on Monday, February 20 that Duterte personally directed the group to perform killings, usually of drug dealers and criminals, during his 22 years as the city’s mayor.

“Totoo po ang Davao Death Squad (DDS is real),” Lascañas said during a press conference organized by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG). This revelation contradicts the former death squad leader’s testimony during a Senate probe on the extrajudicial killings (EJK) last year in which he dismissed the existence of the DDS, saying the claims were mere “media hype.” His denial came after self-conPAGE A3

USA

DATELINE Filipino named president of DePaul University FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

QUESTION OF JURISDICTION. Sen. Leila de Lima has until 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24 to stay in her office before she would have to let the arresting team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) take her into custody, Ferdie Magalang, the senator’s media officer, told reporters late Thursday night, Feb. 23. De Lima insists theOffice of the Ombudsman, not the courts, should handle the criminal cases filed against her. Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande

Retired SPO3 Arturo Lascañas

De Lima surrenders to CIDG

Philippine Supreme Court affirms Napoles indictment over pork barrel scam by AJPress

THE Philippine Supreme Court (SC) upheld the charges filed against businesswoman Janet LimNapoles and two others in relation to the supposed A FILIPINO was apanomalous distribution of the multi-million Priority pointed the president Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2004 to of DePaul University 2010. in Chicago, considThe high court also dismissed the petitions filed by ered the largest CathNapoles and co-accused John Raymund De Asis and olic university in the National Agri-Business Corporation (NABCOR) PresiUnited States. dent Alan A. Javellana to junk the cases filed against Dr. A Gabriel Estethem. ban, who is originally The respondents are facing charges for malversafrom the Philippines, tion of public funds, corruption of public officials, and will leave his current violation of the Anti-Graft Law, for the alleged misuse post as the head of of over P25-million PDAF, also referred to as pork barSeton Hall University, rel, of former Agusan del Sur Representative Rodolfo a Catholic institution Plaza. in South Orange, Jer“The court upheld the Ombudsman’s determination sey. Dr. A Gabriel Esteban of probable cause and reiterated its deference to the When he assumes office at DePaul on July 1, he will become the Ombudsman performance of said duty,” SC spokesfirst non-ordained leader in the institution’s person Theodore Te said in a press briefing on Tues119-year history. He succeeds the Rev. Den- day, February 21. The SC ruled that it has found no abuse of discretion PAGE A4 PAGE A2

DE LIMA’S DILEMMA. Reporters wait outside the office of Sen. Leila De Lima after she has been issued a warrant of arrest by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on Thursday, Feb. 23. De Lima is facing three charges in relation to her alleged collusion with inmates and protection of the illegal drugs trade at the National Bilibid Prison in exchange for money during her time as Justice secretary of the Aquino administration. Philstar.com photo by auDrey

Morallo Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila De Lima turned herself to arresting authorities on Friday, February 24, following the issuance of an arrest warrant against her by a Muntinlupa court. From her Senate office in Room 502, she was escorted to the agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) led by Chief Superintendent Roel Obusan. The surrender comes after De Lima spent the night in her office at the Senate. The CIDG team also spent the night in the Senate premises. Presiding Judge Juanita Guerrero of the Regional Trial Court Branch issued the warrant after she had found probable cause in the case filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“After a careful evaluation of the herein information and all the evidence presented during the preliminary investigation conducted in this case by the Department of Justice, Manila, the Court finds sufficient probable cause for the issuance of Warrants of Arrest against all the accused Leila M. De Lima, Rafael Marcos Z. Ragos and Ronnie Palisoc Dayan,” Guerrero said in her arrest order. The case in Branch 204 is just one of the three cases filed by the justice department. The other two cases are with Branch 205 (Judge Amelia Fabros-Corpuz) and Branch 206 (Judge Patria Manalastas-de Leon). These cases were raffled off on Monday, February 20. The office of De Lima expressed surprise over the order of Guerrero considering that the judge arrived from a trip only on Thursday, February 23.. De Lima is battling three drug suits in relation to her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade at the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP) during her time as justice secretary of the Aquino administration. Aside from the senator, Rafael Ragos, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer in charge and deputy director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Ronnie Dayan, former driver and lover of the senator, were ordered arrested by the court. De Lima has maintained that President Rodrigo Duterte is behind her legal woes, saying that the president wanted her behind bars because of her intense criticism of the Chief Executive’s vaunted anti-drugs campaign.

Yasay eyes dialogue PH hopes to continue its growth trajectory in 2017 Purisima pleads Global Filipino diaspora consistent contributor to PH economic growth story not guilty in with US Sec. of Mamasapano case State Rex Tillerson by MoMar

G. ViSaya

AJPress

PHILIPPINE Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. is seeking a dialogue with United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as part of Manila’s efforts to build a “closer relationship” with Washington. During the conclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Retreat on Tuesday, February 21, Yasay said he “personally would like to see through a possibility of a dialogue” with Tillerson. “I hope that this can be done as soon as possible,” he added. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had been distancing the country from the United PAGE A4

NEW YORK — “The Philippine investment climate continues to capture the confidence of the prime movers in global business given the strong performance and sustained growth of our economy,” said Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado as she spoke before more than 150 community leaders who gathered at the Philippine Center on Saturday, February 18 for a general assembly. Terrado was in New York with a contingent to promote health care and business process management in the Philippines through various roadshows in key cities across America. At the general assembly, Terrado delivered a report on the Philippine economy and the curDepartment of Trade and Industry rent investment climate. Consul General Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya PAGE A2

by elizabeth

Marcelo Philstar.com

MANILA - Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima on Thursday, Feb. 23 pleaded not guilty to charges of graft and usurpation of official functions in connection with his alleged involvement in the Mamasapano incident. Purisima maintained innocence during his arraignment at the Sandiganbayan. He was accompanied by his lawyer Dexter Corpus. Purisima’s co-accused, former PNPSpecial Action Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr., was not arraigned as the PAGE A2

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From the Front Page

Ex-Davao Death Squad leader... PAGE A1 fessed hitman Edgar Matobato testified last October that Duterte directed the group to carry out the killings in Davao City. Matobato pointed out that Lascañas was the supposed “team leader” of the death squad, which the latter then denied. However, on Monday, Lasca-

ñas admitted that he was one of the “founders” of the group, adding that the members of the squad were paid from P20,000 to P100,000 by Duterte, depending on their targets. “I was one of those who started it,” he said, as reported by CNN. “We implemented the personal instructions of (then-

Mayor) Duterte to us. All of the killings we did in Davao city, whether we buried or threw them out to sea.” He claimed that Duterte hired him to assassinate radio broadcaster Jun Pala, who was a known critic of the then-mayor, through SPO4 Sonny Buenaventura in 2003. Pala’s murder has yet to be solved, according to various reports. Lascañas went on to reveal that the former mayor commanded the squad to bomb Davao mosques in 1993 to retaliate the bombing of San Pedro Cathedral. Around 1,400 killings have been supposedly linked to the death squad based on data from human rights groups. ‘Lascañas was paid to recant’ In a privilege speech on Wednesday, February 22, Senator Richard Gordon, who chaired the earlier probe into the alleged EJKs, lambasted Lascañas for lying before the Senate. Last year, the Senate Committee on Justice on Human Rights concluded that “there is no evidence sufficient to prove that a Davao Death Squad exists.” Gordon said the probe’s conclusion might have been different had Lascañas told the “truth” in the first place. He, however, insisted that Lascañas should not be given another chance to testify before the Senate. “We cannot allow the Senate to be a cockpit of lies. No one should be allowed to trifle with the Senate,” Gordon said. He also accused Lascañas getting paid in exchange of retracting his earlier testimony. “And you want to believe this man? This man who lies frequently, who claims he is paid to murder? He is paid now to talk? Can I ask that question? No, I will not ask that question. I’m sure, I’ll say you are now paid that’s why you’re here and I don’t think you can blame me if I said that,” Gordon said. New Senate inquiry While the former policeman was warned of possible perjury cases for retracting a previous testimony under oath, Gordon said that the cop’s allegations can also be used as grounds PAGE A4

ADB LOANS. President Rodrigo Duterte greets Asian Development Bank president Takehiko Nakao during the Bank’s 50th anniversary celebration on Tuesday, February 21 in Mandaluyong City. In his speech, Duterte acknowledged the Bank’s contribution to the country’s development. He said the Philippines has received more than $16 billion in loans and grants, adding that about a billion dollars more had been released as loans and investments in private Philippine companies. Manilatimes.net photo by Rusell Palma

Philippine Supreme Court affirms... PAGE A1 when Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales filed criminal charges at the Sandiganbayan. The high court also dismissed the claims of Napoles and De Asis that they should not be charged with graft since they were not government officials. “Petitioners’ contentions that the absence of the elements of the

crimes they were charged with is a matter of defense to be ventilated at the trial as these are evidentiary matters requiring a full-blown and not during [the] preliminary investigation,” the high court said. Last week, Solicitor General Jose Calida recommended the acquittal of Napoles, claiming that the Regional Trial Court wrongly convicted her guilty of detaining

her cousin and principal scam whistleblower, Benhur Luy. Calida, however, clarified that the Office of the Solicitor General’s move in Napoles’ serious illegal detention case will have no implications for her PDAF cases. In 2013, the Supreme Court declared the PDAF, a discretionary fund for lawmakers, unconstitutional. n

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of graft and usurpation of official functions in connection with his alleged involvement in the Mamasapano incident.

Purisima pleads not guilty...

PAGE A1 court has yet to resolve his motion to dismiss the case. The court set the preliminary hearings on April 6, 7, 21 and 28 to give the prosecution and defense time to thresh out issues regarding the presentation of witnesses and evidence before the start of trial proper. The pre-trial of the cases is set on May 3. After the arraignment, Purisima left the courtroom and did not speak to media. Purisima and Napeñas are facing one count each of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act and usurpation of official func-

tions as provided under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code. Purisima has posted P20,000 bail for both cases while Napeñas filed his motion for judicial determination of probable cause. The charges stemmed from their alleged involvement in the Mamasapano incident in January 2015, which left more than 60 people dead, including 44 SAF commandos. Records showed Purisima and Napeñas violated the PNP chain of command when they kept then acting PNP chief Leonardo Espina and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas in the dark about Oplan Exodus. Exodus was a covert SAF

operation meant to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman. Purisima was under preventive suspension at the time on orders of the Office of the Ombudsman over an allegedly anomalous firearms license delivery deal. During the operation, the SAF commandos were outnumbered by the combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its splinter faction Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and some private armed groups. The encounter left 44 SAF troopers, 18 MILF members and three civilians killed. n

PH hopes to continue its growth... PAGE A1 “We can be proud of our country as it continues to perform well and it is resilient amidst external shocks,” Terrado said, citing a host of reasons why it is the best time for businesses to invest in the Philippines. “We are very optimistic that the Philippines will continue its growth trajectory and hopefully, the global Filipino diaspora will continue to be a consistent contributor of the Philippine economic growth story.” Terrado explained that the Philippines receives about $24 billion in remittances from all over the world, with an estimated 30 percent of the total coming from the United States. “This is important in terms of the social impact to their families not only in the cities but in the rural areas as well. It is impactful because it creates dynamism in the consumption economy of the Philippines,” Terrado said. The Philippines ended 2016 on a strong note by posting a 6.8 percent economic growth. It remains one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies, ahead of China’s 6.7 percent and fellow high-riser Vietnam’s 6.2 percent. “It is the golden age of infrastructure and it’s all about: build, build, build,” Terrado said. The country’s global competitiveness ranking has also been improving across various groups such as Top 20 Foreign Direct Investment Destination, Economic Freedom Index and Global Innovation Index.

Aside from getting higher Global Competitiveness Ranking, the Philippines’ credit rating continues to receive stable and positive investment grades by the “Big Three” rating agencies — Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. Terrado also talked about how the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is planning to sustain this economic growth through a 10-point socioeconomic agenda, with the ultimate goal of alleviating poverty and uplifting the quality of life of all Filipinos. This 10-point socioeconomic agenda hopes to continue and improve on the current macroeconomic policies, reform the tax system to make it more progressive, equitable and globally competitive, accelerate infrastructure spending and further improve Philippine investment climate to attract more foreign direct investments. The 10-point agenda also aims to address contraction in the agriculture and fishery sector and high food prices as well as uneven growth in the country, along with the promotion of science, technology, and the creative arts to enhance innovation and creative capacity towards self-sustaining, inclusive development. Promoting healthcare information management offshoring Consul General Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega together with Department of Trade Undersecretary Terrado and Philippine

Senior Trade Representative Nicanor Bautista, invited prospective American health investors and executives to the Philippines during the recently held Philippine Healthcare Information Management (HIMS) Business Process Offshoring forum held at Kalayaan Hall, Philippine Center. Terrado led a 17-company delegation from the Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMAP) who travelled from the Philippines to New York for the first leg of a multi-city roadshow, including Orlando, Houston, and San Francisco, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and its overseas offices, the Board of Investments (BOI) in cooperation with Philippine Consulates General in the U.S. BOI Director Angelica Cayas also formed part of the delegation. In New York, the forum attracted 50 American companies and individuals from the health care and medical insurance industry who listened to presentations by Terrado on Philippine economic updates, HIMAP President Cristina Coronel on Philippine offshoring opportunities and HIMS Roadmap 2022, as well as Philippine case study presentations on Revenue Cycle Management by Myla Rose Reyes (SPI Global); on Pharmaceutical/Life Science by Ma. Cristina Coronel (Pointwest Technologies Co.); on Health IT by Vincent Remo (Advanced World Solutions); and on PAGE A4

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Filipino named president...

PAGE A1

PARTY COOPERATION. Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, President of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban), on Monday, February 20, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on party cooperation with Chinese Minister Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in Malacañang. The event was witnessed by President Rodrigo Duterte, chairman of PDP Laban and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua. Senate photo by Ariel Cagadas

Ex-Davao Death Squad leader... PAGE A2 for impeachment cases against Duterte. “Well yeah. Betrayal of public trust yan e, kung totoo (if it’s true),” Gordon told Inquirer. “[Because] it goes into character e. It goes into betrayal of public trust.” The Senate Public Order Committee, which is chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson, is expected to conduct a new hearing to investigate the alleged existence of the DDS. Lacson, however, clarified that the new Senate inquiry would not be a reopening of the previous hearings conducted by the Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Instead, it will be based on the new revelations brought forth by the former policeman. “I’m coordinating with the office of the proponent, Sen. (Antonio) Trillanes, for the submission of Lascañas’ sworn statement and thereafter, find out who we will invite as resource persons then I will schedule a hearing,” Lacson said in a statement. ‘Political drama’ Malacañang, meanwhile, dismissed Lascañas’ recent state-

ment as “political drama.” In a statement on Monday, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the press conference was another attempt to “destroy the president and to topple his administration.” Andanar suggested that the “character assassination” against the president is nothing but “vicious politics orchestrated by sectors affected by the reforms initiated by the Duterte administration.” He also pointed out that the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Senate Committee on Justice, had already cleared the president of the allegations surrounding the extrajudicial killings. “Bringing change is not an easy task. The Duterte administration has disturbed and disrupted the establishment. However, we remain undistracted in delivering goods and services to serve the people, not just the interest of the few,” Andanar added. Meanwhile, responding to Andanar’s comments, the CHR denied the claims that it has

cleared Duterte of his alleged involvement in the DDS and extrajudicial killings. “It is clear from the quoted portions of the resolution that deaths have occurred in significant numbers and no investigations were conducted by the local government. Deaths continued to occur with impunity during the term of the former mayor,” the commission said, citing a 2012 resolution that calls the Ombudsman to investigate Duterte’s supposed connection to the group. The Office of the Ombudsman earlier rejected the complaint but the case was reopened following Matobato’s testimonies last year. The CHR said Lascañas’ revelations would be considered in its on-going probe. In various instances, Duterte has denied his leadership role in the extrajudicial killings and the existence of the death squad as mayor. Since taking office last June, over 7,700 individuals have been killed in relation to the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs — 2,500 of which were from police operations. n

nis H. Holtschneider, C.M., who stepped down in June of last year. Esteban said it was a “great privilege and honor” to have served as the president of Seton Hall since 2011 and that it was a “difficult decision” to leave. “DePaul University has an excellent academic reputation, and I am honored to have the opportunity to shape its future in partnership with the university community,” he said in a statement released on Thursday, February 16. He added that the university’s mission and values align with his “personal beliefs.” During his tenure — also as the first lay leader in its history — Seton Hall created a new School of Medicine in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health, a new health and medical sciences campus, and a new College of Communication and the Arts. Additionally, fundraising reportedly reached “all-time highs,” with more than $40 million raised in the last year and a half alone. Seton Hall Board of Regents Chairman Patrick Murray noted how under Esteban’s leadership,

the university “made tremendous progress and growth.” “Working closely with Dr. Esteban for these past years has been a blessing,” Murray said. “His love for learning and his dedication to making higher education available to individuals from all walks of life is unparalleled.” Previously, Esteban served as interim president for six months and had the roles of provost and chief academic officer, in which he oversaw eight colleges and schools, university libraries and enrollment services. In a statement, DePaul’s Board of Trustees chair William E. Bennett touted Esteban’s “extensive experience in higher education and strategic planning.” Added James T. Ryan, chair of the search committee and vicechair of the board, “In the search for DePaul’s next president, our committee sought a proven academic leader and strategic thinker with a deep personal commitment to DePaul’s Vincentian and Catholic identity. Dr. Esteban not only shares the values that reside at the heart of our community, he also has the vision and compassion to champion DePaul’s distinct educational mission.” The university’s Board of

Yasay eyes dialogue... PAGE A1 States under former President Barack Obama for the latter’s alleged ‘hypocrisy’ and criticisms of the intensified campaign against illegal drugs. Some analysts, on the other hand, expect warmer relations between the two countries given the new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who took office last January. “It will be very important for us

PAGE A2

as I’m sure it will be important for the United States, in our desire to forge closer ties and closer relationships,” Yasay said. During the press briefing, Yasay also disclosed that ASEAN foreign ministers discussed Trump’s new policies during the retreat. “The ministers had expressed their views on what they see is an evolving, still evolving policy, of the United States under the pres-

idency of Donald Trump,” said Yasay, who chaired the event. He also related that the ministers are “hopeful” that the new policies under the Trump administration “will be positive for everyone and will contribute toward peace and progress in the region.” Earlier in December, Duterte extended Trump an invitation to attend the ASEAN summit later this year. The 2017 summit, chaired by the Philippines, will be held in November in Clark, Pampanga. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

PH hopes to continue its growth...

Customer Service by Phil Taylor (KMC Solutions, USA). A testimonial presentation entitled “A U.S. Company’s Offshoring Experience in the Philippines” was shared by John Chess, managing director of KMC Solutions, which was followed by a third-party assessment of the Philippines as a leading location for HIMS Services by Sakshi Garg, practice

director of Everest Group. In her welcome remarks, Consul General De Vega expressed support for the HIMS industry in the Philippines in light of its strategic importance to the country’s BPM industry and lauded the leadership of DTI and its collaboration with HIMAP that deepened competencies from simple encoding to highervalue services. The Philippines’ HIMS sector grew by 41.03 per-

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Trustees unanimously voted in favor of Esteban’s appointment on February 6. According to his biography, Esteban holds a bachelor’s in mathematics and an MBA from the University of the Philippines. He was the first Philippine recipient of the Fujitsu Scholarship, taking him to Chaminade University in Hawaii, where he earned a master’s in Japanese business studies. He holds a doctorate in business administration from University of California, Irvine. He has received multiple accolades, including “Great Immigrant” from the Carnegie Corporation of New York in 2015 and one of New Jersey’s 100 most powerful state leaders by NJBIZ. Esteban is a board member and former vice chairman of the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education, a national organization established to address issues affecting Asian American students, faculty and staff. He also serves as a commissioner on the Commission on Inclusion of the American Council on Education. His past experience also includes senior-level leadership and faculty positions at high education institutions in Arkansas, Texas and the Philippines. He and his wife, Josephine, have one daughter who is a medical resident at the University of Chicago. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)

cent (CAGR) or US$1.3 Billion since 2011. The HIMS roadshow is designed to promote Philippines HIMS to U.S. stakeholders. The delegation is also participating in the 2017 HIMS Annual Global Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, an event that brings under one roof 1,200 exhibitors and 45,000 delegates from the health care and IT industry. n

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D ateline PhiliPPines Historian: Martial Law never PNP, NBI disagree over suspects in Jee kidnap-slay about Aquinos, Marcoses by Audrey

MorAllo Philstar.com

MANILA — Martial Law was never about the Aquinos and Marcoses, a history professor said on Tuesday, Feb. 21, as he warned that the Philippines faces a “war on memory” which he believed was more serious than the government’s war on drugs. Jose Maria Tirol, a professor from Ateneo, cautioned Filipinos against thinking that martial law was about the battle of the Aquinos and the Marcoses for power. Speaking at the relaunch of the Primitivo Mijares’ book “Conjugal Dictatorship,” Tirol said that Martial Law was actually about truth and lies. “This is about truth and lies. This is the bottom line. This is about truth about memory and lies about memory. There is nothing ever in between,” the professor said. He said that this dark period in history should not be reduced a simple dichotomy between two political colors or family. Neither should you reduce martial law to a dichotomy. The mistake that is being done is it’s being reduced to dilawan vs this is not about Aquinos and Marcoses. He said that as a country the Philippines has “national Alzheimer’s,” and this has allowed some sectors with their own interests to twist history especially the events during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. “Even if you remember some, you will automatically remember it in a certain way. That is what’s happening today. Social memory is very malleable. Sometimes it can be twisted,” Tirol said. “If you look at our history gone or taught, it has been twisted many times. And never has it been twisted so much as what happened last year,” referring to the 2016 elections and the clandes-

tine burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. “Social memory is very malleable, and what we have right now there are two wars in the country: one is the war on drugs and the bigger one actually the more long-term one is the war on memory. It is terrible war on memory,” Tirol said. Tirol also called on the youth to refrain from treating Martial Law as an “insignificance” by referring to is a “thingy.” He also emphasized the need for people to know the truth. “History is about narrative an ongoing narrative an ongoing discourse. If you do not know the truth, you cannot discourse. If you do not know the truth, people up there who claim the truth will take over and win that discourse and what will happen to you? History is about our story,” the professor said. Why ‘move on’? Maria Serena Diokno, former chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), criticized the government for saying that people should move on, saying such a view disregarded the importance of history in the present and the future. She was referring to the statement of Ernesto Abella, the presidential spokesperson, who said: “It’s time to move on from just celebrating the past, remembering the past and to move on into the whole aspect of nation building, to give it a more positive outlook and… a more positive understanding.” Malacañang announced several days ago that the 31st anniversary of the People Power Revolution would be “very simple and very quiet.” Instead, Diokno said that we as a nation should squarely face its past. “You want to move on? Harapin mo ang nangyari. Hindi mo yan tatalikuran. Harapin mo ng bu-

ong-buo. You cannot diminish it, you cannot ignore it, you cannot silence it,” said Diokno, daughter of human rights fighter and former Sen. Jose Diokno. Diokno said that people insisting on moving on might be concealing something. Diokno resigned as chairperson of NHCP after the government allowed the interment of the remains of dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Following the decision of the Supreme Court stating that there was impediment to the burial of the late strongman, Marcos was clandestinely buried at the Libingan in November last year. Passing on history Rene Saguisag, a former senator, said that it was important for people to read books such as “Conjugal Dictatorship” for them to know what really transpired from 1972 to 1986. “Sabi nga ni George Santayana, ‘A nation without memory is a nation of madmen.’ More popular of what he said, ‘Those who don’t remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ We don’t want to have to go through that again,” Saguisag said. He said that the youth of today had the responsibility to continue the fight they started during martial law. “We have to pass on the torch to the younger ones. Kaya kayong mga kabataan we are passing the torch to you,” he said. Joseph Christopher MijaresGurango, grandson of Primitivo Mijares, said that “Conjugal Dictatorship” could help the youth know what happened during martial law because of the insider accounts it offers. “As an insider account, it’s the only one out there that of its kind. In it, he incriminates, he tells of a story. He was in a special position because of how much Marcos trusted him. He was also writing all of the lies,” Gurango said.

Former Senator Rene Saguisag (third from right) expressed his regrets for not expelling then student Rodrigo Duterte from law school following a shooting incident with a classmate.

Saguisag regrets not ousting Duterte from law school MANILA — Former Senator Rene Saguisag said on Tuesday, Feb. 21 that he regretted the decision of San Beda Law School not to expel then law student Rodrigo Duterte following a shooting incident with a classmate. Saguisag said he voted to have Duterte ousted but was outvoted by the dean and the priest of the law school. “I voted to expel him pero I was outvoted by the priest and the dean. Sabi nakakaawa naman, senior na. Pa-graduating na lang pero hindi pinag-martsa (They felt sorry for him since he was already a senior. It was decided to just let him graduate but not to allow him to march at the rites),” Saguisag recounted. Duterte recounted the shooting incident during a campaign rally in April last year. “I was a graduating student at San Beda when I shot a man,” then candidate Duterte said. “I waited for him. I told myself I’ll teach him

a lesson.” The former senator said that if Duterte had been disciplined, he would not be what he is today. “Ito ang sabi ni Skinner: ‘You get more of the misconduct you don’t punish and more of the conduct you reward,’” Saguisag said, referring to the renowned behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner. He said that the chief executive treated life as cheap and did not have respect for human rights and human dignity. Saguisag said that this incident could have made Duterte think that he could get away with anything that he would do. He said that this seemed to be the attitude of the president with regard to his bloody campaign against illegal drugs. “Kasi ang tingin niya siguro he could get away with anything. That’s what’s happening now. Libu-libo ang natetepok,” the human rights lawyer said. Duterte shot Octavio Goco, a

classmate in law school, after the latter persistently teased him for being “probinsyano,” according to Saguisag. Saguisag said that this incident showed early the “trigger happy” attitude of the president. Citing a “source,” Saguisag said Duterte meant to shoot Goco. This was contrary to the advice of his fraternity brothers who told him to report that it was an accident. Saguisag, however, remained hopeful that Duterte would change course and discontinue the “disaster” that his government started in June last year. “I remain hopeful that he will still change. Dahil his failure is your failure, his success will be everyone’s,” he said. “I hope he will review the past few months and change course where called for.” Saguisag was speaking at the relaunch of the book “Conjugal Dictatorship” at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Tuesday night. (Philstar.com)

Crimes covered by death penalty bill down to four by delon

PorcAllA Philstar.com

MANILA - From a high of 21 offenses covered by the bill reviving the death penalty, House leaders have agreed to limit coverage to only four—drug trafficking, plunder, treason and rape with homicide—for now. Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said the super-majority coalition members agreed to whittle the number of offenses to the first three after considering “compelling reasons” and “challenging global situation,” but opposition Rep. Tomas Villarin of partylist Akbayan said rape was also agreed upon. “I think they approved four. It included rape with homicide, es-

pecially if the victim is 10 years old and below,” Villarin, who was absent during the caucus, told reporters. Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he is determined to retain plunder in the list of crimes punishable by death under House Bill 4727, which seeks to re-impose the death penalty in the country. Like those who commit heinous crimes, plunderers of government coffers—either elected or appointed officials—should be meted the maximum punishment of death, the House leaders argued. Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, chairman of the committee on games and amusement, agreed. “If our consciences are clear, then we (politicians) have nothing

to worry about. This would also fit well with the administration’s thrust to battle graft and corruption in government. The money shouldn’t end up in someone’s pocket for his personal benefit,” Tambunting stressed. President Duterte wanted death by hanging imposed on criminals convicted of heinous crimes. Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro predicts a landslide win for the bill, explaining that at least 220 administration lawmakers will vote for its revival. “If the House has 293 members, it is possible that they (pro-life lawmakers) would reach 60 or 70 as against the 200-plus members of the majority,” the lawmaker from Capiz said in a dzBB interview over the weekend.

by Audrey

MorAllo Philstar.com

MANILA — Confusion reigned over the investigation into the kidnap-slay case of a Korean businessman on Thursday, Feb. 23 after the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recommended two differing lists of individuals to be charged. The PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) filed a case against three NBI officials in relation to the kidnapping and killing of Jee Ick-Joo last year, namely National Capital Region Director Ricardo Diaz, Deputy Director Jose Yap and Task Force Against Anti-Illegal Drugs chief Roel Bolivar. Glenn Dumlao, the acting director of AKG, said the charges against the NBI officials was based on the recent affidavit of Rafael Dumlao implicating the three. The PNP-AKG claimed that Dumlao named Diaz, Yap and Bolivar are direct participants in the

SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, a suspect in the slay of a Korean businessman inside the police headquarters in Quezon City, wears a bulletproof vest on Jan. 26, 2017 at a Senate inquiry into the case. Senate photo by Lex Nueva España

case. “The addendum was based on the recent confession of Atty. Rafael Dumlao,” Dumlao of AKG said at the Senate hearing probing into Jee’s death.

In addition to the three officials of the NBI, the AKG also filed cases against more than a dozen individuals in relation to the death of Jee. These individuals were Dumlao, Senior Police Officer (SPO3) Ricky Sta. Isabel, Senior Police Officer 4 (SPO4) Roy Villegas, Ramon Yalung, Jerry Omlang, Gerardo Santiago, owner of Gream Funeral Parlor and his employees Epephany Gotera, Teodolito Tarepe, Kevin Enriquez, Robert John Tobias and Bernardo Maraya Jr. Also charged were one alias “Pulis” and several John Does. The PNP-AKG said: “The totality of the pieces of evidence on record shows that the above-named respondents did a collective, concerted and synchronized acts that constitute indubitable proof that all of them are co-conspirators, with other unknown malefactors, to attain a common objective in committing their crimes. “ The PNP-AKG charged them PAGE A7

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february 24-march 2, 2017 • Oc/Ie aSIaN JOurNaL

OpiniOn

Features

Subdued

AS Filipinos commemorate the 31st anniversary of the EDSA (People Power) revolution this year, they are not called to dramatize the wrongdoings of the past. Instead, they should do so with a critical understanding of the aspirations and the historical realities that made this movement the catalyst for a democracy that most Filipinos enjoy today. Malacañang is marking its first EDSA anniversary under President Rodrigo Duterte this weekend. It earlier announced that this year’s commemoration will be simple, quiet and focused on moving forward — three months after Duterte allowed the burial of former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery). “It’s time to move on from just celebrating the past, remembering the past, and to move on to the whole aspect of nation building to give it a more positive outlook and give it a more positive understanding,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said. “The whole nation is evolving. We can’t get stuck in the past.” The 1986 EDSA revolution is not just a mere political event in Philippine history. It will be forever remembered—and taught in schools—as the pivotal moment when Filipinos dared to challenge and determine their own destiny despite hostility and dictatorship. It seems like a lifetime ago when former Pres. Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines on Sept. 21, 1972. Forty-five years have passed, but the wretched moments of the martial law era have continued to linger on, especially for the people who had

to endure it. It was on February 25, 1986, that Filipinos to finally refuse to submit to oppression and degradation. They were not aiming for utopia, they fought for a society in which liberty and justice are treated as complementary. Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos joined the nationwide protest that brought People Power revolution to life. In this historic uprising, the voice of the people resonated through the country and has been forever etched in the pantheon of Philippine democracy. The People Power revolution continues to this day, as a reminder to Filipinos of how supporting a common stand can turn them to a formidable moral power. The People Power revolution ignited the people’s longing for genuine democracy. It is empowered by the will of the people. It gives the citizenry the power to overturn the culture of corruption, unethical conduct, and self-serving antics of politics. While the EDSA revolution is just a story of the past, it serves as a reminder for all generations to come: that as ordinary citizens, we are still capable of inciting change in our day-to-day existence. Each of us should remain vigilant in guarding the democracy that Filipinos before us have worked so hard for. We are called to embody the values that sparked this political movement, to celebrate the ideals of democracy, and to pursue happiness and freedom for every Filipino. (AJPress)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Trump’s new guidelines and executive orders: Nail-biter week for the undocumented THIS may be one of the most unsettling weeks for kababayans who are living and working in the United States without legal status as the Trump administration unveiled new guidelines to be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These provisions make good on Pres. Donald Trump’s campaign promise to deport the almost 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Trump is also to expected to sign a new executive order this week, in lieu of the executive order that had been frozen by the federal court and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. As the Washington Post first reported, the new guidelines signed by DHS Secretary John Kelly is expected to “aggressively detain and deport illegal immigrants inside the United States and at the border.” USA Today reports that new guidelines call for the hiring of thousands of additional enforcement agents and in-

Opinion

MaRlen Ronquillo MR. Duterte won the presidency on the basis of his reputation for toughness. Tough against crime, unforgiving on the corrupt, ruthless against those who violate the law. He could not let, he said during the campaign, obedience to the law be “optional,” and many found that the best line of his campaign and the best argument for his election to the presidency. Yes, obedience to the law can’t be an optional thing. Leaders rise and fall on their fidelity, or non-compliance–with both the enacted laws and the Constitution. The efforts of the state lawyers to free Napoles is a total rejection and a mockery of that pledge. No contemporary figure in our scandal-prone country can topple the large and looming figure of Janet Lim-Napoles from her ghastly perch–as the public face of a corrupted political system. Free Napoles? From what dark and sinister labyrinth of legal rubbish did they draw the basis to free Janet Napoles? The usual verbal scam of technicality? Where did you think the younger Napoles got those RitzCarlton apartments, Porsches and Hublots? And those gilded bathtubs she filled with infinitesimal amounts of cash? Or, where

creasing the number of immigration judges, The Fil-Am expanding the pool of immigrants prioritized Perspective for removal, enlisting local law enforcement to help with arrests and speeding up deportation hearings. Gel SantoS-ReloS They also propose prosecuting parents and family members in the U.S. who pay smugglers to bring over unaccompanied minors. Whereas former President Barack Obama focused his administration’s deportations exclusively on hardened criminals and those with terrorist ties, the Trump administration’s deportation efforts dramatically expand the scope of enforcement operations, giving ICE agents the power to determine the operational definition of the word “criminal record” or “crime” committed by those in the U.S. without legal status.

This means that ICE agents have the prerogative to include an apprehension for a reason like a DUI or just being in the country illegally as reasons enough to deport the undocumented. According to the Washington Post, the new guidelines would now allow authorities to seek expedited deportation proceedings. Currently, this procedure is limited to undocumented immigrants who have been in the country for two weeks or less. The new order will be expanded to cover anyone who has been in the country for up to two years. The Post further stated that under the new guidelines, Mexican immigrants who are apprehended at the border would now be ordered to immediately return back home, pending the outcomes of their deportation hear-

ings. They would no longer be detained in the U.S., an effort that would reportedly save detention space and other resources. The guidelines also aim to stop the pouring in of the growing wave of 155,000 unaccompanied minors who have come from Mexico and Central America over the past three years. Under the new guidelines, their parents in the United States could be prosecuted if they are found to have paid smugglers to bring the children across the border. The new guidelines also give the go signal for Trump’s promised border wall to begin construction, mandating the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to “immediately begin planning, design, construction and maintenance of a wall, including the attendant lighting, technology (including sensors), as well as patrol and access roads.” Funding for the wall’s construction and maintenance, however, would still need

approval by Congress. While the new guidelines failed to make good Trump’s campaign promise to overturn the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that has provided work permits to more than 750,000 immigrants who came to the country illegally as children, the Trump administration clarified that these DACA recipients would be spared for now, temporarily. IF YOU THINK these guidelines and Trump’s soon to be released new executive order on immigration could make you and your family vulnerable, then you better consult a reputable immigration attorney to know your rights and options as provided for by law. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Clearing Napoles is vesting sainthood on Marcos and Suharto did the family get the money to buy the Anaheim hotel, the prime properties in CA and elsewhere? We have combed all the records and we found no gold and copper mines under the name of Janet Napoles. Was there a treasure trove from Basilan that she managed well and turned into multibillion-peso enterprises? Did she invent an apps that funded a gilded life? None whatsoever. In fact, except for the phony NGOs Napoles used in her P10 billion SARO-for-Cash scam, there was never any legitimate enterprise founded or operated by Napoles. They were fake farm and rural cooperatives, for God’s sake, operating from Napoles’s plush suites, and everything, from the stationery to the registration filings were phony. And we, the real farmers, were her first victims as Mr. Aquino cut off all aid to the peasantry after the peasantry was used as a front by the Napoles syndicate in the scam. She got her start selling fake helmets to the Marines. She grew bolder in her scams, until the point she found the sophistication and the accomplices to carry out the most daring heist of congressional money in the history of this sad republic. Did the state lawyers forget that the P10 billion pork scam has no precedent in the history of a tainted Congress? Nothing of that scale of corruption, mind-boggling and incomprehensible, had been tried before. After she left the misery of Basilan, Napoles never

set foot on muddy fields again. Before Napoles raised the ante on corruption, lawmakers were content with pitsi pitsi tongpats of 10 percent for every SARO/NCA that was released under their names. Ten percent was the SOP to make sure that the projects funded were not impaired. Commissions were made, yes, but projects were done. There was corruption, yes, but in a context where lawmakers have to dole out real cash for kasal, lamay, fiesta at basketball, the 10 percent tongpats seemed benign. It was Napoles who devised the outright 60-40 SARO-forCash exchange, purely paper transactions that funneled huge amounts of cash into her accounts and her lawmaker-accomplices. She incorporated all those phony NGOs, faked the Janet Lim-Napoles names of the supposed farmerbeneficiaries, faked the names “dates.” Not really for the money of the supposed LGU beneficia- but for the grand time they had ries and recruited the executive with their “dates.” Remember branch officials and lawmakers the rich, young congressmen into her grand, multi-billion-peso who parted away with P1 million or so to the scam – no thanks to scams. In fact, Napoles lured the the pretty young things who archiefs of staff of senators and ranged a night out with them. And now, she is innocent? congressmen via fancy lunches and other offerings so the staff- Wow. If she were cleared, let Iners would convince their princi- donesia vest Suharto with saintpals to gamely participate in her hood and our little sad country grand scam. She and the minor should do the same with Marscammers employed beauti- cos. Then, we should ask for a ful and young women to “date” members of the House of Repre- global rewrite of the historical sentatives. Take note that some records to vest knighthood on of those tagged in the pork bar- Pol Pot and Idi Amin. Or claim rel scam were young congress- that the Kristallnacht was a Jewmen who signed on after the ish fabrication.

Poor Ben Hur Luy. Ben Hur was, of course, an accidental hero. Tempted by the Napoles riches, he probably set out to get out of the Napoles scam to set up a similar operation for himself. But that was not to happen. He became a whistleblower with a prodigious memory and a knack for keeping records. Unflappable and calm, he impressed many with his composure and vivid memory on the modus operandi of the Napoles Group and its transactions with the key players, particularly the three senators—Johnny, Bong and Jinggoy—who allegedly traded their SARO for cash. Now, state lawyers want to

reverse the story. The one who felt Napoles’s wrath as her scam unraveled is now the culprit and the “Pork Queen” a victim of Ben Hur’s fairytales. Will the judicial system allow such kind of whitewashing to take place? I am not so confident on Ben Hur’s fate. And where we are now does not give me that confidence. What is “trending” now, I will use a techie term, is an urge to whitewash history. Crackpots are declared “heroes” and there is disdain for the truth. The conspiracy to free Janet Lim-Napoles is taking place under such perverse obliviousness to facts. (ManilaTimes.net)

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ASEAN foreign ministers push dialogues to ease sea tension by Jefferson

AntipordA ManilaTimes

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay on Tuesday, Feb. 21 admitted that a number of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed concern over the escalation of activities in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and noted the need to sustain dialogues to prevent tension in the region. In a news conference after meeting his Southeast Asian counterparts in Boracay Island, Yasay said that the ministers are concerned that the recent developments in the area may raise tensions and erode trust and confidence in the region. He said the ministers pushed to sustain the momentum of dialogue in order to ease the tension. During the meeting, ASEAN countries reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of maritime activities and avoid actions that may further complicate the

situation. The ministers, Yasay said, sought the peaceful resolution of disputes and urged all parties to respect legal and diplomatic processes in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Yasay said the foreign ministers backed the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) as well as efforts by the group and China to complete a framework of the Code of Conduct (COC) to facilitate the early adoption of the COC. The DFA chief earlier said the COC framework may be completed by the middle of this year. “We would like to come up with the framework to further promote bilateral negotiations. We would like this document to be legally binding for all concerned,” Yasay said. However, the DFA chief admitted that there is still no telling whether China will cooperate in

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the completion of the COC framework. The Pentagon claims that China has reclaimed more than 3,200 acres of land in the South China Sea. It has also built runways and buildings in the Spratlys, which is also being claimed by the Philippines. The militarization in the WPS was also tackled during the Asean meeting, including the installation of a weapon system on reclaimed areas. “The dismantling of this equipment will depend somehow on what we will encode in the COC,” Yasay explained. Yasay chaired the Asean For- WETLANDS EXHIBIT. Sen. Cynthia Villar was joined by Senators Nancy Binay and Loren Legarda in opening the exhibit ‘Wetland Wonders of eign Ministers’ Retreat in Bora- the Philippines’ at the Senate. The exhibit showcases the seven sites in the country declared as Wetlands of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention and stresses the importance to protect and conserve the wetlands in the survival of marine resources and in disaster risk cay, the first gathering of Asean prevention. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was also attended by Department of Environment and Natural Resources National Capital Region Dir. Foreign Ministers. The Philip- Lourdes Wagan and Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Eco-Tourism Area Focal Leader Rey Aguinaldo. Senate photo pines assumed the chairmanship of Asean this year. The ministers also discussed the six priorities of Asean for 2017 — people-oriented and peoby reinA LeAnne toLentino ple-centered, peace and stability Ching, and Danilo Mercado. The Office of the Ombudsman ManilaTimes.net in the region, maritime security “The grant of a demurrer to filed the case last year, alleging and cooperation, inclusive, innoThe Sandiganbayan’s Fifth evidence in a criminal case is a that the firearms were procured vation-led growth, resiliency, and Division stood pat on its ruling dismissal of the case on the mer- and paid for without public bidAsean as a model of regionalism acquitting Sen. Joseph Victor its and is equivalent to the acquit- ding. and a global player. “JV” Ejercito and five others in tal of the accused,” the court said But in its December 22, 2016 a graft case in connection with in a five-page resolution promul- resolution, the Sandiganbayan the alleged anomalous purchase gated on Monday, Feb. 20, as it said that HK Tactical Defense of high-powered firearms worth denied the prosecution’s motion System, Inc. was not given any P2.1 million in 2008 when he for reconsideration. advantage “because it was not was San Juan city mayor. “Considering that the demur- the exclusive distributor of DaeIn December last year, the rers to evidence of the accused woo guns and there is no evicourt granted Ejercito’s demurrer were granted after the prosecu- dence that these accused manipto evidence and thus acquitted tion had rested its case, the ac- ulated the elimination of other him along with City Administra- cused are entitled to invoke Daewoo suppliers.” tor Ranulfo Dacalos who former- their constitutional right against It also found no evidence that ly led the Bids and Awards Com- double jeopardy. Entertaining Ejercito pre-selected the brand mittee (BAC) and former BAC the present motion for reconsid- because he only approved an ormembers Rosalinda Marasigan, eration would violate such right,” dinance which did away with the Romualdo de los Santos, Lorenza the court added. specific branding.

Court upholds JV Ejercito acquittal

CJ Sereno: Judiciary to remain loyal to 1987 Charter MANILA — Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno reminded everyone that the Constitution remains the “North Star” of the judiciary as the nation commemmorates the 31st anniversary of EDSA People Power 1 on Saturday, Feb. 25. “The judiciary is here to serve justice in the role it has been given by this Constitution, which is to convict only on the basis of the evidence, to rule according to law, to give no man favor and to harbor no malice towards any,” Sereno told reporters on Thursday after the launching Governance in Justice program of European Union event at the Manila Hotel. Sereno recalled that the 1987 Constitution came at the end of the EDSA revolution which ousted dictator President Ferdinand Marcos. She pointed out that the Charter, which was ratified by 16,622,111 affirmative votes, provided “a rich and fertile ground for the rule of law to be nourished, to grow and to bear fruit.” “This it did with a renewed

PNP, NBI disagree over suspects in...

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno

focus on human rights and civil liberties, an emphasis on sovereignty, and institutional protection for the independence of the judiciary,” she said. ‘Backbone for democracy’ At the 30th anniversary celebration of the ratification of the Constitution on February 2, Sereno emphasized on the historical value of the Constitution as “backbone for the new democracy ushered in by the force of the People Power Revolution of 1986 that ended the Marcos dictatorship.” “We in the Supreme Court and the judiciary today re-commit

ourselves to the task of allowing our people to realize their hopes and aspirations of a society that is more just, humane, and equal by ensuring that the courts are firm, fair and free,” she said. Sereno made no mention of specific issues involving the current state of affairs, but assured the public that the high court is always ready to settle constitutional questions. “The Court is there and watchful, but waiting to act only on the basis of justiciable controversies already filed before them,” Sereno added. (PNA)

PAGE A5 with kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention with homicide for the death of Jee and kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the abduction of Marisa Dawis, househelp of Jee. They were also charged with robbery for the four withdrawals in the amount of P20,000 they made using the bank card of Jee, carnapping for using the victim’s vehicle to kidnap him, falsification of public document for forging Jee’s death certificate and obstruction of justice. NBI’s angle The list of those to be charged

by the PNP, however, differs from that of the NBI. Conspicuously absent from their list are the names of three NBI officials named by Dumlao to have directly participated in the crime, putting it at loggerheads with the PNP on the issue. The NBI, in its report submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ), recommended for filing of charges against Dumlao, Villegas, Sta. Isabel, Omlang, Santiago, Gotera, Police Superintendent Allan Macapagal, a certain alias “Pulis,” a certain alias “Driver,” a certain alias “Tol” and several John Does.

According to the findings of the NBI, it was “clear” that Villegas, Sta. Isabel, Omlang, “Pulis” and “Driver” dragged, handcuffed and took away and transported the Korean businessman with his househelp Daws from his house in Pampanga. The NBI report also noted that the suspects stole the personal belongings of Jee’s family such as jewelry worth P300,000, P250,000 cash, his wife’s and daughter’s passports and passbook. The DOJ is currently conducting a reinvestigation of the case following orders from a Pampanga court.

A

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Jordan Clarkson on embracing basketball and his Filipino roots By MoMar

february 24-march 2, 2017

2

G. Visaya

AJPress

IN just his third season with the National Basketball Association (NBA), Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson has already made a name for himself as a viable asset for the franchise. The 24-year-old belongs to a crop of Filipino Americans who have broken the glass ceiling in the U.S. in fields such as arts, sports, fashion, technology and business. In the NBA, he is considered as the third one with Filipino blood, alongside Nate Robinson — who is one-eighth Filipino — and Raymond Townsend, who played his last game in 1982. During a meet and greet with Filipino-American fans in New York earlier this month, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who was attending several meetings in the U.S., said that the sport of basketball and the LA Lakers in the NBA have a huge following among Filipinos. He referred to Clarkson as a Fil-Am ambassador of basketball among younger Filipinos and fellow Fil-Ams. He also recognized Jordan’s father, mike Clarkson, for his effort to bring Jordan closer to the Filipino community. “Thank you for the support. I’m just gonna say thank you because I don’t know what else to say. Salamat po,” Clarkson said in front of the crowd. The fans rewarded his short speech with a loud applause. Late last year, the Brooklyn Nets hosted its first Filipino Heritage Night at the Barclays Center. The Nets had a game versus the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. Fans came in droves to see not just the Nets but the Lakers as well, particularly Clarkson. The hoopster’s management team saw the impact that the player had on Filipino fans during that day that they asked its event organizer, community leader mark Anthony Agbuya if a similar event can be done. Agbuya built a team and coordinated with the Philippine Consulate General’s office to come up with the meet and greet that eventually coincided with the launching of Clarkson’s fan club in New York. At the press briefing before the community event, Clarkson, his dad mike and college coach Tim Fuller responded to questions from the Fil-Am media. Jordan revealed a few fun facts about his personal life, his favorite food (chicken adobo and sisig), his love of the game, how much hard work it is to be an NBA player, his love for the Philippines, his appreciation to his fans and his deep passion for the sport. The soft-spoken point guard said he feels very honored for all the support his Filipino fans have been giving him since he joined the Lakers organization as a 22-year-old rookie back in August 2014. He was drafted in the second round by the Washington Wizards and eventually he was traded to the Lakers. Prior to joining the Lakers, Clarkson played basketball at Tulsa University for two seasons before transferring to the University of missouri. In his rookie year, Clarkson averaged 11.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.86 steals and 0.20 blocks in 59 games. He was also the first-ever Lakers player to be named the Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the month, an award he received in April for games he played in march this year. “Playing with the Lakers is a blessing and I feel very honored for the support [I’ve been receiving]. It shows how much love and support there is and I will do my best to represent,” he said. Dreams to play in the PH one of his goals is to join the Philippine national team. Asked if it will ever become a reality, Clarkson said that they have been talking

Jordan Clarkson with members of Team Clarkson, his dad Mike (left) and college coach Tim Fuller. AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

with the proper authorities. “It is really good if everything works out with FIBA. my team is working with them as well,” he shared. “I have been involved with the team, practicing with them. There’s an opportunity to do that and I want to do it. It’s just everything has to be worked out.” To say that basketball is a popular sport in the Philippines would be an understatement. That is why Clarkson has become the embodiment of pride in the community. And as Sen. Cayetano said, back in the Philippines, especially in the ‘80s, Filipino fans were either one or the other. “Either Boston Celtics ka or Los Angeles Lakers. Toyota or Crispa. marcos o Aquino,” he said, the audience applauding in agreement. Since joining the Lakers organization, Clarkson has been working extra hard to prove his worth and the team’s fans from across the globe have seen how prepared he is in every game, physically and mentally. Despite the adulations, there would always be criticisms and putdowns but Clarkson is not someone who would be bothered by those. He is focused on his game. “Just work hard, you’re always going to be doubted,” he shared. “Just do what they say you can’t do and prove everybody wrong.” And when asked what playing with legends has contributed to his well-being, he said that more than the advice given to him, it is the work ethic that he hopes to emulate from the sport’s legends, like former teammate Kobe Bryant. “Be professional, no matter what is going on in your life or no matter what is it you are doing,” he said. “Wake up, go to work, put your heart in it. Even during practice, put everything on the line.” Looking back, Jordan said he realized he could be an inspiration to young Filipinos when he was able to visit the country for the first time. “After my rookie year in the league when we first went to the Philippines and to see the impact I had in the country, I didn’t really know how much impact I had over there. Seeing that was my turning point in getting me want to come back,” he shared. He has not been back recently but he looks forward to making another trip when his schedule permits him to do so. From manila to Pampanga to the shores of Boracay, Clarkson could very well be a tourism ambassador as well. “We were there for a while so we went to a lot of places. I’ve been to Boracay. It’s beautiful out there. Although I’m not a big vacation guy, I’d definitely go out there for vacation,” he said. Filipino heritage Clarkson proudly declared that he got his work ethic from his mom and his lola, strong women both who faced adversity and succeeded. “my grandma, my mom, they work hard, and that’s what I got, I work hard. I feel like I’m always the underdog, and so as Filipinos, we fight, that’s what it is,” he said. His mom Annette Davis and dad mike met in the military. “We were in the Air Force together at technical training school and we were friends and family ever since then,” Clarkson’s dad said, responding to questions on how they met. The couple divorced when Clarkson was small. Like his son, mike Clarkson is thankful that Filipinos have embraced Jordan and that an entire country is supporting him. “Jordan has an entire country that supports him, that in itself is humbling,” the basketball player’s father said. “In turn, he understands

AJPress photos by Ding Carreon

the responsibility that goes along with it and that’s important… he’s gonna excel at whatever he does, but he’s gonna make sure the Filipino community is proud of what he does.” Before the end of the press conference, the 24year-old Lakers guard fielded one of the last few questions, another one that was Filipino-related. “I’m not the happiest guy all the time but seeing the Filipinos, everybody is always happy and smiling,” he said, initially with a serious face but trying to stifle a smile. “It’s probably the best thing I could take in all of that, probably the only time you see me with a big smile on my face.”

Fil-Am chef gets James Beard Award nod for Bad Saint By MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

Tom Cunanan, the chef behind Bad Saint, the 24-seat Filipino restaurant in Washington, DC, has been nominated for a James Beard Award, one of the most coveted honors in the restaurant industry. The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for its annual awards last week. Cunanan is one of nine DC-based

chefs nominated for Best Chef: mid-Atlantic. Cunanan co-owns the restaurant with Genevieve Villamora and Nick Pimentel and collectively, they came up with the menu that captivated both diners and food critics alike. Bad Saint, named after St. malo, Louisiana, where the first Filipinos settled in the United States, is the trio’s passion project. Bon Appetit declared Bad Saint

as the number two Best New Restaurant in the United States for 2016. Atlanta’s Staplehouse was number one. “I felt super surprised,” Cunanan told the Asian Journal. “I woke up the next day and got all these crazy texts from friends and co-workers saying ‘Congratulations!’” He said he didn’t know what the congratulatory messages were for so he asked them. “They showed me the JBF link and I was super stunned to see my name for Best Chef: mid Atlantic,” Cunanan shared. The nomination is a validation of the trio’s hard work in coming up with a restaurant that offers a carefully curated and evolving menu. “It pretty much says that I’m on the right track with my career and I am showcasing Filipino food the best way I can and people are finally appreciating it,” he added. The finalists for the restaurant

Ukoy

Line outside of Bad Saint

AJPress photoc by Momar G. Visaya

Pancit Palabok

and chef awards, as chosen by judges, committee members and previous winners, will be announced march 15. The winners will be revealed may 1. Classic dishes In an eventual Bon Appetit feature, Cunanan, Villamora and Pimentel talked about how they came up with the dishes they serve, particularly the five that have become bestsellers and instant classics - ukoy (shredded sweet potato and carrot fritters), sinigang (pork, vegetable and tamarind stew), ensaladang palapa (coconut-vegetable slaw), adobong dilaw (yellow chicken adobo) and black rice bilo-bilo. on the adobong dilaw, Cunanan said, “I wanted a new way to do adobo. Classically, it’s made with just vinegar, soy sauce, bay, black pepper, and a lot of garlic. But in the south of the country, closer to malaysia, they use a lot of turmeric and coconut milk, which seemed cool. We grill our chicken first, which gives the whole thing an underlying smokiness. It’s about building all these small layers. You get the salty, the sour, the sweet.” The complexity of the flavors in the dishes at Bad Saint has made the restaurant one of the most sought-after restaurants in Washington, DC. “The food that Tom Cunanan and his cooks prepare under columns of wok smoke is richly compelling no matter how many prior run-ins you’ve had with Filipino food,” wrote Pete Wells, the New York Times food critic.

Chef Tom Cunanan with partners Genevieve Villamora and Nick Pimentel are behind the success of Bad Saint, a 24-seater Filipino restaurant in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of Tom Cunanan’s Instagram account

And as he reviewed each of the dishes he tried, he came up with words to describe them, and did so using superlatives. Wells called the squid adobo “astonishing, its sauce deepened and darkened by squid ink and given a slow, lingering burn by long peppers” and the oxtails and bok choi stewed in peanut sauce with an intense undercurrent of shrimp and anchovies as “amazing whether this is your first encounter with kare-kare or your hundredth”. “I love bitter melon, but even the skeptics I’d brought with me were won over by Bad Saint’s stir-fry, in which the vegetable’s aggressive tendencies are offset by fermented black beans, softened by eggs and sweetened by a topcoat of fried shallots,” Wells said of this ampalaya con carne dish. Cunanan’s pancit canton was “startlingly good” and Wells

praised his arroz caldo for its “homey simplicity”. The food critic also acknowledged the chef’s use of local ingredients such as kale for a traditional Filipino dish such as laing. “In the Philippines, laing would be made by stewing dried taro leaves in coconut milk. At Bad Saint, the leaves are kale, braised to a velvety tenderness and swaddled in Chesapeake crab meat,” Wells wrote. “This laing is so luxuriously flavorful, I can’t get it out of my head, and I don’t want to.” overall, Wells was happy with the experience and called the food from the wok to the plate as “relentlessly delicious”. And as a clincher, he wrote, “Because the cuisine of the Philippines is so closely tied to home cooking, it’s been hard to imagine what a three-star Filipino restaurant would look like. Now I know that it looks like Bad Saint.”

February 24-march 2, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

3

And more hugot in Vice’s show by Kane

errol Choa Philstar.com

Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion then and now. Their reunion movie is set this summer.

How Gabby Concepcion prepares for reunion movie with Sharon Cuneta by robbie

Pangilinan Philstar.com

reposted the ABS-CBn news article about the reunion, with CAMERAS are now rolling for the caption: “Everyone, i am the reunion movie of “Megastar” happy to announce the return Sharon Cuneta and former of Sharon and Gabby on the big husband Gabby Concepcion to be screen! Shooting begins January shown in May. 2017. tentative showing month: Star Cinema announced the May 2017!” 24-years-in-the-making movie last the most popular showbiz December, confirmed by Sharon’s love team of the 1980s starred posts in her social media accounts. in now iconic movies such as “i finally have a leading man. “Dear Heart” and “P.S. i Love You.” Yes, it’s really happening,” wrote the former couple married in Sharon in a Facebook post where 1984, legally separated in 1987, she also displayed posters of her and had an annulment in 1993. past movies with Gabby. She also they have a daughter, actress KC

Concepcion. Sharon and Gabby last worked together in the 1992 movie “tayong Dalawa,” and Gabby made a cameo in Sharon’s 2009 comedy, “Best Friends One of Gabby’s concerns for the film is his hair. “Kailangan ko magpahaba ng buhok, kailangan sa eksena,” said Gabby, who is 50+ years old and worries about his thinning hair. “i’m actually scared that i will soon have a receding hairline. So, even if that time hasn’t come yet, i’m taking steps to strengthen my hair,” he added.

Liza Soberano surprises fans disguised as beauty advisor by iza iglesias ManilaTimes.net

LizA Soberano—the country’s top it-girl and sixth of the World’s Most Beautiful Faces according to website tC Candler—surprised her fans in an exclusive meetand-greet at a Quezon City Mall disguised as a makeup beauty advisor. During Maybelline’s #MakeitHappenwithLiza event on February 18, Soberano surprised unsuspecting customers who were browsing through the brand’s cosmetic counter while waiting for her to supposedly come out on stage. they squealed with delight when the beauty Continued on Page 5 After giving out her beauty tips, Soberano enjoys photo opportunity with her fans.

A niGHt that was expected to be all jokes and fun turned out to be a fellowship of sorts for people who have been wrecked and fixed again by love as box-office star Vice Ganda laid his heart bare to a sold-out crowd at his “Pusuan Mo si Vice Ganda” concert on Valentine’s Day — his fifth major solo concert at the Araneta Coliseum. Vice did not hold back on his “rated SSSSSPG” jokes. However, he served up an unexpectedly massive dose of hugot dispensed in parts throughout the concert, with the performance of his firstever spoken word piece serving as the emotional highlight. Grim-faced and teary-eyed, he spewed lines about a failed relationship with somebody who called him his “Juliet.” While the poem offered not-so-new speculations about his love affair, it revealed the struggles of Vice in loving someone and keeping it from the scrutinizing eyes of the public. “Sa bawat laro mo, sa bawat three points mo, gusto ko sanang nandoon ako para mauna ako sa palakpakan at gusto kong isigaw na… jowa ko ‘yan!’ Pero hindi natin magawa kasi natatakot tayong parehong mapag-usapan,” Vice recited in his spoken poetry number. He continued recalling about their hidden love, “Parang mga kriminal na natatakot mahatulan ng mapaghusgang lipunan na ang tanging pamantayan ay hindi pwedeng tayo, dapat sa babae ka lang dahil bakla lang ako.” in the end, Vice said, they had to let each other go, a pain that he said felt like dying, “Ang sakit sakit pero masarap dahil hanggang sa huli, kahit masakit, tinawag mo akong Juliet.” Overall, the concert celebrated the twists and turns of love: Falling in love, getting hurt and moving on. Romance and kilig filled the air as Vice interviewed real-life couples in the audience, most notably Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama.

Vice Ganda lays his heart bare to a sold-out crowd at his Pusuan Mo si Vice Ganda concert on Valentine’s Day.

Vice went wild and bold with his jokes, which threw spectators into long fits of laughter. At time, he would pull the breaks on sensitive subjects. And as the audience laughed on his pauses, Vice would chide them for enjoying his jokes but would desert him when he is attacked and criticized. the concert also hosted notable numbers, including Vice’s amusing banter with FPJ’s “Ang Probinsyano” star and “Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids” performer Awra Briguela, whose comic timing and quick wit prove he might just follow in the footsteps of his idol Vice. Appearing as Vice’s past, Awra got pieces of advice on love from Vice like: “Kahit sino pwede mong mahalin, pero bago magmahal ng iba ay mahalin mo ang sarili mo.” Maja Salvador gave a sizzling dance number, Kris Lawrence, Michael Pangilinan and Daryl Ong crooned their soulful renditions of popular love songs, and heartthrob Daniel Padilla worked his charm and swooned the ladies. Vice, meanwhile, showcased his singing chops, performing Little Mix’s “Shoutout to My Ex,” his single “Hanggang Kailan Aasa,” heartbreak anthems such as Joey Albert’s “tell Me,” Agot isidro’s “Sa isip Ko,” Whitney Houston’s “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” Jimmy Bondoc’s “Let Me Be the One,” and closed out the concert

with Adele’s smash hit “All i Ask.” While the concert was a musical and comedy treat, the audience also took home nuggets of wisdom from Vice, who drew from his own experiences to share valuable lessons on life and love: On moving on: “Ang heartbreak, parang sugat ‘yan. Hindi natin pwedeng sabihin, ‘Hoy! Gumaling ka na.’ Ang sugat kailangan munang linisin, gamutin. Sa tamang oras, gagaling din.” On family: “Lagi mong tatandaan, ano man ang pinagdadaanan niyo sa sitwasyon niyo, mayroon kayong isang laging mapupuntahan na inaantay lang kayo para tulungan kayong bumangon, samahan kayong umiyak, palakpakan ka sa muli mong pagtayo, at suportahan ka sa susunod mong gagawin — ‘yan ay ang pamilya.” On loving again: “Pinipili ko pa ring magmahal, kasi tuwing nagmamahal ako, doon ako pinakabuhay…. ‘Wag nating sukuan ang pagmamahal. Hanapin niyo ang pagmamahal na pinakabubuhay sa inyo.” “Pusuan Mo si Vice Ganda” is just one of the several concerts ABS-CBn Events and Star Events lined up this year. in March, the Birit Queens of musical variety show “ASAP,” namely Angeline Quinto, Morissette, Jona and Klarisse will come together for an astonishing vocal showdown at the MOA Arena.

February 24-march 2, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

4

LEA SALONGA’S ADVICE TO YOUNG DREAMERS

James Reid happy over Nadine Lustre’s sexy photos by Deni

rose BernarDo Philstar.com

‘Embrace your inner weird’

WaS actor James reid angry at his girlfriend nadine lustre for her daring social media pictures? “no, he’s not conservative. He’s that these young women in the by Tessa Mauricio-arriola actually very happy kasi alam n’ya stories didn’t fit molds, like Belle or ManilaTimes.net yung process na pinagdaanan ko to Mulan or Jasmine. they were taught look good. It was really, really hard. IntErnatIonal theater actress to behave a certain way but they I’m proud that I made it,” nadine and singer lea Salonga will always said, ‘I don’t fit that’ and they went assured during last night’s Pond’s serve as an inspiration to little for their dreams. event in taguig City. girls most especially because she “So as my way of paying it She thinks there is nothing is twice a Disney Princess. Besides forward—having had the best wrong with the photos she posted, conquering the stages of the mentors in my career who pushed though many netizens found West End and Broadway in many me and encouraged me to keep them provocative and insinuating memorable roles, she breathed life going—I’m here to impart the lovemaking, for which the celebrity into “aladdin’s” Princess Jasmine values I’ve learned from those who couple was under fire following and “Mulan,” in 1992 and 1998 taught me and help them break out their car love scene in their recently respectively, when she lent them of those molds.” concluded prime time soap, “till I her voice in the songs “a Whole With her international success, theater actress Magical journey Met You.” and singer Lea Salonga is eager ‘to pay it new World” and “reflections.” Since Inspired by Disney’s iconic “natural lang naman po na forward’ and mentor young talents today. then, she has forged a connection princesses and their incredible kapag nasa beach, natural lang na with generations of little girls, stories and qualities, the 12girls will run parallel with the stories naka-bikini ka. ‘Di ko naman inexpect which will never be broken, with episodic web series will bring of the different Disney Princesses. na ganun yung magiging reactions Disney’s princesses becoming icons viewers on a magical journey of “Every Disney Princess is the ng mga tao,” nadine explained. for young girls to reach for their six young Filipino girls, aged nine heroine of a unique adventure story dreams. to 16, as they pursue their dreams inspiring kids with messages of “My advice to little girls, with the help of Salonga, theater hope and optimism. What people whatever they dreams may be, actress Menchu lauchengco-Yulo, love about the Disney Princesses is to embrace their inner weird,” social educator Efren Peñaflorida, are their incredible stories and the chuckled Salonga during the veterinarian nielsen Donato, by ronnie carrasco iii qualities that help them achieve ManilaTimes.net launch of her latest project with animator tito romero, chef Jessie their dreams,” explained amit Globe telecom and the Walt Sincioco, and Youtuber and host Malhotra, Disney Media networks FroM hereon, February will be Disney Company as lead celebrity Charisma Star. general manager of the Walt Disney probably the most meaningful, if mentor of Disney “Princess: I Dare the six girls are Hya leonardo Company Southeast asia, who not the most heartbreaking month to Dream.” the show is a first-of-its- who wants to be a Broadway star; flew to Manila for the program for ai ai Delas alas. kind digital reality-series where six Sirach Catipay who is an aspiring launch. “We hope this initiative with While love abounds in her life all young Filipino girls, selected from chef; liana San Diego who wants Globe, will inspire and empower year round with long-time partner nationwide auditions last year, will to be a veterinarian; Jaden narvios a new generation of girls in the Gerard Sibayan, the country’s get to pursue their dreams with who dreams of becoming the Philippines to pursue their dreams premiere comedienne will also experts of their chosen industries as next president of the Philippines; and aspirations.” remember in the season of the their very mentors. Stephanie Jordan who is an aspiring like a true reality search, the “the reason why I say embrace newscaster/tV Host; and alexi tan web series will have the girls staying hearts, the ill-fated time she lost two of the most important people in her your inner weird is precisely is wants to be an animator. in one house where they will meet career and personal life, two years because that’s what I did too, and Part of a wider global Disney their mentors who will guide them really, what the Disney Princesses in Princess initiative, “Disney Princess: toward becoming a theater actress, running. ai ai lost director-friend Wenn each of their now classic stories did,” I Dare to Dream” will show how the chef, vet, leader, newscaster and Deramas who succumbed to heart continued Salonga. “You’ll agree development of these six young animator. only one girl who will attack immediately following his show just how hard she will work sister’s death on the same night for dream, even at an early age, of February 29, 2016. arguably, will be chosen for a special trip of a it was Deramas who made ai ai lifetime: She will walk down the red the biggest box office star via Star carpet at the tokyo premiere of the Cinema’s family drama “tanging upcoming live-action adaptation of Ina”’ in 2003, which was followed by Disney’s animated classic, “Beauty and the Beast,” and meet Hollywood a string of other successful movies. Despite their shaken friendship actress Emma Watson who stars as brought about by box office issues Belle. in the MMFF 2015, ai ai paid her last the web series will be hosted respects to Deramas at the crowded by popular vlogger and host wake, even visiting his buried Janina Vela, who happens to be remains without a chaperone. the granddaughter of the late tV a year later, on February 9 ai ai personality Helen Vela of the 1980s mourned the passing of Father Erick Salonga with Globe Studios head Quark Henares who talked about the 12 webisodes that will iconic drama show, “lovingly Yours comprise the reality show. Santos whom she considered more Helen.”

Nadine Lustre

By eating right, working out at home, and going to the gym with James almost every morning, nadine was able to achieve her desired beach body. She is happy that it has been a year since she became a Pond’s girl, which enables her to share her story and self-esteem struggles. a lot of her fans, she said, wrote to her to affirm that they can relate to her story. She is also excited to welcome

Kathryn Bernardo as new endorser for the beauty brand. She looks forward to bond with Kathryn soon. Similarly, she is ecstatic to be nominated for a nickelodeon award together with other Kapamilya actresses liza Soberano and Janella Salvador. “If ever ako man ang manalo, I’d be super grateful sa lahat ng bumoto at lahat ng nag-hastag,” she enthused. “It (the award) will be a good thing to inspire kids.”

ai-ai in love but in mourning

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

than just her spiritual adviser but also a family friend. Vignettes bore witness to several religious gatherings hosted by ai ai where Fr. Erick led a group of young and good-looking priests to concelebrate mass. But of them all, Father Erick would always take center stage regaling his audience—manangs and the young alike—with his brand of “homedy” (homily-comedy). Exuding a charismatic, cool and exuberant mien, Father Erick was unorthodox in more ways than one, a total departure from—pardon Vignettes—all the other church stereotypes whose drab and oftentimes humorless homilies could either put anyone to sleep or make him regret he stayed seated for the sermon. In street jargon, Father Erick was a favorite among the jologs. His roots in tondo, Manila sure had a lot to do with his impeccable enigma toward the common tao. Why and how ai ai became a Papal awardee in october 2016 was all of Father Erick’s recommendation to the Vatican. However, it was he who advised ai ai and Gerard to abstain from you-know-what until they take the vows of Holy Matrimony or at least before the

SERVICES

Ai Ai Delas Alas

conferment of the Papal honor. Meanwhile, a video in honor of Father Erick—with his composition “Buhay na Buhay” which he sang himself—reaffirms the 55- year-old priest’s legions of fans, both old and young. the almost eightminute material aptly ends with a smiling Father Erick with a halo as he ascends to heaven, looking down on a motley group of people saying, “thank you, Father Erick!” in unison.

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THe body is a wonderful natural chemical factory. Whatever we eat, drink or apply to our body is absorbed and automatically transformed into energy (fuel) or to various hormones and substances that control our total bodily function, including thought processes, mental state, behavior, and cellular responses and reactions. Medications and drugs we take are likewise metabolized and utilized by the body to effect specific chemical reactions to fight infection or cure or achieve certain conditions that will help normalize our health. Our body also has a built-in self-protective ability to heal itself, mediated by our immune system. To a certain degree, our body can protect itself from harm, self-inflicted or caused by our environment.

Our self-destructive lifestyle When the dose of the insult or trauma overwhelms our immune system, dis-ease, or disease, develops. What is that insult? One such insult is called inflammation, which all of us have constantly, in varying degrees, depending on our lifestyles, behaviors, and habits. We normally associate inflammation with painful swollen joints of arthritis or back pains. But in reality, most diseases— from obesity, to diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, infections and even cancer—are preceded by, and even aggravated by acute or chronic inflammation. Actually, inflammation is not the cause but a reaction to insults to our body, from our self-abuse, unhealthy lifestyle and behavior, and from our harsh environment, like over-exposure to the sun, airwater-noise-pollution, etc. These factors are cumulative and build up over time from childhood,

where the initial subtle damages to the DnA occur. After three or four decades later, the individuals begin to develop the so-called “expected diseases that naturally come with age,” which are really not expected, nor natural, and actually mostly preventable. There are hundreds of millions of people in their 70s and 90s walking around without high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s or cancer because their lifestyle and habits have minimized the onset of “inflammation.” What inflammation? The common inflammation we see in a wound, with redness, swelling, pain, irritation, and warmth is the same inflammation we are talking about, except it is one that is happening within the inner lining of our arteries and organs in the body. It is usually subtle and subclinical (not obvious). This type of inflammation may not be from a Continued on Page 6

Coney: Kontrabida with a heart by Boy

ABundA Philstar.com

In recent years, Coney reyes has made a name for herself as one of the industry’s best kontrabidas. Off-cam, she’s prayerful and warm. However, the last three ABS-CBn teleseryes Coney did in which she had a featured or leading role — “100 Days to Heaven,” “Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala” and “nathaniel”— saw her play avaricious, manipulative, selfish women. But while she may have been playing against type, Coney’s stints as Anna Manalastas, Helena Diomedes and Angela Villanueva-Laxamana (“AVL”), respectively, were praised by critics and fans alike. That’s partly why the network saw it fit to cast her in another kontrabida role in the teleserye “My Dear Heart.” This time, Coney plays a brilliant heart surgeon named Margaret Divinagracia, who is described as a “coldhearted, greedy and money hungry” woman whose sole purpose in life is to restore her family’s good name in the medical industry — at all costs. When asked how she feels about being tapped to play a kontrabida yet again, Coney laughed uproariously and said, “Palagi kong sinasabi, ‘Give me a sitcom!’ But they explained to me why they gave me this role. Because when they did research, they found that audiences think it’s believable if I play a kontrabida who has a change of heart eventually. If they get someone else, viewers will accept her as a kontrabida but not as someone who can change for the better. According to their focus groups, I’m the only actress viewers will accept in a role like that.” Coney said she made her peace with playing kontrabida roles and is fine with continuing to do so in the future — on one condition. “If I were to portray a kontrabida, she has to have a change of heart. I don’t accept a kontrabida role if there’s no redeeming value. And for me, there has to be a strong kontrabida for real values to come out. So I feel very blessed and honored to always be chosen by ABS-CBn to do kontrabida roles,

February 24-march 2, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

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FACC-GLA free workshop and networking on Feb. 28 THe Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles proudly presents a free workshop on practicing the pre-audit, ‚Äúreviewing your returns before Uncle Sam does!‚Äù on Tuesday, February 28 at 6:30 p.m. The workshop will cover how audits are selected and will discuss the following: • Audit percentages: Sole-

proprietor vs corporation • red flags • Audit procedures • Highly audited forms • How do I respond? • Types of audits • Most common correspondence letters • Types of penalties • Audit representation • Changes in the tax code for 2017

Calendar of Events across

A special guest speaker from robert Hall & Associates, one of the leading tax consultants in the country, will be present. The workshop will be held at BFG rm. 5121 Van nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. Complimentary snacks will be provided. To rSVP, please call Gloria Weischadle at (818) 207-4524 or Connie Mapue at (323) 337-7714.

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 F E B R UA RY 25

Anniversary of People Power Revolution remembered in Los Angeles, CA Join members of the Filipino-American community in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 25 for the 31st anniversary of the People Power Revolution in the Philippines, which led to the fall of Ferdinand Marcos’s presidency. The event will be held at the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) at 153 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA from 4 to 7 p.m. To RSVP, please call (213) 318-9065 or (657) 215-1212. Sponsored by individuals who were active in the antimartial law movement (1972-1986), as well as organizations including the following: Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), Filipino American Human Rights Alliance-Los Angeles (FAHRA-LA), AF3IRM, Kabataang maka-Bayan(KmB) Pro People Youth, Justice For Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) and the Knights of Rizal- Historic Filipinotown Chapter.

MARCH 6

Talk and book signing with Susan Quimpo, author of “Subversive Lives” in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey Come see Susan Quimpo, one of the authors of “Subversive Lives” on Monday, March 6 at the Free Public Library of Hasbrouck Heights from 6 to 8 p.m. “Subversive Lives” is a memoir by eight siblings (plus one by marriage) who dedicated themselves to the anti-Marcos resistance in the Philippines. Quimpo will talk about her personal experience during the Marcos years. Books will be available for sale. A book signing will follow after the talk. The Free Public Library of Hasbrouck Heights is located at 320 Boulevard, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604.

MARCH 9

Talk and book signing with Susan Quimpo, author of “Subversive Lives” in New York Coney Reyes has made a name for herself as one of the industry’s best kontrabidas.

and to be working with brilliant directors who always bring out the best in me.” She added that she does her best to make sure each kontrabida role is different from the last. “It’s a conscious effort. I really look into the role, I study it and I pray that God will give me a fresh treatment of the character. I hope people will watch it so they can see where the role will go, and how different it is from my previous kontrabida roles.” Coney’s first time to step into a kontrabida’s shoes was when she did the teleserye Ysabella with Judy Ann Santos back in 2007. Coney did remarkably well as the show’s main antagonist Victoria Amarillo, but she almost turned down the role. She had many reservations about playing a kontrabida — which were dispelled when her then-director rory Quintos explained the character of Victoria to her in greater detail. “I really didn’t want to play a kontrabida at first, because I share the gospel with other people. But when direk rory talked to me about it, I realized that playing a kontrabida who

will eventually have a change of heart is challenging, but in a good way. As an actor, you have more room to play around with your character. Because even the change itself, from bad to good, it should be nuanced. It should have depth. It has to come from deep within you. As an actor, you need to work closely with your co-stars and director. You have to really understand your character as well as everyone else’s, and you also need a good grasp of the plot and where it’s going,” she explained. “Once you have that, it will be easy.” Coney said one of the best things about being in My Dear Heart is getting to work with talented up-and-comers like Bela Padilla, whom she first watched in FPJ’s “Ang Probinsyano.” However, some of her younger co-stars have said they’re intimidated by her, which has prompted Coney to reach out to them. “I don’t like them to get intimidated. So I just try to help them. I give them advice. I tell them their talents were given to them by God so they could use them in a way that will glorify Him.”

Liza Soberano surprises fans... From Page 3 advisor behind the counter turned out to be their idol. After the initial shock, the fans happily listened to Soberano’s advice and product recommendations for each of them. “I am still in shock. I got to talk with Liza and

she’s so beautiful. I am so lucky,” exclaimed one of the shoppers who had the opportunity to chat with the celebrity. “I kind of recognized her but I thought it’s impossible it would be her—that she’d the one selling products behind the counter!” giggled another. When asked to share her equally unique experience at a media interview, Soberano excitedly related, “It was actually really fun. I loved it most when I got to give beauty advice to the customers—it was such an empowering feeling. It truly validates how much Maybelline helps Filipinas to be empowered through beauty. “To be empowered means to feel confident and comfortable with who you are,” she continued. “now how do we do that? The first step is to acknowledge your flaws and improve from there; get a little help from a good set of people around you whom you trust; and of course, adding a dash of makeup wouldn’t hurt.” For someone who had to build her confidence from such a young age when she started as a print ad model, Soberano is both capable and generous in giving advice to fellow females. “The number one thing in gaining confidence is to be who you are. Don’t change yourself just because society or anybody else asked you to. Don’t let them dictate to you who you are and don’t let anything stop you from being yourself. Just believe in yourself and you’ll have the confidence to make it happen,” she ended.

Come see Susan Quimpo, one of the authors of “Subversive Lives” on Thursday, March 9 at the 67th Street New York Public Library from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. “Subversive Lives” is a memoir by eight siblings (plus one by marriage) who dedicated themselves to the anti-Marcos resistance in the Philippines. Quimpo will talk about her personal experience during the Marcos years. A book signing will follow after the talk. The New York Public Library is located at 328 E 67th St. (between 1st and 2nd Ave.), New York, NY 10065.

M A R C H 9 -1 8

CAAMFEST35 in San Francisco & Oakland Come to the 35th anniversary of CAAMFest from March 9-19 and immerse yourself in expansive and diverse programs celebrating the best in Asian American film, music and food. The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. The annual CAAMFest is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films. It presents approximately 125 works in San Francisco and Oakland over the course of 11 days. Tickets can be purchased online or in person. For more information, please visit http://caamfest.com.

MARCH 11

CSFLU to hold dinner-dance in Brea, CA The City of San Fernando La Union Association (CSFLU) will hold its annual dinnerdance at the Embassy Suites in Brea, CA on March 11. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. For more information, please call Vangie So, president of the association at (626) 485-3110.

MARCH 18

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, twostep, 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 25

National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Region 10 Empowerment Conference in San Diego, CA 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) 715-8216. The Vineyard at Escondido Golf Club is located at 925 San Pasqual Rd., Escondido, CA 92025.

APRIL 20

CAUSE’s annual gala in Los Angeles , CA Join Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) for its annual gala on Thursday, April 20. It will be held at LA Hotel’s California Ballroom at 333 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a VIP reception. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact kim@causeusa.org or visit www.causeusa.org.

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

February 24-march 2, 2017 www.asianjournal.com

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Our self-destructive lifestyle

bacterial/viral/fungal infection. The cause may vary from the foods we eat or liquids we drink, the lack of exercise, a harmful lifestyle, stressors and other precipitants in our environment. Some people (one out of 49) may have a genetic predisposition to be more prone to have this type of inflammatory reaction. But the rest of us have caused this ourselves, in a self-destructive manner, unwittingly. Who has this bodily reaction? Almost without exception, all of us have this inflammatory reaction in our body during every second of our life -- in one form or the other and in various stages and severity. When it is aggravated by what we do or not do, by environmental factors and become severe enough, then any of those illnesses listed above, and others, may develop, all depending on which organ the insult has affected most. Does infection play a role? Some believe that the germs we are exposed to 24/7 in public places and even in our own homes may be one of the causes of this inflammation in our system. I have heard of people taking a couple of antibiotic pills once a month “to fight this inflammation.” There is no medical basis for this and this practice could be dangerous. It could lead to bacterial resistance and render antibiotics ineffective and useless when an actual infection occurs. What test can confirm this? The blood test for CRP (C-reactive protein) level can reveal the presence of systemic inflammation. Some cases will be obvious but others may be so mild and subclinical they may be overt and undetectable. Those with pains, like joint and muscles aches, and those with auto-immune diseases, would be the more apparent ones. These are the individuals who may be on pain medications like NSAIDS (non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs), or even steroids, acupuncture, etc. But

there are natural ways to fight inflammation, like foods. Some food items cause or aggravate pain and inflammation, and others act as anti-inflammatory, pain-reducing, substances. Which food items cause inflammation? The usual American and Filipino diets are both too high in red meat, fat, sugars, “junk food,” and dangerous processed foods, all of which increase inflammation. The healthier diets are the Chinese, Japanese, and especially the Mediterranean diet, all of which consist of many anti-inflammatory foods, which reduce joint and muscle pains and blood clot formation. The food items that cause inflammation are red meat, high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, carbohydrates with tons of sugar, all soft drinks (including diet), rice, fast foods, pasta, vegetable oil and corn oils. The other factors are the lack of exercise, being overweight, alcohol abuse, use of tobacco, lack of sleep, stress, and use of illegal drugs. I would like to emphasize that a diet totally eliminating carbohydrates, or at least reducing cooked rice to one cup a day (or to one cup of pasta or three slices of bread) would tremendously reduce the risk for the development of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, or even cancer. (Obesity and diabetes increase the risk for cancer.) Which foods are antiinflammatory? The anti-inflammatory foods, which reduce pains, include fish, bright multi-colored vegetables, old fashioned oat meal, whole grain, nuts (walnuts, almonds, etc), fresh whole fruits, spices (pepper, onions, gingers, scallions, curry, turmeric, etc), green tea, and olive oil. They are antioxidants that counteract and minimize free radicals, which harm the body, weaken the immune system, and hasten aging. Unlike the marketed antioxidants in pills and potions, which could have long-term

harmful side effects, these natural foods are healthier, safer, and cheaper. Are we on a slow-suicide mode? We are being a bit dramatic here, if only to put the message across more effectively for the protection and benefit of our readers their family. But the medical fact is that our self-abusive practices that go against healthy lifestyle have literally set in motion factors that tend to make us more prone to diseases and to aging faster. We have emphasized this and other evidence-based medical information in our health book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children,” published in the USA (carried by amazon. com and barnesandnoble.com) and whose Philippine edition was released in Metro Manila and available at Central Books Supply Stores in Cebu, Manila, Quezon City. The book details are accessible at www.philipSchua. com. In this guide, we have given practical tips and pointers on how to protect our DNA, especially those of the children, in order for them to ward off and escape having those wrongly-called “expected natural diseases of aging,” like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart diseases, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer, all of which are actually preventable to a very significant degree. This health manual also discusses how we, adults, can minimize the conditions or infirmities we currently have and how to avoid health risks that lurk in public places and in our own homes.. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA THe world we live in is conditioned to emulate extremes. We delight in the most beautiful, the tallest, the largest, the richest, the brightest, the fastest and anything else you can think of, as well as pay attention to extremes at the opposite end of the spectrum: the ugliest, the shortest, the smallest, the poorest, the darkest, the slowest. You get the idea. We’re conditioned to pay no mind to the ordinary, the middle ground, the average run-of-the-mill, the shades of gray, the humdrum of everyday life or the predictably dull and boring. The heroes and heroines made immortal in books and movies were extraordinary characters. We do not particularly care for bland characters who live lives of quiet desperation. We want to live vicariously through the lives of characters who are defiantly shaking their fists at the gods and beating all odds. We are tempted to look at movie stars, fat cats and other luminaries who dare defy conventions basking in the public limelight pursued by TMZ cameras as people worthy of awe and respect. And if you let it, a tiny tinge of envy gnaws at our souls when you see their images commanding megabucks. They appear as titans walking among ants. Granted a select few of them deserve the attention we give them but most can be reduced to fodder for the gristmill of entertainment. The truth is, those who deserve our awe and respect are the ones who orbit our daily life. Perhaps we need to look at another firmament to gain a genuine and lifelong perspective of celebrating what is ordinary, of celebrating you and I and everyone of us, mere mortals cut from the average cloth, who have to get up every single day to slay our dragons with our rusty sword and trusty steed, that is, after we’ve gulped down our java and said our prayers. Look to the stars in the true celestial firmament, to gain a soulsearing appreciation and even love and respect for our tiny place in the universe. Nature is a great teacher. A

Hail to the ordinary “… but some sage once pointed out quite rightly that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” layman’s appreciation of astronomy and cosmology teaches us that there is every reason to celebrate the ordinary. Our own sun is an ordinary, average, ho-hum star shining steadily in the suburbs of the center of the Milky Way (what Sagan termed as the boondocks, from the Tagalog word “bundok” meaning mountain but extended to mean far from the core). In the hierarchy of stars, our own sun is a lowly commoner and it is located a third of the way from the center where a black hole exists, according to educated guesses by scientists. This black hole is sucking in, like the drain in your kitchen sink, all the brightest stars within its vicinity. The biggest, brightest stars in our galaxy are energy guzzlers and therefore, have short lives, about half the life span of our solar system, and thus cannot support planets that need a longer span of time to support the existence and development of thinking, feeling beings such as our home planet. Our sun, according to scientists, is approaching middle age and has enough fire in its belly to support life for another 4 to 5 billion years before it goes into its death throes and gets recycled back as dust and gas to repeat the process of giving birth to a new star, possibly with one special planet supporting intelligent life all over again. The universe is the ultimate recycling bin after all. This is probably what it means by the phrase “world without end.” Consider that the Milky Way is only one ordinary spiral galaxy out of billions of others in a universe that according to evidence gathered by edwin Hubble in the 1920’s is still expanding with billions of galaxies moving away from each other at a furious pace. To simplify the imagery, perhaps we may be given license to view the universe in its near incomprehensible vastness, as a single mega structure in infinite space. The entire cosmos could be one unit composed of galaxies as its building blocks like cells and molecules of a human body but

with gravity and plasma collectively emitted by the energy of countless stars, functioning as its cosmic lifeblood holding everything together. Whew! The cosmos, according to evidence so far gathered by probes and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), is so inconceivably vast with more stars than there are grains of sand on earth, it strains the limits of human imagination. It is more than likely, there are other forms of intelligent life in places where there is water, complete with soul and spirit, following the laws of nature and teeming in wild abundance in the cosmos. We may never have any evidence of what sounds like science fiction, but some sage once pointed out quite rightly that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Yet for all this awesome grandeur, consider the glorious ordinariness of the earth in the celestial heavens. It’s like Goldilocks gravitating to the porridge in the middle. Neither too hot nor too cold, earth is the only place in the solar system with a slim ecosphere that allows life to not only survive, but to thrive with astonishing tenacity, as long as the sun shines steadily while it faithfully orbits the center of the Milky Way every quarter of a million years. The earth’s size, its tilt, its distance from the sun, its companion moon, the presence of water in various states all conspire to make it and its inhabitants the crowning glory of creation as far as human life is concerned. Our blue marbled dot is a place so wonderfully made that of all the eight orbs of different sizes and makes, revolving around that ordinary star we call the sun, it is the only one uniquely qualified to sustain life, as we know it, in our tiny neck of the cosmic woods. Value the ordinary. Value your life. The sun, the earth and the stars at night remind us daily. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, email monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

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