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w w w. a s i a n Volume 24 - No. 11 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages
.com T H E F I L I P I N O –A M E R I C A N C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R
MARCH 24-30, 2017 Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
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Pres. Duterte opposes VP impeachment, tells Robredo critics to stop by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
DESPITE their seemingly strained relationship over political differences, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, March 23 expressed his opposition to the impeachment attempt against Vice President Leni Robredo. In a news conference upon arrival at the Davao City International Airport from his official visits to Myanmar and Thailand, Duterte called on Robredo’s critics to “lay off,” pointPAGE A2
USA
DATELINE Fil-Am tapped to head civil division of Justice Dept. FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
A group of lawyers and professors on Thursday, March 23 said they are mulling to file an impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo, but they denied they were doing so as “blind followers” or “minions” of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Gov’t officials pay last tribute to Leticia Ramos-Shahani Rody, 72, wishes for more strength to carry on by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
by CHRISTINA
MENDEZ AND ALEXIS ROMERO Philstar.com
MANILA - Turning 72 on March 28, President Duterte cannot ask for more, except prayers that he be given more time and strength to be able to finish his term. Duterte shuns expensive gifts and would rather spend quality time with his family, especially his grandchildren, the youngest of whom is Stonefish, son of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. “I have everything I need. No more gifts, except maybe a prayer to God for my country,” said the PRESIDENT Donald Trump is eyeing a FiliPresident upon arriving from Myanmar and Thailand pino-American attorney to lead the civil diviearly yesterday. sion of the Department of Justice (DOJ), ac“I’m 72 years old. Give or take the reality of it all, in cording to various reports. about five to seven years, I’m about ready by that time If confirmed by the Senate, George Conalso. By that time, God willing, if I complete the term, way — who is the husband of senior White PAGE A2 House counselor Kellyanne Conway — would be tasked with defending the administration in its legal battles, including the controversial travel ban, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The president’s revised travel ban against six predominantly Muslim nations has been blocked by federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland earlier this month. On Friday, March 17, the DOJ filed papers in federal court in MaryPAGE A2
California’s Fil-Am chief justice calls for end to immigration arrests at courthouses THE chief justice of California’s Supreme Court is urging the administration of President Donald Trump to cease arresting undocumented immigrants at the state’s courthouses. In a letter addressed to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on Thursday, March 16, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye wrote how “deeply concerned” she was following various reports in which federal agents would “appear to be stalking” undocumented immigrants at courthouses before detaining them. “Courthouses should not be used as bait in the necessary enforcement of our country’s immigration laws,” Cantil-Sakauye said, noting how courthouses are supposed to be safe spaces for individuals to seek justice. While she did not elaborate on specific cases, she said “the vast majority of [undocumented immigrants] pose no risk to public safety” and called the policies to wait at courthouses and make arrests “neither safe nor fair.” She suggested that these actions would PAGE A4
MOBBED IN BANGKOK. Cell phones flash as President Rodrigo Duterte is mobbed by the Filipino community upon his arrival at the Royal Thai Navy headquarters in Bangkok. He returned to the Philippines early Thursday, March 23. Malacañang photo
Known for hurling invectives even against world leaders, President Rodrigo Duterte said he has been turning to God and praying for a longer life to serve the country better. Photo from Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Instagram account
PROMINENT political personalities, including Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, paid last tribute to late and former senator Leticia “Letty” Ramos-Shahani during the necrological service at the Philippine Senate on Thursday, March 23 in Pasay City. Shahani, whom former partylist Rep. Neri Colmenares described as “an accomplished diplomat, legislator and women’s rights advocate,” passed away
at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City on Monday at the age of 87. She was diagnosed of colon cancer in 2015. In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Malacañang is “saddened” by passing of the career diplomat who “served the nation well as Senator of the Republic and worked tirelessly in the executive branch in various capacities under different administrations.” “Our condolences and prayers to the family and friends of the former senator. She was a pro-
found humanist and her voice will be missed,” Abella added. Shahani, who is also the younger sister of former President Fidel V. Ramos, previously served as the secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi in 1985, and was UN Assistant Secretary-General for Social and Humanitarian Affairs from 1981 to 1986. She returned to the country after the EDSA revolution and was subsequently elected senaPAGE A2
PNP, DOT appeal to media to ‘tone down’ drug war reports by DANA
SIOSON AJPress
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) echoed the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) earlier appeal to the members of the press to “tone down” reports on the alleged summary executions in connection with President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs. PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela
Rosa on Thursday, March 23 urged the media to not “bloat too much” the data on extrajudicial killings. “Our appeal (to the media) is just to be fair. We ask them not to bloat too much their data,” Dela Rosa said during a briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City. “They should not paint our war on drugs as evil.” Dela Rosa also asked the members of the press to be PAGE A2 DOT Sec. Wanda Teo
Forbes: Henry Sy richest Filipino, Bill Gates world’s top billionaire by AJPRESS SM Investments Corporation founder Henry Sy topped the 2017 ranking of American business magazine Forbes’ list of the wealthiest individuals in the Philippines. Sy and his family had a net worth of $12.7 billion, ranking 94th worldwide in the magazine’s 2017 Billionaires List published on Monday, March 20. Coming second in the Philippine ranking is JG Summit Holdings’ John Gokongwei Jr. with a net worth of $5.8 billion, followed by Philippine Airlines and Asia Brewery’s taipan Lucio Tan ($3.7 billion), George Ty ($3.5 billion), and Enrique Razon Jr. ($3.4 billion). Worldwide, Gokongwei ranked There were three more Filipinos on Forbes’ billionaire’s list this year than last year. Philstar.com photo by RP 250th, Tan 501st, Ty 544th, and RaOcampo zon 564th.
Completing the list of Filipino billionaires were Tony Tan Caktiong ($3.4 billion), David Consunji ($3.1 billion), Andrew Tan ($2.5 billion), Robert Coyiuto Jr. ($1.5 billion), former Sen. Manny Villar ($1.5 billion), Ramon Ang ($1.4 billion), Eduardo Cojuangco ($1.2 billion), Roberto Ongpin ($1.1 billion) and Edgar Sia ($1 billion). On the other hand, Microsoft’s Bill Gates remained the world’s richest man for four consecutive years, dominating the list 18 times over the past 23 years. According to Forbes, his fortune increased to $86 billion from $75 billion last year. Claiming the second slot for the world’s top billionaire list is Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett PAGE A4
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From the Front Page
Pres. Duterte opposes VP impeachment... PAGE A1 ing out that she is a duly elected official. “We just had an election. Guys, lay off. Let’s stop it. You can do other things, but do not tinker with the structure of government. I will not countenance it,” Duterte said. Duterte argued that Robredo
did not commit any overt act that warrants impeachment, pointing out that her recent public statements, including her criticisms against some of his policies, are part of the country’s democracy. “Elected ‘yung tao eh (She was elected), so why do you have to…is it just because she keeps on harping at me? Hayaan mo
(Just let her), this is democracy — freedom of speech,” the chief executive added. House of Representatives Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier this week warned that Robredo could be removed from her post for allegedly undermining Duterte’s administration before the international community. Last week, Robredo decried the killings and human rights abuses in the Philippine government’s brutal war against illegal drugs in a recorded message to the United Nations (UN). Alvarez said Robredo’s action may amount to “betrayal of public trust,” which is an impeachable offense under the constitution. Atty. Oliver Lozano and Melchor Chavez also wrote a letter to Alvarez asking him to endorse their impeachment complaint against Robredo on Monday, March 20. Describing Robredo as a “termite of the government,” they said that the vice president “betrayed the people by shaming the nation with her dishonest message to the United Nations.” Sought for comments, Alvarez said he will still push through with the impeachment complaint against Robredo despite Duterte’s statement. “We respect the president, but we have to do our duty as mandated by the Constitution,” Alvarez told reporters. For her part, Robredo said that she and the president “have always been for working together,” pointing out that only their “dissent is being misinterpreted as destabilization.” “By working together, it doesn’t mean we agree on everything. But disagreement should not be seen as our desire to replace him,” Robredo said. She further explained: “Our expression of dissent doesn’t mean we want to get back at the president. We want to be heard because we feel strongly about certain things, like the killing of ordinary people.” Robredo also maintained that her message to the UN is neither an attempt to destabilize the Duterte administration nor to oust the president. “We think removing a presi-
SENATE PAYS TRIBUTE TO FORMER SEN. SHAHANI. Senate President Koko Pimentel III (4th from left) presents adopted Senate Resolution No. 44, expressing the Senate’s sympathy and condolences to the family of former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, led by her brother, former President Fidel Ramos (2nd from left), at the Senate Plenary Hall in Pasay City, Thursday, March 23. Incumbent and past senators recalled Shahani’s achievements and contributions to the country and the world as a Filipina lawmaker, diplomat and educator. Also in photo are (right to left) Senators Sonny Angara, Richard Gordon, Senate Minority Leader Frank Drilon, Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto III, along with Shahani’s daughter, Lila, and son, Chanda. Senate photo by Joseph Vidal
Gov’t officials pay last tribute to Leticia... PAGE A1
tor in In 1987, shortly after the the EDSA People Power revolution, she was elected as senator and later, became the first female Senate president pro-tempore from 1993 to 1996 during the term of Ramos. Known as a fierce advocate for women’s rights, Shahani authored Republic Act (R.A.) 6725 or the “Strengthening the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace,” and the R.A. 8505 or the Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998. Colmenares also hailed Shahani as a “nationalist” who “harbored a fierce sense of patriotism.” “We share her strong position that Philippine interest should
not be held hostage to the imperialist designs of either China or the United States,” Colmenares said. “Even as she was suffering from her illness, she took every opportunity to speak out and act to defend Philippine sovereignty through what she called ‘people’s diplomacy.’” Among the notable political personalities who were present in Shahani’s necrological service at the Senate were former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., and former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. In his eulogy, Nene Pimentel described Shahani as a “workhorse of the Senate.” “I can only say that the Senate was blessed by her selfless and
dedicated presence as a lawmaker for two terms and so was the country,” he said. Also in attendance were incumbent senators Senate President Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel III, Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators, Bam Aquino, Alan Cayetano, and Loren Legarda, among others. “I have never had the honor of serving alongside Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani in the Senate, but from what I have learned of her from those who knew her personally, one of whom is my father,” Koko Pimentel said. He then added, “I can say that the Senate was blessed by her selfless and dedicated presence in our institution as a lawmaker for two terms.”
Rody, 72, wishes for more strength to... PAGE A1
I would be walking slowly… medyo, saguyud na sa Bisaya,” he said. Known for hurling invectives even against world leaders, Duterte said he has been turning to God and praying for a longer life to serve the country better. “My prayer to God is that bigyan niya ako ng konting lakas na lang (give me strength) to do our… overwork time because it is needed. Twenty-four hours is not PAGE A4 really enough for the presidency, unless you want to sleep more than just about four hours.”
He has been keen on reviewing every document he signs as part of his job, he said, adding it pays to be diligent or face impeachment for signing documents that might violate his mandate. “So extra careful, extra judicious. I only ask God to give me a little bit of time, a little strength to surmount the problems of the country and that I’d be able, not really to solve but maybe mitigate some of the rigors of governance.” He said he has reached the apex of his career and wants to make his remaining life worth-
while, like reaching out to the communists and strike a sincere peace pact with them. “That would be part of my legacy,” he said. The President is not used to having grand birthday celebrations even when he was mayor of Davao. He said his father had taught him how to be frugal and live a simple life as befits a public official. While he shuns expensive gifts, he is happy to receive donations like sacks of rice, which he said he would give to the poor.
PNP, DOT appeal to media to ‘tone down’... PAGE A1
balanced in their coverage on anti-illegal drug operations. “If they have a negative report, they should also have a positive report. Balanced reporting. Balance view on the situation,” the PNP chief added. Since the campaign launched in July last year, nearly 8,000 deaths have been recorded. The PNP, however, repeatedly clarified that only around 2,500 cases were related to legitimate police operations while the remaining are considered “deaths under investigation” conducted by vigilante suspects with other motives. Earlier on Wednesday, March 22, Tourism Secretary Wanda
Teo called on the media to “tone down” reports on drug war because the it makes it hard to sell the Philippines to tourists. “These statements make it hard for us to sell the Philippines, so I hope, we could if possible—this does not only refer to VP Leni [Robredo] but also to the media—let us tone down those references to extrajudicial killings,” Teo told reporters in a press briefing. Robredo, who has been expressing dissent over some of the Duterte policies, criticized the administration’s war against illegal drugs in a video recently sent to the United Nations (UN), citing the alleged spate of summary killings and human rights
violations. “I hope the statements could be toned down because I am having a hard time selling [the Philippines],” Teo added. She then urged the media to promote the Philippines as an attractive destination. Following Robredo’s appeal, United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Agnes Callamard said that instead of asking the media to tone down reports, the government should instead extrajudicial killing. “#Philippines Tourism Chief asks Media to tone down #EJK report! She should ask Gov & Police to #StopEJK,” Callamard wrote in her Twitter account.
Fil-Am tapped to head civil division... PAGE A1 land in an effort to reinstate the freeze on immigrant and visitor arrivals from the countries in question. The Trump administration has argued that the executive order would help national security, while opponents say it is anti-Muslim. A partner in the litigation department of law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz since 1994, Conway has worked on numerous high-profile cases in federal and state courts across the United States. In the 1990s, he was part of the team representing Paula Jones, an Arkansas state employee who filed a sexual harassment lawsuit
against then-President Bill Clinton, ABC News reported. Conway helped write the Supreme Court brief that established a legal precedent for a sitting president to be sued in civil court. The Republican lawyer has also represented a handful of corporate clients, including Philip Morris and the National Football League. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School, where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. In 1987 and 1988, he served as a law clerk to Circuit Judge Ralph K. Winter, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Conway was previously rumored to be the president’s choice for solicitor general of the DOJ, however, Noel J. Francisco — who is also of Filipino descent — was picked instead. Should Conway and Francisco be confirmed for their respective posts, they join several Fil-Ams serving in the Trump administration, including Joyce Yamat Meyer (deputy assistant to the president and House Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs), Kelly Ilagan (deputy associate director for presidential personnel), and Ninio Fetalvo (White House assistant press secretary), as the Asian Journal reported. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)
YOUTH PROGRAM. Sticking to its commitment to help develop young basketball players, Jr. NBA Philippines is set to reach out to more schools and communities. The NBA’s youth program will visit 158 schools nationwide, in an effort to instill core values of sportsmanship, team work and respect.The program, which is presented by Alaska, is expected to reach schools and barangays in Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, Eastern, Western and Central Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila, including the Bicol Region and Mimaropa. The NBA’s global youth basketball participation program will visit 158 schools nationwide this year across various provinces nationwide.
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Senate Public Safety Committee approves reduced fees for families of incarcerated youths
TAKE A CRUISE. The 13-story SuperStar Virgo cruise ship arrives at Pier 15 in Manila over the weekend for a week-long visit to the country. The cruise ship carries 2,400 pasengers with 935 cabins with amenities that include the Parthenon Pool (an outdoor Greek-themed swimming pool) with the Mega Waterslide, 15 food and beverage outlets, a beauty salon, a library, a spa and health club, karaoke rooms, gym, a basketball court and a jogging track. ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma
PH-US cooperation leads to arrest of 2 in cybersex ops by Kenneth
hernandez ManilaTimes.net
OPERATIVES of the National Bureau of Investigation-Anti-Human Trafficking Division (NBIAHTRAD) conducted an entrapment in Dasmariñas, Cavite on Thursday, March 17 to arrest two individuals for offering children for cybersex. The anti-cybersex operation was successfully conducted through close coordination between NBI-AHTRAD and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Manila, and HSI in Portland, Maine. The anti-trafficking operation
against the sisters Arlene and Emelinda Aringo was carried out after a formal referral from the United States Homeland Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (HSIICE) was sent to the NBI-AHTRAD. The information stated that a person was offering online shows of under-aged Filipino girls doing sexually-explicit acts in exchange for a certain fee. This operation was also supported by the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 4-A and the International Justice Mission, a non-governmental organization. A US Embassy official said that
the Philippines ranks high in the list of countries that offer children for cybersex. Rescued were 13 minors, five of whom admitted that they were abused online and offline. The Aringo sisters were also found to be positive for yellow fluorescent smudges, an indication that they received the marked money from the agents. They will be charged with violation of the Trafficking in Persons Act, a non-bailable offense and Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, in relation to Child Pornography. The cases were filed before the Department of Justice on Friday.
California’s Fil-Am chief justice calls for end... PAGE A1 have an “impact on public trust and confidence in our state court system if the public feels that our state institutions are being used to facilitate other goals and objectives, no matter how expedient they may be.” “They not only compromise our core value of fairness but they undermine the judiciary’s ability to provide equal access to justice,” the letter continued. “I respectfully request that you refrain from this sort of enforcement in California’s courthouses.” Apart from California, similar arrests at courthouses have been reportedly made in Oregon and Texas, as part of the crackdown on immigration since Trump took office in January. One of his early executive orders was to prioritize removing deportable immigrants who have been convicted of any criminal offense. In a report by the Sacramento
Bee, Cathal Conneely, a public information officer for the Judicial Council of California, said the letter from California’s chief justice comes after other judges, private attorneys and Legal Aid lawyers shared some instances with her. “The chief justice is not in any way questioning the right or authority of the U.S. attorney general or the Department of Homeland Security to do what they’re doing, she’s just raising concern with the judicial branch of California that this is taking place within courthouses and courtrooms,” Conneely told the newspaper. ICE observes “sensitive locations,” wherein agents do not implement enforcement actions at places schools or churches. However, courthouses and courtrooms are not covered. “While ICE does arrest targets at courthouses, generally it’s only after investigating officers have exhausted other options,” Virgin-
ia Kice, an agency spokeswoman said in a statement. Earlier this week, the White House requested that Congress provide an additional $3 billion in 2017 to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to hire more border patrol agents and ICE law enforcement personnel, increase detention and deportation forces, and plan the construction of the wall between the U.S.-Mexico border. Community organizations and immigration advocates are also ramping up their efforts to ensure that immigrant communities are aware of their rights should they be stopped by an ICE agent, whether at home, at the workplace or in public. Some of the protections include the rights to remain silent, demand a search warrant, and refusal to sign or show any documents without a lawyer. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)
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SACRAMENTO — On Tuesday, March 21, barely 24 hours after its formal unveiling, a Senate policy committee approved an increasingly popular plan to help keep young children out of jail and end unreasonable fees on families of incarcerated children. “Sadly, too many poor kids and kids of color today are more likely to end up as victims of the juvenile justice system,” Sen. Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), sponsor of Senate Bill 190, said after the Senate Public Safety Committee approved the measure on a bipartisan 6-1 vote. “If one believes that our children will be tomorrow’s leaders then we must look through a child-development lens and provide the appropriate resources and policies to get them there.” As drafted, SB 190 would end the harmful, unlawful and costly assessment and collection of administrative fees against families with youth in the juvenile justice system. The measure coincides with a growing trend where at least four counties – Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa and Santa Clara – in the past year have stopped collecting the fees due to the high societal and family costs and the limited or non-existent revenue collected. SB 190 is also based in part on research by the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California, which shows that poor kids and kids of color are more likely to end up in the juvenile justice system – the fees for which Mitchell said are often charged to families who can least afford them. Records show that in most California counties, if a kid gets arrested and locked up, his or her parents often get charged for some of the costs of incarceration. These fees can run from $513 to $6,000 for each incarcerated youth. Mitchell added that the way the fees are collected can be unfair and sometimes unlawful. For example, in Contra Costa County an internal review going back four years found more than 200 cases where the county improperly charged families. Parents were billed even when there was no sustained petition in their kids’ cases. That means the children were found innocent, but the families were still charged. Now the county’s probation
department is working to locate and refund money to these people. Improper fines come to about $58,000 for the period of internal review. “Children are not pint-sized adults,” said Mitchell, the daughter of a retired probation officer and warden. “We must stop this cradle-to-grave pipeline.” SB 190 is part of an eight-bill package that Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, is jointly sponsoring with Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell. Together, the bills seek major justice reforms for juveniles and adults as part of their Equity and Justice package. Their other measures are: SB 394 – Juveniles Life Without the Possibility of Parole This would bring California into compliance with Montgomery v. Louisiana decision that juveniles cannot be sentenced to Life Without Parole. Status: Also approved by Public Safety today. SB 395 – Miranda Rights for Youth This would require youth under the age of 18 consult with legal counsel before they waive their constitutional rights in interrogations with police. Status: Also approved by Public Safety today. SB 439 – Minimum Age Incarceration This would exclude children age 11 and younger from juvenile court jurisdiction and would promote the rights, health and well-being of the child by curbing premature exposure to incarceration. Status: Awaiting assignment to a policy-review committee. Status: First hearing on April 4. Four additional bills address changes long sought by law enforcement and community groups to the adult justice system: SB 180 – Drug Sentence Enhancements This reform measure is a modest step toward enacting the bipartisan movement to end wasteful incarceration spending in favor of community reinvestment. Status: First hearing on April 18. SB 355 – No Court Fees for the Innocent This would provide that only those who are convicted of a crime are required to reimburse the courts for legal counsel fees. Status: First hearing March 28.
SB393 – Sealing of arrests Senate Bill 393 seals arrest records and remove barriers to employment for those arrested but not convicted of a crime. SB 393 is sponsored by San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón. Status: First hearing March 28. SB 695 – Sex Offender Registry Reform Creates a tiered system for sex offenders and will assist law enforcement to better assess risk and be more efficient in use of limited resources. SB 695 is supported by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Status: First hearing April 18. SB 190 has six cosponsors: The East Bay Community Law Center; the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area; PolicyLink; the Western Center on Law and Poverty; the Youth Justice Coalition of Los Angeles; and the Insight Center for Community Economic Development. Supporters include: Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle; Alliance for Boys and Men of Color; the California Asset Building Coalition; the California Alliance for Youth and Community Justice; California Attorneys for Criminal Justice; Children Now; the Children’s Defense Fund; Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth; Communities United for Restorative Justice; the Contra Costa Public Defender; the Courage Campaign; the Dolores Huerta Foundation; the Drug Policy Alliance; Equality California; the Fair Chance Project; Fathers and Families of San Joaquin; Free Indeed Reentry Project; Further the Work; the Haywood Burns Institute; John Burton Advocates for Youth; Justice Now; Juvenile Court Judges of California; the Juvenile Law Center; Motivating Individual Leadership for Public Advancement; the National Center for Youth Law; the National Employment Law Project; the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center; the Prison Law Office; Public Counsel; the Public Law Center; Root and Rebound; the Ryse Center; the San Francisco Financial Project; Silicon Valley De-Bug; the Southern Poverty Law Center Youth Alive!; and the Youth Law Center. SB 190 will next be reviewed by the Senate Human Services Committee. A hearing date has not yet been set.
Duterte opposes VP impeachment... PAGE A2 dent by impeachment or whatever means, we won’t accomplish anything anymore,” she said. “Impeachment whether against the president or me would put a halt to the things Congress should focus on. It is going to be very divisive in our country. It won’t be good in the long run.” In a video message uploaded on March 13, Robredo decried the thousands of killings and human rights abuses allegedly tied to the Philippine government’s brutal war against illegal drugs, which she said have left Filipinos feeling “hopeless” and “helpless.” According to her, Filipinos were beaten up for requesting search warrants, and poor people were “rounded up in places like basketball courts, women separated from men, those with tattoos asked to stand in the cor-
ner, their belongings searched.” Robredo also mentioned the supposed “exchange of head” or “palit-ulo” scheme, in which she said, “the wife, husband or relative in a so-called drug list will be taken if the person himself could not be found.” But Malacañang and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were quick to denounce Robredo’s definition of “exchange of head” scheme, clarifying that it actually refers to a practice wherein arrested drug pushers can reveal their supplier or higher drug lords in exchange of being charged with a lighter offense. Meanwhile, Duterte himself faces an impeachment complaint. Last week, Magdalo Party-list Rep Gary Alejano filed the first impeachment complaint against Duterte before the House of Rep-
resentatives on March 16, accusing the president of culpably violating the Constitution, engaging in bribery, betraying public trust, committing graft and corruption, and other high crimes. In his 16-page complaint, Alejano cited Duterte’s alleged links to the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), the massive killings in his war against illegal drugs, and his alleged undeclared wealth worth nearly P2.2 million. While Duterte has immunity from suit as the country’s president, Article 11, Sec. 2 of the 1987 Constitution states that he “may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust.”
Forbes: Henry Sy richest Filipino... PAGE A1
($75.6 billion). He was followed by Jeff Bezos ($72.8 billion) of Amazon.com. Adding $27.6 billion to his fortune, Forbes said Bezos had “the best year of any person on the planet.” Bezos was included top three world ranking for the first time, moving up from number five last year. Amancio Ortega of fashion chain Zara came in fourth $71.3 billion. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg ($56 billion) climbed to number five. “It was a record year for the richest people on earth, as the number of billionaires jumped 13 percent to 2,043 from 1,810 last year, the first time ever that Forbes has pinned down more than 2,000 ten-figure-fortunes,” the article read. According to Forbes, the collective net worth of billionaires around the globe rose by 18 percent, amounting to $7.67 trillion, which it said is also a record. “The change in the number of billionaires — up 233 since the 2016 list — was the biggest in the 31 years that Forbes has been tracking billionaires globally. Gainers since last year’s list outnumbered losers by more than three to one,” it further read. Forbes said that Southeast Asia The United States, mean- nations, totaling 565. Next are was home to the most billionaires, while, had the most number of China (319 billionaires), Germaamounting to 720. billionaires compared to other ny (114), and India (101).
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Palace chides NY Times report for ‘well-paid hack job’ report on Duterte by Dana
SioSon AJPress
Malacañang on Wednesday, March 22 criticized the New York Times (NYT) for what it described a “cynical and unfair” report about Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. In its article entitled “Becoming Duterte: The Making of a Philippine Strongman,” the NYT recounted Duterte’s life from his early childhood to his more than two decades term as Davao city’s mayor, and later as the country’s president. “President Rodrigo Duterte relishes the image of killer-savior. He boasts of killing criminals with his own hand. On occasion, he calls for mass murder,” read the NYT report, authored by Richard Paddock. In his piece, Paddock described Duterte as a “child of privilege turned populist politician” and “an anti-drug crusader who has struggled with drug abuse.” “Obsessed with death, he has turned his violent vision into national policy,” Paddock wrote. “First as a mayor, now as president of the Philippines, he
has encouraged the police and vigilantes to kill thousands of people with impunity.” commenting on the article, Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto abella said in a statement that the NYT’s article seems like a “well-paid hack job for well-heeled clients with shady motives.” “NYT cynically and unfairly narrates the president’s rise to power in the context of violence,” abella claimed. He also stressed that Duterte “does not engage in western liberal niceties to promote his agenda, to rebuild a nation with compromised internal structures.” “[Duterte] is a rough-hewn outsider who vowed to ‘reduce poverty; restore trust in the government by addressing crime, corruption and illegal drugs; and reinforce peace agreements,” abella said. Taking note that Davao city is “hailed as one of the safest cities in the world,” abella likewise accused the NYT of deliberately failing to mention the many initiatives the president made when he was mayor. abella then cited Duterte’s
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella described a New York Times article on President Rodrigo Duterte as a “well-paid hack job.”
achievements while leading the city, such as his anti-smoking and midnight alcohol ban, the establishment of an emergency response center, and health and education assistance, among others. “One gets the feeling NYT is not interested in presenting the whole truth, only that with which they can bully those who attempt an independent foreign policy,” the spokesperson added.
No Filipinos hurt in Westminster attack THE Philippine Embassy in the United Kingdom on Thursday, March 23 confirmed that so far no Filipinos were reportedly injured in the attack on Westminster Bridge in london. “So far, we have not received any reports of Filipinos affected by the incident in london. We advise Filipino nationals to remain vigilant and monitor local security advisories,” the embassy said in a statement. a man carrying a knife plowed a car into pedestrians on the
iconic bridge and then stabbed to death a police officer inside the gates of the British Parliament. It left five people dead including the assailant. at least 40 others were injured from the incident. This attack was condemned by Prime Minister Theresa May and who described it as a “sick and depraved terrorist attack.” The Philippine Embassy extended its condolences to the bereaved families of the victims.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones whose lives have been affected by the Westminster attack,” the Philippine Embassy said. The Philippine post advised Filipino nationals in UK who require assistance to contact its emergency hotline +44 7802 790695. The UK police also consider the Westminster attack a “terrorist” one. (Rosette Adel/Philstar. com)
Demand for PH office spaces remain strong amid Trump’s protectionist policies Property consulting firm JLL reports BPO industry drive market by Dana
SioSon AJPress
THE demand for office spaces in the Philippines will continue to grow despite uncertainties in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector likely caused by United States President Donald Trump’s protectionist stance, according to property consulting firm Jones lang laSalle (Jll). During the asia cEO Executive Forum on Tuesday, March 21, Jll’s asia-Pacific cEO anthony couse said that the BPO industry were still the main drivers of office rentals in the Philippines, notwithstanding Trump’s pronouncements to restrict the outsourcing of products and services to generate more jobs for americans. “Demand side for office remains very strong. Particularly here in Manila, the BPO industry continues to drive the office market,” Manila Times quoted couse in its report. couse projected that the Philippines will continue to experience strong demand for its office inventory for the next three years, citing the country’s ability to weather global headwinds. Taking note that the Philippines is the second fastest growing economy in asia, couse said that the Philippines also offers a “cost advantage.” “Foreign investors that are already here in the Philippines or in asia Pacific are already comfortable. They are not concerned
CEO FORUM. Anthony Couse (left) speaks during the Asia CEO Executive Forum held on Tuesday in Pasay City. With him were JLL Regional Director Sheila Lobrien, JLL chairman Lindsey Orr, Asia Pacific Managing Director Chris Fossick and Richard Mills, the moderator. ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada
about [Trump’s protectionist policies],” he added. Despite the positive projection, couse advised real estate investors to “diversify risks.” “You cannot rely on one sector. We maintain the BPO industry will continue to grow but we need to diversify,” couse noted, citing unconventional asset classes such as different infrastructure projects. last month, U.S. ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said that Trump’s protectionist stance will unlikely cause american companies to change its business operations in the Philippines. Kim took note that the Philip-
pines offers “very very capable, smart employees, English fluency (and) reasonable labor costs.” “We will not see any dramatic changes to U.S. companies’ BPO operations in the Philippines,” he affirmed. according to economists, the BPO sector will likely provide more foreign revenue than remittances this year despite uncertainties caused by Trump’s policies. IT-Business Processing association of the Philippines (iBPaP) also projected that the BPO sector will generate $40 billion in revenues, and 7.6 million jobs in the country by 2022.
DOH: Pinoys quit smoking due to high cigarette cost by Mayen JayMalin Philstar.com
ManIla - Over a million Filipinos have chosen to quit smoking primarily due to the high cost of tobacco products, the Department of Health (DOH) reported. Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said three out of four smokers nationwide have also expressed their desire to stop. She cited a global adult Tobacco Survey report that showed more than a million Filipinos have dropped the habit over a period of six years. “From 17 million in 2009, the number of smokers dropped to 15.9 million in 2015. The figure represents a relative reduction of close to 20 percent of smokers or in simpler terms, one million Filipinos have quit tobacco use, the biggest decline we have seen in Philip-
pine history,” Ubial said in a press conference. “This significant reduction in tobacco use translates to a million Filipinos at lower risk for cancer, heart disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” the secretary added. Ubial attributed the decline to tax measures that led to higher cost of tobacco products and other anti-smoking measures like the graphic health warnings and local ordinances banning smoking in a number of communities. Even given the positive outlook, she still worries over the high rate of exposure to smoking in bars and nightclubs—a reality that poses a threat to non-smokers. “Exposure to smoking in bars and nightclubs is as high as 86.3 percent and in restaurants at 33.6 percent,” Ubial
said as she encouraged families not to patronize establishments that allow indoor smoking to protect their loved ones. To further gain on the notable reduction, the DOH continues to adopt various strategies like the issuance of an executive order prohibiting smoking in public places nationwide. Ubial hopes President Duterte will sign the executive order declaring a smoke-free Philippines after returning from his trips to Myanmar and Thailand this week. She is optimistic that the implementation of a signed order would help reduce the 87,000 annual deaths blamed on smoking among Filipinos, pointing out that while taxes imposed on tobacco products since 2013 have made cigarettes less affordable, many continue to buy it.
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OpiniOn
Features
Trading barbs
DESPITE a recent cordial encounter during the commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy Salaknib Class of 2017 in Baguio City last March 12, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Vice Pres. Leni Robredo find themselves at odds once again over the interests of the country. On one side is the president who remains unshaken despite receiving a constant barrage of censure over his aggressive campaign against drugs and criminality. While he continues to vehemently fight the drug crisis and criminality in the country, many still refuse to see its success. Duterte knows it—that waging a punitive war on drugs has consequences. He even warned that his war on drugs will be bloody. For his critics, the staggering numbers of people who have been killed during police operations and through extrajudicial killings cannot hide the growing level of violence and impunity in the country. It generates human rights abuses such as abusive and inhumane punishments. And as the number grows, so does the fear of the populace for their own lives. On the other side is the vice president, a former volunteer labor and human rights lawyer, who believes that the current war on drugs compromises human rights in the country. Robredo insists that the bigger war the government must face is against poverty. During the annual meeting of the 60th United
Nations (UN) Commission on Narcotic Drugs last March 16, a controversial six-minute video message by Robredo was aired. Through the video, Robredo brought the world’s attention to the troubles in Duterte’s drug war, which she alleged has resulted in 7,000 people who died in summary executions, and flagrant human rights violations. “We are heartened that the issue of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines today is being discussed in an event such as this. To know that the international community’s eyes are on us and to feel that human rights advocates are watching over our country gives us comfort, courage and hope,” she said. Coincidentally, an impeachment complaint against the president was filed on the same day that Robredo’s video message to the UN was released. Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano filed the complaint about Duterte’s alleged betrayal of public trust and corruption. Duterte has ruled out the Robredo is involved in any destabilization attempt against his government. However, his allies believe that the vice
Editorial
ManilaTimes.net photo
president is being used as a “political animal.” “The release of her (Robredo’s) UN video message lambasting the administration’s war on drugs before an international audience and the filing of an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives which happened on the same day, seems too neat to be written off as mere coincidence,” Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. Robredo might soon be facing impeachment of her own. House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he is planning an impeachment complaint against Robredo for allegedly betraying the public’s trust.
He accused the vice president that Robredo’s “inaccurate” video message to the UN has put the Philippines in a bad light and may result in serious economic consequences. While political mudslinging may seem typical in a democratic setting, the constant bickering attracts scaremongers, ones who are pushing into this emotionally polarized atmosphere to convince people on their side rather than ignite political aspirations and ideals. If this narrative continues, the ones who will lose are the Filipinos. (AJPress)
Pres. Trump lied to the American people and to the world Faces investigation on possible collusion with Russia
PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump lied. He lied to the American people. He lied to the world. And he is not owning up to it. He is not apologizing about it. In four rants on Twitter in the early morning of March 4, Trump accused President Barack Obama of a grave impeachable offense, claiming his predecessor wiretapped him in Trump Towers during the 2016 presidential election. Trump offered no evidence, pretty much like how he lied about his other “conspiracy theories” that Pres. Obama was not born in Hawaii but in Kenya and was therefore not eligible to be president of the United States. He lied about the 3 million “illegal” voters whom he said made him lose the popular vote to his political opponent, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. He lied about President Obama and his people being the ones orchestrating all the protest rallies against him and his policies, as well as leaks about his administration. And the list of lies and conspiracy theories went on and on, with Trump labeling people, institutions, media organizations that do not support his narrative and are critical of him and his policies as “fake news.” Pressed for evidence from the bipartisan intelligence committees in Congress, Trump then fabricated more lies on a global level, implicating one major ally. Trump alleged that the British spies surveilled him on behalf of Obama.
Street Talk GReG B. MacaBenta IN a stout rebuttal of assertions made in a Philippine Daily Inquirer column by Filipino-American lawyer, Rodel Rodis, concerning the US citizenship of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and his subsequent renunciation of it, the following news item came out: “Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday blasted an opinion piece questioning his citizenship, calling it ‘fake news’ and a ‘well disguised malicious article.’ “Cayetano took to Facebook his response to the column published by The Philippine Daily Inquirer, saying he acquired both Philippine and American citizenship at birth since he was born to a Filipino father, Renato Cayetano and an American mother, Sandra Schramm. “‘By law, by both the Philippine Constitution and US Constitution, I was both an American and am a Filipino nung time na pinanganak. At sabi nga po sa ibang court cases, hindi kasalanan ng bata yun,’ he said in a Facebook video. “In a separate post, Cayetano said he gave up his American citizenship even before he took the bar exams and ran for Congress.” Indeed, the good senator is right in saying that he had both
Trump’s administration alleged Pres. Obama bypassed the U.S. intelligence agencies so that The Fil-Am there would be no U.S. footprint Perspective in the scheming act. This was an accusation that the British spy agency denied, saying this is against the law and the agreement among the allies Gel SantoS-ReloS sharing intelligence information. The United States is part of the “Five Eyes,” an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. These are the allies that help us in our fight against terrorism and other threats to our democracy and the security of the Free World. Trump held on to this false narrative until his own Department of Justice exposed his lies when FBI director James Comey, along with the officials of the National Security Agency, told the bipartisan intelligence committee in Congress that they found no evidence that Obama wiretapped and surveilled then President-elect Trump before, during and after the election. It never happened. From the testimony of Comey, we also found out that since July 2016, the FBI has actually been investigating if the Trump campaign had been in collusion with Russia to meddle in the U.S. presidential election last year. There had been numerous reports of Trump’s people’s secret meetings with the Russian envoy
and other officials, even visits to Russia. Trump’s national security adviser Mike Flynn was forced to resign after being exposed to have lied about his meetings with the Russian Ambassador. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who he later appointed to be senior adviser, was reportedly with Flynn. Trump’s surrogate during election who he appointed to be his Justice secretary even lied under oath about his secret meetings with the Russian ambassador. Questions begged to be answered: Did Russia meddle in our sacred U.S. election to help Trump win? Were there talks about Trump easing sanctions that Obama imposed on Russia for hacking into our computers to spread fake news and propaganda to destroy Hillary Clinton and help Trump win? Could there be other tit-for-tat relationships politically and financially between Trump and Putin? Whatever your political color may be, this issue goes beyond partisan politics because Russia, an adversary of the United States and the free world, has been strategically taking all of these illegal acts to hack into the cyber accounts of the United States and European countries to interfere in their elections, cause destabilization in the free world – just as how Russian leader Vladimir Putin reportedly wanted to push his own agenda to re-estab-
lish the Russian Empire. During the House Intelligence Committee hearing, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) expertly connected the dots between Trump’s campaign and Russia. Schiff clearly presented the timeline of events that linked Trump campaign officials, such as former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn and former campaign manager Paul Manafort, to Russian government officials. In his statement, Schiff made the conclusion that these webs of contact between Trump’s camp and Russian officials could be a coincidence — but he said that there’s enough smoke to demand a thorough investigation. “Is it possible that all of these events and reports are completely unrelated, and nothing more than an entirely unhappy coincidence? Yes, it is possible,” Schiff said. “But it is also possible, maybe more than possible, that they are not coincidental, not disconnected and not unrelated, and that the Russians used the same techniques to corrupt U.S. persons that they have employed in Europe and elsewhere. We simply don’t know, not yet, and we owe it to the country to find out.” *** 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
Did Cayetano lose and then reacquire Philippine citizenship? Filipino and American citizenship at birth. However, Cayetano’s assertion that “by both the Philippine Constitution and US Constitution, (he) was both an American and..a Filipino” is not entirely accurate. What is accurate is that, under the Philippine Constitution, Cayetano was a natural-born Filipino citizen because of his Filipino father. And under the US Constitution he was entitled to US citizenship because of his American mother. But, at the time of his birth on October 28, 1970, dual citizenship was not yet recognized in the Philippines, as applied to Filipino citizens. Cayetano had to subsequently elect one citizenship over the other. Apparently Cayetano chose US citizenship. About this, Rodis wrote: “In his Comelec protest action against Cayetano, former Pateros Mayor Jose Capco, Jr, produced documentation from official government records showing that on January 23, 1985, Alan Peter Cayetano personally applied for and obtained an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) asserting that he was an American citizen. As Atty. Capco pointed out, the law required Cayetano to personally apply for this ACR and he dutifully complied.” There is no denying that Cayetano elected to become a US citizen. There is also no denying that he renounced his US citizenship. The issue that Rodis has raised is
whether or not Cayetano was still a US citizen when he ran for public office. With due respect to Cayetano’s noble desire to be of service to the country of his birth, there’s another crucial issue: Was Cayetano a Filipino citizen when he ran for public office? In a paper entitled “Philippine citizenship, dual citizenship, and dual allegiance: An evaluation of RA 9225, the Dual Citizenship Law,” lawyer James Benedict Panopio wrote: “The Dual Citizenship Law also amended the old citizenship law, Commonwealth Act No. 63, which provides that acquisition of foreign citizenship is a ground for the loss of Philippine citizenship.” Did Cayetano lose his Philippine citizenship when he elected US citizenship? He apparently did. CA 63 enumerated the following, among the reasons for such a loss: 1. By naturalization in a foreign country 2. By express renunciation of citizenship 3. By subscribing to an oath of allegiance to support the constitution of a foreign country upon attaining twenty-one years of age or more. Note that Cayetano could have retained his Philippine citizenship, even after electing US citizenship, with the passage of RA 9225, The Citizenship Retention
and Reacquisition Act of 2003 – also known as the Dual Citizenship Law. This law, approved on August 29, 2003, states: “Section 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State that all Philippine citizens of another country shall be deemed not to have lost their Philippine citizenship under the conditions of this Act. Now, having lost his Philippine citizenship, Cayetano would have had to undergo a formal process if he wanted to reacquire Philippine citizenship. This, interestingly, is where his case and that of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr. appear to be the same. A February 27, 2017 Philippine Daily Inquirer story by Juliet Labog-Javellana entitled, “Yasay: American, Filipino or stateless?” stated: “A lawmaker privy to the pertinent documents said that after Yasay lost his Filipino citizenship in 1986, he has apparently not reacquired it as mandated by Philippine laws…The dual citizenship law requires filing a petition for retention/reacquisition of Philippine citizenship in the Bureau of Immigration and taking an oath of allegiance to the Philippines.” In the case of Labo, Jr. vs Comelec, the Supreme Court held: “Philippine citizenship is not a cheap commodity that can be easily recovered after its renunciation. It may be restored only after
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano
the returning renegade makes a support and defend the Constituformal act of re-dedication to the tion of the Republic of the Philipcountry he has abjured and he sol- pines and obey the laws and legal emnly affirms once again his total orders promulgated by the duly and exclusive loyalty to the Repub- constituted authorities of the Phillic of the Philippines.” ippines; and I hereby declare that I In other words, to reacquire recognize and accept the supreme his Philippine citizenship, after re- authority of the Philippines and nouncing his US citizenship, Cay- will maintain true faith and alleetano would have had to comply giance thereto; and that I imposed with the provisions of RA 9225: this obligation upon myself volun“Section 3. Retention of Philip- tarily without mental reservation pine Citizenship - Any provision or purpose of evasion.” of law to the contrary notwithIf Cayetano did not comply with standing, natural-born citizens the above requirements, then he by reason of their naturalization and former Secretary of Foreign as citizens of a foreign country Affairs Perfect Yasay may have the are hereby deemed to have re- same problem. In sum, I think the acquired Philippine citizenship following questions are relevant: upon taking the following oath of 1. Did Cayetano lose his Philipallegiance to the Republic: pine citizenship upon electing to “I _____________________, sol- become a US citizen? The proviemnly swear (or affirm) that I will PAGE A7
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PH to protest if China builds on Panatag by Jaime
PilaPil ManilaTimes.net
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the government will file a protest if China makes good on its reported plan to build structures at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, a resource-rich fishing ground well within the territory of the Philippines. “We are now clarifying if indeed there is such plan. If true then we will file a protest,� DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in an interview. Jose said the Philippine military and intelligence agencies should
VST & DIGONG. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte poses with members of the Philippine delegation to Myanmar and Thailand while on-board PAL Flight PR001 on Sunday, March 19, 2017. In the photo are (from left) Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panel and Foreign Affairs Acting Secretary Enrique Manalo. MalacaĂąang photo
UN: PH slips 2 notches in human dev’t rankings by mayvelin
U. Caraballo ManilaTimes
THE Philippines slid two places to 116 in the latest annual ranking of efforts by countries to improve human development measures, a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report showed. According to the 2016 Human Development Report (HDR), the Philippines dropped 2 notches to 116 in 2015 from 114 in 2014. The report reflects a one year lag in its assessment of 188 countries. The HDR report measures improvements in three basic dimensions of human development: long and healthy life, access to knowledge and decent standard of living, which form the human development index (HDI). In 2015, the Philippines scored 0.682 (on a scale of 0 to 1.00) in the HDI, or under the “medium human development� category, together with neighbors Indonesia, Vietnam, Timor Leste, Cambodia and Myanmar. The current HDR report noted the top five European economies were Norway, Australia, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark, while the bottom five were Burundi, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Central African Republic. Even though the Philippines’ overall ranking declined last year, the actual score showed a slight improvement from 0.679. The HDR lauded the Philippines in its effort to continue the progress in women’s empowerment. “The Women Development Act
in the Philippines allows women to borrow money, obtain loans, execute security and credit arrangements and access loans in agrarian reform and land resettlement programs under the same conditions as men,� it said. It noted the Philippines’ improvement in promoting human development for marginalized groups. “The Philippines offers special voter registration facilities before election day and express lanes for voters with disabilities,� it said. In terms of social protection, the report took note of the conditional cash transfer program which reached 4.4 million families in 2015, or 21 percent of the population. Eighty-two percent of the benefits went to the poorest 40 percent of the population. Between 1990 and 2015, the Philippine HDI value increased from 0.586 to 0.682, a 16.3 percent improvement, the UNDP reported noted. It noted that the Philippine per capita gross national income increased by 111.9 percent in the 25 years to 2015. Nevertheless, the report finds that while the average human development improved significantly across all regions from 1990 to 2015, one in three people worldwide continue to live in low levels of human development. “The world has come a long way in rolling back extreme poverty, in improving access to education, health and sanitation, and in ex-
panding possibilities for women and girls,� said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark. But those gains are a prelude to the next, possibly tougher challenge, to ensure the benefits of global progress reach everyone, she added. “By eliminating deep, persistent, discriminatory social norms and laws, and addressing the unequal access to political participation, which have hindered progress for so many, poverty can be eradicated and a peaceful, just, and sustainable development can be achieved for all,� Clark said. On the other hand, lead author and Director of the Human Development Report Office Selim Jahan said universal human development is attainable despite progress gaps. “Over the last decades, we have witnessed achievements in human development that were once thought impossible,� Jahan said. Since 1990, 1 billion people have escaped extreme poverty and women’s empowerment has become a mainstream issue, according to the report. While as recently as the 1990s, very few countries legally protected women from domestic violence, today, 127 countries do, it said. The importance of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to build on these gains cannot be overestimated, the reported noted, saying the agenda and human development approach are mutually reinforcing.
keep an eye on the West Philippine Sea. However, the government favors sending Coast Guard ships instead of those of the Navy to patrol the shoal to avoid confrontation with Chinese vessels. “The position of the government is to send Coast Guard ships because China has coast guard ships also in the area,� Jose said. He noted that the Coast Guard is a civilian agency, which sends a message that the Philippines is avoiding war or military confrontation in the area. The DFA spoke out after Supreme Court Senior Associate Jus-
tice Antonio Carpio urged the government to take a hardline position on Panatag Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc. Carpio, in a statement last week, said the shoal is within the territory of the Philippines as affirmed in the July 2016 decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The controversy surfaced anew after President Rodrigo Duterte said he could not do anything to prevent China from constructing structures on the shoal.
Did Cayetano lose and then reacquire...
PAGE A6 sions of CA 93 indicate that he did. 2. Did Cayetano formally reacquire his Philippine citizenship as required by law? That is a question that Cayetano should answer – or something that can be determined by simply going through the records of the Bureau of Immigration. We do not want to speculate on what the BI records will reveal
or what Cayetano’s response will be (hopefully not another complaint about “fake news� and “a well disguised malicious article). But the implications could raise questions about the legitimacy of his election to the Senate, not to mention his candidacy for vice-president and his election to the House of Representatives, years back. It is said that when you open a Pandora’s Box, you never know
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march 24-30, 2017
Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City Catholic Diocese: Bringing the church to the people By Christina
M. Oriel
AJPress
On a recent morning in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bishop Oscar Azarcon Solis reflected on the change of weather. The sun was out as temperatures rose to the mid-70s — a stark contrast to the week prior when he was welcomed into his new home with inches of snow. “That’s what makes Utah very interesting for people to come: you keep on guessing,” Solis remarked during an interview with the Asian Journal. The 63-year-old native of nueva Ecija, Philippines made history on March 7 when he was formally installed as the 10th Roman Catholic bishop of the Salt Lake City diocese. With this position — to which he was appointed to by Pope Francis in January — Solis is the first Filipino to lead such a large congregation of Catholics in the United States. The ceremony earlier this month followed ancient rites, including a formal reception and knocking of the doors, and the celebration of the Solemn Mass and Rite of Canonical Possession. Both were held at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in the Utah capital and were witnessed by nearly a thousand individuals, including a whole host of special guests like
Archbishop José Palma of Cebu and Hon. Salvador Medialdea, executive secretary of the president of the Philippines. “Firsthand, I experienced the warm hospitality of the people of Utah…So embracing, so warm, so welcoming, very hospitable. I have so many adjectives that I can use to describe it,” Solis shared. Despite this momentous role that Filipino and Filipino-American Catholics — hundreds of them from across the country and overseas traveled to Salt Lake City to witness the bishop’s installment — have hailed, Solis said being a Filipino immigrant is simply a sidebar to his ministry work. “I really don’t dwell on that, being Filipino and the historical element of being appointed as bishop here in Salt Lake City,” he said. “I consider myself as a priest and a bishop for everyone. It just so happens that I am a Filipino by birth and a Filipino American by citizenship.” “But in essence, I am just a regular, ordinary priest and Catholic bishop,” he continued. “I represent the universal Catholic Church that serves not only the Filipinos, but everybody.” The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, which covers the entire state of Utah, is home to over 300,000 Catholics, 48 parishes, 19 missions and 16 Catholic schools. (About 15,000 of those Catholics identify as Asian American and Pacific Islander, a majority of whom are Filipino, the diocese said.) In his homily during the installation Mass, he laid out his mission “to teach, to govern and to sanctify.” “Working to build an inclusive community of faith in a rich multicultural setting like Utah is both a challenge and an opportunity.
2
Bishop Oscar A. Solis presents the apostolic mandate naming him Salt Lake City’s bishop during his installation Mass March 7 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City. Bishop Solis, 63, a native of San Jose City, Philippines, had been an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles since 2004 when he was named to head the statewide Utah diocese Jan. 10.
Photo courtesy of Fr. Albert Avenido
Bishop Oscar A. Solis, taking in the cathedra at the Cathedral of the Madeleine March 7, becomes the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Fellow bishops congratulate him as he becomes the first Filipino to lead a U.S. diocese. Photos by J.D. Long-Garcia/Angelus News
The attitude and perspective with which we approach our reality colors the outcome of our ministry,” he told the audience. He added that during his time in Utah, he would continue the agenda of his predecessors to “bring the Church to the people.” “As I have told my brother bishops, it is quite frightening to follow these ‘big dogs.’ And as I look up to them, I could not help but think of myself as a little puppy. And the sad part about it, I said, is that I am a little puppy and a mixed breed,” he mused during his message. “These men, my predecessors, were all dedicated leaders of our faith, who carried out their episcopal ministry with great zeal and enthusiasm, and who worked collaboratively with leaders of other faith denominations.” The Deseret State is known for having a population that predominately belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. However, even with the relatively small number of Catholics in comparison to the over 2 million Mormons in the state, Solis said he is looking forward to engaging with other faiths.
“The Catholic Church in Utah has a longstanding, wonderful partnership between the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as other interfaith and interreligious groups. We have an ecumenical group here in Salt Lake City and I heard they meet regularly,” he said. Becoming Bishop Solis — who was born in San Jose, nueva Ecija — attended the Christ the King Seminary of the Society of the Divine Word, Tagaytay City, to study philosophy and the Pontifical Royal Seminary at the University of Saint Thomas in Manila for his theological studies. He was ordained a priest in 1979 for the Diocese of Cabanatuan and served as chaplain to a number of organizations, as Prefect of Seminary Studies and as Diocesan Vocations Director, according to the Catholic Church. He emigrated to the United States in 1984 and was a Parochial Vicar in the Archdiocese of newark, new Jersey until 1988. He then moved to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, in 1992, where he served in four different parishes.
Pope John Paul II appointed Solis as the auxiliary bishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles in late 2003, and it was made official during a ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown LA the following year. It was a historic moment as well, for he became the first Filipino to be installed as a bishop in the U.S. He was later promoted to auxiliary bishop of the San Pedro Pastoral District in 2009. For the past seven years, Solis has been responsible for overseeing 67 parishes and eight Catholic high schools in Los Angeles and Long Beach. He has also been the episcopal advisor for the national Association of Filipino Priests since 2011. Beloved and embraced by the greater LA Catholic community for his quick wit and humor, Solis said his personality stems from the “joy of sharing [his] faith with others.” This charisma is what he will continue to grace his new environment with. “I want them to feel excited about it because it is exciting for me to have this opportunity and share the presence of Christ in my life and the love that I have experienced and the love that God has bestowed upon me all my life. It’s a simple message that God is love, God is good and he loves us all,” he said. “Joy is contagious — that’s why I always smile and bring the joy of the Gospel to everyone… When you have God in your life, you don’t need all of those [material] things…That’s what the Gospel of God is all about.” As previously written in the Asian Journal during a MDWK
Magazine feature in 2011, Solis shared that he questioned if he was truly meant to dedicate his life to being a priest. But he eventually knew it was his destined path and is committed to helping others consider ministry work. While stationed in Utah, one of the demands he will be addressing is how to encourage more individuals to become priests or nuns. “…As the population grows, that means the Catholic population is growing as well. We need more ministers in order to make themselves available to give service to people, to bring the Church to the people. That’s our main goal, really, trying to bring the Church where the people are, instead of waiting for the people to come to the Church,” he said. Given the political climate and divisiveness in the country right now, Solis said the Church “sets the example of inclusivity” and can be a safe space for individuals. “In fact, we welcome...all, even the strangers among us,” he reflected. “That is the basic principle of what the church stands for: it is open, inclusive, hospitable and welcoming, especially to those who are in need.” “That is why it’s not surprising that the Church stands in support of refugees, people living in poverty, the homeless, people suffering from addictions [of] drugs. It’s a normal thing for the Church to stand in support and on behalf of those people who need our love and compassion so they may be able to uphold their innate human dignity as human beings, as members of our faith community and as members of God’s family.”
Gerald Anderson finishes 42k LA Marathon Who’s your bet to be the next Darna? CELEBRITy athlete Gerald Anderson, the Philippines’ delegate to the recently concluded Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, was among the thousands who finished the race. Gerald finished strong with a time of four hours, 25 minutes, and two seconds, placing at 4,277 among the 18,867 finishers. Gerald, also the face of Skechers Performance’s Go Like never Before campaign, has been training since late last year for his very first marathon. On his 42k finish, Gerald says: “This is a goal that I really wanted to accomplish. My Skechers Go Run was incredibly responsive and comfortable to use. It propelled me to the finish line.” Crossing the finish line was
by Deni rOse BernarDO Philstar.com
WITH Angel Locsin no longer be able to play Darna in the movie remake of the iconic Filipino superhero due to a spine injury, the race is on for the next Darna. nadine Lustre is being pushed by her fans to do the role. Likewise, Jessy Mendiola is interested to audition as Darna. Liza Soberano, movie director Erik Matti’s personal choice, said in a previous interview that she will be grateful to be offered the part. Her skin-tight superhero suit in a recent commercial made her fans grow even more anxious to see her in Darna’s Wonder Woman-like bikini. There are also reports of merchandise sold showing her in Darna costume. The latest actress to have her eyes on the role is Miss Angel Locsin as Darna Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. Gerald Anderson, the Philippines’ delegate to the recently concluded Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, was among the thousands who finished the race.
a shining moment for Gerald, who says: “Proud ako sa sarili ko na natapos ko, and nakarating
Gerald Anderson being interviewed after finishing the race.
ako sa finish line. Ang layo pa ng tinakbo namin. It’s really amazing.” On running with different people from all over the world, he adds: “Ibang klase iyong community, talagang nagtutulungan. Kahit naguunahan yung mga tao, nagtutulungan kami”. Skechers Performance is the title sponsor of the 2017 Los Angeles Marathon which took place last March 19. Established in 1986, the LA Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the United States with over 18,000 participants. This year, The Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon’s Stadium to the Sea course saw runners race from Dodger Stadium across Los Angeles to a scenic finish just steps from the Santa Monica Pier. (Philstar.com)
Who will be the next Darna? From left: Liza Soberano, Nadine Lustre (bottom, center), Jessy Mendiola (top, center), and Pia Wurtzbach.
Donita finds solace in other ‘passion’
march 24-30, 2017 www.asianjournal.com
3
by Bot Glorioso Philstar.com
Not much has been heard about Donita rose since news came out regarding her failed marriage. It was last year when she revealed about her separation from her US-based husband. But unlike those in the same predicament who find it difficult to recover, the actress has chosen not to wallow in sadness. the hurting period, perhaps, is over as Donita recently appeared with a sweet smile for everyone at The Star offices in connection to her being the brand ambassador of Jolly Canola oil. this is her second year with the cooking oil brand that promotes heart health with its tagline Heart mate. She’s loveless, Donita announced and gamely wondered aloud if there is someone we can recommend. “I hope to find someone who is a chef or who is into fitness so he can help me to stay fit (laughs),” she quipped, adding that she’s not ready for a new love. Still, it made everyone curious about her “ideal” guy. “If you look at my history, looks are not really that important, hahahaha,” she said. there were some who remembered her past romance during her younger years in showbiz and Donita admitted, “meron naman pero hindi marami.” Kidding aside, Donita said the guy has to be faithful “and somebody who can parang take the lead and you know, financially stable, who can take care of us (she has a son) because I wanna like (to) enjoy life and I feel like parang I would like someone to embrace that part of me that truly loves… maybe somebody who is a chef also and then someday we’ll set up a restaurant and we’ll make sweet music in the restaurant. or somebody who’s also into fitness para matulungan din n’ya ko (to slim down).” Does she feel “heavy”? “I’m working on it. I think I’m on the road to recovery, wow! I think this year is gonna be my year,” she said with certainty. No doubt about it since Donita has been devoting most of her time attending to her other passion which is cooking. as the brand ambassador of Jolly Canola oil, she is tasked to prepare recipes which she can share to people as she goes around the country in line with the promotion of the cooking oil brand. “my love for food started at the very young age,” she shared. “I’m the eldest of four siblings and when we’re growing up, every time I would order, kakaiba ako sa mga kapatid ko kasi sila gusto nila chicken and burger, ako may escargot kaya my mom said sasakit ang ulo nila sa akin. I’ve always wanted to truly experiment with food and when I tasted something, I really have a strong opinion about it. So when I was growing up, dahil eldest ako, iniipon ko yung allowance ko and then when there’s special occasion like birthday of my siblings, I would cook as my gift for them. Nung una nasusunog pa until I got better and better.” Donita’s love for cooking grew stronger when she moved to Singapore to work as mtV VJ. She would always buy recipe books, experiment on other types of cuisine and watch cooking shows on a food channel. She even applied in 2003 on asian Food
Hmart presents the 1st Annual Children Art Contest Build dreams for your children with our 2017 Art Contest!
Fast recovered from her failed marriage, Donita Rose says she’s not ready for a new love. Instead, she focuses on cooking, her constant love.
Network to realize her dream of making a name associated with food. “they checked my credentials and (found out) I don’t have a background in culinary so they turned me down. I was really heart broken,” she related. Donita continued, “I came back to the Philippines and I did ‘mobile Kusina’ with Christine Jacob. Sabi ko mag-aaral talaga ako.” She was already married then and knew that going to a culinary school requires time, and of course, money. Good thing, Donita was able to get a scholarship at the academy for International Culinary arts (aICa) in 2012 and succeeded in her goal of finishing a culinary course a year after. Fast-forward to the present, Donita has done a variety of recipes which she shared to people through blogs on her website. Some her recipes that she has also presented during promo tours around the country are tilmok, Pork Belly, Seafood Kare-Kare, Durian and Coconut Chicken Curry, Crab Curry Wrapped in Banana Leaves and Chicken Inasal. “When I came back here, I did a show with ai-ai (delas alas) on Gma and then after that, ‘Basta, Every Day Happy with Chef Boy Logro.’ I think that was three years ago and I was already having some family problems then that I was trying to work out and in the end, I ended up staying here so it’s been about three years that I’ve been back here in the Philippines.” according to Donita, it was Jolly which gave her an opportunity to purely try her hand at cooking. It completely departed her from hosting and acting. Initially, she was in complete shock but the idea of whipping up dishes in front of people excites her no end. “they gave me eight recipes to work (on) and they said I have the freedom to do whatever I want (to cook). So I told myself, paninindigan ko ito. Jolly is one of the biggest highlights of my career.”
Hmart & La18 presents the 1st annual Children art Contest on may 6th, 2017 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. the event will be held at mile Square regional Park, located at 16801 Euclid ave. Fountain Valley, Ca 92708. Hmart & La18 will be hosting this event to express their appreciation to the customers and they are in preparation of many fun events for every family member. after the event, each drawing will go through a judging process. the Grand Prize winner (1 winner) will receive $1,000 scholarship plus special trophy and award certificate. the first place winners (3 winners; 1 from each age group) will each receive $300 scholarship plus trophy and award certificate. the second place winners (6 winners; 2 from each age group) will each receive $200 Hmart Gift Certificate plus trophy and award certificate. the third place winners (9 winners; 3 from each age group) will each receive $100 Hmart Gift Certificate plus trophy and award certificate. the forth place winners (total 50 winners from three groups) will receive $30 Hmart Gift Certificate plus trophy and award certificate. total of 69 winners will be awarded in this event. In order to participate, visit any Hmart stores in California; fill out an application. application period is from march 24 to april 30 (Free application). the
theme of the drawing contest will be announced on the event day. the drawing pad will be distributed on the event day. Students may bring their own drawing tools and art supplies. Hmart official states, “the contest was created in 2014 by the Hmart in New York. Beginning in 2015, the Hmart starts to partner with the local organization to expand this event to NJ, Va, mD, IL, Ga, tX and Ca . We have had over 15,000 people from upwards of 7 states participated in recent years. We received unique, inspirational and beautiful kids’ artwork pieces every year. Hmart Children art Contest
has been becoming one of the largest family event in the asian Community. We are already receiving many inquiries about the event. We’re in preparation of many fun events and many free gifts. We are excited to present unforgettable memories to many children and their families.” Winners will be announced on June 2nd to the email address provided at the time of the application submission. Winners will be also announced on www.hmart.com and also on newspaper and radio. Inquiries: Hmart Customer Service, 877-427-7386 (Advertising Supplement)
march 24-30, 2017 www.asianjournal.com
4
Shawn Mendes tours Philippines ahead of concert by Rosette
Adel
Philstar.com
CAnAdIAn singer Shawn Mendes shared that he visited tourist destinations in the Philippines ahead of his concert. Shawn, who was in the country for the first time, said that he visited Tagaytay City, Taal Volcano and Balete Falls in Amadeo, Cavite, among others. Shawn shared that he enjoyed the falls, which he described as “beautiful.” he also shared some of his travel photos in his Instagram account. In some of his photos, he was seen smiling with Filipino children. “It was a beautiful spot. We’re literally really driving through the bay and we drove into the woods and then it opened up to a beautiful waterfall,” Shawn told the members of the press. “There’s a bunch of kids up there and we jumped off the waterfall and [went] swimming. It was really nice,” he said. The 18-year-old international sensation shared he loved the
99 Ranch Market launches Tawa Culinary Adventures Shawn Mendes
view of Manila Bay from his hotel room. he said the bay view got him inspired and allowed him to write two to three songs. Asked if he’d love to have a vacation here in the future, Shawn said he is looking forward to it and would love to return to Taal Volcano and nearby tourist spots. “I’d love to vacation here…I’d like to spend more time [in Taal], maybe next time we come by,” he said.
Aside from the tourist places, Shawn complimented the people. he said the fans are hardcore in a good way. he also described Filipinos as “American-sounding,” cited that the locals speak good english. “You guys are actually nice here,” Shawn said. “It’ really s great and the people are amazing and the fans are loud,” the singer said of his stay.
99 RAnCh MARkeT has introduced Tawa Culinary Adventures presented by UniStar kids Magazine at various locations in Southern California. 99 Ranch Market launched this opportunity with the intent to be more involved with the community while building a more engaging relationship with its future shoppers. This program strives to teach children beneficial skills such as food preparation and food safety, as well as a bonding experience for families. Tawa Culinary Adventures is a biweekly opportunity rotating on Saturdays between four stores:
Alhambra, Rowland heights, Irvine, and Rancho Cucamonga. More locations may be added at a later time. For each course, instructor(s) will demonstrate and guide all participants through each step. Parents are required to attend with their children and encouraged to help their children during the course. Participation is free of charge. In order to participate, every entrant must register in-person at location of hosted class or selected stores in the surrounding
area. Registration will occur two weeks ahead of each scheduled class. Registration is crucial, for only 12 children will be able to participate for each class. The first class was held on Saturday, March 18 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alhambra location. For more information, please visit www.99ranch.com and follow @99ranchmarket on Facebook. Feel free to contact the customer service hotline: 1-800-600-8292 or email customerservice@tawa.com also.
(Advertising Supplement)
Ronnie Alonte proud of friendship with Vice Ganda by MJ
MARfoRi ManilaTimes.net
SInCe his Metro Manila Film Festival debut as a lead actor in the horror flick “Seklusyon” in december, budding matinee idol Ronnie Alonte is no longer affected by bashers and finds his trolls envious of his fast-track achievements, especially in his home network ABS-CBn. In the know caught up with the actor at his latest gig for the clothing brand Penshoppe, and his new cool crew called #ClubPenshoppePh, who exclaimed, “Inggit! Kasi may kanya kanya din silang sinusuportahan na artista at wala akong pakialam sa bashers. Ni-li-like ko ang post nila; in-I-I love you ko sila. Minsan nga nag-seselos na fans ko kung bakit yung bashers pinapansin ko.” Meanwhile, since January, photos have been circulating
Ronnie Alonte
online of the young actor’s closeness to comedian Vice Ganda, particularly those wherein both are sweet and playful to one another. Ronnie is far from denying the posts, and in fact,
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
is even proud that he is close to Vice Ganda and his co-hosts in Showtime as well. Ronnie looks up to them as his mentors in showbiz and he confides his career woes to the showbiz “seniors.” he reflected and further said it is good he is constantly being noticed by bashers, “Yung mga bashers mema (may masabi) eh, grabe nila i-judge yung mga bakla, yung mga bi-sexual o bading. Once na kasama nila partner nila kaagad may something kagad pero si Vice o makeup artist may malisya agad pero hindi naman natin ma-eexplain sa bashers.” he also denied that he has a relationship with Vice Ganda, “Napaka-bait na tao ni Vice. Sobrang Ok kami sa lahat ng nakakasalamuha ko na same ni Vice. Sobrang Ok lahat. Mabait ako sa kanya—wala kaming relasyon at magkaibigan kami.”
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AJPress photos by Mark Xavier Bautista
march 24-30, 2017 www.asianjournal.com
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How to build a house of bricks Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond
When you let your wants overrule your life, you will end up trading your time and therefore, your life away to get those material things you thought will make you happy. For those of us with big egos who Monette cannot resist the urge to impress AdevA MAglAyA others with the latest gizmos, this (2nd of 3 parts) can be a serious problem. Stuff is just stuff. If we don’t watch it, … I AM certain there are countless other pointers hundreds we can clutter up our lives with junk. Browsing leads to buying. of thousands can add to the There is a back end to each item growing pool of knowledge that we acquire as personal property. hopefully, translates to wisdom After its use, we MUST CHOOSE in this continuing saga of human ANY OF THESE OPTIONS: THROW, life. In the interest of brevity I’ll cull out only 15 bite-size pointers. DONATE, SELL, DESTROY or KEEP them. Keeping a great chunk of The first 5 tips came out in last stuff we acquire over a lifetime week’s issue. Here’s the second can make pack rats out of us and installment of 5 more tips. deprive us of breathing space. 6. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. Empty space can be beautiful Know the difference between because it presents possibilities. needs and wants. Use the Pareto The truth is, life’s journey is easier principle in pinpointing the vital few (20%) and trivial many (80%). when we travel light.
Problem Solved Atty. Kelly o’Reilly RECENT executive orders signed by President Trump, have sparked widespread discussion within the immigrant community. U.S. immigration laws and policy are centerstage. Much of what is being discussed within the immigrant community, although well intentioned, can often be misguided and misleading. In this current situation, having an immigration expert educate you so you can make an informed decision is of course a wise plan. Getting the truth The first step to peace of mind is having concrete, correct answers from someone you can trust. Immigrant communities are often characterized by a tightknit network of people sharing information and advice with one another. While this characteristic is often a very positive thing, it can also be a source of confusion. The large shifts in immigration policy recently have resulted in case-specific questions. Instead
7. GO LEGIT. Refuse to live in the shadows. Now more than ever before, take heed of this tip. If you’re illegal, exhaust every available avenue open to you to go legit. The gates have cracked open and were kept open to serve the liberal agenda of flooding the country with potential voters. Life is tough enough without you having to look over your shoulders and feeling edgy all the time fearing you’ll be put on the next plane back to the home country. Surely you didn’t go through all that trouble just to live a short, harried, hapless life. After 9/11 and the dangers of soulless terrorism, whether we accept it or not, a new world order patently intolerant of immigration as a concept and way of life, is now firmly in place and “the times” — to quote Bob Dylan — “they are a-changin.” The Continued on Page 7
Making an immigration plan of struggling to piece together the answers to your questions, reach out to a real immigration lawyer and set up a consultation. Speaking for even a half-hour with an immigration expert is essential for anyone affected by the recent changes to our immigration laws. Making a plan Once you have true and correct information regarding your case and your current and future options, it would be wise to dedicate time to meeting with your family and loved ones to make a plan. This plan can include what to do if a family member is taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, and where the children would go if a parent were detained. The plan can include extended family or trusted friends who are willing and able to help with children if that ever became necessary. This can also include creating a formal guardianship, obtaining passports, having an emergency fund to pay for bond or for legal fees and memorizing important phone numbers in case you do not have access to your personal cell phone.
How do I get started today? Many people find that once their options are clear, and once a plan is made, they experience greater peace of mind. An immigration expert can also help with knowing what specific elements should be part of a welldesigned immigration plan. The first thing you should do is reach out to a reputable immigration lawyer who can help give you the concrete answers you need. Once those answers and given, and once your options are clear, meet with your family and loved ones to make a plan of action that will ensure that you and your family are safe. ***
Kelly S. O’Reilly is a nationally known immigration expert and former immigration officer. He is a highly sought after speaker on immigration and employment compliance issues. Mr. O’Reilly serves as the current chair of the Riverside County Bar Association Immigration section and is a partner in the full-service immigration firm of the Wilner & O’Reilly where he provides free consultations. Mr. O’Reilly can be contacted at (714) 919-8880 and he welcomes email inquiries at kelly@ wilneroreilly.com.
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M A R C H 25
Gathering of Fil-Am women authors in San Pedro, CA Philippine Expressions Bookshop cordially invites the public to “Pinay Gathering 2017,” a celebration of Women’s History Month honoring Filipino-American women authors of Southern California. It will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 25. From 2 to 3 p.m., there will be networking and a Filipino merienda / high tea buffet. Afterward, there will be book talks and book signings with the various Filipina authors. The Pinay authors present will be: Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko — author, “Forty Years of Writing in America”; Myrna J. de la Paz — author, “Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella”; Cecilia Manguerra Brainard — author, “Magdalena: A Novel”; Carina Monica Montoya — author, “Los Angeles Historic Filipinotown”; Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier — author, “Filipinotown: Voices from Los Angeles”; Carmen F. Davino — author, “Of Love and Virtue. A Young Adult Novel”; Roselyn Estepa Ibáñez — author, “Filipinos in Carson and the South Bay”; Herminia Meñez-Coben — author, “Explorations in Philippine Folklore”; Leslie V. Ryan — author, “I am Flippish: A Juvenile Book”; and Lucy Urgello Miller — author, “Glimpses of Old Cebu”. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 514-9139 or email linda@philbooks.us. There will be limited seating and the deadline for ticket purchase is March 20. This literary soirée is also open to male guests. Philippine Expressions Bookshop is located at 479 West Sixth Street, Suite 105, San Pedro, CA 90731. Street parking or public parking on 7th street are available.
National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Region 10 Empowerment Conference in San Diego, CA 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.
The Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups’ Lenten retreat in Pomona, CA Please join the The Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups for its Lenten retreat on Saturday, March 25 at St. Joseph Church Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a liturgy at 5 p.m. The theme is “Growing in Faith,” as it is a time to renew and energize one’s faith. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. St. Joseph Church is located at 1700 Holt Avenue, Pomona, CA. For more information, please contact Tess Domingo at (909) 8552208 or Carol Evangelista at (909) 969-3316.
M A R C H 26
Filipino Cursillos’ Kalbaryo show in Woodland Hills, CA The Filipino Cursillos in Christianity of Los Angeles, CA (FCIC-LA) will present a Kalbaryo (Lenten) show about the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus on Sunday, March 26. It will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Mel’s Parish Center, 20870 Ventura Boulevard Woodland Hills, CA 91364. For further information, please contact any of the following: Tess Tan Torres at (213) 249-1507; Agnes Golingay at (818) 599-8401; Len Balino at (310) 203-3639; Genie Bagsic at (858) 472-9338; or Oddie Sabas at (760) 670-5868.
MARCH 30
Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce Tri-County ‘General Assembly and Mixer’ in Covina, CA The Officers and Board Directors of the newly-established Chamber of Commerce, interacting with Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, invite the community to a ‘General Assembly and Mixer’ on Thursday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m., at RE/MAX MASTERS REALTY office at 475 E. Badillo, Covina, CA 91723. Meet Merwynn Montenegro, President, and the Officers and Board Directors, along with their advisers Noel S.V. Omega, guest speaker, and Mary Ann Omega, both officers of the FilAm Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles. You will have the opportunity to make business connections and build relationships. Special guest is West Covina Councilmember and former Mayor James Toma. Atty. Abraham Lim will deliver the opening remarks and PNB Remittance Center Inc. President and CEO Ricky Villacisneros will close the Assembly, but not before guests have scored winsome door prizes. For information, contact Secretary Ed Cansino (909) 263-7297 or Email edcansino53@gmail.com; Asst. Sec. Grace Vaughn (951) 261-0601; or 1st VP Elen Yuhico (909) 636-6271.
APRIL 8
Filipino Cursillos’ Kalbaryo show in San Diego, CA The Filipino Cursillos in Christianity of Los Angeles, CA (FCIC-LA) will present a Kalbaryo (Lenten) show about the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus on Saturday, April 8. It will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Pala Mission Church, San Juan Diego Center at 3015 Pala Mission Rd., Pala, CA 92059. For further information, please contact any of the following: Tess Tan Torres at (213) 249-1507; Agnes Golingay at (818) 599-8401; Len Balino at (310) 203-3639; Genie Bagsic at (858) 472-9338; or Oddie Sabas at (760) 670-5868.
APRIL 14
Greenlining Institute Economic Summit in Oakland, CA On Friday, April 14, the Greenlining Institute’s 24th annual Economic Summit will boldly tackle local and national controversies as it focuses on the theme, “Racial Justice on the Frontlines.” With Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza moderating the opening discussion, community activists, political and business leaders will take on such challenging issues as gentrification, tech diversity (or the lack thereof), possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the impending arrival of Uber in downtown Oakland. It will be held at Oakland Marriott City Center at 1001 Broadway, Oakland, California. Registration opens 8 a.m., program starts at 8:30 and runs to 5:45 p.m. For more information, please visit www. greenlining.org.
APRIL 15
“A Musical Odyssey” in Cerritos, CA Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Inc. and DreamAgeGroup presents Rudolf Paleaz Golez, an internationally acclaimed Filipino virtuoso pianist in “A Musical Odyssey” on Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Other local singing talents will be present at the concert, such as recording artist Sean Collado, aspiring actress and singer Sheila Tejada, Sabrina Oxciano and Samantha Murray. Ticket prices are $35, $65 and $100. Proceeds of this performance will go toward the Pangansian Brotherhood-USA’s scholarship funds, which helps academically successful seniors who are college-bound in both the greater Los Angeles area and the Philippines. The performance will be at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts’ Sierra Room at 12700 Center Court Drive South, Cerritos, California 90703. Interested parties may contact project managers Dan E. Nino at (562) 921-5116 or denino1951@gmail.com; E. Mendoza at (623) 341-6247 or thedreamagegroup@gmail.com; Lino F. Caringal, Jr. at (714) 808-2642 or linojr.caringal@gmail.com; Bong Soriano at (909) 851-1493 or believe1156@gmail.com; Neil Estrada at (562) 301-9972 or bluezero2sixty@yahoo.com; or Feliz Lopez at (562) 572-2301 or fblopezinsurance@msn. com.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
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Filipino Cultural School to host ‘Sari-Sari Talent Show 2017’ as a talent showcase The three sex pills fundraiser for its upcoming Summer Program march 24-30, 2017
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the researchers noted that the experimental male mice given the PDe-5 inhibitor developed erection PhiliP S. Chua, and were chasing the female MD, FaCS, FPCS mice. this serendipity discovery that the side-effect of the PDe-5 I wrote an article back in inhibitor was even a greater and 1998 about Viagra, a headliner more welcome discovery than the around the world then when it original intention of developing a was first introduced that year. two new vasodilator for cardiovascular decades next year, Viagra and its diseases. the side-effect (erection) competitors, Cialis and Levitra, still in this case far outweighed the arouse interest globally. “original intent” for the use of the Sildenafil (Viagra), the wonder drug. this is one incident where pill for the treatment of erectile the side-effect is more useful and dysfunction (eD) in men, was beneficial. approved by the US Food and Other uses Drug Administration in March these pills for eD (PDe-5 27, 1998, and sold like hot cakes inhibitors) are also prescribed for that same year. More than $400 other medical conditions, like heart million worth was sold in the first attack, pulmonary hypertension quarter, 10,000 prescriptions a (even among children), preday. this blue pill was found to be eclampsia, Crohn’s disease, and very effective and safe. It boosts infertility. marriages and relationships. the Aphrodisiac? surgical procedures for eD dropped Some think Viagra, Cialis, and dramatically since this pill was Levitra are aphrodisiacs. No, they introduced. are not, because none of them then came the competitors! increases libido (sexual desire). Vardenafil (Levitra) was approved these 3 only enhance erection and in September 2003, and on sustain it for a successful sex. when November 21, 2003, tadalafil (Cialis) taken, the man develops a sense of was launched. to this day, these 3 certainty, security, and confidence, pills for eD are the most popular, which could incidentally increase dominant, and effective regimen the desire in both partners. in the management of erectile Indications for use dysfunction and they have been those who could benefit from found to also be very useful in any of these 3 PDe-5 inhibitors are enhancing erection even among those who are unable to initiate and those without eD. More than 20 maintain erection for a successful percent of failed marriages and intercourse, regardless of age, broken relationships are due to including those in their 20s, where erectile dysfunction. stress and psychological condition while their mode of action are negatively impact their sex life. one basically the same: they are a class does not have to have a full-blown of drugs called PDe-5 inhibitors. erectile dysfunction to benefit from they block an enzyme called these pills, since they have been phosphodiesterase type 5, boosting found effective and save since they a chemical in our body called nitric were introduced almost 20 years oxide, which relaxes muscles in the ago. penis and open up veins, allowing ED Stats more blood to enter and fill-up Cleveland Clinic reports that the veins of the penis, causing 52 percent of men have erectile engorgement and maintaining dysfunction, “affecting 40 percent of erection. men age 40, and 70 percent of men Original research: Serendipity age 70.” Men who are on high blood the original laboratory studies pressure pills, beta-blockers, etc., on these Pe-5 inhibitors centered have an increased risk of developing on their vasodilator effects as eD. Urology Care Foundation says potential drug in the management 30 million of American males have of coronary heart disease and occasional (mild to moderate) high blood pressure. However, problem getting or keeping an
erection. Similarities these three drugs for eD belong to one class of medication and have similar pharmacologic action: PDe-5 inhibitors. All three react with nitrates (heart medications that opens up arteries), which could cause drop in blood pressure and shock, even death. those on nitrates MUSt not take any of these drug for eD. these three are in oral form and there is no generic version of this eD drug yet, and is taken about 30 before anticipated sex. Any of these 3 needs medical consultation prior to use to rule out any contraindication and danger, since each individual reacts differently to medications. A prescription is needed to purchase pills for eD. they all cost about the same. their safety records are also similar. Differences while their action, use, and efficacy are basically the same, there are difference among these three pills for eD. Viagra and Levitra stay in the blood stream for about 4-6 hours; Cialis, 17-18 hours, longer lasting. other differences are in their side-effects. Side-effects the following side-effects are common among all three: stuffy nose, headache, upset stomach, priapism (erection, painful, that persists), sudden cardiac arrest, death (which are very rare). the differences: temporary change in vision and flushing are more in Viagra and Levitra. Backpain and muscle aches are more with Cialis. Alcoholic beverage reacts more with Cialis, leading to dizziness, less with Viagra and Levitra. But, as Shakespeare wrote: “Alcohol increases the desire but diminishes the performance.” Warning Any of these three drugs for eD dangerously reacts with nitrates, medications that dilate (open up) coronary arteries used in the management of coronary heart disease. A person on a nitrate medication (like nitroglycerin, isordil, imdur, peritrate, nitrostat, nitroderm, nitrolingual, nitrobid, etc.) must NeVer take any of these three pills for eD, because the Continued on Page 7
ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com. And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice. The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.
CerrItoS — Filipino Cultural School will host its 2nd annual Sari Sari: talent Show Fundraiser on April 30, from 11:30-3 p.m. at Josephine’s Cerritos (11305 183rd St, Cerritos, CA 90703). Filipino Cultural School, based in Cerritos, CA. and other neighboring cities, is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit organization geared to the preservation and promotion of the Philippine heritage and culture. FCS has and continues to be open to all. Filipino and non-Filipino who are interested in
the Philippine culture are invited to attend. “Sari-Sari” is a tagalog word for “variety,” and in this talent show, FCS aims to celebrate the diverse talents of our community members in forms of singing, dancing, spoken words, etc., along with some great Filipino food from the restaurant. Pre-sale tickets are $10 for ages 13 years old and above, and $5 for ages 12 years old and under. Door prices will be $15 for ages 13 years old and above,
and still $5 for ages 12 years old and under (ticket prices do not include food). the raised funds for the event will go towards helping cover for the cost of venue, insurance, and materials for the FCS Summer Program. For information on how to purchase a ticket and also sign-up to perform in the show, please visit our website http:// filipinoculturalschool.org. For any inquiries, feel free to contact us at filipinoculturalschool@gmail. com.
2017 Coron Medical Mission Team spearheaded by Dr. Ed Banez (left 2nd row) and Mayor Ajerico Barracoso of Coron (middle row) with Ms. Universe 2nd Runner-up Ms. Venus Raj Center at the 2nd row).
2017 Coron medical, dental and surgical mission LoS ANgeLeS - Coron, Palawan is now one of the best travel destinations in the world. However, with all its beauty and elegance, there are ordinary people still struggling for basic healthcare. the natives (tagbanuas) are proud and humble but also poor, still caught in the slow progress of development but hope is rising and real progress is just around the corner. From January 29 to January 31, 2017, 70 dedicated volunteers from all over the United States and the Philippines joined hands and provided free medical, surgical and dental care to about 2,000 underserved residents of all ages in Coron. organizations like University of the east ramon Magsaysay Medical Alumni Association of Southern California (UerM MAASC)
and its national association, Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA) and Auxiliary, Philippine Medical Association of Southern California (PMASC) and Auxiliary, Arellano University School of Nursing Association, and Healthcare Service International all joined together and the results was a huge success. Dr. Hedy windsor, APPA President, Dr. warren gabrillo, PMASC Vice President and Dr.Joselito Babaran, UerM MAASC President led the group who were invited by Coron Mayor Ajerico Barracoso. overall Mission Coordinator, Dr. edgar Banez,, past president of UerM MAASC and PMASC, announced that feeding program and gift giving was also a part of this noble endeavor. 600 indigent kids were given school bags
loaded with supplies, free meals of chicken and spaghetti and drinks which made them very happy. “we have to make it perfectly clear that the main objective of our medical mission is to help our countrymen, who are in dire need of medical care especially those that cannot afford to seek medical attention,” said Dr. Banez. Special thanks to Kokosnuss resort, Balinsasayaw resort, Mayor Barracoso, local volunteers JoAnna Fe, rose and emily Porras for their hospitality and invaluable support for without them, this mission would not have been possible. we thank our Lord for this unforgettable experience and the opportunity to help improve the lives of our countrymen one barangay, one community at a time.
7 3AF hosts only national conference focusing on Asian American Kylie Padilla happy for new Amihan, Arra San Agustin consumers, June 1-2 in Los Angeles march 24-30, 2017
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by Deni
LOS ANGELES – Registration is now open for the Asian American Advertising Federation’s (3AF) Asian Marketing Summit, the largest national conference focusing on the importance of Asian American advertising, marketing and the Asian consumer. The 3AF Summit will be held in Los Angeles, California on June 1 and 2. The 3AF Summit is a unique forum for industry leaders, content creators, media companies, corporate marketers and other partners to converge in an in-depth discussion of the Asian consumer opportunity. This year, industry experts will discuss the multiple dimensions of Asian American consumers from civic participation and entrepreneurship to building a successful case for diversity and inclusion and various approaches and channels to reaching this consumer.
Speakers include executives from Buzzfeed, McDonald’s Corporation, Nielsen, Tufts University, the National Asian American Survey, Sparkle Insights, Selffii Intelligence, Inc. and others. Prior to the Summit, the 3AF will host the 3AF Asian Marketing Boot Camp, designed especially for those new to Asian marketing or those who want a refresher course on the critical basics. The 3AF Boot Camp will be held on May 31 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and requires separate registration. 3AF President, Jay Kim, said, “Asian American is the fastest growing segment, yielding not only economic but also political power. At the same time, due to rising Asian economic powers and technology advances, lessons in Asian American marketing have implications in global marketing. Our Summit not only brings together experts in Asian marketing in the U.S.,
but also from Asia to share and create new ideas.” Sponsors of the 3AF 2017 Asian Marketing Summit include Nielsen, Comcast, CMPG, Saavn, Inquirer.net and others. To register for the 3AF Summit, visit the 3AF’s event website at: https://www.picatic.com/ 3AFSummit2017. The Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF) is a national trade organization comprised of Asian American advertising agencies, Asian market advertisers, Asian media companies and other industry specialists. Its mission is to grow the Asian American advertising and marketing industry, raise public awareness of the importance of the Asian American community and further professionalism in the industry. The 3AF’s Asian Marketing Summit is held annually. More information about the 3AF is available at www.3af.org.
How to build a house... From Page 5 political axis has shifted and the times call for affluent countries to build walls and constrain the movement of people in the face of perceived real or conjured imminent threat. Economic migrants will be hit the hardest. Terrorism has reared its ugly head and the first casualty is the fluidity and movement of people. Get legal and go the whole nine yards towards American citizenship. Shop, ask around and get the best legal representation you can get if you have to. Not all immigration lawyers are cut from the same cloth. Choose wisely. Inspect track records. 8. Get physical. Make diet and exercise a regular part of your life. We maintain our cars and use high-grade fuel to get great performance from a machine to get us from Point A to Point B. Our magnificent bodies, the crowning glory of God’s Creation, deserve no less. If we expect to run the full course set before us and barring
unforeseen twists of fate, like being run over by a truck, struck by lightning or hit by a meteorite, we can look forward to a long stretch of happy, productive, relatively healthy years ahead. 9. Admit you’re no superhero. Don’t take on more than you can handle. American life is demanding. We are all required to multitask at work and at home — to do too many things all at once —it’s enough to drive us to the edge of insanity. One technique to help us maintain our mental health and take off the pressure when we feel overwhelmed is to say NO. Know your strengths and respect your limits and know when you’re spreading yourself too thinly. 10. A fool and his money are soon parted. Have this truism tattooed on the hand that keeps wielding the plastic, aka credit/debit cards, until it hits home — just until you learn fiscal responsibility and mind your financial health. The great
financial industry that runs and oils America has your number and gauges the kind of risk you are based on your track record of fiscal responsibility reflected in that all too important number called the FICO score. This is the metric reflective of how you deal with money and your financial obligations. The gold standard is 850 and above. Cash remains king but a good credit history is queen. Mess with this metric and you will pay a painful price that hits your pocketbook even more when you have to buy big ticket items. Take care that in the first few years and for the rest of your life, you guard your credit history with the tenacity of a pit bull. (Next week: The third and final installment of 15 Tips: How to Build a House of Bricks) ***
Rose M. BeRnaRDo Philstar.com
KyLIE Padilla misses her job, particularly, playing Amihan in hit GMA fantasy series, “Encantadia.” “Oo, na-mi-miss ko! Parati naman, ‘di naman nawala!” she admitted. According to the actress, who left “Encantadia” due to her pregnancy with her firstborn with boyfriend Aljur Abrenica, she still follows the show. “S’yempre gusto kong malaman kung anong nangyari kay Amihan, sumanib s’ya kay Ariana. Nakakamiss talaga! Parang feeling ko ‘di ko masyadong na-aapreciate n’ung time na ‘yun kasi I was in my first trimester, gusto ko na talaga magpahinga… Pero ngayon na nakapagpahinga na talaga ako, parang gusto kong bumalik!” When Kylie’s character, Amihan, died in the series, her “ivtre” or soul reincarnated as Ariana, now played by Kapuso actress Arra San Agustin. “They’re doing a good job with the story e…we’re seeing that they’re blending it pretty well. So, I’m happy na na-attach din sila kay Amihan,” Kylie enthused. She is all praises for Arra. “Unang una, ang ganda n’ya at nakita ko ‘yung fight scenes n’ya, she’s doing really well,” Kylie said of her successor. Arra is also learning Muay Thai, one of the martial arts Kylie has mastered. “I’m proud of her (Arra) for making all the effort. Nakita ko
From Page 6
Kylie Padilla as Amihan (left); Arra San Agustin as Amihan’s reincarnation, Ariana.
sila ni Ruru (Madrid), okay naman ‘yung chemistry nila, so I’m hapy for them!”Kylie said. According to Robin Padilla’s daughter, she might not be able to reprise her role in the series. “I don’t know if I’ll be back. ‘Di na ko pwedeng Amihan!” she remarked while touching her growing belly. “Maraming nagsasabi na sayang daw, ang ganda na daw ng takbo tapos sinayang ko lang. Ang sabi ko, ‘It’s such a blessing to be a mother!’ I mean, if you’re just thinking about show business, okay fine. Pero for a woman, to have a baby in her stomach at makikita n’yang lumaki…Sobrang nagagalit ako sa sayang, sayang na ‘yan. So shallow!” She stressed that she never had the urge to hide her pregnancy. “No! I wanted to say it to the world! Ang hirap magtago e. ‘Yung mga ganyan ang cause ng cancer! ‘yung
mga secret secret na ganyan tapos ma-strestress ka pa. That was never my approach in life. I just wanted to be honest.” According to her, her fans, the “Encantadia” cast and crew and GMA have been very supportive of her pregnancy. Now, whenever she reads bashes, she just shrugs them off. “When I read it, natatawa na lang ako…It’s a learning journey. Noong una, sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na ‘Wag ka magpaapekto,’ tapos iiyak na ‘ko. Ngayon, natatawa na lang ako.” Her showbiz career, she said, has been “up and down,” but she does not regret having a baby at the peak of her popularity. “In a good way, I will be more responsible with my choices and will have more love. Ang priority ko na ngayon is not just to be famous or to have money. It’s my baby,” she shared.
The three sex pills
combination will lead to severe drop in blood pressure, shock, and possibly death. Consult your physician if erection does not subside in 4 hours, a condition called priapism, where the penis is so engorged causing pain, one that needs urgent medical care. Deaths The reported deaths associated with the use of any of these three pills for ED were suspected to be Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is due to the inadvertent concomitant SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. use of nitrates. New studies have To send comments, e-mail monette. shown that these PDE-5 inhibitors could also increase platelet maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
clumping in diseased coronary arteries causing blood clots, and heart attack in some individuals. “It’s reassuring that ... in general, for most patients, even those with existing coronary [heart] disease ... resuming sexual activity is very unlikely to trigger a [coronary] event,” according to Murray A. Mittleman, MD, researcher and cardiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. All evidence-based clinical information around the world today show that these three PDE-5 inhibitors are efficacious
and safe, when used according to standard medical recommendation and under the supervision of an attending physician. *** 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
14457-3 TentSale_Mar24.pdf
1
3/21/17
7:01 PM
march 24-30, 2017
www.asianjournal.com
FURNITURE
8
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Offers valid only until Apr. 12, 2017 or while supplies last. Daniel’s Home Center is not responsible for misprinted sale prices and typographic errors. Advertised items are limited in quantities and we reserve the right to substitute advertised item with a comparable item. Color fabric and finishes may vary from shown. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers. One item per customer. Must bring ad for special pricing. *O.A.C 14457-3 ASIAN NWPR| V1 | 03/24