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Amnesty Int’l: Killings indicate DATELINE USA First Fil-Am elected lawlessness, not crime control official passes away at 86 from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

by Dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

G. moNtY manibog, the first filipino-American elected into public office in the United states, passed away at the age of 86 on friday, August 12 after a long battle with lung disease. In 1972, he became one of the first filipino-Americans elected to a G. Monty Manibog

the spate of killings related to the present administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign in the Philippines indicates “lawless, not crime control,” according to international human rights group Amnesty International. In a statement released on Wednesday, August 24, Amnesty described the number of deaths as “a terrifying indication that the authorities are grossly failing in their obligations to respect and protect the right to life.”

the group’s statement was made after Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief ronald “Bato” Dela rosa earlier this week confirmed that at least 1,067 killings by unidentified people and an estimated 712 killings by police have been recorded in the country since July 1, when President rodrigo Duterte took office. Amnesty stressed that these summary killings constitute as crimes under international law. “the unlawful and deliberate killing carried out by order of a state actor, or with the state’s complicity or acquies-

cence, is an extrajudicial execution. this is a crime under international law,” the group said. It added that “incitement to violence and discrimination are prohibited under international law and risk escalating a cycle of violence in the country.” the group also reminded the government of its duty to safeguard the people’s right to liberty and security, including the guarantee to a fair trial. Amnesty stressed that these must be applied equally for drug-related cases as well. “the state has a duty to protect

Trump wavers on immigration, plans to adopt Obama’s deportation policy

PAGE A2

Bill to expand ‘Asian American’ label pushed in California the CAlIforNIA senate on tuesday, August 23 unanimously passed a bill that would expand the definition of “Asian American” for demographic reports on ethnic and racial origins. the measure will be sent back to the state Assembly. eArlIer this year, filipino-American California Assemblymember rob Bonta introduced AB 1726, or the Accounting for health and education in API Demographics Act (AheAD) to include more ethnicities in the Asian American label. According to the bill, the state would be required to collect data for Bangladeshi, hmong, Indonesian, Pakistani, taiwanese, thai and other ethnicities. PAGE A3

people from all forms of violence, including an obligation of due diligence to prevent killings and to promptly, independently and impartially investigate such killings and bring perpetrators to justice. recent statements by highlevel authorities and police directives have further endangered the right to life,” it said. Instead of inciting violence against people who have developed a dependency to drugs, Amnesty recommended that authorities should ensure they have access to medical care. PAGE A2

WAITING TO TESTIFY. Their faces covered, witnesses, mostly relatives of suspects killed during an intensified police campaign against illegal drugs, wait for their appearance at a hearing on extrajudicial killings being conducted by the Senate committee on justice and human rights. Inquirer.net photo by Raffy Lerma

DoNAlD trump is softening his call for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, saying that he plans to mirror President Barack obama’s policy of deporting criminals but “perhaps with a lot more energy.” the republican presidential nominee said that he would double down on distinguishing between the “bad” immigrants and “everybody else.” “the first thing we’re going to do if and when I win is we’re going to get rid of all the bad ones,” trump said in a town hall-style event on fox News on monday, August 22. When asked about possibly changing the law to providing legal status to law-abiding undocumented immigrants, trump acknowledged the law can use “softening because we’re not looking to hurt people.” PAGE A2

Mysterious fire destroys Supreme Court puts Marcos hero’s burial on hold Filipino family’s home by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Investigators unsure of cause, but say incident unrelated to an earlier fire by Eric

anthony LicaS

effective from August 23 to september 11 and rescheduled the oral arguments resPoNDING to petitioners, the Phil- regarding the issue from August 24 to ippine supreme Court (sC) has ordered August 31, sC spokesman theodore te the government to hold former President explained on tuesday, August 23. Defense secretary Delfin lorenzana ferdinand marcos’ interment at heroes earlier issued a memorandum dated AuCemetery for 20 days. the court has issued a status quo order gust 7, informing Armed forces Chief of

staff General ricardo Visaya of President rodrigo Duterte’s verbal order on July 11 to prepare for marcos’ hero’s burial. te added that the high court also granted the request of the sC Public Information office to conduct a live PAGE A2

AJPress

A fIlIPINo family in Northern California woke up to find their house threatened by flames during the predawn hours of saturday, August 13, less than a day after firefighters had put out an earlier blaze in the same area. fire crews extinguished a fire that consumed a shed, pumphouse and less than an acre of rural land in Coarsegold, California near the corner of highway 41 and Black oak road shortly after 5 p.m. on friday, August 12. Investigators told one of the homeowners that the fire started in a shed on the property and might have been caused by an electrical issue involving a malfunctioning heating blanket. Power was cut to the house while the investigation of the first fire took place, then restored at about 8 p.m. the home’s occupants fell asleep sometime after 11 p.m., but were forced out of their beds by a second fire just hours later. “At about 3 a.m. my husband woke up, noticed there was too much light Aguillon family home ravaged by a fire. Photo courtesy of Lyn Aguillon PAGE A2

Henry Sy Sr., John Gokongwei Jr., Jon Ramon Aboitiz, Ramon Ang, Edgar Sia II

Philstar.com photos

Forbes lists 50 richest Filipinos in 2016 by Dana

SioSon AJPress

for the year 2016, American business magazine forbes released its new list of the 50 richest filipinos on thursday, August 25. “several tycoons with interests in development and construction enjoyed a particularly robust year, and the new administration of President rodrigo Duterte, with its plan to invest in a ‘gold-

en age of infrastructure,’ could boost them even higher,” it said. Ninety one-year-old shopping mogul henry sy still topped the annual ranking of forbes for nine years consecutively, despite his net worth declining from $14.4 billion in 2015 to $13.7 billion in 2016. sy was followed by JG summit holdings’ John Gokongwei Jr. with a net worth of $6.8 billion, and the Aboitiz family with

a net worth of $5 billion. Percentage-wise, the magazine said this year’s biggest winner was new billionaire edgar sia II who ranked No. 17 with a net worth of $1.2 billion. he was also named as the youngest richest filipino. the 39-year-old tycoon’s wealth increased by 200 percent due to the fastgrowing mall and residence developer, PAGE A3

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From the Front Page

Mysterious fire destroys Filipino family’s... PAGE A1

house’s tenants and Antonio for that time of night, and heard Aguillon suffer from disabilities the bullets popping,” Mary “Lyn” affecting their mobility. Aguillon, 59, told the Asian JourLyn Aguillon helped the home’s nal. occupants get to the family’s car, She owns the home along with then had to run back inside to reher husband, Antonio, 69. trieve her keys. She said flames At that time, eight people were had spread to inside the home inside as the conflagration circled when she returned from the vehithe home, including the couple’s cle and saw windowpanes shat1-year-old grandson. Two of the ter due to the heat as she raced

back out. “We could have lost our lives,” Aguillon told the Asian Journal over the phone. Firefighters returned to the property just after 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, but multiple reports of gunfire in the area prevented them from immediately approaching the scene. Sheriff’s deputies investigated and determined that heat from the fire was setting off loose ammunition. Crews used eight fire engines and a bulldozer to put out the blaze. They managed to contain the situation by about 5 a.m. No people were reported injured as a result of the incident, but firefighters were unable to prevent the Aguillon’s home from burning down. “I loved that house,” said Aguillon, who wishes she could have saved her jewelry to help the family pay for expenses while an insurance company processes their claims. “We don’t have anything.” The couple hasn’t yet decided whether to rebuild the home or move to a new one. Relatives have set up a GoFundMe page to help the family recover from the disaster. Investigators are still working to discover the cause of the second fire, but say it was unrelated to the initial blaze. Madera County Fire’s Public Information Officer, Jamie Williams, told the Asian Journal that the department has no reason to believe one caused the other. However, Aguillon alleges that firefighters failed to conduct proper cleanup and followup procedures after the initial fire, thereby contributing to her home’s incineration. “They didn’t remove the trees that were burned,” said Aguillon. “They didn’t chop them down. They didn’t dig them [out].” She also said a vehicle belonging to the sheriff’s department blocked their exit when they reached the end of their driveway while fleeing the burning property on Saturday. Aguillon accuses a deputy of harassing her family after she drove offroad and around the other car. She said the fire’s survivors were accused of making drugs. “He said ‘why do you have so much ammunition … do you

COP KILLED IN BUY-BUST OPERATION. Police Senior Insp. Mark Garcia’s wife watches over the body of her husband at the Antipolo District Hospital. Garcia was killed in a police buy-bust operation against drug pushers in Barangay Inarawan, Antipolo City. Inquirer.net photo by Raffy Lerma

Amnesty Int’l: Killings indicate... PAGE A1

“The Philippine authorities should further ensure the rights to life and health of people who use drugs are respected and protected by guaranteeing their access to health-related information and services on a non-discriminatory basis.” It added that the drug issue should be considered as a public health matter.

Citing the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the “repressive policies” and “use of force” to curb drug use and addiction has not led to the decline in drug use. The group also suggested that the Philippines form an independent complaints commission -- “free from the influence of the Philippine National Police” -- that would handle complaints about

possible human rights abuses by policemen. “The commission should have the mandate to receive complaints and other reports of human rights violations committed by the police, be required to report publicly on its activities, and have the mandate and resources to provide any necessary protection to complainants, victims and witnesses,” Amnesty said.

Trump wavers on immigration, plans... PAGE A1 He did not outwardly say he would be open to proposing a pathway to citizenship, but he said that he plans to follow the law which includes deportation. “What people don’t know is that Obama got tremendous numbers of people out of the country. Bush, the same thing. Lots of people were brought out of the country with the existing laws. Well, I’m going to do the same,” Trump added. More immigrants have been deported under the Obama administration than in any other administration. Since 2009 (Obama’s first year in office), the Department of Home-

land Security has deported more than 2.5 million people, which is 23 percent higher than former President George W. Bush’s total deportation numbers. The year 2013 comprised of the record high at 438,421 deportations of undocumented immigrants, according to data from Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE). Since then, the number has been decreasing due to the administration’s call to be more selective in who they deport, specifically targeting those who threaten public safety or national security. Although attacking Obama’s presidency was a key to his cam-

paign strategy, Trump supporters at the town hall seemed to support their candidate’s call to adopt an Obama policy. The news comes after the Trump campaign announced that the candidate would go softer on his immigration rhetoric. In the past, Trump has been steadfast on deporting more than 11 million undocumented immigrants, proposing to ban immigration from countries with known terrorism (including the Philippines) and building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico (and having the latter country pay for it). (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

Supreme Court puts Marcos hero’s... PAGE A1 stream audio broadcast of the oral arguments “subject to the usual conditions and restrictions imposed.” On Monday, August 22, two more petitions by a youth group and a group of former government officials were filed against Marcos’s burial at Heroes’ Cemetary, bringing the number of petitions to a total of five. The first group of petitioners on Monday included students of the University of the Philippines Zaira Baniaga, John Arvin Buenaagua, Joanne Lim, and Juan Antonio Magalang, also referred to as ‘millennials.’ They argued that Lorenzana “may have abused his authority” in issuing preparation orders for the interment and that Marcos had long been disqualified from a hero’s burial when he was ousted by the 1986 People Power Revolution. “We cannot with a clear conscience accept that Marcos the tyrant lie beside the nation’s genuine freedom fighters. Malacanang cannot insist its will when laws have been enacted recognizing the human rights violations during the Marcos regime. The government must be consistent,” Baniaga said. The second group of petitioners included former Senator Heherson Alvarez and his wife, National Commission for Culture and the Arts Executive Director Cecilia Guidote-Alvarez, former movie director Joel Lamangan, former Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus, University of

Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te Philstar.com photo

Santo Tomas political science professor Edmund Tayao, Movement Against Political Dynasties chairman Danilo Olivares and actor Noel Trinidad. They argued that the administration on former President Fidel V. Ramos permitted the return of Marcos’s remains in the Philippines on the condition that the exiled president’s body would be flown straight to Ilocos Norte. The agreement also specified that Marcos will not be buried at the national shrine nor be given military honors. “Our petition is not only of local significance but macro – global. The atrocities during Marcos’ time is like Hitler in scale. Would Hitler be a hero in Germany? Would Mussolini, who was killed by the guerilla in Italy be a hero?” Alvarez said. The Marcos family, however, told the SC that the allegations

of human rights violations during the martial law years are irrelevant to the issue of the late president’s hero’s burial. “Apart from being irrelevant to the issue at hand, the allegations may not be assumed as facts but needs to be established with competent evidence,” the former president’s family said through counsel Atty. Hyacinth E. RafaelAntonio. “Since the purported standing of the petitioners is predicated on those facts…and would require the presentation of evidence and the factual determination beyond the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, this by itself will warrant dismissal of the petition,” the comment stated. They also argued that Duterte’s order is supported by RA 289 or the Act Providing for the Construction of a National Pantheon for Presidents of the Philippines, National Heroes and Patriots of the Country. “President Duterte understands that if this country really intends to extricate itself from the quagmire it is presently embroiled in, history must be viewed differently... President Duterte’s order to allow former president Marcos’ interment at the (Libingan ng mga Bayani) is based on his determination that it shall promote national healing and forgiveness, and redound to the benefit of the Filipino people,” Solicitor General Jose Calida told the Supreme Court on Monday. Duterte previously said Marcos was worthy of a hero’s burial as a former president and soldier.

First Fil-Am elected official passes away... PAGE A1

city council, serving the city of Monterey Park. He later became mayor of that same city. The Manibog family made many strides in the United States, with his father Gonzalo Manibog becoming the first Filipino-American to graduate with a law degree in 1917. Manibog would follow in his father’s footsteps, opening up his own practice at the Law Offices of G. Monty Manibog in Los Angeles after graduating from Loyola Law School. He practiced law for more than 50 years, representing individuals and families in personal injury lawsuits. He was also a professor at the School of Law at Van Norman University in Los Angeles from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. He also served in the U.S. Army

just after the Korean War, serving as a leader in the FilipinoAmerican community. Manibog was a jack-of-alltrades, making his mark in many other enterprises. In the 1950s, the Ilocos-born go-getter was a champion in wrestling and gymnastics in the Philippines, winning two gold medals at national championships. As a student at the University of the Philippines (UP), he was twice named “Athlete of the Year.” He took his athletic talents abroad, competing at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. His leadership skills and role in the sporting world converged in 1984 when he was ambassador to the Southeast Nations in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Even in his old age did he

show athletic prowess. In the 1990s he won three consecutive gold medals at the California Senior Olympics at the ages of 63, 64 and 65. As a student at UP, Manibog also proved ability in the arts, serving as president and lead actor at the UP Dramatic Guild. Through the guild, Manibog performed leading roles in “Six Characters in Search of an Author” and “I Remember Mama” among others. Manibog’s family held a viewing on Thursday, August 18 at the Miraculous Medal Church in Montebello, California. The funeral was held the following day at the same church followed by a burial at Resurrection Cemetery in Montebello. Manibog is survived by his five children, 18 grandchildren and his wife Jean of 62 years.

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Obama visits Louisiana after criticism of delayed response by Eric

anthony LicaS AJPress

PRESIDENT Barack Obama toured southern Louisiana on Tuesday, August 23, where residents are recovering from historic storms and flooding that damaged approximately 60,000 homes and led to the deaths of 13 people. Approximately 110,500 displaced people had applied for federal disaster aid and $74 million dollars have already been distributed as of Tuesday, according to Reuters. In contrast to the controversies associated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, state and local officials have praised the federal government’s handling of LouisiOPLAN DOUBLE BARREL. A PNP operative arranges the 536 loose firearms confiscated from June 1, 2016 to August 22, 2016 during the police ana’s current crisis. authorities’ “Oplan Double Barrel” in Calabarzon area. “Oplan Double Barrel” is a strategy by the policemen for an all-out anti-illegal drugs “They’ve gotten good at it, and simultaneously attacking big-time drug lords and street-level pushing. Inquirer.net photo Richard Reyes they actually do care,” Louisiana’s Lt. Governor, Republican Billy Nungesser, told the New York

Bill to expand ‘Asian American’ label...

PAGE A1 The bill proposes updating demographic categories by including these subgroups into the label. This would address their unique needs, and the state would more easily be able to dole out the necessary resources. “The bill would require the State Department of Public Health to use the additional separate collection categories and other tabulations for specified Asian groups and Pacific Islander groups, and to take additional actions as specified above, under certain circumstances,” the bill read. Opponents of the proposal say

that it is divisive, especially for Chinese Americans and more represented Asian groups. Policy Director for Empowering Pacific Islander Community (EPIC) Calvin Change doubts how the data will be used An attorney from the Bay Area Kai Zhu told 89.3 KPCC that the bill could potentially reignite affirmative action, which was banned in California in 1996. Moreover, he said that the bill could be a disadvantage to Chinese-Americans applying to college. The bill is in its early stages of data collection, but the promise of the bill is impactful. There are

currently two categories: Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. Last year Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill, AB 176, which had proposed creating new guidelines in collecting demographic data “I am wary of the ever growing desire to stratify,” Brown wrote in a letter. “Dividing people into ethnic or other subcategories may yield more information, but not necessarily greater wisdom about what actions should follow. To focus just on ethnic identity may not be enough.” (By Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Forbes lists 50 richest Filipinos...

PAGE A1 DoubleDragon Properties, which he co-owns with Tony Tan Caktiong who ranked no. 6 on the list with a net worth of $4.3 billion. Caktiong is also the founder, chairman and CEO of Jollibee Foods, the biggest fast food restaurant chain in the Philippines. Also occupying the top 10 spots on the list are: Lucio Tan (no. 4 with $4.9 billion), George Ty (no. 5 with $4.6 billion), Jaime Zobel de Ayala (no. 7 with $4.1 billion), Enrique Razon Jr. (no. 8 with $3.5 billion), David Consunji (no. 9

with $3.1 billion) and Andrew Tan (no. 10 with $3 billion). Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., the 95year-old co-founder of Rustan’s Group, was the oldest businessman on the list with a net worth of $165 million, ranking 46th. “At least five of the 50 richest are invested in San Miguel, one of the nation’s oldest conglomerates. They have benefited nicely from the company’s growth strategy in energy and other infrastructure, which propelled its stock’s value up 50 percent,” according to Forbes.

Ramon Ang, the leader of San Miguel Corporation, ranked 16th with a net worth of $1.21 billion. While Forbes’s record consisted mostly of males, five businesswomen made it to the list. Filipina tycoons include Ayala Corporation and San Miguel Corporation stakeholder Mercedes Zobel who ranked 14th, Mercury Drug’s Vivian Que Azcona who ranked 24th, Monde Nissin’s Betty Ang who ranked 26th, Unilab’s Beatrice Campos who ranked 27th, and Banco De Oro’s Juliette Romualdez who ranked 48th.

Times. Despite bipartisan approval of the government’s management of the situation in Louisiana, the president had received criticism for choosing to finish a two-week vacation before making his visit. An editorial published in the Louisiana-based newspaper, The Advocate, on Wednesday, August 17, noted that Obama made time to attended a “swanky fundraiser for fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton,” before deciding to “show up for a catastrophe that’s displaced thousands.” However, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards had requested that White House officials delay the president’s trip in order to avoid diverting the state’s resources away from disaster response. On Tuesday, Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump said via his official Twitter account that Obama’s appearance was “too little too late.” He flew

to Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Friday, August 19 to meet with survivors and assist in relief efforts. The Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, which has been organizing volunteers in flood-damaged communities, confirmed the receipt of a $100,000 donation from Trump via its Facebook account on Monday, August 21. The charitable contribution faced scrutiny after reports surfaced of the Church’s association to a conservative lobbying group that supports the traditional Christian definition of marriage. The interim pastor at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, Tony Perkins, is also the president of the Family Research Council (FRC), according to an LGBT-focused online publication, similarly titled The Advocate. The publication referred to the FRC as a hate group. Despite earlier reservations, Edwards told CNN that Trump’s appearance in Louisiana helped PAGE A4

2% of Californians with no health coverage now insured by Viji

Sundaram NewAmericaMedia

SAN FRANCISCO — Three years after California launched its online health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), nearly three-fourths of its 5.8 million previously uninsured residents now have insurance, according to a study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). Of them, one-third has coverage through Medi-Cal (California’s name for Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income people), while 21 percent gained coverage through an employer and 11 percent bought insurance through Covered California, the online health insurance marketplace that launched in early 2014. Another 8 percent said they have non-group coverage or insurance through some other source. But the survey, conducted in English and Spanish, found that one ethnic group was under-represented: Latinos. One-third of Latinos who were uninsured three years ago still did not have any health insurance

after the 2015 open enrollment, with individuals who may not be eligible for insurance comprising nearly half of this group. The ACA disqualified undocumented immigrants from federally subsidized insurance offered through Covered California. But the majority of the uninsured said the cost of insurance didn’t “fit into the family budget,” said Bianca Dijulio, KFF’s associate director of public opinion and survey research. About one-fifth of those surveyed said they didn’t get medical insurance in the past year, and half of those surveyed said that they worry about bills in the event of a serious illness or accident. Those on Medi-Cal, however, would be protected because the program is free or low-cost. The program is open to families that meet the income requirements, and has recently expanded to include all children, regardless of their immigration status. It is also open to those who have received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). For the rest, costs will likely

remain a challenge as prescription drug prices continue to spike, and premiums in Covered California plans on average are expected to rise by about 13 percent next year. KFF researchers first surveyed a representative sample of 2,001 uninsured Californian adults under the age of 65 in the summer of 2013, prior to the ACA’s first open enrollment period. It followed the same group of people over the next three years, concluding the survey last February after the third open enrollment period. By interviewing the same group of people four separate times, Dijulio said she and her team of researchers were able to track changes in their insurance status and how health insurance affected their lives. “We were trying to shed light on the first few years of the ACA,” Dijulio said of The California Endowment-funded survey. One thing that became obvious to researchers, she said, was that for many of the newly insured, the ACA has provided “stable coverage.”

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July: hottest recorded month by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

REPORTS from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) indicate that last July was the hottest month since record-keeping began 137 years ago. It’s estimated that July was 1.27 degrees Fahrenheit (0.84 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 1950 to 1980 global average. Moreover, July experienced

a 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit (0.11 degrees Celsius). The average global temperature in July was at 61.97 degrees Fahrenheit. The report continuous the monthly trend of record-breaking temperatures. July 2016 becomes the tenth month in a row to experience warmer temperatures than the previous month, according to data gathered from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Gavin Schmidt, director of

NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, posted on Twitter that there’s a 99 percent chance that 2016 will become the warmest recorded year. Schmidt also said that July will likely the last hottest month this year as the residual heat from the El Nino season will subside come the cooler months. This summer, California has issued two Flex Alerts, which urge Californians to conserve energy on days of extreme heat. n

Obama visits Louisiana after criticism...

President Barack Obama hugs a home owner while viewing her flood-damaged home in the Castle Place subdivision in Zachary, near Baton Rouge, La., on Tuesday, Aug. 23. vWhite House photo by Pete Souza

PAGE A3 bring national attention to the disaster in his state on Sunday, August 21. He had said he worried that the Republican nominee’s plans would boil down to a “photoop” in a statement released ahead of Trump’s visit. Meanwhile, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said she would come to Louisiana “at a time when the presence of a political campaign will not disrupt the [disaster] response, to discuss how we can and will rebuild together,” in a statement released Monday, August 22. Like Clinton, representatives for the White House say they have been keen to avoid politicizing the suffering of thousands of Louisiana residents. “But the survivors of the flooding in Louisiana are not well served by a political discussion, they’re well served by a competent, effective, strong, coordinated government response,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said during Monday’s press briefing.

Filipino gay rights activist diagnosed with cancer Family sets up GoFundMe account to raise money by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

MARCIA Bolina Cable, along with his husband of 25 years Ben Cable, made national headlines when they challenged California’s marriage laws in the early 1990s. Now living up north in Alameda, California, the couple has been overjoyed with the strides the LGBT community has made for equal rights. This year, however, their lives took a turn when Marcial was diagnosed with cancer. The signs were noticeable earlier this year when Ben started noticing that Marcial began acting differently. His movement became sluggish and his short term memory was slipping, so Ben decided it was time for a check-up on June 7. After a general check-up and MRI, the couple was sent to Kaiser Permanente in Oakland. After a “nerve-wracking” wait, the doctors admitted Marcial to the emergency room where he remained for four weeks. The doctors found several unidentifiable masses in his brain that had been causing Marcial’s slowness, walking problems, speech problems and memory issues. After preliminary diagnoses following a brain biopsy in Redwood City, the results were inconclusive; the doctors had determined he had cancer but were unsure of what kind. Through a series of tests—including biopsies and a spinal

Marcial Cable (middle) with his husband Ben (left)

tap—the specialists determined that Marcial had Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a condition in which the body produces an abnormal amount of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Ben said that at the hospital, Marcial started to go “downhill”, and his memory had gotten so bad that he could not remember anything from the previous day. “Everyday I came in and I told him everything that had transpired up to the new day,” Ben told the Asian Journal. “I would have to start from the beginning which was very difficult to do. I just felt thankful that he remembered me. That would have been very hard if he didn’t know who I was.” Marcial Bolina Cable was born Marcial McCarthy in Cavite, Philippines in 1963. His mother and stepfather moved the family to the United States in 1966. Marcial worked for American International Group, Inc. (AIG) and the American Red Cross. He also served in the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) unit of the U.S. Army where he worked in supplies. “He would have been the Radar of their unit,” Ben quipped, referencing the hit American television series M*A*S*H. “He’s kind of around that height, too, since he was only around 5’4”. He was like a Filipino Radar [laughs]. He’s like that. He’s funny and lively, and has an adorable personality.” Marcial first met Ben in 1990 in a nightclub in West Hollywood. Ben reminisced seeing “this handsome guy” when he first saw Marcial, describing that night as a “cat and mouse game.” They became friends, but the friendship soon blossomed into a relationship. They had been dating for a year before Ben proposed. The couple was married in 1991 in a church wedding in Glendale, California with over 200 guests present. Of Marcial, Ben said that he is “soft-spoken, yet determined. He’s 5’4”, but tall. He’s a soldier, a lover, a wonderful husband and friend.” Pioneers for marriage equality Before the national conversation of marriage equality took off in the early 2000s, the Cables—who were very active in LGBT activism—were on the forefront of the contentious issue a decade earlier. At that time, the hot topics concerning the LGBT community were the AIDS epidemic and gay rights in the military, but gay marriage didn’t receive the attention that Marcial and Ben thought it deserved, Ben said. “We were wondering, ‘why don’t we look at marriage?’ We just wanted the same rights and responsibilities that were granted to other couples, so why not?” Ben said. Two years after their wedding, the couple went down to LA City Hall to submit an application for a marriage license with the city clerk. Ben said that since that was the day before taxes were due, the city clerk’s office was crowded with other couples, all of whom were heterosexual couples.

“We were being looked at, I could feel my face getting red, and I know Marcial was nervous. He was real quiet and we were filling out these forms with our heads down, and we knew some people had noticed us,” Ben said. The city clerk then called a judge to receive the application, but Ben said that they never saw that application again. But Ben recalls one moment on this day that ignited a spark within the couple to continue fighting for marriage equality. One woman working behind the clerk’s desk had written on the back of her blotter, “Let ‘em get married.” Ben said knowing that they had at least one person supporting them lifted their spirits to continue the fight for marriage equality. “At that point, I go, ‘this isn’t right!’ and this is not just a stunt,” Ben said. “We knew we were going to be rejected, but we didn’t think of what kind of impact it would have on us. So we didn’t let it drop.” They challenged state’s marriage laws in the case McCarthy-Cable vs. Los Angeles City Clerk. Civil rights groups, including the prominent American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), assisted the couple by writing amicus briefs for the case. The couple also got to meet civil rights figures like Reverend Jesse Jackson during national press events for the case in Washington, D.C. After the case was denied review at the city level, the couple flirted with the idea of taking the case up to the California Supreme Court. The ACLU advised against this because if their case got a negative ruling, it would negatively affect future rulings in the similar vein. “At that point, we had to make a hard decision not to pursue it, and I think it was a wise move because years later, it became the law of the land,” Ben said, referencing the legalization of same-sex marriage across the U.S. in 2015. “And it might not have been had we just proudly gone forward with something that could have been reckless.” On the day that gay marriage was nationally legalized, Ben remembered them being overjoyed and proud that their efforts in 1993 had “helped do that.” Ben said that he felt that their efforts had come full circle. They had fought for the rights and privileges of marriage, including caring for a loved one in times of need. Marcial is currently undergoing his first few rounds of chemotherapy in Redwood City. The couple is hopeful that Marcial will have a speedy recovery, but they know it’s going to be an uphill battle. The family is currently taking donations by way of a GoFundMe account (www.gofundme.com/cable) that Ben set up to raise money to cover treatment costs and transportation expenses. “I asked him today (Monday, August 15), ‘What do you think about cancer?’ ‘What are you thinking about right now?” Ben said. Marcial bluntly answered, “Cancer sucks.”

Mysterious fire destroys... PAGE A2 have a meth lab?’” Aguillon told the Asian Journal. Aguillon said the deputy went on to suggest that the residents were manufacturing honey oil, a concentrated version of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The production of both drugs can pose fire and combustion hazards. A honey oil lab operating in the Parkwood area of Madera exploded on Saturday, July 23, destroying the house it was run out of and displacing the 18 residents who lived there, according to the Madera Tribune. Representatives for the Madera County Sheriff’s Department question Aguillon’s accusations. “Ten years ago, we used to get meth labs all the time, but we’re just not seeing them anymore,” the department’s Public Information Officer Commander, Bill Ward, told the Asian Journal.

“Something about that [accusation] doesn’t seem right.” He adds that deputies have no record of interviewing any of the destroyed home’s occupants. On Thursday, August 18, Aguillon said she didn’t know the name of the deputy she accuses of misconduct. At the time she spoke to the Asian Journal, she had not yet filed an official complaint with the department, but said she planned to go to the Madera County Sheriff’s headquarters to learn the deputy’s name and make her claims known. She added that the other occupants who fled Saturday’s house fire can corroborate her version of events. The Aguillons’ misfortune transpires amidst a destructive fire season that has razed homes and evacuated families throughout the state of California.

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D ateline PhiliPPines China collaborating with PNP, urges

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Duterte to end public allegations by Eric Licas AJPress

China hopes to play an active role in capturing Chinese citizens accused in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, according to statements made by the country’s ambassador to the Philippines on Tuesday, august 23. ambassador Zhao Jianhua told reporters that the Philippine national Police (PnP) and the Chinese national Police agency (nPa) have engaged in joint training exercises and intelligence sharing in support of Duterte’s crackdown on the illicit drug trade. however, Zhao pressed Philippine officials to provide the nPa with specific information on suspects that might be from China instead of outing and shaming them. “if you find there are Chinese nationals who got themselves involved in drug-related crimes, give us solid information before you say they are Chinese,” Zhao said. “These allegations or generalizations must be avoided.”

Duterte has appeared on national television on multiple occasions to publicly identify suspected drug lords. he has also said some of those involved in the Philippine drug trade were Chinese. “The Chinese or Filipino-Chinese drug syndicates dominate the drug market in the country,” according to PnP documents acquired by the associated Press. “They facilitate production, manufacturing and bulk smuggling of dangerous drugs in the country.” Those documents also reportedly list the names of 14 Chinese and two Taiwanese nationals suspected of dealing drugs who have not yet been outed as of Wednesday, august 24. Duterte has promised to kill high-ranking dealers and pronounced a shoot-to-kill order against criminals in May, according to the inquirer. Over 673,000 alleged drug pushers and dealers have turned themselves into police and nearly 2,000 suspects have been killed

as of Wednesday, according to the associated Press. Zhao conceded that there are likely some Chinese nationals involved in illegal drug trade. however, he said it was “utterly wrong” to assume all of the Philippines’ drug kingpins were from China. “We are not protecting them … please give us information, so that we can identify them if they are Chinese nationals, they are Chinese citizens, or they are fugitives carrying Chinese passports,” said Zhao. “So far, for most of the cases we did not get anything at all.” a general agreement on joint crime fighting is already in place between the Philippines and China. Officials in Beijing would consider upgrading the arrangement to a bilateral agreement and are ready to provide the PnP with law enforcement equipment, according to the aP. “We can have a healthy framework or guidelines for cooperation in the fight against drugs,” said Zhao.

Philippines ‘not leaving’ the UN Duterte brushes off comment as a joke

sioson KLarizE MEDEniLLa AJPress

DESPiTE President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat that the Philippines may opt to leave the United nations (Un), the country is staying “committed” to the international agency, Malacañang confirmed on Monday, august 22. Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr. said in a news briefing on Monday that the Philippines’ commitment to the Un remains amid “frustrations.” The international agency is looking to investigate the rising extrajudicial killings in the country associated with the crackdown on illegal drugs. Yasay said that Duterte did not outwardly express plans to withdraw from the Un, but that the president was just merely frustrated with the Un inquiries, stating that “like us, he is only human.” “The president is understandable extremely disappointed and frustrated with this action of the special rapporteurs in arbitrarily concluding that these drug-related killings were done by or are at the instance of law enforcers,” Yasay said. “But i can assure you that he remains committed to the United nations, of which the Philippines is one of the founding members.” in a press conference on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto abella mirrored Perfecto’s statements and clarified Duterte’s claims. “We are not decoupling,” abella said. “it was a matter of record, it was a statement. [Duterte] was

by Dana

sioson AJPress

WiTh just a couple of months ahead of his november match against reigning WBO Welterweight Champion Jessie Vargas, Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao began his light training on Tuesday, august 22, in preparation for his comeback fight. Vargas, an american boxer, has a record of 27 wins, one loss, and 10 knockouts. Their match is set on november 5 in Las Vegas. The Filipino boxing champ has started doing laps and shadow boxing in the streets around his

by rosEttE

aDEL

Philstar.com

Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr.

just basically stating the fact that the Philippines is a sovereign nation and should not be meddled with.” The Un’s special rapporteurs — who operate under the human Rights Council — have announced plans to investigate the rise of killings since Duterte’s entrance into the presidency. “We call on the Philippines authorities to adopt with immediate effect the necessary measures to protect all persons from targeted killings and extrajudicial executions,” agnes Callamard, the Un Special Rapporteur on summary executions, said in the report. Data from the Philippine national Police (PnP) stated that more than 1,500 people have been killed since early July. The president has also publicly tied politicians, judges and police and military personnel to the drug trade. he had been aggravated with the comments, prompting the threat to leave the world body. “i do not want to insult you.

But maybe we’ll just have to decide to separate from the United nations,” Duterte said on Sunday, august 21. “Eh ‘di kung ganun kayo ka bastos, p*****i**, eh, umalis na ako dyan sa inyo (If you are that rude, son of a b****, then I would rather leave) So take us out of your organization — you have done nothing, anyway, also.” however, following the remarks, Duterte clarified that his comments were mere levity. “Can’t you take a joke?” Duterte told the media on Tuesday, august 23. “What will you join, the association of those who sunk?” The president added that he’d “like to talk to that alleged expert of the Un” and urged that expert to visit the Philippines to see the situation firsthand. “You do not just throw that kind of allegations or statement without even coming here. You rely on the reports of the newspapers,” he said. Duterte has expressed his distaste for the Un in the past, calling it a “useless, inutile body.”

Orderly barrangay, SK polls eyed amid Pokemon Go craze by shEiLa

crisostoMo Philstar.com

ManiLa – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will study how the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls set on Oct. 31 can be kept orderly amid the Pokemon Go craze. There is no decision yet whether to ban the playing of Pokemon Go in voting centers, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said. “There is no policy on that yet on the national level,” Jimenez said. The Comelec office in Kalibo banned the playing of Pokemon Go in voting centers during the SK and barangay polls. Jimenez said the poll body prohibited the use of mobile phones in polling precincts “because we do not want the ballots to be photographed.” Preparations on track The Comelec will continue preparations for the barangay and SK polls, Comelec Chairman andres Bautista said. Bautista said the preparations for the synchronized elections are on track. “Unless Congress amends the law, we have no choice but to implement the SK and barangay elections,” he said. Bautista told the Senate hearing on the proposed postponement of the elections that the poll body remained “neutral” on the issue. The Comelec had started printing the official ballots for around

Pacquiao starts training for November fight mansion in north Forbes Park in Makati City, and other places near the senate offices in the Manila Bay area. Determined to prove his promise that boxing won’t interfere with his legislative duties, Pacquiao’s camp said his training will be almost entirely done in the Philippines, adding that he will only fly to United States when the Upper house takes a break on Oct. 22. after that, he and his team will return to the Philippines to attend to his Senate duties, according to his Canadian adviser Michael

Koncz. On the other hand, his coach, Freddie Roach, is expected to arrive in the country several weeks before the fight. Last april 2015, the eight-division world champion declared his retirement from boxing after winning his match against Timothy Bradley. he later announced on august 10 that he’ll be back in the ring while admitting his excitement. “Boxing is my passion. i miss what i’d been doing inside the gym and atop the ring,” Philstar quoted Pacquiao.

Dela Rosa to drug users: You can kill drug lords

by Dana anD

With a little over two months before his fight against Jessie Vargas, Manny Pacquiao has kicked off his training. Philboxing photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea

There is no decision yet whether to ban the playing of Pokemon Go in voting centers, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

55 million voters in the barangay elections. however, senators are inclined to postpone the barangay and SK elections. Sen. Juan Edgardo angara, chairman of the Senate committee on local government, said Congress must make a final decision on pending bills seeking to postpone the polls by Sept. 1 as requested by the Comelec. “i think very likely that it will be postponed given that there’s overwhelming support for it,” angara said. among those who expressed support for the postponement was interior Secretary ismael Sueño, who said the elections

would mean a temporary ban on ongoing urgent projects. Comelec officials told the committee while they have already started printing ballots, the same could still be used even if the barangay and SK elections would be postponed. angara said the elections could be postponed to either May or October next year. Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri also expressed support for the postponement as it could derail the Duterte administration’s antidrug campaign. Meanwhile, a former member of the Comelec advisory Council (CaC) urged the poll body to consider using Filipino-made voting system for the 2019 elections. The Philippines had employed the services of foreign technology provider Smartmatic in the last three elections, institute for Political and Electoral Reform executive director Ramon Casiple said in a recent forum. “Our recommendation is for the Comelec to go for local technology provider to avoid questions of transparency and accountability. With local providers, we will have more control of the elections,” Casiple said. Formed under the poll automation law, CaC is tasked to make recommendations to the Comelec on which automated election system is best to use. Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting director for information Technology William Yu backed Casiple’s proposal.

ManiLa – “Kilala ninyo sino ang drug lord dito (kung) gusto ninyong patayin, patayin ninyo.” This was the advice of Philippine national Police Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Thursday, aug. 25 to drug users who surrendered as part of the government’s intensive campaign to clean the country of illegal drugs. Dela Rosa told the drug users how the illegal substances that they take destroy their lives, while drug lords are living in peace. “Lingid sa kaalaman ninyo na kayo ay biktima ng napakalak-

ing problema ng bansa. Kayo ay ginagamit na instrument nitong malalaking tao. Sila ang yumayaman, magaganda ang pangangatawan, maganda ang buhay dahil hindi sila gumagamit ng droga. In other words sila ay malinis,” Dela Rosa said in Bacolod City, where local authorities presented the drug users who surrendered. The campaign, called ‘Oplan Tokhang’, involves police officers going to the homes of supposed drugs users and pushers in a ‘drug watch list’ and asking them to surrender to save themselves from police operations. “Itong mga taong ito matagal nang nagpapayaman, ang gagaPAGE A7

Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa

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august 26-september 1, 2016 • OC/Ie asIaN JOurNaL

OpiniOn

Features

Impasse

HISTORY will tell that the Philippines has one of the world’s most celebrated democracies today. On Sept. 21, 1972, former Philippine Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos declared martial law. For today’s Filipinos, 42 years may seem like another lifetime—a bygone period with sketchy details of what martial law entailed for the people who had to endure it. But for those who lived through the wretched moments of this tumultuous era in Philippine history, the horror and pain live on. In February 1986, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos joined the nationwide protest that brought People Power Revolution to life. In this historic uprising, the voice of the people resonated through the country, and has been forever etched in the pantheon of Philippine democracy. The People Power Revolution continues to this day, as a reminder to Filipinos of how supporting a common stand can turn them to a formidable moral power. The People Power Revolution ignited the people’s longing for genuine democracy. It is empowered by the will of the people. It gives the citizenry the power to overturn the culture of corruption, unethical conduct, and self-serving antics of politics. The impact of this period may very well be wiped in Philippine history following the order of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to allow the remains of Former Pres. Marcos to be laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery). “The only requirement of the law is for one to be president . . . that law provides for the burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani,” Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro said. Republic Act 289, which provided for the construction of a National Pantheon or the Libingan ng mga Bayani for President of the Philippines, National Heroes and Patriots of the country states

that it was erected “to perpetuate the memory of all the Presidents of the Philippines, national heroes and patriots for the inspiration and emulation of this generation and of generations still unborn.” The issue has caused a public divide, even among the president and his allies. “I see the point of the President that if it’s a completely legal issue, he (Marcos) is entitled to it. But the name [of the cemetery] is Libingan ng mga Bayani. While he had heroic moments in his life, we do not consider him in totality heroic because of things that happened during martial law. Unless we change the name to Libingan ng mga Bayani at Diktador,” Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. But for Vice Pres. Leni Robredo, this recent decision is complete disregard of the human and civil rights violations accounted for during the martial law period. “How can we allow a hero’s burial for a man who has plundered our country and was responsible for the death and disappearance of many Filipinos? Those who have greatly committed crimes and moral turpitude to the Filipino people cannot be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani,” Robredo emphasized. “This decision will not bring unity to our country; it will only deepen the unhealed wounds of the survivors and family members of victims of the terrible years under the Marcos presidency. Furthermore, his heirs continue to deny that these sins against our people happened. They continue to have no remorse and still prevent the return of the wealth that they stole,” she added. Groups opposing the planned Marcos burial has brought the issue to the Supreme Court. The High

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Court has issued a status quo ante order against Marcos’ burial set in September. on Tuesday, Aug. 23. The halt order is effective for 20 days as the court prepares for oral arguments on the petitions against the former president’s final interment at

the Heroes’ Cemetery in Taguig. Until then, Filipinos are once again reminded how the martial law period and lessons of the People Power Revolution have impacted how they live today. (AJPress)

Human Rights Watch: Killings in Duterte’s war on drugs a national emergency

INTERNATIONAL organizations like the United Nations (UN) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) did not mince words in their concerns about how Philippine Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is governing the country, specifically on his war against drugs. The United Nations may send observers to the Philippines after it has expressed concern regarding what the international organization deems as Pres. Duterte’s empowerment of the police to eradicate the drug problem. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has condemned this, and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime referred to as an “apparent endorsement of extrajudicial killings.” ABS-CBN News reported that the number of drug-related fatalities since May has reached 1,179. With this alarming number and trend, the

Human Rights Watch organization believes that what is hap- The Fil-Am pening now in the Philippines is now a national emergency and Perspective that governments like the United States the members of the European Union should make it clear to Duterte that this will have diplomatic and economic conse- Gel SantoS-ReloS quences to the Philippines. In a report by Balitang America New York Correspondent Don Tagala on The Filipino Channel, HRW Deputy Asia Director Phelium Kine said, “In terms of foreign aid or foreign support for various Philippine Agencies and programs — this is something -- an obligation of the international

community to support the Filipino people, and to support their universal rights and freedoms which the Philippine government right now is absolutely trampling and streamrolling.” On “Balitang America,” Kine said, “What we have seen in the last seven weeks since President Duterte came to ffice is an almost unprecedented scale of government-sanctioned bloodletting on the streets of the Philippines.” “President Rodrigo Duterte was not elected with a mandate to trample on the Constitution, to absolutely ignore and abuse human rights and legal process,” Kine pointed out.

With Duterte’s much publicized dismissal of international critics, Kine contended: “President Duterte is a former lawyer he should know these things. And so for him to either profess ignorance about the idea of due legal process, or to announce that he will not honor it — this is a very disturbing development in terms of where the Philippines is going.” DO YOU AGREE with the perspective of the UN and the Human Rights Watch? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos

Duterte’s eulogy for Marcos WILL it be a test of will between President Rodrigo Duterte and those who protest the burial of the remains of President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani? It will require an irresistible force to make a seemingly immovable object budge. Do the protestors have the dogged determination to become that irresistible force? Duterte has given every indication that he is an immovable object. His says his decision is firm even while he will tolerate demonstrations and protests, and will refrain from using water hoses on the rallyists. Of course, he hasn’t said that the Philippine National Police will not use force, if given an excuse. Many of the old guards in the anti-Marcos protest movement have passed away. They were the people who braved the fire hoses and who dared to rush the gates of Malacañang headlong. Those who remain are aging and, while they may be active on social media, one wonders if they still have the zeal to bang heads and bodies against the PNP whose members have just begun to taste blood in their hunt for drug lords and pushers. There are pragmatists who suggest that Duterte should be left to have his way but, after his six-year term, the remains of Marcos can be dug out and moved elsewhere. But they are forgetting that the Marcos family is not exactly powerless. And, who knows, in the next election, Bongbong could win the presidency. The question, however, is whether Marcos deserves to be or

can rightfully be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, according to regulations, the last of which was issued on April 9, 1986 by then Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos and approved by President Corazon Aquino. That regulation, entitled The Allocation of Cemetery Plots at the LNMB lists the following as being entitled to be interred in the cemetery: • Medal of Valor Awardees; • Presidents or Commandersin-Chief, AFP; • Secretaries of National Defense; • AFP Chiefs of Staff, General/ Flag Officers, active and retired military personnel, and former AFP members who laterally entered/joined the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); • Veterans of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, the First and Second World Wars, as well as recognized guerrillas; • Government dignitaries, statesmen, national artists and other deceased persons whose interment has been approved by the commander-in-chief, Congress or the Secretary of National Defense, and • Former Presidents, Secretaries of National Defense, widows of former Presidents, Secretaries of National Defense and Chiefs of Staff. The regulation does not allow the internment in the LNMB of those “personnel who were dishonorably separated/ reverted/ discharged from the service and personnel who were convicted by

final judgment of an offense Street involving morTalk al turpitude.” The disqualifying provision apparently applies to ev- GReG B. MacaBenta eryone listed, including former Presidents and military officers or guerillas, which Marcos was. Marcos was deposed in the People Power Revolution of 1896 and was, in effect, dishonorably discharged. That clearly disqualifies him from admission to the hallowed grounds. There are no bleeding heart provisions or exemptions allowed due to forgiveness and letting the past bury its past. Surprisingly, even a level headed person like Senator Dick Gordon, has used this rationale. And then, there are those who either do not understand plain English or are simply bullheaded. Duterte appears to be one of them. Thus, whatever the rules say and whether the protestors scream to high heavens or to hell, Marcos will be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani by presidential fiat. Perhaps Duterte can explain why he insists on honoring Marcos, the way Mark Antony honored the slain Julius Caesar after the Ides of March. I have, thus, taken the liberty of adapting Mark Antony’s eulogy for use by Duterte in a Eulogy for Ferdinand Marcos: Friends, kaigsuon,

country-

men, lend me your ears; I come to bury Marcos, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones: So let it be with FM. The noble Senate President Koko hath told you, Marcos was a dictator and a plunderer: If it were so, it was a grievous fault; And grievously hath Marcos answer’d it. Here, under leave of Senator Cayetano and the rest, For Cayetano is an honourable man; So are they all, all honorable men,-Come I to speak of Marcos’ burial spot. A campaign promise did I in Ilocos make To Bongbong, Imee, Irene and Imeldific. My word of honor solemnly I gave; A vow to grant the President a hero’s grave. In truth, what is a grave but mud and soil Where bones are laid which time and worms despoil? What honor can a man pretend to claim When history consigns him to

his shame?

A snap election he agreed to call, You say that Marcos, a dictator Which thus began his inadverwas; tent fall. Then let his sins be pardoned, let them pass. Did that in Marcos seem ambiMarcos, a soldier and a Presi- tious? dent, Ambition should be made of Deserves to go where men like sterner stuff: him are sent. Yet Koko says Marcos was a dictator and a plunderer; You can protest and march till And Koko is an honourable shoes should rot; man. But my decision stays and yours will not. You all did see that when rebels The bottom line is that I’ll have dug in, my way Marcos refused to send the Although you may hold rallies tanks and planes, night and day. He could have ordered troops He brought back Yamashita’s to shoot and kill, treasures from the wars But he refused and thus his That made his family the troops stood still; wealthiest by far; And yet protestors say thouDid that make Ferdinand a sands were slain plunderer? During his over two decades of reign You say that Marcos stole the country blind, I speak not to disprove what Yet those who shared the booty Marcos haters say, did not mind. But here I am to speak what I And tell me why the son did al- do know. most win If Marcos was a killer, so am I; And could have been next to And if you say Marcos’ dictatorthe president. ship was dirty, We must acknowledge our hyYou still don’t know enough pocrisy; about Duterte. The plague of freedom and democracy O loud protestors, thou art fled to brutish beasts, When Leftists did their dark And though you may have reaagenda bare, sons – so have I; Marcos was forced to martial But since I am the President law declare. and you are not, Yet while he could have been a Ferdinand Marcos will still have President-for-Life, a hero’s plot. Over the vain objections of his (gregmacabenta@hotmail. kids and wife, com)

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal. ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

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Dateline PhiliPPines

De Lima says Duterte linking herto pork barrel ‘too unfair’

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 26-SEptEmbER 1, 2016

A

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Senator Leila De Lima on tuesday, august 23 called President rodrigo Duterte’s plan to “reveal” her alleged links to the pork barrel scam issue “too unfair.” “that’s a rehashed issue. Why do they keep digging old issues? Who is responsible for the detention of napoles? then they link me to napoles? that’s too unfair,” De Lima said, according to Philstar. the senator stressed that she was the one who sought the imprisonment of Janet napoles, the person alleged as the brains behind the multi-billion peso fund scam. the pork barrel, also known as Priority Development assistance Fund (PDaF), was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013 because it allowed lawmakers “to wield, in varying gradations, non-oversight, postenactment authority in vital areas of budget executions.” De Lima also stressed that she handled the cases of napoles herself when she was still a justice secretary. earlier this week, Duterte announced that he will reinvestigate the multi-billion peso pork

Sen. Leila De Lima

barrel scam case. “Wait until we revisit the napoles case, Secretary or Senator De Lima, and I assure you, you will be horrified,” the president said, adding that it “involves corruption and De Lima.” Duterte also claimed that he received information about De Lima’s phone conversations between her and her driver, ronnie Dayan, that would reveal her alleged connection to the illegal drug trade in the new Bilibid Prison. the conversation also provided information on their atM

records, according to the president. De Lima, however, denied these accusations. “the Committee on Justice conducted also a series of hearing twice or thrice inside Bilibid. We had an ocular inspection with the Congressional committee last Dec. 15, 2014,” she said. “I initiated it (the probe) so why will they investigate me? I found a way to expose the drug problems there. Don’t they know that I exerted certain efforts, steps after discovering all of those inside Bilibid?”

alMer B. peDraJaS AJPress

ManILa—at least 6,000 government appointees are set to vacate their posts as President rodrigo Duterte demanded a “massive revamp” to end the corruption that persists in the bureaucracy. Presidential Spokesman ernesto abella clarified that only former President Benigno aquino III’s appointees and two transport regulatory agencies mentioned by Duterte will be affected. these include the Land transportation office (Lto) and the Land transportation and regulatory Board (LtFrB). “these are appointees from the past administration and do not refer to appointees of the current administration, except those who have been made reference to,” abella said, clarify-

ing that the current appointees, unless compelled, are exempted from the revamp. In a press conference, Duterte stressed that “the most corrupt agencies” are the Bureau of Internal revenue (BIr), the Bureau of Customs and the Lto. the Philippine national Police, national Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Corrections and Philippine Drug enforcement agency are also subject to an overhaul, after the deaths of five people during a concert at the Mall of asia grounds. “It was a failure of intelligence on the part of the police and other agencies concerned. How did it pass security?” Duterte said. “they have to go,” the president said, “there are those we want to get, but the low pay in government discourages them

Duterte won’t discuss sea row at ASEAN summit by Dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

ManILa—President rodrigo Duterte disclosed on Wednesday, august 17, that he will not bring up the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) territorial issues during the upcoming association of Southeast asian nations (aSean) Summit next month. the president expressed that he prefers to tackle the issues during a formal talk, adding that he would not want to antagonize China by making unnecessary “noises” and ruin the chances of having bilateral meetings. from being part of my adminis“I will only bring the issue when tration.” we are together face to face,” aside from the Lto and Lt- Duterte said, referring to China. FrB, the order does not also include officials from state universities and colleges, judiciary, and government-owned and controlled corporations. on Monday, august 22, PAGE A5 Malacañang released Memo- nda ng buhay, kino-control pa randum Circular no. 4 that “all nila ang politika, habang kayo ay presidential appointees [should] lumillit ang utak, natutunaw kaktender their unqualified cour- agamit ng shabu,” he added. tesy resignations within seven the PnP chief also seemed to calendar days.” urge the drug users to take justhe vacated posts will be tice in their own hands as it would filled with next-in-rank officers be hard for the police to find eviuntil the president appoints re- dence against the drug lords. placements. “Kilala ninyo naman ang mga the memo added that any drug lord dito, puntahan ninyo presidential appointee who fails ang bahay buhusan ninyo ng to tender his or her courtesy gasolina, sigaan ninyo, ipakita resignation may be held admin- ninyo galit kayo sa kanila,” Dela istratively liable and given the rosa said. appropriate penalty. Dela rosa, who testified be-

6,000 Aquino-appointed officials ordered to vacate posts by JoSeph

NINOY REMEMBERED. Former president Benigno Aquino III stands near the tomb of his father as he and his sisters and supporters marked the 33rd death anniversary of Benigno Aquino Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. Aquino Jr. was assassinated on Sunday, August 21, 1983 upon his arrival the Manila International Airport. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

“If you quarrel with them now and you claim sovereignty, make noise here and there, they might not just even want to talk.” Duterte also noted that his envoy, former President Fidel ramos, has been working to pave the way for formal talks between the two countries. “We maintain good relations with China. Let us create an environment where we sit down and talk directly. that is the time we would say we proceed from here. We proceed from this judgement.” he said. the president reiterated his stance that going to war with China is not an option. “What if (China) says, I do not

want to quarrel or even speak with you’? Bahala kayo sa buhay ninyo (You go mind your own lives), can we do anything? Can we declare war? It is not an option,” he said. “I would not be stupid to do that. It will only be a massacre for all...still war is not an option nowadays.” the aSean summit is the first international summit Duterte will be participating in as President. It will take place from September 6-8 in Laos. although not an aSean member, China also has territorial disputes with other aSean countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Dela Rosa to drug users: You can kill... fore the Senate this week, told lawmakers that his tough words, including issuing “shoot to kill” orders, are part of psychological warfare to scare drug users and peddlers. He also said that the PnP is against vigilante and extrajudicial killings, a position he has repeatedly stated but has also contradicted with talk about killing drug pushers and drug lords. the national police chief blames the drug addiction on the high number of crimes, including murder and rape, in the country. He believes that if Filipinos stop

using illegal drugs, it would mean a lower crime rate. according to PnP data, 611,753 people have already surrendered. of that number, 571,354 are users and 40,399 are pushers. Dela rosa hoped for the best and asked the drug users on thursday to completely turn their backs on drug addiction. “take this golden opportunity. Sana huwag na kayong bumalik kasi ‘pag bumalik kayo wala rin kayong pupuntahan kundi mamamatay rin kayo sa baril ng mga pulis o mamatay kakagamit ng shabu.”

A

august 26-september 1, 2016 • OC/Ie asIaN JOurNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

CARPET ,

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Building your career:

2

Tips on how to love what you’re doing

I

t’s not uncommon that we hear people say that they only go to work because they are being paid and that they need the money. Most workers you’ll come across have that mindset and only a few would really honestly say that they love their jobs. The whole concept of getting a job you love and the excitement of working after school wear off fast when reality sets in. Many wonder if there’s such a thing as “going after your passion.” According to a 2014 Global Workforce Study by Towers Watson, only 4 out of 10 workers are highly engaged. The same year, the US Department of Labor Department released a survey that showed that Americans are quitting their jobs at the fastest pace since early 2008. For those who have been in and out of the job market too

often, they’d tell you that an inconsistent employment history looks bad on one’s resume. Aside from a potential employer seeing this as a lack of loyalty and possibly an inability to adapt to a new job or work environment, the lack of a career foundation can be detrimental. So is there hope for someone who hates getting up in the morning just because it’s a workday? Kerry Hannon, career transition, retirement and personal finance expert, and author of the book “Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career

Happiness” believes that there are a few ways you can fall in love with your job — even if you don’t like it right now. In an article she wrote for Forbes Magazine, Hannon shared some tips on how to make it work where you are right now: (1) Focus on what you like about your work and ramp it up. Knowing what you like in and about your work can help you get through the tough parts. Weed through the negative things you don’t like, and consider things like your coworkers, opportunities for learning, whatever respect you get and/or

any perks — whether free coffee or a 401(k). (2) Kicking boredom out and making a change. One of the roots of unhappiness at work is boredom. The challenge is gone and there is no drive left to do your best. Making a change — even a small one — can give you more joy at work. Who knows, if the change persists, it can add worth to your job and chances are your boss will notice and reward you for it. Hannon also suggests to sign up for continuing education or professional development programs that your employer may offer. Learning new things turns your mind on, thus keeping boredom at bay. (3) Take out the clutter. Usually when people see unfiled papers on their desks or their inbox overflowing, their energy becomes low. They can’t think properly and the clutter only adds to the stress. Hannon shared that decluttering is liberating and empowering. As career coach Beverly Jones said, “You are saying, ‘This is valuable, this is not.’ It’s a physical, practical way to engage in making decisions about your life and what you want to do with it.” (4) Inspire yourself with a positive image or view. We all have our “happy place,” that one image or moment we go back to when we feel down or stressed out. It could be that one sunny day at the beach or the childhood town you grew up at. It could be Disneyland or just your favorite nook at your home. Whatever and wherever it may be, try to have a picture of that happy place and tape it on your office wall or on your desk. It’ll help you transport there even for

According to a finance expert, there are ways you can fall in love with your job — even if you don’t like it right now. Inquirer.net photos

a few minutes and revive your mind. (5) Laugh more. Yes, we get it — how can you laugh if you don’t love what you’re doing. But then again, the saying “Laughter is the best medicine” isn’t just words. A Gallup poll found that people who smile and laugh at

work are more engaged in their jobs. Thus, the more engaged you are, the happier and more enthusiastic you’ll be. Plus, laughter is infectious — you are not just making yourself feel better, but also your co-workers who may be in the same boat just like you. (AJPress)

On retirement and preparing for your ‘nest egg’ By Eric

Anthony LicAs

28, 2016. Their research shows that the number of people saving at least 10 percent of their income NO career lasts forever. grew to 28 percent, compared to However dedicated individuals 24 percent in 2015. Meanwhile, might be their professions, health the number of Americans saving and other concerns will eventually 5 percent or less dropped from 28 limit their ability to work. percent to 21 percent. When that time comes, it is “The bad news is that 21 unlikely that seniors will be able percent of employed Americans to rely on their Social Security claim not to be saving any of their pension to live comfortably in paycheck,” said Bankrate.com Chief retirement. Financial Analyst, Greg McBride in The Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates that a statement announcing the study. “Nothing for retirement, nothing the average beneficiary receives for emergencies, and nothing for about $15,600 a year. That leaves other financial goals.” about a $20,000 annual shortfall Most experts recommend that for a retired couple planning to people begin saving as early as live off of the median household income of about $50,000. Factoring they are able to provide as much time as possible for their wealth in some interest, they would need to grow, according to a special to set aside about $450,000 to money and retirement edition fund 30 years of retirement. The of AARP magazine. In addition, exact amount a person would the Internal Revenue Service need to stop working while living (IRS) places limits on how much comfortably can vary greatly people can pay each year into an depending on their intended lifestyle, projected healthcare costs Independent Retirement Account (IRA), 401(k) plan, and other and other expenses. retirement funds. The importance of saving In 2013, 45 percent of has increasingly resonated with working-age households did Americans, according to a study released by Bankrate.com on March not have any retirement account

Sources: (“Foreign-born healthcare workers in the United States”) (“Filipino immigrants in the United States”) from www.migrationpolicy. org and www.pewsocialtrends.org/asianamericans-graphics/filipinos/

AJPress

assets, according to a study by The National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS). In order to combat what the NIRS and others have called a retirement savings crisis, lawmakers in California proposed legislation last March 28, that would create a state-operated 401(k) plan, according to the Los Angeles Times. Senate Bill 1234 calls for the creation of the California Secure Choice Retirement plan, which would be available to workers at companies that do not offer savings plans with 5 or more employees. Those getting a late start at retirement planning should consider setting aside more of their income by reducing their expenses, according to AARP. Workers over 50 can make catch-up contributions that allow them to pay more into their IRAs each year than younger people. There are also benefits to delaying retirement. Working longer allows more income to contribute to retirement. In addition, Social Security benefits increase 8 percent for each year a person delays retirement.

According to AARP, Those getting a late start at retirement planning should consider setting aside more of their income by reducing their expenses. Photo from USA.gov

Alden Richards joins ‘Encantadia’ by LhAr SAntiAgo ManilaTimes.net

HIS call time for his first taping day was 10 a.m. but Alden Richards was already on the set of “Encantadia” an hour earlier. This, perhaps, was a sign that the most in-demand male celebrity of the day has missed acting in a soap. After all, it has been almost two years since he last did a daily drama series. “This is the kind of excitement that I felt on the first taping day of my first soap [Alakdana].” Alden volunteered. “I arrived on the set early today because I was looking forward to the feeling of being on the set of a soap again, and so I can get to bond with the staff whom I’ve worked with in my past series. I missed them. “When I got here, I was taken to makeup right away. And like before, I saw to it I came with all the requirements for taping, which I prepare myself the night before. Until now, I still do the same.” To be part of the gigantic telefantasya “Encantadia” is a dream-come-true for Alden. According to the actor, he was a fan of the original series and the scenes from what is now considered a classic are still so vivid in his mind. “That was 11 years ago. I

character has a strong connection with the sang’res so I’m sure the “Encantadics” will love my character,” Alden enthused. Moreover, Alden is very excited about his costume. He shared that when he tried it, he felt like a kid who just got is first Batman costume. “I couldn’t control myself—nagpa-picture ako agad,” he beamed. Now that Alden needs to tape regularly for Encantadia, he will have to juggle the show with his many other commitments. Alden, however, assures his fans that he will not sacrifice “Eat Bulaga,” where his celebrity shot to fame as the other half of “AlDub” in the hit “Kalyeserye” segment. Is it because he fears having to miss Maine Mendoza? Alden just looked at Showbuzz with his familiar smile. “Actually, I miss Maine already. She has been in the States for several days now and I’m not used that I don’t get to see her every day. Although we communicate regularly through Viber, it’s still different when she’s here—you can look at her straight in the eye, and you can hold her. Sayang nga, I was supposed to be with her in the States but I wasn’t able to get my visa on time. But she’ll already be back this weekend so we’ll see each other soon.

So

Philstar.com

IS Pia Wurtzbach the newest host of “Asia’s Next Top Model”? On Wednesday, Aug. 24, a photo of Pia with announcement that she’s the newest host of the show circulated online. It was posted in a Facebook account of “Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5.” Although Pia did not confirm anything, she posted on Tuesday a cryptic Twitter post saying “So excited for new things to come.” If this news is proven true, the Miss Universe 2015 crownholder will follow the footsteps of supermodel Georgina Wilson who hosted the third cycle of the show, and Joey Mead King, who was a model mentor/co-judge of cycles one to three.

3

Enrique Gil dedicates success to late father by Boy

ABundA Philstar.com

IN Enrique Gil’s most recent movie — the Star Cinema and Ten17 Films co-production “Dukot,” which was written and directed by Paul Soriano — he played Carlo Sandoval, a young man from a prominent family who was kidnapped and held for ransom. Carlo’s father, played by veteran actor Ricky Davao, went to great lengths to rescue his son. “‘Dukot’ is about crime, but it’s also about family,” Enrique explains. “It asks the question, ‘How far would you be willing to go for your son or daughter?’” Based on the things Enrique Alden Richards has told the media about his realremember I watched the show life father Enrique Amadeo III, the with my family and I was so late ex-Philippine Airlines (PAL) mesmerized with all the special flight attendant’s response to that effects. I even know the characters question would most likely be, “I’d up to now. When I learned that go as far as he or she needs me to.” GMA was doing a ‘requel’ of Because he did — especially in the Encantadia, I was really wishing to case of his famous son. be a part of the show. That’s why In the early days of Enrique’s when they told me that I have a career, his father was his biggest role in the series, I was so happy.” supporter. He would gladly take Alden is also thankful for the time out from his own busy opportunity to work with his schedule to shuttle Enrique to friends like Rocco Nacino, Glaiza and from the ABS-CBN compound De Castro and Kylie Padilla for the for acting workshops, go-sees fantaserye. “Most of my scenes and the like. Also, when Enrique will be with them because my and his older brother Javy were younger, the elder Gil also made time for what he called “male bonding” with his sons. On his days-off, he’d pick them up from school and they’d watch a movie together before finally heading home. But all that came to an end when Enrique’s father fell ill. “My Papa had a check-up at that time. His test results were OK, except that he didn’t have a blood test. He would still take me to my acting workshops, but after a month, he felt pain in his chest area — from rib cage all the way to his back,” Enrique shares. “Eventually, it reached the point na kahit nakahiga na lang siya, konting galaw lang niya sa bed nasasaktan na rin siya.” A Facebook post with announcement that Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach is the newest Further tests revealed that host of “Asia’s Next Top Model” circulated online. Enrique’s father had leukemia, and he eventually passed away — but Will Pia be the lucky charm Aspiring international Filipina not before having a talk with his of Filipina contestants this year? models have consistently made son that prompted Enrique to take We’ll find out as the new cycle it to the finals of the show but showbiz more seriously. opens soon on Star World. failed to win the title.

Is Pia Wurtzbach the new host of ‘Asia’s Next Top Model’? by KriSty

August 26-september 1, 2016 www.asianjournal.com

reportedly set to end in a few “Papa was about to leave for months to give way to the new his last flight at the time,” Enrique recalls. “Before he left, he told me, projects in store for Enrique and Liza’s winning tandem, but their ‘O, you’re the man of the house fans remain as enthusiastic about na, ha.’ Looking back, yun na pala yung parang premonition niya. He the show as they were when it also said that I should try showbiz, began. “May gagawin daw kaming check out all the opportunities being offered to me. When he said movie. No details about it yet I’m the man of the house, that was but we’re going to shoot outside the country. They’re cooking up the moment I told myself, ‘OK, I can’t be just a boy anymore. I have a new teleserye for Liza and I. We are happy with all the support to be a man now — a man of the our fans are giving us and Dolce house.’” Amore,” Enrique says. That conversation Enrique Enrique remains thankful had with his father sparked his desire to become a success in the to his father, who no doubt industry. It also gave him enough continues to guide him from up above. strength to power through the things that come with a showbiz career, including countless intrigues and a grueling schedule. Enrique’s father would be proud of his son’s achievements — successful movies (“Just the Way You Are,” “Everyday I Love You” and the aforementioned “Dukot”), teleseryes (“Forevermore” and “Dolce Amore”) and wellattended concerts here and abroad. On a recent trip to Canada, Enrique recalls being bowled over by how the audience reacted to seeing him and his love team partner Liza Soberano in person. “We enjoyed our time in Canada. Solid yung reaction ng mga tao, grabe. The Hershey Centre was jampacked kahit medyo may economic crisis daw or something sila ngayon.” Enrique and Liza weren’t able to do much sightseeing on that trip, but he says that was a small sacrifice to make in exchange for a chance to give back to their fans even just a little bit of In the early days of Enrique Gil’s career, his father was his the love and support biggest supporter. He would gladly take time out from his they’ve received. own busy schedule to bring Enrique to workshops, go-sees and the like. “Dolce Amore” is

4

Kylie Padilla speaks up about BB Gandanghari’s petition to change sex to female Loving Love Marie’s hand-carried emblems August 26-september 1, 2016

www.asianjournal.com

by lhar santiago

by Christina alpad

ManilaTimes.net

ManilaTimes.net

WHEN you have transitioned from teen star to leading lady, and survived a string of unwanted controversies, what are you meant to do next? For actress Heart Evangelista, the answer was to turn to her love of painting. “I was really sad at that stage in my life when I [publicly]fought with my parents so I started to paint again. It was very therapeutic for me. I was painting a lot on small canvasses and my then-boyfriend and now husband [Sen.] Chiz [Escudero] suggested, ‘Why not get a bigger canvass?’ He was the one who got me my first ever big canvass and I was able to paint on it,” the actress recalled at her latest press conference. “I was on a high for finishing something really big, and since then I unceasingly painted.” As everyone knows by now, Evangelista successfully made a name for herself as an artist over the last couple of years, earning repute as Love Marie Ongpauco, the painter. Dedicating her time to her art, she surprised both friends in show business and the art scene when she held her first painting exhibit at Art Space, Ayala Museum. A feat indeed, she became a sought-after artist from that first exhibit with a sold out debut show.” “I was pressured because I didn’t want my work to be so commercialized. I didn’t want people to think ‘she sold out because she’s an actress.’ So I got really conscious about the idea and I thought maybe my next exhibit won’t do well and stuff like that. But looking back, I’m happy that they appreciate my artwork,” the artist said. The accolade did not end there. The following year, she became the first Filipina to hold an exhibit at Chan Hampe Galleries in Raffles Hotel, Singapore. Today, Ongpauco-Escudero’s artworks have begun to amass followers. While others think that she has a bit of Gustav Klimt—an artist who used fascinating symbolism, gold leaf details, and a

KYLIE Padilla expressed admiration for her transgender uncle BB Gandanghari who filed a petition in California to change her name from Rustom Padilla to Binibini Gandanghari, as well as her gender from male to female. “I know that there will be people who will raise their eye brows and judge Tita BB and those who will not understand her. But she chooses to ignore what people will say and just went ahead with her decision. She knows what will make her happy and that’s what’s important. It’s ctress-painter Love Marie Ongpauco-Escudero, also known as Heart Evangelista, and her really an act of bravery,” Kylie said. hand-painted Hermes bags Support and understanding are what Kylie wants to give her accidentally got herself into this romantic palette—in her, others Tita Bb, which is why she already new medium—by accidentally point out that senator’s spouse addresses her father Robin dripping her precious orange has developed her own style that Padilla’s brother as a female. Birkin with unforgiving oil. they can recognize when mixed “I had an oil map and it was with other art works. so big and I felt so bad. I asked my How she developed her friends if there’s any way we can exquisite eye for detail and take it out, how to repaint, any soulful touch through broad thing. The thing is, if you repaint strokes and swathes of vibrant by irish Christianne dizon it, Hermes won’t accept it if you color was something she too Philstar.com want to repair it in the future. So gladly shared. OMG, we look like sh*t next to I was afraid to do anything about “A super duper talented artist them, ” we said as photographer it,” she recalled for the media. named Ivan Rojas, used to teach BJ Pascual approached to take Her eureka moment came me when I was 13. At one time a Snapchat of this Supreme when she saw Kim Kardashan’s that he taught me how to paint, interview. We were sitting in painted Birkin bag being he said that I was very stubborn a circle with Bela Padilla, Andi auctioned. and I wouldn’t follow. So he said, Eigenmann, Kim Molina, Yassi “I thought it is such an ‘You have a certain style that I Pressman, and Arci Muñoz, and amazing way to cover up the don’t want to touch so I’m just whatever part of us that wanted stain and so I researched and going to sit here and watch a selfie with this celebrity squad it took some time before I got you paint. We became friends was silenced by our feelings of the right paint—which I’ll never ever since,” Ongpauco-Escudero inadequacy. Beautiful women tend reveal—that would actually be detailed. to have this effect. suitable for me to dribble and She continued, “He was So we made a silly face and splash on my Birkin,” she said. the one who told me ‘Don’t be flashed the peace sign — in case But when she finally started afraid of people saying, you’re anyone points out how we look painting, Ongpauco-Escudero not a realist or you don’t paint next to these glamazons, we revealed that she was so a picture perfect painting. You can say we’re going for wacky. conscious of touching her Birkin have a certain style and that’s art But after settling down with the that she began developing and you should be confident and five women, stars of the highly nightmares. comfortable with that stamp so anticipated film “Camp Sawi,” “When I started painting on people would know that it was something curious happened. In my bag I was so engrossed and you.’” a few moments, our insecurities concentrated the whole time Hand-carried emblem began to subside. that when I slept at night I had Letting herself grow even Imagine this: Bela, Andi, Kim, a dream that I made a mistake bigger, the artist has also decided Yassi, and Arci devouring fast-food and my painting got bigger and to put her stamp on a new, albeit fried chicken as they tell stories bigger in my effort to cover the smaller, canvass: the luxurious about their exes. There are no tears mistake!” the artist exclaimed. Hermes hand bags. But the nightmare eventually here, no hugot; only gratuitous The Manila Times’ Showbuzz face-stuffing and dead-pan jokes. faded as when the paint finally Lhar Santiago earlier reported how Ongpauco-Escudero Continued on Page 5 “Pinatay ko. Chinop-chop ko siya,”

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Kylie Padilla

BB Gandanghari

“She moves so well. She’s more ladylike that I am and so prime and proper! Compared to Tita BB I’m so rough especially with all the fighting techniques

I’ve learned for ‘Encantadia.’ I need to show how good I am as a fighter on the soap so I’ve really taken a fighter’s stance that’s really quite manly.”

Lonely hearts club

FOSTER HOMECARE

Kim says of her ex, a boyfriend of nine years who cheated on her with one of her best friends. Andi, meanwhile, finishes her onepiece chicken and rice meal, and wordlessly requests for another serving. She gives us a sheepish smile as she bites into the deepfried drumstick. It’s unfair how these girls can eat grease and carbs and look as smoking as they do in unforgiving LBDs. But this whole scene proves a point: In most everything that’s important in life, from love to career, if you’re beautiful, half the battle is done. But beauty does not give you immunity from heartbreak. Celebs are just like us, and looks don’t exempt them from being cheated on. Break, burn, & end Take Arci, for example. Men and women leave loving comments on her Instagram account, calling her “perfect” and “pretty” and “stunning.” You look at her and you can’t imagine that any guy in his right mind would even glance at other women when he has this girl in his arms. But guess what? Her first boyfriend, a musician she

SERVICES

“stalked” and “courted” for four years before he gave her the time of day, cheated on Arci several times. It didn’t matter that she’s beautiful and that she was a doting girlfriend (even going as far renovating his apartment and paying for his car loan). He still strayed. And every time he did, she forgave him, steadfast in her belief that they were “meant to be.” Until one morning, at a very early 6 a.m., he broke up with her through text, saying, “I need a break.” He spent P1 to break her heart. Like Arci, Yassi was a devoted partner; the kind who always kowtowed to her man. “Feeling ko ’pag galit siya, kailangan hindi na siya magalit. Ako laging mali kahit wala naman akong ginagawa,” she reminisced. This is how into him Yassi was: If a fight lasted until 2 a.m., she would drive from Antipolo to the South just to apologize in person. So when they broke up, she was a mess, and nearly lost her career along with him. “Dahil magulo ’yun, nawawalan pa ako ng work. I almost wanted to quit showbiz, Continued on Page 5

August 26-september 1, 2016 www.asianjournal.com

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Lilia Cuntapay dies at 81 Actress Lilia cuntapay, dubbed as “Horror Queen” of the Philippine film industry died on saturday morning. she was 81. earlier in August, cuntapay appealed for help from her colleagues in the industry, seeking medical assistance. relatives of the actress said she suffered from a spinal cord illness. cuntapay, who has spent decades in obscurity as an extra in horror movies, was known for her debut role in the horror film series “shake rattle and roll 3.” she won the Best Actress Award for her first lead role in Antoinette Jadaone’s “six

dried and she was able to carry it around, much more share it on her popular Instagram account, Ongpauco-escudero got the surprise of her life, she received not only praises from her friends but admiration from the other parts of the globe – Hong Kong and Dubai just to name a few. since then her equally exquisite handbag collector

From Page 4

Au g u St 27

St. Margaret Mary Parish Luau The St. Margaret Mary Parish will celebrate their Annual Luau on August 27 at the SMM Parish Hall on 12686 Central Ave., Chino, California. Music will be provided by The Mid-­ night Motion Duo. For more information, please call SMM Filipino Ministry President -­ (90­9) 3­15-­9812, Adel Rellora. Actress Lilia Cuntapay succumbed to a spinal cord complication on Saturday, Aug. 20.

SePteMber 1

Degrees of separation from Lilia cuntapay” at the cinema

Startup Business Expo Tour (with Tagalog translation)

One Originals Film Festival in 2011.

friends commissioned Ongpaucoescudero to do their bags as well. the commissioned works have exceeded a handful that she is now ready to let the public see and be inspired with her hand painted Hermes bags in an exhibit playfully titled carry Your HeArt. the said exhibit will be on september 3 to 9 at Volkswagen showroom in Bonifacio Global city.

Finally asked how she thinks her Hermes bags would affect its carriers, Ongpauco-escudero said it is all about putting a stamp. “I wanted to be original, I wanted to be different and to wear my personality on my bag. Your bag says so much about your personality so might as well put a stamp on it, on who you are!” Ongpauco-escudero ended.

Lonely hearts club

because at work, he was there. I didn’t want to be there.” Bela, on the other hand, remained irrationally hopeful about her ex long after he broke up with her. “Kahit may mag-text lang, kahit tanungin lang ako kung anong call time bukas, hindi ko ine-entertain. Kasi feeling ko bine-betray ko ’yung ex ko. Feeling ko kasi babalik siya.” she said. Her feelings proved to be just that: feelings. It took her three years and countless crying-in-the-car-whilelistening-to-rivermaya’s-Your Universe to fully move on from the guy she would have taken back in a heartbeat. Kim couldn’t help but quip, “ang gago,” upon hearing these tales. But the same could be said about her ex-boyfriend of nine years. the betrayal was double whammy. He didn’t just cheat on her. He cheated on her with one of her best friends. she didn’t want to believe the rumors at first, but when she confirmed everything, she walked away and never looked back. “Hindi pa nahahanap ’yung katawan ng ex niya,”Bela jokes, taking a bite of her chicken. Public displays of Arcimony Of the five girls, it’s Andi who has the most public and most tempestuous relationship with her ex. (Just this week, #AndiendedJakeParty trended on twitter, after she called out Jake ejercito for drawing first blood. He tweeted about how she’s using him to promote the movie.) At the time of this supremeinterview, Andi said her biggest heartbreak left her feeling “mababa.” every inch of her was filled with pessimism. But when the dust cleared, the selfconfessed “emo kid” found peace in a bleak realization. “It was about accepting that I’m not meant to be happy. It was about teaching myself to accept that maybe this misery is something I need to learn to live with. It was about realizing that everything you do in life is a choice.” so, take their word for it, beautiful women are not immune to heartbreak. If anything, they get hurt more. Bela said it best: “If you’re beautiful, meron kang self-entitlement konti. You feel you deserve better all the time. Ba’t ako iiwan eh ang ganda ko nga? It hurts more because it’s unexpected.” the five women dealt with devastating heartbreak in their own ways. For Arci, she had friends who told her “ang tanga tanga mo” straight up, and that kept her from going back to him. “Kasi kailangan mo ng ganun eh. Kasi kung wala sila baka hinabol habol ko pa siya. Kahit na ilang beses niya akong lokohin.” For Kim, work kept her from thinking about the betrayal. (the hit musical “rak of Aegis” started around the time they broke up. Maybe singing all those Aegis songs is more cathartic than we think.) Yassi boxed and partied with friends. Andi went on adventures. time was Bela’s friend. three years after the breakup, while doing a crying scene, she thought of him and realized he didn’t have power over her tear ducts anymore. relieved, she sent him a text message after, saying,

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS

Loving Love Marie’s hand-carried... From Page 4

Calendar of Events across

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration invites you to the 20­16 Startup Business Expo Tour. The series of events is intended to help startups, small businesses, entertainment and production companies, food services, event planners, home-­based businesses, entrepreneurs, fashion & beauty businesses, e-­commerce, accounting services, cleaning services, consultants, childcare and more! Topics include: starting a business in LA, predicting your financial future, choosing a legal entity & access to capital. This event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 63­13­ Topanga Canyon Blvd., Ste. 2140­, Woodland Hills, CA 913­67. The event is FREE & open to the public. There will also be free food & refreshments for participants. To RSVP, please visit www.startuptourla.com.

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Filipino Association of Leisure World Annual “Luau” The Filipino Association of Leisure World will hold its Annual Hawaiian Luau at the LW Hall (123­2 Golden Rain Rd. Seal Beach, California) on Saturday, Sept. 3­. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. Please call the president of the association, Ren Villanueva at (3­23­) 854-­620­9 for other related questions.

S e P t e M b e r 9 -1 7

42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA) invites everyone, Bicolanos, devotees and friends to come and celebrate the 42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Patroness of the Bicol Region. The festivities will start on Sept. 9, with the translacion at 5pm at the Immaculate of Mary Church (4954 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90­0­29. A nightly novena Mass follows from Sept. 9 to Sept. 16 at 6 PM except on Saturday, Sept. 10­, at 3­:3­0­ PM and Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2;3­0­ PM and culminates on Saturday, Sept. 17, with the ninth day novena at 8am, foot & fluvial procession at 9 AM, and a Concelebrat-­ ed Mass at 10­ am at Lincoln Park, 3­50­1 Valley Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90­0­3­1. Main celebrant will be HE Most Rev Arturo Bastes, Bishop of Sorsogon. For details, please call Lanie Ber-­ rei (818) 281-­3­169 or Gene Leano (818) 43­9-­6896.

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17th annual Asian Small Business Expo The Asian Small Business Expo is the only business-­to-­business expo that engages the Asian business community and brings this growing economic force into the mainstream to connect and utilize your company and its services. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with small businesses, market your organization and tap into a network of entrepreneurs, service providers, financial organizations, franchises and governmental and legislative representatives. Admission to the expo is FREE! It will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10­ from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Almansor Court Banquet & Conference Center, 70­0­ S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 9180­1. To register, please visit: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/annual-­asian-­ small-­business-­expo-­tickets-­23­824155691. Walk-­ins are also welcome on the day of the expo. For more information, please visit www.apisbp.org.

SePteMber 16

CAC to celebrate Town Fiesta The Cabatuan Association of California will celebrate their Annual Town Fiesta in honor of their Patron Saint, San Nicolas de Tolentino on September 10­, 20­16 with a mass at 11:0­0­ am at Nati Matitu-­Mercado’s residence -­ 15255 Knapp St. North Hills, CA, 913­43­. Please invite four friends and relatives. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa. For other inquir-­ ies, please call Esoy Tavarro, president, (714) 797-­0­0­73­; Sally Bilbao, adviser (951) 878-­ 5589; Boboy Mosqueda, adviser (714) 519-­8973­; or Nati Matitu-­Mercado, adviser at (818) 894-­5142.

S e P t e M b e r 23 Andi Eigenmann, Arci Muñoz, Bela Padilla, Yassi Pressman, and Kim Molina are beautiful women who have graced magazine covers; who have been hailed some of the sexiest Pinays alive by adoring men. They have also been cheated on, been left behind, and have done some spectacularly stupid things for love.

“Uy, naka move on na ako sa yo. Okay na.” And ‘Camp Sawi’ was born Perhaps camp sawi was also Bela’s therapy. It was her and her current love, businessman Neil Arce, that conceived the movie. Last year, during a dinner date, Neil asked Bela, “What if may rehab para sa mga brokenhearted?” and they found themselves with a story they just had to turn into a film. Bela felt that there already exist so many hugot movies about heartbreak, but not enough stories about how you pick yourself up after breaking into pieces: “the healing process is usually only shown in the last five scenes of the film. I hope people see that it’s more important to fixate on the healing process, the moving on part, rather than the pain.” With this mission, in May of this year, Bela and her handpicked writer-director Irene emma Villamor (who was Antoinette Jadaone’s co-director for the teen rom-com “relaks It’s Just Pag Ibig” and wrote the screenplays of “Bakit Di Ka crush Ng crush Mo?” and Vilma santos’ “everything About Her”) took the cast (including the sexy sam Milby, we must add) to picturesque Bantayan Island to shoot the film. Begin again With a movie like this though, there’s another thing that must be said about beauty. the last time someone put five gorgeous women in one movie set in a fictitious island, the press went crazy over stories that an epic war broke out (Google search: Heart versus Marian). Feminine beauty, unfortunately, is often equated with cattiness. Again, “camp sawi,” subverts expectations. there was zero

drama on this set. (except maybe that time Kim bawled after they pulled a friendly prank on her. In the middle of a ghost stories fest, Kim had to pee. When she came back, they were gone. they conspiratorially hid behind the house, leaving the actress super spooked. context: they were the only people on the island, and Arci could hear otherworldly voices.) Otherwise, it was a light set. And we saw it while shooting this cover, in the way these girls banter. Kim, a theater actress who just recently crossed over to mainstream, said she’s surprised by how easy the more senior stars accepted her into the fold. At one point during the photo shoot, while Kim and BJ were checking her shots, Arci quipped, “Swerte mo na shoot ka na ni BJ. Ako 10 years bago niya ko na-shoot!” there was not a hint of bitterness in her tone. If anything, it felt like a sisterly advice/reminder phrased differently. “Oo nga eh, na fast track,” agreed Kim. It’s refreshing to watch these beautiful girls get along and not succumb to heartbreak, hugot, cattiness and competitiveness. It makes you want to see how this friendship translates onscreen, how convincing they will be as fictitious characters who help each other go from wasak to whole. Direk Irene tell us, “camp sawi is where you go to take your time, to pose the questions, and to hope for answers. Hope ha, hindi find.” In an email interview, Bela said she hopes their film “encourages everyone to heal and be brave to love again,” and punctuated it with a smiley face; a fitting conclusion. After a slew of films that glorify pain, it’s time someone made a movie about learning to smile again.

AAPA’s leadership symposium Join the Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) for an all-­day event from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. with exceptional and diverse keynote speakers and panelists, as well as multiple workshops on diversity and leadership topics. The symposium is open to everyone, and will be held at the Pacific Palms Hotel, 1 Industry Hills Parkway, City of Industry, CA 91744. For more information, please visit http://aapamentoring.com/.

S e P t e M b e r 24

8th Regional Celebration of the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz The Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Region invites everyone to the 8th Regional Celebration of the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the First Filipino Saint. Festivi-­ ties will be on Saturday, September 24, 20­16, at this year’s host parish, Holy Family Church -­ Glendale (20­9 East Lomita Avenue, Glendale CA 9120­5). Procession starts at 4:3­0­ PM , then Mass at 5:3­0­ PM with Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Ange-­ les, as Principal Celebrant. Reception , fellowship and program will immediately follow at the Holy Family Grade School Auditorium across the church. For more information, please contact Ping Bayani at(913­) 558-­43­3­2 or bayani0­950­@yahoo.com.

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FAPCCA Media Awards The Filipino American Press Club of California invites you to The First FAPCCA Media Awards Gala Night 20­16 at Glendale Hilton Hotel, 10­0­ W. Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale CA 9120­2, Sept. 25, 20­16 Sunday 5pm (www.facebook.com/fapccamediaawards/) Tickets: $65/person includes dinner and entertainment. Call: ‪626.475.3­0­52‪; ‪3­10­.60­0­.9913­‪;‪8 18.3­57.4566‪ or pay by Paypal at www.paypal.me/fapcca (please indicate the amount, number of tickets, name, mailing address and cell number on the Special Instruction field). FAPCCA Contact Persons: Chairperson Thelma Calabio -­ ‪3­0­1.60­0­.9913­‪; President Andy Z. Edralin -­ ‪626-­475-­3­0­52‪; VP Isidric Panganiban -­ ‪818.3­57.4566‪; Treasurer Christie Rosacia -­‪818.451.660­6‪; Auditor Sonia Bermejo -­ ‪818.653­.3­177‪; Joe Cobilla -­ PRO -­ ‪3­23­.80­4.9959‪; Director Rose Sarreal ‪213­.3­21.1119‪

S e P t e M b e r 29

Bataan Legacy Historical Society multimedia presentation Bataan Legacy Historical Society, a non-­profit educational 50­1(c)(3­) organization, will hold a multimedia presentation at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, please visit www.bataanlegacy.org.

O c tO b e r 8

25th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) The Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is proud to announce the date & venue for the anticipated Silver Anniversary edition of its annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture. FPAC 25, the 25th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), will take place Saturday, October 8 at the beautiful Echo Park Lake. Admission is FREE. The popular festival, the City of Los Angeles’ Filipino American Event, is the longest-­running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern Califor-­ nia. Audiences can expect to enjoy traditional and contemporary Filipino food, music, dance, crafts and culture. This year’s theme, “Samu’t Sari: Showcasing the Diverse Creative Tapestry of the FilAm Community,” lends its meaning to the Tagalog phrase which loosely translates to “diversity.” While certainly a hot topic in today’s society, FilAm Arts focuses on the vast contributions of Filipino American artists to the creative tapestry of the City. For more information, please visit www.filamarts.org or call 213­3­80­3­722. For sponsorship and vendor opportunities, please email info@filamarts.org.

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

August 26-september 1, 2016 www.asianjournal.com

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Take a stand, you all! Fight for dear life

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Part 1 of 2 parts)

IF there is one issue aside from the fearsome economic downturn we are currently experiencing that must be given due attention particularly during this election season, it is the issue of ABORTION that all God-fearing and /or God-loving citizens everywhere across the nation should fully engage in. As a dyed-in-the-wool Catholic conservative in agreement with millions of Christian evangelicals in many parts of the country, I staunchly believe that the gift of life is from God and that life begins at the moment of conception. For me personally, there can be no equivocation on this issue. Abortion is nothing less than the murder of innocents — a most grievous offense against the Holy Spirit from whom all life emanates. It is the duty of all who hold human life sacred to fight for it and uphold moral laws that guarantee the life of future generations. It’s not easy to stick your neck out these days particularly with the so-called intellectual pundits of the liberal media spewing bile and sarcasm over those who believe differently, relying on their Ivy League credentials for their authoritative take on social mores. It takes courage that comes from deep down to confront the issue of immorality that has become so pervasive and ingrained in popular culture, we can drown in it just by switching on the television or watching the movies. The scripts and the stories on TV are skewed towards political correctness, rather than what is true, good and moral, while most pander to the least common denominator in order to serve the largest demographics and the biggest markets all for the sake of profit. It does not help that our

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

— Edmund Burke

scandal-plagued churches and political and religious leaders appear to have lost the moral high ground. The voice that once seemed so sure and resonant in matters affecting life, is lost in the din and cacophony of so much chatter. The task seems overwhelming. As daunting a challenge as it is, the wholesale murder of innocents must be addressed. The family unit, which was once the cornerstone of a strong society, has to be revived and energized to take charge of a child’s upbringing — not society, not government, and certainly NOT media. A moral grounding that starts from childhood, nurtured in the teen years and blossoming in adult life is basic in order to see through the twisted and depraved logic of political correctness and pervasive immorality that afflicts many nations in the world today and confront these evils head on. The moral issue of abortion far transcends any earthly concerns. The battered economy made worse by the rampant, mind-blowing corruption in the finance industry and in government at the highest levels, the war on terror, national security, taxes, energy independence, global warming, health care— all these are important issues of our time. But as history will attest, all these will be overcome in due time. Our problems in the material world will find resolution and eventually come to pass. This issue is fundamental to our humanity and our connection to divinity. Our decision to take it down or uphold it, will reverberate for

centuries beyond our time. Abortion strikes at the root of our essence as human beings. It is pure evil. Without action on our parts to confront this, it will prevail. As Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” This is a call to fight for the unborn — the most defenseless of all creatures, a call to preserve the life of a thinking, feeling, spiritual being in human form. Estimates of the number of abortions in this country alone have reached way past the 48 million mark, the population of a small country. Worldwide, the figures could be staggering. China, one of the economically advantaged nations of the world today, is beginning to pay the price for its one-child policy that has brought on a serious and detrimental societal imbalance in its male-to-female ratio, in a culture that puts a higher stock on sons. With the recent accidental discovery near the Ural Mountains of discarded, plastic vats of 250 near full-term human embryos mummified and preserved in formaldehyde still with tags of the mother’s name on some of the babies’ legs, it is even possible to guess that some scientists have been experimenting or conducting studies in the name of research and disposing of the evidence as biological waste. The sale of fetal body parts by Planned Parenthood for research purposes is a horrific offense against all of humanity. (To be continued) ***

Photos shows organizing host Eddie C. Ferrer (extreme left) briefing early registrants to the Oct. 26, 2016 free seminar on “Making It Easy To Import The Right Way” to be held at Marriott-Long Beach. Others in photo are (L-R) Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Southeast Corridor President Felix B. Lopez, Executive Director of African Empowered Committee-USA Dennis Nnyondo and businessman Lino F. Caringal, Jr.

Make it easy to import the right way by

Dan E. nino

LONG BEACH, CALIF. – As a continuing public service, E.C. Ferrer Custom House Broker, Inc. is sponsoring another half-day seminar for importers, entrepreneurs, distributors, wholesalers and retailers on Oct. 26 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel on 4700 Airport Plaza Drive. Complimentary breakfast will be available and served upon registration. After 31 years in the customs broker industry, Eddie C. Ferrer and his veteran staff of entry writer specialists have gained valuable insight and expertise that they want to share these knowledge with the business trade community in Southern California. As a top honcho of his brokerage and forwarding firm since 1985 and as a Certified Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) since 2003, it has become his mission as a customs house broker to inform and educate importers to “make it easy to import the right way.” In the past few months, many changes have taken place in the U.S. Customs and Import industry. This free seminar will update the industry players about the Customs Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send Reauthorization Bill, the New comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ Custom’s ACE-One Window Environment, Antidumping and asianjournalinc.com Countervailing Duty, Intellectual

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Property Rights, Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS), Trade AgreementsGeneralized System of Preference, Fines and Penalties, Product Classifications and role of Customs Center for Excellence and Expertise Division, upcoming Customs Broker Known Importer Program, and other relevant changes . As of this writing, President Felix Lopez of the Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce – South East Corridor (FACC-SEC), Coalition of Associations At South East Corridor (CASEC) composed of various Asian Chambers of Commerce, and Executive Director Dennis Nnyondo of the African Empowered Communities-USA (AEC-USA) have signified their interest to participate in this rare seminar that is also aimed at improving and maintaining balance of trade and commerce with the U.S. in an unimpeded flow of products and goods from the Philippines and other countries. . Various topics that will also enlighten importers include recent rules of engagements under the new One WindowACE portal where other partnered government agencies will be linked in — Food & Drug Administration, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Maritime Commission,

Department of Agriculture, and Environmental Protection Agency, among others. This particular subject is a “must hear” for importers on record with customs. This free seminar is open to everyone doing import business and planning to be in the import industry. Accommodation is limited and will be on a first-come, first to register basis. Precise and pertinent information from a panel of seasoned professional entry writer specialists will serve as resource speakers. The information will be presented in timed, concise, and practical methods to allow reasonable time parameter for question and answer E.C. Ferrer CHB, Inc., which was founded in 1985, is a member of National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) and Los Angeles Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (LACBFAA). Interested parties may fax their letter of intent to 562-4225593 or call or register at tel. no. (562) 422-6492, e-mail address – ecferrer@ecferrer.com, contact persons – Jacqueline Ferrer, Eddie Ferrer, Bong Soriano, or any E. C. Ferrer staff receiving the call or e-mail messages. Feel free to call for more inquiries. Website: www.ecferrer.com

Lynda A. N. Reyes exhibits in two LA venues FIL-AM artist, Lynda A. N. Reyes is currently participating in two art exhibits in Los Angeles. Her oil painting “Blue vs. Pink” is currently on view at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG) in Barnsdall Park until September 18, 2016. The gallery is located at 4800 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California 90027. The Open Call exhibit is a thematic community-based biennial featuring artworks by 300 artists who were encouraged to freely interpret the notion of play in sculpture, painting, and photography. This year’s juror is Scott Canty, who recently retired after 30 years with DCA’s Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. Lynda wrote a short verse about the painting: “It was a day of fun. Who cares if the blue team or the pink team wins? The girls

enjoyed playing, the families enjoyed watching. It was fun time for everyone. Hurray! Let’s play again and again.” Two oil paintings of Lynda “Branching Out No. 1 and “Branching Out No 2” are on display at the San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center (SFVACC) from August 23 – September 10, 2016. The gallery is located at 18312 Oxnard Street in Tarzana, CA 91356. Juried by Margaret Danielak, the show features 65 local painters, sculptors and photographers in the age of 50 +. The exhibit titled “The Art of Creative Aging” celebrates the minds of artists who continue to explore their creative skills during the third phase of their lives. The chance to meet and greet these creative “aged” artists is on Saturday, August 27, 2016 from 5 - 7 pm. Lynda has already 4 exhibits this year and she anticipates

more before the year ends. In 2013, she has a record of 7 exhibits 5 of which are out of state (New York, Colorado, Wisconsin, Maryland and Kentucky), 1 in Canada and 1 in California. So far she has participated in 5 museum exhibits since 2012. In April 2016, Lynda’s double portrait in oil “Amsan and Api” garnered 5th place in an international art competition themed “Cultural Diversity”. She is further known for her beautiful figurative watercolors. Her painting “California Grandpa” was chosen for the Splash 14: Color and Line book on watercolor. It was edited by Rachel Rubin Wolf and published by North Light Books in Ohio in June 2013. For more information please visit http://www.lamag.org, http://www.sfvacc.org/center, http://lyndaanreyes.com and lynda@lyndaanreyes.com.

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