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Volume 27 - no. 1 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
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Obama issues executive order on gun control by
Allyson EscobAr AJPress
IN his first major action of the new year, President Barack obama announced new executive actions to address gun control and strengthen restrictions, amidst multiple mass shooting attacks that occurred nationwide last year. In an emotional address on tuesday, Jan. 5, the president made a passionate call for “urgency” to end gun violence. “the United states of America is not the only country on earth with violent or
dangerous people. We are not inherently more prone to violence--but we are the only advanced country on earth that sees this kind of mass violence erupt with this kind of frequency,” obama said tearfully at a press conference, surrounded by families of gun violence victims. “We become numb to it, and start thinking this is normal. And instead of thinking about how to solve the problem, this has become one of our polarized, partisan debates.” PAGE A2
In the Blue Room of the White House, President Barack Obama talks with people whose lives have been impacted by gun violence, prior to announcing executive actions that the administration is taking to reduce gun violence on Tuesday, Jan. 5. White House photo by Pete Souza
Pacquiao confirms retirement after April fight
USA
DATELINE US official: IS leaders linked to Paris attacks killed in US-led airstrikes
The People’s Champ to focus on politics by AgnEs
constA onst ntE AJPress
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS SS AMEric MEricA ricA
A sYrIAN-based leader linked to the Paris attacks that killed 130 people was among 10 Islamic state leaders killed in the past month in targeted air strikes by a Us-led coalition. Us Army Colonel steve Warren, a spokesman for the Us-led military campaign against the Islamic state (also known as IsIL and IsIs), said Charaffe al mouadan, who was linked to suspected Paris attack ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed on Dec. 24. “We will continue to hunt IsIL leaders who are working to recruit, plan and inspire attacks against the United states of America and our allies,” Warren said, adding that others had plans on further attacking the west. Warren did not provide details on whether or not mouadan was specifically planning on attacking the United states,
the People’s Champ manny Pacquiao will hang up his boxing gloves after a bout against timothy Bradley on April 9 to focus on a career in politics. “my April 9 fight against timothy Bradley will be my last. I’m retiring from boxing to focus on my new job,” Pacquiao told PhilBoxing.com. Promoter Bob Arum said the fight is a “done deal.” It will be Manny Pacquiao will face Timothy Bradley for the third time on April 9. AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal the third time the filipino boxer
by christinA
MEndEz
Philstar.com
mANILA—the senate has set the reopening of the mamasapano inquiry on the first anniversary of the incident on Jan. 25. sen. Grace Poe, who chairs the senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, cited the requests of some lawmakers in reopening the probe. Poe set the inquiry at 10am on Jan. 25 after the chairman of the senate committee on rules,
TSA may soon reject some state driver’s licenses for domestic travel
PAGE A3
between the boxers weren’t particularly memorable, according to esPN. however, Arum said he believes Bradley is a different fighter now compared to the earlier two fights, given he is training with esPN television analyst teddy Atlas. he also cited Bradley’s November 2015 match against Brandon rios, in which he stopped his opponent in the ninth round. “the Bradley that fought rios, whatever you thought PAGE A2
Mamasapano inquiry to be reopened on botched operation’s 1st anniversary
PAGE A2
BY the end of April of next year, a driver’s license may no longer be sufficient identification for domestic travel in certain states. the transportation security Administration (tsA) is expected this week to decide whether to begin enforcing a decade-old law mandating that states abide by federal standards when issuing driver’s licenses. since the agency took over airport security in 2001, it has allowed travelers to board domestic flights with a valid Us driver’s license. however, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress approved the real ID Act in 2005 requiring that citizens undergo a stricter process to obtain the identification. the Department of homeland security (Dhs), which runs the tsA, said it will release a specific schedule this week outlining if and when airports in noncompliant states will start refusing driver’s licenses for domestic travel. the exact date of the
will face Bradley in the ring. Pacquiao, currently the lone congressman of the sarangani province, is looking to run for one of the 24 national senate seats in the may election. Because of this, Pacquiao has insisted the fight takes place no later than mid-April to give him at least one month to spend on the campaign trail, esPN reported. Immediate public reaction to the fight on social media was negative, as the first two bouts
This combination photo of satellite images taken on Feb. 6, 2015, top, and March 23, 2015, bottom, by Airbus Defence and Space, and distributed by IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly, shows what IHS Jane’s describes as an airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef in a disputed section of the South China Sea. The U.S has warned that China’s development on the artificially created island could raise tensions in the area. CNES, Airbus Defence and Space/IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly via AP
Tensions surge as China lands plane on artificial island in West Philippine Sea by JosE
KAtigb AtigbAK
Philstar.com
hoNG KoNG—China’s first landing of a plane on one of its new island runways in the south China sea shows Beijing’s facilities in the disputed region are being completed on schedule and military flights will inevitably follow, foreign officials and analysts said.
China’s increasing military presence in the disputed sea could effectively lead to a Beijing-controlled air defense zone, they said, ratcheting up tensions with other claimants and with the United states in one of the world’s most volatile areas. the Us expressed concern over the landing of a Chinese aircraft on Kagitingan (fiery
Cross) reef in the south China sea and called on China to stop provocative flights over the disputed area. state Department spokesman John Kirby said to begin flight operations at this new airfield in a disputed area raises tensions and threatens regional stability. “We again call for all claimPAGE A2
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Alan Peter Cayetano, announced there were no obstacles that would prevent the reopening of the inquiry. “It’s good that the rules committee gave a go-signal that additional hearings can be called, in response to minority Leader (Juan Ponce) enrile’s request to call such, citing his personal information, and possibly new evidence,” Poe said. she said the reopening would PAGE A2
Comelec division consolidates DQ cases against Duterte by rosEttE
AdEl
Philstar.com
mANILA—t ANILA— he Commission on ANILA—t elections (Comelec) first Division on t tuesday, Jan. 5 consolidated the disqualification cases filed against presidential aspirant Davao City mayor rodrigo “rody” Duterte. Comelec Chair Juan Andres “Andy” Bautista said the poll body’s first Division composed of Commissioner Christian Lim as head and Commissioners rowena Guanzon and Luie Guia as members, ruled to combine three petitions since all have similar Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte waves to PAGE A4 supporters in this undated photo.
A
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january 7-13, 2016 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL
From The FronT Page
Obama issues executive...
PAGE A1
The White House announced an executive action package, with multiple separate provisions to address major aspects of gun control policy. One provision would require more gun sellers (including those online or at gun shows) to be licensed, and oblige vendors to conduct extensive background checks on potential buyers, the Washington Post reported. The initiative is the White House’s attempt to close the gun show “loophole� that allows gun collectors, private vendors and hobbyists to do business without background checks. A recent Harvard University survey of more than 2,000 gun owners found that of those who purchased their most recent firearm, about a third did not undergo a background check. In a statement emailed Monday, Jan. 4, the administration outlined the policy in line with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF): “It doesn’t matter where you conduct your business: from a store, at gun shows or over the Internet. If you’re in the business of selling firearms, you must get a license and conduct background checks.� With the extensive, thorough background checks, the FBI will also overhaul the current check system to make it effective, efficient with more staff and notifications, and background checks being processed 24/7. “The new guidance is consistent with existing law because it clarifies its original intent,� said Attorney General Loretta Lynch. “The hobbyist exemption in federal law was never meant to cover people regularly devoting significant time and effort to selling firearms just because they were doing so at a gun show.� Obama has said that the strengthened background checks would make the process more secure, not harder for people to purchase guns. He has also criticized congressional Republicans for the lack of legislation, as well as the National Rifle Association, insisting that his actions are “not a plot to take away everybody’s guns.�
“I believe in the Second Amendment, there written on paper, that guarantees the right to bear arms,� he said. “But I also believe that we can find ways to reduce gun violence consistent with the Second Amendment. Until we have the Congress that’s in line with the majority of Americans, there are actions within my legal authority that we can take to help reduce gun violence and save more lives.� Along with the bolstered background checks, the White House announced more federal funding for mental health treatment and reporting. The Administration is proposing a new $500 million investment to increase access to mental health care, and a new rulemaking process for the Social Security Administration to include background information about individuals with mental health problems. Another provision will require licensed gun dealers to report any lost and stolen guns to the National Crime Information Center. Over the past five years, an average of 1,333 guns recovered in criminal investigations each year were traced back to a seller who claimed the weapon was missing but did not report it to authorities, the White House said. “This is a broad set of actions that tackles a variety of the issues related to gun violence,� said Arkadi Gerney, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, “and in combination it represents a comprehensive effort to strengthen the laws we already have on the books.� The ATF has also established a new investigation center to keep track of illegal gun trafficking online, and promises to devote $4 million and additional personnel to improve the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network. Additional research into gun safety technology will be directed by the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security. “The ATF will assess each case individually,� said Valerie Jarrett, a senior Obama advisor involved in drafting the policy, reported the Los Angeles Times. “Agents will consider such qualifications
as whether sellers represent themselves as dealers by taking credit card payments, handing out business cards, selling firearms quickly after acquiring them or selling them in the original packaging.â€? Dodging the licensure rule can carry five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for gun sellers both online and at flea markets, said the Justice Department. Republicans, presidential candidates, and gun rights advocates have already blasted the executive actions. “The president is at minimum subverting the legislative branch, and potentially overturning its will‌this is a dangerous level of executive overreach, and the country will not stand for it,â€? said House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), referring to the Senate rejecting Obama’s proposals in 2013 to overhaul gun laws, including running extensive background checks. “The recent tragedies that have gripped our country are heartbreaking, but none of the unilateral restrictions President Obama is proposing would have prevented them, making his proposal all the more insulting and political,â€? said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. “The truth is, this executive overreach is all about burnishing the president’s legacy and boosting Democrat enthusiasm in a presidential election year. But that’s no excuse for subverting the will of the people’s representatives in Congress, and the American people won’t tolerate President Obama’s dangerous power grab.â€? New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called the president a “petulant childâ€? acting “as if he’s a king, as if he’s a dictator.â€? Speaking at a Christian bookstore in Iowa, Sen. Ted Cruz (RTexas) called the idea “illegal and unconstitutional.â€? Obama has “waged war on the Constitution,â€? said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). “You can pass all the gun laws in the world that you want. It will not stop the criminals.â€? Meanwhile, Democrat frontrunner Hillary Clinton applauded Obama during her campaign PAGE A3
Pacquiao confirms retirement after... PAGE A1 about Rios, was a different fighter. It’s still Bradley, but a new Bradley with Teddy. And at this point of his career, can Manny handle that? Remember, Manny is also coming off an injury,� Arum said, according to ESPN. After Pacquiao’s long-awaited fight against the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2, 2015, he revealed he fought with an injured shoulder. He had surgery afterward to repair a torn right rotator cuff. Atlas also said Bradley is in better mental and physical shape, and has learned from his previous fights against the Fili-
pino boxer. “We’d correct the mistakes from the first two fights, use his experience from the past,� Atlas said, according to RT. “A lot worked well in those first two fights, and then we’ll learn from our past. It’s what winners do, what smart people are supposed to do.� In October, Arum told ESPN he wasn’t sad about the fight being Manny’s last, given his goal to pursue a political career, which requires mental acuity. “If he stays in boxing a little too long, his mental faculties might be somewhat impaired,� Arum said.
LOW MORALE. The morale of the Philippine National Police (PNP) hit rock bottom at the beginning of the year just past as 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos were massacred in Mamasapano, Maguindanao and police chief Alan Purisima was dismissed from the service. However, 2015 was also the PNP’s shining moment when it oversaw the peaceful and orderly conduct of two major international events – the visit of Pope Francis in January and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in November. Philstar.com photo
Mamasapano inquiry to be reopened... PAGE A1 not affect the previous findings contained in Committee Report No. 120, which found President Aquino “ultimately responsibleâ€? for the deaths of the 44 police commandos of the Special Action Force (SAF). “Let it be stated as I manifested before, the new hearings will not affect or void our earlier findings. Our committee report has been signed by 21 members. We have a leeway to allow new evidence. We will schedule the additional hearing on Jan. 25 in the session hall of the Senate at 10 a.m,â€? Poe announced. MalacaĂąang sees nothing wrong with the decision of the Senate to resume its Mamasapano inquiry. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said the Senate is mandated to conduct such inquiry as part of its oversight functions. For his part, Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento said the previous findings of the Senate regarding the incident should be respected. Sarmiento pointed out the probe has gone through several processes and the Department of
Justice has filed charges against those allegedly involved in the killing of the 44 SAF commandos. On Monday, Cayetano said there are no legal obstacles and took note of Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III’s statement that he is amenable to the motion to reopen the investigation. Cayetano said the rules committee took into consideration Section 32 of the Senate rules which provides that: “when a report is returned to a committee or is transmitted to another, unless it is returned for purposes of conducting further public hearings on new matters arising after the report, all previous proceedings in connection therewith shall be deemed to be void and that matter in question shall revert to its original status.� Enrile earlier asked his colleagues during session if he can interpellate on the committee report No. 120 since he was under detention at the height of the Senate hearings last year. In Poe’s report, Aquino was found ‘ultimately responsible’ for the deaths of 44 SAF personnel. Almost 400 police commandos had swooped before dawn in the operation to capture Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias
Marwan, and local confederate Basit Usman in a remote village in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25. But after killing Marwan, the SAF commandos were ambushed by heavily armed Muslim rebels and villagers. A total of 44 policemen were killed and 12 others were wounded in the attack. Operation Plan: Exodus went haywire after operatives supposedly failed to coordinate properly with the military as then SAF commander Chief Supt. Getulio Napeùas’ plea for reinforcement was apparently ignored by his military counterparts. President Aquino, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, has repeatedly refused to admit command responsibility for the killing and instead put the blame on Napeùas. Coloma said Aquino had no regrets when he allowed then suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima to supervise by remote control the police operation that led to the death of the 44 elite police troopers. (With reports from Delon Porcalla and Cecille Suerte Felipe)
US official: IS leaders linked to Paris... PAGE A1
although he said Islamic State However, in more recent re- terrorists generally have “evenports, the long-time promoter tual designs� on attacking Amersaid he didn’t want to say it ica, FOX News reported. Other leaders reportedly killed would be Pacquiao’s final showthis month were Abdul Qader down in the ring. “I’m not going to sell it as Hakim, who assisted the milithat because I don’t want ev- tants with external operations erybody to say, ‘Hey, it’s his last and was linked to the Paris atfight, come and see it!’ and then tack network, the ISIS emir of it turns out that it’s not his last Kirkuk Province in Iraq, an ISIS commander and executioner, an fight,� he said. “Who the hell knows with ISIS deputy financial emir and a these guys? They all change their minds so I’m not selling it as his last fight,� he added. Both Pacquiao and Bradley won one fight each of their two PAGE A1 matches, with Bradley the victor ants to halt land reclamation, furof the first showdown in 2012 in ther development of new facilities a split decision, and Pacquiao and the militarization on their winner in 2014 via unanimous outposts, and instead focus on reaching agreement on acceptdecision. Atlas said he has already stud- able behavior in disputed areas,� ied both fights in preparation for Kirby said at a press briefing in Washington. the third. Chinese foreign ministry offi“It’ll be a tough challenge, but we’ll make sure we’re ready for cials confirmed on Saturday that it. We will respect the challenge a test flight by a civilian plane Pacquiao presents. We will do landed on an artificial island what we’re supposed to do and built in the Spratlys, the first be 100 percent prepared. It will time Beijing has used a runway in the area. be a difficult fight,� he said. Vietnam launched a formal Pacquiao also took the opportunity to refute a previous Phil- diplomatic protest while Foreign boxing.com report that quoted Affairs spokesman Charles Jose the Filipino boxer saying he said Manila was planning to do would not retire until he secured the same. Both have claims to the a rematch against Mayweather, area that overlap with China. “That’s the fear, that China after his defeat last May. “I never said that. Nobody will be able take control of the spoke to me about that,� Pac- South China Sea and it will affect the freedom of navigation and quiao said, Inquirer reported. Pacquiao’s retirement will fol- freedom of overflight,� Jose told low that of Mayweather, who reporters. Sen. John McCain, the chairretired after his fight against two-time welterweight world man of the influential US Senate champion Andre Berto in Sep- Armed Services Committee, criticized the Obama administration tember.
“forgery specialist� linked to the Paris attack network. “We are striking at the head of the snake,� Warren said at a press briefing, according to NBC News. “We haven’t severed the head of the snake, and it’s still got fangs.� The impact of the air strikes on Islamic State leadership can be seen in recent battlefield victories against the group, Warren said, according to Reuters. On Sunday, Dec. 27, the Iraqi army
declared its first major victory against the Islamic State when it captured Ramadi, a provincial capital west of Baghdad that ISIL gained control of in May. “Part of those successes is attributable to the fact that the organization is losing its leadership,� Warren said. Operations are underway in the cities of Mosul and Fallujah, Warren said, which are still controlled by the Islamic State. (Agnes Constante / AJPress)
for delaying further “freedom of navigation� patrols within 12 nautical miles of the islands built by China. China has been building runways on the artificial islands for over a year, and the plane’s landing was not a surprise. The runway at Kagitingan Reef is 3,000 meters or 10,000 feet long and is one of three China was constructing on artificial islands built up from seven reefs and atolls in the Spratlys archipelago. The runways would be long enough to handle long-range bombers and transport craft as well as China’s best jet fighters, giving them a presence deep into the maritime heart of Southeast Asia that they have lacked until now. Chinese officials have repeatedly stressed that the new islands would be mostly for civilian use, such as coast guard activity and fishing research. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at the weekend that the test flight was intended to check whether the runway met civilian aviation standards and fell “completely within China’s sovereignty.� However, military landings on the islands were now “inevitable,� said Leszek Buszynski, a visiting fellow at the Australian National University’s Strategic and Defense Studies Centre. An air defense zone, while unlikely soon, was feasible and possible in future once China built up its air strength, he said. “The next step will be, once they’ve tested it with several flights, they will bring down some of their fighter air power – SU-27s and SU-33s – and they will station them there permanently. That’s what they’re likely to do.� De facto defense zone Ian Storey, a South China Sea expert at Singapore’s ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, said he expected tensions to worsen as China used its new facilities to project power deeper into the South China Sea.
Even if China stopped short of formally declaring an Air Defense Identification Zone, known as an ADIZ, Beijing’s need to protect its new airstrips and other facilities could see it effectively operating one. Work is well underway to complete a range of port, storage and personnel facilities on the new islands, US and regional officials have said. Kagitingan is also expected to house advanced early warning radars and military communications facilities, they said. “As these facilities become operational, Chinese warnings to both military and civilian aircraft will become routine,� Storey said. “These events are a precursor to an ADIZ, or an undeclared but de facto ADIZ, and one has to expect tensions to rise.� China sparked condemnation from the US and Japan in late 2013 when it declared an ADIZ over the East China Sea, covering uninhabited islands disputed with Tokyo. Hua, the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, said on Monday that there were no immediate plans for an ADIZ in the South China Sea. “The decision will be based on our judgment of the situation and our needs,� she said, adding that Beijing respected other nations’ rights to international freedoms of navigation and overflight. However, regional military officials say they are logging increased warnings to aircraft from Chinese radio operators, including some from ground stations on Kagitingan Reef. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of world trade ships every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have rival claims. The US has no claim in the South China Sea, but has been highly critical of China’s assertiveness and says it will protect freedom of navigation.
Tensions surge as China lands...
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Obama issues executive... PAGE A2 stop, saying that she would go even further implementing guidelines as president. “Our next President has to build on that progress, not rip it away,” Clinton tweeted. A recent poll found support for an assault weapons ban to be below 50 percent, the lowest level in more than two decades, according to Politico. Gun sales also spiked after the San Bernardino attacks on December 2nd, 2015, as many Americans react to mass shootings with a desire for selfprotection through firearms rather than more regulation of them, reported Mic News. An analysis by IBISWorld also said that consumers have “increased their gun purchases,”
particularly following the series of mass shootings that has generally increased the talk about gun control. the Gun and Ammunition Manufacturing industry reported a higher revenue at an estimated annualized rate of 6.4 percent, to $15.8 billion over the last five years up to 2016. Polls have found a broad support for expanded background checks, according to CNN. In the Quinnipiac University poll from December, 89 percent of those surveyed said they overall support it, including 84 percent in gun-owning households. In the CNN/OrC poll, 48 percent of Americans said they were in favor of stricter gun control laws, with a sharp partisan divide (74 percent of Democrats, 23
Dateline USa
percent of republicans in favor). Among those who live in a gunowning household, 29 percent favor restrictions, and rises to 65 percent among households without guns. “We have to be very clear that this is not going to solve every violent crime in this country. It’s not going to prevent every mass shooting,” Obama said from the Oval Office. “But it will potentially save lives and spare families the pain and extraordinary loss.” Most of the president’s new initiative will be implemented through his executive authority to direct changes in federal agencies. the measures will go into effect without congressional approval. (Allyson Escobar / AJPress)
TSA may soon reject some state driver’s...
PAGE A1 schedule release is unclear, although officials have said it would be issued before the end of 2015. thus far, 22 states have complied with the law; 19 have received an extension through October 2016 to comply; four are under review; and five are deemed noncompliant. Although many states – including Maine, Missouri and Montana – do not participate in real ID, they issue licenses that abide by many of the standards set by the federal government. For this reason, many states have either received extensions to comply with the law or are considered in compliance. Should the agency decide this week to enforce the law, the earliest it would take effect would be by the end of April, as it would provide 120 days notice before enforcement begins. Additionally, it would only apply to people in a handful of states. the DHS may also decide to postpone its decision, a DHS spokeswoman said, according to CNN. Once the law is enforced, travelers who do not possess a compliant type of identification will be required to present another type of government-approved identification, like a passport. “this is a game of intimidation being played out between Congress and the federal government and state governments, with ordinary citizens being squeezed in the middle,” edward Hasbrouck, a privacy advocate with the Identity Project, told the New York
times. Some states that have resisted implementing the more stringent standards cite privacy concerns. Among requirements of the real ID Act include that licenses be equipped with “machine readable” technology, such as a chip or magnetic strip, that will hold all personal information. Furthermore, the data should be made electronically available between states, and possibly to federal authorities. “You create more risk when you connect databases,” Marc rotenberg, president of the electronic Privacy Information Center, told the times. “One vulnerability becomes multiple vulnerabilities.” Some states have approved legislation prohibiting motor vehicle departments from following the federal law. “the federal government has quietly gone around and clubbed states into submission,” said Warren limmer, a Minnesota state senator and one of the authors of a 2009 state law prohibiting local officials from complying with the federal law, according to the times. “that’s a pretty heavy club.” Other states opposed to the law say it is too expensive, with the government estimating the program to cost $3.9 billion. Some critics cited a 2006 study that puts the price tag of enforcing the law at $11 billion throughout a five-year period. Hasbrouck told the times he doesn’t believe the government would risk refusing travelers who
are unable to show proper identification card at airports. “there is an impasse,” Hasbrouck told the times. “there has been a standoff for more than a decade now. the feds have limited powers to coerce the states in this case.” Some experts also wonder whether the agency will actually enforce the law in the coming year, given it has been unenforced for the last decade and because it could result in a number of problems for travelers. For instance, fliers may be able to board in one state with a driver’s license, but need another form of identification to return home if they fly to a noncompliant state. States fall under the following categories: Compliant: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, South Dakota, tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. extension received: Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, rhode Island, texas and Virginia. Noncompliant: Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Washington. Under review: Alaska, California, New Jersey and South Carolina. (Agnes Constante / AJPress)
LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 7-13, 2016
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McCain blasts White House for lack of action in South China Sea SeNAtOr John McCain on Monday, Jan. 4 criticized the White House for delaying any future “freedom of navigation” patrols near artificial islands that China has built in the disputed South China Sea. McCain, who chairs the Armed Services Committee, said China was continuing to “pursue its territorial ambitions” in the region, including by landing a plane on a man-made island in the Spratly Islands on January 2. In a statement to reuters, the Senator from Arizona said the US military’s failure to conduct additional patrols last year was “disappointing yet hardly surprising.” He said the President Barack Obama’s administration was “either unable to manage the com-
plexities of interagency national security decision making or simply too risk averse to do what is necessary to safeguard the rulesbased order in the Asia-Pacific.” In October, the Pentagon began conducting patrols within 12 nautical miles of the man-made islands. McCain’s complaints come after Chinese foreign ministry officials confirmed on Saturday that a test flight by a civilian plane landed on one of the islands, the first time Beijing has used a runway in the area, reuters reported. the landing was not a surprise, as China has been building runways on the artificial islands for over a year. Washington suspects that the islands may be used as military
outposts, while Beijing insists that they will serve primarily a humanitarian purpose. China claims almost all of the South China Sea, through which trillion in trade passes annually. However, there are overlapping claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and taiwan. After the Chinese plane’s landing, Vietnam launched a formal diplomatic protest, while the Philippines said it is planning to do the same. “that’s the fear, that China will be able take control of the South China Sea and it will affect the freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight,” said Philippines Foreign Ministry spokesman Charles Jose. (ManilaTimes.net)
Palace on US envoy Bosworth’s death: ‘Loss of an important EDSA figure’ by Aries Joseph
Inquirer.net
heginA
A PAlACe official expressed his sympathies to the family of former US ambassador Stephen Bosworth who died last January 3. Bosworth served as the US ambassador to the Philippines from 1984 to 1987. In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson edwin lacierda lauded Bosworth as a “true friend of the Philippines.” lacierda said that being a witness of the country’s transition from dictatorship to democracy, the former US envoy “proved to be an honorable representative not just of his country’s interests but of the spirit of the times: one that embraced the toppling of tyrants throughout the world and the ‘restoration of democracy by the ways of democracy.’” “In his dealings with the democratic opposition to the dictatorship, he proved to be an understanding and sympathetic envoy. His passing marks the loss of one more important figure in the history of people power, as we prepare to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the eDSA People Power revolution. We extend our deepest condolences to his family during this time of grief,” he added.
Stephen Bosworth
Bosworth died in his Boston, Massachusetts home last January 3. He was 76. No cause of death has been reported, yet it was known that he was suffering from prostate cancer. It was Bosworth who relayed the message of then US Secretary of State George Schultz to former President Ferdinand e.
Marcos telling him that his “time was up.” After serving as former US ambassador to the Philippines, he then served as the executive director of Korean Peninsula energy Development Organization from 1994 to 1997; US ambassador to South Korea from 1997 to 2000; and Special representative for North Korea Policy in 2009.
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CNN anchor: PH is ripe for tourism boom FBI looking into San Bernardino shooters’ whereabouts 18 minutes after massacre
by olivEr
M. PuluMbArit Inquirer.net
“My Manila experience has been less than ideal, in the sense that I was there for Apec (AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation, in November),” CNN anchor Richard Quest told the Inquirer in an e-mail interview. “Because of that, I didn’t get a chance to experience the true enjoyment— delights, food— that was possible. On the plus side, because of Apec, I didn’t have to experience the awful traffic that people talked about,” the 53-year-old host of the monthly show, “Business Traveller,” said. Filming an episode during the economic forum gave him a clearer picture of the country’s business potential, according to the New york-based Quest. “you’ve got high-spending travelers from the US and Europe who come over, and they want to make sure they get to see more than just the convention hotel… There’s no doubt that the country’s going to have to do more with infrastructure on airports… it’s going to tackle the road situation; there’s no point of bringing people here if they can’t get any further than the end of the road. Everything is ripe for a boom in tourism!” News-reporting, he added, has evolved dramatically. “What has changed? Two things: First, the availability of getting real-time pictures with better quality has sped up the operation considerably.”
by Allyson
EscobAr
AJPress
CNN anchor Richard Quest
The second big change is social media. “It has created its own dynamic, in which people can find out from each other. For instance, bomb hoaxes on planes, which we may not have reported in the past because it encourages more hoaxes, you read about it on Twitter, on Apple or Facebook. We don’t change our values and standards, but we have to change our execution of these stories —because the viewer is already informed about them!” Past interviewees Quest, whose past interviewees include the Dalai Lama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, among others, revealed that speaking
with people from different industries continues to be challenging. “It can be intimidating if it’s a prime minister or president,” he said. “It can be absolutely terrifying if it’s a Hollywood star. Fundamentally, you want a good interview—and that means getting the best out of the interviewee. If it’s a politician, you need to make sure that he answers the question you’ve asked, not the question he wants to answer. If it’s a star, make sure he’s saying something interesting. you can never become so over-awed and impressed.” The openly gay newsman related that working for CNN since 2001 has taught him a valuable lesson: “Don’t assume. Check, check, check. Facts come first. Never, ever play fast and loose with the facts. It’s the single most important thing that you do in this business. Our integrity is like virginity; once it’s gone, it isn’t coming back! That is something I’ve had to learn because I thought I’d rely on memory, [and I discover that the ‘fact’], 20 minutes later, is wrong… you beat yourself up. That happens when you’re a senior correspondent like myself, as much as you’re an intern.” Quest is confident that Filipinos can discover things about the country from the CNN coverage. “you’re going to learn where the Philippines is going to position itself as it looks to a future of growing tourism and how that’ll go forward. There is great future in tourism. Frankly, it’s one of the last undisturbed and ‘undiscovered’ places [in the world],” he said.
THE FBI has not yet accounted for where two shooters were during the 18 minutes after the Dec. 2 massacre at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California. Officials appealed to the public on Tuesday, Jan. 5 for information to fill that gap. After spraying bullets into a conference room where San Bernardino county health employees were celebrating a holiday party, Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik spent nearly four hours “zig-zagging around” around San Bernardino and Redlands in a rented black SUV until they were killed in a gunfight with police, reported the Press Enterprise. Officials said that investigators have not been able to account for Farook and Malik’s disappearance between 12:49 pm and 1:17 pm, just more than two hours after the attack which occurred around 11 am. “Using witnesses, traffic cameras and surveillance cameras, agents have accounted for 3 hours and 42 minutes of the couple’s movements from the massacre to the shootout, but are missing information about where they were between 12:59 and 1:17 p.m.,” said David Bowdich, head of the FBI’s Los Angeles office. “There is no rhyme or reason we can make for it yet. We’re missing that 18 minutes.” Bowdich also confirmed there was no evidence of a secondary target, nor evidence yet that Farook and Malik met with anyone after the shooting. “As of today, we do not see any indication of a foreign-directed terrorist attack. This seems to be an inspired terrorist act,” Bowdich told reporters gathered at the San Bernardino Police Department headquarters, emphasizing the need to be “absolutely certain” of the couple’s immediate activities following the shooting. “We have scrubbed a number of social media,” he added. “That was one our big focuses to ensure that we are able to hopefully determine the motivation of Farook and his wife.” Bowdich said that investigators were specifically interested in finding any photographic or other electronic evidence that could pinpoint the couple’s loca-
tions during that brief window of time, shortly before their trail was picked up by authorities, said USA Today. “Authorities were able to track the couple’s whereabouts until just before 1 pm, when Farook and Malik were near the intersection of the I-215 and 10 freeways,” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. Eighteen minutes later, the couple’s SUV was at the Waterman Avenue exit on the 10 Freeway. The couple died around 3:00 pm in a shootout with police, after they were spotted by an undercover detective eight minutes earlier, driving by their Redlands home. At the press conference, Bowdich gave the most detailed timeline to date of the events that occurred last Dec. 2nd. According to the FBI affidavit, Farook left his Redlands home at 8:37 am and arrived at the Inland Regional Center 10 minutes later, carrying a bag containing a pipe bomb made of three galvanized steel pipes and smokeless powder, and attached to a remotecontrol toy car. The bomb was “armed and ready to detonate.” Agents found a remote control for a toy car in the couple’s SUV. An anonymous law enforcement source told the Los Angeles Times that it was possible the couple were unable to detonate the device because they were either out of range or because sprinklers that had gone off in the regional center interfered with the explosives. “Farook spent about two hours at the center the morning of the shooting, socializing with coworkers gathered for a holiday event. Authorities haven’t found any evidence to support suggestions that a workplace dispute led to the shooting,” Bowdich said, adding that Farook’s demeanor was normal that morning and that photos taken of him inside the facility during the event didn’t show anything out of the ordinary. Farook left the work party at 10:37 am, leaving the bag behind, possibly to meet with his wife. Authorities still don’t know where Malik was before her husband left the Inland Regional Center, but said it was possible that she went with her husband to the center that morning and waited in the SUV.
The FBI declined to say where Farook went after he left. But a law enforcement official said investigators “do not believe Farook would have had time to go back to his Redlands home before the attack.” When Farook returned to the event at 10:56 am, accompanied by his wife and several weapons, including two military-style rifles, they immediately opened fire, killing 14 people and injuring 22. The shooting lasted about five minutes, according to reports. Bowdich also presented a map with an L-shaped outline of the areas the couple traveled through after the shooting, from their home in Redlands, where they lived, west and north along the I-10 and I-215 corridors to San Bernardino. Another poster beside the map shows a photo of the SUV they were driving: a black 2015 Ford Expedition with dark-tinted rear windows and a Utah license plate, X52-3Ry. The car had been rented at an Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Redlands. Workers there declined to comment Tuesday. Bowdich described the couple’s known driving pattern as “a lot of zig-zagging around, going back and forth on the highway, going up and going down; there is no rhyme or reason to it that we can find yet. Maybe that 18 minutes closes that gap, maybe it doesn’t.” The FBI is asking anyone who might have seen the couple or captured them on surveillance cameras to call at 1-800-2255324, option 4, to help investigators gather evidence. Bowdich said callers who pass a screening by an operator may be given a website where they can upload any photos or video. “If you’ve not been talked to, and you have some sort of media in your holdings or you have surveillance camera footage, or cell phone footage, please give that to us,” he asked. A friend and neighbor of Farook’s, 24-year-old Enrique Marquez, who allegedly purchased two of the guns used in the rampage, was ordered to remain in federal custody. Marquez also is accused of plotting at least two other assaults with Farook in 2011 and 2012 that were not carried out.
Filipino chef in New York serves 24-karat-gold-covered doughnuts by yuji
vincEnt GonzAlEs Inquirer.net
A FILIPINO chef in New york is making waves in the food world after a photo of his doughnut covered with 24-karat gold circulated on social media. Bjorn Dela Cruz of the Manila Social Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn was the mastermind behind the “Golden Cristal Ube Donut,” which was filled with ube (purple yam) mousse and champagne jelly and decorated with Cristal champagne frosting. The golden doughnut costs $100 and has supposedly prompted New yorkers to order it by dozens after a photo of it was posted in Instagram a week ago. In an interview with food blog First We Feast, Dela Cruz said the idea of making a golden doughnut started in coordination with a brewery business. “The Golden Cristal Ube Donut came along because there is a brewery in Bushwick called Braven Brewery, and we know the owners Marshall and Erik. We both started our businesses around the same time. We had a doughnut event where I unveiled a doughnut with icing made with Braven White IPA, dusted with gold. That was the beginning of the golden doughnut [idea],” he said. Dela Cruz said he chose Cristal over other types of champagne because of its “really great honey notes which goes great with ube.” “For me, it’s shiny and it’s golden, but it comes together to create a really great doughnut,
Screengrab from Manila Social Clubs Instagram account
as crazy as that sounds. There was a time when I was eating this doughnut while drinking Cristal, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is a great combo!’” The chef said he used the ingredients that he used not because he wanted the doughnut to be expensive, but because he personally thought that they tasted good. “To me, I think this tastes really amazing. It’s not just about the shock value, it’s a combination of it all… I tell my staff, look, if we want to make something really expensive, all we have to do is buy a bunch of Kobe beef, wrap it in foie gras, deep fry it, and cover it in gold. But there are reasons why we do everything. For example, if we’re using caviar, it’s because I
want to add a salty aspect to the dish,” Dela Cruz said. “This is a great thing about Filipino food. It’s never had these ingredients before. I make this rice porridge called Arroz Caldo—it’s like comfort food. There has never been an Arroz Caldo dish with truffles. But truffles go so well with chicken and so well with rice. Filipino food has always tasted good but it’s never been pretty. Now, we’re making it a little bit prettier and also tasting good,” he added. Dela Cruz said the golden doughnut was originally created for the holidays, but added that they will continue making the product throughout the year due to “enough interest.”
Comelec division consolidates DQ cases... PAGE A1 merits or grounds. “Pareho-pareho naman ang issues kasi,” Bautista said. Duterte faces petitions claiming that his party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, has no bona fide presidential candidate to substitute for since its former standard bearer Martin Diño’s certificate of candidacy (COC) for president is invalid. The consolidated petitions were filed by broadcaster Ruben Castor, University of the Philippines Student Council Chair John Paulo Delas Nieves, and former senato-
rial candidate Rizalito David. The Comelec First Division is still hearing the disqualification cases against Duterte even if the Comelec en banc already accepted his COC for president and allowed him to substitute for Diño under PDP-Laban. The consolidated disqualification cases will be heard by the first division on January 12. Meanwhile, Duterte’s camp, through his lawyer, Vitaliano Aguirre, said it is against the consolidation of cases, citing that it will only delay the resolution for the Castor case, the first
disqualification case filed against Duterte. “We will definitely oppose the consolidation of the cases, especially with one case already set for decision. It should not be consolidated with the new cases filed,” Aguirre said. The First Division began the hearing on the Castor case last December. Duterte filed his COC for president as a substitute for Diño on November 27. The latter withdrew his COC and his petition to withdraw was granted by Comelec.
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D ateline PhiliPPines Aquino most approved top official, Roxas, not Binay is leading spender for poll ads, says VP’s camp Binay approval ratings also improve by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com
Viray
MANILA—The results of the latest Pulse Asia survey reported the President Benigno Aquino III is the most trusted and approved top government official while Vice President Jejomar Binay’s ratings also went up. The latest survey showed that Aquino is the most approved top government official with 55 percent, a one-point increase from his rating in September 2015. Aquino was also the most trusted government official in the December 2015 survey with 53 percent, an increase of four points from his previous rating. Meanwhile, Binay’s approval rating surged from 43 percent in September 2015 to 52 percent in December 2015. The vice president’s trust rating also improved from 39 percent in the third quarter to 49 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015. The approval rating of Senate President Franklin Drilon went up by one point to 51 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015 while
The latest Pulse Asia survey showed that President Benigno Aquino III is the most approved top government official with 55 percent, followed by Vice President Jejomar Binay with 52 percent.
his trust rating remained at 47 percent. Meanwhile, approval rating of House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. decreased by three points to 29 percent. His trust rating also went down by five points from 29 percent in the third quarter to 24 percent in the fourth quarter. Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma-
ria Lourdes Sereno maintained an approval rating of 29 percent while her trust rating went down by one point to 25 percent. The survey was conducted from Dec. 4 to 11, 2015 among 1,800 respondents nationwide. The respondents were registered voters 18 years old and above. The survey has a ± 2 percent error margin.
Over ill-gOtten weAlth frOm cOuntry’s Biggest lOgging deAl
Sandigan orders Marcos crony to return properties claimed by gov’t by Marc Jayson
cayabyab
Inquirer.net
THE Philippine government won its ill-gotten wealth case against a prominent Marcos crony involving the country’s biggest logging concession. After over two decades, the Sandiganbayan Special Second Division has finally ordered a crony of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to return to government all properties he acquired through favored timber concessions covering 600,000 hectares of the country’s 14 million hectares of forest cover. But the anti-graft court denied the Philippine government’s claim to damages. The court also failed to mention the liability of the existing Marcos heirs. Sequestered properties In a decision promulgated Dec. 14, 2015, the division ordered Alfonso Lim Sr., who owns the Taggat Industries, to return to government “all funds and properties acquired through the cancelled TLA (timber license agreement)…” The real properties include several parcels of land in Batangas; Rizal; Tagaytay; Cagayan; and Paco, Manila worth over P511 million. The said properties have been sequestered by the Sandiganbayan. But the court said only the properties in Tagaytay; Batangas; and Angono, Rizal, with total estimated value of P378 million, can be considered for compromise settlement. The court also ordered the return of two sequestered aircrafts–RP-C208 Cessna Centurion II and RP-C333 Cessna Golden Eagle–registered in the name of Taggat Industries. The aircrafts have been grounded since 1994. While their logbooks have been missing, the Cessna aircrafts now at the Manila Domestic Airport can still be considered for the compromise settlement, the court said. Meanwhile, the court said the properties in Cagayan and Manila were already sold at a public auction to settle tax liabilities and labor claims. All other sequestered properties, plants, and equipment have also been fully depreciated. The court also said that all the corporations have zero value in shares of stocks, and that their registrations were revoked. Civil case 0030 The amended civil complaint against Lim and Marcos, docketed as Civil Case No. 0030, was filed before the Sandiganbayan in Oct. 1991 by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG). Lim is accused of collusion with Marcos and former First Lady (now Ilocos Norte Rep.) Imelda Marcos to obtain several timber concessions beyond the allowable 100,000 hectares of land under the 1973 Constitution. Lim was accused of holding 533,880 hectares of land under seven corporations, far exceeding the allowable 100,000 hectares of land. But the court noted that Lim actually had access to 633,880 hectares of forests, because of the wide expanse of forest lands in between Lim’s different timber concessions. Besides the Taggat Industries, Lim also had timber concessions with the following companies because he had shares in some of these: Pamplona Redwood Veneer Co., Inc., Southern Plywood Corp., Western Cagayan Lumber Co., Inc., Acme Plywood & Veneer Co,, Inc., Veterans Woodworks, Inc.,
and Sierra Madre Wood Ind., Inc. Lim was also accused of obtaining a permit to cut down Narra and Amaciga trees for export, upon the authorization of former President Marcos, in violation of an existing ban on the cutting and export of these trees. Government accused Lim of “taking undue advantage of their relationship, influence, and connection with (the Marcoses)… to unjustly enrich themselves (from timber concessions and management contracts) at the expense of the Republic and the Filipino people.” Rape of Philippine forest The anti-graft court noted the Ministry of Natural Resources findings in 1986 against Lim Sr., as well as a 2009 Supreme Court decision against the estate of Lim, in its order in favor of government. “On the basis of these decisions, this Court finds that the Republic has sufficiently proven that defendant Alfonso Lim Sr. had indeed acquired Timber License Agreements far in excess of that allowed by the 1973 Constitution … It is only inevitable that the action for reconveyance and reversion be granted,” the court said in its 35page decision. The decision was penned by Associate Justice Napoleon Inoturan and concurred by Associate Justices Teresita Diaz-Baldos and Oscar Herrera Jr. The court cited the Ministry of Natural Resources report under then Minister Ernesto Maceda. The 1986 report said that Lim, when he took over the Veter-
ans Woodworks, Sierra Madre Industries, and Tropical Philippines Wood Industries under the blessing of Marcos, “effectively increased the total hectarage under his management and control to 533,880 hectares, unequalled and unprecedented in Philippine Natural Resources history.” The court also cited the Supreme Court’s decision saying that “so influential was Lim Sr. that he and Taggat and other sister companies received certain timber-related benefits without the knowledge, let alone approval, of the Minister of Natural Resources.” “Lim Sir. doubtless utilized to the hilt his closeness to the Marcoses to amass what may prima facie be considered as illegal wealth,” the Supreme Court said. The Supreme Court also found it “unfair, unacceptable and unconstitutional by any standard… for one Filipino out of 55 million to own, operate… more than 600,000 hectares out of a total forest land of 14 million.” No damages, liability from Marcos heirs However, the court said government failed to prove that it is entitled to damages. It did not elaborate. The court also failed to mention the civil liability of Marcos’ widow Imelda and their children Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, Imee Marcos-Manotoc, and Irene Marcos-Araneta. “As regards to the Marcoses, we take note of the General Agreement and the Supplemental AgreePAGE A7
by HeLen
FLores Philstar.com
MANILA—Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Manuel Roxas II is the leading spender for political advertisements among top presidential bets based on a 2015 report by media research firm Nielsen Philippines, a spokesman for Vice President Jejomar Binay said. Roxas shelled out P774.192 million for TV ads from January to December last year, according to Joey Salgado, head of media affairs of the Office of the Vice President. Binay came in second with P695.555 million, followed by Sen. Grace Poe with P694.603 million and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with P129.599 million. Salgado said the data came from Nielsen Philippines. Salgado said the report, which came out in The Star, saying Binay was the biggest TV ad spender did not include the placements with entries “Mar Roxas for president” and “Mar Roxas school alumni.” “If you include these entries, Roxas would still emerged as the biggest ad spender even in November,” he said. Binay has regained the lead in the 2016 presidential race based on the latest surveys conducted by the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia. In an interview in Pampanga yesterday, Binay insisted that he is not the top TV ad spender. “There is another candidate who spent more (on TV ads) than me,” the Vice President said. The LP-led Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid maintained that Binay had the highest pre-campaign expenses in 2015. “The official campaign period has yet to start and yet Binay already spent P600 million for TV ads alone. It did not include other campaign expenses such as posters and tarpaulins,” Akbabayan Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez, spokesman for the coalition, said. “I think the question that he should respond to is where did the amount come from?” Binay said the money used to pay for his TV and radio ads came from his friends. Duterte’s running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, expressed
Roxas shelled out P774.192 million for TV ads from January to December last year, according to Joey Salgado, head of media affairs of the Office of the Vice President.
belief that his political advertising spending that reached P398.288 million in 2015 was way beyond what was actually spent for his campaign. “I believe that the amounts reported are overstated because Nielsen itself admitted that these are based on published rate cards, which in all cases are more than what was actually paid for,” he said. Based on the report, Cayetano was the biggest TV ad spender among vice presidential aspirants, followed by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with P103.429 million;
Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, P91.602 million, and Binay’s running mate Sen. Gregorio Honasan, P43.580 million. Meanwhile, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista said their hands are tied as they cannot go yet after candidates with huge spending for political advertisements. “For the record, there is no law that regulates spending because we know that the meters start running only at the beginning of the campaign period, which is on Feb. 9,” Bautista said. He issued the statement after a report showed that the top four presidential candidates spent almost P1.6 billion on television ads last year. Noting that the law on campaign spending has “loopholes,” Bautista said the Comelec could not regulate the candidates’ poll expenses before the start of the campaign period. “We cannot monitor (TV ads) because based on the law, campaign expenditures only kicks in at the start of the campaign,” he said. Bautista urged voters to be discerning in choosing their candidates. “If they think the candidates are spending too much, they should decide,” he said.
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DESPITE ardent calls by the international community to halt its military assertion in the West Philippine (South China) Sea, China remains undaunted in reiterating its “indisputable sovereignty” and has moved forward with its reclamation activities. While the Philippines was enjoying the New Year revelries, China was busy completing the construction of a 3,125-meter-long airfield on Kagitingan Reef in the highlycontested Spratly archipelago. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that China recently used a civilian plane to conduct a flight testing in the Philippine-claimed reef. Vietnam, which also claims Kagitingan and calls the reef “Da Chu Thap,” immediately protested China’s recent actions. Le Hai Binh, a spokesperson for the Vietnamese foreign ministry, said the test flight violated Vietnam’s sovereignty, breached mutual understanding and hurt bilateral relations. Vietnam also warned China to immediately stop and not to repeat similar actions. China rejected Vietnam’s protest. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the test flight to Kagitingan, which the Chinese call Yongshu Island, was to “test whether or not the facilities on it meet the standards for civil aviation” and a matter “completely within China’s sovereignty.” Washington also criticized China’s recent actions, saying that the test flight had exacerbated tensions in the region. Pooja Jhunjhunwala, a spokesperson for the US State Department, said
Editorial
there was “a pressing need for claimants to publicly commit to a reciprocal halt to further land reclamation, construction of new facilities and militarization of disputed
features.” The US encouraged all claimants to actively reduce tensions by refraining from unilateral actions that undermine regional stability, and taking steps to create space for meaningful diplomatic solutions to emerge. The Philippines, Vietnam and China, along with Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan, have competing claims to parts of the West Philippine (South China) Sea. China claims the largest swathe of the strategic water, which is believed to have significant oil and gas deposits. Over the last two years, it has been increasingly assertive in pressing its claims over the disputed waters against its smaller neighbors. According to a report, “China has piled sand atop seven reefs in the Spratlys, on at least two of which it has built airstrips, radar installations and docking facilities. Besides Kagitingan, China has built artificial islands on Calderon (Cuarteron), Burgos (Gaven), Mabini (Johnson South), Panganiban (Mischief), Zamora (Subi) and McKennan (Hughes) reefs, all claimed by the Philippines and
Philstar.com photo
within the country’s 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone recognized under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” China claims that the new facilities will strictly be used to provide civilian services, including maritime search and rescue, navigation aid, marine research, and even weather observation. Manila has already taken its claim for arbitration to a United Nations-backed international tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). China, however,
refused to participate in the arbitration. The United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is expected to hand down a resolution by June. While this pressing international matter calls for a swift conclusion, it must undergo such tedious process to reach a peaceful resolution. This is the essence of international law, which was built by principles based on universally accepted values and moral standards. (AJPress)
Do you support Pres. Obama’s executive action on gun control? IN a rare display of emotion, President Barack Obama shed tears as he passionately spoke to the nation about the urgent need to cure the gun violence epidemic in America and save lives. He recalled the innocent first-grade kids massacred in Sandy Hook, among other victims whose lives were cut short because of these senseless killings. Obama reportedly considers the failure to sign into law the much needed sensible gun control legislation to be the biggest frustration of his presidency, and he felt that time is running out. He blamed Congress, which blocked a tougher gun bill in 2013, and noted that it still needs to impose new gun control measures. He stressed the fact that many of the actions he’s calling for can only be imposed through legislative action. “The gun lobby may be holding Congress hostage right now. But they cannot hold America hostage. We do not have to accept this carnage as the price of freedom,” Pres. Obama empathically declared. Thus, the president put matters in his own
hands. Using his executive power, he announced measures The Fil-Am to expand and bolster the background check system to cover Perspective sales that take place online and at gun shows, and provide more funding for mental health treatment, FBI staff and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms Gel SantoS-ReloS and Explosives agents. He also announced that his administration is going to advance research to update firearms technology to make gun use safer. “I taught constitutional law. I know a little about this,” Obama said, insisting that he believes in protecting the Second Amendment right of responsible gun owners. And then he made his case that this right to bear arms is not all that America should consider: “All of us should be able to work together to find a balance that declares the rest of our rights are also important—Second Amendment rights are important, but there are other rights that we
The reunification of Filipino World War II veterans and their families AN estimated 260,000 Filipino soldiers fought alongside American troops during World War II, helping us win one of our most important victories. In recognition of their bravery and sacrifice, they were promised citizenship by the United SenatoR HaRRy Reid States government and to give them the same benefits that all of our veterans deserve. Despite this promise, Filipino World War II veterans were not naturalized until 1990 -- 45 years after the war had ended. These Filipino soldiers also had to leave their families behind because this hard-earned benefit did not extend to their children. Because of backlogs in our immigration system, it took decades for Filipino World War II veterans to reunite with their families. It is simply wrong that our veterans have to suffer from our antiquated immigration system, and so I have fought for years to reunite Filipino soldiers and their families by pushing for legislation to help expedite this process. I was pleased when the Department of Homeland Security announced new efforts to modernize our legal immigration system in July, as a result President Obama’s executive action on immigration, because it included a new policy to expedite the reunification Filipino World War II veterans and their families. This new parole program would allow certain family members of aging Filipino World War II veterans to come to the United States and provide their loved ones with the care they need. This was a step in the right direction, but the Administration still has not yet announced important details about eligibility and the application process. In December, I wrote a letter along with my colleagues, Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, to urge President Obama to quickly implement this new rule. We cannot keep delaying the reunification of Filipino World War II veterans and their families. They have waited too long for their loved ones because our government didn’t honor its promise. It is time to right this wrong and I hope that the 6,000 Filipino veterans still alive today and living in the country will have the chance to be cared for by their families. We must do everything in our power to ensure that their service is properly recognized. I am proud to represent more than 100,000 Filipino-Americans in Nevada and I know the contributions they have made to our country. We owe it to these veterans to give them the recognition they deserve. I will continue to advocate for Filipino World War II veterans in Congress to let them know how thankful we are for their service.
Commentary
Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenta MY dear friend, Sluggo Rigor, editor and publisher of FilAm Bulletin in Seattle, reacted to one of my columns, “May Angal: Circa 2016,” which was about the callousness and insensitivity of the Aquino administration in the face of clear instances of incompetence and impunity in PNoy’s nearly six years of governance. Stirred by what I wrote, Sluggo was prompted to send me his own column that enumerated more instances of unrepentant kapalpakan and kamanhiran – in effect, daring the citizenry, “May angal? Any complaints?” I promised him that I would use his piece in Street Talk. Here it is: It is this time of the year when expatriates in the U.S. become melancholic and feel more homesick. The only way expats get feedback on what is happening in the land of their forefathers is through the magic of technology. TV news and the Net provide us with enough facts that tend to show how much suffering and deprivation the old homeland is going through. (After reading Greg Macabenta’s stirring column he had titled “May Angal?!”, here are my humble rejoinders.) Realizing my limited capacity at grasping the entire context of developments back home, I merely ask: Would it be relevant for us expatriates to list down issues, concerns, worries, sentiments, heartaches and the like that we
care about as well. And we have to be able to balance them. Because our right to worship freely and safely—that right was denied to Christians in Charleston, South Carolina. And that was denied Jews in Kansas City. And that was denied Muslims in Chapel Hill, and Sikhs in Oak Creek. They had rights, too. Our right to peaceful assembly—that right was robbed from moviegoers in Aurora and Lafayette. Our unalienable right to life, and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—those rights were stripped from college students in Blacksburg and Santa Barbara, and from high schoolers at Columbine, and from first-graders in Newtown. First-graders. And from every family who never imagined that their loved one would be taken from our lives by a bullet from a gun. Every time I think about those kids it gets me mad. And by the way, it happens on the streets of
Chicago every day. So all of us need to demand a Congress brave enough to stand up to the gun lobby’s lies. All of us need to stand up and protect its citizens. All of us need to demand governors and legislatures and businesses do their part to make our communities safer. We need the wide majority of responsible gun owners who grieve with us every time this happens and feel like your views are not being properly represented to join with us to demand something better. And we need voters who want safer gun laws, and who are disappointed in leaders who stand in their way, to remember come election time.” What do you think about this latest move towards gun control? *** 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
Sluggo Rigor’s ‘May Angal III’ absorb from media? Since key parties in the political arena in the Philippines are again busily positioning themselves, I guess this would be an opportune time to ask the present leaders who are on the saddle about the following bothersome issues (that have been pointed to by media and by critics during their watch). 1. The monstrous traffic snarls that paralyze the premier city and suburbs. ( If Metro Manila were a human being, it would have long died of arteriosclerosis. Even fire trucks remain helpless as blocks upon blocks of houses burn! ) 2. Warehouses filled with rotten rice that are shown being thrown away while poor families go hungry! 3. The bloody Maguindanao massacre is going on its sixth year! Will the savage killers ever be prosecuted? (How should we answer non-Filipino friends who ask?) 4. Air traffic in the NAIA are known as one of the most congested in the southeast Asian region, not to mention the cases of hooligans preying on unsuspecting airline passengers who go through NAIA. And the pathetic management of land transportation traffic coming and going through the place. 5. The awful case of that Japanese SUV that is placing everyone on the road at risk because reports of uncontrolled acceleration have not been addressed decisively by incompetent government bureaucrats. In more caring countries, the manufacturer-distributor should be canned immediately! The safety of the tax-paying citizenry should be
paramount. As usual, Trade Department officials are slow in responding to this anomaly! 6. Billions of dollars that were contributed by nations around the world for the Yolanda Typhoon victims are reportedly held up somewhere while scores of victims continue to suffer. The true account remains muddled after more than two years! 7. The Bureau of Corrections is the last place anyone would suspect where wrongdoing is committed. There have been scores of reports about special treatments but what takes the cake are weapons found and drugdealing behind bars! Funny thing is that the Man in Malacanang does not seem to be bothered at all! (No one has offered to resign nor taken responsibility. They run for public office instead!) 8. Reports of rigged up biddings in the procurement of Armed Forces materiel like helmets, rifles, helicopters, combat gears, etc. What is the truth here? (As an army brat, I care about the institution that my dear father had served with utmost dedication!) 9. Pension funds of GSIS for retirees and aging old soldiers under PVAO are reportedly dwindling and irregularities on invested reserves remain unexplained. 10. Mass transit in Metro Manila under the MMDA and the Department of Transportation are featured daily by cable TV from the Philippines and there are always reports of break downs of trains, poor maintenance, questionable contracts. We see the faces of poor commuters and motorists and wonder when the responsible government officials
will begin responding? Well...go ahead and say that we have no more business commenting on the old homeland as we are now citizens of another land. Yet we thank media for bringing right into our living room the utter desperation, the anger, the hunger, administrative mismanagement, indifference, non-enforcement of laws, grinding poverty that exist in this time and era in the land of our birth. Come to think of it... they said in 1985 that if Marcos goes, the country will be better off. Well, people got rid of him. Guess what? There is ample time to now compare the brands of leadership and quality of life elements...purely detached of course from political undertones. After all is said and done...we are still homesick and long so much for the old homeland to be led one day soon by more competent, more caring, more engaged Filipinos. From halfway across the globe, many expats now begin to understand why Bongbong is gaining in most forecasts. I would like to thank Sluggo for this incisive write-up. Remarkably, latest public opinion polls in the Philippines indicate that most Filipinos are looking forward to 2016 with optimism and high hopes. Perhaps it is because of the inherent resiliency of our people and, maybe, it is also because of the prospect of the end of Aquino’s governance of incompetence and insensitivity. May their hopes and expectations come true. Here’s wishing our readers a Happy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.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.
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Napoles, Gigi plunder trial to start next week Gov’t determined to solve Manila traffic woes MALACAĂąANG on Monday, Jan. 4 said that the government under President Benigno Aquino III is doing its best to solve the worsening traffic situation which has plagued Metro Manila. Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonnyâ€? Coloma Jr. said that the government has already taken various steps in addressing the problem, such as the implementation of the “Mega Manila Dream Planâ€? or the Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Its Surround-
by MichaEl
Punongbayan Philstar.com
MANILA—The Sandiganbayan is set to begin trial proper next week for the plunder charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against alleged pork barrel fund scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s former chief of staff Jessica “Gigi� Reyes. Marathon hearings at the antigraft court’s Third Division will be held from Wednesdays to Fridays beginning Jan. 13 to July 7. The Sandiganbayan will not yet begin trial for Enrile since he still has pending issues with the Supreme Court which granted him bail last year. Reyes and Napoles, who have been confronted with initial evidence in bail hearings last year, are expected to again face their accusers led by whistle-blower Benhur Luy. Enrile is accused of receiving commissions totaling P172.8 million from Napoles, whose bogus non-government organization implemented ghost projects using pork barrel funds. Sens. Ramon Revilla Jr. and
ing Areas including Calabarzon and Central Luzon. “Determinado ang pamahalaan na gawin ang nararapat upang tumugon sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayang naninirahan at naghahanapbuhay sa NCR at sa mga kanugnog na rehiyon,� Coloma said. The Palace official issued the statement after a senior official of the American Chamber (AmCham) of Commerce of the Philippines was quoted in a newspaper report saying that Metro Manila will be-
come “uninhabitable� by 2020. AmCham senior advisor John Forbes said that the traffic situation might worsen in the next four years due to increasing number of cars on the road which is expected to hit 500,000. Some of the goals of the “Dream Plan� include: no traffic congestion; no households living in hazardous conditions; no barriers for seamless mobility; no excessive cost burden for low income groups; and no air pollution. (Inquirer.net)
Over ill-gotten wealth from country’s biggest... Marathon hearings at the anti-graft court’s Third Division will be held from Wednesdays to Fridays beginning Jan. 13 to July 7.
Jinggoy Estrada are also facing plunder charges for allegedly receiving commissions from the pork barrel scam. They are still being held at the Philippine National Police custodial center in Camp Crame. The Sandiganbayan’s First Division has denied Revilla’s petition for bail, while the Fifth Division
is yet to resolve Estrada’s request for temporary freedom while undergoing trial. Napoles is already serving time in jail for serious illegal detention for allegedly detaining Luy before the pork barrel fund scam was exposed. The First and Third Divisions of the Sandiganbayan also denied her petition for bail.
PAGE A5 ment, both dated 28 December 1993, the latter dated 21 July 1994 of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to PCGG Chairman Gunigundo Magtanggol and the authority conferred by then President Fidel V. Ramos to the PCGG chairman relative to the compromise settlements with Imelda R. Marcos and/or the children of the late Ferdinand E. Marcos,� the court said. Lim Sr. passed away Feb. 11, 1995. The principal accused was then substituted by the adminis-
trator of his estate, Ruthie LimSantiago. The court also dismissed the case against former Minister of Natural Resources Teodoro PeĂąa due to lack of evidence that he participated in the grant of favored timber concessions. Civil Case 0030 is just one of 300 civil cases involving ill-gotten wealth lodged against the Marcos heirs and their cronies. Incumbent Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos also faces 10 criminal charges of graft for alleg-
edly having pecuniary interests in various foundations set up by her and her husband to accumulate ill-gotten wealth. Some of these foundations have Swiss bank accounts, where the Marcos couple allegedly stowed away millions of stolen taxpayers’ money. After two decades of martial rule, Imelda’s husband and the dictator Marcos was ousted in a peaceful people’s uprising in 1986. Their son Senator Bongbong Marcos is gunning for the vice presidency in 2016.
Manaoag Church, Nueva Vizcaya bridge, San Joaquin, Iloilo Camposanto declared National Cultural Treasures Also declared NCTs: Paco Cemetery, Cagsaua ruins, Manansala rice murals by Edgar
allan M. SEMbrano Inquirer.net
THE NATIONAL Museum (NM) has recently released the list of new sites, structures and objects declared as National Cultural Treasures (NCT) and Important Cultural Properties (ICP) in 2015. Among those declared are Paco Park or the Cementerio Municipal de Manila y Capilla de San Pancracio in Manila; the watchtowers in the municipalities of Badoc, Currimao, Baccara
and Pasuquin in Ilocos Norte, and in Santiago, San Esteban and Narvacan towns in Ilocos Sur, including the watchtowerbelfries of Laoag and Bantay; the Minor Basilica and Complex of Nuestra SeĂąora del Santisimo Rosario (including the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and movable and intangible properties intrinsic to the cultural significance of the property) in Manaog, Pangasinan; Cagsaua Church ruins in Albay; Dampol Bridge in Dupax del Sur, Nueva
Bantay watchtower-belfry, Ilocos Sur
Cagsaua Church ruins, Albay
Vizcaya; and San Joaquin Camposanto in Iloilo. The last two became controversial last year due to a road-widening project of the Department of Public Works and Highways that threatened to affect them. Also declared NCTs are the 1762 marker of the Alcaiceria de San Fernando (silk market) in Binondo, Manila; the Qur’an called “Maradikaâ€? of Bayang, Lanao del Sur; two Vicente Manansala murals (International Rice Research Institute series); and the Sacred Art (four paintings) of the Paete Church in Laguna. Declared ICPs are the Leandro V. Locsin-designed Philippine Center for Population and Development building in Taguig; San Bartolome Church complex in Malabon City; CariĂąo House in Candon City, Ilocos Sur; Callao Cave Complex in PeĂąablanca, Cagayan; Santa Maria Bridge in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya; Barit Bridge in Iriga, Camarines Sur; and the old Baliuag Municipal Hall in Bulacan. Roadside Via Crucis A number of properties were also declared ICPs in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, all dating back to the Spanish colonial period. These are the San Nicolas Church complex, including its convent and the roadside Via Crucis structures; the town’s elementary school building, municipal hall, Valdes-Lardizabal house; and the Nagrebcan Archaeological Site. In Angeles City, Pampanga, the new ICPs are the church complex of Santo Rosario, Juan Nepomuceno camalig, JosĂŠ Pedro Henson y Leon Santos Deposito, the houses of Angel Pantaleon de Miranda, Ciriaco de Miranda, Mariano Lacson and Rafael Yutuc Sr. Elsewhere in Pampanga, the Guagua church was also declared an ICP together with the church and municipal hall of Magalang, and the municipal hall of Lubao. Designed by Fr. Roque Ruano In Baguio City, the Colegio del Santisimo Rosario, popularly known as the Diplomat Hotel, was also declared an ICP. It was designed by the Dominican engineer Fray Roque RuaĂąo, the same designer of the massive University of Santo Tomas Main
Building, declared an NCT in 2010. The hotel used to be a Dominican convent, hence it is located atop “Dominican Hills.â€? Also declared an ICP in Baguio was Peredo’s Lodging House and the Laperal House, now owned by tycoon Lucio Tan. The AvanceĂąa house or the CamiĂąa Balay nga Bato in Arevalo, Iloilo City; the Lizares-Gamboa Mansion (now the Angelicum School) in Jaro of the same city; the Sornito house in Santa Barbara, Iloilo province; and the Chapel of Saint Joseph the Worker in Victorias, Negros Occidental, were also declared ICPs. NM director Jeremy Barns said the purpose of declaring cultural properties as either NCT or ICP is to “highlight their significance to the entire world that they are officially recognized as an intrinsic part of the patrimony of the Filipino people and are central to the legacy that the present generation should take special care to steward for the generations to come.â€? He added: “They are an acknowledgment of the best of what we have inherited, in order that we may care for it, enrich it further, and pass it on in turn.â€? The distinction would also ensure the protection, preservation and promotion of the declared properties. “The Important Cultural Properties and National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines are individually and collectively meant to serve as testimony to the richness and diversity of heritage that speaks to the longstanding and distinctive strength, resilience and dynamism of the spirit of the Filipino people, at home and everywhere throughout the world,â€? Barns pointed out. He also disclosed that dozens of sites and structures are also being considered for declaration this year. Among those are the Hospicio de San JosĂŠ complex at the Isla de Convalescencia in Manila; the old Rizal Provincial Capitol in Santa Rosa barangay, Pasig City; the ruins of Corregidor Island in Cavite; and the fortress church and heritage houses of Boac in Marinduque. The Heritage Law of 2009 defines ICPs as cultural properties
Manaoag Minor Basilica, Pangasinan
Colegio del Santisimo Rosario (Diplomat Hotel) ruins, Baguio City
Saint Joseph the Worker Chapel, Victorias City, Negros Occidental
“having exceptional cultural, artistic and historical significance� while NCTs are those “possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is highly significant and important to the country.�
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority 340 North 11th Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 Phone (702) 922-6060
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Photos by Edgar Allan M. Sembrano
The two are the highest distinctions given by the NM to cultural properties in the country. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines is also empowered by the same law to declare properties as ICPs.
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Journal New Year, New You: Tips on achieving your goals By Christina
AT the beginning of each year, the fresh start prompts endeavors for self-improvement. As the holiday season fades, we tend to approach the new year still clinging onto a glimmer of optimism, and craft a lofty list of professional and personal resolutions that we’d like to achieve in the coming months. The items on the list can range from getting finances in order to shedding unwanted pounds or even making brave choices out of our comfort zones. Despite the best intentions motivating these goals, actually sticking to them for the long haul is often a daunting task. Research has shown that 36 percent of those who made New Year’s resolutions already broke them by the end of January; the amount rises to 56 percent by July. The Asian Journal enlisted the help of individuals for insight on how to have a successful and fulfilling year ahead, no matter what intentions you set for yourself.
A home office gets organized
M. Oriel and MalOu liwanag-BledsOe /AJPress
Jenny Castaneda, food blogger behind www. Paleofoodiekitchen.com
Sticking to your resolution(s) • Set specific and realistic goals Often times resolutions are broad and general like, “lose weight” or “save money.” But make them more specific, such as “lose x amount of pounds in x amount of time” or “save x amount of money” to make the resolutions more measurable. Likewise, being
Being physically fit and in proper shape are things that people should ideally be. Philstar.com photo
more specific serves as a motivator to keep you moving as you inch closer to achieving that goal. Yet, the goals should be reasonable and realistic — those that you actually want to achieve for yourself. “When you make a resolution to do something other than what deeply feels comfortable for you, it’s unlikely that you’re going to do it,” said Dr. Ellen Langer, a professor of psychology at Harvard University. • Track progress and actions Aim to set smaller short-term goals, as you slowly ease into the changes that you want to incorporate in your life. That way you can track how far along you’ve come and stay motivated. • Find a support system The American Psychological Association recommends sharing the journey toward your goals with those around you, like family, friends, coworkers or those at your gym. Having someone to listen to your achievements and struggles makes the path easier and less intimidating. They can support your efforts and push you to keep going. • Reward yourself Celebrate the achievements along the way, without derailing Photo courtesy of The Organization Organization your resolution. For example, if
your resolution is to eat healthier and lose weight, a reward can be to buy new workout gear, not indulging in sweets once you lose a few pounds. • But above all, don’t be too hard on yourself. “Remember that the journey is about progress, not perfection. It’s about the lessons. So rather than just making a list of resolutions, ask yourself in what ways would you like to grow?,” said Anna Marie Cruz, an LA-based health and wellness coach. Organization 101 With the clean slate that a new calendar year brings, getting organized becomes a priority. Jiliane Patriarca, professional organizer and founder of The Organization Organization, said that having an organized home and/or workspace can have a huge impact on our mental and emotional being. Added Kat Ong, an internationally trained professional organizer based in Manila, “being organized isn’t about neatness (or being a neat freak), it is about productivity — getting things done. Aim for organized enough.” Some tips for organizing one’s home/workspace, by Kat (who PAGE B2
Paleo-friendly chicken tocino
Paleo-friendly chicken tocino By Jenny Castaneda / www.paleOfOOdiekitChen.COM Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Serves 2 Ingredients Marinade: • ½ cup (120 ml) pineapple juice • 1 tbsp (15 g) ketchup • 1 tbsp (15 g) tomato paste • 2 tbsp (30 ml) coconut aminos • 3 tbsp (45 g) coconut sugar • 1 tsp (2 g) garlic powder • 1 tsp (2 g) sea salt • 1½ pounds (675 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs thinly sliced or flattened • 4 tbsp (60 ml) of your preferred oil for frying Instructions 1. In a large bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients and mix thoroughly until the sugar and salt are dissolved. 2. Add the thinly sliced chicken thighs and mix until each piece is coated with the marinade. 3. Place the chicken and marinade in a large zip-top plastic
bag. Remove excess air and seal it well. 4. Place the bag in the fridge and leave it in there for 2 days to allow the marinade enough time to cure the chicken. 5. Once you’re ready to cook the tocino, heat a large cast iron pan or skillet over medium heat. 6. (Note: Fry the chicken in 2 batches so that it browns nicely and evenly on both sides.) 7. For each batch, add 2 tablespoons of oil into the pan. 8. Add the chicken pieces to the pan and cook it for 3 - 5 minutes. Flip to the other side and cook for another 3 - 5 minutes until browned and caramelized. 9. Remove from the pan and repeat the same process for the remaining batch. 10. Serve immediately with fried eggs, cauliflower rice (or garlic rice) and a spicy vinegar dipping sauce on the side.
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Yoga for beginners From the Sankskrit root “yuj” which means “to yoke,” yoga is an ancient practice and philosophy promoting inner peace by joining the spirit and physical body together. The physical postures or asanas done in yoga are used to purify the body and control the chatter or fluctuations of the mind. Among the many benefits of yoga include: 1. Energizes and rejuvenates the body 2. Tones the muscles 3. Increases mobility and flexibility 4. relieves pain from bad postures and habits 5. Improves immunity and blood and energy circulation 6. Promotes inner peace and a more balances mindset Beginners’ poses: • Mountain pose Benefits: good for improving posture, honing in on breathing and finding your center With feet hip-width apart, stand tall — shoulders relaxed and weight evenly distributed — place your arms at your sides. Slowly start to breathe and then breathe deeply, as you raise your hands overhead in a prayer position or reaching toward the sky with your fingertips. • Downward facing dog Benefits: calms mind, strengthens arms and legs, stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands After mountain pose, get on hands and knees hips-width apart. make sure knees are below the hips and walk hands forward. (Fingers should be spread apart to stabilize the body). Next, curl toes under and lift knees away from the floor — keep them slightly bent as the heels are lifted. To stretch even more, keep heels down on the floor.
Angelo l. de lArA Inquirer.net
DESPITE its critical and box office success in the Philippines, Jerrold Tarog’s “Heneral Luna” has failed to make it to the shortlist of movies vying for the 88th Academy Awards or oscars’ Best Foreign Language Film. The Academy Awards posted on its website in December a list of the films that are being considered for the award, which continues to elude Filipino movies. The films that are on the shortlist are: Belgium’s “The Brand New Testament;” Colombia’s “Embrace of the Serpent;” Den- John Arcilla as Heneral Luna
mark’s “A War;” Finland’s “The Fencer;” France’s “mustang;” Germany’s “Labyrinth of Lies;” Hungary’s “Son of Saul;” Ireland’s “Viva;” and Jordan’s “Theeb.” Several hundred members of the Academy Awards selected the films on the shortlist from mid-october until December 14. The nine films in contention will be narrowed down to the final five nominees by committees from New York, Los Angeles and London. The final list of nominees will be announced on January 14. In December 2015, it was also announced that “Heneral Luna” failed to make the cut for the best foreign language film of the Golden Globes.
New Year, New You: Tips on achieving...
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Illustrations by Kenno Samulde
• Cobra Benefits: strengthens spine, stretches chest and lungs, shoulders, and abdomen, opens hearts and lungs As you lie facedown on floor with thumbs directly under shoulders, extend legs with the tops of feet on the floor. Press tops of feet and thighs firmly on floor, and press shoulders down and away from ears. Straighten arms and push thumbs and index fingers down to raise chest off the floor. Breathe easily, as you hold the pose from 15 to 30 seconds. • Warrior I Benefits: full-body stretch, strengthens shoulders and arms, back, thighs, calves and ankles
Stand in mountain pose, then place legs 3 to 4 feet apart. Turn right foot to 90 degrees (and bend, keeping it over the ankle) and left foot in slightly. raise arms perpendicular to the floor, and gaze out over right hand. • Child’s pose Benefits: gentle stretch on the hips, thighs and ankles; relieves stress and any neck and back pain. Begin by kneeling on the floor with big toes touching together. Sit on heels and then separate knees as wide as hips. roll torso forward, as forehead rests in front of you. Extend arms forward and lower chest as close to knees. Breathe as you hold the pose.
Tommy Esguerra
Maine Mendoza
People to watch out for in 2016 Tim YAP Philstar.com
by
THE Star’s annual tradition of picking out the people who will rock pop culture this coming year started out as a guessing game based on gut feel, personal research and deep industry-insider connections. We began publishing this list since we launched this section in 2008, and all these years, we’re happy to say, we’ve been proven right. We just know it when someone—a star, actor, director, artist or talent—is about to break through or reach new heights, and it gives us deep pride and pleasure to be able to gaze within our subconscious and report to your consciousness the names that will matter more than most, and to prepare you for the year to come. Here, in no particular order are the people you must watch out for this 2016. The new cast of ‘Encantadia’ “Encantadia” opened the floodgates of the fantaserye trend of the past decade. It was fresh, groundbreaking during its time and launched the careers of many stars to superstardom status. We heard auditions are ongoing—so who’s gonna play who? This new all-star cast is what people are waiting for, and what every junior star in GmA-7 is dreaming of. Names like Julie Anne San Jose, Gabbi Garcia,Starstruck winners Klea Pineda and migo Adecer are floating around. Tommy Esguerra PBB’s breakout star has always been a fashion industry fave, but he was told in the beginning that it would be challenging to market him to the masses. Now that he’s got that out of the way and is now pursuing his dream of being an actor, expect more screen time for this long-haired heartthrob; 2016 will be his year to shine. Pia Wurtzbach She ended 2015 by putting an end to the 42-year drought that the country had experienced in the miss Universe pageant and in doing so, inspired the world — the universe, rather — with her
‘Heneral Luna’ misses Oscars shortlist by vAn
By AJPress
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Elmo Magalona and Janella Salvador
confidently beautiful ways — with a humble heart, at that. Expect 2016 to be even more stellar for Pia Wurtzbach as she fulfills her queenly duties. Janella Salvador & Elmo Magalona ABS-CBN has Kathniel and JaDine. 2016 will also be about JanElmo. makes sense. Both have famous parents but have stood on their own when it comes to talent and following. Janella was even handpicked by HK Disneyland to be their Filipino poster girl for the holiday season and Elmo, aside from being our local Justin Bieber, has also proven that he can very well carry a show. This new chapter in Elmo magalona’s career is interesting to monitor because he already is a bankable star. Let’s see how his new network can make him go higher.
Maine Mendoza 2015 was a landmark year for #AlDub, the multimedia phenomenon that has broken all existing social media records all over cyberspace and beyond. But that was just the start. While the other half of the tandem, Alden richards, has had plenty of exposure via TV shows and movies, maine mendoza is just getting started. And what a great start. 2016 will be a banner year, what with end-to-end billboards featuring maine’s face plastered everywhere. She is the new queen of the endorsement circuit. Insiders tell me she’s a real firecracker. We are more than excited to see her soar more this coming year. Curtis Smith Curtis Smith is not related to Anne or Jasmine, but he sings/ PAGE B4
runs the website www.spacethatworks.com) and Jiliane (www. theorganizationorg.com): • Start small Choosing one place in your home or workspace that is cluttered helps you focus. “Set a timer for 30 minutes and focus on that area,” Jiliane said. “Set some time aside, maybe once a day or once a week, to organize another area. You’ll be surprised what you can do if you really focus. • Determine what doesn’t serve you Kat recommended getting a trash bag and start filling it with items that are of no use to your setting. Decorations on one’s table can take up space, either take them home from work or donate the rest. • Everything has a place “If you have a home office and a creative studio in one room, set an imaginary line that separates the two so that your administrative things don’t spill over into your creative things,” Jiliane added. “If you have boundaries set and make sure you stick to them, you’re already being — and keeping things — more organized.” “Allot a drawer or shelf for writing and other office supplies. Use trays / small holders to keep them segregated and contained,” Kat said. Categorize files by the type of attention they need, such as those requiring immediate action (ex: call/return/pay/research) or those that just need to be filed away for safekeeping. She also recommended keeping a wastebasket near your desk can ensure that any junk/trash doesn’t end up on your work area. • A lesson in essentials At work, keep only the important things that you need on your desktop -- those that help you get your tasks done. Getting rid of unnecessary items gives you more room. To find out what you really need, Kat suggested asking yourself “what’s the worse case that can happen if you throw an item away if you are unsure what to do. Is it on the internet? Does someone else have it? Can someone advise you if you need to keep it (do ask why)? Are you keeping it all for one tidbit of info?” • Keep it simple — a complicated system for filing and organizing your items at home and at work will often times not get followed. • Don’t be afraid to ask for help “Clutter can be overwhelming and frustrating! It’s sometimes hard to get started because you don’t know where to start,” Jiliane said. “This is most often the reason why people need a professional organizer. With our fresh eyes, we can help you get started and develop a plan that will make the space work for you; so that you are in control of it, not it being in control of you.” The connection between organized and productive moreover, Kat noted that having an organized space means that you won’t spend your energy looking for missing items; instead, you can focus on doing work. “Do you need to rummage frantically through your desk while
someone is in front of you waiting, aging to get it? or can you whip it out without even blinking? Imagine if you were out sick and you really needed to send out an urgent document. If your workspace is organized, you can call someone and easily direct them where the item is located. Done. If your space is disorganized, well, they might not find it. Potential loss of opportunity right there and that could be anything from monetary to health crisis level,” she said. Her best advice for keeping your schedule organized? Devote a moment for “Quiet Time Planning,” which means to sit down and write out your daily to-do’s. Having a schedule tracker — either a physical planner or a calendar app — is helpful for planning. Next, she suggested determining whether a “to-do” item is a task (something that tasks a few minutes) or a project (longer period of time) and estimating how much time each would take. “Starring” the most important item(s) means that those should get done first. As you go along, check off things that have been completed. “But even with the best planner or app, if we don’t take time to sit, analyze and ‘organize our brain’, we won’t get the clarity we need to manage and maximize our days the best we can. And of course, all the planning in the world won’t do much without action,” Kat said. Healthy living Working towards a healthy lifestyle — either through a workout regimen or mindful eating — is among the top New Year’s resolutions that people set for themselves. “Whether [its] food or exercise [related], do it gradually and build up. Don’t set goals that are too drastic and sudden — physically and emotionally you might get shocked. It’s a long-term commitment and lifestyle change,” shared Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN “Balitang America” correspondent who lost 80 pounds in two years. Getting a daily dose of physical activity doesn’t have to be expensive or require a gym membership. Find an exercise that suits your fitness level and personality. The simplest form can be through walking, as it is free, easy and social. For overall cardiovascular health, the American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity for at least five days a week (total of 150 minutes) or at least 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity at least three days a week (total of 75 minutes). on top of that, adults should engage in moderate to high-intensity musclestrengthening activity at least two days a week for additional health benefits. “Even if you’ve been sedentary for years, today is the day you can begin to make healthy changes in your life. If you don’t think you’ll make it for 30 or 40 minutes, set a reachable goal for today. You can work up toward your overall goal by increasing your time as you get stronger. Don’t let all-or-nothing thinking rob you of doing what you can every day,” the AHA said. Drink up H20 Water, though taken for granted, is a beverage that can aid
with digestion and proper bodily functions. many suggest drinking half of your body weight in ounces (and more if you are active). Thirst can sometimes be mistaken for hunger, so staying hydrated is key to warding off cravings and avoiding overeating. To keep track of your daily water intake, keep a refillable water bottle nearby and sip it throughout the day. You can add fruit, sliced cucumbers, mint leaves or fresh lemon slices to make your plain water more exciting and flavorful. Find alternatives to ingredients Jenny Castaneda, the Southern California-based paleo food blogger behind www.paleofoodiekitchen.com said that though it’s a challenge to not have rice with a Filipino meal, try finding low-carb and healthier alternatives. one good substitute is cauliflower rice, “which can easily be made with a few pulses in the food processor,” Jenny said. “Stir fry it on a dry pan until slightly softened and it’s ready to eat! Cauliflower is packed with vitamins C, K and folate, making it much more healthier than white rice.” other substitutes include: coconut aminos or regular soy sauce (“It is made from coconut tree sap that is gluten-free, soy-free and has 70 percent less sodium. It has a slightly sweet taste that adds the same type of flavor as soy sauce but it’s much healthier,” she suggested); apple cider vinegar for cane vinegar; or tomato ketchup without added sugar for banana ketchup (“Banana ketchup sounds like a novelty but take a peek at any Filipino fridge and you’ll find a bottle lurking in there. Using bananas as the base for ketchup is such a unique idea but the added ingredients plus a ton of coloring makes it undesirable. Bananas are yellow and this ketchup is bright red!”) Financial habits Another category of resolutions is getting personal finances in order. one of the basic ways to do so is assessing one’s accounts and creating a budget to determine what expenses to prioritize over others, such as necessities (i.e. housing, food, healthcare) versus entertainment (i.e. social experiences). Victor Sy, CPA and author of the forthcoming book “How to Avoid IrS Audits” shared that paying with cash can help you track your spending and avoid future or further debt. “If you cannot afford to pay for something with cash, don’t even buy it,” he said. “When people get money, the first thing they do is go and buy something, like a car. They’ll put a 10-20 percent downpayment and they take on more debt. Eventually, they’ll pay it off and then enter the vicious cycle again.” By saving receipts and tracking transactions, studies show that individuals tend to be more thoughtful about what they spend their money on. What are your resolutions for this year and how do you plan to stick to them? Share your ideas with us at editor@asianjournalinc. com or Tweet us @Asianjournalcom.
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 7-13, 2016
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Aljur Abrenica shines in ‘Hermano Puli’ teaser Miss Universe excited to go home to PH
Aljur Abrenica as Hermano Puli
WITH the success of the historical biopic “Heneral Luna,” which went on to become the highest grossing Filipino independent film of all time, another historical film is set to make its mark into the consciousness of Filipino moviegoers. Aljur Abrenica plays the role of “Hermano Puli,” a Filipino hero from Lucban, Quezon who was the first to lead a revolt against the Spaniards in a bid to gain religious independence. The teaser, which lasts 1:15 minutes, was released last month and has since been making the rounds online after being shared by excited fans. “Hermano Puli” was supposedly one of the entries in the 41st Metro
Manila Film Festival but it withdrew due to lack of funding. It was replaced by the film “Honor Thy Father” which was later disqualified in the Best Picture race. Directed by Gil Portes, “Hermano” Puli stars Louise Delos Reyes, Enzo Pineda, Menggie Cubarrubias, Kristoffer Martin, Arnold Reyes, Markki Stroem, Simon Ibarra, Vin Abrenica, Allen Abrenica, Sue Prado, Kiko Matos, Stella Canete, Diva Montelaba, Abel Estanislao, and Alvin Fortuna. No release date has been announced for the said film but based on the comments on its Facebook page, it will be shown during the second half of 2016. (Inquirer.net)
Fil-Am playwright kicks off 2016 with 2 plays by Walter
ang
Inquirer.net
LOS ALTOS—San Francisco Bay-area playwright Jeffrey Lo is kicking off 2016 with two plays. “Writing Fragments Home” will have a free-admission staged reading on January 24 at Lohman Theatre, Foothill College in Los Altos, California. “Dealing Dreams” will be staged from February 12 to 28 by Thanks for the Memories Theatre at Meese Auditorium, Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. Fragments “Writing Fragments Home” is presented as part of the Asian American New Play Series at Foothill College. A talkback session with the playwright and cast will follow after the reading. A comedy, the play follows the story of a young Filipino playwright, Jay, whose life is not going well: Jay’s girlfriend has left him, he’s lost his job at Barnes and Noble and he’s just moved in with his Filipino immigrant mother. She’s fine with it, as long as he listens to her opinions. “Jay has to come face to face with his past, his family and his heritage in order to overcome writer’s block and discover his voice,” says Lo. Cast includes Weslei Gabrillo (as Jay), Gemma Bulos, Lee Robin Salazar and Katie McGee. Lo notes that “Writing Fragments Home” is “not autobiographical per se, but the relationship between the two main characters are loosely based on my relationship with my mom.” Both his parents are from Quezon City, Philippines.
This play had its first reading in 2012. “I’ve been working to really find the play’s voice and to create a more rich and complex story. Earlier drafts of the play were definitely more straightforward.” Lo has also been tweaking components of magical realism in the play. “I had to create a set of rules for that magic in order to make the world still feel believable. If anything could happen whenever I felt like it, it would have taken away from the authenticity of the story.” Resolution Lo became interested in theater after being assigned a drama project in high school where he had to write and direct his own play. “That was the moment I felt the power and importance of telling one’s own story and I decided that I would pursue theater as my career,” he says. Currently artistic director of The 06 Ensemble theater group, Lo also has directing credits with The Palo Alto Players, The Pear Avenue Theatre, Los Altos Stage Company and San Francisco-based Fil-Am theater group Bindlestiff Studio. “A resolution of mine in 2016 is to really focus on myself as a playwright,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate to be given so many opportunities as a director and arts administrator but my heart has always wanted to spend more time on my writing.” Lo’s recent playwriting credits include “A Kind of Sad Love Story,” which had its East Coast premiere in 2014. Dreams Born and raised in the Silicon Valley, Lo was inspired to write “Dealing Dreams” – how go-getters
Playwright Jeffrey Lo has two plays in production.
Zoe and Trey strive to keep afloat in today’s economy, graduating from elite schools only to face unemployment and chances at low-paying “McJobs.” They’re under-qualified for jobs they want, over-qualified for jobs they don’t want. Then Trey comes up with a striking new concept for a social networking website that, if developed right, might make them rich and change their lives forever. “It just made sense for me to set the play in that world because it’s a high stakes arena that surrounds me every day,” Lo says. “I watched a lot of my peers struggle to find their identity within the social and economic atmosphere of the post-college ‘adult world.’ I saw this wave of uber qualified individuals not find the work they thought was waiting for them and struggle to navigate their lives because of it.”
by Jory
rivera Inquirer.net
NEW YORK—Just thinking about her homecoming already excites her, 2015 Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach confessed, adding that she couldn’t wait to get home. The first Filipino in 42 years to win the prestigious crown however remains as philosophical as she is euphoric about achieving her lifelong dream. Be firm with your goals but flexible with your methods, said the Fil-German beauty queen who won the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe title on her third try. Despite her hectic schedule on her first “official” day as Miss Universe, Wurtzbach managed to squeeze in some time to sit down with the Inquirer for a quick catchup after her controversial win at the Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas last month. As the whole world knows by now, pageant host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia as this year’s Miss Universe, before apologizing for his error and naming Miss Philippines as the real winner. Here’s a question-and-answer with Wurtzbach on her memorable win: How was your first night as Miss Universe and did you sleep at all? “It was very busy because right after the pageant, there were a lot of interviews. There was a press conference [as well]. And then I was able to see my family and friends at the suite where I was staying. When I turned on my phone, I [saw] so many messages. I’ve never received so many messages in my life. A day [wouldn’t] be enough for me to reply to each and everyone. I just had to browse through every message. It was very busy that night but surreal. Yes, I was able to sleep. Soundly. Knowing that haaay, finally I got the ending that I wanted.” Is being Miss Universe as sweet as you dreamed it to be? “Yeah. And it’s a nice feeling to be THE Miss Universe. I mean, to get here. I know how hard it is to even be a representative of your country. The competition is tough back home. To make it this far and win Miss Universe is a big deal. It’s a big deal not just for the Philippines but even for me. It took me a long time to get here so I’m very proud of that.”
ON TOP OF THE WORLD. Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach surveys the cityscape in New York City, her home during her yearlong reign. Inquirer.net photo by Jory Rivera
Do you have any idea what your yearlong reign would look like? “Well, I see a lot of challenges. There’s going to be a lot of traveling as well. I hope I get to visit the Philippines a lot of times—and not just for the homecoming. Hopefully, also for the coronation of the next Binibining Pilipinas when I pass on the next Miss Universe-Philippines crown and with it, raise
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awareness about HIV in the Philippines. Also, for the relief operations in the Philippines that I want to push through. A new cause that I want to [shine] some light [on] is cyberbullying. That’s something that I also want to work on this year.” Well, you mentioned homecoming. How do you imagine your homecoming in the Philippines? PAGE B4
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Toni Gonzaga, Paul Soriano admit Miss Universe excited to go home to PH time a challenge in married life PAGE B3
MANILA—Now that they’re married, Toni Gonzaga and Paul Soriano admit that time is a major issue in their relationship. In an interview with ABS-CBN morning show “Kris TV” aired Monday, Toni said she and her director-husband have had major arguments about their time for each other. “The major ones are always (about) time,” the actress said when asked if she and Paul have had arguments during the six months they have spent as husband and wife. It can be remembered that Toni went back to work to host the reality show “Pinoy Big Brother” only days after she and Paul tied the knot in June. She is currently working on the upcoming ABS-CBN drama “Written In Our Stars” with Piolo Pascual. “Kasi there was a time, I would get home late na, mga 10 p.m., and she’s not home yet. She’s taping... Me, now being a husband, I don’t want her on the road at 2 a.m. I get a little bit weary. [I ask her], ‘Where are you?’ And she keeps texting, ‘Stop texting, I’m working!’” Paul said. But Toni and Paul said they also
Toni Gonzaga: “This 2016, the goal is to be the best wife for Paul.” Photo from Toni Gonzaga’s Instagram account
continuously work on their time issues. Toni also said she aims to be better wife for her husband this year. “The great thing about it was, after PBB, we did almost two weeks of straight of just the two of us,” Paul said. Toni added: “Lagi niyang sinasabi, ‘I don’t want to be your freetime husband, kung kailangan ka lang may free time. I want you to be my wife when I need you’.” “So sabi ko, ‘Okay, okay, this
2016, the goal is to be the best wife for Paul,’” she said. The 31-year-old actress-TV host said it’s important that she and Paul learn how to meet halfway. “He tells me naman na he’s not asking me to stop. He’s just asking for one little thing. He just wants me to be his wife. Tapos nag-usap kami na this is my heart’s desire. I also want to be the best wife for you but I also have dreams. Magme-meet lang talaga kayo halfway,” she said. (Philstar.com)
People to watch out for in 2016 PAGE B2
raps with a gritty honesty that is refreshing: “I have a dream I can make it on my own.” His words are that of a dreamer, hungry to express himself and carve his place in the world. Manila, meet your new makata. Nathan Rodjam Check out his Instagram account (@nathanrodjam) and see a full-mouthed barefaced new kid on the block who reminds us of a younger Borgy Manotoc. Nathan might just be the next male supermodel in Manila, as there’s been nobody who’s claiming the throne. New York City’s loss is Manila’s gain and you’ll also realize that this male model is also a crooner. Fashion industry, nurture this new “It” boy before showbiz gets a hold of him! The new Darna Star Cinema is still mum on who’s going to play this Pinoy superheroine but whoever it will be, expect the entire ABS-CBN machinery to focus all their marketing efforts on this new flying,
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fighting star. And as soon as you’re cast as Darna, you join the ranks of elite actresses tapped to play the red bra-wearing superheroine forever etched in Pinoy pop culture consciousness. It is the showbiz counterpart of the Miss Universe crown. Will it be Kathryn Bernardo? Nadine Lustre? Your guess is as good as mine. Mark Bumgarner If 2015 was the year of the female designer, the new year will give rise to Mark Bumgarner. Known for his sophisticated take on formal wear, he is set to collaborate with muse Heart Evangelista for his first big fashion gala this January 2016. Mark is making his mark this coming year. Expect lots of fabric and fabulosity from this young designer. Baby Olivia Olivia Manzano Reyes or Baby Olivia is not even a year old and already boasts 127,000 followers on Instagram and is the youngest ever to be put on this list of people to watch out for. Articles and blog entries, screensavers and various
Nathan Rodjam
other products have been devoted to this social media sensation. We suggest Baby O’s dialogue with her parents, GP and Andi Manzano-Reyes, be made into a book. Now, that would definitely be a best-seller!
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“Iniisip ko pa lang, na-excite na ako. (Just thinking about it already excites me). But you never really know until you’re there. Although I’ve been hearing great stories of how big a positive impact I made during the Miss Universe [pageant], I have yet to experience it myself, so I can’t wait to go home.” Do you miss home? Your family? Your friends? “Oo, (yes) I do. Especially when I [realize] this is probably the longest [I’ve been] away from home in a long time. I’m usually in England just for a month. But it’s already been a month since I’ve gone. Yeah, I miss going back home. I miss being with my friends and seeing my Binibini sisters. I just miss everything. I left my condo and my car as if I had thoughts of never coming back. But now I think, oh my, I’ve left some bills unpaid. So I need to go home. I live on my own and have to settle some things since I’m staying away for a year. I have to go back since I miss [friends and family] and also because I have a lot of errands.” What’s it like, living in the Big Apple? “It’s very beautiful, being in the city. You get a feel of it in certain parts of Manila [and] certain parts of England. But in here, everywhere is like this. It’s wonderful. Especially the shopping. That’s what makes it so risky for me—I live so near the shopping district. So, oh my gosh, I have to have a lot of self-restraint. But it’s been fun.” Do people recognize you even without the crown and sash? “Yeah actually. One time I was wearing this jacket and shades as well, and from half a block away, somebody goes ‘Pia! Pia! Pia, ha?’ My manager said that had never happened to me before, that from half a block away somebody would recognize a Miss Universe, what with how I look right now. Because half of my face was covered. Yes, I get recognized, I don’t know why. Is it the shape of my face? My walk? Or because I was talking so loudly? I don’t know. I don’t talk in Tagalog with my manager. But yeah, people recognize me. I’ve landed on [the TV show biz show] TMZ. I’ve been spotted by paparazzis, even without me wearing make-up. I was thinking: How can they recognize me, when I don’t recognize myself?”
How about other nationalities, aside from Filipinos, [how do they react to you]? “A lot of them ask to have their pictures taken with me, especially those from the Dominican Republic. They’re very nice, very warm. I’ve also met people from Colombia and they were nice.” How was your official day as Miss Universe? “I had a very hectic schedule but [it was] well organized. [The organizers] are very good with time management so we were able to do all the interviews on time. We did not have to rush [even if the day was] very packed. I started at 4 a.m. today and I still have one at around 9 or 10 p.m. live. So it’s a busy day. What I learned on my first day was that they weren’t kidding when they said they were looking for a spokesperson. Because they didn’t train me to answer like this. They didn’t give me ‘here, this is what you have to say.” You have to think of answers on the spot to whatever [question] is thrown at you. It’s not enough that you are a pretty face; they really want somebody who can talk because they don’t feed me with the answer. They ask me: What do you think? Even small things like captions for Instagram photos, they want me to compose them. So I’m actually doing the writing myself. And I’m thinking, they really want somebody who can speak, who can think on their feet as well. Do you still keep in touch with the other girls from the Miss Universe pageant? “Yeah and I miss them. I wish I get to visit some of them when I go to their countries. I especially miss my Asian sisters because I was very close to Miss Malaysia, Miss Myanmar and Miss China since we were all under one supervisor. So four girls, one supervisor. We kind of have to stick to each other lest we get lost. There were 80 contestants, but I became very close to the three girls and I really miss them because they were really my comic relief during the pageant. Of course there was also a lot of pressure from the Filipino fans for me to win. I also put a lot of pressure on myself. But I really like talking to them so I miss them a lot. You were once a fan. How do you feel that famous people tweet or mention you on Instagram? Siwon? Tyra Banks for your smize? “I admire them both (Siwon and Tyra Banks). I was a big fan of
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Super Junior when I was younger. I think I still am. [Siwon] is very cute, especially now. About my ‘smize,’ I learned a lot from Tyra Banks in [America’s Next Top Model]. I picked a lot of tips from her. And earlier today, I met Samuel L. Jackson who said he hopes to get to work with me in the future. He’s so warm. I also met Eva Longoria during my interview in Access Hollywood, and she congratulated me. When we were about to start, she even accompanied me to the interviewer.” What lesson can people learn from your journey to the Miss Universe crown? “A few lessons that I think they can learn is ‘never give up.’ It took me a long time to get here—and I stumbled along the way—but I was able to make it. Another thing: ‘choose your battles, focus on your aim.’ Don’t focus on whatever is thrown at you. You know what you want, so set your eyes on that. I’ve said this before: Be firm with your goals but be flexible with your methods. Just focus on your goal.” PAGE B6
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Resolve to solve your immigration problems in 2016
Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves Devin M. Connolly nAnCy e. MilleR The year 2016 is upon us and it is time to look forward and make plans for the upcoming year. Will 2016 be the year you resolve your immigration problems? Will 2016 be the year you consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration firm about your immigration rights in the US? Despite the “hold” placed on the implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA, the future for immigrants is still full of hope. Obtaining work authorization, permanent resident status, or even becoming a US citizen is possible for many people. Unfortunately, many people are afraid to confront their immigration problems and seek help. Many mistakenly believe that their case is hopeless because they overstayed their visa or entered the US under an assumed name or were convicted of a crime.
Other people do not understand that being brought to the US at a young age may help them, or that having US citizen or permanent resident parents or children may help them obtain work authorization and other immigration benefits. Regardless of their individual circumstances, they have all created a life for themselves in the US and they want to continue that life. But problems do not resolve themselves. Continuing to live in the US may only be possible by confronting the immigration problem. The first step is to consult a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney. A good immigration lawyer will be able to tell the non-citizen what options are available to them. Relief is available for many immigration problems. DACA is available for childhood arrivals – even if they dropped out of school or were convicted of certain crimes. DAPA is being reviewed this year by the US Supreme Court and may become a reality by June.
DACA and DAPA protect against removal but do not lead to permanent lawful status. however, many other existing forms of relief do. For instance, non-citizens who entered the United States by means of a misrepresentation may be eligible for a waiver of that misrepresentation if they have a parent or spouse who is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. The non-citizen must show that their parent and/or spouse will suffer “extreme hardship” if the non-citizen is forced to return to their home country. Non-citizens who have criminal convictions may be able to obtain or keep their green cards if they have a parent, spouse, or son or daughter who is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident who will suffer the requisite hardship if they have to leave. Changes in criminal law have opened doors that were previously locked to non-citizens who wished to either obtain or maintain their lawful permanent residence (or even become citizens). Those who obtained their
A clean slate
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA The immigration issue is now at the forefront of the national debate during this election year. It is a good time as any to talk about the immigrant life. Tabula Rasa, these words of Latin origin, refer to a fresh, clean slate. If we don’t lug around too much emotional and mental baggage, we as immigrants who have gone the legal route or have taken steps to become legal, could be bright-eyed, bushy tailed, eager beavers who can create a new life. It is great to make an accounting of what it is that we already have. At the top of the list should be the fact that because we are new, we have none of the bad habits and distorted ways of thinking and doing that have burdened both the natives and longtime immigrants. We can look at things with fresh eyes and the glow of our new surroundings no matter how humble in the beginning takes on new meaning
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” — Steve Jobs knowing that this life is brand new with little or none of the garbage that many jaded, cynical old-timers grapple with. In a fairly short time, as we live and orbit among others similarly situated as ourselves, we will find that it is easy to pick up and copycat the cynicism and pretentious jadedness of many who would constantly whine about everything in general, complaining about how nothing works and why the government and everyone else is to blame for everything that runs afoul. even during these unusually protracted tough times of severely diminished expectations, it is easy to fall into the trap of
taking things for granted. The list is endless: phones that work at all hours of the day 24/7; the amazing network of freeways and streets that if connected end to end would circle the moon several times; the constant supply of electricity and water as well as the basic necessities for survival that much of the developing world has to beg and grovel for; the sheer abundance of every imaginable kind of food and drink in the well-stocked supermarkets; the synchronicity of how the police and fire departments get their job done; the highest ratios of car ownership anywhere in the world; new cutPAGE B6
Metformin and longevity
Health@Heart PhiliP s. ChuA, MD, FACs, FPCs MeTFORMIN, a popular FDAapproved first-line drug treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus, has been shown in animal models to influence, besides glucose metabolism, cellular and metabolic processes associated with the development of age-related conditions adverse to health, like inflammation, oxidative damages, cell deterioration and aging. Many food items are antioxidants and reduce the harmful inflammation and oxidative processes in our system. These include fish and vegetables, green leafy, and of all colors, spices, nuts, olive oil, and whole grain high-fiber. Old fashioned oat meal is one such food, which could be eaten not only for breakfast but with every meal, instead of rice and bread. This is healthful thinking and eating “out of the box.” And of course, daily exercise is one of the vital ingredients in our recipe for a healthy and productive
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 7-13, 2016
life, which does not only tones our skeletal and heart muscles, stabilizes our equilibrium, but also reduces our cholesterol and body fat level, induces the secretion of happy hormones in us, reduces our risk for cancer, and allows us to have a nice sculptured body. Some of the proven mechanisms that improve healthspan include caloric restriction, use of some drugs like resveratrol (found in red wines) and rapamycin. Metformin is now being studied for its probable role in reducing the risk for cancer, cancer mortality, and as an anti-aging drugs for maximizing longevity. The whole world is eagerly anticipating the final verdict of this study. In the meantime, please be advised that self-medication for any purpose is dangerous, since all medications, without any exception, have potential complications and risks that could be life-threatening. Before starting any drug regimen, medical consultation is most prudent Malunggay oil is in Another natural wonder is malunggay, known in england as Moringa. The oil from malunggay
is low in transfat and is considered even healthier (and cheaper) than olive oil, and certainly much healthier than coconut oil, which is a hydrogenated oil with high transfat contents. The malunggay seeds are a good source of pure oil which is good for cardiovascular health, and of zinc and selenium that are good for the brain. And most of us know that malunggay leaves go well in mongo soup. Now, biotechnology is interested in malunggay as a bio-fuel. These two areas will surely be a boom to our farmers in the lahardevastated regions in Central Luzon, since malunggay is said to thrive well in fields laced with this volcanic ash and can withstand drought quite well. This opens up a great opportunity and potential for the Philippines. Bamboo stronger than steel Did you know that bamboo is stronger than steel? Technically a type of grass, bamboo, called the poor man’s timber, may be the greatest and greenest raw material on the planet. As a plant, bamboo can grow as fast as a meter a day. It proPAGE B6
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green cards by means of material misrepresentations may be eligible for a waiver if they have US citizen or permanent resident parents or sons or daughters and can show that the favorable factors outweigh the unfavorable facts in their case. Many countries are suffering political upheaval. This has caused many to flee for safety. Those seeking to enter or remain in the United States may be eligible for political asylum if they have or would suffer persecution as a result of their race, religion, ethnicity, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Those studying in the United
States and intending to start their own business may be eligible for various types of business investment visas. highly educated persons may be eligible for long-term nonimmigrant visas or green cards based on the skills they acquired in school or during practical training. hopefully 2016 will bring far reaching beneficial changes for immigrants. But remember that a person will not receive any benefits unless they apply for them, and they cannot apply for them unless they know they exist. Consulting with an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney will give a prospective immigrant the information they
Calendar of Events across
need to keep their resolution to resolve their immigration problems in 2016.
*** Atty. Reeves has represented clients in numerous landmark immigration cases that have set new policies regarding INS action and immigrants’ rights. His offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration @rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)
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 JA N UA Ry 9
Feast of Santo Niño de Cebu All are cordially invited to the Feast of Santo Niño de Cebu on Saturday, January 9, 2016, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bellflower, California, organized and sponsored by the Santo Niño de Cebu Association of Southern California, Inc., a non-profit religious organization. The Eucharistic Celebration will be presided by the Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, His Excellency Bishop Oscar A. Solis at 10:00 am followed by the traditional procession of the image of Santo Niño de Cebu, fiesta lunch and Sinulog presentations. Food and financial donations are welcome, and all donations are tax deductible. For further information, you may contact the association President, Danny C. Diluvio at (323) 252-4991 or email at: dannydiluvio1@gmail.com.
JA N UA Ry 1 7
29th Anniversary Feast of Santo Niño Santo Niño Cruzada USA, with the participation of the Cathedral Knights of Columbus and a Sinulog group, is inviting everyone for a holy mass to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the Feast of Santo Niño, the Divine Infant Jesus, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles (555 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012) on Sunday, January 17, at 3:30pm. The main celebrant is Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik, with Father David Gallardo as concelebrant. For more information, please contact any of the following officers: Romy & Tess Esturas (213-387-9682), Rey & Tess Edpao (818-469-7292), Lilia Figuracion (626-394-2661, Carmen Estrada (213-413-2881), Fe Montana (323-218-1587), Ester Paredes (213-864-1149), Fe Reyes (213-413-5286), Laurie Dolorfino (213-407-0097), and Cherry Guerrero (213-632-2096).
F E B R UA Ry 2 0 -2 1
PCCHS / PUPLHS 1996 Golden Jubilee The Philippine College of Commerce High School Laboratory Batch 1966 (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines) will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee from February 20-21 in Manila, Philippines. According to the President of the PCCHS Batch ‘66 Alumni Association, ROLAND ATIENZA, about 55 batchmates from Australia, Canada and USA have confirmed attendance to the Homecoming and 50 from Manila local chapter. Activities lined up for the Golden Jubilee Celebration are as follows: February 20, 2016 -- 6:00-12:00 pm. Formal Program/Dinner at the Banahaw Ballroom, The Legend Villas, Mandaluyong City, Philippines February 21, 2016 -- 8:00 am - 9:00 pm - Visit the ANAWIM Home for the Abandoned Elderly, Montalban, Rizal Province (Fellowship/Lunch/Donate basic needs of the elderly) - Tour of Manila (Former PCCHS in Lepanto, Intramuros Tour (old churches and Cathedral, Rizal Park, Fort Santiago) - Dinner/Cultural Show, at Barbara’s, Intramuros February 22, 2016 - BREAKUP GROUP (To Palawan, Laguna and respective hometown provinces of the guests) For inquiries, please contact the following members of the CORE group: Agnes T. Sule #09165567000 suleagnes@yahoo.com, Roland Atienza #09062947156 atienza8@yahoo.com, Rebecca T. Sayed 09064032624 rebecca.sayed@yahoo.com, Lourdes T. Flores lulutflores@yahoo.com, Rebecca Sayed rebecca.sayed@yahoo.com.
F E B R UA Ry 1 2
An Intimate Night with Miguel Vera Beat the Valentine’s Day rush and get your tickets to “An Intimate Night with Miguel Vera,” a special Valentine Show featuring Miguel Vera, performing the greatest OPM hits and romantic Filipino classics by Cayabyab, Canseco, and Cruz. The one-night-only concert will take place at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel (7675 Crescent Ave, Buena Park, CA 90620) on February 12 at 8:00pm. Special guests include Annie Nepomuceno and Kit Navarro. Please call (714) 814-0412 or (818) 913-329 for tickets and information. Tickets are $40 each.
APRIL - SEPTEMBER
Parathanal of Holy Trinity Parish Pilgrimages Fr. Jose Joseph Parathanal of Holy Trinity Parish, San Pedro District, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, invites all to join Fr. Joseph Parathanal’s Pilgrimages to EASTERN EUROPE, OLGUADALUPE/Colonial Mexico, and INDIA. During the journey, pilgrims will pray to God for healing of body, mind and spirit especially for healing of the world from violence, terrorism and climate changes. Trip dates are: Divine Mercy/Infant Jesus of Prague/Austria/Hungary/ Medjugorje (Eastern Europe) April 17- April 30; OLGuadalupe and Colonial Mexico - June 20 - June 27; and Mother Teresa/St. Thomas/St. Alphonsa/St. Euprasia/St. Chavarra (India) - Sept. 15 - Sept. 29, 2016. For more details and pilgrimage information, please contact Bernadette at bcorp1114@hotmail.com or call 323-344-1548 & 323-547-6618.
M Ay 27-29
PUP/PCC to hold 1st Global Reunion
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Attention all graduates of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Philippine College of Commerce: join us in our FIRST GLOBAL REUNION being organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association, USA Inc. scheduled on May 2729, 2016 (Memorial Day Weekend) at the New Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. We promise a weekend of fun-filled activities, of friendship and camaraderie as we reminisce our best memories during our high school and college days. There will be lots of entertainment, singing and dancing and photo opportunities with your classmates and friends. For more information, please contact any of the following: Loi Herrera at 562-544-8210 or loiherrera@yahoo.com; Monette Santillan-Rivera at 818-970-8317 or Monette_santillan@yahoo. com; Rose Mejia at 323-997-3838 or Rosemariemejia@kw.com; Marissa Sugay-Palanca at 818281-7460 or marispalanca@yahoo.com; Rose Maghari at 661-794-8906 or rmaghari@gmail. com; Sally Mendoza at 323-695-0235 or sally.mendoza616@yahoo.com; Honeylette De Leon at 562-480-5743 orhoney@worldclassfreight.com; Virginia Herbito at virginiaherbito@gmail.com; Connie Acosta at 323-854-5303 orconnieacosta1@att.net; Violeta D. Cristobal at 310-880-5808 or vee@cristobalcpa.com; Jun Mapoy at 323-627-5326 or jcmapoy@yahoo.com.
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B january 7-13, 2016 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL
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LBC and BOC collaborate to ensure WGU named a top school by Military Education for 9th consecutive year speedy balikbayan box deliveries Advanced Nonprofit, online university recognized for providing service PASAY—Following through on their discussions in the recently concluded Asia Logistics Summit 2015, LBC Express, Inc., the country’s largest logistics, remittance, and courier company, and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) are working hand-in-hand to ensure that balikbayan boxes, especially ones targeted for Christmas, arrive promptly and safely. BOC Chief Bert Lina was one of the guests of honor at the Asia Logistics Summit 2015. In his keynote speech, he mentioned “[In] logistics, the name of the game is speed.” He then followed it up with a clamor for the logistics companies and government to work together to ‘accelerate the pace of getting things done across all members of the supply chain.’ In response to Lina’s call, LBC has been working with the Bureau to hasten their turnover times. “The balikbayan box is where the OFWs translate their hard work and effort into something that is tangible and can be felt by their families back home. Its more padama than it is padala,” said Rene Fuentes, LBC’s Head of Global Retail. “Through the years, LBC has always been trusted with sending those important gifts and gestures of love, so we’ve synchronized our systems with Customs to be able deliver packages as quickly as possible,” he continued. In this cooperation between LBC and the BOC, both entities have streamlined their processes and systems to create a cohesive structure that will facilitate the movement of balikbayan boxes from point to point. The method
members, veterans, and their families with flexible, affordable education
SALT LAKE CITY—Western Governors University (WGU) has been named a Top School by Military Advanced Education (MAE) for the ninth year in a row. In its 2016 Guide to Colleges & Universities, the publication highlights institutions that provide the best educational options and fit for military service members, veterans, and their families.
WGU was selected as a military-friendly school for its affordability, flexibility, and personalized one-on-one faculty support. WGU’s online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are approved for tuition assistance for active-duty, reserve, and National Guard personnel. Veterans are eligible for education benefits through the G.I. Bill. Because
of WGU’s affordable tuition of about $6,000 per year for most programs, veterans are generally eligible for benefits that fully cover tuition and fees. WGU’s competency-based learning model is ideal for adult learners—especially military personnel—because it allows students to study and learn on PAGE B7
LBC Express Chief Marketing Officer Javier Mantecon welcomes the biggest names in the shipping and logistics industry to the Asia Logistics Summit 2015 presented by LBC. He describes the event as both ‘significant and timely’ as the industry is in a unique position to contribute to and benefit from the Philippine Economy.
ensures that the boxes will be handled safely, and will guarantee that the boxes will never have to be opened unless there is a compelling reason to do so. In August 2015, the BOC issued Customs Memorandum Order No. 27-2015 stipulating that “balikbayan boxes of OFWs shall not be subjected to random or arbitrary physical inspection. Instead, they shall undergo mandatory X-ray scanning.” This X-ray scanning is conducted at the Designated Examination Area (DEA), for preliminary non-commercial shipments. However, should any box be tagged “suspect” after Xray scanning (containing goods of commercial value), these will be physically inspected by duly authorized BOC inspectors. In this regard, all senders are encouraged to properly adhere to the procedures and policies of the BOC, while likewise prepar-
ing complete documentation (packing list). To further assist senders, and respond to queries and concerns in real-time, LBC and the BOC also initiated a regular live chat with BOC officials, where OFWs may directly communicate with BOC officials. “We hope that through our collaborative efforts [with the BOC], we can further improve our services to our customers, as well as upgrade the standards for the industry-at-large,” Fuentes said. “At the end of the day, all we want is for our OFWs to be able to send their love to their families, so that they will have a very Merry Christmas,” he concluded. To know more about the services of LBC Express, you may visit http://www.lbcexpress. com.
(Advertising Supplement)
(L-R) LBC Express President Miguel Camahort, LBC Express CEO Santiago Araneta, Customs Commissioner Bert Lina, Brian Lane, Suzie Mitchell, and Beth Lee address some of the concerns and comments of shipping and logistics practicioners at the Asia Logistics Summit 2015.
80TH BIRTHDAY. Minutes before the New Year, Mr. Nory Mitra originally from Tarlac, celebrated his 80th birthday party in his lovely daughter’s home in Flushing, NY Dec. 31, 2015. His family and grandkids came from Kosovo, Scotland, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Orlando, Florida to attend the memorable birthday event. They feasted lots of lobsters and delicious Italian and Filipino food. Honorio lived in Queens, NY for many years before retiring in Orlando, Florida. Photos by Raoul Gatchalian
EntErtainmEnt
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Metformin and longevity
duces 35% more oxygen for the atmosphere than other grasses, and more effectively binds soil to prevent corrosion. Considered the strongest stuff on earth, with greater tensile strength (resistance to being pulled apart) compared to steel, and which stands compression better than concrete, bamboo is highly promoted today by environmental organizations as a superior building material. Newsweek reported that “bike designer Craig Calfee, who pioneered the use of carbon-fiber, the gold standard for elite bicycle frames since 1900 (Calfee Design of California), says it is a matter of time before bamboo sweeps the bike-racing world.” Calfee considers bamboo superior, “offering better combination of stiffness (for power efficiency) and compliance (for vibration dampening).” Newsweek stated that the sales of his $2700 bamboo road frame grew 33% in 2007, and quoted Frey as saying “riding a bamboo bike is like wearing comfortable loafers and having the efficiency of track spikes. It’s a technical wonder that nature already built.” “Our concept of strength is, it doesn’t move, it doesn’t break,” states Don Smith, who owns Smith & Fong, the largest manufacturer of bamboo plywood in the USA. Laminated bamboo called plyboo, whose sale grew 40% in 2005, is
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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 7-13, 2016
becoming very popular among builders. Bambu is another US firm houseware makers using bamboo materials. Today, e-houses (a modern version of “bahay kubo”?) are being built with all-bamboo floors, cabinetry, and exteriors of double panels of bamboo. Statins lower cancer risk Cholesterol-lowering drugs (specifically statins), at sufficiently high does, might have a most beneficial “side-effect” of lowering the risk for the development of cancer. This is indeed great news from the American Journal of Medicine since hundreds of millions of people around the world are now taking, or good candidates for, these popular cholesterollowering drugs. The four statins mentioned in this study were atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, or fluvastatin. More independent clinical researches from other institutions are needed to confirm the validity of these observations. In the meantime, this is information is most encouraging for those on low-fat, low-cholesterol, high-fiber diet and taking statins to control their cholesterol level. Of course, to this regimen, we must add daily physical exercises. As we have already published in this column in the past, exercise has been proven to greatly reduce the risk of cancer also.
Weight-loss surgery and suicide Bariatric surgery is a popular procedure today for obese patients to lose weight, after serious attempts at rigid dieting fail. The data from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost and Containment Council and the Pennsylvania state health agency’s Division of Vital Records published in the Archives of Surgery, show that patients who have undergone bariatric surgery have 5 to 10 times proneness or incidence of committing suicide compared to the general population. The investigators suggested that “more intense follow-up treatment may be required for bariatric surgery patients, with an emphasis on detecting and treating depression…In addition, doctors should focus on the risk factors for the most common causes of death in these patients… These risk factors include smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.” *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com
A clean slate
ting edge films and movies every week (though a high proportion of these have questionable merits). The amount of information available is overwhelming. There are vast amounts of information to sift through at our fingertips. There is the embarrassment of riches of the social and cultural wealth for those who seek them in the libraries, in the internet and in books; the presence of truly excellent, wonderful people of illustrious pedigrees of every race, color and creed in our midst in every field, both in high places and among those of us of lowly, peasant stock, the religious, the teachers and the bureaucrats who go about living their lives with unheralded commitment and passion. I could go on till hell freezes over.
The point is this. As life for the immigrant takes on its daily routine and as he begins to settle down, raise a family and find a job to crank out an income or start a business to build wealth with, a lot of the initial wonderful impressions that were amazing in the beginning will be taken for granted. Everything becomes ordinary, dull, predictable, mundane — just plain vanilla ice-cream boring. He begins to expect the steady pulse with which every convenience is accessible. The daily grind has taken its toll. The freshness with which he sees things is gone and in its place is this cynical, jaded, somewhat repulsive person who has forgotten what it means to be thankful for every grace, every convenience, every person living and dead who has made America the phenomenally beautiful, if some-
times flawed, place that it was, is and will still be no matter which political winds blow. The antidote for mental plaque of this nature that will catch us all unawares as we slide into a routine is a generous, heaping dose of gratitude on a daily basis. Say a heartfelt thanks as often as the sun rises in the morning and sets at twilight. Realize that the mental plaque builds up unless we take a willful conscious effort to renew the way we look at things each day. The secret is to make each day of our immigrant life brand new. Come to think of it, the same secret holds true for every inhabitant of this planet, both immigrant and native. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
NEW YEAR CELEBRATION. Caesars Palace celebrates New Year’s Eve 2015 and marks the beginning of 2016, the 50th anniversary year of the iconic Las Vegas resort. Taken from atop the Vortex at The LINQ Hotel & Casino, crowds are seen celebrating the evening and fireworks dance in the sky over Caesars Palace. Photo by Erik Kabik/Caesars Entertainment
WGU named a top school by Military... PAGE B6
their own schedule and at their own pace. Students can apply what they’ve learned at work, in the service, and in previous courses to move quickly through what they already know, while taking the time they need to focus on what they still need to learn. Students who devote additional time to their studies can often accelerate their programs, saving both time and money. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. “As a military spouse, I needed the flexibility that WGU provides. This was crucial to my success,” said Carly Merritt, a recent WGU Teachers College graduate who began teaching her first year of kindergarten shortly after earning her bachelor’s degree. “Over a span of a few years, my husband and I moved from California to Guam to Hawaii back to California and finally to Nevada. Being able to study and complete coursework anywhere I had an Internet connection allowed me
to earn my degree and move my career forward.” The online university recently launched a $125,000 scholarship program aimed at helping veterans go back to school to complete their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. The WGU Salute to Veterans Scholarship, which will accept applications until January 31, 2016, is valued at up to $2,500 per student, with up to 50 scholarships awarded to new students nationwide. In addition to this special Veterans Day scholarship, the WGU Military Appreciation Scholarship is an ongoing scholarship available year-round to military personnel, their spouses, and veterans. Of the more than 64,000 WGU students enrolled across the country, more than 7,000 are active-duty military personnel, their dependent family members, or veterans. For more information about WGU and military or veterans’ benefits, visit wgu. edu/military. Now with more than 64,000 students and 55,000 graduates nationwide, WGU offers more
than 50 online, competencybased bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the highdemand fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. Recognized by President Obama as an innovative university that “awards credits based on learning, not seat time,” WGU has been named one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies ” and has been featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” NBC Nightly News, CNN’s “Schools of Thought,” and in The New York Times. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations, including AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, USA Funds, and Zions Bank. More information is available at wgu.edu or by calling (866) 225-5948.
B january 7-13, 2016 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL
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