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Volume 26 - No. 33 • 2 sections – 16 Pages

august 20-26, 2015

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Pacquiao cases head to California court DATELINE USA from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

New app aims to push Asian American voter participation in 2016

by

Allyson EscobAr AJPress

PlAintiffs who argue the may 2nd boxing match between filipino champ manny Pacquiao and undefeated floyd mayweather Jr. was a fraud will get a chance to settle their cases before a federal judge in California.

the long-awaited match, dubbed the “fight of the Century” at the mGm Grand in las Vegas, received 4.4 million viewers who paid up to $100 each to watch on pay-per-view. Disappointed viewers criticized both boxers’ performances, including mayweather, who won the fight by the judges’ unanimous decision.

Judge r. Gary Klausner, who heard arguments in cases filed last year against sony Pictures related to a major company cyber-hack, will decide if the Pacquiao cases are granted classaction status before any trial proceeds.

A panel of judges that decides whether to consolidate similar claims brought in different jurisdictions into a

Enrile to return to Senate

for the 50th anniversary of the Voting rights Act, 18 million rising, an Asian American digital activist group, launched a new indiegogo campaign to create a translation matching app designed to increase voter participation in next year’s presidential elections. the mobile app, called VoterVoX, is described as “one part civic tech, one part PAGE A3

Raring to tackle BBL, sea dispute by

PAGE A2

MichAEl PunongbAyAn Philstar.com

Fil-Ams on US mercy ship relish homecoming ABoArD Usns merCY—some Usns mercy crew members with Philippine roots were reunited with their relatives in the country during their stay in subic Bay freeport last week. hospital Corpsman 3rd Class stephanie madridejo, 21, had a rare opportunity to spend time with some of her relatives from Quezon City. “i am excited to see my relatives in the Philippines. it’s been years since i last visited them and i have cousins whom i

single courtroom ruled friday, August 14 that lawsuits filed in multiple states will be heard in the Central District of California, where Pacquiao was said to injure his shoulder while training for the fight.

Pacquiao, 36, injured his rotator cuff in April during a training exercise. his PAGE A2

UNDERWHELMING FIGHT OF THE CENTURY. The long-awaited match, dubbed the “Fight of the Century” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas between Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., received 4.4 million viewers who paid up to $100 each to watch on pay-per-view.

Disappointed viewers criticized both boxers’ performances, including Mayweather, who won the fight by the judges’ unanimous decision.

AJPress file photo by Andy Tecson

Customs to impose tighter rules for balikbayan boxes by cAMillE

DiolA Philstar.com

BALIkBAYAN boxes are duty and tax-free packages designed for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sending home gifts to their families. However, it should always be noted that these packages have limitations, such as contents not exceeding $500 in value, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said.

Inquirer.net photo

mAnilA - the Bureau of Customs said it may impose tougher measures on balikbayan boxes for fear that these tax-free packages are being used by traders to smuggle goods into the country. “the existing rules are obsolete and we may have to reassess our coordination and processes with consolidators for stricter and improved compliance,” Customs Commissioner Alberto lina said in a statement. “our spot checks from several warehouses show how misconstrued the rules may have become. People are sending in used clothing, home appliances and items of the same kind that can well be used for commercial purposes,” he said.

lina recounted that some items inside these balikbayan boxes could be considered as smuggled goods due to noncompliance with the Philippine tariff and Customs Code. some packages were found to be “spilling with undervalued items and under-declared contents” during the bureau’s spot checks, he said.

Balikbayan boxes are duty and tax-free packages designed for overseas filipino workers (ofWs) sending home gifts to their families, the BoC said. however, it should always be noted that these packages have limitations, such as contents not exceeding $500 in value, lina said.

“Canned goods, grocery items PAGE A2

mAnilA—sen. Juan Ponce enrile is excited to go back to work and participate in current deliberations on important national issues like the Bangsamoro Basic law and the West Philippine sea, according to his lawyer. enrile’s defense counsel eleazar reyes said the 91-year-old lawmaker is already preparing to report for work in the senate. “he’s in good health. of course he will have to take his maintenance medicine and treatment,” reyes said. however, enrile was not allowed to post bail as of end of office hours on Wednesday, Aug. 19 since the supreme Court is PAGE A2

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile Inquirer.net photo

A

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From The FronT Page

Pacquiao cases head to...

PAGE A1 team did not disclose the injury until hours after the May 2 fight, when Pacquiao said that he redamaged the shoulder during the fourth round against Mayweather. Nevada Athletic Commission officials have considered fining or suspending Pacquiao for not reporting any injuries on the pre-fight questionnaire.

The US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation said in its final decision Friday that “determining the severity and timing of the boxer’s rotator-cuff injury could require significant factual, and possibly expert, discovery.� “Questions about the facts of

the case, including for example who knew about the injury, are sufficiently complex to warrant consolidating the large number of related cases,� the panel said.

At least 32 lawsuits had been filed as of mid-May in California, Nevada, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Texas. Several more appear to have been filed since.

Pacquiao and his promoter Top Rank Inc. are named in all of the lawsuits, and most also include Mayweather, his promoters, as well as cable companies HBO and Showtime.

The lawsuits argue the injury was not revealed until after the

Enrile to return to...

PAGE A1

yet to serve an official copy of its ruling to the Sandiganbayan.

A skeletal force of the Sandiganbayan reported for work even if it was a Quezon City holiday to facilitate Enrile’s possible posting of bail.

Officials explained they have to receive the official copy of the Supreme Court decision to allow Enrile to post bail.

Enrile, on the other hand, has requested for the medical bills he incurred during his stay at the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH), where he is under hospital arrest.

The camp of Enrile reportedly asked the PNPGH administration for a bill of the medical expenses, which he should settle before he leaves the hospital premises.

SPO4 Jovito Tapayan, finance officer of the PNP-Health Service, said the medical expenses reached a total of P76,000 for 150 days.

Tapayan, however, did not explain the basis of the 150 days confinement.

Tapayan said the amount was reduced to P61,000 after deducting Enrile’s privileges as a senior citizen. He added the amount could still be deducted from Enrile’s Phil-

Health benefits.

The police personnel detailed as security for Enrile were also ordered to pull out once the senator posts bail.

Joseph Sagandoy, Enrile’s lawyer, said the senator is excited and ready to go home.

Although the release has been held in abeyance, Sagandoy said Enrile does not mind the delay and is still eager to go home.

Enrile was arrested in July last year for plunder and graft in relation to his alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam allegedly masterminded by trader Janet LimNapoles.

The Sandiganbayan denied his motion to fix bail, prompting him to elevate the issue to the Supreme Court.

Enrile filed his petition on Sept.

4, 2014, citing his advanced age and voluntary surrender to the Sandiganbayan.

On Tuesday, the high court granted Enrile’s petition and set bail at P1 million.

Enrile will have to post bail in the amount of P1 million for the plunder charge and P450,000 for the 15 counts of graft filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Reyes said Enrile will have to come up with cash since applying

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May 2 fight, too late for the millions of worldwide viewers who paid to watch it. HBO and Showtime have said they earned more than $400 million total from the fight.

In court filings, attorneys representing Pacquiao and Top Rank have said the claims are without merit.

An attorney for the defendants declined to comment on August 17, as well as representatives for HBO and Showtime.

Each of the boxers earned more than $100 million in a single night. (With reports from the Associated Press, BoxingScene. com) for surety will take time and will delay his release from the PNPGH, where the senator has been under hospital arrest since last year.

Reyes said the grant of bail is a positive development since considering how the high tribunal apparently agreed with Enrile that he is not a flight risk in view of his age and position in government. “The probability of his flight is zero. Basically even the Constitution says that he ought not to be given bail if the evidence of guilt is strong because of the risk of flight.

But if you can show that there is no flight risk under the circumstances that negates that rational of the Constitution,� Reyes said.

Former Cagayan representative Jack Enrile thanked the Supreme Court for allowing his father to post bail. “On behalf of my mother Christina and the rest of my family, I wish to thank the Supreme Court justices for their kindness and compassion in allowing Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile to post bail,� the younger Enrile said in a statement.

Vice President Jejomar Binay welcomed the impending release of Enrile, saying he was not surprised by the SC decision to allow the 91year old legislator temporary liberty and granting his motion for a bill of particulars.

Lawmakers led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. welcomed the expected return of Enrile to the Senate. “I am glad he’s given the opportunity and the ability to regain his freedom.�

Belmonte said he had visited Enrile thrice while in detention in Camp Crame.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez hailed the SC in its decision to allow Enrile the chance to continue his legislative duties in the Senate. “The ruling champions humane treatment which he deserves,� he said.

ParaĂąaque City Rep. Gustavo Tambunting, of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), said the SC decision would indicate that evidence against Enrile was not strong.

Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano III said Enrile deserves to be freed while the trial is going on because of his advanced age. (With Paolo Romero, Helen Flores, Cecille Suerte Felipe)

Some USNS Mercy crew members with Philippine roots were reunited with their relatives in the country during their stay in Subic Bay Freeport last week.

Inquirer.net photo

Fil-Ams on US mercy ship relish...

PAGE A1 will meet for the first time,� Madridejo told the Inquirer before the reunion.

Madridejo, whose parents are Filipinos, is a medical student and lives in San Diego, California. She is assigned to the intensive care unit on the Mercy during the hospital ship’s Philippine mission.

Mateo de Dios, another Filipino-American crew member, said he visited his relatives in Cabangan, Zambales.

De Dios, 48, has been working as an electrician on the hospital ship for three months. He said his visit with his Filipino relatives was “special,� as the ship’s stay in Subic was for only a few days.

Lt. (jg) Timothy Pietrack, public affairs officer of the USNS Mercy Pacific Partnership 2015, said the Filipino-American personnel on the ship were allowed to debark and spend time with their relatives outside the free port.

The relatives were also allowed to board the ship to meet the FilAm crew members, he said.

100 Fil-Ams aboard Capt. Christopher Engdahl, USNS Mercy Pacific Partnership 2015 mission commander, said there were about 100 Fil-Am personnel on the ship and some of them were on their first humanitarian mission.

The USNS Mercy arrived in this former American naval base on Aug. 4 for the second phase of Pacific Partnership 2015, which aimed to provide multilateral

training, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

Formerly a San Clemente-class supertanker, the hospital ship has a 1,000-patient bed capacity. It has four X-ray rooms, a CT scan unit, a physical therapy suite, a pharmacy, a blood bank and an optometry lab.

The ship deployed a team of military and civilian medical professionals to provide surgical and other treatments to residents of Olongapo City and surrounding areas.

A team from the USNS Mercy went to Pangasinan on Aug. 10 for a three-day humanitarian mission. ‘It’s great to be home’ Lt. Cmdr. Elmer Jimenez, who grew up in Barangay Bued in Calasiao town, said he visited Pangasinan on a sentimental homecoming. “It feels great to be home. It’s been 25 years since I left my pinablin (beloved) Pangasinan,� said Jimenez, the Mercy’s medical planner for the Philippines and Fiji missions.

The USNS Mercy team conducted a basic life support training on Aug. 5 and 6 at Subic Bay. Medical personnel from the Pangasinan Provincial Health Office joined the training.

Jimenez and 69 other personnel of the hospital ship, led by its deputy mission commander, Capt. Brian Delamont of the Royal Australian Navy, were received in Pangasinan by Gov. Amado Espino Jr. during the flag-raising cer-

emony at the capitol in Linagayen town.

The team was composed of eight Filipino-Americans, four of them, including Jimenez, hailing from Pangasinan. “This is my first time to come home in my uniform. So it also feels great that I’m in this capacity to deliver some services here in Pangasinan,� Jimenez said.

On Aug. 10, the team conducted veterinary medical missions in 10 villages of Lingayen and met with disaster response officials.

TB, leprosy, etc.

The team also held a symposium on tuberculosis, leprosy, leptospirosis and dengue, and conducted a mobile blood donation, presurgical screening for patients with cleft palates and demonstration and rapid rabies detection tests in several Pangasinan towns.

Jimenez, 43, said he left Pangasinan when he was 18 and joined the US Navy a few months after arriving in the United States. “There have been a lot of improvements here. I am impressed that the governor has prioritized health services as one of his programs and it’s very apparent in the capabilities of the health workers,� Jimenez said.

He said hours after his team’s arrival here on Aug. 9, he treated his colleagues to a dinner of Filipino food that included Dagupan bangus (milkfish). “A lot of them loved the bangus and they enjoyed the puto (glutiPAGE A3

Customs to impose tighter rules for...

PAGE A1 and other household effects must not exceed a dozen a kind, while apparel whether used or new must not exceed three yards per cut,� Lina said.

He added that one consign-

ment per sender during a onemonth period is allowed.

These packages should also not contain any banned or regulated firearms and ammunition, prohibited drugs, pornographic material and gambling material. “Home appliances are not allowed unless these are consigned to returning Filipino residents and overseas contract workers.

We will seize these prohibited shipments and revoke registrations of forwarders or consolidators if we find any violations,�

Lina said.

He further said examination of the shipments is allowed and if a receiver finds any items missing from the packages, he may report this to the proper authorities.

Congressional probe sought Meanwhile, a group of OFWs immediately sought an investigation into the reported plan of the BOC to impose additional taxes on balikbayan boxes and other consolidated shipments.

Connie Bragas-Regalado, Migrante party-list chair, said Congress must look into this.

According to Regalado, Migrante has received information that the BOC plans to increase clearing fees for all containers entering Philippine

ports to as much as P100,000 to P120,000.

She reported that the first increase was actually imposed last July and another will reportedly be implemented this October. “What is the reason and rationale for this increase? Why was it imposed despite strong opposition from forwarders and OFWs alike? Where will the added cost go?� Regalado asked.

She said the least the government could do to help the millions of Filipino workers abroad is to stop any money-making schemes that will affect them and their families.

Freight forwarders earlier complained that the BOC has approved an increase of taxes covering all shipments in a consolidated container from P80,000 to P180,000.

The imposition of additional taxes on consolidated shipments should be thoroughly investigated by Congress when legislators hear the agency’s proposed 2016 budget, Regalado said.

She said the additional taxes, which could translate to P325 per balikbayan box, would surely be passed on by the freight forwarders to OFWs. (With Mayen Jaymalin, Evelyn Macairan)

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 20-26, 2015

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US maintains call for peaceful resolution of maritime dispute

by Frances

Mangoseng Inquirer.net

THE United States reiterated its call for a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute following China’s release of military recruitment video that seemed to warn other nations.

“I think what will promote stability in the region are legal and peaceful means to settle disputes and the US feels very strongly about that and supports those efforts very much,” US Ambassador Philip Goldberg told reporters at Villamor Air Base on Monday, Aug. 17 on the sidelines of the turnover of 10 brand new choppers for the Philippine Air Force.

The four-minute, 23-second video posted on YouTube early this month showcased China’s assets such as warships, subma-

rines and fighter jets.

“Struggle over maritime rights have never ceased. We shall never yield even the tiniest bit of our resources,” a part of the translated subtitle of the video read.

“I think that our position has been clear that the way to settle disputes in South China Sea is through legal, peaceful and diplomatic means. That’s why we have the Philippines’ effort to bring the case before the ITLOS, UNCLOS. That’s why we have supported a code of conduct to better lay out the rules of the road because ultimately what we should all be seeking are rulesbased, legal-based solutions to the various claims, not the use of force or threats or any kind of coercion,” Goldberg added.

The Philippines is one the US treaty allies and last year, both

signed an agreement that would allow US forces to rotate in the country without having to build permanent basis.

China claims most parts of the South China Sea and it has made rapid progress in seven reefs in the Spratlys in recent months.

The US is one of the critics of China’s massive reclamation works in the disputed maritime superhighway.

The Philippines is pushing for an arbitration case against China to invalidate its sweeping claims in the disputed seas. China has repeatedly refused to participate in the proceedings, however.

Malacanang and the Department of Foreign Affairs have also downplayed the recruitment video and instead called on for a diplomatic track in solving disputes in the South China Sea.

PAGE A1 grassroots organizing, and three parts cultural connection.”

VoterVOX seeks to connect multilingual Asian Americans with voters in their communities needing language assistance in order to address continuing language barriers facing Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) at the polls and resultant voter disenfranchisement.

According to recent studies, AAPIs are three times more likely than Latinos to cite language barrier as a reason for not voting.

“Nearly half of all adult AAPIs are not comfortable in English (the technical term is limited English proficient), and I want the other 50 percent of us to take initiative in helping them participate fully in civic life,” C.M. Samala, executive director of 18 Million Rising told NBC News.

A new report by Asian Ameri-

cans Advancing Justice | AAJC, entitled “50 Years of the Voting Rights Act: An Asian American Perspective,” found that language assistance is vital to the growing AAPI community, many of whom are immigrants. Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act requires bilingual ballots and assistance at the polls for limited English proficient voters, but only when the population that speaks a minority language reaches a certain threshold in the community.

As a result, many voters from smaller, less concentrated language groups who need assistance are left out. Section 208, however, allows voters to receive assistance from a person of their choice, and exit polls show that this is a solution many AAPIs utilize.

VoterVOX works by matching a volunteer translator with a voter identified by community groups

as needing help understanding the ballot. The volunteer translator meets the voter at a local library or community center, and they go over the voter’s mail-in ballot in the preferred language.

To finish, the voter mails in his or her own ballot, and the volunteer translator uploads his or her ballot translation or technical language notes to share with other volunteer translators.

Samala sees this as just the first step to better engagement for multiple communities.

“As we make democracy accessible in more languages for AAPI communities, we also hope that VoterVOX grows into a platform that all limited English proficient Americans can use to improve access to voting, health care, housing, and other aspects of civic life,” she said. (Allyson Escobar/ AJPress with reports from NBC News)

A

A jobseeker interviews for an administrative sales position at a Cleveland Career Fair in Ohio. The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, but the overall trend continued to point to a strengthening labor market.

US jobless claims rise, four-week New app aims to push Asian American voter... average lowest since 2000 by allyson

escobar

AJPress

THE number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, but the overall trend continued to point to a strengthening labor market.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 274,000 claims for the week ending August 8, the Labor Department said on Thursday, August 13. Claims for the prior week were revised to show 1,000 fewer applications received than previously reported.

266,250 last week--the lowest average since April 2000.

Non-farm payrolls increased by a solid 215,000 jobs in July, and the unemployment rate held at a seven-year low of 5.3 percent--near the 5.0 to 5.2 percent range that most Federal Reserve officials feel is consistent with a steady but low level of inflation.

Thursday’s claims report also showed the number of people still receiving benefits after an initial week of aid rose 15,000, to 2.27 million in the week ending August 1. (With reports from Reuters)

Calmer temperatures ease Western wildfires by allyson

escobar

AJPress

OVER the weekend, firefighter crews continued battling against wildfires that have destroyed dozens of homes in the West and forced hundreds to evacuate.

PAGE A2 Calmer weather on Sunday, the official hymn of the province. very talented people,” Sweeten August 16 helped firefighters nous rice cake) and some of them They also entertained the employ- said. even tried balut (boiled duck em- ees with jazz numbers.

The band held a concert featur- tighten their grip on the blazes, bryo),” Jimenez said.

Lt. Patrick Sweeten, bandmas- ing American pop music at the but dry, hot temperatures and During the flag-raising cere- ter, said it took his band three Robinsons mall in Calasiao on low humidity is expected in the days ahead. mony, the Pacific Fleet Band sur- rehearsals to perfect the Pangas- Aug. 11.

Temperatures will be five to prised the provincial employees inan hymn.

The USNS Mercy left the Philwhen it played “Luyag ko tan Ya“It was a special arrangement ippines on Friday for its next des- seven degrees cooler in the early part of week, but will remain hot man” (My Province and Treasure), by one of our members. They are tination, Vietnam. (Inquirer.net)

Fil-Ams on US mercy ship relish...

Though claims have risen for three straight weeks, they have remained below the 300,000 threshold, which is associated with a firming jobs markets, for 23 consecutive weeks.

Economists had forecast claims to be unchanged at 270,000 in the last week. A Labor Department analyst said there were no special factors influencing the data, and no states had been further estimated.

The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out weekto-week volatility, fell 1,750 to

for most areas in the valleys and mountains, according to the National Weather Service. As highpressure systems over Southern California weakens, clouds, fog, and lower temperature will continue for the rest of the week, with the coolest weather on Thursday, August 20.

In Washington, more crews, including some from the Washington National Guard, are being mobilized in the battle on Monday with several large fires threatening homes in the Chelan area in central Washington. The blazes have destroyed more than

50 structures, forced about 1,500 residents to flee and scorched more than 155 square miles.

Fire incident spokesman Wayne Patterson says air tankers have established lines to keep the flames from reaching downtown Chelan, a popular resort town.

“There were literally people on the beaches near that lake in their swimwear out on the lake right near it,” Patterson said.

In Oregon, higher humidity and lighter winds allowed crews to slow the spread of wildfires burning up eastern Oregon.

PAGE A3

A

august 20-26, 2015 • Las VEgas asIaN JOuRNaL

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Calmer temperatures ease Western wildfires PAGE A3 A lightning-sparked fire near John Day has grown to nearly 60 square miles and has destroyed at least 26 homes. Roughly 300 firefighters were assigned to the blaze over the weekend, with more on the way.

Improved weather conditions south of Baker City also helped firefighters make progress on the state’s largest wildfire. The blaze has charred almost 140 square miles and destroyed six homes.

In Colorado, lightning across the northwestern region is suspected of sparking about 30 fires over the weekend, keeping firefighters running from one blaze to another.

Many of the smaller fires have been contained. The largest of the wildfires is the Four Mile Fire, which has burned over 1,000 acres 20 miles north of Craig.

It was 80 percent contained on Monday, August 17.

The Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit says over

4,000 lightning strikes hit northwestern Colorado over the hightemperature weekend.

In California, a large fire north of San Francisco that has been burning for over a week has destroyed nine homes and charred more than 39 square miles But with the improved weather, firefighters are gaining ground against the wildfire, with 85 percent containment reported Monday.

Fire officials say that over the weekend, smoke from the fire drifted into the San Francisco Bay Area and east of the city, where it was trapped in valleys for several days, causing hazy skies and poor air quality.

The fire is the second of two blazes that have charred land area near the dry Lower Lake.

The first one, which was contained Friday after more than two weeks, destroyed 43 homes.

In Southern California, crews working through the night stopped the spread of two Los Angeles County fires that burned several structures, charred hundreds of acres of dry brush and led to the arson arrest of one person.

Three fires in the area simultaneously occurred Saturday and Sunday, with firefighters battling in the triple-digit heat.

A brush fire sparked near a riverbed in Montebello, a suburb east of downtown Los Angeles, halted operations at an oil field and prompted the evacuation of the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. The fire, which grew to about 200 acres, is 60 percent contained on Monday.

Montebello authorities say a 45-year-old homeless man has been arrested on suspicion of arson. The causes of the other two fires were under investigation.

To the north, a wildfire that burned buildings at an abandoned rehabilitation center in rural Castaic has charred about 300 acres in Angeles National Forest.

So far it is 10 percent contained.

Meanwhile, a 2-and-a-halfsquare-mile fire in the forest above the suburbs of Glendora and Azusa is 60 percent contained.

With the triple-digit heat over the weekend, over 2 million visitors steered clear from hometowns and brush fire warning areas, flocking instead to a cool ocean breeze at LA County beaches. (With reports from the Associated Press and Los Angeles Times)

SEA PATROL. The amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) transits the Philippine Sea. Green Bay is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Derek A. Harkins

Filipino extreme runner conquers Death Valley SAN FRANCISCO—Long-distance running phenomenon Gerald Tabios, one of the very few Filipino ultra-marathoners, finished what is billed as the toughest foot race in the world July 28 to 30, in the hottest place in America—the appropriately named Death Valley.

The Badwater Ultramarathon, which describes itself as “the world’s toughest foot race,” is a 135-mile (217 km) course starting at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California‘s Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8,360 feet (2,548 m) at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mount Whitney.

It takes place annually in midJuly in Death Valley, when the weather conditions are most extreme and temperatures over

Gerald Tabios, ultra-marathoner.

120 °F (49 °C), even in the shade are not uncommon. Consequently, very few people—even among ultra-marathoners—are capable of finishing this grueling race.

Tabios is a resident of Queens,

Extreme runner Gerald Tabios (second from right) with Philippine flag together with some members of Team Tabios (from left) Kat Bermudez, Gerald’s wife, Donna, and Robert Rizon.

New York and works as a chauffeur. He hails from Malaybalay, Bukidnon and is a graduate of civil engineering from Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro. He and his wife, Donna, immigrated to New York in 2001.

“Then I ran my first (long-distance race) at the New York City Marathon in 2004 and since then, I have been a ‘streaker’ for the New York City Marathon up to the present,” Tabios states on his website.

“Finally in 2011, I decided to try my first 50k ultra-marathon, which a few years earlier I swore I would never do. From then on I was “bitten by the bug.” To date, Tabios has completed 32 marathons and 40 ultra-marathons and countless shorter races. (Inquirer.net)

Estimated $2.74 billion cost of Calif. drought

by Allyson

EscobAr

AJPress

THe worsening drought in California will cause the state’s economy to lose as much as $2.74 billion and nearly 21,000 total jobs this year--and ripple effects of the 4-year-old drought will likely continue through at least 2017, according to a study released August 18.

The report, authored by the University of California, Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, also revealed that direct costs to the state’s agriculture economy will total $1.84 billion and 10,100 direct seasonal jobs. The $2.74 billion figure reflects the cost to all economic sectors, and when multiple effects are considered.

“Increased prices for crops will give a boost to some farmers in areas less affected by the drought and with access to groundwater,” according to the authors of the study.

“Central Coast and Southern California regions benefit from slightly higher commodity prices due to decreased production in other parts of the state,” the report stated.

Researchers estimated that the 2015 drought will result in the fallowing of 542,000 irrigated acres, mostly in the state’s Central Valley. An earlier similar UC Davis study estimated around 564,000 acres would be fallowed this year, but the update released Tuesday

revised the impact “because water transfers, groundwater pumping and surface water deliveries have changed since our preliminary analysis.”

The recent study sees continued economic impacts through 2016 and 2017, which assumes this year’s water conditions for both years and “a slow decline in the water tables.” It also predicts nearly 550,000 fallowed acres by 2017.

Total crop revenue losses are projected to reach $902 million this year, and the study estimates that total gross revenue losses from crops under a continued drought will increase to nearly $940 million by 2017, according to CNBC. Additionally, droughtrelated losses for the state’s dairy industry are expected to reach $250 million this year, and another $100 million for the livestock division.

Increased pumping costs of about $587 million also will cut into farm incomes this year, the report stated. It estimated that groundwater pumping has been able to offset roughly 70 percent of the drought water shortage.

However, new water regulations led by California Governor Jerry Brown are going into effect that could curb the ability of farmers to rely on groundwater reserves.

Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings released a report examining the impact of the state’s current 25

percent mandatory water cuts on water utilities and found 78 percent of utilities polled indicated that rate adjustments for Californians will be on tap in the next year or have already begun.

Fitch said the water reductions ordered by the state in May and the “short compliance time frame” that utilities had to adjust led to “revenue challenges and heighten credit risk for California’s retail water utilities. As a result of reduced water sales, many utilities will experience reduced financial margins in fiscals years 2015 and 2016.”

The rating agency forecasts recovery of financial margins in fiscal 2017, even if the severe statewide drought continues.

The median water rate increase next year will be around 5 percent, the Fitch report said, also adding that water rate hikes in some areas could go as high as 31 percent.

Besides rate increases, the report said more than half of the utilities surveyed expect to offset lower revenues by cutting operating expenditures, and 46 percent said they would use financial reserves. 37 percent of the companies also said they would divert from their planned capital spending to help offset the lost revenue, and 2 percent said they would consider debt service restructuring. (With reports from CNBC)

Surge in car loans pushes auto debt above $1 trillion

by Allyson

EscobAr

AJPress

A SURGe in new loans for cars and trucks hit a 10-year high in the second quarter of the year, pushing total auto debt above $1 trillion for the first time, according to new government data released on Thursday, August 13.

Americans took out $119 billion in auto loans from April through June, up from $95 billion in the first quarter of the year, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in its report on household debt and credit.

Through the first half of the year, auto sales were on pace to challenge the record of 17.4 million set in 2000.

Overall consumer debt rose $2 billion to $11.9 trillion, still about 6.5 percent below the record high reached in 2008.

Meanwhile mortgage debt, the biggest category, declined by $55 billion in the second quarter to reach $8.1 trillion, as foreclosures hit the lowest level in the 16 years the New York Fed has calculated them. Outstanding mortgage debt slipped 0.7 percent in the AprilJune quarter to $8.12 trillion, up slightly from last year.

The second quarter’s decline occurred even as Americans took out more new mortgages, either to refinance old loans or purchase homes. It was the second-straight quarter foreclosures reached a new low. There were 95,000 new foreclosures in the second quarter, down from 112,000 in the previous quarter.

New mortgages, however, totaled $466 billion in the second quarter, the most in almost two years.

Those trends suggest Americans are paying down mortgage debt at roughly the same pace as new loans are made, evidence that homeowners remain wary of housing-related debt. The total mortgage debt peaked at $9.29 trillion in the third quarter of 2008.

However, mortgage originations continued to rise, after hitting a 14-year low in the second quarter of last year. Americans took out $466 billion in new mortgage loans, up from $369 billion in the first quarter.

“Several trends have offset those increases to keep overall mortgage debt mostly unchanged,” according to economists at the New

York Fed. “A wave of refinancing has lowered borrowing rates, allowing homeowners to pay down more principal each month and less interest. Homebuyers are making larger down payments, while the proportion of investors and other buyers paying cash has been elevated for most of the economic recovery.”

Only a smaller proportion of Americans own homes, even as recent sales have ticked up. Just 63.4 percent of Americans are homeowners, down from 69 percent in 2007, and the lowest level in more than four decades.

Credit card balances increased by $19 billion in the second quarter to $703 billion. Student loan debt was essentially flat, rising just $1 billion.

Student loan debt, which has doubled over the past eight years, was roughly $1.2 trillion as of June 30.

The overall household debt— which includes mortgages, student loans, auto loans and credit cards—stood at $11.85 trillion in the second quarter, which is 6.5 percent below its peak in 2008.

(With reports from Los Angeles Times and Associated Press)

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A

D ateline PhiliPPines PH gov’t denounces Bangkok bomb attack Duterte seeks death penalty for plunder

by Kristine

Angeli sAbillo, nestor CorrAles Inquirer.net

The Philippine government on Tuesday, Aug. 18 denounced the bombing in central Bangkok, which has killed at least 20 people.

“We condemn the bomb attack that killed and wounded scores of tourists, commuters and residents in Bangkok, Thailand, last night,” Communications Secretary herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

“This violent incident underlines

the need for solidarity against those who sow terror and inflict violence,” he added.

Coloma said the Philippine embassy in Thailand is still coordinating with authorities “to ascertain the safety and well-being of our citizens.”

Reports from Thai media said a Filipino was among those killed in the blast but the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said was still no confirmation of the news.

“The Philippine embassy in Bangkok is in coordination with

the hospitals in the area to verify if any Filipinos are among those who perished or have been injured and to provide assistance,” DFA Secretary Albert de Rosario said in a statement.

In the statement, Rosario deplored the “horrific” bombing which “apparently has the intention to sow terror.” he said Filipinos in Bangkok had been advised by our embassy to remain calm and to observe necessary precautions to ensure their safety.

AFP, PNP forces ordered to closely coordinate after Bangkok bombings by rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

MANILA—The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ordered its units to closely coordinate with the Philippine National Police to avoid an erawan Shrine-style bombing attack from happening in the country.

“I (have) directed our forces to be extra vigilant and conduct measures to prevent similar incident(s) to occur in our country,” AFP chief-of-staff Gen. hernando Iriberri said.

“Our efforts are in coordination with the Philippine National Police and other organizations engaged in security services,” he added. Iriberri said the Philippines is not welcoming threat groups.

Despite the bomb incident in Thailand, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato clarified that there are no indications that similar attacks will take place in the Philippines.

Detoyato said the military

Mendez

MANILA—As someone aiming for the country’s highest office, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II should prove his leadership by making his allies stop their underhanded tactics to discredit her, Sen. Grace Poe said.

“Secretary Mar, whenever we discuss, we talk straight. But you know, at the end of the day, if you’re a candidate, your leadership quality can be measured by how well you can control your supporters,” Poe told reporters when asked to assess the sincerity of Roxas in inviting her to be his running mate.

Poe, who had a meeting with Roxas on Sunday, Aug. 16 at her Greenhills, San Juan residence, has admitted being hurt by questions on her nationality and residency status.

A defeated senatorial candidate, Rizalito David, has questioned her residency status before the Senate electoral Tribunal and the Commission on elections.

Roxas denied having a hand in the filing of David’s petitions or in any effort to destroy Poe’s reputation.

Poe said she has been receiving reports that some supporters of Roxas are behind the challenges to her residency and citizenship.

She stressed she is ready to defend herself from the allegations.

She also scoffed at statements from some Liberal Party stalwarts that she is “unripe” for the presidency.

Poe, a survey frontrunner among possible candidates for president, said she would prefer to have Sen. Francis escudero for running mate if ever she decides to run for president.

Poe said she did not want to give the LP standard bearer “false hopes,” and that he did not need to wait for her to decide since the LP has many choices for vice president anyway.

At the same time, Poe said she does not want to dignify the cases filed by David.

“I don’t want to waste the time of our institutions regarding this,” Poe said.

Not me In Naga City, Roxas said he had noting to do with David but promised to address Poe’s concerns. he also stressed he and Poe had agreed not to divulge details of their meeting to the public. he also said LP will respect whatever decision she makes regarding his offer.

Roxas said his meeting with Poe last Sunday was meant to help the administration form a strong ticket as he had promised President Aquino. he said the meeting was supposed to be confidential and that he did not mean to give Poe any deadline for making a decision.

The DILG chief was in Naga City

DAVAO CITY—Mayor Rodrigo Duterte believes the persistent problem of corruption in the Philippines can be remedied if death penalty for plunderers is imposed.

It’s a case of desperate times calling for desperate measures, he said.

“Drastic measures must be done,” he said. “Death penalty must be considered for plunders.”

In a recent meeting with his supporters, Duterte expressed exasperation over the lingering problem of corruption in the government and how it has taken its toll on the people, particularly the poor.

“Corruption has crept into every fabric of the Philippine society,” he said. “Corruption is not only happening in the govern-

by MiKe

FriAlde Philstar.com

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte

ment, but even in the private sector and the religious sector.”

The mayor of Davao City for 22 years has always been vocal about his stand on the restoration of the death penalty, saying it is a tool that will deter crime.

Duterte, who is being prodded to join in the presidential race, said the Philippines must come

only released P50 million to the hospital, he added.

Under a third memorandum, the MANILA—Despite being declared unconstitutional, the Dis- DOh and the DBM allocated P50 bursement Acceleration Program million for the infrastructure and (DAP) continues to exist, accord- equipment needs of the Cagayan ing to former senator Panfilo Lac- Valley Medical Center in Tuguegson. he showed The Star four memorandums from the Department of A large explosion rocked a central Bangkok intersection during the evening rush hour, killing health (DOh)’s health Facility Development Bureau—all dated June a number of people and injuring others, police said.

9, 2015—allegedly showing how units must be watchful “for any (security) activities and taskings,” appropriations were transferred indicator, or indications or any Detoyato said. and realigned in violation of the On Monday, erawan Shrine Constitution. relevant information that must in Bangkok was targeted by be pursued.”

Based on one of the memoran“There is none as of the mo- unknown bombers leaving 22 da, the Bataan General hospital ment, but nevertheless, the chief people dead and 120 others in Balanga, Bataan was allotted of staff has ordered our troops wounded. Another bomb explod- P17 million under the 2015 Capito be extra vigilant, (and) this ed on Tuesday, but landed in the tal Outlay Funding Allocation for means we will just increase our water, sparing civilians.

DOh hospitals for its infrastructure and equipment needs, Lacson said. however, the total amount released was increased to P30 million, he added.

In another memorandum, P360 million was released under the 2015 Capital Outlay Funding Allocation for DOh hospitals for the infrastructure and equipment needs of the Northern Mindanao General hospital in Cagayan de Oro City, Lacson said. however, the DOh and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)

Roxas denies LP behind attacks

Philstar.com

M. tupAs ManilaTime.net

up with laws that are tough on corrupt officials.

“Laws must be amended to make it easier to prosecute the corrupt,” he said.

Duterte always takes pride over his “clean” record saying no one can prosecute him for corruption.

“Public money should always go to the people, benefit people, should better their lives. Public money should never go to the pockets of public officials,” he said. he said: “I have never spent even a single centavo of government money.”

Duterte also wants death penalty for drug lords and criminals.

“I have zero tolerance for drug lords and criminals,” he said.

“Drugs and criminals destroy the future of our children. Those who destroy our children do not deserve to be part of our lives.”

DAP still existing, Lacson says

Sen. Poe: Stop dirty tricks

by ChristinA

by JeFry

Asked about Sen. Grace Poe’s allegation that some LP members were backstabbing her, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said he would face her alleged detractors within the party to assuage them of their concerns.

Philstar.com photo

for the commemoration of the 3rd death anniversary of his predecessor Jesse Robredo.

“We do not have anything to do with what he filed against Sen. Grace,” Roxas said, referring to David.

According to Roxas, he has long

adhered to the principle that “the way you run is the way you will govern” and that he cannot tolerate backstabbing or dirty tricks in his quest for the highest office.

Asked about Poe’s allegation that some LP members were backPAGE A7

arao City, despite the absence of allocations under the 2015 Capital Outlay Funding Allocation for DOh hospitals, Lacson said.

The transfers of appropriations were in violation of the ConstituPAGE A7

A

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OpiniOn

Tourist-friendly

Features

NEXT month, the world is celebrating World Tourism Day. This year’s World Tourism Day highlights the global potential of tourism for socioeconomic development.

As part of this celebration, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) commends the 1.1 billion tourists who take international trips every year, and their value as a reliable driving force behind the world’s economy.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encourages the world’s citizens not just to travel but to work together to maximize the immense potential of tourism to drive inclusive economic growth, protect the environment and promote sustainable development and a life of dignity for all.

“Today, more than one billion tourists travel to an international destination every year. These billion tourists have made tourism a leading economic sector, contributing 10 percent of global GDP and 6 percent of the world´s total exports,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, who echoed Ki-moon’s sentiments.

Rifai noted that tourism is behind one in 11 jobs worldwide and that it is a valuable source for million of people. He also described the tourism sector as a gateway to greater understanding of the world beyond our borders, the first step in building peace and between communities and nations.

According to UNWTO, in 2014, the number of tourists traveling internationally grew by 4.4 percent, reaching a new milestone of 1,135 million, and capping a five-year consecutive increase since the global economic crisis of 2009. There results have surpassed UNWTO´s long-term projection of

3.8 percent growth for the period 2010 to 2020, well on track to reach the projected 1.8 billion international tourists by the year 2030.

“Yet these big numbers represent more than just economic strength – they reflect tourism´s vast potential and increasing capacity to address some of the world´s most pressing challenges, including socio-economic growth, inclusive development and environmental preservation,” Rifai added.

Rifai said that tourism is more than just about reaching a destination—it has a global reach. “Every time we travel, we become part of a global movement that has the power to drive positive change for our planet and all people.”

In the Philippines, tourism remains a thriving industry but requires more improvements to fully maximize its potential. Foreign arrivals for 2014 was recorded at 4,833,368 or 3.25 percent higher than the volume of 4,681,307 arrivals in 2013. Total earnings from inbound tourism in 2014 amounted to P214.88 billion, higher by 15 percent compared to the P186.15 billion registered in 2013.

In the first six months of this year, tourist arrivals hit a record 2.6 million, 7.6 percent higher than the same period last year, generating P111 billion in tourist receipt. The Dept. of Tourism (DOT) also reported that domestic tourism is the genuine backbone of the country’s tourism. It noted there are 56 million domestic tourists this year from only 44 million last year.

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS FILIPINOS in America are divided between two ends of the spectrum: those who believe Donald Trump is their “Messiah” who will help “reclaim” America (but from whom?) and all her glory; and those who abhor Trump and see him as a caricature, no more than a rich real estate mogul and reality star on TV who craves for attention. The way kababayans responded to Trump’s recent announcement about his plan to combat illegal immigration depended on how they view him.

Those who look at Trump as their next President and Commander-in-Chief hailed his plan, saying this is fair and just, especially for those who waited in line, came to America through legal means, and paid fees.

As the New York Times (NYT) reported, Trump’s plan is centered on three principles. The first principle states “a nation

Shooting Straight BoBit S. AvilA OUR column last Tuesday triggered a deluge of comments, some of them nasty, even one reader accused me of being “Binayaran.” These readers obviously do not read our columns, word for word. First of all, I clearly pointed out that in the present crop of Presidentiables I have chosen “none-of-theabove,” none of them should be President of this country! What a dilemma for our people! We cannot find a suitable candidate!

Secondly, I was merely citing which is better… voting for an incompetent person or a corrupt one? We in Cebu have lived for nearly five years under the incompetent Aquino regime where we were never given any major infrastructure projects according to a National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) report. This is why we hate Imperial Manila for these bureaucrats prevent cities from moving forward. All infrastructures have been poured into Metro Manila!

Yet a lot of the people in Metro

Philstar.com photo

Despite these promising numbers, the country is lowering its target of tourist arrivals from 10 million to six million for this year, saying it was a more realistic figure. DOT revealed that security and negative travel advisories by a number of countries are challenges that affected the full-year target.

To address this issue, the government has been implementing proposed changes in crisis management and police procedures, coordination, and emergency protocols applicable to acts

of violence.

With abundance in natural wonders and the warmth of its people, the Philippines remains confident that it has an edge over other travel destinations neighbors and still anticipates a major flow of tourists. It also remains focused on enforcing necessary reforms to improve its travel industry.

Regardless of the feeble global market, political instability and some weak areas in its domestic economy, the Philippine tourism industry remains attractive, unscathed and a bargain. (AJPress)

What undocumented Pinoys can expect from a Donald Trump presidency without borders is not a nation”.

This calls for the United States to build a wall along the southern border, and he repeated his promise to make Mexico pay for the wall and laid out how he would do it: largely through increasing fees on border movement between the United States and Mexico.

The second principle of Mr. Trump’s proposal, according to the NYT, calls for strengthening the “enforcement arm” of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, to be paid for by “eliminating tax credit payments to illegal immigrants.”

The third principle says that “any immigration plan must improve jobs, wages and security for all Americans.”

The report further stated that the release of Trump’s plan followed his appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he elaborated on his position to deport undocumented immigrants.

“We have to keep the families together, but they have to go,” Mr. Trump said.

When asked how he might ac-

complish this, especially given the cost, Mr. Trump responded with a question which resonated with many of his Fil-Am supporters as evidenced by their social media posts.

“Do you think there’s tremendous cost for the illegals that are in here right now?” Mr. Trump asked. “Do you think there’s tremendous crime being committed by illegals?”

The NYT said Trump promised to “expedite it so people can come back in” after the deportation.

“The good people can come back,” he said.

According to the NYT, Trump’s formal policy maintains what he has contended many times before that “Mexico’s leaders have been taking advantage of the United States by using illegal immigration to export the crime and poverty in their own country.”

Other parts of Trump’s plan, the NYT opined, are similar to the proposals of his rivals in the Republican race. He proposed enforcing the nationwide e-veri-

fy system, ending birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants and increasing the prevailing wage for the temporary H-1B visas.

Unlike many of our conservative/Republican-leaning Filipinos in America, those who are leaning Democrat contend that Trump’s plan is not humane, and discriminates against immigrants. They also echo Trump’s Republican opponents who are already criticizing his plans, by saying they just won’t work.

On the plan to build the wall in the southern border, CNN’s Tom Foreman stated in his report: “ If Mexico won’t play along, Trump proposes a torrent of fees on Mexican citizens, corporate CEO’s, and Diplomats who visit the US, possible tariffs and cuts to foreign aid, too. But Foreman also pointed out that Mexico is the United States’ third-largest trading partner, and that all of Trump’s plans” could cost the US as well, that was why his political opponents are not impressed”.

“This is not a negotiation of a real estate deal, OK? This is

international diplomacy and it’s different,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said, according to CNN. On Trump’s plan to deport the 11 million undocumented immigrants, the CNN report likewise explained that Trump was not clear on how to find them and how to fund deporting all of them, even if he would limit the deportation to those with criminal records.

On the issue of Trump’s policy that kids of two illegal immigrants should not automatically be US citizens even if they are born in the United States, Tom Foreman also stated in his report that there is the 14th Amendment in the US Constitution that was ratified in 1868, which stipulated that “All persons born… in the United States…are citizens of the United States”.

According to Foreman, legal scholars say Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship would require changing the Constitution. This is not within the power of the Executive but the Legislature.

Pulitzer prize winning journal-

ist Jose Antonio Vargas, perhaps the most popular and outspoken undocumented immigrant in America, shared his frustration about Trump’s plan in an interview with Yahoo News Live.

As The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast Balitang America reported, Vargas was among the beneficiary of President Barack Obama’s Expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, sparing him from deportation for two years, and according him work and travel permit. Trump said he would reverse this.

Vargas said if he would have the chance to talk to Trump, he would ask him, “‘How do you define American, sir?’”

Vargas added: “This is not a reality television show anymore.

This is running for president.” *** 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

What about FVR for President... again! A response from former Manila stare at incompetence every single day if you take the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

Worse for Cebu, the Aquino regime leased the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) for 25 years to the GMR/Megawide consortium and during the ground breaking ceremonies for the new Terminal 2, no less than Pres. Aquino revealed to the Cebu media that the P14.4 billion will be deposited in the National Treasury to be used for other projects. Wow! What about our second runway? As I said before, this is the legacy of Pres. Aquino for Cebuanos and we will never forget this big insult.

We already tasted 70 years of having a centralized system of governance and just take a good look at what this has done for the Philippines. From second to Japan we’ve dragged ourselves to be the laughing stock of ASEAN. We may brag about our robust economy today, thanks to our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, which can only be found in two places, India and the Philippines.

But check out the Wallace Fo-

rum statistics on Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and you’ll be dismayed that the Philippines still ranks at the bottom of ASEAN. So now, did you ever hear of any of our Presidentiables say how they would solve or fix this problem on FDIs? No sir, not one of them!

What our nation needs today is a President who should be a reformer, one with the guts to change our highly centralized system of government into a parliamentary-federal form of government. One who has a good track record, experience, the gung-ho attitude and above all the wisdom to lead this nation into a better future.

After a lot of thought, I finally found that person. So I asked my good friend, Mr. Rick Ramos who writes for Manila Times to meet up with former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) and he did.

Here’s an excerpt of his meeting with FVR a few days ago.

“I had a meeting with former President Fidel V. Ramos (FVR).

He is the best person to champion the parliamentary system and federal form of government.

FVR and I talked about the parliamentary system and the federal form of government. He is

all for it. He told me that when he ran for President in 1992, he already wanted a parliamentary system. He also wanted to do it in 1997, but Cory Aquino and Jaime Cardinal Sin opposed it. Cory thought FVR wanted to become a Dictator like Marcos.

T___a talaga.

His strategy is shift first to the parliamentary system and the federal form to follow. He said that the federal form has to evolve after the parliamentary system.

It cannot be legislated and cited what happened in England and then the UK. I told FVR that the BBL issue can be resolved if we have a federal form of government. The Bangsamoro region can be one for the states. FVR said that he recommended the same 10 years in 2005.”

So will FVR accept our challenge to run for President? He must do it as a matter of duty and for a long lasting legacy… shifting our nation from ugly politics to one where politicians are true public servants. FVR’s only negative is his age. But I dare all the Presidentiables to do push-ups with him and let’s see who is stronger physically? Let’s go FVR! For God and country! (Philstar.com)

President Fidel V. Ramos

by BoBit

S. AvilA

LAST Thursday we wrote in this corner a column entitled, “What about FVR for President… again!” And it got me another deluge of emails from people from all walks of life and a lot of them congratulating me for urging former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos to run again for President especially in this Presidential elections where most people just cannot picture the front runners to become President of this nation.

But what I got was a classic response from no less than FVR himself, who sent me a book entitled Giving Back: Service and Legacy which is a collection of his Sunday columns in the Manila Bulletin. With it is a photocopy of my column last Thursday and the FVR note that he always writes on the side and sends me when he was still the President. Here’s his note in full: “Thank you for this great accolade which I do not deserve… because although “The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.” I can still do 40 push-ups and shoot my age in golf (18-holes), but the

Presidency of our beloved Philippines of 7,107 island (during high tide, and more during low tide) and 100 million people demands more than muscle. You and Rick and so many others are correct… our younger Filipinos deserve a better future which we, their elders, must continue to work for.

Mabuhay! Signed Fidel Ramos.”

Thank you FVR for your quick response to our article. While his answer to me was not a categorical “No”, FVR and I agree that our young Filipinos deserve a better future. Hence, let me clarify what I think FVR ought to do first is for him to run for President and I’m sure that in no time, he will overtake everyone in the current surveys of Presidentiables. When he wins the Presidency, his first order of business is to call for a constitutional convention (concon) and elect con-con delegates to change our Charter.

When that is done within a year or two, the new constitution where we will finally have a Parliamentary/Federal system would be ratified and then a few months later, new elections will be called, PAGE A7

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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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 20-26, 2015

DFA: Philippines not threatened

by China’s recruitment video

by RainieR

allan Philstar.com

Ronda

MANILA—Nothing is threatening about the People’s Liberation Army recruitment video showing China preparing for war, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

If misinterpreted, talk about war preparation could escalate tensions, DFA spokesman Charles Jose said.

“Not really,” he replied when asked if the Philippines feels threatened by the recruitment video.

“We are not doing any provocation. But in a sense, (they are saying they are) preparing for war and in relation to the South China Sea, that could be seen (as) something that could escalate tension.

So again, we are calling on all parties and claimant countries to observe provisions of the DOC (2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea), exercise self restraint and not do anything to raise tension.”

The DFA had released a statement Sunday that the Philippines is keen on pursuing the arbitration case against China, Jose said.

“On the recent Chinese recruitment video, the Philippines reiterates its full commitment to the peaceful resolution of the South China Sea disputes, in conformity

with the rule of law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as to the reduction of tensions through the 2002 ASEANChina Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and an eventual ASEAN-China Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC),” read the DFA statement, issued in response to the China recruitment video.

“The Philippines has won international respect and recognition for resorting to arbitration, and we reiterate our invitation to China to join in this process.

We will continue resolutely on this path, not only to protect our national interests, but also to promote regional and global peace, stability and prosperity.”

On the other hand, the Department of National Defense (DND) sees no problem with the video’s message that the Chinese military would not give up territory to foreigners, as long as it is referring to Chinese territory.

“All training videos are like that, and of course, the core competency of any military is war fighting, and that also applies to us,” DND spokesman Peter Galvez told reporters yesterday in Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

“If it is for the defense of any state, there is no problem with training for defending your state,” he said.

“The area that we are talking about is the mainland.”

It is, however, erroneous for China to assume that areas far from its mainland are also part of its territory, he added.

Under the Constitution, the Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, Galvez said.

“We are for peaceful resolution of the issues we face,” he said.

The four-minute, 16-second video last week was meant to be a recruitment tool for the People’s Liberation Army Navy.

It showed footage of disputed reefs in the South China Sea and the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, which are also being claimed by Japan.

Images of exploding bombs and rockets were also shown, drawing speculations that the video was meant to threaten China’s rivals in territorial disputes.

“China’s oceanic and overseas interests are expanding rapidly,” the subtitles read. “Our land is vast but we will not yield an inch of our territory to foreigners.”

China’s struggle over its sea rights is not over, according to the video.

“We will not yield even the tiniest speck of our resources,” the text continued.

“We maintain combat readiness... We are prepared for war.”

Bill allowing divorced Filipinos to remarry pushed

by Rosette

adel

Philstar.com

MANILA—A bill allowing Filipino spouses to remarry when the foreigner spouse obtained a foreign judicial decree of absolute divorce was endorsed by the House Committee on Revision of Law. House Bill (HB) 5907 entitled “An Act recognizing the capacity of the Filipino spouse to remarry when the alien spouse has obtained a foreign Judicial Decree of Absolute Divorce, amending for the purpose Executive Order 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines” has been endorsed for plenary passage.

The proposed bill also seeks to

simplify the process of recognition of a foreign judgment on divorce obtained by a foreign spouse.

“The Filipino spouse need not seek judicial recognition or enforcement of the foreign judicial decree of absolute divorce and its registration by the civil registrar shall be sufficient for the issuance of a marriage license,” the bill stated.

Under HB 5907, the judicial decree of absolute divorce obtained by the foreigner spouse must be authenticated by the Philippine consul where the decree was obtained. It may be presented as one of the documentary requirements for the issuance of a marriage

PAGE A5 stabbing her, he said he would face her alleged detractors within the party to assuage them of their concerns.

“I want to honor what we had agreed – that we won’t be discussing details of our meeting,” he said. “We respect her to make up her mind.”

He said it is his and the party’s obligation to make sure guidelines laid down by the President for forming a strong ticket are properly followed.

“For us, we believe in the straight path because it has a specific goal and we have tasted its sweet fruit as we followed it,” said Roxas.

“That is what we are going to defend and that is what we are going to pursue,” he added.

Not involved Roxas’ chief campaigner in the House of Representatives also denied the DILG chief’s involvement with David.

“I raised this issue with Secretary Mar and he assured me that he does not know about Mr. David’s initiative. In fact, he does not know and has not met this guy,” Rep. Carol Jane Lopez of party-list You Against Poverty and Corruption said.

Lopez is frequently with her presidential candidate in his provincial visits.

She made the statement a day after Poe revealed that she asked the administration candidate if he was behind David, and that he told her he had nothing to do with the citizenship case filed by the senatorial also-ran.

Poe admitted that Roxas formally offered her to be his vice-presidential running mate but that she has not yet decided if she would run for higher office in 2016.

Lopez said she’s sure that the Roxas camp is not behind David’s initiative.

“Secretary Mar has been earnestly courting her to be his running mate and he will not do that to her. That’s not his style,” she said.

She said Poe should believe Roxas’ assurance that his camp has nothing to do with David.

“We urge her not to listen to intrigue, to forces out to drive a wedge between her and Secretary Mar and to break up the administration coalition that President Aquino wants to hold together for 2016 so it can pursue the reforms he has started when he steps down,” she added.

Allies not foes Another Roxas campaigner, Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said Poe should not treat the administration candidate and

his supporters as political foes.

“We are allies, not enemies. We belong to the same side of the political fence,” Hataman, a former congressman, said.

“We in the camp of Secretary Mar are not engaged in dirty politics and black propaganda.

Our candidate will not allow it,” he said.

David ran for senator in the 2013 and 2010 elections under the Ang Kapatiran Party.

Other House allies of Roxas said Poe has more to lose in rejecting his offer.

“It’s really her (Poe) loss more than his (Roxas). This is unfortunate because this (Poe as administration vice presidential candidate) was to be in preparation for her to be our candidate for president in 2022,” Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali said in a telephone interview.

LP secretary general and Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said the plan of the party is to continue running the government at least until 2022, by which time the country’s economic foundations shall have become solid owing to the continued implementation of reform policies.

“After all, the good senator said she shares many of the Aquino administration’s reform agenda,” Sarmiento said.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga of the National Unity Party said Poe could have benefited from Roxas’ experience and President Aquino’s endorsement power had she agreed to run as vice president of the administration next year.

He said Poe, while popular, has no solid track record yet to speak of.

He said her case cannot be likened to that of the late President Corazon Aquino, who was only actually a transition president.

“Sen. Poe appears to be a winner for president and vice president in the surveys but we must remember many cases in the past where frontrunners lost when they rate high early in the election year,” Barzaga said.

He also said the issues raised against Poe are likely to emerge anyway regardless of who her political opponents are.

“I would suggest that Sen. Grace just face the issues raised against her and hopefully they’ll be resolved because these questions will be repeatedly asked,” he said.

Capable For Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Poe has the qualification to run for president in the 2016 elections amid efforts to have her disqualified.

Belmonte said the petitions

PARLIAMENT OF THE STREETS. Agapito ‘Butz’ Aquino (in barong) leads members of the August Twenty-one Movement in one of the antiMarcos rallies. Butz, the younger brother of Ninoy, became one of the leaders of the opposition forces in the waning years of the Marcos regime. He passed away of “natural causes,” his nephew Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino announced Monday, Aug. 17. He was 76.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Raissa Robles

A response from former President...

PAGE A6 which would exempt all con-con delegates from running for any elective positions. Then Pres. Ramos can become the First Titular President of this new Philippines whose only powers is to abolish Parliament and call for new elections. No sir, we’re not asking FVR to run for another six boring years….but to reform our nation.

I hope he accepts this challenge and the greatest legacy he can give to the Filipino people at the time he is needed the most. *** Last Friday, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) announced the winners in the individual and institution categories for the 6th RAFI Triennial Awards, the premier social development award in the Visayas and Mindanao. In the Exemplary Individual Category, the finalists were good governance advocate Fr. Carmelo Diola (Cebu City), Anita Castillon (Lake Sebu, South Cotabato), and Rep. Lawrence Lemuel Fortun (Butuan City).

The finalists in the Outstanding Institution Category are,

license without need for judicial decree.

HB 5907 also states that the Filipino spouse shall acquire the capacity to remarry under the Philippine laws after the judicial decree of absolute divorce is validly obtained by the alien spouse abroad.

The bill, contained in Committee Report 795 was recently approved by the House Committee on Revision Law, chaired by Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas.

HB 5907 seeks to substitute HB PAGE A6 2251 authored by Reps. Rufus Rodriguez and Maximo Rodriguez tion as they were ordered at the Jr., and HB 2430 filed by Rep. department level, he added.

“No law shall be passed auMagtanggol Gunigundo. thorizing any transfer of appropriations; however, the President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the raised against Poe on account of Supreme Court and the heads of her citizenship could be part of efforts to stop her from running for president.

“If she is not doing very well in the polls, no one would bother (filing cases against her),” Belmonte said. “But I myself am convinced she is qualified to run for president.”

1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, a former justice secretary, said there was no legal basis for David’s petition.

“Clearly the move is to discourage her from seeking a higher position at the same time to harass her,” Bello said.

Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, spokesman for the 58-member party-list coalition, said the case was “a joke designed to vex and embarrass Grace Poe personally as this always strikes her heart and very existence.”

NPC support?

Poe and Escudsero were scheduled to meet last night with members of the Nacionalist People’s Coalition-Visayas/Mindanao bloc in Quezon City.

“Its best that we hear the sentiments of the members of the party, instead of just the leadership deciding,” said NPC stalwart Sen. Vicente Sotto III. Sotto said there are members who want to meet Poe even if the majority of members are leaning to support Poe. The Tuesday meetings of the NPC will continue as the party discusses whom to support in the 2016 presidential elections, Sotto said.

Escudero said the meet-up with NPC members was upon their invitation.

He expressed belief that Poe would be able to face the challenges squarely once she decides to run for higher office next year.

Escudero said he is leaving it up to the senator how she would be dealing with Roxas’ offer.

In an interview, Escudero also gave tribute to Poe’s adoptive father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr, who would have turned 76 this year.

Asked what kind of a leader FPJ would have been had he won and lived longer, Escudero said the former actor would have been a good leader devoted to uplifting the welfare of the Filipino masses.

Escudero acted as FPJ’s spokesman when the late actor campaigned for president during the 2004 elections.

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, for his part, said he is all-out in his support for Poe in case she seeks higher post.

Ejercito noted that Poe grew up in San Juan, and is a registered voter of the city.

Sen. Poe: Stop dirty...

A

Balay Mindanaw from Cagayan de Oro City, Cantaan Centennial Multi-purpose Cooperative from Guinsilaban, Camuiguin, Western Samar Development Foundation, Inc., Sibog Katawhan Alang sa Paglambo from San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, and the Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace Advocates, Inc. from Curbada Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

These finalists have their own stories to tell, they all work hard to help uplift the lives of our Filipino brethren.

The winner of the Exemplary Individual Category, the 6THTriennial Award goes to Mrs. Anita Castillon a.k.a. Nanay Anit from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. She is a remarkable teacher who built three schools in Lake Sebu dedicated to educate the T’boli Indigenous children. Nanay Anit was widowed at a very young age of 22 years old and she only had one daughter who now lives in the United States.

Jon Ramon Aboitiz told me that the dream of the majority of Filipinos is to get a US visa and live in the US. But despite the approved

DAP still existing, Lacson...

constitutional commission may, by law, be authorized to augment any item in the general appropriations law for their respective offices from savings in other items of their respective appropriations,” states Article VI, Section 25 (5) of the Constitution.

It is clear that the increases were not drawn from the DOH’s

petition by her daughter for Nanay Anit to live with her in the US, she refused because someone had to take care of the T’boli children.

The Triennial Awards for Outstanding Institution category went to the Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace Advocates, Inc. (KFPDAI) from Curbada Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

The award was accepted by its Executive Director Hadja Giobay Diacolano. This 15-year old foundation literally turned 57 former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels into Peace and Development Advocates. These people did not have to wait for a Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to bring peace in their community.

So kudos to Hadja Diacolano for coming up with that foundation that brought real peace to that part of Maguindanao by turning gun toting rebels into Peace Advocates and to Nanay Anit for what she has done for the T’boli people, which is why the RAFI search committee found them to become the 6th Triennial Awardees for this awards cycle. (Philstar.com) savings, Lacson said.

“This is technical malversation,” he said. “How can you declare savings in the middle of the year?”

In July 2014, the SC ruled that a significant portion of the DAP— supposedly created to speed-up public spending—violates Section 25(5), Article VI of the Constitution and the doctrine of separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.

Immigration Resource Fair

HOSTED BY

CONGRESSWOMAN DINA TITUS WITH A PRESENTATION FROM THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON VISAS AND PASSPORTS

Tuesday, August 25, 2015 5:00pm – 6:30pm East Las Vegas Community Center 250 North Eastern Avenue Las Vegas, Nevada 89101

A

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 20-26, 2015

VEGAS&STYLE

B

Journal NextDayBetter x LA: Tastemakers share why Filipino cuisine is having a moment

By Christina

M. Oriel

creative speaker and food series—in partnership with sponsors There is perhaps no better like Mailchimp—has held similar events in San Francisco, Orlando unifier than food.

Case in point: a recent Saturday and Toronto, with Washington night when nearly 300 individuals DC, New York, London and Manila flocked to The Well in Downtown on the lineup in coming months.

Los Angeles to talk about food. And Around the world, these events are creating platforms to discuss of course, to eat.

From the venue to the food literally how to make the next day vendors to the speakers, it was better.

“Many people left the event organized as an “LA-specific event,” according to NextDayBet- learning a lot and feeling inspired ter LA’s lead city curator Diane from personal stories and entrepreneurial spirits that were shared. romualdez.

That specificity underscores Location and the event experience NextDayBetter’s strength of unit- [were] important for the curator ing diaspora communities and team, we wanted to elevate it spurring a call to action that is across the board through partnerrelevant and tailored for a par- ing with The Well and involving ticular city. Already this year, the named food purveyors. The end AJPress

result exceeded our expectations and proved that taking the time to understand the needs of our community and taking a few risks go a long way,” romualdez said.

With the population of Filipinos in Southern California, it’s continually a surprise that Filipino cuisine hasn’t permeated the fine dining scene, as it has (or has begun to, depending on whom you ask) in other cities. Given that void, the LA curation team — composed of romualdez, JP Capulong, Krizia Medenilla, Krystal Menez and Mike Tinio — was motivated to organize an event that spoke to that question on everyone’s minds, featuring ‘tastemakers’ who have Food for Thought panel: Samantha Duenas aka DJ SOSUPERSAM (panel moderator), Kristine De La Cruz (co-owner of Créme Caramel LA), each had their fair share of experi- Kathleen Reyes (blogger of TheCavery.com), Charles Olalia (chef/owner A’postrophe and Rice Bar) , Chad Valencia and Chase Valencia (brothers Photo by Brian Trinidad + pisforprops PAGE B3 behind LASA pop-up)

MAhArLikA GuesT CheF series ‘Filipino Delicado’: A Chilean Chef’s take on Filipino Dinner

By MOMar

G. Visaya

delicate, precious, and definitely fine-dining aesthetics that the IT was a special evening at supper club they started has beMaharlika and the foodies who come known for.

Miguel, the only Filipino in the continue to support the various incarnations of Filipino cuisine trio, is currently the general manas the men behind Cure Supper ager of Casa Mono, a MichelinClub took over the kitchen for the starred Spanish restaurant owned

by Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich restaurant’s Guest Chef Series.

Chef Diego Moya, Miguel de and one of New York’s best tapas Leon and Zach Ligas presented restaurants. Chef Diego Moya, ‘Filipino Delicado’ a five-course currently sous chef of Casa Mono super dinner that highlighted the as well, gained experience and AJPress

Chef Diego Moya prepping his Balut Kuno, a rich duck dish made with duck confit and cured breast served with onsen egg and adobo gastrique.

sharpened his expertise working in other NYC restaurants such as Kin Shop and L’Arpege.

Miguel’s involvement with food and restaurants stems from a young age when he learned to cook Filipino food from his grandmother who taught him the classic home-cooked dishes such as adobo, tinola and mechado. he was 11 years old when he immigrated to the United States.

PAGE B4

Maharlika’s Chef Miguel Trinidad (left) and Casa Mono’s sous chef Diego Moya (middle) and the cooks take a break preparing the dishes for the evening.

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Inside the mind of Ronnie del Carmen Obie-winning Mia Katigbak pushes for more Asian faces on the American stage

by Harmony

Valdoz ManilaTimes.net

Ronnie del Carmen’s rise to fame is a success story every young Filipino creative could look up to. A feat of making it to Pixar Animation Studios and lending his art to animated hits like Finding “nemo,” “Ratatouille,” “WALL·e,” “Up,” “Brave,” “Monsters University,” and finally, co-directing “inside out,” surely does not come every day. it took del Carmen almost 30 years to get to where he is today.

The secret to his success, one might be surprised, is thanks in part to sadness.

Among the five emotions that charmed the audience in the new hit “inside out,” del Carmen believes that if he was a character in the movie, Sadness would be the key emotion to drive his creative mind.

“Sadness is actually one of those things that matures up to be empathy,” del Carmen explained his homecoming press conference alongside director Pete Docter at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. “it’s a very useful emotion.

You don’t want to be melancholy because it disables you, but empathy is something that i capitalize on. it’s part of my job to make sure i can relate to other people’s emotions, to find out what the character is going through so i can put it on the storyboard and earn the paycheck. That helps me a lot,” del Carmen playfully furthered.

To see his storyboards come alive in animated films actually came as a surprise in del Carmen’s career.

The 55-year-old Fine Arts graduate of the University of Santo Tomas had majored in Advertising. He was, however, steered toward another direction when he migrated to the United States in 1989. He became an animator as he landed a job in Warner Bros as a storyboard artist for “Batman: The Animated Series.” He later became a story supervisor for DreamWorks and eventually joined Pixar Animation Studios in 2000.

Beginnings Del Carmen and Docter fondly looked back at the former’s beginnings and how their partnership

came to be in an effortless banter of longtime friends.

“For a long time i wanted to join Pixar because i loved Toy Story,” del Carmen began. “i was interviewed at Pixar and everybody met me in this room with drawings of monsters and i was like, ‘They’re making a movie about monsters, i would love to be part of this’.”

“Meanwhile we had a couple of story artists that i loved and i said, ‘How did you learn this?’

They said, ‘i learned everything from this guy Ronnie del Carmen’ i was like, ‘Great! Get him in’.”

Docter added.

“After a couple of months, i was an employee! i walked in and they bring me to a room and i was like, ‘What happened? This room is full of drawings of fishes.’ So i suspected that Pete Docter didn’t want to hire me,” del Carmen continued animatedly.

“Which is not true,” Docter was quick to interject.

Their relationship further strengthened in “Up” as Docter served as story supervisor to del Carmen.

“You know that beginning part of the movie where we see Carl and ellie fall in love and live together and all of that? That’s four and a half minutes that Ronnie boarded and it was a lot of great stuff,” Docter recalled.

Following “Up,” Docter invited del Carmen to go on a journey to the “dark unknown together,” the five-year process of bringing inside out to life. “it’s a very messy process, and kinda scary, and so that’s why it’s great to have a creative partner so that we can explore and discover this together,” Docter said.

Inspirations While most of the story was written by Docter and inspired by his daughter ellie, the input of the rest of the team was crucial to the film’s authenticity as well.

“We used moving as a metaphor for growing up,” Docter revealed.

He shared how the team would talk about their own childhood experiences that might be useful in fleshing out the emotions in the movie.

“The story sessions are almost like therapy. We hear all these great stories, we would mine

The National Asian American Theatre Company, which she cofounded, marked its 25th year by bringing back its all-Asian production of Clifford Odets’ ‘Awake and Sing!’

by Walter

ang

Inquirer.net

It took del Carmen almost 30 years to get to where he is today.

them from all the people who were working on the movie,” the director recounted. one such experience is del Carmen’s memories of growing up in Cavite.

“When you draw, you’re kind of alone. it’s kind of strange because [i was] not out there playing basketball. A Filipino young male who does not play basketball, that makes you a little off from everyone else,” he said.

Like Docter, del Carmen’s parental concern for his two kids was also reflected in the movie.

“When i joined Pixar, i uprooted my kids who were just going to middle school,” the latter shared. “That’s not fun for them.

They miss their friends. i thought maybe i made a mistake, ‘what kind of a father am i?’ Stuff like that happen.”

As another outlet for his childhood memories, del Carmen created a storyboard animation on growing up in his hometown. This was revealed by Docter after the duo was asked what movie they would make about the Philippines if given the chance.

“There are lots of stories in the Philippines that i’ve been telling people about growing up, all the lore that we have, also the weather, stuff like that. That would be fantastic to do,” del Carmen said.

PAGE B4

WATCHinG plays written by non-Asians about non-Asians but played by Asian actors may be normal in the Philippines. For obvious reasons, it’s not too common in the United States.

But the national Asian American Theatre Company (naatco) in new York has been doing just that for 25 years now. every season, it produces “an American classic with an allAsian-American cast; an adaptation of a Western classic by an Asian-American playwright; and a new work not by, for, or about Asians realized by an all-AsianAmerican cast,” says co-founder and artistic producing director Mia Katigbak.

To kick off its silver season, the group recently restaged its 2013 production of Clifford odets’ “Awake and Sing!”—a 1935 drama about a lower middle class immigrant Jewish family set in the Bronx during the Depression era. (“Wonderful performances,” raved The Huffington Post. “These actors… bring full value to the words… A strong production.”)

Katigbak reprised her role as monster matriarch Bessie, for which she had won The Village Voice newspaper’s 59th obie Award 2014 (theater awards for off-Broaway and off-off Broadway productions) for best performance.

Difficult Katigbak didn’t jump at the chance to form the group when co-founder Richard eng, also an actor, pitched it to her. She’d already been doing stage work with Pan Asian Repertory Theatre and had seen how difficult it was.

“But after Richard agreed that the primary focus of the company would be european and American classics with all-Asian-American casts, i came on board,” she says. “i was increasingly frustrated with the lack of opportunities for acting in the classical canon for trained actors who are Asian-American, like me.” in a previous interview, Katigbak said, “We don’t get to do [these kinds of roles]! if [doing these roles] becomes the foundation of the company, so that we get perceived as technically skilled,

then there will have to come a time when people will say, ‘oh right, we don’t have to just cast them as Asian gangsters and gooks.’ “i wanted to… develop a very large pool of acting talent so that it becomes undeniable that we can do this stuff, and hopefully other people would start casting these folks from our shows.”

As such, the group aims to “more accurately represent onstage the multi- and intercultural dynamics of our society… [and] demonstrate a rich tapestry of cultural difference bound by the American experience.”

Contributions Katigbak says part of the group’s mission is “to increase awareness among non-AsianAmericans about our contributions to American culture,” and also to point out what “Asian” means. “We can go as far east as Japan, as south as indonesia and all the way west to Turkey.

All that focused work has gained recognition. The group received the 2006 Rosetta Lenoire Award for “increasing diversity and nontraditional casting in American theater,” as well as the 2012-13 Lucille Lortel Award.

And it’s producing results.

“After our production of ‘Falsettoland,’ one of the actors, Christine Toy Johnson, got a recurring role in a soap opera and i don’t think her character was [meant to be] specifically Asian,” said Katigbak. “our other alums such as Daniel Dae Kim, C.S. Lee, Joel de la Fuente and Ann Harada have all played roles that are not ethnic-specific.”

Theater in DNA Born and raised in Manila, Katigbak and her parents moved to the US when she was 11. “i recall wanting to do theater since i was about 5 years old,” she says. “i was surrounded by musicians and dancers in Manila because my mother Adelaida Reyes was a musician and then a music critic [for Philippine evening news and Manila Daily Bulletin], but theater was always, somehow, in my DnA. There was no ‘Aha!’ moment, i was just always doing it.”

Katigbak has acted extensively with different groups in and outside of new York. She received the new Dramatists’ Charles Bowden

Mia Katigbak with her 2014 Obie forBest Performance for “Awake and Sing!”

Actor Award in 2006.

Her advocacy for Asian- Americans in theater reaches beyond naatco. She was one of the organizers of the first and second national Asian American Theater Festivals in 2007 and 2009.

Look to the future For its next production this season, the group has commissioned Lloyd Suh to adapt Agatha Christie’s “The Mysterious Affair at Styles.” “its working title is ‘Charles Francis Chan’s Most exotic oriental Murder Mystery,’” she says.

(Suh’s “American Hwangap” was staged by Tanghalang Pilipino in english and Filipino in Manila in 2010.) “our 25th anniversary is a milestone, just for the sheer fact that we have survived that long. i believe we enjoy the fortunate reputation of doing good work, no matter what we do, and that’s a good thing.”

“The anniversary affords me the opportunity to assess what naatco has accomplished thus far, and it is a good place from which to look to the future. To concoct other strategies for Asian-American representation, visibility and dynamism on the American stage.

To reach other constituencies beyond the usual and to forge more meaningful partnerships with other non-Asian-American theater artists and organizations.”

David Foster ‘applauds’ Charice for knowing what she wants by

Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

‘Inside Out’

MAniLA—David Foster admires Charice for knowing what works and doesn’t works for her as a singer.

David is Charice’s godparent and one of the people who supported her international career.

“Like every young artist that i’ve worked with that becomes of age, they seem to find their own way

and they don’t need me to say, ‘do this,’” said David about Charice’s new song genre, in an interview in “Aquino and Abunda Tonight” on Monday, Aug. 17.

At the start of her career, Charice was more known for belting out hits such “i Will Always Love You,” “And i’m Telling You,” and her hit single “Pyramid.” now, she rarely sings songs that require her to belt it out. Charice reveals she’s now into the RnB genre.

“They have a mind of their own,” David added. “So people like Charice, they get their own mind. She’s writing songs now.

She doesn’t want to sing a Celine Dion song anymore. That was then, this is now and i applaud that, i appreciate that.”

As for Charice, she promised her fans who are going to watch the “David Foster and Friends” concert tonight that she’ll be doing some of her “diva” hits.

“Siyempre mayro’n naman po sa set list ko, e,” Charice said referring to belt-out songs. “it depends.

Siyempre kung hindi pa sila satisfied, for sure mapi-feel ko naman ‘yon, e. i don’t like it when people don’t feel satisfied.”

This is the third time that David has been in the country to do a show. He admitted that he loves going back to the Philippines because “they love music as much as i do.”

Aside from his all-out support

Charice

for Charice, another proof of his admiration for Filipino talent is his support for “Asia’s Got Talent” finalist Gerphil Flores, who will also perform in his concert.

Asked what makes Filipino talents stand out, David replied: “Here’s the thing, all of Asia but Philippines in particular, Asian artists copy American music. it has been going on for decades. english artists copy American music too.”

“Right now, Asia is in the tipping point, they’ve copied it long enough,” he explained further.

“We’ve seen Korean pop, K-Pop, they’re tipping it to make it their own sound.”

He then concluded that, “i’ll guarantee you, in the next five years, superstars will come from Asia. They’re borrowing it from America but they’re making it their own.”

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NextDayBetter x LA: Tastemakers share why Filipino...

PAGE B1 ences in the culinary industry.

“When it came for us to decide on a theme for this [event], it really was a unanimous decision to talk about and highlight the Filipino tastemakers right here in our backyard that are making waves in the Filipino foodie scene.

With so many Filipinos living in Southern California, we’re always asking ourselves, why hasn’t Filipino food gotten the attention that Thai, Japanese, and Korean [food] have?,” Medenilla said.

How sustainable agriculture can make the next day better For Justin Garrido, one of the night’s keynote speakers, doing an MBA exchange program in the Philippines was a “life-changing experience” that exposed him not only to the immense poverty, but also to come up withviable solutions to ameliorate the problem.

From there, he and a classmate launched SocialProject.PH, a crowdfunding website featuring projects that deal with social issues and environmental challenges in the Philippines.

However, while traveling around the country, he visited farming communities and realized that farmers themselves could solve eradicating poverty, which, according to Garrido, is a more sustainable and grassroots way to make an impact. “…I realized that the true potential of the Philippines wasn’t in crowdfunding and what we’re doing by tapping the Filipino diaspora through remittances,” he said during his speech. “But it was in the food, the land and agriculture.”

Last year, Garrido and his cousin Kris founded Social Products, a social enterprise that sources black rice from farmers in Mindanao.

Earlier this spring, the product reached the shelves of specialty health food stores across Southern California, and has been used in dishes prepared by local chefs at LASA and Rice Bar. “[A] key catalyst within that value chain is the social enterprise that has the business skills to take their products and services to market but also has a heart for the farmers wherein [there’s] shared wealth and inclusive growth — basically it’s what we do and why we exist is to empower Filipino farmers by connecting them to markets, and specifically importing their rice to the US organic food industry,” Garrido said.

In return, 5 percent of Social Products’ profits go back to technical training for the farmers. Now that the company has received organic certification from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is looking to target larger organic market chains and introduce more products (i.e. a medley of black, red and brown rices), as well as cultivating other resources like turmeric, ube and cacao.

After the program, Social Products sampled its black rice with various toppings, such as pieces of bangus. In addition to helping out the livelihood of farmers, the company shows that the Philippines is home to many superfoods; a spoonful of black rice alone packs in more antioxidants than a bowl of blueberries.

On just doing it and following your dreams If there’s anything that LA-native Alvin Cailan — owner and chef at Eggslut and Ramen Champ, two wildly popular and successful eateries in Downtown LA?— can draw from his experiences, it’s going ahead with his passion and

LASA’s hamachi kinilaw with salt & vinegar taro chips

not letting detractors stand in the way.

“The key to my success and the key to believing and making dreams happen is: just doing it,” he said.

His rise as a chef began when his father taught him how to cook eggs at a young age.

“So what did I learn how to cook? I learned how to cook eggs like everyone else…I think everyone can relate: waking up in the morning and smelling spam, eggs, vienna sausage, and longganisa,” he told the audience. “It’s a natural progression.”

He went on to work as a dishwasher at 15 years old, “where cooking professionally really started” for him. When it came time to go to college, however, Cailan studied business and got his first post-grad job with a construction company.

“All I could think of every day was, ‘what am I going to cook for dinner?’” Cailan said.

One day, he packed up and just drove to Portland to attend culinary school. “…I made it work because I really, really wanted it. Determination is key. Making the first step is one thing but actually pulling through and doing it is the biggest thing,” he continued, adding that he knocked on the doors of every major restaurant in Portland in search for a job with no luck.

When he finally found a paying gig, the restaurant flopped six months later, prompting another move down the coast to Yountville and Napa, where some of the country’s best and Michelinstarred restaurants are located.

Bouchon offered him a job, but he declined and moved back to LA where he made rounds at “pinky up” restaurants.

Tamales from Let’s Eat It All Up

“I go, I eat a breakfast sandwich and I’m like ‘this sandwich sucks’ and at the time, in LA, everyone didn’t eat breakfast…so I thought I had something there: I could make a damn good sandwich. I’ve been doing fine dining, why not make a sandwich? Then I realized, man, I’m broke,” Calian said. He sold his car and bought a food truck, which was timely as the city’s food truck craze was peaking. Naming the truck ‘Eggslut,’ Cailan had Krizia Medenilla, Diane Romualdez, Samantha Duenas, Mike Tinio, and Krystal Menez Photo by Brian Trinidad + pisforprops three menu options — all made with eggs — and parked in front of Intelligentsia Coffee in Silver Lake.

“If people buy $7 coffee, they’re going to buy $6 breakfast sandwiches. They did, but the thing is the other business owners and restaurants on that street complained so I had to move and that was the biggest hit. Three months rolled by and I was making like $50 a day.

I was running the truck myself…I would wake up at 4 in the morning from Compton and drove it down to West Hollywood myself.

Back then, it was just yell 1, 2 or 3 because I [was] the cashier, cook Little Ongpin Pancit and Leelin Bakery and Cafe Empanadas and everything else,” he said.

Then, one “miraculous” morning Ruth Reichl (famed food critic and former editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine) stumbled upon the truck and ordered the coddled egg atop potato puree.

“I’m looking out the window and she digs in and eats it. Boom, you just see it. I’m like I…crushed this,” Cailan said, recalling that feeding one of the most influential food writers led to an uptick in social media followers and attention from other writers. “I owe it to her. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have gotten to shine. She gave me a chance…Next thing you know, every food blog and writer [was] Ice cream samples from soon to be open Wanderlust Creamery PAGE B6

The Park’s Finest sampling its pulled pork and Ann’s cornbread bibingka

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PNB announces another Magpadala ‘Filipino Delicado’: A Chilean Chef’s take...

Magpalipad Promo winner EUREKA INDEED! He’s got it. Federico Mendoza of Eureka, California won a round-trip ticket to the Philippines via Philippine Airlines including 2 round-trip tickets to select Philippine domestic destinations.

Mendoza, a long time employee of Caltrans in Northern California could hardly believe his ears when he received a call from PNBRCI’s Sacramento Branch.

He said excitedly, “Now I can take my vacation to the Philippines!

It’s been 5 years.”

To support loved ones back home, the Mendozas have been remitting money to them via the PNBRCI Sacramento Branch since 2001. Their generosity and loyalty to PNBRCI have paid off having won one of the coveted prizes in the industry worldwide.

After all, it is a chance to play tourist in one’s homeland. It’s true what they say. It really is more fun in the Philippines.

“I have had a good experience with PNBRCI Sacramento with their good and faster service”, Mr. Mendoza said. The loyalty runs deep in the family on both sides of the globe. He says their relatives back home are also long time PNB customers.

Federico who took a day off from his Caltrans job, brought along his wife, Gina who is equally excited, to the PNBRCI Sacramento Branch to claim the travel

WINNER IN PNBRCI’S MAGPADALA MAGPALIPAD PROMO. Seen in the Photo from left to right Is Junne Juan, VP for Sales for PNBRCI in Northern California handing the travel certificate to Federico Mendoza, one of the winners of the PNBRCI Sacramento Branch. Gina, Federico’s wife came along to witness the event.

certificate from Junne Juan, VP of PNBRCI Sales for Northern California.

The couple, who both hail from Dagupan City in Pangasinan, was so overjoyed that Gina, posted a photo of the travel certificate on Facebook encouraging her friends to remit through via PNBRCI as well. Federico even showed his certificate to his Caltrans co-workers.

The promo is part of PNB Global Remit’s efforts. PNBRCI in the US, makes remitting money a bit more fun and exciting. This is also

the company’s way of thanking its loyal patrons in every part of the globe who have used the services of the company through the years.

It is also PNB’s way of reinforcing the emotional ties that bind expatriates and their loved ones by making it possible for some very lucky winners to come home for free and enjoy the warmth and comfort of the homeland.

So why remit your valuable dollars using any other company?

PNBRCI offers a relationship that is mutually rewarding. �Advertising Su��lement�

Inside the mind of Ronnie...

PAGE B2

“Ronnie has already boarded a beautiful piece about growing up and I’ve never been to [his] hometown, but it really captures this amazing feeling of what that is like. [It is a] very personal story, which is what we try to do in all of our films. Even though they’re about cars or bugs or whatever, we try to put ourselves into them so that they appeal to us and hope that they will appeal to you,” Docter concluded.

Connections Filipinos in Pixar actually get together from time to time and they call themselves the ‘Pixnoys.’

“We would have salo-salos; we would do potluck; we also hold charity events; we hold auctions so we can donate to charities and

EMPLOYMENT

typhoon relief here and other charities as well,” del Carmen shared.

As for young Filipino animators would like to become a Pixnoy someday, or for those who simply want to reach their dreams, del Carmen has quite the advice.

“The one advice I do have actually goes with anything that you do. It helps if you’re actually doing the thing that you love doing. Because the one thing I do know is that if you are a creative person, or whatever it is that you do, you want to keep doing that thing if you’re passionate about it. So if somebody tries to tell you maybe you shouldn’t be doing it, you can’t help it. You have to do it. You’d do it anyway,” del Carmen began.

“Even though nobody hires

you to do it, make something. You finish it, complete the task, and then show it to people,” he continued. “Because if you don’t get feedback, you don’t know what to fix. You don’t know how to improve. So it may sting a little bit, that you feel like, ‘Well it could’ve been better.’ If you’re like, ‘I want to be the best whatever and I don’t want to make any mistakes,’ that means you don’t finish it because you’re afraid that whatever you do, it’s not good enough so you don’t do anything.

“And if you don’t do anything, years go by, and you still believe that ‘I could be a great whatever,’ you still haven’t done anything.

So do something, finish it, show it to people, get feedback, and you will get to all of your dreams eventually,” he ended.

FOR RENT

PAGE B1 While studying at Berkeley, he worked every position at the front of house at Chez Panisse. After graduating, he found himself entrenched in New York’s restaurant scene, working in some of New York’s toughest dining rooms (per se, Momofuku, Red Rooster Harlem), eventually finding his way home to Casa Mono.

Cure Supper Club participating in Maharlika’s guest chef series unofficially began months ago when Nicole Ponseca had lunch at Casa Mono. “ I noticed they were ordering all the delicious things and off cuts that they had to be in the industry; it was also partly that Filipino “radar” when we get close to each other and that signal in your head goes off that there’s another Filipino in the vicinity,” Miguel told the Asian Journal. “After chatting at lunch, Nicole invited me to the annual balut-eating contest, then Jeepney at Art Basel, and then here with the guest chef series after she had dinner with us at Cure.”

Asked why they opted to call their dinner ‘Filipino Delicado’, Miguel said that both Spanish and Filipino meanings of the word ‘delicado’ could aptly describe the way they cook.

“We like to say we cook in a very precious and careful way, where technique is a factor for us.

There’s that history and double meaning with ‘delikado’: in Spanish, delicado means delicate, in Filipino, it means dangerous; in both, it implies to be careful. A lot of what we do stems from this -we wanted Filipino food that’s not just Instagram-friendly but that’s also memorable on the palate,” he explained.

The Maharlika and Cure Supper Club collaboration truly brought a memorable dinner for the evening’s guests who enjoyed a brilliant vegetable-focused and deliciously inventive dinner that paid tribute to traditional Filipino flavors.

From the ingenious vegetarian sinigang (cold fermented tomato, calamansi, patis and market vegetables) to the inspired sinanglay (torchon of mackerel, mustard greens and coconut broth) to my favorite, the eyebrow-arching balut kuno (confit duck, onsen egg, cured duck breast, adobo gastrique), the dishes were served with perfectly matched drinks, masterfully paired with anecdotes from Miguel’s childhood as he

Course 1: Sinigang �cold fermented tomato, calamansi, �atis, market vegetables� �aired with Drink 1: Sinam�agitang Tsaa �jasmine tea and calamansi honey with vodka�

Course 2: Sinanglay �torchon of mackerel, mustard greens, coconut broth� �aired with Drink 2: Alak Ng Kaning Ha�ones �gekkeikan sake�

explained each pairing to the guests.

And to round up the dishes for the evening’s degustation, their take on two Filipino dessert classics: polboron (Korean melon, roasted brown butter flour, lime syrup) and maja blanca (coconut custard, saffron caramel corn, molasses). The first one was sublime and a fresh take on serving a slice of melon while the second became the evening’s exclama-

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tion point. Days after the dinner and I was still imagining this luscious dessert cavorting with my taste buds.

“We went through a lot of dishes and we felt that the five courses we have tonight represent what we wanted to showcase. We didn’t change the structure of the dishes, we just used some new techniques,” said Chef Diego, who admitted that his favorite Filipino PAGE B7

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Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves ben LovemAn And nAncy e. miLLeR On July 29, 2015, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a new policy memorandum on its website providing guidance to its officers and to the public regarding the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). The policy memorandum was previously circulated as a proposed policy and appears to have been finalized on April 15, 2015 (the date on final version of the memo). The new policy clarifies and expands the applicability of the CSPA. The newly finalized policy memorandum will allow many children who were previously determined to be ineligible for CSPA protection a chance to reapply and potentially qualify for permanent residency if certain requirements

Health@Heart PhiLiP s. chuA, md, FAcs, FPcs A PerSOn between the ages of 15 and 24 around the world is infected with the HIV every 14 seconds. Or, about 4 cases every minute. Almost 4 million children have HIV infection and more than thirteen million children today are orphans because of AIDS. In the Philippines, there were 22,527 living with HIV/AIDS as of December 2014.

Globally, there are 42 million people living with HIV today, up from 40 million in year 2001, and mostly among young people (15-49). Majority of these live in the poorest countries around the globe.

In 1981, Kaposi Sarcoma and pneumocytes were found among homosexuals in new York and California, which gave rise to the name GrID (gay-related immune deficiency. Today, it is clear that these conditions were AIDs. Although thought to have started in the 1980s, HIV infection, in retrospect, began 56 years ago this year. In 1959, a man died of a mysterious illness in Africa, which now appears to be AIDs. Data for year 2013 alone shows the death rates from AIDS in the following countries: the highest,

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 20-26, 2015

UScIS new policy memo expands cSpA

can be met. The new policy could also spur persons who previously did not apply because of perceived ineligibility to apply for permanent residency.

As many of our readers know, the CSPA was passed by Congress to mitigate the problem of children ‘ageing-out’ as derivatives under their parent’s cases which resulted in familial separation. A child is no longer considered a child for the purpose of qualifying as a derivative beneficiary of a parent’s petition when they reach their twenty-first birthday. The CSPA provides a mechanism which allows certain children to remain children despite reaching the age of twenty-one.

The implications of the new policy can only be understood if we first take a step back and see how the CSPA operates to protect children from ageing-out. The CSPA allows children to freeze their age and deduct the amount of time the

disability during the one-year period, ineffective assistance of counsel , timely filing rejected by the USCIS, followed by a prompt, qualifying petition was pending of extraordinary circumstances.

The policy memorandum in- corrected filing, and death or seriwith USCIS from their age but only if they seek to acquire permanent structs USCIS officers to examine ous illness or incapacity of legal resident status within one year of cases to determine if CSPA pro- representative or immediate family the availability of the immigrant tection applies and to grant CSPA member.

Finally, the new policy allows visa number (also known as the protection if extraordinary circum“priority date”). Thus, the key trig- stances are established and: (1) the applicants whose cases were gering event for CSPA protection is circumstances were not created by denied based on failure to meet the child taking affirmative action the individual’s own action or inac- the one-year filing requirement to to seek to acquire resident status. tion; (2) the circumstances were file a motion to reopen for further The child must do this within one- directly related to the failure to act consideration of their case. A year of a visa becoming available within the one-year period; and motion to reopen must usually be as determined by reference to the (3)The delay was reasonable un- filed within 30 days of a decision monthly Department of State Visa der the circumstances.USCIS has but USCIS will allow late-filed monot provided an all-encompassing tions to reopen in this type of case.

Bulletin.

The newly adopted USCIS list of qualifying circumstances The ability to file a late motion policy allows for exceptions to the which would establish eligibility to reopen will only apply to perone-year deadline for seeking to for waiver of the one-year deadline sons who had their cases denied acquire. This means that in some but instead has laid out several between June 8, 2012 through cases persons who have failed to examples of circumstances which the issuance of new policy. Howseek to acquire within one-year couldmitigate in favor of USCIS ever, applicants who were denied may remain eligible for CSPA pro- excusing an applicant seeking prior to that date can reapply for tection. The policy memorandum to acquire residency beyond the resident status if they can meet the states that this one-year deadline one-year deadline. These circum- requirements discussed above.

The CSPA was passed to help can be excused if the failure to seek stances include: legal disability, to acquire resident status was not such as mental impairment, seri- ensure family unity. USCIS’s the child’s fault and was the result ous illness or mental or physical new policy will allow the CSPA

Deadly HIV-AIDS nigeria, 209,800; South Africa, 195,700; India, 127,200; Indonesia, 29,100; Thailand, 18,400; USA, about 15,000; Germany, 400; Philippines, 300.

Today, more than 1.2 million people in the USA are living with HIV infection, 14 percent of them don’t even know it. In the Philippines, between 1984 to 2014, there were 22,527 reported cases of HIV infection, 93.2 percent (20,994) from sexual intercourse, 4.7 percent (1,068) from contaminated needles among drug users, 0.3 percent ((67) from motherto-child transmission, <0.1 (20) percent from contaminated blood transfusion and accidental needle prick, 1.7 percent unknown mode.

Twenty percent of all HIV/AIDS victims in the Philippines were overseas workers (domestic help, seafarers, etc.)

What is AIDS and what is HIV? AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and HIV means Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the agent responsible for the disease. Most of those infected with HIV would develop AIDS within 12-15 years from the time they were first infected, according to the World Health Organization.

How does the virus cause the disease?

HIV attacks the immune system of the infected person and

destroys the CD4 cells (the “generals” in our immune system army), rendering the body’s “security force” without its “commanders,” weak and defenseless to fight off infections. When the immune system breaks down, opportunistic infections set in and the person develops serious and deadly infections and certain form of cancer, all complications of AIDS. How is AIDS transmitted?

The virus can be transmitted through the following body fluids: blood, pre-ejaculate fluid, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. There is no evidence that HIV is transmitted through sweat, tears, urine or saliva, since the concentration in these body fluids is so small. However, if, say the saliva is contaminated with blood from bleeding gums or a cut in the mouth of an AIDS patient, that saliva can transmit HIV. Kissing, in this situation, is risky.

Can HIV enter the skin? no, the virus cannot penetrate the skin, unless the skin is cut or broken, in which case transmission becomes possible. Shaking hands with an infected person is safe. The virus cannot be transmitted through the air by sneezing or coughing either. These are the reasons why casual contact with people with HIV infection is absolutely not dangerous. The PAGE B6

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to protect even more families as it allows exceptions to the previously rigid one-year rule. Whether or not a particular case will meet USCIS’s definition of extraordinary circumstances will come down to the particular facts of that case and then, more importantly, how the case is prepared and presented to USCIS. We encourage all persons whose cases might be impacted by this new policy to speak with an experienced immigration attorney. *** 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.

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Two women, a boy and the jellyfish Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA LOU’S story is worth retelling.

Lou Xiaoying is one remarkable Chinese woman who is a beacon of light, a ray of hope and a surge of warmth in a world that has grown dark and cold.

I wrote about Lou a few years back to shine a light on the life of a woman, who despite humble circumstances, managed to save the lives of babies salvaged from the trash heap, apparently discarded by women in compliance with China’s draconian one-child policy to curb its population growth.

Contrast Lou’s life with that of a 25 year-old new Jersey woman who claims she is not ready for her pregnancy, filmed her own abortion, with full make-up, lights and gazing at the camera and exclaiming with joy at the end of the procedure purportedly to “inspire” and show women that abortion is a positive experience. She even writes about it in one publication. notice I refuse to give a shout out to her name or the publication’s name. Some bask in infamy and one can show

“…The boy looked at him nonplussed, shrugged his shoulders and went back to throwing one more jellyfish back to the water, and told him, “Made a difference to that one …” displeasure by refusing to give a shout out.

The woman who is a wannabe actress of low-budget slasher horror movies which slaughter children works as an abortion counselor. She says, “I feel in awe of the fact that I can make a baby. I can make a life…” Sadly, it was a life that she chose to end coldly. The delusional woman, as if reading from a script even says at the end of the murderous procedure, “Yay, Cool! I feel good.”

She decides to keep a sonogram of the baby as a memento.

Did she even bother to ask the father of the child? even more disturbing is the distinct possibility that she may have become pregnant to create a prop so she can pull this contemptible youtube stunt and become an internet sensation. If she did, this makes it all the more egregious and revolting.

This stunt she pulled at the expense of an innocent life to grab her few minutes of dubious fame cries out for justice and she will be held to account. The laws of karma are irrevocable, some-

times swift, sometimes slow, but without bone marrow-deep repentance, comes without fail in due season.

The response so far has been worldwide revulsion and condemnation at the celebratory tone of her scripted abortion. At the very least, women who see abortion as a solution to a complex problem do so in a somber, quiet way, head bowed down, away from the limelight.

What has women’s liberation come to these days? Shallow, soulless creatures who call themselves women walk the earth. Fortunately, for every one of this kind of vile woman, there are thousands who shun the limelight and work quietly in the trenches fighting the evil of abortion, women I know like Gerri and Anna Maria and members of the Shield of roses who have been quietly pounding the pavement, persuading women to consider adoption instead and knocking unceasingly on heaven’s doors with prayer and fasting to help PAGE B6

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Features

PhilDev invites public to tee, sip, and dance for a cause Menlo Park—The Menlo Park-based nonprofit Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev) has launched its Inaugural Golf Tournament in order to continue funding their fight to eradicate poverty in the Philippines.

Proceeds of this fundraiser go to PhilDev programs, which include scholarships for Filipino students in the STeaM (Science, Technology, engineering, agriculture, an Math) fields. PhilDev, in partnership with its first program donor Shell, currently sponsors 80 students in Philippine universities. recently, PhilDev announced its first scholar to graduate from university. Vance navales graduated cum laude with an electrical engineering degree from the University of San Carlos in Cebu City.

Golfers and dancers can each enjoy a day of select activities in napa County for only $125 for either a golf tournament/dinnerdance or just the dinner-dance for only $50.

For those who would prefer to just attend the dinner-dance, tickets are available for only $50. The dinner-dance will be held at the Chardonnay Golf Club on august 29 at 7 p.m., with cocktails served at 6 p.m. Dinner-dance tickets will cost $60 each after august 24.

The Chardonnay Golf Club is

Through a combination of solar power and cutting-edge wireless technology, PhilDev’s CloudTop program brings Internet to rural elementary schools in the Philippines. Students can make the most of the internet’s innovative, updated learning tools and information, having previously been limited to textbook-based education.

located at 2555 Jameson Canyon road in serene american Canyon, Ca. PhilDev was founded in 2011 by venture capitalist and engineer Dado Banatao, most noted for his invention of the PC chipset and graphics acceleration architecture, technologies found in every PC today. Banatao, the son of a farmer in Cagayan, studied engineering at Mapua Institute of Technology and Stanford University and has made it his mission to help the Philippines eradicate poverty through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Banatao aspires to create foundational systems in the Philippines that will build a future of technological and economic growth.

“We imagine a Philippines where every child has access to education and is raised with a foundation in Science and Technology. This is a reality that PhilDev is creating.”

For more information on these events and how to purchase tickets, contact Jonesy Castro at jonesy@ phildev.org or Sonny Manuel at emanuelmie81@gmail.com, or call PhilDev at (650) 862-3475. For more information about PhilDev, visit www.phildev.org.

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Deadly HIV-AIDS

PAGE B5 widespread misinformation and ignorance have led to unnecessary fear in people’s mind and the added emotional suffering on the part of victims of aIDS. How does HIV enter the body?

The virus enters the bloodstream through mucous membranes, like the lining of the rectum, the walls of the vagina, the urethra (passage channel of the penis), nose, mouth and throat, or by intravenous transfusion of any infected fluid, like blood, plasma, etc., or use of a contaminated needle. The virus must get into the blood stream to cause aIDS. The most common mode is sexual intercourse with a person with HIV. Can one get HIV through oral sex?

Most definitely, especially the person giving the oral sex, since she/he is exposed to pre-ejaculate fluid, semen, or vaginal secretions and menstrual blood. If there is dental carries, open sores, cut or abrasions in the mouth or gums, the virus can enter the blood stream even faster. While the risk in vaginal or anal sex and in giving oral sex is higher than that of receiving oral sex, the latter form of contact is likewise risky and

could be as deadly.

Can a woman transmit HIV to the baby in her womb?

Yes, maternal to fetal transmission is obviously the rule since their individual blood circulation is “connected” with each other.

Does bleach kill the HIV? Yes, Chlorox (bleach), with high concentration of Chlorine, kills HIV. This is what “smart” or experienced drug addicts use to “sterilize” their needles and other paraphernalia used in “pushing” narcotics and other illegal drugs.

However, there is no guarantee that this practice is effective, since the sterilization technique could be flawed. Bleach is not for oral intake, since it would kill the patient first before it kills the HIV. Are condoms effective?

The use of latex condoms has been proven to be effective in the prevention of HIV infection and other sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs). However, condoms are known to develop holes or tears during rough handling or during the actual sex act, which will then allow disease transmission. The best practice is not to have sex with someone who could be exposed to HIV or other sexually-transmitted diseases. Those with multiple partners have been

shown to be at a greater risk, compared to partners who are both monogamous.

How soon does HIV infection lead to AIDS? a blood test that is negative for HIV does not guarantee the person exposed to HIV that he/ she will not develop aIDS. as a rule, it can take 5 to 15 years (after exposure) before people infected with HIV develop aIDS. an infected person may not even know he/she has HIV infection.

This is the reason why everyone must be extra-cautious, because aIDS today is indeed a death sentence, one that is preceded by a horrible stage of existence, humiliation, pain and suffering, not only for the patient but for the entire family – all for a brief moment of pleasure or lust. ***

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

NextDayBetter x LA: Tastemakers share why Filipino...

PAGE B3 hitting me up.”

Today, eggslut is a fixture at Grand Central Market, where lines can span anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour. (one of the night’s raffle items was a front of the line ticket — the modern day version of the Golden Ticket.) “[W]hat I love about our generation of Filipinos [is that] we actually put in work. We go in there and don’t take no for an answer and that’s why we’re here today, right?,” he said.

Why Filipino food can finally have its moment In what Samantha Duenas aka DJ SoSUPerSaM called a “state of the union” of Filipino cuisine, a group of food-minded individuals agreed that bringing together the Filipino-american community can propel the food to a mainstream level similar to some of its asian neighbors. on the panel was: Charles olalia, former executive chef of Patina who started his own pop-up series called apostrophe and is now

chef/partner at ricebar in Downtown; kristine de la Cruz, owner of Créme Caramel, an la-based custard & confection dessert shop specializing in traditional baking recipes with Filipino ingredients; brothers Chad and Chase Valencia who run the much sought after, monthly pop-up series laSa restaurant; kathleen reyes, paleo gourmand and blogger of TheCavery.com.

The conversation fully engaged the audience, touching upon subjects like the authenticity of Filipino food, how to make it healthy and why 2015 is the right time.

Here are a few soundbites: “one night it hit me for the 50th time…it was pasta and not pancit.

I had to make a decision. It took a while but at that point, it was about eight years of cooking, I think I was ready to try at least, whether I knew we were going to succeed or not,” said Chad, who had been been working at neighborhood spots like Canele and Sqirl in los angeles and Contigo in San Francisco.

olalia, who has 12 years of experience working at the French laundry, Patina and Terranea resort, shared how he began his Filipino pop-up series earlier this year.

“The reason I started cooking back then was to bring people together — to be the very reason of why people had a good time.

Through the years, it got lost in techniques, ranks and working up the ladder. I wanted to cook Filipino food. This is what I missed the most. So I came back here [to la] in February and did a Filipino pop-up and I got in trouble with my job and you can’t do that. at the time, I had a specific clause that I couldn’t do anything outside of my restaurant,” he said.

How Filipino food can resonate with customers “When we first started the business, it started with my family’s leche flan and my aunt and uncle adapted it, so it [had] Filipino taste and French texture. But we didn’t even start doing the Filipino ingredients until a year into it when we participated in FPaC…From

there, it just shows us how much community really stems from your heritage…the ube and buko pandan were the two flavors we did because that was what we were familiar with. When we introduced it to our menu at the farmers’ market, people were asking, ‘what’s that purple thing?’ I would say ube but they hear blueberry… Because we sample a lot it gives people the opportunity to try it without feeling they have to buy it to experience it. I think with Filipino food, the exposure through other types of preparation is giving people the opportunity to try it in different ways,” said de la Cruz.

“Through the three years I’ve been blogging, I’ve been seeing patterns of Filipino food in social media, so the presence of Filipino food has greatly populated social media lately and I think that’s been feeding the Filipino food movement…” reyes shared.

Striking a balance between authenticity and being unique For the Valencia brothers at laSa, which boasts California cuisine influenced by Filipino components, looking at the building blocks of Filipino cuisine has guided their menu decisions.

“With laSa, we always considered the flavor profiles and the foundation of flavors of Filipino food…For us, we’re always trying to find ways to respect that without trying to take away from that aspect of Filipino food. For instance, we would create dishes such as the adobo braised octopus where we would braise the octopus tentacle in the adobo and then later sear it, [while] still keeping components of adobo — that kind of ideal and preserving that without taking away too much,” Chase said. olalia added that creating a warm dining experience, distinct to Filipino culture is as important as the food. “a lot about Filipino cuisine is the warmth and hospitality that are shared with other people — that’s important, the tradition and part of the cuisine that I focus on. I want

Chicken crostini with kale salad & lemon parmesan vinaigrette (left); mango mousse with cilantro chantilly and crispy rice (right) prepared by Charles Olalia of A’postrophe

Ube dessert from Créme Caramel LA

to make sure that whoever is at my table will feel that they’re at somebody’s house, or my house so I pay as much attention to them and make them feel as comfortable as I can. Flavor profiles will always be flavor profiles, but I think the hospitality of the Filipinos is one thing that is very unique,” he noted.

On what Filipino dishes should be on menus olalia: “My philosophy is: if I don’t eat it [or] crave it every day, I will not put it on my menu. For me, one thing I want to see on more menus [are] pinkabet and a well-done lugaw.”

Chad: “Places like nIGHT+MarkeT have a blood MSG sauce with chicharrones and bitter herbs and people eat that up. at least dinuguan is cooked and no one’s making it.” reyes: “I would say a nice sinigang house instead of Pho — you know, you have that late night craving and you’re out there and you just want something comforting and reminds you of home.” as the speaker portion of the night drew to a close, the crowd gathered outside to make rounds to the different vendors, sampling

Photo by Brian Trinidad + pisforprops

dishes, such as a chicken crostini with kale salad & lemon parmesan vinaigrette from olalia, laSa’s hamachi kinilaw with salt & vinegar taro chips, ice cream served on an ube cone from soon-to-open Wanderlust Creamery, and bibingka cornbread from The Park’s Finest, among others.

If this event was any indication of community interest and cohesiveness on promoting Filipino food—no airs of “my-grandmother-cooks-it-best” here— then, yes, Filipino food can finally have its moment.

“Filipino food in la is a given and let me tell you why…We’re here. We have the talent. But the next step in Filipino food is you.

We need your support…It comes from us. If we don’t represent our own community, how will everybody else represent us? We put in all the mad hours, the years of sacrifice. now we just turn to you guys, our communities. at the end of the day, when we are all together, we’re all crossing over…I challenge each and every one of us in this room to enjoy the food but also to tell everyone you know about it,” Cailan said.

Two women, a boy and the jellyfish

PAGE B5 in the struggle against the seemingly prevailing culture of death and darkness.

But let’s get back to lou. Her story is like a laser light and her story is worth repeating. She lived in the rural countryside in eastern Zhejiang province. Picture her home. It is a humble hovel, its small yard littered with debris and recyclables. a little boy of 7 plays in the yard. lou lived in that home with her husband lin until he passed away 20 years ago.

When I first wrote about lou in 2012, she was 88 years old and lay languishing of kidney failure in a hospital. Despite pain and impending death, lou looks beautiful in repose. Her eyes sparkle with joy. a calm peacefulness is etched in her face. If she is still alive, she would be 91 years old. an internet search show no updates about lou. at her age and condition, no news is good news. lou and her husband made a living scavenging the village trash for recyclables. It was a tough, backbreaking way of life trudging through the streets and sifting through other people’s often filthy and smelly discards. over the years, they picked up 30 abandoned babies from the trash heap. of the 30 foundlings they saved, the couple kept 4 babies to raise themselves and the rest, they gave away to friends and relatives. They have one biological child, a woman, who

is now past 50 years old. When lou was 82 and already a widow, she saved one more baby from the trash.

She said, “even though I was already getting old I could not simply ignore the baby and leave him to die in the trash. He looked so sweet and so needy. I had to take him home with me … My older children all help look after Zhang Qilin … I named him after the Chinese word for rare and precious.” lou’s story is riveting for its simple, unquestioning reverence for life despite living in stark poverty. She didn’t start out wanting to rescue foundlings but in 1982, her heart was touched when she found the first child, a baby girl, who was lying helpless and abandoned amongst the trash.

“Watching her grow and become stronger gave us such happiness and I realized I had a real love of caring for children …

These children need love and care. They are all precious human lives. I do not understand how people can leave such a vulnerable baby on the streets. I realized if we had strength enough to collect garbage how could we not recycle something as important as human lives?”

Since 1978, the Chinese communist government has enforced, with few exceptions, its one-child policy. Families are prevented from having more than one child under pain of penalty. Those who abide by the rule are given bonuses and incentives. Boys are

preferred in Chinese culture so that couples who want a son feel compelled to throw away infant girls. It is claimed that the policy prevented the birth of 400 million babies. lou’s life story bears resemblance to the story of the little boy and the jellyfish.

There was once a little boy walking on the beach. He noticed that as the tide receded, there were thousands of jellyfish being washed up and lay stranded helpless on the shore. He picked them up one by one and began tossing each jellyfish back into the water, into the sea where they can survive and live. a man also walking along the shore watched the boy in utter disbelief. To him, the boy was trying to do the impossible.

Shaking his head, the man approached the boy and asked, “Hey, kid, what do you think you’re doing? You can never make a difference. There are thousands of jellyfish. You’ll only save a few of them.”

The boy looked at him nonplussed, shrugged his shoulders and went back to throwing one more jellyfish back to the water, and told him, “Made a difference to that one …” each precious human life saved certainly made a difference to that one life. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Features

A Muslim princess is vying for the Mrs. Universe crown Jay Angelique Jaafar Wang is also a self-made woman and a champion of indigenous people’s rights

by Marge C. enriquez Inquirer.net

EVEry morning, Jay Angelique Jaafar Wang—or Allie, as she is known—wakes up to the sound of dynamite from the Davao Gulf.

From her bedroom window, she can see the fishermen blasting for fish.

“If you ask them why they go on, the fishermen will say they won’t have anything to eat,” she says.

Illegal activities driven by poverty, lack of education, abuse of indigenous people and exploitation of ancestral lands are some of the concerns Allie has been raising in her work.

She is the United Nations Habitat permanent official representative for indigenous peoples’ issues—and the current Mrs. Southeast Asia, a beauty queen title given to a married woman whose advocacy is violence against women and children.

She was selected by MegaStar Productions to compete in Mrs. Universe, a global pageant and forum for women working in philanthropy and human rights.

The event will be held in Minsk, Belarus on Aug. 27.

Allie’s vision is to uphold the rights of her people. According to the Land registration Authority, there are 5 million hectares of land in the Philippines that are considered ancestral domain.

“The problem is that the government can’t develop these lands because there is no budget,” she says. “The Indigenous People’s rights Acts was created to protect them and the environment. My vision is to put up a resource base economy, that is, to have a master plan for their lands which will include an industrial park, economic zone, school and agriculture.”

Royal house of Sulu Born on Sept. 27, 1969 to a Muslim-Protestant family, Allie takes pride in being a descendant of the royal house of Sulu. As the eldest of five siblings, she holds the title dayang-dayang, which means princess of the Tausugs.

Her paternal grandfather, Maharaja Mangone Namli Sajili, was chief of the Tausugs and a descendant of the Abu Bakrs, a prominent Muslim lineage. Her grandmother came from the royal house of Tawi-Tawi.

Her maternal grandmother, Maria Lourdes Guabong, was the Bae Limpayen or Queen of the Manobo tribe. She married Don Arsenio Sibug, a Kapampangan Protestant, who was sent by the Americans to teach English to the tribes. The Sibugs acquired and developed properties in Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

Her uncle, the late rep. Joseph Sibug, was named sectoral representative of the tribal people by

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Rotary Club of Historic FIlipinotown Join the Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown as they have a special guest speaker Captain Donald R. Graham Jr., Commanding Officer in the Central Patrol Division, on August 20th at the Los Angeles Police Department.

AU G U St 2 0 -22

MSEUF Alumni Homecoming Reunion Allie is working to preserve and protect the environment and the T’boli culture in South Cotabato.

Inquirer.net photo

then President Fidel ramos.

In 2011, the Sibug clan held a ritual in which Allie was anointed successor of her uncle. She was given the title “Grand Bae” of the Manobo tribe. She was elected president of the Philippine Organization of United Tribal Initiatives Inc. Allie spends her days traveling the country to assess the state of indigenous peoples. The Aetas in Zambales lack potable water, leaving the children sick. The B’laan tribes in Sarangani live a hand-tomouth existence. One school book is shared by 30 Bagobo schoolchildren in Mt. Sikaw, Davao.

The Badjaos in Sulu beg on the streets as a way of life and dive for coins tossed by tourists. Many tribal people die in the mountains due to poor nutrition and lack of medical facilities.

“Doles do not solve the problem. Education is needed to raise their dignity and improve their plight,” says Allie.

Although she came from a privileged background, Allie grew up humbly. Living in Tawi-Tawi with her grandmother, her aunts were widows and her cousins fatherless.

The men in the family were killed as a result of vendettas.

Her father, Amir Bahar Haji Jaafar, also perished from an assassin’s bullet.

Rambo of Zamboanga “My father was known as the rambo of Zamboanga. He protected businessmen from kidnapping and extortion,” she says.

In high school, she moved to Butuan, Agusan del Norte, to live in a conservative household surrounded by bodyguards.

“If I didn’t come home on time, my uncle would whip me with a .45-caliber pistol,” she recalls.

One day in 1987, she went to the family restaurant-bar and pretended that her father had given her instructions to be given money.

She then bought a plane ticket to Manila.

She slept in a dormitory and worked in fastfood chains to sup-

port herself and pay for a preparatory course in nursing. When Allie’s father discovered her whereabouts, he threatened to kill any relatives who would help his daughter.

“I called up my suitors,” she recounts, and asked them, “‘If you love me, can you take me with you?’”

One of them, a 17-year-old student of Don Bosco Technical School, brought her to his home, much to his family’s dismay. The boy’s family was unaware that she was a Muslim princess.

“I learned to adjust to them. I cooked and cleaned the house,” she says.

In 1989, Allie, who was pushing 20, gave birth to her daughter.

(The infant grew up to be Toni Jaafar Hipolito, Miss Globe International 2015). Allie’s partner migrated to the United States in 1992 and promised to return. He never did. llie completed her double major studies in Nursing at Dr. Carlos Lanting College and Tourism at La Consolacion College. Eight years after fleeing Mindanao, she reunited with her grandmother and was shocked to learn about her father’s fate.

Nonetheless, she resumed being a single and working mother in Manila. After college, she got employed at Celebrity Sports and Country Club, working her way up to becoming top producer in selling club shares. She became a marketing supervisor, then was made general manager. She eventually started a string of businesses.

She recently brought potential foreign investors to Mt. Apo in Davao for a possible geothermal plant and held exploratory talks with the Asian Development Bank.

“My concern is to manifest transparency. I need experts and accountants with pure hearts. If this project pushes through, the indigenous people will have their fair share in their own domain,” says Allie.

‘Filipino Delicado’: A Chilean Chef’s take...

PAGE B4 dish is sizzling sisig.

Growing up in a Chilean and French family, Diego’s culinary career started out with him making sandwiches and pizzas in his parents’ pizzeria.

Cure Supper Club, since its earliest incarnation, has always been a passion project for Miguel (who holds an Advanced Certificate with Merit from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust via the International Wine Center) and his friends.

“We didn’t want to limit ourselves to the restraints of the restaurant. Diego’s background in cooking is broad but technical; my background in wine and beverages reaches a pretty wide spectrum also,” he said.

“We decide on the menu and when he sees it, he already knows which drinks would complement the dishes,” Chef Diego agreed.

Guest Chef Series Nicole wants the guest chef series to be all about the food, no pop-ups, no gimmicks.

The series kicked off a few months ago with three sold-out seatings. The inaugural guest chef was Chef Harold Villarosa, who created a menu that brought something new to Maharlika and Filipino food, emphasizing Farm to Table ingredients.

The Guest Chef Series is a culinary incubator designed to provide opportunity for chefs and entrepreneurs showcasing business concepts and dishes. All guest chefs collaborate with Chef Miguel Trinidad with the purpose of pushing the envelope of Filipino flavors and use of ingredients.

Chefs chosen have demonstrated an exceptional culinary background and are either professionals or self-taught.

“It’s exciting to have new people in the kitchen and work with them to see their interpretation of Filipino food. Miguel (de Leon) gave them the vision of what he wanted to see. This eve-

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 20-26, 2015

Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation of Lucena City, Philippines to be hosted by MSEUF Alumni Association of California. Announcement to all MSEUF (formerly known as Luzonian University Foundation) Alumni of our Grand Reunion to be held on August 20-22, 2015 at the Gold Coast Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada (4000 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas). Tickets are $80.00/person, including Bowling and the reunion Dinner/ Dance. For additional information and inquiries, please contact the following: Nonato Palomar (818) 209-6881 nonatop@sbcglobal.net; Mercy G. Bruno (310) 686-1421 mercygbruno@ gmail.com; Malou Almadrones (213) 531-7824 marylou616@yahoo.com; and Butch Villarama (916) 600-8472 r.villaram@comcast.net.

AU G U St 2 1 -23

30th Northridge Invitational Tournament (NIT) California State University Northridge (CSUN)’s Filipino American Student Association is set to host their annual 30th Northridge Invitational Tournament (NIT), one of the most competitive Filipino American sports tournaments in Southern California from August 21-23 at CSUN campus, with over sixty teams and 700 athletes in attendance. The 3-day summer sports tournament will include basketball, volleyball, softball, football, and bowling. Players include high school varsity, junior college, NCAA & NAIA Division 1-3, and some professional players. For more information on participating in or sponsoring NIT, please visit www.csunfasanit.com. Registration payments are due by Friday, August 14. For any questions, please email us at fasa.nit@gmail.com or call the Tournament Director CJ Berina at (818) 458-7446.

You can also follow FASA NIT on Twitter @FASANIT2015.

AU G U St 23

PWUAASC Casino Turn-Around Fundraiser The Philippine Women’s University Alumni Association of Southern California appeals to alumni, family and friends to help in its humanitarian mission with a casino turn-around fundraiser at Harrah’s on Sunday, August 23. First pick up is at 8 am at 1512 E. Amar Rd., West Covina, CA 91792. Bus departs at 8:15 am; please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure. Second pick-up is at 8:45 am at 7511 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park, CA 99621.

Bus leaves at 9 am with a return from the casino at 3 pm. Donation is $20, which includes bus ride and continental breakfast, and a chance to help PWUAASC’s projects like the annual distribution of hygienic packages for homeless men at Skid Row; backpacks for children at Harbor UCLA Medical Center; and donation to American Red Cross for survivors and victims of natural disasters. To sign up, please contact Virginia B. Vivas (714) 397-2976; Puring Worrell (310) 999-9574; Vicky Soong (626) 272-0465, Tessie N. Lightholder (909) 465-5919, or email Marigene Strouse GENIE1705@aol.com.

AU G U St 29

UPAAGLA Induction Dinner-Dance All U.P. Graduates, family and friends are invited to attend The Induction Dinner Dance of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) on August 29, 2015 at 6pm at the Glendale Embassy Suites (800 Central Ave, Glendale, CA 91203). This event shall benefit the Scholarship Fund of UPAAGLA. Tickets are $75 inclusive of dinner. For ticket and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Arnel Joaquin (213) 880-3305 / arnelj@gmail.com, or Dick Cu (562) 547-0560, or visit www.upaagla.org.

SEPtEMBER 4

National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants 2015 Charity Golf Tournament Where: Penderbrook Golf Club, 3700 Golf Trail Lane, Fairfax, VA 22033 When: September 4, 2015; 8am-2pm Please contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.net Visit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.

Saulog Celebration: A Night of Serenade Cebuanos Engaging in Building Unity, Inc. (CEBU INC.) will be hosting a Saulog Celebration: “A Night of Serenade” on Friday, September 4th, at St. Rebastian Roman Catholic Church (5802 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside, NY 11377). The show will present the Cebu Clergy Performing Artists, and feature: the 2015 NYC Philippines Independence Day Parade Grand Prize Winner - C.E.B.U. INC. Sinulog Dancers. The show will start at 8:00pm on Friday. Please contact CEBU INC. for more details.

SEPtEMBER 4-6

National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants 2015 Convention Where: JW Marriott 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20004 When: September 4-6, 2015; from 8am-5pm Please contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.net Visit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.

S E P t E M B E R 4 -7

Ramon Magsaysay/Cubao High School 2015 Reunion in Las Vegas

Course 3: Balut Kuno (confit duck, onsen egg, cured duck breast, adobo gastrique) paired with Puting Alak (vinho verde)

ning is amazing and incredible,” Chef Miguel said. “I saw them use fermented tomato paste for the sinigang and it’s my first time to see [it] being used as a souring agent. To get to see something new is always a good experience like.”

“It was really educational. I didn’t know much about Filipino food but it was fun to work on what Miguel’s upbringing was, basically,” shared Chef Diego.

“At first, I thought Filipino cuisine was a bit one-note. Not anymore, as I was awakened by the flavors that developed in the dishes, it’s amazing.”

Now in its fourth cycle, the guest chef series shows no sign of slowing down.

“It has been so much fun doing it. We’re inspiring chefs who have nothing to do with Filipino food get excited by the cuisine and our ingredients,” Nicole said. “I look at food as the new fashion

so it’s always about creativity and collaborating with other creative minds and pushing the envelope for Filipino food.”

Collaborating with the various chefs is also opening new doors for Maharlika since the chefs bring with them followers who have not tried Filipino cuisine before.

Nicole heaped praise on the Cure Supper Club guys.

“These guys are pros – from the beverage to the food to the front of house styling. They brought their A game, which is a big relief for us. It’s a real pleasure to be working with them,” she said.

Next up is Chef Chanhthajone Douangvilay, a half-Filipino, halfLaotian chef who will cook Laotian Filipino dishes. I like Laotian food for their use of fresh herbs and raw vegetables and it will be interesting to see how we combine all these elements together and see the chef’s take on the cuisine.

Calling all Cubao High School/Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School graduates and alumni! Come out and join the 2015 Get-Together of our Alma Mater from Friday, September 4 to Monday, September 7 at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (4000 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89103). A special Dinner/Dance is scheduled on Saturday, September 5. To our Alumni now residing in Canada, the US, and other parts of the world, all are invited to share this special weekend event with their fellow graduates and classmates in Las Vegas, NV. For more information, please call Jay Medina at (310) 967-9517 or Boots Doria at (925) 330-8081.

SEPtEMBER 5

Filipino Association of Leisure World Dinner-Dance The Filipino Association of Leisure World will hold their dinner-dance at the Leisure World Hall on Saturday, September 5th. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For further information, please call Ren Villanueva at (323) 854-6209.

S E P t E M B E R 2 0 -26

CELEBRATE LOCAL with San Diego Restaurant Week!

This September, San Diego Restaurant Week, presented by Lexus Dealerships of San Diego, will CELEBRATE LOCAL... keepin’ it fresh - really fresh. San Diego Restaurant week returns September 20th - September 26th for ONE WEEK ONLY to “Celebrate Local” at all 180+ participating restaurants. Choose from a three-course dinner or two-course lunch deal to satisfy your cravings. NEW THIS YEAR, San Diego Restaurant Week will be partnering with Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank to provide backpacks for children in need within the San Diego community during the ALL FOR KIDS campaign. Ditch the dirty dishes and join over 150,000 fellow diners as we celebrate San Diego’s thriving culinary scene and the homegrown, local businesses that provide us with the produce and products we love! Tickets are not necessary for this delectable week of discounted dining, but reservations are recommended! Visit SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com for more information, including a list of participating restaurants, or to make your reservations in advance!

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

B august 20-26, 2015 • Las VEgas asIaN JOuRNaL

EntErtainmEnt

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Lea Salonga doesn’t mind being called ‘patola queen’ Sarah Geronimo ‘serious’ about being ready to settle down?

MANILA—Sarah Geronimo seems to be sure about being ready to settle down.

During the semi-finals press conference for “The Voice Kids 2” on Wednesday, Aug. 19 Sarah was asked if she was serious when she said that she was ready to settled down.

“Opo,” she said, laughing.

“Opo talaga.”

In the July 18 episode of “The Voice Kids 2,” the Popstar Princess commented on Paul Abellana’s performance of the song “Marry You.” “Ang linis ng pagkanta mo. Kulang pa sa puso siguro kasi hindi ka pa handang magpakasal,” she commented.

“Ako lang ang handang magpakasal. Joke!” she quipped.

In a separate interview, Sarah’s boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli said he’ll just “fix a few things” before he can settle down.

Sarah added that the coaches are very open about making jokes about each other. “’Yong mga coaches this season very open sa kulitan, sa alaskahan, sa bawian ng jokes. Same

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

MANILA—Lea Salonga doesn’t mind being labeled by netizens as “patola queen,” or someone who always reacts to what the bashers say.

“Well, when someone says something obviously wrong, you have to stand up for yourself also,” said Lea in an interview on Wednesday, Aug. 19. “There are things na hindi ko na papatulan because it’s a waste of time. But if there’s someone attacking something I feel strongly about, then oo, papatulan talaga kita.”

With almost three million followers on Twitter, Lea is one of the most popular Filipino celebrities on social media. She is known for being opinionated on social media, often commenting on national and showbiz issues.

“I have to be discerning of how to answer,” she explained.

“When it gets super, super bastos then they won’t get an answer, they’ll just be blocked.”

The internationally renowned singer also believes that being vocal on her social media accounts won’t affect the votes for her two young artists on ABSCBN’s “The Voice Kids,” where she is one of the three coaches.

For this season, the four grand finalists will be determined solely through text votes. The three coaches cannot save a participant who they believe deserves to be in the grand finals.

The six aspiring artists fighting for “The Voice Kids” grand champion title are Kyle and Zephanie from Team Sarah, Elha and Sassa for Team Bam-

Smith Philstar.com

MANILA—“Parang mahirap isingit sa taping ang landian.”

Thus quipped Maja Salvador when asked if there’s a possibility that she can develop a romantic relationship with Coco Martin in an interview with the press on Tuesday.

The ABS-CBN star will be part of ABS-CBN’s upcoming TV remake of Fernando Poe Jr.’s movie “Ang Probinsyano,” which will be headlined by Coco Martin.

The two have worked in the 2011 drama series “Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigan.” At the time, Maja was in a relationship with actor

Sarah Geronimo affirmed her statement in an episode of the second season of the reality talent show “The Voice Kids” that she’s ready to settle down.

Philstar.com photo by Jonathan Asuncion

namin sila iga-guide, paano maihuhugot pa ‘yong kinakailangang emosyon pa doon sa bata.

Maraming maitutulong na makilala mo talaga ‘yong bata.” (Philstar. com)

Aga Muhlach still looks ‘Bagets’ at 46

by Dolly Anne cArvAJAl Inquirer.net

Lea Salonga

boo, and Reynan and Esang for Team Lea. “I don’t think it’s a disadvantage,” she said. “I look at the number of social media followers I have and if a small percentage of this watches the show and

WHAT a blast we all had at the intimate birth anniversary bash support these kids, then it’s of my dear friend from way back, definitely an advantage.”

Aga Muhlach, on Aug. 12 at the She also noted that “I’m very Art Verite Gallery in Serendra. complimentary with the kids.

Aside from his celebration, Kailangan panindigan ko na lang Aga also mounted an exhibit for kung ano ang mga sinasabi ko on his longtime buddy, watercolorist my social media.”

Ernesto Verroya.

“I want to encourage Ernie to pursue his passion again,”

Maja Salvador: Naka-lock pa ang puso ko ngayon by chuck

page lahat, e, tsaka sport talaga lahat,” she said.

She also noted that “hindi pupuwedeng balata sibuyas ka, e. Lalo na kay coach Lea at coach Bamboo, hindi talaga, e. Kailangan game lang ng game.”

Meanwhile, Sarah believes that knowing the back story of the six finalists of the second season of the “The Voice Kids” is important, most especially for the viewers.

For this season, the final four grand finalists will be determined solely through text votes. The three coaches will not be able to save a finalist who they believe deserves to be in the grand finals.

The six aspiring artists who’ll compete for the title are Kyle and Zephanie from Team Sarah, Elha and Sassa for Team Bamboo, and Reynan and Esang for Team Lea. “Importante po talaga sa mga voters, sa mga manonood na makilala nila ng husto ‘yong bata muna,” Sarah explained.

She also added that “importante rin po sa aming coaches ‘yon, e, (para malaman) paano

Matteo Guidicelli.

Now that they’re both single, is it possible that Maja and Coco could end up together?

To this, the 26-year-old actress said: “Tignan po natin. Naka-lock pa ang puso ko ngayon.”

“Trabaho po muna kami ni Coco. Lalo na ngayon, parang mahirap isingit sa taping ang landian, ang love life kasi mga pulis kami. Parang mahirap maglandian habang nagaaksyonaksyon kami,” she joked.

Maja further said: “Nakalock pa ang puso. Kalma muna tayo.”

The actress broke up with actor Gerald Anderson earlier this

year. In a previous interview, Maja admitted she felt shattered and broken after her split with the “Nathaniel” star.

During the press conference on Tuesday, which was held to announce her inclusion in the Coco Martin TV series, Maja said her heart is locked not because she felt “trauma” after the breakup.

“Naka-lock lang. Para trabatrabaho po muna,” Maja said, adding she’s not stopping herself from falling in love.

“Hindi naman mapipigil ang pag-ibig. Matatanggal naman (ang lock) kapag andyan na siya,” Rowell Santiago, Aga Muhlach, Albert Martinez she explained. and Willie Revillame

Aga said. “I told him that his God-given talent should not go to waste.”

Verroya was the grand prize winner of the 1988 Metrobank Watercolor Art Competition. Aga has such a big heart. So it’s no surprise that even on his natal day, he was giving back.

Since Morning (Aga’s other nickname) is a Michael Jackson fanatic comme moi, my gift to him was a rare MJ commemorative, a “Bad” vinyl record.

We had fun reminiscing about our trip to Singapore with friends to watch MJ’s “Dangerous” concert in 1991. I teased, “You could afford to buy all the MJ concert souvenirs, but you badgered me to give you one of the MJ shirts I bought!” We both had a good laugh.

Spotted at the fete were Lea Salonga and hubby Rob, Ricky Davao, Willie Revillame, Tintin and Julius Babao, Rowell Santiago, Bayani Agbayani, Luigi and Patty Muhlach, Aga’s dad Cheng and brother Albert, Albert Martinez and kids Alissa and Alfonso, Aga’s fab wife Charlene and their cute twins, and BFFs Serafin Pua, Gelo Serrano and Jovet Reyes.

The party was devoid of anything show biz. It was no crazy carnival, just a simple yet heartwarming bonding among the closest of friends and kin. As I told Aga, “Everyone present is part of the original cast!”

We all enjoyed the delish chow prepared by the celebrator’s fave chef Jessie Sincioco.

It was a pleasant surprise to see former actor Orestes Ojeda. He and his wife Lori own Art Verite (artverite.net or 9151982). He still looks like a movie star, even when he’s already in his 60s. I teased him that he should make a show biz comeback.

Aga and I missed his cousin and my kumare, Liezl Martinez, who passed away early this year.

“We just have to try and move on,” Aga said, sighing.

“But we will always feel Liezl’s presence, especially on happy occasions like this.”

Cheers, my forever “Bagets” friend—46 never looked so good!

I cannot thank you enough for never being too busy to be a friend. Every time I’m embroiled in a controversy, I don’t need to holler for help because you are instantly there.