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Volume 9 – Issue 9 • 16 Pages

n o V e mbe r 2 7 - de c e mbe r 3 , 2 0 1 5 Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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Duterte leads in Metro poll Poe, Binay, Roxas and Santiago trail him

by NaNcy

c. carvajal Inquirer.net

metro manila, the country’s economic and political center, prefers Davao City mayor rodrigo “Digong” Duterte—who is known for his tough stance on crime—as the next President. the upper and middle classes,

as well as the poor, gave Duterte the highest scores among presidential aspirants in a survey conducted by Pulse Asia research Inc. two weeks ago. one in every three voters (34 percent) in metro manila said he or she would vote for Duterte if elections were held early this month.

Poe got 26 percent; Vice President Jejomar Binay, 22 percent; former Interior secretary mar roxas, 11 percent; and sen. miriam Defensor-santiago, 7 percent. Asked about the survey, Duterte said he did not know why people from metro manila chose PAGE A2

Duterte (34 percent), Poe (26 percent), Binay (22 percent), Roxas (11 percent) and Santiago (7 percent).

DATELINE

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Clinton proposes tax break for family caregivers DemoCrAtIC presidential candidate hillary Clinton on sunday, Nov. 22, proposed a new tax credit offsetting up to $6,000 in costs for middle-class families who care for their aging parents or grandparents and disabled family members. “We need to recognize the value of the work that caregivers give to all of us, both those who are paid and the great number who are unpaid,” Clinton told a crowd of more than 400 gathered at a town hall-style meeting in Iowa on sunday, Nov. 22, according to the Associated Press. her proposal, the latest in a series geared toward America’s middle class, seeks a credit to 20 percent of up to $6,000 in caregiving costs for a total savings of up to $1,200. It also calls for providing caregivers with additional social security benefits, and reforming workfamily policies to support paid and unpaid caregivers, a Clinton aide said. PAGE A3

Obama struggles to keep focus on Asia US to host ASEAN leaders in 2016 us President Barack obama voiced his determination to put Asia front and center in his foreign policy, even as a two-nation visit to the region was eclipsed by jihadist attacks in france and mali. America’s self-styled “Pacific President” has been frustrated to see a trip to malaysia and the Philippines designed to highlight his stated refocus on Asia overshadowed once again. After years of talking about the need to deepen trade, security and diplomatic ties with the region, White house officials had hoped the trip would be a victory lap. twelve countries recently agreed to obama’s trans-Pacific Partnership (tPP) trade pact, and the us pledged to boost security assistance to its ally the Philippines, which is in a confrontation with China over maritime territory. During the weeklong Asia swing, obama has touted his years growing up in southeast PAGE A3

Inquirer.net photos

SEALED. Vice presidential contender Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano bows to his guest, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, during the senator’s 45th birthday party in Taguig City. After blowing hot and cold for several months, Duterte announced that he had made up his mind and would run for president in 2016, with Cayetano as his running mate. Inquirer.net photo by Richard Reyes

7 countries send observers Failure not an option for PH delegation to Paris climate talks to monitor PH case vs China by Niña

P. calleja Inquirer.net

by Sara

Pacia Inquirer.net

fAIlure of the crucial climate change talks in Paris this December is not an option for the Philippine delegation, which is determined to exhaust all options to “preserve humanity and save the planet.” “We are not considering a failure scenario because so much is at stake,” said commissioner manny de Guzman, acting head of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and lead negotiator for the Philippines in the 21st Conference of Parties (CoP21) from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. CoP21 aims to ink a legally PAGE A2

seVeN countries, including claimants malaysia and Vietnam, have sent observers to the second round of arguments in the case that the Philippines brought against China in a united Nations arbitral court in the Netherlands over their territorial dispute in the south China sea. Indonesia, officially not a claimant in the south China sea but has asked China to clarify its claims to nearly all of the strategic waterway, has also sent a delegation to the hearings in the hague. While the court decided not to Climate Change Commission acting head Manny de Guzman is the lead open the hearing to the public, it negotiator for the Philippines in the 21st Conference of Parties or COP21 has allowed interested parties to climate conference which will begin on Nov. 30 in Paris. send observers. Inquirer.net photo by Sara Pacia Allowed to send observers to

the hearings were Australia, Indonesia, Japan, malaysia, singapore, thailand and Vietnam. In an earlier interview on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific economic Cooperation summit held in manila last week, Japanese officials expressed support for the Philippines’ arbitration case. “Japan supports the approach because it is peaceful and it is based on international law,” Yasuhisa Kawamura, Japan’s press secretary and spokesperson for Prime minister shinzo Abe said. China has refused to take part in the proceedings, reiterating Wednesday that it will not accept any ruling by the tribunal. the oral arguments will end on or before Nov. 30, the tribunal said.

6 years later, still no justice in Maguindanao massacre by jaNvic

Mateo Philstar.com

the bail plea of primary accused Andal Ampatuan Jr. is pending before Quezon mANIlA—Justice remains elusive for City regional trial Court Branch 221 Judge the victims in the maguindanao massacre Jocelyn solis-reyes. as the country commemorates on monday, malacañang is hopeful that the judiciary Nov. 23 the gruesome murder of 58 people, will find ways to speed up the process as including 32 media practitioners, six years presidential spokesman edwin lacierda ago. has noted the pace of the case. more than 150 witnesses and thousands “We continue to be outraged by the of pages of documentary evidence were whole incident and we remember the peopresented, but the special court handling ple who unfortunately died in that tragic the case—while making substantial prog- massacre,” he said, adding that the Palace ress in the past year—has yet to issue a has been asking the judicial branch for a single verdict against any of the accused way to speed up resolution of the cases. charged with 58 counts of murder. PAGE A2

Help pioneering Pinay inventor, PH govt urged the government should help the group of filipina inventor Aisa mijeno to realize their goal of massproducing their saltwaterpowered leD lamp, sen. ferdinand marcos Jr. said on monday, Nov. 23. It is sad, according to marcos, that the government is yet to provide sup-

port for mijeno’s invention when both us President Barack obama and Chinese billionaire Jack ma of Alibaba had recognized the potential of her invention. mijeno, Ceo of sAlt (sustainable Alternative lighting), shared the stage with obama and ma at the APeC (Asia Pacific economic Co-

operation) Ceo summit where obama moderated a session after his speech on climate change. she said her group needed funding to mass-produce the lamp. “sAlt’s invention has gained international attention and earned various PAGE A4

Bon Appetit, one of the biggest food magazine publishers in the United States, dubbed Jollibee as one of the “up-and-comers and rapid expanders” fast food chains in the US. Photo courtesy of Jollibee USA

Filipino-owned fastfood chain among fastest growing joints in US mANIlA—Bon Appetit, one of the biggest food magazine publishers in the united states, dubbed Jollibee as one of the “up-andcomers and rapid expanders” among fastfood chains in the us. According to their article titled the fast food restaurants You should Be Watching in 2015, the Philippinebased fastfood chain has

“started popping up in the states, primarily on the West Coast but with a smattering in houston, Queens, Jersey City, las Vegas and Virginia Beach.” At present, it has 30 branches all over the us. the article also added that it is visited because of its menu such as the palabok fiesta noodles and their signature PAGE A3

A november 27-december 3, 2015 • neW YorK And neW JerSeY ASIAn JoUrnAL

Duterte leads in... PAGE A1 him, a “probinsyano.” “I am happy if I am leading or just equal to Poe. I am running on a matter of principle because I don’t want anyone messing up the Constitution.” Duterte said. “It’s a matter of principle and there are times and events in your life that you just do what

you have to do,” he added. Respondents were showed a list of five names (Binay, Duterte, Poe, Roxas and Santiago) and were asked, “If the following were candidates for President of the Philippines, whom would you vote for if the 2016 elections were held today?” Pulse Asia conducted face-to-

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From the Front Page face interviews with 300 respondents from Nov. 11 to 12, or less than two weeks before Duterte declared that he would seek the presidency in the May 2016 general elections. The privately commissioned survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. Pulse Asia confirmed that it ran the survey. It was only on Nov. 21 when Duterte declared his bid for the presidency at a private party in Dasmariñas, Cavite province, a complete turnaround from his earlier statements that he was not seeking the highest elective post in the land despite appeals from his supporters. At the private party, the Davao mayor said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party would be his running mate. Duterte and Cayetano are campaigning on a strong anticrime and corruption platform. Both are pushing for federalism as an alternative form of government to push for political and economic reforms throughout the country. Just two months ago, Duterte placed second in Metro Manila, 4 percentage points behind the then front-runner, Poe. Results of the Pulse Asia survey in September showed that Duterte got 27 percent, lower than the 31 percent obtained by Poe. Binay came in third with 26 percent, Roxas was fourth with 13 percent. Rich, middle class for Duterte Among members of the ABC socioeconomic class, Duterte received 38 percent, double the 19 percent obtained by Poe. Santiago got 15 percent, and Binay and Roxas each got 14 percent. Among members of Class D, Duterte received 34, followed by Poe with 28 percent; Binay, 21 percent; Roxas, 12 percent; and Santiago, 5 percent. Informed of the latest Pulse Asia survey, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo of the Liberal Party said Roxas’ rating had increased by 7 points. Sought for comment, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, spokesperson for Poe, said: “We have yet to see the survey. To comment on a survey that has not been made public by any group is unfair and inconclusive. The method, sample, etc., are factors that must be considered.”

Failure not an option...

PAGE A1 binding agreement among countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. If no agreement is signed, countries will be free to continue their “business as usual” approach, thereby driving up global temperature by more than five degrees. “This is really the defining moment in our history. This agreement will essentially define the fate of humanity and our planet, our home planet. Are we allowing our planet to be very warm? Many islands are going underwater. Some nations are already thinking about migrating to other lands. This is a very basic human issue: Survival,” De Guzman said in a press conference on Wednesday during the 2015 Climate Change Consciousness Week at SMX Convention Center. “The Philippine delegation is attending the COP fully prepared to negotiate and deal with any possible emergency scenarios,” he added. Led by President Benigno Aquino III, the Philippine delegation, which is composed of 50

people, is represented by the Climate Change Commission (CCC), Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Energy, Department of Finance, Department of National Defense, Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Department of Transportation and Communication, National Economic and Development Authority, and the Offices of the Executive Secretary and the Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection, among other government agencies. The negotiation sessions will focus on six core issues: Adaptation, mitigation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building and transparency and other legal issues. All of these are “major” issues the Philippines is invested in, according to De Guzman, adding that the country will participate in all sessions, which will be held parallel to one another over the course of the event’s two weeks. Some members of the delegation

have also negotiated for the Philippines in past COPs. Representatives from civil society organizations, youth groups and professionals from the private sector who serve as advisers on climate change are also part of the Philippine delegation. Among those who will attend side events on behalf of the country are Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committees on climate change and finance, and Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who has been a member of the board of the Green Climate Fund since 2012. Four other cross-cutting issues are also part of the Philippines’ focus: Equity, ambition, pre-2020 action and post-2020 financing. 2020 is the year the legally binding agreement, should it be signed, will take effect. Climate financing in particular is a sticky issue in this year’s talks. Of the 196 parties part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, only 154 submitted their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) accounting for 86 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions. The Philippines has committed to reduce its emissions by 70 percent by 2030, subject to funding to be given to PAGE A3

6 years later, still no justice...

PAGE A1

But for Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, who lost his wife Genalyn and two sisters, along with a number of female lawyers and staff in the Nov. 23, 2009 incident, “justice is still an elusive dream.” Genalyn was supposed to file the governor’s certificate of candidacy in the provincial capital of Shariff Aguak when their convoy, which included media groups, was stopped by more than a hundred men in Ampatuan town. All were shot and buried. Others were raped before they were killed. The body of reporter Reynaldo Momay was never found. Mangudadatu, then the vice mayor of Buluan town, was supposed to challenge a scion of the Ampatuan clan – then the most powerful political family in the region – for the gubernatorial post. Prosecution witnesses claim that Andal Jr. himself led the attack, an allegation he personally

RELIVING THE HORROR. A Tamaraw FX vehicle with license Plate No. UTG 234 is recovered from a shallow grave where the bodies of at least 50 of 58 victims of the Nov. 23, 2009, Maguindanao massacre have been found in Datu Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province. Six years after the tragedy, a manhunt for remaining suspects in the infamous Maguindanao massacre is ongoing. Of the 197 people accused of involvement in the mass killing, only 111 have been arrested and charged in court. Inquirer.net photo by Rem Zamora

denied when he took the witness stand last month to testify on his whereabouts during the incident. Other prominent members of the Ampatuan clan, including now deceased Andal Sr., were tagged as masterminds of the

crime. They have denied the allegations. Time ticking for Aquino admin When he was elected in 2010, President Aquino himself pledged that convictions would be issued PAGE A4

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Clinton proposes tax break... PAGE A1 In the United States, there are approximately 12 million who require long-term care. By 2050, as the population ages, that number is expected to hit 27 million, according to a Clinton campaign fact sheet. The presidential candidate said the economic value of unpaid work performed by family caregivers in 2013 for aging and disabled individuals was $470 billion. “As baby boomers age, more and more families will need to provide care for or will need care from loved ones,” her campaign said. “Many family members, most often spouses and adult daughters, spend time out of the workforce, cut back on hours, or use personal days, vacation and family time to provide needed care.” Clinton also said that lost wages and work especially comes at a cost to women, who constitute the majority of paid and unpaid caregivers. “Whether a woman leaves the workforce to care for children or leaves the workforce to care for a spouse or parent, it means that there is not then an income coming in that could be used to help calculate Social Security benefits later. And I think we have got to recognize that for many women, this has a very serious impact on the amount of money they then draw from Social Security, in order to take care of themselves,” Clinton said. Campaign estimates put the cost of the plan at $10 billion throughout a 10-year period. However, it would not add to the nation’s debt, the campaign said, as it would be financed with tax increases Clinton has

previously proposed. “Hillary Clinton’s solution to every pressing issue is to expand government and raise taxes, and this plan is no different as it will cost hardworking Americans billions,” said Ninio Fetalvo, Asian Pacific American press secretary at the Republican National Committee. “Clinton is simply checking a box to score political points at the expense of middleclass Americans.” Wall Street Journal political reporter Laura Meckler, who covers Clinton and the 2016 presidential campaign, wrote that the Clinton campaign did not provide more specific details about a revenue source for the proposal, other than a variety of other pay-fors. Assisting adults attending to their elderly parents, often while simultaneously raising their own children or assisting with their grandchildren, has become a theme at Clinton’s campaign stops, Reuters reported. Clinton’s plan would also invest additional money into programs providing grant dollars for respite care needs, such as short stays in caregiving facilities, according to CBS. She would also launch a government-wide “Care Workers Initiative,” which would guide training and placement for care workers and ensure they are paid fairly, CBS reported. The presidential candidate previously proposed the creation of a new, refundable $5,000 credit for out-of-pocket health costs and a new credit for businesses that create apprenticeships, Politico reported. Her campaign said she will offer additional middle-class tax breaks in the coming months. (Agnes Constante/AJPress)

Obama struggles...

PAGE A1 Asia, vowed to become the first president to visit Laos, and chatted with audience members in Bahasa Indonesia. But at a business forum on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Malaysia on Saturday, Nov. 21, Obama had to begin by talking about events half a world away in Mali, where 27 people died in an attack by gun-toting jihadists. In a speech, Obama condemned the “appalling” attack, adding that “this barbarity only stiffens our resolve to meet this challenge” of extremist violence. “On behalf of the American people, I want to extend our deepest condolences to the people of Mali and the victims’ families, including at least one American,” he said. On Sunday, Nov. 22, the president said he would host the leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations

next year as he rejected accusations that the Middle East turmoil was distracting him from focusing on Asia. “I’m pleased they accepted and I look forward to continuing our work,” he said, speaking in Kuala Lumpur at the end of a marathon week of diplomacy that has taken in summits in Turkey, the Philippines and Malaysia. He added that good ties with Asian nations were “absolutely critical” to US security. Obama said his Asia tour, which had been initially overshadowed by terrorist attacks in France, Lebanon and Mali, was neither distracted by nor “somehow disconnected from pressing global events.” “This region is not a distraction from the world’s central challenges but is critical to security, prosperity and human dignity around the world,” he said. (Inquirer.net with reports from AFP and AP)

Filipino-owned fastfood chain... PAGE A1 spaghetti and chicken. As of end-June, the fastfood chain company was already operating 3,001 stores—2,374 in the Philippines and 627 abroad.

And just last October, it has acquired acquiring 40 percent of US-based fast casual burger chain Smashburger for $99 million, the biggest investment it has ever made overseas.

Dateline USa

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmbER 27-DEcEmbER 3, 2015

House passes bill to stop Syrian refugees THE House of Representatives swiftly passed a bill on Thursday, Nov. 19, that would halt the admission of Syrian refugees into the US, suspending the program until key national security agencies can certify that they do not pose a security risk. The vote was 289-137, with 47 Democrats joining 242 Republicans in favor of the bill, according to CNN. Two Republicans--Reps. Walter Jones of North Carolina and Steve King of Iowa--joined the 135 Democrats in voting against the legislation. The bill requires the nation’s three top security officials--the Homeland Security secretary, FBI director and national intelligence director--to certify to Congress each Syrian or Iraqi refugee is not a security threat before he or she can be admitted into the US, according to USA Today. The House’s swift vote created a majority that could override President Barack Obama’s promised veto for his proposed program to admit 10,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq. It also faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where Minority Leader Harry Reid has said he would try to block the bill. The high number of Democrats voting against the White House is a clear sign Obama is more isolated in his position on refugees, especially after the ISIS terrorist attacks last week in Paris. The White House has issued a veto threat, saying the bill would create significant delays and barriers for refugees without providing meaningful additional security for Americans. During his trip abroad this week,

Obama offered a forceful defense of the program, and mocked his Republican opponents as being scared of “widows and orphans.” “We are not well served when, in response to a terrorist attack, we descend into fear and panic,” said Obama at the APEC summit in the Philippines on Wednesday. “We don’t make good decisions if it’s based on hysteria or an exaggeration of risks.” Determined to move quickly, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters, “This is urgent. We cannot and should not wait to act, not when our national security is at stake.” The administration’s veto threat “baffles me, especially given the fact that his own law enforcement top officials came to Congress and testified that there are gaps in this refugee program,” he added. “The real problem is ISIL and the lack of a strategy,” commented House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said. “We are a nation at war,” said Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who introduced the bill with Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.). “The streets of Paris could just as easily have been the streets of New York, Chicago, Houston, or Los Angeles…we must take decisive action to show the American people that we are doing all we can to protect them.” Obama administration officials have been lobbying Democrats to oppose the measure, saying there is a vigorous 18-month to 24month vetting process for eligible refugees. “No refugee is approved for

travel to the United States under the current system until the fall array of required security vetting measures have been completed,” the White House said. “There are always risks in allowing any foreigners into the US,” said FBI Director James Comey, adding that the FBI has an “effective process with intelligence and other agencies to conduct vetting of refugees.” Comey has told administration and government officials that the legislation bill would make it impossible to allow any refugees into the US, and could even affect the ability of travelers from nearly three dozen countries worldwide that are allowed easier travel to the US, under the visa waiver program. “This is an area where additional scrutiny and reforms could be useful in enhancing the national security of the United States,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told Reuters. Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Los Angeles, the largest Asian American legal and civil rights organization, released a statement expressing its disappointment in the measure. “Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles condemns the ignorance, as well as the xenophobia and Islamaphobia, underlying today’s House vote to block Syrian and Iraqi refugees from entering the United States,” said Karin Wang, Vice-President of Programs and Communications for Advancing Justice-LA. “We are extremely disappointed that in this hour of great need, our elected officials in Washington

choose fear over compassion and we urge the Senate and President to ensure that the United States continues to welcome those seeking refuge.” The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) in Washington DC also strongly opposed the act, blocking Syrian and Iraqi refugees from resettling in the US. “We believe that America can be safe and secure without sacrificing our cherished values,” said NCAPA National Director Christopher Kang. “The measure of moral leadership is our response when the world is tested, not what we do in times of peace and prosperity. The United States has a noble tradition of responding to major wars and conflicts by resettling refugees from across the globe—three million refugees have been safely admitted since 1975. We must not turn our backs on them now.” NCAPA urged the House of Representatives to oppose the legislation, proudly joining a coalition of 81 refugee and immigration law experts and humanitarians in sending a letter to members of Congress, supporting the refugee resettlement program. Roughly 11 million Syrians, almost half the nation’s population, have fled their homes since civil war broke out in 2011, and around 4 million people have fled their country. The White House said that 2,174 Syrian refugees have been admitted to the US since Sept. 11, 2001, and “not a single one has been arrested or deported on terrorism-related grounds.” (Allyson Escobar/AJPress)

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Dateline USa

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Report: 1.6M DAPA-affected individuals Long Beach community discusses raising min. wage will be eligible to vote by 2016 WASHINGTON, DC— On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the president’s announcement of executive actions on immigration, and on the heels of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to block implementation of Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) directives and expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Center for American Progress (CAP) and the Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration (CSII) at the University of Southern California have released a new report exploring the potential impact that DAPAaffected voters could have on upcoming elections. CAP and CSII’s new analysis of DAPA-affected individuals estimates that a total of 6.3 million US citizens live in the same household as a relative who would be eligible for DAPA. The report projects, on a state-by-state basis, that there are as many as 1.6 million of them will be eligible to vote in the 2016 presidential election, with that number going up to 2.3 million by 2020. This trend continues and is exhibited across the nation in key states such as the ones highlighted in this report: Florida, Nevada, Colorado, North Carolina, Arizona, and Georgia. “At its core, DAPA is about family—and DAPA families include

individuals who can and do vote,” said Manuel Pastor, director of CSII and co-author of the report. “Those who oppose the implementation of DAPA and the expansion of DACA may want to take into account how DAPA-affected voters—not just the current citizen relatives but also the US-born children who will age in to become part of the electorate— will feel if their family members remain in immigration limbo. Millions of affected individuals and their kin are watching closely, and they will remember how leaders speak, act, and engage in holding up action that could positively impact not just their family life but also their stability and safety.” This report looks at the national implications of the emerging DAPA-affected electorate and provides key data for dozens of states, highlighting six battleground and near-battleground states where DAPA-affected voters could play a significant role in upcoming presidential, senatorial, and gubernatorial races. An accompanying interactive released in conjunction with this report compares the estimated number of DAPA-affected voters in the 2016 and 2020 elections with states’ 2012 margins of victory, while a suite of graphics calculates the high economic cost of delaying DAPA and

expanded DACA in several ways. One of them—a continuously running ticker—captures the cumulative GDP the United States has lost without DAPA and expanded DACA, initiatives that would provide work permits and temporary relief from deportation to eligible unauthorized immigrants. Another calculation shows that every day the directives do not move forward, the United States loses $8.4 million in GDP. “On a day when we should be celebrating the enormous positive impact that these executive actions have had on millions of American families and the economy, it is a shame that we have to instead discuss all that we are losing out on,”said Lizet Ocampo, CAP associate director of Immigration and co-author of the report. “When thinking about immigration policy, candidates and elected officials should not just take into account the societal and economic benefits of the executive actions and immigration reform. They should understand the political implications as well. Identifying the millions of American citizens, most of whom are children, whose lives would be positively transformed by DAPA helps us understand how vital the policy really is not only to the immigrant community but to the nation as a whole.”

Help pioneering Pinay inventor... PAGE A1 awards and it is puzzling why we have not seen any effort from the government to help bring this product of Filipino ingenuity to the market,” Marcos noted. Powered only by a solution of water and two tablespoons of salt or plain seawater, the LED lamp can provide 8-hours of light. The senator said SALt’s invention, which will provide a cheap and dependable source of light in many rural areas of the country where there is still no electricity, will also give employment if mass-produced here in the country. At the very least, Marcos added, concerned government agencies should take the initiative of reaching out to Mijeno’s group to inform them of the assistance they could avail of under Republic Act 7459 or the Investors and Inventions Incentives Act. He said inventors were complaining in the past that they

President Barack Obama poses for a photo with Alibaba founder Jack Ma and Filipina scientist Aisa Mijeno following a discussion at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, attended by 800 business leaders from around the region representing US and Asia-Pacific companies in Manila on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

experienced difficulty in trying to avail of incentives they are entitled to receive under the law, prompting many of them to find support outside the country. “We should be the first ones to benefit from the innovative cre-

ations of our inventors. Unless we give them adequate support, we will always lose out on investors abroad who are always on the lookout for promising new products,” Marcos added. (ManilaTimes.net)

AS the City of Long Beach continues consideration of a minimum wage increase, community members, business owners, lowwage workers and representatives from non-profit organizations on Tuesday, Nov. 17, gathered in the city to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of such a raise. “This is an issue that affects a lot of people,” Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said at Tuesday’s round table discussion at Admiral Kidd Park, the fourth of six meetings the City Council has set to provide community members an opportunity to voice their opinions. “It clearly affects workers, it affects the quality of life of workers, it also clearly affects small businesses in particular and their ability to provide services, and of course the non-profit sector, youth programs, a variety of issues that we’ve all talked about.” Many round table participants weren’t entirely against the idea of boosting the minimum wage in Long Beach, although a number agreed the issue should be decided by the state so as to allow for a level playing field. Business owners and non-profit representatives also expressed concerns about how their entities would cope with a mandatory increase, and that paying workers $15 per hour by 2020 (as it has been proposed in Los Angeles) would be too much too fast. At Aquarium of the Pacific, vice president of finance and chief financial officer Anthony Brown said all employees are paid above minimum wage and that the nonprofit is not opposed to paying them their fair share. However, paying workers $15 by 2020, as is scheduled to happen in Los Angeles, would have a $3 million impact on the organization. “What we’re challenged with is how do we make that model work for a non-profit. Just penciling out solutions, obviously we would have to look at price increases, we’d have to look at possible attrition, we’d have to look at technology,” Brown said. The Filipino Migrant Center (FMC), a non-profit that aims to mobilize the low-income and working-class Filipino community in Southern California, is another entity that has voiced support for raising wages to $15 per hour. “[This] would really benefit thousands of Filipinos,” Alex Montances, campaign coordinator at FMC, told the Asian Journal. “We shouldn’t be working against our kababayans. We should be working with them and we need to make sure that everyone has a chance to live a dignified life and that every family can thrive. Thats the Pilipino way. That’s the Long

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia

Beach way.” With a number of Filipinos working as caregivers, in restaurants, in factories and in hotels many of whom experience wage theft - another issue of concern is ensuring they receive proper wages. “We’ve seen a lot of big issues with wage theft in the caregiving industry where a lot of Filipino caregivers and other folks are actually not getting paid overtime, are not being given breaks, so we really need to raise and enforce the wage,” he told round table participants during the public comment period on Tuesday. Two low-wage workers on the panel expressed similar worries. Anthony Vallecillo, a warehouse worker at Cal Cartage, said he has often purchased equipment for his job with his own money. Francisco Abdul Estin, a worker at the Westin Long Beach Hotel, said he often has to work through his 10-minute breaks, as nobody else is available to do his job during those breaks. For restauranteur panelists, the idea of counting tips toward income was brought up. Mike Rhodes, owner of Domenico’s Pizza restaurant, said tips are taxed but not considered income. He added that his serving staff makes an average of $29 per hour. The impact on seniors with inhome care, as well as senior care facilities, was also raised during the discussion, with concerns that costlier, unaffordable labor could force seniors into institutions in which they do not wish to stay. There have so far been no proposals made regarding the minimum wage in Long Beach, but the Economic Development Commission is expected to provide recommendations to the Council, Garcia said, but he highlighted some findings in the report released by the Long Beach Economic Development Council including: • The vast majority of individu-

Failure not an option... PAGE A2 developing countries. However, the current INDCs will only total a decrease of 2.7 degrees, still a far cry from COP21’s goal of below 2 degrees. De Guzman said the Philippines, as current chair of Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), was lobbying for a lower goal: Below 1.5 degrees. The CVF is a group of 20 countries that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. While not a negotiating bloc in COP, the CVF has come to be known as “poster boys” for the talks due to the increasing number of natural disasters aggravated by climate change that hit its members. Integrating human rights into all aspects of the draft agreement

PAGE A2

is another goal of the Philippines. As of the ministerial meeting held in Bonn, Germany, from Oct. 19 to 23, the importance of advocating for human rights in the climate talks has been included in the draft agreement. “The Philippines encourages all parties to come to a consensus on the outstanding issues of ambition, bearing in mind that with a better mitigation ambition the better it is for the preservation of people’s rights to life, health, water and sanitation, housing and self-determination,” De Guzman said. While the negotiations in France will be De Guzman’s first COP, the country’s chief negotiator is optimistic that a legally binding agreement is within reach. The Philippines, he said,

Alex Montances, campaign coordinator at Filipino Migrant Center (FMC), said his organization is in favor of raising the minimum wage in Long Beach. He also said an issue of concern for Filipino workers, many of whom work as caregivers, is wage theft, so FMC is further calling for wage enforcement in addition to higher wages. AJPress photos by Agnes Constante

als earning minimum wage are not teenagers and are working full time • Most Long Beach residents work outside the city, so raising the minimum wage doesn’t necessarily affect those within the city • Many Long Beach residents work in Los Angeles • If the minimum wage is raised to $12 per hour by 2017, approximately 33,000 workers could benefit; if it hits $15 per hour by 2020, about 46,000 workers are estimated to earn an additional $5,000 compared to their current income • In a worst case scenario, approximately 14,000 workers could be at risk of a negative impact, including reduced job hours and job substitution, if the minimum wage increases • Not too many businesses said they would close down or move out of Long Beach if the minimum wage rises. Instead, they would look into hiring fewer workers, raising prices, see cuts in profits and expect increased productivity from employees The fifth and sixth sessions for community input on the matter were scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, at the Economic Development and Finance Committee meeting, and Tuesday, Nov. 24, during the Economic Development Commission meeting at Long Beach City Council Chambers. Separately, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday, Nov. 17, to approve a motion to establish a wage enforcement bureau for the minimum wage in unincorporated LA County. This makes the county the largest in the United States to have such a bureau. (Agnes Constante/AJPress) was fully prepared to do everything to ensure success. “To come up with another proposal will take another 10 years. Can we afford another 10 years?” he said. Other countries also shared the Philippines’ optimism, De Guzman said, save for two or three countries that he declined to name. De Guzman replaced as chief negotiator former CCC secretary Mary Lucille Sering, who resigned mid-2015 after the Philippines submitted its INDC. French President Francois Hollande and UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon are set to formally launch COP21. President Aquino, who is among the hundred heads of state who will give a short speech on Nov. 30, will stay in Paris for a few days before proceeding to the Vatican to visit Pope Francis.

6 years later, still no justice...

against the suspects in the massacre before he steps down from office next year. Former justice secretary Leila de Lima said in October that she remained confident that a verdict would be issued against Andal Jr. and his brother, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan. She personally supervised the prosecution panel before resigning last month to run for the Senate . Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno also said that the Supreme Court has done its part in helping expedite proceedings as it issued a resolution allowing Judge Solis-Reyes to separately promulgate judgment on the accused, known as the “first in, first out” method. It also appointed an assisting judge to handle motions that do not tackle the merits of the case. Private lawyer Harry Roque, who represents some of the media victims, expressed confidence that the court could issue a ruling against Andal Jr. and Zaldy. “The past six years without a conviction is a clear breach of the state obligation to accord the victims an adequate domestic remedy. Nonetheless, I am confident that because of our initiative, the first in first out, we could have a promulgation against two

Ampatuan brothers before PNoy leaves,” said the lawyer, who is running for Congress under a party-list group. But defense lawyer Salvador Panelo said the termination of the case may not be forthcoming as the accused still have to present evidence for their defense. “That could probably last beyond Aquino’s term. What is important is the truth in the case comes out,” he added. Members of the Central Mindanao media community are certain of a conviction though as they remain hopeful that the court would hand down a ruling soon. Bail pleas While no ruling has been issued, the court handling the multiple murder case has made significant progress in the past year. Based on court records, Judge Solis-Reyes has ruled on the bail petitions of 62 out of 69 suspects who filed such plea. A total of 45 suspects, mostly police officers, have been allowed to post bail, while 17 suspects – including deceased Andal Sr. and his sons Anwar Sr. and Zaldy – have been denied of their motion for temporary freedom. Despite the bail grant, only one suspect, Andal Sr.’s son Sajid Islam, was able to post the P11.6 million set by the court. He is now running for mayor of Shariff

Aguak, a post previously held by his brother Anwar Sr. prior to the massacre. In her rulings granting the bail pleas, the judge said the prosecution panel was not able to present convincing and strong evidence against the accused. Most of the orders are questioned before the Court of Appeals. Zaldy’s camp also expressed its intention to appeal the denial of bail for the former regional governor. Panelo said the Ampatuan clan has been framed for the massacre, and presented witnesses claiming that Andal Jr. was not at the scene but instead at the municipal hall at the time of the incident. He also reiterated that Andal Jr. was in the United States a few days prior to the massacre, making it impossible for him to attend the supposed meetings where the crime was planned. “The accused are hounded by the reality that their witnesses are either killed, intimidated, bought or charged with fabricated crimes to make them mortally fearful to testify. Some of them died or are debilitated by illness. Others who are willing to testify are opposed by the prosecution panel because it doesn’t want the truth to come out about the Ampatuans being framed for a crime they have not committed,” Panelo added.

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Roxas still Aquino’s candidate, says Abad by Christine

O. AvendAñO

Inquirer.net

Despite president Aquino’s recent statement that sen. Grace poe, who is facing several disqualification cases over questions on her citizenship, should be allowed to seek the presidency, Liberal party (Lp) standard-bearer Mar Roxas remains the man for him, Budget secretary Florencio Abad said. “From the very start, (the president) believes that secretary Roxas, among all candidates who presented themselves, is the most qualified to continue pursuing daang matuwid (straight path),” Abad said. He could vouch for this, having heard Mr. Aquino state it repeatedly in public and privately, the Lp official said.

Abad explained that Mr. Aquino made the statement based on his assumption that after all the (fuss) regarding poe’s case, “at the end of the day, you have to face the electorate.” And that was why, Abad said, it was important for the poe citizenship issue to be settled before the May 2016 elections, “so that the clear choice of the people… at the end of the day, is the one (who) governs us.” Catching up in surveys Asked whether Roxas would benefit should poe be disqualified in the presidential race, Abad said no one could say for sure, because should this “unfortunate” situation happen, the next question is, “where will poe’s votes go?” He answered the question himself: “We don’t know yet, (since)

even the more basic question (of citizenship) is hard to determine because there are quite a number of cases filed,” he said. On the possibility of Roxas catching up with survey topnotcher poe, Abad said the Lp standard-bearer had six months to woo voters. “six months is a very long time in politics,” he said. Abad said Roxas’ running mate, Camarines sur Rep. Leni Robredo, who was similarly lagging in popularity surveys, just needed more exposure because voters were unaware of her vice presidential bid. “she has a very high conversion rate so once (voters become) aware that she is a candidate, then there is a good chance they will vote for her,” he added.

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American seeks speedy ruling on ‘tanim-bala’ case by Christine

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tHe American national accused of sneaking a bullet into the airport—but who later complained of extortion and helped put the alleged “tanim-bala” (bullet-planting) scam in the national limelight—asked a pasay City court on Wednesday, Nov. 25 to speed up the resolution of the case against him, saying it had taken its toll on his health and his family. ernesto Arellano, legal counsel of Lane Michael White, said the case had left his client’s family “financially dislocated,” as he asked Judge pedro de Leon Gutierrez of pasay Regional Court Branch 119 to soon rule whether the 20-yearold violated the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. White was caught allegedly carrying a .22-cal. bullet in his luggage at Ninoy Aquino international Airport on sept 17. He, his father Ryan who is a Christian missionary, and stepmother eloisa Zoleta were then scheduled to fly to Coron, palawan province, where they were planning to build a church. Baggage inspectors Ma. elma Cena and Marvin Garcia reported finding the bullet through an Xray scanner at the domestic terminal. Denying the allegation, the American spent the next six days at the detention cell of the Avia-

Atty. Tsui Yee

Ang Pangarap Niyo Ay Pangarap Namin. Lane Michael White attends the hearing in a Pasay City court where he is charged with illegal possession of ammunition, an accusation that the 20-year-old American refutes by telling his ordeal as a “victim” of the socalled “tanim-bala” (bullet-planting) extortion scheme at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Inquirer.net photo by Maricar Brizuela

tion security Command (Avsecom) of the philippine National police before he could post bail at p40,000. His family, however, later claimed that spO2 Rolando Clarin of Avsecom asked White to cough up p30,000 in exchange for his release, and that he was detained because he refused. His case and that of several other passengers gave rise to the tanim-bala controversy, which later prompted a senate inquiry and even responses from Malaca-

ñang. earlier this week, president Aquino expressed doubts over the existence of such an organized extortion scheme and said the issue was sensationalized by the media. “i hope the case gets dismissed soon so we can go back home,” White, who hails from Florida, told reporters Wednesday. He said he had lost weight since his legal problems began and that he had just recovered from dengue fever. the Whites are currently staying with Zoleta’s mother in PAGE A7

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Features

Troubled water OVER the weekend, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered for its annual summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The global leaders discussed some of the region’s most pressing issues including economic integration, trade liberalization, sustainable growth and energy security. With some of its members embattled with China on the contested waters of South China Sea, ASEAN expressed serious concern over the brewing tension. In recent months, China drew ire for its aggressive stance and sweeping claims over almost the West Philippine (South China) Sea. The Philippines and China, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims to parts of resource-rich water, which is believed to have significant oil and gas deposits. China has also been busy militarizing the strategic water in the last two years through the creation of new outposts by piling sand atop reefs and atolls, and then adding buildings, ports and airstrips big enough to handle bombers and fighter jets. Despite continuous calls from the international community to halt the construction, China remained adamant over its assertion to the South West Philippine (South China) Sea. The country maintained that its military activities are consistent with its position that the construction of artificial islands was designed to provide public service to the region by helping ships and fishermen and disaster relief efforts. Chinese President Xi Jinping who attended last week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s (APEC) Summit in Manila, said that the sea is a common home and encouraged fellow members of the regional bloc to foster an environment of peace and focus on development. “It is important that we establish an all-round partnership on development and mobilize the government, enterprise and social resources in concerted efforts for implementation of the sustainable development agenda,” Xi told his APEC counterparts.

For his part, Pres. Benigno Aquino III took the podium at the ASEAN in Malaysia over the weekend to appeal to the rule of law amid increasing tensions and invite his fellow ASEAN leaders to take a stand against China. Aquino also noted that the maritime disputes have been a subject of concern, not only to the region, but to the entire international community as well. He said that many countries have expressed serious concerns that China’s recent actions threaten freedom of navigation and lawful commerce in one of the world’s most strategic waterways. Citing peaceful resolution on the jurisdiction over the disputed waters, the Philippines has pleaded its case to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). It is now awaiting results of the preliminary hearings over the Philippine claim. “As the arbitration process we have entered into continues to its logical conclusion, we are hopeful that China would honor its word and respect the rule of law. The world is watching and expects no less from a responsible global leader,” Aquino said. During the summit, ASEAN leaders adopted the Declaration on Enhancing Regional Maritime Cooperation, which promotes peace, stability and security in the region. It aims to initiate cooperative efforts within its members by encouraging more countries to accede to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which ensures the universal application of international law and respect for sovereignty. It guarantees that all countries enjoy and exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law. The leaders also signed the Kuala Lumpur Dec-

Editorial

Inquirer.net photo

laration on the “ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together,” the region’s post-2015 vision which charts the direction of the ASEAN Community in the next 10 years. Allies not only by common interests, but by shared values and aspirations among its people, ASEAN will set precedents for creating solution

to global challenges. Despite obstacles set by conflicts among nations, ASEAN is moving forward to pursue higher goals. By 2025, the ASEAN community is sure to meet its vision of becoming an alliance that has withstood the test of time, assuring regional peace and stability for its people. (AJPress)

Poll result: Fil-Ams do not want any more Syrian refugees in the US over terrorism fears AFTER the coordinated terrorist attacks consisting of mass shootings, suicide bombings, and hostage-taking in Paris that killed 130 people and injured 389 on November 13, people all over the world have been debating about the possible security threat posed by the Syrian refugee program being shared by progressive countries in Europe and North America for humanitarian purposes. A majority of people in the United States and Canada are opposed to the acceptance of any more Syrian refugees who have been displaced because of the ongoing war in Syria. They fear that this program may potentially be used by ISIS, the same extremist group that has claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks, and other acts of terror in other parts of the world. This position has been pushed by the Republicans in government, especially by those who are vying for the GOP nomination for the presidency

in 2016. CNN reported that the US The Fil-Am House of Representatives passed a measure last week that will ef- Perspective fectively pause the processing of Syrian refugees into the country. Such bill insists that no refugee will be admitted without certi- Gel SantoS-reloS fication by the Department of Homeland Security. The measure secured enough veto-proof majority votes from Republicans and even House Democrats, despite the White House’s pleas to oppose it. “It’s a security test, not a religious test. This reflects our values. This reflects our responsibilities. And this is urgent,” Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters at his press conference on Thursday, Nov. 19 prior to House members casting the vote. Thirty-one governors likewise released state-

ments that they oppose letting refugees into their states. Pres. Barack Obama defended his position on the issue, and accused those who oppose the Refugee program of political posturing, NBC News reported. “Slamming the doors in their faces would be a betrayal of our values,” Obama said at the conclusion of the G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey, adding that Syrian “refugees are the victims of terrorism.” Obama administration officials have underscored that those seeking asylum in the US undergo rigorous background screenings from several federal agencies and lengthy in-person interviews with Homeland Security officers. NBC News says so far, none of the terrorists identified in the Paris attack have been Syrian

refugees. Despite the tragedy, French President Francois Hollande declared on Wednesday, Nov. 18 that his country would accept 30,000 Syrian refugees over next two years, a stark contrast to the US position. In the meantime, kababayans in America share the cautious stand of the Republicans about the issue. In an online poll by The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America”, a big majority of those who voted — 67 percent — say the US should stop letting Syrian refugees into the country for safety and security reasons. *** 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

Noli Me Tangere and the APEC Summit THE APEC summit, for which the Aquino Street government was willing to create horrible Talk incoveniences and economic losses for the country, concluded amidst self-congratu- GreG B. MacaBenta latory applause and back-patting by its organizers. The good news is that, in spite of the threat of a terrorist attack, in the wake of the massacre in Paris, the delegates clearly enjoyed the warmth and goodness of the Filipino people, even while they might have shaken their collective heads in amusement at the efforts of the Philippine government to impress them. Surely, this was not the first time that international conference hosts had gone to great lengths to put up a good show. Some simply did it better than others. Worldly wise heads of state could easily see through the pretensions. One thing the APEC delegates were assured of, however, was that the hospitality showered on them at the conference was heartfelt and sincere. We are a genuinely caring and friendly people – to a fault. In truth, the monstrous inconvenience that the government made the citizenry suffer, in order to offer the delegates an “impressive” experience, was a typical manifestation of that fault.

If they were to visit a Filipino home, be it ever so humble, they would be offered the most comfortable bed (even if the hosts themselves have to sleep on the floor) and served the choicest dishes (while the family members make do with morsels). This curious characteristic of our people is by no means new. In Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel, Noli Me Tangere, Kapitan Tiyago, hosts a reception for everyone in town, particularly the most important personages, namely, the Spanish friars and colonial officials. In the course of the party, discreet instructions are given to the house help that the kind of fare served the guests would depend on their stature. There would also be a code to distinguish the important guests from the ordinary ones: tsokolate eh, a richer, tastier blend, for the former and, for the latter, tsokolate ah, a watered down serving. Not surprisingly, the Spanish friar, Padre Damaso, the quintessential villain in Rizal’s novel, had nothing but contempt for the lowly Indios and for the pretentious Kapitan Tiyago, who was falling all over himself to impress his colonial masters. Dr. Rizal wrote with bitterness and bluntness about this unsavory trait and

other instances of hypocrisy, decrying them as symptoms of the social cancer afflicting the Filipino people. To this day, many of us are subconsciously burdened by this colonial mentality. Inflicting inconvenience and economic losses on the Filipino people in order to look good in the eyes of foreign dignitaries was just one more indication of this mindset. Thus, the APEC delegates saw a spicand-span Metro Manila, specifically in the vicinity of the conference and the routes taken by official convoys. Airline flights were cancelled, schools and offices closed, beggars and vagrants rounded up and kept away from view, neighborhoods with unsightly shanties boarded up and painted over, and the main thoroughfares reserved exclusively for APEC delegates and the omnipresent security personnel. The daily traffic anarchy, which became even worse, was consigned to the areas that the delegates did not visit. It was pretty much the equivalent of dirt being swept under the rug. In a manner of speaking, the APEC delegates were served tsokolate eh, while the rest of our people had to make do with tsokolate ah. Of course, now that the conference is over, things have reverted back to normal, meaning congested airports, congested highways, urchins and the homeless populating the streets, vendors hawking their wares in the middle

of traffic, and shanties and ramshackle store fronts exposed once more. To the credit of the organizers, stringent measures were taken to guarantee the safety of the delegates. In fact, had there been a terrorist attack (God forbid), security personnel would not have hesitated to take a bullet for them. Our police force may not be the most efficient or best equipped, but the courage of our uniformed men and women is beyond doubt (ask the Americans who fought alongside Filipinos in Bataan and Corregidor). People have wondered: couldn’t the government have planned a successful and impressive conference without exacting a heavy toll on the citizenry? Why did the government decide to stage the APEC summit in Metro Manila which, aside from being overcrowded and traffic-plagued, presented a security nightmare? It was simply a case of good intentions but poor decision-making owing to incompetence or, at best, lack of experience. It may be recalled that the first time the Philippines hosted the APEC summit, back in 1996, it was held at the former Subic Naval Base which had already become a bustling export zone. The president then was Fidel V. Ramos, who was not only steeped in operations management but also had the support of an efficient and competent team. The Subic Freeport itself was

under the management of Dick Gordon who, with the help of volunteers, had taken over an abandoned US naval facility and transformed it into a showcase of the Pinoy can-do spirit. In contrast, planning for the current APEC summit began during the incumbency of President Benigno S. Aquino III, whose qualifications, capabilities and work ethic pale beside that of President Ramos. In fairness, PNoy never claimed to be anything more than being the son of illustrious parents when he was swept to the presidency by a wave of grief over the death of President Cory Aquino and disgust over the alleged corruption of outgoing President Gloria MacapagalArroyo. As it turned out, this was a classic example of the Peter Principle – promoting someone to his level of incompetence – and many of us should say mea culpa for that. In presiding over preparations for the APEC summit, Aquino could at least have sought the advice of Ramos. Unfortunately, Aquino seems averse to seeking advice on things he knows not. Worse yet, he apparently knows not that he knows not. At any rate, the APEC summit over and done with and one can almost hear Noynoy Aquino tell the loudly complaining Filipino people: “Pasensiya na kayo sa tsokolate ah. Buhay pa naman kayo, hindi ba? “ (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

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Aquino hit for downplaying ‘tanim-bala’ scam by Jeeferson

AntipordA, MichAel Joe delizo ManilaTimes.net

LAWMAKERS on Tuesday, Nov. 24 decried the attempt of President Benigno Aquino III to downplay the tanim-bala extortion scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) that victimized passengers, mostly elderly. Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Cynthia Villar said the illegal activity should be addressed regardless of the number of victims. Aquino earlier said the issue was “sensationalized” to make it appear that the government is unable to put a stop to it. “It is unfortunate that instead of trying to get into the bottom of these allegations, the President chose to dismiss these outright with statistics and even defended Pres. Benigno Aquino III the airport authorities,” Marcos government’s sincerity in adsaid in a statement. dressing the extortion scheme. “This is not about statistics; Anakpawis also scored Aquino this is about an entire life, career for defending airport officials or future of an individual and who failed to stop the extortion their families ruined by an ex- racket. tortion scheme. One incident of “President Aquino should “tanim-bala” is one incident too not take the gravity of the issue many,” he added. by the numbers. One victim of Villar said Gloria Ortinez, one tanim-bala is enough to compel of those detained by authorities the authority to quickly resolve after a bullet was found in her the case. His latest statement hand-carry bag, sensationalized defending the ranking NAIA ofthe issue. ficials from criminal and adminShe said Ortinez will not risk istrative liability is an obvious losing her work in Hong Kong by move to cover up its mess,” Rep. bringing a bullet with her. Fernando Hicap said in a state“I cannot imagine an individu- ment. al willing to risk everything for a “Clearly the Kamag-anak, Kakbullet and it is difficult to believe lase at Kaibigan weighs more that there is no tanim-bala,” she than the trauma and inconvesaid. nience that the victims suffered Marcos said Malacañang’s in the hands of unscrupulous airreaction puts into question the port ranking officials and security

personnel engaging in the illegal affair. He absolved these officials from any wrongdoing while there is no closure in the case. He just adds to the growing frustrations not only to the tanim-bala victims and their families but worst making the issue more infamous in the international scene,” he added. The family of Lane Michael White, the American missionary indicted for carrying a bullet at the airport, said it respects the comment of the president and will leave everything to God. Lane’s father Michael Ryan White quoted the Bible when asked to comment on Aquino’s statement. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians:6:12-13 KJV),” he said. “We respect President Aquino’s opinions, but with this verse, we know that our God is in control and He is merciful and just.” The preacher added that the government should address the problem instead of insulting the media and threatening the victims. “During a time when the Filipino people needed reassurance that this problem would be fixed, they instead get their intelligence insulted, the media and the victims get threatened to be investigated,” he said.

FOCAP statement on Ampatuan Massacre SIX years after the world’s largest-ever single attack on media workers, the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) presses its call on the judiciary and the government to speed up the prosecution of those behind the barbaric atrocity. FOCAP joins its colleagues in the local press in demanding justice. We note that none of the nearly 200 accused have been convicted, with at least one of them freed on bail and reportedly preparing to contest a local post in Maguindanao. Scores of suspects remain at large. One of the alleged masterminds has also died in jail due to natural causes, depriving both the accused and the victims of the right to a speedy trial. “As foreign correspondents it is our duty to continue to report on this pressing issue, that

this brutal attack on journalists, their families and press freedom itself may never be far from the public’s consciousness,” FOCAP president Simone Orendain said. On November 23, 2009 58 people, including 32 journalists/media workers, were killed when an election convoy was stopped and attacked by about 100 armed men allegedly working for the powerful Ampatuan clan. Rights groups have reported that several potential witnesses have been killed. With elections on the horizon next year, FOCAP strongly calls on the authorities to speed up prosecution of the suspects. Justice has been elusive in the past six years and FOCAP vows to be vigilant in calling for government action on what is considered as the most atrocious attack on media workers in modern times.

ALL THAT GLITTERS. Christie’s auction house appraiser David Warren closely examines a neckpiece from the Roumeliotes collection, one of a three-set jewelry collection seized from the Marcoses after the family fled to Hawaii following the Edsa People Power Revolution in 1986. The government has asked Christie’s and its rival, Sotheby’s, to appraise some 700 pieces of Marcos jewelry for a possible auction after being kept for almost 30 years in a Central Bank vault. Inquirer.net photo by Edwin Bacasmas

AFP: No credible threat in PH by JAiMe lAude Philstar.com

MANILA—Government security forces have not monitored any threat from terror groups, and there is no official report linking the Abu Sayyaf to the extremist Islamic State, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. “But despite this, we call on citizens of the Philippines to be vigilant and watchful against terrorism and terror attacks,” AFP spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said. Padilla issued the statement following the global scare over the terror attacks in Paris and Mali that were attributed to the Islamic State (IS). Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda earlier warned Filipinos to avoid crowded places due to the threat. In the just concluded ASEAN

Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak denounced the Abu Sayyaf for beheading one of their two Malaysian captives in Sulu last week, saying the bandit group has aligned itself with the IS. “We have not received any report pertaining to the presence of IS or their legitimate sympathizers in the Philippines. There is no authentic link or relationship between the IS and the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao,” said Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP Public Affairs Office chief. Detoyato also gave assurance that the government’s entire security apparatus is on top of the security situation in the country. “Our ground commanders are at the ready to quell any attack in the future from these threat elements to ensure peace and

security in our communities,” he said. President Aquino has ordered the AFP and the Philippine National Police to intensify operations against the Abu Sayyaf following the beheading of a Malaysian by the bandit group. AFP chief Gen. Hernando Iriberri ordered the troops to coordinate with the PNP in their offensives with the Abu Sayyaf. Rewards Detoyato also announced that the military has awarded a total of P22.5 million to nine informants who helped security forces track down wanted terrorists and communist rebels. Detoyato said the tipsters were instrumental in the capture or killing of two communist New People’s Army (NPA) leaders, three Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders and four of their cohorts.

American seeks speedy ruling on ‘tanim-bala... PAGE A5 Parañaque City. Arellano said that once the case is dismissed, the family would fly straight to Palawan to resume their missionary work. According to the family’s Facebook page “White’s Mission,” the Whites had sold some of their properties in Florida to establish a ministry in the country and that White quit his job at a glass factory to help his parents with their plans in Palawan. The Pasay City case, however,

has put these plans on hold. Cena and Garcia, the NAIA bag inspectors, did not show up in the two hearings conducted by the court, though they submitted a reply through their lawyer insisting that the case should proceed. In his Nov. 11 motion to have the case dismissed, Arellano argued that his client was victimized by a tanim-bala scam. He noted, for example, that security videos submitted in court showed White’s bag going through the Xray machine more than five times

before the bullet was spotted on the monitor. “Garcia was also using his bare hands when searching the luggage instead of letting the owner unpack his belongings to check for the suspicious item,” Arellano added. Judge Gutierrez gave White’s camp three days to reply to the airport inspectors’ comment. “Upon submission of the said reply, this motion to dismiss the case filed by the accused will be submitted for resolution,” he said.

A november 27-december 3, 2015 • neW YorK And neW JerSeY ASIAn JoUrnAL

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ASIAN-AMERICAN

Proudly Inauthentic Recipes from the Philippines to Brooklyn By Dale Talde with JJ Goode

by MoMar G. Visaya/AJPress It was bound to happen. After appearing on the Bravo hit series top Chef for three seasons and cooking Filipino dishes on the show; then opening his eponymous restaurants – first in Brooklyn, then in Jersey City; Chef Dale talde’s next career move was eagerly anticipated and expected. Last September 15, the Filipino-American chef and his publishers Grand Central Life & Style released his debut cookbook, ASIAN-AMERICAN: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn. In the book, Chef Dale shares 75 of his recipes, all told

in his inimitable voice with fun, inspired, and gorgeous photography. He proudly dedicates this book to his family – dad Salvador, mom Eva, brother Ian and sister Aileen. While some chefs cook to transport readers to Northern thailand or Sichuan province or tokyo, Dale’s food reminds all of us that we’re home, and that is how he wants his recipes done. And the taste? Exciting, straightforward and ridiculously tasty. A hugely successful restaurateur, Dale is an integral player in the ongoing movement in Brooklyn and across America, led by uniquely creative and hip

Chef Dale Talde

Photo by Momar G. Visaya

chefs who are redefining food culture. Dale continues to shape the public dialogue about New Asian-American Cuisine and he offers no qualms or apologies about it. to that end, his first cookbook is not only a cookbook; it is a cutting-edge study in cultural fusion and the story of one inventive Chicagoan who understood the universality of food at an early age. Born to Filipino parents, Dale talde grew up both steeped in his family’s culinary heritage and infatuated with American fast food, from burgers to chicken nuggets. He effortlessly blends the tastes, ingredients and nuances of a wide swath of Eastern and Western cuisines and techniques. today, his dual identity is etched on the menu at talde, where he reimagines iconic Asian dishes, imbuing them with Americana while doublingdown on the culinary fireworks that made them so popular in the first place. Emphasizing the unexpected, his riff on pad thai, for example, features bacon and oysters, and he gives juicy pork dumplings the salty, springy exterior of soft pretzels. When we spoke with him a few days after opening his Jersey City outpost, Dale was a little introspective, thinking about all the hard work he and his team has poured into the project.

“the journey has been amazing so far. It has been a lot of hard work, it’s been incredibly rewarding. A little sleep, incredibly frustrating at times but ultimately, incredibly rewarding,” Chef Dale shared. “the response has been unbelievable, so much so that we had to disappoint people by telling them the wait is up to three hours. the outpouring of people has been crazy. I couldn’t really ask for more.” Proudly Inauthentic An acute listener, Dale is aware that there have been Filipinos who ate at talde and complained afterwards that the dishes were not authentic Filipino. to that, Dale has a firm response. “I’m not doing Filipino food, I am not Filipino. My parents are Filipinos, I’m a Filipino American. I think most importantly, my voice through food is Fil-Am,” he told us once, explaining that he grew up in Chicago eating a version of Filipino cuisine that his parents cooked, using American ingredients. “Even people who were born in the Philippines would recognize it as Fil-Am. I don’t speak the language, I wasn’t born there but I grew up in a Filipino household eating Filipino culture, Filipino food all day long. I can only represent who I am, my voice as a Fil-Am,” he added. And now, his version of the

Photo by William Hereford

dishes he grew up eating, along with other Asian-American classics, are in one cookbook. In it, he recalleddevouring pizza and tater tots when he was in school, but when he got home, it was kare-kare, sinigang, dinuguan. “We ate that at home all day. It was a completely different culture outside the home. For me, that’s the viewpoint that I am taking. I’m a Filipino American and I’m going to put whatever that means to me on the plate. that’s how I push the culture through,” he said. this issue, we are sharing three of the recipes found in his book - Short Rib Kare-Kare, Baoed Lobster in Warm Chile Butter and Chicken & Waffles. Other masterfully creative and delicious dishes from the cookbook include Crispy Moo Shoo Beef tartare Sandwiches; Corncakes with Ham and Coconut Brown Butter Syrup; Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Fried Rice; RoastChicken-Dinner Lo Mein; Root Beer Glazed Pork Bahn Mi with Bacon; Buttered-toastRamen with Bacon and Eggs; Carrot Rendang; and, of course, Potato Chip and Pretzel Squares with CaramelChocolate Ganache. the cookbook is an homage to his family who influenced him to cook, particularly his mom and an aunt, who he honors with his

take on her kare-kare recipe. Dale pays tribute to his mom, who still finds time to cook delicious and hearty Filipino dishes after working 16-hour shifts in a Chicago hospital. that she cooked Filipino dishes almost exclusively pushed the young Dale to rebel and he began to cook his own breakfast and at some point, preferred pizza, burgers and tater tots over his mom’s sinigang, adobo or dinuguan. then came the realization that he had to live in two worlds and that he practically led a double life. Outside his home, he was an American, but at the end of the day, he comes home and becomes Filipino. this unique perspective is what he explores with the recipes he shares with the world through his AsianAmerican cookbook. (Dale Talde is the chef/owner of: Talde Brooklyn, Talde Jersey City, Thistle Hill Tavern, Pork Slope, Carrino Provisions & the just-opened Talde Miami Beach. He is also a three-time contestant on Bravo TV’s Top Chef. Dale lives in Brooklyn, NY. JJ Goode has written for the New York Times, Saveur, and Bon Appétit, and has co-authored several cookbooks. Visit Dale at www.taldebrooklyn. com / www.facebook.com/ ChefDaleTalde and JJ atwww. jjgoode.com. )

Chicken Wings and Waffles Serves 4 to 6 this is the second most-ordered dish, after Buttered-toast Ramen, on talde’s brunch menu. And I can take only partial credit: People just go nuts for the combination of crunchy, salty fried chicken and waffles, no matter who makes it. Yet I like to think that my version would get props even from connoisseurs of the genre. I treat my bird in the Korean style, double frying for extra crunch and coating it in sauce for extra flavor. (Remember, though, that you can always cheat and buy wings from Popeyes.) the waffle is textbook: light, crispy, and drizzled with syrup to achieve the sweet-savory collision that makes the dish so popular. Special Equipment Waffle iron Deep-fry thermometer Ingredients: For Marinating the Chicken 2 pounds medium-size chicken wing drumettes and flats (about 20 total) 1/2 cup Kimchi Yogurt (see recipe) For the Waffle Batter 1/2 cup warm water (about 110°F) 2 teaspoons granulated sugar 1 (1/4-ounce) packet active dry yeast 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2 large eggs 2 cups whole milk 1 stick (¼ pound) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly For Frying the Chicken Vegetable oil for deep frying

2 cups Asian white rice flour (not sticky rice flour) 1/3 cup thai or Vietnamese fish sauce 1 teaspoon ground cayenne For Finishing the Dish Nonstick cooking spray, if necessary 1 cup Kimchi Yogurt (see recipe) Coconut–Brown Butter Syrup (see recipe) or maple syrup, warmed Method: Marinate the Chicken Combine the chicken and kimchi yogurt in a large bowl and toss to coat the chicken well. Cover and let the chicken marinate in the fridge for at least 12 hours or up to 3 days (the longer the better). Make the Waffle Batter Combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl, stir well, and leave in a warm place until it looks frothy, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl and stir well. In a medium bowl, lightly beat the eggs, add the milk and butter, and stir well. Stir the yeast mixture into the milk mixture. Briefly stir this mixture into the flour mixture, about a quarter at a time, then stir just until you have a very thick, very lumpy batter. Cover the bowl and keep the batter in the fridge (the batter will get even thicker) for at least 3 hours or up to 12 hours. the waffles will be more flavorful and crispier the longer you let the yeast do its thing. Batter and Fry the Chick en Bring the chicken to room temperature. You’re going to fry the chicken twice and in several batches to avoid crowding the oil. About an hour before you’re ready to eat,

pour enough oil into a large pot to reach a depth of about 3 inches. Set the pot over medium-high heat and bring the oil to 275°F (use a deep-fry thermometer). Meanwhile, combine the rice flour, fish sauce, cayenne, and 1 cup water in a large mixing bowl and stir until the mixture is well combined and has no lumps. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Add the first batch of chicken pieces to the batter and toss to coat well. Gently shake the pieces to let any excess batter drip off and add them to the oil. Fry, turning them over occasionally, until they’re light golden brown and crispy but not quite cooked through, about 8 minutes. transfer the pieces to the paper towel–lined baking sheet and fry the remaining chicken. Reserve the batter and the oil. Cook the Waffles Preheat the oven to 200°F. Preheat a waffle iron (if possible, on the second-darkest setting) and, if necessary, spray with nonstick cooking spray. Pour about 3⁄4 cup of the waffle batter onto the iron (the amount will vary according to the machine), spreading it a bit. Cook until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes. transfer the waffles directly onto the oven rack to keep them warm while you make the rest. Finish the Dish Set a rack over a baking sheet and use a skimmer to remove any stray fry from the oil. Set the pot over high heat and bring the oil to 325°F. Working in batches again, add the chicken to the batter, toss to coat, shake the pieces gently, and fry again until they’re deep golden brown, crispy, and fully cooked, 4 to 5 minutes. transfer the pieces to the rack as they’re cooked

Bao-ed Lobster in Warm Chile Butter

Chicken Wings and Waffle Recipe excerpted from the book ASIAN-AMERICAN by Dale Talde with JJ Goode. Copyright © 2015 by Dale Talde, LLC. Reprinted by permission of Grand Central Life & Style. All rights reserved. Photo by William Hereford

and put the baking sheet in the oven to keep the chicken warm. toss the chicken well in a large bowl with the kimchi yogurt. Waffles, chicken, syrup. Eat.

Short Rib Kare-Kare

Makes 6 buns

Bao-ed Lobster in Warm Chile Butter Recipe excerpted from the book ASIAN-AMERICAN by Dale Talde with JJ Goode. Copyright © 2015 by Dale Talde, LLC. Reprinted by permission of Grand Central Life & Style. All rights reserved. Photo by William Hereford

I have no loyalties when it comes to lobster rolls. If you pile sweet chunks of crustacean on a bun, I’m sold. Yet there’s something about the Connecticut style—warm, buttery lobster as opposed to the chilled mayo-coated Maine style—that gets me particularly amped. Purists, look away: I use scallion, cilantro, and Sriracha in my version. For anyone who thinks Sriracha is played out, I dare you to taste what happens when it gets mellowed with butter and brightened with lemon juice. Chinese steamed bao buns provide a slightly sweet, doughy backdrop similar to the classic split-top bun. Ingredients: 6 fresh or frozen Chinese buns (aka gua bao, folded buns, or steamed sandwiches) 1 stick (1/4 pound) unsalted butter, cut into several pieces 1/4 cup Sriracha 1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more Continued on Page 5

Serves 8 Welcome to Filipino Christmas. there are screaming babies on your left, cases of Miller High Life on your right, and approximately four thousand people in the living room of whatever aunt, cousin, or sort-of cousin was willing to host that year. When I was a kid, I’d wait all year for this. It was my opportunity to eat my aunt Catalina’s kare-kare. Not that the other food wasn’t dope, too. there was Mom’s wonton soup, and her Christmas ham, lacquered with caramelized sugar and pineapple juice. Someone always brought arroz valenciana, a Filipino version of paella, yellow from turmeric rather than saffron and made with sticky rice, Chinese sausage, shrimp, and peas. I ate like a beast but always saved room for several servings of kare-kare, a classic Filipino stew rich with peanuts and funky from shrimp paste. Aunt Catalina reserved the stew for Christmastime, because it took a long time to make. She used oxtail and innards. I rock short ribs. the stew’s so rich you might need some charred cabbage, eggplant, and long beans to Short Rib Kare-Kare Recipe excerpted from the book ASIAN-AMERICAN by Dale Talde with JJ Goode. go with it. Copyright © 2015 by Dale Talde, LLC. Reprinted by permission of Grand Central Continued on Page 5 Life & Style. All rights reserved.

Photo by William Hereford

Immigration Corner

Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

Citizen Pinoy, who share my vision of providing a publicservice program to the Filipino THANKSGIVING is when people community concerning take a step back and reflect on immigration information. It makes all of the wonderful things and me so proud and happy when events to be grateful for, and to people come up to me, saying that give thanks to those people who they watch Citizen Pinoy every played such a key role in helping us single week, and have learned so achieve them. much from the real life stories and At this Thanksgiving, I would questions and answers presented. like to once again give thanks to all I thank all the crew of Citizen Pinoy of the people who have been so for their hard work, dedication, kind and supportive of me and my and passion for this worthy public immigration law practice. service. Thank you to all of my clients. Thank you to all of our friends I realize that you are the reason I in the media, who through their am able to remain in business. I prestigious publications, enabled also know how important your us to reach those who need our immigration matter is in your services and inform the Filipino life and in the life of your family. community about newsworthy I appreciate your trust and immigration information. You confidence in my office, in allowing serve as an avenue to help “BRING us to handle such an important FAMILIES TOGETHER” and help matter. “MAKE THE AMERICAN DREAM Thank you to the entire Filipino COME TRUE.” community. I truly appreciate your Thank you to my staff. Your warmth and support, and I thank tireless efforts and dedication to you for all of your letters and emails our clients are the main reasons telling me how you enjoy my we can continue to provide quality articles and television show, Citizen service to our many loyal clients. Pinoy. I am happy to be of service Thank you to my wife, Millie. to you, and I will continue to People say that behind every support Filipino events and causes. successful man, there is a Filipina Thank you to ABS-CBN, wife. After many years of marriage, TFC, and the entire crew of I know it’s true. Words cannot

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express my gratitude for your help, support and dedication to our business. You are the “wind beneath my wings.” And most of all, thank you to the Almighty. Without His blessings, benevolence, and guidance, none of this would be possible. May He allow me to continue to be able to assist people with their problems, and allow the prayers of all people to be answered and fulfilled. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES

CREWMAN WENT HOME TO MANILA ON PROVISIONAL WAIVER AND CAME BACK TO THE US WITH A GREEN CARD—ON A SPECIAL EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) obtained a Provisional Waiver for Jerome (left), a crewman who jumped ship. Jerome had filed for Adjustment of Status on his own, but was denied, because he was not eligible. With the approved Provisional Waiver, Jerome returned to the Philippines for visa processing at the US Embassy in Manila. His wife and children wondered and prayed if Jerome could make it back to the US. Watch to see the outcome of this Provisional Waiver case on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy”—on Sunday, November 29 at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

(Advertising Supplement)

Successful ‘provisional waiver’ for a crewman who jumped 5 easy ways to make your holidays healthier ship and did not have the benefit of section 245(i)

THE average American gains a pound every holiday season, according to a National Institutes of Health study. That might not seem like much, but most people never lose it, so it adds up over the years. It doesn’t have to be that way. Make holiday weight gain a thing of the past by following these healthy tips and send us your own via Facebook, Twitter or email. 1. Rethink your plate. The average American plate size has increased 22% since 1960. Try eating off a 9- or 10-inch plate to help reduce portion sizes. It will take less food to fill the plate, and since the plate will look full, you’ll still feel like you’re eating the

same amount. 2. Go green. At big holiday meals, make sure half of your plate is full of green vegetables like steamed or roasted broccoli, green beans, spinach or asparagus. Filling up on veggies will make you less tempted to go back for seconds or binge on high-calorie options like pie, stuffing and mashed potatoes. 3. Make the switch. By making a few simple switches to your holiday meals, you can cut out hundreds of calories without sacrificing taste: • Use fat-free chicken broth to baste the turkey and make gravy. • Use fruit purees, like applesauce, instead of oil in baked goods.

• Reduce oil and butter wherever you can—try cutting the suggested amount in half. We bet you won’t be able to taste the difference. • Try fat-free plain yogurt or fat-free sour cream in creamy dips, mashed potatoes, and casseroles. 4. Get healthy with your family After enjoying a big meal, go for a walk with the whole family—including Fido—or play a friendly game of football. 5. Give the gift of good health. Consider giving healthy gifts like fitness trackers, scales, cookbooks, gym bags or gym equipment (think yoga mats and weights), or even interactive video games that get your family up and moving. (SMCHealth.org)

On a special episode of ‘Citizen Pinoy’ JEROME jumped ship in 2004 and remained in the US since then. He met and fell in love with Princess, a US citizen. She petitioned him and he filed for Adjustment of Status based on the advice and recommendation of an immigration “consultant.” While Princess’ petition was approved, Jerome’s adjustment was denied because he had no Section 245(i), meaning he had not been petitioned before April 30 2001. What the couple thought was a cheaper alternative, ended up being costly, especially the lost 245(i) filing fee of $1,000. They eventually consulted with leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, who advised

Jerome he was eligible to file for a Provisional Waiver, which allows certain immediate relatives of US citizens who are not eligible to adjust in the US (such as: crewmen with no 245(i); entered the US without inspection with no 245(i); or K-1 fiancees who didn’t marry the US petitioner) to apply for a waiver of the 10 year bar while still in the US, and if approved, they can depart the US and be processed for their immigrant visa at the US Embassy in Manila, without concern for the 10 year bar. After Jerome’s provisional waiver was approved through the diligent work and preparation of the Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel, Jerome travelled to the

This could be my best move yet. Loida Nicolas Lewis, AARP Member Chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice, LLC Philanthropist

Dahil sa Health and Wellness resources ng AARP, si Loida at iba pang katulad niya are now able to have as much fun in the ballroom as they did in the boardroom. Loida has enjoyed a long career as a successful businesswoman, and she remains just as active today. Bilang miyembro ng halos 20 na taon, she keeps current with AARP publications on health, diet, exercise at iba pang activities that help her enjoy life and live it to the fullest. Not surprisingly, her boundless energy and generous contributions para sa Filipino community have made her a role model for many. Para kay Loida, walang hanggan ang mga posibilidad and the best is yet to come. AARP offers members a wealth of resources na siguradong makapagbibigay ng saya, sigla at importanteng impormasyon para rin sa inyo. To learn more, visit aarp.org/aapi or call 1-866-805-1986 today.

AARP is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing your life at 50-plus by providing trusted and useful resources to help you stay active, engaged and vibrant. Caregiving • Health & Wellness • Fraud Prevention • Volunteer • Life Reimagined

Philippines for the first time in 11 years, to be processed for his immigrant visa. Deep inside, he still had fears and reservations on getting stuck in the Philippines. Back in Manila, the day of his interview came, and Jerome stood at the Window in front of the consul for his interview. Watch this special episode, for this wonderful family reunion in the US. It may also be of extreme value to all crewmen married to US citizens, but without Section 245(i), feel there is no hope for a green card—on a brand-new episode of Citizen Pinoy—on Sunday, November 29 at 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers). (Advertising Supplement)

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On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places

‘Lani Misalucha Live in New York’, the review

BoBBy T. yalong As expected, the exceedingly hyped “Lani Misalucha Live in New York” concert was a rousing success despite the grueling tension and arduous mind-torturing agony (days prior the main event) over unsold tickets, uncollected payments, settling final dues, and meeting last minute details. The concluding hours close to showtime gave box office the most startling moments as staff members had to ceaselessly juggle between ticketing and ushering and clearing names from the master list aside from maneuvering spectators’ traffic. But it was all worth it and safe to say… it was a sold-out show! The most-awaited appearance of the star of the show on the Town Hall’s concert stage was welcomed with deafening applause, thundering screams, boisterous tweets, and lung-exhausting cry-outs. Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha wowed her crowd in a shimmering body-hugging mini with sided blown dry coif as she energetically rendered an exacting Whitney Houston platinum soundtrack, “Queen of the Night,” a cut from the movie, The Bodyguard. And as if the opening salvo wasn’t enough to bring the house down the enticing singer followed it up with her own vocal rendition of sia’s “Chandelier” in full octave that could have literally shattered any crystal-made object had there been one around. Lani’s heartbreaking

Siren of The Strip

Lani in a dramatic stance

interpretation of sam smith’s 2014 soul song “stay With Me” easily defined her perfected grasp for emotional crescendo with unrivaled glottal restraint and well sustained breath that was even more demonstrated when she crooned a 1996 Dusty springfield chart topper, “You Don’t Have To say You Love Me.” An audience participation

ensued when The siren of the strip effortlessly belted out Minnie Riperton’s 1975 hit single, “Loving You,” and allowed the crowd to chant the “La-la-la-la” part. Her suave transition from head voice to a breathtaking falsetto easily justified Continued on Page 5

Jared Martin joins Lani on the stage

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA WITHOUT assimilation by every immigrant to his or her adoptive country through the generations, no nation can retain the structural integrity of the foundational values that created it in the first place. That nation’s collapse is not a matter of “if” but “when.” More simply put: Immigration without assimilation is nothing more than invasion. Two opposing forces on the issue of immigration are aligning. There could only be one of two ways. You are either for or against it. It was too hot to handle for previous administrations. Presently, the conscious non-enforcement of the laws in the books appears to be a long-term sinister agenda of seeding future electorate for one particular party. America has placed this divisive issue of immigration far too long in the back burner. Unchecked illegal immigration has reached critical mass and the time has come to confront this issue head on. For Election 2016, the sick American economy is still issue number one for a majority of voters. A debtor nation plagued with a serious job crisis with over 92 million workers unemployed and owing $19 trillion dollars in debt is in no position to wield its big stick in the global stage. It is losing its superpower status to other nations, notably Russia and China. There is a new sheriff in town wielding the big stick in dealing with ISIS and his name is Putin. There are serious doubts ex-KGB Vladimir Putin can be trusted as he has been itching for years to rebuild the lost glory of Russia on the world stage. However, to engage Russia over Syria just as theUS had foolishly done in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, costing trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives lost over essentially nothing is certainly not in America’s best interest at this time when its economy is severely battered and the psyche of most Americans dealing with day to day existence, at an all time low. Stupidity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result. Tied in closely with American economic woes is the issue of immigration. Whether deliberately or not, Donald J. Trump has yanked the issue of illegal immigration front and center. Anyone applying for the post of top dog must deal with it. It seems that Trump has tapped into an angry pulsating nerve of a “YUGE” swath of the American population. To the absolute dismay of both the Republican and Democratic parties, Trump’s message is resonating. Over the last 4 months since June this year, he

Melting pot or salad bowl? The serious case for assimilation “Immigration without assimilation is nothing more than invasion.” seems to have morphed into the microphone for many Americans who have no voice and who are plainly sick and tired of political correctness. It can no longer be business as usual. As an added attraction to the protracted front act of the primary election and nomination that precede every national election, Trump seems to instinctively know how to play the liberal media like a fiddle to the delight of many. After 2 national elections during which media played the role of an in-your-face partisan hack, majority view major networks and big publishers as dishonest and completely untrustworthy. There seems to be seething cold anger. Something tectonic is afoot. Major unpredictable shifts will take place. Professional lifelong politicians who have made it their life’s work to keep running for office and serve the interests of those who bankroll their runs are in for a rude awakening. Immigration, legal and illegal, is now a white hot issue. While it is true that immigration has always been a cornerstone of the foundation, structure and substance of this amazing country, recent historical events and the current state of the US as a debtor nation, need to be taken into serious consideration when dealing with immigration. An estimated 12 million immigrants or about 4% of the total American population of over 300 million are illegal. Some experts say that it could be far more massive than this lowball estimate. It is entirely possible that there might be an effective thinning out of the numbers among the 12 million, beginning with those who have committed crimes and/or are gang members. But the lousy economy, perhaps more than anything, is already causing natural attrition in the numbers, with jobs difficult to come by. This might be followed by a steep rise in deportation proceedings, a buttressing of border measures, the building of an impenetrable wall as Trump proposes it, a near paranoid check of the flow of goods and people in the ports and airports, a tightening of the screening process from source countries now made more possible by advanced monitoring and communications technology. While the laws are in the books and the personnel to enforce them are in place, the political will to wield the ax and deal with immigration problems once and for all, is clearly absent. Big

business that funds candidates has an agenda that runs completely opposed to the interests of the American public. These are globalist interests opposing national interests. Only one can win. At this point, it’s anybody’s guess how this will pan out. But drastic measures must be implemented effectively to address the issue in a much changed world where invasion is dangerously posing as legitimate immigration. There are increasingly strident advocates who seek to shut the doors of America to immigration with the argument that recent immigration has created, instead of the melting pot society, a salad bowl of disparate, disjointed ethnic groups unwilling and unable to assimilate into the main fabric of American life. Some compare current American society as a mosaic that appears to be whole but is essentially fragmented. They further claim the absence of a common purpose poses a threat to the unity and structural integrity of this country. To some extent, the argument is valid. Anti-immigrant groups reserve their biggest contempt and vitriol towards first generation immigrants who refuse to assimilate and in their view, come here to America to merely take what they can, identifying and exploiting the holes and flaws of a largely generous, humanitarian system. Tourism citizenship or the concept of “anchor babies” pertaining to pregnant women giving birth in the US just to get citizenship for their babies is now in sharp focus. Some countries like Britain and Australia may have already rescinded this privilege and plugged this loophole. After streamlining the system and enforcing the laws already in the books, immigration should be hinged to some degree, on meritocracy. It must continue as a tightly controlled, highly regulated way of attracting people, possibly the best and brightest from around the world, but perhaps more importantly, ONLY those with the ability and willingness of heart to assimilate and become part of a whole. The founding fathers envisioned America in 1776 clearly. E pluribus Unum. Out of many, ONE. ***

From Page 2 for seasoning 10 ounces cooked lobster meat (from two 1½-pound lobsters), chopped into bite-size chunks (2 cups) 1 generous tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 generous tablespoon thinly sliced scallions 1 generous tablespoon loosely packed cilantro leaves

Method: 1. Right before you serve, arrange the buns on a plate, cover them with damp paper towels, and microwave, flipping once, about 1 minute. 2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and stir in the Sriracha, chile flakes, and ½ teaspoon salt. Reduce the heat to low, add the lobster, and stir occasionally just until the lobster is hot all the way

Short Rib Kare-Kare From Page 2 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Combine the oil, annatto seeds, and turmeric in a large Dutch oven or oven-proof pot, set it over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the oil is a reddish color, about 1 minute. Add the onion, ginger, garlic, and chiles and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are brown at the edges, about 5 minutes. Stir in the shrimp paste and sugar and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes more. Use your hands to add the tomato, squeezing the pieces to release their juice. Cook, stirring occasionally and scraping the pot to release stuff that’s stuck to it, until the tomatoes begin to fall apart, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk and vinegar, and let it come to a boil. Add the beef in a more or less even layer, tightly cover the pot, and cook in the oven until the beef is very tender but not falling apart (more like pot roast than

pulled pork), about 3 hours. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the beef to a plate and strain the liquid into a large bowl, discarding the solids. Return the liquid to the pot, set it over very low heat, whisk in the peanut butter until it’s fully combined, and return the beef to the liquid. Season with salt (or even better, more shrimp paste) to taste, turn the heat to medium, bring the liquid to a simmer, stir well, then turn off the heat. You can eat it right away— topped with the garlic-chile vinegar, cilantro stems, and toasted coconut flakes—but it’s even better a few days after you cook it. Let the beef cool in the liquid, cover, and store it in the fridge. Gently reheat it when you’re ready to eat. *** 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 teaspoon annatto seeds (aka achiote seeds; available at Latin markets) ½ teaspoon turmeric powder 1 medium Spanish onion (½ pound), very roughly chopped

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N Ov E m b E R 27, 20 1 5

Heart healthy choice meals at two Queens Filipino restaurants for a healthier Filipino-American community NOTHING beats the taste of a good pork adobo or crispy pata to celebrate the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. Filipinos and food go hand-in-hand every time we celebrate the joys of life, and going to our favorite neighborhood spot gives reprieve to having to cook for hours. Now two of these restaurants, Payag (51-34 Roosevelt Avenue, Woodside, NY 11377) and Tito Rad’s Grill and Restaurant ( 49-12 Queens

through, 1 to 2 minutes. Take the pot off the heat and stir in the lemon juice, scallions, and cilantro. Season to taste with more salt and lemon juice. Cover to keep it warm. 3. Remove the buns from the parchment and put them on a plate. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the lobster meat to the bao buns, spoon on as much of the sauce as you’d like, and eat.

1 (2-ounce) knob peeled ginger (about 4 by 1½ inches), roughly chopped 2 medium garlic cloves, smashed and peeled 2 fresh red Thai chiles, halved lengthwise (including seeds) 1/3 to 1/2 cup Shrimp Paste Soffrito, or well-stirred Barrio Fiesta brand spicy ginisang bagoong 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 medium tomato (about ½ pound), very roughly chopped 4 cups well-shaken coconut milk 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar 5 pounds boneless beef short ribs (excess fat trimmed) or chuck roast, cut into approximately 3inch pieces 5 tablespoons smooth peanut butter Kosher salt *** For serving Garlic-Chile Vinegar Thinly sliced cilantro stems Unsweetened coconut flakes, toasted

Blvd., Woodside, NY 11377) have partnered up with Kalusugan Coalition in response to high blood pressure and heart health in the Filipino community who exhibit higher rates of hypertension than other AsianAmerican groups. Both Payag and Tito Rad’s are part of the REACH FAR project and have many delicious yet lower salt and saturated fat meals already on their menus. So next time you go to

each restaurant, look for the heart healthy choice sticker or section, and the door decal identifying both Payag and Tito Rad’s as Healthy Heart Healthy Community restaurants. For more information on the restaurants visit their websites at ww.payagrestaurant. com and www.titorads.com, and to learn more about Kalusugan Coalition, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ kalusugancoalition.

‘Lani Misalucha Live in New York’...

From Page 4 the titles bestowed on her more so when she punctuated the song with a six-octave vocal range that could demote Axl Rose from his throne as the studio recorded top vocal range holder. The 1982 original Dreamgirls movie theme song initially waxed by Jennifer Holiday could also be relegated to the side with Lani’s effortless version of “One Night Only.” There was a bursting surge of passion and freeing gust of vocal power with the way she pulled it off. What was actually amazing was the fact that her vocal timbre neither changed nor went croaky. In her delivery of the Disney 2013 animated feature film Frozen that gave birth to Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez collaborative hit, “Let It Go,” Lani injected her own style and it sounded superb. Had the producers got the chance to hear Lani’s version much earlier, straightforwardly, Idina Menzel couldn’t have signed on dotted line. Lani’s repertoire won’t be complete without the inclusion of her OPM (Original Pilipino Music) hits. From her 2001 Crossover Live Tour album, she chose a Louie Ocampo composition, “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin,” one of her signature songs, then segued to a similar ditty (another Louie Ocampo penned hit), “Ikaw Lang Ang

Mamahalin,” which was originally recorded by Joey Albert in 1986. Lani’s revival of the song became the musical theme of GMA -7 2001 TV melodrama with the same title. One The moving spirit behind JB entertainment, Continued on Page 6 JB Babuschak

ON VIEW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UNITED STATES

Asia Society Museum, New York

Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Bao-ed Lobster in Warm Chile Butter

An Asian Journal Magazine

THROUGH JANUARY 3, 2016

“Gorgeous” – New York Times “Fantastic” – New Yorker

(Detail) Kinnari. Surigao. Ca. 10th–13th century. Gold. Ayala Museum, 81.5189. Photography by Leandro Y. Locsin, Jr.; Image courtesy of Ayala Museum

oin us for an exhibition of over 100 spectacular works of gold, highlighting the prosperity and achievements of 10th–13th century Philippine kingdoms. A point of great pride for the Filipino community, this exhibition is a rare opportunity to experience the rich culture and heritage of the Philippines. A season of related programs celebrates Philippine culture, performing arts, film, design, cuisine, and more. Exhibition organized by Asia Society, New York, and Ayala Museum, Philippines.

Special Group Tour Packages available for $20.00 per person; includes: A docent-led tour of the exhibition, a snack and drink from the Garden Court Café, and 10% off purchases at AsiaStore. Reservations required. Please email PhilippineGold@AsiaSociety.org or call 212.327.9237.

EXHIBITION

Video Spotlight: Philippines Through January 31, 2016 LOBBY SHOWCASE

Filipino Design Now Through January 3, 2016 FILM

Apparition Saturday, November 14 • 5:00

FAMILY PERFORMANCE

Kinding Sindaw Sunday, November 15 • 2–4

FILM

On the Job Sunday, November 15 • 5:00

ASIASTORE SALE EVENT

Lenora Cabili Tuesday, December 1 • 12:00–3:30

Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms is made possible by Ayala Corporation with additional support provided by Bank of the Philippine Islands, Del Monte Foods, Inc., Philippine Airlines, ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel, Tourism Promotions Board, Philippines, and other generous benefactors.

725 Park Ave. (at 70th St.) New York • 212.288.6400 AsiaSociety.org/NYC

PERFORMANCE

A “Golden” Opportunity Filipino New York Stories Friday, December 4 • 8

For details and tickets, visit AsiaSociety.org/Philippines2015 or call the box office at 212.517.ASIA (2742) Monday through Friday, 1–5 PM.

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N Ov E m b E R 27, 20 1 5

Fil-Aussie Cyrus Villanueva wins ‘X-Factor Australia’

Cyrus Villanueva

FILIPINO-AUSTRALIAN Cyrus Villanueva was crowned as champion of X-Factor Australia during the grand finals of the reality singing show on Tuesday, Nov. 24. The 19-year-old Villanueva bested other finalists, namely second placer Louise Adams and third placer Jess & Matt. Villanueva reprised his audition song, The Weeknd’s Earned It, and performed his coronation song Stone and a rendition of Labrinth’s Jealous. Villanueva won a recording deal with Sony Music Australia as part of the grand prize. In 2014, Filipino Marlisa Punzalan was declared X Factor Australia champion. (Inquirer.net)

Calendar of Events across

Fil-Am Amy Vachal’s ‘The Voice’ journey continues AS far as her stint in the hit US singing competition “The Voice” goes, Filipino-American Amy Vachal is not going anywhere. Vachal secured a spot in the show’s Top 10 on Wednesday (Tuesday, US time), following her jazzy and original take on the Taylor Swift pop hit “Blank Space.” For the second week in a row, a ward of Pharrell Williams, Evan McKeel, was eliminated after viewers chose to save Gwen Stefani’s artist Korin Bukowski. The other remaining contestants in the competition were Vachal’s fellow Team Adam Levine artists Jordan Smith and Shelby Brown; Blake Shelton’s bets Emily Ann Roberts, Barrett Baber and Zach Seabaugh; Braiden

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS N OV E M B E R 28

Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award for Excellence Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award For Excellence In Medicine, Education, Arts & Literature and The Youth When: Saturday, November 28, 2015, 1-6 pm Where: Astoria World Manor in Astoria, Queens, NY Hosted by: Knights of Rizal - New York For More Information, please contact: Atty. Ferdinand G. Suba, Esq., KCR Commander, Knights of Rizal - NY E-mail: SUBALAW@aol.com

Briefing on Coverage Programs & Services for Overseas Filipinos - Social Security

In cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) of Chicago, you are invited to a briefing on Social Security coverage programs and services for overseas Filipinos on Saturday, Nov. 28 at PCG Multi-Purpose Hall (122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1600, Chicago, Illinois, 60603). The info briefing session and onsite services (new SS number registration, verification of records and existing reactivation, enrollment in Flexi-fund Program, data amendments, compliance with Annual Confirmation of Pensioners Program, benefit claim applications) starting at 10:00 am. Please contact Ms. Marites Marin through marinmc@ sss.gov or in Viber at *6598444384 for SSS inquiries, and Mr. Alvar Rosales through chicagopcg@att.net to confirm attendance.

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AAPA Awards Gala

Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) will host The Achievement Awards & Graduation Gala, honoring prominent leaders who trailblaze and inspire others to become leaders, and celebrating the 2015 graduating class of AAPA Mentees. The theme is “Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunity.” The gala will take place on Thursday, Dec 3 from 5:30pm - 9:30pm, at the Hilton San Gabriel (225 West Valley Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91776). Expose your brand to the professional community who are your customers, clients, potential employees, entrepreneurs, corporate and community leaders. Your support will directly benefit the AAPA mentees in the program. To purchase a ticket or ad, the cost is $50 each (limited time only); full/half/quarter page ad sizes are available in full color. Please visit http://aapaawards.eventbrite.com/ for more details and to RSVP by Nov. 13. Please get involved by emailing lia.andika@aapamentoring.com.

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Lenora Cabili / Fashion Lenora Cabili’s designs are inspired by tradition, mixing the past with present, creating unique garments that incorporate ancient techniques of weaving, embroidery and bead work from indigenous Filipino groups. Len’s mission is to create while also reviving and preserving ancient traditions, as she works with talented artisans across the Archipelago to provide opportunities to improve livelihoods.

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Santo Nino de Cebu Association Annual Dinner Dance The Santo Niño de Cebu Association of Southern California, Inc. will hold its ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER DANCE on December 5, 6pm - 12:00 midnight, at Almansor Court (700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801). For more details and reservations, please contact Helah (626) 215-2684, Gemma (909) 997-1026, Nelia (818) 425-9926, Joy (909) 228-0437 or Willo (818) 458-0779.

Pasigueñans of Northern California 30th Annual Fiesta Celebration The Pasigueñans of Northern California invites all Pasigueñans, families, and friends to its 30th Annual Fiesta in honor of its patroness, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The annual fiesta will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 1:00pm to 8:00pm at Joseph A. Fernekes Building, in Orange Memorial Park (781 Tennis Drive, South San Francisco, CA 94080). Celebration of the Holy Mass will be at 3:00pm, which will be followed by a sumptuous dinner, dancing, entertainment, and raffle drawing. For more information, please contact Flery Santos-Panganiban (707-567-4779), Polly Santiago-Cortez (925-876-7695), Edna Balido-Reyes (925-260-9764), Edith Balido (925-681-9770), Chit Santos-Dalangin (707-7047887), Marico Enriquez (650-483-8306), Oscar Rosales (707-332-4991), Jerry Field (925-6810974), Marivic Beltran-Tuazon (707-656-1081), or Pete Saguisag (650-994-0701).

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St. Joseph School presents WRAPPING ALL THE WAY What: Annual Christmas Presentation Featuring TK through 4th Grade and Parish When: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 7:00 pm Where: St. Joseph Parish (1150 W. Holt Avenue Pomona, CA 91768) The St. Joseph School Annual Christmas program serves as an opportunity for all students and parishioners to come together to celebrate the joyful season. All are welcome to come and be merry. Donations are welcome. For more information, please call: Director Ning Manahan at (909) 629-4101 or (909) 622-3365

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Blessed Hope Christian Church Night of Praise Come celebrate the birth of Christ and praise God with the congregation at our upcoming Christmas Praise Night, on Friday, December 18 at 7:30pm. Our church can be found at 474 North Summit Ave. Pasadena, CA 91103. Please contact Jun Recio (818) 472-5244 for more details. On Mon, Nov 23, 2015 at 10:27 AM, Allyson Escobar <a.escobar@asianjournalinc.com> wrote: ONE MORE thank you!

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

Amy Vachal

Sunshine and Jeffrey Austin of Team Gwen; and Pharrell’s final talent, Madi Davis. Going into the elimination show, Vachal’s cover of “Blank Space” was the highest-ranking “The Voice” performance on iTunes. (Inquirer.net)

Kris Aquino: James Yap ‘missing out’ on being a father to Bimby

TELEVISION actress-host Kris Aquino on Tuesday, Nov. 24 lamented how basketball superstar James Yap is supposedly missing out on being a father to their son Bimby. Sharing that her invitation to attend their son’s first Communion on Nov. 26 was “ignored” by Yap, Aquino said she hopes her ex-husband would exert effort to spend time with and reach out to Bimby. “Sana matauhan sya that he’s missing out on being a father to such a good boy. And it’s sad that there is no effort for this kind hearted & generous boy from the other person in this world who should want to be a part of his life. Hindi ko pinipigilan, walang issue na sunduin nya sa school at mag merienda sila, pero wala pong kusa. No sharing even w/ just education expense, sana man lang Time & Effort. SAD, but that’s why Bimb has learned to not look for who’s not there for him,” Aquino said in an Instagram post. Aquino said she got a reply

from Yap regarding her invitation almost a month after sending a texting message in Hawaii. The presidential sister added that she did her part in “opening the door to communication” to Yap, as she did not want to deprive Bimby of getting to know and spending time with his father. “I reached a turning point in 2014 when I felt I didn’t want my son deprived of a relationship w/ his father because of pride. We settled amicably in court regarding visitation… I know you know how I dote on my 2 sons, and I prayed for Bimb to feel loved & appreciated not just by me & Kuya, & those close to me, but also by his father & if that meant humbling myself & opening the door to communication, I did do it. I don’t have to say much more, all you have to do is check the social media accounts of both of Bimb’s parents & you’ll see the truth regarding prioritizing parental responsibility,” she added. Aquino and Yap annulled their marriage in 2012. (Inquirer. net)

Pauleen Luna wants ‘simple, elegant’ wedding gown, says designer MANILA—Francis Libiran revealed some details on the wedding gown of actress Pauleen Luna. Pauleen was engaged to Vic Sotto in September. The couple plans to marry in 2016. “She wants something very simple, very classic because Pauleen… she’s very pretty,” said Libiran in an interview with push.com. “Hindi na kailangan ng decorations. She wants it to be timeless and simple.”

He added that the gown style is not backless since Pauleen is conservative. “Conservative kasi si Pauleen, ang ginawa naming gown is more on her personality. She wants something elegant,” he said. According to Ricky Lo’s “Funfare” column, Pauleen and Vic would like to limit their guests to 50 people, which will be limited to family members Francis Libiran was tapped by Pauleen Luna and very close friends. (Philstar. to design her wedding gown for her big day next year. com)

‘Lani Misalucha Live in New York’...

From Page 5

could feel the emotionally-laden essence and the pulsating sensation that filled the air the manner Lani rendered them. After changing to a fully sequined black serpentine gown, as if her almost perfectly delivered numbers weren’t enough to entertain (and convince) the audience, the beguiling singer turned Town Hall into an operatic venue (and we actually felt being transported to Venice or Italy or Rome, for that matter) via a 1791 singspiel Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart number from the Magic Flute, the “Queen of the Night” aria which she closely followed with a popular Franz Schubert composition, “Ave Maria.” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Freddie Mercury’s 1975 hard rock composition, effectually re-lived Queen’s glory days of rock supremacy with Lani’s heavy utilization of aggressive vocals accompanied by distorted electric guitar and intense drum beats. Sustaining her energy and stamina Lani tackled another strenuous number in “We Are The Champions,” from Queen’s 1977 album, News of the World that became the anthem of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and almost every sport event. At this stance the ever sporty singer went wild sans shoes and moved like a true-blooded rocker complete with head bang and backbreaking moves. Exhausted and got floored after her song (scripted but effectively created worries and concern among her fans), Lani gamely resumed her spiels the moment she got up assisted by a vocal back-up and lead guitarist. The next portion created an irrepressible pandemonium that literally sent her spectators down from their seats laughing and howling. And who wouldn’t be? Imagine Lani doing an impersonation of Michael Jackson (complete with glittering shoulder badge), pelvic kick, and moonwalk locomotion. After which, she put on a wig, projected her chin that easily gave away her next “victim” --- Celine Dion… as she sang “Because You Loved Me.” A natural comedienne and go-getter, Lani also did Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” which she ended with Mommy Dionisia’s very peculiar version…and it convincingly sounded like the Pambansang Kamao’s mom, indeed! What brought the crowd to a sentimental journey was a medley of a number of bestselling movie theme songs. The mere opening notes of the theme from the 1962 Audrey Hepburn starrer, Breakfast At Tiffany’s already earned deafening applause even before Lani could utter the first word. Indeed, the Academy and Grammy-award winning Henry Mancini composition, “Moon River,” is unmistakably well-liked by both

young and old. Then came up “Love Story,” an original Andy Williams recording from the 1970 movie with the same title which Lani chanted so expressively. Another nostalgically schmaltzy composition was Marvin Hamlisch’s “The Way We Were,” from the 1973 Barbra Streisand-Robert Redford romantic film…and Lani delivered it as if her own. Celine Dion’s original recording of “My Heart Will Go On,” theme from Titanic (Leonardo DiCaprioKate Winslet), was Lani’s finale item for her movie theme song medley. The crowd just proved to be innately maudlin with the unremitting applause earned by every song that seemed to bolster former’s self-assurance. Lani’s version of Barbra Streisand’s theme from her 1968 movie, Funny Girl, “Don’t Rain On My Parade” was amazingly stupendous… as if her vocal sound came straight from the recording studio’s original soundtrack. Not to be left unnoticed and way down the drain was the debonair and musically-faceted Jared Martin, the fast-rising pride of Toms River, New Jersey. He, with a fully developed tenor voice and a charming stature strappingly enough to arouse an electrifying stage presence, has exhibited a very arresting potential even more so when sharing the stage with Lani Misalucha. Lani and Jared’s perfectly blended vocal tone, convincing chemistry, and harmonized melody gave their isorhythmic duet a dazzling auditory effect. Rendering David Foster’s 1999 composition, “The Prayer,” in marvelous passion could give the original Celine Dion-Andrea Bocelli recording a stiff competition. Jared’s version of Giacomo Puccini’s aria from the final act of Turandot was awe-inspiring and remarkably well-delivered. A constant staple in his growing operatic repertoire, “Nessun Dorma,” (None Shall Sleep), is fast becoming one of Jared’s self-defining songs. With a vocal resonance powerfully backed by his classical conditioning, Jared’s operatic singing technique was put to best use in this particular aria. The young tenor gained more followers and instant fans when he confidently did an assortment of Tagalog movie-TV theme songs especially compiled and arranged for him by the Maestro himself, Lorie Ilustre. Rey Valera’s 1992 composition, “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” George Canseco’s “Ngayon At Kailan Man” (1983 Basil Valdez recording), and Louie Ocampo’s “Kahit Isang Saglit” exactingly composed the medley that justifiably identified Jared’s mastery of his craft and as a multi-lingual performer. Capping his slot with “This Is The Moment,” a Frank Wildhorn

and Leslie Bricusse collaborative theme song for the 1990 play Jekyll & Hyde, Jared has efficiently delivered much more than what was expected of him while proving to all that he’s more than ready for the big time. (Hello, Broadway!). Lani Misalucha, in a recharged mode, effortlessly rekindled the stage with and “Uptown Funk,” a Mark Ronson-Bruno Mars 2015 Soul/Boogie collaboration. Time went fleetingly unnoticed. Before we knew it, it was already down to finale numbers like “If I Could Reach You,” the 5th Dimension top hit from their Individually & Collectively1972 album and “I’ll Always Love You,” a 2nd single from Dolly Parton‘s 1974 solo studio album and soundtrack of the film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Burt Reynolds… but made popular by Whitney Houston for the 2000 film The Bodyguard with Kevin Costner. Lani has truly mastered the art of performing by having saved the songs with the most heart-touching meaning… a fitting farewell to her avid fans that would leave a lingering impression long after the show was over. To say the least, Lani Misalucha has indubitably emerged not only as a world-class performer but a naturally born comedienne, as well. Incidentally, her vocal sound does not tire or change but, instead, gets stronger over the course of her performance without gasping for breath. There’s longevity in her voice, consistency and purity of tone, clear resonance, and excellent projection. Hers is a powerful voice with controlled dexterity, pitch, and melismatic style that is audibly sustained to the final note. The divine Siren of the Strip has flawlessly mastered and perfected the stimulation of her larynx coupled with an unrestrained vocal expression that undeniably catapulted her to be the total performer that she is… consummate! Supreme! Unparalleled! Certainly, Joji Babuschak’s JB Entertainment Productions that presented Lani Misalucha Live In New York concert at the historic Town Hall in the heart of the Great White Way last Sunday, November 22, 2015, did a milestone of a job. After the ambitious project what comes next? Hopefully a much bigger equally high-strung performer with stellar moniker. Joji sends out her heartfelt thanks to all who watched the concert and those who volunteered their time and effort to ensure the orderliness and success of the show but most especially to her most solicitous and generous sponsors for without them the show couldn’t have been made possible. For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@ yahoo.com.

Bea, Lloydie on reprising iconic roles by Marinel r. Cruz Inquirer.net

“IT’S A BLESSING and at the same time a curse,” said Bea Alonzo of the popularity of Popoy and Basha, the iconic characters of the 2007 hit movie, One More Chance. Bea and John Lloyd were at the Inquirer office recently to promote A Second Chance, the sequel to the Cathy Garcia-Molina romantic comedy that hit cinemas on Wednesday, Nov. 25. The two actors said they were aware of the high expectations for their follow-up project, so they would like to “remind the audience that this is the story that the creators of Popoy and Basha came up with. Just remember that this is what they (scriptwriters Carmi Raymundo and Vanessa Valdez) want to say,” said John Lloyd. Bea said that they were glad that the movie had sparked online debates. “It’s a blessing because people are really interested, but it’s a curse because those of us who are working on the film don’t know where to position ourselves—the fans have so many suggestions!” John Lloyd added: “We like the idea that people discuss the film when they leave the cinema. I prefer that it becomes a subject of discourse because this means it has value. We don’t want them to feel that they’ve wasted two hours of their time on something insignificant—that’s actually our fear.” Set seven years later, Popoy and Basha are now faced with the challenges of married life. Popoy is struggling to keep his business afloat and his self-esteem intact. Basha, on the other hand, assumes the role of a docile wife. “It’s true that marriage can be ugly and boring. We showed all of that in the film,” said Bea. “With what you know, the question now is whether or not you will still choose to be with the one you love.” Excerpts from the Inquirer’s hour-long chat with the two actors. What’s the difference when you did your first few films together and now that you’re the top actors of your generation? J (John Lloyd): When the teamup was so much younger, at the time of our first break on TV, Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay, we would

never experienced this before—I’ve never lived in with a girl or gotten married. B: What I appreciated most about Popoy is that he really loves Basha and that he will do anything to fulfill her dreams to make her happy. I realized how hard it is for the men in our lives to carry the burden of raising a family on their shoulders, while we girls ask and expect too much from them. How much of Popoy and Basha are actually in you? J: That’s a tough question. These characters came from us. We Bea and John Lloyd think their onscreen tandem wouldn’t work if they were a real-life couple. gave birth to them, with the help Inquirer.net photo by Eloisa Lopez of the writers and the director. I gap from when Part 1 ended in always talk about sincerity. We don’t know how much, but I’m sure 2008 up to the present. never pretended that there was there’s a part of Popoy in me. B: The book also helped speed something going on between us. B: Basha and I are the same up the process. B (Bea): At the time people when it comes to our willingness to Are you better people because sacrifice for the sake of love. preferred to see real-life couples of the characters you play? working together. J: Talk about Heath Ledger, J: I am. That’s actually the J: Yes, that was during the time who was not able to let go of the bonus of the kind of work we have. character he portrayed. It cost him when Jericho (Rosales) and Kristine B: There’s a part of me in every (Hermosa) were very popular. his life. character I play, and at the same And you resisted that? B: Every character has both a time, a character also leaves a part B: We just tried to be real. dark side and a happy side. Just of her in me. Take the movie A J: I had a girlfriend then, and choose to magnify the happy side. Love Affair, for example. There is Bea was still so young. I was being Are you aware of the effect this scene wherein my character paired with Rica Peralejo and of Popoy and Basha on a whole wants to run after Richard Gomez’s. generation of teens who first saw Dimples Romana. Management I argued with the writer—I told then couldn’t pinpoint what was it in 2007? her no woman can be that stupid. wrong with the teamup. That’s J: I guess the director and the I later realized that I’ve already when it started. creative team are [the ones] more experienced it—not the exact B: I guess the only change conscious of this. Ours is just a small incident—but the feeling. The now is that we’re more familiar contribution to the whole thing. characters I play actually help me with each other. We have already But it’s you who shaped these as a person. developed a certain level of trust. characters. Do you personally feel that a I’m more open to doing certain B: Yes, but with the guidance of Part 2 is needed, given the iconic scenes with him than with other the director. status of the film? actors. J: When we did One More B: We used to think it was no Your love team is iconic. Why Chance, we didn’t know that this longer needed. do you think you were never in a particular generation would react J: We resisted. One More Chance the way they did. romantic relationship? is iconic, so we didn’t want to touch J: If you think of it, that’s “One More Chance” spawned it anymore. Now we see that we actually scary. I really can’t work quotable quotes. Do you have owe it to the audience—there is with someone I am involved with favorites? clamor for a sequel. romantically. B: “Ayaw ko na ng ‘what ifs.’ Gusto B: The eight-year gap made it B: Me, too. ko na ng ‘what is.’” difficult. J: That’s the only thing that’s J: “You had me at my best…” Do you think the problems real in my life. Let’s tackle social issues this that the characters go through B: People will just have to time. Are you willing to use your will help you when you eventually influence to promote or endorse a choose—maging kami, (to be a decide to take the plunge? couple) but not see us in a project political candidate or support an J: I guess they will influence together anymore [or just to be a advocacy? me, but not in my decision to get reel couple]. J: If I really believe in something married or not. It opened my eyes Was it difficult to play the or someone, I’d gladly help. to what a real married couple characters again after eight B: To influence your followers actually goes through. I like it that years? How did you manage? to vote for the person you’re when you’re finally living together, endorsing is a big responsibility. You B: We were given a your wife prepares your food and questionnaire to answer. have to be 100-percent sure that clothes. I think that’s sweet! I’ve J: This was so we can fill in the the candidate deserves it.

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N Ov E m b E R 27, 20 1 5

(L-R) Daniel Padilla, Korina Sanchez, Kathryn Bernardo and presidential aspirant Mar Roxas

‘KathNiel’ adds star power to Mar Roxas’ presidential bid THE camp of administration presidential bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas II has now tapped the help of teen actress Kathryn Bernardo to help in Roxas’ bid to reach a younger part of the electorate. In an Instagram post on Sunday, broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez-Roxas revealed that Bernardo has followed the lead of her onscreen partner Daniel Padilla to campaign for the administration bet. The teen actors, dubbed as the “Teen King and Queen,” were seen wearing yellow outfits and flashing the “Laban” sign alongside with the Roxas and Sanchez-Roxas. Sanchez-Roxas captioned the photo with: “#KathNiel is for Mar! Teen King and Queen Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo go for Mar Roxas for President in 2016!#DaangMatuwidPaMore” Netizens’ reactions to the photo were mixed: some said that they support the teen loveteam’s decision while some questioned the amount paid in order to secure the pair’s endorsement. The Liberal Party first tapped Padilla’s star power in a video where the teen actor and Roxas discussed Manila’s horrible traffic

situation. In the said three-minute video, Roxas laid out his plans to solve the traffic woes in the metropolis which include the construction of the connector road linking the North and South Luzon expressways and revamping the system of granting franchises to public utility buses. Another video of Padilla with Roxas showed the administration candidate answering questions regarding the rehabilitation of Tacloban City following the onslaught of super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan). Team Daang Matuwid spokesperson Barry Gutierrez has earlier said that they tapped Padilla to fix the “masa appeal” of Roxas. “We want him (Padilla), as a matinee idol, to draw people in and engage them in a discussion of the important issues. Initially, we want to attract his fans to our message,” Gutierrez was quoted as saying in an Inquirer report. The latest Pulse Asia presidential poll survey showed Roxas placing only third from front-runner Senator Grace Poe and second placer Vice President Jejomar Binay. (Inquirer.net)

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY NOvEmbER 27, 2015