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Volume 23 - No. 15 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages aPril 8-14, 2016

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Governor Jerry Brown gives remarks following the signing of the landmark legislation that raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour statewide on Monday, April 4. The legislation increases the minimum wage over time, consistent with economic expansion, while providing safety valves - known as “off-ramps” - to pause wage hikes if negative economic or budgetary conditions emerge. Photo courtesy of California State Assembly Democratic Caucus

Doubts hover over Poe despite SC final wordby Lawrence agcaoiLi

Philstar.com

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by MoMar g. Visaya and agnes constante

AJPress

the supreme Court may have handed down its final word on the issue, but it does not erase doubts about the qualifications of presidential candidate Grace Poe.

the petitioners and others who lost their bid to disqualify Poe, the front-runner in the presi-dential race, said further legal action may still be initiated against Poe before the elections and after, if she should win.

the high court on tuesday, April 5, threw out three motions for reconsideration against its

march 8 ruling that upheld Poe’s qualification to seek the presidency.

the ruling voided with finality the Commission on elections resolutions canceling Poe’s certifi-cate of candidacy for President on the ground that she had falsely declared that she was a natu-ral-born citizen and has resided in the country for 10 years before the may elections.

the court has not made a formal announce-ment of the decision as the full ruling and sepa-rate opinions by the magistrates are expected to be released on saturday.

manuelito Luna, the counsel for petitioner Kit

tatad, said the court’s decision was contrary to the rule of law.

“If the report is true that some members of the high court voted to affirm their earlier question-able ruling in the Poe cases, then we can kiss the rule of law goodbye and brace ourselves for the worst,” said Luna.

he said a second motion for reconsideration could still be filed to fight the high court ruling, based on the exceptions under the Internal rules of the supreme Court.

“Insofar as respondent tatad and I are con-Sen. Grace Poe Inquirer.net photo

New York, California minimum wage set to increase to $15 per hour

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and California Governor Jerry Brown both signed a law monday, April 4, which will gradually increase the minimum wage in both states from the current rate of $9 in New York to $15 by the end of 2018 for many businesses in New York City.

Brown and Cuomo made history when they signed their respective states’ legisla-tion making California and New York the only two states in the nation to set its mini-mum wage to $15 per hour.

“this is about economic justice,” Brown said prior to signing the bill at the ronald reagan state Building in Downtown Los Angeles, according to the Associated Press. “It’s about people. It’s about creating a little, tiny, amount of balance in a system that ev-ery day becomes more unbalanced.”

Under the plan, California’s hourly mini-mum is scheduled to rise from the current $10 to $10.50 on Jan. 1, 2017 for businesses with more than 25 employees, $11 in 2018, and an additional $1 per year after until 2022. Businesses with 25 or fewer employees have

DNC CEO emphasizes importance of AAPI vote

Confident Democrat will win presidency

A weeK after Democratic presidential can-didates hillary Clinton and Bernie sanders made campaign stops in Los Angeles, Demo-cratic National Committee (DNC) Ceo Amy Dacey visited the city to lay the groundwork to expand the party’s base and meet with Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters, who comprise a crucial electorate in coming elec-tions.

At a roundtable discussion with reporters on tuesday, march 29, Dacey remarked that she is confident that a Democrat will win the presidency this November.

“[Donald trump] isn’t just talking over the republican Party — he is the republican Par-ty. that just shows to us how much we have at stake,” Dacey said. “I think the choice be-fore us is clearer than ever. we, throughout this campaign, have had both our candidates, Bernie sanders and hillary Clinton, who have shown that they have the right priorities. whether you’ve seen them at debates or out on the trail, the discourse between them, with the voters they’ve reached out to, has been incredible.”

AsIDe from his musical accomplishments with Grammy award-winning group the Black eyed Peas, Apl.de.ap is making his mark in the world by preventing premature filipino babies from going blind.

through the Apl.de.ap foundation Interna-tional’s Campaign for filipino Children, the Black eyed Peas member has partnered with the Vision Center at Children’s hospital Los Angeles (ChLA) to help treat and diagnose premature filipino babies who develop reti-nopathy of prematurity (roP).

roP is a rare eye condition that causes ab-normal blood vessel growth in the retina from excessive oxygenation. If not tended to within

Apl.de.ap honored for work combating blindness in Filipino babies

Dr. Thomas Lee of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) with Apl.de.ap

Apl.de.ap with his spot on the hospital’s celebrity charity wall

(from L-R): Robbie Fabian; Mel Avanzado, Esq.; Fritz Friedman; Ted Benito; Apl.de.ap; Audie Vergara; Dr. Thomas Lee, CHLA; Michael Sampiano, CHLA; Sonia Delen. Photos courtesy of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

PH launches world’s first mass dengue vaccination

the Philippines began rolling out the world’s first mass dengue vaccine named “Dengvaxia” last monday, April 4. About seven hundred children, ages 9-10 at a public school in marikina were the first to receive the dengue vaccine.

Dengue or Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease transmitted by certain species of mosquito of the Aedes type, most prominently Aedes Aegypti. symptoms usually begin three days after the infection and in-clude high fever, vomiting, skin rash, and muscle or joint pain.

the Philippines is one of the countries with the highest cases of dengue fever with 200,000 last year resulting to 600 deaths. About 20,000 cases had been reported this year until febru-ary 20.

“we are the first country to in-troduce, adopt and implement the first-ever dengue vaccine through the public health system and under public school settings,” said Philippine health secretary Janette Garin.

Developed by the french phar-

by christina M. orieLAJPress

by ian JaMotiLLoAJPress

Sy-Coson, Gokongwei-Pe among Asia’s powerful biz women - Forbesby doris duMLao-abadiLLa

Inquirer.net

the sm Group’s teresita sy-Co-son and robinsons retail holdings Inc. chief robina Gokongwei-Pe landed on forbes magazine’s 2016 list of 50 most powerful business-women in Asia.

In a press statement on thurs-day, April 7, forbes magazine said it recognized powerful business-women in Asia who were “shak-

New campaign encourages Asian American immigrants to apply for citizenship

NoN-ProfIt organization Asian Ameri-cans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, in partnership with community-based organi-zations and local government, on wednes-day, April 6, announced new campaign to encourage and boost the number of Asian American immigrants applying for Us citi-zenship.

the campaign, “endless possibilities. Citizenship Now!” is a coordinated effort of more than 10 organizations, government agencies, and offices of elected officials.

“the United states was founded by im-migrants and continues to thrive because of the contributions of immigrants,” stew-art Kwoh, president and executive director of Advancing Justice – LA, said in a state-ment. “for many Asian Americans, the risk of leaving their native countries in pursuit of better opportunities outweighed all their fears of the unknown.”

through the campaign, those seeking citizenship assistance or legal services are encouraged to call the Advancing Justice

SM Group’s Teresita Sy-Coson and Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. chief Robina Gokongwei-Pe

ing things up across diverse in-dustries” in its 5th annual “Asia’s Power Businesswomen” list.

the list, which is available on www.forbes.com/asia-women as well as in the latest issue of forbes Asia, acknowledges the inroads women are making in the business world, the magazine said. women from 14 countries were represent-ed in this latest list.

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From the Front Page

Doubts hover over Poe...PAGE A1

BEAT THE HEAT. Filipino children use an inflatable pool to cool off from the summer heat. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned on Thursday that 2016 could be one of the country’s warmest years — with daily maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao or Cagayan area. Inquirer.net photo

cerned, the quest for justice does not end here. In fact, it [has] just begun. As soon as we receive the resolution of the court, we will decide whether to seek a second reconsideration based on the in-ternal rules of the SC and in the higher interest of justice,” Luna

said in a text message.Under the Rules of Court, sec-

ond and subsequent motions for reconsideration are prohibited, on the principle that a ruling must become final and litigation must end at some point.

But Luna is counting on Sec-tion 3, Rule 15 of the Internal

Rules of the Supreme Court, which says an exception to the bar on further reconsideration pleas “can only be granted in the higher interest of justice by the court en banc upon a vote of at least two-thirds of its actual membership.” (Inquirer.net with a report from DJ Yap)

– LA hotline, which is staffed by members of the Asian Language Legal Intake Project (ALLIP). The project offers assistance in seven languages: English, Tagalog, Mandarin/Cantonese, Khmer, Korean, Thai and Viet-namese. Calls are then triaged to community-based partners who will then provide individu-

als with direct legal assistance.Nasim Khansari, citizenship

project director at Advancing Justice – LA, said the campaign also provides English language classes for individuals who may require this type of assistance, as well as a fee waiver, which 65 percent of the organization’s cli-ents receive.

At the announcement of the

campaign, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) cited that among benefits of becoming citizens include that many educational scholarships are available only to citizens, and that permanent residents only receive half of the social security benefits received by citizens.

“There is nothing to lose and everything to gain by becoming a US citizen. You can protect yourself, protect your family, have a better life, and you can vote. What better thing can there be?” Chu said.

In Los Angeles County, among the more than 300,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrant LPRs, nationals from the Philippines were the largest ethnic group between 2000 to 2010.

Among clients Advancing Jus-tice – LA has helped and contin-ues to assist is Rebeck Sadang-sal, a Filipino-American lawful permanent resident (LPR) cur-rently applying for naturaliza-tion. Sadangsal told media that one factor motivating him to ap-ply for citizenship is so he can vote. He arrived in the United States in 1992, became an LPR in 2007 and came to Advancing Justice – LA in May 2014 for as-sistance in the naturalization process.

At the time, Sadangsal and his wife were undergoing financial difficulties, but their application for a fee waiver was rejected multiple times, as their income was slightly above the federal poverty level.

“We had no choice but to delay filing our applications because the cost of two applications was $1,360. It was a big burden on our family and children. Luckily, Advancing Justice did not give up on us,” he said.

Sadangsal said he and his wife eventually received waivers with the help of Advancing Justice – LA, and shared that they un-derwent biometrics last week.

The campaign’s first partner-ship event is a free citizenship workshop that takes place Sun-day, April 10, at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Filipinos interested in receiv-ing citizenship assistance or le-gal services are encouraged to call the Tagalog hotline at (855) 300-2552. (Agnes Constante/AJ-Press)

New campaign encourages Asian American...PAGE A1

Sy-Coson, Gokongwei-Pe among Asia’s...“To qualify, candidates have to

be active in the upper echelons of business in Asia, wield significant power and have access to robust financial resources,” the maga-zine said.

Sy-Coson, 65, led the growth of Sy family-led Banco de Oro Unibank from a niche player to the largest lender in the country. Among second generation Sys, she is also believed to be the most likely to succeed patriarch Henry Sy Sr. as the captain of the ship. She is the country’s constant rep-resentative to this list.

Gokongwei-Pe, 54, has joined the list for the first time. She leads multi-format retailer RRHI, one of the country’s second largest re-tailers which benefit from grow-ing consumer affluence in the country.

China and Hong Kong domi-nated the latest list with 14 women, followed by India with eight, Thailand with five and Ja-pan with four. Singapore, Austra-

lia, Indonesia and Vietnam each have three. South Korea and the Philippines each have two while Macau, Taiwan and New Zealand have one each.

The magazine said that despite China’s slowdown, a core group of this year’s listees was creating wealth in the country’s manufac-turing sector. They include Ma Xiuhui, cofounder and CEO of Opple Lighting, a company that started out making traditional bulbs and whose LED lighting now illuminates homes around the world; and, Mou Jinxiang, cofounder and chair of Lianhe Chemical Technology, which sells specialty chemicals to giants such as Dow Chemical and BASF. With a 30.5 percent stake in the company, Mou is also a member of the Forbes China Rich list with an estimated net worth of $960 million.

From India, Nita Ambani, di-rector of Reliance Industries and chair of Reliance Founda-tion, debuted on this year’s list. She is also the wife of billionaire

Mukesh Ambani. “Her rising profile in the Reliance empire is unusual and earns her a spot in this year’s ranking,” the maga-zine said.

Chanda Kochhar, a five-time listee, helms ICICI Bank, the country’s largest private-sector lender.

Others women honored for their achievements includes: Wendy Sui Cheng Yap, cofound-er, president director and CEO of Indonesia’s Nippon Indosari; Yu-wadee Chirathivat, CEO of Thai-land’s Central Department Store Group; Arundhati Bhattacharya, chair and managing director of State Bank of India; Ho Ch-ing, executive director and CEO of Singapore’s Temasek; Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, CEO and manag-ing director of Australia’s Mirvac; Lee Boo-jin, president and CEO of South Korea’s Hotel Shilla; Pol-lyanna Chu, CEO of Hong Kong’s Kingston Financial Group; and Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, co-founder and chair of Vietnam’s Sovico Holdings. n

PH launches world’s first mass dengue...maceutical company Sanofi Pas-teur, Dengvaxia was approved last December 2015 in the Philip-pines and was launched for use in individuals aged 9 to 45. It is estimated that it will cost about 18,000 pesos to treat each dengue patient and the Philippine govern-ment will spend3.5 billion pesos ($76 million) to administer the free vaccines.

A clinical test performed by the New England Journal of Medicine states that the vaccine reduces the risk of contracting dengue by 65.6 percent, thus preventing hospitali-zations by 80 percent.

The World Health Organization (WHO) was in full support for the use of Dengvaxia in the Philip-pines. “It is the prerogative of a country to license the product (and) determine its use based on the internal scientific appraisal of the clinical research that is

underpinning the product,” WHO country representative Gundo Weller said.

Health Undersecretary Vicente Belizario told the press that only

27 were reported to develop side effects, proving it was an effective vaccine in contrast to the safety concerns raised by several public health advocates.

Apl.de.ap honored for work combating...48 hours of birth, it could lead to blindness.

Last fall, the foundation deliv-ered its first RetCams (retinal im-aging systems to screen for ROP) to the Southern Philippines Medi-cal Center in Davao.

For these efforts, CHLA recent-ly honored Apl with a spotlight on the hospital’s celebrity charity wall, becoming the first Filipino to be recognized.

“[This issue] is close to my heart because I myself am legally blind. I know the difficulties of growing in the Philippines and with sight [problems], it is 10 times harder,” Apl said during the unveiling of his spot on the wall on Thursday, March 24. “It’s a privilege, it’s an honor to be part of this mission, and I feel like it’s only the begin-ning of this partnership.”

Apl.de.ap (whose real name is Allan Pineda Lindo) was raised in Angeles, Pampanga, before he was adopted and moved to Los An-geles to receive treatment for nys-tagmus, a condition that causes involuntary rapid eye movement. On top of having vibrating eye-balls, Apl is nearsighted and le-gally blind, which all contributed

to hindrances to learning and self-esteem and confidence is-sues growing up.

Sonia Delen, chair of the Campaign for Filipino Children, shared the impact of delivering the RetCam to the Philippines.

“There [were] only four existing RetCams in the Philippines prior to the equipment we brought to Davao. It’s the fifth RetCam in the Philippines, for a population of 120 million,” Delen said. “There are at least 34 RetCams in Califor-nia alone.”

Dr. Thomas Lee, division chief for the Vision Center at CHLA, added that the foundation has partnered with the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology to train doctors to diagnose and treat ROP. So far over 60 doctors have undergone training.

“What makes this program so wonderful is that we’re go-ing to leverage technology. All the technology that we have on our phones — the cameras and the video — can actually go into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU),” Lee explained. “Once that RetCam is in the NICU, the doctors can treat and diagnose those children appropriately and

what’s wonderful is that they can be taught remotely from doctors and experts in Manila, who can then see the training of other Filipino doctors in cities like Davao.”

About 30 percent of premature babies in the Philippines develop ROP each year, but by training at least six to 20 medical practitio-ners in each of the four partner hospitals the foundation has iden-tified, 4,380 premature babies can be saved from the impairment, Lee told the Asian Journal.

Apl.de.ap Foundation In-ternational Executive Director Ted Benito and members of the foundation’s executive commit-tee, Mel Avanzado, Robbie Fa-bian, Fritz Friedman and Audie Vergara were also present at the ceremony.

The foundation is on track to provide RetCams to hospitals in Iloilo and Pampanga later this year.

“[I]n the poverty stricken ar-eas where our kababayans can’t afford to get diagnosed or have their eyes checked, this is defi-nitely very important, especially in the outskirts of the Philippines…,”Apl said.

DENGUE VACCINATION. A pupil from Parang Elementary School in Marikina receives an anti-dengue vaccine from a Department of Health worker at the start of the nationwide dengue vaccination program in schools on Monday, April 5. Inset shows vials of the vaccine. Philstar.com photos by Miguel De Guzman

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AB 1550 would send more dollars paid by polluters to disadvantaged neighborhoods and low-income households

Assembly Natural Resources Committee passes bill to expand benefits of clean energy economy

New York, California minimum wage set...an extra year to comply. The law also allows the governor to tem-porarily pause the hike depend-ing on economic conditions and budget deficits.

In New York, Gov. Cuomo in-voked his late father’s calls for economic justice as he signed the law that will gradually raise New York’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. He was accompanied on stage by Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

According to NBC, Cuomo told a crowd of hundreds of cheering union workers after the bill sign-ing that his father was “looking down on us today” and smiling. “He is proud of the example that his state has set to the people of this country,” he told a cheering crowd of maintenance, health care, transit, hotel and construc-tion workers.

“Proud to sign into law $15 statewide minimum wage and the strongest paid family leave policy in the nation,” Gov. Cuo-mo tweeted after he signed the bill at a labor rally in New York City.

New York State AFL-CIO pres-ident Mario Cilento commended Cuomo for signing the bill.

“Three million working peo-ple in New York State will see their wages go up due to the $15 per hour minimum wage making New York the first state in the country to reach that landmark. Raising the minimum wage is long overdue and is a step in the right direction toward addressing poverty and income inequality. This meaningful wage will allow hard-working men and women the opportunity to bet-ter support themselves and their families, and enjoy a standard of living and quality of life they can be proud of,” Cilento said in a statement.

Under the law, the timing and scope of the minimum wage in-crease depends on which county in New York State an employee works, and the size of the busi-ness.

For employees in New York City who are employed by a com-pany that has 11 or more employ-ees, the minimum wage will in-crease to $11 per hour at the end of 2016, $13 at the end of 2017, and $15 per hour at the end of 2018. However, for employees in New York City who are em-ployed by a company with 10 or fewer employees, the minimum wage increases are smaller and are implemented over a longer

time period, with the minimum wage rising to $10.50 at the end of 2016, $12 at the end of 2017, $13.50 at the end of 2018, and $15 at the end of 2019.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Gar-cetti, who approved in 2015 an ordinance to boost Los Angeles’ minimum hourly wage to $15 by 2020, touted the legislation on Monday.

“Today California leads the nation once again, passing a his-toric minimum wage increase that will help lift millions of hard-working men and women out of poverty,” he said in a statement.

For many Filipino workers, the passage of the law is a vic-tory. Joanna Concepcion, execu-tive director of Filipino Migrant Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to organizing and mo-bilizing low-income and working-class Filipinos in Southern Cali-fornia, said the group welcomes the passage of laws that would

boost the incomes of struggling, hard-working families.

“Many Filipino immigrants in Southern California work multi-ple jobs in order to place food on the table, pay for health care and other basic necessities on top of supporting family members in the Philippines,” Concepcion told the Asian Journal. “We have seen the detrimental effects this can cause to the health and well-being of many Filipino families and children facing economic hardship.”

In the Asian community, one business organization says that the wage is expected to hurt for small business owners, particu-larly in the short run.

“Going from $10 to $15, that 50 percent [increase] for a com-pany or small business [is] a big difference,” said Dennis Huang, executive director of the Asian Business Association, a non-profit organization representing Asian American business own-ers.

One good aspect of the legisla-tion, Huang said, is that the wage increase is mandated statewide, rather than varying in different cities. However, he said he ex-pects that the price of goods for business owners will increase to cover the higher wages, not-ing that businesses compete on these prices. Huang added that higher wages also equate to in-creased worker’s compensation, which is an additional expense for businesses.

SACRAMENTO – On Monday, April 4, the Assembly Natural Resources Committee passed AB 1550 (Gomez), designed to ensure that the benefits of California’s climate change poli-cies reach the communities and households that need them most. The bipartisan vote was 6-0 with one member not voting. The mea-sure would require a minimum of 25 percent of proceeds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to be invested in projects located directly within disadvantaged communities and would require that an additional percentage go to fund projects that benefit low income households, regardless of where they are located within California.

Advocates for disadvantaged communities and climate protec-tion hailed the vote:

“Assemblymember Gomez’s bill would assure that the Cali-

fornians most at risk from cata-strophic climate change receive real help from programs that fight pollution and deliver need-ed services,” said Bill Magavern, Policy Director for the Coalition for Clean Air, who spoke on be-half of the legislation at today’s hearing.

“Millions of Californians have benefitted from climate invest-ments bringing clean energy and consumer savings to low-income and highly polluted neighbor-hoods,” said Greenlining Institute Environmental Equity Director Alvaro Sanchez, who also testi-fied in favor of the bill. “AB 1550 takes the next step and makes sure a fair share of those benefits go to low-income California fami-lies wherever they live.”

Chelsea Tu, Staff Attorney with Public Advocates, said, “By directing investments to lower-income families, whether or not

they live in disadvantaged com-munities, this important bill goes a long way toward ensuring that the Greenhouse Gas Reduc-tion Fund brings economic and health benefits to communities throughout California. We ap-plaud its advance through the legislature.”

“We have an opportunity here to improve the quality of life of all Californians by investing in the neighborhoods who are en-during the most severe poverty, in addition to the most polluted neighborhoods in the state,” said Parin Shah, Senior Strategist at Asian Pacific Environmental Network.”These are the commu-nities, such as the families that we organize near the Richmond Chevron Refinery, that will most benefit from improvements in renewable energy, affordable housing and public transit.” (Greenlining)

DNC CEO emphasizes importance...While Dacey did not hint at

whether Sanders or Clinton would be the party’s nominee, she said that they have both “run campaigns worthy of the office.”

“I’m confident that one of them will be the 45th President of the United States, but I’m not under-estimating the amount of work that’s going to take,” she added.

Dacey also took a slam at the “divisive politics” of the Republi-can Party.

“You’re watching the debates on the Republican side and I’m working harder the next day be-cause it’s just unbelievable what you see,” she said, describing some of the Democratic Party’s work to reach out to more millen-nial voters and devote resources to various communities.

Despite the two Democratic candidates sparring over differ-ent views on the campaign trail, Dacey said she expects that sup-porters of either candidate will come together once a nominee is selected.

With four months until Phila-delphia, a contested DNC con-vention is not expected, unlike what many predict may happen in Cleveland at the RNC convention should no presidential candidate

win a majority of the delegates. “I’m fully confident that we’ll

go through this process — that we’ll have a presumptive nominee going into the convention. Our convention is literally going to be about bringing everybody togeth-er, having conversations, holding trainings,” Dacey told reporters. “We want to have outreach at the convention. It’s a substantive, in-clusive process so that when we leave Philly, you’ll see a stark contrast from the week before in Cleveland, where I do think it could potentially be in disarray.”

The DNC’s CEO went on to say that her party is focusing on issues that voters care about, especially those relevant to AAPI communi-ties. Among those issues Dacey mentioned were the Affordable Care Act, equal pay and compre-hensive immigration form.

“We saw a record turnout from the Asian American community and support of President Obama in the 2012 election cycle. We’ve also seen that 4.5 million Asian Americans were registered to vote in 2012, so I do think they have a strong voice in this election. I do think that the issues we’re talking about are issues they care about,” she said, adding that various party programs are geared specifically

toward AAPI voters and figuring out how AAPIs acquire informa-tion and become civically en-gaged.

Fritz Friedman, a Filipino American who is part of the cre-dentials committee for the DNC’s upcoming convention, lauded the Democratic Party’s outreach to the Filipino-American community in particular.

“A lot of the issues that Amy mentioned are core to the lives of Filipinos and Filipino Ameri-cans, specifically immigration and health care. Also the fact, I find personally, the Democratic Party is much more inclusive than the Republican Party. They under-stand the issues that are relevant to minority groups, like the Fili-pino-Americans,” Friedman told the Asian Journal.

Friedman added that the values of the Filipino-American com-munity align with the Democratic Party, and that should guide vot-ers come November.

“The bayanihan spirit — we are a community, the Democratic Party is a community. Filipinos and Filipino Americans take care of family and friends, as does the Democratic Party,” he said. “I think those base, core things

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APRIL 8-14, 2016 • OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797A� Dateline USa

Activists gather in front of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles to condemn the bloody dispersal of farmers seeking relief from the drought in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato. Photo by Kayden Riambon

LOS ANGELES — A Methodist Church pastor, a Latino human rights advocate and more than 50 other community activists held a rally in front of the Philippine Consulate here on Saturday, April 2 to condemn the bloody disper-sal of farmers seeking relief from the drought in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.

Roy Padilla, a pastor at Rose-wood United Methodist Church (UMC) in Los Angeles who spoke at the rally, praised the UMC in Kidapawan for support-ing and providing sanctuary for the farmers, saying the church “helped people take a stand in their faith and in their love for others.”

“This should be done by every-one who believes that justice can be achieved by serving those in need,” said Padilla. “(The farm-ers) only wanted a better life.”

The farmers sought govern-ment help for drought-stricken communities affected by El Niño. They formed a human barricade blocking the national highway to dramatize their call for relief, such as rice subsidies.

Two were killed and many oth-

ers were wounded after police forces opened fire at the farmers, many of them from the Lumad tribes, and their supporters on April 1.

Some of the farmers took ref-uge at a United Methodist Church compound and have remained there as of press time.

Padilla said the government that was supposed to help the farmers “became the oppres-sors.”

“As Central Americans and Latinos in the United States, we denounce all acts of violence (against those) demanding their basic human rights such as food, land and water,” said Nancy Zuniga, a Los Angeles-based community organizer for the Hu-man Rights Alliance for Child Refugees and Families, who also spoke at the rally.

“What we just saw is a gov-ernment that would rather kill its people and let them starve than let them stand up for their rights,” said Romeo Hebron, Southern California regional co-ordinator of BAYAN USA.

“We have to demand that the people get their needs met, that

they can feed their families.”Terrie Cervas, secretary gener-

al of GABRIELA USA, described the dispersal as “horrendous and despicable.”

Among those violently dis-persed on April 1 was Bangsam-oro activist Bai Ali Indayla, the keynote speaker at the GABRI-ELA USA’s National Congress in New York two weeks ago.

Nap Pempeña, vice chairper-son of AnakbayanUSA, said it was ironic that farmers in the Philippines, one of the world’s largest producers of rice, end up not having enough rice to feed their families.

“They face hunger, abject poverty and landlessness,” said Pempeña, who lambasted land grabbing by foreign multination-al corporations and called for a genuine agrarian land reform.

Meanwhile, two other LA-based organizations, Alliance Philippines and Bantay Pilipinas-USA, released a statement con-demning the incident.

“We stand with the oppressed farmers in Mindanao,” said Art Garcia of Alliance Philippines. (Nimfa U. Rueda/Inquirer.net)

Activists protest in LA, demanding justice for Kidapawan farmers

THE Supreme Court on Mon-day, April 4, unanimously upheld that the traditional method in which voting districts are created – based on total population – is constitutional.

The lawsuit that challenged the rule was brought on behalf of Sue Evenwel, a Republican coun-ty official from East Texas who claimed that the way individuals are counted when drawing dis-tricts was “diluting” votes of citi-zens like herself.

Conservatives wanted districts to be based only on voting-age populations.

“As history, precedent, and practice demonstrate, it is plainly permissible for jurisdictions to measure equalization by the total population of state and local leg-islative districts,” wrote Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the ma-jority decision.

Had the high court ruled oth-erwise in the case (Evenwel vs. Abott), power would have been shifted to Republican, rural dis-tricts, and away from Democratic urban areas, Richard Hasen, an expert in election law at UC Irvine Law School, told the Associated Press. It would have also elimi-nated many representatives from areas surrounding Los Angeles

SCOTUS upholds law counting total population in voting districts

and Houston where many are im-migrants who aren’t citizens.

The decision comes as a vic-tory for the Asian Americans, who constitute about 6 percent of the population in the United States, according to a 2011 report by the Pew Research Center.

“We are pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court agrees that in our democracy, elected officials do not only represent the people who voted for them or the people who are eligible to vote, but everyone in the community, including chil-dren and other not-yet-eligible voters,” Mee Moua, president and executive director of Asian Amer-icans Advancing Justice | AAJC, said in a statement. “Particularly in this election year, the ruling is a timely reminder that those who cannot or do not vote are still impacted by government: they attend public schools and univer-sities, walk and drive on public roads, and depend on so many more government services. This is a huge win for our democracy and today’s decision ensures that all members of society are repre-sented by our government.”

Stewart Kwoh, president and executive director of Advanc-ing Justice – Los Angeles, noted in a statement that 20 percent of Asian Americans in California – or nearly 1.2 million children and adults – are not yet US citizens.

“Had the Supreme Court ruled that district lines need to be drawn based only on eligible vot-ers, 2.3 million Asian Americans in California would have been discounted, including immigrants and youth who are not able to vote,” he said.

Edward Blum, the conserva-tive activist who launched the suit, said he was “disappointed that the justices were unwilling to reestablish the original principle of one person, one vote for the citizens of Texas and elsewhere. But the issue of voter equality in the United States is not going to go away,” the Los Angeles Times reported.

The top court, however, did not vote on whether it would be con-stitutional for states to adopt such a rule if it chooses to do so. The Obama administration argued such a move would be unconsti-tutional.

“Whether a state is permitted to use some measure other than total population is an important and sensitive question that we can consider if and when we have before us a state districting plan that, unlike the current Texas plan, uses something other than total population as the basis for equalizing the size of districts,” said Justice Samuel Alito, who concurred with the decision but wrote a separate opinion.

DNC CEO emphasizes importance...are really are one of the impor-tant reasons why the goals of the Democratic Party align with the goals of Filipino Americans.”

Even with the party’s confi-dence, Dacey said there is more work to be done in the coming months.

“It’s going to be a tough gen-eral election. I think anybody discounting it because they’re seeing what’s happening on the Republican side, is making a mis-take,” she said.

Following the roundtable,

WITH affirmative action being used as a wedge issue in commu-nities, ethnic community leaders and members are working toward expanding educational access, af-fordability, and ethnic diversity in public higher education.

“[How] are we going to frame the discourse around education as a public good?” said Betty Hung, policy director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, during the organization’s confer-ence on Wednesday, March 30, focused on empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. “Is it truly going to be a good that’s accessible to ev-eryone in this multiracial democ-racy or is it going to be limited to only a few?”

In a panel discussion, Hung introduced an initiative called “College for All,” which has a five-pillar platform: reinvesting in education, expanding enrollment slots in University of California and California State University systems for eligible California students, promoting the success of the highest need students at the highest need schools with lo-cal control funding formula plus (LCFF+), addressing implicit bias in all schools (including against LGBTQ students and others), and opposing all caps and quotas on admission and enrollment.

LCFF+ was historic legislation signed by California Gov. Brown in 2013 that allocates more re-sources to the state’s neediest schools. Under the law, districts receive a per-pupil base grant, a supplemental grant based on the number of English learner stu-dents, students who come from low-income families and foster youth, and a concentration grant for districts with more than 55 percent of this targeted popula-tion, according to a release.

Community leaders explore ways to expand access to public higher education

by Agnes ConstAnteAJPress

Hung also cited data from the Public Policy Institute of Cali-fornia, which estimates that by 2030, without reinvestment in higher public education, the state will have a shortage of 1.1 mil-lion college graduates based on California’s workforce needs.

“I think what we have to rec-ognize is that we retain remnants of policies that were adopted in a different era, chief among those is Proposition 209,” said Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Proposition 209, also known as the California Civil Rights Ini-tiative, was enacted in 1996 and amended the state Constitution to prohibit public institutions from discriminating based on sex, ethnicity or race.

“But it’s not only the policies we retain,” Saenz added. “I think it’s also common wisdom, ap-proaches to issues and process, that grew out of a different era that we retain even though they no longer serve us well.”

In data presented by Karalee Vaughn, board member of Em-powering Pacific Island Commu-nities, an organization that aims to empower Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) com-munities, Filipinos represented 2 percent of students enrolled in LCFF+ schools, while Hispanics constituted 76 percent. She also shared that 19 percent of NHPIs attend for-profit colleges and that many are targeted by these insti-tutions. Upon graduating, these students face difficulty in find-ing jobs and have incurred much debt.

Saenz said he sees two ma-jor problems in California with respect to higher education: an inadequate number of seats available in post-secondary in-stitutions compared to the need projected for college graduates

with four-year degrees, and con-tinued inequity.

“[We] continue to use sorting and selecting mechanisms for our higher education institutions that have demonstrated biases and, in many cases, were adopted because of those biases, again, to particular student groups. And we have done nothing to root out those biases in criteria or to signif-icantly affect the biases that play out in differential resource avail-ability and differential outcomes for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, where you go to school and specifically the socioeconomic status of those you go to school with largely de-termine or predetermine where your outcome is likely to be with respect to higher education,” he said.

The College for All campaign has identified the highest concen-tration of LCFF schools, or those with 75 percent or more of stu-dents who are low-income Eng-lish learners or foster care youth, Hung said. She added that there are about 700 high schools with nearly 700,000 LCFF students, 93 percent of whom are students of color. As part of the platform, College for All calls on more re-sources for LCFF+ high schools to support students in preparing for college.

Oraiu Amoni, political director of United Teachers Los Angeles, the second-largest teachers union in the nation, shared during the discussion his story as a product of affirmative action. Born and raised in Watts, Amoni went on to attend UC Berkeley in 1994, a transition he said he didn’t think would have been possible with-out affirmative action.

“From a personal perspective, I think it’s important that folks that have come from this environment or these environments speak up and support these endeavors,” he said.

Dacey attended a fundraiser with AAPI supporters — which was co-hosted by actor George Takei and attended by elected leaders, such as Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Ted Lieu and Rep. Mark Takano — and spoke at the Advancing Jus-tice conference co-hosted by the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation and Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

“[We’re] trying to make sure the [AAPI] community knows that there’s a home for them in the Democratic Party and that they’ll turn out and vote for Democrats

in the fall,” she said. Both Democrats and Repub-

licans have continued to reach out to AAPI voters, an electorate considered to double by 2040, reaching 12.2 million, according to a 2015 report from the UCLA Center for the Study of Inequality and Asian Pacific American Insti-tute for Congressional Studies.

Leading up to California’s pri-mary on June 7, both Clinton and Sanders are expected to continue campaigning in the state, where 475 delegate are at stake. (Chris-tina M. Oriel / AJPress)

by Agnes ConstAnteAJPress

PAGE A3

New York, California minimum wage set...As for the six years businesses

are given to pay employees $15 per hour, Huang said it would have been better if companies had more time to meet the wage requirement.

“I think its a good idea to space it out, but I do think it’s a little bit tighter for small businesses. It takes a little time for them to adjust for this,” he said.

Other business owners, like financial adviser Cynthia Tan, whose firm is based in Los An-geles, welcomed the new legisla-tion.

“I’m a believer in increasing the minimum wage. I believe in providing benefits. If you take care of your employees they will

take care of you,” Tan said.As a financial adviser, Tan

works with business owners to reduce their taxes. She said that although payroll taxes rise along with higher wages, businesses are able to write it off on their taxes.

“One of the ways of [reduc-ing taxes] is to increase payroll. The bottom line is, when I talk to different business owners, ul-timately the question is: Who do you want to pay? Uncle Sam? Or would you rather give benefits to the employees?” she said.

In the state legislature, Fili-pino-American Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) who supported the move, said the legislation would have a positive

effect on Californians living in poverty and on Filipinos residing in the state.

“For small businesses, when minimum wage earners get more money in their pockets, they’ll be taking that money and spending it in the economy, at retail stores and at Filipino-owned businesses. It will be good for businesses. But overall, it’s more productivity for these workers and employers. It’s healthier employees. These are all good things that small busi-ness owners should want. The positive outcomes that studies show far outweigh any nega-tive ones. It’s a win-win for the state of California,” Bonta told the Asian Journal.

PAGE A3

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 8-14, 2016(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com A�

Dateline PhiliPPinesFOR SHOWING CRUELTY, NOT MERCY OvER kIdapaWaN vIOLENCE

duterte camp: No need for martial law to stop crime

prince of Monaco served ‘tinola of gifts’ from pH seas

by William B. Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

Church leaders blast AquinoLEADERS of the Catholic

Church have lambasted the Aquino Administration for its callousness, saying it responded with cruelty, not mercy, to thou-sands of farmers who took to the streets of Kidapawan City to ap-peal for food aid.

Three farmers died and scores were injured when protesting farmers and policemen clashed in Kidapawan City in North Co-tabato last April 1.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Brod-erick Pabillo said the Aquino administration is answerable for the death of the farmers.

“This is not the way to react to the grievances of the farmers that the government was not able to address in the first place,” Pa-billo added.

He noted that more than 80 farmers were still unaccounted for or missing days after the vio-lent dispersal.

“This is not mercy but cruelty. They are blamed in the name of national security and are ac-cused to be led by communists,’ the bishop said.

“I join my voice in protesting the shooting and the violent dis-persal of the protesting farmers in Kidapawan,” he added.

The government, according to Pabillo, knew beforehand that Mindanao and other parts of the country will be hit by El Niño but did not nothing to assist the af-fected farmers.

“The El Nino is not like a ty-phoon that can make the govern-ment unprepared. It had already

been forecast two years ago. It has hit the country since Septem-ber last year. The government has not done anything to address this problem. We had been calling on the government for action for months already,” the prelate said.

He pointed out that some ar-eas in Mindanao were declared under a state of calamity but the national and local governments did nothing to help alleviate the plight of farmers.

“Now that they demanded by mass action that their pleas should be heard, they were ask-ing for rice and basic necessities for their farms, they were sent the police and these rained on them beatings and bullets,” Pa-billo said.

“This speaks about the neglect of the Aquino administration of the plight of the poor, the farm-ers and the lumad [indigenous people]. He is calloused to those who suffer,” Pabillo pointed out.

Former Catholic Bishops’ Con-ference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Lingayen-Dagu-pan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz also on Thursday said the Kidapawan incident was a display of government’s insensitivity and lack of respect for the dignity and rights of hungry farmers.

Cruz likened the bloody Kidapawan dispersal to the Men-diola Massacre which happened during the incumbency of then-President Corazon Aquino, Presi-dent Aquino’s mother, almost 30 years ago.

“The Mendiola Massacre was the handiwork of landlords and the president at that time was his mother. As if there was no God,”

the archbishop said in an inter-view with the Church-run Radio Veritas.

“A hungry stomach needs food. But instead of providing them rice, they were shot. It’s shameful,” he added.

Cruz expressed belief that on-going investigations of the violent dispersal will go nowhere.

Fr. Carlito Garcia, administra-tor of the Diocese of Kidapawan, said the incident could have been averted had concerned authori-ties acted with dispatch.

“This is supposed to be just a matter of decision-making by competent authorities,” he not-ed. “There’s a calamity fund, but it seems that the people are not benefiting from it.”

Five kilos of riceAs the Senate opened its inqui-

ry into the Kidapawan tragedy, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units (LGUs) in Region 12 strengthened their efforts to speed up delivery of as-sistance to affected families.

DSWD-Field Office 12 Regional Director Bai Zorahayda Taha met on Thursday with North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza and Kidapawan City Mayor Jo-seph Evangelista to identify areas of collaboration.

They agreed that 150,000 families in the province will each be given five kilos of rice this month.

Meanwhile, the Field Office will also provide burial assistance of P5,000 each to the families of the farmers who died, and P3,000 to the families of farmers injured in the clash.

by Kristine angeli saBillo Inquirer.net

“TINOLA of gifts from the Phil-ippine Seas” is just one of the special dishes served during the state luncheon for Prince Albert II of Monaco on Thursday, April 7.

Prince Albert, who last visited the Philippines 17 years ago, was welcomed by President Be-nigno Aquino III at Malacañang for a bilateral meeting and a joint press conference.

After signing the Philippine-Monaco Framework Agreement for Cooperation, the two leaders addressed the media and joined the other guests at Rizal Hall.

Known for its Filipino fusion cuisine, Malacañang’s kitchen came up with several interest-ing dishes for the prince, who is known for being an environmen-talist.

According to the menu pro-vided to media, Prince Albert and Aquino ate “ensalada of Batan-gas duck estofado a l’orange,” which was made from Negros chèvre, Sagada orange, musco-vado, heirloom carrots, Tagaytay courgette, and Cointreau-Davao cacao vinaigrette.

The prince, who will visit the Tubbataha Reefs this afternoon, would have enjoyed the “Tinola of gifts from the Philippine Sea,” a Philippine-style bouillabaisse containing Bohol white marlin, Bulacan river prawn, Capiz scal-lop, Quezon blue crab, fish roe duet, French pottage and Ba-colod bihod, kasha mayonesa and estragon.

The guests also feasted on Blackmore Wagyu short rib inihaw with Bistek Tagalog Jus, organise soy sauce, calamansi onion hay, Philippine chickpea socca, adlai pearls, sigarilyas and kalabasa blossoms.

For dessert, they were treated to halo-halo with the following in-gredients: ube haleya, creme car-amel, saba, jackfruit, red beans, carabao’s milk, San Miguel pas-tillas gratinee, Iloilo tablea lava and Pangasinan mango.

This year marks the 10th an-niversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Monaco, the second smallest country in the world.

In his toast, Aquino talked

about how Monaco’s royal family has “become close friends of the Filipino people.”

“Their visits here were not ones characterized by leisure. They made it a point to make a genuine connection by truly in-teracting with our people—even visiting areas like Payatas to meet less fortunate children,” he said.

He lauded Monaco for “assist-ing victims of child abuse and exploitation and funding critical research for various illnesses” through the AMADE or Asso-ciation Mondiale des Amis de

l’Enfance (World Association of Children’s Friends).

He again thanked Prince Al-bert for the aid sent by their country for the survivors of super typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in 2013.

“While your state may not be the largest in the world, you still committed several hundred thousand euros to help those af-fected; you have helped prevent epidemics and rebuild infra-structure, and I speak on behalf of the Filipino people when I say: We will never forget your kind-ness,” he said.

THERE is no need for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law, should he be-come president, to fulfill his vow to stop crime and illegal drugs in the Philippines, his camp said on Thursday, April 7.

“We beg to disagree with Sen. Enrile. There is no need for Duterte to declare martial law. He needs only to enforce the law, the enforcement agencies to do their jobs, the judicial and penal system to work, and the commu-nity to cooperate,” Peter Lavina, Duterte’s spokesman, said in a statement.

Lavina said getting rid of drugs, crime, and corruption would re-

by nestor Corrales Inquirer.net

quire everyone’s cooperation.“Duterte’s political will is the

leading catalyst in this collec-tive societal task. He will not, of course, succeed if we have a de-featist attitude and set up road-blocks on the way for genuine

change,” he said.On Thursday, Sen. Juan Ponce

Enrile said that Duterte would need to declare martial law to bust crime and illegal drugs within the first six months in office if elected in the May elections.

Demonstrators from various towns in North Cotabato face members of the PNP at the national highway in KIdapawan City on Wednesday, April 6. An estimated 6000 protesters blocked the highway which caused traffic to ground to a halt between the city and the areas of Davao and Cotabato. Inquirer.net photo by Williamor A. Magbanua

President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Serene Highness Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, lead the ceremonial toasts during the state luncheon at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañang Palace for the official visit of the Prince to the Philippines on Thursday, April 7. Malacañang photo by Joseph Vidal

Presidential candidate Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Inquirer.net photo by Raffy Lerma

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DESPITE a stern warning by China, this year’s anticipated Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises among 9,000 American and Filipino forces, pushed through. The Balikatan exercises, which began this week, will feature war exercises, naval drills and humanitarian activities.

Coincidence

“A big country with vital interests in Asia, the United States should first clarify the targets of its Pivot to Asia strategy, which so far has fea-tured no more than unscrupulous inconsistency between fear-mongering deeds and peace-loving words.” China’s official news agency Xinhua said in a commentary.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) dis-missed China’s warning saying that the two-week event is not in any way related to the impasse in the South China Sea.

“It’s not focused on a particular incident but rather capacitating our armed forces to deal with a whole lot of exigencies,” said Vice Admiral Al-exander Lopez, western command chief and exer-cise director for the Philippine side of the Balika-tan 2016, in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday, April 4.

Australian troops will also participate in the Ba-likatan exercises, while other countries, including Japan, Canada, and other Southeast Asian states, will observe the activities.

The bilateral relationship be-tween the United States and the Philippines shares a long history. It began during the first half of the 20th century, when the Philippines

became a US colony. In 1946, the Americans ul-timately recognized Philippine independence and surrendered full authority, supervision, and sover-eignty of the country to the Filipinos. Since then, the Philippine-American ties remained intact up to this day through the Mutual Defense Treaty Act of 1951. Since the inception of the treaty, both coun-tries mutually benefitted from each other’s sourc-es and locations. With the Balikatan exercises still ongoing, the ties have remained sacred, especially since the US is the largest source of military aid for the Philippines.

This commitment to help defend each other from the aggravation of external forces is proven at present after the US expressed its support to the Philippines amid the rising tension between over the rights of Spratlys Islands which is believed to have rich reserves of oil and natural gas.

Editorial

FOLLOWING the March 22 bombings in Brussels, Belgium, spokesmen of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines imme-diately issued official statements to the effect that there were “no validated terrorist threats in Met-ro Manila.”

One of the major dailies promptly ran the headline, “No terror threats in Metro, says PNP,” and described the state-ment of the authorities as an “as-surance.” In fact, there was no such assurance of the absence of a terrorist threat – simply the absence of reliable information about such an eventuality.

The only assurance given by the PNP was that its “security forces and the intelligence net-work are continuously monitor-ing and doing their jobs.”

That is the best we can expect from them. To those who scoff at the capabilities of our Philippine intelligence infrastructure, it helps to know that the quiet, un-assuming clerk in your local city hall or barangay or the friendly assistant in that Philippine con-sulate abroad may, in fact, be an imbedded intelligence operative.

Should we worry about a terrorist attack?

GreG B. MacaBenta

Street Talk

These folks may be taking note of any suspicious meetings or conversations you are en-gaged in. I am told that the days of Marcosian disappearances are over and that the likelihood of being picked up for subver-sive activities is remote – unless you live in the rural areas or are a very high profile activist. But please, don’t take my word for it.

Rodel Rodis, a lawyer friend in the San Francisco Bay Area and a vocal critic of abuses in past Phil-ippine administrations, related an intriguing incident in a post-ing on social media. Someone had gone up to Rodel claiming to be a former intelligence agent as-signed to tail Rodel and to find an opportunity to do him harm. Ac-cording to Rodel, he didn’t think the fellow was worth taking seri-ously - until he read the man’s name in US media. The fellow was being deported for “human rights violations” as a Philippine undercover operative. The man had been telling the truth!

Indeed, I wouldn’t underes-timate the capabilities of our in-telligence community. When the PNP and the AFP say that their agents are on the job, that’s a better reassurance than when you drive up to the parking area of a mall in Metro Manila and the security guards go around your vehicle with a mirror attached

to a pole, ostensibly checking its underbody for a hidden bomb. A determined terrorist with a whole armory of explosives would get past those security guards unde-tected.

So, how serious is the “terror-ist threat” in the Philippines and in places like Metro Manila, in the wake of bombings in Paris, Brussels and other major cities?

For a US resident and a fre-quent traveler like me, quite frankly, it is as serious as the threat in any big city in America.

Perhaps, the only difference is that the intelligence commu-nity in America may be much better trained and concededly much better equipped to moni-tor suspicious activities among red-flagged foreigners, as well as permanent residents and citizens with “unusual backgrounds.”

I use the term “unusual” for lack of a more precise under-standing of what the FBI and the Department of Homeland Securi-ty consider a red flag among the millions who populate the USA.

My own impression, however, is that the kind of near-seditious statements routinely made by lo-cal politicians, columnists and social media pundits that go in one ear and out the other of Phil-ippine authorities, would raise serious concerns in the US. We have such an unbridled mass

communications environment in the Philippines that the line be-tween freedom of speech and li-centiousness is often breached.

If you ask me, as a media per-son, I prefer the Philippine situa-tion over the Big Brother moni-toring in the US. A freer press, in spite of abuses, is preferable to the feeling that your every movement and every statement, your every email and every mo-bile phone call is being closely watched.

This is not to say that this is exactly what is happening in the US. But the possibility that it is, in fact, happening, already serves as a deterrent. It is pretty much the feeling you get when you encounter a full stop sign in the middle of nowhere in Califor-nia. For some uncanny reason, when you choose to disregard the stop sign, a highway patrol officer suddenly appears. Believe me, it often happens.

And yet, in spite of such a high-tech intelligence environ-ment, recent events in the US have shown that there is no air-tight guarantee against a terror-ist attack. The threat is not simply from foreign travelers with evil intent but also from home-grown “sleepers” who might suddenly be activated by their handlers and transformed into suicide bombers.

It is easy to say that the bomb-ing at the Boston Marathon in April 2013 and the December 2015 terrorist attack in San Ber-nardino, California happened be-cause of a “lapse in intelligence,” but the harsh truth is that there is no fail-safe protection against individuals who are prepared to give up their lives in the course of murdering innocent people.

If you are the kind who wor-ries about these things, Google will tell you that “In the period from 2000 to 2007 (terrorist) attacks killed nearly 400 Filipi-no civilians and injured well over 1500 more, more casualties than caused by bombings and other attacks in Indonesia, Morocco, Spain, Turkey, or Britain during the same period.”

That would make the Philip-pines a “high risk” country. How-ever, I am not aware of any new advisory issued to US citizens by the US embassy about travel to the Philippines, aside from one released in December last year. That advisory was about visiting critical areas in Mindanao. The same warnings have been given by the British and Australian governments to their nationals.

I frankly have no worries about traveling to Manila and even to Mindanao, in spite of me-dia reports of ISIS recruitment and training activities. Of course,

there is always the possibility of stray bullets or shrapnel unex-pectedly coming my way, but, where I live near the city of Rich-mond in the San Francisco Bay Area, the possibility of getting caught in a crossfire between gang members is just as real – or just as remote.

I recall how my family wor-ried about my planned trip to the Atlanta Olympics in July 1996, the day after a radical exploded a bomb at the Centennial Olym-pic Park, killing one person and injuring 111. I told my wife that after the bombing, the Olympic premises would be the safest place in America.

In sum, in a world where ter-rorism has become a daily threat, life must go on. Just cooperate with the strict airport security personnel, play along with the earnest efforts of the security guards at the malls and watch your language when you notice that quiet, unassuming clerk in city hall or at the Philippine con-sulate casting furtive glances at you. And, remember, vigilance and its corresponding inconve-niences are the price we must pay for our security.

This may sound like a joke, but at any airport, I would think twice about saying “Hi” to my son-in-law. His name is Jack. (gregma-cabenta@hotmail.com)

HILLARY CLINTON and DON-ALD TRUMP—they are the front-runners in the Democratic and Republican races, respectively. But the voters in Wisconsin deliv-ered a divergent verdict in their primary elections last Tuesday, April 5, favoring Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Let us discuss how crucial the Wisconsin primary may be as each party chooses its nominee for president.

Republican Party Leading up to the Wisconsin

primary, Donald Trump expe-rienced perhaps the most chal-lenging weeks of his campaign. The Republican Party establish-ment has been openly trying to stop his momentum, and some GOP elites have given full sup-port to Ted Cruz.

Trump has been criticized after he said in an interview that wom-en who have had an abortion -- when it is illegal -- will have to be punished. This statement is

Wisconsin primary: Game changer in US politics?

Gel SantoS-reloS

The Fil-Am Perspective

Donald Trump and Hillary Clintonincongruous to the GOP’s posi-tion that women are victims in this situation, and that the medi-cal practitioners shall be the ones who will have to be punished for performing the abortion. Trump

changed his position three times in a span of three hours, raising doubts about his policies.

Trump was also hit hard for his foreign policy position when he said countries like Japan or South

Korea should be allowed to build nukes to protect their own secu-rity, a policy that negates the goal of the international community to make the world safer by aiming to make it nuke-free.

Cruz’s victory in Wisconsin, makes it harder for Trump to get the magical 1,237 delegate num-ber he needs before the Republi-can National Convention in July.

If Trump does not reach 1,237, he may have to hurdle a contest-ed convention, where the party will implement rules that may nominate another candidate, de-spite him winning the most num-ber of states.

Democratic Party Bernie Sanders’s victory in

Wisconsin is his seventh win in the past eight primary contests over front-runner Hillary Clin-ton. This victory may continue to give Sanders the momentum to win in the delegate-rich state of New York on April 19, which may snowball to California and other states.

Sanders was born in Brooklyn, New York, but Hillary Clinton has made New York her adoptive state. She owns a home there and has served as senator before she was appointed Secretary of State by President Barack Obama.

Through Clinton has kept the lead over Sanders in New York, such lead has been diminishing, and may turn the table toward a

Sanders victory. Political analysts say if Sanders

continues to win in the remaining states with at least 60 percent, he may have the chance to overtake Clinton’s delegate lead and reach the 2,383 delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

If Sanders falls short of the ma-jority vote, he may still potential-ly prevent Clinton from getting the magic number 2,383, which means they both go to a contest-ed convention.

Part of Clinton’s lead in the delegate math is the heavy sup-port she has been getting from superdelegates (party-elected officials, not ordinary voters). Bernie Sanders’s strategy is to convince these superdelegates to shift their votes to him if the voters of states they represent choose Sanders as their nomi-nee.

ABANGAN!* * *

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

Coincidence or not, both the Philippines and the US stand to benefit in these military exercises, not only to improve their enduring relationship, but to be ready just in case a belligerent scenario arises.

This relationship is bound by humanitarian values and moral responsibility to ensure peace and se-curity not just for their own people, but for every citizen of the world. (AJPress)

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 8-14, 2016(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com A�Dateline PhiliPPines

Olongapo court junks Pemberton’s bail plea, reduces jail sentence to 10 years

by Ian JamotIlloAJPress

THE Olongapo Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Monday, April 4, dismissed the petition for bail and motion for reconsideration of convicted US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pem-berton for the death of Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude. The dismissal, however, led the court to reduce his sentence from 12 to 10 years in prison.

“Wherefore in view of the foregoing, the Partial Motion for Reconsideration of the decision promulgated on 01 December 2015 and the Motion to be Ad-mitted Bail pending motion for reconsideration are DENIED for lack of merit,” a portion of RTC Branch 74’s decision reads.

The murder occurred last Oc-tober 11, 2014, when Laude met Pemberton, a US Marine from Boston, Massachusetts, at the Ambyanz disco bar in Olongapo. Thirty minutes after checking in at Celzone Lodge, Pemberton left the motel and the staff found Laude’s naked body near the toi-

let bowl. Autopsy revealed that “asphyxiation by drowning” was the cause of death.

Harry Roque, the private law-yer of Laude’s family stated, “we are happy that Pemberton’s Mo-tion for Reconsideration was not fully granted, and we are happy that the decision remains – that Pemberton is guilty of killing Laude.”

Although the Laude family was relieved after the court denied Pemberton’s appeal, they did not welcome the reduction of his sentence.

“We are not pleased with the lighter penalty granted,” Roque said as he stressed that the pen-alty of six to 10 years still dis-qualifies Pemberton from seek-ing parole.

Judge Roline Jines-Jabalde of the Olongapo RTC Branch 74 said that Pemberton’s jail sentence should be lowered by two years due to mitigating circumstances of passion and intoxication, ac-cording to reports.

“The accused shall suffer six years to 10 years in prison with full credit for the period of his

US-PH Balikatan exercises begin as China issues warning

by Ian JamotIlloAJPress

THE United States and the Phil-ippines began the annual “Balika-tan” exercises on Monday, April 4, after China issued a warning against “outside interference” in relation to the ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

Over 8,000 US and Filipino troops, including 80 Australian forces, will participate in the 11-day war games dubbed as “Ba-likatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder), from April 4 to 15. The military drills will involve several intense exercises including simulation events, an amphibious landing and strengthening the combat skills of the soldiers.

“The Balikatan exercise is de-signed not to address a particular concern but the whole lump in the spectrum of warfare,” Vice Admi-ral Alexander Lopez, Philippine military exercise director, said in a news conference.

China’s state media, Xinhua, recently reported about the Chi-nese government warning outsid-ers entering the disputed islands in the South China Sea, which the country is claiming.

US Defense Secretary Ash Cart-er is scheduled to visit the Philip-pines next week to observe the annual Balikatan exercises and monitor several US navy ships. He will be the first top US defense official to observe the war games after the two allies started holding joint military exercises. Carter’s visit concurs with the implemen-tation of a new military agree-

ment between the two countries, the Enhanced Defense Coopera-tion Agreement (EDCA) and will be highlighting this year’s Balika-tan.

“Our alliance is strong. The United States is committed to this relationship and these are not empty words.... peace in South-east Asia depends on our cooper-ation,” Lieutenant-General John Toolan, commander of US Marine Corps forces in the Pacific told Philippine media. He also added that the exercises would help the allies improve maritime security and maintain regional stability.

The ongoing territorial dis-

pute includes several islands in the South China Sea namely the Paracels Islands, the Pratas Is-lands, Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands. Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the waters, in which the Philippines has sought international arbitration on the disputed islands.

Major General Rodolfo San-tiago, assistant exercise director, however, said that the drills were designed to practice “generic scenario[s]” and were not target-ed toward any specific country, in the midst of China’s aggression in the South China Sea.

SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER. United States and Philippine officials link arms during the Balikatan opening ceremonies on Monday, April 4. US and Philippine troops began major exercises on Monday as China’s state media warned “outsiders” against interfering in tense West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) territorial disputes. (L-R) Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, Foreign Undersecretary Evan Garcia, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, Armed Forces chief Gregorio Pio Catapang, and Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, US Exercise Deputy Director.

preventive imprisonment pursu-ant to Article 29 of the Revised Penal Code,” the ruling read.

The court originally ordered Pemberton’s detention at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City after a ruling on March 29, affirming the decision to convict him of homicide.

MISS U STAMPS. You can now own a piece of Miss Universe history. The Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) on Thursday, April 7 announced that it would release this month limited edition commemorative stamps featuring Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. The stamps, which show Wurtzbach’s winning moment in the pageant in her royal blue Albert Andrada gown, will feature a special embellishment called “tactile glittery texture embossed” to “enhance the important look and feel of the stamps.”

US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton

April 8-14, 2016 • OC/iE ASiAN JOUrNAl http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797A�

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the asian journal entertainment magazine april 8-14, 2016

may 30-june 5, 2014www.asianjournal.com

2

april 8-14, 2016 2

Hailee Steinfeld ‘at home’ in the Philippines

Binibini hopefuls inspire young cancer patientsby Armin P. AdinA

Inquirer.net

Hailee Steinfeld has found a home in the Philippines.

aside from the warm welcome of her fans, she feels the pull of her Filipino ancestral blood. She has Filipino grand fathers, with her great grandfather came from Bohol.

This is the first time that the “Pitch Perfect 2” star visited in the Philippines. She was born and raised in los angeles, California.

“The Philippines has been a topic of conversation in my family for years, so it’s incredible that it’s my music that finally brought me here,” she said in an interview in “Tonight with Boy abunda” aired on Wednesday, april 6.

“i’m so far away from home but i feel at home because of that,” she added.

The 19-year-old singer-actress is one of the international celebrities that the youth look up to, but Hailee doesn’t feel the pressure.

“i think my fans are very loyal to me and are very much like myself. So i don’t know if i feel so much pressure, i do feel a lot of love and support,” she explained.

She’s also glad that she was able to communicate with people through her music, something she said she couldn’t do through her films.

“To have that power so to speak is so incredible. it’s amazing to me that there are people who care and really listen,” she said. (Joyce Jimenez/Philstar.com)

Aside from the warm welcome of her fans, Hailee Steinfeld feels “at home” in the Philippines because of her Filipino ancestry. Inquirer.net photo

Kim Chiu takes a bold stepWHen Kim Chiu released

an album years ago (she was still in “Pinoy Big Brother”), she devoted all her energies to acting and never really seriously got into singing again. That is, until last year, when she released her album Chinita Princess and had a hit song with it, titled Mr. Right. The album went on to score a platinum award.

now Kim is about to take another step forward when she stages a concert inspired by the success of her album. That concert, also titled “Chinita Princess” — which has become Kim’s showbiz moniker — is set for april 9 at the Kia Theater. Besides coinciding with her birthday month, it is also a celebration of her 10th year in the business.

When the idea for the concert was first presented to her, Kim actually laughed. “Nu’ng una nila itong in-open up sa akin,” she began, “sabi ko, ‘Sigurado ba kayo, ako? Ako talaga? Di kaya si Kuya Kim (atienza) or kung sino mang Kim diyan?’ Pero sabi nila, kailangan na rin kasi 10 years ko na din sa industry, kaya ang gusto ko lang, gaya ng lagi kong ginagawa, is magpasaya at um-emote ng konti. At ‘yung concert din is one of my gifts para sa lahat ng taong sumusuporta sa akin through the years.”

But Kim is approaching the concert with the same light-hearted attitude she brings to everything she does. She’s not really bothered by the prospect of bashers or critics or those who will say she has no right to even think

about doing a concert since she’s not technically a singer. in fact, Kim refers to herself as an entertainer rather than a singer. “Kaya nga po sa april 9 siya gagawin, Kalayaan Day,” joked the 25-year-old TV and movie actress in a recent press gathering to announce the concert. “Freedom, kasi malaya akong magpapakita ng talento ko, walang makikialam. Ganoon talaga. #Malaya. Malaya po si Kim Chiu sa araw na ‘yon.” (editor’s note: actually, april 9 is Kagitingan Day.)

She’s not afraid because she knows her supporters have her back.

“Alam ko naman na ang pupunta doon (to the concert) ay ‘yung mga taong sumusuporta sa akin at mga naniniwala sa akin,” she said, but then added, “lower the expectations lang po, ha?”

Besides, Kim said, the show won’t just be a showcase of whatever musical talent she has. More importantly, it will tell her life story and how far she has come in the business. There’s no better time for it than now, when she’s celebrating her 10th anniversary and will be turning another year older. The concert will be like traveling back through time and will tell the story of how she became a showbiz princess. The tale they’re about to tell in the show will be more like a story and an interplay of lights, sets and costumes — it’s kind of like a play within a concert.

indeed, Kim’s 10-year journey through showbiz is its own fascinating story of how one girl from Cebu dared to dream and

by Boy ABundA Philstar.com

Kim Chiu stages a concert titled “Chinita Princess” inspired by the success of her album on April 9 at the Kia Theater.

Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla share sweetmoments at ‘Pangako Sa ‘Yo’ appreciation lunch

KaTHRYn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla fans can’t contain the sweetness of the love team on and off cam.

On Wednesday, april 6, Roxy luquigan posted on his Twitter account a series of photos, where Kathryn and Daniel were seen sweet with each other.

They were together with the other cast and staff of

the defunct primetime series “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” which ended last February, for an appreciation lunch.

Kathryn and Daniel will soon start working on their film, which according to reports will be shot in Spain.

although the onscreen partners haven’t confirmed nor denied their relationship, many

people around them believe that they’re already an item.

The two even celebrated the Kapamilya actress’s birthday in Balesin island during the Holy Week break.

On his personal instagram account, Daniel posted a photo of him and Kathryn holding hands while on the island. (Joyce Jimenez/Philstar.com)

Action speaks louder than words for Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla as they share sweet moments at “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” appreciation lunch. Twitter.com photos by Roxy Liquigan

THiS year’s batch of Binibining Pilipinas pageant hopefuls lived up to the catchphrase, “confidently beautiful with a heart,” made famous by 2015 Miss Universe Pia alonzo Wurtzbach, when they spent time with cancer patients at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City last month.

all 40 aspirants took part in the “charity day” organized by pageant sponsor Dairy Queen, which saw them playing with the young patients, sharing stories with the parents, and distributing gifts and snacks to the underprivileged beneficiaries of the government-run medical facility.

Women from the medical field are among this year’s contestants.

angela lauren Fernando, a graduate of medicine from University of Santo Tomas, who is currently taking her internship at Makati Medical Center, said activities such as the one they participated in give the patients “happiness and hope.”

Fernando, a 24-year-old Kapampangan, also said patients’

parents also benefit from such visits. “They’re down, and this gives them the opportunity to see their children happy. When parents see them smiling, it also makes them happy.”

Fellow Kapampangan Roshiela Tobias, a 22-year-old operating room nurse, said “through our presence, we inspire them.”

Karen ibasco, a 25-year-old medical physicist and teacher from Manila, said “activities like this brighten the patients’ day.”

“i joined Binibining Pilipinas to help patients like them. i see it as a platform to make people aware of sickness like this,” she said.

But the ladies said they see themselves benefiting more from the activity.

“it gives us the inspiration to be a model to other people. We also hear their story, fighting the struggle of a life-threatening disease we’re lucky not to have. So, i look back at my own struggles and tell myself, ‘i can do this. Because if they can handle their problems, so can i,’” said Fernando, who aspires to become a surgeon or pediatrician after her internship.

For ibasco, visiting patients

with cancer is a source of motivation to further pursue her passions.

“You get the opportunity to be grateful for what you have, to appreciate life,” said 2015 Miss intercontinental first runner-up Christi lynn McGarry, who also graced the affair. “it gives me hope because they are able to stay positive in the darkest situations.”

Holding charity activities, McGarry said, also uplifts the image of the pageant, by promoting the concerns of children and other sectors in need.

Get to know more about the 40 candidates in a special program, dubbed “The Road to the Crown” on aBS-CBn’s “Sunday’s Best” bloc on april 10 after “Gandang Gabi, Vice.”

The 2016 Binibining Pilipinas coronation night will be staged at Smart araneta Coliseum on april 17, with a telecast on aBS-CBn’s “Sunday’s Best” bloc on the same evening.

Xian lim and KC Concepcion will host the ceremony, together with 2014 Binibining Pilipinas first runner-up laura Victoria lehman as backstage correspondent.

Binibining Pilipinas candidates with cancer patients at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

PH ‘still like home’ to Sandara Parkby mArinel r. Cruz

Inquirer.net

KORean celebrity Sandara Park, who was recently here to meet with her Filipino fans, said Manila “still feels like home.”

“i don’t go out that much in Korea, that’s why i don’t feel like i’m a superstar. But here, i already feel the love at the airport. i’m thrilled to hear people call out my name,” Sandara said in a mix of Filipino and english when asked to compare her fans here to those in Korea and in other parts of the globe.

“The thing i miss the most is spending time with my fans. i’ve known them since 2004. i’m very grateful for their support. What we have is a different kind of friendship,” Sandara said. “i always want to go back to Manila to do a movie. i want it to be a romantic comedy. i’d really do it when schedule permits. i miss the place so much, especially the food. i like sisig, pinakbet and sinigang.”

The member of the K-pop group 2ne1 said she would also like to visit Boracay island in aklan. “i have only been there once, some 10 years ago. i didn’t get to enjoy it because i had to work. There’s so much to see in the Philippines,” she pointed out.

Sandara’s family moved to Manila when she was 10. Prior to returning to Korea in 2007, the 31-year-old star was a Kapamilya talent. She ranked second to grand winner Hero angeles in the reality-based talent search, “Star Circle Quest.”

Sandara was also part of several Kapamilya big-screen projects like “Bcuz of U,” “Can This Be love?,” “’D lucky Ones,” “Super noypi” and television programs, “Krystala” and “Your Song: everything You Do.”

She also said she wished to work with comedian Vice Ganda “kasi pareho kaming krung-krung.”

“ang Pambansang Krung Krung” was her title in the early 2000s because of her crazy but cute and funny antics.

“i also want to be a judge (in a talent contest). i was a contestant in ‘Star Circle Quest’ before, so it would be interesting to be on the other side of the fence. When i become a judge, i’d tell every contestant: ‘You’re in!’”

Sandara recently finished a dramatic film in Korea, titled “One

Step.”“i would also like to do a

Koreanovela. i enjoy romantic comedy projects,” she added.

Her most recent trip to Manila was to promote her latest endorsement, the clothing brand Penshoppe.

During her chat with reporters on april 1, Sandara was asked how she was as a student. The Korean star said: “i’m not very fond of studying, although i know that school is very important. My favorite (time of the day) was recess and lunch. i like joining cheering competitions. i would always sing during the ‘linggo ng Wika’ celebration.”

She then proceeded to performing her favorite, the Regine Velasquez ballad, “Dadalhin,” which she sang a cappella.

became a showbiz princess. Kim right now is at the top of her game, with hit shows, movies, an album and the currently-showing “The Story of Us,” opposite screen partner Xian lim.

“Gusto ko kasi talaga maging princess,” confessed Kim. “Kaya ganoon ang show kasi ang life story ko is like a fairytale ng isang babaeng sa probinsya lang dati, nangarap, tapos ‘eto na.”

it’s definitely a story that deserves to be told, because it is a story of a dreamer and how her dreams came true.

Sandara Park

April 8-14, 20163www.asianjournal.com

Cristine Reyes denies second pregnancyArci Muñoz on dealing with loss,

making music and dreaming of Disney“My greatest fear was to lose

my dad. Now that he’s gone, I’m fearless,” said actress-musician Arci Muñoz, whose father Manuel Ramon Muñoz passed away in February. “In fact, I am now more curious of what life after death is, of where my dad went.”

“There are days when I get depressed. When I’m home, I just go to his room and I pray. There will always be things that will remind me of him. I put my faith in the Lord that my dad is in a happy place now.”

At the launch of Dickies Intimates, which she endorses, Arci told reporters: “Honestly, I’m numb right now. I still have yet to absorb everything that has happened. As a way of coping, I spend as much time with my family.”

Arci said her dad had been very supportive of her career as an actress and as Ramona Thornes, the lead vocalist of rock band Philia. “I hope I was able to make him proud. Now, I dedicate everything to him. That’s why I’m still driven. He’s now my guardian angel.”

OpportunitiesThe 27-year-old actress added:

“I’m thankful for the opportunities that come my way. Work enables me to divert my attention. I said to myself that in order to show my dad how much I appreciated him, I would take care of the people he loved. That would make him

up with Gerald Anderson, was a surprise box-office hit.

“I’m grateful to have had the chance to work with good directors,” said Arci of Dan Villegas (“Always”) and Eric Quizon (“Pasion”). She said an actor’s performance is dependent on how well a director motivates her. “If my directors didn’t pay close attention to my performance, I wouldn’t have been as convincing as I was in those roles.”

She said she was grateful for the break from acting and used it to spend more time with Philia, which she once described as “a grunge-melodic-post hardcore band.”

Arci added: “The kind of music we do is not very popular here in the Philippines. The typical impression of Pinoys is that it’s evil. I just want the audience to try our music, that’s all. I write our songs, along with our guitarist.”

At the same event, Philia performed its original tunes, “Disease” and “Killers,” and did its cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

While she said she was satisfied with how her career was doing, Arci said she has yet to achieve her dream project: “I want to be the voice of a Disney character. I grew up watching Disney classics. If I hear that they’re in need of a voice talent, even for a new character, I’m ready to audition,” she said. (Inquirer.net)

Billy Crawford wins the ‘blessing’ of Coleen Garcia’s dad

BILLy Crawford has one less thing to worry about settling down with Coleen Garcia, after he got the “blessing” of her dad.

“I got the blessing!” he proudly announced in an interview with MJ Felipe aired in “TV Patrol” on Tuesday, April 5. The Kapamilya actor met her dad during their recent vacation in the US.

Coleen sees this as a “good sign” for their

relationship.“My dad is the most strict

person,” she revealed. “No’ng bata pa lang ako sinasbai na niya, ‘you’re not allowed to get married until you’re forty.’”

“The fact that they accept Billy, siyempre maganda ang meaning no’n,” she added.

When asked if this means they’ll settle down soon, Coleen replied, “No need to rush.” (Philstar.com)

happy and more at peace. My mom is still here, and she is also grieving.”

Arci admitted that she considered giving up on show business last year. “I’ve been in the industry for 10 years, that’s a long time. I guess you just have to be patient—don’t give up on your dreams. It’s the journey that’s important. I’ve learned so much. I’m now content with what has happened to my career. I pray hard that good projects will continue to pour in.”

Her drama series, “Pasion de Amor,” aired its finale recently. The screen rom-com, “Always Be My Maybe,” where she teamed

CRISTINE Reyes is not pregnant with her second child with husband Ali Khatibi.

“No, nagulat nga po ako, e, kung saan galing ang tanong na ‘yon,” she replied when asked to clarify the issue in an interview in “Tonight with Boy Abunda” on Tuesday, April 5.

“Siguro mga ano pa, five years puwede,” she added.

The couple has a one-year-old daughter named Amarah.

Another controversy that involved the actress was with her former “Tubig at Langis” co-star Vivian Velez.

The seasoned actress claimed that Cristine had been “rude” to her, a claim that the Kapamilya actress has already denied.

When asked about the lesson

she learned from the incident, Cristine politely declined to answer.

“I guess better to be just quiet,” she said.

Aside from her afternoon series with Zanjoe Marudo and Isabelle Daza, Cristine also stars in the horror film “Elemento. (Joyce Jimenez/Philstar.com)

Enchong Dee steps out of comfort zone for a chance to fulfill dream

ABS-CBN heartthrob Enchong Dee beamed with pride as he talked about his first official indie film “Lila.”

Directed by Gino Santos, the psychological-thriller is one of the five entries at the second Sinag Maynila film festival this month.

Dee said that when he heard the name of the eminent director Brillante Mendoza, he said yes to the project right away.

“I said ‘Okay, game! Whatever the story is, whatever the movie is,” he told reporters at the festival’s media launch on Tuesday, April 5.

Festival director Brillante Mendoza and Solar Entertainment CEO Wilson Tieng are the chief architects of Sinag Maynila which had its inaugural run in March last year.

In “Lila,” Dee plays the cousin of Jess, the troubled main character portrayed by actress Janine Gutierrez from rival TV station GMA.

“Piling-pili ‘yung mga projects ko na gustong gawin..nu’ng una sabi ko duguan ‘to and then I realized na ang ganda ng kwento,” he said.

This, however is not Dee’s first foray into doing a horror film. In 2012, he starred in “The Strangers,” a Metro Manila Film Festival entry.

One of the reasons he accepted to doing “Lila” was because he wants to fulfil one of his dreams as an actor.

“Niloloko ko ‘yung mga production na please naman tuparin n’yo ‘yung pangarap ko na makapag-international film fest. Sana di ba? Lahat naman siguro ng aktor gusto makasali sa film festivals at magbigay ng honor sa Pilipinas.”

He recognized the necessity of having that deep acting repertoire the independent cinema requires.

Arci Muñoz

Billy Crawford got the “blessing” of Coleen Garcia’s dad for their future plans to settle down.

Cristine Reyes denied that she’s pregnant with her second baby with Ali Khatibi

Enchong Dee

“Mas wide ‘yung kailangan mong pag-aralan, ‘yung kailangan mong matutunan; mas wide ‘yung dapat mong i-offer kasi ang laki nu’ng ginagalawan mong storya.”

He also related how fun his experience was because of the youthful work environment. “Not only is the director young but also the production members…mas madali ‘yung paggawa ng pelikula (making the film is easier).”

Dee also praised his co-star Gutierrez. “With Janine, sobrang natutuwa ako sa kanya. I didn’t realize that this is just her first movie, parang ang galing niya for her first (I am pleased with Janine. I didn’t realize this is her first movie. She seems really good for a first-timer).”

“Maganda ‘yung discipline …’yung working attitude niya (Her discipline and working attitude are commendable),” he added. (Inquirer.net)

April 8-14, 2016 4www.asianjournal.com

Luis Manzano keeps his sunny side upby Bot Glorioso

Philstar.com

Despite his breakup with Angel Locsin months ago, Luis Manzano still has the same sunny disposition when the entertainment press recently caught up with him after the grand presscon for the latest ABs-CBN game show “Family Feud” that he will be hosting on weekends beginning April 9.

that’s why some quarters can’t help but surmise that his split-up with Angel for the second time didn’t affect him at all. there were even some who deliberately resorted to bashing the actor-host on social media.

Obviously puzzled by the negative reaction, Luis quipped, “is there a requirement to show that one is affected? Kelangan ba nakikita sa AsAp (the Kapamilya sunday afternoon show) na hindi ako makasalita? O yung nangingilid ang luha, na sa sobrang lungkot ko pataas na yung luha ko? O yung nag-wa-walling ako ng pataas? people looking for good will always find good and people looking for negativity will always find negativity.”

Luis added that he and Angel are friends. “At this point we’re friends, i don‘t want to add color basta magkaibigan kami. Let’s leave it at that.”

But looking back at what happened to his love affair with Angel, Luis admitted that he has learned to live life.

“Life is too short not to be lived and i think that what’s happened with every relationship. ’Yung iniisip ng tao na dapat malungkot ka, hindi eh, mahal ko ang buhay ko. Do i have to crawl when i go to work? No, you have to learn to live life.”

No wonder, Luis is once again tapped to host a game show where he will be interacting with people of varied personalities. “Family Feud” requires Luis to ooze with energy, wit and enthusiasm. His dad, edu Manzano, also hosted the same game show in 2011 which was then aired on the rival network.

Asked who between them is the better host, Luis replied, “i

will always concede that when it comes to hosting, i will forever bow down to my dad as a game show host. even if i won an award, i would never imagine or feel that i am a better host than my dad. Anytime of the day, i will always say that my dad will always be the better host compared to myself.”

Nonetheless, Luis has more than proven his worth in the number of game shows he successfully handled.

“When ‘Family Feud’ was offered to me, i got really excited because, for example, when i did ‘Minute to Win it’ and ‘Deal or No Deal’ parang the approach was very repetitive since there’s one particular formula for both shows. But in ‘Family Feud,’ every answer is different so there’s always a new punchline waiting; mas madaling mangulit. Kumbaga, every answer is a new punchline for me. Do i need to change my personality? i don’t think so because i believe there is something in my personality working (to my advantage).”

Hosting, Luis admitted, has taught him to listen more which is something he never thought is also an important part of being a host when he was just starting in the biz.

“Hosting is not just about talking, real hosting is about listening; it’s about feeling kung ano ang sagot ng kinakausap mo. Siguro yun ang kulang ko when i started from MYX na salita lang ako ng salita at okey na basta masabi mo ang spiels mo. But afterwards you will realize that

hosting is about listening, so you have to learn and it’s a long process.

“i’m still learning and i still have a long way to go. i have observed that when you are a host, your world is becoming bigger because you get to interact with lots of people. For me, dun nabago ang personality ko na to be more considerate and to listen more.”

Not once, Luis shared, did his dad and mom Vilma santos, give tips on hosting and acting.

“i’m very happy that they both trust me in whatever i do, especially in hosting. Oo nga ano bakit nga kaya wala? Baka wala silang pakialam? (laughs). i know if i go out of line, for sure pagsasabihan nila ko. And i’m very fortunate na alam nila kahit papano na kung anuman yung narating ko as a host, i did it through hard work and through the people behind the cameras.”

Does he watch himself on tV?“No. ever since naiilang ako

kasi baka ma-in love ako sa sarili ko (laughs). seriously, even in photo shoots or commercials, the directors would ask me to check on the previews but i always tell them i don’t wanna see anymore. Hindi talaga because up to now, based on how i look, i still don’t believe that i’m doing what i’m doing. that’s why i know that i am not fit for mall shows. Let’s leave that thing to piolo (pascual) na titilian talaga ng tao. Me, i am more comfortable talking to people which i would rather do any day of the week.”

Luis Manzano is tapped to host “Family Feud,” the latest game show on ABS-CBN that is set to premiere on April 9.

Karla Estrada’s concert ‘a dream come true’by AllAn PolicArPio

Inquirer.net

ALtHOugH Karla estrada has been known more as a sexy actress in her younger years, few people know that it was her singing that helped her raise her four children.

“Only a few people knew that. i did gigs in hotels, wherever. i even sang at a wake!” Karla told reporters at a recent press conference for her first solo musical show, “Her Highness: the Queen Mother in Concert,” on April 30.

the 39-year-old Karla described her coming concert “a dream come true.” she was given the moniker “the Queen Mother” by fans, because of her son Daniel padilla who, on the other hand, is considered the “teen King.”

Karla began her career in show biz in 1987 as a member of the Wednesday group of the youth-oriented variety show, “that’s

entertainment.” she admitted that she was initially hesitant at the idea of holding a concert, especially since she has not had a lot of practice, and wasn’t sure if she had the endurance to pull it off.

Her self-confidence, too, she confessed, was at a low point.

But in her moments of self-doubt, it was Daniel who encouraged her to continue chasing her goals. “He knows that i love singing. Daniel once told me, ‘this is what you want, right? You can’t let that go because you love it,’” recalled Karla, who previously joined the reality talent contest, “Your Face sounds Familiar.”

she plans to perform hits by the likes of Adele, Madonna and Debbie gibson in her show. But no, there wouldn’t be any dancing—at least from her end. “Why, do you really want to see that?” quipped Karla, who swims to exercise for her diaphragm. “i want it to be a fun concert.”

the show, mounted by Cornerstone productions, will feature special guests, including Vice ganda and Karla’s “Your Face” family. Whether or not her kids would perform with her remains to be seen.

tom Jones cancels rest of Asian tourAFter canceling his April

2 show at the smart Araneta Coliseum, music legend tom Jones also called off the rest of his scheduled Asian tour this month for the same reason: “serious illness in his immediate family.”

According to the latest statement from Jones’ camp, the 75-year-old singer has also canceled his stops in other Asian cities, including Bangkok, Hong Kong, seoul, tokyo, Osaka and Abu Dhabi.

“He (Jones) extends his deepest apologies to both the organizers and the fans, whom he is most sad to disappoint. there are no further details at this time,” read the first statement issued by Jones’ management, only less than two hours before the show’s scheduled 8 p.m. start.

the news was confirmed to the inquirer by promoter renen de guia of Ovation productions through a text message.

De guia, who was also behind Jones’ canceled 2010 show, said on a Facebook post that he has been getting messages from friends, asking what was the “real story” behind the entire incident. He, however, clarified that the statement forwarded to

his company by Jones’ camp “is what it is.”

A considerable number of people—most of whom the now titos and titas who grew up with Jones’ pop rock music in the 1960s—were already at or near the venue, when the cancellation was announced. And many hoped against hope that the news was merely a belated April Fools’ prank.

“someone in the crowd quipped,” let’s not complain—it’s April Fools’ Day!” related concertgoer and Facebook user Wem Borlagdan, who was in a “long queue” with other people “holding the pricey tickets,” when they were informed about the last-minute cancellation.

some were already seated inside the venue; others arrived to the sight of guards already removing queuing stanchions at the entrances. But despite the disappointment, some were able to make light of the situation: they would be going home “tom Jones”—a slang for hungry—they jested.

the joke was ripe for the picking.

“it’s not unusual,” netizens swiftly jested. After all, it was

not the first time such a thing happened: in 2010, he likewise bailed out of a Manila gig.

the previous instance, Jones cited laryngitis. this time, the unexpected cancellation was prompted by a sick family member—reportedly his wife, Linda.

Jones appeared to have left the country that same night, based on a Facebook photo posted by gMA 7 executive Marivin Arayata, who bumped into the music legend and had a photo taken with him, at Ninoy Aquino international Airport terminal 2. (Inquirer.net)

Tom Jones at NAIA on Saturday, April 2.

Karla Estrada

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT

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April 8-14, 2016 5www.asianjournal.com

Monette

AdevA MAglAyA

ImmigrantLiving: 101 and Beyond

Retooling coping techniques 101I’ve used up all my sick days,so I’m calling in dead. — Graffiti

WE all have known of friends, family and complete strangers who passed away quite unexpectedly over the course of our lifetimes.

There seemed to be no warning signs. All the deep, dark emotions of shock, grief, denial and finally, calming, quiet acceptance must have washed over those left behind like a devastating tsunami wave as they come to grips with the finality of death. No one is exempt. Death does come like a thief in the night. And in many life stories, mercifully so …

They were there one moment, living, breathing, smiling and so full of life. In the blink of an eye, they were gone. And just like that, it was over. It leaves one with a profound sense of mortality – that final end game. We derive comfort in knowing that those we know of and care about may have lived good lives and are now free of all the pain and strains of human bondage. Death, after all, makes it possible to finally come home.

And yet, while we are alive and kicking, most of us who are aware of our own mortality must strive to make the most of our lives. We try to make each day count. We try to live purposeful lives as best we can.

But it is not always easy. It seems we are always at the throes of uncertain times. Can anyone remember a time that was not uncertain?

Most of the things that weigh us down or at the very least, ruffle our feathers, will come from

within us, from our own heads and hearts, as we process the external world from one day to the next. Oftentimes, our bodies simply follow the lead. If we recognize this mind-body-spirit dynamic, perhaps we can retool the coping skills we need to adapt to tough, troubling times and still come out whole.

The mind-body-spirit connection is real. How often have we heard of this about stress? It is not what we eat but what is eating us. Stress is a silent killer. It is not unusual to read or hear about people in the prime of life— sixty, fifty, forty and even thirty year old men and women who drop down dead without warning because of strokes or massive brain aneurysms—the body’s reaction to unrelenting stress that typically characterize modern life.

There are increasing numbers of horrific news accounts of ordinary people who felt they have reached the end of their ropes. Driven by severe depression and complicated by addictive drug intake, many end up killing themselves. Sadly, there are increasing numbers who murder their families in one fell swoop before killing themselves. Whatever the circumstance, murder is never the answer.

There are a few simple stress-busting techniques we can adapt and perhaps, give us a few more good years out of life.

Become a presentist. Learn to focus on the present to savor the joy of the moment. Regretting the past and worrying about the future only increases stress. For as long as we are alive, stress is like a

chisel that is meant to shape our characters as real human beings. The most adjusted people have learned to deal with their own stresses.

When life becomes too stressful, find a quiet place to pray and meditate. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was stressed too and He would always find a place to be by himself and pray, specially when he has ministered to the crowds, teaching them, healing them and feeding them by the thousands. He would slip away and pray with a few of his apostles. As a God-man, he needed to recharge his internal batteries with prayer and meditation. And so should we.

The best times are in the early morning hours when no one is stirring—not even the mouse. Hie off to a quiet corner and get your bearings straight for the day. Listen to the silence as it quiets your mind. Imagine your mind as a blank computer screen with your stresses in teeny tiny bundles which you then drag and drop into a mental trash bin and emptying it out into the netherworld of cyberspace. Poof — all gone! It is astonishing what this quiet half hour can do for us in the quality of our physical and spiritual life each day.

Take a break in the middle of a workday. Eat a light, balanced lunch — without hurrying, preferably with good company you enjoy. Slow down deliberately. Find the humor in situations and laugh often. Laughter and exercise produce endorphins in our brain that make us happy and healthy.

Powerful lessons from China’s richest man

Prof. EnriquE Soriano

Kite Runner

(Part 1 of 2)LAST week was a relatively

tough but gratifying week for my family as we were practically living in a suitcase for 6 nights while traversing Osaka, Manila and Hong kong. My Family Business coaching work in Japan and a speaking engagement in Hong Kong to celebrate Julie’s Bakeshop’s 35th Anniversary were the highlights of the twin overseas trips. While in Hong kong which is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, I decided to research on the success lessons of Wang Jianlin, China’s newly minted Richest Billionaire with a fortune of $40.7 Billion. Wang is almost 4X richer than our local taipan, mall king Henry Sy.

In a Business Insider report, Wang Jianlin, a former People’s Liberation Army soldier who is now a real estate mogul and the world’s largest cinema chain operator, is the richest person in China and he’s caught in a riches race with Hong Kong business magnate Li-KaShing to become the wealthiest man in Asia.

Wang, born in Sichuan Province in 1954 just after the Communist revolution, spent the first few decades of his life in anything but luxury. In 1970, Wang entered the military, where he remained until 1986 when he took a city government job in the city of Dalian in Liaoning Province. Wang became chairman of Wanda in 1989 at age 35.

His fortune more than doubled following successful public offerings of his real estate firm Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties, which has 125 shopping plazas and 68 five-star hotels, and Wanda Cinema Line, one of China’s largest movie theatre chains.

According to a Forbes Magazine report, Wang bought 20 percent of Spanish soccer team Atletico Madrid and purchased the US organizer of Ironman Triathlons for $650 million. Wang’s Dalian Wanda Group purchased US movie theatre chain AMC Entertainment Holdings for $2.6 billion in 2012 and took it public in December 2013.

His Wanda Group teamed up with the Auchan Group to invest 3 billion euros, or $3.3 billion, in a business and entertainment center

in Paris. The project will be the largest ever in France by a China company, and will include an indoor and outdoor theme park, stage show, hotels, and business and conference centers.

The French investment is part of an aggressive push by 60-year-old Wang to move Wanda beyond its roots in China’s real estate business. The company has in recent years expanded into entertainment, particularly film and sports, and committed billions of dollars to overseas investments. The project in France will be located next to the Charles de Gaulle Airport, about 10 kilometers from downtown Paris. Some 14,000 jobs will be created once the facility begins operation.

Wang’s recent book, a compilation of public speeches entitled “The Wanda Way,” claims to give an inside look into his managerial philosophy and the values that turned his company into a giant conglomerate with big global ambitions.

Here are some nuggets of advice from Wang as detailed by Sophia Yan in a CNN report:

1. Get tough in the armyWang joined the Chinese

military as a teenager in 1970. His gruelling training involved epic marches that took the soldiers through “knee-deep stretches of snow.” He recalls, “We were deprived of everything. In the snow, we had to dig our own hole to spend the night. Anyone who faltered could forget about being chosen to move up that year, or earning your Exemplary Fighter

award.” This experience built his “teeth-gritting spirit and a desire to fight until the end,” he says.

Wang suggests there’s a direct relationship between a military background and success, pointing out that many top Chinese entrepreneurs previously served in the military.

2. Differentiate and innovate, like Starbucks

“The first key is to understand how you can differentiate yourself from others and be innovative,” Wang said. “For instance, everyone knows how to sell coffee, but Starbucks redesigned the coffee-making process, innovated the business model and became a successful chain business.”

Wang disputes the idea that only high-tech companies can lead the way forward -- “No matter whether you are in a traditional or an emerging industry, as long as you’re capable of innovating the existing business model, you can reap super profits.”

(To be continued next week)* * *

Prof. Soriano is an ASEAN Family Business Advisor, Book Author, Executive Director of ASEAN-based Consulting group, Wong + Bernstein Advisory and former Chair of the Marketing Cluster of the ATENEO Graduate School of Business. He is back in Manila after a 2 week coaching work and book launch in the US where he shared his second book “Ensuring Your Family Business Legacy” to Asian and American Family Business owners. Get Prof Soriano’s book by calling Marianne at +639255224713 or email her at mrevilla@wongadvisory.com. Prof Soriano’s business articles can also be accessed at www.Faminbusiness.com.

Continued on Page 7

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Prisoners of War Day at the Filipino Veterans Education CenterAll WWII veterans and families, please join us as we commemorate the historic 74than-

niversary of Prisoners of War Day and the Fall of Bataan, the Day of Valor, on Saturday, April 9th. In the spirit of reconciliation, friendship and international cooperation, let us leave the past behind us as we move forward with joined hands to attain peace for all mankind. The formal Commemoration and remembrance ceremony will start at 2:00pm in the Filipino Veterans Education Center, at the War Memorial Performing Arts Veterans Building (401 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA 94102). This event is open to the public. Please RSVP RudyAsercion@gmail.com; naffaasf@gmail.com. Tel: 415 564 6262.

APRIL 9

Pilgrimages to Eastern Europe, Mexico and IndiaAmazing Pilgrimages for the Jubilee Year of Mercy! All are welcome to join Fr. Joe

Joseph of Holy Trinity Church for the spiritual and fun-filled experiences of EASTERN EU-ROPE (April 17- 30): Poland, Czech., Austria, Hungary, Medjugorje; COLONIAL MEXICO/OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (June 20 - 27): Mexico City, Theotihuacan, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Ocotlan, Xochimilco, Guanajuato, San Miguel De Allende, Guadalajara, San Juan De Los Lagos, Cristo Rey, Zapopan, Tonala; and INDIA (September 15 - 29): Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kerala. For more pilgrimage information and detailed flyers, please contact Berna-dette at bcorp1114@hotmail.com OR call 323-344-1548 & 323-547-6618.

APRIL — SEPTEMBER

PUP/PCC to hold 1st Global ReunionAttention all graduates of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Philip-

pine College of Commerce: join us in our FIRST GLOBAL REUNION being organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association, USA Inc. scheduled on May 27-29, 2016 (Memorial Day Weekend) at the New Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. We promise a weekend of fun-filled activities, of friendship and camaraderie as we reminisce our best memories during our high school and college days. There will be lots of entertain-ment, singing and dancing and photo opportunities with your classmates and friends.

For more information, please contact any of the following: Loi Herrera at 562-544-8210 orloiherrera@yahoo.com; Monette Santillan-Rivera at 818-970-8317 orMonette_san-tillan@yahoo.com; Rose Mejia at 323-997-3838 or Rosemariemejia@kw.com; Marissa Sugay-Palanca at 818-281-7460 or marispalanca@yahoo.com; Rose Maghari at661-794-8906 or rmaghari@gmail.com; Sally Mendoza at 323-695-0235 or sally.mendoza616@yahoo.com; Honeylette De Leon at 562-480-5743 orhoney@worldclassfreight.com; Virginia Herbito at virginiaherbito@gmail.com; Connie Acosta at 323-854-5303 or connieacosta1@att.net; Violeta D. Cristobal at 310-880-5808 orvee@cristobalcpa.com; Jun Mapoy at 323-627-5326 or jcmapoy@yahoo.com.

MAY 27-29

Missionary Society of St. Columban Dinner-DanceThe Missionary Society of St. Columban will hold its annual dinner dance event on June

4th, 6PM, at the Friendship Auditorium (3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90941). Organized by the Dancing for the World, an affiliate of the Columbans, will celebrate the “Year of Mercy” to echo and emphatically support the call of Pope Francis’s Jubilee Year. This year is very important to be responsive to the call of the church and be faithful to the mission of God because God is by nature merciful. Thanks to the many dedicated mis-sionaries, priests, sisters and lay missionaries who responded to the call of God and live among the poor to make a difference and allow God’s mercy to flow into the hearts of those they minister. For more information, please visit www.columban.org. The Dancing for the World event on June 4 is also an opportunity to meet supporters, donors and friends to thank them for their valuable contribution to the Columban mission. Event will include delicious food, ballroom dancing, and fabulous raffle prizes. (For this year, the first prize will be a cruise for two to Mexican Riviera. The second prize is a Flat screen TV. The third prize is a Tablet.) There are many amazing prizes available for all lucky winners. The dinner dance ticket is $40.Reserve your tickets now or before May 15. For information and tickets please contact Carmencita Enriquez (213) 880-5075 or Ariel Presbitero (323) 691-5262, or at: 2919 Moss Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Thank you in advance on behalf of the Missionary Society of St. Columban and the Dancing for the World committee members. Please continue praying for all Columban Missionaries all over the world and the success of this event.

JUNE 4

Chino Hills Multicultural FestivalInspired by last year’s successful celebration of the community’s diversity, the Rotary

Club of Greater Chino Hills Foundation will host its second Multicultural Festival on Satur-day, April 23, from 3 to 9 pm, at the Chino Hills Community Center (14250 Peyton Drive, Chino Hills, CA 91709). Admission is free. There will be food booths, live entertainment, music, dance and performances by an array of participants. Sponsorship and advertisement packages are available for non-profit organizations to fundraise, and for businesses inter-ested in market their products and services. For more information, contact rotary.chino-hills@gmail.com or visit www.chinohillsrotaryclub.org. Contact: Ted Alvarez (909) 456-0359, tedalvarez@verizon.net; Tessie Lightholder (909) 576-4152,tessielightholder@gmail.com, or Ginny Mondonedo (951) 212-4624, vmondonedo55@gmail.com.

APRIL 23

COSC celebrates 27th Anniversary The Candonians of Southern California (COSC), under the leadership of their newly

elected president, Mrs. Elizabeth Gacula Singh, will celebrate their 27th Anniversary on April 30 at the Doubletree Hotel-Monrovia (924 W. Huntington Dr., Monrovia). Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For questions and those interested, please email thecandoniansofsocal@gmail.com.

APRIL 30

Piyesta Pinoy BolingbrookPlease join us on Saturday, June 11 for the 3rd Philippine Fest Celebration (Piyesta

Pinoy sa Bolingbrook) at the beautiful Bolingbrook Performing Arts Center (375 W. Bri-arcliff Rd. Bolingbrook, IL). This year’s event will include a variety of food vendors, business, merchandise, and non-profit organizations, as well as hours of dance, games, and musical entertainment, including special guest performances. The Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF) is proud to promote and share our rich Filipino cultural heritage and traditions in America. Your participation and support are always valuable and critical to the survival of PACF and its programs. For more information, or to volunteer, perform, exhibit, or donate, please visit www.piyestapinoy.net.

JUNE 1 1

Wang Jianlin, China’s newly minted Richest Billionaire with a fortune of $40.7 billion

April 8-14, 2016 6www.asianjournal.com

Edison International congratulates 30 Edison scholars, recipients of $1.2 million in scholarships

Mega Workshop and Citizenship Fair in Long Beach on April 10

BOOK AUTHOR WITH IMELDA. Emmanuel “Jolly” Riofrir, author of the coffee table book “Imelda: Unpublished Photographs of the Former First Lady of the Philippines,” presents a copy of the book to the book’s subject, former Firat Lady now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos, during a visit at her Makati apartment on March 8. For inquiries or to purchase the book, please call Emmalie Books Inc. at (818) 383-9081 or visit its website at www.emmaliebooksinc.com.

AsiAn Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles will be holding a Mega Citizenship Workshop on sunday, April 10 at the Long Beach Convention Center, 300 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90802.

Those who are eligible for citizenship will be get help on application and fee waiver assistance.

There will be a Citizenship Workshop (by appointment only) from 9am to 3pm, UsCis info session (open to public) from

11am to 2:30pm, and Resource Fair and entertainment (open to public) from 10am to 5pm.

interested parties must bring the following:

Documents• Your permanent resident card

(green card)• state identification or Driver’s

License• if applying for fee waiver,

please bring a verification of benefits letter

information

• Addresses, work and schooling (last 5 years)

• All trips outside of the Us (last 5 years); and current and expired passports

serving up to 1,000 applicants! Registration is required. Please call: 888-839-8682 or 855-300-2552 (Tagalog).

For more information call 888-349-9695 or visit http://advancingjustice-la.org/get-involved/events/mega-workshop-citizenship-fair-long-beach.

CSUF celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

CAL state Fullerton is celebrating Asian American and Pacific islander Heritage Month under the theme of “navigating identity. standing in solidarity. Promoting Visibility.”

The monthlong festivities include a wide range of programs, including poetry readings, an exhibit in the Pollak Library, film screenings and events focusing on different Asian cultures. All are open to the public, free of charge.

Among the events:• “Gold of Rice Blend With

Bombs: Expressions of War and Peace,” an exhibit opening April 6

and continuing through April 27 on the second floor of the Pollak Library.

• Asian American and Pacific islander President’s Reception, featuring Raja G. Bhattar, director of UCLA’s LGBT Campus Resource Center, from 5:30-7pm Thursday, April 7, at the Fullerton Marriott.

• “The Vietnam War and Militarized Refuge(es): The Production of Memories of the ‘Generation After’” a lecture at 4pm Tuesday, April 12, in Room 252 of University Hall.

• screening of “A Place in the Middle” at 4pm Wednesday, April

20, in Room 210B of University Hall. • Korean-American Poet

Hannah sanghee Park is featured at 11am Thursday, April 21, in the Rotary Club of Fullerton Room 130 of the Pollak Library.

The full schedule of events, including the culimating event — a May 3 community gathering fro 5-7pm in the Titan student Union — can be found http://www.fullerton.edu/aparc/heritagemonth/APi%20Heritage%20Month%20Calendar%203.15.16.pdf. More information is available from the Asian Pacific American Resource Center at (657) 278-3742.

Duarte, Bradbury honor the environment, April 23 during joint ‘Earth Day’ volunteer project

DUARTE—Duarte and Bradbury will honor the Earth with a variety of joint community volunteer projects starting at 9:00 am on saturday, April 23rd at the Duarte Teen Center. This year’s Earth Day celebration, sponsored by Burrtec Waste industries and the Volunteer Center of the san Gabriel Valley will include the planting of drought tolerant plants at both Duarte City Hall and the Teen Center, cleaning the Royal Oaks Trail, Duarte Park and retail parking lots along Huntington Drive.

some 70 volunteers including

50 teens from the Duarte Area Resource Team (D.A.R.T), Cardinals Helping Youth Live Life (CHYLL), are expected to participate in the day’s activities along with staff from Duarte and Bradbury. A continental breakfast and guest speaker will kick off Earth Day activities at 9:00 am. Mayors of both City’s will also be on hand to officially welcome and thank the volunteers. The day will conclude with lunch, and participation in both an art and craft activities including tie-dying their “Earth Day” t-shirts!

For more information, or to

volunteer, call Duarte City Hall, (626) 357-7931, ext. 221.

The City of DuarteThe City of Duarte was

incorporated on August 22, 1957. With integrity and transparency, the City provides exemplary public services in a caring and fiscally responsible manner with a commitment to our community’s future. For more information visit www.accessduarte.com or call (626) 357-7931. Follow the City of Duarte on Facebook at facebook.com/duartecommunity; Twitter @CityofDuarte; instagram @city_of_duarte and Linkedin.

ROsEMEAD—Edison international, the parent company of southern California Edison, congratulates 30 high school seniors who have been named 2016 Edison scholars, each winning a $40,000 scholarship.

students will learn of their scholarship award April 11-15 when sCE staffers make notifications that will include surprise visits to some schools.

“Congratulations to these deserving Edison scholars,” said Janet Clayton, senior vice president of Corporate Communications for Edison international and sCE. “Their academic excellence has earned each of them a $40,000 scholarship. We wish them continued success as they pursue studies in science, technology,

engineering or math.”Each year, the $1.2 million

Edison scholars Program awards $40,000 scholarships paid over four years to 30 high school seniors who want to become engineers — electrical, mechanical, civil, computer, industrial, computer sciences/info system, environmental or environmental sciences — and plan to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering or math, the sTEM fields, full time at a four-year college or university.

since 2006, Edison international has awarded $5.3 million in scholarships to 520 students in its service territory.

Edison scholars are also eligible to apply for summer internships at sCE after completing their second year of

college.Edison international’s support

of charitable causes such as the Edison scholars Program is funded entirely by Edison international shareholders. sCE customers’ utility bill payments do not fund company donations. in addition, dependents of Edison international and sCE employees are not eligible for the Edison scholars Program.

About Edison internationalEdison international, through

its subsidiaries, is a generator and distributor of electric power and an investor in energy services and technologies, including renewable energy. Headquartered in Rosemead, Calif., Edison international is the parent company of southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities.

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Retooling coping techniques 101Once in a while, try taking a nap during lunch breaks instead of eating. Machines need to power down. And so do we. Downtime is just as important in recharging one’s batteries. Hold your calls. Carpe diem!

Be ready to admit it when you need help. At the root of the most serious problems is foolish, foolish pride — hubristic pride, being the worst of them all. The fallen angels had this kind of pride. The ego will prevent us from asking for help — effectively dragging us to a whirlpool of denial until stresses and problems have us on a stranglehold. It takes courage and humility to finally admit that we need help.

When we get down on our knees and humbly ask for the grace and the strength to finally snap out of it, seek help as soon as possible. It can be our spouse, a friend, a professional or someone we can trust to help us sort out our problems and support us in doing something constructive about them.

Deep emotional or psychological problems are the worst burdens for they can weigh us down and seriously threaten our entire wellbeing and also

affect the lives of those whom we care about. Unload the burden of a heavy heart. Allow time to mend and heal a broken heart or it will bury us six feet deep.

Know thyself. Gauge what we can and cannot do, both in our personal and professional life. Do not set unrealistic pie in the sky goals. We can choke ourselves to death when we bite more than we can chew. Resist overextending ourselves. The mortgage crisis is caused by millions of borrowers overextending themselves and the financial titans allowing such foolishness to go unchecked.

Each human being is created for a specific purpose in life. He who finds his purpose early enough and fulfills it saves himself from unnecessary and unwanted frustrations and crushing disappointments.

Filter the messages that bombard us daily. The constant barrage of messages and suggestions from songs, news, features and advertisements from the media and the internet is designed to make us feel inadequate so that each one of us as a consumer will buy a product or service.

We can listen, if we have to,

but we must always think for ourselves. Give no one the power to even suggest we are unworthy or inadequate as human beings who need to buy something in order to feel whole. Media and the internet serve a purpose—for good or ill. Together, they are a potent force and we will all do well to keep it at bay. Use self-editing filters, because media agenda-driven messages have the most awesome power to influence thought, feelings, self-image and behavior. There is always the MUTE OR OFF button. We are still the BOSS.

Knowing what we can do within our own set of circumstances will save us a lot of angst from wanting to do that which is beyond our capacities.

When we begin to relax and REFUSE to be driven by the ego, it is uncanny how life permits us to naturally flow into that glowingly wonderful state of peace and contentment, where our abilities fit with WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND more importantly, WHAT WE HOPE TO BE, like a hand in glove.

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

From Page 5

Vice Ganda shares details of 40th birthday party

VICE Ganda was welcomed back in Manila by his friends with an intimate birthday celebration.

The Kapamilya comedian celebrated his 40th birthday last March 31, but he was in the US for a family vacation.

A grand entrance was even prepared for him, where he walked on red carpet.

On Tuesday, April 5, some of his showbiz and non-showbiz friends gathered to celebrate with him. Some celebrities present was his best friend Coco Martin, Angeline Quinto, and “It’s Showtime” co-hosts Karylle, Mariel Padilla, Vhong Navarro, Ryan Bang and Karla Estrada.

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

Vice Ganda celebrated his 40th birthday with his friends after his recent family vacation in US.

Wynwyn Marquez confirms dating Mark HerrasAFTER months of speculations,

Wynwyn Marquez finally confirmed that she’s dating Mark Herras.

“Yes, I’m dating. I’m dating Mark,” she confirmed in an interview in “Tunay na Buhay” aired on Wednesday, April 6.

Although she clarified: “Hindi pa [kami], pero I think it’s more than that already. I mean, I won’t date someone if papaasahin mo lang din naman.”

“Although we’re taking it slow, we’re enjoying each other’s company. It sounds showbiz but it’s true,” she added.

The Kapuso actress said the actor has been courting her for a year now, after turning him down three times.

For the five years they’ve known each other, she said she finds Mark “more mature.”

Wynwyn Marquez confirmed that she’s dating Mark Herras, but denied that they’re already an item. Instagram photo by Wynwyn Marquez

“Now he has a daughter and I think ‘yong daughter niya nagbigay ng parang batok sa kanya na

‘you have to change.’ Kasi may responsibilidad na siya,” Wynwyn said. (Philstar.com)

Meet the newest Sang’gres of ‘Encantadia’by Joyce Jimenez

Philstar.com

THE long wait is over for the “Encantadia” fans as the newest Sang’gres have been revealed.

On Monday, April 4, Glaiza de Castro, Kylie Padilla, Gabbi Garcia and Sanya Lopez were named as the newest stars in the remake of GMA’s 2005 popular fantasy-series.

Glaiza de Castro will play the role of Pirena, which was portrayed before by Sunshine Dizon.

Kylie Padilla is Amihan, a role played by Iza Calzado.

Gabbi Garcia is Alena, which was portrayed before by Karylle.

Sanya Lopez is Danaya, the role played by Diana Zubiri.

It has been announced before that Marian Rivera will portray

the role of Ynang Reyna.Also part of the cast are

Solenn Heussaff, John Arcilla, Rocco Nacino, Christian Bautista, Pancho Magno, Carlo Gonzales, Buboy Villar, Kate Valdez, Mikee Quintos, Migo Adecer, Klea Pineda, Rochelle Pangilinan, Vaness del Moral and Ruru Madrid.

The series is directed by Mark Reyes and will air soon in GMA.

Sanya Lopez, Gabbi Garcia, Kylie Padilla and Glaiza de Castro are the new Sang’gres in the remake of the 2005 popular fantasy-series “Encantadia.”

April 8-14, 2016 8www.asianjournal.com