133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858 • 449 Hoboken Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07306 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858 Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 8 – Issue 49 • 16 Pages

We’ve got you covered from Hollywood to Broadway... and Online!

sePtember 4-10, 2015

DATELINEUSAfrom the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Los ANGeLes - In high school, Jaime Ballesteros didn’t think he would be able to attend college be-cause of his undocumented status.

originally from Bacolod City, Philippines, Balleste-ros was 11 years old when his family moved to Jersey City, New Jersey after his father obtained a tempo-rary work visa for an accounting job.

however, when the recession hit, Ballesteros’s fa-ther lost his job and the visa.

“overnight my family became undocumented,” Ballesteros shared. “I never really knew how to deal with it until I opened up to my teacher during the junior year of high school.”

he kept his undocumented status a secret at first, but eventually confided in his english teacher, ms. solberg, who helped him research colleges that could offer merit scholarships for undocumented students. Ballesteros went on to Drew University, a liberal arts college in New Jersey that granted him a

Filipino teacher honoredby White House, LA City Hall

by Christina M. Oriel/AJPress

Filipino teacher Jaime Ballesteros receives a recognition from the City of Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 26. AJPress photo by Ding Carreron

POST OFFICE. Liza Macaranas of the parcel section chief at the Manila Post Office starts her day by organizing stacks of boxes sent in by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from all around the world. President Benigno Aquino III recently intervened in the controversial customs inspections of Balikbayan Boxes, even as some OFW rights organizations declared a “Zero Remittance Day” on Friday, Aug. 28. ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

mANILA—the government is losing about P3 billion to P5 billion a year from smuggling using balik-

bayan boxes, although the Bureau of Customs (BoC) has only made 38 such seizures over the past six years, valued at P12.3 million.

Customs commissioner Alberto Lina told the senate committee hearing a tighter inspection of ba-

likbayan boxes should have been implemented to prevent further rev-enue loss for the government.

Lina reluctantly apologized be-fore the senate over the brouhaha caused by the planned opening and inspection of balikbayan boxes in

an effort to curb smuggling.senate President Pro-tempore

ralph recto expressed concern over the planned increase of charg-es for a container of balikbayan boxes from P80,000 to P120,000,

Lina: PH gov’t losing up to P5-Bthrough balikbayan box smuggling

by Prinz Magtulis and

Christina MendezPhilstar.com

the Bureau of Customs (BoC) should change its policies to make them more “filipino friendly” because the agency is indirectly violat-ing laws that grant incentives to overseas filipino workers (ofWs) and athletes with its onerous duties and imprac-tical rules, sen. ferdinand marcos Jr. said .

“If the law grants certain privileges or incentives to our ofWs and athletes, the bu-reaucratic procedures must lean toward making it easy for

Marcos: BOC should change its policies

by JeffersOn antiPOrdaManilaTimes.net

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

PAGE A2

PAGE A3

foLLoWING the death of another filipino journalist on thursday, Aug. 28, the Com-mittee to Protect Journalists called on Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on tuesday, sept. 1, to work toward elimi-nating attacks against press in the country.

radio broadcaster Cosme maestrado, 46, the most recent victim, was shot to death by four unidentified gunman, according to The Guardian. on Aug. 19, teodoro escanilla, a radio an-chor for dzms, was shot in front

of his house; on Aug. 18, news-paper columnist and publisher Gregorio Ybanez was shot dead in front of his home, the Associ-ated Press reported.

“We call on President Be-nigno Aquino to give top pri-ority to swiftly resolving these egregious cases,” said shawn Crispin, the senior southeast Asia representative of the Committee to Protect Jour-nalists, according to the As-sociated Press. “Until Aquino demonstrates his government is serious about ending the on-slaught, the killings will inevi-tably continue.”

maestrado, an anchor at ra-dio station dxoC, escaped a previous attack in November 2011, his colleagues told The Guardian. he was known for his commentary on the abuse of power and local corruption. the publication reported that maestrado was shot 10 times.

“he was a good man, kind-hearted and helped many people. his cry is for change,” radio station manager reme-gio Bonustro said, according to the Associated Press.

escanilla, according to the news agency, was a spokesman

NY-based press group calls forprotection of Philippine journalists

by agnes COnstanteAJPress

PAGE A2

ALIAmANU, hawaii – A filipino immigrant was arrested on suspi-cion of killing his wife by stabbing her sev-eral times during an argument August 17.

Police arrested Pab-lo fiesta Jr., 46, who was charged with sec-ond-degree murder in the death of his wife, Cecilia fiesta, 43, in their home at 1017 Puolo Drive.

their 10-year-old daughter saw her fa-ther stab her mother in their living room about six times in the back and torso, according to a police report filed in honolulu District Court.

Cecilia fiesta was taken to a hospital where she was pro-nounced dead. Pablo

fiesta gave himself up to police a day after the stabbing. he was detained at oahu Community Correctional Center in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Cecilia fiesta reportedly held two jobs to bring her husband and a 17-year-old daugh-ter to hawaii from the Philippines about a year ago. (inquirer.net)

Filipino immigrantin Hawaii arrested for fatally stabbing wife

The victim, Cecilia Fiesta, reportedly worked two jobs so she could send for her husband and child from the Philippines last year.

Los ANGeLes is another step closer toward the bid for the 2024 olympics, following the city council’s approval on tuesday, sept. 1.

Last week, a city council subcommittee fo-cused on the olympics approved recommenda-tions city analysts made on the contract, before sending it to the full council for a vote.

In a 15-0 vote on tuesday, mayor eric Gar-cetti now has the authority to pursue the bid with the Us olympic Committee (UsoC). the council added that it wants to be included in the process for the next two years and vote on the final bid agreement that will be presented to the International olympic Committee (IoC).

the UsoC also confirmed at a press confer-ence on santa monica Beach that LA will be its candidate to the IoC.

“this is a great day for Los Angeles and a great day for the olympic movement,” Garcetti said at the press conference.

Boston was a leading contender for the 2024 olympics; however, in July the city dropped out due to the lack of public support and questions about taxpayer spending. the UsoC said poll-

Stabbing suspect, Pablo Fiesta.

City Council approves LA’s bid for 2024 Olympics

PAGE A2

PAGE A2

DOJ to summon INC leaders

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the complaints filed by Isaias Samson Jr. and his family and by Lito Fruto “will go through the regular process.”

by edu Punay Philstar.com

mANILA—the Department of Justice (DoJ) will summon lead-ers of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) for a preliminary investigation into criminal charges—including serious illegal detention—filed against them by expelled mem-bers of the religious sect.

Justice secretary Leila de Lima vowed fairness in the conduct of the preliminary investigation, wherein the eight respondents are expected to file counter-affi-davits “as part of the process.”

Aside from serious illegal detention—a non-bailable of-

PAGE A3

Filipina receives Magsaysay Award for workto preserve ethnic dance found in Southern PH

by agnes COnstanteAJPress

A fILIPINA choreogra-pher and dance historian was honored monday, Aug. 31, for “her single-minded crusade in pre-serving the endangered artistic heritage of the southern Philippines.”

Ligaya fernando-Amil-bangsa, 71, was among five recipients of the ra-mon magsaysay Award, Asia’s version of the No-bel Prize, for document-

PAGE A5

ROLE MODELS. President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with the 2015 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees (L-R) Kommaly Chanthavong from Laos, Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa from the Philippines, Anshu Gupta and Sanjiv Charturved from India, and Kyaw Thu from Myanmar for a group photo during the presentation ceremonies at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City on Monday, Aug. 31. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia’s highest honor and is widely regarded as the region’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Malacañang photo by Benhur Arcayan

september 4-10, 2015 • NeW YOrK AND NeW JerseY AsIAN JOUrNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426A�

From the Front Page

Lina: PH gov’t losing up...

Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina listens during the Senate inquiry on the planned inspection of balikbayan boxes on Thursday, Sept. 3. Philstar.com photo by Kriz John Rosales

and even up to P180,000 this October.

“This will be passed on to senders of these boxes. If this second round of increases will materialize, the additional charge per box will be P150,” Recto said.

In short, the two increases will

PAGE A1 force overseas Filipinos to pay an additional P250 per box.

Senate ways and means com-mittee chairman Sen. Juan Ed-gardo Angara said he hopes to clarify the tax exemptions and additional charges as the Senate continues to work on improving the proposed Customs Modern-ization Tariff Act (CMTA).

Figures obtained by The STAR showed 38 confiscations of ba-likbayan boxes by the BOC in the Ports of Cebu and Manila, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Manila Interna-tional Container Port (MICP), the country’s largest.

From 2009 to 2012, 20 sei-zures of shipments costing P12.3 million have been record-ed. Most of the shipments were declared to contain “personal ef-fects” or items not for sale, only to be found otherwise.

The rest of the shipments were recorded from January to June this year, although no amount has been specified for them. Most of the items were shipped

them to enjoy such privileges. Oth-erwise, it is no longer a privilege but a burden,” Marcos pointed out.

The senator issued the state-ment in wake of reports that the BOC imposed a tax of almost P6,000 on the championship belt of mixed martial arts winner Ju-jeath Nagaowa despite the law exempting medals, awards and similar recognition from import duties.

The BOC was also flayed for its plan to manually scrutinize Ba-likbayan boxes as part of its anti-smuggling campaign.

President Benigno Aquino III had to step in and stopped the implementation of the plan.

“The government should learn from the experience in the balik-bayan box brouhaha. It must show its sincerity in its appreciation of the invaluable contributions of our Filipino compatriots who are

Marcos: BOC should...of human rights group Karapa-tan in the province of Sorsogon and was critical of alleged mili-tary abuses.

The Associated Press further reported that Ybanez was a board member of an electric coop-erative in Davao, and police are delving into whether a disagree-ment among board members of the cooperative could have been a reason behind the killing.

In 2015 alone, six journalists have been killed in the Philip-pines, and 32 since Aquino as-sumed the presidency in 2010, according to a Philippine Cen-ter for Investigative Journalism report.

If the three most recent inci-dents are determined to have been work-related murders, the number of journalists killed in the Philippines since 1986 will be at 150, according to Philip-pine media watchdog Center

NY-based press group calls...PAGE A1 either working abroad or compet-

ing for the glory of our country,” Marcos said.

Senator Cynthia Villar said the BOC should change its priorities and focus on bigger issues, par-ticularly the rampant smuggling of agricultural products into the country.

Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, slammed Customs chief Alberto Lina for his “misplaced” priorities. She said Lina should go after big smuggling syndicates, not OFWs.

“They claimed that the govern-ment is losing P50 million a year from balikbayan boxes, which is small compared to the P200 billion a year lost from smuggling of agri-cultural products,” Villar noted.

She said failure of the Depart-ment of Justice to file charges against suspected smugglers is one of the reasons why smuggling continues to thrive.

PAGE A1 for Media Freedom and Re-sponsibility.

“The murder of three jour-nalists in two weeks shows how the lack of progress in ending impunity has emboldened those bent on silencing the press in the Philippines,” Crispin said, according to The Guardian.

Presidential spokesman Her-minio Coloma has criticized the attacks and told reporters that police have been instructed to search for the killers.

The Philippine National Po-lice Director General Ricardo Marquez, according to the As-sociated Press, said police have created separate special in-vestigation groups to look into each of the attacks.

The Philippines is ranked the third most deadly country for journalists around the world by the Committee to Protect Journalists, following Iraq and Syria. n

ing data shows that over 80 per-cent of LA’s residents are in sup-port of hosting the Olympics.

An initial proposal for 2024 — released by Garcetti and sports executive Casey Wasserman — has a $4.1 billion budget, in addition to $150 million in insur-ance premiums and $400 million for cost overruns, the Los Angeles Times reported.

City Council approves LA’s bid...PAGE A1

and a $500 million investment from the University of Southern California, according to the Asso-ciated Press.

Various events would be held throughout the city: gymnastics and basketball at the Staples Cen-ter, volleyball on Santa Monica Beach, road cyclists and mara-thon runners on Hollywood Bou-levard and mountain bike racing in Griffith Park.

An Olympic Village “centrally located along the revitalized LA River to reduce travel times and

provide a place to rest and pre-pare” for athletes is also included in the plan.

City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana and Chief Legisla-tive Analyst Sharon Tso cautioned that acquiring and developing the site may “significantly exceed” the $1 billion budget.

The costs incurred by a host city and whether it benefits have been subjects of debate. Sochi, Russia, which hosted the Winter Olympics in 2014, cost $51 bil-

“In Los Angeles, the spotlight is always on. We have the re-sources, experience and secure environment to share the biggest events with the world,” the pro-posal states.

The proposal further outlines renovation projects for existing venues, including the Los Ange-les Memorial Coliseum (which estimates $800 million for seating upgrades and premium amenities)

of which are believed to be packed with smuggled goods and drugs.

The policy has since been shelved upon orders of President Aquino, prompting Customs to issue a revised memorandum placing all balikbayan boxes un-der X-ray examination.

Only when an “alert order” has been issued will there be a physical check of the boxes in the presence of a representative from the Overseas Workers Wel-fare Administration.

During the Senate hearing, Lina was forced to apologize for

PAGE A4

PAGE A4

from the US, Canada, China, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong.

During the Senate hearing, Customs Deputy Commissioner Jessie Dellosa was asked by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. if the BOC has an estimate of the number of cases of contraband sent through balikbayan boxes.

Dellosa said “there was none,” but Lina later clarified there were indeed such cases.

Sen. Cynthia Villar noted that Filipinos abroad send into the country about $47 million a year, taking into account that half of the amount comes from informal remittances.

‘I am so sorry’Customs recently drew the ire

of more than 10 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) when it said it will begin conducting physical examination and open-ing of balikbayan boxes, some

(212) 655-5426 • http://www.asianjournal.com NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 4-10, 2015 A�Dateline USa

scholarship.During his junior year in col-

lege, his mom encouraged him to apply for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that President Obama announced in 2012, and he was approved to live and work in the US legally.

Since it was introduced, more than 660,000 people have re-ceived DACA, according to the White House.

“Applying to DACA is very per-sonal. A lot of immigrants may be scared of coming out of the shad- ows because of the reper-cus- sions that may come with it. But personally, I feel that DACA has changed the way that I en-gage every day — I can drive, I can work, I can do all these amazing things I wouldn’t have been able to do without a social security number or a driver’s li-cense...it has impacted me on a positive way,” Ballesteros said. “I definitely recommend that if you are eligible for DACA to pur-sue it because I don’t think there are negative repercussions from applying and trying.”

Becoming a DACAmented teacher

Ballesteros, who graduated from Drew University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in art history and a minor in chemis-try, originally intended to go to medical school. But the reality of his status made him recognize that he wouldn’t be able to live out that plan.

With Ms. Holberg and how she impacted his educational ca-reer in the back of his mind, he

Filipino teacher honored...PAGE A1

Leandro Otero, director of external affairs & partnerships for Teach for America - LA (TFA- LA); Stephanie Goodman; Lida R. Jennings, executive director of TFA-LA; Jaime Ballesteros; Joe Bernardo, policy analyst for the LA Mayor’s office of immigrant affairs; and Luis Figueroa at LA City Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 26. AJPress photo by Ding Carreon

Nine educators who received DACA, including Jaime Ballesteros, were honored by the White House as “Champions of Change” in July. Photo courtesy of Teach for America - Los Angeles.

decided to delve into teaching. “…I changed my path in my

senior year when I thought back to Ms. Holberg and what she did for me. I joined Teach for Amer-ica soon after graduating from college,” Ballesteros said.

Sharing how he “wanted to be civically engaged but didn’t know how to do that while be-ing undocumented,” Ballesteros came across Teach for America (TFA) again in college when a friend applied, and saw that the program was accepting corp members who are DACA recipi-ents.

TFA first accepted two “DACA-mented” teachers into the pro-gram in 2013, and 44 teach-ers were placed in 10 regions across the country the following year. To date, over 90 DACA-mented teachers are working in 13 regions, according to the organization’s website. Among the areas where the organization has partnerships with schools to hire these teachers are the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City.

“TFA-Los Angeles has the largest number of DACAment-ed corp members in the coun-try across our 52 regions and mainly because when we heard about the opportunity to have DACAmented corp members, we were able to call Los Angeles Unified School District and our big charter partners and say ‘will you hire our teachers? will you support this initiative?’ and all of them across Los Angeles said yes. We have tremendous sup-port from our partners…we’re

PAGE A4

Dr. Susan K. Brems Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr.

WASHINGTON, DC—In a meeting at the Philippine Embas-sy in Washington D.C. on 01 Sep-tember, Dr. Susan K. Brems—the incoming Mission Director of the United States Agency for Interna-tional Development (USAID) for the Philippines, Pacific Islands and Mongolia—reaffirmed the strong development partnership between the Philippine Govern-ment and USAID.

Dr. Brems is a career mem-ber of the Senior US Foreign Service with the rank of Min-ister-Counselor, who brings to Manila twenty-three (23) years of experience as a development diplomat for USAID. She previ-ously served as Mission Director in Zambia (2011-2015), Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Global Health (2009-2011), and Mission Director for Angola (2007-2009).

During the meeting, Ambassa-dor Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. expressed appreciation for the technical and financial support that the United States, through the USAID, pro-vides to the Philippines. He also briefed Dr. Brems on the recent economic developments, includ-ing the good governance efforts under the Aquino administration, particularly with respect to trans-parency and public accountabil-ity.

“It was a great opportunity to discuss with Dr. Brems our government’s commitment to improving the lives of average Filipinos, as well as the social de-velopment objectives under the President’s leadership. We also exchanged views on the condi-tional cash transfer program of the government,” Ambassador Cuisia said.

Ambassador Cuisia also en-

Incoming UsaId mission director reaffirms strong partnership with PH

couraged USAID’s continued support in the following areas: judicial reforms, rule of law, in-novation and technology, eco-nomic development, educational

cooperation, and public health.Dr. Brems expressed her com-

mitment to continuing the strong program and cooperation activities of USAID in the Philippines.

fense—the eight INC ministers are also facing charges of ha-rassment as well as threats and coercion. The eight are mem-bers of the 10-man Sanggunian, the INC’s highest administrative council.

Expelled INC members Isaias Samson Jr. and Lito Fruto filed the complaints.

De Lima said investigating prosecutors would issue sub-poena requiring the respondents to appear in a hearing.

It was her order to have the complaints investigated that prompted the INC leadership to call for street protests and

dOJ to summon Iglesia ni Cristo...PAGE A1 demand the resignation of De

Lima.INC officials have accused

De Lima of disregarding the principle of the separation of church and state and of giving “extraordinary” attention to the complaints.

Named respondents were Glicero Santos Jr., Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago Sr., Mathu-salem Pareja, Rolando Esguerra, Eraño Codera, Rodelio Cabrerra and Maximo Bularan.

“Certainly, they would be ac-corded their right to answer the charges during the preliminary investigation. That’s part of the process and the requirements of

fair play and due process,” she said in a text message.

In the wake of reports that the Palace had reached an agreement with the INC to end its street protests, De Lima de-clared she was not quitting and would in fact proceed with the preliminary investigation as part of her department’s “ministerial duty.”

The National Prosecution Ser-vice, the prosecutorial arm of the DOJ, is still evaluating the complaints and has yet to form a panel of prosecutors, accord-ing to Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.

After the preliminary investi-

gation, the prosecutors will de-termine whether probable cause exists to warrant the filing of cases in court.

In the absence of probable cause, a case is dismissed.

But based on DOJ rules, any resolution issued by the pros-ecutors is subject to review by the DOJ chief if the aggrieved party files a petition for such.

Samson, former editor-in-chief of INC’s official publication Pasugo, alleged that the respon-dents prevented him and his family from leaving their house in Quezon City last July after he was accused of being blogger “Antonio Ebanghelista,” who at-tacked the INC on his blog site.

Fruto, on the other hand, filed PAGE A4

september 4-10, 2015 • NeW YOrK AND NeW JerseY AsIAN JOUrNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426A� Dateline USa

Fil-Am los Angeles lakers guard Jordan Clarkson has been cleared to play for the Philippines in the upcoming FiBA Asia Cham-pionship, but his father says he won’t be participating.

“As you know in professional sports, timing is of the essence es-pecially when managing a player’s career,” his father, mike Clarkson, said in an email to US-based Phil-star contributor Homer Sayson.

“Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t be worse as he [Jordan] prepares for rigors of the upcom-ing 2015-2016 NBA season and heightened performance expecta-tions.”

The FiBA championship is scheduled to take place from Sept. 23 through Oct. 3 in China, but the lakers training camp – which is mandatory for all the team’s players – begins Sept. 28. Given the overlapping sched-ules, manila Bulletin reported that Clarkson would be able to play in three games for Samah-ang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) – against Palestine on Sept. 23, Hong Kong on Sept. 24 and Ku-wait on Sept. 25.

Should the Philippines advance, the team would play the first game of the second phase on Sept. 27, though Clarkson’s participation in the next round would be unlikely due to his commitment to the lak-ers.

in an email to manila Bulletin, John Black, vice-president for public relations of the lakers, said the 23-year-old Fil-Am is free to

Clarkson OK’d to play for PH in FIBA, father says he won’t playby Agnes ConstAnte

AJPress

Jordan Clarkson will fly with Gilas Pilipinas to Taiwan for the Jones Cup. Inquirer.net photo by Tristan Tamayo

play for Gilas in China.“Per the collective bargaining

agreement between the NBA and the Player’s Association, as long as national team play does not interfere with team requirements and there are no injury issues, it is up to the play-ers whether or not to play. Our players must be in los Angeles on September 28, so as long as he would be back by then, we would have no objection to Jor-dan playing in the event up until that date,” Black wrote.

Clarkson, who has expressed interest in representing the Philip-pines, was recently confirmed as eligible to play for the country’s national team. Rappler reported that because the lakers guard obtained a Philippine passport before he turned 16, he satisfies a

requirement needed to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas.

“it definitely would mean a lot,” Clarkson said, according to a lakers Nation report published in march. “it’s just one of those things you want to do, like how i want to make my city proud and make that country proud as well.”

Although the Fil-Am basketball player will not be participating in the upcoming international cham-pionship, he is looking forward to a long-term commitment with Gilas. inquirer reported that Clarkson wants to play for Gilas for three Olympic Games – 2016, 2020 and 2024 – starting next year in Rio de Janeiro.

“i’m all in,” he said.Philstar further reported that

SBP officials are seeking to meet

with Clarkson’s father and lakers management to alleviate concerns they may have.

“Our talk with the father is to reassure him that, from the time that he [Jordan] has not signed the contract [with the lakers] to the time that he does, and if he gets injured while with Gilas, we will assure them during that period he will be properly taken care of,” SBP Vice Chairman Ricky Vargas told Philstar. “We will be taking a risk anyway, whether he has a contract or not.”

Philstar also wrote that Clarkson is working on a contract-extension deal with the lakers after an im-pressive rookie year in the NBA.

NBA preseason begins for the lakers on Oct. 4 when they face the Utah Jazz in Hawaii. The offi-cial season begins Oct. 28.

A COmmiTTee under the Transportation Department on Tuesday, Sept. 1, approved a recommendation stating that air-lines should possess discretion in whether to allow passengers to make phone calls during flights.

“We recommend that if safe and secure, that the Department of Transportation allow airlines to decide whether to permit pas-sengers to use mobile devices for voice calls,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, who is chairman of the advisory panel, USA Today reported.

The panel, composed of four airline and consumer representa-tives, met in Washington, accord-ing to Bloomberg. it also assesses the Transportation Department’s consumer protection programs.

The advisory committee’s rec-ommendation comes more than one year after federal agencies gathered thousands of com-plaints against the possibility that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would lift the ban.

in December 2013, the FCC agreed to consider removing the ban on in-flight calls, which went into effect in 1991.

The proposal, however, drew much opposition: the FCC col-lected 1,400 comments, virtually all of which were against it.

members of Congress said they would present legislation to ban calls if the FCC decides to allow

Advisory committee: Airlines should decide on allowing in-flight calls

by Agnes ConstAnteAJPress in-flight calls; travelers, among

others, are not pleased with the idea of seat mates chatting while onboard packed flights. Flight attendants have also raised the possibility of terrorists using cell-phones to communicate attacks.

“We’ll keep the wishes of our customers in mind if the rules governing cell phone use shift from the government to indi-vidual airlines,” matt miller, a spokesman for American Airlines Group inc., told Bloomberg.

Should the FCC decide to per-mit mobile phones and devices, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety regulations would still remain in place, the Depart-ment of Transportation said in a notice last year, according to Bloomberg. Before the ban is lifted, aircraft operators would need to confirm that equipment would not affect aircraft systems, the publication reported.

USA Today reported that many foreign airlines already provide cellular service, including calls, demonstrating the safety, sup-porters say.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told Congress that the reasoning behind the ban is no longer ap-plicable as aircrafts today have their own cell towers, the publi-cation reported.

The advisory committee’s rec-ommendation is non-binding, and the FCC and Transportation Department have yet to set a date on when to decide on the issue, according to USA Today.

Filipino teacher honored...PAGE A3 able to bring in all kinds of folks, like Jaime, as possible because we believe so deeply in his sto-ry, in him and the children who have the same experience,” said TFA-lA executive Director lida Jennings.

For DACA recipients to be considered for TFA, they must have at least a 2.50 undergradu-ate GPA, a bachelor’s degree, a social security number and an employment Authorization Doc-ument to meet the hiring require-ments of partner schools. TFA also helps corp members with legal assistance if needed.

Ballesteros is now entering his second year as a high school chemistry teacher for Animo College Preparatory Academy, a public charter school in the Watts neighborhood of los An-geles.

Since it’s an inner-city school, Ballesteros said he tries to be positive and engaging in the classroom, noting that some of students may not come from “healthy backgrounds.”

“Throughout my first year, i found out that the key to me being able to make a great im-pact in the classroom is making strong individual relationships with my students…i pride myself in knowing the strengths of my students and what they need to improve on—that really guides me when i’m planning my les-sons and teaching in class,” Ball-esteros said.

Similar to how ms. Holberg took an interest in him despite his immigration status, the 23-year-old teacher intends to do the same with his students.

“in sharing my story with some of my students, they’ve also told me that they them-selves are undocumented,” he

said. “i’ve been working with them to look for different colleg-es and scholarships they can ap-ply to so that’s definitely been a powerful experience to do what my teacher did for me back in high school.”

At Animo, about 80 percent of the students are latino, and many of his students are undocu-mented or have family members who are.

“Jaime represents a commit-ment that we as an organization have made to bring teachers to match the backgrounds of our students. This is a more per-sonal story behind that, but we are bringing in a more diverse corp and we’re proud to say that our students are being taught by people that look like them and come from the same back-ground. it’s a commitment we’re going to continue see through,” leandro Otero, director of exter-nal affairs and partnerships for TFA-lA said.

Though he is in a unique posi-tion to connect with his students on a more personal level, Balles-teros shared that other teachers may not be aware of how to han-dle undocumented students.

“[Teachers] should inform themselves of the struggles that undocumented students face and the solutions that are available for these students. it’s not enough to tell the students that they need to work hard. i think teachers need to provide actionable solutions to students,” he said.

Champion of changein July, nine educators who

have received DACA were hon-ored by the White House as “Champions of Change.”

“This event honored nine young leaders in the field of edu-cation that are also DACA recipi-ents, who have been strong role

models for students and families, as well as change agents within their communities,” the White House said in a statement.

Among the nine was Balles-teros, who flew out to DC for an awards ceremony for the lead-ers and a convening of DACA-mented teachers hosted by TFA. The DACA-recipient teachers also spoke on a panel about their experiences and pathways into teaching.

“it was definitely a very surreal experience. As someone who is undocumented, i never thought i would have been honored at the White House or even step foot in [there]. After finishing my first year—which as any first-year teacher knows is a great feat—it was almost like a victory lap for me for my efforts to be recog-nized,” Ballesteros recalled.

Since joining TFA, the recog-nitions for Ballesteros haven’t stopped there.

On Wednesday, Aug. 26, the City of los Angeles presented a certificate to Ballesteros in an in-timate ceremony.

“This is a such a big honor for me, especially just moving to lA and just starting my second year in teaching,” he said.

in addition to teaching, Ball-esteros is currently pursuing a master’s degree in urban educa-tion at loyola marymount Uni-versity and hopes to shape edu-cation policy in the future.

“i plan on staying in the class-room as long as i can and making a career out of education. even-tually, way into the future, i see myself making an impact on ed-ucation policy because i feel that as a teacher, i have control on the impact that i could make on the 120 students that go through my classroom each day. As i gain more experience, i want a broader impact on my students,” he said. n

City Council approves LA’s bid...PAGE A2 lion and is considered the most expensive games to date.

“it is vital to properly and suf-ficiently safeguard Angelenos and our city government from possi-ble losses — and to avoid placing our city in a position wherein we might have to indemnify the US Olympic Committee or any other entity from losses they might in-cur,” lA City Controller Ron Gal-perin wrote in a letter to the coun-cil last week.

Councilmember mike Bonin

noted that the city was not finan-cially responsible during the 1984 Summer Games.

“The City did not assume that responsibility in 1984. Why would it assume that responsibility now? Since lA is the only US city cur-rently willing to bid on the 2024 games, have we used this strong negotiating position to ask the USOC to cover any costs or pro-vide any financial guarantees?,” Bonin wrote in a letter to Council President Herb Wesson on Fri-day, Aug. 28, according to the lA

Times. A $161-million surplus is ex-

pected, according to Garcetti, who cited revenues from broadcast, sponsorship and ticket sales.

The Olympics were previously held in los Angeles in 1932 and 1984. The US hasn’t hosted the Summer Games since 1996 in At-lanta.

Contenders have until Sept. 15 to bring their bid to the iOC. Among other international con-tenders are Paris, Rome, Ham-burg and Budapest. The iOC will announce the 2024 host city in 2017. (Christina M. Oriel/AJ-Press)

harassment charges against the members of the iNC Sanggunian for supposedly concocting rape charges that led to the issuance of an arrest warrant and hold departure order against him. He said the harassment came after he sided with Angel and lottie manalo, siblings of executive minister eduardo manalo, in questioning the church’s leader-ship.

meanwhile, a group of Filipi-no journalists asked the iNC to apologize in public for its follow-ers’ manhandling an ABS-CBN News cameraman during their protest activities last week near the eDSA Shrine.

melchor Pinlac said he was grabbed by the neck, punched in the jaw, body and back of the neck by unidentified men – be-lieved to be iNC members – as

DOJ to summon Iglesia ni Cristo...PAGE A3

Lina: PH gov’t losing up...PAGE A2

the change of policy, which he ordered implemented during his term.

“it bleeds me hearing this. They are not the target of this... i bleed for them. i am so sorry about that,” lina told the senators.

He said the BOC is not partic-ularly running after the OFWs, but pointed out that under the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP), anything worth more than P10,000 that enters the country is taxable.

Customs Deputy Commis-sioner Agaton Uvero said the law has not been revised since the 1930s and that P10,000 is “already too small,” adding the BOC usually exercises “discre-tion” in screening the items for

pending before Congress and are among the priority legislation of the Aquino administration.

in the first semester, the BOC, which accounts for a fifth of state revenues, collected a total of P178.357 billion, up five percent from last year but 11.8 percent off its P202.185-billion target for the period.

The bureau is tasked to collect P436.59 billion this year.

lina expressed hope that the cooperation between forward-ers and the BOC regarding the processing of documents, such as the bill of lading, will help the agency in deterring smuggling.

lina said he is supportive of proposals to increase the exemp-tion value of goods to P150,000 from the current P10,000.

The BOC also recognized the need to amend the Customs laws, which were created in the late 1950s.

valuation.Uvero said Congress can in-

crease the amount of exempted goods to P150,000.

“We need to balance the con-cern of our OFWs with revenue generation for the government,” Angara said.

Uvero also explained that the BOC would be putting in place measures to reassure the public that packages sent from abroad would be treated with care.

Angara welcomed lina’s move, but called on the BOC to be more sensitive to the plight of OFWs.

“They will be more happy if the BOC will make good its promise on a complaints desk, green box and clearer policy on the inspection of balikbayan boxes,” Angara added.

Bills revising the TCCP are

the crowd around him shouted “biased, biased.”

Rupert mangilit, secretary general of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), said the attack was de-plorable.

A reporter of dzBB, Olan Bola, was also pushed around as he tried to stop the attack on Pin-lac, the NUJP reported.

mangilit explained it’s natural for some quarters to feel – rightly or wrongly – that a media outfit or practitioner may be showing partiality toward an issue. “How-ever, not this or any perceived slight, for that matter, can ever justify a physical assault against media practitioners.”

“For this, the leadership of the iNC is primarily to blame,” he said.

“Whatever feelings the iNC or its members may have towards

particular media outfits, this does not give them the license to assault journalists who are merely performing their duty to record the unfolding events,” the NUJP official added.

“The iNC leadership, in par-ticular, should know this since, after all, they do operate a media network themselves,” he said.

The NUJP also blamed law enforcement authorities and the government for failing to ensure peace and order. “it is infuriat-ing to witness the orgy of back-patting and self-congratulations by the likes of interior Secretary manuel Roxas ii and police offi-cials, who even thanked the iNC for a ‘peaceful’ protest.”

The NUJP also said it was outrageous for the police to even suggest that they would forward any complaint by Pinlac to the iNC.

(212) 655-5426 • http://www.asianjournal.com NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 4-10, 2015 A�

Dateline PhiliPPines“There was only a discussion

on a plea bargain as part of the pretrial early in February,” Su-arez said.

She denied reports the family had demanded P38 million and six US visas to drop the case.

“There is simply no truth to that… maybe that’s what they (defense lawyers) want to offer [the family],” Suarez said.

She said she suspected Pem-berton’s lawyers were “testing the waters” when they revealed the alleged offer.

“There is no truth to reports we will drop the case at any-time,” Suarez said.

City Chief Prosecutor Emilie Fe de los Santos said Judge Ro-line Ginez-Jabalde scheduled the summation and submission of memorandums on Sept. 14.

De los Santos said a verdict is expected by Dec. 14, which is within the prescribed one-year period to finish court proceed-ings under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Lawyer Harry Roque Jr., the

Laude family’s lead counsel, dubbed reports the family was open to a settlement a “PR ploy” by Pemberton’s camp.

He warned Pemberton’s law-yers not to approach the Laude family without the consent of their counsel.

“They should not even come close to my client, otherwise I will enforce the ethical prohi-bition of a trial and I will move for their disbarment for ethical breaches,” Roque told the In-quirer by phone on Monday.

Laude’s mother, Julita, has been adamant her family would not accept a settlement.

“It’s not money that could compensate for a life that was lost. No amount of money can replace the life of my child. Not even Pemberton’s life can re-place Jennifer’s,” she had said during the trial.

In April, Laude’s relatives sought at least P200 million in moral and exemplary damages as the civil aspect of the case was tackled in Pemberton’s trial.

Settlement with Pemberton impossible–Laude familyby AllAn MAcAtuno

Inquirer.net

OLONGAPO CITY—The law-yers for the family of slain trans-gender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude said a settlement with the camp of accused US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton was im-possible now that both parties had rested their case.

Pemberton is facing a murder charge in Olongapo City Region-al Trial Court Branch 74 here for the death of Laude, whose body was found in a motel bathroom on Oct. 11 last year. Witnesses identified Pemberton as the man who was last seen with her as they checked into the motel.

“Any settlement now is impos-sible, especially since both parties are done presenting their respec-tive evidence,” said Virgie Lacsa Suarez, one of the Laude family’s lawyers, in a text message to the Inquirer on Monday, Aug. 31.

Suarez said that since the start of the prosecution’s presentation of evidence on March 23, there had been no talk of a settlement.

MANILA—The Laban ng De-mokratikong Pilipino (LDP) is keen on looking at the possibility of supporting the presidential bid of Sen. Grace Poe once she de-cides to join the race next year, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said.

Angara said members of the LDP founded by his father, for-mer Senate president Edgardo Angara, will likely be meeting soon to determine who they will support in the coming polls.

While he admitted that the LDP is not one of the bigger parties,

LDP may support Poe’s presidential bidby christinA Mendez

Philstar.com

he did not discount the possibil-ity that it will be coalescing with other parties next year.

“We’ve seen a lot of good that happened to the country in the last few years. Perhaps the ques-tion is, ‘Who is in the best posi-tion to have that good contin-ued and possibly improve what President Aquino has done’,” he said.

The LDP was part of the ad-ministration coalition during the 2010 and 2013 elections.

Angara hinted about the LDP’s plans after he greeted Poe, who celebrated her 47th birthday on Thursday, Sept. 3.

“I wish her the best. I know that she will be embarking on a different journey in the next few days. I wish her good luck and fortitude to withstand the chal-lenges ahead,” Angara said.

Angara noted that Poe has the characteristics of a good leader.

Poe remained coy on her plans to run for higher office next year. Asked about her birthday wish, Poe sought for wisdom to deter-mine what is best for the coun-try.

“That I will have the cour-age and wisdom to do what is best for the country,” she said in a text message.

ing and teaching a pre-Islamic dance tradition called panga-lay.

Amilbangsa told the Associ-ated Press she hopes the ethnic dance will continue to live on

PAGE A5

Filipina receives Magsaysay Award...and help heal divisions in the poor in the Philippines, rather than become a decorative mu-seum piece.

“We have to think of a na-tional symbol that can unite all of us,” she said in a recent in-terview.

Amilbangsa developed a fas-cination for pangalay when she first saw the dance at a 1969 wedding in Sulu province, where she relocated after mar-rying a Muslim schoolmate who belonged to a prominent clan,

PAGE A7

september 4-10, 2015 • NeW YOrK AND NeW JerseY AsIAN JOUrNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426A�

all of you on this occasion. You are the modern-day heroes that not only Filipinos, but all men and women all over the world need,” Aquino added.

Not all heroes should die on the battlefield, some heroes may just be ordinary men and women who inhabit extraordinary lives that make a change and inspire other people. Filipinos should hold on to what their forefathers have achieved yesterday and to move forward with it to initiate progress tomorrow.

Their enduring journey left us with a great ex-ample to live by. We are all called to live like he-roes, not to make a mark in the world through suf-fering or death—but to appeal similar lives, for our kababayans and our country.

Being young or being away is not an excuse for indifference. It is every Filipino’s responsibility to honor the value of nationalism, to revere the essence of freedom and to observe the ethos displayed by the Philippines’ gallant heroes. (AJPress)

Philstar.com photo

THERE’S this joke about a little boy anx-ious to see his expect-ant mother give birth. She explains that it will take several months for the baby to come out. The boy then recalls how his engineer fa-ther had told his work-ers on a rush project to “put more men on the job,” to hasten its completion.

“Mom,” says the boy. “Why don’t you put more men on the job?”

If you think that’s funny, guess what the administration of Benigno S. Aqui-no III has been doing the past five-go-ing-on-six years. The classic example is the Department of Agriculture, no-torious for incompetence and accused of corruption. Instead of replacing the Secretary of Agriculture, Proceso Al-cala, Aquino appointed former Senator Kiko Pangilinan as “Agricultural Czar” or some title to that effect. Aquino put more men on the job.

Now comes this congressman from Quezon City, Winston Castillo (eager to have his 15 seconds of fame), suggest-ing that the solution to Metro Manila’s traffic woes would be for Malacañang to appoint a “traffic czar.”

That’s a traffic czar placed on top of a traffic czar (the MMDA chairman) on top of several traffic czars (the Metro Manila mayors). And THAT is supposed to solve the infernal traffic problem? Good grief!

The management geniuses who pop-ulate the Makati Business Club and who recently rated the various government offices, ostensibly based on perceived efficiency, should tell the idiots running the government that overlayering is a

formula for confusion and hand-washing.

In other words, the more cooks working on the broth, the more difficult it is to pin-point who spoiled it.

This reminds me of the tragedy-on-top-of-a-tragedy that

destroyed my hometown of Tacloban. The original tragedy was super typhoon Yolanda. The tragedy on top of it was the presence of three Keystone Kops, Mar Roxas of DILG, Dinky Soliman of Social Welfare and Voltaire Gazmin of Defense.

In a press conference with Roxas presiding (which I wrote about in this column), the following dialogue was recorded by Rappler:

“RAPPLER: Sino po ba ang ground commander natin sa relief operations na ito? (Who is the ground commander in this relief operation?)

“ROXAS: There is no such title dahil ayon sa NDRRMC, it’s Sec Voltz Gaz-min ang aming chairman, at ina-assign-assign niya kami sa kung ano ang am-ing dapat gawin. (There is no such title because according to the NDRRMC, it’s Sec Voltz Gazmin who is our chairman, and he assigns us to do whatever we have to do. )

“RAPPLER: Pero sir, who is calling the shots here in this center? (But sir, who is calling the shots here in this cen-ter?)

“ROXAS: Wala. You can see the pro-cess that is being undertaken, and it is a consultative process. (No one. You can see the process that is being undertak-en, and it is a consultative process.)

“SOLIMAN: Lahat kami, buong pama-

halaan, pambansa at lokal, kumikilos as one. But more than that, ‘yun ang gusto kong ipaalam sa lahat – it’s also whole of society. Lahat ng private sector, lahat ng volunteers, lahat ng volunteers dito sa Tacloban, nagre-repack sila. This is whole of society, responding to a cri-sis. Nagkaisa ang bansa; ‘yun ang ating mensahe. (Everyone of us, the whole of government, national and local, move as one. But more than this, what I want everyone to know – it’s also whole of so-ciety. The entire private sector, all vol-unteers, all volunteers here in Tacloban are repacking. This is whole of society, responding to a crisis. The nation is working as one; that’s our message.)’

But Roxas, Soliman and Gazmin were not done yet. Soliman then explained an “operations management concept” which she called, “the Convergent Ap-proach.”

Here’s what I wrote in reaction to that: “I did a double-take and struggled to find an analogy for ‘Convergent Ap-proach.’ In football, that means oper-ating without a quarterback. In a sym-phony orchestra, without a conductor. In the corporate environment, without a CEO. In the military, without a com-manding officer.

“Apparently, in the Roxas-Soliman Institute of Advanced Operations Man-agement, as applied to the Yolanda crisis, the Convergent Approach is one where every player is left to his or her own best intentions, based on respec-tive levels of competence or incompe-tence.”

In an earlier meeting between Roxas and Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Roxas had required the latter to submit a formal request for disaster assistance from the national government, other-

wise, “Bahala kayo sa buhay niyo.”Roxas, who is supposed to have stud-

ied management in an elite university in America, has since become famous for classic responses to the problems of the country. The latest is his rationale for the infernal traffic problems: It’s supposed to be a result of the “boom-ing” economy. No solution. Just a ratio-nalization. He might as well have said, “Bahala kayo sa buhay niyo.”

Come to think of it, that is what the occupant in Malacañang practically told the suffering folks of Metro Manila, if we are to assume that the palace spokes-persons are articulating the thoughts of the president of the country.

According to one Manila daily, Depu-ty spokesperson Abigail Valte has asked the public “to be patient” in the face of the metropolis’ “traffic woes.”

The news report was about how “ve-hicles clogged and barely crawled along Andrews Avenue, Airport Road and Su-cat Road – vital arteries leading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s terminals 1,2,3 and 4.”

The news item further stated: “Valte said they received a report that a big number of people failed to make it to their flights because of the ongoing construction works in the Villamor Air Base area. She said airport authorities had been advising the public to con-sider the heavy traffic because of con-struction projects when planning their trips.”

Well, what choice do the poor motor-ists, air travelers and commuters have except to “plan their trips”? The rea-son, of course, is because the idiots be-hind the massive construction projects did not do their mandatory part of the planning.

Let me cite two examples of compe-tent planning and concern for the con-venience of the commuting public (as opposed to the palpak and manhid ap-proach of this administration): the mas-sive expansion of the San Francisco In-ternational Airport and the replacement of the eastern span of the San Francis-co-Oakland Bay Bridge.

To ensure that commuters and air travelers would not be inconvenienced, the plans and budgets for both projects included alternative routes that com-muters could take, while the main thor-oughfares were under construction.

This meant a temporary bridge from Treasure Island to the Oakland side while the original bridge (part of which had collapsed during the 1988 Loma Prieta earthquake) was being demol-ished and a new span was being built.

In the case of the expansion of the San Francisco International Airport, air travelers hardly felt any inconvenience because of the alternative arteries pre-pared prior to the main construction activity.

Compare that with what’s happening in Metro Manila, something that I am painfully aware of because I live just off Sucat in Parañaque. I will give my com-ments in Tagalog so that our non-Fili-pino readers will not understand me:

“Pinagsabay-sabay ang tinamaan ng lintik na construction at bahala na tay-ong mga taong bayan sa buhay natin. Diyos ko. Bakit ba tayo pinarurusahan ng mga bobo?”

And now, back to English: Dear man-agement geniuses of the Makati Busi-ness Club. Is this the kind of gover-nance you want to sustain for another six years? (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

The curse of incompetence and insensitivity

“EVERY Filipino can be a hero if we will continue to fight our de-sired destination,” Pres. Benigno Aquino III said as he paid tribute to the Philippine national heroes at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Tagu-ig City on Monday, Aug. 31. This year’s theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago (The Filipino Hero Then and Now: Where Transformation Begins and Continues).”

Heroic

As Aquino led the wreath-lay-ing ceremony for the fallen Filipi-nos and Filipinas, he remembered their sacrifices and challenged today’s generation, to turn them-selves from meek individuals into successful men and women that may collectively hone a better and brighter future for the country.

“We pay tribute to the sacrifices offered by Phil-ippine heroes. As we honor them, so too are we called to do our part and to continue the battle they began—whether in a small, or a big way—for the betterment of our nation,” Aquino said.

On the same day, Aquino also led the confer-ment of awards to the five recipients of the pres-tigious Ramon Magsaysay Awards this year. Also dubbed as the Nobel Peace Prize of Asia, the Ra-mon Magsaysay Awards, now on its 58th year, honors individuals or organizations who “address issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity.”

In his speech, Aquino congratulated Ligaya Fer-nando-Amilbangsa (Philippines), Kommaly Chan-

thavong (Laos), Anshu Gupta (India), Kyaw Thu (Myanmar), and Sanjiv Chaturvedi (India) for transcending the “individual perspective.” He de-scribed them as individuals who have

“chosen to leave their comfort zones, and answer the call to serve more and more people, whether their immediate community, or all of society.”

The President also likened the awardees to the country’s national heroes for their perseverance despite facing formidable opponents, “from cor-rupt employees and officials in government, to the phenomenon of widespread poverty and inequal-ity, and even to the way that time erodes our most valuable traditions. But you were not daunted” in order to protect and promote justice, basic human rights, and cultural heritage.

“Real transformation requires real, backbreak-ing effort—and this is what you gave, willingly. In many ways, you are like the heroes that many of my countrymen remember on this day: those who struggled and endured hardship for a greater cause. It is only right that we are paying tribute to

Editorial

THOUGH a candidate most Democrats outside of the state of Vermont have never heard of, Senator Bernie Sanders has proven a sustained upward climb in the polls, possibly threaten-ing the frontrunner status of for-mer First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. A new poll among Iowa caucus goers, the first to hold the primary in the 2016 US Presiden-tial Elections, proves just that.

A survey released last Saturday, Aug. 29 by the Des Moines Register and Bloomberg Politics re-vealed that Clinton has lost 1/3rd of her supporters since May, and that Bernie Sanders continues to cut into Hillary Clinton’s once-commanding lead among Iowa Democrats, closing to just 7 points of Clinton in Iowa. Sanders now trails Clinton 37 percent to 30 percent. CNN reports that just last January, half of likely Democratic caucus goers were unfamiliar with Sanders, and he was pulling in just 5 percent of support.

According to CNN, the poll finds that Sanders’ support is more due to voters’ enthusiasm for his candidacy and his message, rather than opposi-tion to Clinton. An overwhelming 96 percent of those who support Sanders say they support him and his ideas. Only 2 percent say their vote is moti-

vated by a desire to stop a Clinton candidacy.

The report further says that as for the controversy surrounding Clinton’s use of email while lead-ing the State Department, 61 per-cent of likely Democratic caucus goers say the issue is not impor-tant to them.

The poll further reveals that Sanders “has a deeper reservoir of support”, with 39 percent of likely caucus goers say their feel-ings about Sanders are very favorable and just 8 percent having a negative view of him. In contrast to Clinton: 27 percent view her very favorably, but 19 percent view her negatively.

Sanders has been running a campaign that has put forth a platform of how the government should help ordinary Americans, providing them with basic services like health care, education, higher wages, stronger protection of consumer rights, instead of the government being run and manipu-lated by powerful oligarchs, benefitting the richest of the rich in society, at the expense of the middle class.

Sanders’ appeal has been further strengthened by the consistency of and commitment to his mes-sage since the 1980s, a stark contrast to his politi-cal opponents.

“What this new poll shows is that the more Io-wans get to know Bernie, the better they like him and what he stands for. We’ve seen the same thing in New Hampshire and across the country,” CNN quoted Sanders’ campaign spokesman Michael Briggs.

Meanwhile, the same poll further says that Vice President Joe Biden, [he has not declared his can-didacy for president], captured 14 percent of the vote, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (3 percent), former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb (2 percent) and for-mer Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (1 percent).

Carson ties with TrumpFor the first time in more than a month, real es-

tate mogul and reality show star Donald Trump’s frontrunner status is now being threatened by a newbie in politics and another anti-establishment candidate, Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon.

Carson has surged up in the pack to tie Trump in Iowa, according to the results of the poll released by Monmouth University on Monday, Aug. 31.

According to the survey, Trump and Carson are now tied at 23 percent. CNN reported that this is the first time since July 26 that a poll in the first four states to select a Republican nominee did not find Trump substantially ahead of all other candi-dates.

CNN further reported that according to the Monmouth poll, farther behind Trump and Carson

were former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina at 10 percent; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz at 9 percent; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at 7 percent; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 5 percent; Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, each at 4 percent; Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul at 3 percent; and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum at 2 per-cent. CNN added that no other candidates topped 1 percent.

This is a big change from the Iowa poll conduct-ed by Monmouth University, taken before the first Republican debate. In late July, Walker led with 22 percent, Trump had 13 percent, Carson had 8 percent and Fiorina was at 3 percent.

A CNN/ORC poll taken in early August revealed that Trump’s lead had diminished, compared to the results of the latest Monmouth survey in Iowa. Trump was then at 22 percent, Carson was at 14 percent, Walker was at 9 percent, Cruz was at 8 percent and Fiorina was at 7 percent.

Could Bernie Sanders and Ben Carson really have the chance to be President after all?

* * *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

The rise of anti-establishment candidates: Move over Clinton, Bush and even Trump?

Asian Journal publications, Inc. (“AJpI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s material”)submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJpI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJpI to publish a Client’s material. AJpI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.Client represents and warrants that a Client’s material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.publication of a Client’s material does not constitute an a greement to continue publication.Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJpI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJpI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s material.AJpI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s material, AJpI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement.Under no circumstances shall Asian publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or the Las Vegas Sales Office at (702) 792-6678 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

ADVertIsING AND ADVertOrIAL pOLICIes

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

ROGER LAGMAY ORIELPublisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIELPresident

MOMAR G. VISAYAExecutive Editor and Editor-in-ChiefNew York/New Jersey Asian Journal

ELIZABETH HILARIO SISONChief Financial Officer

main Office:1210 s. brand blvdGlendale, CA 91204tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.comhttp://www.asianjournal.com

Northern California:1001 bayhill Drive, suite 200san bruno, CA 94066tel.: (650) 616-4150 • Fax: (650) 616-4152

manila Office:2nd Floor Units D&e, Fort palm springs30th street, Cor. 1st Ave.,bonifacio Global City, taguigtel.: (632) 856-4921 • Fax: (632) 856-1661

New York and New Jersey:133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (818) 502-0858

449 Hoboken Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07306tel.: (212) 655-5426. • Fax (818) 502-0858

Las Vegas sales Office:3700 W. Desert Inn roadLas Vegas, NV 89102tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

OpiniOn Features

Gel SantoS-ReloS

The Fil-Am Perspective

GreG B. MacaBenta

Street Talk

(212) 655-5426 • http://www.asianjournal.com NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 4-10, 2015 A�Dateline PhiliPPines

PAGE A5

Filipina receives Magsaysay Award...the Associated Press reported.

“I thought that this was so beautiful, it’s so different,” she told the news agency.

In the ethnic dance, arms are swayed gently and the hands and fingers move in a way that simulates the motions of ani-mals or waves.

Amilbangsa was interested in how pangalay is believed to have come to the southern Philippines from India prior to the arrival of Christianity and Islam, according to the Associ-ated Press. The news agency added that the Filipina awardee said classic dance forms resem-bling pangalay can be found in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myan-mar and Thailand, among other places in Southeast Asia.

In the same year that Amil-bangsa became interested in pangalay, she began conduct-ing research on the dance and interviewed elder villagers to record the gestures, Pangalay dancer and researcher Nanette Matilac told the Associated Press.

In 1983, Amilbangsa pub-lished a book with the first written pangalay dance instruc-

GOOD HARVEST. Farmers and their clans in Hungduan, Ifugao province, take part in “baddang” (community sharing) and the staging of “Ponnok,” a thanksgiving ritual for good harvest. The clans share food and advice, compete in games and plan activities to ensure that good harvests continue in the next planting season on Monday, Aug. 31. Inquirer.net photo by EV Espiritu

tions, the news agency report-ed.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, whose late mother (former Philippine President Corazon Aquino) previously re-ceived the honor, gave out the awards on National Heroes Day and offered positive words for Amilbangsa.

“Our country holds the be-lief that if you forget your roots, you are bound not to reach your destination. Our own kababayan, Ligaya Fer-nando-Amilbangsa, has lived by this code. She turned her appreciation of the arts into an advocacy, with the most im-portant one being the study, practice, and teaching of the dance style, pangalay, from the southernmost part of the country,” Aquino said during a speech on National Heroes’ Day, according to CNN.

The four others who also re-ceived the award are: Kommaly Chanthavong of Laos for reviv-ing and developing ancient Lao-tian silk weaving as a means of creating a source of livelihood for poor villagers; Anshu Gupta of India for founding a volunteer group that recycles a variety of

items, providing jobs and more affordable basic items for those in need; Sanjiv Chaturvedi of India for investigating and ex-posing government corruption; and Kyaw Thu of Myanmar for providing free funeral services for the poor through a group he created called Free Funeral Services Society.

Aquino said the each recipi-ent “has transcended the ‘indi-vidual perspective.’”

“Each of them has chosen to leave their comfort zones, and answer the call to serve more and more people, whether the immediate community, or all of society,” he said, according to CNN.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award, created in 1957 and named after the third president of the Philippines, is bestowed on individuals and organiza-tions each year. Since it was es-tablished, more than 300 men, women and organizations have been recognized for their self-less service for their societies, Asia and the world, according to the award foundation’s web-site.

Each awardee received $30,000 and a gold medallion. n

MANILA—Levito Baligod, for-mer counsel of pork barrel scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy, filed charges of malversation of pub-lic funds against 20 incumbent and former lawmakers before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Among those charged for the alleged misuse of their pork bar-rel or Priority Development As-sistance Fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2009 were Sens. Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and former senator Edgardo Angara.

The PDAF funds were alleged-ly released to non-government organizations (NGOs) not linked to accused pork barrel fund scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, who is now detained and facing plunder charges with several lawmakers as her co-accused for misuse of government funds.

Napoles was also convicted and sentenced for the serious il-legal detention of Luy.

Also named respondents were former party-list lawmaker Joel Villanueva of CIBAC who now heads the Technical Education and Skills Development Author-ity (TESDA), Prospero Nograles (Davao), Joseph Santiago (Cat-anduanes), Roberto Cajes (Bo-hol), Alan Miraflores (Aklan), Neil Tupas (Iloilo) and Carol Lo-pez (You Against Corruption and Poverty or YACAP party-list).

Likewise included were Al-fonso Umali (Oriental Mindoro), Edgar San Luis (Laguna), Arturo Robes (San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan), Rodolfo Antonino (Nueva Ecija), Reno Lim (Albay), Evita Arago (Laguna), Rachel Arenas (Pangasinan), Marina Clarete (Misamis Occidental), Al Francis Bichara (Albay) and Julio Ledesma IV (Negros Occi-dental).

Baligod’s complaint was based on the affidavits of four persons, including former Na-tional Agribusiness Corp. (Nab-cor) employees Victor Roman Cacal and Rhodora Mendoza, who were among those charged in pork barrel scam cases filed by the Office of the Ombuds-man before the Sandiganbayan against Enrile, Revilla and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

The affidavits of Bernadette Ricalde and Katherine Namoro, former employees of a lawmak-

Lawyer Levito Baligod shows a copy of the graft complaint that he filed against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Revilla Jr. and former senator Edgardo Angara with the Office of the Ombudsman Wednesday, Sept. 2. Philstar.com photo by Ernie Peñaredondo

by Michael Punongbayan Philstar.com

Enrile, Revilla, Angara face new ‘pork’ raps

er, also formed part of the docu-ments submitted to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Baligod said the lawmakers channeled over P490.685 mil-lion in PDAF to some 17 NGOs that allegedly “squandered” the money.

Enrile and Angara allegedly gave P15 million and P20 mil-lion respectively to Kagandahan ng Kapaligiran Foundation Inc., while Revilla gave P10 million to St. James the Apostle Multi-Pur-pose Cooperative Inc.

The lawyer said the witnesses are willing and ready to prove their allegations and reveal what they know, together with other potential witnesses.

“Thus, you will note that their affidavits are not exhaustive, as we only want to establish a rea-sonable basis for your good of-fice to look into the allegations and to validate the same and those that they could hereafter reveal should your Office enjoin them to do so,” Baligod said.

Enrile said that he couldn’t care less about the plan of the ombudsman to file a motion for reconsideration on the decision of the Supreme Court to grant him bail.

Speaking with reporters at the Senate, Enrile said that it was the right of the ombudsman to file that motion for reconsidera-tion.

Enrile, charged with plunder in relation to the pork barrel scam, was granted bail by the Supreme Court on humanitarian grounds.

Since his release from hospital detention, Enrile has attended the plenary sessions of the Sen-ate daily.

Asked about the new case be-ing prepared against him, Enrile had nothing much to say.

“One more time? What is the difference? That would already be multiple plunder and that’s too much. Anyway, we’ll see,” Enrile said.

YACAP Rep. Lopez said she has taken steps to clear her name with the Commission on Audit (COA).

Tupas said he was the one who informed the COA back in 2010 when he found out that his signature was being forged to facilitate release of funds from PDAF.

He said he also asked con-cerned agencies to withhold im-plementation and releases of any fund under his PDAF account that resulted in the monies with-held and returned to the national treasury.

TESDA chief Villanueva refut-ed the allegations against him.

Malacañang is keeping its hands off the charges of mal-versation through falsification of public documents filed at the ombudsman against 20 former and incumbent and lawmakers, including allies of the adminis-tration.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said it would be “im-prudent” of them to comment on any actions being taken by the ombudsman “in any phase of any investigation.”

MANILA—Amid the ongo-ing probe on the Disburse-ment Acceleration Program (DAP), Malacañang reminded the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday, Sept. 1 that the chief executive enjoys immu-nity from lawsuit.

“We wish to point out the Constitutional principle that an incumbent President of the Philippines is immune from suit,” Communications Secre-tary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a note to media.

According to reports, Om-budsman Conchita Carpio-Morales revealed this morning that her office is now inves-tigating Aquino and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad in connection with the imple-mentation of the controversial DAP.

Morales made the revelation in reply to a question during a hearing on the proposed bud-get of her office in the House of Representatives.

Coloma said they respect the authority of the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the president.

“The Office of the Ombuds-man is empowered by law to conduct such investigation,” Coloma said.

Introduced by the adminis-

Palace reminds Ombudsman: PNoy immune from suitby Michael Punongbayan

Philstar.com

President Benigno Aquino III administers the oath of office to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales at Malacañang’s President’s Hall in July 2011. Malacañang photo

tration in 2011, the DAP re-aligned government savings from slow-moving projects to other programs to supposedly fast-track public spending and stimulate the economy.

In 2014, the Supreme Court (SC) unanimously declared certain acts under the DAP as unconstitutional for violating the doctrine of separation of powers and the constitutional provision prohibiting the in-ter-branch transfer of budget allocations.

The high court ruled that “authors, proponents and im-

plementors” of the DAP such as Aquino and Abad can have criminal, civil, administrative and other liabilities “unless there are concrete findings of good faith in their favor by the proper tribunals.”

The SC ruling against the DAP sparked calls for the res-ignation of Aquino and Abad and an impeachment attempt on the president.

Aquino and Abad had con-sistently defended the DAP, saying the program was done in good faith and benefited the nation.

ILOILO CITY—Interior Sec-retary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II refused answering questions on problems in the distribution of government assistance to survi-vors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” even as he wooed the support of municipal mayors in the Visayas for his presidential bid.

Sought for his opinion on prob-lems with the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA), Roxas replied to a reporter of television network ABS-CBN: “Well, whose agency is suppose to…”

When the reporter replied that it was under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Roxas then raised his hands palms up and said: “What is my agen-cy?”

He then thanked about seven reporters in the ambush interview before leaving the room.

Roxas was smiling but refused to entertain further questions. His allies later said he was in a hurry to proceed to Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

Reporters, who were expecting to ask more questions from Roxas, were surprised by the sudden end

Roxas evades questions on problems in typhoon Yolanda aid distribution

by nestor P. burgos Jr.Inquirer.net

of the interview which ended in 17 seconds.

Just minutes earlier, Roxas spent time pressing flesh and having his picture taken with about 250 may-ors from the Visayas who attended the Visayas cluster conference of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) at the Kalantiao Hall of Sarabia Manor Hotel.

In his speech during his keynote speech, Roxas said President Be-nigno Aquino III will be accepting his resignation from the cabinet “in the next few weeks.”

The President earlier rejected his resignation citing unfinished programs in his department.

Roxas also stressed the impor-tance of local government units as he also sought their support for his presidential bid in next year’s elec-tions.

He individually mentioned offi-cers of the LMP and his allies.

A native of Capiz province, Roxas spoke alternately in Eng-lish, Filipino and Hiligaynon and repeatedly welcomed delegates to Iloilo.

Near the end of his speech, Roxas directly asked the mayors to support his presidential bid.

“Samahan niyo ako at ibibigay

ko sa inyo…isang pangulo na taga Visayas (Join me and I will give you a president from the Visayas,” Roxas said.

He stressed the importance of local government units in the im-plementation of national programs and policies.

The national government will not be successful if “local govern-ment units are not successful,” he said.

Liberal Party leaders were also president including Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

The conference also became a venue for more exposure for poli-ticians expected to run in in next year’s elections.

Among the speakers were Sena-tors Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., former Energy secretary Car-los Jericho Petilla and Metro Ma-nila Development Authority chair Francis Tolentino.

Mark Lapid, chief operating of-ficer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and former Pangasinan represen-tative Rachel Arenas also spoke before the conference.

september 4-10, 2015 • NeW YOrK AND NeW JerseY AsIAN JOUrNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426A�

peopleevents

artsculture

entertainmentseptember 4-10, 2015

2The Asian Journal NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY SEpTEmbER 4, 2015

An Asian Journal Magazine

by MoMar G. Visaya/AJPress

The long wait is over.For four months starting next

week, pre-colonial Philippine gold and artifacts will be on display at the Asia Society in New York City as a part of Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms exhibit. More than a hundred gold pieces from the Ayala Museum in Manila and a host of private collectors will be showcased in said exhibit.

“Let’s call on all our friends and relatives so they can come to New York and see this once in a lifetime exhibit,” exclaimed Loida Loida Nicolas Lewis, co-chair of the Philippine Gold Benefit Committee with Doris Magsaysay ho. “Let us all be proud to see that even prior to the Spaniards colonizing the Philippines, we already had such sophisticated and exquisite gold artifacts. This is our King Tut!”

Benefits, dinners, receptions and various community events have been lined up for the Filipino American community to participate in and enjoy.

Curated by Florina (Nina) h. Capistrano-Baker of the Ayala Museum and Adriana Poser of Asia Society, the Philippine Gold exhibition will run at the Asia Society from Sept. 11, 2015 through January 3, 2016.

At the Ayala Museum in Manila, there are more than a thousand artifacts as a part of this permanent exhibition. For this specific exhibit in New York, the curators decided to focus on Butuan.

“We couldn’t bring everything because of security reasons but we tried to bring the most spectacular and visually stunning ones,” Capistrano-Baker told the Asian Journal.

One of the most notable pieces in the collection is the ten pound Kinari Vessel from Surigao. The artifact is in the form of a half woman and half avian being, and it reflects the Indian mythical kinari – a celestial female with wings and legs of a bird personifying beauty, grace and accomplishment.

Another magnificent piece is a gold caste evidencing a prosperous elite class with strong influences to hindu culture. Other memorable items include lotus ear ornaments from Butuan to belt buckles from Northeastern Mindanao to burial ensemble from Daet, Camarines Norte.

Capistrano-Baker cites that this extraordinary collection would not exist without the passion and dedication of

Leandro and Cecilia Locsin, whose vision of preserving for future generations these marvelous objects provides valuable glimpses into the Philippine pre-colonial past. The Locsins were responsible in securing the bulk the collection.

Asia Society President and CeO Josette Sheeran expressed her excitement that the Asia Society is doing this big project about the Philippines.

“What an exciting moment for us at the Asia Society leading up to our 60th anniversary,” Sheeran remarked. “We couldn’t be more honored than to work with Loida, Doris and the benefit committee and the consulate to really bring the Philippines front and center for the New York community.”

“We’re so proud to bring these precolonial gold that really tells the story of the Philippines that the world doesn’t know,” Sheeran added.

“It’s a groundbreaking show. I hope it really opens eyes here in the United States. This is an important part of history that has never been widely seen before. I saw the collections at the Ayala Museum and it was mind-blowing,” said Adriana Proser, John h. Foster Senior Curator for Traditional Asian Art, Asia Society. “We welcome the entire Filipino community to visit us here during the exhibition and see all these installations we’ve been working so hard on.”

Gold and the PhilippinesThe Philippines has the

second largest gold deposit in the world.

The works on display—from tiny gold tweezers to fabulous pieces of jewelry—reveal that these natural resources were readily exploited by the local people during that time.

The regalia, jewelry, ceremonial weapons, and ritualistic and funerary objects show of a prosperity and achievement of Philippine communities that flourished between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, long before the Spanish discovered and colonized the region. Some of the pieces will show indigenous forms and connections to local traditions such burial practices and social groupings.

There are adornments of elite individuals and the deities they adored including a spectacular array of golden sashes, necklaces, pectorals, diadems, earrings, finger rings, and arm and leg ornaments.

Pre-colonial PH gold goeson display at Asia Society

NeW YORK CITY — A special display of the works of top Filipino designers will be shown by Asia Society along with Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms, an exhibition of over 100 spectacular works of gold from the 10th to 13th century, highlighting the creativity, prosperity and cultural connections of the precolonial period.

“Filipino Design Now,” which highlights Filipino design, material and craftsmanship, celebrates the artistic visions of top Filipino designers in this exclusive showcase conceived by Filipino jewelry designer Federico De Vera, a gallery owner of antique objects, curios and jewelry and, more recently, the author of De Vera Objects and De Vera Jewelry.

Presented in Asia Society’s lobby, the showcase features exclusive collections by 14 renowned Filipino designers who have been invited to create products inspired by their interpretation of Philippine culture.

Signature pieces from these designer’s collections have been selected for inclusion in the display, with the balance of the collections featured for sale at AsiaStore and online at AsiaStore.org. “Filipino Design Now” is supported by Fedex express.

Featured designers include:• Maricris Brias, home textiles. Brias and her local artisans are

committed to reviving the native artistry of Mindanao’s ethnic tribes, manufacturing textiles and home accents created from local abaca and banana fiber, handwoven exclusively by T’boli and Mandaya natives.

• Lenora Cabili, fashion. Cabili’s designs are inspired by tradition, mixing the past with present, creating unique garments that incorporate ancient techniques of weaving, embroidery and bead work from indigenous Filipino groups.

• Federico de Vera, jewelry. De Vera strives to find new lives for old things that have been discarded, and reinterprets them from a different point of view. Today his pieces are comprised of antique elements, often simultaneously organic and baroque, each unique and one of a kind.

• Ian Giron, home accents. Giron creates home accents using coconut shell as his base and combining traditional methods of sanding and bleaching before applying gold leaf to achieve color and patina, a process that has been widely used in Asia for thousands of years.

• Jewelmer, jewelry. Golden South Sea pearls are the centerpieces of the brand. Through a highly selective process, these elusive gems inspire artisans to create finely crafted jewelry to fulfill Jewelmer’s celebration of beauty in harmonious symmetry with nature.

• Josie Natori, jewelry. Natori’s iconic, global brand, the house of Natori celebrates Asian aesthetics with the spirit of Natori’s adopted home in America, effortlessly melding the visual best of both the east and the West.

• Tina Ocampo, evening bags. Ocampo’s luxury brand Celestina,is comprised of a collection of evening bags, handcrafted by Filipino artisans, practicing age-old techniques and using exotic materials that can only be found in the Philippines.

• Ditta Sandico, fashion. Sandico transforms indigenous fibers, such as banana, pineapple and abacca into a fashion art form, designing wraps that follow the movements of the body.

• Wynn Wynn Ong, jewelry. Favoring stones in their organic, untouched states and incorporating materials not often associated with jewelry, Ong combines unexpected elements into her meticulously hand crafted jewelry designs.

• Anne Saguil, fashion. Saguil combines her passion for craftsmanship and fashion, designing clothes, handbags and accessories using hand embroidered techniques and indigenous handwoven materials.

• Rafe Totengco, minaudières. Totengco’s signature minaudière evening bags, featuring indigenous Filipino materials, blend uptown sophistication with a downtown edge.

• Bea Valdes, jewelry & accessories. Valdes takes inspiration from various cultures, sourcing materials, patterns and ideas from around the world for her high-end accessories while continuing to shine a light on the Philippines as a design hub as she supports local artisans and their craftsmanship.

• Natalya Lagdameo, novelty textiles. Drawing on work as an interior designer and inspired by heirlooms and artifacts from around the archipelago, Lagdameo creates textile designs utilizing local Filipino materials.

NY exhibit to showcase worksof 14 top Filipino designers

Waistband from Surigao Ring with kirtimukha (face of glory) from Eastern Visayas

Cord weights from Butuan

Dagger hand from Northeastern Mindanao

Eight-petaled ornament from Liloan, Leyte

Nina Capistrano-Baker explains how the curators chose which artifacts to bring to New York.

Josette Sheeran, Asia Society president and CEO

Nina Baker, co-curator of PH gold exhibit AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

Although the forms and styles of the majority of these works developed locally, some indicate that Philippine craftsmen had been exposed to objects from beyond their borders through the robust cultural connections and maritime trade in Southeast Asia during what was an early Asian economic boom. Scholars have also pointed out there are similar styles between the Philippine objects and those from such cultures of Java, Champa, and Borneo.

In the book about the collection at the Ayala Museum, Philippine Ancestral Gold, editor and author Capistrano- Baker stated that the deeper value of these gold objects “can be assayed only in consideration of its historical and academic significance and the self-knowledge and pride it gives to Filipinos.”

Co-author John Miksic, Associate Professor of South and Southeast Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, pointed out in the publication that the pre-colonial gold of the Philippines is “perhaps the country’s greatest tangible cultural asset and can stand

comparison with any other assemblage of gold artifacts in the world.”

Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Jr., during the launch of the project at the Philippine Consulate a few months ago, called on the community leaders to encourage everyone in the community to see the exhibit.

“It’s not just a partnership of Asia Society and Ayala Museum and the private collectors and the benefit committee, it involves our community as well. We are all partners in this endeavor,” he said.

Regular museum ticket price is $12 but for groups of 20 or more, Asia Society officials said they will reduce the price to just $7 per person.

“You will be amazed to find out that our history didn’t start with the coming of Magellan. It started way, way back. All of us can hold our heads high and say that ‘Yes, we are proud we are Filipinos!’,” Lewis added.

Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms is organized by Asia Society, New York, and Ayala Museum, Philippines. The exhibit will run will run at the Asia Society from Sept. 11, 2015 through January 3, 2016.

Mark from Butuan Ear ornaments from a burial ensemble from Nabua, Camarines Sur

Garuda ornaments from Eastern Visayas

Pectoral ornament from Butuan

Belt cl ip depicting squids and jellyfish from Surigao

Fragment of waistband from Surigao

Ear ornaments with twelve floriated spangles from Bohol

Six-petaled ornament from Eastern Visayas

BENEFIT EVENTPhilippine Gold Opening GalaThursday, September 10 • 6:00 pmThis Gala Benefit Dinner will celebrate the

exhibition opening of Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms and the launch of a season of programming that highlights the richness and diversity of Philippine culture and current affairs, and explores its cuisine, performing arts, film, design, literature, and more.

BENEFIT EVENTPhilippine Gold Premiere Night GalaFriday, September 11 • 6:00 pmThe Premiere Night Gala Dinner will mark

the opening of Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms and help launch a season of programming that highlights the richness and diversity of Philippine culture and current affairs, and explores its cuisine, performing arts, film, design, literature, and more.

BENEFIT EVENTFilipino American Community CelebrationSaturday, September 12 • 6:00 pmA celebratory evening with live music, pica

pica (hor d’oeuvres) reception and tours of Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms. The centerpiece of the evening will be a special performance of Langhapin, Lasapin, Namnamin … Pag-Ibig (Breathe, Taste, Savor … Love) at 7:00 pm. This special presentation explores love in its many aspects through Philippine songs of various genres performed by outstanding Filipino and American classical singers and musicians, offering a glimpse of Philippines musical identity and heritage.

PERFORMANCETunog ng Ulap RondallaSunday, September 13 • 2:00 pmRevel in the stirring music and dances

of Tunog ng Ulap Rondalla. This delightful plucked string ensemble affiliated with the Iskwelahang Pilipino of Boston performs original compositions and arrangements of traditional pieces celebrating the musical dynamism of the islands.

MEMBERS-ONLY LECTURERe-Collecting a Forgotten Past: Traces

of Hindu-Buddhist Art in the Precolonial

PhilippinesTuesday, September 15• 6:30 pmJoin co-curator of Philippine Gold: Treasures

of Forgotten Kingdoms, Florina h. Capistrano-Baker for an insightful talk on the origins of these extraordinary objects, from the pre-colonial era of the Philippines, which are on view in the United States for the first time.

SYMPOSIUMEncounters with Early Asian Gold Saturday, October 3 • 11:00 amheld in conjunction with the

exhibition, Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms, this symposium features new scholarship that reassesses our understanding of Asian peoples in the context of gold trade and movement.

PERFORMANCEAlamat: Stories of Philippine Gold Monday, October 26 • 8:00 pmUsing movement, songs, and a highly visual

style, Ma-Yi Theater Company has created a compelling evening of theater that retraces the evolution of Philippine Gold as uniquely

Filipino. Weaving together various indigenous myths about creation, nature, and tribal histories,Alamat: Stories of Philippine Gold tells the story of gold before colonization by the West.

PERFORMANCEVoicing the Ancestral Sacred: Grace Nono

and EnsembleSaturday, October 30• 8:00 pmGrace Nono is one of the most renowned

female vocalists in the Philippines. She hails from the area in the Southern Philippines where the Butuan kingdom was located. Nono is a champion of traditional Filipino music while at the same time finding ways to make it contemporary for a new generation.

FILM SERIESNew Philippine CinemaNovember 2015Asia Society plans to celebrate new

Philippine cinema with seminal works made since 2000. While Philippine films are recognized around the world in major film festivals, American audiences have yet to catch up with the tide.

Related Programs and Events of the Philippine Gold exhibit at Asia Society Photos courtesy of Asiasociety.org, Ayala Museum

3The Asian Journal NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY SEpTEmbER 4, 2015

An Asian Journal Magazine

Atty. MichAel

Gurfinkel, eSQ

ImmigrationCorner

GET A CHANCE TO HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE “YOur TANONG, MY SAGOT” WITH ATTY. GurFINKEL! Kapamilyas in Los Angeles and surrounding areas have the chance for a “free”, face-to-face question and answer with leading uS immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel about your immigration issues or problems. Just go to www.citizenpinoy.com to submit your immigration question on or before September 11. You will be notified if your question gets picked for a one-on-one discussion with Atty. Gurfinkel on September 20 at their Glendale office at 219 N. Brand Blvd.

There have been many tragic situations where people were duped into applying for immigration benefits to which they were not entitled. Unscrupulous immigration consultants promise work permits, green cards, and other immigration benefits to people who are eager to work in the U.S. and send money back home. Only later do they find out they were tricked and cheated out of their hard-earned money. To make matters worse, they are charged with fraud by the USCIS and denied legitimate immigration benefits.

In an unpublished decision from the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO), an alien was charged with fraud. he filed his fraud waiver which was denied because he did not properly demonstrate his qualifying relative (his spouse) would suffer extreme hardship. however, on appeal, the AAO concluded he did not intend to defraud and/or willfully misrepresent a material fact to the US government. Therefore, no fraud waiver was required, and his adjustment of status application should be approved.

In that particular case, a consultant told an out of status alien that the consultant’s neighbor was a high-ranking official at the USCIS’s District Office. That official supposedly had several green cards he could give out at his discretion each year. The consultant

No fraud waiver requiredif you were a victim of fraudrepeatedly assured the alien that this whole process was legal and the alien could trust the consultant, who would take care of everything.

The alien paid the consultant, who even had the person go to USCIS’s offices to have his picture and fingerprints taken. he later received a work permit, providing further assurance the whole process was legitimate.

A few months later, he received a denial notice in the mail for permanent residence. he was shocked at receiving the denial, and tried calling the consultant. however, the consultant would not return any phone calls, and later refused to send him copies of any paperwork on what was filed. The consultant claimed he had an argument with the high-ranking official, but would provide no information about that official, such as his name or contact number.

When the alien was finally applying for legitimate immigration benefits, he obtained a copy of his previous filing, and was horrified to find there were forms containing his forged signature, along with a picture of a woman he had never met. Apparently, the consultant filed paperwork making it appear that the alien had married, and was being petitioned by a US citizen. The alien had been duped and tricked.

The AAO concluded the alien did not make a willful or fraudulent misrepresentation, but instead was tricked and fooled by a consultant. Therefore, he was not guilty of

fraud, and no fraud waiver was required.

If you were previously duped or tricked into applying for immigration benefits to which you were not entitled, you should seek the advice of an attorney who can gather and analyze your files, and evaluate whether you were also a victim of fraud. however, if a person knowingly and intentionally applied for immigration benefits to which they were not entitled, attended interviews and repeated the lies in the forms they submitted to the USCIS, then this case may not apply to you. however, if you were duped and tricked, and did not know what was being filed on your behalf, and were truly an innocent victim, there may be hope.

* * *Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active

member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.comCall Toll free to schedule a consultation for

anywhere in the uS: (866)—GurFINKELFour offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ·

SAN FrANCISCO · NEW YOrK · PHILIPPINES

(Advertising Supplement)

KApAMIlyA in los Angeles and nearby areas will get the chance to discuss their immigration issues with leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel up close and personal on Citizen Pinoy.

Just go to www.citizenpinoy.com and submit your question

on or before Friday, September 11. you will be notified if your question gets picked. And get the chance to meet Atty. Gurfinkel one-on-one on September 20 at their Glendale office at 219 N. Brand Blvd., to appear on a future episode of Citizen pinoy!

This is a public service from TFC and the law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel, and a great opportunity to get answers to your immigration questions. So don’t forget to visit www.citizenpinoy.com to send in your inquiry on or before the September deadline.

Get the chance to have a one-on-one ‘your Tanong, My Sagot’ with Atty. Gurfinkel!

(Conclusion of 2 parts)IT is sad that a legislative

effort to defund the group of taxpayer money has failed just recently due in part to the lack of leadership and true grit among many members of our feckless, inept Congress and Senate who lack the moral and intestinal

MONETTE

ADEVA MAGLAYA

ImmigrantLiving: 101 and Beyond

The murder of babies and the killing of a lion

“Evil is sly and coats itself in the dishonest lingo of political correctness.”

fortitude to win victories when they have the capacity to do so. There is simply no excuse. The matter will be up for revote and I sense a change in the direction of the wind.

The sad part about all these is that an overwhelming number of babies murdered are from the African American community and other minorities. Margaret Sanger, the pioneer

for abortion many decades ago, actually started the practice of eugenics for the purpose of eliminating certain members of the community she deemed undesirable.

pp is led by its outspoken, high profile, well connected, no apologies CeO, Cecille richards, daughter of the late Texas Governor Ann richards, who along with others have made it part of their life’s work to promote abortion under the dubious guise and disingenuous pretext of freedom of choice for women while ostensibly promoting women’s health as a

cover. Anyone with 2 neurons firing

in the brain know this is just a part of a general bogus narrative of the so called liberal lie of the“war on women.” There is a reason for the pandering. polls indicate that women supporting abortion are a significant voting bloc that can pull the lever in national and local elections. The reading of pollsters is skewed and is patently deceitful. Women of substance who stand for life are in overwhelming numbers compared to those who stand for the culture of death.

planned parenthood’s

services to women such as mammograms, scans and such other benign procedures appear to be just a smokescreen for 90% of what they really do: abortions and the harvest of baby body parts for profit with yet another smokescreen of advancing medical research. you may sugarcoat it and disguise it all you want, the end will never justify the means.

Multiple videos have been released by the group and can still be viewed on youtube barring injunctions from a Northern California judge who

Continued on Page 6

LAW OFFICE

FOR SALEEDUCATIONEMPLOYMENT

4The Asian Journal NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY SEpTEmbER 4, 2015

An Asian Journal Magazine

Continued on Page 6

How 2015 APEC creates the ‘wow factor’by Thelma SioSon San Juan

Inquirer.net

Without so much fanfare, the Philippines this year has been hosting thousands of delegates to the series of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings held in various parts of the country, from Boracay, iloilo, Cebu, to tagaytay and Makati. And we have been do-ing it with aplomb, creativity and taste—not a show-off of opulence.

the meetings will culminate in November when the heads of state of member nations fly to Manila for the 2015 APEC Leaders’ Summit. the last time the country hosted the Apec heads of state was in 1996.

Beginning Sept. 4, Cebu rolls out the hospitality carpet for the APEC delegates. What Cebu has in store should be something to look forward to.

What we have seen so far has been very impressive. it’s been a commendable effort that does the country proud and leaves us—a regular eyewitness to the activities and the setting—impressed with how the organizers have been mar-shaling Filipino resources and ma-terials ingeniously, tastefully—and always, with a twist or surprising innovation that projects what is uniquely Filipino.

they prove that we can proj-ect ourselves on the global stage without resorting to extravagance. Nothing over the top. indeed, all this has been in keeping with the style of this current administration—not

opulent, but a tasteful, dignified projection to the world.

the APEC creative team led by former Cultural Center of the Philip-pines (CCP) president Nes Jardin has been working under the office of the President, the Departments of Foreign Affairs, trade and industry, tourism and Finance, transporta-tion and Communications, Energy, Agriculture, and Neda, ChED—in-deed almost all the departments, the local governments and the APEC Business Council representing the private sector.

it’s a dynamic collaboration of government and private entities, and the creative team has been tap-ping the country’s leading artists, directors, performers—the creative industry led by the CCP under artis-tic director Chris Millado.

that the APEC exercise hasn’t been monopolized by a single culture faction, unlike in the past, is an encouraging sign of how this

administration has been trying to level the playing field, not only in business and industry, but also in other sectors.

As these photos show, the APEC event held in Boracay last May was nothing short of spectacular. Like the other APEC shows held in the country, it had the “wow factor.”

the APEC culminating show was held on the stage designed by sculptor Leeroy New—a tantalizing art installation evoking the giant shapes of corals and sea creatures. it rose on the beachfront of Shan-gri-La Boracay, set against the setting sun and the “paraw” sailing behind. in the remaining light, it cut a stark silhouette against the puffy clouds. At nightfall, it became a kaleidoscope of light on which top entertainers like Bituin Escalante performed.

APEC in Boracay also showcased the sculptures of young artist ol-

Boracay sand sculpture pays tribute to APEC. Even meeting room carries the sand-and-beach theme, right in the center.

“Paraw” sailing in the dark night is a stark contrast against the luminous stage designed by Leeroy New.

In APEC Boracay, the rich Philippine marine life (think jellyfish) inspires both Leeroy New’s stage and the table centerpiece. Inquirer.net photos by Thelma San Juan

FoLLoWiNg a series of jam-packed Kapusong Pinoy events across different continents, gMA Pinoy tV in association with Starmedia Entertainment, stages another Kapusong Pinoy concert to be held at the prestigious town hall in Midtown Manhattan, New York on September 5, with Kapuso stars all geared up to bring the fun and entertainment to all loyal gMA fans.

As gMA Pinoy tV celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, it remains committed to bringing quality news and entertainment to Kapuso fans abroad, making them feel closer to home.

“the past ten years have been a very fruitful and heart-warming journey for gMA international and we dedicate this year’s Kapusong Pinoy concert series to all those who have been with us along the way,” says gMA First Vice President and head of international operations Joseph t. Francia. “through a night of music, fun and laughter with their favourite Kapuso artists, we hope to bring a slice of home to our kababayans abroad,” he adds.

Some of the Network’s biggest and brightest stars headline the third of this year’s series of anniversary concerts with Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes and Philippine Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas leading the all-star cast.

“i’ve always loved New York,” admits Dingdong. “our kababayans there have such a strong Filipino spirit and i’m really excited to come back and perform for them. this concert is also special because we’re celebrating ten years of reaching out to every Filipino across the world and making them feel closer to the Philippines,” he expresses. Dingdong has recently wrapped

up taping for his primetime soap Pari ‘Koy and is all set to return to the hosting scene via the much-awaited comeback of StarStruck.

Ai-Ai is as excited as Dingdong. “Mga Kapuso, bongga talaga ang 10th anniversary ng gMA Pinoy tV at handog nanaman namin ang isang napakasayang show para sa inyo! New York, handa na ba kayo? Maki-celebrate na ng ten years with ten times the fun!” says the veteran actress-comedienne, who is one of the main hosts of Sunday PinaSaya.

Alongside Dingdong and Ai-Ai are Asia’s Pop Sweetheart Julie Anne San Jose, actor comedian Betong Sumaya and Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista.

Julie Anne, who recently filmed her newest music videos including “tidal Wave” in Los Angeles and “Not impressed” in New York, shares her excitement and anticipation for the event. “i can’t wait to finally be back in New York and be with all the Filipinos there. it’s always great to be performing in front of such a warm and lively crowd. We hope you enjoy the performances we’ve prepared for you!” says the artist whose fans can also catch her weekly on Sunday PinaSaya.

Meanwhile, Christian, who also headlined Kapusong Pinoy Vancouver and Kapusong Pinoy Anaheim this year, is ready to thrill the crowd with his romantic ballads. “this is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our fellow Filipinos abroad and i’m grateful to be part of a very special celebration. Congratulations to gMA Pinoy tV for 10 successful years!” he says.

Betong will also be bringing his beloved character Antonietta from the Philippines’ longest-

running gag show Bubble gang to fans in New York. “Mga Kapuso, darating na si Antonietta sa New York! Samahan niyo kami sa September 5 at siguradong punung-puno ng tawanan, kantahan at kasiyahan ang inyong gabi! Amazing!” he exclaims with his famous catchphrase.

Kapuso artist Rita Daniela will also join Dingdong, Ai-Ai, Julie Anne, Betong and Christian in Kapusong Pinoy New York.

the concert will be held at the town hallv, 123 West 43rd Street, New York NY 10036 on September 5. gates open at 5:00 PM. to purchase tickets, log on to www.ticketmaster.com and www.starmediaentertainment.com.

Kapusong Pinoy New York is sponsored by Landbank, Vonage, Vista Residences, Moneygram, Ritemed, Mapua institute of technology, Cebuana Lhuillier, globe Duo uSA, Everest Aircondition, the generics Pharmacy, ASAP tickets Service, Xoom.com, Shakey’s, Financial Rescue, Cebu Pacific, LBC, DirectV, Debt Aid Consulting, transfast, Air 21, Red Ribbon, Magnolia ice Cream, Chowking, tancinco Law office, Sweet habana, Apex global Cargo, 13 Degrees North and Conzerge hotel Collection – the Blakely New York hotel.

For updates on gMA Network’s artists, programs, international channels and events, visit the website www.gmanetwork.com/international, Facebook pages www.facebook.com/gMAPinoytV, www.facebook.com/gmalifetv, and www.facebook.com/gmanewsinternational, twitter pages @gmapinoytv, @gma_lifetv, and @gmanewstvintl and instagram account @gmapinoytv. (30)

(Advertising Supplement)

New York welcomes Dingdong Dantes,Ai-Ai delas Alas and other Kapuso stars

GMA Pinoy TV continues 10th anniversary celebration dubbed #Sampuso with Kapusong Pinoy New York

Dingdong Dantes Ai-Ai delas Alas Betong Sumaya Julie Anne San Jose Christian Bautista

5The Asian Journal NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY SEpTEmbER 4, 2015

An Asian Journal Magazine

The ‘Beautiful Life’ celebration

In celebration of Philippine cultural pride and heritage, I am happy to announce the coming of the 4th Beautiful Life Awards on november 21, to be held at the OMnI Hotel.

As some of you may know, this glamorous event is held in honor of the men and women who have remarkably influenced and inspired the Filipino-American Community. It showcases the indigenous work of our kababayans and celebrates the contributions they made in making this world more beautiful. Hence, the title; “The Beautiful Life Celebration.” I am also proud to share that this would be the celebration’s fourth year.

In line with that, I am thrilled to give you a preview of the event beginning with my chosen theme for this year. I know I may be pre-empting my own event but I just can’t help but share my excitement as the president of this organization. Please allow me to indulge our readers with just a sneak peak. This year is so unique from the previous years’ themes. I recall: The first one was a fashion show held at the CBS Studio while the second was a black-and-pink-themed awards night, which was also held at the same venue. Both events featured the lovely, Ruffa Gutierrez and other distinguished guests. The third one, which was held at the Metropolitan Banquet, was a classic red-and-black themed event. And now, for this year’s theme, I decided to let the colors come out! It follows the same glamorous ambiance but with more liberty on the color theme. It is a dress-to-impress night with exploding colors, so to speak. I am not one to brag but as most people say, each celebration never fails to outshine the previous ones. In light of that, I definitely guarantee that this will be the best one.

As I mentioned in the beginning, the event recognizes the extraordinary work and life of our fellow Filipinos in their

chosen field of endeavor. It celebrates the choices they made, the lives the lead and the legacy they imparted to the Fil-Am community. Among the awards that will be given are 2015 Distinguished Men and Women of the Year, Special Award of Distinction, and Distinguished

Couple of the Year. And of course, this would not be called “Beautiful Life” if we do not appreciate “Pinay” Beauty; the much awaited Queen of Queens Coronation will also take place on the said event. We will be crowning this year’s Queen of the Philippines Universe, Queen

Awardees of the event

Queen of queens

of the Philippines International, Queen of the Philippines World, Queen of the Philippines Asia and Queen of the Philippines Intercontinental.

The “Beautiful Life” Celebration is the youngest of the socio-political organizations that I lead in honor of our Kababayans who have displayed an unparalleled outlook in life. These are: “Reflections” that’s been around for 20 years and “Uliran Awards”, a Filipinana affair that has been instrumental in inspiring Filipinos to give their best always—it is still going strong for 10 years. And, out of the irresistible demand to celebrate our cultural heritage, I—along with like-minded individuals who felt a strong sense of appreciation, formed the “Beautiful Life.” It is held every other year and holds a soft spot in me. One of the most memorable events I had with this organization was the time we raised $5,000 to donate to the victims of typhoon “Yolanda” in the Philippines. And that, by far, is the best way we’ve celebrated “life” apart from recognizing noble men and women.

So, it is with so much joy and privilege that I invite everyone to gather with us in acknowledging our exceptional Kababayans. The event will be preluded with a press conference on September 16, 2015, 7pm. at the OMnI Hotel California Plaza in Los Angeles. The actual event is on november 21. Tickets range from $100 to $150 (VIP seating). For more information and other inquiries, you may email me at monetlu@yahoo.com. Reservations can be made via email or by contacting me thru (213) 216 -4923.

***Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-

winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

By Monet Lu

JERSEY CITY, nJ—To celebrate the annual feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, the first Filipino Martyr and Saint, the parish community of Saint Joseph will host a series of novena masses from Sept. 20 to 28 at St. Joseph Church located at Pavonia Avenue corner Baldwin Avenue. The event is open to the public.

Various priests led by the Rev. James V. Pagnotta, pastor, will officiate the novena masses honoring San Lorenzo Ruiz and seeking his intervention to pray for various sectors of society including the youth, the elderly, the victims of injustice.

The celebration will begin on Sept. 20 (Sunday at noon) with special prayers for priestly and religious vocations.

The rest of the schedule is as follows:

• Sept. 21 (Monday) at 7:30pm – Special Prayers for Life

• Sept. 22 (Tuesday) at 7:30pm – Special Prayers for Victims of Injustice

• Sept. 23 (Wednesday) at 7:30pm – Special Blessings for Parents. The Wednesday novena Mass will be preceded by the recitation of the Holy Rosary and novena prayers to the Mother of Perpetual Help at 6:45 p.m.

• Sept. 24 (Thursday) at 7:30pm – Specia l Prayers for Peace

• Sept. 25 (Friday) at 7:30pm – Special Prayers for the Youth and Children

• Sept. 26 (Saturday) at 9am – Special Prayers for Our Earth

• Sept. 27 (Sunday) at noon – Solemn Blessings for the Elderly

St. Joseph Parish to honorSan Lorenzo Ruiz with novena

masses on Sept. 20 to 28

Continued on Page 6

6The Asian Journal NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY SEpTEmbER 4, 2015

An Asian Journal Magazine

RENE DALANDAN DIRECTS SPOLIARIUM, THE OPERA. Rene Dalandan has enjoyed a multi-faceted career as pianist, singer, conductor, organist, actor, educator, liturgical musician and educator. As a pianist, he has performed in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in NY, in numerous concerts in Asia, North America, Europe and Asia and done command performances for various heads of state. As liturgical singer, organist and conductor, he has participated in two Papal Masses in New York as well as Cardinal Dolan’s installation at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican. Scheduled to sing with the NY Archdiocesan Choir for Pope Francis’ Papal Mass in September, he holds a Doctor of Music degree in Piano from the Manhattan School of Music and taught as adjunct professor at the Dominican College, Blauvelt, NY. His theater work has included a recent 19-performance run as The Ghost of Christmas Present at the Antrim Players’ production of A Christmas Carol and Associate Music Director for the NY premier of De Leon’s opera Noli Me Tangere. While serving as music director of St. Catharine’s Church in Blauvelt , Rene has also taught schools in Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn, and now teaches chorus, general music and theater at the Pearl River Middle School, NY.

From Page 4

From Page 3

has sided with PP in stopping the pro-life group from releasing the explosive videos.

Political influence is at work in suppressing freedom of speech for the time being.

In the interest of full disclosure, that judge in Northern California, was a campaign bundler raising more than $200,000 for the current administration in its run for the office.

Critics of the videos claim these are heavily edited and a conspiracy to discredit PP. That dubious claim has been debunked as the raw footage of the videos are available online (as of this writing) for anyone to view.

The minions of these marauding murderers of the

The murder of babies... political correctness. In my view, the one thing that

is a clear reflection of the soul of a candidate running for elective office, a telling glimpse of how highly evolved the candidate is as a human being who can mirror the divine and ultimately, the direction and actions a candidate takes to govern his constituency, guide this country and shape the world at large according to its Christian founding principles, is the unflinching and uncompromising stand on the issue of abortion.

Of all the creatures that walk the earth, God didn’t choose lions, or tigers or dinosaurs or any other animal in his own image and likeness. God chose us.

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

most innocent of human beings are well placed and wield the highest political clout, from the highest echelons of office to the lowest handlers. The White House, Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren are staunch defenders of PP. Technicians in lab coats poke teeny tiny baby body parts with tweezers in a dish, figuring out if the minuscule body part is a leg, an arm, a liver, a kidney or an eyeball and pricing dead baby parts retail.

In this coming national election, CHOOSE LIFE. Find out the voting record on this matter of all those running for election and reelection. It is difficult to be a single issue voter since this country has complicated its voting process by mixing up both good and bad so that everything seems murky. Evil is sly and coats itself in the dishonest lingo of

From Page 5

St. Joseph Parish to honor...The festivities will conclude

on Sept. 28 (Monday) starting at 7:30pm, with a joint Eucharistic Celebration in honor of San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod, the second Filipino Saint. A fellowship in the social hall of the parish will follow immediately after the Eucharistic Celebration.

San Lorenzo Ruiz, a lay witness to the faith from Binondo, Manila, was canonized by Pope John Paul II in Vatican City on Oct. 18, 1987. He professed his faith by martyrdom in Nagasaki, Japan on Sept. 29,

workers and immigrants, the Filipino youth and the Chinese Filipinos.

For more information, visit www.stjosephjc.com. If you wish to volunteer and take part in the preparations for the novena and/or Joint Eucharistic Celebration on Sept. 28, call any of the following: (all 201 area code): Cora dela Cruz 798-8953, Aurea Diansen 653-5598, Lulu Ducusin 714-9506, Gee Fontanilla 653-5897, Tess Gumtang 792-5684, Chitra Herath 604-3763, Liza Jablonski 653-2736, Herminio/Florita Magno 653-7780, Crispina Mirasol 320-0911, Roland/Zeny Padilla 795-4596/779-7935 or Tina Zarejko 216-0140.

1637. According to accounts, the Japanese promised Lorenzo that they would release him if he denounced Christianity. Refusing to renounce his faith he told his executioners that he was ready to die for God and give to God many thousands of lives if he had them. He was tortured and hanged upside down submerged in water until he died. His martyrdom and a miracle attributed to his intervention led to his elevation to sainthood. San Lorenzo Ruiz is the patron saint, among others, of the Philippines, as well as of overseas Filipino

THE Embassy is looking for 13 children to participate in welcoming the Holy Father, His Holiness, Pope Francis, to Washington, DC on the early morning of Thursday, September 24th. Please see attached poster for details.

Please note:• For children to qualify,

they must be Filipino or Filipino-American and must be in Grade 3-12,

• Children must be at a predetermined pick-up area on the morning of Thursday, September 24th. Estimated meeting time is 6AM,

• Children must attend a briefing if required by the Archdiocese of Washington,

• Parents/grandparents may not join their children/grandchildren; children will be accompanied by 2 chaperones to be selected by the Embassy,

• Other details (attire, exact venue, etc) to be determined with the Archdiocese of Washington and will be shared once known.

We invite parents to send in the names and details of their children by noon of Thursday, September 17th. The children will be picked by random and will be announced on

Friday, September 18th.Please email Thryza.Navarrete@

philippinesusa.org with the following details:

• Child’s name• Child’s date of birth• Child’s school & grade• Parent’s contact details:

Name of both parents and contact number

The Embassy thanks the Archdiocese of Washington, under His Eminence, Donald Cardinal Wuerl, for allowing Filipino and Filipino-American children to participate in welcoming the Holy Father to Washington, DC.

PH Embassy looking for Filipino/Fil-Amchildren to greet Pope Francis in US

Welcome Pope Francis to Washington, DC!

You must be:

• Filipino or Filipino-American • Must be in Grade 3 -12 • Willing to be at a pre-determined area by 6am on Thursday, 24 September • Must be patient while waiting for Pope Francis • Your parents must be willing to wait for you at a designated pick-up and drop-off

point

Have your mom or dad email Thryza Navarrete at Thryza.Navarrete@philippinesusa.org with your name, school & grade. We will let you know by Sept 18th whether you will be part of the group.

The Archdiocese of Washington has asked the Philippine Embassy for 13 children to participate in welcoming The Holy Father to Washington, DC.

ivia D’Aboville—sea anemone and dandelion sculptures strategically placed on the garden.

Garden lights on the ground were fashioned out of reused plas-tic cups.

Even the meeting rooms at Shangri-La Boracay carried the sun-

How 2015 APEC creates the ‘wow factor’and-sand theme.

The center of the U-shaped seating was a carpet of sand lit-tered with shells, twigs and ar-rangements of local orchids. The delegates did serious work in this vacation setting—in the confines of the conference room.

While previous and future

country hosts of APEC may have the limitless logistics to produce grandeur, in the case of the Phil-ippines, it is the Filipino design and creative talent that produces the wow factor on the global stage—progressive, dynamic, young talent. And that is working on a limited budget.

7The Asian Journal NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY SEpTEmbER 4, 2015

An Asian Journal Magazine

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

Americaalendar of EventsacrossC

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS!PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT

GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW.CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES

FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS

National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants 2015 Charity Golf Tournament

Where: Penderbrook Golf Club, 3700 Golf Trail Lane, Fairfax, VA 22033When: September 4, 2015; 8am-2pmPlease contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or

Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.netVisit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.

SEPTEMBER 4

National Council of Philippine American & Canadian Accountants 2015 Convention

Where: JW Marriott 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20004When: September 4-6, 2015; from 8am-5pmPlease contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or

Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.netVisit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.

SEPTEMBER 4-6

Filipino Association of Leisure World Dinner-DanceThe Filipino Association of Leisure World will hold their dinner-dance at the Leisure World

Hall on Saturday, September 5th. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For further information, please call Ren Villanueva at (323) 854-6209.

SEPTEMBER 5

Ramon Magsaysay/Cubao High School 2015 Reunion in Las VegasCalling all Cubao High School/Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School graduates and

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

SEPTEMBER 4-7

Saulog Celebration: A Night of SerenadeCebuanos Engaging in Building Unity, Inc. (CEBU INC.) will be hosting a Saulog Celebra-

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

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for Accountants at the NCPACA Convention

Where: JW Marriott 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20004When: September 5-6, 2015; from 8am-5pm, at the National Council of Philippine Ameri-

can & Canadian Accountants (NCPACA) 2015 ConventionPlease contact: Jaena Hermosilla Valles 718-275-1422; jvalles@vallesvendiola.com or

Bobby Tamayo 703-615-9451; rgtamayo@verizon.netVisit www.ncpacafoundation.com for more details.

SEPTEMBER 5-6

Citizenship Day 2015 The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association is having a FREE Citizenship

Day event on September 19, from 10:00am to 3:00pm, to assist low-income, 18+ immigrants eligible for US citizenship with the full naturalization process. Every case will be reviewed by a legal attorney. Please call us at 407-841-8310 ext. 3123 for an appointment and any questions you may have. Thank You!

SEPTEMBER 19

PiLiPiNo iNTER-CLub oPEN invitational Golf Tournament The 11th annual PILIPINO INTER-CLUB OPEN (PICO) is open to fellow master golfers

from the tri-state area. The charity tournament will be held on Saturday, September 19, at Royce Brook Golf Club (201 Hamilton Rd, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844). It will be a shotgun start @ 1:30 pm. Registration is $120 each player; includes golf cart and food after the game. Come early for registration, refreshments, and mini contests. Come and join the quest for individual and team honors by class. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Family Center Christian Church, and donations are 100% tax deductible. Sign-up now at http://www.spgolfclub.com/PICO. For more details, please contact Ed Badiola 908-531-7377, or Justil Cruz 973-926-1400.

CELEbRATE LoCAL with San Diego Restaurant Week!This September, San Diego Restaurant Week, presented by Lexus Dealerships of San

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

SEPTEMBER 20-26

2nd Grand Reunion GoT (RETiRED) from Cerveza San Miguel uS CHAPTERWhere: Gold Coast Casino & Hotel (4000 Flamingo Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89103)When: Sept. 25 and 26; Grand Reunion Sept. 26 at 7:00 pmFor details and information, please contact Renato Umayam at 323-841-3516, Nida Matias

at 818-394-9178, Greg Lacondola at 702-334-8068, or Arnold Navarro at 318-779-6254.

SEPTEMBER 25-26

LA builder Lions Club 25th AnniversaryThe Los Angeles Builder Lions Club will celebrate their 25th Anniversary and Annual

Outstanding Parents Night on October 10, 2015 at the Almansor Court banquet hall (700 S Almansor St, Alhambra, CA 91801). Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For further questions, please call Lion Bill Menor (323) 465-0613, Lion Yoli Ramo (213) 305-1332, chairpersons or Lion Tita James, co-chair at (818) 203-2325.

OcTOBER 10

EvEr since the Internet went live, Tv and print media have been on the defensive. All around the world, print editors and Tv producers alike have come up with one statistic after another to back claims of their paper’s revolutionary roots and outcomes, their magazine’s staying power, or their channel’s (supposed) continuing relevance. Statements, mostly coming from the men and women of print media, range from objective analyses of having a so-called secure and thinking audience, to audacious assertions that print media might just lord over all media in the years to come. Ironically, the latter statement is often reiterated when addressing advertisers who, being used to BS, should be able to smell it a mile away.

Yet these overzealous projections are understandable since professions, vocations, and ways of life hang in the balance when it comes to the survival of print media. But in all honesty, it’s impossible to come up with something these days — anything — without an online component of some sort. Nowadays, the tiniest semblance of an online presence means the world for many who wish to see themselves as healthy and interactive homo sapiens. And now, we are confronted with a mammoth display of online prowess: #AlDub.

What it all boils down to is this: #AlDub is nothing new. In fact, it has been the same-old same-old the moment it went on-air. So why the unrivaled fame?

#AlDub is the culmination of everything we’ve learned so far from decades’ worth of soap operas, noontime shows, Pinoy rom-coms (the type which have song and dance numbers in zoos, no less), and the newest addition

#AlDub comes at a time when GMA Network is shifting its energies out of the good ‘ol (but costly) TV programming towards a greater dependence on (cheap) Internet and a heavier presence on social media.

#AlDub and the Big, Mean Media Machineby DLS PineDa

Philstar.comto the ballgame, social media. The storyline is a comedy of errors. It makes use of a wide arsenal of twists and turns, what with our long heritage of soaps and affinity for the slapstick. And true to Yaya Dub Maine Mendoza’s online origins, the kalyeserye mashes it all together in one, topsy-turvy, 30-minute, makeup-mascara, Eat Bulaga! costume party of good vs. evil, featuring a show-stealing Lola Nidora (her twin), her sidekicks, sideshows, and a love supreme; an All-4-Juan: Juan-4-All segment, centered on the split-screen, star-crossed, amo-et-amore, without voices of their own, à la Ariel, the Little Mermaid, tandem: Alden richards and the zero-to-hero Internet sensation, Yaya Dub. How we all fall for Maine Mendoza’s seemingly overnight stardom, and how we applaud GMA Network for finally finding a place for one of its long-time-budding stars. I’d say that, all in all, it’s a laudable work of genius, but it’s really nothing new. It’s exactly what Austin Kleon preached: it’s stealing like an artist.

An article from The Philippine Collegian entitled “Kalyeserye: AlDub, Kulturang Popular at angNaka-Hashtag na Politika ng Ating Panahon” by Mykel Andrada and JC Sibayan places the media craze in its proper place. By citing Henri Lefebvre’s Critique of Everyday Life, the authors locate #AlDub not only as a Tv production running on its own merits, but a piece which is subject to its audience’s interpellation. In short, #AlDub’s audience actively creates its story and meaning.

No wonder we are bombarded with a thousand and one handles for a story. The satire in the character of Lola Nidora, the unwarranted silences the dubs fill, the quirky improvisations of Jose, Wally and Paolo all find meaning

in our heads even if there is hardly any meaning intended — they’re all bound to work, they’re all bound to be funny some way, somehow. And with the series being aggressively marketed and circulated online, it leaves little wonder as to how “audience participation” works as the series’ lifeblood. #AlDub is postmodern media’s very own Frankenstein.

Eat Bulaga’s Kalyeserye proves all doubters of online media both wrong and right. #AlDub comes at a time when GMA Network is shifting its energies out of the good ‘ol (but costly) Tv programming towards a greater dependence on (cheap) Internet and a heavier presence on social media. (In fact, some segments of the show are shown exclusively online.) Kalyeserye shows just how much more effective online media is in terms of call-and-response over all other media. But at the same time, #AlDub, intentionally or not, reflects the wantonness — the meaninglessness — of the online universe. While the Internet is democratizing access to information like never before, it is also leaving too much to be desired and too many questions left unanswered. We have to ask ourselves, now more than ever, how else will online media change the landscape and how are we to take it all in?

With all the noise Kalyeserye churns out, love becomes a sorry excuse for its story’s coming together. #AlDub is a mass media tour de force; a message which says that the Internet is a force to be reckoned with; a warning for those who still believe that going online isn’t the way to go. Times are changing. Now, we have a Janus-faced screen in front of us, a panel for each eye, to satisfy our noontime cravings.

appeared in the films “Edsa Woolworth” and “Forgive Me Father.” Starring in a new Tv series alongside Tuesday vargas, O’Brian will portray a befuddled foreigner in a relationship with a Filipino woman.

In “Kano Luvs Pinay,” O’Brian will play the role of Matthew, an American who falls for Cookie, the character played by vargas. His real, offscreen girlfriend is comedienne Marietta Subong, who is more popularly known as Pokwang.

O’Brian and Pokwang played similar roles in the movie “Edsa Woolworth,” which was instrumental in getting them together.

O’Brian said in a recent press conference that he was in the country for a vacation with his girlfriend Pokwang when he was called for a possible Tv project.

“I went in and auditioned,” said O’Brian. He soon got the role, which seems like it was specifically designed for him.

When asked by reporters to describe misconceptions about

Filipino-American relationships, O’Brian gave a rather candid response.

Cross-cultural couples, he said, often face the question: “Is this really love, or is this really for a visa?”

O’Brian added, “One of the things that we [explore in the show] is the concept of the locals’ thinking that a Filipino man or woman is just going for the benefits rather than actual love in cross-cultural relationships.”

On his romance with Pokwang, he declared, “I think, you know, in my situation… I’ve gone for love.”

reporters, in unison, responded: “Aww.”

When asked about his plans regarding his acting career in the country, O’Brian said, “That is, right now, definitely my goal… my focus is to stay here with my current girlfriend in real life and stay with my on-camera girlfriend, her family, our great director, production team and make a great show and go beyond that… I definitely want that!”

American actor in PH for real, reel loveby Louie GreG rivera

Inquirer.net

OFTEN, we hear about on-screen love stories that turn into off-screen relationships. Sometimes, however, “reel” life reflects real romances.

An American actor, Lee O’Brian

Lee O’ Brian with girlfriend Pokwang

Rachelle Ann Go celebrates 29th birthday in the Philippines

MANILA—rachelle Ann Go, who is currently based in London, is on vacation in the Philippines since last week.

The singer turned theater actress’ vacation was made extra special as she celebrated her 29th birthday in the country with the people close to her heart.

On Monday, Aug. 31, her family and friends prepared an intimate birthday celebration for rachelle Ann.

The party was attended by some of her celebrity friends like Christian

Bautista, Sheena Halili and Kyla.Over the weekend, she had a pre-

birthday celebration with her family in Boracay, which she said was her way of “capturing memories” before she turns a year older.

rachelle has been in London for more than a year now, since being part of the West-End musi-cal “Miss Saigon” as GiGi in 2014. She’s now part of the musical “Les Miserables,” where she plays the role of Fantine. She’ll be back in London before September 7. (Philstar.com)

Rachelle Ann Go is in Manila for a short vacation and to celebrate her 29th birthday with her family and friends. Instagram photo by Rachelle Ann Go

8The Asian Journal NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY SEpTEmbER 4, 2015

An Asian Journal Magazine