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Volume 22 - No. 46 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages NoVember 20-26 2015

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by Louis Bacani Philstar.com

DATELINEUSAfrom the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

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APEC leaders condemn terrorism; no stand on West Philippine Sea

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APEC 2015. President Benigno S. Aquino III poses with fellow world leaders for a Family Photo with Spouse during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) Welcome Dinner at the Coral Way Lobby of the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 18. This year’s theme is “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.” Malacañang photo by Robert Viñas

Philippines improves in climate adaptation index

mANILA—the Asia-Pacific econom-ic Cooperation (APeC) summit here ended on thursday, Nov. 19 as the 21 heads of economies condemned global terrorism while keeping silent on sea disputes that threaten regional stabil-ity.

After the APeC leaders’ retreat at the Philippine International Convention Center, the heads of state issued a dec-laration that laid out their new commit-ments on regional issues.

however, there was no mention of the West Philippine sea or south China

sea dispute, which critics believe is es-sential to the economic stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

“our enduring commitment will under-write the peace, stability, development, and common prosperity of the Asia-Pacif-ic,” the leaders said in their declaration.

the governments of the Philippines and China had said that the sea dispute was not part of the APeC summit agenda in manila.

the two countries are among the APeC members that have conflicting claims to the south China sea, where a huge per-centage of global trade passes.China is

PH ranks 11th in Global Terrorism Indexby aLexis RomeRo

Philstar.com

The Philippines experienced 378 terrorism incidents in 2014 that left 240 persons dead and 367 injured. A total of 529 properties were damaged because of the atrocities.

mANILA—the Philippines ranked 11th out of 162 coun-tries in terms of the impact of terrorism in the Global ter-rorism Index 2015, a tool that analyzes the trends in terrorist activities worldwide.

the country’s ranking im-proved from ninth in 2014 as it saw a decrease in the number of deaths related to terrorism.

the Philippines experienced 378 terrorism incidents in 2014 that left 240 persons dead and 367 injured. A total of 529 prop-

erties were damaged because of the atrocities.

the number of terrorism-re-lated fatalities went down by 18 percent to 240 in 2014 from 291 in 2013, according to the Global Peace Index 2015 report.

Because of the lower number of fatalities, the Philippines’ ter-rorism index score went down slightly to 7.27 from 7.29.

“terrorism in the Philippines is intrinsically tied with nation-alist and separatist claims by people living in provinces in southern Philippines,” the re-port read.

“the largest individual group was the New People’s Army (NPA), a communist organiza-tion, which claimed responsi-bility for 32 percent of deaths in 2014,” it added.

the NPA has about 4,000 members nationwide based on latest military estimates, virtu-ally unchanged in the last few years despite the military’s claims that the group is on de-cline.

the Philippines’ ranking was the second highest among southeast Asian countries cov-

Fil-Am appointed court commissioner for San Bernardino County Superior Court

Winston Keh

Los ANGeLes—the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) congratulates Winston Keh on his appointment as Court Commissioner for the san Bernardino County supe-rior Court. he will take his oath of office on November 30, 2015.

Commissioner Keh joined the PABA Board of Governors in 2007. he served as the President in 2013. Commissioner Keh also served as a board member of the Asian Pacific

American Bar Association (APABA) in 2012 through 2013. he is an ac-complished litigator with extensive trial experience in defending and prosecuting tort cases and business disputes. he specializes in cata-strophic injury, wrongful death, and transportation law. he received his J.D. from the University of LaVerne College of Law in 1999, and was ad-mitted in the same year.

by Janvic mateo Philstar.com

mANILA—the Philippines has been recognized as one of 10 countries that made signifi-cant progress in adapting to the effects of climate change.

the University of Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (ND-GAIN), released earlier this week, said the Philippines continuously

improved on its vulnerability and readiness scores over the past five years.

“Adaptation challenges still exist, but the Philippines is well-positioned to adapt,” the organi-zation said.

other countries that made significant improvements were Cote d’Ivoire, Laos, Georgia,

PH HONORS FRANCE. After the horrendous series of attacks in Paris, the world has come together to show their support and solidarity, including the Philippines. Tourism Philippines recently shared this photo of Rizal Monument beaming with colors of France’s flag. The photo includes a caption, “Philippines honors France.” Following the attacks, countries have lit up their most iconic landmarks to show respect to the victims of the attacks - Mexico, Brazil, United Kingdom, Australia, US cities and other countries in Asia.

Binay to DOLE: Pay working students now

the Department of Labor and employment (DoLe) must ensure that students who work during the summer and the Christmas season are paid within the 11-day period required under the law, Vice Presi-dent Jejomar Binay said on tues-day, Nov. 17.

Binay’s camp had noted the delay in the release of DoLe’s 40-percent share in the payment for working students under the spe-cial Program for the employment of students (sPes) in 2013.

A recently-released 2013 report from the Commission on Audit showed that payment for 54,177 students under the sPes total-

Court upholds CA death penalty

A feDerAL appeals court over-turned a lower court’s ruling that California’s death penalty process was unconstitutional, on grounds that the system-wide appeals were flawed and taking too long.

U.s. District Judge Cormac J. Car-ney ruled the system unconstitutional on July 16, 2014, saying it is “arbitrary and plagued with delay,” reported the Los Angeles times.

In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on thursday, Nov. 12 re-jected Judge Carney’s argument on a technicality that it did not address the question of whether life on death row in California constituted “cruel and unusual punishment”--thus upholding the state’s capital punishment system.

Coalition allegesrailroading of new SF commercial project

sAN frANCIsCo–members of a citywide coalition concerned with the economic and social impacts of new development in the city’s south of market neighborhood charged that the city’s Planning Department and a private developer were making plans separate from the public process and were fast-tracking the project while ignoring the community’s request to study the negative effects of gentri-fication.

meeting on November 11 the soma Action Committee (smAC) co-alition reiterated its pending appeal of developer forest City’s 5m Proj-ect, which will be heard by the city’s Board of supervisor on November 17 at 3 p.m.

smAC is appealing the certification of the environmental Impact report (eIr), the conditional use approvals

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From the Front Page

APEC leaders condenm...PAGE A1

also locked in another maritime dispute with fellow APEC power Japan over the East China Sea.

In their declaration, the APEC leaders denounced terrorism and vowed united efforts to combat its root causes following the re-cent terror attacks including that in Paris that killed more than 100 people.

“Under the shadow cast by the terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, and against Russian aircraft over the Sinai, and elsewhere, we strongly condemn all acts, meth-

ods and practices of terrorism in all their forms and manifesta-tions,” the leaders said.

“We will not allow terrorism to threaten the fundamental values that underpin our free and open economies,” they added.

The leaders’ declaration said “economic growth, prosperity and opportunity are among the most powerful tools to address the root causes of terrorism and radicalization.”

“We stress the urgent need for increased international co-operation and solidarity in the

fight against terrorism,” they said.

The APEC leaders said they are mindful that millions in the Asia-Pacific still endure poverty despite the unprecedented eco-nomic growth in the region.

The heads of state also called for more intensive efforts for pov-erty reduction and alleviation.

“We also acknowledge that in-equality acts as a brake on eco-nomic growth and that reducing it is essential to spurring develop-ment and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific,” the leaders said.

President Benigno S. Aquino III participates in the discussions with fellow world leaders during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting Retreat 1 at the Meeting Room 1 of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City on Thursday, Nov. 19. With this year’s theme: “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World,” the APEC leaders vowed increased cooperation against terrorism. Malacañang photo by Gil Nartea

PH ranks 11th in Global Terrorism...ered by the report. It was a notch lower than Thailand (10th) but higher than Indonesia (33rd), Myanmar (41st), Malaysia (49th), Cambodia (113th), Laos (121st), Singapore, Timor Leste and Viet-nam (tied at 124th).

Iraq, plagued by the presence of terrorist group Islamic State, ranked first in the index followed by Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria.

Countries that scored zero in the index or those least affected by terrorist acts were Benin, Bo-tswana, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Sal-vador, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Guyana, Haiti, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania,

Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Namibia, North Korea, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qa-tar, Romania, Sierra Leone, Sin-gapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, Uzbeki-stan, Vietnam and Zambia.

The Global Terrorism Index 2015 report said deaths from terrorism rose to 80 percent last year to the highest level ever, with 32,658 people killed from 18,111 in 2013.

Boko Haram and the Islamic State were jointly responsible for more than half or 51 percent of all global fatalities in 2014.

According to the report, 78 per-cent of all deaths and 57 percent

of all attacks occurred in just five countries namely Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria.

“Iraq continues to be the coun-try most impacted by terrorism with 9,929 terrorist fatalities, the highest ever recorded in a single country,” the report said.

The global economic cost of terrorism has hit an all-time high at $52.9 billion. There have been more than 61,000 terrorist attacks worldwide since the year 2000.

A project of think tank Insti-tute for Economics and Peace, the Global Terrorism Index as-sesses 162 countries based on four indicators – total number of incidents, fatalities, injuries and property damage.

Philippines improves in climate...Russia, Poland, Rwanda, Mon-golia, Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

“These countries share im-provement in common factors that have contributed to the up-ward movement: primarily their improving economies and im-proving adaptive capacities, such as increased access to reliable drinking water, improved sanita-tion, increased agricultural ca-pacity and decreased slum popu-lations and child malnutrition,” it added.

Based on the latest ND-GAIN, the Philippines is the 87th most vulnerable country and the 74th least ready country to adapt to cli-mate change.

The organization uses 36 in-dicators to measure vulnerabil-ity, while another nine indicators

contribute to the measure of readiness.

ND-GAIN managing director Joyce Coffee said the index iden-tifies the world’s hotspots on the issue of climate change adapta-tion and mitigation and could help world leaders prioritize their investments that help other countries to be more adaptive to changes.

“To save lives and improve live-lihoods, we must not only prevent the avoidable, but also prepare for the unavoidable changes in climate,” she added.

Good environment senseMeanwhile, Sen. Loren Legar-

da yesterday lauded US President Barack Obama for raising the is-sue of climate change adaptation and mitigation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit as part of business plans

of large corporations.Legarda, who chairs the Sen-

ate committee on climate change, said it always makes “good busi-ness sense, good economic sense, good environment sense to mitigate.”

“The issue of climate change is intertwined with the growth of the world’s economy. If the world becomes an inhospitable place for living things, the concept of economy will disintegrate and we will be left in a pit where it will be a struggle to survive,” Legarda said.

She said that the venue of Obama’s speech, the APEC sum-mit, was important because it signifies that “more world lead-ers are now seeing that address-ing climate change is as vital as the economy.” (With Marvin Sy, Evelyn Macairan)

Coalition alleges railroading of new...and the office allocations associ-ated with the project.

It states that the deficient EIR fails to analyze and fully disclose substantial project impacts such as massing and height, traffic, pedestrian safety, open space, shade and shadow effects, in-consistency with area plans and policies and violations of the city’s General Plan. Further-

more, SMAC charges that ap-proval of the project will obliter-ate the Youth and Family Special use District, displace the Filipi-no community, and jeopardize the establishment of the Filipino Historical District, therefore de-stroying the aesthetic and cul-tural integrity of surrounding neighborhoods.

Condos, office towersThe 5M Project by Cleveland-

based Forest City consists of luxury condos and office tow-ers at the heart of a longstand-ing working class and diverse neighborhood in the SoMa. It threatens the displacement of low-income, seniors, and immi-grants living in the area. Many of the residents are Filipinos that have lived in the neighbor-hood for generations.

The 5M Project more than doubles the highest allowable heights: 470 ft. tower with 400 market-rate residential units, 395 ft. and 350 ft. towers with 600,000 sq. ft. of office space, 200 ft. tower with 230 market-rate residential units, and 87 af-fordable units.

Forest City developments in-clude the Westfield San Fran-cisco Center, The Uptown, a 665-apartment complex in Downtown Oakland, and the Pa-cific Park, Brooklyn Nets Arena Complex, a massive 15-building site in New York City.

Repeat of history?The concerns of the Filipino

community about the 5M Project seem to be a case of history re-peating itself. The urban renewal and redevelopment in San Fran-cisco in the mid-1960’s caused the displacement of thousands of residents in west of Down-town and as far as the Fillmore district, due to the city’s plans to expand the business sector.

The International Hotel or I-Hotel at the corner of Kearny and Jackson Streets, home to Filipino immigrants, was demol-ished after the eviction of 196 tenants, many of whom were poor and elderly. It was part of the eradication of 10 full blocks of what was then Manilatown–low-cost housing, restaurants, barbershops, markets, clubs and other businesses that benefited the Filipino community.

Angelica Cabande, director of the South of Market Commu-nity Action Network (SOMCAN), hoped that the Board of Supervi-sors would listen to the concerns of the SMAC and their support-ers and reject the 5M Project.

She said the project “will set a dangerous precedent for de-velopment throughout the City, enabling developers to make up their own rules to get out of their affordable requirements and zoning rules.”

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Court upholds CA death...“The idea that death row in-

mates’ sentences have been transformed from one of death to one of ‘grave uncertainty and torture’ has no support in legal precedent, nor is it supported by logic,” the judges wrote in their decision on Thursday.

Lawyers arguing both sides of the case said the appellate ruling was decided “on largely technical grounds, and leaves unanswered the larger question of whether lengthy delays are unconstitu-tional.”

“The elephant is still in the room,” commented lawyer John Phillipsborn, who intervened in the case on behalf of criminal de-fense lawyers in California.

Carney vacated the 20-year-old death sentence of Ernest Dewayne Jones, who petitioned the court to determine whether his death sentence was valid, said CNN.

In 1995, Jones was convicted and sentenced to death for rap-ing and killing his girlfriend’s mother, 50-year-old Julia Mill-er, and has also served time in prison for raping the mother of a previous girlfriend. In 2003, the California Supreme Court upheld Jones’ conviction of first-degree murder and charg-es of rape.

Judge Carney wrote: “Allowing this system to continue to threat-en Mr. Jones with the slight pos-sibility of death, almost a genera-tion after he was first sentenced,

violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and un-usual punishment.”

Delays in the case had created a “system in which arbitrary fac-tors, rather than legitimate ones, like the nature of the crime or the date of a death sentence, deter-mine whether an individual will actually be executed,” Carney said, also noting that a death row inmate faced “complete uncer-tainty” as to when or if he or she would be executed.

Mr. Jones’ legal team had “asked the court to consider what would be a new constitutional rule in a habeas corpus case (de-termining whether imprisonment is valid). Most are barred by a 1989 ruling in Teague v. Lane,” wrote Judge Susan P. Graber in the official opinion for the ap-peals panel.

Graber added the decision was based on the legal maneuvers in the case, not whether the num-ber of years death penalty cases often take in the California sys-tem was unconstitutional.

“Many agree with petitioner that California’s capital punish-ment system is dysfunctional and that the delay between sentenc-ing and execution in California is extraordinary,” Graber, a Clinton appointee, wrote.

“But, ‘the purpose of federal habeas corpus is to ensure that state convictions comply with the federal law in existence at the time the conviction became final, and not to provide a mechanism

for the continuing re-examina-tion of final judgments based upon later emerging legal doc-trine’,” she continued, quoting an older 1990 habeas case.

Judge Paul J. Watford agreed that Carney’s ruling had to be struck down, but added that “it should have been overturned on the grounds that the California Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the precise issue in the case--whether arbitrary delay deprives the death penalty of any deter-rent value.”

If that had happened, the case would have returned to the Cali-fornia Supreme Court, which has previously said it would be will-ing to consider Carney’s theory.

Jones’ lawyers could still ap-peal to the Court of Appeals’ rul-ing to a larger panel of the Ninth Circuit.

According to reports, there are currently 747 people on death row in California. No one has been executed since 2006. Ex-ecutions will remain suspended, pending separate legal argu-ments about whether lethal in-jections are constitutional, re-ported BBC News.

Since 1978, over 900 people in California have been sentenced to death row, where inmates spend 23 hours alone in their cells.

Of those 900, 13 were execut-ed; as of 2014, 94 have died of other causes. Many inmates have been waiting on death row for over 19 years. (Allyson Escobar/AJPress)

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Coalition alleges railroading of new...Cabande further charged that

claims that the luxury office and housing development will have 40 percent affordable housing is misleading and false. “In fact, we’re left with zero affordable housing units tied to the mas-sive Fifth and Mission develop-ment, even though we need new affordable housing now more than ever.”

Encouragement for develop-ers

Cabande further stated that approval of the project incen-tivizes future developers to cir-cumvent provisions of the zon-ing code through Special Use District that will open doors to unlimited expansion of down-town SoMa and be detrimental to the City as a whole.

SMAC has also alerted the City Attorney and Board of Su-pervisors that Supervisor Jane Kim, whose district is the South of Market, has likely disquali-fied herself from the 5M Project appeal hearing because of her stated support for the Project in advance of the November 17 appeal hearing, which violates San Francisco’s Sunshine Ordi-nance.

The community coalition has requested the recusal of Super-visor Kim for the upcoming ap-peal hearing on the 5M Project, and is also asking for a 60-day continuance of the appeal hear-ing because the privately nego-tiated deal “materially alters the subject matter on appeal.”

Appellants were not notified of the changes prior to the hear-ing. SMAC’s attorney, Rachel

Mansfield-Howlett, stated, “this week, Supervisor Jane Kim ac-knowledged she negotiated a private deal with Forest City and the Hearst Corporation to make changes to the Project. Supervi-sor Kim’s support of the Project in advance of the hearing on the appeals represent a conflict of interest; her ongoing participa-tion in the pending hearing prej-udices Appellants in the appeal process.”

Private dealThe private deal includes in-

creasing the Area Media Income (AMI) levels for the below mar-ket rate (BMR) housing, mak-ing the onsite BMR rental units more expensive.

Mansfield-Howlett said that “such increase in AMI levels in-variably creates more displace-ment impacts” and this “change further demonstrates less miti-gation for resulting displace-ment impacts, which is an issue raised on appeal.”

The community coalition is questioning the validity of in-clusionary housing with the 5M Project. There are 600 units of luxury housing and every unit in the proposed 470-ft. condo tow-er is slated for luxury housing. It appears that Supervisor Kim has removed the rental units that were targeted for lower income people and increased the rate of rentals. A 2-bedroom apart-ment that would cost $1,146 per month will now cost $2,293 to $3,439 per month. Most of SoMa’s Filipino residents will no longer qualify for these AMI levels.

The coalition proposes that

for real inclusionary affordable housing, Forest City should be required to complete any off-site affordable housing projects without subsidy and build the units before 5M’s market rate units come on line.

Capping heightsAccording to Cabande, “there

could be just as much hous-ing on the 5M site, 687 units, by capping the heights at the highest currently allowed, 160 feet. Our vision includes ground floor open space and retail, over 200,000 square feet of office, and 50% onsite affordable housing in keeping with the City’s Hous-ing Balance policy. This would have much less shadow, wind and open space impacts.”

Cabante has expressed con-cerns with regards to a hearing last November 17 about “the Mayor not caring about the im-pact of this development in the long run to the SoMa community and he will do whatever he can with his executive power to tell the Supervisors to pass it. He has been doing that since the project went through the Planning Com-mission. The Supervisors will ignore the impacts because the Development Agreement sounds good.” However, she continued, “the Development Agreements will not cure the massive nega-tive impact this development will have on the South of Market. Transactions don’t make inclu-sive cities. In this housing crisis, we need more than smoke, mir-rors and PR. We need affordable housing that is real, onsite and guaranteed.” (Wilfred Galil/In-quirer.net)

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Fil-Am appointed court commissioner for...Since 2007, Commissioner

Keh has served as a Judge Pro Tem in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, presiding over traffic and small claims cases. He also served as a volunteer at-torney for the Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (formerly Asian Pacific American Legal Center) assisting members of the community with immigra-tion documents and petitions for expungement. In addition, dur-ing his tenure as the President of PABA, Commissioner Keh led a group of Filipino-American attor-neys in providing pro-bono legal assistance to members of the Fili-pino-American community.

“PABA is thrilled to learn that Winston has been appointed as a Court Commissioner,” stated Christine Gonong, PABA Presi-dent. “Winston has been a judge pro tem for the Los Angeles Coun-ty Superior Court for a very long time, so he is equipped with the necessary training, experience,

Binay to DOLE: Pay working...ling P139 million was delayed for 1-441 days, resulting in some stu-dents not being able to claim their wages.

COA reported the delays in: National Capital Region or Metro Manila, 5,964 beneficia-ries, P22,133,239.12 in wages, 1,433 days delayed; Region I (Ilocos Region), 5,740 beneficia-ries, P15,257,752.16, 7-10 days delayed; Region II (Cagayan Valley), 5,910 beneficiaries, P10,394,859.87, 6-240 days de-layed; Region III (Central Luzon), 782 beneficiaries, P1,680,214.58, 30-330 days delayed; Region IV-A (Calabarzon), 9,084 beneficiaries, P34,411,777.78, 7-193 days de-layed; Region IV-B (Mimaropa), 4,054 beneficiaries, P7,786,587.10, 28-257 days delayed; Region VI (Western Visayas), 8,183 ben-eficiaries, P16,312,573.65, 2-259 days delayed; and Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), 3,706 beneficiaries, P6,143,903.16, 30-87 days delayed.

Salgado said he hopes the use of an automated system of SPES by DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employ-ment will speed up the process.

and temperament that will enable him to serve as an excellent com-missioner.”

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rob Villeza described Com-missioner Keh as “fair, honest, and extremely hard working.” Winston “possesses all of the best qualities of our finest judicial of-ficers.” Judge Villeza also added that, “Winston represents the true American dream for many Filipino Americans and immigrants in our country. From humble begin-nings, Winston raised his siblings on his own, worked while he went to school, and went from the mail room to the board room on his faith and sheer will to succeed despite incredible adversity. He is truly a ‘Rocky’ of our generation, and a role model and inspiration especially for the newer members of our profession.”

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Bernie LaForteza, who has known Winston for a long time through the Philippine American Bar Association, also congratulat-

According to DOLE, it has de-veloped an information technol-ogy system to establish a database of SPES beneficiaries nationwide and facilitate their claims for sala-ries.

COA reported that 1,052 checks amounting to P2,304,476.19 pre-pared from July 2004 to June 2013 remained unclaimed and became stale.

Another set of 1,619 checks covering the total amount of P4,967,876.94 prepared from July to December 2013 were not re-leased or claimed.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Bal-doz herself said “over P2 million worth of individual checks for 988 SPES beneficiaries have became stale due to inadequate documen-tation” in 2013.

The SPES, which was insti-tuted when Republic Act 7323 was signed into law in March 1992, aims “to help the poor but deserving students pursue their education by providing in-come or augment their income through encouraging their em-ployment during summer and/or Christmas vacations.” (ManilaT-imes.net)

ed Winston and stated that, “Win-ston will be a wonderful bench officer. I know that he will have a successful career as a judicial of-ficer because he has the intellect and the right demeanor to do so.”

A court commissioner func-tions as a temporary judge in court cases pursuant to the stipu-lation of counsel or parties and is appointed by the judges of the court. Commissioner Keh will be assigned to the Fontana District Courthouse.

***PABA serves the community

of Filipino American lawyers and law students in Southern Califor-nia. For more information about PABA, please visit www.pabala.org.

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APEC BONDING. President Benigno S. Aquino III shares a light moment with President Barack Obama at the APEC Leaders’ welcome dinner at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Malacañang photo by Joseph Bidal

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Dateline PhiliPPines

by Anthony EsguErrA Inquirer.net

‘APEC fail?’ Some protesters don’t know what it means

Pulse Asia survey: Poe 39%, Binay 24%, Roxas 21%

Trudeau vows to go after garbage-dumping Canadian companies

Aquino sisters visit Intramuros with APEC spousesThe spouses of the Asia-Pa-

cific economic Cooperation (APeC) leaders on Thursday, Nov.19 joined the sisters of Pres-ident Benigno Aquino III in what was dubbed as “A Walk Through Time” tour in Intramuros.

Last week, Nes Jardin, cre-ative team head of cultural events related to the APeC, told Inquirer that the tour will allow the spouses of several world leaders to revisit the Philippines during the Spanish era.

It is supposed to be a “liv-ing museum” featuring actors, dancers, and musicians.

Television host Kris Aquino, the most known among the Aquino sisters, posted a group photograph on her Instagram account. It has since received 11,400 likes.

Kris was wearing a modern Filipiniana designed by Michael Leyva. her sisters Maria elena “Ballsy” Cruz and Victoria elisa “Viel” Dee wore knee-length dresses while Aurora Corazon “Pinky” Abellada donned what appears to be an ethnic-inspired long skirt and blouse.

Seen also in the photo were the spouses of the leaders of the following countries: Malaysia, Vietnam, hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Taiwan.

Kris also posted of a photo of several people in Spanish era attire with the caption “Our Visayan Wedding Celebration Dance!”

Because the President is a bachelor, the Aquino sisters have been serving alternately as his first ladies. (Inquirer.net)

The Aquino sisters.

‘A Walk Through Time’ tour in Intramuros with the Aquino sisters and the APEC leaders’ spouses. Inquirer.net photos by Raffy Lerma

“JuNK, junk APeC,” was their battlecry.

Members of various militant groups have been shouting at the top of their lungs for days now, holding mass actions against the Asia-Pacific economic Coopera-tion (APeC) summit in Manila.

upon cue and in a rehearsed fashion, they echo the shouts of their protest leaders, who have repeatedly slammed “imperialist globalization” supposedly be-ing perpetrated by the economic forum. But how much do they know about what they are fight-ing for?

Interestingly, some protesters who trooped to the intersection of Buendia Avenue and Roxas Boulevard on Thursday, Nov. 17 do not even know what the acro-nym “APeC” stands for.

“Ang APeC, ‘yan ‘yung pagmi-meeting ng mga presidente ng mga makakapangyarihang bansa para pagkaisahan ang mga mas mahihirap na bansa kaya lalong naghihirap ang mga mamama-yan,” said a militant who intro-duced himself as “Ben.”

(APeC is the meeting of presi-dents of influential countries to gang up on poor countries, which is why citizens are getting poorer.)

But when asked what APeC stands for, he was only able to answer “Asia-Pacific economy.”

A member of a militant youth group who refused to be named said APeC policies obviously fa-

by yuji VincEnt gonzAlEs Inquirer.net

vor big corporations. Asked what the acronym means, the protest-er said he was not sure but made a wild guess nevertheless: “Asia-Pacific economic Corporation.”

While there were those who almost guessed it right, a pro-tester from a militant women’s group admitted she has no idea what APeC stands for. She just laughed it off, but was quick to defend herself that what matters more are the principles that they are fighting for.

“Ang importante naman eh kung bakit kami nandito. ‘Yung mga pinuno na ‘yan, oo mga edu-kado ‘yan at pwedeng naiintindi-han nila ang ginagawa at pinag-uusapan nila pero pilit nilang pinipilit ‘yung nakasasama para sa mas nakakarami para sa pan-sariling interes,” she said.

(The important thing is why we are here. Those leaders, yes, they are educated and they may understand what they are doing and are talking about, but they still insist on what is detrimental to many only to serve their own interests.)

‘APEC fail, US pivot’Nevertheless, Bayan secretary

General Renato Reyes main-tained that APeC has made im-poverished countries like the Philippines even poorer in the past two decades of its being a member nation.

“Neoliberal economic dictates have caused severe unemploy-ment, migration, depressed wages, landlessness and land-grabbing as well as the degrada-

tion of the environment. Rightly called an ‘APeC fail,’ the people demand a new economic frame-work that puts national interest and the people ahead of corpo-rate profits,” Reyes said.

Reyes particularly slammed the Philippine government’s al-leged support for the “united States pivot” to Asia through in-creased military presence.

“We denounce Aquino’s men-dicancy and for blindly relying on the false promise of uS sup-port in our maritime dispute with China. The uS is set to give the Philippines one more aging 1967 hamilton-class cutter–whose maintenance costs more than the actual acquisition—as proof of its so-called “iron-clad” com-mitment to the Philippines. It is unlikely that the uS will go head to head with China over the islets and waters being claimed by the Philippines,” Reyes said.

he also criticized the prepa-rations and security measures being implemented by the gov-ernment for the APeC summit, which has inconvenienced com-muters in the capital city.

“The APeC in Manila is an ex-pensive and burdensome going away party for President Benig-no Aquino III. It is his last chance to show off the alleged gains of his regime. The Filipino people detest the way they have been turned into second class citizens in their own country just so Aqui-no could pander to the big pow-ers and the foreign investors,” he added.

MANILA—Sen. Grace Poe remained the most preferred presidential candidate in 2016, according to a commissioned survey by Pulse Asia.

The survey, conducted from Oct. 18 to 29, showed Poe lead-ing the 2016 presidential hope-fuls with 39 percent, up by 13 points from 26 percent in Sep-tember.

The poll was conducted after the filing of the certificates of candidacy last Oct. 12 to 16.

Vice President Jejomar Binay of the united Nationalist Alli-ance was in second place with 24 percent, up from 19 percent.

Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas ranked third with 21 percent, up by a point from 20 percent in the previous survey.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-San-tiago placed fourth with 11 percent, an eight-point im-provement from three percent previously.

The Senate electoral Tribunal on Tuesday, Nov. 17 dismissed a disqualification case filed

against Poe.Meanwhile, Poe’s running

mate, Sen. Francis escudero, also topped Pulse Asia’s vice presidential survey with 43 per-cent, up by 20 points from 23 percent in September.

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. came in second with 21 percent (from 13 percent), followed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano with 11 percent (from nine percent); Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Ro-

brero with seven percent (from three percent); and Sen. Anto-nio Trillanes IV with six percent (from four percent).

The survey had 3,400 respon-dents and has a margin of error of 1.7 percentage points.

“She (Poe) was very thankful that despite attempts to create uncertainty (on her candidacy), Filipinos continue to have faith in her,” a close ally of the sena-tor said.

The survey, conducted from Oct. 18 to 29, showed Poe leading the 2016 presidential hopefuls with 39 percent, up by 13 points from 26 percent in September. Philstar.com photos

MANILA—Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thurs-day, Nov. 19 vowed to solve the problem of Canadian companies exporting garbage to countries like the Philippines.

“I know that this has exposed a problem that needs fixing within our legislation that we’re going to lean into and ensure happens,” he said at a press conference at the Asia-Pacific economic Coopera-tion’s International Media Center in Pasay City.

Trudeau’s statement came in response to a Filipino journalist’s question about the actions his gov-ernment has taken after Canadian company Chronic Inc. exported in 2013 about 50 40-foot containers of garbage to Chronic Plastics, a company based in Manila. About half of the trash were reportedly dumped in Capas, Tarlac.

Trudeau said he has been made

by joVAn cErdA Philstar.com

aware of the situation and that his government is in the process of coming up with a solution to the problem. Local activists have been urging the new Canadian prime minister, sworn into power two weeks ago, to do something about the issue.

“I think going forward we need to ensure that if a situation like

this were to arise once again... the Canadian government has more power to demand action from the companies responsible. I believe there were loopholes here that were allowed to be skirted and we need to make sure we close both for Canada’s interests and good relationships with our neighbors,” Trudeau said.

CLEARED. Commuters swamped at least two MRT stations in Pasay and Makati on Wednesday, Nov. 18 afternoon after government officials banned private and public vehicles on Edsa from Ayala Avenue to Roxas Boulevard due to the APEC summit. The absence of private and public transportation left that stretch of Edsa empty, with only security personnel dotting the usually jammed thoroughfare. Inquirer.net photo by Cenon Bibe

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

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AT least 129 people were killed and 352 wounded after three groups of terrorists staged coordinated attacks at six locations throughout Paris, France late Friday, Nov. 13.

ISIS, a jihadist organization that has declared a self-styled “caliphate” across parts of Iraq and Syria, has claimed responsibility for the massa-cre, and warned that the United States will be the next target. The nation’s state capital, Wash-ington, DC and New York City, have now been on heightened security alert.

According to reports by the Agence France-Presse (AFP), Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reacted Saturday to the deadly attacks in Paris, taking France to task and calling on it to change policies that he says have contributed to the “spread of terrorism”.

AFP said France has been a leading supporter of the Syrian opposition since soon after pro-tests against Assad’s rule broke out in 2011. France has also been part of a US-led coalition conducting an air war against ISIS in both Syria and Iraq.

Less than a year before the 2016 presidential elections in the US, national and global security have once again dominated the debate. Can-didates aiming to be the next commander-in-chief, along with their party mates, offer their own tactics on how to defeat ISIS and keep

America safe. Questions in contention

are: Should America send more troops and boots on the ground? Should America still accept Syrian refugees who’ve been caught in the war between the Assad regime and the op-position? Should America be stricter and more suspicious of Muslims in America?

President Barack Obama has once again been criticized for not being “strong enough” in the fight against ISIS. Many Republicans have been advocating for America to send boots on the ground to extinguish the extremist group.

They blame Obama for empowering ISIS by appearing to be “weak” when he did not declare war against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad af-ter he stepped on the “red line.”

“We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus. That would change my equation,” Obama stated.

Obama’s critics argue that because of the continued strife in Syria, ISIS has grown stron-ger and is not afraid of the US military.

According to CNN, more than 250,000 people have died since the violence broke out in Syria in 2011, and at least 11 million people in the country of 22 mil-lion have fled their homes. The United Nations says Syrians are now the world’s largest refugee population, and most are strug-gling to take refuge in Europe.

Since 2011, the United States has been accept-ing about 1,500 Syrian refugees for humanitar-ian reasons. The Obama administration, how-ever, has announced in September that 10,000 Syrian refugees will be allowed entry next year.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has just announced that the US should pause its refugee program so that ISIS will not be able to use it to get into the US and launch an attack in the country.

This is a stance shared by more than half the nation’s governors who say they oppose letting Syrian refugees into their states, although CNN reported that the final say on this contentious immigration issue will fall to the federal govern-ment.

The states protesting the admission of refu-gees, include Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Michigan Illinois, Maine and New Hampshire. All but one of these 31 states have Republican

governors. Republican candidates have also tak-en this position.

President Obama said the tragedy in Paris should not affect the small intake of Syrian refugees into the United States. “Slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values,” the US commander-in-chief said during remarks at the G20 economic summit in Anta-lya, Turkey.

Obama also ruled out sending more ground troops to fight ISIS in response to the terrorist attacks in Paris.

“It is not just my view, but the view of my clos-est military and civilian advisers, that that would be a mistake,” Obama said in media reports. “A strategy has to be one that can be sustained,” Obama added.

“Given the fact there are sacrifices involved in any military action, it is best that we don’t shoot first and aim later,” Obama argued. “It’s important for us to get the strategy right, and the strategy that we are pursuing is the right one.”

* * *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

Sharing his sentiments over the multiple terror attacks on Paris, France on Friday, Nov. 13, Presi-dent Obama vowed to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice, and fight terrorism and extremism.

“Paris itself represents the timeless values of hu-man progress. Those who think that they can ter-rorize the people of France or the values that they stand for are wrong. The American people draw strength from the French people’s commitment to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness,” Obama said.

The terrorist attacks left at least 129 people dead and 352 wounded, shocking the world over ghastly images and videos of the bloodstained scenes from the attacks. Then came a worldwide silence for France as calls for prayers for the victims and their families flooded various social networking sites, as #jesuisfrance trended instantly. In this time of dis-traught, the world expressed its compassion and paid respects to the victims of this recent senseless violence that disrupted a peaceful country.

Although relieved that the over 50,000 Filipinos in France are safe, the Philippines joined in on the

worldwide clamor and condemned the terrorist attacks, saying it showed not only a premeditated act of violence but also the cruelty that “demands the greatest indignation

from the world.”“The Philippines mourns the dead and stands

shoulder-to-shoulder with France. At a time that demands heightened security from all of us, we ask Filipinos in Paris to heed the instructions of the au-thorities and for all of us to cooperate and be vigi-lant here at home,” Deputy Presidential Spokesper-son Abigail Valte said.

Pres. Benigno Aquino III deplored the senseless murders of the civilians escribing it as “atrocities that demand a united voice from the world in con-demnation and grief.”

The world stands witness to how terrorism and genocide still linger. The world calls for justice, an accountability to the lives lost because of extremely unstable political and security situations. The world calls for peace. This is the moment where every na-tion and every citizen take a stand. We are all called to become a modern and civil society, to bring an all out war against terrorism and fight for peace.

ManilaTimes.net photo

Pray for Paris

Editorial

APEC will cost as much as tax reform

Boo ChanCo

Demand And Supply

Should the US abandon its plan to accept more Syrian refugees to keep the country safe?

“ONCE again we’ve seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians. This is an attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.” - Pres. Barack Obama

The Paris attacks are like a recurring nightmare. Who’s to say that the world is gaining momentum in its fight against terrorism when everyday we are reminded by its horrors?

As an offshoot to these latest news of vio-lence and terrorism, people are alerted to remain

vigilant. Confronting this looming threat goes be-yond the power of the governments. It will require resolute citizens to take a stand and confront it. This also means understanding terrorism -- why it exists and why it has had adverse consequences on humanity. (AJPress)

than an update. Senate President Frank Drilon and Speaker Sonny Belmonte already went to PNoy to convince him to change his mind, but it seems, to no avail.

Of course, the DOF and the BIR are right about the need to do a total tax reform but that, is too complicated to do in the time left. The DOF and the BIR is ef-fectively saying no to tax reform. This is rather myopic, as many observers have already pointed out.

Our economy is consumer driven and tax reform that would put a little more money in the hands of consumers will boost GDP, the favorite mea-sure of economic health of PNoy and his economic team. More than that however, tax reform through a simple updating that takes into account inflation over the last two decades, will be a good morale booster for our ha-rassed taxpayers.

It isn’t as if giving in to this de-mand will bankrupt our National Treasury. If it is alright to spend P30 billion on something as use-less as this APEC conference, why is instituting tax reform for about the same amount not alright to do? Indeed, I suspect the estimate of P30 billion for APEC may be on the low side.

Let us not just count the ac-tual money out of the National Treasury to host this event. Let us also count the cost of all those cancelled flights, not just on the airlines but also on the affected passengers – specially those with forfeited onward airline

and hotel reservations they have to pay out of pocket.

Let us count the cost of para-lyzing the economy of Metro Ma-nila, which accounts for over a third of the country’s total GDP. Let us count the wages lost by workers paid by the day, and the opportunity costs for thousands of SMEs that could not do busi-ness during APEC week.

I realize we have an interna-tional obligation to host APEC. We had 20 years to prepare for it and do it right with the least dis-turbance to the lives of our peo-ple. But I imagine they worked on it in earnest only over the last two years. Our Great Leader, the haciendero that he is, took it for granted he can just tell the people of Metro Manila to shove it while he has his party. It is like telling us to go eat cake.

It isn’t as if we have not done this before. In his wisdom, FVR decided to hold APEC in Subic so that Metro Manila could be spared the chaos we have today. We could have done this in Clark and we would not have had to cancel all those flights at NAIA.

Of course they would have had to build a convention center at Clark, but that is the kind of infrastructure that ought to be built anyway. APEC could have been a good excuse to do that at Clark.

It is all water under the bridge now, but let us not forget how this unfeeling administration failed to consider the impact on our lives by deciding to hold APEC in Manila. Let us remem-

ber that come May 2016 when we vote. Let us remember we cannot have more of this kind of officials with absolutely no re-gard for the people, supposedly their bosses.

At the opening session of the APEC Business Advisory Council, PNoy declared “voting for or against Mar is a referen-dum of whether we did it right or wrong.” Putting it that way, I guess even if we are thinking of voting Mar as the least detest-able option, we can’t do that now and give PNoy the wrong idea.

For now, let us just hope and pray the administration that gave us the Luneta carnage and Mamasapano will not once again bring the country shame as we host APEC this week. I suppose that as Filipinos, we have the obligation to help see this event through. Retribution can wait for next year when we vote.

Our economyRappler picked up this very

interesting quote on APEC. Try to guess who said it and when.

“The correctness of our re-forms so far has been validated by the growth of the economy and a new tempo of nationwide self-reliance, even at the grass-roots….We have demonstrated our own capability to manage our economy towards stability and sustained growth – earning the respect of the global eco-nomic community.”

If you thought this was some-thing coming out of Sonny Colo-ma’s shop, you would be wrong. This is a quote from FVR in a

SONA just before the last APEC we hosted in Subic. But isn’t it creepy how something said 20 years ago can seem so current?

We were a promising econ-omy then and we still are now. Our economy is like the typi-cal Filipino politician... forever promising. The international economic community, mostly rating agencies and banks who do business with DOF, had been optimistic about our growth then as now. Nothing new.

Twenty years is a long time. You can be a brand new parent and have that baby as a voting adult in all of twenty years. But our economy seems unable to go beyond a threatened take off… unable to grow beyond the promise and the big words.

One might say that if APEC was any good to our long term economic prospects, we would have seen it by now. I hate it when the same promises of long term benefits 20 years ago are being hoisted on us now when they ask for our patience while we host APEC.

Twenty years is a long time. I don’t think I can wait for another 20 years to see the supposed promise of APEC to dawn on my country. And don’t believe them when they say they will reach agreements good for our econo-my during this APEC meeting.

Nothing significantly earth-shaking happens in these large scale summits. Everything is ceremonial. The big things hap-pen behind closed doors, mostly in bilateral meetings that don’t

require a metropolis of 20 mil-lion to stand still.

I sure wish public officials will just tell it like it is. Of course that would take guts, specially given the people’s sour mood in the light of the significant distur-bance we all have to endure this week. We should consider our-selves lucky if nothing untoward happens.

Deng XiaopingMy thought for the day comes

from Deng Xiaoping, that wise old Chinese leader who is re-sponsible for China’s growth into a world economic and political superpower. This quote is from a speech delivered at the United Nations on April 10, 1974

If one day China should change her color and turn into a superpower, if she too should play the tyrant in the world and everywhere subject others to her bullying, aggression and exploi-tation, the people of the world should identify her as social im-perialism, expose it, oppose it and work together with the Chi-nese people to overthrow it.

That’s the same Deng Xiaop-ing who didn’t want to talk about the nine dash line and said it ought to be left to a future gen-eration who may be wiser than his.

Looks like that wiser genera-tion isn’t here yet. But the China Deng warned us about is already playing the big power role and is no different from the big pow-ers Deng and yes, Mao, detested and fought all their lives. (Phil-star.com)

ANDREW Masigan, an econ-omist and entrepreneur who writes for the Bulletin, estimated the cost of hosting APEC at P30 billion. That is also what it would cost to do tax reform as estimated by the BIR. If the estimates are in the ballpark, how can PNoy say we don’t have money to do tax reform but there is money to host APEC?

Okay… some will say these are apples and oranges. Not so. P30 billion is the same whether that is splurged on hosting an inter-national event of dubious benefit to the country or giving harassed citizens tax relief.

And it is also not as if we are asking for something truly outra-geous with tax reform. We are only asking they update the basis of our income tax to account for inflation over the last 18 years. The peso in 1997 when they set the tax brackets is only worth 47 centavos today.

Indeed, government is effec-tively stealing money from its cit-izens with this failure to update. The administration is implement-ing a tax system whose rates had effectively been Increased with-out an act of Congress, normally required.

It looks bad on President Aqui-no and his anointed Mar Roxas to be so bullheaded about tax re-form which is really nothing more

Gel SantoS-ReloS

The Fil-Am Perspective

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • NOvEmbER 20-26, 2015(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com A�Dateline PhiliPPines

61-year-old woman found with 3 bullets in NAIA released

Cardinal Tagle elected to Vatican’s synod

SEN. MARCOS AT MAAP. “You represent the Philippines when you are on boarding ships. I do not speak of ambassadors in terms of diplomacy. But again, to introduce what Filipinos are like, to introduce what Filipinos are capable of, and to teach our friends from different countries that the Filipino is hard working, the Filipino is well trained, the Filipino understands the systems, the Filipino will become an important part of any crew that they join,” Senator Bongbong Marcos emphasized to the students of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) in Mariveles, Bataan lauding also the faculty and staff of the academy for its efforts in providing the best maritime education.”

by TeTch Torres-Tupas Inquirer.net

A 61-year old woman was or-dered released by government prosecutor as it dismissed the criminal case after she was found in a possession of three bullets.

Lilly Chung, a Caticlan-bound passenger was placed under cus-tody for possession of three bul-let last Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Chief Public Attorney Persida

Rueda-Acosta said Chung was released for the same reason cited in the previous cases –lack of criminal intent to possess am-munition.

“She was carrying the bullets as amulets she got from a Bud-dhist monk,” Acosta explained.

The Prosecutor on duty at the airport ordered Chung’s release after inquest proceedings due to authorities’ failure to prove ma-levolent intent to possess and use

the bullet for a criminal purpose.The Public Attorney’s Office

has so far helped 28 individuals caught with bullets at the air-port. Complaints against 17 of the agency’s clients have been dismissed for lack of intent to possess the bullet and use it for malevolent purposes.

Public Attorney’s Office has pending motion to dismiss with the prosecutor’s office for the 11 others.

MANILA—Manila Archbish-op Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has been elected as one of 15 members of a council of cardi-nals and bishops from differ-ent parts of the world tasked to prepare for the next Synod of Bishops in the Vatican.

The assignment is the second for Tagle who was also select-ed last July by Pope Francis to serve as a member of the Pon-tifical “Cor Unum,” a body that manages the Church’s world-

wide charitable activities.Tagle was appointed in

the Vatican post almost two months after he was elected as president of Caritas Internatio-nalis, which made him the first Asian to head the confedera-tion of global qualities.

On the other hand, a synod is a church council usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine or administration.

The Catholic News Service said 12 members of the ordi-

nary council of the Synod of Bishops, three from each con-tinent with Asia and Oceania counted as one, were elected by the synod father at the end of the recent assembly in Rome, Italy.

Three were appointed by Pope Francis—Chaldean Cath-olic Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad, Archbishop Carlos Osoro of Madrid and Archbish-op Sergio Da Rocha of Brasilia, Brazil. (Philstar.com)

PH, Japan working on military equipment deal

MANILA—Manila and To-kyo are finalizing a deal on the transfer of military equipment to the Philippines, Japan said on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

According to earlier reports, the deal would also allow the transfer of technology which will upgrade the military capability of the Philippines.

Japanese Deputy Press Sec-retary Koichi Mizushima told members of the press that their government follows strict rules when exporting equipment.

“In order for us to export or share technologies with other countries, we need to have such a legal arrangement beforehand. I think that is why the coun-tries have started negotiations,” Mizushima said.

Mizushima, however, did not say if the agreement will be signed during the bilateral meet-ing of President Benigno Aquino III and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is also in the Philippines to attend the Asia Pa-cific Economic Cooperation Eco-nomic Leaders’ Meeting.

Japan, the United States and Australia have been the Philip-pines’s allies in an effort to mod-ernize its military and defending

by paTricia Lourdes Viray Philstar.com

its territory, including those in the disputed South China Sea. Both the Philippines and Japan have territorial disputes with China.

China has been claiming parts of the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea. Meanwhile, Ja-pan and China are both claiming ownership over islands called Senkaku (in Japan) and Diaoyu (in China).

Beijing earlier warned Tokyo to stop making accusations in the South China Sea dispute, cit-ing that Japan is not a concerned party in the issue.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly expressed concerns over the sea dispute in his meeting with leaders from the European Union, the United Kingdom and Germany in the sidelines of the G20 summit.

Japan has earlier expressed its support to the Philippines in con-nection to the arbitrary case that it has filed against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitra-tion under the United Nations.

The Philippines and Japan have an existing strategic partnership agreement which seeks to boost their cooperation on defense and maritime security.

Russia wants military, defense cooperation pact with PH

RUSSIAN Prime Minister Dmit-ry Medvedev on Wednesday, Nov. 18 said his government wants to work closely with the Philippine military.

“PM says Russia also seeks to open avenues for military and de-fense cooperation similar to their existing agreements with adjacent states,” Communications Secre-tary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text statement.

President Benigno Aquino III and Medvedev held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Coopera-tion (Apec) Summit in Manila.

Coloma said Medvedev “wants to intensify bilateral ties at diplo-matic, business and entrepreneur-ial fronts.”

While the two countries have maintained diplomatic ties for al-most 40 years, the Philippines is known as a close ally of the United States, which has strained rela-tions with Russia over the Ukraini-an crisis and the Syrian civil war.

Nevertheless, Aquino invited

by KrisTine angeLi sabiLLo Inquirer.net

Russia to expand its trade in the industries of information technol-ogy-business process outsourcing, processed and specialty food, en-ergy and renewables, design-driv-en products and aerospace.

“[President Aquino] cited great potential offered by large scale public and private sector con-tracts, such as AG&P’s participa-tion in Yamal LNG project in Far East,” Coloma said.

He said Medvedev also congrat-ulated Aquino for the “impressive performance” of the Philippine economy and that Russia is inter-ested in economic cooperation in energy, telecommunications and transport infrastructure.

Aquino and Medvedev wit-nessed the signing of an agree-ment on the Establishment of a Philippines-Russia Joint Commis-sion on Trade and Economic Co-operation, which will facilitate and promote trade between the Philip-pines and Russia.

The two countries will iden-tify measures to facilitate bilateral trade and investments.

“The Agreement envisions the participation of the private sector

and business community, as well as experts in the economic field to complement governmental ef-forts to bolster Philippines-Russia economic cooperation,” a Malaca-ñang statement said.

Also signed before the two lead-ers was a memorandum between the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Federal Service of the Russian Federation for Narcot-ics Traffic Control on Cooperation in Combating New Psychoactive Substances.

In line with a 2007 agreement against trafficking of narcotic drugs, the memorandum aims to strengthen the cooperation be-tween the two countries in com-batting the production, spread and abuse of psychoactive substances.

Russian President Vladimir Pu-tin was supposed to attend the Apec Summit but begged off as Medvedev was also attending meetings in the region.

“PM Medvedev conveyed Pres. Putin’s felicitations and expressed his personal elation on his first visit to the Philippines,” Coloma said.

He said Medvedev cited the country’s beautiful weather.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario met with Foreign Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Manila.

november 20-26, 2015 • oC/Ie ASIAn JoUrnAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797A�

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2

november 20-26 2015 2

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe / AJPress

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Filipino twistRecipes from our favorite chefs for a non-traditional fare

FILIPINOS love to celebrate with food wherever they are. That is why, like most races and cultures, we put in our own twist in traditional American Thanksgiving dishes to make it our own, or create our own menu.

“I think Filipinos in the US may want to (or should) try non-traditional dishes for Thanksgiving because we should

take advantage of the availability of the local ingredients and other cooking techniques,” said Chef Eric Pascual of Eats by E. “I also believe that in doing so we can still stay true to some of the traditional flavors.”

The great part about celebrating Thanksgiving is that we can do it any way we like. Although the standard of roasted turkey and stuffing, cranberry

sauce and pumpkin pie are expected on one’s dinner table, it doesn’t mean we have to follow suit. In this age of food blogs, Pinterest and fusion cooking, the options are endless.

In this special Thanksgiving feature of the Asian Journal, Chef Eric and international chef Cocoy Ventura share recipes of alternative and Filipino-inspired Thanksgiving dishes.

Chef Cocoy’s Roasted Crabs with Garlic Calamansi2 servings

IngredIents:• 1 large Dungeness crab, cleaned and sectioned (raw or precooked)• ¼ cup SunTropics Pure Calamansi• 4 tbsp butter• 10 cloves garlic, crushed• 2 tbsp salt• ½ tsp black pepper

Procedure:1. Preheat oven to 500°F.2. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.3. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients.4. Tear about 20” long foil, place onto lined sheet, place mixture in the center of foil

and wrap it up, seal all openings.5. Bake for 10-15 minutes.6. Transfer on a serving platter, pour cooking juice on top, arrange and garnish with

scallions or herbs (optional).

Chef Cocoy’s Pork Spareribs Toyo-mansi 2 servings

IngredIents:• 1 lb pork spare ribs, cut into manageable

pieces1/3 cup SunTropics Pure Calamansi¼ cup soy sauce2 tbsp dark soy sauce3 tbsp brown sugar10 cloves of garlic, crushedground black pepper4 dried bay leaves1 cup water

Procedure:1. Mix all ingredients in a medium pot and

cook over high heat with the lid on.2. When boiling, gently stir, turn down heat

to medium low and put the lid back on.3. Cook for 30 minutes until pork is soft.4. Reduce sauce by raising heat to high, lid

off. Stir occasionally.5. Serve with rice. Photo courtesy of Sharon Sy Lao of SunTropics

Chef Cocoy’s Calamansi Creme Brûlée2 servings

IngredIents:• 2 tbsp SunTropics Pure Calamansi• 3 cups heavy cream• 10 tbsp turbinado sugar (raw sugar)• 6 large egg yolks• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Procedure:1. Put oven rack in the middle position

and preheat oven to 325°F.2. In a heavy sauce pan, stir in 7 tbsp tur-

binado sugar in the cream and a pinch of salt. 3. Heat mixture over moderately low heat,

stirring occasionally, until almost boiling, then remove from heat.

4. In a mixing bowl, beatf egg yolks with a wooden spoon, then gradually stir in hot cream mixture. Pour custard onto ramekins.

5. Arrange ramekins in a roasting pan and bake in water bath until custards are just set around the edges but centers wobble when pan is gently shaken, 30 to 35 minutes.

6. Cool custard in water bath for 20 minutes then remove from pan and chill, un-covered at least for 2 hours. This will set the custard.

7. Sprinkle about 1 tsp turbinado sugar

evenly over each custard, then move blowtorch flame evenly back and forth close to sugar until caramelized. Caramel will harden in 3 to 5 minutes.

Chef Eric’s Green Bean Stir Fry

IngredIents:• 1 tsp. grated ginger• 4 cloves finely-diced

garlic• 3 sliced tomatoes• 4 tbsp. oil• 2 lbs. green beans• ½ cup sliced onions• 2 tbsp. SunTropics Pure

Calamansi

• 3 tbsp. Oyster sauce• 1 tbsp. black pepper• 2 tbsp. Patis (fish sauce)

Procedure:1. In a wok, add in oil.2. Once heated add and

sauté garlic, ginger and onion in oil for 2 minutes stirring oc-casionally.

3. Add in the tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes.

4. Add in the green beans, oyster sauce, patis, and black pepper.

5. Stir with vegetables, for 3 minutes at moderate to high heat.

6. Correct seasoning if required. Serve hot.

Maharlika/Jeepney’s Kamote Pie

Chef Eric’s Braised BistekIngredIents:• 3 lbs. of beef chuck roast

or short rib (bone-in preferably)• 4 tbsp. SunTropics Pure

Calamansi • 5 garlic cloves (minced)• ½ cup soy sauce• ½ cup water• ½ cup chicken stock• 1 tbsp. sea salt• 2 tbsp. cane sugar• 1 tbsp black pepper• 4 tbsp oil• 3 medium onions cut into

rings

Procedure:1. Put oven rack in middle

position and preheat oven to 325°F.

2. Pat beef dry and rub all over with the salt and pepper.

3. Heat oil in an ovenproof 5-quart wide heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and brown beef on all sides, about 15 minutes total.

4. Add garlic, soy sauce, cane sugar, SunTropics Pure

Calamansi, water, and chicken stock, and bring to a boil.

5. Cover pot tightly and braise in oven, until beef is very tender, approximately

3-3.5 hours total.6. In a separate pot,

sauté onions in 2 tbsp. of oil until clear. Serve onions over beef.

Photo courtesy of Duane Ramos

Cocoy Ventura AJPress file photo

Photo courtesy of Sharon Sy Lao of SunTropics

Chef Eric Pascual Photo courtesy of Feastly

Photo courtesy of Maharlika/Jeepney

IngredIents:For PIe crust• All-purpose flour• Shortening• Ice water

For FIllIng• Sweet potato or kamote,chopped• 1/4 cup butter• 2 tbsp of canola oil• 1/3 cup milk• 5 eggs• ginger powder• coconut powder• salt

Procedure:Pie crust:1. Combine flour, shortening

and butter in a food processor until coarse in texture then slowly add ice water. Once it starts to form a ball, transfer the crust to a ziplock bag or bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, let it sit in the fridge for 15 minutes.

2. When handling the pie crust, make sure to dust your cutting board with flour to avoid it from sticking.

Filling:1. Pan roast chopped kamote

with 1/4 of butter and 2tbsp of canola oil. Once the kamote is fork tender add the ginger powder, coconut powder, brown sugar, and salt. Mix well.

2. In a food processor puree the kamote with 1/3 cup milk. Make sure its smooth to texture.

3. With the processor on low, slowly then add 5 eggs one at a time.

4. Transfer to pie crust brush the top with a little egg white for color. Bake 325 degrees for about 45 minutes to an hour until golden brown.

november 20-26, 2015 3www.asianjournal.com

If you don’t feel like roasting a big turkey for Thanksgiving, or want to try a great dish for holiday entertaining, you might want to try my Stuffed Tur-key Rolls. I pack these turkey cutlets with my Savory Stuffing, roll them up, and secure them with kitchen twine. The finished rolls are sliced and fanned out on a plate to make a beautiful presentation, and you can serve them with cranberry chutney or cranberry sauce for a nice added touch.

Because I marinate the turkey before cooking, it’s juicy and flavorful. The selenium in turkey can increase your resistance to infection. The red wine (I use a Pinot Noir) adds a bit of resveratrol to the selenium’s antioxidant power.

Thanksgiving is All Rolled Up with this Dish!by Grace O

SERVES 6¼ cup soy sauce2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce1 Tbs. lemon juice (about ½ lemon)2 Tbs. red wineSea salt and ground pepper to taste6 turkey cutlets or butterflied turkey

breasts1 recipe Savory Stuffing2 Tbs. butter2 Tbs. olive oil

Stuffed Turkey Rolls

1. To make the marinade, combine the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, red wine, salt, and pepper in a large re-sealable plastic bag.

2. Add the turkey cutlets to the bag. Squeeze out the air, seal the bag, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

3. Remove cutlets, reserving the marinade. Pat each cutlet dry with paper towels.

4. On a work surface, lay one cutlet so it slightly overlaps a second one. Pound the seam together with a mallet. You should have one fairly large, thin turkey round. Repeat with the remaining cutlets until you have 3 rounds.

5. Spread about 1/2 cup of Savory Stuffing evenly onto each turkey round, smoothing almost to the edge. Roll up the turkey, pinwheel style, and secure with kitchen twine.

6. Heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy bot-tomed sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the turkey rolls and sear until a golden crust develops, about 1–2 minutes per side.

7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place turkey rolls in a glass or ceramic baking dish. Spoon the re-served marinade and any remaining stuffing around the rolls. Cover with foil and bake until the turkey is cooked through, about 20–30 minutes.

8. Before serving, remove the twine and cut each turkey roll into 5 slices.

9. Serve with a cranberry sauce or cranberry chutney if desired.

Homemade croutons, fresh celery and onion give this stuffing its unique flavor and texture. It can also be served on its own as a side dish if you spread the stuffing in a greased baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

1. Heat 3 Tbs. of the olive oil in a large pan over medium high-heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.

2. Add the ground turkey and cook until done. Set aside.

3. To make the croutons, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season the bread cubes with the salt and pepper, drizzle with the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil and the Italian seasoning, bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes.

4. Add the broth, croutons, celery, and sausages, if using, to the turkey mixture and mix well. Season to taste.

Savory Stuffing

Shrimp and Moringa CurryShrimp and coconut milk are a classic Asian

combination. I’ve added moringa powder tothis very mild dish in order to increase the

health benefits. If you want to dial up the heat a notch or two, use Serrano or other hot pep-pers in place of the mild red Anaheim chilies. If desired, serve over brown or jasmine rice.

MAIN COURSES1. Heat the peanut oil in a nonreactive saucepan,

such as copper or enamel-coated cast iron, over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and onion slices and sauté for 5 minutes.

2. Add the chilies and cook for 2 minutes.3. Add the coconut milk, reduce heat, and sim-

mer for 5 minutes.4. Add the bell pepper, shrimp, salt, pepper, and

Moring a powder and simmer for 5 minutes.

YIELDS 2-3 cups4 Tbs. olive oil1/2 cup chopped onion1/2 lb. ground turkey2 slices cubed whole-wheat breadSea salt and ground pepper to taste1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning1 cup turkey or chicken broth1/4 cup chopped celery

Ingredients:1⁄4 cup peanut oil1 tsp. minced garlic1 inch peeled and thinly sliced gingerroot1⁄2 cup sliced red onion2 red Anaheim chilies, seeded and cut into

strips1 can (19 oz.) coconut milk1 orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded and

cut into strips1 lb. peeled tiger shrimp (devein, if desired)Sea salt and ground pepper to taste1 Tbs. moringa powder dissolved in 1 Tbs.

warm water

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a carb-loaded, over-eating frenzy. You can make sat-isfying, anti-aging food choices for this holiday that will leave you feeling thankful for indulg-ing. Take turkey, for example. i cook at least four turkeys each Thanksgiving because i usually have about 30 people over for dinner. Turkey contains trypto-phan, which produces niacin, giving us energy. Turkey also contains the selenium, a de-toxifying antioxidant. You don’t have to drown your turkey in fatty gravy. it can be deli-ciously sauced using healthier ingredients. i like to marinate my turkeys in a mixture of red wine, soy sauce, and lemon juice before roasting. By the time the turkey is done roast-ing, the marinade has become a rich sauce.

Resveratrol is present in another classic Thanksgiving ingredient: cranberries. Every year i make Cranberry Bread Pudding. i add walnuts to my bread pudding because they are high in antioxidants like Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E—both of which reduce the risk of heart disease.

How to have a healthy & happy Thanksgiving!by Grace O instead of butter, i use a butter

substitute, smart Balance, so that this dessert stays heart-healthy.

Wild rice is another holiday staple that is really good for us. it’s a whole grain that provides the FoodTrient fiber for great digestion and Omega-3s, which also is good for our skin. it can be cooked with plenty of herbs and tossed with lightly sautéed bell peppers for a colorful side dish.

You can also add some healthy holiday vegetables like red cabbage and leeks.

The trick is to load your table with delicious healthy op-tions while minimizing exposure to foods—such as like mashed potatoes, white rolls, or creamy gravies. Mashed sweet pota-toes are a better choice than mashed white potatoes be-cause the orange tubers contain carotenoids, a FoodTrient that supports the immune system. Whole-grain rolls (as opposed to white ones) will provide fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids, and selenium.

Pumpkin is another healthy Thanksgiving tradition. Be sure to use evaporated milk in your pumpkin pies instead of cream and a sugar substitute like

Xylotol. in the crust, you can substitute smart Balance for the shortening. That way, you will reap all the benefits of pumpkin’s carotenoids and fiber without taking in too much fat or sugar. The same rules apply to apple pies. Just remember to leave the skins on the apples so that you will get some quercitin, an anti-inflammatory that can reduce allergy symptoms and keep arteries from becoming inflamed. i make a beauti-ful Pear and apple Tart with plenty of cinnamon, an anti-oxidant-rich holiday spice that makes me feel good about eating dessert. all of these recipes and more are available on FoodTrients.com

SunTropics Pure CalamansisunTROPiCs was started

to bring the finest of the Filipino fruit flavors to the us market. Through our products, we seek to tantalize the senses with succulent and fragrant fruits of the Philippines. The products we take to market are rich with true to the fruit flavors.

• not from Concentrate

• Premium ingredients • More fruit & lower sugar

than other nectars• Made with Fruit Purees• no high Fructose Corn

syrupsunTropics Pure Calamansi

is available at seafood City, island Pacific, Manila Orien-tal, Pacific supermarkets, and amazon.com.

Chef Eric’s Calamansi Dipping Sauce IngredIents:• 2 tbsp. sunTropics Pure

Calamansi • 3 diced garlic cloves• 2 tbsp. diced red onion• 2 tbsp. diced jalapeno

(seeds removed)• 2 tbsp. cane sugar• ¼ cup cane vinegar• 2 tbsp. soy sauceProcedure:1. Combine all ingredients

and stir until sugar has dis-solved.

2. allow 30 minutes for ingredients and flavors to com-bine before serving.

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Fil-Am singer advances to ‘The Voice US’ top 11by ChuCk Smith

Philstar.com

MANILA—Filipino-American singer Amy Vachal made it through the second live show week of the American reality talent show The Voice on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The 26-year-old artist survived another week in the show thanks to her performance of Drake’s Hotline Bling on Monday, Nov. 16.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a more elegant and classy performance of a song about a booty call in the history of music,” The Voice coach Blake Shelton quipped. “That was, like, unbelievable.”

“Amy, you always make songs yours. It’s an amazing, uncanny ability that not many people have,” Pharell Williams said.

Amy is part of coach Adam Levine’s team.

Mark Hood, who sang Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours, was

Filipino-American Amy Vachal impresses with her performance of Drake’s “Hotline Bling” on the American reality talent show “The Voice.”

eliminated from the competition.This leaves Amy and 10 other

contestants vying for win for the ninth season of The Voice.

In The Voice US, finalists are saved based on a voting system that factors in iTunes singles purchases of the contestant’s

performance for the week, online votes and votes via the show’s official app.

Amy’s Hotline Bling single is number six on the iTunes Singles Chart, second only to Jordan Smith’s Great Is Thy Faithfulness, which reached number one.

Filipina photographer included in BBC 100 Women of 2015 list

by Julie eSpinoSa Inquirer.net

XyzA Cruz Bacani, a Filipina domestic worker-turned-street photographer, shared on Wednesday that has been included in the list of the BBC 100 Women of 2015.

“Very Honored to be one of the BBC 100 Women of 2015 from all corners of the world. Thank you so much Sarah Bukley and BBC. This is awesome! yey! #100Women #MagnumFoundation #BBC #Pinay #Ofw Thanks to my Ma and Pa who always inspire me!” the 28 year old enthused on her Facebook account.

Bacani started working as a maid in Hong Kong at the age of 19 with her mother. To unwind, she began taking casual pictures which evolved into dramatic street photographs that gave a raw look into the lives of people from diverse backgrounds.

She is known for her remarkable black-and-white

photos which have been featured in several international news sites, such as CNN and The New york Times.

“Having worked as a domestic worker in Hong Kong for almost a decade, Xyza tells the stories of the victims of human rights violations through photography,” BBC describes the Filipina on its website.

The BBC 100 Women of 2015

is a list “of the most inspirational women across the world” named by the British media outlet. The list features “30 entrepreneurs under the age of 30 and inspiring women over the age of 80,” as well as “nurses on the front line, young female film-makers documenting the pressures and expectations in their community and leaders in science, politics, education and the arts.”

Xyza Cruz Bacani, a Filipina domestic worker-turned-street photographer. AJPress file photo by Momar G. Visaya

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Manila is the only city, outside London, where she will play Fantine

Karen Davila opens up on ‘awkward’ interview with Alma Moreno Monette

AdevA MAglAyA

ImmigrantLiving: 101 and Beyond

Whatever happened to ‘Happily Ever After’?

MANILA—”My job is to ask the hard questions.”

Thus said Karen Davila on her viral television interview with actress and senatorial aspirant Alma Moreno.

Netizens went abuzz over Davila’s interview with Alma on her ANC morning program Headstart with Karen Davila which aired last week.

The interview, which tackled her senatorial bid, was deemed “awkward” and “uncomfortable” by viewers online due to Alma’s answers to question regarding reproductive health and her advocacy on women.

“Kailangan ko pa ba sagutin?” Alma said when asked about her “yes, with reservations” stance on the reproductive health bill.

When asked how people should practice “control” regarding reproduction, Alma joked: “Kailangan palaging bukas ang ikaw.”

When the interview went viral, netizens used Karen’s Instagram account to express their opinion on the controversial Headstart episode.

One netizen commented:“Kahit ako pag may interview

at on the spot, hindi ko kakayanin. May mga tao kasi na mas magaling sa written, pwede mong i-edit lang. Wala bang interview questions na binibigay bago ang interview? Sa akin kasi ang sukatan ng magaling na reporter, yung hindi lang ikaw ang lalabas na magaling.”

Karen replied and said:“NO, interview questions are

never given to an interviewee. I research a lot & try and come as prepared as I can every single day. If you watched the interview in full, you will see that I shifted to Tagalog, during many times—I tried to help her. My previous interviews were much tougher—w/ Sen. Bongbong Marcos for example or MIAA GM Anghel Honrado. When someone is running for higher office—they must have an understanding of issues. This is a standard we owe to the Filipino people. You will choose in the end. My job is to ask the hard questions.“

The broadcaster also noted that she did not ask Alma about other national issues and instead

focused on the reproductive health law because “because she said her advocacy is on women.”

“Please note—I didn’t ask Ms Alma Moreno about the West Phil Sea issue, but moved to RH Law because she said her advocacy is on “women.” I took on from there—her thoughts on RH Law which is a landmark law crafted for women.”

Karen also responded to questions about the interview on her Twitter account.

She noted that her program already interviews the likes of Cong. Manny Pacquiao and presidential aspirant Mar Roxas in the past.

She also said:“Let’s challenge our

candidates to be their best. #Halalan2016”

Alma Moreno and Karen Davila are hot trending topics on social media over the latter’s interview with the actress about her senatorial bid. Netizens called the interview “awkward.” “Let’s challenge our candidates to be their best,” Davila said in a tweet. Instagram photo by Karen Davila

“… You have changed my mourning into dancing,

O Lord, and have girded me with joy, alleluia…”

—Psalm 30

(Part 3 of 3)IN many cases, those in their

immediate family orbit say, they never saw it coming and will be left wondering WHY. Suicide, contrary to the lyrics of a popular song, is never painless. Those left behind who will have to pick up the pieces deal with the heavy pall of gloom and guilt that descends on them for a long time.

So how does one deal with the dark night of the soul?

I don’t know about you but it seems to me that darkness can only be fought and won decisively by seeking the light. Only light can dispel darkness.

Psychotherapy, anti-depressants and all other known scientifically proven ways of dealing with mental illness and the eventual sickness of the soul may be of some help.

But as in anything, the first step is to acknowledge and admit the condition as a serious cause for concern and to seek help right away. This is the crucial first step towards healing. And the hardest.

The courage to recognize and admit one needs help may not be enough though. Humility is a key ingredient. The afflicted must reach out to someone he can trust, someone who cares about him and lead him to those that can help. This is when fervent heartfelt prayers, his own and those of others, can assault the heavens for mercy.

The bigger part of defeating the darkness of the soul lies within one’s self. Seek the light every which way possible, both physical and spiritual. Even the very act of being exposed to sunlight can fight off the sadness that afflicts many when the fall and winter seasons with their diminished amounts of sunlight come every

year. If you have strayed from the

Christian faith, come back, renew and rekindle that relationship with God. He is the vine; we are the branches. Cut off from God, we wither and die.

In daily life, seek the company of genuinely happy people who have that buoyant tendency to lift others. They have the force of high tide that lifts all boats. Cheerfulness is the daylight of the soul. Bask in joy-filled people’s megawatt light until you can generate your own. It may just be a flicker of hope in the beginning that grows into a bigger flame that may become a bonfire blazing within one’s soul. Quite possibly, with the Holy Spirit’s help, that once-ailing soul can become a light bright enough to give hope to others similarly situated.

Like anyone else, cheerful people do have problems and undergo dark times. But they have within their inmost core, a steady spark of God’s light that enables them to tap a wellspring of joy, no matter what season of the soul they are going through. You must stay away from negative, depressed people. Darkness can and will go viral given the chance. They have twice the force of gravity to bring you down to the depths of despair.

In my pedestrian view, since deep depression is essentially a disease that afflicts the mind

and withers the soul, all physical remedies seem to me to fall far short of true healing. A spiritual illness can only be cured by spiritual means. Match the method to the madness.

A leap of faith is a must. God is light and only God can dispel the darkness of one’s soul. Without God, one can do nothing.

The promise is clear for many who have remained steadfast in their faith. Faith is the solid and unwavering core belief that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead so we may live happily ever after far beyond death into eternity. This is the ending really worth seeking for every life story.

Rock solid faith brings a bottomless well of hope. Faith gives us a deep, down to the marrow, heartfelt and genuine appreciation of God’s unfailing love to see us through and bring us home in His own good and perfect timing.

God gave us life as a gift. Our gift to God in return, is to live as joyfully as possible the whole enchilada, the full measure of that life until we are called home.

What then is the ultimate weapon against dangerous depression that afflicts many today? It is JOY, the pure and simple expression of gratitude for GOD’S ENDURING LOVE.

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

Rachelle Ann’s sentimental homecoming

by Bayani San Diego Jr.Inquirer.net

IT WILL be a sentimental homecoming for Rachelle Ann Go.

Apart from having the opportunity to perform for her fellow Filipinos when she joins the international cast of the mammoth musical Les Miserables, Go will also get to invite her family and friends to watch the show in its Manila staging in March 2016.

Go told the Inquirer that she would only be part of the Manila run of the musical’s Asian tour and would fly back to London after.

(Go was handpicked to portray Fantine in the West End production of Les Miz quick on the heels of her stint as Gigi in the 25th anniversary revival of Miss Saigon in London last year.

Les Miz producer Cameron Mackintosh recalled that Go “received enormous acclaim in Miss Saigon. Over the last 25 years, I have had a wonderfully rewarding relationship with Filipino talent, introducing the best of them to audiences around the world. I am thrilled that one of my productions can be seen in its full splendor in Manila.”

Joining Go in the Manila stop of Les Miz are Simon Gleeson as Valjean and Earl Carpenter as Javert.

Les Miz, which goes onstage at The Theatre of Solaire next year, is presented by Smart Infinity, said Bambi Verzo of Concertus Manila.

Excerpts from the Inquirer interview with Go:

What are your hopes and fears as you prepare for ‘Les Miz’ in Manila?

I am more hopeful than fearful. I’m looking forward to it with anticipation and excitement because Filipinos will be able to watch an international cast and fall in love with

the musical as millions of people around the world have.

What was your family’s reaction when they learned you’d play Fantine? Were they relieved that it isn’t as daring as Gigi?

My relatives have yet to see me as Fantine. I’m sure they’re excited to see me do it in Manila.

Both Fantine and Gigi are iconic roles and can’t be compared. However, my family is relieved that Fantine is not “daring” at all.

It helps me to focus better when I am wearing more clothes onstage…keeps the draft away (laughs).

How do you make Fantine relevant and alive every night onstage?

Every woman in our society will find herself identifying with Fantine one way or another. I can see myself in her because she is all alone in the world. I feel lonely, too…since I am away from my family while living in London, where I have to do the household chores on my own. But the experience has also made me stronger like Fantine.

What do you miss most about the Philippines?

I miss the sights and sounds of beautiful Manila. I hope to have some fun while I am there performing in Les Miz.

What’s next for you after ‘Les Miz?’

Not really sure, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

How about trying your luck on Broadway?

After performing in Manila, I will go back to the West End. If I am given a chance to work on Broadway, I would definitely do it!

What are the other iconic roles you want to play onstage?

So many great female roles, but Elphaba of Wicked is a dream! One day….

How did you change after a year in London?

I’ve become independent, and I am proud to say that I’ve learned how to cook (laughs). I love the fact that I can serve special dishes that I’ve prepared for guests in my flat.

For my British friends, I whip up Filipino dishes such as kare-kare, gising-gising, kaldereta, adobo. For my Filipino loved ones, I make something that’s very English, like roast.

I have to be more organized in managing my time between home and work, though. I’m not as shy as I used to be. Dalaga na ako! (I’m now a woman!)

What are the things that didn’t change?

My faith. I always remind myself that I am so blessed, and I should give everything back to God.

I’m thankful to the Almighty and to dear friends and family who are always there to give me support and encouragement. I will always feel grateful for all these gifts.

Go was handpicked to play the “Les Miz” character in the West End production.

Americaalendar of EventsacrossC

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

FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS

AAPA Awards Gala Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) will host The Achievement Awards &

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

DECEMBER 3

Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award for Excellence Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award For Excellence In Medicine, Education, Arts & Literature and The

Youth When: Saturday, November 28, 2015, 1-6 pmWhere: Astoria World Manor in Astoria, Queens, NYHosted by: Knights of Rizal - New York For More Information, please contact: Atty. Ferdinand G. Suba, Esq., KCRCommander, Knights of Rizal - NYE-mail: SUBALAW@aol.com

NOVEMBER 28

Free AARP TEK Mobile Technology WorkshopWhat: A free technology workshop from AARP TEK Program AARP TEK and presented

with AT&T’s generous support comes to Cerritos on Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November 21st. Featuring 50-plus technology learners from the Cerritos area, AARP TEK representatives, and local elected officials, the “hands on” AARP TEK workshop is designed to enable people to leverage personal technology to enrich their lives and to educate the community on how they can maximize their use of their tablets and smartphones.

When: November 20th: 11 am - 1 pm: Intro to Smart Phones – Beginner Workshop3 pm – 5 pm: Beyond the Basics: Smart Phones – Intermediate WorkshopNovember 21st: 10 am - 12 noon: Intro to Smart Phones – Beginner Workshop2 pm – 4 pm: Beyond the Basics: Smart Phones – Intermediate WorkshopWhere: Sheraton Cerritos Hotel, Garden Terrace Ballroom. 12725 Center Court Drive,

Cerritos, CA 90703For more information on AARP TEK or for more details on scheduled workshops, visit

the Events tab on aarptek.org.

NOVEMBER 20-21

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

DECEMBER 5

Pasigueñans of Northern California 30th Annual Fiesta CelebrationThe Pasigueñans of Northern California invites all Pasigueñans, families, and friends to

its 30th Annual Fiesta in honor of its patroness, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The annual fiesta will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 1:00pm to 8:00pm at Joseph A. Fernekes Building, in Orange Memorial Park (781 Tennis Drive, South San Fran-cisco, CA 94080). Celebration of the Holy Mass will be at 3:00pm, which will be followed by a sumptuous dinner, dancing, entertainment, and raffle drawing. For more information, please contact Flery Santos-Panganiban (707-567-4779), Polly Santiago-Cortez (925-876-7695), Edna Balido-Reyes (925-260-9764), Edith Balido (925-681-9770), Chit Santos-Da-langin (707-704-7887), Marico Enriquez (650-483-8306), Oscar Rosales (707-332-4991), Jerry Field (925-681-0974), Marivic Beltran-Tuazon (707-656-1081), or Pete Saguisag (650-994-0701).

REUNION. The Binalonan High School Class’59 from Binalonan, Pangasinan, and their spouses, had a reunion on a cruise to the Panama Canal on October 10-25, 2015, aboard the Royal Caribbean, Jewel of the Seas. In the picture , taken on the first formal night at sea are: Zenaida Alfaro, Rolly and Teresita Lagmay Arenz, Rudy and Estela Ea Bulosan, Rodriga Esquillo Burkart, Mario and Juliet Gomez Demetria, Jovencio and Corazon Angala Fabro, Joe and Jesusa Mariano Morales, Adriano and Celieta Roxas Obiacorro, Melchor and Wilma Etchon Pascua, Lilian Patague, Estrella Magpali Pippo, Manuel and Salvacion Perez Valerio and Rosita Yu.”

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