Asian Journal Nov 13 2009

November 13 - 19, 2009

Balik Tanaw EntertainmentEddie Garcia: Going on 90,

hataw pa rin si Manoy!

Msgr. GutierrezWhy some Filipinos fall prey to apocalypticism

Stephanie Reese’s Carnegie Hall concert is outstanding

(Continued on page 5)

Philippine Scene


Guimaras Island,annular eclipse January 26,2009. Photo by Ferdinand Edralin


PHILIPPINE NEWS SER-VICE -- AGENTS of the Na-tional Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police on Thursday night ended the checkered career of notorious robber Alvin Flores and three of his men in a gun-battle in Cebu.

The end for the heavily-armed suspects known for posing as cops came at 8 p.m. Thursday when operatives of the NBI led by Ruel Lasala and the Directorate for Intel-ligence under Director Eu-gene Martin raided the their hideout at the Tripina Ceneca Compound in Barangay Staca, Compostela, Cebu.

The suspects ignored orders for them to surrender and immediately opened fire at the NBI and PNP agents who were forced to retaliate.

Aside from Flores, also killed were Ritchie Hijapon, Roger Sanchez and Mark Salamanca. A fifth member of the gang who was seriously wounded confessed involve-ment in the October 18 Green-belt 5 heist in Makati City where one of their fellows was killed.

The Cebu encounter came barely four hours after a mili-tary official, a namesake of Flores, surfaced at the office of Northern Mindanao police director Chief Supt. Danilo

This exemplifies People Power passion, why people are willing to campaign, finance and fight for a can-didate. Those who say that this is mere ‘euphoria’ and will fade come voting day are whistling a happy tune. — Billy Esposo

The Philippines’ most suc-cessful boxer Manny ‘Pac-man’ Pacquiao is on the cover of TIME Magazine’s Asia edition.

Pacquiao, who is aiming for an unprecedented seventh ti-tle in seven weight divisions, is featured by the prestigious magazine in a five-page story.

The story will also be included in the magazine’s global editions.

“I absolutely had no idea that when I started my career in boxing, to provide a better life for myself and my family, that I would now be where I am today and on the cover of TIME Magazine,” Pacquiao

Bloody end for Alvin Flores Gang

Pacquiao is on the cover of TIME Magazine

7 Reasons why we are supporting Noynoy

Noynoy Aquino

TIME Magazine Asia edition

said.The Filipino said being

featured in the magazine is the “most humbling experience” in his box-ing career.

He said “it is a great honor for me to be the face of my people and let everyone know we are a small but mighty country.”

Pacquiao is set to face Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 14 (November 15, Sunday, in Manila).

The Filipino boxer would clinch his seventh title in

seven different weight

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1. We see the handiwork of God in his candidacy – Ni-noy died for the country and his widow became president after people power. After battling cancer, Cory went home to the Lord which ushered in an unprecedented

showing of support and love for a former president. This showing of support miracu-lously bankrolled into a people’s call for Noynoy to run for president even if he had no plans of doing so. These events could only be orchestrated by a sovereign

God who has compas-sion over nations shackled by the blight and darkness of arrogant and shameless corruption.

2. He in-spires hope – Prior to Noynoy’s candidacy, we were resigned to our fate of

just choosing the utopian lesser evil among tradi-tional, same old,eager beaver presidentiables. None of them inspires hope. But all that changed when Noynoy responded to that God-given calling in his life to serve the Filipino people whom his father died for. Tears of hope from the hearts and eyes of

“Do you really love me?” she asked Dante who sat with his back against a huge trunk of an acacia tree. She was leaning against his breast as they looked

towards the seashore and the tall masts of ships beyond.“Of course,” he said.

“Do you think we will live happily ever after?” she asked again like a child, recalling the tragic ending of the movie they just saw.

“We will,” he assured her.

By Simeon G. Silverio, Jr., Publisher and EditorAsian Journal San Diego, The original and first Asian Journal in America

See page 10

Happily Ever After…

Stealing a kiss in Manila Bay. Photo by John Brian Silverio

Conrad Reloj | SAN DIEGO, 11/13/09 -- A birthday bash last August 22, 2009, held at Bay View Restaurant, MCRD, San Diego welcomes Aklan’s newest octogenarian, Mr. Felipe Mationg of Kalibo, Aklan, now a resident of San Diego, California.Accompanying the entrance of a blazing cake was a rous-ing chorus of “Happy Birth-day.” At the end the song, he blows out the candles and made his wish. This action is symbolic of extinguishing the past, while the wish is meant


Felipe Mationg’s 80th Birthday Bash celebrated at MCRD

San Diego

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Balik-Tanaw: The Filipino Stars

of Yesteryears

Read Dr. Romy Protacio’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Dr. Romy R. Protacio

Going 90, hindi pa rin papigil si Eddie Garcia sa pagtatrabaho. Hataw pa rin! Kung baga sa ulam na adobo, habang nagtata-gal lalo itong sumasarap. Like many of his contemporaries, he believes in continuing with his work in the entertainment indus-try because it’s part of his system – it’s in his blood!

He was born Eduardo Verchez Garcia on May 2, 1921 in Sor-sogon. Their family descended from Spanish settlers in the Philippines, giving Eddie one of his assets –his good mestizo fea-tures. His father, Antonio Garcia originated from Camarines Sur while his mother, Vicenta Ver-chez from Juven, Sorsogon.

He was a former member of the Philippine Scouts (a military group organized and headed by American officers but made up of Filipinos) in Okinawa dur-ing World War II. To honor his contributions in the military, the Philippine Military Academy Marangal (Honorable) Class of 1974 adopted him as one of their honorary classmates, alongside First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

His wife died in 1995. Ed-die has three children, two of whom passed away - one from a motorcycle accident in 1973 and the other one of a heart at-tack. It’s not easy to get Eddie to talk about his personal love life, which he considers very private. He is cautious and tight-lipped during interviews where he would dismiss questions by sim-ply saying that his relationships have always been conducted in an “adult” way.

He has a current long-time girl-friend, a relationship he describes as “fine and dandy” – a remark he would make on interviews. There has never been much

Eddie Garcia today

Eddie Garcia: Going 90, hataw pa rin si Manoy!

discussion of his romantic esca-pades, even in the past. For my interview with Eddie, I preferred to respect his privacy and not to tread any further along lines which he considers sacred.

His Movie Career

Eddie started his movie career when a friend, George Ander-son, read an advertisement in the newspaper that the late director, Manuel Conde needed seven young men to play the roles of “Siete Infantes de Lara” (1949). Anderson asked him and a group of friends to audition for the movie. They went to see Manu-el Conde who told them to come back in three days. Of the 40 applicants who were given screen tests, Eddie was one of those chosen to join the lead roles of the “Siete Infantes de Lara”, which was based on a comic strip

by the country’s national artist, Carlos “Botong” Francisco.

To prepare for his role, Eddie together with the other members of the “Siete Infantes” under-went physical fitness training and learned the art of fencing for three months. They would have strenuous physical activities (like lifting weights) in the morning and then would undergo training in fencing in the afternoon. After three rigorous months, they started filming the movie.

“Siete Infantes” was originally serialized in komiks (Filipino comics) of which I am once an avid reader of during my child-hood years. When it was made into a movie by the well-known director Manuel Conde, I was thrilled as it amazed me at my young age to see my beloved comics characters come to life on the silver screen. (My love affair with Pilipino comics will stay with me even until my college days at the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) on Doroteo Jose in Manila where I would stay behind after classes to read komiks which I would rent for cinco centimos (five centavos)).

Later on, the movie “Siete In-fantes” will be shown on TV and being a Filipino movie addict, I enjoyed watching them on our wooden encased black and white Zenith television set, something that was still considered a trea-sure in the early sixties. Back then, having a TV was quite a novelty, and people considered it even a status symbol! Nowadays

those TV sets back then maybe considered “museum material”, what with dial knobs instead of remote controls for switching channels and a sliding wooden door to hide the rectangular screen.

Jaime Castelvi, Albert Madi-son, Johnny Monteiro , Gil de Leon (dad of Christopher de Leon), Mario Montenegro and George Sanderson were the other male leads who formed the “Siete Infantes de Lara”. Nida Blanca also appeared for the first time as a young lass in this movie.

Eddie played the perennial kon-trabida (villain) during the early part of his acting career before he became a leading man in both action and sex comedy films in the 1990’s (by the way, when he started doing action films 20 years ago, he was almost in his 70’s!). Among his well remem-bered films are “Sino ang May Sala?” with Romeo Vasquez, Amalia Fuentes and Paraluman, “Taga sa Bato” with Luis Gonza-les, Paraluman, Lolita Rodriguez and Van de Leon. He was the favorite villain of the King of Philippines movies, Fernando Poe, Jr. in most of the films pro-duced by FPJ Films.

Eddie also did movies with LVN Studio and Sampaguita Pictures. He was under contract with Sampaguita Pictures for 12 years. In 1961, Dr. Jose Perez of Sampaguita Pictures gave him

Eddie Garcia with Susan Roces in “Gumising ka Maruja”

a break with his first directorial job, “Karugtong ng Kahapon” starring Ric Rodrigo, Rita Gomez, and Marlene Dauden. This was followed by other films, the list of which we did not dis-cuss in detail.

Other movies that Eddie made were “Condenado” (1958), “Tan-ikalang Apoy” (1959), “ with Paraluman, Blanca Gomez, Lol-ita Garcia,, Eddie Arenas, Carlos Salazar, Bella Flores, Matimti-man Cruz, and Etang Discher, “Tubog sa Ginto” (1971) with Lolita Rodriguez, Hilda Koronel, Jay Ilagan, and Luis Gonzales, “Patria Adorada” (1969) with Joseph Estrada, Gloria Romero and Barbara Perez, “De Colo-res” (1968) with Joseph Estrada, Amalia Fuentes, Mario Montene-gro, Perla Bautista, Mila Oca-mpo, Divina Valencia and Jun Aristorenas, “Ito ang Pilipino“, a monumental epic in the history of the Filipino movies starring Joseph Estrada, Mario Montene-gro, Barbara Perez, Gloria Sevilla, and Johnny Monteiro,

When the movie “Tubog sa Ginto” was shown in Phil-ippine theaters, ang mga “bading” ay nagwala sa kagala-kan. Nagumapaw sa puso ng mga bakla ang kagala-kan sa pagkaka-roon ng bahagi sa industria ng peliku-lang Tagalog. It is true that there were movies about gay people like “Facifica Falayfay,” “Jack & Jill,” and “Ang Tatay kong Nanay,”

but those movies were about men who are openly gay and were not accepted in the upper class society. In “Tubog sa Ginto,” Eddie played the role of a gay man living in 70’s Manila.

The movie was the first mov-ing portrayal of a gay man who is married to a beautiful wife and who fathers a young man. Almost living a perfect life of financial stability and perfect family, he fears he will be ousted by family and society once his true identity is revealed.

In my younger years, one can-

not be an openly gay person in the Philippines; otherwise, you will be ostracized. On television shows, there were no openly gay men. There were no male or fe-male prostitutes who would come out in the open either. The mis-tresses were hidden in the closet and would never come out in the open as a mistress or queridaof a married man, particularly a politician. In the years to follow, nagsulputan na ang mga bad-nagsulputan na ang mga bad-nagsulputan na ang mga bading at mga queridas or “kabit.”. Many years ago, hostesses or better known as “mga babaing mababa ang lipad” (now called GRO’s or Guest Relation Offi-cers), would not come out during day time for fear their neighbors would recognize them. When they come out, they would be wearing bandanas to cover their face.

Today, wala silang pakialam sa mundo. They are proud of what they are or what they do.

They are seen everywhere – in malls, in resort places, and in 5-star hotel lobbies. Ang mga bading ay nagkalat na sa mga television shows gumaganap na mga artista or kaya TV hosts. Nuong araw nagtatago ang mga mistress o kabit ng mga kilalang politiko, artista, o mayamang negosyante. Today, ang mga “kabit” o “querida” ay mas matapang pa sa tunay na asawa. Inaaway pa nila ang mga tunay na asawa. Many years ago, you

Eddie Garcia with Marlene Dauden and Rita Gomez during a FAMAS Awards Night


Asian Journal - (619) 474-0588 Visit our website at http://www.asianjournalusa.comNovember 13 - 19, 2009


Light &Shadows

Read Zena Babao’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Zena Sultana Babao

Gifted with an enormous talent and charismatic appeal beyond words, Elvis Presley was a true American artist, a performer of magnetic dimensions, and a singer of incredible brilliance. His music and his songs, his vibrancy and his charisma, his sensual good looks and incredible voice, will always remain in our hearts.

That is why Elvis fans find such joy listening to Elvis sing. That is why they enjoy attending Elvis competitions wherever they are. And that is why the Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists contests during Elvis Week in Memphis, Tennessee, draw thou-sands every year.

Through all the years, the Elvis Tribute Artists around the world continue to bring Elvis back to us. So with pleasure, I present to you the Top 3 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists of 2009: Bill Cherry, Donny Edwards and Kevin Mills.

Bill Cherry – the 2009 Ulti-mate Elvis Tribute Artist World Champion

“Being the World Champion for 2009 is the highest honor an

Presenting: The Top 3 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists of 2009

Bill Cherry

Donny Edwards

ETA can achieve,” the new cham-pion said in an interview with this reporter after the contest. “It is both an honor and a privilege to be recognized by the Elvis Presley Enterprises. It’s almost like being recognized by Elvis himself. It just doesn’t get any better than that!”

As Ultimate World Champion, Bill was awarded prizes to die for: the title and the crown, together with the belt and the recognition from the Elvis Presley Enterprises; cash prize of $20,000; the opportu-nity to sign a performance contract with the Legends in Concert; and other valuable prizes. Cherry will also be a showcase performer for this November’s Elvis Cruise to Co-zumel, Mexico, together with other Elvis Tribute Artists.

After becoming World Cham-pion, what is ahead for Bill? “The ride has just begun and I am ready to rock n’ roll! Up on the stage dressed as Elvis, I feel like Clark Kent becoming Superman! It’s a great feeling. When I am on the stage, I am Elvis. It’s a thrill and a fantasy! It is a time capsule of sorts, and it’s like the 70’s all over again.”

Bill Cherry hails from Collins-ville, Illinois, and is the son of a Pentecostal minister who has a deep-rooted love for Southern Gospel music. A life-long fan of Elvis, Bill has been keeping Elvis’ memory and music alive since 1989. With his award-winning performances, he has entertained and touched the hearts of countless fans.

“As an ETA, I try to represent Elvis in an honorable way,” he continued. “Elvis is the one and the only King of Rick n’ Roll, and I can never fill his shoes or take his place. I only want to do an honest and loving tribute to him. When I am off the stage, I am a fan. I leave the show to the stage where it belongs. After all, there is only one Elvis Presley.”

“Elvis has a great love for gospel music,” Bill pointed out, “and when the King sings ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ you can tell that he has a deep religious background.”

Over the years as an ETA, Bill has met many of Elvis’ friends and musicians, like Charlie Hodge, DJ Fontana, J.D. Sumner, Ricky, David and Billy Stanley (Elvis’ stepbrothers), Kathy Westmore-land, Marty Laker, Sonny West, Joe Guershaw, Ronnie Tutt, Ed Parker, The Sweet Inspirations, and Vester Presley.

Donny Edwards – Three-time Ultimate Top 3 Winner

This is the third year in a row that Donny Edwards made it to the Top 3, but not World Champion yet. So I asked him how he feels about it, and here’s his answer:

“To be in the Top 3 is quite an accomplishment in itself, and I am very grateful. I brought my very best to the Grand Finals and I was confident I would make it to the Top 3 once again. However, you always hope that your name is the


Law Offices of Chua Tinsay & Vegawww.ctvattys.com

by Atty. Dennis ChuaLegal Buzz

Read Atty. Dennis Chua’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

By: Dennis E. Chua, Esq. | 10/13/09 -- Any alien who has been convicted of a crime runs the risk of being deported or removed from the United States. Legal permanent residents who have been convicted of a crime may be included as those who may be removed or deported.

The Immigration and National-ity Act enumerates the types of criminal offenses which would render a person removable or deportable.

Among the criminal offenses listed are as follows:

1. A person who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude within 5 years after the date of admission. A crime of moral turpitude refers to “conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty or good mor-als.” Some examples of crime of moral turpitude include arson, embezzlement, grand theft, assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter;

2. A person who has been convicted of a crime for which

Crimes That Will Cause Your Deportation Or Removal

a sentence of one year or longer may be imposed;

3. A person who at any time after admission is convicted of two or more crimes involving moral turpitude;

4. A person who is convicted of an aggravated felony at any time after conviction. Aggravat-ed felony is a category of crimes that include murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor;

5. A person who is convicted of a crime relating to high speed flight from an immigration checkpoint;

6. A person who has failed to register as a sex offender;

7. A person who at any time has been convicted of a viola-tion of any law relating to a controlled substance (drug of-controlled substance (drug of-controlled substance (drug offenses);

8. A person who is a drug abuser or addict;

9. A person who has been convicted of a crime of domestic violence, a crime of stalking, or a crime of child abuse, child neglect or child abandonment.

An alien including legal per-manent residents who have been convicted and who have served their sentence as a result of the criminal conviction will have to pass through the US Immigration and Customs Enforce-ment before they are released. If such alien is removable or de-portable, an immigra-

tion hold will be issued, and the person will be detained for the immigration violation. Bail may be posted to secure the tempo-rary release of such person from immigration detention.

The person shall then be put in removal proceedings with the issuance of the corresponding Notice to Appear. The Notice shall inform the person of his immigration violation and why he or she is being removed from the United States.

Depending on the type of criminal offense committed, a person may be eligible to file for a waiver to prevent removal or deportation in Immigration Court.

A grant of a full and uncondi-tional pardon by the President of the United States or by the Gov-ernor of any of the several states may also prevent the removal or deportation of a person for certain criminal offenses.

In order to avoid the harsh consequences of removal as a result of a criminal conviction, it would be best that once criminal charges have been filed, a person immediately consult with an im-migration practitioner regarding the immigration consequences of a criminal offense.

About Atty. Dennis E. Chua

Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a part-ner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. . The CTV attorneys will be hold-ing a free legal clinic on the first Monday of December,2009 at the Max’s Restaurant in Vallejo, California. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone con-sultation to discuss your particu-lar situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; [email protected]

Aside from retaining it’s title in the UAAP Men’s Basketball, Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) has another reason to celebrate: the Katipunan-based campus was the top Philippine university, according to 2009 World University Rankings sponsored by Times Higher Education (THES)- QS.

ADMU ranked 234th in the university rankings, beating University of the Philippines (UP) that had been the top university in the past two years. UP placed 262th and De La Salle Uni-versity – Manila in the bracket of 401-500 list.

ADMU has been leaping the survey in the past years: It ranked 254th last year and be-tween 400 and 500 in 2006 and 2007, respectively. In the rank-ing, ADMU this year shared with Brandeis University (US) and School of Oriental and African St (UK).

Meanwhile, Harvard Univer-sity has been leading the survey in the last six years; followed by University of Cambridge. Rounding out the top five are Yale University, University Col-lege London, and Imperial Col-lege of London and University of Oxford both tied at fifth.

Top Universities 101With more and more students

opting to matriculate internation-ally, the THES-QS made the uni-versity rankings to guide those looking for the best universities to enroll in. Advise on getting scholarships and getting through university applications are on website,www.topuniversities.com.

According to its website, the THES exists to “give students, academics, funders, politicians, and policy makers a broad view of the top institutions in world higher education.” The site furthers, “a glance of the World University Rankings 2009 will show that the top 200 institutions are far from being a uniform group. They vary in size, the subject they cover, and their commitment to research,

Ateneo is top RP school in World Uni Rankingsalthough all are substandard pro-ducers of all knowledge.”

The organization used a stan-dard scale in ranking the world universities according to Martin Ince, founding editor of THES:

THES focuses on main char-acteristics of a university: size,

scope and research inten-siveness.

Next is the academ-ic scope of institu-tion: We regard a “fully comprehen-sive university as

being active in five areas of scholarship

– science, technology, biomedicine, or social

sciences and arts and humanitiesThe amount of research has

produced in the past five years as identified by Scopus.

Ranking universities will remain controversial for the foreseeable future. But there is much less argument than there was two years ago about whether the process should even be attempted. Universities continue to define themselves internationally, both at subject level and as whole institutions. Different rankings have emerged in the past 12 months, and there is broad acceptance that cross-border comparisons are here to stay in higher education.

There remain issues about the advantages enjoyed by English-language universities and those institutions with a base in sci-ence and medicine, but there will be continuing efforts to level the playing field as far as is practi-cable. - From Good News Philippines


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By Marissa Acierto | SAN DIEGO-On Friday, November 13, 2009, the members of PTE-HOPE, Inc. (Pa-gasa-Tumainisha-Esperanza-Hope, Inc.) and guests will be setting-up bright and early for a booth, along with other community organizers in San Diego County, to promote community awareness, cooperation, hope, unity, respect and goodwill among various cultural and ethnic groups. The summit will be held at the Jacob’s Center at 404 Euclid Av-enue in San Diego within the fourth District area of San Diego Board of Supervisor’s Ron Robert’s.

The mission of the summit for 2010 is is to create awareness of diversity in the local community with all the unification elements. The platform is the same one that PTE-HOPE, Inc. created in the Fall of 2006 to pro-mote exactly just what the summit is looking for. The summit hopes to draw strength from the various ethnic elements in the San Diego community which are the Filipino Americans, Latino/Hispanic/Mexi-can Americans, African Americans and European/Anglo-Descent and others.

The event is free with pre-regis-tration and begins at 8:30 a.m. fol-lowed by a complimentary continen-tal breakfast. The summit sponsors include Assembly Republican Cau-cus along with other legislators who co-sponsored it as well.

The summit will also provide technical assistance consisting of workshops on grantwriting, how to partner with businesses and job training, networking and visiting re-source tables, investing youth capac-ity building and economic develop-ment. Free lunch will be provided for those who have registered and have reserved and are manning a

PTE-HOPE, INC. at the 10th Annual Economic Renewal Summit

booth for the summit. Afternoon workshops will have

the following topics: housing in the community, marketing your non-profit organizations and working with elected officials.

The “Wrap Up Session” will invite input from individuals on what they have learned. The event will end at 3:30 p.m.

PTE-HOPE, Inc. Members sched-uled to attend and guests are Lydia Duros, RN (Poway); Eddie Enriquez (Del Mar); Vince Bumanglag, West-ern Pacific Carpet Care (Poway); Jim Perman (Chula Vista); Hercules Dinglasan (Mira Mesa); Olivia Din-glasan (Mira Mesa); Lydia Loristo (El Cajon); Corazon Gloria-Espiritu (Scripps Ranch); Edith Mckenzie (Mira Mesa); Gerald Espiritu (Para-dise Hills); Bill Flores (North Bay Terrace); President Mateo Camarillo (Kensington); Robert Sanchez (Del Mar); Carmen Duenas (Mira Mesa); Manny Cabildo (Spring Valley/Jam-ul); Aster Santelices (National City); Manny Galendez (Skyline); Elmore Flores (National City); Mel Marin (Chula Vista) and Dr. Maxine She-rard (Broadway Heights).

Connecting with the communities are outstanding leaders that include representatives from Los Angeles such as Sonara Barber-Carter and from Sacramento, Roleeda Statham, Senior Consultant to the Assembly Republican Caucus.

Dr. Maxine Sherard who is the Vice President of PTE-HOPE, Inc. will be having a separate workshop for ACT, an organization which she also represents.

One of the guests for PTE-HOPE, Inc. is the President of the FRA, Branch 84, Manny Cabildo who be-lieves that our organization has been effective in ensuring that our commu-

nity is connected. Manny explains, “I have been in several programs with PTE-HOPE, Inc. and value the comradeship that the organization has facilitated yearly to make sure that the community is fully aware of activities going on to help facili-tate other organizers to improve and share ideas to help other non-profit organizations and individuals to help improve them on what they need to do.” For further inquiries on how to get involved with PTE-HOPE, Inc., contact (619) 549-0014 or email at [email protected]

Bloody end for Flores Gang

Empedrad to clear his name.According to Empedrad, Lt.

Col. Alvin Flores denied any connection to the wanted Alvin Flores.

Empedrad said Lt. Col. Flores is assigned with the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade operating in Lanao del Norte.

PNP spokesman, Chief Supt. Leonardo A. Espina said a mas-sive intelligence operation un-dertaken by the PNP led to the neutralization of Alvin Flores and his gang mates. “The Directorate for Intelligence even furnished the NBI with information that led to the neutralization of the sus-pects,” he said.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa earlier formed a Special Investigation Task Group to spearhead the hunt for Flores who was tagged as the leader of the fake policemen who stormed the Rolex Store inside Greenbelt 5.

Verzosa said they expect inci-dents of robbery–holdups to go

(Continued from page 1)

Pacquiao is on TIME Magazine

divisions if he wins against the Puerto Rican.

Pacquiao has defeated several box-ing greats, including “Golden Boy” Oscar de la Hoya. He may also get to face American Floyd Mayweather if he wins against Cotto.

After taking on de la Hoya on December 2008, Pacquiao knocked down Britain’s Ricky Hatton last May.

Pacquiao has won titles in the ju-nior welterweight, lightweight, su-per featherweight, featherweight, super bantamweight and flyweight divisions.


down with the killing of Flores. He said a fifth suspect who was wounded and captured by law-men during Thursday night’s shootout is cooperating with in-vestigators.

“It’s unfortunate he (Flores) got killed since he could have given us more information,” he said.

Verzosa said the P510,000 re-ward for the capture of Flores will go to an informant whose name was withheld for security reasons.

The P500,000 was set by the Department of Interior and Local

Government while the P10,000 was given by Lt.Col. Alvin Flores.

The body of Domingo who is said to be facing a string of crimi-nal charges including murder and theft was claimed by his widow and brother Tuesday in a Pasay City funeral parlor.

Domingo, a native of Isabela province, was described as a for-mer New People’s Army rebel who joined but was later dis-missed from the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit.

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by Dr. Ofelia Dirige Co-Founder and Exec. Director, Kalusugan Wellness Center

Contemporary Asian AmericanRead Dr. Dirige’s previous articles by visiting

our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

By Dorothy Olsen

The story of U.S. Navy Filipinos and their immigration to the

United States has been an untold one for me. Never before had my eyes been open to the hardships that people of my ethnicity dealt with. For a period of al-most 100 years, the United States had been a mainstay in the Philippines. Through-out that century, Filipinos endured the colonial rule of America\and experienced the independence of their country. The presence of America allowed Filipinos to enlist into their differ-ent branches of the service, most notably, the Navy. Those sailors that were able to pass stringent written, oral, and physical exams joined only to find that they would all become stewards for officers. !hrough inter-views and daily conversa-tions with friends, the au-thor, Dr. Riz Oades, in his books Beyond the Mask: Untold Stories of U.S. Navy Filipinos was able to convey firsthand accounts

Author Dorothy Olsen

Beyond the Mask: A Summary

of sailors as well as stories told through the sailor’s family members.

The general subject of the book was the experience of a few generations of Filipino-Ameri-cans and their experience in the United States Navy. That of first generation, born and raised in the Philippines, the 1.5 genera-tion that were born in the Philip-pines and raised in the United States and the second generation that were born and raised state-side. The book gave a sounding board for many former service members to express the racism, discrimination, as well as the emotion and mental hardships they faced. Family members of sailors dealt with long periods of absence. Wives were forced to be temporary single parents, car-ing for lhçall of the fmancial and emotional needs of the family.

A major character in the book is Senior Chief Juan Victor

Left to right; Jay Ruiz Jr., Dr. Ceferina Ruiz, and Senior Chief Juan Victor Ruiz during a book sign in 2004.

Ruiz (AKA “Jay”), a friend and former colleague of Dr. Oades. Jay’s story began in December 1960 when he was chosen out of 200 applicants to join the service. Jay like the majority of Filipinos, was designated the steward rating, but later request-ed a change in rating to Electri-cian’s Mate, which was rare for a minority to accomplish. He re-ceived resistance from the Engi-neering Officer on board his ship when he asked to be sent to “B” school for his trade. The officer believed that “B” school wtts too advanced for him and recom-mended that he go to “A” school instead. To the officer’s surprise, Jay graduated in the top three in both “A” and “B” schools, proving that a Filipino was intel-ligent enough. He later went on to become a Battery Charging Electrician, Main Propulsion Controller. When Jay was a P01 he was selected for the Advance Degree Completion Program and attended Southwestern College full-time and graduated with an Associate of Science degree in Supervision. This degree and his time in service led him to be pro-moted to the rank of senior chief His story is unlike most told in the book because his Filipina wife outranked him as a doctor and commissioned officer.

Dr. Ceferina Ruiz, the wife of Senior Chief Jay Ruiz had joined

the Navy as an Ensign. She was especially significant because as Dr. Oades mentions, al that time, it was taboo to commission a Fil-ipino woman. A freelance writer referenced in the book, stated that, “As a woman and as a Fiipi-na, she broke the barrier of color and gender” (Oades 141). In order to get her commission, Dr. Ruiz had to waive her responsi-bilities to her children as a result of both her husband and herself serving the country and that dur-ing a time of war she would have to put country before family. It was astounding that even though Ceferina was a doctor and was also a commissioned officer, she endured discrimination and racism. She recalled times when she sat in an area designated for officers and was asked to provide ID. even while she was wear-ing her uniform. The idea of a brown skinned woman obtain-ing an officer’s rank seemed to be highly unlikely to some people. The experience of being a wife to a sailor was difficult. Ceferina experienced extended periods away from her husband as he went on WestPac and other deployments. She toid of her knowledge of the temptations that sailors experienced while overseas and acknowledged that her husband had been unfaithful during his deployments. Despite these things, Dr. Ruiz chose

to look forward and maintain her marriage. Her story was so unique being both a Navy wife and a sailor as well.

Like Dr. Ruiz, a character of a rare experience was Julian Ortiz. Unlike the 22,000 other Filipinos who join the American service, Julian was one out of 800 se-lected for the Coast guard. Most “Guardies” were second or third generation Filipino-Americans, but Julian was one of the rare, first generation. He came from an underprivileged background that included eight brothers and sisters and only a seventh grade education level. Despite be-ing the only one without a high school diploma in the group cho-sen for enlistment, he went on to boot camp. He was threatened by the Commanding Officer with being kicked out of boot camp due to that lack of a diploma. Ju-lian promised the Captain that if he gave him a chance, he would do anything for the Coast Guard. He kept his promise and received his high school diploma and he even became a U.S. citizen. Julian Ortiz served the Coast Guard for 25 years and success-fully raised 3 daughters with his wife by his side.

The aims of the author for writ-ing his book, was to “raise public consciousness and understanding of the Navy serviceman’s contri-butions to the Filipino-American struggle for justice and racial equality” (Oades VI). I believe that Dr. Oades accomplished his aim because he was able to create a story that included tales from the past when Filipinos first had the ability to join the Navy as well as contemporary versions. The dialogue was open to the point that these men and women couid tell about their per-sonal experiences with infidelity and prostitution. Nothing seemed to be held back as these sailors wanted the true stories to cone out into the public.

This book made me aware of the harsh reality that minorities faced during the majority of the 20th century within the military.

I became aware of the struggles that women faced at home while their spouses were away, and in the case of Dr. Ruiz, those that she faced while in service. Though I am not a full-blooded Filipino, I am proud of the ac-complishments that those of my culture have made. They have paved the way for me and other descendents who are in the mili-tary now or will be in the future. There is so little information available that recites the history of these people. Dr. Oades has made it possible through his re-search and compiling of informa-tion. This book is something that all those with a Filipino heritage should read.

***Dorothy Olsen is a third year

student at SDSU majoring in Sociology.

Perspectives

ASIAN JOURNALThe first Asian-Filipino weekly in Southern California

An award-winning newspaper, it is San Diego’s most widely circulated Asian-Filipino newspaper!

Ashley SilverioAssistant Editor

In Pursuit of ExcellenceEugenio “Ego” Osin, (1946 - 1994)

Joe Cabrera, (1924 - 1996)Soledad Bautista (1917-2009)

Dr. Rizalino “Riz” Oades (1935-2009)

The Asian Journal is published weekly and distributed in all Asian communties in San Diego County. Publication date is every Friday of the month. Advertising deadline is Thursday prior to publication date at 5 p.m. For advertising rates, rate cards, or information, call (619) 474-0588. Subscription by mail is available for $50 per year (56 issues). The Asian Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs but welcomes submissions. Entire content is © 2009 copyrighted material by Asian Journal. Materials in this publication may not be reproduced without specific permission from the publisher.

Genevieve SilverioManaging Editor

Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.Publisher & Editor

Miles BeauchampAssociate Editor

Santi SilverioAssociate Publisher

At Large...

Read Miles Beauchamp’s previous articles by visiting our web-site at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Miles Beauchamp

Coming up very shortly will be Thanksgiving, Christmas, Kwan-zaa, Hanukah, and New Years – the holiday marathon. As you probably know from past experi-ence, this is going to be a very stressful time. In my never-end-ing quest to bring you methods that you can use to make your life just a little bit better, this column is dedicated to improving your mood whenever you get too

The holiday marathon is coming!!

It’s going to get very crazy shortly and here are a few ways to protect yourself

stressed thinking about what’s coming. And let’s face it; all of us could be in a better mood from time to time.

Feel free to use this any time, any place, that may be necessary to make you feel better, make your friends like you more, or make the day seem just a tiny bit better (especially if you’re out shopping and fighting for a park-ing place). And for goodness

sake, forget about the credit card bills that will be coming in 2010.

The Miles Method of Mood Mastery

BreatheSmileRelaxRepeat




Yeah, you got it! Pump it up, pump it up, and go! Remember, no pain, no gain!



Hut two, three, four! You can do this, you’re strong, you’re invincible, you’re tough, you’re in debt but so is everyone else!




Are you starting to feel the burn yet? Yeah, you got it, keep it up! You’re looking good!

Breathe

SmileRelaxRepeat


Move it, move it! Get that mind moving! Keep it up! Go! Go! Go!





And now do a cool-down time of approximately one hour. Dur-ing this time feel free to drink the refreshment of your choice. Pepsi is pretty much always rec-ommended, of course, but any-thing will do such as Starbucks (if you’re rolling in bucks), hot chocolate, or even Kool-Aid. In addition, you may want to indulge in a few choice pieces of See’s or Godiva candy or, for the purists among you, some fruit. Gimme a break.

This cool-down time can also be used to meditate on the best times to hit Toys r Us, or the best places to find parking spots in the shopping centers, or how far in advance you’ll need to get to the post office to get everything mailed. Meditating is always good; just make sure you don’t use it to get even more stressed. In other words, don’t even think about the office parties!

I’m not sure just when holidays became such stressful times, but I have a hunch it’s when some-one opened the first ad agency. Or just perhaps we do it to our-selves in our search for the best time we can give our families. If so, that’s fine, as long as we remember that family really is what’s important.

I hope this column helps you not only get in a better mood, but also maintain it. As usual, no thanks are necessary; your better mood is thanks enough for me.

SmileRelaxRepeat



Hey, no wimping out! Get to it! Get moving, get it in high gear, get it together, and just get it! You’ll never get it all done just sitting there thinking about all the relatives coming over. Now again,

Breathe

last one called. Who wouldn’t want to be named World Champion?”

Donny’s family was originally from Iowa, but later moved to Tex-as. Now, Donny makes his home in beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada, the home of countless Elvis Tribute Artists, and at one time, Elvis him-self. He became an Elvis fan at the tender age of two, and little did he know that being an Elvis fan would lead him to a beloved career as an Elvis Tribute Artist.

As an ETA, Donny has performed everywhere – all across the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and in several countries in Europe. Next year, from Novem-ber 4 to 12, 2010, Donny will be performing on his very first cruise ever. Dubbed as “Elvis Cruise: Fun in Acapulco II”, the ship Carnival Spirit will depart from San Diego, California, to Acapulco, Zihuatane-jo/Ixtapa, and Manzanillo, in the Mexican Riviera.

To hundreds of Elvis fans, Donny’s ability as a performer is top notch! He looks and moves like Elvis, sings and talks like Elvis, and also has the charisma of the King. His Southern manner, uncanny resemblance to Elvis, warmth and great charm, makes him a favorite anytime, anywhere!

“Elvis has brought great joy to my life and I want to bring that same joy to the fans,” Donny said. “I owe Elvis and the fans my career and my continued success. I’ve had much help and advice from many people and I’m grateful, and I am especially grateful to my mentor and fellow ETA, Gary Wesley, for his guidance, and also to my friend Shawn Klush and his manager, Dan Lentino.”

How does it feel when he puts on the Elvis outfit and assume the Elvis persona? “It’s the greatest honor!” Donny replied. “I feel I have to do my best because I am representing someone I love and respect.”

Donny considers getting to perform with the Jordanaires, DJ Fontana, and the Sweet Inspira-tions as memorable experiences in his ETA career. Through the years, he has met so many people close to Elvis, and has gotten close to a few, namely, Cynthia Pepper, DJ Fontana, Charles Stone, Ed Bonja and Jimmy Velvet.

Kevin Mills – Third Place Win-ner

Talking about his win, Kevin smilingly said, “I’m really proud of my accomplishment. I feel really pleased about my performance and I did the best I could during the contest. I’m really happy about the outcome, and I’d like to offer my congratulations to Bill and Donny. It was a great battle!”

Kevin’s authentic portrayal and fascinating interpretation of Elvis has made him one of the country’s popular performers in the indus-try. His crowd-pleasing style and mannerisms, mixed with his unique blend of talent, vocals and charisma has attracted for him fans from all over the world.

Respected in the industry, he has appeared in dozens of high-profile productions including several tele-vision appearances and acting roles. Some highlights of his career in-clude Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, 48 Hours, ABC Primetime and most notably, his starring role and lead performance in “Elvis- the Beginning” an A& E documentary.

Kevin became an Elvis Tribute Artist because of his love and

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by Atty. Susan V. Perez

Legal BriefRead Atty. Susan Perez’s previous articles by

visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

One of the significant changes in immigration law was the in-corporation of the Hague Con-vention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption or the Hague Adoption Convention into the rules for adopting children from a foreign Convention country. The Hague Adoption Covention, which took effect on April 1, 2008, introduced a new procedure for adopted children emigrating to the United States from a country who is a signatory to the Convention. The United States and Philippines are among the 75 countries where Hague Adoption Convention is in force. The new rules do not apply to children coming from countries who are not signatories to the Hague Adoption Convention such as Russian, South Korea, Ethiopia, or when the adoption was finalized before April 1, 2008.

The Hague Convention Adop-tion governs the case if the prospective adoptive parents are considered habitual residents of the United States and the child is a habitual resident of another Convention Country like the Philippines, and the child will be immigrating to the United States To confirm if the Hague Adop-tion Convention applies to the case, the attorney must look into the “habitual residency” of the parties involved in the adoption. It is not enough to rely on the citizenship of the prospective adoptive parents, or that of the child, to understand whether the case is a Hague case. Under the regulations, a United States citi-zen with a domicile in the United States, even if he/she temporar-ily lives abroad, is considered a habitual resident. If the United States Citizen is not domiciled

Intercountry Adoptionin the United States, he/she will have to establish that he/she will have a domicile in the United States on or before the child’s admission in the United States as a lawful permanent resident (LPR); or b) he/she will have a domicile in the United States af-domicile in the United States af-domicile in the United States after adopting the child abroad and before the child’s 18th birthday, so that the child may obtain nat-uralization as a USC. Only then will the United States Citizen be considered a habitual resident of the United States. The child is a habitual resident of his or her country of citizenship.

What if the prospective ad-opted parents are United States citizen but are domiciled in the Philippines? The Hague Adop-tion Convention will not apply. They can adopt the child in the Philippines and establish two years physical and legal custody. If the prospective adoptive par-ents later decide to come back to the United States, they can file an I-130 petition on behalf of the adopted child.

What happens if the child is a citizen of a foreign Convention country but is residing in the United States? On September 29, 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided guidance on cases like this. USCIS explained that the regulations could be interpreted to permit a finding that a child is no longer a habitual resident of the country of citizenship, and is instead a habitual resident of the United States. In such a case, it will be considered a Non-Hague case and the child may be adopted locally in the United States. Before the case can be considered a Non-Hague case, certain requirements need to be met. What happens if


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7 Reasons why we are supporting Noynoy

ordinary Filipinos flowed when he declared his candidacy. Upon learning of Noynoy’s candidacy, a Bureau of Customs employee said, “Salamat. Pwede na ulit mangarap.”

3. He is honest – Ballsy Aquino Cruz, Noynoy’s sister declared on national media that she is willing to be shot if anybody could present evi-dence that her brother is a thief. This sincerity is unparalleled even among the closest fam-ily and relatives of the other presidentiables. None of the other presidentiables’ sisters or brothers would like to end up dead. Noynoy was reared in an environment of honesty as exemplified by the lives of his parents.Indeed, an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

4. He has strength of character – We don’t need a president who will hang a shingle in Mala-canang that reads, “ Business as Usual”. He is the only candidate that we believe when he says he will clean house because he is clean.

5. He is humble and not in love with power – Everything about him is not contrived. Or-dinary people like us could see through spin doctor- managed acting among public officials and candidates. But we see in Noynoy the sincere simplicity of a simple man, who although


SAN DIEGO, Nov. 05, 2009 – ‘Tis the season for energy efficiency! San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is once again offering complimentary light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) to customers throughout San Diego County during this year’s annual LED Holiday Light Exchanges. Along with new holiday lights, customers will receive a no-cost Home Energy & Water Savings Kit in an eco-friendly reusable shopping bag! The kit includes a low-flow showerhead and three faucet aerators.

SDG&E and its community partners are hosting eight light exchanges throughout San Diego County, ringing in energy sav-ings and increased safety for the holiday season. The exchange events will span from Oceanside to Chula Vista. SDG&E custom-ers will be able to exchange up to three incandescent holiday light strands for multi-colored LED holiday light strands by simply presenting a copy of their current SDG&E bill or bringing their California ID.

“We are looking forward to helping our customers stay en-ergy-efficient during the upcom-ing holiday season,” said Mark Gaines, director of customer pro-grams for SDG&E. “During last year’s holiday lights program in San Diego County we exchanged 5,757 LED light strands for 2,500 energy-conscious SDG&E customers. That is an increase of 31 percent from 4,000 LEDs exchanged in 2007!”

-more-LED holiday lights can save

customers energy and money, when compared to traditional in-candescent holiday lights. They cost up to 90 percent less to run, are cool to the touch, reduce fire risk, and are safer for use both in-side and outside the home. LED lights also shine brighter and last up to 100 times longer than incandescent holiday lights.

SDG&E is putting on nine light exchanges in their service territory with the first beginning

SDG&E Annual LED Light Exchange illuminates start

of the holiday seasonon Nov. 14 in Coronado, and the final taking place on December 5, at the 32nd annual December Nights in Balboa Park. SDG&E will have booths set up for SDG&E customers to attend and exchange their lights. The com-plete schedule includes:

Coronado LED Holiday Light Exchange

Sat., Nov. 14, 2009 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

City Hall Complex, 1825 Strand Way, Coronado

Oceanside LED Holiday Light Exchange

Thur., Nov. 19, 2009 – 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Oceanside Sunset Market, Pier View Way and Tremont Street

El Cajon LED Holiday Light Exchange

Sat., Nov. 21, 2009 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Dr., El Cajon

Seaport Village LED Holiday Light Exchange

Sat. Nov. 28, 2009 – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Seaport Village, East Plaza Gazebo, downtown San Diego

(Surfing Santa arrives at 1 p.m.)

Vista LED Holiday Light Exchange

Sat., Nov. 28, 2009 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rancho Christmas: Rancho Guajome Adobe County Park

2210 North Santa Fe Ave., Vista

San Diego LED Holiday Light Exchange

Fri., Dec, 4, 2009 – 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 5, 2009 – noon to 10 p.m.

December Nights, Balboa Park, in front of The Prado

Chula Vista LED Holiday Light Exchange

Sat., Dec. 5, 2009 – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Memorial Park (before Star-light Parade)

Park Way and 4th Ave, Chula Vista

To learn more about the SDG&E LED Holiday Light Exchanges in San Diego County please visit www.sdge.com/LEDs.

SDG&E is a regulated public

utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas me-ters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility’s area spans 4,100 square miles. Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region’s quality of life. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.

pedigreed, is not self-centered, power and recognition hungry. He doesn’t mind having thin-ning hair, simple clothes and a down-to-earth manner of speak-ing. More so, his humble spirit was manifested when he sought God’s direction first before plunging in the presidential race.

We could see that his reluc-tance to seek the presidency is genuine. We believe that power should be given to those who have strength of character because they are not obsessed nor in love with it. And yes, Mr.Gary Olivar, Malacanang spokesman, Noynoy is his own man because true manhood could only come from a humble spirit.

6. He alone could mobilize people power – No other presi-dentiable could ask the Filipino people to bankroll his campaign and credibly call for volunteers. In this country where the norm is patronage politics and presi-dentiables spend billions just to win an election, Noynoy is the only presidential candidate as of press time who is being swamped by a snowballing groundswell volunteer support from unknown, ordinary Fili-pinos from Luzon to Vizayas without any budget. Noynoy is the anti-thesis of patronage politics because he could ask for volunteers to spend time and

resources to campaign for him.7. He is the good in this fight

between good and evil – No other opposition candidate had earned the most vicious attacks from Malacanang and the other political parties who are fielding candidates in the presidential race than Noynoy.

In fact, some parties are al-ready demolishing the people’s perception and argument that the 2010 presidential race is a fight against good and evil. Noynoy’s detractors would like to brush aside the morality of the elections because morality in government leadership is not a campaign strategy that could propel their traditional, same old, eager beaver presidential candidates.

It is true what Earl Spen-cer said, that true goodness is threatening to those who are on the other side of the moral spectrum. In this fight versus good and evil, Noynoy credibly represents the good.

In his declaration speech, he was unmindful of politics or a possible loss of votes when he said he desires justice over the unresolved issues and cases the Marcoses committed against Filipinos.That to us, is true goodness, because it is a convic-tion that stands up for what is right no matter what the conse-quences are.

Mabuhay ka Noynoy! Mabu-hay and Pilipinas!

(From Global Balita)


Read previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjo-urnalusa.com

by Atty. Rogelio Karagdag, Jr.Member, State Bar of California & Integrated Bar of the Philippines

Phil - Am Law 101

Our previous articles on adop-tion elicited feedbacks from our readers. As one would expect, the queries mostly came from our kababayans who want to adopt their relatives in the Philip-pines, in the hope that they too will be able to enjoy the good life in America. But there is also this email from an adopted child – abandoned and given away when she was just a few months old – who now wants to petition and bring her birth mother to the United States. Let’s call her Dang, and her birth mother Aling Anita.

Says Dang, “Since the time I learned that I was adopted, I have never stopped dreaming of being with my real mother.” Aling Anita lives in a remote northern town in the Philippines with Dang’s five elder siblings. As customary in many Filipino families, the children still live with their parents even if they already have families of their own. Dang is the sixth child. Her father died when Aling Anita was pregnant with her. Fear-ing that she will not be able to raise her, Aling Anita gave Dang away for adoption to a rich, childless couple living in the city.

Dang’s adoptive parents petitioned her as their child and brought her with them to the United States when she was just five years old. When Dang turned 12, they told her about her true identity.

Not that they had any choice. Adoption rarely remains a secret. Relatives talk about it, espe-cially within their family. One of Dang’s cousins overheard her parents talking about it, and she innocently relayed it to Dang. Not only that. Dang had been wondering why she looked dif-ferent from her parents. They could no longer keep the truth from her. They told her every-thing, including the reason why she was given up for adoption, To their credit, the adoptive

Can adopted child petition her birth mother?

parents made Dang realize that it was a painful decision for her birth mother to give her up.

Instead of having negative feelings, Dang appreciated the sacrifices her parents on both sides had to make to give her a better life. This inspired her to study hard. She earned honors in school and after graduating from college, landed a well-paying job in a prestigious Silicon Val-ley company. She took frequent vacations to the Philippines. Her purpose, as she had openly told her adoptive parents, was to look for and know Aling Anita and her siblings. She finally found them and they spent as much time as she could together. She learned that they have remained poor and survived by working on a farm owned by another per-son. She has taken pity on Aling Anita, who has aged so fast that she looks ten years older.

Dang now seeks our help in filing a petition for Aling Anita.

She wants her to experience the good life in America. Her siblings are also excited because they will also have a chance to go to America. Can Dang push through with her plans?

Unfortunately, Dang cannot file an immigrant petition for Aling Anita. The reason for this is that Dang immigrated to the United States by virtue of her being an adopted child. Natural parents of adopted child can-not obtain immigration benefits through their natural child if that child was adopted in accordance with INA §101(b)(1)(E) and an

immigration benefit has resulted. Matter of Li, 20 I&N Dec. 700 (BIA 1993). Remember, for this prohibition against birth parents to apply, the child must not only be adopted but she should also be able to obtain immigration benefits because of the adoption. The most common scenario is like Dang’s case -- a child who was adopted by a U.S. citizen and, because of the adoption, was able to enter the United States as an immigrant.

The intention of the law is ob-vious. It seeks to prevent abuse of adoption as a means to under-mine U.S. immigration laws. It ensures that birth parents will not give up their children in ex-change for a chance to immigrate to the United States. In the same breadth, it ensures that adoptive parents will not adopt the child for some less noble consider-ations. Of course, they are those like Dang who only have the best intentions, but the ban applies to them just the same.

But what if the adopted child came to the United States not because of her relationship with her adoptive parents, but through some other means? For instance, what if Dang was able to im-migrate to the United States by marrying a U.S. citizen? Can she then petition Aling Anita? In that case, it is possible, subject still to certain conditions, namely, that a natural parent-child relation-ship once existed between them and has now been re-established, and that the adoption has been terminated.

While Dang may not be able to bring Aling Anita and her siblings to the U.S., what is important for her now is that she is able to bond with them and live her true identity. Of course, her love for her adoptive par-ents has gone stronger than ever, for she owes them the good life she now enjoys and shares with her natural family.

Atty. Rogelio Karagdag , Jr. is licensed to practice law in both California and the Philippines. He prac-

tices immigration law in San Diego and has continuously been a trial and appellate attorney in the Philippines since 1989. He travels between San Diego and Manila. His office address is lo-cated at 16486 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite 228, San Diego, CA 92128. He also has an office in the Philippines at 1240 Apacible Street, Paco, Manila, Philippines 1007, with telephone numbers (632)522-1199 and (632)526-0326. Please call (858)348-7475 or email him at [email protected] for your free consultation. He speaks Tagalog fluently.

By Rica MonzonI just saw what was left of the

damage typhoon Ondoy made over the weekend. It was certainly not a simple sight of mild disaster, but a picture of calamity which resulted to thousands of families losing their homes to the mud-infested flood. Why of all places in Metro Manila? Manila, serving as the country’s capital, comprised of most of the country’s richest and most famous, suffered a tragedy that turned Marikina, Pasig and Cainta into cit-ies of disturbed oceans. The rivers nearby spilled onto the land and made it as its monstrous extension.

Why, Lord, why? This may be a question posed by some, if not most of us during these trying and heart wrenching times.

Like Nick Vujicic, a man with no limbs, more well-known as a person of great faith, courage and joy, I witnessed how this predica-ment/handicap that swept the nation brought out the best in a lot of people. Not withstanding the great-

The upside of Ondoy’s devastationness of the individuals who left the comforts of their unfrazzled (and frazzled homes), I would like to pay tribute to the other heroes of this pe-riod. People who despite the tragic fate of losing their homes, proper-ties and even loved ones, still was able to say sincere “thank you’s” af-ter receiving relief goods and shine with their precious smiles amidst the struggles that they are fazed with. Early this afternoon, visiting Olandes, a nearby community in Marikina which was one of the most badly hit areas, enabled me to wit-ness the rise of special individuals whose resiliency will forever inspire me. Their eagerness to receive help did not take away their manners and didn’t pave way for pride/selfishness to tarnish their character. They pa-tiently waited for their turn to take the goods’ bags and radiated with smiles, which I will never forget, to show their gratitude.

Instead of asking why, let’s ask God what He is trying to teach us as a Nation through this difficult period

and seek His instructions as we open our eyes, hearts, homes and hands to embrace the people He is asking us to help and do everything we can to make their lives better.

Be a blessing. Your blessings are in and with you for great and noble reasons. We are always in the posi-tion to bless others.

This is the time for all of us to shake our comfort zones and get out of the boat, and be life-savers to the people around us physically, emo-tionally and spiritually. Let this time be evident of the genuine goodness that is in us all.

Imbued in helping others is the genuine joy we all can unearth from selfless acts of kindness and compassion. Forget your politi-cal ambitions, abolish your secret desire to parade your “good deeds” and just be there for the people who need help. I believe that the greatest form of generosity could be found in love-infused giving when you ask and expect nothing in return. - From Good News Philippines


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Philippine Stories

Read Sim Silverio’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Simeon G. Silverio Jr.

Dante looked at the window of the house across the

street and waited for a sign to appear. Slowly, the window opened half-way and out came a white handkerchief that quickly fluttered in the wind. It was somehow tied down to the window’s corner and was not blown away. It was the sign. His sixteen-year old girlfriend, Mita, was ready to leave her house.

Quickly, Dante put on his shirt and his shoes and grabbed his books as he went out of the house. His quick pace led him to the street corner in an instant. In a few minutes, he saw Mita, beauti-ful in her red dress, as she walked towards him. They ignored each other. They did not want their neighbors and her family to know they were together. Mita stood a few meters to the left, and hailed an oncoming jeepney. It had plenty of seats available. Dante followed her and boarded the vehicle. As he sat beside his girlfriend, he wrapped his arm

Happily Ever After…The rest of the afternoon they spent at the Luneta Park, talking about their plans to get married

someday. As teenagers, they knew they had a long way to go, but they were determined to realize their

dreams and spend the rest of their lives together. They were truly in love.

Escolta Street sign in Manila

Escolta Street

Manila Bay Sunset. Photo by John Brian Silverio.

Tony and Maria: The doomed lovers in” West Side Story”

around her shoulder and pulled her towards him. He planted a kiss on her head as she smiled holding on to his knee.

“What took you so long?” he whispered in her ear.

“It’s only nine o’clock,” she replied.

“But I thought we are going to leave early?”

“My mom will be suspicious as she knows my class starts at ten.”

He did not argue with her, although he was sure they agreed to meet at eight-thirty. He could be patient. Instead of going to the girl’s school, they proceeded to downtown Manila. They walked around Rizal Avenue holding hands, leisurely looking at the display windows of department stores. Good Earth Emporium had a display of that year’s summer wear, complete with a mannequin of a young man in swimming trunks and a girl in bathing suit. The background depicted a beach with women on the sand under-neath some oversize, colorful beach umbrellas.

Mita asked Dante to buy her a small bag of roasted peanuts gar-nished with garlic and sprinkled with salt from a sidewalk vendor. Upon reaching the small bridge at the entrance of Escolta Street, she played with the puppies for sale. They were placed in small baskets and sold on the sidewalk. Again, she asked him to buy her peeled green mango dabbed with ancho-vy paste. He was hesitant at first because the allowance he saved for the date might not be enough to cover all his expenses. But he could not deny her wish.

They had a fried chicken lunch at the Savory Restaurant at the foot of the Jones Bridge. They then walked back to Rizal Avenue and watched the movie, “West Side Story”, a modern-day version of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” featuring the doomed lovers, Tony and Maria, at the Ideal Theater. The rest of the afternoon they spent at the Luneta Park, talking about their plans to get married someday. As teenagers, they knew they had a long way to go, but they were determined to realize their dreams and spend the rest of their lives together. They were truly in love.

“Do you really love me?” she asked Dante who sat with his back against a huge trunk of an acacia tree. She was leaning against his breast as they looked towards the seashore and the tall masts of ships beyond.

“Of course,” he said.“Do you think we will live hap-

pily ever after?” she asked again like a child, recalling the tragic ending of the movie they just saw.

“We will,” he assured her.HE WAS ATTRACTED TO

HER the first time she moved with her family in the house across the street. He knew she went to school at nine in the morning when he went to school early one day. His class didn’t start until eleven a.m., but since then, he started leaving the house before nine to be able to see her come by and board a jeepney. On the third time, he mustered enough courage to introduce himself.

“So you are the new girl across the street,” he told her.

She smiled.“I’m Dante,” he said.She was young and beautiful,

with dark eyes and hair and fair complexion. He was surprised nobody else was pursuing her affection. Their frequent “chance encounters” proved to be fruitful when one day, she agreed to meet him at a Magnolia Ice Cream Kiosk near her school. With the constant treat of the sweet confec-tion, he finally won her affection without even setting foot in her house. That day was one of the many dates they had set as they both skipped their classes to enjoy each other’s company.

IT WAS SEVEN O’CLOCK in the evening. The summer heat made Dante uncomfortable. He put on his shirt, shorts and slip-pers and went outside the house, walking towards the corner store. He could still smell the fragrant scent of Mita lingering in his body.

“Hey, hey, we thought you would not come,” Dante’s neigh-bor Nardo, greeted him.

“How’s everybody?” he asked his group of friends who were drinking beer beside the store.

Nobody answered him. In-stead, Minggoy handed him a cold bottle of beer as Dante sat beside another neighbor-friend, Cesar. As he drank his beer and his friends talked to each other. Dante’s mind was busy recalling his afternoon with Mita.

“Who among you insulted our sister?” two teenagers demanded, coming out from nowhere. They were Mita’s brothers. The group hardly knew them as the two always kept to themselves, never associating with the men in the neighborhood.

Dante’s initial instinct was to stay back. He thought that the two had found out his secret rela-tionship with their sister despite their conscious efforts to hide it from everyone. Later, he learned that during a basketball game played earlier on their street, Cesar made a sexual comment when Mita passed by on her way

home. Her younger brother and his friend overheard the comment that was meant as a joke, and re-ported it to the two older brothers.

“It’s Cesar,” the neighborhood boy who came with the two, pointed at Cesar.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Cesar denied the accusation.

But the brothers were aggres-sive. They walked towards Cesar and were about to hit him when Cesar struck one of them on the left eye with a bottle of beer

he was holding. Blood oozed profusely out of his face. The victim staggered, holding on to his wound. Everybody scampered away except for Dante, who tried to hold the victim to prevent him from falling to the ground. But the other brother pushed him away. Before he knew it, Dante was left alone with the broth-ers, as even Cesar ran away. The small boy ran towards the broth-ers’ house and reported the inci-dent. In a short while, the parents came and eventually brought the victim to the hospital.

“You will pay for this,” the victim’s father angrily pointed

his finger at Dante. Mita, in her sleepwear, was crying nearby.

Dante was accused of inflicting physical injuries together with Cesar -- who left town. Each time Dante tried to call Mita, her fam-ily would not let her answer the phone. He waited for her at the street corner, but her father always brought her to school in the fam-ily car. When he was finally able to talk to her over the phone, she was still mad and asked him never to call her again. Her brother lost his sight in his left eye. Even

though it was not Dante who inflicted the injury, the fact that he was with the culprit made him culpable of the crime in her eyes. Three months after the incident, the family moved out of the neighborhood.

The trial lasted for five years with postponements and all and in the end. Dante was acquitted but Cesar, who eventually resur-faced to face the music, was sen-tenced to six months in jail. But since it was his first offense, he was given a one-year probation to the disappointment of Mita’s family. Her brother, to the very end, was persistent in implicating

Dante, especially when the family found out the latter’s relationship with his sister.

DANTE WAS SITTING BY THE FOUNTAIN in the Mall of Asia watching his three-year-old grandson Jon-jon play. A small ball rolled towards the young boy who picked it up and ran towards his grandfather. A little girl ran after Jon-jon crying.

“That’s my ball,” she claimed.Dante gave her the ball back as

her grandmother, who was behind her said “thank you.”

He looked up and saw the smil-ing face of Mita, his sixteen-year-old girlfriend years ago. Suddenly, the bittersweet memories of the past came back in his mind like a flash: their first meeting, the ice cream confections they shared at the Magnolia Kiosks, their walks on the sidewalks of downtown Manila, the roasted peanuts and green mangoes he bought for her, the movies they saw together, their romantic moments at the Lu-neta Park, and the tragic incident that broke them apart. The years that passed had slowly healed his wounds.

“How are you?” was all he could say.

“I am fine,” she answered. She had forgiven him and she seemed happy and contented.

When Mita left with her grand-daughter, Dante knew that she had fulfilled her wish of living happily ever after. And so did he. Even if they did not end up together. - AJ

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South Bay Terrace Community Fil-Am Seniors Association Officers received Certificates of Appreciation from Assembly member Marty Block - 78th District, represented by her Office Manager Joyce Temporal.

SANDAG releases Draft 2009-2013 Coordinated Plan

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has released the 2009-2013 Draft Coordinated Plan for review and comment. The Coordinated Plan provides a five-year blueprint for how the transit and social service transportation concepts described in the Regional Transportation Plan are to be implemented in the region. This Plan allows SANDAG to continue to distribute funding under several programs aimed at improving transportation options for seniors, persons with disabilities, and persons with limited incomes.

To view or download the draft Plan, please visit www.sandag.org/coordinatedplan. Comments will be accepted through Saturday, December 5, 2009 via fax at (619) 699-1905, electronically through the Web site comment form, by phone at (619) 699-1947, or by mail to SANDAG, Attn: Coordinated Plan, 401 B Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101.

A public hearing on the 2009-2013 Coordinated Plan is scheduled for:

Friday, December 11, 2009 – 9 a.m.Board of Directors Meeting Room (7th Floor)

SANDAG401 B Street

San Diego, CA 92101

The Draft Coordinated Plan was prepared in collaboration with Metropolitan Transit System, North County Transit District, Caltrans District 11, the SANDAG Social Services Transportation Advisory Council, and the Coordinated Transportation Services Agency for San Diego County, along with input from social service agencies, citizens, stakeholders, and other transportation service providers.

to influence the future. Felipe’s welcoming personality, knowledge and refine sense of hu-mor endeared him to the San Diego community. He loves to reminisce about his life in the farm before he joined the U.S. Navy. Everybody knows he likes horse racing. He and his lovely wife frequently visit Del Mar Race Track, just ten minutes drive north from their residence. His other hobbies are: gardening, grow-ing fruits and vegetables for family consumption and doing home im-provement projects, reading the San Diego Union Tribune especially the

sports sections. He loves sports and made many road trips to Las Vegas, to watch boxing. He is passionate about boxing, horse racing, fishing and the San Diego Padre Baseball Team.Felipe is a role model for his children. He is a hardworking man through and. through. He is a-retired U.S. Navy man who served his adopted country for 22 years (1953-1974), followed by 20 more years of continuous public service at the U.S. Post Office from 1974 - 1994. He never smokes nor drinks intoxicating liquor, but loves fine wine and occasional conversation with friends and fellow Aklanons in San Diego.Felipe is a devoted husband to his lovely wife, the former Miss Lilian Ricaforte from Banga, Aklan who is a registered nurse by profession. They are blessed with three children,

Felipe Jr., Felmar and Liza who are all successful professionals in their respective field of specialties. The eldest son Felipe Jr. has completed two degrees, Bachelor in Biology and Bachelor in Business Informa-tion Service, while his wife Joyce has BA in Biology and Doctorate in Pharmacy; Felmar and Liza both have BA in Business Management.One of his secrets to longevity is to avoid stress. by being devoted to his family especially to the grandchil-dren; and being generous to friends and relatives. He said that he feels good by giving and helping others in need. He never fails to share some of his fishing catch of the day, ripe persimmons and fresh vegetables from his backyard garden. Months before Christmas his balikbayan box is full and ready for shipment


Felipe Mationg’s 80th Birthday Bash

celebrated at MCRD



Felipe Mationg’s 80th Birthday Bash at MCRD

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L to R. Felipe Jr., Joyce, Lilian, Felipe Sr. the Celebrant, Sarah, Felmar and Liza. Seated: The grandchildren, Lauren, Jacob, Justine, Noah and Kristine.

L.to R. Felmar, Lilian, Joyce, Felipe Jr., & Liza. Mr. & Mrs. Felipe Mationg Felmar, Mom Lilian and Felipe Jr. The Grandchildren L. to R.: Lauren, Kristine, Jus-tine, Noah and Jacob

Dancing with the Stars’ prospect – Birthday Boy with dancing partner Paz Ong

Liza, Dad Felipe and Mom Lilian L. to R. Noli Sarabia, Dr. Selby, Felipe, Sandy, and Julie

The Celebrant and Guests

The Hawaiian Dancers

Felipe Jr., Lilian, Felipe Sr., Felmar and the Hawaiian Dancers Group souvenir photos of family and guests

Seated L.to R. Edsel, Adel, Vangie, Polly, Roselyn. Standing, Henry, Pete, Norma, Nenia, Willy and Nanie.

L.to R. Seated: Wily, Nenia, Julie & Roselyn. Standing: Inday, Edsel, Pete, Norma, Noli, Vangie and Polly.

destined for relatives in the Philippines.

A birthday party celebra-tion is the melting pot of memories. A time to reminisce pieces of events of days gone, by not soon to be forgotten. To start a new chapter to include the younger generation of the family clan, Liza Mationg the youngest daughter of the celebrant spearheaded this once in a lifetime event; a sort of family reunion for the Mationgs and Ricaforte families here in America. Relatives and guests came to join in the celebration: From New York-New Jersey: Paz and Tim Ong, Girlie and Joe Tuballes, Kevin and Greg Tuballes; Russell Dela Cruz, Mae and Rex Doreza from San Francisco, Cali-fornia; Lorna and Fred Amat from Hercules; The Mationgs, Rosario, Liza, Loy and Marie Jane Mationg, and Tito Esteban from Hayward, California; Los Angeles: Gaia Mijaress, Dr. Imelda Butiquin, Eddie and Sally Ricaforte, Romie and Nilda Ricaforte, Lindy and Elsa Rodrigo, Tessie Ricaforte Ramirez, Penny and Chuck Pardee, Jim and Marilyn Cembrano. Representing the younger generations: Nanette, Nelyn and Neal Ricaforte and his wife Michelle; Rochelle and Ronilyn Ricaforte; Jeffrey and Jesyl Rodrigo; Lindy Rodrigo, Jr. and wife Crystalle; Sonny and Tressa Ramirez.and the grandchildren.


Felipe Mationg’s 80th Birthday

Bash at MCRD San Diego


Entertainment

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International singer and stage actress Stephanie Reese gave an outstanding performance at the prestigious and historic Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall) in New York City last Saturday evening before nearly 600 people.

True to her oft-repeated reputa-tion as the “Standing Ovation Queen,” the Filipina-American singer was given a standing ova-tion by her enthusiastic crowd who demanded an encore at the conclusion of her performance.

Proceeds from the concert were slated to go to Reese’s philan-thropic project of building a Gawad Kalinga village for poor families and to the victims of the recent destructive typhoons, both in the Philippines.

In a pre-concert note in the November 2009 Carnegie Hall Playbill where 12 pages were devoted to the Reese concert, Stephanie wrote, “By the end of tonight, 30 families will have homes, many more will receive relief goods to help them survive after the tragic flooding in the Philippines.”

Discussing her career as a performer, Stephanie added, “I came to realize through many life challenging events that I wanted to not only be a thriv-ing singer and actress, but also someone that would be able to use my artistic gifts from God for a higher purpose beyond all the Hollywood lights and curtain calls.”

For more than two hours, the former Miss Saigon star in Germany and London’s West End theatre actress, entertained her audience composed mostly of Filipino-Americans, including her parents who flew in from the West Coast, GK’s Tony Meloto and New York Consul General

Stephanie Reese gives outstanding concert at

Carnegie Hall

Stephanie Reese

Cecilia B. Rebong. With empathic ability, Stepha-

nie alternately made her audi-ence extremely quiet, applaud, laugh, and even cry at one point when she shared a sad personal experience prior to belting a love song.

Despite a nagging cold, Stephanie wowed the audience with her powerful voice. Her repertoire included some of her own compositions, like the now well-liked Chaka Laka Boom Boom. She made difficult songs seemed easy to sing with her flawless voice.

Stephanie was accompanied in the piano by the Paris-based Fil-Am John Florencio. In a popular Pilipino song titled “Ikaw,” Fili-pino pianist and music director Glenn Lemen accompanied the singer.

Guest performers were singer Calvin Keen and Flamenco dancer Sergio Viglini.

Among the production crew were Sylvia Cancio, execu-tive producer, Pete and Shirley Domingo, producers, Elton Lugay, line producer, Marissa Araneta, marketing coordinator, Ted Benito, technical director and Dennis Sy, assistant to the technical director. -- by Manny Caballero, New York

Movies to Watch(Following are movies now showing or

soon to be shown in San Diego.)

by Simeon G. Silverio Jr.

The Messenger - In his most powerful performance to date, Ben Foster stars as Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army officer who has just returned home from a tour in Iraq and is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Partnered with fellow officer Tony

Stone (Woody Harrelson) to bear the bad news to the loved ones of fallen soldiers, Will faces the challenge of completing his mission while seeking to find comfort and healing back on the home front. When he finds himself drawn to Olivia (Samantha Morton), to whom he has just delivered the news of her husband’s death, Will’s emotional detachment begins to dissolve and the film reveals itself as a

surprising, humorous, moving and very human portrait of grief, friendship and survival. Featuring tour-de-force performances from Foster, Harrelson and Morton, and a brilliant directorial debut by Oren Moverman, The Messenger brings us into the inner lives of these outwardly steely heroes to reveal their fragility with compassion and dignity.

This film is Rated R by

the MPAA. Running time 105 minutes.

Exclusive Engagement Opens Friday,

November 20thSPECIAL APPEARANCE! Director Oren Moverman…

and Cast Members Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson Saturday Evening, November 21!

Landmark’s La Jolla Village Cinemas8879 Villa La Jolla Drive – (619) 819-0236

The Horse Boy - How far would you travel to heal someone you love? An intensely personal yet epic spiritual journey, The Horse Boy follows one Texas couple and their autistic son as they trek on horseback through Outer Mongolia in a desperate attempt to treat his condition with shamanic healing. When two-year-old Rowan was diagnosed with autism, Rupert Isaacson, a writer and former horse trainer, and his wife Kristin Neff, a psychology professor, sought the best possible medical care for their son-but traditional therapies had little effect. Then they discovered that Rowan has a profound affinity for animals—particularly horses—and the family set off on a quest for a possible cure. The Horse Boy is part travel adventure, part insight into shamanic tradition and part intimate look at the autistic mind. In telling one family’s extraordinary story, the film gives voice to the thousands who display amazing courage and creativity every-day in the battle against this mysterious and heartbreaking epidemic. Produced by Rupert Isaacson and directed by Michel Orion Scott. www.horseboymovie.com

This film is Not Rated by the MPAA. Running time 93 minutes.

Exclusive Engagement Opens Friday, November 13thLandmark’s Ken Cinema

4061 Adams Avenue – (619) 819-0236

Red Cliff - Legendary action-cinema master John Woo and in-ternational superstar Tony Leung reunite for the first time since the 1992 classic Hard Boiled in this epic historical drama based on a legendary 208 A.D. battle that heralded the end of the Han Dynasty. Red Cliff opens as power hungry Prime Minister-turned-General Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) seeks permission from the Han dynasty Em-peror to organize a southward-bound mission designed to crush the two troublesome warlords who stand in his way, Liu Bei (You Yong) and Sun Quan (Chang Chen). As the expedition gets underway, Cao Cao’s troops rain destruction on Liu Bei’s army, forcing him into re-treat. Liu Bei’s military strategist Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) knows that the rebels’ only hope for survival is to form an alliance with rival warlord Sun Quan, and reaches out to Sun Quan’s trusted advisor, war hero Zhou Yu (Tony Leung). Vastly outnumbered by

Cao Cao’s brutal, fast-approaching army, the warlords band together to mount a heroic campaign—unrivaled in history—that changes the face of China forever. A massive hit in Asia and the most expensive Asian film production of all time, Red Cliff is a breathtaking war epic that marks the triumphant return of John Woo. (Fully subtitled) www.redclifffilm.com

This film is Rated R by the MPAA. Running time 148 minutes.

Exclusive Engagement Opens Wednesday, November 25thLandmark’s Hillcrest Cinemas

3965 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200 – (619) 819-0236


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Asheboro, North Carolina (No-vember 9, 2009) – Twenty-four million children and adults in the United States live with diabetes, a disease that leads to potentially life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and blindness. Sadly, without proper footcare 15% of diabetics will develop foot ulcers which can lead to an

Proper Foot Care Can Decrease Risk of Foot Ulcers and

Amputations for Diabetics- November is American Diabetes Month -

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increased risk of foot amputa-tions.

“Diabetics, especially those with significant peripheral neuropathy, are less likely to walk for exercise and would therefore have a higher risk for blood clots related to inactiv-ity,” said Dr. James Altizer, MD, FACPh, RVT, RPVI, Vein Center of Charlotte and Fellow in the

American College of Phlebology. “In addition, the neuropathy would make it less likely that the patient would feel leg pain from a venous thrombosis so wearing graduated compression diabetic hosiery can play a key role in a daily footcare regimen and over-all health.”

Graduated compression socks work by placing the greatest compression at the ankles where it's needed most, helping accel-erate the velocity at which the blood flows through the deep veins, resulting in improved circulation.

AmesWalker.com, special-ists in graduated compression hosiery, offers more than a dozen unique socks for diabetics, each designed to provide specific medically correct benefits, either

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When looking for a therapeutic or preventive diabetic hosiery, consider one of the follow-ing:

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Easy Walker Plus - Moder-ate Support Diabetic Socks for Sensitive Feet (Style 190) an effective preventive these socks are designed for

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adoration of Elvis’ music at an early age. He wanted to pay tribute and celebrate the life and legacy of the King. His goal has always been to portray Elvis in the best way possible. Currently, Kevin works for the world-famous Legends in Concert.

When I asked him how he feels putting on the Elvis persona, here’s his answer: “I feel everyone is so encouraging and so accepting of who I am, and especially of my talent. I make sure I spend a lot of time with the fans, and I never leave a venue without taking pictures and signing autographs. I stay until the last person leaves. That’s just me, I really care about people.”

Presenting: The Top 3 Ultimate

Elvis Tribute Artists of 2009


Being a believer and a person of faith, he also incorporates gospel songs in his repertoire. His favorite is “Take my Hand Precious Lord.” He said singing this song is so emo-tional for him because he sang it at this father’s funeral church service. “It was not easy for me to do it,” he remembered, “but with the help of the Lord, I was able to!”

Kevin became a World Champion in 1990 in the “Images of the King” competition in Memphis. In 2007, he won 1st place in the First An-nual Elvis Cruise and was awarded $5,000. Kevin’s most memorable experience as an ETA is performing for the U.S. troops in Diego Garcia, a small island south of India.

“It was such an amazing experi-ence performing in front of 5,000 soldiers serving our country,” he said. “I mean these soldiers don’t really get a chance to see much entertainment like this. After our show, Navy Capt. Judy Smith invited me to sit at the head table at the Captain’s party. For a moment, I felt like I was the President of the United States.”


Spiritual Life

Read Monsignor’s previous articles by visit-ing our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Msgr. Fernando G. Gutierrez

Lower Your Nets

Pagsapit ng dilim, naglipana na ang mga “call boy” sa mga hotel, bar, at kalsada.

The “badings” were able to relate themselves in Eddie’s role in “Tubog sa Ginto.”

The Awards

Eddie won his first “Best Actor Award in a Drama Series” in the 2002 Star Awards for his role of Leandro Montemayor, the fic-tional Philippine President on the television drama series, “Kung Mawawala Ka”.

He is by far the most-awarded person in the long history of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards. He garnered a total of 34 nomi-nations - 13 for Best Supporting Actor, 10 for Best Actor, and 11 for Best Director. Out of these nominations, he garnered six Best Supporting Actor wins, five Best Actor wins and 5 Best Director wins, three Hall of Fame Awards and one lifetime Achievement Award. He was awarded his first FAMAS Award in 1957 and his last FAMAS, a Hall of Fame for Best Actor, in 2003.

Eddie was the first actor to be inducted in the FAMAS Best Supporting Actor Hall of Fame in 1974. He is the only person in the Philippines to be a Hall of Fame inductee of the FAMAS in three categories: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Di-rector. He is the only performer in Philippine movie history to win three consecutive FAMAS Awards. Best Supporting Actor Awards for “Taga Sa Bato,” (1957), “Condenado” (1958) and “Tanikalang Apoy” (1959).

And to this day Today Eddie is still very active

in the entertainment industry. He actively supports independent films and gives inspiration to aspiring new movie directors and


would not hear about male pros-titutes or “call boys.” Ang male prostitute ngayon ay nagkalat sa ibat-ibang bahagi ng Maynila.

producers. He bagged the Com-edy/Musical Best Actor Award during the recently-concluded 6th Golden Screen Awards for his role as an estranged husband who had been away for four de-cades and who decided to come

back to his wife (played by Glo-ria Romero) although she already has found new love in the arms of another man (Robert Arevalo).

Recently, he also finished doing a movie of Carlos Caparas --- a


BalintatawRead Virginia Ferrer’s previous articles by visiting our website

at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Virginia H. Ferrer

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Napakaswerte Mo! Ano? Isang pirasong tuyo at nilagang kangkong lang ang nasa iyong plato ngayong oras ng tanghalian?Aba’y hindi dapat mainis bagkus ay masiyahankasi ‘tong kapitbahay mo plato niya’y walang laman.

Ano? Sa pagmamaneho mo ikaw ay nagngingitngit? Ang dahilan ay ang haywey masyadong napakatrapikbuhol-buhol ang sasakyan at hindi ka makasingit.Aba’y kaswerte mo naman may sarili ka palang dyip.

Ano? Nagbrek na kayo ng girlfriend mo na si Luningning?Aba’y huwag namang iuntog ang ulo mo sa dingding‘di dapat mag-alala’t marami pang diyang daratingAba’y mabuti ka pa’t natikman mo nang magka-darling.

Ano? Lunes na bukas, pasok na naman sa trabaho? Nakakapagod naman,masakit nang mga buto koAba’y maswerte ka’t may pinagkikitaan ka, Selohetong si Damian problema niya anak ay pito.

Ano? Ang sinasakyan mong dyip tumirik at nasira?kaya kailangan ngayo’y maglakad ka ng mahabaAba’y kaswerte mo naman dahil may dalawa kang paahayun tingnan mo si Ping pilay ‘di ka ba naaawa?

Joke of the Week: A Holly-wood film production went to a tiny Latin American country to shoot a movie on location. A citizen of that country was asked to appear at the end of the movie with a one-liner script, “This is the end.” The native who took great pride in appearing in a movie for the first time agreed without hesitation to do the part. He memorized day in and day out his line, “This is the end.” When the time came to deliver his line, with all the cameras and lights focused on him, our guy got so nervous; instead of saying, “This is the end,” he confidently declared, “Is this the end?”

Scriptures: First Reading: Daniel 12: 1-3. The Book of Daniel is a literature on life, not on death and destruction. The book aims at sustaining the faith-ful’s hope, strengthening faith, and increasing confidence in the midst of trials and persecution. Individuals and communities are encouraged to stand firm during the persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes, because those trying times will end not in calamity, but in salvation. Second Read-ing: Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18. In the Book of Leviticus, the priest who offered sacrifice was left with a question: where he shall get an unblemished ram for the sacrifice. The answer came from tradition that says, “God will provide.” Knowing fully well that man cannot atone for his sinfulness, God provides the sacrifice: Jesus who is God’s compassionate and merciful love in action. Gospel: Mark 13: 24-32. The good news about the consummation of the kingdom when Jesus returns is not destruc-tion, but a radical transforma-tion. The first reading described it this way, “the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.” Some doomsday soothsayers resort to this Marcan passage to justify their belief on millenarianism or apocalypticism. Proponents of these ideas believe that the reign of Christ will last for one thou-sand years or his return at the end time is imminently and urgently near. Reflections: A Gallup poll

contends that between 30 and 40 percent of Americans basically believe in the absolute literal truth of the entire Bible, includ-ing the prophecies of Jesus’ Sec-ond Coming and the apocalyptic scenes described in Revelation. At the turn of the century, on December 31, 1999, a number of doomsday cults had warned their members about the end of the world; this alarmed the police and other citizens. For example, in London, the Holy Tabernacle Ministry of black supremacists prepared their members about the return to Earth of a group of friendly aliens from planet Risq who would take away all except white people because they have no soul. The Freeservers Com-munity in Kalispell, Montana in northern Rocky Mountains had stored food to feed 50 people for almost three years. Followers of a Christian sect, Tunnels of Sal-vation, in the eastern province of Leyte, Philippines, had quit their jobs to help in the construction of tunnels that were large enough to house 128 families and had a stock of enough food, water, fuel, clothing and herbal medicine. Its leader, Ceferino Quinte, 80, had predicted an “all consuming rain of fire” on January 1, 2000.

Why do some people fall prey to apocalypticism? It was re-ported that in Japan, the success of Shoei Asai, the 70 year-old leader of Nichiren Kenshokai

Why some Filipinos fall prey to apocalypticism

sect, in attracting followers is due to the people’s disdain for Japan’s establishment, despair for the future, unemployment, desire for mental and spiritual healing during period of continu-ous bad news, and guarantee of a direct line to God and mystical enlightenment. People are drawn to cults with millenarian or apocalyptic thinking for various reasons also. Many experienced a sense of belonging to a com-munity and oneness with the leader who allegedly has all the answers to life’s basic ques-tions. Others received spiritual and/or physical healing. Some, dissatisfied with society, family, and established religion, found a rebel group that defends and cares for them.

It has been observed that the Philippine poverty and material deprivation of the great num-ber of its citizens are only too evident, contrasting very sharply with the affluent and extravagant living of the relatively few fami-lies, the elite group of the social pyramid. Political power is also concentrated in the hands of few families that try by all means to perpetuate their political dy-nasties. Disenchantment with

organized religions for not doing enough to alleviate the plight of the masses and dissatisfaction with the government for not just-ly defending their human rights against the powerful wealthy few drive many peasants to the fold of the cults or to side with the communists. To acknowledge that Jesus is “near, at the gates,” or that the kingdom of God will reach its consummation at his re-turn (we do not know when it is going to occur) demands a con-version of hearts and transforma-tion of the dehumanizing sinful structures. The Church and the government in the Philippines should do more than what they are doing now and join hands in providing people’s spiritual and material needs. Otherwise, the country will continue as a potent breeding ground for cults with apocalyptic tendencies and for militant insurgency. In today’s Gospel Jesus asks his hearers to live as if the end is near, to keep on behaving and living towards eternal life. In effect, Jesus is asking each of us to live today as if we know that today is the end of time!

Quotation of the Week: “What

seems to be the riddle, the abyss of our human existence ... is the beginning of eternal life.” Karl Rahner.



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Laughing MatterRead previous articles by visiting our website at www.asian-

journalusa.com

Takbong pumasok ng bahay si Totoy. Pagud na pagod, pero masayang-masaya. Nagmaya-bang pa sa ina.

“Nay! Nay! Nakatipid ako ng singko pesos.”

“Nakatipid? Paano?” tanong ng nanay.

“Aba’y ‘di ako sumakay ng dyip. Sumabay lang ako ng takbo. Kaya’t nakatipid ako ng limampiso!”

“Bobo ka pala, eh. Kung taxi ang sinabayan mo,

‘Di mas malaki sana ang na-tipid mo!”

Magaling na nga

Ine-examin nung Doktor yung isang pasyente sa Mental Hos-pital sa pamamagitan ng tanong at sagot. Tanong nung Doktor, “Kung ikaw ay palabasin ngayon sa ospital, ano ang iyong unang gagawin?”

Sagot nung pasyente, “Titira-dorin ko po ang buwan!”

Wika nung Doktor, “Ikaw ay hindi pa pwedeng palabasin. E-examinin ulit kita sa paglipas ng anim na buwan.”

Pagkaraan ng anim na buwan, muling inexamin nung Doktor yung pasyente. Tanong nung Doktor, “Kung ikaw ay palabasin ngayon sa ospital, ano ang iyong gagawin?”

Sagot ng pasyente. “Doktor, ako’y magaling na.

Pagkalabas ko po sa ospital, ako po ay hahanap ng trabaho upang mamuhay ng mag-isa.”

Muling nagtanong ang Doktor, “Pagnakahanap ka ng trabaho, ano ang iyong gagawin?”

Sagot ng pasyente, “Doktor, ako po ay manliligaw ng isang mabait, masipag at magandang babaeng pwede kong makakapil-ing na pang habang buhay.”

Gulat ang Doktor! Mukhang matino na ang kaniyang pasy-ente!

Muli pang nagtanong ang Dok-tor, “Pagkatapos niyong makasal,

Mas makakatipid sa taksiano ang iyong gagawin?”

Sagot ng pasyente, “Aba, Doktor, kami po ay mag-hahan-imun!”

Bilib na naman ang Doktor. Tanong ulit ng Doktor, “Ano ang iyong gagawin sa inyong han-imun?”

Sagot ng pasyente, “Doktor, huhubarin ko po ang blusa at palda ng aking bagong asawa.”

“Pagkatapos...” tanong ng Dok-tor.

“Pagkatapos...”, sabi ng pasy-ente, “huhubarin ko ang kani-yang bra at panty”.

“Pagkatapos...” tanong ng Dok-tor.

“Pagkatapos...” sabi ng pasy-ente, “kukunin ko lahat ng last-iko sa bra at panty at titiradorin ko ang buwan!”

Magnanakaw ng de lata

Isang babaeng “klepto” ang nahuling nag shoplifting ng de lata sa isang supermarket. Siya ay humarap sa korte, kasama ang kanya asawa for moral support.

Dahil napatunayan siyang nagnakaw, siya ay hinatulan ng judge.

“Ginang, dahil sa ikaw ay napatunayang nagnakaw ng isang de lata ng kamatis, ikaw ay hinahatulang makulong ng isang araw sa bawat kamatis na laman ng latang ito. Kung lima ang laman nito, limang araw ka ring makukulong. Sang ayon ka ba sa rito?” ang hatol at tanong ng judge.

“Opo”, sagot naman ng ginang habang mangiyak-ngiyak.

Biglang tumayo ang asawa at nagsalita, “Your honor, pwede po bang lumapit sa inyo?”.

“Dahil sa misis mo ang maku-kulong, pagbibigyan kita. Lu-mapit ka rito”, sagot ng judge.

Mabilis namang lumapit sa judge ang asawa at nagsalita ng pabulong, “Your honor, nag-nakaw din po siya ng de lata ng green peas!”

(Continued from page 7)the adoption was finalized before the Hague Adoption Conven-tion took effect or prior to April 1, 2008? The adoptive parents may pursue the case as an I-130 case and follow the old immigra-tion procedure for petitioning an adopted child. Under such procedure, the adoptive parents must establish two years legal and physical custody before filing the I-130 petition. If the child is an orphan, the adoptive parents may pursue the case as an I-600 case. Only a United States Citizen is eligible to file an orphan petition, provided that the petition is filed prior to the child’s 16th birthday. A child is an orphan: 1) due to the death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion of, or separation or loss from both parents; or 2) when the sole or surviving parent is incapable of providing proper care for the child and has irrevocably released parental rights to the child in writing for emigration and adoption. If both biological parents are alive but have abandoned the child to an orphanage or other authorized institution of the child’s home country, the child may be con-sidered to be an orphan.

What happens if the case was started before April 1, 2008, and has not been completed when the Hague Adoption Convention took effect? The case may be considered a transition case de-pending on the facts of the case. The determination whether the case is a transition case can be complicated and it is best to get the advice of an immigration at-torney. If the case has not been grandfathered, the prospective adoptive parents have to start the process all over again.

What happens if the prospec-tive adoptive parents obtained custody for emigration purposes and adoption after April 1, 2008? The custody decree must be voided. Otherwise, the I-800 will not be approved. What if the prospective adoptive parents or their relatives obtain tem-porary custody of the child or provided foster care before April 1, 2008, not for the purpose of adoption. Then, after April 1,

Intercountry Adoption2008, the prospective adoptive parents became U.S. citizens and decided to adopt the child. Will the I-800 be approved? Unfor-tunately, there is no guidance on this issue. This is only one

of the many issues where no guidance has yet been issued by either USCIS or the Department of State (DOS). Inter-country adoption is a complex process and the Hague Adoption Con-vention is relatively new. We are hoping that USCIS and DOS make liberal interpretation of the regulations so that more children

would benefit from the Hague Adoption Convention.

We welcome your feedback. If you have any immigration ques-tions, please feel welcome to email me at [email protected] or call 619 819 -8648 to arrange for a telephone consulta-tion.


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Read Atty Bautista’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Atty. A. Erwin Bautista

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Tawa at TulaRead previous articles by visiting our website at www.asian-

journalusa.com

ni Joe Cabrera

Ang TestigoDuon sa husgado…primera instancia

Sa Branch Eleven po…Ciudad ng ManilaAko’y nakasubok…nang magandang vistaNa ang asunto ay…tungkol sa “rape”baga.

Ito pong testigo…na syang naka-kitaAt bung pangyayari…saksi nyang lahat naSa pag-“declara” nya…naka-salang bagaAng pag-gagawad ng…hukom ng sentencia.

Katwiran ni Sebyo…’di raw syang may salaItong babae raw…ay kusang sumamaAma ng babae, iba na ang hablaPi-nersa daw dalhin…Anak nyang si Sebya.

Ngunit sa salaysay…nang ating testigoSobrang na-lilito…’tong si Judge AlbertoMedyo Malabo ang…sinasabi nitoTungko sa nakita…sa kubo sa barrio.

Kitang kita ko nga…nang sila’y pumuntaDoon sa kamalig…ni Donya GerardaSa biglang tingin ko…waring hini-hilaNitong Eusebio…and ating dalaga.

Ngunit ng masdan ko…nitong pangalawaPara baga namang…’di sya hini-hilaMatay kong wari-in…ay tinutulak paNi Sebya si Sebyo…Sa kamalig nila.

“Bueno” sabi ni Judge…Sigue ‘salasay moAng iyong nakita…sa loob ng kuboNang-laban ba itong…dalaga kay SebyoAt ng sa gano-on…ma-hatulan ito.

Aba naku po Judge…wala along “say” dyanSa aking nakita…at aking natunghanTunkol po sa akto…sa “pulot-pukyutan”Patas na patas lang…kapwa lumalaban.

Kayat itong si Judge…sobrang nahirapanUpang tukuyin nya…ang may kasalananPara narin Niyang…nakita’ng bunuanKayat itong kaso…”di-nismiss” kapagkwan.

Are there any Income Tax Return filing requirements for Chapter 13?

Question: If I have to file a Chapter 13 petition how many years of tax return should I have filed?

Answer: A debtor filing a Chapter 13 petition is required to have filed four years of Income Tax before a petition can be filed and submit copies of tax return every year there after to the trustee.

Filing of prepetition tax re-turns.

Section 1308 of the Bank-ruptcy Code states: “Not later than the day before the date on which the meeting of creditors is first scheduled to be held under section 341(a), if the debtor was required to file a tax return under applicable nonbankruptcy law, the debtor shall file with appropriate tax authorities all tax returns for all taxable periods during the 4-year period ending on the date of the filing of the petition.”

A debtor must have filed tax returns for the past 4 years right before the scheduled 341(a) hearing or meeting of creditors.

What happens if the returns were not yet filed prior to the 341(a) hearing?

The trustee may hold the 341(a) hearing open for a reason-able period of time to allow the debtor to file a tax return. That period of time should not be

Bankruptcy: Tax Return/ Chapter 13

more than 120days of the 341(a) hearing or if extension of time was requested from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) then it should be that date that the debtor was entitled.

Although 4 years of tax re-turns is required to be filed the trustee only need to see the latest income tax return. In a Chapter 7 petition the last 3 years of Income was required information but also the latest income tax return is required by the trustee to be submitted.

The debtor’s income tax return

is required to be submitted to the trustee every year thereafter.

Why is there such a require-ment for tax returns?

In Chapter 7 and in Chapter 13 income submitted as required information on the Statement of Financial Affairs for the last 3 years can be verified by the trustee if the tax returns are submitted.

However in a Chapter 13 Peti-tion Tax Returns will show if the debtor owes taxes and if there is a need to include taxes as part of the plan payments. Taxes are unsecured priority debts which need to be included in the plan payments.

Failure to include such pay-ments usually alerts the IRS via

a notification from the Trustee’s office if the debtor fails to notice the IRS on the Schedule of debts and on the Matrix of debtors. Such omission will draw an objection for confirmation from the IRS.

And if for example the IRS debts were not included in the plan payment then the debtor will in effect be required to pay more money that it can afford. Then the IRS debt will have to be paid outside the plan later on, which will require additional income not taken in consider-ation at the time of the prepara-tion of the Chapter 13 Plan. It takes 10 years of non payment of taxes before that tax can become uncollectible under the Statute of Limitations.

That is why as a practical mat-ter it is very important to file those tax returns in order for the debtor itself to find out if there are taxes owed that needs to be included in the plan so it can be paid in the plan.

So if you find yourself in a situation where you have to seek the protection of Chapter 13 and haven’t filed your tax returns consult a bankruptcy attorney who knows about taxes. My of-fice can assist you with Bank-ruptcy and Income Tax Prepara-tion and Audit Representation.

(We invite readers to set up their initial consultation with The Law Offices of A. Erwin Bautista. Atty. Bautista prac-tices Immigration, Bankruptcy, Personal Injury, Family Law and Income Tax Preparation/Audit Representation. Atty. Bautista obtained his law degree from Western State University, Ful-lerton, CA and his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of the Philippines. You can reach him in Los Angeles at (213) 365 7690 at 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 2700, LA, CA 90010 or in San Diego at (619) 474 7755 at 550 E. 8th St., Ste. 11, National City, CA 91950)

trilogy, where Eddie played a role in the story about the lotto winner, entitled “Wish ko Lang.” He just started a soap opera for GMA 7, “Darna” starring Mari-anne Rivera. It will be shown in August 2009 to replace “Zorro.”

He just also completed “Totoy Bato”, another Carlo Capa-ras (known as “Komiks King”) masterpiece, where Robin Padilla and Regine Velasquez will be reunited in the lead roles. “Totoy Bato” joins the many komik char-acters serialized in komiks and immortalized in movies.

In an interview with One Phil-ippines newsmagazine in 2006, Ces Rodriguez describes Ed-die’s looks as “less hale than his onscreen persona, which is often strong, dapper, villainous, sexual, and robustly comedic. There are age spots on his face, and the faint suggestion of a stooped back missing from the ramrod straight impression he conveys on screen.”

Ces learned that Eddie consid-ers punctuality and discipline as his two factors for success. She learned the meaning of punctual-ity from Eddie when he came ahead of her at the appointed time for an interview. “Eddie knows how to take care of him-self “, says Rodriguez. “During lunch with a few members of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pili-pino, he sticks to soup and salad greens, as the rest of us work our way through slabs of steak and swirl piles of pasta gooey with cream sauce.”

Short of two years before he becomes 90 years old, Eddie has not lost his touch and is still one of the most in demand actors of the day. Going 90, Eddie is very much alive and kicking!




Winter Special

El Nido Resorts in Palawan won this year’s Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards – the first awards series of its kind in the region.

El Nido Resorts, a hotel complex built near a beach cove and sur-rounded by lush forests, won the “Mid to Small Accommodation” category at the Wild Asia awards program last October 28.

Other 2009 Responsible Tour-ism Award winners are the ITC Mughal in India for the “Large to Mid-Size Accommodation” category and the Sunderbans Jungle Camp also in India for the “Community-based to Homestay Operators” category.

The winners are suggested by “green travelers” around the world who have to rate a destination based on Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism checklists.

Responsible Tourism indicators include: employing 70% local staff and giving them good living conditions, serving regional food, building on locally-owned land, supporting local conservation

El Nido, Palawan

El Nido wins Int’l award for responsible tourism

projects, or having efficient energy consumption.

The Responsible Tourism Awards aims to “support the cre-ation of sustainable destinations in Asia.”

Nature love

The El Nido resort, located about 438 kilometers southwest of Manila, was hailed for its environ-mental protection initiatives.

El Nido is a protected area, with over 800 fish species in coral reefs and 100 endemic bird species.

The resort reportedly has a sewage treatment plant facility in place that prevents waste water from the hotel from contaminating surrounding water systems.

It also holds tree-planting activi-ties to protect surrounding water-sheds and skills training for local communities in El Nido munici-pality.

The El Nido Resorts also offers a variety of nature activities for guests like kayaking, snorkeling,

diving and outdoor dining.Fully-furnished and upscale

suites and cottages at the resort cost anywhere from P13,000 to P22,000 depending on the season.

The establishment has won other citations before, including the Best ASEAN Conservation Effort Award in 1995, and the PATA Green Leaf Award in 1997. El Nido was a finalist in last year’s Responsible Tourism Awards for the “Mid-range category”, but the Alila Manggis resort in East Bali won instead.

Wild Asia is an organization that works for environmental conserva-tion by encouraging the region’s businesses to adopt sustainable environmental practices. - From Good News Philippines

SAN DIEGO, 11/13/09 -- Asian Journal San Diego will begin a new series of poems written by Michael R. Tagudin, a Filipino American living in Los Angeles, California. The col-umn starts in the November 27 issue under the column name, “Riding the Dragon: Tales from the Hyperion.”

The author has written over 76 poems which he intends to publish in a book.

Educated as an engineer in the Philippines, the City of Los Angeles employee hopes his legacy of poems will provoke a dialogue about the human condition. His poetry can be

“Riding the Dragon” street poetry to run in Asian Journal

both raw and beautiful, edgy like rap, and delicate like haiku.

For example, Poem No 33 reads:

How soon is soon?I look up to the skyAnd stare at the depths of your eyesAnd I realize soon can be forever!

©2009 Michael R. TagudinHe is donating the proceeds from

the book to anti-human trafficking efforts in the City of Angels.

Contact [email protected] for more information. Mike Tagudin in a Bourdain moment

Asian Journal Nov 13 2009

Documents

Transcript of Asian Journal Nov 13 2009