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Volume 26 - No. 43 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

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DATELINEUSAfrom the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

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US senator: Freedom of navigation ops in South China Sea long overdue

Study shows economic contributions, disparities among Western Asian American population

Aquino belittles MarcosesPAGE A3

FINDINGS. According to a new report, in 2065, about one in three Americans will be an immigrant or will have immigrant parents, compared with one in four in 2015, Pew projects. Among the projected 441 million Americans in 2065, 78 million will be immigrants and 81 million will be people born in the US to immigrant parents. In photo are (L-R) Joseph P. Gloria (Registrar of Voters, Clark County), Evan Louie, Marita Etcubañez (Director of Programs, Advancing Justice | AAJC) and Rozita Lee (White House Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders). AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal

Filipina found dead in Las Vegas cryotherapy chamber died in ‘seconds’

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by Rosette Adel Philstar.com

President disregards resurgence of support for former First Family

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mANILA—United states senator John mcCain on tuesday, oct. 27 welcomed the decision of Us Presi-dent Barack obama to al-low the Us Navy to conduct freedom of Navigation op-erations in the south China sea.

“I am pleased the Us Navy has finally been al-lowed to conduct freedom

of Navigation operations within 12 nautical miles of China’s manmade land features in the south China sea. this decision is long overdue. And I have been dismayed, though hardly surprised, as this administration’s apparent confusion and in-decision has played out before the world over the last several months,” mcCain said.

mcCain said the Us must not exempt China from its opera-tion as it is allowed by the international laws.

A fILIPINA whose body was found tuesday, oct. 20, in a Las Vegas cryotherapy chamber, died in “seconds,” medical examiners told her family, the Las Vegas re-view-Journal reported.

Chelsea Ake-salvacion, 24, was found dead last week at rejuven-ice spa. she was discovered by her friend and colleague elise Iverson.

After working a closing shift monday, oct. 19, she stayed to un-dergo a cryotherapy session her-self. such sessions involve brief

by Agnes ConstAnteAJPress

exposures to air temperatures below minus 240 degrees fahr-enheit.

KsNV-tV Channel 3, citing friends and authorities, said the 24-year-old filipina “froze to death.” she was believed to be inside the machine for more than 10 hours, according to the Nevada occupational safety and health Administration.

A police report obtained by ABC News stated that it appeared Ake-salvacion set levels improperly on the machine she used.

by Joel M. sy egCo ManilaTimes.net

PresIDeNt Benigno Aquino III on tuesday, oct. 27 belittled the mar-cos family’s ability to claw its way back to power.

the President particu-larly took pot shots at sen. ferdinand “Bong-bong” marcos Jr.’s bid for the vice presidency, belying the purported “resurgence of support” for members of the for-mer first family.

“No, no. I think the

answer to that is very ob-vious. I don’t think so,” Aquino said when asked if he believes that the marcoses are regaining wide support from the people.

marcos is running as an independent candidate for Vice President and is purportedly the running mate of sen. miriam De-fensor-santiago.

While admitting that his camp had met with santiago’s representa-

Pacquiao negotiating rematch with Mayweather

by dino MARAgAy Philstar.com

mANILA—manny Pacquiao is hoping to get another crack at floyd mayweather Jr. before he hangs up his gloves and concentrate on his politi-cal career.

(L-R) Senator Grace Poe, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago Philstar.com file photo

PH presidential candidates weigh in on priority bills, corruption, tax reform

by JulliAne love de Jesus And MARC JAyson CAyAbyAbInquirer.net

the presidential forum hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry provided a glance of the differing stance of the

four leading presidential as-pirants in 2016.

Inquirer.net gives a cur-sory look at how the four

Filipinos compriselargest Asian American

group in Las Vegas AsIAN Americans Advancing Justice

released a new report this month about the growing Asian American, Native hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (NhPI) populations in the West — including new demographics in Arizona, hawaii, oregon, Las Vegas, and seattle.

the report follows a new study from Pew research Center, which shows the rapid growth of the Asian American popula-tion in the United states, fueled largely by immigration following passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)

Many filipinos working in the Us are overqualified for their jobs

REMITTANCE FIRM SURVEY REVEALS

most filipino workers living in the United states are overqualified for the jobs they do, according to respondents of a survey conducted by international money transfer firm transfast.

In a survey of 400 Philippine natives PAGE A2

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PAGE A2 Chelsea Ake-Salvacion

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao AJPress file photo by Andy Tecson

Sen. John McCain

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FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION. The USS Lassen, a guided missile destroyer seen in this file photo released by US Navy, sailed inside what China claims as a 12-nautical mile (22-kilometer) territorial limit around Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands archipelago, an American official said Monday, Oct. 26. US Navy photo by Ensign Timothy Tran

“As China mounts increasingly routine challenges to the freedom of the seas throughout the Asia-Pacific region, it is more important than ever that the United States fly, sail, and operate wherever inter-national law allows. And the South China Sea must be no exception,” McCain said.

On Tuesday, the guided mis-sile destroyer USS Lassen started to sail within the 12-nautical mile territorial limit of one of China’s artificially built group of islets in the South China Sea.The FON op-eration commenced after internal debates within the Obama admin-istration. The US destroyer was

accompanied by two maritime surveillance aircraft, P-3 Orion and P-8A Poseidon.

The FON operation was op-posed by China, arguing that the action damaged the US-China re-lations and regional peace. It also triggered an angry protest from Beijing.

Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry said authorities moni-tored and warned the USS Lassen as it entered the Subi Reef, alleg-ing that the US Navy threatened China’s sovereignty and security interests with its move.

McCain, however, claimed that the FON operation must not be considered as an irregular opera-

tion but an ordinary action to de-fend the freedom of the seas.

“Going forward, Freedom of Navigation operations should not be sporadic spectacles to behold, but ordinary and consistent dem-onstrations of our nation’s com-mitment to uphold the freedom of the seas,” McCain said.

“Demonstrating this unwav-ering commitment will require regular air and naval patrols in the weeks and months ahead and the robust forward presence in the Pa-cific required to sustain them,” the senator added.

The Subi Reef in the Spratlys Islands archipelago is also being claimed by the Philippines.

Filipina found dead in Las Vegas...She “was supposed to have as-

sistance with the machine,” the report states, but she did not do so.

“Ake used it alone, it appears, she did not have the level setting at the proper height, she did not get enough oxygen and she suffo-cated and froze herself to death,” according to the report.

She was declared dead at 1:30pm on Oct. 20, Coroner’s of-fice staff said Saturday, Oct. 24, according to the Review-Journal.

Ake-Salvacion’s death has raised concerns about the safety of cryotherapy treatment, which is used by athletes and celebrities but is hardly ever studied and not regulated by any agency.

“Cryotherapy is safe treatment, it’s definitely safe but it’s not to be used alone,” Iverson said. “It was misused.”

The owners of Rejuvenice on Monday said they were “devas-tated by this accident” and are “voluntarily scrutinizing each and every one of our internal proce-dures to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”

“All Rejuvenice employees undergo very strict and rigor-ous training, our cryochambers

are never locked, and guests and employees are always supervised during the entirety of the treat-ment to ensure their safety,” the company said Monday, according to the Review-Journal.

Because Ake-Salvacion used the chamber for personal use out-side of business hours, a Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) spokes-woman, Teri Williams, said OSHA does not have jurisdiction over the case. Several agencies also told the Review-Journal that they were not responsible for any investigations and pointed out that cryotherapy businesses are not regulated the same way medical clinics or sa-lons are.

The Las Vegas publication fur-ther reported that Rejuvenice does not possess at least one business license required to have paying customers, Clark County records indicate.

The practice of whole-body cryotherapy came under the spotlight during the NBA play-offs when basketball player LeB-ron James said he was address-ing his injuries by using a liquid nitrogen freezing chamber that could reach temperatures as low as approximately minus 300 de-

grees Fahrenheit.A March 2014 issue of Open Ac-

cess Journal of Sports Medicine reported, however, that cryothera-py offers little significant improve-ment over the use of applying ice packs.

“Until further research is avail-able, athletes should remain cog-nizant that less expensive modes of cryotherapy, such as local ice-pack application or cold-wa-ter immersion, offer comparable physiological and clinical effects,” researchers wrote.

Albert Ake, Ake-Salvacion’s uncle, told the Review-Journal the family disagrees with TV news re-ports stating she died due to an operator error.

“She knew exactly what she was doing,” Ake said, adding she had completed the procedure a number of times.

Lab results for the Ake-Salva-cion’s autopsy report are expect-ed to be available in six to eight weeks.

Through a publicist, Rejuvenice offered the following statement on Monday: “We are all incredibly saddened. “Chelsea was not only an employee, but a friend to most of us, and a wonderful person with a beautiful soul.”

Pacquiao negotiating rematch...In a recent video posted in

Pacquiao’s Facebook account, the Filipino icon appears to answer some questions from his fans while inside a vehicle.

It was in the said video that the question about his next fight popped up.

“I don’t know yet who’s my op-ponent next but we’re still negoti-ating right now about the rematch with Floyd Mayweather so hoping for that,” Pacquiao said.

The video, titled “Ask me a question,” has been viewed more than 400,000 times as of posting time.

Pacquiao’s longtime promoter Bob Arum recently said that his ward plans to fight one more time – likely in April next year, before the May elections – before retir-ing from the sport to focus on his

political career.The General Santos City-based

southpaw, currently congressman of Sarangani province, is gunning for a Senate seat under the op-position party United Nationalist Alliance of presidential hopeful and incumbent Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Pacquiao lost to Mayweather in boxing’s richest fight ever last May. While Mayweather has retired after beating Andre Berto last September, some box-ing observers believe the former pound-for-pound king won’t stay retired for long.

Other potential Pacquiao oppo-nents include Terrence Crawford, Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez. British star Amir Khan was the previous frontrunner until talks between his and Pacquiao’s camps reportedly fell through.

Aquino belittles Marcosestives over a possible team-up, he is yet to confirm their alliance.

The President’s father and namesake, late former senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr., was killed a few minutes after he ar-rived in the country from exile in 1983.

His father’s death catapulted his mother, Corazon “Cory” Aquino, to political prominence, paving the way for her to become the op-position’s standard-bearer in the 1986 snap presidential elections.

She was later installed into pow-er in 1986 after allegedly anoma-lous elections fueled a “people’s

PH presidential candidates weigh in on...presidential aspirants– Vice Pres-ident Jejomar Binay, Mar Roxas, Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago–express their opinions on the issues surround-ing their presidency bid.

Binay said he supports the move to reform the taxation sys-tem and lower the personal and corporate income tax. He said the Philippines has one of the highest income tax returns.

“We are the second highest sa income tax returns. Ang nang-yayari diyan, you are depriving our kababayans the money they can consume. Kasi mataas ang income tax returns. Ang ating in-come tax returns in 32 per cent na. Number 2 is it has come to a point, na yung those receiv-ing P500,000 ay kaparehas na lamang ng binabayaran ng mga well-to-do, ng mga millionaires,” Binay said.

Santiago for her part also said the Philippine tax system is out-dated and it is about time this should be updated to reflect the inflation of the country.

“The Philippine tax system is 20 years old. It needs to be over-hauled. But major tax reforms are best done at the start of each

administration when the Presi-dent has the clear mandate from the voters. I promise to reform it within six months of my adminis-tration,” Santiago said.

Poe also said it is time to change the taxation system to give the public more savings.

“This would benefit a lot of our countrymen. We’re one of the highest tax countries in Asia. government has spent P600 bil-lion since 2011 and reducing tax-es would only take away P30 bil-lion. I don’t think any programs in government would be cut be-cause of this,” Poe said.

As for Roxas, the election sea-son is not the time to discuss the issue of lowering income taxes.

Skeptic about decreasing tax rates, Roxas thinks that reducing income tax will also lead to re-duction of service, the improve-ment of infrastructures and the economy people are benefitting from.

But as a senator in 2004, Roxas was among the proponents of the bill reducing tax and exempting minimum wage earners from tax.

Freedom of informationOf the four candidates, only

Poe and Santiago specifically mentioned freedom of informa-

tion (FOI) bill as a priority legisla-tion in their presidency.

Poe said she sponsored the FOI bill which passed on third read-ing in the Senate.

“In the first 100 days in office, we would prompt Congress for bills to be passed with dispatch. First is the freedom of informa-tion bill, which I have sponsored and debated on in the Senate,” Poe said.

Santiago said her first act as president is to pass the FOI bill.

“When elected, my first act is to have the Freedom of Informa-tion Act (FOI) enacted into law. This is an important tool to pro-mote public accountability,” San-tiago said.

“The Freedom of Information bill deserves to be passed first if only to enhance transparency and public accountability. The posting of information on the of-ficial websites is not a substitute for the FOI bill,” she added.

Charter changeOf the four candidates, only

Roxas said there was no need to amend the constitution.

Binay, Poe and Santiago said they are open to amending the charter to ease foreign restric-tions in the economy, particularly on Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s proposal to amend the char-ter by inserting the “unless other-wise provided for by law” in the constitution’s economic provi-sions.

“I fully support that move of Speaker Belmonte; I’ve been very consistent in every fora that I’ve been attending. I’ve been saying that it’s high time that we have to amend our constitution because it’s not attuned to the times any-more. One way of attracting for-eign investors and we really need a lot of investors, an amendment of the constitution in order to ad-mit foreign investors especially for the major sectors of our econ-omy will certainly be a boost to our economy,” Binay said.

“The first best solution is to amend the restrictive provisions in the Philippine Constitution which have discouraged the en-try of foreign investors into the country. Compared to its ASEAN-6 counterparts, the Philippines

revolt” that led to the ouster of the Marcoses.

Fielding questions from mem-bers of the Foreign Correspon-dents Association of the Philip-pines (Focap) on Tuesday, Oct. 27, President Aquino said he does not see the view that “by appearing on a cover of a magazine demon-strates a resurgence of support.”

Aquino was referring to a glossy magazine, which had the 60-year-old Ilocos Norte governor, Imee Marcos, on the cover of its latest issue.

The governor is Ferdinand Jr.’s elder sister.

Aquino said he faithfully believes that the Marcoses would not be able to return to Malacañang.

“I have faith in my bosses, the Filipino people. There was noth-ing that has caused me to change

the faith that they are able to dis-cern,” the President noted during the Focap forum.

What should be “highlighted,” he said, “is the fact that there is a period in time that contrary opin-ions were not encouraged, that somehow they were involved in the periphery of.”

“In our watch, contrary opin-ions are part and parcel and pro-tected in the democratic space that we have managed to really strengthen within our watch. That is, I think, proof positive that the democratic system in this country works,” Aquino pointed out.

The President noted that his administration showed that “the democratic system in this coun-try works” contrary to how it was during martial law, which Sen. Marcos’ father and namesake im-posed.

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Pres. Benigno Aquino III

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by Allyson EscobArAJPress

Study shows economic contributions, disparities...of 1965.

In 2065, about one in three Americans will be an immigrant or will have immigrant parents, compared with one in four in 2015, Pew projects. Among the projected 441 million Americans in 2065, 78 million will be immigrants and 81 million will be people born in the US to immigrant parents.

The report (entitled “A Commu-nity of Contrasts: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the West”) is part of a series of demographic research and profiles that present the lat-est, clear data on Asian American and NHPI communities: including population counts, growth, and so-cioeconomic characteristics such as age, immigration, language, employment, income, housing, and health in both larger and individual communities.

The series includes a national report providing a holistic snap-shot of Asian American com-munities, a report focused solely on the NHPI population, as well as regional reports on the Asian American and NHPI communities in the Midwest, California, the Northeast, the South, and now, the West.

“When we talk about the grow-ing Asian American community in the United States, it’s crucial to recognize that Asian Americans are extremely diverse,” said Mee Moua, president and executive di-rector of Advancing Justice | AAJC. “While some are doing well, others are struggling. We must celebrate the communities’ successes, but also realize that the success of cer-tain ethnic groups often mask[s] the difficulties faced by others that fall under the Asian American and NHPI umbrella. We are able to showcase our contributions and needs by using disaggregated data in our demographic reports.”

Economic contributions, dis-parities

Aside from highlighting the disparities between specific Asian ethnicities, the report illustrates the numerous business and eco-nomic contributions by the Asian American community.

“It underscores the future po-litical power of the [Asian] de-mographic in the Western United States,” Advancing Justice said in a press release.

Nevada is considered to have the fastest-growing Asian Ameri-can population in the nation, while the NHPI population doubled over the past decade. In the Las Ve-gas Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) alone, the Asian American

PAGE A1

population is nearly 210,000; NH-PIs amount to over 27,000.

The Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners shows Asian Americans and NHPI own nearly 15,000 businesses in the Las Vegas area. These businesses — many of which are more likely to be small businesses — provide jobs for approximately 19,000 people and dispense about $539 million in annual payroll.

“Among Asian Americans, Fili-pino Americans own the largest number of businesses, followed by Chinese and Vietnamese Ameri-cans,” Marita Etcubanez, director of programs at Advancing Justice | AAJC said in a presentation in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

However, despite the critical economic contributions Asian American and NHPI communities have made through business own-ership, job creation and consumer spending, disparities still exist.

“Many Asian Americans and NHPI are struggling to make ends meet, facing major challenges such as increasing numbers of unemployed and poor, many who are uninsured, and language bar-riers,” said Etcubanez, adding that Asian American and NPHI ethnic groups are among the poorest in the Las Vegas MSA.

Of the approximately 14,000

Asian Americans in the MSA who are living in poverty, and over 41,000 who are low-income, the study found that Korean Ameri-cans have the highest poverty rates and are the most likely to be low-income, while Japanese and Thai Americans also have higher rates of low income than average for Asian Americans.

Between 2007 and 2013, data shows that the number of Asian Americans in the Las Vegas MSA who were unemployed increased 188 percent, a rate higher than all other racial groups except for Latinos. About 29 percent of un-employed Asian Americans were out of work for over a year.

The data also revealed that cancer and heart disease are the leading causes of death among Asian Americans in the Las Vegas area.

Civic engagement Asian Americans and NPHIs

are becoming citizens in greater numbers (121 percent growth in the last decade), therefore grant-ing them the benefits that go along with naturalization: registering to vote and casting ballots.

In certain jurisdictions, Asian Americans and NHPIs have al-ready had or will soon have the ability to produce the margin of

White House and Congress reach tentative budget dealTHE White House and con-

gressional Republican leaders reached a budget agreement on Monday, Oct. 26, that would resolve the stalemate over funding federal programs, and could end the threat of another government shutdown until the end of President Barack Obama’s term.

The two-year budget accord, which will cost roughly $80-billion, would increase spend-ing somewhat on defense and domestic programs, raise the federal debt ceiling, and lift some of the automatic cuts--known as sequesters--repeat-edly denounced by Obama.

The deal is likely to face op-position from both right and left sides of Congress. Earlier Monday, as news of the pos-sible accord spread, some con-servative groups denounced the additional spending as a betrayal, while some liberal groups warned against “the possibility that trims in ben-efits would be agreed upon to pay for parts of the agree-ment,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

The package also would raise the nation’s borrow-ing limit and avert the risk of a credit default, which could come as early as Nov. 3. The compromise deal is also ex-pected to protect Social Secu-rity and block price increases on seniors who use Medicare beneficiaries, ending sudden hikes in their premiums and deductible rates.

“It’s a responsible agreement that is paid for in a balanced way by ensuring that hedge funds and private equity firms pay the taxes they owe and by cutting billions in wasteful spending,” a White House of-ficial said in a statement.

House Speaker John Boeh-ner presented details of the pact in a closed-door meeting with rank-and-file lawmakers early on Tuesday, Oct. 27, hop-ing to advance it to a floor vote by the next day, and sending it to the Senate for passage.

Republican Rep. Paul Ryan, who is expected to be elected to the top job of House speaker on Thursday, Oct. 29, replac-ing the retiring Boehner, told

Reuters that he was reserving judgment on the agreement until he reviewed its details.

Many who were surprised had doubted that the White House and Congressional Republicans could come to terms.

“Fiscal negotiations are on-going,” said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as he opened the Senate. “As the de-tails come in, and especially if an agreement is reached, I in-tend to consult and discuss the details with our colleagues.”

The White House praised the budget deal Tuesday, Oct. 27 as a “responsible agreement aimed at economic growth and security for the middle class.”

Congress must agree to new spending for an array of federal programs by Dec. 11 to avoid the risk of another government shutdown during the rest of Obama’s term.

An administration official said that the deal, which would potentially end the threat of another shutdown, is a “com-promise” that proves biparti-san cooperation is possible.

“It is promising that Demo-crats and Republicans in Con-gress were able to come togeth-er to reach a strong agreement that would break the cycle of shortsighted, crisis-driven de-cision-making,” the official said in a statement.

The measure to lift the na-tion’s debt limit, currently at $18.1 trillion, through March 2017 would be tacked on to the budget deal, according to anon-ymous congressional aides.

If Congress does not act quickly to raise the debt ceil-ing, the federal government could begin moving into de-fault next week because the Treasury Department would no longer be able to borrow mon-ey to pay Washington’s bills, reported Reuters. Funds have been mostly exhausted.

The two-year budget deal that was negotiated provides top-line spending numbers. Appropriators will still have to hash out specifics by mid-De-cember.

“The bipartisan budget pack-age unveiled [Monday] repre-sents real progress for hard-working families across the country,” House Democratic

leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

For several weeks, Congress and White House aides have been meeting behind closed doors on a possible budget deal. The aim has been to roll back some of the steep seques-ter cuts that were earlier nego-tiated, after a 2011 debt ceiling showdown. Both parties have been wanting to undo the se-quester cuts, for different rea-sons.

Republicans have wanted to halt cuts to the Pentagon, while Democrats have sought to ease reductions to domestic pro-grams. Talks had dragged, as the two sides tried to figure out how to pay for the increased spending, said the LA Times.

“The deal would adjust spending caps for two years by a total of $80 billion—$50 billion the first year and $30 billion in the second—equally divided between defense and nondefense spending,” accord-ing to an anonymous official fa-miliar with the negotiations.

An additional $32 billion in spending over the two years will come from the overseas contingency account, bringing the total package to $112 bil-lion. Republicans had suggest-ed tapping that account before to boost military funding, but Democrats and even some Re-publicans argued it was an ac-counting gimmick because the emergency war fund was not intended for such a purpose.

The bulk of the costs would be paid for by trimming gov-ernment programs and increas-ing federal fees on others, in ways that would cause political discomfort (regarding Social Security, businesses, the Af-fordable Care Act, etc.) on both sides of the partisan line.

“I hope that Democrats and Republicans will come to a resolution soon that is good for our country,” said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) earlier. “As I have been saying for years, it is past time that we do away with the harm-ful, draconian sequester cuts.”

A vote on the deal was ex-pected to come as early as Wednesday. Under the plan, higher borrowing authority would be in effect until March 2017. PAGE A4

Anthony Bowman, Rozita Lee and Marita Etcubanez AJPress photos by Robert Macasbagdal

Anthony Bowman

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New WestCare Facility to aid in relief of mental healthcareaccess & care during crisis situations

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World Health Organization: Processed meat can cause cancer

PROCESSED meat – includ-ing ham, corned beef, bacon and beef jerky – can cause cancer, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced Monday, Oct. 26, putting the meat in the same danger category as smoking or asbestos.

The agency’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France reached the conclusion after analyzing decades of research. It evalu-ated more than 800 studies across several continents about meat and cancer, which looked at more than 12 types of cancer in populations with a wide spec-trum of diets throughout the last 20 years.

Among its findings suggest that consuming 50 grams of pro-cessed meat per day, equivalent to about 1.75 ounces or two slic-es of bacon, heightens the risk of developing colorectal cancer by 18 percent.

“This is an important step in helping individuals make healthi-er dietary choices to reduce their risk of colorectal cancer in par-ticular,” said Susan Gapstur of the American Cancer Society, ac-cording to The Associated Press. The organization has recom-mended limiting the consump-tion of red and processed meat since 2002. It suggests opting for fish or poultry, or cooking red meat at low temperatures.

Processed meat, which is mod-ified either to extend shelf life or enhance taste, is smoked, salted,

by Agnes ContstAnteAJPress

fermented, smoked, or cured. Among chemicals used to cure meat include nitrates and nitrites, which the body converts into cancer-causing compounds. The IARC has labeled processed meat as a carcinogen, similarly to how cigarettes are labeled.

Still, this is not to say pro-cessed meat and smoking are equally dangerous: smoking re-mains worse than eating a bacon sandwich.

The IARC’s findings state that the chance of individuals develop-ing colorectal cancer because of their consumption of processed meat is small, Dr. Kurt Straif of the IARC said in a statement. However, the risk increases with the amount of meat consumed.

In the United States, the over-all lifetime risk of developing the cancer is about 5 percent, ac-cording to the American Cancer Society. But the WHO says eating a cold-cut sandwich on a daily basis would only raise the risk to about 6 percent.

In the United Kingdom, ap-proximately 6 percent of indi-viduals develop bowel cancer in their lives. If, in the UK, people ate an additional 50 grams of ba-con every day for the rest of their lives, their risk for would rise by 18 percent to about seven in ev-ery 100 people developing bowel cancer.

“This is still very relevant from a public health point of view, as there are more than 30,000 new cases per year [of colon cancer],” said Gunter Kuhnle, a food nutri-tion scientist at the University of

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Many Filipinos working in the US are...who live in the United States and remit money back home, more than 80 percent said they possess more skills than what is required in their jobs; 72 percent said workplaces in America are more stressful than those they experienced in the Philippines.

Yet 93 percent of survey par-ticipants said they believe there are still more opportunities in their US jobs than those in the Philippines.

“What I have achieved here in the U.S., is a lot,” said respon-dent Joanna Loresto, 47, of San Rafael, California. “I just left my job and I’m so fortunate I could go wherever I want to, and em-ployers will hire me. Owning a home, buying any car I want – I’m

proud of it. I can give my son the best education. I have three sib-lings in the Philippines and a lot of cousins, and I’m thankful that I can be the one helping out.”

Respondent Ruben Espiritu, 56, of Garner, North Carolina also called the US the land of opportunity with many jobs available, but pointed out that the Philippine economy is im-proving.

“People who come here for work are playing vital economic roles by contributing to the U.S. economy and also adding to the GDP of their home country when they send money back to family and friends,” said Transfast CEO Samish Kumar.

The remittance firm conducted the same survey with respon-

dents across all nationalities, noting a number of similarities with Filipino immigrants.

However, there were differ-ences in responses about how much immigrants were expect-ing to earn versus what they expected (37 percent of overall immigrants said they were mak-ing what they expected, while 61 percent of Filipinos respond-ed as such), and where they planned to retire.

Of the immigrants surveyed, 18 percent said they intend to retire in their home country. 53 percent of Filipinos said they plan on retiring in the Philip-pines, while 31 percent of Filipi-nos said they intend to retire in the United States. (Agnes Con-stante / AJPress)

PH presidential candidates weigh in on...has attracted the least Foreign Direct Investments. That is proof enough that we are lagging be-hind,” Santiago said.

Santiago said she would be wary though on politicians who might use charter change at their “mercy.”

Poe said the constitution has to be amended to adjust with the changing economic landscape.

“The Constitution is a living and breathing document. It has to do with the times. I think their proposals for economic changes, we should certainly debate on it because I think of the things we need to encourage is foreign di-rect investment,” Poe said.

“There’s some very tight regu-lations in the ease of doing this in the country,” she added.

But for Roxas changing the constitution would not fix the problem, especially in attract-ing more Foreign Direct Invest-ments.

“Changing the constitution will

PAGE A2 not fix the problem that export-ers have with unpaid tax, vat tax credits. They paid value added tax (VAT) on their raw materials that come in and when they re-export the product. It takes them months-if not years- to take, to receive the VAT refund,” he said.

“That means that that product, the cost of that product is much more expensive because in effect, they are money tied up in the VAT pre-payments that they made. What do you think the report to the home office is by the country manager? That’s what holds back foreign direct investment in our country,” Roxas added.

CorruptionRoxas and the administration

are agnostic when it comes to dealing with corrupt officials—even with their allies.

“We want to eliminate corrup-tion irrespective of what the per-son’s chaleco is wearing. We are agnostic. We don’t look at their affiliation so long as its corrup-tion, we are against it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Binay, the political archrival of Roxas, said poverty, not corruption, is the moral prob-lem that he would fight if he wins as president of the country.

The vice president is charged with slew of corruption charges and is facing graft indictment before the Ombudsman for alleg-edly rigging the procurement for the design and construction of the P2.28 billion Makati City Hall Building II, deemed the country’s priciest car park building.

Besides the allegedly over-priced car park building, Binay faces four other plunder and graft complaints before the Ombuds-man over the alleged anomalies involving the Makati Science High School Building, the Uni-versity of Makati, a Fort Bonifacio property, and over an allegedly anomalous land deal between the Alphaland and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, where Binay is long-running President. Binay decried political harassment by his accusers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) linked bacon, ham, cold cuts and other processed meat like corned beef, luncheon meat, beef jerky and sausages (longganisa) to colon and stomach cancers. Inquirer.net photo

Mayor Goodman joins Westcare Nevada, other officials for ribbon-cutting event at new community triage center in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS—It’s no secret that the mental healthcare sector in southern Nevada is often over-whelmed by the number of people seeking immediate crisis services verses the number of available facilities to meet this need. West-Care Nevada today announced a facility designed to combat some of that strain: the WestCare Com-munity Triage Center and Com-munity Involvement Center. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 22,000 square-foot renovated building took place on Oct. 28 at the building, located at 323 N. Maryland Parkway near 13th Street.

The center is divided into two sections – a crisis portion and a community resources area - and will provide a variety of services.

Among the services are: preven-tion education; outreach; out-patient counseling; substance abuse outpatient treatment; mental health services; and assessment intake. The Community Triage Center provides safe, medically supervised detoxification services and triage services for people with mental health issues.

WestCare President and CEO Richard Steinberg said the new Community Triage Center will help alleviate much of the overcrowding that hospital emergency rooms experience when first responders bring individuals there who need immediate mental health attention. Rather, the new center will allow paramedics and police officers a place to transport individuals seek-ing mental crisis help. Following

assessment, WestCare profes-sionals will then either intake the patient or direct and facilitate the patient’s relocation to other facilities.

“We are always looking for new ways to serve the community and underserved populations,” said Steinberg. “This new facility will be open to anyone who is battling addiction and mental health issues. We are proud to be a light in the dark for those who are suffering.”

WestCare Nevada is partially funded by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis-tration, Nevada’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Agency, Clark County, City of Las Vegas, the Veteran’s Administration, Nevada Division of Mental Health and De-velopmental Services.

Study shows economic contributions, disparities...victory to impact the outcomes of elections, the study found.

“As our communities have grown, more Asian Americans and NHPI are becoming citizens, registering to vote and casting ballots. Elected officials need to pay attention and be responsive to the growing needs and concerns of two of the fastest growing constituencies in the West,” said Steward Kwoh, president and executive director of Advancing Justice -- Los Angeles.

However, the power of the Asian American and NHPI vote has yet to be realized, especially since

there are still many immigrations with lawful permanent resident (LPR) status who have not become citizens. There are at least 9,000 Asian American immigrants in the Las Vegas region who are eligible to naturalized but have not done so.

Tuesday’s presentation also highlighted key legislative districts at the state and federal levels where a sizable amount of Asian American and NHPIs are of vot-ing age.

“With these numbers, then, Asian Americans should have the clout to have policy makers pay attention to and address

their concerns. We are seeing progress but need greater in-vestment in naturalization, voter registration and voter education and turnout so that our num-bers can translate into greater political power and influence,” Etcubanez said.

The study also found that while some Asian Americans and NHPIs have no trouble speaking English and accessing educational op-portunities and health care, many still need language assistance to access critical services, and have difficulty graduating high school. (Christina M. Oriel and Allyson Escobar / AJPress

Reading, according to the AP. “But it should not be used for scaremongering.”

The IARC found that red meat – defined by the WHO to include beef, goat, horse, lamb, mutton, pork and veal – is “probably car-cinogenic to humans.”

Despite the linkage established in these findings, the agency did not make any specific dietary rec-ommendations and said it did not possess sufficient data to indicate the amount of processed meat to be considered too dangerous. Furthermore, doctors are not all advising against completely elim-inating meat from the diet.

“It’s not that you can’t have any,” ABC News Chief Health & Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser said. “But you want to reduce the amount of processed meat that you’re taking in. Go with broiling, with baking, those things will not release some of the chemicals.”

Red meat does have nutritional value and is a major source of iron, vitamin B12 and zinc. The WHO said there was limited evi-dence that 100 grams of red meat per day boosts the risk of cancer by 17 percent.

“People should limit consump-tion of red meat and avoid con-suming processed meat, but they should also have a diet rich in fibre, from fruit and vegetables and maintain an adequate body weight throughout life and limit the consumption of alcohol and be physically active,” Dr. Teresa Norat, an advisor to the WHO re-port, told BBC News.

After the new pronouncement from the WHO, the North Ameri-can Meat Institute pointed out that the report ignored “numer-ous” studies with findings indi-cating no connection between meat and cancer. The new find-ings could impact the American meat industry, which is arguing against the linkage between their products and colorectal cancer, citing the illness involves other lifestyle and environmental fac-tors, the AP reported.

Yet shares of the majority of meat companies experienced little change on Monday.

“I’m not expecting that [IARC] report to be a big issue going for-ward,” said Brian Weddington, a vice president of Moody’s Inves-tors Service’s corporate financial group, according to Reuters. “I think there’s still going to be a lot of hot dogs sold tomorrow.”

PHOTO OP WITH THE PRESIDENT. President Barack Obama holds two youngsters while posing for a photo with them during halftime of the Chicago Bulls-Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., Oct. 27, 2015. White House photo by Pete Souza

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com A�LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 29-NOVEmbER 4, 2015

Dateline PhiliPPines5th presidential bet? Comelec keeps public guessing

With 3 VP bets, NP to support ‘winnable’ candidate

by Sheila CriSoStomoPhilstar.com

MANILA—A fifth presidential candidate may qualify for next year’s elections.

Commission on Elections (Com-elec) Chairman Andres Bautista, however, declined to identify the candidate until the poll body weeds out the nuisance candi-dates.

The other four presidential candidates are Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas, Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance and Sens. Grace Poe and Miriam De-fensor-Santiago, who are running as independent.

“At this point, it would not be fair to the others because there is still no prima facie evidence that they are nuisance,” Bautista said during the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel media forum yesterday.

Last week, the Comelec sent let-ters to 125 of the 130 people who filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for president, asking them to show proof or evidence why they should not be declared as nuisance candidates. Thirteen of the 19 vice presidential aspirants and 128 of the 172 senatorial candidates were also sent such letters.

“It is part and parcel of due pro-

by roSette adelPhilstar.com

MANILA—The Nacionalista Party (NP) on Tuesday, Oct. 27 said there is a possibility that with three members running for the same position next year, their political party will support the candidacy of whoever appears to be the leading candidate for vice presidency.

Sen. Cynthia Villar said that al-though the NP has decided not to support any of its three vice presi-dential bets—Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV—there is a possibility that they will support the apparent leading candidate next year.

“May possibility, yes. Kung obvi-ous na na may isang mananalo,” Villar said during the interview at the Kapihan sa Senado.

Villar said that Marcos has a territorial advantage over Cayetano and Trillanes but she said that it is too early to conclude who the leading vice presidential candidate is so far.

“I think may bailiwick siya. That has always been his advantage. Sa anim na kandidato, anim ang maghahati, ‘yung may bailiwick ka, advantage iyon,” Villar said.

The senator refused to disclose the vice presidential candidate most NP members support.

She also clarified that the three NP members who are gunning for presidency did not abandon NP amid controversy that they aban-doned the political party by filing

as independent candidates.“Talagang hindi pwedeng mag-

file ang marami sa isang partido, the party can only endorse one for every position. We opt not to issue so lahat sila independent. But it doesn’t mean hindi sila NP,” Villar said.

“Nag-uusap naman kami, talag-ang wala lang choice kasi the party cannot endorse three candidates,” she added.

Meanwhile, Villar said NP is not yet sure whether they will

endorse a presidential candidate. She however disclosed that all candidates are wooing their party to gain support.

Villar said the party has yet to meet regarding the decision but it is too early to convene.

“Hindi rin tayo sure, depende. Kasi even our VPs, iba-iba ang president nila,” Villar said.

“Baka the party would decide na doon na lang sa VP kasi may chance manalo. It’s not me, it’s them,” she added.

Who among the Nacionalista Party (NP) vice presidential candidates—Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Bongbong Marcos or Antoio Trillanes—will be supported by the political party?

cess that every candidate be given the opportunity to show that they are not nuisance candidates… One of the parameters pursuant to a Supreme Court ruling on the Ely Pamatong case is the resources, the capability to mount a cam-paign,” Bautista said.

Among those who filed COCs for president are losing senatorial candidate Rizalito David of Ang Kapatiran Party, OFW Family Club party-list Rep. Roy Señeres of the Partido ng Manggagawa at Mag-sasaka Workers and Peasant Party and former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Augusto Syjuco Jr. who is running as independent.

In separate interviews, Señeres and David said they have not received such letters from the Comelec.

Señeres said he has a legitimate political party with the capability to launch a nationwide campaign. He added his party-list group ranked 8th in the 2013 elections.

“Among the overseas absentee voters, I was number one in all countries… I am taking up the cudgels for the 15 million con-tractual workers in the country,” he added.

David, who had filed a dis-qualification case against Poe, said the Comelec-accredited Ang Kapatiran has the campaign machinery.

“Even if we are all subjected to a hearing to justify why we should not be declared nui-sance, we can prove that we are capable… I have not received a letter and (neither has) my vice president,” he said.

American nabbed for carrying a bullet at NAIA seeks new probeby KriStine FeliSSe mangunay

Inquirer.net

LAWyERS of the American missionary who claimed he was a victim of a “laglag-bala modus” (bullet planting scheme) at the Ninoy Aquino International Air-port but was charged for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act in court, have asked for a reinves-tigation of their client’s case.

In a 15-page motion filed on Oct. 14 at the Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 119, Ernesto Arellano and Jasper Balboa said the case of Lane Michael White should be reinvestigated as the “hasty proceedings before the Senior Assistant City Prosecutor clearly defeated the constitutional rights of the accused…”

The motion did not say who should reinvestigate the case if the motion was granted, but a source at Branch 119 said the usual procedure, if the court acted favorably on the motion, would be to send back the case to the Prosecutors Office.

Until a new resolution is issued by the Prosecutors Office on that case, the information in court would be “pending,” according to the source.

Based on court documents, the senior assistant prosecutor as-signed to Lane’s case was Manuel Loteyro.

Arellano and Balboa said air-port baggage inspectors Maria Elma Cena and Marvin Garcia found a .22 cal. bullet in White’s baggage after it went through the X-ray scanner in the departure area of Terminal 4 on Sept. 17. But “surprisingly…the Honor-able Assistant City Prosecutor, at speed, filed the information the following day…”

It was not clear if Arellano and Balboa were referring to Loteyro.

“It is worthy to stress that the filing of the information against (White) was hastily done to pre-clude him from exhausting the remedy available to him under the law…The accused was not even asked if he is willing to undergo a preliminary investigation upon signing of a waiver of the provi-sion of Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code,” White’s lawyers said, noting that it was at this stage where their client could present evidence that “would exonerate him of the charge against him.”

Arellano and Balboa said the information against White was filed by the Senior Assistant City Prosecutor “without the benefit of the accused effectively answering the charge against him,” even as the Supreme Court, in previous cases, ruled that “only by strict adherence to the established procedure may the public’s per-ception of the impartiality of the prosecutor be enhanced.”

“As an indispensable require-ment of due process, the investi-gating prosecutors must possess the cold neutrality of an impartial judge. In the instant case, how-ever, (White) was denied due pro-cess when the Honorable Senior Assistant City Prosecutor commit-ted grave misconduct, which also clearly showed that he did not possess the cold neutrality of an impartial judge,” they said.

They added that the inquest proceedings were conducted without White “being assisted by a counsel of his own choice” as stipulated by the rules.

Both Arellano and Balboa em-

phasized that White—an Ameri-can citizen who reportedly was in the country for the first time when his baggage was found with a bullet—was “oblivious of (Philippine) justice system and procedures.”

They said proof of this was the fact that White personally went to the National Bureau of Investiga-tion after posting bail following his arrest and six-day detention, and filed a counter-complaint for planting of evidence against Cena and Garcia.

They said he did this “instead of asking for a preliminary inves-tigation.”

“If only the Honorable Senior Assistant City Prosecutor had done what is commendable under the circumstances, then (White) would not be left groping in the dark as regards his rights to be assisted by a counsel of his own choice and avail of a preliminary investigation,” they said.

“Wherefore, premises consid-ered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that the foregoing motion be favorably granted and a reinvestigation be ordered so that the accused-mov-ant may be assisted by a counsel of his own choice and be given the opportunity to present counter-vailing evidence that would free him from the anxiety of a public trial,” they added.

In his Oct. 21 order, Judge Pe-dro de Leon Gutierrez gave Cena

and Garcia—who are acting as the private complainants in the case—ten days upon receipt of the order within which to file their comment or opposition to the mo-tion for reinvestigation.

“Upon receipt of said comment, the incident shall be deemed sub-mitted for resolution of the court,” he said.

He also set the arraignment of White on Nov. 25.

White, who hails from Florida, was arrested while he was with his father, an American pastor, and Filipino stepmother at the domestic terminal.

The three had come from the United States and were supposed to board a plane for Coron, Pala-wan province.

Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista

Lane Michael White

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OpiniOn Features

the public sector, my resume is lean enough that I don’t have the added baggage that is not neces-sary to be successful in government,” Poe said.

Sergio Ortiz-Luis, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said that as businessmen and citizens, they are looking at who will take action on his or her promises. He said that business executives were impressed with the plans laid out by the presidential aspirants.

“What we can say is we will record what they promised to us and if they win, we will hold them accountable for what they promised,” Ortiz-Luis said.

The event also highlighted success stories and global and regional trends on business competi-tiveness, including strategies for business and economic growth, developing a world-class infra-structure and advancing international trade part-nerships.

This campaign season has no room for political candidates spouting platitudes. Economists will note that the quality of life enhances business cli-mate. Because like ordinary citizens, the country’s business leaders are looking for someone who will turn pledges into actions and who can make a cor-ruption-free society possible. (AJPress)

“GREG, how true!” This was the comment of a friend from Se-attle upon reading my piece, “Insights from a small town politi-cian,” particularly the part about the need for “mobilization” (a eu-phemism for vote-buy-ing) in order to win an election.

As a result of that column, other sav-vy individuals have come forward with their own first person narratives of elec-tion cheating. At our parish in Pinole, California, a retired Philippine Constab-ulary colonel who said he had already found God, told me about the rip-roar-ing days back in Central and Northern Luzon when they made piles of money during the election season.

“We collected contributions from the jueteng lords,” he said. And added: “Of course, we did it all the time, but we got more during elections.” Orders from the top, he explained.

According to him, there were other fund-raising tactics, like kidnapping businessmen for ransom money.

“But that’s not the only way the PC got involved in the elections,” said the ex-colonel. “On election day, we would swoop down on a precinct, drive out the voters and fill the ballot boxes with rigged ballots.” Orders from the top, he explained again.

The ex-colonel’s tale made the New People’s Army’s PTC or Permit to Cam-paign seem almost legitimate. I com-mented that the new automated voting system appears to have addressed the problem of election cheating.

“Not quite,” said the ex-colonel. “A

friend of mine who is still in the active ser-vice, in the PNP, told me that there are ways around the system.”

I recalled that the vice-mayor who had provided insights on local elections for my last column had also

told me something related to the au-tomated election system, based on his own personal experience.

According to him, to ensure that the system would work fairly, he and other candidates were asked to participate in a test of the PCOS machine in their barangay precinct. Each one was at-tributed a hypothetical number of votes which they then marked on ballots and fed into the PCOS machine. The accu-racy of the count was then confirmed by the machine. If the count had not matched the hypothetical votes cast, that would have been a red flag.

On election day, there was a problem at the barangay precinct in transmitting the results online. The election officers were constrained to bring the compact flash drive containing the results to the poblacion. When the votes from the concerned precinct were flashed on the screen, the numbers reflected were those in the test and did not conform with the number of voters in the pre-cinct.

“That means the compact flash drive containing the test was the one fed into the machine in the poblacion,” said the vice-mayor.

According to him, it doesn’t take rocket science to conclude that a pre-programmed compact flash drive could

be fed into the PCOS machines in the poblacions in those instances when barangay precincts had transmission problems.

“Of course, that kind of transmission problem can always be arranged,” he said knowingly.

While Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista has assured the country that everything is being done – and will be done – to ensure a fair and accurate count, he could give no guarantee, as quoted by the Manila Times in a story filed on October 8, 2015: “How can you guarantee clean, orderly and honest elections? But we will do our best.”

Indeed, much depends on the hon-esty of the politicians, the political par-ties and the candidates themselves. Are there such virtuous creatures? Said the late US Secretary of State Henry Kiss-inger, “Ninety per cent of the politi-cians give the other ten per cent a bad reputation.” And former Soviet Pre-mier Nikita Krushchev was more blunt: “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.”

And here’s what presidential aspirant Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago had to say about her colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives when they were set to impeach Chief Justice Renato Corona for inaccuracies in his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth or SALN (literally translated from her colorful Tagalog):

“My first point, if the Chief Justice loses here, that means that those who win are honest people because they have condemned him because he is corrupt. Therefore, assuming that these representatives – because we repre-

sent the people, isn’t that so, that’s why we’re elected officers, we’re supposed to represent our constituency – if we judge him guilty because he is crooked, that means we are honest. Now, if all of us are honest – many of us are honest – why is the Philippines often, if not all the time – why is the Philippines always ranked as one of the most corrupt coun-tries in the whole world?

“That you should answer. You pretend to be clean. Now if our officials are really clean and the whole country is clean, why does transparency international al-ways list us as one of the most corrupt countries in the world? We’re glancing at each other. Who among us?

“That is my first point. Second, why don’t you stop pretending, like actors…there are certain politicians whom we know are using loopholes in their SALN. The law says that whatever your deposits are at the end of December, the end of the year, you declare how much money you have in the bank – the others, they withdraw their money in November or December so that when they file their SALN, there’s hardly any deposit or they just have a couple of thousands because the rest has been withdrawn. When January comes, they deposit the funds again. My country-men, you be the witnesses, why isn’t that being looked into?

“Second, palusot – or the second thing they resort to in the SALN loop-hole – all their assets – real estate, bank account, other assets, they put in other people’s names – that is very, very wide-spread – so, they appear not to have any assets because these have been placed under other people’s names. If they can’t use their wives or children, be-

cause the law requires that those close to them should be investigated, they use distant relatives or even trusted friends. What a hypocritical accusation.

“That is the problem with this coun-try. We’re all for honest government and yet the world condemns us as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. That’s why it’s difficult to win in any international election – in any inter-national campaign – because the Phil-ippines, among others, has a reputa-tion of being a corrupt country. Others think, if that country is corrupt nothing good will come out of it, nothing good will grow from it.

“Why, isn’t there any one of you who hasn’t cheated on his SALN? Give me another life – Lord, give me another life and I will investigate everyone, one by one, in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. We shall see – I will also investigate myself.

“There are so many loopholes in that SALN, why didn’t anyone say some-thing about them before. Why have you now suddenly become concerned about the loopholes? Well, if that is the case, then let us all just put our assets in dol-lars and – the purpose of the SALN will be perverted or corrupted. That is true. But what about all the other loopholes? Why have you become angry over the loophole only now? Why not before? Because some of us have been using the loopholes – they just have not been impeached.”

Looks like, all we can do is pray for a clean, orderly and honest presiden-tial election. Maybe His Holiness Pope Francis can canonize a patron saint for honest elections, in time for May 2016. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

Insights on election cheating and corruption

GreG B. MacaBenta

Street Talk

A GREAT fight is brewing among four opposing names who dare to covet the highest political rank in the Philippines. While the top presidential aspirants are strong contenders—each carrying a political track record—one test they have to accomplish is being the most business-friendly.

ManilaTimes.net photo

Proposition

With a growing middle class, strong domestic demand, stable economic policy and GDP growth, signposts for the Philippine econo-my are generally in a positive out-look. What the country needs now is a leader who will hold a successful transition of power by 2016.

Elections are shaped by the involvement of cor-porate businesses. For a leader to initiate a suc-cessful leadership, he or she must encourage the support of business leaders.

The country’s largest business organization re-cently held a two-day conference on Oct. 26-27 to discuss how the government and business com-munity can improve Philippine competitiveness and spur economic growth beyond 2016. Invited during the event were top presidential candidates, Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay, Former Interior and Lo-cal Secretary Mar Roxas, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Sen. Grace Poe.

They took turns on the hot seat as they seized the opportunity to appeal to the country’s local business community and explain why they are the best candidate by outlining programs they will pursue if elected president. Among the programs discussed were priority bills, tax reforms, human capital and infrastructure investments, constitu-tional amendments and addressing corruption in the government.

Binay aims to alleviate corruption in the gov-

ernment and focus on poverty re-duction by providing more jobs Filipinos. He allayed the current corruption allegations against him and said he leaves it to the courts to

decide on the matter.“The moral problem actually is not corruption,

the moral problem is poverty. That is what I have to face, not a fight against all these allegations but a fight to alleviate poverty in the life of every Fili-pino,” Binay said.

Roxas will continue the current administration’s track record on anticorruption and public service. He also aims to address corruption in the government.

“We want to eliminate corruption irrespective of what the person’s chaleco is wearing. We are ag-nostic. We don’t look at their affiliation so long as its corruption, we are against it,” Roxas warned.

Santiago promised a nation that is more pros-perous, people who are more united and institu-tions that are more stable by 2022. And to promote public accountability, Santiago vowed to have the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) enacted into law when elected as president.

Poe admitted that she has the least number of years in public service among the presidential can-didates, but reiterated that she is capable to hold such position.

“Even if they say that my resume is quite lean compared to the others, in terms of my service in

Editorial

PERHAPS a lot of us Filipinos living abroad would have a collective memory of how “Todos Los Santos” was observed in the Philippines where many of us grew up. This would be totally different from the “Halloween” culture of today’s generation — no costumes or Halloween parades and party for us. October 31 and November 1 would a time when we meet with family at cemeteries to remember our loved ones who have gone ahead of us.

However, in the past decade, we have seen a shift in the way people choose to be laid to rest. It is no longer an automatic burial of the remains; in-stead the option of being cremated has now been accepted by many Filipino families, both here in the United States and in the Philippines.

I had first hand experience on this when we sent off my brother David and my Daddy just in the past two years. This happened in the Philippines at the Sanctuarium near Araneta Avenue.

We had a “lamay” (wake) for them for a few days, with their remains in the caskets for family and friends to pay their last respects. As in the tra-ditional wake, we had masses and eulogies, with people watching over the remains of our dearly departed 24/7, until it was time for cremation.

This is where the practice devi-ates from tradition. After the final mass and blessing, the remains were brought to the crematory level. There was a final viewing but during this time, the body was already brought out of the casket and was made to lie down on a “stretcher” for family members to pray over and bid them goodbye for the last time through a touch of the hand, a last hug, a last kiss, a last whisper of words of af-fection. Stems of flowers were also offered before the “stretcher” was rolled out to the crematory for incineration.

The process of incinerationThis is a detailed description of how it is done,

as described by cremationresource.org:During incineration, the body is exposed to a

column of flames produced by a furnace fueled by natural gas, oils, propane, etc.

As the corpse is placed in a casket or container (preferably prepared from a combustible mate-rial), the container burns down.

Next, the heat dries the body and burns it until

it is reduced to skeletal remains and bone fragments. It is then collected in a tray or pan (tiny residue may still remain in the chamber and mix with the par-ticles from subsequent crema-tions) and allowed to cool for sometime.

Finally, the dried bone frag-ments are further ground into a

finer sand-like consistency. The machine used for this pulverization is called cremulator.

On an average, it takes about one to three hours to cremate a human body, thereby reducing it to 3-7 pounds of cremains. The cremation remains are usually pasty white in color.

These remains are transferred in a cremation urn and given to the relative or representative of the deceased. If you do not have an urn, the cre-matorium may return the ashes in a plastic box or default container.

The convenience of cremationSome people indicate their will to be cremat-

ed through written documents or just through a solemn “bilin” to be respected and followed by

family. Many, like my Dad and my brother, follow the

traditional viewing practices before the body is cremated, and then the pulverized remains or ash-es in the urn are interred in the cemetery.

Others choose to have their ashes scattered in the sea or other favorite places.

Some have part of their ashes kept in ornamental pendants and given to immediate family members.

There are those who choose to be cremated be-fore memorial services as they wish to be remem-bered how they were when they were alive and strong by their family and friends.

Many kababayans living abroad also choose to be cremated because it is easer and cheaper to have their ashes be brought back home to the Phil-ippines instead of their remains in casket.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS? Would you choose to be cremated when your time comes?

* * *Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Usapang Todos Los Santos: When your time comes, would you choose to be cremated?

Gel SantoS-reloS

The Fil-Am Perspective

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Dateline PhiliPPines

by TeTch Torres-TupasInquirer.net

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has summoned the 90 commanders and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Moro Islamic Lib-eration Front (MILF), and private armed groups facing criminal complaint in connection with the death of members of the Special Action Force (SAF) during the Mamasapano clash last Jan. 25.In a subpoena dated Oct. 20, the DOJ panel of prosecutors led by

DOJ summons 90 MILF, BIFF, armed group members in Mamasapano raid

Senior Assistant State Prosecu-tor Roseanne Balauag ordered the respondents to answer the complaint for direct assault with murder and theft filed against them by the government’s fact-finding team from the National Prosecution Service and National Bureau of Investigation.

Prosecutor General Claro Arel-lano, chief of the DOJ’s prose-cutorial arm, said the hearings for the preliminary investigation were set on Nov. 11 and 27, both at 10am, in the depart-

In this January 2015 photo, policemen carry the body bag of a comrade, one of 44 members of the elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police who died in a clash with Moro fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province. The Department of Justice has issued a subpoena for 90 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups in connection with the death of the SAF men.

ASkING its brethren to remain calm amid allegations rocking the influential religious sect, the leadership of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has vowed to face the issues being hurled against them “with dignity and with full confidence in the fair-ness of our justice system.”

This was what INC spokesperson and minister edwil Zabala said on Wednesday in response to the rev-elations of ousted minister Lowell Menorca II that he was abducted supposedly with the involvement of police personnel and illegally detained with his family at the religious sect’s central compound in Quezon City for almost three months.

Menorca also disclosed that his abduction was supposed to be a

Iglesia vows to face issues with dignity, faith in justice systemby Yuji VincenT Gonzales

Inquirer.netprelude to a murder plot against him, on the grounds that he was allegedly the blogger who exposed corruption practices of the religious sect.

“In this time of great tribulation, we ask our brethren to remain calm and continue praying for our Church. Rest assured that the Church leadership will face all the issues with dignity and with full confidence in the fairness of our justice system,” Zabala said in a statement.

Last week, the Supreme Court also ordered the INC to produce Menorca and his missing relatives in court, following the writs of ha-beas corpus and amparo filed by the latter’s kin. Menorca’s younger brother Anthony and sister-in-law Jungko Otsuka asked the high court to compel INC to bring their miss-

ing relatives before the court.Zabala also urged Filipinos to

refrain from pre-judging INC out of “baseless speculation and reckless accusations,” as it would not con-tribute to achieving justice.

“To our fellow Filipinos, we ap-peal for open-mindedness, objectiv-ity, and understanding. We likewise call for circumspection in the face of baseless speculation and reckless accusations that do not contribute to efforts to obtain justice for all those involved,” Zabala said.

The SC has ordered the Court of Appeals to conduct a hearing on the INC case on Nov. 3 and resolve the case within 10 days upon its submission for resolution, while the Philippine National Police said it would probe the police’s alleged role in Menorca’s abduction and detention.

HOT COMMODITY. Fresh flower market Dangwa is the choice destination for buying and selling of wholesale and retail of flowers. he prices of flowers went up in Manila’s flower markets as All Souls’ Day draws near. Reports said flower prices at Sampaloc, Manila’s Dangwa Flower Market started to double as flower supply was affected by Typhoon Lando. Philstar.com photo by Adrian Biblanias

New ‘Balikbayan Box Law’ for approval in SenateMANILA—Senate President

Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said a new “Balikbayan Box Law” (BBL) is now pending for approval in the Senate after it was consolidated with a Customs reform bill.

Recto said the proposed BBL, which aims to raise the tax-ex-empt value of “pasalubong” cargo brought in or sent by overseas Fili-pino workers (OFW) to P150,000, is now a section in the proposed Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

CMTA, defined as “conditionally-free and duty-exempt importation,” was sponsored on the floor by Sen. Juan edgardo “Sonny” Angara, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, last month.

”That became the agreement in the ‘BBL’ which has been included in the CMTA,” Recto said.

Recto filed the Senate Bill No. 2913, which he dubbed Balikbayan Box Law or BBL, following the public protest against Bureau of Customs’ directive to open and inspect balikbayan boxes. The order revealed outdated regulations, in-cluding taxing any box with content worth more than P10,000.

“Residents of the Philippines, Overseas Filipino Workers, other Filipinos while residing abroad or in their return to the Philippines shall be allowed to bring in or send to their families or relatives in the Philippines balikbayan boxes which shall be exempt from duties and taxes,” the section read.

Recto said that with his proposed BBL, the “total dutiable value” of the boxes shall not exceed 150,000

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto has proposed a new “Balikbayan Boxes Law” that will be enacted by the Senate.

which can only be enjoyed “up to three times in a calendar year.” however, the measure states that the boxes must contain “personal and household effects only and shall neither be in commercial quantities, nor intended for barter, sale or for hire.”

“This means that an OFW can send two boxes at the same time provided that their total worth is not more than P150,000. That will be counted as one shipment,” Recto said.

“This is to prevent senders from abusing this privilege. With this privilege comes the duty to observe the law. And it also comes with pen-alties so that smugglers won’t take advantage of it,” he added.

The senator added that Senate Bill No. 2913 also includes a pro-vision indexing rates to inflation “so that it will not take another quarter-of-a-century to adjust the tax-exempt ceiling for balikbayan boxes.”

”every three years after the ef-fectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner (of Customs), shall review the value herein stated and shall adjust its present value using the Consumer Price Index as published by the Philippine Statis-tics Authority,” the provision read.

According to Recto, the “an-tiquated provision” of slapping a 50 percent duty on the value of a balikbayan box in excess of PhP10,000 was set 28 years ago through President Corazon Aqui-no’s executive Order 206 while the BOC Memorandum Circular 7990 which raised the maximum value of a tax-exempt balikbayan box to USD 500 is already more than 25 years old.

BBL is included in the CMTA which is a consolidation of eight bills. Recto wrote two bills with another named Senate Bill 456, that increases penalties for smug-gling.

by roseTTe adel Philstar.com

ment’s executive lounge.The subpoena for the MILF was

coursed through the Coordina-tion Committee on the Cessation of hostilities, while the subpoenas for BIFF and the private armed groups were served through Ma-masapano Mayor Benzar Am-patuan.

The complaint against the 90 individuals covered only the death of 35 members of the 55th SAF Company that engaged MILF and BIFF fighters and members of private groups on the cornfields of Barangay (village) Tukanalipao.

The 90 individuals were accused of acting “in conspiracy with one another to attack, employ force, seriously intimidate or resist the 35 SAF commandos, who were uniformed police officers and, thus persons in authority.”

however, no case can be filed for the death of the nine members of the 84th SAF Company in Ba-rangay Pidsandawan as well as of five civilians and 18 MILF fighters due to lack of witness.

Aside from Balauag, other mem-bers of the panel are assistant state prosecutors Aldrin evangelista, Benito Oliver Sales III, Rassendell Rex Gingoyon, and Alexander Suarez as members.

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The panelists met with LMU students of Isang Bansa and Asian Pacific Student Services.

“Filipinos in Entertainment” panelists Billy DaMota, Ashley Argota, Manny on tha Streetz, Annalee Paulo, Gene Cajayon, and Fil-Am Creative member Melissa Arce. AJPress photos by Allyson Escobar

media, and to encourage better representation.

“The purpose of the event is to build awareness about the impor-tance of creating more Filipino visibility, as well as establishing individuality as Filipino Ameri-cans apart from the broad ‘Asian Pacific American’ category in entertainment and media,” said Melissa Arce, who spearheaded the event held at LMU.

Past Fil-Am panelists in discus-sions held at UCLA, UC Irvine, and Cal State Fullerton includ-ed entertainment pioneers like Dante Basco, Jennifer Paz, Ernie Reyes Jr., Kat Iniba, Criss Judd, and AJ Rafael.

“Bringing this type of aware-ness to students, especially those interested working in this indus-try, it’s great to bring profession-als here who are great examples

by Allyson EscobArAJPress

ThE 4th annual Filipinos in Entertainment & Media panel happened on Thursday evening, Oct. 22, at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles. hosted by Fil-Am Creative, a non-profit dedicated to the advance-ment of Filipino Americans in entertainment and media; Asian Pacific Student Services; and Isang Bansa, the premier Filipino club at LMU, the event brought together ambitious students and successful Fil-Ams in the indus-try in a diverse panel-discussion style.

“Creating Invisibility, Estab-lishing Individuality” is the main theme of the panels, highlight-ing the rise and progression of Filipino culture in the mainstream PAGE B2

Fil-Am Amy Vachal gets second life in ‘The Voice US’FILIPInO-AMERICAn singer

Amy Vachal got a second life in the ninth season of “The Voice” after losing in the first Knockout Round to her teammate Madi Davis.

During Tuesday’s (Philippine time) episode, Vachal sang the Etta James hit “A Sunday Kind of Love” while Davis sang Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You.”

Team coach Pharell Williams said that he paired both singers because they have “delicate” voices.

As Williams pondered his deci-sion, coach Gwen Stefani praised both singers, saying that she “could listen to their voices all day.”

Adam Levine told Vachal that he regretted not turning his chair for her while Blake Shelton said that he has been a huge fan of the Fil-Am singer from day one.

Faced with a difficult decision, Williams eventually chose the 16-

year-old Davis.Immediately after the an-

nouncement, Levine and Shelton pressed their buttons to “steal” Vachal.

The country superstar was the first one who persuaded Vachal to join his team, reminding her that he pressed his button for her from the blind auditions.

“I remembered begging. I be-lieve you are a star. You are still one of my favorite artists who ever auditioned for this show ever. And I won this show a bunch of times,” Shelton said.

On his part, Levine said that he is excited to have an opportunity to work with Vachal.

“Listen, during the blind audi-tions, I thought: ‘Wow this girl can win this whole thing and I didn’t have the chance.’ So I feel that I really missed out. But now, I feel I know what to do to really help you thrive. I believe you can win this whole thing,” he said.

Vachal eventually chose Levine.

Joining Vachal and Davis in the live Playoffs are Blaine Mitch-ell from Team Adam, Braiden Sunshine and Viktor Kiraly from Team Gwen, Barrett Baber, Ivonne Acero and Jordan Smith from Team Blake. (Inquirer.net)

Pinay group 4th Impact makes it to ‘X Factor’ UK’s top 12FILIPInO group 4th Impact,

formerly 4th Power, has made it to the “X Factor” UK’s Top 12.

The girl band, which is com-posed of sisters Almira, Irene, Mylene and Celina, impressed mentor Cheryl Fernandez-Versini with their powerful rendition of the Rihanna hit “Love the Way You Lie.”

“Wow! I was choked, I got goosebumps, I feel weird,” Fer-nandez-Versini told guest mentor Jess Glynne during the Judges house round of the competition which aired in the United King-dom Saturday (Sunday, Manila time).

The girl group has constantly wowed the judges with their take on upbeat songs marked by their soaring vocals and chore-ography.

For this round, the groups were flown by the former Girls Aloud member to her home in Rome. Other mentors Simon Cowell,

Rita Ora and nick Grimshaw were assigned to handle the Overs, the Girls, and the Boys, respectively.

Aside from 4th Impact, the

other Groups who made it to the Live Shows are Alien Uncovered and Reggie and Bollie. (Inquirer.net)

and who are successful, to show [students] that it is possible,” Arce continued.

This year, panelists included L.A. radio station 102.7 KIIS FM’s Manny Streetz (“Manny on the

Streetz”), TV actress and singer Ashley Argota, entertainment publicist Annalee Paulo, film-maker Gene Cajayon, and movie casting director Billy DaMota.

The five panelists have each

had years of experience in the field, opening up about their hardships and successes, sharing words of wisdom to the students and relating their Filipino Ameri-can-ness to their careers.

“My parents originally pushed me to be in the medical field,” said Paulo, who is the deputy head publicist of 42West, a well-known public relations firm in both LA

Filipinos in entertainment & media bringindustry insight for aspiring creatives

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PAGE B1

Stars’ spookiest experiencesby Dolly Anne CArvAjAl

Inquirer.net

Lea Salonga, a triple threat in Broadway comeback

by ruben v. nepAlesInquirer.net

LOS ANGELES—Lea Salonga sings, acts and dances for the first time on Broadway—and kisses her former boyfriend in real life onstage—in “Allegiance.” It’s a triumphant return of the Philip-pines’ multiawarded international performer to the Great White Way. Almost 25 years since she debuted as Kim in “Miss Saigon,” Lea comes back as a triple threat and does so with aplomb.

Crediting her “many years of living life, performing all over the world and just being a more fully realized human,” the Tony and Ol-ivier winner looks like she’s having the time of her life on the Longacre Theatre’s stage. Whether spiritedly dancing the swing or belting soar-ing songs in her solo “Higher” and duets with ex-boyfriend Michael K. Lee, “This Is Not Over” and “Nothing in Our Way,” Lea exhibits maturity in this new chapter in her Broadway career.

The artist who also played Fantine and Eponine in Broadway productions of “Les Miserables” is a performer on top of her game in her sixth visit to the world’s preeminent theater district located in Manhattan.

Allegiance,” which had its world premiere at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California on Sept. 19, 2012, spotlights a shameful chapter in American history —how the US government rounded up and detained Japanese-Americans in internment camps during World War II.

Marc Acito, Jay Kuo (who also wrote the music and lyrics) and Lorenzo Thione’s book personal-ized the issue by telling the story of the Kimura family whose life was upended during the war.

The musical, directed by Staf-ford Arima, was inspired by the experiences of George Takei (who toiled and persevered for many years to make “Allegiance” a reality) as a child living in an in-ternment camp in the swamps of Rohwer, Arkansas.

In the first role that she origi-nates on Broadway since Kim, Lea is Kei Kimura, which she also played at the Old Globe—the sis-ter of Sammy (portrayed by Telly Leung and George in his younger and older years, respectively) whom she helps raise when their family is detained in a camp in Wyoming.

All bundled up after a recent preview performance, ready to meet the fans who have been excitedly waiting outside, Lea met us backstage. She looked flushed from the standing ovation and cheers that she and her “Al-legiance” castmates—including George, Telly, Katie Rose Clarke, Michael, Christopheren Nomura and Greg Watanabe —had just received.

When Lea, beloved to this day as the singing voice of Jasmine in “Aladdin” and the title character in “Mulan,” stepped out of the gates, the assembled crowd broke into cheers. Trailed by a bodyguard, the judge-coach of the Philippines’ version of “The Voice” and “The Voice Kids” signed autographs and posed for pictures. Even Ligaya, who stood by and was patiently waiting for her famous daughter, was besieged by fans.

“Allegiance” preview perfor-mances are ongoing with the official opening night set on Nov. 8. More information is available at www.AllegianceMusical.com.

The following are excerpts from our interview with Lea, who lives in Manila with her husband, Japanese-Chinese-American Rob Chien, and their 9-year-old daugh-ter, Nicole.

How different are you from the Lea who appeared onstage at the Broadway Theatre for the first time in 1991?

I’d like to think that because of the last many years of living my life, performing all over the world and just being a more fully realized human, how I approach my work when creating a role is different. I’m more apt to argue and stand

The Kimura family, all glammed up for Vanity Fair shoot: Telly Leung, George Takei (center) and Lea Salonga. Photo courtesy of Luke Fontana

my ground than when I was 19 or 20, when I felt my job was to just do what I was told and sing as well as I can.

Now, I’m more open to discuss-ing, arguing, fighting for some-thing I believe in, as long as it’s all in the spirit of collaboration. And thankfully, the environment “Al-legiance” fostered was a safe one for all of that.

You do a full on dance in this play. How do you prepare and sustain the energy that’s required by this role?

I just think it’s funny that only now do I get to sing, act and dance… at the age of 44! It’s crazy! All I could do to prepare was to just rehearse all the choreography and do it over and over. Many hours of clean up and self-practice… and making sure I eat just enough for the show.

For the benefit of George’s fans, what’s he really like as a person?

He is one of the most charming and intelligent and funniest people I’ve ever met. The wide vocabulary, that distinctive voice and his laugh! His presence can fill any room and it does.

How does George, a pioneering Asian-American actor, inspire you since you yourself blazed the trail for Filipino talents on the global stage?

I don’t think about whatever I’ve done when I’m in the room with him because he truly was one of the very first who blazed the trail for the rest of us. Being around him is so special, and the impact he’s had… given how many Asian actors there are in the show… it’s safe to say our careers are possible due to people like him. Imagine George making his Broadway debut at the age of 78.

How does “Allegiance’s” story of racial discrimination and seg-regation resonate with you as an Asian performer and person?

First, the discrimination. After I won my Tony award, I thought things would be easy as far as finding work was concerned. I was wrong. I’ve been told that I couldn’t audition for roles because of my race. The awards couldn’t help in that department which was eye-opening.

I’m thankful to Cameron Mack-intosh for taking that chance on me, casting me as Eponine and

later on, as Fantine. He saw my tal-ent and not the color of my skin.

Second, because I’m married to a Japanese-American, doing “Allegiance” is more personal than any other Broadway show I’ve done. The stakes are so much higher because this is part of my husband’s and daughter’s history. This is something I need to do for them.

How has “Allegiance” evolved from its original run in San Diego to Broadway?

Oh… it has grown by leaps and bounds. So many songs were thrown out since then while new ones were written during the last New York lab in 2013 and for the Broadway production in 2015. Jay Kuo was obviously very busy. Kei also becomes a more active partici-pant in the resistance movement and many of the revelations made during the end of the San Diego version are clarified.

We also now have a brand-new finale. We are on Week 3 of pre-views which means another week of changes.

Do you and George compare notes about tweeting and posting on Facebook?

Actually, we don’t talk about social media very much when we’re together.

What’s it like to sing—and kiss—your ex-boyfriend onstage?

It’s much easier than anyone would think! Michael and I have only the deepest respect for one another. We dated about 15 years ago so our relationship is ancient history. We’re in “Allegiance” as actors and professionals and approach it as such. But we do have a lot of fun working together and our chemistry is genuine. There’s plenty of trust that goes between us and ultimately that’s what chemistry is. We watch each other’s back. That’s important for a tandem to work.

Can you talk about how your fan base hasn’t stopped growing over the years?

Needless to say, I’m very grate-ful for the love being showered on the show and on all of us.

I have “The Voice of the Phil-ippines” and “The Voice Kids” (airing on TFC outside of the Phil-ippines) to thank for exposing me to a wider audience which seems to be the same audience coming to “Allegiance.”

Lea meets fans at the stage door after a performance. Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

LUNAR-POWERED creatures comme moi revel every Hallow-een. It is when we can really go carpe noctem (seize the night)! So to set the Halloween mood, I asked some celebs about their spookiest experience.

May the ghosts of your past not haunt you. Don’t brew what I would not brew. Happy “trick or treat” day!

Ogie Alcasid When I was in Grade 7 in La

Salle, I attended an overnight leadership training [seminar]. We had a bonfire and from about 500 yards away, we could see an old woman with gray hair just watching us. We were all spooked and curious at the same time so we decided to go near her. Lo and behold! It was the security guard who was sleeping…[with] a white towel on his head.

Robi Domingo After I visited a [depart-

ed] friend at her wake, I went home…[then I saw her] appari-tion…in my room. From then on, I believed in the practice called “pagpag.” When I come from a wake, I make sure I pass some place first before going home.

Andi Eigenmann It happened during the shoot

of “Tragic Theater.” I was in a harness 10 feet above the ground. As I was being lifted up, I was rehearsing my lines with Kuya John (Estrada). As I blurted out my first lines in Latin, the harness snapped and I fell. Good thing I was not seriously injured. What made it spooky was people

on the set were saying that Latin is the language of the dead and since we were filming a movie on exorcism, a spirit must have interrupted our shoot.

Mark Bautista I was sound asleep but I sud-

denly woke up because I could feel someone watching me. I saw a shadow by my door. I could not move. It was a nightmare!

Rocco Nacino My first ghost experience

was at my aunt’s house when I was still young. I was about to go to sleep when I heard a voice whisper my name in my ear. When I opened my eyes, I saw a kid looking at me. I hid under the blanket until I fell asleep trembling.

Carmi Martin It happened in the 1980s.

While I was waiting for the el-evator to open, I glanced at my condo unit’s door and I saw a floating woman with no face.

Noel Cabangon I was invited to do a con-

cert in Irosin, Sorsogon. [The organizer] took me to an inn. Upon approaching the building, I sensed something eerie. My steps were becoming heavy. So I asked my host if that was where I was going to stay. He said yes and that it was a nice place. But when we got to the steps of the building, I saw a mother and child who seemed like they were waiting for me. So I stopped and asked my host who they were but he said he saw nobody. That was really scary! It turned out that there was a cemetery behind the building. So we moved to another inn.

Robi Domingo

Andi Eigenmann

Mark Bautista

and New York. “The reason I was able to get a job is that I was one of the very few Asians in public-ity--it put me on the right path, provided mentorships and key connections to entertainment. When there were few, I created my own opportunities.”

Gene Cajayon, director of the 2001 Fil-Am feature film “The Debut,” also shared about his initial struggles with making and funding the project, which became one of the first feature films within the Filipino-Ameri-can community.

“It started as a thesis project while I was in film school here at LMU. I became serious about it; throughout my 20s, I was re-searching, taking Asian American studies courses, I had a political awakening,” Cajayon shared. “I am very passionate about get-ting movies made about people of color. Storylines that relate to culture, illuminating the experi-ence of minorities, are the types of films that need to be made; not just mainstream white America culture, but my own community, too.”

“Even though nowadays there are more colors in film, it is still a battle for any filmmaker who wants to get more people of color on the big screen.”

“I make sure the projects that I cast reflect the reality of our world…people of color, not the stereotypical villain, sidekick, or nerd,” said film and commercial casting director Billy DaMota, who has casted and worked with Hollywood stars (like Billy Bob Thornton, Cameron Diaz, Brad Pitt, and James Franco), and now works with Pure Flix, a faith-based production company that has produced films like the 2014 blockbuster “God’s Not Dead.”

“When you create an ethnically diverse cast, you create a market, open doors for others. People watch movies about people they can relate to,” he added. “Sadly, a lot of communities are still being ignored, so it is up to our own social awareness to make things change in Hollywood.”

Filipina actress Ashley Argota -- best known for her roles in “True Jackson, VP,” Disney Channel’s “How to Build a Better Boy,” and ABC Family’s “The Fosters” -- agreed, “for Asian Americans, it’s always been stereotypical

roles at first. I used to only go out for Latina roles, sometimes even casted [as] Chinese. But doors are opening now, Filipinos are being recognized, and it gives me hope.”

“To quote Papa Pope from ABC’s ‘Scandal,’ ‘You have to work twice as hard to get half of what they have,” she said. “That always stuck with me.”

Radio personality, entertainer, actor and producer Manny Streetz Guevara joined the “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” morning show team in 2004, and has appeared on TV shows including Nickelode-on’s “Sam & Cat” and “iCarly,” and has worked with Randy Jackson, Raven-Symone, and “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett.

“There are not very many Filipinos in radio--for a while, I played the Hispanic card,” he laughed. “Ryan [Seacrest] thought I was Hispanic.”

Manny credited hard-working, creative Filipinos who are willing to be the “go-getters” and throw themselves out there.

“Work hard at your craft, surround yourself with talented people. Find a company you know you want to work for, and learn how you can get in,” he told students. “Use social media. Study everybody whom you want to work with, and then do it, even if it has to be for free. For a little bit, in order to get to where you want to go.”

“Working hard is noticeable and will be recognized. As Filipi-nos, we already have that men-tality. Everybody in the business knows that Filipinos work hard,” he added.

Students also chimed in with their thoughts on the discus-sion.

“This event was informative; everyone was so well-versed and informative,” said LMU student Seanna Duong, a communication studies major, theater and anima-tion minor, who helped organize the event.

“It was interesting to hear the realistic side of the entertain-ment business,” said Germaine Kempis, a health and human sciences major. “I’m realistically thinking of my career path--even though physical therapy is still an end goal for me, I’m still laooking into my creative side, being a musician, especially after hearing what they said.”

Tiffany Nguyen, a business management major, shared, “I thought the event was re-ally insightful. Although I’m not pursuing film, it’s always nice to hear about Asian-American identity and visibility and how we’re breaking out from a lot of minority roles.”

The controversy surrounding faulty casting in Cameron Crowe’s “Aloha” film (2015) was also touched upon in the panel.

“When it comes to casting minorities in films, we’re always three steps forward, two steps back,” commented Cajayon. Earlier this year, white actress and megastar Emma Stone was cast as an Asian American (half Hawaiian, Chinese, and Swedish) character in “Aloha.”

“When we were talking about problems with the film ‘Aloha,’ it’s interesting how that actu-ally brought more awareness to the issue, especially because of social media. Even though sad things like that happen in the film industry, it’s cool to know we can create a big impact,” said Emma Wong, a health and human sci-ences major.

“It’s beneficial for young Fili-pinos to know that even though there’s a struggle with getting us into media or other industries in the workforce, it’s optimism that keeps us going. Filipinos always have a support group here in the community,” said Ejay Asun-cion, an accounting major and president of LMU Isang Bansa, an on-campus Filipino organization that “strives to be a home away from home for students here, both Filipinos and non-Filipinos.”

Isang Bansa will have its 25th annual Pilipino Cultural Night (PCN), celebrating Philippine culture and tradition, on April 9, 2016.

Aris Mosier, director of LMU’s Asian Pacific Student Services, which serves as an advocate for Asian and Pacific Islander stu-dents at the university, was proud to see the turnout of engaged students, who are the future of entertainment.

“It’s important for our students to recognize the real issues and see the trailblazers in our com-munity,” he said. “It adds to our rich history and identity, as Asian Americans, for us to know that there are people who look us in this industry too.”

Filipinos in entertainment & media bring...

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Who wore it better? The jury is still out, as fans of Maine Mendoza and Kim Chiu debate the issue

PH Parul Shah takes 3rd runner-up in Miss Grand International 2015

by ChuCk Smith Philstar.com

AlDub fallout: From ratings wars to gown wars

by Alex Y. VergArAInquirer.net

If Maine Mendoza, a.k.a. Yaya Dub, had no problem wearing a gown already worn by another young star from a rival network, then why are certain netizens so riled up about it, to the point of bashing Mendoza and her col-laborators, including the gown’s designer francis Libiran?

Mendoza wore the semi-em-broidered sleeveless pink dress with full, floor-sweeping skirt made from layers of soft tulle during “Eat Bulaga’s” much awaited “Sa Ta-mang Panahon” special show at the Philippine Arena last Saturday.

Based on old photos, which re-surfaced on social media soon after, a similar gown adorned with pink acrylic stones and crystals was also worn by Kim Chiu during a fashion show at Shangri-La Edsa Plaza two years ago.

Mendoza is a mainstay of long-running top-rated noontime show “Eat Bulaga,” whose home network is GMA 7, while Chiu is a talent of ABS-CBN.

“Sa Tamang Panahon,” which culminated in Yaya Dub finally meeting her Prince Charming in the person of actor Alden Richards, reportedly drew more than 50,000 people to the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, while millions more watched the show in their homes. Generating 39 million tweets, the show also set a record on the most number of tweets on Twitter, beating the 2014 World Cup semi-final match between Germany and Brazil.

Libiran, who designed the gown in 2013 for his Bangalore pink se-ries collection, sent a statement to Inquirer Lifestyle to set the record straight.

“Our good friend Kim Chiu was generous enough to model the gown for one of my fashion shows,” said Libiran. “The design was also what Maine’s stylists chose for the ‘Tamang Panahon’ telecast. They were fully aware that Kim already wore something similar.”

Although the two gowns are al-most identical, Libiran also insisted that he created a new one for Men-

doza based on her measurements. The designer had already done replicas of the same princess-cut gown for several low-key clients here and abroad.

“But other than Kim, it hasn’t been worn by another celebrity when Stylized Studio, the team of stylists hired by ‘Eat Bulaga,’ chose the gown for Maine,” he said.

TAPE, producer “Eat Bulaga,” didn’t borrow the said gown from Libiran, but paid for it. Richards wore a three-piece light gray suit with coattails to the special telecast also by Libiran.

On bended knee: Good things come to those who wait. Maine Mendoza, who’s being wooed by Alden Richards in front of a national audience, should know. Inquirer.net photo by Magic Liwanag

Kim Chiu and Maine Mendoza wearing identical gowns by Francis Libiran on separate occasions.

MANILA—The Philippines’ Pa-rul Shah was named third runner-up at the Miss Grand International 2015 pageant Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday night.

Binibining Pilipinas, which sent Shah to compete in the pag-eant, congratulated the 26-year-old beauty queen in its official facebook page.

Shah also won the Best in National Costume award of the pageant.

“Binibining Pilipinas Tourism 2014 Parul Shah is the 3rd runner up and the winner of the Best in National Costume award in Miss

Grand International 2015 Pageant in Bangkok, Thailand participated by over 100 candidates all over the world. BPCI is proud of this achievement and would like to thank everyone who helped Parul in this amazing journey,” Bb. Pili-pinas said in a statement.

Anea Garcia of Dominican Republic bagged the Miss Grand International 2015 title.

Here is the list of winners: Miss Grand International

2015: Anea Garcia, Dominican Republic

1st runner-up: Claire Parker, Australua

2nd runner-up: Vartika Singh, India

3rd runner-up: Parul Shah,

Philippines4th runner-up: Rattikorn Kun-

som, Thailand for the pageant’s question and

answer portion, the five finalists were asked who is the most influ-ential person in their lives.

Shah answered: “The most influential person in my life would be my father. I do believe that peace starts at home. I was born by a filipina mother who is Chris-tian and an Indian father who is Hindu, in a country that is govern by Muslims. And I do believe that we could co-exist together if there is understanding, and when there is no power struggle and no one tries to be above another. I’ve learned this from my father, he thought me that with having humility and respect, peace can ultimately be achieved.”

Shah won the Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism title in 2014 but was not able to compete in an inter-national beauty pageant during her reign.

In August, it was announced that she would be sent to the Miss Grand International pageant.

Her top five placement in the Miss Grand International 2015 gives the Philippines’ a streak of good placement in international beauty pageants this year. Earlier this month, Ann Colis won the Miss Globe 2015 title in Canada.

Janicel Lubina is set to com-pete in the Miss International 2015 in Japan in November.

Parul Shah is third runner-up in the Miss Grand International 2015 pageant in Bangkok, Thailand.

‘One More Chance’ sequel release date, title revealedby ChuCk Smith

Philstar.com

MANILA — The wait is over for fans of Popoy and Basha.

Star Cinema finally revealed the release date of the sequel to their 2007 movie “One More Chance.”

The John Lloyd Cruz-Bea Alonzo starrer will open in the-aters this November, Star Cinema announced during the screening of their movie “Everyday I Love You” on Tuesday.

The sequel is titled “A Second Chance.”

It was announced earlier this year that “One More Chance” will get a sequel eight years after it premiered in theaters.

The movie tells the story of Popoy (played by John Lloyd) and Basha (played by Bea), long-time

lovers who go through a breakup only to end up with each other again.

“A Second Chance” will tell the story of Popoy and Basha as

a married couple. It will also serve as John Lloyd and Bea’s reunion movie; they last appeared on the big screen together in the 2012 hit movie “The Mistress.”

The sequel to the 2007 movie “One More Chance” finally gets a release date.

What makes LizQuen different from the others?THE status quo stands.Since Liza Soberano is still

legally a minor (she’s turning 18 next year yet), she’s not allowed by her manager Ogie Diaz (“Nasa contract namin ‘yon”) to entertain suitors, not even Enrique Gil, Liza’s screen sweetheart, who has sworn that he’s willing to wait (even if it takes forever?).

Older than Liza by a few years, Enrique (Quen for short) under-stands. He was convinced that Liza truly cared for him when she stood by him during a recent “airborne” incident. You know, for better or for worse.

Taking a cue from the title of their latest (second) movie, Star Cinema’s Everyday I Love You (following the first, Just The Way You Are), Quen titillated the movie press by admitting that he says “I love you!” to Liza every day. Directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar, the movie (opening nationwide on Wednesday, Oct. 28) also stars Gerald Anderson (as the third part of the love triangle) playing Liza’s sweetheart in romance cut short when Gerald’s character get bedridden and Quen’s character enters the picture, straight into Liza’s character’s heart.

funfare puts LizQuen on the hot seat.

How has your love team been so far?

Quen: Amazing! It has been an amazing journey from the time we first worked together till now. We have grown so much not just as individuals but as a team. I can’t wait for our forever together.

Liza: fun! One of the greatest things that has ever happened to me, career-wise and personally. I found a partner on screen and a best friend in real life with Quen, it’s always a good time when we are together.

How do you make sure that you sustain public interest in your team, considering that there are so many other young love teams?

Quen: By being real and not trying to prove anything. We just love each other’s company. What the public sees is what it gets.

Liza: To be honest, we never really try to make the people like us. We just love what we’re doing and enjoy our work and friendship.

What do you think makes your team different from the others?

Quen: Our supporters see something distinctive in us that makes us different and we will

by riCkY lo Philstar.com

never really know what that is. Basta kami we’re just enjoying and doing what we do and I guess that captivates them because they see some kind of magic in us.

Are you the jealous/possessive type?

Quen: Depends on the situation. I mean, depende sa sitwasyon. Pag medyo out of the line na ‘yan…siempre. Pag hindi, ibig sabihin wala kang paki-alam, di ba? Di mo siya mahal, di ba?

Liza: Well, I’m not known to be the jealous one in the family. But sometimes when I really love the person, I can’t help but be jealous.

You are sweethearts only on-screen. What’s the possibility of you getting real?

Quen: Sa totoong buhay, kahit di pa kami, sweetheart ko siya. Alam kong sweetheart din ako n’yan. Di niya babawiin ’yun.

Liza: Quen is my “bestest” friend as of now and for me that is the best foundation in a relation-ship. I can really say that I know him so well. Every aspect of him is really lovable. When the perfect time comes that we’re both ready and, of course, with the approval of our loved ones, then yes.

As special friends, do you ac-cept each other, warts and all, right or wrong?

Quen: Of course! Sabi nga nila, love is blind. Love is blind sa mga flaws. Ang isang tao pag mahal mo siya, kahit anong flaws niya, maganda yun para sayo. So totoo ‘yun. Love is blind.

What were the challenges that you’d gone through together and how did you survive them?

Quen: We just hang out, we’ve been watching each other’s back from the start. We will never stop looking after each other. Ako lagi akong nandyan para sa kanya and she’s always there for me, no mat-

ter what. ‘Yung support namin sa isa’t-isa at ‘yung bond namin ay matatag. I know her and she knows me, and no matter what happens we support each other. She’s my soul mate. You guys will see what I mean in due time.

Liza: The first time to be paired is always the hardest. Because lagi kaming nag-tatantyahan and siempre po we didn’t know how the audience would accept us, es-pecially since Quen has had other leading ladies. I was worried kung meron pa bang matitirang puwe-deng mag-support sa LizQuen team-up.

How supportive of each other are you?

Liza: I am 100 percent all-out supportive of Quen. Like I always say, I just want him to be happy because that’s what he deserves.

What do you like most about each other?

Liza: Quen and I are so much alike. I think that’s one big factor why we get along so easily. But if there is one thing I’d have to ap-plaud Quen for that would be his selflessness. It’s always the people he loves before him and not only the people he loves but also the people in need.

What don’t you like about each other?

Quen: Sometimes, she likes certain things that I don’t. Little misunderstanding lang. Di naman talaga ‘yun naiiwasan. Pero we always talk about it na. We just re-mind each other to be more aware lang sa ginagawa namin. What’s important is communication. If we have a little misunderstanding, we just sort it out at once.

Liza: Siguro sometimes we have a misunderstanding because in a team, there are always different opinions. But I can’t really point out what I don’t like about him. Wala akong makita, eh!

Taking a cue from the title of their latest (second) movie together, Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano admit that they swap ‘I love you!’ every day.

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Vice Ganda admits ‘Showtime’ can’t beat ‘Eat Bulaga’by ToTel V. de Jesus

Inquirer.net

“We can’t beat ‘eat Bulaga’, but we’ll still be here [to continue making] people happy.”

This was Vice Ganda’s admis-sion on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the height of “eat Bulaga’s” most tweeted episode of its “kaly-esere”.

AlDub’s “Tamang Panahon” event at the 55,000-seat Philip-pine Arena broke records on social media and probably making history as the most attended vari-ety show on the noontime slot.

Vice Ganda said he’s thankful for “It’s Showtime” reaching the sixth year in the business. He recounted “It’s Showtime” used to be a morning show and when network executives at ABS-CBN asked him and his co-hosts to be moved on the noontime slot, he said back then he readily admitted he can’t beat “eat Bulaga”.

“We told our bosses we don’t want to be on the noontime slot. We can’t beat ‘eat Bulaga.’ even if we put our powers together, even if I make cartwheels infront

of the camera, we can’t,” he said in Filipino.

He said the ABS-CBN bosses told him they were moving “It’s Showtime” not to beat “eat Bu-laga” but to join them in making more people happy.

“Samahan nyo lang sila sa pag-papasaya,” Vice Ganda said.

“It’s Showtime” used to be on the late morning slot before the

defunct “Wowowee” of controver-sial host Willie Revillame.

Vice Ganda also advised fans of both shows not to fight, espe-cially on various social media like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, because he said the hosts of “It’s Showtime” and “eat Bulaga” are friends in real life.

“In fact, they are our idols,” Vice Ganda said.

Alex Gonzaga dating again after breakup traumaby Marinel r. Cruz

Inquirer.net

TWO years after a traumatic breakup, actress Alex Gonzaga says she is now “very cautious” when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex.

“I don’t want to write another breakup book,” Alex said at a re-cent press conference organized

by Proact iv, an Ameri-

can brand o f a c n e t r e a t -m e n t and skin c a r e products

that she endorses.The 27-year-old actress is the

author of the book “Dear Alex, Break Na Kami. Paano? Love, Catherine.”

She is busy with another book, which she said will be about “dat-ing.”

Alex has since started going out with guys “who are not from show biz.” She added: “I tried dat-ing people from the business—I couldn’t handle it. I don’t want my partner to be in the same industry as I am.”

In 2010, she was romantically linked to Callalily front man Kean Cipriano. They both denied being in a relationship.

She admitted that none of those “dates” had been “fruitful.” She explained: “I guess it’s because I’m now very careful. I want the next

one to be the guy whom I will eventually marry. I don’t

want to keep hopping from one relationship to another.”

HeartfeltThe new book,

Alex said, will be based on real-life experiences. “It will

be from my perspec-tive, [but] I’ve also asked a guy, whom I dated, to

write something about me—how I am as a date,” she explained. “This isn’t something that’s experimen-tal because that won’t be truthful to the readers. I want something that’s heartfelt, that every girl will be able to relate to.”

Movie adaptationHer first book will be adapted

into a movie by Star Cinema soon. However, Alex is unsure if she’d be a cast member. Right now, she is busy working on “I Heart Kuryente Kid” for the fantasy-adventure pro-gram “Wansapanataym,” which airs every Saturday on ABS-CBN.

Alex is also working on the com-edy flick “Buy Now, Die Later,” a Quantum Films entry in the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival in De-cember. She will likewise be seen with edgar Allan “eA” Guzman in the rom-com “I’ll Get Over You,” a Star Cinema production that is set for release in 2016.

“It’s about a modern-day rela-tionship. It’s based on something that happened to me,” said Alex, adding that she hopes viewers will find her first team up with eA entertaining and enjoyable.

“We’ve attended a series of workshops for this film. eA and I have been friends for a long time. I’m very comfortable with him.”

The Songbird still soarsMANILA—Regine Velasquez-

Alcasid just shattered the myth of her highest version videos.

But first, a bit of context: a quick search of “regine velasquez highest version” on YouTube yields a smattering of songs ap-parently sung in stratospheric notes. “Love on Top (highest ver-sion) – Regine Velasquez After Giving Birth”, “Halo – Regine Velasquez [With F5 to G5 Belted Note]”, and even “Disney’s Frozen ‘Let it Go’ The Greatest Version in the World [HQ].” In one video, shot in a mall show in Cagayan de Oro, a fan actually shouts “Miss Reg, taasan mo!” as she prepares to sing Pangarap Ko Ay Ibigin Ka, to which she replies, “Try ko.” These videos are a testament to her seemingly boundless vocal capacity. Regine though, in all humility, laughs it off when asked about it and unkowingly breaks the hearts of a million gay men.

“Nakakatawa nga yun eh tapos hindi naman. Hindi naman high-est version, nilalagay lang nila. Wala namang highest version.”

The Songbird admits though that sometimes she tends to get bored with songs that don’t require powerful vocals. She’s aware that fan service, the kind that gets them all riled up with their eyeballs popping out, comes with a degree of difficulty, literally in her case.

“I don’t mean to make any songs hard. It’s just that when I’m on stage, with the adrenaline rush and all, you get excited. I do try to hold back [because] otherwise I’d be screaming the whole show. That’s not good; people don’t want to see a singer scream all the time. Pine-pace ko din kung saan lang ako magagalit.”

Pinoy fascination with biritIt’s a Pinoy fascination, this

idea of birit as a spectacle. Long before American Idol brought back the frenzy of singing con-tests, Pinoys have held their own star search in every barangay and, to some extent, in karaoke bars. Stories such as Regine’s have become hallowed fairy tales com-ing from the talent search stage: a little girl from a humble back-ground gradually making rounds of all the competitions she can join until she finally becomes a legend in the music scene. This isn’t overselling her success — she has actually become a benchmark for aspiring performers who sing using their hairbrushes as they

dream of singing for a crowd of thousands.

Regine balks at the word “idol” and the concept of being one. She prefers to be called an “inspira-tion.” Perhaps it’s the apparent association of “idol” with worship (she is a devout Christian) and the imagery that comes with it. But it’s hard not to put someone like Regine on the altar of pop music. Her brand of music is solely hers, her takes sonically distinct and recognizable. Songs like Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw,Narito Ako, and Tuwing Umuulan (which she admits is her favorite song to sing) remain in her hold, no matter how many covers have succeeded her versions.

For someone who has been performing since she was six, it’s vital that she keeps on chal-lenging herself. In her upcoming series, “Regine at the Theater,” she’s both surprised and excited that she can still push the limits of her abilities. Populated with showtunes from musicals and theater productions, her setlist ranges from staples (a medley of songs from Wicked) to the un-expected (Still Hurting from The Last 5 Years).

Out of her comfort zone “I’ve been rehearsing, practic-

ing my tone. Kasi iba-iba yung placement ng kanta so binabago-bago ko yung placement ng boses ko. I have to get used to the tone that each song requires. Iba-iba siya eh. Hindi siya kagaya nung songs ko na ganun na sya, yan na yun. Out of all the concerts that I’ve done, this will be the most colorful as far as vocals are concerened. I’m using techniques that I haven’t done before, singing songs that are not in my comfort zone,” she says.

Regine has been careful in plotting out the next step in her career, mindful of her age and what is expected of her. Her reign has been storied and intense: she has sung perched atop the Manila Peninsula fountain, performed at the Carnegie Hall, and even up-staged Mandy Moore at the MTV Asia Awards. She might be more inclined to favor the mellower side of the musical spectrum these days and perform with less flashy outfits. But whatever she is doing, we’re all just glad to witness the Songbird doing what she does best.

by JoyCe JiMenez Philstar.com

Returning with a concert series this November, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid proves that she can still surprise herself and her fans after all these years. Philstar.com photo by Mark Nicdao

Vice Ganda

Alex Gonzaga

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Atty. RobeRt ReevesDevin M. Connolly nAnCy e. MilleR

Your ImmigrationSolution

Becoming A U.S. Citizen Despite A Checkered Past

PhiliP s. ChuA,MD, FACs, FPCs

Health@Heart Rice, obesity, and diabetes

It is no surprise that many people dream of one day becom-ing a U.S citizen. After all, a per-son must be a U.S. citizen to vote in elections, file petitions so their parents can immigrate to the U.S., be issued a U.S. passport, etc. De-spite the many advantages of U.S. citizenship, it should also come as no surprise that people sometimes do things that make their path to U.S. citizenship more challenging. these mistakes are a part of life. But do these mistakes prevent a person from being granted U.S. citizenship?

One of the most common ways a person acquires U.S. citizenship is through the process known as naturalization. there are several requirements a person must sat-isfy for their application to be ap-proved. they include permanent resident status for a prescribed period of time, physical pres-ence in the U.S., and good moral character. Many applications are denied because the applicant lacks the requisite good moral character.

the concept of requiring an applicant to possess good moral character for a prescribed pe-riod of time prior to submitting their applicationis one of the more complex requirements of naturalization. Many acts that one might not think of as evi-dencing bad moral character may nevertheless be considered in making a good moral character determination. the Immigration and Nationality Act lists several specific acts that preclude an ap-plicant from establishing good moral character. these include lying to obtain an immigration benefit,committing certain crimi-nal offenses, the willful failure to pay support for dependents, and engaging in an extramarital affair which tended to destroy an exist-ing marriage. However, the list of prohibited acts is not absolute. thus, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service may deny an

application on good moral charac-ter grounds even though their act was not specifically prohibited. Furthermore, acts outside of the required good moral character period can also be considered in determining an applicant’s good moral character.

Regarding prior criminal acts, a disqualifying criminal convic-tion in the prescribed period of required good moral character will automatically render an in-dividual ineligible for naturaliza-tion. However, a disqualifying criminal offense outside of the prescribed period can also cause an application for naturalization to be denied. the government is afforded broad discretion to examine otherwise non-disquali-fying criminal convictions outside the prescribed period to deter-mine if the underlying facts war-rant a favorable finding of good moral character. therefore, an analysis of good moral character extends far beyond the prescribed period. these issues may not result in an automatic denial but they must be adequately ex-plained.

When applying for naturaliza-tion with a criminal history, it is also important to determine whether the conviction could cause not only the non-citizen’s application for naturalization to be denied, but also the Depart-ment of Homeland Security to attempt take away their perma-nent resident status (Green card) and deport them to their native country.the answer to this ques-tion depends on various things, including whether the underly-ing crime is considered a ‘Crime Involving Moral turpitude’ or an ‘Aggravated Felony,’ the date of the crime and the date on which the person was issue their green card, etc. this should be carefully analyzed before submitting an ap-plication for naturalization.

Another issue that is not un-common is an applicant failing to

register with the Selective Service. If you are a male living in the U.S. and between the age of 18 and 25, you are likely required to register with the Selective Service. Fail-ing to register before you turn 26-years-old is often grounds for a denial of an application for naturalization. the applicant must then wait until they turn 31-years-old before they may be granted U.S. citizenship.

A final issue worth mentioning is the submission of incorrect or fraudulent tax returns. Claim-ing ineligible dependents, not reporting all income, or filing under the wrong category could potentially cause an application to be denied.

the process of acquiring U.S. citizenship is often far more com-plex than one might anticipate. It is important to remember, though, that past mistakes are not fatal and that even potential set-backs may ultimately result in U.S. citizenship. As with all requests for immigration-related benefits, one should know the positive and negative ramifica-tions of the request before filing the application. therefore, when contemplating the possibility of obtaining U.S. citizenship, the application should consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney to deter-mine if it is advisable and how best to succeed.

***Atty. Reeves has represented clients in numerous landmark immigration cases that have set new policies regarding INS action and immigrants’ rights. His offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration @rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com.

***The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)

Is water from refilling sta-tions safe?

It all depends on the station that you choose. A recent report shows that seven out of ten (441 out of 630) refilling stations in two key cities in Metro Manila are in violation of the guidelines of the Department of Health for safety and water quality. Major-ity of these violators did not use proper attire, mask, caps, gloves, and did not follow proper proce-dures in their filtration system for clean and safe water. this could be symptomatic of a national scope of this malpractice because of laxity in the implementation of the law by governmental agencies.

So, choose your refilling sta-tion very well because the quality of water you drink greatly impacts your health. You can also check on the quality of water from your refilling station with the fantastic device we described below.

A few years back, we have written about the bottled water scam, where vendors on the street were selling faucet water in re-used (resealed) water bottles.

Now, to protect ourselves, we can get a gadget called tDS meter.

to test the water ourselves in our home, at work, or even at a restaurant, we can purchase a tDS water meter, which is around $15, which tests for to-tal Dissolved Solids (chemical, minerals, metals, and other con-taminants, not microorganisms). this method of instant water testing, using this pen-like por-table devise is very accurate in quantifying the amount of tDS in the water. tDS level that is lower than 500 ppm is deemed safe by the US Food and Drug Adminis-tration, but the lower the better, even down to 50 or to zero.

the multi-stage reverse osmo-sis (RO) water filtration systems with membranes and UV filters used by refilling stations that remove total Dissolved Solids (tDS), both organic and inorganic solids such as salts, minerals and metals, and also other contami-

nants like bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoan, also improve the softness, clarity, taste, odor, be-sides providing clean water. this is, of course, predicated upon the proper handling and proper use of this system.

Recently, ZeroWater filters for city faucet water at homes and of-fices became available. they are sold in many department stores ($15 for the personal tumbler, $35 for 10-cup pitcher, and $39 for 23-cup dispenser). the last 2 come with a “free” tDS me-ter. this wonderful filter could bring the total dissolved solids in city faucet water to zero, yes, zero, like in distilled water or in Absolute brand of bottled water in the Philippines. City water fil-tered by ZeroWater could also be used for irons, clothes steamer, humidifiers, CPAP machines, or any other sensitive devices that use distilled water only.

this zero water removes all minerals, but as long as one eats nourishing food well everyday which contains a lot of minerals, this water is safe.

If in doubt, or for curiosity, use

MonetteAdevA MAglAyA

ImmigrantLiving: 101 and Beyond

(Part 2 of 2)Half a lifetime later and half

a world away, I have forgotten much about the murdered Amer-ican soldier. Buried in the mists of time, his story would have re-mained shelved, tucked away in my memory banks and promptly forgotten until I came across an account of that incident long ago on the internet.

Written by Virgilio Lacaba, I read a long, detailed article, per-haps a reprint, on “Strange Oc-currences at the UP” and like a flood, everything came rushing back as though it happened yes-terday. Weeks after the session, I remember being interviewed for an article in a then popular weekly magazine, Mr. & Ms., by Neni Santa Romana Cruz, a well-known Filipino writer who also happened to be the elder sister of a good friend from St. Scholastica’s College, the kind and gentle Chona Santa Roma-na, who incidentally and sadly, I learned much later, was herself a tragic victim of murder and domestic foul play, sometime in the late eighties. I had left the country for America by then and lost touch.

I do remember that during the interview for the article I have had to be careful in how the sto-

The curious case of Stephen C. Davis: A ghost story

“…Underneath the bone-chilling poltergeist tactics his restless soul employed to reach out from beyond the grave, he was no more than a lonely soul whose young life was cut down so suddenly and so tragically one dark moonless night. …”

ry is presented because I was liv-ing, working and studying in an academic environment, which by default should place reason and scientific explanation on every-thing that happens in the world. Paranormal phenomenon is an entirely different ball of wax that supposedly rational beings do not normally subscribe to, something that would raise skeptical brows.

Yet I have found that life is not entirely rational, a lot of things don’t make sense and we have only begun to chip away at the great mysteries of life that lay before us. I am thus convinced that quite possibly, I am just one of the multitudes the world over who believe that there are things in the universe that are far beyond the scope of reason and known science to explain and things that are far beyond human intelligence to comprehend fully.

Quite plainly, there are things in this world that cannot be de-fined, completely understood and pegged in a nice, neat box. the curious case of this mur-dered American soldier reaching out from the grave is probably one of them.

As a postcript decades later, Lacaba updated the account by verifying the information about Stephen Davies with the Ameri-can Battle Monuments Com-mission (http: //www.abmc.gov/search/detailwwnew.php). Something may have been lost in the spelling and translation dur-ing the sessions, for there were two entries for Stephen Davis (there was no e though in the Davis) — one was Stephen E. Davis, a US Air Force officer who was killed in Hawaii and whose remains were never recovered

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

Americaalendar of EventsacrossC

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Calapan Central High School ReunionPlease save the date for the 60th anniversary year of Calapan Central School in Oriental

Mindoro. Where: Oakland, CA When: November 1-3, 2015. Contact: Luz Yu (luz_yu@yahoo.com)

NOVEmbER 1 -3

FPAC 24 - “Balik tanaw, Pananaw bukas”Save the date! The 24th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture (FPAC) will be cel-

ebrated on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at El Pueblo de Los Angeles (125 Paseo De La Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012). and will feature contemporary and traditional Filipino food, music, dance, crafts and culture. FPAC is the longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern California. This year’s theme for the City of Los Angeles’ Filipino American Event is “Balik tanaw, Pananaw bukas” a Tagalog phrase meaning “looking backward, looking forward, and celebrates the rich experiences of being Filipino American. As a community we honor the cul-ture paved by our ancestors, and move forward with a grateful understanding of our Filipino American history. This is the spirit that keeps FPAC going. Please check www.filmarts.org for more event updates. For Sponsorship Inquiries please contact us at 213-380-3722; or info@filamarts.org. For exhibitor (food and business) information, contact John Swing at jswing@esipa.org. #FPAC24

NOVEmbER 7

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

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

DEcEmbER 3

Asian World Film Festival in Los AngelesThe Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) brings the best of a broad selection of Asian World

cinema to Los Angeles from Oct. 26 - Nov. 2, 2015 in order to draw greater recognition to the region’s wealth of filmmakers, strengthening ties between the Asian and Hollywood film industries. With films from 50 countries across Asia, from Turkey to Japan to India and the Philippines, the AWFF focuses on cinema-lovers, especially fans of foreign and independent films. Screenings will be held at the ArcLight Cinemas and iPic Theater in Culver City, and VIP festival passes (including access to filmmakers lounge, professional panels, cocktail recep-tions, and screenings) are available. A special showing of Paul Soriano’s “Kid Kulafu,” the story of a young Manny Pacquiao, will also premiere on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 8pm at ArcLight. For more information and ticketing prices, please visit http://www.asianworldfilmfest.org/.

OctObER 26-NOVEmbER 2

HallowBack Halloween Dance EventThis coming Halloween, come to the newest ultra-lounge located near Glendale’s Ameri-

cana, the chic 103 LOUNGE (103 E. Broadway Ave., Glendale, CA, 91025, across Marshalls and Bloomingdale’s)! Brought to you by EMEX Events, ToneDef Music, Bounce Electronic Mu-sic & DJ School, with support from MISS PHILIPPINES USA, HALLOWBACK is a one-of-a-kind Halloween dance music/clubbing event. Featuring dance tunes from the mid 90’s until the year 2000 by DJs Mon Maramba and Josh Evangelista, and curated by Louie Ysmael together with Arnel Castillo, as well as local retro hero Ricky Fabre of ClubManila. Doors for this popu-lar Halloween event will open at 9pm, so make sure you secure a spot on the dancefloor! 21+ only, with $10 entry fee. Reserved seating with bottle service and birthday specials/VIP areas available. Please email tonedefmusicph@gmail.com for more info.

OctObER 31

16th San Diego Asian Film Festival To celebrate its sweet 16th, the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) is proud to wel-

come and pay tribute to entertainment and film legends and pioneers during its 10-day film festival, from November 5 - 14, 2015. Presented by Pacific Arts Movement, the SDAFF is the largest showcase of Asian cinema on the West Coast, with more than 130 films and programs from 20 countries. This year, the SDAFF presents the West Coast premiere of documenta-ry TYRUS, paying tribute and welcoming entertainment legend Tyrus Wong, a 105-year-old Chinese American artist who is best known for inspiring the artwork in Disney’s original classic Bambi. Other contemporary pioneers in entertainment such as Ken Jeong and Eugene Lee Yang will be present. The film festival will take place at the Ultrastar Mission Valley at Hazard Center (Main Theater & Box Office), 7510 Hazard Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92108. For all screenings at Ultrastar, tickets can be purchased at the Ultrastar Mission Valley box office (Member $9, General $12) starting October 30. Student/Military/Senior and Group dis-counts are available at the door. Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing Night tickets are $15 for General, $12 for Members. Limited All-Fest Passes are available for $250. For ticketing info, film program/gala awards night details, and a full schedule, please visit festival.sdaff.org or contact 619.400.5911 | info@pacarts.org.

NOVEmbER 5-14

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

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

NOVEmbER 8

Santo Nino de Cebu Association Annual Dinner Dance The Santo Niño de Cebu Association of Southern California, Inc. will hold its ANNUAL

CHRISTMAS DINNER DANCE on December 5, 6pm - 12:00 midnight, at Almansor Court (700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801). For more details and reservations, please contact Helah (626) 215-2684, Gemma (909) 997-1026, Nelia (818) 425-9926, Joy (909) 228-0437 or Willo (818) 458-0779.

DEcEmbER 5

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

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

mAY 27-29, 2016

october 29-november 4, 2015 • LAS veGAS ASIAn JoUrnAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678B� PeoPle and events

Saturday, November 7th at 6 pmOne Six Sky Lounge

Eastside Cannery Hotel & Casino5255 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas, NV 89122

$100Semiformal, Barong, or Military Uniform

U.S. Air Force Filipino-American Veterans GroupGlobal Grand Reunion

Aldy Calbay (702) 767-2309Ronnie Delos Santos (702) 289-2997

Chito Dumo (925) 577-3158Alex Pena (702) 373-9522

Nestor Que (702) 334-5050

By Monet Lu

Some weeks ago we wel-comed the Fall season with an article on hairstyles. To-day, we tackle another one of my fortes—and a sought-after subject for women—the latest makeup trends. I can describe this season’s makeup peg in two words: fresh and minimal. With that image in mind, I invite you to experience “Valentine’s in october” and fall in love with these autumn-inspired makeup styles.

Go easy on the eyesWhoever said that sexy smoky

eye is so 90 degrees ago must learn how to carry the classic eye-do with just a teeny bit of flaw. Allow me to elaborate be-fore I give the impression that carelessly applied shadow is a thing – please…never been, never will be. What I meant by a little flaw is how you would do your smoky eye look at home. You know, the kind that gives off an ultra diffused shadow that looks intense while feeling soft. makeup artist Pat mcGrath created this look at Diane von Furstenberg by using a black and brown liner. You can also use gray shadows with just a hint of sparkle to keep it soft enough for daytime.

A bronze shadow is another equally striking-yet-with-an-easy feel. You can maybe give your metallic shadows a break this season by using bronze shadows instead of the classic gold or sil-ver. This type of hue warms up your face and gives you a good reason to put a natural-looking lip color.

Paint outside the linesIt’s this time of the year

when you feel a bit more adven-turous. It shows on your outfit and your hair, and well, your eye makeup better match that mood. As they say, the eyes are the windows of the soul. And your carefree soul needs an audience! one article writes, “ Tweak the classic cat eye by opting for a more straight across swipe of black kohl like we saw at oscar de la Renta. This is a more modern way to

Fall in love with these Fall makeup trends

wear liner that elongates and lifts the eye and adds intrigue to the face.” Add more spice to your usual winged liner, by scribbling some double-winged lines. seventeen.com suggests, “Use a soft kohl pencil to trace your lower waterline, then smudge it out with a makeup sponge for an extremely edgy and perfectly un-perfect vibe.”

Tip of the lashesClose your eyes and think: sil-

ver, water droplets, rhinestones. Now open your eyes and give your volumizing mascara, falsies and lash add-ons a much-needed upgrade. It’s time those lashes shine as bright as your eyes! Silver sparkles on the tip of the lashes give your eyelashes a water droplet effect. A bit of gold layers on the lashes will make it look like it has rhinestones tips. Bring on the prettiest lashes by layering, lengthening, or volumizing your top and bottom lashes.

Rush that blushNow is the perfect time to

embrace your “just stepped out of the gym” look. or for some people; “I just went on a brisk, wintry walk.” This is the season for flushed cheeks and naturally rosy blush. You had a good run with your sculpting tools, it’s time to give them a break. Grab your warm peach blush powder and head out the door. That’s all

you need. Now, fly. Lips like berryLet’s talk about that lip color,

shall we? This season, I am de-lighted to see a sea of lip colors that remind of the 90’s. That al-most black but not quite is making a comeback and I LoVe it! From ripe berry to plum black to oxblood red, they are undeniably luscious. It may sound scary but I dare you to rock a dark lipstick this fall! Nude is out. Let’s make way for the plums, magentas and berries.

Fall Season isn’t just about tucking away your tank tops and covering up with cozy sweat-ers and cool scarves. It is also “wearing” the best look of the season. Although the weather isn’t as cool as we usually ex-pect it to be around this time, it is best to plan your ensemble ahead – and stock up on the lat-est makeup finds.

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

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

REUNION. The Ateneo Blue Eagle Grade School 1959, High School 1963 and College 1967 classes gathered in Las Vegas last Oct. 17. Jimmy Alabanza, Harry Alabanza, Baby Boy Poblador, Pol Asuncion, Pet Bautista, Johnny King, Noel Dela Rosa, Bam Dionisio, Vjing Abello, Ernie Diokno, Manny Tiangha, Joffre Salcedo, David Ong, Jake Campomanes, Marvene Ozaeta and Raoul Gatchalian were among the attendees. They all came from Manila, Toronto, California, Atlanta, Texas, Chicago and North Carolina. It was a week of priceless celebration, feeding themselves at M Resort Buffet, Filipino DT’s restaurant and Cafe Moda.They enjoyed the show of Bob Peterson (Frank Sinatra) at Palazzo, dropping by Pawn Star Shop in downtown Las Vegas and the Freemont light show. They will celebrate their 50th Anniversary in Manila, 2017. Photos courtesy of Luxid

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 29-NOVEmbER 4, 2015 B�Features

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RCCL cruises plan to offer Filipino dishes“As the Director of Culinary, I

am always on the lookout for new trends, dishes and cuisines to serve our guests and the Filipino cuisine is one which I enjoy immensely,” replies Michael Gilligan, Director of Culinary, Food & Beverage, of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, to the letter of Philip s. Chua, MD. FACs, FPCs, columnist of this paper and chairman of the Filipino United Network – UsA, to Adam Goldstein, President and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

Dr. Chua pointed out that “prac-tically every country is represented in the daily menu on board the

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines except the Philippines, when thousands of Filipinos, mostly professionals, patronize RCCL cruises every year, and the cruise lines usually have thousands of Filipino employees on board.” He suggested that a couple of popular Filipino dishes be a regular part of the daily menu on all RCCL cruises around the world.

Mr. Goldstein, obviously im-pressed, responded immediately and directed Mr. Gilligan to com-municate with Dr. Chua.

“I am working with my traveling Executive Chefs to develop recipes

and ideas for our new menu imple-mentation for early in the New Year and your suggestions have sparked some creative ideas from our team,” added Mr. Gilligan.

Instead of having to make a special request for a Filipino dish while on board any RCCL cruise, passengers in general, especially non-Filipinos, can now, hopefully, be introduced to some Filipino dishes, a recognition of a part of our national culture and heritage, making RCCL cruises more attractive than others to all Filipinos around the globe, stated Dr. Chua.

Rice, obesity, and diabetesa TDs meter to test for the water quality at home, at a restaurant or anywhere. The ZeroWater filter and the TDs meter are truly amazing.

Do we have an obesity epi-demic?

No, not an epidemic but a pandemic. since 1980, obesity has doubled globally. Worldwide, today, there are more than 1.9 billion adults, ages 18 and older, who are overweight, 600 million of them are obese. In 2013, 42 million children under 5 were overweight or obese. BMI (Body Mass Index) is the person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his/her height in meters (kg/m2). The WHO de-fines normal weight as a BMI of less than 25, overweight as a BMI greater than 25, and obesity as a BMI greater than or equal to 30. This is a rough guide since the degree of fatness differs in every individual.

Does rice contribute to obe-sity and illnesses?

Yes, rice is the major culprit in causing obesity in Asia and countries where it is the staple food. This is why there are more than 4 million Filipinos with type 2 diabetes, ranking 15th in prevalence, among the 387 million diabetics worldwide. Carbohydrates in general, like rice, bread, cake, ice cream, desserts and other sweets and starches, are the leading causes of obesity. Carb are responsible for high blood triglyceride level and they, especially rice, increase the risk for type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. Carb with high glycemic index (GI), like rice, rapidly elevate the blood glucose (sugar) level, which is unhealthy. Most pastas have medium (more than 55) GI. Foods with very low glycemic index (GI 20 or less) or low GI (55 or less) are healthier, causing slower absorption and gradual even rise in glucose level. Consuming food with low glycemic index has been shown to decrease the risk for type 2 dia-betes, cardiovascular illnesses,

The curious case of...and a stephen C. Davis. The lat-ter was listed as seaman, First Class, U.s. Navy, with service # 3759920 and that he had entered the service in California. The approximate date of death was December 15, 1945 in Manila, Philippines.

Davis earned a Purple Heart Award posthumously. Just like the other Davis in Hawaii, there were no remains recovered. The name of stephen C. Davis is in-scribed in one of the hemicycles on the west side in the American Cemetery near Forbes Park and what used to be Fort Bonifacio, a military camp sold to private real estate developers during the nineteen nineties and now known as The Fort in Global City.

There is absolutely no way to verify every minute detail of this cold murder case unless one is a tenacious private investiga-tor with the mixed pedigree of a bloodhound and a bulldog. One thing that comes across clearly, at least to me, is that the ghost of stephen C. Davis, whether real or conjured by hypnotic suggestion, didn’t seem to be obsessed with vengeance or justice although he did seem knowledgeable about his killer’s whereabouts. Un-derneath the bone-chilling pol-tergeist tactics his restless soul employed to reach out from be-yond the grave, he was no more than a lonely soul whose young life was cut down so suddenly and so tragically one dark moon-less night. stuck in a nebulous, nether world between the living and the world beyond, nothing seemed to be as important to this murdered American soldier as being remembered. It didn’t matter even if the remembrance is by a motley crew of curious, total strangers.

With a sigh of relief over the realization that the spirit was

neither malevolent nor mali-cious, stephen C. Davis would probably have to deal with an incensed group of total strangers who would gladly take turns put-ting their hands around his pol-tergeist neck and choking him, if they could, for scaring them half to death while using the rest rooms.

The ghost simply wanted to call attention to his plight, to be-ing stuck in limbo or trapped in a dimension that defies time and space. scaring mortals was one heck of a way to do it.

If you remember the movie “Ghost” there was one such paranormal being who was practically forced into mentor-ing Patrick swayze’s character in the ways of poltergeists. The movie character is a disembod-ied soul trapped in one dimen-sion. He inhabited a New York subway because he was pushed on the path of a train and died. He was stuck and could not cross over to the other side be-cause his time had not yet come. so he spends his time morosely bent on mischief scaring the living daylights out of subway commuters.

Because his approximate death anniversary is supposedly December 15, stephen C. Davis is again reaching out from the grave one more time from an-other century, so that he may be remembered and included in prayers just once more until he reaches final closure and eternal rest. Do pray for him if you can.

If stephen Davis’s story holds up, it is clear that to be forgotten as though one’s life didn’t matter is indeed tragic.

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

metabolic syndrome, kidney disease, stroke, depression, gall stone and uterine fibroid forma-tion, and cancers of the colon, breast, prostate, and pancreas. High GI foods increase the risk for those diseases.

For those trying to lose weight, cutting down on rice intake, or eliminating it altogether, amaz-ingly speeds up weight reduction. Minimizing other carb with high glycemic index is also healthy.

Most vegetables and spices, salmon, cod, sardines, tuna, shrimp, oats, quinoa, yogart, tofu, olives, berries, nuts, grass-fed beef, pasture-raised chicken and turkey, have low glycemic index. For a list of other foods and their glycemic index, go to www.wh-foods.com or Google it.

Does my doctor know which drug is best for me?

No. The truth is we, physi-cians heretofore, actually did not know precisely how effec-tive (to what degree) or exactly how each patient would react to drugs we prescribed. And I am talking about precision and specificity here. We had been prescribing medications on the basis of our training, experience, and information we learn from continuing medical education meetings.

We now have a precise way to obtain the information through genetic coding. With each indi-vidual’s genetic code, physicians today can predict which drugs would work best for each patient, which ones would be ineffective, and which drugs would result in adverse side effects for the person. (It is not uncommon to hear persons taking a prescribed drug and having allergic reaction to it. This could now be a thing of the past.)

On the website of the Us Food and Drug Administration there are “more than 150 drugs for which DNA screening could be performed to prevent the use of medications not best for the patient, which could lead to treat-ment failure, and which drugs would provide optimal result, at what dose….this genetic test-

ing is a life-saver for countless medications, including antide-pressants, blood thinners, high blood pressure pills, etc.”

***Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac

Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Jay-R back on the concert stageby Joyce Jimenez

Philstar.com

MANILA—Jay-R is back on the concert stage as he gears up for his show Press Play” at the Music Museum this November.

It took him years before he finally decided to stage his fourth major concert.

“That time kasi I made two remake albums, e. As an artist, hindi enough sa akin to do a concert of remake albums,” he explained. “so that’s why I didn’t do any concerts at that time. Kasi kapag pupunta ka sa isang concert ng isang artist gusto mo marinig ang mga kanta niya, hindi kanta ng ibang tao.”

Early this year, he released his all-original album “Elevated,” which he timed before moving to ABs-CBN and doing “Your Face sounds Familiar.” Recently, his album receive the gold record

award, which made him feel it’s the perfect time to stage a concert.

“Press Play” is special for him because some of the artists from his record label Homeworkz will get to join him in the show.

His girlfriend Mica Javier, DJ Poblete, Q-York and Chris Law-rence are his guests at the concert which will happen on November 6 and 7 at the Music Museum in Greenhills, san Juan City.

Aside from his music career and record label, Jay-R is also busy with his business ventures, including a restaurant in Makati City. He admits his schedule is often full that he’s not able to be with his girlfriend.

“she’s very supportive,” he said about Mica. “Minsan one month na kami di nagkikita pero naintin-dihan niya. Alam niya mabait na-man ako, ‘di ako nagloloko, alam

niyang trabaho naman talaga. so she doesn’t give me any drama, she supports what I do.”

He added that they’re not in a hurry to settle down, but he’s sure that “all the qualities that I like in a girl nasa kanya.”

Why Richard Gomez decided to run for mayor againMANILA— Richard Gomez, who is running for mayor in

Ormoc City in the 2016 elections, said he initially did not plan to enter politics again.

“Actually wala naman talaga akong plans to run in the next elections. I decided lang the night before the last day of filing,” he said during the press conference of his upcoming ABs-CBN show “You’re My Home” on Wednesday.

He first tried his luck in politics when he ran for senator in 2007 but lost. In 2010, he was disqualified to run as congressman as he failed to establish the required residency in Ormoc.

This is the second time that Richard will be vying for the position of mayor in Ormoc City. He first ran in 2013 but lost to incumbent mayor Edward Codilla.

Next year, the two will be up against each other again as Codilla seeks for his reelection.

“Walang gustong tumakbo na mayor, so I stood up, I took the challenge. Hindi ko puwede iwanan si Lucy,” he added.

Lucy will vie for reelection as Ormoc’s representative and will be pitted against Violeta Codilla, wife of the province’s incum-bent mayor.

Richard reunites with Dawn Zulueta in the upcoming TV series “You’re My Home,” which will air on November 9. (Philstar.com)

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