Asian Journal March 2-8, 2012 edition

Prophets, Profi ts and Politics .. p. 9

From the Mountain to the Valley .. p. 11

Senate cites prosecutor for contemptExperts forecast bullish

Philippine market in 2012 Home, family rockband, businesses keep seaman sturdy

by Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com | MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE), 2/29/2012 - Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago snapped at private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre on Wednesday and asked that the impeachment court cite him for contempt for covering his ears while she was admonishing the prosecu-tion.

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, later cited him for contempt. In a ruling, Presiding Judge and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said: “[Aguirre] is hereby cit-ed for contempt. The penalty will be taken in the caucus next week.”

It was Senator-judge Jing-goy Estrada who took the fl oor and informed the court that Aguirre, a private pros-ecutor, was covering his ears while Santiago was making a speech. Senator-judge Alan Cayetano was also able to take a picture of Aguirre cov-ering his ears.

Aguirre, who refused to be cowed by the feisty sena-tor, said he could not take her “shrill” voice anymore. “It’s the fi rst time in my 40 years as lawyer na isang judge ay nag-lecture sa abogado.”

Aguirre said that if San-tiago wants respect, she too should respect the prosecu-tion. Santiago has berated the prosecution several times for being unprepared in their case.

Aguirre said: “Aalis sana ako, kaya lang…”

Santiago immediately said: “Granted!” She said Aguirre covered his ears because her speech was against the pros-ecution.

Future lawyersSenator-judge Pia Cay-

Vitaliano Aguirre

Ernie Delfi nMsgr. Gutierrez Ben MaynigoCorona’s Revised Story: D in D, D-to-D and D of

D, D and by D .. p. 4March 2-8, 2012

(Continued on page 2)

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Birthday boy marks 20th leap year

By Jeremaiah M. Opiniano,OFW Journalism Consortium

ArtiSta.Rita: A Journey to One’s Soul

Philippine Star | MANILA, Philippines - The govern-ment yesterday warned aspir-ing overseas Filipino work-ers (OFWs) against leaving the country as tourists just to be able to enter banned desti-nations.

Philippine Overseas Em-ployment Administration (POEA) chief Hans Cacdac said OFWs without proper

employment and travel documents are more prone

to abuses and exploitation.

Cacdac said many illegally deployed OFWs who were em-ployed in Syria and Lebanon suffered unpaid wages, long hours of work,

and physical and verbal abuse from their employers.

Good News Pilipinas | MANILA, 2/8/2012 -- The Philippines could expect a bullish market during the Year of the Water Dragon, business experts said in a forum.

According to Cora Guidote, vice president of SM Investments Corp., the country could have a six-year bullish market because it has very optimistic indicators in business, like the Philippine Stocks Exchange in-dex which hit record highs during the past trading sessions.She said that other reasons for the optimism is the country’s national

debt has gone down while fi scal revenues were stable.

Guidote added that Philippine banks are very liquid and well provisioned, and now have a loan deposit ratio of 45 percent to 80

By Rudy A. Fernan-dez (The Philippine Star), 2/29/2012 -- MANILA, Philippines - For only the 20th time since he was born 80 years ago, Nap Vergara observes his birthday this year at the exact date when he was born on Feb. 29.

A former UP Los Baños forestry professor who eventually retired as a specialist of the United Nations, Vergara is among the few individuals who were

born in a leap year, thus, the actual date of their natal day

comes only once every four years.

On his 80th birthday, Pan-gasi-nan-born Vergara cel-

ebrated his natal day

Philippine Stock Exchange

When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by

pure love that needs expressing – then we truly live life. This quota-tion by Greg Anderson could very

well be the motto of the members of ArtiSta.Rita.

Pampanga’s Pride Arti Sta. Rita To Perform In The U.S

PASAY CITY—CANDIDO Caminero’s legs didn’t wobble in his recent band sortie with some of his nine children. There are over-12 videos in his son’s laptop to prove it.

One would not even think the 63-year-old is tired and weary from months-long work as chief engineer in ships.

On this return home from his 21st year as an international seafarer, Caminero is paying mind to family matters. A band perfor-mance is up, and so is managing businesses.

The family rock band is sched-uled to perform in their hometown of Argao in Cebu province (some 66 kms. from Cebu City). Then there are the agriculture-based enterprises to handle with wife Elizabeth and son Denver in their poor barangay and neighbor ba-

REGION 7 MOFYA 2011 WINNER FOR SEA-BASED CATEGORY. The family of Chief Engr Candido Caminero of Lengigon,. Argao Cebu won this year’s Model OFW Family of the Year award and receive a P20,000 cash prize from Globe Telecom as seen above. (PIA-Cebu/JSME)

rangay in Argao.There is the corn sheller and service milling enterprise that produces “palay” out of

corn that is staple fare among Cebuanos. There is the poultry farm with 6,000 heads. From the manure, the Camineros make organic fertilizer. There is also the rice mill that produces 150-160 sacks a day during harvest season, and the sand and gravel business that produces and delivers some 300 hollow blocks a day.

And yes, Caminero’s still a seafarer. Nearing the end of his 40-year domestic and

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etano supported Santiago’s manifestation against Aguirre, saying it’s unfortunate that such behavior came at a time when the Supreme Court just issued the results of the 2011 Bar exams.

She said young law students are taught early on that “utmost respect is due a judge as soon as a lawyer enters the court.”

Enrile said some may call him a traditionalist but this behavior is the norm that he learned during his student days at the University of the Philippines College of Law.

He said he knew already that some drama will later unfold in the hear-ing considering the “passion, heat and intensity of emotions.”

On the 26th day of trial, before the court suspended the trial until March 12, “we witnessed a disrespect by a member of the Bar to this court…We were taught to practice professional behavior and utmost control and respect to the court before whom we appear,” Enrile said.

House prosecutor Rodolfo Fariñas apologized on behalf of the whole

team. “We express our regrets for what happened especially to the lady [Miriam] from Iloilo.”

Enrile said: “Apology accepted but we will enforce respect for this court.”

Bad faith

Early in the hearing, Santiago said the prosecution came to the court in bad faith when it listed eight articles against Chief Justice Renato Corona, only to withdraw fi ve in the end. She said it was as if the court was struck by “thunderbolt.”

“This is a very serious concern for me as a lawyer and as a former judge. Una, nagbibiro ba kayo? In writing na ang inyong compliance…Sabi niya we’ll present so many wit-nesses, so many documentary pieces of evidence tapos ngayon sasabihin niyo, without explanation, our case is very strong we no longer want to present evidence on these causes of action,” she said.

Santiago said the prosecution went around to inform the public that they already have a strong case in the remaining three articles.

“You are prejudging the case. What are you doing? Conducting trial by publicity? Let me remind you, an impeachment trial is both quasi-judicial and quasi-political but that we place that in context,” she said.

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Senate Cites Pros-ecutor for Contempt(Continued from page 1)

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She said: “This is not a direct democracy and we are not in Athens. The people are not going to decide this case. It is the high court of im-peachment, this Senate. It is the Sen-ate alone that will decide this case. We are going to hold our results im-maculate of all the propaganda that you are distributing abroad, meaning to say, outside of this courtroom.”

She said the prosecution should respect their right to vote. She said the prosecutors were “anyayabang, anggagago (conceited, stupid).”

Fariñas later asked that the word “gago (stupid)” be stricken off the record. Santiago agreed.

After being lashed at verbally by Santiago, Aguirre fi nally left the session hall.

Santiago, who has been suffer-ing from hypertension, was calmed down by her colleagues.

by Jean S. Tinsay, Esq.

Sylvia came to America carrying her hopes and dreams for a better life. Sadly, those dreams quickly turned into a nightmare. While working as a volunteer back in the Philippines she met Gordo who was the nephew of one of her patients at the hospital. Gordo was a U.S. citizen who having been laid off from his job in the U.S. work was vacationing in the Philippines. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married and he brought her to the United States.

Upon her arrival and at the prod-ding of her husband, she immedi-ately took the nursing examination. Unfortunately, she failed to pass the test. Jobs were hard to fi nd and since Sylvia had no local experience the only work she could get was that of a caregiver. Sylvia, however, was just glad to be working and able to contribute her meager salary to the family coffers as well as send some money to her family back home. Not Gordo whose plan of having a registered nurse for a wife to support him was thwarted. He started taking out his frustration on Sylvia. At fi rst, it was just berating her and fi nding fault in everything she did. The yell-ing and screaming turned into threats and quickly escalated into physical violence. On two occasions, well meaning neighbors had called the police to their house. Gordo threat-ened to have her deported if she ever fi les a complaint against him. Since she came to the United States as the spouse of a U.S. citizen, Sylvia was granted conditional resident status which expires in two years from the time she entered the United States as an immigrant.

A person who obtains immi-grant status in the United States through marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident is granted a conditional two-year resident status in the United States. In order to remove the conditions on residence, the conditional resident is required to fi le together with the U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse a joint petition to remove the conditions on residence. The joint petition must be fi led within 90 days before the second anniversary of the grant of conditional residence. Failure to fi le a joint petition to remove condi-tions on residence will result in the automatic termination of resident status as of the second anniversary of the grant of conditional residence and subject the conditional resident to removal proceedings.

However, the conditional resident may request for a waiver of the joint fi ling requirement if the conditional resident can establish that:

1. The marriage was entered in good faith, and the U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse subse-quently dies;

2. The marriage was entered in good faith, but the marriage was later terminated due to divorce or annulment;

3. The marriage was entered

in good faith, but the conditional resident was battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by the U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse; or

4. The removal of the conditional resident from the United States will result in extreme hardship.

In this case, Sylvia leaving her abusive husband need not result in termination of her resident status and subsequent removal from the United States. As a battered spouse, she can request for a waiver of the joint fi l-ing requirement and fi le the petition to remove conditions on residence on her own. She will need to establish her eligibility for a waiver (as a battered spouse) by submitting credible evidence of the abuse she suffered from the hands of her U.S. citizen husband such as copies of the police reports, medical reports, statements from neighbors and photographs showing her injuries. If Sylvia is successful in establishing that she is a battered spouse and that she entered the marriage in good faith, the CIS will approve her peti-tion, the conditions on her residence will be removed and she will obtain permanent resident status in the United States.

Atty. Jean S. Tinsay is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV) - a full service law fi rm with offi ces in San Francisco, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for gen-eral information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-cli-ent relationship. The CTV attorneys will be holding regular free legal clinics at the Max’s Restaurant in Vallejo, California. Call or HYPER-LINK "javascript:email_US()"e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone con-sultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; jtinsayHYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]"@ctvattys.com

The Battered Spouse

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6 leap year babies born in

government hospital

by Sheila Crisostomo, Philippine Star | MANILA, Philippines - Cherryn Jeal Cabuhat was not thrilled with the idea of giving birth to her eldest child on Feb. 29.

“My due date is actually Feb. 28 so I was somehow worried that she will be a butt of jokes when she grows up in case she is born on Feb. 29,” she said in Filipino. The joke is that people born on Feb. 29 are “kulang-kulang” (dimwit).

The 23-year-old from Caloocan City was among the six mothers who gave birth at the government-run Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila yesterday.

All of them preferred their children to celebrate their birthdays on March 1 rather than Feb. 29.

However, Cristel Mangalindan, 17, said there is no truth to that joke.

“It’s the fi rst time that I heard that,” she said. “But I know it is not true.”

The online dictionary Farlex defi nes leap year as a “year in the Gregorian calendar having 366 days, with the extra day, Feb. 29, intercalated to compensate for the quarter-day difference between an ordinary year and the astronomical

Asian Journal - (619) 474-0588 Visit our website at http://www.asianjournalusa.comMarch 2-8, 2012


Birthday boy

(Continued from page 1)

Fantasy Land

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

by Simeon G. Silverio Jr.

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Corona’s Revised Story: Discrepancies in Declarations Due to Discovery and Disclo-sure of Deposits, Documents

and by Deduction.In my previous article on the subject,

I constructed a story based on the numbers and declarations of Chief Jus-tice Renato Corona in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net worth (SALNs).

Since then, as witnesses testifi ed, and deposits and documents discov-ered and disclosed, I am revising the Corona story not only using his own numbers but also those that have been revealed and correspondingly deduced from them.

Party-list Representative Walden Bello prior to becoming a legislator, I personally know to be a good econo-mist and author who used to reside in the Metropolitan Washington, D. C. area. As an economist/author, he al-ways supports his reports and conclu-sions with research, facts and fi gures. He obviously knows how to read Balance Sheets, which are identical to SALNs and the distinction between a real estate property’s “fair market value” and acquisition cost.

As reported, Rep. Walden Bello focused on CJ Corona’s SALN for the period ending December 31, 2010 as fi led on April 29, 2011. He concluded, “CJ Corona declared a Net Worth of P22,936,980 but his undeclared Net Worth was a least P78,800,355.”

That’s a discrepancy of more than P55,800,000 just for 2010.

Jarius Bondoc is one of the more noted columnist/journalist in the Philippines. As such, he always writes and supports his assertions with proofs, historical facts, and fi gures. He mentioned me once in his column in relation to my role and that of the late Ninoy Aquino in witnessing testimo-nial evidence proving the Marcos fake medals.

Columnist Bondoc looked at CJ Corona’s Cash on Hand and in Bank as declared versus the disclosed deposits at PSBANK and BPI in 2007, 2009, and 2010. He found discrepancies of P7,587,966.94 in 2007; P6,678,501.83 in 2009; and P28,252,621.80 in 2010.

He also checked the valuation of CJ Corona’s properties. He found the fol-lowing discrepancies: P13,000,000 for the La Vista property in Quezon City; P7,700,000 for the Bellagio Condo in The Fort, Taguig; P6,700,000 for the Ridge Condo in The Fort, Taguig; P1,579,000 for Burgundy Pl. Condo in Loyola Heights, Q.C.; and P2,300,000 for the Columns Condo in Makati.

Marites Daquilan Vitug is the author of the best selling book, “Our Rights Our Victories: Landmark Cases in the Supreme Court”. I bought the eBook version from Amazon.com. From my point of view, she and Raissa Robles redefi ned “investigative reporting” in the Philippines in this digital age both in print and electronic media. They always support their reports after extensive investigation and research all accompanied by indisputable facts.

Both are my Facebook friends. I remember meeting Marites in Makati through old friend Ma-an Hontiveros years ago when I suggested to them to get into electronic publishing for “Newsbreak”.

Marites Vitug says, “The best guides in this truth seeking journey are the hard facts. They serve as our luminous street signs. When we seem to go off-course, these pull us back. When darkness descends, they are the stars that lit up our way.”

She then compared Corona’s de-clared cash assets in his SALNs to the deposits testifi ed to:

2007 – P2.5 M (P10 M in BPI and PSB)

2009 - P2.5 M (P8.5 M in PSB)2010 – P3.5 M (P31.6 M in BPI and

PSB)Indeed, numbers tell the story. I

also revisited the numbers and went back further as I did in my previous analysis.

After the revisions and careful analy-sis, I made the following observations:

The law requires the declaration of the acquisition costs of all real proper-ties. CJ Corona FAILED to report the said costs.The law requires the declaration of ALL Cash on Hand and in Bank. It does not exclude foreign currency

accounts. Bank testimonies prove the existence of a dollar account owned by CJ Corona. Even if the dollar account only has $1 or $700,000, he should have declared it. CJ Corona FAILED to do it.He purchased a land in 1992 and a condo in 1997 both by installment. CJ Corona FAILED to declare them in his 2002 SALN as property-owned and if still not fully paid, as loan/mortgage payable.For 2003, I computed: a Total Asset (Fixed and Current Asset) Discrep-ancy of P20837720; a Total Liability Discrepancy of P16758800; and a Net Worth Discrepancy of P4078920.For 2004, I computed: a Total Asset Discrepancy of P24426651.82; a Total Liability Discrepancy of P16758800; and a Net Worth Discrepancy of P24426651.82.For 2005, I computed: a Total Asset Discrepancy of P32526651.82; a Total Liability Discrepancy of P25858800; and a Net Worth Discrepancy of P32526651.82.For 2006, I computed: a Total Asset Discrepancy of P30526651.82; a Total Liability Discrepancy of P25858800; and a Net Worth Discrepancy of P30526651.82.For 2007, I computed: a Total Asset Discrepancy of P39635782.35; a Total Liability Discrepancy of P25858800; and a Net Worth Discrepancy of P39635782.35.For 2008, I computed: a Total Asset Discrepancy of P33626651.82; a Total Liability Discrepancy of P23768800; and a Net Worth Discrepancy of P33626651.82.For 2009, I computed: a Total Asset Discrepancy of P55305153.65; a Total Liability Discrepancy of P23768800; and a Net Worth Discrepancy of P55305153.65.For 2010, I computed: a Total Asset Discrepancy of P70299374.92; a Total Liability Discrepancy of P0.00; and a Net Worth Discrepancy of P70299374.92. In 2003, CJ Corona took a Cash Advance of P11000000 from his wife’s family realty company. While he correctly declared it as a liability, he failed to add the proceeds to his Cash on Hand or in Bank.Two properties that he declared in 2009 valued at P3M each were not declared in 2010. If they were sold, at least P6M or the actual proceeds should have been included in the Cash at Hand or in Bank.The value of Motor Vehicles declared in 2002, were not declared in subse-quent years (2003-2010). If they were sold, the proceeds should have been included in the Cash at Hand or in Bank.There were real properties declared only in 2010 but were actually purchased by installment in previous years. These properties should have been refl ected as properties owned in those years and correspondingly in-cluded as loan/mortgage payable since bought by installment.

We can be very specifi c on these. I have the working documents to sup-port my fi gures.

I do not envy the defense lawyers. They have to fi gure out how to explain and justify the proven discrepan-cies. They have indicated one way to explain them – that these discovered deposits and undeclared properties are actually owned by his wife’s family business, the BGEI. They have the P34.7 M proceeds of the sale of prop-erty expropriated by the City of Manila to work with. Their business interests in said company were never declared except as a lender of P11 M to him.

The problem is that the deposits and the undeclared properties are much more than the said amount. And why the former and latter are in his name is a mystery. If in trust, he could have registered it as such and the Board of BGEI should have appointed him as a Trustee.

There was wealth hidden. Right now it is still unexplained. It could have been hidden from the public, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, other agencies of the Government or from the other members of his wife’s family.

CJ Renato Corona and his lawyers or even his supporters could explain the discrepancies before the court of public opinion now or wait for his turn in the impeachment court.

I can’t wait!

Corona’s Revised Story: D in D, D-to-D and D of D, D and by D

FANTASY LANDWinning Margin

By Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.Publisher & EditorAsian Journal San DiegoThe Original and First Asian Journal

in America

Chapter 23After proving himself to be ca-

pable to run a small town as mayor, Max Dullesco was asked to run for provincial governor.

The people outside his town had watched enviously how Dullesco’s constituents enjoyed the use of public funds for their benefi t to the maximum—and then some! In fact, Max even used his own private funds in case there was not enough money to fi nance a public project.

The school buildings in his town, built by Dullesco, were made of concrete, with state-of-the-art facili-ties. They had a huge gym, theater, air-conditioned classrooms and up-to-date teaching equipment. The cafeteria offered free food to the staff and students, and even their medical needs were taken care of. In fact, many out-of-town residents were moving into the town to take advantage of these town amenities.

Max found out to his dismay how the town’s elective offi cials, from the town mayor to the councilmen, were willing to spend thousands, if not millions of pesos during their election campaign for low-paying

posts. There was a lot of money to be made, albeit illegally, by occupy-ing their elective positions. They all had a cut on public projects at the expense of the public. Even the father of the former mayor used to collect tongs from jeepney drivers who were allowed to illegally load passengers in busy street corners.

Most of the traffi c violators were not given tickets or paid fi nes.

They just settled their offenses by bribing the policemen who kicked back part of the collections to the police captains, chiefs of police, and mayors. The bulk of the illegal income were the payoffs made by operators of illegal gambling.

For Max Dullesco, being mayor was a learning experience. He had many trial and errors. He had to fi re people who did not live up to his high moral standards. He would ap-point trusted personnel to sensitive posts, only to be disappointed later. They would try to enrich themselves through illegal means when they thought nobody was looking. But Dullesco would fi nd it out

anyway, and the city personnel found out he meant business.

Either they followed the straight path, or they would lose their jobs. They discovered that following the straight path was not bad after all, for it was for the common good of everyone. If the government were clean, the living conditions of the poor would improve. Businesses would prosper. The economy would

Winning Margin

rise. And the future of their children

would be better. Moreover, Dullesco made sure the temptation of the pub-lic servants to be corrupt diminished by increasing their pay three fold. He also improved their working con-ditions, providing excellent health, vacation and retirement benefi ts. The production of the workers improved. They concentrated on performing their

jobs and providing excellent public service. They knew they and their families were taken care of, and they found more fulfi llments in perform-ing their tasks.

After only two years as town mayor, Dullesco heeded the calls of everyone for him to go after the pro-vincial post. He wanted to expand the benefi ts of his rule among the people outside his town. In fact, if he did not do so, the town he ruled would burst in its seams, as every-one wanted to partake in its success.

But there was a big problem to be overcome. The province was ruled by one family, a political dynasty that had been entrenched for years. Not only did the governor belong to the family, so too did the two congressmen and a mayor of an-other town. They had been winning elections for the past many years, thanks to the millions of money they illegally earned from public

funds. In private parlance, they were their “investments.” But Dullesco’s weapon was the shining example of the town he ruled..

The people knew and envied the benefi ts enjoyed by the residents of that town. They too wanted to enjoy those benefi ts.

And when the election came, Dullesco hardly campaigned. His performance spoke for itself. The incumbent governor even brought movie stars during his election rallies. Those rallies were always full of people who wanted to get a glimpse of the movie stars. But in their minds, they had made their choice.

The dynastic family tried to turn things around by bribing the electorate. They resorted to their usual practice of buying votes just like during the previous elections. And just like before, the electorates accepted their bribes. But inside the polling place, the constituents voted for the candidate of their choice, one who would clean up the government, render public services and assure a better future for themselves and their children. That man was Max Dullesco.

Dullesco won with the widest margin in the electoral history of the province. Even the opposing candidate’s people abandoned him at the last minute and chose to cast their votes to the candidate who could provide a better future for their children.

They may have lost a lot of illegal income, but it was a sacrifi ce they were willing to take. The losing candidate and his dynastic family lose a big part of their fortune in their attempt to overcome Dullesco’s onslaught.

Eventually, the other members of

their family also lost their elective posts. To add to the family’s mis-fortune, Dullesco pursued crimi-nal charges against them for past wrongdoings. He wanted to teach a lesson for others not to follow their example. He wanted a new begin-ning for Fantasyland, one of the two fronts for reform being pursued by President Lino Majeras and his top graft buster, Pablo Nolasco. – AJ

(To read the previous and weekly installments of this series, visit

www.asianjournalusa.com. Once there, click the “Editorials” head-ing, then click “Fantasy Land by Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.” title to see the list of all previous chapters of the series. Click the title of the chapter you want to read and the article will appear.)

last Feb. 25 (a Saturday) in his town of residence in Los Baños, Laguna.

Vergara and his wife Angeles, four of their six children (two others working abroad could not make it), many grandchildren, and great grandchildren were on hand to welcome the invites from the UPLB community, UN Food and Agricul-ture Organization (FAO), and East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, to share with the celebrant the bless-ings of his 80 years.

At times in the past when it was not leap year, Vergara observed his birthday before Feb. 29.

In Nida Mangalindan’s case, when it is not a leap year, she celebrated her birthday “the day after” on March 1.

Looking for a “Leap Year baby” is like “searching for a needle in a haystack.”

Exact fi gures are hard to obtain, but there are rough estimates. Con-sider that there are four Filipinos born every minute, or 5,760 every day. This means that there are about 5,760 Filipinos born every Leap Year.

Interspersed in a population of about 96 million, Feb. 29 birthday celebrants, indeed, are just “a droplet in a bucket.”

In Los Baños, only Vergara and Mangalindan, an accountant, were born on Feb. 29.

Since childhood, they have been teased about their natal day.

But in Mangalindan’s case, her parents had entreated her to just “live with the reality of her birth-day.”

Her offi cemates are more compas-sionate, jestingly telling her that being “only 12 years old” (actually now 48), she is “younger” than her oldest, a 22-year-old daughter, and 17-year-old son.

So why is there a leap year?Information provided by Royal

Greenwich Observatory (RGO) states that the solar year (the time required for Earth to travel once around the Sun) is 365.24219 days.

The calendar year is either 365 days in a non-leap year or 366 days in a leap year.

The Romans originally had a 355-day calendar. To keep up with the seasons, an extra 22 or 23-day month was inserted every second year. For reasons unknown, this extra month was only observed now and then.

During the reign of Julius Caesar, the Romans saw the seasons no longer occurred at the same calendar periods as history had shown.

To correct this, Caesar deducted several days from several months, his month included, which was Quintilis, later renamed Julius, now known as July.

This extended the calendar to 365 days. Also intended was an extra calendar day every fourth year, fol-lowing the 29th day of Februarius.

After Caesar’s death in 44 B.C., however, the calendars were written with an extra day every three years instead of every four until corrected in 8 A.D. So again, the calendar drifted away from the seasons.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII had recognized that Easter would be-come closer and closer to Christmas. The calendar was reformed so that a leap day could occur in any year that is divisible by 4 days but not divis-ible by 100 except when the year is divisible by 400.

Thus, 1600 and 2000, although century marks, have a leap day.

“The calendar we use today, known as the Gregorian calendar, makes our year 365.2425 days only off from our solar year by .00031, which amounts to only one day’s error after 4,000 years,” the RGO pointed out.


San Diego News

SAN DIEGO, 3/2/2012 -- Phil Am BID’s ‘Move Forward’ Busi-ness Showcase and Conference held last Saturday, Feb 25 2012 at the Sheraton, Mission Valley brought together the top leaders and policy shapers of the County of San Diego.

The panelists who participated

were outstanding: 1) Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl

Cox 2) San Diego County Supervisor

Greg Cox3) San Diego County District

Attorney Bonnie Dumanis4) Kathie Lembo, President/CEO

South Bay Community Services5) National City Mayor Ron

Morrison6) Coronado Mayor Casey

Tanaka


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butter mamon ad 11.5x10.55.pdf 1 2/28/12 12:12 AM

SAN DIEGO, CALIF.– Febru-ary 29, 2012 – To acknowledge the UN-sanctioned World Water Day and raise awareness about the global water crisis, PCI (Project Concern International) is leading the fourth annual San Diego Walk for Water. The 5-kilometer walk will be held at Tecolote Shores in Mission Bay on Sunday, March 18, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

During the event, walkers can choose to carry buckets of water to simulate the journey that women and children make every day in develop-ing countries to obtain water. Regis-tration is open to the public and is $20 per person. Donations and proceeds from the event will go toward funding a water system for remote villages in Ethiopia, Nicaragua, and PCI’s life-saving programs around the world.

To increase local awareness of wa-ter conservation and bring attention to the billions of people who lack access to clean water around the world, PCI has joined forces with students from 16 local schools and colleges, includ-ing La Jolla Country Day School, The Bishops School, Francis Parker School, Canyon Crest High School, Pacific Ridge High School, High Tech High, University of San Diego, and San Diego State University. Many of these institutions will host assemblies and fundraisers leading up to the walk and will incorporate other nationwide water awareness activities in support of this event.

PCI is committed to assisting the girls and women around the world who typically spend at least six hours a day obtaining water and carrying 44-pound containers over long distances. The lack of access to clean drinking water leads to disease, absence from school and work, sick-ness, and death. PCI gives students, their families, and the community the opportunity to step into someone

else’s shoes and experience this daily journey tasked to millions around the world.

“This event promotes awareness and compassion toward the water conservation issues that affect the rest of the world. We hope to create that awareness starting at a local level,” said George Guimaraes, President and CEO of PCI. “Millions face the problem of finding potable water on a daily basis. We, as a community, can gain tips and ideas on how to conserve water locally and help ease the burden of this global issue.”

Westfield Malls throughout San Diego and PCI have partnered to pro-mote access to clean, safe water lo-cally and globally. Promotional events

will be held Sunday, March 11th from 1:00pm-4:00pm at the North County, Mission Valley, Plaza Bonita, Plaza El Camino Real, and Parkway Plaza Malls to promote water conservation in the local community and the global crisis affecting women and children around the world. Activities will include educational games, prizes and activities for kids.

Event sponsors include the San Diego Padres, Nikka Water, the West-field Corporation, Whole Foods, UPS,

Kashi, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Viejas Casino.

To register and learn more about the event go to www.PCIGlobal.org/WWD-2012.

#########Celebrating its 50th anniversary in

2011, PCI (Project Concern Inter-national) is an international health, development and humanitarian assistance organization, operating in 16 countries worldwide. PCI is

dedicated to saving lives and build-ing healthy communities around the globe, benefitting over 6.7 million people annually in Asia, Africa and the Americas. Funded by federal grants and private support, PCI’s headquarters are located in San Diego, CA and the organization also has an office in Washington, DC and a Seattle, WA representative. PCI’s current annual budget is nearly $50 million and the organization has over 600 employees worldwide.

San Diego-Based Global Nonprofit PCI Hosts Annual Walk for Water Event

PCI (Project Concern International) joins forces with San Diego schools to promote global water awareness

Phil Am BID “Move Forward” Conference 2012County Supervisor Greg Cox Proclaims Feb 25 “Phil Am Bid Move Forward” Day


(Continued from page 5)7) UC Regent Charlene Zettel

Question for Panel

The question asked of the Advi-sory Council/Public Offi cials Panel were as follows:

1) As a County Supervisor, City Mayor, Chief Administrator of a government department, or CEO of a successful corporation or organi-zation, you are at the forefront of policy-making and strategizing to ef-fect positive change in your purview. Please describe one (1) current initiative that you are spearheading to promote such growth, highlight-ing its rationale, target population, specifi c strategies, and expected or actual outcomes in terms of revital-izing the County of San Diego.

2) How can an organization such as Phil Am BID support your efforts in the initiative you described and contribute to its success?

Second Panel

The second set of panelists were also asked a follow up question, “ What specifi c steps can your orga-nization and Phil Am BID take to respond to the call for support in the different areas presented earlier by the Advisory Council Panel?”

The second panel consisted of:1) Rose Alonte, Registered Nurse,

Scripps Health Care2) Capt. Ted Camaisa, DDS, USN3) Pam Hooper, Esq., SCAPAL4) Cheryl Kelley, UC Fund Man-

ager 5) Priscilla Pasimio, Health and

Wellness Educator6) Alden Salcedo, Ret. Com-

mander USN, Business Consultant, Professor at USD and University of Phoenix

Jerri Malana, Esq. did an exem-plary job in moderating the event.

San Diego Supervisor Greg Cox presented a Proclamation by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors

that the 25th of February proclaimed as “Phil Am BID ‘Move Forward’ Day”

Chula Vista Mayor Cox was the most animated in her request that we support/write letters to the California Coastal Commissioner for Chula Vista’s campaign on the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan (CVBMP). She mentioned that Phil Am BID co-presidents Edna Concepcion and Marilyn Mesina quickly responded to her campaign by writing a support letter right after she sent the request. EVENT SPONSORS: American Center for Learning, Barona Resort & Casino, Chula Vista Physicians Group, HEIR Finanical and Insur-ance Solutions, Inc. / Heritage In-vestments and Retirement Planning, Inc. (HEIR Planning)

Media Partners: Asian Journal, San Diego, Philippine & Asian Reports, San Diego Union Tribune

Businesses who showcased their services: American Center for Learning, ASEA, AXION Sports-wear, Barona Resort & Casino, Chula Vista Physicians Group, HEIR Financial and Insurance Solutions, Inc. / Heritage Investments and Retirement Planning, Inc. (HEIR Planning), Melaleuca, Inc. Royal Metals Group, USANA, SCAPAL

IN THE PHOTO:Top Photo: PhilAm Bid Advisory

Council, Offi cers and Directors take their oath with Judge Margie Woods during the swearing in ceremony

Photo 2: Supervisor Greg Cox, Edna Concepcion, Dante Concep-cion, Rosanna Salcedo, Genevieve, DA Bonnie Dumanis, Kevin Klein, Alex McDonald, and Luis Osuna.

Photo 3 (bottom left): Vicky and Ken Woolley, Rose and Rod Alonte, Mayor Ron Morrison

Photo 4: (bottom right): (Seated) Dr. Ofelia Dirige, Rhiza Camaisa; (Standing) Marily Mesina, Mayor Casey Tanaka, Rosanna Salcedo

Phil Am BID Move Forward Conference

Digital Edition902,446 reads

on scribd.com/asianjournal

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asianjournal.sandiego Email

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our e-blast.

Asian Journal San Diego

ASIAN JOURNALThe fi rst Asian-Filipino weekly in Southern California

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

Ashley SilverioAssistant Editor

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

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

Dr. Rizalino “Riz” Oades, (1935-2009)

The Asian Journal is published weekly and distrib-uted in all Asian communties in San Diego County. Publication date is every Friday of the month. Adver-tising deadline is Thursday prior to publication date at 5 p.m. For advertising rates, rate cards, or information, call (619) 474-0588. Subscription by mail is available for $50 per year (56 issues). The Asian Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photo-graphs but welcomes submissions. Entire content is © 2012 copyrighted material by Asian Journal. Materi-als in this publication may not be reproduced without specifi c permission from the publisher.

Genevieve SilverioManaging Editor

Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.Publisher & Editor

Miles BeauchampAssociate Editor

Santi SilverioAssociate Publisher

At Large...

Miles is Assistant to the Dean and Assistant Professor in the Shirley Hufstedler School of Education at Alliant International University where he teaches new media and diverse writing courses. He has been with the Asian Journal since the 1990’s.

by Miles Beauchamp, PhD

by Dr. Ofelia Dirige Founder, President & CEO Kalusugan

Community Services. www.fi lamwellness.org

Contemporary Asian American Issues

that the 25th of February proclaimed as “Phil Am BID ‘Move Forward’ Phil Am BID Move

Perspectives

Follow @asianjournal on Twitter

Finally, Apple is trying to improve working conditions

in ChinaApple recently announced that the

Fair Labor Association will conduct special voluntary audits of Apple’s fi nal assembly suppliers, including Foxconn factories in Shenzhen and Chengdu, China, at Apple’s request. A team of labor rights experts led by FLA president Auret van Heerden began inspections at the facility in

Shenzhen known as Foxconn City. “We believe that workers every-where have the right to a safe and fair work environment, which is why we’ve asked the FLA to indepen-dently assess the performance of our largest suppliers,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The inspections now underway are unprecedented in the electronics industry, both in scale and scope, and we appreciate the FLA agreeing to take the unusual step of identifying the factories in their reports.”

As part of its independent as-sessment, the FLA will interview thousands of employees about work-ing and living conditions including health and safety, compensation, working hours and communication with management. The FLA’s team will inspect manufacturing areas, dormitories and other facilities, and will conduct an extensive review of documents related to procedures at all stages of employment.

Suppliers are cooperating

Apple’s suppliers have pledged full cooperation with the FLA, of-fering unrestricted access to their operations. The FLA’s fi ndings and recommendations from the fi rst assessments will be posted in early March on its website, www.fairla-bor.org. Similar inspections will be conducted at Quanta and Pegatron facilities later this Spring, and when completed, the FLA’s assessment will cover facilities where more than 90 percent of Apple products are assembled. Apple has audited every fi nal assem-bly factory in its supply chain each year since 2006, including more than 40 audits of Foxconn manufacturing and fi nal assembly facilities. Details of Apple’s supplier responsibility program, including the results of more than 500 factory audits led by Apple throughout its supply chain over the past fi ve years, are on Apple’s website.

Apple and the Fair Labor As-sociation

Apple is the fi rst technology com-pany to be admitted to the Fair La-

bor Association (FLA). The FLA has made progress over the past decade to improve working conditions and protect workers in the apparel indus-try. As a member of the FLA, Apple will open their supply chain to an FLA auditing team that will measure performance against the FLA’s own Workplace Code of Conduct. The results of these audits will appear on the FLA website.

Ending indentured migrant labor

During a 2008 audit, Apple discovered that in order to work for some suppliers, many workers were coerced by unscrupulous recruit-ing agents into paying excessively high fees to gain employment in neighboring countries. Because fees to these corrupt middlemen often equaled many months’ wages, work-ers were taking on huge debt even before they started the job. They were forced to hand over nearly

all their wages to recruiters to pay this debt, and they had to remain at the job until the debt was paid. To protect workers from practices that could result in involuntary labor, Apple established and enforces a standard that limits recruitment fees to the equivalent of one month’s wages. Apple also requires sup-pliers to reimburse overpaid fees for all foreign contract workers in their facilities — including work-ers not assigned to Apple projects. To prevent future abuses, they have engaged with government agen-cies, NGOs, and peer companies to educate suppliers on how to improve their recruiting practices, as well as on their legal and ethical obligations to foreign workers.

Code of conduct

The Supplier Code of Conduct prohibits all types of involuntary labor, such as slavery, indentured or bonded labor, child labor, and prison labor. Apple’s suppliers certify compliance with the local laws applicable to their operations, including any slavery and human

Protecting workers

Guest Writer: Devyn Brown*

I see myself racially and ethni-cally as an African-American male. I believe that it’s important for a black man to be well-educated, well-mannered, and have the tendency to speak proper English instead of society’s idea of a black man who is someone who wants lots of money, many girls, tons of cars, and have no real job. And they believe that the only way we can obtain all these ma-terial goods is by hustling, pimping or rapping. I came to the conclusion that even though the media portrays us in a negative light, the true iden-tity of our race will and has showed itself and I would like to believe that I’m one of this positive forces in our community.

When it comes to the status identi-ties, I feel the one I best fi t into is the Internalization stage which is when an individual may commit oneself to combating racism while integrat-ing with member’s of one’s own racial group and dominant white group. They can also incorporate themselves as racially aware and knowledgeable in the real world. The reason why I feel I fi t into this category is because I tend to fi ght for the rights of my fellow African-Americans but at the same time I’m more than willing to help fi ght

for the rights of any minorities for example the Asian community. I’m currently an offi cer in an Asian-based organization on the SDSU campus. It’s known as APSA for short and stands for the Asian Pacifi c Student Alliance. Joining this orga-nization has been one of the greatest experiences of my college career.

Being on the Executive Board of this organization is a new and great experience, but it’s not my fi rst time. I was on Board two years ago as their Academic Coordinator and my duties were to provide study sessions for the organization and put together our annual High School Conference. The purpose of this event is to bring Asian high school students from all over the SDSU campus and provide workshops that are created to help them succeed in college life. On average, we have over 100 students come out and participate in the event and it’s always a fun time. It’s a lot of hard work and a lot of time has to be put into it but in the end it’s all worth it.

When it comes to the stages of identity I see myself in the Intro-spection stage. This stage is one in which the FilAm has learned to accept one’s role as an Asian Ameri-can, while still maintaining a sense of identity. The reason why I say that stage is because I have accepted the fact that I’m African-American and I identify myself as one. The line between being African opposed to being African-American was never made aware to me because for many people in my race who suffered the loss of our African identity a long time ago, there is only one line and that is African-American. But I am aware of other minority groups and I tend to greatly support the Asian-

American community due to the fact that many of my friends are a part of that community. You can say I partly identify with that community but only slightly.

From Darder’s sphere of bicul-turalism, I feel I best fi t into the Cultural Negotiation side.

According to Fong, a Cultural negotiator or bi- multicultural person is one who maintains and moves freely in both Asian and American cultural spheres. They speak their native language and English fl uently. Ethnic identity for these individuals is high, yet they also participate well within the broader American cultural milieu. They are the most successful and psychologically balanced among the personality structures.

The reason I say this is because I have to constantly contend with the fact that I’m an African-American male who feels more comfortable being in an Asian-based organization rather than any other organization on campus. I feel like I’ve always been in this quadrant because even in high school and earlier I have al-ways been aware of other races and I was always willing to blend into their circles only after I was able to blend successfully into my own race’s circle. I haven’t moved out of this section of the Darder’s sphere and I’m happy with it because I feel comfortable with contending with the fact I feel just as welcomed if not more in other minority circle op-posed to just my own.

In terms of being a bicultural/multicultural person I feel at ease. I’ve never really thought about that much until I took this Asian Studies class and I know and see how much I enjoyed being infl uenced by other minority groups. For example being a part of organizations like APSA and AB Samahan have really helped me understand that there are many other ethnic groups in the world that face the same type of prejudice and discrimination that African-Ameri-cans have faced and still face today. Some of the information I put in this paper was from the heart to show that being with Asian Americans mean a lot to me.

About the Author *Devyn Brown is African Ameri-

can but has been working very well

with the Asian American group at the San Diego State University campus (APSA). He is a fourth year student in History at SDSU and Dr. Dirige’s Asian Studies class, AS 460, “Contemporary Issues In Filipino American Communities.”

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Being A Bicultural Person

traffi cking laws, and they verify compliance by conducting rigorous audits of their facilities. Beyond auditing, Apple provides employ-ees who are directly responsible for supply chain management with training on involuntary labor and human traffi cking issues to reinforce prevention efforts, and are held them accountable for complying with their standards.

Educating Indonesian workersApple expanded their audits to 28

suppliers in Malaysia and Singapore, countries known to be destinations for migrant workers. By educating potential contract workers, Apple is working to prevent involuntary labor before it happens. Apple partnered with NGOs and local suppliers in North Sumatra, a province of Indo-nesia, to help residents understand the recruiting process for foreign contract workers and their rights in the workforce. Through a print and radio campaign, they reached thou-sands of people in communities with historically high rates of migrating workers.

Source: Apple, Inc.


by Atty. Susan V. Perez

Immigration 911

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

Work Visas/Green Cards thru Employment• Family Visas• Student, Trainee, Tourist, Investors, Visas • Reinstatement of Petition • Deportation Defense• International Adoption• Appeals, Motions to Reopen/Reconsider• Battered/Abused Spouse• I-601 Waivers (Hardship)• Consular Support in Manila•

IMMIGRATION (619) 819-8648Speak directly with an Attorney

The Law Offi ces of SUSAN V. PEREZ offer the following services:

We also handle ALL PHILIPPINE cases and have an offi ce in Manila to service your needs there.

*Susan Perez is a licensed attorney both in the State of California and the Philippines. She has eighteen (18) years of combined experience in both jurisdictions in the areas of Immigration, Family, Appellate, Juvenile Dependency, Civil, Criminal, Labor, Contracts, Tax, and Business Law. She is also admitted to practice before the Ninth Circuit of the Court of Appeals, and the District Courts of Southern California and Central District of California.

Nagsasalita ng Tagalog asin Bicol.

By Appointment only from 9:00 to 5:30, Monday thru Friday.

San Diego Offi ce: Manila Offi ce:625 Broadway, Suite 1015 Suite 2502-A East TowerSan Diego CA 92101 Philippine Stock Exchange CentreTel. No. (619) 819-8648 Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig CityFax No. (619) 923-9555 Tel. Nos.: (632) 687-2565 / 687-9851 Email: [email protected] Fax No.: (632) 687-2565

Atty. Susan V. Perez

Visit our website: www.law-usimmigration.com

"Se Habla Espanol"

IMMIGRATION 911 by Atty. Susan V. Perez

This is a true story of a young woman who was subjected to years of abuse by her husband. Let’s call her Maria. She is a native of Mexico and was smuggled into the United States by her father when she was 13 years old. Maria did not go to school and could not speak and un-derstand English. Three years later, she met a man, also a native of Mex-ico but a legal permanent resident of the United States. Two months into the marriage, Maria became preg-nant. This was when the abuse started. At fi rst, the abuse was emotional. He called her stupid, fat, and ugly. He won’t let Maria see her family and socialize with friends. Maria asked him to start the process of getting her immigrant visa, but her husband won’t coop-erating saying he did not have time and money to pay for the lawyer and fi ling fee. As Maria was approach-ing the last term of her pregnancy, the abuse became physical. She was afraid to call the police because of her immigrant status. Her husband told her that once the police fi nds out about her status, she will be deported. The last straw came when Maria’s younger was visiting her and her husband tried to rape her. Maria and her sister fl ed and went to a women’s shelter home. Today Maria’s husband is in prison. Maria is caring for her baby, has a driver’s license, and a job. She obtained her legal status through what is known as a U visa. The husband never petitioned for Maria to be a legal permanent resident. She obtained the U visa without any divorce pro-ceedings being initiated.

The U visa was created by law on October 28, 2000. From the time of its enactment until its amendment on January 5, 2006, no actual U visas had ever been issued and no one had ever been granted U nonimmigrant status. Things changed dramatically when implementing interim regula-tions were issued on September 17, 2007. In 2008 a few dozen U visas were approved and the numbers keep increasing. In the fi scal year ending September 2009, 5,825 U visas were issued and another 2,244 were issued in the next two months.

Congress approved an annual limit of 10,000 U visas but the cap does not apply to eligible family members. The U nonimmigrant classifi cation was created to facili-tate the reporting of crimes to law enforcement offi cials by traffi cked, exploited, victimized, and abused aliens who are not in lawful immi-grant status. It is intended to encour-age aliens who are victims to report violent crimes to law enforcement without fear of deportation. The U is classifi ed as a nonimmigrant status. However, after three years in U status, an alien who has been

Victims Of Domestic Violence And Other Crimes Can Apply for a “U” Visa

continuously present in the United States may apply for lawful perma-nent residence, which status may be granted on humanitarian grounds, to ensure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest. The alien who obtained a U visa will re-ceive employment authorization and can bring their spouses, children, un-married siblings under 18, and par-ents to join them. The visa provides an alternative to victims of domestic violence who are not eligible under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) because they are not legally

married to the abuser.

The follow-ing are the qualifying crimes for the U visa: domestic violence, sexual as-sault, abu-sive sexual

contact, prostitution, sexual exploita-tion, female genital mutilation, being held hostage, peonage, involuntary servitude, slave trade, kidnap-ping, abduction, unlawful crimi-nal restraint, false imprisonment, blackmail, extortion, manslaughter, murder, felonious assault, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury. It must be kept in mind that it is not only the commission of a crime or criminal activity that gives rise to a U application, but also an “attempt, conspiracy, or solicita-tion to commit any of the qualify crimes. Also violation of a restrain-ing order is a qualifying crime.

To be eligible for a U visa, the foreign national must have suf-fered substantial abuse as a result of having been a victim of qualifying criminal activity, information about the qualifying criminal activity, been helpful to the investigation or prosecution of the crime or criminal activity, and received a certifi cation from the relevant U.S. government authority of such past, present or future helpfulness. According to the regulations, physical or mental abuse means injury or harm to the victim’s physical person, or harm to or impairment of the emotional or psychological soundness of the victim. Further, the harm suffered may be a result of a single criminal event or a series of acts when taken together may be considered to con-stitute substantial physical or mental abuse even when no single act alone rises to that level.

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

Sign the Petition to Place the CASE Act in the November Ballot

Critical Federal Legislation Needs

Your Voice!Support victims of human traffi ck-

ing by asking Congress to support three vital bills. Federal laws are crucial to establish clear, consistent measures against human traffi cking in America. We need your help to get these bills passed:

S. 1301 Traffi cking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2011

H.R. 2759 Business Transparency on Traffi cking Slavery Act

H.R. 2730 Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Traffi cking Act

Contact [email protected]. The Polaris Project | P.O. Box 53315 Washington, DC 20009




Community

Download the Digital Edition on Scribd.com/asianjournal ahead of the print edition

902,446

How is the Philippines ranking in social networking on a global scale? Well, Filipi-nos are way up in terms of number of users and how Facebook is used. Check our these statistics of Filipinos on Facebook. The Philip-pines is now the 5th largest country on Facebook led by the United States. // 20,802,540 users as of January 2011 // 1% of the whole Philippine population to date // 70% of all online Filipinos // In the age bracket of Facebook users which is 13 onwards, 68% belongs to the 18-35 age bracket. This has increase by 184% over the last three

months. Women outnumber the men at 52% and 48% ratio. // Philippines

is 4th top grow-ing Facebook countries in the world. 122% growth since January 2010 // 1.5 new users in January 2011 alone. While Lady Gaga bags the global top celebrity fan page in terms of numbers at 26M++, Vice Ganda takes the local spot with 2.6M++ fans. On the average,

Filipinos visit Faceboook 3 times a day for a total of 34 minutes. Same is true about 10 million Filipinos on FB on any given day or almost 20 million Filipinos logging into FB every month

By: Dr. Dave's Filipino Scene

How is the Philippines ranking in social networking on

a global scale?

Awardees Will Win $5,000SAN ANTONIO – Operation

Homefront has announced the semi-fi nalists for the 2012 Military Child of the Year® Award. There are ten semi-fi nalists from the San Diego area, representing the Marine Corps and Navy branches of service.

Each semi-fi nalist has been inter-viewed by Operation Homefront staff, and award recipients will be chosen by a committee including ac-tive duty military personnel, Family Readiness Support Assistants, teach-ers, military mothers, and community members.

Eric Dixon, a 15-year-old from San Diego, Calif., is a semi-fi nalist repre-senting the Marine Corps. Eric has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders when he hits the soccer fi eld on the weekends. As the referee, and the youngest referee on the roster, he knows coaches and parents alike are watching his every move. Eric, a varsity soccer player in his own right, took on the referee job because he thought the job sounded more fun than most high school jobs and he enjoys working with the younger kids, including his brother who plays the sport. Eric has played soccer for the Olympic Development Program Region as well as volunteered for that program. At Thanksgiving he helps serve the holiday meal to needy families at the Salvation Army. Eric has thrived academically despite at-tending seven different schools over his academic career. Still, the military life, he said, is one he would not choose again.

Mikayla Loquist, a 12-year-old from San Diego, Calif., Is a semi-fi nalist representing the Marine Corps. Mikayla has been very ill since age 7. It’s hard to tell though because she works so hard to do for others. Nearly every day she babysits for the wives of deployed Marines in her neighborhood for free. One family in particular has six children and their father is deployed. Mikayla spends a lot of time at their house helping the mother. It is only at home that Mikayla relaxes. At age 7 she was diagnosed with a rare disease in Singapore. At age 8 she was hospital-ized with mononucleosis. Mikayla has suffered from intestinal problems for the last three years and endured hospitalizations, numerous tests and weeks of missed school. Finally, doc-tors diagnosed her with Crohns Dis-ease, a form of infl ammatory bowel disease. Now Mikayla takes a hand-ful of pills twice a day and has to be extra careful about the foods she eats. She also undergoes regular colonos-copies. Still, Mikayla makes the best of her situation. Besides babysitting for neighbors, she volunteers in the nursery at church and teaches Sunday School to the younger children.

Anastasia Brady, a 10-year-old from Oceanside, Calif., is a semi-fi -nalist representing the Marine Corps. Anastasia has been chosen as one of the outstanding leaders among her fourth grade. She was one of two stu-dents chosen to attend planning meet-ings and lead holiday activities for

the entire school. Anastasia likes to read to the kindergarten students and work with the family readiness group for her father’s unit. She often can be found packing boxes for her father and his fellow Marines. Her father is currently on his sixth deployment and is aboard a ship so the family is un-certain of his exact whereabouts. The separation is hard for Anastasia and she said she often talks to a counselor at the Navy hospital to deal with the strain of the separation.

Savannah Camacho, an 8-year-old from Camp Pendleton, Calif., is a semi-fi nalist representing the Marine Corps. When Savannah’s baby sister was born, their father deployed just two months later. Savannah was concerned that the baby wouldn’t remember their dad. So she helped her mother create a doll for her to cuddle, made with her father’s photo and his own uniform. They put a voice recorder in the doll as well with a greeting from their dad. Since then, the family has patented the design and has created their own busi-ness making dolls for other military children at www.usdeploymentdolls.com. When Savannah is not helping her mom design dolls, she uses her allowance to donate to needy children and make donations to local organi-zations. Last year she donated $200 in allowance money. Savannah said she makes the donations because she is very concerned that other children do not have enough basic necessities.

Desiree Washington, a 13-year-old from San Diego, Calif., is a semi-fi -nalist representing the Navy. Desiree is happy to welcome new students to her school. That’s why the teen par-ticipates in the group W.E.B. (Where Everybody Belongs). These students

Ten San Diego Students Announced As Semi-Finalists For 2012 Military

Child Of The Year® Award

Faulty SONGS Reactors “Fall-ing Apart,” Subject to Earthquake and Tsunami Risks, and should be Decommissioned

EVENT DETAILS:Date/Time: March 11, 2012.

Gather at 12 noon. March starts at 12:30. Rally 1pm to 3pm.

Location: Rally: 1:00 p.m. near South Gate of the SONGS facility

Directions: I-5 to Basilone Rd exit, ~2 miles south.

March: 12:30 p.m. starting at gate of San Onofre State Beach (~1/2 mile)

Parking: Available at San Onofre State Beach, $15 day use fee.

Buses: Seats on buses from Balboa Park (Park Ave at Presidents Way) or from Oceanside Transit

Disaster at Fukushima to be Remembered: March 11 Anniversary Rally / Protest at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS)

Center are $10 each ($11.54 for tickets purchased with credit cards online.)

Reserve at http://sanonofreprotest.eventbrite.com ; Questions: 619-501-1031 .

Speakers: Keynote speakers are being confi rmed. Speakers from Fukushima may be on hand.

Details: See http://citizensover-sight.org, click "M11 San Onofre Protest"

February 20, 2012 (SAN ON-OFRE) – Activists from San Diego to Eureka will converge at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS,) just south of San Cle-mente, on the fi rst anniversary of the devastating Fukushima disas-ter, March 11, 2012. The peaceful protest will include a march from the San Onofre State Beach to a point just south of the SONGS facility.

The objective of the event is two-pronged, both to commemorate the

ongoing disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Power plant that started one year ago -- with three reactors still in full “level 7” meltdown -- and to push for closure of the dangerous San Onofre plant. No attempt will be made to encroach on the secure boundaries of the facility.

“The similarity between Fuku-shima and San Onofre is stunning,” said Raymond Lutz, former con-gressional candidate, engineer and National Coordinator of Citizens' Oversight Projects. “The two plants are not identical, but San Onofre -- originally built to withstand only a magnitude 6.0 earthquake -- was retrofi tted to withstand only a 7.0 earthquake. The seawall at San Onofre is only 14 feet tall from high tide (30 feet from low-low tide). But the real danger is stark: the Japanese earthquake was a magnitude 9.0 and tsunamis peaked at 133 feet. It is only a matter of time before San Onofre is also in a full meltdown,

just like Fukushima, and will dev-astate this area, force evacuation of millions of people, and lead to many untimely deaths. We can't let that happen.”

Despite the earthquake, tsunami, and terrorist risks, the undoing of the San Onofre plant may be due to internal problems. After spending $640 million to replace the steam generators just 18 months ago, op-erators thought the plant would run for another 10 to 20 years. Instead, hundreds of heat transfer tubes are exhibiting untimely thinning, baf-fl ing experts. The public only found out about the thinning tubes after the unexpected radioactive steam release last month forced management to explain why the entire plant was shut down.

“At some point, the San Onofre plant must be decommissioned. We believe that time is now,” said Gene

The Baguio City Association of San Diego (BCASD) will hold a Post-Panagbenga Gimong at the Council of Philippine American Organizations (COPAO) offi ce on March 11, 2012 at 12:00 pm. COPAO is located at 832 E Avenue National City Ca 91950. This was announced by BCASD President Julius Singlao saying that “even Orange County former residents and transients of Baguio City will be at-tending the meeting.”

The ‘gimong’, literally a meet-ing, is celebrating the spirit of the Panagbenga in Baguio City which is a fl ower February month long festiv-ity in the City of Pines. The meeting itself will bring association members and friends together to dwell on memories, renew friendships, and build acquaintances.

The potluck ‘gimong’ comes at a

Baguio City Assn. holds Post-Panagbenga Gimongtime when residents of the City are up in furor against the plan of SM-Baguio to cut or earth-ball the last of 182 trees at the zenith of Session Road. Calling the move as a ‘massa-cre of nature’, it is designed by SM to expand its structures to include a parking lot fronting Governor Pack Rd located on the North East fac-ing up Session Rd., Baguio’s main thorough fare.

The City, chartered in Septem-ber 1, 1909, was designated by the Americans as the Summer Capital of the Philippines where American troops could escape the enervating heat of the lowlands. From a small settlement in 1900s, it has mush-roomed into a residential, academic, commercial, and industrial metropo-lis in Northern Luzon.

“Even if you were just a transient who came up to Baguio via Zig-

zag, Marcos Highway, or Naguil-ian Road, you are welcome to the

‘gimong’,” calls Mr. Singlao.

Panagbenga Festival in Baguio



Read previous articles by visiting our website at www.asian-journalusa.com

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

Phil - Am Law 101

MiraCosta Col-lege Offers Com-munity Services

Classes MiraCosta College’s Community Services is offering the following

upcoming workshops:· Environmental Floral Design:

Monday, March 12, 6-9 p.m. in Room 205 at the San Elijo Campus Fee: $40.

· Managing ADD & ADHD: Thursday, March 13, 6-8 p.m. in Room 407 at the San Elijo Campus. Fee: $49.

· Social Dances I: Fridays, March 16-May 18, 5:45-7:15 p.m. in Room 204 at the San Elijo Campus Fee: $99.

· Social Dances II: Fridays, March 16-May 18, 7:30-9 p.m. in Room 204 at the San Elijo Campus Fee: $99.

· Stained Glass for Beginners: Saturdays, March 17-31, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Don Myers Stained Glass, 1025 S. Coast Hwy., Oceanside. Fee: $95.

· MS Excel Workshop—Intro-duction: Friday, March 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in Room 4607 at MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. Fee: $70.

· More Italian for Travelers: Wednesdays, March 14-April 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Room 303 at the San Elijo Campus. Fee: $90.

For information or to register, call 760.795.6820, or register online, http://miracosta.augusoft.net/.

The Metamorphosis

Read Ernie Delfin’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Ernie Delfin

THE METAMORPHOSISBy ERNIE DELFIN

It is raining now in Orange County that is making this day very condu-cive to work at home. It is also af-fording me the opportunity to finish this column, a self-imposed obliga-tion to pen at least one column ev-ery other week. With another GOP primary election scheduled today (Feb 28) in Arizona and Michigan, during this Lenten season amidst an anemic U.S. economy, I thought of adding my thoughts on these timely and interesting topics on Prophets, Profits and Politics, not necessarily in that order of importance.

As the vast majority of my read-ers most likely are Christians (many are Catholics like me) this Season of Lent that started on Ash Wednesday when the priests and their Eucharistic Ministers like me put ashes into the foreheads of the faithful, reminding them to “Repent and believe in the gospel” it is quite apropos to take inventory of what we as Christians to take inventory of what we have (or don’t have) par-ticularly during these difficult times and make the necessary fine tunings to make our lives worth living for. Metaphysically, it is healthy to pause and take minute vacations in our hectic lives to stop accumulat-ing perishable “things” and un-needed calories and instead creating or finding some “empty spaces” in our lives to fill up with wholesome and more valuable things that really matter. So for the Christian world, the Lenten Season whose climax oc-curs after 40 days on Easter Sunday, is indeed an opportunity to be more reflective, generous and kinder to our fellow human beings.

The biblical readings in all the Christian churches this holy season of Lent will center on the teachings of Christ during His public life, His return to JerUSAlem, His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, His passion and his triumphant resurrec-tion. For us Christians these biblical events were not only amazing but incredibly mysterious, considering that they were prophesied by many Prophets, like Elijah thousands of

years before Christ was born as a hu-man being, suffered and then cruci-fied and died for our redemption.

It is against this Lenten backdrop that I find it quite inspiring and titillating to analyze and comment as a neophyte “philosopher” on these current events in our world today that is quite preoccupied with the l business of profits and politics especially this presidential election year here in the United States.

* * *The wide contrast between the

GOP (Republicans) and the Demo-cratic parties will be accentuated in the coming months as the Republi-cans will do their best to destroy the records of President Obama to force him to be just a one time (4-year) president, while the Democrats will scare us, the people, that the Republicans are there only to foster their selfish and vested interest, to remain the in the one percent mega-wealthy at the expense of the 99 percent, reminiscent of the Occupy Wall Street Movement. With the continuing debacle of the real estate industry that has caused millions of foreclosures and underwater properties ( when the mortgage is higher than the market value of said property) and the concomitant high unemployment (still hovering at around 10% nationwide) the vic-tory of one party over the other will revolve on economic and financial issues popularized with that catchy phrase “It’s the economy, stupid!” A pragmatic voter will choose his candidate over the other candidates based on his personal conviction (or perception) that his choice will make his own personal economic condition better than what it is now.

As an Independent voter, I personally like a few of the Repub-lican values of “self-responsibility”, lesser intrusion of the government into our private lives, LOWER taxes, and other conservative stands on some issues. But I also like some of Democratic values of pro-people, the poor and the marginalized. But both parties have apparently gone extreme to my dislike: the Repub-licans believe that they know it all, that they often appear to be self-

righteous in many ways, while the Democrats seem to believe that the government can cure all the social problems of our people, often exact-ing HIGHER taxes just to dole out to many underserving poor people. The former advocates for limited government and the latter tends to expand government bureaucracies. The Democratic Party has created countless welfare or entitlement programs that many conservatives believe have made millions of Amer-ican citizens lazier and dependent upon the dole outs of their “rich” Uncle Sam.

Other issues clearly divides the two parties, like the issue of gun control (second amendment rights) where the right (GOP) insists on no gun control, while the left (Demo-crats) favor some degree of gun control . On the abortion issue, the Republicans generally are pro-life, aka anti-abortion, and the Demo-crats are generally pro-choice aka pro-abortion. On the death penalty issue, the GOP is generally favor the death penalty despite that they are also pro-life or anti-abortion, while the Democrats are generally anti death penalty. The Gay and Lesbian (gay marriage) issue also divides the two parties, the Republicans gen-erally are against gay marriages but the Democrats are often more toler-ant and approve of gay marriages.

These issues are often considered “religious” issues too but they are NOT the only elements or factors why voters vote for one candidate over the other. As a Christian voter, I will factor these issues into my cri-teria of selecting my candidate but they will not the sole determinants why I will vote for one candidate over his opponent.

Another important factor, I be-lieve, is the candidate’s economic platform or programs to resuscitate or improve this ailing economy that caused millions of people suffering financially. Their economic pro-grams, especially on their strategies how to put the unemployed back to working again, of each candidate will be magnified and scrutinized more closely to find a good match with the voters’ expectations. Of equal importance, I think, are the candidate’s foreign policy proposals particularly in the arena of USA’s being involved in foreign wars (to protect American interests?) that have drained billions of tax dollars the last 10 years. The loss of thou-sands of lives and the resulting eco-nomic catastrophe since the invasion of Iraq and the current Afghanistan war have made millions of Ameri-can sick and tired of America being the Big Police of the world.

Prophets, Profits And Politics

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

Through hard work and proper management of their finances, Ser-gio and Sylvia were able to acquire a couple of apartment properties in Manila. Although they were already enjoying a comfortable life there, Sergio and Sylvia migrated to the United States two years ago to join their only child. The plan was for them to stay in the United States and manage their apartment properties by “remote control”. They were not worried because Lisa, one of their tenants, had agreed to administer the properties in exchange for staying free in one of the units. They had no doubts that Lisa would do well because she is well educated and works as an account officer in a reputable bank. The couple thought that if the bank could trust Lisa, why could they not?

The first year passed by with-out any problems. The rents were regularly flowing in into their bank account. The units were properly maintained by the same carpenter who had been taking care of them for many years. No complaints were being heard from the tenants. In other words, it is as if Sergio and Sylvia were personally managing their apartment units.

But things became problematic in recent months. Lisa had a serious fight with her husband and decided to leave home, only to transfer to the adjacent unit. She was able to convince Sergio and Sylvia to also let her occupy the second unit free of rent. After all, she reasoned out, she was managing two apartment properties, so it was only fair that she gets two units free. Then, Lisa replaced the carpenter with her rela-tive. From that point, the apartment units began experiencing more than the usual maintenance problems. After a few months, Lisa convinced them to replace the entire roofing of both apartments which cost them quite a fortune. Next, Lisa told them that the taxman visited their place and questioned their income tax payments, but told them not to worry because she knew somebody from the Bureau of Internal Revenue who could fix their problem. They were forced to cough up six figures for it. Finally, the turnover of ten-ants became more frequent. Worse, according to Lisa, those leaving did not bother to pay their rental arrears.

When it came to a point that Sergio and Sylvia were practically getting nothing from the apartments, they decided to come to us for advice. They suspect that Lisa had been taking advantage of their trust.

They now realize that they should either go back to the Philippines to personally manage their properties, or hire someone else who they can really trust. Selling the properties was not an option for them.

When we examined the documents they showed us, we learned that they did not have any system in place to ensure transparency. Lisa was in charge of everything. In fact, the tenants were depositing their rents to the accounts that Lisa opened in her bank. Sergio and Sylvia did not have access to the back accounts. They were merely relying on the reports submitted by Lisa, but they received conflicting accounts from Lisa and the tenants. The same was true with the repairs, which Lisa could do without Sergio and Lisa surely knowing the actual extent of the repairs or if they were really be-ing done. They had no one to dispute Lisa, certainly not the new carpenter who was Lisa’s relative.

We explained to Sergio and Sylvia that owning properties in the Philippines carries with it certain responsibilities. They should register their business, secure the neces-sary permits and licenses, and pay the correct taxes. They should also actively involve themselves in their business through adequate monitor-ing, accounting and consultation. For instance, the tenants should have lease contracts and receipts for their rental payments. Sergio and Sylvia should also have full access to the bank account and monitor the rental income. Repairs should be consulted with them before being undertaken.

Since Lisa has refused to render proper accounting and liquidation of funds, she may be criminally liable for estafa.

As an agent, Lisa was holding the rental income in trust for Sergio and Sylvia. She is under obligation to remit the payments to them under the terms of their agency or at least when told to do so. Article 315 (1)(b) of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines says that estafa is com-mitted, among others:

“By misappropriating or convert-ing, to the prejudice of another, money, goods, or any other personal property received by the offender in trust or on commission, or for administration, or under any other obligation involving the duty to make delivery of or to return the same, even though such obligation be totally or partially guaranteed by a bond; or by denying having re-ceived such money, goods, or other property.”

On top of that, Lisa may also be

evicted from the premises on notice from Sergio and Sylvia that her right to stay has expired. There are two bases for the ejectment suit. First is that Lisa stays free in the two units by sheer tolerance or permission of Sergio and Sylvia. Once that permis-sion is withdrawn, the right to stay ceases. Second is that, even if we assume that Lisa is paying rent, her oral lease contract expires at the end of the month, so all Sergio and Lisa needs to do is to notify Lisa that her lease will expire at month’s end.

This case should serve as a lesson to both sides. Sergio and Sylvia now realize that they should have involved themselves more actively and adopted stricter monitoring measures in their business. For her part, Lisa will be blaming herself for abusing their trust. Not only does she stand to lose the benefit of free rent; worse, she faces the possibility of spending time in jail.

Atty. Rogelio Karagdag , Jr. is licensed to practice law in both Cal-ifornia and the Philippines. He prac-tices immigration law in San Diego and has continuously been a trial and appellate attorney in the Philip-pines since 1989. He travels between San Diego and Manila. His office address is located at 10717 Camino Ruiz, Suite 131, San Diego, CA 92126. He also has an office in the Philippines at 1240 Apacible Street, Paco, Manila, Philippines 1007, with telephone numbers (632)522-1199 and (632)526-0326. Please call (858)348-7475/(858)536-4292 or email him at [email protected]. He speaks Tagalog fluently. Articles written in this column are not legal advice but are hypotheticals intended as general, non-specific legal information. Readers must seek legal consultation before taking any legal steps.

Managing Your Properties In The Philippines


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ABS-CBN Corporation in the Phil-ippines and its subsidiary, ABS-CBN International in the U.S., bring honor to the homeland by bagging a total of six nominations at the prestigious 2012 New York Festivals Interna-tional Television & Film Awards for its news and current affairs programs and specials and for a short public service video, chosen among all entries coming from 40 countries worldwide.

ABS-CBN’s cinematic style documentary “Storyline,” is once again nominated in the Biography/Profi les category after earning three recognitions from the NYF last year, namely Silver World Medal in the Biography/Profi les category, Bronze World Medal in the Community Portraits category, and a fi nalist cer-tifi cate in the Social Issues/Current Events category.

ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol,” which is the Philippine’s highest rating primetime TV newscast, is nomi-nated for the second consecutive year in the Best Newscast category for its extensive coverage of Storm Juaning. Last year, “TV Patrol” received a fi nalist certifi cate in the same category for its coverage of the Manila bus siege titled “Bloodbath in Manila.”

Two ABS-CBN current affairs show also made it as fi nalists in two different categories. “Krusada,” a weekly documentary that espouses advocacy journalism, made it in the Social Issues/Current Events catego-ry, while magazine program “Rated K,” which is ABS-CBN’s number one current affairs show anchored by Korina Sanchez, is nominated in the Magazine Format category.

ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs special documentary about the 25th anniversary of the 1986 People Power revolution dubbed as “EDSA25: Sulyap sa Kasaysayan” received a nomination for the His-tory and Society category.

ABS-CBN International, a sub-sidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation, became the only Filipino media company based in the U.S. to reach the fi nals of said festival with the nomination of “Streets of My Lolo” under the Social Issues/Current Events category, going against the likes of CNN and Discovery Net-works.

“Streets of My Lolo” is a short piece created for and shown at the 2010 Filipino American His-tory Month celebration at the San Francisco City Hall, co-presented by the Offi ce of then Mayor Gavin

Newsom, the Philippine Consulate General of San Francisco, Filipino American Arts Exposition, SOMA Pilipinas and ABS-CBN Interna-tional. It highlights the efforts of SOMA Pilipinas to preserve Filipino history and heritage in the streets of South of Market, San Francisco which served as an early settlement for many Filipino immigrants. It was written and produced by Pia Lopezbaños-Carrion who heads the Ad & Promo unit of ABS-CBN International under North America Media Events and Production Group & Global Customer Engagement Head John-D Lazatin. Her team in-cluded videographer Jeremiah Ysip, editors Danny Manasala and Mitos Briones, with Mike Carrion provid-ing art direction.

Finalists will be awarded and entries which will be promoted to Gold, Silver, or Bronze awardees will be announced during the award-ing ceremony to be held on April 17, in conjunction with the National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas from April 14-19, 2011

The New York Festivals® World’s Best Television & Films™ recognize the “World’s Best Work™” in news, sports, documentary, information and entertainment program as well as in music videos, infomercials, promotion spots, openings and ID’s. Now entering its 54th year, the total number of entries continues to grow, now representing over 35 differ-ent countries, making the NYF™ Television & Film Awards one of the most well known and widely respected competitions on the globe. (Kane Errol Choa/Nerissa Fernan-dez)

ABS-CBN Bags Six Nominations In 2012 New York Festivals

CAPTION: ABS-CBN Corporation in the Philippines (left) re-ceived fi ve nominations at the 2012 New York Festivals while its sub-sidiary, ABS-CBN International (right), became the only Filipino me-dia company based in the U.S. which was chosen as 2012 New York Festivals fi nalist in the Social Issues/Current Events caregory for the multi-awarded short public service video, "Streets of My Lolo". (ABS-CBN/TFC)

TV Patrol Anchors Noli de Castro Korinna Sanchez, and Ted Failon

By Tarra Quismundo, Philippine Daily Inquirer | MANILA, Philippines—The modest kariton (pushcart) that caught the attention of the world is waging a new revolution.

The mobile Kariton Klasrum learning project of 2009 CNN Hero Efren Peñafl orida is breaking even more ambitious ground, pounding the streets of Cavite City with a holistic education, health

2009 CNN Hero Efren Peñafl orida. IN-QUIRER FILE PHOTO

CNN Hero’s ‘kariton’ gets bigger, better

and values initiative for out-of-school youth.

Dubbed Kariton Revolution, Pe-ñafl orida’s Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) has expanded its alternative classroom program to tackle the 7Ks: Karunungan (education), Ka-bataan (youth), Kalusugan (health), Kapayapaan (peace and order), Kali-nangan (arts and culture), Kalikasan (environment) and Kabuhayan (livelihood).

The themes will be discussed during classes held in DTC’s known style: Volunteers will park their kariton—each carrying instructional materials—on the streets and en-courage out-of-school youth to take part in lessons.

’Be the change’“I’ve always believed that we, as

individuals, have to be the change that we dream of. We all have the hero within us and we can unleash it by coming together uniting for a common purpose for the sake of our country, our community, our very own family,” Peñafl orida said in a statement.

“I am always grateful for opportu-nities to bring my kariton to a wider public and, more importantly, to encourage more people to volunteer their time and resources,” he said.

To launch the Kariton Revolution, the DTC, the Department of Educa-

tion’s Cavite division offi ce and the Cavite youth council will hold a weeklong event from March 1 to 5 in Cavite City.

Organizers are calling on inter-ested students to take part in arts and literary competitions to be held dur-ing the launch week. The DTC will also hold a kariton design project open to schools, families, barangays, people’s organizations and other groups.

Celebrities, meanwhile, will grace a Kariton Revolution caravan to be held on March 4. Education Secre-tary Armin Luistro is among those expected to grace the culmination of the launch on March 5.

Under the program, volunteers and sponsors may choose which of the seven key concerns to support.

“By highlighting these 7Ks, the [Kariton Revolution] is expanding the world view of our less privileged youth and giving them a more well-rounded education, even outside the classroom” said DepEd Cavite division chief Dr. Cresenciana R. Fancuvilla.

Last month, the DepEd and the DTC launched K4 (Kariton Klas-rum, Klinik, Kantin), a joint program adopting Peñafl orida’s alternative classroom method to provide learn-ing, healthcare and feeding to street children around Metro Manila.

Another Filipino-American has made it to the top 24 of “American Idol.”

Sixteen-year-old Jessica Sanchez hurdled a grueling audition process presided over by celebrity judges Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson to snag a spot in the coveted Top 24.

The other contestants who made it to the top 24 are Creighton Fraker, Joshua Ledet, Reed Grimm, Heejun Han, Phil Phillips Jr., Colton Dixon, Adam Brock, Aaron Marcellus,

Eben Franckewitz, Chase Likens, Jeremy Rosado, Deandre Bracken-

Filipino-Am Jessica Sanchez makes top 24 of “American Idol”sick, Jen Hirsh, Haley Johnson, Elise Testone, Erika Van Pelt, Chelsea Sorrell, Baylie Brown, Brielle Von Hugel, Hallie Day, Shannon Magrane, Hollie Cavanagh and Skylar Laine.

In 2004, Jasmine Trias, a Filipino-American from Hawaii, was a fi nal-ist on the third season of American Idol.

Aside from Trias, Camille Ve-lasco, Ramielle Malubay and Thia Megia, all of Filipino descent, have advanced to the fi nals of American Idol.

Sanchez, who hails from South-

ern California, won the judges’ nod for her powerful rendition of the “Prayer” and will move on to the next live show on Wednesday.

Lopez said she found what she was looking for in Jessica.

Sanchez said she wanted to win American Idol to help her fi nancially troubled family.

“My mom is unemployed,” San-chez revealed at the show.

“My family has spent so much money because of me. So everything is at stake,” she added.

Jessica started singing at the age of 2, and counts Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera and Whitney Houston as her musical infl uences.

She said landing in the Top 24 was a dream come true. “I’ve been watching American Idol since I was fi ve-years-old,” Sanchez said.

Host Ryan Seacrest joked that Sanchez brought her whole clan to the show.

“Your family is the biggest thing that has happened to us!” Seacrest said upon seeing the large group of people crowding around Sanchez.

“I’m doing this for myself [and]… my family,” Sanchez told Seacrest. “I’m tired of seeing my family struggle.”

(Story courtesy of Patricia Esteves of the Philippine Star)

Jessica Sanchez

MANILA, Philippines, 1/14/2012 — From the pigeonhole: Unlike their horrifi c experience at the height of Tropical Storm “Sendong,” an unex-pected surprise in the form of free con-cert from Filipino-American hip-hop artist and Smart brand ambassador apl.de.ap of The Black Eyed Peas (BEP) entertained survivors staying at the West City Central School in Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.

apl.de.ap, who is in the country for his annual Christmas visit, willingly participated in efforts to cheer up the survivors and boost the efforts of vol-unteers helping in relief efforts in the aftermath of Tropi-cal Storm Sendong.

He energized the crowd with songs like “Bebot” and “The Apl Song” and gave his audi-ence an inspiring message with “We Can Be Any-thing,” the song he composed for the “Bayanihang Pampaaralan” campaign to promote education and build 10,000 classrooms for poor Filipino children in 10 months. He ended with the hit song “Where Is The Love?,” saying “because that’s what we need right now!”

apl.de.ap later greeted volunteers at the Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, where he also gave in to requests to render some songs.

His trip to Cagayan was made possible through the efforts of the Philippine Business for Social Progress in coordination with Xavier University-

Ateneo de Cagayan, TV5, One Meralco Foundation, the PLDT-Smart Founda-tion, PLDT and Smart Communica-tions, Inc.

BPInoy AwardeeIncidentally while here, apl.de.ap.

(Allan Pineda in real life) also received a BPInoy Award from the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) during an intimate gathering held at the BPI Head Offi ce along Ayala Ave., Makati City. Welcoming him were offi cers of BPI led by its president, Aurelio R. Montinola III.

Montinola said, “BPI pays tribute to our kababayans whose extraordinary

achievements have caught the world’s attention. In doing so, we are also cel-ebrating a tradition of excellence that has been the hallmark of BPI for the past 160 years.”

The 2011 BPInoy Awardees also include the highest ranking and only Asian Female General Manager in the Procter and Gamble’s Global Hq. located in Ohio, USA, Fatima de Vera-Francisco and world-boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

This year, apl.de.ap also introduced his latest music and campaign, “We Can Be Anything (WCBA).”

Apl.de.ap Holds Impromptu Concert for 'Sendong' Victims

apl.de.ap performs on stage crowded by people as well as relief goods. Also in photo are (from left) Fr. Eric Velan-dria, Rafael Lopa, Jeffrey Tarayao, Sheryl Yao and Esther Santos.


Spiritual Life

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

by Msgr. Fernando G. Gutierrez

Lower Your Nets Balintataw

Read Virginia Ferrer’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Virginia H. Ferrer

©2012 Virginia H. Ferrer. All rights reserved.

About the Author: Virginia H. Ferrer is a Filipino Language Teacher at Otay Ranch High School in Chula Vista.

March 4 Second Sun. of Lent

THE FIAT OF THE ETERNAL FATHERsay every morning

My Beloved Father, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven .Be Thou my Father. Be always my Eternal Father. Do not leave my soul . Do not abandon me . Do not leave me out of Your sight, my Father,for I am Your child, whom You have created to please You, to adore You, to honor You, living my days as You have given me the license to live it. (I offer up this Fiat through Mary, to Jesus, to You, Eternal Father]

“Day after day, my children, say that in your mind. That will be the way you will say your FIAT to your Father. And I your Father will open My arms like this (and He stretched out his arms) and I everyday will gather you in My arms and I will hold you and I will rock you as your BELOVED MOTHER (Blessed Mother) rocks each baby in her arms. For yes, you are My children. Remember the FIAT of each day as you live. As you do this from the beginning of the day, I promise you, My children, I guarantee you I will cover you in My arms. I will send you My angel s with St. Michael to protect you and all the saints of your baptisms and of your devotions to be with you during the day to guide you and assist you. I promise you, you will feel the power of My great LOVE for you that I will send you day in and day out. But you have to offer me - everyday - as you get up in the morning - that FIAT.” -- Mary’s Call, 12400 Olive • Kansas City, MO 64146. 816-942-9783 • Fax 816-942-4313 • [email protected]

Pag-asa (1)

Hindi dito natatapos ang buhay sa mundo, Indayhayan at masdan mo ang marahang paglubog ng arawtiyak na mapapangiti ka sa magagandang kulayiyan ang pag-asa na mahalaga sa ating buhay.

Natutuwa naman akong tunay sa iyo, Auroradahil sa nabihag ka sa ganda nitong gumamelasimpleng bulaklak nga lamang ito sa bakuran nilaang isang katulad mo ay punong-puno ng pag-asa.

Sinundan-sundan pa mandin ng iyong mga paninginang pagaspas nitong paru-paro sa hihip ng hanginsana nga'y marami pa kayong tulad nitong si Kristinena punong-puno ng pag-asa sa puso at damdamin.

Pagkatapos ng paglalabada nitong si Lagrimasbunsong anak sa duyan ay sabik niyang binubuhatdagling napawi ang pagod, mga mata ay kumislaphalik sa anak pag-asa ng kanilang hinaharap.

Kaibigang matalik ay nagbago na ng ugaliibang-iba na siya sa dati niyang mga gawi"marahil ay malaking problema ang tunay na sanhi"may pag-asang pagtatanggol nawika nitong si Angge.

Joke of the Week: Two men met on a mountain peak. “I came here because I love adventure, and I have an insatiable curiosity,” said one. “I like to see the sunrise from new surroundings, and I like to tread where no man has trod before. I like to embrace the universe and admire the beauty of nature from the

height and silence of mountain peak. What about you?” “I came because my daughter is learning to play the piano, and my wife is learning to sing.”

Scriptures: First Reading: Gen-esis 22: 1-2, 9, 10-13, 15-18. The child born of Abraham’s union with Sarah was the promised heir and through him Abraham was to be the father of nations. Today’s passage shows whether Abraham believes that God can be trusted to keep his promise. Earlier, when Sarah was past menopausal, Abraham’s

solution was Hagar, the maidser-vant, who gave birth to Ishmael. Abraham and Sarah did not wait for God’s solution to their problem; they took the matters in their own hands. Now, God wants Abraham to trust him instead of relying on his (Abraham’s) own power. The test: is Abraham willing to sacrifi ce his

only son, Isaac, the promised heir? Second Reading: Romans: 8: 31-34: Abraham, trusting in God, did not withhold his only son from him. St. Paul drawing from the exemplary obedience of Abraham to offer his own son concluded that God did not also spare his own Son from death for our sake. “The father (Abraham) of believers is conformed to the like-ness of the Father (God).”Gospel: Mark 9: 2-10. Jesus, the Beloved Son, took the three apostles up to the mountain, because: 1. he is showing them that he is not just human, but

also divine; 2. he teaches them that he is the Messiah who fulfi lls what the prophets had foretold; 3. he does not want them to be scandalized by his approaching suffering and death on the cross.

Refl ections: Mountains have a religious signifi cance for the ancient as well as for the modern man. Mountains enable human beings to be in touch with the divine power and to be in communion with God. The early Israelites did not only wish to be in contact with God, they wanted to be like God, so they built the Tower of Babel. Some mountains are sacred sites for pilgrims. The Irish Catholics have Croaghpatrick in County Mayo to honor St. Patrick. St. Benedict established his mon-astery at Monte Cassino. St. Bruno founded his hermitage at La Grande Chartreuse in the French Alps. Swit-zerland has a sacred site at Einsie-deln. The Catalans honor the Blessed Virgin Mary at Monserrat and the Austrians have their Marian shrine at Mariazelli. There is also Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. For their part, the Filipinos have Antipolo, shrine of Nuestra Señora de Buen Viaje. There is also Mt. Banahaw, a famous site for pilgrims during Holy Week. Some Filipinos associate Mt. Makiling and Mt. Arayat with some extra-terrestrial and enchanted power. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has Christ of Corcovado. The mountain fascinates man not only because of its height and beauty, but also because it makes man touch the face of God.

Today’s gospel manifests the di-vinity of Jesus, God’s beloved Son. The three apostles witnessed the face of God in Jesus. It is no wonder that Peter, speaking in ecstasy and in be-half of the two apostles, James and John, proposed to stay forever on top of the mountain. Who would want to leave God’s presence where there is eternal peace and beauty? Why ex-change God’s eternal presence with the uncertain moments of temporary earthly existence at the foot of the mountain? However, Jesus wants his apostles to realize that before they can fully enjoy God’s presence, they, like him, must suffer and die. It means that before they can go up to the “mountain” again, they must fi rst go down to the valley (the real world) and face life, suffering and death. No guts to face the world, no glory to enjoy heaven.

A man and his young son went on a camping trip to the mountains. They hired an experienced guide, who brought them into the heart of a great forest, and the beauty spots in the mountains that they them-selves would never have found. The old guide was forever pointing out beauty and wonders that the mere passer-by would never notice. The young son was fascinated by the ability of the guide to see so much in the surroundings. One day the young lad was so impressed that he exclaimed, “I’ll bet you can see God out here.” The old guide smiled and replied, “Son, as life goes on it’s get-ting hard for me to see anything but God out here.”

Quotation of the Week: “In short, the Man Christ Jesus has the decisive place in man’s ageless rela-tionship with God. He is what God means by ‘Man’. He is what man means by ‘God’.” J. S. Whale.

From the Mountain to the Valley

by David KerrVatican City, Feb 26, 2012 / 07:56

am (CNA/EWTN News).- Christ’s 40 days in the desert teach Christians that temptations can be overcome in life if we stay close to Jesus, Pope Benedict XVI said Feb. 26.

“Man is never wholly free from the temptation... but with patience and true humility we become stronger than any enemy,” the Pope said in his Sunday Angelus address, quoting Thomas à Kempis’ famous 15th century devotional work “The Imitation of Christ.”

The Pope addressed thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on the fi rst Sunday of Lent, giving a refl ection on St. Mark’s Gospel account of Christ’s forty days in the desert when he was tempted by Satan.

Pope Benedict, citing his fi fth cen-tury predecessor St. Leo the Great, suggested that Jesus “willingly suffered the attack of the tempter to defend us with his help and to teach us by his example.”

Stay close to Jesus to conquer temptation, Pope says

The desert can be a place of “aban-donment and loneliness” where temptation becomes stronger, he said. However, it can also indicate “a place of refuge and shelter, as it was for the people of Israel who escaped from slavery in Egypt.” The desert is a place “where we can experience the presence of God in a special way.”

The patience and humility required to defeat “the enemy” come by fol-lowing Christ every day and from “learning to build our life not out-side of him or as if he did not exist, but in him and with him, because he is the source of true life,” the Pope continued.

In contrast to this is the temptation “to remove God, to order our lives and the world on our own, relying solely on our own abilities.”

This is why in Jesus “God speaks to man in an unexpected way, with a unique and concrete closeness, full of love,” because God has now become incarnate and “enters the world of man to take sin upon him-self, to overcome evil and bring man back into the world of God.”

In return for this “great gift” Jesus asks that each person “repent and believe in the Gospel.”

This request, explained the Pope, is “an invitation to have faith in God and to convert our lives each day to his will, directing all our actions and thoughts towards good.”

Lent is the perfect season to do this, he concluded, as it provides the ideal opportunity to “renew and strengthen our relationship with God” through daily prayer, acts of penance, and works of fraternal charity.

The Pope prayed that the Blessed Virgin Mary accompany and protect each pilgrim on his or her Lenten journey. He also asked for prayers for himself and for the Roman curia as they begin a seven-day Lenten retreat starting Sunday evening.

Sunday February 26, 2012 We all have dreams about the per-

fect life: a life without pain, sadness, confl ict, or war. The spiritual chal-lenge is to experience glimpses of this perfect life right in the middle of our many struggles. By embracing the reality of our mortal life, we can get in touch with the eternal life that has been sown there. The apostle Paul expresses this powerfully when he writes: “We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never distressed; we see no way out but we never despair; we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but still have some life in us; always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our ... mortal

fl esh” (2 Corinthians 4:8-12).

Only by facing our mortality can we come in touch with the life that transcends death. Our imperfections open for us the vision of the perfect life that God in and through Jesus has promised us.

Daily Meditation: Facing Our Mortality

Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc.


IW Group80990

80990_L121.30.12

Newsprint85

DG


By Ogie Cruz

Sino ba talaga ang pinaka-Queen of Phil. Movies kina Nora Aunor at Vilma Santos or Queen of Phil. Showbiz. Ngayong bumalik ulit sa bansa ang Superstar na si Nora Aunor, at muling umugong muli ang labanan nila ni Gov. Vilma Santos ng Batangas.

Alam nyo ba yung nai-post namin na picture nina Ate Vi at Ate Guy sa Facebook last year na magkasama sila , hanggang ngayon ay may mga nagko-comment?Walang tigil ang parunggitan ng dalawang kampo kung sino talaga ang pinaka-Queen of Phil. Movies.

Pati mga movie reporters na kilala namin sumasali rin sa thread dahil kahit sila ay may kanya-kanyang manok between Ms. Aunor and Ms.

Santos.Ang pinaka-latest,sasali ang

dalawa sa Metro Manila Film Festival this year. Si Vilma da-hil ise-celebrate niya sa taong ito ang kanyang 50th Anniversary in showbiz kailangan daw makagawa siya ng isang movie para panlaban sa MMFF 2012. Ang huling balita namin matutupad ito sa pamamagi-tan ng Star Cinema, igagawa siya this year bale sa taong ito dalawang movies ang pipilitin matapos ni Ate Vi.Samantalang si Nora Aunor naman may gagawin sa Regal Films may tentative title na ‘Hototay’ at takenote entry din ito sa MMFF.Ibig sabihin mabubuhay muli ang labanang Nora-Vilma this year, at tiyak mas masaya ito.

Sa totoo lang,wala pang nakaka-gaya at tagal ng era ng Vilma-Nora.

Sino Ba Ang Pinaka-Queen Of Phil. Movies?

Sila lang ang mga tanging Movie Queens na tumagal ng hanggang ngayon tinatangkilik pa rin.At ang kanilang labanan ay hindi na rin nasundan ng iba, kahit sina Sharon at Maricel hindi ganon kainit ang la-banan kumpara kina Nora at Vilma.

Im sure maraming pinoy dito sa San Diego California na hanggang ngayon Vilma at Nora pa rin ang bu-kang bibig,kahit sabihin marami na ang nagsulputan na mga baguhang stars sa ibat-ibang generation .Kahit sa network, si Nora sa Channel 5 at si Vilma naman sa ABS-CBN.

SEN. MIRIAM DEFENSOR, INIREKLAMO SA MTRCB!Alam nyo ba naireklamo na si Sen. Miriam Defensor sa Movie and Television Review and Classification Board dahil sa ginawa nitong pagmumura sa impeachment sa mga prosecutors kasi nga live ito napapanood sa Tv at bandang hapon pa ito naipalabas. Siempre marami pang bata ang gis-ing ng oras na ‘yun, kaya may ilan na nakapuna , nakarating na rin ito sa isang deputy ng MTRCB at ni-report ang kanilang opisina.

Ang suhestiyon ng deputy ay dapat i-delay ng mga Tv stations ang pagpapalabas ng impeach-ment para nasasala ang mga salita na lalabas sa Tv. Ayon sa nakausap niya,pagmimitingan raw ang tungkol sa kanyang suggestion,hindi naman niya sinisisi si Senadora dahil sa bugso ng damdamin nito pero dapat ang mga Tv Stations ang may re-sponsibility sa mga bagay na ito.

Abangan na lang natin ang mga

susunod na kabanata tungkol sa reklamo at hakbang na gagawin ng MTRCB tungkol sa bagay na ito. Di ba Chairman Grace Poe-Llamanza-res ?

MARIAN RIVERA TINAN-GHAL NA TANGING PINAY NA NAPASAMA SA TOP 10 INTER-NATIONAL BEAUTIES 2012 !!! Halos hindi makapaniwala si Marian Rivera na napasama sa top 10 International Beauties 2012, at nagpapasalamat siya dahil tanging pinay na lang siya napasama rito.Nasa slot no. 9 siya sa mga interna-tional beauties pero hindi kasali rito ang amerika kaya walang nakasaling USA dito. 1. Rosie Huntington ng England, lead star siya ng ‘Trans-formers: Dark of the Mountain’2. Lara Stone ng Netherlands 3. Miranda Kerr ng Australia 4.Irina Shayk ng Russia 5. Katrina Kaif ng England 6.Cheryl Cole ng England 7. Shakira ng Colombia 8. Laetitia Casta ng France 9.Marian Rivera of the Philippines 10. Leryn Franco of Paraguay.

HEALTH NI DOLPHY IKI-NALULUNGKOT NGAYON NI ZSAZSA PADILLA !!! Napaiyak kamakailan si Zsa Zsa Padilla nang magkaroon ng presscon ang ‘Bugoy’ na kung saan kasali rin siya.

Napaiyak at naibulaslas nito ang tungkol sa kanyang pinagdadaanan

about sa health ngayon ng Comedy King na si Dolphy, hindi niya sinabi kung ano talaga ang sakit pero ayaw muna niya sabihin.

Gusto muna niya na may permiso siya sa buong family ni Dolphy , kung kailan nila ito iri-reveal sa publiko.Basta malungkot siya kaya siya napaiyak, 83 yrs old na pala ang comedy king at hindi na rin ito nakapagte-taping sa show nito sa channel 5 dahil sa kalagayan nito sa kasalukuyan.

Basta pagdarasal na lang namin na sana bumalik ang magandang kalusugan ng Comedy King.

AL GALANG TAGA SAN DI-EGO CALIFORNIA PALA KASO MALUMANAY RAW KUMILOS !!! Kilala nyo ba si Al Galang na siya ngayong apple of the eye ni Vicki Belo.Taga San Diego Califor-nia pala ito lumaki, ayon nga kay Cristy Fermin pinag-uusapan raw ng mga movie reporters itong si Al kesyo malumanay raw kumilos at baka ‘Bekie’ raw ito.

Pero pinatunayan naman ito ng isang kasama ni Ate Cristy na marami naman daw itong naging girlfriend at hindi ito miembro ng federasyon ayon kay IC Mendoza.Maaaring malumanay ito magkikilos dahil yoga instructor kasi ito, basta lalaki raw ito ayon pa sa anak ni Dolly Ann Carvajal

Isa pang taga San Diego na pinag-uusapan ngayon itong si Jessica Sanchez na kamakailan ay napanood namin sa ‘American Idol’.Pinagk-aguluhan na naman ang Phil-Am dahil sa lakas ng timbre ng kanyang boses at poisture sa pagkanta.

Standing ovation ang mga audi-ence dahil sa taas ng boses niya, galing talaga ng Pinay pati si Jen-nifer Lopez ang ganda ng mga sinabi tungkol sa kanya.

Sana ma-interbyu namin si Jes-sica Sanchez dito sa Asian Jour-nal, dahil ipinagmamalaki siya ng sambayanang Pilipino hindi lang sa Pilipinas maging mga Pinoy sa amerika?

EntertainmentShowbiz Watcher

Read Ogie Cruz’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Ogie Cruz

Marian Rivera

Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor

Dolphy

Sen. Miriam Defensor

Al Galang







our e-blast.



TrendsTech IT

from My Barber

by Benjamin Maynigo

TECH IT FROM MY BARBER by Benjamin Maynigo | McLEAN, VA, 3/2/2012 --

IPAD 3My barber called me after reading

about the launching of the new IPad 3 next week. He was ready to buy the iPad 2 after I have convinced him by explaining how I use the fea-tures and some selected applications of and for my device.

He asked if it would better to wait for the iPad 3. I said there is no harm waiting for a few days in order to fi nd out the additional features, the price, the design, and other differ-ences.

I am sure that the apps for iPad 2 can also be utilized in iPad 3. New capabilities of the latter should gen-erate new and additional apps.

Regardless, my barber is ready to live a Techie Life and within a couple of weeks, he is inviting me to share a Tequi-la.

*********AIRWAVESThe Philippine Government

through the National Telecommuni-cations Commission (NTC) should consider auctioning the Airwaves or Bandwidth which owned by the sovereign people. Right now the telecom and broadcast companies are making use of and plan to obtain new ones at minimal fees. Auction-ing them would generate revenues for the government to fund Anti-Poverty or Employment-Generating Programs.

******* $25 ComputersIn the fi les of the Department of

Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in the Philippines is a con-cept paper called, “Rural Electronifi -

IPAD 3 and $25 Computerscation Program.” Basically, it would seek to make computers accessible, available and affordable to students, government offi cials and households up to the Barangay level. It would also give these computers access to the Internet.

There are now efforts to produce computers at a cost of $25. The Philippine Government should ag-gressively pursue either buying or getting the license to manufacture said device in the Philippines.

The sooner the program of digitiz-ing or computerizing the rural villag-es is implemented in the Philippines, the sooner we get to localize global knowledge and globalize local knowledge. This would give rural villagers access to data, information, and knowledge that enhance educa-tion, business, technical skills, health care and government services.

********Mobile Phones for WomenReading a research on the impact

of mobile phones on women, I fi nd the following fi ndings interesting:

1. Efforts are being made to empower underserved women in emerging markets by providing them with mobile phones.

2. The research found that 74% of married women who did not want a mobile phone said it was because their husbands would not allow it. This explains the mobile gender gaps at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) as found by the same research.

3. Mobile solutions that help manage business or set up of mobile retail enterprises could have some impact for women who expressed interest in entrepreneurship.

4. There is also an SMS gen-der gap. While 77% of BoP women

have made a mobile phone call, only 37% have sent an SMS regardless of literacy levels. The women reported that they did not fi nd the SMS ser-vices useful.

5. While 84% of women wanted better healthcare informa-tion, only 39% expressed interest in receiving general healthcare infor-mation through their mobile.

From the KURZWEIL NEWS-LETTER:

1. Mozilla to challenge big players in mobile web

February 22, 2012

Mozilla is expected Wednesday to announce plans for Mozilla Marketplace, of-fering mobile apps for the iPhone, an Android phone, or a Windows phone.

Mozilla is also working to develop a smartphone that would not be locked into the “walled gardens” of apps, operating systems and devices that are now controlled by Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon and a few others.

Mozilla’s vision is to develop a phone (code-named “Boot to Gecko”) that would run apps within the phone’s browser and it is talking to manufacturers and wireless car-riers that might build and support a Mozilla phone, with a prototype possible next week. It would run critical software like JavaScript and HTML5 directly.

In essence, the phone’s browser would become the operating system, supporting features like the camera, voice communication, and geoloca-tion abilities of the phone.

Firefox now has about 450 million users, but access to the Internet is increasingly going mobile.

Mozilla is also trying to have an impact in the area of privacy and

social networks, with “BrowserID,” which would allow users to register and log in to a website without shar-ing large amounts of their personal data.

****

2. Driverless cars can be licensed in Nevada

Nevada has become the fi rst state to allow driverless cars to apply for their own drivers’ licenses.

The rules, which go into effect March 1, will make it possible for companies such as Google and Mer-

cedes-Benz and maybe even General Motors to test their robot cars on Nevada’s 26,000 miles of road.

Just to be sure, two trained drivers have to be in every car, one of them in the front seat prepared to take back control. And the DMV requires the cars to have a separate data re-corder to collect information in case

Science and Technology Newsof a crash.

*****

3. IKEA starts ‘How to Build’ YouTube channel to help frustrated customers

The normal IKEA assembly instructions that are available online just aren’t enough to ensure a desk doesn’t have one its drawers installed upside down.

So IKEA’s fi rst “How to Build” video provides illustrated instruc-tions, using a demonstration with

real people building a bed frame, complete with close-up bubbles and fun little animated arrows and building tips. There’s even a relaxed, upbeat soundtrack to calm you after you’ve ripped out your hair in frustration.

Asian Development Bank says Philip-

pines can grow 7-8%MANILA, 10/20/2012 -- The

Asian Development Bank said the Philippines should aspire to post an economic growth of 7 to 8 percent a year, stressing that the country has the resources needed to achieve the goal.

According to an ADB economist, the country simply has to resolve administrative and regulatory factors that hinder the entry of more busi-nesses so that more investments will come in, thus accelerating growth.

“The country should not be satis-fi ed with a 4- to 5-percent growth; aspiring for a 7- to 8-percent growth is good because that range is what is needed to reduce poverty,” ADB assistant chief economist Joseph Ernest Zveglich Jr. said Wednesday in an interview following the CEO Forum organized by Punongbayan & Araullo.

The Aquino administration origi-nally aimed for the economy to grow by 7 to 8 percent every year during the duration of its term, but recently cut the target on grounds it may be too ambitious at this time.

Earlier this year, the economic team set a 2011 growth target of 5 to 6 percent. This month, the team reduced the range to 4.5 to 5.5 per-cent, taking into account the adverse effects of a weak global economy.

For next year, the team set the growth target at 5 to 6 percent, giv-ing up on the 7- to 8-percent goal for the meantime due to challenges confronting the economy.

Zveglich said, however, that there

is reason to support a higher growth target since required resources are available, such as a skilled and edu-cated workforce, as well as natural resources.

Achieving the goal would require the determined effort on the part of the administration to improve the business climate.

The ADB economist said that the Philippines could, for instance, streamline the procedures in setting up businesses to encourage more

entrepreneurs to set up shop.Zveglich also said regulations

should be consistent to spur invest-ment growth, which will lead to economic growth.

In the fi rst half, the Philippines grew by 4 percent, slowing down from the over 8 percent registered in the same period last year.

Offi cials said that while the aver-age growth of 4 to 5 percent over the past decade was decent, that pace of growth does not allow the benefi ts of

economic expansion to trickle down to the masses.

Economists say that this is why poverty incidence in the country is still high at 26 percent even if the Philippines has grown consistently over the past decade and has avoided recessions that other countries expe-rienced.

(Story courtesy of Michael V. Remo of Philippine Daily Inquirer)


Health and Wellness

Joyce Benavides Medina, O.D.Doctor of Optometry

Clinic located inside Walmart1200 Highland AvenueNational City, CA 91950

Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday 9:30 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.Saturday 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Most insurances accepted.

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MONDAY, Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Breast-feeding exclusively is recommended for a baby's fi rst six months of life, followed by contin-ued breast-feeding along with food until a baby is at least 12 months old, the American Academy of Pediatrics reaffi rms in a new policy statement.

After 12 months, breast-feeding can continue as long as both mother and baby want to do it, according to the statement published online Feb. 27 and in the March print issue of Pediatrics.

Along with being a natural and benefi cial source of nutrition that provides the healthiest start in life for an infant, breast-feeding also promotes bonding between mother and child, the AAP says.

The health benefi ts of breast-feeding include protection against respiratory illness, ear infections, gastrointestinal diseases, asthma and the skin condition eczema.

Breast-fed infants are more than one-third less likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome and are 15 to 30 percent less likely to become obese teens and adults, according to the AAP.

An academy news release says that "choosing to breast-feed should be considered an investment in the short- and long-term health of the infant, rather than a lifestyle choice."

More informationThe U.S. National Institute of

Child Health and Human Develop-ment has more about breast-feeding.

-- Robert PreidtSOURCE: American Academy of

Pediatrics, news release, Feb. 27, 2012

Last Updated: Feb. 27, 2012

Exclusive Breast-Feeding Best for Baby: ExpertsPediatricians reaffi rm nursing's benefi ts for

mother and child

By Ma. Elisa Osorio, Philippine Star | MANILA, 3/1/2012 --

MANILA, Philippines - A recent study on virgin coconut oil (VCO) showed that it not only helps increase good cholesterol levels but also enhances sexual activity.

“It was an interesting observation that 13 percent of the VCO takers experienced becoming sexually active during the whole duration of the study,” the Philip-pine Coconut Authority (PCA) said.

Other positive reactions include regular bowel movement, increase in appetite, better body stamina and good sleep, while the negative feedback included having soft bowel, stomachache, sweating, fever-ish symptoms and nausea.

The PCA fi nanced the four-month clini-cal study conducted by the University of Santo Tomas research team involving 189 Filipinos with or without one risk factor of controlled hypertension and no other clinically signifi cant abnormalities.

They were divided into VCO and placebo takers, but both the investigators and subjects were not aware who among them were taking VCO and who were placed in the placebo group.

The study showed that although VCO in-take showed an increase in total cholesterol, there were reductions in bad cholester-ol and eleva-tion of good cholesterol.

This means that the chance of heart at-tack, coronary artery disease and hypertension may be lessened.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the result of the study would help them draft guidelines in the manufacture of VCO products, adding that penalties await fake VCO makers while incentives will be given to those who follow the guidelines.

MANILA, Philippines - A recent study on virgin coconut oil (VCO) showed that it not only helps increase good cholesterol levels but also enhances sexual activity.

Virgin Coconut Oil boosts sexual activity -- study

“It was an interesting observation that 13 percent of the VCO takers experienced becoming sexually active during the whole duration of the study,” the Philip-pine Coconut Authority (PCA) said.

Other positive reactions include regular bowel movement, increase in appetite, better body stamina and good sleep, while the negative feedback included having soft bowel, stomachache, sweating, fever-ish symptoms and nausea.

The PCA fi nanced the four-month clini-cal study conducted by the University of Santo Tomas research team involving 189 Filipinos with or without one risk factor of controlled hypertension and no other clinically signifi cant abnormalities.

They were divided into VCO and pla-cebo takers, but both the investigators and subjects were not aware who among them were taking VCO and who were placed in the placebo group.

The study showed that although VCO intake

showed an

in-crease in total

choles-terol, there were

reductions in bad cholesterol and eleva-tion of good cholesterol.

This means that the chance of heart attack, coronary artery disease and hyper-tension may be lessened.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the result of the study would help them draft guidelines in the manufacture of VCO products, adding that penalties await fake VCO makers while incentives will be given to those who follow the guidelines.

Three Students Diagnosed With

Whooping CoughHHSA Reports 11 Cases of

Pertussis in Region Parents at three separate schools

were told to watch their children for symptoms of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, after three students were diagnosed with the highly contagious respiratory illness, County Health and Human Services Agency offi cials said today.

This week’s pertussis cases where there is a potential for public expo-sure are:

· A 15-year-old who was not up-to-date on immunizations and attends Mira Mesa High School in the San Diego Unifi ed School District. Contact: Linda Zintz (619) 725-5568.

· A 14-year-old who was up-to-date on immunizations and attends Rancho del Rey Middle School in the Sweetwater School District. Contact: Lillian Leopold (619) 691-5578.

· A 7-year-old who was up-to-date on immunizations and attends Fletcher Hills Elementary School in the La Mesa Spring Valley School District. Contact: David Kinzel (619) 668-5820 ext. 6207.

To date, County public health is reporting 11 cases of pertussis for 2012 with the 2011 case total remaining at 436.

“The single most important way to prevent the illness or minimize the severity of it is to get vaccinated,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Offi cer. “Stu-dents who become sick can infect others in their household includ-ing infants, who may develop fatal complications.”

No pertussis deaths were reported in California in 2011, but a record 1,144 cases, which included two infant deaths, were reported in San Diego County during the 2010 epidemic.

Parents can obtain the vaccine series and the Tdap booster shot for their children through their primary care physician. Students who are not covered by a medical insurance plan can get the shot from a local retail pharmacy for a fee, or from a County Public Health Center at no cost.

A typical case of pertussis starts with a cough and runny nose for one to two weeks, followed by weeks to months of rapid coughing fi ts that sometimes end with a whooping sound. Fever, if present, is usually mild. The disease is treatable with antibiotics.

For more information about whooping cough and ongoing vaccination clinics, call the HHSA Immunization Branch at (866) 358-2966, or visit www.sdiz.org.

Stress myths

In the old days, health misinforma-tion would spread slowly. Not today. “The Internet has given people the ability to send everyone on their email lists wild stories that end up mushrooming around the world in a matter of hours,” says Rich Buhler, creator of Truthorfi ction.com, a website devoted to debunking false email rumors. But relax: Most of those health scares hitting your in-box are a misreading of facts or a deliberate twisting of the truth.

Drink eight glasses of water a day

In 1945, the U.S. Food and Nutri-tion Board told people to consume eight glasses of fl uid daily. Before long, most of us believed we needed eight glasses of water, in addition to what we eat and drink, every day. The Truth: Water’s great, but you can also whet your whistle with juice, tea, milk, fruits, and vegetables—quite enough to keep you hydrated. Even coffee quenches thirst, despite its reputation as a diuretic; the caffeine makes you lose some liquid, but you’re still getting plenty.

Stress will turn your hair gray The carpool, the spilled milk, the

deadlines. Who doesn’t believe that stress can shock her (or his) locks? The Truth: “Too much stress does age us inside and out,” says Nancy L. Snyderman, MD, chief medical editor for NBC News and author of Medical Myths That Can Kill You. It ups the number of free radicals, scavenger molecules that attack healthy cells, and increases the spill of stress hormones in your body. So far, though, no scientifi c evidence proves a bad day turns your locks silver.

Reading in poor light ruins your eyes

It’s the commonsense refrain of mothers everywhere—reading under the covers or by moonlight will ruin your eyesight. The Truth: “Reading in dim light can strain your eyes,” Snyderman explains. “You tend to squint, and that can give you a headache. But you won’t do any per-manent damage, except maybe cause crow’s-feet.” Your overtired eyes can get dry and achy, and may even make your vision seem less clear, but a good night’s rest will help your peepers recover just fi ne.

Coffee’s really bad for you

Surely something 108 million Americans crave so much each morning couldn’t possibly be good for you? Wrong. The Truth: Too much may give you the jitters, but your daily habit has a lot of posi-tives. “Coffee comes from plants, which have helpful phytochemicals that act as antioxidants,” says Stacy Beeson, RD, a wellness dietitian at St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. Drinking joe gives your brain a boost, too. And, despite the jolt of energy it provides, coffee has no effect on heart disease.

Feed a cold, starve a fever The old wives’ tale has been a

staple since the 1500s when a dic-tionary master wrote, “Fasting is a great remedie of feuer.” The Truth: “Colds and fevers are generally caused by viruses that tend to last

seven to 10 days, no matter what you do,” says Rachel Vreeman, MD, a fellow in Children’s Health Services Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. “And there is no good evidence that diet has any effect on a cold or fever. Even if you don’t feel like eating, you still need fl uids, so put a priority on those.” If you’re congested, the fl uids will keep mucus thinner and help loosen chest and nasal congestion.

Fresh is always better than frozen

Ever since scientists honed in on

the benefi ts of antioxidants, the man-tra has been “eat more fresh fruits and veggies”—implying that frozen is second-rate. The Truth: “Frozen can be just as good as fresh because the fruits and vegetables are har-vested at the peak of their nutritional content, taken to a plant, and frozen on the spot, locking in nutrients,” Beeson says. And, unless it’s picked and sold the same day, produce at farmers’ markets—though still nutri-tious—may lose nutrients because of heat, air, and water.

Eggs raise your cholesterol

In the 1960s and 1970s, scientists linked blood cholesterol with heart disease—and eggs (high in choles-terol) were banished to the chicken house. The Truth: Newer studies have found that saturated and trans fats in a person’s diet, not dietary cholesterol, are more likely to raise heart disease risk. And, at 213 mil-ligrams of cholesterol, one egg slips under the American Heart Associa-tion’s recommendation of no more than 300 milligrams a day. “Eggs offer lean protein and vitamins A and D, and they’re inexpensive and convenient,” Beeson says.

Get cold, and you’ll catch a cold

9 Things to Stop Worrying About


Ang “Ill Gotten Wealth” Gisado na ang yumamang mga kurap sating bayan,Sa “Ill gotten wealth” may sumaping KARAMDAMAN.Litong walang ‘paliwanag, wala silang matandaan,Kung bakit nga itong BULSA, nangapuno, nagsikapal.

Problema nga itong sakit at walang maala-ala,Gayung ito ay posibleng gawa-gawa lamang nila.Larga rito, larga roon, hindi naman sila tanga, Kapag “birthday” nitong apo, KABISADO yaong petsa…PWE!!!!!

Ganito ang mga taong biglang yaman sating bayan,Ang PANGUNGURAKOT ang syang pinagtutuunan.‘Pagka naman NASUKOL na, NANGANGATOG ang katawanKung AMNESIA’Y ‘di makaya saka magpapakamatay.

Mga taong walang mana, PAGKAYOD lang ang PUHUNAN,Itong milyong kayamanan ay ‘di kayang pagipunan.Limang taong KUMURAKOT, kung salapi ‘to ng BAYAN,Garantisado, kung ‘di BUKING, aasenso, sandali lang.

Hanggang kailan KAKAYURIN, milyun-milyung kayamanan,Kung ang sweldo ng Heneral , “35thou” sa isang buwan? PASYALAN lang ang USA, panay lakad, panay “GOODTIME”Ano ba ang akala nyo, PILIPINAS, nahihibang?

Sa pagharap sa Senado, gisahan ng matikabo,Nakulta na yaong utak, nakalimot, parang TSONGGO..Wala silang matandaan at sila ay LITONG-LITO,Na kung bakit yaong YAMAN ‘di naitago ng LUMOBO.

Kaya bayan, subaybayan itong DRAMANG nabibinbin,Nasundan pa nitong kaso ng OMBUDSMAN, sisibakin.Tandaan lang O bayan ko, bawat kaso, puro TIKIM.At wala pang natatapos, What’s wrong with us? Sige, sige at sabihin!!!!

Batikos ni:R.S. Nicolas3/7/2011


San Onofre

Mga Tula ng BayanRead previous articles by visiting our website at www.asian-

journalusa.com


Read Romeo Nicolas’s previous poems by vis-iting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

Mga Tulang Tagalog

by Romeo Nicolas

10 San Diego Students


come together to organize events to welcome new students and teach them the ins and outs of campus life. Desiree is very active in volunteer activities on base as well. She is one of the many helping hands on the day of major events on base. She has volunteered at the FISC San Diego Diversity Committee Sailors in the fi rst annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., family reunion, Thanksgiving Day meal for 700 needy families, and a walk-a-thon on base. At home De-siree helps care for her two younger brothers. In 2010 Desiree underwent surgery to improve the hearing in both of her ears. Afterwards and today she attends strenuous speech therapy sessions but continues to volunteer.

James Nathaniel Richards, a 9-year-old from Jamul, Calif., is a semi-fi nalist representing the Navy. At one time, James had three broth-ers and his father all deployed at the same time. That, he said, was a lot of care packages to prepare. As the youngest of six kids, James has seen a lot of the military life, both as a son and a brother. To share his wisdom about being a military brat, he started a blog: natethegreatmilitaryblog.wordpress.com. James said he started the blog while his brothers and father were deployed to deal with the dif-fi culty of their absence. There are currently 87 military kids around the country who follow James’ blog. At school James heads up the anti-bully committee which meets once a week to discuss ways to end bullying in the school. This is one of the most impor-tant things James does all week, he said. In the community James volun-teers at the USO and spent over 200 hours there last year collecting toys for needy children for Christmas and wrapping hundreds of stockings to send to troops in Afghanistan. When parents arrived to pick out Christmas gifts for their children, James babysat the kids.

Sheridamae Gudez, a 13-year-old from San Diego, Calif., is a semi-fi -nalist representing the Navy. Sheri-damae’s oldest brother is 34. But his disability causes him to behave like a 6-year-old. She knows how diffi cult it is to be the disabled child. She knows how diffi cult it is to be that child’s sibling. That is why she takes part in the Circle of Friends club at her school which is designed to bring typical students and special education students together in a social setting. Sheridamae said growing up with her brother’s issues taught her how to be patient, a quality she hopes to pass on to others through her work with the club. Sheridamae also tutors other kids in the homework club because it hurts her to watch other students struggle with their homework. On base Sheridamae regularly volunteers at unit functions, often babysitting the smaller kids while the adults mingle. She said she remembers what it is like to sit at a unit party and be bored. When Sheridamae is feeling overwhelmed by all her day requires, she said she thinks about all the good things coming in the future.

Hallie Garrigus, an 11-year-old from Chula Vista, Calif., is a semi-fi nalist representing the Navy. When Hallie’s older brother was 9, he was hit by a car and received a serious brain injury. Though she was very young, she remembers how her brother used to be. Now, 15, he can be violent and call his four siblings names. He erupts over small inci-dents. The TBI has changed who he was. Hallie goes out of her way to interact with him during these violent interactions to try and ease the ten-sion. Outside of her home, Hallie is involved with her Cadette Girl Scout Troop and has created a class that she teaches to other troops to encourage them to decorate placemats at holi-days and donate them to local soup kitchens. Hallie earned her Girl Scout Bronze Award by not just supplying 300 handmade placemats every holi-day to a local kitchen but bringing the lesson to other troops. “It made me feel good to know I was cheering up people’s day,” she said. Hallie is also very involved with the group Girls on the Run which encourages girls not just to run but also teaches life les-sons about appreciating yourself.

Kasey Peterson, a 13-year-old from Ramona, Calif., is a semi-fi nalist representing the Navy. Kasey has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a variation of high func-tioning autism. She takes specialized classes at school and has her own issues to deal with. Still, Kasey has made it a point to help others fi rst. When her grandmother’s eyesight failed, Kasey took classes to learn

how to lead the blind and help her grandmother with her daily tasks. When her mother gave birth, twice, while her father was deployed, Kasey stepped in to help care for the tiny in-fants. In the community, Kasey works with disabled children to learn to ride horses. Kasey herself rides and hopes to begin competing soon. She said she likes being a military kid.

Mekenzie Pruitt, an 11-year-old from San Diego, Calif., is a semi-fi nalist representing the Navy. Much of Mekenzie day is dedicated to volunteering. The Cadette Girl Scout has spent 100 hours volunteering as a mentor for younger Girl Scouts. At school she is one of three student representatives to the School Site Council, a board that governs how the school spends its money. Her opinions have a direct impact on the types or programs the school offers its students. At church, Mekenzie is also busy, and helps teach Sunday School to the younger children. Mek-enzie said she enjoys helping others.

Operation Homefront will an-nounce fi ve fi nalists from each branch of service on March 1, which will be released through the organi-zation’s Twitter feed (@Op_Home-front) and its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OperationHomefront). The recipient of the Military Child of the Year® Award for each branch of Service will be announced March 8. Each award recipient will receive $5,000 and will be fl own with a par-ent or guardian to Washington, D.C. for a special recognition ceremony on April 5, 2012.

“The sons and daughters of Amer-ica’s service members learn what patriotism is at a very young age,” said Jim Knotts, President & CEO of Operation Homefront. “Children in military families demonstrate leader-ship within their families and within their communities. This is what the Military Child of the Year® Award honors.”

The United Technologies Corpora-tion (UTC) is the presenting sponsor for the Military Child of the Year® Award. UTC believes that success-ful businesses improve the human condition. UTC maintains the highest ethical, environmental and safety standards everywhere, and encour-ages and celebrates its employees’ active roles in their communities.

Onli In Da Pilipins!

by Audele

Onli in da Pilipins libre ang SUVAng tatak ay kakaiba Nisan Sa-pariEksklusibung eksklusibo iyan ang sabiGaling sa sinungaling, pekeng presidente. Onli in da Pilipins muy mucho modelosPinakasikat ay ang “Mitshu-bishop Pueblos”Luxury car dahil ito’y cuatro por cuatroBertdey ng Obispo kung ito’y iregalo. Onli in da Pilipins made by PCSOAng fi nancer ay ang huwad na panguloIsang marginal note lang ay dere-derechoWalang kasabit-sabit ok hora mismo. Onli in da Pilipins Intel Fund ay malakiIto ang taguan upang hindi madiskubriGinagamit itong pondo na pansariliTulad ni bansot, ginugol as campaign kitty. Onli in da Pilipins simbaha’y nakikialamSa patakbo ng gobyerno’y nakikisawsawAng minamagaling ay yaong mapagbigayPulitikong kuripot ay sinisiraan. Onli in da Pilipins may telenovelaDoon sa Senado at Kamara ang eksenaPangungurakot ng iba’t ibang ahensyaIyan ang natatangi at tampok na tema. Onli in da Pilipins ay ipinagbabawalAng pagnanakaw ay kasalanang mortalKung maliit, tiyak maparurusahanPara makaligtas dapat ay angaw-angaw. Onli in da Pilipins maraming buwayaSalapi ng baya’y ipinamumusturaGalit sa kapwang malaki ang delihensyaHindi masiyahan sa tongpats ng kontrata. Onli in da PIlipins tunguhi’y opisinaKapag napaaga ka kawani’y wala paTanghaliin ng konti, nagmemerienda naKapag hinapo’y daratnan na lang ay mesa. Onli in da Pilipins drawer ay nakaawangNagbunton sa mesa papeles na talaksanKunwa’y abala, pag-uusap ay anasanBaka mapakinggan halaga ng lagayan. Onli in da Pilipins preso’y nakagagalaNakalalabas sa selda, permiso’y walaAng mga bilanggua’y bagsakan ng drogaNalulusutan kahit na may guwardiya. Onli in da Pilipins sa kalsada ay nagkalatPaslit ay kilik-kilik katawa’y ani’y patpatSa bangketa’y lugmok, nanlilimahid ang gayakPipi ang kalansing ng latang hawak-hawak. Onli in da Pilipins kahit tao’y madasalinPangarap ay tila ba kay hirap abutinPagka’t kulang sa gawa asa’y suswertihinPaubaya lahat sa Poong Mahabagin. Ika-8 ng Hulyo, 2011

Stone, of Residents Organized for a Safe Environment in San Clemente. “While the plant is shut down for maintenance, we believe this is the right time to start the decommis-sioning process for the safety of the workers at the plant and the commu-nity at large. We must do the right thing now and not put the California economy at risk. Let's not spend one dime more on any more retrofi ts."

Problems at the plant are not all technical in nature. Workers know they will lose their job if they blow the whistle to the public about any safety concerns. This culture of fear at the plant does not improve safety, and to top it off, there is no labor contract with nuclear engineers who have the responsibility to operate the plant safely.

"Despite all the threats, we are happy to see that workers did the right thing and shut down the plant after the steam release," said Carol Jahnkow, an activist from Encinitas. "We're not here to hurt the workers. We're on their side."

Supporters of plant shutdown say power companies like Edison and Sempra Energy should actually guar-antee workers jobs just to make sure workers won't continue operating a plant like San Onofre that should be shut down for safety reasons.

Although management says work-ers will be left jobless if the plant is decommissioned, just the opposite is more likely the case. Many people will continue to be employed for decades during decommissioning, and studies show that the renewable energy sector provides fi ve times more jobs than traditional fossil fuel or nuclear energy plants.

Many people support nuclear en-ergy as a viable carbon-free alterna-tive to fossil fuels. “We hear all the time that nuclear plants are 'carbon neutral', but just the opposite is the case when you consider the entire fuel cycle, which also has severe im-pacts to the environment during min-ing, purifi cation and disposal," Lutz said. "Disposal is perhaps the most problematic with no clear solution at hand and spent nuclear fuel piling up




Street Poetry

Read about Michael’s upcoming book of poems “Crushed Violets” by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Michael R. Tagudin

©2012 Michael R. Tagudin. All rights reserved. About the Author: Michael R. Tagudin Educated as an engineer in the Philippines, the City of Los Angeles employee hopes his legacy of poems will provoke a dialogue about the human condition. He is donating the proceeds from the book “Crushed Violets” to the “Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST)”, a non-profit that provides public awareness and advocacy efforts against human trafficking in the City of Angels. To learn more, visit www.castla.org. To help, call the CAST 24 hour hotline 888.KEY.2.FRE(EDOM) or 888.539.2373. Contact [email protected] for more information about ordering the book “Crushed Violets.”

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*Former San Diego Regional Coordinator for U.S. Immigration Amnesty for Catholic Community Ser-vices, Catholic Diocese of San Diego

*Legal Advisor, Los Chabacanos of Cavite CityAssociation, Inc., San Diego, California

*Juris Doctor law degree, University of San Diego (1985),Diploma; Oxford Institute on International and Comparative Law (USD), Oxford, England (1984);Bachelor Degree, University of Southern California

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by Rudy D. Liporada

Pusoy, A Russian Poker -- Chapter 30

Pusoy (A Russian Poker)By Rudy D. Liporada

Chapter 30 “Business?” asked the immigration

officer at the Manila International Airport.

“Visit relatives,” I said.The immigration officer stamped

my passport and waved me off. I lugged my bag and went directly

to the claims area to retrieve my balikbayan boxes. I would have them sent to my brother, hoping to see him after the mountains so I could distribute the gifts to relatives myself.

After retrieving the boxes from the carousels, I proceeded to the customs line where officers in white shirts and blue pants uniform slashed boxes and bags open, inspecting whatever new arrivals might have brought. Beyond the lines, those ahead of me repacked strewn cloths, canned goods, soap and other pasa-lubongs into the opened boxes and bags.

When it came to my turn, I handed my passport and declaration paper to the officer. He smiled and discreetly pocketed the five dollar bill I had inserted within the passport. The officer nodded me through without slashing my boxes nor inspecting my bag.

After customs, I craned my neck as I panned through the placards held by greeters who were among the sea of people awaiting the new arrivals to pop out of the terminal.

There it was, in bold red letters printed on a yellow cartolina, the placard sign shouted Rodel.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” said the woman who held the

placard. Dressed in a blue power dress like managing an office or something, she had matching shoes and bag; her hair well coiffured.

The beginning wrinkles on her face did not cover the prettiness of her face. Her images of being in denims and t-shirts with headbands on her hair during our activist days and Room 10 flashed into my mind. “Jenny?”

“It been a long time, Rodel,” she said as she motioned me outside of the terminal grounds to the parking lot.

“You look so different, so elegant.”“I am very uncomfortable with

these cloths but I have to put up with the looks.”

“Everything okay?”“We’ll talk more in the car.”“What about my boxes?”“Didn’t you say you wanted them

sent to your brother?”“Yes.”“Someone else would take care of

them.” The car was a white Toyota Lancer

with tinted windows. Not at all flashy but must have been lent by a sympathizer who did not even know where it might be going today.

“Rodel, this is Fred,” said Jenny, referring to the man on the driver side as we slid at the back seats. “And this is George.”

They were young, maybe in their middle twenties and meekly looking whom one would not suspect to be revolutionaries. I did not see any but I knew that they were armed.

“Sorry, Rodel,” said Jenny. “You will have to stay here in Manila for tonight. You will fly to Baguio tomorrow. And, you know how it is. I have to blindfold you.”

“I understand.”

When the engine of the car started, I also heard the tapping on what ap-peared to be a cell phone.

“There,” said Jenny. “I have texted Simon that you have arrived.”

“Great. I am really impressed on how we have gone high-tech.”

“You mean, how we now use emails and text-messaging?”

“We merely used chicklets be-fore.”

Jenny laughed. “Oh! Yes, those. We very seldom use chicklets any-more.

“Chicklets?” asked George. “What chicklets?”

“Oh! You are new,” said Jenny. And she went about to explain that

in the early days of the movement, long before George and Fred were born, communications among com-rades were done through messengers through the pasa-bilis system. The pass-on-quick system made kasamas write messages in the tiniest letters they could write on small pieces of paper. These papers were folded into the tiniest fold possible and they were referred to as chicklets. It could take weeks before a mes-sage is received. Often, information became passé as conditions have changed. It was not unusual, too, for messages not to be received as messengers have change of orders or have thrashed the messages because they were in danger of being caught by the enemy.

Now, through texting, even simple folks in the remotest barrios could warn the NPAs if enemies are about to come to where they are. They could communicate the movements of the enemies to the NPAs who could set ambushes at a quicker time.

After being quarantined in the un-derground house for a day, I was off to Baguio City. Immediately, after landing at the Loakan Airport in the city, a comrade, calling himself Peter, whisked me to a terminal and boarded with him on a bus bound for Sagada in the hinterlands of the Cordilleras.

A third of the seven hour trip was relatively smooth with the cement paved road. The rest was a tortu-ous bumpy dusty zigzagging ride towards the uplands.

Amidst jolts and stomach jerking turns, though, Peter managed to give me a glimpse of why he joined the New People’s Army. He said that he

used to be a student. He was in a sort of a propaganda unit. They are now in the planning stage of producing a video to show that the NPAs are not terrorists as tagged by the United States and the Philippine Govern-ment. He said that because I am there as a writer, he was assigned to escort me.

I did not know if Peter knew any-thing about my background, about my being active in the arm struggle before. I decided to be just a free lance writer from the United States.

“So, how old are you, Peter?”“Twenty four.”Man, he was not even born yet

when we started, I said to myself.

It was already dark when we ar-rived in Sagada but the hinterland town still bustled with tourists.

Peter billeted me into a hotel.“Tomorrow,” Peter said, as he es-

corted me to my room after dinner at the hotel‘s restaurant, “someone will come to brief you on the situation and make the next arrangements.”

On the prearranged hour the fol-lowing day, a long haired woman in her early twenties approached me as I was having brunch.

“I am with Ka Peter,” she said. She instructed me to be at the waiting shed at the town center across the town hall at exactly noon. “You’ll proceed from there. Bring already all your things.”

At the shed, a burly man sat beside me. He smiled and then handed me what appeared to be a note. “When you reach the barrio, give this to Delfin,” he said.

I smiled back and nodded, pocket-ing the note.

A rickety passenger jeep eased up in front of the shed.

“Take this trip,” the man said.I clambered up behind the jeep

already full of passengers. At the aisle of the 16 passenger jeep were sacks of rice, banana bundles, and chickens, among the other baggage that I had to squeeze my feet into. As I cramped myself between an old man and a woman nursing a baby, I saw the burly man talking to the driver. The driver nodded as he threw glances at me. The burly man then winked at me as the jeep proceeded to wherever.

SagadaPoem No. 46

For you babe, I put my neckOn a chopping board!A sword dangling over my head!Do you really want it?Yes?Do you really want it?No?The pendulum was swinging............ .forever!Suddenly she hesitates, then answer..........Maybe!Time to make my move!The heat melts the ice!Everything crumbles!

©2009 Michael R. Tagudin

Maybe


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But seek fi rst his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things

will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

EAD PEOPLE TO KNOW CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOUR

NCOURAGE THEM TO GROW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

CKNOWLEDGE THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND TALENTS EVELOP THEM TO BECOME LEADERS AND WORKERS FOR GOD

L

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A

D

OUR MISSION “The souls that say this chaplet will be embraced by My mercy during their lifetime and especially at the hour of their death (754).” -- Words of Jesus in the Diary of St. Faustinaespecially at the hour of their death (754).” -- Words of Jesus in the Diary of St. Faustina

CHAPLET OF THE DIVINE MERCYUsing the rosary beads, recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one I Believe in God.

On the Our Father beads say this prayer, which was given by Our Lord to St. Faustina (1905-1938).

Eternal Father, I o�er You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

On the Hail Mary beads say:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

In conclusion say three times:

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

The Hour of Great Mercy

At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion,

particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great

mercy. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in

virtue of My Passion (Diary, 1320). -- Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of Saint Faustina

Kowalska

You expired, O Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls and an ocean of mercy

opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable

Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us. O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the

Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You. Amen.

Free Divine Mercy Posters for Families (9”x15”) while supplies last. Call 619.851.9547

FilipinianaMiracles of The Divine Mercy: Testimonials

7th of a Series by Mercy Lotilla-AsencioMiracles

Consuelo So Lucero Consuelo So Lucero is a mother of

four children, in her mid-fi fties. She heads the Midwives Health Workers of the General Santos City’s Health Department.

In April 1995, during her annual check up, Sol’s doctor discovered two growths in her neck which were diagnosed as papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland.

She was advised to undergo sur-gery. Sol was concerned. She was prone to high blood pressure and laboratory tests showed that she had diabetes.

Sol had surgery at St. Luke’s Hos-pital in Manila on December 1 1995. Surgery was successful. However she lost her voice. She could only talk in whispers.

In October 1996, Sol had her fi rst radiation therapy. The examination showed that she still had cancer cells in her body. Her family heard about the Divine Mercy devotion and be-gan to pray the Chaplet for her.

In January 1997, Sol still had no voice, and still had cancer cells. A man, who was a Divine Mercy devotee, known as Brother Carino prayed over her, Sol describes what happened.

“While Brother Carino was pray-ing over me, I asked for forgiveness for my many sins and the transgres-sions of my family tree. Then I had a vision. I saw two eyes, then a whole face of Jesus as in the Image of Divine Mercy. He was looking at me, smiling with such tenderness and love. I cried with great joy. Then without thinking I cried out loudly: ‘Praise God, Praise God’. My voice had returned.”

In October 1997, another exami-

international seafaring career, he earned over-US$4,800 monthly from his latest con-tract

Mind that Candido and Elizabeth have nine children. He remains sturdy amid all these.

As an award, his family was adjudged the Model OFW Family of the Year for seafarers this year by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

The prize, a total of P600,000, means another busy vacation for Candido; it is additional rolled-up capital for some of the businesses, proclaims the father-and-son tandem of Candido and Denver.

But Candido is used to a busy life. This vocational-technical graduate of the old Cebu School of Arts and Trades came from a poor house-hold—and he claims to know what it takes to work “extra hard” to meet family needs.

After a career in domestic shipping from 1972 to 1990, Candido tried overseas ships and sailed various continents. Lately, Candido says he can no longer endure non-Asian routes and thus, joins ships that ply East Asian and Southeast Asian routes.

While he then earned at least US$2,800 in monthly salaries, Candido surprisingly constructed a small “kubo” for the family, and bought a second-hand elf truck. Then he set up his businesses and constructed a small village chapel named after San Vicente, as his kubo was being extended “slowly but surely” to fi t the entire household.

His family’s economic sturdi-ness, Caminero proudly boasts, did

not lead to an immediately lavish lifestyle that’s common to other Fili-pino seafarers. “We love our simple roots.”

The Caminero family home is simple, as seen in one of his videos. Though the place has much space, the furniture is simple and there are no chandeliers. There’s an area near the living room, however, that’s for the family passion: tuning up the band.

Yes, the house is far from neigh-boring houses, Denver explains, “so we can rock and roll all night long.”

And Candido’s and Elizabeth’s successes are seen in six picture frames: pictures of some of their kids in their college academic attires. The pictures overlook the Caminero patriarch and four sons —making up the Caminero Family Band— rendering Wonderful Tonight. The family band even offers a simple lesson that, Candido beams, is the major family trait: “Tulungan lang” (We just help each other out).

He holds on to that belief, orga-nizing fellow town mates of Argao. He formed a nonprofi t group, Hagpong sa Pagtinabangay, to help 200 lumad families improve their living conditions through livelihood activities. Caminero said. “I know what being poor feels like.” Now Caminero has logically let its ben-efi ciaries choose the group’s leaders since he’s still seafaring.

In his few remaining years at sea, this year’s OWWA Model OFW seafarer of the year has all the reasons to remain sturdy while playing up the band and buoying up his family’s entrepreneurial labor: Candido Caminero’s big family is as sturdy as he is. -- OFW Journalism Consortium, in partnership with The Philippine Star


Home, fam-ily rockband, businesses

keep seaman sturdynation showed that there were no

cancer cells in Sol’s body. Another examination in 1999 showed that Sol was free from cancer.

Drew Drew was working for a Fertil-

izer Corporation in Cebu. In the summer of 1999, while working, he requested a crane operator to transfer a heavy fl at metal sheet to the other side of the road. As Drew watched the crane hoisting up the heavy ob-ject, he saw it shake. Without warn-ing the object fell on him. He was rushed to hospital, where the doc-tors, headed by Doctor Sy, said that both of Drew’s legs were shattered. The nerves on his legs were dead too. The doctors said that they had no choice but to amputate both legs. Medically, they could only amputate one leg a day, so they scheduled the amputation of the other leg for the following day. Hoping to save the other leg, Drew’s family talked to Doctor Sy, but she told them that the doctors decision to amputate was almost 100%. The second leg tissues were dead and so was the nerve and the muscles were disconnected. The leg was re-examined the next day, and surgery to cut off the second leg was arranged. The family turned to God for help. Around Drew’s bedside they prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Not long after they had prayed, Drew was prepared for surgery. A doctor noticed a great change in the condition of the leg. After a further examination, it was discovered that the dead leg tissues and nerves were now alive. The disconnected muscles had some how joined together. The leg did not need amputating. Drew left the hospital with a crutch. The second leg healed.

Father Ron Pytel Father Ron Pytel, is a fi fty-four-

year old Pastor of the Holy Rosary Parish in Baltimore, M.D. America. Doctors gave him only three years to live, after discovering he had a heart disease that had caused a great deal of damage. On October 5, 1995, Father Ron and some friends gath-ered for prayer at the Holy Rosary Church, which is also the Balti-more Archdiocese Shrine of The Divine Mercy. They were praying for the healing of the Priest’s heart. The Feast day of the then Blessed Faustina, seemed to be the best time to ask her for intercession before Jesus. Father Ron had acquired a relic of Marie Faustina, and he kiss-ing it with all of his heart, begged her to ask Jesus to heal him. As he kissed the relic, he collapsed. He fell paralyzed for a short while, yet strangely at peace. When he came round, he felt well. An improvement in his health continued, no pain, no breathlessness. Consequently, Father Ron visited the cardiologist. He explained what had happened and due to a visible improvement in Father Ron, who was before thin and pale, a full examination was given. The examination showed that Father Ron was in perfect health. Not only was his heart cured of disease, but also, all signs of damage it had caused had vanished. His Superiors of his Diocese learned of the healing and a full investigation was conducted by doctors and by theologians from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. In 1999, following the examination of all Father Ron’s medical records, ultra sound scans and x-rays, as well as documented eye witness accounts; a miracle was declared by the Congre-gation. Speaking about his experi-ence, Father Ron said: ”I suppose I

should’n’t be around anymore. But I am living proof that miracles do happen. I know in my heart, that Sister Faustina put in a word with Jesus, and His Heart touched mine.”

“Personally I am still in awe. Spiri-tually my prayer life has intensifi ed tremendously. I’’ve had a peace that has been with me through every-thing that has taken place. I’’ve also been blessed with a calmness, a gentleness. I think it has made me more open to the struggles of other people.”

Father Ron’s instant healing was used as part of the beatifi cation process of Saint Faustina in the year 2000.

Kristine Tan Kristine Tan, a fourteen-year-old

girl from Davao City was confi ned in hospital and was to undergo surgery for ovarian mayoma (Her medical chart dated August 18, 1997, shows that she had both ova-ries (“Paraovian with hemorrhage: endometrium in secretory”). Her parents requested a Divine Mercy prayer group in Davao City to pray the chaplet over her. After the prayer, the child’s faith on the mercy of Jesus was visibly so strong that she was certain that she had been healed. So, when the doctor came to schedule the surgery, Kristine asked if she could have another ultra sound before they operated on her. The doctor told her that there was no need and than another ultra sound would only add to the families medical expenses. However, Kristine insisted, telling the doctor that she felt that Jesus had healed her during the praying of the chaplet. “Miracles are rare”, replied the doctor. “People even go to Lourdes, but not get healed”. The doctor unconvinced by Kristine’s insistence stood up to leave the room. As he was going out of the door, he stopped and went back to tell her that he would allow her to have another ultra sound. The second ultra sound showed the tumors gone. The scheduled surgery was canceled. Amazed the doctor exclaimed: “It’s a miracle!”

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Julian, CA, whose Pastor Fr. Cecilio Moraga is shown with Bro. Stanley Villavicencio (wearing a Divine Mercy shirt in center) packed the church to listen to the Divine Mercy testimony and then hosted a wel-come reception afterwwards. St. Michael’s Parish under Fr. Manny Ediza was also fi lled. The parishes share a devotion to Divine Mercy.

Hundreds Come to Hear Bro Stanley Testimony at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Paradise Hills and at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Julian, CA







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Lifestyle

Read Joe Son’s past articles on www.asianjournalusa.com

by Joe Son

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In the Christian belief, right after the birth of Christ and the New Year,

Catholics are into prepara-tion for a pre-Lenten festivals just like the traditional carni-val celebrations which pre-cede Lent in many cultures, have become associaed with the season of fasting if only because they are a last oppor-tunity for excess before Lent begins. The most famous pre-Lenten carnival in the world is celebrated in Rio de Janeiro and the Mardi Gras of New Orleans.

There are traditionally forty days in Lent which are marked by fasting, both from foods and festivities, and by other acts of penance. The three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigour during Lent season and Holy Week are prayer (justice towards God), fasting (jus-tice towards self), almsgiving (jus-tice towards neighbor). Ash Wednes-day, february 22, 2012, marks the beginning of Lent. For Catholics, Lent is a spriritual time to get in good spiritual shape. The scriptures tell Catholics that repentace, or turning back to God, is customar-ily followed by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Prayer: Prayer and daily Mass

should be a part to every Catholic’s daily routine during Lenten obser-vance. There’s no greater prayer than the Mass, so why not come and receive Eucharist everyday?

Fasting: Fasting during Lent was

more severe in ancient times than today. Giving up a cup of coffee, soda and cookies isn’t really mch a penance, so fast from everything on your usual routine except basic food and water, including TV, internet, video games, casino and cigarettes. Perfect fasting is closely related to abstinence which requires to inhibit yourself for all the things you crave not just for a day but maybe for the rest of the Lenten season.

Almsgiving: Taking care of the

poor and the Church with our time

and treasure are necessary for true spiritual growth. Remember the two great commandments of Jesus? Love God above all and your neighbor as yourself. Taking care of each other and the less fortunate are important. Give to charity or vol-unteer your time but do some act of charity at all times, especially during Lent. Today, some people give up their vice, add something that will bring them closer to God, and often give the time or money spent doing that to charitable purposes or orga-nizations.

According to the scriptures, Jesus

spent forty days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where He endured tempta-tion by Satan. thus, Lent is described as forty days long, though different

denominations calculcalte the forty days differently. In many of the Christian churches, Lent is regarded as being forty days long, but Easter Sunday is not typically regarded as being part of Lent.

The significance of number forty

to the season of Lent are: Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai with God, Elijah spent 40 days and nights walking to Mt. Horeb, 40 days and nights God sent rain in the great flood of Noah, 40 years the He-brews wandered in the desert while traveling to the Promised Land, 40 days Jonah gave in his prophecy of judgement to the city of Nineveh in which to repent or be destroyed and Jesus retreated into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days, and was tempted by the devil.

Joe [email protected] Diego, CA

40: >significant meaning of Lent!

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5) What is a camel’s hair brush made of?

6) The Canary Islands in the Atlan-tic are named after what animal?

7) What was King George VI’s first name?

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9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?

10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?

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ANSWERS

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last ?116 years

2) Which country makes Panama hats ?Ecuador

3) From which animal do we get cat gut ?Sheep and Horses

4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution ?November

5) What is a camel’s hair brush made of ?Squirrel fur

6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal ?Dogs

7) What was King George VI’s first name ?Albert

8) What color is a purple finch ?Crimson

9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from ? New Zealand

10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane ? Or-ange (of course!)

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TAWA’T TULA NG MGA PILING KATATAWANAN

By Joe Cabrera

A Collection of Jokes Written in Pilipino Verse

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Arti Sta Rita ..(Continued from page 1)

When Andy Alviz, Recita Pineda, and Randy del Rosario organized a mini concert featuring the parish choirs of Santa Rita on the Christmas eve of 2001, little did they realize that this simple event would eventually set forth a wave of cultural revolution in Pampanga. That event gave a glimpse of diamonds in the rough – a surpris-ing pool of artistic talents waiting to shine, hidden behind unassuming small-town choral groups. Inspired by the possibilities, the directors decided to found a venue for artistic develop-ment. Thus, the Arti Santa Rita, Inc. was born – established to develop home grown talents and spread an important mission of promoting and preserving Kapampangan music and culture.

When the group launched its maiden production, “Pangaslag Ning Aldo” (At the Break of Dawn) in March 2002, involving a cast of a hundred performers ages 6 to 70, the audience witnessed a musical coup never before seen in sleepy in Santa Rita.

From that providential performance, ArtiSta.Rita has continuously grown and evolved, churning out ambi-tious projects like album recordings, festivals, world-class musical theatre productions, even concert guestings to well-established artists.

To date, ArtiSta.Rita boasts of four all-Kapampangan musical record-ings, with one more in the offing. It has performed around 30 full-blown world-class musical productions in every imaginable provincial setting. It has created the Duman Festival, which has become an annual cultural attraction in Santa Rita. It has been in mainstream Filipino pop music scene, having performed in the concerts of big name artists like Lea Salonga and Sarah Geronimo. Truly, ArtiSta.Rita is ever ready to carve new milestones, and forge new frontiers.

What makes ArtiSta.Rita success-ful is its ability to evolve. From a purely Santa Rita-based company, the group has opened its doors to talents from all over Pampanga, giving the chance to hone more gifted individu-als. Members come from all walks of life – students, teachers, businessmen, executives, office workers, paint-ers, artisans, carpenters, housewives. These artists, different as they may be from each other, are fuelled by the same passion and love for what they do and unwavering confidence that anything is possible.

ArtiSta.Rita advocates volunteer-ism since its inception to the present. Each unselfishly shares what talents or resources he has to help the group achieve its dreams. Community the-atre is practiced, and thus, bayanihan spirit is evidently manifested. The

Pampanga’s Pride Arti Sta.

Rita To Perform In The U.S

Arti Sta.Rita, a renowned cultural theater group based in Santa Rita, Pampanga, Philippines is set on an international tour in May to bring cultural productions in the United States.

The US tour entitled “Mikit Tamu King Milabas” (Romancing The Past) aims to reacquaint Kapampan-gans, old and younger generations to their roots and culture through the said musical. It is produced by Ser-endipity Hype Production owned by Filipino expatriate Peter C. Marcelo whose aim is to bring world class entertainment worldwide.

The group is set to hold perfor-mances at the USC Bovard Audito-rium, Los Angeles California (May 5), Birch North Park Theatre, San Diego (May 12), South San Fran-cisco High School Auditorium (May 19) and at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York (May 26). The group will also perform at St. Anthony Catholic School Gymna-sium in Guam (June 2).

Arti Sta.Rita was organized by former Miss Saigon choreographer Andy Alviz of Santa Rita, Pampan-ga. The group is composed of vol-unteer artists and performers coming from different sectors of the town for the promotion of Kapampangan culture and traditions through songs and theater performances.

The group is also credited for starting the Duman Festival in 2002, which originated from the long-standing tradition of pounding and winnowing unripe glutinous rice (lacatan) and turned into a light pale gold or green delicacy called “du-man.”

artist becomes the costume custo-dian. The singer is props maker. No qualms. No fuss. Just sheer joy in staging excellent productions.

With ArtiSta.Rita’s growing success, the group has attracted a steady following of loyal patrons and audiences. Kapampangans here and abroad, and even some non-Ka-pampangans and non-Filipinos. The universality of its music and pro-ductions simply permeates in every person who is captivated by it. The integrity and authenticity of its music and performances create the unex-plainable magic that draws thousands of enthused and satisfied crowds.

ArtiSta.Rita happily rides this cul-tural adventure, prepared to ford the streams of challenges with unwaver-ing commitment and joy for the excit-ing future ahead.


Promised Land

Simeon G

. Silverio Jr.

SIMEON G. SILVERIO, JR.

PROMISED

LAND

“Promised Land” by Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.PROMISED LAND, the inspirational and difficult journey of two Filipino cousins marrying U.S. Navy personnel for migration and financial purposes. As a piece of the Filipino-American

experience, this story also applies to the lives of all people.

Excerpts from the book“You must join the U.S. Navy so we can live abroad,” Isabel of-

ten told her boyfriend Lando as they walked in the park, weav-ing dreams for their future together. He would just shrug his shoul-ders in response. – from Chapter 1 – Her U.S. Navy Dreamboat

The clash of two cultures, Filipino and Mexican, had taken its toll. He grew weary of the enchiladas, tacos, burritos and other Mexican dishes she prepared repeatedly. He longed for the Filipino dishes from his na-tive land that he would always eat as a child. Teresa would not let him cook his favorite adobo and tuyo (dried fish) due to their stinking up the house. When he brought her to the Philippines, Teresa refused to stay and sleep in their house in the barrio. “It is hot and there are liz-ards on the ceiling,” she complained. – from Chapter 3 - Trophy Wife

“Let me make this clear with you again,” Ditas once told Romy when he accosted her while tipsy from drinking with friends nearby. “I will never marry you even if you are the last man on earth.” The friends laughed hard and Romy retreated in shame. The next day he left town and she didn’t hear from him until she received a letter from the United States Naval Base in San Diego from her jilted suitor, now a mem-ber of the U.S. Navy. – from Chapter 5 - The Last Man On Earth

One evening, when Romy and his friends were drinking in the house, Ditas showed Andy the photo of Isabel. “Check her out, Andy,” she told him. “She’s looking for a boyfriend here in America.” “No way,” Andy replied. “I know what she’s up to. She will just marry and leave me once she gets her green card.” “But she’s very pretty,” Romy told his friend. “With your looks, you can never have a wife as beautiful as her.” – from Chapter 8 – Pretty Girl’s Photo

“Is this your first time riding an airplane?” her seatmate, a wom-an in her fifties, asked Isabel. “How did you know?” “Because you’re holding your bag tightly and you look scared. And also, that huge envelope in plastic bag contains the x-ray film carried by first time immigrants.” Isabel sheepishly smiled. – from Chap-ter 12 – Land of Milk and Honey

Now Available: Books by Asian Journal San Diego

Betel Nuts &

Other Stories

Simeon G

. Silverio Jr.


BETEL NUTS &

OTHER STORIES

“Betel Nuts & Other Stories” by Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.Entertaining and easy-to-read short stories inspired by a

Filipino’s experience in growing up in the Philippines.

Excerpts from the bookOne day, however, the duckling went inside an opening under the house.

Borobot waited for it to come out but it did not. He kept waiting even when it got dark, but there was no sign of the duckling. When his father came home that evening, he told him about his missing duckling. His dad took a flashlight and pointed it toward the opening. He inserted a long stick inside and tried to stir it. They could hear some squealing but no quacking. Finally, his dad told him the bad news: “The rats have eaten your duckling.” Borobot cried and cried for a very long time. – from Chapter 2 – Childhood Tales

If there is a person that can aptly be called “the son of a bitch”, which in Pilipino, is synonymous to the phrase, “the son of a whore” (“anak ng puta”), it would be Tikboy. Tikboy was one of Eric’s playmates on Platerias Street where Eric lived with his family on the second floor of his father’s printing business in Manila in 1957. Tikboy’s mother, Purita, worked as a prostitute in a brothel across the street from Eric’s house. – from Chapter 6 - Just Like Any Mother

From where he sat, he could tell Juanita had just bathed. Her hair was still damp and the fragrant scent of her cheap bath soap wafted through the air. She hardly no-ticed him as she was minding her own business. While he pretended to be concen-trating on his reading, he would occasionally take a sneak peak at her, feasting his eyes on all of her seductive beauty. For a hot-blooded fourteen-year-old, she was not just an object of curiosity. – from Chapter 9 – Fragrant Scent of Bath Soap And All

By the time they reached Platerias Street, everything was quiet. There was hardly a soul in sight; it was ten minutes past midnight. Narding frantically ran inside the brothel in search of Clarita, but he was told the Chinese took her just ten minutes before. He ran outside towards P. Paterno Street. Finding no speed-ing taxi, he ran back towards Carriedo Street, turned right towards Rizal Avenue, hoping the taxi holding Clarita had broken down. Finally, a loud, agonizing cry was heard all over in that quiet neighborhood of Quiapo. – from Chapter 11 – True Love

Everyone was looking up at the top of an electric post, where sparks of light shone bright against the dark of the night. When the firemen trained the spotlight to the top of the post, they saw a body of a man lying on a wood across the post. It was Fred, the drunkard pimp. Without anybody noticing, he woke from deep slumber and this time, success-fully climbed the top of the post. He was electrocuted while celebrating his feat. – from Chapter 15 – A Day In The Life Of The People Of Platerias Street


Philippine Hom

ecoming

Simeon G

. Silverio Jr.

“Philippine Homecoming & Other Memories”An entertaining and easy-to-read account of a Filipino American’s homecoming to the Philippines and the

interesting memories it triggered.

Excerpts from the bookSeeing the Philippines for the first time after many years would give any former

resident a “culture shock.” The roads, which looked to be wider before, appeared narrow. The buildings and the streets, which were dilapidated and dirty before, looked more dilapidated and dirty now. – Chapter 2 – Balikbayan Culture Shock

All of a sudden, the small kids from before were now grown up. Their faces had changed, yet somehow looked familiar. Some of his relatives who lived in a compound beside them had already died. Gone forever dur-ing a span of just ten years were his maternal grandmother, three uncles, two aunties and two cousins. – Chapter 3 – Like A Video Tape Experience

Their vehicle moved towards the man and again they asked: “Boss, alam mo ba ang bahay ni Maning Bakla (Boss, do you know the resi-dence of Maning, the homosexual?)?” The man looked serious and glumly said: “Yes, I am Maning, what do you want?” They were embarrassed as they were sure that Maning did not appreciate the unsavory nick-name. – Chapter 6 – Maning Bakla And the Duty Free Shops In Manila

There was a full moon above, and they could see its reflections on the water as the waves slapped on the sand. They could feel the cool breeze kiss their face, the warm water wet their feet. On that cold December evening in Maryland Beach Re-sort in Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines, they wanted to freeze time and enjoy every moment of their stay – Chapter 10 – Nasugbu Market Place And The IUD BBQ

Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas proved to be an innovative mayor; for example, he introduced the free elementary and high school education in the city, the first of its kind in the country. He was also a poet in the ver-nacular; at every opportunity, he would recite or talk in the form of a poem he himself composed. In answer to his critics, he once said: “Marami ang nagtatanong kung bakit ako tumutula, bakit, ang tula ba ay masama (Many are asking why I am reciting a poem, why, is a poem bad)?” Chapter 17 – When “Gatpuno” Villegas warmed his “Salumpuwit” at Maharnilad

Their playmates from the barrio were cautious and made a sign of the cross when passing ant hills, which they would call “nuno sa punso”. They would reverently say, “Makikiraan, po (Please allow us to pass!)!” Chapter 31 - Nuno Sa Punso And Other Weird Provincial Experiences

The boys, usually five at a time, would line up and march without their pants towards the rice fields at the back of the house. They would pass by a guava tree, pull out several leaves and wash them in the artesian well. Once in the field, the quack doctor would hammer a stake into the ground made of a branch of a guava tree with the other end bent towards the boy. – Chapter 34 - Circumcision: Why Do Some Boys Walk Bow-Legged During Summertime In The Province?


PHILIPPINE HOMECOMING’S

CHERISHED MEMORIES

To order a copy, send $13.95 (mailing cost included) to Asian Journal San Diego. 550 East 8th Street, Suite 6, National City, CA 91950 Tel. (619) 474-0588

For more information, e-mail [email protected] To order copies through the Internet, go to amazon.com, go to

“books”, go to “advance search” and type name of author, SIMEON SILVERIO, and follow instructions.

To order by mail, fi ll outMail Order Form

(Check quantities in space before book title)

____ Promised Land by Simeon G. Silverio Jr.

____ Betel Nuts and Other Stories by Simeon G. Sil-verio, Jr.

____ Philippine Homecoming’s Cherished Memories – by Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.

____ Complicated Affairs by Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.

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Com

plicated Affairs

Simeon G

. Silverio Jr.

SIMEON G. SILVERIO, JR.“Complicated Affairs” By Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.

The colorful and incredible story of a Filipino American’s complicated affairs.

Excerpts from the book:How did you know Richard?” she asked. Danny was fast to the draw. “I

produced his shows there,” he lied. He could see Menchie, the movie star, was impressed. “And I can also produce your show,” he continued the charade. She was pleased. “Do you think people will pay just to watch me? “Why, are we going to charge them?” he asked instead. Menchie was aghast, but realized he was joking. She hit him on the shoulder. He knew the ice was broken. – Chapter 2 : Movie Star

“So how are you doing?” Danny was pleased to hear from Juanita. “I am okay, how about you?” “So-so,” he replied. “I’ve missed you,” his playboy persona took over again. “Really?” she asked. “I have something to tell you.” “What? “ Danny was rejuvenated. He had not dated for a while and was eager to do so. He saw an opportunity with Juanita. “I just gave birth to a baby girl.” “Congratulations,” Danny said. “Are you sexy again?” He was hoping to renew their relationship but was unsure about it since she was with her husband. Juanita did not answer his question; instead, she said, “And it’s yours.” – Chapter 3 :Another Child

“This is Mindy,” Diaz introduced a pretty twenty-five year old girl to him when he arrived at the dock. “She’s Digna’s sister.” Mindy shyly extended her right hand which Danny shook. He noticed that Digna was teasing her sister, as though there was a pre-arranged plan between Diaz and the two girls unbeknownst to him. Later on, during the course of the fishing trip, he discovered the plan: Digna wanted Danny to hook up with her sister. “Marry my sister,” Digna told him as they ate lunch aboard the boat in the middle of the bay. “So she can migrate to America.” She knew Danny was a divorced American citizen. – Chapter 5: Gone Fishin’

Danny called up his friend Pepito and asked for ideas on how to best help Kate. Pepito was the brother of his comedian friend, Elvis, one of the top enter-tainers in the Philippines at that time. “Jackpot ka, pare (You’ve got a jackpot, friend),” Pepito told Danny. “She is a gold mine.” “What do you mean?” “We can set her up with rich Chinese men playing at the casinos and charge them at least 50,000 pesos to spend the night with her. I am sure many of them would be willing to spend that much just to be with a beautiful white girl like Kate. We will get our commission afterwards.” – Chapter 8 : Leading Lady

After Danny gave him her name, the clerk spent a few minutes in the com-puter. “That’s it,” the clerk said afterwards. “She has pension due her, and you are entitled to it!” Danny was surprised. He didn’t expect this bounty. “How much do you think you will get?” the clerk asked him. Danny was hesitant to give him an amount. He was happy to get $100 a month. That would go a long way espe-cially if one was living in the Philippines. “One hundred dollars,” he answered. “That’s way too low, make it higher.” “Three hundred?” “Way too low.” “Five hundred?” “Still very low.” “How much?” he finally asked. “Try fourteen hundred dollars.” He could not believe what he heard. – Chapter 9 : Windfall

COMPLICATED AFFAIRS

Promised Land

by Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.

The inspirational and diffi cult journey of two Filipino cousins

marrying U.S. Navy personnel for migration and fi nancial purposes.

As a piece of the Filipino-American experience, this story also applies to

the lives of all people.

Excerpts from the book“You must join the U.S. Navy so we

can live abroad,” Isabel often told her boyfriend Lando as they walked in the park, weaving dreams for their future together. He would just shrug his shoulders in response. – from Chapter 1 – Her U.S. Navy Dreamboat

“Betel Nuts & Other Stories”


Entertaining and easy-to-read short stories inspired by a Filipino’s

experience in growing up in the Philippines.

Excerpts from the book

If there is a person that can aptly be called “the son of a bitch”, which in Pilipino, is synonymous to the phrase,

“the son of a whore” (“anak ng puta”), it would be Tikboy. Tikboy was one of Eric’s playmates on Platerias Street where Eric lived with his family on the second fl oor of his father’s printing business in Manila in 1957. Tikboy’s mother, Purita, worked as a prostitute in a brothel across the street from Eric’s house. – from Chapter 6 - Just Like Any Mother

Philippine Homecoming’s

Cherished Memories


An entertaining and easy-to-read account of a Filipino American’s

homecoming to the Philippines and the interesting memories it trig-

gered.

Excerpts from the book

Seeing the Philippines for the fi rst time after many years would give any former resident a “culture shock.” The roads, which looked to be wider before, appeared nar-row. The buildings and the streets, which were dilapidated and dirty before, looked more dilapidated and dirty now. – Chapter 2 – Ba-likbayan Culture Shock

Complicated Affairs


The colorful and incredible story of a Filipino American’s compli-

cated affairs.

Excerpts from the book:How did you know Richard?” she

asked. Danny was fast to the draw. “I produced his shows there,” he lied. He could see Menchie, the movie star, was impressed. “And I can also produce your show,” he continued the charade. She was pleased. “Do you think people will pay just to watch me? “Why, are we going to charge them?” he asked instead. Menchie

was aghast, but realized he was jok-ing. She hit him on the shoulder. He knew the ice was broken. – Chapter 2 : Movie Star

Tula ng mga Piling

KatatawananBy Joe Cabrera

Excerpts from the bookMayrong isang tao, ito’y “impresa-

rio”Na ang hanap buhay, maglabas ng

floor showMinsa’y nag-advertise, ng bihirang

aktoNa naiba naman, diyan sa ordi-

narioMay isang dumating, nag-prisinta

bagaAng mga ibon daw, kanyang na-

gagayaKay daling gawin niya, ang sabi sa

kanyaMarami na ko nyan, alis ka na munaMagre-reklamo pa, itong tao sanaNguni’t itong boss, medyo napika paKaya’t itong tao, kagyat umalis naSa bintana’ng daan, lumipad pag-

dakaHEEEEHAAWWWW!!!

Balik Tanaw:The Filipino Movie Stars

of Yesteryearsby Dr. Romy Protacio

Lives and Loves of the Filipino Movie Stars of Yesteryears

Tidbits from this book your inquiring mind wants to know:

How many children does Tessie Agana have?

Who are the two movie star cousins of Robert Arevalo?

Whose autograph of a famous come-dian Perla Bautista sought that led her to become a movie star?

What physical attributes did Bernard Bonnie have that made him a top sprinter in college?

Who is the other movie star brother of Robert Campos?

Who was the Manila couturier that was instrumental in making Charlie Davao a movie star?

Who was the top actor Myrna Del-gado had an affair with that produced a love child?

Who was the legendary actor who gave Dolphy his first break in the movies?

How did Amalia Fuentes get her last name?

Get all the answers in this book, “Balik Tanaw:

The Filipino Movie Stars of Yesteryears”!

Get the best results for your CLASSIFIED AD

with our 3-in-1 PRICE offer via online+digital+print editions + e-blast ser-vice. Call Asian Journal

619.474.0588 (Continued on page 22)

Light &Shadows

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

by Zena Sultana Babao

Prophets ..(Continued from page 9)****

My vote is only one vote but that one vote will join millions of votes to elect the next president of my adopted country. My fear-less forecast is that Mitt Romney (a Mormon) will be the eventual GOP candidate, after months of serious challenges from several candidates, namely: Rick Santorum (a Catho-lic) and Newt Gingrich (a Catholic convert) and Ron Paul (my under-dog favorite). Romney has many good ideas in business, economy and in tax reforms. Unfortunately, he is failing miserably to market himself well to many independents, the working class and the minori-ties, particularly the Latino voters (ironically he is also an American of Mexican descent) His record in business in making millions of money for himself and his investors is very exceptionally lucrative, but the question lingers: (and could be exploited by the Democrats) did his business success also enure to the common people especially the inde-

pendents and minorities? Romney’s mantra of “More jobs, less debt, smaller government” resonates very well to the independents, business people as well as the so-called Rea-gan Democrats. If he can consoli-date and unify the Republican base as he tries to go a little bit to the center, he will give Pres. Obama a tough fight this November.

On the other hand, re-electionist Barack Obama has done not- too-good-nor-too-bad a record (considering that the economy started to falter even before his as-suming into office, and inherited US involvement in Iraq which many be-lieve was a colossal blunder and in Afghanistan from Republican G.W. Bush) has a fair 50-50 chance to be reelected, provided that the unem-ployment will continue to go down, the interest rates remaining low and the coming home of American soldiers from abroad continues as planned. Some other factors are go-ing in Obama’s favor: he has more money for his re-election campaign than any of his Republican oppo-nents; the damage brought about by his administration’s birth-control-pills policy that infuriated faith based agencies, particularly the Catholic Church, happened early enough to rectify his political blun-der; the successful annihilation of the “poster boys” of world terrorism namely Sadam Hussein and Osama bin Laden; the outster of Mubarak of Egypt in the Arab Spring and the expected fall of Assad of Syria and other despots and dictators in the world. Lastly, his choices of Cabinet members and appointments to the judiciary and military are also considered very good and quite in-clusive in the American perspectives of culture and politics.

It will be a very interesting election year to follow and it will be a very close election unlike the landslide victory of Reagan over Carter in 1980. I challenge you, my readers, to follow the election drama and get involved in your own way as it will affect your future, especially if you are a living in this country that is seemingly losing its luster in the world the last several years.

---- 3 0 ----

Email writer: [email protected] or [email protected]

By Zena Sultana Babao

Great leaders are rare. With-out ethical and effective lead-ers – leaders who are obedient to God – people are lost. In the Old Testament, Joshua was an example of an ethical, effective and brilliant military leader. But the key to his success was his trust and obedience to God. When God spoke, Joshua listened. And obeyed!

In these modern times, people are elected or appointed to leadership positions, but most of the time they falter or fail to act in accordance with God’s decree. Some of them couldn’t care less about what God wants. Others, entrusted with im-portant responsibilities, abuse their power to satisfy their massive egos.

Joshua was born in Egypt, proba-bly in the area named Goshen, in the northeast Nile delta. Then known as Hosea, Joshua was a slave, like his fellow Hebrews. It was Moses who renamed him Joshua, or Yeshua in Hebrew, which means “the Lord of Salvation.”

As the book of Joshua opens, the Israelites were camped along the east bank of the Jordan River at the very edge of the Promised Land (also known as Canaan). After receiving God’s law at Mount Sinai, the Israelites had an opportunity to enter the Promised Land. But they failed to trust and obey God. As a result God did not allow them to en-ter the land, but made them wander in the wilderness for 40 years until the disobedient generation had all died.

During their wilderness wander-ings, the new generation was taught to obey God’s laws so they might enter the Promised Land. As the children grew, they were often

reminded that faith and obedience to God brought victory, while unbelief and disobedience brought tragedy. When the last of the old generation had died and the new generation had become adults, the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan River and claim the long-awaited Prom-ised Land.

Moses made an excellent deci-sion when he chose Joshua to be his assistant. That choice was later confirmed by God Himself when he instructed Moses to commission Joshua as his successor. Joshua had played a key role in the Exodus story. Introduced as the field general of Israel’s army, he was the only person allowed to accompany Moses partway up Mount Sinai when Moses received the Ten Command-ments.

Joshua was one of the only two (Caleb was the other) among the twelve spies to bring back an encouraging report after being sent in to the Promised Land the first time. He had been Moses’ constant shadow. His basic training was living with Moses – experiencing first-hand what it meant to lead God’s people.

Because Joshua had assisted Mo-ses for many years, he was well pre-pared to take over the leadership of the nation. In the battle of Jericho, Joshua followed God’s instructions to the letter, strange though they seemed to be.

The city of Jericho, built thousands of years before Joshua was born, was one of the oldest cities in the world. It had fortified walls up to 25 feet high and 20 feet thick. Impreg-nable! Soldiers standing guard on top of the walls could see for miles. Jericho was the symbol of military power and strength during those times.

God told Joshua: “Your entire

army is to walk around the city once a day for six days, followed by seven priest walking ahead of the Ark (of the Covenant), each priest carrying a trumpet made from a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to walk around the city seven times, with the priests blowing their trumpets. Then, when they give one long loud blast, all the people are to give a mighty shout and the walls of the city will fall down; then move in upon the city from every direction.”

Joshua and the people of Israel did just that … and, as the gospel song about the Battle of Jericho says, “… and the walls came tumbling down!”

Why did the Lord God give Joshua all these complicated instructions for the battle? Several answers are possible: (1) God was making it un-deniably clear that the battle would depend upon Him, and not upon Israel’s weapons and expertise. This was why the priests who carried the Ark led the Israelites into battle, not soldiers. (2) God’s method of taking the city accentuated the terror al-ready felt in Jericho. (3) This strange military maneuver was a test of the Israelites’ faith and their willingness to follow God completely. And (4) the defeat of Jericho showed that Israel’s God was not only superior to the Canaanite gods, but He was also the God of All.

7God demanded that the Israel-ites destroy almost everyone and everything in Jericho as a severe judgment against the wickedness of the Canaanites. Because of their evil practices and their idolatry, the Canaanites were a stronghold of rebellion against God. The threat to right living had to be removed. If not, it would affect all Israel like a cancerous growth. God’s purpose in all this was to keep the people’s faith and religion uncontaminated.

Because Joshua was obedient, God performed another miracle at the battle of Gibeon. He made the sun stand still in the sky for an entire day so the Israelite could wipe out their enemies completely. Under Joshua’s godly leadership, the Israel-ites conquered the land of Canaan.

Joshua urged the Israelites to continue to follow God and worship him alone. The people had seen God deliver them from many enemies and miraculously provide for all their needs. Joshua’s obedience to God served as a model for the Isra-elite nation, and as a result, Israel

remained faithful to God throughout Joshua’s lifetime.

The Book of Joshua offers us five distinct but inter-related themes: success, faith, guidance, leadership and conquest.

Success: God gave success to the Israelites when they obeyed His master plan, not when they followed their own wishes. Victory came when they trusted Him rather than in their military power, money, muscle, or mental capacity.

Faith: The Israelites demon-strated their faith by trusting God daily to save and guide them. By noticing how God fulfilled His promises in the past, they developed strong confidence that He would be faithful in the future.

Guidance: God gave instruc-tions to Israel for every aspect of their lives. His law guided their daily living and his specific march-ing orders gave them victory in battle. By staying in touch with God, they had the needed wisdom to meet the great challenges of life.

Leadership: Joshua was an example of an excellent leader. He was confident in God’s strength, courageous in the face of opposition, and willing to seek God’s advice.

Conquest: God commanded His people to conquer the Canaan-ites and take all their land. Complet-ing this mission would have fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham and brought judgment on the evil people living there.

One of my favorite quotes from Joshua is the one he uttered as an old man saying goodbye to his people before his death: “But if serv-ing the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served be-yond the (Jordan) River, or the god of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua was obedient unto the end! XXX

Trust and Obedience in Action

San Onofre


at nuclear plants across the country. The fact that we continue to oper-ate these plants with the knowledge that they can devastate the area, kill many thousands of people, contami-nate the soil, ocean and air is quite remarkable.”

Each nuclear plant has to be paired with a large fossil-fuel plant to provide power when the plants are shut down for frequent maintenance. The net result is a solution that is far from carbon-free.

Event promoters say that we should follow the example of Ger-many and work to decommission all nuclear energy plants nationwide and move immediately to renewable energy sources.

In remembrance of the Fukushima disaster, a number of speakers from


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It takes time and brain power to plan and prepare a weeks’ worth of family

meals. But even after all that work, how can you be sure that everyone at the table is meeting their nu-trition needs?

While it’s not your responsibility to make sure every family member eats, it is your job to provide balanced meals. Studies show children will get the nutrition they need when offered a wide variety of foods. But in a world where nutrition advice can be very confusing, what exactly should that variety be?

While there are no strict rules to family meal planning there are “nutrition essen-tials” that every mom should know about.

1. Have dinner to-gether most nights: Research continues to support the multitude of benefi ts to family dinners. In fact, a recent study in the Journal of Adolescent Health revealed that the 6th, 7th and 8th graders who ate dinner with their family consumed fewer soft drinks, ate breakfast, were less concerned about their weight and were more confi dent about eating healthy at home and with friends.

Remember to include your small-est family members in this family ritual. Once babies transition to fi n-ger foods, for example, they can eat most of what everyone else is eating. Of course, you’ll have to take into account their ability to chew and swallow certain foods. Cutting items into small pieces will often work.

Why is this important? Any parent

of a toddler knows that when picki-ness sets in family dinners can be rough. If toddlers are brought to the family table too late, they’ll already be used to eating their “special food.” But if all they know is the family dinner, they’ll be more likely to go with the fl ow and try new

foods.

2. Provide a nutritious variety of fruits and vegetables: To ensure an array of nutrients choose at least one vitamin C-rich fruit and one vitamin A-rich vegetable. Vitamin C fruits (orange, strawberries, cantaloupe are perfect at breakfast when eaten with iron-rich cereals (C increases iron’s absorption). This is especially important for children under 2 years of age when they are at the highest risk of iron-defi ciency.

Vitamin A-rich vegetables (spin-ach, carrots, kale are a vital part of a balance diet. If your child rejects green vegetables, try vitamin-A rich carrots, sweet potatoes and cantaloupe until their palates come

around.

3. Make half your grains “whole:” Basically, make sure that at least half the grains you serve are whole grains. Include whole wheat bread, whole grain cereals and brown rice with meals. Health

experts recommend Americans eat 3 serv-ings of whole grains per day.

4. Feast on fi sh twice a week: The American Heart As-sociation recommends that Ameri-cans consume fi sh at least twice a week. While most people associ-ate fi sh with heart health, it is also extremely benefi cial for brain health. That’s be-

cause fi sh con-tains the essential omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) not found in plant sources. If your fam-ily doesn’t eat fi sh then they aren’t getting enough of these powerful nutrients. And kids, whose brains are still developing, especially need DHA and EPA.

If you never serve fi sh start out preparing it once a week by trying salmon, halibut, shrimp or trout. You can also make tuna sandwiches at lunchtime. Most experts believe the benefi ts of fi sh outweigh any risk associated with methyl mercury. Just in case, follow the FDA guidelines to avoid swordfi sh, shark, tilefi sh and king mackerel and consume no more than 12 ounces of low mercury

7 Nutrition Must-Do’s for Family Meal Planningfi sh and canned light tuna (no more than 6 ounces of canned albacore tuna) per week.

5. Provide a variety of protein sources: When planning protein for meals remember 2-2-2 – fi sh, lean meats and poultry and beans twice a week. Growing children benefi t from the easily absorbed iron and zinc in animal proteins. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that Americans con-sume at least 3 cups of beans every week. That includes black, kidney, pinto and garbanzo beans. Beans are packed with B vitamins, iron and fi ber and can be included as the main meal or a side dish.

6. Choose your vegetable oils

wisely: Emerging science sug-gests that Americans consume too much omega-6 fatty acids. You see, we evolved from a diet with equal amounts (1:1) of omega 6 and omega 3 yet the ratio we eat today is somewhere between 10:1 and 30:1. Changes in the food supply over the last 100 years have allowed for mass production of vegetable oils like soybean, cottonseed and corn oil all high in omega 6. A diet out of bal-ance can increase the risk of infl am-mation and chronic health conditions like heart disease.

Whenever possible, cook with olive and canola oil, both relatively low in omega-6 fatty acids. Consider making your own salad dressings or fi nd a prepared one made with olive or canola oil.

7. Let them have low fat dairy: Did you know 9 out of 10 children don’t get enough calcium? Low fat dairy products are rich in calcium and other nutrients. 2- to 8-year olds need 2 servings of milk products a day, 9- to 18-year olds need 3 servings a day and 19-50+ year olds need 3 servings a day. A serving equals 1 cup of milk/yogurt or 1.5 ounces of cheese. If you and your family won’t (or can’t) eat dairy consider calcium-fortifi ed juice, soy or rice beverages.

Link: http://refreshingnews9.blog-spot.com/2011/10/7-nutrition-must-dos-for-family-meal.html


6 Leap Year Babies(Continued from page 2)

Anybody who knows the whereabouts of Richard Schaeffer

alias "Richie" please call (619) 746-3416

9 Things to Stop Worrying About



619.746.3416

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

journalusa.com

Insight & Analysis

by Benjamin Maynigo

Analyzing, Understanding, Reading and Appreciating (AURA) the CJ Corona Im-

peachment Trial is a practical and intellectual exercise of common sense and wisdom.

Senate As An Impeachment Court

The Philippine Constitution grants to the Senate the SOLE and EX-CLUSIVE power to try and decide all impeachment cases.

It is now public knowledge that the Senate as an impeachment court is both quasi-judicial and quasi-politi-cal. The Senator-Judges as expected are mostly non-lawyers who rep-resent the thoughts and will of the people who elected them. They are not expected to know the letters and nuances of the law. It is suffi cient that they are able to ferret out the facts, and analyze, understand and appreciate their application to obtain and render justice. The dominant requirement is just plain “common sense”.

Impeachment History

Our law on impeachment has its roots from both the U.S. and British legal jurisprudence.

Research shows that the U.S. Sen-ate as an impeachment court treated the admissibility of testimony with following guidelines:

“Considering the character of this proceeding, that it is a trial of im-peachment before the Senate of the United States, and not a proceeding by indictment in an inferior court;

Considering that Senators are, from beginning to end, judges of law as well as fact, and that they are judges from whom there is no appeal;

Considering that the reasons for the exclusion of evidence on an ordi-nary trial where the judge responds to the law and the jury to the fact are not applicable to such a proceeding;

Considering that, according to par-liamentary usage, which is the guide in all such cases, there is, on trials of impeachment, a certain latitude of inquiry and a freedom from techni-cality;

And considering, fi nally, that al-ready in the course of this trial there have been differences of opinion as to the admissibility of evidence;

Therefore, in order to remove all such differences and to hasten the dispatch of business, it is deemed advisable that all evidence offered on either side not trivial or obvi-ously irrelevant in nature shall be received without objection, it being understood that the same when admitted shall be open to question and comparison at the bar in order to determine its competency and value, and shall be carefully sifted and weighted by Senators in the fi nal judgment.”

In the British Parliament, the Rules of Evidence were treated this way:

“It was contended before that tribunal, that instead of the strict and iron rules of a law court, the fi eld was broad and liberal, and to be controlled by no rule but the Lex et consuetudo Parliamenti. (The law and custom of the Parliament)

“They are not to be trammeled and hemmed in by the rigid rules of evidence..…. the strictness which prevails in the ordinary criminal courts does not apply here, nor is it required that the article of impeach-ment should be drawn up with all the rigid precision of an indictment. The proceedings in this highest court are to be more liberal and free, and nearer substantially to the course pursued by courts conversant with the civil than the criminal law.”

Enrile Ruling

This is why I was not surprised when Senate President and Presiding Judge fi nally held “that the hearsay evidence rule does not apply fully because the impeachment trial is not a criminal case.”

This further means that the required proof would not be that in a criminal case which is “proof beyond reasonable doubt.”

The ruling came about because the prosecution presented Justice Sec-retary de Lima as a witness to prove the Article 7 charge that Corona allegedly “engineered” the issuance

of the temporary restraining order (TRO) that would have allowed Arroyo and her husband to escape punishment in corruption and elec-tion fraud investigations against her. She testifi ed on the following:

1. That she had issued three watch-list orders to ensure that the Arroyos remained within Philippine jurisdiction while under investiga-tion;

2. That the Supreme Court issued a TRO lifting the watch-list orders but imposed three conditions: the posting of a P2-million bond, as-signment of an agent to receive court orders in Arroyo’s behalf, and notice to local consulates each time they land in a country abroad;

3. That Arroyo was blocked at the NAIA because she had not fulfi lled all those conditions;

4. That CJ Corona had alleg-edly maneuvered things so that it would appear that the conditional TRO was already in effect; and

5. That she relied on such allegation based on the internal deliberations of the Supreme Court narrated in the dissenting opinion of Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.

On this testimony, Enrile stated:“It is the ruling of the chair that to

the extent of the facts narrated by the witness on the basis of the dissent-ing opinion, let them remain as part of testimony, as record. But to the extent of the truth/falsity of what the dissenting opinion of Justice Sereno contain, to the extent of those facts whether they are true or not, that the CJ infl uenced this, or CJ did that, then to that extent it is hearsay because the witness was not present when those things were being done/said,”

The ruling correctly admitted into the record as evidence numbers 1, 2 and 3 but ruled that numbers 4 and 5 are considered hearsay.

There is no doubt that because Secretary de Lima was not present at the internal deliberations, she had no personal knowledge of what trans-pired. It was therefore hearsay.

Is it inadmissible then?

Public Records

Not necessarily! Supreme Court decisions, concurring, dissenting and separate opinions are Public Records that are promulgated and published. They are recorded in the course of offi cial business and made available and accessible to legal researchers, members of the judiciary, lawyers and all interested parties.

The impeachment court could treat them as Entries in the course of busi-ness and Entries in offi cial records as provided for in Sections 43 and 44 of Rule 130 in the Rules of Court respectively, as exceptions to the hearsay evidence rule.

The separate opinions of Associate Justices Abad and Velasco as well as the dissenting opinions of Associate Justices Sereno and Carpio on the same issue are kept and incorporated in the same records. They have been promulgated and published and are accessible to the public.

Why not admit all the opinions as evidence when offered and let them be “carefully sifted and weighted by the Senators in the fi nal judgment”?

Judicial Notice

Also as provided for in Rule 129, the impeachment court could take Judicial notice under Section 1 because the said opinions are of-fi cial acts of the judiciary, or under Section 2 because the said offi cial judicial acts have become public knowledge. Section 1 is mandatory while Section 2 is discretionary.

Electronic Evidence

In this digital age wherein the Philippines has become a leading exponent, and having been named Text, Facebook, Twitter and Call Center Capital of the world, using electronic data as evidence to seek the truth for justice should draw signifi cant attention.

Government websites have become reliable sources of informa-tion, news, laws, jurisprudence and the like of Filipino citizens residing in the country and abroad. Offi cial public documents, forms, publica-tions and other records are digitally replicated and uploaded in offi cial government websites run by web masters required to obtain security clearances.

AURA: CJ Corona Impeachment Trial

year.”A leap year happens once every four

years. Psychiatrist Ivanhoe Escartin, Nation-

al Center for Health Promotion director, said the joke has no scientifi c basis.

“It has never been established,” he said. “Maybe because leap year is not usual and for some, something that is not usual is not normal. Maybe that’s how it started.”

He has been subjected to the joke, although he was born on Feb. 28, not on Feb. 29, Escartin said.

Constancia Suerte Felipe-Avendo, 47, of Paombong, Bulacan, said the joke is unfounded.

Her eldest son Mike Angelo was born on Feb. 29, 1988, and if the leap year is to be considered, he is only six years old this year.

“That is just a joke,” she said. “There is nothing unusual with my

son Miggie compared to his fi ve other siblings. We just have a good about that.”

It was entertainment night at the Senior Citizens Center.

Claude, the hypnotist, explained: “I’m here to put you into a trance; I intend to hypnotize each and every member of the audience.”

The excitement was almost electric as Claude withdrew a beautiful an-tique pocket watch from his coat.

“I want each of you to keep your eye on this antique watch. It’s a very special watch. It’s been in my family for six generations.”

He began to gently swing the watch back and forth while quietly chanting, “Watch the watch, watch

the watch, watch the watch. .. ..” The crowd became mesmerized as the watch swayed back and forth, light gleaming off its polished surface.

Hundreds of pairs eyes followed the swaying watch, until, suddenly, the watch chain broke, it slipped from the hypnotist’s fi ngers and fell to the fl oor, breaking into a hundred pieces.

“SHIT!” said the Hypnotist.It took three days to clean up the

Senior Citizens Center.Claude was never invited back to

entertain

The Hypnotist

SAN DIEGO, CA – March 4, 2012. March 4-10 is National Problem Gam-bling Awareness Week. Research has found that in any given year 2%-3% of the US population will have a gambling problem. That’s 6 million to 9 million Americans yet only a small fraction seek out services, such as treatment and self-help recovery programs. “Some-times the gambler does not see the damage they are causing to themselves and the pain they are causing in others,” said Sunnyo Pak, Director of Addiction Treatment and Recovery at the Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC), a non-profi t agency that serves the Asian and Pacifi c Islander and other ethnic communities in San Diego. “Having a problem gambler in your family can take a toll not just on your fi nances, but can affect loved ones emotion-ally, physically, and psychologically.” Whether or not the gambler wants help, family members can reach out and get the support that they need. “Healing is possible.” Pak stated.

The California Offi ce of Problem Gambling (OPG) is offering FREE treatment for problem gamblers and their loved ones age 18 and older. Families can get relief from their silent suffering and get help for this devastat-ing problem. To fi nd a provider near you or who speaks your language, call 1-800-GAMBER or check the OPG website at www.problemgambling.ca.gov. OPG in collaboration with UCLA Gambling Studies Program this past year has trained licensed clinicians across the state that are now providing free treatment to California residents. Anyone age 18 and older who is nega-tively affected by gambling can receive free phone counseling, free face-to-face counseling, free intensive outpatient treatment, or free residential treatment.

In addition, UPAC is providing FREE trainings for healthcare providers and educational presentations to non-profi t groups, and offering free continuing ed-ucation units (CEU’s) or certifi cates of completion. If you are a healthcare ser-

vice provider (mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse), an educator, or a non-profi t organization and would like to learn about risk factors, vulner-able populations, how to screen and assess for problem gamblers, or if you are a problem gambler or are affected by a problem gambler and would like to learn about self-help recovery programs such as Gamblers Anonymous, Gam-Anon, or self-exclusion programs at gambling establishments, contact Deb-bie Rull, Coordinator of the Problem Gambling Prevention Project at UPAC at (619) 521-5720 ext 2231 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAM-BLER. There is hope and help for gamblers and their loved ones.

FREE Problem Gambling Treatment

It must be true because your mother always said so. Right? The Truth: Mom was wrong. “Chilling doesn’t hurt your immunity, un-less you’re so cold that your body defenses are destroyed—and that only occurs during hypothermia,” Vreeman says. “And you can’t get a cold unless you’re exposed to a virus that causes a cold.” The reason people get more colds in the winter isn’t because of the temperature, but it may be a result of being cooped up in closed spaces and exposed to the spray of cold viruses.

Your lipstick could make you sick

In 2007, an environmentalist

group, the Campaign for Safe Cos-metics, had 33 lipsticks tested for lead. Although there’s no lead limit for lipstick, one-third of the tubes had more than the limit allowed for candy. The Truth: “The reality is that lead is in almost everything,” says Michael Thun, MD, head of epidemiological research for the American Cancer Society. “It’s all around us. But the risk from lead in lipstick is extremely small.” In fact, lead poisoning is most com-monly caused by other environ-mental factors—pipes and paint in older homes, for instance. -- Link: http://refreshingnews9.blogspot.com/2011/05/9-things-to-stop-wor-rying-about.html

San Onofre


the Fukushima area have been invited to speak about their experi-ence.

A related event will occur on Sat-urday, March 10, 2012, 6:00pm until 9:00pm at the San Clemente Com-munity Center, including the screen-ing of the fi lm "Fukushima Never Again" and a candlelight procession on Avenida Del Mar to honor the natural and man-made disaster at Fu-kushima. See http://www.facebook.com/events/381660571861509/ for details.

Residents in San Clemente are concerned about the lack of radiation monitoring of SONGS, something that should be mandated by the NRC but is not.

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magni-tude earthquake occurred 43 miles off the shore of Japan at a depth of 20 miles, resulting in tsunami waves up to 133ft in height and resulting

in level 7 meltdowns in three of the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which are still ongoing. Signifi cant radioactive releases occurred, devastating the agriculture and fi shing in the area, and exposing the population to radiation. One of the primary objec-tives of the event is to fully describe the status of this event and to reveal the inherent dangers of any nuclear reactor, particularly one subject to both earthquake and tsunami risks, like SONGS.

According to http://www.valley-post.org/node/164, on June 22, 1980, about 15,000 people attended a protest near the San Onofre nuclear power plant.

Asian Development Bank says Philip-

pines can grow 7-8%MANILA, 10/20/2012 -- The Asian

Development Bank said the Philippines should aspire to post an economic growth of 7 to 8 percent a year, stressing that the country has the resources needed to achieve the goal.

According to an ADB economist, the country simply has to resolve administra-tive and regulatory factors that hinder the entry of more businesses so that more investments will come in, thus accelerating growth.

“The country should not be satisfi ed with a 4- to 5-percent growth; aspiring for a 7- to 8-percent growth is good because that range is what is needed to reduce poverty,” ADB assistant chief economist Joseph Ernest Zveglich Jr. said Wednesday in an interview following the CEO Forum organized by Punongbayan & Araullo.

The Aquino administration originally aimed for the economy to grow by 7 to 8 percent every year during the duration of its term, but recently cut the target on grounds it may be too ambitious at this time.

Earlier this year, the economic team set a 2011 growth target of 5 to 6 percent. This month, the team reduced the range to 4.5 to 5.5 percent, taking into account the adverse effects of a weak global economy.

For next year, the team set the growth target at 5 to 6 percent, giving up on the 7- to 8-percent goal for the meantime due to challenges confronting the economy.

Zveglich said, however, that there is rea-son to support a higher growth target since required resources are available, such as a skilled and educated workforce, as well as natural resources.

Achieving the goal would require the determined effort on the part of the admin-istration to improve the business climate.

The ADB economist said that the Philip-pines could, for instance, streamline the procedures in setting up businesses to en-courage more entrepreneurs to set up shop.

Zveglich also said regulations should be consistent to spur investment growth, which will lead to economic growth.

In the fi rst half, the Philippines grew by 4 percent, slowing down from the over 8 percent registered in the same period last year.

Offi cials said that while the average growth of 4 to 5 percent over the past decade was decent, that pace of growth does not allow the benefi ts of economic expansion to trickle down to the masses.

Economists say that this is why poverty incidence in the country is still high at 26 percent even if the Philippines has grown consistently over the past decade and has avoided recessions that other countries experienced.

(Story courtesy of Michael V. Remo of Philippine Daily Inquirer)


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percent.The executive said that remittances

are also growing by 25 percent to 27 percent.

Guidote also mentioned that the Medium Term Development Plan would be a potential economic growth enhancer if it were effec-tively implemented.

“Business can do well and do better if the drive on fi scal consoli-dation and the drive against corrup-tion is balanced with fi scal support for the broader economy through infrastructure and job creation,” she added.

Another growth enhancer would be the agricultural sector, which needs greater support toward self-suffi ciency to make it less vulnerable to climate change.

Guidote also said that sunshine industries such as fuel, agriculture, medical tourism, infrastructure (through the public-private partner-ship [PPP]), alternative energy, green technology (retail, engineering design and architecture), gold trad-ing and information technology will also get a boost this year.

Meanwhile, Gus Cosio, president of the First Metro Asset Manage-ment, noted that infrastructure, consumer spending, and recovery in China and Europe were possible drivers for the Philippine market for 2012.

He added that the slow us recovery that will shift to higher gear; con-tinued demand for iron, nickel and

chrome ore from China; gold prices strongly supported at $1,500; and a low-interest rate environment were also Philippine market drivers.

University of the Philippines (UP) professor Ben Diokno also discussed external and internal threats that will hamper economic growth of the Philippines.

He said the external threats would be the slowing world economy brought by the European debt crisis; natural disasters in Japan; and the debt problem in the United States.

Another external threat are the geopolitical uncertainty like the political crisis in the Middle East and North Africa; rising oil and food prices; and climate change.

Diokno added that internal threats were the weakening in purchasing power owing to persistent unem-ployment and underemployment, and rising poverty; government ineffectiveness; perception that the governance problems are not being addressed; and inability to move projects and slow progress in PPP initiatives.

“Our leaders have to design and implement a strong reform pro-grams, but that programs requires strong leadership, an effective and competent government, leaders who will work for the welfare of the majority of the people and a credible and effective legal system and regulatory framework,” the UP professor said.

He said the workers were found to have left the country using short-term visit or tour-ist visas although they really intended to work overseas.

According to Cacdac, illegal recruiters are using a third or fourth country, usually ASEAN-member countries where visa is not required, and other countries in the Middle East as jump-off points to send Fili-pino workers to banned destinations.

The POEA has existing deploy-ment bans on Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Nigeria.

“Dubai is one of the favorite desti-nations of Filipino workers wanting to fi nd work overseas, but a foreign-er holding a visit visa is not allowed to work there,” Cacdac explained.

He added that many Filipino work-ers who only hold tourist visas are prompted to agree to substandard employment contracts or submit themselves to physical and emo-tional exploitation because they do not have the necessary employment documents.

“The legal way is to obtain an em-ployment contract and employment visa or work permit and submit them to the POEA for processing and issuance of exit clearance,” Cacdac pointed out.

He said the Bureau of Immigration is now implementing stricter rules to prevent tourists from working in banned countries.

Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) reported that 27 distressed OFWs returned home from Syria the other night.

OWWA chief Carmelita Dim-zon said the returning OFWs were among those who have availed of the government’s repatriation pro-gram from Damascus, Syria.

A total of 1,042 OFWs, mostly un-documented workers, have returned home since the government raised the alert level in Syria to 4.

Dimzon said OWWA extended

airport assistance to the OFWs and offered them livelihood assistance under the government’s P2-billion reintegration program.

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Under U.S. rules, the contents of some these government websites are self-authenticating and are admitted as electronic evidence not unlike computer records.

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Publish March 2

decisions, opinions, laws and other judicial matters from the website of the Supreme Court and the judiciary. Similar contents are replicated or linked by the websites of the Offi cial Gazette (www.gov.ph), the Arellano Law University, Chan, Robles Law offi ces and others.

In search of truth and dealing with questions of fact and law, there is no reason why the impeachment court could not make use of what the Su-preme Court itself had promulgated, published and uploaded in its own website.

They can start with the opinions of Associate Justices Sereno and Carpio as well as those of Associate Justices Abad and Velasco regard-ing the temporary restraining order (TRO) issue.

The published opinions would be in place of the Justices who are unavailable - their physical presence having been barred by order of the Supreme Court and by the Senate’s refusal to require their presence.

For four hours, it was a stomach swirling bumpy ride on pure dirt and dusty hairpin winding road. There was no respite on the jolts that I could hardly stand at the end of the trip which I thought would never end.

The driver dropped me off at a house within a barrio. The house was at a promontory where one can view nothing but seas of undulating mountains in the horizons. A couple in their 60’s and their two daughters welcomed me. “Eat,” the mother said. “You will need it. Your escort will be here soon. I understand you will proceed as soon as it gets darker.”

While I was in the middle of my meal, a Ka Delfi n and Ka Rex ar-rived. I handed the note to Delfi n, who after reading it nodded. “Yes, we know this already,” he said. “We also received the text early this morning that is why we are here to meet you. Rex here will carry your


Sagada

bags for you. You should reach the camp tomorrow afternoon or evening.” Delfi n winked at Rex. “We hope that you are ready for the ‘W’s”

From a distant memory, I seemed to recall what ‘Ws’ meant.

To be continued…

(Publisher’s Note: Pusoy is Rudy D. Liporada’s second novel and third book being serialized in Asian Journal. One can get a copy of the book through Amazon.com – A Russian Poker - or by calling the author at 858-722-1465.)


In the News

Envisioned to create op-portunities for enterprising Filipinos, the Technology

Resource Center (TRC) started its institutional journey in 1977, chiefl y to serve as government’s repository of technologies and livelihood projects. It has since proved responsive to the ever changing needs of the times and adapted well to whatever its con-stituents demand of it.

Thirty-fi ve years and several mile-stones later, the institution is geared at scaling its next summit. TRC Di-rector General Dennis Cunanan not-ed, however, the institution remains true to the spirit of its founding mandate, as evident in its fl agship programs. “We have always worked with an entrepreneurial mind-set,” he said, “with the belief that technology, to be relevant, must make business more effi cient, cost effective and pro-duce excellent products.” From these basic convictions, Cunanan steers the organization towards a reinvigorated sense of mission.

Formerly known as TLRC (Tech-nology and Livelihood Resource Center), the TRC has carved a solid reputation for itself as the govern-ment’s premiere vehicle for popular livelihood training. Its popularity as a training center peaked during the Corazon Aquino presidency, when TRC was lodged directly under the Offi ce of the President (OP). Popu-larity, however, did not prove to be a panacea for TRC’s mounting internal defi cit wrought by its ineffi cient lending programs for small entrepre-neurs.

Thus, when the opportunity for reorganization and downsizing came in 2006, via the Executive Order 366 (which mandated government corporations to “rationalize”), the TRC was fi rst to bite the bullet --- and emerged out of the red, a leaner and stronger organization. Apart form cutting back on personnel, the TRC also trimmed down or shed

some of its functions --- including its withering lending services, which is a redundancy anyway as other gov-ernment institutions offer the same service more competently. Cunanan, who was Deputy Director General at the time, took a hands-on approach to ensure that rationalization would proceed on schedule and with as little setback as possible. To this day, the TRC remains the best test case for EO 366, proving that rationaliza-tion of the Philippine bureaucracy can actually work.

With no more excess baggage to pull down the organization, the TRC quickly switched to an “austerity mode”, until it can completely rein-vent and re-launch itself. “The trans-fer of TRC’s administrative supervi-sion from the OP to the Department of Science and Technology in 2007 proved serendipitous,” Cunanan said, “as it expedited the reinvention of

TRC, which in our case was more about going back to our roots as facilitator of the commercial transfer of technology.”

Cunanan has been with govern-ment all his professional life. In 1995, he run and won a seat in the Municipal Council of Magalang, Pampanga. For some time, he also sat as the town’s OIC Vice Mayor. As part of his duties, Cunanan also served as Director of the Philippine Councilors' League, the Philippine Vice-Mayors' League, as well as Secretary General of the National Movement of Young Legislators (Re-gion III). In 2000, he was appointed Executive Director of the National Youth Commission (NYC) under the Offi ce of the President. A year later, he was appointed Head Executive Assistant to the Offi ce of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Then in 2004, he was appointed as

Presidential Assistant for Youth Affairs.

His post at TRC, how-ever, is the one dearest to his heart. Working silently away from popular media attention, Cunanan believes that, through his job at TRC, he is able to make real and lasting difference in the lives and livelihood of countless many. Cunanan particularly feels privileged of the opportunity to work closely with DOST Secretary Mario J. Montejo, saying the secretary’s insights and direc-tions has truly helped the TRC to catch its second wind.

Thus encouraged with Secretary Montejo’s support, a new vision for TRC began to take wings. Montejo underscored the institution’s corpo-rate nature and saw the potential of leveraging TRC as DOST’s corporate arm, especially for the department’s technology commercialization

projects. “Secretary Montejo steered us to a wider, brave new horizon,” Cunanan said, “he challenged us to aim higher, think bigger and take on a more and more active role within the DOST system.” Following this development, TRC immediately went back to the drawing board and redrafted a take-off plan.

In time for its 35th anniversary this year, Cunanan announced that the TRC is stepping up its project development efforts.

Among the biggest in its line-up is the development of community-based business incubators. Cunanan explained the project is an off-shoot of TRC’s success in managing the Open Technology Business Incuba-tor (TBI) in UP, Diliman, which is jointly owned by DOST and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). By duplicating the program in countryside, entrepreneurs in pur-suit of technology-based businesses would receive a well rounded busi-ness support service, which includes access to world class consultancy experts in business law, accounting, marketing and fi nancial sourcing.

Also in the pipeline is the com-mercialization of an affordable baby food product aimed at addressing the problem of child malnutrition in the country. Cunanan noted the product is now being pilot tested by the DOST’s National Food Research Institute (NFRI). Once they passed certifi cation procedures, TRC will then activate it for commercial dis-semination to the target consumers.

The agency is also seeking to

TRC: Creating Opportunities

(L-R) Mr. Dennis Cunanan, head of the DOST’s Technology Resource Center, University of the Philip-pines President Alfredo Pascual, Senator Edgardo J. Angara and Department of Science and Technology Secretary Secretary Mario Montejo at the 2nd Anniversary of the DOST-PEZA Open Technology Business Incubator at the UP Diliman Technology Park in Quezon City. (July 2011) Photo by Ed Angara.

partner with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for a project aimed at easing distribution of superior rice varieties to local farmers. The project, Cunanan said, would help stabilize production of high quality and environmentally sustainable, quality rice in the coun-try, it would also contribute in attain-ing an improved income for farmers and better nutrition for consumers

Other noteworthy TRC projects include the commercialization of technology-based local inven-tions, the commercial development of healthy alternative fl ours, the manufacture of air fresheners out of seaweeds and the mass production of chopsticks and skewers out of local bamboos. The agency is also poised to set-up a rice post harvest facility in Nueva Ecija in partnership with the National Agribusiness Corpora-tion (NABCOR). Recently, TRC has also teamed up with Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) to provide free livelihood training to overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who will avail of the Kabuhayan Shopping Program.

Symbolic of the TRC’s reinvigo-rated operations is its very visible, highly accessible new offi ce along EDSA. It is now located at Jacinta II Building, EDSA, Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City (right beside the MMDA Building). For details regarding its livelihood training and self-learning booklets and videos, entrepreneurs may visit its website trc.dost.gov.ph or call 822-5418 (local 201).

Capping the organization’s re-newed determination is its recently adopted offi cial corporate tagline, “TRC: Creating Opportunities”. “Looking back at our long history, and taking note of how our function evolved to remain relevant to the public”, Cunanan explained, “we realized that through it all, TRC has consistently remained true to a singu-lar, encompassing mission, which is best described as that of creating op-portunities.” The tagline now serves as TRC’s everyday “battle cry” as it works to transform the country’s technology assets into business suc-cess stories that redound to better life for Filipinos.

DOST-PEZA Open Technology Busi-ness Incubator (OTBI), ASTI Compound, UP Technology Park Complex, C.P. Gar-cia Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 1101

Asian Journal March 2-8, 2012 edition

Documents

Transcript of Asian Journal March 2-8, 2012 edition