Vol. XXIII, No. 17 Online: www. manilamail.us July 16-31, 2014
Pinoys fear war with China WASHINGTON D.C. About nine out of every 10 Filipinos are worried that the territorial dis- pute with China will lead to mili- tary conict, according to a Pew Research Center survey released last July 14. Even in China itself, polling showed that 62 percent of the public worried that territorial disputes between China and its neighbors could lead to an armed conict, the study revealed. This year in all 11 Asian nations polled, roughly half or more say they are concerned that territorial disputes between China and its neighbors will lead to a military conict, the study found. At 93 percent, Filipinos were most concerned, followed by the Japanese at 85 percent, Viet- namese at 84 percent and South Koreans at 83 percent, according to Pew. The Pew Center survey Calonge new Chicago Con-Gen Page 6 Aussie terrorist nabbed Page 19 US troops leaving Mindanao Page 18 Fil-Am in steamy movie Page 22 Piolos son tries US band Page 22 Noli the opera goes to DCs Kennedy Center By Dino dela Rosa WASHINGTON D.C. The opera based on the classic novel penned by Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, goes to the Metro DC region when it plays for two evenings at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Perform- ing Arts on Aug. 7 and 8. Produced by the Mid Atlan- tic Foundation For Asian Art- ists Inc.(MAFFAA), a Maryland based performing and visual arts organization, the opera Noli Me Tangere is expected to stir renewed interest on Rizal and his work that inspired the establish- Vargas arrest focus on plight of the undocumented in US WASHINGTON D.C. Undocumented Filipino immi- gration rights activist Jose Anto- nio Vargas was detained and later released by the United States Border Patrol on July 15 in Texas, sparking an outcry online and among fellow immigration activists. Vargas, an award-winning former reporter for The Wash- ington Post and other news orga- nizations, made news when he revealed that he was an undocu- mented immigrant from the Phil- ippines. Carrying only his Philippine passport for identication, he was stopped by Transportation Safety Agents at the McAllen- Miller International Airport as he was trying to board a plane back to Los Angeles, where his documentary Undocumented was to be screened. The incident elicited differ- ent reactions from two Califor- nia-based Filipino America com- munity leaders. I think it would be good for Vargas to go back to the Philip- MANILA. Over a dozen people were killed as a powerful typhoon called Glenda (interna- tional name Rammasun) raced south of the capital on July 16 with 250 kilometer-per-hour gusts, triggering storm surges and spreading panic among traumatized residents of Taclo- ban hundreds of miles away. It was the strongest storm to hit the country this year since super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan killed thousands in the Eastern Visayas region last November and where people were still struggling to re-build and restore normalcy. Ofces and schools in Metro Manila and surrounding prov- inces closed for the day. More than 370,000 people, mostly resi- dents of coastal and riverside Continued on page 21 Continued on page 20 Continued on page 20 Continued on page 20 P-Noy vows SC ght over banned budget scheme MANILA. President Benigno Aquino III has vowed to ght the Supreme Court ruling that voided a controver- sial budget scheme that crit- ics claimed usurped Congress power of the purse and put con- stitutional safeguards against autocratic rule in peril. We did not transgress the law when we implemented the Disbursement Accelera- tion Program, Aquino said in a 24-minute televised speech on July 14. We do not want two equal branches of government to go head to head, he added, a mes- sage that some say was a veiled warning against the Supreme Court, which Aquino had tan- gled with once before early in the presidency, accusing then Chief Justice Renato Corona of corrup- tion and lawyering for former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, herself on hospital arrest pending her trial for plunder. Corona was impeached by the Presidents allies in Congress. His comments came after two polls yesterday showed the presidents popularity fell to record lows amid an outcry over the P144 billion ($3.3 billion) pro- Immigration rights activist Jose Antonio Vargas is handcuffed at Texas airport. President Aquino Continued on page 21 Powerful typhoon Glenda wrought havoc on a nation still traumatized by last years killer typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). July 16-31, 2014 22 July 16-31, 2014 3 World Bank chief sees PH as next Asian miracle MANILA. Visiting World Bank president Jim Yong Kim was bullish about long-term prospects for the Philippines, predicting it would the next Asian miracle. He noted that while the World Bank downgraded its overall global [economic] growth forecast from 3.2 percent to 2.8 percent it maintained its rosy outlook for the Philippines where the forecast remained around 6.4 percent with a lot of upside going into the future. So I will just say again maintain these reforms, continue on the path that youre on, and I think the future is very bright for the Philippines, Kim said. He was on a two-day visit to Manila to attend the Daylight Dialogue in Malacaang, among other engagements. Kim also announced that the World Bank was providing $119 million for the construc- tion of new roads, bridges and irrigation systems in Muslim Mindanao in support of efforts to promote peace and economic development in the region. Kim later offered a toast during a luncheon in the Palace, saying to President Aquino that each of those things youre doing are not only the right thing to do but theyre laying the foundations for your economic growth in the future. Can the Philippines be the next Asian miracle? [After] coming here, I think there is no question that is the case, the World Bank chief said. Kim heaped praise on Aqui- nos anti-graft campaign, noting that it has led to the impeachment of Chief Justice and bringing up corruption charges against three sitting senators. Among the most important things you can do is tackle cor- ruption and . . . that is one of the things that the [Aquino] govern- ment is doing frankly better than any government in the world, Kim said. PMA unveils memorial to PH-US alliance BAGUIO CITY. The Philip- pine Military Academy (PMA) has built a Philippine-American Memorial inside Fort Del Pilar to honor Filipino and American ghters who fought together during World War II and cel- ebrate the enduring military ties between the two allies. The memorial was put up partly on the efforts of US Ser- vice Academy graduates who rst proposed the memorial. Former President Fidel V. Ramos, an alumnus of West Point, was the guest speaker during the unveiling. The US was represented by Capt. John Cranston of the Joint US Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG). The combined experiences over the years illustrate that together both countries can over- come challenges and bring peace and hope to those in need, Cranston said. He added that the ability of Philippines and US armed forces to work together to confront any difcultyis a path through which we will make a strong partnership even stronger and a close relationship even closer. The US remains a principal benefactor of the Philippine mili- tary, providing millions of dol- lars in defense assistance each year, including the turn-over recently of two former US Coast Guard cutters to the Philippine Navy. Also gracing the event were various alumni of the US Mili- tary Academy at West Point, the US Naval Academy at Annapo- lis, US Air Force Academy in Colorado and the US Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut. WB chief Jim Yong Kim with Pres. Aquino Philippine American Memorial at the PMA. July 16-31, 2014 44 Pinoy chauffeurs killer still roaming free NEW YORK. Investiga- tors have ruled out hate crime in the random attack that killed Filipino private chauffeur Robert Martires last June 24. Martires would have turned 57 last July 14. The unidentied man who punched him, whose face was captured on surveil- lance video, remains at large. Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said the NYPD doesnt have any belief that it was a hate crime at this juncture. A report by the Filipino Reporter, said police suspect it could have been related to ten- sions surrounding a June 21 tele- vised World Cup match. Martires reportedly came out with a friend from late night eating at Krystals Cafe when a man approached them and asked Martires if he was Filipino. The friend said the man threw a punch even before Martires could answer and hit the victim in the face. Martires reportedly fell back and hit his head on the pave- ment. He was brought to Elmhurst Hospital Center in critical condi- tion and died in the morning of June 24. Another Filipino, multi- awarded journalist Randy Gener was attacked while walking home from a party last January 17. Gener survived after being at an intensive care for a long time. His assailant was never pros- ecuted. A makeshift memorial was put up near the site of the attack, and had grown to include a ag of the Philippines, owers and collection baskets to help pay for Martires wake and funeral. Assemblyman Francisco Moya (D-Jackson Heights) has urged the public to share any information they may have sur- rounding the assault. Queens, the borough of diversity and community, will not tolerate such hatred and vio- lence in our midst. An attack on an innocent person is an attack on all of us, Moya said. The Philippine Consulate General in New York said it is conducting its own inquiry in coordination with law enforce- ment authorities to ensure a speedy administration of jus- tice. Robert Martires July 16-31, 2014 5 PH lauds US resolution on South China Sea WASHINGTON, D.C. The Philippine government said it welcomes a United States Senate resolution urging China and other parties to the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea not to undertake new uni- lateral attempts to change the status quo prevailing in the dis- puted areas since 2002. Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. said Resolu- tion 412, which was passed by the Senate last July 10, also reaf- rmed Washingtons strong sup- port for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and, more importantly, its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines. In his report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario, Cuisia said the reso- lution was introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (Democrat, New Jersey), Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and co-sponsored by Senators Marco Rubio (Republican Flor- ida), Ben Cardin (Demo- crat, Maryland), John McCain (Republican, Arizona), James Risch (Republican, Idaho), and Patrick Leahy (Demo- crat, Vermont). We welcome the passage of Senate Reso- lution 412 and express our gratitude to Chair- man Menendez and his colleagues in the Senate Foreign Relations Com- mittee for their support of the Philippine posi- tion, Cuisia said. The resolution also urged all parties to refrain from engaging in destabilizing activities, including illegal occupa- tion or efforts to unlaw- fully assert adminis- tration over disputed claims and ensure that disputes are managed without intimidation, coercion, or force. In its resolution, the US Senate said the Philippines properly exercised its rights to peaceful settlement mechanisms in ling an arbitration case against China and expressed hope that Beijing abides by the ruling. The resolution, which came a few weeks after Manila pro- tested the reclamation activities being undertaken by China in other disputed areas in the South China Sea, also reafrmed the strong support of the US govern- ment for freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia-Pacic region. Cuisia also noted that said Senate Resolution 412 reafrmed the USs long standing policy on Article 5 of the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty. Sen. Robert Menendez July 16-31, 2014 66 Cruise liners keen on PH products on voyages MIAMI. Cruise line passen- gers could soon savor Filipino novelties like the malunggay tea, favorites like the coconut sugar and even the world-renown San Miguel beer on their next voyage, the Philippine Embassy has revealed. Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. said ofcials of Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Lines whom he met during a recent economic diplomacy mission in Florida have all expressed serious inter- est in carrying products from the Philippines in their cruise ships. The cruise lines welcomed our proposals for them to carry Philippine-made products such as souvenirs and furniture as well as other alternatives that they could offer their health con- scious guests such as coconut sugar and malunggay tea, the envoy said. Agriculture Attache Josy- line Javelosa, who accompanied Cuisia in the mission, said coco- nut sugar and malunggay tea are among the products that have proven to be promising in terms of consumer reception in United States-based trade shows such as the Natural Products Expositions and Kosherfest participated in by Filipino food manufacturers during the past few years. In addition, Javelosa said the cruise companies were also urged to consider San Miguel products as well as fresh Philip- pine mangoes and bananas. Commercial Counselor Maria Roseni M. Alvero, who was also accompanied Cuisia, said that food products offered to the cruise liners go through a stringent pre-qualication pro- cess but she is condent that Philippine food products have a very good chance of being car- ried by the cruise liners. Alvero said Philippine mainstreamed products like dried and processed fruits, sea- food and beverages will benet not only cruise guests but also the large number of crewmem- bers who favor ethnic foods and condiments. Alvero said the Panama Canal expansion project, which will be completed next year, would also be advantageous to Philippine companies willing to penetrate not just the cruise ship market but also South America. The expansion of the Panama Canal will also result in greater trade with the US and South America as it will take a shorter time for Philippine food exports to reach their destina- tions, she said. This is some- thing the Philippines should take advantage of. According to Eric Olafon, Port of Miami Cargo Develop- ment Manager, the Panama Canal expansion will minimize travel time of goods from the Philippines to the Port of Miami from over 21 days to 18 days. Calonge is new PH ConGen in Chicago Ambassador Generoso Calonge, former Philippine envoy to Israel, is the new Consul General in Chicago. He took over the post last July 8, replacing Ambassador Leo Herrera Lim who has been reassigned to the Philippine consulate in Los Angeles. Calonge is a career diplo- mat whose service spans almost three decades. He has served in Philippine diplomatic and con- sular missions in Washington DC, Moscow, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Saipan. He also worked in various capacity with the Department of Foreign Affairs Ofce of the Undersecretary for Policy, Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, Under- secretary for Special Concerns, Ofce of Legal Affairs, Ofce of Intelligence and Security Ser- vices, Ofce of Middle East and African Affairs, and Ofce of Asia and Pacic Affairs. He earned his bachelors degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines in Manila 1976; a law degree from the University of the Phil- ippines in Diliman in 1985; and capped this with a Masters of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1988. Calonge also attended the Ofcer Cadet School at Portsea of the Australian Army as a Mil- itary Science scholar from 1978- 1979 under the Philippines- Australia Defense Cooperation Program. The Calonges have three children, Golda, Nikki and Joshua Benedict. Popular Filipino fare could soon become regular offerings aboard cruise ships. Ambassador Generoso Calonge with lawyer-wife Gloria July 16-31, 2014 7 July 16-31, 2014 88 Dr. Carag leaves legacy WASHINGTON D.C. Another pillar of the Filipino American community has passed away after a gallant ght with cancer, leaving behind a rich legacy of service. Dr. Ellen Regalado Carag played many roles throughout her almost 65 of life (July 17, 1949 July 9, 2014): Loving and caring wife. Devoted and nur- turing mother. Savvy business owner. Health educator. Com- munity servant. Upon earning her medi- cal degree from the Univer- sity of Santo Tomas in 1974, Ellen practiced anesthesiology at Manila Doctors Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, and other Metro Manila hospi- tals, before immigrating to the United States with her husband and three children. Settling in Northern Virginia in 1986, Ellen devoted her career and volun- teer work to helping people who are in need. She persevered to be involved in the Washing- ton, D.C. metropolitan commu- nity to foster the health care of those with special needs and the elderly. Ellen was a fellow of the Washington, DC Area Geriatric Education Centers Consortium, and a Certied Retirement Coun- selor of the National Association of Retired Counselors. Nation- ally, she actively involved herself in launching the Medicare Part D prescription program. Locally, she co-chaired several events for senior citizens in the Metro DC region. Since 2006, Ellen served as Vice President of the DC Metro- politan Asian Pacic American Marrow Network, and spear- headed efforts to increase aware- ness and provide education to the local community about the need for Asian American bone marrow donations, and to dispel myths about the process. With a passion for educat- ing the next generation of health care professionals, Ellen served as a professor at the Perpetual Help College of Medicine and at the University of Saint Anthony College of Nursing, Philippines, as well as an instructor at the Medical Education Campus, Northern Virginia Community College, Everest Colleges, and the Virginia University for Ori- ental Medicine. In her nal years, Ellen founded a non-prot organi- zation, AACEES, which pro- vides scientic, educational, spiritual, social, cultural, and healthcare services, in order to make a difference in the lives of others. Many community mem- bers received benets through her non-prot organization, and it was her vision for AACEES to continue beyond her earthly life. B e y o n d her work in health care, Ellen was an active member in the local Catholic com- munity. She served, among others, as Par- ish-Based Mis- sion Coordina- tor for Bukas Loob sa Diyos (Open in Spirit to God) Cov- enant Commu- nity, a Catholic c ha r i s ma t i c community of faith seeking to be living wit- nesses to the Word of God, and actively par- ticipating in the life and mission of the larger Catholic Church. With a deep love for her Filipino roots, Ellen joined the Movement for a Free Philip- pines, which sought to restore democracy to the country after it had been under Martial Law. Ellen also served as ofcer of several local Filipino American Associations and joined the Phil- ippine American Foundation for Charities (PAFC) and National Federation of Filipino Ameri- can Associations (NaFFAA) to sponsor programs for the seniors wellbeing and mental health.. She was a founding member of the Philippine American Cham- ber of Commerce of the Metro DC. PAFC President Mya Grossman remembers her as an active volunteer, We have known Dr. Ellen Carag as a long-time fearless advocate for the seniors, a courageous soul and ally to the depressed, and a consistent giver and receiver of courage. The Lord used her to encourage and strengthen the people she touched. Dr. Ellen Regalado Carag July 16-31, 2014 9 July 16-31, 2014 10 10 Grandfather gets jail after pit bulls kill toddler MARTINEZ, California. A 55-year-old grandfather whose pit bulls fatally mauled his two- year-old Filipino step-grandson was sentenced to a year in prison and three years of probation, but will stay free until a pending appeal is resolved. Steven Hayashi is married to a Filipina, Leticia. In 2010, two- year-old Jacob Bisbee, reportedly wandered into Hayashis garage and was mauled to death by Hayashis pit bulls. Leticias son, Michael Bisbee and his two boys, Jacob and Jeremy, were living with the Hayashis at the time of Jacobs death. Both Jacobs father and Hayashi reportedly left the house, leaving the two young boys home with Leticia, who was asleep. Hayashi was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in April and District Attorney Mary Knox urged Judge Kennedy to hand down the maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. During the hearing, Hayashi was allowed to speak by the judge and he expressed deep remorse, saying he would have done anything to save the tod- dler. I dont think justice ever could have been served in this, said Knox. It was entirely an avoidable tragedy. A two-year- old is dead. So quite frankly, no sentence, no punishment brings justice. Hayashis attorney David Cohen said, I just think this is one of those things where there isnt going to be a satisfactory solution but as I was arguing in court this family needs to heal and it doesnt help this terrible situation to prolong the matter and for Steven Hayashi to spend time in state prison. Trial for Pinoy murder suspect delayed FREMONT, Ohio. The start of trial for an undocumented Fil- ipino charged with killing three men, including an off-duty cop, last March has been postponed to give his lawyers more time to gather evidence that may exon- erate him. Igmidio Mista, 33, is the principal suspect in the deaths of 26-year-old off-duty Elmore police Ofcer Andy Chavez, 28-year-old Ramiro Sanchez and 24-year-old Daniel Ramirez during a shooting spree inside the Last Call Bar in Fremont, Ohio last March 9. Judge Barbara Ansted granted a motion by Mistas counsel David Klucas to move the start of the trial from Aug. 4 to Sept. 8. Mista is charged with three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of felonious assault and one count of possessing a rearm in a bar which could net him up to 75 years in prison. The court has imposed extra security for the trial because of heightened passions, including the death of a police ofcer. After initially allowing Mista to wear street clothes to the trial, Ansted decided he would continue wearing his prison jumpsuit to pretrial hear- ings and wear restraints under his clothing. His lawyer was worried about Mistas appearances in local media, suggesting poten- tial jurors could see photos of his client in a jail uniform and restraints and assume guilt. Steven Hayashi Pinoy in triple murder asks for public defender SAN DIEGO, California. A Filipino American murder sus- pect has been allowed to get a public defender after dismiss- ing his previous lawyer, setting back the long-awaited trial. Carlo Mercado, 30, has been indicted for the shooting deaths of Salvatore Belvedere and Ilona Flint at a Mission Valley shopping mall park- ing lot last Christmas Eve, and Gianni Belvedere, Salvatores brother and Flints anc, who was found dead inside the trunk of his own car about 100 miles away almost a month later. His previous lawyer, Michael Berg told reporters that the defense team has not been given any details or evidence on what led police to suspect Mercado is responsible for the triple homicide. Investigators found sub- stantial probable cause link- ing Mercado to the slayings, San Diego police homicide Lt. Mike Hastings said. He declined to elaborate and pro- vided few additional details. Mercado, who is report- edly a gun acionado, is also being held on separate gun charges after two pistols and an assault rie were recovered in his car on Jan. 18. The victims families had hoped the trial would reveal the motive for their deaths. Mercado faces a 25 years to life prison sentence. Igmidio Mista July 16-31, 2014 11 July 16-31, 2014 12 12 Pinoy overseas voters breach 1-M mark MANILA. The number of registered overseas Filipino voters breached the one mil- lion mark for the rst time this month, less than two years before the next presidential elec- tions in May 2016. The preparations by the Department and the Commis- sion on Elections led to a success- ful start for the registration pro- cess, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a letter. The number of applicants increased by 7.5 percent from the midterm elections last May 2013. The challenge for OV regis- tration is to maintain the momen- tum by keeping the overseas Filipinos interested and engaged in this democratic process, Del Rosario said. It was the rst time in the 11-year history of the Philippine overseas voting that it hit the million-mark. The OAV registration will run until October 2015. DFA Undersecretary Fred Santos of the Ofce of Consular Affairs said newly registered voters will have access to the Passport Divisions Courtesy Lane for faster passport renew- als, among other consular con- cerns. If said registrants need to renew their passports, they no longer have to set an appoint- ment to apply for renewal. Their overseas voter registration stub issued by the OVRC will allow them access to the Passport Divi- sions Courtesy Lane, Santos said. Another DFA ofcial Rafael Seguis predicted that at the current pace of registration, it was possible to reach the two million-mark for the 2016 presi- dential elections. Attaining this goal can denitely be a game changer, he opined. NAIA asks travelers to turn on laptops, phones MANILA. Taking their cue from security ofcials in the United States and Europe, authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have begun requiring all passen- gers bound for abroad, regard- less of destination, to switch on their electronic gadgets before theyre allowed to board ights. The Department of Trans- portation and Communications (DOTC) issued the verbal order for departing passengers to turn on their gadgets after these pass through x-ray machines. If the gadget fails to work, the item will be conscated and its bearer will be detained for questioning by security ofcers at the airport, according to the order. Ninoh Buhay, shift super- visor at NAIAs Terminal 1, revealed that prior to the new order, they were inspecting all electronic devices through x-ray machines and scanners. The move comes in the wake of a new regulation by the US requiring travelers bound there from Europe and the Middle East to submit to closer inspection of electronic items such as laptops and smartphones over fears that militants linked to al-Qaeda are developing new explosives that could be slipped onto planes undetected. The Philippine Airlines is the only carrier at NAIA that has direct ights to the US. Delta Air, Cathay Pacic and China Airlines have stop- overs in other Asian countries before proceeding to the US. July 16-31, 2014 13 Work for the D.C. Areas Top Home Care Agency! Now Hiring Experienced Caregivers for Live-In & Hourly Shifts Top Fay FlexiLle Hours Grear Benelrs High Prole Clients Across the D.C. Area! Requirements: Ar leasr o monrhs experience Musr have CNA License or Cerrilcare Musr provice 23 prolessional relerences Musr have a work permir or SSN Interviewing All Day, Mon - Fri No Appointment Required Bethesda: 8100 Norfolk Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 301-654-1525 McLean: 6723 Curran St. McLean, VA 22101 703-356-4333 Fairfax: 3901-Q Fair Ridge Dr. Fairfax, VA 22033 703-746-8084 July 16-31, 2014 14 14 US school picks Fil-Am for top journalism post NEW YORK. Filipino- American journalist Andrew DeVigal has been named the rst Chair of Journalism Innovation and Civic Engagement by the University of Oregon. DeVigal, 45, had previously worked a multi-media editor of the New York Times. Aside from being inaugural chair, he will also be the rst pro- fessor of practice in the School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC). He will begin his new duties in September. Julianne Newton, interim SOJC dean, said they chose DeV- igal for his dynamic history of developing innovative, award- winning journalistic projects for national and global communi- ties. According to the University of Oregon, funding for the new chair position and the Center for Journalism Innovation and Civic Engagement was made possible through a $5 million gift from an anonymous donor, with $2 mil- lion given to endow the faculty chair and $3 million donated toward the $25 million dollar endowment goal for the center. The Center for Journalism Innovation and Civic Engage- ment is expected to develop new models of journalism that engage citizens and build stronger and more effective communities. DeVigal said he was drawn by the opportunity to col- laborate with the faculty and develop journalism education. Prior to his appointment in the University of Oregon, DeVigal was director of content strategy at Second Story which is known for interactive storytelling. DeVigal is a self-described natural organizer who likes to divide information into buck- ets to understand the different pieces of the story. In doing that, he will ask himself such ques- tions as, What is the information about?, Who does it affect? and What is at stake here? The true craft of a journal- ist, he said, was to make things clear for the viewers and readers. Andrew DeVigal July 16-31, 2014 15 If youd like your organiza- tions events to be included, please send your information to Maurese Oteyza Owens at mpapoose@aol. com Jul 19 (Saturday) 7:30pm. Monthly Filipino Mass. St. Bernadettes Catho- lic Church, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road, Springeld, VA 22152. Contact rsaldana at rsal- dana@gmu.edu Jul 20 (Sunday) 3:00pm La Salle Alumni Assn and the Philippine American Founda- tion for Charities, Welcome Reception for the First Fili- pino Astronaut, Chino Roque (part of a 22-person contingent selected from 60 countries, to y into space next year, aboard the XCOR Aerospace Lynx Air- craft). Lucianos Pizza and Res- taurant. Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA. $5.00 for pizza an drink. Contact: Rolly Saldana at rsal- dana@gmu.edu or Maurese Owens at mpapoose@aol.com. Jul 20 (Sunday) Bicol Asso- ciation of Metro Washington,DC 2014 Penafrancia Nove- nary. Nativity Catholic Chuch, 6001 13th St. N.W., Wash- ington D.C. 20011. Novena at 1:00 oclock pm; Mass at 2:00pm;Fellowship 3:00pm; Pot- luck 2 liter of soda per family. Jul 20 (Sunday) 10:00am- dusk. UP Alumni Assn Annual Picnic, Rock Creek Park Picnic Grove #24. Contact: Liza Virata- Theimer at lizavirata@yahoo. com Jul 27 (Sunday) 10:00am Birhen ng Anti- polo, USA, Inc. Devotional Mass. Basilica of the National Shrine, 400 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017 tel (202) 526-8300. Contact: bnantipolo@ gmail.com Jul 27 (Sunday) 1:45pm Fili- pino American Basketball Assn. Semi-Finals and Finals. South County High School, Centre Court, 8501 Silverbrook Rd. Lorton, VA . Check http:// www.fabametrodc.org for detailed schedule Jul 28 - 31 Philippine Dept of Foreign Affairs and Dept of Tourism Ambassadors, Con- suls, General and Tourism Direc- tors VIP Tour, Annual program open to all. Three-night stay in Dusit thani Hotel in Makati, with meals and entertainment, wreath-laying ceremony at Rizal Park, tour to villa Escudero in Laguna, visits to special sites in Manila and Makati. Led by Ambassador Jose Cuisia, Jr. For information, visit www.acgtdt. com or contact the Philippine Department of Tourism Ofce in New York at 212 575-7915 or pdotny@aol.com; or the Phil- ippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. at 202 467-9398 or cul- tural@philippinesusa.org. Aug 8-9 (Fri-Sat) Mid Atlan- tic Foundation For Asian Art- ists, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) as an opera, based on Jose Rizals novel of the same title. Kennedy Center Eisen- hower Theater. Tickets at $60, $80, and $100 Proceeds for MHCs Project Rebuilding Lives, Building the Future of typhoon Haiyan victims. Benefactor: GPARCC. Con- tact: www.maffaa.org or 443- 240-8734. Aug 7-10 (Fri-Mon) National Federation Filipino American Association National Empow- erment Conference.Town & County Resort and Convention Center, 500 Hotel Circle N, San Diego, CA 92108. Details, con- tact: empowerment.naffaa10.org Aug 9 (Saturday) Philip- pine Association of Metro- politan Washington Engineers (PAMWE) 34th Annual Fun- drasing Gala Fairview Marriott, 3411 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, VA 22042. Formal. $70. Contact Hazel Russell 703 628 9925. Aug 9 (Saturday) All Saints Filipino-American Ministry Monthly Rosary and Meet- ing. 9300 Stonewall Rd., Manas- sass, VA. Contact: Leila 571-247- 1984 Aug 16 (Saturday) 8:00am. ANCOP Walk for the Poor (5K). Jones Point Park (5 Point Jones Drive), Alexandria, VA. To register: ancopusa.org Aug 16 (Saturday) 7:30pm. Monthly Filipino Mass. St. Bernadettes Catholic Church, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road, Springeld, VA 22152. Aug 23 (Sunday) 10:00am Birhen ng Anti- polo, USA, Inc. Devotional Mass. Basilica of the National Shrine, 400 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017 tel (202) 526-8300. Contact: bnantipolo@ gmail.com Sep 6 (Saturday) Philip- pine Nurses Association of MDC 3-K Family Fun/Run/ Walk. Tucker Road Community Center Park, Tucker Rd, Fort Washington, MD. $30. Contact: Nora Mendoza at norrad72@ verizon.net Sept 13-14 (Saturday- Sunday) Asian Festival, Rose- croft Raceway, Ft. Washington, MD. Contact: Bing Branigin at mcbranigin@aol.com Sep 13 (Saturday) 6:30 pm La Salle Philippines Alumni Asso- ciation Bente Berde (LSPAA Turns 20) Crystal City Marriott Hotel, 1999 Jefferson Davis High- way, Arlington, VA 22202. $75 per person includes dinner-dance and chance to win a cruise for two to the Bahamas. Restric- tions apply. Checks payable to LSPAA with memo Bente Berde Gala and mail to: Aurora Arellano at 6615 Burlington Place, Springeld, VA 22152 Sep 27 (Sunday) 10:00am Birhen ng Antipolo, USA, Inc. Devotional Mass. Basil- ica of the National Shrine, 400 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017 tel (202) 526-8300. Con- tact: bnantipolo@gmail.com July 16-31, 2014 16 16 News in Pictures Philippine Assistant Secretary for the West Philippine Sea and Consul General of the San Francisco Con- sulate Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. (top left) spoke at the 2-day annual South China Sea conference of the Center for Strategic and International Stud- ies in Washington D.C. on July 10. Fellow panelists are, from left, Dr. Vu Hai Dang (Vietnam), US law expert Jerome Cohen, Dr. Bing Jia (China) and CSIS senior fellow Murray Hiebert. In attendance were government ofcials, mem- bers of think tanks, and diplomats. Also in attendance is MGen. Deln Lorenzana (Ret) of the embassys Philippine Veterans Ofce (right, foreground). Bensurto briefed the meeting about the Philippines arbi- tration case before the UN Tribunal at The Hague. (Photo by Angelyn Tugado Marzan) Meet the new labor attach in the Philippine embassy in Washington D.C. He is Angel Bora (right) who replaces Labor Attache Luzviminda Padilla who returned to the Philippines to assume her work at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. (MC Branigin) Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, on June 30 visited Washington DC upon the invitation of US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno. He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery, met with Gen. Odierno at the Pentagon and paid a courtesy call at the Philippine embassy where he was received by Deputy Chief of Mission Ariel Penaranda . (Phillippine embassy photo). MHCs youngest envoy 2 1/2 year old Milo Lopez, the only child of Manny Lopez and Mylene Manawis, proudly waves US and Philippine aglets at the Migrant Heritage Commission- led Fil-Am contingent at the 4th of July US Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia, the birthplace of American Independence . Little Milo in igorot costume, was the darling of the crowd, the most photographed and the most applauded participant at every block of the parade. This year, the Thank you America and the World banner was displayed by the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) (MHC ) co-Executive Direc- tors Grace Valera and Jesse A. Gatchalian together with the other MHC Envoys/friends and volunteers including ISAs 2014 MISS TEEN PHILIPPINES-AMERICA BEAUTY queens Angela Dizon, Chaee Remigio, Isabelle Garcia, Donna Escorpeso, Susan Hoffman, Jessica Tardencilla and Sunshine Hassell. Photo by Manny Lopez GOPs go all out to win Fil-Am votes The following photos, sub- mitted by Manila Mail national editor Bing Branigin and Ninio Fetalvo of the Republican National Committee in Wash- ington D.C. , show how active GOP candidates are wooing the Filipino American votes nation- wide. Cong. Scott Rigell (R-VA Beach, Virginia) with members of the Fiil-Am CAG-NaFFAA during the Fil Am Friendship Day held last July 5 at the Red Wing Park, Virginia Beach, Vir- ginia. The annual event attracts local and appointed ofcials of Virginia as well as Filipino Americans from as far as North Carolina and Northern Virginia . Guests were welcomed to the American-style cookout with popular Filipino food that local organizations prepare for the occasion. At the big tent, local and Filipino personalities pro- vided entertainment with tradi- tional Filipino dances, Polyne- sian, hip hop, ballads, and many more. (Photo by Bing Cardenas Branigin) Second photo submitted by the RNC in Washington D.C. shows Virginia Republican sena- torial candidate Ed Gillespie par- taking Filipino food at the July 5th celebration in Virginia Beach. (GOP photo) Congressman Mike Coffman poses with Marelyne Chung, president of the Philippine American Society of Colorado and Nelle Strasheim, president of Filipino American Community of CO during the recent visit of the UST singers in the state. (GOP photo) Mayor Will Sessoms waves at the crowd during the opening ceremonies of Filipino American Friendship Day in Virginia Beach on July 5th. Driving the car is Filipino American State Delegate Ron Villanueva. (Photo by Julius Legara) July 16-31, 2014 17 Around DC in Pictures Tourists joined Fil-Am group pushing for the grant of Temporary Protected Status for undocumented Filipinos in the US in demonstrating in front of the White House on July 4th. Among those in the group are Jon Melegrito of NaFFAA, Arnedo Valera of Migrant Heritage Commission, Mr. and Mrs. Nini Baesa, Pilar Walsh, Steve Hermosisima , Dr. Carolyn D. Castro and Angelyn and Rico Marzan. (Photo by Eric Lachica. Jon Melegrito serenades Dr. Mody and Mady Rivera (2nd and 3rd from left) during their joint retirement party at their home in Maryland last July 5. Also in photo are Dr. Mitch Lopez and Myrna Lopez, Manila Mail columnist. More than a hundred guests attended the party. (Bing C, Branigin) Maryland Delegate Kris Valderrama, her father Judge David Valderrama (seated), husband Abe Lobo and her kids, pose during the Appreciation Day Party tendered by supporters at the Multicultural Center, near the National Harbor on July 13, 2014. Shown are Immigration Attorney Miriam B. Ried- miller (with hat, extreme left) and her mother, Mrs. Avelina Bustamante, (extreme R) presenting a painting to Kris as a gift to her and to her con- stituents at the 26th Legislative District of Maryland. LA-based Filipino American fashion designer Puey Quinonez was one of the eight international designers to present their collection at the J. Summer Fashion Show at the One World Trade center in New York City last June 25. His collection was the favorite at the show and New York news broadcast featured him in their newscast the next day. Photo shows Quinonez (4th from left, with glasses) posing with, from left, Momar Visaya, Bing Branigin and local Fil Am fashion watchers in the greater New York City. More than one hundred Filipino and Asian Americans attended the day- long Town Hall meeting of the Asian American Pacic Islander Associa- tion (AAPIA) and the White House Initiative on AAPIA at the Munici- pal building in Philadelphia last month. Photo shows, from left, A. J. Macarma, Brad Baldia, president of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of PA and southern New Jersey; Nina Ahmad of the Presidents Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacic Islanders; Susan Lusther, Advisor, WHIAAPI; Sara Manzano Diaz, Regional Administrator, US General Services Adminstration, and Eric Macalma, Firestarter Group. (Bing Cardenas Branigin) Marilou Padilla Gallardo poses with the special awardees of the Marilou Padilla Gallardo Piano/Organ/Keyboard Studio after the successful Music Magic piano concert held June 21, 2014 at the John Addison Concert Hall in Fort Washington, Maryland. In photo are Gabriela Ruhlmann and Laurie Ruhlmann (Outstanding Piano Studio Awardees, Jonathan Jeter (2014 Stu- dent of the Year) and Mrs. Gallardo, Studio and Concert Director. Ilan Fae B. Burgos, daughter of Mr. Rommel and Mrs. Maricel Burgos of Virginia who recently marked their 25th wedding anniversary, smiles as she proudly displays her diploma after graduating from Tuscarora High School on June 16, 2014. Whats up, coz? This photo of two 2-year old cousins seated on a curb in Vienna, Virginia has elicited smiles and praises from those who saw it on Facebook and elsewhere. The kids are Eva F. Flores, daugh- ter of Ian and Vanessa Flores of San Jose, California and her cousin, Gio F. Andres, son of Eric and Cindy Andres of Vienna, Virginia. Gio laughs as he sits beside Eva who is sucking her thumb. The Floreses ew to Virginia last month to cel- ebrate Evas birthday with cousins and other relatives. (Photo by Eric Andres) July 16-31, 2014 18 18 US military winding down in Mindanao ZAMBOANGA CITY. The United States is pulling out of its facilities inside the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command headquar- ters where most of the US special operations in Basilan and Sulu were run for over a decade. Col. Erik Brown, team under the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) has reportedly told local ofcials, led by Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, they were in the process of scal- ing down and eventually ending their activities at the Philippine Army camp. Since the JSOTF-P was estab- lished there, about 600 American military ofcers and servicemen were rotated every six months. They improved existing facilities inside the camp, including new structures to house troops and provide for recreation. The US Embassy in Manila recently reported that the US Pacic Command has deacti- vated the JSOTF-P, which was established in 2002 to help train and equip Filipino troops to ght the Abu Sayyaf and other terror groups in the country. Resurrected baby is buried, nally ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR. A dead baby that allegedly moved at her own funeral and became the subject of a video that went viral on social media, was nally buried last July 15 after doctors noted the corpse had already started decomposing. Wena Romarate nally accepted the fate of her 2-year- old baby, Sydney, but only after a quack doctor told the family the babys spirit would no longer go back to her body. The story of the resur- rected baby made the rounds online after family members claimed the little girl had come back from the dead while a priest was administering last rites. A video showing the babys grandfather lifting the baby out of the wooden cofn and carry- ing her out of the church, believ- ing the girls head moved was posted on Facebook and quickly spread on the internet. Family members then brought the girl to the hospital again to conrm her alleged res- urrection. Doctors, however, con- rmed that the little girl was really dead. Her family buried the baby at a local cemetery in Aurora town. Romarate said she is now concerned for her two other chil- dren who are presently conned at Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center. She said she does not know what ails them. The US is winding down operations from Zamboanga City headquarters. Viral video shows grandfather carry- ing baby. Pacquiaos next opponent has Masters degree MANILA. Boxing promoter Bob Arum inked the deal for Fili- pino boxing champion Manny Pacquiaos next bout, a Novem- ber clash with Long Islands Chris Algieri in Macau. The Top Rank Inc. executive said Algieri and his promoters were able to work out the differ- ences within their camp and has accepted the terms of agreement for the November 22 (November 23, Manila time) bout. We have a deal, Arum told Dan Rafael for a report on ESPN.com The New Yorker will report- edly earn a career-high $1 million for the welterweight title clash with Pacquiao, a huge jump from the $100,000 he received when he upset Ruslan Provodnikov last June. Algieri said he felt rewarded by the opportunity to ght one of boxings biggest stars, adding that he had no problem climbing up weight just to square off with Pacquiao at 147 pounds. He wants the ght and has no problem going up in weight. He wants the welter- weight championship. He wants challenges. He loves the idea. He wanted to ght for another championship and he loves that he is ghting Manny Pacquiao for it, said Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing and Banner Promo- tions. He looks as Manny as an elite of the game. He wants to climb another mountain. If he wins this ght, you have the start of another era, he added. The 35-year-old Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) has won world titles in a record eight weight classes. In his last ght last April 12 in Las Vegas, Pacquiao out- pointed Timothy Bradley Jr. to regain the welterweight title he had lost to Bradley in a con- troversial split decision in June 2012. Algieri is a former kickboxer who grew up in a middle class family, went to college and even- tually earned a masters degree. He says he wants to go to medi- cal school when he is done with his boxing career. He also works as a nutritionist. I think its an interesting ght between him and Manny, Arum said. Manny Pacquiao and Chris Algieri July 16-31, 2014 19 Australian nabbed in Philippines over alleged Isis links CEBU. Authorities have arrested an Australian Islamic preacher who has allegedly been calling for jihad and recruiting Filipino Muslims to ght in Iraq and Syria. Police arrested Melbourne- native Robert Cerantonio, 29, who goes by the alias of Musa, in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu last July 11. Australian federal police had been reportedly tracking Cerantonio for months and is expected to take him back to Australia for more thorough interrogation. His arrest has been lauded as a sign of major gains in Philip- pine-Australia security coopera- tion. It was the rst known link between Islamist militants in the Philippines and foreign jihad- ists who support conicts in the Middle East. Cerantonio is considered by terrorism experts to be one of the worlds most inuential inspi- rations for militants in Syria and Iraq, according to Australian media. He is said to have a huge online following and is sus- pected of using social media to recruit militants and urge Mus- lims to kill western leaders. Cerantonio had report- edly given lectures in support of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) in Basilan and Sulu and is suspected of distributing an online video showing what appear to be militant Filipino prisoners inside a top-security jail supporting Isis. Filipino Muslims have a his- tory of taking part in conict in the Middle East, with some mili- tants ghting in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Australia recently listed Isis along with the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (Isil) as a terror- ist organization and warned that those who have fought with or nancially support a listed ter- rorist group can be jailed for up to 25 years. 16 killed in clash of NPA, Manobo tribesmen CAGAYAN DE ORO. At least 16 people were killed in a battle between tribesmen and communist rebels in a remote area of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur last July 15. About 100 New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels attacked the home of Manobo chief Calpito Egua but the tribal leader and his followers fought back, said mili- tary spokesman Major Christian Uy. The datu (tribal chief) did not give in to their extortion demands, he told reporters. The battle site was just three kilome- ters away from the provincial capitol in Prosperidad and the headquarters of an army combat battalion. Thirteen rebels, two tribes- men and a soldier from a mili- tary unit that went to help Eguas men were killed, Uy said. Egua, the local leader of the Manobo mountain tribe who turned to mining, and a soldier were also slightly wounded in two hours of ghting, he added. Just days earlier the NPA overrun a municipal police sta- tion in Alegria town in the adja- cent province of Surigao del Norte, killing two policemen and holding 4 others hostage. NPA guerrillas also killed two Mindanao mayors in ambushes over the past two months. Small clashes and raids fre- quently leave small numbers of people dead, but the recent ght- ing was among the deadliest of the past decade. NPA ghters have hands full against tribesmen. Australian Islamic preacher Robert Cerantonio after arrest. July 16-31, 2014 20 20 ment of the rst republic in Asia. A major sponsor of the opera here, the Migrant Heritage Commission and its brain trust, lawyer Arnedo Valera, Grace Valera and Jessie Gatchalian wrote in a combined essay, Few novels have made a more shat- tering impact on our society than these two novels. And no novel- ist paid a higher price for self- expression. Rizal was executed by a ring squad mainly because of these two books. Filipinos, inspired by these novels, initiated the rst nation- alist revolution in Asia in 1896, established its rst democratic republic, which survived until 1901, and in 1946, exactly half a century after Rizals execution, became the rst Asians to win independence from Western colonialism. The novel was rst pub- lished in 1887. Two men, Felipe de Leon who composed the music and Guillermo Tolentino, who wrote the libretto, later became National Artists of the Philippines. MAFFAA exists to propa- gate, perform and present the rich and diverse cultural artistic works associated with the Philip- pines and Asia. A compelling novel about love, betrayal, oppression, ven- geance and hope, its an ador- ing love story set against a repul- sive political backdrop of tyr- anny, torture and murder. Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) depicts the abuses suf- fered by the native Indios at the hands of the Spanish tyrants. Rizal took the collective experi- ence of oppression and gave that a face, through the characters in his Noli Me Tangere. The story of Noli is one that Filipinos all too well, from Crisostomo Ibarras discoveries after his return to the country, the sad fate of the unfortunate Sisa, to the truth about Crisos- tomo love, Maria Clara. Rizals novel tells of the cancer that plagued society, and what actions can spark a revolu- tion for change. Loida Nicolas-Lewis, who spearheaded the idea of bringing Noli Me Tangere to the stage, brought the production last year, along with executive producer, costume and set designer Jerry Sibal and assistant executive producer Edwin Josue. The New York production sold out the three days that it ran and was even reviewed by New York Times. The team will next stage the production in Washington D.C.s Kennedy Center. This operatic rendition breathes new life into Jose Rizals masterpiece. Its an opera made in the same spirit of Verdi, of Puccini, of Bernini. Grand opera in the Italian style, Lewis said. The difference? It is sung entirely in Filipino. The MHC observed that, This opera is not only a retell- ing of Rizals Noli but also show- cases the richness of Philippine culture. This is artfully done through the melodies and tones that composer Felipe de Leon created, as well as the rendering of period costumes. Noli Me Tangere enthralls and enchants as classical operas do, but also highlights artistic elements that are distinctly Fili- pino. The interplay between east and west is both quaint and bril- liant. It sets itself apart, aestheti- cally and culturally, from typical western operas. It also intends to show- case the world-class talent of its Filipino cast. The saga contin- ues, be inspired by the novel of Dr. Jose Rizal that sparked the Philippines revolution! Daisy Tucay, president of Global Advocates on Philippine Retire- ment and Counsel (GPARCC), will be the benefactor and host of this highly anticipated opera. For tickets, call the Kennedy Center at 202-467-4600. drew respondents from 44 coun- tries. China has seen tensions rise with Japan and the Philippines, both of which claim Beijing has taken inappropriate steps in the East and South China Seas, where claims of several island chains are under dispute. According to the report, Japan, the Philippines and Viet- nam see China as the greatest threat, while China as well as Malaysia and Pakistan list the United States as the biggest threat. Every other Asian nation surveyed, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Thailand, see the United States as their greatest ally -- although Indone- sia also sees America as its great- est threat. Among citizens of the 44 nations surveyed, 40 percent said they believe the United States was the worlds present- day super power, compared to 49 percent who said so in 2008. The number who consid- ered China the leading super power, meanwhile, rose from 19 percent six years ago to 31 per- cent today. Fifty percent of respondents said China would eventually replace or has already replaced the United States in that role, compared to just 32 percent who said China would never do so. Across the nations sur- veyed, excluding China, 49 per- cent of people expressed a favor- able opinion of China, compared to 32 percent unfavorable. Pinoys fear war with... from page 1 Noli the opera goes... from page 1 communities, were brought to evacuation centers. Manilas power distributor, Meralco said 5.3 million homes had lost electricity in the capi- tal and surrounding provinces and that it could be days before services were restored to some areas. Commuter train services in the capital were suspended because of the lack of power as were inter-island ferries, includ- ing to the holiday island of Boracay where 300 tourists were stranded. Public Works and High- ways Secretary Rogelio Singson and retired Admiral Alexander Pama, the executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said casual- ties were relatively light. I am happily surprised because of the minimal casual- ties and damage, Singson said, adding the typhoon had passed through the most populated area of the country, with about 17 mil- lion people living in its path. We ed our home just before dawn when the water started rising up to our ankles, said housewife Dayang Ban- suan whose shanty home along Manila Bay was completely destroyed. I was really frightened, they (neighbors) were saying the winds were getting stronger. They were telling us to evacu- ate, she recalled. Still, others ignored the warnings and almost paid dearly for it. I thought I was going to die. I went out to look for gaso- line in case we needed to evacu- ate, but it was a mistake, said tricycle driver Pedro Rojas, 35, as he nursed a cut head while sheltering at a town hall on the outskirts of Manila. My tricycle rolled over twice after I slammed into sheets of rain. It was like hitting a wall... huge tin roongs were ying everywhere. It was the rst major storm since Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastated the eastern islands of Samar and Leyte in November last year, killing up to 7,300 people in one of the Philip- pines worst natural disasters. Those areas felt only light rain and winds on Tuesday and Wednesday, but that was enough to send panic through some Yolanda survivors who are still struggling to rebuild their communities. That crisis spawned a mas- sive relief effort that continues today. Filipino Americans in the Metro DC region recently held a benet concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC for disaster victims in the Philip- pines. They are scared because their experiences during Haiyan last year are still fresh, Social Work Secretary Dinky Soliman explained. I feared we were going to relive our nightmare, when we had to swim for our lives, said sherman Alfredo Cojas, 49, who left his shanty home in Tacloban, Leyte for an evacuation center. Tacloban bore the brunt of the death and destruction from super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. Soliman said many went back to the citys Astrodome, where thousands sought shel- ter and dozens drowned during storm surges in the November disaster. Singson and Pama said the government was more prepared this time, after the devasta- tion caused by super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan, evacuating people at risk in coastal and land- slide-prone areas well before the typhoon made landfall. The storm brought storm surges to Manila Bay and prompted disaster ofcials to evacuate slum-dwellers on the capitals outskirts. The Philippines is hit by about 20 major storms a year, many of them deadly. The South- east Asian archipelago is often the rst major landmass to be struck after storms build above the warm Pacic Ocean waters. Scores killed in first big... from page 1 July 16-31, 2014 21 pines, said Rudy Asercion in an interview on Balitang Amer- ica, but Im happy hes getting his due, hes getting his day in court. I hope that whatever comes out of these proceedings will be a precedent so we can have a comprehensive immigration reform, he added. Lawyer Rodel Rodis noted that the Fil-Am community has been pressing the White House to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Filipinos in the US and he said they sensed that could happen. He said the grant of TPS will benet at least 200,000 Fili- pinos who are in a similar condi- tion with Vargas. Jose Antonio Vargas is providing the face for the thousands of faceless Fili- pinos as well as non-Filipinos caught in this vortex of this broken immigration system. In a statement, U.S. Customs & Border Protection said Vargas was detained after he stated that he was in the country ille- gally and that he was released on his own recognizance. The incident immediately turned the spotlight on deporta- tions of immigrant youths in a region where tens of thousands of unaccompanied children are ooding in from Central Amer- ica. Ive been the most privi- leged undocumented immigrant in the country, Vargas wrote in an article posted on politico. com in which he contemplated the possibility of being detained in Texas. The visibility, frankly, has protected me. Vargas, 33, was brought to the US at age 12 to live with his grandparents and didnt know he was undocumented until he tried to get a drivers license four years later. He visited the Texas-Mexico border to help raise awareness about the plight of undocu- mented immigrants. I cannot fully imagine the treacherous, dangerous, desper- ate and long trek to safety, free- dom and some kind of peace that these children are going through, Vargas told a crowd in one gathering earlier. Like a lot of people in our country, I have been very angry and lost and confused watch- ing television and looking at whats happening, he said. All of these politicians are basically playing political football with our lives. The arrest immediately drew national attention, in part because Vargas, who once appeared on the cover of Time magazine, has so publicly called for an end to the policy of deport- ing young undocumented immi- grants who, like him, grew up in the US and consider themselves American, LA Times reporter Molly Hennessy-Fiske wrote. US Immigration and Cus- toms Enforcement (ICE) said the agency had not previously encountered Vargas and had not previously issued an order for his detention. The agency said it was focused on promot- ing border security and remov- ing criminal individuals who pose a threat to public safety and national security. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also weighed in on Vargas detention in Texas. Jose Antonios detain- ment today at a Texas airport, close to where he was working to document the plight of refu- gees, shows how our immigrant enforcement agencies are fail- ing to use their discretion and detaining long-time immigrants who do not pose a threat to our security, he said in a statement. Jose Antonio has spent most of his life in the United States, he was educated by American schools, went on to receive a Pulitzer Prize while working as a journalist at the Washington Post, and eventu- ally disclosed his undocumented status to advocate for a much- needed debate around citizen- ship. He exemplies what Amer- ica is about, the mayor added. Cristina Jimenez, managing director of United We Dream, said Vargas arrest highlighted the struggles many undocu- mented immigrants face. We stand in solidarity with Jose Antonio and demand for his immediate release, but we must remember that there are thou- sands of people along the border that live with this same fear every day, Jimenez said. Once again, the Border Patrol has proven to be a rogue agency after arresting Jose Antonio, a low-priority case for detention and deportation. Vargas arrest focus... from page 1 gram, known as DAP. The con- troversy threatened to tarnish Aquinos anti-corruption creden- tials and side-track the countrys economic growth, expanding 7.2 percent last year. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell by one per- cent the same day, the biggest drop since May 29. The restorm over the DAP comes amid the closely-followed arrest and prosecution of three prominent senators for their role in an alleged scam involving P30 billion of the Priority Develop- ment Assistance Fund (PDAF), better known as lawmakers pork barrel. Aquino pledged to stamp out pork-barrel budgets last August after thousands turned to social media to criticize the system. Civic groups took to the streets on June 12 to seek the removal of politicians embroiled in the scandal. The DAP approved in 2011 fast-tracked infrastruc- ture spending in the three years through 2013 and gave perks to some lawmakers. The Supreme Court on July 1 voided parts of the program, months after stripping lawmak- ers of their discretionary budget power. DAP follows the law and adheres to the mandate granted to the executive branch, Aquino insisted, arguing that We did this to properly allocate funds, and by so doing maximize the benets that the people may receive. He said the program ben- eted education and electrica- tion, while helping an economy that was suffering from public underspending. DAP is good, Aquino stressed. Our intentions, our pro- cesses, and the results were cor- rect, he said, adding that the funds were used for the benet of Filipinosand not for later, not soon, but now. The president said his gov- ernment would appeal the deci- sion so the high court can more fully and more conscientiously examine the law. He also said he would seek a supplemental budget from Congress to ensure that all benets are delivered. Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, now detained while awaiting the start of their trial for the pork barrel scam, were among those who received DAP funds for various projects in 2012, according to a statement from Budget Secretary Butch Abad. Aquino on July 11 turned down the resignation of Abad, one of his top economic ofcials, after 15 groups led a plunder complaint against the budget secretary. The groups including Kabataan Partylist and Youth Act Now alleged that Abad sys- tematically misappropriated, converted, misused, and mal- versed public funds through the spending program. The Philippine Daily Inquirer exposed the so-called pork barrel scam in July last year, sparking a government investi- gation that focused on business- woman Janet Lim-Napoles as the alleged mastermind of the scheme. Lim-Napoles, who is in jail for a separate criminal case, linked at least 120 sitting and former lawmakers to the scandal in a May 26 afdavit, including some of Aquinos allies. P-Noy vows SC fight... from page 1 Priests words to unwed mom stirs protest CEBU. A Catholic priest who berated an unwed teen mother at her childs baptismal rites was forced to resign after the incident spread through social media, triggering an angry backlash. Father Romeo Obach of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer said in a statement that he deeply regretted the words I said and rude attitude that I showed before performing the Catholic baptism on the child of a 17-year-old single mother at the Sacred Heart chapel in Jag- obiao, Mandaue City last July 6. I am now making a public apology to the mother of the child and her immediate family, the priest said. I deeply regret that I have done this, Obach said, adding he had only belatedly realized the cruel ways to educate and impart lessons. The childs grandmother Jieve Daitol Frias had caught him on cellphone camera seem- ingly humiliating her daughter in front of friends and family. How shameful. You come here to have your child baptized without a husband, Obach was heard saying in Cebuano. You slept with a man who is not your husband. Do you hear me, girl? Arent you ashamed, he appeared to harangue the young mother. The priest then went on to say that while the baby had not sinned, her mother did, after she slept with a man who was not her husband. Obach also warned the mother that the consequences of her actions may be passed on to her child, as her child was born due to sin. The video spread quickly through social media. The pub- lics angry reaction prompted church ofcials here to order an investigation and assured that appropriate sanctions on the part of the involved will be applied once the investigation is complete so that justice may pre- vail. The publics ire only grew when it was later reported that the child was born out of wed- lock after the young mothers boyfriend left her for another girl. The young mother report- edly attempted to kill herself but later sought psychological inter- vention. As a religious community we do not condone such an unac- ceptable act, said leaders of the Redemptorist order, to which Obach apparently belonged. Fr. Alfonso Suico Jr., the groups media liaison, said in a statement that they were deeply saddened by the incident. I am deeply sorry to the mother of the child, her relatives, the sponsors and the witness of the incident. I am sorry to the internet viewers, to the media listeners and the viewers for this mistake. I personally admit. I am deeply sorry and I humbly ask your forgiveness, Obach said in his statement. Pope Francis had earlier told priests to baptize children of unmarried women to pass on the Christian faith. Video grab of controversial baptism by Fr. Romeo Obach. July 16-31, 2014 22 22 Fil-Am stars in steamy book adaptation HOLLYWOOD. Pinoy movie goers will have another reason to catch Addicted which features Filipino-Ameri- can actress Sharon Leal when it opens in October. Based on the steamy novel by Zane, the story centers on Zoe (Leal), a woman in a per- fectly quaint marriage who with husband (Boris Kodjoe) are busy raising three children while devoted to their careers. How- ever, its not enough to fulll all of Zoes desires as she soon nds herself satisfying her addic- tion to sleeping with other men, which puts her on a dangerous path that may cost not only her relationship but her life as well. Hollywood is currently on a roll with movies geared for adult audiences and Addicted comes ahead with the highly publicized Fifty Shades of Grey lm adaptation. Leal was born in Tucson, Arizona to a Filipina mother, Angelita, and an African-Amer- ican soldier who broke up with her mother before she was born. Angelita later met and married a sergeant in the US Air Force who was posted at Clark Air Base, and legally adopted Leal. She lived in the Philippines until she was six years old when her family moved to Fresno, Cal- ifornia. Her big break came in 2006, when she co-starred with Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson in the smash hit Dreamgirls. She was also with Soulmen with Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jack- son. She was also part of the ensemble Why did I get Mar- ried and its sequel. On TV, Leal was in the cast of the critically acclaimed Boston Public for four years. She also joined fellow Fil-Am actor Reggie Lee in NBCs Grimm for a recurring role. But having the starring role in Addicted is her biggest chal- lenge so far to make it into Hol- lywood stardom. Piolos son auditions for US boy band Actor Piolo Pascual has revealed this his son Inigo has auditioned to be part of an American boy band. International, not bad right?, the proud dad pro- claimed. So theyre going to house them, teach them so hell get free lessons for voice, for acting, for dancing, Piolo said in a TV interview. He said he was reluctant to allow his son to join showbiz but nally relented after seeing how much Inigo wanted it. His only condition, he said was for Iigo to nish high school. Piolo also said that he wants him to be based in the United States rst. I was hoping that hell make a name for himself in the States rst, so he wont have to be in my shadow. People wont have to compare himself to me, he said. Aside from auditioning in the US, Iigo has reportedly n- ished an indie movie and has also appeared in a commercial with his dad. Iigo has posted on You Tube his video singing cover songs such as Michael Jacksons Beat It with his friend Levi Mitchell. Legal Wifes Locsin set to play Darna MANILA. After playing the countrys most famous super- heroine Darna on TV, actress Angel Locsin is getting ready to bring the beloved comic charac- ter to the big screen. Appearing on Kris TV Locsin said she is starting her preparations for the movie by losing weight and some heavy duty workout that includes Muay Thai, although actual training for the movie wont start until September. She revealed that she a cracked disc. Rather than get surgery, I need to strengthen my core so the workout, she explained. Fresh from the successful The Legal Wife drama series, Locsin said she and co-star Maja Salvador are still in awe over how well the show fared, espe- cially the way how it dominated social media trends during its run. The new Darna movie will be directed by Famas-win- ning director Erik Matti. The movie is based on the character created by Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. Darna which rst appeared in Bulaklak Maga- zine in 1950, rst made it to the screen through Darna at ang Babaing Lawin in 1952, unveil- ing the red bikini through its star Rosa del Rosario. The character has since been portrayed by the countrys top actresses from Eva Montes in 1964 to Vilma Santos in the 1970s to Sharon Cuneta in 1986. Pinoy group vies for hip-hop honors in Las Vegas MANILA. Legit Status, a hip-hop dance troupe made up of the countrys best young dancers has earned the right to represent the Philippines in the Varsity Division of the 2014 World Hip-Hop Dance Cham- pionship in Las Vegas on Aug. 5 to 10. The group held a fund-rais- ing concert last July 20 and 27 at Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City for the groups hotel accommodations, cos- tumes, food and other expenses while theyre in Las Vegas. Representing the coun- try abroad is not new to Legit Status, which is composed of Corinne Catibayan, Billie Lorenzo, Gab Garcia, Justin Lu, Rock Monreal, Tol Zarcal, Macky Manlutac and Samantha Javier. The group represented the country in the Varsity and Megacrew Divisions of the Hip-Hop International Dance Competition in Las Vegas 2012. In 2013, the group again repre- sented the country in the Var- sity division of the same inter- national competition in Las Vegas. They will be competing against top dance crews from over 30 nations via a two-min- ute routine choreographed by original Street Dance Coach Vimi Rivera. Sharon Leal Piolo Pascual with son Inigo on Instagram Filipino hip-hop group Legit Status Angel Locsin Fan Page July 16-31, 2014 23 Join the army and become US citizens By Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba (ret.) For my father and me, as for many thousands of Filipi- nos who have served in the U.S. armed forces, one of our major contributions to this country was our military service. My father fought in World War II in the Philippines, as a private in the Philippine Scouts in February 1942 under the com- mand of the United States Army Force Far East as directed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 26, 1941. He was captured at Bataan along with 72,000 troops. The prisoners endured the Bataan Death March where many died along the way. In July 1945, he was repatriated into USAFFE command. He was offered the opportunity to become a U.S. citizen, an opportunity he honor- ably accepted. Like many immigrants in the United States, my father wanted a better life for his family, and he happily served the country that provided those opportunities. He retired from the Army in June 1962 as a sergeant rst class. I came to the United States through Hawaii in 1961, and became a naturalized citizen in 1962. Following in my fathers tradition, I joined my high schools Junior Army ROTC program for three years, and continued through college for another four years. In May 1972, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. I served in the Army for 34 years, deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2003-2004, served at every level of command and staff positions, and eventually retired as a two- star general in January 2007. A few months ago, Repub- lican leadership refused to allow a vote on the ENLIST Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, and its unclear whether leadership will allow it to come to the oor as a stand-alone bill. For me, this is a personal issue, not a political one, and it goes to the core of our values as a nation patriotism, honor, courage, integrity and seless service. For those of us who have served this country and continue to answer the call to duty, those willing to ght for our freedom should be allowed to be United States citizens. My father and I proudly served our country with honor and dignity. The ENLIST Act would provide a path to citi- zenship for dreamers young undocumented immigrants who are willing to serve and ght. Like my father and I, dreamers came to the United States from another country, and like us they want to give back and help protect the country they call home. We are willing to serve in uniform, to protect our way of life at home, and sacrice our lives for others. Serving our country in uniform means guarantee- ing our mission with our lives. Its been a year since the Senate passed a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill, and Republicans in the House remain hell-bent on blocking any kind of progress on reform. Republicans keep saying they support xing our broken immigration system, but theyre more interested in catering to the far-right Republicans than doing whats right. Republicans inac- tion on this issue is outrageous, and their rhetoric is insulting and distasteful. I see immigration reform as a nonpartisan but important issue to all Americans whose immigrant ancestors came to America looking for a better life The ENLIST Act is the bare minimum we can do on this issue and there is no reason Republi- cans shouldnt move at the very least that piece of legislation. (Reprinted from Army Times) ---- Retired Gen. Taguba is the chairman of the Pan Pacific Ameri- can Leaders and Mentors, a non- profit that fosters professional development of military and civilian leaders. Soldiers take the Oath of Citizenship during their naturalization ceremony at the United States Embassy in Kuwait. (Photo by Sgt. William White) July 16-31, 2014 24 24 Key Difference M ay asim pa, then-89- year old Senator Juan Ponce Enrile said with a wink . He scoffed at romantic links to his then chief of staff: Atty. Jessica Lucila Gigi Reyes. However, English fails to capture the nuances of JPEs Pili- pino wisecrack. Loosely trans- lated, JPEs remark claims his libido was still on overdrive, thank you. But what a difference a non-bailable plunder charge can make. JPEs counsels sub- mitted three medical certicates that senator is ailing. He gobbles daily 23 pills., No. Viagara is not included. Connement in even former ofcers room would be life-threatening. Philippine National Police, reserved a room at the PNP General hospital. It measures 3 meters by 4 meters, has bath- room and shower, a large glass window without bars. It .is air conditioned. All animals are equal, George Orwell wrote in his 1945 allegorical novel: Animal Farm. But some animals are more equal than others.. The late Senators Benigno Aquino, Jr and Jose. Diokno could have told us as much. Both were secretly heli- coptered to Fort Magsaysay in Laur is a Nueva Ecija. They were held is solitary connement in cramped cells, shut from sun- light with potties for toilet needs. Eyeglasses were taken, so were belts in a dictatorship where JPE was main enforcer. Whats so special about Enrile? Other elderly prisoners rot in regular jails, Michelle Estor of the Scrap Pork Network It was Enrile himself who said that he remains strong after stem cell treatments Was JPEs state- ment he was ready to die in jail drama? Born in Cagayan as Juan- ito Furagganan, JPE took on the name of his father: lawyer Alfonso Ponce Enrile. He gradu- ated from UP, then Harvard law school. His career oscillated from pillar of the Marcos dictatorship to one of 1986 People Power leaders. President Corazon Aquino sacked him for plotting coups. God Save the Queen would have installed JPE as president. He slumped into disgrace as the coups crumbled. He towered over the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona. And in June last year, he was toppled as Senate president. JPE turned 90 last Valen- tines Day. Do intimations of mortality? haunt him, an editor- friend asked. He needs to rewrite memoirs launched in 2012, before the inevitable curtains fall. Titled Juan Ponce Enrile, this 754-page book glowingly details his relationship with the past six presidents. But it smudged key inci- dents, like shaving votes in 1995 to grab a winning 11th Senate slot. The Electoral Tribunal con- rmed, years later, that Sen. Aquilino Pimentel won. JPE slumped into the losers club as No. 15. That decision was overtaken by events. Pimentel won the next elections. And the Court, seven years later, ruled the case as moot and academic. How- ever, Pimentel wedged into the political vocabulary a new term for vote shaving: dagdag-bawas. Can JPE rewrite his awed memoirs before his term peters out in 2016? Like all of us, our friend didnt foresee todays brawl to stave off arrest. A rewrite of JPEs memoirs would call for end-to-end revision of what Rappler editor Chay Holea calls a tale of hypoc- risy and contradictions. In his book, JPE claims he was surprised that Marcos used his alleged Wack-Wack sub- division ambush as trigger for martial law imposition. Yet, the Ofcial Gazette quotes Enrile, after the People Power I, saying: it had been staged by Marcos to justify martial law. So did Inquirer on Feb. 23, 1986 and the Age of Australia. People have different impressions about me, Enrile wrote. So let it be. Holea, however, wonders: Question is, will the truth-tellers just let it be? *** Ferdinand Marcos Jr mean- while inserted himself into the media saying hed consider running in 2016. Imelda Mara- cos says nothing better could happen to the country. Do they think people. engrossed with the Sandiganbayn trials. forget that $354-million contempt judg- ment, slammed by US Court of Appeals (9th circuit) against them. PNoys Trophies I f youve seen pictures of the trophy room of wealthy sportsmen with the stuffed heads of wild game mounted on the wall, you know what Im talking about. They are trophies. Proof of ones hunting skills. Three senators indicted and incarcerated for plunder are major trophies too, along with minor trophies like Napoles, Gigi Reyes, etc. Proof of Noynoy Aquinos Daang Matuwid. As will likely be announced in his forthcoming state of the nation address, the trophies are intended to show the Filipino people and the world that he has delivered on his vow to rid the government of corruption. Whatever his detractors might say, thats much, much more than past presidents can claim, going back to Emilio Aguinaldo and Manuel Quezon. Of course, Aquino is not supposed to rest on these lau- rels. In an ideal world, he and the entire justice system are sup- posed pursue every single alle- gation of plunder and corruption and see them all the way through to conviction or acquittal. But ours is not an ideal world. You can almost hear Aquino snapping, Arent you happy enough with the heads of three senators, plus a former president, a Chief Justice and an Ombudsman. What more do you want???? Depending on whom you choose to believe - Napoles, Luy, De Lima or Lacson - there are many other senators, congress- men and assorted civil servants who deserve to be indicted and incarcerated, in addition to big names in the executive ofce. But dont hold your breath if youre hoping to see their vir- tual heads mounted on Aquinos wall. In fact, they may not even be mounted on the wall of the next president or even the next. Aquinos trophies are probably as much as we can expect. And we may all have to make do with that. There are several reason for this. First of all, in our country, the wheels of justice turn veeeerrrrry slowwwww- wlyyyyy. Secondly, government prosecutors are not famous for building airtight cases, whether because of incompetence or because of entrepreneurship. And thirdly, it is doubtful that Aquino is motivated to go after ofcials who are close to him or are political allies. There is a fourth reason. Mababaw ang kaligayahan ng Pinoy. As a people, we are easy to humor and to satisfy. Half a loaf for us is better than no loaf at all. And while this principle works to the advantage of those who are diligent enough to go after the other half of the loaf, the average Pinoy doesnt care or cant remember. Take the classic case (or cases) of the Marcoses. People in their mid-30s will likely have only a vague idea of the People Power Revolution of 1986. Im not sure this part of our coun- trys history is even a required subject in Philippine schools. For this reason, it wouldnt be surprising if most young people do not realize that over 28 years ago, the Marcoses the late President Ferdinand Marcos, Imelda Marcos, now a member of Congress representing Ilocos Norte, Bongbong Marcos, now a senator, Imee Marcos, now Ilocos Norte governor, and another daughter, Irene were forced to go into exile, kicked out of Malacaang by a Filipino people that had had enough Tama na! Sobra na! of their two decades in power. They were subsequently allowed to return to the coun- try and consequently brought to court on charges ranging from dollar salting to graft to human rights abuses. One would have thought that these were slam dunk cases, to use the color- ful language of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, but the facts tell us otherwise. According to Wikipedia, (Imelda Marcos) was acquitted on March 10, 2008 by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26 of 32 counts of dollar salting involving Swiss bank accounts due to reasonable doubt. Imelda, in reaction to her acquittal, said: First of all, I am so happy and I thank the Lord that the 32 cases have been dismissed by the regional court here in Manila. This will subtract from the 901 cases that were led against the Marcoses. Imelda still had 10 pending criminal cases remain- ing before the Sandiganbayan Courts. Did you get that? 901 cases, by Imeldas count! And not a day in jail for her or for any member of her family. And, irony of iro- nies, they are still in power and are aggressively trying to revise history. Another seemingly slam dunk case was the Hello Garci electoral cheating allegedly com- mitted by Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, former Comelec Chair- man Benjamin Abalos, former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and accomplices. Guess what. Sixto Brillan- tes, the current Comelec chair- man, has announced that his ofce is no longer pursuing the case because it may have already prescribed, with the government failing to put together enough evidence to swing a conviction. How could that have hap- pened? Well, in our country, anything is possible. Did I say the wheels of justice turn very slowly? In fact, sometimes, they do not turn at all. Or they turn in reverse once they reach the Supreme Court. At least Gloria Macapa- gal-Arroyo, accused of several counts of plunder and electoral cheating, is languishing in the ridiculous Philippine equivalent of a jail. But that hospital nay, hospitable - incarceration may not even be for long. Recent developments have seen the dismissal of slam dunk cases (theres that De Lima term again) led against Arroyo, such as her alleged involvement in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam; the plunder case involv- ing anomalous projects in Cama- rines Sur that reportedly cost the country P700 million; and, soon, the Hello Garci case that made a mockery of the presidential elec- tion. And what about the PCSO plunder charges? In dismissing the fertilizer scam case, the Ombudsman decided that there was no prob- able cause to le charges against Arroyo due to lack of evidence. Given these precedents, do we actually believe that the Aquino government, in its last two years in ofce, will send anyone else to jail for involve- ment in the pork and Malam- paya scams? Do we actually believe that Aquino will have any motivation to even order a serious investiga- tion of allegations against Butch Abad and Proceso Alcala? Do we actually think that an afdavit of Janet Lim Napoles asserting that she personally gave money to such holier-than- thou personalities as Alan Peter Cayetano will ever gain any trac- tion especially with Cayetano singing hosannas to Aquino? And, even assuming that the improbable will happen, do we actually believe that gov- ernment prosecutors are com- petent enough to build airtight cases based on allegations of whistle-blowers and afdavits of Napoles? July 16-31, 2014 25 Letters to the Editor... Error in jump page Sir: May I just bring to your attention the confusing jump page note on your July 1-15 issue. The articles on opinion page 22 (I.e. A Tribute to Cora , Mis- carriage or Justice?, and Whos on Trial?) are supposedly con- tinued on Page 30. In no way do you have page 30 because your paper only has 24 pages with the last page featuring an advertise- ment for a supermarket. Rum- maging over the pages of your paper, I realized that the contin- uation of these aforementioned articles/opinion page are actu- ally on page 23. Please notify your layout artist and copy editors to proof- read the paper over and over again before nal publication. Typographical accuracy helps edify the integrity of your well- esteemed paper. Please take this feedback as constructive comment. I am an avid reader of your paper. FRANCISCO MACOROL- RENION, JR. Prince Georges County, MD __________ Thank you for calling our attention to this error. When the paging error was discovered by the layout artist of the Manila Mail, the newspaper was already printed and distributed. Our apologies to Mr. Renion and to others who noted the error. THE EDITORS Factual error Dear Editor, The caption of a picture published in the June 1-15, 2014 issue of the Manila Mail about Daisy P. Tucay, president of the Global PH Advocates of Retire- ment Care Counsel, contains a factual error.. Mrs. Tucay DOES NOT provide Medicaid to retir- ees who plan to retire in the Phil- ippines. Mrs. Loida Nicolas-Lewis is a valued adviser of the Global PH Advocates of Retirement Care Counsel. DINO DELA ROSA Virginia -------------- The caption was written by one of our volunteer photogra- pher. THE EDITORS Funny Wives? Im writing about your recent Manila Mail June 16-30, 2014, specically the Joke section by Mr. Oscar S. Bunoan titled Stupid Wife. I enjoy a good joke like the next person but I nd this to be offensive even in jest. These women in our lives have sacriced a lot and should never be called stupid. Would you call your mother stupid? If this is an ongoing title, please correct this stupid mistake and per- haps change the title to Funny Wives. EMAIL: NICK ------ Although there was a caveat in the column to proceed at ones own risk, I still would like to say Sorry to Nick. OSCAR BUNOAN Virginia Volunteer copyreader Sir: I am a retired Filipino Amer- ican schoolteacher who was for- tunate enough to get hold of a copy of your newspaper, the Manila Mail. Your newspaper is very good. Its different from the scores of Fil-Am newspapers that are being published in the United States. Its obvious that its being run by real journalists. However, I have noted a few typographical and grammatical errors in the issue that I have. I am willing to volunteer my ser- vices as your copyreader to fur- ther improve the already high quality of the Manila Mail. Thank you. A READER IN NORTH CAROLINA --- Thank you for your offer. Unfortunately, because of time constraints, we are unable to furnish you with a draft of the DACA renewal T he Secretary of Home- land Security Jeh Johnson announced last month that USCIS will start accepting appli- cations for status renewal of indi- viduals who were granted bene- t under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This program grants discre- tionary relief to defer removal action against certain aliens who arrived in the US during their minority for a period of two years with work authorization. Individuals who meet the DACA eligibility requirements and have not yet led may still apply. DACA status holders are advised to le their renewal application approximately 120 days before the expiration of their status. Applicants must establish that he/she: (a) did not depart the United States on or after Aug. 15, 2012, without advance parole; (b) have continuously resided in the United States since they sub- mitted their most recent DACA request that was approved; and (c) have not been convicted of a felony, a signicant misde- meanor or three or more misde- meanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security, or public safety. The renewal process involves the ling of Form I-821D Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arriv- als, Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization, and the I-765 Worksheet, accompa- nied by documentary evidence to establish eligibility. The ling fee is $465.00. DHS has disclosed that as of April, 2014, 560,000 individuals were granted DACA benets. VISA PRIORITY DATES FOR THE PHILIPPINES JULY 2014 FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES First: Unmarried sons/daughters of US citizens Jun. 01, 2003 Second: A: Spouses/minor children of permanent residents: May 01, 2012 B: Unmarried sons/daughters 21 years of age or older of permanent residents Aug. 15, 2003 Third: Married sons/daughters of citizens Mar. 22, 1993 Fourth: Brothers/sisters of citizens Jan. 01, 1991 EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES First: Priority workers Current Second: Professionals holding advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability Current Third: Skilled workers, professionals Jan. 01, 2009 Other Workers Jan. 01, 2009 Fourth: Certain Religious Workers Current Fifth: Employment creation/ (Million or half-million dollar investor) Current Continued on page 31 Hair coloring and cancer B ut our genes, no matter how good their sources are, will not protect us if we abuse ourselves and allow environmental fac- tors to hurt our body and cause disease. It is a well known medi- cal fact that environmental risks many times outweigh positive hereditary traits. What causes pain and ten- derness in the testicles? One of the commonest causes of pain in the testes is epididymitis, an inammation and swelling cause by infection. Trauma can cause the same type of pain. If the pains persist for more than 3 days, with or with- out a lump, medical consulta- tion should be sought to rule out more serious conditions like sexually transmitted venereal disease, or cancer. Bacterial infections can easily be treated with oral anti- biotics, pain pills and warm sitz baths. The predisposing or precipitating factor, if known, like poor hygiene, etc. should be eliminated to prevent recur- rences. Is egg white safe to eat? Yes, egg white is, but not the egg yolk (yellow center). Egg white has B-complex and ribo- avin (B-2), and no cholesterol. It is poor in Vitamin C and cal- cium. Egg yolk has iron, some thiamine (B1), riboavin, and niacin (B-3), vitamins A, D, E, B6 and B-12. However, it contains a lot of cholesterol, which is bad for our heart and blood vessels.. A large egg has about 252 mg of cholesterol and the maximum recommended cholesterol intake is (no higher than) 300 mg per day. That is why if one has to eat eggs at all, it is best to eat only the white part of it, and prefer- ably not fried. Abstinence from eggs is healthier for us, because there is already too much choles- terol in our normal diet. My father is 64 and had blindness of one eye for a few seconds a week ago. What could be the matter? Amaurosis Fugax, transient blindness of one eye because of blocked carotid (neck) artery going to the brain, is a possibil- ity. Tiny clots in the tight area of the artery could also dislodge and go to the artery of the eye or the brain to cause this visual problem or even a stroke. Whether it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as tem- porary weakness of the opposite arm/leg, slurred speech, the onset of blindness, no matter how transient it was, is a serious matter. Permanent stroke might well follow this warning sign. At least a doppler ultrasound test of the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck should be done. The best is for your father to see his physician before a catastrophe occurs. Will my parents good genes protect me from diseases? Your certainly have an advantage over those with bad genes. But our genes, no matter how good their sources are, will not protect us if we abuse our- selves and allow environmen- tal factors to hurt our body and cause disease. It is a well known medical fact that environmental risks many times outweigh posi- tive hereditary traits. You are lucky to have parents like yours, but this does not automatically guarantee you good health and longevity. What will eventu- ally happen to us tomorrow will mostly be due to what we do to ourselves today. Is formula (bottle) feeding good for the baby? Bottle-feeding babies is good and an accepted practice, especially in the west. However, breast-feeding is better, and, as a matter of fact, the best for the baby and the mother. Breast- feeding confers on the baby immunity from certain diseases. The mother s milk has the perfect natural proportion of constituents for better absorp- tion and digestion and, in 99.999 percent of cases, does not cause allergy. It is inexpensive, always available wherever the mother and the baby are, and does not entail much time to prepare com- pared to bottle-feeding. It even makes maternal-child bonding stronger. Some modern moth- ers may feel this is less conve- nient, but formula-feeding is severely outweighed by the tre- mendous advantages of breast- feeding for the baby. The starting trend today, even in the United States, is towards the good old time natural breast-feeding. What causes painful heels? Painful heels are usually due to plantar fascitis (some precipi- tated by bony spurs in the heels), brought on by repeated trauma of weight-bearing and jarring. July 16-31, 2014 26 26 PEACH, KIWI, APPLE AND AVOCADO VERRINES V errines means glasses in French. Whenever I prepare the verrines for my guests and family, they become the center of attraction, so irresistible and exciting to eat as they are to look at. Sometimes when I have more time, I ll my wine glasses, or even some other kind of nice glasses, with dif- ferent fruits arranged in layers, sprinkled with my favorite nuts, which may include tiny diced cucumbers or pickles-- anything that harmonizes and tastes good together. Ingredients: 3 peaches 2 kiwis 2 gala or red apples 1 avocado 1 tablespoon honey juice and zest of half lemon Pinch cinnamon Garnishing: Mint leaves or parsley Needed: 4 to 6 wine glasses Methods: Wash all the fruits. Peel the peaches, kiwis, and avocado and dice about a quarter of an inch sizes. Do the same for apples but keep the peels on. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix gently with a spatula and keep in the refrigerator for at least half hour or overnight. Fill the wine glasses halfway but no more than two-thirds. Garnish before serving. Editors Note about Master Chef Evelyn: 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S., 2009, Filipina Womens Network; MHC Most Outstanding Migrant Award in Culinary Arts, 2011; PAFC Dakila Special Achievement Award, 2011; Owner/Chef, Philippine Ori- ental Market & Deli, Arlington, Virginia; Founder and President of CHEW (Cancer Help Eat Well) Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) public charity formed to help and cook pro- bono for Filipino-Americans who are afflicted with cancer and other serious illnesses; Culinary writer; Member, Les Dames dEscoffier International, Washington DC Chapter; Member, International Cake Exploration Society, Member, Culinary Historians of Washington, D.C.; Master Chef, French Cuisine and Patisserie, Le Cordon Bleu, London. FIRST WORDS O ne day there were three nuns standing outside the gates of heaven wait- ing to enter. St. Peter approached them and asked the rst nun, Do you know who the rst man was on earth? She said, Ummm thats tough... Adam? Bells rang, angels sang, the gates opened, and she walked in. Then St. Peter went to the second nun and asked, Do you know who the rst woman was on earth? She said, Ummmm... Eve? Bells rang, angels sang, the gates opened, and she walked in. St. Peter then asked the third and last nun, What were the rst words Eve said to Adam? The third nun said, Hmmmm, thats a hard one. Bells rang, angels sang, the gates opened, and she walked right in. SNEAKERS A guy stops by to visit his sick friend. They talk for a while and then the friend asks, My feet are cold. Would you be so kind as to go upstairs and get me my sneakers, please? The guest obliges and goes upstairs. There he sees his friends daugh- ters, both very good looking. Being the adventurous and quick thinking kind, he says, Hi, ladies! Your daddy sent me here to make love to both of you. They stare at him in disbe- lief and say, That cannot be! He replies, Okay, lets check! He shouts at his friend down the stairs, Both of them? The father shouts back, Yes, both of them! RANSACKED Returning home from work, a blonde was shocked to nd her house ransacked and burglar- ized. She telephoned the police at once and reported the crime. The police dispatcher broadcast the call on the radio, and a K-9 unit, patrolling nearby, was the rst to respond. As the K-9 of- cer approached the house with his dog on a leash, the blonde ran out on the porch, shuddered at the sight of the cop and his dog, then sat down on the steps. Putting her face in her hands, she moaned, I come home to nd all my possessions stolen. I call the police for help, and what do they do? They send me a blind cop! THE EMAIL A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years ear- lier. Because of hectic sched- ules, it was difcult to coordi- nate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Minnesota and ew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife ying down the following day. The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an email to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address, and without realizing his error, sent the email. Mean- while, somewhere in Houston , a widow had just returned home from her husbands funeral. He was a minister who was called home to glory following a mas- sive heart attack. The widow decided to check her email expecting messages from rela- tives and friends. After reading the rst message, she screamed and fainted. The widows son rushed into the room, found his mother on the oor, and saw the computer screen which read: To: My Loving Wife... Subject: Ive Arrived... Date: July 12, 2014... I know youre surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send emails to your loved ones. Ive just arrived and have been checked in. Ive seen that every- thing has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking for- ward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was. P. S. Sure is hot down here! LOST Mister: Kalokohan! Di ako naniniwala! Walang taong ganun kataba! Misis: Saan ang balitang yan? Mister: Dito sa dyaryo. Sabi; British tourist lost 5,000 pounds. HAYOP Isang araw, nagtanong ang anak sa kanyang nanay... Anak: Nanay, anong klaseng hayop si tatay? Nanay: Naku anak, hindi hayop ang tatay mo. Mabait siya. Saan mo ba narinig yang salitang yan? Anak: Narinig ko po si yaya at si tatay sa kusina kahapon. Sabi ni yaya Hayop ka, Raul... hayop ka talaga! Nanay: Hayop nga talaga ang tatay mo... kakatayin ko ang baboy na yan! TAPE Misis: Tuwing naririnig kitang kumakanta, para bang gusto kong i-tape. Mister: Ang sweet naman ang misis ko! Misis: Gusto kong i-tape ang bibig mo! PAGHIHIGANTI Isang gabi, naglalakad ang isang lalaki sa may tulay nang may makita siyang babaeng nasa taas ng gilid nito at magtatang- kang magpatiwakal. Huwag, sigaw ng lalaki. Sa kabutihang palad, nakumbinsi niya ang babae na huwag ituloy ang binabalak. Lalaki: Ano bang problema mo, miss, at gusto mong mag- pakamatay? Babae: Kasi, nahuli ko ang boypren ko na may ibang kina- huhumalingan. Lalaki: Ganun din ang ginawa ng girlfriend ko sa akin pero hindi ko naisip na magpak- amatay. Babae: Ano ngayon ang dapat nating gawin? Nag-isip sandali ang lalaki... Lalaki: Kung gusto mo, maghiganti tayo sa kanila. Babae: Paanong paghihi- ganti? Lalaki: Alam mo na ang ibig kong sabihin... (Nagkaintindihan ang dalawa.) Maya mayay nasa isang kuwarto na sila ng motel at nangyari na nga ang di dapat mangyari.... Nang makaraos si lalaki, nagsindi siya ng sigarilyo. Nang halos lter na lang ang natira ay biglang nagsabi si babae: Maghi- ganti ulit tayo. Medyo pagod, pero pinag- bigyan ulit niya si babae. Nang matapos sila, nanigarilyo ulit si lalaki. Nasa kalahati pa lang ang yosi nang... Babae: Maghiganti ulit tayo. Medyo nangangatog na ang mga tuhod pero dahil sa hilig, muling pinagbigyan niya si babae. Muling nakaraos ang dalawa. Nagsindi ulit si lalaki ng yosi. Unang hitit pa lang niya ay... Babae: Ganti ulit tayo. Talagang lupaypay na si kaloy pero para huwag mapa- hiya ay pinagbigyan niya ang kahilingan ng babae. Pagkatapos kumuha siya ng yosi. Sisindihan palang nang biglang: Babae: Ganti ulit tayo. Lalaki: (Pagod na) Puwede ba... patawarin na lang natin sila! July 16-31, 2014 27 Open letter to Sen. Enrile MANILA T hree high-prole senators in the Philippines have been charged by the Ofce of the Ombudsman with plun- der over alleged misuse of their pork-barrel funds amounting to hundreds of million pesos. Sens. Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada are already detained (plun- der is a non-bailable offense), while everybodys waiting if the 90-year-old Juan Ponce Enrile will likewise be detained pend- ing trial. Below is an open letter to Enrile from Manila Observer. Sir I am not a fan of yours. But nonetheless I would like humbly to offer some personal thoughts of mine to you. The news tells us that you are asking government to be lenient to you with regard to your looming imprisonment. This is, as everyone knows, over the non-bailable plunder charge the Ombuds(wo)man has lodged against you in connection with the pork-barrel scam. Reportedly you are asking government to consider your age and state of health in deciding whether to incarcerate you. You would like to be spared the phys- ical hardship that that would bring upon you. This is understandable. And even humane under normal cir- cumstances. Indeed the state may grant your wish under the prevailing circumstances. You are 90 years old. But my concern for you is that that would not tally with your macho image. Youve always been a sort of swashbuck- ling personality in Philippine politics and society. Youve been daring while others are mere pipsqueaks who couldnt hold a candle to your aura. Youve been a maverick in the midst of con- formists who dont have even a smidgen of your image of a ghter (even though I personally think you fought for the wrong causes). For these reasons you have had your share of admirers, while others (including this humble writer) never held you in high esteem for ideological and political reasons. Youve inspired many in the military and civilian sectors whove then acted out their fantasies of being daring men of destiny. Youve been a poster boy for those who are guided by ideals that youve personied. Theyve idolized you over the years and have patterned their own careers and exploits after your style. Wouldnt they now be so disap- pointed by your appeal to gov- ernment to spare you jail time? Ive written before that one of the lasting images of political iconography lodged deeply in my mind is the photograph of President Salvador Allende of Chile when he was besieged by a coup detat on Sept. 11, 1973 and was in the throes of imminent death. (An aside: what is it with the date 9/11 that it keeps popping up in the annals of history?) There he was at the Palacio de la Moneda in Santiago, still attired in a business suit, with a semi-automatic weapon in hand, daring death, surely with fear but also with courage. I have no doubt sir that you are familiar with that iconic pho- tograph of Allende. It could even be one of your favorite images, even though you and Allende are poles apart in your respec- tive ideologies, he having been a Marxist. Sir, this was the image that injected itself into my mind when your friend, then President Joseph Estrada, was in a similar predicament. When a throng of militants broke away from the tumult in 2001 at EDSA 2 on Ortigas Avenue in Quezon City to bring about a nal con- frontation with Estrada, in my mind I was urging Erap to do an Allende, to bravely face his accusers as they marched toward Malacanang to storm the presidential palace and do him extreme violence. I hadnt been an admirer of Erap then (or now) either. In fact I had been very critical of him in my writings. But, as you well know, we Filipinos are a senti- mental and romanticist lot and I had wanted the then president to ght for not only his political life but literally his own life. As Erap faced his dilemma, I thought of Allende at that point. Not wishing for Erap to lose his life the same way Allende had done but to see him guts his pre- dicament out with aplomb and intestinal fortitude. After all, his On Our Rites of Passage (We are reprinting the column of Mr. Federigan because it was inadvertently cut in the July 1-15, 2014 issue of the Manila Mail. Our apologies to the writer. THE EDI- TORS) I f you-yes, you-are my age, born in the years immedi- ately preceding the Second World War, with the caveat that you still have the fondness for remembering, let us, you and I, tell our childrens children in this coming sweltering heat of summer our own days of bygone youth. Only to our grandchil- dren, for our own children must have heard our recollections hundreds of time. You must have the courage and pride to tell them. In the present climate of technological wizardry and endless wonders, recounting how we spent our years of puberty may sound and appear too primitive and dark to their inquiring minds, but to our generation born in the prover- bial age of transitions the times were full of colors, bright shades of awes, daring, and discoveries. This was the period of testing our so-called mettle, our limits, and what boundaries to cross in order for us to arrive. What and where it was, we never both- ered to know; we just did what- ever our emotions dictated. So, what anecdotes can you tell them, these grandchildren the bloods of your blood? You, I am sure, have many, lurking in the bends of your memories. I too have one to share. Living with my parents and siblings in the almost secluded hamlet in central Manila con- jures a pamphlet pages from which I still have to secure for posterity. Picture a small village of about one hundred houses where families share only one street for the easy access to shar- ing each others needs, com- fort and conviviality, a street ending to a protrusion of a land mass around which the Pasig River ows. Because the place, viewed from above, looks like a pan handle it was given the geo- graphical, postal name of Punta (point, in English), a parish dis- trict of Santa Ana. And yet, because of the easy access to Pasig River, Punta was, during my young years, home to the Philippine Match Company, Swedish-owned-and-operated in the manufacture of chemically- tipped matchsticks; the Atlan- tic, Gulf and Pacic Company, owned and managed by a con- glomerate of Norwegian, British and American investors engaged in ship repairs and waterproof- ing of timbers; and the National Shipyard and Steel Corporation, operated by a Japanese company in ship repairs and dry docking. Pasig River then sustained Pun- tas economy. The river was the lure to young boys of Punta. The dis- tance across from Puntas shore to the edge of Santa Ana town was about the length, in my pres- ent age, of a football eld. The common way of crossing it was paddling on a banca, an inated rubber tube of a discarded air- plane wheel, or on a bamboo raft. A tributary owing from Manila Bay, the water was cool and the current was foreboding during rainy seasons. During summer and dry weather, the water looked greenish and tasted salty and warm, a happy time for swimming on the shore, for grabbing clusters of passing water-lilies (known as Quiapos), knowing that underneath, cling- ing to their roots are edible baby crabs, and watching older boys performing their summer rituals of swimming across and back. For a third grader in the ele- mentary school like me, swim- ming across the length of Pasig River was a feat I had yet to accomplish. I had been warned by my father, himself a good swimmer, that swimming across and back, alone and warding off the strong current ow, would take a few more years of prepara- tion. To me, it sounded like I had to wait for another two or three years before he could buy me my rst pair of long pants to replace the shorts I had been wearing. The urge to belong, to be treated as equal by my playmates was persistent. It haunted me. I cannot recall completely what made me do it at that par- ticular moment. The day after the school bells sounded the last hours of my third year, I went, in the heat of the afternoon sun, to the shore of the Pasig River and without letting anyone know took off my shirt and shorts and in my underwear made the sign of the cross, plunged into the water, and started the kick- ing strokes I had learned from my playmates. The current, as expected was strong and it was hard maintaining a parallel line. After countless minutes (to me it felt like hours) of arm and leg strokes I reached the other shore, but not on the spot I had aimed for. After resting to slow down the beat of my hearts, I walked back to the spot I had focused on, mentally adjusting the arms and leg strokes I had to make to ward off the strong current pull in swimming back. Making the sign of the cross the second time and plunging again into the salty water, I started the count of arm and leg movements I had mea- sured to check off the strong cur- rent ow. Midway across, sens- ing that I was not making the desired headway, I suddenly felt an unusual sensation in my right leg, like a pinprick going into my veins. I prayed silently for a leg cramp to disappear, envisioning myself lying in a cofn with my playmates paying homage to my dead body. It was a frightening moment. But all of a sudden I could hear shouts from the shores, loudly encouraging me to swim on to the home shore. Without me knowing it my playmates had decided as a group to swim in the river but held off the merri- ment when they saw me desper- ately maintaining the intended parallel line. They all embraced me after I reached the shore. Of course, my parents would later hear about it. I dreaded the admonitions, the anger from not heeding their advice, the punish- ment meted out for my escapade, risking my life for self-satisfac- tion. When I was summoned to their bedroom, I had padded my bottoms for the spanking I was expecting. Instead, my father informed me that coming Sat- urday, he and I would go to the towns tailor for measurement for a bespoke pair of long pants. I was one of the boys of summer. Young girls had their own experiences that needed to be told later. But for us boys, in our tender age, the borders, the limits, or the invisible lines were there for us to be crossed; only in doing so that we could feel counted, to be in, to belong. Continued on page 31 July 16-31, 2014 28 28 Late Bloomers A zaleas go aplomb every- where with their showy and bursting colors in pink (light and dark), red, orange, lavender, white and purple, always a delight to look at, so proud of their splendor in the month of May. We see them in gardens and front yards of houses along the way and even on sidewalks. The saying April showers bring May owers holds true. They bring a lot of different beautiful owers and blooms, azaleas included. But I have a thing about my azaleas. They are late bloomers. I have the pink ones lined in front of my kitchen windows facing the front yard and stretched to the side of the front door. In May, my neighbors are already enjoying their beautiful and colorful azaleas, but mine are still all green with leaves. They come out in June with small buds on the rst week and eventually in full bloom by the third week. My favorite chair in the kitchen nook happens to be that one by the window which allows me to be at a vantage point of view. Inside, I could enjoy and see them very well and be able to tell how long the blooms will last. By then, other azaleas are long gone replaced by other owers like the hydran- geas, roses, sunowers, etcetera. Ive been itching to visit one of the commercial gardens along my way to the grocery store to ask about this variety of azalea plants that I have. I wonder what makes said plants different from the others of their kind in terms of delayed blooming. Does it have something to do with the process of pollination or this spe- cic variety has been a product of some oral experimentation to develop new varieties. I am sure there are other late bloomers somewhere, but in the subdivi- sion where I live, the azaleas are normal bloomers, unlike mine. At their peek, my late bloomers are showy not the curly double petals variety, but they produce thick and burst- ing bunches with protrusive growth, almost luxurious. It is a sea of pink owers with not one green petal showing. Oh sure they command attention, which appear wanting to be noticed. In the summer, this is a family favorite spot for picture taking. But as another saying goes, All good things must come to end, these prolic and showy ow- ers are gone in about two weeks. So, catch its splendor while it lasts. Now they go back to having normal green leaves for one year and in time, come back to another glorious opportunity to show-off. A spur of the moment ash in my head: There is a similitude or semblance of characteristics between ora and humans in terms of being late bloomers. It was said that by nature, late bloomers try to compensate with what was lacking early on when opportunity comes at a later time, by luck or otherwise. Their acts and activities become a bit different from what they are nor- mally perceived to be, thus, odd behavior. This was what a pro- fessor in Psychology at a univer- sity where I worked before told me. Of course, she was referring to human behavior. She added that being depraved of attention, opportunities or anything that boost the morale of a person will surface in later years in form of a rebound, rebellion or sometimes disregard for standard behavior. Some are subtle, but some are more brazen and acted in impu- dent manner. In other cases, the transformations are focused on more acceptable actions to com- pensate for the unfortunate lack in the past. The latter are made of stronger bers in their bodies. Going back to my late bloomer azaleas, based on my observation, they have mani- fested a surfeit show of abun- dance with excessive growth, probably because they have waited so long to nally show what theyve got. Why did they not bloom early on? Why are they a little different in repro- duction from the others of their kind? These are just a couple of basic questions I wanted to ask the ower consultants at the local commercial gardens. But, dont take me wrong, I am not com- plaining about this explosion of luscious beauty. They denitely added colors and vibrancy to our front yard even in short two weeks in summer. Recalling my casual conver- sation with that 501 Psychology professor after her presentation on higher psychology, cemented my claim that there is a simile in characteristics between ora and humans, overt or incog- nito. Our informal conversation touched on the more basic topic on why people act as they do. She said that it is challenging to really understand the behav- ior of people in a workplace or everyday life. It is complicated and challenging. Each one has a unique personality, past expe- riences, upbringing, education and genes. Psychology has been fascinating to me. Had I not taken a Masters degree in Educa- tion, I could have pursued Psy- chology. The professor had cited examples of odd as well as normal behaviors of late bloom- ers. Now they are coming back to me. I see real persons around and sure some of them exhibit, true to what were cited, odd behav- iors. Lucky are the people who grew up in normal environment, receiving proper guidance from parents, well grounded families, normal acceptance in school, with peers, friends and others; having opportunities to be a part of groups, gatherings and events, and getting proper recognition for given talents, achievements and successes. Only professional psychologists, psychiatrists or even ordinary persons with very keen sense of observation will be able to tell who these people are with recognizable odd behav- iors. Some are manifested with pretentious and aggrandize manners to cover up with the hidden deciencies and wants in early life. Others are subtle and creative in approaches. The professor also told me of some others who are just quietly posi- tioning themselves. Truthfully, many of us exhibit quirk and unique behaviors, but they are different from the real point of observations here. My hypothesis on the topic may be awed, but I will still consult with a professional hor- ticulturist about cultivation of this particular owering plant. On the other hand, of course, I dont expect him to give me some insights on connecting cultivation with the human psy- chology regarding late bloom- ers. My husband, as in the past, has asked me about the topic I was writing on. As usual I told him. He retorted: Why do you choose topics which are chal- lenging to write about? Pati ba naman yung pag-bubulaklak ng azaleas ay may comparison pa sa tao? I chose not to answer. I had enough justication for the day. Ole Ole Ole Ole A Soccer Moms Refrain L ola, I had ELEVEN goals! No, you didnt! YES I DID. You werent there! My younger grandson was incensed. I believed in his claim but his older brother was skeptical especially because he could only boast of one goal that same afternoon. This exchange between them brought me back to my years as a soccer mom. My son was also an enthusiastic soccer player when he started playing futbol two decades ago. At one game, Monching scored more than 9 goals. The referee stopped counting after goal number 10. One of his early coaches approached me, pointed at my son, and said, I am condent I will see him play long after this peewee stage. And he was right. Ramon went on to become the co-captain of his high school varsity soccer team at Gonzaga. But Im getting ahead of my story. My three children are spaced years apart. There is a nine-year difference between the oldest and the youngest. My daughters did ballet and cheer- leading. I had more than enough tutus and cheerleading uniforms to ll several closets. By the time my son was ready for his after- school activities, I was ready to embrace male-oriented sports. He was a growing boy with an unbelievable stamina. We looked for an avenue to channel that energy. He tried basketball and handled the ball with ease but his medium height made him a bench warmer, asked to play only when it would have appeared petty and spiteful not to. Baseball didnt interest him. When we introduced him to soccer we immediately knew it was going to be a good t for him. Our two daughters contin- ued their ballet lessons. And their cheerleading. Piano lessons were added at some point. Sometimes the practices for the three of them occurred at the same time and at opposite ends of the county. I became an expert logistician, able to plan a weeks worth of conicting schedules with an almost computer-like efciency. But last minute changes made me cross-eyed with vexation. I was logging about 100 miles per day, and had to ll up the gas tank three times a week at minimum. Lucky for me gaso- line prices were way below the dollar per gallon mark at the time. Nevertheless, a quarter of our budget went to the tank. Monching showed an uncommon talent for spatial judgment, able to visualize the needs on the eld. That spatial acumen was a source of both pride and frustration. He des- perately wanted to be placed as a center or a striker. Those players received the most praise and attention. But he was most effective as a stopper, the nal defender before the goalie. He barked commands which his teammates followed. I will never forget the rst time I learned what offside meant. It was at a particularly partisan game between his Junior Varsity team a nd a peren- nial opponent. You see I could not bear to watch his games. I was too nervous to stay seated without embarrassing my family with screams betting a shrew or worse, a banshee. So at every game I paced behind a wall of spectators until the nal whistle. That day I decided to play grown-up and vowed to sit through the entire game. When I saw Monching step back and ordered his teammates to do the same, I was lled with panic. A boy from the other team raced to the goalie with purpose. What are you doing?! I screamed and was about to rise. Just as quickly the momentum was halted by a loud whistle. I felt a hand tap me from behind. One of the fathers walked me through the mechan- ics of an offside and how my son used it to our advantage. Since my husband worked on Saturdays as well, chauffeur- ing the kids to their weekend meets was left to me. Monching team belonged to the top travel soccer group. Most of their tour- naments required driving long hours along the south-eastern seaboard. That was before GPS was invented. I was both driver and navigator. I planned routes and wrote them by hand. Continued on page 31 July 16-31, 2014 29 Editorial DC 2nd drunkest in US N o, this report did not come from any of the Tsismosos in the Dis- trict of Columbia. DC, as every- one knows, is the seat of government, the hotbed of uncompromising politicians. This probably explains why DC is ranked second to New Hampshire as the drunk- est state of the Union! Perhaps politicians, unable to reach a compromise, spend most of their time in bars. As expected, Utah came out as the state with the least drunken population. This ranking is list compiled by a group called The Street (Kanto Boys?) in New York. It says the list is based on statistics of the 2010 Bureau of Census report. In contrast, people in Maryland came out not only as the richest and (third) smartest in the US, they dont imbibe the agua pataranta as much as other states. Dumbest is West Virginia , The Street adds. As expected, The Street is earning kudos from states that are painted in a good light, and condemnation from those who are way down the list. Predictably, Pinoys in Maryland are thumping their chests with their I told you so remarks while those in Virginia just keep their silence. Pare, said one Pinoy to another, mali talaga ang per- ception ninyo that we in Prince Georges County are poor and dumb. Remember that this is the bailiwick of the Valderrama dynastyoops, just Valderramas Dave and Kris. *** The drunkest list is topped by New Hampshire followed by DC, Nevada, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Alaska, Mon- tana, Vermont and South Dakota, in descending order. Least drunkest state are Utah as Number One followed by Arkan- sas, Kentucky, West Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio and North Carolina. Based on educational attainments, the research group said the dumbest state is Arkansas followed by West Virginia, Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana, Kansas, Alabama, Indiana, Oklahoma and Ten- nessee in descending order. Topping the smartest state is Massachusetts, second is Colorado, followed by Maryland, Con- necticut, New Jersey, Virginia, Vermont, New York, New Hampshire and Minne- sota. Incidentally, many do not believe Tsismosos report in the last issue of the Manila Mail. Incredulous, unbeliev- able, and hinde totoo, were among the reactions of Pinoys to the selection of Maryland as the richest state of the Union. They also discount the report that Mary- land is also among the smartest. *** Quizzes that will determine your age and dumbness. Who was the US ambassador to the Philippines when the United States restored the independence of the Philip- pines in 1946? Who was the President of the United States at that time? When did the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor in Hawaii? Who was the US general who led in the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese? Who was the Philippine president who changed the independence day of the Philippines from July 4th to June 12? Who is the rst Philippine president to be convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder? What is the full the name of the dic- tator of the Philippines? Who replaced him in 1986? Who was the rst mayor of Makati city? Who is the predecessor of President Benigno Noynoy Aquino? If you got 10 correct answers, it means you are smart even if you are old to remember everything. If you got 8 to 9 correct answers , you are in 60s. If you got 6 to 7 correct answers , you are in the 40s. If you got 5 correct answers, you must be in the 30s. If you got less than 5, you are dumb, tanga. (Tsismoso composed this testha, ha, ha) *** Heres good news for the Balikbayans who always suffer from jet lag after vis- iting the Philippines. Some Filipino Americans claim that their frequent visits to the Philippines have turned them into short sleepers. And they brag about it. Well, according to researchers, Short Sleepers need less sleep. You know those people who claim they can get by on less than six hours of sleep a night? ABC (no, not the Virginia liquor stores) says a few of them might be onto something. And we mean a few. They never use an alarm clock, they rarely yawn, dont need caf- feine, and no naps. Averting a constitutional crisis There appears to be another crisis brewing in Manila, and its not about the states storm response. President Aquino, catapulted to power behind a platform of honest government, is challenging a recent Supreme Court ruling against his pet Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). The fear of a constitutional crisis does not rise from the Presidents dissent to the unanimous decision but from the manner its been done. In a televised monologue from Malacanang, he hurled what some saw as veiled threats against the High Tribunal while trying to rationalize the benets of DAP. The Philippines borrowed heavily from the American system of government: three co-equal branches that ensure a divided government. Its a difcult, often unwieldy way of running government but Americas founding fathers correctly surmised its the only way democracy for to sur- vive. President Obama has vowed to maximize his executive powers to go around the opposition-dominated House of Representatives. President Aquino has threatened to mobilize his yellow army against the Supreme Court. It is one thing for a president to question or even protest the actions of the other branches of government, but its an entirely different matter to publicly declare he was usurp- ing the authority of the others, powers that were vested on them by the Constitution. Divided government relies heavily on the mutual respect of one branch for all of the others. The minute that melts down is the moment when democracy becomes truly in peril.
Continued on page 31 July 16-31, 2014 30 30 Duty rst H eres a thumbs up for the Philippine Supreme Court. In a 13-0 decision, the highest court declared uncon- stitutional the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) concocted by the administration of Pres. Noynoy Aquino. DAP is believed to be the creation of the Budget Secretary Butch Abad purportedly to jump start eco- nomic growth using unallocated funds from various government agencies. The Aquino administration spent billions of DAP money for projects not provided for in congressional appropriations, including allotments to Senators for their designated projects. This practice ignores the constitu- tional authority to make budget appropriations that belongs to Congress. The decision was a shocker. After the impeachment of former Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, Pres. Aquino picked the new Chief Justice and appointed three others. One would think that in political cases involving the administration, it would get the benet of the doubt from its appointees to the bench. To their credit, they have demonstrated that their independent judgment have not succumbed to Filipino moral value of utang na loob. Integrity trumped loyalty. Ear- lier, the administration also lost when the court declared the Pri- ority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional. Malacanang tried to miti- gate the political setback by claiming that at least 91% of DAP funds were not wasted but spent for infrastructure and other real project that beneted the people. Senator Jinggoy Estrada who is now facing plunder and graft and corruption charges claimed in a privilege speech that the monies distributed for disburse- ment to Senators supposedly for their pet projects were intended as reward for the impeachment and removal of former Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona. Is this enough smoke to say there is re? There are calls for the impeachment of Pres. Aquino from the militant sector. The President has taken an oath to preserve and defend its consti- tution and execute its laws. He is subject to impeachment for culpable violation of the consti- tution. This however requires that the wrongful act be willful or manifest intentional disregard of the fundamental law of the land. Aquino is trying to hide behind the shield of good faith and it doesnt look like the people will spill into the streets as there is not even a hint that he padded his pocket. So, Pres. PNoy can have a sound sleep without the sword of impeachment hanging over his head. My wise barber however warns that PNoy risks impeach- ment for in your face insult to millions of Nora Aunor fans. He dropped the name of the singing idol and movie super- star from being considered for National Artist Award despite being nominated by reputable cultural organizations. This has Speaking of Vargas T he arrest last July 15 of arguably Americas most well-known undocu- mented immigrant, Filipino jour- nalist Jose Antonio Vargas, has re-ignited debate on the urgent need for immigration reforms. The incident comes at a time of mounting political pressure on both Democrats and Republi- cans, either to push forward with immigration reform or try to put it in the backburner, at least until after the November elections. Both groups are under tre- mendous heat from their respec- tive constituents, the tug from both ends creating a situation where theres a lot of noise but nothing actually getting done. Vargas, sometimes accused of narcissism, has parlayed his pop- ularity (or notoriety, depending on who youre talking to) to fuel a nascent civil rights movement for millions of immigrants eager to build a new life in the United States. The immigration debate is undeniably one of the most divi- sive issues in America today. The schism is often wide and deep, cutting through racial, genera- tional, ideological, economic divides. Still, it is a debate that cant be ignored, and if recent events are an indication, cant be delayed. The Republican-led House of Representatives has report- edly shelved the immigration reform bill this year. Congressio- nal districts are not arrayed in a way that races can be inuenced by the Latino or Asian immigrant communities. Some pundits say the GOP is eager not to rock their boat, convinced they only have to stand together to win back Capitol Hill; tackling immigra- tion reform before November could fuel just enough tension to disrupt that, they argued. Now 2016 is an entirely different game; they will need to win the immigrant vote just like what President Obama did in past elections. The GOP will have to woo them, mainly by passing an immigration bill that will be palatable both for their conservative constituents as well as the bulk of the immigrant community. Some have asked if Vargas detention and subsequent release was not a political stunt to embarrass the Obama White House and push Congress to act on immigration reform sooner than much later, as in, after the November polls. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist claims ignorance about the realities surrounding undoc- umented people in Americas borders. He said he discovered this only after he had arrived in McAllen, Texas to help draw attention to plight of over 50,000 children from Central American whove poured across the border in recent months. Whether by design or by chance Vargas has truly become the voice of the millions of undocumented immigrants in the US. Hes been elevated from a simple poster boy to a symbol of resistance, a rallying point for the many in America who dont have papers, dont have a voice and struggling to earn their place in this nation of immigrants. The call for the Obama Continued on page 31 A Family Gathers O n the last weekend of July, our extended family on my mothers side aunts and uncles, siblings, cousins and their children will converge here for our biennial Family Reunion. As hosts, Elvie and I and cousins Celi and David of Silver Spring, are expected to keep about 60 adults and 20 chil- dren properly housed and fed, engaged and entertained, and civil to each other. Which means, politics and religion are banned from con- versations. Thats because, like most families, we are a diverse lot thanks to mixed marriages, multi-cultural predispositions, varying temperaments and other orientations. Family members of the Dizon Clan - named after my maternal grandfather, take turns hosting these family gather- ings - typically a long weekend affair of heavy feasting, chatting, kodakan or just simply fooling around. And lots of ribbing and remembering. We come from all over: Cali- fornia, Colorado, Florida, Guam, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio and the Philip- pines. We are four generations of teachers, soldiers, politicians, farmers, lawyers, ministers, writers, social workers, nurses, doctors, domestic workers, engi- neers, secretaries. Aunts and nieces have won beauty pag- eants. Uncles endured the Bataan Death March and served time behind bars. Our family history is a story of guts and grits, glamour and glitz, scandal and struggle. My uncle Gil of Guimba, Nueva Ecija, escaped the Death March and later led a guerilla army to ght the Japanese occu- piers. His courageous and daring raids of enemy-controlled rice granaries earned him notorious fame as the Filipino Robin Hood. They called him Tapok (dust) because thats all his enemy pursuers would nd when they thought theyve cornered him. A cloud of dust. My uncle Gil became mayor of our town for many years, trading his horse for a fancy car, always moving about with heavily-armed body guards. But he was more of a warrior than a politician. He served the last years of his short life (he died at 45) serving time in Muntinglupa, the notorious national jail known for its violent prisoners. He was charged with murdering his political oppo- nent. He remains a legend in our town. My great grandmother - Lola Lelang - was the mistress of the Spanish Governor-General of Abra. And so Ive learned from my aunts who were research- ing our family history. She was a burlesque artist entertaining the elite class of Abra when she caught the eye of the Spaniard who apparently admired her beauty, singing voice and danc- ing gure. Im imagining all this now: they had a tempestu- ous affair, a love child followed another and another and thats how the Dizon clan started. I can see Lola Lelang in my sister Mimi and in my aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces who are all talented musicians, dancers and artists. Sometimes we kid ourselves: we may be bastard children but thank God to Lola Lelang for passing on good genes. I always look forward to these reunions for stories about ancestors -- especially their secrets, their sins and scandals. I like to know them as human beings, not only for their heroic deeds but for their extraordinary blunders and fatal aws. My mother may have been a saint, in the memory of relatives who knew this patient, acquiescent and God-fearing woman. But to be sure, she was far from perfect. Her brother may have been a corrupt cop who was abusive to his wife, but Im sure there was some redeeming grace some- where. Today, the oldest survivor is Aunt Adela, who is 98. The youngest are 6-month-old twins, grandsons of cousin Linda of West Orange, NJ. Born to a Cau- casian-American mother and a Filipino-American father, the twins are the typical mixed up kids among the third and fourth generation of Dizons - thanks to inter-racial and inter-ethnic mar- riages. Were now a family of Asians, Germans, African Amer- icans, Hispanics and Caucasians - in addition to being Ilocanos, Tagalogs and Cebuanos. When American missionar- ies came to the Philippines in the 1920s, the Methodist Denomina- tion was assigned to evangelize a Continued on page 31 Continued on page 31 Opinion July 16-31, 2014 31 ignited a word war in the inter- net and legions of Noranians are up in arms. My wise barber fur- ther warns that Filipinos can tol- erate energy shortages but will impeach a President for failure to solve the garlic shortage that has deprived Pinoys of their fun- damental right to cook paksiw. *** Here a recent report from Manila of a possible miracle. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Port of Clark had in its custody 156 drums of seized diesel fuel. Sometime ago, it discovered that some of the drums had their con- tents substituted with water. The BOC then changed location of the storage. Then it was discov- ered again that more drums were relled with water. Another change in storage arrangements did not stop more drums from being relled with water. Of the 156 drums, 135 turned diesel into water. When somebody turns water into wine, it must be a miracle. When somebody turns diesel fuel into water, it must be theft. Given ample warning of the initial pilferage, the BOC still could not see things hap- pening under their noses. Thats what happens when the foxes are tasked with guarding the hen house. *** Golf tidbits: Week 1 Juliets Romeo rechristened as JR hit the jackpot with Mr. T play- ing second ddle. Visiting King George, King Arthur, Eveready Freddie, Englebert H and Kilabot settled for fried wings and salami. Week 2- Englebert H took the honors with JR sharing the bounty. The rest donated to char- ity, including Don Alex. Week 3- Mr. T took collected enough with Englebert H to serve everybody fried wings. Eveready Fred- die could have earned bragging rights but he refused Mr. Ts offer of one stroke. Henceforth he will be called The Alamo for his never say die spirit. The orig- inal Kilabot blew into town. He gave and he received. As for my godfather, he provided me insurance from loss in week 1, but then he asked for refund of the premium next game. Then he became generous again but drew even in the last game. administration to deport him back to the Philippines will surely get louder, just as the clamor for him to continue the ght on US soil. Vargas has stirred up passions that can only heat up for as long as Congress continues ignores the urgent need to x the countrys broken immigration system. While I may not agree with everything he says, there is no denying the need for reforms. And you cant help but admire his passion, zeal and courage. There is no doubt he will continue to speak and act force- fully and probably with great creativity, in the weeks and months ahead to press his case. He has received a summons to appear before an immigration judge. Vargas is a man who never misses a platform for espousing the rights and vision for Americas undocumented immigrants. Vargas has entered a peril- ous chapter in the struggle for immigrant rights. More than ever, he needs the protection of all decent, open-minded Ameri- cans, even those who may dis- agree with him; to keep his voice alive and strong because more than being a nation of immi- grants, Americas strength has always been nestled in its free- doms and its ability to change in peace. Speaking of Vargas... from page 30 Duty first... from page 30 portion of Central Luzon, which included Guimba. With the coun- trys educational system run by the Americans, my grandparents and their children - including my own parents - were trained in the precepts of U.S. education and the spiritual traditions of the United Methodist (UM) Church. This explains why my parents, aunts and uncles all came to the U.S. to study under UM scholar- ships. Many of us remain faithful Methodists to this day. They rst came as students in the 1950s. My parents, aunts and uncles went to religious- afliated schools in Missouri. Their children followed. By 1965, with the passage of the landmark immigration reform bill, many in our clan - including myself and my siblings - all came to the U.S. to study or to work as teachers and nurses, later applying for permanent residency and subse- quently taking the oath as natu- ralized American citizens. With marriages and intermarriages, families grew, and grew. Today, all four generations of Dizons and their relatives number close to 200. Like most immigrants, we came to the U.S. for higher education, for employment and for a better life for our families. Despite the differences in our political outlook (a majority in our clan identify themselves as conservatives and Republicans), our strong family bond has kept our relationships alive all these years. For this years reunion, we are going to do something dif- ferent from previous gatherings. Well pitch a huge tent in my cousins backyard and spend three days in July lling a shared space with our songs and stories, enchanted and enlivened by the spirit of our Lola Lelang. Send your comments to jdmelegrito@gmail.com newspaper before it is printed. If you are living in the Fairfax, Vir- ginia area, it would probably be feasible. The editorial staff of the Manila Mail are all volunteers. Some are working and at the same time helping write and edit the newspaper in their spare time. The rest are retired Filipino American journalists from the Philippines. THE EDITORS (The Manila Mail has been bombarded by press releases from both the White House and the Republican National Com- mittee. From time to time we will published some select releases from these two entities- The Edi- tors) Worst President Sir: Good morning, President Obamas approval ratings con- tinue to fall. The economy has not improved under the Obama Administration, and all of us deserve better. Asian Americans and Pacic Islanders (AAPIs) will not support 2014 Demo- cratic Senate candidates because of their support for Obamas failing policies, such as Obam- aCare. The Democrats continue to be in disarray, and AAPIs will shy away from Democrats in the upcoming election. A new Tumblr post by the RNC Research Department shows that voters are giving Obama poor ratings across the board. Some of the highlights include: 53 Percent Of Voters Dis- approve Of Obamas Han- dling Of His Job As President, Compared To 40 Percent Who Approve. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1446 RV, MoE 2.6%, 6/24-30/14) 55 Percent Of Voters Disap- prove Of Obamas Handling Of The Economy, Compared To 40 Percent Who Approve. (Quin- nipiac Poll, 1446 RV, MoE 2.6%, 6/24-30/14) o 77 Percent Of Voters Describe The State Of The Economy As Not So Good Or Poor, While Just 23 Percent Describe It As Good Or Excel- lent. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1446 RV, MoE 2.6%, 6/24-30/14) o 74 Percent Of Voters Think The Economy Is Staying The Same Or Getting Worse, While Just 26 Percent Say It Is Getting Better. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1446 RV, MoE 2.6%, 6/24- 30/14) Check out the following articles: Politico: Poll: Obama worst president since WWII Business Insider: POLL: Obama Worst Modern-Day Pres- ident Quinnipiac University: Obama Is First As Worst Presi- dent Since WWII, More Voters Say Romney Would Have Been Better Many Asian Americans and Pacic Islanders have already started feeling the negative effects of ObamaCare. NINA FETALVO RNC Communications Research Letters to the Editor... from page 25 Some of the tournaments required overnight stays. Those were particularly trying. I dis- liked rooming in with other people. I insisted on separate accommodations which was expensive. I came to hate penalty kicks or shoot outs with a passion at one of those away games. I saw my son miss as he drove the ball to the upper right corner and saw it bounce away as it hit the bar. The drive home was agoniz- ing. When Monching became the co-captain at Gonzaga, we saw how he matured. He developed a condence so endearing to our heart. He developed a swagger, a mojo. It was with deep regret when we declined an offer from the coach to have Monching try out for a soccer scholarship. Buddy, you go to college to learn and earn a degree, not to play. Reports so-called short sleepers make up a very small percentage of the population. If you think youre one, youre probably kidding yourself. ... With just ve or six hours sleep, theyre more energized than reg- ular sleepers. And less sleep isnt hurting these short sleepers. All day long they are very active. They are very optimistic. They are go-getters. A husband-and-wife team of scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, is studying the genetics of sleep and short sleepers. Dr. Ying-Hui Fu has discov- ered less than 1 percent of the population is biologically capa- ble of comfortably running on six hours of sleep or less. And biologically capable is the catch - its a genetic muta- tion. Its largely genetic, thats what researchers are nding. According to CNN, Fus lab has only found 20 to 30 people with the genetic mutation that allows them to get by on less sleep. Fu told CNN: Its hard to tell how frequent this mutation is. But with time and research, there might one day be a drug that changes the circadian rhythm, or internal clock, that controls sleep. But the most interesting part of the research which is making frequent Filiino balikbayans sit up and take notice is the Circa- dian rhythms. Dr. Fu told The Wall Street Journal he hopes to begin test- ing drugs that will alter cir- cadian rhythms. These drugs might eventually treat jet lag and enhance chemotherapy treatments. Fu hopes to nd a drug thats better than caffeine at reducing the amount of sleep needed. Washington Tisimis... from page 29 A Family Gathers... from page 30 Ole Ole Ole Ole... from page 28 image was that of a macho guy. But of course we all know how he chose to handle his situation then. And so here we are today. You are at the same juncture in your political and actual life, at a crossroads where life or death decisions have to be made. Time in jail is now a cer- tainty for you. The length of that stay depends on whether bail will be granted to you, on whether your wish to be spared jail time based on your age will be granted, or on whether you will eventually be found guilty or not. But, initially, it appears you cannot escape some time behind bars. And we come to my humble thought that I wanted to share with you. Salvador Allendes stir- ring image of guts and glory is again vivid in ones mind. There was a real man, one has to say in admiration. He chose death over escape, the nal sacrice over surrender, taking his own life over living in shame and bur- dened by public ridicule. I have no doubt sir that these images and thoughts have gnawed at your mind. Im not wishing you to make the nal sacrice sir. Im only hoping you will not beg the government to spare you jail time. Because if you do, it would disappoint your admirers. And even me, a non- admirer. Open letter to Sen. Enrile... from page 27 July 16-31, 2014 32 32