asian journal december 16-22, 2011 edition

A new (more or less) easy recipe for a great life .. p. 6

A Momentous Meeting .. p. 11

Pres. “P-Noy” Aquino III strikes at the Supreme Court

Offensive to justices, maybe not to citizens

Crowning GloryIt’s beginning to look a lot

like ChristmasThere’s The Rub

By Conrado de Quiros Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Christmas That Has Yet to Come

Perryscope by Perry Diaz

Emboldened by the people’s high approval and trust ratings of him, President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III struck at the Supreme Court (SC) at the 1st National Criminal Justice Summit held at the Manila Hotel last December 5, 2011. In his ad-dress to a stunned audience, with Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona seated just a few feet away, P-Noy recited a litany of question-able actions and decisions made by the Supreme Court in recent years including the appointment of a “midnight” chief justice.

While he clarifi ed that he was not fi ghting the Supreme Court nor was he being disre-spectful, he wasn’t shy show-ing his disdain for some of the High Court’s actions particu-larly those involving former President Gloria Arroyo, which he claimed were favor-able to her and her family.

“Sovereignty resides in the people”

He prefaced his speech by saying, “Our gathering this morning is an opportunity to further assess the strengths and weaknesses of the present criminal justice system, and to come up with new and timely initiatives concerning the delivery of justice.” It can’t be more objective than that.

He then said, “We say timely, because of recent headlines in newspapers and on television, in which the entire country has witnessed the complexities of the du-ties of our clerks of court, our lawyers, and our judges. There is no doubt as to the gravity of your task.” He then cited Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution, which says: “Sovereignty resides in the people and all government au-thority emanates from them.”

Martial law eraThen P-Noy grimly looked back

the days of the martial law era say-ing, “justice was not directed toward the welfare of the people, but rather to cater to the whims of a single per-son: the late President Ferdinand Marcos.” He mentioned how his father was “court

Miles BeauchampMsgr. Gutierrez Ben MaynigoPlanet of the APPs .. p. 21

December 16-22, 2011

(Continued on page 2)

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December 16-22, 2011


Pres. NoyNoy Aquino




High ratings a ‘clear sign’ of public’s trust in Aquino


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day welcomed the latest Pulse Asia survey indicating that President Benigno Aquino III still enjoyed the trust and confi dence of majority of the Filipinos.

In the latest poll con-ducted on November 10 to 23, 2011, 72 percent of Filipinos approve of Aquino’s per-formance while 74 percent continue to trust his admin-istration. Only less than 1 in every 10 Filipinos or nine per-cent disapproves or distrusts Aquino.

The survey is “a clear sign of the continued trust and

confi dence of the Filipino people,” Presidential Com-munications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang said.

At a press conference during the Bulong Pulungan’s annual Christmas Party held at Sofi tel, President Aquino said the

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Finally, Congress has voted overwhelmingly to act on the presidential complaint and impeached Renato Corona. That’s the second best Christmas gift the House of Representatives has given the nation. The fi rst of course was impeaching Erap (Joseph Estrada) 11 years ago.

The articles of impeachment against Corona are legion and richly deserved. The crux of them being, as one of the eight articles puts it, a monumental failure to live up to “the stringent (constitutional) standards that (demand that) a member of the judiciary be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence.” Corona has proven himself only, as specifi ed by the other items on the laundry list, to be incompetent, dishonest, fraudulent and a lackey to his sponsor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Not surprisingly, Edcel Lagman is howling his head off. Which only shows how if you’ve gotten used to seeing an upside-down world, you’re going to complain that it’s upside down when it’s been turned back on its feet. “The derogation of our democratic institutions,” he rails from his imagined heights, “is almost complete with the emasculation of the House of Representatives, the violation of civil liberties, the impairment of the rule of law and now the destruction of the Supreme Court and the judiciary.”

But of course it is a brilliant description—of the Arroyo regime. Well, maybe not that brilliant since it understates the pits to which his own sponsor plunged this country. “Derogation of our democratic institu-tions” does not quite come close to capturing the enormity of “Hello, Garci.” Just as well, the “complete emasculation

GOTCHA By Jarius Bon-doc | The Philippine Star -- In speaking his mind out at the

summit on criminal justice Noynoy Aquino reportedly offended some justices of the Supreme Court. Was anything wrong with what the President said? You judge from the meat of his speech:

“From the moment I assumed offi ce, we have been laying the groundwork to clarify allegations of corruption against the past admin-istration: from the fertilizer scam, which ended up fattening only the pockets of a few offi cials, to the ZTE deal, which allegedly resulted in the abduction of witness Jun Lozada; from the allegations of fraud in the

Muslim protesters shout slogans during a rally outside the Supreme Court in Manila where embat-tled Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona has just addressed the crowd of lawyers and judges.(www.thestate.com)

By David Dizon, abs-cbn-NEWS.com | MANILA, Philip-pines – Former President Joseph Estrada made light of Pampan-ga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s refusal to be airlifted from St. Luke’s in Taguig to the Veterans Me-morial Medical Center (VMCC) in Quezon City, say-

Erap jokes about why GMA refuses chopper ride

ing she might be afraid to use the second-hand helicopters sold by

her husband to the Philippine National Police (PNP) as brand new.

“Siguro baka natatakot siya sa chopper dahil baka yung second-hand na chopper na pinagbili sa PNP. Itanong mo kay Secretary Robredo, Erap

by Fr. Shay Cullen, PREDA | OLONGAPO -- Christmas is about birth, new beginnings, new life and it is a time to think about the dignity and value of our own life and others. It’s a special time to honor and help needy children. The best Christmas story is like that of the Holy Family seeking shelter from the cruel weather and the closed doors of the inn keep-ers. It’s the rescue of yet another abused child.

At the Preda Children’s Home, a refuge always open for abused girls, the latest arrival is a small 12

year-old child named Maria. She was traumatized, nervous and si-

lent when she was brought in, still in shock. Now a week later she is smiling and happy to be safe and protected having escaped from her cruel sex abuser, who, tragically, is

her own biological father.Maria found the courage after a

year of abuse to fi nally overcome fear of the threats and fi nally told her mother who believed her and reported it to the authorities. The father was immediately arrested, charged and jailed. For her and 53 other children, it will be a very happy Christmas at the home and for those recovered and returned safely to their homes. In the sur-rounding villages, we give Christ-mas parties and gifts and games

December 16-22, 2011Asian Journal - (619) 474-0588 Visit our website at http://www.asianjournalusa.com

(Continued from page 1)

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High Ratings ..

high ratings showed the public’s continued trust in his campaign of good governance.

He reiterated that he will continue to fi ght for the interest of majority of the people.

In a statement, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda also said that the survey indicates that Aquino’s “trust level remained virtually unchanged and likewise stayed in record levels at 74 percent.”

“The latest Ulat ng Bayan fi gures show that the administration’s unwavering com-mitment to eradicate corruption, pursue inclusive growth, and provide basic services to the people continues to receive wide-spread support from our countrymen. The government remains grateful, and takes it as a signal to pursue our reform agenda even more vigorously,” he added.

The November fi gures barely differ from the data recorded by Pulse Asia last August.

Aquino’s approval ratings dropped by around fi ve percentage points while his trust ratings declined by one percentage point. The survey, however, has a plus or minus 3 percent margin of error.

The slight adjustment on the ratings was attributed to some major issues that took place in November including the watchlist order against former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Maca-pagal-Arroyo. This issue has ignited a rift between the executive and the judiciary.

“Whether the numbers are up or down, the work of building a more fair and equi-

table country goes on,” Carandang said.Aquino registered a signifi cant “big

majority” approval and trust ratings on geo-graphical areas and socioeconomic classes.

The President’s disapproval ratings range from six percent in the Visayas to 11 percent in Mindanao. His distrust ratings, mean-while, vary from three percent to 11 percent across geographic areas.

The survey was conducted nationwide us-ing face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adult respondents.


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By: Dennis E. Chua, Esq.

Under the present state of the law, a person who is no longer in lawful nonimmigrant status will not be allowed to fi le for an application for adjustment of status here in the United States even if an immigrant petition has been approved for that person and his priority date is already current. There are however some exceptions to this general rule.

The fi rst exception is if the petition was fi led by a US citizen spouse, child or parent and that parent is petitioning for a child below 21 years old.

The next exception is if the ap-plicant is applying for adjustment based on an employment based peti-tion fi led within 180 days from the date the applicant fell out of status.

The last exception is if the person is covered by Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows persons who are the benefi ciaries of immigrant visa petitions or labor certifi cation applications fi led on or before January 14, 1998, to fi le for adjustment of status in the U.S. despite having fallen out of status or having entered without inspec-tion. A limited extension of Section 245(i) in 2000 covered benefi ciaries of immigrant visa petitions or labor certifi cation applications fi led on or before April 30, 2001. However these benefi ciaries should have been physically present in the United States on or before December 21, 2000 to qualify for 245(i).

The following illustrations would best explain one’s eligibility under 245(i).

Reynaldo entered the United States as a tourist in April 2008. Reynaldo was the benefi ciary of an immigrant petition fi led by his US citizen father on September 1, 1995. Reynaldo decided not to go back to his home country when he entered in 2008 so he could spend more time with his parents. Reynaldo’s priority date will be current in July 1 2010. Can Reynaldo adjust his status in the US? Yes, Reynaldo can adjust his status since is the benefi ciary of an approved petition fi led on or before January 14, 1998.Victoria entered the United States as a tourist on May 5, 2006. No immigration petitions have been fi led for Victoria. Victoria was offered to work for a care home in Los Angeles. The care home owner also offered to sponsor her for green card. The employer fi led a labor certifi cation application with the Department of Labor which was eventually certifi ed. The immigrant petition fi led with the US Citizen-ship and Immigration Services was likewise approved. When Victoria’s priority date becomes current, can she apply for adjustment of status? Victoria cannot fi le for adjustment of status even if his labor certifi cation application and immigrant petition have been approved as she is not

Signifi cance of Section 245(i) of the INA

covered by Section 245(i).Manuel is a seaman who was peti-tioned by his father on December 5, 1997. His father however died a year after the petition was fi led. On February 14, 2008, Manuel was on board a cargo ship which was pass-ing through San Francisco. His ship docked at the Port of San Francisco and Manuel and the other crew members were given shore leave. Manuel called up his relatives in San Francisco who picked him up at the port. After being convinced by his relatives, Manuel decided not to return to his ship and to just stay in the US. After a year Manuel met Kritika, a US citizen. The two later had an amorous relationship and eventually got married. Manuel can adjust his status through a visa petition fi led by his wife because he is covered by 245(i). Had Manuel not been covered by 245(i), he could not adjust his status even though he is married to a US citizen because he entered the country as a crewman. Section 245(i) is one of the more signifi cant legislations passed and the law has allowed a substantial number of individuals to get their permanent residence status. People who are covered by 245(i) must take advantage of this law so that they may be able to legalize their stay in the U.S.

Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV) - a full service law fi rm with offi ces in San Francisco, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for gen-eral information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. The CTV at-torneys will be holding regular free legal clinic at the Max’s Restaurant in Vallejo, California on January 30,2012. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; [email protected].

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of the House” does not quite encompass what Arroyo’s representatives did to the impeachment complaint against her. That one, for all the lofty rhetoric that accompa-nied it, was just a pathetic version of MC Hammer’s classic rap, “Can’t Touch This.”

I leave the readers to supply his own examples of “the violation of civil liber-ties, the impairment of the rule of law, and the destruction of the judiciary” during Arroyo’s time. They will suffer from an embarrassment of riches.

Not surprisingly as well, Corona himself is howling at the moon. That is at least how the public sees it. He himself sees it differently. He sees it as rallying the troops to fi ght those that threaten to destroy the courts and democracy. “I am here. I am not

going anywhere. I am your defender and most of all I am your chief justice. Together we will face these challenges and fi ght all who dare to destroy the Court and our sys-tem of justice under the Constitution.”

That’s all very fi ne, except for one thing. You are not the one defending democracy, you are the one destroying it. You are not the one preserving the courts, you are the one scuttling them. You are not the one upholding the Constitution, you are the one trashing it.

And, oh, yes, you are going somewhere:

straight to the dustbin of history after a short and completely forgettable tenure as chief shyster.

Corona may imagine he is John Paul Jones announcing to the world that he has just begun to fi ght, but to the people of this country he merely cuts the fi gure of an Arroyo clone. Arroyo was a fake president, Corona is a fake chief justice.

Arroyo became president by calling up Garci in the midnight hour, Corona

Asian Journal - (619) 474-0588 Visit our website at http://www.asianjournalusa.comDecember 16-22, 2011

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Remittance Services is spreading a little holiday cheer this season by offering one transfer fee rebate when customers send $300 or more from an eligible account-based Express-Send agreement through Dec. 31, 2011.

“Our customers’ families and friends count on receiving remittanc-es now more than ever during these tough economic times,” said Daniel Ayala, EVP and head of Wells Fargo’s Global Remittance Services Group. “By offering a transfer fee rebate, we hope we make it easier for them to do just that. Plus, it’s just another great way we can show our appreciation to our customers for their business in 2011.”

Through recent Wells Fargo expansion efforts in the Philippines, pickup locations have recently tripled with extended business hours. Remittance network members now include Bank of the Philippine Islands, Banco de Oro, Metrobank, M. Lhuillier and Cebuana Lhuillier, for a total of more than 5,000 payout

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Business News

SAN DIEGO — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are announcing that a new Ready Lane will be opened at the San Ysidro port of entry on December 20, for travelers who have a travel docu-ment enabled with Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID, technol-ogy. The Ready Lane is a lane for vehicle traffic that only accepts RFID-enabled cards. The new Ready Lane at the San Ysidro border crossing will operate 24 hours a day, beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 20, 2011. In order to use this dedicated lane, all adult passen-gers in the vehicle over the age of 16 must present an approved RFID-en-abled travel card. These documents include: the U.S. Passport Card, SENTRI card, the new Legal Per-manent Resident “green card” and the new Border Crossing Card. CBP officials have been working closely with officials from the government of Mexico to develop approach lanes in Mexico, install signs, and make other preparations needed before the lane can be opened at the San Ysidro port of entry.

Travelers who use the Ready Lane will have the benefit of a shorter wait time versus using the general lanes of vehicle traffic because of the RFID technology. While the wait time will not be as short as the lanes for pre-approved, low-risk SENTRI travelers, those using the Ready Lanes can generally expect to see wait times that are signifi-cantly shorter compared to using the general traffic lanes. Currently, ap-proximately 30% of the traffic at the San Ysidro port of entry already uses a dedicated SENTRI lane. Another benefit is that unlike the SENTRI lane in which all individuals in the vehicle must have a SENTRI card, a group with any mixture of RFID-enabled travel cards can use the Ready Lane. For example, if the driver has a SENTRI card but the passengers all have other kinds of RFID-enabled documents, such as a

U.S. Passport Card or a new Border Crossing Card, the vehicle may still have the benefit of using the Ready Lane. The planned Ready Lane at San Ysidro follows the open-ing last May of a Ready Lane at the Otay Mesa port of entry, which significantly reduced wait times and eased traffic flows. “RFID-enabled cards allow our officers to screen travelers faster,” said Chris Maston, director of field operations for CBP in San Diego. “By having a lane designated just for travelers with these cards, we can reduce the time everyone spends waiting to enter the country, and encourage legiti-mate business and tourism for our communities on both sides of the border.” Since the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), June 1, 2009, U.S. and Canadian citizens entering the United States by land or sea from Mexico, Canada and the Carib-bean, are required to present a valid, WHTI-compliant document. Using a WHTI-compliant document that is an RFID-enabled travel card allows for more efficient processing of travelers at the border, since RFID technology allows CBP officers to receive information about travelers faster. Travelers using the Ready Lane should follow the simple steps depicted in this video as they approach a U.S. land port of entry with their RFID-enabled travel card: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/whti_bg/land_sea/rfid_enabled/ WHTI is the joint Department of State-Depart-ment of Homeland Security plan that implemented a key 9/11 Commis-sion recommendation to establish document requirements for travel-ers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. For more information, please visit www.GetYouHome.gov or www.CBP.gov.

CBP Announces Date for Ready Lane at San Ysidro Travelers Should Prepare for December 20

Opening and Get RFID-Enabled Documents Now MOST PARENTS TRUST ABS-CBN SHOWS & TALENTS

When it comes to television viewing, most parents in the Philippines trust ABS-CBN shows, news anchors, and celebrities as reflected in the number of Anak TV Seal Awards bestowed to the Kapamilya network.

ABS-CBN bagged a total of 51 Anak TV recognitions, making it the most child-friendly TV network in the country. This is 18 more than GMA’s 33 awards and 40 more than TV 5’s 11 awards.

Six ABS-CBN pro-grams made it to the country’s top 10 most well-liked TV programs in 2011, higher than GMA’s four and TV5’s 0.

The International Emmy nominated “TV Patrol,” the highest-rating TV newscast today, topped the results of Anak TV’s Boto Ko To survey wherein adult voters were asked which local TV shows they hold in high esteem.

The five other ABS-CBN programs are “100 Days to Heaven,” “Show-time,” “Budoy,” “Maala-ala Mo Kaya,” and “Matanglawin.

When it comes to news, more ABS-CBN anchors made it to the Anak TV Roster of Makabata Stars 2011. Seven ABS-CBN broadcast journalists made it to the list as compared to GMA’s five and TV5’s 0.

Korina Sanchez and Julius Babao were elevated to its Hall of Fame for consistently topping the surveys in the past seven years. News anchors Kim Atienza, Noli de Castro, Ted Failon, Karen Davila, and Bernadette Sem-brano made it the coveted list.

More ABS-CBN stars are trusted by parents than any other network’s art-ists. ABS-CBN had 12 stars in the list as compared to GMA’s 1 and TV5’s 2.

The most trusted Kapamilya stars include Gerald Anderson, John Lloyd Cruz, Kim Chiu, Anne Curtis, Sarah Geronimo, Toni Gonzaga, Angel Loc-sin, Luis Manzano, Coco Martin, Piolo Pascual, Charo Santos, and Judy Ann Santos. Gary Valenciano on the other hand was also elevated to the Hall of Fame.

Meanwhile, “Failon Ngayon,” “Junior Mas-terChef,” “Matanglawin,” “Kabuhayang Swak na Swak,” “Rated K,” “Salamat Dok,” “Wansapana-taym,” “Why Not?,” “I Got It,” “Dora the Explorer,” “Spongebob Squarepants,” “Jimmy Neutron,” and

regional programs “Arangkada,” “Mindanao,” “Derecho (Iloilo),” “Halad sa Kapamilya,” “Maayong Buntag Kapamilya (Cebu),” “Maay-ong Buntag Mindanao,” “Maganda Umaga South Central,” “MagTV Na! Amiga,” “MagTV Na! Atin To! (Ba-guio),” “MagTV Na! Ato Ni! (CDO),” “MagTV Na! Cebu,” and “MagTV Na! Sadya Ta!” were among the ABS-CBN shows awarded with the Anak TV seal for its child-friendly contents.

The Anak TV Seal Award is an an-nual national recognition given by the Southeast Asian Foundation for Chil-dren and Television honoring child-sensitive programs and personalities in the Philippines.

In 2011, ABS-CBN harvested a total of 235 awards from university award-giving groups, CMMA, Golden Dove Awards, Star Awards, Golden Screen TV Awards, Asian TV Awards, Philip-pine Quill Awards, Anvil Awards, and Tambuli Awards. The figure is more than twice the number of awards reportedly won by GMA (116) and TV5 (37).

With ABS-CBN gaining the most viewers and receiving the most

awards, it could only mean that the Kapamilya network is doing some-thing right in offering quality programs and trustworthy news and entertain-ment personalities. (Kane Errol Choa, ABS-CBN Corporate Affairs & PR Director, Manila)

TABLE 1. Number of Anak TV Most Well-Liked TV Programs by networks:

ABS-CBN 6GMA 4TV5 0TABLE 2. Number of Anak TV

Makabata Stars in the roster by net-works:

ABS-CBN 17GMA 3TV5 2TABLE 3. Awards won by ABS-

CBN, GMA, and TV 5 in 2011:

* - SOURCE: VARIOUS NEWS AND ONLINE WEBSITES

**- SOURCE: GMANETWORK.COM ***- SOURCE: STARMOMETER.COM

Kapamilya Network wins 51 Anak TV Seal Awards


Racial And Ethnic Identity From A Chinese-American Perspective

Guest Writer: Christina Liang

became chief justice by being appointed by Arroyo in the midnight hour. Arroyo was proclaimed president to the chirp of cicadas with no audience in attendance to protest or boo, Corona was proclaimed chief justice to the baying of dogs with no audience in attendance to rant or decry. Arroyo refused to step down after being found out to have screwed the vote, brazening it out, fi ghting and clawing to keep her post. Corona has refused to step down after being found out to have screwed law, brazening it out, bris-tling and clawing like a cornered rat.

Arroyo was sent packing by an Edsa masquerading as an election. Corona will be sent packing by justice masquerading as an impeachment.

Corona’s impeachment is the best thing to have happened to democracy in a long time. Corona’s impeachment is the best thing to have happened to the courts in a long time. At the very least, it begins the process of cleansing the Supreme Court of its dregs, not unlike the way Jesus Christ rid his father’s temple of seedy merchants. Corona is not the Supreme Court, he is merely a squatter in it. Corona is not the institution of law, he is merely the despoiler of it.

At the very most, rather than befouling the Constitution and the separation of pow-ers, it deodorizes them. Corona’s impeach-ment reminds us of what the Constitution and the separation of powers really are.

The Constitution is not just a piece of paper, like the one you fi nd in toilets, to be used the way Arroyo’s justices have used it, and fl ushed afterward along with what they put on it. The Constitution is what constitutes the people. The Constitution is the fl esh and blood of the people, the heart and soul of the people, the will and voice of the people. It does not exist to be bent by crooked judges, it exists to fl ail at crooked judges.

Just as well the separation of powers is not there to assure a division of spoils, each branch having its own preserve to rule like a fi efdom. The separation of powers is there to assure that each branch serves the people, each branch checking the other to make sure it is acting in the interest of the people and not merely its own. That is

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Contemporary Asian American Issues


Perspectives

A few simple things could make the holidays (and our

lives) so much betterJust about everyone at some time

or another in her or his life seems to have the answer to living well. We all do. Physicians know the answers, acupuncturists know the answers, religious leaders know the answers, teachers know the answers, parents know the answers, and friends know

the answer. Politicians know the an-swers (or at least certainly think they do in an election year), and, well, you can see how far this could go.

I’ve thought about this in the past and now it’s time for an updated list of things that might make the holi-days (and our lives) just a bit better. The recipe I’m going to share is a fairly easy one and simple to follow. Hopefully, if you follow it correctly, you’ll end up living the grandest life

imaginable. Or, if not that, then a life just a little bit better and holidays just a little bit happier.

Easy recipe for a great life

1. Say “thank you” (this isn’t re-ally for you, but for the person you say it to)

2. When someone says “thank you” say, “you’re welcome”. The polite response to “thank you” is not “no problem.” Who cares if it’s a prob-lem? Be polite; you’d be amazed at how many bul-lets politeness can stop

3. When you want something, say one of the simplest words on earth, “please”

4. Smile5. Start a conversation with some-

one much older than you6. Listen carefully to what the

older person says7. Start a conversation with some-

one much younger than you8. Listen carefully to what the

younger person says9. Quit thinking that everyone

is “out to get you” (we’re not – we don’t have the time, sorry)

10. Be careful in case someone really is “out to get you.” In other words, don’t be foolish.

11. Love someone who is not a family member

12. Clean up your own mess13. Trust14. Trust again15. Don’t be so suspicious of

things and people that it stops you from going places, doing things, and knowing wonderful individuals

16. Trust some more17. Don’t wait for someone to be

your friend, be theirs fi rst18. Listen to people19. Really listen to people20. Cook something new, and share

it21. Read a book (nah, read lots of

them)22. Travel to a place you’ve never

been, but a place that is close and doesn’t cost more than twenty dollars to get to

23. Spend a day with your spouse’s friends; you’ll learn a lot about your spouse

24. Call someone from your child-hood

25. Call another person from your childhood

26. Call someone from your par-ent’s childhood

27. Try to see the world through your grandparent’s eyes (you won’t believe what you’ll see)

28. Try to see the world through the eyes of a four year old

29. Get your clothes dirty, and working doesn’t count

30. Do a favor for someone

31. Do a favor for yourself

32. After you read a book tell someone about

it33. See a fi lm – and I don’t mean

the latest blockbuster. See a foreign fi lm; see a fi lm that has subtitles, one that has strange characters, one that makes you laugh at things you don’t normally laugh at, and one that makes you think

34. Listen to new music, the kind you rarely or never listen to. Push your self to explore new sounds and melodies

35. Go to an art show36. See a ballet – and yes, I realize

that there are people who would rather slit their own wrist and let it bleed all over their new carpets than watch ballet, but that’s a shame. And I’ll admit that ballet is not always one of my favorite forms of artistic expression, however, it has always made me think, has always expanded my view of art, and has always made me better

37. Get off the couch, out of the chair, out of the house

38. Learn to do something new. Learn to paint, to draw, to write, to sing, to play a musical instrument, to work with clay, to build cabinets, to lay bricks, to chop wood. Just simply learn how to do something you’ve never done before and keep doing it for a while. Don’t stop after trying it once; you’ll get better at it if you just stay with it for a while

39. For at least a month watch new programs and channels on television. See things you’ve never seen – it’s amazing what’s on there and how interesting it can be

40. Finally, and simply, love. Love

your spouse, your signifi cant other, your kids, your neighbors, your en-emies, and your self. Hey, how can you expect someone else to love you if you won’t love yourself? And love long past the holidays. It’s easy to love during Christmas and Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. Make it last.

Now I’ll admit that the list is a bit simplistic. But often it’s the simple things in life that work the best. And, if we did follow those few thoughts, imagine what a great place this would be. Yes, we’ve heard it all before – every time we go to church or synagogue, every time we hear something touching, every time think of the good of the human race. Well there’s a reason we’ve heard it all before – because it’s true and because it works. What have you got to lose by trying to do something new, be someone new? Perhaps you might lose a bit of the sadness we all feel from time to time. This is particularly important for those of us who feel pangs of sadness during this time of year.

Happy Holidays.

A new (more or less) easy recipe for a great life

This is the third of a series of articles on “Ethnic and Cul-tural Identity.” Read the pre-

vious three issues of Asian Journal for the background on this topic and articles.CHRISTINA LIANG

Race and ethnicity come together to form an individual and shape their personalities, thoughts, and behaviors. Race is the classifi cation of people through the characteristics of their physical appearance. Racial identity is the extent to which a person of color perceives oneself to share a common heritage with one’s respective socio-cultural group. Eth-nicity is the classifi cation of people through their cultural group with their customs, beliefs, and languag-es. In other words, racial identity is based on physical characteristics and ethnic identity is a cultural charac-teristics.

How will I identify myself? I am “American Born Chinese” (ABC); both my parents are Chinese and immigrated to the United States in the 1980s. I was born in Los An-geles, California. I identify myself racially as Chinese and ethnically as Chinese-American. My race is Chi-nese because I look like an Asian. People label Chinese as “yellow skin color”, but I do not consider my skin yellow. However. I have most of the Chinese characteristics. Southern Chinese have dark hair,

light – medium skin tone, smooth round face, and almond shaped eyes with double eyelids.

On the other hand, I would charac-terize myself as Chinese-American ethnically. Although I was born in Los Angeles, California, my parents are immigrants from China. For that reason, my home environment revolved around Chinese customs and beliefs. I take a lot of pride in my culture because it’s the culture that infl uenced my personality. At home, I will show my Chinese side. However, outside and apart from my family, I consider my American side. I grew up in Chula Vista, California. I believe that this city is one of the most culturally diverse areas. Grow-ing up, I would try to be more American or Mexican to fi t into the “crowd”. My friends were mostly Mexican or White. There-fore my childhood shaped me into becoming more American. Therefore I am Chinese Ameri-can.

According to Dr. Kevin Nadal, based on the People of Color Racial Identity Attitudes Scale (POCRAS), there are four major statuses an individual identifi es with as a racial being. These are: a) Conformity that often occurs in early childhood, defi ned as an individual who does not recog-nize the salience of race in one’s life; oblivious to race; and wants to be accepted by the dominant society; b) Dissonance is when

an individual acknowledges the impact of race in one’s life for the fi rst time due to possible experience with discrimination; c) Immersion is when an indi-vidual idealizes one’s own social group and excludes one from the white world and only associ-ates with those from his/her own group; and d) Internalization in which an individual may com-mit oneself to combating racism while integrating with member’s of one’s racial group. Individuals

in this category can incorporate themselves as racially aware and knowledgeable in the real world.

Racial identity is the “extent in which a person of color per-ceives oneself to share a com-mon racial heritage with one’s respective social group (Helms, 1990). As of now, I believe I stand in between the immersion and internalization stage. I am in the immersion stage where the individual acknowledges and idealizes one’s own racial group; associates themselves with those of their own group and excludes from the white world. In the internalization stage, the individual accept themselves as racial beings and learning to in-tegrate into the white society and their own racial groups (Helms, 1995). I acknowledge myself as

Chinese and I am proud of it. I am comfortable enough to

hang out with other Chinese friends. But I wouldn’t consider knowing a lot of Chinese people. At the same time, I think that Chinese do not like to associate themselves with Chinese Ameri-cans because they believe that we are ‘whitewashed’. I went to elementary and middle school with mostly Mexicans and Amer-icans. It was until I went to high school, where majority were Filipinos. I became good friends

with Filipinos and therefore most of my friends are Filipinos now. Filipinos can be characterized as Asian, so therefore I think they are closer to my racial group. I am close to the internaliza-tion stage because I realize the diversity of races and I try to be friends with everyone regard-less of their racial background. In the past, I have been in the dissonance stage. Ever since I began school, I know and felt the racial differences. At times I felt discriminated because I was one of the only Asian in school. In elementary school, other students would call me “Chinita” mean-ing Chinese girl. I remember feeling I wished I was not Chi-nese but instead like everyone else, either White or Mexican.

In the other model of the six stages of racial and ethnic

development, it seems like the introspection stage is the most mentally healthy. The individual has accepted one’s role as Asian American, while maintaining a strong sense of ethnic identity. They have a positive positiv-ism. They accept other people of color, themselves, other Asian Americans, and the dominant Whites. This is healthiest be-cause the individual has learned to appreciate their own culture while accepting the diversity of other cultures. They also know how to identify themselves racially and ethnically. They separate these two terms and then learn to combine the two to shape the person they are.

The least healthy is the as-similation to a dominant culture stage. The individual realizes their difference from the domi-nant cultural norms. They learn about their cultural group by other stereotypes, people, or media where Asians are not represented. They only view the White community as the domi-nant and acceptable race. They feel undesirable for their own race or other Asian Americans. I think I am close to the healthier stage, introspection. The indi-vidual has accepted one’s role as Asian American, while main-taining a strong sense of ethnic identity.

Together an individual’s status of racial and ethnic identity may infl uence one’s worldview, interpersonal relationships, and their ability to cope with prob-lems, according to Dr. Nadal. For Chinese families, some beliefs and morals are more highly valued. I push myself to do the best in everything. I tried my best to achieve all that I can. Most people believe that we Chi-nese have to be extremely smart or above everyone else. These expectations are defi nitely high even to my standard. I maintain the beliefs and values taught by my family while seeking new things as I am growing up as a Chinese American.

***

Christina Liang is a senior student majoring in Biology at San Di-ego State University. She is also a student of Dr. Ofelia Dirige in Asian Studies 460, “Contemporary Issues in Filipino American Communities” at SDSU.

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“A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND

HAPPY NEW YEAR”

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR IN ONE OF

OUR EVENTS!Dr. Ofelia Dirige, Board Members & Volunteers

Crowning Glory(Continued from page 2)


martialed” by magistrates, lawyers, pros-ecutors, and witnesses all appointed by the accuser, Marcos.

“Now, as President of this country,” he said, “I have a sworn duty: preserve and defend its Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate myself to the service of the Nation. And part of my mandate is making certain that what transpired during Martial Law does not happen again, and ensuring that any-one who so much as attempts to repeat the same offenses is held accountable.”

Did SC violate the Constitution?After citing several questionable rulings

by the Supreme Court, P-Noy delved into

Article 7, Section 15 of the Constitution, which says: “Two months immediately before the next presidential elections and up to the end of his term, a President or Acting President shall not make appoint-ments, except temporary appointments to executive positions when continued vacancies therein will prejudice public service or endanger public safety.”

“But we all know how Mrs. Arroyo insisted on appointing the Chief Justice,” he said. “He was appointed, not two months before the election, but a week after. According to the law and one of their previous decisions, the Supreme Court ruled that the President could not appoint any official two months before an election, except for temporary appoint-ments to the executive position. But they turned their back on their pronouncements when Mrs. Arroyo appointed the Honor-able Chief Justice Renato Corona — in a position that was not in the executive

branch, but of the judiciary. The question now is: Is the Supreme Court in violation of the Constitution?”

Who is the Boss?P-Noy said that he is respectful of the

separation of powers between the judicia-ry and the executive branches. He added that he has no intention of encroaching on their duties, disregarding their rights, or tarnishing anyone’s reputation. However, he said: “But we need to remind ourselves of the bedrock principles of our democ-racy. We in public service owe it all to

P-Noy Strikes(Continued from page 1)

by Atty. Susan V. Perez

Immigration 911

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

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

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Crowning Glory(Continued from page 6)

IMMIGRATION 911 by Atty. Susan Perez | SAN DIEGO, 12/16/2011 -- Many clients erroneously believe that once an I-130 has been approved, a notice of interview and visa will follow soon. The waiting time ranges from one year to twenty years depending on which prefer-ence category they belong. A lot of things could happen during those long years of waiting. This article will deal with the effects of changes in relationships and status on the family or I-130 petition.

Once the I-130 petition has been ap-proved, the approval is considered valid as long as the relationship between the petitioner and beneficiary and their re-spective status continue to exist. Approval of a visa petition is automatically revoked as of the date of approval if the status of either petitioner or beneficiary changes and the change affects of eligibility for the benefit sought. If the petitioner loses his or her status as either a citizen or a legal permanent resident, the visa petition is automatically revoked. If the benefi-ciary changes his or her status, the visa petition may be revoked or preference category changed. An unmarried son or daughter of a legal permanent resident must be unmarried from the filing of the petition until admission as a permanent resident. If the beneficiary marries at any point, the petition is automatically re-voked unless the petitioner has become a U.S. citizen before the marriage occurred. Most of my clients who are in removal proceedings commit the mistake of get-ting married once their immigrant visas were issued. They were supposed to stay single until they entered the United States and became a legal permanent resident.

A married son or daughter of a U.S. citizen who obtains a divorce can have his or her petition upgraded to that of unmar-ried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen. However, divorce for the sole purpose of upgrading a preference category will not support a visa petition. In a case decided by the Board of Immigration Ap-peals in 1989, a daughter of a green card holder sought preference classification as “unmarried daughter”. This classification was denied because the divorce she had obtained was characterized as sham since she continued to live with her spouse in a marital relationship. I’ve met a lot of clients who have been separated from their spouses for a long time, but had not filed any annulment because of the cost involved. I advised them to get an annulment because this would upgrade

their preference category from married to unmarried children of U.S. citizens. This will also save their children from aging out because of the long waiting period for F3 preference category or married son or daughter of U.S. citizens.

Our immigration law allows automatic conversion of preference classification in the following cases: 1) from second pref-erence to immediate relative if the peti-tioning LPR (Legal Permanent Resident) spouse becomes a U.S. citizen, or 2) from immediate relative to first preference if the beneficiary turns 21 and is an unmar-ried son or daughter of U.S. citizen, or 3) from first preference to third preference if the beneficiary marries while the petition by a U.S. citizen parent is pending, or 4) from second preference to first preference if the parent becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen. In the latter case, the law allows unmarried sons and daughters to “opt out” of automatic conversion if such conver-sion would result in longer waiting time. Filipino and Mexican citizens should do this to shorten their waiting time. If an unmarried son or daughter does not want such automatic transfer of preference category, the USCIS will accept a request in the form of a letter signed by the ben-eficiary. If no such request is made, the visa petition will be adjudicated under the first preference, that is, unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen.

An approved I-130 petition does not give the foreign national the right to work and live in the United States. It merely serves as a basis upon which a foreign national can submit an application for permanent resident status either in the United States or abroad. If the prior-ity date is not current and an immigrant visa is not immediately available, and the foreign national is not in possession of a valid nonimmigrant visa, he or she should wait abroad until a visa number becomes available. Otherwise, he or she will jeopardize his or her chance of becoming a legal permanent resident. If the immigrant visa becomes available and the foreign national is in the United States with an expired I-94, USCIS will deny is or her application for adjustment of sta-tus. If the foreign national is abroad but had overstayed his or her non-immigrant visa, the three or ten year bar may apply.

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

Upgrade And Revocation Of Approved Family Petitions

what Corona’s impeachment is all about. It makes sure the Supreme Court acts on behalf of Juan de la Cruz and not of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Corona and Gloria: They are the crown-ing glory of tyranny. Impeaching one and jailing the other:

That will be the crowning glory of P-Noy.



Left Photo. (left-right) Ludy Jimenez, Linda J. Velasco, Millie Maramba, Linda Caragan, Ed Gacuya, Lea Gomez, and Linda V. Aquino. Right Photo. Dagupan City Club of San Diego members and guests singing Christmas songs led by Linda v. Aguino.


Light &Shadows

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

by Zena Sultana Babao

LIGHT & SHADOWS By Zena Sultana Babao | San Diego, 12/16/2011 --

During these diffi cult and trying times, when our world is being turned upside down by all sorts of problems and trouble, we need God. The surest way to commune with God is through songs and prayers of praise.

The Book of Psalms shows us how.Found in the center of the Bible, between

the books of Job and Proverbs, the Book of Psalms is a collection of songs and prayers expressing the heart and soul of humanity. In it, the whole range of human emotions and experiences are expressed. King David and the other psalmists praised and worshipped God, confessed their sins, expressed their doubts and fears, and asked God for help in times of trouble and despair.

They also poured out their true feelings – refl ecting a dynamic, powerful, and life-changing-friendship with God.

If some of us struggle in our prayer life nowadays, it may be because we barely un-derstand how prayer works. Lack of faith is often the reason why some of us think that prayers are not necessary; or our mistaken belief that prayers are not answered.

We must grasp at the outset that if we are not getting the answers to our prayers, the problem lies with us, not with God. We are the ones who need to broaden our understanding of prayer and learn the right way of praying. Isn’t it interesting that the disciples asked Jesus about prayer, and not about other methods of connecting or com-muning with God?

Jesus taught us a system of praying, which is more like a formula. Prayers have fi ve steps, which are: praise, confession, petition, direction, and praise. Praise lets us enter into God’s presence – and when we are there, we then confess our sins, ask for our needs, ask for direction, and end the prayer by giving thanks and praise again.

Some of us just ask and ask, saying, “Lord, give me this, and give me that” without undergoing through the steps, and then we wonder why our prayers are not answered!

In praying, we should be persistent and tenacious. If we don’t get our answer im-mediately, it doesn’t mean that our prayers are denied. They are just delayed! We also need to be specifi c when asking for our needs and wants, even if God knows them before we ask.

I love the Book of Psalms, and when my heart is searching for the right words to

Entering into God’s Presence

The Filipino-American community and the general public are invited to attend this year’s Rizal Day celebration at the Rizal Square in front of Seafood City in National City, California, on Friday, December 30, 2011. A fl oral offering at 10:30 a.m. kicks off the 115th anniversary of the martyrdom of the National Hero of the Philippines, under the auspices of the Council of Philip-pine American Organizations of San Diego County (COPAO).

This will be immediately followed by a short program and refreshments at the COPAO Center located at 832 E Avenue, National City. Leading this year’s program will be COPAO president Merly Ferrer, members of the COPAO Board of Directors, the 2011 COPAO Ambassadors of Goodwill, and other key fi gures from the community.

It will be recalled that 115 years ago, on December 30, 1896, the multi-talented Dr. Jose P. Rizal was condemned to death by

the Spanish authorities in the Philippines. They feared that his two popular books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo would incite a widespread revolt among the restive Filipinos. At dawn on that fateful day, Rizal was executed by a fi ring squad at the Luneta in Manila.

But the spirit of the rebellion was not snuffed. The Filipinos rose up against Spain. Soon thereafter, when the United States of America had taken over the Philippines from Spain, Jose Rizal became the national hero of the Philippines after Governor William Howard Taft of the U.S. colonial govern-ment, suggested that the Philippine Commis-sion adopt a national hero for the country. Rizal was selected from among others heroes of the Philippine Revolution, includ-ing Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, and Emilio Aguinaldo. -- COPAO Public Relations, Tel # 619-421-9415

Public Invited To Celebrate Rizal Day 2011

pray, I often read the songs of praise and worship found there. Just as the Book of Genesis tells us how mankind was cre-ated, fell into sin, and was then promised redemption, many of the psalms discuss the blessings available by asking in the form of prayers.

The Lord our God is our rescuer, an ever-present help in times of trouble. Right now, we are in trouble and our country is in trouble. Neither the government, nor us, can solve all these problems. We have to go to the Giver of Life Himself!

Jesus has said: “Ask and it will be given

Dagupan City Club of San Diego Christmas Party Celebrated at Most Precious Blood Hall 12-3

to you; Seek and you will fi nd; Knock and the door will be opened.” If we pray and believe, God will release upon us an outpouring of blessings that will bring about a spectacular change in our lives, and will release to us His miraculous power.

Here are some great prayer passages from

the Book of Psalms:“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your

name in all the Earth! When I consider the heavens, the work of your fi ngers, the moon

The Dagupan City Club of San Diego held their annual Christmas Party at the Most Precious Blood Hall last Saturday, December 3, 2011. It was a fun-fi lled event with lots of food, gifts and club members and guests. The program started with the opening remarks from Dagupan City Club of San Diego President, Linda Caragan, followed by the invocation from Mellie Acasio, greetings from Linda Aquino, who spearheaded the affair, caroling from members and guests, highlighted by a nativity pageant and talent contest from sons and daughters of club members, and culminated with distribution of gifts, toys, including cash prizes from Dagupan City Club designated Santa Claus. It was indeed a very successful Christmas celebration and a joyous and lasting camaraderie by its club members. --Joe C.Son, [email protected], San Diego, CA


(San Diego/December 14, 2011) – The show that revolutionized musical theatre is coming to SAN DIEGO CIVIC THE-ATRE for eight performances, January 10 – 15, 2012; as a Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation. Tickets are available now as part of a Broad-way/San Diego 2011-1012 35th Anniversary Season Package.

Produced by CATS-Eye, LLC, the national tour of CATS is the only production in North America sanctioned by Andrew Lloyd Webber. With original direction by Trevor Nunn and choreography by Gillian Lynne this is the CATS credited with the British invasion of Broadway. The na-tional tour of CATS is closing in on its 30th anniversary, holding its place as the longest con-tinuously touring Broadway musical in history.

On May 11, 1981, CATS opened at the New London Theatre in the West End. Eight years later it celebrated its

fi rst important milestone: after 3,358 performances CATS became the longest running musical in the history of British theatre. CATS played its fi nal perfor-mance on its 21st birthday, May 11, 2002.

CATS opened on Broadway October

7, 1982 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and continued to live up to its motto “Now and Forever.” On June 19, 1997, CATS became the longest

America’s Favorite Family Musical, Cats, The Only Production In North America Returns To San Diego Civic Theatre, January 10 – 15, 2012!

running musical on Broadway. It ended its 18 year run on September 10, 2000 with 7,485 performances. That record was broken by The Phantom of the Opera on January 9, 2006 when Phantom celebrated its 7,486th curtain.

Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, and with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS won seven 1983 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes.

In October of 1991 CATS became the longest continuously touring show in American theatre history. Five continents, 26 countries, over eight and a half million audience members and almost 30 years later, CATS is still America’s most loved family musical. Celebrating not only its Broadway touring legacy but the birth of the musical spectacular, CATS is still revolutionary and awe inspiring.

Now that it was been seen by millions of audience members worldwide, it is time to celebrate with the whole family the magic, the mystery, the wonder of CATS.

Create a special ‘memory’ one more time.

###WHEN: January 10-15, 2012TICKET PURCHASE: Tickets are

on sale now! Ticket prices vary. For current prices,

please HYPERLINK “http://www.ticket-master.com”www.ticketmaster.com

WHERE: San Diego Civic Theatre, 3rd and B Street, Downtown San Diego

PERFORMANCE TIMES: Tuesday and Wednesday at 7PM; Thursday at 7:30PM; Friday at 7:30PM; Saturday at 2PM & 7:30PM; Sunday at 1PM & 6PM

PARKING: Paid parking available at the Wells Fargo Building, 401 B Street (enter at corner of 4th and B); one block from the Civic Theatre.

WEBSITE: www.BroadwaySD.com


Arts & Culture

ROOM FOR RENT. Quiet Neighborhood in National City. No smoking. No drugs. 619.746.3416

Follow Asian Journal on Twitter @asianjournal

Exhibit Opening & Reception, Sunday, January 22, 2012 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm

The San Diego Chinese Histori-cal Museum is pleased to present a new exhibit, Speak of Good Things: Nianhua and Chinese Folk Tradition

Nianhuaor “New Year Pictures" are essential decorations for the Chinese New Year Festival, the most joyous occasion in the Chinese calendar. Traditionally, peasants carved these auspicious images into woodblocks and printed festive designs to adorn homes and public places all over China. These images became especially popular in the Ming(1368-1644 CE) and QingDy-nasties (1644-1911 CE), but they feature timeless symbols of good fortune, such as chubby babies, folk heroes, and symbolic animals. Dragons and images of guardian deities also serve to ward off bad luck and misfortune. These thrilling pieces of folk not only illustrate a broad array of symbols featured in Chinese art, but they also represent a form of cultural expression shared and understood by elite scholars and illiterate masses alike.

Then and now, these festive im-ages transcend geographic, linguis-tic, and socio-economic barriers to unite people in a common language of cultural symbolism and festivity.

Special thanks to Sally Yu Leung who kindly loaned many pieces from her personal collection for this traveling exhibit originally featured at the UC Berkeley Institute of East Asian Studies Gallery. Ms. Leung specializes in Chinese culture and folk art, often producing and curat-ing cultural exhibits. She has also had many active roles at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum and

Speak of Good Things: Nianhua

and Chinese Folk Tradition




P-Noy Strikes


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

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

Phil - Am Law 101

The safety of our customers, employees and communities is our top priority. We routinely perform pipeline safety tasks, including patrolling, testing, repairing, and replacing pipelines. We meet or exceed all federal and state requirements for safe pipeline operations and maintenance, including ongoing technical training and testing for employees.

Our goal is to identify and resolve potentialproblems before a major problem occurs.

We have implemented a rigorous integritymanagement program in highly populatedareas. We use advanced safety inspectiontools to monitor pipe condition and to verify that the pipelines are being maintained safely. In order to perform these important inspections, the area around our pipelines must be clear of shrubs, trees, fences and other structures. For more information on pipeline safety, visit sdge.com/gassafety.

Pipelines may be locatedanywhere, including under streets and sidewalks. Since you’re an SDG&E customer, there are most likely pipelines underground on your property, sometimes just inches below the surface. Excavation, demolition and other forms of digging are a

major cause of pipeline damage. It’s important to know where they are before you begin any type of digging. Whether you’re planning to build a major development or just landscaping your yard, protect your safety and the safety of those around you by calling Underground Service Alert (USA) at 811, at least two business days before you dig.

Pipeline markers purposely indicate onlythe approximate, not exact, location of buried pipelines. Markers also do not indicate the depth or number of pipelines in the area.

To view maps and identify the approximate locations of major natural gas pipelines in your area, visit the Gas Transmission and High Pressure Distribution Pipeline Interactive Map at sdge.com/pipelinemap or the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) website at www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov/. These maps only indicate the general location of pipelines and should never be used as a substitute for calling Underground Service Alert (USA) at 811 at least two business days before digging.

Please note: The NPMS website takes you to a third partysite, which is not part of sdge.com, and does not displaythe locations of high pressure gas distribution lines.

Pipeline maintenance and your safety

Recognizing and responding to signsof a gas leak

PLAY IT SAFE: Natural gas pipelines can be located anywhere; so it’s important to know what to do in the event of a gas leak emergency. To learn more, visit sdge.com/gassafety. And always remember to call 811 before you dig to identify the location of underground pipelines.

Are majorpipelines locatednear you?

Call 811 beforeyou dig. It’s free.

SAFETY > > >

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Customers play a critical role in recognizing signs of a gas leak. Leaking gas from anappliance, damaged pipeline or gas metercould cause a fire, explosion, property damage or serious bodily injury. Use your senses, along with any of the following signs, to alert you to the presence of a gas leak:

Sight

• Dirt or water being thrown in the air.

• Dead or dying vegetation (in an otherwise moist area) over or near pipeline areas.

• A fire or explosion near a pipeline.

• Exposed pipeline after an earthquake, fire, flood or other disaster.

Sound• An unusual sound, such as hissing, whistling or roaring sound near a pipeline.

Smell

• The distinctive odor* of natural gas.

* Some persons may not be able to smell theodor because they have a diminished senseof smell, olfactory fatigue (normal, temporaryinability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it) or because the odor is being masked or hidden by other odors that are present, such as cooking, damp, musty or chemical odors. In addition, certain conditions in pipe and soil can cause odor fade — the loss of odorant so that it is not detectable by smell.

If you detect signs of a natural gas leak,follow these important steps:

• Remain calm.

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• Don’t turn electrical appliances or lights on or off or use any device that could cause a spark.

• Immediately evacuate the area and from a safe location, call SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343, 24 hours a day, seven days a week; or call 911.

For more information, visit sdge.com/gassafety.

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in National City. No smoking.

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has served on the Commission of the Asian Art Museum. In addition, she has served on the boards of the Society for Asian Art, Chinese

American International School and the Chinese Cultural Foundation.

The exhibit opening will be held in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Extension building at 328 J Street on

Sunday, January 22, 2012 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM. Refreshments will be served at the reception held in the

Chinese garden at 404 Third Av-enue. Admission is $4 and free for members and children under 12.

Please RSVP at 619.338.9888 or at [email protected].

The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum is located at 404 Third Ave-nue in downtown San Diego. For

more information, please visit our website at www.sdchm.org.

Nianhua and Chinese Folk Tradition

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Ordinarily, the United States fol-lows the jus soli principle, or the law of the place. Under jus soli, citizen-ship is determined by the place of birth. So, if the child is born in the United States, even if her parents are aliens (even if undocumented), she is considered a natural-born U.S. citizen. The opposite of jus soli is jus sanguinis, or the right of blood. Under jus sanguinis, which we fol-low in the Philippines, a child born anywhere in the world to a Filipino father or a Filipino mother is consid-ered a natural-born Filipino citizen.

But there are exceptions to jus soli in American jurisprudence. It is still possible for a child to be a natural born U.S. citizen even if she is born in another country, say the Philip-pines. For instance, a child born abroad to two U.S. citizen parents acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under section 301(c) of the Immi-gration and Nationality Act (INA) provided that one of the parents had a residence in the U.S. prior to the child’s birth. Also, a child born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent acquires U.S. citi-zenship at birth under Section 301(g) INA provided the citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. for the time period required by the law applicable at the time of the child’s birth. For birth on or after Novem-ber 14, 1986, a period of five years physical presence, two after the age of fourteen is required. For birth between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986, a period of ten years, five after the age of fourteen are required for physical presence in the U.S. to transmit U.S. citizenship to the child.

What if one of the parents is an American, while the other an alien, and they are not married? How does the child become a natural-born U.S. citizen? Here, the rules become even more complicated. If the American parent is the father, the law requires, aside from physical presence in the United States, that (1) a blood rela-tionship between the applicant and the father is established by clear and convincing evidence (2) the father had the nationality of the United States at the time of the applicant’s birth (3) the father (unless deceased) has agreed in writing to provide financial support for the person until the applicant reaches the age of 18 years, and (4) the child is legitimat-ed, acknowledged, or the paternity is established before the child turns 18. Take note that the father must have the required physical residence in the United States. The length of physical residence is reduced to only one year if the illegitimate parent is the mother.

But how do you report the child’s birth for her to be recognized as a natural-born U.S. citizen? We gathered the following information from the U.S. Embassy website. First, it is important that the birth be reported before the child turns 18. This is done through A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form DS-2029) which is an official record of U.S. citizenship issued to a person under age 18 who was born abroad to United States citizen parent(s) and acquired citizenship at birth. Schools, the Social Security Agency, and other institutions throughout the United States accept it and give it the same credence they give to birth certificates issued by state authori-ties in the United States. Forms can also be obtained from the Embassy (Window D-American Citizen Ser-vices, between 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., Monday through Friday) or downloaded through the U.S. Em-bassy website.

Of course, you need to present supporting documents, such as the child’s birth certificate, evidence of the parent’s U.S. citizenship (U.S. birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, or U.S. passport), parents’ marriage certificate (if child is born in wedlock), evidence of par-ent’s physical presence in the United States, proof of parent’s physical presence in the same location at the approximate of the child’s concep-tion. In many cases, DNA testing may be required.

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

practices immigration law in San Diego and has continuously been a trial and appellate attorney in the Philippines since 1989. He travels between San Diego and Manila. His office address is located at 10717 Camino Ruiz, Suite 131, San Diego, CA 92126. He also has an office in the Philippines at 1240 Apacible Street, Paco, Manila, Philippines 1007, with telephone numbers (632)522-1199 and (632)526-0326. Please call (858)348-7475 or email him at [email protected] for your free consultation. He speaks Tagalog fluently. Articles written in this column are not legal advice but are hypotheticals in-tended as general, non-specific legal information.

American Child Born Abroad

our Boss, the Filipino people. We are here only to serve the people, and to serve our fellow Filipinos with utmost industry and integrity.”

And without naming him but in obvious reference to Corona, P-Noy asked, “Now, if there is one public servant who thinks he does not owe his countrymen — who,

after all, is the wellspring of our power — but a patron who had snuck him into position, can we reasonably expect him to look after the interests of our people?”

He concluded his speech by saying, “Allow me to reiterate what I had men-tioned earlier: the power of the Supreme Court, the President, and Congress all emanate from their single Boss: the people. Therefore, we should only favor and fight for the people’s interests. I swore to preserve and defend the Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man,

and consecrate myself to the service of the Nation. I have no intention of violating my sworn oath; I have no intention of fail-ing the Filipino people.

“It is my obligation — it is everyone’s obligation — to remain focused on a single direction, under one unifying aspi-ration: to serve and uphold the interests of the nation. To all those who stand shoul-der to shoulder with us along this straight and righteous path, have faith: So long as we are on the side of what is right, we will not back down from any fight. And so

long as the people are behind us, we will triumph. Let us not let them down. Thank you.”

Gordian knotNow that P-Noy has crossed the Rubi-

con, the die is cast – there is no turning back. He has to cut the Gordian knot that has kept the country in bondage from cor-ruption and poverty.

In my article, “The Glory of EDSA, the EDSA of Gloria” (March 3, 2010), I wrote: “The elections on May 10 would give the people a grand opportunity to change the government and unravel the Gordian knot of corruption and poverty.


Pagsaluhan Natin (2)

Spiritual Life

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

by Msgr. Fernando G. Gutierrez

Lower Your Nets

Fourth Sunday of Advent

BalintatawRead Virginia Ferrer’s previous articles by visiting our website

at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Virginia H. Ferrer

©2011 Virginia H. Ferrer. All rights reserved.

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

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At kung sa ating mga labi’y may nasilip na ngititagos ang katotohanang may malalim itong sanhiating pagyakap sa isa’t isa’y tila natatangiang pagmamahalan natin ay kanilang nawawari.

Sa pagsasaluhan ito ng ating mga damdaminna siyang sandigan ng lahat ng ating saloobinpagsasamahan nating binuo lalong lumalalimdahil ako at ikaw hindi kayang paghiwalayin.

Ngayo’y lalong tumitibay ang ating pagsasamahandahil ang isa’t isa’y lalo pinahahalagahananumang nasa atin lahat ng ito’y walang saysaywala nang ibang dadaig pa sa ‘ting pagsasaluhan.

Joke of the Week: “Bobby, did you see Santa Claus last night?” “No, Ma’am, I didn’t, it was too dark. But I heard what he said when he knocked his toe against the bed-post.”

Scriptures: First Reading: 2 Samuel 7: 1-5; 8b-12, 14a, 16. Turning around David’s good intention to build a house for him, God pointed out to David that he would instead build for him a dynasty, a house that would last forever. God would do more for the king than he could ever do for Yahweh. Second Reading: Romans 16: 25-27. The author of this letter praises God who alone can make it possible for everyone to live according to the good news that St. Paul proclaims. The mystery that was hidden for ages is now revealed through Jesus Christ.

Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38. The shift of lo-cation, from Judea, center of Jewish life and worship (for the birth of the Baptist) to Nazareth of Galilee (for the Savior’s birth), a province despised by the Jew-ish elite and considered as a secondary outpost in Judaism, amplifi es the great event that is going to occur. The contrasts between the two children: Christ and the Baptist, stress the importance of Jesus’ birth. John’s birth was by natural means: Elizabeth’s sterility was healed; Jesus was born of a virgin. John was fi lled with the Holy Spirit; Jesus was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. John is a prophet; Jesus is the eternal King of Israel. Mary is blessed among women, not because of any radicalism on her part, but because God chose her to be the Mother of the Savior.

Refl ections: Man proposes, but God disposes. How true this was in the case

of King David. He wanted to build a temple, a house for Yahweh, but because David had so much blood in his hands, because he waged so many wars, Yahweh had proposed another house: a royal dynasty that is everlasting. The promise was made through the prophet Nathan.

In a way that none of the kings and prophets of the Old Testament could have realized and imagined, God through another prophet, John the Baptist, renews and fulfi lls this promise as we read it in today’s gospel. “He will be given the throne of David, he will rule over the tribe of Jacob, and his kingdom will have no end.” To fulfi ll this plan God prepared and favored Mary. God fi lled her entire being with his grace. The fullness of grace did not deprive Mary of her free will to refuse or accept God’s invita-tion to be the mother of the promised Messiah. On the contrary, because she is “full of grace,” Mary is completely free to accept or refuse God’s offer. She chose to accept God’s invitation to be the mother of the Messiah even though she did not know how it was going to occur and what her virginal motherhood entailed. Her fullness of grace enabled her to trust completely in what God has

in store for her. She is indeed a woman of deep and profound faith! David wanted to do something great for God. In the end, it was God who did something great for David. This was also realized in Mary when she allowed God to do something great for her: she became the “temple” (Ark of the Covenant) for the “holy Son of God.”

The two mothers met. Mary was carry-ing in her womb the Messiah. Elizabeth bore Jesus’ precursor, John the Baptist. In a sense, each one of us is like Mary who bore the Lord or like Elizabeth who had the precursor. We can manifest to the world the Messiah or announce to one another his presence. This is possible if we are present to the divine in our hearts. As long as we don’t stifl e the divine presence within us, we too can “give birth” to the Messiah or proclaim him to others. Advent is a time to be aware of the divine presence within us.

FYI: Did you know that during the period 1558 to 1829, it was a crime to be a Catholic in England? “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was written in England as a catechism song to secretly instruct young Catholics about the important tenets of their faith. 1st day: true love (God) sent to me (baptized person) a partridge in a pear tree (Jesus Christ). 2nd day: turtle doves: the Old and New Testament. 3rd day: French hens: faith, hope and charity. 4th: calling birds: the four Gospels. 5th day: golden rings: the Pentateuch. 6tth day: geese-a-laying: 6 days of creation. 7th day: swans a-swim-ming: 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit/ seven sacraments. 8th day: maids a-milking: the 8 beatitudes. 9th day: ladies dancing: the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. 10th day: lords a-leaping: the 10 command-ments. 11th day: pipers piping: the 11 disciples. 12th day: drummers drumming: the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed. According to today’s standard of living, those presents cost a fortune: partridge/pear tree $30.00; turtle doves: $50.00; French hens: $20.00; calling birds: $300.00; golden rings: $5,000.00; geese: $200.00; swans: $8,000.00; maids a-milking: $50.00; ladies dancing: $10,000.00; lords a leaping: $10,000.00; pipers: $12,000.00; drummers: $15,000.00. Total: $60,650.00!

Quotation of the Week: “Search yourself and you will fi nd God.” Kurdish Proverb.

A Momentous Meeting!

Saturday December 10, 2011 All of creation belongs together

in the arms of its Creator. The fi nal vision is that not only will all men and women recognise that they are brothers and sisters called to live in unity but all members of God’s cre-ation will come together in complete harmony. Jesus the Christ came to realise that vision. Long before he was born, the prophet Isaiah saw it:

The wolf will live with the lamb,the panther lie down with the kid,calf, lion and fat-stock beast together,with a little boy to lead them.The cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together.The lion will eat hay like the ox.The infant will play over the den of the adder;the baby will put his hand into the viper’s lair.No hurt, no harm will be doneon all my holy mountain,for the country will be full of knowledge of Yahwehas the waters cover the sea.

(Isaiah 11:6-9)

We must keep this vision alive.

Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Psalms from The Psalms, A New Translation ©1963 The Grail (England) published by Collins.

The Peaceable Kingdom

The day was long, the burden I had borne seemed heavier than I could

longer bear.And then it lifted - but I did not

know someone had knelt in prayer; had taken me

to God that very hour, and asked the easing of the load. And He, in

infi nite compassion,had stooped down and taken it from me. We cannot tell how often as we

pray for somebewildered one, hurt and distressed, the answer comes. But many times

those heartsfi nd sudden peace and rest. Someone

had prayed, and Faith, a reaching hand,

took hold of God, and brought Him down that day! So many, many

hearts have need of prayer:

Oh, let us pray!

Power of Prayer

THE FIAT OF THE ETERNAL FATHERsay every morning

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

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


IW Group80433

80433_L2612.2.11

Newsprint85

ed


FPJ, Grace Poe Llamanzares, and Susan Roces

Kapamilya Circle of Giving / TFC Foundation International met with community groups at Ben’s

Ramona Revilla

Nadia Montenegro vs Anna-belle Rama

Entertainment


Showbiz Watcher

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

by Ogie Cruz

“I Did not kill Ram Revilla”-Ramona Revilla-

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Read up and learn more.Not feeling like yourself lately? You are not alone.

Depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress

disorder and other emotional problems affect

one in four adults in our community.

Seek help and feel like yourself again.

It’s time to feel like yourself again.

SHOWBIZ WATCHER By Ogie Cruz | SAN DIEGO, 12/16/2011 --

Habang hindi pa tapos ang kaso tungkol sa pagpatay kay Ram Revilla , isang tao ang pilit na sinasama sa kaso. Eto’y walang

iba kundi ang sexy actress na si Ramona Revilla.

Actually si Ramona Revilla ay taga San Diego California, ikinasal siya kamakailan sa Pilipinas kasabay ng pag-init ng kasong pagpatay kay Ram Revilla.

Marami nga ang nagtatanong sa amin dito, kung ‘yung Ramona Revilla na na-interview namin dito sa Asian Journal at sa aming radio program ay siyang tinutugis ngayon at suspect sa pagpatay sa naturang star ng GMA 7.Hanggang sa gumaling na nga ang girlfriend nito pero patuloy pa rin nakaka-tanggap ng hate messages ang nasabing Ramona Revilla na aming kaibigan dito sa

California.Eto ang sabi sa amin ni Ramona na

ngayon ay nasa Pilipinas pa rin.” After almost 2 months , im still receiving hate messages that I killed Ram Revilla.Pls. Stop! Ram was a very good friend of mine and it hurts to be identifi ed as one of his evil siblings. I am Ramona Revilla, the actress, not the accused Ramona Bautista.Prayin’ these hate messages will end soon. Pls. do your research peeps before sending me hate messages,”Ramona Revilla said.

Magkaiba po ang Ramona Revilla at Ramona Bautista na nasa Turkey ngayon, at sangkot sa pagpatay sa kanyang kap-atid.Kaya yung mga ka-facebook niya,

tigilan nyo na si Ramona padalhan ng mga kasuklam-suklam na messages.Huwag mag-ing bobo at alamin kung sino ang tunay na kasangkot.

Babalik siya rito sa San Diego after the holiday season, siempre kasama ang kan-yang pinakamamahal na asawa na si Eng’r Frederick Farrell.

SUSAN ROCES GUSTONG IPROKLA-MA SI FPJ BILANG 14TH PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES !!! 7 years ago na ng mamayapa ang King of Philippine Mov-ies na si Fernando Poe Jr matapos ito matalo sa dating president na si Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Gusto ni Ms. Susan Roces na maiprokla-ma ang kanyang namayapang asawa bilang presidente kung paano, hindi niya alam.Marami raw na dapat iwasto sa kasaysayan natin lalo na kung sino talaga ang tunay na nanalo bilang president noon.” Its something that has to be set right.I don’t know how they’re going to do it if ever. Ipokrita ako kung sasabihin kong hindi ko hinihintay na maiproklama siya.I wish it for those who supported him wholeheartedly,” paliwanag pa ng Asawa ni FPJ na si Susan Roces.

Maging ang anak nila na si MTRCB Chairman na si Grace Poe Llamanzares ganon din ang gustong mangyari, maituwid ang kasaysayan ng 14th president kaysa na-man daw ang nakasulat ay ang pandaraya ni Arroyo kaya eto naging president.

Tiyak lalo pang iinit ang usapan na ito kapag umuusad na ang kaso na electoral sabotage laban kay GMA.Kayo sang-ayon ba kayo na dapat iproklama si Fernando Poe Jr bilang ika-labing apat na presidente ng Pilipinas, kung mapatunayan na nandaya si Gloria Arroyo?

HINDI ADDICT ANG ANAK KO NA SI RICHARD GUTIERREZ , SABI NI

ANNABELLE RAMA !!!Etoy tungkol sa dinimandang isinampa ni Nadia Montenegro sa piskalya nang una silang magkita ni An-nabelle Rama ‘Child Abuse,Oral Defama-tion, Libel at Falsifi cation of Documents’.

Makikita nyo sa Youtube ang uncut ver-

sion kung paano nagmumura ang nanay ni Ruffa Gutierrez, matapos silang magkita ni Nadia sa piskalya.Mula 4th fl oor talaga hanggang 1st fl oor at hanggang sumakay eto sa kanyang sasakyan,puro mura ang mga sinabi ni Annabelle.

Humingi naman ng sorry kay Fiscal Mo-rales si Annabelle sa kanyang inasal noon

na pagwawala, dahil kung hindi raw siya sisigaw at magwawala tiyak mamatay daw siya at mai-stroke kaya ginawa niya yun.

Nagalit daw siya nang sabihan ni Nadia na kinuha niya ang pera ng mga bata at binugaw pa ang mga ito .Hindi rin totoo na nai-forge niya ang pirma sa kanilang contrat, na hindi raw pirma ni Nandia ito at si An-


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December 14, 2011 to December 15, 2011 (7am to 7pm)

Operation Samahan is a community health center with clinics in National City, Mira Mesa and Rancho Penasquitos.

Founded by a group of Filipino health profes-sionals in a Downtown barbershop in 1973, Operation Samahan strives to build healthier and happier communities through a spirit of collaboration. Operation Samahan provides a variety of services to the uninsured and underin-sured San Diegans including but not limited to: pediatrics, obstetrics, family planning, dental, behavioral health, social services, primary care, and adolescent services.

giveBIG is a 36-hour online networking and giving event organized by The San Diego

Foundation aimed at increasing the visibility of local nonprofi ts like Operation Samahan to potential donors. During this 36-hour period the public will be able to make a donation to Opera-tion Samahan through a customized giveBIG website (givebigsandi-ego.org). The minimum donation is $25 and must be made with a credit card.

In addition to the funds raised online nonprofi ts are also eligible for match funds from the San Diego Foun-dation, which has committed $150,000 in matching funds. The San Diego Foundation will match donations ranging from $25 to $10,000

Operation Samahan Excited to Participate in First Ever giveBIG San Diego Eventon a pro-rated basis based on the total amount raised at the end of the 36-hour period. All gifts collected during the giveBIG event will be processed through BetterGiving, an online resource and community-wide giving program administered by The San Diego Foundation.

Individuals interested in donating to Opera-tion Samahan before or after the giveBIG event

can do so online through the agency BetterGiv-ing Portrait: bit.ly/BetterGivingSamahan.

For more information about Operation Samahan and the giveBIG event contact Micha Suarez at 619-477-2601 x606 or [email protected].

Project Concern International Santa Party a big tradition for South-

bay’s Healthy Borders familiesProject Concern International’s Santa

Party for low-income families in the South Bay has a growing fan base judging from the smiles on children’s faces. The event has moved from the Malcolm X Library to a larger venue, the Jacobs Market Creek Plaza as the party has doubled -- and tripled even -- in size.

Healthy Borders participants, a health out-reach program headed by PCI to serve at-risk populations in South San Diego, are treated to a photo op with Santa and his elves, along with a festive fare.

But forget the North Pole. The secret is the real elves running Santa’s workshop of toys reside in North County. The impres-sive holiday spirt of Rancho Santa Fe school children from schools in the district is always a hit as the toys fi nd their way into the eager

arms of the right boy and girl making for a perfect match.

“We had a total of 163 children, 56 Program Participants (including closed ones / Adults) and 14 Guests (Adults), a total of 233 People. We also had these participating agencies:

* Logan Family Health Center at Logan Heights

* American Red Cross WIC * La Maestra Family Health Center at

National City * Family Health Centers At Lemon

Grove,” according to Annette Gregg, PCI senior director of marketing and communica-tions.

To learn more about PCI’s local and inter-national programs, visit www.pciglobal.org.


Health and Wellness

State Law Triggers Chemical Report-ing, While Congress Lags Behind

Portland, Maine, 12/13/2011 - A report released today identifi es for the fi rst time more than 650 brand name products that contain two hormone-disrupting toxic chemicals. Based on new industry data, the report names plastic toys, such as PLAY-MOBIL play fi gures and Chicco baby rattles, which contain BPA (or bisphenol A), the same toxic chemical already banned in plastic baby bottles and sippy cups. The report revealed another toxic ingredient, known as NPEs, in nearly 300 household paints, as well as several cleaners, wood fi nishes and home maintenance products.

The report, Poison in Paint, Toxics in Toys, summarizes the fi rst chemical use reports submitted by product manufactur-ers under a new state chemical safety law passed in Maine. Similar state laws go into effect in Washington and California next year and are pending in other states, as Congress lags behind in reforming the outdated federal Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.

“In the absence of federal leadership, state policies are the best way to identify and restrict toxic chemicals in products,” said Mike Belliveau, lead report author and executive director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center based in Portland, Maine. “Until Congress acts, we can expect more states and businesses to respond to consumer demand for toxic-free products.”

“As a new mom, I’m relieved to fi nally get some information I can use as a con-sumer to protect the health of my baby,” said Hannah Pingree, the former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives who sponsored the 2008 Maine law known as the Kid Safe Products Act. “But why are these chemicals still used in everyday products, and what else are they keeping us in the dark about?” she asked. “Congress has to fi x our broken federal chemical safety system. It’s the only way to protect the health of all American families.”

Armed with this new chemical use infor-mation, government can make better deci-sions to restrict toxic chemicals and industry leaders can switch to safer substitutes, just like the infant formula makers who recently ended their use of BPA in metal cans. Twen-ty-fi ve manufacturers reported on priority chemical use in consumer products to the Maine Department of Environmental Pro-tection. For a full searchable listing of every brand name product reported to contain BPA or NPEs, visit www.HealthyStuff.org.

Studies have shown that BPA and NPEs (nonylphenol ethoxylates) mimic the sex hormone estrogen. BPA harms brain development, behavior and the prostate gland, among many other adverse health effects. NPEs are highly toxic to aquatic

Shoppers Warned that Hormone-Havoc

Chemicals Lurk in Products

life, degrade into a long-lived chemical that builds up in the food chain, and may harm reproduction and development in humans. Aggregate exposure to BPA and NPEs from all sources threatens the health of children, workers and the environment.

More and more states are enacting laws to protect the health of American families from toxic chemicals in response to the failure of the obsolete federal chemical safety system to protect public health and the environment. In the last decade, 18 states have passed more than 70 laws to ban chemicals in products or create new chemical management programs at the state level. Under Maines Kid Safe Products Act, manufacturers must disclose their use of pri-ority chemicals of high concern in consumer products. The state may then require compa-nies to search for safer substitutes. Priority chemicals in products may be phased out if children are exposed and safer alternatives are available, effective and affordable.

S. 847, The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011, sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-New Jersey), proposes a common sense, science-based overhaul of the 35 year-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which has never been updated. The Safe Chemicals Act requires chemical manu-facturers to provide health information and demonstrate the safety of all chemicals, while requiring immediate action to restrict uses of the worst chemicals based on the best science.

The Environmental Health Strategy Center works in Maine and nationally as a public health organization that promotes human health and safer chemicals in a sustainable economy.

The State Alliance for Federal Reform (SAFER) of chemical policy, or SAFER States, is a coalition of state-based organizations championing solutions to protect public health and communities from toxic chemicals.

The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition represents more than 11 million individuals and includes parents, health professionals, advocates for people with learning and developmental disabilities, reproductive health advocates, environmentalists and businesses from across the nation.

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If the fast-approaching holidays fi ll you with visions of stress and dread rather than of family, friends, and dancing sugarplums, make an early New Year’s resolution: Vow now to simplify your life; don’t wait for January regrets to kick in.

The secret: easy shortcuts that shift the focus away from obligation to what really matters — people.

Holiday stressor: Overschedul-ing

De-stressor: Shortcuts that pre-serve “me” time

It might sound counterintuitive to cram in time for yourself during what’s supposed to be a season of loving your fellow man. But regular time to regroup, without distractions, gives you both energy and calm — making you more fun to be around. Too many people lop self-time off

the list in the busy season.Better:Check in with your body fi rst,

every time. Before answering an invitation or building a gingerbread house, pause to notice whether you feel excited or tense, relaxed or headachy, calm or vaguely nause-ated. If you’re not good to go, don’t go forward. Don’t worry about what others will think.

Take a mid-party break. Step out-side. Look up at the stars. Or fi nd a quiet corner where you can listen to music alone for a few minutes or do some deep breathing, even if it’s just in thebathroom.

Say “yes” to the bigger gatherings. Attending events where you’ll see lots of faces in a short period may help you feel less obligated to attend lots of smaller events over succes-sive evenings. Big parties can be

Holiday Stress: 18 Sanity-Saving Shortcutsexhausting, but then you’re done.

Holiday stressor: ShoppingDe-stressor: Shortcuts for creative

gift givingHave a mile-long gift list that

you can’t seem to pare? Dread the jammed mall? Simplify gift giving with a little creative thinking that

emphasizes people over stuff.Better:Give the gift of experience. Tickets

to a sporting event or arts perfor-mance, a gift card to a restaurant, membership to a zoo or museum. Bonus: One-stop shopping. You can give the same gift to many recipi-ents.

Give uniformly. Find a single gift that works for all the adult relatives

or business associates on your list (a food souvenir from a favorite destination or your hometown, such as pecans or coffee) and another for all the kids (iTunes gift cards are a safe bet).

Give the present of presence. Make coupons for activities you can share



Bill’s Corner

Read Bill Labestre’s previous articles by visiting our website at www.asianjournalusa.com

by Bill Labestre, MBA

Street Poetry

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

by Michael R. Tagudin

©2011 Michael R. Tagudin. All rights reserved. About the Author: Michael R. Tagudin Educated as an engineer in the Philippines, the City of Los Angeles employee hopes his legacy of poems will provoke a dialogue about the human condition. He is donating the proceeds from the book “Crushed Violets” to the “Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Traffi cking (CAST)”, a non-profi t that provides public awareness and advocacy efforts against human traffi cking in the City of Angels. To learn more, visit www.castla.org. To help, call the CAST 24 hour hotline 888.KEY.2.FRE(EDOM) or 888.539.2373. Contact [email protected] for more information about ordering the book “Crushed Violets.”

Tell me…One more time again…Why is this thing really bothering you…It is because you did ask…Ask me…If I were Sun Tzu…If I am him…What exactly would I have done…In accordance to the Lords..Master of the Art of War…This I would have done if I were himI would have it served… just like a dish on a platterExceedingly extravagant as what war is supposed to be…The matter of utmost horror… the words taken lightly by us…Like some token of a movie with its fl ash bang!Flash bang gizmo…to its utmost effect… wars made in Hollywood…But it is not!If I were Sun Tzu I would in all my powers would…Deliver to you and to the rest of mankind…World War III…at your service...really…Cause this rage on the high seas…really…Really is affecting me that much!The arrogance of the dragonAlways and always will be putting to the testus insignifi cant powers of the region to a show downa rumble of some sort… in the disproportion of a david…david versus goliath match up!But really… the dragon is too confi dent!Lessons from Sun Tzu state do not start a warIf the end does not yield victory to your sideIf I was then himI would execute the goose that lays the golden eggLay total waste to the prized victory that the adversary seeks…Make them pay in blood… in sweat… in there utmost… utmost..senselesssacrifi ce… put to a stand still of stalemates!Nothing accomplished or gained ..all hollowed victoriesAnd staggering losses..unacceptable to them than usThis I would do…If I were Sun Tzu…But I am not!Sun TZU anyone?

Dec 11 2011

Sun Tsu, anyone? We love to travel to distant places

but, as we get older we dreaded the long airplane ride. It get so uncomfort-able sitting in a tight place for many hours and worst if you sit close to some annoying passengers.

Anyway, last November we de-cided to revisit Mazatlan in Mexico. At least it’s a short fl ight from San Diego. The place reminded us of our native land with coconut trees and warm ocean water. We stayed at the same place, “Hotel Playa Mazatlan”. My wife found a terrifi c deal on the Web for a seven night stay, round trip air fare and airport shuttle service in Mazatlan.

The main purpose of the trip was to relax and think of nothing else but, what food to eat next day. Every morning we walked on the Malecon (Seaside Promenade) for about one hour. We had our late breakfast at a small family restaurant close to our hotel. We read our books at the ocean view room balcony or watched any beach activities. We enjoyed watching the beautiful Mazatlan sunset.

This time we decided not to join any tour but, checked out good sea-food restaurants. We took the bus to the Mercado and browsed for seasonal fruits. Unlike months of May or June, there are no Manila mangoes this time of the year.

One morning we decided to walk from our hotel to the other end of the Malecon which is about 10 kilometers. We had our good walking shoes and weeks of training in San Diego. It was a nice brisk walk but, we decided to take the bus on our way back to the hotel to avoid feet blisters.

During our last visit in 2010, we

saw the effect of the global fi nancial crisis, H1N1 virus scare and negative news about Mexico. There was a huge decline in numbers of tourists coming in. The cruise ships cancelled their stopovers. The areas where foreign tourists used to shop and eat are almost empty now. Many of the businesses closed shops and some are barely surviving.

There are plenty of unfi nished con-struction sites and vacant commercial properties.

We enjoyed the peaceful and quiet atmosphere at the beach resort but, in some ways we missed those days when the “Golden Zone” was teeming with local and foreign tourists. We used to watch cruise ships going in and out of the harbor. We felt sorry for those who lost their businesses and jobs.

The weather was warm at daytime but cooled down at night. We always felt safe in Mazatlan and the people are quite friendly. There are plenty of cheap buses that can take you around the city.

We like to visit the old downtown area with colorful brick buildings. The streets are clean and the busy market place is just a few blocks away from a quiet residential area. We always go to the Plaza in front of a huge Catholic church and watched local people and tourists walking by.

A few blocks away is Plaza Macha-do which is busy on weekends. Local artists performed for free on weekend nights. There are good eating places around the plaza.

For us, the resort town of Mazatlan is like home away from home. Also, it is not far from San Diego, California.

Mazatlan in November

Despite the ups and downs in her career, Beth Antiporda has been consistent with determination while pursuing the life of a Realtor in San Diego, California.

Over time she built her niche in places in South San Diego like Paradise Hills, Chula Vista, Spring Val-ley, Bonita, and National City. Her marketing is so widespread in local newspapers and through simple fl yers that many people even recognize her in public.

Although her current status is “comfortable,” her beginnings were modest. Starting out as a receptionist at the Cen-tury 21 in 1986, where she obtained her real estate license after just one year. A short 6 years later, she be-came a California Real Estate Broker, and immediately following in 1994, Beth was a full-fl edged Century 21 Golden franchi-see. After two years of maintaining the franchise, Beth decided to close the offi ce and open up her own company. And in 1999, Golden 1 Real Estate Services, Inc was born.

Beth decided to semi-retire for a few years. And when the market softened, she joined Coldwell Banker in 2009 and be-came the SECOND Top Producer in Gross Closed Income, volume sales, and total Units Sold for 2010. After all the hustle and bustle of working with that company, she then opted to re-establish GOLDEN 1 because she wanted to return to her specialty of working with her clients’ one on one. It was a smart move because most of her business comes from previous cli-ents and referrals. Beth has also Property Management Business with partner; Rose Blechinger.

Beth credits her family as the driving force in her life during her humble begin-nings, and it is with family that most of Beth’s current news lies.

Her daughter Corie is happily married to Retired U.S. Navy Chief Derick Aguinal-do, and they are celebrating their 2nd year of marriage. And just a few weeks ago, they announced that Corie is pregnant! She is already in her 2nd trimester. And what a coincidence because Corie’s due date is expected to be on the same date as her birthday in May!

Later in the same week that Beth re-ceived the good news of her future grand-child, she received additional great news happening 4,000 miles away in New York. Her son Jon Reedyk also announced that he was getting married to his girlfriend of 2 years, Charito “Chat” Remetir on November 16th at the Main City Hall near the Brooklyn Bridge. Jon works in real es-tate as a licensed salesperson in New York as well as a licensed life insurance agent.

With all the good news surrounding her, and the holiday season in full effect, Beth Antiporda has her eyes set on 2012. In the fi rst quarter of 2012, she will be partici-pating in medical missions in Philippines with her local San Diego group: Paradise Valley International Medical Mission. And in the future, when she retires, she sees herself becoming a Ground Worker for a Gawad Kalinga Village. This is the work she has committed herself to because of her faith and her spiritual jour-ney. She believes that God has given her many blessings in her life and that it is her duty to serve the poorest of the poor.

Who knows what else 2012 has in store, but stay tuned and look out for more news from Beth Antiporda!

By Derick Aguinaldo & Jon Reedyk,

2011

***

Dear Friends,

For as long as I can remember, a name synonymous with real estate in South Bay San Diego has been that of Beth Antiporda. Of course I would know this because not only is she one of the most

highly respected agents in San Diego, not only is she a broker-associate at Coldwell Banker and the broker/owner of Golden 1 Real Estate Services Inc., she is also my mother. And that gives me a unique perspective on knowing who Beth really

is beyond all the layers of professionalism… beyond the talk of business… and beyond the formality of a working relationship.

It would be important to note that she is far more than just a real estate profes-sional. That is just one of the many roles she plays. She is also a mother, a sis-ter, a friend, and confi dant. She is also a graduate of PSI Seminars, The Filipino

Cursillo Movement, a Gawad Kalinga advocate, and is involved with the Para-dise Valley International Medical Mission where she aids in the treatment of the sick. She is active in her community and dedi-cates a great deal of her time in apostolic work and service to her fellow men.

Needless to say, the journey to get to where she is now wasn’t easy. There were some key moments that had signifi cant in-fl uence in her becoming the type of person she is today - the decision to pick up and move her life from the Philippines to the US, having to raise two children on her own, the challenges of starting of a real estate company in the US, and the passing of her mother in 2007 whom she loved very dearly. And although she has been living independently for quite some time now, she has faith that should God see it fi t to bring someone special into her life, it will happen according to His will. Despite all the obstacles and hardships, she never loses focus on her goals. She never lacks the determination to achieve what she set out to accomplish. And she believes whole-heartedly that her faith and her relationship with God will always carry her through. I couldn’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve heard her talk about how God’s guidance and constant prayer have helped her in diffi cult times.

Many of those who know Beth also know that she can be counted on to have a camera in hand taking photos of everyone, in every event and doing her best to fi t as many people as she can into a single shot. From birthdays and picnics to not-so-fes-tive occasions, it’s a common sight to see her walking around with her camera. And now that it’s Christmas time again, you can rest assured that at Christmas parties, during gift exchanges, dinner events, and any other get-together, she will have her camera ready to capture the moment.

We have a new addition to our family. My older sister got married late last year to Derick Aguinaldo. My brother-in-law just recently retired in the military as a Navy Chief. They are both involved with Gawad Kalinga and We Are One Filipino. They are going to the Philippines in April to do the Gawad Kalinga Bayani Chal-lenge in Cebu. My sister is also the up-coming Secretary for the Filipino Ameri-can Community Empowerment (FACE). They live in Downtown San Diego with their two dogs: Blue and Lucco.

As for me, I have been living in New York for the last two years. It was a re-ally big change for me. Especially being away from my family. I followed in my mom's footsteps as a real estate profes-sional. I am also involved in Gawad Kalinga, New York. Needless to say, our family are GK Advocates!

And now with warmth and love in our hearts, we as a family extend to you this holiday season, a sincere and heart-felt greeting that you have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a prosperous and fruit-ful NEW YEAR. Wherever you may be in the world, near or far, know that Beth, Corie, Derick, and Jon hold a special place in our hearts for you and offer a prayer for your happiness, health, and well-being.

Have a Blessed Holiday!

By; Anthony 'Jon' Reedyk 2010

Realtor Beth Antiporda greets San Diego’s Fil-Am community “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”


By Jonathan H. Adler and Mi-chael F. Cannon

Part !!: (This article was sent

through e-mail by Manny Cabildo of San Diego for the benefi t of Asian Journal readers on the update of the controversial medicare changes.)

The health law’s authors in Con-gress deliberately chose to pass the bill with known imperfections and to use the reconciliation process to make only limited amendments. Writing a perfect bill would have required too many votes and risked failure. If what they passed was an imperfect bill with no premium as-sistance in federal exchanges, then that is what Congress intended.

And there are plausible reasons why congress may have wanted to limit assistance to staterun exchang-es-including encouraging states to create exchangesso that the federal government doesn’t have the burden.

Supporters of Obamacare, includ-ing George Washington University’s Sarah Rosenbaum, have argued that nobody will have standing to chal-lenge the IRS rule in court. That’s not the case.

Under the law, employer’s must pay penalties when their employ-ees receive premium assistance-a measure designed to encourage em-ployers to keep offering coverage. Any wmployer whose employees receive assistance through a federal exchange would therefore suffer harm from IRS rule and would have standing to challenge these illegal tax credits and outlays.

Public- interest lawyers could fi le suit as soon as the IRS rule becomes fi nal and they fi nd an employer that will be harmed. Any fi rm that doesn’t offer health benefi ts and that employs lots of full-time, low skilled, young workers in a statethat fails to create an exchange should suffi ce. A successful challenge

would block the law’s employer masndate in that state.

In addition, under the Congres-sional Review Act, a simple (fi li-buster-proof) majority vote in each chamber of Congress could send to President Obama’s desk a resolution blocking this IRS rule. Even if Mr. Obama vetoed the resolution (tak-ing personal responsibility for this assault on the rule of law), a future president could still rescind the rule. Quite perilous situation in which to leave the president’s signature ac-complishments.

Like the rest of the nation, the Obama administration wants a dif-ferent health-care law than the one we got. But that doesn’t give it the authority to rewrite the law fi at.

(Mr. adler is professor of law and director of the Center for Business Law and Regulation at Case Western Reserve University, Mr. Cannon is director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute.)

Joe [email protected] Diego, CA


Another Obamacare Glitch

LifestyleRead J’Son’s previous articles by visiting our website at

www.asianjournalusa.com

by Joe Son

Holiday Stress(Continued from page 15)with an older or younger relative: shopping or fi shing outings, regu-lar ice cream parlor visits, time to read together or play cards together. Young parents might like babysitting favors. Older adults might welcome drives to the country.

Give a gift that keeps giving. Of-the-month clubs keep sending fl owers, fruit, cheese, beer, spices, books, or almost anything you can think of. (Type of the month club into a search engine.) You buy once, get thanked for a year.

Holiday stressor: Entertaining

Ay em sori!

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

journalusa.com

Magpustahan tayo mga kaibiganSa barberya’t umpukan ‘yan ang hamunanAng kadalasan pa’y mitsa ng sapukanSa puntong nagtatalo’y magkapikunan.

Palibhasa’y may kanya-kanyang kat’wiran ‘Di makapapayag isa’y masapawanNanggagalaiti na’y di pa maglubayMaigiit lamang ang kaunting alam.

Ay! Si Senadora’y dumakdak na namanHindi iniisip ang pulso ng bayanMarami nang inip sa kahihinatnanNg babaeng ngayo’y tampok ng usapan.

Dapat raw bigyan ng kaunting respetoPagka’t ang akusado’y dating panguloMay nagawa ring kabutihan sa taoKahit na kaunti’y mabigyang-kredito.

Di ba’t nagawang patalsikin si ErapNa ang sabi’y paborito ng mahirapKahit saang dako jueteng ay laganapKaya sa pagkapangulo’y pinalayas.

Nguni’t sa isang banda’y nakalulungkotWala nang naaawa’t nanghihilakbotSa abang kalagayang kalunus-lunosBali ang leeg pati na ang gulugod.

Ang pulso ng baya’y di karapat-dapatHiling na house arrest dito’y ipaunlakSpecial treatment… iyan ang maliwanagKung hindi ipapataw ang tamang batas.

H’wag nang palawigin ang hospital arrestPagka’t diumano’y di grabe ang sakitKung nagsasakit-sakita’t humihiritSa government hospital doon ipiit.

Ang malamang ay sa ospital magpaskoIyan ang naging desisyon ng husgadoAng hinaing ginigipit ng gobyernoKaya sa supreme court na naman tatakbo.

Baka may ibig na ipusta ang itlogTiyak papaboran hiling sa supreme courtLaging panalo ang lahat ng idulogDahil tunay kayang sila’y na prostitute?

ni Audele

Na prostitute niya lahat ng ahensyaAng lahi ni Lolong lubhang dumami paNoo’y sa Senado lamang at KamaraMga buwayang kampon ay naglipana. Bumaba ang moral pati ekonomiyaTaliwas sa pahayag ng pekeng reynaAnya’y umunlad ang bayang sinisintaBagkus nagsabula ang isang dekada. Sa isang dekada na sinamantalaBayan Pilipinas ngayo’y nagdurusaSakit ng kaloobang ipinamanaAy parang ‘di makakayanang mabata. Mababata pa ba itong paghihirapNitong sambayanang hikahos na lahatAng kinikita’y bahagya nang sumapatPagtaas ng bilihi’y hindi maampat? Mayaman at dukha’y lumayo ang agwatAng maririwasa ay lalong umunladSilang nakararaming sa yama’y salat'Di makaagapay pagka’t kapus-palad. Let the little girl sleep iyan ang gimmickModus operanding iligaw ang isipNahihintakutan sa anya ay death threatIsang kathang-isip, isang panaginip. Sa buhay niya’y sino ang magtatangkaKung ngayon gagawi’y halatang-halataAng pagbibintangan ay pihung-piho naKundi gobyerno ngayon, wala nang iba. Ay em sori…. paborito mong sloganHello Garci, puwede mo pang tawaganKorte Suprema, big brother mong nariyanNa magbabasbas ng iyong kalayaan. Ay em sori… tayo ay magpasens’yahanDi ko matiis manahimik na lamangAng kutyain ka’y labag sa gintong aralSana’y gumaling ka diyan sa Veterans. Ika-5 ng Disyembre, 2011

De-stressor: Shortcuts that spread the burden

Do you dread playing hostess, doing all that cooking, making sure your house looks “perfect,” worry-ing about having enough space for guest to sit or mingle? Go easy on yourself with entertaining ideas that focus on relaxation and good cheer.

Better:Host a cookie exchange instead

of a big party. Invite eight or ten friends to each bring that many dozen cookies to share. You see your pals without having to fuss over a sit-down dinner — and you get a bil-lion cookies by only having to bake

(or, pssst, buy) one recipe.Spread cheer to others. As a fam-

ily, fi nd a volunteer outlet that needs help and do something together: Work in a soup kitchen, deliver meals, wrap gifts, shop for needy children.

Revive the potluck. Ask everyone to bring a holiday favorite. You sup-ply the wine, cocoa, and gingerbread men.

Eat out. Make having a festive din-ner at a restaurant your new holiday-season tradition — no cleanup!


Pilot Project

P-Noy Strikes(Continued from page 10)


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EAD PEOPLE TO KNOW CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOUR

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

L

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A

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OUR MISSION

Fantasy Land, a novel

by Simeon G. Silverio Jr.Read the series by Sim Silverio on www.asianjournalusa.

com

Fantasy Land, Chapter 15

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

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

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

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

On the Hail Mary beads say:

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

In conclusion say three times:

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

The Hour of Great Mercy

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

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

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

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

Kowalska

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

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

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

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

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

By Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.Publisher & Editor

Asian Journal San DiegoThe Original and First Asian Journal in America

President Lino Majeras stood fi rm in his com-mitment in getting rid

of graft and corruption in the government of Fantasy Land. He made it clear that he would not tolerate corruption and would prosecute violators, even if they were his relatives or friends.

There was a new sheriff in town as new, strict rules prevailed. Occasion-ally, he would have to punish some erring relatives or friends just to set an example and make sure every-one was aware he was serious in his anti-corruption campaign. He stood in contrast to the previous presidents of Fantasy Land who had turned a blind eye on, and even tolerated, corruption to cover their misdeeds. For who would squeal on one’s sins when he himself was a sinner? There would not be any accusers if everyone had tainted blood in their hands, skeletons in their closets. He who was without sin would cast the fi rst stone, and if everyone were a sinner, then no one would cast it. The malicious practice had worked ever since and could have worked forever if not for President Majeras.

There were times when President Majeras had to tangle with his erring supporters, especially some senators and congressmen whose votes in the legislature were keys to the success of his programs. Since he did not have complete control of the government, Majeras learned to be political at times, turning a blind eye on minor infrac-tions. Win some, lose some, was his philosophy, although he wished Fantasy Land’s Press, the so-called Fourth Estate, was less corrupt. He hoped its members would be able to expose corruption, which was their avowed moral duty in the fi rst place. If the press would expose corruption, including that of his supporters, Majeras would remain clean and his allies would not feel he was prosecuting them. But then again, the press was another sector in the society riddled with graft. Its underpaid journalists normally took bribes from vested interests. The media publishers and owners had their own selfi sh agendas to pursue, often at the expense of truth.

Regardless, President Majeras seemed to be on the right track. He was not enriching himself, not taking advantage of his power to favor his friends. He seemed prepared with exiting the offi ce in the same manner he had entered it: with no ill-gotten gains.

THANKS TO THEIR ENORMOUS WEALTH, Max and Jennifer Dull-esco had no such problem. They were freely spending their own money for the welfare of the people, and no one could question their every move. After six months, their infrastructures for development like health clinics, school buildings, gymnasiums, social halls and sports complexes, as well as light industries for the livelihood of the town residents, were in place. One could clearly see their effects later.

School children would use the Dull-escos’ concrete school buildings instead of the dilapidated ones the government provided. There were no more leaky roofs during rainy season or pupils holding classes under the shade of trees due to the intense heat during summer. The children no longer missed meals, as the Dullescos provided healthy break-fasts, lunch and after school dinners. By the time they went late in the afternoon, they were no longer hungry, could do their homework and eventually go to sleep at peace. One could see the effects of the program on their health. Virtually everyone gained weight, with clear skin, sharp senses and intelligent minds.

During their physical education classes, the children engaged in sports activities. Boys and girls alike would play basketball in the concrete and covered basketball courts built by the Dullescos. They would play baseball in baseball diamonds, test their running and jumping skills in track ovals, swim in pools, play soccer in soccer fi elds

and play and compete in other sports

not otherwise available. All this was thanks to the sports facilities and equip-ments provided by the Dullescos.

In addition, the Dullesco’s modern libraries in each barrio were fi lled with books and computers with which the students could absorb knowledge not

available before. To feed their spirits, musical instruments, again provided by the Dullescos, enabled them to play as members of orchestras and marching bands.

Pretty soon, the Dullescos spon-sored athletic competitions all over the province. They provided uniforms to the athletes and subsidized the tourna-ments. The children from the pilot project town won all the competitions in basketball, baseball, soccer, track and fi eld and swimming events. It was as if they were of a different breed, belong-ing to a much superior race, yet they, and their competitors, were all from the same province.

And then there were the march-ing bands and symphony orchestras. Composed of the students from the pilot project town, they marched in perfect formations as they played beautiful music. Their symphony orchestras were mesmerizing. They competed against each other, for they were no other

marching bands and orchestras outside of their town.

In the end, the positive effects of the Dullescos’ generosity were very evident. The pilot project town was in stark contrast from the others around it, where people lived in squalors of

poverty. The pilot project town was like a foreign land within Fantasy Land. It was like an American military base, with all its affl uence and modern facili-ties, located in the middle of a destitute area. After only a year, the students in the town were much more educated and healthier. Their test scores surpassed their peers throughout the country. Their parents were also healthier and happier, as they had work to do and earned money on the livelihood projects the Dullescos established. They were no longer idle and unproductive members of the society; they contributed to the development of the country.

Once they saw the town’s progress, the eyes of people all over Fantasy Land were opened. They realized that if only the government’s money were properly used on public projects, the people would receive permanent ben-efi ts. The Dullescos showed them what they could enjoy if only they voted for those who would not use govern-ment resources on themselves but on the populace. The people realized the folly of electing incompetent people in exchange for money, for in the long run they would be the ones at the losing end. They learned not to succumb to their emotions by electing popular but corrupt and unqualifi ed movie stars to government positions, for this would be like handing them the keys to the gov-ernment coffers to help themselves with the government money, their money. They knew that next time, they had to be serious in electing the right people, for the people’s fate and future, espe-cially those of their children, would be at stake. – AJ

(To be continued)

(Editor’s Note: To read the previous and weekly installments of this series, visit www.asianjournalusa.com. Once there, click the “Editorials” heading, then click “Fantasy Land by Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.” title to see the list of all previous chapters of the series. Click the title of the chapter you want to read and the article will appear.)

nabelle raw ang pumirma.Ang hindi pa niya matanggap ay ay hina-

hamon niya ang kanyang anak na si Richard Gutierrez na magpa-drug test. Hindi raw addict ang kanyang anak, dahil ito raw ang qualifi cation para maging host si Richard sa Survivor ng GMA 7,maging physical fi t ayon na rin sa medical record nito.

Cover pa raw si Richard ng Health Magazine, at talaga raw fi t at napakaganda ng katawan nito.Hindi rin daw totoo na si Richard ang nagte-text kay Nadia ng mga hindi magagandang salita, dipensa pa ni An-nabelle Rama.

At ang pinakamatindi, tapos na raw ang laban dahil isang gambling lord ang bucker ni Nadia, isang lawyer ang asawa nito at asst. Prosecutor daw.”Talo na ako sa kanila, ilalabas ko pa kung sino yan,”siwalat ni An-nabelle Rama.Saan kaya makakarating ang dimandahang ito nina Annabelle at Nadia?

ABS CBN FOUNDATION INTERNA-TIONAL NAKIPAG-MEET SA MGA DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION SA SAN DIEGO!!! Last Saturday na meet namin ang mga taga ABS-CBN Foundation Interna-tional na sina Mr. Robbie Fabian, Ms. Letty Quiza at Ms Lucia Alba sa Ben’s Restaurant kasama ang ibat-ibang organization dito sa San Diego.Etoy para sa Adopt Your Hometown School Campaign ng naturang foundation o Kapamilya Circle of Giving.

Nagkwento ang mga kinatawanan ng bawat organization,kung paano ito nabuo,success,lesson at mga problems na na-meet ng bawat organization.

$1500 ang kailangan para makapag-adopt ng school sa isang taon at dodoblehin pa ito ng ABS kapag kumuha sila.Dalawang or-ganizations ang nag-pledge na mag-a-adopt sila ng school, yung iba, kailangan pang disisyunan ng ibang pang kamiembro nila.

Basta kami, saludo kami sa proyekto ito ng ABS-CBN Foundation International.

What the country needs is an “Alex-ander” who will not be deterred by the overwhelming power of those who will defend the status quo in a land ruled too long by plutocrats and kleptocrats. What the people need is a leader who is guided by the spirit of EDSA 1 to lead a peaceful “people power” revolution to free them from the yoke of poverty. That leader would emerge if the people would fl ex their collective strength at the polls on May 10 to elect the candidate who will fulfi ll the promises of EDSA 1 and not a candidate who will make promises to fulfi ll his personal ambitions.”

MandateThe people did fl ex their collective

strength and overwhelmingly voted for P-Noy whose battle cry, “Walang korap, walang mahirap” (No corruption, no poverty), resonated well with the people. They gave him the mandate to fi ght cor-ruption.

Now that P-Noy made it crystal clear to the Supreme Court that reforms are need-ed in the Judiciary, it is incumbent upon the magistrates, particularly the Chief Justice, to initiate reforms from within. The fact that Corona’s net approval rating is zero manifests the people’s mistrust and disapproval of his performance. The person in the position of Chief Justice should – nay, must – be beyond reproach. The people deserve no less.

But if Corona continues to do things that are construed as betrayal of public trust, then he has to answer to the people.

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

Mga Tulang Tagalog

by Romeo Nicolas

Holiday Stress(Continued from page 17)

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

by Rudy D. Liporada

Pusoy, A Russian Poker -- Chapter 22

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Amuse one another. Take turns reading greeting cards and remi-niscing about the senders. Have a tree-trimming party. Sing along to corny holiday songs on the radio. Buy a big bowl of nuts in the shell and hand out nutcrackers.

Holiday stressor: DecoratingDe-stressor: Shortcuts that go

greenAll those lights, all that razzle-daz-

zle — it takes effort, not to mention energy and resources. Downshift-ing to a more ecologically friendly holiday is a simpler way to get a simpler look.

Better:Skip the lights in front of the

house, and even the lights on the tree. Fewer watts to burn, fewer strings for you to get tangled in.

Decorate with natural elements. Fill bowls with pinecones. Let the kids stud oranges with whole cloves. Bring red berry branches and pine boughs indoors (or snip boughs from the bottom of the tree). Bonus: No hauling boxes of decorations down from the attic. When the season ends, you can just pitch everything on the compost pile.

Wrap gifts in paper you already have on hand. Ordinary newsprint looks festive tied with string in red or silver. No newsprint in this digital age? Try recycling some of those holiday catalog pages for smaller gifts.

Holiday stressor: Following tradition

De-stressor: Shortcuts that make new memories

At the root of a lot of holiday stress: doing certain things, in a certain way, in the name of tradition. Maybe you want to please aging parents or carry on in their memory. Or maybe your focus is on creating the same traditions, so your kids will know them, too. Either way, the effort often creates more stress (for you) than bliss.

Better:Shift your focus. Decide to make

happy memories, rather than con-tinue traditions for tradition’s sake. The more relaxed an event, the more likely everyone will want to keep it up, making future holidays easier, too.

Don’t assume, ask. Find out which parts of the holiday truly mean the most to your loved ones. You might be surprised by what others really like. Caroling? A special feast? Driving around to look at the lights and decorations? Keep one or two of those traditions — period — and do them up.

Or just decide to wing it this year. Do what feels festive in the moment, plan meals on the fl y, invite guests on the spur of the moment. Often whims and accidents are the way beloved new traditions are born.

http://refreshingnews9.blogspot.com/2011/12/holiday-stress-18-sani-ty-saving.html?m=1

Kailan lamang ay binitay ang kabayan nating mahal,Ng dahil sa DROGANG bawal na sa Tsina’y nahulihan.Ang hatol na KAMATAYAN, ‘di nagbago o gumaan,Ngayong siya’y papauwi, papauwi na syang BANGKAY.

Pero itong tatlong INTSIK, nakulong sa Paranaque,Pinalaya nitong TANOD, anong drama ba ‘tong…. PWE!!!!DROGA rin ang syang dahilan, bakit ganon ang kostumbre,Sa ibang bansa, pinapatay at sa ‘PINAS, lumilibre.

Baguhin ang ating ating batas, maling-mali tayo BAYAN,Kung INTSIK ang nasasangkot sa DROGA na sadyang bawal.Kapag PINOY ang sa droga sa “China land” nahulihan,Bitay ang syang pinapataw, satin dapat mag “SWAP” na lang.

Kung sakaling ‘di pumayag, BITAY na rin ang igawad,,O kahit na sino pa syang sa PINAS ay namumugad.Bilang GANTI at parusa, tabla-tabla na lang lakad,Patunay lang kapag DROGA, DEDBOL silang walang ligtas.

Mga GUWARDYA ng kulungan kapag sangkot sa pagtakas,Ikukulong silang lahat, parusa sa mga HUDAS.Habang tuloy sa pagtugis sa INTSIK na nag-Satanas,Kung madakip, bitayin na, wala na ang usap-usap.

Kapag batas ay malupit, marami ang matatakotNgunit kapag ito’y BIRO, ‘daming HUDAS ang sisipot.Ang masama’y LUMOLOBO, ‘pag lumaon ay puputok,Kapos po ang ating SELDA’T itong KUWARTA’Y, nakurakot.

Kuro-kuro ni:Romeo NicolasBocaue, Bulacan12/12/2011

‘Pinas, Droga At Ang Tsina

Pusoy, A Russian Poker by Rudy D. Lipo-rada | Chapter 22

Long, long ago even before the ancestors were born and the mountains were younger, there lived a chief called Chico. He is the greatest of all the chiefs in the mountains. His good looks enamored him to many wives. The tattoos that told the countless wars he won snaked over his huge chest and arms.

It used to be that the Igorots could not sprout rice or any crops because the moun-tains were steep and no fl at lands could be found. The forests did not also bear enough fruits. There were no boars, birds, nor deer.

Chico asked the anito gods what they should do, saying, “What should we do so we do not go hungry?”

The anitos, through voices through the clouds, replied “Tell your people to carve the mountains into payyews. These will be the fi elds where you could sprout rice and other plants.”

“But how could we make payyews when the mountains are steep,” Chico wondered.

“Carve the faces of the mountains into fl at lands retained by walls of stones.”

“But, how…?”“It starts with the fi rst stone from below the

mountains.”Though reluctant but obedient, Chico

complied, saying, “if it is your wish, then I will follow.”

So, Chico called the other chiefs of all the villagers for a gimong and told them what the anitos have ordered them to do.

Invariably, the chiefs and other villagers resisted, saying “That is impossible. There is no way we could carve these mountains into payyews.” Even his sons called Chico foolish.

In his desire, however, to save his people and wanting to fulfi ll his promise to the anitos, Chico started, alone, to carve the mountains. He carried upon his shoulder a stone and then another from below the river up the mountains. After several days, stone after stone, slab after slab, a wall rose to as high as a tree.

After several more moons, Chico carried more stones up the mountains and more walls rose to as high as trees.

Seeing the walls and seeing the persistence of their father, his sons changed their hearts and began to help him. Soon, many more

Chicowalls fi lled the faces of the mountains. Soon, there were enough walls which retained a fl at land for Chico’s family. They started to plow the land and were able to sprout rice from the fi eld.

Seeing Chico’s harvest, the other chiefs stopped calling him foolish. They enjoined their tribes to help carve the mountains. Soon, terrace upon terrace rose like ladders with which one could climb to the skies. Soon, fl at lands were all over the faces of the mountains which sprouted golden bushels of rice that sparkled with the gleaming sun.

Birds came for the scraps of grain and they carried, too, seeds for trees to grow to make the forest thick. Fruits dangled from every branch and boars and deer became aplenty. The river also teemed with fi shes silver and gold.

And the people, too, made tapoy wine from their harvested rice and drank to celebrate their blessings.

Chico thanked no end the anitos who had advised him well on what he should do to save his people. He even raised a cup of tapoy in their honor. “Thank you, great anitos for all your blessings.”

After so many, many moons, however, because there was so much food, the people became lazy. Why should they work when food were just there to be picked? Soon, they

did not do anything else but drink tapoy the whole day and night of their lives.

They drank until the anitos got worried.They got worried that they called on Chico.“Warn your people,” the anitos told Chico.

“They have to stop drinking and work. Oth-erwise, someday, all your blessings we will get back.”

Chico promised, “I will do as you say.”Chico, however, was drunk when he made

the promise. He forgot his promise. He even forgot that the anitos spoke to him. He did not warn the people and, with them, just kept on drinking tapoy and being lazy day and night.

The anitos got very angry and decided to punish the people. They sent their forces to sow scourge all over the mountains. Thunder roared and lightning zoomed to set trees ablaze. Charred, the trees tumbled to the ground with all their fruits scattering to rot. The boars and deer fl ed into more friendly forests far, far away.

Torrents of rain pounded with snorting winds. Rice stalks, drenched, waved goodbye as they drowned in the tempest.

Then the sun scorched the earth with all its might that the earth cracked dry. So angered was the sun that it even dried the river and all the fi sh wiggled themselves to their last gasps.

Swiftly, the once endowed land turned into a barren misery.

With all the hunger and thirst, Chico re-membered the anitos. Seeing the misery of the people, he pleaded with the gods. “Oh! Great ones, please forgive us from our transgres-sions and show us the way to make amends.”

But no voices from the anitos through the clouds were ever heard again.

Realizing that all was his fault, Chico cried and cried. He cried every day and every night. He never ceased to cry until he gasped his last.

And even in his grave, he cried.His crying fi nally melted the hearts of the

anitos. They felt his remorse and his love for his people that sent him to forever cry.

One day, from the grave of Chico, a tear sprang from beneath the earth. The tear was followed by more tears which turned into a spring. The spring turned into a stream that soon rumbled into a river – the Great Chico River.

Once again, the land became fertile. The forests became thick with fruits and the boars and deer came back.

And so it was that Chico became the Great Crying Anito – the source of life, the giver of life, the creator of life on the face of the earth.

To be continued…

(Publisher’s Note: Pusoy is Rudy D. Liporada’s second novel and third book being serialized in Asian Journal. One can get a copy of the book through Amazon.com – A Russian Poker - or by calling the author at 858-722-1465.)

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*Juris Doctor law degree, University of San Diego (1985),Diploma; Oxford Institute on International and Comparative Law (USD), Oxford, England (1984);Bachelor Degree, University of Southern California (1983);Montgomery High School, San Diego (1979)

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

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Josh: Kumusta ang assignment?Ricardo: Masama. Wala akong nasagutan.

Blank paper ang ipinasa ko.Josh: Naku, ako rin! Paano 'yan? Baka

isipin nila, nagkopyahan tayo?! ***

Toto: Pangarap ko, kumita ng P250,000 monthly gaya ni daddy!

Juvy: Wow! Ganyan kalaki ang kinikita ng daddy mo?

Toto: Hindi! 'Yan din ang pangarap niya!***

Dok: May taning na ang buhay mo.Juan: Wala na bang pag-asa? Ano po ba

ang dapat kong gawin?Dok: Mag-asawa ka na lang ng pangit at

bungangera.Juan: Bakit, gagaling po ba ako ru'n?Dok: Hindi, pero mas gugustuhin mo

pang mamatay kesa mabuhay! ***

Lito: Pare, ano ba ang kaibahan ng H2O sa CO2?

Juan: Diyos ko naman! Di mo ba alam 'yun?!

Ang H2O ay water! At ang CO2... cold water.

***Gustong malaman ng magkaibigan kung

may basketbolan sa langit.Nagkasundo sila na kung sino ang unang

mamatay ay babalik upangsabihin kung may basketbol sa langit.Naunang namatay si Dado.Isang gabi, may narinig na boses si Rodel

na parang kay Dado."Ikaw ba 'yan, Dado?" usisa ni Rodel."Oo naman!" tugon ni Dado."Parang hindi totoo!" bulalas ni

Rodel."O,ano, meron bang basketbol sa langit?"

Sagot ni Dado, "May maganda at masama akong balita sa 'yo. Ang maganda, may basketbol doon. Ang masama...

kasali ka sa makakalaban namin bukas!" (ngek!)

***Usapan ng dalawang bata...Junjun: Magaling ang tatay ko! Alam mo,

'yangPacifi c Ocean , siyaang humukay nun!Pedrito: Wala 'yan sa tatay ko! Alam mo '

yungDead Sea ?Junjun: Oo...Pedrito: Siya ang pumatay nun!

***

Blank PaperStewardess: Do you want a drink, sir?Sir: What are my choices?Stewardess: Yes or No.

***Misis: Hindi ko na kaya 'to! Araw-araw

nalang tayong nag-aawayMabuti pa, umalis na ako sa bahay na 'to!Mister: Ako rin, sawang-sawa na! Away

rito,away roon! Mabuti pa siguro, sumama na ako sa 'yo!

***Misis: Delayed ako nang one month pero

huwag mo munang ipagsabi.Nahihiya ako...Mister: Okey.Kinabukasan, dumating ang taga-Meral-

co. ..Taga-Meralco: Misis, delayed po kayo ng

onemonth.Misis: Ha? Bakit mo alam?Taga-Meralco: Nasa record po.Mister: Bakit Naka-record diyan na

delayed ang misis ko?Taga-Meralco: Kung gusto ninyong

mawala sarecord, magbayad kayo!Mister: Eh kung ayokong magbayad?Taga-Meralco: Puputulan kayo!Mister: Eh anong gagamitin ni misis?Tag-Meralco: Pwede naman siyang guma-

mit ng kandila. ***

Advantage at disadvantage ng may-asawa...

ADVANTAGE: 'Pag kailangan mo, nandiyan agad.

DISADVANTAGE: 'Pag ayaw mo na, andiyan parin!

***What is the difference between a

girlfriend,a call girl and a wife?Sagot: Post paid, pre paid, unlimited.

***Sa isang classroom...Titser: Class, what is ETHICS?Pilo: Etiks are smaller than ducks.Titser: Okey, that duck will lay an egg in

your card. ***

Juan: Pare, noong mayaman pa kami, nagkakamay

kaming kumain. Ngayongmahirap na kami, nakakutsara na.Pedro: Baligtad yata?Juan: Mahirap kamayin ang lugaw, pare!

for over 300 children.Our thanks to all those who have donated to

help us save and support these children, those res-cued from brothels and pimps during the past year. You are making the world a happier place.

The birth of Jesus Christ and his message of hope is the good news that the greatest happiness is to take a stand for others in dire need and fi ght for the poor and those whose rights are violated. That’s a mission to protect and enhance life, to be-long to a loving supportive family and community and contribute to building a way of life, based on equality, justice and dignity for all especially for the abused, oppressed and outcast.

This is why Jesus was born, lived and died. He came to rid the world of sin, not individual sin only but social sin, and to change the corrupt sys-tems that enslave people in poverty and hardship. We are called to imitate and carry on his work.

His mission was for his time and for all time. It could have dramatically changed the world by upsetting the balance of power and ascendancy, it could have overturned the status quo and would have empowered communities to prevent the rise of tyrants and dictators or non-violently and peacefully remove them from power with prayer and fasting.

By blessing the poor, the outcasts, the landless and uplifting and declaring them rightful members of the Kingdom and by supporting those that hun-gered for food, justice, truth and equality, He was revolutionary. He was the messiah. When he was a baby, Herod saw him as a danger to his throne and massacred all the one year-old children just to kill him. Was not his mission to begin a spiritual and moral revolution? Perhaps it had political rami-fi cations in the minds the authorities of the time and that’s why they killed him. His message lives on; the values he brought are universal and inspire people of all cultures, religions and nationalities.

Do we not see these very values today in the hearts and minds of those people on the steps of St. Paul’s in London, those occupying a park near Wall Street, others camping out in cities around the world? Those marching and chanting in mass protests in the Middle East and enduring torture and death do so for the same values, for freedom and justice, we are all brothers and sisters mem-bers of God’s one family.

Christianity did transform the world dramati-cally for a while, but it fell away for a historical period, had it continued pure and untainted there would be less greed, injustice, oppression, and fewer money moguls dominating our lives.

But change is happening these days as hundreds of thousands work for human rights and justice and sacrifi ce themselves in building a more peace-ful and honest way of life. Witness the three brave women winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. They live with greater simplicity and happiness and are creating a more peaceful, just and happier world. The challenge for all of us is to believe that it is possible and to help make it happen. A blessed Christmas and New Year to all! Contact: preda [@] info.com.ph.



Entering into God’s Presence


619.746.3416

FAMILY DENTISTRYWe treat you like family at

1127 Highland Ave., National City, CA 91950

Dr. Eleanor Madrid Lumahan & Family

Call 619.336.6063Located in the same building as Chuckee Cheese and Hometown Buffet behind Price Breaker

“Numbers tell the story.” I have used this phrase often to explain things to my barber and to others who appreciate points made when sup-ported by real numbers.

About seven (7) billion people now populate planet Earth. Since the start of the digital age, there are now about two (2) billion personal computers in use worldwide. Fifteen percent (15%) of these computers carry the Apple brand.

There are now about fi ve (5) billion cell and smart phones used on Earth.

A planet getting digitized, Earth interconnects its inhabitants, phones and computers through a worldwide web or what is commonly called

Internet.Currently, more than two (2) billion earthlings

use the Internet worldwide. About 900 million and counting are on Facebook.

Twitter, in a blog published early this year, came up with the following numbers: it takes 1 week to send 1 billion tweets; 140 million is the average number sent per day; and 460, 000 new accounts are being created daily.

In 2010, 6.1 trillion text messages were sent.For every computer, cell/smart phone, use of

the Internet, Facebook, Twitter and other social networks, there are corresponding operating systems, drivers and thousands of other applica-

PLANET of the APPS

tions.The software applications involved would

equate to trillions, if not more, as we who populate the Earth assume a complementary and supplementary “digital or cyber life”.

Welcome to the PLANET of the APPS!

As we begin to appreciate and get used to this new cyber way of life, we try to live guided by the Golden Rule of “doing good and avoiding evil”. As expected, there are those who, for economic, political and other unknown reasons, would wish to disturb our positive cyber ways.

These evildoers are called “hackers”, “cyber attackers”, or what we call in legal parlance, “cyber criminals”.

During the last 3 weeks, I attended 3 confer-ences at the Washington Convention Center. They were the Enterprise Architecture Confer-ence, the Government Video Expo, and the Cyber Security Conference and Expo.

I was lucky to have attended them as a member of the Press. My Press Pass allowed me to join in all the conference sessions, expo, and eventually access any or all the presentations online. Let me express my deepest apprecia-tion to Ms. Andree Diggs who approved my Press Credentials. Her company, 1105 Media, effi ciently and effectively managed two of the conferences: the Enterprise Architecture and the Cyber Security.

These conferences are follow-ups to E-GOV (electronic government) gatherings that started in the 1990’s as computers, wireless commu-nications, and the Internet began to engulf our way of life. I used to attend them as the U.S. Government defi ned its role being E-GOV of, by and for the people.

E-GOV is basically the use of information technology (IT) by the government to provide better service to its citizens, the business community, its employees, organizations, and other governments by providing easy access to government information and public services.

The information technology as developed by both the private and public sector became so so-phisticated and complex that IT Architecture has become necessary. Eventually called Enterprise Architecture, it provided better understand-ing, more effi cient and effective electronic governance.

The enemies of E-GOV and the citizens of the world have become very sophisticated as well. According to FBI (Federal Bureau of Investiga-tion) data cited in a U.S. Senate testimony, “annual cybercrime profi ts and damages have hit a trillion dollars.”

The tools that are increasingly used by hack-ers for these cyber crimes are called “botnets”. Symantec estimates that there are about 3.5 million to 5.4 million botnets worldwide.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported that com-panies such as Sony, Google, Lockheed Martin and two of South Korea’s largest banks have been hacked. Even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Citigroup announced that their computers were breached a few months ago.

In effect, the battleground against terror and

Food for ThoughtRead previous articles by visiting our website at www.asian-

journalusa.com

crime is no longer limited to Air, Land and Sea. Cyberspace has become a place for warfare. For this reason, the U.S. Military has declared it a military domain.

China, for example, has been accused of hack-ing Google’s infrastructures. On the other hand, the former accused the United States of being an “information imperialist,” and of using the Internet to overthrow governments.

The Pentagon, despite budgetary problems, “requested US$3.2 billion worth of funding be allocated to “cyber security”. A U.S. Cyber Command has been established and in fact, has had operational capacity. Cyber Commands are likewise being established in other countries. It was reported that India is looking to establish a “Cyber Control and Command Authority” while China has established a “Blue Army” to defend the People’s Liberation Army from attacks on its networks.

The Cyber Security Conference was informa-tive, educational and self-reassuring. I hope to write more on the topics and issues discussed in the very near future as the likes of my barber begin to understand and appreciate them.

The Philippines has been dubbed as the Face-book Capital, Tweeting Capital, Texting Capital and the Call Center Capital of the world.

In the immediate future it could become the Capital of the PLANET of the APPS. My advice is for the country to seriously focus on Cyber Security.

Tech IT or leave it!

A Birth Certifi cate shows that we were bornA Death Certifi cate shows that we died Pictures show that we live! Have a seat. Relax . . . and read this slowly.

***I Believe... That just because two people argue, It doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, It doesn’t mean they do love each other.

***I Believe...That we don’t have to change friends if We understand that friends change.

***I Believe....That no matter how good a friend is, they’re goin ag to hurt you, every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

***I Believe.....That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.Same goes for true love.

***I Believe... That you can do something in an instant That will give you heartache for life.

***I Believe....That it’s taking me a long time To become the person I want to be.

***I Believe...That you should always leave loved ones with Lov-

ing words.It may be the last time you see them.

***I Believe....

That you can keep going long after you think you can’t.

***I Believe....That we are responsible for what We do, no matter how we feel.

***I Believe...That either you control your attitude or it controls

you.***

I Believe....That heroes are the peoplewho do what has to be donewhen it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

***I Believe....That my best friend and I can do anything or nothingand have the best time..

***I Believe....That sometimes the people you expect to kick you

when you’redown will be the ones to help you get back up.

***I Believe...That sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but thatdoesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

***I Believe...That maturity has more to do with what types of

experiences you’ve had And what you’ve learned from them and less to do

with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.***

I Believe.....That it isn’t always enough, to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learnto forgive yourself.

I Believe ...

and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in who I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord who is worthy of praise.”

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”

“How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men fi nd refuge in the shadow of your wings. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be all over the earth.”

“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth.”

Hallelujah, Lord God Almighty, you will reign forever and ever. -zsb


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Offensive to justices(Continued from page 1)

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Erap jokes

2004 and 2007 elections, to the many other acts of cor-ruption that we want to shed light upon.

“We started by creating the Truth Commission, to look into the alleged widespread acts of corruption dur-ing the past administration, and to hold those responsible for them to account. We had no other purpose for this than to address past wrongdoings as quickly as pos-sible. But we all know what happened: The Supreme Court said the formation of the Truth Commission was unconstitutional. From the onset, obstacles had already been put in our path.

“It is within the Comelec’s duties to make certain that our elections remain fair. So it is but natural that they ask for the assistance of the DOJ in investigating the allegations of cheating back in 2007. The formation of such panel is not uncommon, and yet it is now being questioned at the Supreme Court. They are also question-ing the legality of the warrant of arrest issued by the Pasay Regional Trial Court to Mrs. Arroyo.

“Also, note this: the Supreme Court handed down the TRO with certain conditions. But not long after that they themselves admitted the conditions need not be met for the TRO to be in effect. How baffl ing of them to include conditions they had no plans of seeing fulfi lled. We have been following all the right processes; still we are being accused of picking a fi ght. Who would not be suspicious of their true intent?

“This is not the fi rst time we were perplexed by a ruling of the Supreme Court. States Article VII, Section 15 of the Constitution, ‘Two months immediately before the next presidential elections and up to the end of his term, a President or Acting President shall not make appointments, except temporary ones to executive positions.’ But we all know how Mrs. Arroyo insisted on appointing the Chief Justice. He was appointed, not two months before the election, but a week after. Based on law and jurisprudence, the Supreme Court ruled that the President could not appoint any offi cial two months before an election, except for temporary appointments to executive positions. But they turned their back on their pronouncements when Mrs. Arroyo appointed the Chief Justice Renato Corona — in a position that was not in the executive branch, but of the judiciary. The question now is: did the Supreme Court violate the Constitution?

“Another decision we have trouble accepting concerns the creation of congressional districts. Article VI, Sec-tion 5 of the Constitution states that every district must have a population of more than 250,000. Problem was, some areas could not achieve this number — like one in Camarines Sur that has a population of about 176,000. When I was still in the Senate, chairing the Committee on Local Government, I questioned the creation of this district, but the Supreme Court only junked it. Question: if redistricting no longer relies on population, what then will be the basis of lawmakers? Does this mean we continue to have rules on the creation of cities, but none for provinces or districts?”

* * *Law dean Amado Valdez says Aquino was well within

his right to articulate his views. “Being head of the Executive, a political branch of government, the Presi-dent spoke from the political side of the issue, not the judicial aspect,” he notes. “By political side, I mean the

concern of the public about how the government should rule. The President must express the people’s wishes. The Supreme Court’s function is to temper, with proper evaluation, this collective wisdom of the people or what some would call mob rule.”

Valdez, of the University of the East, recently was reelected president of the Philippine Association of Law Schools.

* * *Incidentally, the Pulse Asia releases such people’s

wishes in the form of latest poll results on the Aquino administration. It shows high confi dence in Noynoy Aquino, with 72 percent lauding his performance and 74 percent trusting him. One in ten (nine percent), are criti-cal of and distrust him. Ambivalent about performance and trustworthiness are almost the same percentage, 19 and 17.

Face to face interviews with respondents were conducted Nov. 10 to 23. Hot headlines at the time were Gloria Arroyo’s attempt to fl ee abroad, and the Supreme Court’s 8-5 ruling that allowed her to go. Other big news then: the fi ling of non-bailable charges of electoral sabo-tage and issuance of an arrest warrant against Arroyo, the murder of a son of former senator Ramon Revilla, the APEC and ASEAN summits attended by Aquino, the Manila visit of US State Sec. Hillary Clinton and Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, the BIR’s fi ling of more charges against tax evaders, the anniversary of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, the hold-departure order against Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and spouse, the Supreme Court’s 14-0 ruling on Hacienda Luisita, the peso depreciation, Manny Pacquiao’s controversial world boxing win, and inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River among the seven world wonders of nature.

Last Aug. Aquino’s performance and trust ratings were 77 and 75 percent, respectively. Given a ±3 percent error margin, the past polls were practically the same as the latest, the Pulse Asia says.

baka yung second-hand chopper [ang gagamitin],” Estrada told ANC’s Dateline Philippines on Friday.

Last September, the PNP fi led corruption complaints before the Ombudsman against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and several others involved in the sale in 2009 of second-hand choppers to the PNP. Mr. Ar-royo was accused of plunder because “evidence points to him as the real owner of the choppers, which were passed off as brand new.”

Estrada also said Mrs. Arroyo cannot make demands on how she should be transported to the VMMC.

He said Mrs. Arroyo is now under the jurisdiction of the court after she was charged with electoral sabotage by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). He said that during his own arrest for plunder charges, he was transported by van, chopper and even a tank to different places.

“She [Arroyo] is under the jurisdiction of the court, they have no choice but to follow what the PNP [Philippine National Police] says. Like me, there were 3,000 police who came to arrest me. They put me in a van and then PNP chief Leandro Mendoza was there. They even put me in a tank to bring me to Sta Rosa [in Laguna]. Siksikan kami ni Jinggoy [Estrada] tsaka ni Dra. Loi (Ejercito) sa tangke. Ang init init. Tapos nagbago isip, bumalik ulit sa Veterans. Sinakay kami sa chopper,” he said.

“Wala kaming magawa, dapat sumunod kami sa order ng PNP. Dapat ganun din PNP ngayon. Walang exception to the rule,” he added.

Estrada said allowing Mrs. Arroyo to dictate to the PNP on how she should be brought to VMMC could be seen as a form of special treatment.

He said: “There is no way that the accused can demand anything.”

Arroyo’s spokeswoman Elena Bautista Horn earlier said Mrs. Arroyo and her husband, Mike, refused to be airlifted to VMMC due to heavy rains. She said Mrs. Arroyo should travel by land, and even said the former president is willing to take a taxi .


SEAFOOD CITY