A cautionary tale
P
HILIPPINE NEWSSERVICE -- Mala-canang not contesta report of the US StateDepartment which scored
corruption and inefciency
in the Philippine judicial
system.Press Secretary Cerge
Remonde said the report is“fair” and should be seenmore as a “challenge” toconcerned government
agencies.
“The report has also pointed out the major
progress being made by the
government in the cam- paign against corruption,”
Remonde said.
The report said corrup-
tion and inefciency inthe judicial system have
undermined human rightsin the Philippines andcaused20“widespread skep-
ticism” of due process.
“Respect for humanrights is fundamental to
Philippine democracy and
we remain committed to a
policy of transparency and
dialogue with our interna-tional partners as we work
to ensure that our systems
of human rights promo-tion and enforcements areconsistent with our commit-ment to protect the rights of all our people,” Remonde
said.
He added that corruptionin the Philippines is “more
perception than reality.”
Remonde said the gov-ernment is committed toexpand efforts to addresschallenges and violation of laws on human rights, in-cluding working with alliessuch as the US “to enhance
the capacity of our law en
-
forcement community, our judiciary and other relevant
bodies to meet their obli-gations to protect humanrights throughout the Phil-
ippines.”
Palace not disputing US report on judicial corruption
The Garden of Eden is more than a prescienticexplanation of cosmology. It is an effort to
make sense of how far we, human beings, canventure to develop the earth and the skies andthe resources God has bequeathed us, and howcareful we need to be so that we are not blinded
by our brilliance and think we know it all.By
Dr. Ed GamboaSee page 14
The Gardenof Eden
Kipkipin mo at mahalinmo ang singsing na ginawa
ko alay sa iyo. Maging
alaala sana ito na kahi’t
na may kasamaan samundo ay nananaig pa rinang kabutihan. Sana aymanatiling totoo, dalisayat busilak ang iyong puso,
makinang at kaakit-akit ang
iyong pagkatao, kagaya ngsingsing na iyan na tunayna brilyante at hindi tubogsa ginto.”
Sa panulat ni PercivalCampoamor CruzPahina 14
Ang Singsing
What Amanglacked in goodlooks, he madeup with the
gentle way hecarried himself.
Although he
may not be as
good lookingas some of hisrivals, he was
a good dresser.
However,his fate wasuncertain untilan unfortunate turn of events became a blessing
in disguise for him and cleared his way to Clara’sheart.
By
Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.
Publisher & Editor
San Diego Asian Journal
See page 9
Quiapo Memories
The beauty and the best
Shooting the rapid in Pagsanjan Falls.
The province of Laguna almost
completely surroundsLaguna de Bay,
Southeast Asia’slargest fresh water
lake, which stays
pristine throughout
the year due toregular rain showers.
It is a haven of freshand pristine bodiesof water such ashot springs, lakes,water falls, referredto as “shooting
rapids.” It is found in
Cavinti, starting from
Pagsanjan town.By
Riz A. OadesSee page 6
In Search of the Good Life
PNS -- STAR Cinema in-vited us to the contract sign-ing of Vilma Santos for two
movies she’ll do with them.One is the comedy-drama
with her son, Luis Manzano
and John Lloyd Cruz, ten
-
tatively titled “A Mother’sStory.” The other is her rst
teamup with Sharon Cuneta
for which they’re waiting for the right script. Ate Vi came
with her mom Milagros and
sister Emylyn. She remainsyouthful- looking at 55 and
the unmistakable aura of a
big star remains with her.
The moment she came in, shewent straight to where her writer -friends were seated
and greeted everyone byname. We’re told she’s alsolike that with her ardent fans.She remembers them all by
Vilma bares new project,
confrms romance
between Luis and Angel
Vilma Santos
name, which is a rare qualityamong movie stars.
“I’m excited to act
again,” she says. “My last
movie, ‘Mano Po 3’, was
four years ago pa. Nanini
- bago nga ako sa ganitong
presscon kasi mas sanay na
kong laging nasa Batangas
(Continued on page 18)
March 6 - 12, 2009
Msgr. Gutierrez
Miles Beauchamp
Tell it from themountain!
Genny T. Silverio
It’s a small world and getting smaller
Although most of us have
dreamed of becoming wealthyor lthy rich, the majority of
us don’t have what it takes
to become one. If you ever
become one without work-ing hard for it like winning big in a
lottery or
inheriting wealth
from somebody else, then luckyyou.
By
Bill LabestreSee page 7
Fire aftermath. Photo by Ferdinand Edralin.
Snaphot of Philippine Life
Keep Dreaming
Page 2March 6 - 12, 2009 Asian Journal - (619) 474-0588 Visit our website at http://www.asianjournalusa.com
Dr. Iem earned her board
certification from the AmericanOsteopathic Board of Fam-
ily Practice in 2008. Being an
advocate of preventative and
alternative medicine, Dr. Iem
practices a full range of fam-ily medicine including minor office procedures and derma-
tologic care. In addition, she is
skilled in Osteopathic Manipu-lative Techniques (OMT). Dr.Iem takes pleasure in seeingall ages, with special empha-
sis in Women’s Health andskin care.
The Family Physiciansof Escondido
935 East Pennsylvania Ave.Escondido, CA 92025
Tel: 760.747.7512Fax: 760.747.1253
www.urfamilydoc.com
Dr. Yam received his undergradu-ate degree from UCLA and graduatedmedical school from the PhiladelphiaCollege of Osteopathic Medicine in2002. Dr. Yam completed his intern-ship and residency at Riverside Coun-ty Regional Medical Center where heserved as Chief Resident. Dr. Yam isboard certified with the American Col-lege of Family Medicine and is trainedin Medicine and Gynecology, with spe-cial emphasis in Pediatrics and Wom-
en’s Health, Sports Medicine, and heis skilled in OMT, all delivered with aHolistic approach.
Dr. Stephanie Iem and Dr. Ving Yam
Specializing in Holistic Healthcare
•
Adult and Pediatric Medicine
•
Women’s Health
•
Preventative Care
•
Dermatologic Care
•
Sports Medicine
•
LAW OFFICES OF
E.B. ALEJO
“20+ Years Experience”
Been living in San Diego since 1977
Attorney is available daily on regular business days at the San Diego Ofce
*Member, California State Bar Licensed to practice before the US Federal District CourtSouthern California and California Supreme Court
*Author,”How to Apply for the US Tourist Visa” as listed byworldwide bookseller Amazon.com Bookstores*Former San Diego Regional Coordinator for U.S. ImmigrationAmnesty for Catholic Community Services, Catholic Diocese of
San Diego
*Legal Advisor, Los Chabacanos of Cavite CityAssociation, Inc., San Diego, California*Juris Doctor law degree, University of San Diego (1985),
Diploma; Oxford Institute on International and
Comparative Law (USD), Oxford, England (1984);Bachelor Degree, University of Southern California (1983);Montgomery High School, San Diego (1979)*Born in the Philippines (Cavite)
For your convenience, walk-ins accepted especially between 2:00pm – 7:00pmBusiness days Monday to Friday
IMMIGRATION LAW • DIVORCE • WILLS & TRUSTS • CRIMINAL DEFENSE •BUSINESS LAW • CREDIT/DEBT DISPUTES and PROBLEMS • WAGE & HOURVIOLATIONS • UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS • WORK CONTRACTS • LANDLORD –TENANT DISPUTES • BANKRUPTCY ASSISTANCE • FORECLOSURES
FAIR PRICES/COURTEOUS AND FRIENDLY SERVICE
We can accept the following on a Contingency Basis
(NO ATTORNEY FEES UNLESS WE WIN):
AUTO ACCIDENT/PERSONAL INJURY • WRONGFULTERMINATION • SEXUAL HARASSMENT/HOSTILE WORKPLACE • WORK DISCRIMINATION
(Racial, Age, Gender, Disability)
240 Woodlawn Avenue, Suite 11, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Convenient location and plenty of free parking;Near Chula Vista trolley station. Nagsasalita kami ng Tagalog
call (619) 203-5782 • (619) 254-7610
We can help you stop worrying about your legal problems.
Also Available:
Tax Preparation Services (Low Prices!)
Today in History
Read previous articles by visiting our website at www.asian- journalusa.com
By Thomas S. TananaSan Diego Pet Food Home Deliveries
Although it still needed for-
mal Senate approval, the treaty
that led to the acquisition of Alaska from Russia was signed
this week on March 31, 1867.Alaska’s price you ask? 7.2 mil-lion dollars, or two cents an acre.(The actual transfer took placeOctober 18, 1867.)
The Virgin Islands were also bought on March 31st -- but in
1917. That small island chain
was purchased from Denmark
with a $25 million price tag. No- body seemed to complain about
acquiring beachfront Carribean
property, but the Alaskan cession
was so unpopular at the time that
it was dubbed “Seward’s Folly”.Don’t forget that April Fools Dayis this coming Wednesday.
Georgia “succeeded” from theformer Soviet Union, becom-
ing an independent country,also on March 31, 1991. TheDalai Lama ed Tibet that day in1959 and the NATO Treaty wasratied April 4, 1949 -- whichwas the 131st anniversary of the ofcial approval of the rstAmerican ag by Congress.The Marshall Plan was rstsuggested by Secretary of StateGeorge C. Marshall on April 3,1948. The Pony Express wasinaugurated that day in 1860 and
the Supreme Court ruled thatBlacks were ALWAYS eligible
to vote in all primary electionsthat day in 1944. Supreme Court justice Sam Alito turns 59 onApril Fools Day.
A woman presided over the
Supreme Court for the rst timeApril 3, 1995 when the two most
senior justices were both out of town, leaving behind #3, Sandra
Day O’Connor. The rst womangot elected mayor of a city onApril 4, 1887 when SusannaSalter wracked up a 2/3 majority
Today in History
win in Argonia, Kansas. Salter’sname was actually placed onthe ballot secretly, without her knowledge. She only learned
that she was a candidate whenshe went to the polls to vote!
The French sculptor of LadyLiberty, Frederic Bartholdi, cameinto this world April 2, 1834.
The actual name of the Statue of
Liberty is “Liberty Enlighteningthe World”. The Eiffel Tower’s
construction was completed
March 31, 1889 and Dorothea
Dix, who fought for humaneconditions in institutions, was
born exactly 85 years before the1887 Argonia election... Lib-
ertarian author, Camile Paglia,
entered this world April 2, 1947
-- on the exact date of birth of
country western singer Emmylou
Harris, who was also born April
2, 1947.Crooners Wayne Newton(1942) and Tony Orlando (1944)were born the day after. Sing-ers Celine Dion (1968), TraceyChapman (1964), Eric Clapton(1945) and M.C. Hammer (1963)all share March 30th birthdays.And Herb Alpert (1935) of theTijuana Brass shares the big daythis Tuesday with symphonycomposer Franz Joseph Hayden(1732). That day also marksCaesar Chavez Day in California(Caesar’s 82nd birthday).Al Gore celebrates his 61st birthday on Caesar ChavezDay and the U.S. Mint was
established on Camile Paglia’s
birthday, but in 1792. Appro- priately enough, the U.S. Houseof Representatives was rst able
to assemble a quorum to pass
bills on April Fools Day, 1789 --which was the very day in 1971
that Richard Nixon signed the bill outlawing cigarette advertis-
ing on television. Nixon’s son-
in-law, David Eisenhower, was
also born on April Fools Day in1947.
Japan’s World War II admiral,Yamamoto, is considered to be that nation’s greatest navalstrategist -- and it was on April
4, 1884 that Yamamoto made itinto this world. Martin Luther King was assassinated that dayin 1968 and Abraham Lincoln
toured the Confederate capitol of
Richmond that day in 1865 -- thevery day after Richmond fell toUnion troops... And the kidnap- per of the Lindbergh baby was
executed in the electric chair on
the 71st anniversary of the fall of Richmond.Acting out a grossly misguidedinfatuation with actress JodyFoster, John Hinckley shot Presi-
dent Ronald Reagan in the chest
March 30, 1981. The Battle of
Okinawa began on April Fools
Day, 1945. After serving 27years, Pope John Paul II (who
weathered his own assassination
attempt) died peacefully one dayafter the 60th anniversary of theBattle of Okinawa... Casanovaturned 280 on the day the pontiff died and Fan Dance “ecdysiast”Sally Rand turned 101 one daylater.
The movie, “2001” premiered
on Sally Rand’s 64th birthday. Itstarted with a scene of monkeysghting, so it’s tting that the
premier also fell on Jane Good-
all’s 44th birthday. The day isalso marked by Marlon Brando(1924), Alec Baldwin (1958),Doris Day (1924) and EddieMurphy (1961).Vitamin C was rst isolatedtwo years before Goodall’s birth, but on April 4th. And the Beat-les actually held ve of the topten chart slots that day in 1964!!John Cameron Swayze (1906)and Robert Downey, Jr. (1965)
were both born on the date
Vitamin C was isolated. ColinPowell (1937) was born theday after, as were Bette Davis(1908), Gregory Peck (1916) andSpencer Tracy (1900).
Helen Keller had her break-
through that day in 1887 whenshe nally associated the “taps”
on her arm with communica-
tions that signied “meanings”or “words”. The second woman
in space, Judith Resnik, was born
that day in 1949 and the founder of aseptic surgury (Joseph Lister)came into this world that day in1827. (Now you know where“Listerine” got its name.) Wil-liam Harvey, who discovered the
mechanics of blood circulation,
was born on April Fools Day,1578.April is Prevent Lyme Diseasein Dogs Month. You can ac-cess www.LymePrevention.comto learn about what you can doto prevent the infection of your best buddy by that horrible virus.
This month is also National Pet
First-Aid Awareness Month.Important pet safety tips, contin-gent emergency accessories thatyou should always keep on handand emergency treatment adviceare free for the asking just bye-mailing info@pettech.net.
April is also Prevent Ani-
mal Cruelty Month. For moreinformation, go to www.aspca.org. You certainly won’t be
cruel giving Fido his favorite
doggie biscuits! By the way, if you really want to treat your best buddy to his favorite biscuit,try liver-avored snacks. Freshliver -- not even let mignon --is the absolute favorite avor toset a dog’s taste buds on re.Debbie Reynolds was also bornon April Fools Day in 1932. JedClampett/Buddy Ebson (1908)was born one day later, on the
premier dates of both “Dallas”
(1978) and Nickelodeon (1979).So was the prolic writer of 150 fairy tales -- Hans ChristianAnderson (1805).Painters Van Gogh (1853) andGoya (1746) share March 30th birthdays with Warren Beatty(1938) and John Astin (1930).The television show “Jeopardy”debuted that day in 1964 and the pencil was patented that day in1848.
The philosopher who said, “Ithink, therefore I am”, Rene Des-
cartes, was born one day later but in 1596. He shares birthdayswith Shirley Jones (1934) andGabe Kaplan (1946). Thinkingfor yourself was a CRIME inthe dystopic Orwellian novel,“1984”, in which ritualized ful-
minations of hate were encour-
aged by a totalitarian state thatdestroyed the individual and
snuffed out all vestiges of human
privacy. The novel begins with
the traditions of “hate week”,
which began each year on April4th. The main character, Win-ston Smith, starts his secret diarythat day, in which he writes the
words: “Down with Big Broth-
er”.Poet Maya Angelou was bornthat day in 1928 and “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” author, Wash-
ington Irving, came into this
world a day earlier, but in 1783.(The story featured a “headless”horseman.) Irving also wrote“Rip Van Winkle”. “Time”Magazine’s founder, HenryLuce, was born the same day asWashington Irving, but 115 yearslater. And in his quixotic searchfor a fountain of youth, Ponce de
Leon discovered Florida on April
2, 1513.When is YOUR birthday?
Was a friend, work associate or
relative born this week? If you
would like the full unedited ver-
sion of today’s column, we willhappily send you an e-mail copy
of the whole complete text! Of
course, there is no charge. Just
e-mail us at: sandiegopetfood@
yahoo.com.Mr. Tanana makes San Diego’s
own Home-Made and Natural
Real Liver Snack Dog Treats.Yummy, healthy and fresh! No byproducts, preservatives or other chemicals.
Page 3 Asian Journal - (619) 474-0588 Visit our website at http://www.asianjournalusa.comMarch 6 - 12, 2009
Add a Comment