the asian journal entertainment magazine january 4

the asian journal entertainment magazine
january 4-10, 2013
january 4-10, 2013
What would New Year be without
some goals and resolution?
by Julie Matienzo-Rodillas / AJPress
A
s calendars shed new leaves for 2013,  most of Pinoy celebrities
also want to shed—if not some weight gained from the holiday
season—then some of their bad habits from the previous year. Whether
it concerns their career, health, or love life,  celebs have something to
share about their  goals and resolutions for this year.
Being an actor means performing and while
it is given to local celebrities, most of them
want to further showcase their versatility as true
performers this year.
Blessed with many projects last 2012 both in
television and the big screen was Lovi Poe. For this
year, the actress said she wants to “do more good
projects, play good characters, do really good
movies.”
While Bela Padilla was thankful that her
mother station, GMA Network,  gave her her
big break via Magdalena, the actress hoped she
could do other roles sans the crying scenes. Bela
mentioned in a recent Pep.ph interview that she
wanted to try  a fantaserye, a comedy or a sitcom
next time.
“So I wanna try something light. ‘Cause in
Magdalena, like I said, we do 75 sequences a day
and in all of them, I’m crying, if you get to watch
the show,” said she.
Having played a heavier role than usual in the
film One More Try, Zanjoe Marudo wished to be
taken more seriously this year. The beau of Bea
Alonzo said that he wants to bring back the days
where actors were regarded professionally by
being able to play different roles effectively.
“Gusto kong mapatunayan na puwede naman
tayong magpatawa, puwede rin naman tayong
mag-drama…Sana bumalik ‘yong ang artista
hindi lang dapat isa ang ginagawa. Kahit papaano
puwede kahit saan.”
Inspired by the good feedback she got for
playing kontrabida roles, Kapuso actress Chynna
Ortaleza wanted to prove that she can play kindhearted characters just as good.
“Kung mabibigyan ng pagkakataon na
makagawa ng mabait na role... Marami rin kasi
akong nakukuhang feedback na, ‘Alam mo, kaya
mo, kaya mo,’” said she.
Currently one of the food critique in ABS-CBN’s
Pinoy Master Chef, Judy Ann Santos meanwhile
said that wants to go back to her first love which
is acting. Aside from being more fit, Juday said in
a recent Pep.ph interview that making a teleserye
and heavy- drama movie are included in her todo list this year. If Chynna wants to lie low from
playing the antagonist, Juday wants to be the
kontrabida this time.
“At saka, since na halos naman lahat nagawa
mo na, gusto mo rin naman na para iba naman
makita ng tao at makita nila na maliban sa
pagpapaiyak, kaya mo rin naman magpa-iyak, so
Angeline Quinto
Zanjoe Marudo
Ivan Dorschner Piolo Pascual
Judy Ann Santos
Lovi Poe
DIRECTLINE
by Boy Abunda
Philstar.com
American author William
Arthur Ward once said, “Another
fresh new year is here… Another
year to live! To banish worry, doubt
and fear. To love and laugh and give!”
We have just ushered in 2013.
It’s definitely a new beginning for
all of us. Despite some setbacks
we experienced last year, Filipinos
remain resilient, cheerful and
hopeful. Filipinos always rise up
to the challenge especially during
trying times. This is the best about
us.
The month of January was
named after the Roman god Janus.
In Roman mythology, he is “the
god of good beginnings.” Like
Janus, the world of showbiz has
two faces: The crying masked face
and the laughing one. The masks
mirror both the happiness and the
melancholia that happen in the four
corners of showbiz and in the lives
of its denizens.
The world of showbiz is
inarguably fascinating. You can be
dying due to lack of sleep, fatigue
tatrabahuhin natin ‘yang part na ‘yan.”
Aside from career, some celebrities have some
realizations of their own when it comes to their
personal relationships. In another report from Pep.
ph, Venus Raj said that her relationship with the
Lord is one that she wanted to work on this year.
Amid all the blessing, Venus admitted that she
might have neglected her spiritual connections with
God at some point.
“I think it’s something that I really want to
cultivate. Kasi parang, these past few years, dahil sa
trabaho, dahil sa lovelife, dahil sa pamilya, parang
nababalewala.”
For teen star Ivan Dorschner, letting go of
hesitations is only one of the things he wants to
learn this year. Having admitted that he currently
have his eyes set on a special girl, Ivan said that this
year, he would “probably tell her” his feelings for her.
Steering away from the issues of love life, other
actors like John Lloyd Cruz, Kathryn Bernardo,
Daniel Padilla, Iya Villana, and Angeline Quinto
want to pay attention to their health this year.  Piolo
Pascual who has been very active in participating
in marathons, also wanted more time for physical
trainings amid his busy schedule. Piolo, however,
said in a report from Push.ph that he does not have
any specific resolutions. Likewise, Superstar Nora
Aunor and hunk actor Gerald Anderson preferred
not to have a New Year’s resolution for fear that it
would only lead to disappointment.
Nora Aunor: Sa tigas ng ulo ko wala (akong new
year’s resolution). Kasi mangangako ako tapos hindi
ko rin naman matutupad so magkakasala ako lalo
noon.
Nora Aunor
Bela Padilla
Gerald Anderson
Gerald Anderson: I don’t know. Hindi ako
naniniwala sa New Year’s resolutions kasi every
year nagbibigay ako New Year’s resolutions, pero
hindi talaga natin alam kung anong nangyayari
e, kung natutuloy ba, ‘di ba? When was the last
New Year’s resolution na alam mo na parang, ‘Uy
nangyari nga’? Ako wala ako maalala e, ang hirap.
Just live every year like it’s your last.Yun na lang.
How stars will make 2013 a better Philippines
and hunger because of work but
once the cameras start to roll,
you smile and face the cameras
as if nothing happens. Once you
become a star, you become public
property. And whether you like it
or not, the public’s prying eyes are
on you.
I asked some stars if they could
give our country a perfect gift this
New Year, what would it be and
why? Here are their answers:
Bianca Gonzalez: A college
scholarship for every child!
Idealistic but how I wish every kid
could study, graduate, get a job
and pay it forward.
Sitti: I would like to give
everyone peace and happiness
in their hearts and good food on
the table three times a day. And
someone to love and to love them
back, too. A heart for every heart.
Tintin Bersola-Babao: Peace.
Prosperity.
K-La Rivera: If I could give a gift
to the Philippines for the New Year,
it would be money to all those in
need, just enough for everyone to
get by and be able to support their
families.
Direk GB Sampedro: It would
be wisdom. Our country needs a
lot of this for the coming elections.
Hansen Nichols: The Christmas
gift I would give our country if I
could afford, are better roadways
and inter-city development
and public transportation. That
way, families could spend more
quality time with each other
rather than spending it stuck in
traffic. Businesses could run more
effectively and we could invite
more foreign investors so Pinoys
can stay in the country rather than
leave to support their families.
It’s like a gift of keeping families
together.
Jayke Reyes: If I had the money,
I would buy gifts for the poor, for
the needy or feed the hungry and
share my blessings from God with
others.
Let there be peace and
prosperity for all in 2013. Here’s
wishing for a vibrant, exuberant
showbiz. May the Filipino artists
continue to succeed in the global
arena. May there be no more
calamities that would damage
homes, communities, properties
and claim hapless lives. Let’s
forgive those who have offended
us. It’s better to start the year with
a new heart and a new mind. And
don’t forget to laugh like there’s no
tomorrow.
Happy New Year!
Hansen Nichols
Tintin Bersola-Babao
Bianca Gonzalez
K-La Rivera
Sitti
january 4-10, 2013
www.asianjournal.com
3
Fiestas make it even more fun in the Philippines
MANILA—The past year has been a great one
for Philippine tourism, with many of the country’s
destinations topping international travelers’ lists.
More than the pristine white beaches and the
awe-inspiring landscapes, though, what makes it
truly “more fun in the Philippines” is its people. This
is no more evident than in the colorful festivals
wherein one can witness a sea of people gamely
donning costumes, dancing to infectious beats, and
regaling both local and foreign tourists alike.
The Ati-Atihan in Kalibo “ushers” the start of
the festivities in the Philippines each year as it is
celebrated on the third week of January. Revelers
painting their face and body in soot and wearing
colorful costumes shouting “Hala Bira!” have
become familiar images by now. One needs to be in
the thick of the parade, though, dancing along with
the participants to feel the spirit of what some say is
the “Mother of Philippine Fiestas.”
Likewise colorful and highly creative are the
costumes donned by the revelers in the Sinulog
festival of Cebu. Just like the Ati-Atihan, this fiesta is
held in honor of the feast of the Holy Infant Jesus.
The festival actually lasts for nine days and includes,
among others, a fluvial parade with a statue of the
Santo Niño, a solemn procession, and the grand
parade.
The Dinagyang festival is held on the fourth
Sunday of January and has been named by the
Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines
as the Queen Festival of the Philippines in 2011.
According to the event’s official homepage,
a Pamukaw (drum call) was already held last
December 14, 2012 to officially usher in the start of
the festivities.
The Panagbenga is our answer to Pasadena’s
Rose Parade with its myriad floats decorated in
flowers and dancers in flower-inspired costumes.
According to panagbenga.org, the “Panagbenga:
A Kankana-ey (dialect widely used by Cordillerans
in the Northern Philippine boondocks, specifically
people from the Mountain Province and people
from the Northern part of the Benguet Province)
term meaning ‘a season for blossoming; a time for
blooming.’” 
The Pahiyas in Lucban is held in every May
honor of San Isidro Labrador. It is a thanksgiving
feast that sees houses bedecked in the most colorful
decorations using agricultural products such as
flowers and fruits and, most popularly, the kiping or
rice wafer and leaves.
Just like the Pahiyas, the Kadayawan is a
thanksgiving feast. It  traces its origins to the
harvest rituals of the various ethnic tribes residing
at the foot of Mount Apo and is celebrated every
August. According to kadayawan.com, the term
“Kadayawan” comes from “madayaw”, “a warm and
friendly greeting used to explain a thing that is
valuable, superior, beautiful, good, or profitable.”
The MassKara festival emerged out of the
tragic events that besieged Bacolod in the 1980s.
To bring back the “smile” in the “City of Smiles”,
local government officials and concerned citizens
came together to come up with a festival that
highlighted the province’s rich cultural heritage.
The word “MassKara” is a combination of the word
“mass” (many) and “kara” (face). (Ruth Sindico/
Philstar.com)
The MassKara festival in Bacolod
Sinulog in Cebu
DIRECTLINE
by Boy Abunda
Panagbenga in Baguio
The return of the native
Philstar.com
New York—based stage, film and TV actor
Joshua Spafford is set to return to Manila to star in
Atlantis Productions’ first offering for 2013, PIAF by
acclaimed playwright Pam Gems.
In the new version of PIAF, which originated at
London’s prestigious Donmar Warehouse, Gems has
reworked her classic 1978 play, vividly capturing the
glamour and squalor, the rise and fall of the complex,
fragile and enigmatic performer Edith Piaf, who
continues to be remembered for her exceptional
voice and extraordinary, troubled life. Playing Piaf is
acclaimed actress Pinky Amador, who celebrates 30
years in the industry next year.
Joshua can be remembered for his numerous
stage performances in the Philippines including
Angels In America, Les Miserables and My Fair Lady
starring Lea Salonga. In New York, he has played
title roles in Richard III and Othello, among many
others.
In PIAF, he will play numerous roles including
Marcel Cerdan, France’s greatest boxer and love of
Piaf’s life. PIAF will be directed by Bobby Garcia and
will run from March 8 to 23, 2013 at the Carlos P.
Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.
We caught up with Joshua in New York via e-mail
as he prepares to return to Manila.
When was the last time you were in Manila?
“I was last in Manila briefly in 2008. It was really
en route to our family home in Bacolod where I
was headed to see my grandmother, the late Rep.
Hortensia Starke.”
What made you leave the Philippines?
“I’m not sure if I ever truly ‘left’ in that I’ve always
known that I would come home to eventually live in
both the US and the Philippines, or possibly come
home altogether. That said, there was no incident
that triggered my moving to New York City. It was
just a young man’s impulse to leave his home to
learn, grow, see the world and soak in different
perspectives. I wanted to work with theater creators
from all over the world and have been lucky enough
to have done that now.”
What are your fondest memories of Manila?
“Ha! That’s so hard to answer. I really miss the
camaraderie of my friends and colleagues making
theater of all sorts for years and years under various
conditions. I was just a teenage kid when the late
Bibot Amador took me in and as with so many others,
gave me training and tutelage. It could be a hard
love but when you did well there was a feeling of
great pride. A great memory for me is curtain call on
opening night for Angels in America, which Bobby
Garcia directed. You had this sense that we had just
achieved something really special.”
What have you been doing since then?
“Well, I spent a long time developing both
classical and neo-classical theater in NYC. In addition
to playing the title roles of Richard III, Othello, Judas,
Tamburlaine as well as Mercutio, Orsino and others,
I founded a theater company developing modern
verse plays. We worked with many wonderful talents
including Bobby Lopez (Avenue Q), Greg Kotis
(Urintetown) and others. We won a Best Downtown
Theater Company Award for this. I also debuted new
verse plays by Glyn Maxwell as well as Gilgamesh
by Pulitzer prize- winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa.
I’ve been directing plenty and producing original
Joshua Spafford
material including a play about a relationship I had
with my grandfather who came to be a suspect in
the Black Dahlia Murder case. Somewhere along the
way, I ventured into photography, too, photographing
hundreds of actors and some of my work appearing in
the NY Times, Washington Post, GQ and more. I’ve been
busy!”
What made you decide to come back to Manila?
How long do you plan to stay?
“I’ve been trying to come home for years now to
do a project and there have been a few close calls but
somehow the timing was never right. I’m not sure
how long I’ll stay. I’d like to do this fantastic play and
reconnect with my friends and family. If things are
harmonious, I’d love to come every year to work.”
What is the first thing you plan to do when you
return?
“Eat. A lot. My God, I miss good adobo. I need to
find time to go to Bacolod to visit my lola’s grave, too.
What attracted you to PIAF?
“I’d always known about the play. There had been
legendary performances of it (including in Manila) by
great actresses, but the recent Marion Cotillard film
reminded me (and everyone, I’m sure) just about how
relevant a person she was. And how recognizable her
path is. Put her next to an Amy Winehouse or other
searingly talented but destructive creative force and
you’ll see little difference. Great creative talent is often
paired with darkness, sad to say.
Are you excited to work with Pinky Amador? Have
you worked with her before?
“Of course! Hugely. I’m a big fan. And yes, I believe
Pinky and I may have done a movie together way, way
back in the day.”
What are some roles you hope to play in the future?
“Well, I always love working in the classics. I’d
love to play Iago (after having played Othello in three
productions), Richard II, John Proctor in The Crucible,
any of the roles in Copenhagen, Art or anything by
David Mamet and Arthur Miller. Bobby in Company
would be pretty sweet. I’m always interested in
helping develop new works. I’m a team player, I’d like
to think.”
We’d like to see more of you in Manila theater!
january 4-10, 2013
www.asianjournal.com
Barrister’s
Corner
4
Permanent residency through marriage to US citizen spouse
The economic crisis and
changes in immigration
legislation has made it more
Atty. Kenneth
difficult to pursue certain
Ursua Reyes
traditional paths to obtaining
permanent residency in the
United States. Employment based immigration has been affected by
long wait time in priority under the EB3 category. H1-b visas has been
affected by is a viable option if the immigrant is fortunate enough
to find a job or an employer to offer them a job under the current
economic environment. However, one traditional way of obtaining
permanent residency which has remained unchanged is through a
petition by a US citizen spouse.
As a spouse of a US Citizen, an alien is considered an immediate
relative and entitled to immediately apply for a green card inside the
United States. This is usually done by simultaneously filing an I-130
Petition for Alien Relative and an I-485 Application to adjust status.
However in order to do this, the alien spouse must have been inspected
when the alien entered the United States or if not inspected must be
grandfathered by section 245(i) of the immigration and nationality act.
Being inspected means that the alien entered using a valid visa, paroled
inside the United States, entered using the visa waiver program. The
alien is grandfathered by section 245(i) if a family petition or a labor
certification has been filed for the benefit of that alien prior to April 30,
2001. If the alien was not inspected nor grandfathered under section
245(i), such as if the alien crossed the border illegally, the alien cannot
obtain his or her green card inside the United States. Along with the
application and petition, the alien is also required to take a medical
examination by a physician designated by the USCIS. The result of
that physical examination is reported in a USCIS form and sealed in an
envelope submitted with the Petition and Adjustment Application.
The alien spouse may also apply for a work authorization card with
the Petition and Adjustment application. The work authorization card
will allow the alien spouse to work legally in the United States, obtain
a social security card, and a driver’s license while that person is waiting
for his or her green card interview. Work Authorization card are usually
issued in about1 to 2 months from filing the application.
The green card interview is usually set in about 5 to 6 months from
the time the Petition and Application is filed. The green card interview
is the most important step in the process. It is through this process
that the USCIS officer usually determines whether the marriage,
which forms the basis of the Petition, was entered in good faith. The
adjudicating officer usually asks detailed questions about the marriage
relationship between the US Citizen spouse and alien spouse. If the
couple do not have children, the marriage are usually subject to closer
scrutiny. Along with this inquiry process, the USCIS would usually
request for certain documents that proves a bonafide marriage. Some
of these documents may be in the form of pictures, joint utility bills,
health insurance documents, and many more. If everything goes well,
the USCIS officer will approve the case and a green card will be mailed
to the alien’ address within a reasonable time period. If the couple
has been married for 2 years or more, the alien spouse will receive a
permanent greencard. If the couple has been married for less than 2
years, the alien will receive a conditional green card. The alien spouse
will have to file a petition to remove the condition 3 months prior to
the expiration of the conditional greencard which is good for 2 years.
Obtaining legal status in the United States is a one shot deal.
People should seek the assistance of an experienced Attorney to guide
them through this important and and once in a lifetime process.
***
AttorneyKennethUrsuaReyeswasPresidentofthePhilippineAmericanBarAssociation.
HeisamemberofboththeFamilylawsectionandImmigrationlawsectionoftheLosAngeles
CountyBarAssociation.HehasextensiveCPAexperiencepriortolawpractice.LAWOFFICES
OFKENNETHREYES,P.C.islocatedat3699WilshireBlvd.,Suite700,LosAngeles,CA,90010.
Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail [email protected]; Website kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Immigration detainers LBC awards first two winners of House and Lot packages
Tales from
the Arena
Charles Medina, Esq.
In 2012, we saw a sharp
contrast in the enforcement
of immigration laws against
different groups of aliens. The
deferred action for childhood
arrivals (DACA) program granted
limited relief to qualified aliens
who came to the US as children.
The Immigration and Customs
Enforcement’s (ICE) Office of
the Chief Counsel continued to
exercise prosecutorial discretion in
low priority cases, resulting in the
administrative closure or dismissal
of many removal proceedings. The
beneficiaries of these favorable
actions are mostly non-criminal
aliens.
However, the removal of
criminal aliens and other high
priority immigration offenders has
not abated. In 2012, ICE removed
225,390 criminal aliens out of the
total of 409,849 removals. This
accomplishment might be due
in part to the use of immigration
detainers or ICE holds, which
has attracted a fair amount of
controversy and litigation.
In an effort to promote
uniformity, on December 21, 2012,
ICE released a revised guidance
on the issuance of immigration
detainers. Under 8 CFR 287.7, ICE
may issue a detainer to advise
another law enforcement agency
that ICE seeks custody of an
alien presently in the custody of
that agency, for the purpose of
arresting and removing the alien.
For example, under ICE’s
Secure Communities program,
when state and local law
enforcement agencies arrest an
individual, these agencies take the
individual’s fingerprints and send
these to the California Department
of Justice (CalDOJ) for a criminal
history investigation. CalDOJ
forwards these fingerprints to
the FBI to search for federal and
out-of-state criminal history. The
FBI forwards these fingerprints to
ICE. If the fingerprints match an
immigration record, ICE evaluates
whether to take action. If ICE
chooses to assume custody of the
individual, it sends an immigration
detainer requesting the jailor to
hold the individual for up to 48
hours after he would otherwise
be released to give ICE time to
complete its evaluation or to take
Continued on Page 6
SAN FRANCISCO—One winner said it was an answered prayer that
will benefit their church in the Philippines, while another was initially
skeptical when she first learned the news.
Both winners, however, share the same sentiments that they are
happy and satisfied with the reliability of LBC’s services.
Both Raquel G. Abulencia of Madera, Calif. and Edna A. Divinagracia
of Edmonton, AB in Canada each won a brand-new house and lot
package from LBC in November 2012. They were picked during a special
electronic raffle draw at the LBC Corporate Office in South San Francisco,
Calif. from thousands of LBC customers who were automatically entered
into the company’s 2012 holiday “Lupa, Bahay, Cash” raffle promotion.
The house and lot packages are located inside the fully-developed
Avida Village Santa Cecilia in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
US winner
USA House and LotWinner Raquel A. Abulencia and Spouse with Hugo N. Bonilla (far left)
In the case of Ms. Abulencia, she has been a regular customer of LBC
PresidentLBCNorthAmerica,FernandoG.AranetaPresidentLBCExpressandJavierMantecon
since immigrating to the US in 2006. “I use the LBC money remittance
OCRO LBC Express.
service at least once a month. I also try to ship a balikbayan box once or
twice a year,” Ms. Abulencia shared in an interview.
A staunch supporter of Filipino-owned companies in the U.S., Ms.
Abulencia prefers to use LBC services because of the company’s “reliability
and its friendly staff.”
Thinking that it is a scam, Ms. Abulencia was initially skeptical when
LBC contacted her to inform her of the good news. Her skepticism,
however, turned into joy. “I was so happy and excited when I found out
I won. I have never won anything big before,” explained Ms. Abulencia,
who works as a pharmacist at a Fresno-branch of Walmart.
Ms. Abulencia said she intends to rent out her new property in Cavite
since she and her husband will not be staying in the Philippines long
enough to live in their new house.
Canada winner
Ms. Divinagracia, for her part, plans to convert the property she won
into cash.
LBC’s raffle mechanics, however, does not allow for the house-and-lot
package to be converted into cash. Ms. Divinagracia will instead consider
selling the property and use the proceeds to donate to a cause close to
Continued on Page 6
CanadaHouseandLotWinnerEdnaDivinagraciafromEdmonton,ABwithRafaelPolicarpio,
LBC Country Head for Canada.
january 4-10, 2013
www.asianjournal.com
5
6
Scholarship grants offered to New York City high school seniors
january 4-10, 2013
www.asianjournal.com
Deadline is on Jan. 11
Oc t o b e r 2 0 1 2 – J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3
Through My Father’s Eyes: The Filipino American Photographs of
Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado
Through My Father’s Eyes: The Filipino American Photographs of Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado (1914 – 1976) is a collection of 50 photographs chosen from more than 3,000 discovered by his daughter, Janet Alvarado after his death. This exhibit offers a rare view into the
daily life of the Filipino-American community in the post-World War II era in the Bay Area.
Alvarado’s photography was more than a hobby. He photographed weddings, funerals,
baptisms, and parties. His ‘view camera,’ a Speed Graphic, documented street scenes, beauty
pageants, cock fights, agricultural workers tending crops, and entrepreneurs on the job. The
exhibit is at the Gallery in the Pacific Hotel at History Park in Kelley Park. Gallery hours are
Tuesday through Sunday 11am to 5pm; the Museum Store and O’Brien’s Café are 11am to
4pm. Gallery admission: Tuesday through Friday is free; Saturday and Sunday: Free for HSJ
members, Adults $8, Seniors and Students $5, Children under 6 are free. For more information visit www.historysanjose.org or www.thealvaradoproject.com
2013
Pangasinan Normal School class of ‘63 Golden Reunion
Calling all graduates of Pangasinan Normal School of Bayambang Pangasinan Class of
’63. A small group of alums is planning a Golden Reunion in 2013, and would like all other
graduates to join in planning and, of course, attending the celebrations in the Philippines. We
are excited to get in touch with as many of our cohorts as possible or if you may of some who
is a graduate of the class of ’63, please pass this information along to them. If you’re interested and would like to join the thus-far small committee, please contact Engr. Ernie Llanes at
(323) 459-4869 (cell) or (323) 661-7745 / email:[email protected]. Or call Mina Casipit
Valenzuela at (847) 678-4261/email: [email protected]. We all look forward to getting
together after 50 years with everyone and catching up! And please remember that we would
like to gather as many graduates as possible, so please pass the information along to anyone
you may know.
J a n ua ry 10, 201
Fundraising Reception for Assemblymember Rob Bonta
Please Join the Los Angeles Filipino Community and Hildy Aguinaldo, Jun Jao, Menard
Leelin, James Santa Maria, Ben Nate, Honorable Mark Pulido, Judith Sethna and Levin Sy
for a reception supporting Assemblyman Rob Bonta on Thursday, January 10, 2013 from 6
to 8pm at the The Santa Maria Group on 550 S. Hope Street, Suite 1910 - Los Angeles, CA
90071. The ticket prices are as follows: Ticket - $100, Friend - $250, Sponsor - $500, Chair
- $1,000. RSVP to (916) 551-1430, or via email at [email protected]. Please make checks
payable to Rob Bonta for State Assembly 2012, ID# 1339722, 1005 – 12th Street, Suite H,
Sacramento, CA 95814. Online Contributions: https://m.actblue.com/entity/fundraiser/27423
J a n ua ry 12, 2013
‘On the Level’ a Masonic Information Night
The Los Angeles community is invited to “On The Level,” a masonic information program
and open house at the Atwater Larchmont Tila Pass Masonic Lodge at 2927 Rowena Ave,
Los Angeles CA 90039 on Jan. 12, 2013 at 6:00 pm. The event is open to men and their
families who would like to know more about Masonry or who are interested in membership.
Guest speaker is Dr. Ron Koretz, an alumnus of Caltech and the UCLA School of Medicine
and an Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center with a specialty in
Gastroenterology. WB Ron Koretz is a Past Master and authority in Masonic History and will
gladly answer your questions related to Freemasonry. A sumptuous dinner will be served after
the presentation.
For reservations please call any of the following: Jonathan Asis WM at (818) 929-2224,
George dela Cruz SW at (562) 644-9511, Jimmy Gonzales JW at (310) 408-3377, Gilbert
Cabrera PM, Lodge Secretary at (626) 715-8047. General information about the Masons of
California is available at www.freemason.org, or you may go to our lodge web site at www.
altp614.org
j a n ua ry 26, 2013
Bambanense Town Fiesta
Everyone is invited to join the Bambanense Town Fiesta on January 26, 2013, from 12pm
to 4pm at the Hilltop Community Park on 9711 Oviedo Way, San Diego, CA 92129. This
event will be an annual celebration of our hometown of Bamban, Tarlac. There will be a mass
celebration as well as a potluck feast. The fiesta is hosted by the 2012-2013 San Diego Chapter Bambanense Officers. For more information, please get in touch with Arlene Arcilla at
(858) 780-0890 or Hazel Esguerra at (805) 822-4095.
45th Year High School Reunion of Holy Angel College Class of 1968
To all members of HAC High School Class 1968 (the “Victors”): Come join us in celebrating our 45th High School Reunion and be a part of Batch ‘68’s history. Let’s prove that after
45 years we remained united and we never forget to look back and pay tribute to our alma
mater. Our reunion will be on January 26, 2013, from 1pm - 11pm at the Holy Angel University Main Bldg. Quadrangle in Angeles City, Philippines. For Batch ‘68 members overseas,
please contact any of the following to confirm your attendance: Cynthia Ocampo ([email protected], (702) 361-2846, (702) 353-3233; Yolanda Garcia (ybuan.yolanda@gmail.
com); Renato Franco ([email protected]); Albilio Lansangan, Jr. (jun.lansangan@gmail.
com).
F e b r ua ry 1, 2013
Filipino American Educators Association Conference
The Filipino American Educators Association of California (FAEAC) will be holding a statewide conference in Sacramento, CA. The theme is BUILDING SHARED KNOWLEDGE TO
INSPIRE & EMPOWER: Sharing the Filipino-American Experience. The conference will be held
from February 1 to 3, at The Citizen Hotel on 926 J Street, Sacramento, CA.
f e b r ua ry 10, 2013
Cayetano Arellano (Manila North) High School 68th Grand Alumni Homecoming
Tayo na sa Arellano! Rekindle the fire of long-lost friendships and re-connect with high
school classmates. And create new, exciting memories! GREEN means GO! The Cayetano
Arellano High School Class of 1963 (Golden Jubilee) and Class of 1988 (Silver Jubilee) invites
the entire Cayetano Arellano High School alumni community to the 68th Grand Alumni
Homecoming on February 10, 2013, to be held in Manila, Philippines. Jubilee tickets are
now available for USA and Canada residents! Please contact the 2013 Arellano Homecoming
Team via email at [email protected] or [email protected] or via telephone at (818)
281-8105.
f e b r ua ry 16-23, 2013
General Roxas Elementary / Manuel Roxas High School Reunion
Members of the alumni communities of General Roxas Elementary School and Manuel
Roxas High School are all invited to the upcoming reunion on February 16 – 23 2013 at the
Gen. Roxas Elementary School in Roxas District, Quezon City. For more information, you may
contact Rene Aquino (based in Florida, USA) at [email protected] or +1(407) 699-9522, or
Ruby Ferniz (based in the Philippines) at [email protected] or +(632)345-2464.
Ap r i l 2 7 , 2 0 1 3
Santa Maria Ilocos Sur Global Reunion – Las Vegas, 2013
The Santa Maria Ilocos Sur Association of Nevada invites you to the 9th Biennial Santa
Maria Ilocos Sur Global Reunion in Las Vegas. The event will be held on Saturday, April 27,
2013, from 6pm until 12mn at the Tuscany Hotel and Casino on 255 East Flamingo Road, Las
Vegas, NV 89169. For more information, contact Alex Pena at (702) 373-9522 or adpena@
cox.net.
M ay 2 4 – 2 6 , 2 0 1 3
Ledesma Clan Family Reunion in Bacolod, Victorias, and Silay, Philippines
Calling all Ledesmas! Come join and meet relatives at our first-ever grand family reunion
to be held next year in Bacolod, Victorias and Silay, Philippines. Reunion dates are May 24
– 26, 2013. All Ledesma branches are invited to attend. You are one of 6K descendants so
come and meet the rest of your relatives. For more details, contact the media committee at
09178843349, 09173607234, [email protected] or [email protected]. Facebook page is Familia Ledesma of Jaro, Iloilo. Continuous updates are posted.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the
details at [email protected] or [email protected]
New York, NY—Five scholarship grants of $5,000
each are being offered to New York City high school
seniors through an essay contest on the life of Reginald
F. Lewis, the late CEO and Chairman of TLC Beatrice
International with the deadline for submission on
January 11.  Students in their senior year at a New York
City public school who have demonstrated academic
achievement, financial need and an interest in business
can submit an essay of approximately 1,000 words.
Details can be found at http://ww.nycgrads.org/
rflfoundationscholarship.
The essay contest is being funded through a
grant from The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation and is
being administered through the New York City Fund
for Public Schools. Winners will be announced at a
ceremony on January 18.
As CEO of TLC Beatrice International, Reginald
Lewis presided over a business empire that included
64 companies in 31 countries.  His remarkable career
was cut short when he passed away at the age of
50 on January 19, 1993. Today, his name graces the
International Law Building at Harvard Law School, a
building at
Virginia State
University and
the Museum
of Maryland
African
American
History &
Culture.    
Coinciding
with the 25th
Anniversary of
Reginald Lewis’
acquisition
of the
international
division of
Beatrice
Foods, a special commemorative edition of Mr. Lewis’
biography, “Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?
How Reginald Lewis Created A Billion-Dollar Business
Empire,” is being reissued by Black Classic Press. 
LBC awards first two winners of House...
From Page 4
her heart.
“I would like to donate the
money to our parish church. This
was my pledge to the Almighty
God. He answered my prayers,”
she explained in an interview. She
further shared that the money will
be earmarked for the construction
of an elevator at the one-of-a-kind
church in her hometown.
The Luminous Cross of
Grace Sanctuary in the town of
Agdangan, in Quezon province,
is the only Catholic Church in
the world that is shaped like a
chalice. The remarkable aspect
of this unique 120-feet tall
building is that it was built after
the townspeople pooled their
resources together.
Thus, Ms. Divinagracia
believes that the house-and-lot
package she won from LBC was “a
wonderful Christmas gift from the
Almighty God.”
When she won the LBC raffle
in November 2012, it was only
the third month that her family
in Edmonton, Alberta province
has been using LBC’s services.
“We just started using LBC cargo
services three months ago. We
found out that their door-to-door
cargo service is so fast. They also
deliver our boxes on time and safe.
The box is also bigger compared
with other door-to-door services,”
she said.
In Canada, LBC’s customers of
cargo services are provided with
21”x21”x25” boxes to fill with their
gifts to their loved ones in the
Philippines.
In the case of Ms.
Divinagracia’s family, they
regularly send six cargo boxes
to Agdangan, Quezon once a
month. She said they will now
depend on LBC’s cargo services
to send supplies to their various
Immigration detainers
From Page 4
the individual into custody.
On December 4, 2012, CalDOJ issued a bulletin
reminding state and local law enforcement agencies
that an immigration detainer is merely a request
enforceable at the discretion of the agency holding
the individual. Law enforcement agencies can make
their own decisions whether to fulfill an immigration
detainer based on public-safety risks and resources.
Now under ICE’s December 21, 2012
memorandum, ICE will issue an immigration detainer
only where it has reason to believe an individual
is an alien subject to removal and one or more of the
following conditions apply: (1) the individual has a
prior felony conviction or has been charged with a
felony offense; (2) the individual has three or more
prior misdemeanor convictions; (3) the individual has
a prior misdemeanor conviction or has been charged
with a misdemeanor offense if the misdemeanor
conviction or pending charge involves violence,
threats, or assault, sexual abuse or exploitation,
driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled
substance, unlawful flight from the scene of an
accident, unlawful possession or use of a firearm or
other deadly weapon, distribution or trafficking of a
controlled substance, or other significant threat to
public safety; (4) the individual has been convicted
of illegal entry pursuant to 8 USC § 1325; (5) the
individual has illegally re-entered the country after
a previous removal or return; (6) the individual has
an outstanding order of removal; (7) the individual
has been found by an immigration officer or an
immigration judge to have knowingly committed
immigration fraud; or (8) the individual otherwise
businesses in Quezon. Their family
operates a grocery and clothing
store, a resort, a boarding house
and an alkaline water filling
station in their hometown.
LBC raffle
Two more winners will be
selected in another special
electronic draw on January 4,
2013. LBC customers from both
the US and Canada who availed
of LBC services from September
1, 2012 to December 1, 2012 will
be automatically entered into the
raffle.
In addition to the four winners
of house-and-lot packages, 17
winners from the U.S. and 17
winners from Canada have won
$1,000 in cash during the weekly
raffle draw. The last raffle draw
for the cash prizes were held last
December 28 at the LBC Corporate
Office in South San Francisco, Calif.
(Advertising Supplement)
poses a significant risk to national security, border
security, or public safety.
The curious thing with this memorandum is
the range of offenses it covers, some of which are
not necessarily grounds for removal. INA 287(d),
which is the statutory basis for detainers, appears to
authorize detainers only if the individual is arrested
for a controlled substance offense. In Committee
for Immigrant Rights of Sonoma County v. County
of Sonoma, 644 F. Supp. 2d 1177 (N.D. Cal. 2009),
a US District Court ruled that ICE has authority to
issue detainers in non-controlled substance arrests.
The District Court interpreted INA 287(d) as placing
special requirements on the issuance of detainers
for controlled substance violations but not expressly
limiting the issuance of detainers to controlled
substance violations. This might not be the last
decision on this issue.
Despite these controversies, ICE has been issuing
detainers for various offenses. The December 21, 2012
memorandum does not change policies but merely
aligns practices with current priorities.
It might be difficult to avoid a detainer due to
ICE’s relentless pursuit of criminal aliens. If you wish to
avoid removal proceedings, avoid getting involved in
criminal offenses. However, if you find yourself in this
situation and a detainer is issued, you should never
lose hope. You should focus instead on how to win
relief in your removal proceedings.
***
Charles Medina practices immigration law. Visit his website at
medinalawgroup.net for more details.This article provides general
information only and does not provide legal advice on any specific
matter or predict the outcome of any legal matter. It does not invite
or create an attorney-client relationship.
(Advertising Supplement)
january 4-10, 2013
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cora
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