Msgr. Gutierrez Zena Babao Ben Maynigo Last Gadget Witnessing and Test of Faith – p. 16 Standing CES Baptism – p. 10 2015 – p. 6 JanuaryJanuary 9-15, 9-15, 2015 2015 The original and first Asian Journal in America PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid Philippine Radio San Diego’s first and only Asian Filipino weekly publication and a multi-award winning newspaper! Online+Digital+Print Editions to best serve you! Permit No. 203 AM 1450 550 E. 8th St., Ste. 6, National City, San Diego County CA USA 91950 | Ph: 619.474.0588 | Fx: 619.474.0373 | Email: [email protected] | www.asianjournalusa.com Chula Vista M-F 7-8 PM CA 91910 PNoy wants papal visit security improvedABS CBN | MANILA, 1/8/2015 - A few days before Filipina social entrepreneur Fantasy Land the arrival of Pope Francis in makes it to Forbes’ list the country, President Aquino urged government offi cials Rags2Riches co-founder Charity Projects and security personnel to fur- Reese Fernandez-Ruiz is By Simeon G. Silverio, Jr. ther improve security prepara- among the 30 people fea- Publisher & Editor tions for the papal visit. tured in Forbes’ list of social San Diego Asian Journal Interior and Local Gov- entrepreneurs under 30 The Original and First Asian Journal In America ernment Secretary Manuel Roxas II yesterday said the Rappler.com | MANILA, San Diego, California President on Tuesday presided 1/6/2015 – A 29-year-old Chapter 8 over a four-hour meeting on Filipino who opened opportu- the security preparations, and nities for women in one of the Aquino “critiqued the plan for biggest garbage dump sites in he inauguration of the new each part of the visit.” the Philippines joins Forbes’ known for compiling a list president of Fantasy Land The President would like 2015 list of social entrepre- of individuals based on their went well. The people en- all 18 government agencies to book-listed assets. T neurs under 30. joyed his speech, and a renewed further strengthen their se- Ruiz's social venture began Rags2Riches co-founder hope for a better future for the curity plans in the remaining Reese Fernandez-Ruiz is in 2007, when she discovered days before the pope’s arrival the need to help women in the country, long besieged by graft and among the 30 people featured corruption, prevailed. on Jan. 15. in the US business magazine, Payatas dumpsite in Quezon Roxas gave assurance that (Continued on page 6) After the ceremonies, everyone the Philippine National Police at the grandstand waited for the new (PNP) is prepared to secure Philippines raises $2 B from president to lead the way in vacat- the perimeter of the areas to ing the area. While a few managed be visited by the pope. global bonds to shake hands with him, the others The PNP announced earlier Market gobbles up offer at The Philippines has a track record of were politely shooed away by his that 25,000 policemen would selling global bonds early in the year to bodyguards to enable his departure. be deployed in all areas where all-time low coupon of 3.95% support majority of its annual foreign debt requirement and obtain favorable Instead of walking down the stairs the pope would pass and stay. By Zinnia B. Dela Peña, Philstar.com | borrowing costs. of the grandstand towards his car, however, the president walked along the aisle towards The National Capital Region Police MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines The bonds came with a switch tender Offi ce (NCRPO) also started erecting raised $2 billion in dollar denominated the Dullesco’s. Once again, he shook the hands of the family members as they congratu- concrete barriers along the stretch of offer for 15 series of dollar denomi- lated him. global bond offering that has attracted nated bonds maturing between 2016 Roxas Boulevard and other roads where about $13.5 billion of orders or well and 2034 as part of the government’s Pope Francis would pass. above the target offer. proactive liability management program. “I am counting on you, Max,” he reminded Max Dullesco. “Our plans for a better fu- NCRPO chief Director Carmelo The country priced the 25-year bonds This arrangement allows the Philippine ture for our country will not succeed without your help.” Valmoria said the concrete barriers at an all-time low coupon of 3.95 per- government to buy back a series of ex- would serve as the “fi rst line of defense” cent, about 25 basis points tighter than isting bonds at a specifi ed bid price and against “troublemakers” and those too its initial price guidance of 4.2 percent. replace them with new debt papers. “I will try my best, Mr. President.” eager to get close to the pope. The Philippines is the fi rst Asian coun- Aside from providing investors The southbound section of Roxas try to tap the international bond market with the opportunity to sell their debt Right away, people watching in the grandstand and the television sets all over the coun- Boulevard will be closed on certain in 2015 with order reaching $13.5 bil- hours during the papal visit to give way holdings, the switch tender strategy try became aware of how important the president regarded the Dullescos. He went out of lion despite an economic slowdown in also allows the issuer to reduce interest to the papal entourage. key global economies. payments. his way to walk over to the family before he left, ignoring the other VIPs and top govern- In a traffi c advisory, the Pasay City Investors from the US purchased 47 Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said ment offi cials eagerly waiting to congratulate him. government yesterday said on Jan. 15, percent or nearly half of the bonds while the success of the bond issue refl ects the the southbound section of Roxas Boule- Asian investors accounted for 41 percent vard will be closed from 4 p.m. until the and Europeans 12 percent. (Continued on page 6) (Continued on page 2) papal entourage passes. On Jan. 16 it will be closed from 1 p.m., on Jan. 17 from 8 a.m., and on Jan. 19 from 5 a.m. until the papal entourage “Pinoy Aquaman” to cross heav- Luneta Mass expected to break 1995 crowd passes. The 125,000-strong military, mean- ily-silted channel in Surigao record while, will be on red alert starting on by Roel Catoto, MindaNews | SU- mining operations and part of marine CBCP News | MANILA, Saturday until Pope Francis leaves RIGAO CITY, 12-31-2014 – Lawyer resources in this area had ruined what 1/4/2015-- An estimated six on Jan. 19. Armed Forces chief Gen. tri-athlete Ingemar “Pinoy Aquaman” could have been the perpetual source of Gregorio Catapang Jr. said the alert to seven million people are status entails the cancellation of leaves Macarine will attempt another record- livelihood among residents especially expected to troop to Luneta setting feat on January 2 by crossing the fi sher folk, the majority dwellers,” of soldiers. the 10-kilometer Hinatuan Passage in he said. (Rizal) Park during the Clos- The military would also tap 100 snip- Surigao del Norte. Macarine hopes he could fi nish the ing Mass of the apostolic visit ers to further secure the venues of the Macarine says he is doing this as part swim as he expects turbulent current of Pope Francis, breaking the papal visit. of his advocacy for clean water and the which could either drag him back or Roxas said ensuring the safety of all record fi ve-million crowd set the devotees is part of the security prep- protection of marine resources. bring him a little bit faster. in an interview. The swim will start from the tourist Unafraid of sharks, Macarine just during the 1995 Papal Mass of of Public Works and High- arations because millions of people are Pope St. John Paul II. ways — but more than fi ve A total 2,250 priests from different expected to see the pope. “So whatever spot of Bucas Grande island and fi nish shrugged off warnings of fi sherfolk he parts of the archipelago and 250 local in the heavily-silted bay in Claver town conversed with as he studied the current Fr. Rufi no Sescon, Jr., ex- million people were expected. the preparations in major activities such and foreign bishops will be concelebrat- as the State of the Nation Address, this in Surigao del Norte. in the area in the past three days. ecutive secretary of the papal “We expect an overfl ow that would ing with the Holy Father during his last Claver hosts several mining com- “I don’t care if sharks will be around, reach Roxas Boulevard and both sides, must be tripled with several government visit steering committee, said Mass in the country at 4 p.m. on January agencies involved.” panies which are extract mineral ore, I’ll be happy swimming with them,” he up to `yung papunta sa US Embassy and 18. mostly nickel, and ship them to China said. Luneta’s capacity was around also going to Anda circle. In 1995, we “The challenge is not only for the PNP All archdioceses and dioceses were but for the entire country… It’s a great and Japan. Junjun Migullas, a pumpboat operator 1.2 million people — citing had [fi ve] million, so that would be a asked to send 20 priests, and a delega- “We can’t deny the fact that large fi gures from the Department conservative estimate. Our population (Continued on page 10) part of this area is heavily-silted due to (Continued on page 7) has grown since 1995,” Fr.