Philippines Duterte says not a fan of US, plots own course

Transcription

1 Indonesia, Philippines vow to tackle sea kidnappings Madrigal Singers entertain Filipinos, diplomatic community SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 Philippine leader takes thinly veiled dig at US Page 2 1.3M boto ni De Lima, buburahin MANILA: Bukod sa kinakaharap na kaso sa Senate committee on ethics, isa pang petisyon ang kinakaharap ni Sen. Leila de Lima para siya ay mapatalsik sa Senado. Sa inihaing kaso ni dating Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino sa Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET ), pinabubura nito ang nakuhang 1.3 milyong boto ni De Lima sa nakaraang senatorial elections. Si De Lima ay ika-12 nanalong senador sa nakaraang halalan sa nakuhang 14,144,070 boto. Ang ika-13 na si Tolentino ay mayroon namang nakuhang botong 12,881,098. Si Tolentino ay inendorso ni Pangulong Duterte sa nakaraang halalan. Kung papaboran ng SET ang petisyon ni Tolentino sa pagbura ng 1.3 milyong boto, lalamang ito sa senadora ng 37,028, at maaaring iproklama bilang ika-12 nanalong senador. PH gov t defends decision on hero burial for Marcos MANILA: The Philippine Supreme Court on Wednesday extended its temporary ban on the burial of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at a heroes cemetery after a hearing at which some justices questioned whether President Rodrigo Duterte abused his executive power and violated laws by allowing the entombment, which is opposed by the Marcos regime s human rights victims. The court gave both sides 20 days to submit statements before making a ruling. An earlier court order temporarily halted the burial until Sept. 12 while the cases were being heard. Solictor General Jose Calida defended Duterte s directive, saying it is within the president s power and a political issue that the court should not rule on. He said Marcos as a former president and war veteran who was not dishonorably discharged from the military is qualified to be buried at the military-run cemetery. Burying a dictator accused of massive rights violations and corruption at the Heroes Cemetery has long been an emotional and divisive issue in the Philippines, where Marcos was ousted by a people power revolt in Continued on Page 2 JAKARTA: In this handout photo taken and released by the Presidential palace, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (R) speaks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during their bilateral meeting at the Presidential palace in Jakarta. Indonesia and the Philippines on September 9 pledged to ensure security on the high seas after a surge of kidnappings by Islamist militants in the strife-torn southern Philippines. (See Page 2) AFP Philippines Duterte says not a fan of US, plots own course DAVAO: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, saying he was not a fan of the United States, vowed yesterday to steer an independent course for the key Asian ally and refrain from confronting territorial rival China. The incendiary leader made the comments after a controversial first foreign trip and spectacular falling out with US President Barack Obama, who he called a son of a whore (as they interpreted it). But acid-tongued Duterte on Friday said the Philippine expression putangina should not be taken at face value, and it was an ordinary expression (used) by everyone. It s son of a bitch or son of a gun. It s not son of a whore, he told an audience of Filipinos during a visit to the Indonesian capital Jakarta. He insisted his remarks were not directed at Obama but at the US State Department, which has raised concerns over potential human rights violations in Duterte s anticrime campaign which has left almost 3,000 dead in just over two months. I got really angry about these threats over this human rights issue. This is the fault of the crazy people in the State Department, he said. I am not a fan of the Americans... Filipinos should be first before everybody else, Duterte told reporters upon arrival in his hometown of Davao city yesterday. In our relations to the world, the Philippines will pursue an independent foreign policy. I repeat: The Philippines will pursue an independent foreign policy. The president s trip to a summit in Laos was overshadowed by his verbal tirade, which saw Obama cancel a planned meeting. The pair met briefly later after Duterte expressed regret. The US, Manila s main military ally and the Philippines colonial ruler until 1946, has criticised Duterte s brutal crackdown on crime, which has claimed 3,000 lives since he took office in July and drawn condemnation from the United Nations. Obama has urged the Filipino leader to conduct his crime war the right way and protect human rights, but Duterte has dismissed it as being none of America s business. The two also subtly differed on how to proceed after a UN-backed international tribunal in July outlawed most of China s claims to the strategic South China Sea, including areas that overlap with those of the Philippines and other neighbours. Obama, whose government wants to ensure freedom of navigation in the waterway, brought up the contentious issue at the Laos forum also attended by China. He stressed that the tribunal s ruling was binding and could not be ignored by Beijing, which has rejected it. Duterte favours a soft landing for the issue and said Saturday it would be counter-productive for his militarily weak nation, which hosts small units of US forces, to confront China or undertake actions that could lead to armed conflict. I assured everybody that there are only two options there: We go to fight, which we cannot afford at all, or talk, he added. On Friday during an overnight visit to Indonesia, Duterte announced China had pledged to help build drug rehabilitation centres to treat Filipino crystal meth users. Law enforcement officials believe criminal gangs in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong supply most of the illegal and highly addictive stimulants to the Philippines. Only China has offered to help us, Duterte said Friday, according to an official transcript of a speech he gave to the Filipino community in Jakarta. AFP

2 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, Indonesia, Philippines vow to tackle sea kidnappings JAKARTA : People take pictures as Indonesian President Joko Widodo (centre R) and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (C) visit Tanah Abang market in Jakarta last Friday. American investors in the Philippines on September 9 warned that President Rodrigo Duterte s brutal drugs war and foul-mouthed tirades, including branding US leader Barack Obama a son of a whore, could hit foreign investment. AFP JAKARTA: Indonesia and the Philippines on Friday pledged to ensure security on the high seas after a surge of kidnappings by Islamist militants in the strife-torn southern Philippines. At least 25 Indonesian sailors and a handful of Malaysians have been abducted this year travelling in the Sulu Sea between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Philippine Islamist extremist outfit Abu Sayyaf, notorious for carrying out kidnappings-for-ransom, has been blamed for the abductions. Those abducted are typically taken to Abu Sayyaf strongholds in the southern Philippines. Most have been released, with authorities refusing to confirm whether ransoms were paid or not, although a handful of Indonesians are still being held. After talks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Jakarta on Friday, President Joko Widodo hailed the neighbours cooperation in guaranteeing security in the Sulu Sea. We hope that there will be no more security issues in the Sulu Sea in the future, and we will conduct joint patrols to ensure security. Duterte, on his first foreign bilateral trip since winning power in May elections, said the two sides had committed to take all necessary steps to ensure maritime security. There is a lot of piracy there... it has prevented the two countries from comfortably exchanging commerce and trade. In May, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines agreed to launch coordinated patrols of the waters, although the countries are still working out the details. Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of a few hundred Islamist militants, formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden s Al-Qaeda network. Duterte also said that they would work together to tackle the menace of illegal drugs, at a time both countries claim to be fighting a war against rising narcotics use. The Philippine leader is overseeing the large-scale killing of drug traffickers, which has claimed almost 3,000 lives, and sparked a wave of international condemnation. Since taking power in 2014, Widodo has triggered global anger by stepping up executions of convicted drug traffickers, including foreigners. AFP Philippine leader takes thinly veiled dig at US VIENTIANE: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took a thinly veiled dig at the United States on Thursday, complaining that colonizers who killed many Filipinos are now raising human rights concerns with him. President Barack Obama was among several world leaders who listened to Duterte s brief speech at the East Asia Summit in the Laotian capital of Vientiane. Obama earlier canceled a meeting with Duterte after the Philippine leader referred to him in comments to reporters as a son of a bitch and warned him not to discuss the deaths of thousands of suspects in an antidrug campaign. Two Philippine Cabinet officials said Duterte did not criticize any country or leader by name in his speech. Other diplomats who heard the speech, however, felt he was referring to the United States, which colonized the Philippines after defeating its former ruler, Spain. An Indonesian diplomat said Duterte held up a picture of Filipinos killed in colonial times to underscore his point. The diplomat spoke to reporters on condition that he not be named because of the sensitivity of the issue. Philippine officials refused to release Duterte s remarks, which were not included in his prepared speech. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said the president provided an explanation of how human rights records should be assessed in the context of the historical record. In the passionate intervention of President Duterte, he underscored the need to take a long historical view of human rights, mindful of the atrocities against the ethnic people of Mindanao, the department said in a statement, referring to the southern Philippine region where American forces were involved in deadly clashes with Muslim Filipinos in the early 1900s. Duterte, who assumed the presidency in June, has had an uneasy relationship with the U.S., his country s longtime treaty ally. He has said he is charting a foreign policy that is not dependent on the U.S., and has moved to reduce tensions with China over rival territorial claims. The tough-talking president has also blasted U.N.-appointed human rights experts and rights watchdogs who have expressed concerns over VIENTIANE: U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, glances at Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, right, at the start of 11th East Asia Summit on the last day of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and other related summits at the National Convention Center Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 in Vientiane, Laos. AP the extrajudicial killings of more than 2,800 suspected drug dealers and users since Duterte took office. More than 600,000 others have surrendered, apparently out of fear of being killed. After the flap over Duterte s earlier remarks, he and Obama met briefly on the sidelines of the Laos meetings and shook hands. One Cabinet member, Jesus Dureza, said he asked Duterte how his talk with Obama went. It was OK, Dureza quoted Duterte as saying. He told me, we can talk some more at another time. The summit ended with Laos turning over the chairmanship of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations to Duterte, whose country will host the annual diplomatic gathering next year. AP PH gov t Continued from Page 1 He flew to Hawaii, where he lived with his wife and children in exile until he died in His body was flown back to his hometown in 1993, where it has been displayed in a glass coffin. But his family wants his remains transferred to the Heroes Cemetery. During Wednesday s hearing, about 200 supporters of the late dictator picketed outside the court, some carrying a streamer that said Bury the dead, follow the law. Another group of activists opposing the burial held up a banner that said Marcos is no hero! and chanted Marcos, Hitler, Dictator, Puppet! AP

3 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, Madrigal Singers entertain Filipinos, diplomatic community KUWAIT: Award winning a capella (choir) group, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, regaled Kuwait s diplomatic community last Wednesday at the Abdulaziz Hussein Theater in Salmiya. The group visited Kuwait at the request of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, in cooperation with the National Council for Culture Arts and Letters-Kuwait. The Madz, as the choir is popularly known, also offered some songs at the Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City, visited and interacted with hundreds of Filipino runaway housemaids at the Philippine Embassy shelter and entertained Filipinos at a concert held last night (Saturday) at the Movenpick Convention Center, Free Trade Zone. The Philippine Madrigal Singers has just recently won the prestigious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing held at Arezzo, Italy last month. The Philippine Madrigal Singers was organized in 1963 by National Artist Professor Andrea O. Veneracion. The choir is one of the world s most awarded having consistently won all the top prizes in most of the world s prestigious choral competitions.

4 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, KFB 9th regular tournament concludes K U WA I T: T h e m u c h a w a i t e d K F B 9 t h Regular Tournament dubbed as Officers Cup have finally concluded held in Al Arabi Gym in M ansouriya that set the mood of competitiveness. After weeks of elimination on different categories the strongest, experience players leading the events have all of a sudden twist the fate changed the game results as those players that are the underdog bag the championship pushing themselves to the limits proving their skills, stamina and creativity for the glory of becoming the CHAMPION. The nerve racking competition said it all as excitement unfold right by the very eyes of the expectators, supporters and friends of each of the opponents who got amazed of the hard smashing sound, the jaw dropping fall of the shuttlecock to the net and of course the techniques that been showcased by each of the players that truly enough to raise the adrenalin rush. The victorious: AM Games Mixed Intermediate and Novice 1 Champion-Jose Mathew & Riyadh Baik 1st Runner up-medo Abood & Madhu Pillai 2nd Runner up-marlon Diculin & Joan Diculin Novice 2 Higher Champion-Pravin Karmegam & Eduard Gardose 1st Runner up-majeed Mazho & Kenneth Fajardo 2nd Runner up-claire Bobiles & Dennies Royan Novice 2 Lower Champion-Gowtham RG & Quentin Conyer 1st Runner up-arthur Cotoco & Elena Bernabe 2nd Runner up-kamil Kourani & Mae Cruz Novice 3 Champion-Daisy Valdez & Bonie Tabaquirao 1st Runner up-mharjay Miravel & Elimar Cabus 2nd Runner up-edgar Pascua & Edwin Asuncion PM Team Event Champion-Erickson Venturina, Madhu Pillai, Erick Alayun & Gowtham RG 1st Runner up-art Venturina, Dennies Royan, Lowela Cayme & Quentin Conyer 2nd Runner up-marlon Diculin,Brandon Venturina,Joan Diculin & Arthur Cotoco PM Novice 3 Champion-Marilyn Agustin & Suzette Glazener 1st Runner up-sharon Joy Barasi & Donna Labitag 2nd Runner up-gladys Sacabin & Marecris Macaldo Congratulations to all of the winners and for another Experience of Innovation at KFB. For inquiry please contact Kuwait Filipino Badminton with the Facebook page kuwaitfilipinobadminton. Greetings Happy Happy Birthday to Maximo Zeus Ducabo Roque who celebrated his 4th Birthday on September 9, May every day in future be like your birthday be rosy as this happy day. Greetings from Papa Zaldy, Mama Tintin, Lolo, lola, Ate Star and from classmates from Al Salam Prep School. Elliah S. Cordero will be celebrating her 1st birthday at Seafoods Restaurant in Salmiyah on Monday. May your birthday be filled with the warmth of Sunshine, the happiness of Smiles, the sounds of Laughter, the feeling of Love and sharing of good Cheer. Happy Birthday Ayah!!! We hope this is the beginning of your greatest, most wonderful year ever! Greetings coming from your loving parents, Dennis and Joy, Ate Dania, Ate Star, Daddy Lolo and Mommy Lola and all Titos and Titas.

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6 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, FBC HELD 2ND SERIES OF FUN GAMES KUWAIT: The Filipino Badminton Committee (FBC) held its 2nd series of Fun Games - Mix Doubles (Levels A & D and Levels B & C) competition at the American International School (AIS), Hawally last Friday. Due to the Fun Games-Part 1 success and positive results, FBC officers catered to the insistent demands of their members to have a sequel. FBC Officers would like to thank all the participants and congratulations to the following winners: Champion - Essam Meslmani and Alma Ibno and First Runner up - Amador Caceres Jr. and Jenny Ogalde. Likewise, FBC in collaboration with Pro Sports are proud to announce the upcoming FBC One-Day Tourney - Clash of the Novices. From the initial date of September 16, 2016, the date has to be moved at a later date and will be announced soon due to the ongoing maintenance works of the gym. Preparations is ongoing and inviting all badminton enthusiasts to join which will be a truly memorable event and an assembly of some of Kuwait s finest badminton talents. Once again, FBC is inviting all badminton addicts to join their upcoming 75th tourney and every Friday in their regular tournaments from 8 am to 1 pm, FBC Singles and adults/kids badminton coaching/tutorial and court rental from 2 pm to 5 pm. For inquiries personally come at the Kuwait Disabled Sports Club in Hawally, every Friday.

7 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, Magic 8 : Asian Air Safari prevails, Scavengers, Nusantara derail By Maximo Zeus Ducabo KUWAIT: The standing of the top five teams, Asian Air Safari, LEAF, Swooping Eagles, SMD Lane Masters and Fiery Dragons during the penultimate games was not affected after the final elimination round of the Philippine Bowling Association in Kuwait 118th Philippine Independence Team Tournament held at COZMO Bowling Center in Kheifan held on Friday. Mangaf Strikers snatched the sixth position from Original Pin Killers who slide to seventh place while All Star Strikers took the last ticket to the Magic 8. Unluckily, Scavengers and NUSANTARA was out from the final games. Mangaf Strikers victory over favored SMD Lane Masters change their standing from seventh to sixth place. In the first game of the 3-game series, the much favored SMD Lane Masters outscored the Mangaf boys but seemed unaffected due to their protection shield. But in the second game the highly energized Mangaf Strikers won the game with just 42 points difference. In the final game the Strikers duplicated the victory and finally subdued SMD Tony Zuleta (549) piloted his team to the win supported by Jason Gamba (492), Ceddie Martin Faa (470), Medz Nicdao (457) and Robert Opena (416) while SMD top scorer was Ronnel Valencia (616) assisted by Rudy de Lima (525), Noe Mahayag (515), Myra Manalo (497) and Alma Turley (424). Despite the loss, SMD remain holding the four th position and Mangaf Strikers grabbed the sixth place. Without pressure and fidgety, Swooping Eagles and LEAF played inanity games due to their high standing. Swooping Eagles players were Benjie Roque (498), Jessica Balagat (465), Danny Solis (433), Alonzo Bush (420) and Angie Bush (390) while the Landscape have Marjorie Mercado (492), Rocky Castil (480), Cris Carungay (452), Imelda Daguio (360), Blanca Sambajon (315) and Joe Presenta (144). Swooping Eagles posted six wins while the Landscapers registered seven the season s highest number of wins. Despite holding the highest rank, Asian Air Safari without mercy continued its demolition job and now the victim was the Original Pin Killers Vernie Villaruel (583) was the top scorer followed by Gani dela Cruz (501), Lito Michael (494), Sonia Mathews (463) and Hermie Saliba (459). For the losing team the bowlers were Christopher Bush (486), Norlan Balasan (478), Jun Husmillo (471), Aris de Guzman (468) and Ahmad Fadil Karam (435). All eyes during the final week of the elimination were focused on the encounter between the two tail-enders Scavengers and NUSAN- TARA. Difference of 32 marks between Scavengers and the eight placer All Star Strikers and the later playing bye, it is impossible for the Scavengers to snatch the last seat. Both teams played the easy way and scored for NUSANTARA s advantage and fourth win this season. Indonesian team high scorers were Abdul Aziz Al Ali (514) and Ahmad Fahmi (505) followed by Tatang Razak (477), Benyamin Hasan (335), Abel Nitikusumo (289) and Bima Nitikusumo (285) while Scavengers top scorers were Ali Ashkanani (571) and Mohammad Yousef (515) supported by Nouri Al Amiri (494), Nasha King (468), Basma (231) and Aji Varghese (126). The two teams who played bye were Fiery Dragons (561) and All Star Strikers (2652). Meanwhile, the TOP 8 two-week team finals will start on Friday September 16 and 23, Team awards are as follows: Champion -KD , Team Trophy and Individual Trophies First Runner Up -KD , Team Trophy and Individual Trophies Second Runner Up - KD , Team Trophy and Individual Trophies Third Runner Up - KD , Team Plaque Fourth Runner Up - KD , Team Plaque Fifth Runner Up -KD , Team Plaque Sixth Runner Up -KD , Team Plaque Seventh Runner Up -KD , Team Plaque Individual High scores: Category NameIndividual High GameName Individual High Average Men s A Abdul Aziz Al Aslawi 257 Farid Gabriel Men s B Saleh Faraj247 Ferdie Saliba Men s C Ahmad Fahmi214 Riz Roque Ladies A Myra Manalo224 Myra Manalo Ladies B Laras Nitikusumo 213 Laras Nitikusumo Team High Game (Scratch) - All Star Strikers (1010) Team High Series (Scratch + Handicap) - Asian Air Safari (3020) Team Weekly High Series: Week 1 -All Star Strikers Week 6 - LEAF Week 2 - LEAF Week 7 - Swooping Eagles Week 3 - Asian Air Safari Week 8 - Mangaf Strikers Week 4 - Fiery Dragons Week 9 - Original Pin Killers Week 5 - All Star Strikers Week 10 - Mangaf Strikers Week 11 - NUSANTARA Final Standing after the Elimination Round: 1. Asian Air Safari (30465); 2. LEAF (29841); 3. Swooping Eagles (29646); 4. SMD Lane Master (29470); 5. Fiery Dragons (29355); 6. Mangaf Strikers (29288); 7. Original Pin Killers (29236); 8. All Star Strikers (29190); 9. Scavengers (28851); 10. NUSANTARA (28450).

8 Magic 8 : Asian Air Safari prevails, Scavengers, Nusantara derail SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 Pages 7 Manny Pacquiao puts retirement on hold, takes on Vargas BEVERLY HILLS: Manny Pacquiao, left, and Jessie Vargas pose during a news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Thursday, about their WBO welterweight title fight BEVERLY HILLS: Manny Pacquiao is determined to fight on, even without Floyd Mayweather across the ring or HBO in his corner. Five months after the fight Pacquiao expected to be his finale, the Filipino senator stood opposite unheralded welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on Thursday and declared his excitement for yet another chapter in what s now a sprawling pugilistic story with a murky ending. Pacquiao is a politician and a father with multiple reasons to walk away, but trainer Freddie Roach believes that Pacquiao s skills haven t sharply declined. Even after repeatedly claiming he would retire into his political career following his win over Timothy Bradley in April, Pacquiao can t deny that fighting is irresistible, both for the competitive rush and the fat paychecks. It s a big challenge for me to prove I can still manage serving the people and being a boxer, Pacquiao said. I want to give back to the fans who supported me for all these years. Pacquiao showed up to a packed news conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where he has launched all of his recent fights, with a businesslike haircut and a suit befitting a major public figure. He used his time on the podium to diplomatically encourage fans to buy thousands of $50 seats for Nov. 5 at Las Vegas Thomas and Mack Center, where he will go after the 27-year-old Vargas WBO welterweight title. It s an honor for me to challenge the champion, Pacquiao said. I respect him because he s the belt-holder at 147 pounds. Pacquiao held the same belt twice for long stretches, but lost it in his landmark showdown with Mayweather last year. Mayweather appears comfortable and financially healthy in retirement, while Pacquiao openly acknowledges he needs the money he ll make fighting Vargas. To Roach, it s fairly simple work - at least simpler than fighting dangerous rising star Terence Crawford, the other finalist for the big-money shot at Pacquiao. (Vargas) is a good boxer, Roach said. I don t think he s in Manny s league, but we ll see. Roach must move to Manila for six weeks to train Pacquiao in the breaks between his senatorial duties. Trainers with a fraction of Roach s success might balk at the strange working conditions, but Roach s 15-year bond with Pacquiao remains unbreakable by any of the weirdness in Pacquiao s unique life. I m not exactly sure how much time I m going to have with him, so I m glad it s Vargas instead of Crawford at this point, Roach said. We ll fight Crawford down the line later, I m sure, but I want to see exactly how this works. The Senate is more time- scheduled for Nov. 5. AP consuming, they tell me. Roach doesn t expect this bout to be Pacquiao s last, either. Manny still has a good future in boxing, I think, Roach said. And I really want him to fight Mayweather one more time, just to shut him up. I know we can fight a better fight. I know Manny can beat him. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum never claimed Pacquiao s victory over Bradley would be his final fight. After a half-century in promotion, Arum knows a boxer s vows are only as strong as their wills. Arum s biggest project for this bout is putting on the pay-per-view broadcast himself. HBO declined to show the fight, so Top Rank is producing its own telecast. It s a historic day, because we re going to take back boxing for the fighters, for the promoters, Arum said. I really believe this will lead to us forming our own boxing network. Pacquiao has fought 21 times in HBO payper-view bouts since 2003, but the network balked at Top Rank s desire to stage the fight three days before the U.S. presidential election and two weeks before Andre Ward faces Sergey Kovalev on HBO pay-per-view. Pacquiao wants to fight on Nov. 5 because it fits his schedule in the Senate, allowing him to keep his promise to closely attend to his government duties in his new job. Vargas watched the Beverly Hills spectacle with a bemused detachment. The matchup is an extraordinary opportunity with little downside for the Mexican-American champion, but he won t be content just to bank his fee for playing a bit part in Pacquiao s saga. He hasn t ever fought a fighter like me, Vargas said. He doesn t know what he s got himself into. It s going to be a comingout party for me, and I m looking forward to it. AP