012718 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

January 27-30, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 10 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

Pres. Duterte vows to ‘uncover truth’ behind Mamasapano tragedy Philippine Supreme Court asked to revive homicide charges against Aquino

for their bereaved families.

“The nation remembers the heroic sacrifice of the 44 PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo uniformed personnel of the Duterte has pledged to “uncover [PNP-SAF]. Three years afthe truth” behind the botched op- ter the tragedy of Mamasaeration in Mamasapano, Maguin- pano, the cry for justice for danao that claimed lives of 44 po- our fallen SAF 44 heroes relice commandos three years ago. mains elusive,” Presidential While admitting that justice re- Spokesperson Harry Roque mains “elusive” for the fallen Phil- said in a press statement. ippine National Police – Special He continued, “Duterte Action Force (PNP-SAF) mem- does not wish a repeat of bers, Malacañang assured that the such a waste of lives and president will find “just closure” promising future of galby DANA

SIOSON AJPress

DATELINE

lant Filipinos even as he vows to uncover the truth behind this botched operation and find a just closure for the bereaved families who lost a husband, father, brother, or son.”

The Palace official called on members of the police to look back at the sacrifices of their fallen colleagues and honor their memory by “reliving their values of integrity and courage as you perform

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PH envoy tells the New York Times: SEC move against Rappler ‘not politically motivated’

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Trump supports permanent relief for DREAMers – with a catch

WH to announce pathway to citizenship for undocumented youth as DACA negotiations underway

AT a time where major policy developments seem to occur daily in Washington, this week brought about particularly significant moves in the ongoing immigration battle.

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Clinical and functional outcomes from than 1.77 million patients (3.6 percent Asian American, 96.4 percent white) were reviewed from 2,171 hospitals that participated in an AHA/ASA in-hospital program called “Get With the Guidelines-Stroke” from 2004 to 2016.

Photo courtesy of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

TROOPERS NEVER DIE. Forty-four flags are installed at the People Power Monument on EDSA in Quezon City to remember the heroism of 44 Special Action Force (SAF 44) police commandos who died in the botched Mamasapano counter-terror operation on January 25, 2015.

ManilaTimes.net photos by Ruy Martinez

by AJPRESS PHILIPPINE Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez has defended the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission REGIONAL MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte listens to the discussion (SEC) to revoke the license of during the plenary session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations online news site Rappler.

(ASEAN)-India Commemorative Summit at the Taj Diplomatic Enclave Hotel In a letter to the New York in New Delhi, India on January 25. Also in the photo are Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Times dated Wednesday, January 24, Romualdez dismissed Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go. Malacañang photo by Karl Norman Alonzo the alleged “political motivation” behind the SEC order against Rappler.

The ambassador also stressed that the commission’s decision PH Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel is “about upholding the law” “Babe” Romualdez Philstar.com photo

Duterte downplays IS ‘assassination plot’

by FRINSTON LIM Inquirer.net

DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, January 26 downplayed the reported threat of the Islamic State (IS) to assassinate him.

The Print of India had reported that the IS had planned to assassinate the president during his visit to India.

The Abu Sayyaf and the Maute group also made a similar threat against Duterte at the height of the Marawi crisis. The president said he should not be discouraged by threats and should continue with what he was doing – including the campaign against terrorism and religious extremism.

“When my time comes, it will come. I will stick to what destiny has given me. If it’s my time, it’s my time. So I should not be discouraged by threats,” he said. ■

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Sereno camp says Gadon criminal complaint a ‘desperate stunt’ Sereno’s camp expressed confidence that Gadon “will fall flat doing this latest stunt.”

THE camp of Philippine Chief “Indeed, desperate times call Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for desperate measures. Gadon on Friday, January 26 dismissed knows that he still has nothing the latest criminal complaint on the Chief Justice after all the filed against her as a “desperate undeserved attention that his stunt” by lawyer Atty. Lorenzo complaint has been given,” said Gadon.

Atty. Josa Deinla, one of Sereno’s

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

spokespersons.

On Friday, Gadon filed a criminal complaint against Sereno before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly failing to submit her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) when she was a professor at the University of

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MILF chair hopes for BBL passage to prevent extremism

Asian Americans among most likely to experience severe strokes, says AHA

ASIAN Americans were more likely than whites to experience a severe ischemic stroke, according to preliminary research presented on Thursday, January 25 at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA)’s International Stroke Conference (ISC) 2018.

The study was the largest analysis of functional and clinical outcomes for Asian American acute ischemic stroke patients — an ischemic

and “has no bearing on the state of press freedom in the Philippines.”

On January 15, the SEC revoked Rappler’s license to operate over the alleged violation of Constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership.

Rappler, for its part, maintained that it “is 100 percent Filipino-owned” despite having foreign investors. It also described the case against them as a form of “harassment” and an attack on freedom of the press.

The Philippine Constitution states that mass media entities must be wholly owned and man-

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

VOTE FOR BBL. Senators Risa Hontiveros, Juan Edgardo Angara, Joseph Victor Ejercito and Juan Miguel Zubiri, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al haj Murad Ebrahim, Bangsamoro Transition Committee (BTC) Chairman and MILF 1st Vice Chairman Ghazali Jaafar and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman pose for peace as symbol of solidarity gesture to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The senators visited the MILF Camp in Cotabato City on Thursday, January 25.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, chair of the Philippines’ Islamist group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), strongly hopes that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be passed to avoid the rise of extremism in the southern region.

In a press conference on Thursday, January 25, Ebrahim recalled that the cancellation of the 1996 peace agreement resulted to the resurgence of the armed uprising of the Abu Sayyaf group.

Expressing high optimism that the BTC version of the BBL would thrive in Congress, Ebrahim remarked that getting the support of the Bangsamoro people further increases the chances of its passage.

“The only solution to this ay makuha natin ang (is to get the) majority of the people, a political solution that is accepted and supported by the people,” he said.

According to Ebrahim, this is the first time that majority of their people are pro-BBL.

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A January 27-30, 2018 • La WEEKEnD aSIan JOurnaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

From the Front Page

Pres. Duterte vows to ‘uncover...

PAGE A1 t your duty to serve and protect the nation.”

Malacañang likewise asked the Filipino people to offer prayers for the fallen heroes.

“We also pray for their bereaved families that their grief may soon be appeased through the attainment of justice,” Roque added.

Last year, Duterte declared January 25 as the Day of National Remembrance for the 44 police commandos who were killed during the botched operation in January 2015.

During the raid, dubbed as “Oplan Exodus,” SAF troopers were able to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Mar-

wan, but were ambushed by Moro rebels.

Former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima, and former PNPSAF director Getulio Napeñas were facing graft and usurpation charges in connection with the failed operation.

Heavier charges Also on Thursday, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) asked the Supreme Court (SC) to order the Office of the Ombudsman to file reckless imprudence resulting in homicide charges against Aquino, Purisima, and Napeñas.

The OSG also asked the SC to “annul, reverse or set aside” the June 13, 2017 decision of the Ombudsman that cleared Aquino, Purisima, and Napeñas from homicide charges.

“Respondents’ liability is grounded on the faulty planning and execution of Oplan Exodus.

This is regardless of the presence of hostile forces in the battleground. What defines their error, therefore, is their inexcusable lack of precaution,” the OSG said.

It added, “In view of Aquino’s full knowledge of the details of Oplan Exodus and his subsequent approval thereof, he acted with inexcusable negligence which was the direct proximate cause in the massacre of SAF 44.”

Last year, the Office of the Ombudsman only filed usurpation of authority and graft charges against the three officials and dismissed the “complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide[s]” due to “lack of probable cause.”

But in a manifestation filed before the high court, the OSG insisted that there was probable cause to indict the three officials.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), a group providing legal assistance to the relatives of the SAF 44, said in a statement that the best way to honor the sacrifices of the fallen heroes is to file proper charges against those who are liable for their deaths.

“This is the best way to commemorate the sacrifice of the SAF 44. This shows that the President Rodrigo Duterte is serious in bringing justice to them and their families,” VACC Chairman Dante Jimenez stated. n

REGIONAL COOPERATION. President Rodrigo Duterte poses for a photo with the heads of state and heads of government who joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Commemorative Summit at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

Joining the President are (from left) Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Phuc, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesia President Joko Widodo, Lao People’s Democratic Republic Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Malacañang photo by Albert Alcain

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Sereno camp says Gadon...

the Philippines (UP).

In his complaint, the lawyer accused Sereno of violating the Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Gadon claimed that Sereno was a law professor at UP College of Law from November 1986 to 2006 but only filed her SALN for the years 1998, 2002, and 2006 based on certifications submitted by the Office of the Ombudsman, UP, and the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

“That means she did not file her SALNs 17 times,” Gadon said.

In a separate message, Atty.

Carlo Cruz, also a spokesperson of Sereno, said the UP’s Human Resources Development Office already gave Sereno a Certificate of Clearance dated Sept. 19, 2011, which affirmed that she “has been cleared of all academic/administrative responsibilities.”

“This would, of course, include the SALN requirements,” Cruz added.

He also remarked that Gadon’s latest complaint before the DOJ only shows that the impeachment complaint against Sereno

Atty. Lorenzo Gadon

is weak.

“Offhand, it smacks of clear desperation on the part of the complainant in the impeachment proceedings. It is a clear acknowledgment on his part as to the utter weakness of his evidence in [the] said proceeding,” Cruz said.

Sereno is currently facing an impeachment complaint before the House of Representatives, which was also filed by Gadon.

Gadon explained that he did not include the alleged failure to file SALNs in his impeachment complaint because the issue was discovered when the House was already conducting hearings into the impeachment case.

Philstar.com photo

He also clarified that in the impeachment complaint, he questioned the misdeclaration of Sereno’s SALN, while his more recent criminal complaint tackles her alleged non-submission of the SALN when she was still teaching at UP. “While it is beyond question that the respondent is an impeachable officer, and therefore, can only be validly removed from office, through conviction in an impeachment proceeding, complainant nevertheless files this complaint before the DOJ in order to effectively toll the running of the prescriptive period for the offenses charged,” Gadon’s criminal complaint read. n

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DATELINE USA

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 27-30, 2018

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Asian Americans among most likely...

stroke occurs when an obstruction prevents blood supply to the brain.

Clinical and functional outcomes from than 1.77 million patients (3.6 percent Asian American, 96.4 percent white) were reviewed from 2,171 hospitals that participated in an AHA/ASA in-hospital program called “Get With the GuidelinesStroke” from 2004 to 2016.

“Asian Americans may have a distinctive pathophysiologic profile of ischemic stroke than whites,” said Sarah Song, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H. She is the study author and assistant professor of cerebrovascular disease at Rush University Medical Center’s Department of Neurology in Chicago, Illinois.

Added Song, “Regardless, this study highlights the need for more focused research, improved stroke prevention and possibly different treatment strategies for Asian Americans.”

The study found that compared to whites, Asian Americans were often associated with: poorer functional recovery; receiving the clot-busting drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) less frequently, which can improve the chances of recovering from a stroke; and more serious and bleeding complications with tPA, despite receiving it quickly.

A positive finding from the research was that stroke care for both white and Asian Americans have seen some improvement over time.

“Looking from 2004 to 2016, our study shows that overall, patients with acute ischemic stroke

are recovering more, and they are receiving more IV tPA, with less complications and better poststroke care. This likely has to do with an overall improvement in stroke quality and highly effective stroke systems of care. However, Asian Americans and whites had nuanced differences over time; for example, only whites had a decrease in trend in stroke severity, while Asian Americans had a greater increase in timely IV tPA administration,” said Song.

But not much attention has been given to stroke and stroke care among Asian American subgroups which is something researchers are acknowledging as a limitation.

“There’s different groups from people from China, from Japan, from Korea, from Vietnam, and other countries, so that’s one piece of the puzzle that we don’t know yet,” said ASA spokesperson, Philip B. Gorelick, M.D., MPH. “Even among Asian Americans, the various minority populations differ in so many ways. Vietnamese people are not the same as Korean, who are not the same as Japanese or South Asian groups. Aside from differences in language, differences in stroke risk factors, diet and lifestyle, and other cultural factors, make compiling all Asian-American groups into single group problematic,” said Song.

But the study was a good first step, she added. “This information gives us the urgency and the credibility to do more research in Asian Americans, who have historically been understudies in the stroke and cardiovascular litera-

ture.”

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) — a risk factor for stroke — has been found to be a leading cause of death among Filipino Americans, according to what few studies have been made.

An AHA advisory on cardiovascular disease from 2010 cited data from the National Health Interview Survey that reported hypertension rates being higher among Filipinos than in other Asian American subgroups.

Prevention The AHA and ASA recommend seven simple steps to avoiding stroke, and other brain health-related conditions such as dementia or memory loss.

The steps collectively labeled “Life’s Simple 7” are the same for maintaining cardiovascular health and are to: stop smoking, get active, eat better, lose weight, reduce blood sugar, reduce blood pressure, and control cholesterol.

Unfortunately, researchers revealed at the ISC that less than one in 100 stroke survivors are meeting the recommended goals. Out of a nationally representative sample of 67,514 U.S. adults, 1,597 had prior strokes and had data for all seven measures. Furthermore, fewer than one in five stroke survivors met at least four of the measures during the study period, according to researchers.

“These measures have one unique thing in common: any person can make these changes, the steps are not expensive to take and even modest improvements to your health will make a big difference,” says AHA. (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)

MILF chair hopes for BBL passage...

PAGE A1 t “And they are all for peace.

Kaya sa amin hopefully hindi na maulit yung di napasa ang (We hope that there won’t be a repeat of the failure to pass) BBL or we will be facing a very difficult path,” he added.

A version of the BBL was bypassed during the previous administration of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III due to outrage over the Mamasapano massacre, wherein 44 police commanders were killed in a clash with Moro rebel groups in 2015.

The BBL is a proposed measure that aims to abolish the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and replace it with Bangsamoro Region that will enjoy fiscal autonomy. It will

also serve as the completion of the peace process with the Moro rebels.

A different version of the BBL crafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) is currently pending before Congress.

The BTC include representatives from the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Passing the proposed BBL has been among the campaign promises of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte, who also hails from Mindanao, had repeatedly warned of a possible war in the southern region if Congress fails to pass the BBL. But in a more recent statement, Lanao Sultan and BTC member Firdausi Ismail Abbas assured that the MILF and the MNLF will

not wage war even if the proposed BBL fails to get Congress nod.

“We’re very thankful that the honorable senators are doing everything to see to it that this law will be passed. And there’s nothing from us, no statement could you ever expect that if this law will not be passed, there will be war,” Abbas said.

He reiterated, “Definitely, the MNLF will not go to war. Most of us are already old. The MILF neither will go to war.”

Abbas, however, warned that other groups, such as the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), might “take advantage of the situation if this law will not be passed.” ■

MARAWI TOUR. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairman of the Subcommittee on Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), with Senators Joseph Victor Ejercito, Juan Edgardo Angara, Cynthia Villar, Risa Hontiveros, Benigno Paolo “Bam” Aquino visit the main battle area or ruins of the historical Marawi City on Friday (Jan. 26, 2018). The city turned into ruins due to the five-month battle between government troops and the Maute group.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

US Dept. of Justice threatens to subpoena sanctuary cities

Atty. General Sessions warns sanctuary cities repercussions for noncompliance with the federal immigration agencies AS the immigration saga mounts in Washington, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is continuing its fight against the 23 sanctuary cities that refuse to comply with the federal government’s efforts to deport undocumented immigrants whom they deem pose a threat.

United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday, January 24 threatened to subpoena any sanctuary city that fails to comply with the administration in its endeavors to double down on undocumented immigrants deemed a risk to national security.

“I continue to urge all jurisdictions under review to reconsider policies that place the safety of their communities and their residents at risk,” Sessions said in a statement released on Wednesday, noting that “protecting criminal” immigrants “defies common sense and undermines the rule of law.”

In general, sanctuary cities are self-designated jurisdictions in which officials offer practical protections to undocumented immigrants. So far, 23 cities have come out as sanctuary cities, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

The designation varies from city to city, but most cities, like LA, undergo city-wide efforts to make legal counsel more vis-

ible for their immigrant communities, collaborating with local legal organizations to make that happen.

Some cities, like LA and San Francisco, take it a step further and fully refuse to cooperate with federal agencies to turn over information that could lead to the detention of undocumented immigrants.

Many city officials were outraged by the threat which prompted harsh criticism from some of the nation’s prominent mayors.

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, a firm advocate of sanctuary city practices, upheld his promise to stand with undocumented Angelenos and honor their rights, replying to Sessions’ memo on Twitter: “Threaten me all you want. I will stand up for every Angeleno.”

“Each one of the mayors up here cares more about the public safety of our people than anybody living outside of our cities,” Garcetti said at a press conference following the DOJ’s announcement. “There is not a single mayor in this country who says please, if you’re a criminal, come on over. And if you’re undocumented, bonus points. This is a myth, and it’s pure politics. Let’s be clear about what this is, it’s the politics of distraction and destruction.”

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called the threat another “racist assault on our immigrant communities” by the Trump administration.

“It doesn’t make us safer,” de Blasio tweeted on Wednesday. “And it violates America’s core values.”

Garcetti and de Blasio were among several of the nation’s prominent city mayors to boycott a scheduled meeting of mayors at the White House.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu also announced their condemnation.

“Unfortunately, the Trump administration’s decision to threaten mayors and demonize immigrants yet again — and use cities as political props in the process — has made this meeting untenable,” Landrieu, who is president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said.

“The U.S. Conference of Mayors is proud to be a bipartisan organization. But an attack on mayors who lead welcoming cities is an attack on everyone in our conference.”

Last year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order barring sanctuary cities from receiving federal funds from the DOJ and the Dept. of Homeland Security. This prompted lawsuits against the

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A January 27-30, 2018 • La WEEKEnD aSIan JOurnaL

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Guns killed nearly 2,000 California kids, young adults in 2 years PALO ALTO, California — Firearm-related injuries claimed the lives of 1,918 California children and young adults between 2013 and 2015.

Homicide is the leading cause of firearm death among young people ages 24 and under, followed by suicide.

Of the 19 counties with data in 2013-2015, three recorded firearm death rates that were more than double the state average of 4.9 per 100,000: Merced, Monterey, and Solano. These counties’ rates have been consistently higher than the statewide rate since 20082010.

Public policies aimed at prevention, education, and sup-

RECOUNT ROLLS. Ballot boxes are retrieved by election officials in Camarines Sur, one of the three pilot provinces identified by former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for recount in connection with his electoral protest. Marcos believes he won the 2016 vice-presidential election and that Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo benefited from massive electronic cheating.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Llanesca T. Panti

In battleground races, health care lags as hot-button issue, poll finds

by Jordan rau Kaiser Health News

AS the midterm elections approach, health care ranks as the top issue, mentioned more frequently among voters nationwide than among those living in areas with competitive races, a new poll finds.

In areas with competitive congressional or gubernatorial races, the economy and jobs ranked as the top issue for candidates to discuss, with 34 percent of registered voters listing it as No. 1, according to the poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) Following economics was the conflict with North Korea (23 percent), immigration (22 percent) and health care (21 percent). The competitive areas are 13 states with statewide races and 19 House districts judged as toss-ups by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

Nationwide, 29 percent of registered voters ranked health care as the most important issue for electoral discussion — though it was far more important for Democrats than Repub-

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Firearm Death Rate for Children and Young Adults Ages 24 and Under: 2013-201

port of youth and families can address preventable death, experts say. For example, routine and accessible mental health screening and services for youth can address suicide and harmful behavior to others.

Also, school policies that foster a safe and positive school climate can reduce violence.

Kidsdata.org has newly added data on the number and rate of both fatal and non-fatal firearms injuries, by cause, age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

These data can be customized and shared to help prevent youth firearm injury and death in California. (Inquirer. net)

US think tank expert: South China Sea diplomatic breakthrough ‘unlikely’

by Ian

nIcolas cIgaral

ippines to “credibly deter” China from using force.

Manila earlier said it was relyA SOuTH China Sea diplomatic ing on “China’s good faith” in the breakthrough is unlikely to hap- face of the Asian power’s maripen, an expert from a uS-based time encroachment, which perthink tank said, citing China’s con- sisted while Beijing is engaging tinued military buildup in the dis- rival claimants in Southeast Asia puted waters and coercive tactics on the framing of a binding code of conduct to hopefully manage seen throughout 2017.

The Philippines claims parts of the sea row.

“The allure of a sudden diplothe South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone and calls it matic breakthrough, however unlikely, and the willingness to bank the West Philippine Sea. As Beijing prepares for new on Chinese good faith to make it escalations in the contested happen are understandable,” Asia waterway, the expert also said it is Maritime Transparency Initiative time for Washington to “publicly director Gregory Poling said in state” its commitment to defend a commentary published on forits traditional treaty ally the Phil- eignaffairs.com.

Philstar.com

“The alternative would be to prepare for another years-long slog of rising military tensions, sporadic clashes, and diplomatic naming and shaming, with no guarantee of successful resolution,” Poling added.

In its December 14 report, AMTI identified all permanent facilities that can be used for military purposes that China completed or began work since the start of 2017.

AMTI added that Beijing “remains committed” to advancing the next phase of its activities in the sea, including construction of infrastructure necessary for fullyfunctioning air and naval bases on

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PH envoy tells the New York Times...

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aged by Filipinos.

“Efforts to impute political motivation to this case do a great disservice to Ms. Herbosa and the institution she leads,” Romualdez said, referring to SEC Chairwoman Teresita Herbosa.

He also described Herbosa as a “person of unimpeachable character.”

“She is highly respected within legal and policy circles for her commitment to the rule of law and to the public interest,” Romualdez further attested.

The ambassador wrote the let-

ter in response to a January 16 editorial published by the Times titled, “After Killing Spree, Is a Free Press Mr. Duterte’s Next Victim?”

In its article, the publication criticized Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for “go[ing] after independent media,” citing, in particular, the recent SEC decision against Rappler.

“The action against Rappler is only the tip of Mr. Duterte’s assault on his media critics,” the Times said, as it urged public to condemn the supposed “effort to silence independent voices” in the Philippines.

The editorial also condemned Duterte for his alleged “blatant violations of human rights,” taking note of at least 4,000 drug personalities who have been killed in the campaign against illegal drugs since he assumed office in 2016.

“Exposing such brazen abuse of power is a hallowed mission of a free press, so it should come as no surprise that authoritarians like Mr. Duterte usually go after independent media,” the Times said.

Malacañang, however, claimed that Duterte had nothing to do with the SEC decision. n

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PH gov’t urged: Disclose terms Covered California open enrollment ends on Jan. 31 of US counterterror operation

THE calendar has turned to 2018, and Covered California is in the homestretch of its drive to sign people up for health insurance by Jan. 31, the final day to enroll.

As an incentive, the agency, which administers the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the state, is touting lower prices and financial assistance available to most Californians who qualify.

“The time is now to ring in the New Year with a quality health plan that provides protection and peace of mind,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “We have seen thousands of people signing up every day as we near this key deadline. The demand — as well as the need — for health insurance is as strong today as it was when we first began offering coverage five years ago, and the people of California are taking advantage of the quality plans and lower costs available through Covered California.”

As of Sunday, Jan. 21, 342,000 new consumers have signed up for health insurance through Covered California. The pace of new enrollees for the current open-enrollment period remains ahead of last year, when signups did not surpass 320,000 until Jan. 23, 2017. In addition to

the new sign-ups, more than 1.2 million existing Covered California members have renewed their coverage for 2018.

For those looking for help to sign up, Covered California has built an extensive network of Asian-language resources, including online resources available in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Lao, Tagalog and Hmong.

A recent Covered California analysis found that the net monthly premiums for enrollees who receive financial help are on average 10 percent lower than what new and renewing consumers paid last year. The lower prices are a result of more financial help being available for consumers who qualify for assistance. The Affordable Care Act is designed to protect consumers by providing more premium tax credits when premiums rise.

“With the Jan. 31 deadline approaching, we want to make sure that consumers know about the increased financial help that is available to help bring health care coverage within reach,” Lee said. “When you do the math, hundreds of thousands of Californians are the winners — getting quality coverage at lower rates than last year.”

What individuals will pay varies based on their circum-

Roach: Beating super featherweight champ Lomachenko not impossible for Pacquiao

by Dino

Maragay Philstar.com

A 39-year-old Manny Pacquiao defeating a prime Vasyl Lomachenko is not out of the question, as far as trainer Freddie Roach is concerned.

But it will take 100 percent of Pacquiao’s attention for the Filipino icon to pull it off.

Speaking recently to Steve Kim of BoxingScene.com, the multiawarded trainer said he believes Pacquiao can overcome a tough fight with the 29-year-old Lomachenko, provided he gives up his other job as senator.

“But the thing is we need a real good training camp and we need him to get out of being a senator for a little while,” Roach told Kim. “I said, ‘Manny, this is too tough a sport to have another job’,” he added.

Pacquiao has set his sights on Lomachenko, the reigning WBO super featherweight champion and currently considered as among the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

That fight though isn’t expected to happen anytime soon for various reasons, including the fact that Lomachenko’s camp isn’t keen on the boxer moving up two divisions for a welterweight showdown with Pacquiao.

Nevertheless, many observers think that at this point, the Ukrainian star may be too much for Pacquiao, who is already in the twilight of his career.

Pacquiao hasn’t fought since losing last year to Australian Jeff

Vasyl Lomachenko

Philstar.com photo

Horn, whom many thought the Filipino star should have easily dealt with. Age, however, has clearly caught up with Pacquiao as he struggled with Horn’s size and rough style.

The more skilled Lomachenko is clearly a different animal, and Roach said Pacquiao has to work extra hard for a chance to neutralize the young champion’s speed and footwork.

“You’ve got to concentrate and be really, really prepared for this fight and you have to be aggressive in this fight because [Lomachenko] does have great footwork but if you press him hard enough and so forth,” Roach continued.

“You take that game away from him and he’s beatable.” n

US think tank expert...

PAGE A4 t

larger outposts.

According to Poling, the chances of concluding an effective COC in the short term “appear dim,” adding that there is no indication that states are on the same page about where the COC will apply.

“The framework agreement [for the COC] amounts to a single page of generalities and ellipses,” he said.

“It does not touch upon any of the most difficult issues that need to be reconciled for a COC to be effective, and China has given no indication that it is prepared to compromise on any of them,” he added.

“How will states reconcile China’s claim to historic rights with their own domestic and international laws? And how will disagreements over interpretation of the code be resolved?”

‘Get EDCA back on track’ China and the Philippines have long sparred over the South China Sea, but relations have improved considerably under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whose foreign policy had been highlighted by his animosity toward Washington after the Obama ad-

ministration criticized his deadly drug war.

In the same commentary, the AMTI director said that as a response to China’s increasing power projection capabilities, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement—a pact giving US troops wide access to Philippine military bases—must be implemented.

However, Poling stressed that Washington is “doing too little” to prepare for the new wave of China’s militarization, citing the Trump administration’s “narrow focus” on the current crisis in North Korea.

“It is time for the US government to publicly state that its commitment to defend Philippine troops, ships, and planes from attack under Article V of the two countries’ Mutual Defense Treaty applies to contested waters and islands in the South China Sea,” he said.

“That clarification would not only reassure the Duterte government that the United States would actually back the Philippines when needed but would act as a strong deterrent to Chinese aggression,” he added. n

stances, including whether they get subsidies to help purchase coverage, where they live and the plan options they choose, Lee said.

The analysis found that consumers who select a Silver-tier plan are on average paying $3 per month less than they were in 2017, while consumers who select a Gold-tier plan will pay on average $78 less per month.

Covered California also wants to remind consumers that the Affordable Care Act’s individual shared responsibility payment, often called the individual mandate, remains in place throughout calendar year 2018. People who do not have health insurance could face stiff tax penalties if they are not covered. These penalties are a minimum of $695 per adult and $347.50 per child, up to $2,085 per family, or at least 2.5 percent of annual household income — whichever is greater (for an estimated maximum penalty of $3,816 per individual and $19,080 for a family of five). The recent tax bill removes the penalty but it does not go into effect until 2019. There is no reason to give the IRS that money when it could go toward giving you and your family the peace of mind of having health insurance.

Since 2014, more than 3 million people have purchased health insurance through Covered California, and nearly 4 million have enrolled in the

MILITANT group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) yesterday urged the Duterte government to disclose the terms of “Operation Pacific Eagle: Philippines,” a new counterterror operation of the United States in the country, which reportedly aims to maintain active U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The group said the operation was launched by the U.S. government in September 2017, yet the government has kept silent about it.

Bayan said the U.S. special operations command listed the Philippines among its priorities for military intervention along with Afghanistan, Africa, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia and Yemen.

In a testimony before the U.S. Senate armed services committee on July 17, U.S. joint chief of staff vice chairman Gen. Paul Selva said the U.S. should consider restarting a named military operation in the Philippines

similar to Operation Enduring Freedom in order to counter the Islamic State.

The Wall Street Journal reported the U.S. has embarked on an overseas contingency operation in the Philippines as early as September last year or two months after defense officials sought a named-operation in the country.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said the report that the U.S. is again engaged in a named-operation similar to Operation Enduring FreedomPhilippines in 2002, raises a lot of questions on the involvement of the U.S. in direct combat role in the Philippines.

Reyes said this was a flagrant violation of the Philippine Constitution.

He said the last time the U.S. launched its operations, it also resulted in the permanent presence of 600 U.S. troops in Mindanao for more than 15 years.

“U.S. uninterrupted presence of US forces in Mindanao — engaged in various unspecified activities including direct combat participation — is a

gross violation of our national sovereignty,” Reyes said.

Bayan said the government should break its silence about Operation Pacific Eagle.

“Was the U.S. also the one that recommended the extension of martial law to allow unhampered U.S. intervention and basing? What are the terms of reference for armed U.S. troops conducting operations in Mindanao? The Philippine government has declared victory in Marawi, so why allow continued U.S. military intervention?” he asked.

The group said the Senate foreign relations committee should look into this new U.S. operation as it did previously during the term of the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.

“The Senate should look into how the U.S. is circumventing the treaty requirements on foreign basing through its socalled overseas contingency operations that deploy unlimited number of troops for unspecified activities for an undetermined period of time,” Reyes said. n

state’s Medi-Cal program. Together, the gains have cut the rate of the uninsured in California from 17 percent in 2013 to a historic low of 6.8 percent as of June 2017.

Consumers can also get free

and confidential enrollment assistance by visiting www. coveredca.com/find-help/ and searching among 800 storefronts statewide and the more than 17,000 certified enrollers who can assist consumers in

understanding their choices and enrolling, including individuals who can assist in other languages. In addition, consumers can reach the Covered California service center by calling (800) 300-1506. n

by rhoDina

VillanueVa Philstar.com

Dateline USa

A January 27-30, 2018 • La WEEKEnD aSIan JOurnaL

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Fil-Am dominates US photo contest for Rohingya crisis

by Aric

Sy cuA ManilaTimes.net

A FILIPINO-American freelance photojournalist topped a photo competition in the U.S. recently with her heart-tugging stills on Rohingya refugees.

Cheryl Diaz Meyer dominated the competition, “2018 Eyes of History” under the category “International News” by the White

House News Photographers Association (WHNPA).

Meyer’s photo showing refugee Anwara Nurhassan taking a boat from Bangladesh to a refugee camp on October 3, 2017, won first place.

Photos of a Rohingya boy crying to his father and of a refugee carrying his wife to a rickshaw finished second and third respec-

tively.

Two of Meyer’s photos consisting of two men carrying a 60year-old refugee to the southernmost part of Bangladesh and an 8-year-old boy with burn wounds in his face while at a refugee camp were also cited.

All five photos were posted on Meyer’s website, which has a complete portofolio of photos of the Rohingya crisis.

On her Twitter and Instagram accounts, Meyer expressed her gratitude to the WHNPA. “Thank you to the judges of the White House News Photographers Association for this immense honor. I’ve never been awarded an entire category in any competition, and I’m deeply moved,” she wrote. “I hope this increases awareness for the plight of the Rohingya refugees, who Bangladesh wants to repatriate to Myanmar.”

Based on Meyer’s personal website, she was born in Quezon City on February 25, 1968 and moved to the U.S. at the age of 13. She studied at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in German.

She is best known for her cov-

Cheryl Diaz Meyer dominated the competition, “2018 Eyes of History” under the category “International News” by the White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA).

Cheryl Diaz Meyer Photo from Chery’s Facebook page

erage of the 2003 Iraq War and documentation regarding women adversity around the globe.

She was given the Pulitzer Prize in 2004, along with colleague David Leeson for Breaking News Photography.

In 2006, while working at the Dallas Morning News as a senior staff photographer, she again won the Pulitzer Prize, with her team, for Breaking News Photography, for their coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Her photos have been exhibited worldwide, including at the the Newseum’s Pulitzer Prize Exhibit in Wash- Meyer’s photo showing refugee Anwara Nurhassan taking a boat from Bangladesh to a refugee ington, DC. n camp on October 3, 2017, won first place.

Photos by Cheryl Diaz Meyer

Trump supports permanent relief...

PAGE A1 t On Wednesday, January 24, President Donald Trump unexpectedly voiced his support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented youth, saying that he’d allow DREAMers to “morph into” citizens over time.

“Over a period of 10 to 12 years,” the president told reporters at the White House on Wednesday. “Somebody does a great job, they work hard — that gives incentive to do a great job.

Whatever they’re doing, if they do a great job, I think it’s a nice thing to have the incentive of, after a period of years, being able to become a citizen.”

Encouraging Congress to put together a legislative solution for DREAMers, Trump said the only way he’ll support the bill is if it also includes confirmation of the massive wall along the controversial United States-Mexico border, his long-awaited plan he touted often on the campaign

trail.

The president offered no details past his vague support, but the following morning on Thursday, the White House sent an email that warned of a massive influx of immigrants and called for an end of family-based immigration sponsorship, derogatorily known as “chain migration.”

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders expanded on the administration’s plans to move forward with the DACA solution that includes the border wall.

“The White House will release a legislative framework on Monday that represents a compromise that members of both parties can support. We encourage the Senate to bring it to the floor,” Sanders told the press corps at a White House press briefing on Wednesday.

White House releases details on immigration reform Following up on Trump’s and Sanders’s remarks, the White House released a memo Thursday night detailing suggested framework on reforming the immigration system by closing “legal loopholes that are exploited by smugglers, traffickers, cartels, criminals and terrorists.”

The framework calls for a $25 billion trust fund for the U.S.Mexico border wall, all ports of entry and improving the U.S.Canada border. They also order the expansion of DHS and immigration personnel.

In addition to providing legal status to DACA recipients as well as another 1.1 million undocumented immigrants eligible for the program, the memo also calls to end family-based immigration channels, also known as chain migration. Though the memo didn’t explicitly list family-based programs it would slash, the Obama-era Filipino World War II Veterans Parole program reunited hundreds of

families since it became effective in 2016.

In fact, many Filipino families reunite in the U.S. through family-based sponsorships; according to the Migration Policy Institute, about 30 percent of Filipino immigrants became lawful permanent residents (LPRs) through family sponsorship.

Moreover, more than half of the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens — spouses, children who are minors and parents — were able to come to the U.S. through family-sponsored programs.

The administration also plans to scrap the Diversity Visa Lottery, which was established in the 1990s to allow entry to immigrants hailing from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

As the president previously supported, the administration favors a more “merit-based” immigration system in which individuals must prove exceptional educational and career experience.

Partisan tensions increase Although the border wall was the key sell for a DACA fix for the administration, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) withdrew the Democrats’ support for funding the border wall, bringing the immigration dialogue back to square one.

Previously, Schumer pledged to authorize upward of $20 billion to fund the border wall in exchange for protection for DREAMers, but this week, he made took back the offer, simply telling reporters, “The wall offer’s off the table.”

Schumer’s abrupt announcement resets negotiations when time is of the essence and Congress has less than two weeks to pass a federal spending bill. Despite outrage from the president via Twitter, Schumer remained untethered, saying on CNN, “We’re starting over.”

US Dept. of Justice threatens...

PAGE A3 t administration from various sanctuary cities, including LA. However, sanctuary city officials and advocates are likely to challenge the administration’s threat as they have several times in 2017. As previously reported by the Asian Journal, last year, federal courts in California blocked the administration’s efforts to get law enforcement to comply with the federal government.

Garcetti and the LAPD refuse to assist immigration enforcement with its campaign

to crackdown on immigrants, arguing that it creates mistrust in the community.

LA boasts a vast immigrant community; approximately one in 10 residents are undocumented immigrants according to a 2013 USC study. Just last month, the LA City Council officially supported legislation that would formally categorize the city as a “city of sanctuary” in a symbolic city-wide act of defiance that would combat the administration’s move to tighten up immigration.

Furthermore, city officials

In battleground races...

PAGE A4 t licans. Economy and jobs were close behind with 27 percent of voters rating it most important, and then immigration, with 24 percent listing it.

The poll found that nearly half of Americans believed there is still a federal requirement for everyone to obtain health insurance, even though Congress’ tax bill last year repealed the penalties for that requirement in the Affordable Care Act, known as the individual mandate. Only a third of the public were sure that those penalties had been repealed.

Fifty percent of the public expressed a favorable view of the health law, while 42 percent disliked it. Six in 10 people said that since President Donald Trump and the Republicans

in Congress have altered the law, they are responsible for any problems. Like other opinions about the law, there was a strong partisan split: Only 38 percent of Republicans thought their party is now responsible, while 77 percent of Democrats thought so. Half of Republicans still listed repealing the health law as a top priority.

There was less of a partisan split over the importance that the president and Congress address the epidemic of prescription painkiller addiction. Among Republicans, 43 percent rated it a top priority; 54 percent of Democrats agreed.

There was no such comity over whether lawmakers should allow people brought illegally to this country by their parents — the so-called Dreamers — to

“Every Democrat — all fortynine of us @SenateDems — supports DACA. Many of my Republican colleagues do as well. We certainly can find a bill that will get sixty votes here in the Senate,” Schumer said on Twitter, defending his decision to rescind the border wall offer. “#Dreamers have been trying so hard to become Americans. They came across the border when they were little, now they’re in our armed forces, our schools, our factories, our offices. To say allowing Dreamers to become Americans is ‘amnesty’ is nasty; protecting Dreamers is our moral obligation. The eyes of America are on us to help them, and we must get the job done.”

California Rep. Darrell Issa (RSan Diego) is the latest member of Congress to introduce a fix with his DACA Compromise Act, which would make visas available to DACA recipients.

Modeled after the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act of 1997, Issa’s bill allows eligible DREAMers — who have been vetted by the Department of Homeland Security — allocates a certain amount of visas specifically for DACA beneficiaries. They would be granted legal permanent residency, a step up from the previously temporary status that DACA provided.

“Problems like these require innovative thinking and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle coming together, putting all their ideas on the table, and figuring out the best way to get the job done,” Issa said in a statement.

“This is a simple common-sense fix that will guarantee certainty for the children of illegal immigrants who were brought here through no fault of their own and know no other home other than the United States. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) have noted that aiding and abetting the federal government in these tactics is not within their abilities as local law enforcement, and that if immigration officials request information, there must be a clear justification fo0r it.

“Immigration is the responsibility of our federal government.

We’ve been very clear it’s not the responsibility of the LAPD,” Garcetti told the media in January 2017. “We participate all the time with our federal immigration authorities and we will continue to do so. We just require, as the courts have decided, that there be a warrant.”

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) stay in the country legally: 21 percent of Republicans called that a top priority, while 66 percent of Democrats did. And while 43 percent of Republicans said they wanted lawmakers to focus on passing federal funding for a border wall with Mexico, only 5 percent of Democrats and 19 percent of independents did.

The poll was conducted Jan. 16-21 among 1,215 adults.

The margin of error was +/-3 percentage points. The poll included 298 people who said they were registered to vote in one of the areas the Cook Report identified as a battleground in the fall elections.

The margin of error for results for this group was +/-7 percentage points. n This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 27-30, 2018

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

‘Congress has final say on Charter change’

by Jess

Diaz anD Paolo RomeRo Philstar.com

LOVELY BUT DEADLY. Mayon volcano again spewed giant columns of ash on Tuesday, January 23, as local officials scrambled to relocate thousands of civilians living inside the extended 9 kilometer danger zone. The wider danger zone will entail the relocation of residents in the town of Camalig.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rhaydz Barcia

PH prepares for 3-month-long Mayon emergency MANILA — The country is bracing for a possible threemonth-long emergency in areas around Mayon Volcano, which has already displaced more than 81,000 and caused overcrowding at temporary shelters, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Friday, January 26.

Mayon remained at alert level 4, a notch below the highest level, as it continued to spew out lava, ash and other superheated material, volcanologists said.

“We’re gearing up for three months” of emergency, said Romina Marasigan, spokesperson for NDRRMC, citing similar situations during previous eruptions of the 8,077-foot volcano.

Displaced families may need to stay in evacuation centers for that long, she said.

Respiratory illnesses are possible because of the series of ash falls, Marasigan said.

“We remain on red alert,” Marasigan told a media briefing, adding that 69,672 evacuees were housed in schools while nearly 12,000 took shelter in tents or went to relatives in more secure locations.

The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) is adopting the

so-called inter-municipality evacuation in order to decongest cramped evacuation centers if an affected town or city could no longer accommodate their evacuees.

APSEMO said they would conduct inventories of occupants to determine which evacuation camps would be decongested first.

Food and other supplies remain adequate but concerns are growing over health and hygiene conditions at all the 69 temporary shelters away from the danger zone.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said fast lanes have been activated in department hospitals, particularly in Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital and Bicol Medical Center, to serve those displaced by the eruption.

Health workers are giving free checkups and medicine to elderly women and children in evacuation centers, but there are not enough toilets.

Albay provincial health officer physician Antonio Ludovice said P2 million from the DOH was earmarked for the construction of latrines and repair of toilets at evacuation sites.

“The province is doing every-

thing to close the gaps for these toilet facilities,” said Nestor Santiago, assistant secretary at the DOH. Department of Social Welfare and Development officer-incharge undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco said the DSWD is preparing to provide psychosocial intervention measures for evacuees who have been traumatized by the series of eruptions of Mayon.

Between 6:11 a.m. last Thursday to 2:31 a.m. on Friday, seven episodes of intense but sporadic lava fountaining from the summit crater lasting 26 to 57 minutes occurred.

The lava fountains reached 150 to 500 meters high and generated ash plumes that reached 500 meters to three kilometers above the crater.

A total of 15 volcanic earthquakes, 19 tremor events, seven of which corresponded to the lava fountaining events, one episode of pyroclastic density currents generation from lava collapse, and numerous rockfall events were recorded by Mayon’s seismic monitoring network.

Rockfall events were generated by the collapsing lava front and margins of the advancing lava flow on the Miisi and Bonga gullies.

u PAGE A11

MANILA — It is Congress that has the final say on Charter change (Cha-cha), not President Duterte’s 19-member consultative committee formed to review the Constitution, leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate said yesterday.

“The matter or manner of proposing amendments to or revision of the Constitution is a power exclusively retained by the sovereign Filipino directly or through their duly elected representatives, that is, the Congress,” Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said.

“As the name connotes, it is a consultative, or advisory, commission of the President. It cannot, and will not work in tandem with Congress. Of course, Congress may consider the commission’s recommendations, as well as those of any citizen, and may adopt or not adopt them at all,” he said.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III called Duterte’s formation of the consultative committee a “welcome development” but made it clear “the legislature will have its own mechanisms” to review and amend the Constitution.

The Senate committee on constitutional amendments, chaired

by Sen. Francis Pangilinan, has been conducting hearings on various proposals to amend the Charter.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone also said the creation of the President’s advisory panel was “a welcome development.”

“However, we as elected representatives of the people and the one vested by the Constitution to propose amendments, will continue to exercise our independent and inherent sovereign duty to propose Charter changes,” he pointed out.

He said lawmakers would “definitely welcome the inputs of the commission but we are not dutybound to accept all their proposals.”

Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado, who chairs the committee on constitutional amendments, said the consultative panel’s output “will definitely provide our Con-

gress with more inputs in the historic drafting of our new Constitution.”

Rep. Eugene de Vera of partylist group Arts, Business and Sciences, who has authored a federal Charter with Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., said the results of the review of Duterte’s consultants on Cha-

cha would have a “persuasive effect” on lawmakers.

“However, at the end of the day, it is Congress and the people who will decide on proposed constitutional amendments,” he said.

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza welcomed Duterte’s decision to ap-

u PAGE A10

A8 JANUARY 27-30, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

‘Just closure’

FEATURES

PHARMACEUTICAL giant Sanofi Pasteur has agreed to take back over 1.1 million doses of Dengvaxia vaccine and refund the Philippine government P1.18 billion for anti-dengue drugs that have not been used.

Malacañang vowed to provide “just closure” as it commiserated with the bereaved families of the so-called SAF 44. The commandos were hunting down top Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, in the marshy village of Tukanalipao in Mamasapano, Maguindanao when they walked into a massacre staged by those guarding their target: combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, its supposed breakaway faction the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and a private armed group. At least 18 MILF members and seven civilians also died in the daylong firefight.

Marwan, who had a $5-million bounty on his head, was killed, prompting the SAF to declare “Oplan Exodus” as “mission accomplished.”

But the SAF lost 44 men in what senators described as murder and treachery on the part of the MILF. Video footage from what looked like

smartphones showed some of the wounded being finished off by the militants and corpses being looted.

The slaughter raised questions, still not sufficiently answered, about the sincerity of the MILF in forging enduring peace. The government also failed to verify reports that high-powered sniper rifles were being manufactured by the MILF in Maguindanao.

Efforts to hold any official accountable for the deaths are crawling along, despite a Senate investigation that produced a long list of detailed recommendations and a parallel probe conducted by the Department of Justice. The Duterte administration appears to be pursuing another angle, and must make sure that this would not further slow down the pursuit of “just closure” for the fallen SAF 44. Delaying justice would make them victims twice over. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

A vein that beats with love for America

Rhizomes

PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. “I see the failure of the GOP (Republican Party) to act as the deepest form of betrayal, not simply of this nation and her people, but of all those sharing this planet who have been dependent on this fragile international mobile of precarious alliances for safety. Now we see this blatant corruption and profiteering - actions which are so clearly against the public good that it seems the universal ethics of so many healers to do no harm are reversed with malicious malignancy to ... how to do the greatest harm, how to profit from a pesticide PROVEN to damage developing our children’s minds, how to find a way to despoil the most sacred public grounds for the profits of a few which destroy the priceless treasure of a species. Decision after decision to destroy rather than create. To feed the ugliest aspects of human nature rather than foster the best within us. It seems to become almost a parody of a plot where the forces of good and evil... death and survival... altruism and greed ... service against selfishness wage their endless human battles on a vast stage.” - Cynthia Rogers, January 16, 2018 WHEN you read Cynthia Rogers’s Facebook post, it calls to mind the universal struggle of good vs. evil, much like CREW‘s report on what the #45th U.S. President Donald Trump has done in 2017, released on January 16, 2018.

“A year later, we at the CREW [Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington’s Noah Bookbinder, Norman Eisen,

Richard Painter and the CREW staff] have initiated 180 other legal matters against the [45th] president and his administration. The Trump administration is confronted by an extraordinary scale and scope of legal and ethics scandals. It is unrivaled in the modern era, and perhaps in the history of the nation, for a first-year administration,” the report said.

It goes on to say that, “the conduct of this administration, from the president on down, threatens our centuries-old tradition of a government that functions to serve the interests of the American people, rather than to serve the interests of those in power. A year in, it is clear that a failure to address this crisis, or a normalization of the corrupt conduct of this administration, risks lasting harm to the country.”

It advances a critique that corruption comes from the top: “Indeed, the original sin of the Trump administration was the president’s decision to retain ownership of his businesses.

While he has apparently transferred day-to-day management of his businesses to his sons, he continues to own his vast global empire of hotels, golf courses, office buildings, and other businesses; he knows what the companies are, he monitors their activities, he profits when the companies do, and the trust he formed allows him to access those profits at any time. That creates a massive web of conflicts of interest. For virtually every decision President Trump makes, from taxes to environmental regulations to foreign policy, the American people cannot be sure whether he made his decision in the public interest or to benefit his bottom line.”

Recall how Trump began his

first year in office, with California Judge Gonzalo Curiel approving the final settlement of $25 million settlement in the Trump University litigation, to favor 3,700 who have been victimized by fraud, last March 2017, a lawsuit that took six years? The settlement allowed 3,700 students to recover 90 percent of what they spent on Trump University, when they were persuaded to sign up for seminars with unsavory sales tactics for Gold Elite membership and access for personal mentoring at $35,000.

Given Trump’s immediate past history, it would not be surprising for him to show a disregard for ethics, corruption laws, nepotism, and democratic norms, particularly when he chose his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and later, even his own daughter, Ivanka Trump, to be his senior advisors.

The couple, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, carried their own set of ethical conflicts, as both have business interests they own and protect. Remember the hundreds of new trademarks Ivanka received from the Chinese government? Or how Jared Kushner kept revising his filings of ethics disclosure forms to protect his business associates 39 times?

If the White House and the federal government were private enterprises, none of Trump’s appointments nor his derived benefits from the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. would be questionable nor would his actions be in violation of the ethics clause or even the emoluments clause.

Constitutionally prohibited benefits The U.S. Constitution provides for “No Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them [the United States], without the

A resilient Philippines

Filipino Worldview ROBERTO R. ROMULO “In the past many believed: ‘On the uncertainties that mother nature ordains, there is not much we can do other than cope with them’. Today, I have asked Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, the president of the National Resilience Council, a public- private science technology based partnership, to write about how to achieve resilience.” - Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga IN the book “State, Society and National Security”, its editor, Dr. Shashi Jayakumar, begins the collection of essays with a conversation. He speaks with Singaporean officials Benny Lim and Peter Ho on, among others, the difference between the concepts of “surprise” and “shock”.

They conclude that while we cannot always avoid surprise, we can certainly minimize the possibility of being shocked, and the kind of paralysis that leads to failure.

This reading came to mind for various reasons over the holidays as we heard the news on the destruction and number of deaths caused by Typhoons Vinta and Urduja.

Although this conversation was made in the context of military and cyber security, it applies equally to disaster resilience and the experience of the Philippines as one of the countries which are most at risk to natural climate, weather and geological hazards.

As we develop, disaster risk may be generated due to increases in population, urbanization, interdependencies among our technological systems.

Disasters are also evolving in new ways, such as the naturaltechnological disaster that Estancia, Iloilo experienced during Yolanda when the National Power Corporation’s 35-megawatt power barge rammed into its coast. This resulted in both the loss of power and in a massive oil spill.

As we build our cities, weaknesses in local risk governance affect river flows, air quality and soil quality. When subjected to the frequency and intensity of extreme weather, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, these weaknesses threaten human development and increase the cost of infrastructure. The combination of these hazards, exposure and vulnerabilities constitute the recipe for disasters.

Finally, there is the interaction of hazards such as extreme weather events with exposed

Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”

When “Trump signed a 60year lease for the governmentowned Old Post Office Pavilion on Pennsylvania Avenue in 2013, then spent more than $200 million turning the project into a luxury hotel,” the Washington Post reported that the lease agreement has a clause “barring any elected official of the government of the United States from deriving any benefit.”

That emoluments clause, according to NBC News’ Samee Ali, prompted the attorneys general of Maryland and District of Columbia to file a lawsuit “for flagrant violations of the Emoluments Clause for maintaining ownership of his businesses afterinauguration — particularly his hotels, which are taking in foreign profits.”

The President promoted Trump International Hotel to foreign diplomats and to government officials and “reportedly took in about $270,000 in payments tied to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is lobbying to pull back U.S. terrorism law,” NBC News reported.

CREW reported that “countries from Saudi Arabia to Malaysia to China have provided business to the president in the form of hotel stays, special events, rental of office space, and the provision of valuable trademarks, among many other transactions that represent not only conflicts of interest and violations of the emoluments clause, meaning profit or gain from foreign governments.”

In Trump-owned Mar-a- Lago, a golf course he frequents and at which over 100 days in his first

year in the White House were spent, guests pay a membership fee of $200,000, which doubled since the 2016 presidential elections.

CREW reports that “No president in the history of our nation has held businesses creating the kinds of conflicts, constitutional violation, and self-dealing we see with this one.”

In a press conference, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and DC Attorney General Karl Racine filed a lawsuit in June 2017, accusing the P President of flagrantly violating the Constitution.

Brian Frosh was quoted by NBC News’ Alex Seitz-Wald and Corky Siemaszko, as saying, “President Trump’s continued ownership interest in a global empire, which renders him deeply enmeshed with a legion of foreign and domestic government actors, violates the Constitution and calls into question the rule of law and the integrity of the country’s political system.

And irrespective of whether such benefits affect the President’s decision-making or shift his foreign or domestic policy, uncertainty about whether the President is acting in the best interest of the American people, or rather for his own ends or personal enrichment, inflicts lasting harm on our democracy.”

After a year in office, CREW concluded, “it is abundantly clear that the executive branch under President Trump is characterized by contempt for ethics and conflicts of interest rules and for the rule of law. Any hope that President Trump would sell his businesses to avoid conflicts of interest or let the investigation into Russian election meddling proceed without interference—or that he would demand

*** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 9 years now. She contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong.

She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Mexico and 22 national parks in the US, in pursuit of her love for arts.

and vulnerable populations. National poverty incidence stands at over 21 percent and Manila alone has approximately four million informal settlers. Unfortunately, the impact of natural disasters on this segment of our population continues to be poorly understood except by policy researchers, civil society organizations and academics.

Moreover, the impact of natural hazards in conflict areas — such as the case of Vinta in Mindanao — presents a scenario that is certainly worth of a deeper disaster forensics study.

Given the complexity of disaster risk, the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation, Zuellig Family Foundation, Manila Observatory, SM Prime and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation have formed a science and technology based public–private partnership known as the National Resilience Council (NRC). Our principal partners are local government units as they have the lead role

in disaster risk reduction and in achieving development continuity. NRC has simultaneously engaged directly with the business community, the executive and legislative departments, academia and the civil society sector in order to identify and address the factors that contribute to disasters in each LGU. Already committed to work with us on achieving a sustainable local economy, resilient human development systems, infrastructure and environment are: Bataan Province, and the cities of Valenzuela, Naga, Iriga, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga. We are building upon the success of the Zuellig Family Foundation’s health resiliency program, the investor presence of large corporations such as SM and Shell, engagement of civil society groups, and private and public universities to ensure that LGUs bounce forward, instead of just bouncing back from a disaster.

Implementation began this year with a significant investment from Mr. Hans Sy of SM Prime. Through his support and the work of the NRC team led by DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the NRC was recently called “global best practice” by UNISDR special representative of the secretary-general Robert Glasser.

NRC’s vision is also supported by an action research grant from the International Development Research Centre of Canada. This will enable the Ateneo de Manila, the Manila Observatory and the NRC to conduct integrated risk assessments and establish multi-stakeholder partnerships for disaster resilience with local governments in Metro Manila, Naga and Iloilo.

We close by urging the private sector to support the NRC in the same way the executive branch has provided funding to insure a truly resilient Philippines. (Philstar.com)

high ethical standards from the rest of his administration—has been conclusively refuted. It is time for the American people to conclude that one year is enough and to demand an end to the culture of corruption gripping Washington.”

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was one of the principal leaders of the new nation America in the 18th century. He is remembered as a courageous army officer, according to the Patriot’s Handbook, as the commissioner to France who in 1798 refused a veiled request for bribes with, “Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute.” He also said, “If I had a vein that did not beat with the love of my country, I myself would open it.”

The emoluments clause was enshrined in the U.S. Constitution to ensure neutrality, to prevent the appearance of corruption and “a reminder of the framers’ tough stance against political corruption, kickbacks, and undue outside influence on the nation’s leaders.”

We, the American people, must insist on having an honest, ethical and rule-of law-compliant president in the White House.

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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OpiniOn & Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 27-30, 2018

A

UN experts slam Rappler closure order Cayetano: ‘Filipinos feel safer due to drug war’

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA — Independent experts of the United Nations have expressed serious alarm over the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to order the closure of online news outfit Rappler by revoking its certificate of incorporation.

Malacañang immediately challenged the UN human rights experts to show proof that the Duterte administration is suppressing press freedom following the SEC order to revoke Rappler’s license.

In a joint statement, the three special rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Council — David Kaye (freedom of opinion and expression), Agnes Callamard (extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions) and Michel Forst (situation of human rights defenders) — called on the Philippine government to protect and promote independent media in the country.

“Rappler’s work rests on its own freedom to impart information, and more importantly its vast readership to have access to its public interest reporting,” the joint statement read.

“As a matter of human rights law, there is no basis to block it from operating. Rappler and other independent outlets need particular protection because of the essential role they play in ensuring robust public debate,” it added.

They claimed that the SEC decision is at odds with its past approach to foreign support of local or national media, noting that philanthropic contributions do not amount to foreign ownership.

“It has rejected the previously accepted format of contributions which media companies use to raise foreign funding,” the rapporteurs said.

“We are especially concerned that this move against Rappler comes at a time of rising rhetoric against independent voices in the country…We urge the government to return to its path of protection and promotion of independent media, especially those covering issues in the public interest,” they added.

The SEC revoked Rappler’s certificate of incorporation for supposedly violating the prohibition of foreign media own-

Malacañang immediately challenged the UN human rights experts to show proof that the Duterte administration is suppressing press freedom following the SEC order to revoke Rappler’s license.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

ership in the country when it allegedly allowed foreign contributors some control in the company.

The media organization denied the allegation and maintained that Rappler is owned by Filipinos. It is currently appealing the decision.

Rappler alleged that the SEC ruling is an attempt to curtail freedom of the press, citing attacks made against it by President Duterte, his allies and supporters.

The SEC probe was initiated by a letter from Solicitor General Jose Calida.

Black Friday protest Journalists, students and other advocates of freedom of the press and expression yesterday held a protest at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City to denounce the closure order against Rappler.

Members of arts and media alliance Let’s Organize for Democracy and Integrity (LODI) led the Black Friday protest at UP, a follow-up to a similar activity held at Boy Scout Circle last Jan. 19.

The group urged the public to continue the fight to defend press freedom, citing the proposal to revise the provision on freedom of speech and of the press in the Constitution.

“We must not allow malignant forces to continue peddling lies to justify their embrace of tyranny and dictatorship,” the group’s statement read. “We must shatter their untruths and push back against harassment and intimidation.”

Other groups supporting the

Black Friday protests include the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, AlterMidya, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Photojournalists Center of the Philippines.

Show proof “We’ll give them credence if they can show which outfit has been shut down, who has been prohibited to report, when there was either censorship or prior restraint,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said.

Roque again backed the Jan. 11 decision of the SEC that Rappler violated the Constitution when it allowed foreign investors to become part of its board.

“That’s a decision of SEC which is manned by (former president Benigno) Aquino (III’s) appointees. It’s a moneymaking scheme which SEC said, violated the Constitution.

Allegation that it’s about freedom is fake news,” he said.

He also branded the UN statement as “fake news” as he denounced Rappler’s greed for money.

And contrary to public concern that the administration is trampling on the freedom of the press and of expression, Roque said the government had not prevented any reporter from Rappler media coverage.

“It’s about avarice for money that violates the Constitution and the laws of the land. Let me know if any of the journalists of Rappler have been prevented from reporting or if they’ve been censored,” the spokesman said. n

MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano claimed anew on Friday, January 26, that Filipinos feel safer now due to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs as he decried the latest criticisms of international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Cayetano sought an apology from HRW for supposedly misleading the international community on the real human rights situation in the Philippines.

“If Human Rights Watch decides to take a closer look, it would discover that a majority of Filipinos actually feel much safer now as a result of our government’s efforts to address the problem of illegal drugs,” he said in a statement.

“It is about time Human Rights Watch stops politicizing the war we are waging against illegal drugs at the expense of the Philippines and the Filipino people.

And it owes the Philippines and the rest of the international community not just an explanation but

en his record as Duterte’s chief denier of the growing evidence linking state-sanctioned killings to the anti-drug campaign,” Kine said.

“They are the latest manifestation of the government’s distraction strategy that appears aimed to sideline domestic and international demands for accountability for what non-governmental organizations and media outlets estimate is a drug war death toll of more than 12,000 people over the past 18 months,” he added.

The foreign affairs secretary earlier challenged the HRW to prove that the war on drugs already claimed the lives of 12,000 people.

He noted that only 3,968 drug Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano suspects were killed in 80,683 Philstar.com photo police operations from July 2016 also an apology for making unfair to November 2017. accusations by skewing the real “The claims of Human Rights numbers just so it could advance Watch that there are more than its own agenda,” he added.

12,000 victims in the campaign Cayetano issued the statement against illegal drugs could not after HRW deputy director for be possible since this number Asia Phelim Kine called the sec- failed to take into consideration retary the “chief denier” of the the number of homicides and Duterte administration. murders that have also been tak“Cayetano’s groundless accu- ing place all across the country,” sations come as no surprise, giv- Cayetano said. n

A10 January 27-30, 2018 • La WEEKEnD aSIan JOurnaL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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Philippines must protect, promote ‘independent media’ – UN rapporteurs Rights experts express ‘grave concern’ over moves to shut down Rappler

by Jhoanna

Ballaran Inquirer.net

Three United Nations (UN) experts have expressed serious alarm over efforts to shut down news website rappler, and urged the Philippine government to halt its move to close the media outfit.

The three UN special rapporteurs — Agnes Callamard, special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; David Kaye, special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; and Michel Forst, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders — said there was no basis under the human rights law to block rappler and other independent media outfits from reporting.

“We are gravely concerned that the government is moving to revoke rappler’s license,” the experts said in a joint statement issued on Thursday, January 25.

“We are especially concerned that this move against rappler comes at a time of rising rhetoric against independent voices in the country.”

“We urge the government to return to its path of protection and promotion of independent media, especially those covering issues in the public interest,” they added.

In a decision dated January 11, the SeC ordered the revocation

United Nations Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard.

Inquirer.net photo

of rappler Inc.’s certificate of incorporation for violating the restriction on foreign ownership of local media, the anti-dummy law, the corporation code, and the Securities regulation Code.

The SeC declared “void” the Philippine depositary receipts (PDrs) issued by rappler holdings to Omidyar Network Fund LLC, a fund created by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife, claiming this was a “fraudulent” transaction under the Securities regulation Code.

The experts said SeC’s move was “at odds” with its past approach to foreign support of local or national media, “given that philanthropic contributions do not amount to foreign ownership.”

They maintained that the news outfit’s work “rests on its own freedom to impart information” and more importantly, its audience “to have access to its public interest reporting.”

“As a matter of human rights law, there is no basis to block it from operating. rappler and other independent outlets need particular protection because of the essential role they play in ensuring robust public debate,” they noted.

The SeC order drew wide criticisms from journalist groups, saying the move was an attack against press freedom. Centerlaw, the former law firm of Presidential Spokesperson harry roque, said that SeC decision was unconstitutional for denying rappler due process and was a form of prior restraint.

The SeC ruling likewise prompted journalists and media groups to stage a rally dubbed as Black Friday protest in Quezon City. Media groups pointed out that the SeC order was just part of the series of attacks against the press and press freedom.

Meanwhile, the Catholic News Agency, a group of at least 50 Catholic radio stations nationwide, is in danger of being shut down as its license remains to gather dust at the house of representatives, which moved to amend the Constitutional provision on free expression last week. n

BTC OKAY. Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sonny Angara and Sherwin Gatchalian gives full approval to the Bangsamoro Transition Commision (BTC) after the Senate hearing of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) on Tuesday, January 23. The new version of the BBL, which will amend the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) law, gives representation to the indigenous peoples.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

‘Congress has final say on Charter...

PAGE A7 t point a consultative panel chaired by former chief justice reynato Puno.

“We find this very reassuring because it means the difficult and delicate task of drafting a new Charter will not just be left to the house and the Senate. Most of the consultative committee’s members are men and women of impeccable character and track record,” he said.

For opposition rep. edcel Lagman, the outcome of the parallel Cha-cha work of Congress and the Puno committee would not

be different.

“Despite two bodies consisting of the Congress and the consultative committee discharging duplicating roles of reviewing the 1987 Constitution, any fear that ‘too many cooks will spoil the broth’ is foreclosed because the principal chef in Malacañang controls the recipe,” he said. he said lawmakers and the 19 Duterte consultants are expected to endorse the President’s advocacy for a shift to the federal system.

“The congressional leaders and the supermajority in both houses of Congress are unanimous in backing the shift from a unitary to a federal government, while not a few of the appointed members of the consultative committee are known to favor federalism,” he said. he added that the creation of the Puno panel has temporarily set aside the impasse between the house and the Senate on the manner of voting on Cha-cha.

Inputs useful Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto said the output of the consultative committee “can be useful to us,” adding that Duterte informed them of his plan to assemble the panel last year.

Senate President Pro Tempore ralph recto cited the committee’s being composed of eminent individuals like Puno, former senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Fr. ranhilio Aquino, dean of the San Beda Graduate School of Law. he described the panel as a “league of extraordinary gentlemen that should be able to meet the people’s expectation of an output that is far from ordinary.” he however reminded members of the body that while they are competent to speak on Charter change, their mandate is to listen to the diverse opinions on how to improve the basic law.

“On this, they are expected to crowd-source the wisdom of the people and digest them into a compact piece of recommendations for the sovereign, and their officials, to act on,” recto said.

he maintained the consultations “will further enrich healthy discussions on the nation’s most important document, including the ones to be conducted by the Senate, which, I understand, will not cease on account of the presidential initiative.”

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the panel would complement the work of Pangilinan’s committee, which will also conduct hearings in Mindanao, Cebu and Baguio. he stressed amending the Charter is basically a function of Congress.

The Senate committee on constitutional amendments, Drilon said, is still discussing whether there is need for Charter change – or if there’s one, which mode to use toward that end.

Drilon revealed senators have not yet reached a consensus on many issues around Charter change.

“The work of the Puno Commission will be a valuable input to the Senate. It is best that we await the committee, and Senate itself, to decide on these issues,” Drilon said.

Meanwhile, the issue of Charter change will be discussed today in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) 116th Plenary Assembly in Cebu.

The conference runs until Monday. “There will be a discussion on that but I am not sure what their stand would be,” said CBCP Public Affairs Committee (PAC) executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano.

The “CBCP is a collegial body.

Whatever stand on issues they have is always the fruit of their collective efforts,” he said. he admitted it remains uncertain if the bishops would be issuing a statement on the matter.

“I hope they will. As I said, they will deliberate on it. If they are unanimous in deciding for it, they will definitely write one about it,” the CBCP official said. expected to attend the assembly are 81 active bishops, 43 retired bishops and five diocese administrators. n

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 27-30, 2018

A11

CHR urges gov’t execs: Keep Dengvaxia fiasco away from politics

by Julius

N. leoNeN Inquirer.net

For the best interests of children and their families, the Commission on Human rights (CHr) has urged government officials to keep the controversial anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine away from political noise.

The CHr on Friday, January 26 said that public officials should refrain from causing further public anxiety with “premature statements” that are not backed by scientific evidence.

“It is to the best interest of the children and their families that this issue be insulated from political noise that distracts from providing genuine and durable solution to the problem at hand,” the CHr said in a statement.

“This issue deserves the government’s utmost attention given that the future of our nation depends on the welfare of our children,” it said.

French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur, manufacturer of Dengvaxia, had disclosed that the vaccine may have potential risk to patients who have not had dengue prior to immunization.

Sanofi warned of “more cases of severe disease” for persons injected with the vaccine but had no

Parents of Anjielica Pestilos and Christine Mae De Guzman who reportedly died after receiving dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, arrive at the DOJ accompanied by PAO Chief Persida Acosta.

Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez

prior dengue infection.

The CHr said that the government should ensure that children have access to the best health care possible, citing Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the rights of the Child.

The Department of Health (DoH) earlier said it has heightened its surveillance and monitoring activities of more than 800,000 children administered with Dengvaxia.

The CHr said it has been conducting investigative monitoring of the DoH’s efforts and responses to the vaccine.

“The State must always exer-

cise thorough care and extra due diligence when it comes to formulating and implementing health programs for children,” the com- FOR THE STATUS QUO. Jorge San Mateo, national president of the Pinagkaisa ng Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), mission said. stands on top of a jeepney to speak out against the government’s plan to modernize jeepneys. About 200 members of Piston participated “Considering the urgency of the in a rally that started in front of the National Housing Authority at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 24. Protesters then marched to the problem as children’s lives are at headquarters of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez stake, we expect the concerned agencies to provide immediate solutions to this tragic occurrence,” it said.

Moreover, the CHr said it hoped The guidelines say house visiVisayan term derived from Tokthat congressional inquiries into

by Roy NaRRa tok-Hangyo meaning to “knock tation; information, education ManilaTimes.net the vaccine would result to legand plead.” and communication materials; islation that would improve the “Para mabura yung impres- and conduct of townhall meetTHErE will be no Tokhang country’s public health programs sion na pag tinokhang ka, papa- ings are not part of Tokhang but and help prevent similar incidents operations during weekends and nightime once the operations tayin ka [To erase the impres- police community relations. from happening again. n Carlos said the guidelines are reimplemented, according sion that if you are subjected to to supplemental guidelines and Tokhang, you are to be killed]. were issued to avoid different inpolicies of the Philippine Nation- From the start, Tokhang meant terpretations of the operations. to save and value the lives of The PNP will conduct orientaal Police (PNP).

The seven-page guidelines those who are into drugs by ex- tions on the guidelines on Friday (PrC) for the affected families. state that the Tokhangers or a tending the help of the govern- nationwide.

Carlos said they hope to go Sen. richard Gordon, chairman group of policemen assigned to ment,” he explained.

The PNP spokesman on said “full blast” with the Tokhang opof PrC, thanked Australian Am- conduct such operations, which bassador Amanda Gorely for her are a combination of knocking at Tokhangers who are caught erations on Monday next week.

Interior officer-in-Charge Edgovernment’s assistance. doors and ferreting out of drug conducting operations beyond Australian Foreign Minister Ju- suspects in a certain area must 5 p.m. will face administrative uardo Año said they will monitor the PNP’s adherence to the lie Bishol last Wednesday said her only do their duty from 8 a.m. to cases.

Carlos said the use of body guidelines. government pledged P31.6 mil- 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

“I am demanding accountabillion (AU$775,000) worth of huThe policemen are also man- cameras during Tokhang is just manitarian support to individuals dated to wear their PNP uniform “highly encouraged” for now ity from our police officers. With affected by the eruption. during the operations and must since they are yet to purchase the salary increase [given them recently], they should shape up The aid will include the pro- be led by commissioned officer. the equipment. once bought, every Tokhang- or ship out,” he added in a statevision of tarpaulins, sleeping According to PNP spokesman mats, blankets, mosquito nets, Dionardo Carlos, this sched- er will be required to wear a ment.

President rodrigo Duterte jerry cans and hygiene supplies to ule aims to show the public the body camera, he added. other instructions indicated removed the PNP from the anti30,000 individuals. transparency of the operations “We have provided as we al- and deter the policemen from in the supplemental guidelines drug operations in November include adherence to rule of law 2017 after the controversial ways do because we are a good violating human rights. friend of the Philippines. Unfortu“Let’s take advantage of the and respect for human rights; deaths of two teenagers in Calonately, there has been a spike of daylight. Pag sa gabi, may gaga- assurance that operations are ocan City.

He then tapped the Philipnatural disasters in the last few wing kalokohan [Hanky panky intelligence-driven, with susmonths in which we provided happens at night], they do it at pected drug suspects listed pine Drug Enforcement Agenhumanitarian assistance to help nightime,” he said in a news personally by the Director of In- cy (PDEA) to lead the war on the families evacuated and af- briefing in Camp Crame in Que- telligence; voluntary mugshot- drugs. taking and fingerprinting; and The PNP was brought back fected by flood and most recently zon City on Wednesday. with the Mayon eruption. That is Carlos added that the sched- immediate case build-up against to the campaign in December continuous,” Gorely earlier said. ule will also break the miscon- suspects who refuse to cooper- 2017 to help PDEA in the operations. n (Philstar.com) ception of the term Tokhang, a ate during an operation.

PH prepares for 3-month-long...

PAGE A7 t

Currently, the Miisi and Buyuan lava flows have maintained their advance to three kilometers and one kilometer, respectively, from the summit crater.

Sulfur dioxide gas emission was measured at an average of 1,916 tons per day last Jan. 25.

Electronic tilt and continuous global positioning system measurements indicate a sustained swelling or inflation of the edifice since November and october last year, consistent with pressurization by magmatic intrusion.

For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard was set to transport 8,000 food packs to Albay residents displaced by the eruption and temporarily taking shelter in evacuation centers.

The number of cancelled flights has risen to 97, the disaster agency said.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the high volume of ash Mayon spews

toward the sky poses a risk to international flights passing Albay.

Erick Apolonio, CAAP spokesperson at Legazpi airport, said flights to Legazpi and Naga airports were cancelled up to Jan. 31.

“We know that volcanic ash sucked by plane engines and air-conditioning poses high risk to the aircraft while silica poses health risk to passengers,” said Apolonio.

Flights from Japan, Singapore, Papua New Guinea pass Albay before landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport so CAAP “urged them to consider precautionary measures, prompting other airlines to cancel their flights due to high column of volcanic ash,” Apolonio said.

Legazpi Airport resumed operations on Friday after it closed down for several days.

The Australian government donated 6,000 pieces of non-food items to the Philippine red Cross

Police: No ‘Tokhang’ ops at night, weekends

A12 January 27-30, 2018 • La WEEKEnD aSIan JOurnaL

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 27-30, 2018

SHOWBIZ&STYLE

B

Journal

Miss Philippines Katarina Rodriguez is Julie Anne on ‘Stage 1’ with Benjamin Miss Intercontinental first runner-up by ricky Lo Philstar.com

by iza igLeSiaS ManilaTimes.net

Another Binibining Pilipinas has done the country proud in Katarina rodriguez who was declared first runner up at Miss Intercontinental’s coronation night on Wednesday, January 24 in hurghada, egypt. rodriguez wowed judges with her impressive performance in the swimsuit and evening gown competitions, and, proving she has both form and substance, garnered tremendous applause as well in the question and answer portion.

She was asked, “What is the most important thing that you have learned about participating in Miss Intercontinental?” rodriguez replied, “the most important thing that I have learned while participating in this beauty pageant is actually an Arabic word, which is actually named after one of the Sunrise resorts. It’s called ‘meraki.’

It means to do all things with passion, soul, and creativity.

When I heard this word and the definition, it resonated with me, until now and for the rest of my life. therefore, that is the most important thing that I’ve learned while participating in

this pageant. Meraki, to do all things with soul, passion, and creativity. thank you.”

As the top Asian candidate in the competition, rodriguez also received the titles Miss Intercontinental Asia and oceania. She further placed in the top 3 of the pageant’s online poll.

Mexico’s Veronica Salas Vallejo was crowned Miss Intercontinental 2017, with the rest of her court as follows: Miss netherlands Cathelijne heppenhuis, 2nd runner-up; Miss Brazil Amanda Cardoso, 3rd runner-up; Miss Colombia Lizeth Mendieta Villanueva, 4th runner-up; and Miss Korea Su Jin, 5th runner-up. the pageant’s Facebook page showed a video of the coronation night with an emotional rodriguez, trying hard to hold back tears. In a later video, the Filipina beauty assured fans she is doing well after the pageant and has accepted the results.

Flanked by the new Miss Intercontinental and the second runner-up, she said, “okay lang ito, okay? I miss all of you, I miss my country,” tears welling up in her eyes anew. “It was a tough ride, it was a lot of work, a lot of hours. Mabuhay!

Mahal kita!”

Left photo shows Veronica Salas Vallejo of Mexico and Katarina Rodriguez of the Philippines holding hands as the host is about to announce the winner of Miss Intercontinental 2017. Right photo shows Katarina letting her tears flow at her presentation as Miss Intercontinental 1st runner-up.

Screenshots from Facebook/Miss Intercontinental

LIKe showbiz couples who hide behind “safe” answers, Julie Anne San Jose claims that she and Benjamin Alves are “still getting to know each other, they are on stage 1,” even as, according to rumors, Benjamin is trying hard to soften the hearts of Julie Anne’s parents who…frown against their “special friendship?”

Does the song, Can’t Stop the Feeling, eloquently express what’s in her heart? “that’s the song that makes me happy,” Julie Anne told Funfare.

And what song makes her cry?

“I think the most heart-breaking song I’ve ever heard was Jealous

by Labrinth. Noong una ko siyang narinig, nakakaiyak na agad.”

Katarina Rodriguez

rodriguez also praised the winner’s circle and said, “Yung winner, si Miss netherlands at ako, lahat ng top 5, magaling lahat kami, promise. Sa beginning of the pageant to the very end of the pageant, lahat kami deserving. thank you again so much for all of the support. I love all of you guys and I can’t wait to be back home,” she said. rodriguez, whose advocacies include peace and hIV-Aids awareness, duplicated the first runner up finish of Philippine bet Christi Lynn McGarry in 2015.

Last year’s representative, Jennifer hammond, made it among the top 15. rodriguez’ significant win further boosted the standing of her fellow Binibining Pilipinas 2017 queens in their respective pageants as nelda Ibe won first runner up in Miss Globe; elizabeth Clenci, second runner up in Miss Grand International; and rachel Peters and Chanel olive thomas emerging in the top 10 of Miss Universe and Miss Supranational, respectively. Moreover, this latest triumph proves that the Philippines remains a powerhouse in the pageant world.

quez),” quipped Julie Anne (who performed with regine and Christian Bautista at the “3 Stars, 1 heart” concert in Cebu over the weekend).

All those songs should be included in the repertoire of Julie Anne’s solo concert #Julie (directed by Marvin Caldito) tomorrow, Jan. 27, at the Music Museum.

Asked what to expect in her concert, Julie Anne (a regular on the GMA shows Pepito Manaloto andSunday PinaSaya) said, “It’s going to be an intimate celebration Julie Anne San Jose with rumored boyfriend with the people who have been Benjamin Alves Philstar.com photo with me since the beginning. this If and when she and whoever time, mas mature ito pagdating sa wins her heart (could be Benjamin song choices. I will be showing the or somebody else) get married, to different stages of love, and the what song will she want to march highs and lows of a relationship. down the aisle to?

I’m excited to share a part of me “Ikaw by Ate regine (Velas- with the audience.”

Glaiza de Castro’s lifelong pledge

by Lhar

Santiago ManilaTimes.net

tWo days before her birthday, Glaiza de Castro spent her whole afternoon at the Valenzuela Special education Center, a public school for children with special needs in Valenzuela City. there, the actress interacted with the children, talking and playing games with them. of course, there were the endless request for selfies and Glaiza was only too happy to oblige. She capped the afternoon by giving them gifts. this is not the first time that Glaiza went to this school. It was 2015 when she went there and sang for the special children.

“From then on, I’ve visited the kids on several occasions. Isa sila sa mga tao who I really love.

Siguro, one of the reasons is there is a member of my family who also has special needs, so I understand them, and I want to make them happy in my own little way,” she shared with Showbuzz.

She was particularly happy

to see a good number of the children showing much improvement. they even sang and danced for her. “they inspire to continue with this ministry to help them. I said ‘ministry’ because I am not alone in what I do—my family is with me.”

Besides helping special children, Glaiza and her family, also support struggling Christian churches in provinces. one of them is a local congregation in Mulanay, Quezon whose members hold their worship services under a roofed make-shift church. “the place that serves as their church does not even have walls at lupa lang talaga, ni hindi sementado. But the members of the church don’t seem to mind it. they worship there every Sunday. ‘Yung faith nila, nakakahanga. So ngayon, tumutulong kami in building a small church na sementado so that when it rains, hindi sila mababasa.” helping churches is not a new thing for Glaiza. She grewup seeing how her parents, Glaiza de Castro PAGE B3 Photo from Instagram/@glaizaredux

B January 27-30, 2018 • La WEEKEnD aSIan JOurnaL

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John Lloyd Cruz competes with Hollywood Westfield Santa Anita ushers in the ‘Year of the Dog’ with its sixth annual Lunar New Year celebration actors for international acting award

by Jan Milo SeVeRo Philstar.com

ABS-CBN actor John Lloyd Cruz, who is still on leave, has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the film “Ang Babaeng Humayo” at the 15th International Cinephile Society awards.

Cruz is set to compete with American actors Willem Dafoe, famous for his character in “Spiderman,” Armie Hammer, also known as “The Long Ranger,” and Michael Stuhlbarg, who is tied with series “Boardwalk Empire,” as well as “Dunkirk” Irish actor Barry Keoghan and “BPM” French actor Arnaud Valois.

“Congratulations John Lloyd on your nomination under the Best Supporting category for ‘Ang Babaeng Humay’” in the 15th International Cinephile Society awards,” Star Magic announced on Twitter last Tuesday, January 23.

On his Instagram account, John Lloyd (@ekomsi) posted that never in his wildest dreams did he think that he will be nominated in the international awards.

“Wasak. ICS Awards never in my wildest dreams,” the versatile actor posted.

He added that when he read that his idol Daniel Day-Lewis has been nominated as Best Actor for the movie “Phantom Thread,” he felt that he already won.

“When I read Daniel Day-Lewis written in his category sabi ko uy panalo na ko.”

Lav Diaz’s revenge drama “Ang Babaeng Humayo” was also nominated for best adapted screenplay and best film not in the English language at the International Cinephile Society awards.

These nominations came almost two years after the film won the top prize at the 73rd Venice ABS-CBN photo International Film Festival in John Lloyd Cruz nied by Ellen’s best friend Beauty 2016.

John Lloyd, for his part, plays Gonzales.

Formed in 2003, the Interthe role of Hollanda, a transvestite whom Horacia eventually takes national Cinephile Society is an online group made up of approxiunder her wing.

There is still no word as to mately 100 accredited journalists, when John Lloyd will be back film scholars, historians, and on the limelight. Reports said he other industry professionals who and his girlfriend Ellen Adarna cover film festivals and events in are preparing for their upcoming five continents. Winners will be wedding, but this has been de- announced on February 4.

Robin Padilla: ‘Respect very much needed in showbiz’ KAPAMILyA actor Robin Padilla demanded to speak with Richard yap first before accepting the role in their new teleserye with Jodi Sta Maria.

In an interview with the press, Robin said he asked Richard’s permission to become the third wheel in the already tried-andtested “JoChard” love team of Richard and Jodi.

“Ha? Kasama si Richard yap?

Ang alam ko kasi noong una, kami (Jodi) tapos naging si Richard.

Natakot talaga ko kasi teka muna meron na silang pinagsamahan na dalawa eh. Kaya nag-request ako talaga na kung pwede makausap si Richard kung papayag siya,” Robin said during the recent press conference of the “Sana Dalawa Ang Puso Ko.” In showbiz, Robin said, respect is very much needed.

“Kaya noong pinayagan naman ako ni Richard, unti-unti nawala yung pag-aalinlangan ko.

Kasi may karapatan si Richard eh na ‘Teka, bat ganun?’ Pero bilib naman talaga ko kasi gentleman siya at pumayag naman siya.”

Regarding his meeting with

By Rae

ann VaRona

WITH Lunar New year approaching on Friday, February 16, many places in Southern California are undergoing preparations to ring in the “year of the Dog.” One of them being Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia, the premier shopping center in the San Gabriel Valley.

On Thursday, January 25, the mall announced the highlights of this year’s festivities, including its sixth annual Lunar New year public celebration event on Sunday, February 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The day will be filled with festivities, such as live performances and entertainment, lion and dragon dances, calligraphy demonstrations, children’s crafts activities and games, red envelope giveaways, as well as fantastic promotions and treats from the center’s shops and restaurants.

Starting on Saturday, January 27, there will be traditional Chinese music played every Saturday until February 17.

“We invite everyone to join our celebration in February,” Debbie Oung, marketing coordinator at Westfield Santa Anita, told the Asian Journal. “Being a part of the community is so important to us and we really want to represent the San Gabriel Valley and make sure Westfield Santa Anita is the place to celebrate Lunar New year.”

Leading up to the grand festival, the center will host a number of exciting Lunar New year activities such as traditional Zither and Flute performances every Saturday starting on January 27th, to kick off the Lunar New year. At 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, renowned calligrapher Hirokazu Kosaka, artist Wakana Kimura and calligrapher Kuniharu yoshida, will be creating a spectacular large-scale calligraphy painting to celebrate the zodiac year animal at the Center.

pagbutihan namin ‘yung show,” the controversial “Pilipinas Got Talent” host said.

For his part, Richard said when he heard that Robin wanted to talk to him, he first taught that it was going to be a “getting to know each other” meeting only.

“Hindi ko naman talaga alam kung ano ‘yung concerns niya. So hindi ako nag-aalangan na magkita kami talaga,” Richard said.

“Maybe that’s the reason why he is Robin Padilla is because of his humility. Kumbaga hindi n’ya nakikita kung gaano siya kalaking artista. Nung nalaman namin na makakatrabaho namin siya, kami ‘yung parang ‘Ha? Makakasama naming siya?’ Kasi di ba nakikita mo sa TV, iniidolo ng napakaramRobin Padilla ABS-CBN photo ing tao. Ako personally, humanga ako sa kanya sa pagiging humble Richard, Robin said it went very niya,” Jodi said. well but at first, it was so seri“Nagpapasalamat siya sa amin ous. when in fact, kami ang dapat mag“Serious kasi noong una pero pasalamat sa kanya. Kasi mahirap nadala namin ‘yung kwentuhan maghanap ng isang charater na kung saan-saan, hangggang sa papasok dito sa show na babanakarating na kami sa UFC, ‘yung gay sa story na ito. Siya lang ang suntukan, hanggang napagu- pwedeng gumanap nun,” Richard “Year of the Dog” kicks off on February 16, sapan na ‘yung work namin, na assured. (Philstar.com) 2018.

Tony Chan, senior vice president and senior lending officer of First General Bank (FGB), and Chun-Yen Chen, executive director of the Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF) share Westfield Santa Anita Marketing that FGB will donate $25 to APCF for each unique and qualified Manager Debbie Oung details Instagram post of the Shadow Box, up to $5,000. Posts must the center’s Lunar New Year have the hashtags #FirstGeneralBank, #WestfieldLNY, and #APCF, and must follow @WestfieldSantaAnita. decorations and celebrations.

Westfield Santa Anita announced its Lunar New Year activities on Thursday, January 25 to the media.

Pictured in the photo include San Gabriel Councilmember Chin Ho Liao, Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF) Executive Director Chun-Yen Chen, Westfield Santa Anita Marketing Manager Debbie Oung, Tony Chan of First General Bank, San Gabriel Councilmember Jason Pu, and Jim Jang, board president of the Friends of the Chinese American Museum. AJPress photos by Christina M. Oriel

“San Gabriel Valley is home to many Asian Americans, and we know that Lunar New year is an important holiday in our community,” Ramon Oseguera, general manager of Westfield Santa Anita said in a statement. “We want to continue to be the place that brings the community together, and celebrate these traditions with everyone.”

This year, Westfield Santa Anita is partnering with several local community organizations to bring new experiences to the Center. The Center is continuing its partnership with the local school districts such as Arcadia Unified, Rosemead, Pasadena Unified, and Temple City Unified, and is revamping the Art Displays into a “year of the Dog” art competition. Westfield will be giving away three $250 gift cards to each winner, and will be printing the large-scale winning pieces to be displayed at the center.

In addition, Westfield’s ongoing partnership with First General Bank (FGB) and Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF) will feature Westfield Santa Anita’s new visual element, the Shadowbox display, in Center Court. This plays on the traditional Chinese shadow puppets. FGB will donate $25 to APCF for each unique and qualified Instagram post of the Shadowbox up to $5,000. Posts must include #FirstGeneralBank,

#WestfieldLNy and #APCF, and must also follow @WestfieldSantaAnita.

Other decorations shoppers will notice at the mall include lanterns and a dog statue and red umbrellas hanging from the ceiling.

“We are also thrilled to welcome our amazing partners at the Chinese American Museum. They have several displays on site this year, including the food displays and traditional props which you can find on level 2,” Oung said.

In addition, select retailers at the Center are helping their customers start the year off right with special Lunar New year promotions and specials.

Kiehl’s is offering their customers four deluxe samples with any $85 purchase.

Somi Somi, a new soft serve dessert shop known for their beautifully crafted Taiyaki soft serve, will be hosting two Lunar New year Instagram promotions and giveaways; follow @WestfieldSantaAnita on Instagram for more information.

Tsurumaru Udon is coming out with two new menu items, Creamy Matcha Udon and Cream Sauce Udon with chicken and mentai seasoned roe toppings. During Lunar New year, they will be giving out one free drink with a purchase of a Creamy Matcha Udon or Cream Sauce Udon order.

Protect yourself and your family in the New Year

AJPress

Every year people start the New Year off by making resolutions and setting goals to improve their lives. Here’s something you can do right now to protect yourself and your family and it doesn’t require getting sweaty or joining a club - get covered with a quality health insurance plan through Covered California.

Covered California is the state exchange established under the Affordable Care Act, where Californians who do not have health insurance can sign up for quality health coverage and find out whether they qualify for financial help in paying for their premiums. While there has been a lot of debate about the future of our health care system, the ACA remains the law of the land and now is the time to sign up if you do not have health insurance.

“Covered California remains strong, and the good news is that for most consumers, the price of their coverage is going down in 2018,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “If you do not currently have health insurance, now is the one time of the year when you can enroll without needing to meet special qualifying conditions.”

While the open enrollment period in most states ended on Dec. 15, Covered California’s open-enrollment period runs through Jan. 31, 2018, giving Californians more time to explore their options and find the plan that best suits their needs.

Having health insurance is important because it protects consumers and their families against potentially enormous medical bills if they get sick or injured. Covered California’s new ad campaign focuses on day-to-day examples of how life can change in an instant. Whether it is stumbling off a curb while checking your phone, slicing your hand while in the kitchen or discovering that there will be a new addition to the family, being covered is the best plan when life changes.

“More than 28,000 Filipinos are currently enrolled in a plan through Covered California,” Lee said. “We want to make sure everyone in the Filipino community knows about their options and the financial help that is available to help bring that health coverage within reach.”

Consumers can see their options and find out if they qualify for financial help in just a few easy steps. All they need to do is visit www.CoveredCA. com and click on the “Shop and Compare” button.

With their ZIP code, household income, household size and the ages of those who are applying for coverage, they will quickly find out which plans are available and whether they qualify for financial assistance.

For example, an individual could earn up to $48,240 a year, and a family of four up to $98,400, and qualify for financial help that would lower the cost of their monthly premium. Not only do a majority of Covered California consumers benefit from financial help, but a new analysis shows that the price they pay for their coverage is going down this year.

“Even if you have checked Covered California out before, check again,” Lee said. “Finding out whether you qualify for financial help only takes a few minutes and the prices could be more affordable than you think.”

In addition to signing up online, consumers can get free, confidential in-person assistance to find out more about their coverage options. Covered California has partnered with insurance agents and community organizations across the state, who speak Tagalog and a variety of other languages, to help consumers find the best fit for their health care needs.

Consumers interested in speaking with someone in person can visit the “Find Help” page on www.CoveredCA.com and enter their ZIP code to locate a certified enroller near them. They can also contact Covered California’s service center at (800) 300-1506. Covered California provides resources in Tagalog on its website at https://www.coveredca.com/tagalog/.

“California is the most diverse state in the country and we want to do everything we can to make sure that people in every community can get the coverage they deserve and the care they need,” Lee said.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 27-30, 2018

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Lin’s Garden/Thai Vilay: Chinese and Thai food made from the soul in Carson Whether you live in Carson, its surrounding areas, or happen to be in the neighborhood, you can’t go wrong with filling up at Lin’s Garden / thai Vilay, a Chinese and thai restaurant that delivers hearty dishes at modest price points.

Located in a strip mall along Lomita Boulevard, Lin’s Garden / thai Vilay is a homey atmosphere, where you are greeted by the staff who deliver charm and warm hospitality. the menu is complete with Chinese and thai items concocted by Vilay Ashimine, partner and head chef of the restaurant. From traditional Pad thai, Pad See ew or mango chicken, each bite packs in a burst of flavors. And if you are adventurous enough, some dishes, like the spicy wings, have kicks of spices. “easily, the food is the best tasting and a testament to that is all of the repeat customers in town,” Kerry Doi, owner of Lin’s Garden/thai Vilay, said.

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS ADVANCeS in science and technology bolster progress in almost all facets of human endeavor, making most (unfortunately, not all) people more comfortable, more efficient, and productive, not to mention other benefits we derive from them as individuals and as a society. the birth of the mind-boggling computer ushered in one of the brightest inventions of man, which enabled the exponential developments and proliferation of very efficient machines, devices, and gadgets.

Just like most progress, the computer age also brings with it some health, behavioral, social, and even legal consequences. Its abuse leads to electronic addiction. Much like dealing with drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, personal and societal discipline is fundamental.

Of the 7 billion people on earth, 6.8 billion have mobile phones.

In the United States, 92 percent have their own mobile phone. In the Philippines, there are about 30.4 million mobile phone users in 2017. there are 84 percent of Americans who have a computer, and 73 percent of them have Internet connection. tablets for kids are very popular today.

When was the word “computer” coined?

It was in 1613 when the word “computer” was first used, describing a human who performed calculations. this word lingered until the industrial revolution at the end of the 19th century developed machines whose main purpose was calculating. the first automatic computing machine was developed by Charles Babbage in 1822, but it was 15 years later when he proposed the first general mechanical computer, which was called the Analytical engine. the first electromechanical binary programmable functional computer, called Z1, was created

by Konrad Zuse, a German, in his parents’ living room between 1936 and 1938. the computers then were huge, occupying an entire room, compared to today’s miniature and a lot more powerful devices. But the foundation for theories on computing and computers were originally proposed by Alan turing in 1936, called the turing machine. the fundamentals turing set have enabled the development of our computers of today.

When was the portable computer born?

Osborne I, released on April 1981, was truly the first portable computer or laptop, developed by Adam Osborne. It weighed 24.5 pounds, with a 5-inch display, 64 KB of memory, two floppy drives, and ran the CP/M 2.2 operating system, and a modem, priced at $1,795. It was in 1975 when ed roberts came up with the term “personal computer, introducing his Altair 8800, although many considered Kenbak-1, which came out in 1971 for $750 as the first personal computer.

Is computer addiction real?

Yes, it is. I know because I love electronics and feel the temptation.

Usually it is a combination of computer (internet) addiction and cell phone (text or call) addiction. the signs and symptoms are very obvious among young and old alike, and even among toddlers. they would rather delay everything else, even their meals or sleep, in favor of computing, browsing, doing social media, or gaming, or texting or calling. they sleep

“the menu is full of good quality food at very competitive prices.”

D o i re m a r k s t h a t Ashimine is one of the most talented individuals in the industry, “who can taste any food and duplicate the recipe instantly.” (the restaurant will eventually just be called thai Vilay but will still carry Chinese items on its menu.)

With generous servings, dishes are no more than $15 and are suitable for large groups.

Currently, the restaurant has a grand opening special: $5 for chicken Pad thai, chicken teriyaki, or egg rolls; $10 for thai Seven Seafood Soup, a popular stew of shrimp, crab, clams, octopus, squid, scallops, fish and mussels, served over a flame.

Lin’s Garden/thai Vilay is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is located at 133 e. Lomita Blvd., Carson, CA 90745. For more information or to place an order, please call (310) 513-1418. Delivery is available within a three-mile radius of the restaurant.

(Advertising Supplement)

Electronic addicts and wake up with a cell phone or tablet or laptop in bed. Lo-bat drives them anxious and angry, and toddlers have been known to throw tantrums and cry.

How serious is the problem? the situation is getting more and more serious around the world where these devices are available.

Parents are quite aware of this addiction, saying this is a new form of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), labeling it computer/mobile phone ADD. Pediatricians and psychologists are seeing more and more adolescents and even toddlers with this problem. School performance suffers too. those addicted to computer games have increased risk for restlessness, anxiety, depression, weight gain, and metabolic syndrome. Carpal tunnel and vision problem is also common from computer abuse. the question of radiation is still an unsettled matter, even with the use of mobile phones.

What is the social impact of this addiction? electronic addicts keep to themselves. they are in their own private world for hours, no talking to anyone, not even to one another, much less their parents. the same goes true with toddlers, who would develop attention deficit, with their external (non-electronic) environment, poor eating habit, slower speech development, and diminished social skills. these are also found among older children and some adults. there were reports that kids had threatened to shoot their parents for cutting their computer use. Misuse or abuse of social media could also ruin privacy, invite identity theft, expose

children/teenagers to dangerous situations from criminals, and potential legal dilemmas.

Does this addiction affect family life?

Definitely. When everybody, parents included, go separate ways at home, in their own little cocoon, their own private world, with their electronic device, and not talk to each other, or even eat or pray together, family bonding is negatively impacted. Unless wise and sober house rules are promulgated by both parents and siblings with regards to the use of electronic devices, including computer toys, electronic addiction could destroy the family and the individual members. Imagine the children not paying attention to their parents, or grandparents, or to each other, or even to their friends in school, who are likewise addicted. When electronics is not only a part of children’s life but the only life they have, they will face a future of health, social, and psychological issues. to the addicts, the real life becomes boring, the virtual world, exciting.

Are electronic devices that bad?

Of course not. these wonderful devices can enable adults, children, and toddlers to expand their vision, knowledge, skills, and help fulfill their dreams with a treasury of information and data, all available in split seconds, at their fingertips. the regular use of Alexa, Cortana, Siri, Google Assistant, or Google itself is not only convenient but efficient and a joy. they are enhancers, enablers, and facilitators, providing the user PAGE B5

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ABANDONED BY HER BIRTH PARENTS, WILL NIKKA BE LEFT BEHIND AGAIN WHEN USCIS CHALLENGED HER ADOPTIVE PARENT’S ELIGIBILITY TO PETITION HER? Lilia (right) and her husband Peter filed a petition to adopt Nikka (left) when the child was 12 years old. The adoption decree was issued six (6) days before Nikka turned 16 years old, and the certificate of finality came out two (2) months after Nikka’s 16th birthday. When Lilia and Peter filed an Immediate Relative Petition for Nikka, the USCIS served a Request for Evidence (RFE), challenging them eligibility to adopt Nikka. Lilia and Peter were devastated, depressed, and in despair. Would this mean losing the chance to be reunited with their adopted child - whom they loved and considered their own? Watch how leading US immigration attorney MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL came to the rescue and secured approval of their petition in a mere two months, on an encore episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

Glaiza de Castro’s lifelong...

PAGE B1 because it’s more demanding learn a lot every taping day and even with their humble salaries, emotionally, so Contessa, I feel it always excites me when I learn support churches. She further like I am enrolled in school. I something new.” embraced this when a member of her family decided to be a pastor in the south. “Isipin mo, they left their comfortable lives in the city and lived a simpler and more frugal life in far places to preach the Word of God. Because they do it full time, they live on the little support that they get from us and from other Christians and churches.”

With her kind heart, Glaiza’s birthday wish is for the special children and the Malunay congregation.” I want to continue helping people. that’s the least that I can do. A part of what I earn in showbiz is really allocated in doing this. So my wish is also for projects to come consistently so that I will have the resources to continue helping them.”

Currently, Glaiza is busy taping for her new series on GMA Network, “Contessa.”

“It’s not an easy project. Mas mahirap pa siya sa ‘encantadia’

B January 27-30, 2018 • La WEEKEnD aSIan JOurnaL

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Pechanga Resort & Casino celebrates the auspicious year of 2018 with car and Easyplay giveaways In celebration of the Lunar new Year, Pechanga Resort & Casino invites you to play, stay and win all month long in February.

Lunar New Year Promotions Starting with the Lunar new Year Car & Easyplay Drawings, by playing your favorite slots or table games on Friday, February 9th and 23rd, Club members can earn entries each drawing day from 4am-10pm. 20 lucky winners of $1,000 Easyplay will be drawn at 8pm & 9pm and a grand prize winner of a brand new 2018 Toyota Prius will be drawn at 10pm each day. Come discover the thrill of possibly when you can win multiple times!

Pechanga lets players become even luckier with the “Lucky Red Envelope” promotion this February. Club members can visit the Promotion Area on Tuesdays from 1pm-9pm for a chance to win up to $1,000 in Easyplay.

Lucky Lion Dance Performance on February 17 Once again, the “Lucky Lion,”

which represent luck and fortune, awakens and begins its opening sequence at 6pm from the north entrance with lighting of the firecrackers and work its way throughout the casino floor, bring luck to all the patrons.

Guests will also be given red envelopes to feed to the lion that traditionally represent the blessings of good fortune.

For more information on Pechanga events and promotions, please call (877) 711-2946 or visit our website Pechanga. com. Must be at least 21 years of age to participate in promotions.

Don’t miss out on any of the Lunar new Year festivities and reserve a room now in the new hotel tower, boasting over a thousand ultra-contemporary rooms, corner king and queen suites, and floor to ceiling views.

Pechanga is betting 2018 is going to be truly royal with no limits. Come and experience Pechanga Resort & Casino “On Another Level”!

New Slot Machine added to Casino Floor - Aristocrat’s Dragon Link Pechanga is always on the leading edge of the games players want, with the newest and most popular slots found anywhere. On our expansive casino floor, everywhere you turn, you’ll find the best selection of slots - from classic favorites to the newest games, such as Aristocrat’s all-new Dragon Link slot machine. Dragon Link was named to Casino Journal’s Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Technology Awards for 2016 and features player-selectable multidenominations of 1¢, 2¢, 5¢, 10¢, $1, and $2 which appeal to a wide variety of players. Adding to the fun, Dragon Link’s grand jackpot is a linked progressive, which gives players a chance to win larger progressive jackpots. Winning is always in the air, with larger jackpots and more action for players of all levels.

Pechanga Resort & Casino Pechanga Resort & Casino of-

fers one of the largest and most luxurious resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort & Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering 4,000 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 1,090 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort & Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community.

Pechanga Resort & Casino is a privately-operated business of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @ PechangaCasino. Pechanga is open 24 hours and guests must be 21 or older to enter the casino.

(Advertising Supplement)

Asian Journal Launches the 2018 Love of Country Global Ambassadors Program Starting in the USA Dare to lead, dare to inspire, dare to be great.

As part of their continued mission to empower Overseas Filipinos and to promote tourism, investment, studying abroad, entrepreneurship, and retirement in the Philippines, the Asian Journal officially launches the 2018 Love of Country Global Ambassadors Program.

The Love of Country Global Ambassadors Program seeks highly competitive and ambitious Filipino women and men who aim to fuel the economic growth and development of the Philippines, inspire their local Filipino communities, and thus, transform the Filipino future. The program welcomes women and men in four different age brackets to apply—that no one is too young or too old to create a positive change in the world and pursue their dreams, goals, and ambitions.

Individuals selected to participate will receive prizes, invaluable professional networks and career opportunities in addition to a 14-Day all expense paid trip to the Philippines which will be filled with cultural immersion, exploration of tourist destinations, philanthropy and humanitarian work, artist, business, and leadership training, to investment insights.

“In its pure essence, the Love of Country Ambassadors Program is about the sustainability and continued progression of the Overseas Filipino Community, Balikbayans, and also supporting the present and future economic health of the Philippines. Our great nation relies heavily on the support of overseas Filipinos to provide a quality of life for their loved ones back home. They pay for real estate, health insurance, a car, education, food, a smartphone, internet—you name it.

But with immigration policies becoming stricter worldwide, the volatility of the global economy and geopolitics, coupled with an ageing population such as the baby-boomer generation preparing for retirement and a disconnected 2nd and 3rd generation of overseas Filipinos, we may see a profound slowdown in remittance,” said Roger Oriel, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Asian Journal Media Group.

“This not only supports loved ones, but drives consumption which supports many businesses and so there is a ripple effect. If consumer spending is down, think about all those jobs in the Philippines and the loved ones that those jobs support. So number 1, our program hopes to ignite, drive, and fuel foreign travel, investment, studying abroad, entrepreneurship, and retirement in the Philippines. And number 2, the opportunity to win a free trip to the Philippines is truly a gift to all Overseas Filipinos—our modern day heroes,” he continued.

The Concept of the Program In an interview with Raphael John Oriel, the program’s co-founder, current Editor-in-Chief of Balikbayan Magazine, and Chief Business Development Officer of the Asian Journal Media Group said, “For several years now, one of the recurring questions that I’ve encountered from both readers and clients was how can we connect Overseas Filipinos back to the country, especially those who have already assimilated to the country they moved to or were born and raised in—that 2nd and 3rdgeneration of Filipinos. I see on my Facebook that my Filipino friends and family go travel to other Asian Countries and I’m thinking, why?

How do I make them choose the Philippines instead? Why are they going to Thailand or Hawaii or wherever really instead of going to the Philippines? So for quite some time now, I’ve been studying what other countries do. So when I travelled to Israel for 3 weeks a few years ago to study and learn about their culture and tourism, I came across their program, Birthright Israel, which is an incredibly brilliant and spectacular program that truly connects and educates young Jewish people all around the World. It’s fascinating—those who participated in that program either visit Israel once a year, invested in the country, or actually moved back. But the most important thing was having an amazing sense of cultural pride after the program. After that trip, I returned to the Philippines and attended a beauty pageant—one of the more popular ones in the country. I spoke to

many of the contestants after the competition and came to learn that there is no life sustainability or career support after they participate in those programs. The women who participate in those things end up getting exploited— have no choice but to become escorts, lack college degrees so they can’t find jobs, or even end up as single mothers. It made me incredibly angry— so we designed a program to help resolve some of these pressing issues. To be clear, I’m certainly not saying that beauty pageants are evil because they’re not. I have good friends in that industry who are truly good people. And those who participate can be incredibly inspiring and can receive a livelihood after joining. But there’s a dark side to that light. Our program, despite having a coronation and gala night is not a beauty pageant—our program is a cultural pageant and educational tourism program.”

The Trip To The Philippines “We are greatly looking forward to welcoming our inaugural class’ arrival in the Philippines. We’re putting together a comprehensive, exhilarating, challenging, yet fun 14-day cultural and adventure tour of the Philippines. Our goal is to create life-changing experiences and have our delegates say that they don’t want to leave or can’t wait to come back.

And lastly, to encourage their friends, families, and colleagues to participate in our program. We are starting with the Filipino-American community this year, but by next year in 2019, we are looking to activate the program all throughout the World,” said Shannon Bridgman, Program Director of the 2018 Love of Country Global Ambassadors Program and former Miss Philippines Earth-Air 2016.

The Asian Journal Media Group, now approaching three decades in business, is a leading Filipino multimedia agency serving the global Filipino industry. Asian Journal publishes over 7 million weekly communaity newspapers annually in the USA from California, Nevada, New York, to New Jersey. In addition to this, the Asian Journal also publishes a quarterly mag-

The Founders of Pageantry Global, Inc. and 2nd batch of participants of the Love of Country Ambassadors in different categories (Mrs. Love of Country, Miss Youth Love of Country and Miss Love of Country Ambassadors met at the office of Asian Journal Publications, Inc in Glendale, California last weekend for orientation.

(L-R) Jacqueline Albay-Yenney, Jeddah Berame, Maria Arianna Conechado, Kimberly Pearl Marquez, Nathalie Barry, Gabbie Pangan, Trinity Foliente (CEO of Pageantry Global, Inc.), Cora Aragon (President of Pageantry Global, Inc.), Ammilyn Deita, Angel Soliven, Hannah Angelica Marte

(Cultural Pageant Coordinators) Ruby Pangan, Bettie Francisco and Priscilla Marte, LOC Ambassadors Participants Jacqueline Albay-Yenney, Jeddah Berame, Maria Arianna Conechado, Kimberly Pearl Marquez, Nathalie Barry, Gabbie Pangan, Trinity Foliente (CEO of Pageantry Global, Inc.), Cora Aragon (CEO and President of Pageantry Global, Inc.) respectively and other participants Ammilyn Deita, Angel Soliven, Hannah Angelica Marte, the Parents of the candidates are Lorna Conechado, Amelia Deita and Mayette Pacis

(L-R) Hannah Angelica Marte, Maria Ariana Conechado, Angel Pacis, Kimberly Pearl Marquez, Gabbie Pangan and Nathalie Barry

azine that is distributed in 60 countries and 101 cities throughout the World in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Tourism Promotions Board, and Department of Tourism of the Philippines.

To know more about Asian Jour-

nal and the Love Of Country Global Ambassadors Program, visitAsianJournalMediaGroup. com and LoveOfCountryAmbassadors.com. The deadline for applications is March 18, 2018. To learn more about applying visit LoveOfCountryAmbassadors.com/apply.

(818) 502-0651 â&#x20AC;˘ (213) 250-9797 â&#x20AC;˘ http://www.asianjournal.com

FEATURES

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JANUARY 27-30, 2018

B5

Fall in love with these makeup trends

BY MONET

Kevin Richardson

Photo from Instagram/@kevinscottrichardson

What Backstreet Boy Kevin loves most about Manila

by RICKY LO Philstar.covm

KEVIN Richardson recently talked to Conversations, recalling what he and the other Backstreet Boys loved most about Manila. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remember how during our shows the fans sang along with us,â&#x20AC;? Kevinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes lit up, touching his mustache. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love how they knew every word of our songs.

I also like the Filipinosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sense of family, and their love for music and the arts.â&#x20AC;?

Since 1997, the Boys (including Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrel and Brian Dorough) have performed in the Philippines many times that Kevin has lost count.

In 2012, they did a show with the New Kids on the Block at the MOA Arena where the Backstreet Boys also performed in 2015. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes,â&#x20AC;? smiled Kevin, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remember. I think that was after Pacquiaoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fight (Could be in Macau. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; RFL). We rooted for him.â&#x20AC;?

Like the four other Boys, Kevin (now 46 but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look his age) is now a father of two boys with his wife Kristin Kay Willits Richardson, a dancer, a choreographer, an actress and a photographer. (â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was Kristin who takes our pictures,â&#x20AC;? shared Jessica). â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the meantime,â&#x20AC;? added Kevin, â&#x20AC;&#x153;sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just being a mom.â&#x20AC;?

Nick has one baby boy, AJ has two baby girls, Brian has one son and Howie has two boys. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stopped performing,â&#x20AC;? said Kevin. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a Las

Vegas residency through 2019.

Next year, we are celebrating our 25th anniversary and we are now in the studio recording an album for it. We are also preparing for a world tour and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excited to be back in Manila by then.â&#x20AC;?

All these years, the Boys have stuck together even after Kevin quit in 2006, although he has rejoined the band for shows. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just did a New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve show in Mexico. Even if we are always working together, we continue to see each other; we are always bonding. We go skiingâ&#x20AC;Śsnow bonding in the mountains. But every now and then, we do have individual time with our families.â&#x20AC;?

Asked what he thought that kept the Boys together after all these years, Kevin turned nostalgic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has been too fast, very fast!

The struggle is what makes us strong, proving ourselves. Once you have proven yourselves, you have to keep proving yourselves.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not easy. You have to challenge yourself, you have to take risks, you have to find a balance once you have a family and children.â&#x20AC;?

For sure, when the Backstreet Boys return to Manila for another show, they will regale their fans one more time with their well-loved hits, including two of Kevinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal favorites, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Siberiaâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonelyâ&#x20AC;?.

LU

THIS week we tackle another one of my fortesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and a soughtafter subject for womenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the latest makeup trends. I can describe this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s makeup peg in two words: fresh and minimal.

With that image in mind, I invite you to experience â&#x20AC;&#x153;Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trendsâ&#x20AC;? and fall in love with these makeup styles.

Go easy on the eyes Whoever said that sexy smoky eye is so 90 degrees ago must learn how to carry the classic eye-do with just a teeny bit of flaw. Allow me to elaborate before I give the impression that carelessly applied shadow is a thing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; pleaseâ&#x20AC;Śit has never been, never will be. What I meant by a little flaw is how you would do your smoky eye look at home.

You know, the kind that gives off an ultra diffused shadow that looks intense while feeling soft. Makeup artist Pat McGrath created this look at Diane von Furstenberg by using a black and brown liner. You can also use gray shadows with just a hint of sparkle to keep it soft enough for daytime.

A bronze shadow is another equally striking-yet-with-an-easy feel. You can maybe give your metallic shadows a break this season by using bronze shadows instead of the classic gold or silver. This type of hue warms up your face

and gives you a good reason to put a natural-looking lip color.

Paint outside the lines Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s this time of the year when you feel a bit more adventurous.

It shows on your outfit and your hair, and well, your eye makeup better match that mood. As they say, the eyes are the windows of the soul. And your carefree soul needs an audience! One article writes, â&#x20AC;&#x153; Tweak the classic cat eye by opting for a more straight across swipe of black kohl like we saw at Oscar de la Renta.

This is a more modern way to wear liner that elongates and lifts the eye and adds intrigue to the face.â&#x20AC;? Add more spice to your usual winged liner, by scribbling some double-winged lines.

Seventeen.com suggests, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Use a soft kohl pencil to trace your lower waterline, then smudge

people; â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just went on a brisk, wintry walk.â&#x20AC;? This is the season for flushed cheeks and naturally rosy blush. You had a good run with your sculpting tools, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to give them a break. Grab your warm peach blush powder and head out the door. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all you need. Now, fly.

Lips like berry Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk about that lip color, shall we? This season, I am delighted to see a sea of lip colors that remind of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;90s. That almost black but not quite is making a comeback and I LOVE it! From ripe berry to plum black to oxblood red, they are undeniably luscious. It may sound scary but I dare you to rock a dark lipstick! Nude is out. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s make way for the plums, magentas and it out with a makeup sponge for berries.

As the season of love and Valan extremely edgy and perfectly entineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day approach, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about un-perfect vibe.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;wearingâ&#x20AC;? the best, romantic Tip of the lashes Close your eyes and think: sil- looks. Although the weather isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ver, water droplets, rhinestones. as cool as we usually expect it to Now open your eyes and give be around this time, it is best to your volumizing mascara, falsies plan your ensemble ahead â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and and lash add-ons a much-needed stock up on the latest makeup upgrade. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time those lashes finds. *** shine as bright as your eyes!

Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardSilver sparkles on the tip of the lashes give your eyelashes a winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own water droplet effect. A bit of gold chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern layers on the lashes will make it California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, look like it has rhinestones tips. Monet is known as an all-around artiste Bring on the prettiest lashes who produces sold-out fashion and awards by layering, lengthening, or shows as well as unforgettable marketing volumizing your top and bottom campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty lashes. products such as Enlighten, your solution Rush that blush Now is the perfect time to to discoloration . To contact Monet, please embrace your â&#x20AC;&#x153;just stepped out visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at of the gymâ&#x20AC;? look. Or for some monetsalon@aol.com

Electronic addicts

PAGE B3 instant access to information, time, weather, music, restaurant or movie reservations, shopping, and hundreds of other uses. Artificial intelligence, robots included, would someday be a regular household fixture for most, if not all, homes. The Internet today allows you to journey all around the galaxy, without having to leave your home or office, saving you gasoline and airfares. And they are very entertaining too. When used for family game or entertainment, etc., electronics are good for bonding. The kitchen knife could be used to prepare meals for your loved ones, or used to hurt them

or yourself. All really depends on how you intelligently and wisely you use the electronic devices you have. They are actually magical gems that even elevate the level of the happy hormones in us.

*** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network â&#x20AC;&#x201C; USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

DEAR ROSALYNN

A Documentary of First Lady Rosalynn Carter One of the most accomplished and inspiring First Ladies in United States history, Rosalynn Carter has worked tirelessly throughout her life to make the world a better place. We invite you to join the students and staff of St. Genevieve Parish Schools as we honour her at the premiere of our documentary Dear Rosallynn, February 2, 2018 at the Rose Bowl. )URP EULQJLQJ PHQWDO LOOQHVVHV RXW RI WKH VKDGRZV DQG Ć&#x201C;JKWLQJ IRU EHWWHU PHQWDO KHDOWK FDUH WR DGGUHVVLQJ RXU QDWLRQĹ?V FDUHJLYLQJ FULVLV Ć&#x201C;JKWLQJ IRU ZRPHQĹ?V ULJKWV DQG LPSURYLQJ WKH ORW RI WKH ZRUOGĹ?V SRRUHVW SHRSOH 5RVDO\QQ &DUWHU KDV EHHQ DQ XQVWRSSDEOH IRUFH IRU JRRG Learn about her incredible life, and discover more about two of her greatest loves, her precious hometown of Plains, Georgia, and the boy she met there over 70 years ago, Jimmy Carter.

Friday, February 2, 2018 11:30 AM Welcome Ceremony 12:15 PM PREMIERE of Dear Rosalynn documentary 1:30 PM Luncheon with Rosalynn Carter At the Rose Bowl Locker Room

$150/PERSON 1HW SURFHHGV EHQHĆ&#x201C;W WKH ,QVSLUDWLRQ %XLOGLQJ &DPSDLJQ of St. Genevieve Parish and Schools $25/PERSON Film Only Attire: Smart Casual FOR TICKETS: www.sgps.org/rosalynn Rain or Shine

B January 27-30, 2018 • La WEEKEnD aSIan JOurnaL

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COMMUNITY Journal

Your Immigration Solution Brittany Milliasseau and nancy Miller OVER the last few months there have been numerous changes in immigration law and policy. In fact, it is extremely difficult to browse through a newspaper or flip through television channels without reading or hearing at least one story about immigration. While many of the headlines have focused on topics such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the travel ban, immigration raids, and the end of Temporary Protected Status for thousands of individuals from war-torn and disaster-stricken countries, there have also been several changes in employment-based immigration that generally have not been as extensively covered by mainstream news media.

One particular employmentbased immigration program that has seen various changes within the last few months has been the H-1B program, which allows companies in the United States to temporarily employ foreign nationals in a “specialty occupation.” A “specialty occupation” is an occupation that requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a bachelor’s degree. Certain positions that may qualify as specialty occupations include engineers, teachers, physicians, lawyers, and architectures.

Traditionally, one of the biggest hurdles to obtaining an H1B visa was being selected in the H-1B lottery system. The yearly number of H-1B visas allocated

by Congress is 65,000, with an additional 20,000 allocated for individuals who have earned a Master’s degree or higher from a U.S. university. Typically, there are far many more H-1B petitions submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which creates the need for a computer-generated random selection process, or H-1B lottery system. For example,

Recent changes in H-1B adjudication you should know about before filing last year USCIS received nearly 200,000 H-1B petitions during the filing period. As mentioned above, traditionally one of the most difficult parts of the H-1B application process was actually getting selected in the lottery, however as of recently, selection under the H-1B Cap is just where the process begins as adjudication of H-1B applications has become highly scrutinized.

In April 2017, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Buy American and Hire American” which was aimed at creating higher wages and employment rates for U.S. workers and protecting their economic interests. The executive order specifically discussed the H-1B visa program and directed federal agencies to make sure that H-1B visas are awarded to the “most-skilled or highest-paid petition beneficiaries.” Following the implementation of this executive order, there have been widespread reports of governmental challenges to H-1B visa adjudication such as an increase in the number of Requests for Evidence (RFEs) issued by USCIS. Certain reports show an increase of 44% as compared with last year. In addition, USCIS updated its policy guidance instructing officers to apply the same level of scrutiny to both initial H-1B petitions and requests for H-1B extensions. As a result, individuals who have been in H1B status for many years have begun receiving complex RFEs or even denials, after USCIS has already previously approved their application. Under prior policy, officers were allowed to give deference to the findings of a previously approved petition as long as certain elements were unchanged and there was no evidence of fraud, however this is no longer the case. In addition to substantive changes, USCIS also slowed down the H-1B adjudication process by suspending “premium processing” of all H1B petitions which has resulted in lengthy adjudication times, often placing a strain on employers and beneficiaries.

Recently, reports surfaced stating that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was considering new regulations that would change H-1B extension rules, limiting the ability of H-1B workers who are in the process of receiving their green cards to obtain H-1B extensions beyond the sixth-year maximum. While these rumors have been debunked, USCIS has confirmed that the “agency is considering a number of policy and regulatory changes to carry out the President’s Buy American, Hire American Executive Order, including a thorough review of employment based visa programs.”

As approvals of initial and extension H-1B petitions become increasingly difficult, it is now more important than ever to ensure that you are represented by knowledgeable and highly competent immigration counsel throughout the entire H-1B application process. During the first week of April, USCIS will begin accepting H-1B cap-subject petitions. As such, it is important to consult with an experienced immigration attorney as soon as possible to begin the preparation process as well as to discuss options in the event of a petition rejection or issuance of a complex RFE. It is also important to meet with an experienced immigration attorney to explore whether an H-1B visa is the most suitable option for you or your company. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Pasadena, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com website: www.rreeves.com *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case.

(Advertising Supplement)

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 27-30, 2018

C

C JANUARY 27-30, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Community Journal

Warning to people who are thinking of hiring a debt settlement company IF you are delinquent on your debts, you may be able to avoid dealing with the bill collectors for a few months but sooner or later, you will still need to face the reality of your debt problems and do something to protect yourself.

For example, creditors will probably wait until you are 60 days late before they hand over your account to their internal collections department. If you’ve had a loss of income, your creditors may even tell you about their hardship program that will allow you to make lower payments at a significantly reduced interest rate.

Others will close your account which means that you can no longer use your credit card until the debt is paid in full. No matter what you are offered by the creditor at this point, however, it is only temporary and will not help you if your hardship continues for longer than a few months.

Once you’re 90 days late, creditors start to become more aggressive. Some creditors will turn the account over to an outside collection agency. Of course, by this time, your debts continue to snowball as the creditors continue to add interest and penalties to the original amount owed.

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes YOU and your spouse may have gone through a lengthy and contentious divorce proceeding.

This is usually the most difficult period of a person’s life. Finally, time heals all pain. You and your spouse get tired of bickering and being mean to one another that you both decide to compromise each other positions and resolve all issues in your divorce case through settlement.

Shortly thereafter, the divorce judgment is finally entered by the Court and you get a sigh of relief. Later you discovery that “Oops!,” your ex-spouse had community asset and/or debt that was left out of the divorce judgment.

This may be a pension, retirement account, a hidden bank account, or a piece of real estate property which was not divided

Minding Your Finances Atty. rAyMond BUlAon Federal and state collection laws prohibit abusive collection tactics but the reality is that a lot of bill collectors do not follow these laws and will make your life miserable by harassing you for payment. If the creditor decides that you probably will not pay back the debt, they may write it off their books and report the account as a “charge off” to the credit bureaus.

To recoup the creditor’s losses, the account can then be sold to a third-party collection agency who buys the account for a fraction of the original amount owed.

At this point in the collection process, you may be able to negotiate a drastic reduction of the debt amount and pay the creditor 20-50% of the amount owed.

Should you do it yourself, hire a lawyer or is hiring a debt settlement company a good idea?

If you don’t feel confident deal-

ing with creditors yourself, you may be tempted to hire a debt settlement company to avoid the expense of hiring an attorney.

Don’t do it! Remember that a debt settlement company cannot legally represent you if you are sued and thus, they cannot protect your legal rights. Also keep in mind that some creditors will flat out inform you that they refuse to work with a debt settlement company and if this happens, that means you leave them no other option but to file a lawsuit against you.

I have seen a lot of unscrupulous debt settlement companies who misrepresent their services to the public and offer false hopes to unsuspecting consumers who are desperate for a solution. A lot of these debt settlement companies do not clearly explain to you how their debt settlement program works before they ask you to sign a contract with them.

Their advertising sounds so good and once you call them, they tell you nothing but lies just to suck you in. They do not tell you anything about the potential downfalls of hiring them and often make big promises that they cannot deliver. Be careful in hir-

u PAGE C3

Dealing with assets omitted from a divorce case

in the judgment. What is one to do in this situation? The answer can be found in California Family Code §2556.

California Family Code §2556 provides “In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, for nullity of marriage, or for legal separation of the parties, the court has continuing jurisdiction to award community estate assets or community estate liabilities to the parties that have not been previously adjudicated by a judgment in the proceeding.” California Family Code §2556. Even if the parties did not expressly reserve jurisdiction on that piece of asset, the Court retains the power to divide a specific property if there is a community interest in it.

The Court’s “continuing jurisdiction” over omitted community estate assets or debts is invoked by filing a post judgment Motion, or Request for Order in the divorce case. Family Code

§2556 provides “A party may file a postjudgment motion or request for order in the proceeding in order to obtain adjudication of any community estate asset or liability omitted or not adjudicated by the judgment.” The postjudgment partition of the unadjudicated community estate claims is properly entertained by the court even absent an express reservation of jurisdiction in its prior judgment. Marriage of Moore & Ferrie (1993) 14 CA4th 1472, 1483, 18 CR2d 543, 549, fn. 9. The postjudgment motion is available to any omitted asset or debt not adjudicated by the divorce judgment. However, Family Code §2556 does not extend to division and adjudication of any separate property. Marriage of Klug (2005) 130 CA4th 1389, 1396, 31 CR3d 327, 331–332.

If an asset was partially omitted, the Court can still divide and

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God’s desire to free us from distress GOD wants our total well-being. He desires that we lead healthy, fulfilled, and peaceful lives. He does not want us to distress about anything. He wants us to remain calm.

I know that it’s easy to claim these truths about God, but it’s hard to live them out each day when even little things like losing a key rob us of peace. It’s also difficult not to be affected by the critical remarks of people around us. It’s because we’re sensitive and are always concerned about people’s perception of us.

This is why St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians in this Sunday’s Mass strikes a chord in all of us when Paul says: “Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties.” All of us, whether we are married, single, priest, or religious, experience the anxieties of work, relationships, responsibilities, health maintenance, etc.

How do we do we free ourselves from anxieties? How do we remain calm in the midst of adversities and conflicts? The Gospel this Sunday presents to us a word that is a key to dealing with challenges and worries of life.

The word is “authority.” Which authority? God’s authority.

This means that we must always put ourselves under the authority of God, that is, to entrust our lives entirely to Him. In the end, the key to a healthy life is letting

Tax Tips Victor sy, cPA, MBA

THE business tax provisions of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act include: • The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cuts corporate taxes from eight graduated rates of 15 percent to 35 percent to a flat rate of 21 percent.

• Introduces a 20 percent deduction for pass-through entities.

• Uses a new territorial system of taxation instead of the current tax on worldwide income of multinational corporations.

• Requires companies to pay a one-time, low tax rate on their existing overseas profits at 15.5 percent on cash assets and 8 percent on non-cash assets.

• Preserves the current tax treatment of nonqualified deferred

The Prophetic Voice reVerend rodel G. BAlAGtAs go of control and allowing God, His Spirit, to overtake us. Yes, we need to fulfill our responsibilities, to remain proactive about our health like going to the doctor, taking vitamins, or saving for the future. In the end, however, it’s about letting God takes charge of our lives.

One of the spiritual exercises that we can do to achieve peace and wholeness is to cast out any “unclean spirits” in our lives such as bad thoughts about ourselves and other people, and our attachments to resentments, anger, and inability to forgive and forget people’s offenses against us. All these attitudes impede growth in our relationships and do no bring us happiness and tranquility.

The devil has ways of putting bad impressions in our minds like “I’m not good at all” or “Who does she think she is?” Our task is to resist and let go of these impure thoughts and to allow God’s Spirit to fill our minds with positive, healthy, and helpful ones.

Mark’s Gospel is about telling us of God’s reign in our life and

the world. “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel,” says Jesus in the Gospel. It talks about the inbreaking of a new dawn, era, and life. It talks about rescue, salvation, and healing. It’s a Gospel of action more than words. Hence, it is about God’s desire to free us from anxieties and distress.

Dennis Hamm, SJ confirms this contention: “One thing is clear.

What Jesus has to communicate is not simply a new idea, an alternative lifestyle that might catch the fancy of a few people.

It is nothing less than the announcement of the coming of God in power to rescue God’s people….”

May we all contemplate on God’s desire for all us—that we become free of worries and distress and experience the peace that His spirit brings! Amen. *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (19912001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

What you should know about the new tax law Part 3: Business

compensation.

• Expands the number of taxpayers who may use the cash method of accounting.

• Retains the business interest expense deduction for small businesses.

• Simplifies the inventory rules for small businesses.

• Expands the exception for small businesses from the uniform capitalization rules.

• Removes computer or peripheral equipment from the definition of listed property.

• Provides consideration of an inflation index.

• Allows nonresident aliens as qualifying beneficiaries of an electing small business trust.

• Repeals the technical terminations rule for partnerships.

• Prohibits businesses from

writing off sexual harassment settlements.

• Limits executive pay at nonprofits with a new levy of 21 percent excise tax on salaries above $1 million. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies.

He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

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Community Journal

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Should employers be liable for sex harassment by non-employees?

M.F. worked for Pacific Pearl Hotel Management, LLC as a housekeeper at its five-building hotel property. One morning, the hotel’s engineering manager saw a drunk trespasser with a beer in his hand walking inside the hotel and using the elevator. The manager did not tell the trespasser to leave, and did not report him to management or police.

The trespasser approached housekeepers cleaning hotel rooms twice, made sexually harassing comments, and offered money for sexual favors.

One housekeeper immediately reported the incident to management.

Through the walkie-talkie, a housekeeping manager informed other managers about the trespasser.

The housekeeping manager then went to one of the buildings to check on the safety of the housekeepers. However, the housekeeping manager did not go to the building where one of the harassing incidents occurred (and where M.F. was assigned). M.F.’s supervisor checked the first floor of the building, but did not check the second floor, where M.F. was working.

The trespasser went to the hotel room M.F. was cleaning, confronted her and blocked her exit. He punched her in the face and knocked her out.

When M.F. regained consciousness, the trespasser was raping her on the hotel room bed. He sexually harassed, assaulted, battered, and sodomized her for over two hours. During

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. that time, her cleaning cart remained outside the hotel room, the blinds remained closed, and no one from the hotel came looking for her.

M.F. sued the employer alleging that her employer violated California’s sexual harassment laws by failing to take reasonable steps to prevent the sexual harassment. The employer argued that M.F. failed to show that the employer knew or should have known that the trespasser might sexually assault its employees. According to the employer, M.F.’s only remedies are found under the workers’ compensation law. The trial court agreed with the employer and dismissed M.F.’s complaint.

M.F. appealed.

California’s Court of Appeal overturned the trial court’s decision, noting that the employer may not have had any responsibility to its employees before the trespasser appeared on the hotel property. However, after the trespasser began aggressively propositioning employees for sexual favors, the employer was on notice of the sexual harassment. At that time, it was obligated to take adequate remedial measures to (1) end the current harassment and (2) to prevent

future harassment.

Even though the trespasser’s initial harassment was not directed at M.F., the employer may still have responsibilities toward her. If an employer knows a particular person’s abusive conduct places employees at risk of sexual harassment, the employer has responsibility to protect a likely future employee victim. The more egregious the abuse and the more serious the threat of which the employer has notice, the more the employer will be required to take steps to protect future victims.

While the employee has remedies under workers’ compensation laws, the appellate court concluded that she also has valid harassment claims which can be brought before our civil courts. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com or our Facebook page Joe Sayas Law. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is the recipient of PABA’s Community Champion Award for 2016.]

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Client files Chapter 13 while hoping for a loan modification of mortgage

Other case involves Chapter 7 relief for $78K credit card debt THE client has had an ongoing “battle” with Wells Fargo for justice on her mortgage since 2007. It’s been nine years since she made the mistake of refinancing her fully paid house with World Savings Bank. Yes, the client was already a senior nine years ago when she decided to borrow $250,000 against her house, which had no more mortgage! Apparently, a relative had asked her for some money to finance a business, and being the doting aunt that she was, she gladly, but mistakenly, obliged. The question then was where should she get the refinance loan? She spoke to an agent of a very popular mortgage loan broker who offered her a fixed 30-year mortgage at 2 percent per annum. The broker told her that the interest rate was so low, it would make her cry, that the mortgage payment would be fixed for 30 years, and that she could even choose from several amounts of mortgage payments, depending on which one she would be most comfortable with.

She signed all the loan documents without reading them as most seniors would do. After paying for two years, she noticed that the loan balance, instead of decreasing, was increasing!

Eventually, she got a letter from Wells Fargo informing her that the bank had taken over the loan. In addition, Wells Fargo said that she had a default of $20,000, and that if this amount was not paid in full immediately, foreclosure of her residence would ensue. When she called the famous loan broker to ask what was going on, she was told that the loan broker was being criminally indicted for a massive loan mortgage fraud scheme. It was only then that client realized that she had been duped. She did some research and found

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrenCe yAng

out that Wells Fargo had taken over the loans of World Savings, including hers, and that Wells Fargo was actually trying to make things right for the victims of this “massive” fraud as part of the settlement with the Attorney General’s office as well as part of the Federal “bail out” funds.

She called Wells Fargo and was given the runaround. Wells Fargo wrote her many letters saying that they were going to look into the matter and would get back to her within 30 days.

The 30 days dragged into seven years without any resolution.

Wells Fargo started foreclosure proceedings and the client paid off the entire default of $57,000.

It was back to square one for a while then the problem resurfaced. The client hired a succession of lawyers who all went against a brick wall because the client did not want to sue; all she wanted was to have the matter amicably resolved by negotiation.

Now there is a default of $40,000, and Wells Fargo wants to foreclose yet again. She now retains me for a Chapter 13 to stop the foreclosure and to negotiate a settlement with the bank without a lawsuit. Fortunately, I was able to get some positive response from the bank saying that they are now having their legal department look into it and that they would propose a settlement by next week. It remains to be seen whether the bank is now serious in resolving this matter, or if they are bluffing again.

Chapter 7 relief

The second client is 74. Her husband left her 20 years ago.

She was able to sell the family home a couple of years ago with a net profit of $200,000. Then, disaster struck. Her only son got sick, lost his job because of his illness and became her dependent. She had to take care of her 40-year-old son, who moved in with her. Medical insurance would not pay for a lot of the expenses. So, the $200,000 evaporated after three years.

After that, she relied on credit cards to pay for her son’s medical bills. Fortunately, her son got well and will be joining the workforce again. The problem is she now owes $78,000 of credit cards. The minimum payment is $3,000 a month. She only gets social security of $1,800 and a pension of $500. She is able to pay her rent of $800. But there is just no way she can pay the $78,000 of credit cards. So at 74, the client decides to wipe out all her credit card debt and obtain a fresh start! *** Disclaimer: The foregoing is an expression of opinion and is not meant to be legal advice to any reader.

There is no attorney-client relationship established by this article with the reader. If you want to discuss your situation, you have to set an appointment to consult with the attorney. The first general consultation is free. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 or at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789.

Warning to people who are thinking...

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ing a debt settlement company or you may end up in a worse situation with your credit with no solution to your debt problems.

I have written a FREE GUIDE called “Credit Card Debt Settlement Secrets” which briefly explains how debt settlement works. For instant access, just go

to www.settle-debt.com.

If you are in debt and think debt settlement or filing bankruptcy may be a solution for you, let me help you figure out your best option. For a free consultation, call my office at Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. I have offices in Glendale, Cerritos, West Covina and Valencia.

*** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.

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Dealing with assets omitted from...

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adjudicate the portion that has been omitted postjudgment under family code §2566. Community Property adjudicated under § 2556 shall be divided equally “unless the court finds upon good cause shown that the interests of justice require an unequal division of the asset or liability.”

Family Code §2556. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as

legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a

Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 27-30, 2018

C

Preventing abandonment of your green card due to travel abroad A GREEN card holder can travel outside the US and return with some limitations. If a green card holder is outside the US for an extended period of time, he may be considered to have abandoned his permanent resident status. Brief travel (such as for a vacation) normally will not affect permanent resident status. However, abandonment of permanent resident status is a potential issue for green card holders who have to leave the US for an extended period of time (over 1 year) for one reason or another, such as to finish studies or work abroad. In such situations, how can a person avoid losing his green card?

If a person plans to be outside the US for an extended period of time (over 1 year), an application for a reentry permit must be filed. A reentry permit establishes that one did not intend to abandon his green card, and it allows one to apply for admission to the US after being outside the US for up to 2 years without having to obtain a returning resident visa. Reentry permits are normally valid for 2 years from the date of issuance. A permanent resident can re-apply for subsequent reentry permits. Each subsequent reentry permit would be valid for 2 years.

As aforementioned, if one is outside the US for an extended period of time without a reentry permit, he may be considered to have abandoned his green card. If a permanent resident has been outside the US for more than 1 year and attempts to reenter the US, he may be referred to an Immigration Judge to determine whether he has abandoned his permanent resident status.

An application for reentry permit should be filed at least 60 days prior to the contemplated extended trip outside the US. While a person does not have to be present in the US at the time his reentry permit application is approved, it is important to file it with sufficient time prior to the trip to allow time to receive the biometrics notice after the application is filed, and have biometrics taken. An applicant must provide his biometrics while in the US. If an applicant leaves the US before biometrics are taken, the USCIS may deny the application.

What if a permanent resident has already left the US and either has 1) been outside the US for over 1 year or 2) been outside the US for over 2 years with an expired reentry permit? The

Department of State on its website advises to apply for a Returning Resident Visa. To qualify for a Returning Resident Visa, you must show a valid reason why your stay abroad was extended, and that the reason for the extended stay was beyond your control or for which you were not responsible.

Another (perhaps better) op- Darrick V. Tan, Esq. tion would be to re-enter the US--if US customs denies admission due to abandonment of your green card, you will have an opportunity to argue before an Immigration Judge here in the US that you did not abandon permanent resident status.

Obtaining a green card often is a difficult process. For some, it takes many years. It is accordingly important to take all steps necessary to maintain permanent resident status once attained. If you plan to be away from the US for an extended period of time, or have been away from the US for an extended period of time without a reentry permit, or a reentry permit that has expired, it is recommended that you consult with an experienced attorney.

“If a person plans to be outside the U.S. for an extended period of time (over 1 year), an application for a re-entry permit must be filed.”

*** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277.

Email: info@dtanlaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

C4 JANUARY 27-30, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

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Elimination of family-based petitions proposed: File now before it’s too late ON January 25, 2018, President Trump announced a proposal for immigration reform that would vastly change who is eligible to legally obtain visas to the United States. News coverage has focused on the potential path to citizenship for approximately 1.8 million individuals, which would certainly be wonderful if achieved. However, it has overshadowed the proposed elimination of several categories of family-based petitions.

The current immigration laws display our profound respect for families by allowing visa petitions that extend to parents; children over the age of twenty-one; children who are married; and

AMERICAN DREAM ALLISON AQUINO-SILVA, ESQ brothers and sisters. The proposed change would eliminate all of these categories. Instead, family-based visa petitions would be limited to only spouses and unmarried children under age twenty-one.

The potential elimination of these various categories would truly be devastating as families would

Calendar of Events across

have even more limited opportunities to be united. It would eliminate the ability for a US citizen to have an elderly parent come to the US, which is especially valuable as parents get older and and may need assistance or health care. Despite growing up together and being immediate family, siblings could no longer be united with one another. It devalues familial relationships with children just because they are over twenty-one or married, which is clearly ironic given America’s alleged love for family and family values.

Because of these proposed changes, all individuals who

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America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS JA N UA RY 28

SIPA hosts Pinay Empowerment Brunch in Los Angeles Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) will host its second Pinay Empowerment Brunch on Sunday, January 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be held at BARKADA (1253 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA). The event will feature a panel with Cher Calvin (KTLA 5 TV), Isa Fabro (Chef, Unit 120), Janelle S. Foster (BET/Viacom), and Kimmy Maniquis (California Conference for Equality & Justice). It will be moderated by Rob Asghar (author/commentator whose work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Forbes, etc). To purchase tickets, please visit: https://sipa.ticketsocket.com/event/PINAY-EMPOWERMENT-BRUNCHII. $30 online pre-sale/$40 general admission. Ticket includes a gourmet Pilipino brunch by Barkada.

F E B R UA RY 3

TFCU talks heads to UC Davis TFCU Talks will be in Davis, California on Saturday, February 3, 2018. An affiliate of ABSCBN International, TFCU Talks Davis will feature a lineup of top industry leaders to connect, inspire, and empower college students and young professionals to help them realize their full potential. TFCU Talks Davis is co-presented by Mga Kapatid (My Brothers and Sisters) - a social, political, cultural, and academic organization for the Pilipino-American community at UC Davis. The event takes place at the Wyatt Pavilion Theatre in UC Davis (Arboretum Dr, Davis, CA 95616). Speakers include Christine Gambito (comedian, YouTube personality), Sydney Loyola (trans choreographer), Rudy Corpuz Jr. (co-founder of United Playaz), and Mike Sagun (career coach). TFCU Talks Davis is an exclusive free event with limited seating - first come, first served. For all ticketing information, and to reserve your spot, please visit tfcudavis.eventbrite.com.

F E B R UA RY 2 0

“Usapang Pagkain”: A monthly series exploring wellness with Filipino cuisine in Chicago, IL Community-based organization AFIRE (Alliance of Filipinos For Immigrants Rights & Empowerment) and food media and events group Filipino Kitchen will explore wellness and health with Filipino Cuisine in a monthly series, Usapang Pagkain. The event series is free and open to the community. Each event will highlight a Filipino dish or dishes, including recipes. During the weekday evening events, a light dinner of the highlighted dishes will be provided. Made possible with a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, the purpose of the series is to explore how Filipino food can best serve our community. On Tuesday, February 20 from 6 to 8 p.m., the focus is “Healthy & Happy Hearts.” The event will take place at the Hana Center (4300 N. California Ave., Chicago, IL). Schedule and venues are subject to change, please check http://afirechicago.org and http://filipino.kitchen for the most up-todate information.

F E B R UA RY 22

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event.

To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.

Immigration forum in Anaheim, CA There will be an immigration forum on Thursday, February 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Brookhurst Community Center (2271 Crescent Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801). RSVP is a MUST to attend. No registration fee required. Please contact (714) 657-7460 or admin@globallawcenters.com. The immigration forum is about employment-based immigration information regarding FAST TRACK Work Visas ( H-1B1, TN, E-3), green card by marriage, family-based immigration employment sponsorship for green card and work visas after graduation. Candidates with H-1B, TN, F-1, OPT & other visas issues are encouraged to attend for a FREE immigration consultation & immigration assistance. As you have already seen there are many changes happening in the field of immigration with regards to the new executive administration and their agenda. Global Law Centers strives to inform the immigrant community of its rights and make sure it is knowledgeable about what immigration processes might be available. The forum will also update everyone about new and recent changes which may affect immigrants and their families.

F E B R UA RY 24

Filipino well-being training summit in Los Angeles “Kataas-taasang pagsasanay para sa kalusugan ng mga Pilipino” — Understanding Obstacles; Charting New Paths.

This training summit aims to honor and recognize indigenous understanding of wellness and healing; reduce stigma associated with emotional and mental illness; and promote community dialogue and connectivity. It is organized by the Filipino Well Being Training Summit Committee led by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. It’ll be held on Saturday, February 24 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 at 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info and to register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/filipino-well-being-training-summit-registration-41880032304.

NOTE: This event is free of charge to all attendees. Breakfast and lunch will be served on a limited capacity and may not be available to all attendees. Space is limited - please cancel on Eventbrite if you are unable to attend so others on the waiting list can be notified and accommodated.

City of Carson Gala Ball The City of Carson, California is marking its 50th anniversary of incorporation on Saturday, February 24 with a gala ball. It will be held at Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald Community Center at Carson (801 E. Carson Street, Carson, CA 90745) at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $50 / person and $400 / table (seats 8). For more information, please call the Community Center at (310) 835-0212 or visit ci.carson.ca.us.

MARCH 4

Philippine American Bar Association’s 32nd installation & awards gala in Los Angeles The Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) invites you to its 32nd Installation and Awards Gala on Wednesday, March 14. This year’s Gala will feature keynote speaker California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu, a menu of Filipino flavors, and special performances. During the gala, PABA also will formally unveil its new logo and website, both of which were developed by a Fil-Am-owned start-up and involve colors and designs deeply rooted in the cultural history of the Philippines. To purchase tickets or a sponsorship, please visit: https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/paba/giftstore.jsp.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 27-30, 2018

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People and Events Federal disaster assistance available Toy loan open house in El Monte

to residents and businesses of LA county and city impacted by wildfires STATE and Federal Disaster Assistance Programs are now available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for eligible homeowners, renters and business owners in Los Angeles County who suffered damages or losses due to the December 2017 Creek, Rye and Skirball wildfires.

“A recent amendment to President Trump’s major disaster declaration of January 2, 2018, made at the request of California’s Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., means that residents in our County and neighboring counties can now access individual disaster assistance from FEMA,” stated Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Sheila Kuehl. “We encourage anyone who sustained wildfire damages due to the recent Los Angeles County area wildfires to register for assistance immediately.”

Individuals can register for disaster relief by either visiting www.disasterassistance. gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585.

Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-6213362. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time, seven days a week. During the registration process, applicants should be ready to provide the following information: Social Security number of one household member, address of the damaged primary residence, description of the damage, information about insurance coverage, a current telephone number, an address where they can receive e-mails, and a bank account with routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

“Our region pulled together to protect people and property during the Creek and Skirball fires.

We are grateful that no lives were lost, and want to be certain that

borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to Photo courtesy of fema.org repair or replace damaged the road to recovery is as clear or destroyed personal property. as possible for households and Interest rates can be as low businesses that suffered losses,” as 3.385 percent for businesses, said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Gar- 2.5 percent for private non-profit cetti. “Partnerships with Federal, organizations and 1.75 percent State, and County emergency for homeowners and renters management organizations are with terms up to 30 years. Loan helping us make sure that finan- amounts and terms are set by cial assistance gets to the right SBA and are based on each applaces — so that Angelenos af- plicant’s financial circumstance. fected by the wildfires can get SBA can also lend additional relief as quickly as possible.” funds to businesses and homDisaster assistance can include eowners to help with the cost of State and FEMA grants, and low- improvements to protect, prevent interest loans from SBA. or minimize the same type of diFEMA Individual Assistance saster damage from occurring in (IA) Grants are designated for the future. homeowners and renters who More information about SBA sustained uninsured damage or disaster loans can be obtained by underinsured losses to their pri- calling the SBA Customer Service mary homes, vehicles and per- Center at 800-659-2955.■ sonal property. These grants may help pay for temporary housing (including rental or lodging expenses), emergency home repairs, personal property losses, and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster.

IA grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for any Federal, State or County benefits, such as Social Security, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance.

SBA disaster loans are available to businesses and private non-profit organizations to assist with working capital needs as a direct result of the disaster. Businesses of all sizes and private non-profit organizations may

Elimination of family...

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have any desire to be united with a family member who is a parent, sibling, or child over twenty-one or married, must act immediately! The proposed changes specifically state that any petitions that have already been filed would be processed to completion. Also, the system in which visas are issued would be altered so that the current waiting periods may actually be significantly reduced.

Many individuals chose not to file family-based visa petitions believing that they are a waste of time and/or money because of the very lengthy waiting lists. In my twenty-one years as an immigration attorney, I have sadly witnessed too many families regret not filing a lengthy family-based petition when they still have no solution years and years later.

Because a long waiting list is much better than never, individuals who would be affected by such a change must act immediately to file the necessary relative petition. Now is the time to act and, given the importance, it is essential to have competent legal counsel who can ensure that it is done properly. *** For further information, please schedule an appointment with an attorney at Aquino & Loew, Certified Immigration Law Specialists; (888) 797-1140 or (626) 799-3089; info@aquinoloew. com. Please also visit Aquino & Loew at www.aquinoloew.com, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, and read about us on Yelp. Aquino & Loew also handles family law and criminal matters. Providing Personalized Service Nationwide & Abroad Since 1996.

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JOIN the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) in El Monte for a Toy Loan Open House on Tuesday, January 30th. This FREE toy-lending program gives children the opportunity to checkout toys while learning responsibility. This program is co-sponsored by the Board of Super-

visors and DPSS. For more information, please call (626) 279-2530.

It will be on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Alma Family Services Center (4024 Durfee Ave., El Monte, CA 91732).■

C JANUARY 27-30, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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& Two different lines/processing

Immigration Corner

times for family petitions

ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ DEAR Attorney Gurfinkel: I am a green card holder, and petitioned my adult single child in June 2015 in the F-2B category.

When I recently checked the USCIS website for processing times, it shows they’re processing F-2B petitions filed in late May 2015. Does this mean my adult child will be eligible for his green card in about a month, as May 2015 is a month away from June 2015? I’m so confused about processing times, priority dates, and visa bulletins, and what they all mean.

Very truly yours, RD Dear RD: For family petitions, there are two basic lines or processing times: 1. The processing time for USCIS to approve the petition; and 2. The waiting time for the visa to become available, based on the priority date (or date the petition was filed with the USCIS).

Just because USCIS approves the petition, does not necessarily mean the visa is immediately available. It could take many years after a petition has been approved for the priority date to become current and the visa to be available.

For example, if a person wants to go into a theater, they must first stand in line to get the ticket at the ticket counter. After they get the ticket, they must now stand in another, longer line, to get inside the theater. In the same way, a person files a petition, and USCIS eventually approves that petition.

That is the “processing times” on the USCIS website. But after the petition is approved, they now must wait for their priority date to become current, which can take many years, depending on the type of family petition.

In your case, although USCIS may be processing F-2B petitions filed in late May 2015, the priority date (or waiting time for the actual green card or Visa) is now July 2006 as of February 2018. It is estimated that your child’s F-2B visa will not become available (or the priority date will not become current) until sometime in 2030. Just because the petition is approved, does not mean the person will be immediately eligible for a green card. They now must wait in the “second line” for the priority date to become current (unless they are an “immediate relative” (spouse, child under 21, or parent) of a U.S. citizen, in which case a visa is immediately available.)

You may want to consider other ways to bring these family mem-

bers to the U.S. faster, such as through an employer’s petition, which might take about two or three years versus 10 or 15 years.

The employer does not need to be a Fortune 500 company. It can even be a six-bed care home, as long as the employer is earning enough money to afford the alien’s wages. You may want to consult with an attorney to consider if there are other, faster ways to bring your family members to the U.S. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL

Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

PH, Vietnam seen to post strongest economic growth in emerging ASEAN Moody’s expects strong trade and domestic demand to provide support

by BEN

O. DE VERA Inquirer.net

economic growth this year as credit conditions in the country DEBT watcher Moody’s In- and across the region are exvestors Service expects the pected to remain stable.

“Among the five largest Asean Philippines to sustain robust

emerging economies, we expect the Philippines and Vietnam to post the strongest growth (in 2018), supported by trade and PAGE D3

Business Quote of the Week “If you’re not stubborn, you’ll give up on experiments too soon. And if you’re not flexible, you’ll pound your head against the wall and you won’t see a different solution to a problem you’re trying to solve.”

- Jeffrey Preston Bezos, CEO of Amazon

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 27-30, 2018

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D JANUARY 27-30, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Marketplace

Economic managers green-light higher project cost of Metro Manila Subway

by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

The rollout of the country’s first underground railway system moved one step closer after economic managers on Friday approved the increase in cost of the Metro Manila Subway project.

In a text message, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National economic and Development Authority (Neda) chief ernesto M. Pernia said the project cost of the first phase of the subway was raised by P1.375 billion, from the previous P355.588 billion to P356.964 billion.

The adjustment in project cost was approved during the Neda Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC CabCom) meeting.

In a separate text message, Neda Undersecretary Rolando G. Tungpalan said the 0.36-percent increase in project cost “included relocation of utilities not considered earlier.”

Tungpalan said the higher project cost reflected an appraisal by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Last week, Tungpalan said the Department of Transportation next year will start the implementation of the Metro Manila Subway Project (Phase 1), a 25.3-kilometer underground

desideriO

Philstar.com

MANILA — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will start operating direct non-stop flights between Manila and Brisbane, Australia in March.

In a statement on Thursday, January 25, PAL said it would begin the non-stop service on March 27, a move which would allow passengers to have shorter flying time of less than seven hours compared to the current one-stop service of nine hours 20 minutes with a stopover in Darwin.

By having a direct non-stop service from Manila to Brisbane, PAL would be temporarily suspending flights to Darwin citing that a stand-alone Manila to Darwin service would be uneconomically sustainable.

“The airline will revisit this decision in the near future as market conditions improve,” PAL said.

PAL’s Manila to Brisbane nonstop flights will use the 254-seater

PH improves ranking in WEF’s Inclusive Development Index

by Czeriza

VaLenCia Philstar.com

NEDA Chief Ernesto Pernia

rail that will connect Quezon City and Taguig City as well as extend to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The subway, to be financed by the Japanese government, would be completed by 2027, according to Tungpalan.

The Department of Finance earlier said that the Philippine government is set to sign with Japan the loan agreement covering the first tranche of financing for the subway project within the month of January.

The initial tranche will amount 104.5 billion yen or about $929.1 million, to be signed during the last week of the month after the government secures Monetary Board approval as well as the Special Presidential Authority, according to the DOF.

Inquirer.net photo

Also discussed during the Neda ICC CabCom meeting were the Subic-Clark Railway Project to be implemented by the DOTr and the state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority; the Clark International Airport Operations and Maintenance Project of the DOTr; as well as San Miguel Corp.’s unsolicited proposal for the New Manila International Airport.

Tungpalan said these three projects were “for further discussion.” economic managers also tackled the National Irrigation Administration’s request to extend the implementation and duration of the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project by one year and six months.

PAL to fly non-stop from Manila to Brisbane

by LOueLLa

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Airbus A340 aircraft initially.

Within the first half of the year, PAL would start utilizing the brand new Airbus A321 NeOs, the longer-range version of the popular A321, with full-flat business class seats and entertainment systems, for the flights.

Flight PR 221 will leave Manila at 11:30 p.m every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and arrive in Brisbane at 9:20 a.m. local time the following day, every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Return flight PR 222, meanwhile, will depart Brisbane at 11 a.m. local time on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and touchdown in Manila at 5 p.m. on the same day.

By May 1, PAL said it would operate the fourth weekly frequency every Tuesday.

Flight PR 221 will leave Manila at 12:55 a.m. and arrive in Brisbane at 10:45 a.m. local time on the same day.

Return flight PR 222 will depart Brisbane at 12 noon local time on

Tuesday and be in Manila at 6 p.m. on the same day.

“The non-stop service is expected to boost travel and tourism on the increasingly popular route that links the Philippines with the commercial center of Queensland and gateway to the spectacular beaches, theme parks and lush rain forests of the Gold Coast,” PAL said.

Given PAL’s direct non-stop service, the carrier is hopeful Queensland-based Australians would consider holiday trips to the Philippines.

The Manila to Brisbane service is PAL’s latest move to convert onestop flights to a non-stop service to better serve travelers.

Last year, PAL launched nonstop flights to Toronto in Canada, Auckland in New Zealand, Doha in Qatar, Kuwait City, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia by eliminating the stopovers in Vancouver, Cairns, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, respectively.

MANILA — The Philippines advanced two notches in the 2018 Inclusive Development Index (IDI) of the World economic Forum which measures the ability of advanced and emerging economies to foster inclusive growth and development.

The country now ranks 38th among 74 emerging economies for the 2018 index. Last year, the Philippines ranked 40th out of 79 emerging countries covered by the index.

Key performance indicators for the IDI include GDP per capita, labor productivity, median household income, income gini, adjusted net savings, dependency ratio, employment, healthy life expectancy, poverty rate, wealth gini, public wealth as a share of GDP and carbon intensity of GDP. Policy and institutional indicators, meanwhile, include education and skills development, basic services and infrastructure, financial intermediation of real economy investment, asset building and entrepreneurship, and employment and labor compensation.

WeF noted in the report the limitations of the use of the gross domestic product (GDP)

as a measure of socioeconomic progress as it does not directly reflect improvements in household standard of living.

“Most citizens evaluate their respective countries’ economic progress not by published GDP growth statistics but by changes in their households’ standard of living – a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses income, employment opportunity, economic security, and quality of life,” the report said.

The Philippines received an IDI score of 3.83 and ranks close to Indonesia (3.95), Brazil (3.93) and Tunisia (3.82).

IDI scores are based on a scale of one to seven, with one as the lowest score.

The Philippines has maintained an average IDA score of 2.40 percent for the past five years and has been described by the report as “slowly advancing” in terms of ushering in inclusive growth and development.

WeF said the Philippines could make improvements on the equality of income opportunities.

“Turkey, Mexico, Indonesia and the Philippines are among economies which show potential on intergenerational equity and sustainability, but lack progress on inclusion indicators such as

income and wealth inequality,” said the report.

Norway remained at the top of 30 advanced economies with an IDI score of 6.08. Following suit were Iceland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands.

At the top of the list for developing countries was Lithuania with an IDI score of 4.86 Following were hungary, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Poland, Panama, and Croatia At the bottom of the list for developing countries were Lesotho and Mozambique.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary ernesto Pernia said the administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) which is planned to be implemented in four packages is meant to improve the distribution of wealth in the country.

The first package, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), which was implemented beginning this month provides for the lowering of personal income tax but imposes higher tax on fuel, automobiles, sugary beverages and tobacco.

Pernia expressed confidence that higher take-home pay would offset losses due to higher excise tax.

PLDT outsources IT needs to US-based firm

by MigueL

r. CaMus

Inquirer.net

TeLCO giant PLDT Inc. announced a major outsourcing deal with United States-based Amdocs, which will upgrade and manage the business technology systems of PLDT and subsidiary Smart Communications.

PLDT said in a stock exchange filing on Wednesday , January 24, that the $300-million agreement would run for a period of seven years.

PLDT decided last year that it would outsource most of its IT requirements in a bid to cut costs and shore up earnings. It initially wanted to tap US-based IBM but an agreement was never reached.

On Wednesday, PLDT said “certain manpower from our IT units would be offered career opportunities in Amdocs as regular employees.”

“This represents a unique

chance for these IT people to further build their careers in one of the leading software and services companies in the world,” PLDT chair and CeO Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

The company did not say how many employees would be affected. Pangilinan said last year that PLDT had around 1,000 people working in the IT department.

According to PLDT, Amdocs will modernize its IT systems, streamline processes and increase revenue growth.

“With this agreement in place, we can focus on our core mission of serving our customers in the best possible way through powerful, pervasive connectivity, and relevant cutting-edge digital products and services created by ourselves or with partners like Amdocs and others who are leaders in their fields,” Pangilinan said.

PLDT said the deal had wide implications for its internal processes and would cover sales and customer experience units.

Moreover, the agreement also involves the modernization and maintenance across critical IT components such as customer relationship management, billing, subscription and campaign management.

“PLDT is focused on delivering compelling customer experiences for their wide range of telecommunications and digital services across fixed line and cellular networks,” said Gary Miles, chief marketing officer at Amdocs. “Our digital solutions and services will enable them to further enhance customer experiences across their brands for home, wireless and enterprise services; while improving overall efficiencies to quickly innovate and launch new services to grow their data business.”

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Marketplace

Peso seen ending 2018 at 50.50 to $1

by Doris

Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

The peso will likely end this year at 50.50 against the dollar, stabilizing relative to current levels but underperforming most Asian emerging market currencies in what is likely to be a bearish episode for the greenback, economists from British banking giant Standard Chartered said.

“We expect the dollar-peso to be largely range-bound for most part of 2018,” Divya Devesh, Stanchart Asia foreign exchange strategist, said in a press briefing.

This relative stability of the local currency, however, is seen to come at a time when the dollar may broadly weaken. Stanchart’s bearish view on the greenback is due to expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will pursue just a

modest monetary tightening while U.S. assets have become less attractive because global growth has become more synchronized across key regions.

As such, Devesh said the peso would likely continue to underperform other currencies in Asian emerging markets as it had already done in the last two to three years.

Devesh said that Stanchart first turned bearish on the peso in November 2015 largely due to concerns on overvaluation and the deterioration of the current account.

“Now, the good news is the Philippine peso is not overvalued anymore. In fact, as per our estimates, the peso is very close to its fair value, so that takes out one of the headwinds. But the current account story hasn’t really

improved,” he said.

At the same time, Devesh said sentiment on the ground remained weak for the peso, reflecting a quite strong demand for U.S. dollars.

“We see that in terms of higher demand for foreign currency debt, foreign currency deposits, companies paying back foreign currency loans,” Devesh said.

“So this combination of strong dollar demand onshore along with current account deficit will probably keep some pressure on the peso.”

On the dollar side of the equation, Devesh said inflation expectations in the United States remained quite low. To date, he noted that financial markets were pricing in just four Fed interest rate increases stretched out over a two-year period.

Reproductive health law to cut poverty by mayvelin

u. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

POVeRTy in the Philippines could drop to as low as 9 percent during the current administration’s term with full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive health (RPRh) law, a Cabinet official said “Poverty incidence [falling]to 9 percent — that is the calculation of Population Commission (PopCom)—within this administration,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary ernesto Pernia told reporters.

The PopCom estimate is much lower than Duterte administration’s poverty incidence target of 14 percent by 2022.

Poverty incidence is measured by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) as the proportion of families/individuals with per capita incomes/expenditures less than the per capita poverty threshold to the total number of families/individuals.

According to the PSA, poverty incidence in the Philippines fell to 21.6 percent in 2015 from 25.2 percent in 2012. however, poverty in five of the nine basic sectors in the Philippines was higher than that for the general population Farmers, fishermen and children belonging to families with incomes below the official poverty threshold posted the high-

est poverty incidences in 2015 at 34.3 percent, 34 percent and 31.4 percent, respectively.

These sectors consistently registered as the three sectors with the highest poverty incidence in 2006, 2009 and 2012.

Implementation of the RPRh law was hampered for the last two years after the Supreme Court issued a restraining order following concerns that certain contraceptives were abortifacients.

The health department last year said the restraining order was effectively lifted after the Food and Drug Administration certified the products as nonabortifacient.

Auto sales race past 2017 target by riChmonD

merCurio Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippine automotive industry raced past its 2017 target, finishing six percent better than the 450,000-unit forecast as vehicle manufacturers and importers both reported alltime high sales last year.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) said combined sales of member firms breached the 100,000-unit mark last year, driven by strong consumer appetite ahead of the implementation of the higher excise taxes on automobiles.

AVID sales reached 106,268 units in 2017, up 14 percent from the 93,192 units sold the previous year.

The group’s fourth quarter sales, in particular, accelerated by 24 percent to 30,336 units from 24,438 units in the same period in 2016.

The light commercial vehicle segment accounted for bulk of AVID sales last year at 66,564 units, while the remaining 35,782 units were accounted for by passenger cars.

“AVID sales capped a banner year in 2017. AVID will continue supporting efforts to sustain inclusive growth and build a positive environment for business,” AVID president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) said combined sales of member firms breached the 100,000-unit mark last year, driven by strong consumer appetite ahead of the implementation of the higher excise taxes on automobiles.

Philstar.com photo

Inc. (CAMPI) earlier reported that its 2017 sales reached 425,673 units, up 18.4 percent from 359,572 units sold the previous year.

Combined with the recently released full year figures of AVID, total industry sales for 2017 stood at 476,073 units as both automotive groups counted as members Ford Philippines and Suzuki Philippines.

The industry has yet to arrive at its full year sales target for 2018, but majority of the automotive firms said they are cautious in their forecast given the implementation of the higher auto excise tax.

To offset foregone revenues

as a result of lower personal income taxes under TRAIN, AVID said higher levies imposed on commodities like cars and oil would make car ownership more expensive.

Nevertheless, the group said it remains upbeat as it expects the automotive market to make the necessary adjustments with the new landscape.

“For the year ahead, we remain optimistic as we expect short-run market adjustments resulting from the TRAIN. Nevertheless, the new automotive landscape opens waves of opportunities for the luxury, e-vehicles and hybrid vehicles market,” Agudo said.

IMF retains Philippine growth outlook by lawrenCe

agCaoili Philstar.com

MANILA — Multilateral lender International Monetary Fund (IMF) has retained its 2018 economic growth forecast for the Philippines despite an upward revision in its growth projection for global economic growth in its latest World economic Outlook (WeO). yongZheng yang, IMF resident representative for the Philippines, said there was no change in the gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection for the Philippines.

“There was no revision to the GDP growth projection for the Philippines in the latest WeO update,” yang said.

In its country report last November and based on the WeO update released last October, the IMF expected the Philippines economy to expand by 6.6 percent in 2017 and by 6.7 percent in 2018.

“The outlook for the Philippine economy is favorable de-

spite external headwinds. Real GDP growth is projected at 6.6 percent in 2017 and 6.7 percent in 2018, owing to continued robust domestic demand,” the IMF said in a report.

It said the strong performance of the economy has continued, with rapid economic growth and low inflation. “economic growth is projected to remain high, supported by robust domestic demand, while inflation is expected to remain near the center of the target band,” it said. however, the IMF said credit growth has accelerated, and although most indicators find no evidence of credit booms so far, some indicators suggest that credit gaps could approach early warning levels in 2017 to 2018.

“The combination of high credit growth, buoyant private investment, and fiscal expansion without tax reform could lead to overheating of the economy,” it said.

The IMF noted the approval

PH, Vietnam seen...

PAGE D1

domestic demand,” Moody’s said in a report.

In October, Moody’s projected the Philippine economy to expand by 6.8 percent in 2018.

In 2017, the Philippines’ gross domestic product grew 6.7 percent, outpaced only by those of China and Vietnam in emerging Asia.

This year, the government targets a 7-8 percent growth.

Across the region, Moody’s said it expected “broad-based”

of the first tax reform package would lead to a sustainable increase in infrastructure investment. yang said the numbers published in the last country report in November remain valid.

In the latest WeO update released Monday evening, the IMF raised the GDP growth forecast for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASeAN) to a range of 5 to 5.3 instead of 5.2 percent for 2018 and retained the projection at 5.3 percent in 2019.

ASeAN-5 includes the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

On the other hand, the IMF raised the projected world output by 0.2 percent to 3.9 percent from the original target of 3.7 percent for both 2018 and 2019, faster than the 3.7 percent GDP growth forecast for 2017. “ G l o b a l e c o n o m i c a c t i vity continues to firm up,” the IMF said in the latest WeO update.

strengthen significantly, leaving Asian central banks room to maintain accommodative growth this year.

“China’s growth will slow, but monetary policy,” it said.

Moody’s said “credit condionly mildly, in line with authorities’ desire for higher-quality tions in Asia will be stable in growth; positive momentum will 2018, shaped by broad-based continue in Japan and recover in economic growth in the region and globally, a supportive trade India,” it said.

“Growth momentum in ad- environment and broadly accomvanced economies and intrare- modative monetary policy.”

“We expect creditworthiness gional activity will continue to to remain healthy across our drive trade in Asia,” it added.

“We do not expect new U.S. rated portfolio in 2018. This is tax laws to drive more aggres- reflected in our outlooks for the sive monetary tightening by region’s sovereigns, banking the US Federal Reserve, nor systems and corporate sectors,” do we expect the U.S. dollar to according to Moody’s.

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BIR tax effort rises in 2017 CEO optimism booms despite rising

by Mary

Grace Philstar.com

anxiety over threats to growth

Padin

MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said yesterday its tax effort rose to 11.26 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017 amid higher collections and greater cooperation of taxpayers.

In a speech before the Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP), Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay said the BIR’s tax effort in 2017 settled at 11.26 percent, higher than the 10.8 percent recorded in the previous year.

Tax effort refers to the ratio of the government’s tax collections in relation to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

This was also higher than the 10.5 percent to 10.9 percent average tax effort seen by the BIR in the past five years, Dulay said.

“For the past five years, the (tax effort) average was 10.5 percent to 10.9 percent, but for 2017 we recorded a tax effort of 11.26 percent, thanks to the cooperation of taxpayers,” Dulay said.

For 2017, the economy grew 6.7 percent, slower than the 6.9 percent growth recorded in 2016.

On the other hand, revenue of the BIR last year amounted to P1.779 trillion, up 12.92 percent from the P1.576 trillion.

This also represents a 97.27 percent accomplishment rate as against the bureau’s P1.829 trillion collection goal for 2017.

by Paul

Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay

According to Dulay, the BIR was able to catch up with its collections in the last two months of 2017, thanks to the cooperation of taxpayers.

“We had what I call personally as the ‘last two minutes.’ We sought out the help of taxpayers and we’re very very happy that they responded, that’s why the figures are there. We have a very good tax ratio and we have a good growth rate for 2017,” Dulay said.

For 2018, the BIR is targeting to gather P2.039 trillion in taxes, 14.61 percent higher than the 2017 collection.

Philstar.com photo

Dulay expressed optimism the agency would be able to hit the target with the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act starting this year.

The TRAIN, or Republic Act 10963 aims to lower personal income tax rates, while at the same time hiking the taxes imposed on fuel, automobiles, sugar-sweetened beverages, coal, mining, among others.

According to Department of Finance (DOF) estimates, the law is expected to generate an additional P89.9 billion in revenues for the year.

PLDT, Smart investing $300 million for technology management upgrade MANILA — PLDT Inc. and wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. have entered into a $300 million partnership with Amdocs for the upgrade and management of business technology systems used to serve the telco’s customers.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock exchange, PLDT said the seven-year agreement would involve modernizing business information technology systems serving PLDT and Smart’s customers through the use of advanced digital technologies and solutions, as well as improvement of business processes and service levels aimed at enhancing customer experience.

The agreement also involves the introduction of new digital tools that will enable the business units to innovate their digital products and services in a timely manner.

c. u. See

Philstar.com

“This milestone engagement will help boost our growth, and position us to take the lead in the next wave of digital innovation brought by new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and automation technologies. It is a partnership in real terms,“ PLDT chairman, president and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said certain manpower from PLDT’s IT units would be offered career opportunities in Amdocs as regular employees.

“This represents a unique chance for these IT people to further build their careers in one of the leading software and services companies in the world,“ he said. PLDT’s partnership with Amdocs is in line with the firm’s digital transformation to enhance customer experience, en-

gagement and product delivery.

“With this agreement in place, we can focus on our core mission of serving our customers in the best possible way through powerful, pervasive connectivity, and relevant cutting-edge digital products and services created by ourselves or with partners like Amdocs and others who are leaders in their fields,“ Pangilinan said.

Amdocs chief marketing officer Gary Miles said his company’s digital solutions and services would allow PLDT to further enhance customer experiences across brands for home, wireless and enterprise services. In addition, he said the solutions and services would enable PLDT to improve overall efficiencies to launch new services to drive growth for the data business.

(Philstar.com)

A ReCORD-BReAkING percentage of CeOs against their total number around the world are optimistic about the global economic environment, at least in the short term. That’s one of the key findings of PwC’s 21st survey of almost 1,300 CeOs around the world, launched recently at the World economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.

Fifty-seven percent of business leaders say they believe global economic growth will improve in the next 12 months. It’s almost twice the level of last year (29 percent) and the largest ever increase since PwC began asking about global growth in 2012.

Optimism on global growth has more than doubled in the U.S. (59 percent) after a period of uncertainty surrounding the election (2017: 24 percent). Brazil also saw a large increase in the share of CeOs who are optimistic global growth will improve (+38 percent to 80 percent). And even among the less optimistic countries such as Japan (2018: 38 percent vs 2017: 11 percent) and the Uk (2018: 36 percent vs 2017: 17 percent), optimism on global growth has more than doubled since last year.

“CeOs’ optimism in the global economy is driven by the economic indicators being so strong.

With the stock markets booming and GDP predicted to grow in most major markets around the world, it’s no surprise CeOs are so bullish,” comments Bob Moritz, global chairman of PwC.

Confidence in short-term revenue growth on the rise This optimism on the economy is feeding into CeOs’ confidence about their own companies’ outlook, even if the uptick is not so large. Of the CeOs surveyed, 42 percent said they are “very confident” in their own organization’s growth prospects over the next 12 months, up from 38 percent last year.

Looking at the results by country, it’s a mixed bag. CeOs’ outlook improved in several key markets, including in Australia (up 4 percent at 46 percent) and China (up 4 percent at 40 percent), where the share of CeOs saying they are “very confident” in their own organization’s 12-month growth prospects rose.

In the U.S., CeOs’ confidence has recovered. After election nerves last year, the early focus on regulation and tax reform by the new administration has seen confidence in business growth prospects for the year ahead rising significantly – from 39 percent in 2017 to 52 percent in 2018. And North America is the only region where a majority of CeOs are “very confident” about their own 12-month prospects.

In the Uk, with Brexit negotiations only recently reaching a significant milestone, business leaders’ drop in short-term confidence is unsurprising (2018: 34 percent vs 2017: 41 percent).

The top three most confident sectors for their own 12-month prospects this year are Technology (48 percent “very confident”), Business Services (46 percent)

and Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences (46 percent) – all exceeding the global “very confident” level of 42 percent.

Strategies for growth remain largely unchanged on last year’s survey – CeOs will rely on organic growth (79 percent), cost reduction (62 percent), strategic alliances (49 percent) and M&As (42 percent). There was a small increase in interest in partnering with entrepreneurs and start-ups (33 percent vs 28 percent last year).

Top countries for growth: Confidence in U.S. continues, reinforcing lead on China CeO confidence in the U.S. market extends overseas, with non-U.S. based CeOs once again voting it the top market for growth in the next 12 months. This year, the US reinforces its lead over China (46 percent U.S. vs 33 percent China, with the U.S. lead over China up 2 percent compared with 2017).

Germany (20 percent) remains in third place, followed by the Uk (15 percent) in fourth place, while India bumps Japan off as the fifth most attractive market in 2018. “even with high levels of global growth confidence, business leaders want and need safe harbors for investment to secure shortterm growth,” comments PwC Chairman Moritz. “Access to consumers, skills, finance and a supportive regulatory environment are reinforcing leading markets’ positions, for business leaders to achieve their short-term growth targets.”

PH brand participates in US food show by anna leah

e. GonzaleS ManilaTimes.net

FOODPhILIPPINeS, the country’s signature brand for food items under the Department of Trade and Industry’s Center for International Trade exhibitions and Missions (DTI-Citem), participated in the Winter Fancy Food Show (WFFS) in San Francisco, California, from January 21 to 23.

Organized by Citem in partnership with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in San Francisco, FoodPhilippines offered food products from 17 Filipino food exporters.

These were Arko Foods, Beth-

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

MEDICAL/SERVICE

any Sales Inc. (Tamcor Mexim USA), Century Pacific Food Inc., hacienda Macalauan Inc., Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines, JNRM Corp., Magical Blend Marketing International, Magic Melt Foods Inc., Mama Sita’s (Marigold Manufacturing Corp.), Monde M.Y. San Corp., Pasciolco Agri Ventures, Profood International Corp., Sagrex Food Inc., San Miguel Pure Foods Inc., Seabest Food Beverage Corp., Subic Superfood, Inc. and Super Q. According to the Specialty Food Association’s Trendspotter panel, Filipino cuisine was a top food trend at the WFFS. The country’s participation

PSYCHIC

was part of the DTI’s efforts to further promote Philippine specialty food products in overseas trade shows.

Philippine Consul General henry Bensurto Jr., welcomed the country’s delegation when the WFFS opened on January 21, and discussed expanding trade opportunities between the US West Coast and the Philippines with his economic diplomacy team the next day.

The WFFS is the West Coast’s largest specialty food and beverage event. It has an estimated 20,000 visitors and 1,500 exhibitors annually. It showcases more than 80,000 food items and drinks.

D JANUARY 27-30, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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