021220 - Southern California Midweek Edition

February 12-14, 2020 Volume 30 - No. 11 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

It’s official: Philippines terminates Visiting Forces Agreement with US

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines has formally sent a notice terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, Malacañang announced on

Tuesday, February 11.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Monday night to inform Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. to go ahead and send a notice ending the 20-year-old military pact

with the United States, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo relayed in a press briefing.

“The Executive Secretary sent the message to Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin, and the latter signed the notice of termination and then sent it to the

U.S. government today,” the spokesperson said.

Locsin confirmed in a tweet that the “Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the United States has received the notice of termination of the

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Fil-Am Godfrey Plata, a candidate for California State Assembly’s District 53 seat, gives an impassioned speech to supporters during a recent campaign event.

Contributed photo

Meet the progressive Fil-Am CA Assembly candidate advocating for fair renting practices Filipino American organizer and former public school teacher Godfrey Plata is seeking to make LA more renter-friendly

AS state primaries and caucuses get underway, all the focus is squarely pointed on the national race for the White House in what could be a historic general election.

California will be one of the 15 states or jurisdictions holding its state’s primary on Super Tuesday, March 3, which will put into sharper relief the lay of the land of the tense presidential race.

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Passengers wearing face masks fall in line at the entrance of the Clark International Airport in Pampanga. Authorities have advised the public to practice proper hygiene and sanitation measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

WHO: Not airborne, but nCoV a ‘very grave threat’

by SHEILA

CRISOSTOMO, EMMANUEL TUPAS Philstar.com

GENEVA – The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, February 11. warned that the novel coronavirus (nCoV) was a “very grave threat” for the world as he opened a conference to combat the epidemic.

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LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS. A couple with face masks poses near a heart-shaped arch at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City as Filipinos fret on the threat of the 2019 coronavirus.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Enrique Agcaoili

US Embassy: No change Tagle assumes post at Vatican in visa policy in PH

by WILLIAM

DEPASUPIL ManilaTimes.net

CARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle has assumed his post as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples at the Vatican.

Tagle left Manila on Sunday, February 9, bringing with him the prayers and support of the Filipino faithful. At the Holy See, he will be responsible for the spread of Catholic faith through missionary work and related activities.

Tagle replaced Cardinal Fernando Filoni, who assumed his post as the new grand master of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher.

He is the second Asian cardinal to head the Pre- Solicitor General Jose Calida files a quo warranto petition in the Supreme Court on Monday, fect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of February 10, seeking to forfeit the legislative franchises of ABS-CBN Corp. and its subsidiary, Peoples after Indian Cardinal Ivan Dias, who served ABS-CBN Convergence Inc. Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande the post from 2006 to 2011.

THE United States Embassy in Manila clarified that its visa policy in the Philippines remains the same.

The embassy issued this statement following fraudulent advisories claiming the cancellation or revocation of tourist visas and the suspension of visa applications.

“These claims are not true,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement Monday, February 10.

Misinformation on the U.S. Embassy’s visa policies supposedly come from impostors claiming to be an official U.S. source.

The embassy stressed that its only official channels are its website and social media ac-

Palace: ABS-CBN’s fate up DOJ indicts Trillanes, 10 others for conspiracy to commit sedition to Congress, Supreme Court u PAGE A4

by AJPRESS

FORMER Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and 10 others have been indicted for “conspiracy to commit sedition” for their involvement in videos that linked President Rodrigo Duterte and his family to the illegal drug trade, the Department of Justice said on Monday, February 10.

Aside from Trillanes, whistleblower Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy,” former Police Sr. Supt. Eduardo Acierto, Joel Saracho, Boom Enriquez, Yolanda V. Ong, Vicente Romano III, Fr. Albert E. Alejo, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Jonnel P. Sangalang, and a certain “Monique” were charged before the Metropolitan Trial Court in Quezon City for

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle

their participation in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.

The Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed a complaint against those allegedly involved in “Project Sodoma,” an alleged plot to unseat Duterte and install Vice President Leni Robredo in his place.

Advincula alleged that the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos released in April 2019 were part of the Project Sodoma. He also claimed to be the hooded figure “Bikoy” who narrated the videos.

The PNP-CIDG accused Robredo and 35 others in its complaint of having committed sedition, inciting to sedition, cyber libel, libel, estafa, and obstruction of

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ManilaTimes.net photo

justice.

However, the panel of prosecutors chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas cleared Robredo as well as Senators Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima and former Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino from their involvement in the video series.

Grand conspiracy According to the DOJ, the prosecution panel found “interlocking pieces of proof” that provide a “complete picture of the grand conspiracy between and among some respondents to create hatred or revenge against the president and his family with the end in view of toppling and destabilizing the current admin- Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV

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However, the president has said in the past that he would oppose the network’s franchise renewal THE fate of ABS-CBN’s fran- due to its supposed failure to air chise renewal lies upon Congress a campaign ad that he paid for and the Supreme Court, Malaca- before the 2016 presidential elecñang said on Tuesday, February tion.

11.

“The president has nothing to This comes a day after Solici- do with it,” Panelo said. “The filtor General Jose Calida on Mon- ing of a petition for quo warranto day, February 10 filed a petition is on the initiative of the SolGen before the Supreme Court for the pursuant to his constitutional cancellation of ABS-CBN’s 25- duty to file any action in the court year franchise, alleging that the in the event of any, from his point TV network reportedly violated of view, transgression of the law, rules set by Congress. that’s why he filed the case.

Presidential spokesperson Sal“We will leave it to the Supreme vador Panelo told reporters that Court vis a vis that petition,” he President Rodrigo Duterte is added. disassociated from the franchise Panelo also said that the Conordeal with the media conglomer- gress has the sole power to grant Philstar.com photo ate. u PAGE A2

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

A February 12-14, 2020 • SoCal aSIaN JOurNaL

Palace: ABS-CBN’s fate up...

PAGE A1 a franchise as the legislative body can overturn any veto of the president through a two-thirds vote.

“It can be overruled. In other words, from whatever angle you look at it, it’s Congress; it’s not the president,” he said.

ABS-CBN’s franchise contract is set to expire on March 30.

SolGen: Put an end to ABSCBN ‘highly abusive practices’

In his quo warranto petition, Calida accused the broadcasting giant of “unlawfully exercising their legislative franchises under Republic Act No. 7966 and Republic Act No. 8332.”

RA 7966 pertains to the Act granting ABS-CBN Corporation franchise to operate, while RA 8332 is the Act Granting MultiMedia Telephony, Incorporated, a Franchise to Construct, Establish,

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

From the Front Page Operate and Maintain Radio Paging System in the Philippines.

Multi-Media Technology, Inc. is also known as ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. — the network’s communications arm.

“We want to put an end to what we discovered to be highly abusive practices of ABS-CBN benefitting a greedy few at the expense of millions of its loyal subscribers. These practices have gone unnoticed or were disregarded for years,” Calida said in a statement.

He accused the network giant of allowing foreigners to invest in its ownership, which violates Article XVI Section 11 of the Constitution that limits ownership and management of mass media only to Filipino citizens.

“Like Rappler, ABS-CBN issued Philippine Deposit Receipts through ABS-CBN Holdings Corporation to foreigners, in violation of the foreign ownership restriction on mass media in the Constitution,” Calida said.

PDRs are instruments that give foreign investors a passive economic interest in a Philippine company without being assigned voting rights that regular common shares have.

Calida also accused ABS-CBN of “abusing the privilege” given by the State when it operated a pay-per-view channel (KBO Channel) in its ABS-CBN TV Plus cable product without a permit from the National Telecommunications Commission.

“While it is true that broadcasting is a business, the welfare of the people must not be sacrificed in the pursuit of profit,” he said.

Shawn Crispin, senior Southeast Asia representative for the Center to Protect Journalists, called on Calida to withdraw the case against the network.

“The timing, tone, and content of this legal complaint make it clear that this is not an administrative disagreement, but a political persecution,” Crispin said.

‘No violation’ ABS-CBN maintained that it has complied with all the laws governing its franchise and secured all government and regulatory approvals for its operations.

The case against the network “appears to be an effort to shut down ABS-CBN to the serious prejudice of millions of Filipinos who rely on the network for news, entertainment and public service,” the network said in a statePAGE A4

It’s official: Philippines terminates...

PAGE A1 Visiting Forces Agreement.”

“As a diplomatic courtesy there will be no further factual announcements following this self-explanatory development,” he wrote.

Duterte is eyeing a more selfreliant Philippine military rather than seeking a military agreement with another country, Panelo explained.

“The president said it’s about time we rely on [ourselves]. We will strengthen our own defenses and not rely on any other country…From the way he talks, parang tayo na lang muna (let’s rather be self-reliant),” Panelo said.

In a statement on Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said the move is “a serious step with significant implications for the U.S.Philippine alliance.”

“We will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests,” the statement read, adding that it will “remain committed to the friendship between our two peoples.”

The VFA, which came into force in 1999, covers the conduct of U.S. soldiers in the Philippines.

Among the provisions of the deal include lax visa and passport policies for U.S. troops, and the rights of the U.S. government to retain its jurisdiction over its military personnel when they commit crimes in the Philippines.

On January 23, Duterte threatened to scrap the VFA following the U.S.’ cancellation of Dela Rosa’s visa. The president gave the U.S. a month to “correct” the cancellation of Dela Rosa’s visa, however, he ordered the start of the termination process the following day.

Ratified by the Philippine Senate in 1999, the VFA can be terminated through a written notice from either of the countries, taking effect 180 days after the notification.

‘Trump tried to save VFA’ Duterte on Monday revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump was “trying to save” the VFA from being terminated.

But, the Philippine president said that he refused to change his mind about the termination due to the allegedly “disrespectful” acts displayed by Americans, such as threatening to withhold aid from the country if opposition Senator Leila de Lima is not released.

De Lima is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame

President Rodrigo Duterte

in Quezon City due to her reported involvement in the illegal drug trade.

“Now, I’ll make it public, public official ako (I am a public official). Si Trump, pati yung others (Trump and the others) are trying to save the Visiting Forces Agreement. Sabi ko, ayoko (I said, ‘I don’t want to’). One is that napaka bastos ng Amerikano. Talagang sobrang bastos (Americans are so rude. They’re really rude),” Duterte said during a gathering of local executives in Pasay.

“Imagine demanding the release of De Lima under threat that we will not receive the aid, that all persons who had a hand in the imprisonment of De Lima will not be allowed to go to the U.S.? What is there in America?” he added.

Duterte also denied that he killed thousands of innocent people, slamming U.S. senators who criticized his war against illegal drugs.

“Tapos EJK. Wala man. Nagsabi pinatay ko daw. Sino man pinatay ko (And then extrajudicial killings. There’s none. They say I killed them. Who did I kill)?” he said.

“Sinabi ko (I said) ‘do not destroy my country because if you destroy my country I will kill you,’” he added.

Duterte noted that U.S. senators went too far in insulting the Philippine government.

“Sobra sila kung uminsulto kasi (They have insulted us too much), bordering on the trashing of our sovereignty, wiping the s*** of the dog if you step on one. Americans went too far.

Somebody has to remind them,” he said.

Military engagements to be affected U.S. Assistant Secretary of

Tagle assumes post at...

PAGE A1 Pope Francis named Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo as caretaker of the Archdiocese of Manila until the appointment of Tagle’s successor.

Before leaving the country, Tagle officiated his last Mass as archbishop of Manila.

During the liturgical service, his coat of arms, placed on the marble at the nave of the Manila Cathedral was unveiled, a tradition practiced when an archbishop ends his term.

Fr. Regie Malicdem, the cat hedral’s rector, said the coat of arms is their “source of pride and joy.”

“This coat of arms signifies that you will be remembered in all the prayers and masses offered in this cathedral,” he added.

At age 62, Tagle is eligible to vote for the successor of Pope Francis in the event that a conclave is convened. He is also automatically considered a candidate for the papacy. Only cardinals below the age of 80 may participate in the conclave.

Tagle is also the president of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of Catholic charities around the world. He is also the first Caritas Internationalis president who hails from Asia.

He was also the chairman of the Episcopal Commission for the Pontificio Collegio Filippino of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

Born in Manila in 1957, Tagle took his Philosophy and Theology at the Ateneo De Manila University’s San Jose Major Semi-

Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

State for Political-Military Affairs Clarke Cooper said that the VFA termination would affect hundreds of “engagements and exercises” between the Philippine and American militaries. One of the annual exercises is the “Balikatan,” which is to maintain the security relationship between the two countries, conduct counterterrorism operations and provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. “[T]he United States has about 300 engagements and exercises that we conduct bilaterally with the Philippines,” he said Monday during a phone briefing with reporters.

“What’s at risk without a VFA? Well, without a VFA, it puts at risk things like these engagements, like these exercises,” he said, pointing out that there is “a recognized, broad value of not only maintaining our Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement that will beget further procurements and interoperability between the U.S.-Philippine alliance, but the very practical application of a Visiting Forces Agreement that enables these activities like port calls, like engagements, like exercises.”

Senate resolution The Philippine Senate, meanwhile, adopted a resolution asking Duterte to reconsider his plan to terminate the VFA while the upper chamber conducts a “thorough” review of the military accord.

Senate Resolution No. 312 — introduced by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Panfilo Lacson — was adopted during its session on Monday.

While the resolution recognizes the president’s authority, PAGE A4

nary. He was ordained priest for the Imus diocese in 1982.

From 1985 to 1992, he was sent to further studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., where he got his Doctorate in Sacred Theology.

He also spent seven years in Rome to deepen his studies and in 1997 joined the International Theological Commission.

While serving as rector of the Imus cathedral in 2001, he was named bishop of the diocese at the age of 44 by St. John Paul 2nd in October 2001.

In October 2011, Pope Benedict 16th appointed him as Archbishop of Manila and 13 months later, during the last consistory of the pontificate of Pope Ratzinger, he received the cardinal’s hat. n

WHO: Not airborne, but nCoV a ‘very...

PAGE A1 “With 99 percent of cases in China, this remains very much an emergency for that country, but one that holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Some 400 scientists will review how the virus is transmitted and develop possible vaccines at the two-day forum.

“What matters most is stopping the outbreak and saving lives. With your support, that’s what we can do together,” Tedros said.

Amid news reports abroad that nCoV is now airborne, the WHO said Monday there is “no evidence” yet to support this.

In an interview, WHO Philippines representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe noted that while there are still many things about nCoV that remain unknown, current evidence shows that the disease “is still largely a droplet infection.”

“Our position is that we don’t have evidence to support that...

We don’t have clear evidence that this is airborne infection,” Abeyasinghe stressed.

He said available evidence “points to the fact that this is largely a respiratory infection that can be transmitted via droplets or through close contact.”

The virus, first identified in China on Dec. 31, has killed more than

1,000 people, infected over 42,000 and reached some 25 countries.

Participants will also discuss the source of the virus, which is thought to have originated in bats and reached humans via another animal such as snake or pangolin.

There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine against the virus, which can cause respiratory failure.

Tedros, who has repeatedly urged countries affected to share their data, called for global “solidarity.”

“That is especially true in relation to sharing of samples and sequences. To defeat this outbreak, we need open and equitable sharing, according to the principles of fairness and equity,” he said.

“We hope that one of the outcomes of this meeting will be an agreed roadmap for research around which researchers and donors will align,” Tedros said.

Crackdown on fake news Irked by the spread of false information about the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (nCoV), Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año Monday ordered the arrest of anyone – particularly netizens – found spreading fake news about the pathogen.

Año’s order came after the department itself became a victim of

fake news in the form of an infographic allegedly coming from the DILG and which made the rounds on social media last Friday, February 7.

The infographic stated that the DILG has decided to place on mandatory quarantine all travelers from 23 countries that have confirmed cases of the virus. Existing quarantine only covers people coming from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

“We need to put a stop to their nuisance activity. Let’s not propagate erroneous information that is more viral than the virus itself.

We already have enough on our plate,” Año said in a statement.

He pointed out that freedom of expression has limitations, especially if its exercise threatens public welfare.

“So those deliberately spreading fake news, stop now before we lock you up,” he warned.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group is working overtime to trace the people responsible for disseminating fake or misleading news.

Under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code on the “Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances,” a person behind false news can face imprisonment of one to six months and a fine ranging from P40,000 to P200,000. n

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DOJ indicts Trillanes, 10 others for conspiracy to...

Plata (center), an educator and organizer in Los Angeles, poses with attendees at a meet and greet campaign event.

Meet the progressive Fil-Am CA Assembly...

PAGE A1 But Super Tuesday is also a special election on the local and state level for many Californians.

Voters living in California’s 53rd district will also be voting for an assemblymember, and one of those candidates is seeking to be an advocate in Sacramento for low-income renters.

Filipino American Godfrey Plata, a former public school teacher who currently advocates for the rights of public school teachers, is running to unseat the six-year Democratic incumbent Miguel Santiago in the California Assembly for the 53rd District.

California AD 53 is centered in East LA and stretches from Boyle Heights to Koreatown, comprising LA’s most concentrated urban landscape that is home to nearly 500,000 residents.

Demographically, the district is diverse, a Latino-majority (68%) with the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community being the second-largest contingent (19%), according to the latest Census data.

At 35 years old, Plata represents the new class of millennials seeking to implement progressive values by running for office.

Currently, he works with public school teachers, advocating for their stances and rights.

As a first-time grassroots candidate, Plata embodies the optimism of the progressive new class of leaders seeking to demographically and ideologically shift the Democratic Party.

PAGE A1 istration.� “These videos, the Panel found, were made by respondents Advincula; Saracho (who acted as their narrator); Enriquez (videographer) and his assistant, @Monique; Ong and Romano (scriptwriters). The Panel likewise found that Fr. Alejo prepared the JesCom (Jesuit Communication Foundation) where the videos were taken,� the DOJ said. “Advincula submitted as evidence, among others, USB drives, photographs of the respondents, keys and access cards of the places where he and his companions stayed, as well as utility bills and receipts, copies of the purchase receipts of the gadgets and electronic devices used in the making of the videos.

These pieces of evidence, along with certain admissions made by Contributed photos some respondents, were used by the Panel in arriving at their conclusion to indict the 11 respondents for conspiracy to commit sedition,� it added.

Other raps junked The DOJ said the prosecution panel dropped the CIDG’s sedition, cyber libel, libel estafa and obstruction of justice complaints

Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy�

against all respondents. “In finding no probable cause for sedition or inciting to sedition, the Panel found the element of public and tumultuous uprising wanting,� the DOJ stated. “It further explained that while the video series ‘contains libelous imputations against President Duterte and his family which tend to create hatred or revenge against them,’ nonetheless no words were uttered which tended to incite the people to take up arms or rise against the government,� it added.

In response, Trillanes on Monday called the case “absurd� and another example of the current

Philstar.com file hoto

administration weaponizing “the law against the political opposition, critics, and the media.� “But let me assure Mr. Duterte that we will not be cowed by such political persecution. On the contrary, we are more determined and motivated to continue our fight for democracy and the rights of our people,� he added.

Trillanes, who had been previously charged with inciting to sedition, is currently facing a revived rebellion case over the 2007 Manila Peninsula Siege after Duterte ordered an amnesty granted during the Aquino administration void. His trial will resume in April. n

Plata strategizes outreach efforts with campaign volunteers.

“I never thought I ever wanted to run for office, but because I personally live and have experienced the most pressing issues, I felt compelled,� Plata told the Asian Journal in a recent interview.

If elected, Plata would be the first openly gay immigrant and first Filipino from the LA area in the California Legislature, a potential milestone pointed out to him by someone he knew doing research on the demographic makeup of the Legislature.

Plata knows the cultural impact his election could have on the state government, his primary focus is to secure an inclusive, equitable California. “My reason [for running] was never to be the first of anything, but I think it’s sad. California likes to tout itself as being super progressive, a place where LGBTQ+ folks can live and be themselves,

but to understand that we’re not represented up in the Assembly tells us a lot about how power structures are created,� Plata explained.

An immigrant from the Philippines, Plata and his family immigrated to California in 1988, and much of his current political values and priorities, like many lawmakers, reflect his upbringing and the environment in which he was raised and currently resides.

The rising costs of housing and health care, coupled with low wages and exploitation of lower-income workers and a struggling public school system, paint Plata’s progressive platform as a beacon of hope for Angelenos living in financial precarity. “When we’ve talked to people from knocking on doors, we found so many people who are literally deciding not to pursue

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entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 12, 2020

This Jan. 28, 2020 photo shows Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray during the launch of National Arts Month celebration in Intramuros, Manila.

Photo from Facebook/Catriona Gray

On National Arts Month, Catriona urges Filipinos to learn arts and culture with her

By Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

MISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, recently named this year’s Art Ambassador for the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), is calling on the Filipinos to learn the country’s arts and culture with her.

“As ambassador for 2020, I really hope to be able to learn a lot about the different regions coming together sharing their arts and culture to be able to spread joy and awareness and really captivate the newer generations in developing their love for the Filipino arts,” Gray said.

Gray said it is a great honor for her to be named the country’s arts ambassador.

“I always wanted to showcase the beauty and the intricate uniqueness of the Philippines to the universe platform,” she said in a

speech.

“My love for our arts and culture was not something I was born to due to my mixed heritage. It was something that was grown, learned and embodied,” she added.

The beauty queen said her new role means so much to her because she is an artist and is very fascinated by the country’s textile history, music, bands, among others.

“It has so many different facets and we all are united through art,” Gray said as she called on Filipinos to “celebrate, preserve and connect one another” through art.

Aside from Gray, local singers Julie Anne San Jose and KZ Tandingan were also chosen as ambassadors by the NCCA. This is Philippines Luzon Part 2 On Monday, Gray released a video on her social media account showcasing Manila’s

arts and the launch of her role as an NCCA ambassador. She called the it “This is Philippines Luzon, Part 2,” a sequel to her “This is Philippines Luzon” video released in 2018 as part of her national costume series for the Miss Universe 2018 competition.

Like her 2018 video, Gray once again showcased the beauty of the walled city Intramuros. She visited revisited Fort Santiago and mingled with local tourists.

February has been declared “National Arts Month” by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 683 issued in 1991.

The proclamation states that “the disciplines of theatre, dance, music, visual arts, architecture, literature, media arts, and film need to be preserved, enriched, and evolved in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression.”

Arci meets ‘Parasite’ director Bong...

From Page 3 ze man!! #bongjoonho And so the next photo happened!” she recalled.

“Parasite” made history after becoming the first foreign-language film to win Best

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Picture at the Oscars.

The film also won Best Screenplay, Best International Feature, with Bong winning the Best Director award.

“Parasite” is a black comedy thriller about members of

EMPLOYMENT

LEGAL NOTICE

a poor family who schemed to become employed by a wealthy family.

Apart from Song, the film also stars Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Ye-jeong, Choi Woo-sik and Park So-dam.

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A6 FEBRUARY 12-14, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

O PINION On the frontlines

REPORTs from China say workers in hospital intensive care units are bearing the brunt of the novel coronavirus contagion. Those on the frontlines of the public health battle naturally take the greatest risks. The 34-year-old ophthalmologist from Wuhan who blew the whistle on the nCoV but was shushed by his government, Li Wenliang, died of the disease after contracting the virus from an infected patient he had treated for glaucoma.

The higher risk makes it even more laudable to see health professionals — in China and in all the other countries where nCoV has been reported — forging ahead with their mission of saving lives even at the risk of losing their own.

It behooves governments and the civilian populace to ensure that the frontline workers in this challenging battle get sufficient protection from contagion and possible death. Developments in China indicate that nCoV is more virulent than the pathogen that causes SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

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

FEATURES

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread, frontline health workers lack not only hazmat or hazardous materials suits but also — as pointed out by health officials — basic protective equipment starting with N95 masks. Civilians should heed appeals from health officials to stop hoarding N95 masks so that the limited supply can be used by those who need the items most — not only health workers, but also those whose work puts them in contact with people and goods arriving from nCoV-affected countries.

The Bureau of Immigration reported yesterday that 19 of its personnel are now on home quarantine. The 19 were the ones who had boarded the cruise ships from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, which were allowed to dock in the Port of Manila shortly before the government imposed a travel ban.

Ordinary tasks have become risky in the time of nCoV. Those on the frontlines are sticking their necks out for the public, and must get all the protection they need from a killer virus. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

As CPV celebrates 90th founding anniversary, let us remember the Philcag troops and contributions in the 70s PeaceMaker FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. WE convey our congratulations to the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) as it celebrates its 90th Founding Anniversary.

The Communist Party of Vietnam sits in the Standing Committee of our International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), which now represents some 350 ruling, opposition and independent political parties from 52 countries in Asia, including the political parties from the Philippines led by the ruling PDP-Laban of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In the congratulatory letter we sent last week to the leadership of Vietnam’s Communist Party, in our humble capacity as Founding Chairman of ICAPP and Chairman of the ICAPP Standing Committee, we said that Vietnam has a special place in our heart as it was where we spent our initial foray in international relations, as a 30-year-old Presidential Assistant, concurrently assigned as Minister, Economic and Press Counselor at the Philippine Embassy in Saigon, the South Vietnam capital then (now Ho Chi Minh, capital of the united Vietnam) from 1966 to 1969during the then raging Vietnam War. As we earlier mentioned in this column, it was also in Vietnam, in 1967, where we conceived of, designed and began the implementation of the historic dollar Remittance Program for the Filipino overseas workers, which rapidly enlarged each year and which now raises more than $30-billion a year for the Philippines, a continuing yearly bonanza for our Central

Bank.

We went to Vietnam for the second time in 1959, as a 22-year-old journalist, when we were invited by then-President Carlos P. Garcia to join him on a visit to Saigon.

We remember sailing the Saigon River with President Garcia and the then South Vietnam President Ngo Dinh Diem aboard the Vietnamese leader’s presidential yacht. President Garcia also offered us the position of Press Attache at the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam or somewhere in Europe but we politely declined, with deep humility and gratitude, as we were then enamored with the adventure and honor of being a journalist at home and overseas.

We first visited the south’s capital Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh city (with the north keeping its capital, Hanoi) in 1956, for the Proclamation of the Vietnamese Constitution and the first anniversary of the Vietnam Republic following Vietnam’s partition at the waist in the 17th Parallel after the French forces’ classic defeat in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. We were then a 19-year-old journalist and fledgling foreign correspondent but rapidly promoted to Manila bureau chief of the first Asian news agency, the Pan Asia Newspaper Alliance, founded by the late Norman Soong, then Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s “favorite war correspondent” in World War II. The largest international news agencies at the time up to today are Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), Reuters, and Agence France Presse (AFP).

We also had a Pan Asia weekly column then, printed once a week in the old Philippines Herald, which in the old days was edited by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Carlos P. Romulo, who later became President of the UN General Assembly and then our Secretary of

Foreign Affairs. Herald’s editor in the mid-1950s was Carlos F. Nivera, then our journalism professor at the Ateneo, who gave us our first journalistic job. He was married to Pat Nivera, the late President Ramon Magsaysay’s social secretary. Professor Nivera coestablished the Pan-Asia bureau in Manila with historian Carlos Quirino and we served as the first Philippine correspondent, then 19 with a meager but livable salary and our assistants were photographer Leoncio Alejandro.

As fate would have it, seven years after our Vietnam visit with President Garcia, we were back in Saigon, in 1966, as Presidential Assistant and Minister and Economic Press Counselor at the Philippine Embassy there. Vietnam was then a hotbed amid an escalating war with the United States under then-President Lyndon B. Johnson.

That year, our Philippine Government sent a contingent of the Philippine Civic Action Group (Philcag) and we welcomed the Philcag troops at the Saigon Airport with our veteran Ambassador Luis Salcedo, our Co-Minister Anastacio Bartolome, Press Attache Joe Aligno and our Military Attache, the Vietnam specialist Col. Joe Banzon, who was a friend of the legendary Cold War specialist Ed Landsdale. The Philcag had no combat duties, only civic action and engineering work, building roads, bridges, markets and hospitals but shielded by a Security Battalion. The Philcag mission was based in Tay Ninh province, near the border with Cambodia, was successful and much appreciated by the Vietnamese masses and not bothered by the militant Vietcong guerillas and by the Viet Minh.

It was in Vietnam where we became friends with the then young

military officials who would later rise to national prominence, among them, Major Fidel V. Ramos, who became a hero of the Edsa People Power Revolution, Armed Forces chief, Defense Secretary and then President of the Philippines; Captains Jose Almonte, who became National Security Adviser under Ramos; Renato de Villa, later Defense chief; psywar and civic action leader Jose Magno, Thelmo Cunanan, one of the rare Filipino West Pointers, who became a General, and later, a highly-regarded Ambassador to Cambodia, married to noted Inquirer columnist Belinda Olivares-Cunanan; and capable Lieutenants Lisandro Abadia and Arturo Enrile, who later became heads of the Armed Forces, and many distinguished others.

In Vietnam, where we lived for four years, we also had the privilege of meeting and making friends with Admiral John McCain Sr., U.S. commander in the Pacific, whom we invited to Manila and father of the late Sen. John McCain, also a war hero shot down over North Vietnam skies, prisoner of war in Hanoi and who later ran but missed the presidency of the U.S. Admiral McCain helped our Armed Forces with the organization of our first Engineering Construction Battalion, and equipped with construction machinery. (In peacetime, we invited him and served briefly as an honorary board member of our long-retired Landoil Resources Corporation).

Later, we invited and accompanied to Manila the most bemedalled World War II hero in Europe, Gen. Creighton Abrams, later U.S. Commander in Vietnam after whom the U.S. Abrams Tank was named, for he was the celebrated combat officer of the equally famed U.S. General

George Patton, the feared and foremost Allied military commander then against the German forces. Abrams later also helped the Philippines with its first Armalite Battalion and engineering equipment for our Philcag troops in Vietnam, a precursor of our Engineering Construction battalions today.

Today, we truly admire Vietnam, led by President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, for rising from the tragedies and sufferings of war — the World War II conflict with Japan, the guerilla war for independence against the French Foreign Legion and Army, and then against the U.S. and Allied Forces after Vietnam’s earlier victory in the classic battle at Dien Bien Phu in the north against the French Army, all of which the North Vietnamese forces won — to become an economic and peaceful power today, lifting the living standards of the Vietnamese people and advancing agriculture, education and industries, and promoting today a culture of peace in Asia and the international community. We also commend the genuine reconciliation between the U.S. and the united Vietnam.

We also note Vietnam’s role today with ASEAN partners to build a Code of Conduct in the East Sea/West Philippines Sea in accordance with international law and its now enviable role as Chair of ASEAN 2020 and its non-permanent strategic membership in the coveted U.N. Security Council in 2020-2021. ** Nobody knows how long the Coronavirus will rage and estimate its effects in the Philippines and in the various countries of the world.

All the newspapers in the Philippines and elsewhere are preoccu-

pied and have written extensively on the epidemic. No major health authority in Asia, Europe and the Americas has spoken nor dared say how long the crisis will run.

But generally, all the plagues in the various regions in history are dangerous and often claim many lives but are not long-lasting and peter out sooner than later.

In the meantime, the government and our citizenry, families, friends, townmates and neighbors must and should help each other in every possible way.

Today, the crisis rages but we know from past histories that in a few months, God willing, the spreading virus will sputter out and the plague will come to an end. ** In our column last Sunday, January 19 and in much earlier interviews, we said, “It is almost certain that U.S. President Donald Trump will win very shortly the impeachment case filed by U.S. Congressional Democrats, which indeed they overwhelmingly won in the House of Representatives but which they will most likely lose in the U.S. Senate, controlled

by Republicans, in the next few days or weeks.” [Editor’s note: Trump was acquitted of impeachment charges on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.]

We also said that the impeachment charge will “diminish” Trump but the “Senate clearance will uplift him en route to the electoral battle in November.”

The Democrats are still struggling, beginning with almost 20 presidential contenders for the Democratic nomination. They have about three outstanding candidates but they must settle for only one to face Trump.

It will be a rough-and-tumble contest for almost nine months until D-Day November 3, 2020. ■

Support federalism and ‘I’ll make amends with you’: Is Duterte’s proposal to ABS-CBN a vendetta and abuse of power?

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE NEW YORK TIMES reported that “the Philippine government moved Monday to end the franchise of the country’s leading broadcast network, the latest push by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte against media outlets that have been critical of his leadership”.

Representing the Philippine government, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a complaint before the Supreme Court of the Philippines with the country’s highest court, contending that ABS-CBN Corp. and its subsidiary, ABS-CBN Convergence, violated the terms and conditions of operating franchise granted by Congress to the network, even before the expiry date of said license on March 30, 2020.

This complaint was filed by Calida without following due process and despite the fact that the

House of Representatives has yet to start hearings and deliberations over at least 11 bills supporting the renewal of the franchise.

The Times quoted Calida in his accusation that ABS-CBN has been “benefiting a greedy few at the expense of millions of its loyal subscribers.” Calida added, “These practices have gone unnoticed or were disregarded for years.”

As ABS-CBN News reported, House Speker Alan Peter Cayetano — whose father the late Senator Rene Cayetano was catapulted to the Senate via our programs “Compañero y Coimpanera” on radio DZMM and Channel 2 — said that while “certain interests” want to speed up the process, the House is working alongside the chamber’s panel on legislative franchises “on how to prioritize urgent and important legislation.”

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly threatened to block the franchise renewal bid of ABS-CBN Corp, which operates free TV Channel 2 and radio DZMM. ABS-CBN issued an official

statement in response to Calida’s move: WE DID NOT VIOLATE THE LAW The Office of the Solicitor General’s filing of a quo warranto case against ABS-CBN on alleged violations of its franchise appears to be an effort to shut down ABSCBN to the serious prejudice of millions of Filipinos who rely on the network for news, entertainment and public service.

These allegations cited by the Office of the Solicitor General in his press statement are without merit. ABS-CBN complies with all pertinent laws governing its franchise and has secured all necessary government and regulatory approvals for its business operations.

(1) All our broadcast offerings, including KBO, have received the necessary government and regulatory approvals and are not prohibited by our franchise.

(2) ABS-CBN Holdings’ Philippine Deposit Receipts or PDRs were evaluated and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange prior to its public offering. These are the same

instruments used by other broadcast companies to raise capital for the improvement of services.

(3) The ownership of ABSCBN in ABS-CBN Convergence was undertaken under the same law and structures that have been utilized by other telecommunications companies. These are transfers that are approved under the Public Telecommunications Policy Act and are fully compliant with law.

We reiterate that everything we do is in accordance with the law. We did not violate the law.

This case appears to be an attempt to deprive Filipinos of the services of ABS-CBN. KBO remains one of the cheapest forms of entertainment that we can provide to the public. The capital we have raised from the PDRs has enabled us to provide services to nearly 90 percent of the Philippines and to our OFW’s all over the world. Our work with ABS-CBN Convergence supports the government policy of finding ways to bring down the cost of internet access.

The Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Executive Branch have assured the public

that our franchise will be allowed to go through the proper renewal process in a fair manner. To that end, the filing of the quo warranto case is ill-timed given that Congress has already resumed its session.

We remain committed to our mission to serve the Filipino people especially at this time when millions of Filipinos rely on our services in delivering information such as the 2019 NCoV ARD, the developments in the Middle East, and updates on Taal Volcano situation as they relate to our countrymen.”

Duterte claims Malacañang has nothing to do with this move of Calida, but as Rappler reported, the president himself made public “a proposal for ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio ‘Gabby’ Lopez III that if his television network promotes federalism, Duterte is willing to call it quits.”

“Kung magtulong kayo diyan sa federal system campaign at gawain ninyong slogan also for the unity and to preserve the republic, makipag-areglo ako,” (If you can help with the federal system campaign and you make a slogan also for unity and to

preserve the republic, I’ll make amends with you) said Duterte during the PDP-Laban Christmas Benefit Dinner on Wednesday night, December 13, 2019.

He said this right after repeating his usual rant against Lopez and the “debt” that the ABS-CBN chairman’s family owes the government. - an accusation refuted and denied by the network.

IS THIS PERSONAL VENDETTA by Duterte for the critical and unflattering reporting by ABS-CBN news as the network faithfully fulfills its scared obligation to make the government accountable to the people?

IS THIS ABUSE OF POWER on the part of the president to use his position to silence the free press, and dictate support for his own political agenda?? *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos.

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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Business news

Philippines 2nd fastest-growing market for motor vehicles in Southeast Asia

Data from AAF showed the Philippines assembled 95,094 motor vehicles last year, up from just 79,763 units in 2018 Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

by LoueLLa

DesiDerio Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines was the second fastest-growing motor vehicle assembler in Southeast Asia last year, registering a 19% growth in output, according to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Automotive Federation (AAF).

Data from AAF showed the Philippines assembled 95,094 motor vehicles last year, up from just 79,763 units in 2018.

Posting the fastest growth in motor vehicle output last year was Myanmar, which assembled 15,496 units, 26% higher than the 12,292 units in 2018.

Apart from Myanmar and the Philippines, the only country in the region with a higher motor vehicle output was Malaysia which produced 571,632 units last year, up 1.2% from the 564,971 units in 2018.

All other countries with motor vehicle assembly operations in the region registered declines.

Thailand, which serves as the

region’s automotive hub, assembled 2.01 million units last year, 7% lower than the 2.17 million units in 2018.

Indonesia’s motor vehicle output decreased by 4.2% to 1.29 million units last year from 1.34 million units in 2018, while Vietnam’s output went down by 12% to 176,203 units last year from 200,436 units in 2018.

Total motor vehicle output in Southeast Asia decreased by 4.8% to 4.16 million units last year from 4.37 million units in 2018.

In terms of motor vehicle sales, the Philippines was among those with higher sales last year.

AAF data showed the Philippines sold 369,941 units last year, 3.5% higher than the 357,410 units in 2018.

Other countries in the region with higher sales last year are Myanmar with a 25% growth in sales to 21,916 units, Vietnam with an 11.7% increase to 322,322 units, Brunei with a 6% uptick to 11,909 units, and Malaysia with 1% growth to 604,287

units.

Posting lower sales last year, meanwhile, are Indonesia with a 10.5% drop to 1.03 million units, Singapore with a 5% decrease to 90,429 units, and Thailand down 3.3% to 1.01 million units.

Total motor vehicle sales in the region reached 3.46 million units last year, 2.9% lower than the 3.56 million units sold in 2018.

Recently, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched a preliminary probe on a petition filed by workers group Philippine Metalworkers’ Alliance (PMA) to impose safeguard measure or duty on vehicles, a development which may affect both the production and sales performance of automotive firms in the country.

PMA filed the petition as increased vehicle imports are seen to pose threat to local car assembly, auto parts manufacturers, as well as employment in the sector.

A safeguard duty may be imposed by the government when a surge in imports of a certain product causes injury to local players. n

o. De Vera Inquirer.net

A PROLONGED crisis over the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) would likely cut up to P133 billion from the country’s P19-trillion economy, the country’s chief economist said on Friday with the property sector already feeling the effects of the global contagion as well as the recent eruption of Taal Volcano.

Overall, the contagion has already hit global travel and tourism—worth $8 trillion or 10% of global gross domestic product (GDP)—and the Philippines will likely be affected because tourism accounts for about P450 billion, or around 5%, of the country’s GDP, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) also said preliminary estimates indicate that the economy might lose from 0.06% of GDP, or about P11 billion, up to 0.7%, or about P133 billion, if the contagion persists inordinately.

Peso value Since China was the Philippines’ second-biggest source of tourists last year, the prevailing travel ban from that country and the forecast 10% reduction in visitors from other countries will likely cut economic production by P11 billion within a single month.

If the contagion persists until June at its “steady state,” or similar to current conditions, the reduction in GDP will climb to 0.3%, Pernia said.

But if the contagion lasts until December, 0.7%, or about P133 billion, will be shaved off the Philippine economy.

“If the situation escalates, we can have a different number,” the Neda chief said and he expressed hope that domestic travelers would still continue to visit local destinations and offset the revenue losses from foreign visitors.

Impact of Taal eruption Already, the eruption of Taal Volcano last month has resulted in 20 to 40% cancellations of bookings in hotels and resorts in and around the Tagaytay City area, property consulting firm Colliers Philippines reported on Friday.

Colliers Philippines managing director Richard Raymundo said the Tagaytay City area generates about P1.5 billion to P2 billion in annual condominium sales and about five million in foreign and domestic tourists.

“It all depends on how long this disruption will last. If it will sim-

mer down, then eventually things will eventually go back to normal in a year,” Raymundo said, adding that a big explosion would pose the worst-case scenario like what happened in the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo disaster in Pampanga.

It took 10 years before a major mall developer entered the Pampanga area and 20 years before a large-scale master plan from a national property developer came in, he noted. “But if it simmers down quickly within a year, that’s going to be OK.” Colliers senior manager Joey Roi Bondoc noted that displaced demand for hotel and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions facilities in Tagaytay would likely shift to Metro Manila through the first semester of 2020.

Metro Manila hotels steady Colliers reported that overall hotel occupancy in Metro Manila was stable at 71 % for the second half of 2019 despite the delivery of nearly 1,200 new rooms, but occupancy may fall below 70 % this 2020 as 3,090 new rooms enter the market in the next 12 months.

“While occupancy is likely to drop due to the [novel] coronavirus, we see occupancy picking up in 2021 and 2022, as arrivals are likely to rebound similar to global trends we have seen a year after a global health scare,” Bondoc said.

“But talking to some of our hotel friends and operators, they are saying that they are seeing cancellations, and the numbers vary from 20 to 40%. That’s a lot,” he said, adding this meant that average hotel occupancy rate could even go lower than 60% from 70 to 75% at present.

Driven by Chinese market Compared to the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) episode or the H1N1 virus outbreak in 2008 to 2009 when tourist arrivals from China were still small, Raymundo noted that 25 % of Philippine tourism today is being driven by the Chinese market.

In the office sector, if Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) cut down their requirement by half, this would push up the office property vacancy rate to 6 to 8%. “It might seem that it’s still small because it’s single-digit but you’re talking about 300,000 square meters of office space,” he said.

“The next ripple effect is in residential [space] because whatever [office space] Pogos get, the residential requirement now follows. From our experience with Pogo clients, once they start sign-

This Dec. 20, 2018 photo shows workers cleaning a panel of the building in UN Avenue, Manila.

Philstar.com file photo by Krizjohn Rosales

14.6% from $543 million net inflows registered in the same month in 2018.

But it was not enough to lift the 11-month tally, with FDI net inflows from January to November 2019 hitting $6.4 billion, 29.9% lower than $9.2 billion recorded in the comparable period in 2018.

“Concerns over the global eco-

nomic outlook continued to curb FDI as investor confidence remained muted,” the BSP said.

Job-generating FDIs are a key source of capital for the country’s economy as they provide opportunities for business expansion.

Officials want to attract more FDIs, not only keep existing ones, as they tend to stay longer than other capital inflows. n

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign direct investments to the Philippines continued their decline in the first eleven months of 2019 and likely ended the year in the red amid “muted” investor confidence.

In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that FDIs posted $623 million net inflows in November last year, up

PH economy remains robust — IMF

by Daxim

L. Lucas

Inquirer.net

with medium-term fundamentals and desirable policy settings.”

“I believe that the IMF’s assessment of the domestic economy reflects multi-sectoral efforts to foster inclusive economic growth,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said.

Overall, the IMF outlook on the country is positive, which points out that “the Philippine economy continues to be a strong performer despite recent headwinds.”

The report noted that the Philippines has policy space to adopt a more expansionary macroeconomic policy, with priority to public capital and social spending programs.

The IMF also recommended enhanced public investment management through promotion of greater competition and public access to information in the procurement process.

These measures will contribute to the timely and cost-effective implementation of the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program.

Supportive of the BSP’s structural reform agenda, the IMF

DESPITE the slowdown in the first half of 2019 — due to temporary government underspending and external trade uncertainty — the Philippine economy continues to perform well, having regained momentum in the second half of the year.

Thus said the latest report of the International Monetary Fund, issued after the periodic assessBSP Governor Benjamin Diokno Inquirer.net file photo ment of the country by the staff of the 189-nation multilateral fiendorsed bolder implementation nancing agency, which also took efforts particularly on the further note of Klamath year’s reined-in lifting of restrictions on foreign inflation regime. direct investments, broadening “Bank lending growth slowed of scope of poverty reduction efdown but stabilized at 10.5% forts, mobilization of resources in September 2019 or as of the for climate change adaptation end of the IMF mission,” accordand mitigation, robust impleing to aa statement issued by mentation of the anti-money the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, laundering and countering fiquoting the report. nancing of terrorism regimes, “Meanwhile, gross internaand easing of the stringent bank tional reserves reached $88 bilsecrecy law.

“These IMF recommendations ing that Pogo [rental] space, they lion as of end-2019, which is are in line with the BSP’s legisare already looking for 30, 40 or 200% of the IMF’s reserve adlative and reform agenda,” the 50 [residential units],” Raymundo equacy metric,” it added. “The 2019 external position is in line central bank statement added. n said.

Effect on property prices With nearly 15,000 new resiNOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING dential units expected in Metro Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Manila this year, one of the highest levels seen in a single year, The Measure M Independent standards require that BCA plan have a contract or purchase order Raymundo said any reduction in Taxpayer Oversight Committee and perform the audit to obtain form to support the payment assurance about made to a vendor of $3,347 which demand from Pogos may have a of Metro (Oversight Committee) reasonable will hold a public hearing at 10:30 whether the Schedules of Measure exceeded the threshold of $3,000 spillover effect.

“What we’re hoping is that the a.m., March 4, 2020, in the Los M revenues and expenditures are that requires the issuance of a virus peters out quickly because Angeles County Metropolitan free of material misstatement. The purchase order. However, the if you look at H1N1 or SARS , it Transportation Authority (Metro) audit found that Metro complied, payment was properly supported Boardroom located at One in all material respects, with by an invoice and canceled check. had a six-month run,” he said, Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles. the requirements applicable to Failure to Obtain Approval noting that the flu season usually the Measure M revenues and Before Incurring Expenses: A wanes by June or July.

The Oversight Committee was expenditures for the year ended total of 6 cities failed to obtain To date, however, Colliers appointed under Measure M, June 30, 2018. approval before incurring expenditures. Cities are required noted that Pogos were still look- also known as the Los Angeles Traffic Improvement Measure M Compliance Audits of to obtain project approval prior to ing for additional space in Metro County expending funds by submitting Manila, so far unscathed by the Plan Ordinance, that imposed a Cities and the County one-half of one percent (.5%) Vasquez & Company, LLP and a Form M-One which lists the coronavirus contagion. transactions and use tax to fund Simpson & Simpson conducted the project name, amount of Measure ADB ready to help transportation improvements in audits of compliance with the Local M Local Return funds to be The Manila-based multilateral the County, approved by voters in Return Guidelines in accordance budgeted for the project, project lender Asian Development Bank 2016. The Oversight Committee with auditing standards generally description, and justification. This (ADB) said on Friday it would re- and oversight process has been accepted in the United States is necessary so that the project can lease $2 billion in funds to assist established to ensure that Metro of America and the standards be reviewed by Metro for Measure China, Cambodia, Laos, Myan- and local subrecipients comply contained in Government M Local Return eligibility per the mar, Thailand and Vietnam in with the terms of the Ordinance. Auditing Standards, issued by Local Return Guidelines. addressing the 2019-nCoV out- The oversight process requires the Comptroller General of the M Independent that an annual audit be conducted United States. Those standards Measure break.

“The assistance will fund the to determine compliance with the require that Vasquez & Company, Taxpayer Oversight Committee provisions of the Ordinance related LLP and Simpson & Simpson Annual Report development of recommenda- to the receipt and expenditure of plan and perform the audits to The Committee finds that: 1) tions for improved outbreak sales tax revenues during the fiscal obtain reasonable assurance the audits were performed in investigation and surveillance, year. The audits must be provided about whether noncompliance accordance with the Ordinance including in rural areas, and the to the Oversight Committee so with the requirements in the that the voters approved in 2016; strengthening of health systems’ it can make findings on whether Ordinance occurred which could 2) Metro complied, in all material resilience and capacity for epi- Metro and local subrecipients have have a direct and material effect respects, with the requirements demic response. It will support complied with the Measure M on the Measure M Local Return applicable to the Measure M the supply of diagnostic and lab- requirements. In compliance with program. Vasquez & Company, revenues and expenditures for the oratory equipment for rapid test- the Ordinance, Metro contracted LLP conducted the audit of 39 year ended June 30, 2018; and 3) with BCA Watson Rice, LLP (BCA) Cities, and Simpson & Simpson all Cities and the County complied, ing to help combat the outbreak,” to perform the independent audit conducted the audit of the other in all material respects, with the ADB said. of the Measure M Special Revenue 49 Cities and the County. The the Measure M Ordinance and “The ADB has a track record Fund and contracted with Vasquez Independent Auditors found that guidelines that are applicable to the of providing rapid and targeted & Company, LLP and Simpson & the Cities and County complied Measure M Local Return program support to our members in emer- Simpson to audit the compliance in all material respects, with the for the year ended June 30, 2018; gency situations. We stand ready of the 88 cities (Cities) and the requirements in the Ordinance however, the audits found 14 that are applicable to the Measure instances of non-compliance in 12 to provide further assistance as County of Los Angeles (County).

M Local Return program for the local jurisdictions. According to required,” its new president MaMetro staff, all findings have been The purpose of this hearing is fiscal year ended June 30, 2018. satsugu Asagawa said. resolved, or are in the process of to receive public comments on ADB said it was “collaborating the results of the independent The audits of compliance with the being resolved. closely with World Health Organi- audits conducted on the Local Return Guidelines of the 88 zation officials and other regional Schedule of Revenues and Cities and the County found 12 Written comments on this experts to identify areas for coor- Expenditures for Measure M local jurisdictions with compliance matter will be accepted through dinated responses and possible Special Revenue Fund and issues. All findings have been March 4, 2020. All comments further financial assistance to Compliance with Requirements resolved, or are in process of being should be addressed to Board respond to the 2019-nCoV situ- Applicable to Measure M Local resolved. Audit findings were in Administration, LACMTA, One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-3Return Guidelines from July 1, four basic categories as follows: ation.”

1, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952.

“Additional technical assis- 2017 to June 30, 2018, and the Committee’s annual report on Untimely Submittal of Forms: Copies of the Independent tance is under preparation to help these audits.

Findings of cities not having Auditors’ Reports and the other developing member counsubmitted their form on time total Oversight Committee’s Annual tries improve key economic and INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ 6. The form, either a Form M-One Report are available at theplan. health systems, including disease REPORTS or Form M-Two, is required to be metro.net, and hard copies surveillance, provision of medisubmitted by cities to LACMTA can be obtained from Metro’s cal supplies, outbreak response Measure M Special Revenue for listing their budget and Records Management Center at the LACMTA Plaza Level at (213) expenditures. plans, and regional cooperation. Fund Audit These documents Where needed, support may in- BCA Watson Rice, LLP (BCA) Interest Income not Properly 922-2342.

One will also be made available to clude the procurement of medi- conducted the audit of compliance Allocated and Reported in accordance with auditing city failed to allocate appropriate every library located within Los cines and medical equipment. standards generally accepted share of interest earned by its Angeles County for public review.

Other activities may include eco- in the United States of America Measure M Local Return Fund Members of the public who wish nomic and health system assess- and the standards applicable (MMLRF). Interest earnings on to provide public comment in ments to improve understanding to financial audits contained in the cash balance were not properly person during the public hearing of the economic impacts and the Government Auditing Standards, allocated to MMLRF Account. on March 4 are encouraged to design of appropriate response issued by the Comptroller General Proper Accounting Records and contact Michele Jackson, Board of the United States. Those Documentation: One city did not Secretary, at (213) 922-4605. measures,” it said. n

China virus: How heavy is the blow on PH economy?

by Ben

Foreign investments fall by almost 30% in 11 months — BSP

A FEBRUARY 12-14, 2020 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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

SEAFOOD CITY FPFC

The

Asian Journal

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 12, 2020

Ella Jay Basco and her star-making turn in ‘Birds of Prey’ BY

MOMAR G. VISAYA / AJPRESS

IN 1991, Hollywood introduced to the world a young Filipino American by the name of Dante Basco through the Steven Spielberg film Hook, starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. The then 16-year-old Basco played the role of Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys.

Fast forward to almost three decades later and we have another Basco playing a breakout role in her debut film feature, as Cassandra Cain in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).

Meet Ella Jay Basco, the precocious 13-year-old out to steal your hearts in the film that’s going to focus on Harley Quinn, the character played

by Margot Robbie in the 2018 film “Suicide Squad.” Ella Jay’s dad is the eldest among the Basco Brothers.

“I feel amazing. This is definitely one of my biggest accomplishments in my acting career so I am super proud,” an excited Basco told us in an interview.

Ella Jay went through an arduous month–long audition process to get the role. To prepare, she watched a bunch of movies, practiced her martial arts skills and read some comic books about Cassandra Cain.

Finding out that she got the role was “very emotional moment and super exciting” for her.

“I mean I totally cried. I knew from that moment on, my life would change forever,” she exclaimed. “I just couldn’t wait to start.”

Her next step after finding out that she has been cast was to go out and buy a bunch of comic books, from “Birds

of Prey” to “Harley Quinn” and “Oracle.” “It definitely helped me figure out Cassandra Cain’s origin story, about how she felt and how tough she has to be in such a crazy world like Gotham.”

In fact, it was a particular storyline in a comic that initially inspired Margot Robbie (who also wears a producer hat for the film) to include the Harley/Cass relationship that ultimately plays out on screen.

“In my research, I read Harley Quinn: Behind Blue Eyes, and I knew I wanted to explore that mentor-mentee relationship,” she said. “It told me a lot about who Harley was and what she was capable of. We didn’t use the exact storyline from the series, but just understanding her and her connection to Cass in that way was enlightening.”

Basco then met Robbie and the rest of the cast. The first table read, where the cast would read out the script, was unforgettable for her. She was amazed at how friendly and welcoming these big Hollywood stars were.

“They are all so sweet, such great role models for me in the industry,” she remarked.

Starting Young Ella Jay thinks that she was about maybe 8 or 9 years when she committed to the job.

“I definitely remember seeing kid actors in the business and I remember telling my mom that I wanted to be in the industry and I wanted to be seen on the screen,” she recalled.

Coming from a family of performers most likely influenced her choice of career, specially seeing her uncles, including Dante and Dion, in TV shows and movies.

The Bascos are originally from the Santa Barbara area in California. Her grandparents are originally from the Philippines. Her dad Derek, the oldest of the Basco brothers, married Emily, a Korean American.

Despite being a newcomer, Basco is quickly making a name for herself with her dramatic acting chops and ability to perform.

She has appeared in television shows like “Veep,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Teachers,” “Superior Donuts,” “Happyland” and the short film “Glimpse of Heaven.”

Basco started her career at

in London.

Ella Jay Basco with the rest of the girl gang at the world premiere of Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) in London. From left: Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Harley Quinn herself, Margot Robbie.

Photo by Craig Gibson

six months old in an Old Navy print campaign. Outside of acting, Basco is a singer/ songwriter and accomplished musician, playing the guitar, piano and ukulele. She is also a trained dancer.

Shooting Birds of Prey With “Birds of Prey”, Ella Jay gets to join the DC Extended Universe.

The film’s cast is led by Robbie (“Bombshell,” “Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood,” “I, Tonya”) who returns as Harley Quinn, alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“10 Cloverfield Lane,” TV’s “Fargo”) as Huntress; Jurnee Smollett-Bell (HBO’s “True Blood”) as Black Canary; Rosie Perez (“Fearless,” “Pitch Perfect 2”) as Renee Montoya; Chris Messina (“Argo,” TV’s “Sharp Objects”) as Victor Zsasz; and Ewan McGregor (“Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep,” the “Trainspotting” films) as Roman Sionis.

Ella Jay’s favorite scene was the first scene she ever shot, which was the apartment scene with Margot.

“That was probably the best one, my favorite, because we got to know each other,” she said of her costar. “We talked a lot not just about acting, but about what we like, and our hobbies. We really opened up to each other and I really liked that.”

Due to the circumstances of the story, the young actress spent the bulk of her scenes alongside Robbie. “Margot was like a big sister to me, we had the best time with each other. She taught me so much about working with people on- and off-camera. It was amazing.”

Cassandra, at age 12, has learned to tough it out on the streets of Gotham. Cass, as she’s known, is a street urchin, a smart-mouthed kid surviving on her own—thanks in part to her uncanny knack for pickpocketing.

Cass also has a colorful vocabulary and it was a little weird watching a kid spewing those curses like a pro.

“That’s definitely something that I am never allowed to do in real life,” she said laughing.

“It was interesting because as an actor you pretend and play different characters that you may or may not relate to, but definitely I am not allowed to Ella Jay Basco at the say those words.” world premiere of Shooting the film was quite Birds of Prey (And the a process and it made her Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) realize the smaller components Photo by Tim P. Whitby needed to come up with a

Jennylyn on Dennis: He is my greatest love

By DOLLY

ANNE CARVAJAL Inquirer.net

EVERYTHING is coming up roses for Jennylyn Mercado this month of hearts. She and her beau, Dennis Trillo, join forces in a post-Valentine concert, aptly called “Co Love Live” on Feb. 15, 8 p.m. at New Frontier Theater.

Jen also top-bills GMA 7’s adaptation of the well-loved Korean series, “Descendants of the Sun” (DOTS), which premieres tonight (after “Anak ni Waray vs Anak ni Biday”). She plays Dr. Maxine and is paired off with Dingdong Dantes, who portrays Captain Lucas.

Their characters’ romance is off to a rocky start, however.

She tries to distance herself from him and his dangerous job but gets drawn to him,

instead. What she resists will persist.

Even if Jen is a Kapuso, she has been tapped several times to be the leading lady of Kapamilya actors—that’s how bankable she is. After Jen’s Metro Manila Film Fest (MMFF) hit movie with Coco Martin, which capped off her 2019, she’s all set to keep soaring this 2020. No descent, all “sunny” for Jen. Here’s my chat with Jen: How’s the Filipino adaptation of “DOTS” different from the original Korean version? The main difference is that, in the Filipino version, our culture is infused into the story line.

What touched you about its story? I liked how it was able to show the passion and sacrifices of medical personnel

beautiful final product.

“I learned that it takes a village to produce a film of such a large scale. Everybody has a super important job while shooting and everybody is super important and we should all work as a team and be supportive of each other,” she said. “I learned that on the set of ‘Birds of Prey,’ everyone was just supportive, welcome and loving.”

It is interesting to watch how the lives of the four women become interwoven with each other, something that was smoothly and effectively told through the storytelling process.

Kudos to the women behind the scenes: director Cathy Yan (“Dead Pigs”) and screenwriter Christina Hodson (“Bumblebee”). Yan, the first Asian woman to direct a superhero genre film, wrote and directed Dead Pigs, which won the Special Jury Prize for ensemble acting at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. In her previous life, Yan was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal in New York, Hong Kong and China.

It’s all about girl power in the film, with the girl gang coming together in order to restore order in Gotham and protect Cass at all cost.

“I feel super proud and it is so cool to be a part of this girl gang, it is exciting that this is happening even,” Basco said.

Also earning nods is the film’s diverse cast.

“Representation is super super important. We’re kind of the minority and I think it is important for our stories to be heard,” she said.

“In being with Birds of Prey, I was able to honor my culture and I was able to represent my Filipino side in that way and that is super important because we all have a story, we all have an opinion and we all deserve to be heard and represented,” Basco added.

Basco found shooting the film as a beautiful and enriching experience. Working with Robbie and the entire cast, along with Yan, made her realize how it was to work with great mentors.

“It was honestly so exciting to work with all of them, they’re so inspiring,” she said.

“Every day was a full-on learning experience, and so much fun. Everybody was super nice; it was like one long dream.”

The director had nothing but good words for the young actor as Yan admired the hard

number, and hardest one to do because aside from the difficult nature of the songs, it’s also the most honest number I have to do in the show. and the military to serve and At this point of your protect us. relationship, what’s your Do you check out the song for Dennis (Trillo)? rival show of any series that “I Will Always Love you’re in, or do you just focus You,” by Whitney Houston. on doing your thing? I never When your son, Jazz, check out a rival show. I don’t is old enough, what love let competition get in the way. advice will you give him?To I would rather focus on my own love himself first. He has to performance and how I can feel that he is complete as make it better. Also, audience a person, so he won’t have feedback is what I tend to put to rely on others for his more effort in knowing, so I happiness. It has to start will know how to cater to their from within. expectations from me as an What’s something you artist. want to improve on this In your “Co Love Live” 2020? I want to be less repertoire, which production impulsive when it comes number is the hardest one, to decision-making. When and which one is your fave?

I want something, I do it Definitely, it’s the “Breakup right away without giving Medley.” I won’t reveal what it much thought. Hopesongs are included, so you fully, this year I will be more have to watch the concert to cautious. find out. But it’s my favorite What made love loveli-

Warner Bros. Pictures presents the Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) fan experience and screenings in New York. From left: Director Cathy Yan, Rosie Perez, Margot Robbie, Ella Jay Bosco, Jurnee Smolette-Bell and Ewan McGregor Photo by Dave Alloca

Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain in Warner Bros. Picturesʼ Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/ & © DC Comics

Ella Jay as Cassandra Cain in a scene with Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.

Ella Joy with director Cathy Yan

work that her youngest actress put in.

“Ella was so impressive,” she said. “This is her feature debut, so I can’t imagine how she must have felt to show up to set and work with Margot

Photo by Eric Charbonneau

Robbie every day, but she was a total champ, incredibly mature for her age. And she really understood Cass and brought a certain authenticity to her—a real kid, not a shiny, perfect version of a little girl.”

er the second time around for Dennis and you? We have evolved from the first time we were together as a couple. Iba na kami bilang tao. There’s more maturity on both sides.

What was your silliest fight with Dennis. How do you resolve misunderstandings? We used to argue about petty stuff, like each other’s outfits. If ever there are misunderstandings, we talk things over to understand each other’s perspective and how we can resolve them.

Do you see yourself being married to Dennis someday? If so, what makes Dennis husband material? I can’t really say.

Let nature take its course.

But what I can definitely say is that he is my greatest love. He’s a man who is passionate, understanding and loves his family. Those Jennylyn Mercado with Dennis Trillo traits are what I look for in Photo from Instagram/@dennistrillo a husband.

entertainment Eula fulfills dream of working with Christopher The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 12, 2020

By Ricky

caldeRon ManilaTimes.net

Jodi Sta. Maria

EULA Valdez considers it a dream come true to work with Christopher de Leon. The iconic actor plays her husband in “Love Thy Woman,” the newest afternoon drama coming soon on the Kapamilya Network.

Even as a young girl, Eula was already fond of watching old movies. One that really struck her was the Lino Brocka classic, “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Photo from Instagram/@jodistamaria Kulang,” starring Bro Bo (Christopher’s moniker among movie denizens from his nickname, Boyet).

“As a young girl, I would always imagine that one day I will be in love with life more than be able to work with a good ever being a single person.” actor like Bro. Bo. I’d always And what can change her think what would it be like mind?

“I think, actually right now, doing a scene with him,” said Eula at the recent mediacon of I have no intention (of finding “Love Thy Woman.” a new love). Siguro, a clear A big fan of local movies, direction from the Lord,” she she mentioned that she even replied. got to watch the old movies of Meanwhile, Jodi had fun Bro Bo’s parents. revealing who among the single male celebrities she’s willing to do kissing scene with in acting projects through the show’s Yes, No, Maybe game.

Read on.

Marco Gumabao — “May abs pero bagets. So, (my answer is) maybe, hahaha.”

Joem Bascon — “Yes By kRissy aguilaR Inquirer.net because, if ever, di namin first time to be together. He’s ACTRESS Arci Muñoz had a my husband in one TV soap fangirling moment at The Acadbefore.” emy Awards when she met the Gerald Anderson — “No director of critically acclaimed because my bestfriend has a South Korean film “Parasite,” crush on him. I don’t want her Bong Joon-ho and one of the to get hurt kaya my answer is movie’s cast, Song Kang-ho. no na lang.”

Muñoz on Monday, FebruSam Milby — “Yes, why ary 10, shared her encounter not, hahaha.” with the two over her Instagram Piolo Pascual — “Yes na account. yes. Hindi na pinag-iisipan.”

“I greeted Mr. Kang ho Coco Martin — “Si Coco, Song! Had a convo with him naku kapatid ko ito (both are in Korean!! Oh was soo glad I under B617 Management & took my Korean class!! Told him Enterprises). No or maybe, how much I love their movie!!” parang ganun because we’re Muñoz wrote. not closing our doors.”

“He quickly grabbed me by John Lloyd Cruz — “Why the hand and introduced me to not, nakaka-miss.”

Continued on Page 4

Jodi’s time to celebrate

By Boy

aBunda Philstar.com

sinasabi, ‘It’s very, very good (laughs).’”

What makes Jodi equally JODI Sta. Maria has lots feel good is her being single. of reasons to celebrate. Just On the hot seat of Tonight recently, the actress received with Boy Abunda (TWBA), she a piece of good news that expressed her contentment her horror film starrer Clarita and happiness despite being is part of the Main Competiloveless. She also pointed out tion under Cinema Fantastico/ that being alone does not Fantasy Films and Orient mean being lonely.

Express Category at the 40th Asked about the best and Fantasporto International Film worst parts of being single, Festival. It was the same film she declared, “Ako, na-e-enjoy that bagged the Best Director ko s’ya. Parang ito ‘yung time award for Roderick Cabrido at to really grow as an individual. the 10th Mirabile Dictu InterYou discover a lot of things national Catholic Film Festival about yourself. Alone does not held in Vatican City. mean lonely.”

Apart from having a rosy “I just feel content kung acting career, Jodi is also nasaan man akong season ng maintaining a good acalife ko. I have nothing to comdemic standing as a consistent plain because I am happy.”

Dean’s Lister without neglectAnd even admitted that she ing her mommy duties to son once said in her past interview Thirdy. According to her, she is that she would not mind being four months away to tucking a single forever. degree in BS Psychology. Isn’t The star of the original it amazing how the 37-year-old digital series My Single Lady, actress could actually do all now streaming on iWant, has these with flying colors? visibly become more mature “It’s not really easy but with her choices after going with God’s grace, all things through rough patches in life. are possible,” said Jodi whose “Kahit paano, merong epeamusing vlogs on YouTube kto at nakakaapekto din talaga have so far earned for her yung journey pero kasi this is over 100,000 subscribers. And probably the longest that I’ve she revealed about not being been single and I’ve never regood at giving a detailed exalized that it can be a wonderplanation on food. “Basta ’pag ful and beautiful season pala; nagustuhan ko ang lagi ko lang that you can still enjoy life and

Twelve parishes unite in the concert ‘Colours of Love’

Fr. Arturo “Art” Mateo

Fr. Gerald Vidad

Fr. Clarence Gesbert Saldua

Vhen Bautista aka Chino Romero

Kaylen Wenzel

Mikaela Bautista

rock band from the Philippines.

Additional performers include: Vhen Bautista aka Chino Romero, an award-winning singer and composer dubbed the “Prince of Ilocano Songs”; 18-year-old Mikaela Bautista, a pre-nursing student and Gaward Amerika awardee; 19-year-old Kaylen Wenzel, a past member of the Madrigals Centennial Choir; and Chloe Jane Reyes, a singer and stage actress whose repertoire encompasses opera, radio, as well as show tunes.

Currently, HIMIG extended their services to other parishes, singing every month during Filipino masses at St Margaret Mary-Chino on first Saturdays at 7 p.m. with Fr. Joseph Pilotin officiating; Our Lady of LourdesMontclair on the second and third Sundays at 12 p.m. with Fr. Clarence Saldua; and at St Anthony-Upland every last Saturday of the month at 7 p.m. with Fr.

“I was always thrilled with the idea of working in a scene with an award-winning actor like him since I know it’s going to be a learning experience,” she said.

In the afternoon series produced by Dreamscape, Eula plays the first wife of Boyet, a Chinese tycoon. But she is

aware her husband has another wife (played by Sunshine Cruz).

Playing Eula’s daughter is Yam Concepcion as Dana while Kim Chiu plays the daughter of Sunshine.

Conflict ensues when Kim falls for David (Xian Lim) when Dana goes into a coma after a car accident.

Arci meets ‘Parasite’ director Bong Joon-ho, actor Song Kang-ho

SoCal-based talent join Sariling Himig Choir’s performance on February 22

The Sariling H.I.M.I.G. Choir, a registered non-profit organization, is collaborating with the dynamic Fr. Art Mateo in its very first-ever concert, which will be held on February 22, 2020 at the California Education and Performing Arts Center in Ontario, CA. Fr. Mateo, who is based in the Philippines, has inspired choir singers for 12 parishes to raise funds to support Bahay Bata, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montclair, and St. Oscar Romero’s Church Building Fund Campaign. Bahay Bata (Save the Children) is an organization that provides food, clothing, shelter and education to roughly 300 less fortunate children from the streets of Bulacan and Manila, Philippines.

The concert, dubbed as “Colours of Love,” is a collaborative effort of choir members from 12 different parishes in the Diocese of San Bernardino and Riverside who have organized H.I.M.I.G., which stands for “Healing in Music is a Gift.”

The group’s enthusiasm to help others through music was formalized in just 10 months.

Members voted and unanimously decided to name the group Sariling HIMIG in March 2019 and late last year, HIMIG registered as a non-profit public benefit corporation with the state of California and with the IRS as a non-profit organization, so sponsorships for the group’s efforts are tax-deductible.

Churches represented are Corpus Christi – Corona, St. Oscar Romero- Eastvale, Our Lady of Lourdes – Montclair, Sacred Heart – Rancho Cucamonga, San Secondo d’Asti – Ontario, St Anthony – Upland, St Catherine of Alexandria- Riverside, St George – Ontario, St Frances of Rome – Wildomar, St Margaret Mary – Chino, St Paul the Apostle- Chino and St Thomas – Riverside.

HIMIG members have been part of the Pagdiriwang Choir of the Diocese of San Bernardino since 2012, the Assumption Choir and had performed in the February 2019 “ASIN ng LUPA” Concert at St George in Ontario with Noy Pillora, cofounder of ASIN, a Pinoy folk-

A big fan of local movies, Eula Valdez mentions she got to watch the old movies of Christopher de Leon’s parents.

ABS-CBN photo

Chloe Jane Reyes

Gerald Vidad.

Witness the joy of music that brought together these individuals in “Colours of Love” on February 22. Tickets are $20. Email sarhimig@gmail.com for more information.

Sariling HIMIG will also be performing at Asia Pacific Fashion Week on April 25 in North Hollywood, as well as the Travel Trade and Consumer Expo on August 8 at the Pasadena Convention Center.

(Advertising Supplement)

Acri Muñoz with “Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho and one of the movie’s cast, Song Kang-ho.

Photo from Instagram/@ramonathornes

entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 12, 2020

This Jan. 28, 2020 photo shows Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray during the launch of National Arts Month celebration in Intramuros, Manila.

Photo from Facebook/Catriona Gray

On National Arts Month, Catriona urges Filipinos to learn arts and culture with her

By Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

MISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, recently named this year’s Art Ambassador for the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), is calling on the Filipinos to learn the country’s arts and culture with her.

“As ambassador for 2020, I really hope to be able to learn a lot about the different regions coming together sharing their arts and culture to be able to spread joy and awareness and really captivate the newer generations in developing their love for the Filipino arts,” Gray said.

Gray said it is a great honor for her to be named the country’s arts ambassador.

“I always wanted to showcase the beauty and the intricate uniqueness of the Philippines to the universe platform,” she said in a

speech.

“My love for our arts and culture was not something I was born to due to my mixed heritage. It was something that was grown, learned and embodied,” she added.

The beauty queen said her new role means so much to her because she is an artist and is very fascinated by the country’s textile history, music, bands, among others.

“It has so many different facets and we all are united through art,” Gray said as she called on Filipinos to “celebrate, preserve and connect one another” through art.

Aside from Gray, local singers Julie Anne San Jose and KZ Tandingan were also chosen as ambassadors by the NCCA. This is Philippines Luzon Part 2 On Monday, Gray released a video on her social media account showcasing Manila’s

arts and the launch of her role as an NCCA ambassador. She called the it “This is Philippines Luzon, Part 2,” a sequel to her “This is Philippines Luzon” video released in 2018 as part of her national costume series for the Miss Universe 2018 competition.

Like her 2018 video, Gray once again showcased the beauty of the walled city Intramuros. She visited revisited Fort Santiago and mingled with local tourists.

February has been declared “National Arts Month” by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 683 issued in 1991.

The proclamation states that “the disciplines of theatre, dance, music, visual arts, architecture, literature, media arts, and film need to be preserved, enriched, and evolved in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression.”

Arci meets ‘Parasite’ director Bong...

From Page 3 ze man!! #bongjoonho And so the next photo happened!” she recalled.

“Parasite” made history after becoming the first foreign-language film to win Best

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Picture at the Oscars.

The film also won Best Screenplay, Best International Feature, with Bong winning the Best Director award.

“Parasite” is a black comedy thriller about members of

EMPLOYMENT

LEGAL NOTICE

a poor family who schemed to become employed by a wealthy family.

Apart from Song, the film also stars Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Ye-jeong, Choi Woo-sik and Park So-dam.

5

community

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 12, 2020

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes CONSIDER this common factual situation. You are over 21 years old and your US citizen parent petitions you while you are inside the United States. Since this is a preference category, you have to wait many years for your priority date to be current. As the years go by, your petitioning parent dies which in turn revokes the petition. Can you still apply for your green card when your priority date becomes current?

Under Section 204(l) of the immigration and nationality act, you may apply for a green card despite the death of the petitioner once your priority date becomes current as long as 1) you were in the United States at the time of the Petitioner’s death, and 2) you continuously resided in the United States until the present time when you apply for adjustment of status. This provision does not apply to beneficiaries that are

Can I qualify for a green card despite the petitioner’s death? outside the United States. This provision also applies to both approved and pending Petitions.

This avenue is available to all family based petitions as outlined in INA section 204(l)(2).

This includes 1)immediate relative petitions and 2)preference family petitions such as unmarried sons and daughters of us citizens, spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of lpr, married sons and daughters of us citizens, and brothers and sisters of us citizens.

Derivative beneficiaries of pending or approved employment- based immigrant visa petitions are also covered by this section. This includes the spouse and unmarried children under age 21 of an individual who was sponsored under the employment-based category.

If you fail to meet the requirements of INA 204(l) because you did not continously reside in the US since the death of the Petitioner, you may still try to reinstate the Petition under 8 CFR

Sec. 205.1(a)(3) Humanitarian Reinstatement. The DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security) may exercise discretion “for humanitarian reasons” to reinstate the petition and to allow the Affidavit of Support requirements to be satisfied by the qualifying I-864 of a spouse, parent, mother-inlaw, father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild or legal guardian of the beneficiary, as long as the petition was “approved” prior to the Petitioner’s death.

DHS discretion does not mean “guaranteed” approval.

The case will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Some of the factors that the DHS may consider are 1) disruption of an established family unit; 2) hardship to US citizens or lawful permanent residents; 3) beneficiary is elderly or in poor health; 4) beneficiary has had lengthy residence in the US; 4) beneficiary has no home to go to; 5)undue delay by USCIS or consular officer in processing Continued on Page 6

How does the bankruptcy means test work?

IS the means test in bankruptcy? It’s a method for calculating what your household income is to determine if you qualify for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 of the bankruptcy code. By household income, we mean the combined income of husband and wife, if the debtor is married, unless they are separated.

The means test is a relatively new concept introduced in the new bankruptcy code of 2005.

Before that new bankruptcy law took effect, there was no such thing as a means test. Before 2005, the general rule was if the household income were less than the monthly necessary expenses, a debtor would probably qualify for Chapter 7.

Under the means test, debtor’s average income for the last six months, if less than the median income for the household for the state, would prima facie qualify debtor for Chapter 7, without any presumption of abuse arising. Each state has a different median income. For

Debt Relief

Atty. lAwrence yAng example, in California, the median income for a single person is about $48,000 a year. So, if you are single and make less than $48,000 a year, then you would automatically qualify for Chapter 7.

However, this does not mean that single persons making more than $48,000 would be disqualified from Chapter 7. This is so because the means test provides for amounts that may be deducted from gross income given the cost of living in the state.

Hence, a single person making $70,000 a year with a mortgage payment and a car payment would probably still qualify for Chapter 7.

What happens if one’s income

is so high that the means test is breached? A presumption of abuse is marked in your means test and the U.S. Trustee (UST) would have their say about the presumption of abuse matter.

The UST position would be: show me documentary evidence why you qualify for Chapter 7.

It is possible to overcome the presumption of abuse and still get a Chapter 7 discharge even if your income is a lot more than the state median income if you can prove to the satisfaction of the UST that you do indeed qualify for Chapter 7.

If you are short on your documentation, the UST will file a motion to dismiss your Chapter 7 case based on the abuse of bankruptcy law. This gives you a chance to argue why you are eligible for Chapter 7 discharge despite the objection of the UST before the bankruptcy judge in charge of your case. I would say that it’s difficult to convince the judge if the UST has filed its moContinued on Page 6

Bucket list No.5

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

Whip up your signature dish

Monette AdevA MAglAyA YOUR personal bucket list should be doable. Select a handful of those things that have the highest chance of coming to fruition given your time frame and personal circumstances. In tech speak, it means before your life span and energy goes into ‘ low batt mode’ and life is running out of sockets to plug into.

How about waving your magic wand in the kitchen to create just one signature dish?

Ever wonder how the Peach Melba dessert got its name?

It was said that the celebrated French chef Auguste Escoffier named the confection after his friend, the soprano Nellie Melba of Melbourne, Australia.

Nellie would dine in the restaurant where he was chef and would give him tickets to the opera where she was the main draw.

Nellie Melba was the late 19th century equivalent of a celebrity these days that could pack opera houses for the elite in London, Paris and New York.

On a historical note, Escoffier partnered with Cesar Ritz (from whose name the term “ritzy” is derived, to mean elegant and first class, and pricey as well) to establish the Ritz-Carlton Hotels chain.

Signature dishes are not just for the rich and famous. They are for you and me, as well. Choose just one dish. Just one from many possibilities… Choose a scrumptiously delicious one. Work on it many times until you can do it from scratch without looking at your cheat sheet and it becomes a masterpiece.

Cook it for family gatherings or potluck events. Cook it until they clamor for you to bring it because your dish is memorable.

You notice that people come for seconds until it’s all gone. Clean plate and happy faces —the marks of a culinary success…

Congratulations! You’ve created your signature dish. You have placed your name on it. Best of all, you’ve created gastronomic memories, quite hard to forget because, believe you me, the gut remembers.

I have met many who have done this and it is a source of joy

specially when shared with many.

My friend Angel cooked Spanish Paella with original ingredients from Spain and with great flourish wearing a chef’s hat and risqué apron of washboard abs, in a class reunion held in their mountain view home. It was delicious and memorable.

Two of my sisters, Olga and Evelyn, bake Sans Rival and indeed, nothing rivals their concoction. Fresh lumpiang sariwa, with many hours of chopping, slicing and dicing of the ingredients is my mother’s and eldest sister, Olga’s signature dish. Another sister, Rhodora, tweaked a Kare-kare recipe and that was divine. There is Agnes Jovellana’s delightful original espasol which she prepares for her par-

exotic dish, like alligator soup, for instance. Stay away from using bats and snakes as ingredients. There is serious concern that the deadly Coronavirus currently raging in Wuhan, China and spreading to other parts of the world may have originated from that city’s wet market that sells exotic animals as food fare.

Nix the labels low calorie, low fat, gluten free, low carb. It is a bit of a downer when you have to work within limiting parameters.

It doesn’t have to be original but it must be pleasing to most taste buds within your orbit of friends and family. Oftentimes, it could be just a tweak on an existing, tested recipe with a secret ingredient or a different technique of doing and presenting. Make it simple, easy and fun.

Food is a way of making a connection with others and making memories. Remember that Jesus Christ in his time ate bread, fish and drank wine with his disciples on many occasions. Those were the staples of his time and salt was the flavoring. He multiplied the bread and fish as He fed thousands who followed him to hear his teachings. Jesus knew how important it was to make a connection. Christ connects with us two thousand years later in the Holy Eucharist at Mass when bread and wine are consecrated and become His body and blood. It is a daily reminder of how God loves us — so much He sent His only son to redeem us from sin and death so we may live forever.

We use food to feed our bodies and make a connection with others. Partaking of the Eucharist to feed our souls in order to make a connection with the divine is the other aspect worth pursuing as part of our bucket list.

Food is a blessing, a visual and visceral aid that makes our life here on earth so wonderfully engaging.

Make your signature dish and the joys they bring to yourself and others part of the wonderful memories etched in your soul forever. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

“Food is a way of making a connection with others and making memories.” ties. My sister Mitch of San Antonio, Texas prepared Buttered Mochi and her baked dish was a hit. I do a simple potato soup with bacon that is popular in the winter time. The millenials in our family love it. My daughterin-law Elia, prepares her special recipe for Turkey with bacon on Thanksgiving and draws rave reviews from the family. My son, Rene, prepares delightful chocolate ice cream, from scratch and there is never enough. A former colleague, Malou HaliliCase who hails from Pampanga (famous for women who cook heavenly dishes) prepares Dinuguan, on slow cooker and it was special and memorable. Team it up with puto and, voila, you have a wonderful meal! There’s Tommy’s mom, Cindy Nguyen, who prepares fresh crabs, Vietnamese style. Of course, there’s Tony’s dad, David Ta, who cooks delicious beef stew, Cambodian style, like no other.

If you don’t have any signature dish, get cracking and work on one, just one dish you can enjoy preparing and putting your mark on. With time and practice, you will get better at it. Choose one that is popular with most taste buds.

Don’t let your ego rule trying to reinvent the wheel and try an

Calendar of Events across

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 F E B R UA RY 1 4

Live jazz and dance event in Los Angeles Amintuh Productions invites everyone to the show, “A Valentine’s Night of Hearts Fusion with Debbie Torres” on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. at Embassy Suites Los Angeles (800 N. Central Ave., Glendale, CA 91203). Tickets start at $45(Show only), an optional Dinner Ticket is also available for those who want a complete Valentine’s date package or simply enjoy having a delicious dinner with their family and friends! A cash bar and dance floor will also be available for your enjoyment. Dinner guests will be served at 7:30 p.m. with the main event beginning at 9:00 p.m., followed by dancing into the end of the evening. Feel the love in the air on Valentine’s Day through the energy of jazz composition and improvisation from an eclectic ensemble of instruments, from Piano to Saxophone. Tickets are available at www.amintuh.com, select “Shows” and you’ll be directed to an Eventbrite ticketing page. Sponsorships available, if interested, please contact us at amintuhpro@yahoo.com.

F E B R UA RY 1 5

Live Filipino Music at Hard Rock Cafe in Boston, MA An evening of live music at the Hard Rock Cafe - Boston with talented Filipino American bands and performers, including Arianne Aldecoa, Balut Proof, Highland Ave Band, Jireh Calo and John dela Cruise. Bring your special someone, your besties or your family on this Valentine’s Day weekend. For tickets/info, call Rowena (617) 407-0232 or Ning (508) 843-0346.

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

community 6 The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 12, 2020

How does the bankruptcy means...

From Page 5 tion to dismiss unless you have good and complete documentation to support your case for getting a Chapter 7 discharge.

For instance, you give $500 a month to your favorite charity.

With this deduction, you pass the means test for Chapter 7, but the UST files its motion to dismiss as they object to your claim of a charitable deduction.

You argue that you do indeed give $125 in cash to your church every week, with a grand total of $500 a month. Without this deduction, your disposable income is $500 a month, dislodging you from Chapter 7 and tracking you into Chapter 13 instead.

The UST asks for proof that you actually give $500 a month to your church.

Since you donate in cash, there is no documentary proof of your weekly donation. You submit a picture of your hand putting $125 of cash into the cash box of the church every Sunday for one month.

The UST pretty much says that they don’t believe your picture evidence. The UST says that your income tax returns for 2017 do not claim any charitable donation. You argue that your CPA was drunk when he prepared your tax returns.

Will the bankruptcy judge side with you or the UST? I think

the odds are against you. The UST and federal judges are well qualified in what they do.

If you can’t pass the means test for Chapter 7, no matter how hard you try, you should really consider filing Chapter 13 instead. Chapter 13 lets you reorganize your financial resources in such a way that you pay possibly only a small portion of what you owe. For example, you owe $50,000 of credit cards. In Chapter 7, you don’t have to pay the $50,000; the discharge order just wipes them out. In Chapter 13, you might have to pay $200 a month for 60 months, or $12,000.

curity of $1,300, there was a big chance that the Chapter 7 trustee would invalidate the sale of the house to the brother in law since it was sold below market price only two years ago. If this happened, it would be a big disaster because she would lose the roof over her head immediately and she would have nowhere to go.

The court confirmed her Chapter 13 plan recently where she paid only $152/month for 60 months. If she completes her Chapter 13 plan payment, the court will discharge $53,000 of her $60,000 credit cards. In other words, her Chapter 13 plan approved by the court will discharge 90 percent of her credit cards if she pays 10 percent of those cards over five years. There is no interest accruing during the five years because, with Chapter 13, credit cards cannot charge interest. All payments go to the reduction of principal.

People have different kinds of financial hardship, but they all benefit from total elimination of debt in Chapter 7 or partial elimination of debt in Chapter 13. Either way, they end up with no debt eventually. I can say with certainty that 100% of my clients are better off with no debt after a bankruptcy discharge. They all become productive again and are much happier living their lives debt-free.

Most, if not all, have rebuilt their credit after only a couple of years. ***

“The UST and federal judges are well qualified in what they do.”

If you complete all 60 payments of $200 each, the court will discharge or wipe out $38,000 of your credit cards.

I have a senior client who couldn’t file a Chapter 7 because she had sold her house to her brother in law for $120,000 below market price. I advised her against Chapter 7 unless she wanted to risk losing her house.

She did this because when her husband died two years ago, she could not afford to make the mortgage payments anymore.

Her brother-in-law allowed her to stay in her house, which now belonged to him, for as long as she wanted, without rent. This was a verbal agreement. The client was 74 years old. The arrangement worked for her because even if she just rented a room, she would have to pay at least $500 a month. So, if she lived another 20 years, living in her house rentfree would be like getting back $120,000 over 20 years.

Even if she passed the means test with flying colors since her only income now was social se-

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 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

Can I qualify for a green card...

From Page 5 petition and visa; 6) and Beneficiary has strong family ties in the United States.

The beneficiary must be prepared to show proof of the original I-130 that was filed, proof of I-130 approval if approved, a copy of the Petitioner’s death certificate, proof of substitute sponsor’s relationship to the beneficiary, and meet all the I864 requirements *** 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 is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. 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 “mailto: kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com” kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 12, 2020

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 12, 2020