031619 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

MARCH 16-19, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 18 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

USA

DATELINE Newsom grants reprieve to 737 California death row inmates

Duterte names 46 politicians on narco-list

by AJPRESS

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Executive order suspends death penalty as long as he’s governor ON Wednesday, March 13, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that put a temporary moratorium on the state’s death penalty which ordered the reprieve of 737 inmates on death row.

Newsom reasoned his controversial decision by claiming that the death penalty disproportionately affects prisoners of color, many of whom, he said, are more likely to be given the death penalty than white prisoners.

“Just last year we had someone who was exonerated that spent 26 years on death row --- joining the ranks of 164 human beings that have been exonerated, that have spent time on death row. It’s a racist system. You cannot deny that,” Newsom told CBS This Morning on Friday, March 15. u PAGE A3

US report: PH gov’t execs ‘under pressure’ not to cooperate with int’l rights groups PHILIPPINE government officials were “under pressure” not to respond to any investigation requests on alleged human rights abuses in the country, the U.S. State Department said in its global rights report for 2018.

In a report released Thursday, March 14, the U.S. State Department noted that a number of local and international human rights organization operate in the country and investigate human rights cases. They, however, encounter harassment and defiance from Philippine authorities.

“Government officials were under pressure not to cooperate or respond to the views of international human rights organizations. Local human rights activists continued to encounter occasional harassment, mainly from security forces or local officials from areas in which incidents under investigation occurred,” the State Department said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has been widely criticized for his war on drugs that has killed thousands—mostly living in urban poor

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, March 14, released the infamous list of politicians allegedly involved in illegal drugs trade ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

Duterte read the list compiled by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) out loud during the National Peace and Order Council meeting in Davao City. It was broadcasted on state-owned television stations PTV4 and RTVM.

“An official’s right to privacy is not absolute and there is a compelling reason to prioritize the state and the people. As your president, my ultimate concern is the pursuit of order in government,” Duterte said as reported by Rappler.

“Since my assumption in 2016, I have committed to eradicate the drug problem. My decision to unmask these drug personalities was anchored on my trust in the government agencies who have vetted and validated the narco-list,” he added as reported by The Manila Times.

Duterte named 46 out of 82 alleged narco-politicians. These officials were composed of 33 mayors, seven vice mayors, three congressmen, one board member and one former mayor. He did not finish naming the rest since he was not “certain” about their involvement.

“Yung iba wag na muna kasi hindi ko sigurado.

Yung nai-file na, medyo validated na (We can skip the others since I am not certain about them. The ones that were filed were slightly validated already) u PAGE A2

Politicians deny drug trade links

by RAMON

EFREN LAZARO Philstar.com

MANILA — A day after President Rodrigo Duterte released the names of alleged narco politicians, most of them rushed to deny involvement in the illegal drug trade.

They gave various reasons why they should not be included in the list.

Among the three congressmen named in the list, Pangasinan’s First District Rep. Jesus Celeste said he was puzzled by his inclusion.

Celeste said the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) had already cleared him of drug links.

He said the RPOC’s investigation report late last year that cleared him possibly did not reach the President.

Celeste said he welcomes the filing of charges against him.

“It’s better this way because I know I am innocent and this will finally put an end to this allegation often hurled at me every election,” Celeste said.

Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte Mayor Ferdinand Dancel Aguinaldo blamed politics for his inclusion in the narco list.

Aguinaldo, seeking reelection this May, challenged authorities to launch a public validation of the narco list. u PAGE A2

SECURITY MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte in a huddle with officials of the Security Cluster on the sidelines of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police (AFP-PNP) Command Conference at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Davao City on Thursday, March 14.

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo

In last-minute push, rights advocates Fil-Am UC Irvine student plead SC to stop PH’s ICC withdrawal confirmed to have died

United Nations (UN) treaty creating the ICC. Under the Rome Statue, a State Party like the Philippines may withdraw from the StatMANILA — Cases of extrajudicial killings ute through a written notification. The withcould increase once the country’s withdrawal drawal shall take effect one year after the date from the International Criminal Court (ICC) of receipt of the notification. On the case of takes effect on Sunday, March 17, ICC advo- the Philippines, the one year will be on March cates told the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday, 17, 2019.

“If and when the withdrawal takes effect, March 15.

by RAE ANN VARONA In a last ditch effort, members of the Phil- petitioners submit that it would mean FilipiAJPress ippine Coalition for the International Criminal nos would be deprived of effective remedies THE Orange County Sheriff’s Court (PCICC) urged the SC to act on two con- provided under international law and constisolidated petitions to compel the executive de- tutional law in the event that there is inaction Department has confirmed alcopartment to take back the government’s with- by Philippine law enforcement authorities to hol poisoning to be the cause of u PAGE A6 u PAGE A5 death of a Fil-Am college student drawal of its ratification of the Rome Statute, a who was found unresponsive in January following an off-campus university fraternity party.

In a statement released Monday, March 11, the sheriff’s lamity due to the prevailing water

by JAIME LAUDE Philstar.com crisis.As this developed, President department said that Noah Duterte ordered on Friday, March Domingo, 18, died as a result MANILA — Despite an acute 15, the immediate release of water of “accidental acute ethanol shortage of water in the east sec- from Angat Dam and warned con- intoxication.” It added that Dotor of Metro Manila that officials cerned authorities of severe sanc- mingo had a blood alcohol level fear will persist throughout the tion if they fail to comply with the of approximately 0.331 at the time of his death, more than four dry season, there is no need yet to order. declare a state of calamity, the NaReacting to the order, the Met- times the legal limit.

No additional substances tional Disaster Risk Reduction and ropolitan Waterworks and SewerManagement Council (NDRRMC) age System (MWSS) clarified the were found in his system at the said on Thursday, March 14.

Angat Dam bypass valve had never time of his death.

Domingo was found dead “Nothing to that effect. There’s been closed in the first place, conearly morning of January 12 at no plan as of today. We just had trary to a report released online a meeting of the response clus- supposedly by a former employee. a home near the University of ter of Task Force El Niño,” said Posadas said cloud seeding California, Irvine where he was a NDRRMC spokesman director Ed- operation “will start as soon as first-year biology major on path gar Posadas. seedable clouds are available.” He to a career in sports medicine Posadas issued this statement to added the NDRRMC will discuss with goals of becoming a Lakers clarify reports that the NDRRMC the matter in a full council meeting team trainer.

Workers of a Manila Water contractor are seen on Thursday, March 14, at La Mesa Dam, where the In the released 911 call reis considering placing the entire on March 20. water elevation is down to 68.72 meters, the lowest in more than 20 years. cording, the caller said Domingo Philstar.com photo by KJ Rosales Metro Manila under a state of cau PAGE A3

by TETCH

TORRES-TUPAS Inquirer.net

from alcohol poisoning

Student’s father suspects “fraternity hazing” to be the cause as investigation continues

Water woes: No state of calamity in Metro Manila

Noah Domingo Photo courtesy of Domingo family

“just drank too much.”

“We remain shocked and saddened by Noah’s tragic death, and we offer our deepest sympathies to the Domingo family for their loss,” the university said in a statement. “His

u PAGE A4

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From the Front Page

Duterte names 46 politicians...

PAGE A1 t

We can say we have gathered enough proof,” he said.

He added that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has filed administrative cases against them, at the Office of the Ombudsman. However, the president clarified that

he has no personal intention or vendetta towards the named candidates.

“I’m not really interested in releasing it before or after the elections because I don’t have the slightest intention to hurt anybody or to be the cause of a failure of the election of a cer-

tain one who wants to serve the public,” Duterte said as reported

by CNN Philippines.

“For the judge, it’s proof beyond reasonable doubt. For the police, Armed Forces, you only have to come up with probable cause. Is he probably the criminal of this act? If he is, then I must arrest him. Remember the word probable does not require you to be very sure,” he added.

The president clarified that the said people were not drug addicts themselves. He explained that these people capitalized on illegal drugs to acquire the wealth they are currently enjoying.

“These are the people who you think they are clean and that they send their children to schools abroad and they even brag about it in their Facebook posts with snow-capped mountains at the back,” Duterte stated as reported by The Philippine Star.

In a report by The Philippine Daily Inquirer, officials were from the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, Caraga region and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Media groups against publicizing list Several media organizations objected to the publication of such list across print, radio, television and online platforms.

Among those were the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Philippine Press Institute (PPI).

Others include Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), Mindanews, Center for Community Journalism and Development, Freedom for Media, and Freedom for All Network.

“Such naming and shaming calls attention to the possible invasion of privacy, as well as denial of due process and presumption of innocence, for those on the list,” the joint statement read.

Who validated the list?

DILG Undersecretary Jona-

AHH, WATER! AHH, WATER! As taps run dry and many Metro Manila residents went without baths, a woman and her child enjoy a shower at a government-owned resort in Pasig City on Thursday, March 14.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rudy Martinez

Politicians deny drug trade...

PAGE A1 t Lucena City, Quezon Mayor Roderick Alcala also claimed politics was behind the inclusion of his name in the list.

Alcala claimed he was being blackmailed by a rival political family. He said he was being forced to stop a certain broadcaster from criticizing the political family over some social issues.

San Rafael, Bulacan Mayor Cipriano Violago Jr. also claimed politics was behind his alleged involvement.

Violago said he was actually not surprised that his name was included in the narco list. He said he had expected his political rivals to include his name to lessen his chances of reelection.

Violago said he had been cleared of the allegations by the regional and national police and was already subject for de-listing.

“However, someone is blocking it at the Office of the President,” Violago said without naming the personality.

For Maasin, Iloilo town Mayor Mariano Malones, his inclusion in the list is no big deal.

“It doesn’t mean that if your name is validated, you’re guilty,” he said.

Malones said he is gratified the validation process has been done and his name was submitted to the u PAGE A4 Office of the Ombudsman for the

Lucena City, Quezon Mayor Roderick Alcala

filing of charges.

“I’m happy that my name is submitted. It’s now the ombudsman will decide if we’re guilty or not,” Malones said. “The truth will come out in the end.”

Carles, Iloilo Mayor Sigfredo Betita likewise denied the allegations.

He surmised that his being a Betita might have something to do with his being tagged as drug protector. He said he was earlier linked to slain drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr. whose mother is from the Betita clan.

Subic, Zambales town Mayor Jefferson Jay Khonghun also de-

Subic, Zambales town Mayor Jefferson Jay Photos from lmp.org

u PAGE A4 Khonghun

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DATELINE USA

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 16-19, 2019

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Newsom grants reprieve to 737 California...

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LIMITED SUPPLY. Residents of Hill Top, Bagong Ilog, Pasig City queue for water from a tanker. THE water service interruption imposed by Manila Water has affected 250,000 to 260,000 people, the agency said. Manila Water Co. Inc. Chief Operating Officer Geodino Carpio said the number would translate to 52,000 households or service connections in its concession area.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Water woes: No state of calamity...

PAGE A1 t NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad assured the public that the government is doing everything to restore normal water supply.

Jalad said representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Water Resource Board (DENRNWRB) revealed during a meeting of NDRRMC’s Technical Management Group (TMG) that water level at Angat Dam was at normal operating level of 199.94 meters.

The minimum operating level is 180 meters.

“This entails that Angat Dam can sufficiently address Metro Manila’s water requirements,” Jalad said.

Meanwhile, Manila Water Co., whose service areas are reeling from water shortage, assured the public its 20-hour water interruptions will not last throughout summer as it is starting to see the initial positive effects of the rotational water supply scheme implemented since Thursday.

“Levels of various reservoirs have started to increase and water supply, though still at low pressure in some areas, is slowly being distributed to severely affected barangays,” Manila Water said in a statement.

“These operational adjustments are a temporary measure that Manila Water is undertaking to balance water supply distribution in its concession area,” the company said.

“Manila Water continues to make calibrations in these adjust-

ments to ensure that extended service interruptions will not last for the entire summer,” it said.

Furthermore, the weak El Niño was not expected to affect the supply of potable water in Metro Manila and nearby areas, according to an official of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“We expect the supply of Angat to last until the dry months,” Ana Liza Solis, chief of PAGASA’s climate monitoring and prediction section, told The Star.

As thousands in Metro Manila continued to line up for water, President Duterte ordered the opening of the Angat Dam bypass valve to enable Manila Water to replenish its stock.

“The president is directing the MWSS to demand from the Manila Water Co. Inc., Maynilad Water Services Inc. and other responsible offices to release water from Angat Dam by noon time today, March 15, good for 150 days, in order to supply the affected areas in Metro Manila and deliver,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

In issuing the order, Panelo said the president is “aware and concerned of the sufferance of the residents of Metro Manila due to the present water crisis.”

But MWSS chief regulator Patrick Ty said the Angat Dam bypass valve had never been closed in the first place, contrary to a report released online supposedly by a former MWSS employee.

Responding to a Facebook post

by Ty Thursday night, netizen Angel Salazar alleged that the MWSS had ordered the closure of the bypass to divert water supply to Maynilad. Ty denied he made such order.

Manila Water chief operating officer Geodino Carpio also denied that the bypass is closed.

“The bypass has been open and operated for several months now,” he said. “It is actually the primary transmission mechanism from Angat to Balara (treatment facility) whenever the La Mesa level is too low to accept the usual flow into intakes,” he said.

Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez also said the bypass valve has always been open.

He added that Manila Water is being more careful in ensuring that the 60:40 sharing of the water with Maynilad is met.

The MWSS official assured the public they are studying several medium- and long-term solutions to the water crisis.

Short-term solutions being worked out are the re-energization of the Cardona plant in Rizal and tapping of several deep wells in consultation with the National Water Regulatory Board.

“When the rains come we are hoping it will fill the La Mesa Dam and normally the demand will drop when the rains come. We’re waiting for that,” Ty said. (With reports from Janvic Mateo, Christina Mendez, Edith Regalado, Helen Flores, Paolo Romero, Jess Diaz, Catherine Talavera, Czeriza Valencia, Rhodina Villanueva/Philstar.com)

“It’s a system that is perpetuating inequality. It’s a system that I cannot in good conscious support,” Newsom affirmed.

U.S. Senator of California Kamala Harris, a Democrat, voiced her support for the moratorium and suggested that there should be “a federal equivalent” to Newsom’s executive order.

Though she supported and defended the death penalty when she was California Attorney General, Harris — who is running for president for the 2020 race — she said in a statement that the death penalty is “immoral, discriminatory, ineffective and a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars.”

According to a 2011 study conducted by U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Arthur L. Alarcon and Loyola Law School Professor Paula M. Mitchell, taxpayers have spent more than $4 billion on the death penalty since it was reinstated in 1978. The study also found  that keeping inmates on death row costs the state $184 million more per year than it costs to for those with life sentences with no possibility of

parole.

Additionally, a death penalty prosecution can cost up to 20 times more than a case with a possible sentence of life-without-parole.

Notably, the researchers concluded that if the California governor commuted sentences of those on death row to life without parole, it would save the state $170 million per year, with a projected overall savings of $5 billion over the next 20 years.

Mirroring Newsom’s views that capital punishment is more likely to applied to black and Latinx defendants, Harris also noted that it also disproportionately affects poorer defendants who likely can’t afford quality legal representation.

“The symbol of our justice system is a woman with a blindfold,” Harris said. “It is supposed to treat all equally but the application of the death penalty” Unsurprisingly, Newsom’s executive order sparked outrage among voters and public figures across the Golden State which has the most death row

inmates in the country. The last time that California utilized capital punishment was in 2006.

In 2006 and 2016, Californians voted against repealing the death penalty in statewide elections.

“Governor Newsom, who supported the failed initiative to end the death penalty in 2006, is usurping the express will of California voters and substituting his personal preferences via this hasty and ill-considered moratorium on the death penalty,” said Michele Hanisee, president of the Los Angeles County Association of Deputy District Attorneys.

Among the more high profile names on death row include Scott Peterson, who was arrested and convicted of seconddegree murder in 2002 for his pregnant wife Laci Peterson and unborn son in Modesto, California. Serial killer Lonnie Franklin, also known as the “Grim Sleeper,” was convicted in 2016 for a string of killings in the 1980s; Franklin, now 66, may have as many as 25 victims.

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

A march 16-19, 2019 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOUrNaL

Politicians deny drug trade...

PAGE A2 t

nied being involved in the illegal drug trade.

He also defended his father, Zambales Rep. Jeffrey Khonghun.

“No need for us to become protector of illegal drug trade here, we are not really poor because my family has construction business before we entered politics,” Khonghun said.

He said his father Rep. Khonghun was a contractor before he was elected as first district representative.

Dateline USa

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“My father was Subic mayor for three consecutive terms and now he is running for his last term as congressman; my younger brother Jonjon is on his last term as Zambales first district board member and now Subic town mayoralty candidate and (I am in) my last term as Subic mayor now running for Zambales vice governor,” Khonghun said.

Revalidation Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday said the politicians are facing

San Rafael, Bulacan Mayor Cipriano Violago Jr Photo from lmp.org

administrative charges of grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public officer and gross neglect of duty.

The criminal charges related to drug offenses are expected to be filed as well against the 46.

Año said the involvement of the 46 in illegal drugs was evaluated and validated by the Interagency Committee on Illegal Drugs (ICAD) chaired by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and other offices.

PDEA regional director Alex Tablate explained the process of validating the list continues.

“From time to time, we gather new information. We’re just submitting it to the higher headquarters but we can’t divulge that because of confidentiality,” Tablate said.

Western Visayas regional director Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said those who were not mentioned are either cleared or are still undergoing revalidation.

“Evidence gathering is crucial in the filing of cases,” he said.

Both officials noted some known personalities were not included in the drug list.

They stressed they are simply following the protocol laid down by their superiors in Manila.

“I just would like to emphasize that PDEA is one of those law enforcement agencies that were given directive to conduct validation and gathering of information from the ground pertaining to these alleged narco politicians,” Tablate said.

“At the end of the day, at the regional level, we have no authority to divulge anything,” he said. n

CRACKDOWN ON ‘COLORUM’. Personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) search for unregistered or “colorum” public vehicles along Marcos Highway in Marikina City on Friday, March 15. The Interagency Traffic Council of the Department of Transportation recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group for personnel augmentation in the crackdown on “colorum” vehicles.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Absentee voters may cast votes from April 29-May 1 THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the dates for the local and overseas absentee voting (OAV), which will be held ahead of the May 13 midterm elections.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said on Thursday, March 14, that local absentee voters could cast their votes from April 29 to May 1, while overseas absentee voters had one month

to vote from April 13 to May 13.

Covered by the local absentee voting are government officials and employees, members of the military and the police performing election duties, and members of the media.

Local and overseas voters will only vote for national candidates or 12 senators and one party-list group.

There are a total of 63,662,481

registered voters. Of the number, 2.86 percent or 1,822,173 are overseas voters.

Jimenez said the Comelec was right on track in its preparations for the May 13 polls.

Director Elaiza Sabile David of the Office for Overseas Voting said electoral forms and other paraphernalia would be shipped out this month. (William Depasupil/ManilaTimes.net)

WHO lauds PH’s passage of child restraint law THE World Health Organization on Wednesday, March 13, welcomed the passage of a law that would require vehicle owners to use car seats when transporting children, saying it would save many lives if properly implemented and enforced.

President Rodrigo Duterte last month signed Republic Act 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act. A copy of the law was released Tuesday.

“The Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act is a landmark legislation that requires manda-

tory use of child restraints when transporting children. The new law also restricts children from sitting in the front seat of motor vehicles,” WHO said.

According to the UN health agency, more than 600 children die from road crashes in the Philippines each year.

It also noted that child restraints reduce the likelihood of a fatal crash by approximately 70 percent among infants and between 54 to 80 percent among young children.

“This legislation is a significant step toward prioritizing the

safety and welfare of infants and children on Philippine roads, and preventing traffic-related deaths and injuries,” WHO said.

The Department of Health also hailed the passage of the law.

“It’s been long proven that child safety seats or restrains help. First world countries have been way, way ahead of enforcing that particular law so it will help. Certainly, it will lessen injuries once they are featured in vehicular accidents,” DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

(Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar. com)

OFWs with HIV up 33% in January THE number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) went up by 33 percent in January, according to party-list group ACTS-OFW. The group said 90 OFWs were diagnosed with HIV in January, 33 percent higher than the 68 cases reported in the same month in 2018.

“The January cases brought to 6,345 the cumulative number

of OFWs found living with HIV since the government began passive surveillance of the virus in 1984,” said ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III. OFWs now comprise 10 percent of the 63,278 confirmed cases listed in the National HIV/ AIDS Registry as of January, Bertiz said.

Of the 6,345 OFWs in the registry, 86 percent, or 5,471, were male with the median age of 32

years.

The 874 female OFWs in the registry had a median age of 34 years.

The group said 72 percent of the male patients were infected by having sex with men.

Bertiz said his group was counting on the Department of Labor and Employment to deliver “highly improved support” to the growing number of OFWs living with HIV. (ManilaTimes.net)

Duterte names 46 politicians...

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than Malaya explained that the list was validated by officials from the PDEA-led Interagency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD).

Among those were from the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

Malaya emphasized that the list compiled names of politicians who were vetted, verified and agreed upon by all four agencies.

“If there is one or two agencies that do not agree, we remove the name. Only those names upon which all four agreed were included in this initial batch. There

are still other names which are currently being investigated and validated,” Malaya explained.

“I think, three years since the President came into power, we already have enough evidences to file against them. Given that the President has given the directive, we have no choice but to file the charges,” he added.

Legality of narco-list release Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) National President Abdiel Fajardo said that the government had the right to issue such list since criminal charges filed against them would be made available for public’s perusal.

However, he expressed doubt that the basis for such accusations were present evidence.

He was also concerned that the cases filed against them were administrative and not criminal cases.

“If it will be shown the filing was baseless and made only to besmirch the reputations of those named in the so-called list then the people named in the list and who have been made respondents against basis will have causes of action against those who included them in the list,” Fajardo told CNN Philippines.

“I’m quite puzzled why only administrative cases were filed against them since if the allegation is correct that they committed offenses under the Anti-drug Act then the most logical cases to be filed are criminal cases,” he added. n

Fil-Am UC Irvine student confirmed to...

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death brings an urgent focus on alcohol and substance abuse, from the cultural pressures that encourage unhealthy behavior to the policies designed to mitigate danger.”

The cause of his death is still under investigation, but many have questioned the role of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, which Domingo was a member of. Following his death, the fraternity was put on interim suspension pending the investigation.

Domingo’s father, Dale Domingo, said in a statement to CBS News that he believed fra-

ternity activities to have been the cause.

“We have discovered the horrifying truth about fraternity hazing,” said the father, according to CBS News.

The father said that the fraternity was holding its “big brother night” ritual where his son was “compelled to guzzle a so-called ‘family drink’ to become part of his big brother’s family.”

“It is why fraternities openly refer to this type of ritual as being one of the ‘deadly nights,’” said the father.

The university’s official campus newspaper, New University, reported that according

anonymous sources, the freshman Domingo was attending an event during recruitment week for the university’s fraternities where â”drugs and copious amounts of alcohol” were present.

But the Irvine Police Department said on Monday that it was still actively investigating the case.

“At the conclusion of our investigation, we will present our findings to the District Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether charges are warranted,” said Irvine Police Department Lieutenant Mark Anderson. n

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PWDs in PH continue to face discrimination

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

EXPERIENCE FUN FROM GROUND UP. Wilfredo Placino, Vice Chairman and president of Global Gateway Development Corp., promises this year’s Hot Air Balloon would be bigger, bolder, better, and more accessible as the venue will be at Clark Global City, a thriving hub of industry and commerce that everyone can literally be reached by by air, land, and sea. This year’s theme is “Experience Fun From Ground Up”, said Placino during a press conference held at Enderun Colleges in McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Thursday, March 14. The Festival will be on April 12-14, to be participated in by representatives from 12 countries (Philippines, Korea, United States of America, Belgium, Malaysia, Netherlands, France, Thailand, Australia, Brazil, Vietnam, and India). Also in photo (L-R) are consultant Noel Castro; and launch master Bernie Bituin.

PNA photo by Jess M.Escaros Jr.

Rape cases linked to PH drug war - US report

by AJPress THe United States State Department revealed on Thursday, March 15, that there were at least eight reported cases of rape allegedly perpetrated by 16 policemen between January 2017 and July 2018.

The U.S. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018 stated that “many of the rapes” were linked with the highly-criticized war on drugs of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. It stated instances wherein women under police custody were sexually abused and assaulted.

However, the US State Department failed to acquire the status of the filed rape cases against law enforcement officials due to limited and confidential data.

“Statistics were unavailable on prosecutions, convictions, and punishments for cases filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP),” the U.S. report stated as cited in ABS-CBN News.

The US State Department hailed the responsiveness of the country’s law enforcement in addressing rape charges. They emphasized that most police forces treat rape charges “seriously.”

“In August a witness reported a rape and murder to authorities. Authorities asked the witness to identify the suspects,

which he did, and police arrested the suspects in less than 24 hours,” the report explained.

However, they also stated that rape cases in rural communities and remote areas “sometimes used personal relationships with local authorities to avoid prosecution.”

In the Philippines, a convicted rape felon is sentenced to 12 to 40 years imprisonment. The law mandates a lifetime ban from political office for perpetrators in government posts.

The report mentioned that the government had “provided shelter, counseling, and health services to female survivors of rape.” However, it highlighted that victims have a fear of coming forward due to “cultural and social stigmatization.”

In 2017, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recorded a total of 7,584 rape cases, a 12 percent decrease from the data in 2016. eJKs chief human rights concern Another report from the State Department issued on Wednesday, March 13, revealed that extrajudicial killings proved to be the primary human rights concern in the Philippines. “extrajudicial killings have been the chief human rights concern in the country for many years and, after a sharp rise with the onset of the anti-

drug campaign in 2016, they continued in the reporting year, albeit at a lower level,” the report stated.

“Significant concerns persisted about (the) impunity of civilian national and local government officials and powerful business and commercial figures,” it added as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The report noted that “slow judicial processes remained an obstacle to bringing government officials allegedly involved in human rights abuses to justice.” n

ACCORDING to the U.S. State Department in its annual human rights report released Thursday, March 14, persons with disabilities (PWD) in the Philippines “continued to face discrimination”in 2018 as a policy crafted to help them “was not effectively enforced.”

The report, entitled “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018,” said the National Council for Disability Affairs crafted a policy for the rehabilitation, self-development, and self-reliance of PWDs but the “law was not effectively enforced, and many barriers remained for persons with disabilities.”

It also noted that majority of public buildings remained inaccessible to PWDs. “Many schools had architectural barriers that made attendance difficult for persons with

disabilities. Government efforts to improve access to transportation for persons with disabilities were limited,” it said.

“The Department of education’s 648 separate education centers did not provide nationwide coverage, and the government lacked a clear system for informing parents of children with disabilities of their educational rights and did not have a well-defined procedure for reporting discrimination in education,” it added.

The report also said policies for PWDs were ineffective due to weak implementation, insufficient funding, and inadequately focused integrative government programs, citing information from advocacy groups in the country.

Services for 3,374 PWDs were provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in 2018 which is “significantly more” than es-

timated figures in 2017. However, only 60 percent of local government units had an office dedicated for PWDs, the report further noted.

It also pointed out that among the policies that level the field for PWDs were the Mental Health Law and a constitutional provision that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities.

However, PWDs still faced discrimination in seeking jobs.

“Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination in hiring and employment. The labor department estimated that only 10 percent of employable persons with disabilities were able to find work,” the report said.

Since 1977, the US State Department has been producing annual human rights reports on all countries receiving assistance and all United Nations member states. n

In last-minute push, rights advocates plead...

PAGE A1 t investigate or prosecute impunity committed in the Philippines,” read the urgent motion.

“Indeed, Petitioners fear that with the withdrawal taking effect without this Honorable Court’s action, those who kill with impunity will only be further emboldened,” it added.

PCICC led by former Commission on Human Right chair Loretta Rosales as well as six opposition senators filed separate petitions before the high court questioning

the government’s withdrawal from ICC without Senate’s ratification.

An oral argument on the petitions was conducted last year.

However, a court insider last Tuesday — the high court’s last session prior to March 17 — said the consolidated ICC petitions was not tackled during its full court meeting.

President Rodrigo Duterte in March last year announced the government’s withdrawal of its ratification of the Rome Statute, which also means pulling out the

Philippines’ membership from ICC .

In its diplomatic note to the UN secretary general, the government explained that its “decision to withdraw is the Philippines’ principled stand against those who politicize and weaponize human rights, even as its independent and well-functioning organs and agencies continue to exercise jurisdiction over complaints, issues, problems and concerns arising from its efforts to protect the people.” n

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D ateline PhiliPPines SC junks admin rap vs retired Chief Justice De Castro

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Palace to Congress: Sue 2019 budget tinkerers

Patag

MANILA — The Supreme Court dismissed the administrative complaint against retired Chief Justice Teresita De Castro for lack of “prima facie” (at first appearance) evidence in the complaint.

The SC Public Information Office said that the tribunal junked the administrative complaint filed by Elvira Enalbes, Rebecca Angeles and Estelita Ocampo who accused De Castro of gross ignorance of the law, gross inefficiency, gross misconduct, gross dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.

They argued that De Castro failed to act on two petitions, even after more than five years, filed by spouses Eligio Mallari and Marcelina Mallari in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

The complainants argument relied on Article VIII, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution that holds that the high court must resolve all cases or matters within 24 months,

Retired Chief Justice Teresita De Castro Philstar.com photo

said the SC. “To hold a magistrate administratively liable for gross ignorance of the law, it is no enough that his action was erroneous; it must also be proven that it was driven by bad faith, dishonesty, or ill motive,” the resolution, penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, read.

Two-year period to resolve cases does not summarily bind SC The tribunal also pointed out that the reckoning of the 24-month period begins when the last pleading, brief or memorandum has been sugnmitted.

It also stressed that the while the

24-month period is “persuasive, it does not summarily bind this Court to the disposition of cases brought before it.”

“It is a mere directive to ensure this Court’s prompt resolution of cases, and should not be interpreted as an inflexible rule,” the tribunal also said.

The SC also stressed that it is the court of last resort and should be accorded ample time to deliberate on cases filed before it.

“Ineluctably, leeway must be given to magistrates for them to thoroughly review and reflect on the cases assigned to them. This Court note that all matters brought before it involves rights which are legally demandable and enforceable. It would be at the height of injustice if cases were hastily decided on at the risk of erroneously dispensing justice,” it added.

The court also pointed out that De Castro has already retired from the court in October 2018, rending the admnistrative complaint moot. n

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by Catherine

Valente ManilaTimes.net

MALACAñANg on Thursday, March 14, challenged lawmakers to press charges against those who are allegedly tinkering with the proposed national budget for 2019.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after Sen. Panfilo Lacson accused Speaker gloria Macapagal Arroyo of criminal liability for signing a “falsified” version of the proposed budget.

“If there is something wrong with the procedures, why don’t they go the courts para magkaalaman na (to settle the score),” Panelo told reporters during a news briefing.

“Kung sinasabi mong (If you said it’s) unconstitutional, it behooves them to file the appropriate charges against whomsoever committed any violation of any law,” he said.

Lacson on Wednesday, March 13, warned that Arroyo could be charged for signing the House’s version of the budget bill, on which congressmen had made changes after the 2019 budget was ratified by Congress.

He said the Senate would stand by its position not to adopt the House version, which supposedly contain realignments amounting to P79 billion.

“Since Speaker Arroyo already signed the [House] version of the enrolled bill, she’s already prone to being charged for falsification because she’s already certified something that did not take place,” Lacson added.

The senator explained that amending a bill after it has been ratified was equal to falsification of records.

Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code punishes falsification of legislative documents with a jail term of six months and one day to six years and a P1.2-million fine.

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Congressmen said they itemized lump sums in the 2019 budget after its ratification by Congress.

Senators have said this was illegal and unconstitutional, but House leaders said otherwise.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said he would not sign an enrolled copy of the budget bill if the House of Representatives insists on its postbicameral amendments.

The proposed 2019 budget containing the House amendments had been transmitted to the Senate for Sotto’s signature.

Both signatures of the Speaker and the Senate president are needed before the measure can be transmitted to Malacañang for the President’s signature.

Congressional leaders met with Duterte on Tuesday night, March 12, to resolve the ongoing budget impasse, but no consensus was reached.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Lump sum House appropriations committee Chairman Rolando Andaya Jr. Said the Senate proposal to retain the lump-sum appropriations would restore insertions of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as well as former House leaders.

Andaya on Thursday insisted that with the senators’ proposal to return to the old mode of lump-sum budgeting, “questionable allocations for previous House leaders and their pet districts, plus DBM insertions that the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) was clueless about, would have remained intact.”

Last December, Andaya bared that former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, former Majority leader Rodolfo Farinas and then Appropriations Committee chairman Karlo Nograles got the biggest allocations for projects in their congressional districts. n

Duterte withdraws marijuana legalization bid by nathalie

robles

AJPress

MALACAñANg announced on Tuesday, March 12, that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will no longer push for the legalization of medical marijuana because he felt that it might go out of hand.

“Kasi ang feeling niya (Duterte) you will be using that as an excuse, baka lumaki nang lumaki lang (Duterte feels that you will use that an excuse and it might go out of hand),” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said as reported by ABS-CBN News.

The chief executive said that the legalization of medical cannabis might push through but later on clarified “not during his time.” Panelo echoed the sentiment noting: “sa ibang panahon siguro, sabi niya (maybe some other time).”

However, the spokesperson emphasized that the president might still root for the legalization of medical marijuana if doctors and medical experts of the said drug would prove its necessity in curing diseases.

“Ang sabi niya pa, dapat yung mga medical yung mag-decide diyan kung talagang totoong nakakagamot yan (Duterte said medical professionals should decide whether medical marijuana is really effective),” Panelo stated.

Medical marijuana group still pushes Despite Duterte’s withdrawal of support in the said legalization, the Philippine Cannabis Compassion Society (PCCS) insisted that it will continue its fight for the approval of medical marijuana’s use.

President Rodrigo Duterte will not allow the legalized use of medical marijuana during his term, Malacañang reiterated on Tuesday, March 12.

Philstar.com photo by KJ Rosales

In a Facebook post, the medical marijuana group urged the public and cannabis advocates alike to push for its legal usage and accessibility.

“To all patients and their family members advocating for medical cannabis, are you ready and willing to continue the fight for legal, regulated and safe access to affordable medical cannabis?” the post stated.

“Hanggang saan ninyo pwedeng ipaglaban ang medical cannabis? Kaya bang higit pa sa Facebook postings at comments?

Kaya bang lampas pa sa social media? Handa bang dalhin ang laban hanggang kalsada, hanggang Malacanang? (How far are you willing to fight for medical cannabis? Can you go beyond Facebook posts and comments?

Beyond social media? Are you willing to bring the fight on the streets up to Malacañang),” it added.

PCCS is a group of advocates pushing for safe, legal and affordable access to medical marijuana.

In January 2019, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 6517 or the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act to be able to provide “compassionate and right of access to medical cannabis and expanding research into its medicinal properties.”

Buhay Party-list Representative Lito Atienza said that the president’s decision constituted a correct political leadership in throwing out the bill seeking to legalize medical marijuana.

“The President’s case is consistent with our view that legalization [of medical marijuana] is bound to open a ‘Pandora’s box’ of drug abuse that can lead to an unwanted public health emergency, not to mention another law-enforcement problem,” Atienza said.

“Now that the president has spoken, we reckon that nobody will be foolish enough to introduce a similar measure in the next Congress,” he added as reported by The BusinessMirror. n

US report: PH gov’t execs ‘under...

PAGE A1 t communities—and his threats and tirades against the Catholic Church, women and those he deems as critics of the administration.

Top government officials, including Duterte, repeatedly said that the country would not cooperate with international bodies such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.

They usually accuse these bodies of meddling with the country’s affairs.

“A number of UN special rapporteur or working group visit requests remained pending. In February, the prosecutor of the ICC announced the opening of a preliminary examination of potential crimes, including extrajudicial and other killings, allegedly committed since July 1,

2016 in the government’s antidrug campaign,” the State Department said.

It added: “In a March speech, President Duterte ordered security forces not to respond to any probe or investigation requests on human rights abuses in the country.”

The Philippines’ pullout from the Hague-based tribunal would take effect on March 17, Sunday.

Lack of funds, limited ability to influence The same report noted that the Commission on Human Rights “lacked sufficient funding and staff to investigate and follow up on all cases presented to its regional and subregional offices.”

The Presidential Human Rights Committee—which serves

as the main advisory body to the president in addressing human rights issues in the country—is deemed by many NgOs as independent but “with limited ability to influence human rights policy,” the report said.

Severo Catura, undersecretary and executive director of the PHRC, said the Philippines is “not a perfect state” but has success stories on upholding human rights.

The U.S. State Department’s report also said that the casework under former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales “improved” although “administrative and institutional weaknesses remained” and the effectiveness of the Regional Human Rights Commission “remained unclear.” (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARch 16-19, 2019

A

Rappler to face anti-dummy charge

by AJPress

CAMPAIGN RALLY IN ISABELA. President Rodrigo Duterte raises the hands of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial candidates in a campaign rally at the F. L. Dy Memorial Coliseum in Cauayan City, Isabela on Wednesday, March 13.

Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi Jr.

PH warns citizens to remain indoors after mass shooting in New Zealand THE Philippine embassy in Wellington, New Zealand on Friday, March 15, advised the Filipino community in Christchurch to remain indoors following a mass shooting that killed at least 49 people and wounded 20 others.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippine embassy in Wellington was closely monitoring the aftermath of an alleged terrorist attack on

two mosques in Christchurch.

The unidentified suspect livestreamed his rampage on Facebook wherein he fired indiscriminately at men, women, and children at the Al Noor mosque and Linwood mosque. He described himself as 28-year-old born in Australia.

Ambassador Jesus Gary Domingo has coordinated with the Philippine consulate In Christchurch and leaders of the 5,000-

strong Filipino community in the area.

“The Philippines stands in solidarity with New Zealand following the tragic shootings in Christchurch this morning,” DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of those who lost their lives in the tragedy,” he added. (Bernadette Tamayo/ ManilaTimes.net)

PH court hands down first conviction on terrorist for crimes against humanity A PHILIPPINE court on Friday, March 15, handed down the country’s first conviction of a terrorist for crimes against humanity and genocide and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua.

Junaid Awal, a member of the IS-inspired Maute Group, was also found guilty by the Taguig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 70 of rebellion for his participation in the uprising against the government in Marawi City in 2017 and was sentenced from 8 years and 1 day to 14 years, 8 months and

1 day. He was also required by the court to pay a P500,000 fine.

Awal’s conviction for the crimes against huanity was in violation of the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said.

The Maute group seized Marawi City in May 2017 in a bid to establish a caliphate or an independent state to be headed by an emir.

The act of rebellion forced President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law as he or-

dered the deployment of troops to quell the uprising that displaced thousands of residents, damaged infrastructure and landmarks and killed hundreds of soldiers and insurgents over five months of fighting.

The liberation of Marawi in October 2017 and the government’s task of rebuilding the city and holding off terrorists prompted Duterte to ask Congress two more times for an extension of martial law, the last to end in December 2019. (Neil Jayson Servallos/ManilaTimes. net)

THE Pasig City prosecutor’s office has concluded its preliminary investigation on Philippine online news platform Rappler regarding its alleged violation of the country’s anti-dummy law.

In 2018, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) submitted a complaint to the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Rappler for its alleged violation of the Commonwealth Act 108 otherwise known as the Anti-Dummy Law. The law stated that foreigners are prohibited from intervening in the management, operation, administration, or control of any nationalized activity. Filipinos who were proved to violate this law is deemed to commit a criminal act punishable with five to 15 years of imprisonment.

A nationalized activity covered the ownership of a media network to which Rappler and Rappler Holdings Corporation were accused of violating. The said online platform reportedly received a donation from Omidyar Network and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar.

Under the provision of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, a media company - newspaper, television, radio etc. must be 100 percent controlled and operated

by Filipino citizens.

Other details of the case were not disseminated among the media as they reasoned out that doing so would preempt the decision of the investigating prosecutor on whether to dismiss or file the complaint in court.

SEC revokes Rappler registration The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked the registration of the said media company as it canceled all articles of incorporation of Rappler and RHC for “existing for no other purpose than to effect a deceptive scheme to circumvent the Constitution.”

According to the foreign equity restriction in the Constitution, the Presidential Decree and the Securities Regulation Code clearly stated that media platforms must be owned and managed by Filipinos.

“The ownership and management of mass media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines, or to corporations or associations wholly owned and managed by such citizens,” the code stated as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The Rappler camp filed a mo-

tion for reconsideration but was later on dismissed by the Court of Appeals. Appeals Court Associate Justice Rafael Antonio Santos rejected the plea of the media network to reverse the ruling of SEC. “After careful scrutiny of the instant motion, this Court finds that it presents no compelling reason to justify the reconsideration of this Court’s decision dated 26 July 2018. The arguments raised by petitioners are essentially the same as those that have already been discussed and were exhaus-

tively passed upon in this Court’s decision,” Santos wrote.

“In summary, a motion for reconsideration grounded on arguments already submitted to the court and found to be without merit may be denied summarily, as it would be a useless ritual for this Court to reiterate itself. Here, petitioners did not raise any new matter of issue in its motion. Accordingly, this Court finds no cogent justification to reconsider its decision dated 26 July 2018,” he added. n

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OPINION

FEATURES

Deadlock

STUDENTS are preparing for summer vacation and the campaign for the midterm elections in May is heating up. The government has issued a budget call to executive departments, to start drawing up their 2020 outlay proposals for submission to the incoming 18th Congress in July.

Those involved in the complicated task of preparing their office budgets must be shaking their heads in frustration. For the first time since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s presidency, when the national budget was reenacted practically every year, the proposed General Appropriations Act is once again stuck in Congress.

While a reenacted budget does not paralyze the Philippine government, it slows down the delivery of basic services and throws askew timetables for the implementation of projects and programs. In the past, a reenacted budget allowed the Arroyo administration to classify as savings the funds unspent from the previous year’s outlay. Such “savings” could then be impounded and realigned by the government for purposes other than what was intended in the original GAA – a system that provides broad opportunities for graft.

This time, the House of Representatives and Senate are in a deadlock over the P3.757-trillion GAA for 2019. And it looks like a battle simply over what lawmakers see as their personal entitlements in the use of public funds.

House members led by Arroyo were accused by senators of amending the 2019 outlay after it had been approved by the bicameral conference commit-

tee, with congressmen inserting P79 billion in funds for itemized projects in certain districts. The House countered that senators realigned P75 billion in lump sum appropriations after the bicameral conference.

It’s as if the Supreme Court never banned the congressional pork barrel. A miffed President Duterte appealed for the approval of the GAA, but said he would not sign an “illegal” budget law.

Economic managers warned that the reenacted budget had effectively frozen the implementation of projects costing nearly P500 billion mostly for the Build, Build, Build program. It was also derailing the delivery of basic services and would likely cut growth figures this year, the economic managers warned.

It may be expecting too much of lawmakers to set aside their selfish interests and pass the GAA. The people, especially those who are feeling the adverse effects of a reenacted budget, can take their revenge in the May elections. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Republicans in Congress rebuke Trump to defend the Constitution

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS NEWS HEADLINES from recent weeks foreshadow an epiphany in the Republican Party.

FINALLY. More and more Republicans in Congress are standing up to President Donald Trump to protect and defend the Constitution, a solemn vow they made when they were sworn into office.

FINALLY. More and more Republicans in Congress are remembering the sacred truth enshrined in the Constitution, that the United States is a democracy and that the three branches of government — executive, legislature, judiciary — are co-equally mandated to provide checks and balances among each other so that not one person, not one institution can abuse power at the expense of the American people and the democratic principles, institutions, and processes.

FINALLY. More and more Republicans in Congress are fighting to reclaim back the Republican Party, the true spirit and values of the party of Lincoln and Reagan that had been made hostage by the real estate mogul and reality show star Donald Trump.

FINALLY. More and more Republicans are growing their testicular and moral fortitude back, despite the threats to their political survival by the vindictive governance of Trump, who demands loyalty for himself and his interest and not for the Constitution.

Newsflash: A dozen Republicans joined Democrats on Thursday, March 14, to overturn President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration to fund a border wall. Before this, 13 House Republicans reached across the aisle to rebuke Trump’s declaration of national emergency.

Several of the Republican senators criticized Trump’s move as presidential overreach that set a “dangerous precedent” and undermined the

separation of powers laid out in the Constitution.

According to the Washington Post, the GOP lawmakers were also concerned about Trump’s use of the National Emergency Act to “grab $3.6 billion appropriated by Congress for military construction projects nationwide and use it to build barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border instead.”

House Republicans likewise sided with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who contended, “This is not an emergency, and the Congress has declared a strong bipartisan voice that the president’s fearmongering doesn’t make it one.”

The declaration of national emergency underscored Trump’s obsession and fixation on building the border wall that he promised during the campaign that Mexico would pay for, and not from the hard earned money of American taxpayers.

President Trump on Friday, March 15, vetoed the bipartisan resolution. However, the Washington Post reported that

Battles in Syria and revisiting Beirut WE journeyed to Beirut, Lebanon and then to Homs, Syria from PeaceFebruary 25 to March 2, 2019 on invitation by my good friend Alex Maker Fu, a business leader in Australia, China, and the Philippines, and his business partners Tony FORMER SPEAKER Lam, a young Chinese business JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. executive based in Sydney, and Sam Fayad, a Lebanese but has lived in Australia since he was 17 years old.

Mr. Fayad is a leading real estate developer in Australia and is looking for investment opportunities in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. We were joined in this trip by Alex Fu’s lovely Filipina wife, Anne Fu of Davao and Pangasinan, and my Assistant, Aldwin Requejo, who worked as junior executive in the Secretariat of the Philippine House of Representatives for 17 years.

The last time we visited Beirut was some 40 years ago, when we pioneered as prime contractor in port operations in Jeddah on the Red Sea and Jubail on the Persian Gulf (Arab Gulf), as well as in oil drilling, infrastructure, and mass housing in the Middle East and North Africa. So when Alex Fu invited us to join him in Beirut, we thought it was an opportunity to set foot once again in the “Paris of the Middle East” and rekindle old friendships, established more than four decades ago.

Lebanon was once part of the great Phoenician Empire, composed of states located along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea stretching through what are now Syria, Lebanon, and northern Israel.

The Phoenicians were considered “the best sailors of the Ancient World, exploring the Mediterranean region and made advances in shipbuilding, maritime trading, and maritime technology.” (Wikipedia) They also invented the alphabet in 1200 B.C.,

which is the basis of the alphabet we use today.

Today, Lebanon is the most religiously diverse country in the Middle East, composed of the two divisions of Islam (Sunni and Shia) and Christianity (the Maronite Church, Orthodox Church, Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Protestant Church, and the Armenian Apostolic Church).

In Beirut, we met with Speaker Nabih Berri of the Parliament of Lebanon, perhaps the longest serving Speaker in the world, as he has been holding the post since 1992 or for 27 years. Berri, a Shia Muslim, is most knowledgeable in geopolitics and religious history. We exchanged ideas on the prospects of peace in the Middle East.

We also invited him to address the 20th Founding Anniversary and 11th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) to be held in Manila next year. The ICAPP, which we founded and launched in Manila in September 2000, is now composed of more than 300 ruling, opposition and independent political parties from 52 countries in Asia, including the political parties of Lebanon. In fact, Lebanon’s Future Movement Party and Free Patriotic Movement Party are represented in the ICAPP Standing Committee, which we Chair.

It is interesting to note that in Lebanon, the President must be a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim, and the Speaker of Parliament a Shia Muslim. This agreement helps provide unity and stability in a country of diverse religions.

We also exchanged views with the Deputy

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the House is likely to hold a vote on March 26, which the Democrats deem to be an opportunity to underscore their stance on the need for balance of power and get Republicans on the record again, even if such vote won’t get them the required two-thirds majority to override Trump’s veto. Should this happen, the emergency declaration would still take into effect, although the implementation may be delayed by a long legal battle already started by 16 states which may go up all the way to the Supreme Court.

Republicans likewise joined Democrats in the House to overwhelmingly pass a resolution — with a vote of 420 to zero — calling for special counsel Robert Mueller’s report to be made available to the public and Congress.

It has been widely talked about that Mueller will soon finish his report and deliver it to Barr, who has not indicated whether he will make it public.

“This transparency is a fundamental principle necessary

Rhizomes

PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. “By ensuring that no one in government has too much power, the Constitution helps protect ordinary Americans every day against abuse of power by those in authority.” – Chief Justice JOHN ROBERTS WE are all in this together — in this country, USA, and even if we pretend we are far removed from what is happening in the White House, we are all affected by what our President does.

Imagine how he is now threatening a major pillar to our social safety net — throw out medical services for the aged, the seniors, the disabled, the children, and more and let them suffer. In the meantime, after enabling internal suffering in the millions, after furloughing 800,000 federal workers, he wants to do millions more by building the border walls. This time his obsession with his manly “wall” is really an aggressive statement that “I am king” regardless of what US Constitution says that all three branches of government (executive, judicial, legislative) are co-equal and are in parity, the way the founders in-

to ensure that government remains accountable to the people,” the Democrats said in a statement.

“As the Department of Justice made clear over the last two years, DOJ policy permits disclosure of investigative materials when it serves the public interest, even as they pertain to ‘uncharged third parties,’” the statement revealed. “The public is clearly served by transparency with respect to any investigation that could implicate or exonerate the President and his campaign.”

As NBC News reported, House Democrats have already signaled they may subpoena the report and/or Mueller himself to appear before Congress should Barr decide to keep the report private.

A majority of Americans - 68 percent - want the report of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation to be released, according to a Politico/ Morning Consult poll released late February. The report’s release has broad support from both parties, with 79 percent

of Democrats supporting the release while 5 percent do not and 59 percent of Republicans supporting the release while 18 percent do not.

TRUMP responded saying the Mueller report should not be released. If he is innocent as he professed of any crime, if he had indeed been honest with the American people, what is he so afraid of?

THERE IS HOPE. But we have to do our part to protect our democracy. We should do our part in letting our Senators and Representatives know about issues that have far reaching consequences to our lives and our nation. We should look at the facts and not give in to blind loyalty and fanaticism.

This is what informed and conscientious decision-making is all about. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https:// www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Hope for Change to Remove Power-Abusive Weeds in Institutions tended it to be.

The U.S. republic is only 243 years old, if we count that the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. We now have 21st century’s imperialistic president who wants to overreach his executive powers to cover even the legislative authority to appropriate funding, provide oversight and to make laws. He has been thwarted in his efforts by the US Senate of late, when they voted 59-41 to rebuke and reverse his declaration of “national emergency” on the border with 12 Republicans joining a solid Democratic bloc.

This time, these Republicans are prioritizing the country over their party.

But a lot of this national emergency is a man-made crisis by this 45th U.S. President. The Daily Podcast of the New York Times on Nov. 21 reported 700,000 pending asylum cases in the U.S. So why would Pres. Trump send over 5,000 military troops when he could have sent analysts and lawyers that would have reduced the backlog?

Instead, Trump introduced me-

tering where only 30 asylum applicants can apply daily. Crowds that are in the thousands have resorted to arbitrary encampments at the border, essentially waiting for their turn to apply for asylum and that waiting can be for months, if not years, as only 30 are allowed to apply each day.

These mothers were fleeing persecution at the hands of gang members, facing the certainty of death if they do not comply so they have opted to protect their children and are simply seeking safety and a new future.

So if these potential refugees are following the procedures of applying for asylum, why are these families being demonized as if they are criminals and part of gangs that they are fleeing from? Do you sense a blatant institutional racist policy from the President?

Is it any wonder why Michael Cohen characterized him as a racist, a con man and a cheat and elaborated on some of his “expansive pattern of lies and criminality,” according to the New York Times?

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OpiniOn & Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARch 16-19, 2019

A

Hope for Change to Remove Power-Abusive...

PAGE A8 In his testimony before U.S. Congress’ oversight committee headed by U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings, he provided copies of checks made out from Donald Trump’s charitable foundation signed by Donald Trump, Jr. and the Trump organization’s lawyer, Allan Weisselberg and another check signed by Donald Trump himself to silence two women with sordid past affairs with him, Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal just before the 2016 Presidential elections.

Stormy Daniels was reported to have had an affair with the U.S. President and was paid $130,000 to be quiet about the affair and Karen McDougal’s story was paid by National Enquirer who squashed the story.

We ask — why would reasonably minded folks submit to a pattern of deception for access to power? Why would anyone lose their soul and ignore the pangs of their conscience?

116th U.S. Congress oversight We rejoice that U.S. Congress is presiding over hearings questioning Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen on the family separation policy that separated children from their parents and were held in cages. She kept parsing the definition of cages and instead referred to them as “detention spaces.” She finally agreed to the “larger than dog spaces,” and defined it as chain linked spaces placed on concrete floors, where folks can stand, move around and sit, essentially cages where noncriminals and potential refugees are housed in. As if that sanitized definition will diminish the cruelty and barbaric border policies of this administration.

What makes folks in power submit to insanity and irrational lies? What causes them to forego their own conscience and even their own humanity? When we are this inhumane to others, we too are defined by that inhumanity and we become morally misaligned.

To date, there are thousands separated from their families and when questioned, the Secretary of Homeland Security remarked “there is a list but the list is in Mexico.”

What do all these flagrant abuses of power mean to us?

It is happening not just in the US, but in other countries as well.

We have in the Philippines a head of state who calls on bishops and priests as dispensable leaders

with death threats shadowing those who oppose arbitrary killings and murders.

We also have flagrant abuses of power even amongst the rich, the famous and the privileged.

They are now being exposed by the FBI in a $ 25 million scam of paying proctors and test takers of SAT tests to improve these rich kids’ chances at admission into college.

Two Hollywood celebrity figures, Felicity Huffmann who is involved in a non-profit promoting the inspiring lives of pioneering women in America and Lori Loughlin, posted bail after the ring leader of the scam, William Ring Singer, pled guilty last Tuesday, March 12.

Why do we find even Hollywood celebrities, sports coaches, and even academic proctors losing their consciences in promoting these scams? Have we lost our sense of propriety and decency as a nation? Are we all mired in a swamp of lies, falsehoods, and schemes to evade the truth?

We are now publicly witnessing even Pope Francis apologizing for decades and decades of abusive sexual crimes committed against the Catholic laity.

We recently read about Cardinal George Pell being sentenced to six years in jail. Read that sentence again – can we reconcile Cardinal with the word jail? What happened to even our moral leaders?

Public trust and consequences of human failures One can theorize the absence of humility, a clear case of spiritual arrogance and abuse of power. When one is a Cardinal, Bishop and even a priest, a president, a celebrity, rap singer, a musician, a television executive, a film producer, a theater director, actors, we seem to endow these public figures with public trust. That relegated higher status presumes they have “higher than normal” morals, decency and an impeccable code of conduct that respects all people. Instead, when we find them abusing our children and our women and boys, we resort to lawsuits to get justice.

But truly, the failures emanate from the home and the parents.

What were the parents thinking while these children were growing up to become teenagers? Did they morally exercise their guidance and leadership? Did they tell these children – it is not okay

to help yourselves to someone’s body or to someone’s wealth and feel privileged about not considering any consequences?

For example, do you feel entitled as an employee to use the company credit card for your personal expenses? Do you feel entitled to have someone pay for your travel expenses just because?

What are we supposed to gather as lessons on these flagrant abuses of power that we seem to read daily coming from the White House, the churches, the entertainment industry and now academic institutions? Are we weeding out weeds of abuses to clean up and refresh our institutions? Or are we elevating folks with hollowed out cores with no consciences and regard for consequences for their wrongdoings? Are we electing morally bankrupt folks into office because we align with them? Or not?

Spring and Lent come together to give us all opportunities for changes. I myself would need to reexamine where I have hidden cobwebs that enabled dust and dirt to accumulate inside my heart.

It is time to renew and for justice to bloom once more in America and in many parts of the world.

As I write this, my heart aches for the 49 dead and 41 injured inside two mosques in New Zealand, who were killed by an Australian terrorist, as reported

by NBC News March 14. It is time we root out hatred and not propagate violent words in our 21st century spaces in homes, state houses, public squares and more importantly churches and mosques. May this spring time present an opportunity for all to move away from all these barbaric animalistic actions of abuse and violence and for the rest of us to stand for truth and justice! *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 10 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong.

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

MOTORCADE. The Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium Uong-Balat (oyster mushroom and sea cucumber) FIESTA (Farms and Industry Encounter through Science and Technology Agenda) kicks off with a motorcade around Vigan City, Ilocos Sur on Wednesday, March 13. The event, which carried the theme “Agri-aqua industry for sustainable growth and collective prosperity”, is participated in by 18 consortium members.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Battles in Syria and revisiting...

PAGE A8 Speaker of Parliament, Elie Ferzil, an Eastern Orthodox Christian and former Information Minister, who is also very conversant in geopolitics. Ferzil reminisced to us his visit in Manila in the late 1970s and said he looked forward to visiting Manila again. We also invited him to attend the ICAPP conference in Manila next year.

We also paid a courtesy call on Maronite Church Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, who told us that our own beloved Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was arriving in Beirut shortly to address the Conference of the Caritas Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa. Cardinal Tagle serves as President of Caritas Internationalis.

We remembered meeting the then Cardinal Patriarch Anthony Peter Khoraish, who became a friend, during our visit in Beirut in the 1970s. Cardinal Khoraish passed away in 1986.

We were also happy to meet with a dear friend of some 40 years, Hany Salaam, who is one of the successful business leaders in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Hany Salaam, who has been living in London for many years, flew to Beirut to welcome us. His daughter, Ghida, is married to Prince Talil bin Muhammad of Jordan, first cousin of the current King Abdullah II. If we wanted to, with his experience in economics, entrepreneurship, and diplomacy, he could have been a great Prime Minister which had been offered him in

the past as were his uncles who served in Lebanon.

In the course of our visit in Lebanon, we drove to Homs Governorate in Syria, a threehour drive from Beirut and met with its intrepid and far-sighted Governor Talal Barazi, who told us that seventy percent of Homs was ravaged during the war with ISIS. We saw up close the atrocious damages in the community. Some residents have returned to their homes and are beginning to rebuild their lives.

As of this writing, some 500

ISIS fighters have surrendered to Syrian military forces in Baghouz, in eastern Syria, near the Iraqi border, the jihadists’ last remaining enclave. We hope the vicious fighting there will have come to a close when this column appears but we are afraid the ISIS cells will move to other regions as they have small cells infiltrating parts of Europe and who recently intruded in force into our Marawi City, leading to its near destruction and is today in the midst of successful rebuilding by the Duterte government. n

Dateline PhiliPPines

A10 March 16-19, 2019 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOUrNaL

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Duterte: I will be firing another set of officials

by AJPress PhiliPPine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, March 13, announced he will be firing another set of government officials over corruption issues. “i will be firing another set of officials. i’m sorry. Mahirap kasi (It’s difficult). iyan lang ano ko if you want to help me run the government at yung programa ko. You know, ako lang ang presidente ngayon. i have distributed almost 160,000 hectares. (That’s my only issue, if you want to help me run the government and my programs.

I’m the only president now),” he said during a speech in Cau-

ayan City, isabela during the campaign sortie of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - lakas ng Bayan (PDP-laban). however, Duterte did not identify the officials who are the sources of his frustration.

The statement came following Malacañang’s announcement that former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Alexander Balutan was fired “due to serious corruption allegations.” This was later retracted by presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, saying the official resigned instead.

Duterte in the past had repeatedly said he would fire gov-

ernment officials even with just a “whiff” of corruption. he had received criticisms, however, for firing officials without pursuing charges against them.

Furthermore, some of the government officials were merely transferred to other agencies during the height of their controversies. Customs chief isidro lapeña and nicanor Faeldon, for example, left the Bureau of Customs after the multi-billion shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) mess.

They were later reassigned to the Technical education and Skills Development Authority and Bureau of Corrections, respectively. n

Filipino adult internet users increased by six percent - SWS

by Nathalie

Robles

AJPress

A ReCenT Social Weather Stations survey (SWS) on Wednesday, March 13, revealed that the number of adult Filipinos who use the internet rose to 47 percent last quarter, a sixpoint increase from 41 percent in September 2018.

Adult Filipinos aged 18 to 24 use the internet the most at 88 percent, followed by ages 25 to 34 at 69 percent. Ages 35 to 44 comprised 56 percent of the frequent internet users while ages 45 to 54 ranked fourth with 32 percent and lastly ages 55 and above comprised 17 percent.

“The proportion of Filipino adults using the internet has been steadily increasing since SWS first asked about it in June 2006, when it was at 8 percent,” the polling firm said as reported

by The Manila Times. “it ranged from 11-19 percent from September 2007 to December 2011 and rose to 2332 percent from March 2012 to December 2015. it ranged from 34-42 percent from April 2016 to September 2018, before it reached a record-high 47 percent in December 2018,” it added.

The 2019 report from the polling firm maintained that Metro Manila had the most number of internet users with 59 percent. however, there was a five percent decrease from the recorded 64 percent in the previous quarter.

PHILIPPINE ARMY ANNIVERSARY. Lt. Col. Demy Zagala (right), Philippine Army public affairs chief, discusses preparations for their 122nd Philippine Army anniversary on March 22 during the Kapihan Sa Manila Bay at the Cafe Adriatico in Malate, Manila on Wednesday, March 13. He said this year’s anniversary highlights the Filipino soldiers’ sacrifices and gallantry through the theme, “122 Years of Heroism, Securing the Land”. Also in photo are Col. Patricio Ruben P. Amaya, GSC (INF), (center) and Col. Facundo O. Palafox IV CAV (GSC) PA Regiment Commander.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Court orders arrest of Kris Aquino’s ex-business manager Nicko Falcis

by Neil JaysoN

seRvallos ManilaTimes.net

Children browse through social media network website Facebook in a computer shop.

Philstar.com photo

The country’s metropolitan capital always had the recordhigh in terms of internet users since 2006. it was then followed by the Balance luzon with 56 percent, a nine-point increase from the previous quarter’s 47 percent.

The Visayas, in the recent survey, had 35 percent of internet users. it rose by seven points from 28 percent in September, followed by Mindanao with a five-point increase at 32 percent from the previous 27 percent.

The survey stated that the internet use was “highest” among classes ABC at 61 percent, while usage for class D was at a new record high of 49 percent, and

through an access device) of RA 8484 or the Access Device Regulation Act of 1998.

A TAGUiG court ordered the Assistant State Prosecutor arrest of actress-host Kris Aqui- Claire Pagayanan on Monday no’s former business manager, also indicted Falcis for estafa a day after he was indicted for or swindling through misapaccess device fraud. propriation and conversion Acting Presiding Judge Felix charges.

Reyes signed the arrest warrant The indictment stemmed against nicko Falcis on March from Falcis’ alleged charging of 8 and set his bail at P60,000. more than P1 million to a bank The court said Falcis violated corporate card under Aquino’s Section 9 (j) (Obtaining money company KCAP without con-

sent from the actress.

The case stemmed from several transactions made last year in Taguig amounting to P437,595.67 using the KCAP credit card.

Falcis denied the allegations and argued that he could use the credit card, which had his name on it.

The Access Devices Regulation Act prohibits the fraudulent use of an access device, which in this case was a credit card. n

class e was at 34 percent. it also recorded that women use the internet more with a five-point difference at 49 percent than men with only 44 percent.

The SWS survey also proved that Filipinos spend the most time on the internet and on social media sites, according to a 2019 report.

The poll, conducted from December 16 to 19, 2018 using face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults nationwide, had sampling error margins of ±2.6 percent for national percentages, and ±5 percent each for Balance luzon, In this Oct. 29, 2018 photo, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. jointly Metro Manila, the Visayas, and meets the press after their talks in Davao. Upon the invitation of Wang, Locsin will undertake an official visit to China from March 18 to 21.

Mindanao. n Photo courtesy of DFA

DFA chief Locsin to visit China

by PatRicia louRdes Philstar.com

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

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

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

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

viRay

MAnilA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddy” locsin Jr. will undertake a four-day official visit to China next week, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday, March 14.

This will be his first visit to China since assuming the top DFA post in October last year.

Upon the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, locsin will be in China from March 18 to 21.

“Secretary locsin and his Chinese counterpart will hold a bilateral meeting to discuss the strengthening of the friendly relations between the Philippines and China in the spirit of mutual respect and through enhanced functional cooperation,” the DFA said in a statement.

The two foreign ministers are

also expected to discuss “ways to advance the larger goal of bringing about peace and prosperity to the region.”

The Philippines and China have been embroiled in a maritime dispute over the South China Sea, where the latter had constructed artificial islands and installed military facilities.

Under the Aquino administration, the Philippines lodged an arbitration case before a haguebased tribunal against China’s nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea, part of which is the West Philippine Sea. in 2016, the international tribunal ruled in favor of Manila, invalidating Beijing’s expansive claims over the contested waterway.

The Duterte administration, however, opted to hold a bilateral consultation mechanism with China to settle the dispute.

in March 2018, locsin’s predecessor Alan Peter Cayetano flew to Beijing to discuss the possible joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea. A few months after the March visit, Cayetano would declare that the two countries agreed not to set a deadline on the possible joint exploration.

The Philippines’ initial proposal to China was a 60-40 sharing in favor of Manila. During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s official visit to Manila in november, the Philippines and China signed a memorandum of understanding on oil and gas development. locsin later on clarified that the signed MOU was a deal to “agree to arrive at an agreement” as early on declared by energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi as there is no agreement yet on the proposed joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea. n

Duterte signs law making adoption process simpler by alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MAnilA — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill that would simplify the adoption process and grant amnesty to those who tampered records to make it a appear that a child was born to a person who is not the biological mother.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11222 or the Simulated Birth Rectification Act on February 21.

A copy of the law was released

by Malacañang on Thursday, March 14.

The new law would allow the rectification of the simulated birth of a child, in which the simulation was made for the best interest of the child.

Simulation of birth record refers to the “tampering of the civil registry to make it appear in the record of birth that a child was born to a person who is not such child’s biological mother, and causing the lost of the true identity and status of such child.” it would also fix the status and filiation of a child whose birth was simulated by giving such child all the benefits of adoption and ensuring that he or she would be entitled to all rights provided to legally-adopted children.

The law also seeks to provide for a simpler and less costly administrative adoption proceeding that will apply to children who have been living with persons

who simulated their birth record for at least three years.

Under the law, a person who simulated a child’s birth and who cooperated in doing so shall not be criminally, civilly or administratively liable provided that it was made for the best interest of the child and the child has been consistently considered and treated by the person as his or her own son or daughter. To avail of the amnesty, the person should have filed a petition for adoption with an application for the rectification of the simulated birth record within ten years from the effectivity of the law.

A person who simulated the birth of a child may avail of adoption proceedings and rectify the birth record if the child has been living with the person for at least three years before the law took effect. Also required is a social welfare department-issued certificate declaring the child legally available for adoption.

Republic Act 8552 or the Domestic Adoption Act penalizes those who cause the fictitious registration of the birth of a child under the name of a person who is not the biological parent. in an earlier statement, Sen. Grace Poe, principal author of the Simulated Birth Rectification Act, said the provision made adoption tedious and costly for ordinary Filipinos.

Under the new law, adoptors must be Filipino citizens, of legal

age, possess full civil capacity and legal rights, of good moral character, have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude, emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for children and capable of supporting the child.

For couples by which one of the adopters is a foreigner married to a Filipino, the foreigner must have been residing in the Philippines for at least three years before the filing of the petition for adoption. instead of going through court proceedings, those who seek to adopt a child may file a petition with the social welfare and development officer of the city or town where the child lives. The social welfare secretary shall decide on the petition within 30 days from receipt of the recommendation of the agency’s regional director.

Once the requirements are satisfied, the adopted child would be considered a legitimate son or daughter and will be entitled to all rights and obligations provided by law.

About 6,500 children have been declared available for adoption, almost 4,000 of them under the care of state-run facilities, according to a recent Senate statement.

The lower chamber passed house Bill 5675 on Dec. 12, 2018, while the upper chamber approved Senate Bill 2081 on Dec. 13, 2018. n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARch 16-19, 2019

A11

Complaint filed vs Legarda over ‘illegal’ use of govt funds for Antique

by William

Depasupil

ManilaTimes.net

AN advocacy group has filed a complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against outgoing Sen. Loren Legarda for alleged violation of election laws.

The Filipino League of Advocates for Good Governance (FLAGG), in its lettercomplaint addressed to Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas, claimed that Legarda, who is running for congressman in the lone district of Antique, was “illegally” benefiting from government funds.

The complaint was dated March 4, 2019 and signed

by Junex Doronio, director of FLAGG for the Visayas. It claimed that the senator violated Section 261 of the Omnibus A Filipina pushes her cart toward the exit of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan Election Code when she personally distributed government projects in Antique.

“We find it very surprising that despite the fact that her service workers (HSWs), would man Arman Hernando said that

by William Depasupil not be able to pay P960 a month. under the new law, it was the ManilaTimes.net In a meeting with Labor Sec- OFW who would bear the brunt OPPOSITION to the mandatory retary Silvestre Bello 3rd, Susan of paying the monthly contribumembership of Overseas Filipino Ople pointed out that a newly tions and not the employer.

“Worst, OFWs will be forced to Workers (OFWs) to the Social Se- hired domestic helper would not curity System (SSS) mounted on be able to raise the enrollment contribute P2,400 per month as Wednesday, March 13, as more amount because she has not long as the host country does not enter into a bilateral agreement groups questioned its enforce- even started earning.

Recruitment consultant and that will obligate employers to ment.

Migrante International said no migration expert Emmanuel remit their contributions,” Herconsultation was conducted by Geslani said asking a domestic nando said.

The SSS plans to enroll some worker to pay the enrolment fee the SSS on the matter.

The Blas Ople Policy Center to the SSS as a pre-condition 3 million OFWs under the mancoverage provisions (BOPC) and other OFW sectors for the processing of her travel datory also expressed reservations, documents would be repres- of Republic Act 11199, otherwise known as the “Social Security pointing out that newly hired sive.

Migrante Philippines Chair- Act of 2018.” n OFWs, particularly household

OFWs oppose mandatory SSS membership

Marawi City vice mayor arrested on rebellion charges by al Jacinto ManilaTimes.net

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Security forces arrested on Wednesday, March 13 the vice mayor of Marawi City who is facing charges of rebellion, an army spokesman said.

Capt. Clint Antipala of the 1st Infantry Division (ID) said Arafat Salic was arrested by soldiers and police officers before noontime at Marawi City Hall.

“Salic is included in the Office of the Martial Law Administrator Arrest Order dated Sept. 4, 2017 for rebellion case,” Antipa-

la said, quoting a report by Col. Romeo Brawner, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade.

He said Salic, who underwent a routine medical check-up, would be handed over to the police. Over 300 people, mostly alleged members or supporters of pro-Islamic State (IS) and terrorist groups, were included in the arrest order.

Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, commander of the 1st ID, lauded Salic’s capture.

“The 1st Infantry Division supports the commander in chief’s (Rodrigo Duterte) declaration of Martial Law. We will

perform our duties in accordance with the law, respecting the rights of every individual and their properties. We take pride of the overwhelming support of the constituents and stakeholders in our area of responsibility as we perform our mandate to serve the people and secure the land,” Ancan said.

In May 2017, Duterte placed Mindanao under a state of martial law following the deadly siege of Marawi by pro-IS militants. Congress extended martial rule in Mindanao until the end of this year. n

intention to run in Antique was general knowledge, she parades and harps in the province that she funded innumerable projects in Antique,” it said.

Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code enumerates various prohibited acts, which constitute an election offense.

Doronio said the senator’s actions also run directly against the Supreme Courts decision on the pork barrel system because she treated government funds as her own.

“As chair of the Senate committee she should refrain from doing this illegal and immoral practice. It is clear that her candidacy is benefiting from these national projects that the Executive Branch is implementing in Antique,” the petitioner said.

Legarda, in a disqualification case filed against her by Exequiel Javier, a former congressman and governor of Antique, pointed out that as a senator and chairman of the Senate finance committee, she

allocated funds to provide financial assistance to Antique residents, and spearheaded several projects to preserve and promote the environment, tourism, and rich culture of the province.

The Comelec Second Division, in a resolution, dismissed last month the disqualification complaints separately filed by Javier and former Antique vice governor Robin Rubinos for allegedly misrepresenting in her certificate of candidacy her period of residency in Antique.

The decision though is not yet final and may still be elevated to the Commission en banc.

But Comelec spokesman James Jimenez pointed out that any negative decision issued by a Comelec Division would still have no effect on one’s candidacy, as in the case of Legarda.

“It is not yet final. There can be an appeal taken, which means no practical impact on the candidacy because it is not yet final,” he pointed out. n

A12 March 16-19, 2019 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOUrNaL

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SHOWBIZ&STYLE

B

Journal

‘Not OK’: Angelica Panganiban denies Carlo Aquino’s claims

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

ANGELICA Panganiban said there is no moving on process for her, but admitted she felt sad with the way things went out for her and former boyfriend Carlo Aquino.

In an interview with the media after the thanksgiving press conference of his daytime teleserye “Playhouse,” Angelica said: “Walang dapat ipag-move on.”

“May sadness pero nangyari ‘yon sa araw-araw na buhay ng isang tao. Hindi pwedeng masaya ka palagi,” Angelica added.

Contrary to Carlo’s statement, Angelica said that she is no longer friends and not on speaking terms with her “My Exes Baggage” co-star.

“Matagal na rin. Basta matagal na rin,” she said when asked when she stopped communicating with the actor.

It can be recalled that in Boy Abunda’s Pilipino Star Ngayon column, Carlo has been quoted as saying that he and Angelica are still “okay” and were talking to each other.

“As long as okay naman kami ni Angge, speaking terms naman kami, okay na ako doon.

Kung ano man ang sinasabi ng mga tao, I don’t feel the need to

explain anything. Basta ‘yung mga taong nagmamahal sa akin, ‘yung kilala ako, ‘iyon lang ang importante. Naiintindihan nila ako,” Carlo said.

Nevertheless, Angelica said on her recent “Gandang Gabi Vice” guesting that Carlo betrayed her on their two breaks up back then. When Angelica was asked if it is the same story now, Angelica said: “Ayokong sagutin. Hindi makakatulong sa iba.”

Angelica was also asked if Carlo uses him for his own sake.

“Mahirap ‘yon sagutin. Kailangan kong pa-analyze yon,” she replied.

The Star Magic artist also

Arjo Atayde on dating Maine Mendoza: ‘Very, very happy’

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

ARJO Atayde said he is happy now that Kapuso actress Maine Mendoza finally admitted that they are dating.

In an interview with the media after the press conference of his new socio-political action drama series “Bagman” to be shown on iWant, Arjo said of his relationship with Maine: “Masaya po ako. I am very, very happy. I am contented.”

Arjo, however, clarified that he and Maine are not already in a relationship.

“We are exclusively dating po.

Doon pa lang muna,” Arjo said.

When asked if he will announce if they are already officially in a relationship, Arjo said: “Let’s see po. One step at a time.”

Despite the hate he gets from fans of the AlDub love team of Maine and on-screen partner Alden Richards, Arjo said Maine is worth fighting for.

Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde

“As I’ve said last time, she’s worth fighting for, so you know.

Dedma na lang siguro. I’m just really happy. I can see her happy.

I guess that it’s all that matters for me,” Arjo said.

“We are both really happy.

I am. I don’t want to speak for her. I am very happy. I think that’s what matters now. With my career, ABS is taking care of me. My personal life is good. My

Photo from Instagram/@markednicdao

family is fine. I am very happy.

Kuntento po ako ngayon,” he added.

The actor also added that he wants to work with Maine in the future, but not for now.

“Of course. I would love to work with her. For now, huwag po muna. At saka na po, when the time is right. But of course, I am looking forward to working with her,” he said.

added that she does not want to work with Carlo now: “Siguro panahon makakapagsabi. Kung buhay pa siguro ako nun.”

Following the success of their movie “Exes Baggage,” Carlo eventually joined Angelica’s teleserye “Playhouse,” which stirred speculations from fans of a rekindled romance between the two.

Angelica, however, said in January that she has been staying away from Carlo since negativity from fans has affected their relationship.

Carlo was also rumored to be dating a model as photos of him and the woman circulated online.

Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino

ABS-CBN photo

B MARCH 16-19, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

EntErtainmEnt

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Nadine credits James for ‘healing’ her

by Boy

ABundA Philstar.com

New History Channel series follows legendary World War II treasure in the Philippines by

ChristinA M. oriel AJPress

LEGEND has it that during the final months of World War II, Japanese forces constructed underground tunnels in the Philippines to bury treasure worth hundreds of billions of dollars stolen from across Asia.

Often referred to as “Yamashita’s gold” — named after General Tomoyuki Yamashita, who led the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines in 1944 — the loot is said to contain gold, jewels, statues and art.

Now 75 years later, despite skeptics throughout the decades, the History Channel is taking viewers along for the adventure as it debuts “Lost Gold of World War II” this Tuesday, March 19 (10 p.m. ET/PT), an eight-part series to uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries.

A Los Angeles-based Filipino man got to take part in the series as a cast member after he responded to a casting call looking for a talent of FilipinoAmerican ancestry who has some knowledge on engineering and investigations.

Manny Paez, founder of shipping company Manila Forwarder, told the Asian Journal that he was semi-retired but was intrigued by the posting because it mentioned the ‘Golden Lily.’

That refers to the secret operation reportedly led by a group of princes to construct and booby-

Manny Paez, Jeremy McMillian, Peter Struzzieri, John Casey and Brad Carr in front of a pyramid from HISTORY’s “Lost Gold of World War II” premiering March 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

trap, using prisoners of war as labor, the underground tunnels for the treasure.

“When I was a teenager in the Philippines, a lot of people were into treasure hunting and it was an activity I did as a hobby.

So when [the post] mentioned Golden Lily, I knew this was something for real because not a lot of people knew about it, so I applied and got called by the casting agent…After many calls, eventually I landed the role,” Paez recalled.

Produced by Ample, with Ari Mark, Phil Lott and Ed Gorsuch as executive producers, the team — composed of investigators and engineers — went to the Philippines in early 2018 to do preliminary shooting for the pilot.

It was picked up by History Channel, which ordered the eight-episode series with Mike

Stiller and Mary E. Donahue as the executive producers. The crew went back to the Philippines four times in the last year to finish the season, while some scenes were shot in the United States.

What audiences can expect from these episodes, Lott told the Asian Journal, “History isn’t always what it seems. The deeper you go, the stranger it gets.”

In the first episode of “Lost Gold of World War II,” the team meets “Grandpa,” a Filipino farmer who had witnessed the operation during the war and for the first time is sharing his secrets with anyone else.

“We love mystery. When an elderly Filipino rice farmer tells you he saw Japanese troops at the end of World War II, spending months bringing unmarked crates up the mountain in his remote village - you listen,” Lott said.

James Reid and Nadine Lustre

Photo from Instagram/@nadine

hidden.

What Nadine can only affirm is their true love for each other. She revealed that they never talk about their respective past because they both believe that the present is what really matters. She stressed that they are faithful to each other, and added, “We just really love each other. My transition from who I was before to the person I am now is so beautiful that even if James and I don’t end up together, he will always have a special place in my heart kasi talagang nag-grow kami together.”

People also assumed that she gets easily affected when her family, friends and James are

being bashed online to which Nadine didn’t deny. “That’s a whole different story because it’s okay if it’s about me but when they are about the people I love, I can’t really control myself.”

Meanwhile, Nadine agreed to working without James in Ulan. She knows that working on projects with different screen partners is a good idea “for us to at least grow individually also.”

Asked if James is the man that she’s going to spend her life with, Nadine replied in the positive, saying, “I hope so.

We’ll see. Like I said, even if he’s not, I’m always (going to) be thankful for him.”

The areas in the northern cure a permit from the Departpart of the Philippines are not ment of Environment and Natural specified in the show, however, Resources (DENR).

“There are a lot of things that because they are still active treaswe found that would give a lot ure sites.

Currently under Philippine of satisfaction, excitement and knowledge, not 1only to Filipino laws, who want to engage AJ Adsthose 131 Feb 2019_Layout 1 2/14/19 1:47 PM Page in treasure hunting need to se- Americans, but to all the citi-

zens of the world,” Paez said. “I believe this will promote the Philippines to an international audience because they will see how beautiful the Philippines is and how friendly Filipinos are.

This was experienced by most of the crew and the cast.”

age gracefully

Asian Fusion: A Fistful of Flavors

BY GRACE O

In Southeast Asia, where I grew up, the cuisine has been influenced by many countries: China, Japan, Spain, France, America, and to some extent the Middle East and Northern Africa. So I’ve been practicing fusion cooking my whole life.

My mother ran a cooking school and my family operated multiple restaurants.

Asian fusion cooking is about using Mediterranean or American ingredients and, possibly, French techniques in classical Chinese, Thai, or Filipino recipes.

I like trying new and exotic ingredients and enjoy looking at trends in the healthy cooking sector. Then I add my own delicious Southeast Asian spin to create new recipes.

Take quinoa, which is a very trendy ingredient right now because of its many health benefits. To me, it has almost no flavor, and because I won’t eat something just because it’s good for me, I have to find a way to cook it so that I crave it. So I did. I took that crunchy Incan grain and added some sautéed shrimp, onions, scallions, and orange bell peppers.

This was a nice start, but quinoa, like rice and pasta, really benefits from a sauce because it’s so naturally flavorless.

Luckily, I discovered a food company called Sosu (http://sosusauces.com ) that makes an incredible ketchup with a kick.

They’re based in San Francisco. The young owner, Lisa Murphy, makes a spicy sriracha-laced ketchup call Srirachup.

I added it to my sautéed shrimp with vegetables. Then I spooned the concoction over the cooked quinoa. Success! If you can’t get your hands on Srirachup or if sriracha is too spicy for you, try making a Thai-flavored sauce using a purée of roasted red peppers, orange tomatoes, a pinch of curry powder, and a dollop of lemongrass.

Asian Fusion Shrimp and Quinoa 2 cups water ¼ tsp. pink Himalayan salt 1 tsp. crushed garlic 1 cup quinoa (red, or black, or white or a combination thereof ) 4 Tbsp. coconut oil 1 lb. shrimp, peeled (or skinless, boneless chicken breast cut into 1-inch cubes) ½ cup chopped red onion 4 scallions, chopped 1 orange bell pepper, seeded and diced 1 (8-ounce) jar Sosu Srirachup (or your own favorite sauce)

1. Bring water, salt, and garlic to a boil over high heat in a medium saucepan with a lid.

2. Add quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.

3. Sauté shrimp (or chicken cubes) in the coconut oil in shallow pan with all of the veggies over medium-high heat for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. (If using chicken, sauté for 5 minutes.)

4. Add sauce and cook an additional 3 minutes, or until the shrimp are opaque and the veggies halfway between crisp and tender.

5. Spoon sauce over the cooked quinoa.

© 2015–2019 by FoodTrients.com

Peter Struzzieri and John Casey have an interview conversation with a Filipino man, who was an eyewitness, in HISTORY’s “Lost Gold of World War II” premiering on March 19.

Photos by Ample/HISTORY

NADINE Lustre bravely showed her truest personality when she confirmed, denied and explained her side regarding assumptions and speculations about her, including her three-year romance with James Reid, in the episode of Tonight with Boy Abunda aired last March 4.

The lead star of Ulan tried to control herself from tearing up while telling how James was able to change her for the better and she credited him for her “healing.”

“I can say that I changed a lot for the better,” said Nadine whose onscreen love affair with James turned real. Both have evolved beautifully as a mature couple. “Before, I would worry about the small things because I am an overthinker. Madalas akong nagkaka-anxiety even until now, but I learned (how) to handle it properly. I’ve learned to let the bad stuff go. I don’t hold grudges anymore. I’m always positive like if something bad happens, hindi na ako ‘yung, ‘Oh my God, ano’ng gagawin ko?’ I (now) think logically then I strategize kung paano lalagpasan. I’m very calm now. I learned how to communicate and open up.”

Life without James is something that Nadine could hardly imagine, with her openly telling, “Iiyak ako. I’m really, really thankful that he came into my life. It was so different before…

He was the biggest instrument for my healing and finding myself.”

However, Nadine said there was no truth to the speculation that James had already proposed marriage to her when they celebrated their third anniversary in a private resort in Batangas. There was even an assumption that the two stars were secretly married based on the photo of Nadine’s hands posted on social media with her left hand appeared to be partly

GRACE O is the creator of FoodTrients®, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of two award-winning cookbooks — The Age Gracefully Cookbook and The Age Beautifully Cookbook, which recently won Gourmand’s ‘Best in the World’ Award for Innovation. She is a fusion chef with a mission to deliver delicious recipes built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 20 years in the healthcare industry.

Visit FoodTrients.com to learn more. Email us at info@FoodTrients.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 16-19, 2019 B3

Blown away by the story of the kind-hearted and timid ‘Kuya Wes,’ Ogie Alcasid hopes local audiences will be too with his first serious indie movie.

Contributed photo

‘Kuya Wes’ is Ogie’s ‘Forrest Gump’

what with his endless well of musicality and effortless comedic ability, it turns out that “Ogie da JUST when you think singer- Pogi” can also trigger the watersongwriter and comedian Ogie works when he extends himself Alcasid has done it all, he takes to dramatic roles. on an indie like “Kuya Wes,” both Though still with a touch as actor and first-time producer, of humor, Kuya Wes sees the competes at the 2018 Cinemala- gag show star [Ogie pioneered ya Film Festival and takes it as far “Tropang Trumpo” on TV5 and as the Fanstasporto Film Festival of course “Bubble Gang” along in Portugal, where the movie with Michael V on GMA Network earned rave reviews and a best before finally transferring to actress win for leading lady Ina ABS-CBN] in the titular character Raymundo early this month.

— a lonely and timid remittance Truly one of the most prolific clerk whose life is practically artists in Philippine showbiz, meaningless until he falls in love

by TESSA

MAURICIO-ARRIOLA ManilaTimes.net

SHE TRIED TO COMPLY, BUT HER CASE WAS DENIED…A MOTHER’S DESPAIR AND AN ATTORNEY’S RESCUE ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY”! Rowena and Mike came to the US in 2010 to build a better life. Rowena was sponsored as a teacher. As she was filing her third extension for her H1-B visa in 2016, the shocking news hit her. She was denied! Then her adjustment (green card) application was denied because, according to the USCIS, she worked a mere 14 days without the necessary DHS authorization. Three lawyers tried handling her case, to no avail, and her family was urging her to “give up” and return to the Philippines. She finally decided to consult with “the attorney of last hope,” Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel, in a last-ditch effort to be able to provide a better life for her children. Watch how Atty. Gurfinkel was able to solve the problem in a record 43 days, turning a disastrous denial into green cards for the entire family, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

MOONLIGHTING

by MYLAH DE

LEON

THE apple that fell far from the tree…one I could only dream of. A perfect newshen. God’s little pencil.

I would have taught her to begin each work by having a real and passionate curiosity about how people behave in infinitely various situations they find themselves in.

To be aware that no art can be reduced to principles or rules: because at the center, there is mystery no one has explained or could explain, that which gives great authors work their literary force, their particular charm, their vitality.

I will encourage unobtrusiveness — inculcate she is just an observer, a consummate one, and as a reporter. To be the reporter’s reporter, as objective, free of prejudices and pre-conceptions; as neutral and fair-minded as it is possible to be.

A newshen that is faithful to the facts. Who does not invent, but uses her determination where to look for the telling detail to reinforce her understanding of

The daughter in my mind

her subject, until she finds the happiest form in which to cast her piece. The one that chooses to inform, convey precisely what people did and said in certain circumstances in their life’s journey.

She doesn’t interpret, doesn’t analyze, or pass judgment.

What she does is to get at the truth. She does that with clarity, accuracy, simplicity — a simplicity grounded in her knowledge of just how complex every human being, every human event is.

I want her to look at the world with affection and enormous humor, and sanity. To be a watchful newshen who listens and brings back reports that cast light and give lasting pleasure, in a manner of reporting that is neither new nor old journalism but categorized as timeless journalism.

I imagine her reporting in a style that should be transparent and never calls attention to herself. To be ever present when people are going through actual experiences in their lives (beyond being interviewed), as they interact with one another. She reports in a style without ornament and without devices. It is natural and pure as spring water.

Above all, I want her to surge across the boundary separating women into the former bastions

of the editorial, where men previously dominate as chief opinion giver and defined what was newsworthy.

And whether she is writing fact or fiction, I imagine when she gets the things she feels are right and will write for those things wherever she finds herself.

She will learn to savor the breathtaking way she can walk into people’s lives to ask them anything she wants in that moment available to her, the whole universe of a person’s life — the pain and suffering, the joy and the struggle — and learn from it, as she takes it with her, and walks away.

The newshen who thinks for us, listens for us, asking the questions we might ask, if we were on the spot.

She is the adorable newshen who asks a decent question, broad enough to allow people to take off in many directions.

The newshen who knows how to turn on the tap eloquently and colorfully, achieving celebrity status, with power that staggers the mind.

This daughter I could not have, because, I would have died in labor. *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol. com

Gerald Santos landed rave reviews wherever he performed for the Cameron Mackintosh production.

Photo from Instagram/@thegeraldsantos

Gerald Santos is back!

by TESSA

MAURICIO-ARRIOLA ManilaTimes.net

AFTER almost two years of portraying the role of Thuy for “Miss Saigon’s” UK, Ireland and European tour, a more mature, polished, down to earth and definitely more talented Gerald Santos has returned to the Philippines, grateful to have done his small part in raising the flag for the Filipino artist abroad.

Truth be told, however, his performance as the Vietnamese soldier betrothed to Kim, before she fell in love with an American GI, was far from anything “small.”

For in terms of showcasing the Filipino talent on the international stage, the following numbers say it all: Gerald went on stage eight times a week (that’s twice on Sundays), performing 553 shows out of the tour’s total 605 shows, across six countries and 14 cities in 22 weeks. With no alternate and only an understudy for Thuy, the 8.6 percent absence of the

actor playing from the Cameron Mackintosh Limited Production accounts for allowable holidays and the one time he got sick in Germany.

“It was with ‘Miss Saigon’ I realized that musical theater isn’t a sprint but a marathon,” Gerald humbly imparted, quickly adding, “I really had to take care of myself and my voice, even if it meant going on complete voice rest as soon as one show ended to the next.”

More importantly, his performance earned rave reviews from the West End’s fiercest critics, and throughout the SchonbergBoublil musical masterpiece’s tour across Great Britain, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland and Germany.

As one Emily Garside wrote in Reviews Performing Arts, “Gerald Santos as Thuy, [an] often overlooked part, really rips at the heart and makes his part human, where in lesser hands, Thuy can seem little more than a plot-point.”

The others commonly de-

scribe him as brilliant, exceptional, powerful and awesome, among other superlatives, leaving no doubt that the reality singing competition winner from Navotas has truly gone a long way in his artistry and career.

“Hindi po mababayaran ang naranasan ko doon, mula sa personal — kung paano ko kinailangang alagaan ang sarili ko para makapag-perform every night, mamuhay ng mag-isa — hanggang sa pagigi kong artista and singer — my attitude to work, techniques to better my voice, and so much more,” Gerald expressed at his homecoming media conference.

His pride as a Filipino also came to the fore at every performance, with the 22-year-old “Pinoy Pop Superstar” alum averring, “As a Filipino, you want to do your best in front of a foreign audience.”

“I’m so happy to be home and I’m really looking forward to singing in the Philippines again,” Gerald enthused.

with Erika (Ina), a customer who comes in once a month to collect money sent by her overseas husband.

One day, Erika is devastated to learn her husband has stopped remitting money as Wes discovers he has left her for someone else. Eager to come to his lady love’s rescue, Wes decides to help Erika from his own pocket, which, besides changing the once lovelorn nobody also causes tension with his family.

“The truth is that Kuya Wes is something I’ve wanted to do PAGE B4

Catriona Gray stuns Indonesian President Joko Widodo

by JAN

MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

MISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray paid a courtesy visit to Indonesian President Joko Widodo after she crowned the new Puteri Indonesia winners.

In a post by a fan page dedicated to Catriona, the beauty queen was seen meeting and shaking hands with the Indonesian president.

“Catriona meets the President of Indonesia! Look at his reaction. What an honour!!” the fan page captioned the video.

In the video, Widodo can be seen captivated by the Filipina’s charm as he grinned and covered his mouth with his other hand, which drew laughter from people in the room.

Catriona’s courtesy visit to Widodo came after she crowned Puteri Indonesia’s Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss Supranational winners. Puteri is the Indonesian counterpart of the Philippines’ Binibining Pilipinas.

Frederika Alexis Cull was crowned Puteri Indonesia 2019 and will represent her country at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant, while Jolene Marie Cholock Rotinsulu was crowned as Puteri Lingkungan and Jesica Fitriana Martasari as Puteri Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray Pariwisata.

Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray

B MARCH 16-19, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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‘Kuya Wes’ is Ogie’s ‘Forrest Gump’...

PAGE B3 for a long time now. I mean I’ve been quietly on the lookout for my ‘Forrest Gump,’ if you like, which for me, transformed one of my biggest idols Tom Hanks into an actor,” Ogie related in an interview for the movie’s commercial run, which begins today. “Before then I’d watch him in straight comedies all the time, and then that wonderful and inspiring movie came along in his career. I knew right after

reading the script that Kuya Wes was that movie for me.”

Ogie, however, didn’t get to go from accepting Kuya Wes’ writer and director James Robin Mayo’s offer to shoot his long-awaited “se-rious” role right away. Mayo told the OPM icon and TV star he needed a producer to fund the project.

“If I’m not mistaken, Cinemalaya only gives P500,000 or so per entry, which is really not enough even for a small movie

like Kuya Wes. So I went around trying to find funding but I was turned down all the time — until ‘ASAP’ went to Toronto and I got to talk to Piolo (Pascual).”

Piolo, of course, is one-third of Spring Films, which is the maverick production company that struck gold with the quirky indie “Kita Kita” (2017), so Ogie made a go of it.

“I told him, ‘Piolo, may pelikula akong gusto sana gawin.

Basahin mo naman yung script; wag mo na ako bayaran pag nagustohan mo.’ He said, ‘Sige Kuya Ogie,’ and then I emailed Kuya Wes to him and waited.

Ang tagal ni Piolo but one day I heard from [his[his co-producer, director]ce Bernal who said they’ll do it but I had to coproduce as well,” Ogie gave the punchline.

“After that I talked to my boss of course,” he chuckled, obviously referring to his wife, singing superstar Regine Velasquez, “and she told me, ‘Kailan mo pa gagawin yan? Cinemalaya na yan!’ So I finally went for it and here we are today.”

Where Ogie is as an artist right now, with Kuya Wes in his body of work and trove of professional experiences, is a renaissance of sorts. While he knew from the very start he was taking a huge risk by getting out of his comfort zone in acting — in a serious movie different from what his audience is used to see him do — the response to Kuya Wes reinforced his longtime albeit quiet desire to do more inspiring and more meaningful movies.

Not a single bad review when it competed at Cinemalaya and in Portugal’s Fanstasporto.

“I really prayed about doing Kuya Wes and I remember asking Regine one time, ‘Why do you think God chose me for this movie?’ Ang tagal ko nang hindi gumagawa ng pelikula.

“I guess He has a purpose for me,” the actor humbly shrugged his shoulders, “and I would love to do something like Kuya Wes again — a small movie with a big heart.”

And so as his return to the silver screen’s biggest challenge begins today with its commercial run, Ogie hopes with every talented fiber in his body that moviegoers will be blown away, just like him, by the roller coaster of emotions and inspiring tale of a simple, kind-hearted character named Kuya Wes.

ASA, sushi, and other facts

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS CAN aspirin prevent stroke/ heart attack?

Daily low-dose of aspirin (81 mg to 100 mg Acetylsalicylic Acid or ASA) is prescribed by physicians for the prevention of heart attack, stroke and blood clot formation among appropriately selected patients who can tolerate it and who do not have any contraindication (bleeding tendencies, stomach ulcer, etc) to aspirin ingestion. It is a simple, cheap, and convenient regimen which physicians themselves take for prophylaxis. But just like any other drug, aspirin isn’t good nor safe for everyone. There are potential serious complications from this seemingly harmless medication. Be sure to consult your physicians before starting yourself on aspirin, or on any other medications.

Are skin lotion useful, safe?

Skin moisturizers like drinking water for hydration, is vital to health. Popular skin moisturizing lotions and creams manufactured by reputable companies are in general safe and effective in fighting off, and soothing, dry skin.

The usual ingredients in most of them are water, glycerine, aloe vera, palm glyceride, ceteareth20, hydroxylated lanolin, dimethicone, alkyl benzoate, glyceryl dilaurate, mineral oil, stearic acid, petrolatum, sodium carbomer, methylparaban, dmdmhydantoin, fragrance, cetyl alcohol, prohylene glycol, etc. Each company varies its skin lotion it a bit, adding vitamin E or cocoa butter, etc. For those with skin allergies, there are fragrance-free lotions and creams. More expensive ones are not necessarily better. If they have the same formulations and made by reliable firms, the less expensive one is obviously the better bargain. Both women and men and children need skin moisturizers. Moisturizers are vital to our facial skin, to minimize aging and wrinkling.

Are penis enlargers true?

Lately the internet has been flooded with unsolicited ads about penis enlarger. We have received a few emails from our readers inquiring about its veracity and safety. We are amazed at the grave concern some men have about themselves, and their confusion in equating the size of their genital with the degree of their masculinity and potency. There seems to be an obsession among some men to have a “bigger one.”

Being a student of magic and illusion, I have always said it is not the size of the wand that counts, but the magic it creates. The largest sex organ in the body is the brain and that’s where the magic begins. These so-called “guaranteed penis enlarger or your money back” offers are nothing else but a scam. There is no medical evidence or scientific basis for

the claim, be they “the exercise,” the pill or lotion or potion. The only ones that will grow larger, if the ignorant public is duped into buying these worthless products, are the bank accounts of these unscrupulous companies. Guys, let’s use our brain instead.

Do painted cribs cause lead poisoning?

If the paints used in the crib have lead in them, yes they can cause Plumbism (lead poisoning) when the toddler chews on the crib or painted toys, etc. In the United States “leaded” paints are banned from use where children are exposed to them, among toy manufacturers, classroom/school paints, etc. Homemade cribs coated with “leaded” paints, are a constant cause of Plumbism, even today. Other sources at home are foods and beverages (fruits, fruit juices, cola drinks, tomatoes, tomato juice, cider, wine, etc) stored in improperly lead-glazed ceramic wares or any lead-lined containers, leaded glasses, etc. Some of the symptoms include persistent and forceful vomiting, abdominal pains, seizures, unstable gait (walking), mental retardation, varied levels of consciousness and coma, depending on the chronicity and severity of poisoning.

Are there pills that dissolve gallstones?

Presently, there is no medication (or any chemical safe for humans to ingest) that will dissolve gallstones, kidney stones or cholesterol plaques in arteries.

There will always be claims for a “super-cure” from charlatans and opportunists, who are out there to make a quick buck, as long as there are willing victims.

It behooves us, the public, to be well-informed and skeptically cautious (holding on to our wallet) when dealing with “panaceas.” It is always wise to verify the information with your physician.

Skin rash after sex?

Skin rashes that develop almost immediately after intimacy is usually due to allergy. The allergen (material or substance causing the reaction) could be the latex in condom, diaphragm, spermicidal agent, cosmetics, or in very rare instances, the semen itself.

It is advisable to seek medical care if this happens to rule out other causes. In the meantime it will be helpful to the physician if the partners jointly analyze the circumstances and make a list of possible allergens.

Is sushi healthy food?

Provided they are clean and not contaminated by bacteria or toxic chemical, sushi (uncooked fish), just like raw Visayan kinilaw with all the omega 3 fatty acids in them, is healthy food and good for the cardiovascular system.

Sushi has been very popular in its adopted country, the United States, especially among college students, white collar workers, professionals, the yuppies, etc.

Some people do not like even the idea of eating raw fish, period, but those who have a taste for it simply salivate at the thought of

having it, especially with wine or beer. Ingestion of contaminated sushi leads to gastroenteritis, with abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhea, the gravity of which depend on the dose of the bacterial contamination. The art of preparing sushi incorporates with it strict discipline in the choice of quality fish, meticulous observance of hygiene and an impressive artistic presentation of the dish. Patronizing only well-established and reputable restaurants that serve sushi or kinilaw is always a safer option for these particular items. Sushi is full of vital ingredients and disease fighting proteins and antioxidants like raw fresh vegetables, which are immune boosters and anticancer foods.

Can one survive on a redmeatless diet?

Yes, most definitely. And those who eat only fish, vegetables and fruits (absolutely no red meat like pork, beef, or other meat from four-legged animals, and even without poultry meat) can survive very well. As a matter of medical fact, most of these people will even outlive those who eat red meat regularly. Fish, vegetables and fruits, and a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement, is a healthy diet regimen for all of us, except for anyone who is allergic, or somehow intolerant, to any of these food items. We, humans, do not really need to eat red meat (and eggs!) to survive.

We will even be healthier without them.

How much water do we need a day?

For daily normal activities, it is recommended that we drink at least 6-8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day, or a total of about 48 ounces (1440 ml) a day. Regular bottled water is about 16.9 oz or 500cc. Nowadays, 8-stage filtered water is preferred, where practical. For tourists and visitors from other countries, filtered water is a must to prevent gastrointestinal problems. Those manual laborers exposed to the hot sun have water higher body water loss, and therefore need more hydration.

And so with those with fever or patients with diarrhea and/or vomiting from gastroenteritis.

Proper hydration is very important in keeping our organs and tissues healthy, including our skin and complexion. Water is the best liquid for daily fluid replacement because soft drinks are toxic to our body. Natural fruit juices are better but contains a lot of sugar (albeit fructose) and those with diabetes or pre-diabetics must be conscious of this. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888. com, philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com (Advertising Supplement)

Welcoming the Spring Season the Filipino Way

By Monet

Lu

HAVING four seasons in a year is an idea that is quite foreign to Filipinos who grew up in the Philippines. Back there, we only have dry (summer) and wet (rainy) season. Then there are those, like me, who migrated outside the Philippines to a place that has more than two seasons. This change also requires a change of wardrobe, food, scenery, and pastime.

So how does the typical “Pinoy” deal with the changing of season?

Food Filipinos love to eat and foreigners know that about us. One of the running jokes about Filipinos say that “wherever there’s food, that is where the Filipinos are.”

Now that is good if they meant that we cook great food, otherwise, it could mean that we’re known as gluttons.

Either way, food is a just in the core of every Filipino. And a food-loving Filipino has adapted the ability to adjust his palate according to the season. Spring season calls for a parade of spring rolls. And by that I meant spring rolls of different varieties such as Lumpiang Shanghai (pork spring rolls), Lumpiang Sariwa or Lumpiang Ubod (bamboo shoots spring rolls) and Lumpiang Gulay or Lumpiang Toge (bean sprouts spring rolls) are the best sellers in a company potluck or spring banquet. And because we just love to dip everything in sauce, we

even have the appropriate sauce for each of spring rolls. Sweet and sour chili sauce, peanut sauce, and of course, lumpiang toge’s faithful partner: sukang puti (white vinegar).

Spring is also a great time to check out the newest Filipino restaurants or Asian fusion cafes that have invaded Southern California.

You can also venture further south like San Diego and I bet you the aroma of inihaw na liempo would lead you to these Filipino restaurants. Either that, or a park filled with Filipinos with picnic baskets filled with Filipino delicacies. Filipino food is just everywhere and I credit that to the talented cooks and chefs who make Los Angeles such a delicious place to live.

Fashion Spring is the second season of the year. And second to adjusting this season’s menu is switching clothes. This is the time where thermal jackets and winter boots are stored away. Unless you have a perfectly good reason for wearing that fur coat, it should be in the closet.

To the “petite” Pinays, they don a flowery sundress, spring colored jumpsuit, or some cute separates; like a good statement skirt with comfortable and flattering cotton top. Pair it with an accent pump and minimal accessories, and they swing their way to spring!

For the men, skinny jeans are not as cool as they were before but it still is a known staple in any man’s wardrobe. It’s the season to loosen up a bit, so straight cut cool print chino pants is a great alternative to tight and dark jeans. Pair these up with a lightweight cardigan and a statement eyewear and you’re off to great spring.

Places One of the best things about this season is the blooming of flowers and fruit trees. This is also

one of the things about spring that we Filipinos can relate to. And it’s not because we have spring season but because planting and harvesting is a way of life to us. We harvest vegetables and fruits, and plant more tropical plants that our gardens could handle.

This season means a picnic at the park, checking out the Botanical Garden and Knott’s Berry Farm, you know, the stuff that you do while you bond over food and wear your flowery and light cotton shirts. Forget about hibernating in your pajamas, walking around your house wearing thermal socks. That is so last winter! Go out there and watch the cherry blossoms, the tulips; open the windows and enjoy the warm sun.

As this new season unfolds, we should make the most of it by welcoming spring in all its glory.

I do that by thinking of spring as snow finally melting, trees blooming, and the streets looking lively and green again! For most people, it is a time of change. Thoughts of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and hope come to us when we wake up from a cold winter night to a warm spring morning.

Oh, spring, you bring so many beautiful things. And as Filipinos fondly say – and let me say it with cheers to a spring season full of hope: “Mabuhay!” *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary allnatural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 16-19, 2019

B

B MARCH 16-19, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Features

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

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

COMMUNITY Journal

Green card marriages are not a realistic option

Your Immigration Solution Devin M. Connolly MANY people mistakenly believe that marrying a U.S. citizen will guarantee them permanent resident status (“green card”).

However, the reality is that obtaining a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen is far more difficult than simply filing an application and awaiting the arrival of a green card. In fact, the desperate act of marrying someone solely for a green card almost always ends very badly.

Marrying a person solely for a green card is often called a “green card marriage,” but the more official term used by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) is “sham marriage.” The USCIS is well aware that many people are willing to marry a person for the sole purpose of obtaining a green card.

For this reason, they dedicate a substantial amount of resources towards detecting these “sham marriages.” Because of the USCIS’ efforts, it is crucial that a person applying for a green card on the basis of their marriage understand what the USCIS considers to be a valid marriage for immigration purposes.

The applicant and their U.S. citizen spouse must prove that their marriage is “bonafide.”

The USCIS will not consider a marriage to be a “bonafide marriage” if the only reason the parties got married was so that the non-U.S. citizen could obtain a green card. The USCIS is not required to conclusively prove that the marriage is a “sham marriage.” Rather, the applicant must prove to the USCIS that the marriage is bonafide. This is not an easy task, though, as the USCIS officers are highly trained to detect sham marriages.

The USCIS will attempt to determine whether the parties “intended to establish a life together” at the time they recited their marital vows. But the USCIS will not be convinced based solely on

the statements of the parties. On the contrary, they will also want to closely examine the conduct of the parties, e.g., is the couple residing together, how long have they known each other, are they conducting themselves as husband and wife, etc. Additionally, the USCIS will also consider whether the parties have a sufficient amount of documentation proving the bonafides of their marriage.

The USCIS will also commonly want to ask the parties personal questions about their relation-

leaving the applicant in limbo the entire time. Therefore, it is highly beneficial to prove the bonafides of your marriage during your initial interview with the USCIS. The USCIS will only grant permanent resident status if they believe the marriage is valid after all of the above steps are completed. However, if the USCIS believes that the marriage was entered into to evade the immigration laws of the U.S., then the person being petitioned may become barred from ever being petitioned again as an immigrant. They will likely also be deported!

There are many other steps to properly determine whether a person is entitled to their green card on the basis of their marriage to a U.S. citizen, such as ensuring that the marriage is legally valid under the laws of the place where the marriage took place.

This requires that the parties’ prior marriages were terminated before entering into the current marriage. And yes, this also includes marriages entered into outside the U.S. In conclusion, obtaining a green card through a marriagebased petition can be a very complex process. Therefore, it is always advisable to retain the services of an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney. *** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

For more Information please call (800) 795- 8009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

“ The USCIS will also commonly want to ask the parties personal questions about their relationship.” ship. The potential questions a person may be asked are nearly limitless, as the USCIS may ask just about anything they believe a person should know about their spouse. Nonetheless, it is crucial that the parties object to any vague, misleading or inappropriate questions. Also, it is not uncommon for a person to be questioned with only their attorney present, while their spouse is required to wait outside the examination room. Though this process may seem bizarre, the answers provided to the USCIS’ questions will likely determine whether a green card will be issued.

The USCIS may also conduct a field investigation if they suspect the marriage is fraudulent.

A field investigation may include an officer visiting your home early in the morning or late at night, interviews with neighbors or your employer, and a review of public records. Moreover, it may also include a review of social networking sites, such as a person’s Facebook page. As you can see, field investigations are tremendously thorough, sometimes taking years to complete,

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 16-19, 2019

C

DON'T FILE BANKRUPTCY )LPUN PU KLI[ JHU IL Z[YLZZM\S HUK TVZ[ WLVWSL KVU [ RUV^ ^OLYL [V [\YU MVY OLSW 0 VMMLY H MYLL OV\Y JVUZ\S[H[PVU [V JHYLM\SS` YL]PL^ `V\Y ZP[\H[PVU HUK OLSW `V\ THRL [OL YPNO[ KLJPZPVU MVY `V\YZLSM HUK `V\Y MHTPS` r *9,+0; *(9+ +,);: r :;<+,5; 36(5: r 469;.(., 796)3,4: r 3(>:<0;: 1<+.4,5;: r 09: ;(? 796)3,4: >(., .(950:/4,5;: r )(529<7;*@ */(7;,9 -69 469, 05-6 =0:0;! >>> )<3(653(> *64

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C MARCH 16-19, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Chapter 13: How to be debt-free in 3-5 years

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon WHEN people think of bankruptcy, oftentimes they think of the worst thing that could happen to them- losing their home, cars and other assets that they have.

The truth is that most people who file bankruptcy lose nothing and keep everything.

Not all bankruptcies are the same. For individuals, it is usually either a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. In Chapter 7, assets may be taken and sold but only if they are considered non-exempt by law. Most people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have much (usually a home, a car, a retirement plan and a few personal items) and a lot, if not everything that they have, can usually be protected even if they file bankruptcy.

In this article, I want to specifically talk about Chapter 13.

Chapter 13 is the section of the bankruptcy code that allows you to restructure your debts and pay only what you can. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

necessarily have to pay back 100% of your debts, only if you have enough income. But if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to reduce your debts in half or even more in a lot of cases. Another advantage of filing Chapter 13 is that if you are worried about losing valuable assets or property, this is the type

out of debt is because they are paying the credit card companies anywhere from 17-29% interest per year. This means that most of what you are paying goes to interest alone and you may be stuck in debt for the rest of your life.

In Chapter 13, you can also combine all your debts no matter what they may be: taxes, student loans, medical bills, credit cards, personal loans, payday loans, etc. All your bills are combined into one low monthly payment.

So instead of writing a lot of checks every month, you only have one bill to pay. If you are a homeowner and you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments, you can also stop foreclosure and bring your account current by including your late payments in your Chapter 13.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall for the debt consolidation or debt settlement companies that you see advertising on TV, radio and on the internet.

â&#x20AC;&#x153; This means that most of what you are paying goes to interest alone and you may be stuck in debt for the rest of your life.â&#x20AC;? of bankruptcy that may be right for you because there is NO RISK of losing anything at all.

Chapter 3 takes anywhere from 3-5 years to complete. The interest rate on your credit cards and most debts become ZERO. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right! The reason most people find it impossible to get

u PAGE C3

Five benefits of establishing a revocable living trust

Barristerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRSuA ReyeS THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest friends (BFFs) and family members are even deserving of inheriting from your estate. In doing so, you should also think about which vehicle you plan to use in implementing your estate plan. One of the best vehicle in implementing your estate plan is a revocable living trust. Five major benefits of establishing a revocable living trust are: Your estate can avoid the time, cost, and hassle of going through the probate court process.

If you pass away without a will (intestate) in California, one of your close family would have to file a petition in probate court to probate your estate. Your estate will be divided and distributed according to the California probate code rules of intestate

succession. Even if you have a will when you pass away, your family would still need to file a petition in probate court if your estate is worth over $150,000 and go through the probate process. This can become a circus if certain beneficiaries contest the validity of the Will or the distribution of the estate. Your estate

With a revocable living trust, your trustee or successor trustee if you were the initial trustee, would administer the trust and distribute the estate according to the trust document without having to open a probate court case.

If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all. This process is a lot faster than going through probate.

Your estate is not public record When you file a probate case, the public has access to your probate case file. The public will know the assets of the estate including the values of those assets. If the Will is admitted into probate, the terms of the Will is open to public scrutiny.

Establishing a revocable living trust makes your estate affairs private. Strangers do not have access to the terms of your living trust.

Only certain beneficiaries and possible heirs can request a copy

â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all .â&#x20AC;? will pay for attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fees, probate referee fees, appraisers and other experts, CPA fees, etc. If people contest the case, your estate would end up paying legal fees to defend the estate in litigation. The entire process can take anywhere from 9 months to years depending on the contentiousness of the probate case.

Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA

1. Personal exemption eliminated: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Act) eliminated personal exemption deductions for yourself, your spouse, or your dependents beginning with your 2018 tax returns (to be filed in 2019).

2. Standard deduction increases: The standard deduction amount nearly doubles for all filers for 2018 to $12,000 for single and married filing separately, $24,000 for married filing jointly, $18,000 for head of household.

3. Itemized deductions limited: The Act limits deductions for home mortgage and state taxes.

It eliminates most miscellaneous itemized deductions such as employee business expenses, tax preparation fees, investment expenses, employment related educational expenses, job search expenses, safe deposit box fees, investment expenses from passthrough entities.

4. State and local limited: You are limited to $10,000 in state and local income taxes. There was no limit under old law.

5. Child tax credit increases: The Child Tax Credit doubles from $1,000 to $2,000. Each child must have a Social Security number before the due date of your return.

Credit for other dependents: The Act introduces a new $500

The Prophetic Voice ReVeRend Rodel G. BAlAGtAS

DO you trust the Lord, especially in times of crisis and uncertainty? Do you believe in His promises of healing, salvation, and new life? Can you take the risk of believing in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promises even when the present times in your life, the world and the church are not glorious?

Any affirmative responses to these question speak of the faith of Abraham as shown in the First Reading on this Second Sunday of Lent (Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18). u PAGE C4 The Lord told Abraham to look

11 Tax changes for individuals credit for non-child dependents.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available for each dependent who does not qualify for the child tax credit.

6. Mortgage interest deduction limited: Individuals who purchase a home in 2018 are limited to interest up to $750,000 in mortgage debt. Old law allowed $1 million. The interest deduction on home-equity loans is eliminated, regardless of date incurred.

7. Moving expenses eliminated: The deduction for moving expenses has been suspended for most taxpayers for tax years from 2018 to 2026. This suspension does not apply to members of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty who move pursuant to a military order related to a permanent change of station.

8. Alimony no longer deductible: Alimony and separate maintenance payments are no longer deductible for any agreement executed or modified starting in 2019 (for the 2020 filing season).

9. ABLE savings accounts expanded: The Act enables eligible people with Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts to put more money into their ABLE account and possibly qualify for the Saverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Credit. The Act also allows ABLE beneficiaries and certain family members to roll money from 529 plans into ABLE accounts.

ABLE accounts are state-offered accounts that help people with disabilities and their families pay for disability-related expenses.

Distributions, including earnings, are tax-free to the beneficiary if used to pay qualified disability expenses. These may include housing, education, transportation, health, prevention and wellness, employment training and support, assistive technology and personal services.

10. Health savings accounts changed: A change in the inflation adjustment calculations for 2018 reduced the maximum deductible HSA contribution for taxpayers with family coverage under an HDHP by $50 to $6,850.

11. 529 Education savings plan changed: Under old tax laws, your 529 could only be used at eligible colleges and universities. Under the new Act, you can use your plan to cover up to $10,000 per year of qualifying expenses for any school and any grade from kindergarten through 12th as well.

That includes public, private, and religious institutions. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - â&#x20AC;&#x153;HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.â&#x20AC;? Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

My church in her trying times up at the sky and count the stars and believe that, despite his wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sterility, he and Sarah shall have descendants as numerous as the stars. To build Abrahamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s confidence in His promise, the Lord told him to bring for sacrifice a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a threeyear-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. When Abraham set these animals and birds for slaughter, and after the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed through carcasses. Then the Lord made a covenant to Abraham, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;To your descendants, I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.â&#x20AC;?

Abraham listened and believed

in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words.

Those of us who are members and leaders of the Roman Catholic Church should take to heart Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promise to Abraham, especially in these trying times.

Indeed, sexual abuse scandals and cover-ups by priests and bishops continue to rock our Church and faith. We ask ourselves: Will there be an end to these scandals? When can the Catholic Church recover from her debacles?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constant barrage of criticisms, slanders, and hatred towards bishops and priests do not help at all. Lately again, the news broadcasted his disdain towards priests by not caring if

u PAGE C3

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

COMMUNITY Journal

Green card marriages are not a realistic option

Your Immigration Solution Devin M. Connolly MANY people mistakenly believe that marrying a U.S. citizen will guarantee them permanent resident status (“green card”).

However, the reality is that obtaining a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen is far more difficult than simply filing an application and awaiting the arrival of a green card. In fact, the desperate act of marrying someone solely for a green card almost always ends very badly.

Marrying a person solely for a green card is often called a “green card marriage,” but the more official term used by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) is “sham marriage.” The USCIS is well aware that many people are willing to marry a person for the sole purpose of obtaining a green card.

For this reason, they dedicate a substantial amount of resources towards detecting these “sham marriages.” Because of the USCIS’ efforts, it is crucial that a person applying for a green card on the basis of their marriage understand what the USCIS considers to be a valid marriage for immigration purposes.

The applicant and their U.S. citizen spouse must prove that their marriage is “bonafide.”

The USCIS will not consider a marriage to be a “bonafide marriage” if the only reason the parties got married was so that the non-U.S. citizen could obtain a green card. The USCIS is not required to conclusively prove that the marriage is a “sham marriage.” Rather, the applicant must prove to the USCIS that the marriage is bonafide. This is not an easy task, though, as the USCIS officers are highly trained to detect sham marriages.

The USCIS will attempt to determine whether the parties “intended to establish a life together” at the time they recited their marital vows. But the USCIS will not be convinced based solely on

the statements of the parties. On the contrary, they will also want to closely examine the conduct of the parties, e.g., is the couple residing together, how long have they known each other, are they conducting themselves as husband and wife, etc. Additionally, the USCIS will also consider whether the parties have a sufficient amount of documentation proving the bonafides of their marriage.

The USCIS will also commonly want to ask the parties personal questions about their relation-

leaving the applicant in limbo the entire time. Therefore, it is highly beneficial to prove the bonafides of your marriage during your initial interview with the USCIS. The USCIS will only grant permanent resident status if they believe the marriage is valid after all of the above steps are completed. However, if the USCIS believes that the marriage was entered into to evade the immigration laws of the U.S., then the person being petitioned may become barred from ever being petitioned again as an immigrant. They will likely also be deported!

There are many other steps to properly determine whether a person is entitled to their green card on the basis of their marriage to a U.S. citizen, such as ensuring that the marriage is legally valid under the laws of the place where the marriage took place.

This requires that the parties’ prior marriages were terminated before entering into the current marriage. And yes, this also includes marriages entered into outside the U.S. In conclusion, obtaining a green card through a marriagebased petition can be a very complex process. Therefore, it is always advisable to retain the services of an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney. *** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

For more Information please call (800) 795- 8009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

“ The USCIS will also commonly want to ask the parties personal questions about their relationship.” ship. The potential questions a person may be asked are nearly limitless, as the USCIS may ask just about anything they believe a person should know about their spouse. Nonetheless, it is crucial that the parties object to any vague, misleading or inappropriate questions. Also, it is not uncommon for a person to be questioned with only their attorney present, while their spouse is required to wait outside the examination room. Though this process may seem bizarre, the answers provided to the USCIS’ questions will likely determine whether a green card will be issued.

The USCIS may also conduct a field investigation if they suspect the marriage is fraudulent.

A field investigation may include an officer visiting your home early in the morning or late at night, interviews with neighbors or your employer, and a review of public records. Moreover, it may also include a review of social networking sites, such as a person’s Facebook page. As you can see, field investigations are tremendously thorough, sometimes taking years to complete,

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 16-19, 2019

C

DON'T FILE BANKRUPTCY )LPUN PU KLI[ JHU IL Z[YLZZM\S HUK TVZ[ WLVWSL KVU [ RUV^ ^OLYL [V [\YU MVY OLSW 0 VMMLY H MYLL OV\Y JVUZ\S[H[PVU [V JHYLM\SS` YL]PL^ `V\Y ZP[\H[PVU HUK OLSW `V\ THRL [OL YPNO[ KLJPZPVU MVY `V\YZLSM HUK `V\Y MHTPS` r *9,+0; *(9+ +,);: r :;<+,5; 36(5: r 469;.(., 796)3,4: r 3(>:<0;: 1<+.4,5;: r 09: ;(? 796)3,4: >(., .(950:/4,5;: r )(529<7;*@ */(7;,9 -69 469, 05-6 =0:0;! >>> )<3(653(> *64

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C MARCH 16-19, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Chapter 13: How to be debt-free in 3-5 years

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon WHEN people think of bankruptcy, oftentimes they think of the worst thing that could happen to them- losing their home, cars and other assets that they have.

The truth is that most people who file bankruptcy lose nothing and keep everything.

Not all bankruptcies are the same. For individuals, it is usually either a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. In Chapter 7, assets may be taken and sold but only if they are considered non-exempt by law. Most people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have much (usually a home, a car, a retirement plan and a few personal items) and a lot, if not everything that they have, can usually be protected even if they file bankruptcy.

In this article, I want to specifically talk about Chapter 13.

Chapter 13 is the section of the bankruptcy code that allows you to restructure your debts and pay only what you can. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

necessarily have to pay back 100% of your debts, only if you have enough income. But if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to reduce your debts in half or even more in a lot of cases. Another advantage of filing Chapter 13 is that if you are worried about losing valuable assets or property, this is the type

out of debt is because they are paying the credit card companies anywhere from 17-29% interest per year. This means that most of what you are paying goes to interest alone and you may be stuck in debt for the rest of your life.

In Chapter 13, you can also combine all your debts no matter what they may be: taxes, student loans, medical bills, credit cards, personal loans, payday loans, etc. All your bills are combined into one low monthly payment.

So instead of writing a lot of checks every month, you only have one bill to pay. If you are a homeowner and you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments, you can also stop foreclosure and bring your account current by including your late payments in your Chapter 13.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall for the debt consolidation or debt settlement companies that you see advertising on TV, radio and on the internet.

â&#x20AC;&#x153; This means that most of what you are paying goes to interest alone and you may be stuck in debt for the rest of your life.â&#x20AC;? of bankruptcy that may be right for you because there is NO RISK of losing anything at all.

Chapter 3 takes anywhere from 3-5 years to complete. The interest rate on your credit cards and most debts become ZERO. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right! The reason most people find it impossible to get

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Five benefits of establishing a revocable living trust

Barristerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRSuA ReyeS THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest friends (BFFs) and family members are even deserving of inheriting from your estate. In doing so, you should also think about which vehicle you plan to use in implementing your estate plan. One of the best vehicle in implementing your estate plan is a revocable living trust. Five major benefits of establishing a revocable living trust are: Your estate can avoid the time, cost, and hassle of going through the probate court process.

If you pass away without a will (intestate) in California, one of your close family would have to file a petition in probate court to probate your estate. Your estate will be divided and distributed according to the California probate code rules of intestate

succession. Even if you have a will when you pass away, your family would still need to file a petition in probate court if your estate is worth over $150,000 and go through the probate process. This can become a circus if certain beneficiaries contest the validity of the Will or the distribution of the estate. Your estate

With a revocable living trust, your trustee or successor trustee if you were the initial trustee, would administer the trust and distribute the estate according to the trust document without having to open a probate court case.

If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all. This process is a lot faster than going through probate.

Your estate is not public record When you file a probate case, the public has access to your probate case file. The public will know the assets of the estate including the values of those assets. If the Will is admitted into probate, the terms of the Will is open to public scrutiny.

Establishing a revocable living trust makes your estate affairs private. Strangers do not have access to the terms of your living trust.

Only certain beneficiaries and possible heirs can request a copy

â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all .â&#x20AC;? will pay for attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fees, probate referee fees, appraisers and other experts, CPA fees, etc. If people contest the case, your estate would end up paying legal fees to defend the estate in litigation. The entire process can take anywhere from 9 months to years depending on the contentiousness of the probate case.

Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA

1. Personal exemption eliminated: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Act) eliminated personal exemption deductions for yourself, your spouse, or your dependents beginning with your 2018 tax returns (to be filed in 2019).

2. Standard deduction increases: The standard deduction amount nearly doubles for all filers for 2018 to $12,000 for single and married filing separately, $24,000 for married filing jointly, $18,000 for head of household.

3. Itemized deductions limited: The Act limits deductions for home mortgage and state taxes.

It eliminates most miscellaneous itemized deductions such as employee business expenses, tax preparation fees, investment expenses, employment related educational expenses, job search expenses, safe deposit box fees, investment expenses from passthrough entities.

4. State and local limited: You are limited to $10,000 in state and local income taxes. There was no limit under old law.

5. Child tax credit increases: The Child Tax Credit doubles from $1,000 to $2,000. Each child must have a Social Security number before the due date of your return.

Credit for other dependents: The Act introduces a new $500

The Prophetic Voice ReVeRend Rodel G. BAlAGtAS

DO you trust the Lord, especially in times of crisis and uncertainty? Do you believe in His promises of healing, salvation, and new life? Can you take the risk of believing in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promises even when the present times in your life, the world and the church are not glorious?

Any affirmative responses to these question speak of the faith of Abraham as shown in the First Reading on this Second Sunday of Lent (Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18). u PAGE C4 The Lord told Abraham to look

11 Tax changes for individuals credit for non-child dependents.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available for each dependent who does not qualify for the child tax credit.

6. Mortgage interest deduction limited: Individuals who purchase a home in 2018 are limited to interest up to $750,000 in mortgage debt. Old law allowed $1 million. The interest deduction on home-equity loans is eliminated, regardless of date incurred.

7. Moving expenses eliminated: The deduction for moving expenses has been suspended for most taxpayers for tax years from 2018 to 2026. This suspension does not apply to members of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty who move pursuant to a military order related to a permanent change of station.

8. Alimony no longer deductible: Alimony and separate maintenance payments are no longer deductible for any agreement executed or modified starting in 2019 (for the 2020 filing season).

9. ABLE savings accounts expanded: The Act enables eligible people with Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts to put more money into their ABLE account and possibly qualify for the Saverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Credit. The Act also allows ABLE beneficiaries and certain family members to roll money from 529 plans into ABLE accounts.

ABLE accounts are state-offered accounts that help people with disabilities and their families pay for disability-related expenses.

Distributions, including earnings, are tax-free to the beneficiary if used to pay qualified disability expenses. These may include housing, education, transportation, health, prevention and wellness, employment training and support, assistive technology and personal services.

10. Health savings accounts changed: A change in the inflation adjustment calculations for 2018 reduced the maximum deductible HSA contribution for taxpayers with family coverage under an HDHP by $50 to $6,850.

11. 529 Education savings plan changed: Under old tax laws, your 529 could only be used at eligible colleges and universities. Under the new Act, you can use your plan to cover up to $10,000 per year of qualifying expenses for any school and any grade from kindergarten through 12th as well.

That includes public, private, and religious institutions. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - â&#x20AC;&#x153;HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.â&#x20AC;? Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

My church in her trying times up at the sky and count the stars and believe that, despite his wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sterility, he and Sarah shall have descendants as numerous as the stars. To build Abrahamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s confidence in His promise, the Lord told him to bring for sacrifice a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a threeyear-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. When Abraham set these animals and birds for slaughter, and after the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed through carcasses. Then the Lord made a covenant to Abraham, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;To your descendants, I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.â&#x20AC;?

Abraham listened and believed

in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words.

Those of us who are members and leaders of the Roman Catholic Church should take to heart Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promise to Abraham, especially in these trying times.

Indeed, sexual abuse scandals and cover-ups by priests and bishops continue to rock our Church and faith. We ask ourselves: Will there be an end to these scandals? When can the Catholic Church recover from her debacles?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constant barrage of criticisms, slanders, and hatred towards bishops and priests do not help at all. Lately again, the news broadcasted his disdain towards priests by not caring if

u PAGE C3

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 16-19, 2019

C

E-2 Treaty investor visa allows #Equal play #Equal pay – US Women Soccer Team sues to end pay discrimination for stay in U.S. along with family THE U.S .Women Soccer Team (“Women’s Team”) has won a record three World Cup championships, four Olympic gold medals, and many other international competitions.

It is the three-time winner of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Team of the Year Award and has been Sports Illustrated’s Athlete of the Year. It is currently ranked number one in the world, a position it has held ten out of the last eleven years.

It is the defending champion in the World Cup that will be held in France this summer.

In contrast, the US Men Soccer Team (“Men’s Team”) has never won a World Cup or an Olympic gold medal. In the 2018 World Cup event, they were eliminated early and did not even qualify to the knockout stage.

However, the United States Soccer Federation, Inc. (“Federation”) the common employer of both the Women’s Team and Men’s Team, has consistently paid the women athletes substantially less than their male counterparts. For example, a comparison of the Women’s Team and Men’s Team pay shows that if each team played 20 friendlies in a year and each team won all twenty friendlies, female players would earn a maximum of $99,000 or $4,950 per game, while their counterpart male players would earn an average of $263,320 or $13,166 per game. Thus a female player would earn only 38% of the compensation of her counterpart male player.

A female player being asked to try out for the World Cup team is paid $15,000 while a similar male player would earn $55,000.

Players are paid a bonus for each advance to the World Cup. In 2014, the men advanced several rounds but were ultimately eliminated. However, they still earned a performance bonus

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. c. Joe SAyAS, Jr. totaling $5,375,000. When the women’s turn came in 2015, they won the Word Cup and were paid only $1,725,000. The women were paid nearly four times less than the men while performing better.

The Women’s Team has asked the Federation on several occasions to be paid equal to the male players. The Federation has rejected these requests, citing that “market realities” prevented this.

It claims that the female players do not generate as much money as the males due to fewer viewership. However, the women claim they have earned more profit, won more games, earned more championships, and/or garnered higher television audiences.

For example, during the 2015 World Cup title game, the women garnered approximately 23 million viewers, making it the most watched soccer game in American TV history – male or female.

In fact, for the years 2015-2016, due mainly to the success of the female players, the Federation earned a $17.7 million profit.

Having had enough of the inequality, and two months away from having to defend its title in France for World Cup 2019, the women players are suing its employer, the Federation, for equal pay.

The federal Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from discriminating against its employees on the basis of sex by paying lesser wages to employees of the opposite sex for “equal work.” These include jobs, the performance of which requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working

conditions. The exceptions are made based on (i) a seniority system; (ii) a merit system; (iii) a system which measures earnings by quantity or quality of production; or (iv) a differential based on any other factor other than sex. The women also claim that the Federation’s discriminatory conduct on the basis of gender violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

(California’s Fair Pay Act, in contrast, prohibits employers from paying employees less than those of the opposite sex for “substantially similar work,” even if their titles are different or they work at different sites.

This means the lower paid employee does not have to prove that the higher paid employee of the opposite sex has exactly the same job as she (or he) does.)

The women claim that the Federation has no legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the gross disparity in pay. Nor can the pay difference be explained away by any bona fide seniority, merit or incentive system or any other factor other than sex. The case is currently pending in federal court in Los Angeles, and will likely be one of the more important cases to watch regarding the equal pay law. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost.

You can contact the office at (818) 2910088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com or our Facebook page Joe Sayas Law. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is the recipient of PABA’s Community Champion Award for 2016.]

Atty. LAwrence yAng CLIENT is 72. He still works his normal job and makes about $3K a month. He also receives social security of $1K. So, his total income right now is $4K. He tells me that he is tired of working. His wife doesn’t want him to work anymore. His wife retired ahead of him at age 65, and now receives her social security of $800. She doesn’t work anymore.

I ask him what’s the problem? He says they have the following debts: 1. He owes $30K of credit cards 2. He owes $10K of car repo deficiency 3. His wife owes $12K of credit cards Minimum payment on his credit cards is $1K a month. Minimum payment on wife’s credit cards is $400 a month. Total minimum credit cards payment for the household is $1,400 a month. Net income for the household is $4,400 a month. They don’t own a house.

They rent for $1200 a month, just a one-bedroom apartment. Utilities and food is about $700. They have a 2013 Lexus 250 IS that is fully paid. They only have one car. They had a new SUV but that was repossessed last year, thus the $10K repo deficiency. Car insurance is $120 and gasoline and

car maintenance is $400. Cable TV and cell phone is $200. They contribute to their church $100.

They send $1000 a month for the medical expenses of their adult son who lives abroad. He doesn’t have medical insurance, and has diabetes T 2. His illness has taken a bad turn recently. Although only 45, he now has to have dialysis 3 x a week. And, last month, his foot was amputated due to gangrene from a wound that would not heal. He accidentally cut himself while cleaning his

“Obviously, something else will now have to be chopped off. The credit cards have to be chopped off to free them of having topay $1400 a month. Anyway, they have paid this minimum of $1400 for the last 10 years.” backyard. He stepped on a nail that went through his flip-flop.

The nail was rusty and made a nasty wound on the sole of his feet.

The wound became infected with MRSA, which is a kind of bacteria that does not respond to antibiotics. The wound and infection became full of pus, then, it became gangrene. Panic time.

Doctors suggested that they am-

u PAGE C4

My church in her trying times PAGE C2 t

they all die since “maluwag pa ang ating cemetery” (our cemeteries are still wide open).

Absolutely, the Roman Catholic Church’s leaders have to learn from their mistakes and take criticisms as opportunities for conversion, purification, and transformation. But those of us, leaders and members of this Church, must not allow our faith to perish. Instead, we should take these critical times as a test of our faith. Like Abraham and Sarah, we must keep believing in God’s promise of redemption.

The Gospel, this Sunday on the Transfiguration of our Jesus, reminds us of God’s promise of change and new life. It helps us also to remember God’s fidelity to his covenant in ages’ past.

The fact that Jesus transfigured with the Old Testament’s personages, Moses and Elijah, attests to this truth. Indeed, these painful times will pass, and we will recover from them like how our forefathers in faith did.

Together—the Pope, Cardinals, bishop, priests, religious, seminarians, and laity—we, Ro-

man Catholics, must carry this seeming unbearable cross. After all, this is also the meaning of this Sunday’s Gospel. Jesus told his disciples that they could not stay on the mountain to enjoy the ecstasy of seeing him transfigured. They must go down the hill first to join him in embracing the cross of salvation towards Jerusalem.

We too must face and carry the burden of challenges, pains, and struggles of serving God’s people as faithful disciples. We must also remember that we are citizens of heaven as St. Paul reminds us in this Sunday’s Second Reading (Philippians 3:174:1). In as much as we care for the law of the State, we must be faithful to God’s Law and Covenant. And God’s Law includes honor, love, and reverence for God and respect for human life.

So, on this Second Sunday of Lent, let’s ask ourselves: If I am a Catholic, how strong is my faith despite the tarnished reputation of my church? How courageous am I to defend my faith and face its challenges? Am I willing to embrace the big cross that my church is carrying now? How

hopeful am I that my church will overcome her challenges with it emerging responsible leadership?

And if I come from a different denomination or religious belief, how do I exercise empathy with members of the Roman Catholic Church? How do I avoid generalizing bishops and priests as pedophiles and criminals? How am I appreciating the grand contributions of the Roman Catholic Church to humanity in the past eras and the present time?

How do I value the fidelity and goodness of majority of Catholic priests and bishops? *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (19912001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

Legal Advice Atty. DArrick tAn is no limitation to the number of extensions an E-2 Treaty Investor may request. The E-2 Treaty Investor visa is a non-immigrant visa, and accordingly, the Treaty Investor must maintain an intent to depart the U.S. whenever the E-2 status expires.

Treaty Investor may come to the U.S. under the E-2 classification providing that he/she is the same nationality of the Treaty Investor, and either has duties of an executive or supervisory character or has other special qualifications.

What are the general requirements to obtain an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa? To obtain E-2 Treaty Investor status, a person: 1) must be a national of a country with which the U.S. maintains a treaty of commerce or navigation, 2) either has invested or is in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. enterprise, and 3) seeks to come to the U.S. to develop and direct the enterprise in which he/ she is investing or is going to invest.

Consideration of the E2 Treaty Investor visa is made on a case-by-case basis. The assistance of an experienced attorney who can assess the proposed type of business in which investment is contemplated as well as the amount of investment is therefore recommended. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277.

Email: info@dtanlaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

“An E-2 Treaty Investor is allowed a maximum initial stay of 2 years, and requests for extension can be obtained in increments of 2 years.”

Another important benefit for an E-2 Treaty Investor is the ability to be accompanied to the U.S. by his/her spouse and unmarried children who are under 21 years of age. An E-2 Treaty Investor’s spouse may apply for work authorization in the U.S., and no restriction is placed as to where the E-2 spouse can work.

The spouse can work for another employer. Further, children who are under 21 years of age may enroll in U.S. schools. The immediate family come to the U.S. under the E-2 classification as dependents of the Treaty Investor. The family members will have the same duration of stay as the Treaty Investor.

In addition, an employee of a

Chapter 13: How to be debt-free...

PAGE C2 t

These people are NOT lawyers and cannot help you if you get sued by your creditors. If you sign up with one of these companies, most of the time, they do not fully explain to you the services that they are providing and the fact that you can still be sued putate his foot to save his leg. Is by your creditors while on their there a choice? What a difficult program. They also don’t tell position to be in. Lose your foot you that hiring them can actually result in making your credit even to save your leg.

So, with the $1K that they send worse than it already is. to their son, their total monthly expense for necessities is $3,800 vs. their net household income of $4,400. Hence, they still have an extra $600 a month, BEFORE they make the minimum payment for their credit cards of $1,400.

Well, at this point, their short $800 because they need $1400 for minimum card payments but they only have $600 left.

And who knows, their son may need more than $1K a month for medical expenses with his rapidly deteriorating health. We pray to our God Almighty through his Son, Jesus Christ, we’re never faced with this kind of sad situation. Imagine having your son or daughter having to choose with amputation of the foot to save a leg and being on dialysis.

That’s too much to bear.

You would probably cry your heart out everyday.

I refer you to Psalm 91: Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, whoever remains under the protection of Almight, can say to Him ‘You are my defender and my protector. You are my God; In you I trust... When they call to me, I will answer them; When they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and hon(Advertising Supplement)

Seniors need Chapter 7 relief for $50K various unsecured debt

Debt Relief

DEAR Attorney Tan, I would like to know if there is any way for my family and I to stay in the U.S. if I invest in a U.S. business. While I do have some money to invest, I do not have the $500k-$1m that I read was necessary to get a green card through investment. Do I have any other options? - S.K. Dear S.K., You should consider the E-2 Treaty Investor visa, which is a non-immigrant visa that allows a person to be admitted to the U.S. with investment of a “substantial” amount of capital in either a new or existing U.S. business.

A main objective of the E-2 Treaty Investor classification is to promote and encourage investment in the U.S. Accordingly, the Treaty Investor must demonstrate that he/she is actually investing a substantial amount of capital in the U.S. enterprise.

The Treaty Investor must show that he/she is placing capital at risk with the objective of generating a profit; the capital must be subject to loss if the investment fails. There is no specific amount of money that is required to be invested to be considered “substantial.” Whether an investment is considered “substantial” is determined on a case-by-case basis.

The benefits of an E-2 Treaty Investor visa include an indefinite period of stay in the U.S. with extensions of the E-2 visa.

An E-2 Treaty Investor is allowed a maximum initial stay of 2 years, and requests for extension can be obtained in increments of 2 years. There

If you are employed or have a source of income, Chapter 13 may help you not only greatly reduce what you owe but it can also give you the relief you need from financial stress, creditor calls and other collection actions.

You owe it to yourself to at least find out about it so you can decide for yourself if it is best for your situation.

If you are in debt and would like to get out, I’d like to help you explore all your options. For a

free consultation, call my office at Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772 so I can carefully review your situation and all available options. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.

(Advertising Supplement)

C4 MARCH 16-19, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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 MARCH 30

Philippine Medical Society of Northern California installation of officers in Foster City, CA The Philippine Medical Society of Northern California will hold its 47th anniversary and installation of officers for 2019-2021 at the Crowne Plaza in Foster City, CA on Saturday, March 30. For sponsorship information, please contact Dr. Clementina Manio at drtina0427@gmail. com or visit https://www.pmsnc.org/.

United Bicolandia Los Angeles induction in Montebello, CA United Bicolandia Los Angeles will hold its 45th Anniversary and Induction Ceremony at Quiet Cannon in Montebello, CA on Saturday, March 30. For tickets and sponsorship information, please contact Lanie Berrei at lanieberrei@hotmail.com or (818) 281-3169.

APRIL 7

Ryan, Ryan! The Maestro and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers in Glendale, CA Recently proclaimed National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab’s works will be showcased on Sunday, April 7 at the John Wayne Performing Arts Center (1440 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205) at 6 p.m. by his multi-talented singing group, the Ryan Cayabyab Singers joined by some local artists like Mon David, Annie Nepomuceno, Louie Reyes and many more. Come and hear how his work that spans five decades has made an indelible impact on Filipino culture. Copresented by Philippine Patrons of the Arts USA, a 501 (c) 3 organization that brings exemplary Filipino Artists to U.S. stages. For ticket information ($35-$125) visit www.philpatrons.org and to learn about other tour stops in Las Vegas (April 7), San Diego (April 12) and Seattle (April 14).

APRIL 13

2nd annual Filipino mental health well-being summit in LA The 2nd annual Filipino mental health well-being summit will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at The Center of Cathedral Plaza (555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). In partnership with the LA County of Department of Mental Health, registration begins on March 11. This is a FREE event for all. Breakfast and lunch included with registration.

Please email FilipinoWellBeing@Gmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/FilipinoWellBeing for more updates.

A P R I L 25 -28

Philippine Nurses Association of America - North Central Regional Conference in Columbus, Ohio The Philippine Nurses Association - Central Ohio will hold a regional conference from April 25 to 28 at the Embassy Suites (2886 Airport Drive, Columbus, Ohio). For more information, please visit http://www.mypnaa.org/.

M AY 1 7-1 9

Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii The Santa Maria Ilocos Sur Global Association (SMISGA) and the Santa Marians of Hawaii are sponsoring the Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii from May 17-19, 2019. The festivities will start with a meet and greet on May 17 at 5 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom to be followed by a gala night on May 18 at 5 p.m. at the Dole Cannery Pomaikai Ballroom. A picnic is also scheduled at Ala Moana Beach Park’s Magic Island on Sunday, May 19 starting at 10 a.m. The ticket to attend all the events is $130.00 per person.

Due to limited space, reservations must be made not later than March 31, 2019. Hats and tshirts will also be on sale for $20. For further information, call Nena Empleo at (808) 384-0394, Carlito Soria at (808) 487-3370, Alex Pena at (702) 373-9522 or Orlino Baldonado at (865) 7898324. Leave a message if there’s no answer. Additional information is also on SMISGA.com and Facebook @ SMISGA19FB. Proceeds from the events will be for various projects in Santa Maria Ilocos Sur and in Hawaii. Donations are tax deductible since SMISGA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization approved by the Internal Revenue Service.

JUNE 1

7th Historic Filipinotown Kalayaan Parade and Festival in LA The 7th Historic Filipinotown Kalayaan Parade and Festival Committee (7KPFC) announced that it will holding the 7th Kalayaan Parade in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 1, 2019 in commemoration of the 121st PH Independence Day on June 12, 1898. This will be the 7th Kalayaan Parade and Festival in Historic Filipinotown, as the first was held in 2013 in cooperation with the PH Consulate General in Los Angeles. This is the only Independence Day parade and Festival in Los Angeles and is held every year in Historic Filipinotown. For more information, please call Freddie at (818) 220-2075 or email at jfavusa8@gmail.com.

Kalayaan Incorporated’s annual Philippine Independence Day gala in LA Kalayaan Incorporated invites the community to its celebration of the 121st Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel (5855 W. Century Blvd. Los Angeles, CA). Kalayaan is extremely proud to have Honorable Risa Hontiveros, an incumbent senator who assumed office on June 30, 2016, as the grand gala’s guest of honor and speaker. For tickets to the Gala Night, please contact Annie Cuevas-Lim, Kalayaan President at (213) 447-7078. For more information, contact KI PROs Violet Mislang at vmislang@gmail.com or Lady Hope Robillos at lhopepr@yahoo.com.

J U LY 2 0

The Ibaan Association USA-Canada gala dinner in LA The Ibaan Association USA-Canada will hold its 32nd Annual Gala Dinner & Dance July 20, 2019 from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City - Ballroom A at 555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, California 91608. For reservations call Monica Benitez at (323) 697-3731 / email: monica_benitez03@yahoo.com or Irene May Villafranca at (323) 4232299 / email: imay02@yahoo.com.

Tickets are $85 for Adults and $40 for Children (3 to 10 years old). Please make checks payable to: Ibaan Association USA-Canada and mail to: Merly Pagunsan at 5025 Heintz St. Baldwin Park, CA 91706.

For sponsorship information on our 2019 Souvenir Program please contact President Noli Reyes at homesbynoli@gmail.com or call (818) 458-7888. Please RSVP by April 12, 2019.

J U LY 24 -28

40th annual Philippine Nurses Association of America National The Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) will have its 40th annual national convention from July 24 to 28 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA, hosted by the PNA-GA chapter. More information and details TBA. To learn about the PNA-GA, please visit: https://pnaga.wildapricot.org/.

AU G U ST 1 - 9

University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International Convention & Alaskan Cruise The University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International, Inc. (UPNAAI) will have its 40th convention on a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas. The theme will be “In the New Millennium - UPNAAI at 40: Evolving and Emerging Nursing Roles.”

On Aug. 1. it will be UPNAAI Volunteers Service Day in Seattle, then 2-9 will be a cruise from Seattle, Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm & Dawes, Victoria, and back to Seattle. Convention Fee $100 for Alumni in addition to cruise pricing. No convention charge for friends and family members. Contact Hours will be provided for the educational conference. For more information/to register and view cruise rates, please visit https://www.upnaai.com/.

AU G U ST 3 - 4

Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo in Carson, CA The second annual Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo is back on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4 at the SouthBay Pavilion in Carson, CA. The two-day event is Southern California’s largest B2B expo showcasing tourism, trade, and investment opportunities in the USA and Philippines. It will feature networking opportunities for business-to-business, business-to-government, and business-to-consumer. The event is powered by the Asian Journal and Balikbayan Magazine. For more information, please visit https://traveltradeconsumer.com/.

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

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Five benefits of establishing a revocable...

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of the revocable living trust after you pass away.

You can dictate who will inherit from your estate.

If you pass away without a Will, your estate will be divided and distributed in Probate Court following the rules of intestate succession in the California probate code. Certain relatives will be entitled to a share of your estate even if you feel they are not deserving. By establishing a revocable living trust, you can designate who you want to inherit from your estate. You can designate what and how much each one will received from your estate after you pass away. The assets distributed to each beneficiaries does not have to be equal.

The people you designate as beneficiaries of your living trust does not even have to be close family members. You can designate anyone as a beneficiary, with certain exceptions, of your estate.

You can structure your estate to minimize estate taxes If your estate is valued above the estate tax exemption, establishing a trust can allow you to divide up your estate into smaller sub trusts to minimize the

overall estate tax effect on your estate. It allows you to set up a vehicle for certain charitable giving which carries tax advantage and asset protection.

You can choose who will administer your estate after your death When you establish a revocable trust, you can appoint someone else as trustee or you can appoint a successor trustee if you are the initial trustee. The trustee will be administering (managing) the trust after you pass away without a need to open a probate court case. This allows for continuity in operating the trust and the efficient and cost effective distribution of estate assets. If you are concerned about whether you can trust any family members as your trustee, you can appoint an institution as a professional trustee to carry out the terms of the declaration of trust. These type of trustee services are often offered by banks, financial institutions, wealth management firms, and business management firms for a reasonable fee. This minimizes conflicts within the family and prevents negligence and wrong doing by inexperienced family members.

*** 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)

Seniors need Chapter 7 relief for $50K...

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or them. I will reward them with long life; I will save them.

Obviously, something else will now have to be chopped off. The credit cards have to be chopped off to free them of having to pay $1400 a month. Anyway, they have paid this minimum of $1400 for the last 10 years. They have paid a total of $168k for the last 10 years to keep $42K of credit cards current. So why do they still owe the same $42K of credit cards today? Because that’s the way it works. It’s a great deal for mastercard and visa but it SUX totally for clients. If they had wiped these cards out with Chapter 7 ten years ago, they would not only owe $42K today in cards, they would have at least $250K in savings that will give them extra income of say 7%, giving them income of $17,500 a year, or $1,500 a month, which they can use to travel around the world, or just reinvest the income.

I forgot to ask if their son has children. If he does, clients may

need to help their daughter in law take care of their grand children if their son dies. It would certainly help to have an extra $1,500 a month for the care of their grand children abroad. $1,500 a month abroad in a third world country goes a very long way towards good care of their grand children abroad. Their son will appreciate this very much since he won’t be able to take care of his children anymore.

Here’s the other problem clients are facing. He is about to stop working his regular job that gives him a gross of $3K a month. You don’t have to be an accounting major to figure out what the loss of that income will mean. There will just be no money available to make the minimum payment of $1400 a month to keep the credit cards of $42K current. No way, just, no way. It’s time to get rid of the $42K with a Chapter 7 wipe out.

Should have done it ten years ago. Now, clients really must file to get rid of the $42K. It’s

like the foot has to be chopped off to save the leg. Such is life.

So I refer you to Psalm 91 again because that Psalm was written

by Moses who is much beloved by our God. So it carries a lot of weight and truth in it.

If you need debt relief, please set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally.

“For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receieves; And he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; And to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.” Luke 11:10 *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

People and Events

OBITUARY

Magdalena Marzan Angelo December 20, 1929 - March 10, 2019

Magdalena Marzan Angelo or better known as “Mama” was a shining example of a woman that everyone wanted to become. She was well kept, well respected, strong-willed, educated, and selfless.

Mama was born on December 20th, 1929 in Nguilian La Union, Philippines- the eldest of nine siblings. She earned her degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Accounting at Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines and passed the Certified Public Board of Exam where she practiced in the Philippines and in the States when she uprooted her life and family to California in December 1968.

With her husband of seventy years, Avelino Bautista Angelo, she had three beautiful daughters: Elna Angelo De Los Santos (married to Isias De Los Santos), Reolinda Angelo Agsalud (married to Rafael Ramos Agsalud) and Lorna Angelo Surendranath (married to Andrew Surendranath). All three daughters blessed them with eight grandchildren: Ryan, Rochelle, Dexter, Daryl, Diane, Dustin, Natasha and Jonathan. Four of them married (Ryan to Genevive, Rochelle to Oliver, Daryl to Charmaine and Diane to Donn) and three of them (Ryan, Rochelle, and Daryl) produced a total of seven children (Riyanna, Reaganne, Raina, Jaidyn, Jordan, Ian and Dominic) who knew” Mama Mama” as their great grandmother.

Mama loved her family deeply especially her 8 grandchildren. When she spoke of them she spoke with pride and joy. Nothing pleased Mama more than witnessing her grandchildren grow to become educated and successful adults much like her. She will be truly missed as she reunites with her husband in heaven.

Magdalena Marzan Angelo’s Service Location: Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills 6300 Forest Lawn Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90068 Viewing : Sunday, March 17th from 9AM - 9PM (Room B) Funeral: Monday, March 18th at 12PM Forest Lawn Location: Church of the Hills

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 16-19, 2019

C

Harvesting miracles in the Holy Land

by PROSY ABARQUEZ-DELACRUZ, J.D.

“First of all: be free people!....

Freedom means being able to think about what we do, being able to assess what is good and what is bad, these are the types of conduct that lead to development…Always being free to choose goodness is demanding but it will make you into people with a backbone who can face life, people with courage.

There is a temptation that says it is “better to stay here,” where I‘ m safe. But this is the slavery of Egypt: I fear moving forward, I‘m afraid of where the Lord will bring me. Fear, however “is not a good counselor.” The work that is done in the Pontifical diplomatic service requires, like any type of priestly ministry, a great inner freedom….from ambition or personal aims.” – Pope Francis at Mass: Courage in Spite of Our Weaknesses, Vatican Today, July 2, 2013.

“We want to live together in peace – so we must study each other’s religion.” – 15 year old Muslim boy in Jerusalem, quoted by Rt. Rev. Alexei Smith, 2019.

Jerusalem. Is this what most of us want – to be favored? Yet, we already are, as Jesus died for our sins and in retracing His footsteps in the square in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, after carrying the cross, in Via Dolorosa, going uphill, downhill, met by cold gusts of winds, walking on cobblestone streets, it makes you want to seek cover, a refuge from the windy elements outside. Cold and hard are difficult for a pilgrim.

Yet all I could feel was Jesus’ intense love for us, that He had to die to save us and to give us Promised Land. I myself could not imagine the depths of that kind of enormous love capacity, as to sacrifice my life for someone.

Yet, Jesus did, mocked by the Roman soldiers, He shouldered on, where in the midst of being tortured and their cruelty, he was mocked even some more, as they placed on Him a crown of thorns.

We were in front of the tearshaped Church designed and built by Antonio Berluzzi who built eleven churches including the one on top of Mt. Tabor, Transfiguration Church and others. We noticed the tree whose branches have spiked thorny outgrowths.

If fear were my walking stick or even my default jacket, it would have stopped me from going to the Holy Land. My family questioned the rationality of my decision, given the reported conflicts of three faiths and three dominant religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity, and the bombings highlighted in the US media. As it turns out, the three faiths and more are co-existing in peace and are living contemporaneously.

In one tourist spot, I counted twenty tourist buses with fifty pilgrims each bus. Sam, our tourist guide, informed us that there are 3.6 million tourists who go to Jerusalem yearly but not quite as massive as France’s 90 million, Spain’s 82 million, United States’ high of 83 million in 2014 to 69 million in 2018 and Philippines 6.6 million in 2018.

Still, with ramblings from within, I wanted proactive guidance.

Lo and behold, two weeks before my travel to the Holy Land, my wish was granted. I came upon a gold flyer about a three series-seminar on the Holy Land, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills.

The second seminar, Christians in the Holy Land, was led

by Rt. Rev. Alexei Smith, a Greek Catholic Priest, and the Ecumenical Council’s Head of the Archdiocese in Los Angeles. He has

travelled to the Holy Land for 10 years now and visited a hospital, in his last visit. He thoughtfully answered questions, at times from orthodox Jews who seem to despise Muslims, yet he remained objective in portraying the voices of a Muslim family, a Jewish family, and a Christian family.

As an orientation, we watched a short video on Three Religions: Three Faiths, produced by German Public Television, Deutsche Walle in March 1, 2015. It made for a robust discussion amongst the attendees, one of whom offered his assessment: “that it seems all three families have one common aim – that of raising their children to be good persons, based on their faiths and their cultural values. Yet, the irony is despite that common goal, they are kept separated by their man-made boundaries, they deemed dictated by their faiths.”

Another added, “They all want peace, they want to be together, but they don’t want to mingle, they want to stay pure.”

Yet, all three faiths, have roots in being descendants of Abraham.

In wanting to be pure, do we act unholy? How much do we struggle to deny the existence of God? Or even the presence of “others”? Here in the Holy Land, we become unwitting witnesses to alignments within, coming from created conflicts in our minds with our own best interests, bringing us inner peace and even the unusual grace of witnessing miracles.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre That separation amongst different faiths is clearly embodied in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built where the Crucifixion of Jesus on Golgotha (aka Calvary) took place and the empty tomb of Jesus where Jesus was buried and resurrected.

Six faith groups share the governance of this holiest site using a status quo agreement of 160 years now to keep peace amongst feuding Christians.

The main denominations sharing property over parts of the church are the Roman Catholics (The Franciscans), Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic (occupying the basement), and to a lesser degree the Coptic Orthodox (right below the rooftop, their monastery), Syriac Orthodox and Ethiopian Orthodox, occupying the rooftop.

And who has the key to this holiest place? For a century now, a Muslim family holds the key to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

In addition, according to Fr. Michael Hanifin, our spiritual guide, 27 Eastern Catholic groups exist, all in union with the Vatican.

Miracles 1, 2, 3 First, we went to where the Crucifixion: the Twelfth Station happened. We stood in line for an hour.

Recall it was “the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

The curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said: “Father, into they hands I commend my spirit.” And having said this, he breathed his last.” – Source: Our Journey to the Holy Land, Mount of Olive Press, Jerusalem.

We were kneeling to get to the place where Jesus was crucified, a distance of several feet, and Sam, our tour guide, told us to dip one hand and with the skin of the palm, dip it down some more until it touches a piece of the rock wherein Jesus was crucified.

My tears immediately flowed like wine and almost sobbing, I reached for the rock and touched it with the skin of my palm. As I remove my right hand from the

small opening, it felt like it was being grabbed, stuck that whatever I did, it could not be dislodged. Honestly, it felt spooky.

Sobbing, I prayed, “Help me, Lord,” and as difficult as it was awhile ago, it released quite easily. It happened to Elvian, my seatmate on the plane back to LA, and RJ, another pilgrim.

He said: “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have seen and experienced several Holy Sites for some of the religions of the World—from the Potala Palace in Tibet for Buddhists, Macchu Picchu in Peru for the Inca, the Abu Zimbel Temples of Egypt, the Western Wall for Judaism, to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey for Muslims. Yet, as someone who has an admiration for the teachings and life of Jesus, it was a remarkably different feeling and experience being there at the Holy Sepulchre and sharing that moment not only with Christians but also with other travellers—from Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Agnostics, to Atheists. And perhaps that, in itself, is a miracle of its own especially with the current geopolitical times we live in.”

Inside this crowded space, our spiritual chaplain lost his beanie.

During the long wait to get inside the tomb, he went back up the stairs, and stood in line with the crowds again, only to find his beanie, cast aside for him. He described it as a miracle, as the crowds filled up every walking space inside.

Fred, another pilgrim was limping and with a bad knee, struggled to kneel and to reach the Rock. With one knee kneeling, he touched the rock with the skin of the palm of his hand and got up and experienced instant relief. For the first time, I saw him not needing any assistance until the last day of our pilgrimage.

Miracle 4 We spent another few hours waiting to go inside The Anastasia (Resurrection in Greek) in which Jesus’ tomb is located. Inside, a chaotic melee of people, standing shoulder to shoulder.

About 30 minutes before we could get in, we heard a loud commotion. It turns out a group of 50 Russians led by a woman holding an infant tried to crash the line, to get inside the tomb.

Shouts of many stopped them, as well as the vigilant Greek Orthodox men guiding the entrance.

When I got inside, I got the same feeling of sadness and inconsolable tears along with the additional scent of rose oil. I was holding the hand of Anna, a 77– year–old pilgrim. She opted for a Holy Land trip instead of a party to celebrate her birthday. She was with Carmen, her 52–year– old daughter, who was standing in another line to get inside the tomb.

When I sat down at lunch with Kathryn, a 50+ year old nurse administrator, she had me smell her scarf that was rubbed on the tomb and picked up the deep rose scent. The rose oil seemed inexhaustible, as other pilgrims had done the same – one had a veil, another had a piece of white cloth that were rubbed on the tomb and had the smell afterwards.

In March 26, 2000, Pope John Paul II (now a Saint), celebrated a mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. His homily, excerpted in part: MASS IN THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE Jerusalem, Holy Sepulchre Sunday, 26 March 2000 “I believe in Jesus Christ . . . conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. . . On the third day he rose again” 1. Following the path of sal-

vation history, as narrated in the Apostles’ Creed, my Jubilee Pilgrimage has brought me to the Holy Land. From Nazareth, where Jesus was conceived of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, I have reached Jerusalem, where he “suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried”. Here, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, I kneel before the place of his burial: “Behold, the place where they laid him” (Mk 16:6).

The tomb is empty. It is a silent witness to the central event of human history: the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. For almost two thousand years the empty tomb has borne witness to the victory of Life over death.

With the Apostles and Evangelists, with the Church of every time and place, we too bear witness and proclaim: “Christ is risen! Raised from the dead he will never die again; death no longer has power over him” (cf. Rom 6:9).

“Mors et vita duello conflixere mirando; dux vitae mortuus, regnat vivus” (Latin Easter Sequence Victimae Paschali). The Lord of Life was dead; now he reigns, victorious over death, the source of everlasting life for all who believe.

2. In this, “the Mother of all Churches” (St. John Damascene), I extend warm greetings to His Beatitude Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the Ordinaries of the other Catholic Communities, Father Giovanni Battistelli and the Franciscan Friars of the Custody of the Holy Land, as well as the clergy, religious and lay faithful.

With fraternal esteem and affection I greet Patriarch Diodoros of the Greek Orthodox Church and Patriarch Torkom of the Armenian Orthodox Church, the representatives of the Coptic, Syrian and Ethiopian Churches, as well as of the Anglican and Lutheran Communities.

Here, where our Lord Jesus Christ died in order to gather into one the children of God who were scattered (Jn 11:52), may the Father of mercies strengthen our desire for unity and peace among all who have received the gift of new life through the saving waters of Baptism.” – St. Pope John Paul II. St. Pope John Paul II died in April 2005 of septic shock, aka blood poisoning. “Over the course of his 27 year pontificate – one of the longest in Church history – he traveled to 129 countries, and was instrumental in the fall of Communism in Europe in the 1980s.

“He did not create resentment, but instead knocked down the walls between people,” Cardinal Dziwisz said, observing he had close friends who were Jews, Muslims, and other religions.

“Everyone was important for him because everyone was created in the image of God,” Catholic News Agency reported. His funeral was attended by heads of states from 110 countries, including a first from the head of the Ethiopian Christians, 18 heads of faith organizations, and watched by over 2 billion around the world.

Footnote: I was part of a 50-person pilgrimage to the Holy Land, from Feb. 10-19, 2019, organized by QTS Tours and Travel, taking us to the Footsteps of Jesus (Tiberias, Caesarea, Haifa, Meggido, Magdala, Nazareth, Cana, Mt. Carmel, Capernaum, Mt. Beatitude, Bethany, Mt. Tabor, Mt. Zion, Mt. of Olives, Old Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Qumran, Masada, Jericho and the Dead Sea), with quality seaside accomodations in Gai Beach in Galilee and well-maintained Pontificate Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem), all expenses paid by this writer.

Fifty pilgrims of QTS Tours and Travels to the Holy Land on their way to St. Joseph House

Fifty pilgrims of QTS Tours and Travels to the Holy Land in St. Peter in Gallicantu

Fifty pilgrims of QTS Tours and Travels to the Holy Land in front of St. Peter in Gallicantu

Anastasis in which Jesus’ tomb is located

Catholic Section in front of the Eleventh Station and the Twelfth Station to the left

Close up shot of the Gold Dome of The Rock taken on top of Notre Dame Jerusalem

A fruit stand inside Palestine on the way to Bethany

Filipino pilgrims in the Holy Land

The Aragon family: Albert, 85, Alice, 77, and Abbey, 16 joined the travel to the Holy Land

Abby on a camel ride

Albert (in white shirt) after a dip in the Dead Sea

Crowds inside the Holy Sepulchre

C MARCH 16-19, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Harvesting miracles in the Holy Land

Dome inside the Holy Sepulchre

Skyline of Jerusalem taken from the rooftop of Notre Dame

Gold Dome of the Rock

by PROSY ABARQUEZ-DELACRUZ, J.D.

Bagel with dates and various bagels on sale on Muristan Road

Square where Jesus was crucified in Golgotha

The Western Wailing Wall Entrance segregates men from women because of cultural norms and women pray separately from men in the Western Wall. Some of the pilgrims’ photos that were part of QTS Tours: Karen, Fred, Pabloand Marian were taken in the square in front of the Western Wailing Wall. Men are obliged to wear a head covering.

Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane

The olive trees were taken in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed with his disciples. The fresco illustrates that fact.

One of the eight ancient olive trees

Facade of the Church of Lazarus in Bethany

The Church of Lazarus in Bethany built by Antonio Barluzzi

Facade of the Church of Lazarus in Bethany

Inside the St. Catherine next to the Church of Nativity, which was restored by Antonio Berluzzi

Separate entrances for men and women at Western Wall

Pablo, Karen, Fred and Marian at the Wailing Wall Plaza

Exterior of the Church of Lazarus in Bethany

Church of Lazarus was designed by Antonio Barluzzi and designed like a Greek cross with no windows.

Karen and Fred Arnold by the Wailing Wall The dome is the source of light to recall ascension. We passed through Muslim-Palestinian territory to get to the Church of Lazarus in Bethany. Lazarus’ tomb is venerated since the first century and his name means God helps.

Inside the Palestinian-controlled territory

Inside the Nativity Church taken by Martin Concha

Edith Stein plaque inside the Stella Maris Church in Mount Carmel

Kalia Beach, the northernmost beach in the Dead Sea

These three frescoes were taken in Church of Lazarus in Bethany - fresco of Jesus meeting Mary and Martha, fresco recalling Resurrection; fresco of Jesus in the house of Martha and Mary. This church was designed by Antonio Berluzzi.

A faint rainbow in the Dead Sea

Facsimile of the King Herod Fortress

Inside Masada National Park taken inside a sky cablecar Fresco of Jesus meeting Mary and Martha Fresco recalling the Resurrection

Jesus in the house of Martha and Mary

Jesus footprint was taken in the Church of All Nations adjacent to Garden of Gethsemane.

Front door to St. Peter Church in Gallicantu

In front of the Anastasis where Jesus’ tomb is located

Inside Bethlehem

Inside the Church of Transfiguration

Photos taken in Masada National Park, Qumran where the Scrolls were found, excavated ruins of ritual bath cavern.

Front door to St. Peter Church in Gallicantu The Masada National Park is included in the World Heritage List

One of the Qumran Caves we saw

Ritual Bath Cavern in Qumran

Jerusalem Cross showing four crosses as North, South, East, West, and four gospels

Scrolls in the Desert

Jesus’ footprint

View of the Cave in Qumran

Welcoming Plaque to the Masada National Park

Model of Ancient Jerusalem is now housed permanently in the Israeli Art Museum.

Mt. Carmel with a view of Mediterranean Sea

Model of Ancient Jerusalem by Prof. Michel Avi Yonah in the Israeli Museum

Prophet Elijah who prayed for rains to reverse drought

Raphael John Oriel taking a photo of the Virgin Mary fresco

The site of the Last Supper

Prophet Elijah image was taken in Mount Carmel where the prophet prayed for rains to make the land fertile and for drought to be reversed.

Fresco where Jesus prayed with his disciples is now where the Church of All Nations is located.

Way of the Cross with Filipinos holding cross

This is where Jesus prayed with his disciples

Wailing Wall prayerful women

The Wailing Wall view from afar

Way of the Cross photos were taken at Via Dolorosa - simulating a part of the Way of the Cross, but without the flagellation, the crown of thorns, and a much heavier cross that Jesus carried throughout with hills, dusty trails of the desert, and open air.

The author at the Wailing Wall Plaza

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 16-19, 2019

MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM You are supposed to have the opportunity to prove

&

D1

Slowdown in remittance growth your innocence before being charged with fraud seen pressuring the peso

IV’E had numerous consultations over the years with people who went for their visa interview at the U.S. Embassy, only to be told they are guilty of fraud/misrepresentation, and therefore, not eligible for a visa. Many state that they were not even given a chance to explain or document their innocence. They were simply given a single sheet of paper with the item checked that they committed fraud/misrepresentation, and, in some cases, may be eligible for a waiver (or forgiveness).

However, the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), which is the regulations followed by the Embassy in connection with visa processing and issuance, specifically instruct consuls, “You must give the alien the opportunity to rebut the presumption of willful misrepresentation by presentation of evidence to overcome it.”

This means that before being formally charged with fraud or misrepresentation, a person is supposed to first be given the opportunity to rebut the presumption of fraud or prove they had committed no fraud by presenting documents, evidence, and legal arguments demonstrating their innocence and eligibility

Immigration Corner

of an attorney, who can assist you in proving your innocence by rebutting the presumption of willful misrepresentation. ***

Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under for a visa.

However, if a person is truly the supervision of, an active member of guilty of fraud, was caught, and the State Bar of California. Each case was properly charged with fraud is different and results may depend on (because they entered the U.S. the facts of the particular case. The on an assumed name, claimed to information and opinions contained be single when they were secret- herein (including testimonials, “Success ly married, and submitted altered Stories”, endorsements and re-enactor bogus documents from Recto ments) are of a general nature, and are Street, etc.), they would need to not intended to apply to any particular file a fraud waiver, if they have a case, and do not constitute a prediction, spouse or parent who is a U.S. warranty, guarantee or legal advice recitizen or is a green card holder. garding the outcome of your legal matIf you will be interviewed at ter. No attorney-client relationship is, or the Embassy, or even at USCIS, shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com and you have potential issues Follow us on Facebook.com/Gurfinabout your eligibility, you should seek the advice and assistance kelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultaof an attorney, who can evaluate your case and possibly represent tion for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487you and help explain or resolve 3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: those issues.

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ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ

Business Quote of the Week “There is nothing like a concrete life plan to weigh you down. Because if you always have one eye on some future goal, you stop paying attention to the job at hand, miss opportunities that might arise, and stay fi xedly on one path, even when a better, newer course might have opened up.”

— Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo

by IAN

NICOLAS CIGARAL Philstar.com

THE Philippine economy should “remain fairly strong” despite sluggish remittance growth over the past 10 years, although this makes the country and its currency more vulnerable to sudden shifts in global risk appetite, a London-based think tank said.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) show money sent home by overseas Filipino workers spiked to an all-time high of $2.849 billion last December after expats sent more money to fund increased spending during the Christmas shopping season.

That brought the 2018 growth above the central bank’s growth forecast even as it was the slowest annual increase on record.

In a research note sent to reporters Thursday, March 14, Capital Economics said a fastgrowing Philippine economy and a “downturn” in Middle East are behind the slowdown in remittance growth.

While weak remittance growth is likely to act as a drag on con-

Money sent home by Filipinos working abroad is one of the Philippines’ main sources of dollars, helping the economy stay afloat and providing support to the local currency.

Philstar.com file photo

sumption and investment, Capital Economics said overall gross domestic product growth should continue to “hold up pretty well,” adding that fiscal and monetary policy are set to be loosened this year.

“The first is the improved performance of the Philippines economy, which has made it easier for people to find employment at

home and reduced the need for them to go overseas in search of work,” the think tank said.

“A second has been the economic downturn in the Middle East. The region is the source of 30 percent of remittances to the Philippines, and there has been a marked slowdown in remittances from the region over the past few PAGE D2

Reenacted budget to stunt economy NEDA chief warns growth could slow to 4.2-4.9 percent this year

the impasse and Duterte was said to have told House leaders that he would not sign the proposed General Appropriations Act (GAA) if it PHILIPPINE economic growth was not endorsed by the Senate. will decelerate sharply under a The government has been opfull-year reenacted budget, the erating on last year’s P3.767-trilNational Economic and Developlion budget since the start of the ment Authority (NEDA) warned year. While larger, agencies can on Wednesday. only spend for items detailed in Socioeconomic Planning Secthe 2018 outlay and cannot emretary Ernesto Pernia, in a statebark on programs and projects ment, said 2019 gross domestic supposed to be implemented this product (GDP) growth could slow Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto year. to “as low as 4.2 to 4.9 percent” if Pernia Manilatimes.net file photo With the first quarter all but the government is forced to operate on last year’s outlay. the former of making post-bi- over, Pernia presented other scePernia’s warning came as the cameral conference committee narios where the 2019 budget could be passed later in the year.

House of Representatives and the changes.

“If the budget is passed in AuSenate remain at loggerheads A meeting arranged by Presiover the P3.757-trillion 2019 dent Rodrigo Duterte on Tues- gust, expect growth to be around budget, with the latter accusing day, March 12, failed to resolve PAGE D2

by MAYVELIN

U. CARABALLO Manilatimes.net

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San Miguel Food & Beverage 2018 State think tank warns of higher friction costs net income rises by 8% to P30.5B

Photo courtesy of Philippine Institute for Development Studies

THE government should review the impact of tax reforms on financial transactions, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said, warning that higher taxes could discourage investments.

In a policy note titled “Taxation in financial services under Train,” the state think tank noted that tax rates under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law had significantly increased.

Such increases, particularly for documentary stamp taxes (DST) — levied on banking documents, instruments, loan agreements and papers — may be acceptable in single transactions, the PIDS

said From a business standpoint, however, the cost of completing a transaction or delivering their service has already doubled, it claimed.

In particular, the PIDS said higher taxes had increased friction costs — the total direct and indirect costs associated with the execution of a financial transaction.

In the banking industry alone, it said that taxes — particularly DST — had gone up by as much as 100 percent.

“Higher DST means costlier financial transactions in the country. It is charged to each transaction and increases transaction costs and is thus viewed as a friction cost which could discourage

investors or inhibit the flow of trade,” it explained.

With this, the agency recommended a careful analysis of the imposition of taxes on financial services to prevent “unintended consequences.”

“While taxes are meant to raise funds for the government to pump prime the economy, they may also serve as discouragement to investors and businesses,” it said.

The PIDS also cautioned that investors and businesses could instead turn to the Philippines’ Association of Southeast Asian Nations neighbors.

“The threshold for participants in the market should be determined to test their preference for Philippine financial services,” it noted. n

PAGE D1 t years,” it added.

More pressure in store for the peso Money sent home by Filipinos working abroad is one of the Philippines’ main sources of dollars, helping the economy stay afloat and providing support to the local currency.

Remittances to the Philippines are equivalent to around 10 percent of GDP. According to Capital Economics, dollar value of remittances is expected to grow by an annual average of around 3 percent over the next few years, “roughly” the same as 2018 but “half the average rate of the past decade.”

The think tank added that it is more worried about the implications of the slowdown for the balance of payments, with the country’s current account deficit seen widening further over the next couple of years, pressuring the Philippine peso.

“While the main driver of the shift has been a surge in imports of capital goods and raw materials as the government’s

infrastructure drive has gathered pace, weaker remittances (which are included as part of the current account) have also been a factor,” Capital Economics said.

“The large current account deficit, which is now equivalent to around 3 percent of GDP, makes the currency more vulnerable to sudden shifts in global risk appetite. This is a big worry given that foreign currency debt in the country is equivalent to around 25 percent of GDP,” it added.

“It is also one of the reasons why we think the central bank is likely to tread cautiously when it starts to ease monetary policy later this year.”

The current account provides a snapshot of the country’s overall economic interaction with the rest of the world covering trade in goods and services; remittances from OFWs; profit from Philippine investments abroad; interest payments to foreign creditors; as well as gifts, grants and donations to and from abroad.

If the current account balance is in surplus, the country is a “net lender” to the rest of the world.

Net lending occurs when the national saving is more than the country’s investment in real assets. If in deficit, the country is said to be a “user of funds” and thus, is considered as net borrower from abroad in order to fill in the shortage.

In the first nine months of 2018, the Philippines’ current account deficit swelled to $6.471 billion, or equivalent to 2.7 percent of GDP. That was a turnaround from the $968 million surplus (0.4 percent of GDP) registered in the same period in 2017.

The central bank said the current account deficit is forecast to balloon to $6.4 billion, or 1.9 percent of GDP, in 2018. This was more than twice its previous estimate and higher than $2.2 billion gap posted in the preceding year.

This year’s gap is seen hitting $8.4 billion — equivalent to 2.3 percent of GDP which will be the biggest proportion in 17 years — as the country brings in even more raw material and capital goods to feed the government’s infrastructure push. n

by Mayvelin

U. Caraballo Manilatimes.net

Ramon S. Ang, San Miguel Food and Beverage president and CEO.

by Doris

DUMlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

THE net income of consumer powerhouse San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. grew last year by 8 percent to P30.5 billion, driven by a double-digit growth in revenues across all businesses.

Consolidated sales in 2018 rose by 14 percent to P286.4 billion as business units San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB), San Miguel Pure Foods (SMPF) and Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) all posted double-digit growth in revenues.

Consolidated income from operations also grew by 8 percent to P46 billion, the company disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

SMB, for its part, reported a 14 percent growth in consolidated revenues last year to P129.2 billion, driven by higher consumption of leading brands Red Horse

and San Miguel Pale Pilsen, along with effective marketing campaigns and defense programs which further strengthened the equity of its brands.

SMPF also delivered higher consolidated revenues of P132.3 billion, up 13 percent, through its portfolio of brands, including Magnolia, Purefoods, Tender Juicy, B-MEG, Dari Creme, Star, and La Pacita. It posted higher volume growth of its protein, prepared and packaged food, and animal nutrition and health businesses. However, earnings were tempered by rising costs of major raw materials, start-up costs from expansion projects, and the decline in poultry prices towards the end of the year.

Driven by flagship brand, Ginebra San Miguel. Its Chinese wine brand, Vino Kulafu, GSMI also posted healthy volume growth

Inquirer.net file photo by Leo M. Sabangan II

in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. It generated revenues of P24.8 billion, 19 percent higher than the prior year.

“Despite the high inflationary environment in the past year, we are pleased with the performance of our food and beverage businesses, which all delivered strong revenue growth. This is proof that our brands continue to resonate strongly with consumers,” said San Miguel Food and Beverage president and chief executive officer Ramon S. Ang. “Moving forward, we will continue to invest in our businesses to meet the demands of growing consumption in the Philippines, and ensure that our quality products are always accessible to our consumers. We are confident that this will lead to more sustainable earnings growth and value,” said Ang. n

Reenacted budget to stunt economy...

PAGE D1 t only 4.9 to 5.1 percent,” he said, while approval next month could result in a 6.1-6.3 percent expansion.

All three estimates fall well below the government’s downwardly revised 6.0-7.0 percent target (see story on this page). If the full-year reenactment or August approval scenarios are realized, the slowdown would result in the lowest GDP growth since 2011’s 3.7 percent.

Pernia stressed that a reenacted

budget would delay infrastructure projects as well as the delivery of public social services such as the Unconditional Cash Transfer and Pantawid Pasada programs.

“The government would not be able to quickly execute programs and projects. This means that we will miss the opportunity to create as much as 180,000 to 240,000 more jobs, and fail to lift as much as 400,000 to 550,000 more Filipinos out of poverty this year,” he said.

“Thus we call for the immediate

passage of the 2019 budget. The longer we wait, the more adverse the effect will be,” he added.

An initial delay — blamed by the Senate on the House’s delayed submission and questions over alleged insertions — has already led to the shelving of mandated pay hikes for government workers.

Both chambers finally ratified a bicameral conference committee report in February but the latest controversy means the proposed GAA has yet to make it to Duterte’s desk for signing. n

Slowdown in remittance growth...

PAG

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FDI drop a ‘temporary phenomenon’ – DOF Car sales up 0.6% in February, snap losing streak

by Mary

Grace Padin Manilatimes.net

THE drop in the country’s foreign direct investments (FDIs) in 2018 is just a “temporary phenomenon” and is expected to reverse once the global economy recovers, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

In his latest economic bulletin, Finance Undersecretary and chief economist Gil Beltran said the country’s net FDI inflows declined to $9.8 billion in 2018 due to the slowdown in global economic growth, brought about by the U.S.-China trade war and Brexit.

However, Beltran described the drop as a temporary occurrence that would be overturned once world economic conditions improve.

“The drop in 2018 FDI is just a temporary phenomenon brought about by the uncertain world economic environment. FDI flows will recover when world conditions are better,” Beltran said.

FDI inflows dropped by 4.4 percent to $9.8 billion in 2018 from $10.3 billion in 2017. This was also lower than the $10.4 billion target of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Beltran said this mirrors the decline in global FDI in the past two years. In 2017, global FDI dropped by 6.5 percent to $1.9 trillion. In the first half of 2018, it dropped further by 44 percent to $432 billion.

Nevertheless, the DOF official

by Tyrone JasPer

c. Piad

Manilatimes.net

Manilatimes.net file photo

said the government should implement reforms in order to create a more attractive investment environment for the Philippines.

“More red tape should be drastically cut. In this regard, TradeNet.ph, among other digital infrastructure, should already be implemented. This will facilitate exports of manufactures,” Beltran said.

“Foreign ownership restrictions should be eased. The Philippines has one of the most restrictive investment regimes in Asia,” he said.

For one, the DOF’s chief economist said Commonwealth Act No. 146 or the Public Service Act should be amended to redefine public utilities, and subsequently enhance competition to bring

AUTOMOBILE sales finally turned positive in February, snapping a year-long decline and raising hopes of a 2019 turnaround.

Carmakers sold a total of 26,327 units last month — up 0.6 percent from a year earlier when the imposition of higher sales taxes led to a 3.2-percent contraction that worsened to as much as 30 percent as 2018 ended.

Month on month, however, car sales were down 2.1 percent from January, data released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed.

The year-to-date tally of 53,215 units was also 8.0 percent lower compared to last year.

February saw a recovery for passenger cars, with sales growing by 3.4 percent to 8,471 units.

The bread and butter commercial vehicle segment, however, fell 0.7 percent to 7,856 units.

CAMPI and TMA representatives were not immediately available for comment but officials have expressed hope that full-year sales would rebound in 2019 following

down costs.

Recently, a report released by the World Bank noted the country’s need for more competition, particularly in the power, transport, telecommunication and professional services, to improve services and boost economic growth.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez earlier said while the government has done as much as it can administratively to ease restrictions on foreign investments, there are still parts of the 1987 Constitution that limit their entry in the country.

As such, he said economic by lawrence aGcaoili managers are pushing for amendPhilstar.com ments in the Constitution to open up the country to more foreign inPUBLICLY-listed Rizal Comvestors. n mercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) sued the Bank of Bangladesh last week for maligning the Yuchengco-led bank and its executives with baseless allegations of complicity in the $81 million cyber heist three years ago.

RCBC’s lead lawyer Tai-Heng Cheng, a partner at the New York office of law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, said in a statement the claims of Bangladesh Bank are baseless and have harmed RCBC’s reputation as one of the best banks in the Philippines.

“Bangladesh’s suit is nothing more than a political stunt to try to shift blame from themselves to RCBC. The action taken by RCBC finally puts the case in a court where – at the very least – the alleged crime took place,” he said.

Inquirer.net file photo RCBC’s defamation suit filed schools. last March 6 before the Regional both 5G and 4G networks.

A 5G stand-alone network reHorn was responding to que- Trial Court in Makati City referlies solely on a 5G network. A ries on possible security threats ences Bangladesh’s failures to nonstand-alone network, which from Chinese technology com- secure its network and disclose is being tested today, relies on PAGE D5 those failings on a timely basis.

Manilatimes.net file photo

last year’s 16-percent plunge.

Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. remained the industry leader as of February with 35.20-percent market share on sales of 9,267 units, 5.6 percent lower than last year.

In second was Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with 19.75percent market share on sales of 5,200 units, 14.2 percent lower compared to February last year.

Nissan Philippines Inc. extended its run of positive results,

posting 94.7-percent growth with 3,523 units sold for third place and 13.38 percent of the market.

Year-to-date, Toyota stayed dominant with sales totaling 20,622 units, down 10.5 percent from a year earlier and accounting for 38.75 percent of the market.

Mitsubishi sold 10,439 units — down 18.6 percent — for a 19.62percent market share while Nissan sold 6,623, up 73.9 percent and 12.45 percent of the market. n

RCBC sues Bangladesh Bank for defamation

PLDT: No list yet on vendors for 5G dispatch

by MiGuel

r. caMus

Inquirer.net

TELCO giant PLDT Inc. said it had yet to select suppliers for the commercial rollout of 5G, the next generation mobile standard that promises ultra-fast internet speeds and low lag times.

In a press conference, PLDT chief technology and information advisor Joachim Horn said flagship wireless subsidiary Smart was still in the “pilot” phase of the rollout.

He said a final decision would be made ahead of the “big investment” in 5G starting 2020.

“For 5G, we haven’t done any supplier decision yet,” Horn said as the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Finnish telecommunications equipment supplier Nokia for pilot stand-alone 5G solutions for

RCBC’s lead lawyer Tai-Heng Cheng, a partner at the New York office of law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, said in a statement the claims of Bangladesh Bank are baseless and have harmed RCBC’s reputation as one of the best banks in the Philippines.

Philstar.com file photo

The complaint also refutes Bangladesh Bank’s allegation that RCBC played a premeditated role in the cyber theft. “Bangladesh Bank had lost the $81 million the minute it left defendant Bangladesh Bank’s account at the NY Fed and way before it had even

reached the Philippines… there is absolutely no act attributable to RCBC that caused the payment instructions to reach the NY Fed and the correspondent banks,” the bank said in its complaint.

RCBC said its “reputation has PAGE D5

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Tax reforms to make PH unattractive to investors

Rice import applications reach 1.6 million metric tons

Photo courtesy of Aerospace Industry Association of the Philippines

by Tyrone Jasper

C. piad

Manilatiimes.net

THE local aerospace industry might find it hard to entice foreign companies to invest in the Philippines because of tax reforms being pushed by the government, the Aerospace Industry Association of the Philippines (AIAP) said.

With the Philippines turning out as an emerging preferred location for a number of maintenance, repair, operation (MRO) companies including foreign investors, the country is eyeing to become a lucrative market.

But this might be affected by changes in the local tax system, AIAP President Dennis Chan said during a media briefing on Tuesday, March 12, in Makati.

“The biggest issue right now is that they want to take away PEZA [benefits],” he said.

Chan said removing incentives offered by the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) to loca-

tors also means eliminating the reason for investors to do business or expand their trade in the country.

With all the incentives gone, “why should [the investors] expand in the Philippines?” Chan said as he stressed the importance of tax perks to attract investors. Offering better incentives will make them stay or even grow their businesses in the country, he added.

Chan feared investors in PEZA might transfer to countries with more attractive incentives such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand which currently lead the aerospace market worldwide.

Despite this, the AIAP chief was upbeat on the local aerospace business which he said grew close to a $2-billion industry. It’s still growing, Chan added. Last year, the industry targeted to earn revenues of $2.57 billion by 2022.

Awaiting approval, the Tax Reform for Attracting Better

and Higher Quality Opportunities (TRABAHO) bill aims to cut corporate income tax rate from 30 percent to 20 percent. However, it will also rationalize fiscal incentives of companies, including PEZA locators.

Under the TRABAHO bill, a fiscal incentives regulatory board will be created to pursue the measure’s mandate, which PEZA earlier claimed to be “redundant.” It might discourage investors due to different government agencies’ interference, PEZA added.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Suppliers and Manufacturers Exhibition 2019 will be held to promote industries such as aerospace, automotive, motorcycle and electronics on March 27-30 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila.

The AIAP, which is comprised of aerospace firms including Famous Secret Precision Machining, Inc., Moog Inc., Jamco Aerospace Inc. and Collins Aerospace, is set to join the event.n

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do with the theft of the funds and has cooperated fully with every investigation into the matter.

“We will prove in the Philippine court that Bangladesh’s defamation is nothing more than a blatant attempt to shift the blame and cover up their own liability at RCBC’s expense,” Daep said.

The suit was served to Abu Hena Mohammad Razee Hasan, deputy governor and head of Bangladesh Bank Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) and the other delegates who are in the Philippines this week.

Bangladesh Bank sued RCBC last month in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to recoup losses it suffered when unidentified hackers

by Louise

Maureen Philstar.com

siMeon

expected to breach the 2.6 million MT projection of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This is seen to further increase as the Rice Import Liberalization Act takes effect.

USDA hiked its earlier projection of 2.3 million MT following reduced crop estimates and the lifting of the quantitative restriction on the commodity.

The National Food Authority (NFA) will eventually stop processing applications as the Bureau of Plant Industry will be the one to issue permits under the rice tariff regime.

The Philippines is seen to become the second-largest rice importer for 2019, next to China with an estimated 4.5 million

AS the Philippines opens its market to cheap imported rice, the number of applications to bring in the commodity under the out-quota scheme has reached 1.6 million metric tons, almost near the projected record-high imports for the country.

Based on the updated list released by the National Food Authority, 278 firms have already applied for the out-quota importation of 1.6 million MT of rice to be sourced from countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and Taiwan, among others. stole $81 million from its account The number of applications is at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The fund found its way to the Philippines and the bank was used as a conduit through fictitious ac- PAGE D3 t counts. Of the total amount, about panies. $15 million has been recovered.

PLDT has so far signed 5G piThe Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas lot deals with Swedish supplier (BSP) imposed a record P1 billion Ericsson and China’s Huawei. fine against RCBC in August 2016 The latest memorandum with for non-compliance with the New Nokia comes as governments Central Bank Act in connection around the world led by the with the cyber theft.

United States have grown critiOn the other hand, RCBC Jupi- cal of Chinese technology, in ter branch manager Maia Deguito particular, products supplied by was found guilty of eight counts of Huawei. money laundering and was senPLDT chair and CEO Manuel tenced to a 32- to 56-year prison Pangilinan said they were workterm and a $109 million fine last ing with Huawei to address isJanuary. n sues on security.

According to Horn, the group is now focused on the appropriate 5G applications for the Philippine market.

The partnership with Nokia, for example, would focus on solutions for schools including virtual reality applications, said Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri, who was in Manila for the signin Suri said early applications would also include advanced manufacturing and real-time virtual reality for the health care industry.

“The year 2020 is when a lot

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RCBC sues Bangladesh Bank...

PAGE D3 t come under the vicious and public attack by Bangladesh Bank since 2016.

“It is public knowledge that Bangladesh Bank has embarked on a massive ploy and scheme to extort money from plaintiff RCBC by resorting to public defamation, harassment and threats geared toward destroying RCBC’s good name, reputation, and image, all with the intention of getting RCBC to pay Bangladesh Bank money that RCBC does not have in its custody or possession and which it does not owe to Bangladesh Bank,” it said.

Thea Daep, partner at the Manila law firm of Villaraza & Angangco, said RCBC had nothing to

The number of applications to bring in the commodity under the out-quota scheme has reached 1.6 million metric tons, almost near the projected record-high imports for the country.

Philstar.com file photo

MT of rice imports.

This after Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Import Liberalization Law took effect, which replaced rice import quantitative restrictions with tariffs and reverted the minimum access volume to its 2012 levels.

The law was intended to spur imports in order to quell domestic unrest caused by inflation.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, for his part, said the huge volume of importation was only temporary and would eventually slowdown.

The country’s additional imports also aim to strengthen buffer stocks ahead of the midterm elections scheduled in May 2019.n

PLDT: No list yet on vendors for 5G... of industrial use cases will take hold in the 5G environment,” Suri added.

The final 5G standards would not be released until the latter part of 2019, mobile operators’ trade group GSM Association announced previously.

Operators have already started to test nonstand-alone 5G services. Late last year, Smart activated the first 5G cell sites in Clark, Pampanga, and Makati City with equipment supplied by Ericsson and Huawei, respectively. n

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