040718 Los Angeles Weekend edition

April 7-10, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 29 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

USA

DATELINE Trump calls 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard troops to border FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

PRESIDENT Donald Trump said Thursday, April 5 that he’s looking to send anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard troops to the southern U.S.-Mexico border in a bid to ramp up security.

The president spoke to reporters on Air Force One Thursday following an event in West Virginia, saying that the administration will “probably keep them or a large portion of them” there until the completion of a border wall. He said the administration is also “looking” at the costs.

Trump officially signed on Wednesday, April 4, a proclamation to deploy National Guard troops to assist Border Patrol agents along the southwest border, in an effort to impede illegal immigration.

“The situation at the border has now reached a point of crisis. The lawlessness that continues at our southern border is fun-

DENR ready to face possible legal backlash over Boracay closure

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

Photo shows some of local vendors that will be affected by the closure of Boracay due to the upcoming clean-up and rehabilitation works slated.

PNA photo by Joey Razon

to file petitions for temporary restraining orders before the SuTHE Department of Environ- preme Court (SC). ment and Natural Resources “We are expecting it, especially (DENR) is ready to face possible those affected hotels, and it is legal disputess related to the up- within their right to file reprieve coming six-month closure of Bo- from courts. If they will file, we racay island. will face them,” Leones told reEnvironment Undersecretary porters.

Jonas Leones on Friday, April 6, The island of Boracay will be said they are expecting establish- closed to tourists starting April 26 ments that would be affected by to make way for the island’s rehathe government’s closure order bilitation. As of present, no one

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

Carson moves to become first city to create Larry Itliong holiday

u PAGE A3

u PAGE A2

Duterte: If my plane explodes, ask CIA

u PAGE A3

THE city of Carson, California made a move Tuesday, April 3 to make the city the first to recognize Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong as a holiday.

“It is my honor and pleasure to move that Carson become the first city to recognize Larry Itliong as a holiday, and that the recognition be extended to all the employees here in Carson,” said Carson Mayor Albert Robles.

Prior to the vote, Carson community mem-

has filed a complaint against the closure.

“It is within their right to seek redress from courts, but we also emphasize that what we are doing will not only benefit the island but the whole country as well. This will also be for them,” Leones added.

The six-month closure was proposed by the DENR, Department of the Interior and Local

FEW DAYS OPEN. Foreign tourists try to get a tan on the white sands of the world-famous Boracay Island, which will be closed starting April 26. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered the clean-up of the area within six months after he described it as a ‘cesspool’.

ManilaTimes.net photo

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, April 5, dropped fresh hints that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is out to eliminate him, as he continued blasting the United States for being critical of his anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Speaking before a group of farmers and fishermen at Malacañang, Duterte said people should look into the CIA should anything bad happens to him.

“At least kung pumutok ‘yang eroplano ko o pumutok ‘yang roadside bomb (if my airplane explodes or a roadside bomb goes off), maybe you can ask the CIA,” Duterte said.

This was not the first time Duterte accused the U.S. agency of plotting against him.

In September 2016, the president disclosed that he has received reports of CIA’s alleged plans to “kill” him. In October last year, he also pointed to CIA as the one to

u PAGE A4

PNP to comply with SC order on drug war

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will comply with the Supreme Court’s (SC) directive to submit a report on individuals killed during the implementation of the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Malacañang made the assurance on Wednesday, April 4, insisting the government has nothing to hide.

“Yes of course [they will fol-

low], if that’s the final order of the SC all agencies of the government bound by that order are supposed to comply and follow,” Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters.

The SC earlier directed the PNP to provide data on more than 4,000 suspects killed under the drug war, rejecting an appeal filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

“The Office of the Solicitor General has argued that there

are certain security concerns that need to be addressed in connection with this matter but since the Supreme Court itself has apparently made a final order for the production of these particular documents by this law enforcement agency of the government, I guess we have no other alternative except to comply,” Guevarra said.

Guevarra expressed confidence that the SC resolution will not have an adverse effect on the implementation on the

campaign.

He, however, raised concern on the possibility that witnesses’ security might be put at stake.

“We cannot see any effect because our law enforcement agencies are not hiding anything behind these documents, except for the security of possible witnesses and so on and so forth,” he said.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signs the appointment of Ad Interim Secretary of Justice The drug war has earned Menardo Guevarra at the Malacañang Palace on Thursday, April 5. Witnessing the signing criticisms from both local and are Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go, the newly-appointed Ad

u PAGE A2

Interim Secretary of Justice and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

Pacquiao, Matthysse set for July showdown in Malaysia Mendaro Guevarra named

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday night July 14,” wrote De La Hoya on Tuesday, April 3.

MANNY Pacquiao’s muchPacquiao, also in a social meawaited fight against World dia post, said he “can’t wait” for Boxing Association (WBA) wel- another title shot. terweight champion Lucas Mat“It’s on! Can’t wait to challenge thysse is officially set.

Lucas Matthysse for another In a Twitter post, promoter world title on July 15 in Kuala Oscar De La Hoya confirmed Lumpur, Malaysia - July 14 U.S. that the Filipino boxer will chal- time,” Pacquiao said. lenge Matthysse on July 14, in The upcoming match against Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) comes “Proud to officially announce a year after Pacquiao (59-7-2, that WBA welterweight world 38 KOs) lost his WBO title to champion @MatthysseLucas Jeff Horn last July in Brisbane, will put his title on the line Australia.

Manny Pacquiao’s much-awaited fight against World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight against @mannypacquiao in Philstar.com photos u PAGE A4 champion Lucas Matthysse is officially set on July 14 in Malaysia.

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

as new Philippine DOJ chief Duterte accepts Aguirre’s resignation

SENIOR Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra has been named as the new head of the Department of Justice (DOJ), replacing former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. According to Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed Guevarra’s ad interim appointment on Thursday, April 6, hours after announcing his acceptance of Aguirre’s resignation.

“Guevarra has proved his competence and intellect when it comes to laws. Secretary Guevarra also has integrity,” Roque told reporters.

Guevarra, for his part, said he felt “overwhelmed” with Duterte’s confidence in him.

“The president seldom sees me, yet he entrusts such a sensitive position to me. I’m overwhelmed with such confi-

www.TravelTradeConsumer.com Asian Journal’s series of annual events showcasing tourism, trade, and business opportunities in the USA and Philippines.

u PAGE A2

A april 7-10, 2018 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal

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

From the Front Page

Mendaro Guevarra named as new...

PAGE A1 t dence,” he said in a message on Friday, April 6.

Guevarra also said that Duterte has ordered him to bring back the “dignified image” of the DOJ—an instruction which reportedly confirms that the president was referring to Aguirre when he previously said he was displeased with the performance of some of his

Cabinet officials.

The change in the DOJ comes in the wake of a series of blunders and controversies hounding Aguirre, including the dismissal of drug charges against self-confessed drug dealer Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr., alleged drug lord Peter Lim, and several others in mid-March.

Aguirre also came under fire

when the DOJ recently put alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles under provisional state protection.

He was likewise tagged in a bribery scandal involving immigration officials Al Argosino and Michael Robles, who were charged for allegedly extorting money from Chinese businessman Jack Lam. ‘Grateful, not sad’ In a farewell statement, Aguirre, who assumed the DOJ post in 2016, thanked Duterte “for the trust and the confidence he reposed on me as his first Secretary of Justice.”

“I am equally thankful for the opportunity to have served our countrymen as the steward of your DOJ,” he added.

Aguirre also thanked his subordinates for their support and cooperation in making the DOJ “better” under his leadership.

“As I leave the Department of Justice, I find comfort in the thought that, by our collective efforts, we have improved the DOJ in key areas. We have achieved this by hard work and indomitable faith in the protection, providence and guidance of the Almighty,” he remarked.

He continued, “The DOJ is better not because of me but because everybody committed heart, body and soul to march towards a single cadence.”

While he did not state the reason for his resignation, Aguirre said he had no regrets when he decided to step down from his post, saying: “I am not sad that it has ended, rather I am thankful that it happened. I am eternally grateful to all!”

He then encouraged everyone at the DOJ “to welcome with the same degree of enthusiasm and cooperation, more if need be, the team of incoming Secretary Menardo Guevarra.”

“There is only one DOJ, let us love and serve it to the best of our abilities,” he added.

Before his appointment as the new DOJ secretary, Guevarra served as the deputy executive secretary for legal affairs during the administration of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III in 2015.

He was also appointed as a commissioner of the Philippine Competition Commission in 2016. n

FIRST BATCH OF SENIOR HIGH. Luis Ferrer IV, Representative of the 6th District of Cavite, shakes hands with honor student Aira Andrea Fortuno during the graduation rites at the Luis Ferrer Jr. Senior High School (SHS) with the theme “Mag-aaral ng K to 12: Handa sa Hamon ng Buhay” in General Trias, Cavite on Friday, April 6. The graduates are among the first batch of the SHS K-12 program, which was signed into law in May 2013.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

DENR ready to face possible...

PAGE A1 t

Government (DILG), and Department of Tourism (DOT).

President Rodrigo Duterte, who earlier likened the island to a “cesspool” due to its sewage and garbage problems, approved the recommendation last Wednesday, April 4.

The government also hopes to resolve the issues on the encroachment on easements, forestland, and wetlands; and the degradation of certain areas like Puka Beach and caves during the rehabilitation period.

While saying that six months may not be enough for Boracay’s full recovery, the DENR assured that there would be no extension on the closure.

“We will still be continuing our rehab efforts since not everything will be finished in six months, like laying of pipes and sewer lines, but at least we are optimistic these efforts will address some of the problems,” Leones said.

He also hinted that the island may open sooner.

“Just to emphasize, this six months is a maximum period. We

can shorten the closure, depending on the progress of the rehabilitation efforts to be done in Boracay,” Leones added.

Located in the province of Aklan in the Visayas, Boracay is a top tourist destination in the Philippines. It was also recognized as among the best beaches in the world. According to the DOT more than 2 million tourists visited Boracay last year, generating about P56 billion in revenue.

But with its impending shut down, the Philippine government is expecting a loss of around P20 billion in gross receipts.

According to the local government, there will also be at least 26,000 workers in the island who will be affected by the closure.

The figure excludes workers in service industries like transportation and food.

“The estimate if we will go through the full 6 months, it could reach around 18 to 20 billion [pesos] potential loss in gross receipts. That’s why it is not to the interest of everybody to go the full six months,” said Interior Assistant Secretary Epimaco

PNP to comply with SC order...

PAGE A1 t

international groups over its high number of recorded deaths under police operations.

In October last year, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

ordered the PNP out of his drug war amid public outrage on the deaths of teenagers Kian Lloyd de los Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman, who were accused of being

Densing.

The projected loss, according to Densing, is prompting the government to fast track the island’s rehabilitation.

“We have to fast track everything. And the only way to be able to do this is to ask everybody, all the stakeholders to be part of the whole rehabilitation process,” Densing said.

He went on to say: “We’ve been receiving volunteers outside of Boracay that they want to go into the island and help in the whole rehab process. So if everybody comes into the picture, we can cut the process by at least two months.”

Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the government is planning to use P2-billion calamity fund to aid locals who will be affected by the closure.

“There will be a declaration of a state of calamity, but the president was insistent that the funds that will be spent will go only to the workers who will be displaced. He will not let any resort owner benefit from any sort of a calamity fund,” Roque said. n

drug peddlers.

Two months later, Duterte brought the PNP back to his drug war but only to serve as support for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). n

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

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 7-10, 2018

A3

Trump calls 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard...

PAGE A1 t

damentally incompatible with the safety, security, and sovereignty of the American people,” said Trump’s Wednesday memorandum outlining the orders.

“My administration has no choice but to act,” he added.

Trump cited drug smuggling, gangs like MS-13, and criminal organizations among the threats of “drastic illegal activity” to the U.S. The memorandum followed remarks made earlier in the day

by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen who said that both her department and Department of Defense (DoD) would be directed to work with governors along the border states in the deployment of National Guard troops.

Former U.S. presidents like Barack Obama and George W. Bush have sent troops to assist Border Patrol agents in the past.

Bush deployed 6,000 guardsmen and spent $1.2 billion, and Obama sent 1,200 and spent around $110 million.

Pentagon officials declined to give details on the mission Thursday and suggested more info would be addressed as the Defense Department receives instruction from DHS. But Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said that DoD had in the meantime, established a 24/7 “border security support cell” of Pentagon personnel that was set up to help carry out Trump’s orders.

She said National Guard’s efforts would include “aviation, engineering, surveillance, communications, vehicle maintenance and logistical support.” National Guard members will act in support of Border Patrol agents performing law enforcement duties, she added.

On whether troops would be armed, Marine Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr., director of the military’s Joint Staff said, “Our advice is always that soldiers are able to defend themselves, and they have the right of selfdefense. However, we are going to be guided by the dialogue that’s going on now between DHS and the governors, and then we’ll work that here internally.”

Trump’s memo said that the secretaries of DHS and DoD, in coordination with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, would have 30 days from Wednesday to submit a report of their findings, as well as an action plan.

President Donald J. Trump answers reporter’s questions aboard Air Force One, Thursday, April 5, 2018, on the return flight to Washington, D.C., following President Trump’s participation in a roundtable discussion on the benefits of tax reform. (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen

The number of people crossing into the U.S. from Mexico illegally has fallen to its lowest since 1971. Just last fall, DHS said the border was at its most secure.

On Wednesday, the DHS released statistics showing that about 50,300 people were arrested by border agents, a sharp two-fold increase from March 2017 when about 16,600 were arrested — a number lower than previous years.

Border Patrol agents said 37,000 people were stopped in February, up from 24,000 during that month last year.

“The anticipated rapid rise in illegal crossings as we head into the spring and summer months threatens to overwhelm our Nation’s law enforcement capacities,” said Trump in his memorandum.

‘Continue moving forward’, despite California With California yet to respond to Trump’s plan, the White House said it will continue with its plans to deploy National Guard troops along the border in Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico.

White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders told reporters Friday, April 6 that whether or not California decides to cooperate, “we’ll continue moving forward with other border states.”

California Gov. Jerry Brown has not yet made any comment on the plan as of this writing, saying that his office needs more information first.

Sanders said the administration will continue to work with California, and is hopeful that “they’ll do the right thing and help protect our borders.”

Several governors have voiced their stance on Trump’s plans

with opponents acknowledging the possibility of Trump asserting federal control over their state’s Guard members.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, opposed the plan and said she will not be sending troops if asked, reported The Washington Post. Her spokesman Bryan Hockaday mentioned the chance of federal control.

Nevada’s Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval is also among those opposed to the plan. In an email to The Associated Press, Sandoval’s spokeswoman, Mary-Sarah Kinner, said that Sandoval did not see the plan as being an appropriate use of the Nevada Guard.

Republican governors border states Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas support the deployment.

Trump ‘frustrated’ Trump insinuated Tuesday that he would send military personnel to the border, calling it a “big step.”

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that Trump had been briefed by senior administration officials about migration issues, saying Trump has “directed a vigorous administrative strategy to confront this threat and protect America’s national security.”

Increased rhetoric on migration and border issues began early Easter Sunday when the president posted a string of tweets calling out what he called weak labor laws, immigration legislation in Congress, and caravans of migrants coming from Central America.

“I think what’s true is the President is frustrated. He’s been very clear he wants to secure the border,” said Nielsen. “I

PAO FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST FORMER HEALTH CHIEF. Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta is accompanied by families of alleged victims of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia after filing a complaint versus former health secretary Janet Garin and others on Thursday, April 5.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr.

Carson moves to become first city to...

PAGE A1 t

bers made welcoming comments before the Carson City Council in support of adding the holiday.

One Fil-Am community member who was a son of a migrant worker, recalled hearing stories from his uncles about their days of hard farmwork and said voting for the holiday was also a move to vote for manongs — the first wave of Filipinos to come to the U.S. “It was the manongs that kept the families together,” he said.

“They had the values of not just working hard, but also to establish community.”

He added that the holiday would also bring out the identities of the city’s youth.

“I have to two daughters and they will be living in the first city to recognize Larry Itliong Day as a holiday,” he said.

The city has been celebrating Itliong’s birthday annually since Filipino city councilman Elito Santarina acknowledge the Carson as the first in the U.S. to hold Larry Itliong Day in 2010.

Itliong’s birthday falls on the 25th of October, a month celebrated as Filipino American History Month.

Itliong — a native of the Philippines’ Pangasinan province and a polyglot who knew Filipino u PAGE A4 languages as well as Spanish,

Cantonese, and Japanese — immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 15.

While in the U.S., Itliong worked in farms and canneries along the West Coast and Alaska, eventually founding the Filipino Farm Labor Union in 1956, and leading the historic United Farm Workers organization alongside Mexican labor leader Cesar Chavez that prompted the Delano Grape Strike.

Mayor Robles shared at the council meeting that he had visited California’s Central Valley and visited the areas where the labor strikes took place, as well as Itliong’s grave.

“It was very moving to see and to hear the stories of individuals who knew him and to hear how much he sacrificed, and how much he believed in his cause,” said Robles.

Concerns Issues did come up at the council meeting surrounding the holiday’s fiscal impact which had not yet been finalized, and the consideration of other heroes.

“We can only have so many holidays,” said one community member at the Tuesday night meeting. “If you keep this up, other people are going to want other holidays.”

Councilwoman Lula Davis-

Holmes said she supported the move to make Larry Itliong Day a holiday, but requested the council come back to discuss also creating a holiday for Rosa Parks which she had introduced before.

“Rosa Parks is a mother of modern civil rights,” said DavisHolmes. “We have always recognized the men, but we do not have a woman recognized that I know of, as a holiday.”

On the concerns, Robles said, “If you know his story like Cesar Chavez knew his story, like Dr. King knew his story, I’m sure you too would acknowledge and recognize that he is deserving of full recognition and respect like the other individuals that have fought and sacrificed for the betterment of all society, for all of us, and it is a small gesture on our part to acknowledge their contribution.”

Carson Mayor Pro-Tem Jawane Hilton also said he was inclined to vote on making Larry Itliong Day a holiday, but also suggested the discuss a holiday for Rosa Parks moving forward.

As the fiscal impact was unknown at the time of the meeting, Carson city council members said they will be studying its effects and responsibilities in upcoming meetings. (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)

Dateline USa

A april 7-10, 2018 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal

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

Duterte: If my plane explodes...

PAGE A1 t

blame for his possible untimely death, saying: “If I die, it’s America (that’s behind it). It’s the CIA.” The CIA has denied that it was planning to eliminate the Philippine president.

During his Thursday speech, Duterte also berated the U.S. for blocking the sale of firearms to Philippines because of alleged human rights violations related to his drug war.

He said the Americans “really

do not honor their word.”

Duterte recalled how he asked China and Russia for help in acquiring rifles amid the five-month long Marawi siege last year, when the Philippine forces clashed with Islamic State-inspired terrorists.

“To this day, Russia and China have yet to ask even a piece of paper or pencil. There was no military alliance. I am not prepared for that. I’d just like to go neutral,” he added.

Duterte further warned “loudmouth” Americans that they

would someday realize that the drug problem in U.S. is “one hundred times more serious” than in the Philippines.

He took note how U.S. President Donald Trump, who assumed office last year, is now praising the drug war in the Philippines, in contrast to the critical stance of his predecessor, former U.S. President Barack Obama.

“One day, to your horror, your problem is one hundred times more serious than what we have.

It came to pass. Si Obama yun (That’s Obama). Ngayon pagsabi kay Trump ngayon (But now Trump), he’s declaring a national emergency,” Duterte said.

He continued: “So Americans, what values are you trying to impose on us? The values of Obama, the values of Trump, or your own national stupidity?” n

Trump calls 2,000 to 4,000...

PAGE A3 t think what you’re seeing is the President taking his job very seriously in terms of securing our border.”

Much of Trump’s remarks have been accusations against Mexico for not doing much in regards to stopping illegal migration. Trump threatened to stop the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) — the world’s largest free trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — which he called Mexico’s “cash cow.”

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto spoke Thursday in Mexico City, urging Trump to engage in constructive dialogue rather than precipitate further conflict.

“President Trump, if you wish to reach agreements with Mexico, we stand ready, as we have proved until now, always willing to engage in a dialogue, acting in earnestness, in good faith and in a constructive spirit,” said Peña Nieto. “If your recent statements are the result of frustration due to domestic policy issues, [due] to your laws or to your Congress, it is to them that you should turn to, not to Mexicans.”

He added, “We will not allow negative rhetoric to define our actions. We will act only in the best interest of Mexicans.” (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)

ROBIN AT THE PALACE. President Rodrigo Duterte welcomes actor Robin Padilla during a meeting at Malacañang on Wednesday, April 4.

Looking on is the president’s special assistant Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. Malacañang photo

Los Angeles named #1 solar city in the United States MAyOR Eric Garcetti on Wednesday, April 4 announced that Los Angeles has the most installed solar power of any city in America after a 4 percent increase over the last year, according to a report by the Environment California Research & Policy Center.

The mayor also unveiled a new 2.21 megawatt solar installation on the South Hall roof of the Los Angeles Convention Center, making it the largest solar system on any publiclyowned convention center on the West Coast.

“We’re proud to lead American cities in the movement to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement,” said Garcetti.

“Every investment we make in solar is an investment in the health and well-being of Angelenos today and for years to come.”

The new report, “Shining Cities 2018: How Smart Local Policies Are Expanding Solar Power in America,” shows that Los Angeles now has 349.3 total megawatts of installed local power, which is enough to power 82,500 homes in Los Angeles and save 187,304 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions — the equivalent of taking 40,108 cars off the road. This rapid progress brings the city closer

to meeting several goals outlined in Garcetti’s sustainable city plan, including a clean and resilient energy supply through the expansion of local solar resources.

“The Shining Cities No. 1 ranking is a testament to the Mayor’s leadership and to the strong interest among the city’s residents and businesses to do their part to achieve a clean power future for Los Angeles,” said LADWP General Manager David H. Wright. “The impressive growth of local solar is also a reflection of the improvements we’ve made to streamline all aspects of the solar programs, making it much easier for customers to go solar and generally improving our responsiveness to customers overall.”

The growth in solar capacity is fueled by two incentive programs and a streamlined permitting process, making it attractive and accessible for Angelenos and local businesses to install solar. The programs have already helped provide more than 32,000 residential and commercial customers with $314 million in incentives.

“Congratulations, Los Angeles. In a city full of stars, it’s the biggest of them all—the sun— that is powering our homes, schools, stores and studios with

clean, renewable energy,” said Michelle Kinman, Clean Energy Advocate with Environment California Research & Policy Center. “By continuing to embrace forward-thinking solar policies, L.A. can lead the way to a 100 percent renewable energy future, creating cleaner air and a healthier climate for all.”

The new 2.21 megawatt solar installation on the roof of the Los Angeles Convention Center South Hall was developed by PermaCity, who last summer completed the 16.4 megawatt Westmont Solar Energy Project in San Pedro — the most powerful rooftop solar project in the world.

“PermaCity is honored to be the solar contractor for the Convention Center. We’d like to thank the Mayor, the Convention Center, and LADWP for making this job and so many more possible, and for creating great paying jobs for residents,” said PermaCity CEO Jonathan Port. “We also want to thank the Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board (WiB) IBEW Local 18 & Local 11, Roofers Local 36, and Labor Local 300 for providing the workforce to construct our Los Angeles manufactured SolarStrapTM and for interconnecting this complex system.” n

Trump’s ‘Buy American’ could benefit Philippines

by Ray

Gamboa Philstar.com

U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Buy American” call to action is slowly taking shape, and how this will escalate and eventually affect relationships with China, the United States’ biggest goods trading partner, bears some watching.

If the U.S. government were to take its protectionist stance against China in a long tit-for-tat war, many Americans are expected to suffer in the end. Farmers, tech manufacturers, consumers – all will find themselves at the short end of this trade war stick.

The U.S. started this trade war by initially raising global tariffs of 10 percent on aluminum and 25 percent on steel, but subsequently exempting a handful of manufacturers, but not China.

This prompted China to recently impose an “eye-for-an-eye” response by imposing levies of between 15 to 25 percent on 128 of product imports from the U.S., including aluminum scraps, pork, fruits, wine, and nuts valued at $3 billion.

Well, it’s not yet exactly an “eye for an eye” because the big guns have not exactly been brought out yet, although there have been local rumblings about how China should retaliate to the selective U.S. imposition of tariffs on aluminum and steel.

The recently announced levies

by China on American imports is just a warning that the second largest economy in the world will not idly take sitting down what America is dishing out, and for that matter, any more future trade sanctions.

The more aggravating stuff that China could hurl back would be higher tariffs on soybean imports from the U.S., as well as Boeing aircrafts – that is, if Trump goes to round 2, i.e., imposing 25 percent tariff on a range of Chinese products that are expected to include communication technology and aerospace products, information and machinery.

This exchange of levy impositions could go on and on, and economists are betting America will lose more, especially when

China chooses to get its import needs anywhere except the US, slow down on buying American debt papers, and take on the leadership mantle of global free trade.

Did our President Duterte foresee a shifting of global power?

Be alert for opportunities It is still too early to see if Trump will follow through with more sanctions against the Chinese, but should this happen, there are a number of crumbs that we can pick up when the trade battle ensues full scale.

Agricultural products from the US that would be locked out of China would likely take a price dive, and that would be a boon to us. US soybeans, which could turn out to be a big trade war loser, are an import staple of the Philippines.

Service providers, like U.S. business process outsourcing companies based in China, may have to relocate elsewhere; the Philippines is better positioned to absorb this.

There should be more, and even in the unlikely event that the trade war between China and the US escalates into something that would be beyond repair, let’s be alert for opportunities. After all, quite a few fortunes had been made on the scraps of war.

Grab-Uber deal Two corporate takeovers were prominently featured in the local press last week. First was Grab’s buyout of Uber’s operations in the Philippines, and the second being Gokongwei family’s acquisition of supermarkets and groceries formerly owned by the Tantocos in the country.

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), as well as various regulatory agencies that would have a say on the two business transactions, are peering closely on just how the mergers will affect consumers and the public in general.

For Grab and Uber, the discussion had been hammered and finalized in a different country, but with implications on the Philippines since the acquisition involved Uber’s Southeast Asia operations.

The PCC has, recognizing its limitations with regards this merger, asked that it be allowed to do a “voluntary review” that would vet whether the deal had transgressed any anti-competition laws.

But with the merger expected next week by April 8, there is no time for the PCC to conduct anything substantially meaningful, or to be more precise, if it is competent within legal bounds to give its seal of “approval” to the done-deal.

This is the same situation that the respective competition watchdogs of Malaysia and Singapore find themselves, and the most that they have done is to issue a warning that they would be watching closely Grab’s conduct of business in the coming weeks.

Consumer fears come with stories of how China’s Didi Chuxing, which bought out Uber in 2016, had taken advantage of its monopolistic standing by supposedly charging higher rates than when there were two rivaling ride-hailing services.

Robinsons-Rustans buyout Fortunately, there has been less controversy with regards the recent announcement by the two retailing giants in the Philippines, with both parties declaring that the deal would be finalized only when the approvals of the PCC and the Securities and Exchange Commission are acquired.

This said, Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI), which is buying the Rustans Supercenters for P18 billion, is seen to gain leverage in expanding its operations not only in the Philippines, but also overseas.

The Rustans Supercenters, formerly owned by the Tantocos, is now wholly owned by Mulgrave Corp. B.V (MCBV), which in turn is a member of the Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. group of companies.

Dairy Farm is associated with Wellcome, Maxim’s Catering, 7Eleven, and IKEA among many other brands. The synergy with RRHI would only bode well for the manufacturing side of the Gokongwei family interests. n

Pacquiao, Matthysse set for July showdown...

PAGE A1 t

As for who will handle the Filipino boxer’s training, Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told ESPN that it would not be Freddie Roach.

According to Koncz, Pacquiao has replaced Roach, who’s been his trainer since 2001, with Buboy Fernandez, his lifelong friend and the career-long as-

sistant trainer.

“That’s Manny’s decision.

Manny has told me Buboy will be handling the training on this fight,” Koncz told ESPN. “What’s important to Manny is that he has one voice to listen to in the corner that he trusts, and I guess that’s Buboy for this fight,” he added.

Asked why Pacquiao made

such decision, Koncz replied: “There was some concerns Manny had in the last fight and some statements Freddie made to the media that Manny wasn’t very pleased about.”

In a separate statement, Koncz told the Los Angeles Times that Pacquiao’s MP Promotions will be the Malaysia bout’s lead promoter. n

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

Dateline USa

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 7-10, 2018

A

Americans have mixed feelings about the AcA’s future — but like their plans

by Rachel Bluth Californiahealthline.org

moST americans are happy with the insurance they buy on the individual market, yet those same people think the markets are collapsing before their eyes. a poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, released Tuesday, found that 61 percent of people enrolled in marketplace plans are satisfied with their insurance choices and that a majority say they are not paying more this year compared with last year’s premium costs. yet, more than half of the overall public — 53 percent — also think the affordable care act’s marketplaces are “collapsing.”

(Kaiser Health News, which produces california Healthline, is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) experts have warned that some policy actions supported by the Trump administration would undermine the market, including repealing the penalty for going without insurance and giving people the option to buy shortterm plans. Such plans are often less expensive but cover fewer benefits. They are not automatically renewable, and insurers are able to charge people with medical conditions more — or exclude them altogether.

But only about one-fifth of people who obtain coverage on the individual market were even aware that the mandate penalty had been repealed as of 2019, according to the poll. It is still in effect this year.

Nine in 10 enrollees said they would still buy insurance without the penalty, and 34 percent said the mandate was a “major reason” they chose to buy insurance at all.

“They may have been prompt-

ROAD BEAUTIFICATION. Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR) workers undertake a rehabilitation and beautification project of the center island along Roxas Boulevard Cor. MIA Road in Parañaque City held on Friday, April 6.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

ed to buy the coverage in the first place because of the mandate,” said Sabrina corlette, a professor at Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute. “But now that they’ve got it, they clearly value it.” most of the people who buy plans because they don’t get coverage through work or the government, 75 percent, said they bought insurance to protect against high medical bills, and 66 percent said peace of mind was a major reason.

In February, President Donald Trump eased some of the restrictions on short-term insurance plans, allowing them to cover people for 12 months instead of three. critics worried this alternative would draw people away from traditional insurance plans and weaken the individual market. according to the poll, though, only 12 percent of respondents buying on that market said they’d be interested in buying one of the short-term plans.

Georgetown’s corlette cautioned that these numbers could

Older Americans are hooked on vitamins despite scarce evidence they work by liz SzaBo Californiahealthline.org

WHeN she was a young physician, Dr. martha Gulati noticed that many of her mentors were prescribing vitamin e and folic acid to patients. Preliminary studies in the early 1990s had linked both supplements to a lower risk of heart disease.

She urged her father to pop the pills as well: “Dad, you should be on these vitamins, because every cardiologist is taking them or putting their patients on [them],” recalled Gulati, now chief of cardiology for the University of arizona college of medicine-Phoenix.

But just a few years later, she found herself reversing course, after rigorous clinical trials found neither vitamin e nor folic acid supplements did anything to protect the heart. even worse, studies linked high-dose vitamin e to a higher risk of heart failure, prostate cancer and death from any cause. “‘you might want to stop taking [these],’” Gulati told her father. more than half of americans take vitamin supplements, including 68 percent of those age 65 and older, according to a 2013 Gallup poll. among older adults, 29 percent take four or more supplements of any kind, according to a Journal of Nutrition study published in 2017. often, preliminary studies fuel irrational exuberance about a promising dietary supplement, leading millions of people to buy in to the trend. many never stop. They continue even though more rigorous studies — which can take many years to complete — almost never find that vitamins prevent disease, and in some cases cause harm.

“The enthusiasm does tend to outpace the evidence,” said Dr. Joann manson, chief of preventive medicine at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

There’s no conclusive evidence that dietary supplements prevent chronic disease in the average american, manson said. and while a handful of vitamin and mineral studies have had positive results, those findings haven’t been strong enough torecommend supplements to the general U.S. public, she said.

The National Institutes of Health has spent more than $2.4 billion since 1999 studying vitamins and minerals. yet for “all the research we’ve done, we don’t have much to show for it,” said Dr. Barnett Kramer, director of cancer prevention at the National cancer Institute.

In search of the magic bullet a big part of the problem, Kramer said, could be that much

nutrition research has been based on faulty assumptions, including the notion that people need more vitamins and minerals than a typical diet provides; that megadoses are always safe; and that scientists can boil down the benefits of vegetables like broccoli into a daily pill.

Vitamin-rich foods can cure diseases related to vitamin deficiency. oranges and limes were famously shown to prevent scurvy in vitamin-deprived 18thcenturysailors. and research has long shown that populations that eat a lot of fruits and vegetables tend to be healthier than others.

But when researchers tried to deliver the key ingredients of a healthy diet in a capsule, Kramer said, those efforts nearly always failed.

It’s possible that the chemicals in the fruits and vegetables on your plate work together in ways that scientists don’t fully understand — and which can’t be replicated in a tablet, said marjorie mccullough, strategic director of nutritional epidemiology for the american cancer Society. more important, perhaps, is that most americans get plenty of the essentials, anyway. although the Western diet has a lot of problems — too much sodium, sugar, saturated fat and calories, in general — it’s not short on vitamins, said alice Lichtenstein, a professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. and although there are more than 90,000 dietary supplements from which to choose, federal health agencies and advisers still recommend that americans meet their nutritional needs with food, especially fruits and vegetables. also, american food is highly fortified — with vitamin D in milk, iodine in salt, B vitamins in flour, even calcium in some brands of orange juice.

Without even realizing it, someone who eats a typical lunch or breakfast “is essentially eating a multivitamin,” said journalist catherine Price, author of “Vitamania: How Vitamins revolutionized the Way We Think about Food.”

That can make studying vitamins even more complicated, Price said. researchers may have trouble finding a true control group, with no exposure to supplemental vitamins. If everyone in a study is consuming fortified food, vitamins may appear less effective.

The body naturally regulates the levels of many nutrients, such as vitamin c and many B vitamins, Kramer said, by excreting what it doesn’t need in urine. He added: “It’s hard to avoid getting the full range of vitamins.”

u PAGE A6

change when people are faced with an actual choice next open enrollment season.

“If you look at how these things are marketed, your average consumer will not be able to tell that these products are any different from a traditional health plan,” she said. most people said they didn’t face a premium increase this year. Thirty-four percent said their premiums were “about the same” as last year and 23 percent said they actually went down.

That’s not surprising, said Joseph antos, a resident scholar at the conservative american enterprise Institute who follows the health industry. many consumers saw their premium subsidies rise too.

Democracy alive in PH, Medialdea tells UN rapporteur

by DJ

Yap Inquirer.net

Democracy continued to be alive and well in the Philippines, according to a top malacañang official in a statement issued apparently in reaction to remarks made by a Filipino United Nations (UN) rapporteur, who had been branded as a terrorist by the Duterte administration for alleged links with the Left.

“Democracy in the Philippines is vibrant and strong,” executive Secretary Salvador medialdea said in a statement. “all the branches of the government are functioning and the u PAGE A6 rule of law thrives,” the state-

march 25 “show how detached she is with the realities happening in the Philippines.”

Tauli-corpuz, a leader of the Kankanaey Igorot people, is the UN rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples.

She was one of 600 people named by the Department of Justice as communist guerrillas in a court petition seeking their declaration as terrorists.

The UN official had denied the Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea government’s allegations and Inquirer.net photo sought the support of the international community. ment added.

Speaking at the milan event, He said comments made by UN Special rapporteur Victoria Tauli-corpuz said the Philippine Tauli-corpuz during the Human government had “become very rights Festival in milan, Italy on authoritarian.” n

Dateline USa

A april 7-10, 2018 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal

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

3 ex-GIs on trial for slay of PH broker

VETERANS WEEK. Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) deputy administrator Raul Caballes delivers his message during the Veterans Week Celebration held at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City on Friday, April 6. 2018. The Philippine Veterans Week is celebrated annually from April 5-11 as ordered by Presidential Proclamation No. 466, s. 1989.

PNA photo by Rico Borja

Americans have mixed feelings about...

PAGE A5 t

Thirty-five percent of people said one of the major reasons they bought insurance was because government subsidies made it affordable.

The subsidies that people receive, Antos noted, went up to offset the premium increase in many cases, especially if consumers took the advice of experts and

shopped around for coverage.

“They’re buying because they feel they need insurance and that their net premiums and deductibles add up to something they’re willing to buy,” Antos said.

The poll was conducted Feb. 15-20 and March 8-13 among 2,534 adults. The margin of sampling error is +/-2 percentage points for the full sample, +/-7

percentage points for all nongroup enrollees and +/-9 percentage points for marketplace enrollees.

Kaiser Health News senior correspondent Julie Appleby contributed to this report.

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN SERVING MY FELLOW KABABAYANS FOR OVER 17 YEARS

CIVIL AND PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION • Breach of Contract and Fraud • Auto and Other Injury accidents

Flores Philstar.com

FAMILY LAW • Divorce/Separation/Nullity • Property Division • Spousal Support • Child Custody and Support • Restraining Orders

CALL TODAY FOR A CONSULTATION 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, California 90010

323-639-0277

Email: info@dtanlaw.com • Website: www.dtanlaw.com

Darrick V. Tan, Esq. Licensed in California for over 17 years Licensed in Nevada for over 12 years* UCLA, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science with Cum Laude honors Southwestern University Law School, Juris Doctor Admitted to U.S. District Court, Central District of California Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association Member, Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles Former Member, Board of Governors, Philippine American Bar Association *Inactive

was on a “kill list” that self-styled assassins with military backgrounds saw as a golden opportunity, Egan said.

“If Paul Le Roux wanted somebody killed, these guys got the call,” he said. “For these men, more murders meant more money.”

Samia, 43, and Stillwell, 50, did surveillance on Lee before contacting her, pretending to be potential clients, the prosecutor said.

While returning from a trip to the countryside outside of Manila, Samia pulled out a .22-caliber gun and killed Lee by shooting her twice in the face as she sat in the backseat of a van, Egan said.

Lee’s body was found on a pile of garbage on the side of the road, Egan said. After being paid, her killers were ordered back to the United States, where they were arrested in 2015.

‘Mastermind’ An online report in 2016 by Atavist Magazine quoted Rizaldy Rivera, then head of the Death Investigation Division of the National Bureau of Investigation as saying that “the Mastermind,” referring to Le Roux, ordered the killing of Lee for a failed real estate deal.

Sharing information he had

obtained from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Rivera said Le Roux sought Lee’s services to purchase a vacation property in Batangas, giving her at least P50 million.

But the deal did not materialize because the fixer Lee had instructed to do the paperwork fled with the money.

Rivera believed that the fixer also had been killed but the body was never found.

“And then the Mastermind ordered Lee’s murder, too,” Atavist Magazine reported.

Lee’s body was found by a garbage collector in Taytay, Rizal province.

An investigation turned up a picture on Stillwell’s phone of a bloody head wrapped in a towel that was taken around the time of Lee’s death, authorities said.

Stillwell also admitted being behind the wheel of the van when Lee was shot, they added.

Secret video Prosecutors said other evidence included a secretly recorded video of Hunter from a sting in Thailand that resulted in a separate conviction for plotting to kill a DEA agent.

They said Hunter was overheard talking about killing people for Le Roux, including a Filipino real estate agent. (Inquirer.net)

US seeks end to South China Sea island-building

by Helen

IMMIGRATION

• Family and employment based green cards • Business and Investor Visas • Deportation defense • Motions to Reopen • Appeals • Humanitarian Reinstatement of revoked petition • Naturalization • H-1B and student visas

NEW YORK — A former U.S. Army sniper and two other American ex-soldiers agreed to become contract killers for an international crime boss who wanted to settle a score with a real estate agent in the Philippines he thought had cheated him on a land deal, a prosecutor said on Tuesday in opening statements at the trial of the three men.

Joseph Hunter, a former sergeant with a Special Forces background, Adam Samia and Carl David Stillwell have denied they planned the 2012 executionstyle hit—a case that’s provided an inside glimpse into the secret fraternity of private mercenaries willing to kill in cold blood for cash.

Prosecutors said the 52-yearold Hunter was working as a security chief for weapons and drug trafficker Paul Le Roux, when he recruited Samia and Stillwell to travel from their homes in Roxboro, North Carolina, to the Philippines for what was called “ninja work.”

Hunter provided firearms and silencers and told them Le Roux would pay them $35,000 a piece to get the job done, Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Egan told a federal court in Manhattan.

‘Kill list’ The broker, Catherine Lee,

A UNITED States official on Thursday, April 5 reiterated calls for claimant-countries in the South China Sea to end islandbuilding in the disputed waters to achieve a “conducive environment” for negotiations.

Patrick Murphy, U.S. Department of State principal deputy assistant secretary for Southeast Asia, stressed discussions can only work if the environment is conducive for dialogue.

“We also shared concerns about the need to create an environment conducive for dialogue, and that means sustaining a prohibition on militarization, con-

struction, reclamation of disputed outposts,” Murphy said in a press briefing via phone.

In recent years China has beefed up its reclamation and reported militarization activities in the disputed waters.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last year agreed to a framework for negotiations on a code of conduct in the South China Sea. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong earlier confirmed talks would begin this year, with leaders hoping for “an early conclusion.”

The developments in the South China Sea were discussed during the US-ASEAN Dialogue in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last Tuesday,

April 3.

“So as this dialogue goes forward, we encourage adherence to the basic principles,” Murphy said.

The U.S. is hoping the process of the code of conduct negotiations would be transparent and lead to a “binding, meaningful result in accordance with international law.”

He said “no one country should bully or coerce their way to results.”

While the U.S. is not a claimant-country, Murphy stressed the South China Sea is a “top priority” of Washington as almost half of the world’s commerce passes through the disputed waterway. n

Older Americans are hooked on vitamins...

PAGE A5 t

Not all experts agree. Dr. Walter Willett, a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says it’s reasonable to take a daily multivitamin “for insurance.” Willett said that clinical trials underestimate supplements’ true benefits because they aren’t long enough, often lasting five to 10 years. It could take decades to notice a lower rate of cancer or heart disease in vitamin takers, he said.

Vitamin Users Start Out Healthier For Charlsa Bentley, 67, keeping up with the latest nutrition research can be frustrating.

She stopped taking calcium, for example, after studies found it doesn’t protect against bone fractures. Additional studies suggest that calcium supplements increase the risk of kidney stones and heart disease.

“I faithfully chewed those calcium supplements, and then a study said they didn’t do any good at all,” said Bentley, from Austin, Texas. “It’s hard to know what’s effective and what’s not.”

Bentley still takes five supplements a day: a multivitamin to prevent dry eyes, magnesium to prevent cramps while exercising, red yeast rice to prevent diabetes, coenzyme Q10 for overall health and vitamin D based on her doctor’s recommendation.

Like many people who take dietary supplements, Bentley also exercises regularly — playing tennis three to four times a week — and watches what she eats.

People who take vitamins tend to be healthier, wealthier and better educated than those who don’t, Kramer said. They are probably less likely to succumb to heart disease or cancer, whether they take supplements or not. That can skew research results, making vitamin pills seem more effective than they really are.

Faulty assumptions Preliminary findings can also lead researchers to the wrong conclusions.

For example, scientists have long observed that people with high levels of an amino acid called homocysteine are more likely to have heart attacks. Because folic acid can lower homocysteine levels, researchers once hoped that folic acid supplements would prevent heart attacks and strokes.

In a series of clinical trials, folic acid pills lowered homocysteine levels but had no overall benefit for heart disease, Lichtenstein said.

Studies of fish oil also may have led researchers astray.

When studies of large populations showed that people who eat lots of seafood had fewer

Infographic by Kaiser Health News

heart attacks, many assumed that the benefits came from the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, Lichtenstein said.

Rigorous studies have failed to show that fish oil supplements prevent heart attacks. A clinical trial of fish oil pills and vitamin D, whose results are expected to be released within the year, may provide clearer questions about whether they prevent disease.

But it’s possible the benefits of sardines and salmon have nothing to do with fish oil, Lichtenstein said. People who have fish for dinner may be healthier due to what they don’t eat, such as meatloaf and cheeseburgers.

“Eating fish is probably a good thing, but we haven’t been able to show that taking fish oil [supplements] does anything for you,” said Dr. Steven Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Too much of a good thing?

Taking megadoses of vitamins and minerals, using amounts that people could never consume through food alone, could be even more problematic.

“There’s something appealing about taking a natural product, even if you’re taking it in a way that is totally unnatural,” Price said.

Early studies, for example, suggested that beta carotene, a substance found in carrots, might help prevent cancer.

In the tiny amounts provided by fruits and vegetables, beta carotene and similar substances appear to protect the body

from a process called oxidation, which damages healthy cells, said Dr. Edgar Miller, a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Experts were shocked when two large, well-designed studies in the 1990s found that beta carotene pills actually increased lung cancer rates. Likewise, a clinical trial published in 2011 found that vitamin E, also an antioxidant, increased the risk of prostate cancer in men by 17 percent. Such studies reminded researchers that oxidation isn’t all bad; it helps kill bacteria and malignant cells, wiping them out before they can grow into tumors, Miller said.

“Vitamins are not inert,” said Dr. Eric Klein, a prostate cancer expert at the Cleveland Clinic who led the vitamin E study.

“They are biologically active agents. We have to think of them in the same way as drugs. If you take too high a dose of them, they cause side effects.”

Gulati, the physician in Phoenix, said her early experience with recommending supplements to her father taught her to be more cautious. She said she’s waiting for the results of large studies — such as the trial of fish oil and vitamin D — to guide her advice on vitamins and supplements.

“We should be responsible physicians,” she said, “and wait for the data.”

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 7-10, 2018

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Duterte, Xi to meet in southern Chinese Bato considering Davao’s province administering artificial islands gubernatorial post in 2019

by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

by Jhoanna

baLLaran Inquirer.net

Viray

BOTH President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia next week in China’s southern Hainan province.

The BFA is an international dialogue which gathers heads of state, business elites and academic experts to discuss cooperation, innovations and solutions towards a more open and prosperous Asia.

Xi is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the regional forum, according to a report from Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

Duterte is also expected to deliver a speech during the plenary session of the BFA on April 10, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The two leaders are expected to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the event to “discuss ways to further enhance the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and China.”

Incidentally, the regional forum will be held in the town of Boao in China’s southern Hainan province, the country’s gateway to the disputed South China Sea. The town of Boao is also in the same province with Sansha City, which administers three island

Duterte will be in Boao, China from April 9 to 10 to attend the Boao Forum for Asia, an international dialogue platform for Asia-Pacific countries and other partner nations and organizations.

Malacañang photo

groups—Xisha or Paracel Islands, Nansha or Spratly Islands and Zhongsha.

The Spratly Islands are also being claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam while Taiwan and Vietnam had also laid its claims over the Paracels.

China has claimed the Spratly Islands and has installed military facilities in three of its artificial islands in the region—Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef—which are all within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

Hainan is also home to the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, an organization sponsored by the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Hainan province.

The institute had established China’s nine-dash line claim which claims sovereignty over the

features within the line, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over water as defined by UNCLOS and “historic rights” over fishing, navigation and resource development.

In July 2016, the Permanent CThe possible joint development between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea may be discussed during Duterte and Xi’s meeting in Hainan next week.

This would be a follow-up to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi last month.

“We can expect that pursuant to the follow up from the March meeting that any joint exploration will be based on prudent principles that will be beneficial to the Philippines and China and to the Asia Pacific region in general,” DFA Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee said. n

IF not the Senate, outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa said he considers running for the gubernatorial seat of Davao del Sur to “give back” to his home province.

Dela Rosa, however, said that only President Rodrigo Duterte could make him run, citing the lack of money and machinery to fund his campaign.

“Hindi ko po talaga alam kung ano ba talaga, usap pa kami ni presidente kung ano ang gusto niyang tatakbuhan ko, kung final na ang usapan. (I still don’t know it yet, the president and I have yet to talk on what position should I run for, and if it is final),” Dela Rosa said in an interview with DZMM radio.

“Nabanggit kasi noon governor… doon sa aming probinsya.

[Sabi ni President], ‘para marami ka pang matutulungan na mahihirap doon sa probinsya mo.’

‘Yan ang sabi niya, pero hindi pa yan final. (Duterte has mentioned governor to our province. The President said so that I can help more people in our province),” he added.

Dela Rosa is set to retire on April 14 and then lead the Bureau

January 23 declared as First Philippine Republic Day

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

cabico

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law making January 23 of every year as the “First Philippine Republic Day” to commemorate the inauguration of what is popularly known as the Malolos Republic.

The chief executive signed Republic Act 11014 on Thursday, April 5 which also declared January 23 as a special working holiday in the entire country.

Under the new law, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, in coordination with the Department of Education, “shall plan and implement activities for the First Philippine Republic Day and ensure that

the significance of this historical event will continue to inspire and instill a sense of pride for the rich and noble history of the Filipino nation.”

The House of Representatives passed the bill declaring January 23 as a special working holiday in October 2016, while its counterpart bill in the Senate was approved last January 29.

NCHP noted that while the first Philippine Republic was shortlived, it “catapulted the Filipino nation onto the world’s consciousness carving not only a place among the family of nations but also a distinct niche as the first republic in Asia.”

The First Philippine Republic was born with the proclamation of the Malolos Constitution on Janu-

The First Philippine Republic was born with the proclamation of the Malolos Constitution on January 23, 1899.

Photo from Barasoain Church’s website

ary 23, 1899.

It came to an end when former president Emilio Aguinaldo

pledged allegiance to the United States on April 1, 1901 after he was captured. n

of Corrections (BuCor).

He said he would take a vacation first before assuming his new position.

He will be replaced by current National Capital Region Police Of- PNP chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa fice chief Dir. Oscar Albayalde. n Inquirer.net photo

A8 APRIL 7-10, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

OPINION

FEATURES

For a better Boracay

A FEW weeks after being described as a “cesspool” by President Rodrigo Duterte, Boracay is scheduled for an unprecedented months-long shutdown to tourists. The nation’s top travel destination will be undergoing a massive cleanup, which will include inspections for compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

An estimated 36,000 people will lose their jobs and livelihoods for at least six months. Opinion is divided on the wisdom of shutting down a tourist spot that has been consistently voted as one of the world’s best island destinations by global travelers. But the Chief Executive has assessed the situation and made his decision, apparently seeing an island that has become a victim of its own success.

The coming months will show if the drastic move will bear the promised fruits, or if there is basis for concerns about some hidden agenda. This rehabilitation will be closely scrutinized, and not just by the stakeholders. In shuttering and even tearing down certain establishments, the government must show that there is solid basis for its actions, and that these are not meant to allow the current power elite to profit personally or gain control of the island.

There are other popular resort destinations in this country, which also have sewage problems and are

more polluted than Boracay. Will they also face closure? Before that happens, they should learn their lesson from Boracay and initiate their own cleanup and compliance with environmental regulations. Other travel spots must not go the way of Boracay.

More than half of the country’s foreign visitors last year had Boracay in their itinerary. Tourism officials should exert effort to divert visitors affected by the shutdown to other resort destinations in the country such as those in Palawan. At the same time, the government must work with local government units and tourism players in developing other destinations.

With its impending shutdown, 700,000 bookings in Boracay have been canceled so far. The estimated losses to private business have been placed at P30 billion, with the government also losing approximately P20 billion in various types of revenues. This shutdown better be worth it. A better Boracay must emerge, and must be sustained. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Dr. Marlene Cordero: Engaging humanity with her brand of empathy

Rhizomes

PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. “Religion begins in the sensation that your life makes sense within a larger one, that you and the animals have a bond, that the trees and rocks and rivers are to the body of the world as your bones and hair and bloodstream are to your body.

You understand, at least in some primal way, that your happiness depends on the happiness of the beings around you. You may even realize that your soul participates in the world’s soul. One etymology of the word “religion,” re-ligare, to bind together, describes the bond between you and your world and ultimately with the hidden, invisible, yet pulsing, breathing, singing source of it all. You are part

of that scene and have divinity flowing through you as well. You are what Nicholas of Cusa called deus humanus—a human-god or god-human. Paradoxically, without that divinity you have no humanity.” – Thomas Moore, “A Religion of One’s Own,” 2014 SANTA BARBARA, ILOILO — Thomas Moore must have been a prescient witness to the 2018 medical mission by the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California (PMSNC), from January 22-26. It took place here in Santa Barbara, whose second-class municipality’s resources were planned for mobilization, with the help of Dr. Annie Hayag, a retired pediatrician from San Diego, California, and Dr. Marlene Cordero, from Atascadero, California, this year’s medical mission coordinator.

Santa Barbara, Iloilo is not yet a

first-class city, but it is transitioning to become one, with its international airport which just opened, including a duty-free shop; megacity developments by Global-Estate Resorts, a convention center, hotels and more; while its Western Visayas Sanitarium, its public hospital, is still in blueprint stages, for remodeling and renewals, right across an upscale development, called Santa Barbara Heights.

Though local structural resources fell short of what was needed, Cordero kept seeing what could be possible, perhaps because she has been a medical mission volunteer for 23 years and she coordinated this medical mission, complete with volunteers whom she personally knows.

Could it be the influence of her upbringing — two years of high school in Tabuk, Kalinga, exposed to the indigenous culture, which

Group photo of PMSNC volunteers

Photo courtesy of PMSNC and Fred Acelar

Eddie Garcia, national artist for film Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA TO be inducted into the Order of the National Artists of the Philippines (Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas) is, doubtless, the apex of one’s achievements in the Arts, specifically, in the fields of Music, Dance, Literature, Visual Arts, Film and Broadcast and Architecture or Allied Arts.

Of course, like any activity involving the selection of “the best of the best,” there often is some controversy. Choosing the most outstanding of our country’s artists has been no exception.

The short list of nominees is determined by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, then endorsed to the President of the Philippines for approval or confirmation.

And, to quote Shakespeare in Hamlet, “There’s the rub!”

she found “invigorating to face the challenges from the forces of nature, celebrating whenever we can with singing and dancing, a unique culture where women were as equal as men,” as she recalled?

After five days, it would be ‘light-filled experiences’ for 5,283 patients, 175 volunteers answered the call to service, “39 physicians, two dentists, one optometrist, 54 nurses, nine allied health, 48 support & 22 student volunteers,” according to PMSNC’s website.

In surgery, while three rooms were promised, only one materialized on the first day. PMSNC’S medical personnel and volunteers spent the weekend cleaning the surgical room, with a full scrub down of all its walls; while others organized the medical supplies in another room. As days progressed, and with the greater

According to a story by Rappler, every president of the country, from the time President Ferdinand Marcos initiated the awards, has observed the recommendations of the NCCA and the CCP in the breach, feeling free to add or delete nominees for any number of reasons, not necessarily artistic.

In 2009, there was a storm of protest, led by National Artist recipients themselves, when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, added four nominees to the short list, while deleting one. The additions were Cecile Guidote-Alvarez for Theater, Carlo Caparas for Visual Arts and Film, Francisco Mañosa for Architecture and Jose “Pitoy” Moreno for Fashion Design. Cut off was Dr. Ramon Santos for Music (he was eventually inducted in 2014 by President Benigno Aquino III).

The issue against Alvarez was “conflict of interest” because she was, at the time, executive director of the NCCA. Her nomination was thus considered self-serving, although it could have been argued that she would have, otherwise, been deserving of the

honor.

The case against Caparas tended to be “elitist,” with those who led the protest calling the nominee’s film work mediocre and his comic books not deserving to be called “art.”

It is unclear what the issues against Mañosa and Moreno were except for not having been among the original nominees and for having been added by an already unpopular president.

Three other nominees in the original list were retained and appropriately honored that year: director-actor-producer Manuel Conde for Film and Broadcast, Lazaro Francisco for Literature and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz for Visual Art, Painting, Sculpture and Mixed Media.

The protest against the four Arroyo honorees was actually elevated to the Supreme Court, an unlikely forum for adjudicating one’s artistic accomplishments.

The High Court rescinded the honors conferred on Alvarez, Caparas, Mañosa and Moreno.

Interestingly, that was not the only controversy over the Nation-

u PAGE A10

Opinion

YEN MAKABENTA IN one day, Thursday, April 5, 2018, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte exercised resolutely the appointment and removal powers of the President of the Philippines.

First, he accepted the resignation of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd, who had been under fire for the dismissal of criminal charges against top drug suspects, among other debacles.

In remarks during an awards ceremony for outstanding farmers in Malacañang on Thursday, Duterte confirmed that Aguirre had resigned from his post.

He said: “I accepted the resignation of Vit Aguirre, my fraternity brother, as secretary of justice. I am now looking for a replacement.”

Within hours, Duterte appointed Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra as the new justice secretary.

need manifested, more surgical rooms were available.

With the help of Dr. Karen Francia, an ophthalmologist and president of the Western Visayas Ophthalmological Society, she secured the second hospital, Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital, to provide the medical mission with additional operating rooms for all the cataract surgeries. She even took an extra step of obtaining the necessary authorization from the Philippine Association of Ophthalmologists for eye surgeries.

The receiving portal for 5,283 patients to be triaged was in a partially covered gymnasium, and upstairs, the barangay health office where community education workshop was provided to manage chronic health conditions of diabetes, hypertension and other diseases of the aging population. In intense heat, the partially covered gymnasium could not provide adequate shelter to the patients and the families with children needing pediatric, respiratory treatments for asthma, and dental work.

It took Dr. Carmencita Abarquez-Agcaoili, outpatient director of PMSNC from California, who negotiated with a responsive local Mayor Dennis Superficial, M.D. (a surgeon), for tarps, huge electric fans and more lawn chairs to be provided for thousands in line, making Tuesday’s mission more organized.

Suffering existed on both sides, yet all were committed, to achieve, and to provide the highest possi-

ble level of medical care for 5,283 patients.

Imagine these patients’ resilience of enduring their pain, some a year and more for goiters and hernias, while medical volunteers endured long hours of work in intensely humid and hot weather (86 degrees Fahrenheit), made worse by cemented floors, oozing their accumulated heat, after sporadic rains.

Undeterred, these volunteer dentists, doctors, pediatricians, respiratory doctors, nurses, radiologists, biomedical engineers, residents, physician assistants and ophthalmologists worked with no fuss, set up what was required, including disinfecting stations for the dental department.

The ambulance had one seat for the driver, a torn passenger seat with sprung springs as if saluting the passenger who dared to sit down, along with a wood bench for the passengers to sit in the back. It had no stretcher or rescue equipment.

Even with this obvious lack, doctors and surgeons and nurses and allied health personnel rallied with cooperation and delivered their best efforts.

Two-hundred eight patients received surgery, which included, 40 for major (thyroidectomies, mastectomy, repairs of cleft palate, release of burn strictures, and herniorrhaphies), 139 minor and 49 ophthalmology procedures (39 cataract surgeries), as reported by

u PAGE A9

Presidency at noon

Little is known by the media about Guevarra and little was disclosed about his suitability for his new job. Palace communicators disclosed only the following: Guevarra took up graduate studies in economics at the University of the Philippines after obtaining his BA degree, major in political science, at the Ateneo de Manila in 1974.

He worked as a staff economist at the National Economic and Development Authority and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as he was taking up law at the Ateneo.

“Guevarra placed second in the 1985 bar examinations. His first job as a lawyer was with the technical staff of the 1986 Constitutional Commission.

“He later joined a law firm and formed his own law partnership in 1990. Until April 2015, Guevarra was in private law practice and also served as faculty member of the Ateneo Law School. Guevarra returned to government service through his appointment as member of the 2010 Philippine Truth Commission. He became deputy executive secretary for legal affairs

at the Office of the President in May 2015 and commissioner of the Philippine Competition Commission in February 2016.”

On Thursday also, Malacañang announced the appointment of Director Oscar Albayalde as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

Albayalde will take over from Director General Ronald de la Rosa. De la Rosa was scheduled to retire in January this year upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. The President extended his tenure, however, and he indicated that the former Davao City police chief would take over the Bureau of Corrections.

Albayalde, the Metro Manila police chief, told the media that he felt elated and thankful for the trust given to him by the President.

“I will not betray the trust and confidence that was given to me.

That is my promise to them,” he said.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt.

John Bulalacao welcomed the appointment of Albayalde, saying: “The 185,000-strong PNP

u PAGE A9

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

ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES

Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Boulevard Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 Fax: (818) 502-0858 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com

Manila Office: 2nd Floor Units D&E, Fort Palm Springs 30th St., Cor 1st Ave, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel.: (632) 856-4921 • Fax: (632) 856-1661 New York: 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 Tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (818) 502-0858

Northern California: New Jersey office: 1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136 2500 Plaza 5, Harborside Financial Center, Burlingame, CA 94010 Tel.: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253 Jersey City, NJ 07311 Tel: (212)655-5426 • Fax: (818)502-0858 Las Vegas Sales Office: 2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

CHRISTINA M. ORIEL Editor-in-Chief

MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor

IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Senior Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal

DING CARREON Videographer

ANDY TECSON Photographer

Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publication.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome.

Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

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

Dateline PhiliPPines

Dr. Marlene Cordero: Engaging humanity...

PAGE A8 t

Fred Acelar, who heads the IT department of PMSNC. I witnessed volunteers approaching Cordero, some moved to tears by what they saw, with thousands needing medical care.

Yet, she remained calm and resilient in problem-solving mode.

She held their hands so to speak, and got them to reconnect with PMSNC’s mission.

Richard Samoranos, a firsttime volunteer shared: “While on the mission, Dr. Marlene Cordero demonstrated exemplary leadership in the face of many challenges. She served as a model for me to keep focus and to commit to the mission’s mantra rather than letting my emotions cloud my judgments or competence. While shadowing the emergency room (ER), I encountered several stressful situations but it was Dr. Marlene Cordero’s leadership that kept me motivated and focused.”

Could it be that Cordero was drawing from her own teenage to adult development, “may bantay parati (I was always chaperoned), with limited exposure and then to experience social issues of having to stay in the dorm, nurtured by teachers and nuns?”

Teamwork to be proud of Cordero recognized the volunteers: “Teamwork, I could not be more proud of,” at an Alamedabased appreciation lunch held in March 2018 at St. Albert’s parish hall.

One patient encountered a twohour wait before she could be attached to the respirator; yet, the surgical team stayed to manually bag the patient to keep the oxygen supply going.

Cordero reported on the heroic efforts of a doctor who was going to catch a flight at 4 a.m., and stayed in the post-surgical recovery room with the patient and family, until 10 p.m., to see the patient recover.

Yet, one patient was lost, 15 days after the mission’s successful operation. That patient had a congenital heart condition that was not revealed, nor known before the operation. Somehow, someone snuck in solid food to feed this patient, who complained of hunger, creating post-surgical complications. Normally, after surgery, feeding is eased by IV, liquids, and not until after several days, solids.

The patient passed away from his weak heart, 15 days after the mission.

The days of the mission always started with a prayer. Even the lo-

Presidency at...

PAGE A8 t uniformed and non-uniformed personnel will give its full support to his leadership. His proven track record of service assures us that the policies of the government relative to public order and safety will be sustained.”

With the appointments, Duterte has virtually recreated the leadership of the criminal justice system of the country.

More agencies are attached to the system, including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

There are also operational issues to iron out between the justice department and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

A major policy conference meeting is in order to harmonize directions and management of law enforcement in the country.

Packing up for his departure To the credit of former justice secretary Aguirre, the news of his sacking did not catch him unawares. He did not expend himself creating a wig over his departure. He began packing up and shredding documents days before. He instructed his under-

Locals waiting in the uncovered site for triage.

Dr. Marlene Cordero with Evans Tran, a Vietnamese physician’s assistant.

Photos by Prosy Delacruz

cal folks complained about how the conditions were, compelling the locals themselves to provide bottled water to the medical mission volunteers. The locals also stopped the patients from coming in at 2 p.m., as it got too hot, while all were exposed to the sun and although receding, got more intense.

Ricky, a fourth generation Filipino-American, shared what the mission meant to him: “I felt instant connectivity to the land where my blood comes from. It is my first time to see the land, it was my first time to see blood, and it was my first time to travel internationally. I saw a patient who needed 800 cc. of blood. I was shadowing the family and I made the relationship with them primary. It strengthened my resolve to be a doctor, said a prayer for that patient, and to do better for myself.”

Another volunteer said, “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity

by American doctors, used to having new technology. Now, it takes their smarts and creativity and will to help others, even without the technology.”

Dr. Carmelo Roco declared he

will be a permanent volunteer, “We (his wife, his children came to the mission) will spend the money and time. What do I get? I become more humble, the way they live energizes me. It makes me more accepting as a person, to be content and happier with what I have, an energizing third factor. We all become better persons, and a better future perhaps. I worked with what I had. Patients were smiling and so appreciative. They trusted us, were relaxed, and looking to us to care for them.”

During the volunteers’ appreciation lunch this past March, which this writer traveled to go to Alameda, California, using her own funds, she witnessed PMSNC’s members recognize Cordero’s effective leadership, including the unseen burdens she shouldered on that required problem-solving as if no complications nor difficulties were happening.

Could it be that Cordero has been in active leadership positions, as chairs of California Department of Mental Health’s Psychopharmacology Advisory Committee; Atascadero State Hospital’s De-

u PAGE A10

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 7-10, 2018

secretaries and the department staff to shred some or most of the department documents before the appointment of a new justice secretary.

Aguirre did not speculate with friends in the media about another office that the president might give him, like the chairmanship of the Social Security System, which was the subject of speculations.

But seeing the writing on the wall, Aguirre still would not do what was in his best interest and for his self-respect; he did not resign. He did not send a letter of resignation to the Office of the President. He probably fantasized that at the last minute, the president would relent and ask him to stay on at the DoJ, him being a fraternity brother and fellow San Beda alumnus of Duterte, which to some is thicker than water.

The delusion got a surprising boost from presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who confidently told the media that there was no mention of Aguirre’s firing at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.

Senior Deputy Executive Sec-

A

retary Menardo Guevarra contributed to the misdirection by telling the media that the Palace was not aware of any Cabinet shakeup. The OP had not received any letter of resignation from anyone. Then Guevarra gratuitously said that the president was generally satisfied with Aguirre’s performance, but for some debacles.

The hollowness of this would be unraveled a day later, because Guevarra himself would be sworn in by the president as Aguirre’s replacement.

Appointment and removal powers Because Filipino public officials have a congenital difficulty in resigning office, the powers of the presidency are most vivid and stark when the president exercises his vast appointment and removal powers.

In Article VII, Section 16, the Constitution vests the president with broad powers of appointment as follows: “The president shall nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, appoint the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, or officers of

u PAGE A11

A10 april 7-10, 2018 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal

Dateline PhiliPPines

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

Eddie Garcia, national artist for...

PAGE A8 t

al Artist Award that Arroyo got embroiled in. Having defeated presidential candidate and movie actor Fernando Poe, Jr. in the 2004 presidential elections, under dubious circumstances, Arroyo posthumously named Poe a National Artist for Film in 2006. But this was flatly rejected by Poe’s wife, Susan Roces. It was not until 2012, during the presidency of Noynoy Aquino, that Poe was formally honored.

However, like Arroyo, Aquino was also accused of unreasonable bias against a National Artist nominee. This was in 2014 and the nominee was multi-awarded actress, Nora Aunor. Aquino reportedly did not think that Aunor was deserving because of a problem with drug use while in the US. This prompted one pundit to comment that Edgar Allan Poe, reportedly an incorrigible drunkard, would not have deserved artistic honors under Aquino.

As you can see, acceptance into the pantheon of National Artists is fraught with controversy. Yet, at the risk of seeming presumptuous, I would like to respectfully nominate an individual who, I am fully convinced, deserves to be inducted into the Order of National Artists - not simply for outstanding but for unmatched achievements in Film.

I am referring to the ageless Eddie Garcia, actor and director par excellence and recipient of more nominations and awards than any person in the Philippine motion picture industry (perhaps, even in the world).

This initiative of mine will probably catch Eddie by surprise. The

last time we met was in December 2004 during the wake for Ronnie Poe at Santo Domingo Church. But we have known each other since 1956, when I was a 16-year old movie reporter and Eddie, at 26, was already considered the most villainous villain of Sampaguita Pictures. I also wrote several screenplays for films directed by Eddie, among them, Sabotage and Crisis, which were the biggest hits in the 1966 and 1970 Manila Film Festivals, respectively.

I’ve always had the highest regard for Eddie as an actor and as a director, but I didn’t realize the depth and breadth of his achievements in Cinema until I did research on him, to support this initiative.

Awesome is the only way one can describe his achievements.

Anyone who has spent years in the movies, as I have, can rattle off the names of actors who are “typecast,” that is, considered good only for a specific type of role. But as an actor, Eddie has demonstrated an astonishing versatility, shifting with ease from villain to comedian to dramatic actor to portraying a live person like former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, rumored to be the original Dirty Harry.

Even directors are typecast in that they are known for their “specialties” such as action flicks, or comedy-musicals or heavy dramas. But not Eddie. His versatility has extended to film direction where his attention to detail and passion for excellence can sometimes drive a penny-pinching producer up the wall.

In the annual Filipino Acad-

emy of Movie Arts & Sciences (FAMAS) Awards (the equivalent of Hollywood’s Oscars), Eddie has had a total of 34 nominations (13 for Best Supporting Actor of which he won 6; 10 for Best Actor of which he won 5; and 11 for Best Director of which he also won 5).

He is the only one in the history of the FAMAS to win the Best Supporting Actor trophy for 3 consecutive years (1957, 1958 and 1959); was the first to be inducted into the Best Supporting Actor Hall of Fame; and PHILIPPINE BRAND. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping II (with microphone) is the only one to have also been introduces the “Philippine Branding” during the First Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting held at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang, inducted into the Best Actor and Manila on Thursday, April 5. Cualoping said the national brand will be “all-encompassing”, promoting the Philippines as an education, Best Director Halls of Fame, in culture and investment hub, and as a tourist destination.

PNA photo by Joey Razon addition to a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Additionally, Eddie received from the Film Academy of the Philippines 3 Luna Awards for “During our medical missions UST;postgraduate training in psyPAGE A10 t Best Director (1986, 1987 and in Dumaguete (2017) and Iloilo chiatry and neurology and obstet2001), the Lifetime Achievement partment of Psychiatry, as presi- (2018), she auspiciously carried rics and gynecology at the Armed Award in 1998 and the Best Actor dent of PMSNC as well as its Ex- out her duties with integrity and Forces of the Philippines Medical Award in 2000. ecutive Board Member, including candor. She earnestly communi- Center in Q.C. Philippines; rotatIn the Metro Manila Film Fes- founding President of Atascadero cated even last-minute informa- ing internship at Makati Medical tival, Eddie won the Best Direc- Performing Arts Center Commit- tion to ensure that missionaries Center in Makati, Philippines; and tor Award in 1989 and the Best tee and its member since 2003 were duly apprised. When some completed her residency in generActor Award in 2002. In 2000, he to the present, while as founding situations have taken a different al psychiatry in Western Missouri won the Urian Award for Best Ac- president of the University Nueva turn, may it be big or small; she Mental Health Center, affiliated tor, conferred by movie critics. In Vizcaya’s Alumni Organization in was responsibly forthright about with the University of Missouri in 2006, he was given the Natatang- 2015 to the present? it. Her kind, humble, genuine and Kansas. ing Gawad Urian Award for his Who is this engaging Cordero? gracious demeanor was a great Today, she is a practicing psyachievements in Film.

To Anne Adorio, a two-year vol- tool in inspiring me to conclude chiatrist in solo private practice, In 2012, the Asia-Pacific Film unteer, “Dr. Marlene Cordero is even the hardest and longest and a retired state psychiatrist Festival named him Asian Best simply not just an epitome of an workday with a modest heart. who has served 28 years with the Actor. There have also been two inspiring leader and phenomenal When complicated dilemma was California Department of State special honors given in the name mentor, but also a model of such brought to her attention, she in- Hospitals, and as a retired anof fellow actors, a distinct rec- in her own right. Many may say stantly handled it with her quick nuitant (she works for part of the ognition in a highly competitive that it is premature for me to say wit, objective approach and rever- year, as needed). field: the Fernando Poe, Jr. Me- this, as I have only known her for a ential treatment. When immediDuring the medical mission, morial Award and the first Dol- couple of years. I must say though ate resolution was not available, she came with her husband, Dr. phy Lifetime Achievement Award that a long time is not necessary to she looked for possible solution or Reynaldo Cordero, a surgeon, conferred in 2013 by the Enter- recognize what a beautiful person alternative. who served as one of PMSNC’s u PAGE A11 she is inside and out.

“I must sincerely and deeply former presidents. Together they commend her for the compas- have three children, Rex, Reysion she has shown to me when nalene and Megan, who attended I spoke with her about my desire the volunteers’ appreciation lunch to bring my two children to the in Alameda. mission. Being minors, I was How she balances to keep her not sure what certain parameters family intact, her community, her govern the ages of volunteers, volunteer work and her profesbut she accepted them with sional licensed practices active, open mind, kind heart, and in- is a testament to how she keeps spiring little talks. She managed God at the center of her life, but to check on them in spite of her also, she consciously practices hectic schedule. This is truly an her Catholic religion, binding the amazing trait of not only a well- invisible God’s Power with her accomplished physician and visible brand of empathy with leader, but also a mother with folks whom she meets and menutmost and genuine concern for tors. the youth whom we all believe to Maya Angelou said in essence, be our future. It was because of people do not remember how this opportunity that my children many cars you drive nor the desolidified their long-term goal, grees you have, but they fully reand that is for Kristyl Plamenco member how you made them feel. to be a pediatrician and Kyle With Cordero, as volunteers came Plamenco to be a dentist some to her and brought their personal day. May this materialize or not, and mission issues to be solved, it it does not really matter. What felt she heard them and they had matters most is how instrumental a soft chair to fall on. she was to their lives... and mine. *** More power to her and may her Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly life be more blessed. Hats off to column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” you, Tita Marlene!”

She has been writing for AJ Press for 10 years.

Cordero is a woman of many She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. firsts, resilient in many fronts Her training and experiences are in science, food (whether urban, rural, military technology, law and community volunteerism and faith-based): Elementary to for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the Second Year High School at St. University of the Philippines, a law degree from Mary’s in Bayombong, Nueva Whittier College School of Law in California and Vizcaya; Valedictorian at St. a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Teresita’s High School in Tabuk, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She Kalinga-Apayao (where her father has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops was assigned as district engineer); taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Cum-Laude and Dean’s Lister for Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, her B.S. Pre-Medicine at U.S.T. Holland, Belgium, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and in Manila; Benemeritus for her over 22 national parks in the US, in her pursuit of Doctor of Medicine Degree in love for nature and the arts.

Dr. Marlene Cordero: Engaging humanity...

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

Dateline PhiliPPines

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 7-10, 2018

A11

PH to accept refugees from Myanmar ‘genocide’

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has called the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar a “genocide” as he expressed willingness to take in refugees from the Southeast Asian country.

The description drew a rare public rebuke from a Myanmar official, who said Duterte had a propensity to shoot his mouth off.

“He doesn’t know anything about Myanmar,” government spokesman Zaw Htay was quoted as saying by Reuters. “The usual behavior of that person is to speak without restraint. That’s why he said that.”

Duterte said some members of the international community are finding fault with him but could not solve the Rohingya problem, DOST S&T NOOK TURNOVER. Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña turns over DOST’s science and which has resulted in the exodus technology (S&T) nook to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez during the “Innovation Partners: DTI and DOST” of more than 600,000 members event held at the 3M Philippines Office in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on Thursday, April 5. The S&T kiosk contains promotional materials of the mainly Muslim minority on DOST knowledge products and services, which will help synchronize DOST and DTI efforts in promoting and marketing S&T products in the group to Bangladesh. market. Also in photo are DOST Undersecretary Brenda Nazareth-Manzano (2nd from left), DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya (3rd from The president has drawn flak right), DOST Region 2 Director Sancho Mabborang (2nd from right), and 3M Philippines president and managing director Ariel Lacsamana from human rights advocates (right).

PNA photo by Ben Briones here and abroad for his war against illegal drugs, which has for a department or agency’s left thousands of suspects dead. failure to achieve presidential He denied endorsing extrajudiobjectives.

PAGE A9 t alter egos of the president, who The Constitution is silent on the armed forces from the rank can validly and constitutionally the removal of executive officials of colonel or naval captain, and overrule their decisions. But the other than through impeachother officers vested in him in president’s control must yield to ment, which is a cumbersome THE camp of Vice President other constitutional provisions. process that is limited to acts of Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo this Constitution.

“He shall also appoint all other Thus, the president may not vio- treason, bribery, and betrayal of on Thursday asked the Supreme officers of the government whose late the constitutional provision public trust.

Court to set the threshold for valHistorically, American presi- idly shaded ballots to 25 percent appointments are not other- that members of the civil service wise provided by law, and those may not be removed without dents have clashed with the U.S. in accordance with the rules of Congress over the removal pow- the Commission on Elections on whom he may be authorized by cause.

Removal power er concerning certain officials. law to appoint.” manual audit for the recount of Complementing the appointThe U.S. Supreme Court ruled votes in the 2016 vice presidenIn addition, Section 17, Article VII, provides: “The president ment power, and fundamental that the president’s unqualified tial race. shall have control of all the exec- to presidential control of the ex- power of removal is limited to Robredo’s legal counsels Routive departments, bureaus and ecutive branch, is the removal purely executive offices and that mulo Macalintal and Bernadette offices. He shall ensure that laws power. Without the ability to Congress may prescribe condi- Sardillo made the appeal in an remove subordinate officials on tions for the removal of officials urgent ex-parte motion filed with are faithfully executed.”

This means control, not mere- performance or policy grounds, performing “quasi- legislative the high court yesterday. They ly supervision by the president. presidents cannot be held fully and quasi-judicial functions.” asked the court to direct the The members of the Cabinet are responsible for their actions or (ManilaTimes.net) head revisor to apply the correct threshold percentage as set by the Comelec in the revision, recount and re-appreciation of the much an actor as he was a direc- mizes the finest qualities of a pro- ballots.

PAGE A10 t Robredo’s camp claimed that tor and he distinguished himself fessional in Film and Visual Arts, tainment Press Society.

Even the TV industry acknowl- in both roles. If I’m not mistaken, deserve a place alongside that of under the Random Manual Audit Visual Guidelines of the Comeedged Eddie’s artistry by giving only Fernando Poe, Jr. was hon- the country’s National Artists.

Sadly, the National Artists for lec, a valid mark is a mark whose him the 2002 Star Award for Best ored mainly as an actor, although his achievements in Cinema in- Film have all been sent for by the score is higher than the Vote Actor in a Drama Series.

Counting Machine’s (VCM) mark There are 66 officially recog- cluded being a producer and di- Great Producer in the Sky. I fervently hope that Eddie Gar- detection threshold of 20 to 25 nized National Artists of record rector.

I believe, without fear of con- cia will receive his well-deserved percent or higher of the oval. and 7 of them made their mark in The Comelec guidelines proCinema: Directors Gerry de Leon, tradiction, that the accomplish- recognition while he can still relvide that a valid mark is one that Lamberto V. Avellana, Lino Broc- ments of Eddie Garcia as an actor ish the honor in person. (gregmacabenta@hotmail. the VCM always recognizes as ka, Ishmael Bernal, Eddie Romero and as a director, and just as ima vote intention and once cast, and Manuel Conde. Conde was as portantly, as an artist who epito- com)

Presidency at...

cial killings and accused his foreign critics of interfering with the Philippines’ internal problem.

“Hindi nga nila ma-solvesolve ‘yung (Rohingya).‘Yun ang genocide talaga (They can’t even solve the Rohingya problem. That’s the real genocide), if I may say so,” the president said during the awarding of outstanding farmers and fisherfolk in Malacañang last Thursday, April 5.

The president was referring to the alleged military campaign against the Rohingya that some human rights advocates have described as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar denied that ethnic cleansing is taking place and chided critics for reacting to the issue despite their supposed lack of knowledge about the situation.

Duterte said the Philippines is prepared to accept Rohingya refugees but Europe should also do the same.

“The way it’s being presented to the world, I really pity the people there. Me? We? I’m willing to accept refugees,” Duterte said.

The Rohingya crisis has tainted the reputation of Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu

Kyi, who was once revered as a democracy icon because of her struggle against Myanmar’s military junta.

Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest for 15 years for resisting military rule in Myanmar, was accused of not doing enough to protect the Rohingya against a state-sponsored crackdown.

Last January, Duterte, who chided countries that are allegedly meddling with the Philippines’ affairs, advised Suu Kyi to ignore her critics.

“Do not mind the human rights (critics). They’re just a noisy bunch actually,” Duterte said in a speech before Indian business groups in New Delhi.

“You know, Aung San Suu Kyi was with us. I pity her because she seems to be caught in the middle of being a Nobel Prize winner for peace and this is the ruckus now. She is heavily criticized,” he added.

Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

Caption: Rohingya refugees come out of their homes after the visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo at Jamtoli refugee camp near Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh in this Jan. 28 file photo. n

Robredo camp seeks lower threshold for valid ballots

Eddie Garcia, national artist for...

FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Petra, Aqaba, Jordan

(Tiberias, Ceasarea, Haifa, Meggido,Magdala, Nazareth, Cana, Mt Carmel, Capernaum, Mt. Beatitude, Jericho, Bethany, Mt.Tabor, Mount Zion, Mt. of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Qumran, Masada Dead Sea, Allen by Bridge, Madaba, Mt Nebo Petra, Aqaba Jordan)

OCTOBER 18 to NOVEMBER 1, 2018 SPIRITUAL CHAPLAIN: REV. ANTONIO FLORES Oct. 18, 2018( Thursday) Day 1 – MNL HKG, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL Oct. 25, 2018 (Thursday) Day 8 - Jerusalem Trans-Atlantic flight from LAX to Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Mass at the Holy Eucharist Church of St Peter in Gallicantu “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...” (John 1:14) Israel. (Meals served in-flight) We will walk to view the Dome of the Rock from the outside, and visit the Oct. 18, 2018 (Friday) Day 1 – Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv/ Western Wall, ( Wailing Wall ) the only part of the Herodian Temple still Tiberias standing and the most sacred place in the world for Jews. Then, we will Arrival from Manila still Oct. 18,2018 late in the evening. After we clear drive to Mt. Zion, to visit the Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Immigration and Customs, will be met by our driver for transfer to tiberias . Supper, then survey the Dormition Abbey, and the Church of St. Peter in enjoy the panoramic view of the Mediterranean. We will spend our first night Gallicantu, the site where Peter denied Jesus three times. After the day’s in Tiberias. Dinner and overnight (D). Gai Beach Hotel (Oct. 19, 2018) Holy tour, we will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Jerusalem (B, D) Eucharist Notre Dame Vatican Hotel Oct. 20, 2018 (Saturday) Day 3 - Tiberias/ Meggido/ Nazareth/ Cana / Oct. 26, 2018 (Friday) Day 9 - Mount of Olives/Gethsemane/Bethlehem/ Mt Tabor Jerusalem (New City)/Ein Karem We will have short stop in Meggido and the Plains of Armageddon, known in Mass at the Church of Nativity Hebrew as Meggido, a giant fortress and City built by King Solomon. In the New “O mountain of God, receive me, a mother, with my child.” (Protoevangelium Testament book of Revelation, it is referred as the sites of the “final battle”. of James 22:3) From there, we will continue our drive into Nazareth, where we will have Mass We will arrive at the Mount of Olives, to enjoy another view of Jerusalem, in the Church of the Annunciation, the Cave of the Annunciation and visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the Dominus visit Joseph’s Workshop and Then we will move on to Cana of Galilee, where Flevit (“God wept”) sanctuary. Next, we’ll walk the Palm Sunday Road to the Our Lord performed His first miracle: changing water into wine at the wedding Garden of Gethsemane, and visit the Rock of Agony and the Church of feast. We will invite couples to Bless their marriage vows, Continue to Mount all Nations. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Bethlehem, a city whose name is Tabor, site of Jesus Transfiguration Afterward, we will head to Tiberias. Dinner recognized around the world. After celebrating Mass at the Church of Nativity, and overnight in Tiberias. (B/D).Gai Beach Hotel. we will see the Manger; visit the Church of St. Catherine, the Grotto of St. Oct. 21, 2018 (Sunday) Day 4 - Tiberias/Mount Beatitude/ Multiplication / Primacy/ Capernum/Boat Ride “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Early AM departures to Mt. Beatitude Drive up to Mount Beatitudes, visit the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people. Eucharistic Celebration. Enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry.

After visiting the Synagogue where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Then to the Church Primacy of St Peters.

Overnight Magdala ( BB, D)

Jerome and the Shepherds’ Fields. Then we will return to Jerusalem (New City), to view the Temple Model to see how it looked during the time of Jesus.

Here, we will gain a better understanding between the old and new cities of Jerusalem. Up next is a trip to Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist, to see the Visitation Church, where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat”.

We will end our day by returning to our Hotel. (B/D).

Oct. 23, 2018 (Tuesday) DAY 6 - Jordan Valley/Jericho/Bethany/ Jerusalem Mass at the Church of St. Lazarus MAGDALA, Israel – 2009 Discoveries from a new archaeological dig are creating excitement in the area where Jesus began his ministry. The village is called Magdala (Migdal in Hebrew), and it’s the home of Mary Magdalene.”She lived here and she met Jesus here and she continued with Him. Yes, it’s that place The most important discovery in Magdala has been a synagogue dating back to the time of Jesus. According to archaeologists, it’s the first one discovered in the Galilee.

famous mosaic map of the Holy Land. Then we will drive down to Aqaba.

Overnight in Aqaba (B/D). Movenpick Resort & Residence.

Oct. 27, 2018 (Saturday) Day 10 - Jerusalem/ Dead Sea/ Qumran/ Masada Mass at the Church of all Nations After breakfast, we will celebrate mass at the Church of all Nations and then we will drive to Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Visit Qumran; see the Oct. 22, 2018 (Monday) Day 5 - Magdala Full day retreat , Focus will Include programs based on the historical caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada, visit Herod’s fortress and the Jew’s last stronghold against the Roman. Return to and Religious value of the Magdala sites Jerusalem for dinner and Overnight (B, D) More info coming up as we get closer to the dates MAGDALA, Israel – 2009 Discoveries from a new archaeological dig are Oct. 28, 2018 (Sunday) Day11 - Jerusalem/Allenby Bridge/Madaba/ creating excitement in the area where Jesus began his ministry. The village is Jordan/Mt. Nebo/ Aqaba called Magdala (Migdal in Hebrew), and it’s the home of Mary Magdalene.”She Mass at Mount Nebo lived here and she met Jesus here and she continued with Him. Yes, it’s On this day, we head to Allenby Bridge and cross into Jordan. We will go to that place The most important discovery in Magdala has been a synagogue the Baptismal Site at Bethany, which Pope John Paul II visited in 2000. dating back to the time of Jesus. According to archaeologists, it’s the first one Then, it’s on to Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land. Our discovered in the Galilee. next stop will be the Church of St. George in Madaba, which hosts the

Oct. 24, 2018 ( Wednesday) Day 7 - Jerusalem (Old City)/Via Dolorosa/ Mount Zion Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.” (John 19:17) We will enter the Old City of Jerusalem and will follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) and say the Station of the Cross to the holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, visit Golgotha and the Tomb of Our Lord. After mass, we return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we will enter the Old City, sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne and view the Pool of Bethesda. Then we will visit the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostratos (where the soldiers played the Game of Kings) and the Arch of the “Ecce Homo”.

Dinner/Overnight Notre Dame Vatican hotel

Oct 29, 2018 (Monday) Day 12 - Aqaba/Petra Mass at Stella Maris Church – Aqaba After breakfast, we will journey through the Siq, until we get our first glimpse of the Khazneh (Treasury). Then will we walk down to visit the Temple and view the many caves all around the Theater. At the end of the tour, we will drive back to Aqaba for overnight and dinner (B/D). Movenpick Resort & Residence Oct. 30, 2018 (Tuesday) Day 13 - Aqaba/ Jerusalem We Cross the Jordanian Border to return to Jerusalem. Dinner/Overnight Oct. 31, 2018 (Wednesday) Day 14 - Jerusalem /Yad Vashem Museum/ TLV/ LAX After breakfast, we will visit the Yad Vashem Museum,is Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the dead; honoring Jews who fought against their Nazi oppressors and Gentiles who selflessly aided Jews in need; and researching the phenomenon of the Holocaust in particular and genocide in general, with the aim of avoiding such events in the future. After the Western Wall, Yad Vashem is the second-most-visited Israeli tourist site. Return to the hotel for lunch and relaxation in preparation for our return flight back to the USA after early dinner will be transferred to the airport for flight Oct 31, 2018 8:45 PM departure from TLV End of Our Memorable Pilgrimage to Jesus Home Land!!!

counts for the candidate or selection made.

The Supreme Court, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), is using a 50 percent threshold in the ongoing recount of vice presidential votes.

Robredo’s camp said a 25 percent threshold should be applied.

“This [usage of 50 percent threshold]is clearly contrary to the mandate of Rule 62 of the Revisor’s Guide that the will of the voter should be given effect, setting aside technicalities and that the votes therein should be presumed to have been made by the voter and will be considered as such unless reasons exist that will justify their rejection,” the lawyers said.

The camp of the Vice President also on Thursday claimed that no anomaly was seen during the manual recount of votes.

Macalintal said the result of the manual recount tallied with that of the automated election results.

“There’s nothing that would cause us to be alarmed,” Macalintal told reporters.

The camp of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos on the first day of the recount on Monday said some ballots were wet and audit logs were missing.

So far, the PET had opened 33 ballot boxes from the municipality of Bato, Camarines Sur. Macalintal said there were no indications that the ballots were tampered with before these were delivered to the Supreme Court.

“There is no indication that the ballots were tampered with or a massive fraud was committed before the delivery of the ballots [to the Presidential Electoral Tribunal],” he pointed out.

Robredo beat Marcos by 263,473 votes in the 2016 polls.

Macalintal said the presence of wet ballots in six ballot boxes and the absence of audit logs are no proof of poll fraud. The PET, he explained, has the option to order the printing of scanned ballots, while the audit logs are not required to be placed in ballot boxes but are returned to election officers based on Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 10057. (Llanesca Panti/ManilaTimes.net)

Marian Pilgrimage France, Spain & Portugal September 8 to September 21, 2018 Spiritual Director: rev. John Duy nguyen Still one of the great pilgrimages shrines in the world, visited by thousands of pilgrim’s. Arrive in Lourdes in the late afternoon, orientation to the shrines and spends some time in the sanctuary.

Dinner & overnight.

Sept. 9, 2018 - (Sunday) Day 2 - Paris (CDG) Arrived Paris CDG, Then after we clear immigration and collect our (BB, D) Luggage,. you will proceed to your hotel and have mass and dinner.

Sept. 15, 2018 - (Saturday) Day 8 - Lourdes Overnight in Paris. (D) You will have early morning bath at the healing water of Lourdes.

Then return to the hotel for breakfast. There after attend Holy Mass Sept. 10, 2018 - (Monday) Day 3 - Paris Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, also at the Grotto. continue the day with a walking tour of the shrines and known as the City of Light. Full day touring with local guide, including places associated with the life of St. Bernadette. Spend some time visit of the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Basilica of Sacre meditating on the passion of our Lord through more than life size Coeur, The chapel of the Miraculous Medal in Rue de Bac is the site exotic way of the sacrament and prayers. Afternoon will be free time of Marian Apparitions and contain the reliquaries of St. Catherine for private devotion. Dinner/overnight (BB, D) Laboure and St. Louise De Marillac. The shrine of St. Vincent the Paul is within walking distance, a few blocks from Rue De Bac, visit Sept. 16, 2018 - (Sunday) Day 9 - Lourdes / Zaragoza the chapel which houses the relic of St. Vincent the Paul. Overnight After Breakfast, you’ll continue your drive towards Zaragoza, Spain. Visit the shrines of Our Lady of Pillar, the 2nd most popular in Paris (BB/D) pilgrimages sites in Spain. See the Magnificent altar in the Basilica, built on site where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the apostles Sept. 11, 2018 - (Tuesday) Day 4 - Paris/Lisieux After breakfast, Full day in Lisieux, home of St Therese, who at age St. James, before her assumption into heaven. Dinner/overnight 15, entered the convent and became Carmelite nun, she took the Zaragoza (BB, D) religious name of St Therese of the child Jesus and the Holy face. The spirituality of her little ways was not about extraordinary things, but Sept. 17, 2018 - (Monday) Day 10 - Zaragoza / Salamanca rather about doing simple things of life well and with extraordinary After breakfast you will embark on a trip to Salamanca. You will have love. She believed and taught that “Everything is Grace”, God’s face a short stop and panoramic tour of Avila. Upon arrival in Salamanca, and presence could be experienced in every person and situation of you will visit the Old Cathedral and tour the city. Dinner /overnight our lives, if we just attend with love and expectancy. She died at the Salamanca (BB, D) age of 24 believing that her life was really the beginning for God, promising to spend her heaven doing good on earth, her promised” Sept. 18, 2019 - (Tuesday) Day 11 - Salamanca / Fatima shower of Roses” began and have become a torrent in the church After Breakfast, you will spend the first half of the day touring ever since. Return to Paris, Dinner in a restaurant near the hotel. Salamanca. You will visit the new cathedral with a short stop at Plaza Mayor for lunch. After lunch you will continue to Fatima, the Overnight in Lisieux (BB, D) famous Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Upon arrival you will have a Sept. 12, 2018 - (Wednesday) Day 5 - Lisieux / Nevers / Paray- short orientation tour of the Sanctuary. Attend the nightly Candlelight procession at the Shrine. Dinner and Overnight Fatima (BB, D) Le-Monial After Breakfast, Continue your drive to the picturesque Loire valley to Nevers, visit the convent of St. Gillard, where St. Bernadette’s Sept. 19, 2018 - (Wednesday) Day 12 - Fatima incorrupt body miraculously preserved since her death in 1879. Breakfast, then Visit the Museum dedicated to the Blessed Virgin At the conclusion of the eighteen apparitions of the Virgin Mary Mary followed by Mass at the Apparitions chapel, Full day Guided in Lourdes, St. Bernadette lived for 12 years as a member of the tours includes the Shrines ground, visit of the tombs of Francisco congregation of the sisters of charity of Nevers. St Gildard convent and Jacinta in the Basilica, In Aljustrel and Valinhos, you see the is her final resting place. After she was blessed with the apparitions two homes of the shepherds, site of Our Lady’s fourth apparitions. of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, St. Bernadette retired in Nevers. She Stop at the Parish church where the seers were baptized, and the received her religious habit in 1866. Continue to Paray-Le-Monial for cemetery where Francisco and Jacinta were once buried. You will do the station of the Cross. We encourage everyone to spend some time Dinner & Overnight (BB, D) in the Blessed Sacrament, which is open every day. Dinner/overnight Fátima. (BB, D) Sept. 13, 2018 - (Thursday) Day 6 - Paray-Le-Monial After Breakfast, you will tour Paray-Le-Monial. Your first stop is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and here you will celebrate Holy Sept. 20, 2018 - (Thursday) Day 13 - Fatima / Lisbon Eucharist. Then you will tour and admire the Romanesque basilica After breakfast ,you will proceed to Lisbon with stops at Santarem and see the Chapel of Apparitions. After the Basilica, you will proceed to visit the church of the Holy Miracle containing the Glorious to the Monastere e la Visitation. Visit the reliquary of Saint Margaret 13th century Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem .Then you will do a Mary of Alocoque at the Chapel of Visitation. Still to see and visit after panoramic city tour of Lisbon, with a visit to the Basilica of St Anthony lunch is the Park of the Chaplain and the Chapel of St. Colombiere. de Padua, St Jeronimo’s Monastery and the famous Belem Tower.

Dinner/Overnight Lisbon (BB, D) Dinner & Overnight (BB, D) Sept. 8, 2018 - (Saturday) Day 1 USA/PARIS Transatlantic flight from USA to Paris (CDG )Meals serve on board.

Sept. 14, 2018 - (Friday) Day 7 - Paray-Le-Monial / Lourdes Sept. 21, 2018 - (Friday) - Early AM transfer to Lisbon After breakfast you will continue your pilgrimage to Lourdes. Lourdes, Airport for flight home to USA celebrating 160 Years of apparitions of Blessed Virgin to Bernadette. Full of wonderful memories of Our Pilgrimage

A12 april 7-10, 2018 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal

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

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 7-10, 2018

SHOWBIZ&STYLE

B

Journal

Risqué Erich Gonzales on the rise And no, it’s not because of heartbreak

by Christina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

Since setting foot in showbiz via a talent search at the age of 14, erich Gonzales long held on to a “sweet image,” even as she eventually took on more challenging roles within a wholesome package. Then suddenly, in mid-2017, the 27-yearold actress surprised the public with as series of risqué instagram posts, showing a toned physique and dashboard abs.

The result of serious exercise and a proper diet, as Gonzales would later relate, her 3 million instagram followers and fans from TV, were not accustomed to seeing the sweet actress showing too much skin. However, after her instagram posts wearing bikinis went viral in May, the public began anticipating what was to become of erich Gonzales for the film she was shooting that summer on the beach—the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Siargao,” which, not only gave them a good cry but also the country’s latest “fitspiration.”

Not a ‘revenge body’ As the actress’ “new image” emerged a few months after her much talked about breakup with fellow actor Daniel Matsunaga last year, many immediately saw the fruits of her transformation as a jilted girlfriend’s “revenge body.”

A popular internet slang among millennials, a revenge body is referred to as the new figure from a person who is “channeling his or her frustration over a break up into exercise.” in effect, the new physique leads to “ex-partner regretting the breakup.”

To those who still think Gonzales’ transformation in this way, she simply says, “Maraming bagay tayong pinaghuhugutan. Of course, we want to improve ourselves and we want to be healthy and fit para mas marami pa tayong magawa sa buhay.” indeed, she did not wallow on her failed relationship and proceeded to achieve so much more.

Erich Gonzales

Before the end of 2017, she sizzled in another risqué pictorial as a local liquor brand’s 2018 calendar girl—another first for the actress.

Thereafter, she showed some more skin for a topless cover in a local men’s magazine. currently, she essays a triplet role in the ABS-cBn series “Blood Sisters,” one of whom works as an exotic dancer.

Slim and strong Suffice to say, Gonzales is now regarded as one of the sexiest actresses in the country. But more than enjoying her new image, Gonzales believes her transformation can serve as a “body-image bender” for others. “i believe we have been fed with the idea that if we’re thin, we’re automatically sexy and fit. We grew up looking at those body images sa magazines and TV. But in my recent journey, i learned that that kind of thinking is wrong, and that we have to work for a healthy body and have a healthy mindset if we want to be fit,” Gonzales shared.

Besides being able to take on roles that require a particular body mold and being confident in her own skin, the dramatic actress said she was inspired to work out came from a desire to be physically

Photo from Instagram/@erichgg

stronger.

“For me what’s important is that when you’re fit, you feel healthy— you feel can do more and you actually have more energy,” Gonzales elaborated, stressing that her transformation did not happen overnight. “it wasn’t easy. Hindi tayo pinanganak na bato-bato agad [we weren’t born with instant abs], and that’s where hard work and determination in getting that body and strength you’ve always wanted comes in,” she added.

To be more precise, Gonzales shared that since 2017, she has been going to the gym at least three times a week. Whenever her tight work schedule gets in the way, she will still do pull ups or weights on set, just to keep her pace.

Watching what she eats is also a must for Gonzales who advocates healthy eating habits and dissuades fans from fad diets.

As parting shot, Gonzales shared that the most important thing to do in getting fit is simply to get started.

“You just need to start somewhere because if you don’t, kahit little steps lang, walang mangyayari sa iyo. You have to make that decision and when you do, you have to work hard for it.”

PROMOTinG TRAVeL & TOURiSM. (From L-R) Michelle narvaez, Philippine Airlines (PAL) Area Manager - Los Angeles international Passenger Sales, Fay castro, Department of Tourism (DOT) Senior Tourism Operations Office, Richmond Jimenez, DOT Tourism Attaché and Director of U.S. Southwestern States & Latin America, and Roger Lagmay Oriel, Publisher and ceO of the Asian Journal Media Group tour the new office of the Philippine DOT in Los Angeles, california. Before the visit, the group discussed the participation of the DOT and PAL for the upcoming events of the Asian Journal, particularly the Travel, Trade and consumer Roadshow on August 4 and 5 at the SouthBay Pavilion in carson.

Features

B april 7-10, 2018 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal

Sharon Cuneta still works despite surgery by arlo

Custodio ManilaTimes.net

aLL throughout the year until Easter Sunday, Megastar Sharon Cuneta had been very active on social media. Her fans and more than a million followers on Facebook and Instagram were kept updated on every part of her day—whether significant or not—until a sudden lull swept over her pages.

Here’s why: On april 3, the singer-actress revealed she had surgery on her nape to remove a lipoma. “So sorry I haven’t been replying to any of your comments.

Haven’t read any since 3 days ago. Haven’t even been texting/emailing my nearest and dearest.

More peaceful that way. Mind and heart are resting. Recovering well. Also, had surgery yesterday.

Had a lipoma pala on my batok, and my yaya and assistant had been noticing it for a while hanggang lumaki na that they finally told me! Natakot na. They’re doing a biopsy on it but I’m not scared. It was big! I have it on video but am not showing you that naman,� she explained.

Cuneta asked for prayers for her recovery as she has work commitments to fulfil. “Still super drowsy from anaesthesia and been sleeping since I got home last night. Also if I put my head down, it hurts.

If I look straight or up, it hurts.

So my saving grace is just laying on either my left or right side. I sleep on my left side anyway. But it really feels weird. Please pray for me. Taping this week so I have

to get all the rest I can and I pray I recover quickly. Love you guys.

Don’t worry about me. God bless you! Sweet dreams,� she said.

On Wednesday, april 4, the Megastar shared how her entire family have been caring for her—from husband Sen. Kiko Pangilinan to daughters Frankie and Miel to son Miguel.

Nevertheless, what fans noticed more was when she and former husband actor Gabby Concepcion “unfollowed� each other on Instagram. Because of what happened, diehard supporters of one of the most phenomenal love teams in Philippine cinema are disappointed that the hype of a screen comeback is no longer possible.

Cuneta’s post was indirect but hinted who she was referring to in her IG post. “You will never know how much pain losing what I thought would be a lasting friendship this time has caused me. How can only all good intentions go wrong? I guess that’s life‌ I never wanted to hurt anyone; I also certainly didn’t expect to be humiliated and hurt. I just wanted a forever friend to keep for our beautiful child, and a beautiful movie. Minsan ayaw ng tadhana,â€? she wrote.

Concepcion’s IG account was made private. “Sakiiit my wound pa from surgery cos the neck moves di ba and whenever mine does, it has to hurt. Ngee. Taping pa naman tomorrow na. Buti di muna yung show ko na umiikot ang chair kundi absent! Hahaha! Love you

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

The 2nd Children Art Contest hosted by H Mart, Woori Broadcasting & The Korea Times Warm spring day, hopes and dreams painted by our children on a fun family event

Sharon Cuneta

ABS-CBN photo

guys! From the no-choice-but-tostiff-neck gurl,� she endearingly addressed her more than one million followers.

On thursday, april 5, Cuneta posted photos of her with friends and co-judges Ogie alcasid and Gary Valenciano in the taping of “Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids� saying, “Back to my happy show with my happy friend and kuya GV!!! Yippee!!!� with no trace of pain seen on her face.

Medical research group Mayo Clinic explains that a lipoma is a slow-growing, fatty lump that is most often situated between the skin and the underlying muscle layer. It feels doughy and usually not tender and moves readily with slight finger pressure.

Usually detected in middle age, some people have more than one lipoma. although it isn’t cancer and usually harmless, treatment is not necessary in general, and only recommended if the lipoma is painful or growing.

H Mart, Woori Broadcasting, and The Korea Times are hosting the Children art Contest celebrating National Family Month. this second annual art contest in California is held on May 5th, 2018 at Whittier Narrows recreation area – the Meadows area D, (address: 750 S. Santa anita avenue South El Monte, Ca 91733) from 11:00 aM to 4:00 PM. Drawing theme is to be announced during the event. registration and award winners are categorized in 3 groups, Pre K~ Kindergarten, 1st~5th Grade, and 6th~8th Grade. California winners are awarded with $5,500 worth of scholarships as well as trophies and award certificates, totaling 69 winners; Grand Prize $1,000/1 winner, 1st Prize (1 winner/group), 2nd Prize (2 winners/group), 3rd Prize (3 winners/group), Happy Prize (50 winners/group).

Participants can register for this event at any California H Mart store’s Customer Service Desk during the application period, March 30th~april 30th. Fee of $20 per family is immediately exchanged for $20 H Mart Gift Certificate. applicants are encouraged to register during the application period since registration is unavailable on the day of the event.

Variety of events are ready for all guests to enjoy. Hands-on

-! ," ' #(.+' %

( ., "-"(',

events for children such as face painting, balloon art, and bubble plays are awaiting, as well as recreation and games for all members in the family can enjoy.

Free food tasting events and goody bags will make this event even more abundant, sponsored

by Haioreum, Hello Home, Nong Shim, Samyang, and other major food & houseware companies.

H Mart sent a message saying, “last year’s successful art Contest in California brings

another year for children and adolescents to broaden their sense of creativity and gain artistic education. We ask for everyone’s participation and attention as this event is full of family activities that would make great memories.�

H Mart Customer Service can be reached for more information on this event (tEL. 877-4277386).

(Advertising Supplement)

0! + 0"%% 0 0"-!(.- (.+

s ,OS !NGELES -$7+ s ,AS 6EGAS s /RANGE #OUNTY )NLAND %MPIRE s 3AN &RANCISCO s .EW 9ORK .EW *ERSEY

-AY -AY -AY -AY -AY

#!,, LOS ANGELES 1210 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204 Tel: (818) 502.0651 Fax: (818) 502.0858

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 1799 Old Bayshore Hway, Ste 136 Burlingame, CA 94010 Tel: (650) 689.5160 Fax: (650) 239.9253

LAS VEGAS 2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792.6678 Fax: (702) 792.6879

NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY 2500 Plaza 5, Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 Tel: (212) 655.5426

Gerald Anderson cops enviable moniker

by GeorGe

Kabrisante ManilaTimes.net

It’S most opportune time for Gerald anderson to get bestowed a new and enviable moniker “Universal Leading Man� by the creative image makers of Star Cinema, his home studio who saw through his movie career unequivocally for the past decade since he emerged winner from the “Pinoy Big Brother� reality search.

Said new entitlement sounded like it relegated unreservedly all other titles or crowns imaginable there are on the heads of those who came into the network’s stable of talents before and after him.

Gerald’s new title was the hot fodder in his most recent guesting on “tonight With Boy abunda� with said asia’s King of talk who sort of validated it to the viewing public on national tV and to the Filipino Channel around the globe.

On being asked how he takes the new tag, Gerald gushed and summed up his reaction in one word – “frightening.� It’s because it carries with it certain expectations larger than what he has achieved in the past and to the present time.

In hindsight, going by the thought “universal� Gerald has made his initial homerun in the international community of filmmakers through Erik Matti’s commercially and critically acclaimed film “On the Job� with Piolo Pascual as co-lead actor. this got a commercial run in some theaters in the U.S. In fact some of its footages were featured in glowing terms on CNN as a remarkable action thriller whose explosive content predated the expose of self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa about the wheeling and dealing of illegal drugs in the hands of big-time convicted drug lords themselves

Gerald Anderson

ABS-CBN photo

inside Muntinlupa prison. It was also exhibited in the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes International Film Festival.

Incidentally, early on some local film astute observers had high hopes of the polished and breakthrough action filmmaking it to the Oscar awards more than perhaps Hannah Espia’s “transit� which was favored instead by the local Oscar’s selection committee.

Unfortunately, the Israel-filmed entry was struck out from the list at the early rounds For the Best Foreign Language Film Category.

More than Gerald’s past accolades, the present title came in the nick of time over the commercial success of his latest rom-com flick “My Perfect You� opposite Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

On the film’s touted P10 million take at the box-office on the first day, Gerald disclosed in the aforesaid talk show that he received an alarming text on the same day from his mother in General Santos City asking him to spare and share at least P1 million with her from said amount. He replied gamely at once telling her that said amount is not due him but Star Cinema’s.

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

FEATURES

CONQUERING THE FEAR OF UNCERTAINTY AND SIX ICE AGENTS KNOCKING AT THEIR DOOR ON THIS SUNDYA’S “CITIZEN PINOY”! After they were offered jobs as caregivers, Danilo (left) and Millet (center) took a big gamble when they decided to stay in the U.S. to pursue their American dream. It was not easy, especially after their hard-earned money was lost to a lawyer who hardly did anything to move their case forward.

They eventually went out of status, and even had I.C.E. agents come knocking on their door.

The couple then consulted with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel, who took over the case, and helped them acquire their green cards. Leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael Gurfinkel (right) was also able to help their two daughters avail of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and getting approval on their green cards the same day President Trump cancelled DACA. Watch this encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC.

Los Angeles Times Food Bowl returns with a diverse program this May The city’s adventurous new food festival will feature hundreds of events over 31 days in and around Los Angeles with a mix of local favorites and world-renowned chefs

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Times Food Bowl is proud to release the program schedule for 31 days of food celebrating L.A.’s amazing food and drink scene.

Spanning the entire month of May, Food Bowl will feature over 200 events with many of the chefs and restaurants that have put Los Angeles on the map as one of the world’s great food cities alongside internationally renowned chefs in rare local appearances. In its second year, the festival will continue to raise awareness and funds to fight food insecurity and hunger and promote waste reduction and sustainability through charity partners and participating events. The extensive lineup of dining events, panel discussions, chef collaborations, volunteer projects and other food and drinkinspired happenings can be found at lafoodbowl.com.

Carlos Salgado (Taco Maria), Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill), José Andrés (L.A. Kitchen), Yu Bo (Yu’s Family Kitchen, China), Fuchsia Dunlop (UK), Curtis Stone (Gwen, Maude), Yoshihiro Narisawa (Narisawa, Japan), Virgilio Martínez(Central, Peru), Diana Kennedy (Mexico), Ben Shewry (Attica, Australia), Roxana Jullapat (Friends & Family), Michael Voltaggio (Ink. well), Niki Nakayama (n/naka), Nyesha Arrington (Native), Bricia Lopez (Guelaguetza), Josef Centeno (PYT, Orsa & Winston) Wolfgang Puck (Spago), Phil Rosenthal (“Somebody Feed Phil”), Gabriela Cámara (Contramar, Mexico), Andy Ricker (Pok Pok), Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson (Kismet), Matt Abergal (Yardbird HK, Hong Kong), Nadine Redzepi (Denmark), Monique Fiso (Hiakai, New Zealand), Daniel Humm (Eleven Madison Park, NoMad), Tanya Holland (Brown Sugar Kitchen), Enzo Coccia (Naples, Italy), Dan Hong (Sydney, Australia), Eric Werner (Tulum, Mexico) and Nancy Silverton (Mozza Restaurant Group) are among are the many chefs, aficionados and experts scheduled to appear during the festival.

Food Bowl highlights include: • Things in a Bowl: the official launch party at Rossoblu April 30 will feature an all-star lineup of L.A. chefs creating “Things in a Bowl” dishes and the announcement of Restaurant of the Year and presentation of the Gold Award to this year’s winners, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, chefs and owners of Border Grill.

• Changing the World Through the Power of Food: An Evening

with José Andrés, Jonathan Gold and Friends: the official opening night event, May 1, presented

by L.A. Kitchen and The Wiltern.

• Night Market: a bustling street market featuring 50 food vendors, outdoor dining areas and entertainment with 45,000 attendees expected over five nights in Grand Park, May 16-20.

• Thai Tui Tribute: a celebration of the life of the much loved and respected Chef Tui Sungkamee (Jitlada) with Jazz Singsanong(Jitlada), Andy Ricker (Pok Pok), Roy Choi (Pot), Kris Yenbamroong (Night + Market), Jet Tila and more on May 8 at the Line Hotel.

• Outstanding in the Field: a series of long-table feasts in spectacular locations including a sustainable seafood dinner on Manhattan Beach with Michael Cimarusti (Providence), a Filipino Feast on opening night of the Night Market in Grand Park, and a dinner with Virgilio Martínez (Peru) and Outstanding in the Field’s Jim Denevan at Weiser Family Farms.

• Next Generation Bowl Bash: game on for L.A.’s rising chefs and mixologists at the Spare Room in the Roosevelt Hotel, May 2.

• Sichuan Summit: acclaimed food writer Fuchsia Dunlop (“Sichuan Cookery”) and Chinese chef Yu Bo will be featured, along with local Sichuan restaurants and special guests, May 5.

• Pizza Fest… A Tutti Pizza: L.A.’s most beloved pizzerias and special guest Enzo Coccia (Naples, Italy) all together celebrating a taste of Italy for one day, May 13, at the Palladium.

• Satoyama Exhibition: the result of a three-year collaboration between Tokyo-based chef Yoshihiro Narisawa and Brazilian photographer Sergio Coimbra, the exhibit of images of Narisawa’s elegant dishes made using indigenous Japanese ingredients is presented by Japan House Los Angeles at Union Station throughout the month of May.

• A Journey Through the Cuisines of Mexico: Diana Kennedy (UK / Mexico), the godmother of Mexican cuisine, joins a panel discussion about the country’s regional cuisines with a sneak peek at the documentary currently in production, “Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy,” May 4.

• Australian BBQ with Chef Ben Shewry: the acclaimed Melbourne-based chef (Attica, no. 32 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list) will host an Australian barbecue at Everson Royce Bar on May 27.

• Friday Night Wine Tasting with Chef Daniel Humm: Barnsdall Art Park’s 10th annual tasting series with Silverlake Wine will kick off with Daniel Humm (Eleven Madison Park, no. 1 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants) in conversation with Jonathan Gold and a pop up from NoMad, May 25.

• L.A. Cocktail Week: bars and bartenders from across the city will present classes, pop ups and handcrafted cocktails that represent Los Angeles.

• Gold Film Festival: a mini film festival curated by Jonathan Gold with screenings hosted in various neighborhoods.

• Food tours of some of L.A.’s tastiest neighborhoods: Thai Town, San Gabriel Valley, Downtown LA, and Koreatown.

• Plus a charity bake sale with L.A.’s leading pastry chefs, the second-annual fried chicken party, the return of the beloved Beast Feast and introducing the No Beast Feast.

Los Angeles Times Food Bowl 2018 charitable partners are L.A. Kitchen, Food Forward and Midnight Mission. Citi® is the festival’s founding partner and sponsors include Nissan, Maker’s Mark, Hornitos and the Italian National Tourist Board. For the program schedule and additional information visit lafoodbowl.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ LAfoodbowl (#LAfoodbowl #31DaysofFood)

A toast to Barbie Forteza

by RICKY

CALDERON ManilaTimes.net

THE Roving Eye believes that Barbie Forteza is one of GMA Network’s best actresses—and one of the nicest too. Given her talent and attitude, she really deserves more projects to make her star shine brighter.

BG Films International’s Baby Go shares the same opinion, having cast Barbie in Louie Ignacio’s “Laut” in 2016, for which she won Best Actress at 36th Fantasporto International Film Festival.

As previously reported, BG Films has given Barbie a second movie assignment as female lead of “Almost a Love Story” with her perennial TV partner Derrick Monasterio. Parts of the movie were shot in Sorento, Italy, again

under Direk Louie.

Roving Eye asked Barbie what makes “Almost a Love Story” different from other romantic movies produced in the recent past.

“We tell you why it’s almost a love story because we’ll be giving away the twist but I think it’s the characters that we play. I regret my relationship with Derrick’s character, my childhood love, so we both try for a happy ending.”

Meanwhile, Barbie is very thankful to BG Productions for giving her first lead project, humbly saying, “I guess Ma’am Baby Go and Direk Louie knew what I can offer as an actress since I’ve worked with them before. But even if “Love Story” is lighter than the role I had in Laut, I still gave it my hundred percent.

Barbie Forteza

GMA photo

For his part, Direk Louie said he had a pleasant time working with Barbie again. “She is not a star—she is an actress and a very good one at that. And she is no diva on the set.”

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 7-10, 2018

B3

Another successful Easter trip to the Holy Land Feeling excited of course when the actual day came, the owner OUR most recent pilgrimage to himself met us at the airport the Holy Land that left on March with his wife to welcome us. To 23 came back as scheduled and make the group feel better, his was formed by a group of former wife came with us as our guide high school classmates, most of and escort. whom are now retired nurses.

When we arrived at the Tel The successful pilgrimage Aviv airport, we were met by a coincided with the Easter holiday local guide, and picked up by a season — a month often avoided tour bus. The hotel accommoby many individuals due to its dation was very good, and we busyness. Although the group visited all the places listed on was small, it was personalized the itinerary. Our guide was very and all participants had a great informative and knowledgeable time. It was something special of all the places we visited, and and memorable for everybody. the tour bus driver kept us safe There were no long queues and no one had to rush. With the expertise of the tour guide, the group was also able to avoid the large crowds.

As a travel agency owner, it’s always gratifying to receive compliments from customers.

Here is what Zenaida Hidalgo of Portland, Oregon said in her complimentary letter: “I recently joined a group for a trip to the Holy Land that was arranged and managed by Air Plus Travel based in Santa Fe Springs, California. This company is superb, very organized, detailed and thorough. At the start, the owner himself explained the tour package and payment options, and was always accommodating in answering our questions. All payments made were accounted for and followed with receipts.

A month or so before the trip, the itinerary was already sent, with an airplane reservation and a checklist of things to bring.

by EMIL

PERITO

and sound.

Based on my personal experience, I would highly recommend Air Plus Travel for any of your travel plans, and wouldn’t hesitate joining another tour package of theirs in the future.”

Established in 1995, Air Plus Travel specializes in religious travel. Join us in our next pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Jordan, & Dubai on October 5-16, 2018. For more information, contact Air Plus Travel at (562) 863-0624, or visit us at www. airplustravel.net.

(Advertising Supplement)

B april 7-10, 2018 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal

Features

Paolo Ballesteros speaks up about sexuality in Maine Mendoza’s ‘Humans of Barangay’

by Jan Milo Severo

around the country, i would like to take this chance to collect stories PhENOMENAL star Maine from people i come across to every Mendoza created a Facebook page, single day,” Maine wrote in her “humans of Barangay,” which aims Twitter account. to tell stories of different people she inspired by Brandon stanton’s has met. “humans of New York” Facebook “Considering myself fortunate page, the “Dubmash Queen” said for being in Eat Bulaga’s ‘Juan For her goal in creating her own version All’ segment and having the oppor- is to inspire more people through tunity to visit different barangays stories of others.

Philstar.com

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

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

This is a story of a gynecologist as he related in Medscape: “When i began experiencing chest pain that was different from my usual heartburn symptoms, i denied i could possibly be having a heart attack, but chewed four baby aspirins just in case. Of the more than 350,000 individuals who experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in 2016, only Paolo Ballesteros 12 percent survived. Bystander Photo from Instagram/@pochoy29 recognition of cardiac arrest and “since i get to meet people in prompt intervention with cardiodifferent walks of life, i was deeply pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and inspired by how they manage to rapid defibrillation is essential for survive and be thankful even with out-of-hospital survival.

“While exiting the expressway the smallest things that they have,” on my way to perform scheduled she added in her Tweet. her first three posts on the surgeries that morning, i came to page are about her co-hosts in Eat a complete stop in the left-hand Bulaga’s “Juan For All” segment: lane of the exit ramp with three Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo and cars ahead of me. The indigestion i had been experiencing overnight Paolo Ballesteros.

Wally talked about being a was different from the heartburn symptoms i’d had in the past. i comedian.

“Best thing bilang komedyante declined my wife’s suggestion to ‘yung saya, kumbaga nakakapag- go to the emergency department, pasaya ka ng tao. Magaan ‘yun but compromised by taking four para sa akin. Yun nga lang minsan, baby aspirins, and planned to folkahit seryoso ka na, hindi ka pa din low-up with a previously scheduled sineryoso ng mga tao.. kasi nga appointment that afternoon with my internist. At the age of 53, on komedyante ka,” Wally said.

Meanwhile, Jose gave pieces of August 29, 2016 at approximately 7:40 a.m., i died waiting for the advice for the youth.

“Huwag maging mapusok ang traffic light to change.”

Luckily, a school bus driver who kabataan. Pagisipan lahat ng bagay lalo na mga desisyon sa buhay. witnessed the accident called 911.

Huwag sugod ng sugod! Kasi may This physician was successfully mga desisyon tayong akala natin resuscitated.

This is not an isolated story and ay tama, pero sa dulo lang natin malalaman na mali pala. At laging it illustrates some fundamental tandaan.. sa buhay, tatlong A lang principles we could learn from.

Medical facts and lessons yan: Ambisyon, Abilidad, Agri1. After age 40, chest discomkultura. Hindi, Aksyon! Aksyon!” fort should be suspected to be an Jose said.

Finally, Paolo speaks out on impending heart attack, till proven opening up the real sexuality of a otherwise, and must be attended to AsAP. Denial could be fatal. person.

“Ang paglaladlad personal it could well be indigestion or choice yan, hindi yun maididikta ng stomach acid reflux, but erring on kahit sino, lalo na ng society na gi- the safer side is the wiser choice. nagalawan mo. Just take your time, heart attack is treacherous. it kahit mga 100 years pa yan, ikaw could happen among persons ang bahala. Kasi ikaw ang magbu- with pain in the jaw area and arm, bukas ng sarili mong ‘closet,’ hindi with no actual chest pains. hence, routine annual medical check-up ibang tao,” Paolo said.

Ballesteros has never confirmed is essential.

2. A history of chest pain should anything about his sexuality, though he is known for his makeup trans- be investigated, even among formations and gay roles such younger individuals. i have done as in “Die Beautiful,” which won heart bypass on a 25-year-old him his first Best Actor award at woman, who was a diabetic and the 29th Tokyo international Film hypertensive, with high cholesterol level, who smoked heavily. heart Festival. attack victims are getting younger and younger.

3. A visit to a family physician, if not a cardiologist, even before any medical problem arises for those beyond 40 will establish a baseline, upon which one could

The day I died measure his/her own health status and progress. Any deviation from the parameters shown by all the tests done could alert the person accordingly.

4. The tests, depending on the complaints, signs, and symptoms, could include a complete blood count, blood chemistries (comprehensive metabolic panel, electrolytes, lipid profile, liver and renal panels, and thyroid functions), urinalysis, chest x-ray, EKG; and other more specific tests the physician might determine necessary after the interview and physical examination.

5. For those with chest or upper abdominal discomfort where the physician suspects gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD), upper Gi endoscopy (telescopic visualization of the throat, food pipe and the stomach) might be recommended. if the findings point to a noncardiac condition, it is managed accordingly.

6. if the family physician thinks the chest discomfort or other symptoms could be due to coronary heart artery disease, the patient would be referred to a cardiologist, who might perform any of the following: Thallium stress EKG, an EChO, or Cardiac Catheterization to view the heart function and the integrity of the heart valves, and Coronary Angiogram to see if any heart arteries are blocked by cholesterol deposits, which is the main cause of heart attacks.

7. When Coronary Angiogram shows significant blockages (more than 50 percent obstruction) in any major coronary arteries, an angioplasty with stent may be done. if more than two blockages are found, coronary bypass surgery would be recommended.

The usual 1 to 2 percent risk for this procedure worldwide is clearly outweighed by the 50 percent risk of heart attacks and potential death of those refused surgery.

8. Obviously, prevention is the key. The vital factors include lifestyle and behavior: a low carbohydrate diet of fish, vegetables, nuts, some fruits, occasional or no red meat, with as little or no rice, bread, sweets, as possible, more of protein; abstinence from smoking and substance abuse, severe moderation in alcohol intake, doing daily physical exercises, and stress management with weekly R&R, mini or full vacation with family and/or friends.

9. since dental problems cause inflammation which adversely affects our immune system and contributes to heart diseases, a visit to the dentist every six months would be very beneficial to overall health.

10. When one feels irregularity or rapid heart beat or thumping in

the chest and dizziness anywhere, or while driving, taking a very deep breath and coughing as hard and as often as you can every two seconds or so could being your heart beat back to normal. Without delay, drive to the nearest emergency room. A false alarm might be embarrassing, but at least, you are alive.

11. When alone at home and chest pains develop, dial 911 for emergency help and notify a family member or neighbor, and take four baby aspirins (81 mg each) if previously recommended by your physician for such an event.

As a home remedy for headache and pains, the usual dose is two tablets of regular aspirin (325 mg each, or a total of 650 mg) every 4 to 6 hours, so taking 4 baby aspirin tablets is like taking only one regular tablet. Aspirin is a mild blood thinner. This will prevent a severely blocked coronary artery from being totally obstructed by a blood clot and cause cardiac arrest.

Those with a history of stomach ulcer/bleeding should not take aspirin, unless instructed by their physician.

12. in addition to the above, do not eat anything. Unlock your front door to allow paramedics to get in, and sit up by the front door (do not lie down as this would flood your heart and lungs with more blood, while your heart is having a hard time beating from the insult of the heart attack).

Scary statistics in the United states alone, a person suffers a heart attack every 20 seconds and one dies from heart disease every 34 seconds, one every 5 minutes (close to 300 every 24 hours) in the Philippines.

Each day, more than 2,700 Americans die from heart disease. About quarter of a million Americans die of a heart attack annually before they reach the hospital. Those who are under-educated have a higher risk of suffering a heart attack.

Countries with the highest death rates from heart diseases include Russia, Poland, hungary, Romania, and Czechoslovakia, and the lowest are Japan, France, Canada, spain and switzerland.

Notwithstanding our genes, our health and longevity, to a greater extent, are intricately linked to our lifestyle and behavior. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

The 2018 Binibini queens were the special guests during the “Big Dome Light Blue” event for the World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. From left: Binibining Pilipinas 2018 second runner-up Samantha Bernardo, Bb Pilipinas Globe 2018 Michele Gumabao, Bb Pilipinas Grand International 2018 Eva Patalinjug, Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray, Bb Pilipinas International 2018 Ahtisa Manalo, Bb Pilipinas Supranational 2018 Jehza Huelar, and Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman.

Binibining Pilipinas 2018 winners mark World Autism Awareness Day

ThE newly crowned winners of this year’s Binibining Pilipinas joined forces on April 2 to observe World Autism Awareness Day at the smart Araneta Coliseum.

Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray, Binibining Pilipinas international Ma. Ahtisa Manalo, Binibining Pilipinas supranational Jehza huelar, Binibining Pilipinas Grand international Eva Patalinjug, Binibining Pilipinas intercontinental Karen Gallman, Binibining Pilipinas Globe Michele Gumabao and Binibining Pilipinas second runner-up samantha Bernardo graced the event as they aim to use their platform as beauty queens to raise awareness on worthy causes like this. “it’s a very enlightening experience. Thanks to the Araneta group, we are able to participate in events such as this that will not only educate us, but also allow us to give insight and awareness to those that we influence,” Gray said. “Moving forward, we hope to continue to work not just with groups that champion autism awareness, but also other groups that focus on other PWD concerns.”

“This is our first event as Binibini queens, and i am grateful because events like this allow us to lend our voices to our advoca-

cies,” said Gumabao, who, along with the other Binibini winners, has been busy making media rounds after their coronation.

This was the second year in a row that the Big Dome’s green gate was illuminated with blue lights as it joined the international community in observing World Autism Awareness Day. Other landmarks around the world like the Empire state Building in New York, the Niagara Falls in Canada, the suez Canal in Egypt, the Edinburgh Castle in scotland, the sagrada Familia in spain and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai also participated in the cause.

People living with autism, their families, local government units and non-government organizations witnessed the event.

The Light it Up Blue event, a worldwide initiative that coincides with the UN-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day, is a symbolic way of standing up with and understanding people living with autism. Last year, the Araneta Center showed its support with the “Big Dome Lights Blue” event, hosting performances by kids living with disabilities; a short talk by PACDLD (Philippine Association for Citizens with Developmental and Learning Disabilities inc.) PACDLD founder Felicite Jean Gonzales, and the lighting of

the Coliseum façade blue.

Director-General of the Philippine information Agency harold Clavite, who was present at the event, stressed the importance of early detection of autism so people living with this condition will be given the proper treatment. he also vowed to use the agency to empower women and girls living with autism, the theme echoed in this year’s celebration as well.

The Araneta Center, the J. Amado Araneta Foundation, and the Gateway Gallery also teamed up with PACDLD in feting autism advocates.

Teachers Ma. Carmencita Guanzon-Borbon, Pilar Relovo habito, Josephine Villareal Nepomuceno and Fredeswina Tantengco-Javier; special Olympics Philippines executive Ma. Cristina Zafra Canizares; developmental pediatricians Dr. Joel Lazaro and Dr. Alexis socorro de Leon Reyes; social workers Angela Marina Luna Pangan and Ederlinda Lumaad salud; and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia were recognized for their efforts to raise autism awareness and help people with autism. PACDLD founder Octavio “Ogie” sA Gonzales was also given a posthumous tribute for his contributions to the cause.

(Philstar.com)

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 7-10, 2018

B

B april 7-10, 2018 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal

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

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

COMMUNITY Journal

How will USCIS’ new Internal Oversight Division impact adjudication of your immigration petitions?

REPORTS have surfaced that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency that processes immigration applications, is creating a new internal division which seeks to “more rigorously police its own caseworkers.” Sources state that the creation of this new division is potentially aimed at monitoring USCIS employees who are too lenient or forgiving in their adjudication of applications for those seeking permanent residency or citizenship.

Because employees will have to justify approving cases, applications will need to show even more clearly that the applicant is eligible for the relief sought.

While specifics for the new oversight division have yet to be extensively disclosed to USCIS employees, there are reports that reassignment of personnel within the agency has already begun to appropriately staff this new division, which will be called the Organization of Professional Responsibility. According to news reports, the goal of this new department will be to enhance oversight of the way USCIS employees handle the approximately 26,000 requests for immigration benefits the agency adjudicates daily.

The Organization of Professional Responsibility is slated to have three divisions, including an Investigations Division aimed at overseeing the agency’s program that investigates cases involving fraud, abuse, or misconduct by USCIS employees. When speaking about the new department, one USCIS official has said that the new internal division has been viewed within the agency as a “crackdown on employees who may be too forgiving toward applicants for permanent legal residence or citizenship and who may have demerits in their case files, including misdemeanor criminal charges or having received public assistance such as welfare payments.”

The announcement of this new division comes just about a month after USCIS faced backlash for revising its agency mission statement by removing language that

Your Immigration Solution Brittany Milliasseau and nancy Miller referred to the United States as a “nation of immigrants.” Around this same time, the USCIS Director also faced criticism after instructing USCIS staff to stop referring to applicants and petitioners for immigration benefits as “customers” as that term leads to the “erroneous belief that applicants and petitioners, rather than the American people, are whom we ultimately serve.”

Creation of this new division has similarly led to backlash from immigration advocates and proponents. While this new department has yet to be formalized, some members of Congress have already expressed their concern stating that they are worried that the new division will seek out and eliminate those USCIS employees who do not agree with the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration.

At this time, there are still many unknowns about the creation of this new department within USCIS and whether it will actually be formally implemented. The absence of guidance has led to many questions and concerns such as what it will mean for a USCIS employee to be “too lenient” or “forgiving” when assessing immigration benefit applications, how employees will be evaluated, reprimanded and what recourse they will have, as well as what policy changes will be implemented as a result of this new department.

While the new division has yet to be formally announced and the proposed scope of the new division is unclear, it is important to be aware of its potential implications. If the Organization of Professional Responsibility is established, there is a likelihood that USCIS adjudication will become even more scrutinized.

Since adjudicating officers will have more top-level oversight, they may be wary about being too lenient in their evaluation and as such, applications or petitions that seem relatively straight-forward or have not normally been scrutinized in the past may face more intense scrutiny. In plain English, this means that they may fear that giving an applicant the benefit of the doubt or a second chance, as the law allows, may cost them their job.

It is now more important than ever to ensure that you are represented by knowledgeable and highly competent immigration counsel. If you have filed or are considering filing an application for an immigration benefit, it is imperative to make sure you have an attorney who is on top of recent changes, can spot potential issues, and prepare strong petitions to minimize delays, requests for additional evidence, and denials. Even if you or someone you know think you have an “easy” immigration case, it is important to keep in mind that immigration policy is constantly changing and could impact the standard of adjudication for your case. Further, it is important to note that USCIS policy and changes in adjudication may happen relatively quickly and without much advance notice. As such, speak with an experienced immigration attorney today to discuss how changes in immigration law and policy may impact your particular case. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Pasadena, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 7-10, 2018

C

C APRIL 7-10, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Chapter 13: Stop creditors and pay only what you can

Minding Your Finances atty. RayMond Bulaon IF you are struggling to pay your bills every month due to insufficient income and/or excessive expenses, there is a way to make your debts more manageable so you can sleep better at night.

Chapter 13 is the section of the US Bankruptcy Code that allows individuals in the United States to reorganize their finances. If you are having difficulty paying your debts (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, taxes, late mortgage payments and property taxes- all kinds of debts), don’t despair.

Chapter 13 can give you the relief that you need so that you can get back on track as quickly as possible. Let me explain.

We all know how difficult it is to catch up once you start falling behind on debt payments. If you’ve experienced a reduction in income (example: reduced income from employment - or business, if you’re self-employed), Chapter 13 allows you to pay back your creditors over a 3-5 year period based only on the amount of your surplus income every month, not based on how much you owe.

In Chapter 13, you also don’t

Tax Tips victoR sy, cPa, MBa

Community Journal

need to worry about losing any assets you may have because you will keep everything and lose nothing. And if you are in business, you will be allowed to continue running your business as usual.

Any type of bankruptcy filing, including Chapter 13, immediately stops all collection actions against you. That means no more annoying creditor calls, collection letters and no marshals at your door. A lot of people in debt are afraid to even answer their phone or open their mailbox because they don’t know how to respond to bill collectors who are harassing them for payment.

If you are about to lose your home in foreclosure, Chapter 13 also allows you to keep your home while including all your back mortgage payments in your debt consolidation. You pay zero percent on credit cards and all unsecured debts and in most cases, the amount you owe on all these debts are significantly reduced, sometimes to zero, depending on your income. The portion of your unsecured debt (or all of it) that is not paid through your Chapter 13 plan is wiped out at the end of your repayment plan.

Once the court approves your proposed Chapter 13 plan, there is nothing more that creditors

can demand of you. They are bound by the terms of the approved plan and cannot ask for more money. Your bankruptcy attorney can review your monthly living expenses with you, analyze your income and help you propose a realistic payment plan that you can afford.

In most cases, Chapter 13 is a far better alternative than trying to pay debts on your own or hiring a debt management company. This is because in Chapter 13, you cannot be sued by your creditors as long as you remain under court protection. And if you are being represented by an attorney, all creditor communications go to your attorney so that you do not have to deal with your creditors directly.

If you need help with debt problems, I can help you. Please call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772 to schedule a free consultation. I have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.

(Advertising Supplement)

2018 extension forms and due dates for last year’s 2017 tax returns

Form W-2 (electronic or mail) Form 1065 - Partnerships Form 1120S - S Corporations Form 1040 - Individuals FinCEN 114 - FBAR (allowed to extend)

2018 Filing due date (For tax year 2017) January 31st March 15th March 15th April 17th April 17th

Form 1041 - Trusts and Estates Form 1120 - C Corporations Form 990 Series - Tax Excempt Org Form 5500 Series - Employee Benefit Plan Form

April 7th April 7th May 15th July 31st Extended due dates

Form 1065 Extended Return Form 1120S Extended Return Form 1041 Extended Return Form 1120 Extended Return Form 1040 Extended Return FinCEN 114 (Extended with Form 1040) Form 990 Series Extended Return Form 5500 Series Extended Return

September 17th September 7th October 1st October 15th October 15th October 15th November 15th November 15th

Form

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

(Advertising Supplement)

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

The Prophetic Voice ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas ANY change or transition brings anxiety in our lives. It’s because it disrupts our stability and plans and creates fears and uncertainty. A new boss comes in, and we find ourselves wondering about our place at work and the changes that might happen. We take another job, and we experience doubt and trepidation despite our capacities.

If our experiences of change are hard, can you imagine those that the Disciples of Jesus felt after Jesus was crucified and died?

They were rough, traumatic, painful, fearful, and distressful. There they were, following the lead of Jesus, and suddenly he was taken away from them, brought to Calvary to suffer and to die. Before their eyes, they saw their Master who claimed to be the Messiah suffer a horrific death.The teacher who taught them the ways of God, the Father, and brought joy, meaning, and hope in their lives was killed and was gone.

The Disciples were scared, confused, and felt uncertain about their fate. Would one of

Barrister’s Corner atty. Kenneth uRsua Reyes COUPLES get divorced for various reasons. California is a no fault state. The reasons why a couple is getting divorced are often irrelevant to the issues of the family law case. Divorce is often a difficult and negative experience for most families. However, getting divorce may have some unintended benefits in the immigration law arena. Four situations in which filing for divorce can be beneficial to your immigration case are as follows: Married Sons and Daughters of US Citizens If you were petitioned for legal permanent residence by your US Citizen parent as a married son or daughter 21 years old or over, you are classified in immigration law under family sponsored third preference (F3) which usu-

A ministry of peace them be the next person to be arrested, crucified, and killed, followed by the next one and all of them? And so, they huddled together in a room for prayers and strength.

Then in their midst came the Risen Jesus through the closed doors and the first words that Jesus said were “Peace be with you.” He showed them his hands and his side to assure them it was he was standing before them.

And again, he said, “Peace be with you.”

Peace. It’s the salutation that we should give to one another in times of troubles. It’s the assurance that God is with us; that there is no need to be fearful but to trust in his presence and his power to strengthen us. He may not be with us physically, but his Spirit is always with us who believe in Him. The following scene in this Sunday’s Gospel expresses this abiding power and presence of God in our life. As soon as he greeted them with peace, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

This gesture of Jesus says a lot to all of us who believe in him.

We must not be afraid to take on any task, especially if it pertains

to service to God, our family, and others. God will give us the graces and the help we need.

As the first gesture of Jesus, after he resurrected, this expression of peace speaks of the ministry and mission that Jesus wants us to continue. Our mission as citizens and leaders of this world is to work for peace, to live in peace with other people and nations, and to cultivate peace in our hearts, families, and communities. In a world that is divided into political and economic views, in a Church that is polarized with different ideologies and practices, in families that are influenced by the forces of secularism, we must seek peace and harmony.

Let’s keep remembering and living the desire of Jesus for all us. Let’s persevere in peace, live in peace, and work for peace!

Amen.

*** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1991-2001). 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.

4 ways filing for divorce can benefit your immigration case ally carries a long wait time. The wait time for Filipinos for example is currently 22 years. The priority date is normally the date the petition was initially filed by your US Citizen parents. If you get divorced, you revert back to single status and your category automatically becomes reclassified to first preference (F1) where the waiting time is substantially shorter. For example, for Filipinos the wait time under F1 category is 10 years shorter than F3 category. This means if your parents filed your immigration petition 12 years ago, then you can adjust to a green card now instead of waiting another 10 years.

Married Sons and Daughters of Legal Permanent Residents If your parents are legal permanent residents, getting divorced will convert you back single status making you eligible to be petitioned by your legal

permanent resident parents under the family based second preference (F2b) category if you are 21 years old or older or under the family based second preference A (F2a) if you are under 21 years of age.

For those who married after they were petitioned by their LPR parents (F2A and F2B), the petition is automatically revoked under operation of law the moment you get married and cannot be reclaimed by a divorce. In theory, it can be argued that filing a subsequent petition after your divorce under the same category inherits the previous petition’s priority date under 9 FAM 42.43 N10 and 8 CFR 204.2(h), Part 205. However, success of such argument is not clear since the old petition was automatically revoked the moment you married. The best thing that can be done in this situation is to have

u PAGE C3

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

Community Journal

Can employees be entitled to more than 12 weeks of medical leave?

Q: AFTER 12 weeks of medical leave for a surgery, I suffered new complications and my doctor told me I needed to take more leave time. I told my employer I could not go back to work yet and submitted my doctor’s note. Three days after I was supposed to be due back at work, I was fired for job abandonment. Is this right?

A: No, it is not. Your employer had a duty to engage in interactive process to determine if you can be provided reasonable accommodation. Granting additional leave may constitute reasonable accommodation.

California law prohibits discrimination based on disability or medical condition. An employer may not terminate an employee based on the employee’s disability or medical condition. Disability under California law includes physical disability, mental disability or a medical condition. An employee who has a disability should notify the employer of his or her condition in order to obtain accommodation.

If a disabled employee is unable to perform his or her old duties, the employer must engage in a timely, good faith interactive process to determine if reasonable accommodation can be made for the employee.

The employer must start the interactive process if the employee’s disability becomes known or obvious.

If the disabled employee was terminated, even though he or she could have performed the job with reasonable accommo-

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng

THE client is a senior at 67. He is married but has been separated from his wife for some time.

He lives with a woman but is not married to her obviously because he is only separated from his wife.

You can’t remarry until you have divorced.

Separation, whether de facto or legal, does not entitle you to remarry. If you remarry while you are only separated, that would make you a bigamist, and bigamy is a crime.

Apparently, the client is aware of all of these different marital or cohabitation arrangements. He says that although he is collecting social security, he still works when his employer gives work to him. He works as a seaman. Seamen do not work for 12 months a year. Sometimes they work half a year or a couple of months in a year. This kind of work is different from working on a cruise ship where the employer gives you 10 months of work and allows you two months of vacation.

When seamen are working, they can make $7,000 to $8,000 a month on the higher side. The problem is that it’s not that easy to get fully employed for 12 months. “Feast or famine” would be appropriate for seamen. When

Legal-Ease: An Attorney’s Perspective JuDD MAtSunAgA eSq DID you know that every 35 minutes an older American dies from a traumatic brain and head injuries precipitated by a fall? In fact, each year 2 million American seniors are taken to hospital emergency rooms for fall-related injuries. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “More than one-third of adults age 65 and older fall at least once each year.”

The good news is that falls are not an inevitable part of aging.

Here are some things you can do to help prevent a fall. This article will explore some simple, common sense steps you can take to keep you safe. But first, let’s try to understand why seniors fall in the first place so we may take actions to protect our aging loved ones.

Physical changes associated with aging can contribute to an increased fall risk, including: arthritis, irregular heartbeat, reduced visual abilities, slower reflexes, urinary and bladder dysfunction, and weaker muscle strength and tone. Diuretics and muscle relaxants may also increase your risk of falling.

Older adults who take medications can have side effects such as dizziness or drowsiness. This can make falling more likely. Having your doctor or pharmacist review all medications can help reduce the chance of risky side effects

extension of her medical leave, but that the employer chose not to reasonably accommodate her.

During trial, the employer argued that Hill was fired because the company lost some funding and that retaining Hill Atty. c. Joe SAyAS, Jr. as an employee would have created undue hardship on the dation, the employer’s conduct employer. However, expert may be wrongful. The employee, testimony showed that the emwho sues for wrongful termina- ployer continued to have proption and prevails, may be en- erty holdings and about $25 titled to the following: reinstate- million in assets. Additionally, ment, back pay, loss of future the employer could not give a earnings, damages for emotional single example of any effort distress, punitive damages, and made to accommodate Hill. attorneys’ fees and costs in cer- The jury found in favor of the tain instances. Consider the fol- employee and awarded her $1.9 million in compensatory lowing case: Della Hill worked as an in-home damages. The jury also found counselor at Asian American that the employer acted with Drug Abuse Program’s (AADAP) malice, oppression, or fraud “sober living” home. Sometime and awarded her an additional during the New Year holiday of $2.6 million in punitive dam2015, Hill fell and broke her arm. ages, bringing her total award She notified her supervisor that to $4.5 million. she needed medical leave, and *** submitted doctor’s notes taking her off work for several weeks. The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. During this time, Hill was also di- welcomes inquiries about this topic. agnosed with major depression. All inquiries are confidential and at noDue to her psychological illness, cost. You can contact the office at (818) Hill’s doctor extended her leave 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com until April 11, 2015. She advised or our Facebook page Joe Sayas Law. [C. her employer of her need for Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced additional leave. However, on trial attorney who has successfully March 31, 2015, while Hill was recovered wages and other monetary still on her medical leave, her damages for thousands of employees employer fired her for failing to and consumers. He was named Top Labor return to work. & Employment Attorney in California by Hill sued her employer for, the Daily Journal, consistently selected among other things, wrongful as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles termination and disability dis- Magazine, and is the recipient of PABA’s crimination. Hill claimed that Community Champion Award for 2016.] her employer knew of her mental disability and her need for an (Advertising Supplement)

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

Senior seeks Chapter 7 relief for $40K in credit card debt they work, they make good money but they can go for months without working and make nothing. The client made $40,000 last year for five months of work, which means that he was not employed for seven months last year. If we average out his income of $40,000 over 12 months, his monthly income is a little over $3,300 per month.

The above analysis of his income situation is relevant to qualify him for the type of bankruptcy relief that he is looking for. He says that he owes $40,000 in credit card debt. He is tired of paying $1,300 a month.

He says he has paid $1,300 every month on these cards for the last 10 years, and still today, he owes the same $40,000 after paying over $156,000. It doesn’t seem fair and he’s just plain tired of paying. In other words, borrow $40,000 and pay back $156,000, and still owe the same $40,000 in 10 years — seems a little onesided. He should have just paid for a house instead.

Since he wants to get rid of his $40,000 debt now, can he qualify for a total wipeout of $40,000 with a Chapter 7, or a partial wipeout with a reorganization of his financial affairs in Chapter 13? Well, this would all depend on the applicable means test to determine what his actual current gross

income is. What if his employer called him to work for 10 months at $8,000 a month? That kind of current income would knock him out of Chapter 7 and force him into Chapter 13 with probably a $300 to $500 monthly payment for five years. In Chapter 13, he might have to pay about $18,000 of the $40,000, then, $22,000 would be wiped out after completion of plan payments.

This looks more like a Chapter 7 than a Chapter 13 actually considering his employment income for the last year was $40,000. An examination of his employment income from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018 shows a gross of $10,000, or $3,333 a month.

Even if he has social security of $1,400, he would still be eligible for Chapter 7 complete wipeout of the $40K relief. His wife, from whom he is separated is a registered, nurse who makes $100K a year. But since they have been separated for some time, his wife’s monthly gross income of $8,000 a month does not come into play under the means test.

Separation from his wife actually makes him eligible for Chapter 7 while being not separated from wife would not make him eligible for Chapter 7, but would make him eligible for Chapter 13 instead.

u PAGE C5

How to prevent falls and drug interactions. However, you should not discontinue these medications without a doctor’s supervision.

Also, seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or a related illness may face a greater risk of falling—as well as realize more severe complications from tumbles—largely due to altered mobility (i.e., balance, coordination) and cognition (i.e, judgment, spatial perception). But there are some simple strategies you can employ to help reduce the risk of a fall.

The Mayo Clinic provides a list of “Simple tips to prevent falls” on their website (www. mayoclinic.org). One tip is to wear sensible shoes as part of your fall-prevention plan. High heels, floppy slippers and shoes with slick soles can make you slip, stumble and fall. So can walking in your stocking feet.

Instead, wear properly fitting, sturdy shoes with nonskid soles.

Sensible shoes may also reduce joint pain.

Another tip to make your home safer is to clear out the clutter. Excess clutter, e.g., boxes, newspapers, electrical cords and phone cords in walkways can increase the likelihood that someone will trip. Get in the habit of putting things away immediately. Remove excess furniture and arrange tables, chairs, etc. so that pathways are clear.

Spring cleaning can be a great time to de-clutter space.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), has made fall prevention a priority.

One key to reducing the risk of serious falls is exercise. “Several studies show that exercise and activity that help in strengthening, flexibility and balance, can make a significant difference in minimizing one’s chance of falling,” says Jennie Chin Hansen, president of AARP. A Harvard Health study has shown that Tai Chi helped reduce falls in seniors by up to 45% (Harvard Health Blog, August 23, 2012). Tai Chi helps improve balance because it targets all the physical components needed to stay upright—leg strength, flexibility, range of motion, and reflexes—all of which tend to decline with age.

Contact your local senior center and ask whether they offer Tai Chi or any other exercise program geared towards improving balance. However, even if you can’t make it to the Tai Chi class at your local senior center, we all can exercise and improve balance at home at virtually no or very low cost, on our own or with our friends.

Try these balance exercises on an every other day basis to reduce fall risks: Stand behind a chair or other sturdy piece of furniture you can hold onto and practice standing on one leg at a time. Hold this position for five seconds and increase the time period as you are able. Closing your eyes while you’re balancing will increase the difficulty.

Standing behind a sturdy piece of furniture, lift your leg to the

u PAGE C5

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 7-10, 2018

C

E-2 treaty investor visa allows for stay in US along with family DEAR Attorney Tan,I WOULD like to know if there is any way for my family and I to stay in the US if I invest in a US 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 US with investment of a “substantial” amount of capital in either a new or existing US business.

A main objective of the E-2 Treaty Investor classification is to promote and encourage investment in the US. Accordingly, the Treaty Investor must demonstrate that he/she is actually investing a substantial amount of capital in the US 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 US with extensions of the E-2 visa. An E-2 Treaty Investor is allowed a maximum initial

Legal Advice Atty. DArrick tAn stay of 2 years, and requests for extension can be obtained in increments of 2 years. There 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 US whenever the E2 status expires.

Another important benefit for an E-2 Treaty Investor is the ability to be accompanied to the US 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 US, 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 US schools. The immediate family come to the US 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 Treaty Investor may come to the US 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 US 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 US enterprise, and 3) seeks to come to the US to develop and direct the enterprise in which he/she is investing or is going to invest.

Consideration of the E-2 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) 6390277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

4 ways filing for divorce can benefit your...

PAGE C2 t

your LPR parent repetition you as an F2A or F2b even if you are unable to reclaim the previous petition’s priority date.

Conditional Legal Permanent Residents in failed Marriages For those who obtained their legal permanent residence status through marriage based petition by their US Citizen spouse of less than 2 years marriage, the legal permanent residence status conferred is usually a “conditional legal permanent residence” valid only for 2 years. The couple would need to sign and file a joint petition to remove this condition prior to the expiration of the 2 years or the conditional

legal permanent resident spouse would fall out of status.

The problem arises when the marriage is in trouble. Often it becomes difficult to obtain the cooperation of the US Citizen spouse specially when the couple has separated. US Citizen spouse often refuse to sign the I-751 for or appear at the I-751 interview if one is set by the USCIS. Filing for divorce would terminate the marriage and allow you to file a “waiver” of the joint petition to remove the conditional LPR status based on entering into the marriage in good faith. Terminating the marriage by filing a divorce is a requirement in order to file the “waiver.” It is impor-

tant to time this correctly as soon as the marriage starts falling apart because by terminating the marriage early on, you might be able to file the waiver before the expiration of your 2 year conditional LPR thus allowing you to extend your LPR status in 1 year increments until a final decision is made in your case.

Married Aliens in Non-Immigrant Visas and those without Status For those who enter the US as a non-immigrant and are separated from their spouse but still married, filing a divorce would open up opportunities in case they meet a new signifi-

u PAGE C5

C4 APRIL 7-10, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Calendar of Events across

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

America

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

People and Events

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 APRIL 7

University of the Philippines Alumni Association Greater Los Angeles hosts Bowling Barkadahan in Glendale, CA Happening on Saturday, April 7 is Bowling Barkadahan at Jewel City Bowl (135 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205). Registration is at 3 p.m., games begin at 4 p.m. Join the fun networking activity through bowling that raises funds for the scholarship project of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA). Players get two free games, free shoe rental, two slices of pizza, salad and unlimited soda. Form a four-person team ($160 total fee) to bowl with community leaders, business owners, members of organizations and associations, UP alumni, and friends. For more information, call 1(800) 611-5705 or visit www.upaagla.org.

A P R I L 1 1 -1 3

Advancing Justice Conference in Washington, DC The Advancing Justice Conference is the signature event in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community focusing on civil rights and social justice happening on April 11-13, This three-day, bi-annual convening is hosted by Asian Americans Advancing Justice. It provides a unique forum to learn from issue area experts and community leaders, discuss common challenges and opportunities, share best practices, and find more effective ways to work collaboratively. This year, community leaders from across the U.S. will come together in Washington, D.C. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. To register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018advancing-justice-conference-april-11-13-registration-39652865789.

APRIL 14

SALIDA: Simbolo at Kultura in Queens, NY AFTA presents its latest fundraising event - “SALIDA: Simbolo at Kultura” – a cultural dinner show featuring the internationally recognized dance troupe from the Philippines, the Leyte Dance Theater, which will kick off their USA TOUR 2018 in NYC. The event is on April 14, 2018, 3:00 pm at the Rock Church in Woodside, Queens. “Salida” aims to raise funds and awareness to support the flagship projects of the Association of Fil-am Teachers of America, Inc. (AFTA) with their partners: The Rock Churches Worldwide and the Leyte Biliran & Samar Federation. Proceeds of this fundraiser will finance AFTA’s projects in the Philippines like Adopt a School (Marawi City, Biliran and Albay, Adopt a Scholar, and Balikturo). For Sponsorship opportunities, contact Roxanne at 347-932-6631 or Nitz at 862-368-1706 or any AFTA officer/board member.

Philippine Medical Association of Southern CA to hold inaugural ball in Anaheim, CA The Philippine Medical Association of Southern California (PMASC) and its auxiliary will be holding its biennial inaugural ball on Saturday, April 14 at the Anaheim Marriott (700 W Convention Way, Anaheim, CA). This grand occasion will be attended by several Filipino physicians and its guests to raise funds for humanitarian purposes, specifically its outreach ■ programs including medical missions to the Philippines and Southern California. The association has been conducting such purposes for 46 years since its founding in 1971. For more information and tickets, please contact Dr. Emma Arella at (661) 794-3322, Dr. Ellen Abejuela at (909) 859-4865 or PMASC Executive Office at (562) 572-2481.

APRIL 30

East West Players’ 52nd Visionary Awards & Silent Auction in Los Angeles East West Players celebrates its 52nd Anniversary at the Annual Visionary Awards Dinner & Silent Auction. The Visionary Awards laud the achievements of individuals who have raised the visibility of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through their craft. Proceeds from the gala will benefit East West Players’ educational and artistic programs. It will be held at the Hilton Universal City (555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, CA 91608) on Monday, April 30. At 5:30 p.m., VIP Reception*, silent auction, and registration begin.

Dinner and awards show begin at 7:00 p.m. For more information, please visit: http://www. eastwestplayers.org/news/east-west-players-52nd-anniversary-visionary-awards-dinner-andsilent-auction/.

M AY 3 -1 2

34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival The 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will be presented May 3 - May 12, 2018 at select cinemas in the Los Angeles area. A key highlight of the annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month activities, the Festival is produced by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, and enjoys broad support from cinema artists and audiences alike. Since 1983, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival has presented over 4,000 films, videos, and digital mediaworks by Asian international and Asian Pacific American artists, and additionally features seminars and panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards. The Film Festival continues to be the largest festival of its kind in Southern California and is the premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian Pacific American and international cinema. To learn about Visual Communications, visit www. vconline.org.

M AY 1 8

The Asian American Group to celebrate first annual Asian Culture Day in Las Vegas On Friday, May 18, the Asian American Group (AAG) will celebrate the first annual Asian Culture Day. The event will be held at the Conference Center of Las Vegas (6590 Bermuda Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89119), and will start at 6 p.m. There will be a variety of Asian dishes and cultural performances at the celebration.

The primary goal of the Asian Culture Day celebration is to invite and unite the Asian nations of the world, and to educate and share their respective cultures in order to achieve greater understanding and fellowship between nations. The annual Asian Culture Day was established by Senate Bill 175, which proclaims every 18th of May as Asian Culture Day in the state of Nevada. The bill was introduced and authored by State Senator Scott Hammond, and was signed into law by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval last year. The bill gives recognition to the Asians and Asian-Americans who were instrumental in the settlement and early development of the State of Nevada; the culture and traditions shared by Asians and AsianAmericans; and the Asian and Asian-American communities that continue to make important contributions to the cultural, religious, political, and business environment. To purchase tickets visit https://www.asianamericangroup.org/saac-2/.

M AY 26

FACCGLA’s bowling tournament The Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACCGLA) will host a bowling tournament on Saturday, May 26 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Winnetka Bowling Lanes (20122 Vanowen St, Winnetka, CA 91306). Open to both members and non-members, in teams of four or we can assign you a team. Slots are limited. To register your team, please call FACC-GLA Secretary Ms. Connie Mapue (323) 337-7714 or FACC-GLA boardmember Ms. Doreen Remo (310) 428-7200. For more information and online payment, please visit www. faccgla.org.

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

Grand Park’s “Our LA Voices: Spring Arts Festival” to celebrate city’s vibrant arts community during weekend-long exhibition LOS ANGELES — Grand Park will celebrate LA artists from April 27-29 at the first annual Grand Park’s Our L.A. Voices: Spring Arts Festival, a public arts exhibition that will gather diverse and powerful talent from around Los Angeles County and showcase the region’s artistic excellence. A tent-pole event that will spotlight Grand Park’s ongoing commitment to L.A.’s creative communities, Grand Park’s Our LA Voices: Spring Arts Festival, will be a free “best of LA” performing and visual arts event representing the County’s many voices and perspectives. The weekend-long celebration will feature outdoor theatrical and dance performances, storytelling, youth performances, live art and a public marketplace with nearly 30 artists creating and/or selling their work on-site.

With family-friendly programming, it will create an opportunity for Angelenos to experience the diverse richness of the County’s arts community. Highlights from the festival line-up include The Fountain Theatre’s production of Citizen, a provocative meditation on race that fuses prose, poetry, movement, music and visual images; Antics Dance Theatre’s Sneaker Suites, featuring dancers, live spoken word poetry and short films; Grand Park’s PROUD Stories, a series of spoken word and storytelling performances from the LGBTQ community ; and the Jardin deLArte 2018, a public marketplace showcasing L.A.-based visual artists and crafts people in part-

nership with Self Help Graphics and DTLA Proud; and two stages featuring DJs and local artists including Garth Trinidad, DJ Tendaji Lathan and Shiva.

“Los Angeles is home to a powerful, diverse arts scene with boundless creativity,” said Rachel Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “Grand Park’s Our LA Voices: Spring Arts Festival will create a home for these artists and provide a beautiful setting for them to perform and display their work while connecting with new audiences,” Moore continued.

“Throughout Grand Park’s five-year history, we have been committed to supporting LA’s arts community and have helped develop many emerging talented artists,” said Julia Diamond, interim director, Grand Park. “By creating, nurturing and sharing art, Grand Park has become a home for artists and a place where art lovers can find common ground and uncover the themes that unite us as Angelenos. We are proud to provide the stage for creativity and expression with Grand Park’s Our LA Voices: Spring Arts Festival and look forward to this festival becoming an annual Grand Park tradition.”

With the inaugural theme of “What does it mean to be a citizen?”, the line-up will probe issues of belonging and alienation as well cultural equity and inclusion. The Fountain Theatre’s production of Citizen

by Claudia Rankine and adapted by Stephen Sachs will fo-

cus on acts of everyday racism through a lyric poem, snapshots and vignettes. Antics’ Dance Theatre’s Sneaker Suites, a collaboration with story architect Mark Gonzales, will use the virtuosity and hyper-physicality of street dance vocabulary to delve into the diverse and personal relationships that many people have with sneakers, an emblem of street culture and one of the most highly-purchased fashion items and means of self-expression in the world. Grand Park’s PROUD Stories will continue its tradition of presenting narratives about how Los Angeles connects people no matter who they are or whom they love. The festival’s Jardin deLArte will offer a gathering spot for artists to create and sell paintings, prints, jewelry and other works. In addition, the festival will include youth performances by the Pomona Youth Orchestra, Little Kids Rock, and Jose Hernandez Mariachi Heritage Society, popup performances and many other opportunities to experience the arts throughout the park.

A partner with the Department of Cultural Affairs’ the Big Read, Grand Park’s Our L.A. Voices: Spring Arts Festival dovetails with this year’s literacy program book selection -- Claudia Rankine’s “Citizen: An American Lyric.”

For more information about Grand Park’s Our LA Voices: Spring Arts Festival, and updates about additional performances, visit grandparkla.org/event/ourlavoices2018

Edison International awards 30 high school seniors $1.2 million in scholarships ROSEMEAD, Calif. — Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison, has announced the names of 30 high school seniors awarded $1.2 million in scholarships to support their dreams to make a difference in the world through the study of science, technology, engineering or math — known as STEM. Each Edison Scholar will receive $40,000 — paid over four years — to further their academic pursuit of STEM fields at a four-year accredited college or university.

The 2018 Edison scholars are: Sandra Amezcua Rocha, South El Monte H.S.; Travis Caldwell, Oak Hills H.S.; Jennifer Carrillo, Oxnard H.S.; Fu-Tung “Irisa” Chang, Cerritos H.S.; Peter Chea, Cerritos H.S.; Fernanda Corona, Paramount H.S.; Hayley Fernandes, Mission Oak H.S., Tulare; Alexandra Gomez, Magnolia Science Academy, Santa Ana; Justin Hogenauer, Gretchen A. Whitney H.S., Cerritos; Winnie Huang, Henry J. Kaiser H.S., Fontana; Shavonna Jackson, California Academy of Mathematics and Science, Carson;Shanni Lam, Colony H.S., Ontario; Elliot Larson, Redwood H.S., Visalia; Connie Lee, El Monte H.S.; Lesly Leon, Lynwood H.S.; Alyssa Liu, Gabrielino H.S., San Gabriel; Abieiden “Abi” Lopez, Lynwood

H.S.; Mariam Lora, West Covina H.S.; Aaron Martinez, South Gate H.S.; Deema Nasla, Oak Hills H.S.; Alexandra Ortega, Fontana H.S.; Joshua Porter, Mission Oak H.S., Tulare; Joshua Rodriguez, Ruben S. Ayala H.S., Chino Hills; Steven Smith, Glendora H.S.; Avey Songco, California Academy of Mathematics and Science, Carson; Blake Sousa, Tulare Union H.S.; Naomi Summers, Oxnard H.S.; Colleen Wolfe, Cornelia Connelly School, Anaheim; Tanya Yang, Diamond Bar H.S.; and Pearl Zhang, Temple City H.S..

“Edison International congratulates these exemplary scholars,” said Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International. “We are proud to support their academic success and their families’ commitment to education. We believe these Edison Scholars will use their STEM studies to make a real difference in our communities.”

Edison International is one of the largest charitable contributors in Southern California and its support of charitable causes, such as the Edison Scholars Program, is funded entirely by Edison International shareholders. SCE customers’ utility bill payments do not fund company donations.

To learn more about the 2018 Edison Scholars, visit on.edison.com/2018EdisonScholars.

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 7-10, 2018

C5

People and Events Knights of Columbus hold third degree ceremony in Ventura County

the making, with dedication, patience, and commitment, it turned out to be a big success being a neophyte in the Knighthood (3rd) Degree. On behalf of the team, I would like to thank Worthy Sir Knight Efraim Syto, District Deputy of District #82 and Gran Knight Ruben Barreto

of San Buenaventura Council No. 2489, the host council for their warm hospitality and generosity.

THE third degree ceremonial Forty-one Knights attended team finally made its maiden the knighthood ceremonies and ceremonials at the Knights of were exemplified including Rev. Columbus hall in Ventura County Fr. Daniel O’Sullivan of Sacred on February 25, 2018.

Church in Ventura, California.

After almost two years in Under the watchful eyes of some dignitaries from nearby areas, past and present officers from different councils and past Marbe followed to effect service. So shal of fourth degree ceremonial PAGE C3 t cant other who is a US Citizen yes it is possible to divorce your team, they delivered each indiand who can petition them as spouse even if your spouse is in vidual part flawlessly; no runs, an immediate relative. This is a country that does not recognize no hits, no errors, as we owe it to usually the fastest of process in divorce among its citizens such this magnificent team the splenobtaining legal permanent resi- as the Philippines. For some imdence. In countries such as the migrants, filing for divorce opens Philippines where there is no di- up opportunities in this land of vorce, many people come to the milk and honey.

US to start a new life after they *** have been separated from their old spouse (often still married Please note that this article is not to them). Even if the alien over legal advice and is not intended as stays their status as a visitor, the legal advice. The article is intended alien can still adjust to that of a to provide only general, non-specific legal permanent residence if pe- legal information. This article is not titioned by a US Citizen spouse. intended to cover all the issues reIf the alien was never inspected, lated to the topic discussed. The spethe alien can still adjust to legal cific facts that apply to your matter permanent residence if they are may make the outcome different than grandfathered under INA 245(i) would be anticipated by you. This arand there are no special restric- ticle does create any attorney client tions on their status. To be relationship between you and the Law grandfathered under INA 245(i), Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This the alien must have been a bene- article is not a solicitation. ficiary of a legal permanent resi*** dence petition filed no later than Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a April 30, 2001.

Finally, a common concern of Certified Family Law Specialist. He was divorcing immigrants is “What President of the Philippine American Bar happens if my spouse refuses to Association. He is a member of both sign the divorce papers?” The the Family law section and Immigration truth is you do not need your law section of the Los Angeles County spouse’s signature to obtain a Bar Association. He has extensive CPA divorce in California. You only experience prior to law practice. LAW need to provide your spouse no- OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is tice that you filed a divorce by located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, personally serving your spouse Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 the divorce petition and sum- or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit mons. In countries that are our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. members of the Hague Conven(Advertising Supplement) tion, special procedures need to

by CJ

HERNANDO PFN,FDD

4 ways filing for divorce...

Senior seeks Chapter 7...

PAGE C3 t

Chapter 13 for $60K credit card debt The next client is 56 years old and is a widow. Her husband was in perfect health when he died from an accident inside their house three years ago. After he slipped and fell on his head, he became comatose and never recovered.

The client now owns the house by herself since she was a joint tenant on the house. The condo is a senior housing facility. She owes $60,000 in credit card debt. She doesn’t make much as a caregiver. Her gross income of $2,500 is enough to paying the mortgage which is only $500 a month but the HOA is $400! Still, a total of $900 for the house is not bad at all. It’s cheap housing in LA, where rent for a one bedroom apartment will set you back $1,500. (I remember 40 years ago when I only paid $550 for a two-bedroom apartment.)

The client wants a Chapter 7 wipeout but unfortunately, even with her low income, she can only qualify for Chapter 13 because she has $20K of non-exempt equity in her home. If she were to file a Chapter 7, she would end up losing her house to the trustee who will sell her house. From the sale proceeds, the trustee will give her $100,000 as her exempt

equity while $20,000 would be used to pay the $60,000 of credit cards. So she will have to pay one third or 33 percent of the $60,000. After paying one third, the court will discharge $40,000 or two-thirds of the $60,000 credit cards. In Chapter 13, there is no risk of losing her house. So, considering everything, the client should go for Chapter 13, not Chapter 7.

If you need debt relief, set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. *** Disclaimer: The foregoing is an expression of opinion and is not meant to be legal advice to any reader. There is no attorney-client relationship established by this article with the reader. If you want to discuss your situation, you have to set an appointment to consult with the attorney. The first general consultation is free. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 or at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789.

(Advertising Supplement)

How to prevent...

PAGE C3 t

side, as high as you’re able. Repeat 10 times with one leg, then switch to the other leg. Repeat this exercise, raising your leg behind you instead of beside you on both sides.

Practice walking from heel to toe.

You may need to hold your arms out to your sides or use an assistive device to steady yourself.

Walking in this manner for even short distances can help.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America suggests that you have a notification system in place, especially when seniors live alone. Consider medical alert products that notify a call center in the event of a fall or other emergency.

Finally, make sure you have valid, up to date Durable Power of Attorneys in place just in case an accident or fall results in the need for long-term care. As I tell my elderly clients, “It’s always better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.” *** Judd Matsunaga, Esq. is the founding attorney of Elder Law Services of California and practices Medi-Cal Planning, Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Administration. Judd can be contacted at (310) 3482995 or judd@elderlawcalifornia.com.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Asian American Journal. The information presented does not constitute legal advice and should not be treated as such.

(Advertising Supplement)

Knights at the ceremony in Ventura County on Feb. 25, 2018.

did success of the entire ceremonies by the grace of God. Special thanks to SK Gerry Torres, conferring officer of the team (CO), SK Noy Binoya from St. Elisabeth Council in Van Nuys, California, who also performed an exceptional part as the Presenter of the Fraternal Charge (PFC) as

well as SK Virgilio de Ramos, who delivered an exceptional part as the Warden of the Team.

Also part of the team was SK Jomon dela Rama, the audio/visual technician, and lastly SK CJ Hernando, PFN, FDD, with his patience, commitment and enthusiasm as the founder and

coordinator of the team. With this milestone, I salute the newly formed third-degree ceremonial team.

And finally, we would like to thank and praise the God for His guidance and wisdom as we give back all the honor and glory to Him. Vivat Jesus!

C APRIL 7-10, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

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

MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM

&

Trump wants to speed up deportations

Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ SINCE becoming president, Donald Trump has made several significant changes to make it easier for the government to deport more people. In fact, when he originally announced he was running for president, he stated that there were over 11,000,000 people in the U.S. illegally, and he wanted to deport them all.

Among the changes he has implemented or is proposing are: • Hiring more immigration judges, to reduce the backlog of cases, and deport people faster.

• Establishing quotas on the number of deportation cases handled by immigration judges as part of their performance evaluation. The more cases they handle, the better their evaluation. So, many judges may feel the need to rush cases through, resulting in a person being denied a chance to be heard or their case properly presented, especially if they are representing themselves.

• Restricting the use of prosecutorial discretion. Prosecutorial discretion is where the ICE attorneys have the ability or discretion to prioritize certain cases, and to leave other people alone, who may be deportable, but do not pose a threat to society. Before Trump was elected, enforcement priorities included criminals, terrorists, or those who pose a threat to public safety. Now, it seems everyone is considered an enforcement priority if they are simply removable. This could include someone who merely

overstayed, had a prior removal order (from an old asylum case) or even a green card holder with a minor crime.

• Increasing the budget for immigration enforcement to over $20,000,000,000. This is more money than the funding for all other Federal law enforcement agencies combined. This includes the FBI, U.S. marshals, etc.

• Eliminating administrative closure and reopening previously closed cases to complete deportation\removal. Administrative closure and motions to terminate remove cases from a court’s docket and are used as a means of increasing court efficiency, reducing backlogs, allowing courts and courtrooms to focus on serious cases, such as felons, terrorists, and those who pose a threat to society. Previously, ICE attorneys would often agree to admin close cases that were not considered enforcement priorities.

Now, under the Trump administration, they have been instructed to oppose motions to terminate and admin closure. In addition, the Trump administration wants cases that were previously admin closed to be reopened and recalendar, to resume a person’s deportation, even though they had been previously found eligible for prosecutorial discretion, or even if they may have a form of relief that might be soon available (such as a U.S. citizen child just about to turn 21 years of age to petition them, or they are already under petition and just waiting for the approval of the petition, etc.). If you had a deportation\ removal case that was admin closed, don’t be surprised if the ICE attorneys will now seek to reopen your case and resume your deportation.

I know that so many people

are afraid and anxious about their future in America. Even if they’re otherwise “law abiding” and pay taxes, but have simply overstayed, they are now considered enforcement priorities.

What should you do?

As the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) states, “Data shows detained immigrants who have legal counsel are ten times more likely to be granted asylum or other relief from the court. Forcing immigrants to move forward without an attorney eliminates any meaningful chance at a fair day in court. We should not sacrifice due process for speed and make an already rushed deportation process even more unfair.”

Therefore, if you have immigration issues, you may want to consult with an immigration attorney before ICE knocks at your door. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES

(Advertising Supplement)

Business Quote of the Week “If it really was a no-brainer to make it on your own in business, there’d be millions of no-brained, harebrained, and otherwise dubiously brained individuals quitting their day jobs and hanging out their own shingles.

Nobody would be left to round out the workforce and execute the business plan.” — Bill Rancic, entrepreneur

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 7-10, 2018

D1

D april 7-10, 2018 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal

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

San Miguel’s Ang backs Boracay rehabilitation Filinvest to build $200-M Clark casino by ian

by Doris

nicolas cigaral Philstar.com

ManiLa — the operator of Caticlan airport on Boracay island backs the government’s efforts to rehabilitate the world famous tourist destination, saying the redevelopment is a step “in the right direction.”

Boracay—which is known for its powdery white sand, rich water sports and vibrant nightlife—recently grabbed the headlines after President Rodrigo Duterte called the Philippines’ top tourist draw a “cesspool.”

Malacañang late Wednesday, april 4 announced that Duterte approved the recommendation of three government agencies to close Boracay for a maximum period of six months, effective april 26, ostensibly to pave the way for a major cleanup. in a statement released on thursday, Ramon ang, San Miguel Corp. president and Coo, said he supports the government’s initiative to rehabilitate Boracay and eventually transform it into a sustainable tourist destination. “addressing long-standing problems with sewage and solid wastes brought about by rapid growth of tourism, commerce and unfettered development now, is critical to ensuring Boracay’s long-term sustainability,” ang said. “the island needs to be rehabilitated and we have to support the government. Yes, we will endure some short-term pain but it’s a step in the right direction and in end we are hopeful it would bring about long-term gain for all,” he added.

Ramon Ang, San Miguel Corp. president and COO

SMC currently operates the Boracay airport in Caticlan, one of the holiday hotspot’s gateways, where domestic airlines like Cebu Pacific, Philippine airlines and airasia Philippines will cut flights following Duterte’s decision.

Caticlan airport is undergoing a makeover to turn it into a world-class airport that will cater not just to domestic but also to international carriers.

Boracay has attracted millions of visitors and brings hefty revenues. according to stakeholders, closing the island resort will wipe out 36,000 jobs and P56 billion in tourism receipts. the Department of interior and Local Government has said the process of rehabilitating Boracay can be cut by at least two months ”if everybody comes into the picture.”

Building a bridge Duterte had blamed what he called “overzealous” tourism

Inquirer.net photo

Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) has signed a deal with the state-controlled Philippine amusement and Gaming Corp. (PaGCoR) to develop a $200-million integrated gaming resort in Mimosa, a leisure estate in Clark, Pampanga.

FDC is undertaking this project through subsidiary Mimosa Cityscapes inc. (MCi), based on the conglomerate’s disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on thursday, april 5.

“We thank PaGCoR for granting Filinvest Mimosa + Leisure City the provisional license. they have been very efficient and helpful since we submitted our application and all the necessary requirements in 2017. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with them.

We believe that this is a worthy investment,” FDC president and chief executive officer Josephine Yap said in a press statement. the $200-million minimum investment committed by FDC will also include a lifestyle mall, a five-star hotel and an events venue that will rise within the 201-hectare sprawling townscape, which is envisioned to become a premier leisure and business destination in the heart of Clark Special Eco-

and development for Boracay’s environmental woes, with many businesses polluting the island’s surrounding waters by discharging waste directly into the sea. in the same statement, ang said a “novel approach” to solve the island’s problems is to build a Caticlan-to-Boracay bridge that would bring about growth to other areas in aklan. the accessibility of Boracay, through the proposed bridge, would enable developers to build hotels and resorts outside the island, he said. “tourists and visitors will have the option to go to Boracay during the day and in the afternoon or at night for accommodations outside the island,” SMC’s president said. by lawrence agcaoili “the development of neighPhilstar.com boring areas would boost aklan’s economy as a whole, while keepManiLa — the capital ratios of ing island of Boracay sustainable banks operating in the Philippines for generations to come,” he will remain under pressure amid added. the strong growth in the banking

An upgraded North Luzon Expressway has made the Mimosa leisure estate, which the government is selling, more appealing to private investors.

Inquirer.net photo

nomic Zone (CSEZ). the project also includes the renovation of existing Quest Hotel, the two championship golf courses and villas. this is seen to bring Filinvest Mimosa + Leisure City closer to its commitment of developing the area into a world-class tourist and gaming destination, while creating new employment, investment and entrepreneurial opportunities apart from boosting government income and the tourism industry.

“Filinvest Mimosa Plus (+) Leisure City is envisioned to become the lifestyle destination north of Manila. its enviable location close to Clark international

airport makes it accessible to both domestic and international tourists. now that we have secured the provisional license, we foresee further upsurge in tourist arrivals upon completion of the various project components. it is our intention to work with a leading casino operator who will align with our vision of a premiere destination. Visitors can look forward to Filinvest Mimosa + Gaming Estate with its offering of topnotch casinos and boutiques, among others,” Yap added. the Filinvest Mimosa + Leisure City is a joint development of FDC and its property arm Filinvest Land (FLi).

Moody’s: PH banks’ capital ratios to remain under pressure industry’s asset expansion.

Simon Chen, vice president and senior analyst at Moody’s, said increases in retained earnings may not be sufficient to cover the banks’ rapid asset growth, against the backdrop of their low cost efficiency. the debt watcher said the capitalization of most Philippine banks deteriorated last year as riskweighted assets grew faster than internally generated capital.

BDo unibank inc. and China Banking Corp., both owned by retail and banking magnate Henry Sy, raised fresh equity last year by selling new shares to existing shareholders. BDo, the country’s largest lender raised P60 billion, while China Bank sold P15 billion worth of shares.

“Without external capital raising, capital ratios will remain under pressure in 2018 from loan growth outpacing increases in retained earnings,” Chen said. this early several banks have announced plans to raise capital through stock rights offering (SRo). Metropolitan Bank & trust Co. is raising P60 billion, followed

by ayala-led Bank of the Philippine islands with P50 billion, and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. with P15 billion.

Chen said internal capital generation of Philippine banks is not strong enough to support rapid credit growth.

Chen said operating costs of Philippine banks would increase further as banks need to improve their information technology (it) infrastructure to keep pace with business growth and expand their distribution networks to pursue growth in consumer loans. this, he added, would hinder improvements in banks’ cost efficiency.

Furthermore, Moody’s said credit costs would rise this year as banks adopt new provisioning rules under the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards 9 (PFRS 9). under the shift, banks with insufficient outstanding allowances to cover all losses need to cover their shortfalls by taking charges against retained earnings resulting in lower common equity tier 1 (CEt1) ratios.

Grab, Uber ordered to continue apps operations beyond April 8 merger tHE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) is imposing on Grab and uber to continue operating their apps independently in spite of a scheduled termination of the uber app next week. this developed during the public hearing held regarding Grab’s takeover of uber here and in Southeast asia. PCC is pursuing a review on the deal for possible anti-competitive concerns. to preserve the integrity of the review, PCC is imposing interim measures. this includes the continued co-existence of both apps, in spite of uber’s scheduled end of services on april 8.

“We will impose the uber and

Grab apps would continue to operate beyond april 8 and that they would be operated independently,” said Commissioner Stella alabastro Quimbo. this is just one of many interim measures. it remains to be seen whether or not this takes effect, given that uber and Grab would have to agree on the measures.

Calling it unnecessary, Grab and uber representatives noted during the hearing that uber has already left their markets here in Southeast asia. in other words, they said that there is no one to man the app under the interim measure. (Roy Stephen Carnivel/ Inquirer.net)

US-China trade war to affect Philippine exports by roy

)ROORZ XV RQ

stephen c. canivel Inquirer.net

tHE Philippine electronics industry would suffer from a “major impact” following a brewing trade war between the united States and China, two of the country’s biggest export and import markets, a top official said. this developed as the economic powerhouses announced earlier this week that they would slap tariffs on billions of dollars worth of imports from both sides.

Local industry officials interviewed by the Inquirer, however, were skeptical at best if this would push through. But if this does happen, the electronics industry might take a hit in the long term, according to the Semiconductor and Electronics industries in the Philippines Foundation inc. (Seipi). “if this does push through, it’s going to be a major impact [on the Philippine industry] because the u.S. and China are big export destinations and import origins,” said Seipi President Danilo Lachica. “Long term, of course, customers would look for the lower costs of manufacturing.

So long term, it could probably reduce our export revenues.” the Philippine Exporters Confederation inc. (Philexport), the umbrella organization of Philip-

pine exporters, said that this was due to the fact that the country sends electronic parts to both economic powerhouses, which would then be used by China to export to the u.S., and vice versa.

“So, if China cannot [export] to the u.S. [like it used to], and u.S. lacks a market in China, it might affect us in the sense that there would be weaker orders from China and the u.S.,” said Philexport president Sergio R. ortiz-Luis Jr. according to Seipi data, the united States and China respectively ranked second and third top export destination of the local industry in the last two years.

Electronics exports, which yearly account for at least half of outbound goods, reached $32.7 billion last year, marking an all-time record high. of this figure, China and the u.S. each accounted for more than 12-percent market share.

Both officials had doubts that the planned tariffs would materialize. Lachica noted that they had not seen the impact yet since none of their member companies have raised concerns this early.

“Whether it’ll push through remains to be seen. Maybe saner heads would prevail and avoid a major trade war,” Lachica said.

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

Marketplace

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 7-10, 2018 D

Lax launches ‘Smart Restrooms’ pilot project PH aerospace industry urged to capture global demand LAX first airport in the world to install Tooshlights restroom traffic management system in American Airlines’ Terminal 4

LOS ANGELES — Just in time for the busy spring break travel season, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and Tooshlights, the only smart restroom traffic management system that helps guests “know where to go®,” announced today a pilot program of smart restrooms in one of Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) terminals. The patented technology helps passengers navigate busy bathrooms and will now light the way for them in American Airlines’ Terminal 4.

LAX and Tooshlights are also working with Infax, the datadriven provider of innovative IT solutions for airports and other public venues, which works in conjunction with Tooshlights to play a leading role in the smart restroom transformation.

Tooshlights provides Infax with real-time venue-specific data that allows airport officials to track the occupancy usage of restroom stalls.

“We’re incredibly excited to try out this new technology, which should help improve our guest experience and allow us to better monitor and service our restrooms,” said Barbara Yamamoto, Chief Experience Officer at LAWA. “The desire for clean and available restrooms is consistently in the top ranks of what guests want at an airport, and this will help us provide a higher level of service to the traveling public and allow us to better meet our strategic goal of delivering facilities and guest experiences that are exceptional.”

The new smart restroom technology being deployed at LAX combines cutting-edge technological innovation with a unique design aesthetic to solve the critical problems of cleanliness and efficiency of public restrooms.

According to an Airport Council International (ACI) Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Survey, the availability of washrooms/toilets is one of the top five most important items to all LAX guests in 2017.

The LAX smart restroom pilot program of the Tooshlights system includes more than 20 smart restroom stalls, which will work similarly to parking garage lights.

Each unit consists of a smart latch and indicator light. When the stall is available, the light is green.

When the stall is occupied, and the smart latch activated, the light turns red. There are also blue

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga — The country’s aerospace industry is urged to take advantage of the robust global demand through enhanced investments, which in turn will create more jobs here.

During the press launch of the Aeromart Summit Clark - Philippines here Friday, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said that the rising demand for aircraft parts as well as aircraft maintenance and repair operations (MRO) in the Asia Pacific region, presents fresh opportunities to the local aerospace industry.

Lopez cited a report of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that air passengers coming in and going out of Asia Pacific is expected at 3.5 billion by 2036, which is larger than the combined number of North America and Europe.

Michael Christensen, Deputy Executive Director, Facilities and Maintenance Group, LAWA; Allen He added that to meet the deKlevens, Founder & CEO, Tooshlights; Barbara Yamamoto, Chief Experience Officer, LAWA; Tracy mand in the region, some 16,000 Davis, Vice President, Sales and Business Development, Infax

aircrafts will be needed at the cost of about USD2.5 trillion.

“The country, being a regional aerospace [and] aviation hub, can take advantage of this unprecedented demand, The opportunities and possibilities here are tremendous. As a strategic gateway, the Philippines can bridge manufacturing and servicing on both sides of the Pacific. We could also gain from Europe looking towards Asia for growth and expansion,” the trade chief said.

He noted that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has identified the aerospace industry as one of the 12 key sectors in the country that Filipinos have comparative advantage in.

Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines (AIAP) Chairman John Lee echoed that the growth of the local aerospace industry is coming from the robust global demand.

Lee added that about 35 percent

physical traffic management system, these smart restrooms will allow us to do our job better and more efficiently.”

If the smart restroom pilot is successful, LAX expects to expand the use of smart restrooms in Terminal 4 and throughout the airport.

“American Airlines is thankful to have such forward thinking partners at LAWA. We share their commitment to creating a world class, 21st century experience for travelers in the City of Angels,” said Jim Moses, American Airlines Managing Director – LAX. “Innovative ideas that leverage modern technology like this are how we will turn that vision into a reality.”

This is just one of the many ways that LAX is using technology to improve the guest experience, which also includes the use of Automated Screening Lanes in several terminals, biometric screening for boarding on some international flights, and the recently launched integration of the airport’s maps, including restrooms, pet relief areas, and concessions, into the Apple Maps app. LAX recently launched its new website, FlyLAX.com, and real-time flight information and parking information can be found there, and by “asking Alexa” for LAX information.

For more information about Tooshlights, please visit https:// tooshlights.com/.

For more information about LAX and its technology initiatives, please contact laxpr@lawa.org.

ditional facilities.

Task Force Bangon Marawi, an interagency body formed to oversee the rehabilitation of the city, has tapped a consortium composed of five Chinese and four Filipino firms to craft a rebuilding plan.

Once completed, the plan would be published so it could be subjected to a Swiss Challenge, wherein other companies are invited to submit better proposals.

The government aims to choose the winner in the Swiss Challenge on May 31 and to conduct the groundbreaking on June 7 this year. It aims to complete the project in the last quarter of 2021.

Del Rosario said the government has set 16 minimum development requirements for the

indicator lights for ambulatory stalls.

“A common problem in facility design is flow of movement, which affects passenger satisfaction,” said Allen Klevens, President and Chief Executive Officer at Modus Systems LLC, the parent company of Tooshlights. “Tooshlights is disrupting the public restroom industry by fixing the efficiency of restrooms, especially in large commercial spaces like airports, where people are pressed for time. We are thrilled that our hometown airport is the first airport in the world to feature Tooshlights.”

LAX is leading the way on technology, by leveraging smart building technology and data analytics to boost operational efficiencies. In addition to the stalls themselves, the Smart Restrooms also have touchscreens near the entrance/exit, for guests to easily provide feedback on the status of the restroom - and then identify any issues that require a maintenance or custodial response.

“The real-time data that we will be receiving through our new smart restroom technology will help us to respond quicker when issues occur, and gain base-line data for daily and weekly restroom usage, so we can better plan and deploy our resources, including custodians, and maintenance workers,” said Michael Christensen, Deputy Executive Director of the Facilities and Maintenance Group at LAWA. “Just like a

of the aircraft demand will come from ASEAN. He said there is also a need to increase human resources in the aerospace industry to meet the sector’s demand.

The private sector official mentioned that one aerospace firm is needing 18,000 aviation mechanics within ASEAN to boost its operation.

The first edition of Aeromart Summit Clark – Philippines will be held from June 4 to 6, 2018 at the Widus Hotel and Casino.

The summit, supported by the DTI, the Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines (AIAP), the Department of Transportation, Clark Development Corp., and the Clark International Airport Corp. is seen to gather at least 100 original equipment manufacturers, MRO companies, and airlines from 15 countries. About 1,000 business-to-business meetings were expected to take place during the summit. (Kris CrismundoPNA)

An official revealed that about P75 billion is needed to rebuild Marawi City and other areas ravaged by clashes between government troops and Islamic State-linked terrorists last year.

Philstar.com photo

Marawi rebuilding to cost P75-billion MANILA — About P75 billion is needed to rebuild Marawi City and other areas ravaged by clashes between government troops and Islamic State-linked terrorists last year, an official said.

Housing chief Eduardo del Rosario said the cost of rebuilding the 24 barangays within the main combat zone is about P17 billion to P20 billion. Another P55 billion is needed to develop other parts of the city and two municipalities of Lanao del Sur. “About P70 (billion) to P75 billion, that’s safe for the whole of Marawi City and the two municipalities of Butig and Piagapo,” Del Rosario told reporters in Malacañang.

Del Rosario said the figure may still increase if local stakeholders suggest the construction of ad-

rebuilding efforts. These are: • debris management; • site development plan; • development of 250 hectares of land; • concrete improvement and expansion of existing roads; • development of both sides of the Agus River and Lanao Lake into parks; • provision for underground utilities like water, power and telecommunications; • vertical development in accordance with the National Building Code, and • centralized drainage system that will lead to a sewage treatment plant.

Del Rosario said all stakeholders would be consulted in the crafting of development plans.

(Alexis Romero/Philstar.com)

D april 7-10, 2018 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal

EMPLOYMENT

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

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

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

Marketplace

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 7-10, 2018 D

Models opening at new neighborhoods at Park Place in Ontario Ontario, CA – With so much happening at Park Place in Ontario, you won’t want to miss out on all the excitement. This Saturday, April 7, join us for the Model Preview at Seville by The New Home Company, followed by your first look at the model homes at Coventry by Christopher Homes on Saturday, April 14. Then mark your calendars for the Grand Opening Celebration of new neighborhoods at Park Place on Saturday, April 21.

From 11am to 2pm, you can tour professionally decorated model homes and enjoy food, refreshments and more – all while discovering everything this masterplanned community has to offer.

Park Place is a vibrant community with something for everyone and new residences that feature up to 3,086 square feet of living space, five bedrooms and four baths. Plus, every home comes with ultra-high-speed fiber-optic broadband at gigabit speeds, allowing you to stream, download and upload from multiple devices

EMPLOYMENT

without slowing down. With so many new opportunities at Park Place, these are some events you will not want to miss.

Park Place proudly presents five new home collections: Camden by CalAtlantic Homes – A Lennar Company, Margate by KB Home, Seville by The New Home Company, St. James by TRI Pointe Homes and Stonewater by Woodside Homes. Extending from approximately 2,214 to 3,086 square feet, this dynamic range of residential designs offers three to five bedrooms and two-and-onehalf to four baths plus spacious two- and three-car garages, making them ideal for growing or multigenerational families. Prices begin in the $400,000s.

Besides lightning-fast internet speeds that are 100 times faster than today’s average broadband connection, Park Place offers many other top-tier amenities.

All residents will enjoy The Parkhouse, a world-class 14,500square-foot central community clubhouse that features a resort-

caliber swimming pool, fully equipped fitness and business centers, Wi-Fi, multiple game rooms, a library and a stateof-the-art movie theater with club seating. And a masterfully appointed catering kitchen and adjoining multipurpose room are ideal for hosting special celebrations in style. Three acres of beautiful grounds surround The Parkhouse and are home to tennis courts, a creative play area and a dog park. Picnics with friends, family and neighbors are a delight at the adjoining Celebration Park, where kids and adults alike will enjoy outdoor play, relaxation and socializing.

Plans at Park Place include a future elementary school within walking distance of each neighborhood. Not only is Park Place served by an award-winning school district, but it is also located near many universities and higher-education institutions, including Azusa Pacific University; Cal Poly Pomona; Chaffey College; Mt. San Antonio

EMPLOYMENT

College; Platt College; Riverside Community College; The Art Institute of California; University of California, Riverside; Western University of Health Sciences; and the highly acclaimed Claremont Colleges, one of which is among the nation’s top ten.

Park Place is located within the greater community of Ontario Ranch, which will span over 8,000 acres and is planned to offer modern amenities and abundant recreation, including an expansive park and trail system. Proposed plans include retail and business spaces, along with nearly 1,000 acres dedicated to public open space, parks and schools.

Directions to Park Place: If traveling on the 15 freeway, exit on Limonite Avenue and head west. Proceed on Limonite Avenue for approximately 2.5 miles and turn right at Archibald Avenue. Travel approximately 0.5 miles and turn right at Merrill Avenue. Continue for approximately 0.25 miles and The

Parkhouse sales center will be on the left.

If traveling on the 60 freeway, exit on Archibald Avenue and head south. Proceed on Archibald Avenue for approximately 3.25 miles and turn left at Merrill Avenue. Continue for approximately 0.25 miles and The Parkhouse sales center will be on the left.

Call (888) 855-6249 for more information or visit www.parkplaceontario.com.

Park Place at Ontario Ranch reflects the vision and expe-

rience of Lewis Community Developers and Stratham Communities. Park Place is a true collaborative effort between award-winning homebuilders CalAtlantic Homes – A Lennar Company, Christopher Homes, KB Home, Taylor Morrison, The New Home Company, TRI Pointe Homes and Woodside Homes.

We understand the wants and needs of today’s families because we have families of our own. We designed and built a community that we would live in.

(Advertising Supplement)

FOR RENT

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

INSURANCE/SERVICES

SERVICES

D april 7-10, 2018 • la WEEKEND aSiaN JOUrNal

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